Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

    Ebenezer McCoy had seen a lot of things in his time. He wouldn't call himself old exactly,  but he had acquired a knee and a shoulder that told him when the rain was coming and when the snow would be deep. Both were bothering him as he climbed up the steps to the chamber where the White Council was meeting, in Des Moines, Iowa of all places. 

        “Damn weather.” He grumbled, leaning on his staff. The wardens were younger fellows that took their time searching him but the dog for magical checks chuffed a greeting and let McCoy give him a pat. The council chambers were already packed with wizards in ornate robes. The apprentices hung around the edges of the room dressed in their plain brown. McCoy had always hated those robes. He thought it made them all look like a bunch of Franciscan monks.  

    The council was in full swing with McCoy being the last to arrive. The doors closed behind him and locked, sealing the group into the room. There were conversations all around in a hundred different languages, all talking about the same thing. There had been a murder, Justin DuMorne had been killed by his own apprentice. Eb had been halfway around the world when he received the summons to council. He had most definitely been doing very serious work, not on a beach with cold cocktails and hot waitresses. 

    He had hardly been surprised to hear the news, DuMorne had become a cruel, cunning man, it made sense his apprentice would have the same temperament, if not the same aspirations. Eb made his way around the room, he shook hands with some friends, some allies, and a couple of jackasses. He had just found an empty seat when Rashid approached him. Eb grumbled as he stood and inclined his head respectfully. It was a bit of a surprise to see the Gatekeeper at something like this. Usually he didn’t bother to show up at council meetings, much less a trial and execution. 

        “Wizard McCoy.” Rashid said, returning the nod. “Late arrival?”

        “I missed my train.” Eb replied with a grunt as they both sat down. 

        “We haven’t gotten to the trial yet, Merlin’s called a recess."

        “Why?”

        "I don’t know.”

    Eb grunted an acknowledgement. Rashid sat for a moment in silence.

        “Have you met the boy?” he asked nonchalantly.

        “Eh? Why would I have?” Eb asked.

        “I don’t know. I surmised that was why you were late. He burned the entire

building down and banished a demon.” 

        “Along with killing DuMorne?”

        “Apparently.”

    Eb sat for a moment and thought. 

        “How old is he again?” he finally asked.

        “Around 15-16, I think. The merlin says he’s dangerous to the White Council, as

does Morgan.”

    Eb scoffed. “Morgan thinks the Merlin’s froot loops are a danger to the White Council.”

        “He’s Maggie’s boy too.”

    Eb stared at Rashid, eyes wide.

        “Are you sure?”

        “Not entirely but it’s a decent wager.”

        “Where are they keeping him?”

    Rashid nodded to the far side of the room to a small door guarded by a warden. The mass of apprentices parted respectfully as Eb stumped over to the locked door. The man stood in front of it bearing the silver sword of the Wardens. 

        “Wizard McCoy.” The younger man said with a small incline of his head. “Fine weather we’re having.”

        “Fine if you like rain and snow. Let me see him.” 

        “You know I can’t do that, sir. No one is allowed to see the prisoner before trial.”

        “I’ll not let that child go to his death without at least looking at him.” Eb growled. The man stood firm.

        “Warden…I swear if you don't let me into that room you're never going to know how this day ends.”

        "Warden Morgan says he's extremely dangerous."

        "Boy, I'm infinitely more dangerous than Warden Morgan and whatever is behind that door. You'll find out in a minute if you don't move."

    The warden thought for a moment then shrugged. 

        "He's only pissed cause the kid laid him out."

        "Eh?" Eb asked, surprised. The warden laughed.

        "Yeah, he grabbed the kid from behind and he got decked for his trouble. Kid KO'd him good” 

        “Is that so?” Eb mused with a smile. The younger man looked around then opened the door and turned away.

    Eb grunted his thanks and moved inside. There was one light from a torch to the side of the room. The boy knelt on the ground in the middle of a circle of power. He had a black bag over his head and chains around his ankles and wrists. His clothes were soot stained and burned in places. His head bent forward in a decent impersonation of sleep. 

    Eb whispered a few words and began to circle the boy silently. The child was tall and going to be taller, all feet and hands like a puppy still growing. Through parts of his burned clothes he could see burns, healing bruises, and scars. His back was covered in lacerations from a whip, some new, some old. Few would scar but the sight made Eb narrow his eyes and grit his teeth. He was thin too, ribs poking out as though he'd grown in a short amount of time rather than deliberately being starved.

    There was a single chair in the shadows below the torch that Eb made his way towards. He sat down with his staff before him just in case and closed his eyes. After a slight pressure on his forehead he opened his eyes and Saw.

    The room was bright with magic from the circle and the chains. The protection spells wove lazily but tight around the room. The boy was wrapped in pitch, his wounds weeping darkness, pain, and anger. The only light came from the harsh white light of the chains around his arms and legs.

    McCoy sighed to himself and closed his eyes. The boy had a mantle of darkness around him. Morgan was right, bitter as it made McCoy, the boy was a danger, and probably couldn’t be saved, even if he was Maggie’s boy. There was a sudden thud as the boy slid over unconscious. The old man stood, startled, then sat back down to observe.

    It didn’t happen all at once. It was slow, painfully so, McCoy almost gave up until the boy’s breathing evened out and became deeper, more peaceful. The darkness around him waned, as a small but bright and fierce light grew from within his body. The darkness was still there but hung less like a shroud and more like a sheer veil. The magic of the circle and chains dimmed back to a warm glow as small bright lights began to circle the wounds around his body. The black leaching from his wounds gave way to colors. Reds, yellows, and blues, circled the boy like a protection charm of its own, mixing together with the light until it looked as though he was in the middle of a nebula. McCoy smiled and shook his head as he closed his Sight and looked at the boy again.

    He’d passed out from exhaustion and was curled into the tightest ball he could muster,  surprisingly small considering the boy’s already long limbs. McCoy watched him in contemplation for a moment before rising and exiting the chamber, like hell he was going to let the Merlin kill that child. Especially since…well nevermind that just based on what he saw, someday that boy was going to challenge the Merlin…and he was going to win.    

    Arther Langtree, the white council's Merlin, had finally graced everyone with his presence. He was with the members of the senior council on the stage calling for silence as McCoy made his way back to his seat. He whispered a few instructions to the apprentices as he did, who nodded in acknowledgement and began moving silently into place. The boy was marched out of the chamber sandwiched between Morgan and the other Warden just as he took his seat. 

    The boy stood in front of the senior council, hands bound behind him, head bowed, but no defeat apparent in his stance. Whatever he had done he was going to face the consequences of it no matter what, McCoy noted with approval. The Merlin called for silence and waited for the council to quieten before addressing the crowd. 

        “Dominae et Nobiles, Magi et Apprenticii…” The merlin began, latin being the common language between them all.

        “The accused stands before the senior council having confessed to the breaking of the Laws of Magic. Specifically, of killing another human being with magic, Warlock Justin Dumore. He confessed after being caught by the wardens of the white council at the scene. The sentence for the aforementioned crime,” The merlin paused as though for effect, though everyone present already knew the punishment, '' is execution by vote of the senior council. I call for a vote, unless someone here will speak for him.” 

    The silence dragged for a minute as the Merlin looked around the room. The boy stood completely still, save for his hands, McCoy saw them shake ever so slightly, betraying his fear. McCoy sighed and grumbled under his breath. He’d just sat down.

        “I will speak for him.” he announced in accented latin. He could speak perfectly, it was more fun to watch the merlin struggle. 

        “The council recognizes Wizard McCoy of Hog Hollow Missori to speak for the accused.” the merlin said, inclining his head to Eb. McCoy stood, straight and tall, and addressed not only the senior council but the white council at large. His voice rumbled out, easy and conversational, as though the were talking about the weather and not the fate of a child.

        “This council has been dedicated to the preservation and education of magic since its beginnings. Merlin himself was known to have many students and close apprentices. Throughout history it has been this council’s calling, duty, to help the children of magic, the future of this council, be seen, cared for, at times even rescued from their situations. We are the protectors and safeguards of that future.” He paused, the entire council was listening intently.

        “The laws of magic are there for not only our protection but for all humanities protection. Wizards bear the power of magic, with that comes the responsibility to recognize and face the consequences of that power. This boy came to us in confession that he had done a terrible evil. He took the responsibility with his eyes open, knowing that doing so would most likely kill him. That we would kill him. The ones who should have been there to teach him. Perhaps he is hoping for death. I ask a simple question of the wardens who brought him in.” McCoy raised an eyebrow at the merlin, who nodded his allowance. “Did he have knowledge of our laws and traditions before he was brought here?”

    Morgan answered clearly.

        “No.”

        “Did he know who or what the white council was before he had met you?”

        “No.”

        “Did he give any indication that he was apologetic for what he had done.”

        “Not that I saw.” Morgan said.

        “He was crying.” the other warden said interjecting. Morgan turned to the other man with narrowed eyes. The other warden simply shrugged.

        “I saw him crying, right before he passed out, and after he came to.”

        "Which is when he attacked us!"

    The other warden scoffed. "Oh? Which part? When he reached for the water we gave him or when you grabbed him from behind?"

        "He hit me."

        "Knocked you out, I would've done the same if it was me.”

    Morgan glared at the other warden. McCoy smiled, oh yes this one was going to shake things up.

        "Gentlemen." The Merlin admonished. 

        "Council members, I'm not arguing that his crime was acceptable. I'm not arguing that he be let off without punishment. I'm simply saying…how can we hold this boy, a child still, who was under the tutelage of Justin Dumore, we all know what kind of man he was and what he wanted, to laws he doesn't fully understand or know?"

         "What would you propose instead of execution? We cannot allow him to simply go off on his own." Ancient Mai said after a moment. 

         "You must have some plan." Simon said.

         “As a matter of fact, I do.” McCoy said with a smile. “The boy needs someone to take responsibility for him, teach him, and, as he is underage, someone to take care of him. I propose the senior council levy the doom of damocles.”

        “To levy the doom requires a Wizard willing to take the boy on as an apprentice. The boy is obviously dangerous. Even if a wizard were to take him, we may not let them.” Ancient Mai said.

        “Point of order, it is not the senior council’s prerogative to dictate if or who a full member will or will not take as apprentice.” Martha Liberty retorted. “If someone would want to take him as an apprentice we cannot stop them.”

        “If he is dead, he cannot be apprenticed.”

        “I’m simply saying, if someone would be willing to take the responsibility of the child…”

        “The accused, please, Wizard McCoy is attempting to create a bias by referring to him as a child.” The merlin interjected.

        “He IS a child.” McCoy retaliated. 

        “A hundred years ago he would’ve been counted among men sent to war. Two hundred years ago you would’ve killed him yourself, McCoy, what makes this boy different?” Simon asked, his hands steepled in front of him. Eb hesitated but figured what the hell, damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. 

        “He’s Maggie’s boy.”

    A pin would have made too much noise in the quiet that fell on the room, then it erupted. The crowd yelled out, half calling for his blood, the other half demanding he be spared.

        “ORDER! ORDER!” the merlin shouted loudly banging a gavel on his stand. He raised a hand.

        “SILENCE!” he roared out, his voice magnified a hundred fold. The room quieted immediately. Many eyed the boy, still standing though slumped a little as the meeting went on, with suspicion and some with outright fear. 

        “Is that all you have to say, Wizard McCoy?” The merlin asked. 

        “My final argument for this boy's life is a plea. I beseech the senior council, and others of the white council, please. This boy is a child . He deserves to learn, to take responsibility for his actions, to grow, and to build. He deserves the same chance we all were offered as children. He deserves the same chance we all offer our children.” 

    From the shadows all the apprentices, shortest and youngest in front, emerged. The council members all regarded the next generation quietly, after a moment they rescinded to the edges of the room once again. McCoy bowed his head to the students then turned and did the same to the senior council. 

        “The defense rests.” He said, making Martha smile as he sat back in his seat. 

        “I wish to address the council.” Morgan said. The merlin nodded his head. 

        “The council recognizes Wizard Morgan.”

        “Thank you. I also beseech the council, how are our young people to learn what is not only unlawful, but morally wrong, if we are lenient on those who break our laws? This warlock, not only killed a man in cold blood but then proceeded to destroy his home, assaulted a warden, and defied our traditions. This man is dangerous, unpredictable, and does not deserve to learn from us. I ask you, he’s already killed one man, what makes you think he hasn’t killed another or that he won’t kill again? The fact that he’s Maggie’s child and Justin Dumorne’s student, does not give me the same confidence as Wizard McCoy. It worries me, and makes me fear for the future of this council.” Morgan finished curtly and stood back in his place. His face was a mask but McCoy could see the worry behind his eyes. 

    The merlin waited another moment before turning to the senior council. 

        “Shall we have a vote, or do we need time to deliberate?” He asked. The others shook their heads. The boy’s fate would be decided immediately. 

        “I will start. I vote to execute, as Merlin I cannot ignore the seriousness of the accused’s crime, nor do I believe his age is any barrier to what his punishment ought be. Our future is in our apprentices, i do not believe he should be apart of it.” The Merlin said his voice pitched with worry, sadness, and concern. McCoy snorted, if he was genuinely worried or concerned he'd eat his robe.

        “Aleron Fortier?”

        “I agree with Wizard Morgan, there is no guarantee he is anything but what he was raised. I vote to execute.”

         “Ancient Mai?”

        “We have no knowledge of what services he performed under Dumorne’s apprenticeship, with that i vote to execute.”

        “Simone Pietrovich?”

        “I vote to levy the doom of damocles. We cannot know but he is still young, perhaps young enough to be turned from a path of cruelty.”

        “Martha Liberty?”

        “Dumorne turned from the white council many years after he had achieved full membership. Are we to condemn those that can be taught and should be taught simply for being bought and sold into an unfair curriculum? I vote to levy the doom of damocles, provided a full member of the white council presents themselves immediately as caretaker, so as the senior council may approve of them.” 

    McCoy stood again.

        “I will take up his apprenticeship. I will teach him all I can of our traditions, our laws, and our customs.”

    Martha smiled wide. 

        “Any opposed to Wizard McCoy, the master who wrote the book all our apprentices begin their journey’s with, as the accused’s master?” 

    No one said a word. McCoy smiled internally, his book was the primer for basic magic, if anyone had opposed he would have demanded their apprentice turn over their books. 

        “Then I vote wholeheartedly for the doom of damocles.”

        “Joseph Listens-To-Wind?”

        “I vote to levy the doom of damocles. We have fewer and fewer apprentices every year. Our magic was once considered sacred, now we must take our future as it comes and hope the shape will be better than in ages past.”

    McCoy held his breath, a three to three vote, there was only one vote left. The room was so tense you could cut the air with a knife.

        “Gatekeeper Rashid? It seems you have the deciding vote.” 

    The hooded man stepped forward and motioned to the edge of the room. A single apprentice deeply hooded and veiled like the gatekeeper, walked forward. They bowed to the room, bowed to the senior council, then knelt to the side of Rashid facing the crowd with head down.

         “This apprentice has the Doom of Damocles upon them. Their master, a member of the senior council, found them, took them in, taught them everything they knew. Even with that start, as good a start as any could ever hope for, they still broke one of the laws of magic. None of the laws are minor, they all have terrible ramifications if left unpunished. That punishment is death. Why is this apprentice still alive, Merlin?”

          “It was determined by this council that the apprentice in question had done what was necessary to save the life of a senior council member, as well as demonstrating new magical technique and untapped potential.” the merlin responded sourly. McCoy laughed to himself, seven guesses who they’d saved. Rashid placed a hand on the apprentice's bowed head.

        “I believe this new potential wizard should be given the same chance this apprentice has had. Though the boy began in difficulties, I believe he will go as far as any of our other apprentices, perhaps even farther. I vote for the Doom of Damocles.”  Rashid said simply. He took his hand off the apprentice who rose and returned to the shadows. The merlin’s eyes flashed for a moment as the room murmured in surprise, the gavel rang for quiet once more.

        “In a vote four to three, the Doom of Damocles will be levied on the accused. If he breaks any law of magic the wardens will find him and Wizard McCoy, who is to be his master, and execute them for the common good.” the merlin said, eyes glittering. “I pronounce this council session concluded, good day to you all.” 

    The senior council broke ranks and the rest of the wite council began to mingle again. Voices rang out and laughter was heard as apprentices and wizards met up and left. McCoy went up to Martha, Simon, and Joe.

        “Thank you.” He said, shaking each of their hands. 

        “You gave an inspiring speech.” Simon said.

        “It gave many something to think about.” Joe said leaning on his staff with a smile. Martha simply smiled and accepted the hand before gathering her apprentice and leaving. The others didn’t stick around very long and soon there were few left in the large room. McCoy walked up to Rashid, who was deep in conversion with the hooded apprentice. 

         “Thank you for sparing the boy.” McCoy said with a bow of his head. 

         “I don’t know if sparing is the right word, his road will be difficult, made easier by his demanding teachers but difficult nonetheless.” The gatekeeper said, amusement in his voice. “But who are we to decide how a child will turn out? Perhaps this is the first step toward his redemption.”

        “Or damnation.” The apprentice’s voice graveled out. Rashid said something in another language. The apprentice bowed to both men and headed out. 

        “Um…Excuse me?” A loud voice asked. Both men turned to the boy, still standing where the wardens had left him with the black bag over his head. 

        “What do you want?” McCoy asked, walking over and snatching the bag off the boy's head. He blinked his eyes in the sudden light. His face was lean, with a cut on his lip, a black eye, and blood had dried under his nose. His eyebrows had been badly burned off and his dark hair, cut tight around his head, was definitely singed. One cheek was deep purple and he had more bruises around his neck. Despite his appearance, he had a smile on though his eyes were watchful. There was a stillness about him that betrayed his nerves and his hands still trembled.

        “I figured I should ask if I'm going to live or die. I couldn’t understand what was going on.” He said his voice tired but light.

