Harry Potter and the Guardians of Power
Usual Disclaimers apply, folks – but you know that don't you.
AN: Please review and thanks especially to those of you who have reviewed every chapter and added this story to your favorites list.
AN: Thanks to the over 14,000 hits on this story, and double thanks to the 90+ who have reviewed! Thanks to Lupinspup for the great name of Deaglan Brocc. And thanks to all of those who gave suggestions, I almost considered giving him more names that Albus, but I didn't want to have to type them. Happy reading!
Chapter 13: Happy Birthday, Harry!
Harry knew it was dark, he was cold and hungry and his stomach was balled up in cramps. He thought he was back in his cupboard at the Dursleys, but part of his mind thought that couldn't be right. His Severus, his father, had promised him he never had to be there again. And his Severus never broke his promises. But part of him still doubted it as he sank back into darkness.
He woke again to pain, stretching him, pulling him in all directions, he couldn't see, he couldn't breathe. 'Daddy, help me!' he screamed in his mind over and over again until he slipped into unconsciousness once again.
Severus was delivering vials of antidote to each of the men in his search party when a flash of pain caused him to drop to his knees. He could hear in his mind, 'Daddy, help me!' in a terrified chant of horror and pain. Merlin rushed to the fallen man and placed a cool hand upon his forehead. He looked up at Godric and quietly told him, "Harry is calling for him. But he is in tremendous pain and is giving no useful information."
Rowena came to the Entrance Hall, dressed in traveling clothes. Upon reaching her husband and Grandfather, she drew them aside. "I can find Harry, but all I can see is darkness. He must be in an enclosed space most likely a small cave. I cannot make out anything else, except that we need to travel to the northwest towards the mountains. I should be able to tell you more when we get closer."
The other groups were sent in different directions in case Rowena was unable to find Harry. The small group of Rowena, Godric, Merlin and Severus with three of the older apprentices mounted up, starting out of the courtyard, followed by a spare horse for Harry and a pack mare of supplies. They would be traveling light and quickly, and all were accomplished riders. Severus had learned to ride as a child at his grandparents' manor and had kept several mounts at his own manor house until he no longer returned there over the summers.
The group set out at a steady but ground eating pace heading towards the mountains just visible in the distance. They didn't stop except to water the horses, eating their own meager lunch as they rode onward, ever onward, the dark forbidding mountains growing larger each hour.
Harry drifted in and out of consciousness, hearing snatches of conversation, none of it making any sense to his befuddled mind. He knew somehow, that he had to continue fighting the fog that threatened to overwhelm him. He stubbornly fought to push the memories of Uncle Vernon back into his locked room. It took almost all of his energy and every bit of his concentration but he did it finally. Somehow he managed to open the door that contained his new memories of Severus, now if only he could open one of the books. His mind faded back to black once more and he slipped out of consciousness.
The small search party had been traveling more than six hours when they stopped to give the horses a much needed rest even though they were only about two more hours ride to the foothills of the mountain that Rowena said was their destination. They would need to rest and sleep some or they would be of no use when they found the boy. And they were all determined that they would find him. Each of the riders had been able to doze while riding, but it wasn't really a restful sleep, just enough to keep the body going and now they needed real rest and a chance for a hot meal.
After their stew was eaten and the hot tea, with added endurance potions that Severus had supplied, was consumed, Rowena pulled a small bowl from her pack and set it up to scry for Harry again. "Nothing more, he is still in an enclosed space, I still believe a small cave since I hear echoes, and it is dark. He is cold, hungry, in pain, and very frightened. He is trying to fight flashbacks to some kind of cupboard? Perhaps Grandfather, if you linked with Severus, you could use the 'ritual bond' to reach Harry and help him regain some control?"
Severus turned bloodshot, weary eyes on Merlin and questioned, "Ritual bond? I am willing to do anything to find Harry. What do you need me to do?" The desperation of their search was evident in the tone of his voice.
