Chapter 3
The woman slowly awoke. She moved, wincing as a splitting pain ripped through her head.
"Niamh," the man said. "Are you alright?"
"Harry," she groaned.
"He's safe," the man said.
"Voldemort," Niamh sat up. "What's happened to him?"
"He's been dealt with. "When he attacked Harry, his body was destroyed. The protections we placed on him stopped the Death curse."
"He was far stronger than he should've been."
"Agreed," the man said, but you weren't able to use your full strength either." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "He used wandless magic exclusively. No wizard has been able to do that before."
Niamh nodded. "Stupid death curse," she grumbled.
"You're lucky the curse didn't kick in. You could spend the rest of your life as an animal."
"If it would insure Harry's safety, I'd do it gladly."
"You are the heir to the Seelie court," the man snapped.
"My son comes first," Niamh said harshly.
The man rubbed his face. "I love our son, but I have responsibilities."
"Are you sure this has nothing to do with Ariana?"
He was silent for several moments. "Ariana was supportive of our marriage."
"She did not like the fact that I joined your marriage to her regardless of the fact that it wasn't my choice."
Niamh stood and began pacing. "This is why fae only take one spouse at a time. I knew this would happen. The truce between our courts needed an heir to be solidified. The only reason I even agreed to the marriage was so our child wouldn't be a bastard. Fine," she said sharply. "I'll let it go for now, but if something happens to Harry, I'll slaughter whoever harmed him."
"Agreed," the man said.
**C**
Voldemort's soul floated deep in the forest. As his senses returned, he looked around at the tall oak trees surrounding him. Rain fell quietly, rustling the leaves of the trees around him.
"It worked," Voldemort hissed. "I survived." He tried to move, but drifted off randomly through the air.
The child had destroyed him. How had this happened? How had his body been reduced to ash? The protections he'd cast on himself should've kept him safe. No magic should've been able to harm him. He needed to find some place to be safe and regain his strength. He need time to plan his next move.
"Time is all I have," Voldemort said. "I merely need to be patient." First things first, he needed to learn how to move.
**C**
Petunia Dursley woke up on the second of November. She yawned widely and rolled out of bed.
Rubbing her eyes, she walked down the hallway and opened the door to get the milk. Her eyes widened as she saw a bundle on the doorstep. Kneeling she lifted the bundle and carried it inside. As she stepped back into the house, the bundle moved.
She slowly opened the bundle. As she saw what was inside, she put a hand to her mouth to stifle a scream. A cream-colored envelope fell out of the blankets and landed on the floor. In a daze, she knelt and picked it up.
She tore open the envelope and pulled out the single sheet of parchment inside. As she read, her shock turned to rage.
"Vernon," she shrieked. At the sound of her scream, the baby woke and began to cry. "Shut up," she bellowed.
**C**
"No," Vernon Dursley, Petunia's husband bellowed. "I absolutely forbid it. We will not have one in the house."
"Keep Your voice down," Petunia hissed. "You'll wake Dudders."
"Sorry dear," Vernon Mumbled.
"I don't like it any more than you do," Petunia continued, "but the old fool said that we would be protected if we took him in.'
"Protected," Vernon sneered. "We'd be better protected leaving the brat in an orphanage."
"And if we do, what's to stop them from bringing him back, hmm?"
"So, what do you want to do," Vernon said, "Adopt him?"
"Just because we take him in doesn't mean he'll be family."
A nasty grin split Vernon's face. "Yeah," he said. "I see what you mean."
"We will have to take care of him for a few years. "We'll have to inform the police of this of course. We can't just hide him away."
"Right," Vernon said. "Still think it'd be easier just to give him to them, let him be their problem, but if you think it'd be best to take him in then fine."
"I do," Petunia said.
"Then I suppose we should get started," Vernon said. "I'll call into work, give us a better image and all that."
"Thank you dear," Petunia said. As she lifted Harry into her arms. As she looked down at the boy, she frowned.
