Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sound of his own heartbeat drumming in his ears was the only thing little Harry could hear as the belt collided against his naked back.

One

He counted on his mind trying to keep any noise from escaping, knowing well enough that just the smallest of sounds would only make his uncle angrier.

Two

It was his ‘birthday gift’ as his uncle had stated after he turned two and the whipping began.

For every year that passed a new strike of the belt was added.

It was as if he was being punished for being alive, for surviving another year in their hands.

Tuning off everything else he tried to focus on counting the strikes as he laid kneeling on the ground of his room, completely naked against the onslaught and the cold, and keeping as still as he could, trying to hold back the cries that were bubbling on his throat.

Three

Four

Five

His back was on fire and he knew it would only feel worse tomorrow as the belt collided against his back.

Vernon liked to use the metal clip, scratching the skin and leaving welts of red as blood trickled down his back.

Each time the belt collided against his skin, the lashes grew more and more vicious and finally the last strike came.

Six

The force of the final lash almost threw him off balance but managed to hold himself at the last second. Tightening his hands into fist and taking in shaking breaths to stops the sobs from coming out he waited for his Uncle to leave the small cupboard, banging his door closed as he always did but he just remained there. Standing. Watching.

Why isn't he leaving??

His heart ricochets against his chest in a way that made blood rush to his ears. He felt numb.

Keeping as quiet and still as he could, he felt the lingering gaze against his back and cowered at the strong sense of disgust he emanated along with something else that made his stomach churn. Holding his breath, he prayed to anyone who would listen to him, for his uncle to leave his cupboard quickly and he waited, and waited until finally, Vernon left his room slamming his door and then waited some more until he heard the sound of the wood creaking of the stairs.

Trembling limbs slowly approached the old mattress and let himself fall on it careful of his bleeding back. He knew he needed to take care of it quickly or everything would be stained in blood but at the moment he couldn’t bring himself to move and so he just laid on the mattress and sobbed quietly as he curled into himself. He really didn’t want to be heard, lest he receives another whipping.

Pressing his face on the pillow, he tried to smother his sobs, feeling miserable.

He just wanted it to be over. He didn’t think he could go through another year of this and he had a feeling that everything would only get worse.

Slowly, the darkness reclaimed him and he followed without a fight.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

≪Sweet child...≫ a soft whisper, like the hum of the wind, called in the darkness.

What was that? Startled, he hastily tried to sit up and oh, he had forgotten about the whipping, he thought with a wince as pain flared from his back and fell down against the mattress with a small groan.

≪I heard you, my sweet child...≫ the whisper called once more and he blinked in the darkness trying to find the source of that voice but couldn’t see anything on his room.

≪No more harm will come to you, I promise you that.≫

The soft voice echoed like it was inside his head. Was it the Devil? Was he hearing him on his head like the preacher had said that Sunday? Was he going to offer him a deal in exchange of his soul?

He didn’t think so.

Why would someone want his soul? He was going to Hell either way. Aunt Petunia had said so multiple times. He had also heard the preacher speak of the many ways that the Devil would trick a person to bring them to their doom, but as the voice spoke he couldn't help but want to trust it.

It was clear sounding, melodious, like those little bells that hung on porches and swayed with the wind letting out tinkling sounds as they touched each other. It was soothing.

It sounded how he always imagined a mother would sound.

He swallowed the ball of nerves that lodged on his throat, a little ball of hope bubbling on his chest. Was it the ghost of his mother that had finally come to take him with her?

‘Mom?’ He inquired in his head, unwilling to speak out loud both fearing the answer and what would happen if his relatives heard him.

≪I am not, my Dear, but at the same time I am...≫

That didn’t exactly help any. He scrunched up his face in a frown and received a twinkling laugh in reply.

‘Who are you?’ He asked in his mind, considering it as his best option, he really didn’t want the Dursleys thinking that he was insane and talking to himself. ‘Why can’t I see you?’

≪My child, I am the Mother. I am on the Air you breathe, I am on the Water that soothes, I am on the Earth that nurtures, I am on the Fire whose warmth you seek,≫ he felt a soft and warm breeze caress his limp and dirty hair, the Dursley hadn't let him take a bath for two weeks and he was sure there was a crust of dry blood on the back of his head from when Dudley had kicked him as he was washing the tiles.

≪I am all around you. Things are because I make them so. I am Magic.≫

“Magic?” He couldn’t help but whisper aloud in wonder. “Magic is real? It truly exists?”

≪Of course it does, my sweet child. Don’t you feel it in your very being? You are Magic as well. It is so deep within your bones nothing could take it from you. Even on their hands it will prevail.≫

Startled he tried to stand up too quickly only for his muscles to protest and he fell on his knees, doubling over in pain.

≪You have suffered too much for someone so young.≫ The voice crooned in painful sympathy as he felt something moist but warm pressed against his back and he jumped but it continued to press vehemently against his skin. ≪Forgive me for allowing this to happen upon you. ≫

≪I’ve heard you all this time but I couldn’t come to your aid. That Old Wizard placed wards against any magical being. I couldn’t believe that he would manage to wrench me from your side.≫ The voice, Mother, his mind supplied because it would be too weird to keep calling her a voice, added in anger. She was going to make that old fool pay after she took this child somewhere safe away from here.

Feeling a tingle running down his back, Harry slowly placed a hand on the previous open gash, taken aback at the absence of pain and blood, then the exhaustion suddenly caught up on him and he laid down in a dazed state and murmured, “’m tired.”

≪Sweet child, I need you to listen. I can take you away, that’s why I am here. Just say the word and I’ll take you somewhere safe. Somewhere new in its existence. Somewhere you’ll love and were you will feel immensely loved in return.≫

With wonder at what was being offered, Harry felt tears gathering on his eyes as he quietly asked, I won’t be hurt anymore?

≪No, my child. You will be cherished by many and loved by one.≫

Love? Could there be such a thing for him?

Swallowing in nervousness, he summoned what courage he could. “Please, I don’t want to be here.” He whispered and with a light breeze from Mother Magic, he fell asleep before being gently enveloped into a cocoon, and whisked away.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

[Somewhere Far Away]

In that dark night, quietness enveloped the tallest mountain, not even a blade of grass moved in the wind as if the entire world was holding their breath, waiting for something.

Then, with a shudder and a thundering sound that could be heard from miles away, a flash of light erupted from the sky and faded as soon as it touched the ground at the peak.

For a normal person, it wouldn't have looked nothing more than a lightning strike but only a few knew it was something else entirely.

Curious, several pairs of eyes gleamed through the trees and stared intently at the little boy who suddenly appeared in the field.

Chapter Text

Another raid!

Bright green eyes blinked as he heard the screams of the villagers outside the door along with the sounds of explosions and the crackle of the fire. The black-haired boy almost jumped in joy as he made a run towards his bed, reaching for his bag only to be stopped short by the sharp tug on the back of his shirt and he grumbled in dismay. He didn't even need to turn around to know who it was, he had been copped with her for a long while, years actually, Harrian sighed, barely containing his pout, before turning around so she could properly speak to him.

“Stay inside.” Gothi, the Village Elder, stated as she moved to lock the door and windows of the small hut, while the boy sputtered in disbelief as he followed after her.

“I can’t just stay here!” He exclaimed and as an explosion sounded behind the door he fidgeted in excitement wanting to go outside and take part in it. “There are people fighting out there!” He persuaded with wide eyes, hands ready to be poised to beg. ‘Like, c’mon!’

Gothi just shook her head firmly and he sighed in frustration, “How am I supposed to be a healer then?!” Harrian exclaimed, arms flailing in every way.

“Studying.” The Elder stated with a severe expression, pointing to the forgotten pile of books that lay on top of the table, "That's why those are there, to begin with."

“B-but having an actual experience in the field is a better way to learn than studying the books!”

With a scowl, Gothi hit him over the head with her staff eliciting a squeak of: “I’m not a child!”

“Then stop acting like one.” She growled causing him to scoff and mutter, “But here the grownups act like one-" Gothic immediately struck him again, "Then be better than them."

"Ouch! Stop that!” He exclaimed then grumbled when the old woman just hit him once more in retaliation.

With a tired sigh, she shook her head approaching the small bookshelf to pick more books and scrolls, leaving Harrian to grumble some more before he followed after her with a pout.

Huffing in amusement at his antics she thought back on how this child, now a teenager, came into her life.

~-o-~

[Eight Years Ago]

The old woman had been near the tallest peak of Berk, gathering herbs that only bloomed at night.

The mountain had been eerily quiet tonight, she thought as she glanced around towards the treeline expecting to see something poised to lunge at her. Instead of the predator she was waiting for, the night sky suddenly erupted in a flash of light and the woman let out a strangled scream when a sudden windflaw threatened to blow her away. Afraid of being blown away, she lowered her body to the ground and covered her face with her arms, waiting for whatever it was to pass, and after a second, everything went quiet again.

It happened so fast that the village elder wondered if it had been real.

Slowly, she rose from the ground with the help of her wooden staff and stared wide-eyed at the direction where the light hit the ground, hesitating for a moment before moving towards it.

Following the path towards the vanishing light, she had expected to find the area scorched as the light, as brief as it was, somewhat resembled lighting but to her surprise, the field remained immaculate and brimming with plants that she was almost certain weren't there the day before but right on the middle there was a small being that laid cushioned on the tall grass.

A child, seemingly not older than five, laid almost hidden between the wild grass.

Staring in wonderment at the child that laid naked as the day he was born, she blinked in confusion before gazing back towards the sky.

And placed her hands against his chest, immediately relieved at feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. It appeared that he was in a profound sleep.

Wanting to get a proper look at the boy's face, the old woman pushed the child's hair away from his forehead and gaped as she noticed the mark on his forehead.

There, the mark of Sól, the Sun Goddess, seemed to glint against the moonlight.

-o-

“Gothi? What brings you here?” The Chief, Stoick the Vast, questioned when he found her standing on his doorstep. “It’s a bit late don’t ya think?” He murmured, rubbing his face tiredly. It was past midnight and he had been sleeping when her persistent rasps against the front door woke him up.

Noticing the urgency on her face he let out a sigh before closing the door behind him, motioning her towards the building at the center of the village where he held his meetings discussing important matters regarding the village, only pausing a moment to drag an exclaiming Gobber by the scruff of his neck when the other had been trying to sneak his way into the tavern after working late on the forge.

When they finally reached their destiny Stoick stared in confusion as he saw the old woman firmly closing the doors before turning towards them and shared a look of uncertainty with Gobber.

“What is it about?” he inquired, now slightly unnerved at her behavior.

Looking closely, he noticed the big piece of cloth in lieu of a satchel tied with a knot around her shoulders forming a big bundle almost the size of her body attached on her back.

