A/N : Hey guys before you start reading, I have some little things to say first.
-Firstly, thank you for those who recently favored and/or followed this story ! It warms my heart to see that you liked it ^^ !
-Secondly, I also thank you for the reviews you sent me ! I welcome both good and bad ones anyway…
-Thirdly, sorry for those who want to see Harry with a canine as a familiar but It won't happen… IN fact it must be either : an ursine, a feline or a Bird…
-Fourthly, stay alert because Harry's transformation will happen soon !
Now that everything was said, I wish you a good reading !
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The following weeks were the greatest Harry had experienced in his (short)life. For the first time since that night Voldemort attacked in Godric' Hollow, Harry was cherished and loved.
Sure the House-Elves took care of him when he still lived with the Potters but even them weren't always there as they had to perform their duties.
At the Dursleys, he rather took care of himself as his Uncle and Aunt were more inclined to beat him and starve than raising him as a family member. Constantly picked on or forced into labors, the raven haired boy was never treated like… a child.
But thanks to a certain light brown haired woman, it all changed.
Astrid had showed him nothing but love, care and safety. She gave him more attention than his parents did in the four years he lived with them… or a lot more than the Dursleys ! Apart of her feeding him or just taking care of him, the brown haired woman seemed to love giving hugs and kissed.
Not that he minded much anyway as he rather like it. Sure being sometimes treated as a baby was annoying but at least he was well taken care of. For him Astrid was an angel sent on Earth to protect him.
The morning she told him her people's rather sad history, the two of them went to the nearest city to buy him stuffs : clothes, toys and even some books ! The room he had slept in became HIS room and had been changed in consequences. The wardrobe was filled with clothes his size while the dresser was used for beddings.
Astrid even brought a shelf and a large chest : the former was then filled with books while the latter with toys. Harry had protested at her for using so much money for him but she shushed him, saying that it was worth it if it was making him happy.
Most of the toys were actions figures animals or construction pieces such as Lego toys.
After that the two of them got to know each other a little better . Knowing that he could trust her, Harry had revealed to her some… secret details about his now dead relatives and Astrid had been pretty enraged about what the Dursleys DARED to do to him.
If they weren't dead then, she would killed them herself !
The brown haired woman had been kinda shocked to hear that Harry was from a family of Wizards and Witches but was furious to hear that he had been abandoned because he didn't have what they had : Magic.
She had also learned that he was born on the July 31st 1987. However, thanks to the lack of attention from his parents and the disdain of the Dursleys, he never celebrated his birthday and grew to dislike it a lot.
Beside, it was too late to celebrate it anyway as it was September.
Of course, in exchange, he had asked her about he knew about Magical and had been pretty shocked to hear that Wizards and Witches had also hunted Werebears in the past. They even helped the Church to locate some of them !
Harry had been ashamed to be descended from those monsters but Astrid had given him a hug, saying that it wasn't his fault and that he was not a monster but a perfect little angel.
Which he was… Unlike most children who were mischievous or rambunctious, Harry was calm and collected.
In return, the raven haired boy learned that Astrid was married to a man named Leif Alfson. The latter was a year older than Astrid : the woman was currently 27. (Anderson was the first member of her family who came to America so in his memory, all his descendants ported his name as surname).
From what he heard and seen on the pictures she gave him, the man had been quite impressive : dark blond hair, ice-blue eyes and seven feet tall of muscles ! Astrid had described him as a strong man but with a big heart.
Apparently, he had been killed by a Vampire during a trip in New York 2 years ago and Astrid had taken his death really badly. Each year, at the exact same date (his death anniversary), she would make the journey to New York and stay a few days.
Harry had of course comforted her after he heard the story and the brown haired woman had been touched by his gesture… which ended up with him having a large place of pancakes the next morning.
As the time passed, the relationship between them didn't stop growing and strengthening. Astrid's love for the little boy she took under her wing grew to the point she saw him as her own child. Reciprocally, Harry saw her as the mother he never had.
Sure Lily was his mother but she never took care of him like Astrid did. However, he had yet to call her mom as a part of him was afraid of her reaction if he called her as such.
