CHAPTER FOUR:
THE TWILIGHT SKY cast a deep amethyst hue over the Redwood pack's clearing, creating an enchanting atmosphere. Samantha stood by Harry's side, her hand intertwined with his as they faced the pack's elders. His heart hadn't stopped racing since being officially accepted into this new family, and he couldn't help but glance at Samantha, her determined brown eyes meeting his green ones.
'Harry Potter,' began the oldest elder, his voice raspy yet commanding. 'You have shown great courage and loyalty to our pack in defending our princess Samantha Redwood. It is with honour that we have welcomed you into our family.'
'Thank you,' Harry replied, his voice firm despite the nerves coursing through him. He could still feel the packs emblem burning on his bicep.
'Kneel before us, young wizard,' the elder instructed.
Harry complied, kneeling on the soft forest floor. An elder stepped forward, dipping a wooden needle into a bowl of dark ink. As he approached, he pressed the needle into Harry's right arm, the emblem on his shoulder glistened slightly, a small hatch mark appeared right under the tattoo – a sign of the battles he has won.
'Rise, Harry Potter, and take your place among us,' the elder proclaimed, his voice laced with pride. Harry stood tall, the pack surrounding him in a circle of warmth and unity. Samantha squeezed his hand gently, her pride in him mirrored in her radiant smile.
'Thank you for accepting me into your family,' Harry began, his voice tinged with sorrow. 'I really appreciate it. I… wasn't expecting to be welcomed into your pack. And it is such a shame that it has happened when I have to leave so soon.'
There was a murmur among the elders, Giles' eyes never once left his daughter as they spoke.
The eldest elder sagely nodded to Harry, 'Know that you will always have a home here, among us. This is a right that you have earned,' the elder added, his tone solemn yet understanding.
'Thank you,' Harry whispered, his gaze lingering on Samantha, she continued to stare at the ground.
The elder besides the eldest hushed something into his ear. Alaric! Harry finally remembered. Beside him sat Esmeralda, her silver mane pulled back into a tight bun, revealing sharp cheekbones and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see into one's very soul. The other three elders formed a semicircle around the pair, each commanding respect in their own way.
'Harry Potter,' Alaric began, his voice deep and resonant like the rumble of distant thunder. 'We understand your reasons for leaving us, but there is a matter we must address before you go.'
'It has come to our attention,' continued Esmeralda, her tone measured and deliberate, 'that you and Samantha have been...intimate.'
A hot flush crept up Harry's cheeks, but he met her gaze head-on, determined not to show any signs of weakness.
'Yes,' Harry admitted, his voice steady despite his racing pulse. 'We have shared our love, and—'
'We are now a bonded pair.' Samantha finished, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around Harry's in a protective way. 'Bound by magic.'
Alaric stroked his beard thoughtfully, his ancient eyes flicking between Harry and Samantha. 'This bond you speak of,' he said slowly, 'it is… unconventional in the Redwood pack for a bonding to not occur during a ritual. This bond… it was driven by your love for her, yes? But also by your desire to gain more magical power and protect her from other male werewolves no doubt?'
'I care deeply for Samantha, and I would do anything to keep her safe.'
'Such a bond is powerful indeed,' murmured Esmeralda, her icy gaze never leaving Harry's face. 'But we must consider the implications for our pack. You have joined us, Harry Potter, but you will not remain with us. Will this bond not cause turmoil among our kind? Our princess has found her mate, but he cannot stay, and she cannot leave.'
As the council of elders exchanged uneasy glances, Harry stood tall, his emerald eyes blazing with determination. He knew that his feelings for Samantha was true and that their bond was sacred.
'Though I may not be here physically,' he declared, his voice firm and resolute, 'our bond transcends any distance or obstacle. I will always be connected to Samantha, and through her, to the Redwood pack. Our bond can only serve to strengthen us all.'
A tense silence settled over the council chamber, each elder's face etched with concern and uncertainty. The fire at the centre of the room crackled menacingly, casting flickering shadows on the walls that seemed to echo their apprehension.
'Your intentions may be honourable, Harry Potter,' began Elder Garret, his voice gravelly and weighed down by years of responsibility, 'but you must understand our concerns. The stability of the pack is paramount, and this bond between you two could have unforeseen consequences.'
'Indeed,' chimed in Elder Isabella, her piercing blue eyes narrowing at Harry. 'If other males within the pack perceive your bond as a threat, they may challenge you, which may lead to even more unrest.'
Harry clenched his fists. Something primal within him stirred at the thought of someone trying to muscle in. He took a deep breath, he knew he had to keep himself calm if he wanted to make it out alive.
'From the moment I met Samantha, I knew there was something special about her,' Harry began, his voice wavering slightly under the intensity of the elders' scrutiny. 'Her intelligence, her courage, and her fierce loyalty to her pack inspired me. I've never felt a connection like the one we now share before.'
He looked into Samantha's eyes, her gaze filled with a mixture of hope and fear. 'I love her,' he continued, his voice growing stronger. 'And I believe that our love is a force for good, not chaos. I want to protect her, to support her, and to help her become even stronger than she already is.'
As Harry spoke, Samantha's gaze did not leave his face. She reached deep down, and imagined a lake, and could see waves crashing and swirling as he spoke about her. She could see his passion for her. She knew the risks that came with their bond, but she also knew the depth of their love and the power it held.
'Furthermore,' Harry pressed on, his emerald eyes shining with determination, 'I understand that I cannot stay here with the pack forever. But I promise you this: our bond will not weaken the Redwood pack. Instead, it will create a bridge between our worlds, uniting us in our shared goal to protect those we care about.'
The council of elders exchanged glances, their expressions contemplative as they weighed Harry's words against their responsibilities to the pack. The fire crackled on, its flames dancing in the silence as they considered the fate of the young lovers before them.
Finally, the council of elders reached a consensus. The eldest among them, a grizzled werewolf with white fur and wise eyes, spoke up. 'We have decided to accept your bond with Samantha, Harry. She is now off-limits to all male werewolves within our pack. The bond, regardless of its form, is one of our most sacred laws.' Relief washed over both Harry and Samantha as the weight of the elders' decision settled in.
