Hello and thank you for choosing my story which I hope you will enjoy from start to finish. Though I have done a couple of short stories this will be my first proper multi chapter story. I will readily accept all comments and constructive criticism to help me and this story be the best it can be. I will also happily read any ideas or suggestions. Also if you could let me know if you feel the chapters are too long or short. I tried to make them about 4 pages long but not sure if that's too long for a chapter.
DESCLAIMER: I do not nor have or ever will own any part of the Harry Potter Universe and its associated works.I earn no money from this and is purely fan made.
CHAPTER 1
Harry was excited. Today was officially the best day of his young life because he was getting to go to a summer fair, he knew it was only because they hadn't been able to find someone to babysit him, but he didn't care. Dudley had naturally complained, begged and cried before complaining some more over this fact but in the end he had settled for sulking during the entire journey there.
Harry on the other hand was excited and curious about going to a fair as he had never been to one before, in fact he rarely went anywhere except school and that was only because it was the law. Whenever the family wanted to go somewhere fun they always dropped Harry off at the cat obsessed Mrs Figg and her strange tasting ice cream. What had made this even more special was that today was his birthday, a day that was rarely mentioned and never celebrated.
When he arrived he was amazed at how loud it was. He could hear the sounds of music that blared out from the various rides speakers and the faint screams from the thrill rides. As they got closer he could see the larger rides most in bright colours and lights as the moved around as if in a dance, and he could hear the voices of the ride owners as they tried to attracted more customers. They walked along the crowded paths and Harry was amazed at the sea of bodies as he struggled to keep up with the others, the smells from food stalls made his mouth water and his stomachs growl reminded him that his aunt hadn't fed him today or yesterday. The noises and flashing lights of the rides and stalls had him turning his head constantly from side to side, as he tried to see every inch of the place. The joyous atmosphere seemed almost alive around them and he couldn't help but get swept up in it.
He quietly watched as Dudley got to go on all the rides he wanted and try most of the prize stalls. Part of him longed to go on them but mainly he was just happy being there. He had to hide a laugh after Dudley took a massive temper tantrum after losing three times to a toss ring stall and had to be dragged away by an embarrassed Aunt Petunia. Even after Uncle Vernon had offered to pay the man money for the prize the stall owner had refused and had suggested that they taught their son better manners.
He was so busy enjoying himself that he failed to notice the calculating looks from his uncle or the nervous looks his aunt would occasionally give before looking around. After a couple of hours they stopped for a rest and his uncle had sent him off to get a couple of bags of candy floss for his cousin, and in a moment of remembrance had allowed Harry to get a bag for himself. He found himself amazed that his uncle would let him have a bag and with hindsight he would have been suspicious, but at that moment he merely assumed his uncle was in a really good mood, and chose not to question it.
It took a few minutes before he was able to get served by an elderly lady who could barely see him over the ledge. With three bags of candy floss held securely in his arms he rushed back to where they had been, only he couldn't see them. Confused he looked around him but could only see a mass of strangers, deciding that maybe he had remembered the spot wrong he slowly walked back up the fair but after several minutes he still couldn't see them.
So he carefully made his way back, careful not to bump into anyone or be stepped on, he was used to being alone and ignored but this was the first time he had truly felt it. No one paused to offer the lost boy any help or comfort, no one even noticed Harry even as they walked into him. Realising that he wasn't going to find them with the crowd around him he decided to head back to the car, hoping with all his might that his uncle wouldn't be too angry with him for getting lost. He knew that if his uncle was angry then he would most likely get the belt again.
It felt like forever before he finally made it back to the car park that was situated between the fair and the edge of the town centre. He went straight to where he was sure his uncle had parked the car only to see a strange car sitting there. Thinking he had gotten it wrong he carefully began to check each row of cars but couldn't find his uncles car anywhere, he checked once again before deciding to wait near the fairs entrance in case they passed him by, or came looking for him.
Slowly he ate his candy floss as he watched from his resting place all the happy families and friends as they entered and left. As he watched he couldn't help but feel sad and found himself wondering what it would have been like if his parents had still been alive. His aunt had said they were drunks and a complete waste of space, but Harry just knew that was wrong, that they had been good people though how he knew this he wasn't sure.
It was a couple of hours later when he accepted the cold, hard truth. He had been abandoned. They weren't coming back for him and he doubted they would even tell anyone he was missing. He knew his uncle had been threatening it over the last several months, especially after that school roof incident which had caused his uncle to give him several bruised ribs and three days without food, but he had thought it had been merely a new cruel taunt, something to make him feel scared.
