The Erlking

Here is another chapter from me. While I speak, am I re-reading Indelible so I can try and get another chapter out…
I won’ be posting anything for the following week, sorry. I will be at my dad’s house all week, and his computer has deleted Word Count, and I’m really fussy about that… so, while I will write, I won’t post till I get back home.

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Words: 2,415
Chapter 4
Manhunt
February 1987.

When a child goes missing, do its parents not worry? Do they not search for the child, desperately hoping against all odds that they may see their child again soon? If your child disappeared would you not want to find it? If your child died and your ward disappeared would it be a different matter?

With the death of Dudley, the Dursley’s moved away from Privet Drive. They left behind all of Dudley’s toys and clothes, but took everything of their own. When the police questioned them, the elder Dursley’s admitted that the Potter’s had been murdered and the killer was probably in league with Lord whats-his-name. The police didn’t question them much after that, because by then Albus Dumbledore had gotten hold of them and had them Obliviated. As far as Dumbledore was concerned, a Death Eater had killed Dudley, but Harry was fine.

And why wouldn’t he be? There had been none of Harry’s things found at Privet Drive, so it stands to reason that they boy and his things went with the Dursleys. Of course, we know that Harry didn’t have anything, and we also know that no Death Eater was responsible for the horrors that took place on Privet Drive.

With the assumption that Harry was alive and well, and with the Dursleys, Dumbledore took no further action to assure the whereabouts of the boy.

However, one of Harry’s teachers was worried. When he and Dudley had been in her class she had noticed how withdrawn the boy was. And after the death of his cousin, and Harry’s consecutive move away, she had forwarded his school records to the schools in the same area as the Dursleys new home. Recently all of those schools had emailed her back informing her that there was no child registered with them by the name Dursley or Potter, or even Evans. She had, reasonably, called the police.

Again, Albus Dumbledore intervened.

It was still cold in February, and there was light frost sprinkled across the ground as Albus Dumbledore and his employee walked up the small winding lane towards a modest cottage on the outskirts of Derbyshire. Dumbledore himself was tall with a white beard almost as long as him. His hair was white, and trailed along the ground behind him like a wedding veil. His spotted yellow and red robes were glaringly conspicuous among the plain, normal dressed people in the town.

Severus Snape was tall, greasy and imposing. He was however a Death Eater spy who had loved Harry Potter’s mother to distraction. This, of course from Dumbledore’s point of view, made his uses innumerable.

The Dursleys were fortunate that they lived just outside of the main town, because the gossip concerning these strange men in dresses would have been unbearable for them. When Vernon answered the door he was about three sizes smaller than the last time he was seen. Apparently his grief at the death of his son had deprived him of his appetite.

Without a word, Vernon held the door open and allowed Dumbledore and his colleague to enter. It may be possible that he had risen above his hatred of magic. Petunia was seated on a small couch in the living room. Her eyes were ringed in red and her cheeks were blotchy. In one hand she held a tissue, and in the other there was a small pocketsize photograph of her, her husband and their son.

“I have been informed,” Albus began as he conjured himself a spot of tea, “that Harry is no longer with you.”

“Good riddance to the freak.” Vernon muttered. Apparently, he wasn’t over the whole hating magic business. He just didn’t want any nosy neighbours seeing anything untoward.

Snape had his wand at the man’s throat within a second of the words passing his lips. “Silence, Muggle.” He hissed, “that is Lily’s child you’re speaking of.” Now, while Snape hated James Potter, it was mentioned that he loved the boy’s mother greatly. Lily was his first and only friend; and when James began to bully him, Lily always made sure to stick up for him. It wasn’t until he became a Death Eater that they drew apart – Voldemort’s hatred of Muggleborns alienated Lily enough to cause a rupture in her friendship with Severus.

Severus Snape had sworn an oath to protect Lily’s child to his death, because he hadn’t been able to protect her. Despite the fact that he begged for her life, she still died, and it was entirely his fault. He had told the Dark Lord about the prophecy that had resulted in Lily’s death, and he couldn’t forgive himself for it. And now, he had lost Harry Potter, Lily’s child.

