Changeling: Rise of magic

Prologue

Harry lay on the ground, pinned under Quirrell's knee.

"Master," Quirrell whined. "I cannot hold him. My hands. My hands."

"Then kill him fool, and be done," Voldemort hissed.

Quirrell raised his wand.

Harry struggled, but couldn't reach Quirrell. He strained with all his might, but he couldn't reach the professor.

"Avada Kedavra," Quirrell said.

There was a flash of green light and Harry knew no more.

*HPROM*

Harry gasped as he sat up. He shivered as he lay on the cold stone floor. Where were his clothes? Where was he?

With a thought, he was wearing long black robes. He stood and looked around. The room he was in appeared to be made of Roughly hewn stone. Long Stone benches lined the walls and a simple wooden door was at the far end.

"Where is this? How did I get here?"

At the sound of his voice, there was a pitiful whimpering sound from under one of the benches.

Harry jumped. Was there something else here? What could it be? Hesitantly, Harry approached the bench the sound was coming from. Taking a deep breath, he knelt and looked under the bench.

A small creature lay under the bench. It's skin was red and raw as if it had been burned. It's flat snake-like face reminded Harry of the face that had been sticking out of Voldemort's head. As he knelt there, the creature let out another pitiful moan. It's red eyes stared at Harry as if pleading for help.

"There's nothing you can do," a voice said from behind him. "That poor wretched thing is beyond help.

Harry turned to see a woman with long red hair standing there. Her emerald green eyes were full of tears.

"Hello son," she said smiling tremulously. "It's good to see you again.

"Mum?" Harry asked.

Lily stepped forward and drew him into a tight hug. Pulling back, she kissed his forehead and brushed his hair away from his face.

"Are you here to take me on?"

Lily shook her head. "Yes and no. If you choose to go on, I will of course accompany you, but I'm hoping you will go back."

"No," Harry said immediately. "I want to go with you. I want to see Dad." He looked around. "Why isn't he here anyway?"

"Only one of us could come and see you. I was… insistent."

Harry grinned. "You beat him up?"

"Only a little."

The creature under the bench let out another wail. Lily glared at the creature.

"Be quiet," she said harshly. "You brought this upon yourself."

"What is that thing?" Harry asked.

Lily led him over to one of the benches. Sitting down, She took his hands.

"I'd have liked to wait until you were a bit older, but there's no help for it." Taking a deep breath, she began to explain.

"That creature is a piece of Voldemort's soul. It's the reason your scar hurt you so much when he was near."

Harry may not have had Hermione's book smarts, but he wasn't stupid. "That thing was in my scar?"

Lily nodded. "When Voldemort attacked, he'd already performed rituals that damaged his soul. When the killing curse backfired, a piece of his soul was torn away and latched onto the only living thing in that room."

"So, it's gone? My scar won't hurt when he's nearby anymore?"

Lily shook her head. "You're free, but there is more I need to tell you."

Harry leaned forward. "What is it?"

"Have you ever heard of a changeling?"

Harry shook his head. "Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon didn't like me looking at anything even slightly out of the ordinary." He frowned. "I haven't heard of that term since I got to the wizarding world."

"No, I imagine you wouldn't," Lily said. "Well, to summarize, a changeling is a faery child that is switched with a human child."

"But fairies are tiny."

Lily chuckled. "There not fairies. The fae have many names. Faeries, the fair folk, the gentry, the little people, and the good neighbors, just to name a few."

"Okay, so what does that have to do with me?"

"I got pregnant in October of 1979. Seven months into my pregnancy, something went wrong. My daughter was a stillborn."

"Daughter?" Harry blinked, "but…"

Lily held up a hand. "I'm getting there. James and I were heartbroken. We decided not to tell anyone and we buried our daughter in an unmarked grave behind the house at Godric's hallow. When she was buried, we cast preservation spells on the grave to preserve her body until we could give her a proper burial."

Lily paused to wipe a tear. "On July 31, 1980, a woman showed up on our doorstep. She was heavily pregnant and begged us for help. We were confused. We didn't know how she got passed our wards, but we couldn't turn her away. She gave birth to a baby boy."

Lily stroked Harry's cheek. "Me?"

"You," she said shakily. You were a beautiful baby. Your eyes were green just like your mothers and you had the most beautiful snow white hair. I can't speak for James, but it was hard to see a newborn baby after what we'd lost a mere two months ago."

"What happened? I don't have white hair," Harry said lamely.

Lily chuckled. "No, you don't. Mab, that was your mothers name, she explained that she was on the run. Some bad wizards and fae were trying to find her. She asked us to take you in. In exchange, she would take our daughters body and give her a proper burial."

Harry winced. "Kind of tactless."

Lily nodded. "In her defense, she was kind of pressed for time. She explained to us that it was part of the magic. An exchange had to be made. She promised us that she would treat our daughters body like it was her child's."

