Scion of Sorcery, Dimensions of Destiny
Disclaimers: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Review Answers:
WhiteElfElder: If you remember the other version, you'll know the answer;
ALSO: In this edited version, I've taken out most of the start as, mostly because of later flashbacks that make a more-ideal point for revelation, it helps move the story along nicely enough
"Congratulations," said Stephen, coughing once before he nodded, "I…I owe you my life, it seems…thank you, Miss…"
Smiling at him again, the woman handed him a glass of water before she answered his unasked question;
"My name is Lily…Lily Potter, I guess as it's going to be soon…and you don't have to thank me. Trust me, I've got a bit of a saving-people thing; heaven forbid my kids, if I have any, should inherit that from me…"
Phase One: Potter-Strange?
Chapter 1: The Prodigal Son
Within a hidden sanctuary in the Far East, Doctor Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme and Master of Kamar-Taj and the other Sanctuaries of Magic across the world looked up from a copy of a newspaper, his eyes shining while his hand flew to his heart where he felt a surge of incredible warmth passing through him.
After a moment, he looked to another man, whom frowned as he saw his friend looking so distressed. "What is it, Stephen?"
"I just felt something, Wong," replied Stephen, rubbing at his chest, "Like I've been hooked to a defibrillator and someone switched on the power."
"Could there be a problem with one of the other sanctums?" asked Wong, earning a shake of the head from Stephen.
"Things have been peaceful for once," explained the Sorcerer Supreme.
"Except for meeting with the Avengers," added Wong, earning a nod from Stephen, "This feeling: you say it makes you feel strong? Supercharged?"
Nodding again, Stephen watched as Wong's eyes narrowed before he lifted a hand and, moving his fingers in a gesture, tracing the mystic symbols in the air, the Asian sorcerer frowned before he whispered, "Oh Stephen, what have you done?"
"What do you mean?"
"My readings tell me a connection's been formed," explained Wong, looking to the Sorcerer Supreme as he explained, "Your mystic connections have been replicated…in short, Doctor…"
"I have a child," said Stephen, his eyes narrowing as he asked, "But when did…oh dear…"
"Stephen?" asked Wong, noticing the man's face pale in a way that hadn't been seen on the Sorcerer's face since the first time since he'd been shown the truth of the power of magic by the Ancient One. "What have you done?"
"Something…something I shouldn't," answered Stephen, rising from his seat while, at the same time, he summoned his cloak to him as he added, "I have to go, Wong: I won't be too long."
"Go where?" asked the other sorcerer.
"Somewhere I hoped I'd never have to go again."
"Stephen…" Wong began, but before he could finish, the Sorcerer Supreme vanished through the portal, leaving Wong both curious and a little uneasy about the power he'd sensed connecting to Stephen's mystical energy.
If it was anywhere near as powerful as the Sorcerer Supreme himself, then it was essential that they find it and help the owner tame his powers.
The last thing they needed was someone else like Kaecilius, or worse, with powers like Stephen's.
SoS
"Hello Lily."
Turning on the spot, Lily's eyes widened as she found herself staring at a semi-transparent figure dressed in a skin-hugging black outfit, over which he wore a long, flowing red cape.
Around his neck, the man wore a gold pendant that looked like an eye, which was currently closed. As Lily saw the man, she gasped when he put a finger to his lips before, with a series of gestures, the man seemed to make the world shift, creating a wall of invisible glass that kept them in and everything else out.
It was as he did this that the man became corporeal, his body standing across from Lily with a troubled, but otherwise-calm look in his green eyes.
"Stephen?" asked Lily, earning a thin smirk from the man, "What…why are you here? And…and what…what did you just do?"
"I was projecting myself from the Astral Plane," replied Stephen, his voice calm, "By bringing you into the Mirror Dimension, I was able to pull my body here so that we could talk without anyone from your world coming to arrest me, thinking me a Dark Wizard as they did last time."
Lily's eyes softened while Stephen gave her a half-hearted smile as he asked, "Have I ever thanked you for helping me?"
"No, and you'll never have to," said Lily, her voice returning to its curious, but wary tone as she asked, "Why are you here now?"
"I know about the birth of your son, Lily," replied Stephen, earning a shocked look from the redhead as he smiled, "Or I should say our son."
