Chapter 12
The statue glowed, a red light flaring up in its carved eyes. "News,"
Lucius held up the black crystal. Multi-colored light swirled inside it, bathing Lucius's face in a rainbow of light. "All the ones that were kissed are now dead."
"All of them?" Voldemort asked.
"Bar three," Lucius admitted.
"I see," Voldemort said softly. "That should suffice. Now then, do you have the bones?"
Lucius pulled a long leather bag from a corner. Carefully, he drew out a completed skeleton. "I don't know who's these are, but they are in remarkably good condition. If I may ask Milord, why did you place a skeleton in that cave by the sea. It seems rather random."
Voldemort's eyes glowed. "That is my secret Lucius. As loyal as you are, there are some things I do not wish to reveal to you."
"Milord," Lucius said. "Nothing could make me ashamed of you."
Voldemort looked at Lucius for a long time in silence. "Perhaps one day I will tell you, but for now, I wish to keep it to myself."
Lucius bowed. "As you wish Milord," he said quietly.
'Now that everything is in place, we can move up our time table a bit. I believe we can set things up for the second task instead of the third."
"Now," Lucius asked.
Voldemort winked at him. "Relax," he said. "We have an ally, one that no one would expect."
"What?" Lucius said. "Who?"
"That is not important at the moment my slippery friend. He doesn't know he's helping us, not yet anyway."
Lucius looked at his master confusedly. "I don't understand," he said slowly.
"You don't need to. Notice I said he is an ally, not a friend. He will work with us to take down a common enemy."
"Okay," Lucius said.
"So, what is my purpose here?"
"Go to Hogwarts," Voldemort said. "Once there, contact St. Mungo's and summon a mind healer."
Voldemort spoke for a long time and Lucius listened intently. When he was done, Lucius bowed.
"It will be as you command Milord."
**HPS**
"Are you sure you can do this?" Lilith asked for the third time as she gazed at her son.
"We've been very lax in our goal to destroy Death Eaters. The only one we've dealt with so far is Snape and those we stripped of their magic in Azkaban. Voldemort still has followers in the Ministry."
"I can take care of them," Lilith said.
"You need to watch Dumbledore," Harry said firmly. "You are older, wiser, and more powerful than I am. I still don't trust the old man. His sudden compassion for us is suspicious."
"You don't think he's on our side?" Sirius asked.
"Dumbledore is never on anyone's side but his own," Harry said.
"That's pretty harsh son," Sirius said. "To be fair, he could be on our side. Maybe he really has changed."
"And maybe I'll name one of my children Albus Severus," Harry snarked.
Bellatrix appeared suddenly, grinning widely. "Fun fact, you did in one universe?"
"Bella," Sirius said. "What are you doing here?"
"I have them," Bella said to Lilith holding up three vials of blood.
"What are those?" Sirius asked.
Lilith gingerly took the three vials and tucked them away in a pocket. I sent Bellatrix to the closest parallel universe. In that Universe I was a changeling left on the Evans doorstep."
"Okay," Harry said. "Changeling makes me think of the fae."
"You would be right," Lilith explained. "In that universe, I was the daughter of Morgan Le Fay and The Erlking. Unfortunately, the fae in that universe had bread with humans for centuries. Even this relatively pure sampling has an overabundance of mortal blood in it."
"And that's bad?" Harry asked.
"When I'm trying to revive a long dead race, yes."
"You're trying to bring back the fae?" Sirius asked.
"Correct," Lilith said. "It will take a long time, but I am hopeful of being able to isolate the genetic material I need."
"Why not have Bellatrix go to a different universe?" Harry asked.
"Because even using the vale in the ministry, traveling to other universes takes a lot of power. If I focus on sending her to other worlds, I will drastically weaken myself. Why do you think you haven't seen her in years? I sent her on this mission just after I sired her. It took me years to recover."
"but how did she get back?" Harry asked.
