Sa ehn Aravas Hanal'ghilan
By: Ryu Katanna
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Chapter One
Emerald green eyes flickered open slowly to stare dazedly at the sight of tree branches and leaves rustling in a slight breeze above him. He sat up with a gasp of confusion only to give a groan in pain at the movement and relax his body back into the lush grass of the forest floor. Looking around, and seeing that he was completely alone he relaxed a bit before thinking of the last thing he remembered as he mentally assessed the pain he was in due to the stiffness of his body. The boy gave a small groan as he remembered the vision Voldemort had sent him, and how he had fallen for the trap, dragging his friends along with him. A tear left his eye as he remembered the fighting. Sirius and the rest of the Order of the Pheonix arriving to help. Sirius calling him James during their double duel before being struck by a curse from Bellatrix and falling through the archway. Reaching for the man desperately as he avoided the hands reaching out to grab ahold of him. A feeling of cold had washed over him before the only thing Harry had seen was green taking over his vision as voices whispered almost excitedly in his ears.
"Sirius? Sirius!" He called out as he sat up slowly and painfully only to find himself alone in what looked to be a forest.
The pain drew his attention back to his body when his godfather was nowhere to be found near-by in the strange surroundings. The first thing he noticed was that he wasn't wearing glasses, but something must have happened, because he could see just fine without them. Next was that his hand was... smaller. Not by much, but it was enough for him to notice. His breathing picked up as he stared at his arms before his eyes trailed down his body to his feet. He could see clearly that he was smaller. Judging by the length of his limbs which looked thinner, and the size of his hands and feet Harry thought that he must be the same size he had been before he started Hogwarts. Which couldn't be right since he knew he was almost sixteen. All these changes were so glaringly obvious to him because there wasn't even any clothing to hide it from him. He was naked; his skin completely bare to the eyes.
Taking a slow, deep breath, Harry tried not to hyperventilate at he reached up to run his thin fingers through his hair out of habit only to freeze once more as his fingers tangled themselves within the strands. His hair was longer; falling to brush under his jaw and along his neck to his shoulders. That wasn't the only reason for his pause though. His ears felt... different. Thin fingers felt along the lobe which wasn't as full as it had been. Continuing up from the lobe, Harry inhaled sharply. There was a slight curve, but where he had expected roundness, he found the flesh curving only slightly before ending in a definitive point.
"What the bloody hell happened to me?" Harry whispered with a strangled breath as he ripped his hand away to look around and try to concentrate on something more important than the fact that he also had pointed ears in addition to the other changes.
Like where he was now because this didn't look like the Department of Mysteries; he wasn't even inside a building any longer.
He knew right away that wherever he was this place was completely unfamiliar to him. Taking a deep breath, he could tell he was nowhere near a muggle town for lack of any trace of the heavy smell of pollution. In fact, the only thing he could gather from his surroundings was the feel of old magics in the air. The feeling skittered across his skin; feeling older than even the magic of Hogwarts. There was too much light for it to be the Forbidden Forest, which appeared shadowed and foreboding even during the day. Wherever he had ended up; he had absolutely no idea how to get back to Hogwarts.
"Well, have to start somewhere." He groaned at as he heard his voice had changed along with his body to be lighter; almost sounding musical as the words left his lips.
He reached for the reassuring feeling of the wood of his holly wand only to find it missing as well. He felt a shiver of panic and fear as he checked everywhere it could have fallen around him. Finding no trace, he felt a cold dread as he realized it was gone.
"That's just great. I don't know where I am, something happened to my body, I'm naked, and now I have don't even have a way to defend myself!" Harry groaned from the ache that seemed to come from both bones and muscle as he pushed himself up onto unstable feet and thought about which direction he should go.
Since he didn't know where he was, he decided the first thing he had to do was find water and hopefully something edible. He decided on picking a random direction as he stumbled off since any option was the same with him not knowing where he had ended up. It took him a little while, but slowly he started to grow more confident in his steps as he adjusted to his legs being shorter than he was used to. It didn't stop him from feeling like an idiot when he stumbled or tripped; often using the trees he passed to keep himself upright as his legs still felt a bit wobbly.
As he walked, he took note of his surroundings and could see that the forest must be very old. A lot of the trees were simply massive and a few were weathered in only the way they could be after too many countless years. Even so Harry could feel the old magics hanging in the air like a thick cloud. The old magics gave way to the feeling of an agelessness to the forest that was comforting to the young wizard. The magic lingered in the air and felt welcoming enough though Harry felt no desire to seek out the source with how vulnerable he was at that moment.
