45Jaskier was sitting by the crackling fire, staring unseeingly into the fireplace, his mind a million miles away as he tugged the blanket wrapped around his shoulders even tighter around himself, absently clenching his fingers tightly into the soft material of the blanket as the world buzzed around him, leaving him feeling as though he was in the middle of a fog and in the middle of an electric storm. Everything was spinning. Everything was too still.
Drawing in a shaky breath and fighting back the urge to cry, Jaskier looked down at his travel-worn boots and burgundy trousers, trying to get his mind around what had happened in the last three hours. But in reality, he didn't want to think about it.
"Are you ok?" The curious voice and young face that popped into Jaskier's view made him jump a little, looking down at the young boy with teal hair and amber eyes.
"Oh Teddy, the man isn't feeling too well, let's not bother him!" The man who had rescued Jaskier said quickly, hurrying over.
"Jaskier, I am Jaskier," the bard said roughly
Geralt stared at the place where Jaskier had been standing, the portal had closed nearly immediately behind the bard after sucking him into its centre and depositing him who knows where. He felt a little guilty about the things that he had said, but mostly he was still angry.
He turned to look at Yennifer who was glaring at him furiously, though she was looking smug at having sent Jaskier away again, as she did every time they had an argument. She cast him another look before she opened a second portal and stepped through this one herself and disappeared from the mountaintop.
"Would you like me to send you to where she sent him?" Borch asked from where he was still seated on a rock having watched the events that had unfolded.
"I…" Geralt thought for a second, remembering the hurt and wounded look that had been on Jaskier's face when he had said what he did to him when he had hurled the accusations and purposefully hurtful words at him. "No, he will come back, he always does!" Geralt said gruffly, turning to look back out over the mountain.
"Are you sure about that, everyone has a breaking point," Borch said in that knowing tone that he had, the tone that annoyed Geralt right now because he knew Jaskier better than anyone.
"He will be back! He always is, he always shows up like a bad penny! He comes back whether he is wanted or not!" Geralt spat out.
"Hmm, very well. I offered and you rejected. I hope you are happy with the choice that you made," Borch said. Geralt frowned at his tone and spun around to question him on it, but the dragon was already gone. Huffing he turned to glare back out over the scene below him, dismissing what he had said.
Jaskier would sulk for a little while and then he would track Geralt down, he always did, and Geralt would take him back, it was a circle that they did that went round and round and round. He would have to track down Yennifer once she had calmed down and hopefully they would be able to talk it through and get back to normal.
He frowned slightly to himself, scowling a little deeper when he remembered the expression on Jaskier's face, but he shoved it away, he would apologise of sorts when Jaskier found him, and they would make up.
It would be fine.
"Jaskier," the man who had rescued him smiled as he rested his hand on the little boy's shoulder who was grinning happily, allowing Jaskier to see that he had a missing front tooth, the other hand was holding out a large mug to Jaskier. "I am Harry and this is Teddy,"
"Hello!" Teddy waved brightly, managing to summon a ghost of a smile to Jaskier's mouth.
"Hello," Jaskier said before reaching out and taking the mug. "Thank you, for taking me in," he said to Harry, realising that he had not thanked the man for saving him.
"No need for that, are you ok?" Harry asked.
"I…" Jaskier started to say and then had to swallow deeply.
"Have a drink of your hot chocolate," Harry said quickly.
"Hot chocolate?" Jaskier perked up, looking into the mug that he had been absently holding before his eyes widened when he realised that it was hot chocolate.
"Dad makes the best hot chocolate!" Teddy grinned, turning slightly to look at his dad with big eyes.
"I have made for you as well you bottomless pit, but after you drink it, bed,"
"Awww!" Teddy pouted.
"Awww all you like, bedtime!" Harry chuckled making his way over to the kitchen and picking up two more mugs, one significantly smaller than the other.
"He's so mean," Teddy mock whispered to Jaskier with a grin when Harry was halfway over.
"You will miss getting to sleep early when you are older, make the most of it," Jaskier chuckled.
"Adults have a strange way of looking at things, I can't wait to be an adult and do whatever I want to do," Teddy announced as Harry sat down on the chair opposite Jaskier and tugged the little boy into his lap, handing him the mug he had placed down on the little table next to them.
"I have only ever had one mug of hot chocolate," Jaskier admitted, breathing in the sweet smell.
"What?!" Teddy gasped, looking so horrified by the statement that Jaskier had to chuckle. "Daddy! You need to make Jaskier more hot chocolate! It is good for making you feel better when you are sad or scared! And daddy makes the best!" Teddy said motioning to the mug in Jaskier's hands.
"Oh wow…" Jaskier's eyes widened as he took a sip, it was a hundred times better than the one that he had had before.
"How have you only had one mug of hot chocolate in your entire life!" Teddy asked.
"Teddy, it is rude to ask questions like that," Harry chided before Jaskier could answer.
"It is very expensive where I am from," Jaskier told Teddy. Harry looked at him a little quizzically but then focussed on Teddy as Jaskier took another deep sip.
"See that is why we don't ask questions like that, you don't know people's circumstances or why they may or may not have done things," Harry explained gently to Teddy, hugging him around the waist. The little boy nodded thoughtfully.
"I am sorry that I asked that question," he said to Jaskier, who had to smile again at the boy.
"It is ok, though your dad is right, it is best to be careful to ask people questions like that," Jaskier said, and before the little boy could think he was angry he added, "you were right, I am feeling a little better already," it wasn't a complete lie, the chocolate seemed to be filling him, chasing some of the cold that had filled him and warming him up slightly.
"It is the best thing to make you feel better,"
Teddy chattered away to Jaskier for the next half an hour helping to distract him, telling the bard about his friends, his cousins, and the book that he was reading. Jaskier listened to him as he sipped from his hot chocolate, the young boy's chatter giving him something to focus on.
"Alright, Teddy Bear, bedtime," Harry smiled hugging his son closer and kissing his cheek.
"But daddy!" Teddy pouted.
"No buts, you have gotten to stay up past your bedtime," Harry laughed, squeezing Teddy and standing, throwing his now laughing son over his shoulder.
He bent down and picked up their cups from the side table taking them over to the sink. Teddy scrambled onto his shoulders with Harry's help, settling there with a big grin for Jaskier making the Bard chuckle. Harry poured what looked like more hot chocolate from the pan on the stove into another mug and brought it over to Jaskier.
"Here we go, I will be back down soon," He said gently.
"Thank you," Jaskier automatically reached out and took the cup.
He was dreading talking to the man about what had happened and where he had come from, but considering the man had rescued him from nearly being killed by that….thing, and taken him into his house, he felt as though he owed him an explanation. Jaskier blinked and looked down at the cup, suddenly registering that the hot chocolate was still hot, it definitely shouldn't have been considering how long it had been since Harry had made it.
He was a warlock.
Jaskier choked out a small and humourless laugh at the realisation, he had been shoved here, wherever the hell here was, by Yennefer and her magic, and he had ended up with another magic user. His heart clenched at the thought of Yennifer, and he curled a little more into himself, cupping his hands around the hot chocolate, and took a sip of it, hoping that the warmth and sweetness would warm the chill growing and growing inside of him. He felt numb and as though there was a fire and ice burning him up from the inside. He wasn't aware that he was crying until the drops hit his hand, and then he was sobbing.
He couldn't believe that Yennefer had done this to him yet again, she did this every time they argued or when she was feeling pissy, dropping him on various places of the continent, it happened often enough that Jaskier made sure to keep his precious lute on him at all times when they were around each other and enough money to see him be able to survive wherever he had been dumped.
He had no clue where she had dropped him this time though, he knew that this wasn't the continent, he definitely knew that, he was terrified of where he was and what had happened to him now, and he was terrified about how he would be able to get home. If he even wanted to go home, the words that Geralt had spat at him on that mountainside made him feel as though his heart was being crushed under a hammer. He had said that if fate could give him one gift it would be to take Jaskier off of his hands. Everything that they had been through together, everything that they had done together, everything that Jaskier had given up to be with Geralt, everything that had put up with being with Geralt.
