The group dispersed hours later, and Harry took the opportunity to intercept Jon.
He placed his hand firmly on Jon's shoulder to stop him before wrapping an arm around his neck.
"How's my little brother?" Harry said with a smile, knowing it bothered him when he called him that.
His wordless look was really amusing.
"Fine until you showed up," Jon said, elbowing him only to feel as if he had struck a steel plate.
Even though it hurt, he could only pretend he hadn't felt anything.
"Come on, I want to talk to you for a while," Harry said as he walked through the castle.
"Have you kept having dreams about Ghost? Wait, that sounds strange," Harry said with a chuckle.
"Hmm, they're becoming more vivid," Jon said with a frown.
Once, he had even seen himself sleeping, which startled him awake.
"I see, but you know, all of us who have wolves have those dreams. Well, actually, I don't because I can control it, but Sansa, Arya, and Bran have them. Rickon is still too young," Harry said with a shrug.
"Is it because of the wolves?" Jon asked, confused.
"No, idiot, it's because of the people. You should read more. A skinchanger, or a warg if it's with a wolf, has a connection that allows them to feel what the creature feels and, with practice, even enter its mind and control it."
"It's an ability that may never manifest if you don't form a bond with an animal. The animal has to accept you for it to happen," Harry said, briefly explaining how it all worked.
"Like magic?" Jon asked.
"That's right. Would you like to learn? I can teach you."
"Why now?"
"Didn't I just tell you? The fact that you can use that ability indicates that you might have an aptitude for magic," Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"Anyway, come find me when you decide you want to learn," Harry said, firmly patting his shoulder before walking away with a smile.
Sometimes Jon had a lot in common with Sansa, which was curious since they weren't siblings.
Jon watched Harry walk away with some confusion. As he headed back toward his room, he happened to run into his father.
Or rather, it seemed that his father had found him.
He couldn't help thinking that it was the day for talks.
"How about we have a talk?" Ned said with a slight smile.
Jon nodded as they both walked. Jon simply followed him, noticing that they were heading toward Harry's old solar, which now belonged to his father.
"You've always asked me to tell you who your mother is," Ned said, sitting down first and looking at Jon.
Jon's eyes narrowed to slits as his heart skipped a beat. The mystery of his birth was something that had been talked about around the castle.
Some said his mother was a prostitute, others that she was an ordinary peasant woman, and some even said she had been Ashara Dayne.
Jon had always hoped it was the latter, imagining his mother as a noble and elegant woman with a loving gaze.
But Ned's next words froze him.
"Your mother's name was Lyanna Stark," Ned said with a sigh.
The silence lasted for several seconds as Ned seemed to struggle to continue speaking.
Just as Jon was wondering whether he was the product of incest, his father continued.
"Your father's name was Rhaegar Targaryen," Ned said, looking at Jon and watching as shock and astonishment overwhelmed his face.
For a moment, Jon didn't know whether to feel relieved or confused.
"I understand your confusion, but I'm sure you also understand why your lineage couldn't be revealed."
"Robert would have killed you without a doubt, not only because you might have had a claim to the throne, but because you were the product of the union he hates so much, his beloved with his greatest enemy," Ned said, looking at Jon, who still didn't seem to react.
"I... don't know what to say," Jon said, sitting down with an almost blank expression.
"I'm sorry I kept it from you for so long, but I considered it necessary. I was afraid that in a moment of impulsiveness, you might reveal it."
"Although you're not my son, I raised you as my own, and nothing between us has to change," Ned said, looking at Jon with an unusually gentle expression.
"Then Harry isn't my brother. Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon aren't either," Jon said, confused.
"You don't have to think of it that way. Harry has known for a long time. Has he ever treated you differently?" Ned said, looking at Jon.
Jon looked up in surprise before a wry smile appeared on his face. Of course Harry knew.
"So I'm still a bastard," Jon said with a chuckle as he shook his head.
"Technically," Ned said, a shadow crossing his face. After all, Rhaegar and Lyanna had never married.
"It doesn't seem like much has changed," Jon said, grimacing slightly.
"And I suppose I can't reveal this information," Jon said, thinking that perhaps he had a claim to the Iron Throne.
"Harry might be delighted if you did. He doesn't like Robert very much," Ned said with a sigh.
