The gentle rocking of the cruise ship was a soothing rhythm at this time of night as Harry floated on his back in the warm pool. Above him, the night sky blazed with a million stars, a breathtaking tapestry of light against the inky blackness that left Harry entranced. He'd never seen so many stars before, not even in the quieter farmlands where MacAuley Estate resided. Away from the lights of the towns and cities, out here in the middle of the ocean, the universe felt close enough to touch.
A child made a large splash as he cannonballed into the water, rocking Harry just enough to interrupt his trance, then a quiet ripple disturbed the water beside him, and Severus slowly back stroked in the water until he was next to Harry, then he allowed himself to float as well, his gaze turning upwards.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Severus murmured.
"Yeah," Harry said. "I didn't know the sky had this many stars. It's like . . . glitter spilled everywhere."
"Glitter?" Severus made a face. "I suspect the celestial bodies are somewhat more complex, and less messy, than mere glitter."
Severus flicked a wrist up at the sky, and a group of stars in a distinct w-shape illuminated brighter, making Harry awe at the magic.
"See that group of stars?" Severus asked. "That's Cassiopeia."
"The stars have a name?"
"Indeed. Even celestial bodies are not immune to the human desire for categorization. Though I assure you, they existed quite happily before we bestowed names upon them." Severus gave his son an amused look as he added, "Though some of those names come with a deal of history and legend. Cassiopeia, for instance, was a queen of Ethiopia in Greek mythology. A rather vain one, as I recall."
"And now she's a bunch of stars?"
"A constellation," Severus corrected. "As punishment for her arrogance. She boasted herself the prettiest woman in all the land, even prettier than the sea nymphs, which offended them and angered the sea god, Poseidon. To punish her for her vanity, the sea nymphs asked Poseidon to send a sea monster to destroy her kingdom. However, she chained her daughter, Andromeda, at the shore as a sacrifice to the monster to keep her kingdom safe. The demigod, Perseus, saves Andromeda from this fate, but Poseidon felt that Cassiopeia should not escape punishment, so he placed her in the heavens chained to a thrown, kind of in the way she had chained her own daughter, and it's there that she had remained ever since. To keep her humble, her throne is sometimes turned upside down, which is why the stars may appear as a 'w' or an 'm.'"
"She's stuck up there forever now?" Harry asked. "Her punishment never ends?"
"Not until she learns her lesson," Severus said. "And she clearly has not yet. A cautionary tale, perhaps."
"What, are you going to chain me to a throne in the sky, too?" Harry asked, making a face at his father.
"Don't tempt me," Severus said, turning in the water to tickle his son, who shrieked and squirmed to get away. "Imagine—Harry Potter-Snape Constellation forever circling the Earth—Merlin help us all."
Harry tried splashing his father to free himself from Severus's torturous tickles, and after a few minutes Severus gave his son a break, and Harry grinned at him while Severus snorted softly as a thought struck him.
"I rather doubt even the stars could contain your capacity for mischief though. I suppose my methods of discipline will have to remain a little more terrestrial."
"That's no fun," Harry said.
"You know what else is no fun?" Severus asked, quirking a brow at Harry. "It's almost your bedtime."
"Aww, but Dad, we're on vacation."
"Well, your bedtime didn't take a vacation. Besides, we will be arriving to our first destination tomorrow, and we'll need to be well rested if we want to get plenty of exploring in."
"What's the destination?"
"You'll see when we get there," Severus said cryptically as he led the way out of the pool. He used a quick dry charm on himself, then repeated it on Harry, who shivered at the sensation of the quick dry, then wrapped his arms around himself.
"Now, I'm cold," Harry said, even as Severus handed him a robe.
"Let's get back to our room so we can warm up properly," Severus said as he tied on his own robe and slipped his sandals on. Harry put on his flipflops and followed after his father back to their room. Miss Trifle greeted Harry excitedly as soon as he entered the room, and once Harry was changed into nightclothes and performed all his bedtime routines, he climbed into bed with Miss Trifle. He removed his glasses and set them on the nightstand before snuggling the rabbit as he watched his father begin to ready for bed as well.