He started a little when the blanket was pulled higher around his shoulders and then an arm wrapped around him, looking up he met emerald green eyes that were looking at him with sympathy, and that was all it took. Jaskier dropped his head into Harry's lap where he was sitting on the arm of the chair and started sobbing desperately.
Jaskier sobbed for who knew how long until he was finally able to get control of himself and he settled back feeling embarrassed by the breakdown on someone who was a complete stranger to him. Shivering slightly he pulled back from Harry and found a handkerchief in front of him. Gratefully he took the material and wiped at his slightly raw-feeling face, blowing his nose and trying to stifle his embarrassment. Harry moved from the arm of the chair and disappeared for a moment before coming back over and pulling a chair in front of Jaskier, holding out a glass of water to him.
"I'm sorry," Jaskier managed to say.
"You have nothing to apologise for, you have clearly been through a lot," Harry shook his head.
"You're a warlock?" Jaskier licked his lips as he asked the question.
"Wizard, though it is the same thing, yes," Harry nodded.
"You must want to know what happened," Jaskier sighed.
"Not if you don't want to tell me, how about we go to bed for the night, tomorrow I have to take Teddy to school, and then we can have a talk, but you don't have to tell me anything that you don't feel comfortable sharing," Harry shook his head.
"But…you're going to let me stay? Without telling you anything?" Jaskier asked, confused.
"I'm not entitled to knowing anything that you do not want to tell me, and not in exchange for you having somewhere warm and safe to put your head down,"
"I…thank you," Jaskier said surprised.
"Come on, I will show you where you can sleep for the night," Harry smiled standing.
"Thank you…are you sure this is ok? I don't want to cause you problems, you have been so kind to me," Jaskier worried.
"I have a lot of rooms here, I am not going to miss one being filled for however long you need it," Harry smiled standing.
"However long I…thank you," Jaskier felt his lip wobbling, threatening tears again at the kindness that he was being shown by a complete stranger.
"Hey," Harry reached down and gripped Jaskier's shoulder, the grip comforting and grounding to him.
"Sorry," Jaskier huffed wiping at the tears in his eyes.
"Nothing at all to apologise for," Harry shook his head, "do you want to stay down here for a little while?"
"I think I need a little time alone," Jaskier said quietly.
"Come on then," Harry helped Jaskier to his feet, wrapping the blanket a little tighter around his shoulders before stepping away and leading Jaskier through the house. Jaskier looked around the house curiously, it was a massive house, something that someone with a lot of money would own. He had to blink for a second at the moving portraits, but then considering what his life was that shock was gone in a second and he looked them over with interest, a few of them waved at him while others glared in disdain. The house was brightly painted and looked like a family home, there were dozens of incredibly detailed paintings of Harry and Teddy, as though they had been captured in the very moment on the way up the two floors Harry led him up, along with lots of other people in the detailed painting, all of them moving as well.
"Here we go," Harry opened a door and showed Jaskier a large, comfortable-looking bedroom. "There are silencing charms on the room so we can't hear anything and we won't disturb you in the morning, there is also a lock on the inside of the door that is magic proof so if you don't feel safe fully you can lock the door, please don't think that I will be offended,"
"Thank you," Jaskier said softly.
"My room is right across there if you need me," Harry smiled softly before turning and shutting the door behind himself. He hesitated thinking about locking the door, but then reconsidered and turned to look at the bed.
There was a set of pajamas on the bed, clearly, Harry's that he had put in here for him, and it had Jaskier's lip wobbling again, wiping at his face with the edge of the teal fluffy blanket that was still wrapped around his shoulders, and then his knees went from underneath him and as he hit the floor he was already sobbing again. He wrapped his arms around himself as he sobbed and sobbed and sobbed.
Jaskier carefully walked down the stairs and stepped into the kitchen, looking around for Harry, and was relieved when he found the dark-haired man standing at the counter cutting something up. "Hi," he said uncertainly and Harry turned to look at him, a smile crossing his face when he saw Jaskier standing there in the other set of clothing that he had left for Jaskier, a little big on him but fitting fairly well and wrapped up again in the teal blanket.
"I am sorry that I slept in so late," Jaskier apologised walking into the room.
"No problem at all, you looked exhausted last night, and I am sure that you needed the sleep. Besides, there is nothing that you needed to be up for. Now the important question, tea or coffee?" Harry asked, and Jaskier's raised heartbeat wondering what he was going to be asked settled, and he found himself laughing.
"What is coffee?" He enquired stepping a little closer.
"You don't know what coffee is?" Harry asked with an expression on his face that Jaskier couldn't read.
"No, I haven't heard of it," Jaskier shook his head.
"I will make some tea and coffee, and you can try the coffee. Do you like sweet tea or more bitter?" Harry asked.
"Sweet," Jaskier answered, concern growing inside of him.
"Have a seat," Harry nodded to the kitchen table and Jaskier moved to sit at it, and even though he was worried about Harry's reaction he let out a small noise of appreciation at the tabletop. It was painted in multiple bright colours to look like an aurora borealis almost, and within it were painted shells and stones, and pebbles before a clear thick layer of what looked like glass had been poured over the top to make a smooth surface. "The table was awful, it was scrubbed and ugly looking, Teddy likes lots of bright colours like his mum, and he collected all those shells and stones and pebbles over years of trips, while he was on holiday with his Grandma for a couple of weeks I got bored and decided to decorate," Harry explained as he walked over seeing Jaskier's appreciation of the table.
"It is brilliant," Jaskier said appreciatively.
"Thank you, art isn't my strongest skill, but I was really happy with how it came out," Harry placed down a tray with tea, what had to be the coffee, toast, fruit, and porridge.
"Is Teddy's mum away at the moment?" Jaskier asked before his stomach dropped at the sad expression that came over Harry's face, old hurt.
"Teddy isn't biologically mine, he is the son of my dad's best friend and his wife, Remus, and Tonks, they died when Teddy was only a few months old, and they had asked me to be his godfather. I adopted him a few years ago,"
"I am sorry, I should not have asked," Jaskier said mortified.
"It is ok, Teddy knows, I haven't kept anything like that from him, and though it can be painful I like talking about them," Harry nodded to a picture on the mantelpiece of the large fireplace, and Jaskier could see a brightly smiling couple dancing together, the woman's hair was bright pink and she was looking lovingly at the man who looked a little older than her and was looking down at her with a slightly softer smile, but looked at he loved her more than anything else. "That is Remus and Tonks,"
"How old were you?" Jaskier asked.
"17," Harry chuckled at the expression on Jaskier's face. "Andromeda, Teddy's Grandmother, was a lifesaver, we have raised him between the two of us, and I am incredibly lucky that I had her in my life, she helped me as much as she helped Teddy. Plus my best friend's mum, Molly, practically adopted me when I was 12, she has seven children so she was a massive help as well, I had a lot of help," Harry chuckled, "I still do,"
"It is still pretty impressive,"
"I love him to bits, I am lucky to have him in my life. Here try the coffee," Harry held the mug he had mixed for Jaskier out to him, and he took a sip from it before letting out a groan and taking another deeper sip. "Like it?" Harry laughed.
"Yes! This is amazing!" Jaskier hummed, taking another couple of sips.
"Jaskier," Harry said, and the bard looked up at him with a cautious expression. "I said you don't have to tell me anything that you do not want to, and that completely stands. I have my suspicions though that you are not from here, and by that, I mean this world, though,"
"I think I am quite lost, nothing is familiar," Jaskier said, the fear already choking him. "Do the Northern Realms, Nilfgaard, Toussaint…Skellige does any of it sound familiar to you?" Jaskier asked more and more desperate as he took in the expression forming on Harry's face.
