Chapter 5
Zandian had no idea how it happened. One moment, they were in the portal to Nevarah, Harry in his arms, because their beta had needed support, and of course, Hadrian had turned his attention there.
But he’d also given him Harry because he’d trusted him to keep their submissive safe.
Plummeting towards the vast expanse of Merrow Waters, with no sign of land in sight and Harry falling below him unconscious, Zandian knew he’d failed.
He angled his body forward, keeping his wings in as he shifted into a dive, arms outstretched as he reached for Harry.
He knew he wouldn’t make it before Harry hit the water.
He tried anyway.
The impact against the water at least slowed Harry’s descent, but it didn’t stop him from starting to sink.
Zandian had two choices.
He could hope the others had arrived and pull on the bonds, hoping someone arrived in time, or he could follow Harry into the water and try to get back above and out of the water long enough for Harry to wake up and pull on the right bonds himself.
Despite the horror skittering down his spine, he knew it wasn’t a choice.
He only had a second before he hit the water himself to realize the shadow he’d seen in the water wasn’t his own; it was bigger.
Zandian plunged beneath the waves, all of his focus on Harry’s slowly sinking figure because otherwise, he knew his panic would overtake him.
When movement caught his attention from the corner of his eye, he drew his sword but didn’t slow.
Something lashed around his waist when his fingers were inches from Harry’s form, and he screeched despite himself - terror, panic, and rage swirling together.
He lashed out, sword leading - because even in the water, he’d be damned if he didn’t give as good as he got.
He held a blood title, and he would put those skills to use.
At the bite of his blade, an inhuman sound rippled through the water, and Zandian found himself facing massive tentacles as he sliced his way out of the firsts.
He dodged the grasp of the next, swimming towards Harry as fast as he could, lungs screaming for air.
This time, he managed to twist out of the way of the next grab, free hand closing around Harry’s arm.
He yanked the boy close, wasting no time releasing his wings and using them to propel them as quickly as he could towards the surface.
Black spots were beginning to grow in his vision, but he didn’t slow. Couldn’t.
They broke the surface, but Zandian didn’t even get in a full lungful of air before his ankle was grabbed, and he inhaled water as they were yanked back under.
He choked on water, losing his grip on Harry when another tentacle grabbed the boy and tore him away.
His flames tried to flare but were immediately put out by the water.
He was going to die.
Harry was going to die.
It was all his fault.
Zandian let out a feral scream. He didn’t feel the rank shift as he launched at the creature attacking them.
If they were going to die, he’d take this monster with them.
>>>
Harry jerked back to consciousness when mindless rage flooded through his bonds.
He choked the moment he realized he was underwater - but it was only for the second it took him to realize that he was breathing just fine.
The next thing he realized was a tentacle wrapped tight around his body, and he could see one of his bonded thrashing in the water ahead of him, kicking and slashing at the creature that had him in its grip.
It wasn’t hard to realize that’s where the rage was coming from - but the bond felt different - more dangerous than before - though not to him.
That’s when his own panic hit.
They were in the water.
But it wasn’t Alec or Brishen there with him. It was Zandian.
Zandian, his fire Ace - though something about that felt wrong now - and there was no way he was supposed to be in the water like this - that it was safe for him.
Claws sprouted from his fingers, and he slashed into the tentacle holding him, desperate to get to his bonded.
Then he remembered what Hadrian had said.
They would always be able to come when he needed them.
Harry focused as best he could with panic clawing its way up his throat - but he knew the noises of distress he’d made had only sent Zandian into more of a frenzy as he launched in and out of the water - waves filling with blood.
He focused on the feeling of his two bonded, whose magic felt the most like the water around him.
Then he thought about calling out to them as desperately as possible, wishing they were with him.
An outward explosion of bubbles heralded the new arrivals, and Harry could only reach for Alex even as he pointed Brishen towards Zandian.
“Help him!”
Brishen didn’t need to be asked twice, shooting off towards Zandian, whistling to announce his presence.
Harry looked at Alex then, hands still outstretched, gore under his claws from where he’d attacked the tentacle, but being held firm.
He was so tired. It was hard to keep fighting.
Alex had no such issue.
Legs merged into a tail covered with dangerous-looking spines, and Alex let out a screech of fury before descending on the tentacle holding Harry, dagger in each hand.
He tore through it with a single-minded fury and let out another screech, this one of victory, as Harry was released.
Harry launched himself at Alec, burrowing against him and clinging tight.
Alex wasted no time, whistling a signal to Brishen before splaying a hand to trace the runes for another portal.
“Did you know you could breathe underwater, Harry?” Harry shook his head against Alec’s neck.
“Didn’t even know I could swim.” Alec hummed, changing back into his two-legged form, preening a bit when Harry made a sound of disappointment. Harry’s ability to breathe underwater would be something to bring up with their Alpha.
“What about Zandian?” Harry asked, finally pulling back a touch to look over Alec’s shoulder. But he couldn’t see Zandian or Brishen, only the floating corpse of the biggest octopus he’d ever seen.
Then he saw the cut of fins through the water.
“Alec!”
“Hold tight.”
Harry obeyed, and the water swirled around them, sweeping them back towards their circle.
>>>
Brishen knew he had to move fast.
An Ace gone Joker was nothing to scoff at - and a Fire Dragel having shifted in water? He’d be lucky if he got out of there without any blood drawn.
He was relieved, at least that even feral as he was, Zandina recognized his whistle as a signal of help arriving, shifting to leave his flank open for support even as he continued his assault on the giant octopus.
Brishen dove, not wasting any time, drawing his trident as he went.
He drove it through the creature’s brain as hard and fast as he could, relieved when it immediately went limp.
Then he shot back to Zandian, whose attention had shifted to Harry.
Harry held by Alec’s Merrow form, which certainly wouldn’t be recognizable to Zandian yet.
Shit.
