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Weapon (Possession Chapter LXXXI)
Chapter XXX - Taking Heaven
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Harry was bemused. It had been an interesting day and not what he had been expecting but then he wasn't sure what he had been expecting. He'd never really had a birthday before, well... not a proper one before Hogwarts. Every birthday he could remember involved the Dursleys, sometimes the men although if they knew it was his birthday, they had offered congratulations and quiet celebrations in the dark dead of night. Even once he had started school, while his friends had made sure he had gotten presents, his birthdays had simply meant more chores. So this one so far had been rather novel... although at the moment the power running through him was distracting.

The shadows had been particularly active today, so much so that whenever he focused on a shaded area it literally seemed to be crawling. It wasn't just him though. He had over heard the others talking about it. Dumbledore and Sirius had explained what would happen today but he was finding the whole experience odd.

It tickled. He could feel his power moving on his skin but it was also tickling his insides. It wasn't uncomfortably but it was distracting and he had been just slightly distracted all day.

He'd woken to find several owls waiting with presents and had held off opening them until Remus, Sirius and Hagrid had come to the Gryffindor common room, although it had been quite a squeeze for the half giant to fit through the portrait. The presents had been from Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Mrs Weasley, Dobby and rather unexpectedly from Fred and George. The other tree had carried their own presents in and Hagrid had rather happily told him that Dumbledore had another few presents for him later.

Harry had nodded feeling a duel pang from within. He'd barely seen Hagrid lately and that was making him feel guilty, although the emotion was lost in the distraction of his power, and the half giant had waved off any apology, saying that Harry was training so hard that he couldn't think of everything. The second pang came from the fact that he couldn't expect a present or even contact with his beloved... not even today... especially today.

It had been fun, he supposed and they had spent a few hours just talking after he had opened his presents. Then, after some lunch, they had escorted him to Dumbledore's office before everyone, after replacing Hagrid with Snape, had flooed to Daigon Alley where Dumbledore was now talking with Ollivander. Harry couldn't bring himself to listen. Instead he looked around distractedly taking in the stacked wands and the almost haphazard composition of the store. It seemed crowded with them all there, Harry noted vaguely, remembering that even when it had just been him and Hagrid the store had seemed full. With Sirius, Remus, Snape, Dumbledore and himself, not to mention Ollivander, he was wondering how he was finding enough air.

Finally the wand maker turned to him and despite his distracted state, Harry found himself drawn into the man's silver eyes. Ollivander was calm and completely unfazed at the stock of people crowding his store. "This way, Mr Potter," he said motioning Harry to the counter before placing his hand on his shoulder and guiding the younger man around the counter.

Harry moved with the guidance but just stood as soon as Ollivander stopped guiding him. There was silence for a few moments before Harry realised that everyone was waiting for him to speak. He blinked a few more times as his brain sluggishly tried to come up with something appropriate. "Eh... I'll see you in the morning," Harry said finally.

Sirius and Remus shared a long look before they both burst out laughing. Dumbledore looked mildly amused, blue eyes twinkling happily while Snape just scowled. Usually Harry would have been upset as his still chortling Godfather but right at the moment he didn't care as Sirius stepped forward to embrace him.

"We'll see you then," the canine animagus said seriously, ruffling his hair. "You'll feel better then."

"Padfoot!" Remus objected. "There's nothing wrong with him. Don't worry him!" The werewolf turned to Harry. "It will be over in the morning Harry. Don't worry about today though. This is normal and I know Lily and James would have been so proud."

Snape just rolled his eyes but Harry noticed how, as the potion master was looking around the room, the greasy haired man started suddenly, taking an unconscious step back at something. He followed the man's line of sight and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Some staked wand boxes, a few odd papers, a curious little wizarding something and a shadow... Oh, that was it. His servants' words came back to him clearly. 'Snape was almost one of us,' and Harry almost laughed at the real meaning there.

"This way, Mr Potter," Ollivander said suddenly, cutting off further thought and motioning Harry deeper into his store. Ollivander fussed and herded him towards a small door that was almost lost amongst the wand boxes. "In here, Harry," he said, carefully opening the door and making sure that Harry ducked his head enough upon entry. "I will come by to collect you in the morning," Ollivander said as he closed the door, "so please do not wander out until that time. You will find everything you need in there."

With that the door closed securely and Harry listened as it sounded like Ollivander was pushing locks home. It might be necessary, he wasn't sure at the moment.

Harry looked around. It was a small room with no windows and he could tell from the empty feel that Ollivander had moved out whatever it was that he kept in here. There was a single padded chair in the corner but there was also enough room to lie down if he desired and it looked like when he wanted sleep he'd have to because they chair was occupied by the Dark Lord who was watching him hungrily. Harry didn't even blink, registering but not able to act upon the information and he simply flicked his eyes further around the room.

