Once Upon a Merman
Summary: All he ever wanted was not to be a Merman. To stop being the hatred Red-tail. One day he gets his wish and consequently ends up in the arms of his Mate... only there is a problem: his mate doesn't speak sign language and Red-tail needs to learn Human language to tell his Mate that they have mated.
Or the story of how Prince Voldemort got stuck with Merman Harry demanding his touch every single moment of the day
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies, they belong to J. K. Rowling. I do not own My Little Mermaid, nor any of the characters from the movie, they belong to Disney. I also do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Beta: none
Pairings: Harry Potter/Voldemort, Bellatrix Black Lestrange/Rodolphus Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy/Narcissa Black Malfoy, (one-sided) Fleur Delacour/Tom Riddle
Warnings: Alternate Universe – Merpeople, Alternate Universe - My Little Mermaid, Minor Character Death, Bloodlust, Cultural Differences, Language Barrier, Alternate Universe - Kings and Princes, Merpeople Cultural Differences, Merpeople are Feminists, Dumbledore is a King, Voldemort is a Prince, Merman Harry, King Dumbledore, Prince Voldemort, Body Modification, Self-Esteem Issues, Self Confidence Issues, Self-Worth Issues, Self-Hatred, Veela, Alternative Universe - Kingdom, Slash, Period-Typical Homophobia
Ner words in this chapter: 2,445
"Talking in English"
{Sign-Language}
Thinking in 3rd person POV/Others
Change of POV
Chapter I
H's POV
Red-tail stared into the World of the Humans with yet another sigh. To be able to walk on their own two legs… to have feet. Feet! Can you even imagine how that would feel like?
He glared down at his own exuberant red tail and yellow flippers. Everyone one else had notice-me-not tails except for Red-tail. He couldn't stop hoping to be able to get rid of it and be allowed to be like a Human being.
{Run!}
Red-tail looked at the fishhive passing by him confused only for a Human web to catch them, with him right in the middle. Red-tail pulled his tail unto his chest, trying to hide it as they were pulled out of water. Luckily, they were taken into a hole in the middle of the boat and lowered down into it before the web was opened, making them fall down. The hole darkened as somehow it was closed over them. There was no water. Red-tail watched in fear as the fishes started dying. Then his own tail started drying out. Oh no! This was bad. This was terrible. He'd be dead before the sunset and the Merpeople would've be outed.
Red-tail stared at his tail as it started splinting into two parts then he gaped as his once red and yellow tail turned into red cloth over his legs and yellow cloth over his feet… he had legs. He was a Human! He…
–OUaM–
The journey finished too long later. Several more fishes had been caught and joined his cage. When they arrived, the hole was open and the fishes started being transferred into… boxes. Humans and their inventions! Right… priorities, Red-tail!
"Sir, I believe we have an extra."
Red-tail frowned upon the sound and looked up as hands descended from the hole and grabbed him by the armpits, bringing him out of the hole. A grey-eyed and black-haired man was staring right back at Red-tail.
"Looks like you, Men, caught a swimmer. I've told you to stay away from the beaches!" The other Humans stuttered, to what Red-tail didn't understand. He didn't speak Humantongue. "What's your name?"
Red-tail tilted his head to the side. The man looked away and Red-tail's reaction was to step forward immediately, only to lose the ability to keep standing. Legs! How do Humans make them work?
"You went to the nearby Kingdom and even hurt the swimmer?"
"My Lord, we…"
Red-tail felt himself being picked up in the Chief's arms. He walked out the boat and into the land. Red-tail stared around with wonder. Human World. He was in the Human World! He really was…
"Voldemort." Red-tail looked up and the Chief signalled at himself with his head. "Voldemort."
Red-tail opened his mouth and did his best to make sound out of his lips.
"Vlm…" Red-tail frowned at his Human voice. Merpeople sang to enchant people, they do not speak. "Hrrd."
"Harr… Harry?" Red-tail huffed, but it was better than his actual name so he nodded with a smile. Chief Voldemort nodded back. "You must've swallowed too much water. Right, you don't understand English. This will be an interesting time. Germany… Deutschland?" Red-tail tilted his head. "France? España?" Voldemort huffed. "Nederland? Danmark? Norge? Sverige? Faroyar? Belgique? None of them call your attention? Honestly, where did the Fishermen fish you from? I already named practically every country in their most dominant languages that are in touch with the sea, close by."
Voldemort seemed furious, Red-tail raised his hand and touched his face.
"Vlm." Red-tail moved his lips into a smile.
"Smile." Voldemort translated. Red-tail parroted. "Something like that. How do you say smile?" Red-tail raised an eyebrow. "Smile, Voldemort's English. Smile, Harry's?"
Red-tail's eyes grew and nodded. He quickly moved his hands to exemplify how Merpeople said the word.
"Ssssml, Vdm glish. Harr mp:" And he repeated the movement.
