Disclaimer: Harry potter is property of JK Rowling not me. Consider yourselves disclaimed
Of Voldemorts fall and of the House Aurelius
Silas Aurelius was not normally a superstitious man. Being a wizard who has seen the world through the eyes of a death eater tends to disabuse one of the notions of a benevolent higher power. And yet it was very superstitious reasons indeed that lead this 22 year old, former Ravenclaw to be sitting in the waiting room of the Sisters of Mercy Orphanage in the town of Guilford, Surrey.
Silas was from an influential pureblood family, the youngest of 3 children and the first non Slytherin in 8 generations. He dutifully entered the service of the dark lord upon his gaining his mastery in rune translation as per his parents' wishes.
However Silas always was more of a scholar than a fighter, and quickly grew to loathe the barbarity and sadism that came to encompass his life. The revels and raids that his compatriots chose to partake in with relish, nauseated him; and the dark mark which many wore with a sick pride, weighed down his arm like a shackle. He was trapped in this vile existence with no means of escape save death.
It was this fate that Silas was frightfully contemplating on the night of all hallows eve; Standing as lookout under an invisibility cloak for the dark lord as he attacked the potter house and the twin infant boys who resided there.
--
'I can't handle this anymore, I need to get out. Merlin, god, anyone listening really. I'll do anything... I most solemnly vow that I'll find some way to atone for all the things I've seen and done... I'll repent, I'll...'
A loud crash interrupted his thought as he quickly turned around to see the bright green flash of light that came from the second floor window.
His attention waivered when a searing pain erupted from his mark, he bit his tongue to keep from screaming out in agony. Finally the pain abated as the mark seemed to fade away almost completely.
Silas was torn on what he should do; abandoning his post for any reason would likely result in his execution; yet this could be the answer to his prayers.
He was saved the worry of deciding as twin cracks of apparition signalled the arrival of a hysterical looking James and Lilly Potter. He remembered the pair from his Hogwarts days as they were a year behind him, and involved in most of notable event during his tenure there.
The two gryffindors rushed through the front door, which was now bellowing smoke from an inside fire.
Silas sought cover behind a tree and began muttering every concealment and anti-detection charm he could think of. He desperately wanted to just leave, but he couldn't without finding out what just happened.
He found it curious that the Potters were not home this night when their children were supposed to be.
'Surely they weren't left by themselves' he thought 'perhaps a babysitter... but was it a coincidence the dark lord attacked tonight'
He was drawn from his musings by the two Potters running back out of the house each carrying a small child. The children looked near identical save for their hair and eye colour. One child had an auburn red tuft of hair on his head and hazel eyes; the other had jet black hair and emerald eyes.
The other noticeable difference between the two children was the rather recent looking injuries on their faces. The red haired child had a circular burn mark slightly larger than a knut under his left eye. The black haired child had a gash on his forehead which his mother was pressing into with a piece of torn cloth to try to stem the bleeding.
--
A loud sound from overhead indicated another person arriving; this was confirmed by the sight of a flying muggle contraption coming in for a landing. The driver dismounted quickly and ran over to the small group on the front lawn were he began speaking to the potters in a frantic tone.
Silas was too far away to make out what they were saying but the driver of the machine, which he could now tell, was Sirius Black was clearly agitated; even more so then the Potters, which Silas thought quite odd.
Another crack of apparition revealed two more easily recognisable people moving to join the others. Indeed perhaps the two most recognisable faces for any Hogwarts alumni were that of the gamekeeper RubeusHagrid and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
The two new arrivals quickly entered into the conversation that still could not be heard from Silas's current position. However he was in no hurry to get any closer; in fact at that moment he feared to breathe lest he be spotted by the headmaster.
He was aware that the flimsy charms he erected would not offer much in the way of protection from one as powerful as Dumbledore. And while Silas knew he himself was a wizard of no small power, on par with most inner circle death eaters; against one such as the headmaster he was completely outclassed.