He had been so sleep muddled that at first glance he had thought it was her hunched back.

“What-?” Stoick started as Gothi slowly lowered her burden to the ground and slowly pulled the cloth to reveal its content.

“Is that a child? Where'd you find him?” Stoick wondered as he inspected the child while Gobber stared at the kid with an oddly pensive face.

The cloth was pulled just enough for them to see him properly, Gothi making sure to cover his chest and bottom half in a semblance of a bit of modesty and to protect him from the cold. The pale skin was a stark contrast against the mop of unruly black hair of his head. He appeared to be roughly the same age as his son but his small size and bony limbs were worrisome.

“Is there something we should know, Old Bat?” Gobber impishly asked only to be promptly struck with her wooden staff. “Found him alone in the forest on the mountaintop, you dipshit.”

Gobber grumbled as he lightly rubbed his now tender head while Stoick looked between them, waiting to know what she said. “Alright, there was no need for that. She says she found him alone in the woods.” He explained to the Chief.

“How did he end up there?”

Deciding that it would be better to avoid the mention of the flash of light for the sake of the kid, she just shook her head.

“You think he was abandoned?” Gobber piped in.

With a somber look, Gothi carefully turned the boy over so he laid on his stomach and heard the sharp intake coming from the Village’s Chief and the muttered curses from Gobber as the multiple scars that littered the small body were displayed.

Staring at this child, Stoick couldn't help but think of his son, smaller and quieter than other kids, completely different than what was expected from the usual Viking (and wasn't that an irony considering that he himself was the Chief and Hiccup would eventually succeed him as his son and heir), but he could proclaim that he loved him nonetheless.

The thought of someone hitting a child, especially this tiny boy who had a resemblance to his son, only made him angrier.

And for a child to have those kinds of scars...

No child should suffer like that.

It was decided then that the boy would sleep under Stoick's roof for the night so he could keep a watchful eye on him until someone could take him in.

Then, on the next day at the meeting to decide on the child's future, everyone was taken aback when Gothi offered to adopt the kid as her own.

~-o-~

Giving a side glance at the now fourteen-year-old boy who was still pouting over a book, she stated nonchalantly, “If you are only going to mope around then leave.”

“Uh?” Harrian murmured, not understanding what she meant before his brain caught up and stared at her wide-eyed, “Seriously?!” He exclaimed excitedly as he rose from his chair and quickly hugged the small woman placing a kiss on her cheek before swiftly ducking at the swing of her staff, laughing merrily as he moved towards the door.

May Odin bless this child. She thought with a shake of her head as she glanced heavenwards.

She could only hope he wouldn't be too troublesome for once in his life…

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

As soon as he went through the door he could see how the entire village was in absolute chaos and stared in amazement as multiple dragons flew overhead.

As a person who had spent most of his life copped inside the house, being this close to the battlefield was refreshing.

He quickly grabbed a bucket of water and ran down the cliff, ducking and dodging everything that came into his path and put out one of the multiple buildings that were burning.

Looking towards the gathered people at Gobber's forge he noticed Hiccup was working sending away multiple weapons as vikings requested them before moving towards the burning smithy.

Harrian began raising his hand wanting to get his attention but stopped when he saw that stupid look on his face that he usually got whenever that girl Astrid was around, and any good mood he previously had quickly soured, he followed Hiccup's gaze and yep, there she was, golden locks flying as a blast of dragon fire came behind her while she calmly walked away, not even bothering to look back as debris flew in every direction.

Looking back at his friend, whose face still remained in that dumbstruck manner, he fumed and without thinking he threw the empty bucket hitting him straight on the face and immediately hid underneath the window.

“Hey!” The other boy exclaimed in surprise, looking everywhere trying to find the culprit while Harrian remained hidden, staring sullenly at the ground with his lips twisted in a frown.

He wasn't pouting, he thought petulantly and glowered harder at nothing in particular before he mentally berated himself and stood up kicking a few of the broken pieces of wood that had flown off after the multiple fire blasts from the dragons attacking Berk and startled when suddenly a high-pitched sound came from the sky and Harrian could hear the viking's increasing panic.

That wasn't a common dragon.

Cold sweat formed at the back of his neck and the multiple screams of the people blended into one another until he could no longer hear anything but his own heartbeat.

Quickly, Harrian ducked and covered his head as the huge catapult on the middle of the square exploded when a fire blast stuck it with an astounding accuracy.

His ears rang for a few seconds but he managed to hear Gobber discussing with Hiccup that he needed to stay in the workshop and Harrian couldn't help but snort in amusement. He knew the other boy well enough to know that he wasn't going to do as told and he was immediately proved right as he saw Hiccup running from the back door of the forge pulling a cart with him.

Hurrying after him, Harrian called, “What the hell are you doing?!”

Hiccup stumbled a bit in surprise, “Harrian, what-?” he asked once he regained his footing and stared at him with a wide-eyed look making him huff, “I said, what in the hell do you think you are doing?”

Hesitating for a moment, Hiccup cleared his throat before announcing, "I’m going to be a Viking!” as he continued walking ahead in a hurry, moving away from the village and reaching the woods.

Harrian stood in place, taken aback for a moment before he quickly shook his head in disbelief and ran after him, “W-wait! What- Hiccup! What do you mean?!" He shouted and watched as the other boy positioned the cart near the edge of a cliff and opened the cart revealing the machine, a bola catapult, and began setting it up making sure the ballistae would be arranged correctly and prepared to shoot. "What is that thing?!”

“Are you trying to shoot down a dragon?!” Harrian swallowed heavily, “I don’t think you should do it!”

“Why? You think I can’t do it?” Hiccup asked as he looked at his old friend, a hurt and betrayed look on his face.

“No!” He exclaimed instantly and growled under his breath not knowing what to tell him to disuade him, “It’s not that! It's just that I have a really bad feeling about this!” He said with an almost begging tone in his voice, trying to convince him.

Annoyed, and a little hurt, Hiccup ignored him and focused on the sky, looking for his target. “If you aren’t going to help me then you can leave!”

“You are being an idiot!” Harrian screamed in frustration looking for anything that could help him as he tried to prevent Hiccup from hurting a dragon when he noticed the shadow flying through the sky right in front of them and gasped.

He saw the exact moment that the Night Fury was getting ready to fire, but alas, so did Hiccup.

The blast from the Night Fury made the dragon visible for a brief second and taking advantage of that moment, Hiccup shoot, managing to strike it head on.

‘Oh shit.’ Harrian thought with bated breath, wide eyed and paling, his legs failed him and he let himself fall on his knees just as the dragon fell with a shrill screech, while just a few feet away and unbeknown to the distress of the person next to him, Hiccup exclaimed happily, incredulous of his luck and good aim, “I hit it! I HIT IT!”

Trembling, he stared at his friend in disbelief.

He never would have thought that Hiccup could have deliberately hurt something or someone.

He desperately wanted to be happy for him but he simply couldn’t.

He knew it was a Viking thing, it was something that was taught from a young age, and that was why he was adamant of becoming a healer in the first place, but to actually see his friend bringing down such a prideful being was painful and he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Looking at Hiccup and not knowing what to say, he paused and stared wide-eyed as a Monstrous Nightmare stalked behind his friend. “Hiccup!”

Hearing the low growling from behind him, Hiccup muttered without turning around. “Oh no…”

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

What has started as chaos ended up as a disaster.

The Monstrous Nightmare had chased after them all the way down the hill and they barely managed to escape the encounter thanks to Stoick but in the process the dragons that the Chief had captured managed to break free and took some of their livestock.

"It's not like the last few times, Dad! I mean it. I, really, actually hit it!" Hiccup exclaimed as his father forcefully dragged him away by the shoulder. "You guys were busy and I had a very clear shot. It went down, just off Raven Point. Let's get a search party out there, before it-"

"STOP!" Stoick bellowed and the entire village went silent. "Just... stop." He repeated, looking every bit the exhausted father that he was.

"Every time you step outside, disaster follows. Can you not see that I have bigger problems?” He questioned and pointed at the state of the village, “Winter's almost here and I have an entire village to feed!"

"Between you and me, the village could do with a little less feeding, don't ya think?"

Growling in exasperation Harrian covered his face. This definitely wasn’t the time to be a smartass and listening to Hiccup's constant babbling made him want to grab his shoulders and shake him to make him stop.

"This isn't a joke, Hiccup!" ‘Exactly!’ Harrian silently cheered, grateful that he wasn't going to be the one to make him shut up. "Why can't you follow the simplest orders?"

"I can't stop myself. I see a dragon and I have to just..." He hesitated for a moment looking for the right words until he finally settled for: "kill it, you know? It's who I am, Dad."

"You are many things, Hiccup. But a dragon killer is not one of them." Stoick spoke in clear disappointment. “Get back to the house.”

At his friend’s crestfallen look Harrian approached them trying to intervene, “Uh, sir, I’m-“ Harrian began but at the look on the Chief's face he froze and gulped.

"What,” Stoick began as he stared down at him, almost daring him to speak, “are you doing here?”

“I thought I could help, sir." he spoke and lowered his gaze towards the ground. Stoick was a person that demanded respect and his mere size intimated him, it brought back memories that he had thought were long forgotten.

"He-“ The boy began with a wavering voice desperately wanting to step back and keep his distance, he chanced a look behind the Chief and gazing at Hiccup’s hopeful face he gulped, hands forming tight fists and swallowing his nerves he exclaimed, “Sir, he did hit something! I-I don’t know what it was but he struck something and it fell from the sky!”

He just knew he sounded insane, but he decided to avoid to mention that he was almost positive that it was the evasive Night Fury who fell. There was a chance that the dragon was still alive but that could surely change if the vikings knew. So as regretful as he was, he couldn't bring himself to completely voucher for Hiccup.

The Chief stared at him for a second before sighing, “Take him back to the Elder," Stoick simply ordered while Harrian sputtered in surprise as the Chief continued, "and get Hiccup to the house. I have a mess to clean." He muttered before going back to the center of the village to deal with the rest of the vikings.

Both Hiccup and Harrian deflated before Gobber pressured them to move forward.

Slumping, he quietly muttered to Hiccup, “I’m sorry.”

“Hey, you tried.” His friend spoke trying to sound optimistic making him smile before his eyes narrowed at the group of teenagers standing on the side.

"It was quite the performance." Tuffnut jeered while Ruffnut nudged him with a grin and Snotlout taunted, "I've never seen anyone mess up that badly."

Harrian glared at him and was about to give him a good aimed kick to the crotch, but unfortunately was prevented from doing so when Gobber pushed him forward and grumbled.

