Warnings: Harry is a bastard son, Harry/Tom, wolfkin Harry, magus Harry, Abusive James, Harry has siblings
...
For as long as most could remember the world was united and at peace. Those with magic and those without magic stood together. Kings ruled their lands and their subjects to keep the peace.
There were many jobs in the Kingdoms and outside them. Most common were trade jobs such as carpenters or blacksmiths. Farming was also a regular position amongst commoners. Soldiers were less common due to the time of peace but it was still respectable. Those with talent could become storytellers. Young men and women would try their hands at this job to travel. It was rare that anyone had any real talent in it.
Those who came from wealthier families could become merchants or traders. It was typically passed down from father to son. This also allows them into the Guild of Merchants or Traders. As long as they weren't peddlers. Peddlers were the less successful merchants. They typically had one wagon and an assortment of items instead of one specialty. This would make them travel all over the country they called home.
Less respectable positions were started with the brothels. Then they were the less legal Guilds. Thief and Assassin Guilds took in children at a very young age.
These were the jobs for those without a gift. The gift to commune with magicks. Those with Common Blood without any nobility could access what was called Low Magick. This was typically empathy, communing with nature, a small healing. Rare was the ability to communicate with animals. Those with the gift typically went under the radar and worked as a tradesman. Though a few worked as healers or similar positions.
Then there were those with Noble Blood, a few who could access High Magicks. They were almost always pureblooded families. Nobles who married into other noble families. It was said that High Magicks were the strongest of those who had parents who could use High Magicks. They had to go to an academy of magic so they learned to control it. There were many jobs that one could take under a King or a Noble. It all depended on what kind of specialized magick that they could use. Necromancy, Spellcaster, Invocation were just a few.
That was the difference between the two Magicks. One could only be used by the Nobility. The other could be used by those of any blood. Either way however it came to whether or not they had the gift and if they practiced it.
The final jobs were those who worked in the wilds of the world. Woodsman and trappers were the most common. It was a respectful position and the most successful could use low magicks. However, there was a final group, King's Rangers. Those who started out as woodsmen more often than not but it wasn't required. Rangers were trained in weapons, tracking, and how to hide their presence with Low Magicks.
They were an elite group with only 50-60 at any given time. Their Providences were typically on the outer reaches of the Kingdom in order to keep the wild at bay. On the occasion they were seen in the city it was even rarer for them to be recognized for what they were. If push came to shove however they had just as much authority as a Lord when it came to the King's Law.
Magical Creatures had their own lands and customs. They refused to get involved in the affairs of the world. They kept to themselves and only each other. Rangers and those who traveled the Wilds were the only ones who were met with any acquiesce.
This was how things were even as petty squabbles broke out. Petty squabbles that broke out into minor skirmishes. Though these skirmishes rarely became anything serious. The one time it did the King sent his personal regimen and a single Ranger. It is said that the Ranger took out more men than the regimen did. Though the truth of this is unknown.
So things went. Kings and Lords rose and fell with the times. Until a Dark Conjurer came into power. This Conjurer summoned Dark Creatures from another world. Some had low intelligence and were named nargak. They were human-like but could not stand to be in groups of more than 3 without a tribal leader. Other creatures were aires and sanvers. Both were more animal-like. Aires could be found with the nargaks as riders. Many others could be found but they were less common and harder to control.
The Dark Conjurer had amassed enough followers that could rival even the King. A war that no one had been prepared for began. At the time the Lords and Princes were all scattered. They no longer had the alliances that had kept them together before.
The youngest Prince of the Peverell line had the charisma to draw them all to him. Families of old and new lines decided to follow the man. Despite being the youngest of his family line he was the strongest in the High Magicks. He gained his Family Magicks in Necromancy while his brothers had gained the powers of Invocation.
All Magick users were drafted no matter their skill in it. Though the draft wasn't necessary as with such a charismatic leader everyone flocked to him. King's Rangers were left to their own devices until an attack near the Capital. It was that attack that had the Rangers pulled into the fray.
The young Peverell Prince was not afraid to stand with his men. He continually fought alongside them. The Rangers always had at least three of their own by his side. Though there were at least four more hidden using Low Magicks.