The thrum of magic sounded in his ears and without thinking Harry looked around again, examining the shields. They were more than impressive and the only thing that Harry could compare them to was the overall Hogwarts shield, although the functionality of these was different. He couldn't sense the outside and he was positive Dumbledore and the others could not sense him. Fawkes had retreated for the duration of the ceremony, claiming that outside influences were dangerous but Harry was suddenly certain that even if the phoenix had of wanted to he couldn't sense passed these shields.

I wonder what made them, Harry thought as he stepped forward tentatively. He understood the necessity for such shields but wondered if perhaps the knowledge and means had been lost to the wizarding world.

-Finally,- the shadows declared and Harry was startled by both their open joy and intensity as they descended around him.

Darkness itself seemed to materialise and it danced around him, tickling his skin and Harry instinctually opened his power to the Shadows allowing them to eat everything they could.

They were powerful, they were protective, they were his.

Harry smiled as they began seeping inwards but his almost intoxication with his power faded sharply as agony blossomed through his body.

This wasn't meant to happen. Harry gritted his teeth as he fell to his knees, a wave of power pulled from him, pinning the Dark Lord, who had been moving in response to his pain, in place. He grimaced before screaming as the shadows continued to pour into him. Despite his pain they weren't concerned and were still intent on consuming as much light as they could. There was a roaring in his ears and in between gasping for air Harry wondered what he should do.

This wasn't like anything Remus, Sirius or Dumbledore had described. He could feel Xaos, the basilisk had joined with the shadows and was slowly materialising around him as huge comforting coils.

-Change, Master!- The Shadows cried as Harry screamed again, feeling as if something was trying to rip his body apart from within but he understood the instruction and murmured the animagus charm between gulps for air as he tried to gather his power.

As he said the words he could feel the power flowing through his body in an amount he couldn't hope to harness. It was wild and free but it responded to the arcane words and the flow changed, and Harry felt the power pushing against flesh and bone as it sought to change his body.

No... he couldn't... The cry was instinctive and Harry gasped as his power suddenly pulled in two ways. The Shadows continued to crawl around him, whispering soothingly as they encouraged him to change.

"I can't," Harry eventually cried, sobbing as he clawed at his skin. His back was on fire and his fingers and toes were throbbing with the magic trying to change them.

'Master,' Xaos whispered. 'It's okay... Relax.' The now manifest serpent hissed butting his blunt nose into Harry's crumpled form. He was designed to protect Harry from external threats and now that he was a part of Harry's power he could not protect his master from himself.

-Help him,- the Shadows snapped at the Dark Lord as Harry clenched his fists so hard that his nails cut the skin and the smell of blood filled the room.

Voldemort nodded, rising against the power still beating at him. He reached out to caress Harry with his mind but was surprised at the welter of images that assaulted him, combined with an instinctual overriding fear. As quickly as he could, the Dark Lord closed the link, knowing that he couldn't help Harry that way. He had a very strong mental presence but with the turmoil in Harry's mind there was no way he would be heard, although he now knew what was wrong.

"It's okay," he said, stepping forward as Xaos shifted to let him through. "Let go," he added, allowing his body to shift as much as possible into the form of the Serpent Lord while retaining the ability to speak and to jump back if the power did not recognise him.

'Let go,' he said again. 'It is only a shell.'

"No, I can't."

'It changes nothing,' Voldemort said. 'You will still be you and you will still be mind. Let go of the shell you call humanity. It is not necessary. You will not be considered less than human.' The Dark Lord said, trying to sooth his mate's instinctual fear of the change of shape into his animagus form. The older wizard smiled as the power flows evened out slightly and he saw claws begin to form on Harry's fingers.

So you are a predator? He thought, resisting the urge to examine the wicked cutting edges. Harry's breathing levelled out and Voldemort vanished the tearing robes as the darkness swirled around Harry again.

'You are more than human, beloved, and no matter what form you take, you will always be mine,' the Serpent Lord said, jumping backwards as Harry pitched forward, his claws causing sparks on the floor as two mounds pushed out from his back.

-Finally,- the Shadows murmured, lapping up the blood that flowed from the wounds on their master's back, as he continued to change.

Xaos curled himself back around Harry, disappearing as he once again took up his position as a guard. He was trusted to keep Harry safe and he would do that no matter what form his master took. The Shadows wrapped themselves around Harry again, obscuring Voldemort's vision but through the rising power levels he could feel he was thankful for their shielding, even if they were doing nothing more than gorging on the copious amounts of light Harry was emitting.

He started when Harry screamed but was pushed back by the power and was shocked when the protective sphere of shadow seemed to crack, and light began streaming though... The energy was enormous and he heard the shadows straining as they tried to consume it all.

-Down!- They screamed mentally as they scattered and Voldemort didn't question, their tone was too urgent, too powerful for that. He just ducked.

