En Edhelen Min
August 2nd, 1988
The next day found Albus Dumbledore in a magical wetsuit with a double-bubble head charm in place with Severus, deep beneath the Vachery Waters in what both the muggles and now Albus and his faculty considered to be the epicentre of the accident. In his hands he held a brown sceptre with white runes etched over it, covering every inch, glowing as he held the sceptre near the epicentre. The sceptre was one of many things he had confiscated from the Potter household in Godric's Hollow seven years ago after Voldemort had been defeated.
"What have you found?" Severus asked.
"Your suspicions were correct; there is indeed evidence of a transportation spell here, though the magical signature doesn't resemble that of wizards. It seems fairly closely related to the Sidhe, however, and luckily, this contraption I have brought along with me will help us to locate where the transported person wound up."
"And what is that, exactly?"
"It is a gift, Severus, and a very useful one at that."
"And how does it work?"
"It's quite simple. It allows the user to read the magical signature and the nature of the spell. It will also be present at the 'drop site', it will glow again when we discover the place the transportation spell deposited it's cargo." Albus explained happily.
"But it won't lead to that place."
"No."
"So how will we go about finding that place?" Severus asked, quickly feeling a headache coming on.
"I believe we must look to the Sidhe for that answer. Whilst the Leprechauns have settled in Ireland, the other two branches of the Sidhe family have remained here. I believe the Dryads are the most approachable and so-"
"Lily told me once that the Dryads will not share their secrets." Severus interrupted.
Albus regarded Severus carefully. "Did she indeed? Very well. Severus, I need you to gather several muggle and wizarding news papers and cross reference the flooding with any other extraordinary events on the 31st. I believe we will find our next leads there."
That evening when Severus was kneeling beside his coffee table, several papers from the 31st of July and the 1st of August strewn out in front of him, his fireplace flared and Draco Malfoy, his eight year old renegade godson burst into his front room, scattering the papers and blowing soot everywhere.
"How wonderful to see you." Severus snarled dryly.
Draco eyed the potions master suspiciously before brushing the soot off his shoulder and taking a seat in Severus' arm chair. He took a sip of Severus' tea before peering at his godfather again, wondering what in the world he was doing.
"Oh, do help yourself to my tea." Severus rolled his eyes. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your unparalleled company?"
"Lucius split my lip." Draco stated matter-of-factly. "Mother has locked him in his bedchambers before he can do more damage."
"I suppose we ought to go to the kitchen and get you cleaned up then." Severus sighed.
"Will there be more tea?" Draco asked as he set the near empty mug down on the coffee table.
"And soup if you say please."
"Shan't." Draco sniffed causing Severus to snort with laughter. "What are you doing, Uncle Severus?"
"I am looking for any mention of any kind for irregular disturbances. They don't necessarily have to be magical disturbances, nor even British ones." Severus stated.
"There was funny weather at Stone Henge." Draco informed him. "I saw it. All of a sudden it was somewhat cloudy, typical for an English summer, and then there was rain. It was over almost as soon as it begun but the area between the Manor, Stone Henge and Salisbury Plains was practically a swamp."
"I'm sure you're exaggerating Draco." Severus rolled his eyes.
"Aren't." Draco stated. "Well, maybe it wasn't quite a swamp. But, getting back to the point. I saw a funny light, though mother insists I dreamt it. But I did. There was a glowing thing right in the middle of the Stones when it started raining and then it just vanished."
"I see." Trust an eight year old boy to have noticed something that the entire British community, be they muggle, wizarding, vampire, goblin or otherwise hadn't. Actually, no. Trust this eight year old boy to have seen it.
"You don't believe me." Draco said.
"I do. In fact, I intend to investigate it myself."
"May I come?"
"No. Keep still; this paste may sting a bit." Severus warned him.
"Why don't you use the one that tastes like vanilla?"
"Because you keep eating it. Stop talking please."
"But it tastes nice." Draco protested.
"Yes, and it gives you nightmares. Now keep still and be quiet for a moment." Severus eyed the child shrewdly as his face screwed up for a moment and then relaxed. "Don't eat this one."