'Thank you,' Harry said sincerely, his eyes conveying his gratitude.
The celebration that night was a lively affair, filled with laughter, dancing, and the sharing of stories. Harry, now more at ease with the Redwood pack, joined in the festivities wholeheartedly, enjoying the camaraderie and sense of belonging he had found among them.
As the evening wore on and the moon rose higher in the sky, Harry felt the pull of his tent beckoning him. He bid goodnight to his newfound friends and made his way back, weaving through the revellers still enjoying the party. Upon entering his tent, he was met with an intoxicating sight – Samantha, completely naked, her body illuminated by the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the canvas.
Her breasts were full and inviting, just big enough for each of his hands to hold, her nipples erect with anticipation. Her toned stomach led down to her womanly hips and the neatly trimmed patch of hair between her legs. Harry's breath hitched as his eyes roamed over her exposed form, desire coursing through him like wildfire.
'Come here, Harry,' Samantha murmured, her voice sultry and seductive. He complied without hesitation, closing the distance between them in mere seconds. Their lips crashed together, tongues tangling in a passionate dance as their hands explored each other's bodies.
Harry trailed kisses down her neck, nipping lightly at her collarbone before moving further south. Cupping her breasts, teasing her nipples with his thumbs before taking one into his mouth, eliciting a throaty moan from Samantha. As he continued to lavish attention on her breasts, his other hand slipped between her legs, stroking her already damp folds.
'Harry, please,' Samantha whispered, her voice heavy with need. 'I want you inside me.'
He positioned himself at her entrance, teasing her with the tip of his erection before slowly pushing inside. Both gasped at the sensation, their bodies melding together in perfect harmony as they moved in unison.
Their lovemaking was slow and tender, the wet sounds of the two kissing and sucking on the others neck as Harry's cock slipped within Sam's tight tunnel. He could feel her quivering around him as her chest tightened as she held her breath trying to keep her peak from coming too soon.
Harry felt his balls tighten as she continued to pull him in as deep. Quickening his pace, driving into her with a newfound urgency. Their bodies trembled, sweat-slicked and entwined, as they reached the edge together.
'Fill me, Harry,' Samantha urged, her voice desperate and pleading. With a final thrust, Harry released within her, their cries of ecstasy mingling in the air. As they came down from their blissful high, a golden glow enveloped them once more, leaving them breathless in its wake, and Sam's tummy swollen as though she were pregnant.
The next morning, as the first light of dawn crept across the forest floor, Harry knew what he had to do. His responsibilities as a wizard and the desire to protect the magical world weighed heavily on him. He made the difficult decision to leave the Redwood territory, carrying with him the love and memories of his time spent with the pack – and most importantly, with Samantha.
With the sun climbing higher in the sky, Harry pulled on his clothes and stood just outside his tent, and felt arms snake around his neck from behind. Something soft pressing into his back (or two things) he glanced behind him. Her golden-brown hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her eyes were cast downward, watering somewhat.
'Harry,' she whispered, her voice barely audible. She raised her gaze to meet his, revealing the raw vulnerability that resided within them. 'I understand why you have to go, but it doesn't make it any easier.'
He reached out, gently cupping her cheek, feeling her soft skin beneath his fingertips. 'I know, Sam. It's one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.'
Their emotions swirled around them, a whirlwind of love and heartbreak, as they held each other's gaze, inside their minds they could both imagine a golden lake swirling uncertainly. As much as they wished to hold onto this moment, they knew their future was uncertain.
'Promise me you'll return,' Samantha implored, her words laced with desperation. 'Promise me we'll be together again.'
Harry hesitated, struggling to find the right words to convey the depth of his feelings. 'I promise,' he finally murmured. 'I love you, Samantha. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I will always think of you.'
A tear slipped down Samantha's cheek, and Harry gently wiped it away with his thumb. He pulled her close, embracing her tightly, their bodies pressed together as they sought comfort in one another's warmth.
'Remember our bond,' she told him, her voice muffled against his chest. 'Feel it deep within your soul, and let it guide you back to me.'
'I will,' he promised, savouring the sensation of her body against his own.
As they reluctantly pulled apart, they shared one last lingering look, Harry tried his best to etch the image of her face and naked form into his mind. She slipped his bag over his shoulder, ruffled his hair (which had grown rugged in the time he'd spent with the pack) and placed a soft kiss against his lips. With a heavy heart, Harry turned away, his steps slow and deliberate as he made his way out of the Redwood territory.
Samantha watched him go, a mixture of sadness and determination in her eyes. She knew she had to be strong for both of them, to hold onto the hope that they would be reunited once more.
As Harry disappeared from view, she whispered to the wind, 'Goodbye, my love. Until we meet again.'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Harry had been travelling for three days, keeping up his daily fitness routines, practicing using his magic to strengthen himself, tracking and hunting skills. Harry continued to travel North to where he was to meet Sirius, where he'd give Harry a nice change of clothes and head to Gringotts for his meeting, but his now stronger senses completely disorientated him as he travelled through the tall peaks. He could smell the different animals that filled the area and heard their movements. At first, it was overwhelming but he reminded himself of the lessons the Redwoods had taught him when out hunting, to refine what sounds and smells he focused on.
He'd decided to climb upwards to see the beauty of the mountains. As he reached a parting in the peaks he had only a second to see a blast of ice coming shocking upwards from the ground, piercing into the hand of an outreaching giant.
Harry's magic immediately started heating up, a sudden jolt by his ear. He had come to associate this as danger sense. It only started triggering after he and Samantha bonded together. But it was like the connection to his senses was on a passive hot alert. It had started off annoying to him when trying to sleep, but he was starting to get used to it.
He leapt from where he stood, willing his magic into his palms, the familiar heat bursting to life as he fired a ball of fire towards the grey skinned goliath. As he fell through the air he saw a platinum blonde girl racing through the opening in the mountains below. He managed to throw a few more fireballs, quickly managing to follow this with a twist of his body. Narrowly landing on his feet. He felt the shockwave of the impact jolt through his body. He had to move quick because there was multiple giants chasing the girl that he had landed just in front of, and he hadn't really practiced using his magic to strengthen his body whilst using the golden fire magic.
