"The kelpie is a shape-shifting monster," Carwyn said, holding open a book of Irish monsters to a page of a horse creature walking through the ocean tide. The kids leaned in close to Carwyn as they followed Aisling up a large hill. "It can come on land or swim out to sea, so it could be a good fit for our monster. They love kidnapping pretty damsels, which could be why it came into the cabin."
"It was smaller," Kat said, narrowing her eyes at the image of the water monster version of the kelpie swimming deep in the ocean on the page. "And it looked nothing like that."
"We only got a glimpse of it," Ollie said. "Who knows what it actually looked like. It could match, it had a little bit of a long neck, I think."
"I don't remember much of a neck," Draco said. "The tail is wrong in this picture though."
"Okay, okay," Carwyn said as he flipped through the book. "What about a grindylow? Nasty little water demon. They like to grab children from the edge of a river or lake or whatever and drown them. What do you think? Does it look like this one?"
"Not really," Draco answered, tilting his head at the picture.
Harry frowned at the picture, adjusting Miss Trifle in his arms as he continued following the group up the hill. Of course, Carwyn had brought along a book on all the possible Irish monsters he might encounter, and he was trying his best to identify what the shadow was that swam under Harry, Ollie, Draco and Kat and sent them on a rapid river ride.
"It had a tail," Kat added, "not all those weird tentacles."
"Fine, fine," Carwyn said, flipping through the book once more. "But I doubt it was a merrow. I hope it wasn't a merrow—how boring! But they don't do well on dry land for very long. It would have had a hard time dragging itself all the way to the cabin and back to the river."
Harry didn't think the mermaid-like creature was a match either, but before he could comment, the book was yanked out of Carwyn's hands by Aisling, who gave him a stern look.
"That's enough of that," Aisling said. "We are here to have fun, not go monster hunting."
"But monster hunting is fun," Carwyn said before pointing at the book. "And that's my dad's book."
"You may have it back at the end of the day. We are done with the book for now."
Aisling flicked her wrist and the book vanished. Carwyn sighed in defeat as they continued walking up the hill after their camp counselor.
"Good bird," Professor chatted away, "Wanna treat? He's real sweet—fuzzy like a kiwi."
"Are you hungry, Professor?" Kat asked as she swung her bag around, unzipping a corner and digging through the bag. "He starts chatting about food names when he gets hungry. He's such a sweet tooth. We try to watch his sugar intake, but I always keep fruit cups on me just for him to get a piece of something."
Kat pulled out a tropical fruit mix cup and opened it, slurping out the juice before picking out a fruit and offering the piece to Professor, who accepted it eagerly.
"Good bird," Professor said as he ate the fruit.
"How many of those you got in there?" Ollie asked, glancing at her bag.
"There's a lunch bag in here with a chiller charm to keep them fresh and cold. Mum says it's good that we keep many on hand. It takes care of his sweet tooth and keeps me hydrated. Want one?"
Ollie accepted a fruit cup from Kat, slurping the juice out as she had done before sharing the snack with Draco and Harry, each picking out the fruit they liked best. Finally, everyone gasped excitedly as a huge treehouse came into view.
Two large trees nearly twenty feet apart were connected by a rope ladder high above the kids' heads. The rope ladder led to a large, two-story treehouse with a walk around porch and a slide leading from the treehouse to the ground below. There were rock walls, ladders, and even a spider web attached to the walls of the treehouse and a few of the surrounding trees, along with smaller rope ladders leading to wooden look-out stations at random trees. There were also several thick, green vines that seemed to crawl around the trees and treehouse.
"Wow!" the kids said.
"Wow, indeed," Minerva said as she walked down toward the group. "Welcome Daystars to the Enchanted Treehouse. Before you can all run and play, we have a few things to go over. First, you must all have the safety harness charm placed on you. Hold still now."
Minerva waved her wand over each kid, mumbling a few words no one could quite hear properly. When Minerva passed over Harry, flicking her wand down on him and mumbling the charm, Harry felt a heavy weight on his shoulders and back for a moment, then it faded away to nothing. Miss Trifle shook her fur out at the sensation she must have felt, and Harry wondered if his rabbit had received some kind of protection as well.
