From The Stars

by talder

A response to whitetigerwolf's Adopted Alien Challenge. Harry has always known he was different. Growing up with his aunt and uncle, he can only remember a handful of memories of the first year of his life. Finding out he's a wizard wasn't such a surprise considering that, but if only they knew the other secret he has.

2. Intervening Years and a New World

Disclaimer: The characters and world of Harry Potter belong to J. K. Rowling. The Eldar race and the 40k universe belong to Games Workshop. I am neither.

Chapter 2: Intervening Years and a New World

To say Harry's life at the Dursley's was pleasant would be looking at the wrong end of the scale. Harry was well aware of how his aunt and uncle looked after his cousin Dudley and how different it was from his own treatment.

Dudley was spoiled rotten. He was more than capable of conjuring up fake tears if he thought that they would get him anywhere (but only if he needed to), would throw tantrums for some of the strangest and stupidest of reasons and every notice given to his parents about his bullying tendencies was simply waved away.

Harry on the other hand, was treated little better than a slave. He was given a place to sleep (a cupboard under the stairs), was given slightly more the minimum required amounts of food and water he needed for a particular day, did basically all the house work, and any time Dudley got caught bullying him at home, not only did his aunt and uncle decide it wasn't Dudley's fault, they blamed him!

Thankfully, Harry was able to avoid his relatives for the most part as he got older, either by being at school or doing his chores during which they were all 'nice' enough not to annoy him. The first few years had been fairly normal, as far as he could remember. From the time he woke up till he turned seven, Harry had seemingly been treated as just another child. Of course, his seventh birthday (an event that wasn't exactly celebrated baring a single 'present') had been unusual.

It had started by him going to school as usual alongside Dudley, but for some reason he found himself getting angry at one of the teachers about something he couldn't even remember, and the next thing he knew, her hair was rapidly changing from red to blue and back again every few seconds. He, like many other kids, had found it absolutely hilarious. Of course, when his aunt had heard about it that afternoon when she picked Dudley and Harry up, had gone rigid, turned to regard Harry and refused to speak to anyone until she spoke to her husband at home.

While she spoke to his uncle about what had happened, Harry was entertaining Dudley after discovering he could change his hair like their teachers had. So, his aunt and uncle, walking in to talk to Harry or Dudley, or any number of other reasons, spotted this, froze and went very pale.

"Petunia, he's doing that freakish stuff." Vernon whispered to his wife. "Didn't we say we wouldn't tolerate that under our roof?"

Petunia nodded back stiffly. "Of course we did, I'll deal with it after Dudley leaves. We don't need to let it affect him too."

Grunting an agreement, Vernon managed to convince Dudley that TV was more entertaining than Harry, and the two went out into the lounge room. Petunia stoped Harry when he went to follow.

"I am only going to say it once. No freakishness in this household. None! So long as you live here we will not have you doing it." Here she paused and fixed Harry with a stern look. "There will be punishments for breaking this rule."

Seeing how serious his aunt was, Harry quickly nodded and changed his hair back to normal, already vowing to do it again later in his room or when he was in the bathroom.

As he turned to go outside at a gesture from his aunt, Harry's necklace let out a small pulse of light, thankfully hidden from Petunia. Accompanying the light, Harry heard a voice murmuring inside his head, and it was swiftly joined by another, slightly fainter voice that he recognised as his aunts.

Deciding not to ask lest he break the new rule already, Harry walked outside into the cool spring evening and lay down beneath the solitary tree in the Dursley's backyard. Noticing his aunt's voice slowly fade and completely disappear as he walked away, Harry decided to try and talk to the other voice.

"Hello? I can hear someone in my head, can you hear me?" Harry whispered his question to his necklace, correctly thinking that the light from before had something to do with the new voice.

: Hello! I can hear you, though you should just be able to talk to me with your mind by now. : The voice replied, sounding like a very excited woman.

: Oh ok. Is this working? : Harry mentally asked.

: Yes yes, you're doing fine! I take it you haven't done this before? : The voice replied.

: No I haven't. : Harry replied. : My names Harry, what's yours? :

: Hello Harry, I'm Shasaya! But, um, I'm also you mother…: The voice replied hesitatingly. : Had they told you yet? :

: Mum? : Harry asked, feeling confused. : And who was supposed to tell me what? :

: I'll take that as a no then. Yes, I am you biological mum, the one who gave birth to you. Lily, you adoptive mother, was supposed to have told you by now. : She sighed.

: You knew my family? Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon refuse to talk about them. : Harry replied.
: And you're my real mum? :

: What do you mean your aun- Harry, do you mind if I have a look through your memories? Somethings happened since I, well, since I died. : Shasaya seemed to be very confused as she asked.