With each step that Harrian made towards his house he grew more and more anxious and he quickly turned towards Gobber as he stuttered, "Y'know, I can find my house just fine, there is no need for you to-"

“Oh, but there is a need, you see. Stoick specifically stated that I had to make sure you both reached your respective houses.”

“Can’t we make a deal? The Chief doesn’t need to know.” He tried giving him his most innocent look but Gobber just placed a hand on top of his head and turned him around making him move forward and he huffed.

Gothi wasn’t going to like it.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

When he reached the small hut Harrian took a deep breath before he slowly opened the door, doing his best to avoid making any noise to avoid meeting certain Elder, and sighed in relief as it seemed that she wasn't home.

Walking towards the windows he saw as Gobber dropped Hiccup at his house before heading back to the forge and only a second later the back door of Hiccup's house slammed open and the boy ran towards the woods. Curious, Harrian moved to the far side of the window to look but before he could do anything the shutters quickly closed on his face and he felt a cold sweat forming at the back of his neck.

“I’m in trouble, isn’t it?” He inquired with a small voice before slowly turning around.

The severe look on Gothi's face assured him that yes, in fact, he was in trouble.

Chapter Text

Closing the book on his hands with a thump, Harrian stretched his arms above his head before resting the back of his head on the wooden backrest of his chair, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

He breathed deeply and stifled a yawn. It wouldn’t do to fall asleep right now; he thought as he wearily glanced at the table in front of him covered in books and scrolls.

Gothi hasn’t been lenient with him ever since he entered the house after the events of last night and made him read all of the books and scrolls from the shelf, stating that she would later inquire him about them to see if he was actually paying attention.

Staring at the multiple pieces of paper scattered all around him with his notes he grimaced. He still had a long way to go.

Pouting, he reached for the next book on the pile.

He was startled a bit when the old woman suddenly stood next to him. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” he replied with a shrug, “Still making notes and by the way, some of the scrolls look like they have been munched on. We might have to check that later.”

“A Terrible Terror found its way into the vault last night,” Gothi replied and then gave him a pointed look, “and you know I wasn’t asking about the texts.”

“Yeah, I figured,” Harrian huffed as he lowered the book in his hands, “I think I will be alright for the next few days.”

Huffing at his response she narrowed her eyes, “Don’t be stupid like the rest of the village and learn to ask for help.”

“Hey, I do ask for help-” Harrian began but stopped himself at Gothi’s unimpressed look and closed his mouth with an audible click, “Sometimes." He added with a wince,  "I don’t want to bother. I can try and do this by myself,” he spoke as he glanced at the pages in front of him, not really focusing on reading anymore, before letting out a sigh, “at least let me do this, if there is any chance for me to become a healer, as small as it is, then I want to take that same opportunity with both hands, with or without this... condition."

He was always uncertain on how to call this energy he felt pulsing inside of him, he recalled a voice telling him about magic but the mere thought of being a Seidr user, a male one at that, made him uncomfortable so he never gave it much thought, but with the passing of years it started to become obvious that it wasn't just going to leave him any time now.

He recalled reading everything he could on Seidr just to get an idea on how messed up was his life going to be... Seidmenn weren't a common thing, in fact it was so rare that in every manuscript he could get his hands on, the only mention of them was the god Loki.

But even so, Seidr was considered a woman's practice and any man who engaged in seidmadr had to face the prejudice of being associated with ergi.

A man practicing Seidr was almost taboo...

It was just his luck that the Mother decided to make him one.

Sighing, Harrian looked back her, "I swear that if anything feels wrong, or if something happens, you'll be the first to know.”

She grumbled, obviously not believing him for a second.

“It’s not like last time. I believe that I have better control of it now.” He reassured her, resting the book on his lap giving her his entire attention and placed a hand against his chest, “I feel it humming inside of me and it’s peaceful. It hasn't given me any trouble since what happened four years ago,  but I promise to tell you if I ever feel otherwise.” He added solemnly as he looked at her.

“You better,” she scowled but nodded in the end and before she turned away gave him a pointed look, “and don’t even think that you will avoid your duties. You still have thirteen books and thirty-six scrolls left to read.”

Harrian laughed heartily, “As if I could ever hope otherwise.”

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

It was already dark when he finally finished Gothi’s questioning about the texts he was studying and after she seemed it good enough she allowed him to go out for a little while to get some fresh air.

Some of the men were rebuilding and fixing the roofs of the houses that suffered the most. He was about to offer his help when he noticed someone coming from the woods and saw Hiccup slowly walking towards his own house. He clearly didn’t want to reach the house as he seemed to be walking slower with each step he took.

“Hiccup?” Harrian muttered before quickly approaching the other. “Hey, I-“ He started hesitatingly, wanting to ask him where had he gone to but then changed his mind, “How are you?”

“Me? Oh, I’m great!” Hiccup exulted in fake content, “It’s not like it’s the first time my dad is disappointed in me or anything.” He then let out a nervous laugh and then his eyes wandered towards the forest and quietly murmured to himself, "Guess it won't be the last time either.”

Looking at him in concern, Harrian pressed, “Hiccup, I’m serious, are you alright?”

The boy barely looked at him for a second before stubbornly avoiding his gaze and Harrian sighed, knowing that he couldn’t help him if he didn’t want to listen. He knew that much because he was the same.

“You know you can talk to me, right?” Harrian started, keeping his voice soft enough so that he wouldn’t disturb the people who were still working on the repairments of the buildings. Looking at him, he felt the usual pang in his chest that always came when he looked at Hiccup and lightly rubbed his arms at the sudden cold that came over him, “We used to be friends.” He whispered, trying to look at anything but the boy in front of him.

He could feel Hiccup's gaze but he adamantly stared at the town's people trying to rebuilt their homes.

Before Hiccup could speak, the sound of a persistent tapping interrupted them. Glancing towards his house, Harrian saw Gothi on the door, stomping her staff against a piece of wood on the ground signaling that it was already late.

“I’ll be right there!” He called out before he turned towards Hiccup, "Just… remember that I am here if you need me.” Harrian tried to hide how keen he was that they could be friends again like they used to years ago.

But he only received a quiet nod in answer before Hiccup turned around and finally entered his house, leaving him outside.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───  

“I think it’s time,” Gothi told him as soon as he crossed the door and he paused rooted to the spot as he stared at her quizzically.

“What? I'm not quite following,” Harrian stuttered trying to figure out what she was talking about before his gaze fell on the hatchet that was lying on top of the table and gaped.

“Is that- Are you-“ Continuing to stutter, he couldn’t seem to make a full sentence until Gothi lost her patience and hit him jump-starting him, “I thought I would have to beg like last year! Believe it or not, I already had a full speech and everything.”

Grumbling in annoyance, Gothi wrote, “You weren’t ready then, but now I want to believe that you will be prepared for this.” She gave him a pointed look, “Don’t make me regret this.”

“I will do my best! I’ll make sure to be super careful as well!” Harrian exclaimed cheerfully.

Looking at the boy’s bright face she thought that she might as well try to appeal to the gods. Just in case.

Oh Gods, she really hoped she was doing the right thing.

Chapter Text

"Welcome to Dragon Training!"

Gobber announced excitedly as he opened the huge doors of the Arena letting the group of teenagers follow after him as they looked around the place with different levels of eagerness and anticipation.

"No turning back." Astrid breathed out with an air of self-confidence as she took the lead of the group while Ruffnut and Tuffnut talked among themselves.

"I hope I get some serious burns!" said Tuffnut ecstatic to be in the vicinity of impending danger, "I'm hoping for some mauling, like on my shoulder or lower back." replied Ruffnut in equal exuberance.

"Yeah, it's only fun if you get a scar out of it." Astrid spoke lightly with the usual confidence of any teenager that would call themselves Vikings.

Harrian tried to contain the impulse of rolling his eyes as he walked a few steps behind them.

Yeah, he was going to hate this entire ordeal, he just knew it.

Ever since they were kids they made sure that he knew that he didn’t belong with them nor was he welcomed, and he was alright with that. Don’t get him wrong, he admired their confidence and boldness but that can only take them so far. The cockiness that most of them displayed, on the other hand, could easily kill them.

"Yeah, no kidding, right?" Harrian startled at the new voice and quickly turned towards the entrance seeing Hiccup walking in, almost hunched over in himself, "Pain. Love it." The boy murmured sarcastically as he slowly approached the group.

"Oh, great. Who let him in?" Tuffnut groaned, speaking what everyone seemed to be thinking, except for Harrian who just stared in worry and confusion.

"Let's get started!" Gobber called out, interrupting them. "The recruit who does best will win the honor of killing their first dragon in front of the entire village."

"Hiccup already killed a Night Fury, so, does that disqualify him or...?" Mocked Snotlout while Tuffnut decided to pipe in, "Why is the wannabe Healer here anyway?" He groused out as he pointed the sharp end of his spear at Harrian.

“I have the right to be in here like any of you,” Harrian stated lightly while calmly pushing the weapon that was carelessly pointing at his face. “and someone has to make sure no one manages to get themselves killed. It would be terrible if someone gets horrifically maimed in the very first day, wouldn't it?” He added, voice and facial expression light but his last words had a barely perceptive hiss, which may have been the reason why Tuffnut looked a bit spooked.

Stop. Harrian thought to himself. Remember Gothi. It wouldn't do to lose control right now.

Before things could escalate, Gobber promptly exclaimed, “Great! So nice that everyone is getting along!” He thundered as he placed a hand on Hiccup’s shoulder, who stood a few feet away from everyone, and pulled him to the side, "Don't worry.” He started, “You're small and you're weak. That'll make you less of a target! They'll see you as sick or insane and go after the more Viking-like teens instead."

"Him, on the other hand," he said as he pointed towards Harrian who glanced at him in mild annoyance at being spoken about as if he wasn’t even there, "is too pretty and shiny that dragons would be enthralled by him, hoarding all the attention.”

"Don't know if I should feel flattered or weirded out." He groused with a small flush of embarrassment.

It wasn’t his fault that he was so small and delicate in appearance! Blame it on the people who starved him on his formative years. He still held onto the hope of being considerably taller but he just knew that he would be the smaller of the group much to his chagrin.

Sighing, he considered Gobber’s words as he moved to stand next to Hiccup. If he was right and he would be similar to a beacon to the dragons then he would remain close to the other boy if that meant that he could keep the creature’s attention to keep Hiccup safe.

"Behind these doors are just a few of the many species you will learn to fight!” Gobber announced loudly calling out for everyone’s attention.

“The Deadly Nadder!" He called out as he pointed to a barred door holding the dragon which was angrily slamming his body against it.

Next to Hiccup he could hear Fishlegs muttering, “Speed: eight; Armor: sixteen.”

Blinking, he shared a look with Hiccup. Dangerous, then.

