A Sirius Unicorn
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Be nice if I did though
A/N: This takes place in the years of the Marauders. Any mistakes made by me to the canon are unintentional. In my story, unicorns are a lot smarter than they appear to be in J.K. Rowling's books. When I reach the end of this story, Hopefully, it will have become AU. Enjoy!
Chapter 1. Land of the Unicorns
The Black Forest never seemed to change. The rich green leaves were always full and the tiny water droplets on them seemed to always catch the last of the sun's rays before they journeyed to the forest floor. The trees always swayed gently in the afternoon breeze, and the Unicorns always ran joyfully through the trunks as though they were not earth bound creatures, but angels on the wind.
On this particular day, the two Unicorns appeared to be in fear. The joy that usually sprang eternal inside a Unicorn was being drown out by the dark hooded figures that chased them.
One of the silvery Unicorns turned to the other and spoke, as only a Unicorn can speak-through their minds, and said, "Go on Athena, you're the one they're after! I'll hold them off. You go tell your mom to get everyone on alert. It's finally happening."
The other Unicorn seemed to roll her eyes at this and exclaimed, " Aramos, get over yourself! You may be the Queen's guard, but that doesn't make you mine. I can stay and fight them if I want!"
Sighing with exasperation, Aramos nodded. Abruptly stopping and turning around with his horn low in a fighting stance, he almost lost Athena, who was so shocked that he had agreed, she had to double back.
Now both Unicorns were squaring away with the ten or more black cloaked figures.
"Careful!" One of them shouted, "We don't want to kill their princess, the Dark Lord has big plans for her!"
Precisely as he said this, Athena shot a stupefy spell through her silver horn directly at the man. It happened so fast, he had no time to dodge and was hit directly in the chest. Before he had even fallen to the ground however, the others in his party began firing off spells of their own.
As Aramos and Athena began racking off spells, six Unicorns came up from behind them and began firing off their own spells into the midst of the hooded figures. The one nearest to the pair said, "A scout alerted us to their presence. The Queen requests that you two head back to Summer Palace immediately. We will take care of these, but she fears that He is coming. I suggest you hurry!"
With that, Aramos looked pointedly at Athena and turned tail to ran back in the direction the six had come from. Athena fired one more curse and reluctantly followed.
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"What took you two so long?" An ancient translucent Unicorn said as Athena and Aramos came galloping into the stone walls of a pearl colored castle at the summit of a modest hill overlooking a lush meadow in the middle of the forest. This Unicorn had an air of wisdom and inner strength. Though her body appeared worn, and her white coat more of a creme, her horn glistened brighter than any other Unicorns. Her name was Queen Arabella Skydancer, leader of all Unicorns, and more importantly, mother to the rebellious Princess Athena.
"Aramos thought it prudent to defend our kingdom single-handedly, and I happened to disagree." Athena said as she flashed Aramos an annoyed look.
"And as I was doing my duty to protect our kingdom, Athena thought it smart to join me, so I couldn't very well leave her." Aramos said and then proceeded to shoot Athena a winning smirk.
Athena began to glare at Aramos as he continued smiling.
"Enough you two! We have bigger problems to worry about. I believe the Alanair Prophesy made over a thousand years ago on my birth is about to be fulfilled." With a grave look, Arabella pulled out one of the long silky hairs of her mane and threw it up in the air. She then struck it with her horn and stepped back. The hair formed a circle and began to glow gold. "This is a Unicorn's form of a pensieve. As I'm sure you two both know by now, a pensieve is a devise used by wizards to store and view their memories. This particular memory happened on the night of my birth. My mother Alanair predicted that my death would bring about the end of the queens and possibly that of all Unicorns. She also stated that my murderer would be a human by the self proclaimed name of Lord Voldemort."
"So you're saying it's your time to die, and there's nothing we can do to stop the destruction of our kind!" Athena shouted, close to tears, her horn glowing blue from the horrible thought.
"But that's not all, Athena. Put your horn through the golden circle and see for yourself."
Athena, more out of curiosity than being ordered to, did as she was told and pierced the illuminating sphere. She felt an immediate tug and found herself staring at her grandmother Alanair as she lovingly gazed at her new foal, Arabella. Athena found it very strange to be here witnessing her mother's first moments. She shifted her view back to her grandma and found Alanair's eyes to be a startling blue instead of the usual warm chocolate brown.
