J.K Rowling owns Harry Potter, Bethesda owns the Elder Scrolls, all I own are my thoughts, kind of sad really…
Manipulation is a fine art; it's all about influence, what you can influence and who, in this instance, Harry Potter despite his ups and downs in public opinion could still exert more influence than most authority figures, good or bad, throw in his recent jump in power and what you have is a veritable idol. This influence is not necessarily seen in the form of public displays of power which many had grown accustomed to in regards to the young man, but can be in more subtle ways, well subtle for Harry at least.
Harry had named several gods during his confrontation with the Dark Lord, most of the time any mention of a god or gods would be disregarded by the general magical populous, why would they the most powerful race care for being stronger for themselves? Arrogant little fuckers aren't they?
Anyway, their saviour had mentioned these 'Daedra' so there must be some kind of importance to these beings, thus the research began, and to a race that had a quarter of its populace being established bookworms, the rush was on. This rush for knowledge just happened to coincide with every bookstore in the British Isles stocking up on what they were informed to be an instant best seller, a book titled 'The Doors of Oblivion.' Of course these books were sold almost instantly.
The Hogwarts students were also curious of just who these 'Daedra' were and the Ravenclaw stampede to the library was almost a massacre, as only a single copy, that Madame Pince swore up and down she didn't know existed, of 'The Doors of Oblivion' could be found. The book was treated with reverence passed between the Ravenclaws then the rest of the houses; soon its words were on everyone's lips.
Dumbledore in an attempt to censor any information the book could offer attempted to confiscate the only copy but as he took it, it would disappear and the students would once again scramble, it would be found once again hidden somewhere within the castle, never in the same place twice, any of the teachers attempting its confiscation would achieve the same results. A few of the teachers had read the book and had also become enraptured by the tales of the Daedra. Immortal and all powerful beings granting power to those they deemed superior, why wouldn't the little witches and wizards bow down?
Soon what Harry began to call 'Converts' arose, students and even teachers began to swear upon the Daedra, what had once been 'by Merlin!' soon became 'the Daedra be praised…' the Daedric Lords had returned to Nirn once again, such havoc they would wreak upon the unwashed masses and it was much too late to stop them.
The true emergence of the Daedric Religion would come on the on the eighth of August. An in auspicious day normally but to those well read on the Daedra, a day of great importance to all things dark. On this day, Harry had a date with the delectable Cho Chang so was unable to intervene immediately, but then again he probably wouldn't have if he had known in advance.
A contingent of Slytherins from various years gathered in the Entrance Hall, on the marble floor they etched a runic array into the cold marble. Soon enough an audience of students and teachers, including the new Defence Teacher, an Auror on release from the DMLE, alike gathered to observe some recognised the rune at the centre of the array, some didn't but all knew that Oblivion would soon come to Hogwarts.
The runes lain, the Slyhtherins began the ritual and almost immediately a vortex not unlike the one's Harry had conjured in the Great Hall appeared, it was evident the contingent of students had put great strain on themselves further solidifying Harry's superiority in their own minds, he had conjured so many with such little effort, yet they could barely create one with immense difficulty. A woman, and what a woman, rose from the portal, the woman was one of the most beautiful they had ever seen, scantily clad in what appeared to be a black hooded poncho. The Daedra gazed around the room uncaringly, until settling on the leader of the group of Slytherins.
"I am Nocturnal…" she spoke with little inflection. "Empress of Murk and Mistress of Shadows, state your purpose Mortal…"
"I am Draco Malfoy, Son of Lucius Malfoy and Warrior of the Darkness and I demand your Power!" declared the blonde ponce. There were gasps around the room as Draco smirked his usual smug smirk.
"My Power Mortal… how presumptuous… you dare demand anything of me… You are no warrior… especially of Darkness… not even Peyrite would waste time on you and he is the weakest amongst us… run along little mortal and retrieve someone worthy of my gifts…" replied the Daedric Prince, dismissing the rapidly purpling mortal.
"I demand your power, it's my right!" Draco screamed like a little bitch.
"You have no right to demand anything of me little mortal… if I were to gift you my power… you would have to earn it…" Nocturnal answered.
"Name it, nothing would stop me!" Draco said in gleefully.
"To be one with the shadow one must forgo all light… the price is set are you willing to pay little mortal?" Nocturnal actually looked amused by the little runt.
"Done! I forsake the light!"
"You really should have known better…" Harry grinned from the entrance of the Hall, he had just stepped through the double doors that lead back into the castle, Cho draped on his arm. The smile on his face spoke of pleasure, most were curious, why would Potter be happy at his rival gaining power?
"Ha! Take that Potter, the power of a Daedric Lord-AHHHHH!" Draco screamed as he began to convulse.
"The Meridia is the light of life… the light which you have forsaken foolish little Mortal… you have my power… all of it… for as long as you live… for all of an instant… before the light of life leaves you…" Nocturnal spoke casually.
Draco Malfoy was engulfed in darkness for all of a second before the shadows left him and he crumbled to the ground, dead. The Deadric Lord gazed around the room again showing no emotion on her stunning features before her gaze settled on Harry who seeing he had her attention bowed.
"Milady Nocturnal, a pleasure…" Harry said as he stood up.
"Ah, if it isn't Mehrunes Dagon's Champion… blessed of Vaermina, Boethiah and Azura… the little fool one of yours?" asked the Daedra.
"Nope… So, you're not the type to just hang around… what's up?" Harry spoke casually, more than a few jaws dropped at his tone.
"Should have expected that from you mortal… Dagon would never choose anyone so boring…" she remarked with the same casualness Harry had shown. "My Ravens have been observing your world… I find it lacking… the Nightingales long since forgotten… bring back my order… bring before me three worthy members… I shall trust your judgement… do not fail me or I will be… displeased…" a shiver ran down the backs of everyone in the room, emotionless never sounded so frightening. "You will be greatly rewarded for succeeding… I shall return at your call…"
The portal Nocturnal had risen from reappeared and with a flourish Nocturnal sank into it seconds before it sealed. Murmurs broke out around the hall, the Nightingales? Who were they? Potter had heard of them as evident by the smile that had broken across his face as the Daedra spoke.
"Hey Potter, what was that?" asked a Gryffindor.
Harry just shook his head in amusement. Nocturnal wanted her Nightingales, how interesting, he could use that, three elite warriors blessed by the Daedric goddess with almost preternatural speed and skill, definitely something he could use. He asked himself stopped for a second; they didn't need to be thieves did they? No, just those with ambition willing to swear fealty to Nocturnal… Not a Sytherin, they had already annoyed her… speed and skill of a thief… ambitious and willing to serve… how convenient… He knew just the girls…