Paulo Caelo
Before any explanation occurred, Harry first offered Skull some tea as basic British etiquette.
He also added some drops of Calming drought to help his cloud transition the information without going into shock from too many emotions that he saw Skull was prone to experience.
Harry always has a cupboard full of necessary potions that he knows how to brew. It took a running and trying to survive from death eaters and snatchers and well as five years as an accident-prone Curse breaker that Harry finally understood the great art and significance of potions.
And well, if Harry thought that trying to get the necessary N.E.W.T.s for Auror was bad then trying to pass as a curse breaker was twice as hard.
So Harry went on a studying spree with the happy help of Hermione to pass the necessary exams and have the grades enough to land him a job as a curse breaker. Things were much easier for him because he already had a lot of job offers due to his fame of finally putting Voldemort fifty feet under for good.
But Harry wanted nothing to do with the jobs that wanted the-man-who-lived-twice or the wizarding world's hero. He wanted a job that needed Harry Potter and his own brand of Potter luck.
So the day that he manages to get the necessary credentials, he skedaddled out of Wizarding Britain and took the nearest international floo to Germany where Bill and his team waited for him.
While Bill worked at first as a curse breaker for Gringotts, their relationship soured after it was discovered that he was part of the Order that was involved in the break-in. So he left and found a job as a curse breaker from an independent curse-breaking organization that worked all over the globe.
Harry now understood the necessity of potions and made sure to always stock up on needed ingredients as well as a complete brewing kit within his expandable luggage placed on his vaults that were sealed on his lordship rings.
Since this new place didn't have magic whatsoever aside from soul flames, Harry started to plant the ingredients he had in hand on a patch of earth beside his house. While Harry was no Neville and his green thumb, he was not pants at Herbology. Years of being forced to tend to Petunia's garden taught him a thing or two as a kid.
After seeing the effects of the Calming drought in Skull's camomile tea, Harry started to explain the gist of his situation.
The wizard was not willing to discuss the can of worms that was his childhood and battles with Voldemort but rather just explained his situation as a wizard from another world that got transported into this world via an accident on an ancient ruin in Italy.
"Wow! Can you show me?", Skull's eyes were sparkling in excitement, and Harry couldn't help but pat and ruffle his soft purple hair.
While others might think that Skull wears contacts and dyes his hair, Harry was told by the younger man himself that all this purple was natural.
Skull was originally someone with black hair and brown eyes, but after he had awakened his flames, he turned all purple. Which was fine with the stuntman since he admired the color.
His cloud leaned into his touch while still sporting that bright roguish grin that reminded him so much of Sirius that it nearly hurt.
"Sure", he then lifted his right hand and waved it a couple of times to allow multiple ornaments and furniture of the house to float.
A higher-tier Wingardium Leviosa that allows for multiple objects to float at once. It was amazing to see just how simple spells could evolve depending on their caster's will and creativity.
"Cool! What else can you do? Magic, real magic like in the movies!", Skull exclaimed while staring at the living room which was lost in touch with gravity.
Harry shyly chuckled from the brash adoration and amazement that Skull was showing.
Muggles' reactions to magic varied. Most of them stare at it with awe but then afterward a portion of them turn to caution and fear of such unknown powers. While another portion was just like the Dursleys who took one look at it and hated it with their entire being
Harry was glad that Skull was part of the group that adored the idea of magic. It must also be due to Skull's own abilities. Soul flames were like magic as well and having purple flames that heal and strengthen him must be magic to his cloud.
Explaining the concept of magic would take a lot of time, especially for a muggle who hasn't experienced it themselves.
This was why muggleborns have such a hard time adapting to the culture and basic etiquette of Wizarding Britain. Especially since it was so backwards compared to the modernness of the muggle world.
If Hermione wasn't a muggleborn in her first year then she would have probably already triggered a blood feud with at least one of the purebloods. Rules and so many rules, even properly standing had rules.
Malfoy might have been spoiled prat back then. But Merlin, did Harry not want to end up in his pureblood shoes with a book of etiquette as thick as a dictionary forced into his head. No wonder he was such a stick in the mud ponce.
So to help muggleborns adjust and for the muggle parents to understand just what their children are getting into, Hermione along with some other muggleborns and a few half-bloods wrote a book guide to the introduction of magic and wixen culture.
Harry himself had a copy stashed away in his vault and decided that it might be easier for both him and Skull if he gave it to the teenager.
There were two ways for a lord to get the needed objects out of the sub-space of their lordship ring.
First one was the basic and they can basically summon it out of the ring by applying their magic and thinking of the object in question.
