I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death
It always amazed Harry how everyone assumed he was oblivious, a naïve little sheep following what ever path dictated to him. They often fell for whatever mask he was using to survive. See, the first thing you learn growing up as Harry has is how to read your environment, the second is what is the least painful route to go about. Third, is how to bide your time, all things consider, he has never showed that he was very much aware he was being used. Not when he doesn’t know what the game is, who are the players, and what is a safe exit strategy.
One thing he consistently learned was that the adults in his life are unreliable, in particularly in regard to himself. The ‘care’ he endured by the Dursley was illegal to say the least, every time he tried to get away or reach out for help he always found himself back to square one. During his years in Little Whining there were several adults that tried to help, they soon either forgot, or disappeared. It wasn’t until he found out about the magical world that he finally understood that this was intentional. He knew that he needed to understand who it is that was behind it, that meant bide his time, learn, get stronger and for now to go along until he can make a move.
In his first year he survived several murder attempts or what Hogwarts definition of pranks apparently is, than there was the Troll, maniacal professors, and quidditch (love the game, but still…) when ever he went to a professor for help they were useless to the point where he started to wonder if it was intentional. As much as he liked Ron, and Hermione as friends he recognized they are children from good homes with adults that care. Neville and the twins seemed to have their eyes a little more open but they also were still in the bubble of a comparatively healthy childhood.
Second year was the whole heir of Slytherin business that he still doesn’t understand what the issue was. So he can speak to snakes, so can many other wixen in the Middle East and South Asia. He didnt understand why he was being hunted down in the corridors, and chased out of his dorm for a blood gift that was mostly used for healing and warding. (After Hagrid left him at the train station on his first day in the magical world, he used the chance to go back the bank and see if he can get more information about his family, and holdings. Whilst he couldn’t access the funds or magical artifacts beyond his personal vault, he could access the rest of the belonging in the family vault. Discovering his parents and grandparents school trunks was the most valuable treasure of all, finally he had some way to get to know them, not to mention both his father and grandfather heir studies book and notes were in there. As to the parselamouth, he inherited it from his Indian grandmother Euphemia, considering she had journals and books in the language it was proof enough.)
That year he discovered the room of requirement, it was his safe haven and a treasure trove. When he was fleeing from another assault, pardon he meant ‘prank’ he found himself on the 7th floor and stumbled in a safe room where he could calm down and figure out what is going on. Later he asked the house elves about it (when in doubt ask the help, they know everything) they explained how the room worked, he was grateful.
Unfortunately at the end of the year he found himself again shoved in to danger by incompetent adults and fought a basilisk to save littlest Weasley’s life. After that the Weasley family took all of their children home to recover and he reatred to the room of requirements to continue working on his study and training. A lovely feature he discovered in the ROR was that he could have training dummies that can teach him how to fight. At first he focused on hand to hand combat, but now that he has the sword of Gryffindor he figured why not learn how to use that as well. During the fight with the Basilisk, Dumbeldores’ phenix showed up with the sorting hat and gifted him a sword, the damn thing turned in to a bracelet by the end of it. According to the hat it was now his and will remain unnoticed until he called for it. The hat also claimed that no one will know unless Harry tells them about it, or he was seen using it, but considering it is in enchanted object that spends his day with Dumbles Harry listens to what it has to say with a grain of salt.
Another thing he did at the end of the year was hire Dobby the house elf. After freeing the phsyco from Malfoy he figured he could use some discreet help, and the little one is very capable. The menace even took the initiative to get Lockhart’s vault keys when he learned the idiots preference for obliviating his victims and stealing their achievements. If during the summer Harry used the chance to empty all of his vaults but one it is no one’s concern. Besides how else was Dobbie going to purchase everything his employer asked him to, Library trunks are expansive, fully stocked green house trunks even more so, and don’t even get started on the luxury tent or the auror level trainning dummies… those cost a fortune. (Considering the amount of attempts on his life not learning how to defend himself both magically and non magically is just plain stupid.)
Then 3rd year came along with his idiotic godfather, the moron is such an impulsive man-child that Harry honestly wasn’t sure how to handle him. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that something was not right with the situation, as soon as he he heard that the man was accused of betraying his parents he figured he should probably learn more from a more reliable source. He knows better than to trust what he is told and sent an inquiry to his account manager. Learning that the idiot was imprisoned without a trial, and was Harry’s blood sworn godfather was interesting to say the least. Even Harry knows that as his blood sworn godfather there was no way for Sirius Black to betray him and keep his life and magic.
After that he somehow managed to arrange a meeting with the idiot where after a lot of incoherent babble he explained that it was Petigrew, a different friend of theirs that betrayed them all and the arsehole escape prison to ‘protect’ harry from him. Harry might be a child, but he is not stupid, the men escaped for revenge, ‘protecting’ him was the justification he used. Harry decided to make his own plan, got Black to write a letter to the goblins and get him to hire a solicitor to make the case for him, after that was done he sent Dobby after the rat figured if anyone can trap him and deliver him intact(ish) to the solicitor it would be the menace. At first it went well, the idiot was acquitted, and Petigrew stood trial as the real traitor. Then the cupcakes in the ministry lost the moron during the prisoner transfer, and worst of all Dumbledore convinced Black that it was for the best that he stayed with the Dursley’s for the summer.
