I Am Darkness, I Am the Night: A Harry Potter Fanfiction

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its associated characters: all rights belong to JK Rowling. I do not own any crossover references used in the story: all rights belong to their original creators. I do own any OC spells explained at the end of a chapter.

Plot: A VERY Close Friend Response: When Lily Potter called for aid in giving James his greatest wish, she had no idea how big an impact the results of her wish would have on the world of Man and Magic.

Challenge Information: DZ2's 'A VERY Close Friend' Challenge: Everyone thinks Harry didn't have a friend to his name in the Muggle world, but they're wrong: Harry has a friend: one who protects, provides and doesn't decide to switch sides on a whim because of bias or beliefs. As if that's not enough, this friend is so close to Harry, he can literally touch them: why? Because they're his Shadow.

Rules: All affinities are welcome

Powerful Harry

It's up to you when the story starts, but the first chapter MUST have Harry's Shadow revealing itself to him

His shadow can be male, female or genderless (and referenced as It or They)

Unless it shows itself, Harry's shadow remains wherever shadows are cast around Harry at ALL times (walls, floors, reflections etc.)

What it's true form looks like is up to you, but it only ever shows it in dire circumstances (see Guidelines)

Because of the bond he has with his Shadow, Harry discovers he can influence/use the Darkness of his Shadow: Umbrakinesis

Before he discovers/learns to control the power, the Shadow defends Harry with his/their combined power on instinct

The Shadow MUST use its power to frighten and/or deal with the Dursleys when Harry's a young child

Over time, the Shadow helps him to use this power on all forms of Darkness and teaches Harry more about magic

At Hogwarts, Harry's Shadow is seen as a friend/protector by some and a Dark Creature by others

All pairings are welcome

Guidelines: Crossovers

Super/OP-Harry

Dark-Lord Harry

The Shadow is actually the soul of a being whom wants to help Harry

The Shadow is the Horcrux, but still wants to help Harry better himself

Through the Shadow's power, Harry discovers power/magic tied to 'spiritual' elements (e.g. Necromancy/Soul Magic/Elemental/Other)

Somehow, Harry becomes Lord of all Shadows and Shadow Creatures (e.g. Grim, Thestrals, Dementors, Boggarts, Ghosts etc.)

The Shadow takes an animal form that becomes a Shadow Familiar for Harry

Harry somehow learns to control Light as well as Shadow

Harry/Shadow pairing (how is up to you)

If/When the Shadow first uses its powers on the real world, no-one can see it and Harry sees it as an imaginary friend

The Shadow's true form is that of a human/warrior/defender

The Shadow's true form is bestial/animal

The Shadow's true form is some form of Dark Weapon/Armament

Instead of taking on a true form, The Shadow becomes infused with Harry, altering his features, in extreme circumstances

Slash

Harems

Harry/Multi

Others at Hogwarts/in the magical world are Umbrakinetics and/or have Shadows of their own

Harry discovers he can enter/move into/through the Shadow's universe (Shadow Realm/Spirit World/etc.)

A prophecy speaks of Harry's close friend and the effect he has on Harry's power/destiny

Forbidden: Weak Harry

Friendless Harry

The Shadow out to hurt or manipulate Harry

Harry and/or The Shadow siding with Voldemort

Anyone managing to sever the bond between Harry and The Shadow

The Shadow not having a true form

Non-Umbrakinetic Harry

Other than that, it's up to you…

Author's Note: So, here we have an interesting little adventure that's going to have some weird, fun and surprising twists throughout.

And, as always, if you don't like it, don't read it.

Recommended Reads: Just A Touch of Kleptomania and Never Tear Us Apart by Quatermass, The Court of Shadows by AlphaPhoenix, Damaged Raven, Dark Lord Potter and Bonded by JustBored21, How To Tickle A Sleeping Dragon and Harry Potter and the Warlock of Britain by Winged Seer Wolf, Harry Potter, Master of Death by Pseudonominal, Kill me if you can by PercyPendragon3, Raised by Darkness by apple2011 and The Hollow Prince and Guardian Corps(HPxDestiny) by FirstSilverKing

Key Pairing: Harry/Astoria/Daphne

Other Pairings: To be determined

Normal Speech

'Thoughts'

'Mental/Umbral Speech'

/Parseltongue/

Chapter 1: Riddles in the Dark

Lily Potter loved her husband.

If anyone had asked her, they would have left that conversation with no doubt whatsoever in their minds that she loved James Charles Potter with all her heart and soul. All right, so they'd had something of a rocky, if not difficult start, but, to be fair, they were children at the time and, to be frank, James had needed a swift kick in the backside to realise how it was about time he grew up.

But that's what love does to you.

After they graduated, they were engaged.

After they were engaged, they were married.

And after they were married, James told Lily how his greatest wish was to have a child, or several children, in his life, to pass on all the fun and mischief he'd gotten up to as a boy, and to ensure the bloodline endured, during a time where more and more Old Names were being massacred by that prejudiced monster, Lord Voldemort.

