Echoes of Time (Harry Potter)

June 1, 1943

Sunday Evening

Harry didn't know for a second why he hadn't signed his name into Slytherin's book months ago. There was so much information in that study, information that'd been kept from him for nearly the entirety of his fifth year that would've desperately made a difference. Sure, a vast majority of the spells were outdated or had newer variations of them, but who would remember how to counter the ones from centuries upon centuries ago?

Not only that, but all those who'd come before Harry had littered the books with notes of their own; from the first to the last, all who'd used the room had left notes at random junctions within a multitude of books. Some of those notes interacted with one another too, the previous Peverells, Gaunts (Elaine's relatives) and the few others not of those bloodlines had worked across the centuries to improve the magic they learned. Harry supposed that was why some of the spells sounded off or seemed finicky when used, considering the number of changes they'd gone through by those who weren't experts in spellcraft.

Still, they must've known something from the study or from the chamber, as the adjustments made had shortened the time to cast the spells, be it by changing the motions or syllables in the casting phrase - phrases they were too, as some of the spells had nearly eight syllables! No wonder people were burnt at the stake when they couldn't say a shorter word that was less apt to draw attention!

Something particularly interesting to Harry had actually been that first book he'd read, the one that'd warned him about 'losing his light' if he ventured in. Now, he wasn't somebody who put stock into crazy-sounding warnings such as the note, but he'd have been lying to himself if he had continued with some form of caution. As he progressed through the damned thing, the note had been made on good authority, as the spells within were very… for lack of a better term, dark.

Harry didn't necessarily believe in the lines of 'light' and 'dark' nearly as much as he used to, considering the many ways mundane spells could be used to hurt people. But when the spells therein were explicitly too grievous, violent acts similar to the one Cade had given him… he couldn't help but linger on that very basic classification. One spell in that first book had been nearly as horrible as the one he'd only just learned, and to Harry, that was morbidly impressive considering how much later the former had been made; horrible happenings were more frequent as time progressed, the Americans fighting against themselves and the Great War were testament to that.

So when he learned of the spell simply referred to as 'Flay-Spill', the recoil and more than anything else, the sadness that it existed had taken hold of him. It was then, sitting in that dark, dank room where many others had sat before that he felt as if his emotions had been overrun, and not by Elaine. That book, he thought, was filled with negative energy that slowly seeped into him as he read it. How else could he explain the agitation, sadness and anger that grew in him as the pages went by?

Elaine, the connection he had with her, felt inherently different than the root of whatever was changing him. When he thought back to the notes on the two Gaunts, the two who most recently used the room, their ends came to mind.

Laurent had gotten arrogant and met his end with friends, or so that was the general assumption considering his body had never been found. It was shown fresh out of Hogwarts how powerful and full of promise he was, but that poisoned him, or so it seemed to Harry and Corene.

As for the other one, the woman whose name eluded him, she'd simply vanished after having two children with her husband. One of those children would later go on to give birth to Elaine, hence her magical power and the gifts she had. Harry was reminded of Slytherin's notes for a moment, perhaps the blood of Elaine's father had been so very far removed from the other Gaunts that her full potential had been released; in other words, the inbreeding was countered by someone of nearly no relation and thanks to that, the power of her bloodline was out in full force.

Harry shrugged to himself and shook his head. He wasn't an expert on that sort of thing, not even knowledgeable, really. Besides, that wasn't the important thing at hand right now, no, the new spell he'd learned only today took precedence over hypotheticals involving bloodlines and inbreeding.

Thus far, until today, the magic he'd learned from Cade, Druella and all of his other sources following Yaxley's journal being completed had been combat-focused. He didn't mind that overly much, but it came to a point when that was no longer helpful if he fell too far behind in other branches such as Transfiguration or Charms, the others too. With that on his mind, he'd gone down to the Study today with one thing on his mind; improving skills that weren't combat-oriented, at least not completely.

If he would've stumbled across healing magic or something else that was meant to aid in a fight rather than end it, he wouldn't have minded overly much. But, that wasn't what he'd found, or rather, that wasn't what he'd been given when he entered the room - for the Study seemed to pick up on his wants much like the room of requirement had. No sooner than he'd closed the door behind him, a book had floated itself over to hover above his shoulder.

There was no title on the front of it, nor was there one on its side or back. Instead of anything like that, the book was simply blank with a tattered, worn leather cover. He didn't think it'd be at all useful considering the look of it, but when he scanned the first few pages to humour the room - Merlin that sounded stupid - he'd very quickly lost himself in its contents. Potions and Rituals, the book was a stepping stone and introduction to both topics. He didn't need the former nearly as much as he did the latter considering rituals weren't taught at Hogwarts, or so he'd thought. As it turned out the more he read from the book, those potions weren't simple remedies for ailments or the like, they were meant to go with the rituals.