"No. This is England, in Great Britain," Harry said and Jaskier shook his head, tears forming in his eyes again as he realised that Yennefer had gone a step further than she normally did. "Hey! It is ok, I will help you in every way I can," Harry reached out and covered Jaskier's hand, gripping it tightly and helping suppress the panic that was building and building inside of Jaskier.
"Why are you being so nice to me? You don't even know me," Jaskier sniffed, wiping his eyes on the edge of the blanket.
"I know what it is like to be alone and in a place that you don't recognise," Harry smiled gently at him.
"But you have your son here and you are trusting me," Jaskier sniffed.
"I am pretty good at reading people, Jaskier, and I trust in my magic, you're a good person I can tell that, and you need help," Harry shook his head.
"I don't have any of your money that I could pay you back with though," Jaskier shook his head.
"I have more than enough money Jaskier, please don't worry about that, however long it takes you're welcome here, and I will help you get back home. I take it you came here through magic? That was what drew me to you," Harry asked.
"Yes, what was that thing that nearly hit me?" Jaskier asked, tugging the blanket around himself.
"It was a car, going by your clothing….do you have horses and carts?" Harry tried and smiled when Jaskier nodded, "it is a version of them, but you don't need to have the horse," Harry explained a bit awkwardly, clearly trying to find the equivalent for Jaskier.
"OK," Jaskier nodded.
"I managed to run out last night and take a magical sample from where you landed, do you know how you came to be here?" Harry asked taking out a vial and placing it down on the table between them, letting go of Jaskier's hand to do so and making the bard realise that he had been holding it the whole time.
"That is…wrong," Jaskier frowned leaning down to look into the vial at the swirling violet and golden magic. "The violet is Yennifer's magic, she sends me away when she is angry or annoyed at me, she cast the spell to send me away, but I don't recognise the gold," Jaskier frowned.
"She sends you away?" Harry frowned.
"She is…"
"You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to Jaskier," Harry held his hands up when he saw Jaskier's expression. "All I need to know is she a witch?"
"Yes she is, an immortal sorceress," Jaskier nodded, relieved that he didn't have to explain.
"Ok, that is a little bit different, does she use a wand or a staff?" Harry asked, withdrawing a wand from his sleeve and holding it up to Jaskier as an example.
"No, she just…." Jaskier waved his hands as an example.
"Ok, does she speak her spells?" Harry asked and suddenly a parchment and quill appeared at his elbow. "Sorry, my house elf," he chuckled when Jaskier jumped before Harry picked up the quill and started writing down what they had said so far.
"House elf?" Jaskier asked.
"They help around my house, I have three of them Dobby, Winky, Kreature, and Marcus. If you need anything while you are here just call any of them and they will be able to help you. Guys, can you come say hello," Harry called, and Jaskier blinked at the three small beings that popped into the room.
"They're not quite the elves I am used to…definitely less stabby," Jaskier commented.
"I don't know Kreature can be a bit stabby," Harry muttered and the slightly older-looking House elf grinned at them crookedly. "Ah and this is Marcus,"
"You called Master," The very old House elf bowed grandly, and then creakily stood up straight again.
"About ten minutes ago," Winky muttered.
"Who is a flow?" The old House elf frowned, turning to Winky.
"I said TEN MINUTES AGO!" Winky huffed.
"No need to shout, it isn't proper for a House elf to shout, Winky" Marcus huffed. Who had to be Dobby wrapped his arms around Winky's arm and held her back from Marcus.
"If Jaskier needs anything please do as he asks. Thank you guys," Harry smiled at them, obviously trying not to laugh. With a bow each, Winky slightly disgruntled, they all popped out. "I tried to get them to stop bowing but we're getting there slowly," He sighed before turning back to Jaskier.
"They seem lovely," Jaskier smiled honestly.
"They can be treated fairly badly by my people, but they're all family to me," Harry hummed.
"I will treat them with respect," Jaskier said, understanding the comment.
"Thank you," Harry smiled. "So where were we?" Harry frowned.
"You asked if she spoke her spells," Jaskier tucked the blanket a little closer around himself, "she does sometimes, but mostly no, she refers to it as chaos," he shuddered thinking about the bite and nip of her magic against his skin, feeling as though it was prickling under up his arms and neck.
"Jaskier?" Harry reached out and covered his hand again, and some of the chill went away with the friendly concern on Harry's face and eyes. It was that concern that made him speak.
"I feel like she leaves some of her magic in me, it hurts a little sometimes when I think about it, and it makes me feel chilled," Jaskier admitted.
"When you say it hurts?" Harry asked gently squeezing Jaskier's hand.
"Like pins and needles," Jaskier licked his lips.
"That gives me a lot to go on. My friend is very good at research, are you happy for me to share this with her so she can help me?" Harry asked sitting back and pouring them both another cup of coffee.
"Oh, I mean I would be fine with it, but I am putting so many people out," Jaskier said concernedly, but Harry just started laughing.
"My friend absolutely loves researching things like this, honestly she will be delighted with a problem like this,"
"If you're sure, I am sorry that I am…"
"Jaskier, please don't apologise, I am not offering anything that I am not willing to give, it isn't your fault that you are stuck here," Harry shook his head.
"Thank you," Jaskier reached out and took the cup Harry was holding out to him.
"Oh, I also was able to repair your…lute I think it is called?" Harry motioned across the room and Jaskier gasped when he saw his lute looking as good as new, literally, sitting on the side table after he had thought it was gone forever under the wheels of the…car he thought Harry had called it.
"Thank you," Jaskier said, and then to his utter embarrassment burst into tears, again.
"Jaskier! You're still here!" Teddy cried excitedly when he and Harry walked into the living room, the little boy racing across the room to him with a wide grin.
"I am a little lost at the moment I am afraid, your daddy is helping me get home and he has said I can stay while he helps if that is ok with you?" Jaskier smiled at the young boy.
"Yes! This will be fun, you seem really cool! Are you playing music? I love music but daddy is tone-deaf," Teddy said brightly.
"Oi you! I have told you not to listen to your Uncle Ron!" Harry protested from where he had just been sitting down on the sofa as well. "And he is as tone-deaf as I am," he added with a disgruntled mutter.
"Can you play something?" Teddy asked, completely ignoring his dad.
"Of course," Jaskier chuckled.
"Yay!" Teddy clapped his hands, and then to Jaskier's surprise his hair turned bright orange.
"Teddy is a metamorphmagus, he can change his features," Harry explained with a chuckle catching the expression. Teddy grinned and nodded his head before changing his eyes to be almost exactly the same as Jaskier's, then he turned into a miniature Harry and finally changed back to himself but with bright blue hair this time.
"My teachers at school say that I should try and have a normal colour but daddy and granny say that I am allowed to be whatever colour I want as long as I am not making fun of anyone or being distracting," Teddy nodded.
"I think it is really cool," Jaskier told him before moving his lute into position and started strumming, he didn't want to play anything about Geralt, but unlike what he and the Witch thought, he did write other songs, and it was some of them that he played now for Teddy, and Harry who turned to watch him as he listened to him.
"Wow, even my tone-deaf ears could hear that you are talented," Harry said once he was finished making Teddy and Jaskier start to laugh. "So Teddy Bear, Jaskier isn't from our world, I was thinking, why don't I take you and him to the theatre tonight?" Harry suggested and Teddy squeaked excitedly.
"Yes! I will go change!" Teddy clapped excitedly before turning and racing out of the room, clomping loudly up the stairs.
"I… are you sure, I can't pay for myself," Jaskier flushed.
"I am sure, and honestly you will be doing me a favour," Harry rubbed the back of his neck a little sheepishly, "I really am tone deaf, and he loves music and theatre, he talks to me about it, and I try and keep up with him, but I can't really. I saw this a while ago and wanted to take him,"
"I could teach him to play? Jaskier offered, perking up at the thought of being able to give something back to this kind stranger in return for his help, "I play a few different instruments including the violin, piano, and cello,"
"Wow, you can play that many instruments?" Harry said a little awed, and Jaskier felt a flush appear on his cheeks.
