The Original and The Wizard
Chapter 1
From The Old' to The New & Back Again
SUMMARY: Being over a thousand years old, can take it's toll on anyone. But not if your Niklaus Mikaelson. There's something to be said about perseverance... Join him and his siblings on the journey of who they once were, to who they become. Niklaus meets a lot of people over his life span, including a special wizard who, he would dare to say, will go through almost as much as himself one day. Harry is willing to bet his life, that the rewards of such company is worth it's weight in gold.
AN: This story is a Harry Potter crossover with The Vampire Diaries, Twilight and whatever else may appear.
WARNINGS: This will be a somewhat very AU story. There will be time line changes of course, with location changes thrown in the mix too... and at some stages, time jumps. That is the beauty of fan-fiction... you can change it to suit your own little twisted tale. There will be NO slash. This will be OOC. Chapters will more than likely vary in length and size.
I will be forthcoming with a heads up that my style of writing will be somewhat of a difference throughout my story from chapter to chapter, and even within them, as the progress of time changes throughout history.
Alas, it's also for the joys of being able to experiment in the world of fan-fiction. Notwithstanding the fact that, I, obviously was not there in the ways of conversation back from a thousand years ago. But I purely wish to explore and play with it a little, if not; a lot.
Enter at your own risk!
And most importantly, I hope you enjoy the ride with me.
Pairings will develop throughout the story, but more in the later chapters than the earlier ones.
"Talk"
'Thoughts'
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, The Vampire Diaries, Twilight or any of the respective characters, nor anything else that may pop up. No copyright infringement intended.
Please feel free to R & R
Late 10th Century - Early 11th Century
Although it had been but many years since the Mikaelson's departed from the old world, a world once called the Kingdom of England and, travelled across the sea to the new world of the Americas, it shall be reminiscent as a strong memory to Niklaus as though it was but yesterday.
He truly shall never understand the reasoning why his mother and father thought it a good fortune to move so far from the home he remembered.
Perhaps they hoped to fulfil a better life. He was all those years hitherto, too young to fathom.
He remembered being happy there, joyous in his young childhood as he frolicked with his older brother's, fancying themselves in the youth of ignorance to be Vikings.
He shall forever-more hold it within his heart to be his home, albeit, he knew not for certain why it was so.
His siblings; he knew; were happy here, so too was he of a small inclination, but for the sake of the place, never truly resembled a home to him.
Anyone to whom knew them, shall imply it as a result of his father and Niklaus shan't ever disagree, but Niklaus often-times felt an unrest within himself and shan't ever quite fathom for why he felt it to be so.
He loved his siblings in earnest and even shall say it of his mother to a softer degree, for all the help he never received from her amongst his father's constant belittling of him, striking upon him with his girdle from whence he was but a small boy, most often-times to within an inch of his life.
His father. He forever shall fear, but he shall too forever know deep within himself the feeling of his disquiet not alone being for that reason. He often-times felt himself at unrest.
Upon no hope within his heart, he continuously attempted to please his father, long before bringing himself to terms upon the knowledge he shan't ever make him proud. If only but a mercy unto saving himself from a thrashing later on.
Now, after becoming a man of Four and Twenty, he shall think upon his time growing within the village not ever truly a home to him, with an understanding of no more belonging than the werewolves his father so despised.
Upon his honour, he shan't ever abandon his siblings so long as they desired to remain here, but only wished that one day they shall leave together.
It comforted him spending as much time with them once allowed the chance.
Often-times he shall find his mind wandering upon the few pleasant memories from long since past, an escape from his brutal father to be sure. Those memories shall always stray unto his sibling's, affording him no doubt of reminding him upon his exertions at that very moment.
Bringing back unto himself of the present, Niklaus grinned at his dark haired older brother, "You are supposed to parry, Elijah!" Niklaus teased playfully, continuing his attack upon Elijah with his sword in a practice duel.
"I am trying, Niklaus!" Elijah grunted, swinging his sword in a counter attack.
"Upon my word Elijah, you always let Niklaus defeat you!" Rebekah laughed, as she watched her two brothers sparring. Her beautiful golden locks held up from her neck with a garland of flowers around her brow.
"I know not about that little sister." Niklaus replied with a smirk, side stepping another blow from Elijah. "He shall appear to be easier and easier to defeat with each battle we partake." He teased again, not capable of withholding himself from laughing at his poor brother's expense.
Niklaus endeavouring to land blow upon blow unto Elijah as they panted, parried and side stepped. A deadly dance but for the sake of training, their swords grasp tightly within their hands as Elijah attempted the very same.
A duel worthy of becoming longer and harder, both men desiring upon any openings aside from the very first Elijah missed, allowing for Niklaus to tap upon his hip. His older brother gaining henceforth upon the previous remark placing it unto his heart it shall seem, for indeed he now parried each blow.
"I shall have you know, I believe within mine heart I ameliorate each time we battle, thank you very much!" Elijah huffed. "And I shan't allow him to win Rebekah; Niklaus is more so of a natural at sword play than I!" Elijah panted, parrying blow upon blow with narrowed chocolate eyes, full in their depths of concentration.
Rebekah glanced upon her brother in askance. "That shall not be heard to be true, Elijah!" Rebekah admonished, shaking her head in disapproval, her blue eyes bright with indignation. Her voice softened as she continued, "You are as much a natural as Niklaus, but only for he to practice more than you!" Rebutted Rebekah, bestowing both her brother's a tender smile. Her attention upon the flowers within her hands absent within her mind as she gently played with their petals.