Slowly he stood up and headed back towards the fair hoping he could find someone who could help him even though the thought of talking to someone scared him. His uncle had drummed it into his head at a very young age to never talk to other people unless told to. He was a worthless freak making him the lowest of the low, so beneath normal people that he should never be heard and if possible seen. He's often told that he's disgusting and vile like his parents and will die just like them, and that he was a curse upon their family, a bringer of bad luck and evil. So maybe it was for the best that they left him behind.
Sniffling he continued to try ask for help but finding himself unable to so continued to wander aimlessly about in the hopes that someone would notice him, but in a crowd of so many he was invisible.
Now the sun was setting and he had no idea where to go or what to and he could see that the young crowd of families had turned into older teens and adults out looking for a night of fun. To Harry they reminded him too much of his cousin and his stupid friends so he stuck close to the shadows, his head bowed down and shoulders hunched him.
Suddenly he found himself stumbling backwards as he collided with something solid. Blinking he looked up to see a teen about fifteen and Harry suspected by the boys slight sway that he was drunk or at least close to it. The boy stood there with three others who were giggling away to themselves as the teen growled at Harry.
"What the fuck are you doing, huh? Didn't you see me walking here? Stupid bastard, you better apologise or else." Harry stared wide eyed at the teen as he took several threatening steps forward with his right fist clenched. In a panic Harry began to stutter an apology out before running in the opposite direction. He could hear the noise all around him and the lights of the rides shone brightly, but instead of the earlier feelings of happiness he know felt confused and scared as everything began to look the same.
When he stopped for a breath he realised he had dropped the other bags of candy floss but couldn't find it in himself to care. A middle aged man with greying brown hair that was thinning at the top, caught his attention when he lent down close to him.
"Are you lost son?"
Harry felt wary of the man. Something about him didn't feel right, still he was the first person to notice him and Harry gave a small nod. The man looked around him for a moment before leaning back down, this time there was a strange look in his eyes and cold smile on his face.
"Well how about you come with me now, huh. Let Uncle Roy help you. I promise to make you feel real good." Harry shook his head and began to back away from the stranger only to have his wrist grabbed by him. He struggled to pull away but the mans grip was too strong as he was quickly being led towards a shadowy area just off the fair. He twisted and pulled and desperelty hoped he could get away. He didn't know what the man wanted but he knew it was nothing good.
At that moment the man sudden gave a pained shout and let go as if he had been burnt, raising his hand to his face he checked it over, inspecting it for damage before glaring at Harry. He could see the man go to grab him again and this time was able to run before the man had a chance. For once in Harrys young life he was happy that something freakish had happened.
He could feel himself be pushed and shoved from body to body as he ran through the crowd until he felt like he would collapse. Out of the corner of his eye he could see a small alleyway and quickly ran into it. He slowly sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall as he felt his heartbeat race against his ribcage and his breaths came out in short pants. He felt tired and now that his panic was over began to notice that his stomach was complaining loudly over the lack of food.
He drew his knees up to his chest and laid his head down on them. He was so confused as to what to do and as waves of tiredness began to wash over him he found himself struggling to think clearly. Deciding that he would just stay in his little alley for tonight he was about to fall asleep when he was suddenly startled wide awake when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder.
Kneeling in front of him was a round faced woman with dark hair that framed her face. Wide, bright eyes stared warmly at him as she smiled showing a small dimple in her right cheek. There was something about her that felt made Harry feel comfortable and even safe, a feeling he wasn't sure he had ever felt.
"Are you okay?" Harry gulped unsure of how to answer. For hours he had hoped for someone to ask him those three words and now someone had he found himself struggling to form an answer. He found that he didn't want to be seen as a bother and yet he didn't want her to leave. Instead he gave a soft sob and stiffened when he was suddenly pulled into a hug. He had never been hugged before and didn't know what to do. Did he hug her back? Was hugging a stranger back acceptable and what about his freakishness? Would it contaminate her or cause her to push him away?
All he did know was that it felt even as he sat there crying. He heard her make several shushing sounds before he pulled back and wiped the stray tears away with his sleeve. "Better?" the woman asked and he gave a small answering smile.
"So what's your name?" Harry froze in amazement at that. He was a freak, a nobody and yet she had not only hugged him but had wanted to know his name. Couldn't she see that he was a dirty, useless freak or maybe the dim light hid that, either way he see she was still waiting for an answer so mumbled, "Harry."
"Harry, it's nice to meet you my name is Anna. Are you lost? Do you know where your parents might be?" At this several tears slid down his face but he forced himself not to start crying again,he didn't want her thinking any worse than she probably already did. Besides what could he tell this woman? If he told her the truth would she leave him here alone in the alley, disgusted at having talked to someone like him.
