The Shifting of Worlds

by MedNar

The battles are over, but scars are left behind, both mental and physical. Can these be healed if you meet who you could've been with a different father? NO SLASH. Damon's Challenge

2. Chapter 2 The Surprise

A/N: Hey! Me again! I got the next chapter typed up, see? It's taken me a while. *Sigh* Cramps in the fingers hurt, especially when all I can do is press on the spot and hope it'll go away. Now I need to read through this and fix typos. Yippee! Then I'll send it to lovely beta Lerafea (Lerafea: *arches eyebrow*). Hugs!

Disclaimer: Not mine. Would I write it if I owned Harry Potter? (Actually, knowing me, I might, but it would be a lot better then it is.)

Review responses are at the bottom. Very bottom. Like, very very… ok, you get the idea.

Dedicated to: Lerafea, for being such a wonderful beta! Damon Rhodes, for coming up with the challenge that gave me the inspiration for this! Hope you two like this chapter!

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Chapter 2

Alex made his way to breakfast the next day, talking and laughing with Blaise and Draco. The blonde was currently telling 'the new kid' about who was where on the school's social ladder.

"We're somewhere near the top—a lot of kids respect us, except for that Gryffindor git, Ron, and his friends. Their Head of House, McGonagall, is rather strict, so make sure you pay attention in Transfiguration." They approached the Slytherin table and took their seats. Blaise accepted the Daily prophet from a delivery owl that had been waiting for him, paid the three Knuts, and laid it aside. Alex blinked, trying to process the flash of words he had seen.

"Hey, Blaise—can I look at that?" He asked, dropping his fork with a thud. The brown haired boy nodded and passed it over, returning to his food. Alex looked at the large article on the front page that had caught his eye. His jade-hued eyes widened faintly as he read it.

'Scailous Death—Potter sacrifice Anniversary'

'by Laurice Dongbonga'

'Today, as many of you will remember, is the anniversary of the fall of the Dark Lord Scailous. Sadly, it is also the anniversary of the ending of the Potter's line, for this day, 35 years ago, Michael, Claudia, and two-year old James Potter sacrificed themselves to rid the world of the Dark Lord. Michael and Claudia knew that the only way they could save their fellow wizards and the Muggles was by willingly ending one line of purebloods. They, in an effort they hoped would give our world peace, allowed the Killing Curse to be cast. As the green light took them, Scailous died. The Potter sacrifice will be remembered for years to come, as they have given us several years of peace.'

Alex handed the paper back to Blaise, deep in thought. Harry arrived then, yawning, and in a rush.

"We're going to be late for Transfiguration! How could you three not notice the empty Hall? C'mon!" With startled yells, they raced for the classroom, hurriedly slinging the heavy book bags over their arms.

The four slid into seats as the bell rang, panting. A tabby cat glared at them from McGonagall's desk before jumping off and transforming into the stern Professor herself. The strict gaze fell on all the students in turn before she smiled faintly.

"Today's lesson is Animagi. Who can tell me what an Animagus is?" Several of the normal 'smart people' hands went up. Alex watched through calm eyes as she nodded at Draco, his hand remaining firmly clenched in his lap.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" She asked, inclining her head towards him. The blonde smiled slightly as he answered.

"An Animagus is a human who can change into an animal and back at will," he recited as the professor nodded.

"Three points to Slytherin; that is correct. Can anyone tell me how you find out what animal forms you have?" Everyone looked around the room, though no hands were raised. As McGonagall opened her mouth to give the answer, a hand raised. Everyone turned to watch Alex as she nodded to him.

"Mr. Lethyl?" The dark haired boy started his explanation.

"There are a three ways to find your animal form. The first, and most widely used, is the Reveal potion. When put in a goblet and the goblet held by a person, the potion will shift into the form of the animal if they have one. Another less used type is the Mirror of Forms. The Mirror shows the form of a person when said person looks into the Mirror. However, there are only a few of these Mirrors in the Wizarding World that have not been broken.