"Yes, I can teach him if you would like," Jaskier suggested.
"I would like, and he would love. He actually loves the cello….that's the big guitar sort of thing right?" Harry grimaced waving his hands around to indicate the general dimensions of a cello.
"Yes that is a cello," Jaskier said managing to keep his laughter down, just.
"He loves that," Harry nodded.
"I can start him on that, and singing lessons, I was a bard from where I am from,"
"It makes sense with how talented you are," Harry said appreciatively.
"Oh, thank you," Jaskier brightened.
"I will go and get you something to wear, it's not a super posh place but Teddy likes that we dress up a little," Harry stood and the next thing Winky popped into the room.
"Master Harry has no sense of taste, Winky is being laying out what you is to wear on your bed, and Master Jaskier I have chosen something for you and changed it so that it will fit you properly. I have also put a selection of clothes that will suit you in your room, and Dobby is being going out and having got you some underwear, Winky is apologising for them!" the elf squeaked before popping back out leaving Harry half standing half sitting, and Jaskier blinking at the space.
"You're meant to be subservient you know! Respectful and in awe of me as your master!" Harry called out sounding annoyed enough that Jaskier's blue eyes widened a little. Winky popped back in and swept into a bow so low her nose touched the floor almost…before sticking two fingers up at Harry and disappearing again.
Harry started roaring with laughter right away.
"Harry?" Jaskier called stepping out into the hallway, he was greeted with the sight of Teddy in his pants in the room across from Jaskier's, one sock on and one-off, fighting with his shirt. "Here," he chuckled making his way across the hallway and kneeling to help the little boy get his top over his head so he could see.
"Did someone call me?" Harry stumbled into the hallway fighting to get his shirt over his head, his arm flapping around as he tried to get it through the sleeve.
"I did, my underpants are erm…moving," Jaskier chuckled.
"Oh, oh sorry, Dobby really likes clothes, and he really likes clothes with moving things on them, it is a charm," Harry explained as he got his top on properly, though it was a little twisted, and then looked at the blue underwear in Jaskier's hands that had bluebells bobbing around merrily on them.
"They're pretty cool," Jaskier admitted.
"Finally! Dobby is being having someone that agrees with him! Everyone else is being laughing at Dobby, but I is thinking they are lovely!" Dobby popped into the room nodding enthusiastically.
"I like the buttercup ones especially, that is what my name means," Jaskier smiled at the elf.
"You're going to have everything buttercup that he can find now," Harry chuckled as Dobby's eyes widened and he popped out of the room.
"Oh, I didn't mean…" Jaskier stammered.
"It will make him happy, especially if you like them," Harry shook his head.
"I will go and get dressed," Jaskier flushed hurrying back into his room.
"How did your sock get on top of the wardrobe!" He heard Harry exclaim behind him and Teddy let out a loud cackle.
"That was…was…amazing!" Jaskier said awed as they walked away from the theatre, which wasn't just a knocked-together outdoor stage, but a massive stone building, with rich reds and golds, ridiculously comfortable seats, and a grand stage on which well-dressed and incredibly talented musicians had played.
"Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov is one of my favourite composers!" Teddy nodded walking alongside him, "I love the violin solo in Scheherazade, it always makes the hair on my arms stand up!"
"They were so talented, and the music was just stunning, it felt like being taken on a journey!"
"It had to have been good, daddy only fell asleep three times!" Teddy smirked at Harry who looked guilty, clearly thinking that he had gotten away with it.
"Sorry guys, I like listening to it but not in the same way as you two clearly do," Harry said apologetically. "How about dessert to make up for it?"
"Yay!" Teddy jumped at Harry who easily caught him and swung the little boy up onto his hip, winking at Jaskier after Teddy grinned triumphantly at the bard, clearly thinking that he had manipulated his dad. "What did you think about the…"
Teddy and Jaskier chattered about the performance all the way to the little cafe Harry took them to, Harry ordering for Jaskier after the Bard gave him a slightly panicked look seeing the list of things that the place offered, over half of which he had no idea what they were.
Harry listened to them happily as they waited for their food, smiling at the enthusiasm with which Teddy spoke about the music, the look on his face as he looked at the little boy was pure love, settling down he talked about the music and the different things that they had heard during the concert, Harry was listening to them with a soft smile on his face though he looked more than a little lost for most of it.
Then a waitress placed down the largest glass full of ice cream that Jaskier had ever seen. Wide-eyed he turned to Harry who was smiling at him and looking pleased with himself that he had clearly made the right choice, then the waitress placed a few more plates down onto the table as Teddy bounced excitedly in his seat.
"What is this?" Jaskier asked looking at a bowl that Harry pushed towards him, humming as the sweet smell hit his nose.
"Cookie dough!" Teddy explained pressing a fork into Jaskier's hand and looking eagerly at him.
"Oh my…that is amazing!" Jaskier groaned before forking an even bigger forkful into his mouth.
"Try it with some of your ice cream!" Teddy recommended and Jaskier's eyes nearly rolled in his head as the taste hit his taste buds.
"You seem to be amazingly calm with everything, I can only imagine how different all of this must be to you," Harry said softly.
"Honestly, my life was pretty much full of surprises, things I had never seen before, experiences that I have never had before, I have become used to it in a way, it is surprising, and some of it shocking like the cars never mind the buses, but after everything that I have seen and has been thrown my way I have kind of already reached my limit," Jaskier shrugged.
"Hmm, it sounds like you have had an adventurous life already," Harry frowned a little before his expression cleared and he took a massive massive bite of his cake making Teddy cheer and Jaskier nearly choke on the mouthful of ice cream that he had just taken, not having been expecting that at all.
Geralt pulled Roach to a stop and hopped down from the saddle, moving around the clearing making it habitable for him to spend the night, he threw his bed roll down onto the floor and turned to relieve Roach of her packs. Jaskier's shirt caught his eyes and he scowled to himself as he threw the pack onto the floor and heard a smash, growling to himself he turned to deal with it and froze when the scent of Jaskier's perfumes hit his nose.
He would be furious, those bottles were expensive, and he had asked over and over that Geralt be careful when putting their packs down, but he never wrapped the bottles properly the way Geralt told him to protect them! As he dropped onto his bed roll and tipped the pack over to clear the glass from it he started muttering to himself.
"He has no right to be angry when he doesn't do the things that I ask him to do, if he just wrapped them properly the way I said they wouldn't have smashed!"
The truth he had to admit to himself though was the more of Jaskier's things that he pulled from the pack, the more of Jaskier's belongings that he did not have on him because Yennefer had sent him away again, the more guilty he felt. Jaskier not being here was the reason that he didn't have a fire lit, warming the area and making it a little more welcoming, he did not need it, he only did it for Jaskier, and he complained about it, but it made the area a little warmer and brighter, it was something that he looked forward to after a long day of travelling, the comfort of the fire, the comfort of Jaskier talking and singing…
Growling Geralt shoved himself off of the floor and stormed around getting some firewood, he would light a damned fire, even though he knew that it wouldn't be warm the way that he was longing for, there was one thing missing to provide that warmth.
He could go after Jaskier, or get Yennefer to tell him where she had sent him…but he didn't want Jaskier to know how important he was to him, Geralt wanted to keep that control of the other and their relationship, he wanted to keep the power in a relationship that he felt Jaskier had more power over him, he couldn't let him know the truth of their relationship.
"Everything ok?" Harry asked walking into the kitchen and finding Jaskier having a stare off with the cooker.
"I have seen you do this, I can do it!" Jaskier said firmly before he clapped and let out a triumphant noise. "I made us lunch,"
"That sounds perfect, I am shattered," Harry admitted putting his parcels in the corner.
"What is all of that?" Jaskier watched the boxes floating into place curiously.
"Some instruments for you and Teddy, if you are still happy to teach him?" Harry asked nervously.
"Of course I am!" Jaskier said brightly.
"Could you look them over and make sure that they are ok?" Harry asked innocently, seeing the expression on Jaskier's face.