: Sure! : Harry replied cheerfully, before pausing as he though over the words again. : Err, what do you mean by died? :

: Oh, sorry! Neither you nor I am human. I'll explain the details later, but one of the things our race does is store our souls inside these little things called Soul Stones so we can pass on knowledge to new generations, amongst other things at least. Your memories seem to point to mine being on your necklace. : Shasaya replied. : When the two of us arrived here, I was close to death. I entrusted you to Lily and James Potter, and left my Soul Stone to be given to you when you turned five or six. I assumed they had given it to you so I tried to contact you today, I thought they had just put off giving it to you for a year or so. :

: Okay, if were not human, then what are we? : Harry was more than a little confused and shocked to learn that he wasn't human. : And is there anything else I should know? :

: Well, we are known as Eldar, a highly intelligent psychic race that once spanned the galaxy. And, seeing as James and Lily made preparations for you to do their magic when you grew up, I should probably tell you about that too…:

Harry spent the next few hours listening to his mum talking about what she had learned from her trip into James' mind about the wizarding world and everything a child his age should have known about Eldar customs, history and so on. They were only interrupted when Harry was called inside to make dinner, though the conversation started backup that night. Having heard the voices of his aunt, uncle and cousin in his head during dinner, Harry asked his mother if she knew about that.

: Oh yes, that's one of the first signs you will get to show that you psychic potential is developing. Most races that may have the ability to have a psyker every few generations have to organize their minds in order to focus their power properly. We Eldar, being completely psychic, are born with our mind already organized. : Shasaya said. : Now, what you are hearing is the surface thoughts of those near you. I'll help you so you don't constantly invade everybody's privacy unless you want to, which I forbid until you are older! :

: I can read people's minds? : Harry asked is awe. : That's so cool! :

: Give it some time and you will be able to do more than that. Reading minds and communicating mentally are pretty basic, moving objects, summoning fire or lightning and far too many other things are possible when you get older and have a better grip on your ability. : Shasaya lectured. : I will warn you that any visions you may have, dreams, etc, may be visions of the future. That is something else we can do. :

Harry was shocked into silence, unable to even respond at knowing what he could do.

The next morning saw Harry and Dudley being dropped off at school, not before Petunia gave a harsh glare to Harry as a reminder of the new rule. Up until lunch, school was fairly normal. Harry managed to avoid Dudley by hiding out in the library pretending to read a book during recess. He was actually talking to his mum some more, this time about his hair changing ability which neither of them knew anything about.

Unfortunately for Harry, his lunch wasn't quite as peaceful, as Dudley and his group decided to chase Harry before he had a chance to hideout in the library. The chase ended a few seconds after it started as Harry found himself sitting atop the library roof after wishing he was in the library instead of being chased. The day got worse as he was punished by the school for climbing on the roof, and Vernon and Petunia locking him in his new 'room' when he got home for breaking the new rule.

Sitting in the cupboard under the stairs, Harry had asked his mum if she knew what had happened.

: Not exactly. : She replied. : I have a few vague references in James' memories of suddenly disappearing and reappearing somewhere else, but I didn't delve too deep into his memories. I was only trying to work out if I could trust him and Lily. There are a few scenes of another child doing the same thing that you can do with your hair, but I didn't get anything that would explain how it happens. :

: So what do I do now? : Harry asked.

: I don't think there is much you can do, not yet at least. James' memories seem to suggest a magical school that accepts students when they turn eleven. Someone will bring you into the wizarding world then. Then we find out everything we can about the wizarding world and decide which we like more. : Shasaya replied. : Until then, study hard and learn what you can about the normal world. :

And so, for the next few years at least, Harry's life continued in a similar vein. Learn everything he could at school, learn about the Eldar race from his mum and spend whatever time he could get away with in the library researching everything and anything. The rest of his time was spent doing chores or being locked in his cupboard for breaking the rule about no magic, not that he told his aunt or uncle he knew what it actually was.

Things finally began to change on his eleventh birthday. As he was collecting the morning mail, Harry found a letter addressed to him, strangely void of any stamp.

Mr. H Potter
The Cupboard under the Stairs
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey

Turning it over, Harry found a wax seal emblazoned with what appeared to be an emblem of four different animals. Hiding it away until later, knowing the Dursley's response to him getting a letter probably being horrible, Harry gave the rest of the mail to his uncle before heading out into the backyard and opening the letter, reading it out to himself and Shasaya.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Having read the first page, and wondering about the owl comment, Harry looked at the second page that seemed to be his uniform and equipment.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)

by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic

by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory

by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration

by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions

by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection

by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS

ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK

Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions

Harry was abruptly stopped from going back over the list by an owl deciding to land alongside him. Realizing that he was supposed to reply, by today in fact, he quickly got a pen and a piece of paper from in the house and swiftly wrote a response.

Dear Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall

I would like to thank you for the offer to attend you school, and to accept it.

However, I require assistance in order to collect my school supplies and for directions to the school.

Please write back about when you or one of the teachers will be able to assist me, or have them come directly to me for the outing.

Sincerely,

Harry Potter.

Happy with his reply, Harry tucked his response into the envelop his letter had come in, quickly wrote in the Deputy Headmistress's name and Hogwarts before tying it to the owl with the straps on its leg before it took off.

He knew now that it was only a matter of time until someone came to help him out.

A/N: The two sections detailing Harry's Hogwarts letter were taken from the works of J. K. Rowling