Rise from the Ashes, Chapter 9.

Alfea, Magix.

Harry watched and heard as Faragonda spoke to the Paladins, making it clear that the Trix were to be given a trial. He didn't know what kind of leverage she had, but was glad she used it to help. At the same time he felt secure in the knowledge that the Trix could escape any time they wanted with their new and enhanced powers, Gloomix, as well as the inbuilt portkey.

The surprise of Darcy's kiss was still prevalent in his mind. Having no idea how to feel about that or what that meant. Did he like her that way? Should he give it a shot or ignore it and move on? He was around ten years their senior, after all. 'Questions for another time.' he mused. Now there were more important matters to handle.

Bloom stood beside the raven-haired man, uncertainly switching from looking to him and the Trix a few times. “Do they mean that much to you, that you'd go so far for them?” she finally inquired, not able to see anyone else but the Trix themselves caring about them.

Harry sighed and shrugged. “A friend of mine would call it my 'Saving-People-Thing'.” a small fond smile adorned his features as he remembered his friends. “Though, I do see myself in them a little bit. I know how it is for people to expect you to act a certain way. Only because you resemble someone from their past. Be it positive or negative. Completely ignoring that you're your own person. Most do not even bother with trying to see the real you.” There were many examples of that in his past. An example would be Sirius, Remus and many of their friends to constantly compare him to James Potter. Harry liked Quidditch well enough, but loved flying much more and was not much of a prankster himself, thinking it resembled bullying too much. On the other hand there were people like Snape, Petunia and Vernon.

“I gave them the benefit of the doubt and I'll see how it turns out and handle it from there.” it worked for him every other time. Why not this time as well?

“I see.” was all Bloom could say to that, having much to think about. She shifted in place uncomfortably at being possibly in the wrong to such a degree.

Faragonda soon finished with the Paladins rejoined them. “I made sure to that the Trix will receive a trial. I don't know when it will be, but it shouldn't be more than a month with how notorious and infamous they are.” it was a high profile case and those usually were worked on faster than others. It cost her quite a bit of political clout too.

“Hopefully. I wouldn't put it past the authority figures to take them into custody and simply postpone the trial indefinitely.” Harry commented casually and cynically, his gaze locked onto the retreating ship. He knew the location of their base and if necessary would break the Trix out.

“I don't think the Council of Light would do that!” Bloom protested weakly, despite that there was hesitancy and doubt in her words.

“Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?” Harry questioned with a raised eyebrow before stating. “They imprisoned them on Omega without a trial before, despite knowing Darkar was able to control people. You should know that better than anyone else.” he looked into her cyan eyes briefly before Bloom broke the contact and added. “I've enough experience with corrupt governments to know that not giving people a trial and silencing their voice usual means they're afraid of what you have to say or what you can do.”

“Speaking of Darkar, before you arrived with the Trix, Bloom and I had an interesting conversation connected to that.” Faragonda interjected with a change of topic. Not wanting him to grow angry and potentially level Alfea. “However, that's not a conversation we should be holding in public.” with that said she superstitiously cast a look around and lead them back to her office.

After arriving Faragonda closed the door, and sealed the room magically against scrying and other methods of espionage. “Now we can't be overheard or spied on magically.” Faragonda alternated looking from Bloom to Harry for a few moments. Her fingers steepled in front of her, elbows resting on the desk. Finally a sigh escaped her and the old fairy began. “Bloom here explained to me an interesting problem. Ever since being controlled by Darkar she had problems with her temper, more so than usual that is.” the remark let Bloom's head erupt in a blush of embarrassment. “I personally attribute it an echo of his essence. However, she also told me that being near you calms her down.” here her eyes grew intense as her intertwined fingers tightened. “So, how long have you've been the Shadow Phoenix, Mr. Potter?” having decided to cut straight to the heart of the matter.

Harry was more than a little bit surprised, but still relaxed. “Figured that out during my hospital visit, did you?” he inquired curiously and upon Faragonda's nod he chuckled. “Should have guessed this would happen.”

Bloom grew extremely pale, staring at him in mortification, shame and revulsion. “You're the Shadow Phoenix?!” she exclaimed loudly, nearly leaping out of her seat but not transforming. While she harboured doubts as to Faragonda's claims, it would explain much.

“Since recently, yes.” he answered calmly. Not at all bothered by her behaviour, if a little surprised by it.

Faragonda nodded, looking at him intently behind her glasses. “I thought as much. There has to be a Shadow Phoenix, always.” to kill the Shadow Phoenix was impossible, after all. It's power guaranteed to search for a new host upon the death of the old one.

