Imprisoned in the Past

Peverell Beach House, 11/4/1983, 14:39

Harry was beginning the first stages of creating a little rainforest retreat for Athena. He had chosen one of the larger guest rooms on the second floor and literally gutted it on the inside. He had removed all of the plaster from the walls and the hardwood from the floor.

Now the room only had the framing on the inside. It was one of the rooms without an ensuite or closet. The room was shaped like a long rectangle, the room measured twelve feet by sixteen feet, with a little bit of wand work this would be perfect for his needs.

The first step had been to etch in expansion runes on the walls, floors, and ceiling so he could quadruple the size of the room. This would be a little below the limit of how much you could safely expand a room inside a dwelling like this.

Once this was done he had gone through the room and set up the atmospheric charms to keep the room at a balmy eighty-three degrees with a ninety per cent humidity. The atmospheric charm would also make it rain at regular intervals so he didn't have to water the vegetation that would soon fill most of this space.

Yesterday, he had gone to a herbologist outfitter in Leeds and bought specially designed waterproof floor and wall panels that would keep the moisture in the room from seeping into the wood framing of the house otherwise it could cause serious problems such as rot.

He hung the panels yesterday afternoon and used the special paste that came with the panels to seal all of the joints so they were watertight. The walls were now a vibrant green colour and had a tree leaf pattern that would make the room seem endless once the plants came in.

Today he was unrolling a special kind of turf designed for gardens, greenhouses, and the like. Basically, this turf came in eight-foot-wide rolls that were charmed to be feather-light. When he started unrolling them in the room he was surprised that they covered an area eight-foot wide by fifty-foot long in a layer of dark topsoil eight inches thick.

Harry had also bought seeds from undergrowth plants commonly found in the Amazon rainforest, he planned on planting them throughout the room which would complete most of the labour portion of this room.

The only other thing he would have to add was a pond in the centre of the room but he could easily transfigure that later.

Finally, he finished unrolling the last roll of turf and sighed happily, once he enchanted an artificial sun to shine in the room and conjured some tree trunks he could pass on the planting of the vegetation to Jangles. His elf could spread the seeds and spray the growth potion so that the room would be ready before her next feeding grinning Harry walked on the new earthen floor, it felt just like he was walking outside.

Harry came downstairs after a nice shower to find the babies in their playpen gibbering incomprehensibly to one another while Bellatrix read one of her trashy novels. The last few days had been quite loud as Ignotus had started teething and had been unusually irritable.

Athena was curled up by the fire in a basket he had gotten her and seemed to be sleeping. Harry took a minute to watch his family before Carina noticed him and stretched her arms out gibbering excitedly.

§ Up pick me up§, Carina hissed excitedly.

§ I am sorry little one, it is time for you to learn to move on your own§, Harry hissed back gently.

"Are you done playing in the snake room?" Bella asked as she heard Harry enter the room.

"Yes, I just need to enchant the ceiling," Harry said as he leaned down and picked both of the twins, kissed their cheeks and then sat them back down in their playpen much to Carina's disappointment.

He had been reading in one of the magazines at the airport that babies usually began to crawl between six and seven months. The twins could already sit up on their own now but they hadn't had much floor time so far as he and Bella usually held them when they were not in their cribs.

So Harry had decided it was time to stop picking them up all the time and let them play on the floor, Athena enjoyed this as they were at her level, sheloved to slither around their playpen and watch them roll around.

"I can help you with that part if you like," Bellatrix offered.

"I would appreciate that, I want to simulate the effect of sunlight filtering through a canopy of trees and also put it on a day and night cycle," Harry explained.

"Sounds easy enough," Bella said confidently as she slid into his lap and spun so she was sitting sideways before pulling his lips to hers.

Harry grinned into the kiss before deepening it enjoying the feel of her lips against his. Bella's lips left his and began kissing the side of his neck sending a shiver up his spine.

"Do you want to put them down for a nap and-

'Whoosh'

Bella stopped midsentence as Sirius stepped through the fireplace, the cheeky grin on his godfather's face vanished when he saw Athena in her basket very close to where he was standing.

Athena's head was raised over her body coiled and ready to strike, her mouth was wide open revealing her two-inch fangs, venom already beading on the tips as she hissed angrily.

§ Please don't bite him Athena§, Harry hissed as his familiar looked very annoyed.

§ He ruined my nap§, Athena hissed in a petulant tone as she settled her head moodily onto her coils.

