Moon Blessed

Griphook of Gringotts was not a goblin who was distracted easily. And hardly ever did he worry or care over the emotions and well-being of a human, especially a human wizard.

Still, Griphook would admit he would be lying when he said he did not worry for the dark-haired wizard before him. The fact that he knew said wizard for less than a few weeks made the truth even more astonishing.

Griphook sighed. This was all the fish's fault. Before that emerald-eyed teen had entered his life, Griphook had been happy spending his life fooling wizards and enjoying his front view tickets to how they ruined themselves through their own actions alone. But the young teen had to waltz in – more like stumble in, if he were to be truthful – into his life and do another impossible feat in his young life. Gain the friendship and respect of the Goblin Nation, inclusive of their women.

Yes, this was all the idiot fish's fault. If Griphook had not so deeply cared for the young teen within the summer, he would not have had reason to be worrying over this grown wizard in front of him either.

Honestly, it was not even because he cared for the man. But rather because he knew that young Harrison cared for the man that was causing him to be uncharacteristically patient with the escaped prisoner of Azkaban.

"Would you quit with the fidgeting, Black. You are running on my nerves."

Ah well, there was only so long he could be patient for when it came to wizards. And frankly, Griphook thought three hours was a record in itself. If it had been anyone else (not of significance to the fish), he would have thrown them out his office within ten minutes.

"He should not have gone alone."

Griphook rolled his eyes, though inwardly he agreed with the somewhat sane man. (He doubted the man had fully recovered from his trauma after spending twelve years with Dementors.)

"Harrison will be fine. He knows how to take care of himself."

He watched, with a little regret, as the man before him flinched. In hindsight, he should have thought before speaking the truth to the still healing man. He knew Sirius Black, for all his impulse and wrong actions in the wake of extreme grief, had never meant to abandon his godson. The man had simply chosen to do the wrong thing while under overwhelming emotion and the circumstances – what with the traitor and the incompetent Ministry – had then sealed his misfortune further by incarcerating the man illegally.

But Griphook sugar coating reality would not do the man any good. No matter how much the man regretted over the unfortunate past – where most blame fell on the wizarding world's incompetence rather than Black himself – the reality remained that Harrison was a child who had grown up unloved and forced from a young age to care for himself. And such a child knew how to take care of himself. Especially now that he was more equipped to navigate the wizarding world with the goblins' guidance.

A rather awkward silence filled the Potter accountant's office.

Griphook, falling back on his goblin habits and steadfastly ignoring his own guilt at causing the last Black discomfort, returned absently to the paperwork he had been staring at for the past four hours.

Where in the world was the fish?

Surely retrieving a prophecy would not take so long.

(Unfortunately for both goblin and godfather, the teen in question who was the subject of their thoughts would not yet return till nine in the morning.)

Just as both goblin and wizard were at the brink of abandoning patience and preparing to barge into a certain Ministry for Magic without care for the chaos such an action would bring, the door to Griphook's office opened and the subject of their concern walked in.

Looking alarmingly pale and emotionless.

"Harry?"

Griphook noted how the young wizard flinched at the soft calling as his glazed eyes focused upon the occupants in the room.

Harrison gave a weak smile.

"One week."

Both goblin and wizard blinked, unsure of what their young charge was saying.

"Just give me one week," Harry Potter murmured distractedly. "After that, I'll come and tell you what I learnt."

And with that the raven-haired child disappeared in a flash of green.

Silence ensued for the briefest moment before the Black Lord started scrambling after his godson.

"You are wasting your time and effort."

The nonchalant words had their intended effect. The Azkaban escapee paused just as he was about to throw the Floo powder into the fireplace. Griphook would have felt insulted at the affronted look the man threw his way had he cared for wizard's opinions.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, you are wasting your time and effort, wizard. Surely you heard me the first time."

"Did you or did you not see Harry just now? Looking like he had seen death itself?"

A pang of worry shot through Griphook again at the reminder of Harrison's distressed appearance. But Griphook was practical. He knew that chasing after Harrison now would be a futile action.

"And were you not listening when he asked you to give him a week to come to terms with whatever he learnt from the Department of Mysteries?" Griphook countered.

"Am I supposed to just leave my godson alone while he is so upset?"

Griphook glanced up from the paperwork he was failing to concentrate upon, discarding his nonchalance attitude to look the Black Lord in the eye.

"Are you capable of scouring the seven seas, Sirius Black?"

"What are you tal–," Realisation flooded the man, "Oh." Black slumped slightly, his hand dropping to his side, fingers going lax, enabling the green powder in his palm to escape. Normally Griphook would have taken offence to the mess the wizard was causing on his pristine office but he could understand what the man must be feeling. So Griphook supposed he would let it slide for once.

"He will most likely be back by sunset today or sunrise tomorrow wizard. Harrison cannot stay hidden in the ocean forever after all. I am certain he would be back to pace around his room instead of floating about the ocean. But," Griphook sent a sharp glance towards the man, "Don't you dare take that as invitation to pester him for information."

Sirius opened his mouth to protest. Griphook cut the argument short.

"He requested a week, wizard. Respect it. We can interfere if things continue looking terrible but you will not break the boy's faith in that you would respect his requests and decisions."

Griphook watched in satisfaction as the man deflated at hearing the goblin's words.

Well at least the man could listen to the advice of wiser beings, Griphook mused as he returned to his paperwork. And if he were smart, the man would remember the advice and not bother Harrison before the week was up.

Really, Griphook did not have time to waste on incapacitating the man if he did. He had too much paperwork as it was without needing to worry over the issue on where to hide a newly reinstated Head of House Black.

Harry Potter drew patterns onto the sand absently, watching without seeing as the current slowly washed everything away even as his fingers continued their doodling.

