He of course knew none of them would take his offer, but he had to offer it for his peace of mind. "Everybody who wants to leave can do so and I will not stop them."
Already people were leaving and fleeing the city, free from their bonds. Where they went Harry had no clue, but they could do what they wanted. Even die outside of the gates. However, not one of the Unsullied, who still stood before him, moved a muscle.
Harry waited a little longer and nodded his consent at their decision. Enervate was cast on the last surviving Good Master, who looked around wildly and shocked. Before he could start yelling inconsequential things Harry silenced him with a wave of his hand and levitated the man on a stool, while letting the ropes from the following Incarcerous bind themselves around the man and the seat. Effectively trapping him and putting fear into the man.
Shifting his features back to his normal ones Harry approached him. "As you can see I have successfully taken your city." the emerald-eyed wizard sneering down on the piece of trash. "Give me one good reason why I should let you live." it was followed by another wave of his hand cancelling the silencing spell.
Predictably the man began with a rant. "You can't do this, Astrapor has rich friends. Friends in high places." reddening with rage the fatso continued. "You will rue this savagery. We will..."
Harry tuned him out at that point thinking on what he should do. Seeing that the guy had no intention of stopping Harry did it for him. Collecting all his rage and hate towards this worm he uttered emotionless. "Crucio!" the red light leaving his palm and connecting to the fat man.
The moment the light hit his words were replaced with screams of pure agony. He trashed for all the good it did him, being bound as he was. Harry held the spell for a good twenty seconds, not so long for permanent damage to occur, but enough for a really unpleasant experience. The plaza was silent expect for the screams of torment. All people having witnessed it were watching with wide eyes as one of their oppressors was punished. Cancelling the spell Harry left the man panting and gasping for breath from the uninterrupted shouting he did.
"You understand the situation better now, don't you?" Harry said pleasantly with the same dishonest smile as before. Not only promising unimaginable pain, but so much more as well. The man whose name Harry did not bother to learn was nodding mutely now, looking as if an elephant had trampled over him.
"Good!" the last Potter exclaimed coldly. Still a choice had to be presented. "I will give you a choice right now." going on and not even confirming that his contact person listened Harry explained. "You either serve me in governing a free Astrapor, where no slaves exist." letting that sink in Harry continued shortly after. "Or, I will strip your free will off you, making you the lowest of slaves until I can find someone loyal to me!"
Before he could deny or accept Harry cast a whispered. "Imperio." the curse took effect, leaving only a glassy eyed drone in the place of the man before. Vanishing the ropes and commanding the man to stand he did just that. Harry walked over to an Unsullied and gave him clear instructions on what to do. The same with the mental commands to stay still for his puppet.
The Unsullied walked forward with spear and shield in hand. He thrust the spear towards the face of Harry's puppet and stopped a millimetre short of killing the ex-slaver, who didn't move a muscle to evade or flinch. Next came a shield attack with the target being the throat. Again it was stopped shortly before hitting. That was repeated several times until Harry motioned the Unsullied to stop and released the grey-haired man from his thrall.
"So, you see." Harry said while having a conceding and cold smile on his face. "You are nothing more than a puppet to me. I can make you dance until your feet bleed, let you kill your family with a smile on your face or simply order you to cut your own throat." Now his smile turned dangerous with his eyes holding nothing but steel in them. "I hope we understand each other." the only response was frantic nodding. Wide terrified eyes directed at him. Obviously experiencing for the first time in his life being the prey in front of a predator so much more lethal that fear was the only response his body could come up with.
Remembering something Harry asked. "What is your name anyway?" showing at the same time that Harry couldn't care less who the worm before him was as his emotionless mask was back up.
It took a while for the man to stutter out his name. "Grazdan mo Ullhor." yellow stains now decorating his white robes, causing Harry to sigh internally and deciding to throw the man a bone. "If you should do a good job at governing this city then you and your family will be spared. You get half the gold of the dead masters. In turn you will free all the slaves you come across and give them fair work."
Next Harry commanded as he pointed at the Unsullied from before. "Get yourself nine others and guard him" pointing at Greizhen with a neglecting gesture "Prevent him from writing to other cities or people and when he so much shows signs of treason in any form" here he let his eyes glow while looking directly into Greizhen's "kill him."
The soldier in question saluted and left to carry out his orders. Harry meanwhile ordered the rest to hold the city and to put the remaining masters in chains and locked away. It was after all the one with the worse defences from all three major cities in Slavers Bay. With that he walked into a dark alley and apparated back in front of his city gates.
As he arrived his remaining army stood ready to be deployed. Though the war paint wasn't on them. Walking to the barrels where Melisandre, Kinvara, Dipti and Divya stood Harry asked "Ready?"
All four nodded and said at the same time. "Yes!" blushes gracing the faces of the twins and smiles on the ones of the priestesses, causing Harry to sigh as he manoeuvred himself even deeper into the mess he made for himself.
Holding the bridge of his nose Harry just accepted it and moved on, replying. "Ok, I will show you how it is done and you will help. Once a few are finished they in turn do the same." it wasn't too difficult applying the proper symbols and this way was exponentially faster and more sane for Harry.
"Could you show us?" asked a giddy Kinvara already in her birthday suit. The black robe from before lying on the ground.
Harry just raised an eye-brow commenting. "Why would you want to fight with the others? You aren't a physical fighter are you?" Harry of course knew her reasons, but decided to lock those into a dark corner of his mind, ignored.
Her big innocent puppy-dog eyes directed on him let his defences crumble like wet parchment. If that wasn't enough she said. "Loyalty to the rest and it isn't as if we will get hurt with the protection." effectively shooting down his arguments.
Once again Harry cursed himself for being how he was. A sucker for denying women things and coming up with this idea. Sure it allowed them to fight like their tradition demanded, only even more revealing, and protected them on top of it. A defeated sigh escaped him as he nodded, his counter argument forgotten. "Alright."
The word hadn't even left his mouth properly, but Kinvara was already before him bouncing up and down, which did things to her breasts he had to ignore. Opening a barrel he put a good bit of the now cooled paint in a wooden bowl.
Harry then began to draw runes on her face. First painting on her brow, then going lower beneath the eyes and from there to the jaw. He was trying to avoid the front for now.
The raven-haired man did the back first after he slung her copper hair to her front. Straight lines down the back with spirals on the ass cheeks, going down the smooth and long legs he worked various shapes and runes onto the flesh with the red paint.
Kinvara meanwhile whined at him ignoring her front, but moaned as he arrived at her rear. He was working with a gentle touch, teasing her more than she could take as she rubbed her thighs together, but had to hold still as he worked on her legs. Harry arrived at her front, going from her neck to the collarbone and finally to her breasts. Circling them with his fingers and doing the same to her nipples, causing a moan to escape her throat as his fingers left a trail of fire and desire on her skin.
From there his hands expertly wandered down her toned stomach around the naval and onto her hips. Panting Kinvara noticed that he finally arrived at her entrance, but only drew shapes around it. Leaving her hot and bothered. The arms weren't nearly as enjoyable, but she took all she could get.
So entranced in her own little world where Harry fucked her silly Kinvara didn't notice when the man of her fantasies said. "Finished."
"Hwa?" she said lazily as the haze on her started to lift. Disappointed the beautiful red priestess queried "You sure? Because I think you have forgotten to paint my personal area!"
