Harry Potter and the Daoine Sìth

Authors notes: HA! I bet you lot thought I had abandoned this! Well I haven't! I just had a lot of family issues, an illness and then a severe case of writers block. I believe I have worked through that now and I present the next chapter! This chapter is unbeta'd at the moment and I will put up a beta'd version when it becomes available.

Authors notes Two: Beta'd chapter. Beta'd by smirking_muse. Also thanks for the reviews it's nice you lot haven't abandoned it.

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Chapter Eight

Professor Severus Snape sat behind his desk at the front of the Potions classroom, the events of the past few days pressing on his mind. He had left Carlin with Harry very early that morning with the excuse that he needed to prepare for the day of classes. Though he knew this would take but a few minutes, he had lied to the two fae so that he could have a quiet moment to himself and clear his troubled thoughts.

Glancing at the clock on the wall at the back of the room, he realised he would need to head back to his quarters in an less than an hour so that he could take Harry and Carlin to breakfast in the Great Hall before escorting the Sìth to the rooms in which Harry would be tested.

Severus leaned back in his chair and sighed, his hands rubbing at his temples. Much had changed in such a short period of time, and so much had been revealed last night- so much, in fact, that the surly professor found his mind disquieted and his emotions on edge. His mind drifted to the meeting he and Carlin had had with Albus Dumbledore the night before, and once more, his ire and guilt flared as all of the accusations Carlin had laid at the Headmaster's feet were confirmed.

Snape grimaced and took a deep breath, reminding himself that Albus had not realised the extent of the Dursleys treatment of Harry Potter. The elderly professor had only known that the Dursley family had disliked magic and perhaps had not shown the boy much in the way of affection – and that perhaps they had not fed the child properly. He had not known the extent of emotional and physical abuse that the young boy had endured. When Carlin had gone into great detail, going so far as to show Albus and himself what she had gleaned from Harry's mind, the wizened old wizard had been heartbroken, and Snape himself had been left with so much regret that he might have collapsed under the weight of it.

Carlin, though, had been unrelenting in her anger at Albus Dumbledore. She had immediately demanded to know why Harry had been left for so long with such abominable creatures. The Headmaster had then explained about Lilly's sacrifice and the blood wards. Albus had told of how he had had only a short period of time to protect the boy from renegade Death Eaters, the Dark Lord and the Ministry of Magic. He had explained that though Petunia Dursley had resented Harry, perhaps even loathed the child, she had taken him in, and by doing so, had sealed the wards Dumbledore had placed upon the boy.

The only place in the entire world that Harry had been truly safe was the place where his mother's blood had dwelt – with Petunia Dursley.

Carlin had then accused the Headmaster of abandoning Harry to his fate by not checking on the boy and leaving him to the mercy of the Muggles. Snape's eyes flashed in anger as he remembered that Dumbledore had had no excuses to give the Sìth Queen. Severus still could not fathom why the Greatest Wizard of the age, Albus Dumbledore, had never bothered to check on his charge. It was unconscionable!

Wrapped up with his confused feelings regarding Albus Dumbledore were Snape's own guilty feelings. He, himself, had been guilty of assumptions where Harry Potter was concerned. He, himself, held no small amount of remorse for his treatment of the boy. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Had he not judged the boy upon first glance? Had he not seen James Potter and never bothered to look for Lily Evans?

Truth be told, Severus was not only trying to reconcile the disillusionment of his Mentor's failures but his own behaviour toward the last link to his first love.

Severus glanced at the clock one last time, sighing again. He heaved himself reluctantly from his chair and walked toward the classroom door. It was time to put the past behind him. Beyond time, in fact. He set his jaw and walked steadily toward his own quarters. It was time to give Lilly's son the chance he should have had from the beginning. It was time to stop regretting and start living. Severus nodded his head determinedly as he turned down the passage toward his rooms. His future was in those rooms. His new life laid in wait, and he found himself very nearly happy with anticipation of what the future would hold.