Why?

The thought kept running in circles around his head. He had been pondering it for hours now, yet still could not fathom any answers.

It had been only a day since the revelation of his magic actively protecting Voldemort's soul again. But Harry was already at his wits end. He certainly had not commanded his magic to protect the evil monster's split soul, yet that was exactly what his magic was doing. He did not understand it one bit.

He turned slowly, lying on his back on the seabed to glance up at the dark waters around him. The prophecy he had retrieved from the Department of Mysteries, shortly after the locket incident, came back to the front of his memory again for the nth time.

…The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…

..Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…

…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…

…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…

…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…

Harry scowled in frustration, absently letting go of the control he had on his body to allow the water to lift him upwards to the surface with no resistance. He took in a deep breath as his head broke out of the water.

"I don't understand your motives, you know," he told the growing moon that was almost nearing its completion. "And I'll admit I do not like being kept in the dark one bit."

He stared at the shining almost-a-full-circle with a half-hearted glare.

"Have you ever heard of communication?" He asked exasperatedly. "It's where you tell me what is going through your brain and explain how that is making you do what you do so that I can understand that there is a good reason for all this things that are happening to me and make a decision on what to do to either help you or save myself." He stared at the shining silver with narrowed eyes, almost hoping for a reaction of some sort.

Unfortunately for Harry the moon seemed to not be in the mood to respond. The most response he had gotten was a slight pulsing of the magic around him and a small caress of magic-filled breeze against his hair. And that reaction almost felt as if the magic around him was laughing at his rant rather than giving a proper response, so Harry intensified his glare, even as he muttered under his breath about silly moons and unresponsive magics.

"I'm serious Moon? Magic? Whatever you are. You don't make sense! Why did you save me and bless me with all these powers and instruct me to learn and master them? Why are you saving him too? He split his soul for Merlin's sake! He's beyond the realms of sanity and logic! He is a monster! Why are you saving him?" Harry glanced again at the unresponsive moon.

"Why are you saving the both of us if our coexistence only means one is going to have to kill the other?" Harry whispered in confusion even as he sank back to the bottom of his moon pool, no longer able to face the silent moon.

"I trust you a lot magic," Harry thought silently, as he flicked his tail lightly, twisting his form to head towards the exit of the underwater grotto. "Even now I still trust you to never harm me or to support evil. I've believed in you so long to be just and fair unlike humans. But I cannot help but worry at your actions simply because I do not understand them. Please," he sent a backwards glance to the moon pool he exited, "If you hear me, give me some signs, something, anything to help me understand. I will not be able to stand betrayals from you too."

The last thing he felt as he left was another caress against his hair – this time more comforting than anything else – as he swam back in the direction of his home. But the comfort of the caress did nothing to ease the doubts and worry building around his heart.

Why?

The question was left unanswered and Harry felt unease settle in his chest.

Griphook stared at the frustrated Black Lord before him. He would have thrown the man out for his incessant rants and pacing by now. Except the worry shining in the man's eyes made him hesitate.

Not to mention the fear of what Jadeclaw would do to him if he heard Griphook had anything to do with his patient becoming worse in health. Said patient may be a wizard but goblin Healers were rather strict in their professionalism and ethics compared to goblin bankers when it came to their clients.

"Could you just cut to crux of the matter, Black?"

"We need an intervention for Harry."

Griphook shot the man a glare.

"I made the matter clear to you did I not? He asked for a – "

"He is scared senseless of his own magic Griphook," Sirius cut the goblin with an uncharacteristically sombre look. "And I am scared if we let him go on as he is, he is going to collapse."

Griphook stared at the wizard in front of him blankly.

Sirius let out a frustrating sigh.

"Come one Griphook, you've noticed how Harry is nowadays. He may still be talking and joking here and then but he is almost acting like a muggle. And I haven't seen him step out to swim in three days. Three days! He could barely not go swimming for a day and now he's avoiding the ocean like the plague!"

The wizard stared at the goblin with pleading eyes. "I am not good at helping him. I don't know him like you goblins do." Griphook could see how much it pained the man to admit that truth. "He needs help and you know him the best. Please, we don't have to force him to reveal anything about the goddamn prophecy but we've got to make him stop this fear of his own magic!"

Griphook stayed silent. The wizard's rather passionate rant was not helping him in his attempt to subdue the worry that had already manifested in his mind. Griphook knew exactly what the Black Lord was talking about but he had really tried to wait out for the end of the requested week of isolation Harrison had pleaded for. He knew how much it meant for the child for his trusted friends to respect his wishes and decisions.

But perhaps, perhaps right now, being left to brood alone may not be what Harrison needed, despite what he thought.

Griphook racked his brain for a possible explanation. Whatever brought on this sudden change in Harrison's behaviour?

He doubted it was the horcruxes. The boy had already known about them. And it did not make sense for whatever he learnt about the prophecy to have upset him much. They already knew the crux of the matter was most likely that Harrison must have been prophesied to be the one with the power to defeat the Dark Lord for good. That really should not scare the child either. He had faced the Dark Lord and successfully come out on top – even if was through sheer luck – many times and the matter had not really brought the boy any distress before.

So, what was bothering Harrison?

The storm of thoughts whirling about the goblins brain ceased as a suspicion took root in his head.

Your magic is acting unusual…

…That is not our magic on the Horcrux Lord Potter

…your magic is helping his horcrux

…It is also protecting the soul piece from harm…

It's providing additional protection to the Horcrux….

The more he thought about it, the more Griphook seemed sure of the idea.

Sometimes, the goblin forgot that the child never grew up in the world of magic, that the child still was ignorant of the common truths about magic that most children who grew up in the wizarding world knew.

It seemed Harrison was not aware that magic would never sacrifice its own through her actions.