She had met Lily and her husband once. This boy looked similar, but not quite like her sister or her good-for-nothing husband. For one thing, his hair was too straight. There were also these little white streaks in it. The Potter man didn't have hair like that.
For another, his eyes were the wrong shade of green. Lily's eyes were an emerald color, not the color of the ocean. She couldn't remember Lily's eyes glowing like that either. Was it possible this wasn't Lily's child? Could her and the Potter boy have adopted a child? No, that wasn't possible. Her kind wouldn't have done something so normal as adopt a child and even if they did, it was sure to be one of them." Hearing a knock on the door, she rose to open it.
She would think of this later. For now, she had to act like she loved her freak of a sister.
Through the course of the day, Petunia forgot her musings about Harry. Was it simple forgetfulness, or was it some sort of magic? Regardless of what it was, Harry Potter was given to the Dursley's to raise. If Petunia had any reservations about how she treated the boy, it never showed in anything she did from that point on.
**C**
The woman waved a hand; the fire in front of her going out at her gesture. So, the boy was still alive. She would need to do something about that. Niamh's heir could not be allowed to live.
She scowled. "Why did her husband have to marry the little Seelie. He'd told her it was part of a peace agreement. How stupid did he think she was? He just wanted someone knew after she'd failed to provide him with an heir.
"Ariana?" a voice came from the doorway to her chambers.
"What do you want?" she snapped.
"Just to talk," her husband said stepping into the room.
"Your actions have spoken louder than any words."
"He's gone Ariana. He is no threat to you and I."
"It doesn't matter," Ariana said. "He will be your heir. She is your second wife and her child will be exalted above mine."
"If our race is to survive, we must stop fighting amongst ourselves."
"And you thought this was the best way? Don't forget, I know the gifts you and Niamh gave him, the treasures you left for him."
"It is necessary." "He will have a long road ahead of him."
"Whatever lie you must tell yourself. I will not forgive or forget."
She heard him leave the room without a word. If he didn't want to give her a child, she would just have to find one. She would not be unfaithful to him. She would not risk losing her position for that, but there were other ways. Even better, what she had in mind would really throw the cat among the pixies.
Ariana rose and brushed her Auburn hair out of her face. She had places to go. She traced a circle in the air in front of her. The air seemed to ripple. A ring of light appeared, showing a long corridor. Humming to herself, Ariana stepped through, the circle vanishing behind her.
**C**
Niamh stared into the pool in front of her, her worry growing with each passing moment. She cursed the fae laws that prevented her from interfering. "This is why we always choose the mortals that take our children in carefully," she snapped.
The Dursleys were gathered around the dinner table. There plump son sat in his high chair, stuffing himself, but there was no sign of Harry. Passing a hand over the pool, the image in the water blurred until she found him. Her son lay inside of a small cupboard built into a staircase. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the tear tracks on his cheeks. These mortals were monsters and she could do nothing to help her son. The water in front of her began swirling around the pool. Flames danced in the air. With difficulty, Niamh reigned in her emotions. She would not lose control. That would not help Harry at all. Something must be done. She couldn't interfere with the changeling law, but there were things she could do to protect her son.
"Aurora," she called.
A ring of light flared beside her, a woman with long tapering ears stepped into the room. "My queen," she said.
"None of that," Niamh said. "We are close enough to drop the formalities are we not?"
Aurora flushed. "Sorry," she mumbled.
"I have a job for you," Niamh said gesturing at the pool.
Aurora watched the Dursleys playing with their child and ignoring Harry. She frowned. "Milady, as much as I'd like to interfere, you know our laws. No fae can remove the child unless harm befalls him. Unfortunately, that means physical harm not mental."
"I know," Niamh said. "What I need you to do is return to the mortal world. Harry needs a guardian, someone that will watch over him. You may not be able to take him from those mortals, but you can be there for him. You can look at him, have contact with him, whereas I cannot."