“What're you talking about?!” Bloom demanded slightly hysterical. Not knowing what was going on and torn between fight or flight. In the end she did neither. “I thought we vanquished Darkar!”

“You did, but the power of the Shadow Phoenix simply gained a new host. As the name implies it always comes back, reborn anew.” Faragonda sighed and looked at Bloom, obviously debating just what she should tell her. Once she reached a conclusion, the old fairy said. “It seems it's time for you to learn some history of the Magical Galaxy not many know about. Normally I wouldn't even be allowed to tell you this. However, because you are directly affected I feel it necessary.”

Thoroughly confused, Bloom asked. “What're you talking about, Headmistress? I've learned plenty about history during class.” not knowing why Faragonda didn't seem phased by the next big bad sitting in her office.

“Not the true one, I fear.” Faragonda said heavily before waving her hand. A silver tray appeared one the desk, carrying an immaculate pot and cups of porcelain and intricate design, summoned by the fairy from the kitchen. Bloom declined the offer and after doling out some steaming liquid to herself and Harry, she went on. “Bloom, as you know there is the Dragon's Flame you possess within you, as well as the power of the Shadow Phoenix now residing inside Harry here. They're said to be opposites, light and dark, but that is not true.” she shook her head. “What not many people know is that there also exist a third power, the Water Stars.”

Despite having many questions in the back of her mind, Bloom was too stunned to speak. A third power? One nearly no one knew about? Without noticing she leaned forward in anticipation.

Faragonda sat her saucer down gently, looking at Bloom intently. “In truth, the Dragon's Flame and the Water Stars are opposites. Light and Dark. Positive and Negative. They created the Magical Galaxy at the beginning. The Shadow Phoenix came into being shortly after and in turn had been responsible for keeping the balance between them. With his own ability to absorb magic, he took power from one and gave to the other. In case one side grew too strong or too weak.” it was much like a witch being able to become a Fairy or vice versa. “This triumvirate successfully kept balance for millennia.”

“What happened then?” Bloom couldn't help but ask, enraptured. She knew that Darkar had the power to absorb magic and redirect it.

Harry too was intrigued by the tale, despite not knowing much about any of it. Though, he reclined on the comfortable chair, enjoying his tea. It had been a while since he had a good cup, after all.

“Folly happened.” came the forlorn answer. Faragonda looked out the window at the idyllic scene outside her window. It mocked her words, calling them lies. “At a time when the the Water Stars and the witches possessing them were weak someone overpowered and beat them, stripping the Water Stars off them. The Water Stars themselves were locked away, banished to a pocket dimension called the Golden Kingdom.” the unusual amount of venom in her words directed at the place took Bloom aback. “While Darkar was imprisoned by the High Templar himself. One of the few who could've accomplished the deed against the then weakened Shadow Phoenix.” the old fairy gripped the armrests of her seat tightly. “I don't know if things could've gone differently, but those actions ultimately led to the destruction of Domino down the line.” Faragonda heard Bloom's gasp but soldiered on. “Without anything to oppose it the Dragon's Flame grew out of control, threatening to consume Domino and everything else, causing the royal family to build around the Great Dragon's resting grounds and creating the Vortex of Flames.”

Faragonda let the two digest it a little bit before going on. “Still bound to bring balance, but unable to uphold it, Darkar and the Ancestral Witches, the previous holders of the Water Stars, planned to use it to bring balance once more to the Magical Galaxy.” here the headmistress took another sip from her tea, letting the heat sooth her old throat. “I can only guess that part of the plan was obtaining the Crystal of Power. Something that can only be summoned when two of the three work together to do so. With the Water Stars not available there was only one choice.” that caused her to remember Valtor being in the possession of a part of the Dragon's Flame. Though, he also betrayed his creators in his lust for power.

The red-haired fairy couldn't believe her ears. The tale sounding too fantastical to be believed. Upending all of her beliefs, all of what she had seen and known until now. “But, why do this?” Bloom practically pleaded, hoping Faragonda to be joking or this to be a dream. It was the cold reality however, and Faragonda had never lied to her. “Why risk such dire consequences?”

