Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Soulmates: Where They Went and What They Mean To The World
By: Tabitha Potter
There is nothing greater than meeting the other part of your soul, the feeling you get at hearing the words that are cattle branded on to your soft skin by some unknown force. It feels as if your blood turns icy cold and the only cure is to be taken into their burning hot arms, and feel, what you then realize is your soul, flop around like a fish outside of water, and relax as they save you from drowning within your own new sense of completeness, with just a single unadulterated touch.
It's the most amazing thing, nothing can compare, it is nothing like anything else, it is now everything and anything that can ever matter to you. It is something special given to those favored by, well, no one knows, its has just always been this way. You awake as young child and find upon inspection, that you have been grated the privilege of knowing exactly who is your other half. Written upon your body in script that isn't yours, are the first words you will hear come from the one you're meant to be with.
Only few are granted such, to have the knowledge of who the other part of your soul is. Those not picked tend to be bitter and jealous of those who are seen as more deserving of something so great, while they are passed over like chopped liver at an open buffet. It causes tension, and even though it has pushed families apart, and broken many hearts, people can't help romanticizing the phenomena, while simultaneously hating and fearing the very idea.
The majority of people dream to have their soul completed. To feel the affect it brings on your body, your mind, your very spirit.
There are those who see it as something to watch out for though. For those that are branded with their other halves first words, means that they are incomplete. Monsters with only half of their whole beings, not completely human.
They don't understand why any 'god' or 'magical force' would leave any one person not fully made, and then have their skin written into, showing them how to unite with what should already be with in them.
Humanity has a problem with switching from loving to hating. A problem with over analyzing what doesn't need to be analyzed. A problem with accepting things that are done by nature, always wanting to change things to exactly how they want it.
Never truly learning not to mess with things that aren't meant to be messed with, and in the process of trying to improve and become better over something that is different than them, they force other things to evolve alongside them in order to not die out.
Evolve from the simple thing it began as, to something far more dangerous than it ever intended to be, to something that was once romanticized, but now also feared.
There used to be more, more people who were gifted with their future lovers first words written upon their body. However as humanity grew and people learned of greed, wrath, and every other sin used describe human flaw, the amount of people to receive the knowledge of who their other half is, began to dwindle.
The signs of the decrease in those who found their, 'soulmate' to be put into the crudest of terms, was slow going and hardly noticeable. However when people began to notice, it brought on wide spread panic, and had those not gifted searching for answers, in the worst possible way.
Those with the means and brains to do so, looked into the decrease from more of a biological stand point, and when that proved fruitless, chemical, and so on until they had exhausted every practical resource, eventually giving up on figuring out why less and less people where able to learn of their soulmate.
Most where not deterred however, by that point obsessed with learning why more and more people born each year, were showing up blank. To point where they started testing on people, in violent ways, no longer caring what happens to others, only caring of finding the one that completes them.
The more people tugged on those prized with identification of their partner, the harder the information came, and the less people allowed to have any knowledge released to them. Less people getting marked.
That is where it went bad, for when experiments and other forms of research brought about zero answers, people got jealous, angry, violent. To the point that all those whom were found to have their soulmates words printed on to them, were executed in the cruelest ways. The reasoning behind it being that if they couldn't know who their soulmates are, no one could.
The threat involved with eradicating those with soulmates, lead to an evolved form, a form where they could better protect themselves. They gained 'powers', tools to help protect and even destroy all that tried to kill them. It was never enough though, they weren't evolving as fast as they were being attacked.
This lead to only the barest of people getting the most special of gifts, and hiding it as best they could. Over the centuries though it became so very less common that people forgot why the population who were branded were so small. The information later on being lost in history, turned to myth, and once more romanticized, but this time as something foolish to think about, and those few who wake up to find words written into their skin, inherently knowing to keep it to themselves.
They know it is something special, something to not be shared, they know it is the words they will hear, from the person that will complete them. It's just known, they don't know how they know, but when they look at, it's obvious what it is.
Soulmates bring light to the darkness, and only those of untouched pureness in side their barest of being, are granted their soulmates writing on their person. They hold power to vanquish darkness leaked into the world, holding the power to eradicate all darkness. All evil.
The common people don't know this though, because most things lost to myth and make believe, are hidden from them. Those who are seen as myth themselves know of the power soulmates hold though, such as warlocks, fairies, and elves. Knowing of the power though, doesn't mean they know what it is.