        “What’s it to you?” McCoy asked, folding the fabric. The boy thought for a moment.

        “Well…if I'm going to live, I'm kinda hungry and tired.”

        “And if we’re going to kill you?”

        “Then I won't have to worry about it anymore, I guess. Do I get a last meal?”

    Rashid burst out laughing as McCoy struggled to keep a straight face. The hooded man patted the old Scotsman's back before heading out still laughing. It was just McCoy and the boy alone together. The old man looked the boy up and down. 

        “What’s your name, boy?”

        “Harry Dresden. What’s yours?”

    McCoy smacked him with the black bag. He didn’t hit him hard but the kid’s face went deliberately blank and his eyes lost focus for a moment. McCoy made a mental note.

         “Don’t give up your name to just anyone. Your name is your life, and your life, for the moment, is my responsibility.” McCoy said, tossing the bag behind him. He broke the chains around Harry’s wrists with a wave of his hand and walked to the door. He turned back to see him still standing back, rubbing his wrists. 

         “Well? Are you coming?” He grumbled.

         “What’s your name?” Harry demanded. McCoy looked at him and narrowed his eyes. They both stood, a battle of wills, before Harry ducked his head and followed McCoy out.       

Chapter Text

   Chapter 2- The Trip

    McCoy walked purposely towards a truck parked just outside the large conference center, Harry trailing after him, he pulled his robe off to reveal clean but oil stained jeans, a clean t-shirt, and heavy work boots. He opened the back door and hooked his staff up to an empty gun rack. 

        "You have anything else with you besides the clothes on your back?" He asked. Harry crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. 

        "Yeah cause Morgan let me pack a bag before dragging me away." He said with a snort. McCoy looked back to Harry, who was shivering in his rags, he pulled a heavy jacket out of the back and handed it to the boy silently. It was Heck's, one of his farm hands, and while it fell to the right height on the skinny kid, it swamped him. They climbed into the truck, which started up after a couple tries, and headed out. 

        "So first things first, get your damn feet off my dash boy, we're gonna get you some clothes that haven't been through the fires of hell." McCoy said, turning a corner. "Then we'll get some food and have a talk."  

    The truck trundled along until they got to a second hand store. It took a bit of looking, and McCoy had to go out to get the kid new underwear and socks, but they managed to find Harry a few shirts, a couple pants, a sweatshirt that said U of I, and some heavy boots.

    They started to head out of town when Harry's head whipped around as they passed a Burger King. McCoy pulled into the drive thru and ordered a small army's worth of food. The kid tore into it like a starving wolf. McCoy turned onto the highway and sipped on a soda as the boy decimated the fast food. When he was done, he picked everything up, rolled it into one of the paper bags, and put it at his feet. He could see in the corner of his eye the kid was fighting to stay awake so he kept driving until he heard the soft thud of his head as he fell asleep against the window. 

    He drove and drove, the highway mostly empty, as night began to fall. As he drove he thought of the mess he’d just gotten himself, and this kid, into. He was definitely Maggie's, something around the eyes and in the voice, he was also incredibly young. And tall…clothes might be a problem for a bit. McCoy chewed his lip as he pondered other logistical things for a bit. They were well on the way when a soft grunt was all the warning he got before Harry started screaming. 

    McCoy almost drove into the ditch as Harry's sleeping form bowed upward with the force of his scream. He pulled the car over to the shoulder and grabbed the kid. He swore as his hands burned but didn't let go as he reached behind him, opened the door, and pushed him out.

    Harry's eyes flew open as he fell back onto the ground into the dirty snow. The ice steamed as it melted around him and he looked around wildly for a moment before turning to look at McCoy.

        "Well…that's new." He said from the muddy puddle he created. McCoy swore.

    They stopped at the next town's second hand store. Harry emerged wearing mostly new clothes and a new sweatshirt that said Dr. Strange in stylized writing. They got back underway this time with Harry desperately trying to stay awake. 

        "My name's Ebenezer." McCoy said. Harry looked at him.

        "As in Scrooge?" he said with a snort.

        "As in, call me Eb."

        "What kind of name is that?" 

        "An old name, a family name."

        "Huh...so…where are we going?"

        "Missouri."

    Harry looked out the window. 

        "I have a farm out there. Lots of space. You can practice without worrying about hurting people."

        "You mean I can practice without you worrying if I'm going to hurt people." 

    Eb side eyed Harry and found him doing the same to him.

        "What was the council saying about me?" Harry asked. Eb snorted derisively.

        "Same bullshit they said the last time we found a warlock. Politics and politicians…both can take a long hike off a short pier. You're…how old are you, boy?"

        "16"

        "Exactly. Never heard of the laws or the white council before either?"

        "No."

        "Bet it was a shock to see the wardens show up?"

        "Kinda."

        "Kinda?"

        "I…didn't know if there was someone out there who'd…"

        "Hold you responsible?"

        "Kinda."

        "Kinda?"

        "Well I wasn't exactly expecting angels to descend and god to smite me where I stood, but it would've looked good."

    McCoy fought to keep his face straight. 

        "Flaming swords and all?" He asked.

        "Something like that." Harry replied, crossing his arms into a teenage sulk. 

        "Well they were gonna smite you alright. Until someone convinced the council to spare you."

        "Who?"

         "I don't know, I came late so I got stuck with you."

         "Oh." Harry said in a smaller voice.

        "That's right hotshot. I got saddled with you and if you screw up I'm on the chopping block with you. So do me a favor? Don't fuck this up."

    Harry sat thinking.

        "So ground rules. Rule one…I say jump, you?"

        "How high?"

        "Wrong, you jump. You don't get to ask, you get to do. You follow my lead and what I say goes, understand?"

    Harry nodded. McCoy grunted, "Right, rule two, I have a good chunk of land but my neighbors aren't as charitable as I am. You stay inside the parameter with all magic and yourself. Best case scenario if you go outside my land is you end up with buckshot in your ass, worst case I'm picking you up from the morgue and the council has one less wayward apprentice to worry about."

    Harry nodded again. 

        "And finally, you're to conduct yourself with the utmost respect for my guests and others, in accordance with the old world laws."

    Harry paused. McCoy turned his head.

        "Boy do you hear me?"

        "Um…what are the old world laws?"

        "Excuse me?"

        "I…uh…I've never heard of those before." Harry said as McCoy rolled his eyes. Of course that jackass Dumorne wouldn't have taught him how to behave himself. 

        "Then that's where we start. How to behave yourself 101." 

        "I know how to behave myself." Harry said irritably. 

        "Not in front of a faerie queen or a red court vampire you don't. And that can get you killed." McCoy said matter of fact. Harry grumbled a bit as he sank back into his seat. 

         “Get your damn feet off my dash!”

    They drove for a while not stopping, Harry lightly dosed but everytime he felt himself falling asleep he shook his head. He was exhausted and the unexpected release of energy wasn't doing much for his fight against sleep. Eventually they pulled off into a town with a small but clean motel. Harry followed McCoy blearily as he checked them in. He bumped into the shorter man as he opened the door to the room. There were two queen beds, a bathroom, and a small chair and desk. Harry wanted nothing more than to throw himself on one of the beds and forget about everything but he went and sat next to the wall instead. 

    Eb approached him fiddling with something in his hands.

        "I'm going to the store to get some things, you're to stay here and practice with this." He held out a leather bracelet with 12 beads hanging on it. "When you can lift and hold all twelve you can come with me."

    Harry took the bracelet and looked at Eb with an eyebrow raised. It was easy, it was stupid, there had to be a catch. He shrugged and concentrated on the first bead. It didn't move. Harry set his jaw and pushed his will out harder. The bead wiggled and slowly rose. Harry held the bead for a second before it fell and he collapsed gasping. 

    Eb smiled. 

       "Remember to breathe. I'll be back."

    McCoy left the kid in the room and warded the door. He figured the kid would pass out after his fifth try so he had to hurry. He went down to the payphone, dropped a quarter, and waited for the line to pick up.

        “Hello, this is the Hensens.” a little girl's voice said.

        “Hey Mary Sue, how are you?” he said with warm affection in his voice.

        “Mr. McCoy! MAMA! MR. MCCOY’S ON THE PHOOOOONE!” 

    Eb held the receiver away from his ear as the girl’s shrill shriek sang through.

        “MARY SUE HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO YELL INTO THE PHONE!” An older woman’s voice yelled clear as day through the receiver. 

        “SORRY!” 

        “Mrs. Hensen, how are you on this lovely evening?” Eb said after a moment.

        “Hi Ebenezer, you can drop the niceties, there’s a storm going on. I’m about to head down to your place to help the boys batten down the barn.” She said hurriedly. “I’m bringing Dot with me, it’s looking to be a rough one. When are you coming back?”

        “A day or so. I called to ask about the barn, can you or one of the boys set up the spare room in there?” He asked.

        “Sure, why do you need the room made up?”

        “I went to that meeting I told you about and ended up with…”

        “Oh god not another stray? The last one was so sad and heartbroken.”

        “Well no one else was gonna take him.” Eb said grumpily. 

        “Eb…”

        “Daisy, he’s Maggie’s boy.”

    The woman gasped. There was a crashing sound in the background and some yelling. 

        “MARY SUE! YOU GET THAT DOG BACK IN HERE!” Daisy yelled. She at least had the presence of mind to cover the receiver. 

        “Maggie’s boy? You’re sure?” she said to him.

        “Not entirely but I'll make sure before I get back with him.” 

        “What’s his name?”

        “Harry, he’s Dot’s age…and he’s tall, really tall.”

    Daisy snickered.

        “Don’t.” Eb said. 

    She laughed out loud.

        “You done?” He said as she wound down. 

        “Yeah, I'll get a bed made up for the boy.” She said as thunder crashed in the background. “I have to go now anyway. See you when you get back.”

        “I owe you one, Dais.” Eb said with a smile. 

        “You owe me several already, Eb.”

        “Bye.”

        “Bye.”

    Eb hung the phone up and put another quarter in. The phone rang a few times before Morgan answered it. 

         “Who’s this?” He grunted into the phone.

         “It’s McCoy. Now I know you didn’t take that kid's bag with stuff he pulled from that wreckage.” Eb said casually as he counted his coins up and pocketed them.

        “What’s it to you? The Merlin…”

        “Doesn’t have time for bullshit trinkets a teenager would want. And neither do you. What’d he have?”

        “Nothing dangerous. A few clothes, basic thaumatology books, some school books, a skull…”

        “A skull?”

        “Human but that’s all just…a skull.” 

    McCoy thought for a moment. 

        “Alright, send it to me. I’ll check it and give it back.”

        “McCoy, I can’t just send it to you and we both know if I do you’re just going to give it to the kid.”

        “You will if you know what’s good for you.”

        “McCoy…”

    Eb hung the phone up, asked the front desk for a first aid kit, and headed back to the room. 

    Harry was passed out on the floor, the bracelet next to him, one bead separated from the others. McCoy watched him for a moment. He looked so damn young, curled up tight in a small ball. The old man sighed and kicked the boy's foot. Harry sprang out of sleep and whacked his head on the wall. 

        “Son of a…”

        “Don’t you dare boy.” McCoy said, setting the kit on the desk and waving him over to the beds. McCoy sat on one and motioned Harry to sit on the other. 

        “Alright before we go any further we’re going to soulgaze.” He said. Harry shook his head hard.

        “No, I've had enough people running through my head lately.”

        “Harry, first off you killed a man, less than 24 hours ago.” 

    Harry flinched like McCoy had struck him. He continued gently.

        “Second, you banished a demon and burned a house down.”

         “It wasn’t…entirely my fault.” 

         “And third, you are about to embark on a very difficult, very dangerous journey. I’m not about to let you do that knowing nothing about your teacher. If you look onto me and decide you don’t want me then I’ll let you go here.”

    Harry looked at mccoy.

        “And if I decide to stay?”

    McCoy smiled.

        “One thing at a time, boy. Now.”

    Mccoy looked at Harry's eyes calmly and patiently. The boy nervously slid his eyes around until they locked onto his and they caught up into the soulgaze.

    Harry was pushed forward into a space of light. As the world dimmed and shifted he saw grass, wildflowers, dirt, and a house with a barn. He smelled horses and cows, and heard laughter. He was on a farm, somewhere filled with light and soft breezes. He turned to see a young McCoy sitting on a wooden chair, dressed in a kilt, whistling as he carved runes into a staff. 

         “Papa!” a little girl squealed as she ran up to him and threw herself onto his lap.

         “There you are, my little lassie.” he said. The child giggled. 

         "Mama says you gotta come, it's time!" She said wiggling out of his grasp and running back to the house. McCoy smiled after her and resumed carving. Harry looked around, it was green everywhere save in the distance. There was a red sky with black clouds approaching quickly.

         "I'd get out of here if I were you, child." McCoy said quietly. Harry looked back around at the man. He'd changed, he was older and looked more like Harry knew him to be. His staff was finished and worn with the years. The farm had changed in the fast coming darkness. The grass was brown, the barn was broken, and the house in the distance was burning. 

         "What?"

        "Get down boy!" He roared, thrusting his staff out. A flaming column roared out of the tip, Harry fell into a ball clutching his head. He waited to feel the hit but only heard a loud CRACK. He raised his head to peek over his shoulder and saw McCoy battling a huge dark shadow. He threw fire and light at it, not in the crude way Harry had learned, but in a beautiful dance. The shadow and McCoy seemed to move together, each anticipating the other's moves. After every hit McCoy landed the shadow regenerated but moved backwards. McCoy gained ground and lost ground, each pushing the other to the limit. 

    Finally Harry felt himself being pulled away gently and found himself back in the hotel room staring into the old man's eyes. They were unreadable save a flicker of deep sadness. He reached out and cupped Harry's face, running his thumb gently across his cheek before dropping his hand, irritation crossing his face.

         "Well boy? Are you going to stay?" He asked gruffly. Harry thought for a moment.

         "I don't have anywhere else I want to go." He said stubbornly, flopping back onto the bed. 

         "Good. Get some sleep then, we're heading out tomorrow and we're not stopping til home." McCoy said as he sat at the desk. 

         "Where's home?" Harry asked.

         "Hog hollow, Missouri."

Chapter Text

Mary Sue

    Harry bolted upright, gasping like a drowning man for air, his heart raced and steam gently came off his skin. He focused on his breathing, forcing it to come under control. He breathed deeply until his heart slowed back to its usual pace. He’d been chased through his dreams by He Who Walks Behind, the demon he’d fought at his old home, and Justin. He could still see the look on his old master’s face right before…God, he still couldn’t think about it, still refused to see or linger on the horrible visions he was forced to sleep through each night. He finally wiped his face with the blanket and looked around. It’d been a couple weeks since they’d arrived on the farm, McCoy had put him up in a room in the barn. 

    His room was a sectioned off space of the hayloft with a door and small window with bright blue curtains. It had an almost too short bed, a dresser, a chair and small desk, and a small trunk. Harry’d already put the clothes McCoy had bought him in the dresser. The walls were bare but clean, the bed had been made up when he got there with a thick quilt and fluffy pillows. There were more sheets and bedding in the trunk and a set of towels in the bottom dresser drawer. It was warm too, comfortable, and quiet, something Harry wasn’t quite used to yet. There was a knocking noise on the floor. Harry got up and dressed before heading down the ladder to the main part of the barn. 

    The barn’s main floor held a couple cows, horses, pigs, and a tack and feed room. There was a large fenced area connected by large doors that were shut tight against the cold January air. Heck, the farm hand McCoy hired during the winter, was already working on feeding and taking care of the animals. He was as tall as Harry with light brown hair and gentle dark eyes. He had laugh lines around his mouth and eyes and an easy way of moving that calmed those around him. 

        “Eb’s makin’ breakfast at the house. You helpin’ me today?” the man asked. He had a slow gentle way of talking that worked well with horses and skittish young boys. He always asked Harry if he was going to help and Harry always did. It was dark out still and they worked quietly in kerosene light. Heck watered and talked to the animals as Harry laid fresh bedding and fed them. When they finished the sun had risen over the horizon, illuminating the barn through the few windows. 

        “Come on, food should be ready.” Heck grunted. They pulled on heavy coats and went out into the frigid air. The snow was crunchy as they walked to the house. The land rolled with trees and small hills covered in a layer of snow. There was a well worn path from the barn to the house. It was a small two story house, white with a black roof, smoke came out the chimney along with a smell of bacon and coffee. The truck was parked by the back kitchen door, along with several stacks deep of split wood. They opened the door to a hot steamy kitchen that smelled like breakfast. 

        “It’s ready.” McCoy called out from the stove. It was an old wood burning stove and oven. A kettle gently boiled on the stove top as everyone served themselves eggs, bacon, pancakes, and a cheesy hashbrown bake. The two older men grabbed coffee that made Harry’s heart skip a beat just smelling it. There was a tall glass of OJ sitting by a spot on the kitchen table. They were just about to tuck in when there was a small knock on the door. Harry and McCoy both automatically stood up. 

        “Ya’ll expecting trouble?” Heck asked amicably as he cut into a pancake. McCoy looked like he was going to say something before waving at Harry to answer the door. Harry went to the front, passing a comfortable sitting room with bookcases and several squishy chairs. He opened the door and didn’t see anyone. 

        “Hi!” a little voice said down by his feet. Harry looked down to see a tiny bundle of clothes on the porch. 

        “Uh.”

    The bundle twitched slightly and held out a wad of cash. 

        “Mama said to give this to you for this time, last time, and next time.” the bundle said.

        “Um…I don't…”

        “Mary Sue! Is that you?” McCoy said by Harry's elbow. 

        “What the fu-” Harry started before Eb whacked him on the back hard enough to make him cough. 

