Kara wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and pushed him onto the ground, kissing him passionately. The blonde had waited for this for a very long time and he returned her kiss with equal passion. The young wizard tightened his arms around her and as he did so he increased the force of the kiss to the point that Kara thought her lips would bruise due to its blistering intensity. The two of them rocked on the ground, as Harry rolled them so he was on top of her, his hands placed on either side of her face and a smile crossed his face.
"Hi Kara," Harry stated as he stroked her cheek lovingly, taking in her features with hungry eyes.
"Hi Harry," Kara responded as he bent down and planted kisses on the side of her neck, before sucking lightly on it. The blonde stroked her fingers through Harry's hair, as he placed a hand down on the flat and sexy flesh on her stomach, causing her to shut her eyes with a short and labored sigh, as the blonde locked her legs around his waist.
She grabbed his shirt and tore it open to reveal his chiseled chest and abs. The blonde smiled and allowed herself to explore Harry's muscles with her hands. It was art, that much was for sure, she ran her hands downwards across his neck and back, continuing the kiss the whole while. It deepened for a few minutes, their tongues roaming through each others mouths before Kara broke it.
A smile broke across her face as she watched him.
"I'm ready for you," Kara breathed, feeling the heat that was rising between her legs and Harry pulled up the front of her top to reveal her bare breasts. The cool air of the cave rolled out over her nipples causing them to become erect.
She never wanted anything more in her life than what Harry was about to give her and she closed her eyes, allowing herself to indulged in the pleasure.
Kara had the itch she had scratched, at least for now. At least for a little bit, now she draped her head over Harry's chest as the two rested in the cavern. They would keep Kara's ship along with Faora's nice and secure. All of the Kryptonian technology would be useful for them but that would only scratch the iceberg of what they were capable of.
"That was nice, you're amazing Harry," Kara commented as she snuggled into his chest and he wrapped a strong arm around her waist to pull the blonde in closer to him.
They must have went at it for hours, maybe even all night long and most of the morning, Harry did not really keep track. Kara kept coming back for more and Faora got some of her own as well. He wrapped his arms around her and cradled the blonde lovingly as she rested against him.
"I'm glad we shared this Kara," Harry stated as he ran his hands through her blonde hair, as the two of them snuggled into each other. Their bodies relaxing even further as they did so. "I feel like our meetings in the dream scape, well they were nice but they really didn't cover all that we can do, did they?"
"We can do a lot but not so much until Faora gets the training simulator set up," Kara informed him as he ran his fingers through her golden locks. The blonde's face contorted into a frown. "Which is taking a bit longer than she said it would oddly enough."
Harry smiled as he held her close to him and the blonde relaxed even further against his broad chest. She fit so snugly into his arms, like a part of him that had been missing his entire life, her and Faora both. The green eyed sorcerer smiled as he thought about all that he had been up to with her so far and all that would be up to with her in the future.
"Now, Kara, perfection cannot be rushed," Harry responded but the blonde smiled.
"If you only knew how much of a perfectionist your sister was, that statement would not be as flippant," Kara responded with a smile as she leaned forward. "So what happened at the Dursleys? Did they give you any trouble?"
"Vernon ran his mouth about me," Harry informed her and Kara let out her breath in a low whistle.
"I bet Faora didn't like that much," Kara said as her eyes flickered as the scenarios ran through her mind and there was a moment where Harry's face contorted into a smile.
"Not at all, not at all," Harry answered as her ears perked up at him and he smiled. "The fat lump actually thought he was going to get in her face and try to be intimidating. I saw him, he was about to take a swing."
"I assume that he didn't attack her or worse yet, you," Kara remarked, closing her eyes as she thought about what might happen to anyone who hurt Harry or say a few cross words about him in earshot of Faora. That would be the last thing they did as long as they lived.
Then again, Kara refused to let anyone say anything bad about Harry either, especially after all he went through. He sacrificed things that many would take for granted but he came off far stronger for it. And now he was here with two of the women who loved him beyond all measure, the sky was the limit for him.
"She hauled crystals all the way from Krypton to be part of the simulation," Kara told Harry and he looked towards her. "Including all that information that we brought from the Kandorian Academy of Sorcery…so please let it survive the trip."
"Spent a lot of time copying it?" Harry asked and Kara sighed, that was the understatement to end all understatements.
"Almost six months but we got it done," Kara informed him as she threw up her hands. "And there was a lot of information in that library. Magic lost with the destruction of Krypton, so the three of us will be the only people who will know it."
Kara remembered the one thing that her teacher drilled into her head.
"But remember, the true power doesn't lie in here," Kara stated as she held Harry's arms. "But in here."
Kara tapped on Harry's head in a significant manner.
"Magic is one the tools I have, not the only tool," Harry added as he was reminded of something that Andromeda said.
The only thing between defeat and victory with a witch and a wizard often was their wand. And as Harry remembered, he did not want a flimsy piece of wood between his victory and his defeat. He perfected every charm he did without his wand, and only held the blasted thing to keep up appearances in that world. He would be keeping that wand as a souvenir as his time of that world when he left it behind and never turned back.
"So you still use wands?" Kara asked, amusement present in her voice as she asked this question.
"You find that funny, don't you?" Harry asked as the two of them leaned next to each other.
Kara grinned before she threw her head back. "Hilarious, given the fact that Kryptonian mages outgrew wands even millions of years before magic became the taboo and nasty word, and the planet was governed by science."
Kara thought of something that she heard in history one of the few times she paid attention.
