Trickster

This is definitely not what Harry had planned for the evening, he just wanted to serve his detention and get some much-needed sleep, Ron and Hermione have been keeping him up every night for the last two weeks so they could research who Nickolas Flamel was.

Don’t get him wrong, he is interested in knowing, but not so he can figure out what is on the third floor, he has no interest in putting himself or his friends in unnecessary danger.

Which is why he is confused as to why Dumbledore has set their detention in the forbidden forest, when he specifically told everyone at the beginning of the year that it was incredibly dangerous and never to enter, and he only sent Hagrid and Fang in with them searching for a killer!

It wasn’t even five minutes into their walk when they stumbled upon a dead unicorn, and on closer inspection, noticed that it had been drained of blood.

Noting this Hagrid thought it was a smart idea to split into two groups to cover more ground, Harry knew this was a bad idea, but growing up at the Dursley’s killed any chance that he would have spoken up.

Ron took one look at Malfoy, sneered, and promptly tugged Hermione over to Hagrid, which left Harry to go with the blond aristocrat and Fang.

As they picked their way through the forest, the Raven studied his companion, and after several minutes of observation, noted that when he thought Harry wasn’t looking, Draco looked just as scared as he was, which lead Harry to make the conclusion that Draco wore a mask in public, just like Harry did.

With this thought in mind Harry sped up a bit so he was walking alongside the blond, “Malfoy.”

Said Malfoy whipped his head to face him with a shocked look on his face, before it was wiped off and a sneer took its place, “what is it Potter?”

Taking a deep breath, asking himself if he really knew what he was doing, Harry stopped and turned to face the other boy, Fang taking a seat by his side, keeping an eye on the surroundings, as they where still here looking for a killer.

Once he saw that Draco had also stopped and he had his undivided attention, Harry took another breath, letting it out slowly, then meet slightly apprehensive blue-gray eyes, “I believe I owe you an apology Malfoy,” seeing his slight widening of his eyes, Harry smiled wryly.

“As I am sure you are unaware, after my parents died, Dumbledore thought it would be prudent to place me with my only living direct blood relatives, who just so happen to be magic hating Muggles,” here Harry pauses to give a vicious sneer, surprising the Blond, “as such I had no idea that magic was even real until my eleventh birthday, when Hagrid busted down the door to the shack the Dursley’s rented for the weekend.”

Draco had to interrupt, “say I even begin to believe you, why would Dumbledore not make sure you at least knew of magic?”

Snorting Harry rolled his eyes, “I have never told anyone, but I can remember everything that has ever happened to or around me since I turned one, and on the night he left me at the Dursley’s he told Professor McGonagall, that I needed to be completely ignorant of magic so that I may grow up without my fame hanging over my head.”

“Really?” Draco sneered at the headmaster’s stupidity.

“Yep, which ended up being irrelevant, I can remember what happened that night, and I know it was nothing that I did, but my mom, so I know I don’t deserve the fame.”

“Do you mind if I asked what really happened?” uncharacteristically hesitant for the cocky blond.

At the question Harry looked off to the side and hugged his arms to his body, “My parents knew he was coming, they got a message in the fireplace from a sever looking man, so when they felt the wards fall, my Father stayed behind to buy Mom some extra time, we could just start hearing the sounds of a fight as Mom placed me in my crib, she smiled down at me and said that if I ever remember this that she wanted me to apologize to a man named Severus for her, and to trust him with my life.

After that she pulled out a dagger and cut a large gash in her hand, and with some of the blood she drew this lightning bolt on my forehead muttering strange words, just before the door blasted inwards there was a small flash of gold rain down around me, and after Voldemort killed her, I felt a warm weight settle around me, like a blanket.

So, when he cast the killing curse at me it simply bounced off a golden shield and rebounded on him and he burst into ashes, though the force of the spell still pushed the sigil into my head causing the scar.”

As Harry was talking Draco’s eyes grew wider, when he finished, “Sacrificial magic,” he breathed out.

He didn’t get an answer as Harry still had a far away look in his eyes, still reliving the rest of that night, before long though he shook himself out of the memories, looking back at Draco, “Right, the point I have been trying to make is that I feel like when you offered your hand in friendship at the beginning of the year I may have made some sort of pureblood insult by refusing your offer, I was hoping to fix that now.”

With that said Harry stuck his hand out and smiled, “Draco Malfoy I offer my hand in friendship, to last for the rest of our lives, through light and darkness, and through any battle, be it life and death or studying for finals,” he added on the last bit with a cheeky smile.

