The Shadow's Solace Book I: The Growing Years Prequel

What forces a person to reach for the unknown and want to grab at something they didn't know existed or perhaps understand? To feel the need to grasp at something so completely opposite to their nature and cradle it to their chest as if it was theirs in the first place? For some people; it is easy to do, like simply removing a pair of shoes to put on another and walk away as if nothing changed. Even when they have no logical or explainable reason to do it. Then for others; the choice of change comes at a cost that no one ever would foresee nor want to pay.

They fight it; until they give in or realize that they cannot fight the change anymore.

As an old man who should have known better left an infant on the doorstep of his aunt and didn't look back to the child; not once even out of concern, he missed the verdant emerald gaze flash slightly red and did not bother to question the silence of the child.

No infant of a year and a few months of age would be content to simply lay on a concrete step all night. To not cry out once in discomfort or hunger or cold. Never mind the blanket around it with the warming charms that had been added by a woman who had left with the old man.

Harry James Potter was one year old; his parents had fought and died mere hours ago against a force they knew they had not stood a chance of once he had found them. Their son and heir had been orphaned during the last stages of a war he would hardly remember.

But the man who had murdered the parents had not expected the child to defeat him; even if temporarily. The pain and agony of defeat had torn a new fragment of the man's soul from him and it had sought safety within the child's body.

The child had not tried to keep it out and his magic had not tried to harm it; the spirit was unsure if that was because the boy was too young or some other factors. Regardless, the child and his powers had welcomed the soul that sought refuge. Now, the sentient spirit knew of the boy's magical potential and was determined to see him prosper and to survive.

It knew that the man of the main portion of the soul would object; at least at first, considering who the boy was. But, the fragment of the soul to the dark wizard could see opportunity and would not waste it. It too knew of the war that had cost the child so much; it was determined to see his host turn against those who dared to leave this magic child bereft of his own world as the world had ordained to do to him.

The fragment of the dark wizard within this child had decided to be honest to him once he was old enough to understand the decisions made by those who were in power. He would nurture the child's magic and growth where possible.

To make him more amenable to all types of magic and to be more acceptable by the man who would one day return and hopefully accept the boy as his. Whether as his horcrux and something to be kept safe, a follower underneath his command, or an equal who stood beside him; time would tell.

First thing though, the spirit of the dark lord would have to wait and to see how the boy's aunt and uncle responded to him being left there this way and with only a short letter by way of explanation.

He doubted they would like it; that and he very much also doubted Albus had even asked of them to consider raising the child should the war end and he was left orphaned. He doubted Albus had explained too much of anything in the thick envelope that had a lot of parchment within. Ghosting over what was most important and leaving far too much to question without means to find answers.

For now, he used what energy he could to keep stray animals at bay. He did his best to keep the child calm and comfortable as the cool November morning was barely begun and as the warming charms began to wane.

It was roughly six in the morning when the soul of the dark wizard sensed the waking of the muggles and he waited expectantly for the owners to discover the baby on their door. He had not had to wait long. The child had barely opened its eyes to the sun and seemed bleary when the front door was pulled wide open.

A woman who was thin and looked somewhat horse-like opened the door to gather the paper and milk as she saw the child and gasped. She recognized the eyes and hair as she gently picked him up and brought him inside. She laid him in a playpen; which indicated she had a child of her own to the spirit of the dark lord and proceeded to open the letter delicately.

The child was quiet; Petunia noted as she read the letter silently to herself, more so than her own son would be if awake. Her sister's son. She had known it was him without reading the letter and had never expected to see him…and especially not like this. Lily was dead as well as her husband; her son was all that was left of her family.

From either side according to the letter…

Petunia was aware that Harry was a magical child; how could he not be when she felt a presence she did not understand. And as jealous of her sister as she had been; this child was not at fault for her gift nor his own. He did not choose to be born with it. No one chose to be born in any specific way.

"Petunia, are you alr…" Vernon started and then eyed the new child and quieted

Petunia shook her head, "No, I'm not okay. You remember how I told you I had a sister and that we were not speaking to the other?"

Vernon nodded as he came in and was holding Dudley, "Yes, I remember that you mentioned it. I don't know why, but I suspected it was for a good reason."

Petunia hesitated, "No. It wasn't; not really. Vernon, my sister was different than me in a way that I could not have imagined when young until I knew of it. She was born with a power in her blood that we would call magic; for that is what it is. She was a witch and when she turned eleven…she left to go to a special school to train her powers."

"Witches and wizard live in this world and have a community all of their own that is hidden from ours. She was one of the few born outside of it and to be granted entry when her magic manifested. Not all magic is bad; some of it can very useful."

Vernon was silent and did not immediately judge as Tom watched interestedly from behind Harry's green eyes. These muggles were accepting this better than he thought they would. He had thought that their response would be to remove him immediately. To be left somewhere for dead, or perhaps in an orphanage; which he would not have allowed.