Stowing his weapon, he shot through the water, catching Zandian and launching them into the air. Zandian’s wings flared as Brishen’s did, keeping them both airborne, but now the fire Joker’s attention was all on Brishen.
“It was Alec!” He bit out, dodging the swing of a sword. “Harry’s Merrow!” It took two more swings for the words to register and give Zandian pause.
“Alec?”
Brishen nodded but kept his distance.
“Yes, Alec. Harry’s okay. Can’t you feel it? They’re back with the others.”
Zandian stared at him, clearly feeling for the bonds, and then his shoulders dropped, sword nearly falling from his fingers.
With a curse, Brishen darted forward, catching Zandian under a shoulder, pumping his wings to get them a little further above the water's surface.
“Hold on. I’ll take us to them.”
Zandian’s wings gave out just as the portal took them.
>>>
They arrived at the gates of Nevarah to Hadrian soothing a frantic Harry, whose attention immediately fell on them when they arrived. Then Harry was launching towards them, tears streaming down his cheeks as he latched onto Zandian. For his part, the fire Joker wrapped himself around Harry in turn, letting Brishen lower them gently to the ground.
“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.” Harry was babbling, clutching Zandian tight.
“It’s my fault,” Zandian countered, voice wrecked. “I should’ve protected you better.”
“But I-” Harry started to argue. He was silenced by Hadrian’s hand on his head, where the Alpha now crouched beside them.
“There’s no use handing out blame.” He put another hand on Zandian’s shoulder. “What’s important is that you’re both safe.”
He turned his attention to Alec then, who didn’t even scowl as he reached out a hand - and Harry felt both him and Zandian dry out.
“Charlie?” His Beta, already at his shoulder, crouched down beside him. “Zandian’s going to need some heat. Can you do it?” The determination set to his jaw and how his hair burst into flames said enough.
“Zan, can you trade me Harry for Charlie?”
Zandian’s eyes were darker than Hadrian had ever seen them. Still, after a moment, he nodded, releasing Harry carefully and blinking in surprise when he got a lapful of Beta.
“Hey, Handsome. Hope you don’t mind, but I’m still a bit unsteady on my feet.” Zandian gave a choked laugh, dropping his head to Charlie’s shoulder. “You can bite if you want.” The offer had him going still. “It’s not like the need for comfort feeds has escaped me, watching Harry.”
“We’re not bonded.” Charlie hummed.
“Aren’t we? You’re still Harry’s. And Hadrian’s, too, if I had to guess. Even if we don’t bond the same way - we’re a circle - right? That’s what I heard Ethan call it anyway.”
There was no immediate reply, but Charlie felt fangs latch onto his shoulder a moment later.
“Sorry about the taste,” Charlie noted in the same casual voice. The only response he got in return was a slightly harsher bite.
Charlie leaned his head against Zandian’s and had the slightly hysterical thought that his flames would light the others - somewhat like a match and candle.
He choked on a laugh when exactly that happened - feeling Zandian release his shoulder and slump around him in relief.
Charlie took that moment to look around, trying to gauge what was happening. He saw the one with blue skin standing with the healer, Quinn, and Quinn’s hand wrapped around the other’s wrist.
Considering that the blue one was clearly having a conversation, Charlie guessed the physical contact created some sort of mental link.
He’d have to ask Hadrian later if it would be appropriate to ask for a permanent link since he didn’t want to offend, but he didn’t want to always rely on physical contact to speak to the other.
Hadrian was with Harry, stroking a hand through his hair as the boy was clearly taking a comfort feed of his own. The twins were with Ethan and Neville, and the one with the feathers was standing with the four others in armour, speaking in a low enough voice that he couldn’t be overheard.
Then there was the one with the staff, hovering behind the bare-footed one, filling out paperwork at some sort of gate.
Others were around, but mainly at a distance, kept there by other Dragel in armour not dissimilar to what some of theirs wore.
When Charlie shifted to get a better look around, he earned a growl from Zandian. Charlie rumbled back instinctively, catching the looks when all the armoured members of their circle glanced their way.
“I think we’re going to need to move soon,” Charlie noted, keeping his tone light but a warning in his gaze to stop the others from approaching.
He watched Hadrian hand Harry to the bare-footed one, who coaxed him onto a platform, some magical scan passing over him. Then Hadrian approached where Charlie sat with Zandian, head tilting to ask if Charlie was alright.
He blinked in response.
He saw some of the tension bleed out from Hadrian’s shoulders and felt a wash of empathy. Zandian was his friend - and had gone through another traumatic experience right after the one of being drawn to Harry.
“Zan.” The other fire Dragel tensed at being addressed, arms tightening around Charlie until he registered who had spoken and partially relaxed, lifting his head. “We need to register our circle,” Hadrian said plainly. “Raspen’s already filed the paperwork, so as soon as scans are done, we can retreat to royal quarters.”
For a tense moment, Hadrian and Zandian just stared at each other, but then Zandian relaxed completely, gently releasing Charlie, who let Hadrian pull him to his feet before standing himself. When Hadrian reached out again, Zandian leaned into the touch, slumping into the Alpha, who didn't shift under the weight except to relax, obviously relieved at being accepted. Charlie tucked himself up against Zandian's back, nuzzling into a shoulder, and felt the other go boneless. The rumbling purr Hadrian made conveyed his pleasure at his Beta's actions.
"Raspen's already given me the coordinates for his office, and as his bonded, we'll be able to bypass the wards. He'll bring Harry and the others." Charlie nodded, only glancing up when they didn't immediately disappear into a portal. When he met Hadrian's gaze, there was worry there. "Hold your breath, and hold tight." Charlie latched on tightly to Zandian's armour, hooking his chin over his shoulder and baring his teeth at Hadrian in a challenging grin. Any worry in Hadrian's gaze melted behind amusement. Moments later, the shadows closed over them, pulling them away.
