Harry Potter and the Life Unlived

By

Vulpine Nox

Underlined is writing

Italics is telepathy

Bold is parseltouge

Last Chapter

Jade and Onyx were easily pulling off the impersonation of Cat and Neville. Cat healed completely after three days and had gone back to Gryffindor the previous day. Neville was healing nicely, and was just stirring, ten days after the troll incident. He moaned and opened his eyes. There was a bleary shape above him he blinked.

This Chapter

"How are you feeling Longbottom?"

Unearthly silver eyes were looking down him, "Alright. What happened to the troll?"

"I saved you." He vividly remembered Myst turning into a giant fox and killing the troll as he had sat on the floor in the ruined bathroom, his life leaving him. He had only asked her to be sure he wasn't hallucinating.

"Oh." He sat up and looked around. He was in a large bedroom, lying on twin canopy bed with a dark red comforter and hangings. A huge picture of a valley with snow capped mountains hung on the wall opposite of the bed and a door to the right of that. An old fashioned wardrobe made of mahogany sat on the left side of the room with a large desk

"You do realizing what this means?" The Slytherin girl question.

"You can't mean to bind me with a life debt! I'm only eleven!" Neville retorted after a moment of shocked silence.

"Is that all you know about life debts? You would of died, and I saved you, that means that you have no choice, unless you care to lose you magic and your name?" She said harshly.

"You would strip me of my magic, my name? Even you can't be that cruel."

"Fool," she hissed, "I would not do such an act. Your very magic would do it, your family magic. I am simply giving you the option to keep both. You would be bound to serve me, bound to obey, but I would not be harsh without reason. You could be a great wizard Longbottom, don't throw away your potential."

"You would not make me do thing I don't want to would you?"

"You will do as I wish. You do not seem to understand Longbottom, what will happen if you don't. You would be thrown into the muggle world knutless. Shunned by all the witches and wizards alike, it would be the end to the House of Longbottom. It would be remembered as a honorless House. The ministry would seize your family's possessions. How would your grandmother live without any money and a shameful House's name to bear? How would you parents survive? The would be thrown out onto the street. Do you see Longbottom? I am giving you a chance to save your grandmother, your parents. If I was cruel, truly cruel, I would turn you away, let all of this happen without acting." Silver said all of this in a harsh voice.

"I apologize," Neville hung his head realizing that he had been mistaken, she was being kind in offering him this, "what do I have to do to be bound?"

"Simply say, I recognize my life is completely owed to the House of Myst and I wish to repay that debt, you can add something if you like." She said in a gentle tone.

"I recognize my life is completely owed to the House of Myst and I promise to try to repay that debt and I shall do all in my power to serve the House of Myst." He said this in a choked voice realizing that he was selling his freedom to save his family. Cursing the ancestors of wizards and witches for creating this ancient practice. After he had finished speaking he felt his magic spread out into his body filling him with such power he had never felt before. It seemed to snake around him and then it started to squeeze, he gave into it completely, knowing that it was binding him to his promise. After a moment it lessened and he opened his eyes not realizing that he had closed them, Myst stood up,

"I, Anastacia Myst, accept his words and welcome him into the Mysts' service." The pressure came back full force and then once again lessened until it was a slight pressure in his mind.

"It is good that you were willing otherwise it would of been more, stressful." Silver stated after she too felt a slight pressure on her mind. She had become much more, aware of Neville, she felt his hunger and an extreme amount of emotions whirling through his mind. She opened the link further and could catch the general gist of his thoughts.

"What would you have me do, Master?" Neville felt his mouth twist distastefully at the new title, he hadn't intended to say it.

Silver's lips twitched in amusement, "There is no need for that currently, just call me Myst in public and Ana in private. But do not forget that you serve my House and my family. There will be several rules, firstly no one is to know of your debt, service to my House and binding or anything that you have learn in doing so. Sec-"

"But wha-" Neville felt as if someone had slapped him across the face quite hard. He hissed in pain as he reeled back, covering his face with left arm and drawing his wand with his right. He felt another, much harder, hit on his right arm and cried out and dropping his father's wand. It felt as if he had broken it again.

"You never interrupt when I am speaking and you never draw a wand on any of the Myst without explicit permission." She said all of this quietly and in a voice cold with anger. "You are allowed to ask questions when I am done speaking. As for you question, I had someone stand in for you and your housemates are none the wiser. We have a link Neville, I can sense your questions. I didn't leave a mark on you if you are wondering, the link lets me discipline you. Your may ask questions now."

"Why didn't you just read my mind and why did you hit me so hard?" Neville recover quickly the pain fading to a dull ache in his arm and completely in his face. He snatched up his father's wand

"Pain will encourage you to drop your, Gryffindor habits and as well as other bad ones. I didn't read your mind because I didn't care to." She nodded to Neville after she had finished speaking, giving him permission to speak.

