The Chronicles of the Black Unicorn

Book 1: Restoration

Chapter Two: Children of Dell

"He's our blood, yours specifically."

"But, that's impossible. I've never had sex!" Karasu Dell turned to his aunt.

"The Potter boy is also related to us through the Evan's branch of our clan. Frankly you're his cousin and it's time to stop balking at the truth. What is our clan's purpose, Karasu?"

"Impossible."

"Severus Karasu Snape-Dell, what is our clan's purpose?"

"To ... to protect. To guard the sacred items of power. To guide heroes to their destiny. To be heroes when we are needed." Karasu put his head in his hands. "But where does Lazarus fit into this all? Where did the boy come from? Why is he here?"

"He could be from an alternative dimension. It's been known to happen from time to time." His aunt said. "Or some else is happening something bigger than the both of us know."

Karasu sighed. "So does this mean you want to bring Harry Potter in the fold?"

"Yes, he can still learn the way of his clan. The Wizarding World hasn't ingrained many of its prejudices on the boy as of yet. I suspect Fudge might be up to something more so than Albus." She paused. "You're going to have to prove blood tie to get the boy. Can you put aside hatred for your cousin-in-law to save your cousin's son?"

"I can do it. I had time to go over everything and found I was a fool. I was ignoring signs that indicated the boy was neglected."

"Karasu, you have Rook's temperament which means you hold on to grudges for even longer than most Dells. In spite of all of your faults, my sister would have been proud of you."

"Now I must get going before the idiot comes back." Karasu smiled softly at the name for his aunt's apprentice. "I'll see you in a few weeks. I'm coming by plane, Gate B5 at London International." With that she disappeared into the fireplace.

Karasu and Lazarus were semi-enjoying their evening out in the largest wizarding town closest to Dumbledore's manor. They were speaking in Japanese.

"So how are your memories coming along, Lazarus?"

"Difficult. I don't think I'm dealing with just one memory set. Ami says she thinks we manage to screw up the bond." Lazarus shrugged.

Kasarus sighed. "I'm still wondering how is it you somehow are related to me?"

"Only Forbida knows, and the Forest Spirit isn't telling." They took a turn into an alley.

A strange feeling ran up both Dells' spines . Karasu pull his wand out as Lazarus slides into a fighting stance. A group of teen boys approached from a side alley. Lazarus and Karasu relaxed but remained wary. Both knew the price not following their instincts.

The group stopped right next to them. Both sides stared at each other. Somehow they identified each other for what they were. Fighters. Soldiers. Assassins. Spies. Allies. Not a word was said as the boys bowed and left.

"We should return to the house." Lazarus nodded at his father's words.

Karasu's heart felt heavy at the prospect of other children warriors. Granted Harry and Lazarus were just that. Young children deprived of their proper childhood for the sake of someone's power struggled, like he was. But then many Dells who remained to the old ways were forced to give up their childhood for the 'greater good'. Currently Harry was now in training for fighting. Lazarus had the training and the know-how. He knew those strange boys would come to him, for whatever reason compelled them to meet in the first place.

He opened the door to Lazarus' room. The boy opened an eye to see who it was before sliding back into sleep. Karasu sighed sadly as he sat down next to Lazarus on the bed. Stroking the boy's currently dark red hair, Karasu mused about Voldemort and life in general. Karasu had broken the Dark Mark's power with Lazarus' help. Harry had warned the Headmaster about what Voldie knew about his spy and Albus informed him of it.

Voldie was no doubt having tantrums all over the place. His only Potion Master had been a traitor, though Karasu had never been really loyal in the beginning. Voldemort had been aware that Hogwart's wards had increased tenfold. Harry finally was able to completely block out Voldemort, though Karasu worried about the boy. The depth of emotions there could kill Harry easier than anything else.

Lazarus had to been moved from the premises of Hogwarts. The Minister, obvious trying for Lazarus, had closed the school indefinitely. Dumbledore Manor especially the servants' quaters was the second best place to keep Lazarus away from the Ministry. The Minister wouldn't think to look at a house of servants, though he and Lazarus were the only ones living here currently.

His thoughts were interrupted by Winky appearing. Lazarus snorted in his sleep and turn in bed, annoyed at the sound. Karasu chuckled.

"Master Raven has visitors!"

With a finger to his mouth, he shushed the elf, who nodded and disappeared. Karasu ambled down to the parlor. A ticked off Harry Potter and his ruffled friends sat down on the couch he often lounged on. Dobby sits on one of the stools in the room.

"Severus, you were correct in your guess in your true relationship with Harry. Not even Fudge can keep Harry from you." Dumbledore smiled. "I wonder is that what kept you from Lily?"

Karasu rolled his eyes. "No comment and please refrain from assumptions, Dumbledore. Potter, follow me."

This seemed to shell-shock the trio but they followed him never less. Ms. Granger was carrying Hedwig's cage as the boys labored up the stairs. Halfway, Karasu sighed and preformed the spell for floating the chest. Harry shrugged as they followed.

"Your room is across from Lazarus'. I'm at the end of the hall. You are allowed anywhere as long as the symbols on the door aren't purple."

"Why?" Granger asked, always the curious one.

"The symbols are a complex and ancient warding system used to keep out unwelcome visitors or nosy folks. It delivers a nasty paralyzing spell that could deliver enough damage to cause brain damage."