"You can go do something else, Dad," Harry said when Severus walked out of their small bathroom in nightclothes while brushing his teeth. "It's not your bedtime."
Severus finished brushing his teeth before he answered Harry.
"No, but I expect we'll have a busy day tomorrow, so I might as well as retire early. Besides, I'm not about to leave you alone in this room while I go have fun somewhere else. That does not exactly appease me."
"That's because you're antisocial."
"All right, smartmouth," Severus said with narrowed eyes as he picked up a thick book and walked over to the bed. "I'll have you know that I choose my company with the same meticulous care I apply to the selection of ingredients for a particularly complex Draught of Living Death. Quality over quantity, after all. A concept you seem to struggle with."
"I don't even know what you just said," Harry said with a frown. Even Miss Trifle blinked a few times.
"Exactly," Severus said as he climbed in bed next to Harry. He reached over his son and turned off the light on Harry's side, darkening one side of the room. "Go to sleep, son. You don't want to be tired on our first day at . . . our first destination."
"You almost ruined the surprise," Harry said with a smirk.
"Which is why you need to go to sleep," Severus insisted as he opened his book to a marked page.
Harry snorted before he rolled over, his back to Severus. Miss Trifle snuggled in next to him and closed her eyes, her ears dropping over her back as she sighed contently. Sleep seemed to come easy for her, but Harry was struggling to settle after his exciting evening. After a very formal dinner, Harry and Severus explored the massive ship, finding a game room, a casino, and a movie style room. Harry was surprised at how much muggle technology was actually in use on the ship, and Severus had explained that as much as some Purebloods may try to avoid it, it was near impossible to not incorporate muggle technology into many aspects of life. Some of it was actually convenient, like the safety and convenience of muggle electricity for lights over candles or lanterns on a ship floating in the middle of the ocean.
And after playing a few games with his father in the game room (who knew Severus would be so good at air hockey), Harry had begged to go swimming under the stars, and Severus had agreed under the condition that he go directly to bed after. But sleep was proving to be very elusive now. He shifted a bit, then turned to face the other side, but the light from the lamp closer to Severus was too bright, so he turned back over again, annoying Miss Trifle who decided to shuffle to the end of the bed, where she stretched out and went back to sleep with no issue.
"Settle down, Harry," Severus said.
"I can't sleep," Harry said.
"You've hardly been trying for five minutes."
"I'm too awake," Harry said. "Can you read to me?"
"I'm not getting up to pick out a different book—"
"No, you can read that to me."
Severus looked up from his book, a flicker of disbelief in his eyes.
"This," he gestured to the thick tome in his hands, "is a treatise on the finer points of Veritaserum distillation. I assure you, the intricate details of filtration and temperature control would be of limited interest to even the most ardent seeker of slumber."
"Then it should help me fall asleep," Harry said. "Please, Dad. I'll tell you if its not helping."
Severus stared at him for a long moment, before he sighed and turned back a few pages in his book.
"Very well," he said, the sound laced with resignation. He cleared his throat. "Chapter five: The Ethical Considerations of Mandragora Harvesting. While the potent properties of the Mandrake—that in particular its concentrated essence, utilized in various restorative and revitalizing draughts—are undeniable, the sentient nature of the plant itself necessitates a degree of respect and caution, that is often overlooked by less scrupulous apothecaries. . .."
The dry, academic text detailing the proper procedures for uprooting screaming mandrakes wasn't exactly a bedtime story, but the rhythmic cadence of Severus's voice, the comfort of it, wove a strange sort of magic. Harry enjoyed hearing his father's baritone voice speak in his steady and even way as he read from a book. It was, in its own peculiar way, a lullaby, not that Harry would ever tell his father that. He adjusted himself into his pillow as he glanced at the page Severus was reading from, but without his glasses, the page was a big black and white blur. No pictures, typical of the things Severus liked to read. Harry closed his eyes and simply listened to his father's voice.
