To Harry's surprise, dusk was already falling when Jan left the breeding farm, carrying nothing but a mule loaded with supplies.
Harry did not know whether he regretted his actions. Perhaps he did. In Harry's opinion, the man had simply been a fool.
Blinded by gold dragons, even if he had fled before Harry's arrival, he would never have made it very far.
And carrying that much money, he would have been lucky not to end up robbed and murdered.
This was the best possible outcome.
Had his father or Vayon been the ones to uncover the thefts, they would not have been nearly as lenient.
At the very least, Phil and his family would have been expelled and forced to repay the losses.
Harry had no intention of punishing an innocent family for one man's greed.
Jan himself likely would have been executed if he had not chosen to take the black.
His father was an honorable man, but his hand never trembled when it came time to enforce the law.
Even with Jan gone, Harry did not lower his guard.
He spent the rest of the day getting to know every worker on the farm, using Legilimency to gauge their loyalty and determine whether any of them had dealings with these unknown buyers.
Unfortunately, he found no trace of them.
Once he was satisfied the place was secure, Harry invited Phil and Albert into the study.
Now that the matter had been resolved, he intended to tell them the true purpose of his visit.
Harry toyed with a potion bottle in his hands.
Inside swirled a thick crimson liquid.
"This is a medicine I developed for the aurochs. I need the two of you to oversee its use personally," Harry said seriously.
Both men nodded and listened attentively.
"The animals will soon begin entering their breeding season. At night, I want you to separate the females of breeding age and sprinkle a small amount of this liquid onto their feed. Each animal must be kept apart, as the potion makes them rather possessive, and they may try to steal one another's food."
"Make sure they receive plenty of additional feed as well. It will improve fertility, reduce complications during pregnancy, increase the number of calves born, and shorten the recovery period before the next breeding season," Harry continued, watching their eyes widen in astonishment at the miraculous medicine before them.
"This is an important responsibility. Do your best to ensure no one learns of it."
"My Young Lord, I will die before this secret leaves my lips," Phil replied solemnly, fully understanding the value of such a medicine.
If it worked even half as well as Harry claimed, doubling the number of aurochs within a year would not be impossible.
"Of course I trust you. Still, remain vigilant. Especially regarding the people across the river. If you notice anything unusual, send a raven immediately, no matter how insignificant it may seem," Harry said.
Even so, he was not overly concerned about a large-scale theft.
There were few threats in the heart of the North.
The only realistic dangers were the other northern Houses themselves.
And precisely because they were the only possible threat, none of them would dare push matters too far.
Father and son immediately assured him they would remain vigilant.
Both seemed delighted by the trust Harry had placed in them.
Soon afterward, they left to gather villagers and begin construction on a separate stable where the medicine could be administered.
They planned to build one capable of housing roughly twenty animals at a time, rotating them through as needed rather than constructing anything larger.
Harry spent the next two days learning more about their work, while Arya drank fresh milk and played with the young calves.
Eventually, it was time to return.
Harry remained somewhat concerned about the thieves, but there was little he could do for now.
Early the next morning, the group departed immediately after breakfast.
They spent the entire day riding at a pace Harry found tedious.
Still, there was no helping it.
If they pushed the horses too hard, the animals would not last long.
That was when an idea suddenly formed in his mind.
If there were no horses fast enough and sturdy enough for his purposes...
Could he not simply create one himself?
His thoughts drifted through the many potions he knew, searching for a possible solution.
"We should start looking for a place to camp," Harry said, pushing the random thought aside as he noticed the sun nearly disappearing beneath the horizon.
"We'll arrive tomorrow, right?" Arya asked, twisting her head as far as she could to look up at him.
"That's right. Are you tired?" Harry asked with a smile, lightly tapping the tip of her nose.
"I'm fine," Arya replied, wrinkling her nose and playfully moving her head to avoid his pokes.
They quickly found an abandoned campsite with several logs arranged around an old fire pit.
It wasn't unusual to come across abandoned campsites like this along the kingsroad.