Her icy blue eyes barely registered him as she raced past, jutting her arms backwards, sending a rain of ice towards the giant beasts. The beautiful woman gave off a chilling yet powerful aura that caused Harry's magic to flare up almost as though it felt threatened.
She must be like me and Sirius, Harry thought.
Harry watched in awe as the ice rained down, forming sharp icicles that pierced the flesh of the giants, causing them to roar in agony. He knew that he needed to help the girl before the giants overpowered her. As Harry lifted his arms, his magic surged through his body and he sent a bolt of fire towards the nearest giant.
The girl turned towards him, her eyes widening as she witnessed the bright flames. Harry could see from her expression that she was surprised, likely not expecting to see a wizard who could use elemental magic too.
'What are you doing here? This is my fight,' the girl shouted over the sound of the raging giants.
'I'm here to help. Two heads are better than one,' Harry shouted back as he sent another bolt of fire towards the nearest giant.
The girl hesitated for a moment, then nodded her head in agreement. Together, they worked like a well-oiled machine, their magic complimenting each other as they fought the beasts back, if either were surprised of this, they didn''t let it show.
Harry had found that he was limited to using his fire magic three times a day. His magic would heat up too much that his chest felt like it would explode from the pressure and would force his body to cease up. His first night away from the Redwoods he overworked his practice and was frozen in place feeling like he was about to explode. It was very intense. And it seemed that the girl was in a similar position. Her lips had turned blue after her last assault on the giants.
'We've got to get cover!' Harry shouted.
'Thanks, I was thinking of staying out in sight!' she called back.
Harry slowed down to match her pace, he didn't want her to become a victim from one of the giants just because he ran ahead.
He'd have to push his limits if they were to survive.
Hearing the bounding creatures after them, Harry imagined his golden lake inside of him, and the river that connected to Samantha's magic. He pictured himself swimming through the lake and sitting in the middle of the connecting river, instinctively drawing upon the magical bond he shared with Samantha, bolstering his own magic with hers as he launched into action. With the giants closing in, he sent a barrage of fireballs towards them, each one causing the air to vibrate with the force of its impact. The opening volley was enough to turn the giants' attention away from the fleeing girl and onto Harry, who was now their primary target.
'I'll distract them, you get ahead!'
He called, the two ended up taking turns distracting the beasts. Every single time they reached the end of the mountainous terrain, the giants would block their exit.
For what felt like hours, Harry engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the giants. The blonde girl got stuck behind several of the beasts and they were quickly making their way to her. He weaved in and out of their strikes, dodging their crushing blows while simultaneously launching his own fireballs and bolts of lightning. The battle was fierce and bloody, but Harry refused to give in. He fought with a ferocity that surprised even himself, and it was not long before he had managed to carve a path through the giants and reach their intended victim.
By the time he had caught up to her, the platinum blonde girl was panting heavily, her eyes still lighting up a brilliant blue hue.
'I--I saw...' she gasped, 'a cave.'
Harry nodded, reaching down to his core and tried to spread his magic throughout his bones, trying to soothe the aching feeling he had. Knowing that the blonde girl must have been past her peak, he scooped her in his arms.
'Where?' he demanded.
She was barely able to get out her response as she pointed to a peak with the slightest peek of a cave entrance that was sandwiched between two taller mountain tops.
Harry nodded and leapt from the ground, causing a gust of wind to follow him.
He was unable to use any spells or his magic, but the blonde girl must have sensed what Harry wanted to do because she aimed her wand at the giants and fired multiple fog spells.
The mist engulfed their surroundings, effectively obscuring their retreat. Harry continued to fly towards the peak, the girl's icy blue eyes closed as she focused on the concentration of her magic.
As the thick fog spread, Harry and the girl disappeared from sight. Harry flew low, his eyes scanning the ground for any sign of the cave she had mentioned. It wasn't long before he spotted it, a small opening in the side of the rocky terrain. Harry flew towards it, landing softly at the entrance. He took a moment to catch his breath, setting the girl down gently on the ground.
The two of them entered the cave, Harry's wand at the ready. The cave was dark, but Harry's eyes adjusted to the lack of light relatively quickly. They walked for a few minutes in silence, their footsteps echoing softly off the walls. When finally, they came to a large, open chamber.
In the centre of the room was a small pool of water roughly fifteen foot wide. As Harry approached it, he could see evaporation drifting upwards. A small hotspring in the middle of a mountain cave. I love magic he thought.
The rest of the cave was dark and damp, but it was a momentary respite from the battle outside. Harry's chest heaved as he caught his breath, his magic and physical strength both depleted from the intense fight. He was able to get a good look at the girl as she struggled to catch her breath. He had only interacted with her once or twice in his previous life, but he recognised her as a blonde Daphne Greengrass.
After a few minutes, Harry managed to stand up and walk towards the cave entrance. He risked a peek outside, and was relieved to see that the fog spells had worked. The giants were struggling to find them, dispersing off from each other forming groups.
He waved his wand over the cave entrance, setting up wards, protection charms, and a triggered alarm spell that he briefly remembered Hermione teaching him. He just couldn't remember when.
He then heard a thudding noise. Greengrass had fallen to the ground. Harry quickly returned to Daphne's side, and touched her cheek. She was freezing.
'I need to get you warm,' he glanced over to the hotspring, 'will you let me help you?'
As shivered as she nodded.
'Thank you,' he said.
Harry pulled a blanket from his bag, and gently layered it over her shivering body. He aimed his wand at her and with a few fancy wand waves and incantations her clothes spun off from her body and neatly folded themselves up as a blanket quickly flung itself around her, tucking itself secure as he moved her to the hot spring and slowly lowered her into it. Luckily it was just deep enough that it reached just below her collar bone.
When her body hit the water she gasped and moaned in satisfaction. Her eyes fluttered open, and reality quickly dawned on her, pulling the blanket up to cover her body, her eyes frantically flicking around the cave till they landed on Harry, who had set his wand down and was currently undressing himself.