…He is scared senseless of his own magic Griphook…

Yes. It was clear. Harrison may not be scared of the Dark Lord's splintered soul or facing the man in a fight to death. But the child must feel lost now that the situation seems to look as if his own magic was protecting the very person who had always been a threat to his own survival. The boy did not understand what was going on with his magic and thus was scared.

Scared that his magic was choosing Voldemort over himself. That it was betraying him for the Dark Lord.

Really, perhaps letting the child go seek a prophecy that pitted him and Voldemort against each other was not the wisest decision Griphook had done, considering circumstance had it that the child had left for the DOM almost immediately after he had learnt the unsettling news that his magic was acting unusual again.

The consecutive bad news may have made the situation look even worse for the child that it must have been.

Griphook cursed internally. This was undoubtedly a blunder on his part. It was almost like the full moon incident all over again. An easily avoidable circumstance but the goblin had been careless.

"Griphook?"

The human voice startled the goblin out of his thoughts. He had forgotten the Black Lord was still there.

"You know what is happening, don't you?"

Griphook stood from his seat. "I believe I have a good guess, mutt. Let's meet Harrison. You are correct in that this matter needs an intervention no matter what Harrison requested. It seems the fish is in a panic mode."

Harry Potter resolutely ignored the tea cup that was nuzzling against his bound arm, trying to coax him into drinking tea. Tea was the farthest thing in his mind, as of then. It was not as if he could drink the bloody thing even if he wanted to. What he wanted to do was instead make his oh so caring godfather's life miserable.

Very, very miserable.

His walking wardrobe passed by below him merrily, almost with a skip in its step. It seemed the vain thing had had a stroke of luck. The rowdy umbrella trio that often took pleasure in chasing it about were occupied with something far more interesting. Harry himself would have found it amusing at how his furniture were currently behaving had he not been the very thing that his umbrella trio found far more interesting.

He scowled.

This was all Sirius' fault.

"Well are you simply going to sit there and glare or drink some tea? It's pretty good tea, you know?"

Harry's glare intensified. The man had much gall, saying that, after he had very cowardly stunned him and bound him from the back.

"So, you are going to sit and glare. Oh well, your loss," Sirius took a sip from his own tea, giving a satisfied sigh as the sweet drink passed his lips.

"Well, pup. Firstly, I apologise for these drastic measures that we had to take but it is our," Sirius gestured between himself and his goblin companion, "belief that you need an intervention. Right Griphook?"

The goblin in question did not reply. Harry noted with some vengeful glee that their green companion was looking more greener than usual. Inwardly, he thanked his past self for having installed the dine-from-your-ceiling furniture set from Lyria. Sure, the design was whacky and he had had needed a few days to adjust to the change in perspective before being able to eat on it but moments like these where he could entertain himself in others discomfort vanished any regrets or any doubts he had about his decisions.

"Serves him right," Harry thought with a mental sniff. "He approved this unprovoked attack on me. In my own home, no less!"

"Griphook?" Sirius turned to look at his companion when the silence stretched too thin. Noticing the queasy look on the goblin's face, he immediately realised their problem.

"Um, so maybe we should relocate ourselves?"

Harry would have smirked if he could as he watched his goblin friend – currently enemy due to circumstances – nod gratefully. As if he would make it that easy for those two after what they have done. He watched gleefully as both Sirius and Griphook tried to rise from their ceiling chairs, just to realise that they were stuck.

By their butts.

To the chairs.

Ah the perks of being the owner of whacky furniture. He made a note in his mind to thank Lyria in the future for her brilliant charms and runes. They did provide him with such entertainment at the expense of Sirius and Griphook's dignity.

"Pup, what did you do?"

Harry stared at the man with an unimpressed look. It was quite obvious that he had purposefully stuck them to their chairs. After all, Sirius was well aware who controlled the furniture in this house. And for the man to ask him another question again while he had yet to remove the Petrificus Totalus from Harry was simply rude.

He glared at his godfather again.

Sirius seemed to finally realise what he had forgotten.

"Oh, right! The body-bind!" The man waved his wand towards Harry with a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that."

Harry scowled, loosening his arm and shoulder muscles that had previously been staying too rigid.

"What the heck do you two think you are doing?"

"I believe the mutt made it clear. We are having an intervention."

Harry glowered at Griphook – whom he noticed bitterly was unfortunately regaining the normal green to his skin instead of the sick shade.

"And why may I ask, do I need an intervention?"

"Many reasons. The most prominent one being you having silly frights over silly matters, fish."

Harry bristled. "I am not feeling frightened."

"Oh really," Griphook asked in a sweet tone. "Then why are you avoiding your own magic?"

"I don't know what you are talking about, Griphook. I still use my magic plenty."

The goblin's reply to that denial was to simply pick up the harmless glass of water on the table between them and fling its content across towards the unsuspecting young wizard.

Harry's magic rose in response to help him. A white dome formed around the young wizard in an attempt to protect the wizard within. Unfortunately for him, the Protego was used to defend against harmful spells and objects. Certainly not water – which Harry was painfully reminded an ally for him through his magic's happy tingling at its mere presence. Therefore, Harry watched in dismay as the water soared past his barrier as if it was not there and drenched his chest as it fell on him. The effect was instant.

One second, he had legs. The next, he had a tail.

Harry closed his eyes. He was not sure if it was to prevent himself from seeing Griphook's smug smirk from across him or to try and deny the contentment that seemed to trill throughout his entire body at having touched water for the first time in three days.

"What do you want Griphook?"

"For you to stop being an idiot," came the bland reply.

Harry opened his eyes to stare at his goblin friend unimpressed.

"You wanted a week to work things out, fish. But you cannot do that if you simply don't understand what you are dealing with."