Harry just sighed and nodded, countering through gritted teeth. "Yes, it is like it should be." looking to the other three women he saw the same glazed eyes totally fixated on him and what his hands did and not on the symbols he had drawn.
Before he could reprimand them Dipti said loudly. "I'm next!" just as the woman wanted to run towards his position her twin tripped her, leaving Dipti falling face first into the dust. From then on it escalated in a wrestling match in said dust. A noticeable thing was that both, like Kinvara, were naked.
Harry sighed and cursed whoever gods arranged this situation. Ignoring the two fighting twins Harry motioned Melisandre forward and covered her in the same lines and runes as her fellow priestess. At least the older woman concealed her excitement better, leastwise the things she could conceal. Arousal still made its way down her legs from her core.
When Harry was finished he gave them each a bowl and they set to work themselves. Next Harry fired a weak Aguamenti at the still fighting and in mud covered twins, leaving them drenched, but free of the mud. He dried them quickly with a spell and repeated what he did to the other two.
Soon more and more could paint the rest and the deed was done before Harry knew it. The only garment all women wore were belts with sheaths to hold their quivers, dirks and slings. Bows were slung over the shoulder. Just as he wanted to create the portal Kinvara asked. "Why do you wear your armour?" staring at the clothing in question as if it did a great crime by just being there.
Frowning Harry said puzzled at her question. "Because it protects me?" Harry half-stated and half-asked a bit mystified by her question in general.
Now the red priestess huffed with her arms under hear bust, pushing them up and pouting with her full lips. "No, I mean when the paint protects us for the coming fight, why don't you wear it?" she was happy to show him her assets, but wanted to see his again too.
Harry meanwhile asked himself since when he was trapped in a wet dream he couldn't escape from. Muttering several unfavourable things about his godfather having a hand in this Harry finally caved in, saying with his shoulders sagging in defeat. "Fine!"
The moment the word left his lips all four of them were by his side with bowl in hand. Melisandre managed to bump Kinvara out of the way with a push of her hips, claiming his front, while Dipti and Divya shared the back. The terrifying glare Melisandre had send them shortly before had absolutely nothing to do with that. Nope. Quickly undressing him like a pack of wild wolfs with a bone before them the three set to work.
The red priestess took her sweet time with painting his body, ignoring the mean look Kinvara send into the back of her head. Drawing the signs on his muscled chest with great care. Her soft fingers caressing his skin with their sweet touch.
Harry forced himself to be concentrated. He wouldn't do something with other women. Not when his wives were out cold and not when they are awake either. Due to his thoughts Harry didn't notice what Melisandre did next. Finished with his torso and the area around his cock she put a bit of paint on as lipstick. Next she began kissing along the shaft, leaving imprints on it. All the while massaging and drawing circles on his balls. Before he could do something with his hands they were trapped between Dipti's and Divya's breasts, who were finished with his back, ass and legs.
Harry just groaned out as harshly as he could, something that failed spectacularly. "What are you doing?"
Now arrived at the now erect tip Melisandre took the thick head of his cock slowly into her mouth, savouring the taste of his musky glans. Gently running her tongue over every inch of the sensitive skin with her eyes closed, enjoying the experience completely, while she applied a gentle suction. After a good minute of it she stopped and said with her usual mysterious and sonorous voice. "For good luck." Melisandre was now licking along the whole length and finished with raining kisses onto the still sensitive and saliva covered tip, while Kinvara stared unashamedly at it and seemed a breath away from joining in. Why she hesitated so long was anyone's guess.
Harry conjured any and all willpower left to extract himself from the prison, glaring half-hearted at them. "We are in the process of going to war, these things have a place and time. Which is not now!" getting louder the farther he was from the devilish foursome.
Next he was looking out on the sea of naked women one thing was the same. All were staring with the same eyes with some rubbing their thighs together, conveying all the same message. Namely that they all would do the same in a heartbeat.
'Focus on the positive.' Harry forced himself to think counting mentally to ten. 'Okay, the positives.' pondering a bit he knew at least one. 'First they are willing to fight. Nothing the people at home would've done. Second, second, second.' frowning the dark-haired wizard thought. 'There has to be at least another reason!' mentally snapping his fingers he thought. 'Ah, second they all believe in me, which is a good thing I suppose.' these had to suffice for now.
Seeing that everybody was ready and calmer again Harry opened a portal, this time with the destination being New Ghis.
The island on which they arrived was as dry as Astrapor with just as much dust flying around. The walls of the city were also crumbling in much the same way. The only difficult task would be to kill all the soldiers in the remaining legion of six-thousand men. It did not matter either way. Today New Ghis would fall.
Chapter 12: Recuperation
The battle of New Ghis had begun the same way as the other two sieges in the history of the Patrimony had begun. With the enemy looking upon them and laughing.
They did not laugh as Harry smashed in their gates and his army poured into their city. Nor did they laugh as his forces slaughtered theirs without any casualties on his side.
Disbelief in their faces clear as day as the spears met naked flesh, but encountered resistance as if clashing against armour. In turn their own flesh got skewered by his own troops. Now Harry was in the same situation as in the three cities before New Ghis. Deciding what to do with the masters or rather which one would make an acceptable governor for the city.
This time, like in Meereen, it was a woman he choose. Shirego Kou was her name. Like nearly all Ghiscari she had black hair mixed with red, worn loose and letting it fall to her rear in ebony waves. She had soft features with typical brown eyes and was fairly beautiful. Her Tokar was red mixed with gold and decorated with various gems of different colours.
The terms were the complete surrender of Ghis to the Patrimony and in exchange she would be allowed to be the Lady Paramount over New Ghis and the cities of Slavers Bay as well as all new ones build on the shores of Ghis and Lhazar. The former realm of the shepherds was as good as abandoned with continuous influx towards his city Chroyane.
They could use the plains to grow food and expand for a while. Though Harry himself also wanted to restore the land the Valyrians sowed with salt and sulphur, making it fertile. In a show of good will Harry even used his language spell to learn the language of old Ghis in its entirety and taught it to five scholars, who now could teach it further.
Of course, he didn't do these things without insurance. He demanded a blood-oath in form of a written contract from the woman. She was to be loyal, not betray him or his people consciously at least. Prevent such a thing to the best of her ability from others, abolish slavery completely wherever she found it on her land and obey his direct command.
When the signature written in their blood was finished the parchment glowed a bit signifying the establishment of its terms. For all these terms she also got some money from the imprisoned slavers as an incentive. With it she could do as she liked as long as it was in the border of the agreement.
One thing Shirego had written in her demands on the contract Harry had to scratch out of it. Otherwise he would be obligated to have sex with her three times a week. Thank all the gods in existence that he read that thing before signing it. Her eyes going below waist level more than a few times in the negotiations were an indicator of her less than pure thoughts concerning him. The many male slaves he had freed from her were another.
With all cleared in New Ghis and its new ruler behind him Harry transported all of his troops back to Chroyane.
Qarth had to wait until his wives were recovered, because the city had ancient wards over it, protecting the equally ancient city. Probably one of the bigger reasons Valyria never conquered them despite having no reason not to do so. Another reason Harry waited was that he wouldn't deprive them of their own revenge on these so called warlocks.
At the moment Harry looked for Gabrielle and Fleur, having remembered that the brew for the fire protection was still good as long as the comet was in the sky, which it still was. He had no idea if they needed it, with being Veela and creatures of fire and passion, but wanted to be on the safe side due to them only having a quarter of the Veela blood.
