Sad Endings and Unknown Beginnings
By Servant of the Shadows
Chapter Two
Memories//Diary Entries
Parseltongue//Dragonspeak
Author Notes
Thoughts
Warnings: Slash, mentions of gore, violence, Mpreg(MAYBE), OOC, AU, crossover, total disregard of HBP and DH, insanity, insanity and a tendency of irregular updates… Think I got them all…
~*~*~*~*~
Aside from the feeling of a bucket filled with iced water dumped over his head, everything else had gone numb by the time he realized he was already inside the Gate. The missing prophesized pain and the fact that he had retained his consciousness seemed to astound Harry as he became aware that he was surrounded by nothing.
If this was truly the afterlife, he was not sure what he was going to be entertained enough to be able to endure it… Wasn't this supposed to be the great happiness that he had longed for so many moons? Could this be the after effects of the Philosopher's Stone?
As things appeared his guess would have to be that he was stuck inside a limbo between life and death and time seemed to be forever present, but he could not for the life of him guess how many hours, seconds, days or months had passed in this state.
He could not feel his body and he could not see a thing. If this was truly his fate, he would've been more useful helping the newly (to him) founded orphanage, Emerald Lily. His mind wandered across the expansive memories that he possessed and before long his worries about time were all but forgotten…
~*~*~*~
Taking a deep breath I counted to ten inside my mind. It would do me no good if I could not concentrate when the time came and it wasn't like my life depended on this test… I believe. I could already hear master complaining about my lack of accent, but in my opinion I was doing fairly well. It had only been a month since he had taken (kidnapped) me from the Dursley's and it was truly a welcomed change since I could do more than just stare at the ceiling.
My mind stopped frozen in its tracks as a small forced cough came from before me. I jumped a foot in the air as I realized that Master, as he had deemed me to call him, was already sitting in the assigned chair. Now all I needed to do was narrate my first year in Hogwarts… in Spanish.
"Buenas," I started out, my tongue stumbling over the word. "Mi nombre es Harry Potter y les voy a contar sobre mi primera vista de Hogwarts. Esta ocurrió cuando el medio-gigante Hagrid me dirigió a mí y a el resto de los de primer año a los pequeños barcos, que en ese momento estaba seguro que no iban a llegar a su destinación, con dos alumnos más." I stopped shortly to take a deep breath and to sneak a glance to the middle-aged man before me, unluckily his face showed nothing.
"Estábamos sentados, yo con Hermione y Ron a mi lado, cuando los barcos se empezaron a mover solos. El susto del movimiento repentino me asusto y casi me caigo del barco si no hubiera sido por Ron. Todavía estaba recuperando mi aliento cuando el castillo masivo apareció delante de mí en toda su gloria." I reminisced the moment with a small smile, never before had I seen something so great.
"Sus torres masivas parecían desaparecer dentro del cielo y las millones de ventanas emitían luces que parecían ser hadas en la distancia…"
Here I was stopped by Master as he clapped a smile on his own face. "You have done superbly. It appears languages are your forte, you could still improve much and your accent is still present, but with practice I would confuse you as a native. With a well placed glamour of course… Which brings us to our next subject to learn…"
~*~*~*~*~
"You have to concentrate!" I heard the yell from far away, even if Master was standing before me. "Clear your mind or you shall never learn to protect it. Do not loiter in the dark corners that you wish to cover, it will only make them obvious attack points!"
I don't recall thinking about nodding my head, but by the movement around me I guessed I was. It was far from the first attack I received from Master, but this one had been brutal. Ripping the memory of Sirius falling through the veil had not been something I appreciated and in my haste to get him out of my mind I had weakened the shields I had worked to build in the last several weeks. This gave him the opening to shatter them completely, leaving nothing behind. My mind was crushed along with the shields in a shower of memories…
~*~*~*~*~
Stealth had always been one of my strong points, but I had never guessed in my wildest daydreams that I would have had enough of it to become an assassin. Apparently, Master believed I did have the potential, which brings me to my current circumstance. Decked in all black and dark green and crouching among the bushes, holding my breath in the desperation to not be heard.