"I know you are doing, and I will ignore it," Jaskier flicked imaginary long hair over his shoulder as he hurried over to the boxes, Harry chuckling at him in response.
It had been a week since Jaskier had arrived, and they got on well, the two of them falling into easy conversation with each other, falling into an easy routine, or as easy as it could be with Jaskier adjusting to living in a completely different world. Harry was teaching him all the things that he could come up with Jaskier needing to know in case of emergencies, and he had taken Jaskier in increasingly larger circles around the area so that the bard did not feel that he was trapped in the house.
Jaskier started opening the boxes as he mused about the fact that he probably would have been stuck in the house, scared to go outside and see such an unfamiliar world, just stepping out of the door meant realising that everything was incredibly different, the houses, the railings, the cars, the people, but with Harry and Teddy taking him around, it was fun, it was different and exciting seeing it, and he was feeling more comfortable and more adjusted than he thought that he could be so quickly.
"Harry! These are amazing!" Jaskier gasped, laying the instruments out on the floor.
"Are these ok for him to start out with?" Harry asked concernedly.
"Yes, these are perfect for him," Jaskier nodded, picking up the cello and started plucking it, nodding approvingly of the notes that came from it.
"Thank you for this Jaskier, he will just be over the moon to get to learn," Harry said gratefully.
"Harry, you're letting me stay in your house and helping me massively, you don't need to thank me, and teaching and playing music is definitely not something that is putting me out at all, I am really looking forward to it," Jaskier shook his head.
"It has been nice having you here," Harry smiled. "Teddy is loving having someone to talk music to,"
"I…"
"Harry?" the woman's voice called following the sound of the front door shutting, and then a woman around Harry's age walked into the kitchen. She had curly hair that was tugged into a high bun and was wearing what Harry called leggings and a large t-shirt. "Oh, you must be Jaskier,"
"I am," Jaskier scrambled to his feet so that he wasn't looking up at her from the floor.
"Lovely to meet you, I am Hermione," she smiled, holding her hand out to him.
"Ah Harry's an incredibly smart friend," Jaskier took her hand, Hermione giving an incredibly firm handshake.
"Is that how he described me?" Hermione turned to smile fondly at Harry who shrugged.
"It is true,"
"I just made lunch, are you joining us?" Jaskier asked.
"If there is enough to go around," Hermione nodded.
"More than," Jaskier hurried over to the cooker and started plating it up.
"Oh are these for Teddy?" Hermione asked, motioning to the instruments.
"Jaskier has said he wouldn't mind teaching him," Harry nodded.
"This looks lovely," Hermione said to Jaskier when he placed their plates on the table.
"It isn't much," Jaskier shook his head.
"I can not cook for the life of me, getting yummy food is always a plus," Hermione laughed.
"This is lovely," Harry hummed after taking a spoonful of the stew.
"So Jaskier," Hermione said a second later, turning to glare at Harry when he snorted loudly into his stew.
"You held out about a minute longer than I expected you to," Harry teased.
"I am wounded and insulted by that accusation! I hope you know that!"
"It was more of an insinuation than an accusation,"
"Don't get smart with me Harry Potter,"
"I would never try and attempt to Hermione Granger,"
"You think you're so funny,"
"I know I am, it is part of my charm," Harry stuck his tongue out at Hermione and then Jaskier couldn't hold in his laugh when Hermione thwacked Harry in the forehead with her spoon, not really hurting him, but leaving a mark of the gravy from the stew on his forehead.
"Hey!" Harry huffed.
"Love you," Hermione blew a kiss at Harry.
"Pft, love you too," Harry pouted, but Jaskier could tell that he meant it.
"So Jaskier," Hermione turned back to him, and Jaskier and Harry started laughing with Hermione quickly joining in.
Jaskier yawned as he made his way into the house, grinning when he heard a whoosh from the kitchen indicating that either Harry or Hermione had just flooed into the house. He hurried down the hallway with his lute on his back and walked into the kitchen, only to pause as he came face to face with a redheaded woman who had been walking towards the kitchen doorway.
"Oh, my Merlin! You gave me a fright!" She laughed clutching her chest, "you have to be Jaskier, hello dear, I'm Molly,"
"Oh hello," Jaskier took the hand that she held out which she took in both of hers and squeezed gently.
"It is lovely to meet you dear, I believe that you are a little stuck at the moment and Harry is helping you,"
"Yes, and Hermione," Jaskier nodded.
"They're good kids. How are you settling in? Are you feeling ok with it all?" Molly asked concerned drawing Jaskier over to the kitchen table and settling him down at it before waving her wand and creating two cups of tea in front of them.
"Oh, I am doing ok, it is a little different and it is taking some adjustment. I think the worst thought is what would have happened to me if Harry hadn't come across me and had been so kind to me," Jaskier found himself admitting what he had not said out loud to even himself yet.
"I can imagine, Harry had a good heart and will go out his way to help, but there are not a lot of people like that in the world," Molly nodded, creating what looked like a cake with her magic as well.
"I hope you don't think that I am taking advantage of Harry's kindness because I wouldn't…"
"No no not at all sweetheart, I know what Harry is like and I can tell how much you appreciate what he is doing for you," Molly shook her head reaching out to squeeze his hand again before cutting him a massive slab of cake. "Now, tell me a little bit about yourself, Harry says you are teaching Teddy music?" She smiled, and Jaskier found himself chattering away to her about his life.
"Heya Jaskier, have you had a good day…Molly hello!" Harry beamed when he saw Molly seated at the table with Jaskier, hurrying over to wrap his arms around her from behind and placing a messy kiss on her cheek. "Has she been stuffing you with food?" Harry laughed seeing the plates on the table.
"He is far too thin," Molly tutted.
"I haven't eaten this well in my entire life," Jaskier laughed.
"Are you staying for supper?" Harry asked Molly, kissing her cheek again and giving her another squeeze before he stood.
"If you don't mind?" Molly smiled.
"Of course not, Ron and Mione are meant to be coming around as well," Harry waved her off.
"I will let Arthur know, my husband," Molly explained to Jaskier before waving her wand, the bard watched with interest as a silvery swan burst from her wand and flew through the wall.
"Ron is picking Teddy up," Harry said as he started pulling things out in the kitchen. "Did you go out today, Jaskier?"
"I did, I was actually thinking about going to the corner and playing my lute, I have seen a few people on my walks doing that, it would be nice to play, even for a small audience," Jaskier made his way over and started to help Harry chopping some of the vegetables.
"That is a good idea, I will cast a charm on you and an umbrella to make sure that you don't get soaked if it starts raining," Harry smiled.
"Thank you, I might be able to make a bit of money for myself so I can contribute," Jaskier added softly.
"You know that you don't have to," Harry nudged him, "but with how talented you are I am sure that you will be making plenty soon enough," he added, making Jaskier blush at the compliment.
"How is Teddy coming along?" Molly asked.
"He has a real talent," Jaskier said enthusiastically.
"It sounds like he is strangling a cat right now," Harry snorted. "But you can hear him improving, at least to my ears,"
"He is improving, I think he is going to be really talented," Jaskier said proudly.
"He has always loved music and theatre and all of that," Molly nodded. "I can't wait to hear him!"
"I cast charms on my ears so I can't hear it, she will sit there and listen to it all," Harry laughed.
"HARRY!"
"Oh dear Merlin," Molly and Harry said at the same time.
"Sorry we're being invaded," Harry added with a sigh making Jaskier a little worried before the kitchen door swung open and twin redheads stood at the doorway with their hands outspread in a tada motion.
"Hang on," One of the twins said, and the next thing they stepped back out the door and shut it behind them.
"Ready!" They shouted through the door and then they burst in again in the exact same position, except this time there was an explosion of confetti and small fireworks. Jaskier burst out laughing and started clapping before his eyes slid to where his lute was sitting on the table.
"Don't you dare," Harry warned only to get an utterly mischievous grin back, "do not encourage them!"