He turned his back for a moment and smirked when he heard a gagging sound. "Tastes like-"
"Trolls Bogies!" Draco yelled, disgusted.
"So," He said as he prepared himself and Draco some tea, "What got Lucius in a tizzy this time?"
"My healing spell I was supposed to have completed by today wasn't quite good enough." Draco shrugged. "It doesn't matter, I'm not a healer. I told him so and he didn't take it well."
"You should show him more respect." Severus reprimanded him lightly.
"He's not the head of the family." Draco shrugged. "Uncle Horatio is and I am the heir. Lucius should show me more respect."
"Now, Draco, it doesn't quite-"
"It's not my fault he's not Veela, Uncle. He shouldn't take his jealousy out on me." Draco said.
"I agree, you know I do. However, that he is not Veela does not give you the right to backchat and disrespect him. He is a very competent wizard, an excellent politician and has achieved quite a lot in his life compared to your uncle considering Lucius was the disadvantaged brother. Not that Horatio's achievements are any less impressive than Lucius', but Lucius has done exceptionally well with the hand that was dealt him. You must respect this." Severus admonished.
"And I do." Draco insisted. "I have a lot of respect for Lucius as a politician and minister but it ends there. And when I'm of age and have grasped the full faculty of my Veela inheritance I'm quite of a mind to kill him in front of the Veela council for crimes against Veela children."
"Draco, we've discussed this."
"Yes. But I'm gathering evidence for it anyway."
Severus sighed. "Very well. You are most welcome to stay with me for a whole week if your mother allows. And, if you'd like, I can take you to Hogwarts. I've some potions I must deliver."
Draco grinned in response.
"He was definitely here, Severus." Albus stated as he waved his glowing contraption around Stone Henge. "But what bothers me is that the magic ends here. He was transported here from Surrey and then simply vanished."
"One does not 'simply vanish' Albus, he must be somewhere." Severus argued. He had taken Draco's testimony, sans the glowing light, to Albus as soon as he could and was little surprised that this was indeed the place Harry Potter ended up before he disappeared. "Is there any evidence of another spell?"
"Not exactly. It seems that the sceptre believes the stones themselves emitted some sort of magic moments after Harry was deposited here. But, these stones have been tested by the greatest wizards that ever lived... the Hogwarts four, Merlin... I myself have examined them at length and they are completely devoid of magic."
"Did you test them with the sceptre?"
"No, but this is not an adequate device to test them with."
"Have they been tested for foreign forms of magic? Such as the kinds the sceptre detects."
"No." Albus answered. "And whilst this could mean that some other beings have infused their magic with the stone, it does not give us any promising news. We have no way to examine it properly, no access to the magics of the other beings."
"Then what do we have?"
"Only hope. The hope that Harry is alive and that he may one day return to us."
"That's decidedly desperate." Severus scowled.
"It's all we have."
Harry leaned against the wall gasping for breath, his elvish blade all but slipping from his hands. He had received numerous nicks and cuts over his hands and up his arms, but he pushed back the pain and fought to stand up straight.
"Your Adar returns in less than a month and you aren't good enough." Meglivorn growled. Meglivorn was a dominant warrior whose armour consisted of leather, mail and plate. His weaponry included two short blades, a long blade, a bow and quiver and several daggers which he carried with him at all times.
Maberin swept across the room and swiftly applied salves to his son's various wounds, desperate for them to heal almost instantly to avoid scarring. "Fight well, Harthad, you can do this."
Harry kicked himself off the wall and charged at his mentor, swinging his blade in the motions he had been taught, desperate to get a hit. He nearly laughed in triumph when his blade struck Meglivorn's bracers, scraping off harmlessly before Meglivorn was on the offensive and Harry was forced to defend himself from a ruthless onslaught of rapid attacks.
"You have the gift of foresight, Tithenlas, use it." Maberin urged.
Several months later, Bronadui was once again called off to the Cirban, leaving Harry time to train.
