Chapter 6: StoryBrook and unexpectedly encounter 2

AN/ Some of you got the impression that both Henry and Harry are cousins or twins. It is not so. Henry was born on the same day as Harry just without magic. His parents are unknown (they just left him). Harry, who was born on the same day as Henry, is the true son of Emma and Neal. He was (illegally) adopted by the Potters. Henry was named after Regina's father, Henry, while James and Lily named their adopted son Harry, and thus the son of Emma and Neal became Harry Potter. But this was explained in the previous chapter. There really aren`t any symbolism in names. And, by the way, my grammar was bad in the first chapter. You were right. Also, I am sorry for the long hiatus.

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While the rest of the city was dealing with Harry and Remus, Belle continued to explore what really happened with Mr. Gold, and how to track down Neal. She was convinced that she came to the right concluson. Unfortunately, she couldn't tell Emma, because Emma was not available and, therefore, continued to read through books and writing down possible solutions. She didn't realize they had a little crisis in town. In the meantime Remus and Harry walked toward the centre of the city, hoping to find some kind of bar.

"Remus, don't you find it odd that the whole city is empty and it looks as if it might be abandoned?" he asked with concern.

"I thought about it, and whatever is it wrong with this city, it's best to look at it now, so that we know what's ahead of us. I'm going to talk from now on, all right? If anything happens, run home and not, under any circumstances, wait for me. All Right, Harry?" But Harry didn't answer and was nervously biting his lower lip. Remus grabbed Harry by the shoulders and turned him.

"Harry, I want you to obey me. Please. We don't know what's wrong in here and whatever it is, it's not good. Please, Harry, promise me, you will run, if anything happens to me. I can apparate, but you still don't know how." Remus said pleadingly and Harry, albeit reluctantly, nodded. Remus was relieved and hugged Harry.

"I don't want to see you get hurt." For a while, they just hugged, and then they moved on.

"Remus look, there's a sign and it says Granny's Dinner." Remus looked at where Harry was pointing and nodded, "and it looks like it is open. We can go there, we might as order something." Together they stepped toward Granny's Dinner and didn`t saw four people who were just coming from the corner.

When they entered, all customers in Granny's shut up and gazed at them. Harry, unaccustomed to this kind of attention, leaned on Remus while Remus smelled the air. He was amazed at what he's got. Another werewolf is here and by the smell ... dwarfs? Hmm ... Did we come to a wizarding city? For a while they all stared at them, then Remus coughed and someone said "good afternoon". Remus turned and saw an older lady who was standing behind the counter, along with a young girl smiled though her smile was strained somehow.

"Hello. Are you new in town?" But Remus was unable to answer as the door behind them opened.

Emma and Regina entered the Granny's and stood right in front of the two foreigners. Feelings were mixed.

Remus was feeling threatened by them and had the desire to protect Harry. He felt that the young waitress at the bar was a werewolf, he knew there were dwarves and when those two entered, he immediately felt that both were magical. The older woman was more powerful and with Darkness in her but the younger tough smelt like Harry, and it was confusing, so he decided to wait for the reaction of others.

Harry was standing next to Remus and after all this time felt fear. The situation, in which they found themselves, was so different from that in which he was usually that he did not know what to do. When he was still in the Wizarding World people or hated him or hailed him as a hero. Here they just stared at him with suspicious and Harry was not used to that. People usually just stare at his scar, so this situation was completely new for him. When the two new arrivals come in, and Harry looked at the young woman, he felt some sort of affiliation, a sort of bond with her and did not know what it was. That in itself spelled trouble.

Regina, as soon as she walked in, felt the tension in the air and knew the two strangers were magical. The younger was magically much stronger than the elder and dare she say even stronger than her or Rumplestinskin. She watched them carefully and was prepared if they would attack. Emma on the other side sensed tension, but she did not feel anything unusual, any treat or deceit from the two strangers with her special power. She was confused by the emotion the young boy raised when she looked him in the eyes. She felt the sudden desire to protect him and a kinship with him. I must be tired more than I thought, she thought.

Regina was the first to spoke.

"Hello. I am a Mayor of this city, Regina Milles. I take it you are new in town?" Remus looked at her for a while in thought and nodded.

"We came here a few days ago. We live in a manor a few miles out of town. This was the first time we go out, we decided to see the city. I hope we didn't come at the wrong time?" Remus politely replied.

"No, of course not, even though in half an hour we're going to celebrate a birthday here. Of course, you are welcome for the time being. Do you want to sit down or you will stand at the door?" replied Regina with a fake smile.

Remus on the other hand, did not replie immediately watched them for a while. Quickly he recognized a subtle warning and the hint that they were not welcomed here, but, for Harry's sake, decided to leave things alone.

"Thank you. I am Remus and this is Harrold. We came here for a hot chocolate." he said and turned to the younger waitress who just nod.

Ruby did not use her skills as a werewolf for more than 30 years, and therefore did not realized what the smell emitted by the man in front of her meant, but she decided not to be too upset by this and will talk with Emma later.