After a while of walking he arrived at their chambers. It wasn't a long walk from his room to theirs only a few doors away. Knocking on it he heard a muffled "Enter" and did just that.
Upon closing the door behind himself and turning around Harry saw two completely naked Veela lying on the bed with their bodies lying on the side, heads nearly touching in an ninety degree angle to each other and their gaze directed at him.
This time Harry was prepared, having suspected such action from the two of them. Surprisingly it wasn't even eve when they decided to do it. The conquest of Astrapor and New Ghis having taken not very long at all with his tactics and superior forces.
The Boy-Who-Lived walked over to the bed, sitting himself down between them, saying. "You both know that I have four wives?" it was a rhetorical question. He himself told them that little fact.
Both just nodded mutely as they crawled over to him, their breasts seductively on display for him to see and began to kiss their way up his arms on his still naked form.
"And you know I won't leave them and you both have no problem with that?" he asked groaning as their nimble fingers caressed his arms, back and front. Not really believing them to not care that he already had four wives and two crazy priestesses who all wanted his attention in one way or another. The rest of the population not counted into that whole mess.
"Why would we?" Fleur whispered enticingly in his ear as she massaged his muscles on his shoulder. "We would have to share you amongst ourselves anyway." now they shifted as Fleur took to sit on his left side with her right arm going behind his back and putting his left around her waist. Fleur's left hand playing with Harry's wand.
Gabrielle was mirroring her sister, but cupping and fondling his jewels instead. Their perfect, perky and delicious looking busts pressing into his sides as they leaned into him.
Harry again groaning bit out "Oh, I don't know?" taking a deep breath, which was something Harry did often these days, he went on. "Maybe, because you really shouldn't be okay with it or me having more than one wife." his upbringing in the prudish Dursley household didn't really prepare him for this.
He accepted Andromeda, Bellatrix, Narcissa and Marcella, because he himself was confused to love them all equally, hoping that it would resolve peacefully in time. Maybe one or two of them noticing that they not really loved him and searching for new lovers. Something that was problematic with the bond they shared. However not out of the realm of possibilities. Like one could see it did not happen and by the looks of things wouldn't in the future.
At that both looked directly into his emerald eyes with Gabrielle beginning softly. "We wouldn't force you to choose between your wives and us." her smile towards him was as radiant as the sun with her perfectly straight and white teeth.
"Fleur and I know that you love them and us in equal parts." kissing his chest Fleur picked up where her sister left off, while drawing circles on his hand. "With a heart as big as yours you can easily give us as much love as a normal man would be able to give one of us alone." her blue eyes holding nothing but love in them.
That was something Harry still couldn't really wrap his head around. "Why me?" he whispered, sounding kind of lost in that moment. Harry may be over most of his torment and abuse at the hands of the Dursleys, but the thing clinging persistently to his soul was the thought and in the beginning near conviction that he couldn't be loved. Ten years of someone constantly telling you that would do that to anyone.
Both sisters eyes grew as stormy as the sea. Knowing exactly what was going on inside him. They after all had visited the Dursleys in search for him and later squeezed every bit of information out of Harry's so called friends.
Every blind half-wit could've figured it out that he had an atrocious home life. They knew and did nothing to help him at all, only following the Headmasters orders like the sheep they were. The old geezer did not even have any authority over what Harry was allowed to do outside of school and what not. Regardless, his so called friends at the time did nothing. Hermione was incapable of doing things without someone telling her it was alright and Ron was only a craven, running when things got difficult or he had to put in an effort to stay Harry's friend.
Seeing him look so worn and lost tore at their hearts. It was only made worse by knowing what he would do for the ones he loved. Harry would cross an ocean to help someone dear to him, while all others at home did not even deigned him worthy enough to cross a puddle. Those who did were either dead or like his godfather had been imprisoned.
Decision made Gabrielle said with an unadulterated passion and fire burning in her eyes and heart. "Because you are brave, strong, chivalrous." each characteristic was accompanied with a butterfly kiss on his body. Fleur picked up where her sister left of. "Compassionate, dependable, faithful." kissing the opposite side of his body. Changing again who spoke the younger Veela continued. "Firm, forgiving, gentle, kind and loving and so much more."
"We couldn't have asked for a better mate!" exclaimed Fleur strongly as she stroked his cheek with one hand. "We know you won't do something with us that would hurt your wives in any way." her voice growing softer the more she talked. "You wouldn't be the man we fell in love with, if you did." after all who was to say Harry wouldn't do that behind their and his wives backs should he have done it right now with them behind his wives back.
Harry didn't know what to say, much like when his wives did that to him. He just smiled with a few tears pooling in his eyes, which he did not repress and let fall freely. Hugging them both, saying in a voice as light as the breeze in spring. "Thank you."
Both Veela sisters just reciprocated the gesture, not mindful of their nudeness. With that behind them the three stayed like this for a minute. After which Gabrielle asked, still leaning into him. "Why did you come to our room? We both know it wasn't to do something naughty." the grin on her face was teasing.
Now that his brain had rebooted Harry said. "You're right." with his own playful grin that made place for a more serious expression "I came to tell you that a ritual I prepared is still ready to be used and give you an advantage."
"What does it do?" asked Fleur curious with an inquisitive gleam in her eye.
"Well," Harry began "it makes you immune to all damage done by normal fire, dragon fire or other magical fire as well as to damage done by heat or other things like boiling water, hot metal and magma. Pretty much any damage done by fiery means."
There was something in their expression that Harry couldn't quite place, but it was nothing negative.
A giddy Gabrielle asked. "How does it work exactly? With what means does it achieve this?"
Seeing no harm in it Harry explained "You surely know the four elements wind, water, earth and fire and their symbolism." anyone magical knew it so he went on "Like you also know the human body can be broken down in equal parts of the four elements, symbolically. Earth provides the body, water the intensities, wind the lungs and fire the spark of life and mind and so on. What the ritual does is increase the amount of fire element you possess." much like other magical creatures had one element stronger than the others.
Dryads were strongly aligned to earth. Merpeople obviously were strong in water. Dragons to fire and Golden Snidgets in wind. There were many more as well. Though, Harry wondered why they were so interested in the mechanics behind it.
Both of the sisters squealed as they jumped onto him, hugging him tight. A bit perplexed at their reaction he asked. "Why are you so happy about that?" sure it was a great boon to be immune to all kinds of fire and heat, but he found this a bit much.
Still smiling and practically vibrating Fleur illuminated him. "Easy. You said it yourself with the explanation you've given. Like dragons Veela are beings of fire, but due to our mother and grandmother having children with wizards and not muggles the fire element in us is considerably weaker than normal in Veela." typically they would already have what Harry was going to give them with the ritual. Veela weren't fire nymphs for nothing.
Promptly both kissed him in gratitude their smiles not even leaving their faces as they walked towards where the fire crab cauldron now stood.
On the way Harry remembered that they would also need clothes and asked. "Do you have some armour or clothes you can take with you into the ritual?" he wouldn't want them to suddenly stand naked when their clothing burned down. Although he had no idea how that should happen in a non combat situation.
"We have some armour out of Mithril." commented Gabrielle casually as she skipped into step with Harry, again taking his arm between her breasts. The man in question just looked her in the eye with a raised brow as if wanting to know where they got that.
