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Chapter Text

Link always known that he’s strange and different. His relatives never forget to remind him of these facts every chance they get lest he forget. For one, he always has to wear that tight hat under another baggier hat to hide his deformation. Doctors have told his relatives that it was a body mutation that happened when he’s in his mother’s womb, to which his Aunt Petunia will always gleefully remind him as a pathetic human being who brings her family nothing but heart break and how he, Harry (though his mind will always remind him that he’s Link), should always be grateful that she take him in from the “goodness of her heart” because no one with a right mind will take a freak like him in.

Uncle Vernon will always threaten to cut off his strange ears should he ever attempt to toe the tight line they drawn around him. He also always reminds him how his parents rather die than raise him because of how freakish he is every birthday like some twisted birthday greeting. Link had honestly thought that it’s all very normal for him to be treated differently from his perfectly normal cousin Dudley. Normal kids get to have parents, normal kids get to eat cakes and enjoy cuddles. They are praised for being born normal and since Link’s not, he does not deserve praise no matter how good he’s at his finishing his endless chores.

But despite his silent acceptance, Link can’t help the burning desire that there’s more out there to discover. That he’s not meant to be hidden in the darkness; that he’s meant to chase the sun and the sky. So on days where they decided to leave him to his own outside; Link will run until his lungs burn. The restlessness in his bone will always force him to shake off his fatigue like cobwebs, forcing him to keep on moving. He don’t know that children aren’t supposed to just know how to climb walls, aren’t supposed to know how to forage for edible plants and mushrooms when the hunger hit hard, aren’t supposed to know how to hunt with nothing more than sticks and stones, or even half of the things that he just know will help him in the wild like a veteran ranger surviving the harshness of the wild.

But Link slowly understood, from watching at school, that children should scream and cringe at the sight of an animal being slaughtered, that children does not know how to differentiate poisonous plants from harmless herbs. That they don’t know how to scale walls or trees without breaking a bone for their first tries. They also not supposed to know how to hunt, whether with stick and stones or with guns that they know proper hunters use. They are normal and Link’s not.

When their art teacher asked them to draw about their dreams, Link will draw a castle shrouded in poisonous darkness or a beautiful flower that he just know glows from inner light. But after that he learned to draw more normal things; like a giant red bird that only he knew were gigantic in size or a train riding an endless track across a wide field of endless grass for as far as the eyes can see, a tall tower at the end barely a stick in the horizon. He also learned to keep his drawings with the stars in the hollow of a tall tree with his other treasures instead of taking them home to be torn to shreds.

Link has learned that any physical mark of his brilliant imagination will be destroyed upon discovery. They don’t want to have anything abnormal linger at home, not even a picture drawn by Link. And Link doesn’t blame them. His pictures tended to move after leaving class. That time he drew a picture of his most vivid memory from infancy was that of a flying motorbike silhouetted by the full moon as backdrop. That was his first art from his kindergarten; the teacher had loved his vivid imagination and had given two stars as compared to Dudley’s crude stick figures of his family that received a very tiny star that was then taken away after the teacher recognized the black blob with a mop in the background being Link doing his chores.

The Dursleys weren’t happy about the ‘unfair treatment’ and destroyed Link’s picture, which Vernon then burned after the motorbike moved away from the tear. So Link hid all of his work that received praise from the teacher from the Dursley in his hideout. Dudley and his friends always lost him around the tree; Link scaled the tree as fast as a spider. But sometimes it wasn’t Link, like that time his mean teacher’s hair turned fluorescent blue, or that time he confusedly found himself on the canteen’s rooftop when he turned the corner running from Dudley’s favorite game of ‘Harry Hunting’.

No, those weren’t Link. Each time it happened, he’s more frightened of it than even the Dursleys. The subsequent punishment that happens was wonderful distraction for Link. Knowing without learning he can handle, moving pictures he can still take it, because he know without understanding that he’s the origin. He accepted that he’s not normal but at least he knew that he’s in control of the odd situation.

But when it comes to the sudden incidents that happened?

Link doesn’t like not being in control of his freakishness; it felt like a horror from a forgotten past that scratched in the back of his head. He hated not knowing how he does it, because it felt like someone was using him without his permission. Being a person with little control of his own life choices, Link take what little control he have of himself very seriously. But even if the strange incidents frighten him, Link made it his young life’s goal to take control of it rather than being frightened senseless.

There’s something similar like the restlessness in his bones that urges him to keep moving but rather than his body it’s more like it came from something deeper, like a primal part of him, to not succumb to fear. Like being afraid goes against everything that made him Link, against everything that made him Harry Potter. So he pushed forward despite the terror in his throat to move, to physically and mentally fight against it.

Like if he does succumb to his fear, he will die.

Chapter Text

Rubeus Hagrid, a giant of a man that reminded Link of another large giant but with muscles carved from rocks instead of flesh, gave Link an answer to that silent question burning in his head. Apparently his Aunt Petunia, or rather the Dursley elders, has been lying to him about his parents all his life. For one, he’s not abandoned. No, they love him enough to sacrifice themselves for him. It hurt, that lie regarding why he’s an orphan.

He turned to his aunt with accusing glares that sent shivers down her spine, “Why did you lie? Why didn’t you tell me how they really died?”

Petunia scoffed at his accusing eyes, “Why should it matter how they die? It makes no different, you are and will always be alone. You don’t even look like either of them!”

Her final words to him echo in his ears long after he left the Dursley. It was true, Link looked at the mirror in the inn that Hagrid left him so they could go shopping for his school things tomorrow. He heard his father’s hair to be ebony and his mother’s hair to be red, his father’s eyes to be a gentle but mischievous brown and his mother’s an eternal forest green. Hagrid noticed this in the morning during breakfast, “What’s wrong, Harry?”

“Link,”

Hagrid wiped the breadcrumb from his mouth with a napkin, “Okay, Link,” Harry have been very adamant about being called Link, “What’s wrong?”

Link looked at him with sapphire eyes flecked with spring green hidden behind a pair of old style coke bottle glasses, “Am I really a Potter?”

Hagrid hummed before digging into his coat, “Well…I was thinking about giving this after finishing it but it seemed that you need to see it now,” He placed an album on the table, “Been going around asking for pictures from their friends, see?”

Numbly, Link reached out and opened the book, more empty than filled and saw two happy faces dancing in a moving photo. Hagrid chuckled, “James and Lily. No souls burn brighter than theirs. Here, look,” He pointed at the picture of Lily, “You have your mother’s face; I remember when she was a First Year. You looked just like her, but you got you da’s chin. They are there in you, you just need to look closer,” He smiled kindly at Link felt his eyes blinking from unexpected tears of happiness as he studied their faces for the first time since he could recall.

Hagrid added, “Who care’s you don’t have Potter’s signature black hair or Lily’s famous green eyes. You are definitely their son. You have your da’s smile but you also have your mother’s gentle gaze. In fact, you seemed to have inherited your da’s messy hair. He never managed to tame them, even on his wedding day. When I last saw him, he had taken to wear them long to tie back,” He sniffed, ruffling Link’s messy blond locks, “Yup! You got his hair alright!”

Link giggled a short laughter, his chest lighter as he became more confident of his own connection to the people who loved him enough to risk it all for him. Somewhere deep down, he felt like this was the first time he gets to know his parents face-to-face. Like he never see the faces of the people who brought him to this world, that he only ever heard second hand information, from hearsay or never know anything about them at all.

Link also noticed that no one notice him until they landed on the scar on his forehead, one that Petunia insisted he hide by wearing his bangs long. Then suddenly, he’s being flooded with well-wishers. Luckily, Hagrid’s large bulk managed to push them back like a wave breaker. After they realized that he needs to get his school things, Link finally break away from his well-wishers and to the back of the Leaky Cauldron. Staring dumbly at the trashcan and the wall, Link looked at Hagrid who brought out his pink umbrella, that Link remember cause a pig tail to grow from Dudley’s backside, he watched as the giant man tapped the wall in a peculiar sequence.

Then the wall came alive, but not in a bad way. Hagrid boomed beside him, “Welcome to Diagon Alley, Link!”

Link’s sapphire eyes with emerald specks widened as stars burst to life deep inside the pool of ocean blue.

Instantly Hagrid find himself being hand filled by a hyper active, hyper curious and hyper adventurous child. He never expected the sudden burst of energy that came from Link. He tried to remember if Link had eaten anything sugary that morning as he chased after the boy but his memory have no recollection of anything sweet being served. So why does Link acted like he had inhaled the whole of Dumbledore’s secret stash of lemon drops?

The witches does not help with their tittering as they watched him chase after the hyper child as he poke and prod this and that which garnered his attention. At one point Hagrid had to carry Link since he almost scaled the side of a building, much to his and the spectators’ horror. The defendant’s motive was that he NEEDED to see the whole of the alley from a higher ground. Fortunately, it was the building of their destination. Unfortunately, Link does not impress the Goblin guards.

Hagrid took him to his trust vault, Link asking the goblin guiding them, “How often do you check the doors for thieves?”

“Once every decade,” He answered the boy with a nasty grin.

Link blinked at the sight then shrugged. If they were caught by the wards on the vaults, then it’s their fault for trying to steal in the first place. Of course he mentioned none of his personal thought to Hagrid, knowing that children were supposed to find the goblin’s answer as horrifying. Hagrid took him to an ice-cream shop, nursing a bottle of alcohol to help with his nausea which made Link wonder if the effect of alcohol on Hagrid differs to that of a normal human.

Hagrid may not say it and Link won’t ask it but it’s extremely clear that like Link, Hagrid’s not a normal human. Link was then given a quest to secure his school things as Hagrid nurse himself. He took out the pamphlet that he took from Gringott’s counter for Muggle origin magical that help giving them a simple guide for Diagon Alley. Link easily mental check the route to take for the list of items he will need to buy.

As usual to Link, he just know to secure himself a proper carrier for all his things so he went and bought himself a practical luggage where he also just know to ask for space manipulating magic casted on the interior to help minimize his baggage as well as weight versus quantities charm to make it light. Then there’s the Muggle deception charms so that he will be able to bypass any security check that they may pull over him. After paying for all the cost of securities recommended by the shopkeeper, Link head out for the uniforms.

It was written in the pamphlet to go for sizing first as it will take the seamstress several hours to get his order ready. So Link head to the wizard wear store and waited for his turn to come. Madame Malkin, the magical seamstress, called out from the back to “wait for a moment” and she “will attend to” Link. Bored, Link looked around the store and noted the curious fabric. He wondered if there’s any that not only muffle sounds but also increase agility at night as well as function like a light weight armor. Does she have a dye station too? If so, will Link be required to hunt down the ingredients necessary for the dye?

Madame Malkin finally finished with her current charge, a snide blond boy who sneered at him and brushed rather rudely as he passed Link by. Link ignored him as Madame Malkin pulled him inside the stall for his measurements. Link noticed that the measuring tape hover with a mind of its own and he wondered if he can use similar magic as the seamstress.

After the uniforms have been measured for, Link moved to the bookstore nearby and held back from taking down most of the books, keeping in mind on his budget. Perhaps after finishing his shopping for school, he can ask Hagrid to allow him to go around and buy himself some things of interest? The school texts have been bundled up early on by the store in a set according to Years so Link does not wander in the store too much. The apothecary beckoned him next door on his shopping list so Link does just that.

The scents of death and wither clung at the back of his throat and Link gagged before bracing himself against the scent, he just knew that he have smelled worse but the knowledge alone does not suddenly make the scent around him pleasant to breath in. After finishing his shopping for star gazing, something that Link knew he can read the moment he familiarized himself with the constellation, the next agenda on the list beckon him.

Hagrid had joined him when he picked up his uniforms and had guided him to the wand store before excusing himself for a personal reason. Link didn’t care to bother the man; his life does not gravitate around Link so Link leaves him to his duty.

Chapter Text

Garrick Ollivander, wand master, stared at his newest customer with wide silvery gaze. Ollivander stared at the new customer, wearing a large hat over messy blond locks that reminded him ocean shores under the summer sun, testing the new wand he had handed him.

His face reminded Ollivander of Lily Potter nee Evans. But the way the jaw jutted just so reminded him of James Potter. Sure he does not look like anything that the public claimed for him to look like. The description of the young child has always been that he looked like his father with his mother’s eyes. But standing before him, Harry Potter has the recessive gene of his great-great-grandmother with Veela bloodline somewhere in her ancestor. Not many know that the Potter have a blond maternal ancestor due to the strength of the paternal gene being so strong in their black hair. It was because of this little known fact that the public immediately assumed for young Harry to have messy black hair instead of the sandy blond locks the color of hay. The only reason they assumed him to inherit his mother’s eyes would be the fact that most Potters have their maternal side’s eyes.

So he had expected for the child to be surprised that he recognized him with a single glance. Ollivander chuckled, “I remember every single wand I sold, Mr. Potter, that and their recipient. It’s not that hard to see your connection to your parents. Or perhaps my eyes are easier to seek out similarities than most,” His eyes then flicked at the barely hidden scar behind blond locks, “Although I supposed many will recognize you more for the scar than your appearance. You coloring are indeed rare for the paternal strong Potter gene. But fear not, I happen to recall a great-great-grandmother of yours who have Veela gene in her and that can easily explain the blond hair,”

Link smiled, that quiet discontent about his appearance not being anything that he heard a proper Potter should look like disappearing with the explanation. What was it called, recessive gene surfacing in later generation? He then introduced himself properly, “My name’s Harry, but I prefer to be referred to as Link,”

Ollivander nodded, “Alright, Mr. Potter, you’re not the first person to prefer a name other than his birth given,” He then went to business, “Now which one is your wand arm?”

Link stiffened, thinking about the question. He happened to instinctually use his left but the Dursley hate any sign of strangeness even if it’s just difference in prominent hand so he had trained to always use his right. However, this was not a time to lie. At least he doesn’t think so. So he sheepishly answered, “I’m not sure, sir,”

Ollivander beamed, “A rare one! Ambidextrous eh?! No worry, no worry! We’ll just measure both!” Link watched as he extended both hand to Ollivander and the measuring tape he have been using began to measure both arms. The man then walked to the back if the store; picking out random boxes and pushing them back in before moving on. His hand splayed over the boxes, seeking, searching for the particular magical wave that would match the young Potter heir.

Meanwhile, Link stood still as a statue as the measuring tape began to measure the width between his nostrils with quiet interest. Ollivander finally returned and handed him a wand, “11”, mahogany with dragon heartstring core, pliable,”

Link took the wand offered and stared dumbly back. Ollivander scoffed, “Well, what are you waiting for? Make a swish!”

Startled by the sudden scolding tone from the man, Link did just that. A cupboard of boxes in the back exploded, throwing the boxes into the air and making a mess. Shocked by the unexpected reaction, Link placed the wand gingerly onto the counter as quickly as he can. But instead of more scolding, Ollivander giggled unnervingly and began to hand him a different wand, “10 ¾”, willow with phoenix feather core, swishy,”

A crystal vase shattered. Link placed that wand next to the other wand just as gingerly. Ollivander began to skip as he began to hand wand after wand. Cypress with unicorn hair, ash with kneazle whisker, blackthorn with thunderbird tail feather, and so on and so forth. At one point, Ollivander stopped and whispered to himself, “Perhaps…”

He placed a wand in Link’s hand, “11”, holly with phoenix feather…”

Link frowned minutely before giving the wand a swish and sparks of gold burst at the tip but at the same time, something does not feel quite right. Ollivander noticed this as well, “Curious, very curious,” He turned around to the back and Link waited, wondering about the man’s whisper and the wand’s odd reaction. He then returned, “Well, we have found one wand for you but your other wand still need finding,”

Link blinked, “Another, sir?”

Ollivander smiled, “You are the rare dual wielder, which is why this wand only reacted halfheartedly. Now, to seek out the other!”

So Link tried more wands, none of them feeling complete with the one in his right hand. So he tried on the vine wand, the hornbeam, the fir, and so on and so forth. Dragon heartstring, phoenix feather, troll whisker, Veela hair strain, unicorn hair, but none resonate with the holly and phoenix feather core in his hand.

Finally he was given the aspen wood with unicorn hair, and the reaction was instantaneous. The phoenix sang from his right, the memory of a large crimson bird soaring high in the wide sky came to mind with the wind rustling through his hair. The unicorn whinnied from his left, the feel of a horse with chestnut coat and winter white mane galloping across the wide expanse of endless green rushed through his body. Both greeted him like long lost friends of an ancient memory.

Ollivander have never seen a wand reacting the way they did. The sky and the earth seemed to sing in the store as he though he saw wings growing behind the young wizard’s back as nature seemed to grow from where he stood.

When Link opened his eyes, the magic disappeared and Ollivander smiled, “I am honored to be the wand maker of your wands,”

As the elation completion settled like campfire in his belly in the depth of lonely night, Link asked, “You mention my right wand being curious. What do you mean?”

Instantly, Ollivander lost all color to his face as he stared at holly wand, "13 ½”, yew with phoenix feather…it is curious for me because the feather core of your holly wand came from the same phoenix who gave me the feather for the core of the yew wand…and that make it the brother of the wand that chose you. The brother of the wand who gave you those scar on your forehead…”

He shivered, “Had I known what that wand will go on and commit out there in the world…”

Link looked at his holly wand, a creeping sensation of twisted familiarity settled over him. It was like he had been there before; being tied in some way somehow to a great evil that’s the core of all his misery and regret. As he left the store more subdued than elated, he made a promise to hone his ability with both wands so that he will never regret ever again.

Ollivander head go on and told him a little of wand lore regarding the temper of his wands. His right wand; made of holly, traditionally protective and often time choose owners who often find themselves engaged in dangerous or spiritual journey. It felt familiar to Link, the description of danger, quest and spiritual journey. In a way, it matches him perfectly. That the phoenix feather core tended to be in conflict with the wood also worked for him due to its independence and detachment also ring true for him. Ollivander felt sorry for anyone that chose to stand against Link.

He also explained about the left wand; made of aspen, a wood most suited for martial artist, warrior and duelist. A wand that’s attracted to those with a strong mind and will power, often seeking for a new quest or orders. Combined with the loyal temperament of the unicorn hair, regardless of the weaker core when compared to likes of dragon heartstring and phoenix feather, determination can just as likely make it the strongest. A wand that’s most suitable to likes of a knight.

Somehow both wands suited Link, something in him sang in agreement with both wands. Ollivander told Link that both wands require one thing to truly shine in his hand; courage.

Chapter Text

Petunia’s not happy that Link brought back a luggage full of things that by right should be banned from the Dursley household. But she feared the reappearance of the ‘freaks’ more than Link’s new things. So Vernon decided to lock both boy and luggage in his new abode; Dudley’s second room that’s practically used for hoarding things that he either broke or bored of using. It took Link a while to really get the room set for proper usage. They especially dislike his ‘pet’; Gaepora.

He spent the rest of the week before September 1^st cleaning up his new room. Link has always been a minimalist, so he only needs a place to sleep and a place to keep his things in order. The rest of Dudley’s hoard were set aside as neatly as he can in the mostly working closet, out of sight and de-cluttered. What items he can salvage and repair, like a broken alarm clock, he will find use for. Well, normal kids are not supposed to know how to fix things with a simple elbow grease nor would they be happy to learn how without gratifying reward. But luckily, Link has long accepted that he’s not a normal kid. A part of him wondered if he will be just as strange in the magical society or will he finally be just another kid?

With his cursed luck, Link doubted it. In the meantime he decided to spend his remaining days in with the Dursley locked in his room like a hapless princess (at least he’s not forced into a coma inside a crystal prison) reading his texts. Link enjoyed reading, because it means that he can learn instead of just knowing without really knowing when or where he learned. He’s intrigued by both Herbology and Potion. Herbology because he just knows the importance of recognizing the difference between edible and poison in the wilderness can be the difference between life and death. As to why a kid like him have their survival instinct so attuned to the importance that differentiate between surviving and dying, Link have no idea nor did he dwell on it too much.

Also, who knows that perhaps knowing the difference between a magical plant and the common herbs can also do the same?

As for Potion, Link finds it familiar in a strange way. He somehow just knows that potion can come in handy during the oddest and most awkward of situation, but he can recognize neither the potions described in the book or any of the methods shown. Intrigued by the strange sense of knowing yet really not, he devoured the content of the book like duck to water. That being said, on the morning of September 1^st, Link woke up long before the sun rise in the east and starts his day as he waited for the Dursley to let him out to use to the bathroom. He quickly packs his things and mentally made a checklist of things that he required to have.

The potion sets that had sat outside the luggage for Link to familiarize with were carefully placed in their section of the internally enlarged luggage. So far he had instinctually place them under ‘clothing’ (which he almost labeled as ‘armor’), ‘materials’ which also have been broken down into several different sections such as ‘edibles’, ‘herbs, ‘minerals’, ‘monster parts’ or ‘potion ingredients’, and ‘inedible’ which his school books and school things like the cauldron and telescope fall under.

There’s also ‘foods’ and finally ‘key items’ which remained empty as his main ‘key items’ will be carried on his person at all times; his wands and the all-important ticket. That done, Link began to do his usual routine of stretching and light exercise…if one calls a stand-up as light. Once his usual core strengthening exercise finished, the Dursley finally wake up and start their morning routine. The locks outside his door unlatched one by one and Link already stood waiting with his towel and cleaning basket carried in his hand. A good shower and a quick scrub later, Link’s ready for his trip to King’s Cross.

Vernon grumbled as he took Link down to the train station, leaving the boy as soon as he stepped down with his deceptively light luggage and Gaepora’s cage. The two alone took up the whole trolley that Link pushed into the station. Many onlookers staggered when they saw Gaepora, Hagrid’s birthday present to Link. To be honest, Link doesn’t blame them. It’s not common to see owl in London, at least not to his knowledge but he could be wrong, but even more so when the owl mentioned can be mistaken for a man in a costume.

Hagrid had told Link that when he had gone to the Owl Emporium to buy his present, he had been charmed by a beautiful snowy owl. Then this overgrown owl, emphasize on overgrown, landed on his head and refused to leave. Hagrid have never seen an owl the size of a harpy eagle, but really an offshoot or mutated or hybrid version of the great horned eagle. Unlike his common brethren, instead of the common golden brown eyes Gaepora have piercing blue eyes the color of sapphire. He’s also capable of turning his head completely outside down, a fact that put most zoologist off due to the improbability of the bone and muscle structure. The feather patterns of the bird’s neck made it look like he has a second, friendlier face whenever he does so. However Link have ever only find it funny whenever he does his odd head turn.

Link circulate the area of Platform 9 ¾ should be, wondering how to get to the written platform. Vernon had laughed at him when he asked but he doubted the man really know anything, he simply asked to be sure. Stumped, he wondered if he should try tapping the wall with his wand but the ill-tempered conductor on platform duty have been giving him the stink eye ever since Link made the mistake of asking him about the missing platform, grumbling something about the prank being pulled on him yearly on this particular date. So that rules out openly tapping the wall. Looking at the watch’s shattered face that he managed to repair from Dudley’s hoard; he’s running out of time.

At that moment Gaepora hooted and Link looked at him to see him gesturing his head toward the wall in front of Link. An idea filled his head. It sound stupid even to him but if he really thinks about it, how better to hide things than through the sheer stupidity of things? So Link drew in a deep breath and reaches out…he gaped as his searching fingers brushed against what he can only describe as static but not. Grinning at solving the puzzle of the Platform 9 ¾, Link pulled his trolley as he let his body sink through the wall as he backed up as quickly and carefully as he can.

The sound of traditional train whistle greeted his covered ears and nostalgia filled him for a moment, his mind just knows what a well maintained steam engine sounded and smelled like.

Turning around, Link looked up to a majestic brilliant red steam engine train with the name ‘Hogwarts Express’ written up front and the side proudly. Grinning, he ignored the instantaneous need to check the steam exhaust, the valve gear and the sand pipes, the wheels, the crankshaft, the connecting rods and whatever else train parts running through his head as he pushed his trolley toward the passenger’s compartment. Some part of him dreamed of being in the engine room, being in charge of the train’s speed and destination as he wore proud dark blue conductor uniform and red conductor cap…

He blinked and thanked the twins for helping with Gaepora. The bird’s immense size impressed them long enough that Link only heard about their recognition of him after he had disappeared into the train (“Did you see that?! It’s the scar!”). As Link sat in his compartment, Gaepora being too big to be placed overhead with his luggage and thus been given the empty seat opposite of Link across the installed table, Link ponder over Hogwarts; A History.

Link looked up when he heard a timid knock on the entrance to the compartment he sat in, a timid boy shyly looked at him and asked, “C-c-can I s-s-s-sit here?”

Link shrugged and nodded before returning to his book. Link’s not really a bookworm but again and again he has been proven the value of knowledge. When it was proven to him? He has no idea but he will take what he know without really knowing with a grain of salt. A deep hoot brought his attention away and to Gaepora, whom Neville stared at nervously and with open awe. Link looked at the direction his giant owl was staring and bent over to grab the escaping toad, the train whistled loudly as a last call before the break on the wheels was removed and Link can feel them moving as he straightened his back, “Is this yours?”

Neville stuttered, “What? Oh, Trevor!”

Link smiled minutely as he handed the cool toad over to the boy. He has a feeling that the toad has wanderlust as big as Link so he advised Neville, “Keep a short leash on that one. I bet he’ll try to escape the second you take your eyes off of him,”

Neville sheepishly nodded, “He did escaped twice this morning. Luckily my Nan can just summon him,” He grinned, “Trevor’s sort of a congratulation gift for getting into Hogwarts to me…” Since Neville feel comfortable with the kind boy, he told him about his uncle giving the toad to him after he received his Hogwarts’ invitation letter, “They had suspected me for Squib, see? I have not shown magic for as long as I have been around they grew worried. My great-uncle Algie finally managed to proof to them I’m magic after dropping me from a window,” Link wondered if it’s normal to try and ‘coax’ magic out of children in their society. Neville proudly declared, “But I just bounce all the way to the street!”

Neville then blushed, “Oh, I haven’t introduced myself. My name’s Neville; Neville Longbottom,”

Link grinned as he accepted Neville’s offered handshake, “Call me Link,”

Chapter Text

A bushy haired girl named Hermione Granger joined them, having been kicked out of her previous compartment as the girls in there discovered her Muggle heritage. She then stared confused at Gaepora who slept, ignoring her. She asked Neville and Link, “Is he a kind of magical owl?”

Neville looked at Link who shrugged, “I absolutely have no idea. He’s a birthday gift and even Hagrid has no idea about his breed,” Which said a lot because from what little time spent with Hagrid, Link have come to the understanding that the man loves his animals, especially the more dangerous ones.