"On the death of the Queen Arabella, the last of the Unicorn Queens, a new beginning will be formed for all Unicorns. The murderer Voldemort will go unstopped, unless- she- can summon the strength needed to vanquish him."
Alanair then looked up directly at where Athena was standing and her eyes returned to normal. She then continued to coddle her tiny filly, who looked distinctly petrified at her mother's sudden peculiar outburst.
Still trembling from the experience, Athena felt the memory fade and she found herself once again looking at the elderly vision of her mother.
"So now you know the importance of what is happening right now." Arabella said with care. "I have, from the moment you were born, thought that you are the she spoken of in the prophesy. My time is nearing. But the Unicorn's is not. I believe it is imperative that you go somewhere safe for the moment. Somewhere where an old friend of mine that knows of this prophesy can help you realize it."
"And just who might this old friend be? Alydarr? Or maybe my long lost father Anikon? Hmm? No Unicorn can help me now!" Athena nearly screamed, the sarcasm in her voice becoming panicky. Aramos looked troubled at her mention of his dead father, Alydarr, who had been the protectorate of Alanair.
"You're right Athena, no Unicorn can help you now. But I didn't say he was a Unicorn. Albus Dumbledore is a wizard. Probably the most powerful of our time. He is the headmaster of a school for young witches and wizards up in Scotland. Hogwarts is where you shall go."
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It was nearing midnight and the pearl white walls of Summer Palace appeared to glow in the thick darkness that enveloped the forest at night. Aramos stepped out of the main entrance with a pale white rider clothed in an elaborate indigo cloak clinging to his neck.
"Shut up Aramos! I know how hysterical I must look without you reminding me every three steps." Athena whispered as she clung even tighter to his mane as he began to trot away from Summer Palace.
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They were leaving for the castle of Hogwarts, after Adair and the rest of the guard had come back from the skirmish in the woods with what they had been told were Death Eaters. Arabella had decided that they should leave that night. She had then given her daughter a sparkling silver ring with a tiny portrait of a Unicorn running engraved on one side and a running girl on the other. The flowing hair and eyes of the Unicorn and the girl had looked exactly the same. When Athena's hoof came in contact with the ring, she had magically changed into the exact picture of the running girl on the ring that now appeared on one of her new pale fingers. Arabella then called in Aramos who had brought forth the sacred riding cloak used by the Goddess Athena when she rode Pegasus. With Pegasus being retired, Athena had given the cloak to the Unicorn Queen, Arabella, saying that when the time came, she was sure to find good use for it.
When Aramos shyly offered the beautiful cloth to the strange new pale form of Athena, Arabella had explained, "This was given to me by your name sake, the Goddess of wisdom and horses, I pray that it will bring you luck, my filly." Arabella then left followed by a reluctant Aramos, who given the opportunity looked like he wished to investigate the fair golden-haired maiden his childhood friend now appeared to be.
Athena had always known that the stallion Unicorns were unconsciously attracted to fair young maidens. She supposed it was something innate that went back to the dawn of time. She never, however, expected her best friend Aramos to look at her like that. It was down right unnerving.
As she lay in the lonely room getting accustomed to her new body, one of the palace servants came in with a piece of shiny mahogany wood.
"My lady Athena, the Queen told me to give this to you. It's a wizard's wand. She says the core is from her own tail."
"Thank you Antarion." He nodded, and turned around to leave, but Athena added, "Oh, and could you possibly find me some shoes, I think I'm going to need them now that I'm hoofless."
After he had gone, Athena unsteadily walked over to the large mirror that had hung in this room for as long as she could remember. On the top of it, an inscription read 'Earth hath no vain richer than that at the core of a Unicorn mare'.
She thought the old mirror to be daft, for as she looked at what had to be the new her, she saw an awkward human girl staring back.
Her once flowing silvery mane had been replaced by an alien dark blond and her snowy white coat was now a striking pale. The only thing that remained the same, as far as she could tell, was her eyes. They were the same intense combination of green and blue. Her mother had once told her when she was still a filly that her eyes would always be warring between the forest and the sky.
Carefully, she turned away from the mirror image that she refused to think of as her own and headed out of the royal stall to seek her mother out for more answers on what her future had in store for her. She only tripped on the indigo cloak twice.
