Note: All characters but Gary, Tristan, and Elven belong to JKR.
Severus Snape walked alongside the boy, sneaking glances at him from the corner of his eye. The boy stood tall and straight with his head held high and with his hands relaxed at his sides, swaying gently with each stepped forward. Severus' mind was in a state of shock and his ability to rationalize momentarily left him. The boy at his side and whom he was Advisor too, was the one Merlin saw in his Seven Prophecies. All seven of the prophecies were hidden around the world and when it was time to hear that particular prophecy Merlin's descendants were the only one's who could hear it's contents. Although Severus knew of the Seven Prophecies he was not a descendant of Merlin, but Elven, Gary, Ragnok, Ollivander, and Tristan were. They all shared Merlin's blood and were honored with the task of protecting and telling the Seven prophecies to those it was meant for. Only eight people knew of the prophecy that spoke of the True King of the Pendragons. Severus and Bellatrix heard it by mistake as Severus was off spying for Albus and Bellatrix reported it back to Voldemort. They were the only three wizard's outside of Merlin's descendants who knew and they were bound to secrecy. Severus was unsure of his role in the boy's future. Yes he wore the boy's mark and yes he knew he was the only who was able to guide and teach Harry, but Severus also knew his shortcomings. Even though he was a spy for Albus and a supposed spy for Voldemort neither of them were his most hated enemy. Severus' mind whirled as he realized that his true master was in fact the son of his most hated enemy and despite popular belief it was not James Potter.
Harry stopped at the door to his rented room and stepped aside so that Severus could go in first. Hedwig as usual flew out onto the balcony and rested on the railing, closing her eyes for a short nap. Harry unstrapped his sword and placed it on the bed and hung his bow on a peg beside the door. His textbooks were still out on the desk along with notes and he watched as Mr. Snape walked over to it and started reading it. Harry shrugged and sat on the bed, taking an apple out of his pack, he started to munch on it and observe the older man at the same time.
"You like to read and take notes," Severus stated as a fact. He was amazed at how understandable the boy's notes were. The notes were much more easier to understand than the Ministry approved textbooks for beginners. Severus was not expecting the boy to reply and he turned around to face Harry. Severus looked into the emerald eyes that reminded him so much of Lily, "I knew your parents, Harry. Your mother was kind, generous, and loving, but she had such a ferocious temper that even a grown man would tremble from her fury. Your father was arrogant and thought that he could get away with everything, but he was a true and loyal friend and both of them were very important to me." Severus saw Harry give a slight nod that he was understanding what Severus was telling him, "Although I call them your parents, they are not your biological parents." Severus waited for the boy's reaction and was relieved when he all he got was a blink. "Your mother's name was Lilliana and your father's name was one that can not be uttered. You see your birth father tricked Lilliana into being his bride and she turned from good to evil, but when you were born and your future became known she made the decision to turn back to good. She brought you to the Potter's and they adopted you and your birth mother with her final breath gave you your adoptive mother's eyes." Severus finished, knowing that this was a shock to Harry.
Harry continued to blink at Mr. Snape as he let his mind assimilate the information. "What happened to all of them," He asked softly, needing to know why he was left without anyone to love him. Harry accepted that he was always alone and that he had to rely only on himself, but he still wanted to know what happened to the four people who were his parents.
"Liliana's life was taken from her because she chose to turn to evil and stay evil. You see, Harry in our world, when someone turns to evil and stays evil eventually magic will take their life. It is a repayment for all the damage they have caused to other people. Lily and James Potter your adoptive parents were killed by a dark wizard who has killed many people. Magic will take his life and it will be soon. He is already almost gone from this world and all that's left is for you to finish it," Severus told him and Harry's eyes widened. "You remember that Teacher Elven told you that he could not answer your questions?" Severus asked and waited for Harry's confirmation. "He is right, but I can tell you that there is one prophecy that says that you will kill the Dark Lord. All of the wizard's know this prophecy and they know it's you because of your eyes. Lily Potter had green eyes and so did you, but when Voldemort, the Dark Lord, tried to kill you, your eyes changed from green to an emerald gem. They are brighter, greener, and they sparkle within the light, even now they are sparkling like tiny stars. Your eyes are special to the wizarding world because of the prophecy, but they are special to me because it is proof of my two dearest friends love for you. The Potter's love and sacrifice is what kept you alive that night and it is what changed your eyes. You were touched and saved by the most purest of magic and that is the unconditional love of a parent who was not your birth parent."
Harry smiled a warm smile at the older man and grabbed his hands, "Thank you for telling me about the three people who have loved me the most. I am honored to have all three as my parents and even more honored that you here with me, even though I am the biological son of someone you hate." He saw the man's eyes widened and Harry continued, "Yes, I could hear it in your voice when you first mentioned him and it's okay. I can not tell you that I love the Potter's or Liliana because I never had the chance, but I can tell you that I am grateful. Grateful to James and Lily for taking me in when they did not have to and grateful to Liliana for giving me to such wonder people."
