ATtD Ch10
A loud knock awoke him from the persistent lull of
sleep. Harry squinted up at the
ceiling, faint shadows flitting at the edge of his consciousness, echoes of
dreams lingering before his eyes.
Someone… someone was… breathing?
He blinked down at where his hand rested comfortably on his chest. Breathing.
A small tendril of warmth, a memory of a song… he smiled softly and let
his eyes follow the play of light on the ceiling.
The door gave a sudden crash and splintered. “Yow!”
Harry jumped up, or tried to but the cushy mattress pulled him back down. He struggled, rolling and falling to the floor in an awkward heap. This was not a pleasant way to wake up. Dudley gave a terrified scream, rocketing Harry to his feet and tearing at the door. “Dudley, what’s the big…?” He knocked his shoulder into the door ignoring the numbing pain and pushing with all his might. The door gave a groan and Harry had to jump back or get caught in the tangle of Dudley lumbering to the floor, mumbling hysterically.
So intent to see if his cousin was wounded, he almost missed the silent figure watching a few feet away. He started, eyes wide. It was a girl about his age, dressed in tight black shorts and a feathery top that flared out like a short dress. Her dark hair was coiled tight atop her head with wispy fringe concealing her eyes. Slowly he stood, taking in the long dark claws on her hands and bare feet and the decorative tattoos that stood out against the too pale skin. It was her aura that kept him from drawing his wand.
He looked back around his room. Pig had flown back to the Weasleys; the other mussed owl was watching the scene sleepily. Harry whirled back and gave the girl a searching look. For some reason, he knew red eyes were watching him beneath the dark hair. “Yehl?”
Lush black lips stretched to reveal pointed teeth. She nodded and bowed low.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief, the tension immediately leaving him. “Hell, that was some wake up call. Come on Dudley, up with ya.” He helped his cousin to his feet but Dudley refused to move until Yehl graciously stepped down the hall towards the other bedrooms.
He led his whimpering cousin down to the living room and got him a glass of water. “Are you alright? What happened?”
Dudley shuddered, grasping his pudgy knees. “I was just going to wake you up and see if you wanted your breakfast or not; it’s been sitting on the table for an hour now. I didn’t see her at first; she just came out of nowhere and jumped in front of me. I can’t remember- it happened so fast- and suddenly I was face first in the door.”
“Alright, calm down. Drink this for now and just wait here.” Harry got up and returned upstairs to where Yehl had taken position in front of what was left of his bedroom door. “We need to talk.”
A strange musical sound sang through the air; Yehl was talking.
“Oh, er, that’s nice… You wouldn’t happen to know, um, English, would you?” Harry interrupted quickly.
Yehl shook her head, the motion revealing her face so Harry was able to see the red eyes surrounded by the mask of blue and black makeup… well, he assumed it was makeup. It looked so natural on her along with the elegant tattoo winding on her face to neck and the thorns piercing her ears that she could have been born of it. “Oh… you can understand me though, right?”
Yehl smiled and nodded again. The teeth weren’t as frightening as he had first thought. “Right then. I don’t know how you, um, do things around here… I’m not usually fond of being guarded… protected, whatever you lot call it. Something tells me whatever I say about that isn’t about to sway you though.” He grinned wryly at Yehl’s bright smile. “So, let me point out that although he’s quite annoying and rather dangerous looking in a sit on your face kind of way, Dudley isn’t a threat. Neither is Aunt Petunia; she’s the older skinny blonde woman that was here earlier… you didn’t scare her, did you?”
Yehl shook her head but was still smiling.
“Hmmm.” Harry raised an eyebrow at her. “You haven’t killed anyone here, have you?”
The music rang again, brighter, lighter than before as Yehl laughed and shook her head. “I’ll take that as a no.” Harry sighed. “Would you mind coming with me just so Dudley knows you’re not out to get him.” Yehl immediately nodded and fell in step behind him. Harry had a fair impression of how things between them would be from that point forward.
*******
“I’ve signed you up for the accelerated class. If you work at it, they promise you’ll be down at least ten pounds before school starts.” Aunt Petunia scooped a large helping of salad on Dudley’s plate, missing her son’s unhappy expression.