The elfling in question was stood in his Adar's archery range, an arrow set in his bow, the bowstring pulled tight. Whilst he had perfected his aim when hitting a bull's-eye, he had yet to master the art of shooting moving targets, firing multiple arrows and attaching magic to his arrows. A discovery of Meglivorn's when he was little older than Harry, and a feat which made him formidable in battle.
Meglivorn stood off to the side holding lumps of wet clay which he proceeded to hurl high into the air or throw fast to the other side of the range. Much to his and Harthad's frustration, he had yet to land a single hit.
"You again rely too much on your eyes. Whilst they are brilliant for still targets, they need support from your other senses for this. Concentrate, Tithenlas, and have faith in yourself."
Harry was out of his training armour and back in his robes, sprinting quickly to make it to the school house on time. He burst in, gasping for breath, thankful that his classmates were engaged in loud conversation. A tap on the shoulder brought his attention to the schoolmaster, Alagos.
"Close. Why simply not ask your Adar if he will ride you here on his horse? Many others do who live as close to the sea as you do."
"Forgive me, herdir, but I do not wish to inconvenience him." Harry said, giving a light bow to the dominant elf. "And I need the exercise."
Alagos laughed and rubbed Harry's back. "Very well, Harthad, you may take your seat. Let it never be said that Bronadui is not gifted; a beautiful mate and a dutiful child. If only my own were so dutiful."
Harry smiled too. "Yet I hear Thalion is an exemplar son."
"This is true, he is indeed. But my own submissive child, Niniel, is not quite up to your standard."
Harry bowed again under such strong compliments and approached his seat. Once he sat down he quickly set his journals on his desk and began to pay rapt attention, aside from swishing his quill as he attempted to replicate and practice his movements with his sword.
"Today I shall begin to instruct you in the utilisation of your minds as a way of communicating. Now, is anyone unfamiliar with what I mean?"
No hands were raised.
"Very well, let us begin..."
Professor Quirrel moved swiftly along the Hogwarts corridors until he reached the dungeons. Though he was disappointed that his interrogation of Hagrid in the pub had not quite gone to plan, with the old man out of the castle on business and the strongest sleeping spell he could find practically on the tip of his tongue he considered the three headed dog obsolete.
He slipped inside the door and locked it behind him, smirking to himself as he whispered, "My Lord, the dog is asleep."
"Excellent." Voldemort rasped. "Now fetch me the stone!"
Fluffy's ears and noses twitched and the three heads grinned sleepily as much as they were able to grin with dogs' faces. The heads kept quiet, their eyes shut to stop them staring, their mouths closed to hide their salivating as their midnight snack drew closer and closer to its untimely demise...
The Daily Prophet
June 20th 1991
Morning Edition
Page 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was gripped by shock yesterday evening as a much loved defence professor, one Professor Quirellus Quirrel met his tragic end at the hands, or teeth, of Fluffy the three headed guard dog kept at the school to ensure the safety of Nicholas Flamel's infamous 'Philosopher's Stone'
Students and staff alike gave their condolences to the late professor's family and held a feast in the great hall in his honour.
More on the tragic event on page three.
More on the Cerberus fluffy on page ten
The Daily Prophet
July 19th 1992
Morning Edition
Page One
Alarming events have shaken Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry nearly one year on from the tragic death of Professor Quirrel. In the early hours of this morning the ministry Aurors were called to attend to the school when the defence professor, renowned defence against the dark arts expert, Gilderoy Lockhart, was discovered by senior members of staff to be, in their words, 'completely out of his mind' and accompanied by three students; Neville Longbottom, Ronald Weasley and his comatose sister Ginerva Weasley who were reportedly causing alarm due to an escaped basilisk.
The students insist the basilisk escaped from the mysterious Chamber of Secrets, the hidden chamber created by Salazar Slytherin before he left the school. With them they also had a diary which appeared to be bleeding ink from a 'wound' left by a sword, the fabled Sword of Gryffindor.
