Harry Potter and The Great Escape To China - Part 2

by naughtypixie

Summary

The Prophecy gets fulfilled.
Then Harry learns about it.

Notes

This is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Great Escape to China - Part 1. It will make very little sense without it, so please read that first.

Unbeta-ed.

Please read notes from Part 1. If you get confused who the characters are, there is a list of them at the end of Part 1.

:: :: - parselspeak

Harry dodged to the left, just as Bai Wu stabbed down where he had been standing a moment ago.

He pivoted on his toe, making sure to not lose his balance, and using Bai Wu's momentum, allowing himself to twist his hand behind the other boy and slice sideways.

Bai Wu, the more experienced fighter between them, saw it coming and blocked him with his dagger, kicking his right leg up hard and very nearly grazing Harry's chin.

Harry backflipped out of the way, still surprised he could do this after such a short time of training. Shoving his sword qi towards Bai Wu's flank, and forcing him to block or be knocked backwards.

His daily workouts and qi meditations definitely made acrobatics infinitely easier. Even years after discovering he was a wizard, Harry still marveled at all the ways magic could be used.

To their side, Si Yu, sat calmly playing his Gu Qin – an instrument which was like a lying down harp that Harry was completely hopeless at, but was Si Yu's favorite attack weapon. The other boy always struck Harry as much older because his grace and composure where pretty much unshakable, no matter what was happening. It reminded Harry of Blaise Zabini, his former Italian classmate, who had also been completely unflappable.

It was a lovely Tuesday; the sun was shining bright and Si Yu had promised to help them train by sneak-attacking them from the side whenever 'they looked like they needed it.' Which pretty much translated to whenever he got bored and they looked too focused on each other.

Harry had to stop thinking about Si Yu however because Bai Wu very nearly managed to choke him with his qi while he wasn't paying attention, and only Harry's superior magical reserves allowed him to break the other boy's invisible hold on his throat, while he sent three needle-like spikes of qi at Bai Wu, seemingly in reflex.

Si Yu chuckled without looking up, and his playing accelerated in tempo.

"What." Harry had the breath to say, while quickly jumping over a sword swipe Bai Wu sent his way for his cockiness.

"Whenever you get annoyed, you always use the needle qi. It is very assassin-like." He other boy placidly said as he sent a wave of disruptive sound at Bai Wu, just to keep him on his toes.

Bai Wu grunted while blocking Si Yu's mental manipulations – no easy feat even when he wasn't fighting – and sent a backhanded smack at Harry's head with his sword qi, while his actual sword attacked from the right. "He is right. You express your pissyness meanly."

"I am not –" Harry dodged the head-smack which would have hurt and nearly bent himself in half to avoid the sword slash, "pissy!" He had to go into a split to avoid Si Yu's music wave which touched his hair from how close it came, and he felt a horrible twinge in his groin. He still really, REALLY, hated doing splits. It was unnatural for a guy to do them, he firmly believed that, but whenever he told this to Master Yue during class, the blasted man just laughed at him, and applied more pressure to Harry's shoulders, forcing him into an even deeper split.

"I am just not fond of –" and then he was rolling because Bai Wu was trying to stomp on him and hell no, once he was back on his feet, he took a second to gather his qi and shoved hard, using a bit more force at Bai Wu. He knew he was cheating a little because this was supposed to train his technique, not his brute magical force but all was fair in war as they said, "— sneak attacks, is all. They remind me of –" and then he had to protego the shit out of his flank wandlessly because Si Yu was doing one of his musical wave-after-wave thingies which he absolute hated and oh yeah that hurt. He spat blood on the floor for a second since Si Yu was a bastard and always went for mental attacks not just physical ones, "— of bullies." He glared at the other boy, who just ignored him placidly and kept playing, sending the same wave at Bai Wu this time.

Bai Wu just grunted and batted it away with his sword, but his hand shook from the effort. He did however stop attacking.

"Okay stop." He was sweaty and panting but a lot less winded than Harry was.

Harry immediately sat down where he had been standing and started to heal-meditate, in order to recover from Si Yu's attack that had gotten through. That had been a rather nice discovery. Now that his Xue was open, he could heal by simply meditating.

Bai Di prowled over and sniffed him, licking up the blood on his chin, while sending Si Yu a Look. The cub that Harry had brough home not even 8 months ago had grown to a young tiger of two plus meters now, and was incredibly protective of him. Which was hilarious to Harry since the tiger was his littlest brother.

Apep unwound himself from where he had been draped on Bai Di, and slithered onto Harry's lap, sharing his soul energy with Harry in order to heal him faster.

::You are getting better, but your temper still betrays you, big brother.:: Apep hissed at him, forcing more energy into him, and Harry immediately felt better.

Apep had turned out to be amazing at soul and mind healing, and even attack. No wonder Bai Di's mother had reared back when she saw him. Harry hadn't known it back then, but Apep, if he had been a little older, would have given her a challenge. Not because he was strong, but because most beasts were not very strong at soul protection and Apep always went for the jugular of the soul. The snake, which was not so small anymore, measuring at a solid 6 meters when he felt like making a statement, and was showing off its pure-blood status very well with his viciousness.

Bai Di absolutely adored Apep, and followed his lead and opinion in most things. But it still pissed the tiger off whenever anyone hurt Harry, even while just sparring.

It only took Harry 5 minutes to heal the small injury, his large magical reserves aiding him as well as Apep deftness in closing mental and soul wounds, then he got up, dusting himself off and adjusted Apep on his shoulder.

The snake, wanting to stay on him, shrank down to be 'only' 2 meters long and draped his head on Harry's. His favorite perch.

It made Harry look like some form of hairy cartoon avatar with the blue line of Apep's marking on his forehead, but he didn't mind it. He had convinced Ye Wen to stop forcing him to wear crowns on his head unless there was a formal occasion, much preferring the simple braid-and-ribbon to keep his hair out of his face, leaving the rest of his hair long. Who knew all he needed to do to tame his wild hair was grow it out to the length of a girls?

His Aunt Petunia would be horrified and so, so conflicted.

Laughing to himself at that thought, Harry walked over to where Bai Wu and Si Yu were now sitting.

Si Yu hadn't moved, but plucked away at his Qin, no longer infusing it with energy and thereby using it just as an instrument.

Harry at first had been very confused on how one fought while holding a Qin in their hand, and the answer had been, they didn't. Instead, Si Yu floated in a lotus while his Qin floated with him as he played, though only when he was fighting. Right now, he had his precious Qin on a low table as he plucked away lazily.

Ye Wen approached them, handing Harry and Bai Wu a towel and gesturing for the maids to bring them the tea and desserts.

They were taking their customary one-month holiday from school and both boys had pretty much been daily guests at Harry's place. They both claimed that Harry's house was more relaxed and had less 'family' and formality. Harry had originally thought to take offense until he realized they meant other stepmothers and siblings, and their extended relations.

It was true that thus far, Snape had refused any-and-all female advances, despite many prominent families shoving their daughters, divorced sisters and sometimes even sons at him, and Harry.

Snape however had claimed that he was still mourning his lost wife.

Harry had chocked so hard when he realized Snape had meant Harry's mum Lily, but totally understood a moment later when he too had to claim that he was waiting on his fiancé Hermione to join him upon graduation in China.

Hermione herself of course did not know she had been nominated fiancé – cough, scapegoat, cough – but Harry was sure she wouldn't mind if it was for a good cause, such as preserving Harry's sanity, and apparently, chastity, considering some of the more aggressive advances he had been getting.

Harry personally thought he was bisexual because Si Yu and Bai Wu both looked really good to Harry sometimes, but he wasn't so desperate as to leer at his close friends. Well, not yet anyway. Snape had warned him soon he will start to find a rock attractive and there would be nothing he could do about it.

He really wasn't looking forward to that.

At 14 years old, Harry was still more focused on his schooling and in fitting in than with sexual attraction but he would be lying if he didn't admit to … looking. Sometimes.

Snape had assured him it was perfectly normal to be … curious, and Harry did trust him about it.

That sometimes still blew Harry's mind, that he trusted and relied on Snape for such advice. He also noticed that he often thought of him as Severus now, more often than Snape.

Bai Wu cut off his thoughts with, "So are you ready for the Secret Forest Expedition?"

Harry blinked at him, and remembered it was in a few days.

"I've never been before actually. I heard it's not a real forest but a painting?" Harry asked, curious to hear more about it.

"Yes, it is one of the legendary scrolls passed down by Great Master-Artist Mo Yen from thousands of years ago. They say that the scroll can only be opened every 6 years, and only for the duration of a week, after which, everyone inside would be expelled, save for the creatures that live within the scroll." Si Yu added, starting to cover his Qin in the protective silk wrap he carried it in, which conveniently shrunk and lightened it too.

"How can a person go inside a scroll?" Because Harry had heard of the Room of Requirements from a passing 6th year Gryffindor but never a painting that was a mini-world of its own.

"You would know this if you were not complete shite in your Art Magic class," Bai Wu smirked at him, "or if you and a brush had any yuan fen at all."

Harry glared at him half-heartedly, "Yes well, you try learning writing with three different instruments, all totally different from each other and see how much 'Yuan Fen' you had with any of them." Grumbling, Harry adjusted his seriously-heavy-now snake.

Apep hiss-laughed at him, ::Pretty sure big brother has no Yuan Fen with any writing or drawing implements, regardless of them being Mortal or Magical.::

Harry switched his glare to Apep. It wasn't his fault that he never had hours upon hours of writing practice as a kid, unlike seemingly every single person in magical and mortal China it seemed. He was getting better! His teachers no longer squinted at his essays with looks of bafflement, and he did practice with a brush daily thank-you-very-much. It was just harder than Pill Making or splits or fighting, was all.

…okay so maybe he didn't have any yuan fen with writing implements. Great Master Xuan said his talents were simply redirected elsewhere! Like… Pill Making.

Yuan Fen was such an odd concept to Harry still anyway. The notion that one was 'supposed' to have affinity for some things from birth. That some things were… fated. Connected. Meant to be.

Always made him think of bloody Voldie-wanker.

Harry dismissed that thought quickly, and focused on Si Yu's explanation, "The legend says Mo Yue was a phenomenal artist. His paintings were so life-like, and his magic so precisely-wielded that he created a pocket universe within his paintings. He also traveled extensively, and collected all kinds of rare animals, pigments, artifacts and the like, which he stored away within his paintings. The school only allows the top 2 percent of students to enter the Secret Forest, though whatever you find, you get to keep."

Bai Wu who had also finished healing, said casually, "Though mostly it is just an opportunity to hone one's skills since usually most people don't have the luck for a True or Surprise Encounter."

Harry found himself nodding along Si Yu at that. True Encounters were rare. Surprise Encounters even more so. Harry himself already had one when he met Bai Di's mum, and was gifted Bai Di as his littlest brother. Even Apep could be considered a True Encounter. … and the philosopher stone… and the basilisk… and …

…okay so maybe Harry had a talent for True and Surprise Encounters, but he wasn't going to say it out loud.

Hopefully this will just be a regular training thing with no special events.

Hermione was inordinately proud of them.

After she told her parents about what had happened at Gringotts, they had arranged for a private tutor for her to learn Occlumency. They always supported everything she ever wanted to do, and this was no exception.

Mr. Bartolome was a somewhat balding half-blood man with nothing which stood out about him, except his credentials as an exceptionally talented Occlumence and Legilimens. Gringotts had charged her parents a surprisingly reasonable price for his tutoring services, which had Hermione thinking they were definitely involved with Harry' disappearance, and were invested in her and Ron mastering this skill before they could share more information, due to Professor Dumbledore being able to read their mind.

She didn't yet know why Professor Dumbledore was now persona-non-grata with the goblins but she couldn't help notice the sneers all goblins wore when the professor's name was mentioned.

The same sneer that showed up when You-know-who was mentioned also actually.

Hermione was smart. She knew that. She was also hard working, and observant. But above all else, she was loyal, and somehow Harry no longer trusted Professor Dumbledore.

The fact that it happened the same summer that poor Professor Snape had blown himself up, was also suspicious. Did Professor Dumbledore arrange for Professor Snape's death?

It didn't make any sense. Harry just vanished. Harry didn't have friends outside of Hogwarts, where would he go? He didn't even leave them a note or anything. Just –

- Just that book.

He left a book. To Hermione.

So, Hermione was determined, and it seemed her hard work had paid off because Mr. Bartolome, after two summers of daily tutoring and her own independent study during the school term, had pronounced her ready. His Legilimency could no longer penetrate her Occlumency shields.

She had been frustrated because while Ron had been dedicated – an unusual occurrence for him, but this was for Harry so – he couldn't get the tutoring over the summer, so while he couldn't completely block mental invasions, he was really good at detecting them, and throwing up distractions while hiding the information he wanted to hide within his own mind.

Hermione marveled at this, since Ron's mind wasn't exactly organized per se, but he was an excellent tactician, with troublemaking brothers, so maybe that gave him some advantage in hiding information from those wanting to steal it from him.

However, Gringotts had agreed that this was not good enough, so now that it was the holidays, Ron was supposedly visiting her house, but in actuality, Mr. Bartolome was trying to cram the knowledge down Ron's throat.

It was going better than she feared and slower than she hoped.

The other thing which was suspicious, was that a week ago, Hedwig, who had taken up permanent residence as Hermione's owl, just upped and vanished. With no goodbye. She didn't even leave a molting feather for them to follow.

Hermione was not a terribly patient person by nature, so she sincerely hoped Ron would hurry up and learn it already so they can find out where Harry went. While the passage of time had calmed some of her anxiety, mostly thanks to having some direction to focus herself towards, she still really wanted to find her best friend!

She just hoped the tutoring sessions helped Ron.

If not, Hermione has an extensive schedule designed for daily tutoring in school for him.

She was getting her best friend back if it was the last thing she did.

For as long as he could remember, Harry had wanted to be normal. Ordinary. Nothing special.

- But he was Harry blasted Potter even if he was a Snape now, and these things just seemed to FIND HIM AND –

Harry dodged to the side and marveled at how much of his life these days consisted of dodging hostile animals and magics. Somehow, it was still preferable than being attacked by Death Eaters or Voldie but honestly, couldn't he just have a nice, normal adventure like any normal student? Instead, here he was, dodging the attacks of a giant lizard-dragon thing with a really bad attitude and acid attacks, because they had accidentally stumbled into its home.

It had been three days since they stepped into the painting – a singularly unpleasant experience very similar to apparating but more disorienting – and while they had managed to stay together as a team, they ran into some bad luck when something had upset the majority of the beasts in the forest and made them all go into a rampant stampede. Like a particularly violent beast tsunami.

Knowing one doesn't fight something like that, they had ducked into a convenient cave opening, just to realize that the cave went on for miles, and had, quite naturally, gone exploring. After several hours of walking, they had stumbled upon a magical cage – or more like magical chains? – holding down what felt like an evil and deformed spirit. The lizard-demon had clearly been put there to guard it, or possibly eat it periodically? Harry really wasn't sure, but the lizard thing had demonic red eyes so Harry would bet his Nimbus that the lizard-thing had been taking bites out of it, as indicated by its corrupt eye color.

The lizard-thing was fast, and that acid was deadly, but in the end, disturbingly reminiscent of Fluffy, the lizard-thing fell into a trans as soon as Si Yu started playing his Qin. After that, it was rather easy for Bai Wu to lop its head off.

Harry noticed its tail continued to sway hypnotically with the music even after it was headless - and that was honestly creepy as hell - but Harry shrugged it off quickly as the chained spirit was wailing, and Harry felt a very familiar Imperius draw. He shrugged it off, but noticed the rest of his party wasn't so lucky, with the exception of Si Yu, who was proficient in mental arts and thus had a lot more resistance. Si Yu immediately countered the thing's pull with his own Qin playing – two puppet masters vying for control. Si Yu won, but mostly because everyone in the group trusted Si Yu so it was easier for him to manipulate them to his side. It is always easier to control someone who already trusts you and thus does not fight your control as hard. Snape's lessons on the Three Unforgivables coming in very handy here.

Shoring up his mental shields, while Si Yu kept up his playing, just in case, Harry carefully approached the thing.

It felt old to him, and malevolent. Something that was as much instinct, as it was intelligence.

It started screeching at him, extending its dark tendrils of power towards him.

Just as he was about to take a very-reasonable step back, Apep stuck his head out of his robe where he had been hiding and eyed the spirit the same way he used to eye rodents when he was little.

::Big Brother, do you have a use for this spirit?:: Apep asked him, out loud this time, which is not something the large snake did often any more. His hissing reverberated through the cave, and Harry noticed Bai Wu shaking his head a little to clear it. Seems Apep had helped interrupt the lure from the creature also.

"Not especially?" Harry eyed his snake suspiciously, "Why?"

Apep didn't respond, except to let out a pleased hiss – the same hiss he gave off when Harry brought him his favorite food.

Suddenly, the giant snake was darting out of Harry's robe and transforming to his full height, and oh wow, Harry had forgotten how big he had grown recently, and for a moment had a few nasty flashbacks of a certain Basilisk in a similarly dank cave, but then Apep opened his rather impressive jaws, and very akin to a boa constrictor swallowing a lamb whole, the giant snake started to suck-swallow the nasty spirit.

The spirit thrashed in its chains and let out an ungodly shriek as it was quite literally swallowed down like a bit of dirt being washed down a sink. There was a flash which made everyone avert their eyes instinctively, and by the time Harry was blinking the spots away from his vision, the chains were empty and the cave eerily quiet.

Apep however, was licking his face with his thin tongue, as the blue markings on his body flashed with every breath he took. Just as Harry was about to ask him what in Merlin's name happened, the snake's whole body started to pulse, faster and faster, as if he was an odd kind of lava-lamp or something. Then, as the pulsing reached its fastest tempo, two… eyebrows? Protrusions erupted from Apeps eyebrows, making him look very similar to a crested owl that Harry once saw. His eyebrows, like his head markings were bright blue, with hints of black for highlight, and Harry noticed his body had also swelled.

How much bigger was Harry's snake going to get?

His research had shown that a pure-blooded Soul-Swallower could grow to immense sizes, rivaling those of dragons and other myth-level beasts, but Harry privately admitted to himself that he hadn't quite understood what that meant.

With Apep, er, swelling? Growing? To a bigger size, the cave which was previously enormous didn't feel so roomy any more, and Harry briefly wondered if he would have to order Apep to hold off on the growing till they exited, but thankfully just as he was about to say something, his snake finally stopped swelling.

The eyebrows were hilarious, and formed a very distinguished blue V on Apep's head. They were made of scales but when Harry asked to touch them, and Apep obligingly bent down for his big brother to check them over, they felt like scaly feathers to Harry. He had never felt anything like them, and wondered if Apep will actually sprout wings next or something.

Apep having clearly picked up that thought, hiss-laughed at him. Which, no doubt looked a little alarming to some of the not-initiated, but Harry just found it adorable.

Having decided that that was enough fun for now, Apep shrank down to a manageable carrying-size and Harry put him back around his neck, hissing, :: What was that about?::

:: It tasted delicious. :: Apep told him, not nearly as alarmed as Harry had been. The little shit.

:: Yes, but you ate it! Isn't it going to give you indigestion or something? It felt really evil! ::

:: Big brother. :: And that was totally a snaky eyebrow – one he could actually offer now.

Harry was getting the eyebrow from his own snake. Wonderful.

:: What?! That is a perfectly legitimate concern! In magic, we try very hard not to eat evil things :: Harry looked pointedly at the headless, tail-still-swaying lizard, whose blood was still staining the stone floor. :: Just look at what it did to that … animal. You don't want that to happen to you, do you? ::

::Silly brother. No evil taint can affect a Soul Swallower. When we eat things, we naturally cycle away the corruption, the same way some beasts live on poisonous plants which would kill all others. For me, this kind of spirit has the tastiest soul, and helps me grow stronger and bigger. After eating him, I will need to shed, and once I finish, I will be big enough to take to the skies to hunt also. :: His snake told him smugly. This was clearly a coming-of-age thing for the snake and while Harry still felt unsure and somewhat worried, he figured he could discuss it with his father or Great Master Xuan. Worst case, he could bring it to Master Chen. She should know what was going on with Apep.

Maybe.

She had asked him about both Apep and Bai Di once, but admitted to having never seen a Soul Swallower alive before. Very few of them successfully hatched, apparently, since they refuse most bonds.

Now that there was nothing stopping them from venturing further, they all looked around the cave, and found several medicinal and somewhat rare ling-flowers growing by the side of the pond in the back, as well as two rather rusty looking swords and a book on meditation technique which Harry was rather interested in, as it spoke of inner-fire control for crafting pills.

Having cleared out the entire place, they headed back outside. Thankfully the insane beast stampede was over, and they could now safely leave the cave and set up camp nearby.

Apep immediately curled himself several times around Harry's neck – thankfully in his smallest form – and went to sleep, muttering something about needing to digest.

Harry figured he'll awake up when he was done, or if something equally evil and spirit-like showed up again for him to glut on.

The rest of the few days they were in the painting was comparatively rather boring, much to Harry's delight. They hunted for beast core's during the day, and harvested rare plants, but didn't come across anything too exciting, spending their evenings making camp, cooking the meat of the beasts they caught during the day and telling stories, both fictional and historical.

Harry told them a little more about Hogwarts, and his adventures with his friends, and even Tingting told stories of her past adventures with her finance. The amusing thing to Harry was that their stories were often about adventure and cultivation, but there were just as many of intrigue and out-maneuvering their opponents.

Yeah, he was among Slytherins alright.

Harry could just picture Ron's face.

Bai Di was invaluable, once he decided to leave Harry's ring and stop sleeping his days away or whatever it was he did in there. The large cat had had another growth spur, which Harry attributed to how much Ling meat he was constantly feeding him, and while still looking like a young tiger, had filled out and was well on his way to his soon-to-be-adult body. His fangs also got sharper, as did his claws, and Harry often watched him try and do the cloud-stepping his species was so famous for.

Harry tried to decide if he was impressed or disappointed that both of his pets will eventually be able to fly, but neither of them will likely have wings.

Apep had died laughing when Harry asked him if he should expect any feathers to sprout soon.

The young tiger could now cloud-step up to a 5-story building but started to stumble if he tried to go higher, but he doggedly persisted. He insisted that he was already ahead for his age, and that he would master this aspect of his physiology soon. The tiger had an extremely stubborn streak, something Snape mutter-coughed when Harry complained to him 'like master like familiar', which Harry pointedly ignored, but even he had to admit, he wasn't looking forward to puberty hitting either of his familiars.

After they got back, Apep slept for close to a month, which would have worried Harry except the snake would periodically reassure him sleepily before drifting off again.

When he finally did wake up, he requested a courtyard for himself, which Snape helpfully warded for him, so he could shed his giant body in peace. This shedding was one of the big ones, so Apep had to be in his full-sized form, which very nearly knocked over a few of their courtyard houses. Harry made a mental note to get his hands on an actual environmental ring, which was capable of providing housing and gardens, if the wizard was strong enough to sustain the constant draw on their magic. Usually, those kinds of rings were only sold to older wizardkind. Younger mages just didn't have the magical reserves for them, but Harry thought he should be able to handle one. His inner Dan Tian was now a pretty endless ocean of golden magic, and he was starting to see signs of the liquid starting to solidify, albeit very slowly.

He did notice that pill making became easier, while it got harder for most of his classmates. They often sweated and groaned while Harry himself felt minimal strain.

Great Master Xuan would preen like a peacock whenever Harry told him that, as if it was his own achievement instead of Harry's, but Harry had long gotten-used to shared triumphs and shared disasters, which was the way of this country.

His father on the other hand couldn't stop looking proudly at Harry, which always made him blush crimson and duck his head. He was still not used to those proud looks directed at him of all people, even though Snape had been doing that since the adoption.

When Apep finally finished his shedding, both Snape and Great Master Xuan came to the warded courtyard to congratulate him. Harry personally thought both masters just REALLY wanted Apep's shed skin, but their congratulations were heartfelt enough, and both of them gave Apep cultivation pills for his success, which Apep was very pleased about as it apparently helped stabilize his energy after such a large change. He generously donated his entire skin to both of them, to be split in half, and both Masters spent the next 2 weeks smiling like cats that got into the cream.

Apep had a few more ridges on his back and head now, on two sides of him, looking more like a cross between a dragon and a Krilin if Harry was honest, minus the horns, but to Harry, he was still his usual handsome self and Harry told him so. Belatedly, Harry also noted that the ridges might be very useful when one day Apep could take to the skies fully and Harry got to ride on his head. At least he will have things to hold on to.

He was definitely longer now also. An entire courtyard was no longer sufficient for him to stretch out, and Apep confessed that when his brethren started approaching their full length, they could really only live in the skies or in very large forests and mountains without bumping into everything and everyone. However, he assured Harry that his favorite perch would always be his Big Brother.

However, the evening that Apep completed his transformation, the snake came to see Harry.

It was already quite late and Ye Wen had already retired after making sure Harry was settled in bed. Harry had been reading a text on martial techniques which he had been confused about – some of the language was serious nonsensical – but when he heard Apep's hissed greeting, he set the book aside and opened the bed curtain for him so he could slide into bed next to Harry.

Bai Di grumbled a little because Apep had slithered across his body to reach the bed, but quickly went back to sleep. The tiger had exhausted himself learning to cloud-step and was not best pleased to be a stepping stool, but for his Apep brother, he would allow it. Bai Di used to sleep on the bed with Harry, much to Ye Wen's horror and Snape's resignation, but since he started to grow, there was just not enough room for the both of them. So now he had a large low bed in front of Harry's bed with a thick mattress.

Still, Harry often found himself enlarging the bed when the need to snuggle hit him. Albeit it wasn't often but when he missed Hermione and Ron a lot, he would do that.

Apep slithered up and across Harry's torso to settle himself on Harry's other pillow. His snout bopping Harry's scar.

Harry was about to go back to his reading when he realized Apep kept flicking his tongue against Harry's scar in a rather ticklish manner.

Absently swatting him a little for it, Harry tried to focus on his book, but a few moments later, Apep did it again.

Harry glared at him, and hissed, :: What? :: thinking the snake wanted something.

But Apep was quiet. He was actually quiet so long that Harry started to pick his book back up when he finally spoke.

:: This area. :: ticklish tongue-flick against his scar, :: It tastes like something I want to eat. ::

Harry was suddenly reminded of how big Apep actually was and how close to Harry's head his mouth was.

Apep's tail flicked him in reprimand across his abdomen, :: Not you. The dark inside your scar. I can taste it. Since I was hatched, I could taste it. It is broken and corrupted, and I have wanted to eat it since I met you, but I was not able to before. I was too little. I can almost do it now. ::

Trying to process that, Harry realized Apep was talking about his cursed scar.

:: Wait, are you saying there is something inside my scar that is evil? :: Harry said, sitting up in alarm.

Apep was quiet for a minute, his tongue coming in-and-out, scenting the air.

:: Yes, Big Brother. It smells… like something I want to eat. Broken soul. ::

Harry was feeling a lot more panicky now, :: Are you saying Voldemort's soul is in my scar?! :: and maybe his voice hadn't reached those octaves for a few years but honestly who could blame him?!

:: No. Not his soul. :: Apep assured him and Harry could feel himself starting to breathe again –

:: A piece of it only. ::

- Never mind, his breathing was shooting through the roof again.

:: We are going to go see Severus. :: Harry said to Apep in a pretense of calm. He was absolutely not calm.

Apep slithered on top of his shoulder, :: Now? ::

:: Yes, now. Right now. Immediately. :: Harry was already throwing his outer robe on and slipping on his slippers, practically running out of the door.

He heard Ye Wen call out to him, probably wondering why he was leaving his room or if he needed anything, but Harry was too frantic to answer him, instead he broke into a run, and he could hear several people say something in surprise. His Shadows must have been alarmed by Ye Wen shouting after him, but he didn't care about that now.

He nearly ran right into his An Ying Head Shadow, who just was kneeling in front of him.

Some days Harry hated being followed, today was not one of those days. "I need to see my father. Immediately!"

The Shadow didn't hesitate, just scooped him up like a princess, which normally Harry would object to but right now he just needed Snape. Needed him like he hadn't in some time.

Clearly the commotion had disturbed the people in the Master's courtyard because his Shadow running into the Master's suite didn't even have the Momo-on-duty saying anything, such as announcing him. Snape was already dressed – or maybe he never even got to undress. One look at the Shadow carrying Harry, bridal style no less, had Snape looking him over quickly for injuries.

"I am not hurt. Apep he – " Harry managed to say as his Shadow put him down and steadied him, looking worried. Snape glanced at An Ying, and quickly dismissed him, while leading Harry inside the room and motioning for him to follow. Snape's own Shadows would be able to overhear the conversation as well of course, but all of them had sworn blood oaths, so his father clearly wasn't worried.

"Tell me what happened." Snape ordered, once he was sitting down at the dining table chair.

"Apep said he can taste my scar. That Voldie left a piece of his soul inside it." Harry was desperately trying not to hyperventilate but it was really hard!

That monster has a piece of himself inside Harry!

Harry felt a full body shudder of revolution go through him. If he hadn't learned occlumency… if Snape hadn't insisted that he had to learn it, almost as soon as they arrived to China… Harry had fought him and nearly refused but, Merlin and Jesus and everything holy, he had been right! Voldie could have been in his head this whole time –

Harry started to get spots in his vision and only then realized his father was bending his head between his legs and forcing him to breath because he was absolutely hyperventilating and losing his shit!

Snape must have called for someone, because suddenly there was a vial touching his lips, and he was drinking the nasty thing down before he could even ask what it was.

His breathing calmed almost immediately, so it must have been a calming drought. When his vision stopped swimming, he realized that Snape's Shadow Tie Sha was in the corner together with An Ying, waiting for instructions and Bai Song, his father's personal attendant was stepping into the apartment carrying a tea tray, while Hong Yu, his father's female maid brought in a pot of boiling water.

Once the tea was set down, Snape dismissed everyone but Tie Sha and An Ying, and Harry gratefully drank the too-hot tea, rinsing the nasty taste out of his mouth.

"Tell me again, slowly." Snape said, and Harry realized that in his distress, he had switched back to English.

He took a few deep breaths, and Apep, sensing that he was calmer, slithered out of his neckline, and onto his shoulder, sending wave after wave of calm at him.

"When we were in the painting last time, I told you we found that cave, and there was a corrupt spirit chained there, which Apep ate. You know all this. Then he shed, and evolved, like all magical beasts as they get older. Tonight, when he came to sleep, he kept tasting my scar, and I thought he was just being a brat, you know? To annoy me. But then he said – he said he wants to eat my scar. He said he always wanted to eat it, but that he couldn't before but he might be able to soon. and then I asked him what was going on, and he said there is a piece of Volide's soul inside my scar." That last bit might have been a bit of a hysterical shout, because Harry was going to start hyperventilating if he started thinking about it too much.

Snape, bless him, looked appropriately alarmed, and glanced at the evolved snake. But before he could say anything, Apep started hissing, :: Your sire also smells of the same corruption, but much less so. You have something stuck in you, but he had that same-thing's magic on his arm. It smells stronger this year than it did last year, but I was just a hatchling then. If I tried to eat it then, it might have killed me. Now I am almost an adult, and much stronger. The qi in his arm cannot hurt me anymore if I try to eat it. ::

Harry just started at the snake. He thought his mouth might be open, but he didn't care. Gooseflesh was breaking out all over his body.

Harry hissed at him, :: Are you saying – what are you saying? That you can eat the magic in my father's arm? ::

Apep gave a serpentine bob of his head, :: Yes I think so. It is much weaker than the thing in your head. I am sure I can eat it. ::

Wide-eyed, Harry turned to look at Snape, and then down to his arm. Snape watching him, paled a little, but didn't stop Harry when he reached out and touched the arm that had the Dark Mark on it.

"You didn't… tell me it had been getting darker." Harry said quietly, and Snape jerked his head up to look at him.

"I didn't want to worry you. What did Apep say?"

Harry could see the Tie Sha and An Ying were listening carefully, but he wasn't worried.

"He said… he said he can eat it now. Your Mark. I think… I think he can destroy the Dark Mark. If you let him try."

Now it was his father's turn to look wide-eyed. He hesitated for only a moment, and slowly shoved his robe sleeve up, exposing the ugly skull with the serpent around it.

Apep immediately slithered onto Snape's hand, most of his body still on Harry. The snake did the exact same thing he did earlier to Harry's scar, and flicked his tongue out to taste the Mark. He did it a few more times, then hissed at Harry, :: I am sure I can eat it. It should not be able to hurt me anymore. Maybe I will sleep for a few days only. But it will hurt him when I do it. A lot. I will have to bite him first and he must not bite me back. ::

Harry nearly laughed in relief, and quickly translated to Snape. "Do you want him to try? Now?"

Snape thought about it, and left them to sound the alarm to the whole household which they had set up before, meaning the House of Snape was closed to all visitors till further notice. All Shadows were on duty and all guards on high alert. All the wards we activated, and Zhang Momo was dispatched to Great Master Xuan's House to inform him of the status of the Snape household. She won't be able to enter back in, until the wards went down again, but they had worked these details out before.

That done, and when everyone was on full alert, Snape came back.

Snape didn't hesitate this time, he waved Tie Sha over, and got his Shadow to get ready to hold him down, in case he struggled. There were at least 6 shadows in their courtyard alone, not counting Tie Sha and An Ying who were in the room and Tie Yong who was on the roof beam where he normally hung out.

His father took a deep breath, looked at Harry, and said, "If the worst happens, Great Master Xuan will take care of you and protect you. I know I am not a demonstrative man, but I love you Harry, and I am incredibly grateful and proud that you allowed me the chance to be your father."

Before Harry could reply, or panic, or say anything back, Snape looked at Apep and gave a quick nod.

Apep didn't pause, fast as a bullet, the serpent sank his fangs right above the Dark Mark. Snape immediately slumped a little, but Harry could see he could still move his other hand and head, so clearly Apep was injecting the majority of the venom into his arm. Numbing it. Then, Apep yanked his fangs out, and his entire body started to glow in that same way it had done in the cave. Harry had a hysterical thought that it looked a lot like the jelly fish he saw at the zoo that one time the Dursley were forced to take him.

Harry quickly gathered his own magic and using their familiar bond, started to push his magic into Apep, shoring up his own defenses and strength. Just in case.