Merlin sat next to Severus on the mossy ground of the forest clearing and reached both hands out to hold the younger man's shoulders. "A bond was forged between the two of you when you performed the ritual together. When I placed a hand on each of your foreheads and led you to the waterfall, the bond was formed, and the water of the innocent's lake sealed it and magically blessed it. It has grown in strength with every passing day. Remember when I told you, the ritual must be performed by someone who knows and cares for the one cursed, and that it must be done with the purest of motives? Well, you were the one person there that fit the qualifications. Neither Artemus or I would want to form a bond with a young man knowing that he would be returning to his own time and we would have to sever that bond and cause him such emotional trauma. You were willing to help him with only the best of intentions, so the bond with you would be strong, and as you would return with him, the bond would not be severed. I am sorry we did not tell you at the time, but we felt, and still do feel, that the destruction of the evil one is the only way that Harry can live to grow up. Also, I firmly believe the bond will be vital for Harry to destroy the power of the evil one once and for all, so that he will never return. Which is also your goal, am I correct?"
"Yes, I am more than ever willing to do anything in my power to stop that evil so no more lives, on either side of the fight, are destroyed through Tom's madness. I am not upset about the bond, though I might have been at the time. I understand why you did not tell me. Now, we need to find Harry, his uncle was very abusive and locked him into a small cupboard for weeks at a time. If Harry is stuck in that memory, it is likely his magic will explode in an uncontrollable manner soon." Severus was calming under the touch of the old wizard and able to lock eyes with him quietly and with renewed purpose.
Merlin found the strong, glowing bond that stretched from Severus' mind to Harry's without much trouble, but he was having difficulty reaching Harry's confused consciousness. Merlin felt the touch of Godric on his right shoulder, Rowena on his left and sensed the strength and power the two were feeding to him. He pushed his determination down the link and broke through the pain and terror of his young apprentice.
"Harry, Harry, child, it is Merlin. I am here with Severus to find you. I need you to calm down and talk to me. Hush, child, it's okay, your Uncle is not here and he cannot reach you any more."
"Severus, I want to go home, take me home, please, I'll be good, I promise, let me out, I'm hungry, please, Severus…." Harry's 'voice' was cracking in pain and distress.
"Harry, do you remember someone slipping you a potion in your juice. Remember back to eating breakfast, you took a drink, what happened then? Think Harry, it's important." Merlin tried to bring Harry to enough awareness to help them find him.
"Severus, is that you? Are you really here now, you didn't come when I called you. You told me you wouldn't leave me, where are you?"
Merlin 'told' Severus to take over 'talking' to Harry as the child needed to hear him.
"Child, I'm coming. Do you remember what happened? I found your goblet half way to the door. Did someone come? Who took you out of our rooms? Come, son I need you to help me find you. I will take you home as soon as we find you. Fight the potion, I'm proud of you, son, Sal said the potion would last two days and you have fought it enough to talk to us already. I love you, help me find you!" Severus was having to battle to keep his desperation and frustration out of his voice. He knew Harry needed reassurance and calm to fight the potion.
A memory that wasn't his own flashed across his mind. He was eating breakfast and reached to take his first sip of cold pumpkin juice when he heard a noise at their door. Thinking it was Severus with news of Lady Helga; he stood and started to walk to the door. He took a sip, grabbed at his stomach and fell, but before his eyes closed he saw Abigail and Rafe rush through the door and throw a thick cloak over him. A second flash showed a view of the floor of the forest moving jerkily underneath him, accompanied by the uncomfortable feeling of being tied upside down over the back of a horse. The next flash showed a campfire with about thirty dirty, mean looking men. One of the men, younger and cleaner than the others was railing at the two apprentices, "No, I wanted the potion's master, not his brat! You have failed me, what am I to do with this worthless child?"
Abigail bowed her head at the man saying, "Master Severus will come to find the boy. He will follow and be easy to capture out here away from the castle. We were unable to get anywhere close to Master Severus. When we bribed the serving girl to dose the breakfast tray, we had no way of knowing that the Lady Helga would give birth and the master would be in the infirmary surrounded by all the other masters. When we broke into their quarters, we expected both of them and would have left the child. But you can use him to catch the other, my Lord." She lowered her head in contrition and humility.
The man thought on the girl's words for a few minutes, finally nodding, "Perhaps I can salvage the situation. Fine, you will receive the reward after all, leave us now and return without anyone noticing that you have been absent. I may need your services in the castle again. Perhaps I can have you poison my 'father's' whole family. After all, I am his heir, not that brat the whore just gave birth to."
The final vision Harry sent was of a small cave with a crude pallet in one corner when he was dumped unceremoniously onto it. His two captors laughed and left, betting with each other on how long he would remain alive, and if hunger or thirst would be what killed him. They took the torch with them and left Harry alone, cold and hurting in the dark.
