Harry Potter and the Life Unlived

By

Vulpine Nox

Underlined is writing

Italics is telepathy

Bold is parseltouge

'thoughts of those not telepathic'

Last Chapter

Once again he drew on his magic, but there was less magic available then the last blast had, he snarled wordlessly and drew deeper. There was something blocking his magic! He crashed against it, the attack made no feel able difference. He continued to pound it mentally and magicly, after what seemed hours the barrier broke. It flooded him with such power he had never felt before, he could feel everything, the stones, the wood in the floor and Ana' feet, who was standing on the floor. He let the magic wrap around him, protecting him from any spell that his Master might cast. He would prove her wrong.

This Chapter

Neville's magic became visible, it appeared a writhing mass of dark green brambles. They vines encircled the boy, protecting him from any danger.

Silver was impressed, she hadn't expected elemental ability from the child, at most she thought he would get a power boost.

Her air elemental abilities were slight, she could fly, barely and only because she had slaved to perfect her control. She could also create invisible razor thin 'planes' of air, she couldn't lift anything with them, but they were a deadly weapon able to slice through rock, but they were easily blocked.

Neville watched Ana with suspicious eyes, she seemed unsurprised by his new power boost, the bramble that were his magic winding around him, and that made him weary. He was surprised but he wanted to prove himself more. He tensed as Ana moved, she flicked her left hand as if to swat a bug. After a moment nothing happened and he almost opened his mouth to ask if it was an attack but a sharp sting on his right side, and a slight drain on his magic stopped him short. He glanced down to see a few of his vines writhing on the floor. He reached out with his magic and was mildly surprised to see the vines respond, touching the severed vines and he felt the magic that he had lost return when the they were absorbed. Reassured he tried something different he tried to strike her with his magic.

Silver was once again surprised, Neville could absorb his magic once was severed from him. An elemental didn't learn that for a great while normally. She brought up her blades, this time not moving to show that she was attacking, a thinner form of her planes that was more suitable for short strong attacks. And just in time, a writhing mass of Neville's brambles swarmed in front of her. Wrist thick, they slithered along the floor and when they were within a few feet of her it reared up and split off into three main vines. She was forced to defend, cutting off any vine when it was within a few inches of her. The attacks slowly forced her back, Neville walked closer to compensate. The attacks paused for a moment, probably Neville pondering his next course of action Silver though, giving Silver just enough time to strike.

Neville was starting to become concerned, Ana shouldn't let his vines so close to her, she might get hurt. At the though of hurt her, Neville unintentionally slackened his attacks for a moment.

A large chunk of his new magic was gone, Ana had cut off the main branch of Neville's magic. He cursed when he realized his mistake, he had concentrated his brambles in front of him, leaving them vulnerable to Ana's air blades. He paid dearly for it losing more than half of his magic. He acted quickly, new vine surged forward this time splitting up and approaching from all sides, the ones in the front absorbing the severed ones. He frowned when he noticed that he regain significantly less power than he lost.

The brambles were once again upon Silver and she was starting to have more trouble stopping his attacks, he had not scored any hits on her but it was only a matter of time. She cast a minor water rune above Neville's head, he was to engrossed in fighting to notice.

The attacks slacken as soon as she released the rune, a torrent of water pouring over Neville. Silver quickly made herself invisible and ran half way across the room, by now the water had stopped and the rune disappeared. Sputtered indignantly after the water stopped, Neville quickly zeroed in on Master Ana's location, he could feel her feet on the wood floor. He turned to face her once again making a mistake.

When Neville turned to face her, Silver realized that he could sense her standing on the floor, she lash out with numerous blades. In an instant Neville was on the defensive, vines coming up to block the fierce attack.

Slowly she began to wear Neville down. He tried other tactics to distract her none worked, she dogged him relentlessly, not letting up for an instant.

Finally Neville fell to his knees exhausted, vainly trying to stand back up. Through half lidded eyes he saw his Master approach, he sagged. He had failed, he was still weak. Neville felt a cool hand lift his chin, he gazed into those odd silver eyes. Whenever he had met the stare of the eyes before they seemed to be searching for something, judging and him finding him lacking. Now they were filled with approval. 'Why would my Master be pleased?' Neville thought to himself, he knew that she didn't take pleasure in beating him the bond told him as much.