>>>
Harry accepted being handed off to Raspen and hustled onto the podium, shivering in discomfort when the magic swept over his skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake. His eyes, however, never strayed from where Hadrian had gone to Zandian and Charlie, guilt still curling in his stomach, tightening his chest.
"It's not your fault." Riven's words had Harry flinching, but he still didn't look away from the other three.
"It's my fault we fell. The magic was too itchy." Harry admitted, miserable, and then squawked when a fist thumped gently on his head, finally drawing his attention. He found himself caught in Riven's gaze, scowling as he rubbed the top of his head. It was more for show than anything else, as the touch hadn't hurt in the slightest.
"We all knew you were magic sensitive," Riven told him, a scowl on his face, but Harry could feel that the frustration wasn't aimed at him. "We should've been more careful with bracing the portal. Or travelling separately." The thought of them being separated, even just for the time of the portal, made Harry shift uncomfortably. Riven huffed in response. "Exactly. None of us wanted that."
"We're a circle now," Raspen cut in, tone gentle, as he opened his arms to Harry, and Harry accepted, slumping into the embrace. "It's something we all should have thought of. Can you call your twins over, Harry? And Neville. We'll need to register them before we can leave, seeing as you're all coming from another realm for the first time."
"What about Charlie?" Even as he asked, his gaze shifted to where Charlie had been and found the space empty. Before he could panic, a soothing rumble echoed against him, Raspen nuzzling his ear gently.
"I filed an exception for Charlie to register later, seeing as he's currently keeping our Joker on this side of feral. Hadrian took the two of them ahead to my quarters. We'll join them as soon as the others are registered." Harry winced at the warbled wine that left him but didn't argue. The faster they moved, the faster they'd all be together again.
>>>
They all sat sprawled around the living room space in a loose circle, Harry’s mind still spinning that Raspen was an actual prince!
“I think it’s time for proper introductions. Backstories can wait, but name and rank at least for now. Elements and affinities if you want.” Hadrian stated from his seat, Harry tucked into his lap. “My name is Hadrian Maruke, and I’m Alpha. My element is Shadow.” He nudged Harry’s temple gently with his chin in a prompt.
“I’m Harry Potter. Um.” He glanced at Hadrian. “Submissive?” There were rumbles of approval from around the room that had his cheeks going pink, but he gave a decisive nod. Instinctively, he looked to Charlie next. Nobody missed how he didn’t share an affinity, but it wasn’t a surprise yet.
“Charlie Weasley. Beta. Fire, I think. Dunno about any affinities.”
Next to Charlie was Zandian, still leaning heavily against the Beta now that they’d settled again. There was a pause, tension filling the air. Rank shifts were never easy - especially when it was someone already bonded into a circle.
No matter how recent the bond - no matter that the suite hadn’t fully bonded yet - the temporary bonds had been in place. Now, it had all shifted.
“Zandian.” He finally managed, jaw tight. “Joker.”
Harry’s sound of distress cut through the tension, and with a glance at Hadrian, he disentangled himself from the Alpha to move over to Zandian.
Zandian didn’t hesitate to accept Harry into his arms, curling around him carefully, shoulder still pressed against Charlie’s.
“You’re still ours, right?” Harry asked in a quiet voice, but with how quiet the room was, everyone heard.
“Yes, Harry. I’m still yours.”
“Well, I’m Fred, and this is George.” Fed cut in, jarring everyone from the sombre mood and successfully drawing attention away from Zandian and Harry.
“Also Weasley’s,” George added.
“Also, fire like our dear brother.”
The twins exchanged glances and then looked at Ethan, who smiled kindly.
“My name is Ethan Hartwood, Earth, and we,” he gestured at the twins and himself, “are Pareya.” The twins nodded in tandem, looking at Neville.
“I’m Neville Longbottom,” The boy introduced, tucked between Ethan and George. “I don’t have a rank or element.”
“Neville’s great with plants,” Harry piped up. It’s like they listen when he talks to them.” Neville blushed, ducking his head, but he didn’t deny the words.
For all the adults present, it put the reaction of the woods when Neville had thought Harry was in danger into a new light. Even if the boy wasn’t Dragel, he had the makings of a powerful Mage. Ethan nudged the Dragel beside him, and teal letters filled the air. It was when Harry finally noticed the severe scarring across his neck, and he couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of an injury bad enough that it couldn’t heal. After all, he’d had a chunk taken out of his shoulder only a few hours ago, and he was good as new!
‘My name is Quinn Kalzik. Earth. I am a Healer. I will require a full check of everyone, seeing as we were called for a soul scream.’ When the letters faded, he turned to look at Alec, who crossed his arms but introduced himself.
“Alec. No last name. Aqua-kin’e. Or Merrow, as you would call us.” Harry chirped curiously, and though Alec rolled his eyes, he answered. “It means my kind lives underwater. We’re Water Dragel.” Harry nodded to show he understood, then frowned.
“Will you be okay out of the water?” He looked to Hadrian. “Where are we going to live?”
Once again, soothing rumbles filled the room at his distress.
“We will find a house,” Hadrian stated, his surety an assurance. “Between us, we have the resources to afford whatever we need, and it’s not the hunt, so it won’t be hard to find property.”
“The Hunt?” Harry asked, concerned. Zandian chuckled into his hair.
“It’s not what it sounds like, little one. It’s for finding more people to add to a circle.” Harry’s frown was adorable, and a soft wave of laughter filled the room.
“Do we need more people?”
“Probably,” Zandian said, keeping Harry’s attention so he didn’t notice the tension between Hadrian and the Gheyo.
“Why?”
“Because I’m different now. Someone else will have to fill my old job.” Harry burrowed into Zandian’s chest in response, and it seemed the action soothed the Joker because he laughed and relaxed. “It happens, Harry. But I’m not going anywhere.”