        “Mr. McCoy, Mama said…”

        “Come in, come in, breakfast is ready and your mama called ahead. I told her to keep the money, she made the hashbrown bake and dinner the last couple nights, I consider it a fair trade.” he said ushering the bundle in and closing the door. McCoy helped the bundle unwrap, handing various articles of clothing to Harry who piled them on the coat rack. Eventually the bundle dwindled down to reveal a small, shockingly red headed, 5 year old girl. Her hair was long and sticking up in every direction as McCoy plucked the hat from her head. She had freckles all over her cheeks and a thin scar that ran from her eye to her throat. Her eyes were sparkling sky blue that held all the mischievousness in the world. She smiled with dimples up at McCoy. He looked at her with kindness and a smile that Harry recognized from their soulgaze. 

        “MS, Eb made pancakes!” Heck called from the kitchen. Mary Sue squealed and ran off leaving Harry and Mccoy behind. 

        “She yours?” Harry asked watching the little girl skip off.

        “Harry, for your sake I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that.” McCoy said with a smile and a not so friendly clap on the shoulder. 

        “What? It’s…”

        “None of your business, boy, let’s go eat.” 

    They walked back to the kitchen. Mary Sue was messily eating a pancake with a napkin tucked into her collar and talking to Heck a mile a minute. Harry wasn’t entirely sure what she was saying but Heck nodded seriously and grunted at appropriate intervals. They were almost done when she turned to Harry.

        “Who’re you?” she asked. Harry looked at McCoy who deliberately avoided his eyes.

        “I’m um…Harry.” he said, she was looking at him steadily. 

        “Do you like chickens?”

        “Uh…”

        “Do you feed the chickens?”

        “Um…sometimes, usually Eb…”

        “Do you know where they are?”

        “Uh…”

        “Come on! I’ll show you!” She said hopping off her chair and taking off to the kitchen door. Harry looked at Eb confused. 

        “Mary Sue it’s less than your age outside, you’re mama’s gonna kill me if we don't put your coat on.” Eb said sipping his fourth cup of coffee while he read the paper. 

        “I ain’t going outside!” 

        “Mary Sue.” 

    She reappeared and grabbed Harry’s coat from the hooks. She had to jump to take it off. 

        “Hey!” Harry said, standing up and following her. She giggled and ran out the door. Harry grabbed Heck’s coat and tore after her. McCoy turned the page. 

        “You want the funny’s Heck?” He asked.

        “Sure after you’re done with em.”

    Harry chased her around the backyard for a bit. His legs were longer but she was a quick little thing. His coat trailed on the ground as she ran before he finally caught up. She’d stopped by the chicken coop just outside the barn. It was a small structure that was heavily insulated and warm with a fence around it. Mary Sue opened the fence and slipped through to the coop. She tried to reach the handle on the door but it was just out of her reach. She jumped and slipped on a patch of ice.

         “EEEEEE!” she squealed as she fell. Harry grabbed her by the coat. She lifted a couple inches off the ground. She kicked her feet.

         “Put me down!” she demanded. Harry set her on her feet. She turned looking petulant. 

         “Open the door!” she said pointing to the handle. Harry looked at her and looked at the door.

         “No.”  he said, crossing his arms. Her eyes got wide and she stomped her foot. Harry turned his back. 

         “Please?” she said. He turned back. She was looking up at him, lower lip stuck out and eyes wide. Harry rolled his eyes and opened the door. She smiled, a big grin with a couple missing teeth, and darted inside. Harry had to crouch to follow her. She was already darting around greeting the various hens. They watched her without fear or movement. One of the hens glared at Harry from her perch. 

         “Here!” Mary Sue said, shoving several eggs into Harry's pockets. 

         “Wait wait.” Harry said, grabbing a basket from above the door. Mary Sue filled the basket with the eggs and then filled the feed when Harry got the chicken food. She handed Harry the basket and went to give the hens pats and hugs. As they left there was a loud squawk from the tall perch. The hen who’d been glaring at Harry the whole time looked indigent. 

         “Oh Duchess! Can’t forget you!” Mary Sue said. She opened her arms and reached as high as she could but couldn’t quite reach the hen. She turned to Harry with her arms outstretched and her lip out again. Harry refused to look at her. 

         “Harry!” She whined. He snuck a look at her. Her eyes were wide and her lip was trembling. He sighed and set the basket down. He grabbed her up by the legs and lifted her until she was eye to eye with the imperious hen. She reached her arms out to the hen who reached her neck out and gave an unmistakable cuddle to the little girl. Harry rolled his eyes. Mary Sue wiggled around and laid down on Harry's shoulder to cuddle in. 

         “Uh…”

         “I’m tired.” She said, pressing her face into Harry's neck. Harry grabbed the basket, juggling both kid and eggs getting out of the coop. He got to the house and managed to open the door to the kitchen. No one was there. The dishes were done and breakfast was cleared up. He set the eggs on the table and tried to disengage the sleeping little girl. Her grip was like a vise and she just hung on tighter as he gently pulled.

         “Eb?” Harry asked in the empty room.

         “In here.” The old man said. He was in the sitting/library room reading a large old book. 

         “Huh took you long enough to get the eggs.” McCoy said looking over the glasses he swore he didn’t need. 

         “Eb, help, she’s asleep and won’t let go. What do I do?” Harry said, demonstrating her continued hold. Eb smiled faintly and raised his book.

         “Sit down, get comfortable, and hope she wakes up soon.” he said gruffly, hiding the laughter in his voice. 

         “Eb!”

         “Harry!”

         “I’m serious!” he said with a trace of panic hitting his voice.

         “So am I, boy.” Eb said, looking over the top of the book.

         “Eb!” Harry whined in distress. He was wide eyed with slight panic as the little girl clung to his body like a little monkey. McCoy silently laughed as Harry tried to lay her on the couch. Finally he got her to grab onto his coat and he quickly slipped out of it. He did an Olympic gymnast finish pose.

         “6/10.” Eb said with a smile.

         “What?! That was brilliant! You couldn’t have done better!” Harry said. 

         “You still have to get the coats.”  

    Harry looked at the peacefully napping girl with both coats and dropped his face into his hands. The phone rang and Eb got up to answer.

         “McCoy’s what do you need?” he asked as Harry tried to stealthily pull the coat out of Mary Sue’s grasp.

         “Eb where’s my kid? I sent her over for eggs almost two hours ago.” Daisy said into the phone. 

         “She’s currently sleeping on my couch, while Harry is trying to get his coat back from her.”

    Daisy snickered.

         “Good luck with that. I’m surprised she let him go. She’s such a cuddle bug.”

         “He thought he was being smart.” Eb chuckled. 

         “Are you guys coming over for dinner tonight?”

         “Not tonight. Not yet. Harry’s still adjusting but he’s doing very well. Thank you for sending Mary Sue over.” 

         “My pleasure but I sent her over there for a reason, Eb. I need those eggs.” 

         “I’ll get her up in a bit. I’m interested to see if Harry succeeds in getting his coat.”

    There was a thud and harry yelped in surprise. McCoy leaned over to look around the doorway and saw Harry sitting on the floor with Mary Sue curled up in his lap like a large cat. Harry had one coat in his hands raised up out of her reach. 

         “Ah, he got one and she rolled off the couch into his lap.”

         “Sounds like her, if I didn’t know better I'd say she did it on purpose.” Daisy said with a laugh. 

         “I’ll send both of them over. Harry can escort her and make sure she gets home alright. He’s learning the fine art of behaving himself.”

         “That’s rich coming from you, old man. Will he stay?”

         “I don’t think so. He’s still skittish. Is Dot home?”

         “No, it’s Wednesday so she’s at school. Is he going to go to school?”

         “I’m not certain. I haven’t gotten his paperwork yet but he says he’s got a GED.” McCoy said moving from watching the kids to sit at the kitchen table.

         “He still should, there’s enough kids to socialize with, and Dot can always help him.” Daisy said.

         “He seems more like the loner type.”

         “So is she.”

         “I was thinking of just keeping him here. I can keep a better eye on him then.”

         “Eb, there’s only you and Heck on that farm right now.” Daisy said with an eye roll evident in her tone

         “So?” McCoy said defensively.

         “Kids need to socialize with other kids.”

         “I was thinking he could babysit Mary Sue.”

         “Well that’ll teach him some responsibility but that’s not really what I’m thinking.”

         “Why not? She’s a kid.”

         “She’s five.”

         “So?”

         “She’s not old enough to relate to him.”

         “She’s got him to smile.”

         “She’s five and adorable.”

         “Woman…”

         “Fine, fine, it’s your call. Just don’t let him hole himself up on that hobby you call a farm.”

         “I can keep those eggs if you really don’t want…”

         “Yeah, yeah, just give me my kid back. See you soon.”

         “Bye, Dais.” McCoy smiled warmly as the phone hung up. Daisy lived in a house just outside his property with her two daughters, Dot and Mary Sue. They'd lived there since Mary Sue was very little. Eb had, well he’d helped them out with a problem that refused to go away. Now Daisy helped him out when she could and he did what he could to keep her and the girls safe. 

         “Okay you two, time for Mary Sue to go home.” McCoy said, walking into the sitting room. Harry was sitting on the floor with her in his lap as she turned the pages in a large book and asked him questions as he read to her. McCoy just smiled softly.     

Chapter Text

Eastwood

    Harry sat in the cab of the truck, leaning his head against his hand, elbow planted firmly on the door. He listened absently as Mary Sue jabbered on about…something…he was fairly certain by this point she never actually said anything to anyone in particular. She just liked to talk. She was between him and Eb, straining against the lap belt as she tried to see over the dashboard. They were headed into town to get supplies. 

        “Sit down lass.” Eb said gruffly shifting gears. Harry looked over to see the little five year old had slipped her seat belt and was leaning with her hands on the dash. Harry grabbed the back of her shirt and plopped her back in her seat.

        “Off the dash.” He said as Eb smiled faintly. 

        “I wanna see!” She whined.

        “You’re safer if you sit down and put the seat belt on.” Harry said, buckling her up again. She turned to him, eyes wide and lower lip out in a pout. Harry rolled his eyes. He unbuckled her and sat her on his lap. Mary Sue giggled as she watched the road.

        “Push over.” McCoy said with a snort.

        “Whatever.” Harry said, resuming his watch out the window. They came up to the tiny town that had a store, a church, and a bar. McCoy parked in front of the store, Mary Sue climbed off Harry’s lap and scrambled to follow him out the drivers side.

        “My Lady.” The old man said, giving her a slight bow as he offered his hand. Mary Sue sat primly and accepted his hand delicately. He helped her down off the truck and gave her a pat on the head. 

        “Thank you kind Sir.” She said giving a small curtsy. McCoy smiled warmly and offered her his arm, which she took, and they walked into the store together. Harry watched them with a bemused look. Sometimes he wondered about his new teacher and his sanity. 

    A week or so ago he’d taken Harry out to the edges of his property on a hike and proceeded to inform him that along with farm chores and lessons, he was going to babysit Mary Sue whenever she showed up at the farm. Harry had tried to object but McCoy refused to budge. So every other day or so, sometimes all weekend, he’d have the little girl trailing after him. She wasn’t bad company though and basically knew the whole farm as well as Heck or Eb. She did have a slight penchant for disappearing every so often but Harry had quickly figured out all her hiding spots. Almost as quickly as she had figured out that if she sniffled a little Harry would do whatever she wanted.

    Harry slammed the truck door shut and walked to follow them with his hands in his pockets. A group of boys were loitering around the front, a couple smoking, one had a deck of cards, another was listening to a walkman, there was a small boombox going as well. As Harry walked past the boombox sharply whined and died. The guy listening to his walkman grabbed his headphones off with a word that he’d never have said in front of his mother.

    Once inside he had no trouble finding Eb or Mary Sue. She was sitting in the basket of the cart playing with a couple potatoes she’d dragged out of the bag. McCoy was pushing the small cart down an equally small aisle as he consulted a list. Harry grabbed a carton of orange juice and apple juice to put in the cart. The former for him in the morning, there was no way he was going to drink the toxically caffeinated sludge McCoy called coffee, the latter for Mary Sue, she had it with cookies in the afternoon for a snack. He grabbed a couple packs of cookies and some string cheese too. McCoy eyed him as he dumped the groceries in the cart, then grabbed another bag of potatoes.    

        “Always hungry.” He muttered. They toodled around the store twice before heading to the check out. The basket was full of food and other supplies. Mary Sue was holding Harry’s hand with her finger in her mouth as the cashier rang them up. 

        “Mary Sue is that you?” the cashier asked. He was an average height teenage boy with light brown hair and eyes. He was moderately good looking and had a nice smile. 

        “Yesh, it’sh me.” She said around the finger. He looked at Harry and smiled welcomingly. 

        “Hi, I’m Henry.” He said as McCoy handed him money. 

        “Thish ish ‘Arry. I’m hish friend.” Mary Sue said, knocking her hand against his leg. 

        “Nice to meet you, I’m Dot’s boyfriend.” Henry said, handing McCoy some change. Harry looked confused for a minute. 

        “Mary Sue’s sister.” Eb muttered. 

        “I, uh, haven’t met Dot yet.” Harry said.

        “Oh!” Henry said, his eyebrows rising a bit. “Have you met Daisy? Their mom?”

        “Um…Not yet.”

        “Oh she’s great, you’ll like her, if you ever meet her, she’s really nice and an awesome cook.” 

        “Can’t be worse than Eb’s cooking.”

        “Eb cooks?”

        “No, but we still have to eat it.”

        “Boy, if you say one more word you’re walking home.”

    Henry laughed and Harry smiled. McCoy grumbled something under his breath about ungrateful kids and headed to the door. Henry stuck his hand out to Harry who took it still grinning.

        “See you around.” Henry said.

        “Yeah.”

        “Come on, ‘Arry.” Mary Sue said tugging on Harry’s other hand. Harry followed her as she pulled hard to get him to move faster. McCoy was loading the supplies into the cab as Mary Sue kept pulling him. 

        “Hey look…it’s a little girl walking her bitch.” A voice said to Harry’s right. The group of boys were sitting to the side of the door whispering to each other. They were all solid ozark boys used to hard farm work. The biggest one was standing in front with his arms crossed. He stood as tall as Harry and was attempting to stare him down. He rolled his eyes at the boys and tried to walk away. The big one put his hand on Harry’s chest physically stopping him. He turned to look at the boy. 

        “Haven’t seen you around before.” he said in what he thought was a gruff voice.

        “It’s amazing you see anything with that brow ridge. I guess evolution skipped a generation in your family.” Harry replied in a bored voice. The kid narrowed his eyes like he was trying to see something particularly small.

        “What?”

        “Nevermind, it’s obviously lost somewhere back in your genetic line.”

        “Are you insulting my mother?”

        “No one’s that perfect, come on Mary Sue.” Harry said, shaking the little hand and attempting to walk forward. The guy stepped in front of him backed up with two slightly smaller kids, but only slightly.  

        “You’re a pathetic shitbag, you know that? You’re nothing. This is our town and we don’t like shitbags, do we boys?” he said.

        “Leave him alone, you cocksucker.” Mary Sue shouted, stepping forward. She’d finally taken her fingers out of her mouth. Harry closed his eyes, he was going to hear about that one later. The big one blinked at the little girl before anger flashed over his face.  

        “Mary Sue, come over here.” McCoy said firmly. 

    The little girl looked from McCoy to Harry and moved to hide behind him. 

        “Now.” McCoy said with a stern look at her. Harry dropped Mary Sue’s hand and gave her a little push towards McCoy, never taking his eyes from the other boy.

        “Gonna run home with daddy?” one said while the big one smirked and pushed him again. Harry took the blow to the shoulder but didn’t move from the spot. 

        “Need a little bitch to fight your battles?” another said coming up behind the big one and tapping him on the face. The group laughed as they circled up on him. 

    Harry briefly entertained the idea of blowing the damn kid’s head off. He could’ve done it, thrown a shot of fire, wind…hell he could’ve just hit the kid and it probably would’ve laid him out. 

        “Come on, bitch.”

        “Do something!”

        “Come on!” 

        “Nice jewelry!”

        “Your mom called, she wants her bracelet back!”

    The boys were goading and chiding in the background. The one in front of him kept staring him down, daring him to hit first. Harry simply stood there, hands in pockets, unmoving watching the group. The boys continued to try to antagonize him. Suddenly it hit Harry, he could do literally anything to these boys. Words were all they had, that and their fists, if he wanted he could burn them to cinders, make them dance until they begged him to stop. He could kill them and no one would know it was him. Except for himself.

    Harry realized it had gone quiet. The boys were looking nervously at each other, the big one had taken a step back. Silence had gathered almost tangibly around him, lengthening the shadows, and making the sun just a little too bright.

        “Harry?” Mary Sue asked in a small voice. He looked over the boy’s heads. McCoy had picked the little girl up and she was looking at him worriedly. He smirked to himself slightly and shook his head. He looked at the group. The boys moved out of the way quickly. He held out his arms for Mary Sue and she pulled into him happily. She started jabbering away as Harry opened the truck door and climbed in. McCoy watched as the boys stared after them. He raised an eyebrow to the big one, who stumbled back causing the rest to quickly scatter. 

        “Good job, boy.” McCoy said, starting the truck and heading out. 

        “Whatever.” Harry said as he buckled Mary Sue in and sat back.

        “Get your feet off the dash.” She said, smacking his legs.  

    Harry walked aimlessly for a while. He’d asked McCoy to watch Mary Sue if she showed up that day so he could hike around on his own. The snow had melted giving way to a chilly cold spring beginning. The trees had yet to bud, flowers were only just beginning to shove their leaves through the soil, and McCoy had been making various calls about breeding some of the farm animals. He kicked a couple rocks as he headed to the property line. He’d promised to stay within the boundaries of McCoy’s land, he was also reasonably certain if he tried to cross the property line he’d get a nasty shock. Granted it was just a feeling he got but it wasn’t something he really wanted to test.

    He wandered around following the property fence until it ran out. There was a hill that tumbled down into a deep ravine where Harry sat down in front of  a rock that was perfectly placed for the view. He sat cross legged, took off the beaded bracelet around his wrist, and set it on the rock. He closed his eyes and focused, bringing his will to the surface. He breathed in deeply and released his energy slowly. 