Fleur answered it, knowing something like that was rare. "Our family has them as heirlooms. Veela are fierce fighters after all. We also fought in the war against the muggles after we left the useless Order of the Phoenix, much like you did and armour gave us an advantage." not to mention that in the past many wizards tried to capture Veela as sex-slaves, with that they were prepared accordingly. The emphasis should be on the tried. Some succeeded, most did not, due to spells that exerted a physical force being blocked by the armour. Inconveniences like tripping jinxes could always be blocked by a Protego. The only spells of any danger were the unblock-able Unforgivable ones, but the Imperio did not work all that good on Veela, much like with Werewolfs or giants. The killing or torture curses weren't used for obvious reasons. Who wanted to fuck a dead or constantly twitching body?
Interested in their equipment Harry asked "Which weapons do you use?"
With a proud air around herself and her sister Gabrielle replied. "We fight with the Rapier, learned it since we were little." at least one thing tradition did that was advantageous. Sure, they had to persuade their father, but that was easy enough for them.
Harry looked at them appraisingly, assessing them in a new light. "Nice." the raven-haired wizard said and added shortly. "I pity the fools who try to take you down." the comment earned him two beaming smiles from proud Veela.
After the two had summoned their armour Harry inspected it, searching for things he could improve before it would be made impossible to melt down. He found several things for him to add and enhance, with input from Fleur and Gabrielle. The shirt and trouser made from the bulletproof leather of a Snallygaster was perfect as it was. With the same design and enchantments as his own.
The armour out of Mithril was transfigured from its plain look to one with a eagle motif. The shoulder plates now looked like the heads of eagles. The beaks going down the shoulder and the eyes represented by sapphires. The armour for arms, shins, elbows and hands looked as if it were feathers with claws going over the hands and feet. The breast plate remained plain and left the shoulder blades free for their wings to come out, but the lower back was covered. The Mithril armour got the same enchantments as his own.
The anti-arrow shield was on their rings like his own, but he also got an idea to improve them, besides making them out of Mithril. However, he would wait for his wives to wake up to give it to them too. The two of them had seen the chokers from Melisandre and Kinvara and obviously wanted the same protection. So he crafted another two golden chokers with black runes with a unicorn horn hanging from it.
One other thing they had lying with their armour was most peculiar. It was Dumbledore's wand. When Harry asked how they got it Fleur replied that the wand was in their bag the first time they had looked into it after arriving in this world. The wand out of elder would not obey either of them.
Harry knew the legend of the hallows and how exactly the wand got passed from owner to owner. The question was how did he kill Dumbledore. The answer was he didn't and neither did he defeat the old man in a duel. No, it was Andromeda who killed him albeit with unorthodox means. So that meant the moment he defeated Andy in a duel of their own the wand was his.
Curious Harry got the cloak and the stone from his own ring. The moment they touched it looked as if their magic left them expect a tiny bit in each. The cloak wouldn't turn him invisible, the stone did not summon the dead and the wand was left useless, expect that it seemed to increase the ability of things. An example was when he had put it in a fire it only made the fire burn hotter. That only made all of it more interesting.
Acting on a hunch and instinct, Harry reformed his own sword, while adding a little Mithril from Gryffindor's Sword. The enchantments were inside the steel and wouldn't leave it only be reshaped into a new form.
Harry choose the design of a double-edged Bastard-sword, which was why he needed the extra Mithril. To make it a little longer and give himself more reach.
The elder wand went into the haft, that was carved into the image of a phoenix whose wings made the guard and was out of dragon bone charmed to the colour white instead of the usual black. The wand was touching the blade inside. Harry put the resurrection stone into the pommel that were the claws of the phoenix. The blade itself remained its black colour with the silver ripples inside it. The golden runes were once more added as well, between the two fullers of the blade on either side. All enchantments were still active as well as the poison.
The only difference was that all of them were increased in efficiency. The blade would cut through stone and steel as if through cloth, leaving behind deep gashes that would never heal, should the victim survive that is. The blade still was enveloped in flames when he channelled magic into it.
The cloak couldn't go into the blade as well, obviously. So he used it the same way as some other materials. He transferred the attributes of it to his battle robes. The effects were interesting. It made the robes look like they were sucking in the light around them and had wisps of shadow leaving the edge of the fabric constantly, while also concealing his movements. Meaning it was more difficult for an opponent to read his body-language to know what came next.
However, all of this paled in comparison to what happened as Gabrielle and Fleur stepped into the cauldron with their full armour, choker and jewellery on, diving beneath the surface of the liquid.
Two incredibly beautiful women went inside and after a few moments of anticipation two angelic godesses stepped out.
Their bodies transformed into pure ethereal beauty, otherworldly perfection and absolute symmetry in all things, down to the last hair on their eye-brows and perfectly curved eye-lashes. The grace both had could only be described as balletic and seraphic, fitting as how they looked like Seraphim come down from the heavens. The Veela were looking like they glided on the ground instead of walking and looking regal and powerful while doing such a simple act.
Silver-gold hair falling in waves to their calves that literally shone with a light of its own. Blue eyes the colour of perfectly cut sapphires. Full alluring pink lips on their heart-shaped faces, with such white and perfect teeth behind them that Harry thought they could blind someone with a radiant smile alone. Skin the colour of pure, flawless ivory while looking sinfully soft. Not a single blemish on it or just one thing uneven. Both were slim, but had also perfect curves and were tall with long toned legs that seemed to go on forever as well as her toned stomach with faint outlines of their abs. The breast were full, with more than a good handful and their figure a perfect hourglass. Their feathery wings were out at their backs and the typical silver aura only added and enhanced the picture.
If there was such a thing as goddesses then they stood before Harry at this very moment. It took his considerable skill in Occlumency to not lose himself. His eyes alternating between clear and glazed as he grit his teeth, biting the inside of his cheek to use the pain as a distraction. It worked somewhat.
"Could you please stop using your Allure?" Harry requested, biting his lip with his sharp incisors and drawing blood Harry added somewhat befuddled. "What happened?" that wasn't supposed to happen.
"Sorry!" both said sheepishly as they repressed their Allure, letting Harry breathe easier once more.
Taking a few deep calming breaths Harry commented jesting. "That will take some time to get used to." at least Harry hoped that he would build up a better resistance to it or he would be pretty much screwed. Not to mention all the other men out there. Repressing their aura was paramount in such situations.
'Bloody hell, people could fling mud and shit at them. Clothe them in potato sacks and they still would outshine everyone else.' hiding them was impossible at that point. Harry doubted that even glamours would work, besides it being nearly a criminal act to hide such divine beauty. "Do you have any idea what happened to make you so... breathtaking angelic." Harry wondered out loud.
Blushing at the compliment, that ridiculously enough only enhanced the beauty, Fleur took a guess. "I think that due to our fire-element being elevated to the highest level we became full Veela as a result." looking herself and Gabrielle up and down. Her sister doing the same beside the older Veela.
It sounded logical, but damn, even the voice of hers was so captivating and bewitching that Harry was sure she could ask a man to jump of a cliff for her and he would do it in a heartbeat. Weaponized beauty, a scary thought and dangerous reality right now, for every ordinary man that is. Also driving the point home that refuges for Veela were as much for the protection of them as for the men themselves.
After that was finished Harry practically ran from the room. Only to let them get comfortable in their new skin, of course.
