Chapter 1: When the Forest Calls

1940

A week after the rescue of the girl in the lake their head of house walked into the great hall with the girl. Tom had glanced up briefly from the daily prophet at the shock of red hair that he had caught in his peripheral. He mentally nodded, it was nice to know that the girl survived, his one good deed. He went back to his paper reading an article about a recent Grindelwald attack on a small French wizarding village, ignoring the inane chatter of the rest of his class. It had taken all of his first two years in Slytherin to be accepted into the fold. He had been lucky that Malfoy had been willing to teach him how to act like a pureblood, but he always made sure he held himself slightly aloof. There could be no chips in his persona, no weakness to be challenged. 

“Here we are. These students are the rest of your year mates. My third years,” Their head of house said loudly, causing the noise of his year to fall silent and look over to the man. Tom looked up from his paper with a slight sigh, and closed it to show the man had his attention. He had brought the girl over to them. Her flaming hair was tied back, looking more proper, though her robes were clearly second hand and the satchel she had over her shoulder looked more like a scrap of fabric. Surprisingly the tie around her neck was not the colors of one of the other houses. 

“This is Miss Du Lac. She’s been sorted into our great house. She’s been caught up on what the classes are reviewing, but I trust you lot will help her get settled.”

“Yes sir.” several of them answered, eyeing the girl critically.

“Ah and this here is Tom, he’s the one who pulled you from the lake.” Slughorn said more gently, gesturing to Tom who inclined his head slightly. Impossibly green eyes met his. 

“Thank you for saving my life.” Her soft voice seemed to crack through the air like thunder as he was struck by lightning. Every nerve in his body seemed to light up. He could suddenly feel the magic in the air and thumping in his veins. He vaguely recognized he had dropped the newspaper. The blessing mark felt like it was burning or vibrating. Everything seemed to click into place and for the first time in his life rightness radiated in the air. This was the girl. His other half was the very person who seemed to magically appear in the lake that he rescued, the girl he held in his arms as she stared at him. She must have known then too. He had spoken to her. What was it he had said to her? His mind raced, then his mouth moved. 

“Look at me.”

Her eyes went wide, and hand went to her collarbone. Tom didn’t register anything else but her. She was pretty enough, a strange type of exotic. Her hair was almost painfully bright but was fascinating enough, and her eyes were still the impossibly bright green which were quite beautiful. He supposed such a girl would be good enough for him, especially if she was sorted into Slytherin. She had sat down across from Tom as their head of house wandered off to the head table. 

“Let me see it.” He ordered above the renewed noise of the great hall. He vaguely noted the confused noises of his year mates which he diligently ignored in favor of staring her down and leaning forward. The girl’s cheeks darkened. The shyness that she exuded before gone with righteous indignation.

“You can’t just ask that!” she squeaked. 

“I can ask that, any one else…” he trailed off. If any one else dared ask to see it or even touch it he’d probably curse them. 

“Well show me yours first then!”

Tom shrugged and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt and pulled it to the side, showing off a golden script just below his collarbone. 

Thank you for saving my life

Her eyes took in the words written with her own handwriting. Tom smirked before buttoning his shirt again. No need to leave himself overly exposed.

“Now yours?”

She carefully unbuttoned two buttons and showed the same golden glow below her collar bone. 

Look at me 

Just as quick she fastened the buttons and glared at Tom. Their group was silent for a moment as Tom grinned. 

“What family do you come from?” Ixetta Max asked loudly, leaning towards them from where the rest of the girls sat. 

“Umm… I’m not sure.” the Du Lac said hesitantly, scratching her neck. “I don’t remember much of before I woke in the hospital wing.”

“So you don’t know who your parents are?” Black asked looking concerned. 

“I don’t even know what my own name is. The professors said I needed some sort of name and Du Lac seemed just fine.”

“So you don’t have a first name then?”

“Umm no? Do I need one?”

“Well everyone’s got one.”

“I’ll have to think of one then.”