"The least-used way to find your form, however, is the Arenas Fremas spell. This is rare because the Arenas Fremas pulls its strength from the caster, who must be the one who will find his or her forms. It's highly draining and must be done at an exact time, the fourth new moon after Midwinter's Eve. The forms that are found are based on your mind and the possible futures you have." There was a second of silence before McGonagall smiled.

"Very good Mr. Lethyl. 15 points to Slytherin; you are quite correct. Today we are going to use the Reveal potion, made by Professor Snape, to see if you have a form. If any of you do, you may sign up for a class with me to work on it so you can become an Animagus. Now, Mr. Crabbe, if you will come up here to start the group?"

Obliging, the large boy went up and held the goblet that McGonagall placed on the desk, and looked in at the silvery liquid. Minutes later, after there had been dejected sighs and some excited squeals, mostly from the girls, the first of the little Slytherin group went up to the desk.

            Draco looked in the goblet and smiled as the liquid bubbled faintly. Those bubbles suddenly shifted up into a sleek silver panther. The liquid cat batted a paw towards Draco and sloshed back into the cup.

Blaise went up next, gripping the goblet. The potion leaped up out of the container, leaving a liquid monkey chattering and waving at Blaise while standing on the edge before it fell backwards into the cup again. Blaise passed Harry on his way back to his seat. When Harry touched the goblet, the liquid rose into a cheerful mutt. The dog's fluffy tail wagged wildly before sliding back into the goblet. Harry returned to his seat, giving Alex a reassuring grin.

Alex, the last in the class to test for a form, gripped the goblet and closed his eyes. McGonagall blinked as the liquid shivered and rippled. Something stirred and tried to rise, only to be forced back under. Alex forced his will on the potion, commanding it to keep his unregistered cobra form underneath the liquid. Finally, just as he was going to remove his hands in relief, the liquid shot up as a silvery gryphon soared around the cup once before falling back in the container. Both he and Professor McGonagall stared before she cleared her throat.

"Alright Alex, you can return to your seat," she said, turning to move the potion away. Once he was seated, Alex murmured a soft, vague explanation for taking so long. The professor looked up and out at her students, smiling slightly.

"Those of you who had forms and wish to become Animagi come up to my desk and sign up for the class. The rest of you are dismissed." About half of the class left the room. The rest went to the desk and signed the parchment that rested on her desk. McGonagall rolled the parchment up once Alex, who had been last once again, had signed up. She glanced at the 17-year-old, hesitated slightly before speaking.

"Mr. Lethyl? A moment?" Alex glanced at his three friends, then the teacher, and nodded. Draco peered at the Professor's face and looked at Alex as though assessing the situation.

"We'll meet you in Defense," the blonde murmured, pitching his voice low enough not to be heard by the professor. Alex nodded, and the three boys left. Professor McGonagall smiled at Alex.

"As I'm sure you already know, it takes a powerful wizard to have a magical Animagus form. That being said, it takes considerably more effort to complete the transformation. Are you sure you still want to go through with it?" Alex's green eyes seemed to laugh, although his face remained serious.

"I'd like to at least try, Professor." The woman nodded.

"Very well. You'd better head to your next class. I assume the others have given you directions?" Alex nodded. McGonagall dismissed him and he half-ran to the DADA classroom. A minute or so later he slid into the seat by Harry and rested his head on his hand, looking up only when Remus began the lesson.

The Common Room was fairly crowded later that night after classes. Alex sat on a large armchair by the fire, listening as Harry, Draco, and Blaise talked of the homework they had received. Alex turned to Harry.

"What's your mom like?" He asked, his curiosity evident in his gaze.  Harry smiled at his friend.

"Lily Snape is one of the nicest women you could ever hope to meet. She's also one of the best Aurors in the Ministry. She was a Slytherin in the same year as Dad. That's how they met. She was also friends with Remus and Sirius Black, and when Mom and Dad had me, the two became my godfathers. Sirius and one of his friends, Peter Pettigrew, are also some of the best Aurors in the business." Alex sat quietly, digesting the new and surprising information. A few minutes later, he joined the conversation of homework, the thoughtful expression from before no longer seen on his face.