Aurora nodded before Niamh finished speaking. "Of course, I will. I will treat him like my own.
Niamh sighed in relief. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me," Aurora said gently. "I'll take care of him, but why me?"
"Because you still remember what it is like to walk among mortals."
Aurora glanced back at the pool. "This will not be easy. The old man has placed powerful wards on the home, not to mention some faulty blood wards. Those will need taken care of."
Niamh nodded. "Harry's Father will be able to deal with those. Hopefully the curse will not come into effect since he is trying to protect Harry."
Aurora stood. "I shall keep you posted. Tracing a circle in the air, a ring of light appeared. She stepped through the circle and vanished.
**C**
Aribella fig leaned back in her chair, stroking one of her cats absently. She frowned. Albus Dumbledore had just called her on a telephone and asked her to move house to watch over Harry Potter. She wasn't even aware that the old man knew how to use a telephone. Why would he ask her to watch the boy? She was useless in a fight. Being a squib, she had no magic at all. If something were to happen, the best she'd be able to do would be to warn Albus and by that time it'd be too late."
A circle of light appeared in the center of her living room. A woman stepped out of the light, brushing her long blond hair out of her face. Her storm grey eyes were fixed on Arabella. The old woman pushed herself to her feet, taking a hasty step back. "Who, what do you want."
The woman raised a hand palm out. "I mean you no harm," she said. "I merely wish to speak with you."
"Speak with me about what?"
"Harry Potter."
"What about him?"
"I have been sent to protect him. Your services will no longer be required."
Arabella scowled. "Dumbledore could've informed me he'd gotten someone else."
"I am not a dog of Dumbledore," the woman said. "I've been sent by someone far more honorable than him."
Arabella shook her head. "If you aren't sent by Dumbledore, then I can't stay here. "For all I know, you might be a Death Eater. Besides, what does it matter if I am there? Two people watching out for the poor boy is better than one."
"You are a complication I don't need," the woman said.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I don't want one of Dumbledore's spies breathing down my neck."
"Spies," Arabella squawked. "I'm no spy. Why would you want to hide things from Dumbledore anyway?"
"My people do not entirely trust the old man."
"Your people?"
"It doesn't matter," the woman said. "Point is, I want you away from Harry Potter. Will you stay away?"
"No," Arabella said. "I've been asked to look after the boy and that is what I will do."
"Very well," the woman said. "On your own head, be it." She drew a circle in the air and stepped through it before it had fully formed.
Arabella watched the woman leave. She had to tell Dumbledore about this, but how? This was far too important to put in a letter. She stood up. She would have to go to Hogwarts. She pulled on her coat and turned towards the door. "I'll be back," she told her cats.
"Stepping outside, she started to cross the street. She never saw the truck that struck her. Her body was flung into the air, her bones snapping like dry kindling as she impacted the pavement. The last thing she saw was the horrified face of the driver of the truck staring down at her.
**C**
The man turned away from the people gathering around the old woman. He was glad he'd followed Aurora. The girl didn't have the stomach to do what needed to be done and Dumbledore couldn't know what was going on.
A ring of light flared around the man. When it faded, he was gone.
**C**
Aurora stepped into the small house across from Number four Privet drive. She could feel the wards Dumbledore had cast thrumming against her senses. She tentatively pushed against the wards, testing them.
The wards pushed back, causing her to stumble. It would be possible to break the wards, but she may receive grievous injuries. She didn't possess the power to bypass the wards like her queen would.
She scowled. She would need to find a way to protect Harry, but first, she needed to create her own wards.
**C**
Five years later
Harry stumbled as he gingerly moved the cast iron pan onto the stove. Every time he approached iron, he felt sick and weak. It didn't help that an icy cold seemed to emanate from the metal. Sadly, his relatives new it and used every opportunity to torment him with the element.
Speaking of which, he moaned as his cousin, Dudley ran by and poked him in the back with an iron rod. He nearly jerked the frying pan off the stove at the sudden agony. It took all his concentration to continue to prepare the meal.