He smirked as he watched the trio pale. "Now, meals are whatever you ask the elves to make most of the time. We don't keep normal schedules here. The rest of the time is yours to do with whatever you please."

"My, our Potion Master definitely looks different." Hermione commented. "Do you think he wore some sort of illusion charm?"

Harry nodded. "Probably. He doesn't have a hooked nose anymore."

"So why is he so loose with the rules?" Ron said as he flopped on the bed. "He seems to be the one who prefers punctuality."

Harry sat in the desk chair for a few seconds, thinking. "He's a spy isn't he? So it makes sense if he doesn't have a schedule of some sort. He also brews potions, some which can take hours to create and to watch."

"Then what about Lazarus? Where does the little creep come in?" Ron asked.

"Ron!"

"Lazarus repairs wards and probably a spymaster. So both of them keep odd hours. I think." Harry frowned, remembering a conversation he overhead in Grimmuald. "Did you notice there were more room prepared than not. I think they're expecting company, a large one."

"Didn't Dumbledore mention something about how Snape is preparing for a group or something just before we left?" Hermione murmured.

"Yeah. Huh." Harry looked at a simple clock on the wall. "I think you guys should leave. I'll owl you when I find out more."

Harry spend the night listening to doors open and close rather softly. Each door squeaked quite a bit.

A couple of days past and classes started in the Dumbledore Manor. The students who didn't leave for the other schools now reside in the Manor while Harry stayed with his 'uncle' in the distant servant house. He rarely saw Lazarus but he was constantly in conflict with Snape. Though Snape was often avoiding him outside his lessons, sometimes he'd purposely rile the man up.

One day while McGonagall was teaching class to the sixth years, Lazarus stumbled in. He was covered in blood and Harry noted that Lazarus's eyes were glazed as the kid looked over the class. He suddenly gave a shriek of pain. Then in a voice hoarse from pain, he half-screamed.

"Hogwarts is no more." With that he collapsed.

McGonagall went immediately into a panic. She yelled at the entire class to go find the Headmaster, Snape, and Pomfrey. Harry found himself helping McGonagall restrain the now convulsing body. His nose stung from the sharp smell of blood and his hands were slippery with it as the small body arced and screamed almost inhumanly high. The sound chilled the soul and stopped breath.

The other adults arrived within what seemed hours. Harry's hands were firmly pried of the leg and arm he had pinned down. Pomfrey quickly administered a potion which stopped Lazarus's violent seizures. The screams died with the slacking of the body. Harry whose eyes were glued to his body, felt someone firmly but gently wiping the blood of his hands. Looking he met Snape's eyes. The normally unreadable eyes were both proud yet sad.

"Thank you, Harry." He murmured as he burned the bloody cloth. "You should go join the other students in the dinner hall. 30 points to Gryffindor."

Harry both dazed and confused wandered into the dinner hall where the hundred or so remaining students and faulty were gathered. Snape had been proud of him and awarded him points? Harry looked at his hands. He still could see Lazarus convulsing and hearing the screams like someone was ripping his soul apart. He ignored the questions and demands as he placed his head in his arms.

There were so many things he didn't understand here. He sighed in frustration. They weren't keeping him out this time but the two he need answers from didn't seem willing to part with them.

"Come on, Laz. You can do better than that." A young girl with plaited brown hair said as she poked the young thief in the side.

Said thief rolled his currently dark eyes to glare at the grinning girl.

"Helga, let me be. Unlike you who've grown up with a wand, I didn't, so I'm exerising my power in a way completely different than what I normal do." He muttered. "Your ways are so messy. So much energy wasted."

"God, count on the thief to point out waste." Helga muttered as she plopped on the straw. "So do you have enough energy to make to the main hall table."

"Hn." He rolled lightly to his feet.

"How do you bloody do that? Help me up!" Helga's hand wrinkled her silk robe.

"Well, one I don't normally wear restricted robes. And two, I had to keep on my toes." He spoke as he helped her up. "Beside a inflexible thief is the first thief to be skewered by an arrow or sword."

"And a thief without common sense ends up in the goal, no?"

Helga giggled as the thief grinned.

"You're getting the idea." He said before they teleported into the Main Hall.

Godric looked terrible upset at the thief's weird appearance with Helga. It was clear Godric Gryffindor thought of the thief.

'Sorry for being so efficient in my use of energy. Unlike you guys, mine power cause serious problems like rearranging your organ functions.' Laz sighed mentally. 'I ain't one of those flashy thieves for good reason. I like being alive and having no price on my head.'

"My, that must be the best apparition I've seen in years. No sound. And barely felt." The elder Lord Gryffindor said mildly. "But I wouldn't expect less from you, boy."

Laz bowed low to his Lord and his Master. The old man was a decent man who didn't see much wrong with spending company with Mundanes or muggles as the new word for non-magical folk were among the 'fashionable' young wizards used. He also was fond of Mundaneborn wizards and the halfbreeds. His son however had picked up his mother's prejudices against the 'inferior' groups. That was part of the reason the old man included him in his son's council. Laz provided the voice of the people as Lord Gryffindor often said. Helga represented the purebloods not as fortunate as the Wizard nobles. Rowena Ravenclaw was that of the upper crust of the Wizarding society. And then there was Aries Slytherin. Laz always had a feeling he knew the older boy from somewhere.

"Slazar, pay attention." Godric called. Salazar caught the words he muttered. "Stupid muggleborn wizard- thief."