and not an attack. The group appeared to be a group of older teens, most in their early twenties.
"Hey, dude, there's a man with the horse." One piped up.
Lucius let out an exasperated sigh already. Harry gave a whinny of amusement.
"Is there a healer around?" Lucius drawled.
"I know a few spells." A girl said stepping forwards. "I'm still an apprentice but you don't look to hurt."
"My shoulder is cut and my ankle is twisted." Lucius said blandly.
"Easy." The girl snorted.
Harry lowered Lucius to the ground and stood by as he waited for the girl to finish.
"This your trained pet or something?" One of the other guys asked holding a hand up for Harry to smell.
Harry snorted at him. Lucius glanced at him. Harry shook his head in a way that Lucius took to be an 'okay'.
"He's an animagus." Lucius said shortly, wincing as the wound on his shoulder slowly closed.
"Cool!" The boy said more eagerly, looking at Harry.
Harry threw his head as if to say he wouldn't be changing back at the moment.
When Lucius was fully healed he offered his thanks and the two headed off again, this time Lucius walking with a hand to his back instead of riding. Once out of view Harry shifted seamlessly to his grim form and sniffed the air. He turned slightly and led Lucius off to where he smelled Narcissa and Draco. As they reached the area where the other two Malfoys were waiting Lucius caught on.
Harry stopped when Lucius understood his family now waited just behind a few trees. Lucius paused with him. For a long moment Lucius was silent.
"You're not returning to Hogwarts are you." Lucius stated.
Harry shook his head in agreement.
"I will be taking my OWLS as soon as possible." Harry said, changing his voice box back to human.
"If you run into any problems, contact me." Lucius said. "I'll get you in within an hour of a call."
Harry smiled, though it looked more like a dark grin in his Grim form.
"Thank you Lucius."
Lucius paused.
"That's the first time you've called me by my first name." He said.
Harry raised a brow at him. The blonde smirked then nodded once. He then straightened, brushing his robe smooth.
"Wait," Harry called as he took a step.
Lucius raised a brow at him but paused all the same.
"Next time you come to my café, could you bring Snape?"
"Severus?" Lucius asked, a slight frown tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Yes. I have to talk to him, but knowing Snape he won't come just because of that."
Lucius's lips twitched at the description but he nodded all the same. And then he was through the trees and meeting a relieved Narcissa and Draco. Harry watched as they vanished with a crack.
The demon woman he had summoned appeared with nary a sound not even a second later.
"All the men are dealt with." She said in a soft voice. "They have been restrained and left for your people to retrieve."
"Thank you." Harry said, still in Grim form.
He lips twitched into a smirk.
"It was fun, call me again should you need any assistance in battle."
Then she grabbed his left paw and nicked it with her finger. He felt the familiar spark of magic and then she vanished with a puff of smoke. Harry knew when he changed back to human he would have another tattooed band on his left wrists.
He breathed out in a rush and looked to the sky. He'd have to go find the others before they started to worry.
know the language as the spell pulls the memory of the language from his mind."
Harry blinked in surprise.
"So if you wanted to be able to understand Japanese you'd have to have someone who knew Japanese cast it?"
"Correct."
"Huh." Harry said, a bit surprised at this new knowledge.
The man held the earring back out and Harry took it, putting it back in his ear.
"What language was that one?" He asked as Griphook led him from the room.
"Bulgarian."
Then the goblin shoved another portkey in his hand. Xi-Wong barely had time to grab him before they were gone in a swirl only to land right outside Harry's house, just past the ward line.
"Well, this is the place I call home." Harry said cheerfully.
The demon tilted his head and eyed the flowers and trees as the passed by. Harry threw the door open in a burst of energy and jumped into his house.
"I'm home!" he crowed happily.
Loraine, who had been on the couch, threw herself at him, squealing happily. Xi-Wong must have seen her as harmless as he did nothing to stop her. Harry spun the smaller woman around in a circle. Even though he was small he was not weak and she was smaller then him.