He stumbled like a newborn calf through the forest for what felt like hours, but probably didn't cover much ground with his short legs, before the trees parted to open into a small glen that a small river ran through. Harry paused to take in his surroundings as he tried to catch his breath before making his way slowly to the water. Looking down into the slowly moving stream he could see that the river water was clean and clear with no hint of the pollution of a human settlement that clouded to water. Wherever he was; he was far away from anywhere he could go to for information. Settling next to the water Harry cupped some of the clear liquid into his hand and took a drink. Finding the water refreshing; he drank a few more handfuls before tiredly rubbing his arms in an effort to loosen the muscles and relieve the tension and chill that only made the ache worse. He moved onto his legs before sitting back and looking around to see if he could find anything to cover himself with.
"Nothing." He muttered before slowly using the water from the stream to try washing away the dirt and sweat that had started gathering on his skin from the exertion of stumbling through the forest after having found himself on the ground.
'There's a bit of chill in the air, but at least it seems to be warm enough right now.' He thought as he looked at the sky; thankful it wasn't too cold outside with nothing available to cover himself with.
Seeing the sun going down he knew that he would have to settle down for the night. Harry knew that it would be dangerous to keep wandering in the dark. He also didn't know what kind of animals inhabited this place. A lot of predators were often nocturnal.
He stood to look for a good place to sleep before spotting a small area of bushes. Deciding it would be the best place he would find for the night he made his way over to find an area that would conceal his prone body as he slept. Crawling into an area between the bushes he found space just big enough for him to fit into the small space between branches.
'Hermione, Ron, and everyone else must be worried by now. I hope they're all okay. I need to find a way home tomorrow. Hopefully some clothes too. I mean, it's going to be so embarrassing if I don't find something to wear before I find other people.' Harry's thoughts drifted as he fell into a light sleep feeling exhausted.
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It was to the sight of the moon's light shining through the trees and bathing the glade in a soft glow that Harry awoke a short time later. He was startled out of his light slumber by the sound of the bush near him rustling. Trying not to move he listened as what sounded like an animal nearby huffed. Peering over the leaves that hid him Harry's eyes widened at the sight that met him. It was an animal unlike anything he had seen before. Similar to a stag, but entirely different at the same time. This animal's coat was so white that it shone silver in the light of the moon, but also held a golden sheen. It also had antlers that grew from the crest of its head the color of golden-brown that seemed to twine like branches around and in onto themselves.
"Beautiful." The words came out in the softest whisper of air as Harry slowly sat up so as not to startle the animal.
It was as he peeked through the leaves of the bushes that his green eyes connected with seemingly old and intelligent copper. Freezing for a moment he found the gaze to almost be assessing him before the animal leaned down to graze nearby. With the animal looking to have brushed off his presence; Harry slowly rose to his feet and made his way over to seat himself next to the stream to take a drink. It was as he was leaning over, trying to avoid studying the stranger reflected in the water, that he noticed the waters reflection behind him. The animal had followed him and now stood watching him from just over his shoulder. Cupping both hands into the water he stood to offer it to the animal as he turned around.
"Would you like a drink, beautiful?" Harry asked as he carefully held his hands out with his offering.
To his surprise the animal approached him to the soft clopping thud sound of its hooves which he recognized to have been what woke him up. Sniffing gently at his hand it huffed softly before taking a few slow drinks of the water. Raising its head Harry found himself once more locked in the copper gaze of this mysterious animal. Seeming to come to some sort of decision it nudged his hand as if asking to be patted. Harry gently ran his fingers through the soft coat before smiling.
"I must say I'm a little lost. I don't know what to do, or where to go now. I need to get home. I'm sure they're all worried by now. I don't suppose you've seen anyone like me around?" Harry asked softly, knowing he wouldn't receive an answer, only to be surprised when he did receive a response.
With a soft huff the animal nudged him to his right. Looking in that direction he knew it could be as good as any other. Looking back at the animal; Harry smiled and gave a slight bow with his hand placed over his heart.
"I thank you." He said, thinking this animal might have the same intelligence as a hippogryff, before moving to start walking slowly in that direction as he used the light of the moon to find his way in order to get a good look so as to remember which way he would try next when he woke in the morning.
It was as he stumbled a bit that he received another surprise. It seemed the animal had decided to help him as it walked up alongside him. Harry was gently pushed back to his feet as the animal pressed into his side to help him with his balance.
"You will be my guide?" Harry asked with a breathless tone as the animal bowed its head with a soft sway of its horned crown as it rubbed its nose against Harry's ear.
"You have my gratitude once again, pretty one." He said as the animal walked right at his side and helped him steady himself on legs that still felt a little weak.
He received another shock as the animal crouched down before pushing him to its side. Once he was in the position, the animals gave him another push under his butt to push him up its side and onto its back. It was only once Harry was settled on its back that it started walking.