"I gave her a talisman that would allow her to travel from this universe to its neighbor and back. It was a two-way trip, so she had to be sure of what she had before returning." Lilith fixed Bellatrix with a glare. "Our counterparts are still alive?"
Bellatrix pouted. "I tried to change them mistress, but they just wouldn't change." She scowled. "They weren't very happy."
"I imagine not," Lilith said. "Luckily you didn't end up in the world where Harry was a Death god. You probably wouldn't have made it back."
"Okay," Sirius said. "How many worlds are there?"
Too many to count," Lilith said. There are some where Harry was raised by Voldemort, some where James and I survived and raised him, others where you raised him, and those are just the ones I can think of. There's one where Harry partners up with a fallen angel trapped in a silver coin called a Denarian."
"But which one is real?"
"All of them are real. There isn't one that is any less valid than any other. Although," she paused.
"Although?" Harry asked.
"Well there is this one where Hermione Granger becomes Minister of magic and Voldemort has a kid. Your son Albus Severus goes back in time, screws up the timeline, and causes himself to cease to exist. His best friend Scorpius Malfoy is forced to fix everything."
"That sounds like the plot of a comic book."
"It really does?" Lilith said. "At least the one where you were the son of Thor had a concise storyline that makes sense."
"Weren't you supposed to be doing something?" Sirius asked Harry.
"Oh yeah, I need to go kill some Death Eaters." Harry kissed his Mother on the cheek and vanished.
"How much of that other universe crap were you serious about?"
"All of it," Lilith said.
Sirius gaped. "Really?"
"Yep," Lilith said picking up the vials of blood. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a dead race to revive."
As she strode away, Sirius stared after her his eyebrows furrowed. Even if she could revive the fae as a race, there culture, there knowledge, and magic would be gone. He turned away, striding towards the door. He had Death Eaters to find.
**HPS**
McNaire scowled as he stumbled into his house. He nearly fell, just managing to catch himself by grabbing the doorframe.
"Shouldn't've drank so much," he slurred.
"No, you really shouldn't," a voice said calmly.
McNaire spun around nearly tripping over his own feet. "What, who," he stammered.
A sudden blow sent him sprawling. He spat out a tooth and struggled to his feet.
"I'll gut you," he growled. A large double-bladed acts appeared in his hands from nowhere. He swung the ax wildly.
The weapon was jerked from his hands so hard the wooden handle burned his fingers. He grunted and drew his wand.
"Avada Kedavra," he roared. The flash of green light lit up the hallway of his manor revealing a figure standing in the doorway. "Reducto," he growled. A blast of red light flew through the doorway.
"Got you," he crowed.
"Guess again," a voice hissed in his ear.
McNaire spun around thrusting his wand out in front of him. "Crucio," he cried.
He heard a window shatter as the spell obviously missed.
He howled as his arm suddenly snapped at the elbow. "No," he whispered as his wand clattered to the floor.
"This seemed to work for you," the figure said appearing in front of him. McNaire saw his ax swinging down towards him. He shrieked as his arm flew across the room.
"Ahh," he moaned, clutching the stump. "Why would you do this."
A cold blast of air suddenly blew across his left arm. "Look at that," the figure hissed. "A dark mark."
"I was imperiused," McNaire wailed.
"Really," the figure snarled. The ax swung down again, slicing through his right leg. "Aarg," he cried. Looking around frantically, he saw his blood pooling around him.
"Do you just intend to let me bleed to death?" he asked.
"You're right," the figure said. A bolt of fire cauterized the stump of his arm and leg. McNaire's screams were loud enough to cause the windows of the manor to shiver in their frames.
"Don't worry," the figure said. The ax swung down twice more, removing his remaining arm and leg. "I'm not going to kill you. I have something better in mind."
"What do you mean," McNaire whimpered.
"You'll see," he said. Seizing McNaire by the neck of his robes, they vanished, leaving nothing behind.
**HPS**
"Why did you bring him here?" Lilith asked as she stirred a vial of red liquid.
"If you're going to try and revive the fae, you're going to need to have someone to experiment on."