What about Astrid ? She was wondering when Harry will finally call her 'mom'. The brown haired woman knew that the young boy needed time but deep down, she REALLY him to see her as his mother instead of this Lily Potter woman.
A scowl appeared on her face each time she thought about the woman who abandoned her own son to not only protect her eldest but also because he wasn't magical like the rest of the family.
3 weeks after they first talked to one another, things were still calm and smoothly between the two until one day…
It was just before lunch and Harry was reading a book on Norse Mythology : currently, he was following the story of a man named Bjorn who had been cursed to become a bear at day and human at night by a woman who tried to seduce him before his rejection.
He was so entranced by his book that he didn't noticed his caretaker looking at him from the entrance of his room. Astrid smiled as she looked at the boy she took in and couldn't be compared to the little one she rescue in the forest 3 weeks ago : back then, he had been nothing but thin and skinny.
But now, he looked like an average 6 years old child except a bit smaller. He was still a little shy but was growing out of it thanks to her care and love.
"Sweetie ?" she called out for him after a few seconds of silence.
Harry yelped in surprise at the sudden voice before turning his wife emerald eyes toward her. She couldn't help herself : she giggled loudly in amusement. A pout soon grew on the child's face as he glared at her
"No funny !"
"Y-Yes it is cutie !" Astrid replied with a chuckle before adding with a smile
"Come on now dear… Lunch is ready~"
Harry, while still pouting cutely at her, nodded his small head as he putted his book down before following her as she led him to the terrace where, on the table, laid today's meal : Macaroni and cheese ! With it, there was fried chicken !
"Enjoy your meal Harry~" Astrid inquired to her charge as the two of them made sat on their respective chairs.
"You too miss Astrid !" the raven haired boy cried out in response before digging in the food.
Smiling fondly at the boy's antics, the brown haired woman soon followed him and the two ate mostly in silence, enjoying their food.
Once they were finished, both of them were rubbing their bellies with satisfied expressions on their faces
"Sweetie ! Tonight we won't be at home..." Astrid suddenly said with a small smirk on her face.
"Why ?" Harry asked her with a titled head, curious about her answer.
"We are going to visit my parents of course ! They lives in Idaho and they really want to meet you !" the brown haired woman explained to the young boy who suddenly became embarrassed as well as excited.
"Really ? They want to meet ME ?"
" Hum hum… I told them a lot about you and they want to see who is the lucky boy who made me happy~" Astrid said the last part with a teasing grin.
Harry's face reddened in embarrassment and he quickly hid it with his hands, earning himself a giggle of amusement from his caretaker.
There was another reason to their trip to Idaho… a secret motive Astrid had discussed with her parents on the phone when Harry wasn't around. The brown haired woman hoped that the young boy would love the surprise she had in store for him.
00/(Time Skip)/00
"There we are sweetie~" Astrid called out in joy to her charge as she parked her four-wheel drive.
"Whoa..." Harry gasped in awe when he looked outside.
In front of him, meters away, stood a wooden house but not as spacious as Astrid's. It was also constituted of a different wood but didn't looked less welcoming. Not too far from the house, stood a lake of some sort and all around it, there were nothing but trees.
The North if Idaho was mostly wild with few little cities.
Then the raven haired child noticed the people standing at the house's front door : two men and a woman. One of the men and the woman looked to be at least in their late forties while the other man looked much older… the long beard was a deep giveaway.
Curious about the man in question, Harry could help but studying him : the guy was smaller than the other and had brown-gray hairs and deep blue eyes. He was wearing regalia, some part of which seemed to imitate a bear. The strange man also had a headdress made of antlers and under them, a band of feathers. The footwear was looked strangely like bears' paws.
Harry, once he finished eying the man, instantly realized what he was : a shaman… one whose eyes were locked on him with a serious expression on his aged face. Gulping slightly at this, the young boy turned his head to stare at the other two people.
The woman looked friendly if the excited smile on her face wasn't proof enough and the man beside her looked serious… but yet pleased. The woman looked like an older version of Astrid but with brown eyes instead of green.
The man's had dark green eyes but his hairs were dark blond in color. Of course because of their ages, their hairs had freckles of gray at some spots.