"You agreed?"

"Of course we did," Lily said. "You were in danger. We knew she wasn't lying about that and any fool could see she didn't want to give you up. It was killing her to give you to us. Anyway, she took some of mine and James's blood and cast a glamour spell. The spell turned you into a carbon copy of James, but with my eyes. She whispered something in your ear and gave you to us."

"And she just left?"

Lily nodded. "She did. Before she left, she told us to name you whatever we wanted and that's what we did. We named you Harry after James's Grandfather and James after James of course."

"And no one asked any questions?"

Lily shrugged. "It was war. We hadn't seen any of our friends since I was six months pregnant and we'd told no one about my miscarriage. What sealed it was when we looked at the Potter family tree and your name had been added to it. That was when we knew that you were ours."

Her story done, Lily let out a deep sigh. She watched Harry to see his reaction.

"So, my mother is still alive and she never came for me?"

"She couldn't. The child you were switched with was dead. The fae magic wouldn't allow her to take you back until you were the same."

"That's messed up."

"That's how some of the ancient magic works. It's all about balance. Mab was smart. She found a way to be near you, even if she couldn't be in her true shape."

Harry looked confused. "What do you mean. Are you talking about Mrs. Fig because she was the definition of a crazy cat lady."

"Lily chuckled. "No, Hedwig. After Voldemort attacked, Mab searched for you, but couldn't find you, so she did the only thing she could. She hid in Diagon alley and waited."

"For ten years?"

A mother would wait an eternity to see her child again."

Harry swallowed. "So, what happens now? I go back and return to the Dursleys?"

Lily shook her head. "No, you are close enough to death for Mab to be allowed to retrieve you." She scowled. "I hope she tortures my dear sister for what she did to you."

Harry shifted uncomfortably. "It wasn't that bad," he mumbled.

Lily drew him into a hug. "You can't lie to me. I've been watching you."

"I don't want to go back," Harry mumbled into Lily's shoulder.

"Life is worth living," Lily said squeezing him tightly. "Besides, this isn't good-bye. We'll see each other again I promise."

Harry sighed and drew away from her. "She's nice, my… err… mother?"

Lily shrugged. "Seems to be. She spent ten years as an owl in a cage to find you. If that's not love, I don't know what is." Lily leaned forward. "Listen, I have a message you need to pass on to Dumbledore. Tell him it wasn't Sirius it was Peter Pettigrew. Tell him to ask Remus about our time at Hogwarts? Do you understand?"

"Yes, but what does that mean?"

"It doesn't matter," Lily said quickly. She looked around. "I don't know if Dumbledore will do anything, but it's worth a shot. If not, maybe Mab can do something."

"Harry took a step away from Lily. "I hope this isn't just all in my head."

Lily smiled as white light surrounded Harry. "Just because it's in your head, doesn't mean it's not real."

Chapter 1

Harry winced as he returned to consciousness. His chest ached where the killing curse had struck. Rolling over, he pushed himself to his feet and looked around.

Quirrell lay sprawled on the floor, twitching slightly. Harry took a deep breath. He wouldn't get a better chance than this. He stepped towards the black flames in the doorway of the room when Quirrell spoke.

"Master," Quirrell said. "What happened?"

"Shut up you fool. Check on the boy," Voldemort hissed.

Harry hurried towards the flames when a heavy weight knocked him to the ground.

"master, I've got him."

"That's obvious," Voldemort snarled. "Kill him.'

Harry rolled and swung a fist at Quirrell. A gust of wind sent the professor flying into the opposite wall.

"What the," Voldemort said.

Quirrell scrambled back to his feet, glaring at Harry. "How did you do that?"

"No clue," Harry said honestly. "I'm just as surprised as you are."

"Kill him," Voldemort shrieked. "This time, cut his head off."

"Now that seems accessive," Harry said. He had no idea where this snarky side was coming from, but he couldn't seem to help it.

Before any of them could respond, A snow white owl fluttered down from the ceiling.

Voldemort let out a shrill cackle. "Is this the best you can do? An owl?"

They all stared at the owl as it's form began to shimmer. Within seconds, the owl was gone. In it's place, stood a tall woman with long white hair and piercing green eyes.

Her pale skin glowed faintly. She wore a long white gown that covered her from neck to ankle. Her feet were bare. A long silver knife was sheathed on her right hip.

"Who are you?" Voldemort said as Quirrell walked backwards toward him.

"I am princess Tanwen, heir to the throne of Elfame and mother to Harry James Potter."

"Princess? Elfame? Those are nothing but old stories. Wizards haven't had any dealings with the fae since the time of the founders."

Tanwen shrugged. "Not publicly. Enough of this. It's time to deal with you. Quirinus Quirrell," she said her voice taking on a tone of command. "Face me."

