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Sleepy Ash

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Prolog

Sleepy Ash, or 'Harry', as his most recent name was, was currently in the body of a 15-month-old toddler, and was dressed in a red cat-onesie as he stood in his crib. The room was dark, expect for the nightlight and the light coming from the open bedroom door. His mother had put him to bed at the same time as always, but there was a growing dread in his stomach that was keeping him awake. Something bad was going to happen tonight. He had tried telling his parents earlier, but, though his thoughts were clear in his mind, there was a disconnection between his thoughts and his physical ability to actually speak those words; so, of course, the only thing that comes out of his mouth was baby-babble. Then again, his parents might not have taken him seriously even if he could talk; the house they were in was hidden by the Fidelious Charm.

However, paranoia and fear was a dangerous combination that caused people to make terrible mistakes, more often than not, and his parents had already switched Secret Keeper once after the Fidelious was cast. From what he had overheard, the original Secret Keeper was apparently too obvious of a choice, and his parents were too paranoid to trust him. They switched to a more 'unexpected' person; one Harry didn't like at all. There was a foul taint around that man, but no matter what Harry did to try and tell someone, they never picked up on it. He'd thrown tantrums, he'd cried, he'd screamed; things he didn't normally do, given his centuries old mind, but nothing he did made the 'adults' realize that something was wrong.

Now, he could feel the conclusion rearing its head, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He'd not regained any of his powers as of yet, though he could feel his magic rushing just beneath his skin, and running through his veins. He had no control; no way to protect himself, little along his parents, and that scared him.

o0o

He didn't remember falling asleep, but he was awoken by a commotion downstairs, and he could hear his father yelling. His mother came running up the stairs, and through the door, and he could smell her fear. She grabbed him and ran to the door only to slam on the brakes, and instead slammed the door shut. Someone was in their house. He could feel his mother's heartbeat going crazy before she dropped him back in his crib, saying a prayer. The door shattered and his mother turned to face the intruder, shielding her son with her body.

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead!"

Harry felt something snap within him as he heard his mother's desperate pleas. She was sacrificing herself for him, her magic reacting to her words, trying to bind the intruder to whatever word or action he would take as a result of her begging. She knew she was dying and her magic responded in kind; to protect him.

"This is my last warning." The intruder spoke. "Step aside, you silly girl."

Harry felt his magic pulse, but he couldn't make it move. He knew his father had to be dead for the intruder to have reached this far into the house.

"Not Harry! Please... have mercy... have mercy... Not Harry! Not Harry! Please! I'll do anything..." His mother begged.

His magic wouldn't move; he couldn't make it move.

The intruder lifted his wand.

"Move. Move. Do something! Move!" Sleepy Ash commanded his magic, but it wouldn't budge.

His mother screamed, the deadly green light striking her square in the chest, and her body fell to the floor.

"MAMA!"

His magic exploded.

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