And just like in the cave, when the blue pulsing on Apep's scales reached a crescendo, the snake leaned over the Dark Mark, and Harry thought he might bite Snape again, but he didn't. Instead, he opened his jaw as wide as it would go, a soft purple glow emanated from it, Apep's magic, and a thin black tendril started to rise from the Mark, as if it was a Christmas sweater someone was unraveling by pulling on the yarn. Apep sucked for long minutes until the snake suddenly tensed, and Snape's whole body went taunt. It was a good thing Apep had paralyzed his hand, Harry realized, because it was clear Snape was gritting his teeth hard enough to not scream while also trying to instinctively yank his useless hand back and away from the still-sucking serpent.

Tie Sha and An Ying immediately helped to hold him down, as he started to trash feebly. Harry wanted to ask Apep how much longer – it really looked like it hurt – but he didn't want to distract his little brother.

Then, suddenly, just like in the cave, there was an unholy wail, from the Mark itself this time, and a large thick black chunk of magic came lose from Snape's arm.

Faster than Harry could blink, Apep lunged at the tendril which was trying to escape, and swallowed it down the same way he swallows the many unfortunate cows and goats which Harry fed him.

For a moment, Apep's entire head and eyebrows glowed a startling blue – even his eyes were glowing, but then the snake swallowed mightily, and everything went still.

Apep's body stopped pulsing blue, but his eyebrows, face markings and eyes still held that vibrant blue which Harry privately called his "power-up mode".

Glancing at Snape, Harry realized his father looked dead. With trembling fingers, he felt for a pulse on his neck, and breathed a sigh of relief when he could feel a fast but steady beat under his fingers.

He had only passed out.

His forearm, which previously bore the Mark, was now clear without even a single blemish to advertise his previous allegiances.

Apep had done it.

His father was finally free of the Dark Mark.

Apep did sleep, but only for about 6 days, after which he grew again, and his back-ridges got more pronounced, and a lot sharper.

Harry alternated between fretting at his fathers bedside and fretting at his snake. Snape thankfully woke up the next afternoon and was only weak for 3 to 4 days, after which he said he felt perfectly fine.

Harry wasn't sure he believed him, but considering his father kept smiling at him, and it was that same smile he had given Harry's mum when they did the adoption, Harry figured he really would be okay.

Great Master Xuan was allowed in as soon as it was clear Snape would not die. The Great Master has been diligently plying his former apprentice with restorative pills and magic boosting pills, as well as bringing over a truly intimidating pile of medicinal herbs which the Snape household's chefs had descended on like a pack of starving vultures, and Harry had been required to eat medicinal cuisine for days with his father.

Harry had also been syphoning the excess magic which he was practically briming with from the medicinal cuisine either towards Apep or his father, whenever his father wouldn't immediately notice it, since the dower man would get irritable and snap at them that he wasn't an invalid and didn't need all the mother-hening.

It seemed that all of their employees had been freaked-out about their Master being indisposed, so of course, they overcompensated by fussing over Harry and their Master with a zealous fervor. Much to Snape's irritation and Harry's chagrined amusement.

However, their staff was also quite sneaky, because Snape could rarely catch them at it, and thus couldn't tell them off either.

Apep had become the household hero, and was regularly given treats of rare ling meat and fish, much to his pleasure. Even Bai Di would sneak into the kitchen larder and drag out the richest ling meats for him to swallow between sleeping.

After Snape had fully recovered, they had a small celebration at home, very reminiscent to Harry's birthday party last year, and Harry actually got to see Snape laugh out loud with the amount of alcohol that made the rounds.

Most of their staff did not know the details, but the rumors which Harry heard circulating was that Master had been cursed by a nasty curse in his youth, and Apep had successfully removed it from him.

Harry mused that that story was surprisingly accurate, so he didn't deny it when asked.

Apep was petted and called beautiful and a treasure on a daily basis after that, which the snake absolutely loved. Even Bai Di was more indulgent towards him, which meant that Apep could literally do no-wrong around the young tiger.

Harry had been working with Great Master Xuan on increasing the potency of Beast pills, since the ones available on the market could only be partially absorbed, and were quite wasteful in ingredients.

The issue was that Beasts generally required much harsher ling-plants, which humans themselves could not absorb. Most pill masters made pills for humans, and Beast pills required a much longer cultivation time to fully be created into a pill. This meant that the Pill Master had to use twice or three times the amount of magical energy, converted to magical fire, to heat the ingredients before they could be fully melded into a pill. Most masters just didn't have those magical reserves to be able to keep the fire steady for that long, but Harry did.

Normal pills – unless they were level 7 or above didn't really tire him out at all. He could absorb the amount he was losing faster than he lost it. Beast pills gave him more of a challenge, and he actually broke into a sweat from time-to-time making them, but they were excellent exercise for expanding one's magical reserves.

Kind of like training your stomach to eat more, by eating a little more every day.

Great Master Xuan insisted he cultivate at least 50 Beast pills a day, despite the amount of ingredients used. Harry actually wasted very little ingredients because one Oven's worth of ingredients resulted in 10 to 12 mid to high range Beast pills.

Very lucrative on the market. Most market pills were of low quality, and Harry discovered he was actually making a ton of money without even trying. Certainly, more than enough to cover the cost of the ingredients.

Most of the pills he didn't sell, but fed them to Apep and Bai Di, who grew in their abilities nearly every time they ate them.

Bai Di especially nearly doubled in size, and started to look a lot like his mother. Which was to say, large and absolutely terrifying. Apep complained once to Harry that it was a good thing Apep was the older brother because Bai Di's presence meant that in a radius of 10 kilometers in any direction of their house, there wasn't a single rat, cat, or dog to be found, and Apep would have gone hungry if he had still been eating rats.

Harry realized that Apep had a point. He hadn't seen a mortal animal anywhere near them in ages, and even the magical ones kept away from Snape House. That got him thinking that they really should just stick to getting Ling beasts, and really, all their employees should get Ling beasts of their own, for protection.

Not that anyone has attacked or even harassed any of their staff, considering the whole city knew the two foreigners were Pill Makers and no one was stupid enough to piss off a Pill Maker, especially one of Snape's caliber.

Even in school, hardly anyone gave him a hard time, despite him being a foreigner. Honestly, he had expected at least a few Draco Malfoys but even the students from Royal or Ancient and Most Noble families were nothing but courteous towards them. It had actually bothered Harry till he asked Si Yu about it, and he told Harry that no one was stupid, because they were Pill Makers, and also, Harry was a Potter and a Snape. The Potters were from an Ancient and Most Noble House also, and while the Snapes were one rung below the Potters, they were still from the Prince line, which was an Ancient and Noble House. There was no advantage in antagonizing people from such backgrounds and with such skills. Plus, the Snape Household were non-political, since they were foreigners and thus banned from politics, so there was even less cause to upset them.

Harry's Pill Making ability saved him a lot of jealousy as well apparently, because it was not a skill one could learn, but had to be born with, so there wasn't any logic in being jealous. It wasn't like he was a martial arts prodigy or something.

That apparently earned a lot more enemies.

Harry had shaken his head, and just muttered something about Slytherins, and left it be.

Harry hadn't exactly forgotten about Hedwig. He had just sort of made peace with the fact that he likely won't ever see her again in this life, and while that had made him sad for months, he took comfort in knowing that Hermione would certainly take good care of her and she would still have a good life, Harry or no Harry.

He still missed her often however.

This was why it came as such a shock, when one afternoon, while he was practicing his calligraphy – and endless and thankless task, if anyone asked Harry, which they didn't – she just landed on his shoulder, like she had done a million times when he had been younger, and nipped his ear.

Harry was so startled he dropped his brush right into his homework, ink splattering everywhere and guaranteeing a lengthy rewrite, but Harry didn't care because he was too busy shouting in joy and hugging his wayward owl, who had stopped punishing him with nips to his ear, and started grooming his long hair.

She seemed to be asking Harry about all the ribbons and ornaments in his hair, and whether she should be removing them from him.

Harry was too busy crying and hugging her to let her know, and when Snape came over – no doubt after the staff had informed him that little Master seemed to be having An Incident – he could see his father smiling at him indulgently.

Harry practically ran to him and threw his arms around him – something he had rarely done before, and which seemed to freeze Snape to the spot, before he wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulder, mindful of the owl still perched on the other one.

After he had stopped incoherently gushing at Snape to actually ask how this was possible, Snape informed him that they now owed both of the Goblin Kings quite a few complimentary potions and pills.

He assured Harry that they had notified Hedwig without tipping off Hermione, which made Harry a little sad, but he was still too excited to have Hedwig back to dwell on the fact that his friends still haven't been back to Gringotts after Hermione's initial meeting.

Hedwig looked the same, her feathers still glossy and her temperament towards him still indulgent. However, the introduction to Apep and Bai Di could have gone better, since she had immediately tried to eat Apep, who had been sunning himself on a nearby rock in his smaller form, just to discover he was a LOT bigger than she had originally anticipated. This resulted in a great deal of squawking (Hedwig) and bitching (Apep) until Harry could introduce them properly.

Bai Di fared a lot better, since Hedwig, in a show of solidarity towards all things white, decided he made an excellent perch for her, and proceeded to spend hours upon hours grooming him and making his fur sit just so.

Bai Di then asked if she was their eldest sister, which set of a chain of complaining from both Apep and Hedwig.

Hedwig, it turned out, had never eaten Ling fruit or meat of any kind, and as such, did not have the ability to speak to Harry or bond with him the way Apep and Bai Di had, but Great Master Xuan informed him that within a dozen years of feeding her correctly, she should start to be able to communicate since she was still a magical beast.

Once all the animals in Harry's menagerie – Snape's words, not Harry's – had met each other and figured out each other's purpose in Harry's life, a semblance of peace was achieved. Hedwig was satisfied so long as no other animal was in charge of Harry's mail. Apep was satisfied so long as no other animal used Harry as a human warming blanket, and Bai Di just didn't much care and wanted to play with everyone else.

Snape – the asshole – wondered aloud if this was how a Harem felt, which had Harry spluttering and all the animals glaring at him. Bai Di even threatening to piss in his shoes. Hedwig just gave him her back in irritation.

Still, Harry couldn't be happier. His first ever friend was back.

By the time Harry's second year rolled around, everyone in the school had pretty much accepted his permanent presence in their lives.

Every year, a few of the older transfer students or new kids from noble families would loudly ask about him, thinking he might be easy pickings since he looked different, but they were usually shushed pretty quickly by the others. This might have something to do with how potent Snape's potions were, or how often Harry gave away mid to high level pills, which cost a fortune, for free, to his classmates, which he had made for practice. Since neither Harry nor Snape will ever hurt for money, it was easy for Harry to be generous. Perhaps it was the circumstances he grew up in, but he quickly garnered himself a reputation for being kind and generous among his peers. His household servants also gushed about both of their Masters to other servants, so the reputation had stuck.

No one really wanted to get on his bad side, or even pick a fight with him, and since he wasn't competing with them for either political power or the hand of the noble ladies who attended classes with them – the rumor of him being engaged to a British Noble lady had long since become old news, except how Hermione was sometimes a Noble lady and sometimes a princess, depending on how hormonal the girls were feeling – no one much felt a need to be Draco Malfoy at him.

Which was why it was such a horrific shock, to be attending yet another banquet at one of his classmate's houses, and to suddenly come Face-to-face with Harry's standard for all asshole behavior, namely, one Draco Malfoy.

Malfoy, at least, looked equally horrified to be faced with him.

The blond boy had grown significantly taller, but while Harry had added bulk to his height, Draco still looked skinny as a rail. His hair was much longer now, and came down to his shoulders, and Harry had a hysterical thought that at least him and his father would fit in with their longer hair.

They stared at one another, mouth gaping a bit, until Apep stuck his head out and hissed his confusion at Harry.

Without thinking, Harry hissed back, and Malfoy's eyes got even wider.

Sighing, and remembering some of his manners, Harry said wryly, "Heir Malfoy, what an… unexpected surprise. Why don't we step over to the garden pagoda, so we could catch up, away from… prying eyes?"

If anything, Malfoy's eyes got even bigger, and Harry realized he had said that in Chinese. Mentally shaking his head, he repeated his invite in English. He hadn't much spoken the language in close to two years, and it actually felt a little odd coming out of his mouth.

Malfoy must have been too shocked to protest, because he just nodded and silently followed him to the garden.

Harry used to think Snape paranoid, since he wore no less than 5 different portkey's, health checking amulets, as well as healing devices, but now he was grateful that one of the items – the tracking bracelet he wore, had 3 settings on it. One for mortal danger, one for imminent death, and one for discovery. Harry quickly activated the Discovery setting which would react on Snape's wrist as he wore a matching bracelet. Harry knew Snape would understand and find a way to help him salvage the situation.

Si Yu and Bai Wu had noticed him departing, and seeing the look on his face, had figured out that Harry knew the blond boy from somewhere. They knew Harry was in hiding, so they were also understandably alarmed but Harry had given them the hand gesture for 'Wait', and 'Inform' which they used during training, so they waited for Master Snape to arrive, while keeping an eye for the older blond man who had yet to notice his son's absence.

Bai Wu went to the gate to wait for Snape while Si Yu stayed close to the older blond.

Harry led Malfoy junior to the pagoda in the garden – grateful that every garden sooner or later had one installed as it was traditional to allow ladies and gentlemen to have a nice place to rest while surrounded by nature – and had them sit opposite of one another.

Malfoy was in traditional British robes, and while normally Harry would feel uncomfortable to not be similarly dressed, 2 years in China had accustomed him to the local traditions. The servants, despite not being his servants, still brought them tea, as was customary, and Harry proceeded to pour it for them while Malfoy watched him warily, still without saying a word.

Harry marveled that even a year and a half ago, he wouldn't have been able to sit here and pour tea for Draco Malfoy of all people, but he had grown a lot in the last two years, and felt comfortable in his own skin and his place in this country. It made the things he needed to say easier somehow.

"It is a surprise to see you here, if I am honest. I keep on top of the news in Britain still, and heard that while you stayed at Hogwarts, your family had relocated to France. Are you enjoying it there? I understand the cuisine is quite impressive." He opened with.

Two years of Chinese social norms, have taught Harry how to do endless small talk without feeling awkward.

Malfoy blinked at him, and picked up his tea to hide it. Clearly his own training also kicked in, because he replied in a rather civil tone, "Yes, it had been a hard decision but my parents felt the… environment in Britain was no longer beneficial for our family. I imagine you left for similar reasons." Then some of the old Draco Malfoy bled through, "Merlin, Potter. We thought you were dead. We thought the Dark Lord had – you know." Malfoy have a hand wave, indicating Harry's imaginary demise.

Harry gave him a quirked smile, and took a sip of his own tea. He marveled that he could seem so calm when he was hoping Snape would quickly swoop in and make this whole mess disappear. It would be a disaster of epic proportions if the Malfoys informed Voldie or Dumbledore where they were.

"I assure you; the news of my demise has been greatly exaggerated" Harry said, one single eyebrow rising, quoting Snape almost perfectly.

"You sound like Snape."

There was a beat, and then Malfoy realized what he said and his eyes widened.

Harry wanted to facepalm so hard.

Malfoy looked like he was about to bolt, but before Harry could stun him, Apep darted out, and bit him on the hand not holding the teacup.

Harry looked down at his snake in surprise while Malfoy slumped, still very much aware but now unable to move a muscle.

:: What? He was about to run. Your thoughts were clear. :: Apep told him.

This time Harry did facepalm.

How was this his life?

"Alright, first off, you are in no danger. My snake just paralyzed you because you looked like you were about to bolt for the hills, or your father. Either would not have been the best outcome. I need you to stay put until my father arrives."

Seeing Malfoy's eyes widen even more, Harry cursed himself for still never learning the art of not-giving-information-away when he was stressed.

Si Yu was right to despair about him.

"So, Malfoy. Believe me when I say, that the last person I had hoped to meet here today was you and your father. Please also believe me when I say that while this is not ideal, it is far from a problem. You are two foreigners in a country where you hold minimal power, and I hold a great deal more, and making you two vanish would be easier than I care to admit. However, since I am also not Voldie, and since your family seems to have woken up about the fact that Voldie is, in fact, completely insane, else you wouldn't have found a way to move to France, I think maybe we could be of mutual help to one another." Harry told the numb blond calmly.

Thinking about how to proceed, he decided the best thing to do, was to get back to his own manor. Ideally with the Malfoy's in tow, but how to do that quietly…

Harry watched Malfoy track his every move with his eyes, the only body part he could still move. Smiling at him reassuringly, which he knew was far from reassuring to Malfoy, Harry waved his hand and both An Ying and Yin Ying were suddenly kneeling on one knee by his side.

Malfoy, Harry though, would have jerked in surprise if he could have moved, but since he couldn't, his eyes just got a lot more panicky instead.

"Please take this boy to my courtyard, immobilize him if Apep's venom wears off, but don't hurt him. He will be… a guest, for lack of a better word. One of you stay with me, and be ready to assist if his father isn't… reasonable." Harry told them.

Yin Ying picked up Malfoy like he was a sack of potatoes, and vanished while An Ying quietly asked, "How much resistance should we expect? Do I need to call for more of our brothers, little Master?"

Harry considered it, but Narcissa never did have another child and Harry very much doubted Lucius would risk his only Heir, no matter the advantage of revealing Harry. "I think minimal, since we have his only son, but I am afraid, it will put our host in an uncomfortable position."

An Ying nodded, and vanished, and Harry slowly made his way back to the main party. Si Yu was clearly looking out for him, because he came over and quietly said, "No sign of your father yet, but my sources said this is only Master Huang's second dealing with your blond acquaintance's father. It is a business relationship, nothing more."

Harry nodded his head in understanding, and slowly made his way towards Malfoy senior.

Malfoy hadn't seen him yet, since his back was to Harry, but he was deep in conversation with Master Huang. Master Huang however spotted him immediately, and a wide smile was on his face right away.

Master Huang was only a mid-to-high ranking official, who was two levels below Si Yu's father and reported to his superiors, who in turn reported to Si Yu's father. Harry had given him and his son a lot of face to attend this banquet, and quite a few people were in attendance because both he and Si Yu had deemed it good enough to attend. While he wasn't the guest of honor, he wasn't far below that station, so when Master Huang invited him to join them with his smile, he did.

"Ah, Mister Malfoy, may I present to you another foreigner from a country near yours. He is an exceptional Pill Master and –" Master Huang suddenly stopped speaking because Lucius had actually recoiled after seeing him.

Before Master Huang could inquire what the problem was, Harry told him, "We are acquainted. Mister Malfoy's son attended my former school. Mister Malfoy is actually a staunch supporter of the man who killed my parents and attempted to murder me."

Master Huang immediately lost all color on his face, and stammered, "I-I- Master Snape, I assure you, I had no idea!" Then, in a move Harry had learned to expect, Master Huang chose his loyalties, just that quickly. "Guards!"

About a dozen well-armed shadows materialized in a circle around them. Harry noticed Lucius was clutching his wand in a death grip.

"I am certain you were not aware, Master Huang. You are a businessman, as well as a valued member of the government, and Mister Malfoy had relocated his family in the past year away from my former country. I do not hold you responsible for this." Harry assured the sweating man, who breathed an audible sigh of relief.

No one wanted to get on Great Master Xuan's bad side, or the bad side of the Goblin Nation. Harry wasn't surprised that Master Huang immediately thew Lucius under the bus, so to speak, but Lucius certainly was.

"Please, do not allow this to disrupt such a nice event, Master Huang. I have already taken the liberty to invite Mister Malfoy's son to my manor to visit for some days, and I was just about to extend the invitation to Mister Malfoy himself. I am sure my father would also like the opportunity to… discuss some things with him." Harry gave Master Huang his professional smile, and the man visibly relaxed, eyes widening in understanding. "In fact, if it is alright with you, we will take our leave now. I would never forgive myself if I disrupted your banquet selfishly with my private family matters."

Lucius Malfoy had gone from white to furious, but he was a Slytherin who had served the Dark Lord, and save for his earlier surprise, he knew he no longer had friends here. So, he nodded stiffly and gave his goodbyes.

Master Huang, in the desire to assure Harry he was on the Snape family side, insisted they take two of his carriages and four full contingents of guards, to assure 'Heir Snape's safe arrival' home. Harry was certain they would also be receiving generous apology gifts tomorrow morning, for putting Harry in such a position. If Lucius was surprised how quickly his partner had turned on him, and how much respect Harry commanded here, he did not show it, instead, he allowed An Ying to 'escort' him to the second carriage. An Ying also got into the carriage with Lucius. Taking no chances with Harry's safety.

Harry took a moment to assure Si Yu and Bai Wu that he had things well in hand, and to thank them for all their help. They both looked worried, but before they let Harry go, they made him promise that he would call on them – and their families – if the Snapes needed help.

Harry was sure Great Master Xuan and the Goblin Nation in China would be hearing about this within the hour.

Since Harry didn't need to share his carriage with the likes of Lucius Malfoy, he settled in, hoping Yin Ying had notified his father so the man didn't rush over to Huang manor.

The trip didn't take long, and when they arrived, Harry realized that Master Huang, in his panic to show loyalty, had left him the four contingents of guards, and they had fully intended to stay, in case Snape Manor needed assistance. Harry smiled a little to himself, but assured the captain-of-the-guard they will be alright now that they were home and sent them on their way.

Lucius was 'escorted' off the carriage, and Harry could see him assessing the Snape Manor perimeter guards, the various wards on the doors and walls, and the dozen or so Shadows who were not hiding for once.

Chamberlin Wang was personally waiting for him at the gate, with another 30 or so of their best guards, and another 50 more standing in the back. They looked ready to go to war, and Harry relaxed a little now that he was back on his home turf.

"Please, follow me Lord Malfoy." Harry said, since the wards wouldn't let him in unless he was invited anyway, but it also served as a show of civility. Harry had grown very fond of civilized discourse in the past two years, and was especially fond of the Chinese belief that one should never rip-apart another's 'face', unless they plan to make a mortal enemy of the family.

Since Lucius did seem to be distancing himself from Voldie, Harry decided he would bring him to his father, and they could find a way to squeeze out an unbreakable vow from the Malfoys at the very least.

Apep slithered out again, and stared at Lucius while they walked. Harry noticed, and sent a mental link of 'what?' at him.

The snake was scenting the air, the way he usually did when something smelled good to him. No wonder, since the Malfoy's were well known for their love of Dark Arts.

:: He smells like your father used to. His arm had that delicious smell also. :: Apep told him.

With a small jolt, Harry realized there was something they had, the Malfoy would want.

Freedom.

He said nothing however, and simply led Lord Malfoy to their Guest Receiving Hall.

"Please, have a seat. My father should be joining us shortly." Harry told him. He wasn't sure how much Chinese Lucius understood, if he was using any artifacts to translate for him, or if Master Huang had simply taken an English translation pill to be able to do business. However, since the cat was already out of the bag with Draco, Harry saw no point in fretting further.

He briefly thought about simply obliviating both of them but… 2 years in China have taught him not to waste opportunities, and there was definitely one here.

His Chinese friends have been incredible in teaching Harry calm, since the belief here was that strong emotions could be damaging to health, so one strove to maintain a level of calm in all situations. Daily meditations have also done their job, and Harry felt a lot calmer now then he did facing down Quirrell.

His guards and Shadows lined the reception hall, standing behind the chairs set out for guests, but within easy killing distance if Lucius was to misbehave.

Zhao Momo came herself, with no less than 4 of their maids, to serve tea and set out cakes. Lucius was being given the treatment of a guest, for now, but the guards on the left and right of the room were a clear deterrent that Lucius should continue to act like a guest, least something unfortunate was to happen to him.

Harry wasn't terribly worried about killing Lucius, which only two years ago would have been rather unthinkable, but Magical China had a way of absorbing a person into their culture, and Harry knew that there would be minimal repercussions for him or his father if their hand was forced.

He sat, side by side with the man, with only a table between them. Lucius had been allowed to keep his wand, but the man wasn't stupid enough to try an Avada Harry in front of this many guards, so they sat there, Lucius stiffly, and Harry more relaxed, while they waited.

Lucius didn't touch his tea.

Harry could kind of understand. If the situation was reversed, Harry wouldn't have either.

Snape arrived moments later, followed by 6 of their Shadows. Something Lucius didn't fail to notice, Harry was sure.

Harry stood up, and walked towards him. "Master Huang sends his sincerest apologies. He had been under the impression that the Malfoys were from France, not England. He was quick to take action once he learned who they were. I expect we will be getting significant apology gifts in the morning." Harry informed him without permeable. "Malfoy junior is in my room. Apep took offence when he tried to make a run for it."

Harry couldn't help smile a little. The look on Draco's face had been priceless.

Snape's eyes scanned him from head to toe, and assuring himself that his son was unharmed, turned his attention to their 'guest'.

Lucius clearly understood enough Chinese to know that his son might be injured but was not dead. Instead of relaxing however, he made the mistake of standing, "Snape. What is the meaning of this?"

Their guards took exception to that, and An Ying pushed the man down with a firm hand on his shoulder.

Lucius scowled but sat back down.

Snape observed Lucius like he did one of his more unusual potions ingredients for a moment, and Harry knew he was reviewing everything he knew about Lucius's current political dealings, businesses and other such information.

Instead of answering Lucius, Snape asked Harry, "How is Apep?"

Harry knew immediately what he meant, "Willing."

Merlin help him, but he had learned Slytherin-speak after two years in China. Si Yu will be so proud of him.

Snape hummed, and they both walked over, and Snape took the seat Harry had sat in before, while Harry stood by his side.

"Hello Lucius. I wish I can say it is a pleasure to see you, but considering our circumstances, that would be a lie." Snape opened with.

Lucius, by now, had collected his composure, and seemed to have calmed down some also. "Believe me when I say, you and the boy were the last people I expected to see on this trip. We thought you dead, and had mourned your passing. Narcissa had been especially upset."

The sneer was no longer in Lucius's tone, but he was far from warm-sounding.

"I am sure." Snape sounded drier than dry. Though his face softened a little at the mention of Narcissa and Harry made a note of that, "Narcissa was always kind to me. I regretted not being able to let her know the truth."

There was a pause then, as both men considered the other.

"You have done well here." Lucius stated, letting his eyes glance causally at the opulent Reception Hall and the guards and servants. "Though I am surprised to see the boy here."

There was the sneer. Harry had almost missed it.

"My son, has also done well here Lucius." Snape informed him, as Lucius's eyes widened again.

"You – and Lily?" Lucius asked, almost delicately this time, sneer no longer present as if it had never been.

"Lily was my sister." Snape informed him, and Harry was honestly surprised that Snape was giving that much away. No doubt all the people present here, will be sworn again to silence since everyone thought Snape was his biological father. "I blood-adopted Harry. He is my son and Heir."

Lucius clearly heard the warning, and gave a shallow nod of acknowledgement, while glancing at Harry.

"It clearly suits him." Offered Lucius, almost like a peace offering.

Snape observed the other man for a moment, "I heard you and Narcissa left England last year. I admit to being surprised by the news. Dark Lord's orders I presume? He is back then?"

A look of surprise flittered through Lucius's eyes so fast Harry thought he had imagined it, "Narcissa wanted a change of scenery, since our Lord and his followers…graciously moved into Malfoy Manor. I took the opportunity to convince him that the Malfoys were well connected in France and could recruit for him." Lucius eyed Severus the way Apep used to eye predators bigger than him. "How are you not aware that he is back, Severus?"

Snape smirked, and since Harry hadn't seen that expression since Hogwarts, Harry very naturally braced himself instinctively, "Many things have changed, old friend." Severus told him, as he carefully, almost teasingly, slid his left robe sleeve up, exposing his unblemished arm, "I am free of his hold, and have been for some time."

Lucius didn't even try to hide his shock this time, and almost stood back up, but quickly remembered himself when he saw the Shadow behind him tense. He stared at Snape's arm intently.

"Can it be replicated?" Lucius asked, and Harry was amazed that he could heard a trace of faint hope in the blonde's tone.

"It can." Snape told him, smiling this time. "For the right incentive, of course."

Lucius looked up into Snape's eyes this time, and Harry didn't dare breath. There was so much in Lucius's expression.

There was a beat of silence, then Lucius spoke. His tone very measured. "If you can free me and my son from his grasp, we would both swear an unbreakable oath to you, and vow to a no-wands no-harm treaty with your house for the next 5 generations." Then Lucius looked at Snape, dead in the eye, "Would that suit?"

Harry knew they weren't getting the better end of the deal here, but if Lucius removed himself as an enemy and as a threat… it might be worth it. Plus, Apep got stronger for every bit of dark magic he consumed, and Lucius and Draco's Dark Marks might just be enough to complete the next phase of his growth. If that happened, Harry could remove the soul shard in his head, and that would be worth far more than Lucius realized.

Snape seemed to consider it, but then deliberately turned to Harry, "What do you think, my son? Do you want to remove Lucius and Draco's Dark Marks from them?"

Lucius's eyes widened, clearly having assumed it was Snape who had found a way to remove the Mark. Harry could see Lucius never considered that it was Harry himself who had done it.

Well, technically, it was Apep but Harry could tell what Snap was doing. He wanted Lucius to believe that it was Harry himself who had this power.

Apep quietly agreed with Snape in his mind, and sounded rather eager to put on a show for everyone. Harry personally thought his little brother was just greedy for the dark magic in the Dark Mark, but really couldn't fault him for it.

He made a show of thinking about it, then added, "I want the vow to be to the both of us, and our House. In case they try to wriggle out of it somehow, but yeah, I can do it. Though, I'd rather do them over two days. It always leaves such a nasty taste in my mouth afterwards, and I need Great Master's Wan Ye's pineapple cakes afterwards. That way I get to eat them two days in a row."

He told his father cheekily, knowing he would understand the message that Great Master Xuan would murder them both if he was not informed about this before they made any alliances.

Snape nodded his understanding, and turned to Lucius, "Well then, seems that you and Draco will be our guests for the next while."

"My son." Lucius said, then didn't say anything else.

"He is in Harry's room, hanging out with Harry's Shadows and his familiar. No harm will come to him, so long as he doesn't make himself a threat, you have my word."

Harry, taking that as his cue, rose to his feet. A few years ago, he would have jumped up, but the last two years have tempered him some and taught him some social graces.

"I will go fetch him, so you can explain things to him yourself." Harry smiled at Lucius, and that more than anything seemed to unnerve the man. "Zhao Momo, please prepare the guest quarters in the East Wing, for the Malfoys."

Harry knew without having to say, that Zhao Momo understood it as 'prepare the most lavish guest room in the East wing, furthest away from my room, and assign both guards and maids, to… supervise them.

Zhao Momo, bless her intelligent and shrewd self, simply bowed, her 6 maids behind her bowing in unison with her, as if they rehearsed it, with a "Yes, Master, right away."

Lucius definitely noticed the deference, he wouldn't be much of a Slytherin if he hadn't, but his attention was still on Snape.

"Father, I shall take my leave, and bring Draco back shortly." He gave Snape a formal bow, with fist on hand and everything. Something he hasn't done unless in public, and Snape gave him a small nod of acknowledgement, his eyes shining in mirth.

As Harry was stepping over the door stopper, 4 of his shadows behind him trailing with 4 additional guards behind them, he heard Lucius say quietly, "I say, you have done a marvelous job with him, I must – "

He didn't hear the rest, but he smirked, knowing no one could see his expression.

An Ying actually made a noise behind him once they were well away from the Hall. A clear plea for information. Harry figured one of them really should brief their guards, and since his father was busy, it fell to him to do it.

"He was the right-hand man of the monster who murdered my parents and whom I murdered as a baby. The monster came back, but is likely more insane than ever, so Lucius wants out. The curse on his arm makes that… challenging if not impossible." Since the Shadow had been in the meeting, he did not have to repeat that very soon Lucius should not be a threat any more, but until then, "He is vicious and cunning, only loyal to his own family, but this arrangement should work. However, if he becomes a threat, snap his wand as soon as you are able. He can only do low level magic without it, if at all. If you ever hear him start to say the words Avada Kedavra, do not try to block the curse but jump out of the way. Similarly, the words Crucio and Imperius are two curses to be avoided at all cost. Avada cuts the soul's connection to the body, causing instant death; Crucio is a torture spell which makes you feel unimaginable pain; Imperius will control you. I am not overly worried about our Shadows, since even a Avada shouldn't be able to outright kill them anymore thanks to you all being in early Incarnation Phase but it will definitely cause damage. Our guards would die however, and I would not allow that."

Harry informed him, his voice a touch clipped as he was releasing some of his stress away from Lucius's prying eyes. An Ying nodded seriously, and Harry knew everyone on guard duty will be notified within the hour.

"Best put our highest-level guys on babysitting duty, just in case." Harry thought to add. "They should never be left unsupervised. At least not until they give their Vows."

"It will be done, Master." An Ying told him confidently.

"They are nobility, so they will have airs around them. Lucius is a Lord and Draco the only Heir of their house. Make sure the Momo's are informed also. I don't want them finding fault with our… hospitality."

Harry really didn't need to add that, since their staff was more than proficient in filling in the blanks, but Harry remembered how much the Malfoys loved to look down on others, and perversely, Harry wanted to drown the two blond pounces in how much luxury they had around them. Old-Harry never would have done this. Old-Harry might have chosen to lock the Malfoy's into their family dungeon – and wasn't that a shock to discover they actually had an honest-to-Merlin dungeons in their home – but New-Harry, the one who was Snape's son, had figured out what Slytherins value. Two years in Magical China had taught him that no one betrays a beneficial relationship, so long as it continued to be beneficial. So, he planned to slather it on.

While Harry wasn't used to having a small army following behind his back, he had to admit, he was rather happy to have them today. Say what you will, but magical Chinese certainly knew the value of intimidation and a show of solidarity.

Stepping into his own courtyard, Ye Wen was there to greet him. His smile was a little tight, which meant Draco's paralysis had worn off, but his companion boy greeted him as usual, "Welcome back, little Master. Your… guest is in the Meditation room, under the wards. Bai Di is watching him, together with Yin Ying."

Harry smiled at Ye Wen, "He hasn't been too much trouble, has he?"

Ye Wen gave him a sly smile back, "At first, he was a bit… vocal after he could speak again, but Bai Di convinced him that silence was a preferred way to wait for your return."

Harry loved his littlest brother, no one could scare the pants off of you the way he could.