"You have done well Neville. You have grown stronger." Silver said quietly.

Neville's mind sang with happiness, and the bond felt of acceptance and approval. 'I've done it I'm stronger,' Neville thought to himself.

"Thank you Master," Neville nearly whispered, he was so tired. He distantly noticed that he called Ana Master, but it didn't seem to bother him as the world faded to black.

Neville started to fall backwards but Silver grabbed the shoulders of his robes. She laid him on his back gently, unfold his legs out from under him. She sat down next to Neville cross legged, and closed her eyes in concentration, her hand cradling an imagery ball. Silver started to softly hum tunelessly, soon runes were visible between her hands forming a sphere about the size of a tennis ball. A harsh word fell from her lips, making the unconscious Neville shiver at its intensity. It was a sound that hadn't been heard in Hogwarts Castle in hundreds of years. The word was a Name, the true Name of something gave you a great deal of power over it, if you knew the thing well enough it could give you complete power over it. The true Names of thing were one of the aspects of runes, a rune was the true name of the thing in writing. Each race had different runes for the same things, so one might wonder how that is possible. It is possible because each race usually views things differently, one could make their own personal rune set, though that takes a lifetime.

The runes that floated between Silver's hands flew to the sides of a invisible ball after she spoke the Name, and after a moment a glass sphere fell into her hands, no sign of the previous runes. She held the sphere up and examined it closely, it was completely smooth save a small rune, the rune of sealing. She dropped the sphere into her lap and picked up Neville's arm making a thin cut on his wrist. Silver picked the sphere up and firmly pressed it to his wrist, slowly turning it. The sphere was soon covered in blood, she then set it on the floor next to her and snapped her fingers. All of the blood was burned away, and the sphere now was a deep red. She lightly drew a finger across his cut, under her finger she could feel the skin knitting back together, leaving no scar.

Silver stood slowly, stretching as she got up a few pops could be heard. She bent over and picked up the sphere and looked around. The training room was a mess, floor boards strewn across the room, stone floor showing, several of the walls were dented or scorched, the water soaking into the floor, there were still some of Neville's brambles twitching on the floor. Sighing Silver withdrew her wand, she levitated all of the brambles one by one into a pile near her. She then bent over and rolled the sphere towards the pile, instead of being stopped by the pile like one might think rolled right through the pile, absorbing all of the vines it touched. Silver picked up the Sphere up again and walked out of the training room.

Iris, Ivy come and clean up the training room please.

Yes Sister, we are coming sister.

–

"Hello Silver, how goes Neville's training?" Shade asked, looking up from his Charms book and seeing Silver walk into the Livingroom, grinning like the cat that caught the canary.

"Very well dearest brother," she continued to grin and tossed him a glass ball. He caught it instinctively. Looking closer he to started grin. Enclosed inside was a fierce looking bramble vine, it seemed to be scratching the inside of the glass looking for a way out.

"He's a live earth elemental?" He questioned unnecessarily when Silver plopped down on the couch next to him, he already knew the answer.

"Yes, and a very strong one. Would you be willing to give him a few pointers?" She asked reading the page he was on.

"I'll only be able to do so much you know," he replied handing her back the ball and returned to his reading.

Silver nodded, Shade was a earth elemental, he had control over stone. Neville was a live earth elemental, he could communicate with plants and trees and control them to an extent.

"I will go to the Isles this weekend, to find Nev's totem plant, I don't recall seeing that kind of bramble before."

"I haven't seen it either, pick me up some books on Instrumental magic would you." He asked turning the page.

"Sure," Silver said leaning her head on Shade's shoulder.

"You know Snape actually tried to saved me on the quidditch?" Shade asked. The quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Slytherin had been earlier in the day. Shade had momentarily lost control over the broom and it had started to buck and spin. Silver saw and flew over as soon as she had dropped the opposing team's Keeper. Naturally the Slytherin Chasers took advantage of it while ignoring their seeker plight. Silver had cast a basic detection spell that force the attacker to drop the hex or be discovered by all the watchers. The spell creates a line of light leading to the attacker, who dropped the hex, but not before Shade saw who it pointed to.

