Title: Taking What's Mine

Author: KnightKitten

Beta: Mabel Stanley


Dearest Lily,

I hope you are well after the birth of your beautiful baby boy. I hear he has your eyes and of that I am very grateful. I have also heard of the misfortune befallen upon the poor child. Despite this, I believe great things will sprout from young Harry. I assumed you would want as much information as possible on the subject, so I included a little something that will help you in raising your son.

The Niartesac Disease originated 106 years ago in a small village on the borders of Naroch, called Niartesac. A plague spread through the village feeding off magic. The healers of the time knew the only way to survive those harsh times was for everyone's magic to be sealed. This would give the disease nothing to feed upon and therefore would not lead people to their immanent death. As suspected, the original disease did die out, but there were further repercussions. A small amount of the sealed wizards and witches gave birth to sickly children.

These children had what was called the second strain; a non-contagious disorder that fed from the magic in the body. Because their parents never used magic after their sealing, the magic had been passed on to them and had resulted in an overload of the body. The magic fed off their basic human functions and thus made them smaller and weaker. They grew slowly and rarely exceeded the height of 5'6.

It could be overcome however. Through extensive training, a victim could open the channels through the body and allow themselves to function normally. The process was extremely long and painful to begin with, but if done properly, the wizard or witch had an enormous amount of power at their finger tips. This is due to the larger reserves the overflowing magic had carved for itself.

However, if the body was not trained properly, using magic would be a very painful and weakening experience for the victim. They would never be able to function with magic properly and would most likely be prone to weak spouts all through there life. Child birth would prove a problem.

I strongly urge you to have him trained when the time comes. The people will not be content with a king that cannot use magic and would you really chain your son to a life off being second best to the man you marry him to?

Many warmest regards

Albus Dumbledore.


James swung around as the first scream resounded through the castle. The minute the distraction costed him though and he stifled a cry of his own as a cutting curse hit him from behind. Firing in return, he soon dispatched of the enemy and started towards the stairs, intent on only one thing. Lily. Scaling the stairs, the guards moved in around him blocking any enemy from following him. They never noticed the small grey rat slipping through their legs and following James at a speedy rate. He rounded the corner violently and pushed the servants from his way, even as they scrambled to bow. Rushing into the room he was met with the sight of Lily's screaming face as she pushed at the insistence of the nurse.

James watched her face as she gave a mighty push and then a light squalling reached his ears. Lily sagged against the pillows even as Poppy began running tests and cleaning the baby, running her wand up and down his tiny body.

After that it was a blur.

There was a flash and screaming and then pain.

No more children

Niartesac disease

Pettigrew's dead


16 years later


Draco watched coldly as Crabbe and Goyle fought passionately. Their considerable bulk didn't get in the way as they slashed and parried viciously, shooting spells and sparks from there wands and cutting at each other with their swords. Goyle made a slash at Crabbe straight after a sharp jab. Crabbe didn't recover quickly enough from the first attack and a cut appeared on his abdomen.
'First blood wins,' Goyle grunted, 'You lose,' Draco laughed coldly at Crabbe's fierce expression and watched in disinterest as they engaged in fight yet again. Draco casually observed that they needed to get another job. The whole camp was going crazy from boredom.
'Draco,' the blonde turned to his second-in-command lazily, a slight amount of surprise filtering into his normally dispassionate outlook.
'Severus Snape. What a pleasant surprise,' Draco sneered.
'Pleasant isn't the word I'd use,' Snape glared.
'What are you doing away from you potions?' Draco jeered coldly. Blaise quickly intervened.
'Snape comes with a job for us,' the dark-haired agent smirked, his eyes lighting up with mischief.
'Really? You want us to steal you a heart I suppose. Or perhaps a somewhat better looking nose would be more beneficial?'
'It is a mission from the Lord,' Snape replied. Draco had suspected as much, so he waited for the older man to continue.
'This might just be a challenge, Draco…' He smirked. Challenges were hard to find.


Harry woke to the sound of a crackling fire and hushed voices. He moaned and blinked carefully for a moment, waiting for the light to become bearable. He'd had another attack, he remembered. He remembered pain and unhappiness and loud voices and then a flash of blue eyes and then…nothing.
'Oh, Harry! Thank Merlin you're finally awake. We just sent Ron and Hermione to get something to eat,' Lily babbled happily. James watched with a fond smile, but kept a sharp eye on Harry for any sign of discomfort.

Harry slowly processed what his mother had said. And then he noticed how unsettled they appeared.

'What's going on?' he was resigned to whatever it was they wanted. There was no way for him to argue. Lily and James looked awkward as they exchanged harassed glances.
'Well, prongslet,' Harry winced. His father only ever used his childhood nickname when he had something to say he knew Harry wouldn't like. 'Oliver Wood's parents sent a letter a week or so ago, asking a difficult question. You're sixteen and, well…we think it's about time you started a family of your own. You know, get a husband and all that,' Harry stared at them blankly, fluttering his eyes a little. Hermione said he always did it when he was surprised.
'You want me to marry Oliver,' Harry concluded from his father's vague monologue. He stayed calm, even as his parents nodded slightly and his hopes flew out the window.

Harry had always known he wouldn't marry for love. Hardly anyone did. He only knew three couples who had. Ron' parents (if happiness was gold, they'd be the masters of the universe), his own parents and Sirius and Remus, although Sirius and Remus weren't actually married yet (no matter how much Mrs Lupin bugged them about it). Hermione's parents had found love later and Harry could only hope he'd be in a situation like their's.

He breathed in lightly and nodded, forcing a serene smile onto his face.
'For the good of the Kingdom,' he muttered as an answer to their unasked question, although he never took his eyes from his hands.
'Brilliant!' Lily clapped her hands in fake happiness, though inside her heart was breaking for her son.' You've been unconscious for three days and in that time I've organised a ball to announce your engagement. No-one but us, Oliver, his parents and Sirius and Remus know!'
'So don't be too alarmed if the sound of crying ladies reaches you all the way up here,' James joked, nudging Harry playfully as his son blushed. Lily sighed, before continuing as if her husband had never spoken.
'So, I think it would be best if you stay here and recover, instead of coming downstairs and facing all the excitement. I'm sure Oliver can handle it,' Harry inwardly cheered, but outside remained as impassive as ever. Lily gave her son a knowing look, before standing and ushering James to the door.
'Try to get some sleep, I'll tell the guards to keep everyone out so you can rest,' Harry nodded and yawned cutely, stretching like a cat and rubbing his eyes with fisted hands. Lily restrained herself from squealing at how adorable her son was and instead smiled fondly; closing the door quietly after she had kissed him on the forehead gently.

Harry didn't sleep though. A weight had settled restlessly in his gut. Something was going to happen and Harry didn't know whether he liked the idea or not.


Big thank you to Mabel for Beta-ing. Enjoy and a big sorry to any of my old slash disliking readers.

Edit: Revised December 31 2005

Edit: Revised again February 12 2007