Falling From Stars

By: Abby Ebon

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter….


Snake Surprise

Aswan was grateful to the dryads, but after they had made the deal with the Honored Mothers, they were no where to be found, so she could not thank them. Perhaps that had done purposely, for she didn't know how to begin to thank them.

So Aswan had instead gone to were Osakis was babysitting Mars, under the watchful eyes of the rest of the adult females of Fleet-Foot.

And, Aswan thought amused, a good portion of the younglings. Osakis sat in the middle of a small herd of younglings, all watching Mars with wide curious eyes, as their mothers and older sisters watched with amusement.

"This morning he made water, and Momma had me change him!" Osakis exclaimed proudly, as some of the other younglings were over awed over her bravery. Aswan saw some of the mothers and older sisters of the youngling's chuckle softly in amusement.

Among the centaurs, younglings rarely took care of other younger younglings, some of them had older, adult, sisters to watch them, but never siblings close to their own age. For centaurs usually waited till their young were adult before having another, or adopting, as Aswan had done.

So Osakis was a rarity, and the other younglings well knew it. Aswan had known her daughter hadn't had other younglings to play with, and was glad they were drawn to the babe, and would likely befriend Osakis.

"Does he eat?" Asked a boy-centaur doubtfully, Osakis nodded.

"Yeah, he eats a lot! His food's all mashed up for him; Momma says we've got to find someone with milk for him, because the Lady-Grandmother says he needs one for four more seasons, isn't that strange?" Osakis told them, and Aswan kept to the sidelines, watching how the centaur females took this news.

Most looked worried, as centaur younglings didn't milk for longer then half a season, before beginning to eat easy foods. While they might not want to volunteer for a human child, they knew the Honored Mothers had chosen to keep him, and all younglings were treasured.

No Clan took the possibility of a youngling's death easily, human or otherwise. Aswan had known that Centaur younglings simply weren't born often enough to let Mars nurse for a full season, so she had to find something in the forest both willing, and able.

So far, Aswan had made do with feeding him mashed foods, but he was already getting fussy, and weak. Aswan shook her head, and made her self known, stepping to stand among the younglings, who suddenly looked shy. She smiled warmly down at them, and Osakis stood, and walked to her hesitantly.

"Sorry Momma, I didn't…" Aswan chuckled and held up her hand, stalling her youngling's apologies. "It's alright Osakis; I'd be surprised to not find you among younglings, go on, I'll take care of Mars, you go play."

After patting her daughters head for a job well-done, she let Osakis run off to play with her new-found friends. Most of the elder sisters followed, while some of the mothers gathered around her, intent on asking some questions…

--

Nagini, the once great and feared snake familiar to the Dark Lord, came into the Black Forest. She sought shelter and sanctuary, but most of all, not to be destroyed. For she knew, very well, what would befall her if wizards and witches caught her.

She had grown up in the Black Forest, so she knew who she had to find. The Lady-Grandmother…

The great snake only hoped she would let her live, if only to give birth, for Nagini was among the last of her kind…All knew that the Lady-Grandmother would rather preserve life, then see it wiped out entirely.

So, slithering on her great belly of scales, contracting and relaxing the great muscles that let her move, Nagini came swiftly to the Lady-Grandmother's cottage.

The Lady-Grandmother felt something strange…and oddly familiar, enter (or return) the Black Forest. She stood, and Adios blinked blue and black swirling eyes at her, for he had grown to adore her yet he felt her nervousness, and worried with her.

So leaning on her staff, she opened the door, and blinked at the sight of a giant serpent rising up to greet her.

"Greetings… Lady-Grandmother, can shelter and safely be found in your great woods?" Nagini hissed, knowing that the Lady-Grandmother would understand, for she was gifted with the ability to speak to all creatures in the Black Forest.

"Your belly is big…" The Lady-Grandmother stated, disapprovingly, thinking the snake had eaten one of the inhabitants of the Black Forest without seeing her first.

"I am with young, not food." Nagini contradicted softly, and the Lady-Grandmother nodded. "Let us discuss the terms of your stay." The Lady-Grandmother spoke, and moved aside, so Nagini could enter.

After a detailed lecture, (from the Lady-Grandmother) and promise to apologize to all creature she had harmed, (from Nagini) and quite a lot of talk about the weather in the seasons to come.

