Welcome to all, I hope you find this fanfic as enjoyable to read as I have found it to write. Something important to note is that this story is set after the order of the phoenix, though I may use a few ideas such as character & items from later books.
As to up-dates & length I'm planning on making this story between 15-20 chapter longs, with an up-date weekly. And since I'm currently on my summer break from University (I live in Australia) keeping to that timeline shouldn't be a hassle
Otherwise this is just my attempt at putting my own spin on the Harry Potter world. So please sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter world and any related materials are the property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury and/or Warner Brothers.
Prologue
At a deserted castle in Scotland
The drizzle of water flowing from the wall was gradually increasing as the constant autumn rains continued their seasonal downpour. The occupants of the room however paid no attention to their surroundings this late evening, instead their attention was focused on a young, beautiful girl who was lying unconscious in the centre of the room.
They had finally completed the task their master had set them over 16 years ago, and though they did feel slightly remorseful at the loss they and their family would endure the amount of honour and respect to be gained was compensation enough.
Lost in thought he wasn't aware as a new presence entered the room until the crushing pain was on him.
"Malfoy of all my servants surely you are aware that you are to kneel down whenever I grace you with my presence. Such disobedience can not go unpunished."
Quickly recovering from the aftermath of the Cruciatus curse Malfoy senior kneels with his head bent towards his lord, "please forgive me my lord, it shall never happen again."
"See that it doesn't, otherwise next time I shall not be so forgiving. Now I see you have brought the girl, I trust that everything is as was arranged?"
"Yes my lord, I have done everything as per your request. She has been raised properly with deep respect for the old ways & yourself."
"Who knows of her and this arrangement?"
"No one beyond the family knows of her existence, and only I know the full depth of the agreement."
"Perfect, you may leave us now. Return by sunset tomorrow evening."
Bowing Malfoy respectfully responds "Yes, my lord" before apparating away to Malfoy Manner.
Privot Drive
Lying down whilst staring at his roof Harry Potter was deep in thought. The summer holidays had only just started and yet he was already feeling the loneliness he suffered throughout his entire childhood. Only this time guilt and a bone chilling loss accompanied it.
As the night at the ministry was playing out its dreadful scenes one by one for the countless time in Harry's mind Harry continued the 'what if's' that had plagued him since that evening. What if he'd used the mirror to contact Sirius instead of taking himself and his friends into danger on impulse? What if he had listened to Hermione when she had accurately described his actions as 'a people saving' thing and headed her warnings? What if he had waited until help from professionally trained aurors had come before mindless rushing in? What if…
He continued on with this useless train of thought until exhaustion over came him and blessed oblivion became his escape. However even in sleep the nightmare that had become his life wouldn't grant him any rest. Instead he watched time and time again as his God father fell through the veil, every time incapable of preventing the inevitable.
After only a few hours Harry awoke feeling sick and even more tired then before he'd slept. Hating himself for everything that he was he got up and decided to use his time productively by studying defence against the dark arts. He knew that he couldn't bring Sirius back but that didn't mean he couldn't avenge his death, and Harry was putting a lot of effort into preparing himself for just such an opportunity.
As the hours ticked by Harry's concentration began to waver when a small white owl flew in. Detaching the letter from the owl's leg Harry gave the owl some water and a little of Hedwig's food before opening the letter.
Dear Harry,
I hope this letter finds you well. I myself have found these last few weeks difficult but believe that Sirius would not want us to spend our lives mourning his passing. Instead I believe that he would rather we embrace what life offers us and perhaps attempt a prank or two in his honour.
However with Sirius now beyond our reach your guardianship has managed to find its way into my hands. I only mention this because something serious has been brought to my attention regarding your wellbeing that we need to discuss urgently. As such please be ready for my arrival sometime this week.