The patrol guard was padding back and forth in no real attempt to spot an invader, but it only served as an aid in my mission. Sure, it was a mission I hated almost as much as the thought of Ginny kissing me, but it had to be done. Shuddering at the thought, I dared take a look at the guards' current position.
The first rule of assassination preached by Master came to mind; "if you have a bigger target to eliminate, do not spill the underlings' blood. They are just bound to be found by the next guard on shift and alert them of the breach".
So taking the advice to heart I took one of the potions in my belt and dipped the tip of dart inside the pale substance. The bamboo pipe rest at my lips and in less than a second the confounding dart was running through the pipe and directly into his blood stream.
Naturally by this point I could just walk right by and he will think I was nothing more than a fleeting shadow on a moonless night. I smiled at the simplicity of the infiltration.
The lights that had cast the Manor in a pale pallor minutes ago had been doused and darkness seemed to permeate from within its empty halls. From the report Master had given me I knew that the Lord of the Manor was the only person within its walls.
The wife was away demonstrating and preening in the attention their good name and wealth gave off and taking her son along for the ride, hoping to get a marriage arrangement surely… A three person family, of great wealth and good name; at the moment no logical deduction would reach my mind, but surely by the end of the night the guilt of my deed would consume me.
Slipping and stepping through the wards had been easier than Master had said and the reminder that I was good with wards filled me with pride, Mother had been a good Curse Breaker. The simple locks that protected the house were a testament to the fact that wizards relayed entirely on magic.
A wizard without a wand was worse than a muggle stranded in the middle of a deserted island. Slip, twist and pop; the lock came undone, no fuss. I smiled at the foolishness and stepped forth, almost expecting an alarm to sound and notify my missing a hidden ward.
I was almost disappointed when the calmness of the night remained. It felt like stealing candy from a baby, the only difference was that I was stealing a life from a man who did not use it well. Tired of my consciousness I trekked forward.
According to the blueprints and the spies, at this time the Lord would be finishing up some last minute documents in the candle (by wand of course)lit study. Lucky for me that meant that he would be in a deserted part of the manor, I would slice and dice before anyone could realize I was inside.
Making sure the low hanging hood covered my face (even if I knew it had a permanent concealment charm); I slid my hand over the detailed silver handle. The engraving of the snakes were eyeing me warily, contempt emitted from them. I gulped and swung the door open slowly and quietly.
Taking another potion from my belt I threw it inside and through the slight opening, I closed the door before the neon green smoke could rise. The acidic smell of the magical equivalent of chloroform reached me and raking a risk I opened the door once more to see the tall and slim body slip to the floor.
Putting a hand to my nose I walked inside, a dagger in my free hand. The smoke had already started to settle over the expensive cream colored carpet; my foot steps were muffled and I had yet to see the person who would taste the steel of my blade.
The first hint of the persons' identity were the long platinum strands of silky hair, not thinking much on the hints and suspicions I had revolving inside my mind I walked onwards. Next came the milky white hand and my own had already started to shake at the meaning of those two innocent seeming appendages.
Taking the last step to discovering the identity of my victim, I took a sharp gasp. "Lucius Malfoy".
An array of emotions stung across me, and all I could see was his maniatical glee as he attacked Neville, sweet, shy Neville. I grit my teeth; here lay a top Death Eater, who had more than once attempted to kill me and my friends, here lay the man I was tasked to kill…yet my hand hesitated.
How long have I lived with the illusion of having a Father? And here I was taking Draco's, my frame was shaking by now, I was sure of it. I hated this man before me; shouldn't that make the fact that I had to kill him easier?
I took a deep breath and exercised my newly built and perfected occulumency shields, having my emotions under control seemed to give the situation a new perspective. "How many fathers have you killed?" I asked of him, not really expecting an answer and not receiving one. "How many brothers, uncles, cousins, friends? How many?" I added as I knelt before him, dagger poised beneath his throat as my gloved fingers intertwined between his long platinum strands. "How many?"
I laughed.
~*~*~*~*~
"Transfiguration…is a precise art that requires a stable magical core and a simple minded control on your visualization." Started out his speech as I attempted not to fall asleep, practicing legimency was not an easy task and having practiced it the night before did not help with my concentration…
"Now as I am sure you will excel on this -I'm making sure if it-, the basics need not be repeated. So let's start out. Transfigure the wooden bench you are seated on into the insignia of your house, a lion." He ordered sharply as he caught me dozing. Jumping to my feet and mocking an American soldier salute, I turned towards the bench before my mind caught up with his command.