He arrived at his room with his wives in it, hoping they would hurry up and wake from their slumber. 'Tomorrow they hopefully are awake.' Harry prayed in his head as he lay down to sleep with the moon being outshone by the still in the air hanging bleeding star.
The next morning as the emerald-eyed wizard woke up it was different than the last time. He was in a dark place with strangely warm restrains on his limbs. As he tried to prop his head up to survey the room something laying on his head prevent such, this too was oddly soft. Just as the thing his head was resting on. Only as his ears picked up the familiar sleepy voices of his wives mumbling did he know what must've happened.
Harry from then on just laid in bed, enjoying their presence once more after the absence. At the same time thinking on how he should explain all that had happened while they were out of it.
Time seemed to fly by as he comfortably lay in between the bodies of the four of them. The long silence was only interrupted by shifting bodies on the sheets and the cute mumbling of Bellatrix and Marcella in their sleep. It continued like this until Narcissa shifted, freeing his head somewhat. Seeing he was awake she gave him a brilliant smile and leaned down to kiss him.
He reciprocated it with enthusiasm, tasting her sweet lips on his own, their tongues playing with one another as both explored each others mouths again.
As Narcissa broke away she cuddled again into Harry with him only saying. "I missed you!" hugging her close into his chest, while smelling her hair and taking in Narcissa's scent.
One after one his wives woke up and did as they did every morning. Greeting him with a kiss and some groping, though sex was not done due to them still a bit out of it.
Harry did not really look forward to explaining what happened in the time of their unconsciousness. All four listened with rapt attention as their husband explained what happened after the assassination attempt on them. The interrogation of the assassins, whose corpses now rotted in the dungeon. Harry explained the siege as good as he could as well as the following conquest of Meereen and Yunkai.
After these came the explanation of how two people from home found their way to them. The last Potter could've sworn he saw Marcella's, Narcissa's and Andromeda's eye twitch at the mention of Veela. Portraying the taking over of Astrapor was done fast with nothing much to say. Lastly came the tale of New Ghis and in which manner he conquered it. Harry tried to make his argument as sound as possible for the usage of the war paint. All in all he thought it went well.
Momentarily as Harry stopped talking all their stomachs growled in unison. Taking that as a signal to stop talking and start making breakfast Harry and his four bedmates. The walk was done in silence and Harry left them to enter the dining room in favour of going to the kitchen and make the breakfast.
The moment the four entered the room they saw four figures at the table. The red priestesses were a usual sight at the table, but the other two were not. Silver-gold hair that glowed, sapphire blue eyes and and all around perfect body that was on the level of Aphrodite. They themselves had nothing to complain, about their body, but theirs did not have the same aura or feel of it being truly divine.
Still, these two ignited a spark of jealousy in the four of them, knowing these two hussies like nearly all women they met want to steal their husband from them.
Sitting down at the table a tense silence filled the room, nobody willing to break it. Not until Fleur sighed. "Good morning." saying it friendly and smiling in an attempt to get them to stop glaring at her and Gabrielle.
It worked somewhat. Melisandre and Kinvara, who Gabrielle and herself met just this morning and had a pleasant chat up until now, responded in kind.
Unimpressed the now four Black sisters said back flatly. "Good morning." not once breaking their gaze from the two Veela, as if one moment of inattention would lead them to Harry's bed.
Deciding to be blunt like she usually was Fleur stated. "I am guessing you don't like my sister and I very much."
With narrowed eyes Marcella retorted. "What gave you that idea? Every wife just loves it when her husband brings home more beautiful women." her eyes still narrowed and directed at the two Veela in suspicion, thinking about if they used their Allure on Harry or not.
Gabrielle responded in kind. "Harry did not bring us. We came to him!" it was a difficult task to keep her anger in check and she failed somewhat as her aura escaped a bit. "Though, I don't see a reason why he shouldn't have wives who appreciate him." she added flippantly as she swung her hair over her shoulder.
That of course did nothing to placate the other four women. "How dare you?" pointing an accusing finger at the two Andromeda said. "You hussies probably have only used your Allure on him to exploit his good nature." It was uncharacteristic for her to be the first to accuse, but the rest only thought she was angered by the two Veela invading into her home and house.
Now it was Fleur's turn to butt in. "We tried, knowing he had you as wives!" she said in a normal volume, but despite that she was effectively shutting the others up.
Before they could shout and yell the eldest Delacour cut them of by going on. "He did not reciprocate our advances." Fleur admitted. "And we did not want him to do so, because what is to say he wouldn't betray us in the same way later on."
The honest sounding explanation effectively shut the four up. With only Narcissa asking with a growl at the back of her throat. "If we let these two join in, then where does it end?" looking from face to face she practically said to them with her eyes and shortly after with words. "There are approximately thirty-thousand women who would like nothing more than to fuck Harry. That would be like inviting them all in."
Now growing more annoyed she balled her hands to fists. "That in turn would mean reducing our time with Harry to such an insignificant amount it wouldn't even be worth mentioning." she saw in all their faces that such would be the last thing they wanted.
Sighing Gabrielle replied firmly, her features twisting from a terrifying beak and harpy from hell to a goddess come to earth and back. "We will not give up on him!" they did not come to a whole new world and waited more than a decade to be rejected now! Such a thing was unacceptable and incomprehensible for the two Veela. Much like the two red priestesses they needed to be together with Harry. A Veela could only have one mate that was perfect for her.
It varied from Veela to Veela who that could be, since it depended on her expectation. The closer a man was to these ideals the stronger the pull towards him. Both of them were raised in the same home and therefore got the same ideals. It was also kind of telling that both waited so long. The only reason that they could wait this long at all was, because he neither rejected or accepted them. Well, not until they contacted him in his sleep.
Fleur explained it to them as best as she could, while suppressing her now much stronger Veela instincts telling her to rip these women to pieces for daring to keep her from her mate. It helped that she pictured what Harry would think of her if she did that. On top of the whole 'I killed your wives' situation, it would make him certainly sad and not improve their relationship.
Bellatrix was pretty accepting of the situation, but she also thought that more women for Harry were never a bad thing as long as she had enough time with him. One after one they grudgingly accepted.
"How are we supposed to keep all the others at bay, when we always let new ones in?" asked Marcella annoyed, falling back into her chair. 'Why does Harry have to be so damned irresistible?'
For the first time Kinvara butted in. "Well, they wouldn't really intrude." upon having all eyes on her the red priestess continued unperturbed. "They just want children from him, like their tradition demands."
That caused all of the rest, besides Melisandre to snort out loud. "As if that would happen, Harry is not the sort of man to give a woman a child and then not care for it and her." stated Narcissa as she huffed at the audacity of these women. Sure it was their culture, but they really could have other men father their children.
"Can't they just find other ones. I am sure many men would jump at the chance to fuck them." Narcissa was barely suppressing her sneer at that, but better them than herself and sister-wives.
The conversation was interrupted by Harry, who arrived with a truly humongous meal. High stacked Pancakes with syrup, blueberries and raspberries. Bacon and eggs, either scrambled or fried. Different breads with croissants under them. Jams and marmalade of different kinds served with butter. Some peaches and melon slices. Freshly brewed coffee and tee with milk nearby should someone wish to add it to their drink.
A bit exasperated Andromeda asked "Harry. Where did you get all this?" motioning to the many tablets floating on the table where all other occupants were nearly drooling at the sight.