It did not take long before Harry drifted off into dreamland.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the captain addressed the passengers through the ship's magically amplified speakers, "on the port side, you'll soon be able to see the legendary Isle of Avalon. Keep an eye out for it – it's quite a sight!"
Severus picked Harry up so his son had a better view over the crowd of eager wizards and witches all waiting to see the green smudge that was slowly growing closer and closer.
In a matter of seconds, Avalon rose from the turquoise waters. It wasn't a jagged, volcanic peak, nor a flat, sandy atoll. Instead, it presented a tapestry of rolling hills, dense forests, and hidden valleys, all draped in a perpetual, soft mist that drifted around the edges of the land. The mist wasn't a thick, impenetrable fog; rather, it was a veil, a subtle filter that softened the edges of reality for passing muggle ships, but it accepted the Sorcerer's Windjammer readily.
"Avalon?" Harry said. "Like in the stories of King Arthur?"
"Whoever said they were stories?" Severus asked with a smirk.
Harry gasped excitedly as he looked back at the island before him, watching with awe as the ship approached a hidden cove.
A pier, crafted from what looked like living wood, extended out to greet them. Runes carved into the wood pulsed with a soft, warm light. Floating lanterns, conjured from pure magic, bobbed gently in the air, illuminating the scene with an ethereal glow.
"Welcome to Avalon," the captain told the passengers.
Severus picked up Harry's rabbit and handed her to his son so he could keep track of his familiar, then he followed the crowd as everyone began piling off the ship to explore the mystical island. Once Severus had stepped off the pier and onto the mossy ground, he set Harry down and took his son's hand in his own.
"This place is really pretty," Harry said, looking around the natural, untouched landscape.
"It is protected by the British Ministry of Magic," Severus said. "Powerful enchantments conceal it from the Muggle world. They would sail right past us."
Harry's eyes widened as he adjusted Miss Trifle in his hold.
"So . . . muggles can't even see this?"
"Precisely," Severus confirmed. "It appears as nothing but a bit of mist on the sea and a blank space on their maps. A clever piece of magic, wouldn't you agree?"
"What happens if they run right into it, though?"
"The charms keep ships from crashing and sinking. The muggles are safe, as is the island."
"That's so brilliant."
"Indeed," Severus agreed. "Avalon is a place where magic thrives, where it flows freely, untainted by the mundane world. It's a sanctuary, Harry, a place of power and wonder."
"But what's there to do?" Harry asked as he looked around the greenery surrounding them, excitement building in his voice. "Do they have dragons here? Do they have ice cream?"
Severus chuckled.
"There are no dragons that I know of, and I highly doubt they serve ice cream in the traditional sense," he said. "Avalon is not a theme park, Harry. It's a place to explore, to connect with the magic that permeates every inch of this island. It's a place to learn."
"Oh, I mean, okay."
"You'll enjoy it." Severus pulled Harry along, following a group down a cobblestone path. They walked down the path for several minutes, walking into the forest that grew alive with each step they took. Harry awed at everything in sight, from the strange plants that swayed toward him to the odd-looking birds in the sky. A clearing opened up amidst the ancient trees, and in its center stood a monument that several wizards and witches paused to stare at, including Severus and Harry.
It wasn't a statue of polished marble or bronze. This was something far more extraordinary. The monument was crafted from a single piece of obsidian, impossibly smooth and dark, carved in the likeness of a man in regal attire. The inscription at the base wasn't carved in stone, but seemed etched in pure light, the words shimmering in an ethereal glow.
"Here lies Arthur Pendragon," Severus read aloud. "King of Britain. Bearer of Excalibur. Defender of Avalon."
Harry gazed up at the monument, and Severus was sure Harry was recalling all the stories of nights in shining armor that he had read with him, especially tales of King Arthur. Harry set Miss Trifle down and she hopped forward a bit, leaning over a low rail to sniff at the statue.
