Title: Harry Potter and the Lady of Shadow

Author: le plume béni

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I plan to use many different ideas from many different sources… most of them not mine. Primarily this belongs to J. K. Rowling. Concepts may come from others such as Cate Tiernan, Anne McCaffrey, and Frank Herbert just to name a few. I'll be more specific when the ideas come up. Thanks to the above authors for coming up with the ideas in the first place!

Warning: be prepared for Harry/Draco slash… don't say I didn't warn you.

A/N: Constructive criticism is welcome. Praise is as well  However, I dislike flames immensely. If you don't like it, don't read it.

Chapter Two

It seemed to be a normal summer evening on Privet Drive. Families were sitting down to dinner, and music floated through the windows of kitchens as housewives put meals together. The weather was warmer than the usual summertime heat, but no one was complaining. Everything seemed to be in place. Everything, except for in the smallest bedroom of Number Four Privet Drive where an emerald-eyed boy lay in his bed instead of sitting at the table with his family, eyes clenched and flushed with fever.

This had, hands down, been the worst summer of Harry's life. His relatives had gone crazy. At least, that was Harry's private opinion. Never, even before his Hogwarts letter, had they ever been so abusive. It was like their hatred of him had eaten them up all school-year long, until it had reached a boil when he returned to the Muggle world for the holidays. They ignored all threats of his godfather, of their fear of his magic. They wouldn't allow Hedwig in the house and kept the fourteen-year old locked in his room. Every day after work Vernon would administer a daily, thorough beating (taking care to avoid his face so that the injuries could be hidden under clothes) and some nights he would come back for something that was much worse.

It had been almost a month since summer holidays had started, but it felt like years.

In the past two days, though, something strange had happened. Harry had become mysteriously ill, and for the first time since going to Hogwarts, uncontrolled magical events had returned with a vengeance. For example, his uncle hadn't been able to enter Harry's room (and he had raised hell about it until the magic began to block sound). His temperature had risen, he ached all over, and he was buzzing with an overflow of strange energy. Although he was in pain, the magic had a bright side; it had healed most of his grievous wounds. All that remained were the bruises spattered all over his body.

I wish I could have Hedwig back, Harry thought desperately. If only I could write for help…

DHD

Well that was fun, Jade thought sarcastically to herself as she left Malfoy Manor.

She had spent the last two hours erecting specialized wards over the Manor and runes of personal protection over Lucius Malfoy and her cousin Draco. She had spent an hour before that just giving explanations, at least the ones she allowed them to have.

"Uncle? I wasn't aware we were related," Lucius frowned at the woman he had just hired.

"My real name is Jade Rivera," she said, holding herself proudly. She felt a little unease at giving her name to a client, but he she reminded herself that Lucius was family. "My mother Rose was the child of an affair between Dominic Malfoy, your father, and Moraine Zabini. She took her mother's married name, but later married my father, Nicholai Rivera."

"Rivera… Nicholai Rivera is your father?" Lucius paled. "But that would mean that you're the Dark Lord's –"

"Over my dead body," Jade hissed her fury palpable in the rising magic in the room.

"Don't you dare ever mention that again. My father was an imbecile, and I won't ever go through with that fucking agreement." Lucius blank mask remained calm, but inside he was quite nervous.

"As you say," the Malfoy patriarch acquiesced.

When there was a moment of quiet, she had managed to corner Severus and have him give her certain information that would help her with the whole reason she came to England in the first place.

"I need you to do me a favor," Jade said suddenly. Lucius was currently getting a piece of information about the Manor wards from his library, and she and Severus were alone in the study.

"What is it? If it's reasonable you know I'll be happy to help you in any way I can," Severus offered. Jade had once been his student, when she was thirteen. She had sought him out and demanded to apprentice under him for the traditional year and a day. He had initially refused, but she had been stubborn, persuasive, and talented. At thirteen, she was more intelligent and gifted than most adults! At times he had trouble believing her age, even though he had seen her birth certificate. In that year they had become quite close; he knew too much about her past, she about his, and too many of each other's idiosyncrasies to be anything but. Now they were good friends, although on Severus's part at least the feelings were perhaps slightly more profound than friendship.