Severus Snape once again had to blink back tears as he heard the boy's precious words. Severus hung his head in shame as he remembered his thoughts when he first found out that he was the Advisor. Severus thought that Harry was evil incarnate just like his birth father, but Severus now knew that although the evil lived in Harry, he chose to live each day doing the best he could for other people and that he was as unselfish as Lily and Lilliana. "I am the one who is honored," Severus whispered in awe. He knelt down in front of Harry and laid his forehead on the ground, "I will be your Adviser. I will guide, teach, and protect as is my right. With every breath I breathe I will strive to lead you on the right path. My life is yours. I will follow wherever you go until I can not follow you anymore. So mote it be." Severus made his vow and as he was kneeling he felt peace. He knew that his true master was good and with Severus' aide he will stay good.
[Hogwarts Headmaster Office]
Albus Dumbledore paced his office as his magic swirled angrily around him. How dare that man show himself again! Albus roared silently. The elf king was back in the wizarding and he was not leaving. Albus remembered the last time that the elf king came here, there was blood, death, fire, and mayhem. Every time the Elves got involved there was a thousand times more destruction, but unfortunately they were always needed. Albus was not dumb, he understood that Merlin's oath bound the Elves to not interfere unless it was catastrophic if they did not. So the elf king's arrival means that an event of catastrophic proportions is on the horizon. Albus sighed in anguish, "It can not be Tom. He is not powerful enough and it is not me." Albus looked down at his cursed hand and tears started to fall in sorrow. "Magic has already claimed me and it has claimed Tom as well. We do not have long to live," Albus stated out loud. Hogwarts will have a new head within the year and hopefully the Potter's boy will defeat Tom. Whatever comes after that though Albus hoped the wizarding world will survive, because if it brought the elf king here then it is surely no laughing matter.
[The Alley]
As dawn broke across the sky and the birds started chirping a tall lean man walked into an alley. Elven sat upon a crate patiently waiting for his student to show up. Elven and the other's knew that Severus had accepted his role and they knew he was determined to see it through. Severus Snape was a very determined and focused man and he had to be in order to deceive Albus and Voldemort. Elven and the other's had unending belief that Severus would fulfill his role to the very best of his ability and then some. He looked up and saw the boy and Severus walking confidently into the alley.
"Listen Harry, Teacher Elven is going to need your respect and patience. The bow is not something that you can blindly rush into. Listen to your teacher and be respectful and when you get mad breathe, but do not show any disrespect," Severus sternly warned the boy.
Elven's lips twitched as he heard Severus' stern warning. The man was right that the bow can not be rushed, but he was wrong if he thought the boy could master his frustration in a single lesson. Elven remembered his lesson with his teacher and how frustrated and disrespectful he would get at his own ineptness. Standing up to his full height he told Severus, "You may stand or sit near that wall, but no matter what happens do not interfere. The only time you may is if Harry is in danger from an outside party." No one stepped in between a teacher and their student, it was the worst sign of disrespect and Elven would not tolerate it. He would teach Harry all he knew of the bow but no one could ever master it. Severus gave a slight nod and moved over to the wall and sat on the ground, taking a book out, he started to read.
"Hello, Teacher Elven," Harry greeted softly, looking into the violet eyes.
"Hello, Harry," Elven also greeted. "I assume you brought you sword and bow," he stated. Harry nodded and his weapons came into view. "Good, always bring them with you everywhere you go. You need to get used to their weight and I also want you to practice holding them and using them each day." Harry nodded his acquiescence and Elven continued, "The first things I am going to teach you is patience and focus. I will also be giving you exercises in order to strengthen your arms and upper body."
Harry nodded and waited for Teacher Elven to finish. Harry's first task was to set his bow back over his shoulder, so it rested in between his shoulder blades. The next task was to sit down on the cement ground in indian style and breathe normally. Not sure of what this was going to accomplish, Harry acceded to his teacher's demand and sat down. As the morning wore on the heat from the cement made him tense in pain and with the need to stand up.
"Stay there and do not move," Elven commanded sternly. "This will teach you to be patient and your breathing will teach you control. You will not move until I tell you and you will concentrate on relaxing your body."
Using the iron will he forged from living with the Dursley's, Harry was able to obey his teacher. As the day wore on and the sun became brighter and thirst along with sweat assailed him, Harry was determined to obey and not give up.