'W-what are you doing?!' she cried.
She made him jump. He turned around with a concerned look. He then looked down at his dirty muscular frame and back at her.
'I'm about to take a bath.'
'What if the giant's come in?!'
He showed her his wand and placed it on the ground--he made sure not to unstrap the holster--and after pulling his socks off of his feet, leaving him in just his boxers, he pulled a bar of soap from his bag, and lowered himself into the water.
It had been awhile since he had bathed in hot water. The Redwoods used a local stream. Harry's naturally hot body temperature made it bearable, but he didn't feel as though he left feeling clean half the time (especially as the last few times Samantha had been joining him as they each cleaned, her always exiting the water with a thin trail of white trailing down her leg).
'Are you feeling better?' Harry asked as he started wiping down the grime from his skin.
Daphne had turned her attention to the entrance to the cave. Clearly she was worried about the giants finding out where they had fled to.
'There's wards covering the entrance. If they get close I'll know about it. Just focus on getting your temperature back to normal, and,' he tossed the soap over to her, it ker-plonk'd just in front of her.
'Sorry,' Harry said, as sunk lower into the water and brushed the soapy lather from his skin.
She shook her head.
'It's fine,' she said as she made sure to cling the towel closer to her as she squatted to grab the soap before it hit the bottom.
The two then kickstarted a conversation. Harry averting his eyes when she asked him to so that she could wash parts of herself.
As they spoke, Harry told Daphne that he was heading to the town up north where he was going to meet his godfather Sirius where he'd then head to an important meeting at Gringotts.
'Do you know what the meeting is about?' she asked as she lathered up her arms. She must have realised that it sounded like she was too interested, so followed up with, 'I mean, if you didn't mind talking about it.'
Harry shrugged, 'I've only received one letter since, it's a meeting that my father set up before… anyway, Sirius thinks it's got something to do with preparations for the Potter lordship.'
Daphne looked at Harry with a mix of surprise and respect. She knew what it meant to be a Lord in the wizarding society. It wasn't just a title, it came with immense power and responsibility. She had seen it first hand with her own family.
'I guess I never thought about it. I always picture lords as middle aged men and not… ' she looked at him and blushed. 'wizards like you.'
He chuckled, 'I guess I am a little young to be a lord,' he said rubbing the back of his neck. 'But I never wanted to be one. I just want to live a normal life.'
Daphne nodded, understanding Harry's predicament.
'I can relate to that,' she offered, 'My family, just like the Potter's are part of the Sacred Twenty Eight. My mother made sure to teach me the ins and outs of how it works. The politics of a lordship are vitally important. Perhaps I can help you with understanding the role? As a thank you for helping me with the giants?'
Harry looked at Daphne with gratitude. 'Thank you,' he said, 'I'd appreciate the advice.'
'Don't worry,' Daphne said. 'There's plenty to navigate, but if you ever get too overwhelmed, you can technically give permission for a member of your house to sit on the council till you finish school.'
Harry thought about that. Lily would be a good person for him to select. Although she worked in the admin department she was also still up-to-date on all of the politics.
After a few moments of idle chit-chat Harry risked asking Daphne about what she was doing out in the mountains.
'And I don't mean to be rude,' he started, 'but isn't it extremely rare for a witch or wizard to have elemental magic, like the way you used?'
Daphne smiled at Harry's question, her expression taking on a look of fondness. 'Yes, it is quite rare for a witch or wizard to have elemental magic like that. It's almost unheard of these days.'
She paused for a moment, seemingly lost in thought before continuing. 'You see, there's stories of ancient mages who were able to control and manipulate the elements much like we use our wands today. And although it has been lost over time, every few generations one child will be born with the spark. So I guess, where mages are born with innate magical power and understanding of how to use it, whereas wizards have a connection to magic but need to study it in order to wield it properly.'
Harry stared at Daphne in wonderment. He was almost excited at the idea that there was someone other than Sirius that he could talk to about his abilities. He knew he had to be careful, but she had been open with him so far.
'So you're saying that you possess this power?' Harry asked.
Daphne nodded and grinned widely. 'Yes! I was born with the ability to manipulate the temperature of water and freeze it. It happens every couple of generations in my family, and when our magic starts setting in, we're sent out on an aremente,' she saw his confused expression. 'It's like... like a personal quest. It's why I was out here today; I needed some place safe enough to practice using the magic. When I was younger, I wasn't able to really control the form my ice magic took, but practice seemed to have helped refine it. In fact, I've been our here for almost two weeks. And it has been the worst two weeks of my life.'
Harry felt himself smiling too as he looked back at Daphne - this brave, powerful young woman standing before him with such strength and courage despite her young age. He suddenly felt like he was looking into a mirror of sorts - seeing all the potential within himself mirrored back against everything Daphne had achieved so far despite facing similar obstacles.
Once Daphne felt she'd warmed up enough she tried pulling herself out of the water, but she struggled. Her face was stoic as she turned to Harry, and through gritted teeth asked, 'can you help me out?'
He nodded and pulled himself out of the hotspring, stepped round the perimeter and offered her his hand, his eyes tightly shut, and pulled her out.
They both got dressed and sat against opposite walls of the cave between the entrance at the chamber where the hotspring sat.
Harry pulled his bag over to him after he heard Daphne's stomach growl, and pulled out what was left of a rabbit he'd hunted a few days prior. He gathered some pebbles together and pointing his wand he started a fire. Quickly setting up a spitroast he began cooking the rabbit.
Daphne had been watching him in wonder the entire time.
'What are you?' she asked.
'I'm a wizard. The name's Harry Potter.' He joked.
Harry had remembered that Daphne's nickname in school was the Ice Queen due to her stoic expression and impenetrable wall, no one could speak to her, but it seems he was meeting a different version of Daphne—but whenever she remembered who she was, she would hide her emotions. But neither could deny that they were having a pleasant time together in the cave, despite worried that there were giants currently hunting them.