“Yeah, ok Mum.” He poked glumly at a ripe cherry tomato. “I suppose I won’t be having any of that chicken.”
“Actually, you will.” She plopped a lean piece onto his plate. “I spoke with the nutritionist they have there, she was very informative. Will your friend be having any, Harry?” She asked.
Aunt Petunia’s transformation was astounding. She apparently had made some positive friends while working her new secretarial job and the effect was amazing. She kept bringing up women’s rights and some sort of book club… he was hoping it was a book club because he really didn’t want to think what it would mean if it were a real club. Harry didn’t question it, he was just glad Vernon’s hadn’t emotionally crippled her as he had feared. She seemed, well, happy; and as odd as it was, he was happy for her… not that he had completely forgiven her.
“Um… Yehl?” Harry called behind him where the girl was strolling around the house, securing the perimeter or what not; he could only guess since she was unable to explain it to him. “Would you like to join us?”
“Oh my!” Aunt Petunia gasped as the sudden burst of melodious sound. “Are you a fan of Mozart?”
Everyone stared.
Maybe he should be concerned after all.
“Yehl doesn’t speak English.” Harry mumbled into his cup. He hadn’t mentioned just what Yehl was, mostly because he wasn’t sure himself. He had said she had been sent by the Order to watch over him for the rest of the summer and had left it at that. Any questions they could fill in for themselves with the big ‘M’ word.
“Here.” He pulled out a seat for her. “Eat what you want.” There was always raw meat if she preferred later.
Yehl sat, back straight, elegant demeanor; she would have put Fleur Delacour to shame. She seemed at odds with her supposed duties, more likely to break than to be a warrior of any kind. During his years at Hogwarts Harry had learned not to take anything for face value anymore. At least she had put her claws away.
Once dinner was through and Aunt Petunia had retired to the living room with her tea, Harry was left with Yehl to see if he couldn’t make sense of everything. He sat her into the new chair in his room and sat across on his bed, pulling out the dark book. “Do you understand any of this?”
Yehl nodded hesitantly, moving her thumb and forefinger together.
“Oh.” He had just suddenly realised how pointless this really was. “Um… so, would you know…? Damn. I don’t know what the hell is going on.” He sighed dejectedly. Watching him, Yehl circled round to the desk and picked up the note she had delivered. Unfolding it she sat beside him and pointed to a line for him to read.
As for council, your brother will join you shortly.
“Er… about that. I don’t have a brother.” Yehl just smiled. Leaning over she picked up the pouch of jewelry and handed it to him. When he showed no signs of opening it, she took it back and dumped the contents onto the bed and shifted it around with a claw until she singled out a small earring cuff and poked it towards him.
“I don’t think I should.” He frowned down at the innocent looking ring. Yehl pointed to his book, urging him to look it up. He humored her and flipped through the pages until he was looking at a picture of the earring. “Oh… well that would be a tad helpful.” He picked up the dark ring, that began to change colors from his touch, and carefully hooked it around his left ear.
“Well?”
Harry nodded absentmindedly. He didn’t feel like anything was trying to control him, it was just a normal translation spell. “It’s good.”
“You should put the rest on before your power starts to spike.” She nudged the Heart of Chaos with the claw of her toe. “I can help direct you on how to put it on right but I can’t touch it.”
“No.” Harry said firmly. “Who sent you? What is this all about?” He straightened, staring her down.
“As the missive said, your brother will be here shortly to explain it to you. I’m not privy to such matters; I’m an elite warrior not an advisor… you should try reading the dark book. I was told it would be able to help you.”
“I don’t have a brother.” Harry growled.
Yehl smiled; he was finding it rather annoying. “Have you ever heard of a Soul Awakening? I believe your kind calls it an Exritus.”
“Yeah, they spoke about it during some mandatory assembly for fifth years.”
“Well all this, the note, the titles, the jewelry, it all centers around your Soul Awakening.”
“What the hell does growing taller and having an increase in magic have to do with anything? I’m not even supposed to have the genetics for it.”
“Yes, genetics have a lot to do with it but in your case it goes a little further. I suggest you read the chapters on the Heir’s history, ancestral lines, ascension and rebirth. It should fill in the blanks that the mortals have left out.”