The Aurors who rushed to the school to defeat the basilisk include Alastor Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks and newcomer Auror Dervish who was petrified at the scene. Luckily, due to the combined efforts of Professors Sprout and Snape, a mandrake solution was ready at hand and all who had been petrified were restored.
More on Gilderoy Lockhart on page three
More on basilisks and other creatures on page five
More on the mandrake solution on page thirteen
Severus was reclining in his armchair when his fireplace flared for a moment and in burst Sirius Black. Severus spat out his tea and reached for his wand, scalding both himself and the escaped convict in the process.
Sirius held his hands up. "I really need to talk to you."
"Stand up. Get up!" Severus snapped. "Why have you come here? Did you think I wouldn't hand you over to the Aurors?"
"I know you won't, Snape, I know you'll be interested in what I have to say." Sirius said, still with his hands in the air. "If you let me bathe, give me a change of clothes and a meal, I'll talk and tell you some very interesting, life-saving facts."
Severus considered it for a moment before lowering his wand. "I don't know why I'm trusting you."
"Where's your bathroom?"
An hour later had Severus sat opposite Sirius, who looked decidedly better now that he had cleaned himself up, and stared hard at the man. "So... Pettigrew is alive, he was the traitor and the inhabitants in Azkaban loyal to the dark lord are convinced of my treachery."
Sirius nodded and swallowed his mouthful of beef soup. "And you're an excellent cook."
"I'm a potions master." He said in a what-did-you-expect voice. "Anything else?"
"Nothing that really concerns you. Nothing that I'm not entirely convinced wasn't brought on by the mind-destroying effects of Azkaban." Sirius shrugged. "Now, tell me, where is my godson?"
Severus sighed and buried his head in his hands. "I think you ought to come with me to Hogwarts, Albus will be most interested in what you have to say and he has the most answers regarding Potter."
Remus Lupin couldn't be happier. Despite it being a full moon and regardless of the fact that he was currently roving the woods in Ottery St Catchpole looking for something to eat, he was borderline ecstatic. He had a job, he had his friend back (albeit illegally) and he was going to get wolfsbane. The only thing that could make his life any better now would be the discovery of his treacherous old friend, Pettigrew.
As he munched on a dead rabbit he turned his ears to the sounds of celebrations coming from what he believed to be the garden of The Burrow. Clearly they were celebrating Percy's Head Boy status with much rapport. Irresponsible of them, Remus thought, considering it was a full moon and he had quite clearly howled a good few times in warning earlier that night. But then, who could blame them?
In the mid summer of 1994, Albus entered the Dryad's Circle for the fourth time in as many years bearing a letter and Hogwarts' owl. He greeted the Dryads as he always did and passed on the letter and the owl and watched as they whispered something to the owl which then flew off to the south. Albus smiled genially at the Dryads present and then handed over the deeds to a small section of land containing mostly forest with a small portion of a lake.
"Did the muggles suspect you for buying this land?"
"No," He said. "Apparently they were glad someone bought it. They stood to lose a lot of money keeping it with no contractors to build on it. I think they believed I am some sort of 'hippy'."
One of the Dryads chuckled. "Foolish beings. We thank you again Albus Dumbledore, this friendship provides many benefits."
"Glad, as always, to be of assistance." Albus bowed.
As he left the circle his eyes twinkled merrily as he beamed at the rising sun. It was not the first time he had noticed that they did not check the envelope. Perhaps he might consider slipping something inside it next year.
One thing, however, still dismayed him. Severus was right in that the Dryads would keep their secret. Albus had no idea where the letter was going, how it got there, to whom it went, whether Harry received it or not and he still had no concrete evidence that Harry was even still alive.
Draco and his uncle Horatio stood in the centre of a large room in the Malfoy Estate in France, the walls charred and windows smashed. Draco was bent over forwards, holding his knees and gasping for breath.
"You've done very well, my heir." Horatio preened. "I was very impressed that the force of your wind charming was able to break the glass. Those were spell-reinforced, I'll have you know."
"I'd apologise, uncle, but I'm far too proud of myself for that." Draco said, recovering his breath and standing upright. "Will I learn physical combat soon?"