The second was much more tricky and used a bit more magic. The lord can actually enter the sub-space and take out what they needed. This can also work as a defensive mechanism that allows the lord to escape to their ring's sub-space Incase of danger. But time passed inside the ring and outside was the same and you cannot stay within the ring for longer than an hour.
So Harry pressed his thumb over the Topaz jewel embedded on the Potter lordship ring and summoned the book out of his sub-space.
The book itself was a work of art and as magical as the information contained in it.
The cover looked like normal leather but was actually charmed to be nearly indestructible through physical means and was etched with runes to prevent theft and to return immediately to the owner in case it was lost.
Harry took his Runes mastership at the same time as Daphne Greengrass. The Greengrass heiress had taken up the Ladyship of her house just after she had finished her Hogwarts education and had immediately jumped at the chance to take a Runes mastership.
They got along fine with each other due to them not having any bad blood. While being in Slytherin, the Greengrass family has always been neutral that leaned a little in the dark since their family expertise has been healing and runes since their rise in the 1800s.
She was also one of the very few purebloods that helped in the making of the magic guidebook titled 'Magick: Introduction to the Magical Community'.
The copies were magical in a sense that the pages come alive along with the drawings of places and creatures. The ink used in writing and drawing the books were enchanted and it allows for the colored pages to spring out of the pages and prance around the user to further enchant the reader.
So Harry wasn't surprised when Skull opened the book on a random page and the small silhouettes of a couple of patronus chasing away a dementor sprang from the page and circled Skull's head.
"Dios Mio! What the hell?", Skull almost tripped from the shock but Harry managed to grab him in time to prevent a rather embarrassing fall.
He then led Skull to the sofas and sat him down before seating beside him as well. He pointed at the book with a slight grin.
"And this, is the book for the introduction of magic. Take care of it and read all you want Skull. It's yours".
Harry's grin got wider when he saw the gobsmacked expression on his cloud as Skull cradled the book like it was his family's Grimoire.
"Are you sure? I mean—"
The poor teen fumbled with his words and while clearly wanting to have the book, was too shy to ask of it from his sky.
Harry tutted and pointed his wand at the cover of the book. He channeled his magic and soon words were engraved on the leather cover of the book in neat cursive.
'Skull de Mort' was engraved in a beautiful cursive font at the front of the book right below the title.
"Skull, you are my cloud. We have a soul bond, this is the least I could do for you. Hell, we even live together now. What's mine is yours, don't be shy"
Skull ducked and slowly nodded but Harry had already seen his misty eyes and the red reached even his ears. It was absolutely adorable that Harry could help but pull his cloud into a soft hug.
Skull squawked but soon kept quiet as he leaned into the hug. Harry let their flames do all the talking and before they knew it, both were comfortable asleep on the couch with their flames tangling in the air like a soft waltz.
"Are you sure Viper? I mean I would be very grateful but still—"
"Mou, stop worrying. I already told you two weeks ago that I would do this. We already have a schedule, it will cost you to mess it up"
Viper's annoyed voice reached his ears from the phone and Harry didn't know what to say.
It has been nearly a month since he and Skull harmonized. Their bond had settled enough that their flames didn't scream at them at even being 10 feet away from each other. But Harry was still wary of having his cloud meet with anyone related to the underground.
While Harry trusted Viper enough not to stab him considering the heavy paycheck that he always managed to supply the informant, he didn't want Skull anywhere near the mafia.
Skull was a civilian —although Harry was considered a 'civilian' as well, he was a wizard with a great deal of magic and experience under his belt, he could outbattle any Mafioso sent his way.
Yet he knew that Skull needed to be exposed to other flame users as well. Harry was not naive enough to believe that he would forever be able to hide from the Underground and the Flame users. It was only through his magic alone that the Vindice didn't find him.
Potter luck will always make sure that he 'lives an interesting life' as the Chinese curse would say. Harry would swear that somehow his family was the one that was cursed by those infamous words. No need to be in denial about it.
Better to prepare him or it than leave him ignorant and a sitting duck. Harry experienced it the hard way and he didn't want his cloud to suffer through that.
It helped that Harry's instincts didn't warn him about any possible negative outcome of this meeting.
So he gritted his teeth and agreed to allow Viper to meet Skull and have the mist explain more details about the mafia, flames, and his responsibility as a guardian.
"Good, same place as last time Harry"
Harry didn't even blink when Viper cut off the call before he could even say goodbye.
The wizard sighed before sitting down on his comfortable armchair while resting in his cottage's private library.