"What?!"
~*~*~*~*~*~
Concentrating you willpower and bending it to shape the figure before you had seemed like such a simple task as Master had talked about it. I had sworn I had been ready to become a Healer. Now, I had a new found respect of Madame Pomphrey…
"Do not force it. That is a failure that you have always inhibited, it makes you excellent in offensive magic, but pretty useless in any other situation; like healing for example." He said, as if commenting on the weather. I just gritted my teeth and bore through it. "Your patient is already dead by the way."
"Damn it all to hell!" I yelled as I straightened my back and attempted to leave the room that was clustered with dead, transfigured cats. "If you are so great at it why don't you have a go at it, since apparently I'm so useless at it!"
Yes, I admit my temper was running high, but you stand in front of a gurney for half the day and have cat blood covering you from head to toe, corpses of you patients surrounding you. Master laughed, his black locks dancing around his broad shoulders.
"To see you huff and puff, throwing a hissy fit and covered in blood… Oh, I should show you the memory when you achieve in not killing something without casting a harmful spell." He grunted out between chuckles. This seemed to snap my sense of pride within me, so taking all my remaining effort and dedication, I rammed into the task ahead of me.
~*~*~*~*~*~
I shook my head in a stubborn manner as Master brought up the subject I so dreaded. The dark arts… were not something I was eager to attempt and even less appreciative once I read the descriptions. I still had nightmares concerning a certain purple spell that had hit Hermione. It was only luck and the silencing spell that had saved her from a despicable death.
"Are you going to continue stunning, confounding and binding Death Eaters and handing them to the useless ministry?" he discussed, anger clear in his voice. "Is there not enough proof stating the fact that they cannot keep them behind bars? Lucius Malfoy for one is finally taken care of!"
"I refuse to lower myself to their standards! I am not a criminal and a murder like them, I have my morals and this is a boundary that I shall not pass!" I yelled back, the reminder of the senior Malfoy only serving to infuriate me.
"This is war! There are no boundaries, there are no morals; and like it or not you are smack in the middle of it! Stop acting like a child and face the fact that death is going to occur. If you refuse to kill a fallen Death Eater, then next time you meet might be after he kills one of your friends." Master reasoned.
Dumbfounded, I could not find a responsive argument to his logic. Burying the part of me that refused to practice the Arts, I took a deep breath and clutched my wand.
"For my friends, eh?"
The first tear fell.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The mind numbing task of exercising had long ago bored me to counting. A hundred and four, hundred and five, hundred and six, hundred and seven, hundred and eight… I then started to wonder when the last time I had seen a paper was. A calendar, a phone, a clock?
And since when had I been able to do a hundred and some pull-ups without even breaking a sweat? Letting go of the iron bar that I had been using to propel myself into the air, I walked across the empty and unadorned halls that composed the Manor.
After passing several doors that were sure to be locked, I knocked on the last one. Masters' voice bade me welcome from the inside so I took the handle and opened the door slowly. The warm air that hit my bare chest felt good, even if it was the middle of summer. My lips curled in a carefree smile.
"I was just about to come looking for you." Master whispered from within the mountains of books that littered the whole floor. "Come closer, I have something I wish to test" I gulped at the implication, but being a Gryffindor I stepped and danced around the towers of papers.
The sight that greeted me was that of Master holding a ball of flame. I yelped in surprise and attempted to find something to smother it with. A shirt would have been useful at the moment. Seeing my panic only seemed to amuse Master, who started chuckling at my impression of a goldfish.
"It will not burn me, for I am its master" he said, and the annoyed part of me replied with a well-placed comment on his like of the title master. "I am a fire elemental, and if my hunch is right, so are you." He said, before throwing the ball of flame towards me.
I yelped in surprise once more before the flame hit me. Instead of the burning and unpleasant sensation of turning into a crisp, I felt warmth fill me. Like the touch of a phoenix, it felt similar and a smile crept to my lips once again.
"Just as I thought," Master whispered. "Searching through your memories did seem like a good idea in the end. Touching a phoenix and resisting dragon breath are no easy tasks."