Hermione stared at him before squinting, “What’s wrong with your ears?”

Neville looked at Link, “His ears?”

Link blinked before turning away, blushing. It’s not that he’s sensitive about his ears, for reasons that evade him Link have always been proud of his ears. Even if his relatives will always do all they can to remind how freaky he’s when compared to other normal human, calling him all sorts of name and blaming his unfortunate status as an orphan due to his freaky ears. It hurts more to hide them.

Hermione quickly backpedalled, “I’m sorry! Was that rude? I am so sorry!”

Link sighed, “No, it’s okay,” He then took off his hat and untied the tight scarf that pinned his ears tight against his skull. Neville gawked as long ears gracefully tapered to a point revealed themselves. Hermione gasped, “You’re an elf!”

Link blinked, “I’m….pretty sure I’m a human,”

Neville frowned, “Wait…that scar…”

Link mentally cursed as the attention turned to his famous scar. Hermione frowned, “You’re Harry Potter…but you don’t look like anything they said in the books,”

Link huffed, “That’s because they don’t know me. You can’t trust everything written in a book, even if they claim it to be non-fiction. Always take what you read with a grain of salt. Sometimes there is more truth in a fairy tale than in a biography,”

Hermione blushed, “Sorry,” She then excitedly asked again, “So, are you an elf?”

Neville timidly answered, “I don’t think so, Hermione. No one has seen the wood or high elves since Solomon’s reign. The only elves we have are the house elves but those are more closely related to the brownies or bean-tighe,” Neville stared at Link’s ears, “I have never seen any creatures with your ears. House elves have ears like bat’s wings; they are very big and long and can flop around like elephant ears even!”

Hermione hesitated before asking, “So are you from a traditional magical family, Neville?”

Neville turned to her, “If you mean if all my families are witches and wizards then yeah,” He smiled at her, “Are you from a Muggle family?”

She flushed, remembering being kicked out of the previous compartment, “Why’d you think so?”

Neville shrugged, “You think Link’s an elf and many magic raised children know that elves other than house elves have disappeared from society for so long no one have any record on their appearance. The reason we know about the ears is because it’s the only thing that every magizoology around the world find consistent in every culture and thus agreed on ever since the study started,”

Hermione sighed, “So it’s a common sense thing,” She quickly change the topic, “So which House either of you think you’ll end up in? I think I’ll fit right in with Ravenclaw! Oh, but Gryffindor is very well known for being the house of Albus Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard of modern history!”

Neville shrink in his seat beside Link, “I don’t know. My family all expect me to be a Gryffindor but I feel more of a Hufflepuff. I don’t feel all that brave,”

Link smiled, “Just because you don’t feel it doesn’t mean you aren’t brave,” Link contemplate on Hermione’s question, “I like Hufflepuff too. Honest hard work brings the most satisfaction and loyalty is so hard to come by,”

Hermione nodded, “I heard on the hall that most would rather go home than getting stuck with Hufflepuff,”

At that moment, a red head ran into their compartment before closing the door and locking it. He then breathed out loudly and sliding down against the door weakly, groaning tiredly about “bloody spiders” and “stupid brothers”. Gaepora’s loud hoot of annoyance managed to not only make the intruder jump but also the compartment’s residents. The boy jumped, “Bloody hell!”

He turned toward the owner of the voice to scold for scaring him only to scream. After a few moments of begging the owl to not eat him and the others trying to calm him, the boy finally settled down. He introduced himself as Ron Weasley and that he was running from his brothers and their friend’s latest pet; a giant and hairy tarantula. Ron hates spider, he’s sure he will have nightmares that night. Neville and Link can only nod in mutual sympathy.

The rest of the way to Hogwarts has been peaceful. A familiar rude blond passed by their compartment looking for Link’s other alias (to which he pretends to not hear) and Trevor tried to escape again but once again Gaepora alerted the children on the toad’s escaping. After the third try, Link felt like Trevor’s been glaring at Gaepora with intense hatred for foiling his escape plan over and over. Ron hyperventilate after discovering Link’s scar before politely reeling himself in and calming down. Link then treated his newfound friends with a scoop of each treats he can buy off of the trolley lady, feeling happy by the simple idea that he has enough money to spend on others.

When the train finally reached its destination, Link followed his friends. Neville clutched Trevor tightly, Hermione looked around nervously and Ron stumbled on his feet only for Link to grab his elbow before he could face plant. Thanking the surprisingly blond Potter heir, the group followed Hagrid. Link gave the gentle giant a short wave, “Hey, Hagrid,”

Hagrid boomed over the tiny children in front of him, “Alright there, Link? Alright everyone, follow me!!”

The children milled about his ankles, following him as he took them to a pier filled with boats. His voice boomed again over their heads, “No more than four a boat!” The group of friends quickly claimed one boat for their use, Link once again having to help someone from falling face first against the seats in the boat. Once they have comfortably situated themselves, Link wondered where the older students went. Then he recalled what he read in Hogwarts; A History about First Years traditionally head to the castle on boat.

With a wave of his giant arm, the boats followed Hagrid across the calm water of the Black Lake. Going through an underpass, the curtain of leaves parted to reveal a looming castle shimmering with candle lights through its many windows like stars in the night sky. Link can hear his friends and the others gasping in wonder.

For a moment his eyes saw the mirage of a different castle. Instead of night, it was daylight. Instead of darkened castle walls, white marbles formed the castle. Looming turrets like spears, flags dancing in the breeze, a wide bridge connecting the town to the castle metal doors greeting traveler from all over the land, the moat surrounding the castle deceptively calm but Link can feel the fast current of the cool water washing over him…

The mirage disappeared when the boats docked itself and Link break away from the image in his mind, ignoring the screaming yearning in his chest as he followed the others through the summer rain shower that he finally noticed drenching them to the bones. Hagrid brought them up slippery steps covered in mud to the door of the castle, his boulder-like fist pounding against the door and the sound echoed through the halls of the castle.

The door opened to reveal a stern faced witch…

Chapter Text

Link yawned, happy that the day after their arrival happened to be the weekend and thus he will have enough time to rest and later explore the castle. He’s a bit sad that Gryffindor’s colors have no hues of blues or greens in it. They happened to be Link’s favorite colors. Red reminds him of…bad memories. He just dislikes the color.

Ron and the others that shared his compartment also ended up in the famous House of Lions. Hermione had been ecstatic, Neville had been so nervous he had run off with the Sorting Hat and Ron looked relieved as he joined his siblings at the table. When it was Link’s turn, people stared at his ears and whispered about his other name. Harry Potter was his written name on everything that requires naming, but it never really felt like his. But he had gotten used to being introduced as Harry that he react to it as easily as Link, though he will correct them soon after.

The Sorting Hat had been surprised and confused by him. It almost agreed to send Link to Hufflepuff before backtracking and muttered something about Slytherin being perfect for him. But Link insisted that he does not seek power nor does he have grand ambition, so being a Slytherin will be redundant to him. The Hat then prodded about his passion being a beacon to all Ravenclaw and Link had hesitated before saying that knowledge is a requirement, not a passion to him. His passions are the wilderness of the world; the bubbling of the brooks, the roaring of the waves, the rustle of the forest and the song of the wind. His passion does not lie in books, they were merely requirements that he must endure so he will not be taken by surprise yet nothing will replace experience. Truly he will be misplaced in Ravenclaw.

Indeed the Hat would have placed him in Hufflepuff for his unrelenting hard work and unbending loyalty but then something else ensnared him. Link’s courage and nobility in dealing with all things, be it friends or foes, outshone all other values regarding him. So before Link could argue about being placed in Hufflepuff again, the Hat made up its mind and declared “Gryffindor!” to all ears. Link had then taken off the Hat and mumbled about hating red and gold not suiting him.

But what’s done is done and now he sat in the Lion’s Common Room, waiting for the others to wake up so he can go get breakfast. Once the Prefects in charge of them gathered all of the First Years, they herded the group towards familiarizing with the route toward the Great Hall. Link studied the route taken, keeping in mind about moving pictures and armors as well as the trick doors. Magic can make navigating tricky but there’s always something that cannot move since its part of the magic’s foundation.

Link does not know why he knows but just like all things that he knows, he simply rolls with it. This especially helped when class started the next day and he barely made it with Ron and Neville. McGonagall, their Head of House and subsequently their Transfiguration Professor, was far from impressed. As they left the class, Hermione hissed, “Where were you guys?! I was waiting for you but you didn’t appear so I looked at the Great Hall but you guys weren’t there either!”

The two boys turned to Link, Ron grumbled, “Blame Link. And here I thought I’m hard to wake up,”

Link blushed, “Sorry,”

He had gotten so comfortable that he completely slept like he never slept before. At the Dursley he always made sure to beat their clock so Petunia and Vernon won’t have reasons to punish him more. It was an instinctual survival move. But here Link felt so safe and comfortable that he melted into his bed completely. Not to mention he had his stomach filled with good hearty food that he never felt fuller in his life worked in favor of making him drowsy.

Neville sighed, “I think we are going to need a plan to make sure Link wake up early enough so the rest of us can get breakfast,” His empty stomach grumbled unhappily in agreement. Link’s flustered apology barely soothes the boys’ ruffled feathers. Hermione rolled her eyes, “So how did you wake him up?”

Neville and Ron shared a disturbed look before both of them answered Hermione in sync, “You have no idea, it’s tiring just trying to wake him up!” “We ended up dragging this sorry log into the shower!”

Link continued to apologize for the rest of the morning. However, just as Neville predicted, the boys of their Year had to make a sort of shift to wake Link up after McGonagall overheard the reason why the trio of boys always late to class on their first week at Hogwarts. It has become a chore for every boys of his Year of Gryffindor to wake him up first thing in the morning. In the end everyone ended up working together to just carry him into the shower and let the water do the rest as the best strategy to wake him up by the end of their second week at Hogwarts.

Hermione rolled her eyes when she heard Ron grumbling about Link being heavy, “Well, when we finally learn Charms you can just conjure water to splash Link,”

Seamus and Dean shook their head sluggishly. Dean answering the reason behind their rejection of her method, “We tried the splashing. It doesn’t work,”

Seamus nodded, “He needs the full shower to wake up,” The two then return to slumping on the table. Ron added with tired grumble, “And he’s bloody heavy!” He glared at Link who’s eating his lunch, “You’re thin as a stick, why are you even that heavy?! I bet Neville’s lighter than you!”

Dean answered that bet with a muffle, “He is,” When they stared at him, he sheepishly said, “Remembered when he broke his ankle on that trick step? I was the one who carried him to the Hospital Wing to get Madam Pomfrey to fix him,”

Ron groaned louder, “We need a better solution! At this rate I’ll break my back just carrying him!”

Hermione frowned, “Oh, don’t be dramatic Ron! You’re not the only one carrying him,” At her words everyone fell silent but in a gloomy way. At her confused look, Neville enlightened her, “He’s very heavy even with all of us carrying him, Hermione,”

Hermione looked at Link with wide eyes full of shock, “You’re stick thin, how can you be so heavy?!”

Link don’t feel like explaining the difference in weight between fat and muscle mass. Also, he had always made sure no one saw him when he’s changing. The reason for that was because of the strange marks he’s born with covering his body. He learned while gardening once how one of the neighbor’s niece were born with something called port wine birthmark and how it looked like burn mark on the poor child’s back. Similar mark covered Link, mostly on his left side. There’s also odd white lines crisscrossing his whole body especially his forearms, the lines even have slight indentation almost like a scar from a deep knife cut like the one he had on his fingers when he first learn how to handle knifes from Petunia forceful education on prepping food for cooking. The only reason no one really noticed the port wine mark around his left ear was because of the way Link grow out his hair.

Petunia had trained him to never show his freaky body to anyone. She didn’t want police to come knocking on the door to accuse her for his lies. She always reminded him that people will vomit looking at his bare skin. So Link always made sure to be well covered with Dudley’s baggy clothes, even in the height of blistering summer. Even now, he’s wearing a turtleneck undershirt beneath his uniform so no one will notice the marks near the neck and left shoulder.

Though he’s comfortable enough that he can sleep like a log surrounded by his roommates, Link never felt comfortable enough that he let down his guard when it comes to his strange body. The lightning scar on his forehead was perhaps the only mark on his person that he don’t mind them seeing. After all, they all know the story behind that one. But what about his strange body?

No matter how little he eat, how hungry he get whenever food was withheld from him as punishment due to ‘unsatisfactory’ work, Link can go on with his usual routine. He’s seldom become so weakened that he can’t do his work properly. It was only when the hunger really hit him hard that he scavenge for anything edible in the forest his tree grow. Link knew well that other kids can’t handle his life style, not after he realized how hungry they can get just forgetting breakfast. And he heard kids will stop growing if they eat too little but yet Link continue to be just fine.

Link will never let his new found friends discover just how weird and freaky he was compared to them. That there’re weirder things to him than just his ears and his coloring…

Chapter Text

Neville sprained his wrist after the fiasco with the broom during their first flying class. Link frowned as he recalled the argument between Ron and Draco Malfoy from Slytherin. Link does not like Draco at all, not after how he sneered about his choice in company. He even sent Hermione crying with one insult toward her lack of magical heritage. But Link had smacked him down when he said that there’s more honor in being the first in her family than continuing an already existing lineage. Draco and the rest of the Slytherin took insult from his words and had tried a lot of thing to put him down.

They tried it during Potion, a class which their Head of House, Snape taught. Snape glared at Link a lot and had made it his mission to insult Link’s intelligence. Luckily Link managed to operate as usual, letting his insults and sarcasm to wash over him like water over rock. He just knows that he had been treated worse and had heard worse than all the insults that Snape could spit at him. Because of this, he managed to stop many of the mistakes that a very nervous Neville almost made.

Back to the current situation, Link watched as Ron took to the sky to wrestle Neville’s Rememberall from Draco. The boy managed to save the delicate item but then McGonagall had called him inside. Draco looked smug for getting away with his mischief while getting Ron in trouble, “Bet he’ll have to pack by dinner,”

Link glared at him and the other blond froze in his track, shivers crawled down his spine from the fierce blue eyes staring at him. Link then turned away, Hermione chasing after him as he swore to not let Draco’s menace get away. But when he finally caught up with Ron, the boy looked oddly happy. He whispered to his friends, “Turn out she have never seen anyone fly like me! I’ll be entered into the Quidditch team next year!” He then sheepishly added, “That is…if I continue to hone my skill as Keeper,”

Before Hermione could berate him, Link asked, “Did you tell McGonagall about Malfoy?”

Ron stopped and groaned, “Agh! I forgot, it completely slip off my mind!”

The solution for the trouble with Link came up during the next Charm class. Flitwick has decided that they have understood enough about the theories surrounding Charm to attempt the first practical magic of the class; a levitation charm. Needless to say the boys of Gryffindor took to the class with burning ambition to cast successfully.

“After all,” as Ron bluntly put, “it’s for the sake of our back!”

Link fumbled for a bit in choosing his wand, wondering which wand he would use first for the class. In the end he decided to train himself with using the holly and phoenix wand. He will train using aspen and unicorn hair later in private.

In the middle of class, Seamus managed to catch his feather on fire, causing the dwarf professor to tumble down his stacked tomes. Hermione later managed to levitate her feather after she tried to correct an incensed Ron and stop him from taking Neville’s eyes out with his frantic wand waving.

Link frowned as Ron grumbled beside him, “No wonder she have no friends!” Unfortunately Hermione was right behind them and was about to join in on their conversation when she overheard Ron’s grumbled. Neville gulped after she bumped harshly against Ron, “I think she heard you,”

Ron floundered with the guilt blooming inside him before crushing it stubbornly, “So?! You’ve seen it for yourself! No one wants to be friend with her because of her attitude! I’d never asked for her help, she just had to go and be bossy!”

Link stopped and glared at him, causing Ron to stumble into a stop and Neville to freeze beside him. Link’s silent personality have always been calming to the group, his trouble with waking up aside, but they never wanted to be on the bad end of his glare like Malfoy often find himself under. It sent shiver down their young spine, like a foal facing a hungry apex predator. Link’s disappointed tone as he spoke stabbed deeper into their conscience than one would think, “I think she helps because she think of you as her friend,”

Neville shivered as he watched their blond friend power walked after Hermione. He looked at a pale Ron, “He’s right you know. I really think you should apologize to Hermione…” He then added to himself, “I should too…” ‘For not standing up for her,’

Late that evening as they enjoyed the start of the Halloween Feast, Ron finally calmed down from both his irritation towards Hermione and the scare Link gave him from his own show of temper, despite it being rather mild compared to Ron’s, to really think about his words towards the Muggleborn witch. Now he feel irritated toward his own attitude that he lost all enjoyment toward the feast laid out before him. Link finally sat down with them, Neville asking about Hermione’s condition to which he replied, “Unfortunately she have decided to hide away in a girl’s loo, so I can’t really talk to her. From what the girls that came out of the loos said, she was crying,” He glared at Ron as he said the last sentence.

Flushing a shameful red, Ron ducked his head and mumbled, “I get it. I’m apologizing when I see her next,” Honestly, Link has such a fierce glare Ron’s sure that if he really was angry; his glare alone can stop Ron’s heart!

As the group decided to simply enjoy the rest of the feast, the Great Hall’s doors burst open and the hall fell silent as all turn to look at their stuttering professor of Defense. The man looked like he has seen something so terrible he’s half a step from dying, but that’s a common look for the cowardly professor. Yet it’s not normal even for the terrified professor to interrupt a meal, let alone a feast like the Halloween Feast. So Link half expected the words that spilled out of the man’s lip and yet at the same time not, “TROLL!!!! TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!!!”

A moment of breathing later and he added before dropping unconscious, “Thought you should know-,”

Immediately pandemonium exploded with the panicking students but before anyone unfortunate can be trampled on, an explosion from the staff’s table culled the panic. A strong voice commanded their attention, “SILENT!”

Albus Dumbledore, their illustrious Headmaster, stood up and in a grave voice ordered for the Prefects to herd their respective Houses to their dorm. The Slytherin hesitated but several staff that’s not part of the hunting group decided to help them to get to their dorm safely. As all these happened, Link break away from the group. It was only because Neville was about to ask something of him that he noticed. Pulling at Ron, the two decided to follow after the blond.

Ron called, “Link! What are you doing?!”

Link looked behind him and answered, “Hermione! She doesn’t know!”

Neville hesitated and proposed, “We should get one of the professors. It’s better than just going on our own,”

Ron nodded in agreement, “Besides, the troll’s in the dungeon. Fat chance of it coming this way-,” Soon as he said it, the boys gagged at the invading scent that grew stronger as they stood talking. Neville gulped back bile, “What’s that smell?”

Link automatically reply, “Hinox,” He pulled the confused boys along into a shadowy niche as something large lumbered back. Ron paled, “Troll…”

Neville shivered, “We-we really sh-sh-should g-get a t-t-t-t-t-t-tea-ch-cher…”

Just as Link was about to agree with his proposal, a familiar voice greeted them in an unfamiliar scream. The three boys paled and Ron screamed, “Hermione!” Immediately all thoughts of getting the adults disappeared as they dashed towards her voice. The boys turned the corner just in time to see the troll’s club being swung once more…

Chapter Text

Link laid on one of the Hospital Wing’s bed, the famous Madam Pomfrey fussing over him. So much for hiding his body from his friends. Now not only does Ron, Neville and Hermione saw his freakish body, even the professors who finally tracked down the missing troll saw his body in all its horrid glory. As to how he ended up in the Hospital Wing instead of Hermione or the others, one need to go back to last night after the fiasco that Quirrel caused at the feast.

After Link saw the club smashing down, bless fully missing Hermione but crushing the sink under which she tried to crawl under towards the exit, his mind blanked out. All he saw was a tall hulking figure with a singular eye preying on a holy figure with a golden harp. All he felt were fierce fury and deep terror that surged through his body like a tsunami of all consuming emotions. Then he was moving.

Ron will never tell him, or anyone long after the years gone by, the fear that scalded his bone with freezing ice as his skull rattled with the sound of Link’s roar. Neville will never tell him, or anyone long after the years of Hogwarts passed by, how that roar also gave him the burst of courage needed to rush towards Hermione. Hermione will never tell him, only recalling privately in her later days, how that same roar of fury gave her hope that help have arrived. Strange, how Link’s great roar not only inspire terror but also courage and hope.

The troll had staggered as Neville and Ron raced towards Hermione, mind racing as they held their wand with amateur skill lacking the true ability of a full grown wizard. How should they do this? How can they get out of this? All they know were the charm to levitate and the crude skill to transfigure a toothpick into a needle. What use was a needle in such a situation? And they barely have enough control and mastery of the levitation spell, what good was it in this sort of scene? They know little recipes for potion making but they do not have the time or the ingredients nor the skills needed to brew the right potion. In fact, what recipe they knew have little use against a troll.

But a second roar break the three out of their stupor and they looked up to see Link, both hands holding a wand of different shades; one in gold and the other silver. He brandished them both and with pure magical energy concentrated into blade-like energy, he unleashed his fury on the troll who had been frozen in its spot by the first roar and came to itself with the second. Link moved unlike anyone they have ever seen, it was like watching a dance but rather than simple grace each movement reminded them of deadly wind blades.

He mercilessly cut at the troll’s ankle, immobilizing it as he began to climb up and aimed for the thick throat. But in the troll’s pained trashing, he was torn off the troll’s chest and thrown into the wall. Ron made his move then; he charmed the troll’s forgotten club before it could claim it and take it far from the beast. Breaking out of the instinctual numbness, Neville trusted his aim as he took chunks of the broken sink and stalls and threw it towards the troll.

Hermione called out to her fallen friend as the only thing she can do; her limbs too numb to move and her mind cut short by the horror she felt, “Link! Come on, Link!”

They forgot their own fear as they worked together to make sure the troll does not finish off their brave friend. Ron pulled the club further from the troll as it tried to claw for its flying weapon. Neville continued to distract the troll with his diminishing weapons, calling out to it and taunting it in a way so unlike him his family won’t recognize the usually timid boy. Hermione began praying, begging and pleading for her friend to wake up, that he’s not yet gone from this world.

Just as the troll finally grabbed unto its flying club with a victorious roar, causing Ron to stumble into Neville from losing the short tug war with the troll, Link dashed out from under broken stalls and climbed the troll once more. Surprised, the troll tried to smack him with its club. Link nimbly avoided, each resounding smack causing his friends to cry in terror for him. His eyes on his target, his magic honed to its limit and his body moved instinctually…

When the professor arrives, they were just in time to see Link standing on the troll’s shoulder as it fell back, life fluid spurting out like crimson fountain as its jugular continued to pump out blood. Snape and McGonagall shake off their shock when the body slammed against the ground, the impact sending jolts into them as they ran towards the loo and saw three students running towards the famous boy who had just committed an act a child his age should be averse from. Yet Harry ‘Link’ Potter simply turn to look at his friends and checked for their health, behaving like a veteran Auror. It was only when his sapphire eyes landed on the adults that his tense face (not an expression a child should be making) loosened and he smiled before losing all consciousness.

A severe magic drain, Pomfrey said. When they brought him to the Hospital Wings, the other children being taken to check on their health and wellbeing, Pomfrey had given a horrified gasp that draw their attention to her. The children had ran back inside from where they were about to leave through the door, worried that the nurse had discovered a worse injury than what their brave friend had hidden from them, only to see something that certainly scar their naïve belief of the world.

Outside from Auror like Mad-Eye Moody, McGonagall had never seen scars like Link being carried by a child. She had furiously turned to the Headmaster only to see his confused and pale face. He immediately asked Pomfrey to do further analysis and check on Link, sending an equally pale faced Snape to gather any and all healing potions from the store room. For once, he didn’t argue when it came to Potter-spawn, so great was his shock. It took all of her self-control to guide the children to their dorm, making them promise to not say a word of what had happened to anyone. When she returned, she was greeted by confusion.

Link was not badly abused. A little malnourished but healthier than most. What appears like scars of laceration from sharp object, remnants of puncture and stab wounds as well as what appeared like healed burns on large area on the left side of his body the color of port wine were nothing more than birthmarks. Breathing easier after the revelation, they were surprised when Pomfrey added that some of the laceration-like birthmark also marked the bones under it. Her magical scans showed no history of broke bones yet his bones structure tell different story. There were signs of healed broken bones marked all over him, especially the legs and arms areas as well as the ribcage.

So since then, Pomfrey have been asking all sorts of questions to him. She asked about his body and he answered, “I’m born this way,”

The kind but stern woman frowned, “I have seen many birthmarks, Mr. Potter, but I have never seen any as…severe as yours,” She stared at the ‘scars’ crisscrossing his arms, “Nor as prominent and numerous as yours,” She then scowled at him, “Not to mention the way you dressed leaves one to wonder,”

Link sighed, “I promised you, Ma’am, that I am born this way. My relatives are always worried that people will misunderstood when they see these so I have been hiding them to avoid misunderstanding,”

Pomfrey stared at him, studying him, her eyes roaming all over his stony face that leave nothing to be read; be it truth or lies. In the end she sighed, “Very well. I want you to take it easy after this. I will carry a series of appointment with you, just to be safe!” She raised her voice when he gave sign of arguing about the appointments. The two stared at each other for a long while before Link relented. After she made sure that he drank his nutrient booster potion, Pomfrey sat down in her office and sighed.

Later that evening she was visited by the Headmaster who asked her about Potter. She sighed and said, “He has all the symptoms of a veteran soldier that’d rather be moving than be stuck on the bed, being poked and prodded by medics for things that they believed can heal if only they brush it off like a bug bite,”

Albus Dumbledore sat quietly before asking once more, “Are you sure…that he’s not abused, Poppy?”

Poppy Pomfrey slumped, “I have seen abused. I have seen neglected. I have seen trauma. But I have never seen anything like this, Albus,” She confessed to her old friend and former professor, eyes wide with worry, “No matter what I do, the scans all showed that what I can clearly see as healed injuries, terrible injuries, are nothing more than a part of him like freckles are on others! It can even be categorized as birthmark! But how, Albus?”

Albus hummed, “By your personal opinion as a medic, what could have made those marks if they really are scars?”