"I know perfectly what the prophecy conveyed."

"He's not talking about the prophecy, pup."

Harry startled at Sirius' unexpected admission. He had almost forgotten the man was there what with how Sirius seemed to have left Griphook to do the talking so far.

"What?"

"We are not here to ask you to tell us what the prophecy is. We already know the gist of what it entails, though wording is important yes. But what we are here to talk about is your sudden fear at facing your own magic."

Harry averted his eyes, shifting his tail uneasily.

He knew what they were talking about. And he knew deep down that it was most likely a silly fear. But he could not help it. Magic had always been there for him, whether he had been aware of it or not. So, Harry naturally trusted his magic. He had instinctively and firmly believed subconsciously that his magic would always be on his side.

But these new situations with the horcrux and the prophecy were starting to question his long-held belief.

Because all this time, facing Voldemort and surviving through the skin of his teeth, Harry had his magic fighting alongside him.

But now. Now he was not sure anymore.

He never wanted to protect Voldemort's horcruxes. Honestly, the man split his very soul. More than once. Willingly, Harry would bet. That was not okay in Harry's books. He may not know much about soul magic but Harry knew that things like the soul were sacred matters. You do not mess around with your own or others for any reason.

Yet, here was Harry's own magic protecting the vile things without his input. He could have understood the situation when it was about the horcrux in his head, really. At least then he could chalk up the weirdness to magic believing compromising and protecting the darn thing was the best way to get it to not harm Harry in return. But the matter with the locket scared him. He froze the thing to stop its influence. But his magic instead rose to surround the thing with an additional layer of protection for the goddess' sake.

He simply did not understand why.

"Pup, look at us."

Harry turned back his gaze towards his two companions.

"Magic is many things. Sentient, mysterious, crazy even –" Sirius started.

"But she is never a betrayer to her own," Griphook finished.

Both goblin and wizard stared at the child before them.

"You have to understand Harrison, that the magic within is each being is gifted to be an integral part of each being's soul. And such magic, unlike magic from the environment or other factors, does not lash out or harm its own owner. No matter the circumstance." Harry's surprise was obvious for all to see at the revelation. "The only exception to this state of nature is when one offends Lady Magic herself and gets cursed by her. And that, I can assure you, has not happened to you. We would know if you were cursed with a terrible fate. The signs would be hard to miss."

Griphook set down the glass he had had been holding onto all this while.

"Yes, we do not know what your magic is trying to achieve by protecting the Dark Lord's soul pieces, Harrison. But whatever the reason may be, it is not because your magic has chosen that man over you or because he is worth saving more compared to you."

"It's your magic pup. You are as much necessary for its survival as it is for you. Why would it ever betray you then?"

"We are not asking you to simply accept the situation and not investigate or anything, fish. In fact, if you don't try and find reasons, I believe Fradgrot would be immensely displeased by your lack of thirst for knowledge," Griphook said, expertly ignoring Sirius' snort at the mention of Fradgrot's displeasure. "But don't unnecessarily fear that your magic is starting to abandon you in favour of another. That's, to be honest, stupid."

"You've said it before pup, your magic has always been there for you. So trust it again to be doing the best for you. And if you don't understand it, well," Sirius shared a glance with Griphook, "Like what Griphook said. Figure out its motivations. That's the only solution to your predicament. Not sitting around developing panic attacks."

Harry stared at the two people sitting across him blankly, letting their words and what said words meant wash over him. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Harry felt some unknown worry that he had been harboring fade. It had not vanished completely but it had certainly diminished in intensity and suddenly embarrassment decided to enter the place doubt and insecurity once held domain.

With what Griphook and Sirius had explained, he realized he really had been acting stupidly. He knew deep down that the magic in his core would always defer to him first and foremost. Like what his companions spelt out for him, it was his magic.

But –

But he could not help doubting whether the one good thing that had so far remained a constant in his life would also end up leaving him like most other things did. It was a pathetic fear, but fears had that way of being silly yet terrifying.

"Urrgghhh I'm an idiot, aren't I?" he groaned, covering his face in his hands.

The goblin and wizard sitting across him did not bother to respond to the question that was rhetoric. But both smiled as they finally sensed the tense atmosphere that surrounded the teen before them subside significantly for the first time in three days. The duo knew they were unlikely to have eased all of the child's unease but they hoped they helped him calm down enough to function better.

Silence ensured, in which the emerald eyed teen before them contemplated his thoughts internally. Sirius eventually broke it, curiosity overwhelming him.

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm going to take your advice. I will stop doubting my own magic but –," Harry paused.

Sirius and Griphook exchanged a look.

"But?"

"But before I do that, I'm going to cease all doubts I have in my mind for the time."

Griphook frowned.

"What exactly do you mean, fish?"

Emerald eyes stared up to face its companions.

"I'm going to do a ritual."

The company of three sat in silence.

"Well, it's rather risky. But if it helps ease your worries –"

"Woah, woah wait a minute, Griphook. It's risky? No one said anything about risky when you were explaining the ritual!"

Harry sighed at his godfather's alarmed expression.

"Godfather. I have to fast for an entire week as per the requirement of the ritual to cleanse my body of external influence. But it is also likely to leave me weakened. That is naturally going to push my magic to its extreme survival mode, considering I'm a mortal and not like vampires or anything. And while I'm in that state, I'm going to have to do the ritual to seek magic's blessing. Why did that not sound risky to you when I explained it?"

Sirius blinked.

"I had not thought of those factors. Pup you shouldn't –"

"I will be doing it, Siri. It's the most fail-safe way for me to not stop my doubts about my magic."

"Pup it's your magic. How many times do we have to tell you that for you to understand?"

"Then why is acting wonky?"