"It shall seem our lovely sister is right once again, Elijah!" Niklaus agreed easily, huffing along side Elijah as they both swung their swords fiercely for a final blow, only to have their swords meet between them in an almighty clang, vibrating upon the length of their arms from the force of it.
Niklaus felt Elijah's breath upon his face as both held steadfast to their stances; dark blue eyes meeting chocolate brown, panting as they stared upon each other, both becoming rather tired at their prolonged battle. Not either man willing to yield first.
They each knew why Niklaus shall be forever unyielding within his sword practice, dramatically more so than Elijah; the consequence of any failure being upon Niklaus entirely, dealt by the hands of the family Patriarch; their father.
"You shall only need to practice upon your stance, keep your feet slightly apart, and be not so constrained." Niklaus advised with a grin. Elijah bestowing a slight glare for the effort.
Niklaus knew but of course that from each of his siblings, Elijah to be the most poised creature he had the pleasure of seeing.
Just as they were about to break apart they heard several quick footsteps approaching.
In no need of turning, nor desiring to peer upon the face of the man, they both knew, to whom it to be.
Niklaus' suspicions to be confirmed but not a few heartbeats later. "If you are desirous to taunt and boast Niklaus, at least own some talent to taunt and boast within respect to it." Mikael growled angrily, as he picked up a discarded sword from the ground and made his way quickly over to whence his son's to be standing.
Upon reaching them, Mikael raised the sword and held the tip unto Niklaus' throat with a glare. Niklaus dared not move from his position.
Elijah was much braver than he, it shall seem as he quickly stepped back, brown eyes wide with fear. "He meant nothing by it, Father." He declared hastily, forever the protector of his younger brother as he lowered his sword. Niklaus chanced to bestow him a small smile in return for his efforts; if only to shew Elijah his appreciation, for upon it to only anger his father more in response.
"I shall receive no interference, Elijah." Warned Mikael, determined within his hatred unto not removing his narrowed eyes off Niklaus.
"I only tried to encourage Elijah, Sir." Niklaus chanced to say, breaking the heavy silence. All the while lowering his eyes in submission but keeping his head firmly straight, lest he risk the sword breaching into his skin. Still awaiting his father to remove the sword from his throat before he chanced to move as well.
"He requires not encouragement from you boy!" Thundered Mikael, his face darkening as his eyes filled with distaste, "If one shall be in need of it, it shall be you!" He growled lowly.
After a long pause that felt an eternity, Mikael lowered his sword.
They knew not why Mikael always bestowed Niklaus such a violent time of it, or why he shall forever speak unto his son of nought but hate, but they knew they shall only act and speak so much to protect him from their Father's unyielding wrath.
Hoping it to be an indication upon the only reprimand he shall be sure to receive this time, Niklaus sighed quietly as nought but relief entered his heart, slowly lowering his own sword whence remained in the same position once Elijah stepped away. His arm feeling rather heavy to hold and Niklaus knew not how much longer he shall continue to do so.
"We are not finished here boy!" Mikael said angrily, much to Niklaus' dismay.
'I know not why father hates me so much, but it is evident that he does.' Thought Niklaus, no small measure of trepidation settling within his being as he pressed his hand firmly around the hilt of his sword, attempting to seek for some measure of comfort. He shall rather say to be familiar with it, he shall too say, it bothered him still. Niklaus shan't ever fathom as to why his father felt that way towards him.
Niklaus alone, being the one Mikael only desired to defeat, rather than tutor. So too was it Niklaus alone, the only one he shall taunt, mock, belittle, and whatsoever Mikael to be desiring for within the mindlessness of his mood.
Face falling, Niklaus' determination within his attempt of the only lesson he had learnt when his father decided to be like this, shall be; to prepare himself for anything.
"Mikael, I implore unto you, please, be not too harsh upon him, I am certain Niklaus never meant anything by it!" Esther asked of her husband, for all the good it shall do. Niklaus suspected only his mother knew to why his father shall always treat him so differently from the rest of his family. He shall say he may even doubt his father truly knew why.
"This boy must learn not to boast when he can not even defeat me!" Growled Mikael in reply as if that justified his actions, only deigning to spare his wife a brief glance over his shoulder. "Raise your sword and fight me." Ordered Mikael mockingly, with a small nod at Niklaus' sword still clutched tightly in his hand.
He shared a quick glimpse with Elijah, before Niklaus did as he was told and readied himself with his sword as the rest of his siblings gathered around them, each of them looking on with worry.
Niklaus would not say he was worried his father would seriously harm or maim him, this time; as his help around their village was too valuable at this moment, however, his father would never admit to that. Alas, it shall always be possible for the man upon hurting him enough unto putting him out of order for a few days, as it were. And that indeed was what Niklaus was hoping to prevent.
Mikael swung his sword at Niklaus aiming straight for his throat, Niklaus stopped it in time with a parry and slid the edge of his sword down his father's own, then quickly followed through with a swing at his father's chest, only to be stopped with a parry from his father. His father mocked him by continuously side stepping and slowly circling Niklaus, akin to a predator while Niklaus was merely his prey, both of them trying to gain the advantage with each blow.
Niklaus could hear his siblings murmuring quietly with worry marring their voices, wishing for this madness to stop.
Trying to ignore it all, Niklaus focused solely on his father doing circles around him, looking for a weakness or an opening.
Not seeing one, Niklaus took upon a chance and swung his sword, aiming for his father's right arm, a small measure of hope unto scarcely putting the man off balance and therefore gaining some ground, only for Mikael aggressively parrying and quickly following with a blow towards Niklaus' throat again. This time the parry had too much force behind it and took all Niklaus' strength unto not stumbling back while blocking his father's attack, but that was all the opening Mikael desired, thus taking advantage and tripping Niklaus from behind his leg.
