AN: So, I'm back, from a very long hiatus and it's my hope that with this story turning the cogs in my writing engine, I'd have enough to update Cold Blooded and Fowl Play.
So what's this little project that I'm putting time on instead of actually continuing my already existing fics? Well, with some pretty well-done God!Harry fics out there, I decided I just might give it a try, using a pantheon that's as far as I'm aware hasn't been used in the HP fandom yet. I'm not even sure if many of you guys would recognize the pantheon I'm using. Cookies for those who do.
Story Title: Horizons
Chapter 1: Awakening (or Why Do I See Stars Everywhere?)
Pain. That one word described the world as he saw it. He wasn't physically injured. He knew that much. His uncle liked to yell at him a lot and his aunt's screeches hurt his ears really bad, but they didn't actually do anything to hurt him. No, the pain he was feeling was the very familiar pangs of hunger. He was in the by now comforting darkness of his cupboard. He didn't actually know how long he was in there and he didn't really care. All he cared about was the constant pain in his stomach, warning him of impending starvation.
The events that led to his extended stay in the confined space took up the part of his mind that wasn't yelling at him to get something to eat. His cousin, and the bunch of idiots he called a gang, chased him from one end of the school to another. He didn't really know why they chased him but past experiences and the generous helping of tape keeping his glasses together gave him the conclusion that he had to run. But amidst the confusion, he suddenly found himself on the roof of the school building, with no idea as to how he got there. This didn't sit well with the school faculty. It didn't sit well with his family, if you could call them that, either. And thus, he found himself inside his cupboard for an indeterminate amount of time.
After a while, a really long while if you ask him, he finally gave in to unconsciousness.
Stars.
Stars.
Stars.
STARS.
They were everywhere. He looked to the left. Stars. He looked to the right. Stars. He looked down. Stars. There was also the fact that he was standing on seemingly open space.
He didn't know where he was or why he couldn't feel the pangs of hunger anymore. He was grateful for the latter of course, but he was still a child. And children were curious.
"Hello?"
His voice echoed throughout the empty space, and for a second he could have sworn that the stars twinkled brighter at the sound of his voice.
"Hello?"
He tried again. And again, his voice echoed into the nothingness. Cautiously, he tried to step forward. He did so. It was as if the empty space he was standing on was solid ground.
"Where am I?"
The question was mumbled, as if he was talking to himself. The voice still echoed around him but it was overshadowed by the fact that his question was answered. And in the same way that his question was directed at himself, so did his answer come from himself.
Nyx.
What was Nyx? He wondered. And his answer came from his surroundings. It wasn't exactly a vocal answer nor was it some kind of epiphany. He simply knew.
Stars.
The Night.
The Endless Horizon.
Nyx.
It was at this point that the eight year old boy named Harry Potter awoke in his dark cupboard, wondering whether his strange experience was a dream or not.
He didn't know for how long he stayed in his cupboard but the moment he was let out, he found himself wincing at the light, as well as the incessant screeching of the woman he called Aunt. For a second, he wished he was somewhere else. And he was.
The bustling activity of the city was new to him. He looked around in wonder, ignorant of the stares that he and his five times too large clothes got from passersby. Some of these looks were looks of sympathy. Others were haughty higher-than-thou looks. The boy didn't care. His wish, to get away from his family, was granted and far be it for him to deny himself the opportunity to explore this outside world.
He glanced up, shielding his eyes as the glare of the sun met him. He wasn't that familiar with the sun. He caught glimpses of it when he was doing his chores and he hardly looked up when outside the house, finding the ground he walked on to be more interesting. And the less said about his cupboard, the better. Still, despite the overwhelming power of the light, he felt that the sun was beneath him. He didn't know why or how he knew. He just did. And with a simple thought, the sun lessened its glare.
And here starts our real story. For an act like that, while it may seem insignificant to the normal people living their normal lives (for who would believe that a mere child can will the sun to tune itself down), could hardly go unnoticed by the not so normal beings of the world.
Their first meeting was hardly memorable. Harry Potter was enjoying his newfound freedom in a park somewhere in London. And Alexander Higgins was enjoying an ice cream cone with his little sister in the same park. It was a meeting that would shift destiny from it's fated course.
Harry Potter liked the slide. He's been enjoying it with the other kids for a while now. But the sun was beginning to set and some of his newfound friends were going home with their parents. Some of the mothers even took the time to smile at him. He decided that he liked being smiled at. Then, they were gone. Gone home for the night. And he was left alone.