Finally, every child had been charmed and Minerva took her place at the front again.
"The safety harness charm will make sure no one falls from the vines or the treehouse. If you happen to slip or lose your grip, if the vines do not catch you, the charm will activate and pull you to safety and keep you there until you find your grip again."
"What if we push someone?" Draco asked after raising his hand. "Accidentally, of course."
"Who were you thinking of pushing?" Ollie asked Draco, crossing his arms at his friend.
"There will be no pushing, accidental or intentional." Minerva gave Draco a stern look. "If I catch any misconduct, you will receive a twenty-minute time out, and the safety harness charm will allow me to pin you kids down in a nice corner somewhere until your twenty minutes are up. Do not make me have to do that."
"Yes, ma'am," everyone said. Minerva nodded at everyone before continuing.
"Now, the vines are transfigured ropes charmed to lift you kids up to the treehouse and assist you in climbing now and then. They can be very playful and toss you about as well. If you have had enough of the vines and would like to be left alone, simply hit the vine three times firmly to inform it you would like to be set down. They will back off after that for at least ten minutes. Inside the treehouse is amenities should you need them: a working loo, water fountain, and a few hammocks and cushions should you need a break."
"We have the treehouse for the morning," Aisling said, "and we will eat lunch at the benches down here before we head back to camp for a break period before our next activity. If you need anything at all, come see me or Minerva. Alright?"
"Yes, Aisling!" the kids said, nearly jumping on their toes to begin exploring the treehouse.
"This looks so cool," Draco whispered to Harry while Aisling explained first aid should anyone get splintered or injured one way or another. "Dad told me that it was a boring, puny thing. Bet he didn't know it was enchanted!"
"Your dad really tried to be a killjoy, huh?" Harry asked.
"Kind of like you, mate," Ollie added.
"I'm not a killjoy," Draco snapped. "You know, I wonder how many times the safety harness can be engaged before it just gives up."
"I'm only codding ya, Drac—ahh! Harry!" Ollie screamed as he was snatched by a vine and lifted into the air.
The kids pulled away from Aisling and watched as Ollie was tossed into the air and caught by another vine above the rope ladder. The vines passed Ollie around above the trees, moving him closer to the treehouse.
"Guys!" Ollie cried as he tried to grab a vine or a branch as he was pulled along. "This is a little freaky."
"Me next!" Draco said excitedly, running toward a vine that was snaking toward the group. The vine wrapped itself around Draco's waist and jerked him up toward the rope ladder. Draco screamed gleefully.
And with that, all the kids went running forward, jumping up and down for a vine to grab them. Harry set Miss Trifle down and leaped for a vine that managed to snag him under the arms, and he laughed as he was carried up to the rope ladder, smiling down at his rabbit who twitched her nose at him.
The kids had a blast crawling all over the treehouse, with the occasional assistance from the vines. Games of freeze tag and dares ensued, and the vines were glad to assist in the children's antics, pulling a child to safety just before they could be tagged. At some point, Harry brought Miss Trifle up to the treehouse to explore the rooms inside, and she sniffed around inquisitively as she followed Harry from room to room in a game of manhunt.
After a couple hours of games and fun, Harry, Draco, and Ollie found themselves hanging out on a hammock, looking down the large hill they were on at the camp below them where they could see a group of children running around. Miss Trifle napped in Harry's lap, content for a moment of peace. Harry adjusted his rabbit's bow while he thought about how he would never have had this opportunity if he hadn't run away from the Dursleys and ran into his father all those months ago.
"I'm so sorry, Collins," Severus said as he walked alongside Peadar at the Internation Floo Network in London while talking into a two-way mirror. "If you can cover for me a while longer, I promise, you can—will have the entire next week off. Paid vacation."
"Yes, sir." Collins, his assistant at St. Mungo's, chuckled. "Good luck with your mission."
