Chereads / Harry potter and the cousin of the boy who lived / Chapter 2 - Arrival, Loss and Family

Chapter 2 - Arrival, Loss and Family

General POV

As the soul falls towards the earth, we witness the majestic Manor, a place steeped in history and magic, once co-owned by two legendary wizards, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. In their time as friends, this Manor was a symbol of their unity and shared vision for the wizarding world. However, as time passed, their friendship soured, leading to the eventual split that divided the magical community.

Despite its significance, the true history of the Manor remains shrouded in mystery, known only to a select few. For many in the wizarding world, it stands as a testament to the power and legacy of the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

As we approach the Manor, its imposing architecture and ancient aura speak of centuries of secrets and untold tales. It holds within its walls artifacts and relics that whisper of a time long past, waiting to be discovered by those who seek the truth.

For those who understand its true significance, the Manor is more than just a building; it is a symbol of the ideals and beliefs that shaped the wizarding world. Its history is a reminder of the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and the enduring power of magic. 

In a dimly lit room we see a woman in pain and many healers and a midwive helping the woman deliver the baby.

As the hours or what seems to be days pass, the room falls silent, a stark contrast to the usual cries of a newborn. The father-to-be, Void L. Potter, is gripped with fear as he rushes into the room, only to find the healers casting spells in a desperate attempt to save the silent child.

Void, with a heavy heart, orders the healers to stop and leave the room, activating the protective wards of the Manor to ensure their compliance. He approaches his wife, Amara Potter ne Evans, and they share a look of understanding and sadness.

"We knew this was a possibility with my magical curse resurfacing," Void says, his voice filled with resignation. "Now we can save our child, but we won't be there to see him grow up. We have no other choice, Amara."

Amara, tears streaming down her face, expresses her concern for their child. "I was hoping to at least be with him for a little while."

Void reassures her, mentioning their child's godparents, Lily, Pandora, Sirius, and James, who will take care of him. He then begins preparing a ritual to save their child.

As Void performs the ritual, he commands his peculiar house elf, Red, to inform James to be ready for the aftermath, as the magic will also shut down the Manor until their child is accepted as the Lord of House Slytherin.

Outside the Manor, those who were ejected by the wards are frantically trying to re-enter to help save the child. James arrives and informs them that they can only wait and hope for the best.

"STOP!" James shouts, halting their attempts. "You won't be able to get inside. We can only wait and hope they manage to save their child."

With heavy hearts, they can do nothing but wait outside, hoping for a miracle.

Inside the manor, Void completes the preparations for the ritual and places his son in the centre. Using a sharp knife, he cuts his arm and begins the ritual, reassuring Amara that she will be there for their son as he has altered the ritual to only take his life and the magic of his familiars as the sacrifice.

Amara is horrified. "NOOOOOO, why would you do that?" she cries, trying to reach her husband.

A snake with horns and a phoenix suddenly appear, assisting Amara with her husband. The snake, with reverence, states, ~It'sss an honour to ssserve as a sssacrifice for the Ssslytherin heir, Missstressss," while the phoenix adds a melodious song.

Void translates for Amara, who is overcome with emotion. "I wanted you to be there for him and protect him," she says tearfully.

The snake and phoenix respond, ~We can't fulfil that requessst, but our children will be there for him,~ their voices blending into a harmonious melody.

As Void translates once more, the ritual reaches its climax. A flash of red, purple, and silver light fills the room, and then darkness envelops everything. The manor vanishes from the world, along with the memories of its location from anyone who knew it. The sacrifice is made, to ensure the survival of their child, the heir of Slytherin.

Outside, the onlookers are startled by the sudden flash of light. As they gather their wits, they hear a pop, and there is Amara, weak but holding a peacefully sleeping child in her arms, both safe and healthy.

"AMARA!" James rushes to her side, calling for healers to check on them.

"How is this possible? They are both fine. Amara is a bit weak but mostly fine, and the child is healthy and strong," a healer reports.

"I am taking them home," James declares, casting spells to levitate them and calling his house elf to take them to Lily.

"As you all know, what happened here cannot be made known to anyone," James announces to the group.

"You don't have to worry about that, Lord Potter. Before we came here, we swore an oath to never tell anyone about this night, as per our agreement with Lord Slytherin. We will obliviate ourselves before leaving," the lead healer assures him.

James nods and begins to make his way home to Lily, grateful that Amara and the child are safe and that their secret will be protected.

