In a world without
Jamie had been the last human light for a time, the unmistakable weight nearly crushing him as he blindly followed the voice which led him to the memories of the youth once known as Jackson Overland. Now, years later, across a continent, he held the same tube of memories except it was dull and rusted and the magick was gone.
The world outside of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place was dull and rusted and cold. Too cold for the season and not yet winter, despite the temperatures. Jamie was grateful for the large werewolf’s body heat as they entered the house.
“Sit, do you wa-“
“By the gods, Jamie!”
Fenrir stepped back, as Pansy threw herself into Jamie’s open arms, holding each other tightly, uncaring of the tears which fell from their eyes. Fenrir bit back a yawn as he trudged upstairs ready to collapse into the first room he found.
Distantly he heard Voldemort and Severus talking, Remus joining in and then silence as his head hit the worm mattress.
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“What happens now?”
“They have provided a fail safe for us, but we must continue as if they are here still,”
Pansy and Hermione gasped, hands flying to their mouths. “Harry knows doesn’t he?”
Voldemort nodded solemnly; in order for the failsafe to be activated, Harry needed to be there. It was the only way to pass it off.
“As of now, Hogwarts is completed, you will all return. Continue your studies and activities as if nothing has changed. Jamie, you will act as Severus’ apprentice for the time being. Marcus, you will apprentice under Madam Hooch. Remus will act as Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor and nothing will change.”
If there were any protests, no one voiced them. Whatever had been planned obviously needed time. They hoped that they had enough.
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Harry hadn’t moved from the spot; he’d hit the ground over and over again and raged and screamed to anyone that would listen. Why had his parents been taken away?! He didn’t understand what was going on.
None of the other guardians had answered and all he felt was cold and anguish. Sirius had stayed by him, close enough to offer comfort yet far away so as not to bother him. Harry ran his fingers through his hair, it was still just as colorful and long as it had always been. His clan markings were vibrant and all he wanted to do was cry. He’d give everything up if it meant that he could have his life back.
He wanted to be back in the Warren, painting googies and riding Rocky through the fields. He wanted to grow and harvest and yell at Jack to stop being lazy and help. He wanted to feel the warmth. More than anything, he wanted his nest and his Da. He wanted to curl up against his Da while he read books and learned the history which had been forgotten.
He wanted Zephyr and Gale and Baby Tooth and Phil and Abigail. He wanted Sandy. He didn’t want to think that they were gone.
“Harry, kiddo, I-I-I am so sorry, I just wanted us to be a-“
“Be what? A family? Ye don’ know me!Why would ye wan’ me if ye don’ know me?!”
Sirius swallowed hard, ashamed of himself. He had done this. He had taken Harry away from a good family. He’d missed so much being in Azkaban that he just wanted to hold on to his godson-no, he’d wanted to hold onto James. He ripped apart a child he had no right to from the one person who had put him back together.
Sirius looked down at his hands and then at his godson. He was still crying and begging to bring them back.
Sirius felt disgusting. He’d been worse than a muggle, he’d abused his familial power and status to get his way and now, there was nothing he could do. There was no finite incantatem. He could do a single thing, just like he hadn’t been able to do a thing back then either. Except, he’d paid the price back then, now it was Harry who was suffering.
“I’ll find a way to bring them back, Harry, I promise.”
If Harry had heard him, he made no motion that he did. Sirius had no choice but to walk away and leave him be.
Despite everything that happened, life moved on and Hogwarts reopened. For the first time, Harry took the carriage into Hogwarts; he’d held back until he couldn’t anymore and jumped into a carriage that was empty. He didn’t want to be around anyone. Sirius hadn’t even bothered to tell him to change, letting him wear his cargos and gray jumper with his leathers. Instead of his trunk, Harry had opted for a charmed travel bag which was weightless and had limitless space. Hedwig had stayed with him until it was time to enter.
This was the last place he’d wanted to be.
“Buck up, Bunnymund, we’re all suffering,” Pansy quipped, slapping his back.
Harry jumped, snapping out of his daze, surprised to find his friends waiting at the entrance doors. Flooded with sudden guilt, he backtracked, ready to run, only for Draco and Blaise to grab him by the jumper and haul him up the last few steps onto the landing. Without waiting a moment longer, Harry’s group of friends are quick to hug him.
They understand that Harry was only coming to say goodbye, so they hold him and beg him to stay. They don’t know if Harry knows anything of the plan, but he must remain where he’ll be safe. Harry J. Bunnymund is a legacy and they will protect him.