With a grunt Niklaus fell onto his back.
Feeling rather winded, Niklaus groaned as quietly as he could so as not unto appearing weak.
It was a dishonourable trick, but his father never seemed to care about being deceitful.
Mikael held the sword tip at the base of Niklaus' throat, standing over him with nought but a sneer formed upon his lips. Within a breath, Niklaus felt the blade's tip penetrate his skin, the warm drop of his own blood forthwith turned cold as it traced down unto his nape, he wondered if Mikael perhaps shall all but behead him in the end of it. He looked up at his father with wide eyes, unsettled, only to be met with blazing ones in return. "Never boast in front of me boy." Mikael hissed quietly.
Sprawled on the ground as he was, his sword still clutched in his right hand; all Niklaus could do was nod.
Mikael roughly removed the sword from Niklaus' throat with narrowed blue eyes before dropping the sword beside him and striding over to his wife. Placing his arm around her waist, he guided her away.
Niklaus watched his mother and father as they walked away. 'As if nothing had just happened.' Was Niklaus' only thought as his mother glanced briefly over her shoulder at him with something akin to sadness in her eyes.
Looking away from the sight, Niklaus stayed there for a few more moments breathing heavily as he stared at the overcast sky above him. His dark blonde hair even dirtier now. 'As if nothing had just happened.' He repeated to himself with a silent sigh.
Elijah was the first to move and quickly walked over to Niklaus offering him his hand, Niklaus excepted it with a grateful smile as he was helped to his feet. "Thank you." He said, wiping his sweaty hands on his clothing once he was standing. "I'm fine." He assured with another smile, trying to transform his brother's pitying look off his face.
If there shall ever be one thing Niklaus hated, it shall always be pity.
Elijah, knowing his brother beyond the words he speaks, as to know in his attempt, adjusted his expression and gave him a smile in return that did not quite reach his eyes. Elijah was no fool, but knowing his younger brother as well as he did, he decided to let it go as their little sister approached them.
"Come on Niklaus! Let us go to our cave!" Rebekah said brightly in an attempt to cheer him up. She knew he would never show his pain at their father's actions, he had learnt to build a wall around his emotions long ago, but she knew her brother well enough to know that he felt it all the same. "You too, Elijah." She ordered with finality as she looked at her brother's expectantly, walking over to where they both stood. "Finn, watch Henrik and make sure he doesn't wander off." She added suddenly, looking over her shoulder to spare him a glance.
"Yes Mother." Joked Finn with a little bow.
Shaking his head with a chuckle at how pushy that which was within his sister's nature, so long as it was not only bestowed upon himself, Niklaus put away his and Elijah's swords.
Turning back unto his two siblings Niklaus saw Rebekah holding out the flowers she had picked earlier with an expectant look upon her delicate face, seeing it for what it was, he accepted them with a little smirk. 'My little sister never has been the subtle sort.' Niklaus thought with no small measure of affection.
Smiling in satisfaction, Rebekah entwined her arms with both of her brothers, dragging them along with her, upon making their way unto their own little sanctuary.
Even if was just a cave.
Niklaus shall deny his own curiosity so much as he shall within his attempt unto concealing it when it came unto the local werewolf pack. It shall seem upon something he shall always feel drawn to, akin to a kinship that he could never explain.
He knew the dangers as he heard them howling through the night once a month. The village people, the Mikaelson included, would return within their own huts before moon-rise and close themselves away for the duration of the full moon. The wolves had been known to kill some of the local villagers if they shall be foolish enough unto venturing out upon those dangerous nights.
However, as dangerous as he knew upon it to be, Niklaus never feared it like the rest of his village, and in the end, he decided he was going to sneak out on the next full moon.
With his plan in motion, he awaited through the dusk upon nightfall to come, which to Niklaus felt a long enough time as upon appearing unto going slower than usual, right until he thought the rest of his family were sleeping; He shall never have noticed the eyes watching him at that exact moment, and slowly crept his way over the threshold and out the hut door.
Once outside, Niklaus took a deep breath of the cold night air surrounding him, drawing it within himself and exulting within the freshness that gathered upon him. It was eerily quiet, which was something he shall never have expected. He would have been sure unto hearing the sounds of howling by now.
Apart from the silver glow of the full moon, it was pitch black. It was something Niklaus shall not be used to, as every other night of the month there would be torches lit all over the small village as some of the villagers would get together with their neighbours until all hours of the night.
Only on the night of this full moon shall the village be so quiet so as Niklaus could get away with thinking he shall be the only one left in the world.
Shivering slightly at the thought, he wondered where the werewolves actually go when they transform.
His eyes adjusting unto the blackness of the night he moved forward slightly with nought but hesitancy upon his step, he glanced around, hoping upon his heart unto getting a small measure of a sign as to guide him within the right direction. 'It's obviously somewhere in the forest.' Niklaus reasoned with himself.
Just as those thoughts entered within his mind, he heard a distant howl unto his right. With a deep steadying breath as a sudden rush of excited trepidation tingled through his body, Niklaus confidently allowed his feet to take him in that direction. Not but a few short moments later he heard an answering howl somewhere within the distance of the thick forest.
Making his way as quietly as he possibly could, his curiosity encouraging him forward, he slowly walked through the tall grass towards the tree line.