"I…I'm sorry…" Lily whispered, her voice laced with an air of hope, "It…it was one night…and then…then James got more serious after…after his parents' deaths; he…he married me, asked me to…to forgive him for being so distant and…and ever since, he's treated me like a queen. He also knows…about my…our son; he…he was surprised, but…but since we weren't married yet, he…he agreed to overlook it, but…but on one condition; he's adopted our son as his heir. Stephen…"
"I'm not angry about any of that," Stephen assured her, folding his arms, "I know of James Potter's bloodline and who and what it dates back to. I'm here because, three days after his birth, there was a magical wave that affected both my realm and yours, especially here in the Mirror Dimension; it was so powerful that it lit up the three bastions of power where mystic energy resides through the protection of my Order."
Lily stared in shock.
Three days had been when James had performed his ritual on Harry to name him Heir Potter and make him James' son in blood and magic.
Even then, Lily had known her son would be more than just an ordinary wizard as James had infused him with more than just basic Potter Family Magic: he'd called on the legacy of Ignotus to bless his son and heir.
But if someone like the Sorcerer Supreme had felt it and this had made things happen, Lily felt her heart clench as she realised what it meant.
Harry was Magic's Chosen One.
As his birth Father was the defender against mystical threats to the Muggle world, so too would her son be the Champion of the Magical World.
Did that mean Dumbledore's prophecy was also true, and that You-Know-Who himself would come after Harry to ensure he didn't become the New Age version of the great wizard Emrys himself?
"What…" asked Lily, her voice filled with worry as she asked, "What are you going to do?"
"It's already been done," said Stephen, tapping the pendant around his neck, "But there's something else…something I never hoped would come to pass; ironically, the first time I saw it was when I met you, Lily."
"What…what do you mean?" asked Lily.
Swallowing hard, memories of his darkest nightmare as of late still whispering in his ear, Stephen answered her, "In the fallout of my battle with the Demon Lord Nightmare, his power somehow clashed with the power concealed within my Eye of Agamotto and, as a result of the clash, I was given a vision of the future: in it, I saw great, but also terrible things happening with a figure whom I now realise was our son."
"Terrible?" asked Lily.
Stephen nodded, "For that reason, and because I know now that my vision will influence both our worlds of magical study, I shared this vision with Archmage Rameses Wulfgarden himself; the one, true Head of the Wixen World; think of him as your version of me."
Lily gasped; she'd only heard rumours of one whom was above even Dumbledore himself, but, until that moment, she hadn't been able to confirm it.
If Stephen had gone to him?
"What did you do?"
"As a result of our meeting, he convened an emergency, behind-locked-doors session of the International Confederacy of Wizards; in that meeting, it was agreed: in the unlikely event anything would happen to you or your husband, by Rameses' declaration, the child known as Harrison James Strange-Potter would be transported to Kamar-Taj where yours truly, the Sorcerer Supreme, would take full responsibility for him and his actions."
Lily's eyes widened again, but this time, she wept slowly as she sniffed, her heart feeling warm and cold.
As Stephen saw this, his eyes softened as he asked, "What? Why are you doing that? Is there something I should know?"
Brushing tears from her eyes, Lily gulped as she answered, "Thank you…"
"For what?" asked Stephen, earning a smile from Lily as she shook her head.
"You'll see…" replied the redhead, looking around before she asked, "Can…can you get me out of here now? I…I need to be with my family…"
"Lily."
"Please Stephen," pleaded Lily, her eyes looking back to his as she told him, "If the worst happens, you'll know everything you need to, but please, just trust me…like you did back then…"
She seemed to pause before she added, "If not for me…then please…for the sake of our son."
Heaving a sigh, Stephen cast the required spell to open a gateway back to the Material Realm, watching as Lily walked away and left him alone with his thoughts and more questions than even the Sorcerer Supreme had answers.
And that wasn't something he liked to feel…
SoS
When James heard about Lily's meeting with Stephen, he was sceptical about the possibility of handing the fate of their son to another magical community, but since Harry was Stephen's son as well as James' adopted son and heir, he knew he couldn't deny the man's intentions.
He also approved the decision to give Harry to Stephen and have him protected by the man's magic, which meant that if someone, for some insane reason, chose to ignore their will and place Harry somewhere unsuitable, they wouldn't get the chance. Lily even feared someone would take the initiative and send Harry to Petunia, which had James outraged before he made it crystal clear that anyone who did such a thing would succeed in unleashing a blood feud with his family.
It was no secret that Petunia and her husband hated magic with a vengeance, so there was no telling what they'd do to one with magic.