"King Arthur?" Harry asked, glancing up at his father.
Severus nodded.
"Indeed. Legend has it that this is where he came to rest, after his final battle."
Harry looked up at the statue, his green eyes filled with wonder.
"He looks noble," he murmured.
"Oh, if he was a wizard, he most certainly would have been a Gryffindor."
Harry laughed at that while Severus's gaze returned to the statue.
"Avalon was said to be his sanctuary," Severus added, "a place of healing and peace. But his story is far more complex than just a king resting in his final days. Arthur, according to legend, was not born a king. He was raised in secrecy, his true lineage hidden until the time was right. His rise to power was orchestrated by the legendary wizard, Merlin."
"Merlin?" Harry's eyes widened. "Like, the Merlin?"
"The very same. Merlin was a powerful wizard, and he foresaw Arthur's destiny and guided him, gifting him with the sword Excalibur and helping him establish his kingdom."
"Wow," Harry breathed. "So, Merlin was like his mentor?"
"In a way, yes," Severus agreed. "Merlin was more than just a mentor, though. He was a counselor, a protector, and a powerful magical advisor. He was instrumental in Arthur's reign, helping him establish Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table."
Harry looked back at the statue, his imagination clearly taking flight. "So, Merlin brought him here?"
"The legends vary. Some say Arthur was brought to Avalon after his final battle to be healed by the magic of the island. Others say he was taken away by Merlin, to wait for the time when he would be needed again."
"So he might come back?" Harry asked.
Severus gave a small, almost imperceptible smile.
"That is the legend, Harry. The once and future king, destined to return when Britain needs him most. But whether that is simply a story, or a prophecy waiting to be fulfilled . . . well, that remains to be seen."
A prickling sensation crawled up his spine, raising the hair on the back of his neck. It was that unnerving feeling, the distinct sense of being observed, like unseen eyes boring into him. Severus whirled around sharply, his movement quick and decisive. His gaze swept across the path and trees behind him, searching, scrutinizing, trying to pinpoint the source of the unsettling surveillance. Harry glanced back too, surprised by his father's quick movement. However, Severus cleared his throat and held his hand out for Harry.
"There's a lot to explore, Harry. Are you ready to see something else?"
"Yes, Dad," Harry said. "Come, Miss Trifle."
Miss Trifle hopped after Harry as Severus led his son down the path, summoning a map he had picked up from the ship to see where the next exciting landmark was. They were walking through the Silverwood Glade now, a grove of ancient trees with shimmering silver leaves, and Severus and Harry paused by the largest one as they came upon it, its trunk thicker than ten men could embrace. It was rumored to be the first tree that ever sprouted on the land, giving birth to the Avalon it was known as today. Harry gave the tree the biggest hug he could manage, and he looked very tiny next to the massive structure. Even Miss Trifle attempted to hug the big tree, mirroring her human.
A while later, they emerged into a clearing where a magnificent waterfall cascaded down a cliff of vibrant emerald, green. The spray from the falls created a perpetual mist, shimmering with rainbows.
"The Whispering Falls," Severus announced, his voice barely audible above the roar.
"It's so loud!" Harry exclaimed while Miss Trifle flattened her ears against her head. He reached out his hand, tentatively at first, then with more confidence, as the cool, misty spray kissed his skin. He giggled, the sound echoing through the clearing.
"It's cold!" he shouted. "And it feels… tingly!"
"That's the magic running through the water," Severus explained. "Come, let's go somewhere quieter. I know just the place; we're not far from it now."
They continued their exploration, the path leading them through increasingly dense forest. The air grew heavier here, the magic more palpable. Harry could feel it, a strange energy that made the hair on his arms stand on end. Less than a half mile later, the trees thinned, and they found themselves facing a crumbling, yet still imposing, tower perched precariously on a cliff overlooking the sea. Its stones were weathered and cracked, some sections clearly in ruins, but it still radiated an aura of power, of ancient magic.