    He felt one bead lift gently and hold itself up. He breathed again. Another bead joined. He continued to breathe and raise beads until he had six in the air. Sweat beaded his brow and he fought to keep his breathing even and slow. Another bead jerked slowly up, Harry tried to breathe but…

        “What’cha doin’?” Mary Sue said as Harry gasped and the bracelet clattered to the ground. He sucked air in as though he’d been running a marathon for three days. His face was pouring sweat and felt like he’d been carrying a huge weight for miles. Mary Sue plopped down next to him.

        “Mary Sue…you know…you’re not supposed…to run around…on your own.” He said between breaths. She shrugged her shoulders. 

        “You’ve been out here for hours, Mr. McCoy said to come get you for dinner.” she said. “He told me to follow the fence and i’d find you,” 

    Harry snorted and wiped his face. He looked at the bracelet and narrowed his eyes. Mary Sue watched him.

        “My mama has a bracelet. It's not like that, it’s sparkly and shiny, and she doesn’t wear it very often.” She said, picking up the bracelet and playing with the beads. Harry watched her, she hadn't been as chatty since the local boy-gang had tried to make him fight. It’d been a few weeks but the teens had now been giving him a wide berth every time they’d gone to town. 

        “Did I…scare you, Mary Sue?” He asked as she focused on the beads. She shook her head, not looking at him. 

        “Are you sure?” 

    She crawled over into his lap, put the bracelet on his wrist continuing to fiddle with the beads. Harry held her for a minute before she spoke again.

        “You didn’t scare me but you scared those boys.” she said.

        “I did.”

        “Would you’ve hurt them?”

        “I…No, I didn’t want to.”

        “Did you want to scare them?”

    Harry sighed and rested his chin on her head.

        “No, not really.”

        “So why’d you do it?” 

    Harry thought about it for a moment. 

        “I wanted…I wanted them to leave me alone.” He said quietly. She gave him a big squeeze.

        “Do you want me to leave you alone?” She asked in a small voice. Harry rolled his head down to look at her.

        “Is that what you’re afraid of?” He asked, looking at her face. She didn’t look at him as she nodded.

        “I know I'm annoying and you don't want me around so much.” she said her voice so quiet he barely heard her. She shoved her face into his arm. 

        “Mary Sue…”

        “I’m sorry.”

    Harry sighed. He hadn’t meant to scare the little girl, he hadn’t meant for a lot of things to happen either.

        “Mary Sue, Eb wants me to babysit you and somehow your mom thinks it’s a good idea too. I’m more worried about you picking up my swearing than anything else.” Harry said. Mary Sue mumbled into his arm. 

        “You what?”

    She raised her head and smiled mischievously. 

        “I said, I called Heck a jackass from hell today.” 

    Harry looked at the sky. 

        “Why?”

        “I don’t know.” she said giggling.

        “Mary Sue…” Harry started to say before a sharp jab hit him on the head. He fell to the side as Mary Sue was yanked out of his lap. He heard her screaming as he shook his head trying to clear his vision. A boot kicked him in the face so hard he thought he was going to black out. A second later he almost wished he had. Someone started hitting him with what felt like a tire iron. He fell over as they hit him in the back and began beating him over and over. He could faintly hear Mary Sue begging them to stop. The people around him just laughed. The last thing he saw, with his eyes barely focusing, was Mary Sue struggling to get away from large arms and the stark terror on her face.                        

Chapter Text

The Plan

        “Harry Harry! Wake up, boy!” 

    A gruff voice interrupted Harry’s nightmare, Justin was chasing him with a stick made of flame, everytime he got too close Harry could feel the heat across his back. Harry snapped awake and sat up sharply. His face felt too heavy on one side, he tasted blood in his mouth, and his nose was clogged with blood. The pain in his head almost made him black out again. McCoy reached out and grabbed him before he fell back.

        “Harry, what happened, where’s Mary Sue?” The old man asked, kneeling next to him supporting his back gently. Harry opened his mouth and spit a few times, a mixture of bile and blood, before answering.

         “They came out of nowhere and took her, Eb. I don’t know who or where, but they took her.” He said looking desperately around. It was just becoming dark, Harry couldn't see as well in the twilight but there were multiple sets of boot prints all over. A thick branch was laying on the ground covered in spots of dark blood. His blood. He could still hear the little girl screaming for him. 

    McCoy got up and went over to the edge of the fence. He opened the panel of a box stuck to the post. Inside was a telephone receiver.

        “Heck, you there?” He said into it. 

        “-Here-” Heck’s voice came out cut with heavy static. McCoy took a deep calming breath before he spoke again.

        “I found Harry. He’s been attacked. Mary Sue’s been taken.”

        “Do you know where she is?” Heck’s voice replied marginally clearer.

        “No. Is Daisy there?” 

        “She just pulled up."

        “Ok, we’re coming back.” McCoy said, hanging up the phone.

    Harry had managed to get to his feet even with his head feeling like a thousand pounds of sand. McCoy put his staff on Harry’s chest stopping him from following the boot prints.

        “And what do you think you’re doing?” He said. Harry pushed the staff away.

        “I’m going to get Mary Sue back and kill those bastards. What do you think I'm going to do?” Harry said savagely with fire in his eyes.

        “That's a good way to get dead, boy.” McCoy said, planting his staff in front of him. Harry hesitated for a moment.

        “I don't care.” He replied, shoving McCoy back. Or tried to, the man was solid as a mountain. 

        "Mary Sue wouldn't want that,"McCoy said quietly. "And it won't help her any of you run off half crazy looking for trouble."

    Harry tried to go around the old man but he was stopped again by the staff. He glared at McCoy before he began pacing in front of him. 

        "I won't go in half crazy." 

        "No, you'll go in all crazy and end up hurting yourself, Mary Sue, or somebody else." Eb said, his tone as though he was talking Harry through how to saddle a horse. 

        "Hopefully somebody else." Harry snapped back.

        "Is that your solution to everything?" The old man asked lightly. "Hurt someone if they hurt you?"

         "Why not? They're probably hurting Mary Sue right now. They'd deserve it. It's justice." he said through clenched teeth.

        "Boy, what do you know about justice?"

         "I know it's right."

        "What’s right?"

        "To use whatever I have at my disposal to make this better!" Harry shouted.

        “Like you did with the boys in town?” 

    Harry stopped, his fists at his sides shaking as McCoy continued, his tone even.

        “You don’t even have the ability to lift those damn beads I gave you. What makes you think you can find her? Do you even want to? Or is this just another chance for you to misuse your power?" 

    Harry’s face contorted in fury becoming something fearsome and cruel. He ripped the bracelet off his wrist, about to throw it on the ground, when he looked at it. He stared at it like he wanted it to burst into flames. Mary Sue had asked him once why he wore it. He'd told her it was a magic bracelet that let him know where she was all the time. She'd laughed at that and ran off to hide. He felt something break inside him as he sank to his knees, his eyes hollow and wretched.

        “She was screaming for me to help her.” He said his voice thick. “She was screaming.”

    McCoy watched him as he held out the beads in both hands like an offering.

        “I didn’t want any of this to happen.” He whispered. “NONE of it. I never…” 

    He stopped. Tears began falling over his face as the dam he built in his mind broke apart. Hot, furious tears tore his throat apart as he screamed wordlessly into the night.

        “I never meant…I never wanted…” Harry said hoarsely through snot and tears. He rubbed at his face with one hand. McCoy held out a handkerchief. Harry took it and blew his nose.

        “I know, boy, but all we can do is move forward. All that matters, all that ever matters, is what do you want to do now?” McCoy said gently. Harry looked up at him, eyes bright, focused and determined. 

        “I want to find her."

        "Why?" McCoy demanded.

        "I need to find her. I HAVE to help.” He said, voice rough but steady. The beads in his hands cracked and exploded up and out. They hit trees, brush, and one caught him in the middle of his forehead causing him to yelp in surprise. McCoy smiled at him.

        "You're ready." He said. Harry rubbed his head and stood up. 

        "What? Just like that?" he said sarcastically.

         “Just like that.”

         “Why?”

    McCoy sighed.

         "Why do you want to help her?" He asked. 

         "Because she trusted me."

         "Why?" 

        "Because I was responsible for her."

        "Why?" McCoy pushed.

        "Because she's my friend!"

        "Why?" He demanded.

        "Because she’s…she’s just a kid!”

        “WHY, BOY?!” McCoy roared.

        “Because I can’t NOT! I HAVE to do something." Harry yelled, causing the beads to leap up again. Another bead jumped up and smacked him in the head. Harry swore viciously. 

        “Harry, what do you think you’re doing here?” McCoy asked patiently.

        “Free farm labor.” Harry said immediately.

        “No, you eat too much to be considered free.” the old man said, poking the boy’s side with his staff. “Think a little harder.”

        “Because…because power is only half the equation." He said, measuring his words. "You need to use it for the right reasons, like helping someone, or it just…destroys you. From the inside out.”

        “Exactly, boy, power corrupts and if you don’t go into it knowing exactly why you’re using it, it’ll chew you up and spit you out.” McCoy said seriously as he leaned on his staff. Harry thought for a moment then nodded.

        "I have an Idea.”

    Heck was leaning on the doorframe in the kitchen when McCoy and Harry came in. 

        “Make room.” McCoy grunted as Heck moved out of the way. Harry got a quick glimpse of an older woman sitting at the table when he was shoved against the wall. 

        “WHERE THE FUCK IS MY BABY SISTER?!” a loud voice screamed at him. His vision filled with a pale blue color as his face was shoved into the paint and his arm was twisted to an interesting angle. 

        “Dot! Let him go!” Heck said somewhere behind him.

        “ANSWER ME!” the same voice continued screaming. Harry’s arm began to hurt where she was pinning him.

        “Dot, let him go.” A woman’s voice said calmly. 

        “IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO HER I WILL TAKE IT OUT ON YOUR ASS!”

        “You’re a little late for that.” Harry said, sounding smushed.

        “Dorothy! Take a walk.” The woman’s voice said sharply. Harry felt the pressure release from his back and arm. He turned around to see a girl about his age, cold fire burning in her blue eyes turning them to hard sapphires. She had shoulder length blonde hair and stood just below Harry's eye line. She was solidly built and looked used to hard labor. Her cheek had a small circle scar and she was looking at him with pure hatred. 

        “I swear–” She began shoving her finger into his chest.

        “Dorothy Ann Hensen, get out of this kitchen, now.” The woman at the table said her voice heavy with a mothers authority. Dot jerked her hand back and stalked out of the kitchen, slamming the door behind her. Harry saw a beautiful woman with dark red hair shot through with silver pulled back into a smooth bun. She was slender but tough looking and had a weary look in her pure sky blue eyes. 

         “Hello, Harry.” She said quietly. Harry immediately wanted nothing to do but lay his head in her lap and cry until the world was a better place. He settled for nodding his head as she stood up and bustled around the kitchen. First she gave him a pack of frozen peas from the giant icebox to put on his face, along with some salt water to gargle which tasted awful but helped his mouth. She gave him some painkillers then sat across from him with a cup of coffee. She sipped it while staring at him with a cool look.

        “Eb assured me you would look after my baby girl.” She said in that same calm voice. It was one used to being in charge and comfortable giving orders. Harry looked at the floor in shame. 

        “He also said that you came from a difficult background.” she said kindly. “I went with his decision to allow you to care for my daughter because she has a knack for helping others simply by being herself. She’s very special that way.”

    Harry felt tears begin clogging his throat again. He swallowed and coughed.

         “I’m so sorry, Ma’am. I promise to find your daughter, Mrs. Hensen. I won’t stop until I do, I swear.”

    She continued to look at him with coolness. Tears glittered in her eyes.

        “Dais, the boy was jumped.” McCoy said softly. Harry felt his hand on his back, a small comfort in his misery.

        “By who?”

        “I don’t know but if I had to guess it’d be John's boys. They run around with that little teenage group they like to call a gang.” he rumbled. Daisy’s eyes flashed.

        “May I use your phone, Eb?” She said her voice still carefully level.

        “Of course, Dais.” Eb tapped his hand on Harry's back. He stood, wobbled a bit, then followed the older man to the front room. 

       “John’s boys? Are you sure?” Heck asked from his seat on the couch. Eb stumped over to the squishy chair and sat while Harry leaned against one of the bookshelves.

        “Almost. There were three of them and Harry scared the crap out of his boys about three weeks ago. Logic implies it was them.” 

        “Who’s John?” Harry asked.

        “A neighbor, one of the one’s who’d rather put you in the morgue than let you on his land. He’s also one goddamn son of a bitch, especially when it comes to his boys.”

        “What do you mean?”

        “In his eyes they do no wrong.” Heck said, shaking his head. “Once, those boys got their hands on a puppy…”

         “It was a pregnant dog and by the time I found them after what they did I made damn sure they knew not to come on my land ever again.” Eb said with a deep growl. 

         “What happened?” Harry asked, looking confused.

        “They wanted the puppies and didn't want to wait." Heck said as Eb looked thunderous. Harry went pale. Daisy appeared in the doorway, eyes haunted.

        “John says the boys found him on their property. Claims they were just defending themselves. He says they don’t know anything about Mary Sue.” she said. Harry looked up. 

        “Bullshit, if they were the ones who attacked us, they were the ones who took her.” he said.

        “So what are we going to do about it?” Eb asked, looking at harry. The boy took the frozen peas from his face and looked around. 

        “We go get her.”

        “What do you need?” Heck asked. Harry opened his mouth, closed it, and looked at McCoy. The old man smiled.

        “A map, some pens, chalk, and some coffee.”

        “I’ll make that.” Daisy said quickly.

        “There should be some still in the pot.” McCoy said.

        “Eb, that’s sludge, not coffee.” Daisy said as she smiled faintly before heading into the kitchen. An hour later, they all had come up with a rough plan to find Mary Sue. Harry’s head was aching from where he’d been kicked and his body was feeling stiff from all the hits. Daisy handed him another couple painkillers along with some coffee that was sweet and creamy warm ambrosia. 

        “Ma’am, this is the best coffee I've ever had.” He said before sitting in a chalk circle he’d drawn on the floor, making her smile. McCoy grumbled a bit as he finished folding up the map. Heck sometimes worked over by John’s property and had provided some information about a shed near the property line.

        “She has to be there. There’s nothing closer to their house and I doubt they’d take her too far.” he said. 

          "It's better to make sure. Are you ready, boy?" McCoy asked. Harry was sitting in a chalk circle he'd drawn on the floor. He was concentrating on a small rock Mary Sue had given him tied with a piece of her hair. He nodded and took a deep breath. The spell was a simple one he used to keep track of his keys but he'd never tried to use it to find a person before. He focused and breathed out a word. Suddenly the rock pelted itself toward the back door. It banged off the door and tried to keep going. 

        “Always in a hurry, baby girl is.” McCoy muttered to himself. He scooped the rock into a mason jar and held it out to harry. They’d decided to split into two teams. Daisy and McCoy were going to confront John while the family sat for dinner, hopefully the boys were all there. Harry and Heck were going to find Mary Sue and get her back to McCoy’s house before anyone could know. 

        “We’re all clear about the plan?” McCoy asked. Everyone nodded. Heck was loading a rifle and revolver at the kitchen table while Harry loaded a backpack with scissors, pliers, and other supplies. 

        "I should go with you." Dot said from the open kitchen door. Harry stared at her and snorted.

         “I walked out to where you got jumped. I saw the bootprints. Three sets, one’s big enough to be George, one’s sneakers, and one’s limping.”

    Harry cocked his head to the side in question. Dot smiled wickedly.

        “I’m guessing Mary Sue kicked one of them.” she said. Harry mirrored her smile then frowned.  

        "Why?" he asked. Dot’s eyes shifted downward.

        "She’s my sister. Besides, George, the big guy you scared the shit out of in town, is gonna beat the crap out of you if he catches you on his daddy’s property. Him and his brothers.” she replied dryly. Harry pointed at his face.

         “They kinda already did.” He said matching her tone. She rolled her eyes.

        “They can do a lot worse. Believe me.” She said her eyes glittering with anger. 

        “And you can help me better than Heck?” 

        “I can damn well shoot better than him.”

        “Dot, you’ve never shot someone before.” Heck said gently. Dot rolled her eyes.

        “You know I’m a better shot and besides that if those boys get Harry and Mary Sue?” She let the question hang in the air. Daisy crossed her arms and looked worriedly at Eb. He turned to Harry.

        “What do you think?” He asked.

        “What?” Harry asked, surprised.

        “It’s your rescue mission, you decide who you want watching your back.” he said.

    Harry looked from Heck to Dot. 

        “How good are you?” he asked. Dot snorted. 

        “Better than you.” She said walking over to Heck. She held out her hand for the gun. Heck looked to Daisy who nodded. Dot took the weapon and checked it over with well practiced motions. She went to the front door and opened it.

         “The oak.” She said and walked out to the dirt road.

        “That’s not far, it’s literally three feet in front of her.” he said looking out the window.

        “Not that one, boy, the other one.” Eb said quietly at his elbow. Harry squinted and saw another large oak tree across the small field. 

        “Can you see it?” he asked.

        “Barely.” Harry replied. Dot fired. They all heard a distinct crack and Harry saw one of the branches shake. Dot nodded once and walked back in. 

         “Well?” She asked. Harry took his backpack and handed her the folded up map. 

        “Let’s go.”

Chapter Text

Cistern

        "Let me go!" Mary Sue screamed. She thrashed around twisting every way she could to try and break the viselike grip around her torso. She kicked out with her feet as hard as she could and suddenly was dropped to the ground. She rolled to her feet and sprinted off. Right into another set of big burly arms. 

        "Little bitch." A voice growled out. Mary Sue looked up.

        "George Robinson, my momma is gonna kill you!" She squeaked, swinging her legs as fast as she could. The tall boy slapped her across the face. Hard. 