I just nodded, still in the throes of ecstasy caused by being engulfed in elemental fire. "Which brings me to my second thought, and sincerely I am extremely curious about this one. So take this potion" he added as he rummaged around his giant pockets, taking out a purple bottle from its depths.
Taking the stopper off and risking much by trusting so explicitly on him, I shrugged the foul tasting liquid. The next thing I know my body hit the floor and my mind was flooded by three images.
A giant black dragon, a black feathered phoenix and a male Ashwinder. If anyone had asked me the difference between a male and a female Ashwinder before taking the potion I wouldn't know the answer. But the subtle differences were now clear to me, the scales were darker and the flames raised higher, the fire burned fiercer.
Bewildered, I opened my emerald eyes to gaze into Masters' violet ones. His face was morphed into a smile and his eyes burned with curiosity. "What did you find within the depths of your mind?"
"A dragon, a phoenix and an Ashwinder." I narrated, still confused by the burning images. He nodded as he offered his hand to lift me up.
"Then we shall start with the Ashwinder first and save the dragon for last." He said as he turned and walked out of the room. The state of said room shocked me and cinders fell around me, everything was burned to a crisp.
"What do you mean and what the hell happened here!?" I yelled behind him.
"Why, your animagus forms of course. First recorded wizard to have more than one shape and all magical creatures, and for what happened here it was your discovering the length of your affinity to fire. It had been dormant before, but not anymore. You can thank me later"
I cursed.
~*~*~*~*~
Today was the day I found out, or more like realized, that it was past September the 1st. Coldness spread around me as I watched the snowflakes dance towards the forest floor. How had I never realized the change of weather?
I lamented the fact that I would not be able to spend Christmas with the Weasleys' and the fact that I would not see Hogwarts covered with fresh snow. Yet, I could not bring myself to regret the fact that I was here, tucked away from the world in a far corner and learning more things in these past months than in my past four years at the castle I called home.
Casting a wandless warmth charm over myself I turned from the serene scene of the snow covered world. Walking past the wooden porch, I turned into Talons and flew to the second story window. The snow melted as it touched my feathers and the steam that flew upwards seemed like clouds to my eyes.
Stepping lightly on the windowsill I watched the deserted study with apprehension, Master was always here. Light footsteps could be heard near the front door and taking a risk of triggering hidden wards as a test from Master, I turned into my human form. Nothing called and sighed in relief.
The pain that came from my lower back informed me that the phoenix inside me had taken its dormant form once more, a tattoo. The dragon that covered my upper back and the Ashwinder that danced over my heart were the marks of my success.
Voices could now be heard from the front hall and dread filled me as my scar tingled. Master never had visitors. I stepped across the reconstructed room and into the hall. My lithe footsteps not making a sound in this deserted part of the Manor.
The hissing reached me before the other voices. That cruel, sadistic hissing that Voldemort called talking. Cold dread spread from within my chest, my scar throbbing in pain even at this distance. Occulumency could not help me now, my thoughts were rampart.
"Regulus, Regulus… What made you think you would be able to hide from the great Lord Voldemort?" he started out, his followers laughing behind him. "Surely, you expected this day to come. The day you would fall to my wand. I have savored this moment so many times before, in my mind. You shall scream for mercy by the time I am done with you."
Master stood stiff in a circle of Death Eaters, face blank and hands clasped before him. No wand was in sight. "Do you remember the nights you used to warm my bed like a good little whore? Well I can't say I don't miss the warmth; that was all you were ever useful for." Voldemort sneered, his wand half raised.
"Your little locket did not say the same thing as it burned." Responded Master to his insults, I smiled at his backbone even in a situation like this. The cloak I had been wearing now had the hood lowered the concealment charm in place. My place from the stairs was all but hidden even if Voldemort were to look up, no one ever looked up.
"Crucio" Voldemort yelled, fury lacing the word. The pain that was smeared over the yell that Master emitted seemed to snap everything into focus. My occulumency shields finally paid attention to my mental command, the daggers I always hid inside my tall dragonhide boots slipped into my hands on their own accord and the whispered promise I had made danced across my mind.