He sent a mental laugh and hug to his tiger, and received a chuff and nuzzle in his head in return.

"Your human smells like something I want to eat." His tiger told him as soon as he walked into the meditation room. Considering he said it out loud and not inside Harry's head, it was clearly said for Draco's benefit.

Draco himself was sitting on the tatami floor, ropes bound his upper torso, but considering he was under a high-level ward dome, he wasn't going anywhere. He did however inch as far away from the tiger as he could get.

"Potter! Finally! What is the meaning of this?!" Draco tried for intimidating but his voice went high-pitched as soon as Bai Di turned his head towards him.

Bai Di had opted to be in his largest form, clearly for intimidation purposes, and proceeded to yawn as widely as he could, showing of his large canines which were the size of Harry's calves.

Harry saw Draco gulp.

So much for Malfoy bravado.

"Hello Malfoy. Your father is here, and is being entertained by my father. I think they have come to an agreement. One which will benefit everyone. You will be our guests for the next few days." Harry let him know, because Slytherin functioned one of two ways.

He waved his hand casually, and the bonds and ward around Malfoy collapsed. Malfoy's eyes widened, likely because Harry wasn't holding a wand.

Yin Ying stepped up to Harry's left, and held out Malfoy's wand to Harry.

Harry could feel his hands itch to snap it, but he refrained, missing his old self for just a moment. Instead, he mentally sighed and with a nod of his head, Yin Ying handed the wand back to Malfoy.

Bai Di came to sit by his feet. Clearly telling the blond boy not to try anything funny least he become lunch.

Draco clearly saw it too because while he clutched his wand, he didn't even try to raise it.

"Come on then." Harry told him, and lead him out into the courtyard, where his favorite stone table sat under the lush tree.

"Your father and mine need some time to talk, so we may as well have some tea and cakes while we give them the time to do that. I will catch you up in the meantime."

Say what you will about Draco Malfoy, but seeing how many guards, Shadows, terrifying beast and maid-servants who were clearly all magical and loyal to Harry, he quickly curbed his sneers and sharp tone, and sat on the stone stool indicated without fuss.

Harry saw the look of surprise as he sat, and maybe that was for the cushioning charm on the stool or maybe because they were served tea immediately with several different cakes, but he didn't say anything.

"Please, help yourself." Harry said, while thinking how to start.

"It's not poisoned, is it?" Malfoy half joked.

"No, if I wanted to poison you, you would already be dead, don't worry." Draco didn't know it, but Harry was quoting Si Yi, word for word, the last time a boy from school he didn't like came to visit.

Malfoy clearly didn't expect that, "Merlin, you do sound like Snape."

"I should, I am his son now." Harry told him. "He blood-adopted me."

Draco's eyes got huge at that. He was a lot less proficient at hiding his feelings than his father was. Harry had no idea why he hadn't see it before, and marveled again how much could change in just two years.

Harry actually smiled at him, because he had missed that god-smacked expression on Draco Malfoy's face.

"A lot has change in the last two years, Malfoy." Harry told him. "Some of it, you can see around you. Some of it, you can't. But the things which are most relevant to you, is that before I left, our fathers were just hashing out the terms of our alliance."

Malfoy had started to pick up one of the cherry blossoms cakes, which Harry personally loved, but the news clearly shocked him and he nearly dropped the poor cake. "You're kidding."

At the smile on Harry's face, bewildered, he asked, "You are not kidding. What in Merlin's name happened? What could you possibly offer to Father –" he trailed off then, thinking furiously.

- and took a small nibble of the cake. As expected, it completely distracted him enough to look down at the cake he was eating, "These are good!"

Harry grinned at him; Draco Malfoy hadn't changed all that much. He was still a spoiled Daddy's boy it seemed. "They should be. They are made from a thousand-year-old cherry tree. The blossoms are soaked in premium Ling-alcohol and marinated for 60 days. They contain very pure magic and are excellent for core development."

Harry bit into his own cake, and chewed thoughtfully. "To answer your question, your father has finally come to the same conclusion my father and I have known for years, that Voldie is extremely crazy, and that is not conducive to a healthy and prosperous life along his side. Before you protest, he told us this himself, in so many words."

Draco was definitely staring at him now. Harry noticed he didn't put down the cake however.

"When did he brand you?" Harry asked casually. Because he was still a little shit sometimes.

Draco instinctively looked around himself, and noted again how many people were in the courtyard with them. Most where not within immediate listening distance, but Ye Wen, and his female servants, Yin Ying and two of his shadows as well as the two shadows in the tree certainly all were.

Bai Di chose that moment to bump against Draco's leg, which made him flinch and nearly crumble his cake, on his way to lay himself at Harry's feet. His full three-meter body.

Draco clearly coming to the conclusion that as pleasant as this was, he was still a hostage, and thus should answer, albeit in a quieter voice. "He – forced father's hand. Two months ago. We had already moved but… he made us all come, and crucioed Mother until I 'begged for the privilege' to serve him. He was possessing Barty Crouch. Junior, not Senior. Barty will no doubt die soon and then he will need another –"

To his credit, Draco sounded frustrated even while cutting himself off, and more than a little sick and disgusted.

"That is what we are offering. Freedom from him." Harry told him.

Draco looked up so fast Harry wondered how his neck didn't protest. Just like his father, he almost leaped up from his stool till Bai Di shifted, reminding him to behave. "Potter, don't joke about that! How?! There is no way to remove it, even death doesn't remove it!"

Harry looked at the blond boy carefully, he was taller sure, but he was almost too skinny. His cheeks were sunk in, his pointy chin was even pointier, as were his cheek bones. He looked like skin on a skeleton really. Harry wondered if he was glamouring the dark circles under his eyes.

"I can remove the Mark. I did it for my father." Harry told him quietly.

Draco's whole-body froze, desperate hope flashes through his eyes, and Harry suddenly realizes how frantic these two must have been. Whatever Voldie did to Narcissa, it hadn't been pleasant.

Draco was quiet for a full minute, then his eyes sharpen on Harry in a way Harry has never seen him do towards Harry himself. "If you can really do that, I will swear allegiance to you. So would my father."

Draco seems to be trembling a bit, Harry notices detachedly, he wondered why he felt so distant from this. His older self would never have been capable of this conversation in the first place, let alone analytical detachment.

Harry wondered what Ron would think of this new him.

If he would reject this more-Slytherin Harry.

Or if he would adapt too.

You never knew with Ron really.

"That is what they are discussing now. I will do one of you per day. You will swear a no-wands no-harm treaty with me, my father, and House Snape. Your descendants will honor this treaty too. We will, in effect, be allies. For generations, Malfoy. What do you think of that?"

Draco stared at him. His hands were fisted on the table. The cake was crumpled and forgotten and a part of Harry only mourned the waste of the excellent confectionary.

Instead of answering him, Draco offered, like the true Slytherin he was born to be, "I wish you had taken my hand back in first year. We could have skipped a lot of hassle."

Harry laughed; he couldn't help himself. He had always paid attention to the blond, partly because the blond paid attention to him, but also because he was hilarious, when he wasn't being an asshole.

"True that." Harry grinned at him, "Come on, drink your tea and eat your cake. Lucius is going to think I'm crucio-ing you or something, if we take too long."

Draco blinked at him, but smiled tentatively, "You've changed Potter. A lot." The boy told him. "It suits you."

"Thanks, I think." Harry told him, his mouth quirking.

Ron would have so much to say right now.

So much.

He wondered what Hermione would say.

"This really is very good cake. You must get your house elf to tell me the recipe."

"Oh, I wish I could Malfoy, but this is the secret recipe from my father's Master. Teacher, that is, not Dark Lord. And I heard wars have been fought over it." Harry told him mock-seriously, with a laugh.

"His chef is a witch from Yun Nan, who makes exceptional Ling desserts. They don't use house elves here. She is often invited to make these for the Emperor and the Dowager, as well as many other Royal and Ancient and Most Noble Houses. She just happens to like us, so we always get some when she is back at my father's Master's House."

Harry did his best to avoid saying the name of Great Master Xuan because the Great Master had not been informed yet, and Harry wanted to make sure he gave his teacher the proper amount of face, even under the circumstances.

Malfoy blinked at him, as if he wasn't sure he was joking. "I do feel really… energized, even from a few bites. I thought it was because –" here Malfoy waves his hand a bit, indicating the tiger near his leg, the Shadows around and above him and the guards and maids and Harry himself, "but I feel… so much less tired."

Malfoy's eyes narrowed, "It's not addictive, is it? Like, drugs addictive?"

Harry laughed again; he really couldn't help it. Trust a Slytherin to go there immediately. "They are absolutely addictive, but not in a drug's-way. I promise. They are just so full of magic and taste so good you want to keep eating them."

After Draco had eaten his fill of the cakes and tea had been consumed, Harry figured it had been long enough, and they made their way to the guest quarters, where Harry knew the Malfoy's would be set up, and sure enough Lucius and his father were there.

Bai Di had followed them, in his full size, and he was nearly as tall as Draco. Lucius had looked slightly panicked around the eyes when he first laid eyes on them, but when he realized the tiger wasn't pouncing on his son, he relaxed.

Marginally.

Bai Di took some getting used to.

Like any parent, Lucius looked Draco over for injuries, seemingly reflexively, and Harry saw Draco give him a tiny nod.

Just like the first time Harry saw them interact, Lucius only said Draco's name, and Draco answered with an equally leveled, 'Father'.

Harry shook his head, and walked up to stand next to Snape, naturally deferring to him, as was the custom. "Sorry father, we stopped for a bit of tea and cherry blossom cakes. We figured you needed some time to catch up." Harry told him cheerfully.

Snape gave him an amused look, "So long as you enjoyed yourselves."

Harry saw Ye Wen swallow a laugh and grinned himself.

Snape turned to the Malfoys, and offered, "Please enjoy the courtyard, it is yours for the duration of your stay."

"This here is Zhao Momo; she will take care of your household needs together with her girls. The guards stay until I have your vow. Please, freshen up and rest for a while. Your clothes and trunk will be brought to you soon. We would like it if you would both join us for dinner this evening at 7p.m. One of Zhao Momo's girls will show you the way. After dinner we can see what we can do about the first Mark."

His father's tone had him looking up, but Snape was speaking to Lucius. Who simply nodded as if that was acceptable and reasonable. Lucius didn't ask how Snape knew where they were staying. It was read and understood that Snape was well connected here.

They left them then, and when they were almost to Snape's courtyard, Harry asked, "Did I miss anything important? Also, you gave them Zhao Momo?"

"Not much. Narcissa is in a pretty bad way. There is nerve damage from the cruciatus. She shakes a lot, according to him. I offered him something that will fix it. He asked if he needed to wear your Dark Mark." His father, the asshole, told him.

"That's nice. Did you tell him no?"

"I asked him to remain available." Snape told him, his twisted humor sadly showing.

Harry often despaired about this.

"I suppose it could have been worse." Harry told him honestly. Because yes, this could have, in fact, gone horribly, horribly, wrong.

It still might, his cynicism insisted.

Dinner should be loads of fun tonight.

Dinner was a hilariously tense affair for the first 15 minutes. Might have been the ever-present Shadows, or the full entourage of maids standing in uniform, regimented lines. The funny part was that it was tense for Harry and his father too, since Zhao Momo rarely insisted on the full display, but this time, after spending less than 3 hours with the Malfoy's, she was going in all-guns on deck.

Harry personally thought that was terribly telling.

Then Harry broke the ice, by complimented Draco on his skill with the chopsticks, telling him he sucked at it for the first few months he was here. Draco confessed his mother had insisted on all-utensil training including elegant hand-eating from palm leaf in case they ever had to go to India and that region. Harry had laughed and asked how in Merlin's name that worked, and Draco had actually mimicked it a little. Harry found it hilarious to picture tiny little Draco trying to stuff his chubby little hands into his mouth while remaining somehow elegant, and told him so.

Snape and Lucius both looked somewhat indulgent, especially since that meant none of them had to do any awkward talking.

Harry changed the topic to food, and both Malfoys looked surprisingly interested in the variety of Ling food available to the wizarding part of China. Both of them confessed to being amazed, especially since in Kun Lun City there were muggles living among wizardkind, peacefully. They both confessed to struggling to tell who was a wizard and who a muggle since they all dressed like wizardkind, and no one carried a wand.

"You do realize that mortals – whom you call muggles – know about us, and often live among us here? They trade in magical goods and sometimes remain here, but they also occasionally go to Nepal, where there is a school, which trains mortals to become sorcerers. They learn magic, just in a different way from us."

The looks on both of the Malfoys was so funny Harry couldn't help laugh a little, though not enough to negate what he was saying.

"You know what I learned here Draco? That the United Kingdoms and magical Britain was a very small place, with some very small-minded ideas. I am not even talking about the blood prejudice. I am talking about magic and the way it works. We learn such a tiny fraction of how it works and think ourselves experts, but that isn't the truth." Harry told the younger blond opposite of him, "I was very lucky, to leave when I did."

Harry glances at Snape as he said that, but the Malfoys had a thoughtful look on their face.

The chef had gone all out, and they were served a huge feast. The table groaned with all the dishes that just kept coming and coming.

The Malfoys shared a glance, as the food just kept coming, and Harry saw Draco sit up a little straighter.

While dinner had been both tense and hilarious in equal part, by dessert, they were all too full to continue to put on airs.

Everyone was also distracted by what would happen next.

They all begged off of more fruit and pastry, and everyone headed back to where the Malfoy's where staying.

Apep had been projecting impatience at Harry for a solid 45 minutes, so Harry too was eager to hurry it up so Apep could lay off of him.

When they entered the seating area, Harry suggested they go to the bedroom instead.

"While I can remove the Mark, it will hurt. A lot. This is not an easy piece of magic, so I will need my snake familiar to help me with it, since Voldie used parcel magic when he cast that nasty piece of work."

Harry was totally talking out of his ass. He had no idea if Voldie did that or not, but considering Voldie wasn't likely to tell Lucius, he wasn't overly worried at being discovered.

"My snake will have to bite you, so that the Dark Mark magic doesn't lash out and kill us all, and his venom will paralyze you. You will not be in danger, but you will likely be weak afterwards and need to sleep for several days. My Shadows will have to hold you down, because as I said, it will hurt and you will try to fight. There is nothing I can do about that, because Voldie was a sadistic ass –" Snape's disapproving cough cut him off before he could voice him thoughts on Voldie but Harry doubted anyone in the room disagreed.

"Any questions?"

"Which one of us first?" Lucius asked, his voice tense.

Harry asked Apep inside his head, and Apep told him best to start with the younger Mark. It will go easier.

"Draco. Your Mark is the youngest, it will come out the easiest."

Draco glanced at his father, but Lucius looked relived. Harry realized Lucius wanted his son free as soon as possible, and was willing to hash his bets that his won't be removed successfully.

"Lord Malfoy, I am not going to ask you to hand over your wand, but please do not raise it towards me at any point during the casting, as it could seriously hurt your son. I have warned you that it will hurt, and that my snake must bite him, and my men hold him down if he fights. You are agreeing to this, knowingly. My father went through the same process and came out unscathed, I do not foresee any issues with your son or you either, but since you are a parent, I worry about your control. I do give you my word that I will do this as fast and with as little pain as I can but it is what it is."

Harry stared Lucius in the eyes while he said this, because Snape would cheerfully murder anyone who hurt him, and Lucius is a Death Eater, while Draco his only son and Heir.

Give the man credit, he looked at Draco, and Draco looked terrified but determined, so Lucius nodded.

"I want both your vows after it's done." Harry told them both. "Oh, and you can't apparate or portkey through our wards. Just, you know, you might want to know that."

Harry had Draco sit on the bed, feet planted on the floor. A Shadow on each side of him, not yet sitting but on standby.

Apep slithered out of his sleeve, and started to grow. When he was around 3 meters, he slithered towards Draco's arm, where the Dark Mark was exposed.

Harry looked at him then. Draco looked like it was taking all his courage not to bolt off the bed with Apep so close to him.

"Draco, he bit you once already today. You know it's not that bad. It will hurt, but I won't let you hurt yourself, okay?"

Draco looked at him, eyes a little panicked but looking at Harry seemed to paradoxically calm him. "My hand will be on Apep at all times, he will just be the conduit for my magic, alright? This will all be over really quickly, just let me do it, and try not to fight me. Are you ready?"

Harry held Draco's eyes, and the blond boy swallowed, glanced at his father, then back at him, and nodded.

Harry kept his hand on Apep the whole time, and knowing he was about to lunge, warned, "Here we go."

Draco let out a small cry, despite the lack of surprise, but then he slumped and a Shadow propped him up on the bed, sitting down by him.

"Alright, you are as paralyzed as I can make you, now comes the hard part." He deliberately jerked his hand on Apep, and his little brother, the drama queen, yanked out his fangs as if Harry's hand had done it. Then he positioned himself over the Mark, and started to suck the same way he had with Snape.

Draco's eyes widened, but the rest of him was passive, until they reached the part where Apep yanked out the magic fully, and Harry warned him, "Last bit, brace yourself Draco."

Then Draco did jerk, and the Shadow's held him, but his Mark was a lot newer, and there wasn't as much dark magic in it, it was over within moments and Draco slumped.

"Lucius, check his pulse please, but do not touch my snake yet." Harry knew Apep had to digest at least a little of the magic first, and was starting to pulse blue over and over again.

Lucius practically ran to his son now that he had permission, and placing his hand at Draco's throat, breathed a sigh of relief at the steady pulse he no doubt found there.

He was careful to disturb neither Harry nor Apep.

Harry gather Apep to himself, and gave him his own magic, so he could digest easier.

His little brother hissed his thanks, and the pulsing became faster.

A moment later, the pulsing slowed and stopped. This time, Apep appearance didn't change.

:: It will change tomorrow.:: Apep told him.

::Do you know how yet?:: Harry asked, curious

::Yes. More me.:: Apep told him, in typical snake logic.

Harry pet him some more, making sure he was really finished. Apep shrank himself down and curled up around Harry to sleep it off, promising to wake tomorrow night.

Draco was tucked into bed, while Lucius walked over to them.

Without much preamble, the elder Malfoy whipped out his wand, making all the Shadows tense, but he pointed it at his own chest.

"I, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, do hereby swear to never divulge any secrets I have learned regarding Severus Snape and Harry James Potter Snape, their location, existence or doings with any other parties aside from those who are already in the know. I further swear to never raise wands or cause harm to Harry James Potter Snape, Severus Snape or the members of House Snape. I swear this on my magic and my life, and as Lord Malfoy do hereby swear five generations of Malfoys to this oath, so mote it be."

The magic flashes, and that was that.

Draco finally woke up the next day, shaky and weak like a kitten, but so full of relief that it actually hurt Harry to look at him. He offered to do the oath, while still in bed. Harry suggested they wait till he could stand on his own, was fed and bathed, before going through with it.

It was clear that the Malfoy's were firmly in the not-Voldie camp now, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

What amused Harry was that the staff did too. You couldn't really tell with the Shadows, but Zhao Momo and her girls were visibly warmer towards the Malfoy's afterwards.

Draco spent the day in Harry's courtyard and even reluctantly complimented his room, much to Harry's surprise and Ye Wen's pride.

With Snape's permission, Lucius called Narcissa, and invited her to join him and Draco in China. Harry found it hilarious because Lucius couldn't tell her why it was so imperative that she join them immediately, but smart woman that she was, Narcissa didn't question it, and just told Lucius she will be there on the next portkey.

Lucius advised that she hide her trail, and port to Spain first, in case someone was tracing her. The Spanish magical government was notoriously unhelpful to all British wizards, and if anyone wanted to follow her from there, they would have a struggle on their hands. When Lucius conveyed that suggestion, Narcissa just scoffed at her husband, and reminded him that she too had been a Slytherin thank-you-very-much and knew how to lose a tail.

Draco had still been weak, and had to actually lie down on Harry's reading bed before he fell over, so Harry was badgered into sitting with him, since Draco claimed to be bored just lying there, and they tentatively exchanged information about their respective happenings since Harry had disappeared 2 years ago.

Hermione was still top of her year, to no one's surprise. Ron was still terrible at potions, despite the new teacher being competent, also to no one's surprise. Draco did note that his two friends had been keeping to themselves a lot this past year, and didn't really involve themselves in the happenings around them.

Harry personally hoped it was due to them learning Occlumency in secret, and after some thought, told Draco so. Draco had been surprised, but reluctantly acknowledged that it was probably necessary. Draco himself had been taught since he was strong enough to command his magic, since no child from Slytherin house didn't at least attempt to learn it.

Harry privately breathed a sigh of relief that Draco at least won't inadvertently betray them to Dumbledore when he went back to school.

Then realized Draco likely won't be going back to Hogwarts either.

Maybe.

They haven't told the Malfoy's yet about what triggered their escape to China. They no doubt assumed it was Voldie's return but Harry wasn't so naïve that he thought the Malfoy's won't smell the discrepancies out, and likely soon.

Narcissa arrived at dusk, having been greeted by Chamberlin Wang, with Lucius's Lordship ring as an identifier. Narcissa was no doubt disturbed and suspicious since her husband rarely took off his ring, let alone gave it to a perfect stranger to bring to her, but considering Chamberlin Wang gave it to Narcissa for safe-keeping, while loading her into a lavish carriage, together with an entourage of guards and maids… she followed them willingly enough, even if she did clutch her wand in her hand the whole time.

It was Chamberlin Wang and Mo Yu who told Harry all of this later, but Harry, mostly thanks to Si Yu's interference, learned the value of gossip information and was grateful to know Madam Malfoy's current state.

When Harry did finally lay eyes on her, she looked a lot like the first time he had met her, icy cold and haunting. But that illusion broke the moment she saw Draco and Lucius, both smiling, and relaxed. Then she thawed some, and exclaimed about Snape being alive. Harry had been in the back when she arrived, so she hadn't seen him yet, but very quickly, the Malfoy's retreated back to their courtyard, no doubt to brief Narcissa on all that had happened.

By dinner time, the Malfoy's were a lot more relaxed collectively. Draco was still a little weak, and Chamberlin Wang had assigned two additional male attendants to cater to his needs, since he kept overestimating his own recovery and nearly falling over when he over-exerted himself. However, nothing could dampen the joy radiating from both Malfoy parents that their son was finally free of Voldie.

If Harry had his way, the whole family will be free of him by the end of tonight.

Harry had been worried about Apep doing two of these removals with only one day in-between, since last time he slept for so many days after removing Snape's, but Apep sleepily assured him he was fine, since he had already entered his final growth stage. Something which usually took decades, but apparently most Soul Swallowers did not have such 'wonderful' True Encounters and the fortune of finding such a huge concentration of corrupted souls and dark magic so quickly in their lives.

Harry felt decidedly odd calling anything from Voldie 'wonderful' but Apep was a special creature, and well, to each their own.

Apep confessed to being really excited about tonight, because with three Dark Marks in his belly, Apep was sure he could finally reach his full growth, and then he could eat the soul in Harry's scar. His tail actually flicked back and forth like an excited cat's when he spoke about it, no doubt Bai Di's influence, and he glowed a little in anticipation.

Bai Di hadn't left Harry's side since Draco and his family had arrived. It seemed that Harry had inadvertently sent a sense of alarm down his link with his familiars when he had laid eyes on Draco at the banquet, and Bai Di had been unable to come to him immediately. The large cat had then badgered Apep for details relentlessly until Apep had snapped at him and told him they were coming home, and to guard the blond boy before they could get there.

Hilariously, the large cat had decided that out of the Malfoy's, only Narcissa smelled nice – no doubt from the lack of Dark Mark – and decided to stay by her side during dinner, much to the Madam's consternation.

She did however warm up to him when he shrank himself down to his tigger-cat form, and proceeded to look as cute as possible. She even deigned to run her long-nailed hand down his fur, proclaiming it very soft and lovely, while Bai Di graced her with purrs.

Draco just shook his head, staring at his mother. Harry noticed her hands were trembling, quite obviously, and glanced at his father, who nodded at him subtly. He had noticed it too.

While they ate dinner – an even more lavish affair than yesterday – Narcissa agreed to make the Unbreakable Vow as well, in exchange for his father helping her with her nerve damage. Harry privately thought he would be helping with those pills since nerve-regeneration pills were a grade 8 pill. Harry knew the fiddly bits will be all Snape, but likely, his father would ask him to supplement his fire towards the end of the process, since Harry had seemingly inexhaustible magical fire thanks to his large Dan Tian.

"Won't they need their Xue opened if they are to going to absorb the pill in full?" Harry asked his father, somewhat cheekily. Then added on, "Draco mentioned he wanted to learn how to fly on a sword, but I wasn't sure how to go about that without you know, the whole qi thing."

Snape gave him the, Behave Harry look, and changed the subject, "Yes, she will need to have her Xue opened if we want to heal the cruciatus damage in full."

Snape turned his head, indicating he was speaking to the people behind him, "Zhao Momo will be able to do it for her. We don't have many ladies with high cultivation at the house, but she is more than capable, I think."

Zhao Momo stepped forward, and smiled kindly at the Malfoys, "Yes Master, it would be a moment's work to help the lady, if she would permit it."

Narcissa looked like she wasn't quite sure what she was agreeing to, but understood it was a necessary step in her treatment. It was clear she wasn't used to speaking with the help directly, but since Zhao Momo was far from a house elf, and clearly a witch of some power, Narcissa graciously accepted.

Zhao Momo was already at her own Golden Core phase, so it really would be effortless for her.

"We can do this tomorrow morning, then we can start your treatment in full. I estimate two week's worth of healing should fix all of it." Snape informed them.

Lucius and Narcissa exchanged looks, "So quickly? The healers at St. Mungo's said it would take several years if they could make any progress at all."

"Healing magics work a little differently here." Harry pipped in, while popping a cubed eggplant into his mouth.

"Indeed. As Harry said, people here use magic differently from us. The procedure we will do in the morning will allow your body to absorb the medicine in a way that St. Mungo's doesn't practice. Considering their ways are also kept confidential, I will need another oath from you all that you will not divulge it to others." Snape said slowly, clearly thinking it through. "You should also know that I have taken the liberty to assure your business partner, Master Huang, that although our meeting, while under… unfortunate circumstances, has resulted in an alliance agreement, much to his relief. Unfortunately, he had already gone and cancelled your visas yesterday, in his desire to show his loyalty to my house, so I am afraid I will need you to sign some paperwork later. You will be placed under my House's protection, while you continue to stay here."

All three Malfoy's looked surprised, though Lucius looked less so. Snape smirked a little, "You must have noticed that for you to even enter the country, someone had to vouch for you and place you under the protection of their House and Clan, else you never would have been allowed in. You were just lucky that Master Huang is not below Rank Five in the government, else he wouldn't even have the right to place you under his House. Either way, you will be under mine now. I will be vouching for all three of you, so please make sure you don't break any of the laws, or start any blood feuds, since I would be a culprit also."

The Malfoy parents exchanged a look, and Lucius quietly stated, "Thank you Severus. I know that we haven't always seen eye to eye, but… everything is different now. We will strive to be worthy partners in this alliance and we are… very grateful for what you and your son have done and will do for us."

Harry was surprised Lucius knew how to sound modest at all, but secretly grateful that his father decided to let the Malfoy's understand that while they might be big shots in England, here, it was different.

Draco still seemed uncomfortable, and Harry made a mental note to try and hang out with him a little more. In truth, while he loved hanging out with Si Yu and Bai Wu, he had also missed… well, Britishness and familiar humor. Draco might not have been his first or second… okay Draco might not have been his choice at all for a friend, but maybe they could find some kind of middle ground.

It only made Harry miss Hermione and Ron more, but it wasn't in his nature to wallow in things he couldn't change, so he simply decided he'll make some effort, and see how it went.

Narcissa having never seen the procedure, looked very nervous. She constantly glanced at Draco's rolled up robe sleeve, as if to assure herself that it was in fact possible to remove the Mark without killing her husband.

Harry again reiterated what would happen, and just like he had warned Lucius, warned Narcissa not to pull her wand on him, even if it looks like her husband was struggling.

Draco had clearly filled both parents in on how it felt to him, paralyzed as he was, and it seemed to have helped.

Just the same however, Bai Di, in his full size this time, came and laid himself by Narcissa's feet. He was so tall, his back came up to Narcissa's knees while she was sitting, then he glanced at Harry.

Harry nudged his head towards the tiger, indicating he was speaking about him, and looked at Narcissa,
"He said you could pet him if you get nervous."

All three Malfoy's gaped at him, and Lucius asked before anyone else could, "You can speak to tigers as well as snakes?"

"What? Oh no. Sorry, no. But Bai Di is my familiar, so he speaks directly into my mind." Harry had completely forgotten that you couldn't bond with animals this way in England. "I guess I forgot you can't do that back in England, but here, once your Xue is open and your cultivation reaches a certain level, you can bond with magical beasts and they will communicate with you inside your mind."

Draco stared at him, "That… how is that possible?"

Harry shook it off, because honestly, more important things to do now. "I'll tell you about it later. One moment please, I need to check on Apep before we start."

Apep had finally woken up, and had been a little bit restless, but nothing like the urging he gave Harry yesterday.

::Are you sure you are alright? We could just wait a few more days you know, till you finish digesting. I am not going to risk you getting hurt, especially not for the them. No one is worth hurting you. ::

:: I'm fine Big Brother. I would not lie about this, it would hurt you as well if I get injured, and then Bai Di would mother us all to death. I am just eager. I am sure this will let me reach my full form, and then I can eat the yummy scar in your head. ::

Harry's expression quirked, because he was pretty sure he should be worried that his snake wanted to eat something inside him, but considering everyone wanted that soul shard out of his head… yeah maybe he was a little eager too.

:: Alright, if you are sure. I will start the show now. ::

Apep's tail started to swish back and forth, reminiscent of Bai Di when he was about to pounce on a sheep. Harry took that to be agreement.

"Alright, same as yesterday. Lucius, please sit on the bed. You've had this Mark a long time, and have channeled a lot of dark magic in its name, so it will likely knock you out for several days. It took father three and a half days before he felt like himself again, so expect to pass out as soon as it's done and sleep for at least 72 hours. Madam Malfoy, as soon as the Mark is out, I will have you come over to check Lord Malfoy's pulse and settle him into bed, but please do not touch my snake or me when you do this, as the magic will still be active and I do not wish you or him to get hurt. It's gonna hurt, but it won't hurt as much as the cruciatus or anything, Draco probably told you already." Harry nodded at their Shadows to get into position, while from the corner of his eye, he saw Snape sit next to Narcissa.

Apep slithered out while Lucius rolled his sleeve up, and started to grow, same as yesterday.

To not alarm them, Harry continues to speak in his calmest tone, "My snake will need to get much bigger than he did for Draco for this to work. Don't let it worry you, he won't do anything I don't ask him to do."

Apep was indeed growing, and growing and – okay maybe they should have moved some furniture out. He saw Zhao Momo quickly get the girls to shift the table back a bit.

Apep was now around five meters tall. He wrapped most of his body around Harry, while Harry placed both his hands on Apep's back, one in front and one to the side, while Apep placed his large head on Lucius's arm.

Lucius was a little wide-eyed, and Harry realized that Apep's fangs looked a lot larger this time.

"Apep will only insert the tips of his fangs into your arm this time, least he damages you too much with his bite. But the wound will heal almost right away once his venom is deposited inside you. Alright, ready?"

Looking Lord Malfoy in the eye, was such a different experience than the first time he had locked eyes with the elder Malfoy. Back then he had been feeling insulted, frustrated and helpless. This time, he held the power and Lucius was looking a little wild around the eyes, but the man steeled himself, glanced at this family, then back at Harry, and nodded.

"Apep. Go for it. Nice and easy now, little brother." He spoke English for the sake of the Malfoy's but Lucius still tensed when Apep reared up and lunged at his arm, sinking his teeth in. Lord Malfoy made no noise, but did draw in a sharp breath before he slumped, the same way Draco did.

Their Shadows were ready however, and supported the man from falling over.

"So far so good, you should be completely paralyzed now." Harry noticed that Apep was already glowing faintly in preparation, and he started to pour his own magic into the snake to shore it up for the next part.

"Now, little brother." Harry poured his magic in steadily, while the snake lifted it's fangs out, and opened its mouth as wide as he could, starting to draw out the black tendrils.

It went on for a lot longer than it had with Draco or even Snape. Voldie had been very determined to keep Lucius on his leash it seemed.

8 minutes went by, and Apep was still drawing the magic out.

Then 10 minutes.

Draco started to fidget, but Harry didn't dare look away.

"This one is in deep; it will just take longer." Harry told them.

Lucius looked calm enough, though his eyes never left the Mark.

At 11 and a half minutes, Harry felt the resistance.

"We have reached the hardest point. Brace yourself Lord Malfoy, this will be the part that hurts."

Just as he said it, Lucius's eyes widened, as Apep started to draw one long, thick, oily, writhing mess out of the arm. The magic was clearly fighting Apep, but Apep was also clearly winning. It took longer than Harry would have liked, a solid 3 minutes or so, and Harry mentally winced at how much this had to be hurting, but he also privately thought the man kind of deserved it for joining a despotic overlord with a mile-wide sadistic streak. Still, he hated hurting people, he'd much rather stab them to death and be done with it.

Apep opened his jaws wide as the last largest chunk finally came lose, and before it could try to get away, swallowed it down. Almost immediately Lucius slumped in a dead faint, and Apep started to pulse. Much faster than he did last time.

Harry realizing what was happening, waved a hand at Narcissa, which she thankfully didn't question but ran towards Lucius, while he turned to Snape, and said, "Help. He needs to be outside, right now."

Trusting Draco and Narcissa to care for Lucius, Snape and the Shadows helped Harry carry the still-wrapped-around-Harry snake outside. As soon as he was out, he started to grow. Thankfully after releasing Harry.

Harry knew Apep needed him now, so as Apep reached his full shocking size, Harry climbed on top of his head, and with a push which cracked the flagstones, Apep took to the sky.

And started to grow even more. He pulsed like a halogen lamp in the sky, no doubt giving the denizens of Kun Lun City quite a light show.

Harry figured there would be rumors about Dragon Omens tomorrow, but right now, he just clung to Apep's head-feathers, as the great snake climbed and climbed above the clouds.

Harry kept pouring magic into Apep. Neither of them needed to speak, but Harry sent Bai Di reassurance that they were okay and to keep his father calm.