At least, he thought he was alone.
"Whatcha doin?"
He turned around. The voice belonged to a little girl, about the same age as he was. She was staring at him with wide, curious eyes as if asking him what a boy the same age as she was doing all alone in a park in the middle of the night.
"Nothing."
The girl leaned closer to him before giving him a full blown grin.
"My name's Eliza. What's yours?"
He was about to tell her his name when an older boy walked up to them. The boy put a hand on Eliza's shoulder and stared at Harry.
"It's getting late, Eliza. Say goodbye to your friend."
Harry stared back at the boy. He couldn't tell what, but there was something off about him.
"Bye!"
Their stare off was cut short at the girl's sudden yell. The older boy seemed to catch himself and gave a wide, if rather hesitant, smile at Harry.
"Alexander Higgins. Thanks for keeping my sister company."
Harry watched as the brother and sister pair walked off without getting to know his name. He shrugged and turned back to the slide.
Their first meeting wasn't exactly memorable.
Eliza returned to that park everyday. This made Harry happy. He made a lot of friends but there was something different about Eliza. She was more energetic, more playful and more interested in him than the other kids. She didn't know that Harry practically lived in the park but Harry liked it whenever she came. And when the sun sets, her brother would always pick her up, staring at Harry curiously while he waited for her to say goodbye to her friends.
It was during one of these staring contests that Harry decided to make friends with the older boy as well.
"Hello."
He watched as Alexander's stony face twisted into one of confusion, as if the fact that Harry was talking to him was as unexpected as the sun suddenly growing a face.
"Hello."
The silence was awkward and neither really noticed the young girl watching the entire event with wide curious eyes.
"I'm Harry."
"I know."
It wasn't much of a start, but it was a start nonetheless. That conversation was soon followed by more. Alexander began spending time at the park with Harry rather than pick up his sister every evening. Everything changed after a couple of months.
It started out the same. Harry waited in the park for Eliza and Alexander. Today, they brought their parents. Harry didn't know why they stared at him with pity but they allowed Eliza to play with him and he was happy. When the family went for lunch, Eliza begged and begged until her parents allowed Harry to come with them. He got to eat, for the first time since he left his family and he was happy. He didn't even wonder why he didn't feel hungry before. Then there was panic.
The restaurant wasn't what one would call luxurious, but it was the best place he'd ever been in. The food wasn't much but he was happy that someone cared enough to buy him food, even if it was at the insistence of that someone's daughter. So, when the masked men came in and pointed guns everywhere, he was angry. They were ruining the best day of his life. He didn't care that masked men were glowing with red and black light. He didn't know nor did he care that only two people in the restaurant could see the light. All he cared about was protecting the first people to be nice to him. And the entire place was covered in darkness.
Stars.
Stars.
Stars.
STARS.
He looked around. Stars. He looked up. Stars. He closed his eyes for a minute, and then opened them again. Stars. The place was familiar. The stars twinkled, just like they did before. But unlike before, he wasn't alone.
The figure in front of him was familiar as well. Tall and brown haired. That familiar, hesitant grin. Alexander Higgins.
"Yo."
He stared at his best friend's older brother. He stared some more. He knew that the curiosity was obvious on his face. He didn't care.
"You must be wondering where you are?"
He shook his head. This place was home. He'd been here only once before now. And yet he knew. This was home.
"Nyx."
His voice echoed across the empty space as he knew it would. The boy in front of him looked surprised.
"Huh? My voice isn't echoing. Why's yours?"
He shrugged. He didn't really care for the specifics. All he wanted to know is what happened at the restaurant. Alexander seemed to read his mind.
"Everyone's fine. You did some kind of crazy stuff and the robbers just fell unconscious. Then the police came and no one knew what happened. It was funny."
Wasn't his family in danger? Harry wondered. Why was he so calm? Why did he seem amused instead of concerned?
"I could've handled them you know." Alexander grinned, before holding out his hand. Harry stared at it for a while before grasping it.
"Heliod, God of the Sun."
At those words, the entirety of Nyx seemed to burst to life. The stars around him shone in a way they haven't before. It was as if the entire place was whispering to him. Telling him tales of ancient times. Of beings strong enough to destroy the world walking among mortals. Telling him who he was. Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, smiled up at Alexander as they shook hands.
"Kruphix, God of Horizons."