(( Writers Note: Hello creatures of the interwebs! It's a given that I do not own the magical world of Harry Potter or any of J.K Rowling's fantastic characters, but i do claim rights on Kieran Nathair - seeing as she is heavily modeled after myself. That being said many of the the characters in my story represent real people, to which i cannot take credit for for the wonderful characters they are. Exceptions being Emelia Emery, etc.
This first scene was a true (albeit dramatized) incident that happened in my life. Enjoy!))
May 2, 1998
A young girl, only a few years old, lay there, a tattered blanket swaddled around her haphazardly, with long dark hair coiling out of the top. Her breathing was labored, and her heart was beating dangerously fast; She was restless, it felt as if she had just fought, and lost, a battle that had tested her every limit. Little pudgy fingers kept the rough blanket hooked under her nose as she looked around the creaky little cabins main room; she had been particularly bad today, destructive and inconsolable, and so her mother punished her by letting her sleep on the couch, instead of the bed they shared.
Outside the windows she could see the large pine trees illuminated by the glow of the moon, swaying eerily in the wind and creaking to make a haunting music alongside the cabin. Kieran lay there awake for hours, fighting an internal struggle. Constantly she would feel the need to drink water to sooth her unquenchable thirst, but to no avail. Her dry mouth could not be soothed and so she lay there, heaving, shuddering, and trying desperately just to let her mind slip into its unconscious.
The moment she shut her eyes and allowed the thumping of her heart to lull her, a particular creak of the floor made her eyes snap open to search for the culprit– and there, just at the other end of the small cabin room was a figure, hunched, and cloaked. It did not advance for her, and it had made no indication it had broken in – so Kieran thought, perhaps it was just a shadow from their cabinet, or coat rack, or somehow even a tree. But not even her naive mind could deny the red eyes hidden in the darkness.
"M-…Mommy.." Kieran squeaked, but it was inaudible, and now she was shaking. The figure stood there, hunched still, and then she realized it was resting against the counter, breathing in sync with her own, as it clenched its chest. Slowly she unhooked the crinkled blanket from under her nose, her hands clenching it so hard her pudgy fingers had turned an unusual shade of white "M-Mommy!" she said more desperately, still not above a whimper, and then, the shadow moved. Kieran threw the blanket over her head in fear the shadow would lunge at her. But laying there in the darkness, there was no sound, no indication that the figure had even moved. With the blanket to protect her, Kieran slowly pulled it down, only to be met by piercing red eyes, their pupils slit venomously.
An ear shattering scream blared from her little lungs, and all at once the figure seemed to dissipate, blooming into smoke and coiling into her lungs with the taste of ash. She choked desperately, her body suddenly hot as fire, her skin feeling charred and every nerve pinching with excruciating pain. Then, as she felt the oxygen slip away from her, her throat burning, she reached out her hand to call out for help again, but as her little white hands reached out the walls of the cabin gave way and the pipes of the house bursted.
Arietty, Kieran's mother rushed from the bedroom and gasped "Kieran!?"
"Mommy." Kieran managed, the droplets of water that misted her face, and the presence of her mother seemed to sooth the beast that tormented her, and though the dryness of her mouth seemed to never fade, the freezing water that now flooded their house acted as a bath, battling a fever, and the warmth from her mother's embrace made the nightmares vanish, and the world whole again…
Years later Kieran knew something in her had changed, something inside her stirred restlessly, and strange things continued to happen. It was as if a blindfold had been taken off, and now all around her she could see the truth, and wonder, of the world. To Kieran, this was all she ever knew, but now there wasn't a doubt about it. Kieran was only five years old when her mother finally told her the truth, or rather, was forced to do so; because when a young Witch or Wizard commits magic, they signal a greater force - even if the parents try desperately to hide it.
It wasn't something Arietty expected to happen, for she herself was born without magic, and figured that her daughter may have been the same( for certain experiences yet revealed) - In fact, Arietty prayed Kieran would have been a Squib, the same as herself, and then they could live in the forest together forever, in peace. Maybe after what she had been through she had lost a rational mind, and now she was forced to face the thing she dreaded the most, her past.
Sometime after Kieran set fire to the drapes, after an outburst over something minor, a stuffy little woman knocked on their door. Kieran sat in her couch fort and watched as her mother fussed over her unruly copper locks, and then throwing a sweater over her freckled shoulders opened the door, just barely, her pointed nose sticking out from it and her duel-tone eyes staring wearily. The woman wore tight little business clothes over her bony figure, and her posture was something of a soldier's, or so Kieran imagined. Instantly her pinchy little face glared accusingly at Arietty, and her funny, posh accent whirled inside the house like the chirping of a bird.