Jumping from the railing and into the middle of the circle, between Voldemort and Master. Tears were already steaming down my face, hatred imbedded deep within my soul. "Avada Kadavra" I whispered, no wand in my hand.
The blade glowed green as the light hit it and gazing into the grateful violet eyes of Regulus Black, I nicked his neck. The vibrant eyes that had sparkled with so much life were now dull and empty. I screamed in rage, as did Voldemort.
Turning towards the man I threw a dagger towards him, the blade glinting red with the over charged Crucio it carried. The sharp edge barely nicked him, and yet he fell to the ground writhing in pain as my hatred fueled the spell. I laughed and danced with the incoming spells…
The next thing I remember is passing out in the middle of the Great Hall, blood covering every inch of me.
~*~*~*~*~
Thoughts, memories and emotions fleeting through his mind; nothing but his past dancing over his non-existing eyes, the memories of his innocence and the reminder of his downfall into madness. The perpetual darkness had yet to lift and the pain that he had expecting was starting to appear.
Was this hell? If it was he was certain he deserved it.
The darkness seemed to be lighting up, and even if he did not wish to admit it the possibility of escape thrilled him. The feeling of Apparating gripped him and with an inaudible pop, his black world twisted and turned.
'We are missing someone in our world, a king of power, a king of balance. Do you wish to take this role? If you do we shall grant you an exit from this place. We have viewed you life and deemed you worthy.'
The idea of staying here for eternity did not appeal to him, and so he said to the voice. 'Then the sign of your contract lays in the beads and silks that will cover your feet and the riches that will forever follow you. The signature of your kingship lay in that which covers one of your raven locks. May the eternal Valars guide you…'
As the voice dispersed, so did the darkness. Freedom was in his grasp…
~*~*~*~
The first thing Harry noticed as he awoke was the fact that he was not clothed. The second thing was the fact that the air was filled with screams and the smell of burning flesh. Emerald eyes snapped open in a flash. A smoke choked sky met his view and as he stood what he saw was a massacre.
Black, half-crouched beings were torching buildings and humans were being struck down with no remorse. Men, women, children; they all fell to their blades. Paying no mind to the fact that their clothing was like no other he had ever seen, Harry looked around him.
There, half-hidden among the bloody mud lay a sword. Not his weapon of choice, but it would do for the moment. Picking it up with no hurry, he balanced it between both hands, testing it out. Finding no flaw in the weapon, he let his gaze wander ahead.
The army, for it could be nothing else, of dark beings lay ahead of him. Wave after wave of them rending the town apart, blood pooled beneath their feet. The defending humans looked ready to flee rather than to fight and terror covered their faces in a mask.
The sight of dark blue to his right distracted him for a second as he saw that the hair that was supposed to fall over the right side of his face was covered in blue silk and beaded in a delicate pattern. "Original, I didn't think she would actually be so literate."
Yells distracted him towards the massacre once more. The line of two that consisted of humans had been severed in half, granting full access to the monsters. They had already begun to torch the straw roofed houses, as the remaining men were struck down.
Seeing nothing wrong in the moment to make his approach, he ran straight ahead and in the middle of the fray. Striking down as in frenzy, the monsters fell to his sword. The sight of their blood bubbled laughter inside him. Already his grasp on sanity was slipping, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
His hand was slippery with blood as the time passed and his discomfort concerning the weapon had long ago melted into nothingness. Right, left, thrust, slash… It became a dance to those who saw it, laughter still spilling from his mouth and past the smirk.
Already, the monsters hesitated in approaching and the fully armored men were striking them down from behind. The fires that covered the town seemed to cheer him on as they danced among the hay, casting shadows over his form.
Corpses lay at his feet when he realized there was nothing nearby to strike down. His breath came in pants and his smirk remained, sword dangling from his blood covered hand. Darting his eyes across the landscape told him that the monsters had found another way into town.
The sound of air splitting neared him, and he tumbled to the ground as the arrow hit him. Luckily, the arrow had hit over his Dragon Mark, where scales covered his skin. Out of breath he looked towards where the arrow had come from. A single black being was standing among the roofs, just out of reach of the flames.
Before he shot Harry that is, now the anger he felt fueled the fires surrounding the black being and burned him in less than a blink of an eye. Harry laughed once more as he stood, minding the blade. For the first time he realized that the defenders had rallied around him, fear and admiration in their eyes.
