Disclaimer: I own Harry Potter just as much as I can fly (which isn't really quantifiable even if I could) which is to say not at all! All credit goes to J. and enjoy the story :D
I couldn't see, I couldn't hear, I couldn't smell, hell I couldn't even feel. I had no form, no body and yet I still had a mind. What was that quote 'I think therefore I am'? That must've been easy to say for someone who actually had senses to verify their existence. As far as I knew I should be in 'paradise' or whatever comes after you die. To be honest I'd never thought about it much. Some paradise this was an endless void of nothingness. Apparently just a week in a sensory deprivation chamber could cause a human being to go irreversibly mad.
Maybe this was my punishment for all the people's lives I'd ended. My retribution. This was the theory that made the most sense to me, not that it made that much sense, but sometimes when dealing with the supposedly impossible there had to be a certain level of suspension of disbelief. It wasn't a foreign concept to me, dealing with the impossible that is. I had grown up with a wizard for a cousin and when I had reached adulthood I had joined the fight to protect him and others like him from the greed and fear of so many of those in power.
Now you may be wondering just what I'm blathering on about and I may as well explain since there's not much else to occupy my time right now. You probably all know the story of Harry Potter, The Chosen One, saviour of the wizarding world. This story starts many years after the end of that last book and it's not a happy one. I won't go into too much gory detail, but after many much enjoyed years of peace the magicals of Britain had become complacent and it had only taken one fanatical young supporter of Voldemort (enthralled by the tales of his power, which had become more exaggerated by the day) culling a group of 'muggles' in London in broad daylight. It had only taken one horrible tragedy and the wizarding world was exposed. There were too many witnesses to obliviate, too many people who had recorded the 'big bang' (as it was later called) and uploaded the videos onto the internet. The videos had gone viral in less than a day and there was no escaping the truth any longer.
At first the ministry seemed to have the situation under control. There were speeches, negotiations and a year after the event, magicals seemed to be integrating into muggle society and using their skills to help with problems small and large, but it's part of human nature to be afraid of the unknown. Each day the murmurs underneath everything grew louder the whispers at the back of people's minds became more solid. Since the beginning there had been groups screaming and protesting "where were they before?" "They're too powerful!" "They're not even human!" and as the months went on they gained steam they couldn't all be quelled. They gained support 'reaching out' to those who were vulnerable, those who's' loved ones could've been saved by magic and at the head of it all was the nigh all-consuming terror of the power magicals held, of what they could do and had done without repercussions. It was impossible to stem the tide of anger too many people in high places were desperately clinging on and took this as a chance for glory. "Stamp out the unnaturals!" "Get them before they get us". It may have been a slow thing, but it was unstoppable. One day I woke up and it was too late.
Laws were passed stating that magicals were not truly human and as such weren't due the same rights. Anyone who disagreed, like I did, was shunned. Magicals went back into hiding, but this time there was no secret safe house, this time they ran. Groups reformed, heroes from the previous war headed untrained groups of magicals and muggles alike and fashioned them into armies.
We fought long, we fought hard, but the odds were worse than a hundred to one and magical supporters dropped like flies. Anyone who openly supported rights for magicals was imprisoned or worse for being a 'traitor to human-kind'. It had been approaching a decade and a half of war (if you call a tiny group of homeless survivors lashing out in desperation at an undefeatable entity war) when I had died. It had been another of the many suicide missions I'd taken since my cousin's death. I had been trying to rescue a young group of muggle-born magicals (none had been older than ten. How could they?) from a lab that you don't want me to describe in detail and I guess fate just caught up to me. My death had been mercifully, disappointingly quick, a bullet between the eyes as I tried to buy as much time as possible for the others to escape. I don't know if they did, but I hope so.