“Since we’re on Jokers,” Brishen spoke up, “My name is Brishen, and I’m a Water Phoelix.”
The Gheyo followed suit, introducing themselves in short order.
“Wikhn. Shadow. King.”
“Idan Kaelior. Air. Queen.”
“Minh Shine. Air. Princess.”
King, Queen, and Princess turned their gazes on the next in the circle, curiosity burning. The purple-haired Gheyo ignored them in turn, looking at Harry instead.
“Devrim Ekene.” His gaze flickered to the other Gheyo and back. “Were-hyena. Storm and shadow affinities. Prince.”
“Riven Cairothe. Storm, Mage.”
The man on Hadrian’s other side, the last to formally introduce himself, smiled.
“Crown Prince Raspen, of the Earth Courts.”
All eyes were on Harry, as he’d had the most visceral reaction earlier. In turn, Harry switched his attention back and forth between Raspen and Hadrian.
“What does it mean for us? Will-” he cut off, looking helplessly at the twins and Neville, unsure how to express what he meant.
“No reason not to tell them now, Harrikins,” Fred said, the nickname easing Harry’s shoulders from where they’d bunched around his ears. Fred’s gaze, however, was assessing. George turned his attention to Hadrian since Fred was focused on Harry.
“Do we have time?”
Hadrian nodded, though he didn’t speak, not wanting to interrupt the silent conversation between Fred and Harry. Finally, it was Fred who nodded, looking away from Harry, who took the opportunity to follow his instincts and return to Hadrian now that a difficult topic was about to be broached.
“Charlie?” Fred prompted, “Maybe you should start. Since you were actually alive enough to remember.” Charlie agreed by taking over.
“When I was a kid, a dark wizard was terrorizing Britain,” he began before sharing what was common knowledge about Voldemort, his followers, and also his disappearance at the residence of the Potters.
Hadrian’s arms tightened around Harry, and Harry pressed a cheek against a bicep.
“He’s not dead, though.” Harry cut in when Charlie had paused. “He,” he took a breath, claws appearing and disappearing as he settled himself. “That’s who was attacking me. Under the school. Or at least part of him. He was possessing our Defence Against the Dark Arts professor.” Growls rippled through the room at the reminder of their submissive not only being attacked but forced into an early inheritance and a soul scream.
“Anyways,” Fred interrupted, “All that is to say is that a lot of people have always had a lot of opinions about our Harry - and a lot of expectations.”
“And attention,” George added.
The reality of Harry’s hesitance becomes suddenly clear.
“Being bonded to a Royal does not automatically make you royal.” Raspen shared, gratified when Harry relaxed. “We will decide as a circle how visible or not our circle will be and what members, if any, will be in the spotlight, so to speak.”
When no response was forthcoming, Hadrian rose to his feet, Harry still in his arms. Harry chirped in surprise but didn’t fight it, eyes drooping.
“We should rest. Then we can discuss next steps.”
Nobody argued, and slowly, they all shuffled after Hadrian, following the Alpha into a room with a giant nest of a bed. Hadrian settled himself into the middle, where Harry curled into a fetal position against his chest. He then grabbed Charlie, tugging him down and guiding him into the position at Harry’s back.
Everyone else filtered in around them, settling closer together than Hadrian had initially expected - but it was a relief. It meant they were more likely to settle as a circle.
Hadrian pushed everything else from his mind for now. It could all wait until they’d rested.
>>>
When Harry woke up feeling cramped, he wasn’t surprised. He’d woken up that way for ages, after all.
Then, he realized how much warmer he was than usual - and that the ‘walls’ he’d expected were breathing.
It all came back to him in a rush, and his eyes snapped open.
Dark eyes looked back at him, and he jolted in surprise, but the arms around him kept him from going too far.
He felt his cheeks flush red, struggling with the comfort he found from being so close to the others, the discomfort of having gone literal years without regular positive affection or touch, and the overwhelming feeling of it all.
“Do you want to get up?” The question was barely a whisper, but Harry nodded, relieved to be easily understood. He was lifted and stifled a noise of surprise when someone else took him from Hadrian.
He turned his head to see Wikhn and tilted his head curiously. He felt - cautious? Curious? But it didn’t match the smirk on his face. Harry waited until they were out of the room to speak up.
“Are you okay?” Wikhn’s response was to lift a brow at him, and Harry rolled his eyes. He was well familiar with this tactic. “You’re worried about something,” Harry stated, trying to see what he would do with the twins. “What?”
“How can you tell?” It wasn’t a deflection, or at least not only because Harry could hear the genuine curiosity, so he answered.
“I can feel it. And it’s too early to be me. Plus, it feels like you.”
“Too early to be you?”
Harry nodded sagely.
“If I worry in the morning, I’ll never stop. Better to wait until something happens worth worrying about.”
Wikhn blinked at him, clearly taking that statement in. Harry smiled when he saw Wikhn decide to put his curiosity about that aside in favour of another question.
“How can you tell your feeling what someone else feels? Have you always been able to do that?”
Harry could feel how much sharper this question was - not because Wikhn wanted to hurt him, but because he obviously felt it was very important.
Wikhn, for his part, was reeling. There weren’t many known empaths, but those that were known were notorious in their own rights. Furthermore - if they were in any way related to their submissive, how had he ended up orphaned on Earth?
“It’s like,” Harry began to explain, and Wikhn focused his attention. “It’s like if you’re at the library,” he glanced at Wikhn a touch skeptically, and Wikhn suppressed an amused eye roll, nodding so Harry would continue. “Well, it’s quiet at your table, right? You’re just reading your own book or doing your own homework.” Wikhn had no idea where this was going but nodded anyway.