Poppy shivered, “Blades, large and sharp or crude and dull. Bullets, perhaps, or throwing knives. But I worried more about the burn-like scarring on his left side,” She looked at Albus deep into his blue eyes that unnervingly lacking their usual twinkle, unease creeping up both their backs, “Whatever, whoever, it was that tried to get at Mr. Potter, Albus, they did their best to mutilate him. Not just kill, no. They want to go beyond that. No child should have a body like his, not hardened muscles and healed scars…”

Their quiet conversation lapsed into troubled but silent company…

Chapter Text

Link was grateful that none of his friends mentioned anything about his body, but even more elated that they decided to stick by him after what they had seen. They treated him as they always did, although Hermione stopped being as bossy and Neville showed more fighting spirit than he did before. Ron also seemed to have taken more interest in learning. However Ron’s new attitude towards learning worry his brothers who were more used to their lazy Ron than this new studious Ron.

During Quidditch week, Ron confessed to a quiet Link. It was the first time any one of his friends mentioned anything regarding that night with the troll. They were looking for a reference for their latest homework and Ron quietly started, “I felt stupid,”

Link stopped fussing with books on the shelves before him, his long ears twitched to listen to his friend’s quiet voice as he continued, “When the troll were there, standing over us, I felt really stupid. Granted, I’m just a kid and I shouldn’t be facing things like trolls…in a school of all places!” He sniffled and looked at Link’s neutral face, “I was scared because I was stupid. All that runs in my head was…if only I know more. If I had known more, maybe I could do more and you won’t have gotten hurt. I mean,” He gasped as tears fell down his cheeks, “I know the magical world, more than you or Hermione and Hermione knows everything. But I was not prepared, I know the danger in this magic world but I wasn’t prepared to face it,”

He sighed, “I can’t sleep lately because I kept remembering that troll,” Link had noticed this, because Ron was usually the second hardest person to wake up beside Link, “So I decided to know more, to learn more. So what if my brothers have all done it before me? I’m the one living as me, not them,” He then looked at Link, eyes hard and determined, “I promise you this, Link. I will never leave your back open,”

Though Ron grinned after that, claiming that it was a load off his back, Link felt an uncomfortable sensation of self-hate. He failed to protect their innocence. Now Ron had to grow up a little faster. His mind flashed with burning homes and screaming children and Link had to excuse himself to visit the loo so he could throw up in private. He then recalled the reason why Petunia always excuse him and deal with pork meat herself; somehow Link knew what burnt human flesh smelled like.

Once he was done heaving over the toilet bowl, he opened the stall door to see Neville leaning outside, waiting. Neville’s eyes caught his and he gave Link a shy smile as well as a tissue, “Feeling better?”

Link nodded, unsure on how to react around Neville. The boy have been showing more confidence as of late, asserting his presence more. He’s still timid and shy, but he no longer take bullying lying down. Just the other day he threw the first punch and bring down Draco’s goons down a few pegs alone when they tried to corner him near the Great Hall. He also showed more confidence in class, especially Herbology. Though he still fumble around nervously in Potion due to Snape.

Neville asked, “It has been a week since you started throwing up. Are you sure you don’t want to see Madam Pomfrey?”

Link gave him a short shake of his head, refusing to go to her any more than necessary. He knew that his throwing up came more from guilt than nausea. However, he’s losing weight much too quickly due his constant throwing up, his body barely managed to digest the food he ate before he threw them out against his will. He didn’t want the nurse to think that he’s developing bulimia.

So Neville stayed silent.

One evening, being too stressed that he began to develop a mild case of insomnia, Link stayed awaked through Christmas Eve’s night with Gaepora for company. He stared at the falling snow and wondered why he always cry when he saw snow falling from the sky. Gaepora crooned against him, fluffing his feathers as he pressed tighter against Link as if to remind him that he’s not alone. Soon, he dozed off and in the darkness of his mind he can hear an unfamiliar tune that sang to him in nostalgic rhythm. When he felt Ron poking his side, he blearily opened his eyes to his friend vibrating with excitement before blowing up, “MERRY CHRISTMAS, LINK!!”

Link absentmindedly replied as he yawned sleepily, “Nayru’s Blessing to you too, Ron,”

Ron paused before shrugging it away as he walked to the pile of presents under the modest Christmas tree near the fire place of the Common Room. He and the others, who had returned home for the holiday, had noticed that Link has the oddest way of approaching things and say the strangest things even by wizarding standard. But his actions and words, little as they were, have never been malicious so none of them care for the oddities that came from Link. So Ron simply continue making his way to the pile of presents.

After Link finally joined him, Gaepora somehow balancing on his shoulder and head like a giant fluffy hat; Ron discovered a parcel with Link’s name on it. He pushed the parcel into the hand of the bleary eyed boy, “Look! It’s yours!”

Link paused, his sleepy brain quickly waking up from the shock that washed over him tinged with disbelief. No one had ever given him a present on holidays. Gaepora was his first present, ever. He stared at the name written in cursive; Harry ‘Link’ Potter. A bit confused, and slightly wary of possible prank, he studied the parcel; checking the wrapping and weighing it in his hands. Finally, he pulled on the simple twine holding the parcel close.

Folds of silvery fabric spilled out like silky waterfall and Link stared at it in confusion. Ron, face covered with crumbs of muffins, picked up the fallen note, “Here,”

Link took it and unfold the parchment, similar cursive forming under his eyes. The writer and gift giver does not sign their name under the rather short letter. But knowing that the fabric once belonged to his late father made the present all the more remarkable in Link’s eyes. His mind recalled receiving a present of green tunic from several different people.

Ron, having taken out all the presents addressed to him and surprisingly, Link, pushed all the presents that belonged to his friends into his laps. Link opened each one carefully, still in disbelief that he received something on Nayru’s Day. It seemed that the Weasley brothers had written home about him enough that the matriarch decided to knit him a sweater. Somehow Ron managed to tell her his favor of the color green and blue since she knit him a beautiful blue sweater the color of the sky and the teal green letter ‘L’ on the front.

Flustered, Link told Ron that he had not thought of buying them presents. Ron rolled his eyes and said that it was alright. Even dull as he was, Ron kept a close eye on the strong boy before him. He recalled the scars covering his friend’s young body. Ron and the others had figured that Link does not have a happy or caring home. The sight of his friend being in a state of disbelief when he pushed the first present into his arms said much about his childhood. So Ron had not expected for Link to prepare them presents.

Link opened the rest of his presents; Hermione had gifted each of them a book binder with a strong reminder to organize their notes, and Neville had gifted them gift cards for Honeydukes. Ron had to explain what Honeydukes were to Link to which the boy’s blue eyes widened with excitement. Later, Link put on his sweater happily and then looked at the fabric that had belonged to his father. Unfolding it proper, he discovered a cloak.

He put it on and Ron gawked, “That’s an invisibility cloak!”

Link looked down and saw that though he can feel his body and limbs, he cannot see them. Excited, he landed the cloak for Ron to experience after the boy mentioned it being rare and expensive. Ron enjoyed pranking his siblings who joined them soon after, even the usually uptight Percy let loose a few chuckle despite being manhandled by the twins to join them early on.

Later, they were called to join in on the Christmas Feast at the Great Hall. Link went and placed his presents in his luggage, making sure to place the invisibility cloak in the ‘key item’ compartment…

Chapter Text

Link was enjoying his nightly walk. Ever since he gained an invisibility cloak, he have been using it on nights he couldn’t sleep. It was during one such escapade that he came across the Mirror of Erised. He stared at the nonsense written on the frame over the mirror before his mind translate the words for him; I show not your face but your heart’s desire.

Link paused at that and wondered what his heart hid from even him. Wary, he approached the mirror until his eyes widened at what he saw. There he stood, but not in his pajama or his uniforms. But a blue tunic, both familiar but not, with sword belt (‘huntsman shoulder strap sword belt’ his mind supplied) winding over his shoulder and chest. He held a broadsword before him, his stance like a guard and his face stony. The blade of the sword glowed with ethereal light that chased away the darkness. Link recognized himself but at the same time…not.

Then the mirror showed him his late parents, both watching him with pride and love. But that was not the reason his eyes shed tears. No, it was the girl floating behind him. Golden light leaking from her pores, suffusing her in holy sunlight. Her eyes were almost closed, but viridian green the color of emerald peaked through her honey lashes, a color that made his mother’s eyes looked like painted stone. Her golden locks floated around her in a halo and she was covered in muddied white robe with golden armbands and golden under bust belt with cerulean patterns.

He fell onto his knees, sobbing as he reached out to touch her. Despair, regret, desperation washed over him in torrents of crashing waves that it crippled him. Failure beat him like whips of shame as he curled over himself, crying his heart out. His image within the mirror began to bleed and crumble, the glowing sword dimmed and rusted, losing its strength and power as his blood colored the ground under him in horrid crimson puddle.

Terror gripped him, regret choking him, despair blinded him and desperation clawed in his chest as he choked on all the emotions crippling him as he cried before the mirror. When he looked up at the mirror once more, his parents stood over his dying image and she sat there beside him, tears dripping down her pale cheeks as she wept and cradled his broken body to her breaking heart. He recognized that her tears were his regret. His mind, his heart, his everything centered on her.

When Albus came down to check and move the mirror that had recently arrived under pretense of a Christmas present, he did not expect to hear the heartbreaking sound of mourning. He shared at look with Snape who had accompanied him to move the mirror to its destination. When they rushed, they saw Link Potter crumbled before the mirror. Snape sneered at the familiar invisibility cloak but the choked wailing caused him to stay his anger. The boy, the Potter-spawn, cried like his whole world had crashed around him. Like he did when he lost her; Lily.

Worried, Albus rushed forward and ignored the image of his sister, his brother, his family and his lover standing behind his image. He tried to break the boy of his despair but he continued to cry his heart out. In the end he held the boy, cradling his shaking body in his arms as he crooned to sooth the boy.

When the boy finally passed out from crying, he called McGonagall to help put the child to bed. As he walked with Snape to move the mirror, he wondered aloud, “The mirror ought to show his deepest wish and yet…why would he cry witnessing it?”

Snape have no answer to give, not that the Headmaster expected him to provide one. Albus sighed, “He kept saying that he failed her,”

Snape winced. It rang too close to home. The echo of his own regret resounding in his mind every Halloween and every year on her birthday. Once he finished helping Albus install the horrible mirror in its place, he left the Headmaster in favor of drinking himself to sleep. Luckily tomorrow’s a weekend. He recognized Potter’s cry because he made that very same sound the early years after her murder. But what could the boy have seen, have witnessed, have lost that he’s struck by that same regret and despair?

Restless, he opened his private cabinet…

Upstairs in his tower, Albus stared at a satchel that held the item he promised to safe keep for his old friend. Yet his mind returned to the sound of pure pain and anguish that someone so young should never have reason to make. He had half expected for Link, as the boy enjoyed being referred to, to misuse the cloak as his forefather’s before him. He had also half expected for the child to find the Mirror of Erised though he had thought that the boy will never find it after the mirror stood in the empty classroom for a whole week and he had been in the classroom preparing the mirror for its duty.

It was pure coincidence that Link found the mirror on the day of its removal.

The next morning he heard the boy had been struck by high fever and incapable of going to his classes…

Link groaned as Madam Pomfrey finally released him from her clutch, Link hate being fussed over especially over a fever. He has no one to blame but himself. When he finally reached the Common Room, he noticed Hermione glaring at both Ron and Neville. Confused, he asked what had happened. Hermione rolled her eyes, “Yesterday, these two idiots decided to take up the dueling challenge that Malfoy of all people gave. You can just figure out what happened next!”

Link looked at the boys and Ron grumbled, “That snake snitched us to Filch!”

Neville nodded glumly, “It was a trap all along…”

Ron then spoke up, “So we ran all the way to the third floor and Peeves had us turned around and made us run to the forbidden corridor,” He shivered, “Filch caught up to us…”

Neville gulped, “You won’t believe what happened next,”

Ron leaned forward to whisper conspiratorially, “We hid in what we assumed was an empty classroom…but turned out it wasn’t empty!”

Neville nodded, face pale in the noon, “There’s a giant three head dog in there!” He shivered, “I thought I’d be eaten for sure!”

Hermione rolled her eyes, “Did any of you not use your eyes! It was standing on something!”

Ron huffed, “I’m sorry, I was busy looking at its heads! In case you haven’t noticed, there were three of them!”

Hermione ignored his sarcasm in favor of a more confused Link, “It was standing on trapdoor of sort. That means its guarding something!”

Link blinked, “Guarding something?”

Hermione grumbled, “Anyway before either of you decided on another harebrained scheme of getting us all killed, or worse, expelled, I’d rather finish my essay which is due tomorrow!” That being said, she rushed up to her side of the dorm and the boys shared at look.

Ron scratched his head, “She really need to have her priority sorted,” He then dug into his bag, “And I really need to finish my essay,”

Hermione came back down soon after to hand over her notes for Link who missed yesterday’s and this morning’s classes. Link gladly worked on his missed classes, though once there’s a lapse between work his mind will return to the story his friends just regaled him with. Instinct told him to venture and see for himself, that there’s a dungeon waiting to be explored. Logic argued that it’s none of his business.

Chapter Text

Then again something in him told him that he should have known better than avoiding problems because for some goddesses known reason, problem finds him whether he actively avoid it or ignorant of it.

It happened when Hagrid invited them to his hut near the Forbidden Forest one evening to show off the dragon egg that he somehow won in a poker game. That should have been the first warning bell that Link should have taken notice; Hagrid’s bad with secrets let alone winning in a game where one’s victory depend on hiding their expression. When the egg finally hatched spring evening, Malfoy saw them and snitched to McGonagall about their plan to smuggle the dragon hatchling to Ron’s brother Charlie who worked at a dragon’s reserve in Romania. So Link who helped Ron smuggle said dragon using his invisibility cloak, were punished alongside the surprised Malfoy who didn’t expect to be punished alongside them due to McGonagall’s fairness. On her defense, he did sneak out as well.

So the next night found the three students and Hagrid as well as a gleeful Filch at the entrance of the Forbidden Forest; their punishment was to locate an injured unicorn or find the culprit though the latter was discouraged. Draco, the idiot who sold himself along with them, decided to take Hagrid’s boarhound Fang with him and Link. Too bad Fang’s more of a coward than a guard dog.

When they were walking in the forest, Link instinctually used his knowledge as a hunter to track the forest’s dark ground. Draco blinked and frowned; he had been grumbling about the unfairness and the might of his father in the Ministry and Board of Governor but was ignored by Potter. So he too had fallen into silent as he trekked after the boy, noticing that Link seemed know what he was doing from how he moved and studied the ground even in the little light the lantern lent them in the dark forest. When he suddenly stopped, Draco instinctually crouched, “What? What is it?”

He will sit in his room later, wondering why he had trusted Link’s action. But he was glad because Link not only discovered unicorn blood, but he also had forced Draco to hold his scream when he pulled him into a thick brush when they came across the culprit in the action of draining a unicorn foal dry. All Draco can hear was the pounding of his heart in his head for it was so loud he was sure that the monster eating the unicorn have heard it as well. The only reason they presence was betrayed was because of Fang breaking free from Draco’s sweaty hold and ran away with a whimper.

When the thing rushed at them, Link had pulled him out of the way of the thing’s rush. It was then that Draco screamed out in pure terror. Somehow, Link was levelheaded enough that he can cast the emergency signal before standing between his annoying schoolmate and the monster rasping at them. Just when he thought it was the end, Link roared loud and fierce. It felt like a gust of wind after a lightning strike on water. The energy silenced Draco’s beating heart, calming him and freezing the opponent in their track.

In the lull of the moment, Draco raised his wand and casted the calling flare to sky. He will always wonder after from where he gained the sliver of courage to call for help, even when his hip had failed him and he know that all that stood between him and the monster was Link. But that was it, wasn’t it? Link stood tall in front of someone who would have abandoned him the first chance he get. He has no reason, he was not paid and he was far from friendly with Draco. But there he stood nonetheless, fierce as he glared back at the terror standing before them.

At that moment, an arrow whizzed into the clearing and almost nailed the creature. The nameless spell, one that was oddly cast from a single fierce roar that deny fear, was broken by that attack and the creature ran just as a centaur galloped into the clearing. Draco lost his consciousness after the adrenaline leave his system…

Firenze, the centaur who helped them chase off an enemy that Link wasn’t sure he’s ready to face, carried them to safety on his back. A fellow centaur named Bane had mocked him, calling him a pack mule for the wizards. Link took offence, “What’s wrong with lending a helping hand where it’s needed?”

Bane turned his glare on the child on Firenze’s back, before his eyes widened at the sight of the ears, “What…? How can this be?!”

Firenze looked at Link, “This here be the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter (Link corrected, “It’s Link,”) and it was his war cry that called me to his side,” He looked at his fellow herd, “Surely you heard him, Bane?”

Bane narrowed fierce eyes, “How can I not? The whole forest be awoken by his call,” He trotted closer to Link who returned his fierce stare with his own. The piercing sapphires sending shivers down Bane’s back, “The eyes of a beast you have, Sky Child,”

Link blinked; the name ‘Sky Child’ resounded in the depth of his mind with familiarity. Bane back down as another centaur appeared. The newcomer sneered at the children on Firenze’s back but his eyes stopped its track on Link’s ears, “Why is there a Sky Child here?”

Link shook the odd sensation of familiarity to the name they call him and asked, “Why do you call me that? What does Sky Child mean? My name is Link,”

Ronan looked to the sky as well as his fellow centaur, whispering, “Remarkable,” He looked at Link with bright eyes, “It would honor the herd much if you will deem it profitable to visit us in the forest,” At that moment, the sound of Fang’s barking can be heard reaching them along with Hagrid.

Already he can hear Ron and Hagrid calling him, “LINK!!”

Before the herd leave him with an unconscious Draco, Link asked the friendlies centaur, “What was it that does something so cruel to an innocent so pure?” He looked into Firenze’s sad gaze, “For what reason does it slay the unicorn? Will you tell me?”

Firenze looked into the eyes of a race not heard of since before the Great Freeze and bent to whisper, “The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. For you have slain something so pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips,”

Link frowned, an image of a gigantic bipedal swine with a trident coming to the mind, “It’s not a life worth living, a fate worse than death,” He remembered fumbling decaying body, scuffling in the dark, ever searching for life. He looked at Firenze, eyes sad and fierce, “Death would be a mercy,”

Firenze nodded before adding, “Indeed. But there are those out there that fear death so much they would rather be cursed into a half-life. Now who would benefit from this heinous crime, Fierce One?” With the passing message, Firenze bit him goodbye and galloped into the wood where the rest of the centaur herds awaited.

Link could only think of one name, one that pierced him with fury and sorrow in equal measure, “Voldemort,”

The days after, Link unfortunately had taken to wandering the castle at night due to his worsening insomnia and because of this unfortunate habit of his, had come across an interesting conversation between Snape and Quirrel regarding loyalty. While puzzling this out, Ron and Neville both come to the conclusion that the culprit helping You-Know-Who (whose presence on the school ground had caused a mild panic among his friend though it was kept silent to avoid mass panic) invading the school.

“After all,” Ron added, “He was one of the people that my Dad told me being suspected Death Eater, You-Know-Who’s follower,” He then added more to the list, “Put the whole Slytherin under suspect too,”

The group had then taken investigating the strange happening in Hogwarts even more seriously, though Hermione tried to balance it out with education, such as the rather old news about breaking into Gringott back in September when school just started. It had caused quite the uproar but had slipped by their notice completely due to the fact that bank heist was quite normal on the Muggle side of things. They had also put down the ominous warning that year about the third floor’s corridor, the reason being the guard dog. The troll incident was also put on the list of things, because it has always been a puzzle as to how it got into the school in the first place (Hermione grumbled, “Wards! It shouldn’t have been able to pass through without help!”)

Neville put in the ominous and rather overlooked incident with the broom, though no one can puzzle out what it was for only that the broom he used shouldn’t have been that bad but it could just be his ill luck with physical activity.

But even with all their investigation, their clues and their discovery of what was hidden, nothing can prepare them for what happened next…

Chapter Text

Link was alone.

The friends had tried to warn the only adult they had thought would take them seriously when they heard that the Headmaster had left about their suspicion of possible heist taking advantage of his lack of presence, but McGonagall had brushed them aside though she told them to be quiet about the Philosopher’s Stone. Not even the information that Hagrid may or may not have leaked information to the thief or thieves about the way to get past his pet Fluffy (Ron pulled a face when he heard the name, “Who name a giant three headed dog Fluffy?!” to which Link answered, “Hagrid?”) would convince her.

So they spent the rest of the day trying to keep track of either professor, Link having insisted on keeping an eye on Quirrell to their confusion, but because of classes it was a nigh impossible thing to do. Ron grumbled during lunch break, “I wish I have a map that show me where everyone is exactly!”

Link looked at him, “Why not make one then?”

Neville nodded, “That’s an idea,”

By night, Hermione grew restless when she saw the Headmaster not at dinner. She shared a look with her friends, “What now?”

So the group had decided to follow the thief through the trapdoor, Link’s oddly nimble fingers in playing the left behind enchanted harp sent Fluffy into a coma after the third tune. Neville got them out of the Devil’s Snare plant, blessed his flora knowledge. Ron got the key with his flying skill as well as his chess skill. Unfortunately he was taken out by the chess due to concussion from sacrificing himself so Link can checkmate the opponent’s King piece. Neville turned back to get help. Hermione thanked all that’s hallowed that Link and her didn’t have to fight the positively dead and larger mountain troll in the next room but the next test had her turn back to company Ron since it only allowed one person to past.

So now Link stared at Quirrell’s turban as he mumbled to himself in front of the familiar mirror. Quirrel sneered at him when he asked about Snape, “Of course, he made the perfect cannon fodder. With a person like that around, no one would suspect poor, scared P-P-Prof Q-Q-Q-Quirrell!”

Before Link could do anything, Quirrell had him tied up and pulled to his side. He then ignored the struggling boy as he continued to mutter to himself in desperation, “Now…how do I get the stone? I can see that I’m holding it but how do I get it out?!”

A chilling disembodied voice answered him and Link paused in his struggling like a mouse before predator, “The boy…use the boy…”

Quirrell turned to the quiet boy and pulled him closer to the mirror with his talon-like fingers that dug painfully into his shoulder, “Stand here!”

Link stared at his mirror that stood tall with an immovable face. She stood there behind him, floating and cradling a crimson stone. His parents both stood beside him. She opened her verdant eyes and offered him the Philosopher’s Stone, tempting him. But the mirror Link simply closed his eyes, refusing the offer. Link understood then, that just as he stand guard over her he will stand guard over the Stone. Thus his reflection remained a sentinel over his heart’s desire.

Quirrell’s sharp voice broke him from his trance of studying the way the golden light illuminate her, “Well? What do you see?!”

Link gave a somber answer, “My greatest regret,”

Quirrell stopped, confused. He was sure that the mirror showed one’s greatest desire, not their greatest regret. As he was struck dumb by the confession, the same voice hissed, “Let me speak to him…face to face…”

“Master, you are not strong enough!”

“I am strong enough…for this…”

As Quirrell unravel his turban, Link stood passive. A part of him knew then that the Headmaster would not have made getting the stone that easily. A painful reminder that his meddling lead to worse consequences. A cathedral, three gemstones in gilded frames of gold, a door, a familiar sword and…waiting…a long, long time of waiting…only to be greeted by destruction and hopelessness.

It was repeating. If Link had not rejected the stone offered by Her, he might have taken it out and allowed Quirrell to wrestle the stone from his hands. However he did reject the illusion, insisting on standing guard over accepting the treasure. It was the reason that Voldemort, who had lived in Quirrell’s head like a parasite, tried to turn Link to his side by attempting to manipulate his kind heart to his cause.

“Harry Potter…” The ghastly face on the back of Quirrell’s head sneered at him. Crimson eyes on chalk white skin glared at him, nose slit like Lizalfos and mouth baring hostility as the murderer of his family faced him, “See what I have become? Mere shadow and vapor…I have form only when I can share another’s body…there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds,”

Link stared at Quirrell; eyes belied both pity and disgust for what the man have become. Voldemort continued, “Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks…you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me in the Forest…once I have my own Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own,” He used Quirrell’s hand to reach to Link, “Now why don’t you help me get the Stone?”

Link glared at him as his answer. Voldemort jeered, “Don’t be a fool,” He snarled, “Better save your own life and join me…or you’ll meet the same end as your parents…they died begging me for mercy,”

Link finally shrugged off the ropes binding him and pointed his holly wand at the twisted creature before him in an act of defiance. Voldemort stared at the quiet child, a garish smile spreading across the corpse-like face, “How touching…” He crooned sickeningly, “I always value bravery…yes, boy, your parents were brave…I killed your father first and he put up a courageous fight…but your mother needn’t have died…she was trying to protect you…now help me get the Stone, unless you want her to have died in vain,”

Link roared out a fierce battle cry as he lunged forward in refusal. Voldemort cried out to his slave, “SEIZE HIM!” The next few moments were a blur of actions and reactions as Link danced around Quirrell’s curses, jinxes and hexes. All along, Voldemort’s cry of capturing him turned into ending him echoed as the background noise to their battle. At one point, Quirrell lost his wand and so in confidence of his larger size, reached out to grab Link. It was a grave mistake on the man’s part.

Quirrell’s hand brushed Link’s left hand and golden light with emerald glow lashed out, making the man cry in pain as he witness his hand slowly blistered and turn to charcoal before his eyes. Link saw what happened and made a decision that no children should made; he reach toward his teacher’s neck and grasped the man’s throat even as he howled and thrashed in pain until his life burn out of him.

Breathing heavily, Link stood up and stared at the man he just killed. Gulping down saliva to try and wet his dried throat, he walked toward the Mirror. However, the fine hair of his neck raised and he turned, wand at the ready as he used raw magic to put up a shield before him as a writhing grey wraith that was Voldemort rushed at him in fury. Behind him, the mirror cracked and shattered in pieces from the impact of Voldemort’s mad escape.

“‘Link/Harry!’”

When Albus finally reached the room where the Mirror was placed he saw Link standing before the Mirror a silent sentinel, wand drawn and pointed at an invisible enemy. However, his eyes landed at the direction the wand was pointed and saw Quirrell’s corpse; head detached viciously from his body. Realizing what it meant, Albus rushed towards his student and called out, “Link, child?”