Tristan looked out into the alleyway and gave a humorless smirk at the boy's training. Yes, Elven was a very stern teacher, but he was also the best. Tristan also sat down and waited for his turn to becoming the boy's teacher. So much rested on not only himself and Elven to teach the boy the use of the sword and bow, but for Severus and the Eight to guide and protect. Harry had one job to do alone and that was to defeat Voldemort, but becoming the True King of Pendragon was not just his responsibility. Tristan caught the eyes of Severus and both gave a small nod of greeting before turning back to their interests. He saw the boy start to fidget and Elven's stern voice of to stay still filled the air. Frustration emanated from the boy's posture and he tensed up, incurring his teacher's displeasure.
"You need to relax," Elven told him. Tristan watched the boy's struggling and grimaced in sympathy. It was now approaching the peak of afternoon and he had the feeling that the boy had been sitting since dawn. Tristan knew that Elven would not let the boy get so burned that he would scar, but the boy was definitely able to feel the heat. Eventually Elven took pity on the boy and bade him to stand up and stretch out his cramped legs. The boy quickly shot to his feet and stretched, relishing the sensation of his body popping and cracking.
"Your job tonight is to take your bow and practice pulling the string back as far as you can and doing this same exercise before going to bed," Elven said, making sure the boy was able to walk and stand properly.
Tristan's whole body tense in preparation and just as the boy finished nodding, he charged forth. He lightly whacked the on the back of his head just enough to cause a slight pain and threw a makeshift sword branch at the boy's feet. "My training begins. Pick up that branch and defend yourself," Tristan commanded his student.
Harry had no chance to retort before the burly, muscular man came at him. Out of instinct Harry picked up the branch and barely blocked the other branch from hitting his side. He felt the vibration of the clash all way up to his shoulder and he had to use his other hand to hold his branch steady. Unfortunately the man did not give him another second before he was once again brandishing his weapon and coming at Harry. Severus and Elven sat side by side watching Tristan teach Harry how to defend and logically act on instinct.
"He has talent," Elven stated softly, noting how the boy's body instinctively turned to Tristan's movements.
"Yes, he has many talents, far more than we are aware of, but will it be enough," Severus questioned, hoping against all hope that it would be.
"The reason why Harry is here and has the capacity to become the True King is not just because he is descended from Arthur," Elven started, taking a breath he continued, "Just before Merlin passed he told his children a story who have in turned passed it down to their own. The story tells of a great and terrifying evil that will continue to sweep over the world. This evil will be so great that it will need a light so pure and blinding bright that it can only be the True King. Before the True King can face this evil, he must first tread the very line of madness himself, staying as pure and bright as the day he was born." Violet eyes looked sympathetically upon the boy who was struggling to fend off a branch, knowing that this was easy compared to the future. "They say that Voldemort is more powerful than any other wizard and that Harry may just die in the process," Elven turned to look into the onyx black eyes, "Voldemort is a mere baby compared to everything else Harry must face and nothing comes close to what he must defeat. You should know of whom I speak Severus Snape, for he is your most hated enemy." The black eyes widened in shock and fear at Eleven's words and his hands holding the book shook.
Eleven turned back to Tristan and Harry's training, giving his companion time to take in the information. He knew that Severus was trying to figure out just how it was infinitely possible for Harry to defeat Him, for no one had been able to, not even Merlin and Arthur themselves. "That is why you came now isn't it," Elven heard Severus ask and he nodded.
"Yes, I left my people to come here to train and teach Harry and when he is ready I will my people to war. Make no mistake Severus, there will be a war and if all fulfill their destinies Harry James Potter will lead us into it. For he is so much more than a King, he is a warrior, a healer, a diplomat, a dignitary, and a ruthless assassin when needed. Albus wants to make Harry into a slave to other's people's wants and needs, he wants him to be a savior. That is not Harry's destiny. Harry is the only one can defeat the True Evil that plagues this world, but only if we can keep him on the light path. If he falls to the dark, this world and everything in it will perish and magic herself will not be able to kill him," Elven finished ominously and heard Severus' sharp intake of breath. Merlin saw Harry's forthcoming and that is why he made sure that Arthur's bloodline started with magic, so that each generation would getter stronger and stronger until Harry was born. The True Evil was patient and conniving and he was Harry's biological father. He also knew that his son had the strength and power to defeat him and that he was the only who could. Albus thought that Harry was unsafe from Voldemort when in actuality Harry could take Voldemort out right now and not even be phased by it. Harry's greatest concern was his birth father and he was also his greatest weakness. For every darkness there is an even greater light and for every hatred there is astounding love. Love is what the boy is made of and no matter how evil his birth father was, love is the one thing that will make Harry hesitate to deliver the final blow. Elven knew that the day of hesitating would be the world's end, for it was either Harry who would destroy the world or his birth father and both were catastrophic future's.
A/N: I hope you all liked it and I apologize for it not being longer. Please continuing reading and feedback is appreciated, but mostly I just want any readers to enjoy the story :)