“That really isn’t helping me.”
“I told you, I am not an advisor.”
Obviously this wasn’t working. “And this brother thing?”
“Genetics.”
He fell back on the bed with a frustrated groan. “And what are you?” He peeked out from under his arms.
“Your kind knows me as Fae. We’ll leave the specifics until you need it.”
“And why do I need protection?”
“Hopefully you won’t. I’ve been told that you have already run into trouble during your short existence in this realm.”
Harry sat up eyes blazing. “No, why do I need protection? Why not some pureblood? What about Ron? Neville? Malfoy? Why not them?”
“Because they do not need it.” Yehl eyed him carefully, tone not completely unkind. “Read the dark book, New Born. Knowledge alone will cease your confusion and I’m not qualified to give it.”
“Fine.” Harry huffed, plopping back on the bed. “When should I expect this so called brother? There is only so much space in this room.”
“Do not concern yourself, I do not sleep as you do. I will be guarding the house throughout the night. As for your brother, he will arrive shortly. He is on an important mission at the moment.”
“Oh? And what would that be?”
“Allies.”
Harry stared at the dark girl. “You know, I think I liked you better as a bird.”
Yehl just smiled. “I must survey the outer grounds now. Until the morn.” She bowed low in farewell.
“Yeah, good luck with that.” Harry muttered, picking up the first envelope he still hadn’t read and ignoring how Yehl jumped out of the second story window without a sound.
It was from Remus.
Cursing, he quickly pulled the pages out and looked them over.
Harry,
I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I should have been focused on your protection and not my own problems. I’ve sent my owl, Sophocles, for you to use until Hedwig is found. Please, if anything is bothering you, if you need to talk, anything, send me an owl and I’ll answer or apparate right down; whatever you want. I’m so sorry, Harry. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you too.
Certainly, you must be angry right now. I’m sorry that I’m a focus of this. Please, do not let your anger dictate your decisions. The Death Eaters are watching Privet Dr. They cannot break through the wards. As long as you stay in the house until we come to pick you up, you will be safe. Please Harry, don’t fight me on this. I have no right to ask but I will anyways. Sirius would kill me if I didn’t assert myself on this.
I know this is difficult, but I must warn you that once you get back to Hogwarts you will have to face the sorting out of Sirius’ will. He had changed it with the death of his family, before the false imprisonment, and his love for you even back then had been just as strong. I know you will honor his memory well.
Enclosed is some information you will find useful for your upcoming birthday. It was James’ right but I’m taking the responsibility as the final Marauder to teach this to you. I won’t force legality on you but there was a clause in Lily and James’ will that if Sirius came to an untimely death that I would take over as your Godfather. I regret the circumstances but not the honor of caring for you Harry. I hope that you can forgive me someday.
You have a week to respond before I barge into the house in full Padfoot style. Stay safe Harry.
Love,
Moony
Pain and happiness crashed in all at once and he had to blink back the tears that were threatening. Remus… gods, Remus. How could he think he was angry? How could he blame himself for Vernon’s aggressions? And now, now he was his Godfather. He had to write him back. Right now.
He jumped up, stopping to pick up the other two pages of parchment that had fallen. He looked at the top page quickly. It had the Potter’s family tree written on it. But instead of the Black’s Family Tree at Grimmauld Place, it had the names of certain animals under everyone’s name. Interested, he turned to the other page for some sort of explanation.
…He was part Hippogriff?
Blindly, he sat back down. Maybe he’d wait a bit on that letter.
*******
If there was one thing he was grateful for it was his new ability to concentrate on a book. He had learned first when focusing on learning Occlumency and other ways to protect himself over the summer. Now it was second nature no matter how dull the book was. Not that the dark book was dull per say… the information was really interesting once he was able to get over the awkward way it had been written. Every paragraph seemed to be twice as long because they listed all these different titles for every name they mentioned… it was bothersome.
He scanned the table of Contents; History of the Soul of the Ancient Night… he checked back to the top of the note. Yup, one of the stupid titles. Seemed like a good enough place to start.
