Bane 29

A/N: Well this is the last chapter. Sorry it is a little short.

For those that love Hermione: I love her too, but her need to know and argue got the better of her in this story. I did try to tone her down, but you know Hermione.

Disclaimer: You know the drill.

Enjoy.

Chapter 29

The classes had been going well. The eight students were doing well with their lessons on wild magic. The main theory lessons were mostly ethical lessons. The right and wrong of using their magic. Firefox also threw in what happens to mages that abused their magic like Ma'ar and Karsite and their the blood-path mages.

A shudder went through everyone that was listening. In their minds, it was a terrible way to die.

The professors were doing well. Professor Flitwick was the first to be allowed in the ward-stone room.

Firefox walked the Charms Professor through the ley-lines and told him why it was a good idea to always have an anchor or a partner when working the ley-lines so close to the stone. The experience humbled the half-goblin. His report later to this clan brothers warned them not to mess with the wards at Hogwarts or with the young mage.

Of course, Hermione and Draco caused their share of mischief.

Hermione still couldn't dismiss her need to know everything. Again, she was still too attached to her books and wand to let them go.

So Firefox did compromise. "If you can ground and center your magical core, then I will teach you. Not until then."

"But Harry, that's impossible. We can't do that. It's too dangerous," she protested, unwilling to meditate, as the books warned her not to without a competent tutor.

"That my only offer, Hermione. Take it or leave it."

Draco Malfoy also made a nuisance of himself with airs and entitlement.

It didn't help his cause that his father Lucius Malfoy was one of the dead, when his egg-shaped shield fell. The former death eater had used the killing curse to try to free himself.

Therefore, Malfoy, Jr. was now left bereft and drifting. He no longer could hide behind his father's political power to get his way.

He wanted that new magic! He needed it to regain his father's political clout. However, he was unwilling to leave his wand behind; everyone used a wand. There had to be a trick to all this. He was certain of it.

Firefox found Draco both funny and exasperating.

"Draco, grow up," Firefox told his former rival in the hallway one day after another demand to teach him. "You're a child throwing a temper tantrum because you can't have what you want. The problem is, you refuse to let go of the notion that because of your blood-line, you all powerful. Now, you can either go away and leave me alone, or I can bind and take your magic."

Draco sneered, but the stern look that Firefox pegged him with made him rethink his plans.

In the end, his godfather intervened and dragged the teen off before Firefox did something to teach the brat a lesson he would not forget soon.

The next day, Draco Malfoy left Hogwarts to be self-taught by his mother, much to the protest of the Headmaster.

Hermione, who had witnessed the event, frowned. Was she like Malfoy and wanted what she couldn't have?

Her research had hit a dead end and she refused to go dark or to use blood magic. At least, that was a plus. Harry, at least, wasn't teaching THAT! However, wild magic was dangerous and very unpredictable. She needed more information but there wasn't any more in the library.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Due to the power that radiated from Firefox, his students and staff began to give the Healer Adept a wide berth in the hallways after that.

As the months dragged on to summer, the eight students started in dealing with the ley-lines, their hair started to streak white, also causing people to be wary in their presence.

Firefox explained that those that live and work around the nodes will have their hair and skin bleach out. How much depended on their work and how long they stayed at the castle.

"As you only stay ten months each year for seven years, it will not affect you much. You may spot a white hair here and there. Nothing to worry about. The more you pull from the node, the faster the bleaching will happen," he told everyone one night in the Great Hall, at the Leaving Feast.

The eight all went home for the summer with a stern admonishment not to work on pulling on the wild magic.

"You can practice what I've already taught you but DO NOT experiment. I won't be there to pull you out if it goes wrong. If you want more lessons, contact me. I will either have you come here or go to you. Understand?"

Professors Flitwick, Sprout and Snape were full time residents at the castle, so Firefox wasn't worried about them. He would need their help over the summer working on finishing turning the ward-stone into a true heart-stone and creating a mini Vale over the castle.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The day after the Leaving Feast, Firefox entered the headmaster's office, wondering 'now what?'

"Come in, Harry, my boy," Albus Dumberdore called.

Well, he'll never change, Firefox mused. Since the defeat of Riddle and his merry band of misfits, everyone had started calling him by his adopted name – Firefox. Some still called him Harry, like the headmaster. He wished they didn't. He was Firefox and very proud of his adopted family.

"You wanted to see me? I still will not teach you how to use the Wild Magic. You are too dependent on your wand for it to do well."

"I realized that, my boy," Albus waved the teen into his office, bringing up his blackened arm to show the teen. "I wanted you to know I am dying. I ran into a curse that has no cure. . ."