"Go again!" He called and the twins didn't even question it, diving back out of the room and slamming the door behind themselves.
"Now!" They cried, and this time when they burst into the room with their confetti and fireworks Jaskier struck up a jaunty tune for them as they jumped into the room.
"Merlin," Ron shook his head from where he had apparated into the room with Teddy on his shoulders in time to see the performance. Teddy cheered from his perch reaching up to catch the confetti.
Harry just laughed, shaking his head before waving his wand and the tons of confetti that were now in the room swirled up and flew at Jaskier and the twins, spinning around them until they were covered in it with chunks of it styled into their hair.
The twins started clapping and walking into the room properly this time, waving their wands to get rid of most of the debris of confetti, but leaving the confetti crown that Harry had made for the three of them.
"You have to be Jaskier," Fred and George said together as they walked over.
"I have to be indeed," Jaskier grinned, shaking their hands.
"I knew that introducing you three would be a nightmare together," Harry snorted, grabbing some more ingredients to pad out what he was making.
"Well well well, we definitely need to spend some time getting to know you Jaskier," Fred said as they both threw their arms over Jaskier's shoulders.
"Behave!" Harry warned.
"Erm," Jaskier looked unsure if Harry was genuinely annoyed.
"He was talking to them," Hermione shook her head as he walked over to them.
"Touch nothing!" Ron shouted across the room.
"I was only going to help chop things!" Hermione snapped.
"Yes, and we will be eating burned remains,"
"From chopping!"
"You're cursed! You curse the food!"
"Ronald Weasley I will curse you black and blue!"
"I have the child!" Ron squeaked as Hermione drew her wand and started storming towards him, he pulled a giggling Teddy over his shoulders and held him out in front of him like a shield.
Teddy became even more delighted when Hermione flicked her wand and tugged him out of Ron's hands and levitated him up by the ceiling, his hair becoming an imitation of Hermione's as he spun in circles. Ron let out a squeak and turned on his heel running.
"Do not break anything in my house!" Harry shouted after them, "again!"
"And mum wonders why their dating never worked out," Fred snorted looking over his shoulder as Ron let out a squeal from somewhere upstairs.
"Come on, come and sit with us!" George tugged Jaskier over to the sofa by the fire, the twins tugging the bard between them, and Harry smiled when Jaskier looked up at him with understanding in his eyes, they were protecting him from feeling overwhelmed by the sudden influx of strange people. Jaskier watched as a man that could only be Mr Arthur Weasley walked into the room as he flooed through the fire, plucked Teddy from the air, and hugged the excited little boy tightly, before bending and kissing Molly's cheek.
The next thing he found himself engaged in a conversation with Fred and George, excited to realise that they made prank items, and desperate to see their store the more and more they discussed it. He also realised that the twins were a sort of big brother to Harry.
"Ugh!" Jaskier looked up when a redheaded woman stepped through the fire and brushed off her robes with clear annoyance on her face. She flicked her hair over her shoulder and stomped over to Harry, throwing her arms around his waist and burying her face into his back.
"Had another argument with Luna?" Harry asked calmly as just carried on cooking, even when he moved a little further down the counter she just shuffled with him.
"Except it is never a fight because she just looks at me with those big blue eyes!" Ginny grumbled into his back.
"That is why you two go together, she doesn't raise to it when your temper flares. What happened?" Harry chuckled.
"I came home to find a lot of unicorns in the house," Ginny sighed.
"Define a lot?" Harry snorted.
"I stopped counting at… thirty-five when I couldn't be sure which was which because they kept moving around," Ginny huffed.
"What did she say?"
"They needed somewhere to stay," Ginny groaned. "They were eating one of my Quidditch jerseys,"
"Have dinner here, calm down, and go home, tell her that she can put them in the gardens of the manor, and I will have a word with her over the next few days about bringing so many animals into the house," Harry patted her hand.
"I don't mind the animals in the house, even if the Blast-end Skewet stares at me when I am in the shower," Ginny sighed.
"Just not a hoard of unicorns eating your jersey?"
Just not a hoard of unicorns eating my jersey," Ginny nodded.
"There there," Harry patted her hand again when she whined dramatically. Jaskier looked around the room and saw Molly watching the gathering with a soft and proud smile.
"Jaskier!" Teddy ran over and threw himself onto Jaskier's lap with a giggle.
"Teddy Lupin-Potter!" Ron ran into the room and everyone burst out laughing as he was sporting a pair of donkey ears on the top of his head. "You guys fuc…fudging suck! Don't be pulling the kid in on your pranks!"
"I offered," Teddy said even as he gave high fives to Fred and George when they held their hands out.
"Harry!" Ron turned to Harry who just grinned at his friend. "You guys all suck," he whined stomping over to a chair and dropping into it dramatically.
"Food is ready," Harry called, and Jaskier found himself grabbed by Teddy and Fred and pulled over to the table as there was a mass stampede to get a place. Harry floated over a ton of plates and bowls onto the table, and then a load of different drinks before coming over and settling himself down so that Teddy was between him and Jaskier.
"I am shattered," Harry groaned dropping down onto an armchair.
"I can put Teddy to bed, if that is ok," Jaskier stammered towards the end suddenly realising what he had suggested.
"Would you mind? That would be amazing, he has been asking about you putting him to bed but I didn't want to make you feel as though he had to," Harry smiled up at him from his relaxed sprawl.
"I don't mind at all," Jaskier shook his head standing, "I will let him think that he has tricked me into an extra story,"
"Thank you Jaskier," Harry said gratefully, smiling up at him with a soft expression, and Jaskier to his surprise found himself blushing and at a loss for words so he just smiled and hurried out of the room.
When he walked into Teddy's room the little boy clapped excitedly and dove onto his bed, pulling the covers up around himself and looking eagerly at Jaskier, the bard felt his heart melting a little when Teddy's eyes changing to match his own blue ones exactly, he was becoming far too attached to the little boy, and as he sat down on the side of Teddy's bed and started telling him a tame version of one of his adventures he felt a small pang at the thought of leaving him behind to go back to his own world.
"Did he settle down ok?" Harry asked when Jaskier walked into the room, the dark-haired man was sprawled on the sofa reading.
"He did, he's a good boy," Jaskier said as he dropped down onto the other side of the sofa.
"I hope today wasn't too overwhelming, I wasn't expecting that many of them to descend on the house," Harry said concerned.
"No it was nice, to be honest, you all have been so welcoming, and they're such a fun mix of people," Jaskier shook his head.
"That is one way of putting it," Harry laughed.
"It was fun," Jaskier chuckled.
"I've been lucky that I have had them in my life," Harry smiled warmly at the thought of his adoptive family as he summoned two glasses and a bottle of wine, pouring for them both before holding one of the glasses out to Jaskier.
"How did you meet them?" Jaskier asked curiously.
"When I went to school at 11, I bumped into Molly, Ron, Ginny, Fred, George, and their brother Percy, they helped me get onto the train and me and Ron ended up in the same compartment…"
"The train…that's the long thing right?" Jaskier frowned. "On…rails,"
"That is it," Harry nodded. "Ron and I made friends, Hermione became friends with us a few months after when we fought a Troll to help her,"
"I am not sure if your Trolls are the same as our Trolls considering the variation of elves, big, ugly, dumb, brute force?" Jaskier frowned a little.
"They're the same then," Harry nodded before nearly falling off of the sofa from the noise that came from Jaskier.
"Why were you fighting a Troll at 11!" Jaskier shrieked.
"Ah well, long story short, Ron had been a prick to Hermione earlier and she was crying in the girls' bathroom, everything was in such chaos we didn't know what to do, and it was Ron's fault, and to be fair at the time we didn't know that the Troll was actually on the way there, we thought it was in the dungeon," Harry rambled trying to look as innocent as possible under Jaskier's glare.
"How did you beat it?" Jaskier asked slightly horrified.