Studying Harry’s face, looking for hesitation or a prank, seeing none Draco smiled, softening his whole face, and clasped his hand to Harry’s, “Harry Potter I except your offer, may this friendship bond us as brothers in all but blood for the rest of our life’s.”

Both boys were shocked at the pulse of magic let out sealing their declarations as truth, they where even more shocked at the pull of a string of magic that now connected their hearts.

But before they could ponder the implications of what just happened, Fang started to growl and they felt a malicious aura rapidly making its way towards them.

As they started to freak out and made to run away in panic, Harry felt a strong pull in the opposite direction, leading farther in to the forest, blinking at the feeling he instinctively knew that it was somewhere safe.

Turning back to Draco, he saw that he had also stopped having felt the pull through his new bond to Harry, in a split-second decision he held out his hand, “Do you trust me?”

Draco didn’t even hesitate, “I trust you, brother.”

With a slight smile Harry grabbed his hand and they started running deeper into the forest.

Bane was not impressed with the trespassers in the forest, he also was not happy that Dumbledore sent a group of children into the forest with a killer roaming around, so he was furious when Hagrid let two of the children brake off by themselves, deciding to keep an eye on them but only interfering if they found themselves in danger.

Following the boys through a decent chunk of the forest, Bane had to admit that he was mildly impressed at their ability to avoid danger.

Being that he was nearby, he was present for what was said that day, and witnessed something that has not happened in generations, but it couldn’t be dwelled on now, as he watched the boys pause and run deeper into the forest, Bane was prepared to intervene to protect them, only to watch them reach the edge of the wards protecting one of their oldest shrines, one that not even they could enter anymore, and pass through unhindered, this was something that the elders needed to be made aware of.

The Centaurs may have found someone worthy to follow at last.

When they passed through the wards, they only had moments to take in the beauty of the clearing and large stone statue and alter at its base before their attention was drawn to the very large snake rearing back to attack them.

Acting on the instincts he has been running on most of the evening, Harry raised his free hand and opened his mouth, “STOP!”

The snake reared back in shock, that hadn’t been English, slowly lowering her head to come even with the small raven-haired child, she did something she hasn’t done in a very long time, “Hm, you are a speaker.”

As the snake lowered her head, Draco stepped closer to his brother, not willing to let this snake eat them, so color him surprised when he could understand what she was saying as if she was speaking English in his right ear, while still hearing hissing from his left.

Leaning slightly into Draco for moral support, Harry cocked his head to the side, “Speaker?”

“Yes, you speak Parseltongue, language of the serpents, no one has come here as a speaker in a long time.” She moved her head forward slightly and flicked her tongue out to scent the child, “Ah, you have performed powerful Oath magic recently,” scenting the blond child next to the speaker, “with this child.”

Harry studied the snake, before nodding, “yes, neither of us have any siblings, and my family is dead, so we made each other family.”

The snake considered her options for a moment before nodding, “I see, follow me,” with that said she started to make her way towards the alter in the middle of the clearing.

Once they stopped in front of the alter, they could see that it has been terribly neglected, frowning they turned towards the snake, “place your hands on the alter and let your magic loose.”

Catching each others eye they hesitated for a moment, knowing that this would change their life forever, but they gathered their courage and did as the snake bid.

As soon as their magic touched the alter it shown a brilliant gold, but when it faded it didn’t look like anything changed, but before they could question the snake, they heard a voice coming from behind the statue in front of them.

“Althea, what has happened? We haven't been called to this shrine for centuries,” following the voice the witnessed an incredibly handsome man with a pale complexion, and shoulder length inky black hair seemingly melt out of the shadows at the base of the statue, upon noticing the green and gold finery and golden horn helmet Harry sucked in a breath of recognition.

Before he could say something, a stray bolt of lightning struck in front of the statue, when it cleared there was another man standing there, though this one was large and bulky with golden hair and beard in intricate braids, in red and silver finery with a large hand hammer on his hip, at his arrival Harry scrambled a few paces back and lost his footing landing on his butt.

“Harry!?” Draco hurried over to his side and knelt besides him.

“Oh, My Gods,” Harry breathed out.

The statement drew the two men’s attention to the boys, but it was the dark one that spoke, “That is an astute observation, I wasn’t aware that we where even still known in this world.”

“Who are these people Harry?” Draco was not taking this well.

“They are Gods.”