        "Shut the fuck up or I'll make you shut up."

        “Georgie you don’t have to hit her, she’s just a little kid.” another boy said walking up. He looked at the boy on the ground and laughed. “Damn Jr. she got you good.”

        “You can shut up too Dick.” George growled. The boy smiled wide. He looked almost exactly like his older brother, wood brown hair and dark eyes, except he was a full head shorter and rail thin. Jr was the odd ball with blonde hair but he was built like an ox and rapidly catching up to his oldest brother’s height. 

        “Goddamn that fucking kid.” Jr said as he slowly got to his feet. Mary Sue hung in George’s arms with a murderous look on her face while the brothers hiked away from the property line. They walked mostly in silence, past the small hunting cabin their dad had built a couple years ago, farther into their land. 

         “Uh, Georgie?” Jr asked after a bit. George grunted.

         “Why did we take the kid?”

    George didn’t answer and didn’t stop. 

         “I’d like to know that myself, G.” Dick said, tapping him on the shoulder. George turned around and glared at his brothers.

        “We took her cause that fucker from town is her babysitter and won’t make the mistake of trying to intimidate us ever again. He’s gonna have to come beg us for her back.” The oldest boy said grumpily.

        “Yeah, ok, but won’t her mom try to find her?” Jr asked, scratching his head.

        “Then we say we found him passed out and her wandering around.”

    Mary Sue sunk her teeth into George’s arm. He swore and dropped her to the ground. She scampered off, managing to dodge hands and arms. She ran and ran as light dimmed and darkness fell. Suddenly she pitched downward.

        CRACK!

    She screamed, a child’s wail of real pain. 

        “Hahaha! Serves you right!” George yelled down to her. Mary Sue had fallen into a deep cistern. Her leg was twisted the complete wrong way around. She started crying. George laughed cruelly.

        “Come on Georgie, she’s five, let’s get her out of here and take her back to Mrs. Hensen.” Dick said, getting ready to jump down into the hole. George grabbed him, shoving him back onto his butt.

        “Leave her there, all she’s going to do is rat us out and say we broke her leg on purpose.” he said towering over his smaller brother.

        “What’s going on? Where’s the kid?” Jr. asked, huffing up. George decked him in the face. 

        “What the hell, Georgie?” Jr. said, rubbing his face. He looked to the cistern. “Hey, why’s she crying?”

        “Leave it! We’ll go home and figure out what to do. Let’s go.” George said. “She can’t get out of there without help, so let’s GO.”

    Jr. grumbled as he walked away, glaring at his oldest brother. Dick slowly got to his feet, his hands raised in submission. 

        “Can’t we just…” he began.

        “Do you want to be in the same boat?” George growled fist raised. Dick looked down at the girl, tears streaming down her face as she curled into a ball. Her hair spread out around her head like a fiery crown in the mud. 

         “It’s going to rain, georgie.” Dick said quietly. 

        “We’ll be back with a plan before that. Go. Now.” George said through gritted teeth. 

    Harry and Dot crouched together in the rain by the end of the fence. They had to give Eb and Daisy time to get to the Robinsons before heading over the property line. Dot had the shotgun across her back and the revolver in Heck’s holster belt. She fiddled with the belt as they waited. Harry had his backpack on and the rock with the hair in a mason jar. It was holding firm on the lid, suspended by the force of the spell. 

        “So…you’re McCoy’s new stray?” Dot asked, breaking the silence. Harry eyed her.

        “I guess you could say that.” He said after a pause.

        “Hmph. He’s always taking in animals and people who need help.” She said disapprovingly. 

        “You don’t approve?”

        “I don’t know you. The last kid who showed up here ran off with some valuable jewelry, and the kid before that had something really wrong with her.” she replied.

        “What happened?”

        “She gouged her own eyes out.” 

    Harry’s eyes widened.

        “Yeah…it was pretty bad. Eb came over every day for almost two months after.”

        “Hells bells, what happened to her?” Harry asked, looking a little sick.

        “Eb said he passed her on to a colleague of his to help her. I never saw her after that.” Dot said, frowning. “So what’s wrong with you?”

        “Um…”

        “Go on, after that nothing surprises me.”

    Harry thought back to the fire and smoke of that night. He looked at the mason jar in his hands.

        “I um he took me on as his student.” 

        “Oh yeah? What’s he got to teach you?”

        “Decorum, some other things I guess.”

        “Magic?” 

    Harry looked at her quickly, she was smiling at him. 

        “You know?”

        “You’re watching my baby sister, of course we know. Mary Sue has to be bribed every day so she doesn’t beg you to do the colored bubble show Eb does on her birthday.” She said with a laugh. “And you’re holding a mason jar with a rock suspended of its own free will.”

    Harry laughed, a quick release of sound and tension he hadn’t realized he was holding. Dot giggled too. 

        “Was it bad?” She asked. “Whatever you did?”

    Harry’s face fell and he nodded. 

        “Yes.”

        “Can you make it right?”

         “No.”

         “Will you try?”

         “For the rest of my life.”

    Dot nodded like it confirmed something to her. 

        “Good enough for me.” She said, giving him a quick smile. The phone in the fence gave one ring then cut the second short. The signal Eb and Daisy were at the Robinson’s and the boys were there too. Harry and Dot stood together and headed beyond the fence.      

    Mary Sue was cold, wet, and covered in mud. Her face throbbed where George had hit her and her leg ached horribly. She didn't look at it, she'd already thrown up once and didn't want to do it again. She sniffled as tears ran freely down her face. They were hot compared to the cold rain gently coming down on her. The cistern was filling slowly with water, she’d already had to sit up. Mary Sue hated the dark. It was deep and scary. She always had a nightlight at home but now she couldn’t see anything in front of her face. Suddenly there was a small bright light in front of her. A flame of warmth. She felt strong slender arms embrace her and pull her into a warm hug. 

        “It’s ok little one. Don’t be afraid. You aren’t alone.” a gentle voice said.

    Mary Sue looked up and saw a beautiful smiling face with green eyes and long bright red hair.

        “Momma?” she said, sighing into the lady’s arms.

        “No child, someone else.” She said with a tinkling laugh. “Help is on the way dear one, just hang on a little longer.”

    Harry and Dot ran quickly and silently through the trees and long grass. They headed towards the cabin sat on the edge of a thicket of trees. They ran up to the door and Dot slammed her body against it breaking the old wood. They charged into the one room cabin and found…

        “Nothing. She’s not here!” Dot said, sweeping her flashlight around the room. It flickered as it passed over Harry. 

        “She has to be that’s what Heck said.” Harry replied, looking around. He checked under the tables and bed. Still nothing. There was a tapping sound by the kitchen table. The jar with the rock in it was slowly sliding to the edge of the table about to fall off. Harry grabbed it and followed the tapping to the far wall. 

        “She’s past the cabin. Somewhere in the forest.” He said. He looked out the window at the pitch blackness. 

        “Can you track?” He asked Dot.

        “Learned it from McCoy and Injun Joe two summers ago.” She said heading out into the darkness. They scoured around for signs of tracks.

        “Harry! This way!” Dot hissed as loud as she dared. Harry ran after her hanging onto the mason jar as it continued to tap out a tune. They headed farther and farther until suddenly the flashlight went out. Dot swore.

        “It’s me.” Harry said panting coming up behind her.

        “It’s the bulb. I heard it pop.” Dot said huffing. “If I can't see, I can't track.”

    Suddenly the steady tapping ceased and the jar fell silent. Dot and Harry looked at the jar in disbelief. 

        “Harry, what does that mean?” Dot whispered. Harry stared at it.

        “We have to hurry.” He said. 

        “We can’t see.” Dot said. “And it’s raining.” 

    Harry looked around, he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face, but in the short distance he could see a glow coming from the ground. 

        “Dot? What’s over there?” He asked, nodding his head towards the light.

        “I don’t know…but it’s where we were heading.” she said. They started off to the light cautiously. The light seemed to come straight from the ground until they came upon the edge. 

        “Oh god.” Dot breathed. 

        “What?” Harry asked.

        “It’s a water cistern. It collects the rain water for farms.” She replied. They looked down to see Mary Sue laying on her back as light poured from underneath the water. The light coalesced around her and lifted the small girl upwards, a figure materializing carrying her. Dot pulled the revolver and aimed.

         “Who are you?” She demanded.

         “No!” Harry said, grabbing her arm and yanking it down. 

    The figure had a coldly beautiful face, green eyes, and long red hair. It laughed like a fond mother would to a cherished child.

        “Hello, Godmother.” Harry said bowing his head respectfully. Dot whipped her head to look at him.

        “Hello Godson. You’ve made it almost too late.” the Leanansidhe said. “Another few minutes and she would have died of exposure. The cold kills as much as it preserves.”

         “Yes, Godmother.” 

         “You shouldn’t be so careless with your pets, dear, really if you can’t treat them better than this you don’t deserve them.” 

         “She isn’t a pet.” Dot snarled trying to jerk her arm away from Harry. He caught her eye and shook his head firmly.

        “You’re right, Godmother. I should’ve kept a closer eye on her.” He said respectfully, his eyes never leaving hers. She smiled indulgently.

        “Tsk tsk, I'm not sure you’ve learnt your lesson. Perhaps I should let her freeze and drown?” 

    Harry’s mind went into overdrive as he tried to think of a way to get Mary Sue. 

        “You can’t.” Dot said. Harry looked at her in terror. She ignored him.

        “And why ever not, young lady?” Lea said a thoughtful wariness in her voice as she turned to Dot.

        “Because I remember you.”

        “Many do.”

        “Not many have a favor owed.”

        “My godson already gave me his life. What can you offer me?” She said, eyes gleaming. Dot smiled wickedly.

        “Not me a favor to you. You a favor to her.”

    Lea’s face fell. Dot shook Harry’s arm off and stepped forward.

        “You thought no one saw? I always follow my sister when she goes exploring. You got stuck in one of the Robinson’s game traps, you looked like a fox then, my sister sprung the trap for you. I bet you still have the scars, I know iron burns fae.” Dot said firmly. “I don’t care what deal you’ve got with him. But I know you’re going to save my sister because you owe her your life.” 

    Lea tried to look angry but failed as a laugh broke through her facade. She nodded.

        “Well done young lady. Perhaps someday you and I can make a bargain. Until then, take the little one and see she is well taken care of.” The Fae Lady said gently, handing Mary Sue to Dot. “I will take care of the boys when they return.”

        “Just like she took care of the traps.” Dot said with a smile.

        “She’s a clever girl, your sister. Go now.” Lea replied.

        “Thank you, Godmother.” Harry said with a deep bow.

        “I’m pleased your manners have improved, Godson. I think you would make a very good hound now.” Lea said, flashing a wicked smile. Harry paled. There was a snap of twigs underfoot. Lea’s head shifted and her features became colder and cruel. 

         “Go. Now.” She said her eyes flashing with anger or fun, Harry couldn’t tell. They all headed away from the cistern and back towards McCoy’s land. Behind them they could hear faint screams. 

    In the morning, there would be reports of black bear sightings and George Robinson would be torn to pieces, Dick would be hospitalized with a broken back, and Jr. would never speak again for as long as he’d live. But for now Dot and Harry took turns carrying Mary Sue back to Eb’s. They’d just reached the property line when a large man with gray streaked brown hair emerged from the shadows. He had a large sword strapped across his back and looked extremely angry. 

         “Dresden.” He growled out. Harry and Dot froze. Dot looked at Harry who was carrying Mary Sue wrapped in his coat next to his skin. 

         “Morgan.” Harry said his face went even paler than when they faced Lea. 

         “I know you did something to those boys.” He ground out, he threw a bloody shirt at Harry’s feet. 

         “I didn’t do anything to them. They brought whatever it was on themselves.” Harry said. Morgan spat at his feet. Dot hurried up.

         “Problems?” she asked a hand on her revolver. 

         “Might be, but I doubt Morgan wants another dead child on his consciousness, if he has one.” Harry replied, showing Mary Sue snuggled in his arms. 

         “You killed once, I knew you’d do it again, no matter what the senior council believes.” Morgan said vitriol dripping from every word. “The world would be better off with you dead.”

         “I would disagree with that, I rather like living.” Harry replied. Morgan growled. 

        “HEY!” Dot yelled, breaking tension. Morgan blinked in her direction.

        “I know you both have some big dick contest going on but my little sister has a broken leg and could die from hypothermia if we don't get her somewhere now.” She said, grabbing Harry's arm and dragging him forward. Morgan stood in her way. 

         “Move. Or I will make you move.” she said, raising her chin and looking almost, but not quite in, Morgan’s eyes. “I don’t care about what he’s done. He’s helped save my sister and that’s good enough for me. If she dies, I will hunt you down for the rest of your life which will end by my hand sooner rather than later.”

    Morgan looked at her and moved aside. He glared at them as they hurried off.

         “This isn't over Dresden.” He called out. Dot rolled her eyes.

        “It never will be.” Harry muttered.

         “Cop?” Dot asked.

         “Of a sort,” he replied. 

        “My dad used to work with them a lot, he seems the type.” 

    They made it back to the house just as Mary Sue began shivering hard enough to rattle Harry's teeth. As soon as they made it through the door Heck and Daisy bundled the little girl off to the hospital, leaving Dot and Harry exhausted on the couch. Eb came out of the kitchen with tea and plates of warm chicken and potatoes. They fell on the food like ravenous wolves. 

         “The Robinson’s sent the boys to get Mary Sue after they confessed to taking her. The Mrs. wrapped up some food for us to take home along with many apologies.” He said as they ate. “What happened?”

    They both told the story. McCoy frowned when he heard about Lea but he sat forward and put his tea down when Dot told about Morgan.

        “You saw him? Just now?” He asked. They both nodded. 

        “Stay here. There's more tea and food in the kitchen. I’ll be back.” he said standing up. The teens watched as McCoy grabbed his staff and coat before heading out the door.

        “Do you wanna be Morgan right now?” Dot asked.

        “I didn’t want to be Morgan when you said you’d hunt him down.” Harry replied as Dot laughed.           

    McCoy walked outside past the barn and out to the field. He planted his staff in the ground and waited. After a few minutes Morgan walked across the field opposite him and stopped a few feet short. 

        “Evening, Morgan.” McCoy said. 

        “That boy…” Morgan began.

        “I would be very careful with your accusations right now, Morgan.” McCoy said softly, the runes on his staff glowing. Morgan looked at the staff and scowled.

        “I saw the aftermath of what that boy caused…”

        “The Leanansidhe.” 

    Morgan stopped short. 

        “What?”

        “The Leanansidhe. Apparently she owed the little girl a favor and made very good on it.” McCoy said pleasantly. “The only magic Harry worked tonight was a tracking spell to find the girl.”

        “And you can verify that?” Morgan growled.

        “Absolutely.”

    Morgan ground his teeth and huffed.

        “Why are you here, Morgan? I trust it’s important.” McCoy asked grumpily. “I have things to take care of, hungry teens and animals notwithstanding.”

    Morgan pulled a thick file from his inside pocket and unslung a small backpack from his shoulder. 

         “The boy's file and personal belongings.” He said tossing them to the old man.

         “Ah, I've been waiting for this. Harry will be glad to have his things.” McCoy said. He thumbed through the file scanning lightly. He stopped at the last grade report. 

         “Not bad grades, he told me he had a GED. He’s only got one year left though.” McCoy muttered to himself.

         “More warlock lies.” Morgan grumbled. McCoy looked up in annoyance.

        “Is that all?” he snapped. 

        “Yes, sir.” 

         “Then get off my property.” 

    Morgan bowed his head and turned to leave. 

        “Morgan?” McCoy said.

        “Yes-” 

    Morgan was hit with a force of wind so hard he flew several feet in the air, falling on the gravel driveway 30 feet away. McCoy calmly walked up as the man gasped for air. He bent down to eye level with Morgan. 

        “If I catch you on my property or harassing that boy again before he’s eighteen, it won’t be Dot you’ll have to worry about, understand?” He said plainly. Morgan nodded, quickly stood, and left. McCoy watched him before turning back to the house. He dug through backpack as he walked and chuckled as he held up a human skull.

         “Wizards.” He said with amusement. 

Chapter Text

Birth Days

    Ebanezer McCoy tucked Mary Sue up against his shoulder and looked at the group of teens in front of him. They were sitting on the ground, clothes singed, as his barn blazed behind them. Dot nursed a burned hand and a black eye, Harry’s clothes were pock-marked with holes that still smoked, Henry had black soot all over his face and arms, and the other girl sat with ugly looking burned arms tucked around her head on her knees. A white skull sat in front of the tucked up girl quietly.

        “Ok…Who’s going to tell me what happened?” Eb asked as Mary Sue twisted to look at the group.

        “It was my fault.’ Henry said immediately. Eb held up a hand.

        “My wording was at fault here. Who is going to tell me the truth?” Eb said. Henry opened his mouth then sighed and looked down at the ground. 

        “I don’t know, Harry wanna give it a go?” Dot said with a hiss. 

        “I already said I was sorry, how many times do I have to say it?” Harry said grumpily. Dot shot him a dirty look but didn’t say anything. Eb sighed. Teenagers.

        “I need to know what happened…Miss.Nahum?” He said, directing his gaze to the bundle of burns. She didn’t even twitch.

        “Ask the skull.” she said in a muffled raspy voice. McCoy looked at the skull. Mary Sue giggled. He looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow. Harry sighed. 

        “Come out, Bob.” He said dismally. The eye sockets slowly burned orange and made like it was looking around.

        “Harry, are you sure about this?” Bob whispered. Harry looked at McCoy and Bob and shook his head. 

        “Bob…would you tell Eb what happened?” Harry said, sounding even more depressed if possible. 

        “Well…It’s Harry’s fault.” Bob started.

        “Hey!”

        “I mean you couldn’t sleep…”

        “That’s not how it started!”

        “Yes it is!”

        “No it isn't! It’s Dot’s fault!”