By the light of the campfire, Theon practiced his aim while Arya watched with interest from nearby.
Seeing an opportunity to show off, Theon began demonstrating how to shoot a bow.
Taking his stance, he drew the string and aimed.
A moment later, the arrow whistled through the air and struck a tree roughly thirty meters away.
The moon shone faintly, providing just enough light to make out where the arrow had struck. Then, from that very tree, a large snowy owl burst into view, screeching threateningly at Theon, its vivid yellow eyes terrifying in the darkness.
Theon seemed surprised for a moment before drawing the bowstring and firing another arrow. The arrow flew incredibly fast, piercing the owl through the chest.
When Harry turned to look in curiosity, the sight of the white owl falling to the ground seemed to overlap with a very similar scene from his previous life.
The faint sound of the body striking the ground snapped him out of it.
"Theon!" Harry shouted, a sudden surge of anger rising within him as he stood and glared at the boy.
The entire camp fell silent.
Everyone stared at Harry in surprise.
"Don't kill owls," Harry said, frowning as he forced himself to calm down despite the anger brought on by the death of the white owl, which reminded him all too much of a companion he had lost long ago.
"I... I'm sorry," Theon said, visibly cowed beneath the glare of those terrifying green eyes.
"It's alright. I'm sorry too. Just... don't kill owls," Harry said with a sigh as he walked toward the owl lying on the ground.
It was significantly larger than the owls he knew.
Its feathers were different, but its white head was similar, except for the two feathered tufts atop it that resembled horns. It looked like a cross between a snowy owl and a great horned owl, which should have been impossible.
But this was another world. It didn't seem strange to him that some creatures were a little different, like the aurochs, which were the counterparts of ordinary cattle.
Looking more closely at its chest and abdomen, he immediately knew it had chicks.
Casting a detection spell, he quickly discovered a small chick crouched silently inside the nest.
Harry was a little surprised. It was unusual, though not unheard of, for owls to lay only a single egg. Looking back at the owl on the ground, he paid close attention to its beak and wings. It was a young owl. Perhaps this was its first brood.
With a powerful leap, Harry climbed the tree beneath the silent gazes of everyone in the camp.
As soon as he reached the nest, he was met by a pair of glowing reddish-orange eyes. A look of surprise crossed his face at their color, since owl eyes were normally yellow.
Not paying it much mind, he reached out with both hands and lifted the entire nest. The chick let out a frightened chirp, trying to threaten him by raising its tiny wings.
Carrying it down from the tree, the moonlight illuminated the little owl, revealing that it had only the beginnings of feathers. Harry estimated it was around two weeks old.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he reached out with a finger and gently stroked the little owl's head. The chick continued threatening him while trying to back away.
"Let me see!" Arya said, hurrying over and rising onto her tiptoes.
"Hm. Be careful. It's still very young," Harry replied as he sat on one of the logs and showed her the little owl.
"It looks scared," Arya said quietly as she watched the chick trying to make itself as small as possible.
"It is. It's never seen humans before, and now its mother is gone. But it'll be alright. I'll take care of it," Harry said while continuing to stroke its head, using a bit of magic to calm it.
Taking out a small piece of meat, Harry fed the chick before casting a sleeping spell on it.
Noticing that everyone remained unusually quiet, Harry rolled his eyes and ordered them all to get some sleep.
The following morning, worried that the constant movement of riding might harm the chick, Harry placed the entire nest inside one of the bags that had previously carried the potions.
After feeding it once more, he placed it in stasis.
Following another full day of riding, the great castle of Winterfell finally came into view.
The sight never failed to bring a smile to his face.
Arya was noticeably happy to be home as well, even if she had enjoyed the journey and might want to do it again someday.
Nothing compared to sleeping beneath a roof and being with her mother.
The welcome was not nearly as grand as the one Harry had received when returning with his father, but Ned and Catelyn were waiting outside as soon as word of their approach reached the castle.
The moment Harry helped Arya down from her horse, Catelyn immediately knelt and pulled her into a tight embrace while checking to make sure she was unharmed.