"Boy," Uncle Vernon yelled. "What's taking you so long."
Harry winced. "Sorry Uncle Vernon," he called. "I'm working as fast as I can."
The iron rod cracked across the back of his head, sending him stumbling. A trickle of blood ran down his neck. Distantly, he could hear Dudley giggling.
Harry tried to keep his feet, but felt himself falling backwards. He landed on his back, looking up at his cousin. He watched as his cousin lifted the rod above his head.
A gust of wind sent everything in the kitchen skidding across the floor. The hot frying pan soared through the air and crashed into the wall before sliding down to the floor.
"Boy," Vernon bellowed. "What have I told you about that unnaturalness."
Blearily, Harry watched as his uncle approached the frying pan, lifting the still sizzling pan, he raised it above his head. "This will teach you to use your abnormality in my home.
**C**
Aurora awoke with a start. Sitting up in her bed, she leapt to her feet. Wards or no wards, she knew it was imperative that she get to Harry.
She drew on all the power she could. The lights began to flicker. Flames danced in the air around her as her nightgown shimmered, becoming a tasteful business suit. Turning Aurora began running for the door. She had to get to Harry.
**C**
Niamh watched Aurora leave her house and rush towards the Dursleys. Curse or no curse, she had to help Harry. Aurora would injure herself smashing into the wards and it would be for nothing. With a thought, she vanished from her throne room.
**C**
The white-haired man looked up as he sensed Niamh's disappearance. "Bloody hell," he muttered. "Have things really become that bad?"
A circle of light appeared around him before he too vanished.
**C**
The three fae appeared just outside the wards protecting the Dursley home.
"What is happening," the man asked.
"Harry is being abused with iron," Aurora said.
Niamh's eyes flashed. She did not spare a look at her husband. "I warned you," she hissed.
"You did," the man said. "We can place blame later. "For now, how do we get through these wards."
"The old Wizard Dumbledore constructed these. I was informed that they were blood wards, but they aren't. They're some kind of ward tied into Harry's magic. We can't just break through them, not without hurting Harry."
The man frowned. "Where's a bloody mage when you need one. Runes never were my strong suit. What do the wards do?"
"The wards are designed to stop anyone that means Harry or the Dursley family harm."
The man frowned. "If they are harming my son, I most certainly mean them harm," he growled. "Hmm, Perhaps," he gestured sharply. A gust of wind sent dirt and grass flying in all directions. The wind rocked the house on its foundations.
The man extended a hand, two square stones landing in his palm. "Got them," he said closing his fist. There was a flash of light as the wards fell. "Come on," he said. "I'm sure this Dumbledore will no his wards have fallen soon."
The three fae hurried towards the house. As they approached the door, Niamh flicked a hand. There was a flash of flame. Ash drifted down to the ground. As they hurried inside, they could hear a man roaring like an angry bull.
"Freak. I warned you. I warned you not to use your unnaturalness.
The three fae blurred. Aurora caught the fat man's wrist before he could bring the pan down on the small boy in front of him. Niamh shoved him in the chest, sending him sprawling to the floor. The third fae spun away from the action, scanning the room for threats."
Aurora grabbed Harry and in a flash of light, they were gone.
**C**
The three fae appeared in a park. Aurora lowered Harry to the ground checking the small boy for any injuries.
Niamh and the man approached gazing down at their son. "Well?" Niamh asked.
"A few burns from the iron, some Malnutrition, and I imagine some trauma due to the way he was treated, the physical wounds will be simple enough to heal. The mental ones will take more time."
Niamh opened her mouth to speak, but the musical cry of a swan escaped her lips. Within seconds, she had changed into a large swan with golden feathers.
"Bugger," the man said before he too changed. Where he'd stood, there was now a large hound with black fur and red ears.
Aurora looked down at the two animals and sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Bloody hell," she muttered.