A/N – Welcome! Dresden Files are one of my favorite book series and elements from them appeared in a story or two I wrote. Now I decided it is a good moment to write something wholly focused on them.
Read, enjoy and review!
The ink poured out of the gaping wound in the diary. Harry's hand wrapped around the fang still buried in the paper. He hissed in pain as something happened to him.
As if a long forgotten dam. Deep inside of him finally burst open and power rushed forth. Primal and wild. Searing hot and freezing cold.
Yet there was something strangely familiar to it. As if he knew it. It was so painful and strong that his grip on the broken fang slipped and he let out a wheezing, keening moan. His muscles let out last spasm and his body went limp. Unresponding and unmoving. Pain too much for the nerves.
The body wracked by pain, yet the mind was still sharp and clear. No matter the pain that was trying to cloud it.
An explosion of colors and energy filled the chamber. The arctic wind howled, crystals of ice and snow flying. A miniature blizzard came. The temperature dropping below zero, Harry's faint breathing turning into clouds of mist.
His head turned, each movement painful and slow. Eliciting moans of pain and suffering from Harry. He felt his whole body burn. Every second a world of pain.
Finally his head turned and his eyes were able to see. A lean, graceful figure was moving through it. Whatever it was, it was tall and he felt a twinge of something familiar hit him in the head like a sledgehammer.
A gust of wind blew aside the snow and ice and the being became clear. She was tall and lean. A mane of white hair flowing behind her. Her features sharp and angular, the eyes like emeralds and slitted like the eyes of a cat. Her lips were the color of frozen mullberries. She wore a simple green dress reinforced with armor and a sword rested in her hand.
Her eyes narrowed as she regarded Harry for a second with some curiosity. Then they swept towards the carcass of the basilisk. Before once again focusing her keen gaze on him.
Harry flinched. The gaze of those eyes was painful.
"Who are you?" the being asked, her voice carrying to it some authority. Authority Harry only saw before in Dumbledore.
Harry croaked, his voice betraying him for a second. Then he swallowed and whispered. "Harry Potter."
The being smiled and moved forward. Wherever she stepped, frost formed on the floor and some unearthly power flowed into the world. The air thrummed with it and gusts of wind swirled around her form as she approached Harry.
"Harry Potter," she pronounced slowly. "I never knew that my offspring would have such a mundane name." She paused and shook her head before looking at the basilisk. "The beast you have killed. It bit you."
Harry didn't say anything and simply looked at her. His mind too overwhelmed by the being calling him his offspring. He always longed for acknowledgement and acceptance. Always wanted some kind of a family, yet never had it. Now the whatever it was called him, her offspring.
She smiled and a small shudder passed down Harry's spine. "Venom of basilisk, the only substance capable of undoing any magic. Even that of a Sidhe Queen," she said and then her eyes narrowed as she looked towards the other end of the chamber. "Langtry! Step forward!" she called out. "I can sense you."
Her voice rung across the chamber. Harry felt a wave of magic wash over him. Yet he didn't really feel it as he wondered whom this Langtry guy was or what the Sidhe Queen was. He of course heard that word during History of Magic class. But for Professor Binns it always was a thing from myths and legends of the old.
An aged man in a white robe, his long white hair flowing freely down his back, a staff in his hand appeared out of nowhere. He reminded Harry much of the Professor Dumbledore, yet was something entirely else. There was no gentleness or kindness in his moves and he seemed arrogant.
"Your Majesty," he said with a slight curtsy. "You know why I am here."
There was a rippling noise and Harry's heard turned towards the source of it. Over three dozen humans in grey cloaks and with swords stepped out. They formed a loose line and moved slowly.
"The being of your power, ripping open a portal from the Nevernever, so close to Edinburgh couldn't pass unseen," Langtry said and then his gaze focused on Harry. "Also him. I can tell that you have some interest in him, Mab."
Now named Mab moved closer to Harry and placed herself between him and Langtry. "Merlin, you know whom I am," she said, her voice cold and harsh. "And you know my power, so close to the Nevernever." Harry could sense some glee in her voice. "Try me and we will see how will that end."
Langtry flinched visibly and then straightened. "I am aware of your power," he said and then paused. "But we also agreed not to rip open portals into Hogwarts. A thing you just did."
"We agreed not to bring our fights here," Mab said smoothly. "And me coming here is better than his father coming."
Harry's heart sped up as excitement hit him like a wave. Whoever this Mab was she knew something about his father. Possibly more than he so far heard about his parents.