“Its called the forbidden forest for a reason.” Tom said as he came up behind Du Lac. It had been three weeks since they pulled her from the lake, and she had slowly warmed up to them. Since then though, it had been almost impossible to catch a moment alone with the girl. Infuriatingly, Black seemed to attach himself to her. They had every class together, including care of magical creatures, which was the one subject most of them didn’t take. So, when the weekend came and he noticed her wander off without her tailcoat, he followed her. Du Lac didn’t jump or scream at his seemingly sudden arrival, but stood just outside the tree line. 

“Do you hear it?” She asked, swaying slightly. He stilled and strained his ears. The wind was blowing gently, rustling the leaves of the trees. He could just barely hear some students cheering at the quidditch pitch for the game the two of them were avoiding. There was a slight rustle of some small woodland creature in the roughage, but nothing else. 

“What do you hear?”

“The trees.”

“It sounds nice with the breeze.” He admitted looking at her with a raised eyebrow. 

“They’re calling.”

“What do they say?” he asked, now slightly concerned. She didn’t respond, only took a step forward. He grabbed her hand, halting her.

“Tom, I want to go into the forest.”

“It’s forbidden for a reason Du Lac.” he said firmly. She stood still and turned slightly towards him with a frown and a pleading look. 

“I don’t know why, but… I need to go into the forest.” Tom frowned. He should keep her from going in, but it had been almost impossible to get a moment alone with her. This might be his only chance to really talk to her. 

“Fine, but you need to agree to my conditions first.”

“Lets hear them.”

“You’ll only go in if I’m with you. It’s too dangerous to go alone. When I say we need to leave, we need to leave, end of argument. And while we’re in there, we’re going to talk, no more avoiding me.”

“I haven’t been avoiding you.”

“Haven’t you?”

She was silent for a moment before tugging on his hand and leading him into the forest. Almost immediately he noticed the tension in her shoulders ease away, and for the first time she seemed to relax. A short walk later they found a large clearing with thick grass and wildflowers. She promptly toed off her shoes and went to the middle of the clearing and laid down. Tom sighed and copied her, making sure to leave her some personal space on the ground. 

“Is this everything you were hoping it would be?” He asked.

“Yes, its wonderful. Like breathing after holding your breath for too long.” 

Tom hummed and turned his head to look at her. If he didn’t know any better he’d say she seemd to be drugged. Her face was entirely peaceful and pupils blown wide

“We share blessing marks.” Tom ventured.

“We do.” she agreed, sitting up. Tom followed her posture, sitting up to look at her fully. 

“What are you expecting from me?” He asked and to his surprise she only tilted her head as if confused. 

“Should I expect something?”

“Well our magic is extremely compatible. Most people who share marks become romantic partners or best of friends, the closest of confidants.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“Which one?”

“Best friends, the closest of confidants? Later maybe we can address the… romance?”

“Then we shall be the best of friends.” 

She smiled and laid back down on the grass. He sighed and copied her. The grass was surprisingly soft, and the meadow had a pleasant scent. The leaves above were nice shades of red, orange, yellow, bronze and crimson. Tom shot upright and his head snapped towards Du Lac. Her hair looked the same. She blinked at him confused, but before she opened her mouth he waved it off. He wouldn’t think of it until there was more evidence than just the color of her hair and eyes. 

“Tom, do you have any names?” She asked abruptly and he chuckled. 

“You want more names to add to that list of yours? You’ve been collecting name ideas like they could go out of style.”

“They don’t feel right. I mean seriously, I think Alph has tried every single constellation there is. Max has been throwing out names that should be thrown away. And Lestrange has only been naming flowers.”

“And you don’t like flowers?”

“I love flowers, but I don’t need to be named after one. I’m sure if I were to be named Rose, all I’d get for gifts would be roses.”

Tom laughed. Lestrange had actually planned that one night in their dorm. He had called it a genius plan. He hummed then. A name. She seemed to like her last name, Du Lac, so it should go with that. In legends there was Lancelot Du Lac, who stole the queen’s love. Guinevere was quite a nice name, but too on point. 

“What about Gwendolyn? Gwen.”

“I like it. Gwendolyn Du Lac.” She smiled brightly. Tom nodded, smiling as well. Gwendolyn Riddle also sounded quite nice to him as well. 