As James arrived home, he saw his wife cradling the baby with Amara asleep in bed.

"How are they?" James asked, concerned.

"She is tired and very weak, but she will live," Lily replied, her voice filled with tears.

"You also need to rest, love. Red and I will watch over them, right Red?" James said, turning to the house-elf.

"Yes, Mistress Lily. I will watch over Young Master," Red confirmed.

Lily tried to sleep, but the events of July 20, 1980, kept repeating in the heads of everyone involved.

The next day, when Amara woke up and saw her son alive but no sign of her husband, she knew that he had made the ultimate sacrifice so she could be with their son.

"What is his name?" Lily asked, trying to change the mood as she noticed her sister being depressed.

"I thought I would name him after his father, Void L. (Slytherin) Potter, so he can be with his son, even if it's only in name," Amara said.

"Well, it's going to be weird to call this cutie by that grouch's name," Lily joked as she tickled the child in her arms.

Time passed, and the next few days went by in a blur as they tried to console Amara and keep them safe. Lily gave birth to Hadrian (Harry) James Potter on July 31, 1980, marking the start of events that would have varied consequences for many involved.

Protag POV "WTF is going on? First, I was falling, then I was drowning, and now I feel like something is trying to kill me," 

The protagonist thought as he went through the reincarnation process and the ritual performed by his new father.

More time passed as the events of The Attack on the Potters unfolded. When Harry was just a year old, Voldemort learned of the prophecy and went to the Potters' home in Godric's Hollow to kill him. James Potter was killed trying to protect his family, but this time, not only Lily Potter's sacrificial love for Harry created a powerful protective charm that saved him, but also Amara's, as an ancient spell was cast by the mothers with their life and magic as fuel. When Voldemort tried to kill Harry, the curse rebounded, destroying Voldemort's body and leaving Harry with a lightning-bolt-shaped scar on his forehead. Void was also affected in the attack, but with no scar on his body because of the ritual as it was still in effect, the wound was cleansed and healed.

After Voldemort's attack on his family, baby Harry and Void were left orphaned. Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts at the time, arranged for Harry and Void to be taken to his only remaining relatives, the Dursleys, as his mother Lily and Amara's blood relation to Petunia provided him some protection from Voldemort.

On the night of the attack, Hagrid arrived at the ruined house in Godric's Hollow and rescued Harry and Void from the wreckage. Sirius Black, who had arrived shortly after Hagrid, learned from him that he was acting on Dumbledore's orders. Sirius, understanding the importance of keeping Harry and Void safe, gave Hagrid his magical motorbike to transport Harry and Void.

With Harry and Void in his care, Hagrid flew on the motorbike to deliver them to the Dursleys' home at 4 Privet Drive. Upon arrival, Hagrid entrusted Harry and Void to the care of Petunia and Vernon Dursley, leaving them on their doorstep with a letter from Dumbledore explaining the circumstances of their arrival and the need to keep them safe until they were old enough to attend Hogwarts.

After that day, life for Harry and Void in the Dursley house became increasingly difficult. Void, being more mature, took it upon himself to care for Harry as he felt responsible, being older. He shielded Harry from the worst of the mistreatment, often taking the more severe beatings and punishments himself.

As the years went by, Harry began to exhibit strange and unexplainable occurrences of accidental magic. One such incident involved Harry unknowingly talking to a snake at the zoo, a talent that is rare among wizards. This event both fascinated and frightened the Dursleys, who were determined to suppress any signs of Harry's magical abilities.

Void, on the other hand, displayed remarkable control over his magic, often using it discreetly to protect Harry and himself from the Dursleys' abuse. He also had a pet snake named Shadow, a jet-black serpent with a striking purple stripe down its back and horns on its head. Shadow was more than just a pet to Void; he was a companion and a source of comfort in their harsh environment.

One day, while Void was being punished for giving Harry extra food, Harry had an outburst of accidental magic. In a moment of anger and frustration, he unknowingly unleashed a powerful burst of magic that left Vernon Dursley paralyzed for a day, even though the punishments in the Dursley household were never physical after that they resorted to limiting the food or giving more chores to do.

Despite the hardships they faced, Harry and Void formed a close bond, finding solace in each other's company. Void became Harry's protector and confidant, offering him comfort and support in their difficult circumstances. Their bond, along with Void's control over magic and Shadow's companionship, would prove to be crucial in the years to come as they faced even greater challenges together.