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Looking back on it, Athena thought as she struggled to keep her balance on the broad white back of Aramos, this whole thing was insane. When Athena had finally found her mother, she had noticed that Arabella seemed to have called in her entire guard. They were in the middle of a briefing and Athena had found it very appropriate at the time to ease drop.
"If he comes, we won't be able to stop him, my lady. I believe the best course of action is to evacuate Summer Palace immediately and get you to Winter Stronghold."
"No Adair, he's after me. Voldmort seeks to gain the support of the Unicorns for his cause. Or annihilate us, whichever he finds to be easier." Arabella gave a grim smile at this and continued, "No, I will be staying here. If Voldmort wants me than he shall have me, though not without a fight I assure you. I want everyone else to leave at once to Winter Stronghold. I pass my authority to Adair, for the time being." Arabella then turned to Adair and said, "As acting ruler your first orders will be evacuation then relocation. After you are all set up in Winter Stronghold I want you to keep out of sight. The survival of the Unicorns depends on this. Your true ruler will return when the time is right and give the next orders. That will most likely happen in a year's time."
Silence had permeated with the last of her grim orders, and with a brief nod of dismissal, all captains had filed out looking forlorn. Adair had given Athena a respectful bow when he passed, but had then preceded to carry out his duty. The evacuation of hundreds of Unicorns would not be easy.
Athena stopped herself from entering the meeting room when she saw Arabella privately talking with Aramos. By leaning in just a little closer she was able to hear her mother's loud whisper.
"You will not be going with the rest Aramos. I need you to safely deliver Athena to the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Leave tonight. Upon leaving the school, I wish you to tell Niome to keep an eye on Athena. Also give him my regards. After that, head to the Stronghold and help Adair. I have a feeling he will need it."
"Consider it done, however, I don't follow your need to stay here. It's suicide." Aramos said, the worry in his eyes carrying through to his voice.
"After he finishes me, I doubt he will pursue the rest of you. It will give Athena time to discover her power and a chance for the rest of you to regroup. It's not suicide, it's sacrifice. It's my duty as Queen."
Athena had run back to her stall, her tears splashing along the familiar walls of pearl. By the time Arabella had come in to check on her, and throw her out, Athena thought ruefully, she had regained her composure. Before Arabella left the room, Athena had called out, "Wait mom!" Had run up to her mother and threw her awkward human arms around the sleek neck of the Unicorn Queen. "I just wanted to tell you before I leave, that I love you." Athena choked out, tears starting to form again.
'That was probably the last time I'll ever see her,' Athena thought as she ducked under a branch Aramos had decided to trot under.
"You were listening in on the meeting weren't you?" Aramos asked suddenly, breaking the unusual silence that had settled around the old friends.
"Well, you know me. I can't stand not knowing everything that's going on." Athena said lightly, hoping he would take the hint that she really didn't want to talk about it.
"I don't think Arabella knew that you were listening. You handled it very well. I know that must have been hard saying good bye."
"Who's Niome?" Athena asked changing the subject. Losing her mom was not something she felt like crying about, again.
"He's a thestral. The leader of large herd that resides in the Forbidden Forest. I dare say you'll be hard pressed to sneak anything past him. So don't even think about trying to get to Winter Stronghold." Aramos said. Athena could almost imagine seeing his familiar smirk at the thought of her being cowed around by a thestral.
"Like I'm sure. Anyway," she said, deciding that another change of subject was in order, "What's Hogwarts like?"
"It's been a few decades since I was last there, but I doubt it's changed. The school itself is a magnificent castle. Though I have to say, it's got nothing on Summer Palace. The grounds our wonderful. I think you're going to like it."
"Why were you ever there?" Athena asked, slightly surprised by her best friend's new mystery.
"I was on duty protecting your mom at the time. I think you were away at Spring Meadow. No doubt learning from the wonderful professor Aerial." At this, Athena rolled her eyes. The old nag was anything but wonderful. "Arabella had been called in by the new Transfiguration teacher, -"
"Wait, don't tell me, Dumbledore, right?" Athena interrupted. Aramos was always so easy to read.
"Well, uh, yea. So like I was saying, Dumbledore called Arabella in because he had heard of an outbreak of Unicorn deaths in the Forbidden Forest. Needless to say, we dealt with the problem, and Dumbledore and your mom became close friends."