"Merlin's Tower," Severus said, and Harry's jaw dropped.
This is where he lived?"
Severus nodded.
"Or, at least, where he spent some time." Severus walked closer to the tower, glancing behind him briefly before gesturing at the ruins. "Merlin traveled extensively, but this tower was one of his known residences."
The tower looked forbidding, its windows like empty eyes staring out over the vast expanse of the ocean. Strange lights flickered within the broken windows, even in daylight, and a faint whisper seemed to emanate from its depths.
"Can we go inside?" Harry asked, his voice a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
"You're funny," Severus said.
"I'm serious," Harry insisted.
"I know. That's what makes it funny." Severus patted Harry's shoulder as he urged his son back a few paces. "Maybe another time we can explore the ruins, when you've gotten your wand. For now, we observe."
"But everyone else is going in," Harry complained.
"Adults are entering. No kids allowed."
"Aww, no fair." Harry crossed his arms and glared at the wizards that entered the tower, wands up and ready.
"You know, not every child gets this experience."
Harry sighed and looked up at his father, quickly changing his sulk to a grin.
"Thank you, Daddy. I'm having a lot of fun."
"I think I know what you'll enjoy more," Severus said. He pulled a mini picnic basket from his robes, and with a flick of his wrist he restored it to the correct size. He laid a blanket down a bit of ways away from the tower. "After we have lunch, I'll show you my favorite part."
Harry and Miss Trifle happily joined Severus on the blanket, and Harry enjoyed a couple finger sandwiches and a few carrots while Miss Trifle ate some carrot tops. Severus and Harry descended a winding path that led them away from the cliff and into a hidden valley. The trees here were different, smaller and more delicate, until they eventually disappeared as the path opened up into an extensive garden.
It wasn't a manicured or planned garden, but rather a wild, untamed space where nature itself seemed to have conspired to create the most magical place on Earth. Tiny wildflowers in vibrant, otherworldly colors carpeted the ground, glittering in the sun. Miniature waterfalls created by a creek that weaved its way through the garden trickled over moss-covered rocks, feeding tiny pools that sparkled like scattered jewels. The air was alive with a delicate tinkling sound, like wind chimes made of glass, and a soft, sweet fragrance that was unlike anything Harry had ever smelled. Miss Trifle smiled as she hopped into the garden, sniffing the flowers happily, her ears perked up.
"What is this?" Harry asked. "Merlin's garden?"
"This was here long before Merlin, believe it or not," Severus said. "No, this is a fairy garden."
Harry gasped excitedly as he looked around. He suddenly realized that some of the flowers were shaped like houses, as if their petals were pulled and folded in very delicate ways to create a home for a tiny fairy. He saw a berry patch in a neat corner of the landscape, and a few clearly tended to vegetable patches in a few other carefully chosen locations. There were fairies living in this place, and Harry couldn't wait to meet them.
"Where are they?" Harry asked.
"They are shy creatures, Harry. You must be patient."
Harry didn't like that word one bit, but he held his tongue and slowly walked through the garden, being very mindful to walk along the cobblestone paths, avoiding the gardens and fairy homes. He kept trying to peer into the flower houses, but he could not see into the houses.
Miss Trifle slowly followed her human, sniffing at different flowers that caught her eye. As she leaned closer to a large pink flower to sniff, the petals shifted slightly, and she twitched her nose as a small fairy poked her head out of the flower and smiled at the rabbit.
The fairy flew out of the flower and circled Miss Trifle. She was no more than nine inches tall, and she wore a flower woven dress that matched her house. She flew closer to Miss Trifle, then whistled, a bell-like sound coming from the fairy.
Miss Trifle turned around to keep the fairy in sight, and she startled as three more fairies flew toward her, and two of them quickly wove a flower crown that they dropped on top of Miss Trifle's head while two others redid her yellow bow, changing it from a basic bow to a floral bow. One fairy brought a small bit of berries, and Miss Trifle smiled and happily accepted the treat, munching away on the delicious tart flavor.