He hadn't a clue that was a thing any more than he had a clue that so many rituals existed, and Merlin, did a lot of rituals exist. That book went from one to another and so on, naming dozens of the things in various coloured inks as well as writing styles. Harry very quickly recognised some of the writing as those who'd come before him, the more prolific of the bunch as they seemed to be. Now, as interested as he was in rituals, he wouldn't go about messing with them the very day he learned of their existence - especially since he didn't know the fate of those he'd gotten all of his notes from.

If there were instances of those he'd learned of spontaneously catching fire or something else along those lines, well, he knew not to do those rituals. Should he learn that they had great magical strength but fell victim to Laurent's arrogance or another mental issue, again, he'd not risk them. Still, there were a few people he could discuss rituals with even if he didn't plan on going about doing any; Elaine, Slughorn, Slughorn Senior were but a few he could name.

Harry hadn't a doubt that others such as Cade, Druella, Daphne or even Corene knew of them either, though the latter most likely had less knowledge than the rest considering her forte lay in the realm of information-gathering on people and history more so than magical knowledge.

Hours later, when Harry had finally left the sanctity that the Study provided, he'd run into one of the few people who could help him, and it was then he wondered if that being was aiding him again, as it'd seemed to do once before. Then again, it could just be that famous Potter luck that kept him going, whatever it was, he found what he needed in the form of Professor Slughorn; a slightly drunk variation of the man too, which meant his lips would be looser than they usually were.

That was a good thing for Harry considering rituals seemed like they were rather private, dark things, or so he assumed based on the ones he learned of. For all he knew, rituals could be as light as they were dark; as split as magic itself seemed to be when it came to classifications. He hoped more than anything that was the case, as Voldemort in his time had used the cauldron ritual as well as other ones… supposedly.

All that Harry knew for certain was that Voldemort had done a ritual. If that transferred as some knowledge had, then the odds that Elaine had or planned on doing rituals were fairly high. Merlin, he didn't need her anymore powerful and knowledgeable than she already was. That wouldn't be a fair fight if she continued her rapid growth as much as he did his.

Too great was the distance between them already, or so he thought it was.

"Professor Slughorn," Harry greeted with a nod, smile and bow as he looked up at the heavy-set older man. "How're you this evening, sir?"

Slughorn's rosy cheeks and alcohol-induced ear to ear smile greeted Harry first, then words followed as the man put his hand on Harry's shoulders. "I'm great, my boy, absolutely great! I've just finished a meeting with your girlfriend, actually - Elaine is simply one of the greatest witches I've ever spoken with, her mind is so very wonderful to pick," Slughorn turned too fast and stumbled, the man's drunkenness very prevalent in his actions despite his voice sounding very close to normal - perhaps the amount of social drinking at a table he'd done had given him a sort of immunity to word slurring. "Do come with me, do come with me, we could speak about your family! I've a great many questions, you know, not least of all are the ones regarding that old tale mothers read to their children."

Harry nodded, more so to himself than his Professor.

He's drunk, very drunk, Harry thought as he acquiesced to the man's request to follow after him. I can use this. I can see what he spoke with Elaine about, pick his mind for rituals and maybe weasel more from him.

"What was that, Professor? I think I misheard you," Harry lied, covering up his on the spot planning as he looked at the heavier man again, his previous words lost.

"Not a problem my dear boy, no, not at all!" Slughorn slapped his shoulder again and pushed open the door he'd likely only just made his exit from. "I asked if you and Elaine plan on getting more serious this summer, she spoke so fondly of you, a future marriage seems as if it's already in the works. Do remember your favourite Professor if that's the case!" Slughorn's final words were emphasized with drunken laughter and a slap across his stomach, though Harry sensed there was a touch of seriousness in that final remark.

Slughorn wouldn't be forgotten, not at all. For better or worse, the man was a centrepiece in Elaine's plans and as a result of that, a centrepiece in Harry's.

"We'll certainly remember you, sir, I promise - I told you as much when I mentioned visiting my family's home too, didn't I?" Harry reminded the older man, dangling that above him as another avenue he could abuse for information gathering. "Do you have any more wine, Professor? I figured we may as well have a glass or two while I'm visiting if that's alright with you."

