Length minus the A/N: 1,661 words
A/N: I've recently been on a bit of a fanfiction kick, and have demolished several stories over the last couple weeks. The issue with that is, after reading for around a decade, I'm sort of scraping the bottom of the barrel for fics that appeal to me. So I figured it was time to write my own, I can't really speak to an upload schedule, it'll really depend on writing when I can, but the story is loosely planned out all the way through, so whenever I do write hopefully I won't get stuck trying to figure out what's happening next lol
This is just the short prologue, and while the bones of the story are planned out, if there's something you wanna see let me know. I can adapt and change certain things if I like the ideas or a lot of people want to see them. The basic premise is this is a time travel story, where Harry will be sent back to the first war. It's currently planned to be a Bellatrix/Harry pairing, but one where they are both adults in their 20's.
Taking a bit of inspiration from authors like TheBlacksResurgence, though I'm not really attempting to copy him, Harry will be a Peverell and there's time travel, but I don't plan to have an Arcturus Black character or delve into a similar political system. Just kinda keep it a bit grounded, and focus on Harry's personal life and the war, at least currently.
Don't expect anything bordering on smut, things will be mentioned, but the idea of writing anything approaching graphic sex scenes doesn't really appeal to me.
I think that's everything I can think of to introduce the story. If you enjoy, I'd appreciate any feedback (especially grammatically/writing style), favorites, and follows
Harry felt the adrenaline pumping through him, as spells lit up the battlefield. He knew the Order was desperate if they were letting him fight. There was a flash, and he saw Ron thrown against the castle walls, a sickening crunch reverberating through the battlefield. He stared at his still friend, trying desperately to see if he could see him breathing. Distracted, he wasn't prepared for the spell that clipped his shoulder, the loud pop causing him to wince. Fuck, he thought diving behind a stone pillar. Another spell impacting the pillar, sending shock waves through his dislocated shoulder. Trying to breathe through the pain, he was forced to clenched his teeth as an explosion shook the courtyard. Nearby, a battered Kingsley crawling behind a pile of rubble caught his eye. He was breathing heavy, a deep gash in his chest spilled blood down his robes. Kingsley going down was bad, he was one of the few heavy hitters the Order had left. Peering out from behind his pillar he saw Bill and Charlie desperately trying to cut their way to Ron. Not far away from them, Remus was doing all he could to protect an unconscious Tonks. She had a huge wound on her forehead that left her face covered in blood. Things were bad, and Harry knew he couldn't freeze. Gritting his teeth he slammed his arm against the pillar, a light grunt escaping his throat as the pain lanced through him. Briefly resting his head against the pillar, he couldn't stop some those who'd already fallen from flashing through his mind.
Mrs. Weasley had been the first casualty of the fighting, her body had rotted within minutes of being hit by an unknown curse. The next day of fighting opened with Hagrid's battered body crashing into the courtyard. And now Ron hitting the wall and the accompanying crunch kept repeating in Harry's head. "Fuck this," Harry whispered, feeling something inside of him snap. He stepped out into the open, and just let go. A white flame poured out of his wand, snaking through the battlefield, consuming every Death Eater it touched. Those unlucky enough to be caught in the flame could do nothing as their flesh burned. "Harry!" A whisper tickled the back of his brain, but if the Death Eaters wanted to play so bad, he didn't mind letting them have his full attention a bit longer. The Death Eaters, seeing many of their own left as nothing but bones and ash broke. "Harry!" The voice came a bit louder this time. Why are they trying to distract me? He thought, irritated by the voice. Shaking his head, he continued letting the flames chase the fleeing Death Eaters, relishing in their fear. "Harry please stop," he heard Hermione pleading beside him, he arms on his shoulders. Why is she trying to stop me? He wondered, as he felt the flames catch up to several more victims. He shrugged her off his shoulders, pouring more of himself into the flames, his desire to end things here driving him. "I'm sorry about this." She said, but before who could turn to see what she was apologizing about there was a flash and the world went black.
Harry pushed himself up off the ground. Where am I? He was standing in a fairly larger foyer, were it not for the rotting walls and splintered floors, he'd almost mistake it for an ancestral home. Walking to the door, he glanced outside and saw nothing but forest for miles around, the slight scent of salt water wafted through the air. Shutting the door and heading back inside, he couldn't help but feel as if he was being watched. "Hello?" he called out, exploring the dilapidated home.
"Find me." A voice whispered, echoing through the manor.
"Wait, what?" He called out, but there was no answer.
"Find Me." The same voice repeated, suddenly the same white flame that had poured out of his wand ignited at his feet.