Standing he realized it was time to don clothing. Conjuring a dark blue, open at the front robe Harry slipped it on and tied it loosely, barely concealing him body. The gasps and whispers of 'Mithrandir' were ignored as he stepped forth, sword point dragging across the mud in a lazy manner. The soldiers formed around him.
The yells started up again, this time they were horrified and high pitched. To the left a man cursed and spoke quickly and lowly, the words escaped Harry's ears, but he knew that the scream had come from the left and so he took off towards them.
Jumping across rubble and corpses, they reached a two story building. Movement from within was apparent to his emerald eyes, the blackened limbs and strangled cheers. Rage swelled inside him as he heard shrill and high pitched yells once more, and now he knew they could only belong to children.
"I curse you! I curse you to the deepest fires of hell, may your skin blister and melt as the flames lick your corpses and you shall feel every single second of torture you so enjoy!" he yelled, seeing red. Shrieks came from inside, these were said in a tongue he did not recognize.
Stepping through the burning building, not minding one bit the fact that the flames had covered every inch of the doorway, Harry saw the devastation that lay within. The small children were dead at his feet, and the monsters lay writhing in a hell only they could see and feel.
The wooden beam crackled once more, sending sparks in the air. Another frightened yell surfaced from above him as with more haste than he thought he had Harry sprinted up the stair, his bare feet relishing the warmth the coals provided.
Whimpers to his left told him to turn and he did, stepping across the fiery frame that had once held a door in place. Before him were two children, hugging each other and attempting to escape the licking flames. Tears were streaming down their cheeks from their violet and blue eyes, those lively violet eyes. For a second he was caught in a memory of those very similar purple eyes.
The flame, heeding his unspoken consent, had stopped attempting to consume both children. The girl who was clutching the bleeding boy was the owner of said eyes and the respite in the warmth seemed to startle her.
Harry stepped forth and the girl backed away in fright. "I will not hurt either of you; my intent is far from it." The girl seemed to understand as she nodded and released her hold on the boy. Harry took the last step towards them and pulled the girl in his left arm, being mindful of the burns that littered her skin, she quickly strapped her arms over his neck. Lowering once more, he picked the boy from the middle.
The boy jerked in pain, but said nothing more. Below the ripped cloth, Harry could feel the blood flowing and pride filled him as he realized the blond was in great pain and not showing it. With one last glance to the room, he stepped towards the flames once more.
The girl started as they made our way over the door, surely expecting to be burned. The warm sensation that she felt was far from it and a gasp was emitted from her lips. Harry smiled, sanely for once, and trekked down the stairs.
"What happened to the boy?" He whispered as they left the house.
"An orc tried to attack me, but he took the blow." She said her voice distraught and her eyes filled with tears once more. Harry nodded, already imagining what had happened.
The men that had been waiting outside in despair started as they was the mystery man come out the scorching building with two children in his arms, but Harry paid them no mind as he lowered the children to the ground.
The girl did not let go of his neck however, but he said nothing as he turned the boy slowly on his back. The wound crossed over his stomach and into his chest. The soldiers cursed and lamented; making the girl cry once more.
"Hush now, hope is not lost" Harry whispered, stepping out of the girls reach and smiling slightly to the still-conscious boy. In a flash of flame Harry disappeared, and in his stead the dark phoenix hovered. Gasps surrounded him once more as he lowered himself over the boys shoulder and spilled heartfelt tears into the wound.
As the tissue healed and sealed, the boy watched in wonder and appreciation. The girl pulled Harry in a tight hug that tightened his wings in the wrong way, causing a shrill note to resonate from his chest. The girl quickly let go, pleas of forgiveness spilling from her mouth.
Harry jumped out of her reach once more and batted his wings, testing them for flight. Deeming them able, he jumped into the air. Songs of peace and calm resonated through the town, bringing hope to the defenders.
Cheers broke out at the sight of the fiery bird that sung praises to the people below, a new age started out, speaking of the Valar of Justice.
Weak ending, I know. But I would've just continued, I swear the chapter outline was up until the middle -.- !! Thnx for all of you who reviewed, u made my day ^^!!