The two spoke about Daphne's sister, and of Harry's mother. Then the conversation of obligation somehow came about, and of how the heirs of great houses are usually betrothed before their sixteenth birthday.
Harry felt his stomach drop.
'What?' he asked.
'Yeah. Father and Lucius Malfoy thought that it was a good idea to join our two rich families. Something about our child having great political sway and riches.'
Of all the people in the world, she was forced into being betrothed to him? He wanted to say something, anything that would comfort her, but he knew it wouldn't be enough.
He cleared his throat, not sure what else to say. 'That's... that's rough.'
Daphne nodded and turned away from him. 'Yes, it is.' Her voice was barely a whisper now.
It was then that Harry realized how alone she must have felt - here in this cave with a total stranger who just happened to be a wizard like her. He moved from his side of the wall so that he was closer and put an arm around her shoulders, hoping it'd help make her feel less alone.
She looked up at him with her big grey eyes and he couldn't help but think of how fragile she looked in that moment and how powerless he was against the situation she was facing. He wanted to make it all better for her but knew that wasn't possible; instead he promised himself he'd do what he could to protect her from harm when they were out on the road at least.
For a few moments they shared a comfortable silence - both of them lost in their own thoughts as they watched the fog roll in outside of the cave while they waited for the rabbit to cook over their makeshift fire-pit. Finally Daphne spoke up again, if only barely audible over the crackling of wood turning into ash under their spitroast;
'Are you betrothed?'
The question surprised Harry and he had to take a moment before answering thoughtfully; 'No... no I'm not.'
The surprise didn't go unnoticed by Daphne which only made Harry feel more awkward than ever under her gaze as if somehow this reflected badly on him… but he didn't know why it did.
He slid back from Daphne and asked her how she was able to easily access her magic. He didn't know when he'd have another opportunity to meet another wizard that, as he'd been able to put together, had this "mage' potential.
'How do you... summon your ice magic?'
Before Daphne could respond with a pretentious comment of it being useless to tell him, she thought back to the extremely muscular and lean handsome wizard chucking fireballs at giants, of him leaping up the mountain, of flipping, and racing quicker than the average wizard. He was powerful, and she could sense it.
She had her suspicions, and a part of her told her that this may be the only opportunity she would have to speak with another mage.
Daphne paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before explaining. Harry watched her with rapt attention, realizing that he was truly mesmerized by the way she spoke and the way she described her magic - it was almost like he could feel it himself.
'It's kind of like I have to get in tune with my natural magical core. It's like… a small blue lake, I guess. I picture a small cliff on the edge of it, where the smallest of water falls pouring into a mould at the bottom for a spear or whatever I need its shape to be, and then I channel that into my physical body, and the spear or whatever appears in my hand. It's a bit exhausting actually, so I usually don't rely on summoning them too often. Its taken a lot of practice and patience.'
Harry nodded along as Daphne explained, still finding himself captivated by her every word. He couldn't help but admire her strength in such a dire situation; how bravely and calmly she had taken charge when no one else would despite all odds seemingly being stacked against them.
'That sounds incredible,' he said finally after a few moments of silence had passed between them, 'Can you show me how you do it?'
Surprised by his request, Daphne looked at him sceptically for a few moments before eventually smiling softly at him and nodding; 'I suppose so,' she said, scooting closer to him so they were side by side. Taking his hands in hers, she began guiding him through the same process that she had used earlier to summon out the ice spears; focusing on their surroundings until her awareness became one with nature, feeling the energy around them as if it was part of herself... Harry could feel his consciousness appear in a space filled with swirling blue energy. He saw a white humanoid figure swaying back and forth, the swirling's swaying like the waves in an ocean. As the figure directed the swirls towards a dip on the edge of the swirling energy, there was a pulse of eldritch energy. Harry's eyes snapped open as finally an ice spear appeared in front of them both.
Harry couldn't help but smile at this amazing feat of magic before him - never had he seen someone be able to wield such power so effortlessly before! He thanked Daphne for showing him.
She hid a blush as she let go of his hand.
'It's okay.'
Harry could feel the aura that pulsed from Daphne as she accessed her magic, and his responded in kind.
And he wasn't the only one who felt it.
The cave itself started to shake as her aura stretched out from her, bathing the black stone walls of the cavern. The two looked up as they saw a ring of blue pulse through the cave walls till each side of the circle met at the end of the cave, where strange runic symbols appeared, lines forming as well. Soon a magic circle was glowing. The two stood up, shocked, and stepped towards the magic circle.
As they got closer the runes started to glow, and folded inwards, flipping the stones they were embedded in until a swirling mist appeared.
'A gate?' Daphne asked.
'Gate?' Harry asked her.
'A magical portal. Ancient magic. Very rarely seen these days. I've only ever seen drawings of them myself in the Greengrass Magus Journal. This… shouldn't be here.'
Harry reached his hand out, but Daphne grabbed his hand.
'We don't know what will happen.'
Harry must have distracted Daphne as her aura ceased its flaring, and the gate disappeared.
He smirked, 'You're right, I shouldn't be messing with magic I don't understand,' he said, making a mental note of the gate to ask Sirius later.
The two returned to sitting on opposite sides of the caves entrance, overlooking the mountains as the sky flashed pink and the sun disappeared behind the mountains, painting long shadows along the ground.
The two continued to idly chat, the occasional accidental flirty comment passing between the two.
As night finally descended, Harry stretched his arms.
'I'll take first watch. You get some sleep. We'll head out when the sun rises.'
Daphne nodded, grateful for the chance to rest after not getting much rest the last few days. She lay down on the hard ground, pulling her coat tight around her body. Harry stood up and walked over to the entrance to the cave and rested against the crescent shape of the hole. The night was cold and the silence of the forest was unnerving.
As the night wore on, Daphne's thoughts drifted to Harry. She had known him for years, always walking quietly beside the loud Neville Longbottom. He was scrawny, but she'd seen him care for the younger students, Gryffindors or not, and he had shown talent in the classroom and she'd always thought there was a charm about him that other boys in their year didn't have. Other than being one of the richest boys in the year. But the others wouldn't know that. Until Harry was Lord Potter, he wouldn't have access to that wealth. With the fire casting shadows across his face, she couldn't help but stare at him. His strong jawline and piercing green eyes were just, mesmerizing.