"Wait wait wait," He called, trying desperately to stall the flames.
"Find me." The voice repeated for the last time. "And all will be revealed." With that the flames consumed Harry, and the world went white.
Harry woke up, leaning against a pile of scorched rubble. He grabbed for his wand, but it was gone. "Harry, it's alright. It's us." Hermione said, trying to comfort her friend, but Harry was more concerned by the flames that had just been covering his body. "Harry, it's okay," she repeated, pulling him into a hug. Realizing where he was, he glanced around at everyone near him, but instead of relief he saw their fear. Are they scared of me?
"Harry, what did you do?" Hermione asked, pulling back from the hug. He looked at her, confused and noticed she was holding his wand.
"What?" Harry asked, exasperation and confusion evident in his voice. "I pushed them back. We were losing."
"It's not what you did Harry," Moody cut in, "It's... that you looked like you were enjoying it." Had he really enjoyed killing them, or was it just the spell? He thought back to the flames, and the feeling of euphoria they left him.
"Maybe… but they're monsters. Is it really wrong to enjoy returning some of the fear they give us?" Harry said slowly, trying to rationalize what he'd just done, but he froze as everyone around him tensed up. In that moment he realized they'd never understand. "Look, I'm sorry, I lost myself in the moment. I just guess I'm tired of constantly fighting. I mean, I'm only 22." He wasn't exactly lying, but the truth was he was saying whatever he could to just end this conversation.
"Just try to do better, okay? Hermione said, finally letting a sad smile onto her face and handing him his wand. He struggled to hold in his snort. Okay, he thought annoyed.
"How's Ron? I saw him hit the wall," Harry asked, suddenly remembering the last time he'd seen his friend during the battle, but the tears pooling in Hermione's eyes was the only answer he needed. "I'm sorry Hermione." She shook her head and took off, tears running down her cheeks. He instinctively tried to push himself up to go after her, but he nearly passed out, his breathe heavy as he fell back against the rubble.
"You pushed yourself too much." Remus said, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder. "We'll look after her, but just rest." He paused, giving Harry a sympathetic look. "The Order... has voted to surrender Hogwarts." Harry tried to interrupt, but Remus held up his other hand. "Look Harry, everyone is exhausted." Harry grimaced. He couldn't blame the Order, but part of him was hoping this is where it'd all end.
"I'm good, go help, I'm fine Remus." He gave the werewolf a small grin, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He wasn't fine, but the man had other things to worry about, and he couldn't get the vision he had while unconscious out of his mind. Swallowing the lump in his throat as Remus walked away, Harry struggled to not let the guilt overwhelm him, the man would never understand, but those flames had awoken something and it was calling to him. Pushing himself up through the pain, he managed to stand and limp to a nearby wall, leaning against it to catch his breath. Now how am I supposed to find you? He knew it wasn't likely, but he couldn't help but wish the voice would just answer him. Of course not, he thought as he let out a frustrated sigh, but truthfully he wasn't surprised. Nothing was ever easy when it involved him. Leaning his head against the wall, he closed his eyes and just focused on the vision, how the voice sounded and how the fire felt as it crawled up his body. That was when he realized the voice didn't answer him just now because it already had. He took a deep breath and let the feeling of the fire consume him, in a flash of white flames Harry Potter was gone.
The fire deposited Harry in a meadow surrounded by a dense forest, the distinct smell of sea salt permeated the air. This is definitely where I was...I think. Though something seems off? Gripping his wand, he spent the next few hours limping around the meadow, trying to find any sign of the manor, but eventually as the sun began to set, he truly began to doubt everything that had happened. As far as he knew, hallucinations were a symptom of magical exhaustion, but he couldn't understand how the fire that brought him here was the same from the vision. And even now it still felt as though something was here just out of reach. At this rate, he wasn't sure he'd ever find what had called him here, with a frustrated sigh he plopped himself onto the ground, only to be sent tumbling through a rotten door and onto the hard cellar floor. He laid there for a moment, taking in his surroundings. "Well, at least I found what's left of the manor," he said with a groan. Slowly he rolled onto his stomach, and pushed himself up. His eyes immediately being drawn to a pedestal in the center of the room. As he approached it, he noticed a simple black ring that was missing it's gem, it's diamond shaped slot was eerily similar to the stone Harry had pulled from the snitch Professor Dumbledore had left him. "Surely not?" He said digging the stone out of his pocket, but as he stared at the stone in his hand, there was final flash and Harry found himself back in the manor, only this time there was no voice and a new piece of jewelry sat snugly on his finger.