It was only when he reached him that he realized that Link had fallen unconscious standing up and on guard. As he cradled the unconscious child down, he noticed that the part of the Mirror that was protected from the spider webs of cracks was only those that was directly behind Link. Within, Albus saw his own image winking at him and the weight of the Stone settled in his pocket in turn…

Chapter Text

Link has always worn glasses. It was probably yet another thing he has in similarity to his late father. It’s also an item that no one has taken any interest in regard to him. So it was a little disorienting to see the Headmaster studying his glasses with peculiar interest the moment he woke up from being rushed by the wraith that was Voldemort. When he noticed the sharp blue eyes watching him as he lay on the infirmary’s bed, Albus greeted him, “Interesting. You don’t seem like you need it yet I have never seen you without it,”

Link blinked before trying to answer only to croak like a dying toad. Blushing, he clamped him mouth shut as the Headmaster chuckled good naturedly as he summoned a glass of warm water. Link absentmindedly signaled thanks as he accepted the water. The warmth of the liquid soothed his parched throat. Albus studied the boy, his mind taking note of the sign language the boy just gestured. He can see that Link can see well without his glasses.

The reason he took interest in his glasses was because of the fact the lenses lack prescription. But that does not mean it was cosmetic. Albus can sense an odd magic saturating the lenses, one that’s not placed there professionally. So he decided to break the ice by gesturing at the glasses, “I can tell that your glasses have a purpose, just not one that’s similar to mine,”

Link paused, blinking before shrugging and said, “Aunt Petunia gave it to me because the teacher told her my eyes make it hard for me to read,” It was the truth. His teacher once told Petunia to take him to an optometrist but instead of taking him to the doctor for an eye checkup she bought the ugliest pair of second hand glasses on the way home. Link was forced to wear the glasses despite suffering from eye strain and headaches. However, one day it stopped and he can read like any normal kids. So he held onto the glasses in naïve hope that it will fix him like it fix his eyes.

But Albus have no idea about all that so he asked, “Why do you need glasses in the first hand?”

Link looked at the glasses that were returned to him, “I can’t read without it,” Noticing the confusion on the Headmaster’s face, Link elaborated, “It’s not blurry. The letters just start wriggling around and float off the pages…I don’t make much sense, do I?” He sheepishly ended.

Albus smiled, “I see. You suffered from dyslexia. That does make reading extremely hard,” He looked at the glasses, “So the glasses help with that?”

Link nodded, “Sort of. Words just start making sense one day and as long as I wear them, I can both read and write,”

Albus nodded in understanding, “I see…” It seemed to him that Link had unconsciously conjured a complex magical instrument through pure accidental magic. Albus said so to him and the boy blinked and smiled, “That…made sense…”

His eyes then widened and his smile slipped off, unhindered by his glasses he looked peculiarly feminine, “Professor, what about the Stone?!”

Albus sighed, “After much discussion with Nicolas, he has decided to take the path he had long ignored,” He smiled at Link, “For someone who had lived as long as he, it seemed it was a decision long in the making that simply need a little more nudge to take and this incident was it. He only wanted me to hide the Stone while he arranges his after death matters. It just recently concluded on last evening when the…unfortunate event took place,”

Link looked at his glasses that he still held, “Do you…know what happened…between me and Prof Quirrell?”

Albus’ twinkling eyes dimmed, “I’m afraid I have no answer,”

Link tried a different question, “Why…can’t he touch me?”

Albus smiled at the innocent question, “Love, Link,” That caused the boy to look at him in the eyes and Albus continued, “Voldemort isn’t the only one that leaves a mark on you. That night so long ago, when he came after you and your mother gave her life for yours, it left a lasting mark that refuses him and protects you long after her fire was extinguished. But unlike that scar, her mark lives inside you,” His eyes misted as he continued, “Love is a kind of magic of its own, one that Voldemort never understood and thus can never overcome,”

Pomfrey then chased away the Headmaster, leaving Link with his thought. He didn’t doubt the man’s words, but surely others have died for their loved ones the way that his mother had done? So why was it that none of those children survived and the Dark Lord vanquished? What was different?

Then again, what was not different when it comes to Link?

Also…that light…it was hauntingly familiar. It filled him with warmth like a warm embrace and yet…it also brings regret with it. The light gave him hope and regret, just like Her…

In the end, Link decided that the Headmaster does not have all the facts and yet hit the nail right on the head. It was love that protected him but it was not just the love of a mother. It was Her, Link knew it like he knew that the sun rises from the east or like the brightest star guides him north. Her heart, he can feel it beating all around him as Her light suffused him. He recalled how it gave him strength when his mind knew he has none left to spare. Yet for Her, he will stand for as long as She breathes.

Link was finally let go on the End of Year Feast, just in time to see the ending of his First Year at Hogwarts. Albus found the boy sitting with his friends, the children flanking his left and right as they fussed over him. Ms. Granger in particular stared at his surprisingly forest green and floppy pointy hat as opposed to their stiff pointy black hat that the others sport. It reminded of Albus a certain history lesson he had once had with Nicolas during a holiday visit to the alchemist’s humble abode. It was only later that night that he remembered what the floppy hat represents; liberty. A Phrygian Hat to be exact, only Link’s were longer.

Albus waited for the hall to settle before nodding at Minerva to tap on a crystal goblet to garner their attention. Once they quieted down, he began the usual end of year speech. The Slytherin were preening as their banner swayed above the masses high over their head in royal greens and silvers.

“However,” Albus raised his hand before the Slytherin could cheer any louder, “There are several things that need addressing before we celebrate the winner of the House Cup,” Severus’s face were as dark as his robe, making him a solid black silhouette that would have disappeared in the dark of the night as Albus bestowed points to four unexpected students; Ron for his skills in both flight and chess, Hermione for her cool logic in the face of fire and Neville for his knowledge in Herbology. He then turns his twinkling gaze on the final student who peered at him with confused yet piercing gaze, “As for our Mr. Potter…for standing up for what’s right despite all odds and for pressing on with fierce courage against numbing terror, I award you 60 points,”

The way the Great Hall exploded with cheers and almost missing the Headmaster changing the décor of the hall would make one think that the sky had fallen. After almost a decade, another House claimed the House Cup that the Slytherin have been hoarding. No other House but Slytherin would scorn the Gryffindor for winning it.

Link smiled shyly at all the shoulder and back pats he’s been receiving, and some question about his green hat, but when he raised his eyes it wasn’t the banner of the lion that he sees. Gold trimmings, deep royal blue borders and deep red with golden silhouette of divine wings bearing golden triangle pieces over its head. Tears welled in his eyes and unknown to him, his friends noticed the single bead of tears trailing down his cheek.

Hermione mentally sighed as she shared at look with the other two boys. It wasn’t the first time they saw Link looking at something yet at the same time not. It’s like his eyes were seeing something beyond what they see and whatever it was that’s reflected in Link’s eyes cause him so much pain and longing it hurt them just seeing the expression he made.

But they all agreed that when Link return to their side, when his mind released him from whatever it was that haunted him, they will be there to ground him…

Chapter Text

Link sighed as he sat in his tree, wondering about the headaches he has been experiencing as of late. Link had taken to wearing a sky blue hoodie with white patterns along the hood and the hems. It was a far better comfort than wearing his bandanna. After almost a year of never needing to hide his ears, which his teachers had at first tried to ‘correct’ only to find out that it’s really his ears, Link abhorred the idea of binding his ears. It had never been comfortable but he had bear with it because he has no choice in the matter.

Then when he had confessed the reason for his rather glum mood on the way back, Hermione’s eyes had lit up and told him to buy himself hoodies. She didn’t know that Link never have allowances, the Dursley deeming him unworthy of money, so she didn’t know the reason why it never occurred to him to buy himself a more fitting clothes. She also didn’t know that all of Link’s clothes had once miraculously turn to shades of green or blue at one point and thus the reason why his relatives refused to buy him fitting garment outside his undergarments. They feared that it will infect their clothing. Attempts to re-dye his changed clothes failed and Link had been left in his cupboard for a whole weekend after that happened.

So once his relatives left him to himself one day for an overnight trip, Link had navigated his way all the way to London and the Leaky Cauldron to change what wizarding currency he have on his person to pounds. As to how he made his way to London, it was yet another thing about Link that he refused to think too deeply on because he has always been able to go long distances without break, cutting through the wilderness and residential area in a straight line toward his destination. Somehow he just has an internal map that help him go anywhere for as long as he has been there once. He only needed to be sure of the location and he can go there from whichever point he’s standing from.

Luckily heading back requires less energy after he learned about the Knight Bus from Tom the bartender at the Leaky Cauldron. He managed to return just before the Dursley arrived home. Then he had gone on a short shopping spree for clothes that actually fit him that he kept hidden in his tree. Whenever he left home and want to go further than Privet Drive, he will change in the tree. Now he no longer looked like a homeless person whenever he walks around Little Whinging.

Summer has been quiet as his relatives avoided him even more than before Hogwarts. Petunia avoided handing him chores if she could help it. If anything, his relatives have taken to have him out of their hair as much as possible. Link didn’t mind, it meant more alone time for him and the things he really felt like doing. As for why he felt the need to be alone?

Ever since coming across Voldemort last year, Link had taken to train himself. He had always been a restless child, but now that he knew that his life being targeted Link have become even more restless. He no longer threw up or insomniac. If anything, his active lifestyle will knock him unconscious at the end of the day. He had also taken a knife and carved himself a wooden broadsword with which he then swings to tire himself out.

He had also gone out for yet another shopping spree to buy himself some weight to tie around his wrists and ankles. It helped to tire him out but soon he began wearing heavier and heavier weights as he goes about his day. Swinging the wooden sword put him in a meditative state as he moved his body according to instinct. Since then, he carved and built himself several different weapons like a morning star mace that he had built by tying horse chestnuts tightly in a cloth tied to the end of a stick just for a feel of the real thing.

He had also carved several different swords like a scimitar, a rapier and a katana. It ranges from single handed weapon to two handed weapon. Yet Link found himself preferring a hand and a half broadsword. These aside, he has been receiving mails from Neville but hardly from Ron and Hermione. Also Gaepora have been out hunting for something lately during random hours. Considering that his uncle refused to have him out due to its unique size and appearance, Link have to let Gaepora live in his tree.

One day, while still wondering about the missing mails from Ron and Hermione who had promised to write and knowing that they weren’t to lie about such things, Gaepora finally caught whatever it was that have been bothering him. Link looked up as his familiar brought to him a struggling creature, “Gaepora?”

Pinning the poor thing under it and looking smugly at Link, Link sheathed away the sword he’s been training himself with. His uncle wanted him out of the house for insurance because of a visiting client so Link have been hanging at his tree when Gaepora hissed and flew out of the tree with a vengeful glare. Link knelt down to approach the creature, “What are you?”

The creature sobbed, “I is a house elf, Harry Potter sir! Please don’t hurt Dobby!”

Link has heard of house elves when he had asked Percy about his missing laundry, worried that his uniforms have been stolen. Link tilted his head, pushing off the stuffy hood to let his heated head breath, “What did you do, Dobby? I know Gaepora and he’s a pretty laidback bird. For him to attack you must have meant that you did something that ruffled his feather,”

Dobby struggled but Gaepora refused to move and pecked at his bat-like ears for lack of answer to which he whimpered, “Harry Potter mustn’t go back to Hogwarts! There be danger there!”

Link shrugged, “It was dangerous last year too. And if what you said is the truth, then I must go,” He then frowned, “Wait…are you…are you the reason letters have been missing? I can’t think of anything else for Gaepora to be so angry at you?”

The house elf fell silent before admitting, “If Harry Potter think that Harry Potter’s friends forget about him, then Harry Potter will not want to return to Hogwarts,”

Link rubbed his chin as he stared at the tired creature under his giant owl, “I have more faith in my friends than you think,” He then curiously asked, “Also…why not Neville’s letters?”

“There be magic stopping Dobby from stopping Longbottom’s heir’s letters,”

Link nodded before taking out his sling bag and wrote something carefully before putting it in an envelope, looking at Gaepora, “Send this letter to Neville once we finish with Dobby,”

A hoot of agreement resounded and Dobby struggled harder, “You mustn’t! You must not return to Hogwarts, there be evil there!”

Link’s gaze hardened, “Dobby, look at me,”

Freezing at the hardened voice of the twelve years old, bulbous eyes like tennis balls found hard crystalline gaze and Dobby froze at the sight of the real Harry Potter. Link looked at him stonily and said, “I am not one to run before danger or evil. Whatever will come to Hogwarts, if it aims for me then it will aim for my friends and I will not let it get to them. I will not be me if I abandon them to this evil you speak of. I’d rather die and be sacrificed than allowing evil to roam this land and hurt those I cared for, do you understand me Dobby?”

Dobby’s ears shivered, he had never thought that Harry Potter was someone from the sky. All creatures know of the Sky Children. Yet at the same time, as their eyes met and Dobby can see the determination in Harry Potter’s gaze, he knew that Harry Potter will go to Hogwarts even if it means death. Dobby gulped, “But Dobby only want to save Harry Potter. Harry Potter is the greatest for us house elves. When the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named reigned, we house elves were treated like garbage and filth. Harry Potter saved us house elves from that fate-,”

Link cut him off, “And that is the reason I must fight, Dobby,” He gave the house elf a kind and sad smile, “If I run, then I will not be this Harry Potter who saved you and your fellow house elves from ill treatment. A hero isn’t someone that needs protection because they are the ones who do the protecting,” He petted that house elf’s bald head, “Do you understand this, Dobby. I cannot run from what I must do,”

Dobby blinked and slowly began to cry from the kindness shown to him. He felt ashamed. Harry Potter’s greater than he thought. He deny protection because he does the protecting. Forcing him to run will only make him run straight to danger because he will never run away from danger. Dobby sobbed, “Harry Potter is greater than Dobby thought. But Harry Potter will die if he go to Hogwarts!”

Link tilted his head, confusion glimmering in his gaze, “You know of this danger, you warn me of it but I do not know what kind of danger you speak of, Dobby. If you can give me more to work on, perhaps I can prevent it?”

Dobby’s eyes widened, hands clasped over his mouth, “Dobby can’t speak! Dobby is not allowed to say it!” At that he snapped his fingers and disappeared, the sudden displacement of air causing the space that reappeared to crack like a gunshot.

Chapter Text

Link stared at George and Fred Weasley as well as Ron Weasley who were floating in a car outside his window. Yawning, he pointed to the ground, “Please park your car on the shoulder of the road,” The siblings complied before looking up at him.

Opening his window wider, he looked around before whistling. Ron was about to ask when Gaepora appeared and Link held onto the bird’s claws as they drifted to the ground safely. The twins grinned at the sight, ““Cool,””

Link stared at the car, a Ford Angela if his memory from the auto-mobile magazine that his uncle preferred was correct. He yawned again, “What are you doing here, Ron?”

Ron huffed, “I was worried!” At Link’s confused gaze, he grumbled, “Neville wrote something about your letter being intercepted by a house elf and that’s why you never write back! What if it works with You-Know-Who?” He shivered at the idea.

Link sighed, “He was trying to stop me from going back to Hogwarts,” He then looked inside the car, “Do you mind taking me somewhere?”

Fred, or George, grinned, “Sure! Hop in!”

The car finally stopped in front of a large tree that Gaepora swooped into. The siblings stared as Link climbed up, “Wait, I’ll go get the ladder,” Soon a wooden ladder rung made of ropes and branches came down from a hole in the tree. Interest piqued, the siblings climbed up and into a hollowed out hole that was enlightened by crumpled papers set on fire in a glass jar in the middle of the space on a wood stump serving as a table.

George grinned at the sight, “Awesome tree house, mate,”

Fred knocked on the wall, “Sturdy,”

Ron looked around; Link’s familiar luggage placed neatly against a wall with a cot of beddings rolled up beside it, there were shelves of fraying books hanging on the wall designed like the ladder they just climbed on. Some ceramic tiles lined the wooden ground under a small metal bin with pieces of woods inside with a perforated sheet of metal over it, a flint and steel placed nearby. A round green rug were placed in the middle to soften the ground, obviously recycled from the frayed edges and patched up holes. In fact, many things in the room were recycled. Fruit crates lined with old clothes sown into large sheets of fabric kept things organized around the corners. A large and little banged up water dispenser sat on a short wooden stump with chipped cups in a small fruit crates together with meal essentials like plates, spoons and forks.

Link placed a small dented kettle on his home-made stove, the fire growing inside quickly boiling the water enough to make tea for his guests. Link never had guests, but he always thought some extra cups would do great in the future and he was right, “Tea?”

Ron accepted his cup, watching Link snuff out the fire in the metal bin so the room won’t get stuffy. After a moment, Ron asked, “Want to come to my house? I’m sure we can make a space for you in my room,”

Link looked at him, “Won’t your parents be troubled?”

Fred and George cheered, ““Troubled?””

“Mom will be glad to have you!”

“Mind you, our Dad will ask all kind of questions…”

“…on how Muggle things works!”

“But they’ll be thrilled…!”

“…to have you over!”

“Especially our little sister…!”

“…Ginny, she have a thing for marrying you!”

The two then glared at him, ““So don’t think about playing around with her,”” They ended in unison darkly. Link stared at the two, took a sip of his tea before shrugging, “I don’t plan on courting anyone any time soon,”

Ron rolled his eyes at them, “So, are you coming?”

Link looked around before smiling, “Let me pack my things and leave a note for the Dursley,” He chuckled, “Not that they care but…it’s the principle of things,” The boys chuckled as they helped Link pack his things, although Link refused to let them mess with his spacing system in the luggage. Ron has to say he’s impressed and a little disturbed by Link’s organizing skills and obsession. Once everything fit in the luggage, the twins lugged it out…or was about to when they realized that they were at least three floors up and throwing the luggage down won’t end well. So Fred stepped down and gestured for George to toss it to him. Ron turned to Link, “How did you even get it up here in the first place?”

Link pointed a thumb at Gaepora, “It has lightening rune stitched in the lining so it’s light enough for Gaepora to carry it up,”

Ron blinked before shrugging, “Well…it can pick you,” He then grumbled quietly to himself but Link’s pointed ears caught it, “I’m bloody weaker than a bloody bird,”

Link grinned sheepishly, knowing that Ron and the rest of his roommates at Hogwarts still feel the sting of defeat after Link started waking up earlier than all of them after the incident with the troll, thus rendering their levitating skill useless for the reason they master it at the beginning.

After sliding his short note about leaving to Dursley and thanks for letting him live with them for the summer, not that they care, the group leave for the Weasley’s home; The Burrow. Link watched in amazement as the car flew and with another press of their finger on the numerous buttons on the dashboard of the car, turn invisible. He had to give it to them, “Mr. Weasley a genius…”

The Weasley brothers preened at the compliment towards their patriarch. Outside, Gaepora flew alongside the car. Ron gaped at the sight, once more dumbstruck by Gaepora’s size. Once they flew over the city that slowly thinned out to residential area to farming lands and slowly to woodlands and prairie. Ron then pointed out his home to Link, “We are here,”

After the twins landed the car and drove it into the nearby garage, which Link can clearly tell was Mr. Weasley’s sanctuary; the group proceeded to sneaking in. However, as the twins opened the back door leading into the kitchen, a stern voice greeted them, “And where did you lot take the car?”

Before they could defend themselves, the motherly woman whom Link recognized as their mother from last year at King’s Cross, began to scold them, “What if someone saw you!? Did you ever think how it will impact your father?!”

She went on and on with her lecture to their reckless ‘rescue’ of Link, who she then finally noticed and she cooed at him, “Why hello, Link, it is good to see you again. Come in, come in! No need to stand at the door, dear! My look at you, you’re skin and bones! I know just how to fix that!”

Saved from their mother’s further scolding, Ron and his brothers escaped to their room taking Link’s luggage with them. Soon, more of the Weasley came down to see a blond boy sitting at the table helping their mother prepare for breakfast. In fact, Link noticed the peculiar clock that showed the whereabouts of the Weasley broods all pointing to home just as their father appeared from the oddly large fireplace.

Chapter Text

Arthur blinked at the blond at the table, helping his wife and children set it. From behind, he could have been mistaken for a Malfoy but his hair was obviously darker and more to the color of warm golden honey as opposed to Malfoy’s cold platinum gold. Not to mention, the ears. He noticed his daughter Ginny shyly sitting at her usual space, red faced and bashful as opposed to her usual strong fiery personality much like Molly.

It can only mean one thing, as he dumbly sat on his chair at the head of the table; Harry ‘Link’ Potter has come for a visit. He beamed at the boy who looked nothing like his parents and yet at the same time do, “Why, hello there. Welcome to the Burrow,”

Link smiled at him, “Glad to be here, sir,”

Arthur grinned before turning his attention to his wife’s scrumptious cooking. He had heard about Link from his children, a bit surprised when his eyes landed on said child at his table for breakfast. Molly had then come down on him about his enchanted project and the children’s recklessness. He’s torn between findings out if his secret project was a success and scolding the boys for their good intention born of worry for their friend. In the end, Molly sent the children out to do their chores, Ron introducing Link to the art of de-gnoming the garden.

Ron grabbed hold the ankle of one trashing garden gnome, looking nothing like the one that sat on some of the pristine lawns of Petunia’s neighbor that Link know, before twisting his arm to throw it. Ron peered over at the area the gnome fell before pumping his fist in victory. He then saw Link watching him with polite but bewildered interest. Flustered, Ron explained, “Well…you make them dizzy first with the swinging before tossing them over the garden. Fred and George made a game out of it and now we try to toss it as far as we could. The target distance would be beyond that tree stump there,”

Link studied the gnome hiding in the bushes, “Does it hurt?”

“Who? Them? No, not that I know of. It’s better than sniping at them with magic though, some people do it that way and it can leave nasty scarring on their skin. But then they’ll pull a revenge stunt and destroy whatever crop you’re trying to grow. Ginny swear they like being thrown around,”

Link grabbed a struggling gnome, listening to their gibberish as they try to claw their way out of his sturdy grip. Some part of him think that it was like handling cuccos as he shook them as hard as he could, which was quite hard and accidentally knocking the poor thing out. Ron stared at the unconscious gnome, “Wow, Link. You didn’t have to shake that hard,”

Link cringed, “Sorry,” He then tossed the garden gnome light over the fence. It didn’t reach anywhere near Ron’s target distance. He feel sorry for the gnome but since they’re more like garden pests, he can’t exactly bring up any more sympathy than what was given.

So he shook his concern away and grabbed an escaping gnome, swing it over his head like a flail and toss the creature as hard as he could like a javelin. His gnome landed right on the stump, knocking it out cold. Ron gave him a side along look before shifting away a little, making Link sweat, and said, “Is it just me or do you really hate them that much? You keep knocking them out,”

This continued until late noon, where Link will try to not knock his gnomes out and barely succeeding. Once that was done, Ron showed him where to shower and their shared room. He sheepishly presented his room, “Sorry, it isn’t much,”

Link smiled kindly, “More than I even have. At least everything here is yours or at least willingly given without spite,”

Ron internally winced, recalled Link’s living condition. Then he looked at the room through his friend’s eyes; sure enough, everything here belonged to Ron or at least handed down to him by his family because he needed it more than they do or the older Weasley outgrew their need. Whatever Link has, he had to scavenge and build it on his own. So Ron smiled, “Well, I guess we’ll be roommates until Hogwarts start again,”

Living with the Weasley, in Link’s opinion, was more welcoming than the Dursley. The siblings will always try to get him involved in whatever activities they were doing, they didn’t try to alienate him or make him feel less. If anything, the brotherly look sent his ways by the older boys and sometimes Ron whenever he asked about things that appeared bizarre to him but common to a full magical household was endearing and tickled his heart warmly. The only one avoiding him was the only Weasley daughter, Ginny, who would peek at him from afar before squeaking and dodging out of sight. Ron said he had never seen his sister so quiet.

It wasn’t long before the letters from Hogwarts arrived and their school lists were updated. Link wore his hoody and stared at the new transportation that the Weasley was introducing him to; the Floo Network. He was then pushed forward and given much encouragement by Molly, “Just keep your limbs close, tuck in your chin and squint so the ashes don’t get in your eyes. Also, don’t forget to say Diagon Alley loudly and clearly!”

He was handed the silvery powder and pushed into the large fireplace. Keeping an eye on Molly with uncertainty, he swallowed his nervousness and threw the powder down just as he spoke out the name of his destination nervously. Unfortunately, he said it a little too quickly thus stringing the two separate words into one and disappeared before he could correct it.

The Weasley couple looked at each other in confusion;

“What did he said? Did you hear what he said?”

“Diagonally…I think…”

“Oh dear…hopefully he only missed a couple of fireplaces…”

Link doesn’t know whether to call himself lucky or unfortunate as he found himself rolling to his feet from unlit fireplace in a gloomy shop. Quickly standing up, he patted down the black cloak covering his green shirt and tan khaki. Stomping out his laced up boots like he would when snowed, Link looked around the store, taking note of the rather alarming contents before shrugging it and turned to leave but stopped at the sight of Malfoy coming through the door, the bell jingling pitifully above the door.

Draco blinked and frowned, “What are you doing here, Potter?”

Link shrugged and turned his head at the unlit fireplace. Draco had a sinking feeling that he’s going to end up in a bad spot with his father. So he quickly grabbed Link and stuffed him into a sarcophagus nearby just as Lucius Malfoy opened the door behind him. Draco pretended to be staring at the sarcophagus while Lucius barked at him to “not touch anything”.

Link awkwardly stood stiff in front of the dried up mummy behind him. He listened to muffled discussion going on beyond the closed door of the sarcophagus he’s trapped in. Soon, the discussion disappeared and the door opened with a flushed Malfoy staring at him, “I think you’d better leave before my Father catches sight of you,”

As Link absentmindedly signaled thank you to the Malfoy Heir before walking out of the store, Draco wondered why he even helped Harry ‘Link’ bloody Potter hide. So instead of thinking too much on the matter, he decided that he’s just paying back for that night at the Forbidden Forest. Feeling good about his excuse, he gave himself a pat on the back before facing his Father who started berating him about playing with Dark Magic imbued items for nth time since he understand words.

That Potter better be grateful…

Meanwhile, Link looked around him at the unsavory street. Shady people lingered around darkened corner and eyes followed him with part curiosity and part predatory. Link know, in that way that he just do, that not everyone who came here meant harm but desperation can force the hand of the most well-meaning man. So he kept his guard up, hands gripping on his wands on both sides of him and face stone cold. He ignored all attempt to engage him and kept an eye out for the way out of this place.

Just as he started being followed by those who decided that he’s an easy target, he heard a familiar deep voice calling out in surprise, “Link?”

Link looked up to see the tall and sturdy form of Hagrid eclipsing all others around him. His stone cold face melted into a friendly smiled as he called back, “Hagrid!”