Once under the cover of the trees Niklaus could barely make judgement upon which direction he was going within such thick darkness. Relying as much upon his memory and own senses as the brief patches of moonlight shining intermittently through the canopy of the tall old tree's, Niklaus knew he shall easily get lost. As it was, he could see nought but a swords length in front of him.
Taking another deep breath, Niklaus kept moving forward upon a slow pace in hopes he was not making too much noise upon drawing the werewolves attention, he knew their eyes shall see him before he shall see them, he also knew they would smell him from leagues away.
He had to be careful.
As he was inching closer to what looked like a rock, a sudden noise fell upon his ears from the brushes moving behind him, he froze in mid step then slowly turned his head, instinct keeping his body as still as possible so as not to make any sudden movement.
In the darkness Niklaus could only see what looked like a small figure following him and he did not know if it shall be a young wolf, or a small human.
As soon as he had turned he heard a small voice whisper in the darkness, " - Niklaus?"
"Henrik?!" Niklaus whispered in shock. "Why are you here?" He asked in a whisper as he quickly but quietly rushed over unto his little brother.
"I was following you," He answered in a small voice, "I wanted to know what you were doing, I - I thought you were leaving us after what father had done to you!" He admitted quietly, his head lowering within his shame.
"Oh Henrik," Sighed Niklaus, "I would never leave you... not any of you." He said quietly but clearly. Now standing directly in front of Henrik Niklaus placed his hands on his little brothers shoulders, leaning down slightly to be at eye level. The soft moon light making Niklaus' dark eyes glow eerily in the semi darkness. "No matter what father does to me I would never abandon my family; and you my little brother; are my family, do you understand?" He asked softly.
Henrik looked up at that with a small smile, "Yes." He whispered in relief, giving a small nod.
"Good." Niklaus smiled. "Now, let us get you back home, you know it is not safe out here this night."
Henrik just nodded and let his brother guide them back home.
'I'm so thankful it will be dawn very soon.' Niklaus thought as he started to walk forward, holding his brothers little hand in his much bigger one.
Niklaus was thankful he could see enough of the trail they had only just travelled as he guided Henrik quietly through the forest, making their way slowly back to their village. Niklaus came to an abrupt stop, Henrik bumping into him, when a low growl broke through the darkness.
He knew what that was, he had been eager to see one of the werewolves, when he thought he had been alone. Now that he had his youngest brother with him, he was scared of what might happen.
"Don't... move!" He whispered so low he was worried Henrik did not hear him, Niklaus slowly inched himself to be standing completely in front of Henrik, shielding him in an attempt to protect him from what may come.
'It may have come from behind!' Thought Niklaus, his eyes widening as a sudden realisation hit him. He did not know what direction it had actually come from.
Niklaus quickly but carefully scanned in front of them as far as his eyes could make anything out in the semi darkness.
Not seeing anything ahead, he slowly turned to look behind them and that was when his eyes landed on the dark silhouette of a massive wolf, standing atop a large rock. The creatures glowing yellow eyes staring at them intently. If Niklaus had not known any better, he would have sworn it was glaring at them.
"Do you remember the rest of the way back home?" Niklaus whispered to his little brother, not taking his eyes away from the large wolf.
"Yes." Henrik answered just as quietly as he too slowly turned to look behind them.
"When I say go... I want you to run." Whispered Niklaus, still not removing his eyes from the wolf in front of them.
"No!" Henrik whispered in fear, squeezing his brothers hand tightly, "I don't want to leave you..." He could not bare to leave the only brother he looked up to, all alone. "I'm scared Niklaus!" Trembled his young voice as he stared at the wolf, eyes wide in terror.
"I don't want to leave you either... But you must be strong Henrik!" Niklaus said as he returned the squeeze. Trying to give as much strength and reassurance as he possibly could in that simple action. More scared of what could happen to his baby brother than to he himself.
He decided he was going to somehow draw the creature's attention onto himself. Anything to give his brother every possible chance to get away.
The wolf slowly edged further down the rock face, hackles raised and teeth bared aggressively as it growled in warning.
Niklaus gave a gentle tug at Henrik's hand in response, pulling him slowly to stand slightly behind him.
"I love you Niklaus!" Henrik whispered in a small voice, looking up at his big brother. "Your my favourite brother. I know I never told you that, but it is true." He admitted quietly.
Niklaus glanced down at his little brother in surprise. A single tear glistening in the moonlight as it made it's way down his small cheek.
He slowly raised his hand to wipe the tear gently away. "I love you too baby brother." He said softly with a loving smile. Trying with all his will to give his brother strength.
Lowering his hand with a heavy heart full of determination, Niklaus raised his eyes back to the wolf, only to see that it had inched closer in his brief distraction. "Henrik," He whispered with more strength then he felt while keeping his eyes steady on the wolf, "I need you to run home... Now." He said softly as he let go of his brothers hand. Not really sure if this would be the last time they would ever have that contact ever again.
With a small whimper, Henrik turned and ran.
At the sudden movement the wolf pinned it's gaze at his brother.
"Hey!" Niklaus shouted at the wolf, drawing it's attention back to him. "He is just a child, if you want someone, then have me. I am the reason he is out here." Niklaus was not sure if the wolf understood him, but knowing it was human every other time of the month, he only hoped it could.
With a fierce growl, the werewolf pounced.
Niklaus quickly closed his eyes, preparing himself for the pain... that never came.
As he felt the wind rush past him, Niklaus opened his dark blue eyes, wide with fear.
Noooo! Niklaus thought with dread.
Out of instinct he automatically raced after it, knowing without any doubt that it was chasing his baby brother. It was so foolish of him to tell his brother to run. Knowing now that it was the chase that it enjoyed...