Langtry narrowed his eyes and Harry felt as if a whip struck him across the face when the aged man looked at him. "He is that kid's father?" Langtry asked after a moment. His gaze once again focused on Mab.
"Yes," Mab said and placed her hand on Harry's head before murmuring few words. Too quietly even for Harry to understand.
When her hand touched his head Harry felt a wave of hot hit him. Wave of hot that washed over his body and he felt all of his injuries fade away as new energy filled him.
"So, dear Merlin," Mab said as she moved her hand away from Harry. "You have nothing to find here. Instead talk with the local wizards of yours and explain to them what happened." Her lips twitched. "Oh, of course don't mention my presence here. The less people know about me, the better."
Langtry's eyes narrowed and Harry could see his hand twitch around the staff. "I'm not your poster boy, Your Majesty," he spat, magic crackling around him. "And you have no power over me."
Mab tilted her head for a moment before wind whipped furiously and ice shards hurled themselves forth. Somehow avoiding Harry and not coming anywhere close to his form. "Yes, you're not my poster boy," she said and walked forward, her hips swaying sensually and making Harry's eyes focus on them. "But will duel here be a thing you want?" she asked. "You are here alone, without the rest of the Senior Council. The Wardens are of little importance for any of us and Arctis Tor is so close."
She paused and outside of the howling wind, peppering the room with shards of ice and snow there was no noise. Harry took this opportunity to reach out for his discarded wand and sword, and sit up. Some energy returned to his body and he didn't feel most of the pain that moments ago almost knocked him out.
After a moment magic dissapated and some tensions left the chamber. "Very well," Langtry said. "You can take him with you and be gone from here and I won't stop you. But he is to come here for the next school year so that we can watch him."
"I'll consider it," Mab said and glanced at Harry before murmuring a single word. "Sleep!"
Blackness overcame Harry and he crashed onto the floor, sleep taking hold of his mind. The wand and the sword slipped out of his grip. Clattering on the stones before coming to stillness.
o-0-o
Awareness came back slowly to Harry. He stirred in the most comfortable bed he ever slept in. His eyes opened and then he almost immediately blinked from the sharp light. He didn't expect to è hit by such an intense light and his eyes didn't adjust to brightness.
Once the tears were gone. He looked curiously around. He laid with pillows piled comfortably under his head and dozens of blankets wrapped around his form. The room, chamber for a lack of the better word was massive, yet he felt as if it belonged to him.
His movements weren't unseen and a graceful being walked through the doorway. She had short black hair, ice blue eyes and was obviously female and had a cat-like grace. That was all Harry could tell about her.
"Who are you?" Harry asked, his voice less croaky than it was in the Chamber. And in fact more melodic and alluring.
"Sarissa," she said with a tiny smile before sitting at his bedside and looking at him. "Mother asked me to treat you." Now named Sarissa scowled for a second and Harry felt a pang of anger fill her. "I saw warriors less brutalized than you."
Harry flinched at her words and tried to move away from her.
She noticed his movement and placed her hand on his. "It's alright," she said soothingly. "Magic can heal a lot and mother's spell fixed the issue with venom."
He took a deep breath and shook his head. Trying to avert his eyes from Sarissa's sizeable bust. "Mother?" he asked.
"Mab," Sarissa said with a faint smile. "You'll learn in due time whom exactly she is and what powers she has." Sarissa gave him a look and the smile brightened. "I think that you can leave the bed."
Harry looked at her and then at his own body, finally realizing that he was stark naked. Only the blankets covering his body. A blush quickly formed on his face, making Sarissa chuckle.
"Winter Fae are creatures of needs and passions," she said as her hand waved towards one of the walls. "There you will find clothes. Wardrobes are hidden there. But as I was saying, we are creatures of passions, desires and needs. So don't be ashamed of being naked and showing off your body."
Harry frowned, his mind slowly working and then his eyes narrowed as he looked at Sarissa. "What do you mean by, we?" he said and made her look at him. "I'm human, my parents were Lily and James Potter."
Sarissa laughed and threw her head back. Harry frowned even more, his confusion ever growing. Her behavior not helping him understand what did she mean. He was always told that his parents were humans, wizards, yes, but humans nonetheless and here he was sitting in bed, naked, and some girl was laughing at this idea.
"Sorry," she said after a long moment. "But if you were a human, you would be unable to survive here. You are in the heart of the land of Winter in the Nevernever. The magic all beings of winter have, let's them live here normally. Anything else will be turned into an ice cube or eaten alive by the wardens and monsters protecting it."