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It was hours later, just before dawn, by the time the animal slowed its pace as they entered another small clearing. Harry had long since fallen back into sleep during the journey; laying on the creature's back with his arms wrapped around her neck and his face pressed into the soft fur. He didn't wake even as the deer-like animal slowly laid down; careful of the child on its back. It was only once it had laid down that it shifted to allow the child on its back to slide off to rest instead against its side. The child let out a small sigh in his slumber as he shifted against the warmth of its golden-silver coat before settling. Only then did the animal relax as it curled to nuzzle gently at dark hair before settling into sleep as well.
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Harry woke slowly to the feeling he could only describe as swimming through a fog. His dreams had been exceptionally vivid, and he found it a little difficult to pull away. Colors hazed and mixed as he forced his eyes open only to close them again as the light from the sun blinded him. Turning, Harry buried his face into the side of the deer-like creature he had fallen asleep on the night before. It was as his eyes adjusted again that he heard it. There was something making sounds in the brush around the clearing.
There were two of them. They made almost no sound, but Harry could tell they were there. Just as he knew they could see him. Where watching him through the trees. He felt his face flush in embarrassment knowing he was bare to their eyes. Harry pressed himself further into the side of his deer-like companion knowing that he had no way to protect himself if they meant him any harm. There was accidental magic, he knew, but that wasn't something he could depend on.
The animal seemed to feel that he was distressed as he soon felt that cold snout against his bare neck and shoulder as it snuffled his hair comfortingly. Harry couldn't help relaxing a little bit as he laughed. Sitting up, he affectionately scratched the animal along its jaw. If it wasn't alarmed by whoever, or whatever was out there, then Harry felt he could relax a bit as the animal didn't see them as a threat. He tried to keep himself covered as much as he could with the way he folded his legs as he sat up to look in the direction in which he'd heard the sound.
It took a moment, but Harry soon was able to make out the two figures watching him through the trees. They were people; one a female and the other an older male. People with pointed ears who looked like elves holding bows, but these were no elves like Harry had ever seen or heard about. They looked almost human but for the fact that their ears were pointed, their eyes were slightly larger than a human, and there were intricate markings on their faces though both were different patterns. He was surrounded with the animal curled around him as if to protect him like a foal.
They approached slowly; cautiously. They both had looks of astonishment as they looked between Harry's small naked form and the animal that had found him, kept him company as it shared its warmth during the night, and had done the walking through the forest for him. Even now, Harry didn't think the deer-like animal had intentions of leaving him. Even to himself he had to admit it was a little strange.
At the same time, he had seen enough creatures in the magical would that had a higher understanding than simple beasts. If this animal was content to stay with him in this strange place then Harry wouldn't deny its companionship. It was actually comforting to not feel completely alone. Especially when faced with these unknown people in this unfamiliar place while he was in such a vulnerable situation.
Harry twitched nervously as he watched them, and they watched him in turn. His eyes trailed to their ears curiously as his fingers slowly reached toward his own subconsciously. He had avoided looking at or feeling his ears since he had discovered the difference after he had woken the first time. Now, however, he felt along the slightly curved edge and the points. They were not human ears. Their ears came up to a point like his though theirs appeared sharper. Did that mean that they were the same kind of being as he had become?
'What happened to me?' Harry asked himself again as he noticed this only to be drawn out of his thoughts by the female in front of him.
His hand jerked away when he saw their gazes had shifted to look intently at where his hand was. They took slow steps as they approached him and the deer-like animal he was curled against before stopping several feet away and crouching down to be closer to his level and appear less threatening. The two adults stared openly between him and the animal with him. He noticed their gazes lingering on the golden-brown horns that were even more noticeable now in the light of the late morning sun, and to the golden-yellow tint of its silver-white coat. His attention was drawn back to the woman in front of him as she spoke.
"Are you out here alone, da'len? Where are your parents? Your clan?" She asked as she looked away from him to glance through the trees as if to see if she could find anyone else with him.
Harry paused as he thought about how to respond. How much should he tell these strangers? He already knew, that wherever he was, this land was completely foreign to him. The animals, people, and even the trees and plants were foreign to him. He was different from what he had been as well; changed. That archway in the Department of Mysterious had done something to him when he went through it. If he ever told anyone they just might think he was completely crazy. There was no way to explain it without sounding insane even in his own mind. Harry would be the first to admit that he could be a bit dense about some things, but even he'd been able to put the clues together.
He couldn't be sure, but he suspected this wasn't even his world.
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That's it for chapter one. Sa Ehn Aravas Hanal'ghilan is a rewrite of The Other Hawke so a lot of base points and scenes would be almost the same, but there are still a lot of changes that have been made. Where The Other Hawke was meant to be the first part in a trilogy, Sa Ehn Hanal'ghilan will not be broken up into parts so I expect it will be getting pretty long.
In any case, I hope you all enjoy it!
~Ryu
Translations found on various sites. Some may not be entirely correct, but it was as close as I could get without just making things up.
Da'len: little child, or "little one"