“The Council of Light, those responsible for this, wanted to bring about their own version of an utopia and believed the Water Stars and the Shadow Phoenix stood in the way of it.” Faragonda explained patiently, sorrow lacing her words at having to shatter Bloom's world. “If you look no further than the surface then you'd be forgiven to think they succeeded.” Faragonda stood up and walked to the window, looking out with both hands clasped behind her back. “And to my shame, fool that I was, I helped them create it, learning of the truth too late to change anything.” she admitted mournfully, turning back to face her guests. “Had Darkar not become so twisted from his imprisonment and consumed by revenge I maybe would've helped instead of opposing him.”

Bloom slumped back in her seat, staring at nothing in particular.

Silence reigned for a while, only interrupted by the clinking of crockery. After a minute Harry took the opportunity to chime in. “I'm not surprised that the types to imprison people without a trial would do such a thing. However, this planet doesn't feel unbalanced.” it seemed very much like Earth to him, just more advanced.

“You mostly have the witches' presence to thank for that.” Faragonda chuckled at Bloom's incredulous look and smiled in a self-deprecating way. “Ironic isn't it? Fairies are sworn to preserve the Magical Galaxy and yet the Witches' mere presence does more for that than any fairy could ever hope to contribute right now. Not that they're appreciated for it or even know their importance themselves.” it had been all too easy to paint the Ancestral Witches and witches in general as evil. The victor decided history, after all.

“The witches, really? The same ones that live in Cloud Tower?” Bloom couldn't help but question out of reflex. Cyan eyes wide and voice thick with disbelief.

“The very same.” Faragonda confirmed with a nod before sitting down again. “Without the Water Stars, the biggest source of negative energy in the Magical Galaxy, it fell the witches to pick up the slack.” she sighed mournfully, remembering Griffin's troubles and resentment. “Crippled as they are that was and still is an impossible task. Soon they had been pushed back until only Cloud Tower remained.” it was the last and only known school for witches left in the entire Magical Galaxy.

“But Stella, Tecna, Musa or the others would know when something isn't right with their home worlds!” Bloom cried desperately, trying to deny it all vehemently. In the years she had spent with them none told her of problems on their home planets.

Faragonda shook her head, elbows on her desk. “You have only seen Earth and Magix, worlds that are relatively unscathed. While your friends have a different problem; their sheltered lifestyle.” she gestured around her. “Alfea is a school for fairies, true. However, all those who attend are royalty or closely connected to them. Something that warps their perception, because they never actually saw or recognized the problem, much less interacted with it.” she sighed once more. “It also isn't helped that each royal family chooses their representative on the Council of Light. So, I'd advocate against telling them these things for fear of someone being told by them.”

“Why tell us this at all then, if it's forbidden to do so?” Bloom finally asked, utterly spent and exhausted. Feeling left alone as another burden settled on her shoulders. Not even able to tell her friends in fear of others learning of it. She smiled a bit as Harry laid his hand on top of hers, interlacing their fingers and squeezed in a gesture of support.

Giving the young fairy a sympathetic look, Faragonda explained. “Because your fates are intertwined now and sooner or later you'd have to deal with it. I'm just sorry you had to learn this way.” at Bloom's acknowledging and resigned nod, Faragonda turned to Harry. “What I don't know is how you came in the possession of that power. Do you have any idea, Mr. Potter?”

Harry scratched his beard with his free hand, thinking. “Well, the only thing I can think of are the Deathly Hallows.” he then told them an abridged version of the legends and the events leading to him possessing them. As well as pulling the artefacts out to show them. “I can only imagine that 'Death' in that story was actually this Darkar character.”

“I agree.” the headmistress concurred easily, holding the silvery cloak in her hands and letting it run through her fingers. “That's why his cloak was in tatters.” she murmured before clearing her throat. “It explains why he was so weakened. Evidently Darkar had imbued these items with most his power and somehow succeeded in placing them on Earth. Once someone worthy had collected all three the power transferred to him, followed by the rest upon Darkar's death.” it was most likely done so that he could never be imprisoned again in such a manner. “Quite an ingenious idea. Nobody from the Magical Galaxy would look on Earth for anything of him.” she handed him back the cloak.

Mollified that Harry wasn't the same as Darkar, Bloom inquired curiously. “Are our powers responsible for that connection between us?” the question was followed by her squirming in her seat, growing a bit hot under the collar.

“Not under normal circumstances, no.” Faragonda began and told her. “It seems Mr. Potter here possesses a piece of the Dragon's Flame.” also something that had been revealed during the medical exam. Her eyes turned to Bloom. “While you still have a piece of his power residing inside of you, a remnant from your possession. Both calling out to each other.”

“How did you get a part of the Dragon's Flame?” Bloom blurted out, demanded really. At his amused look she promptly blushed, pulled her hand back as if burned followed by fiddling with the hem of her skirt.

