(This chapter is dedicated to Chadwick Boseman. The Black Panther will live in our hearts forever. Wakanda Forever!)
Sofia, T'challa, and Abby had to hit the backs of their friends as they were coughing. The surprise was a lot for them to take in.
The Weasley family was standing right in front of them, in Greece, inside of Crystal Rose, around all of these mystics souls that they had no idea were mystic souls. If that did not raise their stress levels, nothing would. According to what the trio knew about the family, the only missing Weasley was the eldest brother, William. Or rather, Bill, as the twins and Percy told them that he preferred to be called.
The trio finally got their composure back after a few more wacks on their backs by their friends.
"What in the name of the Olympian gods," Harry instantly swore.
"Charlie, what in Hades is going on," Krinos immediately asked.
"I guess the obvious thing should be that my last is not exactly Draco," Charlie admitted. "It's Weasley."
"In terms of obviousness, that does pretty much take the cake," Melody says.
"Guess we now understand why he came from Romania, yet never had a Romanian accent," T'challa said.
"When have you ever heard a Romanian accent," Sofia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I saw a circus performance in Gotham City when I was a kid," T'challa explained. "A lot of the people working there were from Romania."
"Talk about a cliche," Hestia put a hand on her hip.
"I've never liked the circus, anyway," Hailey says.
"That's because you're afraid of clowns," Melody giggled.
"I have said this over and over again," Hailey says. "I am not afraid of them, I simply find them creepy. There's a difference."
"Whatever you have to tell yourself," Sofia smirked.
"So... you three go here as well," Percy asked the trio as the family also came out of shock.
"This is where we went to school all year before we started at Hogwarts," Harry said. "And even while we go there, we take the midterms and finals of Crystal Rose so that we move up years here as well."
"We make sure to keep both sides of our education open since Crystal Rose has always been a part of our lives and we will not abandon it," Krinos says.
"We self-study our Crystal Rose lessons so that we keep up our Greek education," Melody added.
"Why would you want to have more school," Ron scoffed. "It's so boring."
"It's called wanting to have a future," Harry rolled his eyes. "Just because our family is rich does not mean we're so lazy as to not want to work."
"You're the Boy-Who-Lived, you can get any job you want," Ron looked horrified at the thought of actually having to do actual work.
"Just because I can do something doesn't mean I should," Harry crossed his arms. "And that title means nothing to me. Your precious 'Boy-Who-Lived' is nothing but a fairy tale that the pathetic politicians of magical Britain made-up."
"Can anyone be more pathetic than that Fudge person you told us about," T'challa asked. "That guys seems like a piece of work."
"What can we say," Krinos shrugged. "When it comes to British politicians, they care more about money and reputation than anything else."
"There is something that," Fred started.
"We can definitely agree with," George finished.
"See, dad," Percy looked at his father. "Even those that do not live in Britain know about how corrupt they are. You really need to find a better job."
The trio looked at the Weasley patriarch. From what the twins and Percy have told them, their dad worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department and was often the butt of the jokes told by the more "proper" purebloods. The ones that rather see muggles as less than dirt than as human beings that are worth knowing about. They don't see the point of having a whole department dedicated to things that muggles invented, even if they had been messed with by magic.
Charlie then took the mystic souls aside to talk to them without his family hearing them.
"Quite the surprise you brought, Charlie," T'challa crossed his arms.
"Look, I'm sorry about the secrecy," Charlie said. "But even with family, we all need to beware of every wand-user we know. While the twins, Percy, and Bill would probably be okay with my powers, and my dad might be..."
"You think your mother, Ron, and Ginny would not be okay with it," Melody guessed.
"They're my family and I love them, but those three have always been so close-minded and prejudice," Charlie said.
"Don't we know it," Harry scoffed. "If I hear one more rant from the Human Garbage Disposal about 'all Slytherins have to be evil,' I am going to kill him."
"And forgive me if I do not want the girl that almost killed me running around my home," Krinos says. "I'd rather face the demon of fear. I have faced the demon of fear."
"Please do not remind me of that day," Hestia requested.
All of them shivered at the memory of that day.
"They are only visiting for the today and tomorrow before they go back to England," Charlie says. "It was either this or taking them to see dragons at the reserve. And after Ginny nearly got eaten at Yule two years ago, I was not taking the chance."
"Should have let it eat her," Melody mumbled, still hating the girl for nearly killing her brother because she was being selfish.
"We can just keep them occupied," Charlie says. "Show them around, show examples of the magic that are not mystic soul-oriented, have them meet some of the teachers, anything. Just help me fake that this is just like every other wand-user school."
The others shared looks between each other. On one hand, Charlie was their friend and they wanted to help him. On the other hand, he had been lying to them about who he was for years. Yet, on the first hand, they understood why he kept his real family and home a secret.
"Fine, we'll help," Harry said. "But you owe us, Charlie."
"We can help you give them a tour of the school," Krinos says. "But if any of them picks one flower from my garden without permission, you'll have plants for a family."
"Understood," Charlie knew better than to anger a mage of nature.
