A/N: Hello guys! xD I've finally updated, you happy? Hehehe...
Well, if you intend to read this story I guess I should warn you the updates will be slow... (This chapter is a special case) but I promise I will update at least one chapter every month!
Now, I really want to thank all those who read my story, those who put it as their favorite and those who decided to follow it XD
A special thank, however, goes to those who reviewed!
Sousie; roobug21301; Noctisis Rrhagia; Quetzalcoatls; Kat; sabine; Yoruko Rhapsodos; Yizuki; unnamed guest; wolfawaken and EvejHoang ! xD
Thank you very much; your reviews motivated/reassured me a lot.
For those who haven't guessed who Harry's Beloved was yet, do not worry, you'll understand soon enough.
For those who have, good job! You took my hints the right way ;D I bet you have not yet guessed how he died though, at least not completely ^_^ Nobody seemed to have realized I've hinted at something else as well
Moreover, for those who asked for Cloud to be included in the main pairing...well, remember he is not yet the Cloud from FFVII or Advent Children, but from Crisis Core...I really do not really see him as being Harry's type. I do plan on him having a crush on Harry though, it will be sooo cute! ^^
Hem hem, cuteness aside, here is my new chapter. No warning applies for this one, really.
Well, I guess I've said everything, so...well, enjoy! ^^
Summary: After studying the Veil for years, Harry finally discovers its true nature. Tired of how things are going in the Wizarding world and searching for redemption, he steps through.
It's been 7 years from the war. 7 years since he has lost his only reason for living.
Now in a different dimension, Harry has to start over from the beginning, this time under the guidance of his Mother.
With a new purpose, he'll find himself involved once again in events that will shape the course of the world.
Faced with different magiks, obstacles and battles, Harry will have to fight to not lose his new life, new friends and family, as well as the one he thought lost; for things are never simple for Harry Potter. SLASH_you've been warned.
Pairings: Harry/Sephiroth; past Harry/Ginny; past Harry/?; past Harry/?
Story Warnings: slash, het, mention of war, violence, gore, abuse and character death (HP world)
Chapter Warnings: N/A
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter Words: 2.908
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CH2: MoTher
The Veil left a peculiar sensation on his skin.
It was cold and...Whispery, like everything else about it.
He felt strange as there, only darkness, and he shivered as a soul deep cold assaulted him.
For a moment – an endless, agonizing moment – he feared he had translated the runes on the Veil's frame wrong, and that it really was a harbinger of Death after all.
At that thought, however, streams of glowing green started flowing through the void of darkness, swirling around him in their path to the infinite. It was a breathtaking sight, and as the green touched him, Harry felt a surge of warmth and love pass through him, melting away the ice on his soul. It was a love so intense it made his deprived heart cry out in longing, and Harry was sure it could only come from the flowing stream.
He closed his eyes, humming in contentment as he tried to loose himself more deeply in the glowing green.
For the first time in years, he felt so at peace, so loved…
Suddenly, a voice broke through his haze, bringing him back to reality.
§…Who are...you…child?...§
It was not only one voice though, no, it was as if thousands of voices joined to create a sole, melodic Voice, which gave off the same feelings of warmth as the green stream.
Harry snapped his eyes open, trying to locate who spoke, but it was impossible, for the voices seemed to vibrate through the green, coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.
§…Why are you so sad?...§
The Voice asked again. It was speaking in the same language as the runes craved into the Veil's frame. Still trying to localize the owner of the Voice, Harry shook his head softly.
§..I am not sad..§ He replied in the same language but somehow, after having heard how the Voice spoke it, he felt his pronounce to be even more inadequate than he had thought before.
The Voice smiled gently at him. He had no idea how a voice could smile, nor how he knew that's what It was doing, but he could sense it. Somehow. Deep in his soul.
§…But you were before…it is why my essence reached out to you…offering you comfort…§
Harry blinked.
§..Your essence?..§ He repeated intelligently, suddenly looking at the flowing stream in a new light.
§…Indeed child…that is my essence…the core of my very being…some call it…the Lifestream…§
The Voice replied gently. It was so strange hearing it echo throughout the small infinite. He could feel It pass around him, through him, vibrating throughout his whole body and very soul.
§..Are you the Goddess of this planet?..§ He asked then, suddenly anxious.
§…I am The Planet...child…many call me Gaia…others know me...as Minerva…§
§..You are the Planet?..§ He asked bewildered. An entire planet…sentient.
The Voice chuckled gently.
§…Yes…§
§..Can you communicate like this with those who live on your land?..§
Suddenly, he felt a deep sadness pervade him.