"What?"

Harry turned to Griphook.

"You know what I'm talking about. You answer me Griphook. Why is it acting differently nowadays?"

"Harrison, we've already told you our theories."

"And that's exactly why I'm worried. Their theories. I know logically my own magic will be with me. Will always choose me. But my trust is being shaken when it does something I consider exactly the opposite of 'looking after my wellbeing'."

"What's going on?" Sirius looked between them, confused.

Harry sighed.

"Siri, something has been happening with my magic. That's all I'm telling you now until you're completely recovered."

Sirius deflated at that.

"Look. I'm confident I can get through the ritual, despite it's difficulty. Even if it cannot provide me with concrete answers, the ritual can reassure me in a way that logic cannot right now. I need to do it. Please?"

Harry looked between his godfather and goblin friend imploringly.

"Please?"

Griphook and Sirius exchanged glances. A tense silence later, the two nodded reluctantly.

"Alright. But any sigh of it endangering your life and we'll intervene."

Harry nodded, accepting the condition.

"Thanks a lot, guys. I needed this intervention today."

The duo before Harry smiled. However, the elation that Sirius and Griphook (though the goblin would deny his happiness at having helped the fish) felt at the admission evaporated as Harry dropped his hands to fix them both with a sudden glare. "But I'm not forgetting how you two practically attacked me from behind in my own home!"

Sirius would never say that his little godson scared him but this was one instance where he supposed the matter was an exception. (Griphook never got scared by Harry no matter the situation so we shall not talk about his reaction.)

"So, as retribution to that, what do you two think about bonding upside down a while longer, while at the mercy of a snow belching umbrella?" Harry asked sweetly as he swiftly steam dried himself and left his companions stuck to the ceiling as his umbrella trio happily took over his seat.

Griphook and Sirius heard the little wizard's laughter in their minds for the whole hour of torture they endured at his whacky furniture's non-existent hands.

A shy ray of red spread across the dark sky, lightening it up as the Sun began his climb up the sky. Harry watched with a soft smile as the beauty of the sunrise once again filled him with fascination and awe. He had seen it so many times. Yet, the different patterns that the Sun painted across the horizon was something that never ceased to bring joy to his heart.

And today, today was different. Or it will be, if Harry had any say.

His smile brightened as he felt the magic in the air stir, as though waking up from a long dream. The scent of the ocean intensified and the very air shimmered as if it were excited. The primary runes Harry had prepared shimmered to life, awakening to hum softly as sunlight touched them.

Harry felt the uncomfortable numbness in his stomach vanish, like all the other indications in his body that he had been depriving it of food for the past week. A sense of rejuvenation washed over him instead, filling him with energy as his mind grew excited over the fact that he was near to his goal. So very near.

Emerald eyes gleamed with determination.

Today was the day he would get answers.

Sirius knew Harry was probably well aware of what he was doing. Yet, the man could not stop from his shameless spying on his godson's activities.

It was the pup's first ever ritual after all. And he was doing it alone. Something Sirius was still not happy about but the goblin healers were strict in their instructions. He was fit to continue doing magic as an average witch and wizard but attempting High Magic before his body regained its required fitness and health was unacceptable. The only exception to the rule had been his Animagus form, which came easily to him no matter his bodies' health since he had been living as a dog for most of the twelve years in his unlawful imprisonment.

He watched as his pup started the ritual preparations. The anxiety he had so far kept at bay reared its ugly head.

"Do you think he would be alright?" He turned to his green skinned companion. The goblin did know the boy better due to circumstances.

Said goblin in question, who had abandoned his own dignity to accompany the shameless Animagus to spy on the raven-haired child, shrugged.

"He knows the steps by heart. Besides, he does not have unnecessary worries plaguing his mind anymore. He should do fine," the goblin grunted.

The black-haired Animagus turned back to face the sea, the goblin's words having reassured him slightly. He remembered how his pup had been the past few days. He had never seen Harry that unsettled or angry ever in the past weeks that he had lived with the boy. If the boy had been frustrated by his magic protecting Voldemort's horcrux, then he had been downright livid at whatever he had uncovered about the prophecy after his visit to the Department of Mysteries. The emerald-eyed teen had not revealed the contents of the prophecy at all, simply asking for at least a week for himself to come to terms with it on his own, before he shared it with anybody else. Even after the intervention, Harry had refused to reveal the prophecy to them and neither the goblins nor Sirius had pushed him. They were simply glad that Harry at least was thinking with a clear head. And his requested week was almost up. Sirius supposed all of them could wait a little longer for Harry to come to them himself with the prophecy and what he thought of it.

His pup had not denied them the knowledge, after all. Nor had the teen closed up after learning whatever upsetting news he had received from the prophecy, even when he had been insecure about his magic. Those facts alone had been enough for them to give the distraught teen his much-needed (and politely requested) time and space.

Oh, but how agonizing the first few days of the deal were. The only good thing perhaps was Sirius' finally realising how sincere the goblins' care for the teen was despite his pup's wizardry heritage. He had noticed how Griphook and a few other goblins had gone about watching the thirteen-year-old boy with concern as his eye bags grew along with his sleepless nights. Their subtle acts of opening doors for the distracted teen, not bothering him with paperwork – something Griphook had done in abundance before the prophecy incident – and handing him pepper up potions with no questions asked had been an eye opener to the friendship his godson had with the goblins.

But all of them, Sirius included, had noticed how poorly Harry had been coping. And a clear indicator of the fact had come with the boy's hesitancy to use his own magic, especially his water magic. Sirius had noticed it with how Harry had almost completely avoided his ocean swims and Griphook had noticed how the boy rarely played around with anything liquid in his office – something the boy did even if he was bored of the act, just to rile up the surly goblin.