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Harry looked out over the Great Hall, watching as the students tucked into their morning respite, chatting amongst themselves and casting curious glances his way. His eyes wandered to the Gryffindor table where he noted that Hermione Granger was blatantly staring at him. He shifted nervously under her scrutiny, and his eyes immediately sought out the Slytherin table. Draco was not in the Great Hall yet, and he found himself longing to see the blond boy.

Harry sat between his mother and the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Remus Lupin, whom he and Carlin had been introduced to just moments ago; Professor Lupin had shaken his hand with a sad smile and told Harry that he had been very good friends of Harry's parents, James and Lily. Despite the man's apparent genial disposition, Harry could sense something unnatural about Lupin, some darkness that dwelled in the man.

Harry shivered noticeably, drawing Carlin's attention away from Professor Snape. She leaned in close to Harry and whispered in his ear, “You are fidgeting, dalta. What is the matter?”

Harry turned toward his mother. “There is something wrong with Professor Lupin. I can feel it!” he said just as quietly.

Carlin gave Harry a reassuring smile and patted his hand. “I sensed it also, Harry. That man is a werewolf.”

Harry's eyes widened in surprise. “Really?!”

“Yes. But, not to worry, Severus says he is completely harmless.”

Harry was about to respond to that, when the hall doors opened and Draco Malfoy walked in surrounded by his Slytherin friends. Harry immediately sat up, a smile blooming on his face. Draco's eyes locked with his for a moment, and the Slytherin waved and smiled back at Harry. In that instant, all Harry's worries faded, and there was nothing else more important in the world. Harry heard Carlin giggle beside her and whisper to Snape, “Ah, true love.” Harry blushed and looked back down at his plate.

“Professor Snape,” Harry said suddenly, his voice tinged with alarm, leaning forward so that he could see the man sitting on the other side of Carlin, “will I be able to see Draco today?”

Snape rolled his eyes in annoyance. “I would hope that you would be more concerned with the testing you are to undergo shortly,” he bit out caustically before his expression softened. “However, I am sure that Mister Malfoy will make time for you today, Harry.” The relief Harry felt at the man's words must have shown on his face as both Carlin and Professor Snape chuckled with amusement.

The mention of tests must have drawn the Headmaster's attention as he looked down the table at Harry. “Are you prepared, my boy?” he asked.

“Oh, yes, Headmaster,” Harry answered immediately. “Draco filled me in on the subjects the fifth years were taking this year last night, and I don't think I'll have any problems at all,” he said confidently.

The mention of the night before seemed to have troubled Dumbledore, and he looked at Harry seriously. “I should like to speak with you when you have finished your exams, Harry.”

Carlin and Snape both glared at the Headmaster, who raised his hand in a placating manner, “One or both of you may accompany Harry,” he told them. Harry's eyes darted nervously between the three adults. “Do not be alarmed, my boy! You should not be concerned either, Carlin; I merely wish to speak with Harry.”

Carlin relaxed visibly. “I will accompany Harry then, Albus.”

“As shall I,” Snape said brooking no arguments.

Before anyone could respond, the Great Hall doors flew open with a bang, and a large group of wizards all wearing regal purple robes save one entered. They marched up the centre aisle with purpose. The man leading the group was a short, slightly round man wearing the most lurid green robes and the silliest acid green bowler atop his head. Harry found the man so odd that he had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing out loud at the site of him. So amused was Harry that he did not notice the adults around him tense, not until his mother grasped his hand in hers tightly. Harry felt the smile melt from his face as turned his head to look at Carlin. Her eyes were set hard and her lips pursed in annoyance. Harry then noticed that Snape was scowling viciously at the man in green, and when Headmaster Dumbledore had stood, his eyes were glacial.

“Cornelius,” Dumbledore said coldly.

“Dumbledore,” the man in green, whom Harry now knew was called Cornelius, replied nastily as he stopped before the head table.

“To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?” Dumbledore asked knowingly.