No…
Compared to that grim fate, being raised by the Sorcerer Supreme was definitely a good move.
SoS
There was nothing about the starry sky that dotted the landscape over the seemingly-quiet town of Godric's Hollow to suggest that anything strange or unusual was about to happen, much less that tragedy was about to rear its head on the occupants of a particular house. Within the house, the young redhead was busy trying to wrestle her baby boy out of his favourite outfit, which he'd worn all day: a lion cub outfit that Lily and James had given Harry the previous Halloween, though it was altered to make up for the boy's new size.
To James' amusement, there was even a small tuft of fur on the neck showing the cub's slowly-growing mane.
"Harry James Potter," gasped Lily, pulling the hood of the outfit down as she looked into her son's green eyes, "Come on, baby: we need to get you ready for your bath and then beddy-bye's."
"No!" argued Harry, his small hands already moving to grab at his lion head, "No bath, cubby…peas Mama…peas cubby?"
"Once you've had your bath, little cub," laughed James, walking into the living room, "Then you can spend as much time as you like in your cubby."
The eyes of the little cub lit up so brightly that it was like the sun was shining in his gaze.
Looking over at James, Harry laughed excitedly as he asked, "Can Papa? I can?"
"As long as you want," chuckled James, tousling his son's covered head, "But only if you're a good little lion and get your little chubby butt in that…"
The words were barely out of his mouth before Lily gasped as Harry vanished; seconds later, excitable laughter echoed from upstairs accompanied by the distant sound of splashing.
Shaking her head, Lily cast a cleaning charm on the outfit while, picking herself up, she looked over to her amused-looking husband, "Why is it every time I ask him, he says no, but you tell him and he always does what you say?"
"Because no lion in the pride would willingly disobey the King," laughed James, letting out a false roar as he accompanied Lily up the stairs.
Shaking her head in amused disbelief, Lily stopped outside the bathroom while James knocked, "Is that a good little cub I hear cleaning in there?"
"Yes Papa," cried Harry, earning a laugh from James while Lily wiped a tear from her eye.
She might not understand why Harry always seemed to be smarter than the average child of his age, but she was also happy that he'd never lost that innocence. As James walked into the bathroom, however, Lily's smile faded only slightly as she looked down, clutching the small outfit in her hands, her eyes filled with the familiar worry as she looked at the cute outfit and thought about the innocence of the one obsessed with wearing it.
If anything went wrong…if they were forced into it…she couldn't bear the thought of losing her baby.
"Lils?" asked James, earning a shocked look from his wife as he poked his head out of the door, earning laughs from Lily as she saw the soapy bubbles that covered his head, the water stains all over his face, neck and hairline.
Seeing her husband, the King of the Pride drenched to high heaven made Lily laugh before James asked, "Can you come in here? This little terror's just sprayed me because he thinks I won't let him dress up. I swear Padfoot's been giving him pranking lessons when we weren't looking."
"I'm coming," said Lily, her voice laced with hope and amusement as she walked into the bathroom.
As soon as Harry saw his favourite outfit, he calmed down enough for the two to bathe him, even letting his Papa wash his unruly black hair while he giggled at the ticklish touch of his washcloth rubbing over his smooth skin. Finally, with help from a big fluffy towel and a warm hug from Papa, little Harry was returned to the warmth of his cub's outfit and put into Lily's arms, leaving James to dry himself off.
Back downstairs, Lily settled down on the sofa with her son cradled against her neck, her eyes looking down at him as she smiled sadly, a feeling of peace radiating from him as he cuddled her.
Gently brushing his 'mane' out of his eyes, Lily placed a soft kiss against her boy's brow.
"You are beautiful, Harry; you will make a brilliant boy, an amazing young wizard and…a truly worthy heir to your Daddy's power…both of them…"
She then laughed as Harry nuzzled her before he whispered, "Song Mama…pease song?"
"You know he won't sleep without it," added James, appearing from the stairs while Lily smiled sadly as she caressed her son's hairline before, taking a soft breath, she began to sing to him.
I have often dreamed of a far-off place
Where a great, warm welcome will be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face
And a voice keeps saying this is where I'm meant to be.
I will find my way, I can go the distance
I'll be there someday, if I can be strong
I know every mile will be worth my while
I would go almost anywhere to feel like I belong… (1)
As Lily finished her song, she looked down, seeing Harry cuddled up against her, his paws resting against her heart while he smiled peacefully, his breaths soft and slow, showing that he was content in the embrace of sleep, dreams and delights known only to a child.