Slughorn nodded his head and pointed towards a liquor cabinet across the room as he made his way over to a more comfortable looking chair, one that was plush-looking and with a large pillow on it. "Whiskey cubes are in that diamond-glass piece, that was something one of my former students provided. They came from a lovely home, yes, one with a host of problems but she was a sweet girl…" Slughorn shook his head morosely and looked at Harry again as the boy moved to pour them drinks. "Your home is far lovelier, I'm sure. I half expect it to be the grandest thing I've ever had the pleasure to witness!"

Harry smiled as he brought their drinks over and sat in front of the man. Slughorn, even as drunk as he was, still tried buttering him up. He wasn't Elaine though, and as such, Harry wasn't nearly as won over by attempts at flattery. If anything, when somebody told him whatever it was that he wanted to hear, it simply made him more suspicious of the person rather than ingratiating them to him. Elaine seemed to work in an opposite manner, as she loved hearing what she wanted to; he suspected that was why Daphne and Corene were the only two she listened to, considering those were the only two that called her out when she was wrong. Cade might've too, though Harry had seldom witnessed interactions between the two despite the training they'd done together.

That fight was coming up soon too, he had to witness it. There was no way he'd go without seeing it, not when the fight would be something of legends if the personal accounts of their skills weren't embellished. Truthfully, he didn't think they were, as Cade had quite handily beaten him when the boy went full out in a practise fight.

Harry had yet to fight Elaine, but he figured the girl was equal to if not slightly stronger than Cade was if she managed to duel him to a standstill. When one took into account that she was a full year behind him, the fact their duel had ended a draw was even more concerning for Harry's future should she become his enemy.

"Thank you, sir, I truly hope you'll enjoy Peverell Manor. I've only had a few guests over since my coming out of hiding, but the four that'd visited told me they loved the place," Harry was speaking of the four friends that'd visited over Christ- Yule, of course, though no real accounting had been given to the public despite Corene's family mentioning that it'd happened. "I believe I've told you before, Professor, but we have a whole hall of historical pieces from centuries upon centuries ago. I don't remember who it was, Corene or Sarah, but one of them had mentioned something of the Roman Empire being very near where my family's home had been constructed. Perhaps there's more on our grounds that we've not yet found - it would make for a fun outing, wouldn't it?"

Slughorn had seemed absolutely enthralled by Harry's words, and that was no exaggeration. From the moment Harry spoke of having had over a few guests, the man's face and body language had shifted to that of complete attention as he hung on every word. When Harry next made mention of the Roman Empire and how it'd been on his family's grounds as well as the chance for more artefacts to be unearthed, he half thought the Professor would have a heart attack based on the pure excitement that shone from his face.

"It would be very good, very good indeed," Slughorn immediately agreed, the man then taking a long gulp of wine before he poured himself a glass of whiskey in the then-empty glass with a few whiskey cubes from earlier. "You remind me so much of Elaine, you know - Whiskey?" Harry shook his head no, and Slughorn continued, "Truly, the two of you are very alike in so many ways, though that's come to be all the more true as times progressed. Initially, you were a bit skittish, though that's to be expected. Ah, forgive me, I believe I've found myself distracted! Let me return to my earlier question, are the two of you planning marriage already, or is that something she's doing without much help from you?"

"Mainly her," Harry admitted carefully, "Though I'm not against it."

He couldn't be, not if it meant he kept her from doing anything horrible or otherwise egregious should he be stuck in this time period so long as he lived. If he had to marry Elaine to keep her from turning into Voldemort, a man she'd failed to recognise as another version of her, then he would. It didn't hurt that she was beautiful and forward with her affections enough that he half thought she truly was madly in love with him. If it proved true, then there was a chance he'd keep her good and experience the life he'd wanted to live with a family of his own making.

Harry shook his head as Elaine's words seemed to have gotten to him; kids were too early a thing to plan for, especially with where they currently found themselves.

"I see, I see," Slughorn said with a nod and stroke of his chin. "I apologise if I was too forward then, she spoke at length of your plans together this evening and wished for my counsel on them. To think that you'd wish to follow the career of Auror until you were the Director of Magical Law Enforcement… it's a very commendable position, I tell you. Not many are cut out for that line of work, and I'm sure I could assist you, lad. I've many a friend who could aid you as I've done for her, how else do you believe she's found herself with a Junior Undersecretary position for the Minister when she's out of Hogwarts?"