Harry chuckled and waved her off. “My guess is that I received it from this Valtor. The time where I felt different coincides with his death.” he said smoothly, no lie leaving his lips. Valtor had died by him extracting the Dragon's Flame from him.

Faragonda hummed in thought, rubbing her chin. “Well, that does seem plausible, considering that his part of the Dragon's Flame also was touched by Darkar at one point.” seeing Bloom about to speak made the headmistress put her hand up to stop it. “I know what you're going to ask and there is a simple solution to your problem.” Harry didn't know why Faragonda was smiling somewhat mischievously. Eyes twinkling merrily like Dumbledore's always did. “To return these pieces to where they belong you simply need to kiss.”

“Come again?” Bloom choked out, stunned once more before growing as red as her hair. Followed by sputtering. “Why?”

The old fairy grinned as she elucidated. “Well, the mouth is the fastest connection to the soul, which is deeply intertwined with your magic.”

“That's true.” Harry confirmed with a sigh and closed eyes. The Dementor's Kiss came to mind quick enough. After opening his eyes and seeing that Bloom was hesitant and uncomfortable, he tried to lighten the mood. “I hope I'm not too hideous.” he joked, chuckling.

Bloom shook her head vehemently, hands waving in front of her as she stuttered. “No, no.. you..you're handsome.” a blush grew on her face now, feeling as if it extended down her neck. “It's just...” a mix of guilt, want and confusion roiled in her heart. She wanted to help Harry, and still did, but this seemed too much. Dangerously close to betraying Sky.

“All a bit much?” he finished for her after which Bloom gave him a reluctant nod. “We don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with.” he assured her, a soft smile playing on his face. He knew she had a boyfriend and didn't want to be a possible issue between them. “Besides, we don't have to do it now, if at all.”

Bloom said gratefully. “Thank you.” smiling slightly, something loosened around her heart. While she didn't feel the angry pulsing and pounding behind her eyes with him present, she did feel the pull towards Harry consistently strengthening during the whole conversation. She wanted to get rid of this problem, but without cheating on Sky. The fairy ignored her more vindictive side that demanded she kiss the older man in revenge for Sky ignoring her calls and messages. Not to mention all the other things she had learned today still on her mind. Unbelievable things, all things considered. But she trusted Faragonda.

“No problem.” he waved her off. “I have to thank you for that enlightening talk.” standing up, he smiled roguishly at them. “I wish you a good day ladies.”

“You should briefly visit the Hospital Wing before you go, Mr. Potter. Ofelia can give you some tips for your predicament.” Faragonda advised earnestly.

Harry nodded again and left the office, closing the door softly behind him.

“Do you need me for anything else, headmistress?” Bloom was already halfway out of her seat.

“Yes, Bloom, there is one more thing.” Sadly, it wouldn't be good news either. “It also has to do with the destruction of Domino, and what consequences that has for your next year of schooling here at Alfea.”

Thoroughly confused, Bloom asked. “What has that to do with my last year here?” these things did not seem related at all. A sinking feeling made itself known in her stomach, as if she ate a rock that now sat in her stomach, dragging her back down onto the seat.

Sighing sadly, Faragonda was briefly indecisive before squaring her shoulders to get it over with. “You see, the next year has no exams or tests of any kind. The only thing you have to accomplish is gaining your Enchantix.” at Bloom's nod, indicating she knew that, Faragonda stood up and continued. “Some fairies gain it quickly, while others need more than one year to do so.” by the end she knelt in front of Bloom, taking both of the younger fairy's in her hands as a show of support. “However, you will most likely never be able to gain Enchantix, because it only can be achieved by rescuing someone from your homeworld and show great sacrifice doing so.”

“But, but...” the Fairy of the Dragon's Flame stuttered out, eyes wide with tears beginning to pool in her eyes. “Everyone from Domino but me is dead.” she croaked, the words wooden and damning all at once.

“Yes.” was all the headmistress responded with, voice full of sorrow and sympathy.

It took a while for Bloom to return to anything resembling normalcy, quickly going through the first two stages of grief. Denial by clinging to some hope that soon evaporated, not able to deceive herself so much. Anger was more up her alley, raging at Faragonda for even allowing her to attend Alfea, knowing she could never be a complete fairy. Only to be reminded that she cheated her way in and everyone, including herself, thought she was from Earth.

Bloom hollowly said goodbye to Faragonda and took to wandering the empty halls of Alfea bereft of its pupils. All of them enjoying the school holidays with their families.