"Is that all you wish of me Ana?" He asked, miffed at the fact she insulted Gryffindor.

"No, you are horribly weak and therefore a liability. I want you to become stronger. Hermione Granger is very smart and will probably help you, as will my sister Cat. You will come down here once a week and train with me." He sagged when she said he was weak. He knew it was true, but it was a slap in the face to hear it said by another. "From now on this is your room, you may come here whenever you wish and you may do with it what you wish. You will still sleep in Gryffindor though."

"Yes Ana."

"You may go, Cat will escort you out."

Neville got off the bed he was lying on and opened the door, glancing back at where Ana sat, and did a double take. She wasn't there.

"Hi Nev, how you doing?" He jumped, Cat stood behind him.

"Hi Cat, is it the same thing with you to?" He asked half heartedly not daring to hope that she would still be his friend.

"Of course not silly, you're my friend." Cat smiled sadly at him, she didn't approve of her sister's actions.

"Why don't you owe a debt or Hermione?"

"Life debts are nullified if you save a family member and Hermione is a muggleborn. She will take the oath that our wizarding ancestors took, after she graduates from magical training, anything before that isn't counted, and she wouldn't of died for sure. Come on, I'll show you how to get out and in." Cat said. Neville was starting to think that maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

–

"Get up Neville, now." Silver stated calmly.

He hated his training with Ana and was coming to dislike her strongly. This after just five 'lessons' and a month and a half. She made him run until he dropped, then she made him practice spells. He didn't know why she bothered, she was right he was weak. But he did learn a few spells, a mild choking curse, a blunt force curse, and a fire curse. He learn how to successfully preform wingardium leviosa and a color changing charm. But he was to weak to use them very successfully, his choking curse only lasted for a few seconds, his blunt force curse felt like a mild punch(Ana had made it reflect back and hit him), his fire curse was just enough to singe hair, he couldn't float anything larger than a schoolbook and he could only turn things green. He learn spells, albeit not very well, but he learn none the less and still Ana maintained that he was as weak as when he started. Good aim was his only skill, he could hit most anything within a twenty foot radius.

"Up, Longbottom." Ana stated again, no change in tone but he could feel annoyance through the bond. He slowly sat up, wincing at where his own curse had once again bruised him. He had been knocked down when Ana had unexpectedly reflected his own curse back at him once again, aimed at his shin.

"You may go now Neville, and you may go home for the Solstice." He bowed quickly and left, his mind on whether or not his grandmother's owl was in the owlery.

–

Before long, winter solstice was approaching and most of the students, including Neville, were packing up to go home for the holidays. Snape came in and posted a notice on the Slytherin message board for the students that would be spending Winter Solstice at Hogwarts. Malfoy quickly erased his name from the list when he realized that both Shade and Silver were staying at Hogwarts as well as all of the known sisters.

The night of Winter Solstice gifts were exchanged at midnight. Shade's snake had returned badly wounded and was telling him of the that had attacked him. Silver hadn't seen warm stones, her snakes, since her arrival at the school and feared the worst. Blackberry along with the other cat were happily playing around the presents. Silver hadn't seen much of Blackberry mostly because she was being taken care of by the only older cat that hadn't gone off to explore the forest. Berry had begun to learn telepathy and could get her general point across, food, sleep, scared, hurt etc., as well as pictures to express herself and was now old enough to start accompanying Silver everywhere.

Silver gave all of the girls their own 'Vampyri' book with their bloodlines and a promise for future training in fighting with and without magic. She and Shade hadn't yet started training them because they had been so busy. Silver gave Shade a copy of the simple runic computer, with all of the current books she had copied. Shade gave the sisters several books on instrumental magic (non-wizarding magic but still utilizing physical foci) and Silver a book on runes. The sisters for the most part gave hand made things and a blank piece of parchment to Shade.

"This is one of the things you repossessed from Filch," said Ala said to Ana.

"We figured out how to get it to work though," said Jade.

"It will be very handy for us," said Ivy.

"Just say, 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good'," continued Roses in stereo.

The blank parchment was quickly spiderwebbed with lines across the it and it soon developed into a map.

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs present the Marauder's Map. Large spidery writing scrawled across the previously blank parchment. Various dots were moving all labeled with the names of teachers and students in the school.

Hello all, I am quite glad to have come by new owners.

"Are you the Map?" Shade questioned quite curious.

Right you are. Our makers each put a bit of their personality in us.

"So you are an A.I.?"

What is an A.I.?

"Artificial Intelligence, it is a muggle term. Do you have emotions? What level of intelligence are you? Who created you?"

Yes I have emotions, though they are minimal, about a seventh year and I already told you that. What are your names? Its odd, I can only vaguely tell where we are and I can't tell who any of you are.