"Do you truly distrust your son's ability to look after her that much?" Harry asked, looking at his mother speechlessly.
Catelyn merely kissed his cheek before leading Arya inside for a bath.
"Did the trip go well?" Ned asked as he approached.
"There were a few minor complications. I'll take a bath, and then we can talk about them," Harry replied, handing his horse over to Theon.
Ned nodded before turning toward Jon and speaking with him for a while.
The very first thing Harry did was head up to his tower.
Releasing the chick from stasis, he was immediately greeted by a series of loud chirps.
After feeding it and making a few adjustments to the nest, he left it alone to adapt to its new surroundings before going to bathe.
...
A month passed after his return.
Harry had spoken to his father about the aurochs thefts, telling him of his suspicion that the Boltons or one of their vassal Houses might be involved.
His father hadn't said anything and had changed the subject, but Harry had no doubt he was taking it seriously.
After all, House Bolton was the House least close to the Starks, and its loyalty had always been questionable.
Over the past month, Winterfell had received several guests. Helman and Medger, the lords of the Houses to whom he had given seeds, had visited one after the other.
Both had brought along their sons, whom Harry was somewhat familiar with from the occasional feast held at the castle.
Both visits seemed to have the same purpose: to thank him for the seeds and to familiarize their heirs with Harry, the Stark heir.
This was quite common, and Harry already knew most of the heirs from the various Houses.
Harry found the visits enjoyable. Nearly all of the heirs shared the same interests: swords, horses, and women.
Harry, however, preferred to avoid talking about the last topic, at least until he was older, since somehow it felt strange at his current age.
In fact, every one of the heirs was older than Harry. His uncle Brandon had been the heir back then and should have had children long ago.
But that day, a visitor Harry had never met arrived.
While in his tower, Harry sat with his back resting against the thick stone frame of the window, his legs stretched out before him and a small bucket of meat beside him.
A small white owl with a few black markings on its body chirped as Harry fed it.
Even without magic, it was possible to form a bond by raising a creature from a young age. With magic, it was even easier.
Following the normal course of things, this little owl would never be as intelligent as Hedwig had been. After all, she descended from owls that had been altered by wizards, making them almost as intelligent as a ten-year-old child. They knew how to avoid barriers, never tired on long journeys, and always knew where to go.
Because of that, Harry had been using blood magic on it little by little as it grew, making it significantly different from others of its kind.
As he fed it, he noticed a small group approaching in the distance. Judging by their numbers, Harry estimated there were around a hundred riders, all on horseback.
Using Accio to summon his telescope, Harry spotted a banner bearing a horse with a red mane.
Recalling the northern Houses, he immediately recognized it as House Ryswell, a very ancient House that had once ruled as kings before submitting to House Stark.
Their lands lay in the southwestern part of the North, in a region known as the Rills. As the name suggested, it was filled with countless streams and brooks.
What Harry knew about the House was that they primarily bred horses. In fact, many of the finest horses in the North came from them.
And thanks to their horse breeding, they fielded the largest cavalry force in the entire North, while also growing quite wealthy from the sale of their horses.
Coincidentally, Harry's own plans to raise a horse had failed due to the lack of suitable foals in Winterfell.
Additionally, the horses of the Rills were quite famous. Perhaps he could buy one from the Ryswells.
After finishing feeding the chick, Harry stroked it for a while as he watched Lord Ryswell's small host ride into the castle.
Closing the window, not wanting the little one to try to fly before its time, Harry changed his clothes and headed downstairs.
Downstairs, his father had already welcomed Lord Ryswell. He was a man of about fifty, gray-haired but still full of energy.
He was chatting cheerfully with his father about the state of the North and some rumors he had heard from the south.
Although his father wasn't smiling as much, he seemed comfortable talking with Lord Ryswell. Harry happened to overhear that his name was Rodrik, just like Winterfell's master-at-arms.
His arrival was immediately noticed by both men, who turned to look at him.