… The hunt.
'Of course.' Thought Niklaus with rising panic, running blindly through the semi dark forest. The branches reaching out for him in an attempt to slow him down.
He heard several howls in the distance and ran faster, mind numbing fear that more wolves were going to join the chase.
He felt like he was running slower than a snail, he knew he was no match for the speed of the wolves, but he would be damned if he did not try.
As he ran, Niklaus could only just make out a brightening sky on the horizon through the patches in the treetops. He was unsure how long until the werewolves would transform back into human form. But he was praying it would happen before they reached Henrik.
Suddenly he heard a frightening scream echo through the trees from several yards in front of him before it was abruptly cut off and at once he knew it was his brother.
The darkness surrounding him was as oppressing as the deafening silence that followed the scream.
"NOOOO!" Niklaus yelled in despair, pushing himself harder and running faster than he ever remembered running.
He could feel his rapidly beating heart lodged in his throat. 'There was no way the wolf had reached Henrik.' Thought Niklaus with false hope and a silent prayer, but he knew what he had heard.
What seemed an eternity, Niklaus finally reached a small clearing not far from the village. By the time he got there the wolf was nowhere in sight.
His feet, it seemed, would no longer carry him as he stumbled at the scene in front of him.
Blood was all that he could see.
Falling heavily to his knees in shock, Niklaus clutched roughly at his hair in despair.
Niklaus' eyes fell upon on his little brothers unmoving body, gut wrenching grief tightly wrapping their tendrils around his shattering heart. 'It can not be so...It can not be so... It can not be so!' He repeated to himself, as if those thoughts alone could make it true.
Blood and torn clothes was all that he could comprehended of his brother's small frame.
"Noooo!" Niklaus moaned in desperation as he crawled over to his baby brother. 'No, no, no, no.' Niklaus chanted in fear.
Upon reaching his brother he knew he was dead. His little baby brother's blood was pooling beneath him from several deep gashes on the lower part of his small neck and down the length of his chest. As gentle as Niklaus could, he carefully cradled Henrik's head in his arms, sobbing quietly while slowly rocking them both back and forth before resting his forehead on his baby brothers. No longer caring if there were any wolves about.
The sun was rising higher and Niklaus knew he had to get Henrik to his mother, 'She may be able to save him, she is a witch after all.' With new found hope tricking his heart, Niklaus gently picked his brother up as he nestled him in his arms resting him safely against his chest. Blood seeping into Niklaus' tunic.
He stood and ran the rest of the way to their little village. Holding his brother firmly.
"HELP!" He yelled, as he approached their hut. "MOTHER... HELP!" He called again.
Niklaus saw his family race out the door of their home as he laid his brother's prone body on the ground. Blood completely covering Henrik's chest.
Startled, his mother reached them first and fell to her knees on Henrik's other side. "What happened, Niklaus?" She asked quickly as she frantically checked her youngest son over, gently tearing open his tunic in a rush. The rest of his family gathering around them.
"The wolves." Was all he could say... "Mother... help him please! Bring him back!" He pleaded tearfully.
"I can not, Niklaus." Esther cried as she grasped her baby in her lap. "Ayana please, help me bring my baby back!" She pleaded to her best friend of many long years.
Crouching down beside her, Ayana looked at Henrik with sadness. "I can not, Esther... I am sorry!" She choked, shaking her head in denial. "You know our magic will not bring him back from the dead!" She whispered. The tips of her fingers gently brushing his hair away from his unseeing eyes as she softly closed them. "It is too late!" She said, looking up into Esther's tear filled eyes.
"No!" Niklaus and Esther said together.
"I am truly sorry." Ayana said with sympathy, this time looking into Niklaus' dark blue eyes. He shook his head disbelievingly. "My baby brother can not be dead.'
"Please Ayana, there must be something you can do." Rebekah pleaded. Tears silently falling down her cheeks. Elijah embraced her as his own tears made their way down his face.
Mikael knelt down beside his wife and wrapped his arm around her in comfort. "Niklaus, did you take him out there during the night?" Mikael questioned accusingly, narrowing his eyes at Niklaus.
"No, of course not... I – I would never have allowed him to leave had I known!" Niklaus answered, looking up at his father pleadingly as he shook his head.
"Mikael, now is not the time, you know how Niklaus feels about his family." Esther chided her husband softly, her voice trembling with grief.
"We need to bury him, My Love!" Mikael said gently, turning away from Niklaus to look at his wife.
Niklaus could not believe his little brother was gone. His heart had broken into a thousand pieces, shattering as easily as dropped glass. 'I could not save him! Ayana could not save him! Mother could not save him even with all her magics. I was too slow!' Niklaus could scarcely help but feel the anguish of his thoughts as they reverberated around his mind in a stream of constant torment.
He tuned everyone and everything out and barely noticed as his father picked up Henrik's body. He barely noticed as most everyone left to follow him. He almost did not notice when Elijah sat by his side, placing an arm over his shoulders.
He thought about the last conversation he just had, not so long ago, as the voice of his baby brother echoed through his mind. 'I love you Niklaus!' 'Your my favourite brother! I know I never told you that, but it is true!' Niklaus placed his head in his hands as a sob left his lips. 'I love you too baby brother.' Clenching his eyes closed in unbearable pain, Niklaus raised his head to the sky above and let out a gut wrenching scream.
'I am so so sorry, Henrik.' He thought, with unrelenting grief tearing his heart apart over and over again.
"Hush, brother..." Rebekah whispered brokenly, as she rushed to Niklaus' side, rubbing his back gently as her own grief threatened to overwhelm her. "I am so sorry, Niklaus." She sobbed.