Suddenly, Harry turned to her and caught her staring. 'What?' he asked with a grin.
Daphne felt her heart race as she realized he had caught her admiring him. 'Nothing,' she muttered, turning away and feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.
Harry chuckled softly, 'Goodnight miss Greengrass.'
He could see the smoke from the fire was started to form a blanket of smog on the top of the cave, he was about to cast a spell but realised that his wand was still over by the hotspring so he snapped his wrist, the wooden tool zipped through the air and into his palm, and quickly formed a tunnel that sucked all of the black smoke and pushed it flat against the surface of the mountain outside as to avoid drawing attention to them. He put out the fire and cast a few warming charms on Daphne's coat. The cave was already pretty warm due to the hotspring, but as they had moved close to the entrance, the chilly October air easily snuck in to bite at their cheeks.
'And so my watch begins.' He whispered to himself.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When the sun peaked into the cave, Daphne finally stirred and stretched. It had been three days since the pair had found refuge in a cave in the mountains. The two had taken turns keeping watch. Once or twice one of them had risked stepping out, but just when they thought they were safe, a young giant caught Daphne, she'd exhausted her magic again trying to get back to the cave, luckily she was able to distract it, but both wizards agreed that the next time they made a break for it, that it would be the last time they left the cave.
She looked over and saw Harry leaning against the cave entrance. He'd had enough time to recover since spending so much of his magic a few days prior, and Daphne was finding almost unbearable to spend anytime around him. He was handsome, charismatic, smart, caring, and powerful. He was magically powerful, had ties to many great ancient families (being the heir to houses Potter and House Black) and over the last few days, the pair had come to the realisation that Harry was eligible to become legally emancipated with the consent of his mother and take on the title of Lord Potter. Something she knew would break the wizarding world. But could perhaps provide her with an ally that could help break the betrothal to Draco.
There was something about his magic that made her feel both drawn to him, and almost threatened. It was like her magic couldn't decide how it felt about him. Just like she couldn't.
'Morning,' Harry said as he looked over to see she was awake.
She smiled as she lifted herself from the ground, tightening the coat over her shoulders as she sat opposite Harry at the entrance to the cave.
'Anything?' she asked.
Harry nodded and pointed down to where two passes in the mountains intersected. 'Three giants down there, been circling for the last hour. I think they've figured out where we are.'
'I thought giants were supposed to be stupid.' she huffed.
'Yeah, but they're also very territorial. They can probably smell that we haven't left their home yet.' Harry replied.
Daphne could feel the weight of the situation pressing in on her. They couldn't stay in the cave forever, especially with giants hunting them down. But at the same time, she didn't want to leave the safety of the cave and face the giants head-on.
Harry seemed to sense her unease and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
'Don't worry, we'll come up with a plan,' he said confidently, but Daphne could hear the undercurrent of worry in his voice.
She sighed, dragging a hand over her face as she tried to wrap her head around their current predicament. They were stuck in a cave with no real supplies, which meant they hadn't been able to refuel their magic. Their bodies had recovered somewhat, but they were still pretty exhausted. And now they were preparing to run from being hunted by giants.
'What do we do?' she asked Harry.
Harry's mind was racing as he tried to think of a plan. He knew that he couldn't take on three giants alone, not even if he was completely recovered. His time with the Redwoods, the battle, training repeatedly and fending off the giants in so little time hadn't given his core time to really recuperate the amount of magic he'd lost. He needed to come up with a plan, and fast.
'We need to get out of here, we can't keep hiding in this cave forever. We'll have to fight our way out if we have to,' Harry said, gritting his teeth and trying to keep his fear at bay.
Daphne's eyes widened, fear etching into her features. She knew what Harry was suggesting was risky, but she also knew they had no other choice. Daphne looked down at the intersection of the two passes and saw the giants in the distance, pacing back and forth. She knew they would have to move fast if they wanted to avoid being caught, but the question was where to go? They couldn't risk going back the way they came, that would just lead them straight into the path of the giants.
'We need to find another way out,' Daphne said, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a plan.
Harry nodded in agreement, looking out at the forest below. 'I came from the south, it wouldn't take us too long to get to the end of the mountainous areas. Where did you come from?'
She told him how she had come from the North and over the last few days had told him about her journey and what she'd seen, so she quickly summarised again to him.
He nodded, 'we could try heading north, there's that river that runs through there, giants don't really like the water. And that is where Sirius said he'd meet me.'
Daphne looked at Harry, impressed by his quick thinking. He was always one step ahead of her, coming up with plans and strategies that she would never think of. She knew she could trust him, and that they made a great team.
She nodded, 'you said that when we're ready to go that you could get a message to your godfather. Do you think now's the time?' she asked.
Harry peered down to the giants, then up to the cloudy sky.
'Yeah, I'll have to do it just as we're about to leave because it'll draw attention to us. And it may take a lot of power. It's been awhile since I've used the spell.'
The two grabbed their stuff, nodded to eachother as Harry pointed his wand at the cave entrance, 'expecto patronum!' he called as a silver deer stepped into the world. Daphne stepped back in shock.
'Beautiful,' she whispered under her breath.
'Sirius, I'm stuck in the mountains region surrounded by giants. we've been stuck for days and making a break for it northward. There's some kind of river North of here. Can you get there as soon as possible. This message will draw the attention of the giants as we make a break for it. My patronus will lead you back to roughly my location.'
Not a second later did the stag prance out of the cave.
Harry turned to Daphne.
'We need to make a break for it.'
At the same time they both jumped out of the cave, wands in their hands, feather fall spells on the tips of their tongues as they quickly descended down, ready to evade the grasps of the giants. As they landed on the ground, the giants roared in anger and charged towards them. Daphne's heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to keep up with Harry, who was moving at a fast pace, his wand outstretched in front of him.
'Protego!' Harry yelled, and a silver shield materialized in front of them, blocking the giants' attack.