Then when Apep was finally above the clouds, he gave one more, mighty shudder, and Harry had a moment to glance back in awe, because his snake was absolutely enormous. Harry couldn't even estimate his full length from where he sat, but considering his head now felt like a giant flat dish for Harry to sit on with no chance of falling off from the sides at all, Harry figured 'gargantuan' was a good description.

Apep flew as if the air was water and he was swimming through the clouds. Harry had a moment to wonder if this was how it felt to fly on a dragon, but figured he would never get a chance to compare it. What opportunity would he have to fly on a dragon after all?

Apep huffed at him, :: I am so much faster than a dragon. No idea why everyone makes such a big deal out of them. ::

Harry laughed a little, somewhat relieved that Apep sounded alright, even though his mental link already told him the same.

This time, Apep grew a few more ridges, and his blue eyebrow feathers got longer, but mostly it was just his size which increased. Harry really had started to wonder if his snake would sprout wings or something, but apparently not.

:: Wing's can be damaged, I cannot be knocked out of the sky. :: Apep told him, primly.

:: Are you really sure you are alright?:: Harry had to ask.

:: I will need a lot of meat, then I will sleep for some days, but I will be alright. It is normal for me to grow when I eat delicious food. :: Apep told him, his tail flicking a bit, even in midair, in pleasure :: then when I wake up, I will eat your scar. It will not be able to hurt me at all now. ::

"You don't have to sound so eager about it." Harry muttered, in Chinese.

Apep hissed a laugh and did a barrel roll, just to show he could.

Harry was terrified that he would fall off for a second, but Apep was moving so fast, Harry was completely caught by Apep's momentum and didn't so much as shift before Apep was upright again. Harry let out a laugh, safe in the knowledge his father won't find out, and after half an hour of flying, Apep took them back down.

When they were a few meters off the ground, he started to shrink his body, and by the time Harry landed on the – still cracked floor – Apep was back to his small size again, body no longer glowing.

Draco ran out to greet him, "Father is alright. That was amazing! How big does that snake get?"

"Big." Was all Harry could tell him. Since he himself didn't really know. Sure, they had the information from the seller, but no one had seen a Soul Swallower hatch in recent memory and the last sighting was over a hundred years ago. Who knew how accurate it was?

"Snape was about to panic when you left, but your tiger told him everything was alright." Draco told him, still vibrating a little from unspent energy. "Do all magical beasts speak here?"

"No, Bai Di's mother was just… really old. So, he inherits it. I am just glad she demanded and equal bond." Harry told him, looking for his wand. He rarely used it these days even though Snape had kept up his lessons in wand magics. Finding it, he pointed it at the cracked floor, and muttered a quiet 'reparo'.

At Draco's confused look, Harry explained.

"Apep had to absorb the residue of that magic, and it made him grow a lot. I'm glad Bai Di's mother demanded it because creatures like Bai Di can only bond once in their lives, and they live long lives."

Draco was still a little wide-eyed, but he put his hand on Harry's shoulder suddenly.

Harry, surprised, looked at the other boy in question.

"I know my father said it already, but… thank you, Potter. For what you did." Draco looked so sincere, that Harry had to glance away from him for a moment in discomfort.

"It was no problem. It helped us too. One less magical working for him is always good."

"I guess I better start calling you Harry, now that we are allies." Draco almost succeed in that not sounding like a question.

"Yeah, I guess you better, Draco." Harry gave him a little smile, and watched as the tension around Draco finally let go.

"You should go get some rest. You dad's gonna be out of it for a few days. My father will give you replenishing potions to feed to him while he is asleep. He is going to be really sore when he wakes up, but it will pass in a day or so." Harry told him, thinking that the Malfoys now had their whole lives ahead of them.

"He shouldn't know that Lucius is free of him till he tries to call either of you, so you should probably make sure you have several places where he can't find you." Harry thought to add.

"Mother's already discussed it with Father. We are going to go to either the house in Croatia which is under a fedelius, or we'll go to Contessa Zabini who would provide us sanctuary. We have a generational treaty of mutual assistance. Before Mother came, she withdrew a king's ransom, so we might also just buy a place somewhere." Draco told him, then paused, looking a little resigned, "Shame for Malfoy Manor though. The library especially."

"Worst case, you could always find a way to move here. Or Nepal." Harry grinned at him.

Draco smacked his arm, almost casually. Harry's never seen him so casual with Harry himself. "Is it really true that muggles can be taught to use magic? Not just their muggle technologies?"

"Yup. Real magic. I told you Draco, the UK, for all that it is wonderful, holds a very narrow mindset." Harry considered how much to share. He wasn't friends with Draco, far from it, but he also kind of did want to share some of what he had learned over the last two years.

"There are many ways to tap into magic. Our way is actually far from the most superior, but it is faster than most other ways. Chinese wizards can create whole worlds, though it takes a lifetime to learn while the Nepal sorcerers can warp reality and open portals to other worlds. Every school of magic is valid." He looked at the blond then, thinking how to explain.

"You would maybe be amused to know that the Nepal sorcerers don't classify magic into light and dark at all. To them, all magic should be learned, only some practices should not be done."

Draco's surprise was clear. It has to be weird to someone like Draco, Harry mused. He had been told that mortals were stupid, violent, lazy and prejudiced; yet here was Harry, telling him that the mortal branch of magic was actually more open-minded than the entire British isles.

"If you promise to keep an open mind, I swear to you, you will not be disappointed, Draco." Harry decided to stop there because it was better to show then to tell, especially for someone like Draco.

Draco looked thoughtful, but then he heard his mother call him, and Harry bid him good night.

He still had gargantuan snake to feed after all.

As expected, Lucius didn't wake up the next day, so his father sent over a stack of potions for Narcissa to spell into his stomach which would help with his recovery. Lucius didn't have his Xue open, so he couldn't take any of the pills.

They had breakfast with Draco and Narcissa instead, and Harry was amused at Draco's dubious expression when served the rice porridge Harry himself was partial to. Draco however gave his full approval to the dim sum, and oddly, to the deep-fried dough strips which Harry himself loved to dip into sweetened soya milk.

Draco had learned before what all the foods were, but mostly from books. It was very different when he got to try all the dishes himself.

Zhao Momo was going to help open Narcissa's Xue, while his father would open Draco's if he still wanted it.

Draco looked hesitant till Harry reminded him it was impossible to learn to fly on a sword without opening his Xue, and it was also impossible to bond with a familiar without doing that too.

The process, just like with Harry, went fast, but the after effects left both Malfoy's reeling a little. Small wonder when it was akin to getting new senses turned on.

Draco hilariously kept opening his mouth and gulping. Harry understood why. When his Xue were first opened, he too wanted to keep swallowing, because his magic naturally drank in the thick ambient magic of the courtyard and it had left Harry feeling very high for days after. It also tasted, weirdly, of fresh cut grass and berries.

Narcissa was to start her nerve treatment today, and in a surprisingly open show of trust, his father invited Narcissa and Draco to observe the pill marking process.

They all retreated to Snape's Pill Room, and Harry could see Draco's amazement at the size of the oven in the room.

Because the nerve regeneration pill was notoriously tricky, his father started the infusion process as he had considerably more control than Harry. Harry would need another decade of pill making before he had Snape's control, but what he lacked in control, he made up for in sheer endurance. Narcissa and Draco were amazed to see such a different form of potions making, and Harry narrated what they were doing because Snape needed to concentrate.

Seeing he was past the trickiest part, and reaching the middle of the merging process when the pill required a lot of extremely hot ling fire, Harry excused himself.

"My turn now." Harry told them.

He heard Draco worried comment, despite the boy trying to be quiet, "But you suck at potions!"

"But this isn't potions." Harry told him, letting on that he had heard.

Harry sat down to Snape's left, and concentrating, gathered his fire in his hands, and in a steady stream, started to increase the temperature of the oven.

"Slowly." Snape reminded him, and Harry rained in his magic more, releasing it in a steady stream.

Snape let go of his own fire completely, and went over to sit with Draco and Narcissa.

"Why are you letting him brew?" Draco asked, curious.

"He has much larger reserves of magic than I do, and his fire is extremely pure. That's one of his gifts. He can continue to do this for hours when other people would be exhausted within 15 minutes. This pill requires extreme temperatures for the ingredients to emulsify properly, so it's easier for me if he does it. This part is all endurance." Snape told him, and Harry privately grinned.

This really wasn't hard for him. He could even hold a conversation because it was really rather boring. Though the fire constantly tried to get away from him when it was running this hot, Harry was used to that. Those endless exercises his Master had him do when he first arrived, had trained him very well to keep an iron control over his fire.

"I was thinking," Harry told them, "in the afternoon, maybe I could take Draco and show him around town? Si Yu and Bai Wu both sent messages this morning, and I replied, but they want to meet up, and I thought maybe we could go and get them some needed items if they will be staying here for a bit?"

Snape gave him a Look, mostly for speaking while crafting, but he knew Harry won't lose control.

"If you go, be back before dusk. We have a number of pills to craft still today."

"Yes father." Harry told him cheekily.

They sat there for another hour, Harry finishing off the pill with a perfect flare of power. Snape complimented him because the pill had 3 separate markings on it this time, indicating a very potent pill.

They went back to the courtyard the Malfoy's were staying at, and Zhao Momo informed them that Lucius was still asleep. Narcissa had been reluctant to leave her husband alone, unconscious, magic depleted and defenseless. But Snape assured her, Lucius was being watched by 4 Shadows and at least 2 maids at all time, plus Zhao Momo was there also.

When they got back, Snape warned Narcissa that she will likely want to take the pill and also sleep the day away with Lucius, because the pill will make her sleep, in order to heal her nerves.

Narcissa joked that she hoped she wouldn't be sleeping for the entire two weeks, but Snape actually gave it some consideration. He thought it would only be two or three days of needing sleep, then Narcissa will be forced to meditate – something she looked rather interested in – in order to continue to fully absorb the medicine.

Harry, seeing Draco will pretty much have nothing to do for several days, suggested they go shopping and exploring with his friends and maybe even get some flying in, which made Draco perk up.

"After all, mortals – sorry, muggles – know about us, there is no Statute of Secrecy here, and while there are air-traffic rules – otherwise everyone's flying swords and beasts and boats and what-not would all collide together – there are very few things we need to worry about. But ah, Draco, you were told that people here took offences very seriously and unless you wanted to have generational feuds with someone, you should avoid insulting people at all cost, right?" Harry was more than a little worried about this if he was honest since Draco was not exactly the politest sort, and he really didn't want to see the boy's prejudices get them in trouble.

Draco looked a little put-out, but reluctantly nodded, admitting, "Father gave me lessons for weeks before we came here. He was hoping to develop some close ties so we had somewhere to hide if we had to make a run for it."

Harry peered at him, the other boy looked reluctant but only in the sense that he was used to things being one way, and now his whole life was different and Harry thought, maybe he was still adjusting.

"In magical China, your blood status had different implications." He told the other boy, just in case, "It isn't about how 'pure-blooded' you are, but how Ancient and Most Noble your house was, but even more than that, how powerful your magic is. It is perfectly acceptable to marry half-bloods, mortal-born or even mortals with no magical ability at all – remember, mortals can learn magic, they just don't often have the opportunity – so long as your kids were capable of cultivating to a high-level. The higher the cultivation level, the more prestige your family had. Blood purity matters not even a little, and is rarely spoken of outside the Royal family. That being said, most of the Ancient and Most Noble houses do intermarry, but that is mostly for political power, rather than a fear of magic-loss."

Harry wondered if Great Master Xuan would be willing to test Draco now that his Xue were open. It wasn't something a Great Master would do, for just anyone, but Harry was his favorite (current) apprentice.

Harry was also his only current apprentice.

Snape assured him that mattered.

Still, just in case, he chose not to say anything. He didn't want to promise something he couldn't deliver and it's not like Draco was going to join Kun Lun, so there was little need in any case.

"Wait, but how do they measure who is more powerful? Do they duel or what?" Draco asked, curious despite himself it seemed.

So much for not telling him, Harry thought.

"There are ways to measure not only your magical reserves, but your magical potential also. Your natural inclinations and what type of magic you are naturally better at. There is a ranking system, but I should also say that raw power isn't the only metric. Take me for example, I have the potential to be a Grade 9 Pill Master, even if my talents didn't stretch towards anywhere else at all, I would still hold an important position in society here, simply because Pill Master's were rare. High caliber Pill Master are even rarer. Similarly, high level Ward Makers, Scroll Makers, Puppet Makers and so on, are also not that common. Though, if you only focus on Martial prowess, then you would be in trouble, unless you can be really, really good. Honestly, my friends explain it better, but if you excel at one of the Arts, you will do well here." Harry thought about it, and really there was a lot Draco didn't know. He wasn't even sure if he was explaining it well enough. "The rules are also seriously different here. Take blood magic for example –"

At that, Draco swiveled his head to look at Harry, eyes wide. Harry understood why. In the UK, using blood magic, unless you are a Gringotts Goblin, meant a one-way trip to Azkaban. No one even talked about it much.

"— Blood magic is as common here as lumos and tempus is for us. Our house wards are blood magic, my familiars were bonded with blood magic… it's not illegal here. The only illegal magics are those that corrupted the soul, enslaved a soul – and even this is debatable – and… let me think… opening portals for invading enemies is pretty illegal… summoning hoards of undead to invade a city is illegal, though perfectly legal during war or for self-defense, as an example…" Harry tried to remember what else there was.

"It's honestly pretty open to interpretations. You know how we always claim in the UK that no one but me survived an Avada?"

Draco's eyes were really blue when he had them open that wide, Harry thought idly.

"Well, it's not true. At all. There are scores of magicals here who can survive it just fine. Once your cultivation reached Primordial phase, Avada completely stops working. It will do soul damage, but you can heal from that over time. It still won't kill you though. Even Crucio stops working as well once you reach Primordial. Granted, we haven't tested this theory since our two kinds of magics haven't gone to war, ever. These were just in the records of various traveling British druids and the like, hundreds of years ago, who came here, tried to Avada in self-defense and failed. Not sure how credible it is, but considering what I know of how the magics here work, I wouldn't dismiss it outright.

"You're kidding! That's impossible. Merlin himself said –"

"Merlin, as amazing as he was, likely didn't visit magical China Draco."

"What are these… phases you are talking about? Are they like our first and second years or… how do they even educate the populace here anyway?" A touch of condescension crept into Draco's voice, and Harry just looked at him.

"Open mind, remember? I've been here two years, and the things I saw here are incredible. We have powerful magics in England but we only really study until we are 17 or so, then try to apprentice for a few years to a Master. People here never really stop studying. Maybe that's why their magic is so different."

"Sure, okay, so they are very studious. That doesn't make them more powerful, surely." Draco's pride seemed to have taken a hit, and Harry could understand that. It was humbling to realize that the fantastical magics you grew up around seeing was but a pittance compared to other cultures.

"Do you know anyone back in the UK who could have removed a Dark Mark put there by Voldie at my age?"

"Well, no, but as much as I hate to admit it, you are, well, you." Draco told him with a bit of a reluctant huff.

Harry laughed, "Alright, but what I am saying is, the magic here is really different." Deciding that was enough for now on this subject, least Great Master Xuan murder him in his sleep, favored apprentice or not, Harry changed the subject.

"I was thinking we could go back to my courtyard, and I could loan you some of my clothes and Ye Wen could help you put them on. There is nothing to be done about your hair I suppose, unless you feel like growing it out completely, but I am sure Ye Wen would find some way to make it presentable. Then we could go out?"

"I do not need your clothes Potter! I have my own. And what's wrong with my hair?" Draco sounded truly offended now. Harry even got Pottered, something Draco had been careful not to do since The Removal, as Harry thought of it.

"Ever heard the term, when in Rome, do as the Romans? You stick out wearing British wizarding robes, and people will judge you for it." Remembering their first meeting, and grinning to himself, Harry added, "Actually, you remember what you said about Ron when you first met him? Ill fitted robes and all? You judged him based on how he looked, now I'm not saying your robes don't fit you or are poor quality, far from it, but only common folk here wear cotton and linen, as an example. Everyone wears their best clothes when going out, usually from some kind of silk, because the belief here is that one must put their best face when dealing with society. This is why blood feuds can happen, because everyone around you would think you were trying to start one if you insulted someone. Insults are usually reserved for when there is only two of you, and usually not even then."

Harry tried hard to figure how to explain it. He was sure Lucius had drilled Draco prior to coming, but he was also equally sure Draco didn't really get it. Then it came to him.

"Think of it, like you had just been sorted into Slytherin, and you are a first year about to make your first impression. Magical China is extremely Slytherin, especially if you take into account that the entire magical portion of the country is like this. I can't speak about the mortal part of China, since we only went there as tourists, but here, you are definitely in a very judge-y, very elite, Slytherin house, which also happens to have a thousand rules for everything. If you considered it like that, you can see why it's so easy to give offense, right?"

Draco paled a little, with those implications laid out so clearly.

"Merlin, it's as bad as Father warned me. Wait, how did you survive here then, you, the poster boy for Gryffindor?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you? The sorting hat wanted to put me in Slytherin above all other houses."

Draco's jaw dropped and Harry felt a thrill of satisfaction as he turned to go back to his courtyard.

"What do you mean it wanted to put you in Slytherin?! Potter – wait, come back here you ridiculous excuse of a wizard, I'm not done talking to you!"

Listening to Draco chase after him while sounding like someone told him Merlin wasn't real was hilarious.

Harry ended up playing translator between his two friends and Malfoy, and while that was okay, a little frustrating, but just fine, what was completely weirding Harry out wasn't that. Namely, it was the fact that all the things Draco had been reacting to, which Harry remembers himself reacting to two years prior, but now Harry was perfectly used to them. Things such as wearing flowy robes, having long hair, or wearing hair ornaments.

Draco had actually laughed at him when he saw the clothes Ye Wen had put Harry in. He laughed that is, till Ye Wen forced him into his own flowy robes. Ye Wen had insisted on a powder blue robe for Draco which Harry hadn't even known he himself owned, since Ye Wen has yet to successfully stuff him into anything not in a darker shade. When Draco asked why he couldn't have something like what Harry was wearing, Ye Wen had gone full premadonna on Draco. While they can't exactly understand each other, Draco can and does read expressions very well, and Ye Wen the sneaky companion boy that he was, had used that to his advantage, having learned how Harry was from years of experience and applied that knowledge to Draco.

Every time Draco scowled and moved his hand to take off his hair ornaments, Ye Wen looked upset, mournful and a touch scornful. That scornful expression nearly always stopped Draco in his tracks.

Every time Draco tried to tuck his sleeves up so they didn't swing so much, the Look was back on Ye Wen's face. Harry also noticed Ye Wen employing 'pitying', 'condescending', and 'you are being a pain and acting like an illiterate barbarian' as looks which all worked on the junior Malfoy.

Thus, Draco was now in a traditional powder blue robes with white bamboo prints on them, while his hair sported a long white feather, fixed to his very thin, fine, blond hair.

Ye Wen had even managed to tuck a fan into his vest-belt.

Watching Ye Wen manhandle and manipulate the most infamous Slytherin since Harry was a first year, allowed Harry to appreciate just how gentle Ye Wen had been with him. Considering Draco has earned none of the social credit Harry had with Harry's staff, Ye Wen looked completely unapologetic moving Draco around like he was an expensive mannequin Ye Wen was dressing up.

Ye Wen, with the support of both of Harry's Shadows had insisted on a full compliment of maids, both female and male, and an entourage of guards as well. Harry also had no illusions that no less than 8 shadows were following them as well in secret.

Draco looked a little freaked out by the number of people following behind them, but by the looks of him, was trying not to show it since both Si Yu and Bai Wu looked unconcerned. Though they also brought their own staff, albeit nowhere as many as followed Harry and Draco.

"Is this how you always go out?" Draco muttered under his breath to him.

"Usually, no. But there had just been a semi-public 'incident', and the relevant people are all waiting to see our responses. The fact that you are with me, is also assuring some people that we have your family well in hand…" Harry trailed off thoughtfully.

"Hey!"

"… otherwise, they would be forced to send their own assassins, to show their loyalty to us."

"Oh. That's okay then." Draco sounded a little strained, and like he wasn't completely sure Harry wasn't fucking with him. Harry's knowing smirk probably didn't help.

"Your friend seems… very tense." Si Yu suddenly said, to his left. "Is something the matter?"

Bai Wu looked interested in the answer too, but he was too busy eating a meat bun he had bought earlier, to comment.

"He is normally a rather tense person." Harry replied, thinking a little about it. "We aren't exactly friends. We used to be enemies actually, until a few days ago. I think he is still adjusting to… his new outlook."

Bai Wu snorted into his bun, and Si Yu shot the other boy a reproachful look before turning to Harry, "You have decided to take charge of him?"

"For now, only. We have known each other for 2 years before I left and came here. His family is influential but… backed the wrong power. The same power that killed my parents and tried to kill me, in fact. Him and his family broke ties officially with that madman while he was staying with us, so the next steps are theirs. We offered protection to them while they are with us, for healing. After that, they will be returning to Europe, and where they go from there is anyone's guess."

Si Yu nodded thoughtfully, and Harry just knew he was making all the political and social connections in his head and deciding how to treat Draco.

"He is a Di son however, and raised in a prejudiced environment. Some of the things he believes, have been forced on him. Some, not all." Harry felt he needed to make that clear because while Harry wouldn't mind an improvement in his relations with Draco Malfoy, he didn't actually expect it since the boy was a prejudiced elitist nob after all.

Si Yu surprised Harry, by turning to Draco, and offering in a somewhat accented by very clear English, "Welcome to our country. Harry tells us you will be staying here for a short while. We hope that you find your time here with us enjoyable."

Draco looked very surprised to be address, especially in English, but his manners kicked in, and he gave a somewhat regal nod of his head in thanks, "Thank you. It is a pleasure to be here. It is a beautiful country." Draco looked around to indicate the streets and shops and the like, then said with a hint of curiosity, "Harry said the magic here is very different from back home, and I must say, I agree. We certainly cannot communicate with any of our pets the way Harry can with his tiger and snake."

Si Yu gave a polite smile, while Bai Wu nearly choked on his bun at Draco's wording, "Yes, it is a little different I imagine. Harry's companions are also rather unique, as I am sure you have noticed. They might object to you calling them pets however, since their bond with Harry is equal, and not subservient to him."

Bless Si Yu, Harry thought. He was always able to deliver criticism in such a light tone, that you didn't even notice you were being rebuked till much later. Considering his father's station, Harry imagined he had lots of practice in this art, unlike Harry himself who still couldn't do the verbal gymnastics the way Si Yu and even Bai Wu could.

Draco looked a little annoyed for being corrected, but his curiosity won out, "So there is a difference? The bindings I mean."

"Oh yes. The bindings Harry shares with his companions can only be done voluntarily, and if something happened to Harry, neither of his companions would lose their lives as their essence isn't subjugated to Harry's magic. Instead, they have a kind of… what is the word in your language Harry?" Si Yu asked him, offering the Chinese equivalent.

"Uh, symbiosis I think." Harry told him, trying to remember his biology class back in primary.

"Yes correct. They support each other's magic and amplify it, rather than use it against the other's will." Si Yu told Draco, making it sound like it was a great honor to have that.

Draco might not know magical Chinese social graces completely, but he knew an olive branch when he saw one. "That is rather interesting. Harry also said that China didn't use house elves?"

That started a discussion on what house elves were, and much to Harry's amusement, both Si Yu and Bai Wu had a very Hermione-like reaction to the notion of subjugating an entire species to service the wizarding folk. Harry mused that they didn't seem to have an issue when it came to magical beasts, but Harry had also noticed that mistreatment of any intelligent beings was also frowned upon.

Draco looked both confused, frustrated and amused all at the same time, as he tried to explain the magical binding the wizards had with house elves and how the magic offered by the wizard sustained the house elf. A gift returned by service by the house elves.

They got into a casual discussion on the pros and cons of house elves while they walked.

It was a rather large and somewhat intimidating group that entered the Silk Emporium, and the owner didn't even bother with sending his apprentice to great them but came forward himself.

"Ah Master Heir Snape, how good to see you so soon. Please come upstairs for some refreshments and we can discuss your needs today?"

"Master Liu, it is always good to see you. My father sends his compliments for your speed and precision regarding my school clothes change. It came as a bit of a happy surprise, but I am afraid we caused you inconvenience after having to change everything so quickly again."

"Please don't mention it! It was a great honor to learn young Master has become the Great Master's personal disciple. Great honor indeed. We were only pleased that our humble house could satisfy your needs in a timely manner."

Draco shot him a look at that, having understood at least some of it, but Harry ignored him, smiling back at Master Liu, "It was still an impressive feat, and the quality was quite satisfactory." Harry smiled again, and this time, turned to indicate Draco by his side, "Today we are here as we are having some… house guests who, due to certain reasons, will be staying longer than they expected. While his parents are currently indisposed, I thought it would be nice to bring their Di son, Draco Malfoy, of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Malfoy to get some more appropriate clothes while he stays with us. He is one of my countrymen and my former classmate, and I fear our climate is a little different from here. He will need a similar wardrobe as I did when I first arrived, though likely with not as many items as I don't imagine their business will take more than a month."

Master Liu immediately gave a greeting bow, and while Draco took a moment to remember how he was supposed to respond, it was only a second before he did, and executed a much stiffer Chinese bow than Harry himself could now do.

Imagine that, Harry thought to himself, a social grace I can do more elegantly than a Malfoy.

"Ah, yes. The same as you, you said?" Master Liu was now eyeing Draco, in a way only a tailor or coffin maker could eye a man. Master Liu's maids meanwhile brought tea and cakes for them all, which Si Yu and Bai Wu immediately started enjoying while Harry and Draco took care of business.

Draco was clearly used to being eyed this way, because he stood tall, eyes forward, while Master Liu looked him over.

"Yes, I see now. He will need everything? Accessories and the like also?" Master Liu asked Harry directly.

Harry threw Draco a look, considering, but then nodded, "Yes. Our country simply had different fashions, may as well go all out. The Malfoy's are an old and noble house back in my country, and they do enjoy being fashion icons regardless of where they go, so please feel free to go all out."

Harry knew he was being a bit of a shit, but since he had to suffer through this two years ago, he felt it was only fair that his once-frienemy also 'enjoys' the culture shock in full.

Ye Wen snickered a little, proving he was definitely Harry's companion boy and knew him well, but went over to the maids bringing in armloads of fabric to discuss color palettes.

Draco looked a lot more unsure, and muttered under his breath, "If you dress me in something ridiculous, I will find a way to get you back Potter."

Si Yu laughed over his tea-cake and Bai Wu just offered a feral grin. Draco shot them suspicious looks, but stood still while Master Liu worked around him.

Proving that clothing was a universal language of its own, Draco clearly did not need even a little Chinese to show which colors he liked and which made him frown.

Pinks, lilacs, browns and oranges were all discarded immediately.

At one point, Master Liu asked Harry why 'the young sir seems obsessed with the color green' to which Harry had to explain that their school had uniforms of different colors for different school factions and that Draco's was green.

Master Liu frowned a little, but proceeded to add very pale greens to Draco's clothing choices. He still mostly stuck with white, pale blue, pale grey, and more white.

White seems to be Master Liu's color of choice for Draco. Though, of course, not completely white, as that would be funeral clothes.

When Draco voiced his concern that he would look too pale in too much white, Master Liu informed him that the paler one was, the more virtuous one looked, and that there was no such thing as 'too pale', in China at least.

Draco looked completely baffled at this, but Harry just snickered and told him to go with it, and that Master Liu wasn't having him on, too-pale will absolutely raise Draco's social standing.

Draco still looked like he didn't believe him, but Si Yu and Bai Wu both backed Harry up, and Draco was forced to admit that they probably know magical Chinese fashion better than he did.

Predictably, Master Liu offered Draco a hair growing potion.

Surprisingly, Draco actually took it.

Harry honestly hadn't expected him to, but then remembered that Lucius also had long hair and Draco probably wanted to show solidarity in any way he could right now to his father.

After taking the potion, Draco's hair started to grow immediately, and within minutes was down to the floor, but before Draco could complain, a knock was heard, and Master Liu invited the barber he had summoned in.

After some discussions on style, Draco decided he wanted everything to stay the same just to have his hair trimmed to an acceptable length.

Harry came perilously close to losing his composure and breying laughter when both Si Yu, Bai Wu and Master Liu asked Draco if he already had a marriage contract in place, after his hair was cut.

Harry would be the first to admit that a long-haired Draco was somewhat stupidly pretty. His hair was like a silver waterfall cascading behind his back, and Harry understood immediately that Draco will likely get mobbed once his status as a single, rich wizard from an Ancient and Most Noble family became common news.

Draco himself looked completely bewildered and kept shooting Harry what-the-hell looks. This was also when Harry learned that Draco Malfoy did indeed have a marriage contract in place, with one Astoria Greengrass no less. Harry had never met the girl, but apparently, she was a lot younger than they were and hadn't started Hogwarts by the time Harry had left.

Harry could see Draco was fast reaching his limit of weirded out. Privately he thought that had more to do with Master Liu's insistence of white feathers as hair ornaments than anything else.

"I look like my great aunt's winter yule robes. They were decorated with white peacock feathers. All. Over." Draco complained to Harry, while staring at himself in the mirror.

Master Liu had made a bit of a crown around Draco's head, making him look like some kind of demented white chicken-god or something. Or a very unfortunate tribal chef.

Draco, was however, still a Malfoy, so after giving a couple of arrogant looks at the mirror, he shook his head, and with just his eyes, explained how displeased he was to be so… feathered out.

Master Liu looked disappointed, but by the time they left, servants loaded with more packages Harry had when he first came to Master Liu, Draco was sporting a clip with two long feathers sticking up and a clip for his long hair similar to how Harry liked to wear his.

Ye Wen looked a little disappointed that Draco wasn't willing to go all out, but he still muttered that Draco dressed fancier than his own little Master.

Harry in turn, muttered that that was because he wasn't a show-pony thank you, and Draco can have all the white lime-light he could stand.

Draco did look amused at the long silk sleeves he was now sporting, Master Liu having successfully convinced him into purchasing mostly white and pale robes. He still looked more elegant walking down the street than Harry ever did. Si Yu was still the most elegant and pretty of the lot of them, but Harry noticed more than one lady pausing to hide her comments to her maid or friend with a fan, clearly discussing Draco's looks.

Draco had deliberately left rather a long train of hair, just past his bum. The unusual color alone would have drawn the ladies' comments but to have this much platinum on display, clearly invoked some strong feelings from the ladies on the street, and a few men as well.

Draco himself seemed to have noticed, but in typical Malfoy fashion, chose to accept it as his due and ignore the overt looks and whispered comments. He did look a lot more smug however.

Apep laughed at Harry and teased him that he was just glad they weren't focused on him this time, and Harry agreed without an ounce of shame, because yes, he was.

Bai Di just mused that Draco's hair looked fun to swat as it swayed while he walked, and Harry cheerfully told him that Snape told him the whole Black family was mad as hatters, and Draco's mother was a Black. Bai Di wisely distracted himself by pestering Harry for another hunting trip soon.

Clothes shopping done; Bai Wu suggested a trip to the Ling Beast House, since Draco seemed interested in animals.

Harry privately thought Narcissa Malfoy would murder him, vow or no vow, if he found a way for Draco to bring home a giant tiger, or similar, but he wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing, so they went.

Draco, thankfully, had more fear of his mother than Harry did, because while he looked at absolutely every animal there, he didn't actually buy any. Not even any eggs. For which Harry was grateful.

He did however insist they go to a weapons store – which he originally referred to as a Quidditch store – so he could buy a sword which could one day fly if he raised his cultivation enough.

Harry had to point out to him that since he wasn't planning on staying in China, he will likely never learn to use it like that, but Draco wasn't willing to give up, so they left the smithy with a rather ostentatious looking sword with a giant hilt which Harry personally thought rather ugly but Draco adored it.

Bai Wu cheerfully told Draco that it would also make a very good sword for several sword disciplines for which Draco looked thoughtful and wanted to see for himself, which then resulted in them all going back to Harry's place so Bai Wu could show Draco how magical Chinese martial arts actually looked and felt. Draco, to Harry's great surprise, though it looked amazingly cool, and insisted that Bai Wu teach him some basic forms.

Si Yu and Harry had gotten bored quickly, and started playing Chinese chess – something that Harry had more talent in than western chess thankfully. It was a warm day, and an even warmer evening, so they simply stayed outside. Since neither of the senior Malfoys had woken up yet, Harry ate dinner with the three boys plus Ye Wen since his father had begged off, claiming too many teenagers, outside in the courtyard.

They talked late into the night, despite Draco and Bai Wu constantly getting up to try this or that martial arts move, and Si Yu periodically playing his Qin to set the fighting mood. Bai Wu was delighted that Draco was such an eager pupil, while Si Yu personally thought Draco just wanted to work off some of the stress from the past few days. Then Harry and Draco decided to teach Bai Wu and Si Yu how to fly brooms. Both boys picked it up ridiculously easily, despite having only tried it once before, but both still felt brooms to be too undignified a way to fly while wearing robes. Especially with the long sleeves flapping behind them like elephant ears.

After Bai Wu and Si Yu had left, Draco and Harry sat on the deck of his Meditation Room, their feet in the water under the decking.

"Your friends are nice." Draco suddenly said, into the quiet that had fallen between them, "I wish I had people like them back home. Competent and strong. I have Zabini and Theo, but… Theo's dad is a death eater, so I likely won't be able to see him anymore." He sounded a bit sad. Harry didn't know Theo very well. He had always been very quiet, and had never picked on Hermione or Ron, or Harry himself before.

"Will he have to get the Mark too, do you think?" Whether he wanted it or not, went upspoken.

Draco glanced at him, but then turned away again, "Not sure. He doesn't care about that stuff. Least, he never talked about it, when we did. He's close to Millie. Millicent Bulstrode, and she's a half-blood. But not sure if his father will force him or not." He said quietly. "If war breaks out…"

The rest was unsaid.

Harry looked at the stars above them. There was no mortal settlements very close by, so almost no pollution at all. The stars glittered clearly, and Harry had a moment to wonder how he was supposed to fulfill a prophecy all the way from here. He felt a familiar pang of guilt in his gut, but a moment later dismissed it. His father had been right, when he told Harry that unless Harry really did think very much of himself like the media said, he was just a kid, like any other kid, and it was not up him to solve all the problems the adults had made for themselves. His job was to grow up and grow into a person with some value to society who was only then to make those decisions. Not before. Harry believed him, of course, but it was still hard not to feel that reflexive guilt.

