Chapter Text
Turning away from his Great Uncle Henry, Harry looked to the crone again. Rubbing the bridge of his nose in exasperation. he asked, "So what sort of duties would I have to perform as leader of this group?"
The crone Faust gave him another near-toothless grin as she explained. "Most of the day-to-day operations can be handled by any member of the family. But as I stated before you would need to come back at least three times a year to do your duties. These would include you meeting and inducting any newly-born member of the family or any Dark Fairies born to other lines who decided to give us the child to raise."
"Wait a moment, I thought you said every family did this,' Harry interrupted.
"Sorry, if I did not make myself clear enough, then. Indeed, a majority of families who give birth to a Dark Fairy bring them to us to let them live a normal life without the clan. There are some families for whatever reason wish to keep and raise the child themselves. This usually involves leaving the Fairy Kingdom like my Great-Grandfather for Iggy when he was not born as a Dark Fairy. These families usually find a way to travel to low-light worlds so they can remain a family. They will still contact us to let us know they are leaving the Fairy Relm so that we can provide them with blueprints for a Death Mask just in case they wish to come back and visit the realm to show their kids," Faust explained.
"Alright, so I would meet all the new members of the "family" during these required visits what else," Harry said motioning her to get back to it.
"One of your duties would to observe the death rites of the family members who had died since your last visit. I will point out that since one of our family's main duties in the Fairy World has us perform the rites for everyone else and they all are a little different that is not the case here. Every member of the clan who has died since its formation has been given the same rites. Their bodies are prepared with special oils and potions, they are made presentable before they are wrapped in a ceremonial shroud. As we know souls travel to another realm after a person dies thanks to our family's association with Earth's Death, the body of the deceased is mourned for a bit before it is given over to the eternal torch," she said indicating the brazier at the front of the hall. "Dealing with the dead by feeding them to the eternal torch is just one duty concerning the flame, but it is the only one you would need to handle while leaving others to take up keeping it burning."
"Wouldn't the bodies begin to decay and smell by the time I return if I only visit three times a year? Also since it is winter on my side of the barrier to this world do we even have the same measurements for a year?" Harry asked.
"We have the same three hundred and sixty-five and a quarter days that you do, the Fairy World thanks to the magic of High King Punk when he arrived and later the heads of the families make the weather somewhat controllable by each family. One of the families prefers cold weather so they make sure it is always cold enough around their main compound that there is always snow. Most, on the other hand, let nature take its course concerning the weather while letting it be nice and warm around each of the world's various Entrances for our visitor's sake, as well as the towns the entrances are located in," Faust said. "As for the state of the deceased bodies, we have ways to maintain them so they don't decay. I take it when you arrived you noticed what looked like a graveyard on the surface? While some of those graves contain Faries from other families who out of respect or thanks to something our family did wish to be buried there, many of the gravestones are doors leading down to special preservation chambers.
We not only use these chambers for our own family before feeding them to the eternal torch but there are also some Faries which believes that a deceased member of their family needs a certain amount of time after their death to accept their loss of life. Sometimes even years are needed in this case, so we will store the deceased before returning them to their family for the next part of the person's desired death rites," the old crone explained.
"Would I or my mates have to do this, if I take control of the family?" Harry asked.
"And by this, I take it you mean your body being fed to the eternal torch?" she asked.
"Yes," Harry said.
"Not unless you don't wish to," Faust said making Harry think to himself that it was very unlikely that he would ever agree for such a thing to happen to his body. Not that he had a plan for his corpse after he died, since he had always been more concerned with living, and when he thought he was to perish he had not thought about what would happen to his body afterward.
"Now introducing new members and observing the death rites of all who had died in your absence are two tasks you would have to perform for the family as its leader, there are a couple of tasks that are not just for the family itself. During your visits, you would also have to sit through a meeting with a chosen representative regarding anything added or changed in the Shadow Archives. You would also have to meet up with at least two to three other Heads of the Fairy families to find out any concerns regarding the realm itself," Faust finished.
"Depending on the length of those meetings, it does not sound too bad," Harry admitted earning him another near-toothless grin from the woman. "However, you said that a person becomes the head of this group in the way that I did due to some big event or whatever. So what happens if such an event takes place or at least starts when I am not visiting?" Harry asked.
"We would send for you, of course," Faust said as if it was obvious.
