249Is This The World We Created
Chapter 9
Peter woke first, remaining perfectly still, judging by the rising run…it was still very early. Given their activities last night…they hadn't gotten much sleep for hours. A sly wicked grin split across his smug satisfied face. Inhaling sharply, the scent of them had co-mingled leaving a satisfying scent on them both and their surroundings. Everyone would know exactly what they had been doing and that Harry had been thoroughly claimed.
They'd know he had been thoroughly claimed right back.
Closing his eyes recalling last night vividly.
"I'm almost jealous of myself…" Peter mused, as his hands sensuously touched every part of Harry he could. "It's a novel experience…" how often did one get a chance to be jealous of themselves? Under those layers were an extremely fit body Peter found, wiry muscle, not an ounce of fat to be found, and Peter was going to enjoy thoroughly investigating every angle, all cervices on offer, displayed just for him. By the moon he truly was jealous that another version of himself was going to get to enjoy all this – if his plan failed that is – without truly understanding all that had been sacrificed.
Noticing for the first time that he had tattoos, in his back, three, two on his shoulders and one in the middle. They were intricately, done, and odd, he'd never seen those kind of tattoos before but suspected two were runes.
Harry turned to face him, eyes open again, staring incredulously at the werewolf, a snort leaving his lips. "If you say so," he said dry, a smirk hovering across his features, giving Peter a knowing look. Did the werewolf think he was daft?
His mate was smart, perhaps a bit too smart, but he wouldn't have wanted anything less. He'd known what Peter was up to, well, it hadn't been his sole intention when he'd visited, or his intention at all. It had merely been something he'd been thinking about, at the back of his mind. His desire to go back with them stronger than his self-preservation. Who could blame him? After everything he'd been through he detested the loss of control.
Stretching out, his need to pee winning out against the comfort of remaining in bed. Slowly and carefully sliding out of bed, he made his way to the bathroom, flicking on the light, there wasn't enough natural light in the bathroom, or any at all actually.
He just happened to pass the mirror on the wall beside the sink, the sight made him freeze in shocked incredulity. His neck was covered in marks…they looked fresh, how on earth…how had they not disappeared? Using his index finger he popped a claw, and pressed it into his opposite index finger until it bled, the panic he'd just begun to feel assuming his abilities were gone faded as the small wound healed easily.
Pressing his hands against the hickeys there were dozens, there was no way to hide them…he only had a few of his own tops left, admittedly they were a little worse for wear. They revealed his entire neck and then some…if there was ever a time to regret his clothing choice…it wouldn't even be now. He couldn't regret what happened…even if the evidence was on clear display.
His gaze shifted from his neck to Harry who wandered in, chuckling at the sight of him investigating the marks in the mirror. A wry smirk adorned his face as he went to the toilet, he didn't seem to care much for privacy, which he admitted wasn't exactly normal, usually humans hated being watched when they did the toilet.
"Something funny?" Peter asked, drolly.
"Nothing," Harry said in amusement, flushing the toilet before shuffling over to the sink, washing his hands absently. "Want me to remove them?" he could easily do it to his own…but he wasn't going to. Last night…had been wonderful and he felt more sated and relaxed than he had in years despite the fact he hadn't gotten as much sleep as normal.
"No," Peter replied immediately, no he didn't want them gone as shocking as the sight of them had been.
"Good," Harry said, kissing Peter's chin then lips, "There's going to be another meeting tonight before we do the ritual tomorrow. Plans made for what to do, who to contact and things like that…"
"Why? There's no guarantee you'll end up in a certain time?" Peter queried, it seemed rather pointless to him. kissing Harry back in return, just a peck, as he desperately needed the toilet.
"Oh, we'll be planning for every possibility," Harry explained, lobbing a bit of toothpaste onto his toothbrush, "You need to remember I wasn't here when all this started…" before he began brushing his teeth, raiding his cupboard until he found the spare, these were easy to come by, they could and are very frequently copied, with the Geminio spell.
Peter startled, "You weren't here?" he asked, that definitely hadn't come up. "Then why did you end up here?" why come away from friends and familiarity to make his way over here? He didn't ask how, since he knew they could appear and disappear at will, whenever they liked. Apparation it was apparently called, the ability to Apparate, and not all wizards and witches could successfully do it.
Harry washed out his mouth with water to get of the taste before answering, "This place belongs to me, during the beginning I was being drawn here…towards you," he told Peter, "I just didn't realize it…either that or it was the Nemeton and Stiles as well as you…it could be a whole slew of things really. Either way…I came, I turned this into the USA's first sanctuary, the rest followed when it became clear we were not going to be able to contain it all we could do as save those we could…somewhere down the line we realized that the world as never going to be the same again…I think a lot of us had our suspicions on the state of the world…" rubbing his jaw tiredly, muffling a yawn.
"Nobody can expect you to remember each and every single modification in a plan or rather plans you're coming up with tonight." Peter muttered out through a mouthful off toothpaste, brushing both sets of teeth and Harry didn't so much as blink. "It's at the height of idiocy." To expect that of anyone actually, even Stiles would struggle to remember dozens of plans, although he'd give it his best. "Are you able to take anything with you?" realization dawning.
"No idea," Harry shrugged, "I'm making the contingencies based on possible outcomes." it wasn't as though the spell was a tested and true method, it wasn't. They were taking a chance here, but was it really a chance when they were destined to die if they failed anyway just a little bit later? If they failed, he knew Hermione would come here to look after them and try new methods to extend life on Earth. They weren't ones built to give in.