Harry paled as he looked at her, blinking in confusion. His mind trying to comprehend and somehow understand what she was telling him. "Are you telling me that I'm a freak?" he asked after a moment and her eyes immediately focused on him.
"No! You're not!" she said and paused, pursing her lips and thinking how to explain best what she wanted to say. "You are half winter fae, identity of your father, I know it, but for your own safety and whole Winter. It needs to be a secret." Sarissa smiled and ruffled Harry's hair, her breasts jiggling and getting his attention, his blush growing, making her grin.
"He was one of the reasons why did you grow up with whom you did." He flinched, making her correct herself. "I meant Lily and James. Hiding offsprings with humans is a thing we do when we don't want them attract attentions of the unsavory beings or enemies of their parents."
"Why would it be done?" Harry asked, frowning.
"Because for all the power Mab or any other being has, they have some limits to it and because killing assassins is troublesome," Sarissa said and then got up. "Dress up and I'll wait for you outside. We can continue talking in a more pleasant place."
o-0-o
It took Harry several moments before he managed to get dressed into clothes made from some material that was flowing between his fingers, yet looked sturdy and was incredibly soft. He shook his head in amusement, remembering the fairly rough material of the Hogwarts robes. Having done that he opened the door and stepped into a short hallway.
"You look good," Sarissa said with a smile, looking at his dark pants and lighter shirt. "And it is way more interesting than those robes you wore when you were brought here."
"What did happen to them?" Harry asked curiously as he followed her.
"Destroyed," Sarissa said with a look of distaste. "Covered in slime and basilisk venom. We didn't want to risk those two things getting out of control. Sorry, I know they mean a lot to you, but it was the only choice."
Harry nodded, his expression focused and in pain. He sighed and then looked at Sarissa. "I didn't ask you, but where are we?"
Sarissa's lips formed into smile. "Arctis Tor, fortress and seat of Mab," she explained as doors opened in front of them. A pair of guards nodding to her and moving out of their way. "It is also the place where you will live for the next couple of weeks as you try to get your powers under control."
Harry nodded and focused on the guards. They were tall, as graceful as Sarissa and had the same kind of cat-like grace, yet there was some primal brutality and cruelty to them. "Whom or what are they?"
"Sidhe," she explained. "The Fae are a lot of species and the Sidhe are the most humanoid and the most powerful ones." She paused and seeing his confusion she added. "The Sidhe are the nobility and look the most like humans. If careful, we can pass unseen in the human society."
"They look dangerous," he said and then cried out when a large cat appeared out of nowhere. "What that is?"
"Who that is?" the cat said, his voice making Harry's bones rattle. "I'm not some object, boy."
Harry scowled and backed away from the thing, looking at Sarissa who laughed. Her voice pearly, sweet and so enticing. Making his body react against him and stir his urges, urges he wasn't very aware of existing until few months ago.
"It's Grimalkin," Sarissa explained and sent an apologetic look at the cat. "He's one of the malks, cats of the Winter."
Grimalkin let out a huff, his claws growing longer. "People forget that I exist," he murmured, making Harry twitch and back further away. "They have no respect for me."
"Harry was recently rescued from Scotland," Sarissa said soothingly. "He can't know about you, he wasn't taught anything about the Nevernever and us." She then smiled. "He is with me, so get back to mother and tell her we're coming."
Grimalkin nodded and disappeared, letting Harry relax and take a couple of deep breaths as he tried to calm his running heart. The cat was scary and Harry didn't know if the thing was serious or no.
"Grimalkin is a pet of mother," Sarissa said and then a grin split her face. "In due time you'll get one on your own. The malks are useful, scary and dangerous, but useful."
Harry looked at her and shook his head. He thought that Hogwarts was a wonderful place, but this, but this was so much more. Better, more mysterious and more beautiful, and of all things he felt at home. As they walked through the vaulted chambers and corridors, blue, icy walls flashing with untold colors. Snow twirling outside in mysterious and intriguing patterns. He felt confident, safe and some kind of energy. No, he frowned. Magic, was filling him and everything around him. Mentioning it to Sarissa made her laugh.
"That's the power of Winter," she explained. "Your body was originally charmed to ignore all of magic, but that of human origin. The basilisk venom undid it. Now it is catching up on the fifteen years of being away from its source of power."
"Source of power?" Harry asked as they entered into a small chamber with a table and a score of chairs in the middle.