On the outside, his cottage looks like any other. But as any wizard worth their salt, much less Harry's caliber, he expanded the inside of his home to fit all his needs.
Now their home consisted of two bedrooms right beside each other for him and Skull, a living room where they first discussed about magic and binged watched their favorite movies during the night with some snacks that he and Skull cooked, a small dining room, a kitchen large enough that Harry could easily maneuver around, two bathrooms, a study room that Harry barely uses, a private library which is was spelled to be expanded the largest to fit all the books from his vault as well as his personal collections, an underground sparring room for when Harry felt twitchy, and finally some storage rooms that Harry normally dumps random stuff inside.
Harry waved his hand to cast an accio on the nearby newspaper on the other side of the library which was left to rest near the entrance door.
It was still odd for him to see a newspaper that does not have moving images but he made do with the truth that he wasn't in his own world.
Harry has also been far happier now that he has Skull around, the energetic teen in all purple just seems to know what to do to liven up the day. The wizard doesn't know just where the teen gets all of that from, he never had that much energy in his late teenage years.
But he was glad to see that Skull was also doing better. Their Harmonization did both of them good.
Harry was reading on the news about the suspicious fire accident that happened to Sicily, it was the third one this month and he couldn't help but be curious about it. 'Fire incidents' were a common cover up for Dying will flames related incidents after all. Then a knock resounded in the room and Harry turned his head towards the mahogany door.
"Come in Skull"
The door slammed open with Skull marching inside with a bright grin. He wore a white button-up shirt with the sleeves folded to his elbows and black trousers. His hair was still a messy purple along with his make-up and silver piercings.
"Harry! I'm done changing. Come on. The audience is waiting for Skull-sama!"
Harry snorted before laughing out loud. His cloud was practically bouncing when he told him earlier that day that he would be taking the two of them out for lunch. Since Harry could apparate anywhere he has already been to he could practically go anywhere now since his adventure around the world to find magic for a year.
He had let Skull pick the place and the cloud had chosen a nice Japanese restaurant that he remembered dining at a couple of years ago during one of his stunts.
"Skull, I'm the only audience waiting for you", he smiled before standing up from his chair and walking towards his guardian.
He fixed his clothes which consisted of red sweatshirts and some jeans that he normally wears when outside of his work. The restaurant they were going to dine in wasn't anything fancy so they could wear anything they wanted. Harry just wasn't sure why his cloud decided to dress up as he did.
Skull fakes pouted which was quickly replaced by a grin as he winked at Harry.
"There's never a time when the Great Immortal Skull-sama isn't wowing the crowd. It's just that this performance's audience is very special"
Skull bowed like a performer in front of him before taking his hand and placing a kiss on top of it.
Harry laughed good-heartedly with Skull. He then made sure that he had the necessary money converted to yen, along with an ID and his wand. It was important that he at least brought these things with him. Money, basic identification, and his wand.
"Are you ready?", he asked his cloud, who nodded excitedly in return.
"Okay, here we go—"
He then apparated both of them to a secluded area in the streets of Osaka where Skull then proceeded to pull him the whole way to the more populated part of the city to call for a cab.
Harry had no problem speaking Japanese due to the translation spell he has on. Skull was fluent in Japanese and had no problem either. Both of them sat on the passenger seat and enjoyed the ride while watching the large buildings and beautiful sceneries of Japan's street food capital.
It was when both of them returned home from their lunch–turned–into–a–whole–day–trip that lasted till dinner did Harry remember about Viper's offer.
"Skull, I wanna ask about your opinion on something"
Skull turned towards him while he was drying his hair in a towel after finishing his bath. A confused look painted his face but he shrugged and took a seat beside Harry on their couch.
"What is it?", he inquired while he left his towel on his head to reach for his phone. Skull scrolled on the weather reports for the next day to probably check whether the weather is agreeable for them tomorrow to continue their plan to visit the market.
Harry enjoyed the tour that he and Skull did in Osaka that the wizard decided to tour Skull in their little town as well. So tomorrow they were planning to go out for groceries.
While Harry's garden for potion ingredients grew well enough, that same can't be said for his personal garden of vegetables and fruits.
It was after skimming through his books that he found what went wrong. He should have known that planting highly magical plants on the same grounds as normal plants would kill off those normal crops.
The sheer amount of magic saturating the grounds was too much for the crops. They all died from overnutrition before they even had time to ripen.
Harry was disappointed but thought that this was probably destiny's plot to get him out of the house from time to time. Merlin, even Skull seems hell-bent on preventing his hermit lifestyle.