Niklaus wrapped his arms around her waist burying his head on her shoulder. Elijah putting his arms around the both of them as the three of them knelt there on the ground, crying quiet tears together as their grief engulfed them.
After Henrik was buried, Niklaus' Mother and Father thought it was best to protect the rest of their children from the local werewolves.
Esther's form of protection was to perform the Immortality Spell, a dark spell that turned them all into creatures of the night. Well everyone but herself that was. Mikael had convinced her it was the only way to save them.
… But something happened that Niklaus' parents had never foreseen. As going against Death in such a way, had it's consequences.
The Mikaelson's would now, never be able to walk under the sunlight.
The same old white oak tree that helped to give them eternal life, would be the only thing that could also take it away.
The flowers that grew at it's base that Rebekah loved to touch would never be touched by her again.
Perhaps the worse consequence that had come upon them was that the source of the first taste of eternal life, was what they would crave for eternity. The essence of life itself...
…. Blood.
To help her children, and to stop the village folk from getting suspicious; Esther had made them daylight rings by creating a spell and placing it on several gemstones before putting the gemstones in the rings they now always wore.
Pleased with her effort, Niklaus could once again bask under the rays of the sun.
It was one evening while the harvest dance was in full swing, that Niklaus and his siblings all found out how hard the hunger was to ignore.
Rebekah had been dancing with a local boy when the close proximity had her hunger making it's presence known. She had later told Niklaus that all she could smell was the sweet scent of blood, making her throat burn and her veins come alive as they tingled under her skin.
Once she had broken the skin and tasted it for the second time, there was nothing for it, and she could no longer help herself.
The scent of it had reached Niklaus' nostrils as he too danced in the night, and as soon as it did, he was feeling the powerful effects of the hunger as it began to entice him... tempting him... calling to him.
He knew exactly how Rebekah had felt and he was not going to ignore it.
The benefits that came with his feed was the heightening of all his senses. His strength becoming that of nothing he had ever seen before. He could hear everything, smell everything, taste everything, it was so tangible he could almost touch it. He could feel everything, as if a single touch would alone undo him... It was all so heightened it was euphoric. He could not get enough as the more he drank the stronger it all became. It was something Niklaus had never noticed before as he drained his victims of their life's blood. He savoured the feeling of it sliding easily down his throat.
His emotions were so heightened it was almost overpowering.
Love... A complex but simple emotion. Niklaus' love for his siblings was heightened so much to make him feel he could do anything.
In the end, it was a frenzy, as bodies of the villagers lay bloodied on the ground.
Their mother was shocked and their father was appalled. How he was able to control himself was beyond Niklaus' reasoning.
The other thing that came to light after Niklaus' first human kill, was Niklaus' paternal father, was not Mikael.
It was always known by Esther of course, but Mikael had found out when Esther placed a Hybrid curse on Niklaus to lay dormant his werewolf heritage.
Mikael had left to go and take care of Niklaus' biological father, Esther's lover, Ansel.
When Niklaus had found out, it changed everything for him.
It now made sense to Niklaus why his father never treated him like his own, although they had never known about it, there was always something different for them. Something getting in the way.
Anger... Such an all encompassing emotion, that could fool you to believe you were on fire. That was all Niklaus could feel for Mikael.
Betrayal; at never being told; Mikael the very man that would belittle him, abuse him, make him feel so unworthy of the air he breathed since he could remember. Was never his real father.
Betrayal; at never being told where he could find his real father, until now.
Betrayal; at never defending him against the monster known as Mikael.
Betrayal; at never protecting him, until now.
Betrayal; for hiding the knowledge of his werewolf heritage from him, and hiding it still by cursing him.
Betrayal; at never changing them all before Henrik had died.
Betrayal... Was the only emotion Niklaus had left for his Mother.
Niklaus was leaving, he had asked his siblings to come with him. They must feel angry and betrayed to some degree, or maybe it was the fact that everything had changed now, as they had all agreed to join him in his search for his real father and to try and find him before Mikael did.
It was not like there was much of a village left to stay in any more. Nor much of a home.
He had asked them to meet him at the cave, as he had some things to take care of before they left. They had asked questions but Niklaus could not answer them.
Guilt... Niklaus felt that right now, not for what he was about to do, but only for how his siblings would suffer afterwards.
They were standing alone in the dimly lit hut they had once called home. "I am so sorry, Niklaus." Esther moaned softly as she closed her eyes. The candle light flickering in the silent room. "I had no knowledge any of this would happen." She pleaded once more. The shadows on the wall casting dark silhouettes.
"You have betrayed me... Mother!" Niklaus said just as softly. At that his mother opened her brown eyes, looking at Niklaus with surprise.
"I never meant to hurt you, Niklaus!" She whispered as she lifted her hand to place it upon Niklaus' cheek. "You are my son, and I love you."
Niklaus quickly grabbed his mother's wrist in a vice grip, ignoring her soft gasp. Almost forgetting his inhuman strength. "It does not change the fact that you have." Niklaus growled angrily, narrowing his dark blue eyes. "I could never forgive you. You do not understand that what you have done.. how it makes me feel.. I have never felt this in my life." He said, voice thick with emotion. "Mikael is hunting my true father right as we speak. You have sentenced him to death for your own actions!" He said quietly. "I am your bastard love child!"
Esther flinched at his harsh words. "Please just listen, Niklaus - "
" - No!" Niklaus interrupted abruptly. "I have listened to you enough!" He said firmly, shaking his head with determination. He had to do this, he could not let her words sway him as they played on the guilt he felt for his siblings. She needed to pay for what she had done to him.