With a smile, Harry walked over and extended his hand toward Rodrik Ryswell.
The man looked a little surprised before reaching out to shake it as well.
"Well, I heard you were ten years old, but look at you. You're big and strong," Rodrik said sincerely.
Harry's height and firm handshake did not seem like those of a ten-year-old boy.
His eyes carefully studied Harry, as if trying to see what was so special about him. His name carried considerable weight throughout the North, and the smallfolk usually referred to him as 'Harry the Wise.'
According to Medger Cerwyn, the title suited him perfectly.
His smile widening, Rodrik was glad he had been thoughtful enough to bring a fine gift for the Stark heir.
"I hope to become as great a warrior as my father," Harry said with a faint smile as he rested a hand on his father's back.
Rodrik laughed heartily at his words before chatting with Harry for a while longer. His eloquence and knowledge left him genuinely astonished.
With a gesture, three young men of different ages quickly stepped forward.
"This is Roger, my heir, Rickard, and Roose, my second and third sons," Rodrik said as he introduced his three sons.
Harry smiled at the three of them and greeted them politely. They were all older than him, and it wasn't difficult to notice that they seemed less than convinced by their father's constant praise.
Before he could start any conversation, his mother invited everyone into the feast hall.
There, they talked for quite some time. His father and Rodrik drank a little to liven up the atmosphere.
For the most part, Harry simply listened to what they were discussing unless someone asked him something.
"By the way, I heard about some new seeds that can withstand the cold remarkably well. Medger mentioned them to me when I spent a night at Cerwyn," Rodrik said, inadvertently looking toward Harry.
Meeting Lord Ryswell's gaze, it wasn't hard to notice his curiosity and ambition. Harry assumed food was also one of the limitations when it came to raising horses.
Seeing his father look at him, clearly asking him to handle the conversation, Harry cleared his throat before speaking.
"That's right. A new variety of seed is being planted. Not only in Cerwyn—Torrhen's Square has also changed its seeds, and of course all of Winterfell now grows this type of crop."
"It's very similar to rye, only with several modifications. The most distinctive feature at first glance would be the bluish color of its grains," Harry said calmly, drawing a look of astonishment from Rodrik.
Lord Ryswell briefly looked back and forth between Harry and Ned, surprised that the latter seemed content to let his son handle the matter.
It seemed the Young Wolf held far more authority than he had expected.
"I see. I can't even begin to imagine how someone could create a new type of seed. You truly are as wise as the entire North claims," Rodrik said, genuinely puzzled.
"It's much like breeding horses. You combine the strengths of two different breeds into one," Harry replied casually.
"When you put it like that, it sounds easy. If it really were, someone would have done it long ago," Rodrik said with another laugh.
"Speaking of horses, I didn't want to arrive empty-handed. While I was considering what gift to bring, my steward reminded me of an exceptional foal that had been born a few months ago. The moment I saw it, I knew it would make the perfect gift," Rodrik said with a smile.
Harry deliberately showed some interest.
Rodrik was clearly not a typical northern lord.
Unlike many others, he possessed a certain shrewdness when dealing with people.
"What a coincidence. I was just asking my father to help me find a foal I could raise myself," Harry said, glancing toward Ned with a smile.
"Then it's perfect. Come, let me show you. I don't want you thinking I'm exaggerating. I've bred horses since I was a boy, and this foal is one of the finest I've ever seen in my life," Rodrik declared as he rose to his feet.
He was completely determined to leave a favorable impression on the future Lord of Winterfell.
Unfortunately, he had no daughters or granddaughters of an appropriate age.
Otherwise, he might have attempted to arrange a marriage as well.
"Of course," Harry replied, standing.
Together, the entire group made their way toward the stables.
The foal had already been delivered to the stables as a gift for Harry, and the stablehands had not dared neglect it.
It had been given its own stall and the best feed available.
When Harry arrived, he saw a completely black colt. Harry didn't know how to recognize a good colt, but he liked this one at first sight.
The colt got to its feet and snorted proudly, looking at them with defiance.
