Disclaimer; I am a talent-less Hack. I play in other's worlds and puppet their characters while they aren't watching.
/These are mind bullets killing the brain cells of the inferior human race. /
July thirtieth came fast and Harry hardly noticed. He was daily learning new bits of Craft and even learning things about the nature of magic as a whole. He slowly charged his Jewels with power, and his tutors were careful not to drain more than he could recoup in a day. They needed to make sure his red jewels and he were full of power the night of the thirtieth after all.
Saetan came to collect Harry in the afternoon.
"Harry, tomorrow is your seventeenth birthday correct? You will be an adult at that point, according to your people?"
"Yes sir, that is true."
"Tonight then, Harry, marks your initiation into adulthood. You will cease to be a child and take on the responsibilities of an adult. To mark the passage from child into adult it is time for your Offering to the Darkness. This is the transition from the power of a youth to the strength of a man. With greater responsibility comes greater power."
"Tonight sir?"
"Yes. Tonight is a night that will shape the future for you. You begin this evening a youth. You will end the night tomorrow morning, a man. Likewise your power will change. You must descend again into the Abyss. This time you will have the strength of your red jewels behind you to protect your mind, in addition to the pure nerve and determination you carried with you before."
"Will it just be the same as last time?"
"No, tonight is very different. Part of it will be the same, the journey down into the Abyss and weaving a new web, but there are other parts as well. Along the way, you will relive all of the defining moments of your life so far. You will be forced to examine your decisions again. How would you react to those situations now that you know the results? You will be judged by your responses. There are no right and wrong answers to some questions. This is a test of your character to see if you deserve to wield more power. The Darkness will weigh your strength of will, your purity of heart, and your instincts and determine what you would do with more power were it given to you. Given your birthright Jewels, you may come out of this night with power to match my own, or you may come out of tonight broken and powerless. The choices are all yours and only you can undergo this trial."
"You can't give me any advice at all?"
"I have only two pieces of advice for you. Firstly, we must go to the Keep in six hours, get some rest now because you won't get any tonight and may want to spend tomorrow with friends. Secondly, begin considering what you have done with your life thus far. Look back on the important people you know, places you've been, and the things you've done. What would you do differently and what are your plans for the future? That is the crux of tonight's ritual and it helps some people to be prepared. It may also help you to know that Hedwig will be doing this tonight as well, but I don't fully know what the kindred experience."
"I thank you for telling me what you could, sir. You told me it was coming a while ago, and I put it out of my mind. I will do my best."
"Don't do it for me, this is about you. It is probably for the best that you forgot about it. I wouldn't have told you the details until now anyway, you would have worried and second guessed yourself for weeks and that would have distracted you from what you needed to learn."
Harry was lost in the Abyss again. As soon as he passed his red web, the visions began.
Harry was four years old. He slipped on the wet kitchen floor, spilling the pan of scrambled eggs he was carrying to the table for his relatives. He knew what was coming. The last time, his uncle broke his arm after a vicious beating. What should he do? Should he accept the beating passively like before? Should he fight back? Using magic? Using Craft? Should he just run away?
He knew that violence was not the answer; he needed to be welcome in the house for the blood protections. He knew he couldn't kill his uncle; that was not the way. He also knew he did not deserve to suffer. In his vision, a shield came into place around him, so that his uncle could not harm him.
Harry was six. He was running from Dudley and his gang who wanted to beat him for sport. The panic and fear was present, but underneath Harry knew what was coming. Before, his overwhelming desire to escape had apperated him to the roof of the school. That display of magic had cost him last time. Instead he willed himself to be unseen, rather than to escape. The accidental magic made him blend into the background and he escaped both being caught and the punishment that followed.
He was back at the zoo, listening to the snake. This was different, he realized. He could follow his original path and nothing serious would happen. He could avoid it entirely if he wished. Both ended with the same result. Harry was in a miserable home and the snake was in a cage. No, it was time to make a major change. He wanted to help his brother in bondage like Daemon and Lucivar had helped him. When his relatives moved on, he vanished the glass and put a sight shield over the snake. It was hard for a young boy to carry a heavy snake, and harder to get it into his uncle's car unseen. When his vision saw him releasing the snake in the park near his home, he knew he had done the right thing. It was hard, but worth it. No sentient creature should be confined in a small cage.
His letter arrived. He decided not to change anything, the Dursleys deserved a bit of fear and panic.