"Even if my mates and I decided to not live on Earth but still visit?" Harry asked.
"That is one of the reasons that my eldest kids and I are accompanying you," Henry Potter said still kneeling, along with almost every other Dark Fairy in the hall, at Harry's side. "We would send updates back to the compound letting them know not only where you are living at the time in case they need to get a message to you or us. But also so we can let them know when you plan to come over to a visit."
"Henry is correct, we are not only sending him, Grace, and Philp to protect you if you need it but as a means to help form lines of communication with the rest of the family," Faust said.
"But according to the book Dad left me, your lifespans are shortened on my side. I assume I would send or bring them back when they died, and at that time would they be replaced or after they pass you would think I will have accepted my post as head of this group?" Harry asked.
"I hope you would fully accept it long before they pass," Faust said. She then made a strange gesture in their air that made Harry think of someone making the sign of a cross as if the woman did not want to jynx Henry and the others having a long life away from the Fairy Relm. "But there is also the fact we have no idea when the event that you are needed to be in charge of the family could happen, it could take place after everyone in this room, apart from you and your mates, are all dead."*
"Okay once more assuming I agree to take up this post, what about my mates?" Harry asked.
"What about them?" Faust asked back.
"Well, the entrance we came through has very tight security and we were all only given a day pass. Would they be allowed to come back or would I be the only one who could make the trip along with any of my kids who had Fairy Blood?" Harry asked.
"As Head of one of the Thirteen Families you, your mates, and future offspring have lifetime passes to the realm. Or maybe it would be better to say near lifetimes passes for if any of your mates break any of the Fairy World's highest laws. Such as murdering a Fairy unless they are doing it in self-defense of you and your family while your guard detail is also fighting for your safety, their passes would be terminated and would only be allowed back in if any of your children becomes a Dark Fairy. In that case, they would be given a day pass and their visit would require them to wear an enchanted cuff that makes them Muggle, I believe is your nation's term for it, for the duration of their visit," Faust explained.
"And say for some reason during their visit while wearing the cuff, our group was attacked and possibly someone who was out for revenge for whatever crimes targeted them what would happen?" Harry asked.
"Well, if you, the rest of your mates, possible children, and the Dark Fairy guards with you to fend off any attack are unable to help them, rather than let the cuffed person get harmed or even killed a special enchantment on the cuff will activate like the Portkeys Henry has told us about from your side," Faunt said. "I will also point out that during your visits to the Fairy World, you would gain a full honor guard rather than just have the three that accompany you on your side of the barrier."
"What about when anyone wants to visit my side?" Harry asked.
"What do you mean?" Faust asked confused by his question.
"Henry said the two other people accompanied him as my new guards were his eldest kids, what if his younger ones want to visit him? Or for that matter, anyone else wishes to come see me and my family for whatever reason?" Harry asked.
"I see," Faust said tapping her cane against the floor in thought for a moment. "As we have never had a Head of the family living outside this realm, it has never actually come up. But I guess it would be up to you what is to happen. You could make it so that they can come to visit for small periods of time or just hope that Henry and your guards, both present and future, have time to see their families during your visits here. You might even decide on a rotation of guards so that they serve for a certain amount of time, for example, the times between your tri-yearly visit and before you leave the realm your guard detail changes out," she suggested.
"I guess it would be something to think about," Harry said as if the whole idea of becoming the head of this group was not a major decision that could affect his life and those of his mates."
"Take all the time you need," Faust said making Harry wonder if she was talking about the question he had asked about his "guards" or about him becoming the head of the group.
"Can I have at least a chance to discuss it with all of my mates before I decide anything?" Harry asked.
"That is a wise choice," Faust said giving him an approving nod but rather than letting him lead the room she made a gesture as Moch'lo, Chet, Crabbe, Draco, and even Luna's dad were brought to the front of the room. "I will leave you all to discuss the matter in private," Faust said as she struck her cane to the floor making the crowd of kneeling Dark Faries get to their feet and leave the room. Faust, however, just moved back to the brazier putting up an opaque barrier around it and herself rather than leave the room.
"How did you all get here?" Harry asked as his remaining Mates, Draco, and Luna's Dad joined them.
