I don't own Harry Potter and company. I only wishI did so I could quit my job and laze about the house all day.
Shadow Walker by threelade
Chapter 1. Digging in the Swamp.
Father grabbed hold of Ice's arm and swung him around the hall. "Stop right there" he said. "You know you can't leave the campus unless four kids or an adult go with you."
"But dad, I was just going out to help collect the herbs for potions. I wasn't going far. And besides Smoke, Shadow Walker and Fire will be with me. Please can I go?" Ice begged.
"You're not even trained and you give me more troubles than all the others combined. No you cannot go out of the compound. Go find Blaze and have him help you with some physical training. It will keep you out of trouble."
Smoke, Shadow Walker and Fire ran down the stairs and as the three youths were passing the two, Shadow Walker grabbed Father and gave him a quick hug, "Keep Ice busy for us will you?"
Father laughed as he hugged Shadow, "You three keep safe and don't stay out all night." He turned to Ice and with a quick flick of his hand indicated that the youth should go back upstairs. "Move Ice."
With a scowl that would have done anyone proud Ice stomped back up the stairs. Sometimes life wasn't fair, why did he have to be the baby of the family and he wasn't even the youngest. That really sucked.
The three kids were deep in the swamp digging up root that the potions master had requested the day before as the day stretched toward evening. Shadow looked around and called a halt to the days harvesting operation. "Its getting late lets head home guys."
"Come on Shadow, we didn't get any of the Airoflax yet. You know that Martin is gonna want some of that." Fire whined.
"I'll come back tomorrow morning and get some but we have to go home, we promised Father." Shadow explained.
Sloshing through the mud the three made there way back to the complex just as the sun began to set.
The next morning Shadow left the complex alone to gather the Airoflax. He took his short sword, a long dagger and his staff. Not that he expected any trouble, it was just training. After setting his wards he opened his sack and began cutting the fluffy heads off the Airoflax plants and stuffing them into his sack. After about two hours he had harvested all of the plants this side of the swamp and was debating weather to move to a new location or just go home. Home he decided, the plant heads caused an itch when exposed to skin and you could not wear gloves when harvesting it. He needed a shower.
About half way back to the complex he started to feel like he was being watched. Casting out feelers trying to find whoever or whatever was watching him proved unsuccessful. Still the feeling of being watched would not leave him alone. It was a relief when he passed the wards of the complex and left the feeling behind.
After Shadow got back to the school he looked up Father to tell him about the feeling of being watched. "So what do you think it was dad?"
"You couldn't pinpoint anything?" Father asked. "That is strange. Look Shadow, I don't know what it could have been but please don't leave the compound till we find out. Ok?"
"I wanted to take my hawk out later today for some flying but I guess I can stay here. I'll work with Ice on his elementals later today instead." Shadow said.
Father laughed, "He could use the help and you're a better teacher than most. Just don't let him flood the great hall again ok?"
With a quick grin Shadow agreed.
Shadow spent the evening working with Ice helping him with his control and promising to work with him again in the morning after breakfast. Other than a few quick temper tantrums on the part of Ice it was a productive evening and Shadow went to bed well satisfied with how his day had gone.
(Hogwarts.)
"Welcome students to another adventures year of learning." Dumbledore went through the usual beginning of school speeches before dismissing the students from the feast.
After the feast the headmaster asked several of the teachers to accompany him up to his office for a brief meeting. Snape was the first to ask the question…"Anything yet?"
"No, another dead end. I know he can't be dead but wherever he is he is very well hidden." Albus said.
"Humm" Professor Black said, "How many dead ends does this make this year Albus? 4 or 5 I think. When are you going to give up the search?"
Albus reached over and patted Sirius on his shoulder and explained, "I know he is not dead. Look, I told you 5 about the prophecy and you know what that means. Riddle and Harry can only kill each other. No one else ever. If Tom or his followers had managed to find and killed him don't you think we would all know by now?" He shook his head, "No, he's not dead, he's just very well hidden and it's our job to find him and bring him here. This is where his parents wanted him. This is where he belongs."
Professor Minerva McGonagall looked sadly at the head master. "Albus, this may be where James and Lilly wanted him and I know you don't want to admit that he might be dead but we have been looking for him since he was three. If he was alive we should have found some trace of him in 11 years of searching but we haven't. The only thing we know for sure is the Dursleys sold him to someone dressed in black when he was three for 5000 pounds. Nothing else." She sighed and said, "Even if we did find him after all this time he won't know who we are and may not even know who he is himself. I only hope your right and he is alive and wherever he is I wish him happiness."