Daphne's mind was racing as she tried to think of a way out of their current situation. The giants were getting closer and closer, and she knew they wouldn't be able to hold them off for much longer.
'Harry, we need to move faster,' she called out to him, feeling the panic rising in her throat.
Harry nodded, 'I know, just keep up with me.'
They continued to run towards the north, dodging trees and jumping over boulders. Daphne could feel the wind whipping past her face as they picked up speed.
The pair ran through the crossing paths of the mountainside as the giants roars followed them through the paths. They could see a break in the mountains. Daphne could feel an incredible heat coming from Harry's body as sparks erupted from his fingertips, he skidded, spun and started blasting fireballs at the giants, but the flames just bounced off of their skin.
'Fuck!'
He was able to quickly catch up to Daphne. Its then she realised that he was slowing down to make sure she didn't fall behind.
The pair ran through the crossing paths of the mountainside, with the giants roaring behind them. As they rounded a corner, they saw a break in the mountains. Harry wasted no time and started running towards it, while Daphne followed closely behind him. With every step, she could feel her heart pounding faster in her chest as the giant's roar echoed off the sides of the mountain.
As they neared the break, more thundering joined the cacophony of giants chasing them. Daphne risked a glance behind and saw at least half a dozen giants on their tail.
'It's worth a shot,' she heard Harry muttered.
Suddenly, Harry stopped and pointed his wand to what looked like a river ahead of them.
'Accio boat!' he yelled, and within seconds a small boat appeared from out of nowhere. Without wasting any more time, or questioning where the boat came from, Harry jumped inside and motioned for Daphne to join him. She quickly complied and soon they were rowing away from their pursuers as fast as they could.
They saw the giants skid to stops before even a toe could touch the water. By this point they had moved too far away from the shore for them to just reach out and pluck them from the boat.
The river was surprisingly calm despite their haste, allowing them to make swift progress upriver towards their destination. The sun was setting by the time they reached a dock on the bank of an unknown lake in an unfamiliar place.
Harry hopped out of the boat and helped Daphne onto dry land before tying it to a post on the dock. He then grabbed his wand again and pointed it into the dark sky above them; 'Lumos Maxima,' he said softly as a brilliant light illuminated their surroundings revealing that they had arrived at the edge of a town. Not too far away, Harry could see two figures running towards him. Sirius Black and a tall lithe woman with mousy blonde hair. They stopped when they reached the pair.
Sirius laughed and immediately pulled Harry in for a hug.
'I am so glad to see you made it out.'
'I'm just happy the message got to you in time.'
Sirius looked to Daphne and marvelled at how unscathed the two looked. Sirius introduced the woman as Pen Billington, an auror in training. They'd just returned from a scouting mission when he got Harry's message.
Pen looked skeptical as she examined Daphne and Harry. 'You two don't look like you just escaped from the mountains with a pack of giants on your tail. Are you sure you're okay?' she asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Harry quickly explained their journey and how they managed to escape the giants. Pen listened intently, nodding along as Harry spoke. When he finished, she let out a whistle. 'Well, that was quite the adventure. You two are lucky to be alive after all that,' she said, her tone incredulous.
Sirius clapped Harry on the back. 'Don't worry, Pen. These two are tough as nails. It's not your everyday wizard that can survive a horde of giants.' he said with a grin.
Daphne felt relief wash over her as they spoke, knowing that they were finally safe. She looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings and wondered what their next move would be. 'So, what's the plan now?' she asked.
Sirius indicated for the pair to follow them as they headed into a town not too far away.
'Well, I'll be taking Harry back to his home where we can talk about what to do next. Is there anywhere I can drop you off?' Sirius asked Daphne.
She thought for a second, 'I know my parents will be worried about me, so I better head back home, let them know how I am before, well, I guess no one died by going back to school a month late,' she joked. Harry smiled. Sirius nodded his head.
'Of course, Lord and Lady Greengrass, correct?'
Daphne nodded.
'We'll floo you over as soon as possible.'
There wasn't much of a goodbye between the Daphne and Harry as she disappeared in green fire in the fireplace of Black Manor. Sirius' protégée had retired to her room that Sirius had given to her in the house as the pair sat in the library.
The two sat for hours as Harry told Sirius what had happened over the last few weeks. He told Sirius of his time with the Redwoods, of learning how to use his magic to charge him physically, how he is able to move his body now whilst wielding the powerful magic, of learning to hunt, and even told him of bounding himself with Samantha, of travelling through the mountains and running into the giants, of Daphne's magic and finding out that she was a mage, and that his magic was possibly linked to mage magic.
When Harry was done, Sirius was silent for a moment as he stared up at a portrait of his brother Regulus that sat above the fireplace. When Harry was about to apologise for putting any burdens of his story on Sirius' shoulders, the man with the dark mane started roaring with laughter.
'Ha! you go away for a few weeks and you've lived a lifetime of adventures already! And you've somehow manged to get yourself welcomed into a powerful werewolf pack after sleeping with the chiefs daughter?!' he continued to laugh. 'Fucking hades Harry, I should've gone on one of these aramente things myself.'
Harry chuckled with his godfather, 'it's not all its cracked up to be, turns out there's a lot I need to see to now I'm back. I don't think I really realised the weight that this world's Harry had. How eligible he would be. Daphne said that I could legally become the head of my house?'
Sirius stopped laughing and thought for a second, 'yes, that is true. You'd need Lily's permission, but when your magic started utilising the Fairie Law, you could take a test at either Gringotts or in the Department of Magic Authority, if you pass, you can be emancipated legally and accept all of the titles and responsibilities of your house if there is no current lord, which, I guess you unluckily don't have to worry about.'
Harry nodded.
'I'm just thinking, if my plan is to get powerful enough before Voldemort returns at the end of the year, then I'll need enough political power to stop him and Wormtail from putting their plans into place.'
Sirius nodded.
'Having another lord to back up my political moves would be great for our plan,' he said.
The two spoke about their ideas, what moves they'd make, and eventually the two chuckled and sat in silence, just as the light of a new day started peaking behind them.