"Of course, I've the perfect teacher for you too."
"As long as it isn't Lucius."
"Of course not." Horatio chuckled. "Your uncle Severus bested Lucius at every occasion, which isn't bad for a wizard with no creature blood."
Draco grinned. "I can't wait to be strong enough to challenge father."
"I would wait until I was mated if I were you." Horatio warned him. "You have no anchor – no water to your fire. If you get too angry you are more a danger to yourself than your father. Wait until you have found the one who will soothe you."
"How do you know I haven't already met that person?"
"You have never complained to me before of someone glowing." Horatio smirked.
"True enough." Draco shrugged. "Though I don't quite understand the difference they will make."
Horatio sighed and was thankfully saved from answering as Severus entered the room. "You have your enemy, your target. You have your goal; you know what you would consider success. But you have yet to find someone to fight for or, rather, someone to come back to after the fight. Your uncle is right; you must wait until you are mated."
"I don't know if I can wait that long." Draco answered honestly. "He's getting worse. He dared strike me in public last week at the quidditch final and he stirred up all that nonsense afterwards, though he claims to my mother that he doesn't know who sent the dark mark into the sky."
"You don't agree with your fathers' treatment of the muggles?" Horatio asked, causing Severus to regard Draco carefully.
"No, and unlike some people I have no trouble admitting it. You can see it in the faces of some of the others in the same situation I am; we don't agree with our parents' actions and beliefs, but there's not a fat lot we can do about it. Most of them are too afraid to even contradict their parents though, even between friends."
"You always have been outspoken, Draco." Severus smirked.
"Not to mention headstrong, powerful, intelligent and cunning." Horatio smirked. "A fine heir. If a bit possessive and occasionally violent; the first an admirable quality to some degree, the second I expect you will have conquered by the time you're mated."
"I like to think so." Draco sniffed primly.
The Daily Prophet
June 28th 1994
Special Edition
Page 1
He who Must not be Named – Returns!
The wizarding world will be horrified to learn that the dark lord whom we believed to be dead is in fact back. Last night it seems that the Hogwarts Triwizard Champion was abducted from the school grounds during the final task and used as an ingredient to a dark ritual before being ruthlessly butchered with the killing curse and sent back to the grounds of Hogwarts...
Albus hung his head in his hands after attaching this newspaper clipping along with a piece of paper with the words 'We Need You' scribed onto it before filing it away in an envelope. He stood, a solemn expression on his face, and made his way out of his office with the full intention of delivering his letter as he did every year, though this time with a twist.
Draco hurtled into Severus' sitting room, blood pouring profusely from a gash in his left arm, clutching a small wooden box in his hand. He was tended to immediately by Severus Snape, who was fuming so much his magic began to leak, seeping dark tendrils out into the room, destroying glasses and tearing the furniture.
"Lucius?"
"Yes." Draco confirmed, his breath ragged. "I hate him. I'll kill him,"
"Quiet now, you must remain still, allow the salve to sink in and for the spells to do their work." Severus ordered. "Sit here, do not move, I am going to fetch Dumbledore."
Sirius Black peeked his head around the door just as Severus disappeared through the fireplace. He gave a low whistle when he saw the sixteen year old. "Those stains won't come out in the wash."
Draco looked down at his ruined white shirt and scowled. "And I did so like that shirt."
Sirius smirked lightly and made his way across the room. "Tea?"
"Please." Draco answered. "Since when have you lived here?"
"Pretty much since I escaped, can't stand my old home."
"And Severus doesn't mind?"
Sirius smirked. "Oh no." He said. "Not at all."
Draco frowned at Sirius. "Charming, Black, just charming."
Just then, Severus burst through the fireplace, followed swiftly by Minerva McGonagall and Kingsley Shacklebolt. He nodded in greeting to them and sipped delicately at his tea. "Good evening."
"Good heavens, Malfoy, what happened?" Minerva asked, aghast.
"Lucius bade me to join the Dark Lord. I said no." Draco grinned maniacally. "He's attacked me for the last time, Severus, I'm going to the council with this."