"All of Fae are beings of magic," someone spoke and Harry's head whipped towards the source of the sound. Mab, who sat on one of the chairs. "We are at our peak power when we are in an area filled with magic." She paused and Harry nodded in understanding. "Actually, that is true for all of what humans call wizards. When they are in areas filled with magic, they gain power." Then a smirk appeared on her face. "Why do you think that Hogwarts is near Forbidden Forest?"
"Because it is scary?" Harry asked, making Mab shake her head.
"No," she said, her expression stern and focused. "It's in the heart of Fae, half Summer, half Winter. Massive source of magical energy and nexus of few leylines." She then smiled, allowing some emotions to appear on her face. "You probably wonder whom I am and why did I have my daughter nurse you back to health."
Harry blushed, his cheeks red and him stuttering.
"I think that means yes," Sarissa said, placing her hand on Harry's shoulder. "He seems to have issues speaking when embarrassed."
Mab smirked and nodded. "He'll get over that in time," she said and and then her eyes glittered as she looked at Sarissa. "What did you tell him, daughter?"
"Nothing," Sarissa said, as she nudged Harry who finally snapped out of his stupor.
"So, uhm," Harry sputtered. "I didn't learn much about fairies."
Mab's eyes narrowed into a pair of slits and Sarissa tried to hold back a chuckle.
Harry looked at them, unaware of what was going on. The reaction from them was strange and he shuddered as some wave of anger and irritation washed over the place. "What?" he finally asked, his confusion, irritation and frustration coming to the front.
"Most of humans is stupid and ignorant," Sarissa said and sighed. "Fairies or pixies are the smallest, weakest and most numerous fae. Mother used, fae, not fairies to describe the whole, faeries or fae or fay is the name of every single species, kind and race of fae."
"Seems like I'll need to find some competent Loremaster to teach him about the various subtleties," Mab said and for a second silence fell onto the room as they focused on her. Something in her aura keeping them attracted to her. "I'm Queen Mab, Queen of the Winter Court, Queen of Air and Darkness," she said, each syllabe filled with authority and power not many had and making the room shudder from the waves of magic passing through it.
Harry felt those words slam into his body like a sledgehammer, each of them shaking him to the very core. There was something primal about them, something no other being could recreate in its fullness. All they could do was a pale imitation of the same authority, power and respect she had. Yet it also reminded him of some storm cloud speaking, of some force of nature being given flesh and blood.
His legs trembled and knees gave up under him. He smashed onto the floor, his hands rushing towards it to support his weight. They didn't make it and he slammed like a sack of potatoes onto the hard ice making much of the floor. His nose smashed first and with a loud, popping crunch broke.
"You might have overdid the magic, mother," Sarissa said with a mirthless chuckle as she reached and yanked Harry up. Her moves graceful, yet strong and making Harry wonder how powerful she truly was. "He still didn't get used to it."
"Was just surprised," Harry said, still dazed and a trickle of blood running down his face.
"Yes, sure," Sarissa said as she reached to his nose and with a confident move of her hand it popped into its proper place. "The magic infused her words and you didn't cope with it," Sarissa explained, wiping his blood and then licking her fingers clean.
"At least he didn't go deaf as many humans do when I speak," Mab dryly pointed out and then stood up before approaching them and placing one of her hands on Harry's shoulder. "You are a half-blood Sidhe and my son," she said as power flowed through her and into him. "From now on you can stay in my realm for however long you wish and my servants will fullfil your every wish and desire."
Harry's eyes widened and he looked into Mab's own eyes, a pair of slitted beautiful emeralds. "Your son?" he whispered, shaking from shock and surprise. "How?" he asked.
Mab smiled and ran one of her fingers through his hair, the black hair turning under her touch into snow white. "Because you were given to Lily and James so that my enemies didn't target you," she whispered. "I'm powerful and my wrath knows no limits, but even I have some weakness and my enemies would use it."
She shook her head and a thunder rumbled above as a literal wall of sleet and snow slammed into the windows of the chamber. At this Harry's eyes widened as he saw a scowl of anger and fury cross her features. Then it was gone and a perfect mask was back in place. Once again not a single emotion visible.
"Now you are old enough to train and master your powers sufficiently to fend for yourself," she said and moved away from him. Her dress changing in color, from pale green and blue to dark blue and black. She walked across the chamber and towards the table. "But first, Harry, Sarissa, join me," she said, taking one of the seats at the table that suddenly was covered in dishes.