"It's about Potter," Jade told him seriously, drawing him out of his reverie. Severus's open expression changed into a cold sneer faster than quicksilver.

"What about the brat?" he said scathingly. She smiled, then tilted her head back and laughed. Despite himself, Severus felt his heart skip a beat. She's too young for you, old man, he reminded himself sternly.

"What's so funny?" he demanded.

"The fact that you're still holding that childish grudge even though the Severus I know is so mature, calm, and collected," she told him, her eyes dancing behind her sunglasses. Her words had the intended affect; it was like a slap in the Potions Master's face. She makes a good point, Severus thought grudgingly. If it had been anyone else he would have ignored their words, but not Jade. Never Jade. "Anyway, I need Potter's address," she continued.

"No."

"Why?"

"Albus would have my head," he said flatly.

"Why does he need to know? By the way, Uncle made a very good point – swearing allegiance to Dumbledore was a mistake. You taught me that true Slytherins stayed loyal only to themselves."

"The place is warded, Jade. Albus would know the moment any unauthorized witch or wizard set foot on that street. Anyway, I'm only loyal to the old man when it suits me to be. I do not follow him blindly," Severus said, his offense clear to the girl in his posture and tone.

"You think Lady Shadow would be stupid enough to get tripped up by mere wards?" It was Jade's turn to be offended.

"With Albus Dumbledore, it's not a matter of stupidity," Severus said dryly.

"I've met powerful wizards before, Severus. Albus Dumbledore and Voldemort aren't the be all end all of the world-wide power structure, believe me. Trust me," Jade said, her eyes beseeching him.

"Why do you want it? What could you want with Potter?"

"I know about the prophecy. Trelawney wasn't the only Seer who gave it."

"It's a Double Prophecy?" Severus asked, stunned.

"Yes. So Potter's my only hope and I intend to help him anyway I can. I want to meet him before I get Sorted and prejudices cloud his mind. You know what House I'll be in, Sev."

"Of course," the Potions Master smirked. "All right. Harry Potter lives in Number Four, Privet Drive, Surrey."

"Thank you, Severus."

Now that she had dealt with official business, it was time to deal with the unofficial. She was a magical prodigy, but she wasn't destined to defeat the Dark Lord. That was Harry Potter's lot in life, and Jade's life and freedom depended on his doing so. But just because she couldn't kill the bastard herself didn't mean that she couldn't help his demise come about.

I hope you're up to being trained, Potter, because you're in for the summer of your life.

DHD

Someone's here.

He didn't know how he knew, but he did. He had a gut feeling that it was his magic telling him this, but it could just be that weird sense that most people have that informed them when they were no longer alone.

"Hello?" he said, opening his eyes and sitting up. He hadn't really been asleep, just resting with his eyes closed and letting his mind wander, trying to ignore the pain.

"Harry Potter?" a rich feminine voice asked. He slid his glasses onto his nose and began to scoot back into his pillow with his knees pressed to his chest when he spied a strange woman in a dark cloak standing in the center of his room. He hadn't even heard the "pop" to signify her arrival.

"Yes," he said warily. Was she a Death Eater?

"I'm not one of Voldemort's pathetic minions," the witch scoffed. Harry blinked at the use of the insane megalomaniac's name. "My name is Jade Rivera, she added in a kindlier tone as she lowered her hood. "I'm a friend of your Potions professor, Severus Snape. I'll also be a transfer student at Hogwarts next year."

"Why are you here? How did you get in? Did Dumbledore send you?"

"I wanted to meet you. Magic. No, he didn't," she replied to his questions in perfect order. She noticed his wince as he accidentally bumped one of his various bruises and frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he lied quickly. She made a quick motion with her hand, magically scanning him.

"Who did this to you?" she asked coldly.

JADE'S POV

The room was ripe with magic.