All that is known is that they have the have the strength to wield untold power, unachievable by any other, enough to destroy even the strongest of foes, who see it pertinent to hurt them.
Creatures of darkness, of pure evil, like vampires who kill just to kill, or werewolves who let their inner wolf run wild unchained, see them as something to kill before it can kill them.
Creatures of the light however, see them as something to protect and keep from danger, even something that is sacred, for they have the untold power to eradicate the threat of darkness consuming the world. Creatures like wizards, who strive for a world bathed in the light, to have a world at peace, tend give their lives to protect them.
You would think with knowing this, people would come forward about being marked instead of hiding, away in a deep hole, praying to Merlin, that they never be found out about. Well the answer is simple, and it is all because of something, one certain witch prophesied.
It is no longer clear where the prophecy came from, seeing as it came about long before the British Ministry of Magic came into creation. It has been passed down from word to mouth for generation to generation, told as a fairytale story about soulmates brought together, hand picked to rid the world of evil, and reunite all forms of creatures and magic under one rule.
Under their rule, it is said that all humans would once more gain the gift of their soul partners written word, upon their skin. For the world will be at peace, and returned to its original state of being. However this all just speculation, as the actual wording of the prophecy was lost, much like how the person who said it was lost to the minds of the masses.
"Lily pad, are you in here?" James Potters voice rang through the Potter Manor library, startling Lily from what she had been reading, and she snapped the book shut quickly placed it back on the shelf.
She didn't want her husband that she was still scoring every resource she had, trying to find an answer to what was going to happen to their daughter.
'Her a baby girl was in danger, and there was nothing she could do but hide,' she thought despondently as she smoothed down her blouse, and walked out from between the shelves, heading towards sound of his voice.
As she came to a stop in front of her husband at the front of the library, the fire red head kept her eyes cats down, not wanting to see the look he would give her.
"Lily I know you want to find out away to protect her, or learn of what power the prophecy Dumbledore gave us is, but we've looked through everything." James whispered, as he ran a hand through his shaggy black hair, tiredly and closed his eyes.
Lily glanced up and saw not the care free boy she had fallen for, but a tired grown up man at the end of his rope on answers.
She pursed her lips defiantly and glared lightly at he floor, "not everything." She murmured, before walking out of the library, to go check on her daughter.
The heavy foot steps of her husband could be heard following after her as she walked her, but she ignored him, instead glancing about the massive hallway.
Walls were covered with dozens, upon dozens of portraits of scenery and past family members, who had their essence encased in paint and canvas. They passed many portraits and doors leading to unused rooms, before they came to their daughters room, which laid on the other side of the manor form the library.
As she went to grab the handle, to let them into the room, she was stopped by James who grabbed her hand while molding himself to her backside. He laid his chin on top if her head, and wrapped an arm around her waist and held her in place.
"I know this is hard, and know that we haven't been through everything," he told her while squeezing her this waist," but there is only so much we can do."
Lily just stared at the door handle, kept from moving and being forced to listen," so what, we supposed. To just let her fight unprepared, to die?" she questioned listlessly.
"No that's not-"
" I know." She left his arms and pushed the door open, and stepped inside low light automatically coming on.
Lily walked towards the deep blue crib up against the left wall, and bent forward, staying like that and just gazing at her little bundle of joy.
She was a tiny little slip of a thing, curled up at the bottom of the crib, dressed in a grass green onesie, her short, pitch black hair spread about her head like a halo. Lily imagined bright emerald greens eyes just like he own staring up at her, because at the moment, Hunter Magnolia Potter, was fast a sleep, dreaming incoherent thought, not a care in the world.
James sighed despondently as he looked between his sleeping baby girl, and undeterred wife," I don't know what to tell you love. You've carved in so many protection ruins, and laid so many protective charms, and wards into her crib, that I'm surprised we can even get to her."
" Was there something you needed James?" she asked, her eyes never leaving there place on her daughter.
"The house in Godric's Hollow, is ready, everything has been moved except the crib." James answered lowly, and he didn't expect an answer, so he was surprised when she spoke, but it wasn't directed towards him.
Lily had bent forward and lifted the sleeping baby into her arms, and held her close to her chest, as she whispered," I will never stop protecting you, never stop trying to help you. I never thought I would but the second I held you in my arms for the first time, I knew that I would die for. Even kill, to make sure you can live."