"Mute… you are mute. Or at least taught by a mute family. That would've explain the inability to understand the lands' names. You most likely don't know." They arrived a huge land-ship of sorts and Red-tail gaped which made Voldemort laugh. "Castle."
They were allowed in by Humans that could only be guards and taken before an old man in a throne. So, Voldemort wasn't the Chief?
"Tom?"
"I was super-visioning the arrived merchants when one of the ships noticed an extra in the fish tank and called me in. He is not mute, yet he was raised as one. He doesn't understand our language, nor does he walk. He has probably hurt himself when they fished him."
The Chief hummed as Red-tail was set on his shaky legs. Holding on to Voldemort, Red-tail bowed his head and signalled his respect.
"What is he saying?"
"Harry?" Red-tail glanced at Voldemort at his Human name being called, who repeated Red-tail's movement of respect a little strained. "Voldemort's English?"
Red-tail glanced at the Chief.
"Vdm" he mentioned a hand and then another higher and signalled towards the Chief. "Glish?"
"King."
"Vdm's King. Vdm's glish King:" Red-tail bowed head. "Harr's:" Red-tail signalled the respect.
"I believe Harry is offering you his respect as the King."
Chief hummed amused.
"I believe this means that he'll stay under your jurisdiction."
Voldemort turned towards the Chief outraged.
"Mil." Red-tail retorted. "King."
Voldemort sent Red-tail a look of shut up, who raised his hands in surrender as he seen several Humans do. Just that Red-tail's legs lost the ability to keep him standing and started to fall back unto the floor. His mouth opened in terror, but Voldemort caught him before he fell down a second time.
"He's like a child!"
"Young Harry has taken a liking to you. Now take him for a change of clothes and some food. A simple flamboyant red sheer tights and golden socks doesn't exactly translate as being dressed."
Voldemort was still furious.
"Vdm no mil Harr?"
Voldemort looked back at him and then signalled the Chief.
"No smile because of King."
"Caus." Red-tail parroted before he frowned. "King caus Vdm no mil Harr?"
Voldemort's eyebrow twitched which made Red-tail's hand move up to his eyebrow in amazement.
"Voldemort angry because of King." He stopped to show a face for Red-tail to understand what angry meant. "King give Harry to Voldemort protect."
Voldemort made a movement of something being delivered to him and then him taking care of it as a Nanny does a Hatchling. Red-tail's face turned deep red and Voldemort nodded in yes, that way.
–OUaM–
Red-tail was helped to walk slowly into a room by two women that Voldemort named Maids. Red-tail didn't want to be touched by them, so they had pulled a cloth of some kind over his back and arms and held him through the cloth. Voldemort was a couple steps behind speaking actively with two men and one woman. Finally, they entered a room and Red-tail was directed to a huge tank with water. Red-tail screeched and started calling for Voldemort. He couldn't touch water. If he did…
"Leave us alone. I'll take care of this myself." Voldemort demanded behind Red-tail who was left alone. Didn't matter what the man said. It had left him in safety. Eventually, Voldemort joined his side. "Water."
Voldemort then touched the water to explain.
"No atr." Red-tail retorted.
Voldemort gave him the look of a petulant Hatchling. He let his hand touch the water and, before Red-tail could react, he touched Red-tail with it. It was instantaneous: Red-tail's legs and feet bounded together and turned back into a tail and flippers. Red-tail only didn't fall because Voldemort caught him.
"Merman?" Red-tail ducked his head. "Harry." Voldemort called and Red-tail looked up puzzled. "Water and merman. No water and Harry no more. You die."
Red-tail was lowered on the water and his tail practically moaned at the touch of the water on it. Voldemort then made a movement exemplifying death for some reason.
"Glish?" He asked practically singing.
"Death. Harry no water death."
Red-tail's eyes grew in fear and hugged his tail immediately.
"Red-tail no death."
Voldemort took a deep breath through his nose.
"Sing." Red-tail frowned only to then realize he'd sang it out. "Harry no singing."
"No sng." He agreed embarrassed.
"Harry good" Voldemort signalled good, "English because singing. Harry singing Voldemort underwater."
"Ndr?"
Voldemort put his hand inside the water. Red-tail immediately signalled forgiveness.
"Sorry." Voldemort explained and Red-tail parroted. The man patted Red-tail on the side of the head. "Voldemort protect Harry, but no more singing." Harry nodded, closing his mouth with his hands to show he understood. "Why… Harry above water?"
Voldemort explained water with his hand on it then raised it out of water.
"No…" Harry pointed his tail with a frown. "Harr ngr."
"You don't like your tail? Harry angry at tail?" Voldemort pointed at Red-tail's tail who nodded. "It has an unique colour…" Red-tail glared at Voldemort just knowing the human was making fun as well, who laughed. "Harry human?"
"Harr man." Harry agreed.