-Shield!- They added the demand.

As a Dark Lord, Voldemort hadn't survived for as long as he had without being able to pull off rather impressive defence and offence with little to no preparation. Now was no different except he'd never really thought that he'd be defending this desperately against his pet. He cast shields and felt the shadows reinforce them but gasped, pouring energy into defence as Harry's power pounded against him.

-Pull from our Master's energy. Reinforce them that way.- The Shadows sounded desperate... afraid but it was a fear the Dark Lord could understand.

He knew Harry was powerful but he had no idea that he had this much power. It shouldn't be possible for a human... Ah... He smiled, a serpentine smile of satisfaction as he reached through the bond for power and was relieved as the pressure on his shields lessened as Harry's power recognised itself. It shouldn't be possible for a human to have this much power but he still did not yet know his precious' animagus form.

Voldemort looked up but could see nothing as the Shadow's had woven themselves completely through the shields, reinforcing what they could. They waited and bother the Dark Lord and Shadows shared a sense of anticipation.

Harry was theirs. They each owned him in different ways and so this overwhelming power was theirs but it could destroy them. It added a delicious tang to the force pressed against the shield. It was an indescribable pleasure to know that such a being, the only one who could destroy you, belonged to you.

Finally the pressure faded and the shadows loosened their protective mesh. Voldemort blinked at the sudden light. -Thank you,- he said. They had needed his shield as much as he had but it would have been harder without their help and if he had learnt nothing else from his brief time with them it was that he should not look down upon their abilities. He afforded them the same respect as he did the serpents. They were, after all Harry's direct servants, as the serpents were his. They deserved his respect. There was a feeling of acknowledgement but they were focused on other things...

He turned towards his little one and froze... "By Salazar's ghost!" He murmured finally.

Harry had completed his animagus transformation and the shadows were now clinging to him. There was a pleased feel to them as they caressed every part of their master's new form, familiarising themselves with it and Harry's power. His precious was still effectively unconscious; Voldemort could see that as he examined the inhumanly beautiful form that was his mate.

The power flows were almost visible to his normal eyes but were burningly painful when he tried to look at the magic. Harry wouldn't be awake for a while, not when trying to assimilate that level of power.

Voldemort licked his lips. That just gave him longer to admire the beauty before him. It wasn't usual for him to just examine anything of beauty beyond how he could use it but Harry had always been an exception to that rule.

Harry's hadn't gained any height with his transformation, not if you didn't include his wings. If you did then he had gained a significant amount. Huge white wings sprouted from Harry's back, arching up over his head before falling down over his body. His hands now had claws and Voldemort could see them on his toes as well and wondered if they were poisoned. His eyes were still emerald but now appeared to be almost liquid and the Dark Lord knew that they would hold a significant power of attraction. Male and Female alike would not be able to resist their lure, not when Harry wished it. But it was a gaze that could kill. Xaos ensured that. Beautiful and powerful. Deadly. Voldemort laughed in delight. Harry's hair was still jet black and. While the clash between his hair and wings should have been jarring, with the shadows moving so freely around their master it was natural and the black and white complimented each other, only adding to Harry's beauty.

Although Harry's body looked to be still human and was still as lithe and finely muscled as always, Voldemort knew it had changed significantly. Harry was a predator, arguably the strongest, purest predator known to the wizarding world - a tenshi. A being of pure magical energy and the Serpent Lord could see places - shoulders, elbows, knees, chest and hips - where Harry's magic was no concentrated to the point where it would physically protect his body... That was if Harry chose to have a physical presence. As a tenshi he could alternate between a pure magical form, and a physical form. One intangible, magical and invincible; one physical, magical and invincible...

Much more not even Voldemort knew since there was not a lot of information about them. Tenshi didn't consider themselves a part of this world and so they had generally remained hidden, only interfering for reasons they never stated.

And that was only if they were caught.

Voldemort suspected they had interfered selectively in the wizarding world far more than was reported. After all for life forms of pure magic it would be easy to hide among those of rather inferior ability. The Serpent Lord smiled as he realised a few of the implications... Oh he was so going to enjoy the battles now... Dumbledore's surprise, right at the end was going to be sweet... so very sweet. But for now he had more important things to do.

Looking upon Harry, Voldemort felt something awaken that he hadn't felt for a number of years, something that was inherent in all humans but an instinct that was particularly strong in Dark Lord's when confronted with a being like Harry.

Innocence, purity, power.

The Dark Lord wanted it, not to taint, although the taking often did taint but to own. He knew that this taking would not, could not taint. He did not possess enough darkness to ever taint the purity before him and it only made his desire stronger. He wanted it and acted without thinking.

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Snippet: There was something in the tone that caused a sliver of doubt to coil through him and Voldemort opened red eyes to look up at Harry