Amused Harry sat himself down at the head of the table, saying cheekily. "I made it. You know, in the kitchen." he tried to hold in his laughter at her truly gaping expression, but he couldn't.
Huffing with a slight upwards twitch of her lips she elaborated. "That's not what I meant." all other expect the red priestesses snickering at her in good humour.
Still a bit laughing Harry replied. "I know, but you should have seen your face." chuckling his eyes now shining with mirth in them. "I guess you mean where I got the jam, marmalade, backing powder and other stuff that we don't have?" at her nod he explained "Well the jam and marmalade I made one night as I couldn't sleep and for the backing powder and others." now sheepishly scratching his head he answered "I kind of used alchemy to make them." Transmutation was good for more things than to turn one metal into another.
Raising an eye-brow she queried "So you used a highly complicated magical practise to make ingredients to cook?" one could practically hear the incredulity in her voice.
Shrugging his shoulders he replied "Why not?" It wasn't as if he abused it that way. Turning to Fleur and Gabrielle he asked "Did I remember correctly that you like fresh coffee and croissant with jam?" the question was unnecessary as they were already in the process of getting some of it on their plates.
Looking to him with a smile that like nearly all they did enhanced their beauty Gabrielle said. "Oui, mercy mon amour!" falling back into French for the moment with how pleased both were that he remembered it after such a long time, only solidifying what they thought of him.
The breakfast was finished in record time by the famished women. When everything was eaten and send away per magic Harry asked "Have you discussed anything while I was cooking?" as innocently as possible, hoping to get some information concerning what they all thought of the situation.
"Yes" chirped Fleur. A nearly permanent smile on her face since yesterday. "We came to the conclusion that Gabrielle and I will join your... arrangement." she would've preferred to only have to share him with her sister, but this was better than to kill them and hide the bodies. Something like that would've only been possible when they weren't bound to Harry already. If that would've been the case right now the four women before her could be certain of a deadly attack coming their way.
Frowning Harry turned to his wives. "And you are okay with this?" Heck, he himself did not know how he himself would feel when one of them would choose an additional lover. Besides themselves that is. He wanted them to be happy, so maybe he would allow it. Then there was the not so small fact that he didn't even propberly know them let alone love.
Resolutely Narcissa said. "Yes, but these are the last that will do so. Every other one will be rejected!" the biggest reason was that she knew how far full Veela, which these two apparently now were, would go to be with their chosen mate. Killing everything in their path was the nice description. Most times even the mate should he reject them in favour of another. All four of them wouldn't risk such a thing as to create a powerful enemy out of the two Veela. Like that they were at least an asset.
Now Melisandre butted in asking her own questions regarding the two. "What are you exactly?" the only response were confused faces. "You only said that you were Veela, but not what these are." in all her long life Melisandre never heard of the species they claimed to belong to.
Now understanding Gabrielle explained "Well, Veela are in essence Fire nymphs. Creatures of passion, love and fire" cupping her hand she created a silver fire-ball in it and snuffed it out shortly after. "We can also enthral men to do our bidding." now putting her index-finger to her chin in thought the younger Veela pondered what else there was to tell of importance. "Other than that the only important thing to mention is that Harry is our mate." standing up the Veela walked towards Harry and plopped herself in his lap, kissing his neck and snuggling deeper into him.
Harry just accepted the amorous Veela, who tried to melt into his body with her own. Her actions send shivers down his spine and the sweet whispered words of indescribable pleasure she would give him did nothing to help reduce that. Nonetheless Harry let her have some fun, but all things had to come to an end. As he stood up Gabrielle still clung to his arm, while her sister took the other. Intent to get as much contact with him as possible.
Harry led them all to a room where he had stored his newest project. Disentangling himself from the two clingy Veela he walked over to a trunk. Quickly opened with a spell he pulled out a bag. Before he could open and show what was in it Bellatrix asked the question. "What's in it?" while trying to peer inside over his shoulder.
Used to Bella's antics he just opened the bag and emptied in on a table nearby. Falling out of it were jewels of many different colours. Knowing that Harry wouldn't show them something useless Marcella was the first to speak "What is special about them?"
Grinning Harry picked some of the stones up. "These are Phoenix flint." he expected the confused expressions. Not many knew about them so he explained. "They are normally found in regurgitated pellet from indigestible plant material that Phoenixes throw up after a while. While the pellets have strong healing properties these stones serve a different purpose."
Enjoying their rapt attention he drew it out a bit and a moment before one of them could ask he did it for them. "They protect the wearer from cold. Be it cold in high places or the cold of winter." playing with the stones in his hand a little. "I thought it would be a good idea to replace the gems in your rings with them." Another bonus was that they wouldn't need the enchantments for climate control on their armour to be resistant against cold and heat. Both were no problem for them now.
Harry enjoyed the gob-smacked expressions of his wives as Fleur asked "Where did you get them? A Phoenix isn't really common and its even less common for them to stay and puke gems out." perplexed at how he could've gotten at these rare gems and in such a quantity too.
In response Harry just transformed fully after he laid down the gems and flew up on the table where they now were. Singing a peaceful tune with notes in it that sounded like laughter. Both Veela were at his side in an instant, petting him and bombarding him with questions. Harry himself just relished it when they scratched him under his beak and on his belly, causing him to tap his talons on the table in enjoyment and them to giggle. After a short while he felt something coming up again, probably from the last time still.
Both Veela stopped scratching him when he began to make odd noises in the back of his throat. "What's wrong?" Gabrielle fretted over him, but was relieved a bit later when he regurgitated another pellet with more Phoenix flint in them. Some red, blue and yellow.
Transforming back Harry cast an Aguamenti, filling a conjured glass to get the taste out of his mouth. "Still doesn't taste good."
"You're a Phoenix Animagus?" asked a giddy Fleur with her sister mirroring her enthusiasm. The birds played a significant role in Veela myths and lore. Only making him more attractive towards them. Gabrielle exclaimed gushing beside Fleur "That's wonderful!"
The emerald-eyed wizards only nodded and scratched his cheek in embarrassment, while a small blush appeared on it. If it was due to their Allure he at the moment wasn't resistant to or something else was anyone's guess.
Coughing in his hand to get back on topic Harry said "Anyway, I stored the pellets in the potions lab and thought it a good idea to wear them, so that we don't need our armour for protection against unpleasant temperatures anymore." grabbing in his pockets Harry pulled out two other rings of Mithril out. Like the rest they had golden runes on them as well as ruby red Phoenix flint. "Last time I forgot to give you two your own." looking at Melisandre and Kinvara.
Curiously and giddy Kinvara asked "What do they do?" she knew that they would keep her comfortably warm in every weather, but it had to serve another function as well. Melisandre meanwhile could only be proud of herself at having even more proof, in her mind at least, that Harry was Azor Ahai. With all the things he had done and was, he now had two Fire nymphs by his side while giving her jewels made by his body to ward against cold. Her belief in him by now so strong it was unshakable.
Harry was answering the question, while he took the rings from his wives to modify them. "They will protect you from arrows and other projectiles. Any projectile coming your way will be destroyed by an invisible shield." After he collected all rings he performed a simple switching spell to switch out the normal gems against the shinier and more useful Phoenix flint he cut himself. His wives got ones the colour of amethysts. Fleur and Gabrielle got ones the colour of sapphires. While he himself took also an emerald coloured one.
"Why do you have just an emerald?" Fleur asked as she saw his stone in the old gold ring her wore.
