Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I am just playing in the sandbox of my imagination for a few minutes. I leave ownership and all the stress related to it to J.K. Rowling.
AN: I need to apologize to everyone. I had the next couple chapters written for this story and for Nature of Magic as well, and stored on a flash drive along with a good amount of my school work from the last few years. Then like the almost brilliant person I am, I left the drive in the computer lab up on campus. Needless to say it was not turned in, and I was unable to find it. So I have had to re-write the chapters for both stories. I'd blame genetics, but we all know that would be a lie.
Please take a few minutes and read the other stories I have posted. I am pretty excited about them, and think they will capture your imagination. I also have a poll up on my page that relates to Nature of Magic. Take a minute and give me an answer please.
And now onto some answers. This chapter won't answer them all, but hopefully will put a dent in many you have. More answers will be coming in the next couple chapters, I just didn't want to have one long boring chapter that consisted of only conversations.
As always, please read and review!
Don
-DCM-
As Harry finished his second bowl of stew, one of the large double doors opened and Lord Conrac and Lady Lonel entered into the room. Braelik and Anya both stood and faced the two as they walked towards the bed.
Harry took a minute to study the two new comers. Lord Conrac was taller than Lady Lonel, he stood 5 foot and 11 inches and had a very regal bearing. Whereas Lady Lonel was 5 foot 6 inches and held herself with confidence and grace. Both had the appearance of being in their late 50's if Harry was to guess. But then he didn't know for sure as he hadn't interacted with adults to a great extent. Lord Conrac had short snow white hair with a white close cropped beard, he had the build of an athlete, and a fighter. Lady Lonel was what Harry would call beautiful. She moved with grace and poise, and had vibrant brown eyes that shown with intelligence and compassion.
"Ah! Young Snowlock, you are awake!" Lord Conrac looked at Harry with warmth in his eyes and a smile on his lips. "We weren't too worried after the first day, but were starting to get concerned after the second day."
"I was asleep for two days?"
"Yes indeed little one." Lady Lonel answered him. As she approached the bed she greeted Anya with a brief hug as the two women pressed their cheeks together in a greeting that spoke of familiarity and closeness. "How is your young patient doing Braelik?"
Lord Conrac stood beside the bed and turned to listen to Braelik as he spoke. "He be doin much better. I had to almost be tiein this'n down, he was about to set off on a'nother adventure he was."
Harry blushed a little as the other chuckled at Braelik's statement. "Jokin a'side, I did be noticin that he's magic core be a tad differnt tha you Lady. I be wonderin if's you be willin to take a peek at it."
"Certainly. Do you mind if I cast a few spells on you child?" she asked drawing a wand from her sleeve.
"Ugh, okay..."Harry was hesitant. He had seen wizards and witches use their wands to cast spells before, but the only ones he had seen cast on him where when those black cloaked men cast fire spells at him a few days ago.
"Don't worry child, there will be no pain." Lady Lonel assured him, seeing his apprehension and the fear he held in his eyes. "What happened to make him fear spell casters?" She filed that thought away to figure out later and started moving her wand around Harry in a complicated pattern. She read her results and frowned slightly. Humming to herself in in confusion she recast her spells, getting the same results.
"Braelik, did you notice that a small piece of his magic core is missing?"
"Missing?" Harry's eyes looked up at her.
"Aye, though missing is not bein the right word...mayhap given away but still connected." The dwarf answered.
"Given away?" Harry was now looking at Braelik even more confused. "I'm not sure what you mean."
"By chance did you give something made with your magic to someone else?" Lady Lonel was looking intently into Harry's eyes.
Harry was still confused. "I don't think so..." Understanding came to Harry in a flash of a memory of creating a glowing crystal and giving it to his pretty friend. "Daphne!"
"Daphne?"
Harry blushed a little and looked away from the Lady. "I made Daphne an ice crystal to keep with her so she would know believe me when I told her I could control ice with my magic. I put a little of my magic into it." Harry's explanation came rushing out.
"Does she still have it?" Lady Lonel tilted her head down so she could again look intently into Harry's eyes, searching for an answer.
Harry closed he eyes for a moment and reached out with his magic and after a brief search found Daphne lying in bed holding the crystal thinking of him. He opened his eyes, and with a smile answered "Yes, she is in bed, resting. She is concerned because her parents are worried about her, and she is hoping for some answers to give them to her questions."
"What questions do they have?"
Harry closed his eyes for a moment again. "She doesn't know. But she has been asleep for the last two days, and something has happened to her forehead and her hair. She says she felt like she was hit in the head two days ago, and then jumped up and stabbed the roast goose repeatedly before passing out on the table."