Two weeks later, most of the students were eating dinner in the Great hall when all the candles flickered and died, plunging the Hall into darkness. Suddenly, Harry could feel a sudden tenseness and a slight wave of power from Alex, who was sitting beside him. The doors swung open and hooded men and women flowed in, torches raised overhead. As the teachers rose, drawing wands, there was a shimmer and a huge bubble-like glow surrounded the Head Table. No one was able to move.

All eyes turned fearfully to the doors as a tall, heavily cloaked man entered. His laugh was chilling as it spread through the room.

"So this is the almighty Hogwarts. Seems rather weak to me. I've learned from the mistakes of my forebear Dark Lords—attack Hogwarts before making your presence known to the Wizarding World. So here I am! Dark Lord Tiernon!" He lowered his hood, smirking with the thought of victory. He was a handsome man, around 36, with stylish brown hair and strong features. He motioned his followers to attack as he laughed in triumph.

His laughter was cut off abruptly as a red stunning beam shot towards him. He blocked it with a simple shield spell and slowly, ever so slowly, turned to face the Slytherin table. Alex Lethyl stared at the Dark Lord, face stony, scars making him look terrifying in the flickering candlelight. Tiernon chuckled dryly, raising his wand to point at the Slytherin boy.

            "Is this the last defense of Hogwarts? A mere boy?" He mocked, sounding faintly amused. "Well then, let's see what you've got boy."

            A grim smile crossed Alex's scarred face and raised his wand, a simple spell flowing from his lips. And the duel began.

            It started out simple, with spells taught in the school. Shortly after it began, however, the Dark Lord got bored and began sending harder and darker spells. He faltered only slightly when the boy began to return with the same types of curses, recovering quickly. One of his torch-holding men, seeing that his lord was not gaining the upper hand, cast the disarming spell from the side, effectively forcing the 17 year old to drop his wand. Tiernon smirked, half-lowering his wand.

"Foolish boy. If I was able to block all of your teachers, how could you ever think you can stand up to me?" There was a wave of power that forced the candles to relight as fire blazed in the frozen green eyes of Alex. A smirk stole grimly over his face even as anger made his voice, which seemed far too old, shake slightly.

"How dare you. How dare you come in here, acting like you rule the world, and try to take away the innocence and peace these people have had for thirty-five years. You would kill them, let their families be told of their deaths, and strike while the world is in mourning. Despite your so-called superiority, you're just like all the other Dark Lords. Stupid. You can try to do whatever you want to me—gods know I never had any innocence after the age of one—but you will NOT touch any of the people in this hall as long as I live. And I don't die easily," he growled, finishing the tirade still glaring at the older wizard. Tiernon sneered, regaining his confidence despite the speech.

"Who's going to stop me? A little brat like yourself?" He mocked. Alex smirked, emerald eyes defiant, but looking older then Dumbledore's, if that was possible.

"No. A snake like myself." With a tired, grim chuckle at the confused look on Tiernon's face, he opened his mouth to speak. Hisses escaped his lips in a rapid-fire speed as he sent a powerful Parseltongue curse at Tiernon, his alarmingly green eyes flashing furiously. Fiery silver and gold light sped towards the Dark Lord, casting a silver light on a face that flinched in sharp pain as Tiernon began to scream a death scream. A silvery-gold glow surrounded the man then, seeming to pull and hack at something. Alex flinched again as blood began to seep out of a newly formed cut. The gash began where the other scar ended, a little past the nose, and continued down his neck to the spot where neck and shoulder joined as though it were one.

As the former Dark Lord fell dead, soulless eyes staring blankly at his destroyer, the old and worn looking boy found his wand and picked it up, aiming at the bubble shield around the Head Table. A murmured incantation escaped his lips before he collapsed, unconscious, as the shield fell from the head table. Shocked Slytherins managed to catch him before he hit the ground, as Remus and Severus rushed down to take the transfer student to the Hospital Wing. Dumbledore, looking faintly shocked, sent the students to their common rooms after having immobilized the men and women who had come in with the Dark Lord. He then, along with the remaining teachers, began the long job of interrogating the followers.