“Okay, so, say your friend comes to the table. Even if they’re quiet, it still feels different than when you were alone. And you always know if it’s your friend or not, right?” Wikhn blinked, surprised, but Harry continued. “So my feelings are my books and my homework. But your feelings sat at my table.” Harry gave a decisive nod, pleased with himself, and Wikhn could only huff out a laugh. Calmly in his own thoughts so as not to tip off Harry, he made a note to speak with Hadrian. After all, not everyone would recognize that a person joining their table was a friend or foe before they saw them. The level of fight of flight that sort of instinct came with was concerning. But that wasn’t a concern for Harry, not right now, and so he just bumped his chin against Harry’s head, earning a giggle.
They arrived back in the sitting room from the day before, and Wikhn frowned. They would need food sooner rather than later. He was hungry, and if he was hungry, the newly inherited certainly were. The fact that Harry hadn’t once mentioned food or being hungry was yet another flag to be concerned about.
“So,” Harry interrupted, poking at his arm. “What were you worried about before? And what are you worried about now?”
“How do you know it’s not the same thing?” He asked, setting Harry on a settee before beginning to poke around the room.
“Because, before, it just felt a bit off, but now it feels annoyed.”
“Well, now I’m hungry, and there’s no food.”
Harry knew when a grown-up didn’t want to tell himself and drew his knees to his chest, resting his chin on them as he watched Wikhn look around.
“We could ask one of the people outside the door.”
He only didn’t flinch at Wikhn’s sharp look because he could feel the concern. There was a sword in his hand that Harry had no idea he’d had before, but he didn’t stop Wikhn as he slunk towards the door, poised.
“I think they’re guards,” Harry said in a whisper, not wanting to upset whatever Wikhn was doing. “And there’s a magic thing on the door, so I don’t think they can come in.” The words had Wikhn’s sword lowering before disappearing as he turned towards Harry. He hadn’t forgotten they were in the Royal Quarters, but he had forgotten that despite having a nearly full suite, Raspen would, of course, still have guards assigned to him. He could only be relieved they weren’t within the rooms themselves.
“You can see the wards on the door?”
Harry squinted, tilting his head adorably and scrunching his nose as he looked at the door.
“Kind of.”
Before Wikhn could pry, Quinn appeared in the doorway, looking rumpled and concerned.
‘Harry,’ teal letters spelled out in the air, ‘When was the last time you ate?’ Harry looked at Wikhn for assistance, who only stared back unimpressed. He ducked his head behind his knees a bit.
“Ask George?”
If it weren’t yet another red flag, Wikhn would’ve been amused at the frustrated hand Quinn drove through his hair.
‘Right. Any allergies?’
Harry shook his head.
‘Dislikes?’
Harry shook his head again, though neither of them had missed the slightest hesitance.
‘How does your stomach feel?’
That earned a shrug. “Fine, I guess. I’m not that hungry.”
“Harry.” Hadrian’s voice had Harry jumping and Wikhn filing away the fact that someone who had excellent control over their emotions could likely sneak around Harry’s empathy. It could also be that nothing about Hadrian would ever register as a threat to Harry. Either way, it was something to observe.
Harry craned his neck to look up at Hadrian, not uncurling from where Wikhn had placed him.
“Hadrian,” Harry returned carefully. It earned him a slight smile from the Alpha, who dropped to sit on the floor by Harry’s feet. It was an unusual place for an Alpha to choose to sit; however, considering all of Harry’s already recognizable triggers around an adult, it was not that unusual and also something everyone else would take note of and mimic.
Wikhn would admit, at least to himself, that despite everything he’d heard about the Shadow Blood Title, there was a level of calm and kindness in him that Wikhn hadn’t expected but respected, considering he also knew the damage the other could do; had done.
Harry propped his chin back on his knees to see the shadow Dragel on the floor, the action naturally forcing him out of his more defensive position.
“Healers are notorious for their obsession over food,” Hadrian informed him, tone conversational but holding enough amusement that it had Harry stifling a giggle against his knees, gaze flickering to Quinn, who huffed and crossed his arms and back to Hadrian, who offered a sly smile. Quinn and Wikhn recognized what he was doing, though, and despite the posturing, Quinn was glad. He knew how to handle patients, but his own circle? His own submissive? He felt untethered and was glad Hadrian was taking this off his hands.
“Why?”
“Because Healers need to keep a special diet, so their blood is pure, in a sense.”
Harry immediately shot to his feet, hands in fists and a scowl on his face. It had both Wikhn and Hadrian going still and Quinn’s arms dropping from across his chest.
“My blood isn’t dirty.”
Everyone’s eyebrows shot up at the words, but their surprise only seemed to make Harry angrier. All of them felt the build of magic in the air.
Hadrian knew when he didn’t understand something - and the words had obviously triggered something for Harry - so he tugged on the bond with his Beta, feeding some urgency through it. He felt the responding alertness and knew the other would join them quickly.
“I don’t think it means the same thing to us as it does to you. I don’t think anything about you is dirty.” Hadrian said carefully, keeping otherwise still as Harry glared at him, green eyes luminescent. He felt Charlie enter the room behind him, and heard him sigh. When Charlie immediately huffed and grabbed Harry in a headlock, earning a squawk from the boy, it had Wikhn stepping forward, and only the flick of Hadrian’s gaze stopped him, though it was unhappy.
Hadrian too had trouble keeping still, until he realized that Harry had fully sagged into the motion, taking comfort from some sort of familiarity. As soon as he did, though his frown was still present, Charlie semi-released him; keeping one arm hooked around the front of his shoulder, but using the other hand to ruffle his hair.
"Want to tell me what has you so angry that your magic started to attack the wards?"
Harry whipped around to stare at Charlie in horror, while Charlie just ran a soothing hand through the younger's hair.
"It doesn't matter. Riven seemed to be expecting something like that, and stabilized it all well enough."
Wikhn found himself starting at the Beta and Submissive pair. Could they both see wards? It seemed unbelievable that such a rare gift appeared twice in the same generation, let alone within the same circle. Harry's anger seemed to come back now, at the reminder of the conversation, and he stepped away from Charlie to cross his arms, shoulders hunching a bit as he glared at the room.