"You look so much better." She cooed, looking him over.
"Harry's back!?"
Dante came sprinting from the stairs, a wide grin on his face. He didn't even notice the silent Xi-Wong as he crushed Harry in a hug, cooing over him.
known today."
Harry stared at the demon in amazement. He knew nothing like this existed. If it ever got out what these glasses did they'd be worth more than a fortune.
"Thank you." He whispered breathlessly handing to book back and slipping his old glasses in his bag.
"If you ever want to turn the enchantments off, as if you ever would want to," He scoffed, "you can push the lily on the edge of the frame on the right side."
Harry stored this away in memory.
"Thank you." He smiled.
Dante scooped him in a hug and then set him down just as quickly.
"Now hurry off, you have to make the Quidditch cup which starts in four hours."
Harry just chuckled and pulled his shoes on, transfiguring a pair for Xi-Wong. He prodded the demon into putting the spear in his bag and then led him outside. Once he was sure no one was looking he grabbed Xi-Wong's hand and apparated to a safe apparation spot near a mall.
"If anyone asks, you got your hair died in America."
The demon nodded confusedly and followed Harry into the store.
.-.
Harry hummed happily as they stepped from the last store. He'd stopped by the small grocery store to grab some things. Knowing Valentine and Harold they wouldn't have bothered to pack much to eat while Dudley wouldn't have grabbed enough. And he doubted any of them had thought to have brought Galleons, sickles, or knuts. Besides, muggle food was better for camping in his opinion.
Xi-Wong followed behind him fingering his lips absently. They had passed a piercing shop and Harry had noticed Xi-Wong's gaze linger in interest. When the man hadn't said anything Harry had asked if he wanted a piercing, showing the demon his ears. Xi-Wong hadn't said anything but Harry had seen his curiosity and interest. A quick duck in the store had them browsing the piercings. Harry had talked the demon into two lip piercings, one on each side of his mouth, hoops. They looked actually very fitting on the demon.
"I think that's everything we need." Harry said smiling.
Xi-Wong nodded once and followed Harry back out of the mall to the apparation point. Harry paused a moment to remember the coordinates that Sirius had wrote for him when sending the tickets. He grabbed Xi-Wong and with a crack they appeared on an old hillside.
"Help me look for a boot." Harry said to the confused Xi-Wong. "Sirius said you had to catch a portkey in and they ran every two hours here. If we find it in the next five minutes we can catch the ride, if not we have to wait two more hours."
They found the boot in under two minutes. Grabbing a hold of it they were swept off. They landed on a hill similar to the one they had been on. The only difference was this one was overlooking a huge stadium and a huge camp beside a forest. Xi-Wong wrinkled his nose in a frown while Harry grinned. He reached into his satchel and pulled free a summing slip. Pushing magic into it, it exploded in a cloud of smoke. When the smoke cleared Harry found himself face to face with a 'Knife Bird'. It chirped mechanically.
"Please lead me to the other summoner here."
Tracking Demon Beasts had the ability to sense necromancers which were fairly uncommon. The knife bird squawked but took off at a pace Harry could follow.
.-.
"Harry."
His name was only a breathless whisper of relief from the tall redhead. Valentine picked him up like he was nothing but a small child and stroked his hair with on free hand as he hugged Harry close.
"We were worried." Valentine breathed as he buried his face in Harry's hair. "Your magic was tied to your wards in a way and we felt it flare in one brilliant burst."
Harry shrugged the knowledge away as he clung to the tall vampire.
"I missed you." He admitted.
Even if it had only been a day he'd missed his friends. He felt Valentine's natural wild magic brush against his own and took comfort in the familiarity. Harold clapped him on the back as he absently examined Xi-Wong from the corner of his eyes. Dudley had appeared amazed at Xi-Wong's appearance and was shyly sitting next to the demon at the table. The tent they had set up was nice, but not extravagant. It had two bedrooms, a large living room, a small cooking area, and a bathroom.
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