"But you're a grown man now. Whatever you decide to do, you'll have to bear the responsibility for it," Ned said seriously.
"If... if I wanted the throne, would the North support me?" Jon asked, looking at Ned hesitantly.
"That's not for me to decide, but for Harry."
"But the question is, do you really want that?" Ned asked, looking at Jon.
"I don't know either," Jon said with a wry smile.
"Think about it for yourself, son. No matter what you decide, I'll support you," Ned said, patting Jon's shoulder before leaving.
Jon sighed as he sat on the bed, his mind in turmoil. He couldn't help looking back on his life.
Was he dissatisfied? Maybe a little.
He had always lived under a terrifying shadow: Harry's.
Although no one had ever compared or mocked him because of it, he had always compared himself to his brother.
The worst part was that he knew he wasn't even worth comparing to him, which was why no one ever did.
But Jon was frustrated. He trained until he was exhausted, yet he could never beat him. Harry was brilliant; it seemed like he could do anything.
He had completely changed the North, earning everyone's admiration.
And all the girls seemed to have eyes only for him. Jon had to admit that he envied Harry. He wished he could be as strong as him, have his brilliant ideas and his confidence when speaking, or simply stand there and draw everyone's attention without even trying.
Sighing, Jon lay back on the bed as his forearm covered his eyes.
….
Unaware of the psychological crisis Jon was going through, Harry ran through the forest as he escaped from his pursuers.
A wolf and a dragon.
Harry made sharp turns between the trees, dodging their attempts to knock him down.
His laughter echoed through the forest whenever he saw Nyx or Fenrir crash into a tree or stumble.
He took long strides, running at an incredible speed and making it difficult for Nyx and Fenrir to catch him.
After half an hour of running, he finally stopped, breathing heavily. The feeling of running at full speed was something that truly made him feel alive.
Nyx landed heavily beside him, snorting in annoyance at being unable to catch him.
"Maybe you're a little fat," Harry said with a laugh as he touched her abdomen, covered in soft scales.
Only to get bitten on the wrist.
Fenrir arrived a little later, panting with his tongue hanging out.
"And you, aren't you ashamed? You're a direwolf. Maybe Arya is giving you too many treats," Harry said when he saw him drop to the ground.
Fenrir didn't even bother growling at him.
Sitting beside him, Harry stroked his neck as he looked toward the forest.
Nyx also took the opportunity to rest, lying down behind Harry as she turned her neck and rested her head on Harry's lap.
"Isn't life good?" Harry said, scratching Nyx behind the horns, just the way she liked.
Her head was still growing, as were her horns. It had the typical shape of a lizard's head, but was squarer and more intimidating, with horns growing backward.
Of course, she was still young and had a lot of growing and changing left to do. Who knew what she would look like when she was fully grown.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps running through the forest. Looking in that direction, he smiled slightly when he saw his sister Arya running with Nymeria beside her.
Nymeria had also grown well thanks to the potions, although Fenrir was a little larger because of the blood magic.
At the shoulder, Fenrir was at least 10 centimeters taller.
"Harry!" Arya skidded to a stop in front of him, panting.
"Teach me another spell." She crouched down to pet Nyx.
"Show me your Lumos," Harry said, a faint smile tugging at his mouth.
Arya pulled her wand from her sleeve. "Lumos," she said, a little too loudly.
A ball of light appeared at the tip of her wand and drifted through the air in slow circles.
"How's that?" Arya asked, grinning.
"It's perfect. It's time to learn the next spell," Harry said, smiling at her.
Harry gave her a quick demonstration by levitating stones while pronouncing the spell.
Arya tried but failed miserably.
Even so, she didn't pay much attention to it and simply set magic aside to play with Harry in the snow.
It was only hours later that they decided to return.
Harry carried her on his shoulders as they both escaped from Nyx, Fenrir, and Nymeria.
Their laughter and shouts echoed through the forest whenever they were nearly caught.
Nyx left them behind earlier, flying high before returning to the tower. At this point, Harry wouldn't be surprised if people knew he had a flying creature, but he still hadn't heard any rumors about dragons, so everything was fine.
At worst, he would simply say she was a wyvern. Without seeing her up close, no one would be able to tell otherwise.