Chapter Text

Fred and George both stared at him with great envy when the Weasley finally found him right outside the entrance to Knockturn Alley. Link won’t regal them with tales of the seedier area of Diagon Alley so he ignored all attempt to make him talk about the place. After almost being smothered to asphyxiation by Molly, Link was introduced to the Grangers.

Jacqueline Granger looked at the boy whom her daughter swore rescued her life with great interest. She also heard about his supposed abuse but Link didn’t show any signs that would point to an abusive home life. But her husband Chris Granger knew that most abused children are great at hiding the truth of their home so he kept a close eye on the boy. So far, Link had proven to be a good influence on their precious daughter but only if he continued to stay away from the wrong crowd.

Link on the other hand seemed to take their not so subtle staring with practiced ease. He had enough practice with other Muggleborn at Hogwarts staring at his ears with great interest, so he didn’t mind them at all. In the same way he knew things he knows he really shouldn’t, Link knew that as long as they only stare and do nothing, all will be fine. That staring was the lesser evil.

Link lurked at the back of Flourish and Blotts where he browsed the shelves for interesting subjects while the Weasleys and Hermione lined up to have their books signed by the visiting author. He knew that he will be taking the Study of Ancient Rune class as part of his elective next year but that meant he needed to make up his mind for the second elective. Ron had tried talking him into taking the Divination class with him but when Link straight up told him that without the inert talent for casual clairvoyance, he will be wasting his time in that class.

So Ron put down the idea for last.

So currently Link browsed for any introductory text on Ancient Rune when he heard trouble with his sharp ears. Closing the tome in his hands, he turned the corner and found Arthur facing off against Lucius. Before things escalated however, the two men managed to pull away from the other and Lucius curiously patted Ginny’s shoulder that he had bumped into during the commotion. He even picked up her fallen book and placed it in her cauldron shaped basket.

Instinct told Link that all is not as it seemed but his eyes and mind could not pinpoint the problem exactly. Lucius caught him staring and straightened himself, “Well now. If it is not Mr. Potter?”

Link kept his face neutral as bowed slightly in practiced recognition; neither accommodating nor hostile, “Greeting Mr. Malfoy,”

Lucius was taken aback by the rather noble-like etiquette shown by the boy, “It seemed someone has been raised with actual manner,” His silver gaze glinted with curiosity as he stared at the garish glasses looking back at him, the light from the window obscuring the full view of the strange boy’s eyes. And the fact that he couldn’t read the boy sent troubled shivers down his spine.

He hid his uncomfortable reaction well and spoke some dismissive greeting to Potter, trying to elicit some reaction from the silent boy. But the boy’s silence stayed firm. Knowing that he will be making a fool of himself if he pressed any further, Lucius excused himself and Draco from their company.

Hermione was seething and Ron’s face looked like its warring with his hair for the color red by the end of it all. She turned to Link and found him neutral, “How can you stand him saying all that to you?”

Link shrugged, “Because I won’t let him have his satisfaction by reacting,”

Hermione seemed to deflate, “You know that he was trying to make you mad and that’s why you didn’t say anything?”

Ron seemed to have drained his skin of access red as he pondered, “You make his words backfired,”

Link shrugged and turned back to browse the shelves as he waited for the Weasleys to finish their shopping. Hermione shared a look with Ron before both felt stupid for getting mad at all. Malfoy Sr. was playing them like a fiddle and Link simply do what Link does best whenever someone tried to make him mad; brush it off.

Ron mumbled, “I really should ask him how he does it,”

Hermione looked at him, “Do what?”

“Not getting mad all the time,” He then shivered, “I mean, imagine Link with a temper,”

Hermione recalled the few times Link almost lost his temper and shivered. She has seen him when he’s annoyed with someone. He glared at the person and it was enough to quiet them down. The way he control himself and his surrounding was a marvel that it left her head spinning at it all. In fact, among their friends, Link being disappointed in them was a lot worse than him being angry because Link just doesn’t get angry.

At least, he doesn’t get angry for himself. Link can shrug off the worse of insults like cat shrug off water; it just doesn’t stick. Considering that unless it’s a downpour or an actual bath, cat’s fur are waterproof, which was saying something.

But that doesn’t mean that they have never seen him mad. They had seen him mad but only when they were in danger. When Link’s mad, he roared it out and the weight of his anger differs to those who experience it. The glint of his eyes change from friendly to fierce, almost wild and uncontainable. The small moments when he directed that gaze on them when they managed to get on his temper, they feel the fear of a prey.

No, Link’s friends are glad he’s not easily mad…

On the day of departure, the Weasleys and Link almost didn’t make it to the Platform on time. Now, in another reality, if Gaepora didn’t catch Dobby, Link would probably be separated and stranded. However, because Link had shown Dobby that he’s not one to run from danger (unless it was a tactical retreat) the enchanted entrance to the Platform didn’t close on him and he managed to get himself onto the train just before the train blew its final whistle.

Hermione and Neville had saved a compartment for them as the friends regrouped together once more. Neville then opened the main discussion that has been lingering in their heads, “What happened with the house elf?”

Link watched them watch him and he sighed, “He was hoping to stop me from getting caught up with whatever danger will be at Hogwarts this year. I wrote to the Headmaster after that, because he’s in charge of the school’s security and all. Don’t want another case like last year’s Troll,”

Hermione asked, “What did he say?”

Link pulled out a beginner book for runes as he answered, “He thanked me for giving him a head’s up and told me to keep an eye out for that house elf since Dobby seemed determined to keep me safe,”

Hermione stared at the book in his hands, “So you’ve decided on Runes as your elective next year?”

Link simply nodded and Hermione started informing her friend how she decided to take up all the electives next year, her ambition sparkling in her eyes. Link frowned, “Hermione, that doesn’t make any sense,”

Ron nodded, “Yeah, when are you going to get some sleep…or eat…or go to the toilet?”

Neville mumbled, “I’m pretty sure some of the electives take up the same time on the schedule. It’ll clash,”

She brushed off their concern, “I’m sure I can make do!”

Link wondered if this was how one felt when watching a particularly ambitious Cuckoo trying to swallow bigger prey than itself; part hilarious and part horrified. He can already envision Hermione’s future; bedraggled and half crazed by all the work that fall on her lap, grumbling about idiots and her need for a strong cup of coffee.

Blinking, Link pulled himself out of the state his mind had traipsed down. It felt horrifyingly familiar.

Chapter Text

The first few weeks of Hogwarts was nothing that he can’t handle, unless Link counted that annoyingly flamboyant man that he had the misfortune of calling Prof Lockhart for his Defense class. He had heard rumors, from the gossiping tapestry (actual tapestry, mind you) nonetheless, that the position for Defense teacher had been cursed some fifty years back.

Link hated curses. It sent a slimy and disgusting feeling down his throat, not to mention any and all mention of curses tended to make his shoulders feel so heavy he might as well be carrying a planet on his back. Part of the reason why he’s insistent on taking up Ancient Runes for his elective was because of his intense dislike of curses.

Things were fine for a while and then Din’s Eve arrived. Link had made the mistake of accepting an invitation to a Deathday hosted by Sir Nick; the ghost of Gryffindor House. His friends as usual followed him. But he quickly regretted that choice as they realized that they were the only living guest at the gloomy and cold party.

Decaying food filled the table and Ron’s hope of at least having something nice to eat was dashed to the Dark World. This made even worse when Neville asked about it and was ranted at on how ghosts can’t eat, let alone taste anything.

Hermione tried to be optimistic as she asked around, trying to mingle. But unfortunately the only thing the ghosts wanted to talk about was how they die. It was interesting but it tended to get gloomier as they recalled as much of the sordid detail of their death as possible. Then Nick’s party was crashed by the Headless Huntsmen who mocked Nick about being only nearly headless instead of properly decapitated.

As Nick’s mood soured, the group decided to politely excuse themselves. Ron hoped to get to the Feast before it ended; his stomach rumbling unhappily when he slipped. Link’s quick reaction caught his head before it meet the hard floor. Neville gulped as he pointed at the nearby wall sconce, “I-i-is t-t-that…Mrs. Norris?”

Hermione’s horrified gasp was like bell signifying horror as the group’s eyes followed the direction Neville was pointing. Link then noticed something, his nose quickly catching a familiar scent, “What’s that on the wall?”

Ron scrambled to his feet and moved closer, “The Chamber…of Secrets…has been opened? Enemies of…the Heir…beware…what?”

Hogwarts’ ancient clock tower chimed and life began to fill the rather dead hallway. Mr. Filch saw them and was about to scare them as he usually do when his eyes caught something that horrified him, “Mrs. Norris? What? Who?”

Link gulped, sensing the explosive emotion of a man faced with sudden lost coming.

True enough, Filch started screaming and pointing fingers at them. Fortunately, Dumbledore arrived and managed to pacify the man as students crowded behind the gathered school staffs. Someone jeered, “Enemies of the Heir; beware. You’re next Mudblood!”

They were lucky McGonagall couldn’t catch them as she swiftly turned to find the offender but only managed to frighten the students before her. Meanwhile, Filch glared at the four friends before stomping away. He insisted to see justice but Dumbledore quickly placate him that she wasn’t dead, only petrified. Prof Sprout’s recent batch of mandrake will undo it once they mature.

Mention of the mandrake brought to mind of Neville’s funniest moment that year; fainting despite having his earmuffs on. Apparently the sight of a baby mandrake was too much for the future herbologist. But this wasn’t the time to be distracted by funny thought. People would think he’s really behind the recent event, so Link dashed the humor in favor of the bleak situation before him.

The questioning done was satisfied by a shocked Nick who stood witness to their alibi for being absent at the Feast; they were attending his Deathday Party. Flitwick looked impressed that they actually accepted such a daunting invitation but he surmised that they probably learned that attending such a party was not worth it for future reference. An unsatisfied Filch growled something as he left. Link don’t blame the man, his cat was practically his family.

His mind conjured a giant crimson red bird along with the chestnut coated and silver mane mare. His heart squeezed with the pain of losing them. He empathized with Filch and decided to find a mature mandrake somehow to help quicken his reunion with his feline soul mate. Although part of him was curious about the message written in blood on the wall (he can never mistake the nauseating scent of thick iron), Link knew that he must not bother.

Last year had taught him that some things were not meant to be investigated. But he will keep an eye out for any clue regarding the blood on the wall just to be safe. That night he wondered if the danger that Dobby was warning him of has some relation to the ominous message. Sighing, he closed his eyes. Dumbledore had been warned; the man will be on it.

Link just need to behave as a student, not a Knight on duty…

The next weekend found Link on his personal mission, scouting the edges of the Forbidden Forest for any sign of a wild mandrake. He kept his earmuffs around his neck as he does this. He felt bad for Filch, even if all the students of Hogwarts probably felt a form of justice for the state of his cat. The man maybe a nightmare, but he was just doing his job. Sure, he’s mean and took a sadistic pleasure at the sight of troubled students…

But Link digresses…

His friend finally found him by late morning when they went looking for him near Hagrid’s hut. Hermione shared a confused look with Neville while Ron came close, “What are you doing, mate?”

Link mumbled loud enough, “Looking for a mandrake,”

“Why?”

“Filch,”

Ron sighed, “You’re too nice, Link,”

He looked at the other half of their group and they joined Link’s quest to find a wild mature mandrake for Filch; after Hermione transfigured some leaves into earmuffs for them. She had gotten very good at inanimate transfiguration, challenging herself with larger and larger items ahead of her year. McGonagall praised her as her best student…if only she keeps out of trouble.

Then Hagrid found them that noon and invited them for lunch. The group quickly learned that what’s tasty for Hagrid is too hard for their human teeth, though somehow Link managed to chew his way through the rock hard cakes and even swallow it. When they explained what they were doing, Hagrid was flabbergasted, “For Filch? Are you serious?”

Link nodded, “I feel bad for Mrs. Norris,”

Ron tried to challenge his jaw with the cake in his hand after watching Link while Hermione shrugged, daintily dunking her cake into the mug of tea before her, “I feel bad for them too. They have a very special connection. It’s really sad what happened to her. Luckily she can get better,” She politely took a much softer bite on the sodden cake albeit still chewy.

Neville politely ignored his cake while keeping his eyes on Hagrid, “Do you know any spot with mandrakes in the forest, Hagrid?”

Hagrid stared at the group before finally breaking into booming laughter, “Why, I’d never!” He laughed long and hard before finally settling down, “Alright, you lot! No one cared for Filch much. I must admit, I don’t care for him much either. He’s been on everyone’s case for so long, people forget he’s a person with feelings too,” He frowned at his own words before brightening up, “Fine! I’ll take you a little deeper, but stay close! All the animals in there are familiar with me, but they will put up guard around you lot,”

Ron finally has bitten a piece off the cake with a victorious look on his face, “Yes!”

Chapter Text

With Hagrid’s help, they managed to find a patch of clearing where a mature mandrake grew. There were some more around it but Link only dug up that one since he had read up on anti-petrification elixir to see how many mandrakes were needed for it. Madam Pomfrey was shocked to find four extremely dirty children coming to her with a bound up mandrake carried by Link who promptly handed the struggling sentient magical flora to her.

When Snape came to receive the mandrake, he listened in disbelief when she told him how it came to her possession. Needless to say, Filch has been informed as well and although the cantankerous Squib grumbled that they only did it because they were the reason his beloved cat was petrified, Pomfrey knew that the man was thankful.

So a few days after, Mrs. Norris can be found winding and rubbing herself lovingly against one of the four friends. But she gave special attention to Link, going as far as to follow him to his classes. Of course, she seemed to be wary of corners. Link noticed how she hunkered down and listened closely whenever they reached a corner.

Watching Mrs. Norris listened against a corner, Link pondered, “Were you attacked when you turn the corner, Mrs. Norris?”

Her quiet meow seemed to agree with his assessment. Scratching his head under the Phrygian hat that he had taken to constantly wear on his head, Link decided to keep an eye out for danger when reaching a quiet corner. He also noticed how she seemed to be especially suspicious of any reflective surfaces and running away whenever she saw a line of spiders along the wall and out the nearest opening to the outside like a window.

Neville looked at the list of things Mrs. Norris did whenever she followed Link and asked, “Why are you making this list?”

Link hummed, “I’m just preparing,”

Ron peered over his shoulder, “For what?”

“Well…” He looked at his gathered friends, “Mrs. Norris was attacked and after she was cured of her petrification, I supposed she will react to anything that reminded her of the attack. So far, she has grown a dislike of empty hallways. She’s also especially suspicious of reflective surfaces and corners. Now that I think about it, Ron slipped on a puddle when we found her,”

Hermione nodded, “I see! So Mrs. Norris behavior might give us clues to what attacked her!”

Link nodded, “She’s also been taking cues from spiders,”

Ron paled, “Spiders?”

Neville frowned, “Why spiders?”

Link shrugged, “Whatever it was, I supposed the spiders don’t like it and that’s why they ran out. Mrs. Norris must have taken the sight of them fleeing as cues that whatever attacked her must be nearby,”

Hermione huffed, “Well, you heard Prof Binns from this morning. The writing implied that whomever that petrified Mrs. Norris must belong to the Founder of Slytherin,”

Ron rolled his eyes, “He also insisted that the Chamber of Secret does not exist,”

Link frowned, “Maybe he said that so we won’t go looking for it. The best way to hide things is to insist it does not exist in the first place,”

Neville looked at him, “What makes you say that?”

With the same certainty from how he just knows things, Link expanded, “Well, he’s a ghost. Only someone deep in necromancy can keep a ghost out of anywhere. Basically, if the Chamber of Secrets exists, the ghosts would know since they can go anywhere,”

Ron nodded as understanding dawned on him, “In another word, he must have found Slytherin’s Secret Chamber but find it too dangerous for exploration so he insisted it doesn’t exist…but how certain are we that he did find it?”

Link shrugged, “We don’t,”

Winter arrived and all thought about the Chamber of Secrets and secretive ghosts flew out of their thoughts as exams filled their waking hours. Then Nayru’s Blessing arrived and the group disbanded for the holiday. There was no secret present sender for Link this time but that doesn’t bother him at all.

The weather warmed and Farore’s Day arrived…or rather what people here called Valentine Day arrived. Unhappy dwarves went about calling out students to read out messages of love. They looked extremely uncomfortable in their Cupid get ups but a job is a job so they forced through it with the famous dwarves stubbornness.

As the person who arranged this horror show? It was none other than Prof Lockhart who has started to get on Link’s nerves as the semester goes by. Even Hermione had woken up from her childish idolization of the man. Embarrassed boys and girls tried to run away from the dwarves but being a race famous for their stubbornness, it was a futile effort of their part.

Link had seen enough of his peers being straddled and forced to listen to whatever poems written for them. It was all very public and more of a social execution than romantic. He really doesn’t get what Lockhart was thinking. In fact, does the man think at all?

Unfortunately for Link, a dwarf had managed to catch him. He looked both impressed and annoyed that Link had managed to avoid being caught by him through the whole day. With torn up book bag and spilled ink puddle coloring his school issued shoes, Link took the very much public execution with the determination of a squire forced to face a Gold Lynel in the Coliseum with nothing but a broken branch and his underwear.

The faux cupid of the day cleared his throat and spelled out his death sentence;

“His eyes are as blue as ocean waves,

His hair is as yellow as the summer sun.

I wish he was mine, he's really divine,

The hero who conquered the Dark Lord,"

The dwarf looked at the brave lad before him and patted his thigh, “And you took it like a man. It didn’t even rhyme but apparently describing you in a poetic sense is extremely hard,” He squint his eyes as he looked at Link, “Though….maybe if she put a little more effort…but since she insisted with ending with ‘Dark Lord’…”

Link didn’t notice Ginny Weasley who saw the whole thing ducking away as the people around him laughed at the badly composed poem while the dwarf started composing better poetry to describe his apparently extremely excellent feature, though none of it can rhyme with ‘Dark Lord’.

That evening some students made fun of those who had received a ‘mysterious’ love letter from their secret admire. Link had been held up for a quite a while after he was caught by the surprisingly poetic dwarf because apparently he has more than one secret admire. He stonily accept poem after poem that describe how beautiful he was, how he appear in their dream and one even bluntly asked him to smile more because apparently it made the secret admirer’s day.

He also received bundled up of wilting bouquets and politely rejected the almost completely crushed cookies. He had read on love potions and was wary that consuming those cookies, though well-meaning and innocent enough in appearance with their laces and ribbons as well hearts covered wrappings, would end badly for him.

He made the right choice as several boys and girls from different Houses had to be admitted to the infirmary due to eating contaminated snacks…

Ron was impressed, “Bloody hell, mate. You just dodged a curse,”

Somehow, in the same way he knew things, Link felt shiver go down his spines whenever he saw victims of love potions being manhandled to the infirmary.

Chapter Text

It was the day after the Quidditch match that Link heard how Colin Creevey, a Muggleborn wizard, was found petrified on the evening after the match ended with Slytherin’s victory. The whole team had been outfitted with the new and improved Nimbus 2001. Ron did his best as a Keeper but it was all for naught when Draco Malfoy grabbed the Snitch.

Hermione sniffed her nose at that, “At least everyone on the Gryffindor’s Team was selected through pure talents and skills,”

She almost had the whole team in love with her for her defense of them.

Back to Colin, however, he was reported to be missing from his bed and McGonagall found him with his Muggle camera up and poised for capture just shy from the loos near the path that will take him to the Quidditch Stands. They had hoped that Colin’s camera would solve the mysterious attacker but alas, his camera roll was destroyed. Since then, students have been informed to never walk alone. Luckily for Colin, the anti-petrification potion that was used of Mrs. Norris has enough left over for him.

But when asked by the teachers, he could only recall something big with yellow eyes through his lenses but then everything went black…

So the friends found themselves looking over Link’s note. It was one thing when it was just pets, even as unsavory as that was, but it was another when humans become involved. Link had a premonition that if another student or staff member becomes petrified, the school will have to close until the culprit is caught.

None of them wanted that, thus the current review on Link’s note. So far, Link had written down that whatever it was has something to do with reflective surfaces, corners and spiders. He added the new descriptions; big with yellow eyes.

Hermione huffed, “It sounded like a creature,”

Neville slumped, “That doesn’t narrow it down,”

Ron frowned, “But why does Colin’s camera roll became dust?”

Link looked over his list, “Maybe his camera saved him?” When they looked at him, he expanded his theory, “Well…there was the puddle on the floor with Mrs. Norris and she has been wary of reflective surfaces since. That meant whatever it was that petrified her was seen through the puddle. If Colin’s camera roll was any indication, it was meant to do greater damage than petrification,” He also added, “From what Colin told me when I asked him, the floor wasn’t wet and the area they founded him has nothing reflective. So that leaves his camera,”

He wrote down; indirect contact?

A few days later, Lockhart strikes again…this time in the form of a Dueling Club. Link thought that there was already a formal Dueling Club but maybe he simply assumed and the club didn’t actually exist. When he mentioned this to his friends, he was informed that there wasn’t a Dueling Club in Hogwarts. There used to be but then it was deemed “too dangerous” and “unnecessary”. The only remnant of said disbanded club would be the Head of Ravenclaw; Prof Fillius Flitwick.

Link sighed as he signed his name up for the re-established club, “That’s a shame,”

Hermione shrugged, “From what I have gathered, there have been attempts to bring back the club but that was like fifty years ago,”

Ron frowned, “When was the last time the club active?”

“Around a hundred years ago…then it slowly died out…”

Ron blinked at the information before Neville piped up, “So…how old exactly is Prof Flitwick?”

Hermione opened her mouth as if to answer but then fell silent. She closed her mouth and opened it several times before frowning, “I….I don’t know,”

Ron snorted, “That’s a first,”

He received an annoyed whack on the shoulder with her very heavy book bag in return.

When the day of the Dueling Club arrived, Link found that he and his friends were not the only ones curious. Lockhart had claimed to be a master duelist and a seasoned adventurer in his many, many books. But Link has grown more and more certain that the man was nothing more than a glory hog but perhaps with this ‘club’ he will redeem himself and show actual skills. The Defense Class has started to appear more and more like a theater meet-up than an actual class. Each week began a new part presenting Lockhart as the main hero of the act.

Link has grown tired of being used as theater prop. If anything, he’s certain that the professor held some sort of vendetta over Link. Was it because Link’s test often came back with abysmal mark? He was certain Lockhart’s favorite color was fuchsia.

That aside, Lockhart came in with as much noise as possible. He was as immaculately dressed as usual, his famous Witch Weekly smile plastered across his face and his blue eyes practically glowed from all the attention he’s receiving. Link’s hope of an actual lesson in defense grew dimmer and dimmer as Lockhart flourished his wand and swished it around needlessly.

Link’s friend could hear him whisper, “Oh Din…it’s hopeless…”

None of them know who Din is, but they know that Link has lost any and all interest the longer Lockhart stands on the stage. Then something unexpected happen as Lockhart presented his ‘assistant’, “Now, Prof Snape has been so kind as to help me with a live demonstration,”

He then went through the proper steps of a professional duelist, “And you bow…like so…a show of respect to their final moment on the stage!” He laughed at his own pompous joke while Snape’s glowered. Link then saw the dark eyes of the Potion Master darken with schemes.

He bit back his laugh.

True enough, while Lockhart was busy with his theatrics, Snape simply threw out the first practical spell, “Expelliarmus!”

In a blink, Lockhart’s wand flew uselessly out of his hand. He tried to bravo his way back into his remaining fan’s heart, “It was pretty obvious…”

After the third time Snape threw him off stage, a glint of sadistic thrill glimmered in his dark gaze, Lockhart decided to throw the towel and turn his attention to two chosen students to show their skills in dueling. He smugly smirked as he chose ‘Harry Potter’ and Link bit back a sigh. Just what was his deal with Link?

There was no redeeming the glory hog.

Snape chose his favorite; Draco Malfoy.

Malfoy sneered at him as he gave a shallow bow, “Scared, Potter?”

Chapter Text

Link stonily gazed at him, taking out his holly wand and brandished it like a sword. The duelist salute was like fencing so it was easy enough to follow. They stepped back to their ends of the stage and Link barely dodged as Malfoy threw out a curse. It caught the handle tip of his glasses, which flew off his face. Before Link could retaliate, Malfoy threw out several more curses.

At first the Slytherin thought he had the upper hand but then realized that none of his attacks hit. With his glasses off, Link shouldn’t have been able to see his surrounding but somehow the boy managed to avoid Malfoy’s attack.

When he threw out more curses, Link did something never seen before. He knew the basic ‘Protego’ charm and had quickly casted it. But the shield was small and wrapped around his wand and hand. He had played around with the spell after the event of last year with Voldemort. He didn’t want to feel as hopeless and useless as he did then.

With the charm protecting his hand and wand instead of conjuring a magical shield before him, Link started batting at the spells coming toward him. His friends gaped with the rest of the attending students as Link started using his wand like a sword, batting spell after spell while getting closer to Malfoy. How he managed to see the trajectory of the spells casted at him was beyond them.

Malfoy started to sweat from the pressure coming from Link. He unknowingly started to back away from the closing Gryffindor. In his desperation to keep the boy away, he called out, “Serpensortia!”

A snake flew out of his wand and right at Link’s face. Hermione almost screamed when Link simply caught the snake with his left hand. He stared at the confused serpent and then shrugged before simply walk closer to Malfoy. The Slytherin fumbled, “S-s-stay back! Stay back! Ack!”

Then he suddenly fell off the stage, having backed so far from his place that he had stepped right off the edge. Link chuckled and bent over, “Alright there, Malfoy?”

The Malfoy heir blushed a deep shade before scrambling to his feet, “You!”

Link presented the conjured snake still wrapped around his left hand. Malfoy quickly back pedaled with a pale face as the snake hissed at him with an annoyed look. Link tried to hand him the snake, “Here. As a Slytherin, you should know how to handle this, right?”

Link’s pointed ears twitched when he heard Ron’s trying and failing to stifle his sniggering. He forced his face to remain neutral. Malfoy could almost feel the steams coming out of his ears from the sheer embarrassment he was subjected to. Luckily for him, Lockhart the glory hog couldn’t handle the attention being taken from him and decided to step in, “Allow me,”

Link dumbly opened his palm for the professor but instead of taking or vanishing it, he casted a spell that does nothing but threw the annoyed snake into the air which then landed on a poor student’s shoulder. The pandemonium that was raised was enough to end the class there and then.

After that disastrous Dueling Club meeting, Link was hounded by interested students regarding his unique take on the shielding charm. But so far, any attempt of recreating the moves he used was met with disappointing failures. When they wondered how he does, Link could only shrug.