If he didn’t question it that much, he could comprehend it. It was mythology more than history in his mind. The Ancient Mother ruled supreme, existing always and forever. She created the Universe, the Outer Realms, and all the life within starting with the Ancient Deities; the first created being the Soul of Chaos… his apparent father. It was those little things that kind of stopped his brain working for a moment.
Skipping over that, he followed the creation of the immortal Fae, the mortals with their limited lifespan but eternal renewal, the growth and organization of the Fae communities and their integration into the mortal realm until he reached how the Soul of Ancient Night was supposedly born and had to stop again. He could grasp the concept of the Fae mating with humans and animals alike to spread the magic throughout the world to help it grow and prosper… it was a little weird but he could comprehend the possibility of it. It was the whole Soul of Chaos falling in love with the Light, as in light, mating and then poof; there was the Soul of Ancient Night… him.
This was where he dismissed his involvement in it at all.
Moving on, he was caught again by three other Ancient Deities mating with the light and bearing, if that was the appropriate term, powerful beings somewhat similar to the Soul of the Ancient Night. This included the Soul of the Luminous Night, the Soul of the Light, and the Soul of the Day in descending order of power. The book seemed very adamant in pointing out that the Soul of the Ancient Night was the most powerful and held greatest favor with the Ancient Mother among the beings born from the light. Harry could just imagine the shit that must have been created from that little fun fact. So, as with the natural order of things- the books term, mind. Harry didn’t see anything natural about it at all- the Children of Light started pairing off, the Soul of the Light and the Soul of the Day fighting wrathfully for the heart of the Soul of the Luminous Night, the most beautiful being in existence. The Soul of the Luminous Night would have nothing to do with them, having fallen in love with the Soul of the Ancient Night and all around best friend. The Soul of the Ancient Night became the center of assault by the two weaker Children of the Light until fed up to the point of forcing the two to take mortal form for all eternity and claiming the Soul of Luminous Night as the Eternal Mate to prevent anymore conflict. And that’s when it got interesting.
Magic began to run chaotic in the mortal realm as mortals and Faelings, half-mortal half-fae beings, began to interact and inadvertently procreate and die. With each addition and subtraction to the pool of life, balance was destroyed. In addition, human mortals had started their conquest of the natural world, sending the planet itself into turmoil forcing the Fae and their stabilizing presence to return to the Outer Realms where they could exists in peace. The Soul of Chaos gifted the Soul of the Ancient Night with the responsibility of balancing the unstable planet. The Soul of the Ancient Night in turn decided his two previously exiled half siblings should make themselves useful by procreating as much as possible and having those beings take on the responsibility of guarding the Gates, balancing the natural flows of magic on the planet, and manipulating the human mortals to keep them from destroying the mortal realm. It was these children that eventually headed the three sects that Harry had been told about: the Council of Wizards, the Heralds of the Fae, and the Unvoiced. Although sufficient, it did not solve the other problem. With each mortal birth and death that was saturated in magic, the realm fluctuated erratically and effected centuries of life on the planet. Seeing this the Soul of the Luminous Night donned mortal flesh, its mere presence rectifying the problem. Stability would never be a constant, as forces flowed and hiccups still occurred in the form of wars, natural disasters, and horrible sentient beings; but rarely as terrible as before the Children of the Light joined the realm. When such fluctuations did occur the Soul of the Ancient Night would deal with them personally, donning flesh as well when necessary.
It continued from there, hundreds of pages going over all the exploits and trials the Soul of the Ancient Night went through to bring the world right. He also assumed it was where he got all his other titles; he dozed off a little after the first task, the hundred year battle with the Behemoth of the Last Silence, where the Soul of the Luminous Night finally got over the row they had been having for the last fifteen centuries and helped to destroy the powerful beast. The Soul of the Ancient Night had gained the title of Wielder of the Absolute Silence, scraped up the courage to pledge his undying love to the Soul of the Luminous Night whom had been greatly missed since running to the earth, and then he immediately left to the Outer Realms to deal with other duties causing another row. The Soul of the Luminous Night had been respectfully pissed and intentionally stirred up little things to lure the Soul of the Ancient Night back and a pattern had begun. He could only assume the game was still in play. Time did not seem to be an inhibitor to these strange beings…
For him… because he was supposed to be this Soul of the Ancient Night reborn… who had a mate… How could he have a mate?