Remus nodded and turned to the Harry. "Do you want some hot chocolate, Harry or something else?" he asked gently. Harry who was looking at Emma turned to Remus and answered him "hot chocolate" and let Remus led him toward the final table by the window. Ruby was by them in a few moments.

"What can I get you?"

"Hmm.. I would like hot chocolate with whipped cream. Harry?" Harry thought, then answered "hot chocolate with whipped cream and sprinkled with cocoa if you can please." Ruby smiled, "Sure." and went to prepare the chocolate. Just them the door to Granny`s chimed and entered David and Hook. Remus unconsciously smelled one of the men and the smell was similar to Emma`s but slightly different, more spicy and wondered whether they unwittingly found Harry's parents, but decided that for this was not important and waited for the hot chocolate.

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When David and Hooke entered, they saw Emma and Regina at a table by the door who were secretly watching two strangers at the table in the corner. They sat at the table and waited. David looked at the young boy and froze. At first glance the boy was unusual. Reminded him of his mother, from the shape of the nose and eyes, and was surprised. On the other hand, he felt connected to him. He asked in a whisper, "have you find out something about them?" but Emma and Regina shake their head, so he decided to make a move on his own. He stood up from the table and Emma frenetically whispering "David, what are you doing?!" while Hook snorted, but David was no longer listening. He smiled and stepped up to two foreigners. He was connected to this young man and he wanted to understand why. With Henry he has not had such a powerful connection.

"Hi, I'm David, the Sheriff of this town." he said, smiled and stretched out his hand. Remus watched him a few moments, but soon relaxed, returned the smile and shook his hand.

"I am Remus, and that's Harrold." he indicated the boy. David turned to Harrold and watched him a little bit. When he noticed that the boy was getting nervous from his silent stare, he smiled and greeted him. Harry nervously answered him back.

"I'm sorry for the ruddiness of all of us in the city. A lot of bad things happened recently. Some are still taking place, and we haven't recovered yet." He said apologetically. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed Regina and Emma still but was not paying too much attention to them.

"Oh, we didn't know. We moved here two days ago and we didn't have much time to watch things around." was Remus sympathetic.

"Well, it`s ok. We were mildly surprised to see you here. We rarely have visitors. We wanted to throw a birthday party for my grandson, Henry." he smiled at them but was surprised when Harry answered.

"Oh, sorry. We didn't know. If you want to, we can go and came here some other time."

David watched the young boy, Harrold, and smiled.

"Oh, there's no need. The party starts in an hour." David politely reminds them and Remus clearly understood that they must leave by then, so he nodded, but he had his mouth pressed into a thin line. Harry offered a weak smile.

"When we've finished our hot chocolate, we'll go as we've got other things to do in the afternoon." David nodded and said: "Oh, you are certainly invited to visit again." he said before he left the table.

Just than Ruby walked with two cup of chocolates "Hot chocolate with cream and hot chocolate with cream and sprinkled cocoa. Would you like anything else?" she asked politely, but Remus only asked for the check which he paid, thanked her and turned toward Harry. Both tried their chocolate.

"Hmm ... Remus this is good. I've never eaten a hot chocolate with cream and cocoa but I have seen Dudley eat it."

"Harry." He started but Harry interrupted him "No, it's ok. So far this has been my most peaceful and normal day. If you do not take into account the inhabitants of this town. I don't want to feel you guilty for something that's not your fault." Remus sighed, but dropped it.

When they drank their chocolate, they headed for the exit. Harry stopped in front of the door and turned toward Ruby.

"Thanks for the hot chocolate, it was very good." he said and smiled. When she smiled back, Harry waved at her with a smile on his face. Both exited the Granny's, where a range of people confused watched the two strangers.

When they exited Granny's, Harry started to laugh hysterically, Remus soon joined him.

"This was weird, don't you think?" said Harry while catching a deep breath and holding his side. They walked slowly down the road forward Potter manor. Remus was looking toward the sky and smelled the air. "Hum ... is probably going to be a storm. It is cloudy and it smells like rain. We'd better hurry, Harry." So they hurried out of the city, while at the Granny's started a discussion about the strangers but the duo no longer thought about the weird people there, as they found a man passed on the road.

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When the strangers walked out of the Granny's, the noise began. Granny screamed ENOUGH and everybody shut up. Leroy was the first to ask the question.

"Who are the two and how did they get here?" Emma sighed. She was tired of this constant fighting and quarrels.

"I don't think they are a threat. I didn't feel anything special from them." Emma said but purposefully withheld the information about her feelings when she saw the boy.

"How do you know that they are not a threat?" Leroy continued insisted. "Previously there were strangers in the city and were trouble." the others agreed with him.

Regina stood up and all have been waiting for, what she has to say.

"They moved recently into a deserted Manor few mails from the city. I can say that they were both magical and the boy was magical stronger even than me. What that means, I don't know." acknowledged Regina.