There was silence in the room for several heartbeats while everyone tried to understand what Harry had just told them. It was broken by Braelik who started chuckling, then gave into a full belly laugh. "I do be like'n the sounds of this lass!" He finally said and then laughed some more.
Anya rolled her eyes, but had a smile on her face as well. Even Lord Conrac and Lady Lonel had small smiles on their lips. "She does sound spirited. Daphne, you said her name was?"
"Yes Lady Lonel, Daphne is her name."
"Is she your sister?"
"No, she's my first and only friend."
"How about you tell us about yourself and your friend Daphne, and then Conrac, Braelik, Anya and I will tell you about ourselves, and answer any question you have. We have set aside the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon to talk to you and help you understand just who you are and why you are so important. Then this evening we will all attend the welcoming feast and you can meet the rest of our family. Does that sound good?"
Harry nodded and crossed his legs and made himself comfortable. Harry started as far back as he could remember and told the others in the room what he could about himself. From living with his aunt and uncle because his parents were dead, to staying in the cupboard under the stairs, to Daphne being his first friend because Dudley would beat up anyone who tried to make friends with him while saying that "freaks didn't deserve friends." It took him the better part of two hours, and there were several interruptions when more explanations were required. Especially about how he was treated by his relatives, and Lady Lonel seemed very interested in his friendship with Daphne. Finally he got to the point of leaving the alley because he wanted to keep Daphne safe.
"And then I found myself in the mountains by the stone building" Harry finished his tale. The room was silent as everyone contemplated Harry's words.
That is a most interesting and enlightening tale. It certainly does answer many of the questions we had about you and where you came from. Perhaps you should rest now and let us answer your questions, whatever they may be, how does that sound?" Lord Conrac looked at Harry with a small smile on his handsome face.
"Okay, um where am I?"
"You are in The Heart. It is our citadel, where we all meet. Think of it as a home away from home for the family. We each have our own domains and homes, but all are welcome here at any time. It is also where the family meets for special occasions, such as the welcoming of a new member of the family." At this he smiled at Harry and reached over and ruffled his hair.
"So, family…what family? And I am a part of it now?" Harry sounded unsure of the question.
"That is both a simple and a complex question that I will do my best to answer. In short, yes, you are now a part of our family. Your affinity for snow, ice and the cold shows that you were born as what is called a 'winter's child'. The fact that you were able to make your way here while surviving the testing shows that you have the strength and determination to take your place in the family. The family is made up of individuals from several different races that were each born with an affinity towards an element. Myself I was born with an affinity with air while Braelik has an affinity with the earth."
"What affinity do your wives have?"
"Actually nothing specific, but as our bonded mates, are part of the family and enjoy a long life with us. Well, mostly enjoy." Here he chuckled "At least when we don't make them angry." Lady Lonel was smiling at Lord Conrac
"So only boys are born with this affinity?"
"No, actually Lady Katia has an affinity for fire, and Lady Shoshan has an affinity for spirit. They too have their bonded mates that live with them. In fact you may or may not remember the high elf who helped come to your rescue, Torak, he is bonded to Shoshan."
Harry shook his head, much of the events of a few days ago were blurry to him. "So this affinity makes us what? Wizards?"
"Actually your affinity gives you the ability to one day become a Wyvern. Do you know what a Wyvern is?" Harry shook his head. "A Wyvern is an ancient being very similar to a dragon, except stronger, longer lived, and possessing of elemental affinities. Tell me son, have you ever heard of The Balance?"
Again Harry shook his head. "The balance has been maintained for millennia by the two Councils of Seven. One made of seven Wyvern, and the other of seven Wurms. The Wyvern generally representing the light, and the Wurms representing the dark. For centuries the balance has been maintained. Occasionally one member of one council or the other died, either in battle or, in the case of the Wurm council, due to politics, and another was raised to take their place, thus keeping the balance. For each affinity on the Wyvern Council, there is an affinity on the Wurm council, thus keeping a steady balance in all things."
"So I am the winter Wyvern?"
"Yes and no, yes in that you have the ability to grown into the winter Wyvern, and no, as in you have not yet grown into your role. That is where the family comes in. We will each teach you what you need to know, and what you need to do to grow into your position in the family. Not only will we teach you, but we will protect and nurture you. You are now our brother, our son, and our friend. Race matters not here young Snowlock, you are now family."
Harry was overcome with emotions that threatened to spill. "I would like that, I would like to have a family." Harry felt himself gathered into the arms of Lady Lonel and held gently
"You have a family now child, we will never leave or abandon you, I promise." Lady Lonel knew her words would affect the boy deeply due to what his human family had done to him less than a year ago. She promised herself she would seek retribution on them for the harm they had done to the precious boy in her arms.