He decided to stop thinking for a while.
ATtD Chapter Index Links
The door gave a sudden crash and splintered. “Yow!”
Harry jumped up, or tried to but the cushy mattress pulled him back down. He struggled, rolling and falling to the floor in an awkward heap. This was not a pleasant way to wake up. Dudley gave a terrified scream, rocketing Harry to his feet and tearing at the door. “Dudley, what’s the big…?” He knocked his shoulder into the door ignoring the numbing pain and pushing with all his might. The door gave a groan and Harry had to jump back or get caught in the tangle of Dudley lumbering to the floor, mumbling hysterically.
So intent to see if his cousin was wounded, he almost missed the silent figure watching a few feet away. He started, eyes wide. It was a girl about his age, dressed in tight black shorts and a feathery top that flared out like a short dress. Her dark hair was coiled tight atop her head with wispy fringe concealing her eyes. Slowly he stood, taking in the long dark claws on her hands and bare feet and the decorative tattoos that stood out against the too pale skin. It was her aura that kept him from drawing his wand.
He looked back around his room. Pig had flown back to the Weasleys; the other mussed owl was watching the scene sleepily. Harry whirled back and gave the girl a searching look. For some reason, he knew red eyes were watching him beneath the dark hair. “Yehl?”
Lush black lips stretched to reveal pointed teeth. She nodded and bowed low.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief, the tension immediately leaving him. “Hell, that was some wake up call. Come on Dudley, up with ya.” He helped his cousin to his feet but Dudley refused to move until Yehl graciously stepped down the hall towards the other bedrooms.
He led his whimpering cousin down to the living room and got him a glass of water. “Are you alright? What happened?”
Dudley shuddered, grasping his pudgy knees. “I was just going to wake you up and see if you wanted your breakfast or not; it’s been sitting on the table for an hour now. I didn’t see her at first; she just came out of nowhere and jumped in front of me. I can’t remember- it happened so fast- and suddenly I was face first in the door.”
“Alright, calm down. Drink this for now and just wait here.” Harry got up and returned upstairs to where Yehl had taken position in front of what was left of his bedroom door. “We need to talk.”
A strange musical sound sang through the air; Yehl was talking.
“Oh, er, that’s nice… You wouldn’t happen to know, um, English, would you?” Harry interrupted quickly.
Yehl shook her head, the motion revealing her face so Harry was able to see the red eyes surrounded by the mask of blue and black makeup… well, he assumed it was makeup. It looked so natural on her along with the elegant tattoo winding on her face to neck and the thorns piercing her ears that she could have been born of it. “Oh… you can understand me though, right?”
Yehl smiled and nodded again. The teeth weren’t as frightening as he had first thought. “Right then. I don’t know how you, um, do things around here… I’m not usually fond of being guarded… protected, whatever you lot call it. Something tells me whatever I say about that isn’t about to sway you though.” He grinned wryly at Yehl’s bright smile. “So, let me point out that although he’s quite annoying and rather dangerous looking in a sit on your face kind of way, Dudley isn’t a threat. Neither is Aunt Petunia; she’s the older skinny blonde woman that was here earlier… you didn’t scare her, did you?”
Yehl shook her head but was still smiling.
“Hmmm.” Harry raised an eyebrow at her. “You haven’t killed anyone here, have you?”
The music rang again, brighter, lighter than before as Yehl laughed and shook her head. “I’ll take that as a no.” Harry sighed. “Would you mind coming with me just so Dudley knows you’re not out to get him.” Yehl immediately nodded and fell in step behind him. Harry had a fair impression of how things between them would be from that point forward.
*******
“I’ve signed you up for the accelerated class. If you work at it, they promise you’ll be down at least ten pounds before school starts.” Aunt Petunia scooped a large helping of salad on Dudley’s plate, missing her son’s unhappy expression.
“Yeah, ok Mum.” He poked glumly at a ripe cherry tomato. “I suppose I won’t be having any of that chicken.”