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No one says anything when the group of Slytherins walks in late, immediately takes their seats and waits. McGonagall is more than relieved to see Harry with them. She was afraid that he would not return at all.
Taking the stand, she waits until they have fallen silent.
“Welcome back to Hogwarts, everyone. As you may have all noticed, we have a few changes this year. Notably, Remus Lupin is now a permanent member of the staff as your Professor of the Defense against the Dark Arts. Your new history of magick Professor is Professor Quirrell, who has returned from his sabbatical. For the time being, Quidditch has been canceled until the new year, as parts of the pitch are still highly cursed. Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations as per their heads of house. Furthermore, Mister Bunnymund, please see Professor Snape. Your meal will be delivered to you. Ah! Malfoy, Zabini, Parkinson, Nott! Remain in your seats! It is a private meeting!”
Harry smiled and simply shuffled off towards Severus’ quarters, knowing that their meeting would take place there.
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Severus had been waiting for the inevitable shoe to drop, but nothing had happened. Pitch had escaped, the guardians had passed on, and the Weasley family was gone, save for the twins, Charlie, and Percy.
Three days after their funerals, Severus had received a letter, delivered by a googie. Understanding the reason behind such an act was still difficult for anyone, but mostly for Harry. His only family, taken, but not for long. Aster had seen to that.
A soft knock broke Severus out of his thoughts as he stood from his desk, “enter,” he called. The door swung to reveal Harry, thinner and sadder but still very much Harry.
“Severus!” In an instant, Harry had thrown himself into Severus’ arms, tears streaming down his cheeks and babbling incoherently but eager to let everything out. Severus allowed him; he’d lost so much in such a small amount of time.
Harry sagged against Severus, letting the older man take his weight. Severus carefully picked up the young teen in his arms, and walked towards his private chambers. Harry didn’t move until he’d been deposited on a couch in front of a roaring fire. A cup of honeyed tea floated in front of him, which he graciously took. Finally, Severus joined him, his own cup clasped in his hands.
“Harry, Aster…left directions for you, for us,”
“Da? H—how?”
“The Warren is still alive, Harry-“
Harry stood up suddenly, hands shaking and pale, “No! Da’s gone! The Warren was Da’s! It-it-can’t be! It-“
Severus grabbed the teen’s shoulders and sat him down, “It’s alive, because you are alive!” Severus placed his hand over Harry’s heart, “Aster left you with the Hope of the people. You are his legacy.”
Harry would have crumbled to the floor if it had not been for Severus, who hadn’t let go of Harry. Together they leaned back into the couch, Harry half on top of Severus. “Do you want to know what directions Aster left?”
The young teen said nothing, merely nodding into Severus’ chest.
Severus shifted his hand, beckoning the enchanted parchment to hover in front of him so he could read it aloud.
Harry, my kit,
If Severus is reading this to you, I have placed into motion a fail safe in order to save everyone. Don’t fret, Manny and Ombric had this devised in case we as guardians were not enough. No one could have ever predicted you, though so changes needed to be made.
Harry, I need you to do me one favor, keep your hope alive, because you are the one who holds the hopes of the people. I wish there was more time to explain, so I will do my best now.
You see, Guardians are generally chosen by Manny, only after a great sacrifice is made on behalf of the people or person close to you. For Jackie, it was saving his sister, at the cost of his life. For Tooth, it was her sisters, who were reborn as the mini guardians that aided her. For North, his only friend-Dimitri and their promise together. For Sandy, it was his voice and the solitude of being the last one of his kind. For me, It was my own life, my own heart. You see, I do not have a “heart” like the others, my heart and what you carry with you now, is the hope of the people and the last remaining Pookas. It’s condensed into an egg shaped sphere that resides where a heart would be. When I passed on, the Hope of the People automatically passed on to you. It will take you some time to feel it and more time to understand it. I know you will be able to do it, kit.
The Hope of the people is only part of what will defeat Pitch and what will guide Emily Jane back to the light. Despite her flaws, she is a guardian and as such, she will listen.
Now, Harry, do not think that you are alone. The other guardians have already chosen their own. The plan is set, you have only two things to do.
Firstly, the Warren in yours, I need you to take over Easter, give the people back their hope. Secondly, I, Edelweiss Aster Bunnymund, Lord Slytherin by conquest, do so give my whole hearted blessing to Severus Tobias Snape as the chosen mate and husband of my sole kit and legacy, Harry Juniper Bunnymund.
Never forget I love you. Keep the hope alive and I will see you soon.
All my love,
Da.