Emma's frowned; because she knew that they will all put a fight against the child. "It's only a child, he had no bad intentions. In fact, he was scared." But no one listened, that's why she whistled.

"Hey! We don't know if he is a treat. Regina said the Manor was from before the curse, so it didn't come out of nothing. I have to admit, it's strange ... but if we don`t let them here, we will never find out what they have been up to, if anything at all."

"What do you mean Emma?" ask David.

"I mean, we have to prepare them to trust us. Give them a false sense of security; we want to make sure they think about us as friends. That`s the only way we're going to avoid problems. In addition, they may not know who we are and what we are."

Hook was the first to reply "I didn't know you got it in you, Swan." he smirked and Emma rolled her eyes. "It is simply an instinct." she replied back, but David was not sure. David disagreed with the deception and say so "Emma, the boy cannot be older than 15. He is a child. We can't just play with the feelings of the child."

"Pan was also a child, but was still bad. Regina told the boy is magical. What if they are just like Zelena, or work with her and this is just a plot to get what she wants?" she argued. David did not know what to answer her back. On the one hand he wanted to protect Mary Margaret; on the other hand, these are child's emotions. When he talked to him, he thought he was honest and fair and Remus was a kind of guy who took care of his family. And certainly Harrold was his family. He wanted help people not take advantage of others or manipulate them, regardless of what others say. David also understood what deceit can bring. He and Mary Margaret had a lot of problems in the Enchanted Forest because of that; the King, with his lies and deception, made a lot of damage and a lot of people have been affected, but he also knew that he could do nothing. If it is something he has learned about his daughter, is that she's so stubborn and will not easily be stopped when she is set onto something. Like her mother, David thought with a smile.

After that, all headed home to prepare for Henry's birthday.

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"We're home." Emma cried out at the front door and hung up her jacket. When she turned around both Mary Margaret and Henry were looking expectantly at David as in Emma.

"Well? How was it? What the hell happened? Who are the strangers?" Mary Margaret ask. David sat on the sofa while Emma leaned on the table.

"One was a middle-age man and a boy your age. Both have magical abilities, although the boy is magically stronger. Two days ago they moved to an abandoned manor at the town boarder."

"And I suggested taking advantage of the opportunity to get close to them. If not the man, at least the boy, to find out more about them and what they want."

"But I don't agree with Emma. Taking advantage of a child in such a way is not right."

This time, Henry answered, "if it comes to the undercover work. My mom used to do this all the time in the city. And no one gets hurt. If they are okay, we can be still friends."

"But it is about the feelings of a child." Mary Margaret protested, as the morally of this seemed moot. It was hard for her that Emma might have wanted to do something so immoral.

"And I'm going to help."

"No Henry. You're going to keep away from them. They are dangerous, they have magical abilities, and until it's safe, I don't want you to go near them. Do you understand?" Henry wanted to oppose, but Mary Margaret cut him off

"Henry it would be better not to get involved in this and leave it alone." Henry reluctantly agreed and the rest of the day was normal. Emma saw a storm forming and was wondering whether they will be able to celebrate Henry's birthday. We'll see. Strangely enough, I have a feeling something else matter, but she just shrugged and forgot about it.

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Harry and Remus were hurrying. They came home just in time and, as Remus assumed there was a storm. When they walked through the main entrance, Dobby and Winky pop before them.

"Young master, we close all the Windows so the rain will not go in. Dobby and Winky are also repairing the park and the stable." said Winky

"Thanks Dobby, Winky. Can you please help and take this man in the guest room near ours, please? We found him in the Woods."

"Dobby will do immediately."

"Thanks Dobby." Harry smiled and Dobby and Winky popped out with the stranger. Both Harry and Remus went in the living room and sat on the couch. The fireplace was lit and the atmosphere was homely and enjoyable.

"Something was not right." When Harry looked at Remus, he continued. "Ruby, the waitress, is a werewolf. I am almost certain; there were also dwarfs, which in itself is strange since dwarfs no longer exist at least a few centuries. Dwarfs are the ancestors of the Goblins. And Regina and Emma ... I'm sure that they are magical."

Harry thought about that and about his feelings for Emma and David. "It was because they were preparing for the party, Remus."

"Hm.. maybe Harry. Well, now it's not important. You better go wash up and change clothes. I think Dobby and Winky prepared lunch."

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After lunch Harry and Remus were headed to their bedroom, both thoughtful. Remus thought about the inhabitants of Storybook. Harry was thinking about Emma and David and his strange reaction to them. He also thought about the man they found but, Harry thought, these is not so important then sighed and lay on his bed. He turned toward Hedwig "Ah, Hedwig, how nice is this peace." Harry said with a smile on his face and took the book, Different magical beings, while Hedwig hoot in approval and moved to a more comfortable place. She was pleased that her master found his family and his peace.

Magic on the other hand has lots of unusual ways to help Wizards if need be. Today, it is felt three people found themselves and wanted to show them that everything will be fine.