"Keep your wings covered, Hailey," Harry advised their friend. "The last thing we need is for our school to be exposed to British magicals."
"And we all know that those with creature blood would be the first to be targeted," Melody said.
The half-harpy nodded in agreement. She was not ashamed of her heritage, but she knew that there were those that even after centuries have passed since ancient Greece, they were still afraid of harpies.
They all went back to the Weasleys.
"Since this is our school, let us give you the tour," Harry put on his best fake smile.
What helped turn the smile more real was that Fred and George almost instantly took places on either side of him and put their arms over his shoulders.
"Lead the way, Harrykins," they both announced.
Krinos and Melody snickered as they started leading the family through the halls.
"Crystal Rose was founded over four-thousand years ago by those known as the Olympian Mages," Harry acts as the main tour guide. "They were twelve witches and wizards that were said to have been blessed by the twelve Olympians themselves. They were also said to be the most ancient families in all of Greece. Theseus Marvel, Perseus Aurora, Sirius Lion, Pandora Royal, Calliope Gardna, Andromeda Hearth, Achilles Hero, Atalanta Vanish, Orpheus Ambrosia, Adonis Forest, Persephone Floros, and Daedalus Mallas."
"Calliope Gardna," Percy asked. "So that would make you three a descendant of one of the Olympian Mages?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Percy," Mrs.Weasley waved him off. "Harry's not actually related to these people."
"Not that it is any of your business," Harry glared at the woman. "But I was blood adopted by my parents before I had turned five. So by blood, by magic, and by choice, I am a Gardna."
"Besides, have you not noticed that Harry shares the same eyes as us," Krinos raised an eyebrow. "Only those with Gardna blood gain our silver eyes."
"And while it may be a little hard to tell with his hat, Harry also shares the same midnight black hair as us," Melody added. "So don't talk about things you have no real knowledge of."
The trio turned away from the redhead before she could respond to them.
"To answer your question, Percy," Harry started. "Yes, we are. Calliope was one of the first recorded Gardna's in history. And even to this day is one of our most famous relatives."
"Malfoy would lose it if he knew how ancient your family is," Fred laughed.
"He brags about being from an old pureblood family, but you guys have him beat," George also laughed.
"You guys know we do not care about blood status," Krinos smiled at their goofy nature. "But yeah, it would be fun to see his face if he ever finds out."
"But we are not the only legacies in the school," Melody tells the family. "Our friends White, Lyon, Madison, Celest, and Regina are all also descendants from the Olympian Mages."
"As well as our professor's Aichi Hero, Sky Lion, and Lena Ambrosia," Krinos listed.
"That is actually very impressive," Percy says. "There is not really anyone left that has the same name as the Hogwarts founders."
"There could be," Hailey said. "They could have simply left the country. We know that some members of the Lion family immigrated to America and some of the Vanish family went to Japan."
"Interesting," Percy nodded as he followed what she was saying.
"Families spread out as the family trees grow," Sofia says. "Take all of us, for example. We all go to school here but most of us are from different countries. Like I'm from Italy."
"I am from Africa," T'challa said.
"I'm from the United States," Hestia says. "Same with Hailey."
"And you already know Krinos, Melody, and I are locals," Harry said.
There was visible disagreement on the faces of Mrs.Weasley, Ron, and Ginny. They did not seem to like how Harry was openly rejecting the English side of him.
Melody opened the doors to the music room as the first place they took the family.
"This is my favorite place in the school," she smiled, picking up a violin. "It's where those that want to can learn Magical Music."
"What's that," Mr.Weasley asked.
"A branch of magic well-known to those that worship Apollo, such as myself," Melody explained. "When you play specific songs on any instrument, it results in mystical effects. The instruments themselves are not magical, but the songs are. Watch this."
Melody plays a song on the violin. Golden music measures come out from where the violin bow makes contact with the violin. The measures swirl around multiple chairs and causes them to levitate off the ground.
Magical Music is actually a real branch of magic, not Melody using her powers. This is a magic that can be learned by any magical being that wants to. It was mainly learned by music or sound mages who needed ways to defend themselves if their powers do not have any offensive uses. Like those such as Orchid, who only has her banshee scream or other mystical screams to fight against demons and other magical dangers.
Melody soon ended the song, putting the chairs back on the floor. Most of the Weasleys applauded her.
"This is one of my favorite things that Melody can do," Krinos smiled fondly at his sister.
"This school helps students of all types of talents explore their talents with magic," Harry said. "Like with those that love plants, they can get permission to have a small area in the Crystal Rose greenhouse."
"Yeah," Krinos nodded. "I have an area there. It's the next spot on our tour."
The group then leads the family through the school to the greenhouse. Unlike the Hogwarts greenhouses, the Crystal Rose one has a door to it in the school instead of just outdoor buildings.
"I do tell you all, do not pick any of the plants, trees, or flowers without permission," Melody warned. "There are a lot of magical plants in there that could accidentally cause you harm if they are treated in the wrong way."