"You know my answer."
"And I agree, but I'm setting things in motion now."
Severus nodded in assent. "If you need any witnesses or any supporting statements, you may include me. I wish to see him suffer as much as you do."
"Start from the beginning, Mister Malfoy, I may as well take a proper statement for the ministry records, however, it will be noted that this falls under Veela council jurisdiction." Kingsley said. "Which is probably for the best, as your father would undoubtedly buy his way out of trouble with the ministry."
"Very well, but first, I have something which may interest you all." He smirked. He produced the small wooden box and transfigured the wood to glass before enlarging it to human size, clearly showing one Peter Pettigrew out of animagus form and terrified for his life.
Silence overcame the room before Kingsley stood abruptly. "Peter Pettigrew, I am arresting you for the betrayal of James and Lily Potter to the Dark Lord Voldemort, for being in league with said Dark Lord, for bearing the Dark Mark, for framing and subsequently damming Sirius Black to twelve years in Azkaban and for the murder of fifteen muggles on October the 31st 1981. You do not have to say anything though you are reminded that anything you do say will be given in evidence and may be used against you."
Harry rounded a corner and pressed his back up sharply against the stone wall. He very quietly and sneakily peaked around the wall and searched for signs of his predator. His sigh of relief was cut short when Thalion gave a small chuckle from his other side, causing Harry to jump almost three feet in the air.
"Don't do that!" He yelled.
Thalion laughed and embraced the soon-to-be sixteen year old. "My apologies. Did you think you had lost me?"
"I usually outrun you." Harry pointed out.
"True, but you don't know this area well and I made a few short cuts to catch up with you." He said before giving Harry a kiss on his cheek. "I quite like this game."
"On Earth they call it 'kiss-chase'. I hate it." He complained.
Thalion laughed and kissed Harry once again.
"Aren't I a bit young for you?"
"I am only twenty five myself." Thalion smirked. "And it's not like I'm kissing you on the lips, nor even sending you courting gifts."
"The latter would be more appropriate than this sexual harassment." Harry persisted. "You really must stop this. I got in trouble with Adar for it last week and it's not even my fault."
"I shall never stop pursuing you."
"I wish you would." Harry grouched.
"How unfortunate as both your Adar and mine have agreed that I shall officially court you and be considered a suitor when you reach your first majority." Thalion preened. "And so, you see, you shall be mine anyway."
"You realise I'm not just going to lie there and take it."
"No, I'd at least like you to thrust back; I might even let you ride me."
"Thalion!" Harry cried, horrified as he slapped the older elf on the upper arm. "You're revolting!"
Thalion laughed outright again. "Come, let me walk you home."
Harry sighed and took Thalion's proffered hand with his right and used his left hand to lift his long robes away from his feet. Even in restrictive clothing, Harry could outrun almost everyone he knew, something he was proud of and something he knew his Adar would dislike if it were not for the fact that his Adar was one of the few who could outrun him.
"Well, would you look at that." Thalion remarked, pointing skyward as a missive-delivering owl made its way towards them.
"It's early." Harry frowned, speaking before he could stop himself. He caught the letter as the owl dropped it and opened it immediately, surprised to find a newspaper clipping and a small note rather than the customary invitation and supplies list.
"What is it?" Thalion asked.
"Apparently there's a war going on somewhere." Harry shrugged noncommittally before turning to the note. "It says 'We need you' I wonder-"
But before Harry could finish his sentence, the voice-activated portkey had already stolen him from Toldolennor.
AN: Okay, chapter two out of the way and now we can finally get onto the real story. I'd like to apologise about the frantic pace in this chapter, but I needed to cover several years and introduce several characters at speed. You will (hopefully) be happy to learn tht the pace evens out now D
Warnings:
Slash, DMHP, Creature!Harry, Submissive!Harry, Manipulative!Dumbledore, MPreg, Implies SSSB
New translations:
Alagos – Wind storm
Herdir – Sir
Niniel – Tearful
Expect a bit more elvish in the next chapter. Please review!