        “You son of a…” Dot started. The whole group, aside from Miss.Nahum, started arguing loudly. Eb sighed again. 

        “Uh oh.” Mary Sue said as she looked over Eb’s shoulder.

        “What?” he asked.

        “Sheriff’s here.” 

        “Dammit.”

        “He brought Mama too.”

    Eb swore a blue streak in Gaelic.

Three months ago

    Harry woke as his face smacked the desk where he’d fallen asleep. Bob started cackling from the window. Harry threw a towel over him. He hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in ages. Everytime he fell asleep he’d have terrible nightmares and wake up steaming…or screaming. The last time he’d set the bed on fire in the middle of the night. He managed to put it out but he hadn’t laid down in it since. He heard a knock on his door. He scrambled around to find a tshirt and jeans, he just managed to zip his pants up when Dot opened the door.

        “Let’s go.” She said, throwing his jacket on the bed. “You can tell me why you haven’t been around to watch Mary Sue.

    They cleaned out the stalls in the barn silently, fed the animals, and headed to the house. Harry hadn’t seen her for a few weeks, he hadn’t really seen anyone. He’d mostly stayed in his room working with Bob. Eb had let him as long as he came to the house for one meal and kept the barn in order. 

        “She misses you.” Dot said as they walked. It was late spring, nearly summer, but the morning was cold. Harry didn’t answer.

        “She keeps crying when you don’t show up to watch her.” She continued. “She thinks you don’t like her cause she can’t run around after you anymore. Keeps saying if she hadn’t broken her leg maybe you’d play with her again.”

    Harry stopped and looked at her. Dot shrugged. 

        “She’s five.” She said, “She doesn’t understand why you stopped looking after her.”

        “She got hurt. Badly. Why would she want me to look after her?” Harry asked, confused. Dot looked at him like he was crazy.

        “You saved her. You found her, she misses you, god knows why.” Dot said. “Not to mention now I have to watch her all the time.”

        “Oh I see.” Harry said with a snort. “You want to go out with Henry.”

        “Would it kill you to watch her for a weekend? I miss my boyfriend.” She said as they continued to the house. “Besides she’s with my ma for the month so it’s a moot point.”

    Harry looked at her, questions in his eyes. Dot rolled her eyes as she opened the kitchen door.

        “You haven’t been keeping track of the time have you? It’s May. Ma’s out to the other farms and places for the birthings.” She said as they took off their jackets in the warm kitchen. It smelled like coffee and oatmeal. Heck was at the stove so they both took coffee. Harry dumped cream and sugar in his until it was pale white and fit for bees. Dot shook her head and sipped her nut brown, slightly sweet concoction. 

        “What you do to coffee should be considered a mortal sin.” She said, “Is there even coffee in there?”

        “A splash for taste.” He said as they tucked into sweet, cinnamon spicy oatmeal with raisins. Heck chuckled as Eb came into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. He pulled a face as he tasted it. 

        “Not strong enough.” He muttered, taking a bowl of oatmeal. 

        “Just because you can’t stand a spoon in it doesn’t mean you can’t drink it.” Heck said as he joined the table with a cup of coffee. Eb muttered darkly as the teens snorted into their oatmeal. 

        “I see Harry’s graced us this morning.” He said, Harry glared at Eb over his bowl.

        “I made him.” Dot said, scraping her bowl and going back for more. “I need help. Ma’s sent me on my own this year.” 

    Eb looked at her in surprise. 

        “Really? Where’s she?” 

        “The Robinson’s, the Hewett’s, George Harris asked for help this year, and Old man Jackoby. Mary Sue went with her. Doc said she could walk around now.” Dot replied as she ate her second bowl. Harry went for seconds as he listened. 

        “She’s finally walking around?” Eb said. Dot nodded. They ate in silence.

        “Is she ok?” Harry asked. Dot looked at him mildly.

        “She’s impatient to be fully mobile but her leg’s healing quicker than the doctor thought.” She replied. “She’s got physical therapy and the Doc’s say she should be walking on her own by the time she gets to school.”

    Harry nodded. 

        “You might get an extra pair of hands this year Dot.” Eb said as Harry went scraping the pot for thirds. Dot collected her bowl and Eb’s and started doing dishes.

        “Oh?” She said, taking Harry’s bowl from his hands as he whined and gave it to Heck. “Who’s coming?”

        “A friend of mine needs a place for his student to stay and she’s learning husbandry.” He said as Heck took a bite, pulled a face, and handed the bowl back to Harry shaking his head. Harry ate the oatmeal and gave the dish to Dot, who handed him the drying rag and turned around. 

        “Learning as in?” She asked.

        “First hands on experience she’ll have. Your Ma said you would be the perfect teacher for her. Especially as you already know her.” Eb said as Dot narrowed her eyes. Harry dried and put the dishes away as Dot thought.

        “Not the kleptomaniac, right?” She said after a moment.

        “No, not her. The other one.”

        “The one who scratched her eyes out after two days?” Dot said horrified. Eb looked at her reproachfully. 

        “She didn’t scratch her eyes out. And it was three days, not two.” He said calmly. Dot sighed then looked at Harry. 

        “Alright, she can’t be any worse than this idiot.” She said with a smile as she swatted Harry.

        “Hey!” He replied with a grin as Heck and Eb laughed.

    The teens went back to the barn and Dot showed Harry the pregnant mares. He’d already been taking care of them for the past few months but now he saw they were big around their middles and realized they’d been eating much more then when he first came to the farm. 

    One was a large coal black mare, Astar, with a bright star on her forelock. She looked at Harry suspiciously, she always had. The first day he’d come into her stall to feed her alone, she’d shied away from him and tried to kick him. Failing that they both kept their distance but she would try to bite him if he got close enough. 

    Another was a deep chestnut brown nearly red, Rowan. Leggy, even-tempered, but needed to run everyday or she would get very agitated. Although he realized she had cut her daily walks shorter and shorter in the past few weeks.

    The last was Harry’s favorite, she was a bay colored Shire horse with the sweetest temperament of the entire barn, Buffy. She stood nearly to Harry’s eye level and was how he’d realized he was growing taller, slowly but surely. She nudged his shoulder with her head as Dot checked her over with well trained hands. He patted her cheek and she nuzzled his hand and pockets. 

        “Someone’s been sneaking snacks in here for you, Babygirl.” Dot said around to look at harry.

        “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” He replied as the horse huffed her disappointment. She lifted her head and ruffled her nose around his hair. 

        “Stop that.” He said as she nickered and set her head on his shoulder. Dot snorted as she came up to him and scratched Buffy’s neck. 

        “I think you have a girlfriend Harry.” She said as they left after Harry had produced an apple from the feed room. Harry rolled his eyes as they went through the pigs, sheep, and finally the three cows Betsy, Betty, and Bess.

       “She’s ready to drop here.” Dot said after they were done with Betty. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she gave birth today or tomorrow.” 

    Harry looked at the cow and cocked his head. She was thick and as he looked at her he saw small movements on her side. They’d moved her on her own to the middle stall of the barn. It was the warmest, largest part of the barn with plenty of clean hay and had a small mattress in the corner.    

        "I'll take day shifts, you take nights, get me up if any of them start in the night." Dot said as she shut the half door and they watched Betty move around in the new space. Harry looked at Dot. She had a pensive look on her face, her nose scrunched up a little, and she chewed her lip. Her eyes flicked to his for a moment and she bumped his elbow. 

        "Earth to Harry. What're you thinking about?" She said with a small smile. 

        "I don't think I'm right for this. I've never even seen a birth." He said as her grin widened.

         "Then, if all goes well, you're in for a treat." She said turning back to the cow. They watched her for a bit as she wandered around and huffed. Dot grabbed a wooden chair and book from the tack room and leaned it against a wall. She sat down and cracked open the book, settling in for a long wait. 

    Harry watched her for a minute before turning to head up to his room. 

        “What’ve you been doing on your own so much, Dresden?” she asked not looking up. Harry paused.

        “Studying.” he said after a moment. Dot snorted. Harry turned and looked at her incredulously.

        “You don’t believe me?” he said.

        “Oh I do believe you but why are you using that as an excuse to not see anyone?” she said, turning a page. “Or do anything?”

        “Being an apprentice means a lot of studying.” he replied, turning to head up.

        “Are you afraid?” she asked quietly.

    Harry paused again, his back going rigid with tension. Dot smiled at the book. 

        “Got it in one.” She said amusement in her voice. He headed up the stairs and slammed his bedroom door. Dot heard soft murmurs coming from the hayloft and a cackle of laughter that didn’t sound like any she’d ever heard before. 

        “Boys.” She said with a shake of her head. Betty huffed an agreement.

    Harry spent until sundown studying from a few books and talking it over with Bob, who was still cackling about Dot calling him out. He was trying to figure out a way to stop himself from spontaneously combusting while he slept. So far he’d hit a dead end but he was sure he just wasn’t asking the right questions. Suddenly there was an urgent knock on the floor followed by Dot yelling his name. 

        “Your mistress calls!” Bob said smugly. “Maybe you could let me have a night with her?” 

        “Maybe.” Harry said, pulling a sweater on. Bob looked hopeful.

        “And maybe you could figure out a way for me to finally get some real sleep.” He said walking out the door as Bob blew a raspberry after him.

    Harry hurried down to the large barn stall. A girl was standing at the half door leaning over to watch what was happening. 

    She was dressed in a long full skirt the color of straw, black combat boots, and a plain top the same color as her skirt. Her dark hair was tucked up under a brown cloth, a single dark curl falling along her face. 

        “Hello?” Harry said, approaching her. “Who- my god.”

    She turned to face him and it was everything he could do not to scream. She had scars covering her face, some fine and white, some jagged and cruel, but not as bad as the horror that was her eyes. She had none. Her eyelids were closed, cleanly stitched, clear of any infection or disease, but it was the very obvious nail scars along her cheeks and either side of her eye sockets that made Harry want to retch. 

    She turned away and made a gesture with her hand over her face. He saw more scars and scratches on her neck and what little of her back was exposed. Her arms were laced with more scars, these thick and ugly looking. 

        “I apologize, sir, I did not mean to frighten you.” She said, her voice husky and tinged with an accent he couldn’t place. Harry blinked as she turned back. Her face suddenly clear and pale, eyes dark brown where they were supposed to be. She was pretty and seemed to be his age, maybe a little older, and looked incredibly sad. He immediately felt horrible. 

        “N-no, it’s ok, I’m sorry for gawking…” He said hurriedly. Dot appeared in the open part of the door. 

        “Like an ass?” She said with a smile. Her arms were covered with long surgical gloves. She had a sponge and a bucket of soapy water. 

        “Both of you get in here, wash your hands and put gloves on. She’s on her way.” Dot said gesturing to the sink on the wall. The girl vaulted over the door and headed to the sink. Harry opened and closed the door behind him. Betty was standing next to one of the walls breathing heavily with a clear sac of…something coming out of her. Harry washed up and joined the two girls.

        “What do you see?” Dot asked the other girl. She went up and examined the cow, her hands moving quickly but hesitantly. 

        “Standard anterior presentation, full dilation, straight line access. Should be an easy delivery, no surprises.” She said looking up at Dot, who smiled and nodded. 

        “Good. Anything else?”

        “Is this her first calving?”

        “Yes.”

        “How long has she been like this?”

        “Almost an hour so far.” 

        “An hour?”

        “Yes.”

    The girl paused.

        “Persistent hymn?” She said as Betty huffed and got down on her knees then her side. The sac began leaking and broke completely. Amniotic fluid ran onto the floor and Harry saw a pink nose with a couple of scary looking hooves. 

        “Ah shit.” Dot said. “Written’s over, time for the practical. Harry, we’re gonna need your help.”

        “With what?” He asked as Dot grabbed him and the girl moved out of the way.

        “Pulling. The water bag broke so we need to get the calf out now rather than wait.” she said. Harry rolled up his sleeves. Betty was huffing and puffing as she strained but Harry could see she was tired. The calf moved an inch and then slid back into the cow. 

         “Nahum, you go and keep her calm.” Dot said as she cleaned off everything with the sponge and soapy water. Harry knelt beside her.

        “What do I do?” He asked. 

         “When she goes into another contraction grab both legs and pull, gently but firmly. When she rests, you rest. I’ll join if it’s not working after a couple of contractions.” Dot said. “Here it comes.”

    Harry grabbed both legs and began to pull. The calf moved a bit, the nose coming farther and farther. The pressure stopped and so did Harry, this time when Betty relaxed the calf stayed in place. They repeated this twice more, each time the calf coming further and further out. The third time Harry felt a hard drag and couldn’t pull without more force. 

        “Dot.” He grunted. She grabbed one leg with both hands as he grabbed the other and they pulled together. Then, slowly and gently, the calf slid out halfway then the rest of the way. Harry sat on his butt hard and Nahum descended on the calf with a towel, rubbing it down as it sneezed, and began helping to clear its airways. Dot crawled over and helped Nahum as the calf raised its head and blinked at him. 

        “It’s a boy.” Nahum said going to grab another towel. The calf got its feet under itself and began trying to rise. Betty made a noise causing Dot and Nahum to go to her. Harry looked at the little calf and crawled over. 

        “Come on, little one.” he said, urging the calf to its feet. It stood on shaky legs and stumbled over to Harry, collapsing on his lap. Harry let the calf suckle his fingers as it stood again. He laughed as the calf began to butt his head on his chest.

        “Here.” Dot said, capping a bottle with a nipple and handing it over. He fed the calf as Dot gave him instructions. They made Betty comfortable and took the baby to the calf stall Dot had prepared a few days ago. The little calf went and laid down in the clean straw with a little vest Nahum had put on him and went to sleep. Harry watched the little calf as Dot leaned on the door.  

        “So what’d ya think?” She asked. Harry didn’t say anything. She chuckled a little and patted his arm before heading out.

        “I’m to keep watch over the cow tonight for the placenta. You’re to check the other animals.” Nahum said as she dried off her hands. Harry nodded silently. She looked at him and smiled.

        “Your first?” She asked. He nodded again.

        “Mine too.” She said, “I wonder if it ever becomes routine?”

        “I hope not.” Harry said, his voice a little raw. Nahum looked at him, her face full of conflict, before turning away and heading to the large stall.           

Chapter Text

Labor 

    The one month passed faster than Harry's last four. Every day and night was hectic with animal feedings, cleaning, and studying, magical and not. Harry threw himself on his bed whenever he could and found himself able to catch a few hours, more or less, of dreamless sleep. He wasn’t catching fire anymore but he was still waking up sweating. 

    Dot and Nahum slept when they could, more often than not on the mattress in the birthing stall in turns.  Harry volunteered for watch as often as possible to give them sleep and keep himself from it. The two women were busy as the sows all went into labor stately and primly, one right after the other. The other cows also went into labor more or less calmly and quietly, while the sheep dropped somewhat haphazardly. Harry had to help pull one other calf out, but so far he was having the time of his life. 

    He watched over the new calves, one boy and two girls, as they frolicked and played in their own large stall. He learned how to check over piglets, feed foals, was mobbed by hungry lambs, and kept the ladies quiet and calm for their daily check ups. So far there had been only one long night a sow went into labor fast and hard. Of the ten she bore, only two made it past sunrise. 

    Dot blamed herself, crying until Nahum had gone to get Eb, who took her to call her mother. She'd come back, eyes red but clear and slept on the mattress in the birth stall, only to get up a few hours later to another ewe needing her.

    Finally only Buffy, the large quiet shire horse, was left. Harry had missed the other two mares' labors. Rowan had gone in, bearing a beautiful gray colt, while he slept. Dot had told Harry to clear out when Astor tried to kick him while she was bearing down. So all three of them were sitting on the mattress sharing some snacks and watching over Buffy as she rolled and nipped herself.

         "It's been a long ass month." Dot said munching on chips tiredly. She'd been up for almost 24 hrs at this point but was still waiting for a placenta from one of the pigs. Harry had just finished napping and Nahum was dosing lightly on his shoulder. 

         "But normal?" Harry asked curiously. Dot shook her head as she offered the chips. Harry took the bag. It was empty.

         "No, usually Eb only breeds the pigs and sheep, maybe a cow. This is the first time he's had a full barn in a few years." She said, as Harry glared at her. He nodded as she smiled and handed him another bag. This time full. 

        "Does it…does it become…normal?" He asked, sounding unsure as he munched. Dot thought for a minute.

         "No." She said with a slow smile. "It's always a little scary, a little nerve wracking, and a little frustrating. But it's always, always,  ALWAYS amazing and wonderful." 

    Harry nodded. 

        "I didn't…I can do some amazing things. Call fire, track things down, I work with the elemental, the very foundations of creation every day but…this," he said nodding to Buffy who was rolling around across the stall. "This is so different. Raw, real. It's more than I will ever be able to do." 

    Dot nodded. Nahum snored softly. 

        "When my mom had Mary Sue I was 11. She let me in the room, said I was old enough to be useful, Eb was there too. We'd just moved here and ma didn't know anyone else so she asked him. It was…the most intense experience I've ever had." Dot said quietly. "She was awesome. Not in a 'oh cool' way, but Awe-some. I'd never seen anyone with so much power and so much vulnerability.

        "After, my mom slept and I watched over Mary Sue. Eb was supposed to take me home but we stayed. I said I wasn't sure if I'd want to have a baby since it seemed more trouble than it was worth."

    Harry chuckled.

       "Eb said that I had the same potential in me that every little girl has who grows up. And that someday, I might want the trouble."

    Harry looked over to Dot, who had a soft smile. He turned back to Buffy as he thought things over and saw her standing with a yellowish white bag hanging from her back end that suddenly split to reveal a pair of tiny hooves.

        "Ope, things are moving along." Dot said. Nahum sat up swiftly making Harry think she'd been faking asleep. They sat and watched as Buffy labored. She took deep breaths and pushed steadily. The little one appeared slowly, breathing suddenly as its chest cleared and falling onto hay. 