"There was a group of mages that was exiled from the planet hundreds of years ago," Kara remarked with a thought. "And you just wonder…you just really wonder where they ended up. Because Kryptonians and humans look pretty similar when you really think about it."
It was one of those things that could make a person think and Harry thought about it.
"I wonder if we were colonized by Krypton a long time before that," Harry responded but Kara shrugged her shoulders and looked thoughtful.
"It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility, by primitive Kryptonians, from what might be considered for all intents and purposes prehistoric Krypton," Kara commented with a slight shrug, before she shook her head and smiled. "The problem with our history is that a lot of it has been destroyed. Kandor was destroyed at least six or seven times in our known history."
Kara was pretty sure that it burned on her way out as well. Krypton, for its so called advanced society, was prone to a lot of destruction over the years leading up to the end.
"Stone age Kryptonian technology outstrips the most advanced on Earth, doesn't it?" Harry asked and Kara nodded her head, looking all excited before she spoke.
"Yes and that's the problem with trying to use it, we salvaged some of it on our ships and there is the knowledge of sorcery. What we couldn't get, we're going to have to find a way to rebuild it with Earth parts."
"That might be a problem," Harry commented to the blonde and she nodded her head with an eager smile on her face.
"It's difficult but doable, I suppose," Kara admitted as she closed her eyes and offered a poignant sigh. "I know enough about it and naturally Faora has her own plans that I'm sure she'll discuss with you in due time."
Harry smiled, ever since he had the hints that he had more powers beyond what he was told about, there was something that stirred within him and got him rather excited. The two sat next to each other for a little bit, enjoying each others company as they wondered what happened to Faora.
Sure enough, Faora poked her head into the area where they were resting.
"Well this worked out a lot better in theory than it did in practice," Faora told them as she wiped her forehead. Technically with her powers, she could not sweat unless Har-Zod made her do so with his activities but she was feeling an ample amount of frustration never the less. She set her hands on her hips and stood up straight, offering a nice little sigh. "The good news is that the crystal array that I set up will work. The bad news is that it will take about seventy two hours to configure properly the way that I want it to configure."
"Better to be safe than sorry," Harry commented and Faora nodded before she turned around.
"Your training, we have plenty of time, once it's configured, we can cover a lot of ground thanks to the time dilation properties of the program," Faora informed him and Harry smiled towards her. "Naturally the General….he had his own ideas about how your training should go. And likely they involved making you his mini-me."
"I take it those plans have changed," Harry remarked and Faora smiled.
"You better believe they have changed. His little AI crystal is floating somewhere in the debris of Krypton in the far reaches of space. He would have re-programmed you into his own image."
"Well thankfully it's been destroyed," Harry said in a sigh of relief as Faora and Kara both nodded in agreement. "I don't fancy having to tell other men to kneel before me. That sounds like a Malfoy thing to do."
"Indeed," Faora stated briskly, pleased at that statement. It showed that her brother had his priorities on straight. "But you need not worry about having to deal with our father's…quirks for lack of a better word. I have created my own training plan, independently. I hope that it will be to your satisfaction."
Kara slid off of Harry so he could get up and face Faora. He walked towards her and wrapped a pair of strong arms around her, before pulling her into a slight kiss.
He broke it after a moment and favored her with a smile. "Given that you've created it, I know that it will be to my satisfaction."
Faora nodded, it was all about making sure her brother had the tools to be the greatest that he could be. She did not lack the confidence that stated that he would be better than the rest, so there was no need to worry about it. Since she would play no small part in his rise, with the influence of the Bitch and the General being disconnected, they could create a brand new generation of the House of Zod that was far better than all previous ones combined.
The three of them would make great strides.
"Harry, would you like to come with me somewhere?" Kara asked, not wanting to go out alone. While she knew some things about Earth and its customs, she did not want to get herself in trouble by making a mistake.
"Where is it?" Harry responded, curiosity getting the better of him.
The blonde's face crossed into an extremely bright smile. "My cousin, Kal-El, he was sent to Earth, and he was supposed to be sent to a Jonathan and Martha Kent. I wish to make sure that he made it there safely."
"Ah the Kent Farm," Harry commented as he remembered it from his flight over here with Faora. "It's just as well, as there's a place up the street that I apparently own that I'd like to check out. Apparently one of my relatives is living there, my great-grandfather bought the house and gifted it to a squib line of the Potter family."
"Let's not wait then," Kara said in an excited tone grabbing Harry around the hand.
"Let's not," Harry commented as they flew off.
Faora smiled, this was just as well, she had other things to set up in the cavern and it would be best if she was alone to do so. Plus it would give Harry and Kara some time to bond with each other outside of the dreamscape. The dark haired Kryptonian got to work on the crystal array to get it completely ready.
It didn't seem to be this hard in her head. It was almost like something was interfering with it.
Martha Kent sat down on the couch, she was on tap to have a quiet night for herself. Her son and husband were out on a fishing trip, and would be gone on for the next few days. The crops were doing rather decently this year, although they were not blown away. As always on the farm, there were more than a few challenges that they had to overcome. The woman inclined her head forward and thought, there were times where she worried that the bank would foreclose and Jonathan had a fun time trying to get another loan.
There was a knock on the door and one could not blame Martha for being a bit jumpy. She managed to adjust her face into a stoic expression even though one day she feared that people would come to take everything that they owned away and worse of all, they would take away their son. If they ever found out the nature of their adoption, well the red-haired woman shuddered to think about what could transpire. She was in her thirties at this point but hard farm work and good genetics allowed her not to age past someone in their mid to late twenties.