"My sister, Lily, she went to this school for magical people for seven years and when she graduated; she had found the man she wanted to marry. The age of majority in that world is seventeen, so legally…she could marry him as they graduate at seventeen. She did marry that man and this child is their son. Our nephew."

"Harry James Potter." She said slowly and soft, "He is their child, but the wizard world was at war. Lily and James are dead; they died protecting their son from a dark wizard that came to kill him because of some reasoning. He is the one who stopped the dark wizard and his war. I don't know how, but now someone wishes for us to care for him since we are the last of his blood relations.

The Potter side has been annihilated during the war, and with my parents now gone…" She sighed, "We are truly all he has left of blood relations."

Vernon was not sure what to make of this; he knew his wife had not wanted to speak of her family for some time. He respected it, but now that all of this was falling on them, he felt that perhaps they should have.

Petunia sighed, "To make matters worse, when I was a girl…I was bitterly jealous of my sister for a long time. She was also younger than me by only a year, so it didn't help. We were never close as children, but we didn't outright not speak.

First it was because she had inherited the deep blood red hair and emerald eyes of our line that made her beautiful. She always grabbed attention wherever she went, and I felt plain beside her. She always drew smiles from people we passed in the streets and I watched on; feeling like I stuck out like a sore thumb."

Petunia's eyes had taken a sad look, "Then I noticed how easily she made friends and how warm she was to everyone; something I was not and could not match. Then, when we were about seven or so, she met a boy who told her of her magic. I remember he was odd; always watching us from a distance and observing us."

She then cracked a slight smile in remembrance, "One day, Lily finally had had enough of the stalking boy and barged over to him. Against my wishes. She dragged him over to us and invited him to play.

He seemed shocked and stunned that she had done so. As if he never had played with others before. The only other thing I remember of him was his name. Severus; such an odd name."

Petunia then stood slowly and walked about in agitation, "When she left for the school; I actually sent a letter to the headmaster and begged him to let me attend too. I was rejected politely because I had no magic, and therefore would not have thrived there. Later, I was glad not to be there. Lily had messaged me and told me of how some of them treated people with no magic; it wasn't kind."

Tom listened to this intrigued; first, he was surprised to learn so much of her and her thoughts to this whole situation. Magical children tended to be born as beautiful; considered like little cherubs.

Though, not all of them were, more than enough magical children were born with genetics that were superior to muggle ones. Even if half-blood and one side of the child was muggle; the magic was dominant. He and Harry were prime examples; his father had been handsome enough that his mother ensnared him. She had not been pretty and knew that if she had not done what she had, she would never had stood a chance with him.

Both James and Lily had not been ugly from what little he recalled. That generally helped, and this also had no indication to a person's power either. Though, a child does tend to get some of it from their parents; most of it is their own and grows as it does.

For one sister to be magical; gifted and pretty while the other was not as quite so…her response of jealousy made sense. Tom had never considered what the muggles might have felt because of his magic nor because of his looks even then.

Then there was the matter of his wayward follower. This was why Severus had wanted to spare the boy's mother and had begged of him to try. He had loved her since his childhood. She had been a friend for a long time and then she had chosen another over him without ever noticing his love for her. Despite his rejection, he had cared enough to want her to live, even if her son and husband had not.

Petunia eyed her nephew, "Harry is like his parents. He will grow up and go to the same school. I can sense his magic even if I don't have any. It is powerful; more so than his mother's and what I know of James's magic too. I don't know why we were chosen beyond the obvious to raise him, but this changes everything."

Vernon eyed her, "How?"

Petunia sighed, "I mentioned before that the magical world is small and hidden from people like us with no magic. I will have to make careful inquiries to get more information on what we will need to care for him properly.

It will be difficult since I am muggle and do not have magic. Harry is now known to all the wizard world for his defeat of a dark wizard; the letter said so and the followers of the man are looking for him.

There are, of course, exceptions to the rules due to the wizards or witches born to those with parents with no magic. Lily was one; they would call her muggle-born. She was a first-generation witch and was top of her class. James was pureblood; born to a family that has had magic since wizarding Britain was founded."

Petunia walked about slowly, "Just know that we cannot let Dudley feel as if he wasn't wanted. I don't intend to let our son bully Harry or vice versa, but I also don't want them to be at odds. Not like Lily and I were. I didn't realize until I was older about how dangerous it was for me to antagonize Lily.

If Dudley were to do so, Harry has the advantage. His magic could unconsciously lash out if he gets scared or frightened. Or he could realize that he could use it to teach Dudley not to torment him. It could be harmful to anyone."

She eyed the room, "Or he could accidentally hurt himself too, and that wouldn't be good."

Vernon was silent now as he considered, "Could we leave him somewhere? Like an orphanage to be adopted? He is young enough that many would want him?"

Petunia immediately noticed the boy begin to shake; as if he was aware of what had been asked, and she went to him. She picked him up and rocked him as she made shushing sounds. Vernon went quiet again while Dudley stared to his mother; not used to seeing another child there as Petunia glared to her husband, "Out of the question. This boy is my sister's only child. I admit that we didn't have the best relationship before she died, but I know if roles were reversed; that Lily would have taken Dudley in without a second thought."