"When's the meeting? This wasn't discussed last night." Peter commented idly as he dried his hand.
"Same time tonight," Harry revealed. "It goes without saying we'd meet up again before we attempt this." They'd been through a war, they knew how it went, it was automatic for them really.
Peter just conceded the statement with a nod.
"Do you want your breakfast here, your pack is welcome or would you prefer to return to them for the time being?" Harry asked him as they wandered out of the small bathroom. No doubt they'd spent every waking moment together for the past six years, so he honestly wouldn't be surprised if Peter needed them.
A knock on the door interrupted them before Peter could answer.
Harry made his way over and opened the door, "How's the pack?" he asked him, "Patricia settling in okay?" remembering her name and what she'd been through, those flashbangs were terrible, terrible things. It was worse yet pain, getting the process reversed, but nobody had said they wished they hadn't gone through it. Sight was for life…pain was temporarily.
"They're well, and yes," Marcus informed him, giving Peter a nod his amusement clear as day. He hadn't informed them of the new news, but his wife more than likely suspected, given that he had been spending more time than normal with her and his child, when normally he was always doing hit bit for the community they had, sanctuary that had been hard sought.
"Did you take back over the patrol detail?" Harry asked him, "Coffee?" he asked both Marcus and Peter, both whom shook their head, no.
"I'm going to go find my pack, I'll see you later," Peter informed Harry, who nodded his understanding.
"Tell Stiles he's welcome to read whatever he likes, all this isn't going to be available to him for quite a while…" Harry said wryly, Stiles he as coming to realise was an avid reader. He'd gotten through seven or eight books if he wasn't mistaken in the short time he'd been here, while doing the chores he'd been given on a daily basis.
"Oh, he'll be back with or without approval," Peter said grinning in amusement, nothing could stop Stiles when he set his mind to something.
The looks he received when he entered the tent had him contemplating going back to Harry's.
True to Harry's thoughts, everyone did return, or rather the leaders did, without their seconds. Each of them had a list of plans for each year of the apocalypse. Each one had missives for each of their leaders – The Ministers or the equivalent – for their countries, Italy, Spain, France, USA, UK and so on and so forth so all of them could be alerted to what would become of their communities.
Most of them written in their own language, the hope that was written across their faces was painful to see. Everyone was desperate for their to be an answer to their hopes and dreams. To see everyone survive, for this not to have happened and been just one horrific dream.
They were not naïve enough that it might go according to plan. For they made plans for after the ritual had been cast, just in case they were down four people.
"Marcus will become the Leader of this sanctuary if it all goes wrong," Harry spoke calmly, "With Alex as his second," she would be able to educate him on all things magic was capable of. If it all went wrong…hopefully they'd be able to come up with something to save the Earth and the rest of its inhabitant.
Marcus glanced up, surprise written across his features, he hadn't expected that.
"Who is he?" queried Jamie, his sanctuary located in Scotland.
"She," Harry corrected him, "Alexandria been here the longest, she knows her magic, and will be able to guide Marcus." He was hopeful that they wouldn't need to trudge on without him, that he and Stiles would succeed with Derek and perhaps Peter in the wings. Despite the possibility of failure…he was eager to see if this would succeed or not.
"Then it is decided," Jamie agreed, Harry would know best who would run his sanctuary with the same respect he did.
"I wish you luck with your latest endeavour," William Smith, his sanctuary in France, giving him a nod of respect.
"It will be done just after midnight tonight," Harry commented, it was the best time, when the werewolves and Stiles thus the Nemeton was the strongest. The strongest it was ever going to be, given the damn state of the Earth and what everyone had done to her. It was shocking to think that magic was being stolen from the earth, you would have thought magic would survive everything…but the truth was terrifying. He'd rather die attempting to save the world than lose his magic and slowly suffocate…so you could say what he was doing was selfish.
"Are you needing anyone on the outside?" Hermione asked, almost too eager to see the ritual in effect, but she knew it wouldn't be allowed. Harry would rather do this in privacy with only those they needed to see it through.
"No, nobody else," Harry declared, "Only those vital to the spell can be there, otherwise it would be moot point. We won't be able to go far enough back to make a difference." The more magic that was used…well, it made sense really.
"Merlin…Harry…I…" Hermione bit her lip, part of her wanted to tell him it was a bad idea, not to do it, to think of another way. Yet another part of her hoped and prayed it would work…if anyone could do it, it would be Harry. His famous Potter luck at work. "Just be careful, watch your pronunciation," she eventually said, staring at Harry a hint of desperation lurking behind her strong façade.
Harry understood though, he knew her fears and hopes, they'd been best friends for decades. He gave her a grim smile, and a nod, letting her know he'd take every precaution and care. He wanted this to succeed, they needed this to succeed…their very lives depended on it. "That won't be a problem," he'd been repeating the phrases and actions to himself for hours at a time.
"You take care of him," Hermione then added, speaking to Peter, lips pursed, "Or I'll curse you so hard you'll feel it for years,"
Peter's lips twitched, giving a single nod of acceptance of the threat and her request.
After he nodded, Hermione lit up like a beacon, giving her approval, judging by her scent.
Harry's subtle smirk made no bones of his smug satisfaction he was feeling at the moment.
Jamie cleared his throat, giving Hermione and Harry amused looks. Some things in the world didn't change.
A/N – Next chapter will focus on the ritual as they're sent back in time 😉 now I've got one chapter to decide whether Peter and Derek get to go and whether they end up in their younger bodies or not … so Teddy…yes or no? R&R please