“Now Severus,” the old Wizard murmured placing a hand on the dark haired man’s arm. “Why did you not inform us that Harry was no longer with you? I understand if you needed time to grieve them both, bu-”

“Grieve both of them?” Vernon shouted, cutting the other man off. “We are grieving our son. We don’t care about that stupid freak! We don’t even know what happened to him.” Petunia laid her hand on his arm and he calmed down almost immediately. His hand moved across to rub at her stomach. When Severus looked carefully he could easily make out the swell of her abdomen.

“I’d congratulate you,” he said derisively, “but people like you should be allowed to procreate.” His eyes narrowed. “Where is Lily’s son?”

“He was sick. All he did was shiver and moan, and I was so tired of taking care of that boy. He would have made Dudley sick, you know. I had to protect my son. Vernon took him somewhere. I didn’t ask where.” She looked away shamefully. “I’m sure he’s better off where he is.”

“Where did you leave him, Mr. Dursley?” Albus asked, his fingers steepled under his chin.

“At the edge of the forest in Surrey. Off the path,” he added after a seconds pause. Dumbledore didn’t seem to be listening to the last part. He was on his feet, his wand out and pointed at Vernon’s nose.

“What did you say?” Severus hissed before Albus could get a word out.

“We left him in the forest.” Vernon squeaked.

“We? We? Vernon Dursley! I had no part in that!” Petunia shrieked.

“You are just as responsible as your husband,” Albus said gravely, sitting back down. “Harry wasn’t with you the night your son died?”

“No, I left him there earlier that evening.”

“So there is a chance he is alive.” Severus breathed, hardly able to believe there was still a chance for him to fulfil his oath.

“Severus, it’s been ten months.” Albus frowned; he desperately did not want his colleague to get his hopes to high.

“He’s Lily’s child, Albus, I have to hope for the best.” The elder man nodded. “You are coming with us Muggle. You’ll show us exactly where you left him.” Severus grabbed Vernon by the front of his jumper and began to drag the struggling man towards the door.

Albus followed silently, his brows furrowed as he thought of something to tell Minister Fudge.

XXX

Dumbledore called in a few favours as Severus apparated Vernon to the forest in Surrey. With half of the Order of the Phoenix gathered at the same forest, Vernon was starting to feel rather uncomfortable. The Order of the Phoenix was a rag-tag group of Light Witches and Wizards that had fought Voldemort during the first war. Now, they banned together once more in his absence to find the lost Harry Potter: saviour of their world.

Each of them paired off and began exploring the forest. There were strange markings on the floor, which remained almost a year later.

Unlike normal horses, the beasts ridden by the Huntsmen were dead, and when they breathed and ran they snorted trails of fire. The magical fire expelled by the Thestrals had singed areas of the forest where they had been clustered together. After almost a year the grass had still not grown back, nor had trees cut down by the Huntsmen re-grown.

They found the clearing at the same time, each of the pairs entering from different angles. They took in the wide-open space and the small patches on the ground where the grass had died. All of them frowned as they searched the area, looking for any signs of the people or things that might have taken Harry.

As they approached a circle of stones, which were once used to hold in a small fire, mist rose from the circle, dancing above it as if rising from flame. But there was no fire, nor was there anything inside of the stones to burn. Albus kicked the stones softly, unsettling them, but still the smoke didn’t move away.

Instead, it drifted closer to him. It became thicker and colder, until their breath could been seen in front of them, and then until it disappeared and all they could see was mist.

A woman, not extremely beautiful, but attractive nonetheless stood at the edge of the clearing, watching them silently. By her side, a small hand held in hers was Faun. The little boy tilted his head to one side and smiled softly as he recognized Vernon. “Can he be my 7th birthday present?” The child whispered while the woman merely gifted him with a soft smile before turning back to look at the crowd of magical folk. She needed one of them. A decent sort, one who was willing to walk over hot coals for the child whose hand she held. Someone to teach him the way of Wizards.