Sincerely
Remus
Puzzled by his new guardian's coded message Harry couldn't help but become excited. Did this mean that Remus was finally going to come and take him away from the Dursley's? He had only been at Privot Drive for a little over 2 weeks this summer but was more then happy at the prospect of leaving. Harry did have to admit to himself that this summer had so far been more tolerable then the last few years, mainly because the Dursley's had taken to pretending he wasn't there. His Aunt would leave left over's in the fridge for him each evening and Harry would leave in the mornings for the day. However Harry never ventured too far from the house during the day in hopes that Dumbledore would trust him enough to remove the guard he had constantly following him around.
On more then one occasion he'd seen a ripple in the air, or heard a twig snap behind him. At times it frustrated him, the way Dumbledore treated him as though he was still a defenceless babe in arms. Harry couldn't understand why Dumbledore insisted on keeping him in the dark, after all he had faced Voldemort on four separate occasions and survived. Also if he was to be the wizarding world's saviour then he had to know what was occurring in the world. Shaking his head in frustration Harry vowed to not let himself become anyone's pawn, not Dumbledore's, or Voldemort's, or even a prophecy's.
Sighing out his pent up aggravation Harry started to pack-up his merger belonging in his Trunk. Remus hadn't left a date in his note but Harry decided that he would most likely arrive any day now, since there wasn't another full moon for at least three weeks.
2 hours later
As another day drags by Harry finds himself sitting on a swing at the park, the only remaining piece of playground equipment left standing after his cousin Dudley and his gang had systematically pulled the once pristine park apart. The guilt of Sirius' death that had been consuming him these past two weeks always seemed to find him whenever he found himself alone with his thoughts and today was no different.
Lost in his own miserable world Harry didn't hear his name being called until a hand was placed on his shoulder. Suddenly very aware of the unwelcome touch Harry jumped off the swing and had his wand pointed directly at the intruder before his mind had time to register who it was.
Hands raised Lupin said, "Hold up there Harry, it's only me. Sorry I didn't mean to give you such a fright… don't suppose you'd mind pointing that wand somewhere other then me?"
Realizing who his wand was pointed at Harry slowly lowered his wand, though the sudden burst of adrenaline kept him on high alert. "Sorry Professor, I didn't mean to threaten you. I guess I'm just a little edgy at the moment."
"It's quite all right Harry, no harm done. At least it's good to know that you're prepared to defend yourself."
"After what happened at the ministry last semester I need to be prepared to defend myself." Harry rationalized.
Frowning at the reminder that his ward's life was constantly in peril Lupin studied Harry. It had only been a couple of weeks since he had last seen him and yet Harry was looking terrible. He had dark bags under his eyes, as though he hadn't been sleeping and his cloths looked a little loser. Lupin had hoped that with the warning the Order and Harry's friends had given the Dursley's at the station last term they would have at least started feeding Harry properly. Shaking his head with the thought that those monsters were the only blood related relatives Harry had Lupin resolved to take Harry away from here as soon as possible.
"Did you receive my letter yet Harry?" Seeing a nod from Harry confirming that he had Lupin continued, "Wonderful, so I take it that you are ready to go?"
"Professor I am always ready to go away from here."
Saddened at his wards comment Lupin said, "Of course, I'll have Dobby collect your things from your room later."
Handing Harry a Knute Harry looked a Lupin oddly saying, "Thanks professor but I have plenty of money in my vault at Gringotts…"
"That's not just any Knute Harry, it's a portkey. To activate it simply say 'Vacate'"
Smiling for the first in weeks now that he was finally leaving this place where he knew he wasn't welcome, Harry didn't need to think twice before clearly repeating the activation word 'vacate'.
Grimmauld Place
Roughly landing in the lounge room of Grimmauld place Harry noted the fire burning and the comfortable looking sofas. Picking himself up off the floor and brushing the dust from his pants Harry continued to take in his surroundings. He was in the main lounge room off from the hallway, the last time he had been here was Christmas the year before. Thinking of Christmas at Grimmauld place reminded Harry of Sirius, in particular of Sirius' traitorous old house elf Kreacher. In all the commotion after what happened at the Ministry Harry hadn't learnt what had become of Kreacher, though he now made a mental note to ask either Dumbledore or Remus when he next saw them.
