Chapter 15
When Harry woke up, he realized he could breathe, and he was still underwater. The first thought that went through his mind was that he had died, drowned underneath the water of the lake. He didn’t think that was the case though, as he could tell he was breathing.
That didn’t explain how he could breathe underwater.
Harry reached up to his neck, feeling that there weren’t gills there any longer. He looked around the room he was in, noticing that Ben was lying beside him, in a large bed, if you call it that. It wasn’t like any bed he had seen before but was definitely comfortable.
Before Harry could question what was happening any further, the mer from before swam into the room. “Ahh. You are awake.” He spoke, going over to Harry.
“Yeah… Where are we? I remember the gillyweed running out and passing out from the lack of oxygen but I know we aren’t above water and I am somehow still breathing underwater?” Harry gushed out, very confused.
The mer chuckled, helping the boy off the bed. “Us mer can give you the ability to breathe in the water with a kiss. I was impressed by you so when the gillyweed lost its effects on you, I shared the gift with you and let you rest here until you awoke.” The mer spoke, making Harry blink owlishly before blushing.
“Wait, that means you kissed me?” Harry most definitely did not squeak and was glad Ben wasn’t awake to hear cause he would have said he did.
The mer looked at him quizzedly before nodding. “Yes, that is how we give the gift. You can now breathe in the water and can understand and speak our language, along with a few other underwater languages as well.” The mer told him.
Harry blushed more and rubbed his face. “Sorry, just didn’t expect the kissing part, I never kissed someone so it was a shock to find out you kissed me,” Harry told him, looking up at the mer.
The merman seemed to realize this and chuckle. “If you are worried about it counting, I do not believe something to save your life would count.” He told Harry, making him nod, embarrassed about making such a fuss about it. “I do not believe we were probably introduced before, My name is Aalton of the Mer of Black lake.” The merman, now known as Aalton, told him.
Harry smiled. “I’m Harry Potter, known as the boy who lived, Though at the mansion sometimes they call me Suffering Harry,” Harry replied to the mer.
Aalton nodded, looking over at Ben. “I will take you two to the surface now. It has been a half-hour since the task was originally supposed to be ending and while they have been informed of your whereabouts, one of the followers of the faceless is becoming heavily distraught and ready to find a way to you.” He told Harry.
Harry was now made aware that he had forgotten about Jack waiting for him to go back, and curses. “Fuck! Jack is probably worried sick!” He groaned.
Aalton chuckled and picked up Ben, holding out a hand to Harry, which he took. “Do not worry, it will not take us long to get to the surface.” He told him, before moving Harry to his back, causing Harry to grip his shoulders as the mer swam them up to the surface.
They surfaced near the shore and Harry was quick to move Ben out of the water, casting a warming and drying spell as he did so. Jack was by them in an instant, checking his vitals and looking him over for anything wrong.
“Did he ever seem like he knew he was under the water while in there Harry?” Jack asked full-on doctor mode at the moment.
“I don’t think so. He should wake up any moment, the spell that keeps him asleep is supposed to wear off once we reach the surface.” Harry replied, and as if on cue, Ben started to stir.
The two stared at the electronic ghost as he slowly woke, opening his eyes and groaning, covering them with his arm. “Why is it so bright?” Ben muttered, moving his arm enough to stare at them, not awake enough to register everything.
“What do you remember, Ben? I need to know.” Ej told him, checking him over as he spoke. Harry watched worriedly, noticing others coming close in the corner of his eye, he glared at Dumbledore, livid at him for what he had done.
“Harry, my boy. We were worried when you didn’t come up at the hour mark-” Harry cut Dumbledore off.
“I am NOT your boy! Do not act like everything is fine and dandy when you lied for years to the wizarding world about me being ‘safe and happy’ when I was lucky to eat once a week!” Collective gasps sounded as several heard Harry’s shouts at the headmaster. “You have no room to act all friendly with me! You are not my family, I don’t even like you after all the shit you’ve done! My first bloody year at Hogwarts, I have to go save a fucking stone from the wraith of Voldemort because you decided I needed a test to make sure I would be a ‘good little prophecy child’! My second year, there’s a basilisk going around the school and you don’t even bother to TELL ANYONE about it?!?!?!? I ended up fighting that thing and getting bitten and if it weren’t for Fawkes, I would be dead!” Harry shouts, pulling up his sleeve enough to show off the large scar he had from the basilisk, several other scars littering his arms.
“Then, my third year, which is by far the best year I’ve had so far! A criminal breaks free from prison and you and the minister think it’s smart to let DEMENTORS! OF ALL THINGS! ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS! I almost had my soul sucked out twice! Then I found out the fucking criminal, Sirius Black? HE’S INNOCENT AND YOU KNOW! Not only that, He’s my godfather and in my parents’ will, it specifically stated I. WASN’T. SUPPOSED. TO. GO. TO. MY. AUNT. AT. ALL. COSTS. Did you listen to that? Noooo, you decided to lock up my parents’ will, not to be read, and sent me there anyways, where it also stated that Pettigrew was the secret keeper! Did we ever mention you were the one to convince Crouch not to give Sirius a trial? No? Well, now it’s been stated. Don’t even get me started on this year. Nonstop you have been trying to get me alone, which I found out you are NOT supposed to do this year. The first month, you tried seventeen times to get me alone and I have had to call my new guardian, thank god for him he is more caring than you will ever be. Then you fucked up here, this is the last straw. Not only did you take people AGAINST THEIR WILL into the depths of the lake, you took one of my best friends WHO’S GOT A DEATHLY PHOBIA OF BLOODY GODDAMN WATER!” Harry shouted, feeling bad as he heard Ben suck in a sharp breath of air, looking towards the water.
“I have not had ONE, NOT ONE, normal year of school! Not to mention, you had my bloody friends spying on me! I bet that worked out really well when they got tired of being surrounded by danger all the time by being around me! Must we not forget, you were paying them. Not with your money, nope couldn’t have that. You took money out of MY FAMILY VAULTS to pay them to be my friends!” Harry screamed at the old man, everyone around them staring in mute horror. Dumbledore himself looked about to have an aneurysm.
A hand rested on Harry’s shoulder, making him look over to see Jack. “Harry, calm for now. I need your help with Ben, now that he knows that he was under the water in the lake, he is having a panic attack.” Jack told him, already moving back to the blonde male, who looked like he was having trouble breathing.
Harry was by his side in an instant. “Shit! I’m sorry Ben!” He sputtered, feeling horrible.
Jack seemed to think for a moment, before kissing Ben, catching Harry, and several onlookers who were watching the scene, off guard.
Ben seemed startled for a moment, before slowly kissing back.
This went on for a moment before Jack pulled away, smiling at him softly. “Better?” He asked, making Ben nod.
They finally got up before the three went to Harry’s room, Harry’s mind reeling at what he just saw.
His chest hurt and he didn’t know why.