"Just a second," Martha stated in a calm voice as she walked over towards the door. There were a few seconds in between her walking over and her opening the door that she took a deep breath in and let a deep breath out. She reached forward and turned the knob around.
First on the doorstep, she saw a young man dressed in a white dress shirt and pants, along with shoes. He had slightly unruly hair and Martha stopped, staring at him, for a moment, as she was caught in those green eyes that gave a sense of bewitching power. She knew those green eyes rather well and she allowed herself a second, before she did the math in her head.
It added up well, as it hit her nearly over the head.
"Harry?"
Harry was taken aback by this declaration of his name and he watched her.
"Have we met?" Harry asked as he raised an eyebrow and watched the woman who stepped back. He got a good look at her, with the frame hair that framed her freckled face. She looked rather attractive, almost like she was in her mid to late twenties or so, although Harry knew for a fact that she'd be slightly older. Her bust was wrapped around a green sweater that went down to a pair of pants that tightened around her backside like a second skin.
Of all of the people who she expected to come to her door, Lily's son was nowhere near the top of the list. And it was then when she saw the second person at the door, a blonde with bright blue eyes, who wore a black tank top that showed a modest amount of cleavage and rode up to show her belly button. It was a shirt that was designed for someone much shorter than she was. Then there was the pair of jean shorts that wrapped snugly around her hips and a pair of sandals showing the top of her feet.
"Not in person no, but I've….I've seen pictures from when you were an infant," Martha responded as she watched Harry but she coughed as she tried to regain her bearings. "Lily sent them to me."
Harry opened his mouth for the question but Martha looked rather sheepish.
"I guess I better explain," Martha inputted as she stepped back so she could properly invite the two inside.
"Well since you know me, this is Kara, and she has an extremely important manner to discuss with you as well," Harry commented but Kara popped in with a smile on her face.
"It can wait, though," she interjected, folding her arms and nodding her head towards Martha.
Martha got them some juice and sandwiches that she had prepared and the three of them sat down on the couch.
"It must have been….yesterday that Lily was here, she visited Smallville for what would be the last time," Martha responded as she closed her eyes. "It was a nice conversation, the two of us were cousins, but in some ways were as close as sisters."
'Closer than Lily and Petunia ever were,' Martha thought as she closed her eyes in pained remembrance. She knew that if she had nothing nice to say, then do not say it all, and there was nothing nice that she could say about Petunia Dursley.
"So that makes us cousins too," Harry confirmed although he had a question on his mind but did not state it. He wanted to give Martha the chance to explain because given the mess that the Ministry was and the mess that Andromeda had to navigate, he knew that there would be circumstances.
"I did not find out about what happened until almost six months after it happened," Martha answered with an apologetic glance and Harry nodded, he figured that Muggle relations would be low priority for the Ministry, especially in the aftermath of a war. "And by that point….you were under the care of Petunia."
There was a certain degree of neutrality in Martha's words but there was also an undercurrent of distrust directed towards Petunia.
"Legally our hands were tied," Martha responded, although that was not for lack of trying."But given that you seem to have done rather well for yourself, everything seems to have worked out fine in the end."
Harry understood that there were many attempts to get him out from underneath the Dursleys, but the Ministry, helped along by Lucius Malfoy, made sure that he remained at the Dursleys. They hoped to make him ignorant so certain parties could take him for everything that he had once he returned but they did not know quite what they were getting themselves into.
"Lily did tell you about her special talents, didn't she?" Harry asked Martha and Martha nodded in confirmation.
"If you mean she could perform magic, then yes, she did," Martha answered as she rose the cup and took a drink, which allowed herself to do something other than talk to them. "And Rose…you've met her, haven't you?"
"Yes, I've met her, she moved in next door, along with the twins, Emily and Amanda, my sisters," Harry told her which Martha raised an eyebrow to.
To be honest, she did not know that Lily had more children other than Harry. Then again, given her last cryptic letter around the time of the Christmas after Harry was born, the lines of communication were being cut off. That would explain the delayed reaction and the hallow condolences she received from the Ministry, almost as if it was a blasé afterthought.
"She went into hiding because of Snape," Martha responded, remembering her brief encounters with the man. Lily was young and naïve, she saw some good in Snape but that trust had been misplaced.
'And now Snape's in hiding because of me, funny how that goes full circle,' Harry thought to himself, although he was reminded of the newspaper clippings that he saw and figured that Snape was not going to stay underneath a rock for long.
"Snape isn't a problem anymore," Harry commented as he looked at Martha and a guilty expression twisted around her face.
"I should have at least written," Martha stated as her eyes shifted slightly but then she paused, realizing the fault in this line of thought. "It wouldn't have mattered."
"If any mail came to the Dursleys addressed to me, they would have binned it," Harry told Martha and she nodded in response.
Martha only met Vernon once but that was about one time too many. She really did try and see the best in people but there was very little if any in Vernon Dursley.
"That's unfortunate," Martha said with a sigh as she placed her cup on the table and threw her head back. She turned to the blonde. "You wanted to talk to me about something as well….Kara isn't it?"
"Yes," Kara responded as she took in Martha's expression. "So how is your son?"
"He's fine," Martha replied, wondering where this line of questioning was heading. "He's out fishing with his father now, they won't be back for a while."