Link couldn’t possibly tell them that he knew that he wasn’t one for sorcery. He knew that using his wand like a sword would serve him better than throwing spells after spells at his enemy. That he has been training himself to move his body as if using a sword. That he just knew how to move, how to swing, how to center so that he wouldn’t stumble and hurt himself.

But that aside he’s currently troubled by his lack of glasses; after having his glasses repaired, somehow whatever it was that helped him with his dyslexia had disappeared. Now he’s struggling to read and write. It didn’t take long for his teachers to notice his trouble. He finally confessed about his ocular problem and was given a special spell that could help with his reading and writing. However, recreating his glasses would need a specialist.

Meanwhile, the female (and some male) populace of the student body was rejoicing behind his back. They had found him pleasant before but now that his face was free of his horrendous glasses, Link’s true face charmed them left and right. The boy in question acted as though he didn’t notice their admiration, still too conscious of his ‘freaky’ body to really enjoy the attention.

If anything, he reacted to it all by pulling his uniform’s hood over his head.

His friends finally found him hiding in small niche in the library. Hermione sighed, “Are you alright, Link?”

Ron rolled his eyes, “Of course he’s not. Look at him. The poor thing’s scared out of his mind,” He started to act as thought coddling Link, “Come on, Link. We’ll keep the girl cooties away,”

Link shoved the giggling boy off of him and sighed, “I’m tired of the staring,”

Neville sat beside him, “It’s just staring, Link,”

Hermione nodded, “It’s not going to hurt you,”

Link flinched before throwing off his hood, an unfamiliar insecurity in his blue gaze. He bit his lip before asking, “Remember last year?” At their confused look, he elaborated, “I’m sure you have seen me…” He gestured at his body, “Under…this…”

The friends finally understood.

Link smiled a bitter smile, “Up here…” He gestured at his face, “It’s all alright as long as they didn’t notice this,” He gestured at the port wine marked skin around his left ears, “They will be…like what you see. I’m sure once they…once they see…” His voice broke and his friends quickly gathered around him, understanding dawning on them like icy water.

Hermione have always been conscious about her large front teeth. It was the first thing people notice about her, beside her unruly and bushy hair. Neville have always been conscious of his pudginess. While Ron…Ron have always been conscious of his slightly crooked teeth and large ears.

Hermione had read up books on growing up and all the insecurities that came with it. She could use products to tame her hair and she has been reassured that she will grow into her teeth, that it will be part of her charm once she’s older.

Neville still has some growing to do. If he does some body training, surely his pudginess will go away. Nan has always said how the Longbottom has been the muscular sort when they grow older, so he only needs to train his body and grow up.

Ron barely notice his physical flaw. His family, blessed them, didn’t care about it at all. To them, everyone have something about themselves that they’d rather be something else. It wasn’t something to be ashamed of.

But how do you hide scars? Especially ones like Link’s?

Cosmetic can only hide so much and besides, Link’s ‘scars’ were numerous and covered most of his body. They were large and barely hidden by his long sleeved clothes and high necked shirts that he insisted on wearing even on the hottest day.

The group suddenly felt a strong need to shield Link, to defend him. Ron nodded, “Don’t worry. If they saw and said anything, I’ll sic the twins on them,” Neville nodded his agreement besides him, “I’ll sock them right at their noggins!”

Hermione giggled, “Do you think the twins would mind if I give them some ideas?”

Link stared at her, wide eyed, “What?”

Ron gaped, “Bloody hell, we are really bad influence on you, aren’t we?”

Neville hid his smile, “A pranking Hermione? Merlin has mercy on their souls,”

Hermione played along with their teasing and pouted. Link suddenly felt his chest warmed by their presence. They understood and if what he’s hearing was true, they were ready to defend him should he ever need it.

Somehow, Link knew that he had always been the shield, the sword and never the one protected. Only once, his mind reminded him, had he been protected. And that protection was too late, the cost too high, regret cutting deep within him.

He could still feel the salty cold droplets falling on his cheeks…

Chapter Text

When a patrolling Prefect discovered the petrified form of a Hufflepuff student and the horrifying sight of a blackened and unresponsive Nearly Headless Nick, alarms were raised. Security tightened in the form of patrolling staffs and students walked in large groups. Link, having always been part of a quartet, walked with his usual friends.

Unfortunately for the Hufflepuff student, the mandrake solution for anti-petrification had been used up by Colin so now they have to wait for the ones in the greenhouses to mature. Link would go out to the mandrake clearing but with how everyone’s movement been tightened, he doubted he can go into the Forbidden Forest…even if it’s just the edges.

He did informed Prof Sprout about the clearing but she frowned, “Mr. Potter, there’s a reason why we use the ones in the greenhouse. Wild mandrake can sometimes be too powerful due to being in the wild. But most importantly it is to conserve. If we simply go and take without considering the consequences to nature, it will harm the already balanced ecosystem,”

Link accepted her argument. Besides, from her conversation, the greenhouse’s mandrake has started to move into each other’s pots after throwing a wild party. Apparently that was a sign that they are ready to increase their number and maturity.

So all that was left was to wait for the potion, but…

Link noticed how Dumbledore seemed busier than usual, which was saying a lot. While at the library, he overheard Malfoy bragging about his Father’s plan to remove unnecessary and incompetent elements in Hogwarts. While he kept calm on the outside, Link was alarmed by the information. He had heard that Malfoy Sr. was the chairman of school governors.

Hermione scowled, “He can’t be serious?!”

Ron huffed, “Malfoy’s probably just bragging,”

Neville shuffled nervously, “But…what if it’s true? If he could convince the others on board to get rid of Dumbledore, then…”

The group was unhappy at the possibility. They were passing by the once marked wall near the scone where Mrs. Norris hung stiffly from when their feet splashed into a large puddle. Hermione groaned in distaste, “Not again,”

Neville looked at the growing puddle, “Does this always happen?”

She sighed, “Its Myrtle, she haunts the girl’s loo ahead,” She then gestured at the flooded floor, “She always flood the floor whenever something upset her…which was a lot,”

Ron stepped forward at the sound of wailing, “Hello? You’re flooding the hallway,”

Needless to say, his complain only make things worse for them as the water grew bigger with greater speed. Link winced at the shriek of rage as the ghost in question started bombarding Ron for his tactlessness and his cold treatment to her woe.

Neville quickly came forward, “What makes you so upset, though?”

She turned sad eyes at him, “Someone threw their things at the U-bent…as if I haven’t suffered enough!”

Then Ron said something stupid, “So? Not like you feel a thing,”

Link stepped back and hid behind Hermione who groaned at Ron’s tactless stupidity. The ghost seemed to grow in size as she sneered at Ron, who grew pale, as she floated right at his face, “Let’s all throw books at Myrtle because she can’t feel it!” She shoved her faded hand through Ron’s stomach, “Ten points if it goes through her stomach!” She then shoved it into his face, “Fifty if it goes through her head!” She then snarled at him, “Well, ha, ha, ha! What a lovely game, I don’t think!”

She then moaned in misery before floating up and threw herself into her haunted U-bent, splashing water everywhere as she disappeared down the hole. Hermione looked at Ron with a roll of her eyes, “That was stupid, Ron,”

He didn’t say anything, being busy wiping his face of the unnatural chill of a ghost’s touch. Neville then bent and picked up an item, “Is this the book she was talking about?”

Before they could discuss, Percy Weasley’s voice called out, “Ron? What are you doing in here?”

The group looked at the Prefect who was staring in horror as it slowly dawned on them they’re all in a girls only territory, minus Hermione who looked embarrassed that she have boys in a girl’s loo. As Percy dragged them to McGonagall, he lectured the group about trespassing and propriety. It was awkward and made even worse when the quartet stood before a far from amused McGonagall who set them all on a detention with Filch.

Luckily for the group, Filch was much more lenient on them than he would on other students. Part was because of Link’s charity with the matter of Mrs. Norris but another was because his cat adored them. But though he may be more lenient on them, he’s still a punishing man so the group found themselves spending the evening cleaning up the trophy room.

Neville was in charge of mopping the floor, Hermione brandishing a feather duster with a vengeance against the innocent dust bunnies while Ron had to wipe all the trophies. Link, however, was in charge of keeping an eye on them.

Ron grumbled about the fact, “It’s just not fair!”

Hermione growled, “Shut up, Ron. It’s your brother who put us here,”

He continued regardless, “But how come all Link had to do is sit there and watch us work?!”

Link sheepishly answered, “I would help but…” He gestured at the happily purring cat on his lap, “I guess my punishment is being Mrs. Norris’ throne for the evening,”

Ron gave him the stink eye, “Not much of a punishment then,”

Hermione whipped her feather duster at his face, causing Ron to flinch away from her acquired weapon, “Ron, if you say another word…” She warned him. He quickly mummed.

Neville was drying the mop when he saw the trophy in Ron’s hand, “Wait, that name…” He quickly dug into his discarded book bag in the corner and took out the book he picked up from Myrtle’s loo, “I knew I’ve seen that name before…”

The group collected around Neville, baring Link who’s stuck sitting with Mrs. Norris on his lap, and looked at the book. Hermione frowned, “Why would a book belonging to…” She looked at the trophy in Ron’s hand, “…someone from fifty years ago is thrown at Myrtle?”

Ron put down the trophy and grabbed at the book, looking at the name embellished on the cover. He struggled between opening the book and chance the possible curse that might have placed on the pages of the book. Hermione stared at him, “Well?”

He grimaced, “I have heard enough horror stories on cursed books to know better than to open this. I mean, one of the books Da found cursed whoever read it to speak in limerick for whole a year!”

Neville blanched and eyeballed the item in Ron’s hand, “I almost open that book,”

Hermione huffed, “Fine! Let’s read up on spells that reveal curses before opening it,” She then brings up the feather dusters between them, “In the meantime…” Neville sheepishly took the book before continuing his mopping duty and placed it in his bag while Ron groaned at the reminded detention.

Meanwhile, Link who felt left out piped up from his corner; “Will you fill me up on what you guys were discussing later?”

Chapter Text

Despite their plan for the book, school life gets in the way and the matter on the book was soon forgotten in favor of more immediate duties such as school works and exams. But once exams were over, Link and friends caught sight of Hagrid being escorted by wizards in uniform, his large hands shackled together.

Alarmed, Link called out, “Hagrid!”

But before they could reach him, the gentle giant was whisked away with the wizards. Ron groaned, “He’s been teleported using a Portkey,”

Hermione looked at him, “But why? Where are they taking him?”

Neville frowned, “He’s being treated like a criminal. I mean, did you see those shackles?”

Hermione shook her head, “But Hagrid haven’t done anything! I mean, there’s last year with the dragon, but that meant he would have been charged last year!”

Link turned back to the castle, “Let’s ask the ghosts or the portraits!”

Ron asked, “Why them?”

“Because they never leave Hogwarts, so they should know stuff other people neglects or forgets!”

So the friends walked around, asking. They knew Hagrid was an expelled student, his wand was snapped but Link knew Hagrid hid its pieces in his pink umbrella which made him a sort of pseudo-wizard. Just like how he had always known things, Link knew all of the right questions to ask and all the right approach to get his answers. But he didn’t let it bother him; his friend’s in trouble.

Apparently fifty years ago, the Chamber of Secrets had been opened once but the perpetrator had been caught. The one who caught and revealed the perpetrator was a T.M Riddle, a Head Boy from Slytherin House. After they were caught, the attacks stopped although it was too late as one life had been taken by whatever monster from Chamber of Secrets.

But the problem was the student that was caught was Hagrid.

Hermione looked at their compiled answers, once again jotted down by Link and summarized in a way that can be understood from the hundreds of answers they received by both ghosts and tapestries. She shook her head in confusion, “Hagrid can’t possibly be the Heir of Slytherin!”

Ron nodded, “Plus, he’s a Gryffindor! What’s an Heir of Slytherin doing in the House of Lion?”

Neville sighed, “Maybe…he was framed? I mean, it’s easy enough to think Hagrid caused the death of this student fifty years back. After all, he loves dangerous creatures,”

Link nodded, “He must have been caught smuggling a dangerous pet. He did mention something about keeping dangerous creatures in Hogwarts like the dragon not being his first time whenever we brought up the topic of Norberta,”

Ron nodded, “Not to mention, Hagrid sucks at keeping secrets. Also, he adores Dumbledore. He won’t do anything that would put the Headmaster in danger!”

Hermione added, “Apparently the Headmaster was the only one who believed in Hagrid’s innocence fifty years back,”

Ron leaned back and wrapped his arms across his chest, “So we are back at square one. If we don’t catch whoever caused these attacks, Hagrid will be held accountable for Merlin knows how long,”

That weekend, the group of boys came up to a trashed room after lunch. Ron gawked at the sight of his upturned properties, “What happened here?”

Dean and Seamus, who was busy cleaning up their things, shrugged. Seamus looked at them, “Check your stuff. See if anything’s missing. Mine all accounted for,”

Dean groaned, “My posters!”

While Dean complained about his ruined Muggle posters, having been treated harshly by whomever it was that trashed their room the three friends looked through their own things. It was later at dinner that Neville reported, “That book, journal or whatever, it’s missing,”

Ron nodded but was busy stuffing his face with steak so Link added, “Whoever threw the book away must have wanted it back,”

Neville nodded, “Why though?”

Hermione looked around, “Have you boys seen Ginny?”

Hearing his sister’s name, Ron swallowed his food (Link had threatened the boy with bodily harm if he speaks with his mouth full once) and asked, “What about Ginny?”

Hermione sighed, “I know we seldom talk to the Firsties, so I only overheard that Ginny have been isolating herself a lot lately. Then the past few days after exams, the girls in her year said she went bonkers in the middle of the night. Scared them but they thought she was having nightmares so they didn’t bother telling Prof McGonagall,”

Ron frowned before nodding, “I’ll talk to Percy,”

Ron tried talking to Percy but his brother was missing. So he decided to ask tomorrow, thinking that the elder Weasley was busy doing his Prefect’s duties. However the next morning still produce no Percy. When he asked the twins, they both shook in the negative; they haven’t seen Percy either.

It was during breakfast that Percy’s where about was revealed but in the worse way possible. A Slytherin Third Year found the Prefect petrified with a fellow Prefect from Ravenclaw, water all around them, near the hallways leading to the dungeon.

Ron looked at his stiff third brother with the twins, Ginny still missing; as he was placed on the bed in the infirmary. His hands gripped into white knuckled fists.

The day was then focused on figuring out the type of creature that could petrify its victims, scares the spiders, and traverse through Hogwarts without being noticed. Each one of the friends could only think of the lists of clues written down by Link despite being in class. The day was almost over when Hermione decided to go for a quick visit to the library.

They would have accompanied her but she insisted that she will be fine, that there will be others with her in the library.

They regretted that decision later as Hermione was later found petrified with a mirror in her hand…

Only Link noticed her closed fist holding something. Digging, he finally managed to take out the piece of note from her notebook that Hermione was fond of using. A single word written on paper; pipes…

Chapter Text

Ron was pacing on the Common Room’s carpet while Neville looked at the paper Link found in Hermione’s closed fist, “Pipes? What does she means?”

Everyone has been escorted straight to their dorms by the staffs. Link looked at the items that were handed to him by McGonagall when they rushed to the infirmary upon being informed by a scared Fifth Year. They were Hermione’s and one of them was a large book on Creatures. It seemed to him that Hermione was struck by inspiration and had rushed to gather the things required to further confirm her suspicion with them. She has also deduced that whatever it was that caused this petrification “travels via pipes,”

Neville looked up, “What, Link?”

Link opened the borrowed library book, “Hermione wrote down pipes because she believes that the creature travel via pipes,” He expanded his theory for them, “I mean, whenever a student was found petrified, there’s always something reflective and more often than not, it was water on the floor. That meant that something big and wet was travelling on the floor,”

Ron stopped his pacing, “Percy and the other Prefect must have thought that someone was up to a prank or something with all that water, that’s why they follow it,” There were drying water marks leading to Percy’s body.

Neville took out his copied down Link’s List, “That’s why Mrs. Norris is scared of reflective surfaces, especially water puddles,” He then added, “If we have a map of Hogwarts, I bet each of the victims were near a water source like the loos,”

Link nodded, “Colin was coming back from a toilet break when he was petrified,” He pointed at ‘indirect contact’, “He saw the attacker through the camera. The Hufflepuff must have seen it through Sir Nick but Sir Nick had gotten the full attack…but a ghost can’t be petrified, they don’t have a physical form to harden,”

Ron looked at the list, “Which meant whatever it was that caused Nick to be blackened must be deadly….but Nick’s a ghost, ghost can’t die again…”

Neville cross out ‘petrification’, “It was supposed to kill…not petrify…” He was cold and shaking as he added his theory, “They survived because of indirect contact,”

Link nodded, “That lowered down the list of suspects,” He quickly leafed through the book, “Slytherin is big on serpents, so I am sure their so called monster from the Chamber of Secrets are a type of serpent…”

He then stopped at a page, the same page that Hermione had placed a bookmark on, “Hermione’s brilliant…maybe too brilliant…”

The group stared at the page depicting the Basilisk, the King of Serpents.

Neville pointed at a paragraph, “It says here that a Basilisk’s poison has no cure, baring the tears of a Phoenix. It is so saturated in poison that a glance of its gaze itself is deadly,” He blinked, “Hermione has a mirror in her hand,”

Link took out the compact mirror, “She knows the danger,”

Just as they were about to add suggestions, a Sixth Year student barged into the dorm, “Guys, Dumbledore’s being sacked!”

The tower burst into picked discussion. Someone asked if Hogwarts getting closed but no one has a determined answer. Before things get any worse, McGonagall came into the Common Room and asked for the Weasleys. Neville and Link asked permission to accompany Ron and his brothers but before she could refuse, Ron asked for the same thing. She finally sighed and relented.

They followed the tired Head of House and wondered just what was going on. Link took the chance to ask, “Is it true that the Headmaster has been dismissed?”

McGonagall wanted to curse the lack of true secret in Hogwarts, “Unfortunately the board of governors could no longer ignore that lack of safety in Hogwarts and wanted the Headmaster to take responsibility,”

Neville frowned, “That makes no sense?”

McGonagall looked at the young Longbottom, “What doesn’t make sense, Mr. Longbottom?”

Neville answered, “I mean, if they want the Headmaster to take responsibility then why take him away? He’ll do more good being here,”

McGonagall shook her head, “I have no clue on what goes on in their head either,” She then turned to address Ron and his brothers, “Mr. Weasley, be strong,”

With that ominous advice, she opened the door to the infirmary and Link could see that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there. Fred and George along with Ron immediately found themselves being coddled by Mrs. Weasley. Between her crying and the Weasley’s patriarch, Link and Neville heard the other shoe drop; Ginny Weasley has been taken by the Basilisk of Slytherin.

Link and Neville shared a look, not knowing what to say to the Weasley brothers. How do you tell someone to have heart when one by one, their family was accosted by misfortune? Neville turned away from the sight, his heart breaking for his friend. As the only child, he never knew how it was like to have siblings. At times he found himself jealous of Ron for having siblings to turn to for help and at others he was glad that he’s alone by how much Ron griped about his siblings and their penchant to tease him.

Link said nothing. He just knew what Ron was feeling at that moment. He knew the numbing concern and the need to find, find, find her before the worse could happen. He recalled a world flooded by ocean, seagulls and pirates shooting him towards where She was held captive.

Aryll…

Flashes of mischievous smile, a wide toothy grin, warm dark eyes and tanned skin, a blue dress with hibiscus motif, adorable golden pigtails and penchant to make him run around come to mind and Link blinked back tears. His chest swells with the intense emotion of missing her, knowing that that life has come and gone.

He looked at Ron’s pale face and shaking hands, Molly’s tearful face and arms gathering her remaining broods, Arthur’s stony face and distant eyes as he stared at his family, and he felt his fists gripping tighter. Ron looked up to see Link, face stony and cold, emotions washed clean but his eyes ablaze like twin blue flames.

There’s an unspoken promise in that determined gaze, one he knew that Link will see through. Biting his lips, he nodded in thanks just as Link turned around and leaves. Neville looked around where he has been hiding his own tears and chased after Link.

A moment later, Ron excused himself and took off after his friends. Knowing Link, he must have narrowed down the possibilities of where Ginny could be. Link only investigated out of concern but he has never shown any want to seek out danger. He stuck closer to them the more dangerous Hogwarts became.

But now, two of his friends have been struck and Ron just knew that Link will throw himself in danger’s path to stop it. As he had promised last year, he will not leave Link’s back uncovered…

Chapter Text

Link ran around, regardless of the orders to stay put, to question all the portraits that tried their best to hide away. He hunts down the hiding ghosts and his friends could only wonder how he knows where to look. But all clues (mostly “I don’t know, leave me alone!”) sent the trio to the place of the first incident; Myrtle’s Loo.

The ghost was absent but Link had gathered much from Nick’s Deathday Party on Halloween that she died in the bathroom and her life ended fifty years ago. Link has long accepted that there’s only fate where he’s concerned and coincidences are nothing more than building blocks leading to that moment.

Neville looked around, “What are we looking for?”

Ron opened the loo’s door one by one, finally declaring, “She’s not here. Must have gone hiding too,”

Link looked around, “Slytherin’s House reveres snakes and serpents…look for anything that has any connection to it,”

The boys set to work, looking and rubbing every surface that they could reach. Neville was looking round the sinks when he noticed that one particular sink lacks any sign of use. He decided to investigate closer, rubbing his hand on the spout when he felt a strange indentation. He called out, “Link, Ron! I think I found it!”

The boys rushed to him and Neville pointed, “Here, I feel something like a squiggle here,”

He let Link takeover and sure enough, under all the grime and dust was the unmistakable motif of a snake etched on the side of the spout’s metal surface. Frown wrinkling his forehead, Link pondered on how to open it. He opened his mouth as if to question the snake;

“,”

Ron and Neville blinked. Neville asked, “Link? Did you say something?”

Link looked behind him and found the two staring at him, “What?”

Ron sighed out in relief, “Oh good, he’s back to speaking English,”

At Link’s confused look, Neville explained, “Well…you were staring at that snake and then you started saying something except-,”

Ron cut him off, “Except its not English! And I’m sure I would know if it’s Parseltongue!”

Link blinked, “A what tongue?”

“It’s something that Slytherin was known for, it’s why the House of Slytherin’s all about snakes and serpents. People who can speak to snake are called Parselmouth and the language they used to speak to snake is Parseltongue,” Neville helpfully explained before it dawned on him, “Of course!”

Ron frowned, “Of course what?”

Link caught on, “Makes sense. If Slytherin can communicate with snakes, he could easily control something as deadly as a Basilisk,”

Ron scratched his head furiously, “But what does this all have to do with the snake taking Ginny?!” He huffed, “I’m pretty sure I would know if my family is descended from Slytherin. I mean, it’s not impossible. A thousand years is a long time and magical families tended to marry each other. I am sure that we are related to Malfoy somewhere in the family tree but…who cares about that?! None of my family members can speak Parseltongue,”

Neville nodded, “You-Know-Who speaks Parseltongue. It was his hallmark,”

Ron looked at Link, “So we all agree Link didn’t just talked snake so…what was that?” They stared at Link who shrugged, “I was asking how to open the entrance,”

Neville scratched his chin, “Maybe we could try hissing at it and see if any of that translate to snake speak for open?”

Not knowing what else to do, the three did just that, taking turn hissing variations of hisses (“Ron, that’s a cat hiss, not a snake hiss,” “How should I know?”) and just as they all grew collectively frustrated from the lack of progress, Gaepora flew it with a loud screech. Before anyone could react to the giant owl’s sudden appearance, Gaepora dropped a snake into the sink that they grouped around. He sat on the stone frame of the mirror and hissed at the snake.

The snake, which looked suspiciously familiar to Link, looked at the small engraving of snake on the spout’s surface before hissing. Suddenly, everything around the spout began to move and Link quickly took the snake, now recognizing it as the poor fella that almost got itself beheaded in the failed Dueling Club. Link had rescued it and taken it to the edge of Hagrid’s garden plot to release it to the wild.

Link thanked the snake and Ron gawked at it, “Can’t believe a literal snake will help us,”

Neville shrugged, “At this point, I’d take any help,”

Gaepora hooted at them and their focus turned back to the entrance, more like a hole, that’s revealed to them. Link came forward, looking over the edge into the darkness below. Ron started, “Well, we found the opening to the Chamber of Secret so now let’s get some teachers to help-,”

His suggestion was cut short by the utterly and inanely simple reason; Link had jumped over the edge into the hole like jumping into a shallow rain puddle.

““LINK!””

Ron grumbled before looking at Neville, “You go get someone, preferably not Lockhart!”

Watching Ron grimace and gag before whispering a short prayer to Merlin only to jump after Link, Neville was torn between jumping after and taking Ron’s (surprisingly) sensible suggestion of informing a teacher. Grumbling to himself and his still cowardly personality, he ran off for McGonagall before finding himself being lifted off by Gaepora.

The two flew through the hall and almost slam into Snape who was cautiously patrolling the hallways. Snape looked up at the surprising and ridiculous sight of Longbottom being carried by Potter’s ridiculously large owl, “Mr. Longbottom! Get down here this instance!”

With Gaepora not stopping, Neville cried out, “Sorry Prof Snape sir! I can’t!”

Snape cursed under his breath and started chasing, “Pray tell why not!”

“We found the entrance to the Chamber of Secret in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom!!”

“WHAT?!!”

“Link and Ron already jumped in to save Ginny!”

“Get down here and explain properly!”

Chapter Text

So Ron found himself playing hide and seek with a bloody basilisk the size of Hogwarts’ Express with Link after finding Ginny’s dying body. The fact that he’s still processing the idea that bloody You-Know-Who’s school age memory have been manipulating and possessing his sister to commit crime (sure it’s just Hagrid’s chickens that died but still) still boggled his mind.

Link have been extremely helpful in keeping out of sight and keeping Ron safe by making sure that he never see the basilisk, not even indirectly. Ron’s heart hurt for Ginny but he promised to get her out of this, and Link too, alive and apiece. But he could not deny the terror pounding through him as he hear the scraping scales going by into another pipe. He found that he could only follow Link as the boy pulled and pushed him for his own good.

He wants to do more.

He needs to do more.

But what can he do?

Ron grit his jaw, mind reeling with despair and fear as his hands shook too much that he knew he could never cast a spell. He peered at Link who had his eyes close, long ears listening. How does his friend stay so calm?

How could he even begin to be as calm?

What use is his promise if he’s nothing more than a burden to Link?