“This has been the third time you have snuck into my forest.” A deep voice said. Gwen spun around with wide eyes. It was late at night, and sneaking out of the castle without Tom noticing had been difficult, but the itching need to go to the forest was unbearable. She had found the meadow again with ease and had been joyfully playing around with a few fairies. The small creatures were teaching her to dance which had been a difficult endeavor since Gwen had the grace of a newborn giraffe. The last thing she was expecting was a man to suddenly appear, and to her regret she hadn’t brought her wand with her. She couldn’t see the man properly, but she could hear him circling the meadow. Her heart was pounding heavily in her chest, a surge of fight or flight, but her fairy friends were twittling happily. 

“Be at ease little witch, you are in no danger I am simply curious.” the man said. Then he stepped into her view. He wore a clean white tunic that seemed to glow, adorned with emeralds and gold. His deep olive skin was speckled with golden freckles. Then her eyes found his hair. A mane of curls of red, orange, yellow, bronze and crimson, the same hair she saw everyday in the mirror that she had to fight to tame back into a proper bun. His glowing green eyes were inspecting her critically. 

“How curious.” he said and stepped into the meadow fully. The fairies flew over to him bowing down. With a few words in a foreign language they skittered over to her, kissing her cheeks while giggling and flew off deeper into the forest leaving her painfully alone. He approached her slowly, like she was a startled creature, which she was. The man’s warm hand gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. He was taller than most of her professors and it made her feel small. A foreign sense of peace washed over her and her eyes felt heavy.

“I don’t remember having you. Give me your name.”

“I-” She paused, noticing the long ears peeking out from his hair. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“I woke up in the hospital wing. I don’t remember my past. I’ve been going by the name Gwendolyn Du Lac, but that’s just something the others came up with.” 

The man hummed approvingly and she vaguely realized she was nuzzling into his hand. Her blood felt like it was buzzing and everything felt fuzzy. His hand moved from her chin to the back of her neck. His fingers rubbed against knots she didn’t know she had and her eyes nearly rolled into the back of her head. There was a sharp prick and her eyes opened again. A red stream of liquid moved in the air by the movements of his other hand. Then it glowed brightly forming the shape of a tree before disappearing. 

“Hmmm, what a fascinating thing you are. We will meet again, for now you must return to the castle. It is late and little witches should not be wandering the forest.” 

She remained in the warm haze as he led her out of the woods to the castle.

1991

“I talked to a snake today,” Harry whispered into the cupboard, doing his best to remain as quiet as possible. The gentle hand that raked through his hair paused in his curls. After a second passed with the hand unmoving, Harry craned his neck back to look up at his guardian angel. Her head was tipped to the side with an expression of concern and sadness. She couldn’t speak, but he had gotten quite good at reading his angel’s expressions. He shrunk back from her, sitting slowly, looking pointedly at his hands.

“Is it bad I talked to a snake?”

Her hand touched his chin, gently guiding it up for him to look at her. She shook her head slowly then smiled. She leaned forward and kissed his nose and then his forehead. He leaned into her warmth as she gently guided him back into her lap as she stroked his hair again. 

“We went to the zoo for Dudder’s birthday. Ms. Figg broke her leg and couldn’t watch me so Aunt Petunia had to bring me. There was a boa from Brazil. It’s never been to Brazil though, it was born in captivity, like me. I didn’t know snakes could talk. It was very nice, but then Dudley came and shoved me out of the way to bang on the glass. Suddenly the glass disappeared and Dudley and Pierce fell into the enclosure. The boa escaped and then the glass was back but Dudley and Pierce were still in there. Uncle Vernon said it was my fault.”

The hand left his hair as he fell silent, and gently stroked his cheek. Harry couldn’t remember a time his angel wasn’t with him, holding him quietly in his cupboard after every beating or day without food. She was always so gentle and loving, but when morning would come, she would be gone and all his pain and hurt along with her. Sometimes there would be faint scars, but all other traces of the punishments would be gone. He wasn’t always sure what she was, but he heard about guardian angels from a classmate back in primary and knew that’s exactly what she had to be. A guardian angel, his guardian angel. As he grew up he’d tell her about what was going on, what things he had been doing. As messed up as it had to be, he cherished the quiet moments after beatings in the cupboard. It was like how his family had dinner and Dudley would tell Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon about his day. 