"Yes, and good luck at St. Mungo's. I hope they are not overworking you too much."
"Not at all, sir. I've actually had time to catch up on the inventory for you."
"Oh, thank Merlin for that. Keep at it, Collins. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Severus canceled the call and shoved the mirror into an inner robe pocket, narrowly avoiding colliding with a wizard rushing through the crowded hall to his next floo destination. Severus shot an annoyed sneer at the man before brushing off his robe and feeling for the jar that contained the agitated fairy hidden deep in another robe pocket. Peadar was studying a map of their next destination, and Severus glanced over his shoulder to stare down at the tiny print and drawings. As if suddenly realizing Severus was no longer talking on the mirror, Peadar lowered the map and looked at his stepson.
"Our next destination is Littondale," Peadar said, "and we will be flooing directly to the Lonely Sprite, a wee pub and inn near the woodlands."
"And then we go fairy hunting?"
"One can hope. Ah, here is our fireplace." Peadar paused in front of a fireplace labeled England: North West, North East, Yorkshire. A vending machine-like booth near the fireplace accepted a sickle in a coin deposit slot and dispensed a small bag of floo powder, which Peadar and Severus split, taking a small handful each. There was a line in front of the floo, though with how quickly everyone stepped into the fireplace and announced their destination, the line dwindled down in five minutes, and Peadar stepped up first.
"The Lonely Sprite, Littondale," Peadar said clearly before dropping his handful of floo powder. He vanished in green flames.
Severus waited for the flames to completely die down before he stepped into the fireplace.
"The Lonely Sprite, Littondale," Severus announced, and he dropped his handful of floo powder. The green flames swallowed him, and he closed his eyes to avoid the nauseating sight of hundreds of fireplaces flashing before his eyes until he felt himself jerk to a halt. He stumbled out of the fireplace, joining Peadar in a cottage style pub that had a small bar and very limited tables for seating. Only a couple other people were in the bar, most likely travelers resting while on their way to a greater destination. The bar was managed by an elderly man wiping down the modern countertop that clashed slightly with the rustic style of the room.
Peadar moved to the bar, sitting down on a tall stool. Severus followed his lead, and the bartender slid over to them.
"How can I help you gentlemen?" he asked. "Might I suggest a lager of my own brewing?"
"That sounds refreshing, a pint for myself and my son," Peadar said.
They waited a moment for the bartender to return with their drinks, each taking a sip before Peadar began speaking.
"C'mere ta me, what I'm about to tell ya does not fall on any other ears. We've a sensitive issue on our hands and you look like someone who's been around the area a while."
"Live here my whole life," the bartender said. "What can I help you with?"
"What do you know about the old fairies of Littondale?"
"Depends. Why do you wish to know?"
"We ain't here for games. We may have a small native that needs help, and the only ones that can help her are here. I hope, anyway. What do you know of the old fairies?"
"You think you have a fairy? The fairies of Littondale are an ancient and near extinct breed. They have slowly dwindled in population over the last few decades, with more scant sightings and less and less evidence of their continued existence. They are protected by law and by the villagers of this town, so forgive me for not being so forthcoming."
"Understandable. If you care so much for the fairies as ya say, then you'll be willing to help us with our fairy. She needs light magic to overcome the dark magic she rescued my son and grandson from, and we've come here to see if the other fairies will give her the magic she needs. Do you know where you've last seen the fairies?"
The bartender stroked his graying beard for a moment.
"Prove to me you have this fairy, then I will tell you where I've last seen the fairies. I don't quite believe your story, though I can tell you are not being entirely forthcoming yourself."
"For good reason. We cannot tell you more than we've said, but we can show you the fairy. Be warned though, she is a bit loo-lah. Severus, if you would."
Severus reached into an inner robe pocket and pulled out the jar the fairy was trapped in. The bartender gasped as he stared at the blackish dragon-form spinning circles in the glass confinement, snarling and foaming at the mouth while her whole body tremored. The fairy had worsened in condition over the last few days. Even the jar she was in felt colder to the touch. Severus set the jar down on the countertop for the bartender, who leaned closer to the fairy in morbid curiosity, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly ajar.