It just so happened that while Harry was lost in thought both Dumbledore and Remus entered the lounge room, taking a seat on one of the terribly comfortable and spacious sofas.
Clearing his thought to get Harry's attention Dumbledore says, "Harry my dear boy it's so wonderful to see you. Please come, take a seat. I dare say we have much to discuss as per usual."
Turning around at the sound of Dumbledore's voice Harry graciously accepts the invitation to join both the head master and his former professor. Figuring he'd better ask about Kreacher before he lost the opportunity Harry queries, "Professor I couldn't help but wonder what happened to the Black family's old house elf?"
"Ah as to that Harry we felt that Kreacher needed a change of surroundings, as well as some much needed medical assistance. He's currently occupying a bed in a secure section of St Mungo's hospital."
Fuming that Kreacher was in a comfortable bed whilst his God father had suffered the ultimate price for his actions Harry could feel the guilt weighing down on him again. However now was not the time to cave into himself, he had many questions he wanted to ask Dumbledore whilst he could. Just as he was forming his next sentence Dumbledore raises his hand indicating that now was not the time. Instead Dumbledore look towards Remus with an encouraging nod.
Wondering what this was all about that it was important enough for Dumbledore to allow him to leave Privot Drive, Harry listened intently as Remus began explaining.
"Harry we have brought you here because of some new information we have receive that directly concerns you." Hesitating slightly Remus looks towards Dumbledore for help.
Coming to his aid Dumbledore continues, "Last night during dinner Professor Sybill Trelawny starting mumbling to herself whilst she was gazing into her tea cup. Now while that is not any more unusual then most dinners it is what happened next that has given us reason for concern."
Not sure he liked that way this conversation was heading Harry interrupts, "I don't suppose she predicted that I was going to die some horrible death? She's been predicting that since I started taking her class…"
Cutting Harry off with a shake of his head Dumbledore continues, "No Harry she wasn't predicting your death in her usual manner. Rather she was predicting the entire demise of the wizarding world. I believe her most recent prophecy was a true reading and went somewhere along these lines…
The balance is falling, the ones who are both human and snake hold it within them selves... A birth of darkness is rejoiced this night… A birth of light must join the fight… for if not darkness will forever become all, as the balance falls…"
Silence fell over everyone in the room as Harry tried to comprehend what Dumbledore had just told him. Something about the balance falling, but what balance? And who are the human and snake people? Obviously one of them was Voldemort but the other? And what was it about someone being born?
Harry asked, "But what does this have to do with me? I already know that I have to destroy Voldemort or at least die trying."
"I'm afraid Harry that there is no doubt that the prophecy is referring to your ability to speak Parseltongue when it describes the ones 'who are both human and snake'." Dumbledore replies.
"But I still don't understand what it means, what balance is it talking about? And what does it mean by a 'birth of light must join the fight'?"
"The balance falling, or tipping over my boy is of our greatest concern. By balance we believe the prophecy is referring to the delicate forces between good and evil. If, as the prophecy predicts the forces tips too far over into darkness we fear that the wizarding world will no longer continue on as we know it today. Rather it seems clear that if it were to fall then Voldemort would become our world's dictator, having the power to create and destroy as per his will."
Still not completely understanding how this affected him, yet suitably horrified by what Dumbledore was sharing Harry asked, "And the part about the 'birth of light'?"
Finally looking Harry in the eye Dumbledore explains, "I am sorry that you have had no chance of a normal childhood Harry and I'm afraid that once you fully comprehend this there will no longer be a chance for normality in your life…"
"My life has never been normal Professor, just please tell me what all this means."
"It means my boy that there is a desperate need for you to become a father."
End Prologue
Well there you have it, the first instalment for this fanfic. Any comments? Queries? Advice?
Teaser
Chapter 1 – The woes of a hero
Alone in his room at Grimmauld place Harry found himself deep in thought. How is it possible for him, a mere 15 year old boy to be a father? Well it's not that he didn't know how he'd become a father but he was also painfully aware that in order to be a father to a baby that baby would also need a mother. Which raised the question of whom?