"Sheka! Will you never learn!?" Firefox grabbed the blackened arm and open his mage-sight. He studied the arm for a few moments, then sighed. "Well, if you want, I can rid the curse, but you'll never be able to use that arm anymore. The damage is too great, as the curse has been left too long."

Ablus stiffened as he watched as Harry did whatever he was doing. "But there is no cure. Not even Poppy and Severus could counter it. How can you… ?"

"Silence!" Firefox snapped as he traced the curse along the arm's veins. "Well? You have two choices: one - you can let me counter the curse and save your life, or two – I can walk away and leave you to your fate. Which is it?" His piercing green eyes with an unearthly glow pinned the old wizard to his seat.

"There is no cure, my boy."

Firefox dropped the arm. "Choose. I can cure the curse, but not the damage. I can't force you. It is unethical. Again, choose, as you said, you are dying. So how will my attempt change that?"

Albus paused, stroking his beard. "Very well, Harry. You may try." He curious to see Harry work his type of magic.

Firefox grabbed the damaged arm as a bright mage-light formed over his shoulder. Albus gasped at the floating white light ball.

While the old wizard's attention was on the light, Firefox reached out with his magic and wrapped it around the curse and pulled. The black magic fought against him, but the healing magic began to burn away the curse.

A few minutes later, the curse was completely pulled out of the headmaster's arm. Banishing the inky smoke that was the curse, Firefox sighed and slumped. "That was a nasty bit of work. Now then..." He quickly ran his healing magic through the headmaster's limb checking and healing as he went.

"There, all done."

Albus, who had been watching closely, couldn't understand how the boy did it. He watched as the blackness slowly disappear down his arm to his hand, then it was completely gone. However, he was no closer in how Harry did his brand of magic.

"Harry, my boy. . . "

"I will repeat once more: MY Name is Firefox, Healer Adept. I've earned my name and title. Something you refuse to understand, old man." Firefox gave sneer as he left, he said over his shoulder. "I may have healed you, but I won't forget your insults."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Firefox sighed as he made himself comfortable in front of his fireplace. Slowly, he allowed the cares of the day fall away as he stared into the flames.

Soon he found himself walking on the moonpaths, hoping to see his father. What he got was someone else.

A hawk-cry over head, stopped him, the hawk dove changing to the Star-eyed. She smiled as some of the swirling mist around Her cleared.

"Well done, my little fox," she smiled at him. "You have done all I've asked. You are now coming into your own."

Firefox blushed as he lowered his eyes.

"None of that," she chided, placing a finger under his chin and forcing him to gaze into her deep, fathomless eyes. "As you know, I want my children to grow and become strong. You still have a-ways to go, but you are getting there. Therefore, I have a gift for you."

She motioned at the swirling mist off to one side. The mist parted and he could see his fathers standing there, waiting.

"Salazaar and Keiryn have the knowledge and power to open a small Gate between worlds, but only during solstices to allow you to either cross over to the Vale or they can come to the castle. However, do not abuse this privilege. You can only do it once a year. One solstice to open the Gate and another to return. Choose wisely."

Firefox gasped as tears ran down his cheeks. It was his deepest wish to have a family and it had hurt to be apart from his fathers while he had to fulfill his duty.

Suddenly, he was enveloped in strong feminine arms as he sobbed out his thank you.

She stepped back and dropped her arms. "Wind to Thy Wings, my little fox. I expect great things from you and I WILL be calling on your help again." She turned and disappeared into the chaotic mist of the Void.

Firefox turned towards his fathers and watched as they stepped closer.

Time in the Void was timeless. They hugged and chatted, hugged more, exchanged news. Both men were very proud of their adoptive son.

"Keep them on their toes," Firesong advised. "Do not give them any chance to undo your work."

"Have you gathered a support group yet?" Silverfox asked.

"I think so, Father," came a hesitant answer. "Three of the teachers at Hogwarts. But the one I thought I could count on is becoming too hidebound to accept my answers. She is too attached to her wand and books. A shame really. She was my best friend."

"Give her time. She will learn, once she finished her schooling. Real life is much different than a classroom."

"I'm just afraid she would turn to the blood-path to get her answers."

Firefox feared for Hermione, but then he would cross that bridge when he got to it.

For now, life was starting to look up for him. The new heart-stone he was creating from the old ward-stone was coming along fine, now that the checks were in place. He had students that could help with some of the work around the area.

Now he had his fathers back, life was good once more.

'May your life be interesting. Indeed a very adage for my cursed life, but I wouldn't change it for the worlds,' Harry/Firefox mused as he sent another thank-you to the Star-eyed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

A/N: Indeed this story is finally complete. Special thanks to Miriam1 for her help and editing skills.

Also this story is dedicated to my best friend/my sister in all but blood – The Frau. She is very much missed.

Until next time.