"Arietty Nathair, I am here on official Ministry business." Her eyes trailed from her Mothers to Kieran, who barely poked her dark head of hair out from the fort. "I cannot express the seriousness of the situation, would you please allow me inside?" Arietty fumbled to unchain the door, and Kieran could only watch with angst as the woman came inside, her heels 'clacking' over the old wood. She promptly pulled out a paper document, her sickly slim limbs then handing it over to Arietty.
Arietty briefly scanned the paper and looked to Kieran quickly "Sweetie, go to the room, Mommy needs to talk to this woman.. alone." She said so calmly, but Kieran could note the angst behind every word. Kieran fussed for a moment, not wanting to leave her fort, but after awhile of the woman's scrutinizing gaze, Kieran stumbled out of the fort and crawled into the room. She attempted to keep the door cracked so she might hear, and see what they were going to discuss, but a threatening glare from her mother made her slam the door, and she retreated on to their crooked bed with a thump.
"I suspect you know why I am here - Apart from your daughter." The woman began with a sigh, straightening her paperwork, and sliding her thin wire glasses back against her face. Arietty fiddled with the hem of her sweater, doubling over the paper with weary eyes, she had a guess as to what the woman meant, but could do or say nothing from the shock of it. "Well-" the woman continued, pulling out one last paper "You have been asked to attend court over your association with a Mister 'Thesper Wolf', and 'He Who Shall Not Be Named'. MACUSA is more than willing to hand this one over to us."
"This is Tribe lands, MACUSA has no place here - and I have nothing to hide." Arietty added a bit too quickly.
"Then may I ask why it is you felt the need to flee all the way into this Tribes lands, all the way in America where it is possible the Ministry of Magic might overlook? Not to mention the same lands your Husband is from. Suspicious if you tell me." The woman asked coolly, her head tilted down and her thin little lips pulled into something unimpressed.
"I did not 'flee' from the Ministry, and Thesper is banned from these lands, it was the only place i felt safe from him." She said mournfully, her eyes hardened.
"Then why not ask for the aid of the Ministry?"
"You were a little tied down, if I do remember correctly." Arietty hissed slightly, her Scottish accent harsher. "What else was I supposed to do?"
The Minsitry worker nodded, then sighed sharply "Those were regrettable times.. But now that the war is over-"
"It's over?" Arietty interrupted quickly.
"Ah, yes, I'm sure living so secluded you haven't been informed that the Dark Lord has been vanquished, and his forces pushed back to the shadows – So you see why it is so important for us to make sure his.. associates are dealt with. There cannot be any loose ends."
Sitting down in a rickety old chair, Arietty stared at the floor in disbelief, then back at the woman with desperation "And what of Thesper? Is he-"
"Vanished, I'm afraid. You see why your disappearance and the discovery of a child is such a touchy topic… I'm afraid we'll have to go now, I do hope I do not have to take you by force." She said with little to no sympathy.
"I will go, I have nothing to hide."
In the room Kieran sat at the edge of the bed, entertaining herself with the swaying of her toes and how they look like nothing more than nubs when she curled them. The flash of something silver caught her attention and she looked up to see a man with long white hair pass by the window, sporting a black pointed hat and matching robes. Kieran went to the window and watched him circle to the back of the cabin until she could no longer see his robes swish behind him.
Arietty opened the door slightly and let it fall open the rest of the way on its one hinge "Kieran, get some shoes on, we're going with this lady to sort some things out." She said, the irritation was clear on her face.
"Is it because i blew up the house?" Kieran asked in a whisper, her thick brows knitted together in worry.
"No, that was an accident, this is about something Mommy did - it'll be okay, just hurry up now." She said reassuringly, embracing the girl for a moment to encourage her to hurry. Eventually the house was filled with several people in black robes and pointed hats, the man with silver hair eyed Kieran closely, and Kieran felt weighted under his gaze. Once Kieran had slipped on her shoes Arietty took her by the hand and lead them back into the main room of the cabin "Apparation?" Arietty asked dreadfully.
"Only to the closest portkey – We are after all a long way from home."
Without warning a few of the cloaked men seemed to vanish, the air made a loud 'pop' and crackled like lightning. Kieran stared in awe, snapping her head back and forth to be sure they had actually vanished and her eyes hadn't betrayed her. Arietty bent to talk to Kieran, and Kieran knew to listen thoroughly when she had done so "Alright, we are about to disaperate, that means we are going to whip through the air and end up in a new place.. it might be scary, and hurt your tummy and head – but I'm right here, okay?"