Alex woke from unconsciousness without moving or giving sign of his waking, using his senses to figure out where he was. He heard a familiar female voice exclaiming.

"-And I've never seen anything like it! The only damage to his body is that scar, and nothing I've tried will get rid of it. His magical stores are almost empty, and to stay in Hogwarts as a wizard, he had to tap into his body's strength to help fuel the spell. If he hadn't done that, he would have lost all his magic and it never would have returned. As it is, he only has enough left to be considered a wizard. He should be all right with a few days rest though. His powers will return, and he's just exhausted." Alex smiled as Madam Pomphrey finished explaining his symptoms. So, the Hospital Wing. He should've known. How often had he found himself in here?

Slowly he pried his eyelids apart, flinching slightly from the sudden presence of light. He shifted, acting like he just woke up. Pomphrey rushed into the room, followed by Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Harry Snape and Severus Snape who were, apparently, the people she had been explaining his condition to. The Medi-witch bustled around the room busily, dropping potions on the table by his bed. Harry grinned slightly at the disgusted look on his bed-ridden friend's face, and smiled at the busy nurse.

"That'll be ok ma'am. I'll make sure he drinks them all." She hesitated, looking suspiciously at the wizards, before nodding and leaving the room. The boy lying amidst all the white heaved a sigh of relief, grinning at his saviors. Severus noticed that the smile never reached the brilliant-green orbs.

"Thank you! I hate Hospital Wings. The nurses are like bad days—they hover over you!" Sirius choked back a laugh, and even Severus' mouth twitched. Harry smirked.

"As wonderful as that may be, I need to keep my promise. Drink up Alex!" He chuckled as the other groaned debating aloud to throw a pillow at him while everyone else laughed.

Thirty minutes later Alex had finished pouring the potions down his throat. They were still laughing as the door opened and Albus Dumbledore entered the wing. Instantly, silence spread among the bunch. Alex fixed intense green eyes on the Headmaster, one brow arching delicately. The old man sighed and looked at Alex.

"I need to know about that spell, Mr. Lethyl. How did you know it, where did you learn it, when did you learn it, and what does it do?" The boy was silent, though his aura was steadily growing. Dumbledore frowned faintly, the twinkle nowhere in sight.

"I need to know this Mr. Lethyl. If you won't tell me, I'll be forced to use a truth potion." There was a still silence, though the growing aura seemed to pulse and flow faster. Albus sighed and looked at his Potions Master.

"Severus, I need-" He never got past those first three words as the shifting aura spread like a shockwave through the Hospital. Everyone's gaze was forced away from Alex for a moment. When they could be turned to face him again, he was the pure vision of fury. Long claws erupted from bent fingers, which were clenching the bed sheets, an obvious effort to calm himself. Glittering fangs were bared when he opened his mouth in a snarl. The most shocking change, however, was his eyes. They had gone almost completely gold, with a thin green band around vertical, snake-like pupils. The eyes burned with anger, making his gaze impossible to meet for much more then a minute. His voice, when he spoke, was frosty cold.

"Is it not enough that I saved your school for you?" He demanded, his voice low. "Maybe it's not enough that I kept the Wizarding World from being plunged into a time of darkness, full of murders and deaths, without a hero to give them hope. No one should ever have their innocence stolen like that, but it happens. It didn't happen here, and I won't let it. I will not destroy lives by bringing to the public's attention the curse and its effects. I will not constantly relive memories while I'm still living my life. Use your years of peace and cherish them, for they are more precious then you know, and they can be stolen in mere seconds."

            Abruptly, and with a faint look of surprise, Alex returned to the boy they had begun to get used to. There was a moment when Alex and Dumbledore locked gazes. It was Albus Dumbledore who broke the gaze and bowed his head with a slight smile.

"Very well, and a wise decision Alex Lethyl. I apologize for my questions." With nods to the others, he left the room in silence. Alex waited for the old man to leave hearing range before turning eagerly to his friends, who were still staring at him. He motioned impatiently.