" Sirius I would get away from her," Harry chuckled as his godfather practically sprinted from the fireplace.

"She seemed a-angry," Sirius muttered shakily.

"You woke her up," Harry shrugged as Sirius took a seat in an armchair across from them.

"Why does she sleep there?" Sirius demanded hotly.

"She's a cold-blooded neotropical snake, the fireplace is the warmest place in the house, it's where she feels most comfortable," Harry shrugged.

"You need to get her a better place to sleep," Sirius sighed.

"I'm working on it," Harry grinned enjoying the way his godfather kept glancing warily at Athena.

"I hope so," Sirius sighed.

"So what do you want?" Bella asked moodily from her place on Harry's lap.

"I was wondering if you could watch little Harry next Monday, I have to take Amy to the healer and we need to start setting up the nursery," Sirius asked hopefully.

"Why can't Cissa do it?" Harry asked curiously.

"He and Draco got into trouble the other day, Cissa isn't letting Draco have any playdates for the next week," Sirius chuckled.

"What did they do?" Harry asked curiously.

"They got a hold of Cissa's wand and somehow stuck all of the furniture in her drawing-room to the ceiling. I am completely boggled as to how they did it but one of her crystal chandeliers got broken and you know how she is when her things get broken," Sirius shuddered.

"Me and Draco never got along in my timeline but I can't deny he was a gifted wizard and I always had a knack for pulling off the impossible. So this doesn't really surprise me all that much," Harry grinned.

"Yeah, well your younger self is on Cissa's shitlist," Sirius chuckled.

"Do you mind if we watch the little rascal for a few hours?" Harry asked looking at Bella.

"Fine but if he corrupts my little angels there will be trouble," Bella stated firmly.

"Alright, but I'm more worried about him pulling a Tonks and flying a broomstick through the sitting room," Harry told Bella before turning to Sirius," We can watch him but I need a favour as well," Harry grinned.

"What is it?" Sirius asked warily.

"I want you and Amelia to watch the twins over the first weekend in December," Harry answered suddenly having a wonderful idea.

"Why, where are you going?" Sirius asked curiously.

"Black Villa, me and Bella haven't had much time to ourselves since the little ones were born," Harry admitted before placing a kiss on Bella's cheek

"Oh that sounds lovely," Bellatrix exclaimed giving him a tender look and pulling him in for a deep forceful kiss.

Sirius cleared his throat uncomfortably after a minute and the two separated looking at Sirius expectantly.

"So do we have a deal?" Harry asked as Bella rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'll have to talk it over with Amy but it shouldn't be a problem... they sleep through the night now, don't they?" Sirius questioned.

"Yeah, they sleep longer than we do now and we are starting them on real food," Harry assured him.

"Alright I'll let you know on Saturday," Sirius agreed easily.

"Sure thing, I hope Cissa is in a good mood by then, we need to figure out what Cassie is up to," Harry stated looking at Sirius curiously.

"Don't look at me, I avoid the old bat when I can help it," Sirius admitted.

"I figured as much but I was hoping you knew something," Harry said somewhat disappointedly.

"I don't, but she has Amy on edge too, that private squad of hers is made up of the dregs of the auror corp. Selwyn Jr, Yaxley, Runcorn, and Marshall were all suspected of being death eaters a few years ago and the others are from old pureblood families and have multiple infractions on their jackets," Sirius explained.

"Seeing it was being led by Corban Yaxley I assumed as much, it looks like she is trying to form her own Gestapo squad," Harry muttered.

"Gestapo?" Sirius questioned.

"Nazi secret police, they rounded up different classes of people based on their race, religion, or sexual orientation and forced them into camps. I could see Cassie trying to do that with muggleborns," Harry muttered darkly.

"Damn, that does sound like something she would do," Sirius said looking concerned at the implications.

"Word is Grindlewald was pulling Hitler's strings all through the nineteen-thirties. He planned to thin the muggle population by using the muggle's own prejudices against them. He did the same thing with Joseph Stalin, it's believed that Grindlewald engineered the Terror Famine in the Ukraine that killed over five million people," Harry explained.

"Whoa, you know there are rumours Cassie was a high ranking Acolyte," Sirius muttered looking very concerned.

"Exactly, Voldemort was a ruthless monster but he doesn't hold a candle to Grindlewald in terms of death toll. Grindelwald instigated the death of over sixteen million people and that is not counting the wizards he killed or had killed by one of his sympathizers in his campaign to topple magical Western Europe," Harry elaborated.