Kieran could only stare wide-eyed, the thought terrified her, and thrilled her, just like it had been every time she had caused a magical accident. Nodding rapidly she gripped her mother's hand tightly, and then like being tugged too quickly they disaperated, the woman held to Arietty tightly, and so did Kieran for fear she might be ripped away. They whirled through the air, and Kieran felt as if her limbs were being separated from her torso, her stomach turned to jelly and her neck lashed around - Kieran worried it would twist off like a cap.
Just as quickly as it had happened, it was over. On the other side the group of Ministry workers waited to escort them, in the center of them was large rock, the 'portkey'. The woman without a robe and without their signature little hats straightened her skinny like business jacket and cleared her throat. Kieran's eyes rolled out of her head and Arietty, who also attempted to sooth her disorientation, kept Kieran upright.
"You get used to it, not so bad for several hundred miles – You sure this is it?" The woman asked, fixing her slick little bun before urging Kieran and her mother over to the portkey.
"This is it."
"Alright, this should be the last time, hold onto me tight, okay?" Arietty said, her usual angst hidden with a gentle maternal voice. "Alright.." Arietty said after Kieran could confirm she wouldn't fall over. "let' go.."
All at once the Minsitry workers each held onto a piece of the rock "Grab hold." Kieran clawed at the stone in her comparably tiny hand and once everyone had latched on they seemed to lift into the air, and spin uncontrollably. Kieran screamed slightly, for with this type of transportation her lungs were not simply ripped from her. Her head lolled to each side and the bile in her stomach rose slightly.
"Ready then?" and then, Kierans worst fear in that moment happened and her mother's hand slipped away to embrace Kieran, simultaneously the others let go and once they stopped spinning in the air, they began to float, and landed on the ground softly. Arietty and Kieran however landed firmly on their behinds, bouncing once or twice, Arietty using her own lap to cushion her Daughters fall.
Ariettys hair had become a nest of hazardous curls twisted around her neck, she pulled hair from her mouth and adjusted quickly. The more graceful Ministry workers let them gather themselves, and once Kieran could manage which way was up and where the ground lay, they headed down a long, and busy hallway. On either side were fireplaces, green bursts of flames flashed to reveal people who rushed about their business. Some people arrived in phone booths that slid from the roof like a wireless elevator, while others arrived partially damp, and not as pleased.
Kieran stumbled, bumping into her mother several times as she was overwhelmed by the realness of it all. "Where are we?" Kierans bewildered little voice managed to squeak. Flying paper airplanes circled around them determinedly, staying just above their heads. They rushed toward an elevator crammed with people, shoving Kieran in between them. "The Ministry of Magic." The woman said before Arietty could even catch her breath.
'Magic', the world whirled around her brain as, yet again, they seemed to be ripped through the air, only the amount of pressure from large bodies kept her from flying forward and falling. The Elevator moved unnaturally down and up and to the side multiple times, stopping once or twice to let people off and on. Then when Kieran felt as if she might hurl again the Elevator came to a sharp stop. It was hard to ignore how tense her mother's body became.
"We're here.." she said, breathless.
"Indeed." The Ministry worker replied nonchalantly.
Down a dark hall they rushed until they approached a singular door, tall enough for giants, that had been opened to reveal a large circular courtroom. Two of the Ministry workers remained at the door, while the woman escorted them to a chair in the center of the room. The rest went to sit in the audience of officials. The audience surrounding them whispered to each other, and apart from them Kieran could see a man who stood out to her with circular classes and dark hair that split to reveal a pink scar on his forehead. Something about him made her recoil, but the Ministry worker acted as a barricade and forced her back into the center.
"Mommy.. I don't like these people." Kieran hissed.
"Don't make that face." Arietty snapped, and Kieran realized she had been snarling "It's okay, just be my brave girl, okay?" Kieran looked down at her mother's slim, well-worked hands. Nodding solemnly she stood beside her and went quiet, watching as the Judge draped in a more elegant black robe and large hat entered from a back door and sat at the stand just opposite them. The Administer of this case gave them a long hard look as he shuffled through his own paperwork and after some time cleared his throat.
Kieran couldn't even begin to understand what they spoke of, her young mind wound tightly as they discussed events of a man named Thesper, and his workings with a 'Dark Lord'. They asked questions, and allowed Arietty to answer, but gave her no room to explain her circumstances. Kieran could see how white her Mother's clenched hands had become, and it made her little heart drop. Kieran grit her teeth, angry that these snooty people wouldn't give her a single chance to defend herself – though why did her mother feel to the need to do so?