"Ah…I stuck my wand up its nose and Ron hit it with its own club when he managed to levitate it, thanks to Hermione's help with saying the spell right," Harry snorted.
"Bloody hell," Jaskier shook his head. "That is equally impressive and terrifying,"
"That probably sums up my school career," Harry laughed.
"There were more Troll type of incidents?" Jaskier asked.
"A….few," Harry grinned and then laughed at the glare that Jaskier gave him while reaching out and grabbing the bottle of wine to top up their glasses.
"Erm, taking up a new kink?" Hermione asked as she walked in the kitchen and found Harry clipping what looked like a metal hair clip onto Jaskier's earlobe, "If you can't give a mature reaction you shouldn't be using kink," Hermione said smoothly in response to Harry blowing a raspberry at her. She made her way over as Harry clipped a few more clips onto Jaskier and then sat back muttering the spell as tapped his wand on various parts of a pad.
"What is it?" Hermione asked when he sat back seemingly happy with the spell, the pad glowing a faint purple.
"It reads the magic around us, the natural magic that we absorb, and magic that has been used and coated over us. Jaskier feels the remnants of the Witch's magic causing a pin and needle feeling, I am hoping to be able to get a clear read on her magic while removing it as well," Harry explained as he fiddled with a couple of the clips.
"She left her magic on you to hurt you, who the hell is…"
"Hermione," Harry said warningly and seriously, flashing a serious look at his friend that Jaskier had never seen before. Hermione's angry words stopped the minute he spoke, and though she didn't look happy about it, she was clearly going to respect Harry's warning not to try and get information from Jaskier that he did not want to share.
"Let me know what we're looking for," Hermione said instead, sitting down next to Harry facing Jaskier with a determined expression on her face, "we will make sure that we get every drop off of you, and I will create a protection for you that will stop her, or anyone else, being able to do this to you again,"
"Thank you both," Jaskier said gratefully looking between them.
"Nothing to thank us for, this will feed her curiosity for weeks and keep her quiet," Harry snorted before shrieking and jumping out of his chair rubbing his ear in disgust after Hermione had sucked her finger and stuck it right down his ear. "I swear you get less and less mature the older we get," Harry said grouchily sitting back down, only to flinch and look at her with narrowed eyes when she made a faux move towards his ear again.
"I spent most of my childhood keeping you alive," Hermione snorted, though her phrasing definitely caught Jaskier's attention.
"We were technically only children for two years, then we were teenagers," Harry retorted.
"Don't be pedantic Harry Potter," Hermione huffed.
"Me! Never!" Harry gasped dramatically clutching his chest.
"Honestly you two," Jaskier shook his head amused as they clearly went to carry on squabbling, "could we get on with this, please? My ear is starting to itch,"
"Sorry Jaskier," Harry laughed looking at him.
"What was that?" He narrowed his eyes on Hermione.
"Nothing," She smiled cheekily.
"Right here we go," Harry cut off Jaskier's response and the bard turned to him as the wizard started twirling his wand around him in a set pattern while muttering his spell, Hermione was watching him intently, and clearly noting what he was saying, and Jaskier started to feel a tingle building all over his body until the pad that he had prepared was suddenly being filled with figures, shapes and what Jaskier recognised as runes, though they were not runes that were used in his world.
"What?" Jaskier gasped when from each other the different clips on his body started allowing a hazy substance to leave his body, heading for the vial that Harry had placed on the table.
"The Witch's magic," Hermione said tightly, her lips pinched together.
"Is it a lot?" Jaskier asked, thankful that Hermione understood that he meant in comparison to what they had thought might be there when she just nodded, an angry expression crossing her face.
"It was doing more than just causing you pain now and then, it was tracking you, and following you around like a shadow, I do not know what she intended to do with so much magic left inside of you, but I can not imagine that it would have been anything good," Harry said as he finished the spell and reached out to grab the vial, placing the cork into it firmly and tapping it with his wand, then he pulled the pad towards himself, scanning over the information that had been recorded. Hermione stood and started to pull the clips gently off of Jaskier, while the Bard stared wide-eyed and confused at Harry, he couldn't see his face and there was an aurora coming off of him.
Hermione smiled reassuringly at him when he turned to look at her, patting his shoulder before she stepped back and dropped all of the clips onto the table.
"Harry?" Jaskier asked cautiously, and when Harry looked up at him his green eyes were snapping with an anger, a fury, that Jaskier hadn't thought the kind-hearted, gentle, and fun-loving man was capable of.
"That is all of the magic she had in you removed, I don't know what she intended, but she won't get a chance to do it," Harry said angrily, and suddenly Jaskier realised that Harry was angry for him, for what had been done to him. He was so used to always being the one in the wrong when it came to Yennifer, of being accused of winding her up, prodding her, provoking her, and so by implication being deserving of the different things that she did to him, he had brought it on himself. It had not occurred to him that Harry might be angry for him.
"Thank you," he said so honestly that Harry's face relaxed almost right away.
"I am going to take a sample of this magic to someone who should be able to give me information on it," Harry took the vial and placed it into his pocket.
"Harry," Hermione frowned slightly.
"It will be fine, he owes me a favour anyway," Harry shrugged. "You're probably better casting your eyes over these first," Harry pushed the pad towards Hermione.
"You're lucky I love you and…"
"Kept me alive, I know!" Harry said cheerfully, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "Right, I had better get this magic delivered and then go around and have my conversation with Luna about bringing a hoard of unicorns home," Harry stood and grabbed his jacket.
"Technically it is called a herd," Hermione said while still scanning over the results.
"I don't think either of those is what Gin called them, especially when they started eating her jersey," Harry laughed before waving to them and then stepping through the fire.
"What did you mean when you said you kept him alive? He told me some of his adventures last night but…" Jaskier turned to Hermione before the fire even turned from green back to normal colour.
"But he undersold it?" Hermione chuckled looking up from the paperwork.
"Massively from the sound of it. The basilisk when you were 12?"
"Was about 30 feet long, and its tooth went through his arm when he stabbed it. He would have died if Dumbledore's phoenix hadn't cried on his arm and healed him," Hermione sat back.
"Fucking hell!" Jaskier scrubbed his hand through his hair.
"Harry, he doesn't see himself as a hero or anything special despite the rest of our world viewing him as that, and he really doesn't see how amazing some of the things that he has done are. He saved our world by sacrificing himself, Harry technically died to try and save everyone else, then he fought his way back and because of the sacrifice was able to defeat the Dark Lord who would have tortured and killed anyone none magical that he could, and people like me who are born from none magical parents. He always says that Ron and I played an equal part, and while we did play a big part, he doesn't see how amazing the things that he did are," Hermione smiled a little sadly.
"He…bloody hell," Jaskier shook his head as he took in what Hermione had said.
"Some people would have become big-headed and full of themselves, especially with the response that he got from the public after defeating Voldemort. I know he keeps saying to you that money isn't a problem, the reason it isn't is because even though Harry's parents left him a good amount of money when they died," Hermione paused and looked at the Bard to check that he had been told about Lily and James Potter's deaths, the sad nod he gave confirming he had, "but he has also had money bequeathed to him from dozens of people, many of whom lost their lives to Voldemort or his Death Eaters, as well as getting some of the money from the Death Eaters that had died or gone to prison with no living heirs,"
"I can't imagine Harry liked that," Jaskier said quietly.
"He hated it, he felt like he was stealing from people, but magical wills are different from normal ones, and once the will is signed it is a magically binding contract. He has used the money as much as he can to help others, he made sure that Molly and Arthur are set for life, and the rest of us, he invested more money into the twins' joke shop and helped Ginny pay for the best broom and her training. He helped those that were affected by the war and areas that were affected, and Teddy has been spoiled rotten. But he still has a lot left," Hermione smiled softly.
"He likes helping people," Jaskier smiled.
"Yes he does," Hermione's smile was nothing but fond and full of love.
"Who is he taking to the magic to?" Jaskier asked.