Slughorn smiled widely at Harry and leaned in as if to tell a secret. "She told me you knew of her lineage too, that of the Gaunts," the man whispered with an impressed, near predatory look about him as his eyes gleamed while he spoke. "Such an old bloodline has power in it, not unlike yours," he leaned back now. "I do believe I've said it before, but together, I can see the two of you doing wonderful, wonderful things - like the wedding, though, don't forget who helped you!" Slughorn laughed and went for another greedy drink as he finished speaking, but this time, Harry didn't smile.

Instead, he tried to read the man better than he ever had before, and as expected, he came up empty to some degree. It was obvious that Slughorn's main motivation was power, why else would the man cultivate a group during his entire tenure as a Professor as he had? Merlin, all somebody needed to do was look at all the wizarding photos he had scattered about his room and listen to him speak of the stories behind them for but ten minutes to understand that.

But, Harry didn't think that was all of what drove the man. There had to be something more, something beyond power that had him so driven in helping Elaine or other students that he prized above all others, Harry included. It didn't make sense for the man to use all the friendships he previously fostered along with the influence that he had to set them up lest he gained something beyond being an ally or close friend of that person.

Perhaps he was rewarded monetarily by those who he helped raise to their positions? Was he behind certain bills that got passed by the Wizengamot? Did he pick some of the articles that came out of the Prophet?

Harry hadn't a clue.

"Tell me, lad, what kicked you into a sprint?" Slughorn asked, a drunken smile and casual look about him now that they'd moved on from speaking of history or the Peverell family home.

"How do you mean, sir?" Harry asked back, the question beyond him after the thinking he'd just been doing - he still needed to learn why Elaine had visited and see if he could get bits of information about rituals, for Merlin's sake.

"You've risen in marks in my class, most others report the same," Slughorn took on a knowing look as he grinned at him. "Was Elaine behind that too? She strikes me as one that would try to push you to what you're most capable of."

Harry nodded a few times now that he understood. "Elaine was a great help, that much is true, though I've also gone to a few other friends I've made for help too. Without any of them, I doubt I'd be where I am in terms of marks right now - now, Professor, could I ask what Elaine was doing here beyond future planning for our potential marriage and the bit about our jobs when we're out of Hogwarts?"

"Why of course, my boy!" Slughorn responded as he leaned forward in his seat. "She spoke at length of your future plans, be it personal marriage or careers out of Hogwarts, hence my involvement. Beyond that, she asked of your marks as well as hers, and if a rumoured retirement of one of our finest minds is coming about sooner than expected. I don't believe I told her about that final bit, though I did offer the best advice that I could when it came to Ministry careers."

"And what's that, if you don't mind my asking, sir?" Harry asked, curious as he too leaned in.

"Don't have one!" Slughorn said with a grin and big-bellied laugh. It took him nearly thirty seconds to get out of that laughing fit, and when he did, he spoke in a more subdued manner despite how red-faced he was. "Truly, the Ministry is lacking in many an aspect, I told her as much. I find it so very commendable that the pair of you are so incessant on fixing it - had I been born years and years ago, I do believe I would've tried to join you on such a wonderful cause. Old as I am, all I can do now is provide you with my connections to ensure you rise very easily in the ranks of the Ministry."

Ah, there it was, Harry thought finally. Elaine was once again ensuring that we received an elevated rate of growth at the Ministry with the positions we've already been gifted once graduated.

She liked to think ahead, Harry would give her that, especially considering Slughorn had already told them he'd help months ago. Perhaps she wanted to remind me, that, or she was seeing what more she could get from the man. Harry didn't doubt that latter thought of his considering how well connected Slughorn truly seemed to be.

"Professor," Harry started, deciding now worked to switch topics when the man finished his glass of Whiskey. "Could I ask you something? Something a bit… unusual? I don't know anybody else with your knowledge I could turn to for this type of question, as I'm afraid it might have a taboo connected with it."

"Ask away my dear boy, ask away. There'll be no judgement between two friends, I assure you," Slughorn said, quick to wash away any concerns Harry had and eager in gaining the boy's trust.

Early as it was, quick as it was, Harry needed to learn of rituals, and so he asked of them. "Rituals, sir… I recently came across mention of them in my familial library at Peverell Manor and when I went to the library, there was nothing there regarding them. Could you tell me anything about them, sir? It'd be between friends, as you said."

Slughorn slowly nodded his head, the drunken gears of his mind working very visually. "Rituals, yes… yes I know a small deal about them - it comes with potioneering, you see. Most of them are dark, Harry, yes they're often so very dark. Tell me, what did the one you're speaking of promise you?"

