Title: The Art of Necromancy
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
E-Mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Harry/Severus
Time: begins right after GoF
Summary: Harry returns to Hogwarts to spend the summer. Out of sheer boredom, he scours the library for books to read and stumbles across a book that will change his life…
Disclaimer: I own not a thing
WARNING!!!! THIS IS A SLASH STORY!!!! IF YOU DON'T LIKE SLASH OR THIS PARTICULAR PAIRING… LEAVE NOW!!!!
Chapter One: Why You Should Always Be Careful In The Library
Two weeks later found Harry bored enough to venture into the library. He'd already completed his homework; he was actually tired of flying, it just wasn't as fun when you were by yourself; and Hagrid had once again disappeared. He walked, glumly around the aisles of bookcases, hoping something would strike his fancy. He noticed a book called 'The Seeker's Book of Quidditch.' He'd already read it twice, but he was getting desperate. He pulled the book off the shelf and was instantly beaned in the head by three other books. He cursed viciously, rubbing his aching head. He glared down at the offending books and picked them up.
"Vampires and You," he read aloud. "Please," he snorted and placed the book back on the shelf. "A Complete History of the Wizard Merlin," he read off the next book. "Okay, that can't be too bad, I'll keep this one out." He looked at the third book. "And something completely unintelligible," he smirked. The book's title was written in ancient runes. He was just about to put the book back on the shelf when the runes began to glow.
"Bloody hell!" he yelped and dropped the three books in surprise. He peered down at the book. The runes were reshaping themselves into words.
The Art of NecromancyHarry reached down and opened it. It was full of the runes that had been on the cover, but after a moment, they glowed and reshaped themselves.
Introduction -
Necromancy – the most revered art in the world of magic. The Necromancer is one of the most powerful and feared beings in the wizarding world, but is also one of the most rare. Necromancy is not something that can be learned; a Necromancer is born with the knowledge to be. Muggles believe that the Necromancer is an evil creature that raises the dead to serve him. This is completely false. A Necromancer does work with the Spirits, but does not raise the dead: the Necromancer has the ability to bring the dead back to life. The one who was dead has no memory of being so and is fully alive just as if they had never died. However, the amount of power needed to bring one back to life is great. Only the most powerful Necromancers have attempted it, and of those that attempted it, only two survived.
If one has the ability to read this book, then one is a Necromancer.
Harry stared down at the book in shock. He sat down, leaning up against one of the bookcases and pulled the book into his lap.
A Necromancer is born with all the knowledge and abilities he or she needs, but they are not aware of the knowledge they possess. Some Necromancers do not discover their abilities until the eve of their existence, others discover themselves at a very young age. The Necromancer Olivia discovered her powers when she was 56. She is the youngest to have done so. She is also the most powerful Necromancer to have ever lived.
A Necromancer lives exactly 300 years, down to the second. It is believed that the younger the Necromancer comes into his power, the more powerful they are. I came into my power at the age 236, and though I am more powerful than any wizard living, all those who discovered their power younger than I, were far more powerful than me.
If you are reading this, than you are a Necromancer. I wrote this in the hopes that I could guide another after my death. There has not been a Necromancer born, other than myself, in almost 1000 years. I can only hope that I will not be the last.
Fredrick
Necromancer
Dec. 492
Harry closed the book. Was it real? He stood abruptly and placed all the books back on the shelves except the Necromancer's book. He picked it up and fled the library for his rooms. He panted out the password and entered. He went into the bedroom and flung himself down on the bed. His heart was racing. What if this was a Dark Art? Unable to contain himself any longer, he opened the book again. He turned past the letter Fredrick began with to the first chapter.
Chapter One – What to expect…
The first ability granted to the Necromancer is the creation of fire without a wand. While wizards find this a difficult task and rarely bother attempting it, this is usually how the Necromancer awakens. Unfortunately, since wandless magic is so rare not many try it.
I'm getting off of the subject… If you are reading this and you have not awakened your powers, hold out your hand, palm facing up. Curl your fingers slightly to form a bowl of sorts. This will help control the fire.
Harry gulped and did as the book suggested.
Look at your palm and see the fire flickering in your hand. Once you become more adept, you will not need to say the words, you will need only to think it. Until then, however, say 'Feu!' To end the spell, picture the flames disappearing. Should they not, and you're starting to freak out, say 'Éteins!'
Harry closed his eyes. "I can't believe I'm doing this," he whispered and opened his eyes. He stared at his cupped hand, picturing the flames. Before he could open his mouth to speak the spell, the flames were flickering in his palm. They didn't hurt and he felt no heat. "Shit," he breathed. The flames flickered out and disappeared when he willed it.
Once you have the ability to will a spell into existence, you will need to learn some control. Otherwise you will be casting spells all over the place. The average Necromancer also tends to rid themselves of their wand at this point since it is no longer necessary.
Once you have completed this spell for the first time. You will become very, VERY sleepy. This is the sleep in which you will be granted your knowledge and access to your powers. It is for this reason that it is believed the younger you are the more power is granted.
Harry was sprawled out on the bed, unconscious.
***
"He's young."
"The youngest ever."
"We should wake him."
Harry blinked sleepily as he woke. He was no longer at Hogwarts that much was obvious. "Where am I?" he wondered.
All around him was white. It wasn't even a solid white, it was a hazy, almost fog-like white. He couldn't see anything but the white. "Welcome, Young Necromancer."
"What do you call yourself?"
Harry looked around, searching for the owners of the two voices.
"You are not ready to see us, yet, little one."
A new voice. There was at least three of them: two males and one female. "My name is Harry Potter," he finally said. "Who are you?"
"I am called Ylura," the feminine voice replied.