"What happened to her?" the bartender asked.
"We cannot answer that," Severus said, rubbing at his left arm subconsciously. "But we have to save her. The other fairies can help her."
"How do you know that for sure?"
"The magic possessing her is some of the darkest magic known to wizard kind, and it ravages anything it touches. It can be contained in some dark artifacts, but once it has been let loose, it is a deadly, unstoppable force with few known weaknesses. And what we've uncovered will not only kill the dark magic, but the fairy as well. We are trying to find a way to save the fairy and destroy the dark magic."
"What if you do nothing?"
"Then the fairy will die," Peadar answered. "But I doubt the dark magic will."
The bartender was silent for another long moment, stroking his beard. Finally, he sighed, shook his head, then said, "I'm not sure how I feel about your story or the state of the fairy you've presented, and while I can't fathom your need for secrecy, I will respect it seeing as you are trying to save this dying species. The remaining fairies of Littondale reside in Scoska Wood, a small strip of woodland just a few yards down the road. It'd be an easy enough walk, but I suggest you go exploring in the evening. They are most active then and into the night."
"Thank you," Peadar said. "One more thing: how much for a room? Two beds?"
Harry carefully dismounted from the pony, sliding himself against the horse and down to the ground below. Once his boots hit the grass, he reached up and pulled Miss Trifle down and set her in the grass. He waited for Aisling to assist the other kids with getting off the horses while he stroked his horse's neck, knowing exactly where this one enjoyed his scratches.
While he had not had the opportunity to ride anyone else but Asphodel while at the estate, Harry quite liked Buckley, a laid-back gelding that Papa once said belonged to an old neighbor that had passed on many years ago.
Buckley leaned into Harry's scratches and positioned his neck so Harry got the spot that needed scratching, and Harry laughed and obliged the horse. Buckley had been very good on the trail ride, if not a bit distracted by certain plants now and then, but Harry had been able to correct Buckley and urge him forward with little issue. He figured he had been assigned Buckley due to his familiarity with the horse and his experience with riding, which far exceeded his groupmates. The other horses were older mares with years of trail ride experience and one other gelding who was even more chill than Buckley and less distractable.
Finally, everyone was off the ponies and volunteers stepped forward and led the ponies away. Harry patted Buckley's shoulder and whispered goodbye when a volunteer took Buckley's lead and led him to the stable.
"Come everyone," Aisling said, "dinner will be served in a half hour and you all need to get cleaned up before then."
The kids followed Aisling while talking about the trail ride and the horses. Harry lingered back from the group, Miss Trifle hopping at his side. When their cabin was in sight, Harry stopped and allowed everyone to walk ahead of him, Ollie and Draco too busy in their own argumentative conversation to realize Harry was no longer following them.
The odd sharp pains in his chest were becoming more frequent, and while Harry learned to hide the pain well, it was starting to concern him. He wondered if he would be able to voice his opinions to his father and see what he made of the pains. Perhaps there was a potion he could take to put an end to them.
Harry closed his eyes and thought about his father, imagining Severus and then reaching out with his mind. He felt the familiar cold sensation he usually got when he used the bond connection, but then it stopped.
Frowning, Harry tried again, willing more of his energy to pour into the bond, and he reached out with his mind once more. The cold sensation returned, a bit weak, then the tingling started up, and Harry knew he was close. Using the bond had never required so much energy before.
Harry willed a bit more of his magic into the connection. Finally, he felt the cold waves of energy wash over him, a tingling running up and down his spine before all the feelings eased away, leaving him with a gentle warmth. He opened his eyes and smiled when Severus came into view, his ghostly form standing in front of him.
"It is the middle of the week," Severus said, quirking a brow. "Don't tell me you're homesick already?"
"No." Harry shook his head. "I'm actually having a lot of fun. We rode the ponies today. And visited the treehouse. It was so amazing!"