Merlin and Severus lost the connection then as Harry lost his battle to remain awake. Rowena said, "I got the directions from the bond. We need to head slightly south but I am seeing an ambush ahead about an hour's ride. There are about ten archers in the trees, another fifteen behind bushes and rocks and the remaining men, including the leader, are gathered in front of a cave, in case we get through."
The four discussed options and asked questions to help Rowena bring her vision into sharper focus. It was found that there was a way they could circle around the ambush, but it would involve going up the mountain on a narrow track, going past the cave and then circling back. Or they could just follow the trail they were on and pretend they were unprepared for the ambush, while having full shields and wands drawn. It was decided that unfortunately they didn't have the time to circle up the mountain and they would need to trigger the ambush, but Merlin and Godric would slip through the woods on either side of the hidden forces and the two groups would catch them between them. Merlin reminded the three apprentices that they should try to stun, but if necessary, they should kill to save themselves and the others in their party.
They had traveled about forty-five minutes, their nerves getting tauter at every step the horses took closer to the fight. Severus reached up to his head in pain, his eyes rolled up into his head and he slipped, bonelessly to the forest floor. Merlin was beside him in a moment, holding the man's head and shoulders up while trying to rouse him. "Harry's awake. He's close to loosing it, help me center him. We need to hurry, he's panicking." Severus managed to gasp out around the blinding pain in his forehead.
The two locked eyes and forced the bond with Harry to open once again. Severus kept his voice as calm and soothing as he knew how, "Harry, let me in. Let me help you lock these memories away again. Come, child, I know you can do it."
"Severus, where are you? I can hear you, but I can't see you. I thought I was back in my cupboard and I could hear Uncle Vernon coming to get me again. I hear footsteps and I see a light coming. Is that you?" If possible, Severus could hear the gasping, heart rending sobs in the child's voice as he tried to regain control. Severus felt the pain in his head receding as Harry regained control.
"No, Harry, we are still not there. You must draw yourself into your mind and hide. Do not let those men know you are awake and talking to us. It's important; they must think you are still unconscious, I know you can do it, Harry. I am proud of you, son."
Harry smiled at Severus' proud thoughts and quietly drew his mind into a safe room where he could live in his memories of flying with Severus and the other apprentices. He cut off the connection to his body, though he wasn't quite sure how he knew to do that, he just knew it was very important to do it now. He was vaguely aware of the conversation the three men who came into his cave were having, but it was just below his conscious mind. However, Severus and Merlin could hear what the men were saying and were painfully aware of what the three planned on doing to the helpless child.
"Slytherin didn't say we couldn't have our 'fun' with the brat, now did he? I won't kill him, yet." The biggest man in a dirty red vest was trying to convince his two companions that they should let him do something to the boy.
"No, Henry, he might need him later, I've seen what boys look like after your 'fun' and this one would be of no use to him after that. Slytherin would cut off those balls of yours and make you eat them. He wants the boy alive, so alive he will be. We were just sent to check that he's still breathing, the potion's still working and that's all!" said the smallest of the three.
The third man spoke up, "Slytherin wouldn't just kill us, remember what he did to that witch that he caught last month. I still have nightmares about her before she died. No, it's not worth it. Maybe you can have that Rafe boy; he's pretty useless and Slytherin wasn't happy with either one of them. Hey, Mac, do you think he'd let you and me have Abigail, that witch needs to be taught her proper place. Her parents are farmers, who does she think she is, with her nose stuck in the air all the time like she's better than us! I'd like to teach all of her family a lesson they wouldn't forget."
The three had reached Harry by now and the words of the other two had apparently had a chilling effect on the big man. He contented himself with a few kicks to Harry's ribs and laughed malevolently, "He's still out, let's go tell Slytherin." With a last kick at Harry's head, the three took the torch and left Harry in the darkness again.
Severus shuddered in Merlin's touch, took a deep breath and said a silent prayer of thanks that Harry had been spared further brutality. "Harry, son, they're gone. You're safe to come out. Harry, I need you to talk to me, son."
Harry peeked out of the room in his mind and 'saw' Severus standing in the outer hall. He ran to him and hugged him. "Are you here now, can we go, I hate this place, please help me, Severus." Severus noted that the mental 'Harry' was now several years younger than the real one.