        “She’s done this before.” Nahum said as they all slowly approached the mare and foal. 

        “It’s her last. She’s had a good long run as a mama.” Dot said as Buffy snuffled and licked at her new baby. Nahum did her checks on the foal and placed a stethoscope against the mare's belly. 

        “Dot?” She said and held out the instrument.  Dot took it and listened as well.

        “Jesus.” She breathed. Buffy suddenly got down and rolled nearly on top of her new foal. Harry grabbed the little one quickly out of the way. The mare laid down and breathed heavily again as something dark red appeared as she pushed. 

        “Get Eb, NOW!” Dot said in a voice that Harry had never heard from her before. It made his stomach drop and filled him with dread. Nahum sprinted out of the barn faster than Harry had ever seen someone run. 

        “Harry, over here.” she said as she dug her fingers into the red sac and popped it. Two small hooves stuck out covered in blood. Harry grabbed one, Dot the other as Buffy breathed deeply again and pushed.

    Buffy held and held, pushing as they pulled out and down. The front legs came through, then a nose…shoulders…finally the chest pulled through and the foal sneezed bloody fluid. Dot grabbed the baby around its waist and pulled the rest of the foal through as Buffy collapsed, panting as though she’d galloped for miles. Her sides were lathered and heaving as two placenta slipped out of her. 

    Dot dumped the bloody foal on Harry as she scooped up the organs and checked them over. Harry held the baby as it took shuddering breaths. He laid it down next to the other and vaguely noted they were both girls. The first had just started trying to stand and Harry felt a towel being handed to him.

        “Here.” Nahum said as she took another towel and began wiping the babies down. One was black, from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail and as Nahum wiped her down she finally stood and began taking a few steps. 

        “Red bag delivery, we need to call my mom. She can make sure the baby and Buffy are ok.” Dot said quietly to Eb, who watched from the stall door. Harry wiped at the blood on the other filly but it didn’t seem to want to come off no matter how vigorously he rubbed. Soon she was looking at him with mopey eyes and he realized she was colored a deep red. She breathed slowly but surely and began trying to stand. 

        “Back off, Hoss.” Eb said quietly. “Easy does it, let her get on her feet.” 

    Harry backed up and knelt with his back to the stall door, watching the little one get to her feet. She fell and began again. This time she stayed up and seemed almost scared to try to step. Buffy’s nose appeared behind the baby and butted her gently. The foal took one step…then another…then another until she was next to Harry and laid down, head in his lap. 

    Buffy walked over with the other little one in tow and settled next to them. She checked over the red coated filly and then huffed her nose in Harry’s hair before she rested. The black filly walked around, inspecting everything from the hay on the floor to Eb’s bald head. She finally settled down next to Buffy after her curiosity was satisfied and slept. The little red one closed her eyes and breathed in time with her mother. 

    The large horse gently moved the little head off Harry’s lap and onto her foreleg. Harry reached out and scratched her cheek and neck.

        “You did good, Buffy.” He said as the mare butted his head with hers. Dot motioned in the corner of his eye for him to come out. He stood up, careful to not disturb anyone and headed out to the hall. 

        “You all did amazing. Good work.” Eb said quietly. The three teens looked dead on their feet. Eb sent the girls back to the house for showers and rest. Harry was about to climb up to his room when Eb stopped him with a hand. 

        “You ok, Hoss?” He asked gently. Harry turned to him and his face crumpled as he fell to his knees. He didn’t really know why he was crying, just that it felt right and it felt good. Eb put a hand on his shoulder, rock solid and firm. Harry clung to his arm as his emotions poured out of his eyes and streaked clean tracks down his face. The tears turned pink and slowly stopped as he gasped and gulped air.

         “Everything’s alright for now, Hoss, you did good.” Eb said softly as he ruffled his hand through Harry’s hair gently and methodically. Harry chuckled a little as he recognized the calming tactic he’d used himself on the animals. 

        “That could’ve been very different.” Nahum said. The two men looked up as she walked over to the stall. She was dressed in different clothes and her hair was wet from a shower. Harry rubbed his face with his sleeve and stood up to go back to the stall. She shook her head and pointed to the hayloft. 

        “Go to bed. I will watch them tonight and tomorrow.” She wrinkled her nose. “Maybe take a shower too. You’re covered in birthing fluid and blood.” 

        “The stuff of life.” Harry said looking at his blood stained hands. Nahum nodded. 

        “Yes. Yes, exactly. Nothing better.” She said with a wide smile. Her eyes were green this time, thickly lashed, and sparkling. He stared and stared but nothing happened. He looked at her confused. 

        “I don’t have a window to my soul anymore. I took them out, remember?” she said, the corners crinkling in a smile that didn’t reach. She looked at him sadly then vaulted over the door into the stall. 

        “She’s a strange one.” Eb said. Harry turned to look at him.

        “You think?”

Chapter Text

Nightmares

    Harry rode Buffy at an easy pace through the trees in the lazy August heat. Dot had told him to take her out for some exercise. 

        "Every mama needs a break sometimes. That's why we're here." She'd said watching Harry saddle her up. 

        “Glorified babysitters?” He’d said as she laughed.

        “Worse pay.” She replied.

        “Eb would say, he pays us in food and lets us sleep under a ceiling.” Harry said as he swung up onto the saddle and headed out. He'd learned to ride over the summer but this was the first time he'd taken Buffy out. She was at least a foot taller than the rest of Eb's herd, and had been on strict orders for rest by Dot after the birth of her twin foals. 

   He'd grown again as well. Nahum had commented on the two inches of ankle sticking out of his pants every chance she got, while Eb had started keeping track of his height by the kitchen door. He didn’t have to duck yet but he was starting to get nervous the closer the frame got. 

    The past three months had flown by with caring for the babies, the new mothers, and everything else on the farm. After the animals were taken care of for the day, Eb had taken the teens into the fields with him and Heck. Henry had joined them after school had let out and the days were filled with hard work. The evenings were shared as the kids were all staying at the farm. Dot had shown Nahum how to sneak out of the house, climbing out the window and down the lightning struck tree in the front yard, and Henry had shown Harry how to jump from the hayloft to the back of Eb’s truck without waking up the whole barn. 

    The teens had spent the summer being teens. They’d stolen some beer from the house and got drunk out in the fields. Harry was pretty sure Eb figured that one out as he’d made coffee and passed out pain killers surreptitiously the day after. Henry had brought an old projector and managed to get a star wars reel plus a couple others from the movie theater in town. They’d had to experiment a couple times but managed to figure out if they put the projector far enough away from the two magical teens it would all work out. 

    Nahum had brought out some weird glowing flowers one night and mixed them in a bottle of something smelling strongly of herbs. She’d taken a couple pulls and offered it to Harry who sniffed it and gingerly handed it back. Dot and Henry had drunk most of the bottle and ended up doing an interesting, and leafy, walk of shame at breakfast the next morning. Eb had muttered something about teens and hormones as Nahum had excused herself to go laugh outside. 

    It would’ve been a perfect summer, except Harry still couldn’t sleep without nearly setting himself on fire every night. He’d been trying to figure out a potion or spell with Bob that would help him sleep or at least douse him when he went up. But so far they hadn’t come up with anything in the realm of preventing spontaneous combustion. There was one last potion Bob had helped him with. If it didn’t work he was going to have to ask Eb for help. Which Harry had been adamant about not wanting, despite Bob’s urging.

    Buffy suddenly drew up as they cleared the tree line and came out into a grassy field. Harry looked around as her ears pricked forward, alert to something he couldn’t see. There was a thundering sound of hooves as Nahum galloped across his line of vision.

    She was riding Astor bareback, her fingers woven through the mare's mane. They rode like they’d been together for years instead of months. Nahum shouted something and the horse leapt over a large tree stump then curbed swiftly to the left and thundered back the way they’d come. 

    Harry watched them fascinated. Nahum was barefoot with tight white cloth pants and a short white top that bared her midriff, shoulders, and arms. Her dark hair flew back in a mane that flowed with Astor’s in the wind. He could see the scars encircling her body. Some thin and almost beautiful, some jagged and hacked like field surgery gone wrong. 

    Suddenly she pulled up and stopped Astor nearly midstride. She turned only her head and Harry was filled with a sense of dread as her stitched up eyes looked at him. She kicked the mare’s sides and was suddenly pulling up short in front of him and Buffy.  Her sunken eye sockets stared at him in an eerie silence. He took a deep breath and stared levelly back. 

    She smiled, which twisted her face into a cruel shadow of mirth, and flicked her hand past her face. Her eyes shifted to sky blue, her skin cleared, and the scars vanished save the beautiful, intricate marks that wrapped her body in…

        “Ogham.” Harry said suddenly, his mind recognizing the marks. She smiled, this time her face lighting up like a star, as Astor breathed heavily her sides lathered with sweat. Harry looked at the horse with concern.

        “Should you be riding her that hard so soon?” He asked, nodding to the mare. Nahum looked down and swept her hand down the side of the horse's neck. Her breathing evened out and she shifted comfortably on her feet. 

        “Probably not, but she wanted to run. I offered her the ability if she had the will.” She said calmly. The two wizards looked at each other. They had come to an understanding if not a friendship.

        “Are you going to be staying?” Harry asked after a moment.

        “Where?” She asked tucking back her hair. Harry noticed there were small slivers of color wove through the darkness. 

         “Here.”

         “Here in this field?”

         “Here…with Eb.”

    Nahum smiled. 

         “Don’t worry. My master called and told Eb he’d be picking me up in a couple days.” She said, “You’ll have yours back to yourself soon.”

    Harry frowned as she said master. He didn’t like that word…not anymore. 

        “It’s not…that’s not…” he said. She chuckled and held up a hand to stop him.

        “It’s ok.” She said, her smile kind. “I get it.”

    Harry looked at her suspiciously. 

         “You’re not the only one with a sword hanging over them and a debt you can never repay.” She said simply. Harry’s eyes widened in realization.

        “You!” He said as she burst out laughing, her eyes sparkling and merry.

        “Me.” She said, still smiling.

        “You were at my trial!” 

        “Yes.”

        “Why…”

        “I was…instructed to let you figure it out.” She said carefully as clouds rolled over the sun. Her markings shifted slightly as the shade moved over her body. Her eyes began to glow faintly and Harry could feel a tension in the air. He gathered his will as her eyes flicked to something behind him. 

        “Hold, children, let’s not make a mess of these fine mothers.” A voice said behind him causing his blood to run cold and his stomach to drop to the ground. 

        “Hello, Godmother.” He said automatically. 

        “Godson, it is good to see you hale and healthy.” the Leanansidhe said, her pale hand reaching out to stroke Buffy’s neck. The horse shied away. Lea laughed, a tinkling sound, as Harry regained control.

        “Lea.” Nahum said. She’d gone completely still, a terrifying stillness that belied violence and death. Astor shifted but Nahum had a strong hold on the horse. Her eyes continued to glow softly as the clouds continued to roil overhead. The Leanansidhe smiled at the teen and inclined her head marginally. 

        “I have a message.” She said brightly. “For the One Who Aspires.”

    Astor shifted looking ready to run, her eyes rolling slightly in fear.

        “Calm, mother.” Nahum said, running her hand along the mare’s neck. Her eyes faded back but kept a steely glare. She nodded.

        “They wish to meet you.” The faerie said simply.

        “I have not completed my task.” She replied, her eyes narrowing in confusion.

        “Regardless, they wish a meeting.” 

    Nahum looked at Harry, then back at Lea. 

        “When?” 

        “The next full moon.”

        “I will tell my master.” 

    Lea bowed her head and turned to Harry.

        “Godson.” she said.

        “Godmother.” He replied, bowing his head to her. She smiled, pleased, before walking into the trees and fading from view. 

    The clouds shifted allowing the sun to beam down once more. Harry released a breath he hadn’t realized he held and ran his hand along Buffy’s neck. He looked up to see Nahum looking worried. She quickly shifted her expression as she saw him looking at her.

         “What was that?” he asked.

        “Nothing.” She said, pulling Astor around. “Let’s head back.”

    It was sundown by the time they made it back. They’d walked the horses most of the way, silently, as Nahum continued to try and conceal her worried look. They took care of the mare’s together, rubbing them down and feeding them. They headed up to the house and went through the kitchen door.

        “HARRY!” a little voice shrieked. Suddenly a small body pelted him around the middle.

        “Hi, Mary Sue.” He said, swinging her up into his arms for a hug. Nahum drifted over to Eb and spoke in a sotto voice. He nodded and she disappeared. Dot and Henry were at the table arguing with Heck over a game of cards. Daisy was at the stove stirring something that smelled wonderful as Eb sat talking to her. Mary Sue jabbered into his ear and he held her close in a bear hug as he joined the table. Nahum returned just as Daisy declared dinner ready. 

    They all ate and talked and laughed. Mary Sue fell asleep on Harry’s lap as they finished another round of cards after dinner and the phone rang. Eb picked it up and handed it to Daisy, who looked concerned for a moment before hanging up. 

        “I have to go to the Robinsons. One of their cows is down and isn’t getting up.” She said, Eb nodded. 

        “Mary Sue can spend the night. We’ll take care of her.” He said as Harry tossed his cards down triumphantly to moans of disappointment from the others. Harry picked up the deck and shuffled as Daisy leaned down to give Mary Sue a kiss on the top of her head. She turned her head and gave Harry one too before telling them all to go to bed soon. She kissed Dot as well and left them for work. 

    They played another couple rounds, Nahum dropped out first taking the little sleeping girl with her, then Heck, then Dot and Henry both disappeared together. Finally it was just Harry and Eb with a final hand of poker. 

        "Have a good summer?" Eb asked as he called. 

        "I've had worse." Harry replied, matching him.

        "I've enrolled you in the local highschool for the autumn…if you want to go." Eb said, looking over his cards. Harry thought for a minute.

        "Do Henry and Dot go?"

        "I made sure you'd be in at least one class with each of them." 

        "I think I'd like to try." Harry said as Eb raised. 

        "Good." The old man grunted. 

        "What about Nahum? Is she…"

        "Don't worry about her. She's more than capable of keeping herself in and out of trouble." 

    Harry looked at Eb and set his jaw. The old man smiled as he looked at his cards.

         "She'll be fine. She's got good people watching out for her now. Just like you."

    Harry opened his mouth then closed it and folded his cards. Eb smiled and revealed a two, two threes, a six, and a 7. All offsuit. Harry looked outraged. 

        "I had three eights." 

    Eb laughed. 

    Harry headed up to the barn with his head down and his hands in his pockets. He walked straight up to his room and opened the door.

         "Is it ready?" He asked the skull. Bright orange pinpoints glowed in the eye sockets as Bob woke up.

         "Yeah, yeah, it's ready. It's been ready for a few hours. You've been gone for ages ." The skull complained. "It's the last recipe that might work. Can I please have the night off?" 

        "Yeah…yeah sure go on." Harry said as he picked up the water bottle of potion and waved his hand dismissively. 

         "YIPPEE!" the skull crowed. “Teen love, here I come!” 

         “What…”

          “Henry and Dot are…”

        “You know what nevermind.” Harry interrupted as orange energy swirled out of the skull and gathered by the ceiling.

        "Be back by sunrise or if there's an emergency." He said as the spirit swirled toward the open window. 

        "Awwwwww…" the spirit said, disappointed.

        "Bob." Harry said warningly.

        "Ok ok back by sunrise." 

        "Or an…Hell’s Bells." Harry grumbled after the spirit as it disappeared out the window. He shook his head and looked at the potion. It glowed a faint lavender color and smelled like an armpit. 

          "Well…here's hoping." He said and downed the bottle in one. He gagged and spluttered. It tasted disgusting . Like a garbage truck and a porta potty had a kid and then dragged it through stagnant water. He grabbed another water bottle and drank half of it and swished his mouth with the rest. 

    Then he went to bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow he began to feel heavy and sleepy. He rolled over and nothingness enveloped him.

    Elaine was screaming. Loud and piercing, her face tore itself apart as the sound ripped into Harry. He couldn’t move, couldn’t look away, couldn’t do anything. 

        “Harry! Help me!” She screeched as skin began tearing away from her naked body. Her scream became something inhuman as her body fell apart into nothingness.

        “Elaine! ELAINE!” Harry screamed trying to move. Suddenly there was a cruel laugh behind him. 

        “So weak…so vulnerable...” A deep voice laughed. Harry froze, his fear rising in a cold wave. 

        “Child of the Stars, I will come for you, make no mistake.” It’s voice rippling in his ear. 

        “I killed you once, I can do it again.” Harry gasped through his fear. The voice laughed wholeheartedly. 

         “That’s precious, little one. Hmm… little one, there’s someone else here...” 

    Mary Sue appeared in front of him. Harry began desperately trying to move to her. The voice behind him laughed cruelly. 

        “Harry? Where am I?” She asked in a small voice. Her arms were pulled upwards as her legs were ripped down. She squeaked in pain. 

        “Harry?” She asked again, her voice warbled as tears of pain and fear began to trace slowly down her face. Harry struggled and strained as hard as he could but still couldn’t move.

        “You don’t know.” The voice breathed. “How wonderful. Shall I show you her future?”

    The little girl suddenly was replaced with a young woman, pale, alluring, and beautiful. She giggled as blood dripped down her raised arms. She turned her head to lick the dark red liquid like it was candy. She screamed as her body contorted and shed its skin. Her limbs extended as her face erupted into a bat-like creature. She screamed again in hunger. Lashing her body around as she tried to get to Harry. 

        “Mary Sue! No!” He screamed as the voice laughed and laughed. He summoned everything in him, every scrap of pain and frustration, every single tear.

        “FUEGO!” He screamed out as the dream collapsed.   

    He awoke to the sound of horses screaming. Smoke blinded him, stinging his eyes as he opened them. He rolled out of bed to intense heat all around him. For one moment he thought he'd skipped death and just gone straight to hell. Then he heard voices somewhere below, yelling instructions, and desperately trying to calm the frightened animals. There was a crash and he heard a stampede of moo’s as the cows ran out of the barn. 