Voldemort sat on a chair by the side as he thought.
"A Merman who wishes to be a Human under my control…"
Red-tail lowered his head under water and breathed only to get out and cough.
"Dth atr." He managed.
Voldemort got up and helped Red-tail out and dried him out. Voldemort pointed to his nose.
"Breath underwater?" Red-tail nodded. "Voldemort get good water later."
"Atr?"
"Later…" Voldemort frowned as he thought how to explain, finally he signalled table and eating, then bed and sleeping. "Food. Sleeping time."
"Atr." Red-tail pointed to bed and Voldemort nodded. "Ood."
Voldemort helped a dry Red-tail on his feet and glanced down at Red-tail's body. He signalled his own cloth.
"Clothes." Red-tail nodded and Voldemort opened his legs cloth and showed another layer of cloth. "Underclothes." Red-tail frowned but nodded to which Voldemort rearranged himself. "Harry underclothes." Red-tail's eyes grew and went deep red, lowering his hands to try and hide his modesty. "Good to know you understood. Voldemort man give clothes to Harry."
Red-tail nodded and Voldemort moved away, letting a yellow-haired man inside the room who bowed his head at Voldemort.
"How much does the boy understands?"
"He understood that he is in underwear and needs clothes. I told him my man would've make him new ones."
"Atr." Red-tail claimed. "Man mk clth atr."
Voldemort smirked and raised an eyebrow to the man.
"Do I need to translate it?"
"He can't say full words?"
"He's getting better. He only started being taught speech half-a-hour ago after all."
"Not even English?" The man asked outraged.
"Vdm's glish! Harr's mp."
"Mp?"
"Mute. Harry's parents were mute."
The man's face pinked and he lowered his head in Red-tail's direction, who looked at Voldemort confused. As explanation Voldemort signalled the respect-hand-movement Red-tail had used on the Chief. The man approached and picked a cable and started to use it around Red-tail. Twice Red-tail's legs almost gave in under him.
"What's wrong with his legs?"
"The fishermen dropped him from the fishwebs into the tanks. He most likely has a fractured ankle."
"Those dammed fishermen!"
Red-tail was helped to walk in the table direction and sat on a chair before the man resumed whatever he was doing.
–OUaM–
LV's POV
Voldemort watched as Harry obediently followed every movement that he was requested by Lucius.
"Lucius, no sheer tights." Lucius glanced back puzzled. "He is quite found of the ones he has on."
Voldemort smirked as maids entered with their dinner. What would've a Merman eat?
Dumbledore just had no idea what he had offered Voldemort with this. The power he granted Voldemort.
A Merman under his control who'd listen to anything Voldemort told him without questioning so long as Voldemort allowed him the ability to stay on land. The singing would've be something that Harry would've need to learn to control though. To almost feel like jumping into water twice fully dressed was not a good idea.
Lucius left with a bow.
"Vdm?" Voldemort turned towards Harry. They'd have to work on the speech also. "King." Harry signalled high. "Vdm." Another hand under the king. "Man clth." Another lower. "Aid?"
Voldemort smiled amused and nodded. Harry caught quickly on hierarchy.
"Voldemort highest hierarchy." He agreed and signalled the hand at top. Put another barely above the first. He signalled the top then the one meant to be him. "King and Voldemort."
Harry seemed to understand that Voldemort was powerful almost as Dumbledore - one day even more - and was quick to signal back in reverence. Voldemort smirked amused. The movement seemed to entrance Harry just like the eyebrow twitching had.
"Harr?"
Voldemort grabbed Harry's maid hand and put several inches under Voldemort and yet above the place for Lucius hand.
"Harry." He agreed. "Voldemort's protect."
Harry blushed at that and Voldemort wondered exactly what the teenager had understood the word to mean.
"Harr no…" Harry then made the movement of carrying a baby.
Voldemort snorted to which Harry gave a look back in outrage. It was strange how he had no facial expression except the ones he saw Voldemort do.
"Harry not underwater. Harry is like a baby." Voldemort agreed pointing to the arms.
Harry huffed and looked down to his plate only to screech at the fish. Voldemort picked the plate and passed the fish to his own plate before he returned it. Harry ate his vegetables by hand at first until he noticed Voldemort holding the tableware. He stared at them only for his eyes to grow in amazement. Voldemort frowned as Harry hurried to pick the fork and signal that he knew that one, before explaining by using it on his hair. Voldemort had a really hard time restraining himself. What was the Merman doing with the fork?
–OUaM–
H's POV
Harry knew this one: Dinglehopper!
(TBC)
To whom like me never seen The Little Mermaid in English until adulthood: Dinglehopper is the name for the fork.
(in Portugal it was called: Pentabelo. Pente(Comb) + Cabelo(Hair). Even though I now know it's Dingglehopper, I still call it Pentabelo in my head.)
~Isys
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