Harry had only skimmed the section that covered rituals, and so he went with the very easy first one that he'd seen. "Magical power, sir. It was something that promised to make the ritual doer far stronger than they currently are, though I hadn't found the price of it," that was true too, as Harry hadn't seen any price associated with it.

Then again, the thing had only promised to go into minor details of them rather than be something dedicated.

"Humanity," Slughorn said with furrowed brows as he regarded Harry, the drunkenness seemingly subsiding as a look of concentration took hold on the man's face. "Magical power, any form of power, comes at the cost of your humanity. Regardless of how noble the deeds you wish to accomplish when you begin, rituals that offer so much also take the most from you," Slughorn seemed melancholic as he spoke, and all too suddenly, the man ended the conversation with his next words. "It's getting late, yes, why don't we pick up our conversation another evening?"

Harry wouldn't press the man when that had already been far more than he knew of rituals. "Of course, sir, and thank you."

Slughorn waved him away and made steps towards his bedroom, leaving Harry to walk himself out. He did so too, after taking one last peek at the animated pictures of very prevalent people; the one he'd taken with Elaine and Slughorn only days ago was already the centrepiece of them all.

June 7, 1943

Saturday Afternoon

Dear Harry Peverell,

It has come to the attention of my wife and I that our son has struck up a friendship with you. I hope he's not forgotten his history lessons or lineage, and if he has, I'd inform you that we may very well be your closest living relatives. Do check your family tree to make sure, as we very much thought the last Peverell had married into our family centuries ago. We're very glad that wasn't the case, and as such, we do hope to continue the long-standing friendship between our two families - one that went into all manners of workings.

On another note, one that isn't nearly so historical or informative, we would like to formally invite you to Potter Manor. Our son, Marcus as you very well know, has requested you be the first guest of summer to our home. Usually, that would be slotted to Veronica Weasley or the Longbottom boy, but to say you interest us doesn't do it justice. Should you agree to this visit, please get with our son in Hogwarts and work out the official date. We promise you'll not regret it, and as many questions that we'll ask of you, so shall we answer in return.

In ending, we've glanced at your friendships with the Carrows and Rosiers as well as the public nature of the former. While not aligned with them, our family is very mixed in our stances currently. It should come as no surprise to you that we, like many, would very much like to know where House Peverell falls on the important matters that currently plague our world.

With respect and eagerness,

Mister and Misses Potter.

Harry put the letter down and blinked a few times.

Merlin, that's something, isn't it? He asked himself when a few minutes went by so that he could process the letter he'd received; never had he expected to receive something the likes of that from Marcus' family despite the interest the boy had said his family had in him. Harry would have to speak with Marcus soon, especially if they seemed as interested as they did in him. If he could make friends with the Potter family as he had with the Carrows, Goldhorns and Rosiers - somewhat of the Oleanders too - then he'd be in a very good position.

He still needed to speak with Veronica's family too, in regards to that ailing business of theirs. Elaine's warning be damned, he'd do what he liked when it came to helping a friend despite her lack of silence about it.

"Aren't you joining Elaine, Harry?" Aster asked, rousing him from his thinking.

"Am I? For what?" Harry didn't recall what he was joining Elaine for, so lost in the letter as he was.

Aster laughed and shook his head. "That must've been some letter if it's made you lose your mind - Elaine and Cade are duelling today, again. They want to settle it and see who the better witch or wizard is. I'm sure that's something you'll not want to miss, for obvious reasons. I don't think the bird would be too happy if her boyfriend didn't show up ei-" Aster dodged to the right and so very narrowly missed Harry's spell from hitting him, "-ther. That was rude, innit?"

"You're lucky you're used to dodging Reinhard's fists, prick," Harry huffed before he too had a small bout of laughter with his friend. "Thanks for the warning though, I think I would've actually forgotten had it not been for you."

"That's me, I live to be helpful to my mates," Aster said as he gave a mock bow and then narrowed his eyes when he stood up straight again. "Don't expect me to dress and act the part of a butler though, I'll spit in your food."

"Fair enough, mate, fair enough," Harry answered with his hands up.

Aster wouldn't have made a very good butler anyhow.

"I was waiting for you, Harry," Elaine said as soon as he stepped out from the Slytherin common room, her voice as tense as her body looked when he took her in.

It was weird, the tenseness of her muscles and the straining of her voice. Seldom had he seen her act anything but controlled, especially when she was standing in a public space. He wasn't sure if something had happened, if she were very eager for this bout with Cade or Merlin forbid, she was in one of her randy moods. He didn't think the last was likely considering she'd never been that withdrawn without physical affection… but then again, Elaine isn't exactly normal in any sense of the word.