"I didn't notice, I was to busy trying to disable the hex on your broom."

"Quirell was the one who was hexing though. This supports your theory that Voldemort is possessing Quirell. He will probably strike before the year is out."

–

Neville was shaken awake, purple eyes looking at him in worry.

"Come on Neville, it'll be curfew soon." Cat said urgently.

Neville's mind was awhirl with the day's previous events only half noting that they had arrived at the Gryffindor Common Room. How had he done that? He was sure that he had never used that magic before, it felt so foreign.

He continued to ponder the odd magic throughout the next few days, only half a mind on his surroundings. Neville was vexed because Silver had yet to call him back and she obviously knew what had happened.

"Oi Longbottom, tell Weasley that I know about his dragon and about the plan." Stupid Malfoy interrupting my train of thought, why would I care about Ron's drag- Dragon! How did Ron get his hands on a dragon! But then he remembered that it was Malfoy he was talking about.

"What are you talking about Malfoy? Dragons are illegal, you are probably trying to get me into trouble."

Malfoy sneered, "Just pass on the message before tonight," then stalked off.

Neville blinked, this was either a very odd plot to get him in trouble or Malfoy was being serious.

–

Catching up with Ron after dinner he told him Malfoy's message, Ron swore and rushed off. Suppose that means that it's true, Neville mused, he could use this excuse to talk to Silver.

He hurried towards the nearest entrance to the dungeons avoiding people, when entered a corridor that was in the shape of a Y, he ran into someone, knocking them over.

"Watching where your going Longbottom, what are you doing down here?" Theodore Nott questioned with narrowed eyes.

"I need to talk with Ana."

"Why?"

"None of your business."

"How do I know you weren't following me to the Slytherin Common Rooms?"

"Because they are two floors down and you were heading in the opposite direction, you've probably just come from there. I couldn't have been following you, we were heading to the same place, the Rooms."

Nott was gobsmacked, this was Longbottom, the class weakling? The Gryffindor fool? How could he know Ana or about the Rooms or where the Slytherin common room? He mentally shook himself.

"You know Ana? Friend or acquaintance?"

"More of a mentor, she is helping me with my wandwork."

"Alright, you can led yourself to the entrance and let yourself in alright? I will wait five minutes then follow."

"Fine," with that Neville left. Nott reminded himself not to judge a book by its cover.

–

"Shade is Ana here? I need to talk to her." Neville found Shade in the library reading a book, come to think of it the only time he didn't have a book in had was when he was eating.

"No she left." Shade replied.

"Where is she I really need to talk to her, is she still at dinner or something?"

"No Neville, you misunderstood me, she isn't at Hogwarts at the moment, she had business elsewhere. She'll be back by Monday, I assume."

"What? I didn't think students could leave unless it's a holiday."

"They can't, no one save myself and now you are aware of her absence."

"Oh, but I- Weasley has a dragon and a plan to get rid of it tonight but Malfoy knows about it."

"And you being a Gryffindor feel obligated to help."

"Yes, will you help me?"

"I suppose, but you owe me."

"Thanks."

–

By the time they found Ron, Dean and Seamus the Gryffindors had already given Norbert to Charlie.

"Ron did you get rid of the dragon ok?"

Apparently they hadn't seen Shade and Neville approach, Dean ran into a suit of armor. The sound of metal crashing was horrendous, as they were about to flee a strict voice stopped them.

"Really six first years out of bed! Four my own! Never have I been so ashamed of my house. A hundred points will be taken-" McGonagall loomed up out of the shadows, with Malfoy not far behind, smirking.

"You can't, we'll fall behind." exclaimed Ron.

"I can and will Mr. Weasley and it's a hundred points each, yes that means you Mr. Malfoy and detention tomorrow night with Hagrid."

McGonagall told Shade and Malfoy to return to their Common Rooms and left, escorting the despondent Gryffindors. Shade quickly turned a corner and took an alternate route to the dungeons, have no wish to speak to Malfoy, while idly wondering how Silver was doing.