"Oh that's a shame," Kara remarked, they had a pretty tight schedule but she supposed that there would be plenty more opportunities for her to meet Kal-El. "I want to thank you for taking him in. It must have been a shock finding him in a field like that but Lara and Jor-El chose wisely when they sent him to this place."
Martha's eyes widened and her mouth popped into a slight "O" shape as she realized where Kara was coming from.
"I'm his cousin," Kara responded as she smiled. "It was funny, I followed him off the planet but I crashed into the dam. He'd be about eight or nine right now, wouldn't he?"
"He's going to have his ninth birthday in a few months," Martha confirmed as she felt more at ease. "He's getting tall, he might tower over me and Jonathan in a few years."
Kara smiled at the thought but a look of seriousness appeared in her eyes.
"Your son will be exhibiting extraordinary abilities in the next few years and you might find it rather challenging to deal with," Kara added as she paused before a brisk smile appeared on her face. "Or maybe he has exhibited some of them already?"
Martha nodded in the affirmative and her eyes focused on Kara's face as she recalled them.
"He was running outside, you know how kids are," Martha commented before a smile crossed her face. "And then he was halfway across the county the next thing we knew. Poor Clark was scared out of his mind."
Kara smiled, thankfully it wasn't a truly dangerous power that he exhibited.
"So Clark's the name you've given him?" Kara asked and Martha inclined her head with a nod. "Nice, very good name."
Of course she liked the name "Kal" a little bit better, mostly because she was the one that helped Lara pick it out. So she was inclined to be a bit biased. Still, Clark worked well enough.
"He's broken a few toys when he was younger but he seems to have grown out of it, even if Jonathan has to remind him not to be rough around the other children," Martha added before she smiled and shook her head. "It's hard though, hard to explain to your son that he's different than the other children. He knows he's adopted but the circumstances….the circumstances are something that we might have to explain a little bit more to him."
Martha turned her head around and placed her hands on her face, and threw said head back with a sigh.
"I'm sure you'll find a way and if not, let me know I can help," Kara commented with a smile as she watched her. "I don't want to step all over your parenting, but I'll be happy to help with any concerns that you have regarding my cousin. Especially given that after he reaches puberty, there will be powers that he'll have that might be challenging for him to master."
"I'll keep that in mind," Martha responded with a smile on her face, glad that Kara was offering her support.
"Be warned that you might have some challenges ahead," Kara warned her as her eyes locked onto Martha and she inclined her head in a nod. "You and your husband….well you were chosen for a reason. But it is hard to adapt to those powers. Especially given that everyone else around you seems normal."
'Then again, what is normal?' Kara thought to herself as she thought about it, there was nothing that was normal.
Harry caught a glimpse of the overdue statements on the table and some of them were third and fourth notice. He turned to Martha with a frown on his face. Prying was not something that he did but he could not help but notice that there were certain difficulties that came along with running a farm, challenges that needed to be accomplished.
"So, how are things on the farm?" Harry asked, trying to get her to give him the information because he was not in the business of snooping into other people's affairs.
Martha offered a sigh that was a deep question, especially with two late notices coming in the mail and two angry phone calls today. Jonathan tried to keep his head up and shoulder the burden, that was the way he was brought up. A man always shouldered his own burdens and pushed on through. It was always darkest before the end, although Martha wondered somewhat about the sense of the matter. She did not say much of anything to her husband, it was his decision.
"I can't lie, it's not without any challenges," Martha admitted after some careful thought. A smile went across her face. "But challenges are not without their rewards."
"Very true, life is hallow and meaningless without challenges and overcoming them is the measure of what we truly are," Harry remarked as tapped his fingers on the edge of the couch. "You know that if you need any help, I'll be willing to do what I can. We are family after all."
Martha smiled, appreciating this sentiment from Harry, it showed that despite all else, he did inherit Lily's heart. Of course, she knew that Jonathan would never accept the help, his pride tended to get in the way of sense. And when you coupled that in with stubbornness that was born from Kent men, well….one could tell why it was easy to see why she could not really accept Harry's help all that much.
"Thank you for the offer Harry, it's appreciated," Martha remarked with a smile crossing her face. "But we'll manage rather well on our own."
"It's no trouble at all, given how you've taken in my cousin and found a way to include him in your hearts," Kara added as Harry watched her and smiled.
"I understand where you're coming from but if you change your mind, I'll make myself available," Harry responded, debating on whether or not he would go the banks himself and settled the debts that the Kents had. He didn't want to seem intrusive but from the little bit he spotted from this documents, they were in trouble.
"And remember what I said about Clark and his powers, I'll find a way to keep in touch, if you need to contact me," Kara said with a smile towards Martha, who returned it with a nod. "And once again, I can't thank you enough for being there for my cousin. I don't think I could have handled what you must have went through. Running a farm and raising a child, that is quite a handful."
Then again, Kara was only eighteen years old, so children were the furthest thing from her mind presently. Not to mention all of the challenges with a Kryptonian pregnancy, although Faora stated that she was trying to come up with a way to alleviate some of the trauma. Keep the strong genetics that naturally born children had while not wrecking the mother. It was what one might considered to be a long term project.
"Maybe you should come up here and see Clark sometime when you get the chance?" Martha suggested to Kara. "I know you might be busy but…we'd like to have you when we can."
Kara's mind recalled something that she had on her that she could give to Martha in case any kind of difficulties came up with Clark. In her excitement, she nearly forgot about it.