“Actually, you will.” She plopped a lean piece onto his plate. “I spoke with the nutritionist they have there, she was very informative. Will your friend be having any, Harry?” She asked.
Aunt Petunia’s transformation was astounding. She apparently had made some positive friends while working her new secretarial job and the effect was amazing. She kept bringing up women’s rights and some sort of book club… he was hoping it was a book club because he really didn’t want to think what it would mean if it were a real club. Harry didn’t question it, he was just glad Vernon’s hadn’t emotionally crippled her as he had feared. She seemed, well, happy; and as odd as it was, he was happy for her… not that he had completely forgiven her.
“Um… Yehl?” Harry called behind him where the girl was strolling around the house, securing the perimeter or what not; he could only guess since she was unable to explain it to him. “Would you like to join us?”
“Oh my!” Aunt Petunia gasped as the sudden burst of melodious sound. “Are you a fan of Mozart?”
Everyone stared.
Maybe he should be concerned after all.
“Yehl doesn’t speak English.” Harry mumbled into his cup. He hadn’t mentioned just what Yehl was, mostly because he wasn’t sure himself. He had said she had been sent by the Order to watch over him for the rest of the summer and had left it at that. Any questions they could fill in for themselves with the big ‘M’ word.
“Here.” He pulled out a seat for her. “Eat what you want.” There was always raw meat if she preferred later.
Yehl sat, back straight, elegant demeanor; she would have put Fleur Delacour to shame. She seemed at odds with her supposed duties, more likely to break than to be a warrior of any kind. During his years at Hogwarts Harry had learned not to take anything for face value anymore. At least she had put her claws away.
Once dinner was through and Aunt Petunia had retired to the living room with her tea, Harry was left with Yehl to see if he couldn’t make sense of everything. He sat her into the new chair in his room and sat across on his bed, pulling out the dark book. “Do you understand any of this?”
Yehl nodded hesitantly, moving her thumb and forefinger together.
“Oh.” He had just suddenly realised how pointless this really was. “Um… so, would you know…? Damn. I don’t know what the hell is going on.” He sighed dejectedly. Watching him, Yehl circled round to the desk and picked up the note she had delivered. Unfolding it she sat beside him and pointed to a line for him to read.
As for council, your brother will join you shortly.
“Er… about that. I don’t have a brother.” Yehl just smiled. Leaning over she picked up the pouch of jewelry and handed it to him. When he showed no signs of opening it, she took it back and dumped the contents onto the bed and shifted it around with a claw until she singled out a small earring cuff and poked it towards him.
“I don’t think I should.” He frowned down at the innocent looking ring. Yehl pointed to his book, urging him to look it up. He humored her and flipped through the pages until he was looking at a picture of the earring. “Oh… well that would be a tad helpful.” He picked up the dark ring, that began to change colors from his touch, and carefully hooked it around his left ear.
“Well?”
Harry nodded absentmindedly. He didn’t feel like anything was trying to control him, it was just a normal translation spell. “It’s good.”
“You should put the rest on before your power starts to spike.” She nudged the Heart of Chaos with the claw of her toe. “I can help direct you on how to put it on right but I can’t touch it.”
“No.” Harry said firmly. “Who sent you? What is this all about?” He straightened, staring her down.
“As the missive said, your brother will be here shortly to explain it to you. I’m not privy to such matters; I’m an elite warrior not an advisor… you should try reading the dark book. I was told it would be able to help you.”
“I don’t have a brother.” Harry growled.
Yehl smiled; he was finding it rather annoying. “Have you ever heard of a Soul Awakening? I believe your kind calls it an Exritus.”
“Yeah, they spoke about it during some mandatory assembly for fifth years.”
“Well all this, the note, the titles, the jewelry, it all centers around your Soul Awakening.”
“What the hell does growing taller and having an increase in magic have to do with anything? I’m not even supposed to have the genetics for it.”
“Yes, genetics have a lot to do with it but in your case it goes a little further. I suggest you read the chapters on the Heir’s history, ancestral lines, ascension and rebirth. It should fill in the blanks that the mortals have left out.”
“That really isn’t helping me.”
“I told you, I am not an advisor.”
Obviously this wasn’t working. “And this brother thing?”