Quirrell turned around jerkily, as if he was trying to resist the command. "What do you want."

Tanwen gazed at him, her eyes held a hint of sadness. "I am truly sorry. You've not done anything you couldn't come back from, but your life is over."

"My master promised me a reward beyond my wildest dreams."

"I'm sure he did," Tanwen said, "but he lied. You were gonna die as soon as you allowed him to possess you."

"You would say anything to turn me against my master."

"I'm done talking," Tanwen said.

"You," Quirrell began.

Quick as a flash, Tanwen flicked out a hand. A ribbon of blue flame left her fingers and severed Quirrell's head from his body. The head and body turned to ash before they hit the floor.

With a roar of rage, Voldemort rose out of the ashes and flew through the ceiling.

Harry fell to his knees, all his energy draining away. Tanwen knelt beside him, looking him over with a critical eye.

"You're exhausted love," she said stroking his cheek. "Sleep, I'll return for you soon.

Harry opened his mouth to ask where she was going, but darkness ingulfed him before he could utter a word.

*HPHH*

Tanwen appeared on the street across from the Dursley home. She strode confidently up to the door and knocked three times.

When Petunia Dursley opened the door, Tanwen smiled coldly at the woman. "Ah Petunia, just the person I wanted to see.

Petunia stared at the woman. "Do I know you?"

"No," Tanwen said. "Be grateful I am here instead of his father. You and your husbands suffering will only be for life."

Petunia tried to slam the door, but Tanwen caught her eye. Her green eyes glowed faintly. "May I come in?" she asked politely.

Petunia opened her mouth to tell the freak to leave her home, but to her horror, those weren't the words that came out.

"Come in please," Petunia said smiling widely. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

Tanwen stepped into the Dursley home and the door slammed closed behind her. She rubbed her hands together.

"Petunia, is Vernon home?"

"Once again, Petunia found her mouth moving without her consent. "Yes," she said in that same pleasant tone. "He is in the lounge, would you like to come and see him?"

"Of course," Tanwen purred. "We have so much to discuss."

As they started towards the lounge, Vernon came into the hall. "Petunia? Who is this?"

Tanwen grinned, revealing unnaturally sharp teeth. "Hello Vernon," she purred. "I need to have a talk with you and your wife about my son."

"Your son?" Vernon said looking her up and down. "Is he a friend of Dudleys?"

"More like a victim," Tanwen said. "You see, Harry Potter's mother wasn't dead after all. As you can imagine, she is not happy with the way you have treated her baby boy."

"That freak got better than he deserved," Vernon snapped.

Tanwen clicked her fingers and Vernon fell silent.

"That's better," she said conversationally. "What I'm going to do to you is more merciful than you deserve." With a gesture, both Dursley's found themselves frozen in place. A circle of light appeared behind Tanwen. Turning, she strode into the light.

*HPROM*

The goblin stared at Tanwen. "We haven't seen one of the high fae in centuries, and your first act is to bring us this?" He prodded the paralyzed Vernon with the tip of a spear.

Tanwen shrugged. "You are the most vicious fae I could think of. You may have chosen to leave the Unseelie court, but my mother still remembers you as being the most savage creatures she's ever had dealings with."

The boblin scowled. "And what exactly would you have us do with them. The fat one wouldn't survive a day in our mines and the woman probably wouldn't survive half that."

Tanwen looked down at Vernon and Petunia. "Vernon could be dragon food. As for Petunia, you could use her for breeding stock. Enough time eating faery food, she would be able to bare you offspring."

The goblin shot Tanwen a disgusted look. "Please, even goblins have standards. Tell me, would the high and mighty sidhe breed with one such as this?"

Tanwen shrugged. "Her looks could be altered with magic. As for her personality, I know of a few, but they'd probably end up killing her."

"Exactly. What makes you think a goblin would want her? Especially if she abused one of her own family. We may have been away from Elfame for a long time, but we have not forgotten the importance of family."

Tanwen nodded. "Fair enough. What would you suggest?"

The goblin grinned. "I know just the thing."

*HPROM*

Tanwen glared at the pig and horse. "Are you sure about this?"

The goblin kicked the rocking horse and it fell to the floor with a clatter. Picking up the pig, he squeezed it making it squeak.

"Come on, muggle kids will have fun with these."

Tanwen glanced at the stack of toys in the toystore window. Drawing in a breath through her teeth, she let it out in a sigh.

"I'd hoped for something a little more painful."

The goblin smirked. "Can you think of anything worse than being a child's toy. Don't forget, the spell will not end until they are completely reduced to ash. Until then, they will be alive and aware."

Tanwen grinned. "I like the sound of that. Maybe I'll come check on them in a few years. "Who knows, they may have learned something."