"Holy shit! No wonder Dumbledore is reforming the order of the phoenix," Sirius exclaimed.

"He is?" Harry asked in surprise.

"Yeah, I just got a letter from him yesterday," Sirius admitted

I guess he is picking up on the signs to then," Harry sighed.

Harry was starting to wonder if future generations would condemn him for helping get Cassiopeia Black elected as minister of magic.

"Keep me posted, I will kill her myself before I let her start World War III," Harry stated his voice full of determination.

"You can't because of your betrothal contract," Sirius pointed out looking uncomfortable at the direction the conversation was going.

"There is a simple way around that," Harry assured him.

"There is?" Bellatrix demanded her eyes narrowing in Harry's direction.

"Yes, if it becomes necessary Sirius can cast her from the family though that might tip her off to my intentions," Harry said in a thoughtful tone.

"Alright I'm outta here, if it becomes necessary I will do it but until then I don't want to hear anything about a conspiracy to kill the minister, I am a hit wizard after all," Sirius exclaimed as he got up from his seat.

"I'll see you this Saturday, Padfoot," Harry called to Sirius' back as he disappeared through the floo.

"Do you really think it will come to that?" Bella asked.

"I don't know but I will not take for granted that it could," Harry shrugged.

"I hope it doesn't, I would rather you be going after poisonous snakes than carrying out a political assassination," Bella admitted as she got up from her spot and went over to get the kids ready for dinner.

"So would I, Bella," Harry agreed.

Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 11/5/1983, 17:42

This was the first time they had the rest of the family over for dinner since the twins were born. Harry was nervous about this gathering as he was hoping to pry information out of his sister-in-law and as he had learned from his dealings with Narcissa in the past, there was always a price.

Andromeda, Ted, and Tonks came through the fireplace first and Harry was surprised to see how much Tonks had grown since he had last seen her, she must have grown at leasr three inches.

"Andi, Ted pleasure to see you both," Harry greeted cheerfully.

"Oi, what about me?" Tonks demanded.

"Yeah, uh... good to see you too, I guess," Harry said with a smirk playing on his lips.

"How have you been, Harry?" Andi asked her expression blank though Harry thought he saw the corner of her mouth twitch at the look Tonks was shooting his way.

"Good, the twins are getting big now," Harry beamed before shaking Ted's offered hand.

"Are they finally sleeping through the night them?" Ted asked as Harry led the Tonks family into the dining room.

"They are," Harry said as they stepped into the dining room and Tonks let out a high pitched shriek.

Looking at her he saw her staring across the room where Athena was curled up beside the twin's playpen watching the guests with her head resting on her coils.

"Great scot that is a massive snake," Ted yelped in alarm.

"I brought her back from Brazil with me," Harry grinned.

"Does it bite?" Tonks asked nervously.

"She only bites little girls that touch Auntie Bella's perfume," Bellatrix smirked from her seat at the table.

"She will not bite anyone unless provoked but she has become very protective of the twins," Harry shrugged.

"That's a bushmaster, I've seen them on telly a while back, they are highly venomous," Ted said looking alarmed.

"Her name is Athena, she is my familiar, but you are correct," Harry said as Ted gave the serpent a wide berth as he took a seat at the table.

Andromeda didn't seem bothered and wandered over to the crib to look into the crib while Athena looked at her curiously.

"They are getting so big," Andromeda gushed as she reached in and scooped up Carina.

"Yeah they have just started eating solid foods," Harry grinned.

§ She looks like your mate§, Athena hissed sounding confused.

§ They are hatch mates§, Harry said as he reached in and scooped up Ignotus.

"He looks like Harry," Tonks muttered as she looked at Ignotus closely.

"Well they are related," Harry chuckled as he carried his son over to his highchair in between his and Bella's seats.

"So have you heard about the new laws the minister is trying to pass?" Andromeda asked.

"Which ones?" Harry asked resignedly.

"The one that the minister put before the Wizengamot yesterday. She wants all incoming muggleborns to register themselves with the ministry," Ted spoke up.

"Ugh, that doesn't really surprise me at all," Harry sighed as he took a seat.

"Truthfully I am not surprised either just concerned," Andi asked said tiredly.

"That is actually the main reason we are having this dinner, we need to figure out what Cassie is up to," Harry admitted.

"You think Cissa will know," Andromeda said a look of understanding crossing her face.

"I am sure she does, it's what she wants for the information that worries me," Bella said matter of factly.