Lilith drew the liquid out of the vial into a syringe.
"Thank you," she said approaching McNaire. "This may sting a bit.
"What are you doing?" McNaire whimpered.
"This," Lilith said injecting the liquid into McNaire's shoulder.
"What was that liquid," Harry asked.
"A few drops of the fae blood and a little of mine."
McNaire began to twitch. His back arched, foam dripping from his mouth. Fire suddenly exploded from his eyes and he shrieked in agony. The fire quickly consumed him, turning him to ash.
"Well," Lilith said. "That didn't work."
"That was a bit too much of your blood," Harry said.
"Most likely," Lilith said.
"Want me to get you more people to test it on?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Lilith said. "They'll have to be wizards though. Fae are magical beings. It might seriously harm mundane humans."
"Got you," Harry said. "I'll see what I can do."
**HPS**
Weeks later, Harry looked around the room staring at the piles of ash before glancing at a chair.
"Hey," he said. "He survived."
Lilith rolled her eyes. "No need to sound so pleased about it."
"but is he fae?"
Lilith leaned close, sniffing deeply.
She frowned. "Nope, just an extremely powerful wizard.
"Well, at least that's a start."
A man sat slumped in a chair. He slowly sat up and stared around. "I survived," he whispered his voice was deep and rumbling, but with a slight musical lilt.
"Yes," Lilith said. "You won't need a wand anymore. You are a lot stronger than you were before."
Arthur Weasley stood up and strode over to a mirror. He gazed at his reflection in shock.
His formerly thinning red hair was now full and glossy. A red beard covered his chin and his blue eyes seemed to glow faintly. He glanced at Lilith before gazing around the room.
"How many people died before me?" he asked.
"One Death Eater, five murderers, and ten rapists."
"You know," Harry said. "Sixteen fails aren't really that bad when trying to revive a long dead race. I mean he's not fae, but it's a start."
Arthur frowned. "Are you sure that those people you tested it on were really criminals?"
"I read their minds," Lilith said.
Arthur looked at Lilith. "Why did you choose me?"
"You have honor and integrity. That is rare in a mortal, whether he be magical or mundane.
"What about my family?"
"With your blood, I can change the rest of your family with no trouble. They'll all be extremely powerful wizards. However,"
"However?" Arthur asked.
"I will want to examine each of them before I change them. I don't want to give them a massive boost in power and create a family that will attempt to rule the world."
"Of course," Arthur said. "I would expect nothing less."
Lilith offered him a hand. "Thank you for allowing us to test this experiment on you. I was almost sure you'd survive."
Arthur glared at her. "What if I hadn't survived?"
Lilith drew out a small hourglass on a long silver chain.
"A time-turner?" Arthur said.
"Yeah," Lilith said.
Arthur shook his head. "I'll contact you when I've convinced my family to go through with this."
Lilith tossed him a large bag of gold. "As payment for your help."
Arthur turned on the spot, vanishing with a loud crack.
Lilith looked at Harry. "I think he likes us."
**HPS**
As the Yule Ball approached, the castles inhabitants seemed to be working overtime. Suits of armor were polished to a high sheen. Twelve-foot Christmas trees decorated the Great Hall and tiny winged fairies flitted through the halls, giggling in high-pitched mousy voices."
"Those are rather annoying," Daphne said conversationally on Christmas Eve as a fairy flew passed her head.
"Yeah," Harry said. "Shame they're just glorified magical constructs."
"Actually, that's a good thing," Daphne explained. Could you imagine the reaction if we put live pixies on a Christmas tree?"
Harry nodded. "Good point."
"Has your Mother had any luck with reviving the fae?"
Harry shook his head. "The closest she's been able to come is an immortal wizard. The problem is the sample Bellatrix got us from that other universe was degraded."
"Degraded?" Daphne asked.
"It had a lot of human genetic material in it. Even the pureblood sample she was able to obtain has human genes in it."
"And that's bad?"