Even worse, James' free time at home, and with Lily, became less-and-less over the months that followed, primarily thanks to the Order, not to mention his duties as a trainee – and, eventually, fully-fledged – Auror in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement – or DMLE, for short. And so, the more James found himself in the crosshairs of pure evil, the more Lily began to worry that her husband wouldn't get the chance to have his greatest wish fulfilled.

It was this fear, as well as a little hope to be able to enjoy a passionate night with her husband, which led Lily to seek aid from outside what you might call normal channels.

If it meant James could have his greatest wish, and Lily would be able to look at a beautiful soul whom called her Mummy, then there was nothing that she was not willing to do, be it for herself or for her husband.

Darkness

It was this desire, weirdly-obsessed, if not determined as it was, which led to Lily performing an ancient, somewhat-outdated ritual, which she chose to perform on one of the most magical days of the year, Halloween – or, as it was known in magical circles, Samhain.

According to what she'd researched, Lily would invoke the spirits of Mother Magic, whom would then bestow a boon onto her; naturally, Lily knew that boon was the chance for James to have his greatest wish granted, and to heck with the costs.

After placing the required materials in her ritual circle, as well as speaking a very lengthy invocation, pouring every ounce of her magic into the words, as well as the pronunciation, Lily watched and waited with bated breath as she waited for the ritual to take effect. Around her, the candles she'd erected for the ritual suddenly dimmed in their sockets, while a cold, ominous wave of magic seemed to wash over her, bringing with it a feeling of all-encompassing strength, if not darkness, which alarmed Lily, but she stayed true to her goals.

Time was running out.

The War was costing everyone more than the world could afford.

It wouldn't be long before James was lost to her, either by his job, or because of how he seemed unable to refuse his former Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, in joining the Order and being their eyes and ears inside the Ministry.

Call it obsession.

Call it love.

Call it passion.

Call it whatever you like; Lily was not going to be turned away from her goal.

As she drew herself to her full height, Lily felt an Arctic wind blowing through her red hair before, as though acting on pure instinct and nothing more, the young witch spun around, just in time to see she was no longer alone in the ritual space.

Two figures, both of whom seemed to be completely-enveloped in thick, black robes and hoods, were standing in the circle with her, one of them slightly taller than the other while, when she peered closer, Lily also saw a slightly-rugged goatee beard on one of the faces, indicating a male figure, while the other had a slender, but well-endowed female figure.

"Hello, Lily," said the Mystery Man, his voice edged by a note of amusement that reminded Lily of how James used to sound whenever he was getting up to no good. "My, what an unexpected delight it is to be summoned on Samhain like this; don't you agree, my dear?"

"I do," replied the Mystery Woman, her voice smooth, but sibilant, like the hiss of a serpent, while, as Lily listened to the woman's voice, she also heard a note of cold mysticism lacing each syllable that she spoke. "And from one so opposed to such magics too; I am as impressed as you are amused, my love."

"More…impressed than amused, I'd say," argued the man, looking to Lily from underneath his hood – though, to her surprise, Lily couldn't see any hint of eye colour, or any other features he might have worn, save for the beard and the smug, satisfied smile – before he sighed softly.

"Very well, whatever the circumstances, we must play the game, so…tell me…my dear Lady Potter…what is it you desire?"

Darkness

Even as she answered the stranger, and went through the motions, Lily Potter had no idea how, at that precise moment she made a proverbial deal with a proverbial devil, she was paving the way for a far-greater change in her world than any other witch or wizard could imagine.

Darkness

Several Years Later

Harry James Potter was six weeks and six days past his sixth birthday.

And yet, nothing had changed…at least, not for him, anyway; as it had been for the past five years, the way he lived his life was the same each and every day.

Darkness

Get up.

Get yelled at.

Be expected to wait on his loving relatives, the Dursleys, hand-and-foot without so much as a whisper of gratitude.

Get yelled at because something went wrong – even when he wasn't involved with it.

Be forced to be thankful for the scraps and meagre offerings of food, comfort and free time he was given after he'd done his chores.

Put up with his cousin's whining.

Endure the horrors of having to go to school without friends, support, love or even a hint of kindness from his family.

Put up with more reminders of how he was a freak whose parents had offed themselves because they couldn't bear the thought of having a freeloading little monster for a son.

Then, at the end of the day, somehow find the strength to fall asleep, only to wake up from nightmares, pain – a punishment for doing jobs wrong or doing better than his cousin at school, which wasn't that hard – or because it was time to start all over again.

Darkness

Nothing ever changed for Harry, and nothing ever would…

Or so he thought.