Next to her, James wiped a tear from his eye as he whispered, "I guess this makes us even: I can get him to bathe and you can get him to sleep."
"He is beautiful like that," agreed Lily, lifting her son before she kissed his brow, "Come on, let's try and get him down before he wakes up again."
As they made their way upstairs, however, the calm peace of the moment was broken when a cold feeling crossed James' mind.
Seconds later, a ferociously-loud alarm went off in the house, the sound so loud that it tore Harry from his sleep.
"No!" cried Harry, startling the others as they looked to him, seeing him awake and alert, his eyes shining with fear and panic.
At the same time, James turned to his wife and son before, placing a kiss against Lily's lips, he drew his wand and turned away, though not before Harry screamed, "No Papa, please!"
"Lily, it's him! Take Harry and run!" exclaimed James, earning a wailing cry from Harry while Lily, holding tightly to her son, turned and fled, a part of her aware of James' eyes watching them as they entered the nursery.
At the same time, Lily sealed the room before, turning to her panicked son, she bent down and gingerly held his cheek in her fingers, her voice soft as she told him, "Don't be scared, baby: your Papa's going to get through this. He's stronger than the strongest giants, more powerful than dragons and better than…well, he's better than any man I know."
"Papa…" sniffled Harry, tears rolling down his cheeks.
At the same time, Lily gasped as what could only be described as raw magic suddenly crackled in the air around him, dimming the lights, causing a great wave of emotion to wash over Lily.
Thinking quickly, Lily reached out and hugged her son to her chest as she whispered, "Harry, you are loved, so loved: no matter where we may be, no matter what may happen, never forget that Mama loves you. Papa loves you…Harry, be safe, be strong and never forget that you are always loved: in this life and the next, always and forever, we, Papa and Mama, we love you so much!"
As she finished saying the words, Lily felt her heart grow cold as Harry wrapped his tiny arms around her neck, his tears dampening her skin.
"Love Mama," said Harry, cuddling against Lily's neck.
As he did so, Lily's heart broke yet again as she heard the tell-tale scream from beyond the door accompanied by a flash of green light.
Thankfully, this was one time that Harry didn't notice as he was resting against Lily's neck and, from the sounds of it, he'd cried himself to sleep.
Setting her son down in the crib, Lily kissed his brow, putting a hand to his brow, she whispered, "This is for you, baby…Magic forgive me…"
Then, as she rose up, Lily turned and looked to the door, her eyes filled with hope.
"Please Stephen…take care of him!"
With her wand in her hand, Lily steeled herself as she saw the door open, revealing a monster of a man with snake-like features, red eyes that were like blood and a sneering, evil malice in his eyes and his expression.
"Get away from my son, you monster!" snarled Lily, firing off a spell from her wand, which was deflected by the figure in the doorway, a figure that was known to many as the darkest, most-terrifying force in the world.
The Dark Lord Voldemort sneered as he asked, "What chance do you hope to have against me, you pathetic Mudblood? None: now, step aside and I will spare your miserable stain of an existence: Lord Voldemort does not forget those whom…"
"No!" screamed Lily, firing off another spell, but again, it was deflected by Voldemort, "I will never give up my child, especially not to you! I'd sooner give my life before I let him die because I am a coward."
Red eyes widened while Lily felt the magic going to work around her.
Hiding a smile as she knew that this was her last hope, Lily then added, "Do it: take me instead, just leave my son alone…"
"As you wish, stupid child," drawled the Dark Lord, aiming his wand at her as he commanded, "Avada Kedavra!"
However, at the same time that he did so, Lily and Voldemort both gasped when a voice, so young and yet so powerful that it made the walls of the entire house tremble with magical backlash, screamed, "MAMA NO!"
Before Lily had a chance to look, her eyes widened as what could only be described as a field of magical energy suddenly rose up around her, the full fury of the magic laced with mystic symbols and runes the likes of which even she had never seen, although she did recognise a shield charm when she saw it. To her sorrow, however, the shield was only strong enough to surround Harry, which he seemed to notice too as he screamed in fear and pain, his eyes filled with horror and fear as he saw his Mother fall to the curse.
"NO!" Screamed Harry.
"Stupid girl," hissed Voldemort, turning his wand on Harry, "Does she think I would let you live to grow stronger? Only I can live forever and you, despite your…impressive skill, you are still just a pawn in that game: goodbye, Harry Potter…Avada Kedavra!"