"You claim to have been put under both Cruciatus Curse and the Imperius Curse – was that before or after you conceived this child?" The man asked accusingly, bemused by her claims. In his eyes he had already made judgment and the bitterness was without doubt. Arietty tensed incredibly and turned her hateful gaze away, lest it hurt her case. She gripped her chair tightly and looked to Kieran with the most regretful eyes she had ever seen, Kieran returned an expression of confusion and hurt.
"I knew Thesper as a kind man, I loved him – But he tricked me, he forced me to do things I wish to not say with my Daughter present... He used the Unforgivable Curses..for the conception.. " She said hatefully, her eyes swollen, threatening tears. The room fell silent, and Kieran looked around it– she could not understand what her mother was saying, she could not fathom what her father had done (though she did not even link two and two), and Arietty was silently thankful for that. But Kieran could gather that her Mother was distressed and that the man 'Thesper' had hurt her.
"Mommy, it's okay, I won't let you hurt." Kieran cooed, embracing her mother tightly. Arietty forced herself not to sob. Hooking her finger under Kierans chin she smiled, and using her thumb she whipped away the confused, and distressed tears of her young child. The vibe of the room seemed to shift entirely, the painfully scrutinizing tone melted into sympathy, regret, and ultimately pity.
"I see." The man eventually managed, clearing his throat. "-I know this is painful, but is there a reason why he would commit such an act?" The room fell into anticipation once again. Arietty recoiled from Kierans touch. Her eyes looked to Kieran, one hazel, one brown, and swollen red. She looked away, she could not bear the truth, and if Kieran understood, she wouldn't either. "Well?" The man urged as gently as he was able.
Arietty remained quiet for a moment, revealing the truth could hurt her case, it could hurt her baby. So she thought for a moment "They.. wanted to use Kieran as a vessel of sorts, a Horcrux, to ensure Voldemorts life – But I escaped before they could finish, Harry Potter got in the way, he saved me- us." Whispering amongst each other commenced briefly before the Judge turned to the man in the benches.
"Is this true, Mr. Potter?"
"I remember her now." Potter began, standing from the crowd to give his input. "In the Graveyard where Voldemort was reborn, she was there, and not that I understood what was happening then, but I knew she was in trouble, and when I had my chance I helped set her free. The ritual was interrupted, it couldn't have possibly worked, because he is dead, I saw to that." He said firmly, his eyes were hardened. Kieran could understand death, and those who commit it – and to her, that told her why she hated that man.
Once again the audience burst into muttered conspiracies and questions. Potter sat back down quickly having made his point, though his eyes wandered over Kieran as if even he questioned the whole event. "Well." The Judge began, contemplating "You're cleared of the accusations put against you, but as for your daughter, that is a serious risk we cannot let pass us by – So, from now until her Seventeenth year Kieran Nathair will be on close watch by the Ministry of Magic.. and as for Thesper Wolf still at large you can remain in your protected lands – However, when Kieran turns eleven she will attend Hogwarts so that she may be closer watched."
And with smash of his mallet, Kieran's future was sealed.
The room dispersed quickly, leaving Kieran and her Mother to the watchful eye of Harry Potter. He approached them pointedly and took out his hand in introduction. "I wanted to thank you for all those years ago, you saved us." Arietty said, relief and angst thick in her voice, clearly the outcome could have been much worse.
"I always seem to find myself in those situations, it would be foolish if I didn't have a way out. I'm just happy you actually got free, and that little Kieran here was safe – Hardly anyone believed me then, there wasn't much else I could do but hope. If i knew then what he was doing, I would have- Well, that doesn't matter. It's not true,."He said grimly, but as his eyes trailed down to Kieran he forced a gentle smile. Kieran could only stare mutely at him, her olive eyes round - all she knew what that this man had killed another man, and even trying to process the other information ended with a fuzzy head.
"You have done the world such wonder, you have my gratitude forever, and if you need anything, I will do my best to help. My Daughter is my Daughter, not some fragment of a Dark Wizard. I couldn't be more thankful for you making sure of that.." she said softly, the sorrow was quickly catching up to the gratitude on her face. Potter nodded firmly, keeping the reassuring smile on his own face- that although was young, carried a lifetime of struggles.
"Mommy, I wanna go home." Kieran mumbled.
"Alright." Arietty said softly, and then they bid their farewells, Harry never taking his eyes off the small girl.