Harry timidly shot a glance toward Astrid who gave him a comforting smile as the two of them climbed down their vehicle.
"Come on… Everything will be fine I promise~" the brown haired woman inquired gently to her charge as she extended a hand toward him.
The raven haired boy stared into her dark green eyes for a second before putting his hand into hers. Giving it a little squeeze, Astrid then lead him toward the trio of strangers who, upon seeing them, seemed to brighten… except the shaman whose eyes hadn't left Harry one bit.
"Astrid ! My beautiful baby girl !" the woman welcomed her daughter with a hug which Astrid returned wholeheartedly.
"I'm happy to see you too Móðir..." she began to say before a cough caught her attention.
"And you too faðirof course !" Astrid quickly added to the blond man who was mock glaring in fake jealousy.
"You better daughter of mine… You better !" The man had a strong voice but his face showed nothing but happiness as he pulled the young woman into a hug
"Welcome home bairn~" he whispered to her with fatherly love.
"Thank you Dad~" The brown haired 27 years old woman whispered back to her father with a smile on her face.
The man smiled at his daughter before looking down at Harry who was shyly hiding behind his caretaker's legs.
"Hello there drengr !" He greeted the youngster with a friendly wave.
"Hi mister..." Harry squeaked back, not moving from his spot. He didn't understand what the man called him but ignored it.
"Awwww you are so adorable little one !" Astrid's mom inquired when her brown eyes landed on the little boy hiding behind her daughter's legs.
Astrid giggled a bit when Harry let out a small squeak of embarrassment and gently, she picked the tiny child in her arms causing him to yelp in surprise at the sudden action.
"Mom… Dad… this cute little angel here is Harry..." Astrid had to stop her presentation to smirk when she saw the boy blushing madly at the compliment
"Harry sweetie… this are my parents : Njord Anderson and Karina Anderson née Johansen~"
The raven haired child timidly looked back and forth between the two before saying softy "Hi..."
Karina smiled tenderly at the boy and gently she pressed her left hand against his cheek
"Hello there little one… Our daughter said a lot of things about you you know~" the woman inquired with a warm smile.
"R-Really ?" Harry asked her with some curiosity.
"My yes she did dear ! However, she failed to mention how cute you are !" Karina responded to him before saying the last part to her daughter with a look of fake-annoyance, not noticing the blushing face of Harry who hid his face into his caretaker's cleavage.
Astrid gave her mother a blank look which caused Njord to laugh loudly with amusement… at least until his daughter shut him up with a dead glare that promised pain if he didn't stopped.
It was at this moment that the shaman cleared his throat to get their attention. At the sight of him, Astrid looked sheepish while Harry glanced nervously at him.
"Sorry Uncle..." the brown haired woman replied with an embarrassed chuckle
The man, who was apparently Astrid's uncle, shrugged
"Its okay dear one… I know I am the forgettable one in the family..." he replied in a tone filled with fake-sadness.
Barely a moment later, he found himself being hugged by Astrid who whispered softy
"You are not Uncle… I love you..."
The bearded man smiled fondly at her before hugging her back. Harry, who had been putted down by his caretaker watched the scene with some curiosity shining in his eyes. Karina, who was smiling at the Uncle-niece moment, turned her brown eyes toward the tiny child.
"Sweetie ? Do you want some cookies ?"
At the word 'cookies', Harry's sharply turned toward her with stars in his eyes. The raven haired boy didn't say anything as his eyes said it all.
Giggling in amusement, the mature woman re-entered the house for a moment before going back with a plate of cookies in her hands.
"Dig in dear~" she inquired to the little one who thanked her politely before slowly munching on a cookie.
Her husband, Njord, watched this with a tiny smile on his face but internally he was angry. The two of them had heard from Astrid of what happened to this boy and they had been angered by how this youngster had been treated by his own family.
Needless to say that the two of them were really proud of their daughter taking care of such a well-mannered young man. When she told them of this little idea of hers, the two had supported her wholeheartedly.
Back to present, Astrid pulled herself away from her Uncle to look back at Harry who munching on a second cookie
"Harry sweetie come here~" she called out to him in a soft tone.