Silas was watching very closely however, and managed to see something that caught the breath in his throat. James Potter revealed from his robes an ivory coloured wand which he passed to Dumbledore somewhat hurriedly, the wizened man looked at it with something akin to disbelief before breaking out into a large grin.
Silas had seen that wand before; hell it had haunted his nightmares along with its wielder, Lord Voldemorts wand...
--
The dark lord would never leave without his wand. Would its presence in Dumbledore's hand indicate that he had fallen this night?
A strange giddy sensation welled up within him, what if the dark lord was gone and he was finally free. His prayers had been answered; he was no longer bound to such a wretched fate.
As the euphoria settled within him he realised what that meant; his prayers were answered, literally. The logical portion of his mind argued that the timing was mere coincidence, hundreds of wizards have likely prayed for the dark lord's defeat at one point or another.
But still a promise is a promise, and a solemn vow is unbreakable in the eyes of any proper pureblood. There was no way around it; he would need to find some act of atonement.
He turned his attention back to trying to interpret the conversation taking place. It seems that the headmaster is trying to convince the Potters to do something without much success; if the frantic sobs and shaking head of Lily Potter were any indication, or the ashen face of James potter and the angry shouting of Sirius Black.
The argument continued for another ten minutes until a very reluctant Lily potter placed her child into the enormous hand of the gamekeeper. She then rushed into the outstretched arm of her husband; who was still holding their other child in the other arm. And with a loud CRACK the three disapperated.
The conversation between the three remaining adults continued as they walked towards the flying muggle device. The giant man mounted it; placing the child in a special carriage in front of him to keep him secure. With a kick the device came to life and started its ascent into the air. With a wave goodbye the two remaining on the ground disapperated.
Silas decided that the first step in his atonement would be to ensure the health and safety of the two little boys who were likely the cause of his freedom. Since one was with his parents that only left the other to make sure.
With that in mind he un-shrunk and mounted the broom he kept in his pocket and set out to follow Hagrid and the boy.
--
He followed them through the night until they started to descend into a suburban muggle area. Silas looked around to find his bearings. Every house looked nearly exactly alike, from the roof to the lawn. The uniformity disturbed Silas slightly; who could live in such a place?
Hagrid's 'muggle broom' as Silas had come to refer to it as, touched down in front of one of the identical houses. The only differentiating aspect being the old man with the long beard and colourful robes standing on the lawn, waving his wand in intricate patterns towards the house.
Silas did not touch down but rather flew into the canopy of a nearby tree to avoid detection.
The amount of magic pouring out of the old man was tangible; Silas could taste it in the air, wild and ancient power. He could feel it passing through him, judging him and his intent; similar to the ancient ward system that guards Aurelius manner. When Dumbledore had finished he turned to the large man carrying the basket with the sleeping boy and offered a tired smile; he seemed to be on the brink of complete exhaustion.
He took the basket and placed it on the step in front of the house. He then placed a piece of parchment next to the boy and waived his wand over him a few times. He then straightened himself, and turned towards the giant. Then with a small nod to the man he dissaperated without a sound; his companion mounting his muggle broom and leaving as well.
--
From his perch in the tree Silas sat stunned; they had just left him here, on the front step of some muggle house. No one to make sure he was received, no one to make sure he was safe with these people; he was just left alone.
He had never cared for Dumbledore personally during his school days; mostly due to his family's low opinion of the man. But to think that the headmaster of a school would just leave a small child like that, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
'Well' he thought 'If no one else is here to watch him, then I will.'
So Silas sat on his broom and watched.
He watched the dawn break over the drab muggle village.
He watched as a tall horse faced woman opened the door.
He watched that same woman started screaming hysterically.
He watched as a squat wide man with a walrus moustache waddled to the door.
He watched that same man turn a colour approaching maroon.
He watched as the man started shouting, his moustache quivering with rage.
He watched as the man slammed the door shut.
He watched for fifteen minutes until the door opened again and the wide man, now dressed, picked up the basket containing the small boy; holding it away from his body as if it were contagious.
