Disclaimer: I don't own, nor do I want to own, Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling owns them. WB and several other companies I'm not sure of probably also have rights. I've no intention of making any profit off of this, it's merely used to satisfy my desire to write and possibly to amuse you, the reader.
Summary: Harry was christened Gabriel Cameo by his dark guardians. He starts his first year at Hogwarts, a wolf in sheep's clothing. While his classmates struggle with adjusting to their first year away from home, Gabriel is struggling with a different mission: one that centres around the Mirror of Erised.
Pairings: The story has no pairings. These will arise in later installments.
Warnings: This is rated R (M) for language and graphic descriptions. For complete warnings on the series, check out my profile.
AN: This is the monster of a story that developed from my scrapped plans for Reborn Droplet. Also, when I say monster, I mean monster. This is only book one. There will be six more, plus a one shot, and two other shorter series, and possibly a second seven part series if the muse lasts that long. I haven't written in a while, so I'm feeling ambitious.
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Mirror of Erised
Prologue – Tread Softly in the Night
James Potter knew when he and his family went into hiding there was a good chance they would not be coming out. The knowledge was there, but though he was frightened, he had his family to consider.
So, for the first time in his life, James Potter began to research.
He didn't know what exactly he was looking for; perhaps a way to become immortal, or to go into absolute hiding, or to change one's identity completely and totally. In the end he turned towards the Potter family's ancient history and found a way to do all three.
Little did he know his wife was trying to save the family as well.
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October 31st had many names in the past: Oíche Shamhna, or Samhain Night. In history it was thought to be the time when the boundaries between the spirits of the living and dead began to blur. It seemed only logical to James Potter that the best way to protect those he loved from death would be to speak with those who had passed beyond the veil themselves.
Though he'd never had much luck with runes in his youth, he cleared a large space on the floor in his study. He then laid out the symbols, set down the appropriate offerings and waited. He waited until the sun went down, until he heard Lily set down a tray of food at the study door, and still nothing happened. He nearly gave up, the hunger churning his stomach enough to make him throw up his hands in frustration. He could always wait until April 31st, for Walupurgis night.
He began to stand, his knees popping, when something happened. The temperature in the room dropped several degrees, and while it could have been caused by the sudden breeze that set the candles and lanterns flickering, he doubted it. Balanced in a crouched position, he waited with bated breath.
Something was finally happening.
Figures began to form in the centre of the circle. Originally they appeared mist-like, clothing washed out and skin as pale as moonlight. They were like spectres from some Muggle fairytale… until he noticed the pitch back hair that fell to the floor. He choked back a gasp, realizing what he had called into his home.
He thought he'd be bringing in the spirits of the dead to pass on their wisdom. Instead he'd invited the Sídhe into his home. They were beings from the world beyond the mound; the Goodfolk, called so out of fear of angering them. People had warded their homes against them, placed charms with their children to prevent them from being taken away.
And he'd invited them into his home.
Immediately he fell to his knees, and prostrated himself to their mercy.
"Why does he call us?" came the first lilting voice. It was so soft James wasn't sure if he heard it, or if it was in his head.
"I think he seeks a bargain," a second voice followed, firmer, but still with the disembodied quality. "What is it you would ask us, human?"
James tried to think on his toes, but for all his impulsive behaviour in the past he was certain he was going to come out with the shorter end of any 'bargains.' He licked his lips, but his mouth was as dry as sand, and tasted about as good. His memories of the ancient rituals suddenly seemed lacking. "I… ah… I seek protection for my family, Aes Sídhe. Protection from the dark, by the dark."
One of the fey laughed; an eerie sound that couldn't have come from the human realm. "Protection by the dark, he asks. Have we been apart from the world of men so long that they no longer understand who they are asking?"
"Protection from the dark, by the dark," the firmer-voiced Aes Sídhe repeated, looking at James with eyes that seemed to shine with a supernatural light. "You know what you desire, but what would you give us in return?"
His knees gave out, and he sat on the floor forcefully. This part he remembered from the histories. If I offer them less than they think is their due, I could lose more than I gain… But they like gold… I think… "I can offer you one of the Potter Vaults."