Harry reached up slowly and took a strand of her flaming hair in his hands. He loved her hair. It had curls that were soft to the touch, but in the soft glowing lights the color of it shifted with colors of copper, red, orange, scarlet and gold. It reminded him of the autumn leaves. Harry played with the strand, weaving it around his fingers. His eyes were growing heavy, and he knew he’d be asleep soon, and she’d be gone. Stubbornly, he tried to knot the hair in his fingers, a childish hope that for once she’d stay. 

“Do you think I’ll ever escape?” He asked quietly, heavy eyes closing. He felt the kiss to his forehead before he fell asleep. That night he dreamed of a bright forest with soft grass below that he ran through with bare feet. There was a bell like laughter that filtered through the trees. Harry was smiling brightly, chasing after the laughter as he too giggled. Everything was bright and lush green. He ran after the bright red hair stretching out to touch her. They were playing tag in the warm sun and cool breeze. She looked alive. Her olive skin seemed to radiate warmth like she had been enjoying careless days in the sun, careless days with him. Everything felt right and he knew. Yes. One day he’d escape from the Dursleys and live free and wild in the forest with his angel. 

Harry heard Hagrid calling for the new students. He absently followed Ron as they moved, but his eyes were locked on the dark trees and the path the older students were heading. His spine tingled in the way it always did when the Dursleys locked him up for too long. He wanted to go into that forest. He needed to go into that forest. He nearly cried with joy when they walked down the path after the older students took carriages, but the tingling only seemed to be stronger. It was only the focus on Hagrid that kept him from sprinting between those large trees. 

As everyone bustled into the small little row boats, Harry's eyes were on the trees. Little colorful lights danced between the leaves and tree trunks. He wanted to run and chase after those little lights. The deep urge to pull off his shoes nearly overwhelmed him. It was only Ron, pushing him into their boat that made him leave. He hoped that they had a class out in the woods, herbology maybe? Herbology was kind of like gardening? He could scurry around the base of the trees looking for mushrooms or something. His focus was only on the forest as the boats moved across the lake and they got to the castle. 

Harry followed the crowd up the stairs but looked off to the forest. It was only a split second, a dim glow in the shadow of the trees, he could have sworn he saw bright red hair and glowing green.

A small part of Harry was afraid. Things were happening that didn’t make any sense. Things outside of whatever was under that trap door. He had been confused when he woke up in the common room when he was certain he had fallen asleep in bed. It had been scary when he woke up to Professor Quirrel in the entrance hall one night. It was even more frightening when he woke up the day after the Slytherin vs. Gryffindor quidditch match with mud caked on his feet and covering his sheets at the foot of the bed. Something was happening to him. He felt constantly restless. There were even times when it felt like bugs were crawling down his spine. He had to move, he had to go to the forest. It scared him. 

To make things even more stressful Harry hadn’t seen his angel except for a flickering glance Halloween night where he could have sworn he had seen her worried face outside the bathroom door just as the professors came rushing in. Part of him mourned the fact that he hadn’t seen her, but he had been kept busy, and her lack of presence meant he was unhurt. Though, he wished he could talk to her. While scavenging the books in the restricted section, he was keeping an eye out for anything about the forest, why it was forbidden, why he felt the need to go in. And then Filch happened. 

Narrowly avoiding Snape and Filch, Harry slipped into an open doorway to his left, sucking in his chest to squeeze in without moving the door. To his relief the two crotchety men didn’t notice anything and kept going straight past the door. Harry heaved a sigh and leaned against the wall, waiting till he could no longer hear their footsteps. When he was certain that the coast was clear he looked around the room. It seemed to be yet another unused classroom with the usual classroom materials piled up against the walls, but there was something different in the room. A large magnificent mirror, stretching up to the ceiling, with an ornate gold frame. Harry peered at it, creeping forward slowly to read the inscription that was carved at the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. 

