Worthy Of Magic

Part 56 - String of Fate, Entwined.

'You have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and you've been brought up in hate and pain. You're not rash like Gryffindor and neither are you manipulative like Slytherin. You're ruled by emotions and you need to learn about emotions if you are to choose a path. The question is; are you capable of undoing the damage done to your mind or will you continue to wallow in hate and become a true monster.' - The Sorting Hat.

The Settlement, Time Unknown

Harry's conversation with the Council after he brought up Daphne was short.

At best, in between common words like Goodwill, Determination, Desire for revenge, resistance, natural born Leader; Harry deciphered guilt rampant in most of their emotions.

Daphne had asked for help - to find him by travelling in the treacherous desert, and they had all fallen prey to their selfish desire to survive.

Sirius was the only one openly bitter about it. "It's your fault if she dies out there," he had said harshly.

It had no effect on Harry. To him, it was simple, the Desert had shown them who they really were. Everyone served their own desires and the commonalities in them was what held them together.

Daphne had held them together because, he knew, deep down, she desired status, to be a leader; and was willing to go the murky mile to get there. She wanted to prove, that as numero-uno, she would be revered by her subjects, and in the Desert, she had marvellously succeeded at that.

He understood now, what he saw in her then, when they had created a faint bond of familiarity in the Hogwarts library.

She had left because the all-important by-product of wealth was missing from the desert. She had come to a plateau where the power of influence and administration was dull for her.

And that was what mused Harry. Why could she not see the beauty in the Desert? It was a canvas for creation and she could have gone even further but instead, she was drawn to the past, to him, for answers that didn't exist.

"It's this way."

After agreeing to stay in the camp without causing trouble or hurting anyone who'd want to hurt him for creating the desert, the Council adjourned and Jenna volunteered to show him where he could set up shelter.

She had led him in silence, a torch in hand, her colours brewing with curiosity and a changed perspective. She wanted to say something but wasn't able to formulate a neutral opening statement.

Harry smiled. His skill at interpreting perceptions through aura had taken a leap forward.

"Something on your mind?" he asked, deciding to break the silence.

"You're not what I expected at all," she burst out and then blinked in slight embarrassment. "I mean, you seem rational but it boggles my mind that a rational mind could conceive this," she said with a sweep of her hands around the desert.

Harry thought about it for a moment and the answer was quite clear. "The limits of rationality is proportional to the power at your disposal."

Jenna scoffed. "That rational is called insanity, Harry. We've all thought about this but crossing that line is a no-no. We know it's a line of no return."

"The inverse still applies," Harry replied with a shrug. "Interesting still, why do you think my reasons for creating the desert is something we've all thought about? Specifically what do you mean we?"

"Oh, come on Harry," she laughed. "Being feed up with society? Wanting to kill uber pampered assholes who treat the gift of life like shit? Wishing to control the world and having the power to wipe it clean? Every rational being on the planet has those thoughts and dreams," she said sarcastically. "You're not as special as you think you are. You just have the power to believe you are."