“Genetics.”
He fell back on the bed with a frustrated groan. “And what are you?” He peeked out from under his arms.
“Your kind knows me as Fae. We’ll leave the specifics until you need it.”
“And why do I need protection?”
“Hopefully you won’t. I’ve been told that you have already run into trouble during your short existence in this realm.”
Harry sat up eyes blazing. “No, why do I need protection? Why not some pureblood? What about Ron? Neville? Malfoy? Why not them?”
“Because they do not need it.” Yehl eyed him carefully, tone not completely unkind. “Read the dark book, New Born. Knowledge alone will cease your confusion and I’m not qualified to give it.”
“Fine.” Harry huffed, plopping back on the bed. “When should I expect this so called brother? There is only so much space in this room.”
“Do not concern yourself, I do not sleep as you do. I will be guarding the house throughout the night. As for your brother, he will arrive shortly. He is on an important mission at the moment.”
“Oh? And what would that be?”
“Allies.”
Harry stared at the dark girl. “You know, I think I liked you better as a bird.”
Yehl just smiled. “I must survey the outer grounds now. Until the morn.” She bowed low in farewell.
“Yeah, good luck with that.” Harry muttered, picking up the first envelope he still hadn’t read and ignoring how Yehl jumped out of the second story window without a sound.
It was from Remus.
Cursing, he quickly pulled the pages out and looked them over.
Harry,
I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I should have been focused on your protection and not my own problems. I’ve sent my owl, Sophocles, for you to use until Hedwig is found. Please, if anything is bothering you, if you need to talk, anything, send me an owl and I’ll answer or apparate right down; whatever you want. I’m so sorry, Harry. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you too.
Certainly, you must be angry right now. I’m sorry that I’m a focus of this. Please, do not let your anger dictate your decisions. The Death Eaters are watching Privet Dr. They cannot break through the wards. As long as you stay in the house until we come to pick you up, you will be safe. Please Harry, don’t fight me on this. I have no right to ask but I will anyways. Sirius would kill me if I didn’t assert myself on this.
I know this is difficult, but I must warn you that once you get back to Hogwarts you will have to face the sorting out of Sirius’ will. He had changed it with the death of his family, before the false imprisonment, and his love for you even back then had been just as strong. I know you will honor his memory well.
Enclosed is some information you will find useful for your upcoming birthday. It was James’ right but I’m taking the responsibility as the final Marauder to teach this to you. I won’t force legality on you but there was a clause in Lily and James’ will that if Sirius came to an untimely death that I would take over as your Godfather. I regret the circumstances but not the honor of caring for you Harry. I hope that you can forgive me someday.
You have a week to respond before I barge into the house in full Padfoot style. Stay safe Harry.
Love,
Moony
Pain and happiness crashed in all at once and he had to blink back the tears that were threatening. Remus… gods, Remus. How could he think he was angry? How could he blame himself for Vernon’s aggressions? And now, now he was his Godfather. He had to write him back. Right now.
He jumped up, stopping to pick up the other two pages of parchment that had fallen. He looked at the top page quickly. It had the Potter’s family tree written on it. But instead of the Black’s Family Tree at Grimmauld Place, it had the names of certain animals under everyone’s name. Interested, he turned to the other page for some sort of explanation.
…He was part Hippogriff?
Blindly, he sat back down. Maybe he’d wait a bit on that letter.
*******
If there was one thing he was grateful for it was his new ability to concentrate on a book. He had learned first when focusing on learning Occlumency and other ways to protect himself over the summer. Now it was second nature no matter how dull the book was. Not that the dark book was dull per say… the information was really interesting once he was able to get over the awkward way it had been written. Every paragraph seemed to be twice as long because they listed all these different titles for every name they mentioned… it was bothersome.
He scanned the table of Contents; History of the Soul of the Ancient Night… he checked back to the top of the note. Yup, one of the stupid titles. Seemed like a good enough place to start.
If he didn’t question it that much, he could comprehend it. It was mythology more than history in his mind. The Ancient Mother ruled supreme, existing always and forever. She created the Universe, the Outer Realms, and all the life within starting with the Ancient Deities; the first created being the Soul of Chaos… his apparent father. It was those little things that kind of stopped his brain working for a moment.