§ …I can...however…not many remember how to Hear me…and of those who can...you are one of the few...who still speaks...§
Harry realized then the whispery language must be lost in the other world as well...The Planet's language. §..How sad..§ He whispered. He could feel the Planet's sadness, so deep and ancient, vibrate through his soul. Then, a thought occurred to him.
§..If this is your essence, why am I surrounded by it, and where are we?..§ he asked curiously.
§…We are…at the center of my stream…the core…of the Planet…and I'm evaluating you...even as we speak...your memories…are entering the stream…§
As the Voice spoke those words, Harry suddenly became aware of the silvery flashes flowing through the green streams. They came from him, he realized, seemingly made from part of his soul, and then gently coaxed into the stream. They were so fast it was no wonder he had not noticed them at first, but it didn't take him long to understand what they were: flashes from his life, his past, his sins…
Harry hung his head, feeling incredibly ashamed and selfish all of sudden. How could he ask for something more, something apart from misery? It was his punishment and he shouldn't be wishing to dirty this new world with his sins, his bloodied hands, his dark soul. He was unworthy. Even if it was for redemption...he didn't deserve to redeem himself.
Suddenly, he felt something warm lightly cares his cheek, making him look up again.
It was a tendril of green, breaking off from the main stream to twirl gently against his skin, around his very soul.
§…Do not cry child…§
The Voice whispered. Harry blinked at those words, not having realized he had been crying. He had not cried in so long, not after...that. The tears began to come harder at this realization and he closed his eyes, leaning into the warm touch.
§…I see your past…child…and you have nothing to fear…§
The Voice whispered making his head shot up once more in disbelief.
§..Wha-§
§…You are…very similar…to My Children but…at the same time…so different…§
The Voice interrupted him, engulfing him in a warm embrace that took his breath away.
The green stream suddenly appeared brighter, and much more welcoming that he had thought possible.
It was…beautiful.
He melted into the embracing green.
The Voice started up again then, whispering right by his ear.
§…I have seen your life…your heart…your soul…and I have judged…I will take your life…if you survive…you will become my Childe…this is your gift…your punishment...your redemption…and your chance at a new life…for to become my Childe…you'll have to be reborn…§
Before Harry could react in any way, the green stream which was soothingly caressing him seconds before suddenly pierced his body invading him every way it could, trying to get inside. His mouth, his eyes, his ears, his entire body was brutally flooded in seconds—Harry screamed.
The once pleasant warm streams now burned everywhere they touched.
He could feel it clearly, flowing through his veins and his very soul, even as his magic reached out in defense. It hurt
His mind was brought back to the experiments made on him, and his screams became louder.
Harry screamed and screamed, feeling his magic battle against the invading green, using as a battlefield his entire body and soul.
He could feel the two energies flowing alongside each other, green and red/blue battling without regard as each tried to fill him up more, to take up more space, to push the other aside, and burned everything in their path.
Through his screams, he vaguely heard the Planet speak again.
§…I'll let you retain your memories…and some of your enhancements…§ It whispered in his ear §…But I ignore how your magic will react…if you will retain it…or even survive…now depends all on you...§
Harry kept screaming, his mind locked in past memories. He barely registered what was being said as he trashed around desperately, trying to get the energies out of his body. One, both, it did not matter to him at the moment. He could only feel pain.
§…If the two energies do not reach an accord…you will risk…to die…or to lose your magic…§
The Voice whispered again, somehow getting over his screams. The green that was not trying to get inside of him embraced him from the outside now, trying to soothe his pain and bring him comfort, and Harry desperately clung onto that feeling, trying to make out something in his madness of pain and delusions.
Then, just as he thought he could not take it anymore, he slowly felt a bit of his mind finally return to him.
Now able to think somewhat logically in the midst of pain, Harry started panicking. He did not want to lose his magic. It was his essence, a part of him, something that had remained with him no matter what. A constant companion and a source of comfort. A source of life.
Recalling what the Planet had said, he tried to make his magic accept the Lifestream. It was not an enemy, something to be fought, but something to be embraced.
'Ally' he thought frenetically to his magic.
He kept repeating that world over and over in his mind, trying to make his magic understand.
For a few, interminable moments, Harry thought it was not going to work as the two energies kept fighting each other, battling with renewed fervor.
Then, even as he despaired it was not working, Harry felt his magic reluctantly slow down, letting the green stream finally reach his Core. When it tried to get inside, an explosion of pain surged through his soul even more intense than before, making his back arch almost impossibly and his eyes roll back inside of his head.