Stepping up in front of it his eyes widened and he darted around the mirror to see if it was a window. It didn’t show the classroom behind him, but a lush bright green forest. Confused to see that there was nothing behind the mirror, he went to stand in front of it again. There he stood, looking wide eyed and confused. Jumping slightly he saw that a familiar face was right behind him. He spun in place to see she wasn’t there. It was her, his angel, smiling brightly, but crying just a little. He stared at the mirror and reached behind him to see if he could touch her, but felt nothing. 

Standing in the moonlight it was like he could see her clearer than in his cupboard. Her flaming curly hair fell over her shoulders down past her waist. Her tanned olive skin looked healthy as she placed her hands on his shoulder in a small embrace, pulling him close to her. He stared up at her eyes and realized for the first time. Her eyes were just like his. With a fox-like lift to the outer edge, making way to bright, bordering neon, green eyes. Her skin tone was nearly the same as his, though his seemed to be slightly lighter. His hair was just as wild and untamed as hers. He finally had a name for her besides angel. 

“Mum?” He whispered, eyes watering. Her smile brightened and nodded. “Mum!” he cried out softly, tears dripping from his eyes. Just when he thought it was just the two of them another figure seemed to slowly step forward, seeming slightly uncomfortable. He knew faster than he did with his mum just who this man was. His hair was just as dark as Harry’s though it seemed to be far more manageable as it was combed back with only a single strand that fell down in a loose curl over his forehead. Harry marveled at it with a smile, he had a curl that fell in the same spot. They shared the same proud straight nose and, while Harry still had a little baby fat left on his cheeks he could see they both shared the same jawline and cheekbones. 

“Dad?” Harry asked, a slight hesitation in his voice as he stared at the tall man. The man gave a nod and placed a hand over his mum’s on Harry’s shoulder. Harry wasn’t sure how long he stood there, basking in the warmth of the image in the mirror.

It felt like he could breathe for the first time. Like he was struck by lightning and was now all tingly but stronger than ever before. It was pitch black outside, but it felt like he could see for the first time. The itching and restlessness swept out of him the moment he crossed the first trees into the forest. He should probably be scared, Malfoy was scared, and they were searching for a hurt, possibly dead unicorn. Yet, he felt more at peace now than ever before. He didn’t need the moonlight to follow the trail of silver-blue blood on the fallen leaves. 

While Hagrid spoke with the centaurs, he noticed they kept looking at him. Some slight surprise crossed their faces when he looked them in the eyes, but they didn’t seem suspicious. Harry kept musing over it even after he got grouped with Malfoy, and his eyes seemed to get sharper. They found the unicorn, and it was very dead. Something in his chest twisted at the sight. Harry took a step forward but froze when a bush on the edge of the clearing quivered, and from the shadows a hooded figure came crawling out. Harry watched with horror as it lowered its head over the body and began to drink its blood. 

Malfoy screeched and bolted, followed by Fang, but Harry couldn’t move. The only thing that spurred him on was the blinding pain in his head that caused him to stagger backwards as the thing tried to approach. The sound of galloping rumbled overhead and a huge glowing white deer charged at the creature, stomping it’s hooves threateningly at it.

“Away with you!” a man’s voice shouted. More galloping came thundering past as the centaurs that were seen earlier chased off the creature. Harry breathed heavily as the pain subsided and the fear shot through him. That thing was coming after him. 

“Are you alright, bìodan?” A man with bright red hair jumped off the back of the glowing white deer, a stag. Harry’s breath caught in his chest. The man had familiar features, the same bright red hair, the same bright green eyes that tipped upward at the outer corner, the same upward curve at his nose. The strange man looked like his angel, like his mum. He knelt down in front of Harry, warm hands cupping his face as he looked for injuries. Harry marveled at the man. No one was quick to touch him gently, no one but his mum, and here this strange man was, gentle, kind, and so warm. He felt safe. 

“I- I’m alright, thank you”

“He did not hurt you?”

“No sir.” 