Entering the castle with Arya still on his shoulders and the two wolves flanking them, Harry found Sansa with Lady beside her.
She was sitting on the steps, her small nose a little red from the cold, and her blue eyes immediately brightened when she saw him.
Lady let out a few barks before running off to play with her siblings.
Sansa stood up and took a few steps toward Harry, her slightly curly red hair framing her face.
"Will you teach me a new spell?" Sansa asked shyly.
"Of course, dear," Harry said with a smile. It was really hard to say no to that little face of hers.
….
Two days after their conversation, Jon came looking for him.
Jon looked at Harry, who was sitting behind his desk with Val on his lap.
It was his first time there since Harry had become Lord Stark, and the place had changed considerably from the austere solar his father had kept. Everything had a greater sense of luxury now, with cushioned sofas, a thick carpet, and glass chandeliers, yet somehow the atmosphere seemed to suit Harry perfectly.
His expression twitched when Val merely looked at him with a mocking smile, showing no intention of moving. Apparently, he had interrupted something. At least he hadn't arrived any later.
"Are you here about the magic?" Harry asked, ignoring Val, who had propped her feet up on the desk and rested her head against his shoulder.
"More than that. Father... he told me everything," Jon said, looking at Harry.
Harry paused for a moment, looking at Jon before setting aside the letter and quill he had picked up to pretend he was busy when Jon arrived.
"I see. All right, then tell me," Harry said, pinching Val's waist to stop her from looking at him so curiously.
"I... don't know what to do with that information. What would you do?" Jon asked.
"Let's see, if I were you, with no troops or allies, I'd probably just enjoy my life however I wanted. Unless you want revenge, but there really isn't anyone to take revenge on. In the end, what's important is... do you like your life as it is?" Harry asked.
"It's not bad. I enjoyed going on adventures with you and the others," Jon said, nodding slightly.
"Then just keep doing that. If you want, you can even travel on your own. If you'd rather settle down, I could arrange a marriage for you. If you just want to keep living in Winterfell, eating, drinking, and going to your favorite brothel until you die, you can do that too."
Jon couldn't help being speechless. Harry really didn't seem to have any plans for him.
"And if I want to be king?" Jon asked hesitantly.
He didn't even know if that was what he wanted, but it was a possibility he now had, a chance to become someone important and respected.
"Then you'd have to prove that you can be one, because if you expect me to use the lives of the people of the North just so you can sit in a chair, then the answer is no."
"Go to Essos, gather men, build an army, and come back to Westeros. Only then will I help you."
Jon was speechless again. Harry's words were as harsh and firm as always.
"Wouldn't it benefit you if I were king?"
"Do you want to be a puppet?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I suppose not," Jon said with a bitter smile.
"Robert was a great warrior, but after winning the throne, he seems to have thought his work was done. Now he just drinks and fucks prostitutes all day, increasing the crown's debt."
Harry let out a sigh as he shook his head. He knew the stories about Robert almost by heart. His father seemed to admire him, to care for him, but it wasn't difficult to notice the melancholy whenever he spoke about him.
"The court is full of intrigue, betrayal, and deception. You need the nobles to rule, but they have their own interests, and they won't make things easy for you."
"Do you want that?" Harry asked, looking at Jon, who could honestly be a little simple-minded.
He was an excellent warrior, but if you put him in charge of ruling, the more cunning nobles would eat him alive.
"I... suppose not," Jon said as he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"It's normal to be confused. Just figure out what you truly want to do with your life. For now, I recommend magic. It'll take your mind off things while you decide," Harry said.
It would also keep him busy. A fight between aunt and nephew over the throne would be ridiculous, and Viserys was still somewhere in Essos. Harry wanted no part of any campaign for the Iron Throne.
"All right, let's do it," Jon said, nodding.
"Good, then I'll teach you," Harry said with a smile as he pulled a training wand from inside his shirt.
Val pursed her lips. She had watched Harry do this so many times that she could practically teach Jon herself.
Even so, it was a little amusing to watch Jon waving a wand around.
She turned to look at Harry and noticed that he wore the same amused expression.
Although neither of them had specified what they were talking about, she understood that if Jon could lay claim to the throne, he must be a Targaryen.
Which meant he was related to Daenerys. She was itching to know the whole story, but she didn't want to interrupt them either.
----
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