"They said a Healer's blood needs to be pure." There was enough venom in the word to set every Navarah born back on their heels, though none of them interrupted as Charlie made a noise of understanding.
“How many people’s blood have you had a drink of, Harry?” The words earned a squawk, this one embarrassed.
“Charlie-”
“You remember how mine tasted?” Harry stilled, gaze flickering between Charlie, Hadrian, and Quinn. Finally, he nodded. “Okay, now think about Quinn. Do you remember that?” Harry shoulders lifted even closer to his ears, and he nodded again, though now his scowl was back in place. There was a stubborn tilt to Harry’s chin, one that Hadrian was glad to see, despite the current cause.
“Hadrian said that a Healer’s blood needs to be pure.” He repeated, eyes flashing. Charlie gave a calm nod, not even a hint of frustration crossing his features, only patience.
“If Dragel’s regularly drink blood, can you think of a reason why it might be helpful to have someone who’s blood is always pure?”
“But my blood isn’t dirty!”
Charlie’s ‘ah’, confirmed to the others in the room that this definitely went deeper than they thought. Charlie then looked at Quinn, tucking his hands casually into pockets, a show that he wasn't at all threatened. Considering the way Harry snapped his fangs at the motion, it seemed bold, but Harry himself made no move to approach anyone from where he'd moved to stand, alone.
“Quinn, what makes your blood pure?”
‘I have to follow a special diet so that things like my blood sugar levels are never too high or too low in case I need to donate it for an emergency, or I need to spike a potion for extra healing purposes. If I eat too much of the wrong things, it can create an imbalance, and then my blood wouldn’t be as helpful in healing as it it currently. Any Dragel blood, unless specifically stated otherwise, is good for healing and nutrients, but Healer’s have to be particularly strict as the extra benefits can be the difference between life and death.’ He paused, considering, ‘Really anyone can follow the diet to the same affect, but most aren’t willing to put in the effort.’
By the end of the explanation, Harry's anger had morphed into stubborn embarrassment, and when Charlie made an inquisitive noise in his direction, Harry huffed.
“It’s not my fault Malfoy and his stupid cronies are always going on about being pureblooded and stuff.”
“That’s true. But it is your fault for not listening to an explanation before jumping to the worse conclusion.”
There was a moment where Harry’s scowl was dark enough that it could’ve sparked another temper, but it subsided a moment later. Contrite, but still stubborn, he stood in front of Hadrian.
“Sorry.”
“I didn’t ask for an apology.” He replied mildly, “But I accept.” When he reached out, Harry took his hand, and sat back on the couch beside him. “Things are different here. It’s going to be an adjustment for all of us. Nobody will be angry with you for being confused, or angry about how much is changing. It’s going to be hard.”
“But I could’ve just listened.” There was a petulance now, but Hadrian understood it was because Harry didn’t understand what to do other than apologize, he also realized that he had likely always been expected to apologize, even when things weren’t his fault.
“You did listen,” Hadrian countered, “That’s why you got upset.” Harry was frowning at him now, but it was in confusion.
“I don’t understand. You want me to be mad?”
Hadrian shook his head, amused.
“No, well, not exactly. If you need to be mad, then yes, I want that. As I’m sure Quinn would be happy to tell you, it’s better to express your emotions than to repress them.”
“But I shouted at you?”
“So?”
Harry glanced at Charlie, who put his hands up in surrender.
“You’ve met my mum, Harry, she treats shouting like a national sport.” Harry sputtered out an embarrassed laugh.
“Charlie!” He scolded, scandalized, but there was also a smile fighting against his scowl. He turned his attention back to Hadrian.
“So you don’t think our blood is dirty?”
“No, though Charlie and the twins will need to go through a blood purifying ritual at some point. Not because they’re dirty in any way, but because it means their blood is poisoned, and it can and will hurt them and our circle in the long run if we don’t deal with it.”
“It’s poison?”
“No,” Hadrian repeated calmly, “It’s poisoned. It’s not overtly poisonous itself.”
Despite his assurance, Harry looked extremely worried.
“We should do it right away, right Charlie? We should wake up the twins.” he looked at Quinn. “Can we do it soon?”
‘Soon enough.’ Quinn agreed, rolling with the conversation. ‘I just need to contact my family circle, they’re all healers as well. It will be easier with more of us to balance out the drain of magic.’
“Can we call them soon?”
Quinn huffed out a laugh.
‘Yes, in fact, I’ll send a message now, because they’ll be able to bring food as well.’
Harry nodded, and fell silent, but it was clear he was thinking hard, playing with Hadrian’s hand, but not really paying attention to the action.
“My best friend Hermione, her parents are both muggle.” He finally said, “That means they don’t have magic. So Hermione is the first person in her family with magic. She’s also the smartest person ever.” His own pride in his friend was sweet. “But because her parents don’t have magic, other people think she’s not as good.” When Harry looked up, his jaw was set, and his eyes glittering shards of emerald. “My mum was a muggleborn too. And when she died and saved me, it stopped the darkest wizard for 11 years. That’s more than anyone else was able to do. Even wizards people call the most powerful of all time.” He scowled, looking back down at his hand and Hadrian’s, frown furrowing his brow.
“I’m called a half-blood, because my dad was from a Wizarding family that’s been around for ages, but my mum wasn’t.” This time, when he looked back up, his eyes had slitted once more, scales rippling across his face. “They call Hermione a mudblood, because they said her blood was dirty from the muggles, but she lit our professor on fire when she thought he was going to hurt me.”
There was a ringing silence now.
“I’m not a pure Dragel,” Wikhn interrupted, and Harry blinked, scales fading as he turned to look at Wikhn. Wikhn’s grin was too sharp around the edges. “Dark Fae, with some Dragel mixed in.”