Before anyone could comment Sirius, Amelia, and Harry entered the dining room.

"Sirius, glad you could make it," Harry grinned.

"It has been a while since we've had a Black family dinner," Sirius grinned.

§ Big snakey§ Harry hissed wandering over to Athena.

§ Her name is Athena, do not be rough with her§, Harry warned little Harry.

"Harry come here!" Amelia said in alarm when she saw the massive snake slithering across the floor

"She won't harm him," Harry assured Amelia as Athena slithered around little Harry her tongue flicking wildly.

§ He smells just like you!§ Athena said in confusion.

§ He is a very close relation, I will explain later§, Harry told Athena as she raised her head to Little Harry's eye level.

§ Hello snakey, I'm Harry§, little Harry said innocently.

§ Hello hatchling, I am Athena§, the serpent replied as she slithered closer so that her snout touched little Harry's cheek.

Harry watched the interaction between his familiar and his younger self and was a bit surprised when he didn't notice any physical reaction from Athena when she touched his younger self. He thought she might recognize little Harry as part of her familiar bond but then he remembered that with the horcrux in his younger self, little Harry's magic would feel very different from his own.

Harry heard gasps from the table pulling him from his speculation and looked to see Athena coiling loosely around little Harry her head resting on his shoulder making him giggle.

§ that tickles§, Harry giggled.

§ She is smelling you§, Harry explained wondering if it was vain to think his younger self was adorable.

"Alright enough with the snake talk, Harry get over her and let Amelia get you in a seat," Sirius said looking very tense.

§ Alright, Athena let him go sit down§ Harry chuckled as Athena uncoiled and slithered over to her spot in front of the playpen where Harry had placed a warming charm on the floor.

"Why couldn't you specialize in fluffy bunnies," Sirius demanded.

"Snakes are more fun but Athena eats fluffy bunnies if that counts," Harry grinned.

"She does?" Tonks exclaimed.

"Once a week," Harry answered surprised at the look of awe on Tonks' face.

"Cool!" Tonks exclaimed.

"Good heavens look at the size of that snake!" Narcissa exclaimed as she walked in with Draco in her arms.

"Cissa you look lovely this evening," Harry said in a winning tone.

"Thank you," Narcissa said suspiciously, still eyeing Athena warily.

"How have you been Cissa?" Bella asked as Narcissa put Draco into a chair.

"Quite well minus the incident a few days ago, it took me forever to get my furniture on the floor where it belonged," Cissa huffed shooting her son an annoyed look.

"Sirius told us about that, how did they get your wand?" Harry asked as food appeared on the table.

"Ophelia floo called me and I had left it on the side table where I was sitting," Narcissa explained with a rueful shake of her head.

"I still have no idea how they did it," Sirius muttered.

"I can take a guess," Harry said thoughtfully between bites of roast.

"Really, do share," Narcissa said looking intrigued.

"I don't think it was a spell at all, it was just their intent to see the furniture on the ceiling kind of like accidental magic," Harry theorized.

"Bella agrees, their magic is not settled yet but it is still very strong so if they were using a wand to channel it, they could cause just about anything to happen if they wanted it to," Bellatrix added.

"So they were casting intent-based magic?" Sirius said skeptically.

"Why is that so hard to believe, most accidental magic is intent-based," Harry pointed out.

"I agree with that explanation," Narcissa said looking thoughtful.

"So how badly is Draco being punished," Andi asked looking amused.

"Draco is grounded for the next week, he should never touch mummy's wand," Narcissa said looking at Draco who nodded at her smiling innocently.

"You should probably get yourself a wand holster," Harry suggested.

"I have one for when I go out but I usually never wear one around the house," Narcissa admitted.

The talk stopped as everyone dug into a sumptuous pork roast and Harry was pondering how to approach the delicate topic he wished to discuss when Sirius broached it with all of the finesse of a bull in a china shop.

"What the hell is Aunt Cassie up to, Cissa?" Sirius demand causing Harry to facepalm at his godfather's lack of tact.

Narcissa raised her eyebrow and smirked at her cousin before asking, " why do you assume I know anything?"

"Because collecting information is your bread and butter," Sirius answered glancing at Harry for assistance.

"Even if I had such information I would not disclose it in present company, and certainly not without... compensation," Narcissa said her face a mask of neutrality.

"And what compensations would that be?" Harry asked looking at his sister-in-law, his eyes meeting hers and a look of understanding passing between them.