It had seemed as though the boy had become uncertain about his own magic. Almost as if he was subtly fearing if it would give up on him if he faced it.

Sirius wondered how Harry would have been right now if he and Griphook had really not interfered into the boy's affairs.

He still remembered how much relief he had felt at seeing Harry after the 'intervention'. It had been almost like seeing a taught balloon deflating. Sure his godson was still plaugued by doubts - for reasons Sirius was still not privy to. But there had been some clarity clarity shining in his charge's eyes after the intervention and he sensed how the tension eased in the teen's thin shoulders somewhat. He had felt his pup's magic – which had at that time become agitated at having been subconsciously held away by its owner – settle back around the boy happily. It had been a beautiful moment and Sirius supposed he would undergo torture at the hands of Harry's whacky furniture all over again, just to ensure his godson became even a tiny bit happier with his efforts.

A nudge to his ribs brought the man out of his memories.

"He will be starting soon," the rough voice belonging to Griphook informed him.

With a small sigh, he set his eyes back on the distant figure on the beach.

Harry Potter hummed the melody of an old lullaby he had heard Akigla sing to one of the goblin children as he chose to be wilfully blind to the spying of his godfather and goblin friend from behind the edge of the woods.

With precision and patience that he had never shown to the work he had been assigned by his previous tutors, he drew out the secondary runes and circles that he had painfully memorised and drawn a thousand times under Griphook's watch. The runes were in truth, simple. But drawing them out in spiraling designs on the conjured platform – and atop the first set of runes that were already activated no less – was certainly something that made the task difficult.

A low grumble broke his trance-like concentration. Harry ignored it. It was the final day of his fast and he was not about to let hunger distract him. Besides seven days of no food was not something he found terribly uncomfortable after weeks of starvation at the Dursleys.

It had been a necessary requirement for the ritual. To complete the ritual with the rawest of his energy – which for a wizard like him, referred to his magic – he had to not have another source of energy.

(At the back of his mind, Harry appreciated the irony of his situation. Here he was doing a ritual to seek the assurance of his magic about its loyalty to him with the aid of said magic itself.)

The pink in the sky slowly receded. In a few more hours, the Sun would reach the highest point of her journey for the day, marking the official start of his ritual despite his already glowing runes.

Harry eventually reached the last part of his preparations which was to surround the ritual circle with the petal of the Sun's favourite flower, Sigim Erua. The flower in question was a sight to behold and Harry had been very reluctant to tear it away from its plant when he had gone to harvest it. Blooming only on midday, the amber coloured flower had almost seemed like golden fire under sunlight. Even its scent was unique and unusual. It had been sweet but smoky and brought the image of a merrily crackling campfire to his mind. But again, ritual rules were meant to be followed – unless he were creating or modifying one, which unfortunately was beyond his expertise still.

Harry let out a soft sigh as he took a moment to watch the creation of his hours of hard work. For a first timer, he supposed he did fine. His runes certainly lacked the elegance that his goblin mentor had had, but it was by no means imperfect or sloppy. And that was good enough for him.

"For now," he thought as he mentally made notes to practice his rune work more.

A quick tempus revealed that he had a minute to go before the Sun reached its position. He could feel the change in intensity of the magic in the air. What had been a slight tingle in the air at the beginning of the day was almost an electrical current now.

He carefully picked up the golden tray he had previously left by the side preparing for his ritual. It was a medium sized matter, plain except for its vivid colour. A sunset coloured silk cloth decorated it.

And in the middle of it all lay a charming little circlet. It was made out of golden-brown twigs and emerald leaves, carefully fortified and preserved to last forever with the aid of tiny runes and his own magic. The goblins had guided him through most of the craftwork except for the runic inscriptions. That had to be handled by expert hands that were most certainly not his.

The crash of the waves against rocks brought his attention back to reality. Harry looked up just in time to see his runes flare up in a brilliant golden light.

It was time.

Steeling himself, he stepped into the innermost circle and tilted his head up, staring directly into the bright ball of flame that was the sun that burned above him.

His eyes burned and tears clouded his vision. But he stood on unflinchingly, letting out his own magic to mingle with the awakened magic in the air and the rune circle.

Greetings to thee Oh Great Lady – ruler of planets and time.

I seek thee, humbly, today to bear witness to my prayer.

Shine upon this sacred ground and accept the fire-blessed petals that thy heart favours.

Accept my humble offering and bless me and mine good luck.

Shine upon me, Great Lady, and grace me with thy presence.

The heat he was under heightened, bringing more pain behind his eyes. The feeling of being consumed by pure fire overwhelmed him.

Unbeknownst to the child wizard, a ring of magic flared around his outer circle. Tendrils of magic shot out of the circle.

Sirius tumbled back in surprise as he watched two tendrils of magic shoot towards him and Griphook. His companion however, shot out a hand to steady the surprised wizard.

"Do not move, wizard. This is part of the ritual's effects."

Sirius gave a nod in understanding and steadied himself. He watched in wonder as the tendrils went to him and Griphook respectively, gasping at the slight burn he felt on his arm. Lifting the sleeve of his right arm up all the way to his shoulder, he was surprised to find a tattoo of the Sun in a mix of amber and emerald coloured flames decorating the outer side of his upper arm.

"What is this?"

"The Sun goddess' blessing. She has accepted your godson's prayer and will be bearing witness to his ritual."

Sirius gaped at the goblin.

"But I thought those stories the old paintings in the Black House were sprouting were myths! Usually you feel the magic in the air heighten around you, that's all that signals to you to continue the ritual. Nothing like this," Sirius muttered the last part as he stared at the tattoo in awe.