Puzzled Harry wanted to reply, but was interrupted by Marcella stating somewhat coldly. "Because it fits his eyes." well there was also the reason that it was none of the hussies business. On a different note Marcella knew she was childish, but also wanted to keep Harry as close as possible.
Huffing the Veela shot the other woman a mean look, which vanished as soon as she turned it back to Harry. "I meant that such a simple stone isn't enough for a king." her nose turned up at the other women.
"King?" Harry said with a blank look. "I am no king." It was said flatly and was sounding more as if Harry tried to convince himself more than others. Reluctant messiah for pyromaniacs so that they did not burn down everything, yes. But king? No.
Before Melisandre, Kinvara or god forbid Bellatrix said something tactless, despite not wanting to do so or only seeing the good in being king, Andromeda said "Harry you might not know it or acknowledge it, but you conquered much land and big cities. Of course, you will be seen as a king, from your people and from others outside of it. Even if you not do so yourself."
From his morphing expression she knew that he hadn't even wasted a single thought on that. It finally settled on reluctant acceptance with him nodding and a sigh escaping past his lips as if he was trying to expel all his frustration with the breath he released.
In the end Harry had an idea of his own. Without saying a word he grabbed the bag after putting the gems back in, walked out of the room and palace towards the forge. Where the Goblet of Fire still stood. He arrived with the first smiths to pick up their work, but all interrupted it in favour of greeting him.
Harry greeted them back as best he could even though he was more focussed on the still glowing goblet. He grabbed the goblet with his hands and put it on the ground, erecting a vacuum around it while wearing a bubble-head charm. Afterwards he poured all of the gems inside it and added a good deal of pressure on them with a Deprimo. When all conditions for melting gems were met Harry watched as they all blended together in a mixture, possessing a myriad of colours. Next he conjured a form for it to be poured into and did just that shortly after.
All work had stopped as their unofficial leader went to work with the object none could touch without melting their flesh and making their bones brittle from the heat.
The women in his life watched as he worked with magic to create something out of the many Phoenix flints. As he was finished the vacuum field and pressure was dispelled and the goblet put back to its previous place. The form was cooled with the aid of magic.
When it was finished Harry took out the gem he made for himself. It was the shape of an egg and was approximately a third of ones size. The most captivating thing was that it shined with every colour of the rainbow as light was fractured through it. Inside the gem was the symbol of the Hallows, looking as it it was encased like a bee in amber. As Harry stared at it he couldn't help but laugh out loud, even though he himself put it in.
Before anyone could ask what was wrong he said. "I can't believe I just see it now." chuckling at the cold irony of it all. All the questions hurled his way were only a variation of a single one, so he answered it. "Do you see the symbol inside it?" showing them the gem and the crest of the Peverell family.
"The coat of arms of the Peverell family?" wondered Bellatrix out loud as she marvelled at the beautiful stone Harry made. By now all others were no longer surprised at her bouts of knowledge. "Why did you work it into the stone?"
So Harry explained his connection with the family through his father. The history of the Peverells and the legend of the three brothers and their artefacts to Melisandre and Kinvara together with the happenings when he put all of them together.
"Normally the triangle is the cloak, the circle the stone and the line the wand." the more he talked the more exited the audience got. "But, all this means something different alchemically." Harry traced the shapes one after another as he spoke. "The upright triangle standing for the element of fire. The circle standing for the sun and the vertical line representing man standing upright, symbolizing the connection between the heavens and the earth as well as the soul striving for union with the Divine."
Melisandre held her tongue at that just barely, lest her talking had the opposite effect. Despite all the evidence for him being Azor Ahai overwhelming.
Kinvara did so for Melisandre in her pure euphoria at the new information. "What means Master of Death then?" fantasies of him being immortal flying through her head. It would certainly be more than fitting.
The last Potter just grinned, knowing what she probably thought. "It just means that you accept Death as inevitable and a part of life. You don't seek it out or anything, but when it comes it just does. That is probably why the artefacts lost their power when put together under one owner who does just that." shrugging his shoulders at the end.
Harry knew what lay down the road of Immortality. One result of it was Voldemort, not a pretty one. Besides, who wanted to live forever? Not his cup of tea, if he was honest. "All the three brothers had something in common. Searching for ways to circumvent Death. One tried to beat it with force. Another tried to prevent it altogether, but ended up losing himself. The last one was craven and tried to evade something that simply could not be avoided."
Now Melisandre's voice cut in. Her smooth and sonorous voice holding something sharp in it as she spoke, though not directed at Harry. "Don't speak of accepting death. The Great Other, the god of ice and death lays down that way. Only the Lord of Light R'hllor, the god of life, heat and fire can defeat him." her speech passionate and captivating as always.
Having expected that Harry didn't even sigh anymore, but tried to explain regardless. "One can argue about that, but death can't be without life. In a way death even sustains life." motioning outside of the window to the vegetation he continued. "The dead leaves of autumn provide nourishment for the trees, dead animals provide food. If everyone would life forever the population would grow and grow until there wouldn't be anymore room. People would starve and needlessly suffer, but unable to pass on."
Now Narcissa interjected with words of her own. Hoping to get through to the red priestesses. "From what I read the Great Other isn't so much about death as undeath." now pondering quick what to say she got an idea. "Think of it like that." holding out one palm she said. "On the one hand we have R'hllor for life and eventually the afterlife."
Then she opened the other "On the other side is the Great Other who wants to make us all into his thralls to serve him eternally as undead minions. Unable to move on forever bound to our body." she did not really believe in the Great Other and R'hllor or the White walkers associated with the former, but the red priestesses did and that's what was important right now.
"There are worse things than death." Bellatrix agreed, remembering her time in Azkaban. There had been times she had wished for death, most of all after she had felt the Dark mark of her former master fading away to nothing.
Harry saw that they were thinking about it, but weren't entirely convinced. 'Fuck it! If I have to be some hero figure then I at least will have a say in how its done!' he thought before he said "Who else would know better than Azor Ahai?" while he saw Kinvara nearly immediately accepting his line of thought Melisandre had something else in her eyes at him so casually accepting his given title.
The old red priestess knew he did not believe himself to be Azor Ahai, though that did not mean he wasn't. Although, she didn't say anything when he seemed to accept it. Melisandre knew manipulating him with sex or promises of power wouldn't work. Something that frankly baffled as well as bothered her a bit.
One could say that sex wouldn't work due to him having enough women already, but she herself seduced men with entire harems bigger than Harry's and they did not even put up much of a fight.
Power was more universal, because nearly everyone wants it. The problem was he already had more power than she could give him. Except her visions and predictions that is, but that were things he was sceptical about. Not dismissive, more like wary.
In her long life two things were always true, though. People want power and people with power look down on the ones without. Harry completely broke that concept. He had power in spades, be it magical, mental, physical or financial. However, he did not desire it for the sake of itself, but rather to better protect the people he cared about.
On top of it he did not look down on everyone, like all the other people with power do. A good example were the various so called masters. No, Harry strived to elevate them up giving them the tools to build something for themselves.
Normally Melisandre had expected to be already in his bed by now, influencing him to see things more like her. Maybe it was foolish, arrogant even of her to think she could influence the chosen champion of R'hllor so easily. 'Come to think of it why do I want to influence him anyway?' she wondered in her mind. The reasons for it were not all there, which was worrying. 'Have I repressed them? Do I even have reasons for it? Or am I simply that afraid to let people near me in fear of being used?' Centuries without someone to confine in would certainly do that to a person, she supposed.