Hagrid came to bring him to Diagon Alley. He followed along, not changing anything until he got to the Leaky Cauldron. When he saw Quirrel, he grabbed his face and gave him a big kiss. Certainly it was not a hostile gesture to any observers. He held on through the pain as Quirrel and Voldemort were burned alive. There was no mercy or tolerance for Voldemort or his supporters they had to die so others could be free. He woke in St. Mungo's hospital. An Auror was there to ask him questions. He wondered where Harry had acquired so many untended injuries. Harry told him all about the Dursleys. Justice is a sweet wine.
He was in the second bedroom. Dobby appeared and explained about bad things happening at Hogwarts. He asked Dobby what made a wizard great. He discussed that great people did great deeds and he needed to protect others even if it was at the cost of his own life.
He was in the bookstore with Lucius Malfoy. He grabbed the diary from Ginny's cauldron and hid it in his robes. He turned to confront Malfoy and told him he knew all about the plot to open the Chamber of Secrets. He told them Dobby had warned him, and suggested that such a disloyal servant deserved clothes. By playing on the arrogance of Lucius, he freed Dobby. He would protect his friends and free his brothers. He gave the diary to Dumbledore and told him about its abilities to respond. He would recognize it as a horcrux and begin the search early. Malfoy walked free, but Dobby was free too.
He was in the Chamber of Secrets, and the Basilisk was coming. He talked to the basilisk and explained that the Heir was dead. The other voice was merely a memory. He politely asked the basilisk to help him destroy the diary and was rewarded. Politeness and courtesy helped him win a powerful ally where before he had only enemies. Basilisks may be considered dark creatures, but they were not fundamentally evil, and could be reasoned with.
He was in Dumbledore's office after the Chamber. He watched unchanging as things played out. He followed Malfoy into the hall, and tricked him into freeing Dobby once more. Now it was time for a change. Malfoy supported Voldemort and funded corruption in the Ministry. Malfoy hurt Ginny. Two words were all it took. "Avada Kedavra." Then he just used craft to pass the body into the stone floor. Without a body, there was no crime, and Death Eaters got nothing but a cold grave.
He just blew up his Aunt Marge and was walking down the road with his trunk. There, he saw the black dog he was looking for. "Come with me Padfoot, I know where to find Wormtail. We can clear your name and live together as a family should." He summoned the knight bus. "Ottery St. Catchpole for me and the dog."
He was back in the Shrieking Shack. "Please Harry; don't let them kill me…" Pettigrew, his parents' betrayer begged him. His heart screamed for justice. He wanted revenge, But justice was not best served by vengeance. "Stupefy, Stupefy, Stupefy, Petrificus Totalus, Petrificus Totalus, Petrificus Totalus." He stunned and petrified all the marauders. He dragged Sirius and Peter back towards the castle, leaving Remus to transform alone. "Stupefy, Petrificus Totalus." Snape joined his collection. Justice would be served tonight, not vengeance. He watched as Wormtail got the Kiss he earned long ago, and Sirius was set free.
He watched his name come from the Goblet in his fourth year. "I forfeit." Problem solved.
He was alone in the office with the fake Moody, listening to advice about how to win the first task. "Imperio! Open the last compartment of the trunk and stun the occupant." He did so. "Avada Kedavra." And another cold grave met a former Death Eater. No witnesses and no mess. Moody would be found soon.
He saw Snape and Karkaroff in the potions lab. "This is your only warning. Death Eaters die alone and are never found. Seen Malfoy recently?" He was beginning to understand Sadi finally. Sometimes being a violent bastard was what was really needed.
He completed the tasks as he had the first time. Even knowing what awaited Cedric would not allow him to deny the rightful champion his victory. He landed in the graveyard. He saw the approach of Wormtail. "Avada Kedavra, Avada Kedavra, Stupefy." He killed Wormtail, freed Voldemort's soul again, and stunned Cedric while Cedric was still trying to decide what was going on. Two cold graves later and he was erasing Cedric's memory before summoning the portkey.
He relived fifth year, and the only change he made was to use the mirror before he ran off half cocked.
He found himself in the Department of Mysteries. More dead Death Eaters, wiped memories, and a pile of bodies were thrown through the veil. War is Hell, but because of the prophecy, his life was war.
He was a warrior; his only goal was to defeat Voldemort and his followers for the protection of everyone he loved. There was only one crime that warranted his wrath, and only one sentence. There were no repeat offenders He was Death incarnate to his enemies, and the loyal protector of everyone else. Throughout the night, he saw visions of war and terror. The prophecy pointed his life in one direction. Was he strong enough to survive? He didn't know but he refused to die until it was over. He was a Warlord Prince and would apologize to no one for what he had to do to protect them.