It was at that point his magic finally reached out again from inside its Core, enveloping the foreign energy. Blue merged with green in an explosion of color and a wave of power washed over him.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, everything became quiet once more in his ears.
Harry panted, gasping from the residual pain, his voice almost gone from all the screaming he had done. As he regained his senses once more, he slowly became aware of the green streams caressing his soul soothingly. Without even thinking, he pressed into the once again comforting warmth, hoping to soothe his aching soul.
In a sudden move the Lifestream enveloped him once again, making him flinch in memory of remembered pain, but this time it did not hurt. At all. On the contrary, he could now feel something inside of him respond to it, calling out to it with longing, and he suddenly felt lighter, warmer, better than he ever remembered being.
Harry opened his eyes.
Reflexively, he tried to blink, but then realized he didn't have eyes anymore. His body was no more; he was completely a part of the Lifestream, and the feeling was amazing.
He could now hear something he had not before: the stream was humming; whispering a melody so soothing he could lose himself in it for days without realizing it—It was the same hymn he's heard sometimes coming from the Veil, he realized absently. Moreover, he became aware of the stream itself. It was breathtaking, brimming with power and life, and he could now feel the thousands of souls that made it up, touching his own gently as they passed. It was them that gave life to Her Voice, he realized suddenly.
Just then, the Voice spoke again but this time he could feel it coming directly from a part within himself.
§…Welcome home…My Childe…§
The Planet said, and he felt even lighter, happier, if that was possible.
§…Mother…§ he called back, the term coming naturally to his lips. As he spoke, however, he was startled to realize his voice was now just as disembodied as Hers, coming from everywhere and nowhere at once, vibrating through the Lifestream.
For the first time, the whispery language felt right on his lips.
His answer was met with another surge of warmth and he felt almost giddy, knowing he had made his Mother happy.
Mother…he had a Mother now. What a strange thought.
§…My Childe…you are now…half-cetra…and half-human…your magic has merged with my Lifestream…This mix will affect…both energies…Each will react differently now…and yet remain the same as well…You will still have your powers…but they will change...though I do not know how…I'll leave you where you'll be able to learn…about them…about me and this world…you will have a few years to yourself…before you will have to answer to my call…and attend to your duties…§ Mother said.
§…Duties?...§
§…Yes…every one of my Children has the duty…to preserve life and pace…they are one with me…and will feel when something is wrong…§
§…Is there something wrong…right now…Mother?...§ Harry asked, finally registering the sense of uneasiness, of wrongness at the back of his mind.
He felt his Mother give him a proud, sad, smile.
§…So smart my Childe…you can already feel me…completely…§
She praised, making Harry's cheeks (in whichever part of the Lifestream they were, anyway) flush with accomplishment, but then he became sad once more at his Mother's next words.
§…Unfortunately yes…for some centuries…a Calamity has plagued my lands…but I am too slow to heal…and the humans are making vain all my efforts…slowly draining my energies and adding to the strain...you must help me…My Childe…§
§...But how can I help you?...What could I do?...§ he asked feeling useless.
§...Do not worry My Childe...when the time is right...you will know what to do...you are one of my Children now...but you are special...you will be able...to fight for me...§
Normally, knowing he'd failed yet again to be normal would have depressed him, but right now only a sense of pride filled him. His Mother considered him special.
§…Are there…other Children on your lands…Mother?...§
§…Only two sadly…one doesn't have…much time left…and the other…is ignorant to our ways…as she refuses to truly listen…afraid...§
§…They will join you soon Mother…one way or another...§ he reassured Her, making Her smile again.
§…Yes My Childe…I have to leave you now…but don't worry…every night…I'll come…and I will teach you…§
At those words he could feel his body start to materialize again, his soul detaching itself from the Lifestream. For a moment he let himself get lost in the sensation, feeling a sense of loss to being separated from his new family that way but knowing that a part of Mother will always be within himself. Before it could go much further, however, a sudden thought occurred to him.
§..Wait!..§ He exclaimed urgently.
The sensation stopped immediately.
§…What is it…My Childe?...§ his Mother asked.
§…My godfather…a man should have come here…9 years ago…do you remember him?...§ he asked anxiously.
The main reason he had walked through the Veil had been to find Sirius after all. He'd really wanted to see the man, he missed him so much…
He could feel his Mother caress him, and he leaned into Her touch again.
§…I have no memory and no time my Childe…§ She replied lovingly as he listened avidly, longing to know more about his Mother.