"You could always kidnap him and ask the Contessa to protect him together with your family." Harry half joked.

Draco have him a baleful look, that actually turned a little thoughtful at that.

"Do you think you will mind leaving England?" Harry asked, mostly to move them away from things they could not change.

"Honestly? I am not sure. England is all I've ever known." Draco confessed, thoughtfully, then he glanced at Harry again, "How was it for you?"

Harry hummed thoughtfully, "At first? It was great. Everything was new and interesting. Because I was a foreigner, no one minded or took offence that I didn't know how to behave correctly, unlike in the UK. I have no idea what you guys had been told about me, but none of it was true. I learned I was a wizard the day my letter came. My muggle family… didn't like magic, and never told me about it. But here, no one expected anything from me besides being Snape's kid. I could just be myself, and no one stared at me because I was Harry Potter. Most hadn't even heard of Harry Potter. These big news from back in England were nothing to the people here. Magical China had its own rules, its own feuds and its own… everything really. It helped that Severus went out of his way to educate me on how things worked. I didn't have that when I first got to the wizarding world. Everyone just expected me to know everything already, and I constantly felt lost in those first two years. My sense of what was normal was completely twisted up due to expectations from people I had never even met." Harry trailed off, thoughtful.

He wasn't sure why he was being so chatty with Malfoy, but maybe, he admitted, he'd wanted to tell someone.

"It was only after I left that environment that I realized how miserable I had been. I thought about it a lot these past two years, you know? I honestly had no sense of what was normal from the moment I stepped into the wizarding world." Harry admitted.

Draco looked surprised, and Harry laughed, "That surprises you? My first year, our headmaster told me in not-so-many-words that I had to stop Voldie from stealing the philosopher stone, and I actually believed him. That a castle full of adult wizards and witches who were professors no less, could not do, what I, Harry, who only learned I was a wizard a few months prior, and who was at best average in class, had to stop the wizard who murdered my auror-trained parents. Single handedly mind. And stupid me, I believed him. Then, after murdering professor Quirrell because Voldie had possessed him and he tried to kill me, to get at the stone, I thought I did actually live up to what was expected of me. If I told you Draco, that this was your destiny, because of some fluke with the stars or some such, you would probably had hexed me. But see, I didn't know." Harry told him, thinking back on it, he really wondered how he survived.

Hermione likely.

"It wasn't even the constant mortal danger I was in, what with Voldie's diary possessing Ginny the next year, and then having to kill a giant ancient basilisk with only a sword I didn't know how to use, in a secret chamber only I and Voldie could open because we were the only parselmouths." Shaking his head, Harry admitted, "I died in that chamber, did you know that? Very nearly. That Basilisk bit me when I stabbed it. I felt my soul start to leave my body, when Fawks, the headmaster's phoenix cried on the wound and saved me. I felt the magic yank me back." Harry hadn't admitted that to any one before, and he felt kind of weird admitting it to Draco, but… something about the way Draco was listening had him continuing jokingly, "There is still a fifty-foot skeleton in that chamber. Severus had taken everything else for potions."

Draco stared at him, expression one part stricken and one part disbelieving. Knowing what Harry was saying was true, but struggling to comprehend it.

"You had no choice in your Mark. I had no choice in that." Harry told him, "It's why here is so much better for me. It's like a new start, but I get a bonus father in the process."

Draco slowly nodded, mouth firming into a thin line. "I don't know where we will go yet." He admitted to Harry, voice deceptively firm.

"The Zabini's… how are they?" Harry asked, because he knew less about Zabini than he did Theodore.

"They are pretty great. Romans, you know. Blaise's mom is the Contessa Zabini and rules with an iron fist. It's mostly because of her that the Dark Lord couldn't expand deeper into Europe. I've known Blaise since we were 3 years old, he is like a brother."

Harry marveled at this Draco Malfoy. He sounded so serious, and unlike his petulant childish self that Harry knew a few years back.

"The Romans did not shy away from dark magic, and the Contessa had a lot of power under her jeweled fingertips. Even he won't lightly attack, but I fear in the future…" Draco trailed off, thinking.

They sat quietly for a while, then Draco said, "Since we are allies now, your Granger will need protecting, if you still care about them, and since you are you, you do. The Weasley's are at least wizards but Granger's parents are muggles."

Harry nodded, because Draco was right. He was just surprised Draco would say something like that out loud, alliance or not. "I'm working on it. They are too. Hermione… is the smartest witch I know; she isn't the type to sit back and wait to be killed."

Draco chuckles, "That, is very true."

"You will be okay Draco. You have your whole life ahead of you, and this time, you get to pick who you want to be. The only advice I can give you, is keep an open mind. Repeat it in your head twenty times a day if you need to, but keep and open mind. Only then can you get the most benefit out of anything. That's what I learned here. Magic is…magical. We shouldn't shove it into a box and call it good, just because of tradition. We shouldn't… take away our own options. There are enough people waiting to try and do it to us already. Don't you think?"

Draco stared at him, his expression flittering, unable to settle, then he snorted, "Just when I thought I had you pegged Potter." Draco shook his head, his long silver hair swaying, "I'll let you know where we settle, once we decide."

"I'd like that" Harry told him, surprised that it was true.

Ron had finally done it, and Hermione had wanted to kiss him she had been so excited.

On the cheek.

As adorable as Ron could be, he was like a little brother to her.

But he had finally done it, and that was what was important!

His shields still weren't as strong as hers, but it was enough that unless Dumbledore locked them up and used Imperius and Legilimency on them at the same time, he wasn't getting through.

This was why she and Ron were now sitting in Warwick's office and impatiently waiting for him to decide how much to tell them.

Warwick was staring at them unnervingly intently, fingers steepled and expression serious. It was all Hermione could do not to fidget under his glare.

It was also summer, and Harry had been missing two years so far. Hermione hasn't gotten one measly letter. She suspected he was in hiding, and couldn't risk Dumbledore finding out. She still desperately wanted to know why Dumbledore was a threat, but she has made peace with the fact that she won't know till they could both pass the Goblin's inspection.

But that day was finally here!

Hermione desperately tried not to vibrate too much while she waited for the King's verdict. The King had started prodding at their shields as soon as they had walked in, and while Ron had frowned a little, the King so far had not gotten through.

Now, King Warwick had summoned two other Goblins, who apparently had stronger Legilimency then King Warwick himself, and they have been battering at their shields relentlessly. Ron had broken into a sweat, but their shields were holding!

Hermione was so proud of both of them!

After the two goblins had left, and Ron managed to wipe his brow with his robe sleeve, much to Hermione's disapproval, they had settled down back in their respective chairs.

Hermione tried hard not to vibrate too visibly.

"Your shields held. I am impressed. Needless to say, you must now be constantly vigilant that no one discovers what I am about to tell you. You will not discuss it among yourselves unless you are in a warded location. I understand some people have great control and knowledge over what happens at Hogwarts and it is imperative that they do not learn the truth about young Harry. This includes portraits, armors and house elves." King Warwick looked sternly at Ron and then at Hermione herself, and she gave a firm nod, showing she understood the danger.

"Very well. I have been given permission to show you certain pensive memories, after I have personally checked that your Occlumency will hold up to even the strongest wizards battering at it. Since you have achieved this, I will now show these memories to you. Remember that if you are careless with this information, it would mean the death of your friend, and mine." With that, King Warwick waves his wrinkled hand, and a large pensive materialized on his desk.

"The man who gave me these memories, is a very private person, and I owe him a life-debt. We are both taking a huge risk showing these to you, but it was also his wish that Harry could have his friends as soon as it was safe, and thus he had agreed to allow me to show these to you. I will still be asking for an Unbreakable vow, as this will stop you from accidentally revealing the knowledge inside."

Hermione hesitated, since she had read that unbreakable vows were a very serious thing, but Ron, sitting next to her, drew out his wand and said confidently, "I, Ronald William Weasley do hereby swear on my magic to keep in confidence any and all information I learn from within this pensive, and discuss it only with those who already know the information. So mote it be." Ron's wand lit up for a second, and Hermione felt the magic settle around them.

Boosted by Ron's confidence, she repeated the vow and felt the same magic settle around her. Paradoxically she felt better having the vow, as it will simply seal their lips if anyone who did not know was within hearing distance. Magic was amazing that way. Even if she herself didn't know someone was listening, such as for example, Professor McGonagall in her cat form, hiding in a corner, magic will know and she still won't be able to speak the secret out loud.

Once King Warwick was assured the vows had taken, he allowed them to come forward and stand in front of the pensive.

With a look at Ron, they both nodded and put their face in.

Hermione had never seen Ron so angry in her life. She had seen him scream at Malfoy and even at herself and at Harry, but the moment Ron's face left the pensive, every single item made of glass in the office had exploded. Rather spectacularly.

Ron had lost control of his magic in his fury.

It had caused such a commotion that a contingent of guards had stormed in thinking their King was under attack.

Once the alarmed guard have been calmed and ushered out, Ron had the good grace to look embarrassed, but his fury was still clearly written on his face.

Hermione herself felt like she was in a complete state of shock.

She had known Harry would be in danger from the moment she had befriended him, but to have someone she trusted so much – the hero who defeated Grindelwald no less – say so calmly that Harry had to die – for the greater good! That GALL OF THAT MAN –

On hind sight, perhaps it had been good that Ron had lost control first because if he hadn't, Hermione might have just burned the whole office down with her own loss of control.

The pensive had showed Professor Snape's memory of what he overheard, and then it had jumped to Harry and Snape in King Warwick's office. They saw the entire conversation of what happened in the office, and while they couldn't see what was in the pensive Harry had stuck his head in, whatever it was, had clearly assured Harry that Snape was Lily Potter's adoptive brother! And hadn't that come as a complete surprise?

And oh goodness, they were in China! No wonder Harry couldn't write to them! No wonder Hedwig hadn't tried to fly to him. She couldn't ! Oh but –

"You majesty, sorry, but Harry's owl, Hedwig –" Hermione thought to ask, but the King interrupted her, with a kind smile. "His bird is with him now, yes. She came to me, and I found a way to send her over to him, do not worry."

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. She had felt horribly guilty, thinking Hedwig had just taken off. Hermione berated herself, she really should have known. Magical animals don't just up and leave their wizards or witches like that unless something really bad had happened or …

Oh.

Hm.

Now that she thought about it, Professor McGonagall had mentioned that Fawks, Professor Dumbledore's phoenix had been missing this past year or so. Hermione wondered if the conversation Professor Snape overheard was the start of the break between them.

Glancing at Ron, who immediately glanced back at her, she could still see the rage on his face, and winced a little inside. Hermione had hero worshipped Professor Dumbledore, of course, but it was nowhere the same kind of betrayal as what Ron must be feeling at the moment. Ron's parents truly trusted Professor Dumbledore, and he was raised to trust him too. Ron must be feeling like… well, like when muggles lose their faith in Jesus she supposed.

She reached out a hand and gave him a squeeze in reassurance, and he gave her a determined look. No matter what, Ron was on her side.

Turning back to King Warwick, she asked, "So Professor Snape adopted Harry? They are… doing okay in China? It is only, they didn't used to get along very well and well… " she trailed off delicately, unsure how to say, the good professor used to hate Harry's guts.

King Warwick gave her a reassuring smile, "They are doing very well. They have put their differences aside, and embraced one another as family. I speak to them every few weeks, as does my counterpart in China, and from all accounts, the boy is thriving. He has become an inner sect disciple to one of the best pill makers in the country and is doing very well in school. He made a few close friends, but misses you both dearly and every firecall he asks if you have come to be tested yet. He will be most pleased to hear you were here today. His family has also grown in size since this pensive recording was made, and he now has two animal familiars as well as his owl. He is well liked in school and everyone speaks well of both of them."

Hermione could see Ron sag in relief next to her, and she felt the same. Harry had been so lonely and alone when they had first met him 4 years ago, and so painfully shy, that she had honestly feared for him without them. It seemed he managed to do alright after all, and she was profoundly grateful for that.

"And they really get along? Harry and Snape I mean." Ron spoke up for the first time since his magical outburst, his nose wrinkling, no doubt thinking about Snape.

King Warwick looked at Ron from under his busy eyebrows for a bit, then said, "Yes. They both seem much happier overall. Magical China is a very… different place from the UK. Things work differently there, and it seems to be, that they are both much better suited to life there than they were here. Last time I spoke to them, Harry called Master Snape 'father' without any hesitation and his smile for the man was genuine."

Ron looked terribly conflicted about it, but then shook his head and said, "I might hate the slimy bat, but – he saved Harry. He gave up his life, so Harry could have one of his own. If Harry is okay with him as a dad, then, so am I, I guess."

Hermione felt a swelling of pride at Ron's maturity. These past 2 years have been rough for both of them, but privately, Hermione thought it had been good for Ron to get out of Harry's shadow and discover his own way of shining. Hermione wasn't great at reading people normally, but she personally thought that Ron had a really wide jealousy streak, and she could foresee it getting in the way of Ron and Harry's friendship as they got older. She was glad that hadn't happened and Ron's loyalty to Harry now was more unshakeable than ever.

"Can we see him?" Hermione thought to ask.

"He cannot come back to England, you understand. But I am sure I could arrange for a firecall if you would like?"

They both agreed that that would be splendid, even if it meant Harry had to go to the Chinese Gringotts to have the call, but King Warwick assured them that would be no problem since the King in China was rather fond of Harry apparently, and would likely not mind sharing her office for a firecall.

"It is imperative that your behavior around that man does not change." King Warwick looked Ron dead in the eye as he said that, "Because if he suspects anything – anything at all – it will put Harry in danger. Severus suggested you look distracted if he ever questioned you. Mr. Weasley, for you, he suggested private Quidditch practice you are late for and for Ms. Granger, perhaps revision for some exam or other? Try not to allow him any time alone with you if at all possible, and never ever look him in the eye if you can at all help it. Look busy and … I believe the word Severus used was 'distracted like a teenager with a crush'." King Warwick chuckled at Ron's horrified expression but Hermione personally thought that was rather clever advice.

"He left you a letter, for me to let you read although you may not take it out of my office, I am afraid. Now where did I put it… ah yes, here it is." King Warwick handed them a scroll with a ribbon on it, after rummaging through his drawers for a bit.

The moment Hermione's hand touched the ribbon, it unraveled, confirming her suspicions that it was spelled to their magical signatures.

Unrolling it eagerly, she allowed Ron to lean over her shoulder as they read it together.

Dear Ron and Hermione,

If you are reading this, it means you have both finally mastered Occlumency. Ron, what took you so long mate? I know it wasn't Hermione since she likely had it down fairly quickly. I am still so proud of you for doing this for me.

I am so glad I can finally tell you what happened. No doubt, King Warwick shared some stuff with you. I am not sure what Severus allowed him to share but here is the gist: Dumbledore wants me dead.

We still don't know why, but he wanted to sacrifice me 'for the greater good'. It has to do with some kind of prophecy that Trelawny made right around the time I was born – and yeah, he knew it all this time and never said a word! – but I have conferred with the professors here, and they all said that prophecies were all self-fulfilling. No need for anyone to do anything, and they will come true anyway, so I am not sure why he felt it was alright to have me die for this prophecy or something, but both King Warwick and the Divinations proff here assured me he was full of it. Severus said he might have started going senile in his old age, and paranoid, but honestly, no one is sure.

Anyway, Severus didn't want to see his sister's kid get killed off, so he rescued me from the Dursley's and brought me here, where King Warwick arranged for us to go to China. Severus apprenticed in China, did you know that? Because of this, his Master (teacher) arranged everything for us, and I got to go to school here now.

It's pretty different, I won't lie, but it's also REALLY AMAZING.

Hermione you will go nuts! There are books here that all you have to do is wack the book on your head and you know everything inside the book!

Ron, they fly on swords here! Granted these days I fly on one of my brothers – my familiars Apep and Bai Di, who are awesome – but I still take the Nimbus out every so often when I want to do my own flying.

We have a really nice house, and my room is really great. Ye Wen – who is my companion boy, don't ask, it's a magical China thing – insists on peacocking me up all the time because Severus is a really big deal here being a potions and pill master and all that, but I'm mostly used to it by now.

I miss you guys like crazy, and I was worried you haven't come because you forgot m Severus said you were both studying really hard so you could find out what happened. I really wish I could see you guys. I made friends here too, and they are pretty great, but its not the same. You were my first friends.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you I am okay, better than okay actually, I am happy, and Severus treats me really well now that I am his son. I think he loves me I have a lot of protection here, Severus made sure of it, and a lot of people who would kill for me if it ever became necessary…

Speaking of! Don't freak out okay? But I ran into Draco Malfoy here! I nearly had a heart attack but turns out, his father was expanding their contacts so they could try and get away from the madman who is by the way, very much back! So please be careful okay?! But long story short, we managed to wrangle the Malfoys into an alliance vow, and I removed their Dark Marks with Apep's help, so Voldiepants will be losing his snaky mind soon!

The Malfoys are still here, since Voldie took over their manor, and Madam Malfoy was tortured by Voldie so she is healing now and will need a few more days but after that they will be leaving. It's a bit of a shame because I could have asked him to smuggle some bring you some pills and books from here, but since they are now Dark-Mark-less, Draco won't be going back to Hogwarts, since Voldie will kill him if he does.

I have been updating this letter every few weeks in case you came sooner, but this just happened, so I updated again. I really hope we can find a way to meet up one day again. I miss you guys so much. Everything here is great but, it's just not the same without you two. I wish you could get away from there, I worry he will attack soon. The Malfoys both say he is still weak, still possessing people, and still gathering his forces and will be for some time yet but I worry just the same. I don't suppose you could move?

I have no idea how I am supposed to fulfill that prophecy. Severus said it didn't even say it was me, just some baby born at the end of July, which could be Neville Longbottom for all we know, but Severus thinks it's still possible it will be me. I don't know how it's all meant to work, but if it was destined, then my professors here said it will happen and we cannot change it, and they advised me not to worry about it because apparently chain reactions also count and something about butterfly wings flapping which Mencius said, or some such which I didn't understand at all to be honest but it will happen no matter what I do so I may as well live my life normally till it does.

I miss you both, please stay safe, and take care of each other. I hope we can meet again someday.

Yours,

Harry

Ps: er, Hermione I am so sorry but for the sake of my sanity, everyone here thinks you are my fiancé. I am SO SORRY about that, but it was for a good cause so I hope you don't mind me misusing your good name like that. Women here are seriously aggressive! Please allow me to continue to use you as my shield? Please-and-thank-you!

Hermione felt herself flush at that Ps because what did Harry do?! But there are worse things than being considered the fiancé of one Harry Potter, so she just shook her head and ignored it, despite Ron shooting her looks.

They read the letter twice more, then she handed it back to King Warwick, who immediately set it on fire in front of them.

Hermione felt her hand twitch from wanting to reach for it instinctively but then she stopped herself. Harry's safety was paramount.

She turned just in time for her eyes to lock with Ron's and just like since-Harry-vanished, and they started to grow closer, they had a silent conversation.

When they were done, she turned to King Warwick.

"You Majesty, you don't happen to have a Gringotts in Hong Kong, do you?" Hermione asked, already thinking of convincing her parents to move their practice, and wondering what it would take for her to get into the school Harry was attending.

"Or one in Cairo?" Ron asked, a beat later.

When Apep woke up from his digestion, Harry was in the Meditation Room, cultivating. The Malfoys had left for Europe, and Harry found he actually missed the git a little. Despite it being summer, he really enjoyed cultivation and did it as a form of relaxation, as well as when he needed a boost of energy.

:: Big Brother?::

:: You're awake! How are you feeling? I'm in the meditation room. :: Harry almost broke his meditation, but took the time to wrap it up, least his inner qi sat in his belly like a badly digested meal.

A few moments later, Apep flew in, in his smaller form, which granted, was no longer so small. Harry estimated his length today to be around 3 meters, and in a way, it was good that he could fly now, because he would be knocking into a lot of things otherwise.

Harry had figured out that the only reason Bai Di didn't knock things over, was because he had the innate grace of a cat, regardless of his size and he only knocked over things he wanted to.

:: I feel good. Strong. Your scar will make me stronger.::

:: What, you want to do it now?:: Harry asked, incredulous. :: You just woke up! Don't you want to, I don't know, adjust or eat or something? ::

:: Do you need to adjust when you get stronger?::

:: Bloody yes!:: Then Harry paused and considered it, :: Well, okay, no. But I don't eat things and immediately get bigger like you and Bai Di do.::

:: True, your species grows very slowly compared to us. Do you need more time?::

Harry blinked at him, and then thought about it. :: Not really, I guess I just need to warn Severus, and the household. Mine is the biggest one you'll be eating right? So I will be out of it for a while? ::

:: I think so. At least a week. You will miss the first two or three days of school but your teacher should not mind if we explain it is to cure you.::

:: Severus will probably want to prepare a bunch of pills and potions, now that we know what will happen.:: Harry mused, and got up to search for his companion boy.

Ye Wen, who had definitely developed a Harry-sense, showed up within a moment of Harry stepping out of the meditation room.

"Please call my father, and notify Chamberlin and Momo that Apep will be doing the last procedure on me. Oh, and ask someone to inform Great Master Xuan as I will likely be unconscious for a week or so afterwards, so I will need a … uh, I guess a sick note? From him."

Ye Wen's eyes widened, and he immediately hurried off to inform everyone.

He had clearly cheated and asked the Shadows because within moment, his father was hurrying into his courtyard. Few things had Severus hurrying these days, but Harry related matters still did, which always made Harry feel warm and fuzzy inside. Two of his Shadows and two of his father's pill boys behind him. He thought the pill boys were brothers named Wang Gang and Wang Meng, so clearly his father had been in the garden when he had been called.

"He is ready?" his father asked without permeable.

"He said so, but I was thinking, now that we know what will happen, maybe I can take some of the pills and potions in advance, so I start as strong as I can be?"

"Yes, I had similar thoughts." Turning to the two pill boys, he ordered, "Go to the cultivation room, get me the red box on the cheery-wood table, and hurry." After the boys took off at a run, he walked Harry to his bedroom. Harry noted that his face was pinched and he was scowling.

"Hey. I will be alright. Apep hasn't let us down yet and if he says he can do it, then I trust him. He did say I will be out for a week though. Which reminds me…" turning to one of his father's Shadows, he thinks number 12 whom he called Henry in his head, "Can you let the kitchen know to go out and buy up all the choice ling meat on the market today? Apep will need to eat a lot after this, and it's best that he eats as soon as he eats the scar, so he has energy and fuel to digest the nasty inside it."

"Don't worry about Apep, I will make sure he is taken care of, I am more worried about –"

Ye Wen interrupted then, "Apologies Masters, but Great Master Xuan is here."

They both stood up, as their teacher walked in, looking like he had been in the middle of crafting when he came over as his hands still shimmered with recently-released fire. A dead give-away from pill masters if you knew what to look for.

Harry and Severus immediately bowed, but Great Master Xuan waved his hand to dismiss the greeting, "None of that now, your man told me you are ready to try and remove the soul shard? I came to assist." Saying this, he started unloading pill bottle after pill bottle onto Harry's table.

Harry blinked, and then shook the surprise off, "Um, Shifu, thank you, but we disrupted your day. Apep is confident he can do it now without killing me or himself but I am not sure how these can –"

"This is why you are the student and I am the Shifu." Great Master Xuan gave him a withering look, then turned to Apep, huge smile on his face. "And this is for you, you strong, beautiful, creature who has brought honor to our houses!"

Saying that, he produced a box. Apep hissed in pleasure and wound his tail around Great Master Xuan's leg in a kind of snaky-hug. It sometimes worried Harry how much Great Master Xuan liked his snake. Granted, Apep often left gifts of skin and scale for Great Master Xuan's crafting, and due to the rarity of his species, they have given Great Master Xuan a great deal of face in the pill community, but still.

"This is a grade 9 beast pill that I crafted just for you. It will boost your power to its maximum level so you will not tire as easily and it will help with your digestion process." Great Master Xuan told Apep, who was now inches from the man's face, looking interestedly at the iridescent pill inside the box.

:: This pill smells of power. Please thank him. It will help insure no mishaps. :: Apep told Harry, his tail lashing back and forth in pleasure and anticipation.

"Here you go." Great Master Xuan help out the pill and Apep took it from his fingers delicately. His blue markings immediately started pulsing and his eyes glowed.

:: I am very strong now. We should do it now.::

Harry, who had been busy swallowing down his own potion for magical depletion, and a pill for regeneration boosting, could only nod while handing the vial back to his father.

"I am as ready as I will ever be, I guess." Harry said, sitting on the bed.

:: Wait, I will need someone to carry me out as soon as I eat it all. I will need to be at my full size to digest, so I will use the large courtyard your father had made for me next to yours. Take me there afterwards. ::

After relaying this to the Shadows who immediately went to get more of their brothers, An Ying and Yin Ying both came to stand by Harry's side of the bed. They actually looked a little nervous, which made Harry feel inexplicably warm inside.

:: Ask your father for a Drought of the Living Dead. Your mind cannot survive the pain of the removal. :: Apep told him after licking his scar a few times.

Harry eyed him warily, but told his father that apparently, he will be asleep for this procedure. His father sighed in relief and produced a vial out of his robe, apparently already having anticipated the possible need.

Harry eyed the vial, and sent via their mental link, :: You are sure I won't die, right?::

To his credit, Apep did pause to consider it, :: Nearly completely. The shard is no match for me any more, but it has been with you a long time. I will have to be careful when I am separating it from you, so it will take longer than any of the other ones. ::

"That's good at least." Harry muttered, then turned to his father and Great Master Xuan, "It will take a lot longer than the other ones because I haven had it all my life. Apep wants to be extra careful. Maybe just stay with him, and periodically send him qi slowly so he doesn't run out of energy half way through? Not that I think he will, but I won't be awake so… if you need to communicate, Bai Di will translate for you."

"Foolish boy, of course I will stay with you." Severus told him with a touch of his old Potter-you-moron, Harry had actually missed it.

"Right." Harry glanced at Yin Ying and An Ying, silently begging them to care for his father if something happened to him. Proving they were exceptional Shadows, both men nodded their understanding, faces serious even under the half-face masks. Harry took a deep breath, and uncorking the vial, downed it with a grimace.

Before the magical darkness claimed him, he gave his father's hand a last squeeze, still unable to say "I love you" to Severus even though this time he really rather wanted to. He did manage to throw the same pleading look at Great Master Xuan, and thankfully his teacher understood him and gave him the same nod the Shadows did.

Feeling like he had done as much as he could to make sure Severus would be okay without him, just in case, Harry let himself slip into sleep.

To say that Severus was nervous, would be an understatement.

That might be why his former teacher was shoving a calming drought at him, one of the few Severus had given him in fact. He couldn't help throw a chagrined look at his teacher because of it.

"Drink it. You can give me more later. Right now, you need it most." His old teacher told him.

Bai Di also chuffed, headbutting him on the leg, and promptly sat his butt down on Severus's feet, pinning him in place.

"Apep is about to start." Bai Di told the room. He looked a picture of calm, except his tail, which was going thump thump thump against the floor, betraying his tension.

Apep had started to grow as soon as Harry had fallen asleep, and now took up most of the room. Severus and Great Master Xuan stood to the side of the bed, giving him all the room they can while his body expanded.

Thankfully the snake stopped before he was too large to fit through the door, else they would have trouble taking him out later.

"Apep won't need to bite Harry this time, because he is already asleep with the stronger potion, and won't fight. Apep said if it was a normal sleeping drought, Harry would fight, that's why he asked for the strongest one. He said –" The cat cocked his head, as if listening, "that you should not worry. Apep won't let our brother die no matter what. He will stop the procedure if it looked like Harry was in danger. He said…" head cock, "you should put up a shield around yourselves, and Shadows too. He said this is not like the Mark. This still has will, and might try to possess one of you."

Severus felt his eyes widen, but before he could even come up with a protection that might work against possession, Great Master Xuan was pulling out a short strand of Buddhist beads, and wrapping them around his right hand, his left forming a Buddhist prayer sign, he activated a dome which covered Bai Di, Severus, the two Shadows and himself.

"Don't step out of the dome until your snake is done. I cannot move it to follow you." Great Master Xuan told the room.

"Apep said this should work. He also said, this scar will scream a lot, it might sound like Harry, but it isn't him. Harry is deeply asleep, we can both feel it, and we have wrapped our souls around his soul to protect him. The shard cannot reach his soul anymore." Bai Di told them.

With a snaky nod, Apep slithered up Harry's body, and placing a great deal of his bulk on Harry's torso, the large snake placed his nose on Harry's scar. His eyes and scales started to flash blue, and Severus knew he was getting ready to start.

"He is starting." Bai Di warned, just as Apep's eyes flashed a brilliant blue, and the snake opened his mouth as wide as it would go. Severus could see a purple energy swirling in Apep's mouth, something he hadn't seen often before, then he noticed a thin black strand of smoke starting to leave Harry's scar.

It took what felt like an eternity.

Apep must have sucked and sucked for close to an hour, longer, before they noticed Harry's body starting to tense together with Apep.

Severus clenched his hands, feeling completely impotent. He caught himself praying to Merlin and Morgana, deities he never believed in, just for Harry to be alright, pleased gods, let him be alright.

Severus didn't think anything could be worse than seeing Lily's dead eyes starting at him, but hearing Harry start to scream like a possessed daemon, was far worse.

It somehow helped that although it was Harry's vocal cords making the sound, it didn't sound like Harry at all. It sounded deeper, more guttural and like something that didn't belong in this world at all.

Apep pushed Harry's body down with his heavy bulk, completely pinning him in place, and the purple glow in his mouth got brighter. The dark smoky ribbon that had been leaving the scar got thicker and more substantial, taking on an oiling quality. The shrieking sound was also coming out of the scar now a lot more than Harry's throat. Severus winced and made a note to get a throat soother for the boy when it was all over.

Severus's full attention was on Harry, but he did notice when the Shadows tensed, a second later, Apep tensed also, and Harry's whole body jerked upwards as if his scar was trying to take the body with it. Apep was having none of it however, because the purple glow in his mouth got the brightest it's been, and then a large, writhing mess of frankly disgusting looking matter detached itself from Harry's scar, and immediately tried to make a run for it.

It tried to fly towards the closest Shadow, but bounced right off the golden protection dome Great Master Xuan had erected. To the credit of An Ying, he didn't so much as move. Severus actually doubted the soul shard could possess any of their shadows due to their high level of cultivation, but no one wanted to take the chance.

Before the soul shard could try again however, Apep lunged at it, and swallowed it so fast, that Severus had a moment to see the snake's throat contract inches from the dome where the black soul had been trying to penetrate. Severus could see it struggle against Apep, parts of Apep's mouth bulging from the thing trying to escape, but then all of Apep's markings and his eyes lit up brightly at once, and he gave a mighty swallow, and suddenly there was –

- silence.

Apep was however glowing blindingly now, and Bai Di said, somewhat urgently, "He needs to go out, right now."

As if a spell was broken, the dome collapsed and the two shadows jumped up to carry Apep off of Harry and out into the courtyard.

"He will take to the sky as soon as he is outside. He said Harry is alright, but very weak. He needs a soul-strengthening pill, magic booster pill, dark-magic dispelling pill, Yang boosting pill and – no he said that's it. A few hours later give him more Draught of the Living Dead. His soul needs time to re-establish its full connection to his body and he will need to sleep for that."

Severus had never been more grateful that his old teacher was there, because he felt like a callow first year, fumbling to find the pills. Great Master Xuan just pulled out all the required pills from his own sleeve and handed it to him. Severus had no doubts they were all the best the Great Master had, with the highest potency and he felt a wave of gratitude wash over him.

Severus spelled the pills one at a time into Harry's stomach, and he was relieved to see some color returning to the boy who had been deathly pale before. His breathing was even, and his face was no longer pinched. When all the pills have been spelled into Harry, Severus pulled the blanket up to his son's chin.

Harry's shadows have come back into the room, with Apep no doubt already flying in the sky, giving a light show to all the citizens of Kun Lun, who have all gotten used to this display by now, and even consider it a good omen.

Severus hoped they were right.

"Is all of it gone?" Severus couldn't help as Bai Di, who after confirming with Apep, nodded his large head.

"Apep said he ate it all. He said Harry will sleep now and recover, and he also needs to sleep. He said it was a very evil soul shard, and he is surprised Harry wasn't influenced by it, considering how longer he had it." Then the cat cocked his head again, and said, "Apep said magic that felt like Harry but wasn't Harry had wrapped the dark thing up completely and that's why Harry didn't get possessed, but Apep doesn't know where that magic came from, just that it protected him. When Apep ate it, the other-magic went into Harry's core."

Severus felt his eyes grow hot, and looked away from Bai Di before the cat could see him cry. When he had a little more control over himself, he said, "It was his mother. When she – before he killed her, Lily must have cast a protection spell, and used the moment of her death as fuel to cast it. She's been protecting him all this time."

Great Master Xuan put a hand on Severus's shoulder. "She was clearly a strong woman. I see now why you gave up everything for her." He patted Severus's shoulder once more and Severus nearly broke down again, but somehow managed not to.

Bai Di scent marked his robe again with his large cheek, and said, "Now you are really free of the tainted one. Once big brother wakes up, and gets stronger, we will find him, and I will tear him to pieces and eat all of his organs while he watched."

Thank the gods for gruesome cats and the way they express love. Severus gave a wet chuckle and felt himself calm more. He still reached over and felt the pulse on his son's neck, reassuring himself that Harry was indeed just fine. Sweeping his son's hair away from his forehead, Severus was relieved that he was exempt from the goblin magic hiding Harry's scar, so now he could enjoy watching the famous lightning bolt scar dissapear, leaving completely blemish-free skin.

Severus mused to himself that if nothing else, Harry will be happy that one day, he will be able to visit England without anyone recognizing him, at all.

Bai Di jumped on the bed, next to him, and laid his large body along Harry's, fully planning to stay with him all night. Severus was tempted to join them, but knew that he wouldn't be any help. Just then, Great Master Xuan declared that this joyous event needed celebrating, and where was Severus hiding his good alcohol?