"You didn't give him to me because he's rebellious, did you?" Harry joked. The colt might have charged at them if not for the door.
"All good horses are like that at the beginning," Rodrik said with a hearty laugh.
"Just look at his muscle structure. It's excellent, and he's only five months old. He comes from the finest bloodline among my horses," Rodrik said with a smile.
"Well, I appreciate the gift. One day I'll ride him to visit the Rills," Harry said with a smile.
Although Harry wanted to keep interacting with the colt, he knew he had to entertain the guests and get to know this distant Northern House better.
Meeting the little colt's defiant gaze one last time, he accompanied the guests back to the castle.
To his surprise, they stayed for five days, leaving early on the morning of the sixth.
Harry felt like someone who had gotten a new toy but wasn't allowed to use it, and these visits were already starting to irritate him.
He couldn't help but think of a saying: a guest is like a corpse—after three days, it starts to smell.
So, accompanied by Arya, who had slipped away from the septa's lessons, he headed to the stables.
The little colt had been living quite arrogantly those past few days. They let him run freely in a paddock all to himself and fed him the finest food.
Opening the door to his stall, Harry looked at him while Arya peeked out from behind him.
"Hello, boy," Harry said, flashing the colt a wide smile.
The colt let out a confused whinny as he got to his feet in a threatening stance.
Harry kept approaching, so the colt tried to shove him with his head. Without hesitation, Harry wrapped his arms around its head and held on.
His muscles tensed as he tried to compete physically with the little colt, only to discover with annoyance that he really was no match for a freshly weaned foal.
His body was slowly pushed backward under Arya's amused gaze as she peeked through the doorway.
Although it felt a little unfair, he could only use magic to help himself resist.
The colt held out for only a few minutes before collapsing in exhaustion, snorting heavily. Harry wasn't in much better shape himself, but with Arya watching, he forced himself to act as though he were perfectly fine.
"You're pretty strong," Harry said as he crouched down and patted its body. Its black coat was truly beautiful.
His words seemed to irritate the colt, which immediately tried to get back on its feet, only to be knocked down again.
Seeing how vulnerable it was, Arya giggled before walking over and petting it to her heart's content.
"What do you think we should name him?" Harry asked with a smile as he looked at the colt glaring at him indignantly.
"Black?" Arya said thoughtfully.
"How imaginative. Maybe you should become a bard," Harry teased.
Arya simply glared at him.
"I'll call him Ater," Harry said after thinking for a few seconds.
"What does that mean?" Arya asked in confusion.
"Black, but in another language," Harry said with a smile. It was a Latin word that meant black or dark.
"Isn't that the same thing I said?" Arya asked, pursing her lips as she gave him a look of disdain.
The colt snorted and tossed its head, trying to get back up once again.
"Behave yourself, Ater. See you tomorrow," Harry said with a grin as he watched the colt seem to struggle even more.
He suddenly found his little colt's personality rather interesting.
Originally, he had planned to strengthen their bond through magic before making him his familiar, but for now he decided to see where things would go naturally.
The colt seemed to snort in contempt.
Harry paid it no mind. Holding its muzzle steady, he poured a potion down its throat.
"Grow big and strong," Harry said with a smile as he patted its head.
"What are you going to do when he grows up and is stronger than you?" Arya asked innocently.
"Don't you think I could be stronger than a full-grown horse?" Harry asked with a smile as he led her out of the stall.
"No," Arya replied seriously after thinking for a few seconds.
"Do you want to go back to studying with the septa?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
"If you tell on me, I'll bite you," Arya said, baring her teeth.
"My teeth are bigger," Harry said as he leaned toward her, pretending to bite.
Arya burst into laughter and quickly ran away from Harry.
By dinnertime, Harry and Arya arrived together, expecting the usual scolding whenever Arya skipped her lessons.
This time, however, nothing of the sort happened. Catelyn wore a faint smile before looking at the entire family and announcing that she was pregnant.
The whole family celebrated that night, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the fifth Stark sibling.
----
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