"An acquaintance of mine that helped me in learning about flames said that they would be willing to meet up and help you in understanding about your flames and role as a guardian, are you willing? I won't force you if you feel it's too early", he placed a warm hand over Skull's shoulder and the stuntman leaned on his side and tucked his head on his neck.
Their flames entwined and flared languidly like a cat sleeping under a sunny shade.
Skull hummed before placing his phone down and appeared to be thoughtful of the proposition.
"You trust this guy, Harry?", his cloud questioned while trying to reach his hand.
"It's best not to trust anyone in the Underworld but when it comes to it I trust them enough not to betray their best-paying client"
He truthfully answered while he reached out and clasped Skull's hand, interlocking their hands together. Both were callused and hard from both training in their professional careers.
Harry's hand was rough from the amount of training and work he did within the war and after as a curse breaker. While Skull's hands were roughed by the hand grip of motorcycles, his childhood as a circus performer and doing maintenance for his own vehicle. It was part of what made them themselves.
"Hmm, I'll go. When is it?"
"Next week"
"Good, come on let's go watch some Star wars"
Skull grabbed the remote and turned on the telly. The buzzing sound of the TV spread in the room as the bright light and voices from the shows echoed around them.
Harry cast a nox and the lights turned off, encasing them in darkness with only the TV lighting up the living room.
In the kitchen, a small light peered through from the likely forgotten lamp that cast a blue hue. Harry couldn't help but watch it with a hypnotized gaze.
"Harry?"
He was pulled back to reality when Skull literally pulled the sleeve of his pajamas.
"Nothing Skull, just daydreaming"
Skull looked at him as if not quite believing it but decided to let it go as they soon got absorbed into the movie.
Harry opened his eyes to towering Pine trees that seem to reach the sky and have no end. Every single one was large enough to be a tower worthy of holding a princess with hair gold as spun silk.
"That's quite poetic of you Harry. Looks like your cloud is driving away the wrackspurts investing your head. Good for them—"
Luna sauntered over from the thick mist that enveloped the forest ground they were on, grass of a deep shade of green wet from the humidity crunched under her feet.
"—And you too", she continued as she walked towards him as elegant as a fairy with wispy lapiz colored Will-o'-the-wisp floating around her like fireflies.
"Hello Luna, it's nice seeing you again", he smiled warmly at his friend who never seems to fail to find and understand him in her own odd ways.
He spread his arms wide, welcoming a hug and she squealed like an excited child before jumping into his arms.
The wizard lifted her off the air in his embrace and spun her as her giggles rang like soft bells in their forest of dreams.
The world around them brightened as the Will-o'-the-wisp danced around them in a charade of ballet. Spinning on an unknown tune lost in time as ancient civilizations fell.
When he finally let her down again, she smiled that serene look in her eyes that always felt like it was seeing his very soul.
"You have grown and healed little sky"
He huffed before chuckling with merriment. His hands helped the blond down on the ground as they sat on the lush emerald grass.
"You know, I never did understand why you kept calling me a sky. Now I guess I do"
Luna smiled innocently at him and actually batted her eyelashes. He chortled as he lay on the cold grass, the blades clutched on his fingers like soft blades of ice.
"It's nice to see you so happy Harry. I will enjoy watching you complete your rainbow. The Arcobaleno will not fade this time. You are the best at defying destiny and fate after all"
She mysteriously commented as a rainbow colored flower with seven different colors petals that were a parody of a rainbow, appeared on her hand.
"You know I never do understand what you are talking about until it hits me in the face and 30% of the time it tries to eat or dismember me", he complained as he watched her play with the flower in her hand with her usual gentle gestures.
"You will know in time Harry. No need to chase it, I think it will chase you instead"
Harry looked at her as if her words brought him great pain. But the mischievous little helion just smiled back like a sweet angel.
"Luna don't jinx me"
"Of course not Harry", her pale grey eyes showing that silvery hue that spoke of magic and knowledge only she can see. "I only speak the truth"
He groaned as swung his arm to cover his eyes and let the music of the winds in this mythical place play in his ears.
The wizard soon heard a soft voice follow the music of ancient magic.
"Yes my child, close your eyes
Let your dreams live and the nightmares go far
In the east, the sun may rise
On the west, may the tears fall and rest
Paulo caelo Paulo caelo
Go where I cannot
Paulo caelo Paulo caelo
Live where I cannot..."
With the soft melody lulling him to rest, Harry felt how it was to dream within a dream. A peace that only a few could manage and even fewer were gifted.