And possibly, if the chance arose, someone – a child – to be his friend.

“It’s obvious he was taken. There aren’t any animals in this forest that would eat meat,” a few shuddered at the old Wizards words. “His body should still be here. It’s very likely that Harry is alive. We need to keep hoping. And make sure to keep an eye out and an ear open.”

They all nodded and began to disperse. “Who do you think took him?” Severus whispered, looking back at the mist that still choked the clearing. They had reached the trees again, and were taking shelter in their leaves and branches, hiding from the deathly fog.

“‘Dost see not the Erl-King, with crown and with train?’ ‘My son, 'tis the mist rising over the plain.’1 Is that not how it goes?” Albus asked, his eyes narrowed as he watched the mist dancing. His eyes widened, as, in the centre of the clearing, a woman and a child appeared from the mist.

Genetrix bowed low to the child before turning her attention to the Muggle let forgotten on the floor. “You shouldn’t stray from the path,” she whispered. Her hand touched Faun’s shoulder and the boy smiled warmly.

“Come with us,” he breathed, “be with us.” His hand moved out slowly, hesitantly as if he were afraid Vernon would bolt from him. “Be one with us.” His voice never rose above a whisper but Albus could hear every word.

With a wordless ‘Accio’ Vernon was in the trees with them, and Harry Potter had been deprived of his game.

When Severus turned to look in the direction the Muggle had flown from, there was no one there. The mist had risen to cover them from sight. Albus couldn’t be sure if that was Harry or not, but he had a fair idea of who would steal children, especially a child lost and alone in a forest at night.

“Come Severus, we should leave.” Snape shot his employer a worried look but didn’t ask any questions. He grabbed Vernon by the arm and apparated him back to his new home, before Severus made his way to Hogwarts. Albus stayed a moment longer in the forest, straining his eyes as he desperately tried to make out the features of the child that seemed to be a part of the mist itself. “We’ll find you Harry. The Wizarding world will not rest until you have been found. A manhunt will happen, I promise you.” He told the mist reassuringly, desperately hoping that his boy was safe and sound, despite being in the hands of the Erlking.

XXX

“They’ll hunt men, my King!” Genetrix cried as she caught sight of the Erlking lounging in a chair. She threw herself to his feet and sobbed lightly. Harry smiled down at her and crawled into Audenarde’s lap. The Erlking raised his hand and began to fun his long, bony fingers through the child’s hair. Harry gave a small wince, once in a while, as the briars twined around the creature’s fingers caught on Harry’s ebony strands. The Erlking soothed the boy’s pain with a kiss to the temple.

“What is this you speak of Genetrix?” The Erlking drawled his low voice thrumming through the veins of everyone in his presence, making each one of them want to bow and please him.

“They plan a man hunt, my King.” She repeated.

Morfis snarled. His cloak of Centaur skin fluttered in the breeze and mist as his hands clenched and he moved forward to kneel at the Erlking’s feet. “They must be trying to draw us out, my Liege. And while we compete with them for the souls of man, they will find a way to sneak in here and steal your beloved boy.”

The Erlking raised an eyebrow at him before turning his attention to the child who was snickering softly on his lap. “And what is it you find so amusing my pet?”

“A manhunt is where loads of people go looking for one thing or person.” The child corrected the others. They who had no knowledge of the mortal world blushed lightly and all agreed it was more likely that the magical humans would search for Harry in the mortal world, than they were to steal souls from their comrades.

“And let them look, my faithful,” the Erlking drawled. “They may look as far and as wide as they wish, but man will never look for what is right in front of him, just within his grasp.” And of course the Huntsmen lived in the Eternal Lodge that would lead them to any forest they chose. The Forbidden Forest, which grew around the boundaries of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Dumbledore lived, was a forest as well was it not?

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1. The Erl-King by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.


TBC

Words:
Chapter 5
Faerie Tales (subject to change)
Coming as soon as…

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Thanks for reading guys. And thank you especially to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I love being appreciated! Keep reading and reviewing, please?