On this particular night, as Harry tried to succumb to Morpheus' welcoming embrace, he was unaware of how, as his body finally fell into sleep's brief, but welcome hold, around him, the darkness of the cupboard under the stairs suddenly rippled ominously. At the same time, a piercing cold seemed to pass through the darkness, accompanied by something that could only be described as a blanket of mysterious comfort, if not support, which seemed to creep along the walls of the cupboard under the stairs before it rose up to the ceiling and down onto the floor.

In this manner, weird as it seemed, the darkness seemed to almost cocoon Harry in its embrace before, as the young boy turned over in his sleep, he was unaware of a series of voices whispering from out of the shadows.

'There he is, look.'

'At last; we have found him.'

'Our Lord and Lady will be pleased.'

'Gods and Spirits forgive us: look at him!'

'What have the humans done to him?'

'He looks…sweet mercy; how is he still alive?'

'Perhaps it is the latent power inside of him; our Lord did say he would possess a fragment of our power until the Bond was complete.'

'Speaking of…'

'Quiet…'

Suddenly, the shadowy voices, and the unseen faces and figures whom possessed them, seemed to fall silent as a single, powerful, commanding voice broke through their cries and protests as to the state of the boy in the cupboard.

From within the cocoon of shadows, a single blackened miasma seemed to bleed out of the walls, floor and ceiling, its form so thick and opaque, it may as well have been made of gaseous tar or some other all-consuming matter. As the mist rolled out of the cocoon, it seemed to gather itself into a single, solitary form, which hunched down next to Harry before, as the mist's vapours gathered around it, the form became more-corporeal.

This allowed anyone whom might have been watching the scene unfold – with the exception of Harry, who slept on, blissfully unaware – to take in the sight of the tall, pale-skinned, darkly-dressed man whom suddenly appeared from out of the darkness itself. He was dressed in a suit of skin-hugging black clothes that might have been described as punkish, if not gothic in style, a single, silver pendant hanging from his neck, the charm on the end shaped like the Yang side of the famed zodiac symbol.

Looking down at the sleeping child, the man sighed softly before, letting out a low growl, he hissed darkly, "My child, what have they done to you? Do they not understand the power that is soon to become available to you? Do they not realise how grateful they should be that your power saved them from fates far worse than death?"

Silence was his answer.

Sighing again, the man reached around his neck before, removing the pendant he wore, he fixed it around Harry's neck; as soon as the cold metal of the necklace and its charm touched Harry's exposed skin, the young boy winced and flinched, while the pendant seemed to glow, mostly from the single black spot on the Yang symbol.

Much in the same way that the shadowy figure had appeared, so too did a second dark fog suddenly creep out of the black spot, crawling over Harry's body like an infestation of shadowy insects before, one by one, the points of the fog started to fade into Harry's body.

As for the Mystery Man, he rose up from his hunched position before, shaking his head sadly, he whispered, "You have no idea how much I wish I could bring you home, Harry Potter. How much I wish I could give you more than just the key to your birthright. But, for now, the humans must remain unaware of our presence, and my power; so, instead, I leave you with this gift…use it however you desire and for whatever purposes you feel are right. We shall not judge you; we shall not hate you and, when the time comes, you will be welcomed home, to your rightful destiny, with open arms and warm hearts-both…but for now…"

Bending down one last time, the man kissed Harry's forehead, just as a final wisp of the black mist seeped into it, causing the scar to glow an angry shade of red for only a brief moment.

Once the moment passed, so too did the scar suddenly fade away, leaving only a very faint lightning-bolt mark where it once resided, even as the Mystery Man spoke again.

"This is goodbye…my son…"

Then, in the same way he'd arrived, the Mystery Man vanished in a whirlwind of black smoke and mystery magic.

Seconds later, Harry James Potter snapped his eyes open, sitting bolt upright as his left hand flew to his forehead, half-expecting to feel a familiar burning, as well as discomfort, washing over him.

However, the only thing he felt was a soothing pulse of calm, which, for perhaps the first time in his life, made Harry smile, even as he succumbed to sleep once more.

As he faded back into sleep's embrace, Harry heard a soft voice whispering to him.

'Goodnight, Harry…'

"Goodnight…"

As soon as he replied to it, however, Harry's eyes snapped open again, a look of shock, if not alarm and childish fear crossing his face as he stared out into the darkness of his cupboard under the stairs.

"Wait…what?"

Wow, talk about a very interesting, if not cryptic start: who could those two Mystery Figures have been and what sort of 'deal' did Lily end up making with them?

Also, what could this have to do with the pendant around Harry's neck…and who could that voice be who said goodnight to him?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: Time passes and there seems to be an element of change in the air in Little Whinging: all thanks to a weird gift from an unknown benefactor and the fact that, right now, Harry James Potter doesn't feel like a freak: now, he feels like a god!

Please Read and Review

AN: Portrayals

Mystery Man – identity to be revealed later; Tom Ellis

Mystery Woman – identity to be revealed later: Emma Stone

The Voice – the one Harry heard: Emilia Clarke