“It has come to the Ministry's attention that Harry Potter has returned.” Cornelius looked directly at Harry hungrily as if Harry were a prize. This made Harry distrust the man intensely. “He will be coming with us,” he said imperiously.

Carlin, Snape and Professor McGonagall immediately stood, Carlin dragging Harry behind herself.

“He will not,” Dumbledore replied lightly.

“My son will not be going anywhere with you, Cornelius Fudge!” Carlin spat.

Fudge's attention was instantly drawn to the woman now shielding Harry. Harry gulped nervously as he felt his mother's magic surrounding him. “And you are?” Fudge asked.

Snape, Harry noted, had moved closer to he and his mother, his wand tightly held in his right hand. Harry also observed Draco stand from the Slytherin table, and he began to make his way surreptitiously along the wall toward the head table. Carlin however had flung off her cloak which hid her wings. She gently shoved Harry behind Snape as she stepped forward toward the man.

“I shall tell you who I am! I am Gyre-Carlin, Fae Queen of the Scottish Highlands, Keeper of the gates of Sluag, daughter of Queen Mab!” she announced, spreading her wings and letting her magic expand until she was radiating with power. “Do you dare to defy the court of the Seelie!”

Fudge paled before her as did the group of strangers accompanying him. Carlin glared at the group, “Harry shall go nowhere with you! Not now, not ever,” she hissed between clenched teeth.

“Now see here,” Fudged stammered, “You have no authority here! This is a wizarding matter; the Daoine Sìth cannot interfere in a wizard matter!” Fudge shouted, somewhat unsurely.

“Oh, but we can,” Carlin said with a cold smile. “Harry Potter is my dalta, my adopted son.”

“You cannot! Th – that's not legal! The Ministry won't recognise this adoption,” Fudge spat shrilly, his face red with outrage.

Carlin's magic crackled ominously. “Do you wish to have the wrath of the Daoine Sìth once more upon the wizarding world, Fudge?”

“I would hold your tongue, Cornelius,” Lucius Malfoy demanded as he walked quickly up the isle, hastily fastening his purple robes. “Why was I not informed that the council was making an unannounced visit to Hogwarts?”

Cornelius Fudge nervously rubbed his chin. “Ah, Lucius,” he sighed, “we were unable to contact you on such short notice,” he lied.

“Really?” Lucius raised one regal blond brow as he pinned the Minister for Magic with a steely gaze.

Draco reached Harry just as Lucius reached Fudge. The blond grasped Harry's hand and pulled the faery to him, wrapping his arms protectively around him. Harry was shaking with outrage and fear. “What does he want?” Harry whispered angrily.

“He's an idiot. Don't worry, Harry,” Draco said reassuringly, “no one will be taking you away.” Draco rubbed his hands down Harry's back, feeling the wings beneath the robe Harry wore tremble at his touch. Harry shuddered at his mate's attention. Leaning into the taller boy, he settled his head against Draco's chest, sighing despite himself in contentment.

“Lucius,” Fudge snarled, “you cannot condone this outrage! Harry Potter is a national treasure! He belongs to the Ministry!”

Harry vibrated with outrage at having been referred to as a thing! Draco was doing his best to calm the angry boy.

“He is a boy, Cornelius, not a thing!” Lucius gasped angrily. “Have you lost your senses, man?!” Lucius turned toward Carlin and Dumbledore. “My apologies, Your Grace,” he bowed his head at Carlin. He then turned to the group of wizards dressed in purple robes surrounding Fudge. Lucius glowered at each of them. “It is not the purpose of the Council to the Wizengamot to kidnap children.”

“Now just one moment, Lucius…” Fudge stammered. “The Daoine Sìth have no right to adopt wizarding children willy-nilly!”

Draco snickered and mouthed ‘willy-nilly' at Harry who then had to muffle his own chuckle against Draco's shoulder.