That was Jade's first observation. She could tell that the Boy Who Lived was close to his magical Maturity, dangerously close. He was young for it, though. Most witches and wizards went through this process at seventeen, because it marked them as adults. Well so were you, she reminded herself.

"Hello?" he said, opening his eyes and sitting up. He hadn't really been asleep, just resting with his eyes closed and letting his mind wander, trying to ignore the pain.

"Harry Potter?" she asked, seeking confirmation that she was in the right place.

"Yes," the younger teen said warily. He has the greenest eyes, she noticed. They were the exact same shade as Avada Kedavra.

"I'm not one of Voldemort's pathetic minions," Jade scoffed, realizing what he must think as the saw the distrust in his eyes. Harry blinked at her in surprise. "My name is Jade Rivera," she added as she lowered her hood. "I'm a friend of your Potions professor, Severus Snape. I'll also be a transfer student at Hogwarts next year."

"Why are you here? How did you get in? Did Dumbledore send you?" the boy asked quickly, curiosity shining in his eyes. There was also pain and something else… was it hope?

"I wanted to meet you. Magic. No, he didn't," she replied to his questions in perfect order. She noticed his wince as he accidentally bumped one of his various bruises and frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he lied quickly. She made a quick motion with her hand, magically scanning him. Her eyes widened at the number of bruises and recently healed wounds and internal damage. That's right; your magic heals any serious injuries you have right before Maturity, she remembered absently.

"Who did this to you?" she demanded coldly.

"Nobody," he lied again, looking scared and uncomfortable. He's a terrible liar.

"Bullshit. Whoever it was, I'll protect you. Trust me." Nearly painful hope began to shine in Harry's eyes, and he stared at her, trying to decide what to do. She's my only hope, he realized.

"My uncle," he said softly. Louder, he added, "Vernon Dursley."

"Get your things," she said, cold fury etched into her expression and her posture.

"They're locked in the cupboard downstairs," Harry informed her. "My relatives… well, they don't care for magic very much."

"Come with me, then," Jade said, her voice deadly. He scrambled up off the bed carefully and hurriedly put on his shoes. He grabbed most of his tattered, over-large wardrobe and nodded to show that he was ready.

She blasted the entire door apart.

She didn't even use a wand, Harry noticed in awe and followed her as she strode downstairs.

"FREAK! WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING! I'M GOING TO –"

"You're going to what, Dursley?" Jade interrupted, her voice deadly.

"Just who the hell are you? One of his freak friends?" Vernon spat, but Jade could read the nervousness in his eyes clear as day.

"Yeah, I am. And I do not appreciate how you've treated him," she replied, an unholy light in her eyes.

"This is preposterous! We've fed him, clothed him –"

"Beat him, raped him," Jade spat coldly. She didn't see Harry's face pale behind her.

"This is ridiculous…"

"Shut. Your. Fucking. Mouth," Jade hissed. The muggle obeyed. "Abuse deserves punishment. That's how I work. An eye for an eyes sort of thing. So –" she whispered a spell under his breath and his beefy hands crashed to the floor, neatly severed from the large man's wrists. He screamed, and blood sprayed everywhere. Jade whispered another spell and his belt, pants, and underwear disappeared.

"I prefer to do this part myself," she explained in a sweet tone, smiling nastily. She walked up to Harry's uncle, grabbed his "goods" in one hand with a grimace – I won't be properly clean for months – and tore them clean off.

"Now I've deprived you of both weapons," she said, the satisfaction clear in her tone. Petunia and Dudley stood in the kitchen doorway, open-mouthed horror plain on their faces. She turned in dismissal and faced Harry. The other teen looked ill, but a dark satisfaction shone in his eyes as well.

"I've got my stuff," he told her quietly. Jade noticed a trunk and empty cage beside him.

"All right. Make sure you're in contact with all of your things, and grab my hand." Harry obeyed. Jade summoned her power from that well-spring inside her very core and Shifted them back to her hotel room.

Author's Note

I will explain the following later in the story:

- Shifting

- why Jade needs Harry to defeat Voldie

- what Maturity is

r/r!