"I have told you where to find your father, that is more than Mikael knows, if you hurry, you could make it there before him." Esther pleaded. Tears quietly falling from her brown eyes, her tears almost undoing him. She was after all, still his mother.
Inhaling deeply, he continued. "Oh, I intend to." He whispered. Still gripping his mother's wrist, he placed a knife into her hand.
"What are you doing, Niklaus?" Esther panicked frantically. Her glistening brown eyes wide as they landed on the knife.
Niklaus placed his fingers to his mother's chin, gently lifting her head so her eyes could meet his. His intention belying the tender action. "I do love you, Esther." Niklaus whispered emotionally, looking at her deeply as tears started to sting his blue eyes. "But you have hurt and betrayed me more than anyone else ever has! I can never forgive you! I can never live with you in the world!" He stated harshly, ignoring the single tear that finally broke free of the flimsy hold he had over it, as it made it's way down his cheek.
"Niklaus, please don't d -"
" - Hush!" He interrupted softly, placing a finger over her lips as he continued to look deep into her eyes. Esther slowly shook her head from side to side.
Ignoring both their tears and still holding his mother's wrist, Niklaus slowly guided the knife in her hand to hover over her chest. Staring intently into his mother's eyes, Niklaus whispered, "I want you to guide this through your heart, then maybe you can understand what you have done to mine!" He felt it fitting for her to rip her own heart apart as she had done his.
"Niklaus, please!" Whimpered Esther as she pleaded with her son. The cold tip of the sharp knife breaking through her blue tunic and smock, resting on her skin as Niklaus released her wrist and pressed his hand onto the other end, applying a gentle pressure.
"Do it!" He growled quietly. His hand shaking slightly as it rested on the hilt.
Keeping her eyes locked onto her son's dark blue ones and with a deep breath, Esther covered Niklaus' hand with both of her own and quickly plunged the knife through her chest. Abruptly gasping as it broke through her skin and into her heart.
Niklaus, moving at inhuman speed, quickly put his free arm around his mother's back to catch her and slowly lowered her to the ground. Her lifeless brown eyes staring unseeing at the thatched roof.
Kneeling beside her body Niklaus rested his forehead on his mother's and gently removed the knife from her body as the tears freely fell. 'I do love you mother, even if it may seem I do not. But you betrayed me and there was just no other way this could have been.' Thought Niklaus in a silent plea.
He stayed like that for a still moment before taking an unnecessary deep breath.
After a moment more, Niklaus picked himself up and looked down at his mother with a strange mix of pity and detachment. He watched as the blood began to pool under her; running through her blonde hair.
Still having some respect for his mother, Niklaus crouched down and picked her up.
Bringing her outside the hut, the morning sun warm on his face, he walked over to where they had buried Henrik and place her body gently on the ground.
Grabbing a shovel Niklaus started to dig. Not half an hour into it, Niklaus could sense before he heard his siblings presence as they approached him. 'I guess I have been quite some time now!' He thought as he continued to dig, not willing to raise his head to face them just yet.
"Niklaus?" Elijah asked as he was the first to arrive. Sniffing the air his gaze quickly found the source of the blood as he looked over to where Niklaus had laid their mother's body and rushed over to kneel at her side.
"What are you doing?" Inquired Rebekah, frowning at Niklaus in confusion when she reached him, gazing at her brother as he still continued to dig. Not immediately seeing Elijah with their mother. Suddenly she too sniffed the air and smelt the blood and that was when she looked around to see Elijah kneeling on the ground. "Elijah?" She questioned as she rushed over to his side.
"Is – is that mother?" Stuttered Finn in disbelief upon reaching them, rushing to her side across from Elijah and Rebekah and cradling his mother gently in his arms.
Kol rushed to join his siblings by his mother's side. "What did you do, Niklaus?!" He demanded angrily, narrowing his brown eyes, that looked so much like his mother's, accusingly up at Niklaus.
Niklaus stopped digging to look over at his siblings with unshed tears in his dark eyes. "I did nothing, Kol!" He said with a hard edge to his voice. Taking an unneeded breath, he softened his voice. "I came home and found mother like this, and Ayana no where to be found." He said with no small amount of guilt. 'I am so sorry I can not tell any of you the truth, but it would break all our hearts if you did know. It was nothing that she did not deserve.' Thought Niklaus as his family stared up at him, a mixture of sadness, shock and Niklaus could see a hint of disbelief, more from Finn than Kol and the rest of his siblings. Finn was always the closest to their mother.
Rising to his feet, Elijah rolled up the sleeves of his tunic and ran at inhuman speed to the tiny tool hut next to their home and quickly ran back to stand by Niklaus' side. "Let me help you, Niklaus!" He said as more of a command than a request as he began to dig, not giving Niklaus a chance to say or do anything.
Before long the rest of his siblings had done the same. All of them now helping each other to dig their mother's grave. 'I am sorry.' Niklaus thought once again. More to his siblings than his mother.
Once they had finished, Rebekah gently placed the garland of flowers that she favoured, around her mother's brow akin to the way Rebekah had worn it seconds before.
Finn then picking her still body from the ground, placed her in her grave.
They had all quietly filled it back in, none willing to break the melancholy silence that had descended upon them.
"I can understand if none of you still wish to join me in stopping Mikael and saving my father!" Niklaus suddenly said once they had finished, half leaning on the shovel he was holding and staring at the mound of dirt that sheltered his mother from view. "It will no doubt be dangerous," He sighed, turning his blue eyes away from his mother's resting place and looking up at his siblings, trying to see if he could figure out what they were thinking, "and no doubt be a very long journey." He finished, raising an eyebrow expectantly.