While Ron wallowed in his desperation and helplessness, Link remained focused to the task at hand. The revelation that Tom, or rather Voldemort, had shown him speaks of something much sinister. Even at an age where others worry about teenage romance and school, he had already begun his journey to become the famed Dark Lord. Link knew that the journal was hiding something but he’d never expect this.

His eyes snapped open and he put one hand over Ron’s eyes as he pulled his friend away from where they were standing, the basilisk appearing from the dark and snapping into empty air. He could feel Ron’s body shaking under his iron hold and his skin clammy with fear and sweat. He didn’t expect for Ron to follow him but had accepted the company nonetheless. After all, Ron has the right to rescue Ginny.

He should have known better.

Ron’s not a soldier, not a hardened warrior. He’s normal. Unlike Link who knew how to survive in the wild with nothing but the clothes on his back. Ron’s afraid of spiders; he never has to face a Gohma at the tender age of ten. He never had to jump into a deep hole like Link did to save a father.

Ron’s a child.

He could have stayed a child….until he became involved with Link.

Link cut down that depressing thought. He knew that he could not stop Ron because Ron’s not a soldier to follow order mindlessly. Ron’s his friend and friends always help even when it does not benefit them in any way. Link doesn’t have many of that. It makes it even more important to cherish them.

He promised to keep the Weasley siblings alive through this ordeal and if neither wants to have anything to do with him after, he will accept their decision.

As the two boys rolled across the wet floor, Link keep Ron’s eyes closed while the basilisk loomed over them. Thinking quickly, he casted “Lumos!” blindly over his head in the direction of the snake. The giant snake hissed in annoyance by the sudden blinding light. Glad that a spell that he had once witnessed the older Years used late in the evening before curfew worked, Link quickly pulled Ron to his feet and the two continued to run when an ethereal sound echoed in the chamber.

Ron gasped, “That sounds like a phoenix!”

Link didn’t react, simply helping his friend hide behind a pillar while Tom screamed at the sound of something attacking the basilisk. The familiar sound of Gaepora shrieking overhead reached the boys followed by something falling on his lap. Gaepora hovered before him for a while before hooting at what can only be the Sorting Hat meaningfully. Once Link took up the ancient hat, the owl hooted before flying off.

Meanwhile Ron gaped at the shadow cast on the wall before him, “The phoenix just blinded the basilisk!” Before he could turn his head, Link grabbed his collar and pulled out Hermione’s hand mirror. He opened the mirror and saw that Ron had witnessed true. He looked at his friend, “Go get Ginny,”

Ron opened his mouth to protest but Link’s famous glare silenced him. Huffing, the red head rushed off toward his little sister, wand out. Link took off his floppy green hat and put on the Sorting Hat. Tom sneered at him, “Is this all the help that the great Dumbledore could offer; a stupid bird and a useless hat?”

Link noticed how Ron had pulled Ginny away from Tom who suspiciously hovered over the dreaded journal. Link thought to the Sorting Hat about it being useful and something hard hit him, something that felt like the familiar pommel of a sword. Wincing from pain as he watched the basilisk, eye sockets bleeding profusely, loomed over him.

It started to move its head toward the Weasleys and Link won’t have that. So he expertly put his fingers on his lips and whistled, the sound sharply echoed across the chamber. The snake hissed furiously at the sensory assault and headed for Link.

Good.

He pulled off the Sorting Hat and reached in to pull a sword of gold and rubies, something that could only be a name etched on the surface of the shining blade. Without his special glasses, he couldn’t read. But Link didn’t care as he stuffed the wet Sorting Hat into the hood of his robe at the same time rolling away from the impact of the snake lunging for him.

With a sword in his hand, he felt all the better as he faced an impossible adversary. But for Link, that is just how his life goes…

When Snape and Neville finally arrived, they witnessed Link being swallowed by a ginormous serpent with bleeding eyes. Snape gawked while Neville screamed out Potter’s ridiculous nickname, “LINK!!”

He could hear Weasley’s voice screaming the same from the other end of the chamber but his body couldn’t move. All he could think was that he had failed Lily once again…when the snake started trashing violently, blood flowing from the gaps of its mouth.

As it writhed in pain, its mouth opened and they could see Link shoving what could only be a sword deeper into the roof of its mouth. But they also witnessed that two of the snake’s venomous fangs had sunk into the boy’s back. At its final hiss and Link’s ferocious roar of defiance as he pushed the sword into the snake’s brain up to its hilt, the snake fell dead.

Snape vaguely heard someone’s roaring angrily as adrenaline rushed through his head. The boy’s poisoned; that was the only thing that runs through his mind. The boy’s poisoned by basilisk venom, a deadly concoction without cure. His ears were ringing as he watched Link pull himself away from the jaw of death, the fangs sticking out of his back like broken wings, blood pooling at his feet.

Neville was crying and so does Ron. But Link ignored them in favor of leveling his deadly glare on the ghost of Tom Riddle.

Link hated curses. He absolutely abhors them. It also meant that it make him pretty good at knowing how to get rid of one. Tom turned Ginny’s wand on him but before a spell could be cast, Link was already onto him. He sneered, thinking that Link’s a fool if he thinks he could harm a pseudo-ghost.

But the fool was him as the ink spurt out of the journal like his life blood.

Link, even with his dying breath, always see his mission through…

Chapter Text

Madam Pomfrey would never admit it but she had screamed when she saw Snape carrying Potter through the infirmary’s doors on his back, with the Longbottom heir and both missing Weasleys behind him, with blood dripping all over her floor. When Snape had rushed in to hand her the Anti-Petrification Potions, she had wondered why he looked like a man on a mission. He had left before she could say anything.

Quickly returning to her professional self, she enquired, “What happened?!”

Severus was pale as he laid Potter on the familiar bed, one he had used just last year, “Basilisk venom,”

Poppy stumbled in her casting, “What venom?!”

But Severus ignored her lapse of professionalism and added, “It has been nullified by Fawkes’s tears but he had lost too much blood,” He started listing possible injuries and Poppy decided to just do her work before further questioning.

She noted the holes on Potter’s back as well as the new circular scarring as she cleaned and changed him into infirmary’s issued gown. Once her job was done, she closed the curtain around Potter and turned her glare on Severus. Severus simply turns to the boys and girl on his side, all three looking equally worried and perhaps a little guilty.

When Link finally opened his eyes, he found Dumbledore sitting at the side once again. Albus looked up from the book he was reading and smiled, the tension around his eyes easing, “Why, good morning Mr. Potter,”

Link gestured for water and upon receiving, gestured thanks. Albus smiled, “I wonder, Link, where you learned sign language,”

Link froze and looked at him. Albus noted that he appear highly uncomfortable by the question and decided to change the subject, “A house elf named Dobby came to me last night and told me, with much punishment on his poor hands, the plans of Lucius Malfoy to bring Hogwarts under his control. He also brought much evidence before once again trying to bludgeon his head with my poor lamp in an attempt to punish himself for dishonoring his Master,”

Link frowned at the idea of Dobby hurting himself and Albus told him, “So when Lucius decided to confront me for failing his immaculate planning, I tricked him into releasing poor Dobby. I have never, in my rather long life, seen a house elf so liberate in thinking and thought that it would be a sad thing to lose him to Lucius’s temper,”

Link finally relaxed; glad that Dobby had found someone who can help him. He then asks once he felt his throat up for it, “Hagrid?”

Albus chuckled, “Why, upon my reinstatement to my position as the Headmaster of Hogwarts and the awaken victims’ testament, Hagrid has been proven innocent of suspicions on all account. Both then and now,” He then peered at Link over his half-moon glasses perching on his crooked nose, “Now that you have been informed the result of you hard work, may I know your side of the story?”

As he left the infirmary to allow Link to rest from his healing coma, Albus found himself impressed. Severus had provided him the memory of Link’s valiant action and sacrifice through the Pensieve. Even for a Gryffindor, he stands above and in his own class. But the fact that he has the wisdom to ask those that not even Albus would think to ask if not for his long time tenure at Hogwarts and the ability to carry out his assault despite the tremendous difference in abilities surprises him.

Right now, all that Link lacked is power but it doesn’t seem like he will go out of his way to seek it simply to own it…

He understood now why Link managed such a long hat stall. Also, from what he learned from the Hat, Link was aiming for Hufflepuff; the most humble in term of fame among the four Houses of Hogwarts. Even Albus, for his vice in priding himself for his wisdom and courage as well as power, could not imagine letting it all go for the sake of simple hard work and loyalty.

Link has the wisdom to seek the humblest of treasure over the glories of rank…

When Link finally rejoins society, he found all three of his closest friends crowding him. Hermione cried for his forgiveness, blaming her stupidity in thinking that she’ll be safe simply because she won’t be alone. Ron and Neville scolded him for going at the basilisk with a sword the size of a toothpick in comparison the pillar like fangs of the serpent.

The rest of the school year was a blur to Link. Life returned to normal as class resumed and exams rained down on the students like a sudden avalanche of questionnaires. Also, Lockhart was apprehended for trying to steal his credit. It happened when Link was still under a healing coma and Lockhart had tried to steal his memories of the event. It turned out that his friends have been suspicious of the man when he questioned them relentlessly on their ‘exploits’ in the now closed Chamber of Secret.

He seemed to try to corner each of them alone in separate occasion but after the whole fiasco of Hermione’s petrification, the trio had stick together ever closer. So they decided to tail after him when he suddenly stopped.

Remarkably, Severus was the one guarding Link for the evening just in case. Not to mention Link’s condition made for an interesting study. After all, no one has ever survived being bitten by a basilisk considering its rarity even in the wild. Even more, when Scamander’s theory that a phoenix tears being the only antidote to its venom being proven true in practice.

Severus has been less than happy to see the foolish wizard hovering over Potter’s unconscious form with his wand suspiciously out. Needless to say, Lockhart had been questioned harshly for his motive and unceremoniously seized by the less than amused Potion Master.

Link doesn’t know what to make of the man. On one hand, it seemed that Snape sees Link as the bane of his existence regardless of his passable work in his class. On the other, Link sensed no malice from the man whenever their eyes met. If anything, there’s a sense of…loss.

But Link doesn’t know what to feel about being seen as an interesting specimen by the Potion Master…

“Try it, Link!”

At least Snape never asked Link to lick a frog for science…

With these unremarkable events passing, Hermione’s cheers that exams wasn’t cancelled due to the threat to Hogwarts having passed safely, Ron’s victory at Quidditch and Neville somehow gaining a snake he named Simon as a new familiar since Trevor had been successful in its escape during the whole Chamber fiasco, Link’s Second Year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry came to a close…

Chapter Text

After Headmaster Dumbledore had sneakily cost Malfoy their house elf by tricking the man into freeing Dobby, the house elf has decided to move in with Link…at least at his tree house.

Link had the house elf stay at his tree with Gaepora most of the time though it seemed Dobby had sneakily helped him around the Dursley’s house. That was the only reason he noticed Dobby’s presence at No. 4, Privet Drive. Link won’t complain about it. Any help is good help for Link. After all, Dobby’s good at staying out of sight and tricking the Dursleys into thinking that Link’s just that good at chores.

The upside of having Dobby in his tree would be that he made it more livable.

Dobby even set a special boundary around the tree so that only Link and those he acknowledge can come close let alone enter. This way, Muggles won’t discover the tree or destroy the area around the tree. Dobby explained to Link that it was similar to how most magical homes have special barrier and boundaries to keep Muggles away from discovering their abode. And since it is house elf magic, the Ministry of Magic could not detect or blame Link for the magic.

Dobby confessed that last year as a final effort to stop Link from returning to Hogwarts, he had planned to imitate Link’s magical signature to force Link away from Hogwarts via legal means. After all, as a minor, Link’s not supposed to cast magic outside of Hogwarts. Basically, he would go as far as getting Link into trouble with the government to keep Link safe. But Link managed to change his mind by showing Dobby that he might get Link in trouble but that won’t stop Link from going to Hogwarts especially now that he knew his friends will be in great danger.

So with Dobby by his side, Link can now head for Diagon Alley whenever he wanted as Dobby could teleport them to their destination easily. Link felt a little off after the first trip, being squeezed felt very different from being flattened into a one dimensional painting on a wall, but soon he get used to it.

With his home away from home secured with Dobby’s help, Link has been spending some money to make it more livable. He didn’t splurge or anything of the like but he certainly make sure he has better living quality. His tree has become homier with better furniture and linens.

And since Dobby had magically secured it, Link started noticing magical critters making a home around the tree. He also discovered a mandrake hiding by the root of his tree. Even the air felt different the moment he crossed the magical boundary that Dobby had set for him. Instead of smog and exhaust from cars, the air smelled of the wilderness and Link wondered if it was because of the sudden magical flora growing around the tree.

He also caught a dwarf burrowing at the root of the tree but since they would not harm the tree roots, he decided to leave them be. If anything, since moving in, the tree grew stronger and greener; healthier.

Link treated them like he would the Picori…whatever that was…

But Link didn’t spend all his time at his tree. He still had to return to the Dursley. Even if they didn’t care to check his wellbeing, it would be too suspicious to be completely absent from No. 4. This was the reason why he spent the evening getting the guest room ready for someone he could sincerely say he’d rather not meet.

For someone who’s completely lukewarm to hostile people, Link’s rather cold towards one particular person from his (unfortunately) extended family. This person would be the completely unremarkable sister of Uncle Vernon, someone Link has no choice but to politely refer to as Aunt Marge.

One of Link’s terrible memory of Aunt Marge would be her bulldog; Ripper, who made it his life mission to tear Link to ribbons from their first meeting. It doesn’t help that Link think that Ripper looked more like a pig than a dog.

Link seldom dislikes animals. Even pigs and hogs, with which he has a slight distaste towards, could not be compared to the likes of Ripper. Spoiled rotten by Aunt Marge, Ripper follow her words like they were gospels from the heaven…especially if it includes orders such as “get him” or the likes where it will end up with Link running to whichever high ground he could get to.

Honestly, Ripper’s one animal that Link would have great pleasure running his wooden sword through and that says a lot about his sentiment towards the mutt.

So now he stood in the kitchen, pretending he’s the wallpaper while Marge continued to slur about his deceased parents. Honestly, she’s even starting to make Aunt Petunia fluster as she grew more and more drunk by the hour, her slur becoming more and more creative.

But then she…;

“…if there is something wrong with the bitch, then there is something wrong with the mutt!” She then had the audacity to call for Link, “You! Pour me some more wine!”

When the wine didn’t come, the drunken woman looked up at him properly for more scolding and froze. Chills run down her spine like the cold, unfeeling fingers of death as her eyes met frozen blue pools full of rage. The last thing she remembered was those cold, cold eyes…

Vernon managed to grab his sister as she suddenly faint from her chair. He looked at Link, “What did you do to her?”

Link shrugged, his face once more impassive and his eyes once again unreadable, “Nothing,” He raised the bottle of wine he was holding, “As you can see, I was about to pour her some more wine,”

Vernon glared at him suspiciously but when Marge’s familiar, boar like snore rattled by his ears, he decided that it was not worth mulling on. Grumbling, he dragged his sister to her room.

That evening, as promised to Link (and the whole reason why Link ‘behaved’ so well that day) he signed that slip of paper from that freaky school, giving Link his permission as guardian to go to the freaky village trip and whatnot.

Link makes himself scarce for the rest of Marge’s stay at Privet Drive…

Link was furious at Marge for her callous words and he could not promise that he would not snap at her. He consoled himself that she’s ignorant of the truth, even if she’s the rudest person he knew on the mundane side of his life. He told himself as he went through the motion of his swordsmanship that he has heard worse, treated worse and for that he should not react to her foolishness because he would not stoop to her lowliness.

It had taken his iron clad control over his emotion to not lash out at her that horrid evening. He didn’t really care much for the treatment of others towards his person but it’s another matter altogether when it regards to people that earned his respect and favor.

It seemed that she has been getting some form of harassment from Dobby that’s disguised as clumsiness on her part. Link would usually try to stop the house elf but he had a feeling that Dobby being the willful elf he is would simply go behind his back. They didn’t have a master-servant contract and Dobby’s a free elf. Link would never deem to control his friend.

Besides, he supposed he had his petty revenge by scaring her to fainting by unleashing a concentrated bloodlust that only she can feel.

Another arrow hits the center and Link breathed out his tension. He smiled as Gaepora wrestled with the living tome that Hagrid had sent him for his birthday. Link had quickly discovered the way to tame the Monster Book of Monsters and now it was like he has gained another pet of sort.

If one could consider an animated book covered in fur complete with beady eyes like spiders and snapping rows of crocodile teeth with a penchant to bite anything and everything as a particularly volatile pet. He chuckled as Gaepora sat on the book, shutting it.

The 1^st of September will soon arrive and Link simply couldn’t wait to leave for Hogwarts where he’s bound to be dragged into some form of adventure…

Chapter Text

“LINK!!”

Link looked up from his luggage to find Hermione rushing towards him. He distantly greeted her parents as he accepted her physical show of affection; being squeezed of his life by Hermione. His friend allowed him to breath sweet air after a moment and greeted Gaepora before blinking at the company owl kept in his vast cage, “Is that the Monster Book of Monsters? How’d you keep it so still without a belt?”

Link shrugged as he lifted Gaepora’s cage into the train, “You stroke it like a cat?”

Hermione looked at her pet carrier, “Huh…oh, this is Crookshank! I got him from the Magical Menagerie from Diagon Alley,” She introduced him her pet familiar; a rather distinguished ginger cat with a very flat face. Link greeted the animal and received a sniff of acknowledgement in return.

As usual, it took great maneuvering on his part to get Gaepora through the train and people had to flatten themselves to the side to let them through. Hermione walked ahead and found Neville flagging them over, “This way!”

After much help from his friends, Gaepora successfully placed across a sleeping figure in their compartment. Neville sheepishly gestured at their mystery guest, “It’s the only one empty enough for all of us,”

Hermione looked at Simon who slithered out of Neville’s neck, “How did your Gran take Simon’s presence?”

He grinned, “She’s surprised but didn’t protest about him being there. Besides, Simon’s a garden snake and I have someone to company me when I work in the greenhouse,” He bopped his snake affectionately, “Never thought I’d be so happy to have a snake for company. Trevor usually tries to escape and I always ended up having to cage him; that always makes me feel like a bad person,”

As they shared new tales of their summer break, Ron and Ginny joined them. With her is a new face whom she introduced as “Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw, she’s our neighbor” who peered curiously at Gaepora. Luna greeted Link and handed him a magazine called the Quibbler, “My father is the founder, journalist and editor of the Quibbler. I hope you will find it informative,”

Hermione looked like she wanted to say some words but held back…

Link spent the beginning of their journey skimming through the magazine when Ron asked, “Hey Link? Did you know that the Ministry was trying to contact you? But for some reason no one can find you all summer!”

Link put the magazine down, “Oh, that’s because of Dobby,”

Ron pulled a face, “That crazy house elf that tried to expel you from Hogwarts? What did he do this time?”

Link shrugged (he seemed to be doing that a lot lately) and said, “Rather, he kept me safe. Remember my tree?”

Neville brightened with interest, “Oh Ron told me about that tree. It sounded like a great place to spend some alone time in!”

Link nodded, “Well, Dobby decided to stay with me and I let him stay at the tree. I can’t employ him being a minor and all…and I don’t really feel like I would make a good master either so I just let him be my roommate,” He then went on to explain what Dobby did before asking, “Why did the Ministry want to get in touch with me?”

Ron shrugged, “Dunno,”

Neville pointed at a picture, “Maybe it’s because of Sirius Black?”

Link looked at the page he pointed, “Sirius Black?”

Neville nodded, “Yeah. He was a famous right hand man of You-Know-Who, right there with the Lestrange. He recently escaped from Azkaban,”

Link blinked, “The Muggle news covered about him too but I didn’t know he’s a wizard…what’s Azkaban?”

Ron took over and explained how it was the wizard’s equivalent of Arbiter’s Grounds, not that Ron knew what Arbiter’s Grounds is but the description reminded him so much of a great prison fortress built in the depth of the desert but guarded by Poes instead of being built on an island in the middle of the ocean and guarded by creatures called Dementors. Although this Dementors sounded worse than those undead. He knows some good, albeit mischievous, Poes.

Link listened and surmised, “So…this Sirius Black is out to get me, is it?”

Ron asked, “What makes you think that?”

Link ticked his fingers, “Well…he’s one of Voldemort’s (cue collective flinching) and the Ministry’s looking for me when he escaped from a never before breakable prison. All this seemed to point out to one thing; he’s looking for me…or at least that was the conclusion everyone involved seemed to have come to,”

Hermione huffed in confusion as his word choice, “Well, he’s a fanatic of You-Know-Who so why won’t he go after you?”

Link shrugged, “We all know Voldemort (shudder) did not really die from that fiasco in First Year so I would think that a true follower would have done something to revive him one way or another like Quirrel tried,” He added, “Besides, Voldemort (flinch) marked me as his prey,”

Neville hummed, “Which means that no one but You-Know-Who alone can touch you,”

Link nodded, “A true follower would have realized this and seek out ways to help Voldemort (flinch) return to the physical realm. Trying to get at me personally will make them a traitor in that madman’s eyes and knowing those types, that is the last thing they wanted to be,”

Hermione tilted her head as she pondered, “Then why did he escape in the first place?”

Ron shrugged, “Why won’t anyone want to escape from Azkaban? It’s a prison, Hermione, not spa resort,” The unhelpful snarky comment received a whack from her.

As the group went back and forth at this new tangent that Link presented regarding Black’s motive for escaping, the train suddenly lurched to a stop. Link frowned, “That does not feel like a normal break,”

Ron looked out the window, “Well of course not, we are in the middle of a bridge,”

Hermione peered over, “Then why-?” Her question was cut short as everything began to ice over and their breaths come out in puffs of fog. Ron shuddered as Ginny whimpered beside an equally disturbed Luna. Neville stared vacantly at the door, “I think something just got on…”

Hermione huddled close to her friend with a shiver, “I….I feel…empty…”

Ginny started to cry and hyperventilate, “No…please…Tom, stop, please…”

Ron quickly went over to his sister and tried to comfort her, “Ginny, it’s alright. I’m here. I won’t let him get you. I’m right here, I got you,” Though he whispered comforting words, his eyes grew haunted. Luna seemed to be drained of any serenity and became gaunt with grieve. By her side, Neville stared into nothing as his eyes flooded with tears.

The light blinked shut and darkness descended with the cold…

Link saw the door to their shared compartment slide open by boney fingers and all he could see is the blinding golden light of salvation and Her shout;

“NO, LINK!!”

Then everything felt cold…

Chapter Text

Link awake to find himself lying on the ground while he noticed distantly the panic stricken look on his friends’ faces. He wondered where that…thing…went…

His body felt strangely heavy, his breathing felt short and labored. His left side felt like it was on fire. Something had spilled, he numbly noted, and he’s lying on it. As he blinked, he realized that he can’t hear his friends though he blearily noticed that they were saying something. He felt…so tired…

He blinked once, twice, and each time he opened his eyes his eyelids felt heavier and heavier…

So tired…

Hermione screamed as Link once again lost his consciousness, “Link!”

She didn’t know what had happened. One moment she was derived of all the pleasures of living and the next their new professor had stood up and cast a blinding white spell that chased all the chill of apathy away. But that wasn’t what caused her this panic. No, she found Link on the floor, lying on a growing puddle of blood.

He had woken up when she cast the waking charm on him but he went back under. The professor, Lupin, had conjured some bandages that wind itself around Link’s body. He had stopped in shock by the numerous marks on Link’s body when he vanished Link’s clothing to see what had injured him but then resolutely continue his first aid treatment.

Link was bleeding everywhere. His port-wine marks on his body looked raw, red and angry; bleeding like his skin had been burned off of his person. All the odd ‘scarring’ that littered his body suddenly opened and bled. It was horrendous and frightening.

Lupin had directed the student to share others compartment until they reached Hogwarts. Her group of friends pooled into the Twin’s compartment. Fred and George quickly gathered their younger siblings closed, for once their features lacked merriment as they were filled with concern for their family. Luna, Neville and Hermione huddled together with stony faces. Simon hissed weakly from Neville’s collar and Crookshank purred a storm to help comfort Hermione.

They don’t really understand what had occurred. They understood that they were visited by the famed effects of Dementors presence, having been a topic of discussion prior to the incident. But what baffled their mind were Link and his very much physical reaction to the Dementors.

It would have been understandable for someone to faint, especially if that someone is Link. With true horrors that he had faced the last two years, it will be more surprising if Link showed no reaction at all. But none of them expect the blood that had suddenly burst open from his body. The scent of thick iron clogged their noses and they had quickly come to their senses.

Soon, the train reached its destination five minutes later than usual. The friends quickly gathered out and saw Link being carried magically by their new professor into a horseless carriage. They quickly entered the following carriage and upon arrival, were greeted by a stern faced McGonagall who ordered them to join the Welcoming Feast.

Ron would have argued but she quickly shut him down, “It is more important to not cause further distress by such a large group of student being missing from the Feast,” She then softened, “You may visit him tomorrow,”

Having no choice, they decided to go ahead as ordered but McGonagall call on Hermione which left the Weasleys and Neville along with Luna to head to the Great Hall. No one said a word and they do not entertain anyone who asked them regarding the already spreading rumor regarding Link and his extreme reaction to Dementors. Somehow, though, they only know that Link fainted and nothing about the blood.

Lupin must have covered up the more disturbing facts and the group decided to stick to his plan.

Meanwhile, Poppy Pomfrey once again fussed over Harry ‘Link’ Potter’s unconscious form. She mumbled why was it that every time she sees the boy, he would be covered in blood and injuries. Clearly she’s a Healer and has seen numerous things through her tenure as a staff of Hogwarts, but never does she ever dreamed of seeing something as extensive as Link’s.

When Albus Dumbledore finally showed up, she had just finished bandaging Link. She looked at him tiredly and reported, “He lost a tremendous amount of blood. Those…‘scars’ of his…they opened up like someone decided to trace each and every one of them with the exact instrument used to made it. Even the bones underneath, it was like they were snapped and cut all at the same time,” She ended her reports because she could not go further, her mental strength have been drained through her treatment on Link. The worse was those ‘birthmark’ of his. It was like someone had skinned then burned him!

Strangely the most concerning scars, the basilisk puncture wounds that almost claimed his life last year, did not reopen. It was as though only the birth ‘scars’ was affected.