"As I said, I have some things that I need to do but I'm sure he'd like to meet a member of his biological family, but I just remembered something that could help us stay in contact easily," Kara commented as she turned around, before pulling out a crystal pendant and placing it gently in Martha's hand. "Here's a way to get in touch with me if anything comes up."
"Thank you," Martha said in a grateful voice but Kara responded with a slight smile.
"It's no problem," Kara responded, understanding that Martha had her fair share of challenges.
Harry and Kara sat there until into the early part of the morning and talked with Martha. Given that she was used to keeping early hours due to being a farmer's wife, it was nothing to her to be up for that late.
Plus it allowed them to kill some time until they had to visit the other person on Harry's agenda during his trip to this part of Smallville.
"So, I think that I should get some kind of human identity like Faora did," Kara said as she closed her eyes. "Kara Kent, I think, we should head off to the bank and get it taken care of."
"Sersi is going to love me for giving her something to do," Harry remarked and Kara hovered next to him.
"Well I'm sure she will be thrilled to see you again at any rate," Kara responded as the two of them floated towards their destination.
The sun barely rose over the horizon of Smallville but that allowed the pair to catch their breath after the meeting with Martha. Now that she had the contact crystal, Kara felt at ease with the fact that there was a way for her to be reached in case something out of the ordinary happened with her cousin. While she was confident that the Kents had the ability to handle a lot of situations, it was still better safe than sorry.
"So after we take care of things, we can fly over there," Harry commented and Kara nodded, from what she could tell, that would allow Faora to do her thing in peace and get everything set up. "So, more family, although on the other side of the tree….although Martha was a bit of a surprise. Then again the Dursleys didn't really talk about family that much."
"Well they might not have wanted to think that you were related to anyone decent," Kara dead panned, not impressed with what she heard about the Dursleys by far, and Harry had to agree, that was most likely the reason.
Kara smiled as the two of them walked feeling the fresh air and warm summer breeze as they made their way to their destination. Silence filled the air between them before the blonde piped up once again.
"You're never going to see them again," Kara stated firmly and Harry nodded.
"No never again and I'm not sure how much longer things would have lasted before it got ugly, well uglier" Harry responded, remembering the awkwardness that was between him and the Dursleys. There was a sense that the ceasefire could be sparked off into a full blown war by nearly anything.
Harry stepped forward; there was really no point in stalling this meeting any further. He reached forward and lightly knocked on the door. It was what he thought was a decent hour in the morning and he waited patiently, with Kara standing beside him. When Martha mentioned this house was literally up the street, she was not kidding, it was literally up the street. The young wizard smiled as he looked from the house all the way to the Kent Farm.
One could see directly onto the property with a telescope if they were so inclined to do so although Harry wondered who would be pathetic enough to do so. Not that he accused anyone of doing so but there was always a chance that they would. The wizard's face contorted into a smile as he heard the person approaching the door.
The door opened to reveal fairly attractive woman in her thirties opening the door. She had dark hair that formed a curtain around her face and expressive blue eyes. Her black top wrapped firmly around her body, creating an extremely snug fit. She wore a pair of tight black pants in addition to this and high heels. She looked amazing for her age.
"May I help you?" she asked in a polite voce, as she surveyed Harry and Kara.
"Nell isn't it…Nell Potter?" Harry asked and the woman nodded in response.
"Yes, I'm her," Nell confirmed as she stepped outside to get a look at this young man. He was one of those people who could captivate people by merely being in their presence. Both charismatic and good looking and she had to coax herself into tearing her eyes away from him. "And you are…."
"Harry Potter, I was looking over my family tree and I noticed that we were cousins, I came over from the UK to take a look at some things," Harry responded and Nell opened her mouth with an "O shape.
"Come on, come in," Nell remarked as she invited them inside. She thought she saw someone late last night visit Martha Kent as she was coming home. "You were up the road at Martha's last night, weren't you?"
"Yes, I was," Harry commented and Nell smiled.
"Knowing her, she already made sure that you were well fed," Nell commented and the couple responded to clarify that statement with a pair of nods. "Well, why don't you come in with coffee or since your British, how about some tea?"
Harry smiled as she allowed Harry and Kara to enter before walking inside.
"This is Kara, she's my girlfriend," Harry informed Nell as the group made their way inside the house, it was an amazing place. He neglected to bring up the point that Kara was one of his many girlfriends but that would be something that he would talk about much later, when the time was right.
"Pleased to meet you," Nell remarked as she sat down, although she did keep a tentative eye on them. They were mostly unknown. "What brings you all the way from the UK after everything that's happened?"
Harry offered a reassuring smile. "I've found out that the house here is under my name officially."
Nell blinked before she remained calm and tried not to get too upset but Harry's reassuring smile never wavered.
"Now, for right now, I'm just taking a look at the properties and you've kept everything in working order, so I'm happy to see that the house is in good hands," Harry answered with a smile as everyone kept calm. "Are you the only one that lives here?"
Nell shook her head. "No, it's me and my niece Lana, but she's at summer camp now, just left a few days ago."
The truth was she kept everything in order but she always seemed to run into a brick wall every time she wished to meet up with the mysterious official owner of this property. All that the bank told her was that this house was gifted to this particular line of the family by the Lord Potter of his time during World War II. Her parents owned it before her and Nell inherited. She took Lana in after the girl's parents were killed in the meteor shower five years ago.
"Thank you," Harry responded as he stepped forward and sat down. "The house is up to your specifications, isn't it?"
Nell nodded in response.