"His ex, Draco," Hermione huffed crossing her arms. "They had an on-again, off-again thing for years with Draco always being the one to end the relationship because some part of his delicate ego has been bruised, I say it is just jealousy of Harry. They fought like cats and dogs in school and were each other's schoolyard enemies. After the war ended they spent time together, schoolyard arguing just seemed stupid after everything that had happened, and Draco had actually helped us during the war despite being on the other side. Everyone thought that it was going to be a romance story, they were schoolyard enemies but had been pulled together after the war and would fall madly in love with each other and happily ever after. But it hasn't been that way," Hermione ranted.
"Are you worried that they will get back together?" Jaskier felt a squeeze around his chest, he did not want Harry getting back into a bad relationship because he was trying to help him.
"No, Harry has reached a really healthy place now, this is the longest that they have been apart, and Harry has been doing well. I guess I am just prickly about any interaction that they have together," Hermione snorted, "I'm a little over protective,"
"Just a little, but it is nice to see," Jaskier smiled.
"Do you have someone to protect you?" Hermione asked carefully.
"I thought I did," Jaskier frowned down at his hands, "I thought that at the end of the day, I could trust him, rely on him and that he had my best interests at heart. I have been wrapped up in him for a decade now, devoting a big part of my life and my music to him, to helping him, to being with him…but the longer I am away, after the things that he said to me…"
"I am sorry," Hermione reached out and covered his hand with hers.
"Being here…I have a lot to rethink about my life back at home," Jaskier smiled a little sadly.
"If you need to talk about it, we're here for you Jaskier," Hermione said honestly.
Geralt scowled to himself as he slammed the door of the inn shut and squished his way through the wet, sloppy mud that clung to his boots and trousers, weighing his feet down as he made his way across from the inn to the stables. Roach nickered when he reached her stall, and he sighed, shoving back his hood before opening the door and stepping in himself, eyeing the slightly damp hay in the enclosure with distaste. With another sigh to himself, he dropped his bags down onto the floor and tugged out his sleeping roll before trying to figure out the best place for him to be able to sleep.
The innkeeper had looked him up and down and announced that all their rooms were full. Geralt knew that it was bullshit, the inn was half empty, and it was getting close to winter now, all inns across the continent were grabbing all the custom that they could to help see them through the winter. Except for Witcher's custom apparently, he had had to pay double what he would have for a room for him and Roach to be able to stay in this stable to keep out of the freezing and never-ending rain.
If Jaskier had caught up with him by now this wouldn't have happened, he would have been able to sweet talk the innkeeper into letting them have a room, especially considering he would have been able to lure people in from around the village by playing his music, they probably would have gotten supper for free and been allowed to pay less for their room.
"He's never taken this long to find us before," Geralt said to Roach once he was settled onto the floor and tucked in his bedroll to try and keep the chill of the oncoming winter out, the cold didn't affect him the same way that it did humans, but it still wasn't pleasant.
Roach stamped her hooves a little and looked down at him with what he could only say was a disapproving and disappointed look before turning back to chomp at the damp hay.
"I…it is my fault that he hasn't caught up with us yet, why would he after what I said? I am sure that he will forgive me and come back, but I don't think he is going to be hurrying back," Geralt sighed.
This time Roach's hoof came a little dangerously close to his face.
"I know!" Geralt groaned. "It is too close to winter, we will spend it in Kaer Morhen, and then we will look for him, I think I need to find him this time," Geralt sighed. "I shouldn't have spoken to him that way,"
Staring out at the raid coming down outside the stable Geralt thought over the words that he had spoken to Jaskier that day, guilt and loneliness eating his insides making him feel as though he had just taken an off potion.
Jaskier stared out over the square across from Grimmauld place, watching the rain coming down and drenching the whole place, making it grim and dark and grey and miserable. He was going over and over in his head the words that Geralt had spat out at him on that mountain, the chat with Hermione earlier bringing back what he had been trying hard to ignore. He heard them again and again, and he couldn't help but shiver and pull the teal blanket tighter around his shoulders as the feeling of ice running through his veins swept over him.
He remembered the look of triumph on Yennifer's face as she opened the portal directly behind him and the familiar feeling of being shoved into it followed directly after, the smug look on her face was normal, but the triumphant was not, and it had made him frightened.
"JASKIER!" The shout snapped him out of the daze he had been in for who knew how long, turning towards the door.
"Merlin Teddy Bear volume," Harry complained, but there was no response from Teddy as the door to the living room slammed open and Teddy raced across the room with something clutched in his hands. Harry stepped in right behind him, rolling his eyes at Jaskier.
"Jaskier, come on come on come on!" Teddy grabbed his hand and started trying to tug him from the window seat he was sitting on.
"Where are we going?" Jaskier smiled at the little boy, allowing himself to get pulled to his feet.
"Daddy brought us a surprise!" Teddy said excitedly.
"A surprise?" Jaskier looked at Harry.
"He said it was something for us to see," Teddy nodded eagerly, tugging Jaskier to Harry who was laughing now.
"Come on you two," Harry motioned for them to follow him.
"What is it?" Jaskier asked curiously.
"A…surprise." Harry grinned.
"Harry!"
"Daddy!" they protested as they hurried down the stairs behind him.
"What is it?" Jaskier whined, eager to see what it was.
"Two minutes," Harry laughed taking them through the kitchen to the back door.
"It is out in the garden?" Teddy asked.
"It is, come on," Harry opened the door and led them out, a spell stopping the rain from hitting them as they stepped outside. And then Jaskier and Teddy saw it.
"Daddy!" Teddy gasped quietly staring at the creature in front of them.
"A unicorn?" Jaskier gasped staring at it.
"Luna moved all of her unicorns to the manor except for this one, apparently the others weren't accepting it. Normally unicorns don't let anyone but virgins near them, but this one doesn't seem to mind as long as they have a good heart, I am looking after it until Luna can find a home for her," Harry explained.
"I have only seen a life-size toy one," Jaskier said, ignoring the memory of finding out that Geralt and Yennifer had had sex on it, and instead looking at the wonder of a real unicorn.
"She should let you pet her," Harry said motioning forward.
"Oh, I don't think that I…"
"You have a good heart Jaskier," Harry smiled reaching out and taking his hand, pulling him towards the unicorn, Jaskier following smoothly along for fear of scarring the unicorn if he tried jerking away.
Harry gently pulled his hand forward until he was touching the unicorn's nose. Jaskier held his breath as he waited for the reaction from the unicorn, that horn suddenly looking incredibly sharp, but then the unicorn gently nudged his hand in a move that he 100% recognised from Roach, she wanted patting.
"Hello beautiful," Jaskier breathed as Harry let go of his hand, bending to pick Teddy up so that he could also pat the unicorn, Jaskier's hand gently stroking the downy nose of the stunning creature.
"She needs a name," Teddy declared as he carefully patted the unicorn.
"Roach," Jaskier heard himself saying.
"It is different," Harry said thoughtfully, looking at Jaskier in that way he did every now and then that made the bard feel as though he could read him, "but different is good, what do you think Teddy Bear?" Harry asked.
"I like it!" Teddy nodded. "Is that what you want it to be, Jaskier?" Teddy asked.
"I…yes," Jaskier nodded turning to look at the unicorn again.
"Roach it is," Harry smiled, before blanching a little, "just remember that it is only temporary though until Luna finds somewhere else for her,"
"Mm hmm," Jaskier smirked moving around Roach's side to stroke down her flank.
"Temporary!" Harry repeated.
"Of course," Jaskier said, looking pointedly at Teddy who practically had love hearts in his eyes, before he turned to look at Harry pleadingly, Jaskier started laughing softly as he watched Harry visibly giving in. Roach turned around and nudged him gently with her nose, big blue eyes looking at him with a sense of understanding. He wrapped his arms around her head and hugged her tightly, feeling the tenseness that had been in his chest easing and he listened to Teddy thanking Harry over and over, Roach nibbled on the edge of his teal blanket before nudging him demanding more pats.