The Danger Zone Diaries
Well, it's Day Eleven and, here, we have an interesting somewhat-familiar – as it's loosely based on an old idea – response to my newest challenge: Law of Nature, but with some familiar and interesting developments
Day Eleven: Nature's Child
The battle was over.
The war, as the expression went, and as Harry felt, was just beginning.
However, if there was one thing he knew, it was that, when the first shot was fired and the first casualty was reported, he wouldn't be there to see it.
He could feel the venom of the Basilisk, its fatal magic and the dark, cold touch of Death creeping through him, flowing through his blood from the spot on his arm where he'd been bitten by the ancient beast. He could feel a strange, but soothing numbness pass down his arm, making his fingers go limp while the joints in his shoulder seemed to seize up, leaving him unable to move his right arm at all.
While these strange feelings made their way through his body, Harry saw Ginny pull herself up from where she'd recovered, the sight of her body moving, breathing and being alive again bringing a small smile to his face as he thought, 'Good, I got rid of him just in time…ow…if only this touch wasn't so painful…so damning…so cold…'
Trying to fight off the rushes that made their way through his body, Harry gulped as he whispered, "Ginny…"
The redhead turned to him with a start, earning a small smile from Harry as he saw her blush before she muttered, "Harry…I…I tried to fight it; I didn't want to do anymore…Riddle…he made me; I tried so much, but…"
As she seemed to try and fail to find the right words to say to describe what she was feeling, Ginny's eyes widened as she caught sight of Harry's wound and the blood that was slowly trickling down his arm from where the Basilisk had bitten him, "Harry…you're hurt!"
Doing his best to mask the wound, if only to reassure the distraught young girl that everything was going to be all right, Harry let out a soft cough as he told her, "It's nothing: Ginny, listen to me. Go back through the tunnel; you'll find Ron…he…he'll take care of you now."
"Harry!" exclaimed Ginny, earning another smile from Harry as she saw his hand slip, causing him to fall down; seconds later, however, Ginny's eyes widened while Harry's heart soared as he heard a familiar cry echo down the tunnel. From somewhere down the far end, a familiar burst of red feathers and beautiful looks made its way towards where the two kids were hunched over.
As the feathery figure landed in-between them, Harry managed another small, but no less gratifying smile as he whispered, "You were brilliant, Fawkes…I just wasn't fast enough."
In response, the phoenix let out a soft trill of worry and sadness before, to Harry's shock, the beautiful bird bent his head over Harry's wound; as Harry and Ginny watched, neither one of them sure of what Fawkes was going to do, Harry let out a gasp when he saw tears start to fall from the eyes of the phoenix.
As the tears splashed onto his skin, Harry felt something that reminded him of a static cling before heat surged through his veins; at the same time, what could only be described as a force of life started to bleed its way through Harry's veins and arteries, allowing him to move his fingers and keep his arm propped up even as he watched the tears fall onto his wound.
Seconds later, however, the wound vanished and, as Harry looked up from the wound, he let out a laugh as he whispered, "Of course…phoenix tears have healing powers; thanks."
Before he could say anything else, however, Harry's eyes widened once again when Fawkes let out another loud cry: this time, however, the cry sounded less like one of alarm and more like something that could only be described as a choir of angels. As the two Gryffindors watched, Harry's eyes widened even further when he saw Fawkes' body erupting into a geyser of white-golden flames that shot upwards.
However, before the flames reached the ceiling or spread outwards in a way that threatened damage or pain, Harry and Ginny both gasped when they saw the flames reform themselves, the white-golden colour transforming into a shape that both of them were stunned to see.
A female figure, dressed in white robes that wrapped around her like vines or the wings of some great and terrible beast, stood in front of them, her hair was as dark as the colour of sunset while, as the woman appeared, she opened her eyes and looked down at the two students, both of whom gasped when they saw the colour of her eyes.
Though Harry gasped more because of the fact that the eyes were a vibrant, mystically-empowered shade of emerald green that he'd only ever seen once before in his life…or twice…or more than that.
Why? Because he'd always seen the same colour looking back at him every time he'd looked in the mirror at his reflection.
Swallowing down a whole range of questions, Harry watched as the woman looked from him to Ginny and back again.
For a brief moment, the woman seemed to consider whatever she was about to do before, heaving a sigh, she spoke to Harry, her voice as soft as the cry of the phoenix she'd just replaced as she told him, "Harry, my beautiful boy: how very much like your Father you are. Rushing in to save the innocent without a care for your own life; ah well, it's my fault for being drawn to that same bravery, I suppose."
As Harry stared back, he heard Ginny gasp as though she'd just realised herself who this woman was before, swallowing hard, the younger redhead asked, "You are…could you possibly be…are you really…"
"Yes," said the woman, looking to Ginny as she told her, "In my mortal life, I was known as Lily Potter, formerly Evans, but my true name is one known to every witch and wizard whom still believes in the Greater Magics that govern the laws and existences in this domain."
Here, she looked back to Harry before, smiling once again, she told him, "My name is Gaea, Harry; Mother of Earth, Mother of Nature and, in many ways and lifetimes, I was also known as the Mother of Magic…but most importantly, the Mother that matters now is yours, my son."
Harry remained silent, but as he looked up at the redhead, he gulped hard before he finally managed to gasp out, "Am…am I…dead?"