She then eyed the wall, "I won't ever get her back, and that hurts, but the least I can do to show her that I forgive her and that I am sorry for not understanding is to take care of her son as if he were my own too."

"If the dark wizard's followers are truly looking for him like the letter said they are; he wouldn't be safe anywhere. Even here is a risk, but with the wards…or the protection spells that activated when I brought him inside the letter mentioned; we should be fine.

Not to mention if we did do what you suggested; we would be foisting a child with magic on someone who has no idea of it. We could not inform the matrons of whatever place we leave him, and we couldn't tell the people who might adopt him. His magic would have to manifest first, and that won't be for a few more years yet.

There is also no guarantee that the people would not abuse him once they knew." She said quietly as Vernon nodded silently to that

Petunia then eyed Vernon, "Your sister Marge cannot be told of his abilities. While she is our family; the rules of the wizard world say that unless magic begins to threaten her or something…she cannot know. We will have to be careful with her and Harry as he grows. Marge is…"

Vernon nodded, "I know my sister Petunia. I know she would not like this, especially since we really cannot tell her the truth from what you said. I honestly don't mind not telling her. I do not suspect that she will visit that often."

Petunia nodded as Dudley began to wail and want his mother's attention; not used to sharing it. She smiled softly as she sat Harry back down into the playpen before taking her son from Vernon who went to make coffee and to call work to let them know he would not be in that day due to family issues. The child had calmed since he seemed to know he was not being sent away, and now seemed content to lay there and nap.

Petunia then noticed the scar on his forehead and gasped as she held her son tightly. The lightning bolt was red and enflamed around the edges. It was warm and pulsated with heat, but not a kindly kind. Petunia wondered if that was where the curse had hit the child and backfired; the letter had not really elaborated.

"I'll need to have him checked over by a healer of his world; to make sure he is alright after his ordeal and that his growth is normal." She said quietly, "I'll admit that I don't know a whole lot of the wizard world; Lily and I didn't speak often, and when we did…it wasn't usually very nice."

She then seemed hesitant, "But, I probably know more than I should. Lily wanted to ensure that I was informed on several matters in case she died. Our last conversation was a fight over this. She didn't explain anything to me when I asked why she would die. Other than I knew that her world was at war. I hadn't known she was a part of it, and she told me to also ensure my family's safety."

Tom was confused though; didn't muggles fear magic and magic-users normally? This woman's sister was a witch and admitted to her jealousy of her for it, but he had yet to detect fear. Or a fear of magic.

Vernon then came back and sat beside her softly, "I let my boss know that I won't be in for a few days. I told him that your sister had passed and that we would likely be out of town for her funeral. Do you want to go?"

Petunia then looked hollow, "Harry deserves better than us. He deserves to be reared by someone who is of his world and can teach him what we can't. We know little to raise him properly as a wizard of his station. Even if he won't remember them or the funeral; he deserves to be there as his parents are laid to rest. You can come too; you are my husband and his uncle. Dudley too; though while I hesitate to expose them to this so young, I also know that it is needed somehow."

She then eyed her husband, "We will never try to replace his parent's memory, but we can be new ones. It won't be easy, but I want to try. I was never afraid of the magic my sister had; more of what the power could do if my sister lost control due to her emotions being out of control. From what little I know; magic is deeply connected to emotions."

And there Tom had his answer to what had confused him. She didn't fear magic itself; just what it could do in the wrong hands. That was fairly sensible.

Petunia then sat down and attempted to get Dudley to eat as she spoke, "I want to get things in order as fast as possible for Harry to be comfortable here. So, I will need to take him and go to a magical place. I wouldn't normally be able to access it, but his magic will let me,"

Vernon considered, "Could Dudley and I go if we went with you? I think the exposure will help me get all this straight."

Petunia nodded, "You should be able to; just…keep in mind that some magical people look down on non-magic ones. Do not start a fight because you will not win. And you will have to let me do most of the speaking as I know more of that world than you do. It will take time to get adjusted, but I will teach you what I can."

Vernon nodded, "It's fine. I just want to take time to ensure this is real. That it isn't just an elaborate set-up. While I do not think the death of your sister is a prank nor the leaving of her son with us as one; this whole magical world seems like a big prank."

Petunia smirked, "It is very much real. I remember the one time my sister got annoyed at me for interrupting her while studying. She was in her last year and they have very grueling exams for graduations. I bothered her a lot that day; wanting to spend some time with her for once.

So, finally she was exasperated with me enough and she used her wand to turn my hair violet and orange for the next hour as I wailed and wanted our mother to force her to change it back. She refused; she warned me not to bother her and I hadn't listened, so I got what I deserved."

Tom merely smirked to that. That was almost amusing to know. Vernon seemed to accept the tale and wondered what magic was like; he seemed to guess that it was different for all witches and wizards in how they used it.