The Dursleys' living room was quiet, save for the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth. Kael sat cross-legged on the floor, his amber eyes fixed on Harry, who was perched on the edge of the couch. Ruka lay between them, his golden eyes half-closed as he rested his head on his paws. To the Dursleys, Ruka appeared as a large, intimidating dog—thanks to Aurum's clever disguise. But to Harry, he was something else entirely.
"So," Kael began, his voice calm and measured, "you've seen strange things too, haven't you?"
Harry nodded, his green eyes wide with curiosity. "Yeah. Weird things keep happening around me. Like the time I made the glass at the zoo disappear, and the snake thanked me. Or the letters that keep coming—hundreds of them, all addressed to me, from a place called Hogwarts."
Kael's brow furrowed. "Hogwarts? What's that?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. The Dursleys won't tell me. They burned all the letters before I could read them."
Kael leaned forward, his expression intense. "Do you still have any of the letters?"
Harry shook his head. "No. They destroyed them all."
Kael sighed, leaning back. "That's a shame. It might have given us some answers."
Harry hesitated, then asked, "What about you? You said the storm brought you here. What does that mean?"
Kael glanced at Ruka, then back at Harry. "It's… complicated. I'm not from here. I was born from a storm, and I have abilities that most people don't. I can communicate with beasts, like Ruka here." He gestured to the Nundu cub, who let out a soft growl in response.
Harry's eyes widened. "You can talk to him?"
Kael nodded. "In a way. I can feel his emotions, understand his thoughts. It's like we're connected."
Harry looked at Ruka, his expression thoughtful. "When I look at him, I don't see a dog. I see… a black leopard with a mane. Is that what he really looks like?"
Kael's eyes lit up. "Yes. That's exactly what he looks like. Aurum—the dragon who raised me—disguised him so that people without magic would think he's just a big dog. But you can see through the disguise. That means you're like me, Harry. You have magic too."
Harry's breath caught in his throat. "Magic? But… the Dursleys always said magic isn't real. They said I'm just a freak."
Kael's expression darkened. "They're wrong. Magic is real, and you're not a freak. You're special. Just like me."
Harry stared at Kael, his mind racing. For the first time in his life, someone was telling him that the strange things that happened around him weren't bad—they were part of who he was. It was a lot to take in.
The two boys talked for hours, sharing stories and asking questions. Kael told Harry about the island, about Aurum and the other beasts, and about his journey across the stormy sea. Harry, in turn, told Kael about his life with the Dursleys, about the cupboard under the stairs, and about the strange things that always seemed to happen when he was upset or scared.
As the sun set and the room grew darker, the conversation began to wind down. Kael yawned, stretching his arms above his head. "We should get some rest," he said. "Tomorrow, we'll figure out what to do next."
Harry nodded, though he didn't look thrilled at the idea of sleeping in the same room as the Dursleys. Still, he was too tired to argue. He grabbed a blanket from the couch and spread it out on the floor, making a makeshift bed for himself. Kael did the same, lying down beside Ruka, who curled up protectively around him.
The Dursleys, meanwhile, had retreated to their rooms, too afraid of the "big dog" to approach the boys. Vernon had grumbled about calling animal control, but Petunia had talked him out of it, her voice trembling with fear.
As the house fell silent, Harry lay awake, staring at the ceiling. His mind was buzzing with questions, but for the first time in his life, he didn't feel alone. Kael was like him—someone who understood what it was like to be different.
"Kael?" Harry whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Do you really think I have magic?"
Kael turned to look at him, his amber eyes glowing faintly in the dark. "I know you do, Harry. And together, we'll figure out what that means."
Harry smiled, a small but genuine smile. For the first time in his life, he felt a glimmer of hope.