Severus sighed to himself, about to make his excuses but a look from Bai Di stopped him. Harry will be safe with the tiger and all the servants and Shadows guarding him, and Severus likely could use to celebrate, now that all the tension has drained out of him.

He tucked the blanket around Harry a little tighter, and then, together with Great Master Xuan made their way back to Severus's apartments. He hoped he still had some hangover potion left, because he absolutely planned to make a huge dent in his ling blossom wine tonight.

Apep slept nearly as long as Harry did. Bai Di brought him back to Harry's bed only two days later, in his much smaller form thankfully, and Apep curled himself around his brother, with Bai Di standing guard, warming them with his body the entire time. Severus had ordered 14 large ling cows, 16 ling oxen, 27 ling chickens and 22 ling lambs slaughtered and had methodically fed them to Apep over the course of several days, so he could recover his strength faster. Bai Di helped him polish some of it off, but most of it went into Apep's stomach. Severus wondered how he could possibly eat it all, but Bai Di explained that the food was nearly immediately converted to magic, used to digest the evil soul shard. Apep wasn't exactly struggling to digest it, but it was taking considerable amounts of magic to do it.

Bai Di told him that it was mostly because it was only the second soul he had eaten. Now that Apep was at his full growth – something that happened a lot faster due to the amount of high-grade pills Harry and Great Master Xuan had been feeding his brothers no doubt – something most magicals just didn't have the finances or access to do – he will be able to eat shards like this without this much trouble, and while entire evil souls will still take a day or two to digest, he was no longer in any danger of it being able to hurt him in any way

The other benefit of Apep reaching his full size, was that he could now turn invisible.

Severus discovered that by nearly crushing him when he sat down to check on Harry, and Apep was forced to grow larger quickly much to Severus's alarm. While Severus had wondered how Soul Swallowers had never been seen or recorded by muggles, only a scant few wizardkind, he would have preferred to learn about it in a less heart-attack inducing ways.

Severus had debated not telling the Malfoys about Harry's scar, but decided in the last minute to tell them after all. Since the Malfoy's owed them two life-debts and Narcissa's nerve cure – which had worked wonderfully and left her with no lasting effects at all – he felt it safe enough. When he did tell Lucius, the elder Malfoy immediately mentioned Horcruxes, something Severus hadn't considered since it was such an obscure piece of darker-than-dark magic, and no one sane would ever think to use it, but it had made a disturbing sort of sense. Harry's scar for one, shouldn't have had a soul shard in it, unless the caster's soul had already been fractured when the accident occurred. Lucius also pointed out that the diary that possessed Ginny Weasley was also likely a horcrux, and that Voldemort likely made more than one. They spent an hour trying to figure out what possible items the dark lord would have chosen, and whom he would have given them to, and then another hour trying to figure out how many he could have made. Lucius agreed with Severus that the dark lord had started to go truly insane a year or so before the Potters were executed, and they both wrenched their brain, Severus even moved Apep who has climbed on him at some point to sit more firmly on his neck, in the hope that it would help him think. They both tried to remember who was around the dark lord the most, except for them, during that time.

They both thought Bellatrix would have at least one of the horcrux's in her possession, which was either in the Black manor, or at Gringotts. Since Lucius didn't know Severus's involvement with Gringotts, and Severus didn't feel a need to tell him, they spend a few more minutes brainstorming how to verify where it might be. They also both thought Hogwarts had one also, somewhere, though neither of them could guess where Tom might have kept it.

After signing off with Lucius, and putting Apep down on his desk where he liked to sunbathe, Severus sat down to make a list of possible items and places those items could be. Apep slithered just close enough to rest his head on Severus's left arm as he wrote.

Harry being late to school turned out to he the talk of the city. Apparently, the rumor mill had it, that his family had been cursed by an evil man, and that first Severus had fallen ill to it, then Harry also shortly after.

Besides explaining away his few sick days from school, it had the added benefit of seemingly everyone in the city and the school brining Harry recovery presents. Everything from prized 1000-year-old ginseng, lu er, some kind of huge dark colored mushroom, goji and the like, to chickens, fish, and a ton of fruit.

Ye Wen was again invaluable when he explained what each item was, what it was worth, and what the person giving it was trying to say or imply by giving such an item.

At one point, his Momo got quite upset when she found a pear among the fruit, and Harry thought that if she had been an any less refined lady, she might have cursed at the person who gave it. Later, they found out that the youngest son of the official who sent it,had stuffed it into the basked without the parents knowing, and Harry ended up getting apology gifts in addition to the fruit.

He was very confused about why it was such a huge deal, but then Ye Wen told him that pear was pronounced 'Li', which is the same sound as 'leaving', and that was not something you wanted to wish a person who was sick, as it implied you wish them to die. For the same reason, Ye Wen told him to never ever share a pear with anyone he liked, least he curses himself into never seeing that person again.

Harry eyed the common pear with a lot more trepidation from then onwards.

Ye Wen told him that there were loads of things one could not give as a recover-soon gift, such as, clocks, watches, shoes, reed mats, books, umbrellas, cloth napkins (except to widows), scissors, knives, and oddly enough, chrysanthemums.

Ye Wen had started to explain why to him, when Harry, sensing a cultural migraine, told him to stop and that from now on he was in charge of all return gifts since Harry would no doubt muck it up.

Ye Wen muttered that he was already in charge of that anyway, and then smartly changed the subject.

Tingting and her fiancé Li Zhong, whom Harry hadn't met many times but knew well enough, also came to visit.

When Harry had first met Li Zhong, the other boy hadn't been very friendly, but as soon as he learned that Harry had a fiancé back in England, he warmed up considerably to him. Ye Wen had to later explain to him that the other boy was worried Tingting might fall for him as he was 'exotic' and 'very skilled'. But since Harry himself never looked at Tingting like that, and his reputation for being a studious person not interested in politics or women, have apparently assured Li Zhong that Harry was good company for Tingting. Harry briefly considered being offended, but considering how aggressive some of the women had been towards him, he figured Tingting probably got more male attention than she ever wanted, and much more than Li Zhong was comfortable with, so he just settled on being glad he was considered 'safe' company.

His professors also came to visit him, much to his surprise, though Ye Wen later told him he really shouldn't have been. They left most of their gifts with Severus, so Harry wasn't even required to do anything, since Ye Wen and Severus took care of all the return gifts.

However, what was annoying, was that most of the martial professors wouldn't let him do anything until Severus had cleared him, even weeks later. They were all being really, really, careful with him, as if he was made of spun sugar and would crack at any moment.

What was worse, was that suddenly, his father had decided he needed additional tutoring via a cheerfully vindictive Si Yu, about the imperial palace for some reason no one has deemed fit to explain to him yet.

He was required to learn the entire structure of the imperial palace and he had no idea why.

"In the《Zhou Li》, it stipulates that the emperor has one queen, three wives - though our emperor follows the four wives system – nine concubines, twenty-seven world-women, and eighty-one Yu-wives."

Harry blinked at him.

"Wait, how many wives does the emperor have? All together I mean." He asked, slightly horrified.

"Generally? Around 3000. That's a good question by the way. But it is important for you to know which rank is above which other rank, and so on." Si Yu told him patiently.

Since he was yet again not allowed to practice his martial arts 'just yet', Si Yu had decided to try and cram some of the 'you-really-should-know-this-because-Chinese-toddlers-do' into Harry instead. Harry thinks it's a distraction, but a seriously painful one.

"Why?" Harry asked, honestly perplexed.

Si Yu gave him a Look, but Harry honestly had no clue, "Because when you go to the Imperial Palace one day, you will need to know who not to offend so you don't get executed for rude behavior or improper greetings."

Harry stared at him. This all made a lot of sense, except –

"Why… would I ever go to the Imperial Palace?" Harry asked, now somewhat afraid of the answer.

Si Yu continued to Look at him, but then rolled his eyes heavenwards, and said somewhat exasperatedly, "You never know. Because apparently you really are just a sha-bai-tian."

Harry blinked at the wording. It was rare that the translation pill from so many years ago didn't translate everything perfectly now. "I am a dumb-white-sweet? What does that even mean? Hey! You used to call me that all the time when we first met!"

Si Yu patted his shoulder, "It means your innocence is cute. Now, back to the order of the Imperial Harem –"

"Do you really think I need to know this? Honestly?" Harry asked him, a bit of a whine in his tone.

"Yes. Now, pay attention, it's really not that hard. There is the Queen, at the top of the pecking order. Then comes the four wives who are respectively named: Noble Consort, Consort Shu, Consort De, Consort Xian and they are all Rank One, usually means they come from the best families of the land. Usually but not always."

Harry huffed but started diligently taking notes.

"Wait, I need to know their names too?"

Si Yu blinked at him, then smiled, "These are not their names. These are their titles. They are awarded them just like the government officials are awarded theirs. By doing something the Emperor highly approves of. No one really cares what their names used to be, because their titles are a lot more powerful than their actual names."

Harry stared at him.

Most of the time he was used to China. But then this kind of thing happened.

Si Yu continued, unaware of Harry's inner turmoil. "Then there are the Nine Concubines: Zhao Yi, Zhao Rong, Zhao Yuan, Xiu Yi, Xiu Rong, Xiu Yuan, Chong Yi, Chong Rong, Chong Yuan. These are Second Grade." Si Yu leaned over his paper for a second, "No, you got the order here wrong. Be careful how you write it. The order also determines their rank so don't make mistakes there. Within them they also have a pecking order, the order I just read to you."

Harry crossed out what he wrote and wrote the correct order. Sometimes Si Yu was as anal as Hermione.

"I am never going to remember this." Harry whined again.

"You will. We all do. You can see a repeating pattern anyway. Next we have the Twenty-Seven world-women. Nine are JieYu which are Third Grade; Nine are called Beauties, and they are Fourth Grade; Nine are Talented and they are of Fifth Grade."

Harry diligently wrote it down, wondering if the Emperor could even remember the names of all these women.

"Then we have the last, which are the eighty-one Yu-wives: twenty-seven are titled 'precious forest' or Bao Lin which are Sixth Grade; Twenty-seven are 'female royal' or Nu Yu which are Seventh Grade; Twenty-seven are 'Gifted ladies' or Cai Nu – not to be confused with Talented – and they are the lowest ranked at Eight Grade. It means that their parents are usually holding those positions in the imperial court, but not always."

Harry felt his face scrunch a bit because – "Merlin, what do all these ladies do all day? Surely they don't just sit around, looking pretty, waiting for the Emperor, do they?"

Si Yu laughed, "Sometimes there is a lot of sitting around it's true. But actually, all of them have 'jobs', of a sort. The Queen is the Mother of the Country, and the right hand of the Emperor; the four wives discuss the women's etiquette; Nine concubines teach the Four Virtues; The world-women preside over funerals, sacrifices and guests; the eighty-one create the Nest."

"….that doesn't even make sense." Harry complained.

"It does. It is just a little complicated, now –"

"Please kill me."

"You are hilarious. Now pay attention –"

"No, really, why can't we go kill another Basilisk instead?"

Si Yu stared at him for a beat. "Sometimes, I completely understand why you are all called barbarians."

"Oi!"

Apep was what his big brother would have called a 'sneaky-snake.'

He had, over the course of his recovery, gotten Uncle Severus used to having him climb all over his body. Privately, Apep thought Uncle liked having the attention of Harry's familiars, and that was all well and good. But Apep had his own agenda.

He had listened carefully to the conversation Uncle had with tasty-Malfoy. and made note of the places they said. He also noted the additional items Uncle Severus wrote down. All those hours watching Harry learn to write with a brush were beneficial.

Although he was still a young snake, and hadn't left his nest even, but he was confident in his power now. Soon he will ask his Big Brother to let him go on his own adventure, and then –

- he will go hunting.

Yesssss.

Hunting for that tasty, tasty, corruption. Thanks to Uncle Severus, he knew there was more of it out there for him.

Apep knew now that he was at his full growth, he had exceptional sense of smell, and he knew, that once he was closer to the source, he would be able to narrow it down by just following the delicious stink of it.

Apep hissed in pleasure. His tail flicked in anticipation.

Soon.

Harry had been feeling his inner Dan Tian, his inner golden ocean solidify for some time. But recently he has been having leaps in his meditation.

He had been feeling like his magic will never run out, when he was crafting pills. Like he could just go on and on and on without resting.

Severus had been having him take the booster pills he had been crafting, and despite the fact that he gave away a lot of pills anyway, he was still eating a great deal of them a day.

Because one of his two inner cores was wood, his body felt none of the toxicity of eating too many pills, and he fully absorbed everything he ate.

That was probably why, today's meditation was so different.

His body was hot, but focused. He felt an itch under his skin, but all it did was make him focus more.

His core… his Dan Tian was almost solid.

Harry took a deep breath, and ate the level 8 pill his father had given him that morning for just this reason. Yellow this time, with orange veins all over.

Taking another deep breath, and centering himself, he got ready to make the final push.

He swallowed the pill.

At first, nothing happened.

Then suddenly, a fire exploded inside his belly.

A bright orange fire. It danced around his forming golden core, and with its flames, started the final process of its solidification.

A moment or an hour late, Harry couldn't tell, something inside him paused, then exploded!

When he could finally open his eyes, he realized that he was still looking within himself.

Inside, where the enormous ocean used to be, there sat a single, enormous, golden pill, suspended inside him.

He had broken through to Golden Core phase.

When his Shifu heard the news, he immediately dragged Harry to one of the largest Ovens the school had, and ordered him to ignite his Dan fire. It took Harry a moment to realize he meant the orange fire Harry had seen inside himself.

It took Harry a few tries, mostly because just like with his languages, he couldn't always tell which fire was which without practice, but eventually he managed to release his Dan fire. The orange flame lit the giant oven effortlessly.

The gleam in Great Master Xuan's eyes probably should have worried Harry more than it did.

He definitely should have been more worried because –

News reached him, by an excited Ye Wen, who actually interrupted his meditation, to let him know that he had been invited, together with Severus, to the annual Flower Viewing, hosted by the Queen.

Harry knew that Severus had received several invites before, through Great Master Xuan, who apparently had managed to keep the King at bay with the excuse of Harry's studies. Reaching Golden Core meant that he was clearly a young man with a bright future in front of him, and this apparently, needed to be acknowledged by the King.

At his horrified look, Ye Wen frowned at him and reminded him it was a great honor, and if he was nervous, he shouldn't be, since it wasn't like he was meeting the Emperor or anything. Though the King of Kun Lun was a rather important figure also.

Ye Wen chatted at him, while Harry fretted, assuring him that, really, he was just going so the King could put a face to the name, since everyone knew Harry was 1) a foreigner 2) engaged with a Lady Hermione Granger. So it was clear he wasn't going to be considered.

When Harry asked considered for what, Ye Wen blinked at him, and said, "Flower Viewing is almost always a chance for noble ladies and gentlemen to… express interest in each other, so betrothals could be negotiated. There is almost always a scandal and/or a murder at these things." At Harry's very reasonable-he-thought horrified look, Ye Wen laughed and said, "Oh don't worry so much, you are there to show your face and to eat melon and watch the drama, nothing more. I would be more worried, but you are immune to poisons. Even to aphrodisiac powder! I tested it on you 4 times personally, and you didn't react at all –"

"You – Oi!" Harry looked at Ye Wen incredulously. Because What the – Did his companion boy experiment on him like a guinea pig?

"Oh, don't worry about it! I had the antidote with me and you were at home, with me, and not a woman in sight! You were perfectly safe and I needed to make sure you were immune completely, in case I needed to prepare different kinds of antidotes. I am pleased to say you are immune to all the 12 commonly used poisons and 5 aphrodisiacs. Even the incense ones."

Harry stared at him.

"It is most impressive." Ye Wen told him earnestly.

"… from now on, you are trying all my food before I eat it." Harry told him.

"I love how little Master assumes I do not take the antidotes daily already." Ye Wen told him cheerfully.

Harry gave up staring at him, and made a note to get Apep to 'accidentally' bite him, he clearly needed it.

Harry wondered if he was turning into a bad person.

Then he wondered if that was a necessary evil.

Hermione would know.

Harry signed and went to try and talk his companion boy into not stuffing him into anything with feathers, pink or with gold leaf like he has been threatening to.

The event, as it turned out, really was one big theatre show.

Harry had managed to convince Ye Wen that a nice sedate green-with-bamboos was the way to go, but allowed him to stuff a fan into Harry's belt as a compromise. Severus and Harry were both seated relatively close to the King and Queen. It was an unusual gathering, because they seemed to be combining a luncheon, together with Flower Viewing afterwards. Which apparently wasn't customary.

Harry had been presented to the King and Queen, but since it was really not that different from meeting Great Master Xuan, and since his master was right there, together with his father, he had a lot less nerves than he thought he would.

The Queen was a very beautiful woman of maybe 25 or so, although Harry knew from Ye Wen she has been queen for at least 15 years, so she was likely popping rejuvenation pills like candy. Being the Queen, Harry imagined she could afford it.

To the King's other side was another beautiful woman, who was, according to Ye Wen, the Side Consort.

Ye Wen quietly explained that since a King was not an Emperor, he had one main wife, the Queen, and a Side Consort. All other women were considered concubines.

Harry couldn't tell if there was any tension between then, but their smiles were rather fixed on their faces, so Harry didn't trust it one bit.

Both the King, the Queen and the Side Consort acted interested in him, and pretended to be impressed with his new breakthrough. Great Master Xuan might have had something to do with this, since he looked proudly at Harry the whole time, and praised his progress in Pill Making in front of everyone. Harry himself had blushed scarlet when his Shifu did that, which made the King and Queen laugh kindly, and more genuinely.

The lunch itself was rather nice. Everyone had their own table, and the seating was based on rank. The King and Queen and Side Consort sat on the dais above everyone, while the ministers of the court and guests sat below, in rows of small individual tables very reminiscent of his classroom, except instead of the tables facing the teacher at the front, these tables sat to the left and right of the dais, and faced the middle, so it was easier to watch the performances. Since Great Master Xuan sat at the front, Severus and Harry's places had also been arranged near him as a sign of respect, Harry assumed.

There was dancing and music, and since Harry wasn't on the market, he felt rather relaxed, watching all the ladies and gentlemen make eyes at each other surreptitiously.

There was an incident where a maid tried to 'accidentally' spill tea on either him or his father, he wasn't too sure, but all those months of Si Yu and Bai Wu sneak attacking him had paid off because before the tea could even touch his robes, he had already thrown up a wandless-dome, and the tea actually splashed the maid instead.

She looked completely dismayed, but also fell to her knees to apologize. Harry glanced up and saw an older lady a few rows down looking quite annoyed at the maid, and based on Ye Wen's snickering behind him, he assumed it was someone trying to 'trap' either him or his father. It was a classic ploy which Si Yu taught him so he could protect himself. Someone would spill something on him 'accidentally', he would go and change since it was a crime to not be perfectly presentable in front of the King and Queen, then someone would lock the door of the room he was changing in, and he would no doubt find an undressed debutante waiting for him in the bedroom. Sometimes an aphrodisiac incense would be used, but not always. They would then be 'discovered', usually by a group of people 'surprise-storming' the room, to catch them undressed, and then he would be forced to marry the girl who was found in the room. Or his reputation would be ruined.

Si Yu said it was a classic court scheme.

Thankfully, he was apparently immune to aphrodisiacs. Harry glanced at Ye Wen ruefully, still wishing he could have discovered that without actually needing to be dosed to check, but Ye Wen was right. Better him, than to learn it too late at court.

The rest of the day went fairly normally, which was to say, two ladies had developed sudden and unexplainable rashes all over their faces. This resulted in much screaming and tears, but was also standard tactic to humiliate someone who was interested in the same bachelor as they were. Harry rather marveled how well Ye Wen and Si Yu perfected it all.

Then another lady did get caught with a serving boy in a room, since she had food-stuff spilled on her 'accidentally'. Then a fight nearly broke out between the 3rd son of the second rank minister and the eldest but older son of the second rank general, over another lady, who looked rather embarrassed and like she would rather be anywhere else but here.

Harry honestly didn't blame her.

He briefly wondered how the King and Queen didn't get indigestion with all these going-on, but Ye Wen muttered that this happens so often that they were likely both immune by now.

Harry had considered offering a pill to the two ladies inflicted with boils on their faces, but his father's and Great Master Xuan's discreet headshake dissuaded him of this.

Harry felt a bit silly, because even if someone was to offer curing pills, there was his father and Great Master Xuan who were better pill makers than him. It wouldn't be his place to do it anyway, but in addition to that, his father quietly told him, in English just in case, that if he offered a cure now, he would make an enemy of the lady who poisoned the two other ladies and there was no need for him to 'step into that murky water' as Great Master Xuan called it.

Though, Ye Wen nearly choked when one of the dancers who turned out to be a concubine of the King, and was currently in favor, suddenly had her dress-straps snap mid-dance, and flashed most of the people sitting close to her dancing.

The poor woman was, of course, mortified, and the King enraged. Harry could well imagine that she would be losing favor now thanks to the humiliation.

Then it was time for them to actually go see the flowers. Here, only the young unmarried men, and his father, were invited to walk around the large gardens the Queen kept. Everyone else stayed with the King. Harry was impressed how many off-season flowers were available, and his father muttered that this too was a way to show off status. Then his father, being the predictable man he was, started listing all the various pills and potions the various exotic flowers could be used in.

"I am going to teach you a way to avoid being swarmed by the blushing throve of virgins which are about to descend on us. Watch closely."

Saying that, his father walked them a little closer to the Queen and her entourage, and deliberately raised his voice, but only a little, his body turned away from her group. It gave the impression that his voice carried, instead of his father deliberately trying to be overheard. "Do you see this beautiful specimen, my son? It is a rare and precious flower, and likely, can only really thrive under the delicate and careful care of her majesty. It is an excellent ingredient in the Youth pill, which you covered in your previous lessons. It has a property that makes the skin and hair extremely supple and adds a glow, which is the reference you heard of 'skin like a celestial goddess', do you remember that? Only a grade 8 pill master or above are skilled enough to make it however, due to the incredible demand on your inner fire control. I will have you try it later when we get back. Of course, we do not have such a lovely specimen to practice on, but while the moon lily isn't as good an ingredient, it is a lot more common. It will, of course, not have the same effect, but you will be able to practice it at least, as they emulsify similarly. If only I had one of these to show you how to do it."

Harry tried desperately to not give the game away by laughing but it was so hard. Severus looked exactly like he was at a potions class, lecturing Slytherins, but his eyes were all mischief.

"Yes father. How many pills could one of these precious flowers yield, do you think?" Harry said, desperately trying to hold his face in an interested expression, rather than what he was really feeling.

"A skilled master could likely yield up to 6 to 10 pills. I suspect since I can get 12, you should at least be able to get 8 by now."

Then, just as his father predicted, the Queen approached them.

"Forgive me, I could not help overhear you. Did you say this flower is a rare ingredient in youth pills?" She said, voice as sweet as honey and bells.

Severus, ever the consummate actor and spy, turned and the look of surprised would have fooled Harry, if he hadn't known better. His father and Harry both bowed low, and gave their greetings.

"Yes, your majesty. I was just telling my son, that this Fire lily, is a rare specimen. It is incredible that you have been able to rare it so beautifully. It is notoriously hard to keep alive. My most sincere complements to your majesty for achieving it. It is, indeed, a rare ingredient in a youth potion which not only allows for a youthful glow to the skin, but also allows hair to grow exceptionally strong and glossy. We, as pill masters, of course admire flowers in a slightly different way from others, simply because we know the challenges of such flowers. Really, majesty, this is most impressive. Must be your majesties' radiance." Severus sounded almost reluctant, but sincere and Harry watched him in admiration, because as much as his father was a master at potions, he was first a Slytherin and its former head.

The frank-though-reluctant admiration rolling off of Severus was even more convincing due to the reluctance. He sounded, for all the world, like a man who really didn't want to be viewing flowers, but could not help himself in complimenting true skill when he saw it.

The Queen's face broke into a truly – heh – radiant smile, and she even blushed a little, seeming to have honestly been flattered.

Ye Wen muttered next to him, low enough for only him to hear, "acting perfection." and Harry, not for the first time, thought, I will never be good at this the way they are.

The coquettish, possessive look in the Queen's eyes would be a touch disturbing, except how Harry now knew what she wanted.

"Oh, but we must never get in the way of educating our youth! I insist you take at least two of these flowers back with you. One for your son to practice on – and oh, isn't he such a strapping young man! Such a shame he is already betrothed. Otherwise, I have a lovely niece his age he would be perfect for! – and one for yourself. Of course, you must not forget me once the masterwork of your pills has been created."

"Your majesty is not only radiant but so incredibly kind." His father said, almost drolly, and Harry bit the inside of his cheek so he wouldn't crack a smile, but tried to look shy and introverted as much as he could. "It is true, my son … his mother, the only love of my life, had been such good friends with his fiancé's parents. She promised our son would wed their daughter when they were just babies, and she never changed her mind until the day she passed. It was one of her last wishes, and as such, I am honor-bound to fulfill it."

All the ladies around them, looked a little teary eyed at his father's proclamation, and Harry could hear quiet mutters of "oh such a dedicated man" and "he must have loved her so much. Did you know they only marry one woman? So romantic!" which was no doubt his father's goal.

"Of course, it would be my honor to give you the pills I crafted from this rare flower. However, I must say your majesty hardly needs it! Why, your majesty is as radiant today as a 15-year-old girl on her Presentation Day."

Harry nearly choked because he had never considered Severus as charming, but now he could see it. Severus was using that deep, smooth, voice he had, which kept generations of Hogwarts students riveted to their chairs during potions class, either in fear or awe. The Queen did not seem immune to it, or rather, Harry privately thought that it was the lure of the pill much more than the lure of Severus himself, but the charm did seem to be helping.

All the court ladies around the Queen started simpering at once, that they too must get a share of the amazing pills, while the Queen preened like a benevolent deity, dispensing favors from on high.

"What about yourself Master Snape? Have you not considered a wife and mother for your son? I understand your wife passed some time ago." said one of the plumper ladies in extremely fine pink silks, and very little common sense, whose name Harry didn't know.

The Queen shot her a disapproving look, but did not forbid the question.

"Oh, I am afraid that with the passing of my dear love, my heart had turned to cold ash. We only marry one person, as you know, and my love and I, we shared such a special bond, I could never replicate it again. My sole focus now is my son and my craft. I fear I am also a very boring man who obsesses with pill crafting and has very little room for anything beside it and, of course, my only son. Did you know he achieved Golden Core phase after only two years in your great country? Naturally it is all thanks to his teacher's faith and investment in him and some small talent he possesses." Severus demurred in a way which had Harry's face doing gymnastics all over the place. His father's tone was a combination of droll, and old-man-boasting.

Thankfully Ye Wen shoved a fan into his lax hand, and Harry immediately opened it, blocking his mouth from view before he couldn't hold the smile off any more. He dearly hoped his eyes didn't betray him, so he kept them looking at the ground just in case. He knew from experience, that everyone will assume he was hiding his manly sorrow instead, and have sympathies for him.

Harry remembers being resistant to the use of The Fan, but one formal banquet, and he immediately saw the use for them. Mostly for guys like him who can't hide their expressions for shit, and needed an excuse to not let everyone know he was laughing at them. Ye Wen had to give him extensive lessons on what each position of the fan meant, or implied, but he suffered through them because in the end, he couldn't keep an expressionless face to save his life. He couldn't with Vernon and he couldn't with Voldie, so a Chinese court never stood a chance.

He was really glad of it now thought.

Severus, bless him, distracted everyone with lamentations of the difficulties of getting rare ingredients and generally made himself sound old and boring enough that even the Queen's smile strained a little, and soon, the ladies all made their excuses and left them alone.

Harry stared at his father in awe.

"And that is how I kept the aspiring ladies away from my person for the years I was here. It pays to cultivate a persona of obsessive potions master if you don't wish to be trapped in a political marriage you have no interest in." Severus told him, and Harry could only nod in agreement.

Some things apparently, really did need a father to teach you.

Thankfully, Harry now had one of those.

Apep, who had been hiding in his formal clothing, hissed out quietly that Harry likely didn't need to try especially hard to appear boring, so that was a plus.

Harry pinched Apep's torso in retaliation, and plastered on another smile when Great Master Xuan came to introduce him to another political friend of his.

Apep had finally gotten his chance.

Harry would be in a two-week intensive training with Great Master Xuan starting a few days' time, thanks to reaching Golden Core level, and Apep figured this was likely the best time for his adventure to take place.

He instructs Bai Di to attach himself to Harry and not leave his side, even for meal times and sleep, and his younger brother, being the good four-legs that he was, readily agrees. Bai Di made Apep tell him his full plan however, but promises to keep it to himself unless Apep ran into trouble, and Apep was glad for it. It is always wise to have nest-mates on alert when one went hunting large pray after all.

He told Harry he needed to do cultivation in the sky for some time, and that he wanted to go hunt for his own Rare Encounter, and while Harry wasn't too Happy about it, he agreed to let Apep go.

Apep was amused, because his big brother was growing powerful now, but Apep was stronger. His big brother had the biggest heart, but he lacked a snake's practicality and ruthlessness.

Apep vowed to teach him those when he got back.

It took him nearly 20 hours to reach his big brother's former lands, and Apep had to snort air out of his snout constantly because it smells disgusting compared to their home, and he absolutely refused to taste the air at all. So many mortal smells and very few forests around, all smaller compared to the ones back home. Still, this was the land that raised his big brother, and Apep will not disparage it.

Much.

High up in the sky, he pulled up the taste of that delicious corruption, allowed it to fill his mouth and tongue. Then he extends his senses, and suddenly he could smell it.

That tantalizing smell.

He turned west, and after only a few minutes of flying at his top speed, he landed in a small outcropping. He could see a magical house up ahead. It was rather large, and nothing like the houses he was used to from home. It was all hard brick and cold magic.

It tasted a little of the Malfoys.

There were a bunch of white-colored pheasant-like creatures with long white tails that Apep ate a few of, while seeking that smell but he didn't meet any people. Mortal or magical.

He did however find another snake.

This snake was small, compared to him, of course, and not very magical. It did not possess a Ling-mind, but had started to absorb enough magic to be able to evolve, if only a little. It reminded Apep of Harry's bird, Hedwig.

Despite not having a ling-mind, the snake was clearly a predator. It could not see him, but it could sense danger coming closer.

:: Who is there? I am Nagini, the Lord's snake. Come out, or I will bite you!:: It threatened, looking around wildly, body coiled as if it wanted to spring.

:: You do not need to know who I am. You only need to stand still. :: Apep told her. While Apep could see she used to be a pretty snake, she was far too unevolved to interest him for more than food.

Deciding there was no need to scare her more than necessary, Apep, still invisible, shrank down to double her size, and bit her on the back of her neck.

Nagini, as she had introduced herself, slumped, instantly paralyzed.

Apep thought about killing her first, but then remembered the dark scar trying to run away from him, and decided to simply swallow her whole instead.

It took a bit of doing, as she was a snake after all, and Apep didn't much care for the taste of his own species, but the corruption was so deep inside her bones. Unlike with Harry, nothing had protected Nagini from the corruption, and her eyes had subsequently already started turning red from madness, so he didn't feel too bad eating her.

After swallowing her down, and making sure she couldn't do him any harm if her paralysis wore off before she died, he took to the sky to digest.

He really hoped there are more of her out there, he thought, while his scales started to glow blue again and he was forced to take to higher altitudes.

She tasted delicious.

It took him only a day to digest this soul shard, and then he was following the scent again.

This time, it brought him to a place with very little magic around. It looked to be a discarded-pile of mortal bones. His big brother would call it a cemetery. Apep rather thought it was clever for mortals to not sleep where they left their bones, least it attracted bigger predators, but Harry had said that didn't often happen.

Still, Apep was a practical snake, and the practice of burying the bones of one's kills did appeal to him.

It appealed to him somewhat less when he realized the delicious smell was coming from one of the buried places and he was forced to dig them up.

Inside a mundane wooden box with no magic, were the bones of a mortal. Apep at first wasn't sure why those non-magical bones smelled so good to him, but after he had swallowed them down, he realized it wasn't the bones themselves per se, but some kind of item the bones were wearing prior to dying.

Apep has no idea what it might be, and after digesting the corruption, he found a tall mountain several hours flying north, and regurgitates the bones. On the bony hand, he found a ring with a big stone in it. The ring itself had turned to slag, but the stone was unharmed. He thought the corruption had been inside that item, but since it was now inside his belly – that delicious, delicious, murkiness – he didn't bother with figuring out how or why. He did swallow the stone back down thought. It had a delicious taste, even if it wasn't corruption, but souls.

He spent the night on the mountain, buried in snow now that he could not feel cold any more, while he slept off his second yummy meal.

The next time he went looking, pausing only to fly back to his big brother's lands, he found himself flying by the sea. At first, he wondered if the soul shard was maybe under water, but soon, his keen senses guided him to a cave instead.

Getting inside was easy. He shrank himself to the size of a lizard, and simply slithered through the stone cracks till he reached the other side.

Growing back to a larger size, he flew over the water to the island surrounded by it. In the center was some kind of basin, and some kind of magical liquid was blocking his senses here.

He flicks his tail and the basin and pedestal which were holding it up topple like so much stone, no match for his strength.

The liquid spill everywhere, and a metal locket fell out.

Immediately, Apep could smell that there was no true corruption in it. It had been a decoy. However, he was not completely disappointed because as soon as the basin was disturbed, a great many undead souls started crawling out of the water around them.

Apep let out a pleased hiss, and opened his mouth.

Their corruption wasn't as pure as the ones he had eaten so far, but there were a lot of them and Apep absolutely glutted himself on the souls of the damned.

After an hour, the undead finally stop coming out of the water, and Apep was almost disappointed.

He flicked his tail at the water, disturbing it, in the hopes that more would come out, but it seemed that he had eaten all there was.

Only slightly disappointed, he left the cave, in search of his next prey.

That had been a great appetizer, but Apep was still hungry.

He was a growing snake after all.

He didn't want to give up the original shard denied him, and diligently followed the smell to a tall house in a more mortal-than-magical area. It was a tall house, and he could feel a strong barrier around it. However, strangely, his big brother's blood inside him sang when it got close to the barrier, and Apep, on a hunch, passes through it as if he was invited.

The moment he did, the front door opened, and a small magical creature peered out of the gloom.

Apep, being the smart snake that he was, flew through the door before the little creature could shut it.