“The Hideous Zippleback!”

“Plus eleven stealth times two.”

“The Monstrous Nightmare!”

“Firepower: fifteen.”

“The Terrible Terror!”

“Attack: eight; Venom: twelve!”

“CAN YOU STOP THAT?!” Gobber exclaimed exasperated, “And... the Gronckle!”

“Jaw strength: eight.” Fishlegs whispered discreetly.

“You have to be kidding me.” Harrian muttered, looking as Goober approached the cage, not liking what his mind was conjuring. He certainly won't do what he's thinking, right?

He braced himself as he tightened his hold on the axe in his hands, glad he wasn't empty handed. Ever since Gothi gave it to him he made sure to keep it on him at all times and carried it everywhere, practicing whenever he could and getting used to the weight.

“Whoa, whoa, wait! Aren't you gonna teach us first?!”Snoutout exclaimed loudly as he saw Gobber reaching towards the latch of the door holding the Gronckle.

“I believe in learning on the job.” He simply stated before opening the cage and quickly moving away as the dragon immediately barreled against the door bursting it open, making everyone scatter out of the way as it tried to reach them. Its weight making it crash hard against the wall as he couldn’t change his course swiftly enough.

Harrian stared at the creature trying to perceive how to proceed against it without bringing any harm to anyone.

The Gronckle was a big and heavy mass of hard scales. It’s flight was erratic, it’s wings too small to be able to hold its own body properly in the air.

“Today is about survival. If you get blasted... you're dead!” Gobber announced as the dragon tumbled against the wall and tried to regain its balance and resumed his flight once more. “Quick! What's the first thing you're going to need?”

"A doctor?!"

"Plus five speed?!"

“Protection,” Harrian muttered before he exclaimed, “A shield!” He vaguely noted the scowl on Astrid’s face as she had also exclaimed at the same time but pushed the thought away. This wasn't the time to wonder what had pissed her off this time.

"Shields! Go!" Gobber nodded and everyone scrambled away towards the wall holding the equipment. "Your most important piece of equipment is your shield! If you must make a choice between a sword or a shield, take the shield!" He chanced a look towards Hiccup to see how he was faring seeing Gobber pushing him forward as he struggled with holding the shield.

He jumped in surprise when a blast of fire suddenly broke between the twins as they were fighting over a shield.

"Tuffnut, Ruffnut, you're out!" Gobber called out at the pair of dazed teenagers.

"Those shields are good for another thing: noise! Make lots of it to throw off a dragon's aim!" Gobber instructed and the group of the remainder students began hitting their shields with their weapons as they moved in a circle surrounding the Gronckle. "All dragons have a limited number of shots. How many does a Gronckle have?"

“Five?” Replied Snotlout as he hesitated.

Fishlegs immediately raise his hand as he answered, making the mistake of standing still, “No, six!”

“Correct, six! And you will receive one if ya stop movin’!”

“Wha-?”

"Fishlegs, out." Gobber spoke unconcerned when Fishlegs' shield was blasted out of his hand and he ran away screaming and noticed Hiccup hiding behind a wooden plank. "Hiccup, get in there!" He called out causing him to jump in surprise and shyly move away from it, only to go back into hiding when a fireball blasted next to him.

Harrian wasn’t sure on how to proceed, the group had scattered so there wasn’t a chance to confuse the dragon once more. There was only four students remaining and the Gronckle still had three shots.

He looked as the Grockle inspected the area, looking for his next target and its eyes landed on Snotlout and Astrid. Harrian rolled his eyes as Snotlout tried to impress the girl and stared as she completely ignored him and rolled out of the way, letting a fireball hit the unsuspecting boy hard and Harrian winced in sympathy.

His eyes widened when he saw Astrid going towards Hiccup and saw as he quickly straightened his posture and tried to chat with Astrid only for her to blatantly turn away when the dragon fired away. Harrian's confusion quickly turned into anger as he understood what she was trying to do and inhaled sharply when the fireball knocked the shield out of Hiccup’s hands.

He could hear his own heartbeat echoing in his ears as he watched Hiccup running after the shield that was rolling across the arena with the dragon flying after him. “One shot left!” He vaguely heard Gobber’ exclamation as he ran as fast as his legs could take him as Hiccup was cornered by the snarling dragon.

Cursing inwardly, he focused his strength on his legs and arms and tightening his hold on his shield he ran until he was close enough and slid bending his torso backwards and holding the shield with both arms, he kicked forcefully slamming it against the underside of the Gronckle’s head making it lose its aim and fire at the wall four meters away from Hiccup’s head and toppled over with a dazed growl, body rolling and clawing at the ground as it tried to stand.

Breathing heavily and shaking, he slowly stood, staring at the shocked form of his friend. The adrenaline had rushed through his body and now he only felt unsteady and nauseous as his sight became blurry.

He vaguely registered when Gobber came to them and latched his hook on the Gronckle's mouth, tugging it towards its cage, just when he finally heard the metal latch locking the door he let himself relax and, taking a deep breath, he tiredly sank back to the ground.

Gobber then came back and, after checking on Harrian, pulled Hiccup up by his arm as the rest of the students remained a few feet away in a group, just staring at them.

Looking at Astrid, he frowned as their gazes collided, noticing the haughty look of disgust directed towards them and he held himself back to try and not lash out at girl.

He faintly heard as Gobber severely addressed Hiccup, "Remember: a dragon will always, always, go for the kill."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───  

[At the Meade Hall]

Listening to the pouring rain, Harrian distractedly picked at the food on his plate, wondering where Hiccup had gone to after their training that afternoon. Lifting his gaze, he looked towards the table a few feet away from his.

"Alright.” Gobber began as he addressed his students, “Where did Astrid go wrong in the ring today?"

"I mistimed my somersault dive. It was sloppy. It threw off my reverse tumble." The girl spoke, making him grit his teeth in annoyance only to roll his eyes in annoyance when Snotlout quickly chimed in, "No, no, you were great. That was so 'Astrid'."

"She tried to do everything by herself." Harrian spoke without looking up, causing everyone to stare at him in surprise.

Gobber hummed thoughtfully, "Care to add?"

Faintly hearing the door to the hall opening, he saw as Hiccup came in completely drenched and silently took a seat on a lone table without looking at any of the room's occupants. His heart squeezed painfully as his friend didn't even notice him.

Clenching his hands into fists he finally pushed his plate away, "Her focus was on the Gronckle the entire time, that's good,” he began, “but she didn't even spare a glance at the others, in fact, she used her own classmates as shields." He said as he felt the anger resurfacing as he remembered. "And now I wonder; what were you trying to do?" He hissed the question through clenched teeth as he glanced towards the table where the rest of the students had been eating, and then he lost his calm at her indifferent gaze, "You tried to take all of us down! What were you trying to do?!” He hissed as he rose from the bench with such force that it moved back with a scraping noise and slammed his hands on top of the table, items clattering.

The anger emanating from the boy along with the sudden movement jolted Hiccup as he stared at him wide eyed.

"Harrian, that's-" Hiccup hesitated, raising his arms trying to calm him but it only made him angrier, "Are you defending her?!” He growled making Hiccup step back in surprise and with a curse, Harrian closed his eyes tightly, trying to control himself, “You don't get it, do you?"

"She used you and Snotlout as a meat shield!" He exclaimed angrily and saw him paling as the words sunk in, "She was planning on making the dragon fire at you two until it ran out of shots!"

"What were you going to do afterwards?" Harrian demanded with a hiss as he stared at the girl in front of him who was looking at him in disdain. "What would have happened if anyone has gotten hurt because of you?!"

"If they can't avoid being blasted by a dragon then they shouldn't be here in the first place." She spoke as she stared pointedly at him.

Harrian shook his head in disbelief, "I don't know what your problem is, but this," he paused as he pointed at the great distance between Hiccup and their table, "isn't the way of a Viking."

As she only scoffed, "And you would know about it, right? You don’t even belong here."

"So that's what this is all about?" He scoffed raising an eyebrow. "Just because you don't like me?"

Harrian huffed as he glared at her, "I already knew that! Nobody likes me here and I don’t care. All of you made that very clear from the very first moment we met. I came here to get my training done. I never intended to get in anyone’s way. And yes, I wasn’t born here, I'm only an orphan, but that doesn't change the fact that now I am also part of this village like everyone else."

Astrid huffed as she nonchalantly twirled her knife between her fingers, "Didn't know orphans felt this entitled."

Everything felt silent while Fishlegs, Snotlout and Ruffnut gaped in their shock and stared between them.

"Don't..." Harrian growled.

"We all know you were adopted into the village just because you were as pitiful as a dog with no owner."

"Don't test me." He hissed just as a lighting fell nearby, the thunder crackling so loud it made everyone jump.

"If you’ll excuse me, I'm not hungry. If needed, you can go to the house later and tell me about the lesson I missed." He spoke calmly, looking at Gobber for his approval, receiving a slight nod, before heading towards the door chancing a glance at an astonished Hiccup before he finally dropped his gaze and turned around, leaving the hall as the rain fell heavily.

"Actually, Harrian is right," Gobber began, clearing his throat after the boy had left the hall leaving an uncomfortable silence behind, "trying to get your classmates hurt or worse is an offense to our code." He said as he stared at the mollified teenagers.

"Using people as shields is ingenious, yes, but it's also treacherous." He spoke, face uncharacteristically serious, making sure everyone could understand the grave consequences if this were to happen again. Because he just knew that these were teenagers, and the All-Father knew him and Stoick had done stupid things on their youth.

"How can we trust someone who used such dishonest tactics on their own people?" He let his words sink for a moment then he grinned, "Also, do remember that Hiccup is next in line to become chief. Such an offense like that won't go lightly next time. Do think of that."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

The rain poured heavily against his frame as he ran from the Hall and as far away from the village as he could, not surprised when his legs carried him into the deepest part of the woods. Running nonstop until he was forced as he slipped in a big puddle and fell to his knees as he cried.

His body shook and he breathed shakily, gripping his head in hands as the scene of the Arena replayed in his mind over and over again, but with a different ending.

On it, he saw Hiccup, his only friend -if he still considered him a friend after everything- as his body was engulfed in a blaze, screaming.

And no one did anything... they just stared.

If the Gronckle had fired at him...

He wanted to hurt Astrid…

But he couldn’t and won’t.

He knew it was a wrong, horrendous thing to even think about, but the impulse to do so became unbearable, and when he felt this strange energy surfacing like lighting crawling under his skin-

He ran where he won’t be able to hurt anyone.

His entire body trembled as he tried to hold everything in. Gothi would have a field day with him after this.

It was a strange occurrence in his life; his energy would accumulate to the point of even bringing him pain if he hadn't released it sooner.