§…I am the spark behind every living thing…the spark of LIFE itself…I have no time…because I am a continuous flow…concepts such as "now" or "tomorrow" do not exist in my stream…and I have no memory either...because everything is happening in the same single moment…in different parts of my stream...even as we speak…I am talking to your godfather….you are dying and being reborn… someone came through your Veil again… you're calling me fort again...and many others are talking to me…in another part of my stream…in the same one…Till my stream flows I will know no such things as time or memory…only life…and the Lifestream…§
For a moment Harry could only look at his Mother in awe, soul brimming with pride and honor at how magnificent She was; then, he finally regained his voice.
§…But how will he recognize me…if I am to be reborn?...§
Mother smiled §…Simple My Childe…I will send him to you…when the time is right…and you'll know...remember, there is no time here My Childe…now go…[μ] εγλ July 31 1984 will be the day of your rebirth…§
His Mother gave him one last caress before glowing green submerged him.
His body started to recompose around his soul again, all his senses sharpening once more.
Then, he began to fall—or rise, he couldn't really tell. All he could see was green and light, that seemed to go on indefinitely. Then, he lost consciousness.
.o00o.
[μ] εγλ July 31 1984. Unknown Location
Harry woke again to the soothing hymn of his Mother.
Enveloped in comforting warmth, he sluggishly opened his eyes to a starred sky; the glowing green the Lifestream was nowhere to be seen if not in the fading swirls in his eyes.
Lying on someone's doorstep in a cull of soft, emerald blankets, Harry could not help but think this situation incredibly similar to another, unpleasant one, but knew his Mother would never leave him with people like the Dursley.
Suddenly, the door beside him opened, snapping him out of his thoughts. A short, old man dressed in a long blue robe stepped through, answering his Mother's call.
The man looked down at him.
"Ho ho hoo! What do we have here?" the man exclaimed, assessing him with twinkling eyes over round spectacles he caressed his long, white bread with one hand.
For a moment an image of Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes came to him unbidden, but he shook his head quickly, putting that thought from his mind.
Harry opened his mouth then, intending to speak, only to stop when the only sounds that came from it was a strange sort of gurgling.
He frowned cutely (unknown to him) and opened him mouth once again to try a second time only to get frustrated as the sound repeated itself but he figured one couldn't really speak at one day (more like one minute) of age—no matter how well they knew the language.
Oh well, at least the man spoke in English.
"Ho ho hoo! What a cute little baby, what are you doing here?" the man asked, lowering himself beside him.
Giving up on coherent speech for now, Harry simply gurgled again, raising his small chubby hands towards the man.
If nothing else, he figured he may as well act like a child should. It could even be fun.
The man chuckled, picking him up.
"My, a talkative little thing you are, eh? Who are you then?" he asked smiling jovially, checking to see if something else was left on him with an explanation.
Instead, it was his Mother's Voiced who replied.
Her chant, which had been humming under his skin and in the background till then, suddenly changed and a whispered word took form, as if carried by the wind.
A whisper of thousands of voices, coming from nowhere and anywhere at once.
§...Næ Lsyn...§
…My Childe…
To his credit, the man appeared only momentarily startled—his eyes widening just slightly, before he chuckled again.
"Nael Syn, eh?" he murmured looking him over and Harry gurgled happily in reply
"Well, if you are all alone I'll have to take you in I'd guess. Ho ho hoo! A little gift from the Planet Itself" he exclaimed as he brought him closer to his chest.
It was only as the door closed behind them that Harry realized the man was floating on a green ball.
.o00o.o00o.o00o.
...
A/N: Done!
I've finished this chapter as well! Do not expect this happening on such a short time again however, because I'm laaazy xP.
Moreover, I'm studying for an exam right now, in...Istituzioni di Diritto Pubblico? I do not know how it is called in English Thehe, it is something about law however.
Anyway, as always tell me if something is wrong and how you found this chapter.
I know it's a little short, but don't worry, they won't be all like this. The longer chapters will come soon. The third chapter as well...as soon as I find it...ah, the cross of writing everywhere...oh well, it is around. Somewhere.
I would really appreciate if you point out any errors you may find so that I can correct them.
One last thing: now that I've written this, I can finally say that I'd planned for Sirius to arrive after Harry on Gaia...but HevejHoang put doubt in my mind...so, I'll ask you, should I make Sirius arrive after Harry, or should I make him arrive before and have an already established place in the FFVII world? (In that case he would be a scientist working for Shinra, but conspiring to stop Hojo etc.)
Let me know what you think.
Thank you again to all those who reviewed, had it not been for you I would have updated much, much later! *Hint Hint* xD