"We shall discuss this later," Narcissa said matter of factly and received a nod from Harry.

Harry was almost certain what she wanted. She needed something taken care of and that would most likely be the price for the information he sought.

Hopefully, it wouldn't be near as morally compromising as the last task she had asked of him. Still, finding out what Cassie was up to was of the utmost importance, so he would loosen his morals if necessary. Though there were still lines he refused to cross even for this.

The rest of dinner seemed to take an eternity as they finished the main course and the dessert course was served.

Thankfully the Tonks family left right after dinner, Harry would have to find a way to thank Andromeda for this. Sirius stayed a little longer but decided to leave when little Harry started drifting to sleep in his seat. He, Amelia, and little Harry took their leave promising to be by at ten Monday morning to drop little Harry off.

Draco was asleep on one of the sofas so it was just him, Bella and Cissa seated at the table, while the twins slept peacefully in their playpen.

"So you wish to know what my aunt is up to?" Cissa said before taking a sip of red wine and swirling the blood-red liquid in her glass looking at him expectantly.

"Yes, though the real question is what price you will ask for this information," Harry said casually.

"I would never bargain with something that could change the future of magical Britain for something as pedestrian as personal gain. Though now that you mention it there is a problem that I need taken care of... discreetly," Narcissa said in faux thoughtfulness.

"Isn't there always, please tell me it isn't as complicated as the last task you asked of me?" Harry asked as he sipped his mead keeping his tone light.

"You mean the one that you completely botched up and went rogue on?" Narcissa questioned looking at him with a hint of annoyance.

"The job was completed as specified and after reading the papers over the last month, I am very grateful that I did not follow your original suggestion. Augusta's block is the only thing slowing Cassie down," Harry replied shrugging his shoulders unconcernedly.

"You are correct in that regard, Madam Longbottom is slowing Aunt Cassie's plans significantly. Our new minister has been stymied on every major bill she has put forth and there is only so much she can push through with executive orders," Narcissa conceded.

"Yes if you believe the papers, Aunt Cassie seems to be making many moves of late. There are probably many more that the public is unaware of, aren't there, sister?" Bellatrix asked looking her Narcissa in the eye who quickly averted eye contact.

"Careful Bella or I shall leave and you will be in the dark about our aunt's ultimate plan," Narcissa said warningly having felt her older sister's legilimency probe enter her mind.

"Then stop stalling, what is it you want from my husband?" Bella demanded impatience clear in her tone.

"There is a man that owes the house of Malfoy a sizeable amount of gold, after Lucius' passing he stopped making payments on his loan. I have contacted him several times and he has been very rude to me and claims that the debt died with Lucius but I am of the opinion that the man is stealing from my Draco's inheritance," Narcissa said calmly but Harry could see the rage in her eyes, eerily reminding him of his wife at the height of her madness.

"So you wish for me to impress upon him that the debt is still active?" Harry asked feeling relieved all she wanted was debt collection.

"Yes, but I also want you to... punish him for his disrespect toward the regent Malfoy," Narcissa said and there was no mistaking the malice in her voice.

"How do you wish him punished?" Harry asked warily.

"I believe the finger with his lord's ring on it will suffice," Narcissa replied as she took a sip of her wine.

"May I ask who this man is?" Harry asked feeling a little alarmed at the viciousness his usually demure sister-in-law was displaying.

"Victor Crabbe," Narcissa sniffed as if the name was beneath her.

"How much is the debt?" Bellatrix cut in.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand total, if he had continued making his payments he would have paid half of it off by now," Narcissa shrugged.

Harry glanced at Bellatrix who gave him a subtle shrug saying it was up to him before turning to Narcissa, " we have a deal but the information had better be credible," Harry said warningly.

"I assure you it most certainly is," Narcissa replied looking almost insulted he would insinuate otherwise.

"Good, I also want ten per cent of the gold collected from Lord Crabbe," Harry added.

Narcissa actually smirked at him before saying, " my dear brother-in-law, you are learning how Slytherins operate, you have a deal," she said looking pleased for some reason.

"Then we have an agreement, it will be carried out within the week," Harry said feeling much better about this job than the last one.

Victor Crabbe was a person of interest for him but he was much lower on the list than Dolohov or Yaxley. Crabbe was nothing more than muscle as like his son he was very dim-witted. Though if some of the tales he had heard were true he was a savage in his own right, taking great pleasure in causing others pain.

"Very well, but Crabbe must be left alive at least until he pays all that he owes house Malfoy," Narcissa stated flatly, clearly she knew where his thoughts were going.