Her experiences as a slave with people promising her a way out coming to the fore. Of course Melisandre had to give something in return. The betrayal was quick to follow, they took what little she had. Leaving her to fend for herself once again.
'Harry is different!' A small insistent voice whispered in her mind.
And indeed, if memory served her right he had in the time she was with him not once asked her to do something she wasn't ready to. Instead giving her magical education the likes only high standing Dragonlords of old had gotten. Artefacts Harry made himself for her protection even though she kind of pestered him.
Another big thing was the ritual she had undergone with all the rest. At first she thought it would make her unable to feel the flames in any way and sever her connection and bond to R'hllor. Making her distrustful of it, but she was then distracted by the dragons and forgot about it.
How wrong she had been. It was more like she was made part of the fire and always having a part of it in her. Also still feeling the pleasant heat on her skin, but now it did not hurt to touch the flames. Leaving no burns or any other blemishes on her ivory skin. They only felt more eager, more willingly responding to her call.
All in all Harry gave her youth, power and beauty freely, a dragon to care for and artefacts to protect her. He had no obligation to help her or even swear in return to protect her, but he did so anyway. Basically he went above and beyond what she expected of him.
The more she thought about it and him the stronger the feeling in her chest became. A feeling she felt more and more frequently in his presence. It was a sensation she was unaccustomed to, feeling like a knot that was about to untie where her heart was located.
Looking at Harry she wondered in a mixture of excitement and worry 'What is he doing to me?' The thrilling and frightening new experience crashing like waves over her as the knot literally snapped and unravelled. Leaving her with the revelation that she truly loved that man. Not for being Azor Ahai or a prophecy, but rather for being who he was and how he cared for her.
Melisandre's devotion to Harry becoming something more and now going beyond simply love, which was such a fickle thing.
A hand going to her left breast in an attempt to feel what was happening. Her efforts to suppress her emotion were failing her for the first time in centuries. Every wall build over the course of her long life unknowingly torn down, by the man before her. He was kind to her despite her withholding all information regarding herself. Did not pressure her to reveal anything she wasn't comfortable with.
Over the time she was with him he broke the cycle she had established for herself, in which she wandered around the world in her search. He had seen her at her lowest as she lay before him dying and helped her. Which was completely foreign to Melisandre. Normally people did not bother to help. Especially not the weak and helpless, which she definitely had been in that moment.
Even going so far as to helping her get stronger by leaps and bounds and only getting information in turn Harry could get somewhere else without paying such a costly price. He could've discarded her without a second thought. After all she was at that moment in time nothing more to him than a weak stranger claiming things, that for all he knew could be lies.
Regardless, the last Potter did nothing of the sort, proving himself in more ways than to hatch dragons, forge Lightbringer, enduring his life up until now and all the other evidence. He proved it every single day and Melisandre loved him for all of it.
Harry, who was finished transfiguring the simple gold ring of the Gaunt family to a more fitting one, did not notice the inner turmoil or thoughts of the old red priestess.
The ring looked now like two phoenixes opposite of each other, with their wings, touching at the tips spread high and wide. He put the stone into the now perfectly fitting socket. It reflected the light into all the rainbow colours with an ethereal glimmer in it. A bit pompous for Harry's tastes with the only reason he made it to satisfy the others, knowing they wouldn't stop until he got something like this. At least it was a single gem with an elegant design for the ring and was not overflowing with gems or even a ridiculously large one on it.
As Harry locked up he saw something he had not expected. An emotional Melisandre. The normally serene woman looked indecisive and a little scared, but her ruby eyes holding something new and different in them as they gazed upon him. "What's wrong?" he asked concerned for the usually unflappable woman. Hardly any time had passed after he uttered the question as a red blur shot at him, clinging to him for dear life.
For Melisandre his eyes looking at her with tenderness and his voice conveying genuine concern was the last straw of the chain reaction her thoughts had begun. Flinging herself at him, she just held him close. Her brain not really working to form a proper response.
She was revelling in the feeling of his strong arms holding her up. In his embrace she felt safe, safe from the world with nobody able to harm her. She didn't have to be strong here. No one was judging her worth or usefulness. A feeling of unconditional love and acceptance for who she is was enveloping her. Something Melisandre previously only had connected and felt with her god, R'hllor.
The last dam she had broke and for the first time for as long as her memory went she cried tears. Tears of relief and joy coupled with many other repressed emotions burst forth from behind her mask, pouring out of her like they never did before.
Harry just was confused, but acted like he always did when a crying woman was flinging herself at him and clinging to him. He hugged her back, comforting the woman with soothing circles drawn on her back. Though, the raven-haired man did not expect Melisandre to have such an extreme emotional reaction to him accepting the title she for a year wanted to give him. At least not the river of tears she was currently crying on his shoulder with Melisandre shuddering from the sobs she let out.
As he looked at the rest of the group Harry only saw either bafflement or confusion. Nobody really having a clue what prompted this response. Only Kinvara seemed to be smiling as if knowing what was going on.
It lasted a good five minutes for the distraught woman to calm down enough that she was coherent. As her brain engaged again and Melisandre saw who exactly had seen her like this, causing her to squeak. Only increasing her mortification and embarrassment.
Wiping her eyes with the long sleeves of her dress she apologized. "I'm sorry, my Lord. I shouldn't have let go of myself in such a deplorable manner." her head hanging low as she tried to extract herself from his embrace. The silence in the room getting to her nerves, Melisandre showing that behind her mask was an entirely different demeanour hidden.
Harry couldn't help but smile at how the red priestess reacted and behaved. Still smiling he took her chin in his hand, lifting her head up to him and wiping away the tears on her cheeks with his thumb. "You have nothing to apologize for." waving off her feeble protests he continued. "I don't know why you gifted me with your tears, but" pausing to look deep into her ruby eyes and to kiss her knuckles. Never breaking eye contact. "I shall treasure them. Tears of a women such as you, are worth more than diamonds and shining brighter than the stars." with a roughish smile playing on his lips.
Melisandre blushed at his words, knowing them to be honest. She could tell liars from a mile away. He never lied to her. It was more likely he would lie to protect, but not to the people he cared about. Harry only lied, like she learned from Narcissa, when it regarded his health. Acting boldly she captured his lips with her own. There was want and need in the kiss and a little passion as well.
All of it paled in comparison to the love the red woman was pouring into the lip-lock, however. Euphoria replaced the previous blend of emotion as he reciprocated the kiss.
Meanwhile the emerald-eyed wizard knew that the woman wouldn't leave his side for as long as he did not explicitly order her to do so. 'Great I have another Bellatrix.' Harry thought unsure if that is a good or bad thing. It took some time to get Bellatrix fit for society and teach her that maiming or killing everyone rude to him wasn't acceptable social behaviour.
Although, Melisandre did not seem like Bella. Sure she seemed to have a fetish for burning people and proclaiming him the saviour of humanity, but deep down she was centuries old and had nobody she could call friend, much less loved ones. Harry could only hope that like with the eldest Black Melisandre too would listen to him what regarded her 'special ticks'.
Breaking the kiss that felt like an eternity she leaned into his chest, trying to fuse with him and sighing in contentment. Harry just held her, letting Melisandre enjoy that moment. The battle for Qarth could wait a little longer.