To add insult to injury at the end of the year after resigning, Lupin the DADA professor finally came clean about being friend with his dad and asking if he could keep in touch. When Harry asked him why he waited until the end of the year to say something the dimwit babbled some none sense about not wanting to interfere in Harry’s life. Considering Harry knew about him and his self flagellating idiocy from his father’s journals he wasn’t surprised. It was sad to admit that Black and Lupin’s behavior was consistent with every adult in his life, they had other priorities and Harry was not someone that really mattered. He wasn’t even offended at this point, simply self aware enough to know not to rely on either of them.
4th year was the true breaking point, he was forcibly entered to a tournament that was intended for adults and was faced with accusations from every direction. Ron’s jealousy turning its ugly head didn’t really surprise him, Hermione saying she believed him but still siding with Ron did. At that point he decided he was done with the 2 of them, he knew neither was perfect, and that people made mistakes but he needed them. He forgave their past indiscretion, but he did not forget. Now he can move on from his first human friends knowing he gave them a real shot.
Neville, Ginny, the Twins, and oddly Luna were there for him, something that he was grateful for. Harry honestly doesn’t know how he would have kept his sanity without their support. It didn’t hurt that Luna and Neville helped him navigating with the Goblins. A lovely side effect that occurred due to the tournament was that he was now emancipated. That allowed him to make better long term plans. First thing he did was to open Potter Manor and charge the wards once a week, then he proceeded to have a long sit down with a solicitor and his account manager. They made plans to prepare quietly and arrange for his estate to recover, so when he finally died both of them knew their marching orders.
Harry was very much aware that he was the last member of an ancient and noble house that is unlikely to reach adulthood, after consulting with his account manager, his solicitor, and his friends he decided to make a concert agreement with a willing witch. They will take a potion to get pregnant with his child a total of 4 times, then go in to hiding, and raise them in accordance to the contract they make. Luna even had a candidate whom she claimed was perfect, his account manger had her thoroughly vetted. After meeting her Harry couldn’t help but agree. It didn’t hurt that she seemed relived by the protections for both her and the children that Harry placed in the magically binding contract they made. Moreover, the education and raising of the children will be supervised by the account manager, and the house region that is as well magically bound by oaths of loyalty and a magical contract. (Considering what happened to him, he is not taking any chances.)
The funniest part was how happy his account manager was, by making this contingency Harry made sure that his line didn’t die with him and was well out of Dumbeldore machinations. Though Harry was devastated that he was unlikely to meet his children, he still made sure to keep a vault with gifts and letters. Luna, Neville, Ginny, Fred, and George agreed to sign a comprehensive secrecy agreement in order to protect the information regarding all his plans, especially those about the children. They all knew there were various ways to get the information out of them and this was the only thing they could figure that would protect against varitaserum and legilimency. Especially since they were the other contingency of keeping an eye on the children...
As the year progressed, and the idiotic tournament continued he was appalled by the stupidity of those around him. This was clearly a trap, and he was obviously being set up. If it weren’t for Dobby’s diligent work of copying every book in Hogwarts (including the ones in Slytherin secret chamber, and the ROR), all the books in the Peveral, and Potter estates, and the entirety of Oxford university libraries Harry knows he would not have lasted as long as he had. That treasure trove of information allowed him to figure out not only spells of how to survive dragons, but also ways around the mere colony.
Most importantly it allowed him to find a way to deal with the pesky leach in his scar. It was during his healer visit with the Goblins that it was discovered that he had a fregmant of Voldemorts soul attached to him. According to the goblins had Harry been brought in the first 5 years to them for cleansing they would have been able to remove it. Unfortunately, it has been there for far too long, and is now interconnected with his core. It was in the Peverel Library that he found a ritual to summon the soul and all the fragments back to the original soul piece, meaning the wraith he met in first year, in order to face judgment.
Originally he was planning to preform the ritual on Semahin of his 6th year, but it seemed he changed his mind... Harry was not surprised that everything went to hell, and as such was prepared to preform the ritual at a moments notice.
Another piece of information he decided to ignore was the animagus transformation. Originally it was advised against transforming before reaching majority, and according to his father’s journal that carried reprucations that he and his friends suffered from. Unfortunatly Harry could feel the countdown over his head and knew he should get what ever edge he could get, so he went ahead and worked on his transformation. He was surprised yet pleased to find he was a honey bedger. Though according to his friends it made perfect sense, he chose to take it as a complement!
It was on the eve of the finale task that he could feel something was off, everything was going too well. The maze they all entered seemed to be clear through out most of the way, though finding krum and Fluer dueling while their eyes are hazy was not comforting. He did knocked them both out and kept going. Cedric showing up out of nowhere nearly dying from a spider was not as surprising as it felt. Though since both ended up reaching the goblet at the same time, they chose to take it at the same time. A Hogwarts victory.
Arriving to a creepy cemetery was not part of tonights itinerary, but o well, it seemed plans change.