"Ana, Raine, Iris, Ivy, Rose, Lily, Cat, Jade, Onyx, Terra, Ala, Astra, Anea, Anora Myst and Harry Potter."

Harry Potter? As in James's Potter son? Who did he marry?

"He married Lily Evans, did you know them?"

He was one of my makers, Prongs. It is nice to know he is doing well. I assume I was confiscate around the beginning of the makers sixth year. I haven't had anyone to talk to for years, it gets boring.

"Map," Shade said tentatively, "James and Lily Potter were murdered on my first Halloween, I was three months old."

Oh dear, I am very sorry Harry, I assume that it was Voldemort? If I may ask how did you live?

"No one knows map, but now I am famous for something I did as a child still in my nappies. It's very annoying."

Hm. Where did you go to live?

"Dumbledore sent him to the Dursleys." Silver said unhappily.

As in Lily's relative's, the ones who despise all things magical? What do you know of Sirius Black, Remus Lupine and Peter Pettigrew? One of them should of stepped to help take care of you Harry.

"I have never heard from or of any of them. It would be my guess that they too perished. Please call me Shade." Shade said calmly.

Oh, put a drop of blood on the parchment and no one else except your close family will be able to use the me. How did you come by me?

"Eh, I kind of took everything from Filch's office. But I returned all of his records, after copying them of course."

Oh that is too funny, I bet he was really angry. So what house are you in?

"Slytherin of course, at least Silver and I are. The sisters are in all the houses." Shade replied while he and Silver put a drop of blood on the parchment.

Prong's son in Slytherin? Map asked as the blood was absorbed. Were you aware that you and Ana are related more than a bit closer than cousins?

"Will you promise not to betray our secrets?"

We already can't, the blood bound us not to. So we take it that you are aware that you are nearly blood siblings.

"We are, and Shade lived with me for nearly the past ten years. Lily Potter nee Evans was adopted into a muggle family to ensure the continuation of the Myst line, even if it would be passive through a son if she had one. Our family was in great danger at the time, we were having a feud with a minor vampire clan that had sprung up on one of our properties and tried to take it over. We killed them all eventually and lost my Grandfather. Lilith was already adopted and had been for three years, my Grandmother felt that it would be cruel to take her back so she left her where she was and when she was adopted we had lost all track of her, and we didn't go looking because one of our enemies might be watching. My Grandmother already had three other children to raise. My father, Hadrian, was her firstborn son and the line went temporarily dormant with his birth. My uncle Raven was born next then my Aunt Ebony, Aunt Lilith was born just before the start of the conflict and was unknown to the vampires. My Grandmother and Aunt were killed thirteen year after that. Leaving my father at 18 and my Uncle at 17. My father was killed after that along with my mother just before Voldemort fell. My Uncle finally figured out who his sister was when the Prophet printed a picture of her in a special edition paper following Shade's survival. I was almost two at the time and Shade was a year and three months, Uncle Raven plucked him off the front porch just after Dumbledore left, before Petunia Dursley even knew her nephew was there. Dumbledore still thinks that he lives there I think. It might be difficult to continue tricking him, its only our first year."

That is quite a story, I would love to hear more about you all, but it is getting quite late and so it is time for first years to go to bed. Goodnight. With that the ink faded from the Map until it was once again just a blank parchment. Silver concentrated for a moment, eyes shining molten, a delicate purple rune appeared over the Map and faded from physical view, if one could see magic they would see the same delicate rune with 'strings' of magic wound around the Map tightly. Silver had to be sure that no one would learn of what they had told the Map tonight and as long as that rune held no one would.

All in all everyone was very pleased with their presents. There was only one present that was a real surprise, an invisibility cloak for Shade. There was a short note with it, that didn't tell who it was from, which smelled of lemons. Silver made a mental note to ward the Rooms against house elves.

–

Shade was exploring the castle with his new cloak the next night and felt a strange energy emanating from a room near the library. Curious, he entered the room and found a large mirror with an inscription that translated to:

I SHOW NOT YOUR FACE BUT YOUR HEARTS DESIRE.

More curious he examined it closely and whirled around to find no one standing behind him. Confused he peered back into the mirror. He was standing in the center, Silver and the rest of the sister were standing behind him smiling. But standing next to them was his Uncle Raven and what he assumed to be his parents, all smiling. It tore at Shade's heart but he quashed that feeling down. He continued to look at the mirror and projected a mental message to it unknowingly. The mirror darken until he saw only himself reflected.

His reflection smirked at him and spoke, "Very good Harry Potter, few have had the will to resist my power and most of those who do don't have the wish to."

Shade tilted his head to the side slightly, "You're the mirror?"

His reflection nodded, "Yes."

"What is your goal?"

"To continue existing." Shade knew enchanted objects could be very tricky.