She looked over to her human, who was still searching the flower homes, and Miss Trifle thumped her foot loudly, and Harry spun around, a big grin forming on his face.
"Dad, look!" Harry yelled, pointing at Miss Trifle where four fairies were busy fussing over her.
"Do not point, Harry," Severus said quickly. "Even to fairies, it is a rude gesture."
Before Harry could even lower his hand, he felt a tiny warmth touch his finger, and he sucked in a breath and found himself frozen in place as he realized a fairy was touching his finger. Slowly, he felt a small weight push his hand down, and when Harry got the idea, he lowered his hand the rest of the way, and the fairy flew in front of him, giving him a curious look.
The fairy was dressed in natural greens, likely leaves and stems, and she wore tiny cotton on her feet. Her wings were translucent, and the only reason Harry knew she even had wings was due to the small sparkle they created with each flutter. She gave Harry a smile then whistled.
All of a sudden, several fairies erupted from the garden, emerging from flowers and hollows in small trees, and they flew around Harry in a dazzling dance, and Harry laughed as he watched them, jumping up and down in ecstatic joy. Miss Trifle hopped over to her human, watching the fairies with a more subtle delight.
Severus leaned against a tree near the end of the forest, watching his son have the time of his life with the fairies in the enchanted garden while also looking back at the path they had come down and around the surrounding scenery. A few fairies did fly over to him, and they gifted him with a small collection of berries that Severus obligingly accepted, though he did sneak the berries into a vile in his robe to take back home. The berries were a rare species, only found on Avalon, and he would gladly take any chance to collect a new ingredient for potion research.
They spent the rest of the afternoon near the fairy garden, and Harry learned how the fairies made their houses, tended to their gardens, and how they collected their water. He assisted when the fairies gestured for him to either move something or reposition a rock in the creek to adjust the flow. Miss Trifle was fawned on by the fairies—it turned out, rabbits did not exist on Avalon, and Miss Trifle was a new and exciting familiar the fairies were not used to, and they loved her.
Finally, it was time to start heading back to the ship, and Harry talked the entire time as his father led the way back to the dock. As they neared the port, Severus saw a popup stand for Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour, and many parents and kids were surrounding the small stand waiting their turn for ice cream.
"Harry," Severus started to say, reaching into his robe pocket to grab his wallet. "Why don't you help yourself to an ice cream. You can grab me something while you're at it."
"Okay," Harry readily agreed. "What do you want?"
"Surprise me," Severus dared to say.
"Surprise you? You sure you want to leave your fate in my hands? I'm thinking every flavor they have, blended together, with extra sprinkles."
"You do that and you'll never taste ice cream again."
Harry laughed before he ran off to the stand, and Severus leaned back against the rough bark of a silverwood tree his gaze fixed on Harry as he skipped towards the brightly colored ice cream stand. A small smile played on his lips as he watched his son animatedly discuss flavors with the vendor, Miss Trifle busy sniffing the air as she placed a paw up on the stand to look up at the owner of the stand. Severus snorted at them.
He heard the soft crunch of leaves behind him, a sound deliberately muffled, yet still distinct. He didn't turn. He continued to watch Harry, his expression unchanged, but every muscle in his body tensed. The footsteps drew closer, slow and deliberate. Severus waited, his senses heightened, anticipating the precise moment.
Just as the footsteps reached his immediate vicinity, Severus moved. The motion was swift, silent, a blur of black robes. He spun, his hand clamping down on the approaching figure's arm, his other hand gripping the man's shoulder. He twisted, using the man's momentum against him, spinning him around the tree and out of sight of the ice cream stand, then slammed him against the tree, pinning him there with surprising force.
The man gasped; his breath knocked out of him. Severus didn't give him a chance to react. He leaned in close; his face inches from the man's, his voice a low, menacing whisper.
"You!" Severus hissed, his eyes glinting dangerously. "You've been following us all day. Care to explain why?"