"This was what is meant to happen if you please the entities of Magic well, wizard. It is just that over the years, the knowledge about these matters have faded with your kind's ignorance and foolish decisions to restrict and abandon certain aspects of magic."

Sirius mulled the revelation in silence. He truly had nothing to reply to that. He was one of those wizards who refused to practice the Olde Ways. Well, he did it more to spite his family rather than because he did not believe in them. But that still left him guilty at never practicing the ancient traditions. Thinking over his new information, he returned his sights on the ongoing ritual on the seashore.

Queen Akigla of the Goblin Nation stared at the mark of the Sun Lady that resided on her arm. It was a beautiful image, she would admit. The emerald and amber flames intertwining seamlessly around each other seemed to almost portray a sense of mischievous as they danced to an unknown breeze.

Through her bond to her nation, she could sense a few others bearing the same mark of blessing as her. The rest of her nation, however, had not been neglected. They too had received the Sun Lady's blessing, though their marks were simply that of a rune on their upper arms due to their lesser connection to the one who had instigated the ritual with the goddess of time.

The Queen let a small smile bloom on her face as the little one entered her thoughts. She was happy at his success in gaining the goddess' favour. And was heartened that his prayers had extended to her nation despite knowing about them for less than a few weeks.

He was a true friend indeed.

Narcissa Malfoy stared at the runic tattoo of the Sun goddess that adorned her upper right arm. She knew what that mark was. Though the knowledge had been lost to most of the wizarding world, even the Black family, the ancient tomes hidden deep within the Blacks' Ancestral home still guarded the knowledge. And for all Narcissa pretended to have been an obedient daughter, she had always been rebellious in getting information she wanted. Sure, she did not ask again when her elders told her in her youth that those books were not for her to read since she was neither the Head of House (or a male heir). But that did not mean she did not seek them out and read them in secret. She had done nothing wrong, in her opinion. Most of those texts simply lay about collecting dust. The fools that most of the patriarchal Black elders were only kept the books for prestige not knowledge. But books were meant to be read. Therefore, she had only done the right thing.

She let out a soft smile at the warmth the rune subjected her to. For a thing so small and unassuming, it radiated much power. Whoever did the ritual had for sure pleased the goddess.

"But who is it? Who received the Sun Lady's blessings?" she wondered to herself as she let the sleeves of her robe cover the mark of blessing once more. She knew of no one who had planned on doing a ritual this summer. Especially anyone who would consider her family.

Or close enough as a family to be given the runic blessing at the very least. Narcissa was aware that had she been considered close family, she would have received more than a runic tattoo on her arm.

The face of a raven-haired teen that she recently reacquainted with came to her mind.

"No, it couldn't be," she thought. "Harry has yet to learn more about his heritage despite his recent lessons and the aid he gets from the goblins."

The Lady Malfoy frowned in contemplation. While it was logical to dismiss the boy to have attempted the ritual, she knew that the young teen was full of surprises despite his information disadvantage. And while they had yet to be close, Narcissa would admit she regarded the boy as family simply because he had attempted to give their relationship a try despite the reputation her family held. That form of courage and loyalty were qualities she admired in others. She may be a true Slytherin who valued cunning and ambition yes but any intelligent person would know that staying limited to those qualities alone would not get one very far in life.

Still mulling over her thoughts, the former Black headed towards her home's owlery. She might as well ask Harry Potter outright about this potential ritual rather than contemplate theories. The boy, contrary to what her son had painted of him during his bout of petty jealousy at being rejected, was far more friendly and mature than people knew.

Though it was a pity he had declined her invitation to the summer solstice party. It would have made it much easier to ask him matters in person and made the evening much more enjoyable for her.

The emerald-eyed teen, who was the subject of many people's thoughts, on the contrary was not capable of thinking much over the heat he was being subjected to.

But within a few minutes, said heat lessened to that of a gentle caress and Harry knew somehow that the petals surrounding his runeworks were no longer there. A sliver of joy entered his heart, soothing his worries and nervousness slightly.

The Sun goddess had accepted his request.

He let out the breath he had not realised he had been holding and closed his eyes against the Sun's rays. Now would come the even more difficult part.

Circle of Power, awaken!

And guide me through my aim

If my soul is judged as worthy

Then grant me the boon I crave

Present me to my Mother –

She who bears Magic's name.

The rune circle, that had so far simmered silently in amber light lighted up again. Once again Harry found himself being subjected to being judged by unknown entities. He repeated the purpose for this whole endevour in his mind, not letting the stifling silence he was surrounded him intimidate him.

He needed a sign. Anything. He could not go on with all these doubts in his mind about his own magic.

Please Mother Magic. Please.

Harry felt something within his chest heat up suddenly. A beat later the emerald eyed teen realized it was his own magical core. It heightened in intensity within him and he felt his magic thrum to the beat of his own heart. White light flooded around him and his magic rose, magnifying in power and sentience.

Visions flashed across his mind. The first time his magic had awakened in him as a child, seeking out to grant his wish of getting the toy that was too far away from his crib. The time it had fused painfully with his mother's sacrifice, strengthening itself to protect him despite realising the meaning behind mother's sacrifice - her death. Harry realised with a jolt his own magic had accepted Lily Potter as its mother too, considering it was an extension of Harry himself. The first time his magic healed him while he was sleeping outside the Dursleys' doorstep came next. It had wrapped itself around the foreign presence in his mind, refusing it permission to overtake Harry's own consciousness, protecting its owner with a vengeance Harry had never seen. Following that came various other memories of his magic aiding him to its best - the first time he got a concusssion, the times his bones were broken by Dudley, the time Quirrel fought him, the time the Basilisk and Phoenix venom fought for dominance in his body.

Tears rolled down the teen's closed eyes. Harry felt his magic buzz around him, almost angrily at him, as though it was asking if he wanted anymore evidence?