They opened the door and let the family inside. Fred, George, Percy, and Mr.Weasley seemed to be the most amazed by the greenhouse. All types of flowers, trees, and plants covered the greenhouse from wall to wall. Or rather, from one side of the glass dome to the other. There were way too many plants to identify.
Ron was looking disinterested as he did not care for plants one bit. Harry, unfortunately, lived with him in Gryffindor so he knew that Ron's interests were basically Quidditch, food, and chess pretty much in that order. Mrs.Weasley seemed more focused on Harry, still upset that he did not side with her daughter even when he was the one that saved her. Not to mention that he was one of the main reasons she was punished.
Ginny was looking like she was going to take the prettiest plant she could find and it did not matter that she was warned to not if she did not have permission. She glared at the backs of the siblings during the entire tour. She just 'knew' that they were the ones that had convinced Harry that she needed to be punished for the diary incident. He was her knight in shining armor, he would never have wanted her to be punished when she did nothing wrong. They were perfect for each other and she knew it.
Fred and George followed the three to Krinos' area of the greenhouse while the other mystic souls watched the rest of family.
"Are these more illusion blossoms," Fred asked as he looked at the flowers.
"Yes, they are," Krinos smiled. "You do anything with the ones I gave you, yet?"
"Remember that prank on Flint where he kept saying how he saw everything as pink for three days," Fred asked.
"That was us using the flowers to pull a prank by combining the flowers with a color change potion," George said.
"That is genius," Harry laughed. "Combinging the illusion blossom with a color change potion just made him see only one color instead of just becoming that color."
"You two scare us sometimes with your pranks sometimes, you know that right," Melody raised an eyebrow.
"We know," the Weasley twins smirked.
"Like I said, they scare me," Melody said, her brothers laughing.
"Hey, Melody," Percy came over to them, holding the book she had given him for Yule.
The presents they gave them last Yule were different than before. Fred was given plants that would help him with sound-based pranks like changing a person's voice or forcing others to sing. George was given a rare small book of spells that any magic-aware could use, even if they were a squib. Melody gave Percy a book on more magical artifacts, this time artifacts known as the Shen Gong Wu. (AN: They are from the show Xaiolin Showdown. I do not own them.)
"Glad to see you like the book, Percy," Melody smiled.
"These artifacts are just so interesting," Percy says. "Even if some of them are a bit weird. I mean, the Sweet Baby Among Us just turns into a giant golden baby? Seriously."
"Hey, I just gave you the book, I didn't name the Shen Gong Wu," Melody said.
"Some of them are pretty funny," Harry chuckled. "Like how the Manchurian Musca turns you into a fly, but also gives you a giant craving for sugar. Haha."
"Hey, don't touch those," Krinos suddenly shouted.
The group turned to where they heard the nature mage shout. They saw Ginny snatching her hand away from a patch of rainbow colored sunflowers. Harry and Melody knew that those flowers were invented my Lily and when their leaves were tapped, they acted like a piano as the blossoms shot small fireworks into the air. She called them the Colorful Piano Flowers.
"Ginny, they already said not to take any of the plants without permission," Charlie scolded his sister.
"It's so pretty, I want one so I will have one," Ginny huffed.
"No, you will not," Harry snapped.
"It's just one flower, just give it to her," Mrs.Weasley ordered, as if they would actually listen to her just because she said so.
"No means no," T'challa said. "You do not get to take any of the plants."
The mystic souls almost had to force them out of the greenhouse. They were not taking the chances of either of the Weasley women stealing a plant when they were not looking.
They lead the family around more parts of the school in silence. Charlie was so red from how embarrassing his mother and sister were.
"Your school is beautiful," Mr.Weasley complimented, breaking the silence and trying to lighten the mood.
"Thank you, Mr.Weasley," Harry said. "Crystal Rose is our home. Generation after generation of Gardna's have walked through these halls."
"You should be in Britain, where you belong," Mrs.Weasley grumbled, but was still heard.
"If I actually belonged there, then I would be there," Harry glared at her. "But my parents rescued me from the horrible mundanes that your stupid ministry put me with. That already makes Greeks better than the British in my book. They cared about me when no British person seemed to."
"Your parents were James and Lily Potter and they would be ashamed of how you are acting," Mrs.Weasley shouted. "You are British, not Greek. You're only supposed to go to Hogwarts, not this circus show of a school."
"Circus show," all the Greeks yelled.
They all had to force their powers not to react. T'challa and Hailey had to turn away as their eyes flashed into cat and bird eyes. Sofia crossed her arms, tucking her hands out of sight when her nails started to extend into claws. The trio's eyes flashed as their amulets did the same.
"Mum," Charlie looked insulted.
"At least none of us 'circus people' ever almost killed people because of selfishness," Krinos snapped.
"How dare you," Mrs.Weasley screamed.
"I did nothing wrong," Ginny screamed.
"As one of your victims, I have to disagree," Krinos glared at her.
The Weasley twins, Percy, and Charlie looked like they wanted to be anything but related to those two.
"Really glad you brought your family here, Charlie," Harry sarcastically told his friend.