What little light there was in the small space was suddenly gone, and when he looked up he could see the outline of a tall, muscular man. Feeling a little scared he impulsively hunched in on himself to make him seem smaller.
"This is him then? The one you've been looking for?" A deep rumbling voice sounded from the man as he approached the friendly woman who slowly stood to reveal a tall, willowy figure. She gave the man a quick kiss before saying, "Of course. Can't you scent him? He's one of us. Of course it's faint meaning it came from a grandparent or great grandparent but he still belongs to us. Just hugging him felt like hugging one of the pack. Oh uh, Harry this is my mate Issac, don't worry he's all bark and no bite. Isaac I don't think he can find his parents."
"E…E..Excuse me. I…I don't have any parents. My aunt said they died when I was a baby." He said softly before immediately looked down waiting to hear them tell him off for talking without permission,but it never came instead he heard her ask, "And where is your aunt?"
That's when he felt the first sob form in his throat. "They left me. They just left me because I'm worthless, a freak, something that should have died at birth. Please don't leave me. I know I'm disgusting and can't stop my freakishness but I can cook and clean and and I can work really hard."
He was crying now. So hard he could barely breath let alone talk as he begged a virtual stranger not to leave him alone. He felt warm arms wrap around him once again and it felt so good to have someone comfort him.
"Harry. Harry I want you to listen to me, okay?" He nodded and tried to stop his tears so that he could focus on what she had to say, even though he was scared of what she might say.
"Good. Harry you are not worthless nor are you a freak. It sounds like your family are nasty people who never have and never will deserve you. So don't ever think of yourself as that again okay? Because I can promise you that it was all lies, you are special Harry. You know this must be Lady Fates doing. For you to be here today and us as well. Can you keep a secret Harry?"
She gave a mischievous smile and Isaac, who had knelt down next to him at some point, gave him a small but reassuring smile. Confused he glanced between the two of them and nodded. "We're not like the others here and neither are you. I sense magic in you, very strong magic which means that you are a wizard."
"There's no such thing as magic, my uncle said so." Harry blurted out automatically. Another thing his uncle had literally tried to beat into him.
"Oh really? Harry, has anything happened to you that was strange and unexplainable? Something that seemed almost like magic because it couldn't have any other reason." Isaac asked quietly, his dark blue eyes filled with curiosity as Harry thought the question over. Lots of things had happened to him over the years that he couldn't explain but did that really mean he had magic? But then how else could anyone explain how he suddenly ended up on the schools roof or how his hair could grow back in a single night. The man gave a nod of understanding and Harry felt himself feel hope maybe, just maybe, he wasn't a freak after all.
"Magic is very real as are many other things thought of as myths or legends even ourselves, we are commonly known as werewolves. Not the common kind that are the source of most muggle ideas of what our kind is like, but a sub-species called Lupus Pura, Pure Wolf. We can shift at will and though the moon does have a hold over us it doesn't control us like the other type nor do we lose our mind to the wolf. This is because we are the wolf and they are us, and we're stronger and faster than them all and have senses you could only dream of. I sense a small part of you is just like us and if you want you could come with us and we awaken it."
Harry tilted his head in thought. They said they were werewolves and he had no reason to doubt them nor did he fear them since they had been nothing but kind towards him. "What will happen if I go with you?"
Anna gave a gentle smile as Isaac answered, "You will come with us to our pack where we will awaken the dormant wolf part of you and strengthen it and then if you want, you could live with us as our brother or with another pack member."
"Live with you. You would really allow me to live with you?" Harry stared wide eyed at them. He couldn't believe it, someone actually wanted him to be with them. He wondered if this was all a dream and then decided that if it was then he never wanted to wake from it.
"Yes Harry. I know it's probably too soon but I feel like we're already a family." Anna lent into Isaac who gently kissed the top of her head. Harry had to admit that he couldn't help but feel the same towards the pair and the thought of finally having a family that loved him made something bloom inside his chest, something he could barely understand and yet he knew it all the same. Hope.
"I promise you this Harry. That you will never be alone again whether you live with us or another family you will never be alone or hurt again." Looking at their faces he could see the promise in their eyes and with a shaky breath he nodded his head. Together they rose from the ground and Anna quickly grabbed hold of his hand and led him back into the crowd.
Harry how old are you?" Isaac asked looking down at the small figure of a boy. "Eight today."
"Eight today, huh. Well happy birthday to you."
Harry gave a true smile, it was small but it was real. It seemed today was turning out to be his best birthday ever, not that the top spot had much competition.