He watched as the man walked over to his muggle car and opened up the rear compartment, throwing the basket inside.
He watched from the air as the man drove away; driving until he reached the town of Guilford and found the Sisters of Mercy Orphanage
He watched as the wide man passed the boy, basket and all, to a very flustered looking nun
He watched as the wide man drove away; but not before his car was cursed with a permanent and inescapable stench that would cling to its occupants, courtesy of the very irate wizard that had to follow him.
And that was how Silas found himself to be sitting in the waiting room of the Sisters of Mercy Orphanage.
--
He gazed out the window which overlooked the outside play area and inspected the children who came to live here. The first thing he noticed was that all the children projected a sense of melancholy. Their clothes were tatters; they were dirty and too thin in his opinion. Few were smiling and those who were had the more menacing smile synonymous with the bullies. All in all this seemed like a horrid place for any child, wizard or muggle, to live.
The door to the waiting room was thrust opened and the flustered nun, who Silas learned was name Sister Augustine, briskly entered and approached where he was sitting. She led Silas to her office where the boy, named harry apparently, was waiting.
The good sister had been immensely helpful in sorting out all the paperwork for a speedy adoption. A liberal helping of confundus charms and she more than willing to fudge some of the names and dates.
"Mr Aurelius, I have all the paperwork here. Just sign these forms and you will become the lad's legal guardian".
Silas signed his name with the flourish most purebloods are drilled in at an early age. The documents in question were backdated six months and had the child's name listed as Justin Silvanus Aurelius; in the event someone came looking for them. Silas chose the name partly because the name Justin was fairly common amongst the muggles; and also to continue the Aurelius family tradition of choosing latin names for their children.
"Thank you sister for all your help in this matter"
Silas stated rather formally; another ingrained habit. He picked up young Har... Justin slightly awkwardly. It was rather apparent that he had little experience with small children. At the same time he drew his wand and pointed it at the nun who was looking at him rather confusedly.
"I'm also terribly sorry that I must do this... Obliviate."
--
Upon leaving the orphanage Silas finally took a minute to stop and catch his breath. He had no real plan and had been winging it throughout the whole night; but that wasn't going to work for long.
'What am I doing... don't know anything about raising a kid... Over my head... Going to Azkaban...'
Thoughts raced through his head; his breathing became shallow as panic started to set in. A tugging on his ear broke him out of his thoughts.
It seems that little Justin had grown board and decided to play with his face to pass the time. The humour of the situation brought him out of his panicked thoughts; now was not the time to break down.
He looked at the tiny person in his arms and for the first time that night really examined him.
'Cute kid'
Was the first thought that came to mind. The nuns had cleaned him up properly from his encounter with the dark lord; and all that was left as evidence to that was a nasty looking scar above his right eye in the shape of a lightning bolt. His vibrant green eyes drew your attention like tiny emeralds. There was no doubt about it; the kid would be a heartbreaker when he got older.
Silas found it odd that the kid hadn't cried once tonight. Was that how normal children acted? Was there something wrong with him? He needed to get a book on kids if he was going to do this.
Another thing he had to worry about was that the aurors were going to be looking for them. He didn't think that he was suspected of being a death eater. He had never gone on any of the big raids or revels like the others; he was more of a researcher/errand boy in the death eater organisation. Still it would be better if he disappeared for a while till things blew over.
He could probably get a job with Gringotts given his family connections. Since they're always looking for translators and curse breakers for their excavations he should have no trouble.
So with a few hastily placed glamours over himself and his charge, Silvanus Julianus Aurelius apperated onto the steps of Gringotts and into a new life; while the people of Wizarding Britain were celebrating their saviour Michael Potter, the boy who lived.
TBC
A/N
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This is my first foray into the world of Harry Potter fiction, and I've gone for the tired and overused wrong boywholived plotline. Please be kind as I am rather inexperienced at writing fanfics. Any constructive critasism would be greatly appreciated.
And if you feel like flaming I would appreciate some creativity. It's not enough to say I suck, you have to put some feeling into it.