"I'm here," He said to her as he held out his arm for her to loop hers through. "Are you ready for your fight with Cade?"

Elaine pressed a soft kiss against his cheek and slid her arm into his. "Yes, I expect it to be easier than it previously was. Far easier, in all truthfulness - last he knew, I was new in chains that involved advanced magics as I'd spent more of that time on other projects."

"That's not the case anymore?" Harry asked, digging for information on the skills she possessed despite the fact he would soon see just how gifted she and Cade both were.

"Not remotely," Elaine assured with a smile and touch of something else that flashed across her face. "I do believe Cade will be in for quite the shock when our bout begins and with you attending as you are, the likeliness of my victory is higher than ever before," Elaine slowed their motion for a minute and looked Harry in the eyes, her head forced to look down at him thanks to their height difference. "Say, Harry. If I were to ask your permission to use your wand in this fight, would you allow it? Before you reject a request that you've undoubtedly concluded as weird, my wand would be in your possession the same as yours would be in mine. My body reacted very positively to your wand and yours would do the same to mine, in fact, it already has."

"When? I don't rememb-" Harry was cut off not by words, but by actions, as Elaine very stealthily and quickly slipped her wand into his hand that was interlocked with hers; in doing so, she tightened her arm up to prevent him from slipping away.

Nothing. He felt nothing towards her wand… for the first second or so that he held it.

When that first second passed him by, he had very much the same sensation as when he'd first touched his wand. Elaine's wand reacted to him very positively, Merlin, he thought the thing preened with happiness as sparks that reflected their house robes erupted from the tip of it. That hadn't even happened with the wand he'd taken, nor had it happened when she had first taken hold of his back in the Chamber.

"Wands are an interesting bit of magic, aren't they?" Elaine asked, a mixture of smugness and affection on her face as she looked to where his hand grasped her wand. "I've heard before that the wand chooses the witch or wizard, but I half thought that was wrong until the first time I'd felt yours or even now as I watch mine react to you. Perhaps there is something inside of them beyond the components they're crafted with, a touch of sentience or a connection predestined for those such as ourselves."

Elaine carefully took her wand back from his hand and held the thing in hers, the fingers of that hand toying with the now dull wand. Harry felt a sense of loss when he had it pulled from him, but he knew that his wand was still at his side and ready for usage whenever the need should arise; he didn't want the thing getting jealous either, for if her words or the ones that Ollivander had spoken to him all those years ago contained even a smidge of truth.

"Wands are certainly something," Harry said with a nod when he shook himself free of the feeling. "That was too. I've never experienced something like that when holding somebody else's wand."

"Neither had I," Elaine agreed. "Ah, it would seem we'd been so lost in our talk and feeling of wands that we lost track of time. Here we are, the location of Cade's private study room and by the look of things, the others are already here. So, what do you say to my request?"

Harry cocked his head at Elaine and only slightly narrowed his eyes at her. "Why is it that you want to use mine when yours feels and works just fine?"

Elaine smiled at him and stepped closer, her body flush against his as one of her cool hands stroked his face. "Fret not that I'll do anything morally reprehensible or dangerous with it, Harry. I would hurt myself before I ever hurt you. As for why I'd like to use yours instead of mine, I suppose it's the feeling I have when yours is in my hand - you felt it too, didn't you? There's a rush and a sense of happiness when you held mine, I felt it through our connection and I'd guarantee that you felt it when I held yours. While I wouldn't say I need the advantage such a rush would present, I'll not lie and say it wouldn't offer a peace of mind knowing how close we are that you'd let me use it," Elaine stepped closer to him still, her warm breath splashing against his face as her eyes bore into his with all of an inch between them. When she spoke again, her lips brushed his every time a word came out. "Please, would you allow me the pleasure of beating Cade with your wand?'

He didn't know if he wanted her to, and when he opened his mouth to politely decline - however challenging it was - she spoke again, saying words that sent a chill through him despite the lack of threat she'd presented for so long.

"I could answer the questions you have regarding rituals far better than Slughorn could," She cooed before placing a kiss at the corner of his mouth, only barely touching his lips. "If there's something else you'd like from me, name it and have it as yours for as long as you'd like."

"Anything?" Harry asked, not backing down from the staring contest they now found themselves in.

Elaine nodded once and flicked her eyes to the door; time was running out before she'd be considered late to the duel.

"Your loyalty," He said.

"It's yours, for as long as you'd like," Elaine answered with a smile and a flush of her face.

Harry traded wands with her, and despite what he'd just wrung from her with their wands in hand, he would be keeping a very close eye on her during the duel.