Flashback
After Oxford had been tasked to leave the Hall of the Eternal Torch to give Lord Harry and his mates longer passes to visit the Fairy Relm, he decided to take some initiative. Having seen how reluctant Lord Harry seemed to take over as Head of the Thirteenth Family, Oxford guessed that at some point he would require the rest of his mates to help him make the right choice. So after dealing with the passes, Oxford got all the information he could about Lord Harry's visit to the realm from the members of the Momataro family. Getting the name of the Fairy girl who was accompanying him, Oxford left the Fairy Realm to pay a visit to the girl's home.
"Dear me," Xenophilius said as he answered his door to find Oxford with his Skull mask firmly in place to handle the light outside the Peverell Compound.
"Are you Xenophilius Lovegood, father of one Luna Sanaso Lavosook Chantrachar Lovegood?" Oxford asked.
"I am, has there been trouble in the Fairy Realm?" Xeno asked knowing that his daughter's full name was only ever used among the people of her and his late wife.
"Nothing concerning your daughter, but I was hoping you could help me get in touch with the mates of Lord Harry," Oxford said.
"Lord Harry?" Xeno muttered to himself before asking in a normal volume, "Why do you need to meet with them?"
"Lord Harry is to become a Leader of one of the Fairy World's Thirteen families. However, he is showing signs of hesitation. I know that some would wish to speak to their families about such a decision, so rather than wait for him to call for them and waste time for them to be summoned, I would bring them back with me. You as well if you can help me in my task," Oxford explained.
"But I have been banished from the realm?" Xeno asked.
"I can give you a temporary pass for the visit, though I must warn you that if you agree, you will have to wear an enchanted cuff that will cut off all your access to your Magic for the duration of the visit," Oxford said having already picked up a cuff from a Momataro member before he came to this side of the barrier.
"Can I also find out how I got banished in the first place? I don't recall breaking any laws or anything during my visit back when my wife brought me along to introduce our daughter to her family," Xeno asked.
"I can look into it, but I am not sure you might like the answer," Oxford cautioned.
"Hey, I just want to find out what I did wrong. I mean as far as I know, I did not hurt anyone or damage anything. It has always been a mystery to me," Xeno said accepting Oxford's request as he moved to the fireplace to Floo Call the Flint family's home since that was where Harry and his mates were staying until Hogwarts term started.
"Xenophilius? This is a surprise, I thought you were accompanying my Nehphew to the Fairy Realm?" Marcie Flint responded as she saw his head in her fireplace.
"I am bared from the realm, but I have a representative who stopped by looking to get in contact with the rest of Harry's mates," Xeno explained.
"Has something gone wrong?" Marcie asked fearing for Harry and the others.
"Not really, the guy said that Harry has an issue that might require him to discuss it with all his mates, so when he had been tasked to do a job, the Fairy came over to collect the others rather than waiting and wasting time when Harry would need them," Xeno said.
"I will go get them," Marcie said leaving the room to find Moch'lo, Crabb, and Chet. Not knowing how long it would take to summon the three and thinking they might need to hear what he had told Marcie before they decided to come over, Xeno kept his face in the Floo and just looked around the Flint's receiving room. He noticed that there was a small display case where some of Marcie's Quidditch trophies were kept as were some plants Douglas maintained. There were no traces of any other member of Marcie's nest due to outside the family and certain allies who knew about Marcie being a Drak they had to maintain that Marcie was only married to Douglas.
Feeling the Fairy man tapping his shoulder, Xeno pulled his head out of the Floo to ask what the man wanted. He was thankful the Floo ended when he had pulled his head out for he fell into the fireplace seeing Harry's remaining mates had shown up evidently having just Portaled into the room. "Dear Merlin," Xeno said taking a moment to collect himself.
"Sorry about that," Moch'lo said easily helping Xeno to his feet. "Marcie said you wanted to see us about something happening in the Fairy Realm concerning Harry?"
"He can explain what he wants," Xeno said gesturing towards the man in the strange mask and dark cloak which caused the others to start having not even noticed him.
"I am sorry to summon you," the man said. "My name is Oxford and I am a member of the Death Guard of the Thirteenth Fairy Family. When Lord Harry entered our realm he was shown to be someone who was destined to lead our family. He and those who came with him to our world have been brought to the family compound so he can take up his post. He is showing some reluctance and I felt he might soon ask to see all of his mates to help him make a decision on taking up the post. Since I had been given a task by the current steward of the family, I decided to bring you all to him," Oxford explained.
"Why was he chosen to lead your family?" Moch'lo asked.