"Actually, you've never been more alive, sweetheart," replied Lily, or Gaea as she'd identified herself, her voice as soft as before as she explained more about what was happening, "Your bravery, your strong will and your kind heart have all allowed me to pass through the breach between our two worlds, using an emissary of my power as a vessel so that we may talk and, as a reward for your bravery and your true spirit, I am going to give you what is rightfully yours…"
Here, Gaea bent down before she brushed a hand through Harry's dark hair; as she did so, however, she scowled when she touched his lightning-bolt scar, her eyes darkening for only a moment before she whispered, "I knew it!"
"What?" asked Harry, his voice sounding as distant and dreamy as he felt, though he suspected that the touch of this otherworldly…no…the touch of his Mother had something to do with it.
Looking back into his eyes, Gaea smiled as she told him, "Nothing, sweetheart…nothing you need to worry about for now, anyway. For now, the only thing you need to do is live your life and be free of the ties that bind you. To do this, I am going to give you a power that has always been a part of you, but I warn you: once I awaken this power, your life will never be the same again. You'll become stronger, greater and a thousand times more than the little boy you are now; in hindsight, Harry, you will become the single, most-powerful sorcerer in this domain…on levels even your Headmaster cannot equal…and yes…"
She then added, putting a finger to Harry's lips as though cutting him off before she added, "Once we're done here, you have my full permission to tell him about this meeting, but aside from him, I would be very careful who you share this with. Not everyone believes in the Higher Powers whom I live alongside, but, for as long as he has been alive, Albus Dumbledore has always been a true believer and respecter of the Higher Powers, but none moreso than Death and my powers: the dominion over Nature and Magic."
Harry blinked in surprise as he heard this, but as he did so, he swallowed hard before he asked in a shaky voice, "Are…are you saying I am…I'm a…a Higher Power?"
"No," replied Gaea, earning a confused look from her son as she told him, "To give you a title that would be best suited to the human realm, you're a Demigod: half-human, half-divine. Born of both worlds and greater than both if you so choose to become such: demigods have walked this world for centuries, some of them becoming legends in what you might call folklore or mythology and, yes, Harry, this includes the beliefs of the Greco-Roman as well as the Mayan, Egyptian, Norse and even the Celtic Gods of Olden times."
Harry just stared, speechless and unsure of what he was meant to say in response to something like that.
The end of the adventure and an interesting opening, wouldn't you agree? Given the nature – no pun intended – of the challenge, I thought something like this would be fun and I only hope you agree.
Anyway, speaking of the challenge, here are the details: DZ2's 'Law of Nature' Challenge: Horcruxes are born of killing, which is a crime against nature, but who is there to punish this crime? Hmm, how about one born to Master Death, now chosen to be the Champion/Son/Guardian of the very natural force itself?
Rules: All affinities are welcome
Godlike/OP Harry ONLY
When the story starts is up to you, but Harry MUST receive his blessing/powers from an emissary of Nature or Nature/Magic herself*
When Harry becomes blessed by Nature, the Horcrux in him is destroyed AND his body becomes fully healed/restored
As Nature's Chosen One, Harry has the power of Shapeshifting into ALL animals/creatures and can speak ALL Animal/Creature/Beast languages
Harry MUST have a familiar
If/When Harry is in danger, the forces of Nature act on instinct to defend/aid him
Any race in tune with Nature MUST see Harry as Royalty and/or a Saviour (e.g. Pegasi/Unicorns, Centaurs, Elves etc.)
Harry MUST have/gain a wand/staff/sceptre equal to, but NOT the Elder Wand
Obviously, the fact that Harry can commune with, manipulate and command the very forces around them frightens, unnerves and awes people
All pairings are welcome
Guidelines: Crossovers
Demigod-Harry
Dark-Lord Harry
BEFORE becoming Nature's Chosen One, Harry dies a mortal death
Immortal-Harry
Vegetarian/Vegan-Harry
Instead of food and drink, Harry consumes/drains/harnesses health/vitality/healing power from Nature
As well as Nature, Harry learns to command powers associated with Nature (e.g. Life-Force, Mana/Ley Lines, Matter etc.)
When he becomes Nature's Chosen One, Harry gains a weapon to help focus/use his powers
To help control his ties to the powers of Nature, Harry becomes a Master Occlumens/Legilimens
In becoming Nature's Chosen One, Harry becomes a magical creature
As well as manipulating Nature, Harry's body can infuse with natural forces (like Swamp Thing)
Somehow, Harry can bestow forces of nature as powers/abilities/magic to his friends and allies
Harry can absorb/negate/dispel magic through his Nature powers
Slash
Harems
Harry/Multi
Harry cures/exorcises Tom and/or his Horcruxes
Nature/Magic sends Harry back through time to help him fulfil his mission and/or make right his wrongs
A prophecy speaks of Nature's Chosen One
Harry IS Nature/Magic reincarnated/in human form
As a 'reward/aide' for his quest, Nature/Magic revives someone lost to Harry to become his ally
Forbidden: Weak Harry
Harry allowing anyone to control his powers other than him
Horcrux-Harry
Malnourished/Abused/Weak-looking Harry
Harry wielding the Elder Wand
Tom gaining Harry's allegiances
Harry JUST speaking Parseltongue
Magic/Nature out to manipulate Harry himself
Other than that, it's up to you...
So, while I don't really know if this would be a crossover with anything, the idea's loosely based on PJO and other stories with demigod lore, but with some twists and turns that sees Harry becoming something more than human and on-par with the Powers That Be.
Will it work? I don't know, but that's the fun of the Diaries;
Day Eleven: End of Entry