"On your mark," Robin said as Cade and Elaine bowed to one another. "Three… two… one… begin!"

Harry half thought the fight would start the same way his had, that being with a stretch of inaction as the two gauged one another. He couldn't have been further from the truth of things, as Cade and Elaine launched a flurry of spells at one another with such speed and precision that he found himself nearly blinded by the display.

Spell after spell with names that Harry didn't recognise by in large were launched at one another, with Cade and Elaine each transfiguring cover, casting various shields or dodging about so quickly that it was as hard to follow as the offensive spells they launched in the process.

Large creatures of flame were summoned and directed at one another, the heat bursting past the numerous wards or charms erected around the makeshift arena. When it looked as if a large flame-giant was about to strike Elaine, a burst of water sprung from her- his wand and struck it down with ease. Cade hadn't toiled uselessly as Elaine dealt with his creation though, as the boy had spent that time transfiguring and animating a knight made of stone to send at her next.

Elaine defeated that too, though not nearly as fancifully as the water sword she'd struck down the giant with; instead, she simply overpowered his transfiguration and returned it to its proper form, that of a desk. With how easy it was done by her and the shocked expression that followed for not even a second - one that was reflected by Cade - the fight took a turn.

She cast quicker and more viciously, the spells coming out of her wand with nought but groans of effort that were reflected by Cade as he moved to a purely defensive style. Harry was in awe as he watched the two move about, the speed, the sheer power and destructive energy kept in by the wards around them was simply amazing.

There were no other words to describe it.

When Cade eventually surrendered before he was struck by another spell, the sweat that was pouring off of him showed how much of a struggle the fight was. Elaine looked better than he did when she made her way over to Harry for a hug and kiss, a very wet kiss, but when her skin made contact with his, he could feel how sweaty she was.

"You nearly destroyed the wards," Robin commented as she gave a weird-coloured potion to Cade and Elaine each.

Cade shook his head and dipped it once at Elaine, that was as much of an acknowledgement of his defeat as he'd give, evidently. Elaine returned the nod and pulled Harry out of the room with her.

One minute later, Harry was in the most ferocious snogging session of his life and time with Elaine - as enjoyable as it was, his mind was still too focused on what he'd witnessed. He barely registered how terrible the fight was, for the power and speed was beyond his capabilities.

He needed to learn more than he was, faster than he was.

More importantly, he needed to speak with her about rituals… How else but those had she gotten as strong as she was? How could he match her without utilising them?

June 25, 1943

Friday Afternoon

"Suppose it's time to say goodbye, isn't it?" Sarah asked, her bottom lip out in a pout as she looked between Harry and the other two friends of hers who formed a semi-circle.

"Yup! Thank Morgana I get to go home for the summer and get away from you lot, think I'd go mental if I had to stay here another few weeks - doesn't help the Professors are absolutely arse at their jobs and the ghosts are always flying about. Goodness, I think ther-" Veronica's rambling of Hogwarts and the issues she thought it had was cut off by Marcus as he spoke over the redheaded girl.

"It is," Marcus said loudly as he moved in front of Veronica so she could ramble into his back. "Doesn't need to be teary like it was last year though, it's really only a few weeks that we don't see each other, if that. Remember how often we all visit when we're at home, there's no peace from you lot, like Veronica said," Marcus smiled and shrugged as he looked over Sarah's shoulders to the rest of his friend group. "Unlike Veronica, I don't dislike that. Life would be pretty boring without friends to spice it up."

Harry nodded with his relative's words. "That's very true, I couldn't imagine how boring Hogwarts would be without you three and the others who I've gotten close to. Veronica isn't wrong about everything either, some of the Professors aren't the greatest, Binns," Harry quieted down when a groaning, huffing man passed them by - he whispered his next word, " Pringle. "

"I don't know why you're mad about him," Veronica said, rejoining the conversation and side-stepping around Marcus. "It's not like he caned you. I've still got the marks from where he did my back and underarms in! Marcus always gets off easy because he pays the man his weight in galleons whenever he gets in trouble by himself."

Marcus sighed. "I told you, I don't get caught when I'm by myself. I don't get caught when I'm with you either. I'll never understand how you can get caught so easily by a man as old and out of shape as Pringle, you deserve the punishment for it, really."

"Oh, wait, Marcus," Harry rested a hand on the other boy's shoulders as a sudden thought struck him.

