The Hunter Chronicles
Chronicle – record of historical event.
"A lot of you may not want to hear what I am about to say, either because you find it too improbable to be true or simply because you have no wish to believe anything other than what you have already been told. However, there will be those among you who will hear me. It is to that minority, no matter how small, that I address these
words" – Harry James Potter.
Chapter 1
The beginning
16 years ago
"Are you sure we can pull this off?" James asked sceptically.
"Of course we can! We've got everything we need from 5 people to 13 candles –,"
"Why 13?"
"Because we need to focus all the energy onto the recipient – you'll see" Chuckled Lily. "Anyway, as I was saying, we can do this. Dumbledore knows nothing about this –,"
"Are you sure about that? He's a smart guy you know"
"Yes I'm sure, James, we have enough combined magical power to catalyse the reactions that are critical to –," Lily paused at that point when she caught the look on her husband's face that said:
'That went completely over my head and out the window.'
"Sorry," She said, grinning.
"Don't even pretend you understood that," Chided Sirius Black who had, up until now, been quite silent. "So … basically, all we have to do is concentrate, hope and … what else Moony?"
"Pray," nodded Remus Lupin. At Sirius's frown he added: "What? A little faith couldn't hurt could it? I mean look at what we're trying to accomplish here!"
The married couple and their two closest friends sat debating for the thousandth time the probability of their radical plan working. Since its conception two months ago – Harry's birth – their plan had been adapted, edited, refined and even rewritten to the point where it had no need to be written down; it was chiselled into their memory from the sheer number of times they had gone over it. One problem still remained unsolved; the effect it would have on their only son, Harry James Potter. James, (Harry's father) had always been the first to bring up this point in their conversations about it.
"Yeah, but think about his future, he might not be able to handle it, it's a lot to ask of him and it's a massive decision for anyone to make."
"I know, but what other choice do we have?" Lily said "I feel the same as you – we all do - but at least this way we'll be giving him a fighting chance to survive." Her voice held a thousand silent whispers of how she knew that this was what they had to do but she wished, with all her heart, that there was another way. Harry was her son too. This conversation took a new turn in the direction of them all agreeing.
"We'll be there to help him anyway so it's not like he'll be in this alone, right?" proposed Sirius with renewed determination to help his Godson.
"Lets hope so because if Dumbledore gets wind of this we all know the lengths he'll go to stop it. He'll never be able to control Harry the way he wants to after this. If all else fails at least Harry will be able to defend himself from his manipulation." added Remus in a sombre tone. The group grew quiet after that, each lost in their own thoughts of one small baby who lay sleeping peacefully in a room upstairs.
15 years ago
It was two weeks after Harry's first birthday. A storm raged outside. Everything was ready. The candles were set, the crystals were laid out, there was just one person missing: Anika Daniels. Anika Daniels was Lilly's oldest and dearest friend. She was also one of the most powerful and skilled witches they knew that hadn't been killed by Lord Voldemort or run ragged by Albus Dumbledore – following his every command with blind faith. She was also never on time.
"Where is she!" Whined Sirius "What could be taking so long! I know she's your friend Lily, but come on!" He trailed off as the front door burst open and a very wet and cold looking Anika stumbled into the hallway.
"You where saying Padfoot" said James with a raised eyebrow.
" 'As 'e bin wingin' agen?" asked Anika with a thick Northerner accent. Her dark blond hair was plastered to her head and her clothes dripped rain onto the carpet. She greeted everyone in turn as she started to warm herself up by the fire in the front room.
"So …?" Asked Lilly
"So? … Oh! Yeah, soz, couldn' get away from Dumbledore – 'e still wants me f't try an' do that 'special spell thingy that'll supposedly reveal Voldemort's whereabouts or summat like that, I wu'n't really listnin'" rambled Anika in her Northern tongue. Although they still found it hard to understand her sometimes, they got the gist of what she said.
"Is he still talking about that foolish spell? Why don't you just do it for him and prove it's pointless? That way he might finally leave you alone," said Remus
"Maybe. Problem is, the energy I'd need f't use wud proble' blow me 'part reet in middle o' spell!" replied Anika dryly.
"Oh," Was his reply.
"Still, sorry I'm late, I know how much this all means to ya, so jus' walk me through it one more time an' lets get on with it," sighed Anika. They spent the next hour or so going over the plan in detail so that everyone knew exactly what they had to do. All the while the thunder storm sent a flurry of rain to the ground outside their suburban home.
Upstairs in the nursery a small barely a year old baby sat in his crib staring intensely at a little wooden cube with letters inscribed on each of its six sides. Harry began to rock back and forth softly as a flash of bright lightning momentarily illuminated his blazing emerald eyes that embrace an unknown element, shouting magical energy. Suddenly the cube rose off the floor along with two others. For a moment, they where suspended there as if caught in an invisible web. Then, slowly at first, they each began to spin on one of their points. Their speed continued to increase until they looked nothing more than three balls caught in mid air. The child was still rocking back and forth though now it was more urgent and his eyes where slightly widened. It was evident that he was controlling them.
When it looked like the cubes would not spin any faster the boy slowed his rocking until it was barely noticeable. The wind coming in through the open window had picked up slightly and was whipping his scruffy black hair into his face. He didn't seem to notice. His whole being was focused on the three rotating cubes in front of him.
All of a sudden the door creaked open. Harry looked up, breaking eye contact with the blocks, to see his father standing in the doorway.