It wasn't supposed to happen this soon, he thought as his entire body trembled.

He had promised the old woman that he was going to be alright… he broke that promise just a day after he had made it.

He truly was pathetic; he thought as he finally broke down and screamed to the sky.

His anger. His fear. His frustrations. His regrets.

Until the only thing that was left was an uncontrollable emptiness in his heart.

As his screams were drowned by the heavy rain, mixing with the roars of thunders, anyone who dared to listen would mistake his cries for those of a dragon's.

Chapter Text

The first thing Harrian noticed as he woke up was the pain that rushed through his limbs. Not knowing what to expect, he slowly moved his hands still with his eyes closed, feeling the warm comforter that was draped over him and slowly, his senses began working, knowing without opening his eyes that he was on his own bed, wearing his oversized nightshirt.

He felt a surge of shame at the thought that Gothi had cleaned him as if he were a small child.

Letting out a quiet groan, he knew he couldn't avoid the upcoming talk when Gothi insistently tapped her staff against the ground and he finally opened his eyes reluctantly.

"I'm sorry," he began with a murmur as he slowly sat in the bed and stared down at his hands on his lap, avoiding her gaze as best as he could. "It caught me off guard. It happened so suddenly I couldn't get to you. I didn't want you to worry."

"But you did." Gothi stared at him gravely, "You weren't moving when I found you in the woods. Almost thought you were dead."

"I'm sorry…" He whispered, harshly rubbing his eyes as they prickled with unshed tears, "I thought I could do it. Seems you were right, I wasn't ready."

"Foolish boy." The woman sighed, "Gobber came by some time ago and told me what you did on the training." Clenching his hands on the bed covers, he braced himself for her next words, "I'm proud of you." Startled, Harrian looked at her in surprise.

"You protected the boy and stood by your principles in the face of the obstinacy of people."

"But I almost-" He choked up as his hands shook, "I thought of hurting them, a-and I almost did."

"But you didn't," Gothi pointed out, "you knew it was wrong and stopped before anything could happen."

"I feared that you wouldn't be ready to face the world, but I can see now that I was right in letting you attend the training." She admitted, "Vikings are stubborn, stupidly so. Specially the men." She pointedly added and Harrian snorted. "They will test your patience."

She then took her time as she checked on his pupils and pulse before deeming him healthy enough and pointedly stared at him, "I'm actually surprised you hadn't broken any of that girl's bones knowing how you feel-"

"He was my friend! Of course I was upset, but I wasn't going to intentionally hurt someone, even her!" He exclaimed immediately, appalled that she would think that he could be capable of that.

Gothi huffed, staring at him as if he was mental before there was a knock on the door.

"Oh, talking about the Terror in the hay pile." She said and moved towards the front door while Harrian blinked in confusion at the strange phrase.

As she opened the door, the boy on the outside jumped in surprise, hand still poised to knock on the door once more, and stammered, "M-Ma'am, I-I-"

Unimpressed, the old woman stared as the boy stuttered and flailed about before she got tired and hit her staff against the ground a couple times to make him stop before looking over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you going to talk to him or do I shut the door on his face?"

Knowing very well that he couldn't (and won't) turn down the offer of seeing the boy, he sighed and grabbed one of the bed covers to drape it over his shoulders, feeling uncomfortably cold and worn out after last night and without bothering to check his appearance on the small mirror on the wall, even thought he was certain that his hair was a mess, he approached the door until he was standing next to the old woman and became curious as she stared at him for a few seconds before she turned around without a word.

Glancing towards his friend in question, his confusion grew as he saw the other staring at him wide eyed.

"Hiccup? Is everything alright?" He inquired in concern making said boy jump in surprise.

"H-hey, um-" He started as he flushed and coughed awkwardly, "H-how are you feeling?"

Harrian frowned in confusion before he shrugged a shoulder, "Tired."

"Oh, that's… good?" Hiccup squeaked before he stood straighter, "Uh, I mean, after yesterday's training and what happened that night…" he trailed off, nervously scratching the back of his neck, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"I'm alright, honestly. Yesterday was…" he paused as he looked for the right word, "eventful." He finished with a grimace and sighed. "Just wasn't used to the sudden rush of adrenaline, I think. It wasn't much of a deal and no one got hurt so it was okay." He said trying to sound optimist.

"Are you sure?" Hiccup asked in concern, "I just- That afternoon…" He trailed off, uncertain on how to continue, "You were quiet and angry. I had never seen you like that before and I was worried."

"Hiccup…" Harrian breathed out, trying to ignore how Hiccup's statement that he had been worried for him made him feel and swallowed, "I wasn't angry. I was mad. You were in danger and you could almost-!" He cut himself off with a grimace as he felt his rage surfacing once more, "You were my friend and if something had happened…" he trailed off with a shiver, pulling the bed cover closer to his body.

"I feel like I should apologize for that…"

"No," Harrian interrupted him as he grabbed the other's arm, "It wasn't your fault." He stressed out with a shake of his head. "You were supposed to be instructed on how to protect yourself, not have you face danger just like that." He finished as he stared severely into his eyes and didn't let go until Hiccup nodded slightly.

Releasing his grip from the boy's arm, Harrian coughed uncomfortably still feeling the other's warmth on his palm. Tightening his hold of the quilt on his shoulders, he flushed trying to ignore how his hand tingled.

An awkward silence washed over them for a few seconds until Hiccup swallowed nervously and asked, "Will you be at the Arena today?"

Astonished, Harrian looked at him before he glanced at Gothi quizzically only to receive a nonchalant wave.

"U-uh, of course!" Harrian exclaimed wide eyed as he turned towards him, hesitating slightly before he quickly added in a jokingly manner, "Someone has to make sure you remain in one piece, after all." He laughed even though he cringed on the inside, wanting to slam his head against the wall when he realized that that was what he was actually doing.

The boy must have noticed his inner conflicts because he stared at him weirdly for a moment before letting out a cough and awkwardly clapped his hands together and stated as he turned away, "So, I think I'll see you later then."

"Hiccup, y'know," He called out before the boy left, "there is no need to be nervous. You shouldn't be afraid of just saying what's on your mind." Thinking that he might have turned the mood too serious he then added with a laugh, "I mean, we know each other for years. It's not like I'll bite you or anything."

Flushing, Hiccup squeaked in surprise and sputtered before he regained a bit of control of his tongue and hastily bid a farewell leaving a puzzled Harrian standing at the door.

Tilting his head in confusion he stared at the empty space before heading back inside, closing the door behind him with a sigh. Glancing up, he then noticed Gothi staring at him with a raised eyebrow.

"W-what? Don't look at me like that!" He exclaimed as his face reddened under her scrutinizing making the old woman huff in exasperation, rolling her eyes.

"Get dressed already, you dunderhead." She stated throwing him a set of clean clothes, bringing out a surprised yelp from the boy, and turned around as he got dressed.

"You might have to make regular trips to the forest if you feel emotionally compromised."

Harrian frowned folding his arms across his chest, "I presumed as much. I had planned going to the forest for practice and to expel the excess that could accumulate. It would be for the best."

"It's logical that as you mature so will your magic, but we don't know how much it will."

"Why was I different?" He questioned, slumping tiredly on one of the chairs, "Why couldn't I be like anyone else?"

Gothi just shook her head, "You were born with a great gift, you shouldn't be afraid of yourself." She sighed and placed her hand below his chin to make him look at her. "Whoever gave you this gift knew that you would do great things with it. The Norns will guide you, have faith."

"But what if it keeps growing until I can't control it anymore?"

"That's why it's important for you to keep practicing, learn how to use it. And if it gets bad… then we will just have to keep looking for answers."

Harrian visibly deflated and sank down further.

Seeing him looking outside the window in longing the woman added, "You know very well we can't afford people knowing. We don't know how they'll react."

"I know," he sighed without looking away from the window, "and that scares me."

What would happen if everyone knew? Would they hate him, even to the point of despising him like they did?

Would they hurt him or banish him?

Would Hiccup hate him?

He paused. Out of everyone in this island, his opinion was the only one he truly cared about.

If the other were to forsake him, he wouldn't know what to do. It would break him…

He violently shook his head and clenched his hands tightly, refusing to keep thinking about it.

Hiccup wasn't like the others.

But he would fear him, his mind supplied, and people did things when they were afraid.

He has been alone for years when he was little and he certainly didn't want to return to those days.

Chapter Text

'Why did he think that the second day of training would be any different?'

Harrian grumbled in disdain as he securely clutched his shield as Gobber, yelled from above, "Today is all about ATTACK!" he announced from his perch on the rails of the now caged Arena. "Nadders are quick and light on their feet! Your job is to be quicker and lighter!"

'Yeah, no kidding on the fast area.' Harrian grumbled in his mind, staring at the two-legged dragon as it jumped on top of the walls of the maze, switching positions with ease, and hopping to the next wall looking for them.

He wasn't surprised at all that as soon as the dragon had been released it began chasing after them, with Fishlegs being the easiest and unluckiest target. He grimaced in sympathy as the other boy ran from the 8-inch spikes thrown in his direction while screaming at the top of his lungs at the instructor, "I'm really beginning to question your teaching methods!"

Gobber just took it in stride as he cackled above them, "Look for its blind spot. Every dragon has one. Find it, hide in it, and strike!"

Easier said than done. That Nadder was too fast and it's reflexes too sharp to try to search for its weakness. The Nadder's head moved at breakneck speed, moving sharply from side to side like a bird's-

Eyes widening, Harrian was about to call out to the others when he noticed Ruffnut and Tuffnut running straight into the dragon.

It was unsurprising when the twins got in their routine of having a scuffle right at the worst moment but he wasn't expecting it to be right in front of the very dragon they were trying to hide from.

He gave an exasperated sigh as they were almost blasted only to gape in disbelief as he heard Hiccup speaking carelessly with Gobber as the dragon still prowled around. "So... how would one sneak up on a Night Fury?"

Alright.

What...

What the hell?!

He could only stare in astonishment as Hiccup kept on talking to the instructor, completely ignorant of the danger around him. "No one's ever met one and lived to tell the tale. NOW, GET IN THERE!"

"I know, I know, but hypothetically-"

Rushing towards him he grabbed onto the boy's fur vest, pulling him away from the dragon's aim, leaving a stream of spikes now imbedded in the place Hiccup had been a second ago.

"Hiccup! What the hell are you doing?!" He hissed in disbelief, taking the boy's shield from the slackened grip and forcefully pushed it closer to Hiccup's body, making sure that the other would grab it properly. He vaguely registered Astrid and Snotlout moving along the walls behind them followed by a fire blast but decided to ignore them for now. Right now his priority was making sure that Hiccup wasn't planning on an early demise. "This isn't the right moment! What are you doing-!"