        "HARRY COME ON!" Henry yelled from the door as the teen rushed in with a blanket over his head. Harry's feet began moving before his brain caught up and he sprinted out of his room. Henry yelled something after him that Harry couldn't hear as he saw the entire hayloft in flames. 

    Henry pushed him down the ladder, shouting to someone as he did. Harry heard screaming from one of the bigger stalls and saw Dot trying to move a large beam from in front of it. 

         "Dot GO!" Henry yelled, shoving her away.

         "Buffy's in there with the twins!" She screamed pushing at the beam with all her might. It wouldn't move, even when Harry and Henry joined her. 

         "GET OUT OF HERE!" Nahum suddenly yelled, tearing them all away from the beam. 

         "Buffy's in there!" Henry yelled. Nahum shoved him away and held out her hand. Harry felt the air cool for a second as she gathered her will. Her eyes shone with an inner white light before the beam tore itself apart and away from the door. Dot shrieked as a piece of wood clipped her in the eye and went down. Henry went to her but she got back up and ran after Harry and Nahum. 

    Inside the stall Buffy was standing over her two foals and shrieking loudly. 

        "We're here!" Nahum yelled, coughing. Buffy went quiet and began nudging and shoving her babies to their feet. Dot grabbed the black one and began pulling her towards the door. The filly hesitated as she saw flames but Buffy nipped her butt and she went out the door. 

     Henry put a wet cloth over the foal's head and sent the pair to the open barn door. Nahum grabbed the red one and pulled. Buffy nudged and shoved the little one bodily out the stall door with Harry hanging on to her bridle. Henry put another cloth over the red one's head but when he tried to get the cloth over Buffy's head she shook it violently. 

    They all headed to the barn door when the large mare stopped in front of another closed stall and whinnied. Henry opened the door and Astor and her colt bolted out into the night. Henty followed, Harry dragging the mare as the smoke began to get to him.

    She stopped once more at a broken down stall and Harry looked in. Through the smoke,  Rowan's filly was laying down as though asleep. Harry slapped buffy hind and she sprinted out the door as he rushed into the stall.

    The heat was intense and the smoke was choking as he bent down to try and pull the baby up. It wouldn't move. He pulled and pulled, dragging the foal to the door when Eb suddenly showed up. 

        "Harry, get out of here!' he yelled, grabbing the teen. 

        "But the foal!" He screamed back.

        "It's dead! Come on!" 

    Eb lifted the teen in a bear hug and threw him towards the stall door. He made to follow but Harry tried to get past him back to the foal. They struggled for a minute, smoke choking them, when suddenly the temperature began dropping. They both turned to see Nahum striding past the doorway. Her hands were extended, her thin scars lighting up with white, her eyes bright white flames. 

        "Go!" She said her voice rough as she pulled in more and more heat. Eb and Harry both grabbed the foal’s body and dragged it out of the barn. Eb dropped it just outside and grabbed Harry. 

          "RUN!" he yelled, waving his arms at the others. Dot picked up Mary Sue and sprinted off Henry close behind her. Buffy began trotting behind Eb and Harry. There was a sudden inhuman wail from the barn. Harry's heart filled with dread and dropped into his stomach. Eb tackled Harry to the ground. Buffy skidded to a halt to stand over them and lowered her head to the ground.

        "GET DOWN AND COVER YOUR EYES!" he screamed out. Harry grabbed Buffy's head and pressed his hands to her eyes as Eb grabbed his head.

    There was a flash of light so powerful Harry saw Eb's finger bones and Buffy's skeleton. Then there was darkness and a long scream. 

         "Harry….look." Eb said quietly, removing his hands from his eyes. Harry blinked a couple times to clear the color from his eyes before he realized the color was the air. There was an enormous aurora circling the barn lazily. After a moment the air cleared and it was a summer night once again. 

    Buffy suddenly shook Harry off and galloped off into the night. The barn was glowing still, not flaming but definitely still burning, as they all headed back. They came up on Nahum just outside of the barn. She was naked and lying so still next to the foal’s body that Harry thought she was dead as well. 

    Henry walked up to her and shook her shoulder. She moaned and tried to push herself up. Eb hurried over and helped her sit as Henry took off his shirt and helped her pull it on. It was then that Harry realized Henry was only wearing boxer shorts. He looked over to Dot, who was carrying Mary Sue, and she was only wearing a t-shirt. 

    Nahum set a skull on the ground in front of her, then curled up into a ball until only her arms, with nasty burns all over them, showed. Henry sat next to her, then Harry, then Dot.  

        “Mary Sue, come here.” Eb said. The little girl dashed from Dot’s side to Eb’s. He picked her up and narrowed his eyes at the teens. They went back and forth as Eb asked questions until the sheriff showed up with Daisy. 

        “What happened?” she asked, taking Mary Sue from Eb and holding her tightly. Eb explained while the teens sat looking miserable. The sheriff sighed and went to call it in.

          “Dot come here.” she said when Eb finished. Henry went with her and they began to quietly talk. A fire engine pulled up a few minutes later with five firefighters. They hustled out and stood looking at the dying barn fire. Eb went to talk to them, leaving Nahum and Harry sitting next to each other. 

           “You ok?” Harry asked her. She groaned in response. Bob looked at her carefully. 

           “She’ll live.” The skull declared. She groaned again. Harry just shook his head and Bob disappeared. Nahum raised her head tiredly. She had no glamor but looked tired to the bone as she turned to leggy gray colt’s body. She sighed and nestled her forehead to his. 

    Harry watched as Dot and Daisy began an argument he couldn’t hear as Henry looked uncomfortable. The sheriff said something to him that made him look relieved. They headed to the sheriff’s car and got in, Henry in the passenger seat, and headed out. Dot stormed off to her mother’s car and Daisy went up to Eb, after a moment she went to the car and left as well. 

        “We have work to do.” She said to Harry. He stood and helped her to her feet. She wobbled a little but managed to walk with him to a clear space near the barn. She knelt on the ground and began digging with her bare hands. Harry went into the ember barn and found a shovel that remained intact. 

     He went back and began shoveling the dirt into a mound. A few minutes later Eb found them digging.

        “Hold on you two.” He said, motioning them away. Harry dropped the shovel and helped Nahum move. Eb stood, his palms facing downwards, his face concentrating. Harry felt a slow building of power, more and more, until Eb said a word and flipped his palms up. A section of earth raised up in a perfectly shaped hole and settled down in a mound nearby. Harry went to the colt and found Nahum kneeling next to it. She had a hand on its head and was mouthing words over it. He stooped and strained trying to lift and pull the body on his own. 

    Eb joined him and together they set it in the ground. Harry began shoveling the dirt over the animal until it was completely covered. He was covered in sweat and breathing hard. Nahum began to sing in a language Harry couldn’t recognize and he sank to his knees as the reality hit him. 

    He burned the barn down in his sleep. He killed a three month old colt. He almost killed his friends. There was no one else to blame but himself. Nahum turned to look at him and her face filled with concern.

          “Harry? Harry? Eb! Eb, help!” She said quickly. Eb came over and crouched down to Harry’s eye level. 

        "Eb…Eb I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…I didn't know…" Harry stuttered. There was a fear, a terror that started in his stomach and reached up to his heart and head and squeezed. His heart was pounding and he couldn't catch his breath. Nahum reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. Eb did the same. 

        "Harry…breathe…it's ok…it…" Nahum said calmly and quietly. Harry began to shake. 

        "Accidents happen, Hoss, everyone's safe and no one got hurt. That's the main thing." Eb said, rubbing Harry's shoulder. Harry still couldn't catch his breath and tears formed in his eyes. 

        “Are you…going to kill me?” He asked, his voice trembling out. Nahum’s hand tightened on his shoulder.  

        "Harry." Eb said, gentle command in his voice. "Look at me."

    Harry dragged his eyes from the dirt and looked into Eb's calm ones. 

        "I'm not going to hurt you for an accident. If I got my nose out of joint everytime an apprentice burned a building down I wouldn't have a nose." He said slowly and clearly. 

    Harry felt a small release of the fear and exhaled a small laugh. He took a deep breath and the tears disappeared. The fear slowly released until finally he was sitting there calmly. 

        "We'll get the animals in a minute. Right now, Nahum, he's coming." Eb said to the girl. She sighed and laughed quietly. 

        "All this power…still so vulnerable. Are you going to be ok?" She asked both of them. Eb nodded, Harry did too after another breath. He looked at her. The burns on her arms and torso were nasty but not as bad as he'd first thought. 

        "Blisters. Second degree burns, I'll live." She said giving him a hard hug before standing. 

     A ripple appeared in the air, a flicker in the shadows before revealing a figure crossing the distance quickly. It was tall and robed with a purple stole and a deep hood obscuring its face. 

          "Nahum." The robed figure said in a deep amused voice.

        "Master." She said, giving him as deep a bow as she could manage in her shirt.

        "Getting into trouble like always?" He said with a raised eyebrow.

        "You know me. Can't leave anything alone if it bothers me." She replied. The figure turned to Eb and bowed. 

         "Thank you for taking care of my apprentice while I dealt with a situation, McCoy. I'm sure this summer was enlightening for her." He said. Eb grunted.

          "I believe it was enlightening for us all, Rashid." Eb said with a gesture to the glowing barn. "Take care and try not to hurt yourself, Nahum."

         "No promises, Eb, and thank you. Harry, it was wonderful to meet you again." She said with a bow to each of them before she followed Rashid through the ripple in the air into the Never Never.

        "Again?" Harry said to Eb, who frowned at him. 

        "Don't think you're getting off scot free for this, Hoss. We have to go get the animals now. The cows might not've gotten far but you're going after the horses and Astor likes to run." Eb said. Harry groaned. 

Chapter Text

Epilogue:

Present Day

        “And that’s how I met your great-grandpa and burned his barn down my first summer with him.” Harry said as Maggie looked at him with shining eyes. Mouse was laying on the bed equally enraptured by his story. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled as a rainstorm raged outside.

        “Now, bed, sleep.” He said giving her a kiss on the cheek and forehead. Mouse licked his hand as he ruffled his ears.

        “Wait! What happened to Nahum? Did you rebuild the barn? What about Dot and Henry? Mary Sue? And poor Rowan's baby! And who’s Rashid?” Maggie asked, bouncing to her knees on the bed. Harry smiled as he waited by the door to turn off the light.

        “Bed, sleep.” He repeated nodding to her pillow. She pouted but climbed back under the covers and immediately collapsed in only the way a ten year can. Harry turned off the light and was about to close the door when he saw a faint glow coming from the box on her bedside table. He walked over and looked at it. It was black glass with silver catchings and glowed with the northern lights. 

        “Maggie,” He asked, flicking on the lamp. “What’s this?” 

        “Madrina gave it to me for Christmas two years ago. Mr. Carpenter brought it over with the rest of my stuff.” She said sleepily. Harry reached for it and felt an icy shock tingle his fingers. 

        “Careful, if I lock it freezes over.” She said reaching up and turning the key. The box opened with a haunting but comforting melody. Inside was a necklace with a jewel that sparkled with its own inner light, the ring Mab gave her for this past Christmas, and a book singed on the edges. It was the Hobbit. There was a card sitting underneath everything. Maggie picked it up and handed it to him. 

    He read it over and handed it back. His face was quietly concerned. 

        “Keep that safe, punkin.” He said as she closed and locked the box. Harry gave her another kiss in her hair and tucked her in before turning off the light and heading out. Mouse stood up and followed as he closed the door behind him. They walked through the castle, a freaking castle he had a freaking castle now, as Harry checked on the progress of a few projects on his way to the front doors. 

        “Did you know about that?” He asked the dog who gave him a big doggy grin. Harry threw him a mildly annoyed look. They were almost to the door when there was a loud crash that shook the dust from the front wall followed by an urgent banging. 

        “Harry! Harry are you there?!” Molly screamed. There were a few thumps and Harry leapt forward, his staff next to the door he pulled open as he grabbed it. Molly was standing on the doorstep in the rain. Her face paper white, eyes too large and dark as she supported a severely bleeding Bekah. 

        “Let us in.” She said moving inside. Harry moved out of the way. 

        “Wait.” Bekah gasped and Molly stopped moving. Blood dripped down Bekah’s arms and soaked the front of her gray blouse and fell down her long skirt which was torn up one side. She leaned heavily on Molly, her leg obviously hurt, maybe even broken. As the blood dripped onto the stone steps little flares of light appeared and a strong smell of burning filled the air.

        “Winter Knight, I request sanctuary.” She said her voice coming in gasps. Harry felt the mantle stir within him and he readied to tramp down its rage. He looked at her and expected contempt for the weakness she showed. A need for blood. Cruelty. Instead he found himself fighting an overwhelming urge to drag her inside and go out to face whatever had hurt her.He gasped with the strength of the mantles' sudden protectiveness.

    Suddenly Lea appeared, a bruise all along the side of her face, her eyes flashing with anger. Her hand was extended outward as she held off what was out in the darkness. 

        “What is going on? Take her in, my lady.” Lea said grunting with the effort. Molly made a noise. Lea looked at Bekah. 

        “What are you doing? Go in, now!” She snapped. Bekah stood and shoved Molly through the door while grabbing Lea and tossing her into Harry. A huge spike drove itself through her back and out her front. She soundlessly screamed as a staff of pure light appeared in her hand. She whipped it back and a beam of light and fire struck whatever was attacking her. The spike burned away to nothing as the thing screamed in an unholy screech. 

    Bekah fell, more blood dribbling down her front, to her knees. Harry untangled himself from the various limbs and reached to drag her inside. 

        “Say it!” She said shoving his hand away from her using raw power. It was like being hit with a sledgehammer. His hand went numb, he waited for the mantle to cover the pain, to get angry. The icy winter cover made his hand tingle but instead of anger he felt an intense exasperation. 

        “Guardian, I grant thee sanctuary for as long as thou needs it and even longer if thou allows.” Harry found the mantle saying through him. He wrapped his hand around her wrist and dragged her inside. Molly slammed the door shut and sat with her back to it as she began shivering. Lea went immediately to Bekah’s side, running her hands over the gruesome injuries. 

        “Damn…” She cursed.

        “I can’t feel my legs.” Bekah said as she breathed wetly in short gasps. Lea brushed her hair back from her eyes and looked at her. 

        “This is going to hurt.” She said gently. “My Lady? Knight?”

    Molly came over and sat at Bekah’s feet and held her legs. Harry moved without thinking to her head and held her shoulders. The mantle was whispering to him to be careful. He shook his head and decided to be confused about that later, Bekah needed help. 

    Lea rubbed her hands together then extended them over the bloody mess of the woman's torso. Bekah started shaking and licked her lips. She looked, not at Harry but at something beyond him, her completely white eyes searching. Harry saw faint scars, faded but there, on the edges of her eyes. He saw small pinpricks on her eyelids. He suddenly had the distinct impression she was staring into his eyes. The winter mantle growled through him and nodded.

        “Do it,” She said suddenly clear. Lea slammed her hands down over her body throwing her full weight and power into Bekah’s body. 

    She screamed and screamed and screamed. She screamed so long Harry knew she couldn’t possibly have more breath left. He held her shoulders as they tried to raise and slam back and forth. Molly held her legs like steel rods nailed to the floor. And still she screamed. 

    The cuts and lacerations wiggled closed, the blood soaking back into her body. The hole in her torso closed leaving a puckered scar. There was a sudden clicking noise and her back bowed upwards cutting her voice off. Her face twisted into a terrifying parody of an orgasm making Harry close his eyes feeling sick to his stomach. Lea shoved her back onto the floor, hard, with another sickening crack…and she was still. Harry opened his eyes to see her eyes glazed over with pain. Sweat beaded her forehead, but she breathed and the winter mantle growled in satisfaction. She would live.

    Harry turned to Lea, whose face was set in determination, and nodded. Lea looked at him and nodded back. The mantle purred. Harry shoved it back into its box. Molly sat back as Lea tapped Bekah’s face.

        “Sweetie, can you move your toes?” she asked as Molly took off her shoes. Bekah muttered something and wiggled her toes. Harry almost yelled in happiness as the mantle whooped inside his chest. 

        “Dad?” Maggie’s voice said from the foyer. She was standing there in her sushi pj’s and Sailor Moon slippers staring with wide eyes as Mouse tried to push her back to her room. 

        “Punkin? What’re you…” Harry started. Molly pushed Mouse out of the way and walked over to kneel next to him. 

        “Madrina? Madrina Nahum, estás bien?” She asked in a small voice. Reaching out a small hand to stroke Bekah’s forehead. 

        “Mija.” She whispered and fought to smile. She managed a grimace of pain. She reached a hand weakly to run her fingers through the little girl’s hair. 

        “Mija, vuelve ala cama. Estaré bien, no te preocupes. Tu padre me está ayudando.” Bekah said cupping Maggie 's face with her hand, stroking her cheek with her thumb. The little girl nodded and stood. The top of her head just barely reached Harry’s eye level. 

        “Are you going to help her, Dad?” She demanded. Harry raised his eyebrows at her tone. 

        “I’ll do what I can.” he said, Maggie narrowed her eyes at her father. 

        “No. Madrina is special to me. Do better.” she said, causing Molly and Lea to snort. Harry’s eyebrows threatened to disappear into his hairline as the little girl hustled off with Mouse at her side. 

        "So much power….still so vulnerable." Bekah said watching the little girl go with happy eyes. Harry’s look at the injured woman said they were going to talk later.

        “Did you just see that?” Harry said, turning to Lea. Lea looked at him and raised an eyebrow. 

        “You’re surprised your progeny acts like you?” She said as Molly started giggling helplessly. Lea chuckled and even Harry snorted after a minute. Bekah tried to join but her laugh turned into a moan of pain. Lea went back to work as Molly headed off to find some water and rags. Harry sighed. 

    Things just got very complicated.