Harry cocked his head, curious.
“Is that important?”
Wikhn shrugged. “Depends who you ask. Probably nobody in our circle,” and Hadrian nodded in agreement because that sort of thing would not be tolerated. “But there are some who don’t like my kind.” His grin grew even sharper, showing fangs. “Though I’ll be honest and say most don’t want to go toe to toe with me to share their opinion.”
Despite his reaction to violence the day before, Harry just rolled his eyes.
“Do you fight everyone?”
“Only if I’m lucky.” That earned a laugh from Harry, though he shook his head in disbelief.
“Do you like hurting people?” Harry hadn’t meant to ask it like that and tensed the moment the question left his lips, but nobody else reacted, and Wikhn even shrugged.
“Do you want my honest answer?”
Harry nodded immediately.
“I’m Gheyo.” It was what Minh had told him the day before. “We always like to fight, which means, of course, we like to hurt each other. But we like to help each other too. Gheyo probably know more about field healing and first response than anyone but trained professionals. Some Gheyo even are trained professionals.”
Harry blinked, not having expected that.
“So if someone gets hurt, and Quinn’s not here, I should ask a Gheyo?”
“You should ask whoever’s closest.” Hadrian amended, though he agreed with Wikhn. “Your Merrow isn’t Gheyo, but he’s probably also well-versed in healing magic.”
“Why?”
Wikhn shook his head, but he still looked and felt amused. “If you think Gheyo are vicious, we’ve got nothing on Merrow.”
“It’s not our fault Landwalkers are generally a soft touch.” Alec mused, strolling in. He rounded the couch, completely ignoring everyone until he stood in front of Harry. Then he crossed his arms over his chest, frown in place as he regarded Harry.
“We need to find out your parentage.”
Harry frowned back.
“My parents were Lily and James Potter.”
“Fine, but what about their Dragel heritage?”
“Alec,” Hadrian cut in, tone warning, but Alec didn’t even spare Hadrian a glance. It had Hadrian and Wikhn both bristling and Harry going tense. Alec sighed, the expression over the top, before cutting a look at their Alpha.
“Harry can breathe underwater.”
It had Hadrian looking at Harry, who was frowning up at Alec in confusion.
“Is that bad?” Alec snorted.
“No. But it’s unusual for a Landwalker. Or, I should say, impossible. It means you must have Aqua-kin’e ancestry somewhere recent, and my guess would be your Third since you don’t seem to have any other visible traits in your halfling form.”
“My Third?”
Hadrian sighed, glancing at Quinn, who immediately started over, the message bubble he'd been sending disappearing.
‘A Dragel is born of 3 parents.’ Teal letters began to explain, ‘A Sire, a Bearer, and a Third for magic. Without three parents, it’s impossible to be born as a Dragel.’
“But, wouldn’t everyone know if my parents were Dragel? And they were married!”
None of them were about to explain to an 11-year-old the intricacies of that kind of relationship. Luckily, Quinn was well-versed in this kind of uncomfortable conversation.
‘Magic can be contributed by any number of people. It could’ve been a best friend.’ He explained easily. ‘What matters is, you had to have 3 parents, and as far as we know, only the two who were your Sire and Bearer were killed?’
While the question could’ve been put more delicately, Harry didn’t seem bothered, and he nodded slowly.
“I don’t know much about my parents besides that they were brave, and that I have my Dad’s hair, and my mum’s eyes, and that Professor Snape thinks my Dad was a bully.”
Hadrian’s gaze flickered to Wikhn, who nodded. He would look into it. What kind of adult insulted a child’s dead parent to that child?
“It’s easy enough to check, but the reality of what this means must be acknowledged.”
When Harry just looked at the four adults in the room in confusion, it was Wikhn who took the bait, though he barely withheld his scowl.
“What must be acknowledged?”
“Harry was born on Earth. There are no Aqua-kin’e on Earth. That means his Third is likely one of the Lost Children.”
Some wouldn’t know what that meant; after all, the Merrow were fiercely secretive about their circles and culture, only surfacing on certain occasions, and even then, very few ever did. The Lost Children was a dark memory for Merrow, as it was a time when the protections of Nevarah had been breached, and not only had a number of Merrow died, but even more children went missing. Almost no details were known above the water except this: children were taken, and the Merrow would do anything, even all these years later, to get them back.
“If Harry’s Third is Merrow, they might still be on Earth,” Hadrian warned, and it was a warning. Earth wasn’t exactly a safe realm to begin with, and the fact that there were at least five children with creature inheritances all within a very small area that nobody on Nevarah knew about; well. It didn’t exactly paint a pretty picture. And they could be fairly certain that nobody knew, especially with the likes of Raspen, Riven, and Alec in their circle, and who knew what connections some of the others had. The Hartwoods were known scholars after all. And Devrim? Hadrian was fairly certain he was a realmwalker and the one often contracted by the Storm Courts if he was reading the signs correctly.
“All the more reason to find out more now.”
“Would they know?”
Harry’s question had all attention focusing back on him.
“If they know of their own heritage, maybe. Not necessarily, though. And if they don’t know? Impossible.” Alec replied immediately. Harry nodded, expression smoothing out with relief. It wasn’t hard to guess where his thoughts had gone; if he’d had a parent who knew about him, where were they? But the knowledge that they were likely as in the dark as Harry made it infinitely easier.
“How can we find them then?”
“We could do a bloodline ritual. It’s fairly simple. If Quinn doesn’t know how to do it, I do.”
‘I would rather wait until after the rest of the scans are finished, as any blood ritual can be tiring if you’re not used to it, and I’d rather make sure everyone’s in good health first.’ Quinn shared. Alec didn’t respond right away but, after a moment, nodded.
“Fair enough. Your family circle is coming today?”
‘Yes. They said they’d be here within the hour.’
“They?” Harry asked.
‘My parental triad, at least.’