The sound of wood breaking stopped him from his upcoming rant, cautiously turning around in apprehension he stared wide eyed as the walls toppled one after the other like puzzle pieces.

Cursing under his breath, certain that those dunderheads were somehow responsible of this mess, he forcefully pushed a yelping Hiccup to move forward, grabbing onto his arm insistently before breaking into a run.

The loud crash of the wooden walls as they collapsed around them rang on his ears along with the erratic beating of his heart. Risking a glance towards his companion he almost sighed in relief at finding him remotely safe, except for the obvious panic in his eyes, only to choke as he felt his heart on his throat at the scenery behind them.

He could swear that his soul almost left his body when he noticed the screaming Astrid jumping from wall to wall as they fell down and Harrian could only press forward practically dragging a stumbling Hiccup as he forcefully hastened his escape.

Knowing that he wouldn't be able to get away from the crashing wooden planks he quickly pushed Hiccup out of the way as hard as he could before turning towards the remainder wooden maze arena and braced himself, raising his shield just in time as he saw the glint of the axe in Astrid's grip.

People would then argue about who was the owner of the following screech.

Many bets were that it the dragon's screech. Others would say that it was actually Astrid's.

Harrian knew who the owner of said sound was but he appreciated his life, thank you very much.

As Astrid came tumbling down on top of him, axe glinting in the sunlight, with barely any time to react to protect himself with his wooden shield, he couldn't help but wonder; who would have said that this was how his day was going to be? If he had known, he wouldn't have come. Better yet, he wouldn't have woken up at all.

But alas, the gods were having fun at his expense.

The force of impact left him breathless for a moment until he regained his bearings and found himself staring a little cross eyed at a full head of blond hair.

He tried to move but the weight of Astrid and the shield was too much. Letting out a yelp, he grimaced as Astrid pressed her knee on his stomach while hastily trying to pull herself up.

"Oooh! Love on the battlefield!" Someone teased, probably Tuffnut, he thought, he was too irked by that comment that he couldn't bring himself to care. Good god, just no.

Growing tired of it all, he gathered his strength and pushed the shield forward, shocking Astrid, before rolling on the ground and landing on top of her. Yuck.

"Calm down for a damn second and let me move!" He exclaimed at the astonished face of the girl before lifting himself up.

Moving away so she could stand, he inspected the area before cursing under his breath as the Nadder found them.

Backing away he accidentally bumped against Astrid and their feet got tangled in each other's making them fall once more. Looking for any kind of purchase, Harrian extended his arms behind him to cushion the fall resulting in their arms interlocking, backs pressed against each other.

Yelping, Astrid hurriedly pushed and pulled to break free, heedless of Harrian's grunts until the boy got fed up and hissed in her ear, "Stop that for a moment and just look!", making her stop as he moved his head pointedly towards the quick approaching Nadder.

"Grab the axe." He spoke, his eyes not leaving the dragon.

"But the shield is still-"Astrid began only to be immediately interrupted by Harrian, "Just grab the axe! Grab the damned axe!" He exclaimed hurriedly but obviously Astrid had to talk back finally able to move her arms freely, "Don't yell at me!"

"Then just do what I tell you, for Odin's Ravens!"

Placing a foot beneath the axe, Astrid quickly pushed it upwards and caught it by the handle, noticing that the wooden shield gave the axe a weird weight.

Giving him a look, she nodded pressing their backs together before locking their arms and with a nod he moved, swiftly turning in place a couple times, gaining enough momentum before the Nadder could finally approach them and Astrid struck, slamming the axe imbedded on the shield against the Nadder's face making it retreat with a cry of pain.

"Well, you have a good arm." Harrian conceded with a grin.

Astrid just stared at him flabbergasted, the grip on the handle slowly lessening as she stared at his hand dazedly. Shaking her head to compose herself she huffed a laugh, before finally taking his hand in a firm grip.

"Great job you two!" Gobber called as the others approached.

Seeing the others reminded him of his friend with a start and he began to frantically look around, finding him standing on the side, a bewildered look on his face.

"Hiccup, are you alright?" Harrian asked, quickly moving next to him and grabbed his arm checking him over for any injuries.

"I- I think-" he began but Harrian quickly interrupted, "What the hell was that?!" He exclaimed in disbelief. "Couldn't you pick a better moment to ask questions than when a fire-breathing, spike-throwing dragon is chasing after us?"

"I wasn't-" Hiccup tried again but paused as Astrid approached them.

"Is this some kind of a joke to you?!" She snapped, "Next time don't stand idle when there is a dragon near, or there won't be any more next times. Our parents' war is about to become ours. Figure out which side you're on."

Frowning, Harrian crossed his arms, taking a deep breath. The following silence was almost stiffening. He looked up in confusion as everyone stared at him expectantly. "What? No, she is actually right." He sighed, "What you did was dangerous, not only to yourself but to everyone in here."

"Take a look around you, Hiccup." He said, pointing towards the pieces of wood that used to be the, now destroyed, arena.

"This," he stressed, looking at him, "this is serious. That Nadder could've killed you in multiple occasions and it would just take it a matter of minutes."

Closing his eyes, Harrian took a deep breath, "I can't do this right now... think about the dangers next time."

He said before leaving the arena.

oOo

It was already dark when Harrian took his usual stroll on the forest trail.

He tried to meditate back home, but he couldn't relax, and after three failed attempts, he gave up.

The soft rustling of the leaves in the wind was like a lullaby to him. Looking up to the clear sky and taking deep breaths, he sat on the soft grass, deciding that it was a good moment to try and meditate.

He was already getting into it, when the sudden rustle coming from some bushes surprised him.

"Harrian?" Asked a voice he knew very well, "What are you doing out here? It's a bit late."

The person in question quirked an eyebrow at the boy standing in front of him, "I could ask you the same thing. Shouldn't you be home right now?"

As Hiccup shuffled nervously, he stood up and rubbed his face tiredly, he really needed to rest, "Look, I'm-" he began but paused, not knowing how to express himself and sighed, "I'm not angry." He began, deciding to just be honest with him. "I worry about you because I care for you. You know I do. And what I said back there..." Harrian trailed off hesitant on how to tell him the following.

"I needed you to be conscious of what you are doing because I might not be there tomorrow."

Wide eyed, Hiccup stuttered, staring at him shock, "O-oh... I, uh, I- I mean, yeah, everyone has to go someday. That's life, right?" The poor boy didn't even know how to react and laughed nervously.

"No, Hiccup, I actually meant it. I won't be here tomorrow." He grimaced, brushing a hand on his hair anxiously, "I need to travel to some island to gather some herbs for Gothi."

Hiccup seemed to relax at that but also deflate a little, "Ah... for how long?"

"Probably for a week. It's... not that far from here but it will take some time to find these plants."

It was the truth.

Kind of, he was going to travel somewhere and gather some plants, it won't do to tell him that those plants would only appear after one of his magical outbursts… as much as he wanted to he couldn't be completely honest with Hiccup. Even if he was accepting of his strangeness, he just knew that it could put him in danger.

Nodding, Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck, eyes trained on the ground, "Hey, um, look about what happened... I'm sorry, you were right... I should've been more careful and I don't know-"

"Don't. I shouldn't have reacted that way, but Hiccup, what you did back there? That was careless! Anything could have happened! You could have gotten hurt or-!" Harrian cut himself off not wanting to continue the train of thought.

The following silence was uncomfortable, only the sound of their footsteps could be heard as they towards the village.

Weary of the quietness, Hiccup decided to interrupt it trying to lighten the mood, "You do know that I have a one track mind."

Harrian snorted, glad for his intervention, "Don't I know that? I have known you for eight years." He smiled, remembering how little his friend used to be. "It's amazing that I'm the one to pull you out of trouble when it used to be the other way around."

"I sometimes wish I could go back to those years."

"So do I," Harrian whispered, "things were easier back then."

They walked side by side on the trail enjoying each other's presence until a loud crack rang resounded in the quietness of the forest.

Hiccup, not realizing that he had moved too close to the other, the sudden sound startled him and he jumped back both because of the noise and the fact that he had moved unconsciously towards Harrian.

Harrian, unconscious of what bothered his friend, stared at him in confusion for a moment before speaking hesitantly.

"I should go back to Gothi before she flips out. Again." He murmurs, lightly touching the top of his head in sympathy remembering the old woman's cane.

"Then… I will see you in a week?" Hiccup inquired hesitantly.

Nodding, Harrian bid goodbye to his friend and moved towards the direction of his house before he paused and turned towards the boy walking a few steps behind him, "Hiccup?" He called, receiving a confused look from the other, "Try to remain in one piece, then?"

"I could try." Hiccup grinned.

Chapter Text

"Harry Potter!"

A voice resounded on the Great Hall.

It was the day of the Sorting Ceremony on Hogwarts where new students would then be sorted to their respective houses.

The name echoed against the walls, quickly earning the attention of everyone. There wasn't a single person on the magical community who hadn't heard of the famous Potter heir, or as most people called him, the "Boy Who Lived", for he had survived the impossible task of not only remaining unscathed from the curse who had killed his parents except from the lighting bolt scar on his forehead, but for also bringing an end to an infamous Dark Lord.

Students waited in rapture, hoping to catch a glance of the rumored savior.

A long silence stretched at the hall until a few murmurs broke the quietness. Restless, the woman called once more, from her place on top of a podium, the parchment with the students name on her hands, and glanced around expectantly for said person.

"Harry Potter!" She called louder this time. Maybe he hadn't hear her... surely the amount of people gathering on the Hall could be intimidating but the child could've been a bit courteous as to come when being called.

The hushed whispers and murmurs increased as the woman looked back towards the Headmaster in concern only to receive a similar expression in return.

Glancing at the parchment in her hands with consternation as if looking for an answer at the scandalous scene, she was about to call once more but her voice got caught on her throat as she observed the name being engulfed in angry flames before disappearing without a trace.

No sign of the flames nor ashes remained, but more importantly, there wasn't a sign of the boy who used to be named Harry Potter.

Chapter Text

"Your mind is constantly going in circles." Gothi stated, watching from the doorway as Harrian packed some food on the bag that sat on top of his bed. "You can't wrap the boy in cotton."

"Who-" Harrian sputtered, hands fumbling with the bag's strings, "Who says I'm thinking about him? Eh?" He asked, eyes too wide to be nonchalant, "I'm just thinking on how long it's going to take me to get there, that's all." He said lightly waving his hand casually before turning back to his packing as he continued to ramble to himself, "Should I bring more food, more clothes, maybe a book or two to read between breaks?" He pretended to shuffle his belongings until he caught Gothi's next words.