The raven haired child turned his head toward her and slowly made his way closer while glancing timidly at the man in front of him. He was a head taller than his caretaker and he was looking at him with those eyes of his.
Soon, Harry was standing right in front of them, looking back and forth between the two adults in nervousness.
"Harry… This is my Uncle Einar Johansen… Uncle this is Harry~" Astrid made the presentations.
The shaman, Einar, looked down at the boy with critical eyes and Harry grew uncomfortable under his gaze, which was noticed by the other three adults
"Bróðir ! For Kallisto's sake, stop scaring the poor child !" Karina hissed to the shaman who blinked at the unexpected words of his sister.
" My apologiessöster ! I was merely curious of this boy..." Einar began to say before being interrupted by Karina again
"That's no excuse ! Apologize to him or I will throw in the lake headfirst !"
Wincing, the shaman grumbled something under his beard before looking back at the child to say "I'm sorry child..."
Harry silently nodded at him before going to hide behind Astrid's legs, much to everyone's amusement.
The brown haired woman smiled down at her charge before looking back at her Uncle.
"You saw the mark didn't you ?" she asked him with a sigh.
Einar nodded his head in response not saying anything. Njord and Karina looked at one another in confusion before looking back at the two.
"What mark ?" Karina asked them with curiosity and some concern.
"This child is blessed by the Great Bear herself !" Einar responded to his sister as he gently took Harry's marked hand, revealing his birthmark to everyone to see.
"By Kallisto…" Njord mumbled in shock while his wife gasped softy in disbelief.
Harry looked at Astrid with some nervousness and she gave him a warm smile to comfort him… which worked a bit.
"What does this mean ?" the raven haired boy asked the shaman with some interest and curiosity.
"Its mean that you are protected by the Great Bear… You are destinate to do great things..." Einar responded in a calm but grave tone.
Harry looked really nervous at those words but then found himself being picked up by Astrid who gently kissed him on the cheek, saying in a gentle tone
"Don't worry dear… You have time before that… right uncle ?"
The last words were said with a dangerous undertone that scared not only Einar but Njord as well.
"Of course bróðurbarn !" the shaman quickly answered with placating hands.
Nodding with a huff of satisfaction, Astrid then give another kiss to Harry before looking back at her Uncle.
"Is everything ready ?" she asked him with an expressionless face.
Einar nodded before asking gravely "Do you really want to do this ?"
"I do Uncle… He needs me..." Astrid responded with determination while putting a hand on Harry's shoulder, squeezing it slightly.
Speaking of Harry, he had a frown on his face and was currently looking back and forth between the two of them, confused about their words.
"What's going on miss Astrid ?" he asked his caretaker with wonder.
Astrid opened her mouth to answer but someone beat her to it
"She wants to adopt you kiddo !" It was Astrid's father, Njord.
" Faðir ! Did you really have to ruin the surprise ?!" the brown haired woman snarled at her dad who only shrugged at her
Grumbling something about 'annoying dads', Astrid looked down at the tiny boy in her arms… only to freeze when she came face to face with a pair of shining emerald eyes looking up at her with disbelief, hope and surprise.
"Do you really want me ?" Harry asked her with a tiny voice filled with hope.
Astrid's hear broke at this and she hugged him tighter while nuzzling the top of his head, whispering
"Of course I want you Harry… I have wanted you to be mine for a long time now… but the question is : Do YOU want me as your mother ?"
Harry, as he listened, was growing more and more happy by the seconds. His little heart beat twice faster than usually as those words left her lips while tears started to form in his eyes. Happiness, Love and Joy spread through his small body as he gazed at the woman who took great care of him so far.
"Yes… I want to be your son… I want you to my Mommy !" Harry cried out as he buried his face into her neck, sobbing in pure joy.
Astrid's own eyes started to water as those words reached her ears and she instantly kissing him repeatedly on the head, earning loud laughs from the tiny boy she grew to love. Njord, Karina and Einar watched the scene with soft smiles on their faces and Karina was clapping her hands in delight because she now had a grandson to spoil !
"Very well then… We will do it tonight..." Einar inquired after a minute.
They all nodded and for the new few hours, the little group of five passed some time together with Harry getting to know his soon-to be-family.