"It's running rather well thank you," Nell responded with a smile crossing her face, it was home, even if it stuck out, a rather large house in the quaint little town of Smallville. "I don't really have any problems about it."
"That's great, for now keep it running well, " Harry commented to the woman. "That might change in the future when some business concludes that I'm doing and I might decide to move closer to Smallville."
Nell watched him and it hit her who this was, she chided herself for not recognizing him right off the bat.
"You're Lily's son, aren't you?" Nell asked and Harry nodded. "I heard about the death of James….and I thought that I could bring you over here; I mean you didn't have any family. And Martha mentioned that your aunt….well she didn't get along with your mother. So I tried to do what I could to help her petition for custody. There was this other woman that tried to help us."
"I've heard of the situation, you were blocked, Martha was blocked, there was some law that was passed…it's complicated," Harry informed her as he watched Nell who raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "It has to do with things I'm not supposed to speak about."
"This isn't about some cult is it?" Nell asked, it was done in a half joking manner but she wondered, the way that Harry framed this statement. She had not known much about that side of the family, her only involvement had been through an intermediary who worked for a bank that she could not get in touch with.
"No, nothing like that,' Harry commented briskly to ease her worries. "My parents were part of a hidden community who had their own culture and system of laws. I'm not sure how much the official government liked that or knew about that but I'm guessing they wouldn't be too fond of it. From what I've found out, only the highest leaders know and if they tell, their reputations will mysteriously be ruined."
Nell allowed that all to sink in, it was something that she might not have been meant to understand but perhaps she should do her best to try.
"Can you spare a few minutes to try and explain it to me?" Nell asked Harry and Kara.
Harry offered his cousin a slight smile. "Yeah, I'll try."
Kara could sense a headache coming on, she knew that Harry was going to be in for a devil of a time explaining things.
"Well I think that you go through to her in the end, for what it's worth," Kara remarked with a shrug as she flew next to Harry after they had popped into Gringotts to give Sersi the work of establishing a human identity for Kara. "She seemed to be interested in you popping back in again and wasn't terrified of you coming back."
"Explaining how fucked up the Wizarding World is to a person that doesn't live there, that's a task that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy," Harry commented as he grabbed Kara around the hand and squeezed it. She squeezed back, the blonde watching him as the two continued to fly in the air.
"True, true, I wouldn't either," Kara added with a sigh as she looked forward and felt her heart beating across her chest, the adrenaline of flying really did get her blood pumping. "How about we have a little race?"
"A race?" Harry asked to Kara with a smile.
Kara smiled as she watched Harry and the two flew shoulder to shoulder. There was a pause before the blonde spoke up once again.
Harry offered her a grin and the blonde wondered what he was going to say. She did not have to wait for long "You know, with that enticing offer, I might have to throw the race."
Kara smiled before she watched Harry and the two flew shoulder to shoulder. There was a pause before the blonde spoke up once again.
"That wouldn't be nearly as fun, now would it?" Kara asked Harry and the wizard responded with a smile.
"No it wouldn't," Harry responded as he turned his head towards her. "Are you ready?"
"Born ready," Kara stated with her voice brimming with confidence. "Ready, set….GO!"
Both of them shot off in the same direction, going at an intense speed. Both flew further and further ahead, causing the two of them to pick up the pace. Harry and Kara flew quicker as they increased their velocity.
It was a skilled science to fly in such a way, and not rip their clothes up. Kara bit down on her lip, before accelerating as fast as she could, and continued to fly around the world in a blur. They saw the world around them at super speed and Harry matched her speed. He was not about to lose the race after all but neither was she. The battle was on and the two of them dueled in the air.
Harry admitted that she was pretty good at flight, an equal to him in many ways. And he felt far more at ease at flying than he did on any broomstick. The wind blew in his face as he picked up even more of that necessary momentum. The blonde peered over her shoulder, giving him a taunting expression in her eyes.
"Ready to eat my dust?"
Harry smiled, he'd see who would eat whose dust as he increased his speed. He felt his adrenaline pumping even more and he got more excited as he continued to fly. Faster, faster, faster, Harry picked up the pace and crossed his arms before he spun around in the air. He would not get left behind.
There was another whoosh in the air.
"Surely you aren't going to let her beat you?"
Faora joined the race and a smile crossed her face. Harry turned slightly, to face her but did not decrease his velocity. The training did him well in this sense as he propelled himself in the air, gaining momentum.
"No, you better believe that I won't let her beat me," Harry responded as he continued to chase Kara around in the skies. The blonde was having fun and really in many ways, so was he.
"I figured as much," Faora responded as she joined Harry.
The two of them would catch Kara and they knew one thing, they would have their fun with the hot blonde. They allowed her to gain a bit of distance in front the two of them before they closed in. They edged closer, closer, closer yet, as they continued to push themselves further in one direction. The siblings locked hands.
Kara was not about to sweat, no she never sweated, she always brimmed with confidence. Okay, there was something about this that made her a tiny bit nervous but only a little bit. The blonde picked up momentum and flew faster, faster, faster.
Harry shot out in front of her, and then Faora grabbed her around the waist from behind.
"Hey that's….not fair."
Kara giggled a little bit as Faora held her so Harry could lick her behind her left ear. She was really sensitive in that spot and the two guided her down to the ground. If anyone looked up, they would have saw a very interesting sight for a few seconds.
"Looks like we won," Faora concluded as she stroked the back of Kara's neck. She arched her head before a smile crossed her face. "Why don't you claim your prize, Har?"