"You sure know who I meant, for someone who isn't constantly thinking about that person."

"Get out of my head."

Gothi stared gravely at his back and tapped her staff against the ground to get his attention. "Just stating the fact that you need to be ready. You can't control what he does or doesn't do so stop this incessant concern about him. You have to focus on yourself. If you don't, your power might consume not only you but everything and everyone around you."

An intense feeling of anger took hold of him, he knew her words weren't ill intended but he couldn't control himself. Something akin to a growl caught on his throat as his eyes flashed a toxic green. "I know, alright! Can't you just leave me alone!?" He exclaimed and a sudden gust of wind surrounded the house making the windows rattle.

The wind howled harshly for a moment until it wavered and then shaky breaths were the only sound that could be heard, "I'm sorry." Harrian whispered, slumping on the bed as he hunched over himself, arms tightly wrapped around his chest, hugging himself in despair.

"I know… I know I'm dangerous." He muttered softly, voice wavering as he tried to hold back the tears, "Why did I have to be born like this?"

Gothi gazed sorrowfully at the trembling boy. Silently approaching the boy, she lightly touched the top of his head whishing she could bring him some comfort. She has never hated anything more than being unable to help him with his pain.

In one of the very few moments when she let herself vocalize, the old woman spoke in Dragonese, "It's getting harder for you to maintain control. Do you still meditate?"

Hesitant, Harrian slowly lifted his head, afraid of what he would see on the old woman's face. Being constantly on the edge these past days had eventually messed with his mind.

He felt broken.

Staring into Gothi's eyes he felt slightly relieved but also ashamed at what he saw. In her eyes there weren't any signs of fear, but instead, there was concern.

Why had this frail looking woman taken him in on the first place? He was nothing but a burden.

Unable to stand her gaze, Harrian lowered his head taking a deep breath to regain some composure, "Every day," he finally breathed out, rubbing his arms feeling cold all of a sudden, "sometimes five times a day, when it gets bad."

"Then you must leave now," the old woman insisted, pulling his arm so he could stand up. Grabbing the bag that had been discarded on the bed, she shoved it on his arms which he clumsily grabbed in confusion. "There is still daylight. If you hurry you might be there before midnight. The earlier you leave the better chances of receiving the answers you seek."

"B-but what about-?"

The woman disregarded him patting his back as she pushed him towards the front door. "And don't worry; no one will let anything happen to your boy."

Choking, Harrian sputtered in surprise, "He's not-" he tried to articulate but Gothi just stared at him with an impassive face and closed the door on his face.

"Not mine." Harrian grumbled.

Chapter Text

[The Savior of the Wizarding World, Missing?]

Those were the words that were spread on the headlines of every Wizarding paper in existence. The Daily Prophet has been exclusively vicious in the matter.

Trying to ignore the gaze of the Gryffindor's Head of House, the Hogwarts's Headmaster fiddled with his hands as an owl swept through his office. Another letter. He thought in agitation as the owl dropped its burden on the increasing pile of correspondence next to his desk. His office has been a constant lodging for messaging owls since the disconcerting incident on the Sorting Ceremony, just a few hours ago. He could only watch as the owl left just as easily as it had entered and, after a second of silence, he startled as the office's doors were flung open.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Came a thunderous voice as a man busted through the office doors, black robes billowing in his frantic movement as he glared daggers at the Headmaster.

"Severus, please-"

"Don't you dare tell me to calm down," Severus, the Head of Slytherin and Potions teacher raged, "You promised me that the child, Lilly's child, would be safe. Now, where is he?" He spoke, voice rough but dangerously low.

"He was at the Dursley's." Dumbledore said as if it was common knowledge, and for the people gathered in his office, it indeed was, as in that fateful night of the attack ten years ago, they had a emergency meeting regarding little Harry's safety and future.

"We were there, Minerva, you surely remember that night," Dumbledore said as he faced the Gryffindor's Head of House before sweeping a long sleeved arm at the people gathered on his office, "I don't understand what could've happened. Wards were placed on the house to protect him; they should've prevented any kind of magic, be it from the outside or the inside." It was agreed upon that the child was to reside with his relatives. The Blood Wards would've protected him should anything happen, but with this sudden disappearance people were tense. He had even received some disquieting letters from people questioning if this could be a revenge of sorts from Death Eaters, or worse, from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named himself.

"And hasn't it dawned on you to check on him on these past ten years?" Severus gritted his teeth as Dumbledore just stared at him. He took deep breaths to prevent himself from killing the old fool. "As I remember, Petunia wasn't the kindest of women." He said pinching the bridge of his nose. The migraine was just starting and it seemed like it was going to be a big one. "She had always resented her sister's achievements; I wouldn't put it past her to place that resentment on her nephew."

"You don't mean-!" Minerva exclaimed horrified. "He is just a child!"

"No, no. The Blood Wards wouldn't let any harm come to him." Dumbledore said, trying to reassure her.

"Then where is he? He is a child, for Merlin's sake! He couldn't just disappear!" The woman exclaimed tearfully. She was supposed to take care of every child that resided on Hogwarts but Harry wasn't just a child; he was the son of two of her most beloved students and now she had failed them.

Severus gazed at her in discontent before looking back at the Headmaster, "There has to be an explanation. Just like Minerva said, he couldn't just disappear, there has to be a trace of him or his magic." Frowning, he stared into the Headmaster's eyes.

"I say we pay a visit to the Dursleys."

oOo

Standing outside Number 4, Privet Drive, with Dumbledore at the front, the three of them stared at the quaint house. Right away nothing seemed out of the ordinary, it didn't even looked like the greatest of places but it was quiet enough for them to go unnoticed.

He stared at the trees, which seemed to be about to become uprooted as a strong wind constantly flowed between them, unwavering in its strength. Something was wrong, he frowned.

Dumbledore knocked on the door and then waited until it finally opened with a soft noise.

Severus stiffened as soon as he saw her. Petunia... she still had that same semblance of utter disgust as he remembered and he wondered once more, and he was certain that it won't be the last time he did in that day, why did they had to leave Lily's child with them?

Surely the Blood Wards couldn't be as infallible as Dumbledore had thought, and that fact had been proven as the child seemed to be missing.

Now...he couldn't sense anything.

No magic.

No wards.

And certainly no Harry Potter.

"Miss Dursley, sorry for intruding but it has come into our attention that Harry hasn't come to Hogwarts. May we come in?" Dumbledore tried as the woman just stared at them in discontent.

"He's not in this house nor he is welcomed here just like any of you," Petunia said, trying to close the door.

The world outside seemed to go still for a second before the wind increased its strength abruptly, a quiet rage that promised disaster if unchecked, and just like the wind Severus Snape was close to a breaking point.

He was frantic and the display of power outside was making him more anxious. There had been just a few instances in his life were the force of nature had reacted in this particular way and he knew what it meant...

Nature wanted to reclaim her own beings.

Losing his calm, he pushed the Headmaster out of the way and forcefully pushed against the door entering the house. "Where is he?" he demanded as he looked around. It couldn't be-

Surely this woman wasn't as idiotic as he once though. If the forces of nature were reacting this way, then the Dursleys were in for a world of pain.

What once used to be common knowledge, now it just remained as an almost pagan thing. Now he was certain that was he had experienced outside couldn't be nothing more than Mother Magic's righteous anger.

He wasn't a firm believer but his mother was, and now he was ready to believe.

"I don't know!" The woman said, eyes wide in fear as she stood away from them all.

"Severus, calm down!" Minerva called but he completely dismissed her. How was he supposed to calm when Lily's son might be in danger, or worse. He swallowed.

"Where is he?!" He snarled, getting into Petunia's face.

"I told you, I don't know! That ungrateful wretch left years ago!" She yelled, enraged that these... these people thought themselves so important so as to invade her home.

"That was your nephew, he couldn't just vanish!" He snapped and noticed the photographs on the walls. Looking at them he saw Petunia with a man and an obese child. Her family he supposed.

"Where is your husband?" He asked, eyes unmoving from the frame.

"What-?"

"Petunia, where is your husband?!" Severus repeated himself, glaring at her form.

"He is not here!"

"Minerva, please go and call the Aurors, tell them it's an emergency. We need to investigate this matter." Dumbledore spoke, staring intently to the petrified woman standing on the corner like a skittish animal, receiving a look of apprehension from the Gryffindor's Head of House.

With a slight nod Minerva apparated away and just minute after the front door opened letting in a corpulent man, "Petunia, there is a-" he began but immediately noticed the people standing on his living room and fumed.

"What are you freaks doing in my house?!"

"Mr Dursley, we have come to collect young Harry so he could attend school as his parents wanted-"

"That good-for-nothing left this house many years ago. That was the only good thing that freak ever did for this family!"

"Where is Harry Potter?"

"I don't know and I don't care! We had to take him in, in our home, we feed him, we clothed him, we gave him a roof and he just went up and left!" Vernon screamed face red in his indignation, "We expect to be rewarded for our efforts, it wasn't our fault that he was bad blood! I always said that!"

"Vernon-!" Petunia tried to interrupt her husband knowing that he would only dig their graves.

"Don't you start, Pet! It seems you were the only one sane on that family of yours!"

Severus, already on the edge of his temper, swiftly moved and stood in front of the raging man, pointing his wand at Vernon's face, the tip just a mere millimeter apart of touching his nose.

"I will do this with or without your permission, Dumbledore." He said, his eyes not leaving the affronted look of the obese man, whose face was becoming a perturbing shade of purple.

Right then, four men entered the house along Minerva.

"Severus, the Aurors will take care of the matter and will ensure that Harry will be found."

His hand trembling, wanting to hurt the man in front of him but knowing that the authorities must be the ones to address the problem.

If he were to look inside the mind of Vernon as he wished he could be prosecuted for assault to a muggle, and he was certain that he'd want to do more than bodily harm the disgusting creature that stood at the end of his wand.

Vernon Dursley would be lucky to remain breathing. He should thank Albus for that fact.

Chapter Text

Just as the old healer said, he found the place right at the brink of midnight, the crescent moon barely giving enough light to be able to see in front of him. Fortunately, the lamp he brought with him aided him on his path.

The glade was lush in its flora, healthy and serene, as the plant life seemed to be endlessly flourishing with tall flowering plants, a sweet scent coming from them as a light breeze blew and he breathed it in letting a feeling of calmness wash over him

It was as if the meadow has remained completely untouched, no one coming up here except from the few bugs he could see fluttering about in the night. If it looked like this in the scant moonlight he could only imagine how it would be in the sunlight.

It felt like coming home.

Putting out the lamp, he left it on the ground before walking forward, his hands lightly touching the plants as he passed by, taking in the scenery.

The spot he was looking for was right in front of him.