As the Killing Curse flew from the tip of the man's wand, a sense of victory suddenly transformed into what could only be described as disbelief and horror as a primal howl echoed through the nursery; the shield itself seemed to buckle and ripple with magical strain, but, beyond the shield, the Dark Lord's eyes widened as he saw lightning being redirected from the flash of green, striking everything in sight, including Lord Voldemort himself.
Even the Dark Lord couldn't resist the dark powers of death, as was made obvious when his body was swallowed up by magic, leaving nothing but robes and a broken wand in place.
At the same time, what could have only been described as a veil of pure light shone from within the body of the sorcerer.
Had anyone been around to see it, they would have stared in disbelief at the vision that loomed before them: an aurora of pure golden energy appeared to surround Harry's small body, parts of the gold tinged with emerald-green sparks and volts that made up part of the aurora's body.
To anyone in the know, the aurora, the form that it was taking, seemed to resemble a great and powerful Phoenix-like energy, the wings and body of the great creature making up the majority of the aurora as it shielded Harry and enacted his will.
As the phoenix let out a cry of pure magic, Harry's body vanished from his crib, leaving nothing but burned and charred remains in its wake along with the unfortunately-deceased bodies of the Potter elders as well as the remains of the Dark Lord Voldemort.
But there was no sign of Harry Potter.
SoS
A jolt of magic tore Stephen Strange from both physical slumber and the study and observant meditations of his Astral Form, both of which returned his body to full wakefulness as a loud clap of thunder echoed over the roof and ceilings of Kamar-Taj. Throughout the academy of the Masters of the Mystic Arts, other students, teachers and Masters were roused by the magical flash and energy that rippled through the building, though none more than the Sorcerer Supreme as, donning his cloak, he raced out into the courtyard.
As soon as he reached the courtyard, his eyes widened with shock as he saw a large bird that seemed to be made from raw magical fire appear in the air before him. As the bird appeared, it let out a cry before it bent forwards and, as Stephen watched, he saw the bird heave and retch before it released a crying, screaming toddler onto the ground.
Looking from the child to the bird, Stephen's eyes narrowed as he whispered, "Lily…"
'She has fallen,' said the bird, its voice female, edged by power as it addressed the Sorcerer Supreme, 'Your vow is enacted, Sorcerer Supreme. My grace shall be with this child, watching over him as I have done for all whom have sanctioned my will through the words of the Archmage.'
Stephen's eyes widened as the identity of the bird hit him like a blast from Dormammu, "You…you're the spirit of Magic herself, aren't you?"
"I am…an emissary of my Lady," replied the bird, swooping down before, to the awe of the students, she seemed to shrink, forming a small, cute white-feathered bird with four legs and six wings, her eyes shining with raw magical energy as she curled up next to the child.
In response, Stephen watched as the boy held the bird, who nuzzled his cheek, letting out a low trill before, looking to the Sorcerer Supreme, the voice of the bird told him, 'My name is Mana…and I am his.'
Then she fell silent, save for the soft whispers of her trills, which seemed to soothe the child into a teary, but semi-peaceful sleep.
Walking forwards, Stephen bent down and picked up the boy.
As soon as he did so, he felt the same warmth from over a year before hitting him hard and fast, the feel of the raw magic and power that matched it reminding him of his oath, his duty and his promise to the ICW.
At the same time, Wong stepped forwards from where he'd been watching as he asked, "Who…who is he, Stephen?"
"His name," replied the Sorcerer Supreme, one hand stroking the black locks from Harry's fringe.
"Is Harrison Strange…he's my son."
A slightly-different, if not abridged, start to the new-and-improved adventure and it looks like Harry's life is going to take a turn for the mystical, but with grim omens and curious strengths hanging over his head, will he be okay?
Will we get the Son of the Sorcerer Supreme or the Son of…anything but?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Stephen has a chat with his favourite 'student' about the future, while Harry grows into his own; also, a weird, chance encounter brings out some more proof of Harry's potential, but is this a good omen or ill?
Please Read and Review
PORTRAYALS:
James Potter – David Boreanaz
Mana's voice - Katie McGrath
NUMBERED ANNOTATIONS (1)
Taken from Disney's Hercules – short in-film version, not full-song version;
Seemed a perfect lullaby and a sweet, if not ominous example of Harry's future