"Hay kid," greeted James. Harry just blinked at him (he hadn't started talking yet). James couldn't hold back a grin that came over his face when a clap of thunder rolled through the window and Harry didn't even flinch. He walked over to the window and closed it against the midnight storm. He then picked up Harry and sat down on the window seat with his son on his lap. After a long moment James finally spoke, "Harry, I hope one day you'll forgive me and your mother. You have to understand, we just want what's best for you and to give you the best chance we can for you to live. It wont be easy for you. But we'll always be here … no matter what. I promise. Things are getting so bad – you wouldn't believe how bad. To be honest, son, I don't think we're going to see the end of it. But if we do … go … at least we'd know you'd have a better chance of seeing it through. I hope one day you'll be able to forgive us and understand why we did it. But for now … just live." James continued to gaze at his only son with a sad smile on his lips. He had already planned to do so many things with Harry like any other father did. Things like taking him to the park to teach him how to ride his first bike and broom, sports games like quidditch, teasing him about his first girlfriend. Even things like giving him the keys to his first car or sharing his first drink where things James couldn't wait to do. However this war had destroyed all of that. This was not Harry's war. Why should it tear his life apart?
"You know, your mum fancies the idea that you're going to start talking soon," Stated James with a smirk. At Harry's laugh he continued, "But for me, the sooner you start talking, the sooner you talk back. A little part of me hopes you'll never say a word." James chuckled as he carefully laid Harry back in his cot. "Bye Harry" He said and closed the door softly behind him on the way out.
"Bye" the soft reply came from inside the cot, unheard by anyone. The wooden blocks lay on the floor at the other end of the room, silent and still.
Later that night, the storm had died down some but still lingered. James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Anika and Harry were all in the attic. They were positioned in a pentagram with Harry in the centre. Anika stood at the top point in front of the window that was open to the once again gathering storm. Lily and James were at the points next to her with Sirius next to James and Remus next to Lily. Each of them where holding a crystal that had a flat base and short blunt spikes protruding from it. They where a dull white and looked anything but magical. There was also a single candle at their feet that supported a soft flame flickering defiantly in the breeze flowing through the room. Surrounding Harry were eight candles, unlit, totalling thirteen. Each of the five adults where connected to Harry via a crystal that was placed exactly half way between themselves and the child. They where identical to each crystal held by the adults. Harry, as if sensing the importance of all of this, was silent and watchful. But he kept glancing towards his mother and father as if waiting for them to start playing a game.
The storm was still building and Anika glanced towards each of the four adults, silently asking if they where ready. She received a single nod from each. Anika Daniels took a deep breath, positioned the crystal in both of her hands at chest height, adjusted her stance slightly and began to chant. All evidence of her distinct accent was gone as she spoke each word with clear, measured precision.
"Nos dico super, phasmatis patronus, audire nostrum vox. Exorior ex vestry specialis locus, quad tribuo nos an celebratio," The wind had picked up and it had started to rain heavily outside. A slight shimmer had appeared in the air all around them, as if everything was amidst a heat wave. Anika repeated her words louder with more force behind them. When she had finished the apparent heat wave had turned into a mass of what looked like silver coloured glitter caught in a lazy breeze. Anika looked between Lily and James, took another breath and once again began chanting.
"Commodo nos precor vos tribuo no donum of vestry vox –," The silver substance started to swirl around with increased speed as though her words had provoked a reaction from it. She continued "Ut nos may utor lemma, ut subsisto malum, ut est vomica is universitas," Inside the attic it looked like the silver glitter had been caught in a hurricane; the wind had reached howling point and a blast of lightning was chased by a roll of thunder. The 'glitter' was looking more and more like tiny balls of molten light as they changed from a light silver to a mixture of deep gold and rich red. The temperature had plummeted. However fast the substance seemed to spin it did not touch any of the occupancies of the room, as though testing their nerve. Anika spoke again, "Nos es dignus oh valde!" It started to weave in between each of them, dancing in the strong winds.
"Commodo tribuo nos to order super vestry elementum!" She had to shout over the noise created by the howling air. The candles were still alight. The crystals began to emit pure light.
"Commodo tribuo nos to order super vestry elementum!" Anika repeated.
The eight candles surrounding Harry sprung to life and flared up.
"Commodo tribuo nos to order super vestry elementum!"
The candles at the foot of each of the adults flared up to lick the ceiling and the crystals gave out a strong burst of magnificent light.
"Commodo tribuo nos to order super vestry elementum!" Anika screamed.
The mass of swirling orbs were suddenly sucked violently into each of the hand held crystals. Silence. The flames still raged on but at only half their previous height. Nothing moved for a few milliseconds. Then … a huge explosion of pure white light burst from the held crystals and rushed towards the crystals on the floor. As they hit, the intense light was refracted to Harry. As it sped towards him the flames from the eight candles around him leapt up, twisting and cascading. No one could see as five beams of pure elemental magic struck the child.
Translations:
Nos dico super, phasmatis patronus, audire nostrum vox, exorior ex vestri specialis locus, quod tribuo os an celebration.
We call upon, the spirit protectors, to hear our cry, come forth from your secret place, and grant us an audience.
Commodo nos precor vos tribuo no donum of vestry vox.
Please, we beg you, grant us the gift of your powers.
Ut nos may utor lemma ut subsisto malum u test vomica is universitas.
So that we may use them to stop the evil that is plaguing this world.
Commodo tribuo nos to order super vestry elementum.
Please give us command over your elements.