It was the summer after Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts and in the wake of Cedric's death and horror of watching Voldemort's rebirth life with the Dursley's in Privet Drive was worse than ever. He felt lost and alone, the memories of that night in the graveyard as fresh in his mind as if they had happened only yesterday and it was slowly eating him up inside. Every night in his dreams he returned to being bound over the bones of Voldermort's father, bleeding and in pain, then released and forced to duel. Tortured and fearing every second for his life, he tossed and turned, locked in the seemingly endless nightmare that always ended with the feel of Cedric's cold, dead body under him as he crashed back onto Hogwarts grounds. He ran a hand through his already dishevelled black hair then dropped his face into his hands; he felt as if day by day he was losing himself, losing his will to fight, to carry on. It was then he heard a soft flutter of wings and looked up to see a beautiful red tailed Hawk swoop into his bedroom, a letter tied to it's leg. It landed on the bed beside him and extended it's leg out to him, fixing him with an imperious look as if demanding he take the letter instantly. With shocked and nervous hands he removed the letter and stared down at it; on one side, in beautiful cursive script was his name only and on the other it was sealed shut with wax, imprinted with the crest of a dragon and a lion, locked in combat, wreathed by Oak and Myrtle leaves. He slit open the letter gently and unfolded it and began to read:
My dearest Harry,

You do not know me but I know you, which I understand does not mean much when you live in a world where everyone knows your name however this is not what I am referring to. I am not sure if you know or have ever wondered whom your parents chose as guardians for you if the very worst should happen. I knew your parents when we were at school together, in fact I would consider them to be two of the greatest friends I have ever had, and as we grew together we were large parts of one another's lives. I was Maid of Honour at their wedding, much to Petunia's relief I am sure, and when Lily discovered she was pregnant with you I was asked to be your Godmother. I have never been as honoured as I was that day or as blessed as the day you were born. I can still remember James rushing out of the delivery room at St. Mungo's, tears streaming down his face and telling anyone who would listen that he had a son. We never let him live it down either, much to his annoyance.
My purpose in writing is that I recently discovered you had been placed in the care of Lily's sister and her family, up until now all I had been told was that you were safe, happy and well cared for and that has and will always be my biggest priority when it comes to you. However, I know Petunia. I know how she felt about Lily and James and about magic in general and I cannot believe that anyone would be fool enough to place you in her care. You will never know how sorry I am that I did not check did not make sure, that you were as safe and happy as I had been told but now that I do know I will not stand to see you with those people a second longer. I know you do not know me, I know that we have never met in your memory but I remember the giggling little green eyed baby I used to sing to every night and who wouldn't go to sleep unless he was in someone's arms. I loved you then and I love you now, you are my best friend's son and I want to do what I should have done from the beginning and give you the home you should have had with your parents.
I understand if you are wary of me, I would expect no less, but I ask that you allow me to come and to meet with you so that you can get to know me and learn to trust me. If you wish for this, if you wish to meet me, send a reply with Aderyn, my hawk.
I hope to hear from you soon.

All my love,
Lady Arielle Phantome (Order of Merlin First Class, Member of the Wizengamot )

As Harry read and re-read the letter his breath caught in his throat; this woman was his Godmother? She had been friends with his parents? Why, when he had discovered Sirius, had he not thought to ask if he also had a Godmother? And who was it that had kept her away from him, kept her in the dark as to who he lived with? Then suddenly it seemed to sink in that she had offered to take him away from the Durselys, away from Privet Drive, and give him a home. Tracing the words on the page he smiled, his father had cried when he was born and she used to sing to him; unbidden a memory seemed to surface, it was faint and dim, but he could almost hear it. A voice, singing words he couldn't quite recall as he was rocked gently in warm comforting arms. The memory, no matter how weak, filled him with hope and solidified his decision to meet with her; hunting around his room for a clean piece of parchment and a quill he quickly penned his reply:

Arielle,
I've never asked about my Godparents, I never really had anyone to ask but I would love to meet you. Could you come to meet me here? If you waited for me somewhere near I could come meet you without my Aunt and Uncle finding out. Or I could maybe get the Knight bus to wherever you want to meet if that won't work.

I hope your well, Harry

Quickly sealing it and attaching it the Hawk's leg under it's unsettling yellow gaze, he prayed that he would hear back from her soon. As he stepped away from Aderyn the bird ruffled it's feathers slightly before soaring out of his bedroom window and into the night. Lying down in his bed, Arielle's letter still gripped tightly in his hand, he felt better than he had in weeks. It was like her letter was a candle in the darkness, giving him something to hold onto and hope for and he prayed that it wasn't in vain.