"Help me to the dungeons. I always heal better there, closer to the earth, then in a medical and hospital wing. Pleeeeeeeeeease?" He begged, as Harry grinned and began to help his friend out of the bed. The others jerked out of their shock and helped. The group made their way down through the castle towards the dungeons and Severus' office.

            Thirty minutes later, Alex rested alone in a small room down in the stony dungeons. He looked over at one of the dark, damp-looking walls with a smile, knowing that he was as close to the life-giving earth as possible without actually being outside. The Earth was one of the healing forces he had been touched by over his 17 years, helping him through some of the hardest times of his life. Even Dumbledore didn't know some of what the Mother knew, since he had gone outside to be alone and wept to Nature, telling Her all his fears, sorrows, hates, and hopes. She had always been there for him, and he knew that She always would be.

            With a tired sigh of relief, Alex allowed the soothing cover of exhausted sleep to overtake him, setting him free from all mortal bonds.

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1) the spell he used against Tiernon is the same one he used on Voldemort, which is why he knew it. He didn't want to take any chances with Tiernon coming back, so he took him out from the beginning.

2) the whole 'claw and fangs and snake-eyes' things will be explained next chapter.

That's it for this chapter! I realize that Harry seems a little 'super-powerful', and I apologize for this fact.

If you got confused at that last two or three paragraphs, let me explain. First, it only originally said 'I always heal better by the earth'. However, Lerafea (thanks for beta-ing!) told me that was a little confusing, so I went back and cleared it up. I hope. I'm kind of in a mythological state of mind right now, so the 'She' and 'Her' I was talking about is Mother Earth/Mother Nature. I figure the Mother takes care of her children, and Harry has to has someone to confide in, even if she doesn't really talk. Anyway, I like that paragraph. =D

I'm just really tired from my week of school—but guess what?? I got into the high school I wanted!! THIS IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION!!! It's a vocational school, and I didn't think I did that good on the math part of the entry test… but I got in! =D

Hm…. Oh! Review responses!

SilverKnight7: Thanks for being my first reviewer! And see? I updated! (sorry for the delay!)

Zol: lol, there is no 'bad reviewer' when you review a story! (unless you flame, perhaps, but sometimes even those are good. They provide hours of amusement—or at least minutes.) An author (or at least I) loves reviews!! Feel free to keep reviewing with your reviews! I'm glad you love it!

Kateri1: Glad you think it's interesting! Hope you like this chapter too.

Filodea: Glad you like it so far! I've read AU Harry's too—I think it's rubbed off on me, because I read my story and find so many parts from other stories I've read… *sigh* =D Remus may or may not figure it out… I'm not saying anything…

Lord Elrond of Hogwarts: Glad you love my Sev, and the humor. Yeah; I think that line (voice was determined) is an important part of any story where there's important stuff. Did that make sense? Sorry it was hard to tell who was speaking. We tried to make it clearer. Did I even say which symbol they were? *gets shifty look*   Ah, but in this AU, Harry Potter doesn't exist. Harry Snape does. Therefore, not having a Voldemort doesn't affect him… yeah. I did put in a Dark Lord. Just not Voldie-Moldie. =D I updated!

Lady Shang: So glad you like it! Please make my day and update again! *grins*

Damon Rhodes: So happy you think it's wonderful! Thank you inspiration-mate! *hugs* I dedicated this chapter to you, did you see?

Lerafea: Hey! Thanks for beta-ing for me! Yeah, I know it's kinda confusing… my brain tends to jump around to the action parts and everything, so it's hard for me to write the 'fill-in' scenes, so they're either bad or just not there… heh heh… this chapters dedicated to you too, did you see?

LilyG: Hey, thanks for reviewing! Yeah, I know it's a little hard to follow, but it's so fun to write… and it is a little confusing, with all the name changing and the voices and everything, but I can't think of another way to do it. I'm glad you like it!

Thanks to all my reviewers and any readers who didn't review! Now be a dear and just hit review, ok? Thanks!!

Thanks again to Lerafea for beta-ing this, even if it took a while—I do understand about school, believe me! I hope I got everything you were confused about!