"Wow! So I guess not all humans are as bad as Professor Amara made them out to be." Athena said, referring to another of the infamous professors at Spring Meadow. Professor Amara was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and almost all of her lessons ended the same way. "Always remember that a Unicorn's greatest enemy is a cunning wizard."
"That's true. Dumbledore is a kind and ultimately fair man. However, as Voldemort and his Death Eaters have proven, humans are just like Unicorns. They have their benevolent, and they have their sadistic. But I guess you'll be finding out for yourself."
They were silent for a while after that. Both too rapped up in their own thoughts for talking. They also had a long way to travel, so Athena settled herself on Aramos' back and tried to get some sleep.
Although his golden hoofs never made a sound on the thick forest underbrush, Aramos heard many other noises that night. Owl's hooting, deer foraging, and after many exhausting hours, the snoring of a girl as she subconsciously held onto the silvery mane of the Unicorn she rode.
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Athena awoke to a harsh thud as she slipped off of Aramos' back. "Hey! What gives, are you trying to be funny again Aramos! What did I tell you about that?" Athena screeched as she picked herself off the ground and rubbed her very sore butt.
"You were literally becoming a pain in my back, and you wouldn't wake up, so I improvised." He said with trade mark smirk in place. Unicorns sure could be cheeky when they wanted to, or maybe it was just him, thought Athena.
"Well we can't have you breaking your light weight back over a hundred or so pounds. Poor thousand or so pound beast!" Athena said with as much sarcasm as she could muster, then added as an after thought, "Guess I'll do my anahumi thing."
She slid the silver ring off her finger and transformed back into her familiar snowy white body. She then cast the banishment spell on her cloak, wand and ring, and set off at a thunderous gallop down the trail they had been going. Aramos took a few seconds to close his muzzle then raced off after her.
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It was nearing noon two days later when the pair finally washed ashore on England. They had made fairly good time getting to the English Channel, when they had come to the realization that they would have to swim.
Normally, this would have presented no problem, for Unicorns were surprisingly adept swimmers. However, Aramos refused to get in. Ever since a prank Athena had pulled on him when they were foals, he was deathly afraid of swimming. It had taken forever to get him in, and another eternity to make him swim across. Constant threats of a painful death had helped.
Athena didn't know why she was now so excited to reach Hogwarts. Maybe it was the thought of doing something new. After all, the average life span of a Unicorn is over a thousand years. In that time, life can sometimes become a little mundane.
As she helped the waterlogged Aramos out of the rocky beach, Athena realized that it was probably the chance to finally prove herself that made her so eager. All her life, she had been prepped for the throne. Never had she gotten a chance to actually go out and experience the world. Nor had she ever been placed, except by her own stubbornness, in a position where she had to rely on herself.
After leaving the beach, the two set off at a blistering gallop
north.
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Aramos was baffled by his friend's new determination. He had thought that the trip would take much longer, because he would be the one dragging her.
Not that he would have minded. Ever since the incident near Autumn Acres a couple of centuries ago, he had found himself looking at her in a new light. She was by far the most beautiful Unicorn he had ever laid eyes on, but something always kept him from opening up his secret to her. He supposed it was just nerves, but sometimes it felt like he already knew what the answer was going to be. Like she was always waiting for someone else, and how dare he get in the way.
Of course, this was all just speculation, but he wasn't going to press it.
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Another day of hard running fueled by determination and frustration at what might be happening to her mother at this very instant, and they were there. The towers of Hogwarts just visible over the canopy of trees in the Forbidden Forest. It was close to midnight, and both Unicorns were eager to be away from the creepy forest, so unlike their own.
Athena turned to Aramos with her intense eyes close to tears and said, "Guess I'll see you later." She then used the summoning charm to bring back her items and touched the silver ring with her hoof. In an instant she was again trapped inside the strange human disguise and slipping on the indigo cloak, careful to pocket her new wand.
Aramos stepped closer to the girl and put his head over her shoulder, giving her a hug. "Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone," he whispered playfully, his tears concealed behind her golden hair. "In a year?" He finally choked out.
"In a year. I'll have my answers and we'll take care of Voldmort together." She then gave a weak smile and said, "He won't know what hit him." More seriously, she added, "Take care of yourself Aramos." She then pulled away and started toward the castle, careful not to look back.
"I love you too." Aramos whispered to her already fading figure as he turned to go find Niome and get out of this depressing forest.
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