She stopped , and glanced at James for the first time since entering the room. In her eyes he could see the fierce determination, and the honesty in all she had just confessed, and it might of scared him had he not known, he himself, had the same look on his face before.
He watched her kiss their babies soft head, and walk out of the room, leaving him alone in the nursery, leaving him to pack up the crib himself, and bring it to the new house.
TIME SKIP
" Albus, do you really think it's safe, leaving her with these people? I've watched them all day, they're the worst sort of… muggles imaginable. They really are-"
Dumbledore cut her off as he held Hunter in is arms and walked up the path of Privet drive," The only family she has."
McGonagall still tries to fight her case on not leaving her here," This girl will be famous. There won't be a child in our world that doesn't know her name."
Dumbledore nods, as if he had been waiting for her to say something along those lines, and places Hunter on the doorstep," Exactly. She's far better off growing up away from all of that, until she is ready. There, there, Hagrid. It's not really goodbye, after all."
Hagrid had been sniveling all throughout their discussion and decided to comfort the crying giant. Hagrid nods and straightens himself as best he could, while Dumbledore bent down and placed a letter on Hunter.
As they all left, Hagrid on a flying motor cycle, and McGonagall as a cat, Dumbledore prepared to pop away as he glanced at Hunter," Good luck… Hunter Potter." And he disappeared with a barley heard pop.
It was silent after that, the only sound the rustle of leaves and chitter of wild animals, only broke a few hours later, by the high pitched screech of Petunia Dursley, who had been placing empty milk bottles out on the porch, only to find a baby in the way.
She looked about, but stopped as the baby whimpered as a cold breeze swept by, forcing her to bring it in. She headed for the kitchen, and set the blanketed baby on the counter. She picked up the letter confused, because who would leave a baby with her, and as she read she slowly came to understanding.
"My sister is dead." She whispered, testing the words on her tongue and hating how it tasted.
She looked at the baby girl, Hunter, and made eye contact with eyes just like her sisters, and she felt something hit her face. She was crying, and it felt as if her insides were being crushed in as she gazed at her dead sisters only child.
For several minutes she wept over the counter, before suddenly stopping and picking up the child quickly, she moved quickly and picked up the car keys hung by the door, and got into the car, after placing Hunter into Dudley' car seat, and driving off.
"You wouldn't be well taken care of with me. Vernon is very strong headed, and doesn't appreciate change, doesn't appreciate the magic in the world, I'm to weak to stand up to anything he might do to you. I used to be like that, but I grew up, I only wish I had told Lily that while she was till here, but I was afraid." Petunia spoke brokenly as she drove," from what that letter said, you need to be protected, well I'm going to consult the best people on how to do so. Even if it means sending you somewhere else."
Hunter gurgled from the back of the car, and she smiled wetly towards her as she came to a stop in front of an old run down tavern. She got out and as she unbuckled Hunter she explained what was happening.
" You see I had been going through old letters Lily had sent home when she was younger. In one she talked of these creatures who ran a bank for wizards, and would do practically anything for a price. Now usually I wouldn't be able to get to the alley it's located in, but I have magic, just not a whole lot, but enough to get in. We are going to negotiate for them to hide you." She finished as she stepped inside.
It was a very dingy place, and since it was still so very early in the morning, the only person inside was a man behind the counter, wiping it down with a dingy old cloth.
"Good morning." The man said spoke tiredly but joyfully, offering her a toothless smile, which she grinned tight lipped back in acknowledgment at.
" Good morning, do you think you could help me find the alley, this is my first time visiting?" she questioned politely, keeping Hunters face hidden by her body, because from what the letter said, people would now recognize her.
" Sure thing." He offered and lead her out the back and let her into the alley showing her how to get, then leaving her to her business, and heading back tot his counter.
Petunia walked briskly, not letting herself be taken in by all the magic and wonder she had just walked into, she headed straight toward the building her sister had described.
It was shockingly white, and very tall and imposing, and in front stood guards, short stubby ones, decked out in strong looking armor. As she stepped up to the door and walked inside they bowed to her, and not knowing what to do she curtsied as best she could, because in her letters it said one should show respect to goblins, and so she did in the only way she knew.
They looked at her curiously, she looked back for a moment before she coughed delicately and turned heading inside the bank.