"I'm glad to hear that," Severus said. "Look, son, as much as I would love to sit and chat with you for hours on end, Papa and I are about to have some dinner and head out for the night. Was there something you needed or did you simply want to say hi?"
"What are you and Papa doing?" Harry asked.
"Helping our little fairy friend. She's sick."
"Really?" Harry frowned, then asked, "I've been having really weird pains in my chest."
"You too? I am not surprised. The fairy's sickness seems to affect us as well. I've been having the same pains."
"If you make her better, will the pains go away."
"I certainly hope so. Hang in there a bit longer, all right? Unless they worsen, then you should see Nana."
"Okay. Are you going to be able to fix her? What's wrong with her?"
"I don't have all the answers right now," Severus said a bit quickly. "I will let you know everything that happens when you get back from camp."
"Okay," Harry agreed reluctantly. "Take care of her, Daddy."
"I will." Severus smiled at his son.
"Oh, Daddy, there's a camp monster!" Harry said excitedly. "We don't know what it is but the adults say they're trying to catch it. It broke into the cabin one night and wanted to eat the girls, then it tried eating the paddles for the kayaks. We think it's a river monster or something."
"A river monster?" Severus tilted his head at that, though his eyes sparkled with amusement at Harry's enthusiasm. "How terrifying. It sounds like whatever it is, it is very hungry. Perhaps try offering some food. It may calm down some."
Harry gasped and his eyes widened.
"That's brilliant, Dad!" Harry said. "I bet Carwyn would know what to offer, too. I'll go tell him and Aisling."
"Alright, son, you take care."
"You, too, Dad. Goodnight."
Severus faded from view and Harry grinned. Now he knew why the connection was weaker and what was triggering his chest pains. He was sure Severus would solve whatever was bothering the fairy in no time—he was such a genius. And offering food? Clever idea, how come he hadn't thought of it. Harry ran ahead to the cabin to catch up to the others, Miss Trifle sprinting after him. He shared Severus's idea with the group before they could head out to dinner, and Carwyn seemed to love the idea of trapping the river monster.
"If it lives in the river," Carwyn said, "it'll want fish. We'll need lots of it."
"And a trap," Aisling said, "so that it can be relocated. We will inform Eileen and the others."
After settling in a bedroom, freshening up, eating dinner, and checking over a map one last time, Peadar and Severus left the cottage that evening. They followed the road down to a beautiful valley of hills and greenery. A ruined bridge over a small creek surrounded by small gardens caught their eye, and they admired the old architecture before venturing towards the small strip of trees.
The sunset slowly disappeared, and the starlight above sparkled down on several plants that started to give off an eerie glow. Severus stepped closer to the glowing flower, kneeling to get a better look. He gently touched the petals with his fingers.
A small dog-sized silvery fox head lifted out of the flower, blinking up at him.
"Ahh!" Severus shouted in surprise, jumping back and nearly colliding with Peadar.
A ghostly fox emerged from the flower, and it leaped through the air like a patronus, hovering in front of Severus and sniffing his robe. The fox snarled at him.
"Easy," Severus said, reaching into his robe. "We've come to ask for help. Our fairy friend is sick, you see."
Pulling out the jar with the possessed fairy, the fox let out a gasp as it watched the dragon form throw herself against the glass repeatedly. It tilted its head sadly before leaping away, gracefully landing on several glowing plants and stones as it traveled deeper into the woods.
Several more ghostly animals rose from the plants and stones, a few emerging from trees. Hummingbird hawkmoths, finches, owls, hares, badgers, even deer and unicorn apparitions flew through the air, dancing around the trees and lighting up the night like the stars above. The ghostly forms came in all sizes, some life-like, others miniature. The woods were filled with animal noises of all kinds. A few circled Peadar and Severus before following the fox, urging the men to follow them with hoots and snorts.
Severus couldn't help but smile at the beautiful display, and Peadar seemed just as stunned. Finally, he walked forward, Peadar following his lead, and they followed the many animals around them, allowing them to lead the way through the woods that brightened even more as a few other animals emerged from the trees. A couple dragon apparitions flew directly for the jar, sharing concerned grunts for the dragon trapped within.