The Lady-Grandmother got Nagini's to vow to let Mars share her milk with her young when had her babies in the fall; in return she could stay with the Lady-Grandmother in the fall and winter.

Adios watched this, and though Nagini saw him, she 'said' nothing of his odd features as she curled next to the fireplace. The Lady-Grandmother sent a Call to Aswan, to bring Mars, and settled down in her chair, rocking and watching the Black Forest outside her window.

Adios sat at her feet, playing with a wooden 'horse', and watching Nagini with black-tinged eyes.

--

Aswan felt the Call, and after getting her sons vow that he would watch Osakis, and see her safely home. Aswan informed her fellow Honored Mothers and left, to meet the Lady-Grandmother, with Mars cradled in her arms.

Aswan rapped on the door, and then when she heard the Lady-Grandmother call to enter, Aswan let herself in. The centaur spotted the giant snake, and fought her instincts not to rear and lash out.

"Nagini has agreed to nurse Mars come fall, when her children are due." The Lady-Grandmother told her in a relatively mild tone, considering she was in the presence of the familiar of the man who was the number one killer of magical beasts.

Aswan's first reaction was to deny Nagini access to her child, the second was that the Lady-Grandmother must have been tricked or manipulated into accepting Nagini.

And the third- why, if either of them was in danger, was Adios calm? Aswan had felt first hand what the child could do, if he was upset, or hurt. So, reluctantly, she forced herself to calm. Least she upset Adios with her emotions; he was already looking a little upset.

Aswan swallowed her pride, and grave fear, to answer the Lady-Grandmother's unspoken question. Which was quite simply- will you let Mars die? Or will you let Nagini milk him?

"One would think she could be trusted, if watched." Aswan answered reluctantly, knowing that she truly didn't have any other options, and all in the room knew that as well. The Lady-Grandmother nodded, relieved by Aswan's agreement, she did not want to fight Aswan over this.

It was bad enough Nagini know a human child was in the Black Forest, she would not be allowed to leave until the child was grown and at least half into his power, she would be killed if she even suspected this child was the one who had destroyed her master.

They had until fall to find another nurse for Mars, until then, the Lady-Grandmother was going to ask a favor of her sphinx friends, as Lea was still nursing her cubs. As even she could see that Mars needed milk, very soon indeed…


AN: -cough- Right, Nagini made her surprise appearance Mars/Harry needs milk, poor baby. As Nagini giving Mars milk, and giving birth to live young in the fall (not eggs)…well some snakes give birth to live young, and I'm just going to use the infamous writer power and make Nagini able to make milk too.

Anyway, I have an idea, later on I'm going to need ideas for adventures Mars and Adios go on. I call this idea, 'The Mini Adventures'. If you'd like to write short story/stories about an adventure you see the one or both having, let me know, and use the PM feature to send it.

This is allowed on it is not a poll, nor is it interactive, it's not even a challenge; because I if I see anything that's this original being copied without my permission, and yes I will know who has that permission and who doesn't- let's just say it won't be up on the net very long, even if it's put on a personal web-page.

Most of the short stories sent to me will become a part of this one, with credit given to those who write it. This is your chance to see something you created in someone else's work, akin to a co-author, nothing more, nothing less.

Some guidelines;

Keep it to 1- 25 pages. Point, What Point? (PWP?) – Preferable, but not absolute.

OCs are welcomed, just no humans/wizards/witches!

Try to keep things in character…So no sudden interests in cell phones, cars, or planes from the populace of Devil's End.

It can be anything from fluff, to adventure, to aghast. I'm not allergic to slash and I've been around for a while and seen most everything, so you won't shock me, unless you want to! (Even if I have to raise the rating, it's alright.)

Also, don't hesitate to send it just because your worried I won't be about to read it, or because you think there are a zillion other better ones ahead of yours. Don't fret over grammar or spelling, if you're worried I'll fix it up, then send it back to you to okay. You will be informed in at least three days before I post it, if there were any changes I made to it.

Don't get offended if I don't use it right off, remember these two look like a one (Mars) and two year old (Adios) so future adventures are what I'm after. Also past age 11, if you want a future adventure make sure it'd set in the summer, or winter.

You will be given credit for your idea. Even if I have to track down your author link myself!

If I don't use it at all, or don't intend to do so in the future, I will be blunt and tell you right off, giving you at least three reasons why not. Good luck!