As soon as they landed a voice screamed ‘kill the spare’ without thinking Harry pushed Cedric to the ground; unfortunately, it left him open to be hit with a spell. And that was when everything went black. By the time he woke Harry found himself tide to a headstone, without his wand. Pettigrew was doing some kind of ritual, with what Harry presumed was the wraith of Voldemort. It’s a good thing the idiot managed to miss the blade hidden in his left sleeve, not to mention the sword of Gryffindor that’s disguised as a bracelet. It took Harry less then 20 second to cut the ropes and jump Pettigrew, it was kinda of pathetic. Though cutting down Nagini was disturbing, it was good he used the sword, something about how she died felt unsettling.
It was after looking at the situation he was in that Harry accepted his fate. Pettigrew was unconscious and now tied up, Cedric was knocked up but after checking seemed to be relatively fine, and Voldemort was in a baby sized body cursing Harry out. That was when Harry summoned Dobby to get Harry all the ingredients for the ritual of judgment, take Cedric to Hogwarts, and last but not least instructed to return later to remove evidence that Harry was the one to preform the ritual, and make it look like a resurrection ritual gone wrong.
(Voldemort mutualizing his soul is a crime against Death, and as a Potter it was his responsibility to deal with it. Origanlly the Peverels were sworn to deity, they have taken an oath to maintain the natural order, unfortunately said oath have driven them to extinction. The Potters were only a cadet line still had Peverell blood, as such have activly carried the duty, only without the oath. It was part of why Harry knew he had to make sure his blood line continued, some things are to important to risk leaving unatentdent. Not to mention he could personally attest that it is too big of a responsibility for one person, hopefully between 4 siblings they can manage.)
It was refreshing to see the Dark Lord be so helpless, his cries for vengeance were almost distracting as he was chanting, calling death to reap the soul off the cheater. As the final words were said Harry could feel the summonning work. Tom M. Riddle was in the center of the ritual, around him pieces started to arrive, a beautiful tiara, a ring with an enchanting stone, a locket with a snake, a goblet, and even Harry himself was shoved to to the circle.
All of a sudden there was a blinding light, Harry felt like his skull was being ripped to shreds, it was agonizing and lasted for so long that he didn’t think it would end. When it was finally over he was surrounded by darkness, a voice spoke to him in his mind.
‘Child, you have done your family proud.’ It sounded so kind, accepting. ‘You have suffered, gravely… you have been manipulated, and used. Broken and abused, but you still kept your head. Despite the machinations surrounding , you did your duty and maintained the Peveral oath.’ Harry understood, he might not be magically bound by the oath but the Potters were honor bound. It is why he had accesses to the ritual in the first place.
‘Thank you my lord, I go with you knowing I at least did this right.’ He knew he was not going to survive this, it’s why he made all the preparations. It gave him comfort that at least he is no longer the last Potter, Aditi was due in 4 months and she had 3 more potions to take.
There was a gentle laughter in his mind. ‘Oh child, if only it were so simple. You thought it was mortal made machination you subverted, shows how little you know. Fate and destiny conspired around you and yet you had them played for fools. You achieved what they wanted but in such a way that everything else planned fell apart. You were meant to be the last of the line, but that is no longer so, you shall sire 4 children that will grow in safety and prosper. The path in eliminating the abomination was meant to last longer, cause far more strife, yet you halted it before it even started. As for the puppeteer he was meant to die with in his own machinations, instead he will live long years paying for his crime against the children of magic.’ Harry was in shock, it seems things were meant to be even worse than he had it so far. He is not sure how to feel about that.
‘Despite accepting me openly this is not what you were meant for. Originally you meant to be sent back; however, that is no longer an option. The ritual damaged your vessel. Chaos, Magic and I decided to use the chance to send thou to better. You have done more than enough, child, it is time you had an adult that actually remembered that.’ It was so gentle and accepting.
“WAIT?!” He could feel the voice waiting, wanted to see what was the concern. “I know it sounds ridicules, but I dreamed that if I survived, I would be able to take Hedwig with me and settle down somewhere. Be a hermit surrounded by books and plants. I even packed for it..ha hah… that fantasy was what allowed me to keep functioning… sigh..I was wondering if it at all possible that I would have my familiar with me, where ever it is you are sending me? If it safe for her? Please…” Harry knew he was bagging, but the thought of leaving Hedwig behind was unbearable. She was a part of him, linked to his soul.
It felt like eternity was passing as the being was thinking it through, then he heard a sigh. ‘Fear not child, it took some re-working. Where we are sending you and the new vessel you will have will be different. In order for the soul sister to come she had to transition as well, it is done, Chaos seemed quite pleased with their work. As for the luggage, magic is amused with how thorough you tried to be. They decided to add a few surprises. Rest for now child when you wake all will be well.’
Harry fell asleep, he does not know how long. When he finally woke he was being held, as he opened his eye he noticed that it was a giant, he had red hair and one hand. His face had scars and his eyes held sorrow. But he could feel it in his magic, he was safe, this individual cares with all their heart, they will keep him secure with their entire being. Harry was tired, but a gentle voice told him he was going to be ok, with that last whisper he went back to sleep.