Chapter 19

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

The grounds were silent, save for the nervous shuffling of feet. It seemed everyone held their breath as they waited for the long elegant quill to finish writing the invitations to Hogwarts for the incoming students of the year. They, Auror Bones, Auror Tonks, Auror Moody, Headmaster Dumbledore, Lord Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Minister Fudge; all stood waiting for what many believed would not come. This would be the closure many needed for what happened to young Harry Potter. The group stood just outside the castle wards. The forbidden forest was curiously quiet, as if its creatures too waited for what was to come.

The quill was now in the P's. After the quill had finished the invitation, the letters were spelled to fly up to the Owlry, where an owl would take the letter in its talons and deliver it. However, a parchment was laid out for what would be Harry's letter. Tracking charms were enchanted through every fiber of the parchment. As well as a portkey, which would be activated to take the owl to the boy's location once grasped.

Once the invitation is written, the enchantments will spring to life, enabling the group to trace the letter's movements. Gasping as the beginnings of Harry Potter were written, shouts of joy echoed through the castle grounds. As the last word was scribed on the letter and it took flight towards the owlery, the group took hands. A crystal was held in Auror Bones' grasp that was connected to the enchantments. A few minutes later, a location formed in golden lettering above them. The letters shimmered in the air.

Mr. H. Potter

Little Cottage

15469 Falls Rd.

Sioux Falls,

South Dakota

As one, they gripped each other's hands and disapparated with a pop.

Chapter 20

There can be miracles when you believe. Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill.

Who knows what miracles, you can achieve? When you believe, somehow you will, you will when you believe.

~When You Believe: Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston~

The hunters stared in stupefaction at the origin of the noise. For where there had been previously an empty clearing save for the little cottage, now stood a company of people in flowing robes. Both parties stared at each other in shock. Ascha tilted his head in confusion. Sam and Dean gasped in awe at the magic. It took but a moment before Bobby was reaching for John as he readied himself for attack.

Everything happened at once. The whistle of metal as it sliced through the air spun everyone into action, shouts of Latin echoing through the trees. A gun went off, Ascha had enough, and slamming his staff upon the earth, the clamor of a gong reverberated in their heads as everyone was thrown from their feet. Groans filled the clearing as each person made an effort to untangle their limbs.

John Winchester glanced up to see glowing emeralds glaring at him. His gun lay in pieces to his right. Bobby and his sons groaned to his left. The majestic bird and owl hovered above the mysterious boy, he stood tall and regal in a sea of bodies. The bullet and dagger were suspended in the air.

"What the…?" A voice grumbled, from the mass of bodies that were piled in front of the boy's door.

"Ugh! Get off Mad-Eye!" A feminine voice exclaimed.

"Watch where your poking that thing would you?!" An older woman shouted.

"I think I broke something…" A male's voice mused.

"Where is my wand?... Found it!" A crazed voice laughed.

"Bloody hell! That's not your wand! Get off, you bloody imbecile!" Squeaked a voice.

"Sorry Minister"

They all grumbled as they stood. Dusting themselves off, Sirius Black sucked in a breath as he got his first look at his godson. The young boy stood stiffly, back straight. Fingers tightened around a staff as he glared at a middle-aged man across the clearing.

Emerald eyes blazing. Albus Dumbledore let out a sigh of relief, something easing in his heart as he saw for himself that the child that they had sought the past few years was alive. The minister was panicking, catching sight of the bullet and dagger that hung motionless in the air.

The Aurors took stock of their surroundings, noticing the two young boys, two older men, the school owl and Dumbledore's missing Phoenix. They also noticed a bullet and dagger suspended in the air. Before their very eyes, the dagger and bullet turned to ash. Blowing away in the wind. The gasps of the children caught their ears. Magic crackled in the air as the boy, Harry, turned from the two men to look at them. A letter clutched in his hand that did not hold the staff. Black hair spilled over his young shoulders as green eyes stared out from sooty lashes.

His head tilted as if he was listening to voices in the wind. A dog bounded out from the bushes to stand protectively in front of the child. It growled threateningly at the group of wizards. The child walked, using his staff as a walking stick, to the dog's side. He laid a calming hand on the mutt's head. It quieted instantly.

Moody could feel the magic that pulsed from this kid in waves. Standing here in his presence, it wasn't hard to see how the boy defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The child reeked of power.

"Who are you?" Ascha questioned, voice laced with magic. Shadows gathered at his back forming feathers that danced upon the trees. Nervously, Sirius stepped forward. Taking heed of the child's inhuman grace. Dragging a hesitant Remus by his sleeve. Perhaps, they thought, perhaps Harry didn't make it with the dark creature unscathed.

"Harry! My name is Sirius Black. I am your godfather. This is Remus. We knew your parents." The Black Lord exclaimed. His eyes implored him to come to him, his arms outstretched to the child pleadingly. Ascha did not move. Dumbledore stepped forward, ignoring the men across the clearing who were getting to their feet.

"Harry, my boy! Come. There is much to do. We have to hurry if we are to get everything before the first term begins." Dumbledore said as his blue eyes twinkled jovially. Half-moon glasses perched upon the edge of his nose.