'What should I do?' she thought, aimlessly strolling through corridors. 'Maybe looking for someone from Domino? How, putting up an add in the Galactic Web?' she derisively snorted to herself. 'That'll go over great. “Princess from Domino looking for someone also from Domino, to rescue in a totally not staged manner?”' she shook her head, banishing that ridiculous thought. The act wouldn't be selfless then, would it?

She briefly entertained the thought of becoming a witch. 'If Faragonda is to be believed then they need help.' that thought was followed by. 'I did pretty good in these few classes I attended at Cloud Tower last year.' despite knowing witches were not evil, Bloom couldn't convince herself to let go of being a fairy just yet. Too many bad encounters with the Trix and too much invested in being a fairy already. “Last resort, definitely last resort!” she mumbled to herself.

She noticed that her wanderings had brought her to the hospital wing, having subconsciously followed that connection to Harry. Bloom perked up at that. 'Maybe he can help?!' elation filled her, causing a minuscule smile. 'Darkar did give the Trix a power boost, so maybe Harry could do the same with fairies? Or maybe getting the rest of the Dragon's Flame would help me achieve Enchantix?'

“So, I can't just keep casting magic to alleviate it?” Harry asked the nurse with an annoyed scowl. Peeved that it wasn't as easy as that. Already he felt the symptoms of having too much magic in his system returning.

The nurse, Ofelia, sat in her white medical chair before him. She and Harry were currently in her office, a room adjacent to the hospital wing. The bed on which Harry now sat stood in the corner, able to be closed off by a curtain. Aside from the desk, bed and chair it contained two closets and a bookcase.

Ofelia's arms were crossed as she gave him her best impression of Madame Pomfrey. “No, young man, you in fact cannot!” she huffed but her bespectacled glare softened somewhat. “You may be able to do so for a short while, but too much casting also puts a strain on your magical circuits.” Ofelia sighed as she read from his sheet, exasperation clear in her tone. Something he was very familiar with from nurses. “It isn't helped by the fact that the process of Evaporation doesn't apply to you; meaning you don't bleed any of your magic off into the environment around you. That on top of your own magic constantly replenishing, combined with your ungodly amount, makes this a tricky situation indeed.”

Harry frowned in displeasure, not liking the answer. Slowly the pressure inside him built up again, unstoppable like the tides. It would've caused him to grimace, if he wasn't so used to pain by now.

Apparently he couldn't cast enough magic to make it go away without damaging his magical circuits. Though, casting constantly didn't so much deplete his reserves as much as keeping them constant due to his magic naturally replenishing itself. Doing nothing amounted to the same thing. Only difference was his circuits bursting instead of abusing them through too much usage. Magical circuits resembled muscles in that regard. Use them too often without resting and risk tearing something. It was annoying to be honest and he knew the Crystal of Power was responsible. The problem was that he didn't know how to get rid of it, of if he even could.

“What do you propose I do then?” Harry finally demanded, not seeing a good way out.

Ofelia turned and rolled towards her desk and looked for something. “I have, well, not a cure but something capable of alleviating the symptoms.” before he could ask for more, she found it, turned and explained. “We just have to use a different method to get the magical energy out of you.” she grinned, which caused Harry to feel as if he swallowed stones. A nurse's joy was usually his pain or embarrassment. “Now, something you likely don't know is that your bodily fluids are excellent at holding magical energy. Especially blood and semen.”

“Alright, how much do I need to bleed in day?” he inquired, shoulders slumped in relief. It didn't sound too bad. Blood-replenishing potions were a thing, after all.

Ofelia was smiling, if a bit woodenly. “I would advise against that. Not because bleeding you wouldn't work.” she said and her tone was coloured with incredulity, holding his sheet that contained his test results in her hand and lightly slapping it with her knuckles. “But because somehow there are substances in your blood that altered it in such a way that it wouldn't react well when coming in contact with a blood-replenishing potion.” how this young man was alive after coming in contact with half the substances on this list was beyond her. “The results would resemble throwing porcupine quills into a cure for boils before taking the cauldron off the fire.”

Harry blanched and rocked back at that vivid image, imagining himself as a puddle of horrid smelling goo on the floor.