The fey laughed again, and James was sure it was female. "Gold? What use have we for your silly trappings? Something we want."
"Something you will miss…"
"Your son perhaps, if he is yours to give…"
"Your wife will be ours before too long…"
James stared at the Aes Sídhe disbelieving. They were trying to take the very things he was trying to protect… And then there was a scream from the floor below.
"Sweet Merlin, James!" Lily's cry carried up the stairs, the terror evident in her voice. "Take Harry and run! I'll try to hold them off!"
The fear that griped him nearly made him forget who he had with him. Half-way to the door, he remembered. Turning back to the ethereal figures, he looked towards the one he assumed was the leader. "I want you to save my son. I'll look after my wife."
"But why would we save him?" the female asked, her head cocked at a curious angle. "Your monster kills him, he comes to us anyway. This is to be a bargain."
James remembered what the fey had asked. "Take Harry with you. Something freely given is what you want. Take my son, to be yours in all but blood. Protect him, and raise him."
Both the Sídhe smiled; cruel and twisted. "I accept."
The fey were gone, a soft breeze of air passing with them. James didn't bother to look back again as he took off down the stairs to save his wife, knowing Harry would survive.
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The muggle fire department were putting out the blaze before too much damage was done to the house, and the aurors were too busy obliviating the neighbours into forgetting the dark-mark floating above the house to notice Sirius Black slip into the home in his canine form. He'd aparated to the Potter's house as soon as he heard they'd been attacked, but though his heart hoped, his mind knew that it was the end of the Potter line. His best friends would be in the house when they got there, but they would be dead.
Once he'd slipped in through the half-open front door, he changed back into his human form.
He kept a tight reign on his emotions when he saw James cold body lying on floor by the front entrance. From the scorch marks on the walls and blood on the carpet it was obvious his friend had given as good as he'd received. Stopping only to close James' vacant eyes, Sirius made his way up the stairs to where he expected to find Lily.
He was unsurprised to find her on the floor, a look of pure terror on her face, lying in front of little Harry's crib. Of course, she'd give her last breath to protect her little boy, even if it was in vain. He was surprised to find a second body in the room, more ash than anything else. A giddy high washed over him. Voldemort was dead on the floor… Trust the Potters to go out with a bang!
The crib sat silent next to Lily, so Sirius stood to look at his godson for the last time. Brushing the boy's thick black hair back, so like his father's, he said a little prayer to send the family on its way. He didn't expect he'd make it to the funeral. He was going to destroy the rat who'd betrayed his family, and he didn't expect to live long beyond that.
Changing silently into the large black grim, he made to leave the house. It wasn't until he reached to door of the nursery that something strange hit him.
In his canine form his sense of smell was heightened to the level of an actual hound. At first he'd been bombarded by the scents of the household, as was always the case, but as he grew accustomed to it, he noticed something off. Harry's scent permeated the crib, but it was fading. A more recent trail was leading from the room!
Sirius rushed down the stairs, nearly tripping over his large paws. He chased the scent out of the house and into the nearby forest. Yet another body lay in the woods, the smell similar to one of those he'd noted in the house, but he rushed past it, intent on finding where Harry was…
Paws bounding on the damp earth, Sirius nearly went crashing into a tree when the scent simply… disappeared. It didn't stop like he would have expected from an aparation. Instead it seemed to melt into the air. It didn't feel like human magic either. Instead it felt like…
Sirius swore in his head, cursing the dead, cursing his friend.
James, you bloody fool! He swore, realizing what had happened. Only a fucking arse would bargain with the Kin.
He turned tail and ran as quickly as he could back to the house, knowing that someone from the Order would be there soon. He had to explain to someone that Harry was alive, and than the corpse was a changeling.
All thoughts of seeking revenge against Peter fled his mind.
As did the thought that they might not believe him, or that no one knew he hadn't been the Potter's secret keeper.
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AN: It's fairly short. Actual chapters should be longer. Expect one in the next week or so. As always, reviews are wonderful, critique even more so. Both will get me writing faster. They feed my muse.
Also, I really need a beta-reader, so if anyone is interested, drop me a line.