"Young one" an ethereal voice interrupted my grim reminiscence "it does not do to dwell on the past", I'm sure I would've tripped out of shock if I'd been in possession of a body at that time. The voice was genderless and radiated power, which washed through my entire being. 'Bloody hell!' was my first thought. 'Aaaaaahhh!'was my was a strange sound (though sound was already strange given my lack of ears) and after a few immeasurable moments I realised it was laughter. I wanted to be offended, but I hadn't heard such a joyous sound in so long, any laughter I'd heard recently had been grim and bitter. "I am flattered you enjoy the sound of my laughter young one" the voice echoed through me. Wait! Could it hear my thoughts?! No, forget that. Stupid question of course it could, I was currently only thought. I got an impression of approval. 'Who are you' I tried to direct my thoughts as my constant paranoia drilled into me with pain anguish returned after being absent in my shock at the situation. "Mm" it (spoke?) ponderingly, "You may address me as Magic". I could feel the power in the word. It finally replied after a tense eternity. The laughter echoed again, a sound like tinkling bells, "You exaggerate young one". I went to frown before remembering I couldn't. 'What's with all this young one stuff?' I tried to bluster to hide my discomfort. "Oh, I apologise young one. I did not really think for you did I?" and just like that I was back in my normal body (strangely absent of its' regular aches and pains) on a field of never-ending lush green grass, lit by an invisible sun. Before me stood a hunched feminine figure draped in a twilight purple hooded cloak which betrayed next to nothing of their looks. The figure straightened and took a slow step forwards only to stop when I automatically tensed. "Who are you?! Where am I!?" I snapped momentarily disregarding politeness in favour of getting answers. Even now I had a body my words seemed distorted as if I were hearing them through sheets of water. Somehow I knew the figure was smiling under that cloak "I doubt you are so forgetful as to already not know my name" the power imbued voice returned this time radiating out from the purple-clad figure in a wave of dreary energy "As for where you are… Well that is unimportant right now". "Well what is important then?!" I hissed trying to disguise my growing panic. I felt another wave of energy wash over me, but this one was soothing, relaxing my tensed nerves. "I am here to offer you a second chance" 'Magic' replied annoyingly cryptically "Why me? Why now? And what is with calling yourself Magic?!"
"Because that is what I am" it replied ignoring my incredulously raised eyebrow "I am Magic the mother, the beginning of all Magic on earth. This form is just a representation of my spirit and mind, for I live in all those with life. Yes even those deemed non-magical who are unable to unlock their potential", it (she? I got the impression of a female) spoke anticipating my question. "That still doesn't explain why I'm here", I pointed out weakly. Magic sighed forlornly, "Oh, dear young one of course it does" I felt a little guilty that I had been the one to make her sound so upset and she ploughed through these thoughts "I consider all those on earth my children and it tears me to see my precious children hurt each other as they have been doing so". 'So it is my punishment then' I thought grimly accepting. Magic seemed horrified and it was then I recalled her ability to hear my thoughts, as she'd stated previously this form was only for my comfort (strange that she would comfort someone she wanted to punish). "No! That you would assume so-!" Magic paused for what I assumed was her equivalent of a calming breath. "You have spent many years working so hard for peace, to bring humans together uncaring of their differences. Despite your not so kind actions as a child you were noble in life and in death. I would, if you wish it, return you to a time when there is still the chance to prevent this cruel outcome and save your cousin who I had wished so much better for". I paused to take this in could it really…? "You mean… like time travel? I could save Harry". Magic's head dipped in confirmation "Yes young one and, that you may be closer to him, I would give you my blessing". I was shocked I'd never expected something like this. My eyes were wide with disbelief as I processed the implications. Her blessing. Did that mean... that I would have-. I hesitated to even think the word: Magic. The warm energy encompassing me in an instant was all the confirmation I needed. I knew the old childlike wonder I'd felt back when magic had begun to become common was sparkling in my eyes, washing away years. "I would also bestow upon you protection that no curious, prying beings may access your memories or thoughts of this erased time". I thought of all the lives that could be saved; all the orphans that would never be made; all the derelict magical communities that would never stop thriving and all the children that would never have to hide their tears and grow up too fast and my resolve was set. "Young one do you agree to return to an earlier time and prevent these horrors from ever having to exist?" , Magic asked tearfully. Could primordial beings be tearful? "I do" I responded with two simple words, firm and unwavering. The hood of Magic's star scattered cloak fell back without being touched and revealed a face that I would never be able to recall or describe in any detail, but I could tell you it was heart-stoppingly beautiful and her killing curse green eyes were forever seared into my mind's eye. It was a face that I imagined people would be able to stare at for an eternity without growing tired of it. I knew then that even it she didn't have a true form Magic could feel just as well as I could and this was her last hope for peace and happiness just as much as it was mine "Then I bestow upon you my blessing and send you back".
"Bye" I whispered weakly and for some reason as I did my voice cracked and I could feel a traitorous lump in my throat as a warning of the tears I was holding back. In the blink of an eye Magic had glided swiftly and elegantly across the grass and her arms were wrapping gently around me. As I once again lost all feeling and my vision whited out my soul becoming free to float away, I could've sworn I felt crystalline tears soaking through the shirt on my back and a wavering chiming voice murmur "Goodbye and good luck my child. Dudley Dursley"
AN: Well I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of Finite Incantatum (I know stupid name I came up with it in a panic and my though process was really convoluted) and I hope you enjoy many more chapters to come. I can't say much for my update schedule, but I'll try to keep chapters to a reasonable length and warn you if I have to stop the story.
On another note since he has Magic now eventually Dudley will be going to Hogwarts so which house should he be in: Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. Personally I'm bias towards Hufflepuff, but I just can't decide whether it's really the right fit so I'll leave it up to you dear min- uh I mean readers.
Goodbye till next time go drink some tea (or your favourite beverage of choice) Byeeeeeeee!
~Leaf :Dxxx