Suddenly the visions changed. Voldemort was dead at his feet for the last time, and his followers dead or captured. What now? His mind questioned. Now, all he wanted was to live. He saw a home, with a loving wife and children to raise and love. He saw himself teaching at Hogwarts, caring for children and teaching a new generation of Marauders. He saw himself growing old surrounded by family, teaching craft and magic to grandchildren. He saw a future beyond Voldemort for the first time. He didn't want to be an Auror; he had already seen enough war. He would fight to protect if he must, but he would not seek out a fight.
A war was coming and a lot of people would die. He would kill anyone he had to no matter who they were. Peace at any price. Peace through superior firepower. Peace or death, he would have one or the other. That was what being a Warlord Prince meant to him.
The next morning Daemon opened the door to his chamber slowly. Harry sat hunched and panting. Every fiber of his being screamed in exhaustion from the mental effort he had expended overnight. He had another uncut jewel in his fist. He resolved already that he would cut and set this one himself. He may not be a master jeweler like Bernard, but this Jewel was not meant to look good. This Jewel had one purpose, to serve a Warlord Prince in a time of war. He already knew he would never wear this Jewel at peace. The Red had more power than he needed for everyday life, and even most battles, but this new Jewel felt savage and untamed in his fist.
Daemon didn't ask about the results, and he didn't ping his mind. Harry would tell when he was ready. Daemon lead Harry through the halls to a dining room where breakfast and his family waited. They cheered when he entered and he was wished a happy birthday by some.
After the meal, Daemon handed a small box to Harry. Inside he found a small brass key. He looked at them with the question in his eyes. Daemon answered it.
"It's the key to a small cottage in the woods near Ebon Rih. Jaenelle used to go there when she needed some peace and solitude. It's yours now if you ever need a refuge to rest and recover. It's pretty deep in the woods, no people to bother you. It is rather close to Smoke's territory though so I hope you can get along with his pack."
"A home," Harry's eyes were full of unshed tears, "I've always had a place to live, but now I have a home. Thank you so much. Now I have somewhere to be Harry, not the boy who lived, not the savior of the wizarding world, not even Kae Tundros. This is where I can be just Harry Potter-SaDiablo. You'll never know what this means to me. You've already given me so much."
Draca made another appearance. "Congratulations Harry. The time draws closer for you to become your destiny. Follow me; there is something we need to show the others."
"I don't know of anything I need to show them."
"Are you certain?"
"I am certain. I hope they never have to see that."
"Follow me then, there is still something to do."
Draca lead them down into the heart of the mountain. The others, with the exception of Daemonar and Lucy, knew where they were going, but wondered why. They were headed towards the throne room and Lorn. They walked through a corridor filled with portraits and stopped before two ornate doors.
"Lorn will see you alone."
"Thank you."
Harry walked into the room, in the center there was a throne. Laying on the cushion was a crown and a scepter, both decorated with Black Jewels, now cracked and useless. Along the back wall was what appeared to be a carving a massive black dragon. An eye opened and the dragon spoke.
/So you are the newcomer, the new hero. I have watched you. I saw your birthright, your oath, and your Offering. You have power given to very few, do not abuse it. /
"I would prefer to never need it. I would give up the power and Jewel if I were anyone else. I am the only one who can help my people. Because of that I will need all the strength and allies I can get, but I wish I was not required to."
/Nothing is final. Visions and dreams can be changed. You have a choice, you always have. /
"No, I have a duty to the world. I am able to end this war; I cannot allow the innocent to suffer long enough for them to find a new savior. I will suffer. I will be injured. I will have to kill. I may not survive the war, but if I can provide a better future for others, it will be worth it."
/You are committed then? You are ready to lay down your life to protect those you have never met? You are ready to set your life on the side so you can fight? /
"Yes, I decided that last night and I am not about to back down now."
/You are truly worthy then. Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friend. Love is your strength, love for the world. Take the portrait from beside the door and hang it in the hallway next to the one of Jaenelle. /
"Thank you, but I am nothing special."
/No, let me tell you what you are.../
He emerged from the throne room and placed a portrait of himself on the wall. Everyone looked to him to say something.
"My name is Harry James Potter SaDiablo. I am Thunder's Son, Heir to the Griffons. I am Kae Tundros of the owls. I wear the Red Jewel, but I wield the Black. Dreams Made Flesh once again walks the Realms."