“Good. Come, it is late, and little wizards should not be wandering the forest.” The man helped Harry to his feet, checking him over again before laying an arm over Harry’s shoulders. The man, now standing tall next to Harry, was tall enough he had to tip his head back to look up at him. He had to be over 6 feet tall. He looked off in the direction that the creature fled a frown on his face. It was then he noticed the long pointed ears that peeked out from the mane of curls. He then gently began to guide Harry in the opposite direction, his arm still comfortably over Harry’s shoulder. It was only now that they were walking that Harry noticed the man was glowing. Plants and flowers seemed to grow in the path around them.

“I had detention with Hagrid.” Harry admitted, bringing a smile to the man’s face.

“Oh, is that what brought you here tonight? The captain of my guard had sent word to me of your presence, I’m glad I came myself.”

“Your guard?”

“The centaur Bane. He’s… domineering, and doesn’t like it when the wizards enter the forest, but as soon as he saw your eyes, he made sure I’d know.”

“My eyes?”

“Of course, bìodan.” He paused and smiled sadly down at Harry. “Tell me I’m curious, what caused the detention?”

“We got caught out after curfew… Don’t tell anyone but, we were trying to sneak Hagrid’s dragon out to Romania.”

“Hagrid’s dragon? I must thank you then, bìodan. We do not welcome dragons here.”

“Cause of the fire breathing?”

“Exactly.” 

“Sir, can I ask a question?”

“Seanair, you may call me Seanair, bìodan.”

“I’m Harry.” Harry told him, and the man laughed.

“Yes, I know you are called Harry. But to me you are my bìodan, and I'm your Seanair.”

“Seanair.”

“Yes, bìodan?”

“… what was that thing?”

“That thing was a cursed life. Do you know what unicorn blood is used for?” the man asked.

“No? We’ve only used the horn and tail in potions.”

“I’d imagine so. Listen carefully to me, bìodan, it is a horrible thing to slay a unicorn, a most despicable crime. To drink it’s blood is something only a desperate creature would do, it can keep you alive, even if you were an inch from death, but it curses you in return. The moment the blood touches your lips, you will have a half life. The blood will make you pay, one way or another.”

“But, Seanair, who’d be that desperate?”

“I don’t know, bìodan. Whoever that is, they are not welcome here. Come, it is late, I will walk you back to the school." The man put an arm over Harry’s shoulder and started to walk with him. It was only now that they were walking that Harry noticed the man was glowing. Plants and flowers seemed to grow in the path around them. Harry chewed on his bottom lip. 

“Sir, do you think… could it have been Voldemort?”

“Voldemort? Hmm… I don’t know.”

“Harry! Harry, are you alright?” Hermione was running toward them down the path, Hagrid puffing along behind her.

“I’m fine, Hermione. The unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in that clearing back there." Harry told Hagrid who had frozen. 

“Oberon, sir.” He choked out, looking at Seanair with wide eyes.

“I do not appreciate children being brought into my forest as a punishment, Hagrid. Especially when searching for a hurt, possibly dead unicorn.”

“I-”

“I will speak with Albus about this.” Seanair said with finality. “The unicorn has been found, we will deal with it from here. It is late, young wizards should be in bed.”

Seanair continued to walk with the group, completely ignorant of Hagrid’s wide-eyed stare. Harry watched on curiously between the two in the quiet. Seanair had yet to remove his arm, yet it didn’t bother him at all. It felt comfortable, warm. He felt calm for the first time since coming to Hogwarts. When they got to the edge of the forest, Harry was worried that the feeling of restlessness would come back, but it didn’t happen. He continued to walk with the group until they got to the stairs. 

“Bìodan, I must go from here, but should you ever need to breathe the trees you are welcome, during daylight, yes?”

Harry nodded. 

“And a word of warning, bìodan, names are powerful things. Do not be so ready to give it away.”

“I’ll try Seanair.”

“Good. Rest well bìodan” He pressed a kiss to the top of Harry’s head and with a smile walked away, followed by hagrid. 

“Harry, who was that?” Hermione hissed. 

“I-I don’t know… I like him though.”