Harry smiled, he thought he would.
Kara shivered as the charms around them indicated that no one would be able to look up and see them or hear them. Harry kissed her heatedly after she floated into his arms and he ran his hands down her back and neck, before running them down her legs. The blonde closed her eyes and Faora slowly worked off her skirt, before the real fun began.
The training part of the crystal module should be set up within the next twenty four hours, it will give us plenty of time to mentally prepare ourselves," Faora informed them as they made their way down to the modified cavern and a smile crossed her face. "I think that you'll be pleasantly surprised with what I've set up."
Harry and Kara walked beside her or hovered rather. The duo arched their heads from one side to the next as they saw that a modified apartment was set up under ground. To the outside world, no one could enter this place, other than this trio.
There was a couch, a bed for the three of them, a table with three chairs and a fully stocked refrigerator. Next they saw a television set, a computer, and a Super Nintendo video game console. A phone was also set up so they could call out.
"I figured that we shouldn't spend our entire time down here training," Faora remarked as she allowed Harry and Kara a look around. "I actually got the cable and phone connections set up, so no worries."
"Now was that done by the book or was that done a bit nefariously?" Kara asked with a knowing smile dancing across her face.
"What do you think?" Faora asked as she tried to gauge the reactions of both Harry and Kara. She decided to press on. "Then we also have a nice little library, with the magical library that we copied, along with some other books that I feel that would be useful. We can transfer this to the castle, should we be able to enter, extremely easily."
"No one can enter, right?" Harry asked.
"No, thanks to the magic of magic," Faora remarked with a grin towards him. "If anyone but we three or anyone we've given permission tries to enter, they'll remember that they left one of their appliances on at home. Then they will go to correct that problem. Simple isn't it?"
"Yes, it's simple," Harry agreed, they didn't want anyone to snoop down here.
The three of them sank down on the couch and relaxed.
"Apparently your owl is immune to my charm work or maybe she slipped in before I got everything done," Faora added as she turned her head around and saw Hedwig standing on the perch. Harry's trunk was still there and she smiled. "Nice books, I read a few of them while I was waiting. The magic is about two hundred thousand years behind that of Krypton but hey, good to learn about some of the primitive stuff, I guess."
"It's useful to cover all of our bases," Harry remarked as he put his hand to his chin and he closed his eyes thoughtfully. "I think that I've pretty much mastered every charm, every potion, and everything that was on the Hogwarts list."
"You mean everything that the Ministry mandates that you should know," Kara commented and Harry nodded his head. "That's a fair foundation, if you wish to be a mediocre wizard."
"And we all know that I don't want to be," Harry stated as he decided to ask a question that he never got around to asking in the dream scape. "So what is Kryptonian magic like? Any differences that I should know about?"
Faora looked thoughtful for a second before she answered that question.
"Magic is magic in many ways, the basics are pretty much similar but once you get past the most base level, there are many different branches of magic. Kryptonian sorcery is different from Earth sorcery, as it is different from other forms of magic. And that's before we delve into different branches of sorcery that are on a planet. But you should handle it rather well, Kara and I didn't quite finish our advanced studies level but we did enough of them where we can fill in anything that we missed through the crystals and help you along."
Faora paused and pondered before she threw her head back and offered a poignant sigh.
"In the dream scape we only barely scratched the surface," Faora stated as she sat down on the couch and indicated for Kara and Harry to do the same. Faora sat on the left side, Harry in the middle, and Kara on the right side. He placed an arm around the waist of both of the Kryptonian females. "Your training should take about six months but thanks to the crystals and their time dilation, we'll be able to finish just in time for your fourteenth birthday."
Kara hid the knowing smile that she had on her face, she and Faora had something special planned for Har-Zod's birthday in celebration of the completion of his training. It was something that both of them kept quiet.
"But that starts tomorrow, let's enjoy the old idiot box," Faora remarked as she clicked on the television.
There was a really cheesy laugh track.
"Hello, Megan!"
Faora's eyes narrowed as Kara looked amused by the look of distaste on her face. "Let's watch something else."
Faora smiled before she settled for some Star Trek re-runs, a smile crossing her face as she leaned back on the couch and relaxed with Harry and Kara.
Spock did remind her of Jor-El.
Dear Harry:
Another year down the tubes, but hey at least I survived it, that's something. And most importantly only three people were stabbed this year. Thankfully I wasn't one of them and neither was Barbara. Although she got a few death threats but she doesn't seem phased by them. Of course being the daughter of James Gordon, one of the cops in this city that doesn't play ball with the mob, I'm sure she gets them all of the time.
The plant you sent me was interesting and I appreciate the chance to study something new. Especially with all of the trouble that it took you to get it here, but hey I can't complain.
Seventeen years old next year, just seems like yesterday we met. Where does the time go anyway?
The only thing that stays the same is Lionel Luthor and his ecologically unfriendly business practices. He got a group of protestors arrested the other day, claiming that they tried to assault him.
I might have dodged a bullet, I wanted to join in on the protest but Babs convinced me not to. She's not too happy about it either but she's keeping a more level head.
Tell the twins and Rose that I said hi, if you see them before I get a chance to write to them. Hopefully we can meet up this summer. Hint, hint.
Regards,
Pamela.
Harry decided to answer he letter.
Dear Pamela,
Sorry that it took me this long to get back to you. I've had loads to do over the summer. I'm actually out of the UK, and in the States currently. Will explain more to you when I see you in person but as for that hint well don't say what you really mean now.