'Although you're technically older Harry, you'll still need Lily's permission.' he said. 'We keep coming back to it. Do you know how you're going to convince her?'
Harry shrugged.
'I'll just tell her the truth.' he said. Causing Sirius to laugh again.
'You're fucking crazy Potter, even your ol' dad wouldn't dare tell Lily Potter the truth.'
'I guess I just have less to fear than dad did.' Harry replied.
Sirius nodded.
'I'm starting to see that.' he then took a sip from his drink that an elf had brought in sometime around 2am. 'And about this memory loss. Have you been trying any exercises?'
Harry shrugged.
'I remember everything up to fifth year, and parts of sixth year, but the memories are all so... jaded. I have fragments of fourth and gigth year.'
'What do you mean?'
'Well, I have flashes of duelling with Draco ending with him in a puddle of his own blood, cuts covering his body, of Snape killing Dumbledore with a perfectly healthy Draco standing next to him, and of Dumbledore and I fighting off inferius... some lessons, a book, but...but there are too many blanks still.'
Sirius nodded, 'well, you go back to your mum's. In the morning I'll start on seeing if I can find any discrete healers that can lend a hand with that.'
Harry thanked Sirius and stepped through the fireplace.
When he stepped through into the living room of his mother's house he breathed in through his nose, the place smelled like vanilla. Smelled like Lily.
He quickly jotted down a note and placed it on a table letting his mother know that he was back.
He trod up the stairs and stepped into his bedroom, dropped his bag by the foot of his bed and after a wave of his wand he was naked and fell onto his freshly clean sheeted bed.
And for the first time in weeks, he slept in a comfy bed.
The next morning, Harry woke up early, showered, and dressed up in casual clothes. He then went down to the kitchen, where Lily was already up and making breakfast. Harry could smell the aroma of bacon and hot chocolate from the hallway. He walked in, and was immediately blinded as he was enveloped in a hug, his head being pulled into the softest pillows he'd ever placed his head on. He wrapped his arms around Lily's waist and pulled her tight.
'It's good to see you too,' he said.
He could feel her wipe something away as she moved her chest a little, mashing her breasts against his face. He knew he had to move before his body started reacting to being pulled into her large breasts.
When he straightened up, Lily greeted him with a smile.
'Good morning, Harry. Did you sleep well?' she asked, wiping her eyes and turning her attention back to the frying pan.
'Yes, I did. Thanks, Mum,' Harry said, taking a seat at the kitchen table.
'So, how was your trip? Is the training over then? Did you find what you were looking for?' she asked, placing a plate of bacon and eggs in front of Harry.
'Yes, I did. In fact there's lots I think we need to talk about now.'
Lily worried her bottom lip as she placed her own plate on the table and took a seat.
'Are you okay? Are you in in any trouble?' she asked, her eyes full of concern as she looked him over for any wounds or injuries.
Harry had to tell his heart off, because it did a summersault in his chest at her expression. She was so cute.
He tried smiling to reassure her that he was okay.
'I'm fine, and I've discovered things about myself that I really wanted to discuss with you.'
She wrapped her hands around her mug filled with the steaming hot chocolate and nodded her head.
'Well, I'm all ears Harry.'
He took a deep breath, 'well, one of the reasons I went away on the training... was because I wanted to be stronger. I know that I've never really been much of a warrior, but I wanted to change that. I...' he thought carefully about what he was going to say next. 'I have a secret with Sirius, that, if you promise,' he then quickly corrected himself, 'if you vow that you will keep the promise unless I told you it was okay... I will share with you.'
Lily's eyes widened in shock. She gripped the mug tighter.
'A vow? That's a steep payment for a secret Harry,' she said. 'Do I, your mother, really need to take a vow?'
Harry just nodded.
Lily thought about it. She did. She thought hard about denying hearing this secret. That if Sirius knew, then Harry would be safe. But, her curiosity won out. She thought that perhaps Harry's secret would answer the questions she's had since the Quidditch World Cup. Why she'd been feeling this intense lust for Harry. Her every second thinking about him, of their shared nights together, of their last night together. She hadn't dared speak the event into existence--of her drunkenly baring her naked self to him, of tickling his clothed bulge with her finger, of him groping her breast, of their kiss, of the picture she sent him. She could still feel his lips linger on hers.
She knew that these things were unnatural things to be feeling towards your child, yet she didn't see Harry as her son anymore. Her feelings were a confused mess, and he didn't look the same. She peeped in on him in the morning. He was incredibly well toned, lean, handsome, and radiated power. She had to change her knickers after exiting his room.
She decided that perhaps he was going to finally give her the answer she'd spent the last month thinking about.
She locked eyes with him. Their emerald eyes searching for something in the others.
She pursed her lips, 'what would the words be?'
Harry steeled himself and stood up, indicating for Lily to join him. The tank top wearing red head stood up and stood opposite him.
Seeing her stand fully opposite him caused memories of their last night together to surge to his forethought's, which in turn caused the familiar heat to rise in his chest. As the ball of fire appeared in his chest, he heard Lily's breath hitch.
'Well, I'd like you to say; I, Lily Potter, being of sound mind, body, and spirit, agree that I will not speak a word of the secret that one, Harry Potter, will tell me. I will know that the secret has been finished divulging his secret when he finishes casting the bind.' he then nodded to Lily as he flipped his wrist, his wand popping into his hand. 'You don't have to agree, but it will make things easier between us.'
He's offering a boon! she thought, thinking that she will finally figure things out.
She smiled, nodded, reached out her hand and Harry gripped her wrist as she wrapped her delicate fingers around his. Harry started waving as Lily recited the words.
Once Lily had finished speaking, Harry cast the final enchantment, the chain that had wrapped around their wrists pulsed with silver light then faded.
'So,' Lily said. 'Can you tell me the secret now?'
Harry gulped as he slipped his hand from her wrist to her hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze.
'I am Harry Potter. But I'm not your son. I'm from another world. And in that world, I was Harry Potter the Boy-Who-Lived, you and James Potter died and I was destined to defeat Voldemort.'