As they stood there, the wind started to pick up. Elijah was the first to speak. "We promised to leave with you Niklaus, and so we shall." He said, his brown eyes glancing over his siblings faces to see if they would contradict him. Seeing no denial from them, he continued, "however long it takes!"
Niklaus gave Elijah a true smile, something he felt he had never really done before. "Thank you, Elijah." He said genuinely.
Niklaus stood his shovel up against a nearby tree. His siblings doing the same, before they all, once more circled around their mother's fresh grave.
"I agree with Elijah." Smiled Rebekah, blue eyes shining with tears as she grasped both his and Elijah's hands in each of hers. "We are family and we stick together!" She said as her golden locks danced around her pale face, now blowing freely in the wind.
"Indeed!" Kol agreed with a small nod. Wind also tousling his brown hair gently.
Elijah grabbed Kol's hand as Rebekah had done to him and Kol grabbed Finn's hand in response, Finn gazed intently at Niklaus for a brief moment before grabbing hold of Niklaus' free hand.
"Always and Forever!" Rebekah murmured solemnly as she gazed down at her mother's grave one last time.
Following her gaze, each of them looked down; lost in their own thoughts. "Always and Forever!" They echoed softly together.
Loyalty... Is what warmed Niklaus' non beating heart.
It had taken them over two weeks to reach the Old' World. Mikael already days ahead of them, and that was with the benefit of being able to use their new little trick of mind control. Which Niklaus had happily discovered at the trade docks when through his anger at being ignored by the rude deck hand of the trade ship, he had suggested to him to go jump over board. The man had given Niklaus a blank stare, then within seconds, proceeded to do just that.
Going across the choppy waters of the sea, was definitely nowhere near as scary as from his memory of crossing them when he was a little boy. There was only but a few things Niklaus did not fear any more.
He did fear one of his siblings, if not all of them eventually finding out about their mother and perchance betraying him as she had. And he could not deny, even if only to himself, that he still feared Mikael.
Once upon the dangerous rocky shores of Scotland, Niklaus and his siblings had made their way across the land in the direction his mother gave him, to the little village that his now perfect memory guided him the rest of the way to.
Hoping that his father was still living there, and that they made it before Mikael had.
Upon reaching the small quiet village, the sun half way in the sky, Niklaus had found that he was too late, Mikael had not only made it there before him, but he had slaughtered his father and his entire pack.
Niklaus approached the body of his true father as it hung limp, speared through with a long spike, one end buried into the ground. Upon reaching his father, Niklaus reached out a trembling hand to touch the arm of the obviously dead man. Not able to hold back any longer, Niklaus fell at the feet of the man he would never have the chance to know, sobbing openly as grief clutched at his heart in unrelenting pain.
The rest of his family not daring to approach him.
Feeling absolutely livid Niklaus had left his siblings in the clearing and just ran. He had no destination in mind, but he did not care for that at that moment. He took it out on anything in his path, trees and branches alike with his inhuman strength as he ran at break-neck speed. He only barely listened as his family began to follow him. Ignoring their cries for him to stop.
After several minutes he had made it to a clearing as his siblings caught up to him. Growling in rage, he stalked over to a log that had looked as though it had fallen long ago, picking it up he had thrown it into the thick forest.
It was not long after they reached the clearing that a familiar mocking voice reached their ears. Mikael had been waiting in the area for Niklaus.
After a vicious display of aggression, Niklaus and his siblings had fled, running through the thick dark forest, Mikael not but a few yards behind them as they weaved their way through the old thick trees. It had seemed, to Niklaus, that Mikael was not able to run as fast as he and his siblings.
After running for no more than a half hour, they had made it to another, much larger clearing; all of them suddenly stopping in their tracks in complete surprise. 'I know I was young, when we lived in this area, but I have no memory of that being there!' Niklaus thought in wonder as he gazed up.
In front of them, stood an enormous stone castle.
Gazing around, Niklaus' dark blue eyes followed a cobbled path where stood a little ways down it a small stone outhouse. A small garden to the side of it.
A small young woman, standing in the midst of the small garden, dressed in a dark yellow long tunic, and adorned with a black yellow trimmed robe, turned in surprise at the new visitors. Her long brown hair pulled neatly in a plait. "Why, hello there!" She said cheerfully with a bright smile, her blue eyes sparkling inquisitively in the sunlight.
The Mikaelson's glanced at each other quickly before Niklaus stepped toward the tiny young lady of what he thought about Five and Twenty. "Hello, my name is Niklaus Mikaelson." He said politely as he held out his hand towards the mysterious lady. 'I wonder who she is, there is something about her.' Was Niklaus' thoughts as he inched closer to her.
She smiled kindly as she offered Niklaus her hand. Upon reaching her, Niklaus gently took her hand in his and placed his lips softly upon her knuckles. Ever the gentleman that he was. Once he released her hand, Niklaus indicated to his brother's and sister. "Behind me are my siblings, Finn, Elijah, Kol and Rebekah." Niklaus smiled as he introduced each respectively. Taking turns of bowing their head slightly as he said their names.
"Pleasure to meet you," She smiled, nodding to all in turn. "My name is Helga Hufflepuff."
'What an unusual name!' Niklaus thought with surprised amusement.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" She said happily, chuckling softly at the facial expressions she received.
Well, there's chapter 1 finished. I hope you enjoyed it to some degree, hopefully enough to read chapter 2.
Let me know what you think. Thanks.