–

A basic rune circle was drawn on the floor around the chanting Silver, glowing softly Silver disappeared in a flash of light, along with the small kitten that slid into the circle at the last moment. Both cat and Vampyre reappeared in a matching rune circle on the Isle of Shadow, the most populated of all the Isles, in the House of Coming. The House of Coming was the place where all returning citizens ended up. It was more a huge room than an actual house, areas roped off for certain kinds of travel. It was capable of receiving every kind of travel, runic, elemental, teleportation, portal, etc. All travel into the Isle came through here first and it was maintained by a handful of Novices directing hordes of Accepted. The Accepted helped the returning denizens with any goods that they brought back, or errands they might have. Which was at that moment just what Silver needed.

"Hello and welcome back traveler. I am Accepted Moongrass how can I help you today?" A girl in all white asked politely. By her name she was aiming to be a Healer, moongrass was a rare pain relieving herb. When anyone came to the Isles they were given a new name, once they became Accepted they chose their own, and once someone was judged to have become mature, frequently around thirteen, they were given names by their peers, or close friends in a complicated ceremony.

"I need to speak with who ever is in charge." Silver asked already heading towards the desk in the front.

Come Blackberry.

Sorry Master, the others were chasing me, I didn't mean to interrupt you

"Alright, I'll see if Novice Kale is available, may I ask your name and title?"

"Silverfox, Master of Runic Necromancy."

It's alright Berry, you can explore once we arrive at my house, your still to young to be in public.

Yes Master.

The polite girl eeped and sped to the front desk ahead of Silver. Silver caught the end of her title as she approached. Accepted Moongrass curtsied low and Novice Kale stood and quickly bowed. He appeared to be fourteen or fifteen, brown haired black eyed.

"How may I be of service Lady Silverfox?" He asked politely as he stood.

"I require several books on basic Instrumental magic delivered to my house, a fast aquala and a appointment with someone very knowledgeable in the Gardens tomorrow morning at eight." Silver stated all of this in a apatetic voice.

"Moongrass can show you to a aquala and I will send those requests off right away. Is there anything else?"

"No, thank you."

Moongrass quickly led Silver outside, the sun was setting bathing all the trees in a red glow, the aquala stable was a ten minute walk from the House of Coming. The stable was a simple affair, consisting of several small stalls. Moongrass opened one of them and whistled a mottled gray aquala left the stall cautiously.

"This is Sleet, he is one of our fastest. Is that all Lady?"

"Yes, thank you." Silver dug through one of her many pouches and pulled out a few silver coins which she tossed to the girl. With that she mounted easily, Blackberry jumping up behind her, and spurred on the large avian.

The House of Coming was located at the end of Dead End Valley was several miles long with sheer cliffs to either side that almost closed at the top, it far from any city on the Isles. The location was an ancient throwback to when the Isles were still new and feared invasion from a magical force. All magical transport would be rerouted to the Dead End Valley where the wards would identify them either as a friend or foe. If they were a threat the wards would seal off the valley until the threat was dealt with externally.

It took several hours of riding to reach the city of Shadow's Haven. Silver dismounted in front of Fox's Den as Blackberry leapt onto her shoulder, and asked the aquala, "Would you like to stay the night or leave?" The aquala only answer was running off towards Dead End Valley. Silver opened the gate quietly, it was late in the evening, and quietly made her way up the path to the old Victorian home, pondering what the next day would bring.

A.N.

Sniff I don't like how the first part of this chapter came out, seems forced. Please tell me what you think, it would be supremely appreciated. In other news, school is out! Woot! Straight A's and still a 4.0 GPA! Hm, what else, got the new Tool CD, its ok, not their best but still good. Our landlady told one of her friends that we had taken care of kittens, so now we are caring for a itsy bitsy kitten that just opened its eyes, it's a lot of work. I found some humming bird eggs, but I think they are dead, it looks like the yolk is stuck to the side of the egg when you shine a flashlight on it. Nonetheless we have them under a lamp. What's up people?

I still need a beta, but that's old news.

Thank you: D.D. Flame, SakuraWolf11, skidgey, Aminf, Destruxion, powellt, vampire1286, italian4321, Lord-Phoenix7, TammyLynnSlark, addax, bandgsecurityaw

'Planes,' think geometry, not airplanes.

Toodles