He'd forgotten to coordinate with the boy about his visit to the Potter family home. That was something he absolutely could not do considering how important the Potters could come to be… maybe he could even retrieve the cloak from them. Harry would need it eventually, he was sure, for he'd have to use it against Elaine or Grindelwald; the latter was unlikely considering Dumbledore would be the one to vanquish the Dark Lord, but one could never be too cautious or plan-heavy, so he'd learned.

"Yeah?" Marcus asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Harry in anticipation for the question he was sure to ask.

"I got a piece of mail from your family, they want me to visit you," Harry said, gauging the other boy's reaction and smiling ever so slightly when he saw the brightness of it. "They told me that I should work out the date and time with you, so what do you think? What time works, what day works? They said something about it happening very early on too."

"Very early?" Marcus asked, but before Harry could answer, he spoke again. "If they want you to visit that early, than the first of July or the final couple days of June would work, I should think. They've never let me schedule something like a visit before, don't think I've even been asked… huh, well, what do you think mate? Got any day that you're too busy?"

Harry hadn't expected it to be turned around on him, nor had he expected this to be as much a first for Marcus as it was for him. "None that I could think of… the first of July would work for me. What do you think of the morning, around nine or so?"

Marcus nodded, but when he opened his mouth, Sarah spoke abruptly and cut him off. "Wait wait wait, you're visiting Marcus before you visit me?! Harry Peverell!" Sarah stomped her foot, the action coming from a girl as short as her something very cute and not at all threatening as she'd intended. "You have to visit my family again too! My mother speaks on and on about you, my cousin does too - she has a crush on you, it's horrible. Won't you visit me this summer? I could visit you too if you're too busy."

"Geez, could you sound any more desperate?" Veronica said, snickering and elbowing Marcus in the ribs.

That attitude didn't last long though, not when Sarah sent a curse into the taller, stronger redheaded girl's stomach. It looked pretty vicious too, if the colour of it was anything to go by; when Veronica's eyes widened and she ran off in the direction of the toilets, he didn't think he was wrong.

"Oh relax, Marcus, all I did was make her think she needed to use the bathroom," Sarah said, twirling her wand one more time before she put it away with a roll of her eyes as she looked at the Potter boy. "It's not like I'd do anything horrible to her - that spell was something I picked up from my older sister, by the way, so don't annoy her as you usually do when you come over," Sarah's remark was directed at Marcus, but Harry received the warning as well as his relative did.

Messing with Sarah's older sister was firmly out now, but he could still play around with the rest of her family. They were a warm, caring bunch from what he'd seen… well, aside from the very grouchy older portion of the Goldhorn family. Some of those members were a bit too anti-muggle for him, though that wasn't a surprise with any magical family regardless of how progressive they were.

"I'll visit," Harry said, speaking up as he looked at the Goldhorn girl. "You'd have to stun me to keep me from visiting a family as nice as yours. Really, those few days over were some of the most fun-filled days I've yet had, away from home as I am. Your family wouldn't mind if I visited them for another set, would they? Or if you were to visit me?" Harry asked as Sarah turned her attention back to him, a wide, soft smile on her face.

She was evidently pleased by his words, and the eagerness he had towards visiting her family wasn't fake so long as it wasn't nearly as busy as it'd previously been. He doubted it would be too, all he'd heard from anyone with family on the continent was how buckled down those relatives would be thanks to the massive war that they were embroiled in. Dumbledore would stop Grindelwald soon, the time grew ever closer to that confrontation, and when that happened so too would the bad nations in the Muggle world fall without their magical compatriots.

"Not at all, my family absolutely loved you! I'd love to visit your home again too, if you'd have me - that garden and the interior were marvellous, and I say that as somebody who's seen ancient architecture from our family in Greece," Sarah spoke a mile a minute as her excitement and positive energy burst forth.

When she finished and Marcus could finally speak again, the boy confirmed the plans he and Harry had tentatively set. "July first, then. I'll owl you the floo address and the time our connection will be open since you're not properly keyed into the wards. See you soon, Pev and you too, Sarah. I'm off to find that trouble maker now," Marcus shook Harry's hand, kissed Sarah's cheek and tore off where Veronica had.

"I hope I used the right spell," Sarah said off-handedly as she watched Marcus move with haste where his friend - and crush - had gone off.

"What?" Harry asked as he scrunched up his eyebrows and turned to her.

"The spell I hit her with, I hoped it was the one that imitated the sensation rather than actually cause her to use the bathroom in her robes," Sarah's expression turned sheepish. "I may have forgotten the differences in the two spells, close as they are. Don't give me that look! Mistakes happen!"

Harry raised his hands; no way would he be hit with either of those two spells next.