"Augustine," the male with the deeper voice spoke.
"Illiar," the other male said.
"We are the Guardians and Guides of the Necromancers," Ylura spoke. Her voice seemed to whispered across his skin; he shivered in response.
"You are the youngest to journey here," Augustine spoke.
"Is that a bad thing?" Harry asked.
"No. For you, it is a very good thing," Illiar replied, a trace of amusement in his voice.
"We've been watching you, Harry," Ylura said. "Hoping you would come to us before your enemy could take you from us."
"You've been watching me?" Harry whispered. "Why didn't you help me?! Cedric didn't have to die!"
"We couldn't come to you, Harry. You had to come to us this first time. We can help you now, and will do so, any way we can, but we couldn't help you before. We're sorry," Ylura's voice trailed off to a whisper.
Harry's body shook with suppressed tears. He couldn't hold it in for long, and soon broke down. His body shuddering with harsh sobs.
"Harry…"
"Ylura!"
Soft, feminine arms took hold of him, wrapping around him in comfort. Harry turned and cried in the woman's arms. His tears soaking the thin material of her clothing. When the sobs stopped, Harry lay there quietly for awhile.
"Sorry," he said finally, embarrassed at crying in front of strangers.
He looked up and saw kind, blue eyes staring down at him. "You have nothing to be ashamed of, Harry."
She was the essence of beauty, black hair that fell down her back in a mass of curls. Her clothing was white and looked like a Roman toga. Her skin was pale and smooth as silk. Her features were perfect, and her body was beyond desirable.
Harry blushed.
She smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, Harry. Normally, I would not have revealed myself for a long time. I think, however, of the three of us, I am the one most often moved to do so before the time is right."
"Usually, though, we can stop her before she does so."
Harry turned to see that Augustine had revealed himself as well. Dark brown hair, dark eyes, and tanned skin: the first things Harry noticed. He also wore the white Roman-like toga. Where Ylura was soft and almost motherly, Augustine was harder and more aggressive. This, however, did not make him any less desirable than her. Harry felt himself reddening again.
"You've both struck him speechless."
Harry watched as Illiar appeared next to Augustine. His hair was white though he was not old; it reached his shoulders. His eyes were ice blue and sharp. Once again, the white Roman-like toga was there. His skin was somewhere between pale and tan. Illiar was calm and intelligent… and despite his obvious thinking, just as breathtaking as his companions.
Harry wouldn't be surprised if his entire body was red, he was blushing so bad. Augustine chuckled. "It's quite alright, Harry. Your reaction is normal."
"If you didn't react like this, we'd think we were loosing our touch," Ylura said smiling.
Harry stood, still beat-red. "What now?" he asked in the hopes that changing the subject would ease his embarrassment.
"Now? Now you return. The knowledge has already been given to you. You will be able to access it when you awaken," Illiar replied.
"You will also be able to feel all of your power," Ylura said.
"Considering your age, it is nearly limitless," Augustine added.
"So what Fredrick said was true?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Age has a great deal to do with the amount of power you are able to wield. The younger you are, the more your body can handle being given. Your body can more readily handle the changes," Illiar replied. He seemed pleased that Harry was asking questions.
"What changes?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Well they won't be obvious at first, but soon your body will begin to change to a form more suitable to contain your power. It won't be overnight, but it will be rapid," Ylura answered. "Thankfully, you are at the age in which you would change anyway. Those around you will think it normal."
"Should I tell anyone?"
The three guardians exchanged glances. "It's up to you, Harry," Augustine finally said. "Our advice is to keep it to yourself: wait until you truly understand what you are before telling anyone. You should also understand the consequences of revealing it, too."
"Consequences?"
"People will treat you differently," Ylura began. "Considering your age, they will most likely attempt to control you. If they fear you enough, they may try to destroy you. Fredrick was the last Necromancer before you, and before him there had not been one in over a thousand years."
"That means other than Fredrick, there hasn't been a Necromancer in nearly three thousand years," Augustine continued.
"Also, Fredrick did not impact history very much. He kept to himself. Most do not remember what the Necromancers were like. The stories that were passed down have warped, turning Necromancers into something greatly feared and Dark," Illiar explained further.
"What were the Necromancers like?" Harry asked.
"Necromancers were great healers and tellers of the future. Healing magic and Divination will come naturally to you," Ylura said with a smile.
"Divination? I can't predict anything," Harry protested.
"That useless creature that is attempting to teach is doing a very poor job of it," Illiar said with a sniff, obviously very offended by Harry's Divination teacher. "It's no wonder you haven't been able to See anything. She hasn't the slightest clue on how to tell you to begin."
Harry laughed.
"You should go now, Harry. Your Professor McGonagall is looking for you," Ylura said, interrupting the conversation.
"When will I see you again?" Harry asked, not wanting to leave yet.
"Every time you sleep," Augustine replied smiling.
Harry smiled back and woke.
***
Quickly hiding the book under the mattress, Harry raced out of the bedroom and plopped down in one of the chairs in the sitting area. He grabbed his transfiguration textbook and opened it. Then quickly turned it right-side up.
A knock on the portrait. "Come in," Harry called out. Professor McGonagall stepped in.
"Mr. Potter! How do you know I wasn't a Death Eater! You should have asked who I was!"
Harry stifled a grin. "The Death Eater wouldn't have knocked."
Professor McGonagall stared at him a moment, before her lips quirked in a smile. "Too right," she replied. "Professor Dumbledore believes that it would be to your advantage to learn how to become an animagus. It is my duty to see that you do so."
Harry shut the transfiguration textbook with a snap. "When do we start?" he asked grinning.
"Right now."
***
TBC…