“That’s right boys, Althea, why where we summoned here?” The dark-haired God spoke in Parsel to the giant snake.

Althea dipped her head in a bow, “My lord, these boys passed the wards unhindered, the Raven child is a Parselmouth, and the moon child may not speak but he understands, and they have recently made the Oath of Brotherhood.”

With a gleam of interest in his eyes he turned back to his companion, and nodded to him, letting out a booming laugh the blond thumps him on the back, “Ah, finally found someone to catch your interest Brother? You haven't granted a boon in centuries.”

He just glares at his brother, “Quiet you.” Turning back to address the boys in front of their alter, “For summoning us we will grant you both a boon.”

Harry just glared back in suspicion, “Why? What makes you think we would just trust that,” Harry points at the blond, “Him maybe I would understand the rash action, but you, not so much.”

“And what do you know of me boy?” the blond snarls at him.

Turning his oddly penetrating gaze to him, “You are Thor Odinson, Norse God of Thunder, loud, cocky, and brash.

You thought yourself above others because you where the next in line for the throne of Asgard, this thinking nearly got yourself and your fellow warriors and friends killed as you launched an unsanctioned attack on Jotunheim.

For your rash and thoughtless actions, Odin stripped you of your powers and immortality and threw you down to earth as a mortal, you spent two decades as a human, until you proved yourself worthy of your title back by throwing yourself into battle, not for your own glory, but for the sake of others.”

The newly named Thor winced at the accuracy of that information.

Turning to look at the laughing brother, “But you are the one that I am unsure of, you are Loki Odinson, God of Mischief, Mayhem, and Lies, so what is keeping you from lying right now?”

Loki smiled sadly at him, “I am also the God of Vengeful Parents, and your are very angry at Dumbledore on your behalf.”

Harry felt like he was just punched in the gut, “What?”

“Let us grant you this boon, then find the Severus your mother mentioned, and convince him to see her will, it will explain things.”

The boys eyed each other, and coming to a decision, nodded, but it was Harry who spoke, “very well, we except your boon.”

“Then step forwards, Harrison James Potter, and Draconis Lucius Malfoy,” the brothers gestured towards the base of the statue, once they were facing the Gods, Loki lifted his glowing right hand and placed it on Harry’s head, “With this boon we grant you family.”

Next to them Thor raised his right hand and placed it on Draco’s head, “With this boon we grant you Brothers for the rest of eternity.”

“For even when Death finally claims you in this life may you find each other in the next,” Loki intones softly.

Finally they spoke in tandem, their voices echoing around the clearing, “So we have spoken, so mote it be.”

As the last word falls from their lips a bright light emanates from where their hands were resting on the boys heads, when it fades both boys had changed.

Draco’s right eye was no longer the soft gray-blue of its counterpart, but a striking emerald green, but the most shocking was that it had no pupil, in its place was the Norse rune for family, Othala.

Another shocking change came with his hair, as he usually slicks it back, all of the magic in use has blown it loose so you can clearly see where even though the majority is still the same silvery blond of the Malfoy family, the first inch on the ends now looks like it has been dipped in ink.

For Harry, the changes are similar, for his right eye has changed to that of Draco’s silver-blue, also with the pupil being the Norse rune Othala, and his hair looks like the tips were dipped in moonlight, though as he was looking around he noticed that his vision was blurry, so he removed his glasses to see if he had managed to smudge them, but to his shock he seemed to have perfect vision with out them, seeing this he tucked his glasses into his robe pocket and marveled at seeing the world without a fuzzy edge.

When the magic finally settled their eyes faded back to their original colors and the rune faded from view, the tips of their hair remained though, physically marking them as brothers permanently.

Even though the magic was no longer pulsing through the air, the newly made brothers still had an otherworldly look to them now.

The Gods smiled at them as they cataloged all of their changes both to themselves and their brothers, but it wasn’t to long later that Loki spoke up, “It is time for you to go, but feel free to return here whenever you like, just call one of the house elf’s at the castle and they will bring you here.”

Turning slightly to Harry, “You have an unfortunately long seven years ahead of you, as Dumbledore will try to orchestrate meetings between you and Voldemort, I suggest you speak to this Severus person as soon as possible, Dumbledore is not above using Compulsion Charms to get people to do what he wants, ” here he turns slightly, “I believe you know who we are talking about Draco.”

At seeing the blonds nod he addresses them both, “Good, Althea will escort you back to the edge of the forest, we hope to see you again,” with soft smiles the two Gods vanish.