00/(Time Skip)/00
The moon was shining in the sky as Einar lead the little group into the forest near his sister's and his brother-in-law's house.
Astrid, Njord and Karina followed after him with Astrid carrying Harry in her arms. They didn't went far in the forest as they stopped in a clearing where Harry titled his head to the side by the sight : on a large rock, was a large wooden bowl filled with a strange liquid. Sitting next to it, was an Elk.
Just in front of the rock, there was a large circle with around it, little rocks filled with strange drawings Harry recognized as Runes. The raven haired child took the scene in front of him, memorizing it before looking at the Elk.
Caressing the noble animal on the muzzle, the shaman turned his face to stare at the people behind him.
"Astrid… You and the child must enter the circle so the ritual can begin..." Einar inquired in a deep voice as he went to collect the bowl.
The brown haired young woman , who rolled her eyes at the formal tone, was about to do what she was told when a tiny voice caught her attention
"What ritual ?"
Astrid smiled as she looked at her soon-to-be-son whose eyes looked up at him with curiosity and a bit of fear
"Its a Blood Adoption Ritual dear… In short, you are going to be mine by blood..."
"How does this work ?" Harry asked her with a titled head, curious about the whole thing.
"You will see~" Astrid responded with a grin which caused him to pout cutely at her.
Ruffling his head with a hand, the brown haired woman entered the circle before putting her charge down. Giving him a comforting smile, Astrid then looked back at her Uncle whose face was graved as on one hand he held a knife and the other the bowl.
"You must add eight drops of blood in the concoction..." Einar told her while handing her the knife.
Astrid took it… before slashing the palm of her left hand with the blade. Gritting her teeth at the pain, she then lowered her bleeding hand above the bowl into a fist. Harry, concerned when he saw her cutting herself, stopped when he saw that she didn't seemed bothered by it one bit.
He observed as blood drops fell into the strange substance in the bowl and eight drops later, Astrid pulled her hand away from it. Karina handed her a piece of clothes to use as a bandage and she thanked her mother for it.
"Are you both ready ?" Einar asked his niece and his soon-to-be-grandnephew.
"Yes..." they both answered.
Nodding in acceptance, the shaman looked at the runes before whispering
" Nǽma !"
At those words, the runes activated and were brighting in a white light.
"I, Einar Johansen, call upon the Great Bear Kallisto for this holy ceremony !" the shaman intoned loudly and the runes brightened a bit more at this.
"Astrid Anderson ! Do you take this boy as your son by flesh and blood ?" Einar asked his niece in a formal manner.
"I do !" the brown haired woman responded with determination and firmness.
Nodding his bearded head at his niece's words, Einar then turned it toward Harry who was trying his best to not look nervous
"What is your full name child ?"
The raven haired boy tensed a bit but still, didn't say anything. Astrid had explained about the ritual and he was fine with it : apparently, after this, his current name will be forsaken to a new one and his body will match his new family. While he was a bit sad for no longer being related to William, it was for the better.
The name Potters meant nothing to him anyway… It was associated with pain, neglect and misery.
"Harry James Potter !" he responded in a soft tone but his eyes showed nothing but seriousness.
Nodding at the boy, the shaman re-opened his mouth to ask in a deep formal tone
"Do you, Harry James Potter, accept the blood adoption and forsake your old name to become Astrid Anderson's son in blood and flesh ?"
"I do !" Harry responded firmly while shooting a sideway glances at Astrid who was looking at him with a tearful smile.
"So be it…" Einar whispered with a sigh as he gave the bowl to Harry.
"Drink child..." he inquired to his soon-to-be-grandnephew in a calm tone.
Harry shot a look at Astrid whose smile hadn't disappeared and ,without hesitation, he drank the concoction… and retained himself for throwing up at the taste ! The runes around the circle brightened again but this time, instead of white, they flashed green.
A few seconds later, the light erupted from the runes to surround Harry and Astrid, hiding them from the others who had to turn their eyes away as the light became brighter and brighter. For a whole minute, they hid their eyes but then light went out.
Soon it was safe again to look and Njord, Karina, Einar and Astrid stared at the boy with wide eyes : Harry had completely changed.