Then he turned himself visible.

The little creature let out a frightened squeak, but Apep could smell that smell again. The house itself smelled delicious anyway, but nothing smelled as powerful, as drugging, as the corruption Apep had been tracking.

Ignoring the little creature, Apep followed the smell to a dark room.

There, behind a glass cabinet, sat a small metallic object, identical to the lure Apep had seen in the cave. A locket.

Apep hissed his pleasure, and with a flick of his tail, shattered the glass.

He starts to reach for the object, but suddenly, something was holding him back. Something invisible.

Apep, recognizing the taste of the magic, turned his head to look at the little creature who had followed him in the room.

"You – are the Dark Lord's snake?" the little creature croaked out.

Apep looked at him, but deciding this might be easier with the little creature's help after all, shook his head no.

"You. You are not the Dark Lord's snake. What do you want with Master Regulus's locket?" the creature asked, slightly braver now.

Apep thought about how to tell him, but then simply opened his mouth as wide as it would go, and gave a mighty gulp.

The little creature gasped.

"You want to eat it? You cannot! It is evil. Kreacher has tried to destroy it, yes Kreacher had, but Kreacher was too weak. Kreacher could not finish the last order Master Regulus left him." The little creature started to cry a little. But the he suddenly stopped, and started at Apep. "You cannot eat it. It will destroy you."

Apep shook his head no. He was a strong snake. The locket could not hurt him.

"You— you can really destroy it?" the little creature – Kreacher – asked.

Apep simply nodded his head. He could. And it will taste delicious.

"If you – Kreacher wants to see you do it! You can eat it, but you must let Kreacher see!" the creature demanded, eyes gaining some life back.

Apep hissed his pleasure, because that was right and proper to see one's enemies fall before one.

He turned his head, and lunging, swallowed the locked down.

When his body started to glow and swell, Kreacher let out a squeak of alarm, but his eyes never left Apep's own.

Apep let him watch. The creature was small, and the corruption was strong. It would have destroyed the little creature if he had tried to eat it himself. It was only right and proper that he got to watch its destruction.

Despite his body knocking over a few chairs and a table, it took him even less time to digest this shard. It did not have nearly as much corruption in it as his big brother's scar did.

Only a few hours later, his body stopped glowing and he slowly shrank himself back down.

Kreacher had stayed with him the entire time, staring in awe, but not speaking, as if he knew Apep needed to concentrate to digest.

Smart little creature. Apep debated taking him back to Harry but, only a little observation later, he noticed the dark magics binding the creature to… something. He couldn't quite see what, but understood this Kreacher was already spoken for by another.

Though they clearly didn't take very good care of him.

Apep frowned a little. Maybe there was too much dark in this den. Did his humans leave him because of it?

Before he could come to a conclusion, Kreacher spoke.

"It is done? It is destroyed?" he asked, voice like a frog.

In reply, Apep proceeded to regurgitate the locket, now completely bland with no taste.

Kreacher carefully walked over to it, and very tentatively put one finger on the item, ignoring Apep's stomach acids.

Then the little creature gasped.

"It is not there any more! You have eaten it! Kreacher has fulfilled Master's last wish!" and burst into tears.

Apep stared at the little creature, feeling a lot like his big brother when faced with a crying magical. He had no idea what to do. Usually, Apep would wrap himself around Harry if his big brother was upset but… maybe that would work?

Carefully, Apep wound his large body around Kreacher, and squeezed, carefully.

It had the positive effect of making the little creature stop crying. However, he had also stopped breathing.

Apep checked, he wasn't squeezing too hard.

He turned his head to look at the little creature, hoping it understood the what-the-hell as his brother would say.

Kreacher suddenly gasped in a breath, then asked, eyes like balls, "You – will not kill Kreacher now and eat him too?"

Apep, on hindsight, could see how the little creature came to that conclusion, but no. While he definitely had a lot of Ling in him, it was old and warn out. Like an old animal. Apep did not particularly want to eat him.

He had a thought, regarding what he had considered earlier while he was digesting, that this Kreacher's humans did not take very good care of him. However, this was also a very dark den, and maybe the humans had no choice but to leave it? Maybe they thought Kreacher wanted to stay anyway? Wizards, Apep had noted on several occasions, were not the brightest of magicals.

Maybe there was something Apep could do… it would not take much effort after all, and the house did smell tasty.

Mind made up, he unwound himself from Kreacher, then opened his mouth wide, and stared to suck while he flew around the place.

Several items he did swallow completely, then regurgitate them. Others he simply sucked and sucked and sucked, until he had to expand just a little, in length if not in girth because his belly felt nice and full.

He kept eating until every trace of corruption was gone, and every trace of dark was gone too. The walls looked whiter now, and the light was brighter too. Maybe now the little creature's humans would return?

It wasn't much but it was all Apep could do, short of taking him away from here, something Apep thought he wouldn't want based on how his magic pulsed.

Kreacher hadn't said anything to him after he started, but he silently followed him.

The last place Apep went, was the front door.

In front of it, he tasted a dark concentration, and he opened his mouth to eat it too, but suddenly, Kreacher was in front of him. His little body trembled, but his hands were wide open, stopping Apep.

"Please. Not her. She was my Mistress. I could not bare to lose her." He pleaded, and Apep felt a pang, realizing Kreacher's human was dead, and he refused to leave.

Apep closed his mouth, and nudged Kreacher with his snout. His genetic memory told him some creatures chose to die with the mates or their family, rather than leave. He had to respect that. Maybe there will be children one day to came and be with Kreacher again, now that it was not a dark den anymore.

Kreacher looked at him. Then, waving a hand at the door, which swung open, he said, "Thank you big-snake-god."

Apep nodded again, then flew out. He had more digesting to do, and then, more hunting!

It was finally time!

Hermione had waited for this day for ages! But they were finally here!

It had taken her nearly two weeks to convince her parents that it was time to leave good old England. Since Hermione did what she did best, namely research, she had been able to find very convincing evidence that the money her parents could make in Hong Kong would be double that of England. She had also found a large property perfect for converting into a private dentistry in Tsim Sha Tsui, a very affluent area in Hong Kong. It used to be a plastic surgery and botox studio and it was perfect, since the owner was retiring and wanted to pass it to another medical professional.

Hermione took the liberty to negotiate with the elderly gentleman who owned the place via email and they had agreed on a very reasonable price. She had also put up her parents practice for sale without them knowing about it and had, quite surprisingly, already received a few offers.

When she had finally sat her parents down, they had been mystified where her sudden desire to leave England came from. While Hermione felt rather guilty for lying, she told them about Voldemort's resurrection – even thought this hadn't been confirmed yet! – and her fear for her own and their safety. Her parents had been rightly alarmed, but when she then pointed out Hogwarts declining education and how she wasn't feeling very challenged any more…

Well. Hermione's parents loved her more than anything.

They had, however, been very alarmed when she had refused to consider the various magical schools in and around Hong Kong, telling them they should move first and that she would like it very much if they could go visit them all before they decided. After all, they didn't want public hype to send them to another declining school, she reasoned.

What she absolutely did not tell her parents, was that she had already written to Professor McGonagall, telling her that her parents had inherited some lands in the United States, and that she will need all her transcripts sent to her, as they will be leaving England shortly but did not know which school she would be applying to yet.

Professor McGonagall had replied right away, completely dismayed and lamented at the shame of losing such a brilliant pupil as her. Hermione had a huge pang of consciousness after reading her letter, but she reminded herself firmly that this was for the best. Her concerns were legitimate, and if Voldemort was back, both her and her parents would be at risk. Death Eaters would likely even target her parents on purpose to hold leverage over her, and that was a risk she did not wish to take.

No, leaving England was for the best.

Ron on the other hand, was having a much easier time.

Surprisingly.

And it was all thanks to the crazy twins.

The last time they were at Gringotts, Ron had asked about Cairo, almost jokingly, but the goblin King – and he had met a King! And he couldn't even tell anyone about it! Rotten luck, really. – had taken him seriously, and a few days later, he received a very officious sounding letter, mentioning an opening at Gringotts Cairo branch which needed a wizard relations officer for a muggle-wizard joint projects, in turning a large patch of dessert into an oasis and a magical town. The magical person they were looking for would need to work with the muggle Bedouin people as technically that land was theirs, but they were willing to share in exchange for unearthing their oldest temples which were buried under the sand-sea. The muggle Bedouin had apparently always known about the magical communities, and kept the tradition of good relations with them, as their ancestors did. Considering Bill already worked with Gringotts in Cairo, and his mum had fallen absolutely in love with the food and climate there, Ron took a chance and mentioned it to his father.

The twins had been within hearing distance, and had immediately pounced on their dad to consider it seriously. Apparently, they had met a half-blood in Cairo on their last trip, who was very interested in their inventions, and wanted to go into business with them, but not if they remained in England.

Ron felt a little like he was being swept up in some kind of Great Change, and the moment the Gringotts letter had arrived, he had lost control of the situation.

Gringotts even generously offered to fly them back to Egypt so their dad could meet with the representatives there and start negotiations, but Molly had put her foot down about taking them out of school during the school year.

Ron, knowing his mum would be the hardest sell, had went back to Gringotts, a little red in the ears, but still, he wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing, and asked if he could maybe-please see the King again if he wasn't too busy, thank-you-very-much?

Evidently, he had gotten lucky because the King was willing to see him. When he explained where his family's mindset was at this time, and admitted his mum might be the biggest deterrent, Kind Warwick had tapped his long nails on the desk in thought, while Ron fidgeted in the expensive chair and tried not to look too out of place, sitting there.

King Warwick then asked if Molly wouldn't perhaps like teaching home-economics magics, since he knew from a friend of a friend of a contact that there was an opening at The New Alexandria School of Enlightenment for the pre-school department they ran for the younger kids there, and would Ron like him to inquire a little about it?

Ron had very much wanted that, because as wonderful as Hogwarts was, it just wasn't the same without Harry. Hermione was leaving, and he really wasn't mates with many other people. He couldn't even count on Malfoy to be a prat anymore.

He had always been jealous of Bill's job – it just sounded like such an adventure! All the time! – and he badly wanted to see if he could get in on it with Bill maybe later when he graduated. Bill already gave him the lecture that he would need to study a lot harder if he wanted to work for Gringotts one day, but Ron wasn't too worried.

He really wasn't sure if he wanted to go to a school which taught classes in Greek, even if quite a few of their classes were in English and Latin, and especially since his mum would also be teaching there, if the King was to be believed but – He wasn't too worried about not seeing Hermione, since if he got into the New Alexandria School, Hermione would be his most dedicated visitor, not cuz of him, but cuz the old Library of Alexandria was apparently located there.

Plus, Ron was actually really good at Greek, thanks to the two years when the twins 8 and 9 respectively only spoke in Greek to everyone, and Ron learned it out of desperation to make them shut up.

Who knew, he might even take up Football, which would please his old dormmates. There was apparently a school team and everything.

It was thus a rather excited Ron that left Gringotts that day.

Things, thought Ron, were about to change.

Albus was not having a good few years.

No. Not at all.

First, his potions professor and reliable spy somehow got himself blown up in his own lab. Merlin knew what he could have been researching to cause such a catastrophic accident. There was almost nothing for Albus to bury of him, and while Albus had carefully examined both his lab and rooms, he did not find any sign that it was an assassination, like he suspected.

A few weeks later, his war hero upped and vanished, just like that, convincing Albus that it was definitely Voldemort's forces moving against him. But for 2 years, there has been no hide or hair of the boy. Albus had interrogated the Dursley's, and used Legilimency on them, of course, but no matter what tracing system he used, there was no magical signature in the house at all.

Albus had notice that the blood wards had failed, and likely some time ago. He had chastised himself that he hadn't noticed sooner, but it had been too late for regrets then. Likely, that had been how the boy had been taken, with nothing left to hide him. Perhaps he had encouraged the Dursleys' to be too… strict with little Harry, but there was nothing Albus could do about it now.

When Sirius Black had broken out of prison, thanks to Albus getting one of his contacts to slip Black a daily prophet with the news of the boy still missing as headlines, he had predictably found a way out of Azkaban and went looking for Harry, as Albus had hoped.

However, perhaps it was Azkaban madness, but Black, instead of looking for Harry, like he was supposed to, had broken into Hogwarts, and attacked Ron Weasley and his rat of all things. Belatedly, Albus remembered that Peter Pettigrew had been a rat animagus, but by the time that thought had crossed his mind, Black had been long gone to Merlin-only-knew where, and no way to prove that besides. The last rumors Albus heard, put Black somewhere in the Caribbean, if Mundungus was to be believed.

Remus Lupin had also vanished.

Albus strongly suspected they were together somewhere, but considering all his owls came back unopened, he had no way to confirm that either.

Then, this year, Minerva informed him a few weeks after term started, when he didn't notice Miss Granger at the Gryffindor table after some days, that her parents had moved them to the Americas.

Albus wondered if this might somehow be Harry-related. Perhaps she had been hiding news of the boy? But Albus had carefully scanned both Miss Granger and little Ronald Weasley prior to their summer holidays, and aside from frustration from Ronald, and some examination anxiety from Miss Granger, he felt no deception from either children.

Then last week, good old dependable Mrs. Weasley flooed him to let him know they were relocating to Cairo to be closer to Bill Weasley!

Albus, of course, tried hard to dissuade her from this distasteful course of action, reminding her that there was still Voldemort to fight, but she had uncharacteristically dismissed him, and had spent an hour prattling at him about how wonderful the children she will soon be teaching are, since she had apparently started a correspondence with some of the other mothers at the school, who told her all about them. Albus knew then that he had lost her already, and resigned himself to look for a Weasley replacement for the Cause.

Then, the finally straw had fallen, when Minerva informed him, she was resigning and moving to Brazil of all places. It took him close to an hour of questioning this sudden desire, to learn that his reliable, down-to-earth Minerva had met a wizard over the summer holidays, and fallen madly in love in her sunset years. Now she was ditching her life in England to pursue this half-blood half way across the globe!

When he tried to reason with her, about her age, and the unlikely chance that he really was interested in her, which was simply preposterous of course, she had gotten extremely angry and set half his office on fire, while leaving her letter of resignation on his desk without so much as a backwards glance.

Now, he was short one deputy mistress, one defense professor since he could not locate Lupin – his last hope of not getting a ministry stooge in his school – one spy, and one hero!

That would not do at all.

How was Albus to fight a war with no soldiers?

Albus sat in his only-somewhat restored office, and pondered the matter for some time.

Maybe the Longbottom boy…

Augusta was old… and accidents did happen…

It was something to consider.

He wished Fawkes was still here so he could sooth himself with his song, but his phoenix, too, had abandoned him two years ago and had not been seen since.

He only had a little time to consider the matter before the school wards suddenly went off, and he went to see what had triggered them this time.

Albus swore under his breath.

This was the third alarm in three days and he had yet to find out what had triggered them.

Perhaps he should have updated the wards since the last principle, but there had just never been the time, and Albus loathed having to pour so much of his own magic into the school wards which, in his opinion, were good enough, without needing to drain him as well.

Apep flew past the flimsy wards of the large stone castle his big brother told him had been his home for two years. It did look impressive, at first glance, but Apep noticed the magic around the castle felt sluggish, and impure somehow. As if its source had long dried out and nothing had replaced it.

Apep shrugged, and though it really did explain why Harry's magic was doing so much better at Kun Lun if this was the pittance he received before.

In his invisible form, he entered the school through an open window, and following the smell, found himself at a blank corridor.

Apep could smell that the corruption was behind that wall, but he also knew it was likely warded.

Not knowing what to do, Apep flew back and forth a few times down the corridor, wishing he could just get at the corruption there and leave already. He didn't much like the building. It made him feel like he was inside a dying animal, with nothing but nostalgia and good will to keep it going.

To Apep's surprise, after a half hour of back and forth flying down the corridor, a door suddenly appeared.

Apep stared at it suspiciously, but he knew some places did respond to a magical being's desire, so he gave a snaky shrug, and entered the room.

Inside, there was so much junk that, had Apep had a diaphragm, he would have sneezed. Thankfully he didn't have one, so instead he stuck out his tongue, and spent the next 20 minutes narrowing down the corrupted smell to a strange piece of jewelry.

Apep didn't much care for eating metal things, but he had been known to crunch on some soul stones when he got really hungry so he wasn't too worried.

Delicately scooping the item up with his tongue, he swallowed it down.

He will regurgitate it later, just like the bones, when he was done eating the soul shard inside it.

Pleased, he left the room, and the dying school behind, in search of other pray. His body still glowing under the invisibility.

Harry would happily attend twelve different Flower Viewings if he could just be excused for the Poetry Reading events.

His Chinese had improved tremendously in the past two years, but he was still completely hopeless in art and in poetry. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy poetry per see, it was more that he really didn't enjoy it when it was being use as a weapon in competitions!

He just didn't have the capacity for verbal gymnastics the way that Si Yu had.

Bai Wu at least completely agreed with him on this. His two friends had come to visit him today, under the pretense of seeing some of the new pills he had crafted – as if he didn't already send each of them a vial full of the new pills – but in actuality, they were brain-storming ways both Harry and Bai Wu could get out of it.

Unfortunately, it was the Queen's Di Daughter holding the event, so their usual excuses of classes would not work.

Fortunately, Harry was a pill maker. Something he had never really had a reason to celebrate before, but now…

"So I can poison you. That would get you out of it." Harry told Bai Wu.

Bai Wu gave him a baleful look.

"Oh, don't look at me like that! It's not like it's for real. I will give you the antidote before you took the poison of course, but I can make it a nasty but harmless one if you like? Two of my friends – twins actually – back in England used to make these candies that made your face break out in boils to get out of class. They weren't perfect back then and a few people got seriously ill a few times, but I am confident I can recreate it now without problems. I am sure they made better versions of them by now anyway.

Si Yu and Bai Wu stared at him.

"Don't take this the wrong way Harry, but your friends are rather worrying." Si Yu told him.

Bai Wu nodded his agreement, "Plus, I don't want to be poisoned! I just don't want to go to some stupid Poetry Event."

"It really is your own fault you know. You don't have a betrothal." Si Yu told him reasonably.

"It is my fault that the girl promised to me died of Dragon Pox when she was 5?! How do you figure?" Bai Wu asked him, incredulous.

"Well, alright, but it is your fault you didn't ask your father to arrange another betrothal for you." Si Yu told him, not a little exasperated. This was a fight they had every time Bai Wu wanted to get out of an event, and Harry, by now, was used to it.

"We could always say he was now betrothed to a friend of mine from England? My mate Ron has a little sister who isn't spoken for. Hey, do you like redheads? Like, really, really, red hair? I already know you like the firecracker temper…" Harry suggested, laughing a little while Bai Wu shoved him.

"And have my grandmother not recognize her grandbabies? And never be able to hold any government official positions because our kids are considered half-foreign? You want to try and explain that one to my father and grandmother?" At Harry's horrified look, Bai Wu snorted, "Yeah, thought so."

"I could break your leg again." Si Yu said, chewing on a cherry cake.

It was Harry's turn to stare at Si Yu, apparently. But before he could ask what in Merlin's name they were talking about, Bai Wu reached across the table to shove Si Yu the way he had shoved Harry.

"That was one time, you turtle! We were 8 and it was the Dowagers birthday! She wanted to marry me to her 27-year-old niece! It was practically a good deed for the Buddha!" Bai Wu said, very exasperated now.

"So, Poison is out, fake-marriage is out, and bodily injury is out. What's left?"

All three sat in contemplative silence.

"That's it. Desperate times require desperate measures. We? Are running away." Bai Wu said, fist thumping the table.

Si Yu and Harry blinked at him.

Suddenly the air in Harry's courtyard got rather chilly. And deadly.

And Dark. Very, very –

Swallowing, Harry quickly said, "No. No we are not running away. That won't help and it will make your father and your harridan of a stepmother unbearable. Think of something else."

Immediately the temperature in his courtyard went back to normal and Harry sighed a silent breath of relief. His Shadows were wonderful, but they did tend to take any threats to Harry like it needed a smiting from the gods. Bai Wu had no idea that he just avoided being assassinated for real.

Si Yu glanced at him, with a rueful little smile, and turned to Bai Wu, "Harry is right. Running away accomplishes nothing. You would be better off with a fake engagement. Let's think of something else."

They sat there, thinking for a while longer.

"I could make the poison mimic the symptoms of the Dragon Pox? Then we definitely couldn't get into the palace."

All three considered this for a moment.

With no better ideas available, his two friends said their goodbyes, and promised to keep brain storming.

Where was Hermione when you needed her?

Harry decided to go see his father, before his Shadows had a chance to tattletale on him. If anyone knew how to get out of a power-sensitive situation, it was his father.

Severus, the prat, spent the first 10 minutes laughing at Harry.

Then, just like his Shadows, threatened bodily harm to Bai Wu if he ever suggested running away again.

Surprisingly, he did think pill or potion was the way to go, but not via poison.

Giving Harry his Slytherins-think-you-are-a-moron-Potter look, he asked how they had planned to fool someone like the princess with poison when Harry was a pill master, his father was a grade 9 pill master and his teacher, whom everyone knew favored him, was literally the most accomplished pill master in the Liang country.

Harry, sheepishly, muttered that there as no cure for Dragon Pox anyway, but conceded it was highly unlikely anyone would buy into it.

More than a little frustrated now, Harry finally asked what Severus thought they should do. Severus, to his credit, gave it a few minutes thought, and then Harry knew they had a solution because Severus had that Smug Slytherin Smirk on his face again.

"You are a pill disciple, and the son of a grade 9 pill and potions master. Of course, I crafted a new potion, which helps lower-level students gather energy faster. You and Bai Wu, and Si Yu also, will be coming to my lab, and you will be taking an 'experimental' potion, which will turn out to be a lot stronger than you realized, and thus, you will be forced to go into Closed-Room cultivation in order to absorb this fantastic opportunity. I estimate you will need to be unavailable for at least a week, most unfortunate, but such a great opportunity for you boys, don't you think?"

Harry gaped at him, "Do you… have such a potion?"

"O ye of little faith." Severus said, turning away to write a note to Great Master Xuan.

Harry narrowed his eyes at him.

"You are going to invent such a potion is only 3 days?!"

"Those are the joys I live for." Severus told him blithely, eyes already gleaming with excitement for the prospect of a new potion to create.

Harry shook his head and wondered what the Shadows would do if his own father poisoned him to death.

Apep felt somewhat dismayed.

Try as he might, he could only smell two sources of corruption in the entire landmass his big brother had once called home.

Therein lay the problem.

The first one, was the most concentrated, and Apep was tempted to go to it immediately, but every time he got closer, he would feel layers of wards and other magicals around it.

The other, was deep underground.

He had narrowed it down to a large white building in the magical district, but he knew that building was also heavily warded.

He debated asking Harry, but he didn't want his big brother to go into a panic – likely – and order him home – very likely.

Despite Apep now being at least 20 times Harry's size, his big brother still worried about him as if he was a new hatchling.

So instead, he asked Bai Di.

"Little brother." Apep sent, through their mental link.

"Apep! You have been silent and I have missed you!" Immediately Apep's mind filled with loud purring. Bai Di's standard greeting for him.

"I have been busy eating." Apep told him. Bai Di, proving that he was the little brother of Apep's heart, nodded seriously in their shared soul-space.

"Eating is very important." Bai Di agreed, his soul-cat rubbing all over Apep's soul body inside their shared space.

"It is. I have two more things to eat, then I will come home." Apep told him indulgently, using his tail to pet the large cat inside their soul space. Bai Di's approval was clear with the increased volume of the purrs.

"Do you remember what is the name of the little-person Harry loves so much inside the fire-wall at King Yao's place?"

Bai Di thought about it for a bit, then said, "I think Harry called him King Warwick. He said he wasn't a wizard but a goblin. I don't think you should eat him. Harry would be upset."

Apep huffed in their shared soul space. "Mangy cat, of course I am not going to eat big brother's life-saver! That would go against all our learning. I want to ask him to get something for me. I think he has it."

"Oh. That should be okay then." Bai Di told him, "Big brother likes it when you make friends."

Apep hissed a yes-yes back at Bai Di.

"I'll be home soon. Stay with big brother. You know he needs watching." Apep told him.

"Mm-hmm! Though…" Bai Di trailed off, and Apep felt a sense of dread in his digestive system.

"What." Apep asked, wishing he didn't need to.

"Oh, he didn't do anything. Shadow-men stopped him. Then Uncle Severus stopped him…." Bai Di trailed off, and the dread in Apep's stomach increased.

"What?"

"It's just… Uncle Severus is experimenting potions on Bai Wu, and Si Yu, and Harry."

Apep paused in midair. Considering.

"Have the Shadows tired to knock him out yet?" Apep asked, curious.

"Not yet, but An Ying has developed a very bad eye-twitch and Yin Ying keeps grabbing his thighs and squeezing. But he only did that when Harry turned orange."

Apep stared at their soul space. The sense of consternation increased.

Bai Di's soul-ghost started licking his paw.

"…. Orange." Apep clarified.

"Mmhmmm. But Uncle Sev didn't look too worried. Harry yelled a lot though."

"What did Si Yu and Bai Wu do?" Asked Apep, seriously debating turning around and going back to China.

"Bai Wu was happy. Si Yu looked resigned."

Apep thought about it.

"Let me know if the Shadows try to kill Uncle Severus." Apep decided, and Bai Di rubbed against him again before pulling back.

Apep considered turning around again, but flicking the air again, he could still taste the corruption and that spurred him on.

His big brother better not be orange when he got back, or uncle or not uncle, he was spending a week paralyzed.

King Warwick was enjoying one of his cousin's pineapple-cakes when the alarms around Gringotts went off.

Considering it was late at night, and the average witch and wizard would be in bed by now, it could only mean one thing.

Death Eaters.

The King swiftly armored himself and grabbed his trusty axe from the wall, as he stepped outside of his chambers, a large contingent of his best guards met him at the top of the stairs.

They made their way grimly to the entrance of Gringotts where the point of egress was, but then stopped since there didn't seemed to be anyone there, or any attack.

Then, suddenly, he was staring nose to snout with a giant – very, very, giant – snake.

Thankfully he was still within the ward dome's protection, but it still made him let out a surprised grunt which had his guards surrounding him on all sides.

The snake, despite its size, didn't do anything except float in mid-air, its giant body waving lazily back and forth, as if swimming on air.

It also looked vaguely familiar…

Then the King squinted, and asked, "You… are the boy's snake, aren't you? What was your name again? Some kind of snake-god I remember... Aman? No that's no it. Apep? Right?"

The snake could clearly understand him because it bobbed his head in confirmation.

"Right. Is the boy in trouble?" The King asked, now concerned.

But thankfully the large snake shook its head no.

"Then… why are you here?" Warwick asked, completely confused now.

The guards had started to relax, seeing there wasn't an imminent threat to their King and Bank, though few lowered their weapons. The snake was huge, after all.

Apep nudged his head towards the building, indicating his desire to come in through the wards.

The King considered him, but then, sighing, lowered his axe, and waved his hand, allowing the dome to make an opening for the snake.

Apep hissed a thank you at him, and shrank his body smaller, came through the opening, then landed himself on his shoulders, which had the unfortunate side-effect of making all of his men tense again.

He waved them off, with a muttered, "I trust the boy. It's probably a message." And walked them all back into the bank before anyone else could see them.

He brought the snake back to his office, and was rather glad the creature could shrink so much because otherwise he would have looked most undignified trying to walk with it draped on him.

Once they were in his office, and only a few of his men with him, because they refused to leave with an unknown snake around their King, Warwick asked him again, "So, what brought you here to me? Harry had a message he couldn't send the regular way?"

Apep considered him for a moment, a slightly disconcerting feeling since the snake extended his body so he could look Warwick in the eye.

He really was a very beautiful snake. Reminded Warwick of the sapphires they excavated a few years back down in the mines.

Instead of answering him, Apep touched his tail to Warwick's ear, and suddenly he was bombarded with a series of images.

It was a really odd sensation, since he knew he was feeling the things the snake wanted to share but they came in the form of images, instead of feelings.

Corruption. Harry's scar. Harry saying "Are you saying Voldie's soul is inside my scar?". Image of Apep swallowing the dark thing in Harry's scar. Harry's scar disappearing. Severus Snape saying, "Are you sure he made more than one Horcrux?" to a frazzled-looking Lucius Malfoy. The word Seven. Then image after image of Apep eating items which 'tasted' good to Apep but made Warwick want to vomit. Then the smell of it luring him to Gringotts.

Oh, Ragnuk preserve him, there was one of those accursed items in his bank.

He must have tensed up, because his guards pulled out their weapons, and he had to wave them off again, "It's alright, he is sharing a message. He came to warn us." He told them rather gruffly but it could not be helped. He was moments from wanting to commit grave violence towards the wizards or witches who have contaminated his bank in such a manner.

"Where is it? What is it?" He asked the snake.

The snake – Apep – cocked his head as if considering, then his tail touched Warwick's ear again, and he saw Severus talking to Lucius again, saying, "We can assume Bellatrix has one of them, certainly."

Warwick cursed, and shot up and out of his chair, moving towards the vaults elevator, his guards closely behind him.

When they were descending in the elevator, Warwick asked the snake, "You can identify it?" and the snake thankfully nodded.

Warwick nodded also, then turned to his guards.

"Harry Potter has brough us a dire warning. A horcrux – a disgusting piece of dark magic – has been discovered in our vaults. It is the key to destroying that vile excuse of a wizard he-who-needs-to-die. We are going to destroy it."

His men, predictably, let out snarls and bloodthirsty war cries.

Warwick felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had his men, and he had a clear target. The boy had even sent him someone who could destroy that abomination. Warwick thought, if only to himself, that while he had paid back the favor he owed Severus Snape, he might have just indebted himself to one Harry Potter.

Oddly, he felt rather alright with that.

The moment the Lestrange vaults were opened, the snake darted in. It took the snake only moments to find the item.

Warwick wasn't afraid of being swindled. The item – and ordinary enough looking gold cup – radiated such malevolence that Warwick honestly didn't want to even be in the same room with it.

There was no doubt this was the horcrux and it had been sitting in his bank for Ragnuk only knew how long.

The snake looked at him, as if asking permission, its tail flicking back and forth rather ticklishly against Warwick's neck, despite the rest of him floating.

"You are sure you can handle it? It feels vile." Warwick asked the snake, just to be sure. The boy would be sad if Warwick accidentally killed his pet after all.

Apep-the-snake looked momentarily like he wanted to scoff, and his tail flicked a little hard against Warwick's neck.

"Had to check. Get it out of my bank." He told the snake fiercely.

Apep apparently didn't need to be told twice, the snake lunged at the cup, and with one mighty gulp, swallowed it down.

Then the snake started to grow.

And grow.

And grow.

Warwick felt a bit of sweat break out on his nape. That snake had been wrapped around him not a moment ago, and now his body was so large, it was pushing over the items in the vault. Toppling bookcases and knocking over weapons and nick-nacks everywhere.

Warwick wasn't too worried, honestly.

More alarmingly, the snake was now pulsing power in steaks of blue down his whole body.

When he turned to look at Warwick, his eyes were an electric blue, shining with power.

But they never turned red.

Slowly, slowly, they must have stayed there for close to two hours, the pulsing started to slow down, and then die down.

The snake let out a contented hiss, and then proceeded to regurgitate the cup back out.

This time, when one of his guards tentatively picked it up using only the tip of his sword, smartly, none of the malevolence was left on it.

It now, looked just like any ordinary cup.

Warwick made a disgusted face at it. "You sure you didn't want to… keep it?"

Apep nodded his big head, then his large tail came up, and surprisingly dexterously, turned the bottom of the cup to show to Warwick.

Seeing the seal on the bottom of the cup, Warwick let out a string of rather nasty goblin curses, and told the guard still impaling the cup to bring it along.

Apep's hissed laugher followed them out.

Now that they had reached Hong Kong, and her parents settled in a beautiful 4 bedroom apartment near their soon-to-be-renovated clinic, Hermione allowed herself to breath for the first time in forever.

While on the flight, she had finally been able to tell her parents the truth about what had been happening.

They were understandably horrified that the Headmaster of Hermione's school had had designs on the life of one of his students and told her she absolutely did the right thing by convincing them to leave that school and leave England all together. They spent the entire 12-hour flight grilling her on everything she knew about where Harry was, how he was doing and what their own plans were going to be going forward.

It really helped that Hong Kong was amazing, and everyone spoke fluent English anyway. He parents had been a little worried but they adapted like duck to water and they spend two weeks doing nothing but exploring the sprawling city.

This was also how Hermione found out that it was really easy to go into mainland China, at least the muggle side of it. This was also when the Grangers got the shock of their lives, when the immigration officer took one look at Hermione's passport, scoffed, and told her she was in the wrong lane and that the lane for magical peoples was in the sister office next door.

Prior to this, neither Hermione nor the Grangers had any idea that mainland China, and Hong Kong itself, knew all about the magical peoples around the world, and apparently had some sort of long-term magically-binding treaty to peacefully coexist.

Her parents were beyond happy about this piece of news, and took up 20 minutes of the progressively-more-tense visa officers time asking all kinds of questions about it.

The man, to his credit, once he learned Hermione was a new permanent arrival to Hong Kong and her parents were mortals – why mortals? Hermione had so many questions! – had kindly directed them to the magical district of Hong Kong, apparently located only 4 blocks from where her parent's clinic was and to the large department store with an entire floor as a bookstore.

Hermione almost felt guilty for the 861 dollar book bill, except half of them were for her parents who wanted to learn everything on how muggles and magicals could co-exist peacefully for so long, so she shrugged it off and considered it an early birthday gift to herself.

Now, to find a post office.

The hilarious part about this, if Harry was honest, was that his father's potion actually did work. Granted, maybe he should say his father and his Shifu's potion worked because they two men had locked themselves in Severus's potions lab for two straight days, and what they did produce at the end of those 48 hours, did in fact raise one's cultivation a significant amount. Which in turn, did require them to all go into a room, lock the door and cultivate until they had all absorbed the excess power.

It did however, also color them orange.

Chudley Canon orange.

Ron would be so thrilled.

However, try as they might, the orange did not fade even one tiny little bit, until the potion was completely absorbed via their cultivation.

So, Harry supposed, their excuse had actually turn into a legitimate reason.