'I'm sorry, child. We still have to get through Slytherin's bastard son and about thirty of his followers, find your cave and get you out. But we are getting closer all the time and you are really helping us by staying calm and talking to us. Lady Rowena can 'see' where you are when you are talking to Merlin and I. I am so proud of you for realizing that you were stuck in a flashback and that it wasn't real. Now, I need you to tell me if those men hurt you when they kicked you. Can you do that for me, son?" Severus spoke encouragingly; as if Harry actually was the age he was projecting in his own mental image.
"Ugh, it hurts to breath on the left side again. That brute kicked me right were my ribs were broken before, but I don't think they're broken again. One might be cracked, but mostly bruised. My head is bleeding, but I don't think it's more than a cut. Doesn't feel like a skull fracture or a concussion. I'm guessing I will be fine with a couple of potions. I hope you have a headache one and probably a blood replenisher. My scalp always bleeds so much, Madame Pomfrey always makes me take at least one!" Severus cringed that the child spoke so knowingly about how a skull fracture or a concussion felt like. And yet he was sure the boy had suffered both before while in the 'loving care' of his relatives.
Severus gave Harry a hug and told him he would have to leave his mind in order to continue his rescue. He was so proud of the boy for keeping his head in such trying circumstances. Harry clung to Severus not wanting to be alone again appearing even younger than he had before. Severus reminded Harry that he could return to his memories and stay safe there until they could come and get him. Harry nodded, wiped his face and turned back to the door he came out of. Severus was delighted and somewhat astonished to find the door labeled "My Father".
Rowena helped a shaky Severus back onto his horse and they started slowly down the forest trail once again. He noted, absently, that Merlin and Godric had already left the party to circle around the men waiting in ambush. It was just after daybreak, the air was crisp and clear, a beautiful summer day, if not for the grim task ahead of the rescue party moving stealthily through the woods. Severus halted them about ten minutes later, asking Lady Rowena, "How much further are they hiding, my Lady?"
"They are just around the next bend in the trail. I cannot sense my grandfather or Godric, they are totally shielding now. We will need to wait for a signal from them. It will take them much longer to travel surreptitiously through the woods. The men ahead are relaxed, some are almost asleep from watching the entire night. Their leader doesn't think we can find them until much later tonight. He thinks we have to look for traces and tracks to follow. I can 'see' that he has a moderate amount of magic, but it is wild and untrained. He prefers to use brute force and physical strength. He has absolutely no mind shields and does not understand talking through a mental bond. His thoughts are so open that he is unknowingly projecting them to be 'seen' easily."
The five, two Masters and three apprentices, tied their horses in a small clearing where they could graze and rest, and then sat down on logs to wait for Merlin and Godric to slip into place. The apprentices were all top students of Godric and were his best duelers, in both magical and muggle means. They were nervous, but keeping it under control; this would not be the first battle for any of them. Rowena knew that she would stay back from the actual fighting, supplying shields, and allowing the trained fighters to bear the brunt of the upcoming combat. The single most destructive force the dirty, untrained group of brutes that hid unknowingly just ahead of them had to be afraid of though, was one former, now coldly furious, Death Eater who had just found a 'son' only to have him hurt and kidnapped by these ruffians. And as any Hogwarts student could tell you, a pissed off Severus Snape was nothing to be trifled with.
Godric and Merlin had an advantage over their prey. As fully trained, very powerful wizards, they could both become invisible and totally silent at will. They had separated from the path and circled around to the waiting fifteen hiding in the bushes behind the tree sitting archers. Merlin was casting wandless sleeping spells as fast as he spotted another opponent. Godric was following behind his grandfather and freezing them and binding them. His spells were so strong that no one but Merlin or he could reverse them. After dealing with the backup fighters, Godric sent a message to his wife to come ahead.
Before the hapless tree dwellers could put arrow to bow, Severus was sending spell after spell at every tree in sight. The three apprentices were amazed at the speed, knowledge and creativity of the spells that Master Severus could send. With elegance and grace, he moved as if in a bizarre dance, wasting not a single movement. He froze two into surreal ice sculptures, one into a big, fat, croaking toad, blasted several completely out of their trees and turned one with a red vest into a cockroach. The apprentices stopped gawking and began sending their own spells after one archer got a lucky shot in and managed to hit Severus' horse in the rump. Severus just jumped safely down as she fell, without missing a beat and continued self-assuredly spelling at the rapidly dwindling number of opponents.