“If you are disputing Queen Gyre-Carlin's adoption, Cornelius, I suggest you go through the proper channels at the Ministry,” Dumbledore said benignly. “You are, after all, Minister for Magic. For now though, I believe Mister Potter shall remain here at Hogwarts, where he belongs with his fellow students.”

Fudge pulled himself up to his full height, which was not very much in Harry's opinion, and puffed up his chest. “See here, Dumbledore, the Ministry has rights…”

“As does my son!” Carlin cut him off.

“HE IS NOT YOUR SON, WOMAN!” Fudge screeched.

Carlin's eyes glowed, her wings expanded, and in a flash, she was over the table and standing right before Cornelius Fudge. “What did you say?” she asked dangerously.

Fudge had the good sense to step back in fear; that, however, appeared to be the limit of his good sense. “He is a wizard, madam – NOT a faery!” he blurted out heatedly.

Harry had had enough of the foolish man. He stepped forcefully away from Draco and around Professor Snape. “No, I'm not,” he stated simply. All heads turned to look at Harry. He walked slowly down the length of the table and made his way around it to come and stand beside his furious mother. Gently, he grasped her closest hand in his own, smiling briefly at her before turning to face Fudge. “I am not just a wizard, Mister Fudge,” he said quietly as he reached up with his free hand to undo the clasp on his cloak.

“Harry,” Carlin said soothingly, “you do not have to do this.”

Harry looked at her again, “Yes, I do, Mother. I am not ashamed of who I am.” Harry let his cloak drop to the floor of the Great Hall. The huge room was still and silent, every person present had their attention fixed with anticipation on the saviour of the wizarding world. Harry stood with his back straight and shoulders squared, proudly spreading his wings for all to see.

For one brief moment, there was a shuddering stillness before the room filled with a cacophony of gasps and shrill whispers. Fudge's eyes were wide, his pupils dilated, and his mouth hung open in shock.

Harry grinned at the man. “You see, Mister Fudge,” he said softly, “to save my life after I killed Voldemort, my Mother had to use blood magic. I am now partly Daoine Sìth.” Those nearest to the conversation leaned closer in order to hear what the boy was saying. “I am very proud and happy to be her son, sir, and I have no desire to go anywhere with you. So, I think you should leave before you anger her any further. I don't think you would like what happens when you make her angry, and to be quite honest, sir, I don't think you would like to make me angry either. It is, after all, widely known that you really should not make a Daoine Sìth angry, sir.”

Fudge stood rooted to his spot, gobsmacked. He seemed incapable of movement or speech in Harry's estimation. Harry glanced sideways at his mother. “Do you think he's alright, Mother?” he asked mischievously as Draco and Snape joined them in front of the head table, the blond chuckling with laughter.

Carlin turned toward Harry and grasped his other hand in hers. Her face was shining with so much love and pride that Harry blushed before her. “I think, my dearest child, that I don't really care if he is or isn't,” she said before tugging Harry's hands and pulling the boy to her in a fierce and loving hug.

Lucius grasped Minister Fudge's arm tightly and spun the man around shoving him toward the door. “Come, Cornelius, you've done enough damage for today.” Lucius smiled, nodding his head regally at the two fae and the headmaster. “Your Grace. Albus,” he acknowledged, shoving a sputtering and protesting Fudge down the aisle. The rest of the group followed in their wake.

“I do believe classes started ten minutes ago,” Albus said as he also came around the head table to stand with Harry and Carlin just as Carlin let go of her son. “Off you go,” he motioned for the children to leave the hall. As if a sudden bell had gone off, the professors and students rushed out of the hall. Dumbledore peered at Draco with twinkling eyes over the tops of his spectacles. “You have classes as well, Mister Malfoy.” Draco touched Harry's arm lightly before he reluctantly followed his fellows out the doors.

Dumbledore grasped Harry's hand. “Well done, my boy,” he said, “very well done. Now, shall we get on with our day? Severus, you have a class to teach, and I am quite certain that you have several exams to take this morning, Mister Potter.”