Skipping over that, he followed the creation of the immortal Fae, the mortals with their limited lifespan but eternal renewal, the growth and organization of the Fae communities and their integration into the mortal realm until he reached how the Soul of Ancient Night was supposedly born and had to stop again. He could grasp the concept of the Fae mating with humans and animals alike to spread the magic throughout the world to help it grow and prosper… it was a little weird but he could comprehend the possibility of it. It was the whole Soul of Chaos falling in love with the Light, as in light, mating and then poof; there was the Soul of Ancient Night… him.
This was where he dismissed his involvement in it at all.
Moving on, he was caught again by three other Ancient Deities mating with the light and bearing, if that was the appropriate term, powerful beings somewhat similar to the Soul of the Ancient Night. This included the Soul of the Luminous Night, the Soul of the Light, and the Soul of the Day in descending order of power. The book seemed very adamant in pointing out that the Soul of the Ancient Night was the most powerful and held greatest favor with the Ancient Mother among the beings born from the light. Harry could just imagine the shit that must have been created from that little fun fact. So, as with the natural order of things- the books term, mind. Harry didn’t see anything natural about it at all- the Children of Light started pairing off, the Soul of the Light and the Soul of the Day fighting wrathfully for the heart of the Soul of the Luminous Night, the most beautiful being in existence. The Soul of the Luminous Night would have nothing to do with them, having fallen in love with the Soul of the Ancient Night and all around best friend. The Soul of the Ancient Night became the center of assault by the two weaker Children of the Light until fed up to the point of forcing the two to take mortal form for all eternity and claiming the Soul of Luminous Night as the Eternal Mate to prevent anymore conflict. And that’s when it got interesting.
Magic began to run chaotic in the mortal realm as mortals and Faelings, half-mortal half-fae beings, began to interact and inadvertently procreate and die. With each addition and subtraction to the pool of life, balance was destroyed. In addition, human mortals had started their conquest of the natural world, sending the planet itself into turmoil forcing the Fae and their stabilizing presence to return to the Outer Realms where they could exists in peace. The Soul of Chaos gifted the Soul of the Ancient Night with the responsibility of balancing the unstable planet. The Soul of the Ancient Night in turn decided his two previously exiled half siblings should make themselves useful by procreating as much as possible and having those beings take on the responsibility of guarding the Gates, balancing the natural flows of magic on the planet, and manipulating the human mortals to keep them from destroying the mortal realm. It was these children that eventually headed the three sects that Harry had been told about: the Council of Wizards, the Heralds of the Fae, and the Unvoiced. Although sufficient, it did not solve the other problem. With each mortal birth and death that was saturated in magic, the realm fluctuated erratically and effected centuries of life on the planet. Seeing this the Soul of the Luminous Night donned mortal flesh, its mere presence rectifying the problem. Stability would never be a constant, as forces flowed and hiccups still occurred in the form of wars, natural disasters, and horrible sentient beings; but rarely as terrible as before the Children of the Light joined the realm. When such fluctuations did occur the Soul of the Ancient Night would deal with them personally, donning flesh as well when necessary.
It continued from there, hundreds of pages going over all the exploits and trials the Soul of the Ancient Night went through to bring the world right. He also assumed it was where he got all his other titles; he dozed off a little after the first task, the hundred year battle with the Behemoth of the Last Silence, where the Soul of the Luminous Night finally got over the row they had been having for the last fifteen centuries and helped to destroy the powerful beast. The Soul of the Ancient Night had gained the title of Wielder of the Absolute Silence, scraped up the courage to pledge his undying love to the Soul of the Luminous Night whom had been greatly missed since running to the earth, and then he immediately left to the Outer Realms to deal with other duties causing another row. The Soul of the Luminous Night had been respectfully pissed and intentionally stirred up little things to lure the Soul of the Ancient Night back and a pattern had begun. He could only assume the game was still in play. Time did not seem to be an inhibitor to these strange beings…
For him… because he was supposed to be this Soul of the Ancient Night reborn… who had a mate… How could he have a mate?
He decided to stop thinking for a while.
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