White light flashed under his lids again. The visions continued.

He watched, enraptured as he say what happened that day he had been mercilessly pushed to his almost death by his cousin. His magic flared in a brilliant white light, coming to his rescue despite his unconscious state under the sea. He watched as it transported him to the moon pool - where natural High Magic was going through its peak under the Moon's guidance. He watched as the magic there embraced him and offered him a better chance to survive.

Then came the memories of the Locket Horcrux where again his magic wrapped itself around the foreign presence it recognised from it first encounter in Harry's mind. Something restricted it from destroying, another higher energy. But it was not going to let a threat continue. So it plunged in still, forcing the foreign magic into a state of inactivity. It would not be able to seek out Harry so long as his magic remained.

The doubts within Harry shattered. A small smile made its way onto his lips, despite the tears now running rivers down his face. He felt his magic pause, sensing his sadness. The fury it had previously displayed at being questioned seemed to evaporate at his distress.

Harry's heart clenched in a strange mixture of guilt, gratitude and fondness. Guilt at doubting his magic, gratitude at its loyalty and fondness at its concern for him.

The teen opened his glistening eyes and stared at the shimmering magic surrounding him in a bright dome. He sought it out, touching it with his consciousness from where it had leaked out from him in its own righteous fury at being questioned.

"I'm sorry, alright? I had to know. I was being a prat but I just had to know. Forgive me magic. I won't question you again."

The air around him stilled. A beat later, Harry laughed as he felt his magic swarm around him in happiness before plunging itself back into his core, which was its home. Harry smiled, accepting it completely without qualms. His internal barriers that had restricted his magic from him fell, allowing his magic free reign once more. He laughed as he felt his magic race around his entire being, reveling in its complete freedom again.

"Thank you. For everything you've been doing," he thought internally. His magic hummed, accepting the gratitude.

Harry stared at the rune circle around him. It was still brimming with power. He stared at the circlet before him, laying unclaimed near his feet. Having completed his goal with the ritual, it should have theoretically been accepted as the gift it was meant to be. But Harry could guess why it was still there.

He sighed.

"I have to grovel one more time, don't I, for my daring at questioning you?" the teen murmured out aloud. Deep within him, Harry sensed his magic hum in amusement and affirmation, retaining its heightened sentience through the power in the ritual circle.

Harry picked up the circlet, touching it to his forehead in respect before looking upwards to the sun again. He was being really reckless, doing this when it was clearly not a part of the ritual. If it backfired – which it had high chances of happening – then Harry prayed he would at least make out of it alive.

The teen closed his eyes again.

"Goddess of Power,

Forgive this doubter's mistake.

I've learned what I've done wrong my Lady,

And my beliefs are no longer frail.

I plead to you: Have mercy

And accept this child's gift to thee

Harry kept his eyes closed as he felt the magic in the air whirl around him in judgement again for the umpteenth time. He repeated the words 'I'm sorry' in his mind throughout the whole process, feeling both sheepish and anxious.

An agonizing minute later the sensation of a flash of light coming from in front of him had him opening his eyes to see that his gift had vanished from his hands.

A low hum filled the air and an image danced across his mind's eye.

A Lady whose facial features he could not grasp, stared at him from under an ancient Oak tree. She wore a dress made of the finest silks of Nature and was adorned by the Earth's most precious jewels and flowers. Her hair, which reminded him of Akigla's own luscious locks danced in the breeze as the entity swung gracefully on the swing that hung from a branch of the ancient tree. And on her head rested the circlet that he had worked hard to create with the goblins' aid.

Harry let out a gasp in surprise as realization dawned upon him.

And just as quickly as it came, the image vanished from his mind.

"Oh sweet ocean!" was all the teen could utter before his legs gave way under him as the shock took over his system and he collapsed onto the ritual circle, staring absently at the waves across of him.

Distantly he heard the shout of two familiar voices but his mind focused more on the magic around him. Magic that was currently tinkling, as if it were laughing lightly at his reaction.

Harry pouted. Well, what had she been expecting? He had been ready for something to happen to his gift if the deity accepted his apology, like its predicted vanishing. He had imagined that in his mind before. But nobody warned him about visions of the entity herself!

A gentles wind blew over his head, caressing his hair softly. Harry gave a reluctant grin at the silent apology. Ah well, he really could not be complaining about the unexpected vision now, could he? It was a blessing after all that Magic forgave him wholeheartedly.

"Never do that again!"

"Yes, Paddy."

"I mean, NEVER!"

"Yes, Paddy."

"Like ever. What were you thinking even? No. No more lone rituals for you, young man!"

"Yes, Paddy," Harry repeated with a roll of his eyes, not meaning the agreement one bit. He was sure Sirius would get over the matter in a while. It was not like he had fainted or anything. He simply fell to sit on the floor in shock at the ritual's end. Nothing to make a fuss about.

"I mean it pup. No more."

"Yes, Paddy," Harry replied once more, sharing an amused glance with Griphook – who had long gotten over Harry's fall once he had explained the reason behind it. From the way the goblin's black eyes were glittering, he knew even Griphook shared his opinion that Sirius was simply overreacting. After all, if the man was truly angry and wanted Harry to learn, he would have grounded him by now.

With a sigh and a small sip of water (which he had floated to the air to drink), Harry continued to give false placations to his godfather as he waited for the man to calm down.

Next time, he was going to raise obscurity wards around him before doing rituals. Especially if Sirius was going to be spying. He doubted he would have the patience to go through the current reaction of the man a second time, godfather or no.

"Yes Paddy," Harry replied for the nth time to another of the frazzled man's silly request.

Or perhaps he should simply dose the man with a drop of the goblins' potent calming draught.