The inside was just as impressive as the outside, and dozens of goblins sat behind tall podiums working a way, she walked to the one closest to the door, and coughed once more grabbing it's attention, as it was writing.
It wrote a few more words with the quill, held between its gnarly green finger, before looking up," Yes?" it asked in a gargled voice, its sharp teeth visible as it spoke, making Petunia quiver slightly in fear.
" I would like help with stuff, pertaining to my niece, Hunter Potter." Her voice shook, but she held her head high refusing to be deterred from her goal.
The goblin, looked at her for a few seconds before, letting lose a string of grunted noses and another goblin appeared from around the podium," Take them to the goblin in charge of the Potter account."
She was then lead down many halls, for what seemed liked twenty minutes, before they came to door with the name Potter printed across it., and the short goblin knocked on the door roughly. It took about a minute before they were gruffly told to enter, and she followed the goblin into a circular room.
" What is it?" a goblin, smartly dressed compared to the one who showed her the room, asked in clipped tone.
They spoke in the low grunts and snarls again, glancing back in her direction every once in a while, before the one behind the desk waved the other off leaving them alone.
She gingerly sat in the seat and was about to speak when the goblin bent over and removed a rough stone bowl, and a knife startling her," This is to test that will prove who you have with you, is actually who you say it is, all that I will do is prick the child's finger, let few drops of blood drop into he bowl, and then it will heal itself."
Petunia hesitated for a moment, before strengthening her resolve and doing the test, and several minutes later as she held a crying baby, wailing over a wound that had already been healed, she sighed as the goblin was satisfied with the results, and inquired about what her business was.
" I am the legal guardian of Hunter, correct?" and when she got a nod she continued," My sister said that , for the right price, you would do most anything."
The goblin twitched its fingers on the desk," Goblin's have been known to, yes."
" I would like you to take my niece, and place her somewhere far away and hide her, along with erasing mine and my husbands memories." She spoke with a sure tone.
" Erase what exactly?" The goblin asked, a curious look on it's face, at what she was asking him to do.
She turned her gaze to the baby she held in her arms," Of all forms of magic, Hunters existence, and everything surrounding my sister, so I don't have single memory tied to my niece."
She brought her gaze back up, and she watched as the goblin leaned it's chair back and look at her for a few minutes before answering in a slow voice," very well, I will do this, for the right price of course, as you said."
" of course." She agreed, and they spent the next hour, going over how she would pay him, and creating a contract that would make sure he did what he was supposed to. During this time he had a memory potion delivered to them, where he then took key memories from her and dropped them into the potion to make it work correctly.
" This will get rid of what you want. Split it evenly between you and your husband, you must drink it all, otherwise, your brain my turn to liquid. Killing you both instantly." He swished his hand, and the potion was now in a sealed container.
He grinned toothily as she shivered in her seat from what he said. He then held his hands out for the baby, and watched her leave, not glancing back, taking the potion with her.
She left the building, and hurried through the alley and back to her car, where she then sped to the house. It was still early enough that Vernon wouldn't be up yet as it was his day, off so she could give it to him as soon he woke up.
As she walked into her house upon arriving back, she saw him come clamoring down the stairs, and head straight for the kitchen.
" Vernon, I was thinking that we could have a nice breakfast out what do you think?" she asked, as he went about making some morning tea, only half-awake.
" That sounds lovely pet." Vernon responded as he set the pot on the stove to boil the water.
"I have something for us," she put the container holding the potion on the counter, as she got their worst cups from the cabinet and distributed it evenly between the two.
"No, thank you, I'll just stick with my tea." He said as bright purple sludge was shoved under his noes.
" Vernon," her tone sad, making him look at her surprised," if you love me, you will drink this, and drink all of it, in one go."
Slowly he took the cup, and starring into her eyes filled with more determination than he'd ever seen on her face before, he threw his head back and downed the disgusting drink he'd been handed.
" What the bloody hell was that?" he weakly spoke as he sat down, it had tasted awful, and he was suddenly very dizzy, he watched unfocused as his wife chug her own drink.
" Something to make everything better. " she answered taking a seat next to him and closing her eyes.
" You didn't poison us did you?" he asked, only slightly serious.
" No, I didn't." Petunia answered as she yawned.
Vernon looked confused at hearing her answer," didn't what? what were we talking about?"
Petunia opened her eyes and squinted trying to remember," I don't know."