"Why doesn't anyone call me by name?" came the soft whispered question in her arms.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would notice that." Lord Conrac looked pleased. "When you arrived at The Heart, you left your old life behind, and started a new one. While there are some things you will keep connected to, and yes I am talking about Daphne" Lord Conrac could see the boy was getting concerned. "And perhaps one or two other things, for the most part you will be starting your new life, and tonight, as part of your welcoming to the family, you will be given a new name, symbolizing your new life."
"So what is my new name?"
Lady Lonel smiled at the eagerness in Harry's voice. "You will get that tonight child." She again hugged him tight.
"Why did you call me snowlock?"
Lord Conrac shared a brief look at his wife and then looked back at Harry. "You have not looked in the mirror yet have you?" Harry shook his head. "It seems during your battle with the shrayken, when he stung you on your forehead, some of the venom got into your hair, and turned a small patch of it white."
"It is rather fetching if you ask me." Lady Lonel ran her fingers through Harry's hair. "And just a bit dirty, perhaps a bath is in order before the welcoming feast?"
Harry blushed and nodded his head. A bath actually sounded quite good right now.
"I think that is a splendid idea love, we don't want to overwhelm the lad with too much all at once. I promise we will continue our discussions and answering your questions in the days to come. Is that alright?"
Harry nodded. "Good then, your bath is through the door to the left here, and when you are done, fresh clothes will be on your bed for you to wear."
Harry stopped for a moment and looked at the adults in the room. "I didn't bring any more clothes…" He trailed off in uncertainty.
"Donna be worrin laddie, Anythin you be needin will be given to you. You do be family now…" Harry's smile and gratitude shown on his face, and he turned and made his way into a large bathroom.
"I'll just be da first ta be sayin it. I am a thinkin of visitin the lad's relatives and be havin a talk with em." Braelik's voice was low and hard.
"A splendid idea Lord Braelik. Perhaps in a day or two, after the child settles in" Lord Conrac agreed readily.
Any further discussion was cut off as a half-naked boy poked his head out of the bathroom with a question on his face. "Erm…how does the tub work?" Harry asked embarrassed at not being able to figure it out.
With a chuckle Braelik answered him "I'll be showin ya laddie." He then quickly moved to help the boy get cleaned up.
-DCM-
The light of the fires reflected hotly off the surfaces of the black walls of the cave. Firebrine normally enjoyed the heat the fires gave off, deep under the ground. But today the heat was a bit stifling and getting on his nerves. That or it was the other members of the Wurm Council, one of which was speaking at the moment. Skaltine was getting very uppity, and would need to be put in his place again soon. Firebrine didn't want him getting any ideas.
"So you decided, on your own, to strike at the newest Winter's Child! What gives you the right to decide on such actions? You weren't even successful. If you can't even take care of one little puny human child, what makes you think you have what it takes to keep leading this council?" There it was, the challenge to his leadership.
Quicker than Skaltine could blink, Firebrine had him by the throat and was lifting him from his seat. There was a reason all members of the council had to attend in their original forms, fights like this were common, and fighting in their Wurm forms would be messy.
"Is that a challenge?" Firebrine's front teeth elongated and became very sharp, his vampire heritage coming quickly to the front.
Skaltine knew he couldn't take Firebrine in a face to face fight, his Dark Elf heritage just wasn't a match for Firebrine's vampire background, he would need to back pedal and try and see if he could catch him off guard when his back was turned.
"No, no…I was just saying that perhaps if we had worked together we could have gotten the child and killed him, nothing more my Lord!"
Firebrine dropped the pathetic elf on the ground and returned to his seat. "It matters little that the child got away, we still maintain the majority, and with my wife having usurped the winter child's place in the Wyvern Council, we will always maintain the majority. If he wants to take his rightful spot he will need to both find her and kill her, and that isn't likely to happen."
"And where is your wife?" Quinnion, the Water Wurm asked with barely feigned interest.
"Sleeping" was the only answer he received.
Firebrine rose from his chair and moved towards the back of the cave. "This meeting is over." He moved out of the chamber, back into the shadows and left the rest of the council looking at one another.
Skaltine and Quinnion shared a brief look that spoke volumes. Then they rose and joined the others of the council in exiting the chamber.
In his private chamber, Firebrine moved over to a small chest and with a slight hesitation, slowly opened the lid, and started rummaging around inside. Having finally found what he was looking for, he pulled out a small painting of an exceptionally beautiful woman. She had high cheek bones, and dark intense eyes that shown with an intense malice.
"Clarisa, my love, where are you? Why do you still sleep?"