"That's nice, what do you know about the stone?"

"Dumbledore is having several teachers cast protections around it. They are easy enough to pass, you should go now Dumbledore is approaching, you've triggered his alarms. You will see me again."

Shaded nodded and took out the Map and activated it. He navigated the hall and avoided everyone, pondering what Dumbledore had protecting the stone. Dumbledore in turn was pondering the mystery visitor to the mirror.

–

Students soon returned to the school, bringing with them their stories of the holiday.

Hagrid invited them to come down and have a cup of tea the first day back from holidays. When Shade and Silver arrive at 9:00 Hagrid wasn't there. Because they had nothing better to do they waited for an hour. When they were half way to the castle they same Hagrid staggering drunkenly towards his hut. They followed and knocked on his door.

"Ello? 'hic' Ooo 'ere," he opened the door unsteadily, there was a low fire in the grate with a large cauldron sitting atop it.

"It's us Hagrid, remember? You invited us over for tea. We were worried about you when you didn't show up, so we waited for a while and saw you come in." Silver replied sweetly.

"Oh well I sepose ye can visit for a while if ye want," Hagrid said opening the door and sitting down heavily on one of the huge chairs. Shade jabbed his wand at the fire which suddenly burned brighter. He swished and flicked his wand at the battered up old iron teapot which floated over to the fire. After a few moments it started whistling and Silver poured Hagrid a cup of tea and set it in front of him and he gulped it down.

"So what were you doing in Hogsmeade?" asked Shade slyly, after Hagrid was done with his tea.

"I was just having a drink at the Hog's Head. Eh ges what, I won a 'hic' 'ragon's egg, in a card game." Hagrid slurred happily.

"Really Hagrid, I don't think their allowed, I hear their awfully dangerous." Shade said.

"'Hic' 'e told me they were dangerous but I told 'im after a three 'eaded dog it'd be no problem. I told 'im ye jes gotta figure out what the like, Fluffy likes a wee bit o' music after that e's out like a light. I'm feeling awful sleepy." He stated standing up and walking over to his bed. "You lot can show yerse-" He fell onto his bed and started snoring. Silver stood up, opened the door and raised an eyebrow at Shade.

Coming?

'Silver?'

A sleeping drought, with a babbling potion and mild truth serum. Mixing the three make the sleeping drought more powerful, but with a delayed reaction, he'll sleep deeply for ten hours. You could of asked him anything and have him answer truthfully for the five minutes that it takes for the drought to kick in. Susan is quite smart when it comes to potions, she will be an excellent Potions Mistress.

Shade fell in step behind Silver, walking back up to the castle.

'What if I hadn't asked him something important?'

I would have.

'Silver'

Yes?

'I have to love you, Lady sneakyness.

I love you to dear brother.

'What are we going to do about the dragon?'

You mentioned that one of Weasley's brothers was a dragon tamer?

'Yes it was one of the only non-quidditch related things Ron said. Why, I doubt that Weasley will be willing to help us.'

That is true but we could get him in Hagrid's debt, then with his Gryffindor Honor he would definitively help.

'That would work, what do you have in mind.' Silver explained her plan as they entered the Rooms.

– – –

A.N. Hello people, how are you doing? What did you think of this chapter? My favorite part to write was between Silver and Neville. Did you think the conversation sounded somewhat realistic? How many of you though Neville would be turned into a vampyre? Sorry to burst your bubbles but no one will be turned into a vampire for at least few years and even then there will be only one, who isn't exactly turned, or woke. Did I get Hagrid's accent rightish?

Thank you Persephone of Peridot for reviewing which got me out of my writing funk('shivers' bad word). Thank you Hikurasailorcat for reviewing pre-funk and thank you to other people for putting me on alerts and favorites and C2s.

I thought that Solstice sounded more realistic that Christmas. Solstice is much older, and was there first and J.K.'s Wizards don't strike me as the religious type, cept for worshiping Dumbles for the most part. In this story he isn't evil, just misguided.

Eh what else? Hm, ooh I need help!(what else is new?) I am trying to write a scene with Neville and I want someone to read it to tell me what they think, it isn't going well so far. Still need beta.

Ooo guess what else, passed my high school exit exam! (Squeals!) Two years early! (squeals again) In math 378 out of 450 and in English 400 out of 450, you need a minimum score of 350. Ehem, I don't think that I will leave high school just yet though. Mummy dearest think I'm not responsible enough to leave yet and I'm very inclined to agree, too troublesome to be responsible. Anywayze I looking for possible future careers, something in computers or science or something. Suggestions? Anyone know what electron microscopy is, besides extremely difficult to pronounce? A neighbor told me about it and it sound interesting. Fear not peoples I will continue to dabble in my writing.

Don't forget to review!

Toodles