He was now bigger and had the size of a 9 years old child. His skin was still the same but otherwise his physical had changed a lot.
His hair, which was as black as a moonless night, were now dark brown in color and his eyes… they were no longer emerald green but blue-green. His face was still aristocratic-like looking but stronger jaws. His body was now longer thin but a tiny bit muscular.
On his right hand, as if nothing happened, his birthmark was still present… but on the back of his hand ! In fact, it had moved to stand in the PALM !
Harry looked at his new body with awe but then turned his gaze toward Astrid who pulled him into a tight hug, crying softy in happiness.
"My bróðurbarn… How do you want to call your son ?" Einar asked her in a formal tone but it was softer than earlier.
Astrid turned her head to look at her Uncle then at the dark brown haired child in her arms.
"Harald… Harald Anderson..." she whispered with a smile as she kissed the new named Harald on the forehead.
"From this day, Harry James Potter no longer exist ! Welcome to this world, Harald Anderson ! May you make your new family proud !" Einar intoned loudly with a tiny smile on his bearded face.
Harald looked at his mother with tearful eyes and hugged her as tight as he could and she wholeheartedly returned the gesture, sobbing in pure happiness. Astrid had always wanted to be a mother but then her husband died, living her alone and childless. Now, she finally had a little one to call her own !
Einar watched the interaction with a fond smile on his face but then he turned serious again as he said those words
"To finalize the adoption… You have to transform child..."
Njord and Karina looked at one another, hoping that their newly made grandson also received the gift. Astrid, for her part, was confident as she didn't looked worried in the slightest.
Harald, him, was as he didn't know how to transform.
"Close your eye my son and think of you as a bear~" Astrid whispered into his ear when she noticed his distress.
Whispering back a thank you, Harald closed his eyes and imagined himself as one of the most powerful mammals on Earth. For a few seconds nothing happened… but suddenly, the child cried out in slight pain as he fell on all four, his body twitching and growing in size.
Astrid's instinct was screaming at her to comfort him but forced herself to remain where she was : he had to do this on his own. Soon, they all tensed when Harald released a high pitched scream as a serie of pops and grindings sounds echoed from the child's body.
It was as if his very bones were moving !
Harald's muscle bulged and hardened as his tendons and ligaments stretched to become more flexible. His pale skin saw itself covered in dark brown fur to soon cover the entire body. His ears disappeared into his skulls only to reappeared at the top of his broadening head as thick rounds furred ones.
His nails turned into claws as hands and feet became large clawed paws. His face extended to welcome a large muzzle as saber sharp fangs replaced his teeth. Lastly, a tiny rounded tail sprouted out from his pelvis.
Astrid's smile widened at delight as a large dark brown bear-cub stood in front of her. He let out a tiny growl before slowly standing on his back-legs… only to fall back on all four. On his four legs, the bear-cub stood at least 3 feet tall ! The size of a King penguin !
When the say cub turned his head toward her, the brown haired woman was happy to see blue-green eyes staring at her dark green ones. Without giving anyone the time to say anything, Astrid turned her Full Bear form before engulfing the cub into a 'bear-hug'.
Harald cried out as his new mother started to lick his face repeatedly but allowed it as himself was happy. Cuddling one another, they didn't noticed the light surrounding them nor the runes glowing in a blue light for a moment.
"Congratulations Astrid… You are now the proud mother of Harald Anderson..." Einar inquired to his niece who nodded her large head at him before going back to cuddle her cub.
Karina and Njord approached the two to congratulate them with the former hugging the cub with tearful eyes.
Harald Anderson, formerly Harry James Potter, was filled with happiness because now he had a family to call his own.
Meanwhile, far away from there, in England, the name 'Harry James Potter' disappeared from a tapestry but no one would notice it before a long time.
(To be continue…)
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A/N : Aaaaaaaaand done ! My, I enjoyed writing this chapter ! I hope you like it !
Here a little something to help you to understand some words used above :
- Faðir = Father
- Móðir = Mother
- Bróðir = brother
- Söster = Sister
- Bróðurbarn =Niece (could also be used for 'nephew')
-Drengr = Warrior or lad (actual interpretation)