There was only one fox apparition that Severus saw, and he found that rather peculiar, but he kept his eyes on the fox ahead of them, watching where it led the way to. It paused in front of a tall ash tree, looking way up and yapping loudly.
Severus scanned the trunk of the tree, his eyes straying up further and further until they landed on a birdhouse. At least, at first glance, it appeared to be a birdhouse. The house was made of grass and twigs carefully woven together, flowers decorating the roof and side panels. There were two twig windows and a thin bit of moss-covered bark made up the door. The house was nestled in a corner where the branch met the trunk of the tree, and it was secured with vines. A glow worm flew into the house, lighting up the inside, and a shadow moved within.
The door opened, the glow worm following, and a fairy no taller than the length of a man's hand stepped out of the house. Unlike the other fairies, she did not glow, nor did she float. She was very much alive, and she cautiously stepped out of the house, fluttering her wings behind her.
She wore a long dress made of yellow flower petals and her golden hair had the start of gray strands. The glow worm wrapped around her shoulders like a shawl, keeping her face well lit, revealing hazel eyes. She rose into the air, her wings silent as she moved closer to the jar Severus carried. Her face was strained with emotions as she rested a hand upon the glass and stared directly into the red eyes of the dragon.
"Oh, Hattie," the fairy said after a few moments. "Your mind is still in there, but it is consumed by an evil that won't let you go."
"Hattie?" Severus asked, looking down at the lunging dragon. "Is that her name?"
"It is," the fairy said, flying higher to face Severus. "I am Zelma. And I am the last fairy of little Littondale."
Zelma bowed, then peeked up at Severus and waited expectantly, a small smile on her lips.
Severus blinked, then quickly bowed in return.
"I am Severus. It is an honor to meet you."
"I am Peadar," Peadar said after bowing. "We brought our fairy friend here in hopes that you may be able to save her from this curse."
"Hattie," Zelma said as she gently touched the jar again, "was one of many fairy spirits who journeyed the world when their nature shell was taken from our woods. Hers was stone, I believe. She always wanted to find a way to serve a family of her own. I see she has gone so far as to sacrifice herself for you."
Hattie remained in her dragon form, and she thrashed within its confines, biting and spitting angrily. Zelma closed her eyes and fell silent for several seconds, and Severus swore he felt the jar vibrate.
The fox fairy leaped up to Zelma, hovering next to her as it sniffed the jar curiously.
"What do you think, Mother?" Zelma asked the fox.
The fox leaned close to Zelma and whispered something to her, hiding their conversation behind a bushy tail. Zelma gave her mother a concerned look, then watched Hattie as the dragon seemed to have a seizure.
"This evil is dark and powerful," Zelma said. "If Hattie is not freed from it soon, it will kill her. And you. And your son. You were gifted a piece of her magic—I can sense it, and that magic has intertwined itself with your own. If it dies, so does yours by default."
Severus felt a wave of fear wash over him, a shiver running down his back as he thought about his son. Zelma reached out and stroked the fox's head as she tilted her own head thoughtfully.
"Yet, as dark as this magic is, it cannot smother pure, light magic. It only hides it behind an image of darkness. Hattie is in there, and she can be separated from this evil, but the evil will wish for something to hold on to."
Peadar reached into his robe pocket and pulled out the fairy stone sculpture.
"What about this?" Peadar asked. "We can use this to contain the horcrux, which will give us the chance to destroy it without harming the fairy."
"Yes, that will do. However, Hattie will need a new home herself. Especially when she decides to go home with you. I know she will."
"We'll make her a new home," Severus said. He looked up at the house on the tree branch. "One like yours, actually."
Zelma rested her head atop the fox's and grinned at Severus.
"Yes," she said. "That will do very nicely. Once her new home is complete, we will begin the ritual to separate her light from this darkness. Work quickly. This magic will be best done at sunset tomorrow."