“We should wake everyone else up,” Harry decided, "so that nobody’s surprised by guests."
“Why don’t you go?” Hadrian suggested, and Harry agreed easily, hopping up and wandering back towards the room. Alec went stiff as Hadrian stood in front of him, gaze sharp, aura heavy on the air.
“Don’t push him.”
Alec’s mouth curled into a snarl in response.
“Hiding it from him won’t do him any good. Better that he knows.”
“That you know, you mean?”
This time, Alec did actually snarl. Hadrian just watched him in return. It only seemed to set Alec more on edge, the humidity in the room climbing.
“I agree that we shouldn’t keep anything from him. But that doesn’t mean we have to push him to find answers right away. Harry has been adapting extremely well so far, but you forget, he’s only 11.”
The scowl on Alec’s face could almost be called a pout, but the humidity in the room levelled out, and he crossed his arms over his chest.
“I didn’t forget. But family is important.”
“Is it?” Hadrian asked mildly. He didn’t have to remind Alec that he’d introduced himself with no last name; the memory of it hung between them, unsaid. Alec’s scowl deepened.
“It is to Harry. I know you noticed his reaction to the little wizard calling them god-brothers.”
Hadrian inclined his head, an allowance, but never took his dark gaze from Alec’s.
“Nobody is going to push him. In any way.”
For a moment, neither moved, but finally, instinctually, Alec’s chin tilted back and to the side. Hadrian stepped forward, placing a gentle palm against Alec’s neck.
“Will you stay for the Healers? Or is there somewhere you need to be?”
Alec, who’d stiffened minutely under the touch, relaxed, meeting the Alpha’s gaze once more.
“I should report in.”
“Should I know to who?”
Alec gave a slow nod. “Probably. But I should ask permission first.”
Hadrian’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Alec didn’t seem like the kind to ask for permission, more like forgiveness, and if he really felt the need to ask, it was likely someone far more important than Hadrian would like.
“Alright. Do you think you’ll be able to return for dinner?” Alec blinked.
“That’s it?”
Hadrian smirked, giving a gentle squeeze where his hand still lay, but it wasn’t threatening.
“We aren’t going to be that type of circle.” was what he led with, smoothing a thumb along a pulse point and watching the lightest of blushes stain Alec’s cheeks purple. “As long as Harry or I know where everyone is and have a general idea of when everyone will return, I don’t see any issues.”
Alec nodded, stepping away and out of Hadrian’s grasp when his blush grew more pronounced.
“Tell Harry I’ve gone to see my cousin. I’ll be back for dinner.” Hadrian recognized the words for what they were, further concession by admitting he had family. Also disconcerting was that when you were reporting in, it was generally professional, and he wondered just who their circle was going to be tied to, both professionally and personally, through Alec.
When he nodded, Alec was quick to disappear, but it further soothed Hadrian’s instincts that the other had waited for his acknowledgement, brief though the wait had been.
When Harry came back out, he was on Devrim’s back, arms hooked around the Gheyo’s shoulders, legs supported by Devrim’s arms, hooked at the waist. He was happy, with a smile on his face, and clearly asking question after question if Devrim’s long-suffering but amused expression was anything to go off of as he murmured his responses back. The Pareya were next, twins on either side of Neville, probably teasing him about something if the blush but smile was anything to go off of. It was clear the twins had picked up on his need for positive attention, and it was a positive sign that they’d recognized Neville needed their attention more than Harry at the moment.
Ethan followed them, an indulgent look on his face, though it was clear he was keeping careful track of the conversation because every once in a while, he would say something, clearly reeling the twins back in.
Raspen followed shortly behind, Riven at his side, and the more he watched them, the more Hadrian realized the two had obviously known each other quite well before the soul scream.
Idan and Minh were next, Minh pouting as Idan rolled his eyes, with Brishen and Zandian bringing up the rear. The last two weren’t speaking, and their closeness was honestly a bit shocking considering their elements, but then again, Brishen was the one who pulled him from the water, and the Phoelix didn’t show any elemental preference so far. Hadrian was honestly glad that Harry had somehow called one of the most even-tempered Jokers he’d ever met and that the other seemed to have taken Zandian under his wing, so to speak.
Because Zandian hadn’t had a natural Joker potential like some did. It had been pure desperation and trauma-induced.
“My vote’s Crimson Tide connections,” Wikhn murmured at Hadrian’s shoulder, bringing his thoughts back to Alec.
“Possible. It may be Royal.” He could feel Wikhn’s surprise but didn’t turn, watching the others still.
“With his temper?” Hadrian huffed out a laugh.
“He would only be reporting to a member of the Tide if he was Gheyo.”
“He claimed Merrow,” Wikhn argued, though it was half-hearted. They both knew that claiming Merrow in a circle meant renouncing a previous rank in a way, but while Alec may have Gheyic inclinations, he was not Gheyo, and they both knew it.
“There was a whisper about the crown shifting, though it hasn’t made it beyond the Haunts.”
“I haven’t heard that rumour.” Hadrian finally cut a look at his King, his smirk showing teeth. It earned him an eye roll. “How royal?” Was Wikhn’s next question, and Hadrian looked back at Harry, who was laughing as he was pulled off Devrim’s back and clutched by Minh, who stuck out his tongue at Devrim in turn.
“With Harry’s luck?”
Wikhn’s groan was half pained, half amused.
“According to Fred, George, and Neville, Harry fought a Mountain Troll.”
Hadrian’s curse and following swipe as Wikhn dodged had Wikhn actually laughing before dancing over to snatch Harry right out of Minh’s unsuspecting grasp and snapping his teeth mockingly when Minh reached back.
Harry bopped Wikhn on the nose in response, earning another wave of laughter as he blushed bright red, and Wikhn stared at him in shock.
Hadrian felt instincts further settling.
There may be some things they would have to work on, but it was clear they would be just fine.