Rowena merely watched, maintaining a protective shield around the apprentices, as the Potion's Master gracefully sent spells at every one of their adversaries without missing a beat as the few wizards among their group tried to hit him with stunners, blasting curses, and anything else they could try. The archers never had a chance. They were just too slow to fight his wrath. Rowena hoped, as soon as Harry was safe and sound once more, that she could see her husband duel this new friend. She thought they might be equally matched and she knew Godric would love the challenge. In fact, she thought impressed; he might give even her Grandfather a demanding match.
In less than twenty minutes, the rescuers had twenty-five stunned and bound captives hidden in a large cave. They left them guarded by the three apprentices and after sending messages to Sal and Artemus to come with their groups to collect the criminals and lock them in the dungeons of the castle for the sheriff to deal with, the four set off again in search of Harry.
"Harry, child, I need you to come out of your room and talk to me. Come on Harry, its safe now, we are getting closer to you and Rowena needs you to talk to me so she can 'see' where you are." Severus had to cajole Harry; it seemed he was too happy in his mind. Severus hoped he could bring Harry out, he was afraid of losing the child in his own mind if he stayed hidden too long. But he didn't want to force entry like he had in Occlumency lessons; he valued the child's trust and he cared for him too much to cause him that pain ever again. "Harry, its Severus and Merlin, Godric and Rowena are here with me. We need to know who else is by you; we're almost there to bring you home."
"Home? Will you take me home, now Severus? I hurt, and I'm cold and hungry. Please take me home." Severus was worried, Harry's voice seemed much too young for the boy, and it kept getting younger and younger as he spoke. "Daddy, go home, now? Hungry!"
All of the adults were concerned. Up until this time, Harry had been confused and in pain, but now it seemed that Harry was reverting back to a young child. They needed to find him quickly before he blockaded himself, in his mind, into his childhood.
The link was still open and they could hear talking coming closer to Harry. 'Dear God, don't let it be that brute again!' prayed Severus. He looked at Rowena hopefully, "Yes," she said, "I've got him. He's about a furlong to the south. The other's have all deserted the area and slipped off in different directions. We can send the others out to find them, but I don't think they'll find anyone."
Through the link with Harry's mind they could hear the man getting closer and closer to the boy. "Come on little boy! You're all mine now, no one's here to save you. BOY! WHERE ARE YOU?" The words unconsciously mimicked Uncle Vernon's familiar bellow and Harry lost it. Severus was blasted backwards by a surge of raw power down the mind link he shared with Harry. He flew back into Godric who managed to catch him before he too fell backwards with the force. The ground rumbled, the trees shook and a blast of grey dust blew out the opening of a cave just barely in sight. Stunned, the four looked at each other before running. Severus made it to the entrance before all the dust had settled. He had his wand out removing bucketfuls of debris before the others arrived and quickly followed his actions. It was tiring, dirty work because they had to be careful not to hurt Harry, but every minute meant less air for the child. Rowena assured them she could still 'see' Harry, so he was still alive, but she couldn't give them any more information. "It's frustrating. I can tell he's there, but I can't get him to answer. Severus, are you getting anything more?"
"No, just pain, fear, and overwhelming darkness. He's panicked and scared to death. But it doesn't 'feel' quite right. I don't know what's wrong. We just have to get him out of there as fast as we can." Severus never stopped digging through the dust as he spoke. Godric yelled as he came to a leg. By the clothes, it was the brute that was tormenting Harry and he was dead. The removed him and found an encrusted shell of dust that was almost perfectly circular and hard as any boulder. The others stepped back and allowed Severus to gently dig under the edge. He made a hole big enough to slip under, like a dog digging under a fence, and slipped his head and shoulders into the bubble. He went perfectly still and silent before slowly backing out, gently dragging something behind him. With the bundle wrapped in a dirty robe, he sat with it on his lap and gently pulled back the edge. Green eyes looked up at him in delight. "DA DA!" Harry yelped. Severus fainted. Rowena grabbed the toddler while her husband grabbed his Dada.
AN: I am sooo mean. But I'm just having fun with you. Chapter 14 is in final edit, chapter 15 is in edit and chapter 16 is about half way done in rough draft. I like to keep about that far ahead so I can post fairly quickly. This should be around 22 to 23 chapters as it is outlined. Unless I decide to do a sequel. Thanks for reviewing, it keeps me writing.
Also, we have heavy rains and high winds predicted for the next ten days so I will be housebound and should be writing a lot.