"There is an old Prophecy concerning our family that in a time of trouble, one who is Thrice touched by the Veil will come forward from off-world to lead our family," Oxford explained. "When Lord Harry's party was scanned at the entrance checkpoint his coming in contact with the Veil was discovered and we were notified. He was brought to the family compound and is at this very moment being told all about our family."
"But why use an outsider, even if they have been "thrice touched?" Chet asked.
"Before I left, Lady Faust revealed that from his Fairy side, Lord Potter is already a member of the Peverell family," Oxford said making Xeno let out a gasp of surprise as he grabbed at the sign of the Deathly Hallows he wore on his necklace knowing the Peverells were connected to the Hallows and possibly their creators.
"So he is a member of this line already but why would he need to lead it?" Moch'lo asked trying to remain calm and not let his Drak side out fearing for his Submissive.
"Besides the Prophecy saying he would be needed, I don't know. But I am sure there must be a reason," Oxford answered with a shrug.
"But he is an Omega, and while he has fought and killed others doing so was very painful to his system," Chet said.
"I can't tell you anymore, maybe Lady Faust can. I just thought it would save time to bring you to him before he asks for you himself. Since it might take a while," Oxford said.
"Why would it take a while?" Moch'lo asked.
"The Fairy World is as large as this side of the barrier is your Portals don't work in the realm, and the Peverell Compound is half a planet away. I left word with the border agents to contact a team to help you get there once we arrive but it would still take us half an hour to transport you all at once." Oxford said.
"But not you?" Chet asked.
"Due to our family's role in the Fairy World, we have access to magic and technology given to us from the Quantomes and Cerbee Families which allows us near-instant travel when we go alone," Oxford said.
"What sort of job do you have that would require that?" Crabbe asked.
"Our family is responsible for the death rites of the population of the entire Realm. So we can be summoned at any time anywhere in the world just in case someone's belief requires us to act as soon as a person perishes to do our job," Oxford explained.
"Is that why you are wearing a Death Mask and said you are a member of the Death Guard?" Chet asked as he, Moch'lo, and Crabbe shared a look knowing about Harry having the Master of Death Title.
"Only partially," Oxford said knocking a fist against his skull mask. "All members of the Thirteenth Family are Dark Faries and we can not normally handle normal light sources like others do. This mask helps me function outside the perpetual darkness where the Peverall compound is located," Oxford shared knowing that Lord Harry had already been given some members of the Death Guard to serve as added security that would accompany him back to this side of the barrier.
"I will also mention that one of the reasons Lord Harry is having difficulty with taking up the post is he does not want to be in control of, as he called it, a Death Cult. We are not, but since there is a chance that even Hyrbrid Faries can produce a Dark Fairy offspring during a mating, unless you all wanted to move to a low-light world the only way the Peverell family would take the child in so they could have a "normal life" is if Lord Harry visits the compound at least three times a year," Oxford said trying to get the group hurried along.
"If he needs us all to help him make this choice we are missing someone," Moch'lo said.
"Ah, yes we have records of him asking about a Veela mate who might join his clan later. By all means summon them so we can get going," Oxford said. Since Oxford clearly showed he was in a hurry to go and had mentioned he was trying to save time, Moch'lo used a Floo Portal to contact Draco to see if he could accompany them. Since Draco had only been able to travel to Risa before, he jumped at the opportunity to visit another world even if it was just a realm located on a different dimensional plain as the one he lived on without leaving Earth.
Oxford's group had little trouble getting through border security as the Death Guard presence got them right through without a fuss. However, everyone still had to turn over their wands and weapons to the Momotaru agent. Who then passed the bundle which now included Harry and his party's wands and Freya's Crossbow over to Oxford. The most time at the checkpoint was getting Xenophilius the special one-time pass as well as finding out why the man had been banished from the Fairy World. Xeno spent some of the trip grumbling after Oxford passed on the information packet on him. It turned out Pandora's father the current Head of the Vinsoka Family had not liked the fact that his eldest and Heir to the family had chosen to leave the Fairy World and move to be with Xeno on the other side of the barrier. Not wanting to punish his daughter or make her unable to return, Pandora's father Tibataina had banished Xenophilius in the hopes of separating the pair. Not that it worked since Pandora had never returned to the Fairy World to live with her husband and daughter until her untimely death four years later.