The grass was short but not less healthy than the rest, in fact it seemed to actually help the entire clearing to flourish, and the energy that flowed through the place was pure and familiar. Like the air after the fresh snow had fallen through the first winter’s night.

It was the place he appeared in, many years ago.

Standing in the grass, he noticed how the short grass only reached a small patch as he sat down. It was just a small circle, only big enough for him to sit cross-legged on the ground and have enough room to avoid touching the surrounding tall grass.

This small patch of grass resembled a bed or a nest, he noted with mild amusement before closing his eyes, relaxing his body and letting his hands lightly touch the blades and he took in deep breaths.

With every breath he felt something within himself letting go until a slight tingling sensation, like vertigo, came across the back of his head and taking a deep breath he felt himself going under.

"I apologize for taking so long." He spoke softly with eyes still closed, sinking into the depths of Mother’s embrace.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───  

The warmth that enveloped him felt similar to laying close to the comfort of the hearth on a winter night.

It has been so long since he had last contacted her and her embrace left him reeling. She had appeared in his dreams since his sixth birthday as a slight comfort in a world that was new and confusing to him, but the encounters started to diminish as time passed. What used to be a dream once a month turned into scarcely a year until it just stopped altogether.

It was only their last dream that brought his then escalating distress to a halt.

She had at the moment expressed her concern on the other world, the place where he had come from, and her reluctance of leaving him. She told him that that world would eventually clash with this one but until then he had to learn to control his powers, his magic, which would only increase in its strength as he grew older.

Mother hadn't know how much bigger his powers would be but she had heavily advised that he shouldn't stray from them.

Letting himself drop into her welcoming arms, carried away from consciousness, he found himself on the luminescent landscape of his mind, colors changing akin to an aurora of iridescent pearls.

A dream within a dream.

He couldn’t see Mother, but he always could feel her presence whenever she would seek him out.

Harrian opened his eyes as he felt her in front of him.

≪I've been waiting for the right moment but I feared that I'd had been too late, my dear.≫ Mother spoke in an echo and Harrian felt a breeze caress against his cheek, as if touched by a warm and soft hand.

"What do you mean? Late for what?"

≪Time works much different between dimensions. Here you are much older than you should be had you remained on your original world.≫ At her final words, Mother’s voice had an edge to it and Harrian could feel something similar to resentment coming from her which confused him greatly.

Mother hadn’t really told him exactly what had happened for him to have to be sent to another world, but he had known that it was for his safety and to have a possibility of a better future.

He had wanted to question her but feared that his inquiry could be rejected or worse, that his indiscretion could be met with her fury.

≪It has been arduous... travelling to here…≫ She said, voice echoing in the vast space of his own mind, ≪but I managed to reach you finally.≫

“Mother…” He began, hesitating as he calculated the proper way to breach the subject, “you spoke of this other world, but I don’t remember…” His hands shook as he grasped at the hems of his clothes, he felt stupidly like a child being scrutinized by an elder, “Has it been as dangerous as you said? Wouldn’t I have been better there?”

Silence echoed in the emptiness even though he knew that Mother was still in front of him.

“I have this fear that the magic would consume me along with everyone around me. I- I almost lost control and hurt someone.”

≪It is true that you would have had a better grasp of your magic in the other world… just as it is true that you were in great danger. ≫ Mother’s voice sounded strangely melancholic and Harrian felt bad for being the reason of it, ≪You must know, that it has not been just by my being willful, it was a great stake but I would have done so either way. Darling… the multiple dangers you would’ve been facing by now were too great to just let it be.≫

Harrian bowed his head feeling chastised even though he wanted to know more. Mother, seemingly sensing his thoughts spoke again, ≪Precious, you don't want to see that...≫

"I need to know."

He closed his eyes as the mindscape rippled around him, feeling a rush of dizziness he had never felt before.

Harrian shivered as he found himself staring at the inside of a house, it was cleaner than any house in Berk but it also looked barely lived in. It looked fake and stifling, as if the building was a pretending to be a home like those carnivorous plants that he had looked at in the humid part of the isle, waiting for someone unlucky enough to find themselves inside only for it to lock it’s maw into and never letting go.

He swallowed at the picture his mind had conjured, but he somehow felt that it was right.

Mother was silent, letting him gather his surroundings and see for himself.

He remained by the front door for a moment, rooted on the spot as he noticed a man in dark robes, his long dark hair almost covering his entire face as he stood in front of a small door and he gasped seeing the small vent at the side, recalling trying to look outside them and his hands shook.

A cupboard under the stairs.

His cupboard.

≪I had once confessed to you the details of the wards placed on that house... but it wasn’t easy to explain as you were far too young.≫ Harrian felt the presence of Mother behind him as if she was trying to comfort him, ≪Being trapped in this house was killing you. Not just by their mistreat nor their harsh words or blows, but the magic on these wards were harming you instead of protecting you as they should have.≫  

≪The wards prevented any external or internal magic to pass through them, your magic was growing along with you but it so deeply repressed it would have morphed into something dangerous.≫  Mother spoke softly, trying to ease him into it, ≪The Blood Ward that old man had placed prevented me to come to your aid. He wanted to prevent any magic accident on the house but, Darling, you are Magic. Your entire being is Magic and it was slowly killing you.≫

≪ The Blood Wards broke the moment your uncle decided to change his ways and only then I was able to cross that threshold to retrieve you. ≫

At the mention on an uncle his gaze landed on a picture on the farthest wall and he paled, feeling sick.

No. Not HIM.

He pictured himself, small, shivering, terrified, as the figure of his uncle loomed above him.

He stared at him with strange beady eyes; it made him want to peel his own skin off.

It was wrong. It was bad.

Harrian didn’t notice he was shaking until the glass of the frame shattered in the room and he gaped.

He wasn’t even supposed to interact with the objects here, he couldn’t have. It was supposed to be just a vision, a mirror to the other side.

≪Well, dear, you’re full of surprises.≫ Mother simply marveled, uncaring that he had managed to project enough magic to break something when he wasn’t even physically in the same room, much less in the same world. Wasn’t that a scary thought?

His hands shook and he felt himself starting to sweat as he slowly raised his gaze towards the man in black who had previously stood in front of the cupboard and now those black eyes seemed to be staring right at him.

The place around him wavered and rippled for a moment before everything disappeared back to its previous luminous state.

He thought he saw the man cry.

Chapter Text

After what happened on the house he had so many things to ponder on, but he still had a lot of questions with only a few answers.

Mother remained quiet by his side for a moment seemingly waiting for him to start talking.

“H-how did that broke?” He began as he stared at his hands, they were still shaking but not as violently as before, “We weren’t there physically, isn’t it? How was I able to do that?”

≪It would seem your power is greater than what I thought,≫  Mother replied, ≪being in this new world has made you stronger thus giving you a bigger reach.≫

≪ Picture magic as if it was a muscle; the more you use it the stronger it gets. In this world, Magic doesn’t have a settling point after letting it go, so it will always return back to you. The difference between the world’s ambient magic was so greatly that, along with your magic being highly tied to emotions and intent, it became slightly volatile. ≫

“That man… he could see me?” Harrian muttered, “Who was he?”

≪A man who is drowning in so many regrets,≫ Mother’s voice echoed with melancholy, ≪a man who is repenting for his mistakes.≫

Harrian sighed; he had a feeling that it was everything he would be able to get out of her for now.

“What am I expected to do, now?”

≪Learn to control your magic, do not fear it,≫ Her voice echoed in the vastness of his mind, ≪it is a part of you. Use it, just as you use your eyes; trust it, just as you would trust your hands.≫

“But how-?”

≪You’ll know how…≫ those where her only words before his surroundings wavered and with a sharp intake of air he opened his eyes and found himself once more in the clearing.

As if he had been woken up with a start, he breathed heavily as he took in his surroundings feeling dizzy and even a little faint.

He blinked a couple of times to adjust his eyes at the sudden onslaught of the sunlight and he stared at the sky in confusion.

The sun was high in the sky, was it noon already?

Had he been here for half a day?

Harrian shuddered in trepidation, it had felt as if he had been meditating for only a few minutes but everything pointed out that hours had passed.

He looked back down and huffed lightly, it seemed that he had been pouring out his energy, his magic, more than usual, he thought as he saw his arms being covered in flowering vines.

Carefully, he disentangled himself from it while muttering soft apologies. The spot he had chosen to sit, with its short blades of grass, was now blooming in an array of verdant grass and wildflowers.

He would have to make sure to gather some of these for Gothi, he did say that he left Berk to bring some ingredients, it was one of the reasons he had come here after all.

Pulling some of the wildflowers and placing them in a pouch, he paused as his hands came across something hard that was stuck on the ground.

He blinked in surprise seeing a round stone, the size of a Robin’s egg, at first glance he thought it was an egg but the more he stared at it, the less it looked like one.

Picking it up, he examined it for a while, noting how warm it was.

The shape was too round for an egg, slightly oval but it didn’t have the small pointed end on the top, and it was more flat like a stone that could be found near the beaches, shaped by the water currents.

Its color was a deep sea green and seemed to sparkle in the sunlight but it was also semi translucent, letting him see through it, tinting everything in the same greenish color as if it was glass.

Did he make it with his magic?

What was he supposed to do with it?

─── ⋆⋅ ☆ ⋅⋆ ───

[Hogwarts]

Severus Snape hurried down the stairs towards his rooms, his billowing robes trailed after him as he was accosted by his thoughts.

It couldn’t have been him.

His mind raged as he remembered the previous hours. He had gone back to Privet Drive to look for a clue, anything, that would help find the missing child of Lily Evans. He had already failed her before; it couldn’t be that he had failed her once again after her death!

He had stood over the small door of the cupboard under the stairs, wondering how a child, no matter how small, was supposed to live there.

The sharp sound of glass shattering brought him back to reality as he whirled around, wand ready before he froze.

There, barely visible, was shape of a person. At first he had thought it was just a trick of the light or that his mind was just conjuring idle images in a result of insanity.

But it was there.

It was like seeing a mirage in a desert, how the shapes swirled and wavered, but he was certain that he saw the shocked green eyes widen before it disappeared for good.

Severus remained rooted to the spot as his hand shook, still holding his wand in front of him.

He looked to the side to find what was that it had been broken, finding a framed picture of the Dursley family, the glass shattered right on Vernon’s face.

He barely considered fixing it; it would only take a simple Reparo after all, but decided against it.

If that figure had been the boy who everyone has been desperately looking for, then he had his own reasoning for breaking it in the first place, and with everything that he has been finding about the blasted Dursleys, he couldn’t bring himself to blame him.

The thing was, the boy looked much older that he should have been.

Should he tell Dumbledore?