"Now wait just a moment witch! You're not taking that boy anywhere!" Came John's gruff voice across the clearing.

"John!" Bobby implored.

"No Bobby! They can't just come here and expect the child to just go with strangers. Demon-dealing witches at that." John growled. He stalked across the clearing, leaving the thicket of trees to be closer to the boy.

"I beg your pardon…we don't deal with those…those…Creatures. Dark creatures at that. How dare you insinuate that we are dark wizards?" Came the cultured voice of Madame Bones. She puffed up angrily, her monocle glinting in the fading light. Moody limped over to her side as he accessed the two men and children beside the Potter boy in the clearing. Realizing the men knew about magic already and viewed it in a negative light, he came to the rightful conclusion.

"Hunters," Moody growled as he whipped his wand toward John.

Robes ruffled as both groups began to descend into a heated debate about who gets to take the child. Dumbledore attempts to get Moody to lower his wand. John glared at him, daring him to do it. Bobby rushed over to come to Johns's defense as the other Aurors raised their wands to obliviate them. Wands glowed at the tip as slow clapping ricocheted through the trees.

The ominous sound sends shivers down their spines. Innocent laughter rang out that chased away the fear that the oppressive atmosphere that suffocated them, inspired.

"Crawly!" Ascha giggled. Heads whipped toward the sound as they saw the black-haired child prance toward a slow-walking figure. The man looked posh in an Armani suit and tie. His attire was neatly pressed as he brought his hands together in a slow clap. Brown hair danced in the breeze as a slow grin stretched across his handsome face.

Everything about him screamed higher aristocracy, he could be an ordinary noble, except his eyes. They were glowing crimson pools of hellfire. Growls shook the ground beneath their feet as the demon placed an elegant hand on Ascha's head as he chattered excitingly up at him. His glowing eyes are fond as he stares at the boy.

"Isn't this just a lovely reunion? Now why wasn't I invited to the party?" Crowley queried. His Scottish brogue-like black sludge coated the wizard's magic. "I will make things simple for you. The boy is Mine! Mine alone, the contract is binding. You won't be getting him back until the terms are met. So run along now, go brew some intelligence while you're at it." He hissed, teeth bared in a vicious grin.

"You will release him you monster!" Sirius black shouted as he raised his wand. The others followed suit, the hunters grabbing any weapon they could find now that their previous ones turned to ash.

"Please don't." Crowley purred. "I do so hate to make things messy and Ascha would never forgive me if I painted your innards across his lawn. What would the neighbors think?"

The clearing erupted into chaos as spellfire flashed, and red eyes glowed as bodies were thrown toward the branches of the trees, with the intention of impaling. A crash of thunder burst forth as Ascha once again slammed his staff into the ground. Roots surging from the earth to catch the flying bodies. Clouds gathered in the sky, black tumbling masses that blanketed the horizon as lightning spider-webbed across its expanse. Skin glowed a pearl white as raven hair whipped around the emerald-eyed boy.

"ENOUGH!" Boomed a voice laced with power. Screams shook the clearing as Ascha looked up. Eyes blazing white with command. Ears bleed as the ground shook the roots that held them up. Dean and Sam clutched their heads pleading for the pain to stop. The wind beat at their bodies as shadows stretched forming six wings that extended from the trees. "Enough. You will fight no more, or I shall make it so you cannot move to do so. AM I CLEAR?!"

No one answered him. Ascha threatened as lightning flashed across the clearing to ignite upon him. Despairing screams bounced off the trees at the sight. Arches of electric currents danced over Ascha's form as he stood unaffected by the strike. The wind howled as Ascha became more incensed at their continued silence. Crowley fought to back away from Ascha, but the wind held him still. "AM I CLEAR?!" He shouted.

"Yes! Yes! Just please stop Ascha. You'll kill us. Stop, we won't fight anymore." Crowley screamed in an attempt to be heard above the storm. Blinking, the white glow faded to reveal a calming jade as Ascha smiled.

"Okay." He chirped. Breathes of relief were exhaled as the vines and roots slowly brought everyone down to deposit gently on the ground. Sam and Dean looked at Ascha as the winged shadows disappeared as if they had never been. Tears gathered in Sam and Dean's eyes as the merciless wind tampered off to become a gentle breeze and the turbulent clouds faded to reveal a clear sky. Sam was sure he had witnessed something Biblical just then. Bobby decided that perhaps he should do some research on the Old Testament. John's limbs shook as he tried to remain standing.

The wizards and two witches breathed deeply, more affected by what happened from their closeness to magic. Dumbledore could taste the power in the air. Slowly coming to the realization that perhaps having this child around other schoolchildren may not be such a good idea. The lines of the prophecy he heard so long ago rang through his aching head. Just what have they witnessed?

What are they going to unleash upon the world? After seeing magic wielded so effortlessly by a child barely a first year, hope for the light began to fill his heart. They just had one problem to deal with. He thought as he eyed the red-eyed creature across the glade. Perhaps three as Dumbledore's eyes met those of the hunter. …And he shall have the power the dark lord knows not…