Ignoring his reaction, Ofelia stood and went to a nearby cabinet, rummaging around inside. “Do not fret, I have something able to help you in here, somewhere.” the muffled clinking of glass vials could be heard. “Aha, here it is.” she pulled out one that contained a vivid blue potion and walked in front of him. “As you've no doubt surmised by now, you need to find... ah... ejaculate a certain number of times a day. You'd have to experiment to know how many.” she told him carefully, putting it in his hand. “This everlasting potion makes sure that your quill is always inked, shall we say. As well as greatly increasing the volume released to help carry more magical energy with it.” more spunk released meant more magical energy out of his system, after all.

Holding the vial up and eyeing the potion, Harry turned to look at Ofelia's face directly, inquiring dryly. “Any side-effects I should know about?” somehow he had expected something to go south, but his bipolar luck never went in the direction where he needed a sperm-replenishing potion that lasted indefinitely. Then again, without it Harry would be empty after a while and that wouldn't help with his problem.

“No, but I'll give you a list of potions you should stay away from after drinking it.” Ofelia told him and handing him the potion. The finished paper already sat on her desk. While Everlasting Potions were useful in that their effects lasted until the counter-agent was administered, they also had drawbacks. Namely that you were limited in a few ways due to some potions not mixing well with each other. Luckily, the ones her newest patient couldn't take were so obscure it made little difference.

After he drank it and Ofelia gave him the list of things he should avoid, she told him with a glint in her eyes. “Oh, before I forget. You should know that while doing it alone does help, it is much more efficient with a partner.” seeing that everything was in order, she said before making to leave. “I'll leave you to it, then.”

“Thank you.” he told her sincerely. Ofelia shortly closed the privacy screen around his bed. The enchanted fabric hid him completely from view and cancelled out any noise from inside.

Barely finished with that Ofelia turned and saw Bloom coming into the room. The fairy with fiery butt-length hair wore her usual outfit, consisting of a cyan and white striped midriff top with small pink hearts and a dark blue ruffle denim skirt. A pink arm-band on her left arm, over-the-knee cyan socks and dark blue platform boots with white tips and pink lace completed the look.

“Bloom, what can I do for you?” the bespectacled nurse asked, fidgeting a little. Normally she'd be pleasantly surprised by the unexpected visit, but she didn't know how much Bloom overheard. Though, she was always happy to help the fairy, despite her being a near regular resident of the hospital wing. Yet, looking at the red-haired young woman showed her to be sad and rather defeated.

Bloom sighed, shoulders squared resolutely. “Is Harry still here?” she didn't know why she lied, already knowing that he was here, having overheard the conversation of the two. By now she only followed her instincts and the feeling that drew her to him. 'What kind of fairy am I? Can't even achieve Enchantix or graduate from Alfea on my own.' Bloom thought glumly, but banished these thoughts, following her plan. All the other things she experienced and learned today not exactly helping with cheering her up after what the headmistress told her.

Flushing a bit, the nurse told her hesitantly. “Oh, yes, but he is currently busy.”

“Busy, how? I wanted to help him.” Even if she couldn't gain her Enchantix with Harry's aid then she at least would've helped someone in need, as a proper fairy should. Not to mention that it wouldn't be fair to Sky, should she always be distracted by this bond she had with Harry. One little kiss shouldn't be too much to ask, she reckoned. 'He helped me before. The least I can do is help him out, too.' she thought resolutely. Sick of feeling helpless and useless ever since Darkar's control over her had been lifted. She had hoped Sky would be someone she could confide in, but not a word from him came. No matter how much she called or messaged. The phone with many read messages from her testament to that. Sky couldn't be so busy for so long that sending a message was inconvenient.

Despite Ofelia's insistence to keep her away, Bloom did not budge and in the end used a little magic to send the nurse away. A normal person having no chance against the might wielded by the Fairy of the Dragon's Flame.

As the nurse left the room, Bloom couldn't help but remember the talk in the White Horse about the difference between witches and fairies vividly. Something that only made her more curious, the heat spreading through her body swiftly. Besides, she wasn't a complete virgin; having given oral a few times to Andy, her ex-boyfriend from Earth. Her curiosity and impulsive nature were inflamed together with her tendency to try and avoid problems. Talking with Harry would serve as a suitable distraction, she figured. Maybe he could even help her with some advice, if nothing else?

'Besides, I'm a princess in name only. A princess of a dead planet because of which I can't achieve my Enchantix.' there were no betrothals in place for her or other obligations she had to keep like Stella, Aisha or Tecna. And apparently her boyfriend ignored her.

With a resolve she usually had for battles Bloom approached the curtain. Still drawn to Harry as her heart sped up faster and faster, blood surging through her. Imagination running wild at what could lie behind the screen.