"When your trying to rebuild a race, yes. In order to change someone into a fae, Mum would need an untainted sample. Meaning a sample of fae blood with no human in it. Even then, she's told me the chances of getting the changes exactly right are slim to none. Mum said the best she could hope for was a half-fae which is eventually going to be bread out in successive generations."
"So, the fae blood is a bust?"
"Not entirely," Harry said. "Mum said she's got enough to create a race of immortal wizards. She's considering making some of those."
"Why?" Daphne asked.
Harry shrugged. "Who knows. This is Mum we're talking about here." Glancing around, he changed the subject.
"Are you ready for the Ball?"
Daphne nodded. "Oh yes, she paused for a second. "I have a surprise for you."
"Oh?" Harry asked. "What sort of surprise?"
Daphne leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "You'll see," she said in a singsong voice. "I've got to go to the common room. I'll see you later."
Harry watched with a bemused expression as she walked away. He wondered what she could be planning, but pushed it out of his mind. He had a mission for his Mother to take care of.
**HPS**
The prime Minister jumped as a young teen appeared in his Office. It'd been a long day and he was exhausted. He'd had many important phone calls that needed to be made and he'd just finished the last one.
"Who… what…" he blinked at the boy in surprise.
"Now see here," he said drawing himself up to his full height. "You can't just pop in here whenever you see fit."
The boy tilted his head, his orange eyes glowing faintly. "Pardon?" he asked.
"Wizards," the prime minister snapped. "No respect."
The boy blinked at him. "Ah," he said. "I was unaware that you knew of the magical world."
"Yes, I bloody know of the magical world," the prime Minister growled. "Your people showed up earlier this year and informed me that they were bringing dragons into the country. Dragons!"
"Yes, that was pretty stupid," the boy acknowledged. "But I'm afraid you are mistaken."
"Mistaken?" the prime minister asked. "Mistaken about what?"
The boy smiled brushing his red hair out of his eyes. "You see, I'm not a wizard."
"You're… not?"
"Nope," the boy said. "Names Harry Potter; I assume you've heard of me?"
The prime minister made a move as if reaching for something, but froze in mid-motion. He struggled to move his arm, but it was as if it'd been dipped in cement.
The boy, Harry, tsked. He gestured with one hand and a small pistol appeared lying on his palm.
"I see you have heard of me," Harry said.
"The Minister of magic warned me about you. He said you were a demon."
"Hardly," Harry said. "No, my Mum is just a mother. Well to be technical, she is The Mother."
"The Mother?" the prime Minister said. "The Mother of what?"
"Of Monsters," Harry said. "Vampires, ghouls, pretty much every monster you can think of."
"She gave birth to them?" the prime minister sputtered.
"No," Harry said wagging a finger at him. "She created them."
"Created them?"
"Yes, some from human stock, some from other… beings. Point is, she just wanted children. I am her only biological son."
"I see," the prime minister said. "And what do you want with me?"
"Well you see," Harry said leaning back in his chair. "Mum and I are rather tired of being judged for being demons when we are not. Mum's taken a look at things and doesn't like what she sees. Wars, famines, infighting between political factions, it's all rather messy."
The prime minister felt his stomach drop. Somehow, he knew he wasn't going to like where this was going. "What does that have to do with me?"
Harry smiled at him. "You are one of the elected leaders of the western civilization. See, you and a few others just need a guiding hand to keep you on the right path. Unfortunately for you, we've decided that you can't be trusted with power. It's nothing personal, it's just political. You understand."
The prime Ministers mouth was suddenly very dry. "You're going to kill me?"
The boy's orange eyes blazed suddenly. He smiled, revealing sharp pointed teeth. The shadows in the room seemed to writhe around him like ghostly serpents.
"No, of course not," he said. "Mum's decided to adopt you into her family. Won't that be fun?"
The prime minister tried to move, but found himself unable. The boy was suddenly standing right in front of him. "This won't hurt a bit," he said solemnly.
The last thing the prime minister saw was those orange eyes staring into his.