Barbara should really learn how to pick her battles wisely. Hopefully she doesn't become the next knife victim.
I've just realized how messed up Gotham City is where I can talk about school stabbings like they're about as regular as kickball. Then again, given the absurdity that is Hogwarts, there's little room to talk.
That's kind of alarming actually when you think about it.
So, we're moving right along.
The twins and Rose are doing fine, but as I said, I'm doing things overseas. After I wrap up some business that I have to take care of, I'll be swinging by Gotham for a visit. A fair amount of things have happened lately, more than I feel safe printing in a letter.
Glad you enjoyed the plants, maybe I'll get more. Of course, a lot of the plants are a bit tricky and need special care that only magic users can give.
So anyway, that's about it I think. Keep out of trouble or at least what passes for staying out of trouble in Gotham City these days.
Regards,
Harry.
Harry put the letter away and sealed it up, before he decided to get to Barbara's letter.
Dear Harry,
Well I had quite the year this year but hey at least it's over and summer vacation is coming up. Hopefully the next year won't be all that bad, although the work was murder. My father found out about the incident and….I'm thinking that he always knew but he wanted to make me stew a little bit. He gave me a stern talking to about keeping my head low.
Well it could have been worse, at least he heard my side of the story. Falcone's bad business but he's almost charming compared that twerp Eddie. He still hasn't been broken of that habit where he steals everything. And he still would get away with it, if he didn't leave his little riddles.
It's a sickness.
Your life sounds interesting as always, although half of the stuff you get into, I won't claim that I understand. But hey that's the fun in it, I guess.
Hope that we can really get together this summer. Last summer was fun.
Pamela and I are going to the museum, new exhibit there. Thankfully it doesn't involve plants. Egyptian history, it's fun, you should check it out if you're here. It's put together by one of the foremost Egyptologists in Gotham City, Professor McElroy. So it's something different, guy knows his stuff; he's a bit…out to lunch given the rumors. But he's a Professor at Yale or was until a head injury forced him to take a sabbatical.
Talk to you hopefully soon,
Barbara.
Harry smiled before he wrote back.
Barbara,
Well sounds like your year is bad. Picking fights with the son of a mob boss might not be too conductive to your long term living. But at least you're crafty enough to weather the storm. At least your father heard you out.
As for Riddle Boy, what are you going to do?"
We'll be stopping by soon. Should be fun, and as for the Egyptian history, maybe we'll check that out.
Lots happening can't really explain it in a letter. Speak to you about it in person soon.
Hope you are well,
Harry.
Harry had Hedwig send those two letters off to Pamela and Barbara and then he was getting ready for the next stage of his training to begin.
"Remember a couple of years ago when I said that I'd have to think about a way to negate this problem?" Faora asked as she tapped on Harry's scar in a knowing manner.
"Yes, it's hard to forget," Harry answered briskly, the scar represented a fundamental flaw that weakened him, and that fact annoyed him. The three Kryptonians stood with each other as Faora turned around to think about what she wanted to do.
The fact of the matter was that she wanted to find a way to remove elements from the scar that would limits her brother's ability to tap into his full magical gifts. Given the fact that he was powerful enough despite this problem, that spoke well of his abilities. She smiled with pride as she looked at him.
"Earth sorcery will not lead to a solution," Faora responded as she bit down on her lip before she consulted one of the crystals. "The good news is that there are means, rituals, using Kryptonian sorcery that will be able to purge this soul fragment from your body and make your mind, body, and soul one hundred percent yours."
Faora contemplated this matter; she retired to the library late last night and did not return until early morning, to make sure that everything worked. She used the time dilation crystal to give her the time to study everything that she needed to do.
Kara piped up. "The real question is will he keep his Parseltongue ability?"
Faora smiled back at the blonde. "Naturally, I would not have thought of such a method if that particular talent would have been sacrificed."
Harry smiled. "Nice to see we have our priorities in order."
"Quite," Faora stated but she shook her head. "As depraved as Riddle was, he still had a treasure trove of magical knowledge that he learned prior to that night. I would daresay that there are maybe a handful of people on this planet that know more about Earth sorcery and its various forms than he does."
Despite the fact that she found him a twisted and loathsome creature, Faora had to give the devil his due. Even if he was a coward who not only tried to prove his superiority over an infant but tried to prove his superiority over an infant and failed.
"Will I retain that knowledge?" Harry asked her and she responded with a nod.
"You will retain that knowledge along with any abilities that you have absorbed on that night, but the dark fragment will be sacrificed," Faora told him but Harry brought up a point that she neglected.
"And if he made any other soul containers, we will be able to locate them from that knowledge."
"Yes, we will," Kara remarked, pleased to see that he came across that idea as well.
"When do we begin?" Harry asked as Faora turned towards him.
"It will take a month to get the necessary elements prepared, but it will be worth the wait," Faora stated in an honest voice as she raised a finger and traced his scar. "This….unfortunate mark will be merely a memory."
It was the only flaw on his face and to her; it marked his subjugation to a world that did not understand his powers.
"The crystals will be charged in an hour,' Faora informed both of them but Harry smiled.
"Well in the meantime, I'll be browsing some of that Kryptonian sorcery that you've copied."
Kara smiled brightly before she looked in Harry's eyes. "I'll come with you; I could always use a refresher course."
The two disappeared into the library but Faora had a suspicion that studying might not be the only thing on their agenda.
She had to babysit the training simulator otherwise she would join them.