Even the visiting eunuch who came to see why they had missed the event of the year, when he was allowed to peek into the closed-room, had winced delicately, and admitted they could not have attended looking like that. With some few extra pills as gifts, he promised to explain the situation to the Queen and princess, and it likely helped their case that Severus had delivered double the amount of youth pills he had previously promised the Queen.

Harry wasn't so worried about the King's ire, but he was a wee bit concerned that he himself, despite his apparently superior wooden core, was still bloody orange 5 days into the whole fiasco.

Even his eyes were still a demonic orange!

Si Yu had been the first to lose the orange, likely because his cultivation was the highest among them, so Harry knew the orange will eventually fade, but…

He sighed, and heard an answering sigh from a still-orange Bai Wu.

Si Yu had stayed, likely out of solidarity. Rather nice of him, since he had actually been looking forward to the Poetry Event and hadn't been able to go in order to support his friend's story.

Harry made a note to craft him a perfect-pitch-ears pill when he finally got out of this room.

Next time, Harry decided to just go to the bloody Poetry thing.

It couldn't be worse than this.

Apep stared at the dilapidated house the last source of corruption, and the most concentrated if he was honest, resided.

He was hovering several meters above the premise, invisible, and debating how to lure his pray out.

The house had wards, crumbling as they were, and Apep preferred never to fight in someone else's den. That usually was not a smart thing to do, according to Uncle Severus.

So, he debated.

Then it came to him.

He was a snake. The creature inside the house, could speak to snakes.

He shrank himself down to no more than a meter in length, sucked in his eyebrow scales to look more ordinary and made his way past the wards.

Being so small, he wasn't worried the wards would attack him but it was still better to be cautious.

:: Hello? Is the human who is friends with Nagini here? :: Apep hissed out, making sure to sound young and as non-magical as he could get away with.

"Who is there?" came a gravely voice from the dark house.

:: Hello? Nagini said you could understand me. She is hurt and very weak. Can you help her? :: Apep flicked his tail in anticipation, then calmed himself.

Uncle Severus often said, do not show your hand until you are ready to pounce.

There was a pause, then a man who must have been young not too long ago, but now looked more like a skeleton of himself, ambled out of the house.

"Who is there?" the man repeated, and Apep wondered if maybe the information wasn't correct.

But then another voice came from the back of the man.

"Letttt me speeeak to himmmm."

"Master, you are very weak." Said the man, sounding distressed.

"Stronggg enough for thisssss." The voice replied, reedify.

Then the man turned, and Apep hadn't noticed he was bald, but on the back of his head, there was another face.

This face, opened its mouth, and proper language came out if it.

:: Where is my Nagini? You said she is hurt? Take me to her! ::

Apep deliberately paused to consider the face on the back of the man's neck. Then said, in his most tentative voice, :: Nagini said you are her friend and that you can save her. But she is far from here. It took me a whole day to get here. If you want to go to her, you have to have your human carry me. I will take you to her. ::

"Barty, pick up the snake. He will take you to my Nagini. I will be stronger with her by my side." The face told the man.

The man glanced at Apep, and somewhat reluctantly, picked him up.

:: Tell your human he will need to walk a bit. Best to put me around his neck so I don't fall off, then I can tell you where to go and you can tell him. :: Apep wasn't used to deception. It was not the way of snakes, but his Uncle and big brother have taught him that sometimes to achieve bigger things, one had to tell some small lies.

The voice told the man what to do and Apep started them walking towards the end of the wards.

:: I lost contact with Nagini. I thought she was dead. :: The voice sounded suspicious, but also somewhat pleased, and Apep gave him points for at least caring about his snake if not for anyone else.

:: She is very hurt. She bled a lot. I had to bite her to stop the bleeding. My venom can do that. She told me to come to you. That you were her friend and that you are a proper speaker. You will help her? :: Apep injected all the fake concern and as much innocence as Harry had taught him to use. He worried a little the man would not believe him, but he shouldn't have worried.

:: Then she is alive? :: the voice asked, less skeptical now.

:: Yes but she is in a death-sleep now, so she can survive. Please, hurry. She is hurt bad. ::

::Why did you not eat her? :: the voice asked.

Apep made himself recoil, and hissed angrily, :: I do not eat my own kind! That is something only humans do. ::

The voice, much to Apep disgust, actually laughed at him.

:: Very true. Who attacked her? ::

Just then, they stepped past the wards.

Apep said, :: I did. ::

Before the voice could yell a warning however, Apep turned his head, and sank his teeth directly into the disgusting face on the back of 'Barty' head.

Barty, unsurprisingly, dropped like a stone.

Apep hiss laughed his pleasure, and then started to grow. When he was at half his usual length, he turned, and to his surprise, the face at the back of the head was not paralyzed completely.

Apep checked, and realized that Barty-the-human very much was.

:: Why did you attack me!:: The voice screeched at him, helpless to do anything else.

:: Because you are delicious. :: Apep told him honestly, :: And because you killed my big brother's parents and tried to kill him. For that alone, you will die. ::

:: Potter! You are Potter's snake! ::

Apep cocked his head, then said, :: Snape now. Not Potter. :: He hissed a laugh at the outraged expression of the voice, but before it could say anything else, Apep opened his jaws and started to suck.

The thing's mouth immediately started to scream and scream.

Apep didn't really care for that, since it was likely to draw attention to them, so he bit the face again and this time there was no more screaming.

He sucked for a good two hours, and felt no resistance until almost the third hour when he felt a mighty pull against his suck.

He opened his magic, and released all the cleansing nodes he had inside his body, his mouth glowing a vibrant purple, and then started sucking harder.

The screaming was loud, but thankfully, there were no people anywhere nearby, and while it did take him another hour or so to pull the entire shard out of 'Barty', it finally came away with a mighty 'screech'.

Unbeknownst to Apep, and something he will learn much later, was that in that moment, every Death Eater who was still alive and bore a Dark Mark collapsed screaming. Their magic sucked out of them by a frantically fighting Voldemort, trying to stop Apep from eating his essence.

Weeks later, Amelia Bones would comment that no less than 5 of her senior Auror's had collapsed into sucked-out dry-husks in the middle of the ministry.

No less than 60 witches and wizards had simply dropped dead that day, and no one was able to figure out why. Except later when a magical autopsy was done at St. Mungo's, an ugly burned-out Dark Mark was found on all of those people. Some on the arm, some in other places on the body, but all had a Dark Mark which had sucked their life out of them.

But in that moment, Apep was just finishing up his meal, and lamenting that this kind of corruption was unlikely to come by again in a hundred years. Maybe not even in a thousand.

Such a shame.

Then, leaving the very dead body of poor 'Barty' – the poor human would have been dead from the corruption within a few months anyway – Apep took to the sky, and allowed himself the joy of flying home in his full glorious size, scales flashing blue all the way home.

Unnoticed by anyone, a round glass ball exploded in the Hall of Prophecy, deep in the Department of Mysteries, dissipating in green smoke and glass shards. Fulfilled.

Harry, now orange-less, thankfully, had rejoined his classmates, and received many congratulations for his good fortune. While he, Si Yu and Bai Wu had indeed increased in power by two levels thanks to the now-dubbed Orange Potion, he was still dismayed he had to spend 7 days in a locked room with Bai Wu and Si Yu, so orange he practically glowed like Apep.

His classmates however, felt that turning an ugly shade of mandarin was a perfectly acceptable price to pay for increasing in power by a magnitude of two, told him he didn't know how good he had it.

Harry conceded that this might be true, since this potion was literally invented so he and his friends didn't have to be humiliated by failing to produce acceptable poetry.

Still, his father was a genius, and Harry had some small doubts the orange color was not an accident.

But he was a Gryffindor in the land of Slytherins, so he graciously thanked them for their congratulations, and promised to get Apep to bite his father once he was back at least once.

Speak of… he was just about to check in on Apep, when Bai Di suddenly roared inside his head.

"What?! What happened?" Harry asked, completely alarmed now.

Bai Di hadn't been in the locked room with him, but had stayed with Severus, assured that Harry couldn't go anywhere anyway.

"Big Brother! I missed you! You are back!" Bai Di said in his head, and just when he was about to reply that Bai Di had scared him, something hit him from the back. Hard.

Harry, now face down in the grass, spat some of it out of his mouth, and turned to glare at the 770-pound tiger now sitting on his back and preventing him from breathing.

"Gerroff!" Harry tried to say, just for Bai Di to lie, full length on him, and start to lick his hair and face. Large paws pinning his shoulders down firmly to the ground.

"I missed you!" lick. Lick. Lickkkkk. "You took forever!" Liiiiiiiick licklicklick liiiiiiiick.

Harry debated shoving him off using magic, but huffed a laugh with what little breath he had left inside him and instead, just rolled them both so that he was cuddling his big cat rather than be pinned like prey.

"I missed you too. Severus needs you to pee in all his shoes this week." Harry told him, while scratching the back of his ears and under his chin which Bai Di loved.

"He does? I am good at peeing!" Bai Di told him, tail flicking in pleasure.

"Yes, You are. What did you do this whole time I was in there?"

"I ate. I slept. I meditated and got stronger." Bai Di told him, still 'grooming' his hair. Harry had no doubts that Ye Wen will curse when he saw Harry later today. "I waited."

"Well, the wait is over now. I am out. Can we get up now? Everyone is staring at us." While this might be true, it was only really the younger years who did, since everyone else was long used to Bai Di and his antics with Harry. They just walked around them on their way to classes.

"Still waiting. Apep isn't back yet. But he told me he is flying back home now." Bai Di purred out, helpless to the last few scratches Harry was giving him.

Harry paused in the scratches and Bai Di made a mournful sound.

"He is? He hasn't said a word to me since he left!" Harry complained.

"He wanted to, but I told him you were orange." Bai Di told him, getting up and shaking the dust and grass stalks off the way only a cat could.

"Right. Of course you did. Did he laugh? Wait, what am I saying? Of course he did. But he is coming home?" Harry asked, waving his hand at himself, and fixing his hair and clothes.

Magic was awesome.

"Yeah, don't disturb him yet. He just ate a big meal and is probably digesting as he flies." Bai Di told him, while herding him towards his next class.

"Is that even safe?" Harry muttered, but relented. Apep was fast, so likely wherever he went to hunt, he shouldn't be very long, unless he ate a dragon or something and needed to digest before coming back so he didn't crush their house.

Which…

"He didn't eat a dragon did he?" It was best to check about these things. You never knew what Apep would consider a good meal.

"Not a dragon, no. Are they tasty? Should I try to eat one?" Bai Di asked him, kitty innocence so good Harry really wasn't sure it wasn't a serious question.

"No. Don't eat dragons. They are an endangered species." Harry told him.

"So am I." huffed Bai Di, and Harry though, okay, true.

"Well then, we can find you a girlfriend. Wait, is it time for you to get a girlfriend yet?" Harry asked, wondering if he somehow missed Bai Di going into mating heat. He very nearly missed Bai Di going into puberty, and it took his father explaining why Bai Di was acting like a brat to understand what was happening.

"I am still a young tiger, big brother." Bai Di told him demurely.

That would be a no then, Harry thought, relieved. He really wasn't ready to be anyone's uncle yet.

"Speaking of, do you want to go and visit your mum and brothers and sisters sometimes? You are old enough now, and we can go over the holidays if you like?"

Bai Di thought about it, tail flicking back and forth in thought, "I want that. I miss them. I want to show momma how strong I've gotten!"

"I am sure she would be really proud of you." Harry told him in all seriousness while scratching behind his ear.

Bai Di just purred at him, and nudged him so he wouldn't miss his turn.

Severus was having a busy week.

Miss Granger had surprised him when she didn't just understand the message, but managed to train Mr. Weasley somehow, and then to his honest astonishment, had moved her family to Hong Kong. And the Weasley's to Egypt.

And send him a letter telling him all about it, while requesting a connection via floo or telephone.

Circe preserve him, she was asking him how to apply to the school as well.

He really should have predicted this. Somehow. He should have.

The crazy chit followed his son half way across the globe!

Severus paused.

She… followed him half way across the globe.

Severus took a moment to seriously consider the merits of Miss Granger one day marrying his son and becoming Mrs. Snape. Making the lie, a truth.

She wasn't a pureblood, but neither had Lily been. Severus knew, that no matter what he could say about Miss Granger's personality, she was a brilliant witch, whom, with some guidance, could grow into a very formidable witch.

However, she was also extremely set in her ways. Her son would perhaps thrive more with a gentler wife.

Still, she did follow Harry to China. She literally only waited long enough for Weasley to catch up before she showed up.

That… was some dedication.

Then Severus shook all those fanciful thoughts away.

Harry will choose whom he wanted to in the end, but that left him with the question of, if he should encourage one Hermione Granger's application to Kun Lun.

While he wasn't completely against vouching for her, he already had Harry on his plate. However, it also seemed that Miss Granger's parents have settled in Hong Kong, so likely she would not be a concern during the summer holidays at least.

It wasn't like they didn't have enough courtyard space if she did visit…

Holding the letter in his left hand, he debated what to do.

Then he picked up a brush, and went to pen a paper crane to Great Master Xuan. His Master had always been an excellent person to get advice from.

Ye Wen slipped into their Poison class with a note for his tardiness, then sat down next to Harry. They were working on an extract from the Nerium oleander. Since every part of this plant was poisonous, they were measuring out a standard and making poisons from every part.

Ye Wen slipped his gloves on, and Harry debated doing the same, but it wasn't like it could do anything to him so…

Master Du walked past them, and stopped in front of Harry.

Harry looked up at him.

He shook his head, and while walking away, said, "Make sure to set your hands on fire before you leave the class. Least you poison all your classmates accidentally over lunch."

"Yes sir!" Harry chirped back at him.

Master Du was actually rather fond of him, and considered him half a disciple because he didn't drop dead so easily.

Ye Wen gave him an exasperated look, and said, "Something's happening."

That was new.

Harry glanced at Ye Wen, and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Master got a letter, and immediately asked to see Great Master Xuan." Ye Wen told him quietly, carefully chopping the stem with a sharp knife.

"Could be a potions thing." Harry said, a little unconvincingly, he admitted.

"Don't think so. Shadows looked excited."

"How could you tell?"

Ye Wen sighed. Very, very, quietly.

Which was definitely an answer.

"Right. You can tell. Any ideas what it is?"

"No. But I think it's big."

Harry grabbed the roots Ye Wen had just finished chopping and set them on fire carefully, slowly burning off the impurities, and leaving only the toxin within. He then carefully hovered the solution over a beaker, and slowly poured it in.

Then he set his entire hand on fire.

It glowed an unholy orange, and Harry shuddered a little reflexively.

It had been a long orange week.

He switched it to his blue flame, then extinguished them both.

"Let me know as soon as you hear."

"Of course, little Master."

"What happened?" Asked Harry.

An Ying, kneeling on his left, glanced up, then down. Yin Ying scratched his ear a little sheepishly.

Harry looked at them.

The sheepishness got more sheepier.

Harry signed.

Yin Ying winced, but still didn't say anything.

"Is he in danger in any way? Including sleeplessness-induced potions experimentations when it is really not advisable."

"No, little Master." An Ying answered him confidently.

"Hm."

At least there was that. But that meant it was about Harry. His Shadows could be very stubborn in keeping his father's confidence, as was his right as the Head of the House.

Harry stared at them some more. Then thinking better of it, said, a little resigned, "You may leave."

In a blink, his room was empty.

Or well, perceived to be empty. Shadow magic was an artform after all.

Whatever his father was up to, it at least involved his teacher, so he trusted that it hopefully wouldn't be too crazy.

…then again, he did just spend a week orange.

Maybe his other Shadows will let something else slip.

Apep announced himself by simply landing himself on Harry while he was in one of his stick-drawing classes.

Harry grunted in surprise, but since Apep was invisible, no one paid him too much mind.

:: Hi big brother.:: Said Apep, and immediately crawled into his favorite spot inside Harry's robes. ::Did you miss me?::

::You're back! Where did you go? You didn't contact me once! I am surprised you still remember you have a big brother.:: Harry exclaimed, surreptitiously reaching his hand to hug Apep a little against himself.

:: I went far, and ate a lot of yummy big things. I am very strong now. After you finish learning, I will show you. :: Apep said, snuggling deep into his big brother's robes. He flew very fast to get back sooner today. He will sleep till his big brother was finished. :: You are not orange.:: Because that needed saying.

Harry chokes a little, then hisses out, :: No. But it was horrible. ::

:: I will bite him for you. :: Apep offers, pressing his entire torso on Harry's warm skin.

:: Yeah. :: His big brother agreed, and Apep drifted off satisfied his big brother was safe now.

Hermione did not know what to expect, when a pigeon knocked on her new bedroom window, with a package on its leg at 8am in the morning.

But she quickly opened the window and let it in.

It flew to her new work-table, and perched on the edge, offering its leg to her almost immediately.

She quickly took the small package, and offered the pigeon some of the 'bao' she had been nibbling on earlier. The pigeon just looked grateful.

Long flight, Hermione thought, and went to get the pigeon some water too.

That taken care of, she opened the little silk pouch.

In it, was a paper crane letter.

Dear Ms. Granger,

Portkey is attached. Password is Legilimency. Feel free to bring your parents with you.

Today 10 a.m.

- SS

In the silk satchel, sat a square jade plaque the size of her hand with Kun Lun written in Chinese.

Hermione took a deep breath.

Then another deep breath.

Then she hopped up and down for a minute because she couldn't help herself.

Then she went to get her parents!

Harry had just been fixing the squiggle he accidentally added to his ward paper – undoing magic on paper was harder than doing it by a magnitude of a lot – when Master Hohot tsked at him, and he obediently went to get a new parchment to redo his ward.

Master Hohot was famous for saying that yes you could fix it, but you have already weakened the structural integrity of your ward. Just start fresh so you are not an embarrassment later.

Harry sighed and started again.

Gathering his energy through his golden core, he channeled it to his brush, allowing his magic to 'swim' down the magic of the brush, through the ink then to the paper, he slowly infused the lines he was committing to paper to form a complete whole. Carefully, making sure he didn't mess up the same squiggle again, he drew the last gate through the dome he was creating and diffused his magic until every part of it was touching the ward, then he synched it.

The red ink on the yellow paper flashed a bright yellow-almost-white and the ward settled perfectly.

Breathing a sigh of satisfaction, Harry went to hand it over to Master Hohot for inspection.

Ward-making always left him ravenous, even if he didn't really need to eat any more.

His father said it was all in his mind but – Harry shook it off.

Ling food was way too good to give up anyways.

He washed out his brush in his bamboo cup, since banishing the ink weakened the magic inlayed in ward-brushes, then vanished the dirty water. Bai Wu asked him if he wanted to go get lunch, and Si Yu on his other side said of course. He just nodded as he put away all his stuff.

Because not everyone took Wards, his class had a bunch of orange and blue robes among them. A lot of the girls liked to ooh and aah at Si Yu and himself before going off to other classes.

Harry would find it annoying, but it happened so often, that he honestly just became immune to it.

Si Yu called him jaded the other day.

It wasn't that he wasn't interested per se, but… he had such a different history from them, and didn't really understand him, or him them. They didn't know about Voldie either. They just liked their image of him, same as most of the wizarding world did.

Si Yu just took it with grace, while Harry mostly tried to look clueless, and then eventually he just learned to not see it at all.

He hadn't managed it in Hogwarts, but here, it was somehow easier.

As they were walking, Harry was suddenly football-tackled from behind for the second time that day, and nearly attacked in return since he knew it wasn't Bai Di this time. He heard Si Yu and Bai Wu shouts of surprise next to him, then his face suddenly just was in bushy mane.

A very familiar bushy mane.

Then he was being hugged to within an inch of his life.

Apep asking if he should paralyze her snapped him out of it.

::No!:: Harry had sense to say in his head, while he heard:

"Who does she think she is?" One of the girls who had been following him like a stalker said.

"Get her off our Harry! Get her off!" girl number two screeched in a very unattractive voice.

"How dare she touch Harry!" girl number three hissed.

But before he could actually say anything, she pulled away, looked him straight in the eyes, while still holding on to him, and smiling her I-know-something-you-don't smile, said, "I? I am Hermione Granger. Harry Potter's fiancé."

The look on Harry's face had been absolutely worth it. The cross between horrified and you-are-here! ecstatic was frankly, hysterical. She will relish it for years.

He hugged her again immediately saying "Hermione!" and totally took away her chance to gloat, but on hindsight it was better because all of the girls gave her such forlorn looks, that Hermione almost laughed again.

Instead, she just hugged him harder.

He had grown so much she very nearly didn't recognize him at all.

His hair was so long, and his eyes were absolutely enormous. She never realized how big they were, what with the glasses before.

He was taller. A lot taller. And broader.

It looked really good on him.

"Surprise." She said, because really, what else do you say?

"I can't believe you are here!" Harry laughed in delight, eyes drinking her in like he really had missed her.

Which he better have!

Then her thoughts were interrupted by a pointedly cleared throat, and a "What do you mean fiancé?"

This from Hermione's parents because oh bummer she had said that out loud while they could hear it didn't she.

"I'll explain later!" She yelled back, still holding on to Harry's hand. Turning back to him, she said, "You, have the rest of the afternoon off, Professor Snape said so, want to find somewhere to talk?"

Harry had clearly seen past her shoulder where her parents and Professor Snape were standing, and he just closed his mouth and said, "Please, come to my apartments."

Harry glanced at the three Chinese boys behind him, and said, "Ye Wen please take notes for me for the afternoon. Si Yu, Bai Wu, I will catch up with you guys tomorrow." And led her and her parents away, not even properly introducing her!

The campus was beautiful. Breathtakingly so.

She could feel the magic practically all over her skin.

It was intoxicating.

Harry looked really happy to see her. She had hoped but… mostly she just focused on getting to him.

She was so glad she could finally hug him again.

Two years, she had been waiting.

But she was finally here.

And she wasn't leaving.

Bai Di was warned by Apep, his sneaky second brother, that the potential mate had found big brother, and to be on his cutest behavior.

Cutest meant his smallest form, since otherwise Apep would have said scariest. Which would mean the biggest.

So Bai Di shrank himself into his tigger-kitty form, and sat, waiting for them to arrive on the outdoor stone table.

He didn't have to wait long, as Harry arrive, slightly ruffled, with quite a few humans and Uncle Sev.

His big brother let out a surprised sigh of relief, after he laid eyes on Bai Di, proving that Second brother should always be listened to.

He chuffed at Harry, but a girl with a large lion main rushed forward towards him.

Bai Di could see Harry's surprised then panicked face, but Bai Di knew how to be at his cutest, and he immediately rubbed himself all over the impressive-mane girl's eager hands.

He allowed her to scratch him and coo at him, and then he flopped onto his back and did the Pose.

Second brother told him to rehearse that pose, because he said a lot of magicals had a weakness to it.

So, he purred and flopped his paws at her, while sticking his belly out, asking for rubs.

Understandably because he was the cutest, the impressive-mane melted for him, cooing and rubbing his belly, complimenting how soft he was, how handsome, how gorgeous…

Soon Bai Di was purring in unfeigned pleasure.

Impressive-mane was impressive. His big brother chose a good potential mate!

Harry came over, and scooted him a little while everyone sat down around the table.

He just waved his paws at the impressive-mane while her parents looked on indulgently.

Cute was easy.

"I will get us some tea." His father, the traitor told him, and left him there.

Alone.

With one tiger pretending to be a cat, one best friend, and one set of moderately alarmed parents.

Harry took a deep mental breath, and then said, "It is really good to see you. I take it you got the book and figured out the message?"

"Ron took forever." Hermione whined, "But he tried so hard, I couldn't even be mad at him."

Harry couldn't help but laugh. "I am really impressed he managed actually."

"Honestly? Me too. I've never seen him work that hard before. It was weirdly inspiring."

Merlin, it was good to have her back.

"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, thank you for bringing Hermione here. Did she get a chance to tell you anything?"

"She did yes, about the lunatic Headmaster but –" Mr. Granger was interrupted by Hermione exclaiming, "Harry! Your scar."

Harry's hand automatically tried to go to his forehead until he remembered. "Oh yeah! It's a long story but it turned out to have a piece of Voldie's soul, but don't worry, we got it out but the scar disappeared with it." He told her, grinning because he knows her and she will want detailed nownownow Potter!

She opened her mouth to clearly demand just that, then paused and said, "This place has been good for you. I can see it."

Harry blinked, but then smiled, trust Hermione to see it right away. "Yeah. It really has. It's been amazing."

She smiled at him then, radiantly.

She looked just like herself, yet not. Older. More mature.

It looked good on her.

"Yeah. I can see that too."

Severus came back with the tea moments later, because while he could sometimes be sadistic, it was still better to have a parent on Harry's side for these discussions.

While they had walked from the portkey arrival platform, he had had the opportunity to speak a little with the Granger. They were alright for muggles, if a little retiring, like all older couples. It was clear they loved their daughter however, and that she came by her Gryffindor nature honestly. Not many parents would agree to move to China because their daughter thought it was a good idea.

They had apparently set up a dentistry in Hong Kong, which they so far enjoyed very much it seemed. Severus might have derailed the conversation from the heavier topics by suggesting they look into magical means for fixing teeth, and possibly integrate a magical component into their practice. Since there was no Statue of Secrecy here.

They immediately looked intrigued and started grilling him about what sort of methods people on this side of the world used for teeth health and manipulation.

Severus might also have talked about teeth whitening potions and the like, so they wouldn't have to immediately address the elephant their daughter had so Gryffindorishly deposited into the proverbial room.

His son had apparently decided that a retelling of all that had happened was for the best, and Severus privately agreed with him. If these people end up Harry's in-laws one day then it was best to be open.

He set the tea down, and served some of the green bean cakes he found in the kitchenette. No doubt Ye Wen had prepared them for later. He would have to remember to get them a preplacement.

"… that's when we got Apep." Harry was saying.

"And who is Apep? You spoke about him in your letter but gave no details!" Miss Granger asked, her cheek on her fist, riveted by the story.

On cue, Apep, in his smaller form, slithered out of Harry's sleeve.

The Grangers gasped in surprise, but Apep just left Harry's sleeve, and hovered in front of them. Looking as non-threatening as he knew how, Severus could tell.

"Oh Harry. He is beautiful." Miss Granger said, her face inching closer, proving again that all Gryffindor's were suicidal idiots.

"He is my brother. We have a bond, and he is in my head. Him and Bai Di both." Harry told her, smiling, while petting Apep a little. "He is as intelligent as you and I."

"Is he really? Well, in that case, hello Apep, snake-god, I am Hermione Granger, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Apep bobbed his head and waved his tail at her, and she laughed in delight, and so did the Grangers.

"Just to warn you, he can change sizes and er, he can get kinda big sometimes, so don't get a scare, alright? He won't hurt you." Harry told her, and Severus could see that she didn't quite register what he was saying.

"You really are beautiful." She said, one hand still rubbing Bai Di's belly, while her other hand carefully ran down Apep's scales.

Apep, the sneaky snake that Severus knew he was, shivered for her like a whore.

"Who's Bai Di then?" Hermione asked, still smiling.

"I am!" Bai Di under her hand said.

It took all of Severus's training not to laugh out loud when the Granger chit practically levitated off the stool in her surprise.

"Oh, my Merlin YOU TALK!" Severus hadn't been aware that she was capable of hitting soprano notes. The Grangers look equally alarmed that something alarmed their magical daughter, which Severus privately admitted was probably aa good metric for muggles to adopt.

Bai Di, the little suck up, just purred louder, and said, "I do! I am a very smart magical!"

Apep nodded his head indulgently at him, and Bai Di's purrs got louder.

Miss Granger was staring at the cat, then at Harry, and Severus was a little alarmed but the desire in them, "Potter. Where can I get one?"

Harry laughed, and proceeded to explain about magical creatures and how China functioned.

Hermione, tentatively, sat back down, and Bai Di immediately headbutted her hand, demanding more pets.

Clearly Miss Granger had been well trained by whatever pet she owned because she also immediately started petting him.

Bai Di just purred louder, the little asskisser.

They talked late into the night, and Harry couldn't remember the last time he laid it all out like this to someone.

All the things that had happened.

He doesn't think he had.

Ye Wen came back a while ago, and immediately took it upon himself to go out and get them a very late lunch-that-was-now-dinner..

Harry hadn't had a chance to explain Ye Wen to Hermione yet. She clearly thought Ye Wen was his roommate.

Maybe Harry could leave that till tomorrow?

There was so much Hermione didn't know yet. You couldn't really sum up two years in a foreign country in one afternoon after all.

"I can't believe Malfoy found out before I did!" Hermione said.

She's been saying that for the last 5 minutes since he told her.

"Yeah. But we converted him. He… Hermione, he was terrified of Voldie. Voldie tortured his mum in front of him till he had to beg to get the Dark Mark to make him stop. We healed her, but still."

"Yeah, that's awful." Hermione said, furious. "He's awful."

"We will still do everything we can to fight him, but it is probably for the best that you left when you did." Harry's father finally threw him some support. He seemed resigned, but Harry wasn't sure regarding what. Voldie maybe.

"So, you got rid of Malfoy's Dark Mark? How?" Hermione asked, unable to help herself it seemed. "Some special magic from here?"

"Well, Kinda. It was all Apep." Harry told her, looking at his little brother fondly. Apep had settled himself back on Harry's shoulders, and he bobbed his head up and down, as if taking a bow.

Hermione laughed in delight, "Oh but how?"

Apep hissed :: I ate it.::

Harry translated, "He ate it. Apep is a Soul Swallower. It's exactly as the name implies."

Apep hissed again, clearly wanting to communicate, :: It was delicious and made me grow.::

Harry translated again, "He said it was delicious and it made him grow. Apep can suck out dark and corrupt magic from things and people. He was the one who took out my scar too."

:: It was even more delicious. I grew a lot that time. ::

"He said it tasted great and he grew stronger from it."

:: Then I ate the rest of him::

"Then he ate the – WHAT ?!"

Apep had the audacity to snake-giggle at him.

"Apep. Buddy. Brother. What did you do?"

He belatedly noticed the Grangers and Hermione were looking a little concerned, and his father was starting to frown but –

:: I went to hunt. And I hunted them down. One by one. I ate some other things too but they were not as delicious as the shards. ::

Harry was aware that his mouth was open. He wanted to say something, but he neither knew what, nor if any sound would actually come out.

:: Then I ate him. ::

"You." And Harry has to stop because there were actually spots in front of his eyes, and he had to bend over and breath before he passes out. He was weirdly reminded of the last time this happened.

"Harry?" His father asked, but Harry was still trying not to hyperventilate.

Good old reliable Bai Di came to his rescue because clearly his first brother was bloody –

"Big brother is panicking because Apep just told him what he went hunting." Bai Di purred into Hermione's still-petting hand.

Harry could see his father brace himself, because he was a very, very, wise man.

"What… exactly did he go hunting for?" his father asked reluctantly.

"Soul shards. And Voldie." Bai Di said, batting at Hermione's suddenly slack hand.

Everyone sort of paused, likely making sure they didn't mishear, and oh Harry almost wished that was the case.

"Are you." Oh, that was his voice. He tried again, "Are you alright?"

Harry was trying to remind himself that Apep was here, that he didn't look hurt, and wasn't dead or –

::He was delicious.:: then because he could clearly hear Harry having a heart attack, :: I am alright big brother. I ate all his shards and he died screaming your name. He made me stronger and now we can all settle into our den and not think about him any more. ::

Harry thought he might be crying. There might be tears. He knew he was staring, but his eyes were misty, so he wasn't sure.

"You should have told me." Harry told him, still really shaken but a funny bubbly feeling was starting to build in his belly.

:: Everyone protects the den nest. :: Apep told him. Then because he apparently lived to gross Harry out, :: He really was delicious. ::

Harry shook his head in part in disbelief and part not wanting to believe, but then he registered Bai Di explaining all of this to his father and the Grangers and Hermione, and oh wow she'd actually covered her mouth with her hands, and looked as surprised and wide-eyed as he'd ever seen her. Harry honestly couldn't blame her.

He looked at his father, and his father's face was stone for a few beats before his father actually jumps up and shouted, in joy, and then picked up Apep from Harry's shoulder and kisses him on the head.

Harry had never seen Severus Snape do that, and by the completely shocked expression on Hermione's face, neither had she.

Then his father proved that he had, in fact, lost his mind from shock, by shouting: "The power he knew not! The POWER HE KNEW NOT!" and proceeded to twirl Apep in circles again.

But then Harry couldn't worry about his father because Hermione was hugging him, hard. So, so hard. And muttering in his ear, "He is dead. He is dead, right? Tell me he is dead."

"He is dead." Harry told her. Then just to be sure, :: Right? You ate him? Tell me again.::

:: He screamed all the way down.:: Apep promised, and Harry thought, Hell YEAH.

And that was how Harry Potter-Snape found out he had fulfilled the prophecy which had changed his life, without ever having to do anything at all. Except maybe be himself.

The following weeks were a blur for Harry.

For one, Hermione joined Kun Lun with him.

She turned out to have a grade 7 wood and earth core.

Master Li shocked everyone by immediately snatching her up. Considering the man hadn't taken a disciple in two decades, it was Big News.

Hermione on the other hand took to spell crafting like she was made for it. Small wonder when she always had a head for theory.

His father had called Lucius, who had, together with Contessa Zabini, thrown a 2-week long party in Italy, then donated a ridiculous sum of money to the conservation for Soul Swallowers in China, in Apep's honor.

He also sent Apep a dragon to eat. Thankfully the dragon had been dead first. But still.

Bai Di who had joined in the dragon-eating feast, had commented that he liked it and would go find some of his own later. Something Harry pretended with all his might he did not hear.

Great Master Xuan got into another squabble about "Bringing foreign influences where they could steal our secrets." But Severus drawled that Hermione Granger was a prodigy, the way Harry was a prodigy in Pill Making, someone brought up the rumors of the betrothal and the matter was quickly dropped after that.

The Grangers, while distracted by the news of Voldemort's demise, did not stay distracted for long before they were asking Hermione if she had anything she needed to tell them.

Harry didn't learn what it was she told them, but considering she was allowed to hang out in his courtyard, it figured it was alright.

Just as he left her sitting there, while petting Bai Di, to get more plum cakes, there was a blood curdling scream, then: "HARRY JAMES POTTER SNAPE! YOU DIDN'T SAY THIS BIG!"

And Harry made a run for it, Bai Di's tiger roars behind him. Laughing.

- the end.