"Fine, but he is on my list," Harry agreed knowing he would have to carry out this task to the letter.

"Good, I will gather as much information as I can on Cassie but I will give you one piece for free. Aunt Cassie is negotiating with the French and Austrian ministries to have Gellert Grindlewald brought into Britain so that he can be tried for crimes committed here in the nineteen-thirties," Narcissa said as she scooped up her son from the Sofa.

"Interesting," Harry said thoughtfully.

"Yes it is but that is only the beginning. I am afraid I must be off. Please send word when you collect my souvenir," Narcissa said before stepping into the floo and disappearing in a flash of green flames.

"Cissa was always the vindictive one," Bella chuckled after her sister had vanished.

"Yes, I will admit that I had my doubts about that until tonight," Harry said finally letting his face relax.

"She has always been like that," Bella shrugged as she gently scooped Ignotus out of the playpen and woke Athena in the process.

§ Good the visitors have left our nessst§, Athena hissed as she slithered over to her basket by the fireplace.

§ They are family, Athena. They will come back§, Harry hissed as his familiar settled into ber bed.

"Come Harry, let's get them to bed then you can practice your snake tongue a bit more," Bellatrix said casually as she made her way up the stairs.

Harry quickly picked up Carina and made to take her to bed, thoughts of Bella's request pushing all concerns about the new task he had taken on for Narcissa, from his mind.

Ten minutes later Carina was tucked in sleeping peacefully in her crib, Harry entered his bedroom to find Bella laying on the bed wearing only her knee-high black dragon-hide boots.

'I am one lucky bastard,' Harry thought as he quickly undressed resigning himself to staying up a few more hours.

Peverell Beach house, Cornwall, 11/8/1983, 07:38

Harry hurried up the stairs with the basket the delivery owl had just dropped off, hoping to get it through the house before Athena smelled it. Walking to the third guestroom on the left he opened the door stepping inside quickly. Harry grinned as he looked around the dense vegetation as the muggy warmth hit him in the face.

In Harry's opinion, this looked even better than the classroom Dumbledore had enchanted for Firenze as the only sign it was man-made was the door he had just stepped through, and a large window looking out over the ocean directly across from the door.

It really looked like he had stepped back into the Amazon rainforest. Bella had done an amazing job enchanting the ceiling so that broken sunlight shown down into the room as if shining through a thick jungle canopy, it mirrored the outside, as during the night the stars and moonlight could be seen shining through the gaps in the canopy.

He had also built a shallow pool about four feet wide towards the centre of the room, it was charmed to keep the water constantly cool and crystal clear in case Athena needed a drink or desired a bath

All of the lower vegetation was real but the tree trunks were just wooden pillars that went from the floor to the ceiling transfigured to look like trees he had seen in the Amazon rainforest. Unfortunately, he could not plant real trees in here, as their roots would end up punching through the ceiling of their dining room.

Still, Harry was quite pleased with their work here, Athena should be thrilled. He had put the final touch in yesterday. Harry had added a tiny cat flap in the door for Athena to enter through, Harry hoped the rabbit he was about to release into the room never figured out how to go through it.

Harry set the basket on the ground and gently reached in removing the rabbit before setting it on the ground, as soon as the rabbit's feet hit the floor it darted into the room quickly disappearing in the dense vegetation

His work here done, Harry picked up the empty basket and stepped out the door to go find his familiar.

§ Where are we going, Harry?§

Athena asked curiously as he carried her on his shoulders up the stairs.

§ I have a surprise for you§, Harry grinned as he walked down the second-floor hallway.

§ What isss it?§ Athena asked coiling excitedly on his shoulder.

§ This is your surprise§, Harry said with a grin as he opened the door and stepped inside the imitation rainforest.

§ It's sooo warm it looks like my nesting grounds§ Athena hissed as she looked around the room in wonder.

§ I know, I didn't want you to get homesick so I made you a small rainforest to hunt in§ Harry chuckled as he set her on the ground and sat cross-legged beside her.

§ Thank you, I love it§, Athena hissed happily.

§ I hoped you would. Your rabbit came in this morning and I released him into this room an hour ago§, Harry explained and watched her tongue come out and scent the air vigorously.

§ I can smell him§, Athena hissed excitedly before slithering into the foliage.

Grinning Harry got up and made his way back downstairs to get his own breakfast while his familiar got to hunt her rabbit in her new habitat.