Together Rangers and High Magick users fought together. In what would later be considered the final battle there had been unexpected allies that joined them. First was the Gaunt/Slytherin Family Lines. While they too specialized in Dark High Magicks they had not supported the Dark Conjurer. Instead, they stayed mostly neutral until that battle.
The second was hundreds of wolves. They attacked the Dark Creatures but not the men unless attacked first. They tore the throats open of their opponents. Somehow they knew who to protect the most.
They were able to drive the Dark Creatures into the wilds. The wolves returned to wherever they come from. Rangers returned to their wilds. Though the Dark Conjurer escaped and no one knew who exactly they were looking for. No one had seen his face due to a cowl. The Peverell Prince had been named King ahead of his brothers. No one complained about this, however. From then on the Prince to King decision was made by merit. Not by age.
That had been two hundred years ago. Now the lines and old alliances were broken once more. Peverell had faded into other lines most notably the Potters who were now King.
...
Silently moving across the ground he searched for tracks. Hunting was his duty tonight while the others were patrolling. Even so close to the village Harrison carried his sword and knives. His mentor had impressed upon him the need to be ready. Alastor Moody alias Mad-Eye was head of their outpost.
The Eastern Providence in the village of Spiorad was where he resided. It was a small village of only about 300 residents including children and the five King's Rangers. There was a single inn, smithy, thatcher, and several farms belonging to the families. The biggest building outside of the Mayor's House was the Ranger Station. It wasn't much but it was home.
Harrison's acid green eyes fell onto the deer tracks he was looking for. Bending down he touched the tracks. A flash went through his mind. They weren't very old. Only half an hour. If he kept on his current path he would catch up.
Pressing two fingers to his lips then to the ground he erased his presence and scent. Then he quickened his pace following the tracks with a keen eye. Even with his increased pace, his movements were made silently.
Time passed swiftly and he came to a clearing. From his position, he could see a herd of deer. His target was a large buck that had plenty of meat on it. It would feed the less fortunate villagers for several weeks. There was a second buck that they could also use just as much.
Bending low to be covered better he checked his arrows. Twelve arrows. It should only take two to bring down the two bucks. Notching the first arrow he drew it back to his cheek between his index and middle finger all the wall to his ear. In his free fingers, he held the other arrow.
Harrison held his breath as he aimed at the largest buck. As he released the first arrow he released the breath he was holding. It struck true startling the other deer of the herd. The second arrow was drawn and it was released in the span of less than a heartbeat.
He watched as both bucks went down from his position. The second was injured severely but it didn't die immediately. So Harrison slung his bow over his shoulder and went into the clearing. The first buck was dead on the ground.
His second buck tried to get away as he approached. The arrow had clipped the top of the deer. Likely it had hit the poor thing's spine making it unable to move its back legs. Pulling out his hunting knife he slit the buck's throat allowing it to die quickly.
It took him a couple of hours to clean and dress both bucks. The arrows were checked for damage. They would need to be cleaned and the points sharpened but they were fine. Once he was finished he headed back to the village.
It was twilight when he reached the town first heading to the butcher. Having expected Harrison's return the butcher was still open when he entered.
The butcher a bald older man in his middle fifties greeted with a smile, "Ranger I see your hunt was successful. Do you want the usual dispensing of supplies?"
"Just send the usual supplies to the Ranger Station," he said, "The rest can go to those in need."
"Will do, Ranger."
With that Harrison left the meat with the man and headed back outside. Around the village, there were different people running about. As if they were preparing for something. Or for someone. A frown crossed his face at the sight. This typical of his small village. Noting one of the young boys who were old enough to be allowed to run errands by himself going by he grabbed the boy by the elbow.
He asked when the boy looked at him, "What's all the ruckus, lad?"
The boy explained excitedly, "Ranger you're back! Last night a Lord came into town!"
A Lord? So far from the manors and big cities? Could he have been sent by the King? If so what did the man want now?
"Which Lord?"
The boy paused seeming to think for a moment before he said unsure now, "I'm not sure, Ranger. But, Mr. Moody seemed to know him."
That did not help him. The Senior Ranger knew most of the powerful Lords in one aspect or another. It simply told him that he needed to go speak with the older man.