When she mentioned this oddity to Albus, the elder wizard had a contemplative look on his face. He stared at his student, noting that the cursed scar that made him famous was not affected either. He straightened his spine and said, “It seemed that only the marks on his body that he was born with was affected,”

She huffed, “As I had mentioned,”

Albus apologized, “Forgive me, I am merely making a note,”

“Hmm,”

He then added, “But this does bring to mind a familiar question,”

Poppy sighed, “Well, I am not here to chitchat with you but I do need to rest,” She set up a monitoring spell around Link before excusing herself to bed.

Albus conjured a plush winged chair and sat to watch over Link. It was concerning him how Link’s injury would have killed him. Poppy’s reaction and Remus’s collection of what had happened had showed just how bad the condition of Link’s body was. The amount of blood lost, the raw and painful mutilation of his body…it was enough to send the most hardened Healer into anxiety.

Normally, such extensive injuries would have killed anyone…or at the very least send them close to knocking on the door of Death. It’s not that Albus were not glad that Link lived but his condition do worries and baffled the renowned sorcerer.

He knew with the stationing of Dementors near the school and around its perimeter would send those who had experienced true horror into a very dark place. Fainting was a mercy that would visit those unprotected by the Patronus Charm, but it was also how the dark creatures neutralize their prey. Without the mind to fight, there’s no defense against the terrible fate of the Dementor’s Kiss.

But suddenly bleeding from mysterious marks all over their body? This had never happened before and Albus could not make head or tail of the matter. It seemed that Link needed to be protected from the Dementors at all cost lest the boy will die of blood lost.

More assured now that he has a plan in mind, Albus bid Link goodnight and left the Hospital Wing…

Chapter Text

No one asked Link about his stay in the infirmary during the first week back to Hogwarts. Frankly, there’s nothing much to say. He was asleep most of the time. His sleeps were plagued by strange dreams and there’s no explanation for it that can be gleaned.

Hermione was most helpful with Ancient Rune since he missed the introductory week. Ron and Neville had joined Muggle Studies as opposed to their initial plan of Divination. When Link learned about the class, he had told them that it would be a waste of time since they do not have the innate talent to ‘see’ the way that Seer sees things. Divining through objects alone might be doable for the common magical mass, but that also could be utterly useless. The most they could divine would be what’s for dinner that day and most of the time it will be incorrect.

But Link also noticed that amongst the subjects of study in Divination is the Art of Divining Dreams. But a curious skim through the texts at the library showed that there really isn’t much he could learn to understand his dreams.

The second elective that he took up along with his friends are Care of Magical Creatures. He had chosen the subject after the matter with Norberta. Even as a dragon, she’s much too…beastly, for lack of better term. Dragons in Link’s mind should be more…divine and spiritual. Even dragons like Volvagia have better mental acuity than the dragon he came across.

So now that he had acknowledged that there’s some disparity between reality and what he expect, and one that he could actually do something about, Link has decided to study the fauna of his world.

But he most certainly didn’t expect for his first class with Hagrid will be with ‘XXX’ level Beast…

So in his disbelief at Hagrid’s move to impress his students, he didn’t notice his peers stepping back and hiding when Hagrid asked for “volunteers” and thus inadvertently offering himself to the ferocious Hippogriff. Hagrid cheered happily, “Link! As expected of you, the bravest of Lions!”

Well, at least his first friend is happy…

Standing before a Hippogriff, one long ear listening to Hagrid’s instruction on how to approach one, Link suddenly see a bright crimson bird as large as the Hippogriff. The Hippogriff are not crimson, but rather more of the silvery side. The peregrine falcon head turned to him, interest in its intelligent amber eyes as Link stepped forward.

“Keep your eyes open, Link! Maintain eye contact!”

Suddenly, the proud beast bowed towards him. Hagrid’s flustered order to return its bow reached him and Link does the same. Once the two straighten as equal, Hagrid cheered and suddenly picked the boy up, “Now you can ride him!”

What? “H-Hagrid?”

The next thing he knew, he was straddling the Hippogriff and Hagrid thumping its back causing it to take flight. Instinct took over and Link properly strengthens his thighs, posture following the gait of the Hippogriff.

Its familiar, so familiar…

Link found himself laughing wildly, arms reaching for the sky and the Hippogriff, one whose name he vaguely recalled Hagrid introduced as Buckbeak, followed his lead. They flew higher and higher and suddenly, they broke through the clouds. Buckbeak hovered and Link whooped in delight, feeling the golden ray from the sun gracing his cheeks.

So painfully familiar…

The two spent the whole class flying, both somehow refusing to rejoin the class until the castle bells rang signaling the end of the class. Link sadly stood down from Buckbeak and thanked his newfound friend. His legs shook but it was a familiar fatigue. Hagrid later told him that he had never seen anyone ride a Hippogriff like he was born straddling it.

Link couldn’t tell him that it was one of the things that he just knew but didn’t know how…

Since that class, Link could be seen flying with Buckbeak every weekend. Ron stared at the figure flying over Black Lake, “For a bloke who couldn’t fly a broom properly, he sure knows how to fly a Hippogriff,”

It was true; Link has never been able to fly the broom properly. In fact, he never actually lifted off the ground and his stance on the broom has been oddly wide. Watching Link trying to fly on a broom is just painful to watch. Madam Hooch had given up on him ever lifting off before First Year even ended.

Neville chuckled, “Well now we know why he’s not made for Quidditch,”

Ron pouted, “But he catches the Snitch faster than anyone, even our official Seeker!”

The one time Link followed Ron to his Quidditch practice, Wood had tried to recruit him. Apparently James Potter was a famous and celebrated Chaser for Gryffindor House team. He even has a trophy with his name on it in the Trophy Room. So it only makes sense to scout out his son.

Well, Link caught the Snitch alright. In fact, he’s a rare all-rounder! Not only does he has sharp eyes and sharper reflexes, he also has a strong swing when he whacked the Bludger so hard it flew over the Forbidden Forest and took a while to come back. However, the very core of Quidditch was beyond him; Link simply couldn’t fly.

Ron mulled, “Think they’ll allow him on the team with a Hippogriff?”

“Don’t be stupid, Ron! Buckbeak will tear through the team, both the opponent and ours!”

The boys jumped in shock, Ron speaking out his mind, “Bloody hell, Hermione! When did you come here?!”

She scowled, “What do you mean, I have always been here?”

Neville gawked at her, “I’m pretty sure you left us for an extra class…”

She scoffed, “Don’t be silly! I can’t be at two places at the same time!”

The boys took in her appearance. Ever since she made up her mind to take on all the electives, she has been acting…off. Even Link had quietly and cautiously skirted around her. She often made her presence known suddenly, more often scaring the boys than not. Oddly, Link takes her sudden appearance and disappearance with more grace than normal.

He even saved her some food at meal time before she even ‘arrives’.

It’s disturbing how understanding he was of the whole thing…

Chapter Text

Lupin finally announced a practical class after two weeks of introduction and theories. After Quirrel and Lockhart, Link didn’t have much expectation if any for the class but Lupin went above and beyond his already low expectation.

He speaks clearly with no stuttering. His class not only looked like a normal class, lacking the pretentious grandeur and self-portraits of himself, but also smell…normal. It didn’t reek of anything other than parchment and ink along with the scent of the wooden table and some pleasant herbs that really relaxes their nerves.

He’s competent, something that their previous professors of Defense lacked…

Now, Link hoped it was not another play when he declared ‘practical’ because that’s what Lockhart did to justify his theatrical classes. Luckily, it didn’t seem so as Lupin took them to an unused classroom and opened the door to show Snape sitting on a chair in front of a lone wardrobe that shook against the chains keeping it closed inside a large circle. Upon Lupin’s entrance, Snape swept out of the class despites the former’s attempt to thank him.

Lupin gathered the class and began to question them about the creature trapped in the wardrobe, testing their understanding of the chapter he asked them to read last class. As usual, Hermione raised her hand to answer but surprisingly so does Ron. Despite his recent studious nature from First Year, he never actually willingly participates in class like Hermione. But maybe that’s more because of the teachers.

Lupin pointed at him and Ron answered, “It’s a Boggart,”

After a few more questions and House Points being given, he started up a cheerful music and taught the class the spell to ward off the Boggart; “Riddikulus”.

Neville suddenly found himself at the front of the line made to face the creature and paled before breathing in and out to calm his nerve. He quietly confessed to Lupin about his fear of Snape and Lupin help guide him to think of the funniest thing that he could imagine about Snape; draped in his Gran’s most ‘traditional’ witch garb.

The door opened and the Boggart quickly assumed the image of a furious Snape sneering at Neville, towering. Link noticed that this version seemed to tower even higher, almost looming over the class. Neville stuttered the spell and it failed to be cast.

Lupin gently advised from the side, “Calm your nerves,” Link noted that the man had his wand out, body posed and ready to jump in should he found the need. Once again the man showed his competence as an instructor.

Neville took his advice to heart and successfully transformed Snape’s looming appearance.

As upbeat song lightened the situation, the line slowly shortened towards Link. Ron faced his giant spider, Hermione tearfully faced her fear of failure with a sob and laughter, Neville once again found himself facing Snape and this time managed to cast the spell once successfully, and finally…Link stood before the clown in a box.

Lupin shifted but before he could truly interfere, the Boggart shifted.

Link had wondered while waiting for his turn about his greatest fear. He had faced a pseudo-ghost Voldemort but he does not fear the man. He had faced the basilisk and even swallowed by it but he found that he does not fear it either. He thought of Uncle Vernon and Aunt Marge and even that one time in his younger year when Ripper managed to bit his calf bloody, yet none of them stirred his heart with fear.

The Boggart took a familiar shape; emerald gaze, a button nose, rosy lips set in a heart shaped face and framed by sunlight golden hair, familiar ears peeking from their curtains on the sides, her graceful form clad in pure white ceremonial dress…perverted by Death and Malice.

His greatest failure…

Flowers, familiar and nostalgic, wilting around her ash and grime covered form. Blood pooling, pooling, spreading bigger as a hole appeared on her chest, the edges burnt through her heart and dark crimson stained her snow white dress…

A familiar sound beeping in his head…

Mechanical limb climbing over rocks and Link looked up to see a singular mechanical eye training red laser onto his head…

How does one make fun of carnage?

How could he laugh in the face of his failure that leads to the end of it all?

In the end, Lupin stood before him and the image of his despair morphed into the full moon which Lupin changed into a balloon that farted out air from its loose end. He pulled a frozen Link to the side and Link was lost to the subdued class. He didn’t notice when the class end nor did he notice his friends trying to rouse him from his state. He never noticed how Lupin shooed them away and slowly guides him through the hall.

He didn’t react to anything that Madam Pomfrey tried to wake him from his stupor.

In the end, she put him to sleep after feeding him Dreamless Potion. She looked at Lupin and questioned how Link ended up the way he did. His answer surprised her. She looked at the sleeping boy, wondering what his fear meant. It was not something someone like Link should have known, let alone fear.

When Albus came to visit after hearing about such a serious case of reaction to a Boggart, she told him Lupin’s description. His heart broke for the boy.

It would be understandable had Link’s fear formed into Voldemort. He would understand it more if it formed into a Dementor because of its effect on the boy. Merlin, if it had turned into the basilisk, Albus could still understand.

From Lupin’s description of the girl, it seemed to tie with what had broken Link in First Year before the Mirror of Erised. He had whispered how he had “failed her” and Albus could not understand it back then. He had asked for the full description of what the Boggart had morphed into other than heartbreaking sight of the girl.

Lupin’s description was like something out of a nightmare; “At first it was just the girl. She has ears like Link’s and I thought she was sleeping. There’s this flowers around her, it looked unlike any flora I have ever seen. I was wondering if Link was afraid of something about the image since it looked suspiciously serene,”

“Then the flowers started to wilt and the girl’s chest seemed to cave in. It honestly looked like something powerful had shot her. But it wasn’t just that…there was this…smoke…miasma…I don’t really know how to describe it but everything in me, everything that make me myself, rejected it,” Albus knew that Lupin was referring to his second state.

He continued, “Then there’s this thing coming from that….smoke…it looked like an overturned urn with six mechanical legs with talons made out some sort of material, metal or stone I do not know…it made this strange beeping noise and the head, or what I think is the head, has this one eye and it was looking at Link. The eye trained this red light onto Link and that’s…that’s when I jumped in,”

Lupin sat down tiredly from where he had paced as he restlessly described what he had seen, “I…the wolf…it just jumped in. It was like…if I didn’t then…” He gripped his hands into white knuckled fists, “Then I am sure that Link will die,” He whispered.

How a child not even two decades old did come across such sight, such carnage?

Albus understood that only a mad man could make joke of something so horrendous. When compared to the fears that plagued the common students, theirs are indeed childish when in comparison to the true horror that visited the depth on Link’s conscious. Loss, guilt and despair; only those who had experienced it could understand the terror of these emotions.

Even the illustrious Albus Dumbledore…could not claim to have overcome this haunting darkness…

Chapter Text

It took a while before Link return to normal. Or rather, it took a while before life returned to his eyes. His friends supported him the best they could during those days where Link moved like a clockwork doll. He moved and worked accordingly, but there’s no life in him or his actions. His silence was stifling and downright creepy as opposed to its normally calming nature.

He started to ‘heal’ when they brought him to Buckbeak. At first he mechanically helped Hagrid fed the hippogriff herd but slowly he thawed. He started to react when they include him in their usual conversation, even if that conversation has something to do with Ron’s pet rat Scabbers’ continuous fear of Crookshank that made it his mission to terrorize the rat at every chance he gets. On the plus side, his condition kept the fighting between Ron and Hermione on the minimum.

Now, he stood beside Neville as they lined up for inspection for their first Hogsmeade visit right on Halloween. Filch only give them a cursory look before sending them off. Neville sighed, puffs of breathes clouded his face from the snowy weather, “I can’t wait to see the nursery. I’m sure they have one at Hogsmeade!”

Ron skidded a little from the frozen ground but Link’s quick hands stopped him from completely tumbling into the muck. Thank Link, Ron pointed, “I want to see what’s so haunting about the Shrieking Shack,”

Neville froze beside them, “Sh-shrieking Sh-sha-shack? Why do you want to go there?”

Link has to ask, “What’s the Shrieking Shack?”

Hermione answered as she’s wont to do whenever someone ask something, “It’s the most haunted building in Britain, or at least that’s what the template says,” She pulled out a crumpled template given to the students just a week before, “I want to visit the Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop. I’m running out of quills,”

Link nodded along and the four braved the snows as Hogsmeade came into view. Link looked up and around in wonder, his wanderlust kicking up as stars sparkled in his eyes. Before they know it, the group spends more time chasing after Link than doing their own things. They knew Link’s penchant for exploration, but they do not know the extent of that itchy feet.

After all, how were they supposed to know that Link can be such a monkey?!

Luckily, they ran into Hagrid who took one look at their harried expression before joining in after them. In the end, Ron borrowed one of the senior’s brooms to guide Link down from someone’s chimney. The owner looked less than impressed that someone managed to climb his icy roof.

The group finally decided to follow Hagrid to the Three Broomsticks Inn for something to help warm their shivering body, Link firmly held on both sides by Ron and Neville while Hermione kept a tight hold on his scarf. They sat him down and Hermione glared at him, “Behave,”

At this point, they sympathized with Molly Weasley and greatly respected her…

Back at The Burrow, said mother suddenly filled with the elated feeling of being praised and wondered who…

Arthur Weasley suddenly felt like smiling all day with an odd sense of pride in chest…

Meanwhile, back with the group, Link finally calmed down after tasting the famed Butterbeer. He grinned, “That was fun,”

His friends groaned around him…

Luckily, Link behaved for the rest of the trip though they did twitch whenever he so much looked at something. He obediently followed Hermione to the quill shop and even bought some for himself. Ron took him to the joke shop with Hermione giving them the stink eye the whole time they were in there and finally Neville dragged them to the famed sweet shop; Honeydukes.

Link instantly scoop each types and flavor of sweets in the shop, intent on tasting them. He even took a handful of Blood Pops out of curiosity. Ron had grimaced at the sight but the friends had long accepted that Link has a stomach of iron.

If he can digest anything from Hagrid, he can certainly digest anything…

The group ended the trip with a quick visit to the Shrieking Shack. As Ron and Hermione shared stories that they learned about the famous shack, Neville looked everywhere but the shack. Link on the other hand looked at the shack with great interest but kept being pulled back by Ron whenever he tries to walk past the gate towards the shack.

Malfoy and his goons made their appearance near the end of the visit but when Link sneakily threw a snowball at them from their blind spots, the trio of Slytherins was quick to make themselves scarce. Neville looked at Link and laughed when Link showed his sneaky throw.

The group messed around for a while before deciding that the weather had gotten too windy and cold to stay out. As they made their way back, Link’s ears twitched and he glanced over his shoulder. He was certain that he could feel eyes on him but they lacked ill intention. He tried to be certain by looking at the snow covered trees just off the road but Neville pulled at him for the nth time, “No, Link, you’re not going to investigate the Shrieking Shack,”

As Link allowed himself to be pulled by Neville who treated him like an errant child, the shadowy figure disappeared from the tree lines. Deciding that it was of no danger to him or his friends, Link changed the subject of their discussion on the shack and Malfoy to something else.

The feeling of being watched followed him until he disappeared beyond its sight…

Everything was fine that evening but upon reaching Hogwarts the group found that they can’t get in. Turned out that the Fat Lady guarding their door to the Gryffindor Tower was attacked by the mysterious figure Sirius Black.

Now the group slept in the Great Hall with the rest of the student’s body. The Fat Lady refused to return to her post and having seen the damage left on her portrait, Link wouldn’t blame her. For reason unknown, as many when it comes to Link, he feels a strong empathy towards living portraits. Sometimes he feels like he’s one of them.

His friends always find it odd whenever they found him sharing a conversation with the many portraits around Hogwarts. Just as how they find it odd for his friendly and understanding nature towards the ghosts of Hogwarts.

Link, as many others, shared that evening in the Great Hall discussing the how of Sirius Black entering the castle itself. None of the portraits or ghosts saw anything prior to the scare of the Fat Lady.

They shared some more whisperings before McGonagall ordered “lights out” and sent the Great Hall into darkness. It wasn’t long before boredom cause the students to go to bed while the teachers continues to stand guard and patrol.

Later that night, Link woke up the sound of someone whispering over him. He made out the voices of Snape and the Headmaster quietly arguing about something. Or rather Snape was arguing but the Headmaster calmly turned down whatever it was he was suggesting. Link couldn’t really made head or tail of their discussion but Snape seemed to imply an inside work.

Deciding that this year he will not involve himself, Link returned to bed…

Chapter Text

Ron grimaced as Snape snapped at the class to turn to “page 394” but since Lupin has gotten sick there was nothing he can do about the teacher substituting for the man. As usual Hermione suddenly appeared and tried to inform the dour man about what they had just covered last week but the man won’t have it and shut her down.

Link ignored Malfoy’s needling and throwing balled out parchments at him throughout the class. He stared at Snape as the Potion Master covered the subject of werewolves. In his mind, he recalled a painful transformation that slowly becomes habit.

But Link was sure he had never been bitten by a werewolf nor did he transform every full moon. Besides, that transformation was different from what Snape forced them to cover. He didn’t lose his sense of self and it wasn’t the moon that changes his form. Once class ended, he shook all thoughts of wolves out of his mind and joined his friends for their next class.

Not to mention Quidditch season has started and that meant helping Luna with her lion hat…

Link blinked as he woke up to pounding headache and sore body. He finally focused his gaze and found himself lying on a bed in the infirmary. In fact, from the ceiling above him he could tell that Pomfrey had placed him in the same bed as the previous three visits. At this point, this bed might as well be permanently assigned to him complete with a nameplate.

He recalled moments before blacking out that they were cheering Ron and his team’s victory, Luna’s spectacular hat letting out roars of encouragement now and then. The storm has gotten steadily worse than the previous sunny day when the game first kicked off.  It was as they were heading back for the after party certain to take place at the Tower when Link felt the familiar chill creeping up his spine.

He had instinctually whipped out his wand and turned to face the direction where the chill first started. Even with the senior students nearby, many were petrified into place when the Dementors hovered close. Once again he could hear Her screaming out for him. When one drew closer to Ginny and Luna nearby as another head straight for Link, he felt his body move.

He recalled screaming something and then there was fire shooting out from his wand. He does not recall learning any such offensive spell so it was a puzzle as to how he managed to cast it, even more when it caught the approaching Dementors and turning them to cinders.

Link knew that Dementors are impervious to most wizarding spells. Nothing can cut them or harm them in any way. In fact, when his curiosity of this new danger lead him to finding out more, Link learned that whatever it was the Lupin cast that day in the train was the only defense a wizard has against a Dementor and all it does was chase it away.

So…what had he cast?

Link tried to move but found both of his legs and his left arm in a cast. He groaned; broken bones are a hassle to heal. In fact, Pomfrey told him that re-growing bones are much easier if not more painful. He put his head back on his pillow, Link stared at the ceiling. It was still dark when he comes around so he didn’t want to wake Pomfrey. The last time he was here, she told him that closing all his opened wounds had taken half the night due to how numerous they were.

So now he wondered if there are new cracks on the ceiling…

When the matron finally come around to check on him, she fussed with his bandages; changing them and putting more essence of dittany on the deeper wounds before wrapping fresh bandages over them. She then sat him up so he could have breakfast before leaving to check on the others.

Link looked around as she had opened his curtains and found his friends looking a little green from the amount of chocolates she’s forcing down their throat. He breathed easier now that he has seen their welfare and found them unharmed.

Link would go to any length to keep them that way…

When Pomfrey finally returned to his bed, Link decided to ask, “What happened?”

She huffed, “Dementors, that’s what! Headmaster Dumbledore’s furious and that man’s hard to make mad. Luckily for you lot Prof Snape and Prof Lupin were there and knew the Patronus Charm to chase them off,” She then smacked his cast wrapped leg and scolded, “What were you thinking, throwing yourself in front of them like some kind of offering?!”

Link winced with each smack, “Sorry,”

She pointed at his nose, “Don’t you ‘sorry’ me, boy! You know what their effect on you is like! You should have run off and find a teacher or a staff member!” She could tell that he’s stubborn so she sighed, “But at least you managed to off two of them,”

Link blinked, “I did?”

She raised her hands in defeat, “By Merlin, you did! I don’t know how but you did!” She then wagged a finger in his face, “But just because you managed it doesn’t mean you can go gallivanting off to hunt them down! Headmaster Dumbledore should currently be using the Dementors breaking their promise to not approach the students to defend your offing two of them,” She smirked, “He’s using ‘accidental magic’ as excuse for your victory over the Dementors. After all, magic is still a great mystery even to those of us who use it,”

She then left Link to his own, glaring at him to clean his plate before rushing off to work. Link forced himself to finish the giant block of chocolate, thinking that he will stay off the thing for the rest of the year. Why can’t there be fairies to help heal ailments instead?

Fairies can literally revive those knocking on Death’s door after all…

As Pomfrey insisted of having them rested and placed them far enough that speaking meant screaming at each other, Link decided to entertain random thoughts. He found that he’s rather good at it and so he pondered many things.

He then decided to start finding ways to make the image of turning into a wolf in his head into reality. It seemed like Transfiguration and McGonagall had shown her impressive transformation from human to cat and cat to human numerous times. Should he ask her?

Thus, after such a boring stay at the infirmary, Link informed his friends of his idea on the way to Transfiguration. Neville gawked, “You want to try and be an animagus?”

Link looked at him, “Animagus?”

Hermione answered as usual, “Animagus is what we call a witch or wizard who succeeded in their transformation to an animal. For example, Prof McGonagall is an animagus,”

Link nodded, “Alright, I’m going to ask her for help then,”

Minerva was gawking when Harry bloody “Link” Potter came up to her and asked for her help to transform himself into an animagus. Staring at him over her glasses on the tip her nose, she asked him, “Are you sure, Mr. Potter? The process to become an animagus is not an easy or fun process. Many witches and wizards had run afoul during the process and being so young, I won’t recommend you to try,”

Link shrugged, “I noticed that animals are less affected by Dementors and thought that maybe I should transform when I sense them near,”

Minerva sighed, “Perhaps you should ask Prof Lupin to teach you the Patronus Charm. It would be safer than turning animagus,” She shot down the idea before mellowing, “Come back to me in Fifth Year if you still have this idea,”

Link pondered on her advice before accepting it, “Alright,”

She then added, “But just because I told you no does not equate to not teaching you. I will help you with at least understanding the process to become animagus. This meant studying Potion and Transfiguration thoroughly on this subject. Once I see that you have truly internalized these, I will see about helping you truly becoming one. Don’t try this on your own, that could kill you more often than not,”

“Thank you Professor,”

Chapter Text

Link managed to seek out Lupin just before Christmas break started. The man looked a little haggard and his robes more grey and frayed than the beginning of the term. Remus was surprised to see Link at his door early in the morning before breakfast and allowed the boy in after an exchange of “mornings”, “How can I help you, Mr. Potter?”

Link went straight to the point, “I would like to ask for your help in learning that charm that chase away Dementors,”

Remus blinked, “I see…I don’t see why not but having seen you turn two to ashes, I would wonder why you even bothered to learn,” He was genuinely curious when he asked the question. He watched as Link tilted his head, his eyes that typical vacant look of someone thinking deeply. After a moment he nodded, “It’s because it’s unreliable. I don’t even know or exactly recall what it was that I cast that day and the chances of it happening again is minimal.”

Remus accepted his explanation, “Very well…come back here after today’s class. There are some things that I need to prepare for the lesson,” The boy politely thanked him and excused himself.

Remus honestly doesn’t know what to make of Link. He was nothing like either of his parents in temperament. He’s quiet but not like the way Lily was. It wasn’t even because he’s studious either. If anything Link’s silence was simply because he has nothing to say.

He has a strict nature and every teacher can see the efforts he put in every works handed to them. He’s not the best in terms of raw talent nor is he a genius but he’s hard working. If he doesn’t get something, he can be found head down and reading up the subject. And if he doesn’t get it on his own, he will humbly seek out help from his better.

That was something that James does not have; a humble nature. Sometimes Remus wondered why the boy wasn’t in Hufflepuff. He also noticed that Link liked wearing his odd forest green hat that he later learned out of curiosity as Phrygian Cap. But instead of pointing forward, it flopped to the back and Link’s hat is much longer than the ones on the paintings.

He had asked about the hat to fellow teachers and they all shrugged, minus Snape, since it does not violate any school rules. As the reason it was green? Turned out it was Link’s favored color. And since it grew colder, he somehow managed to wear Ravenclaws’ scarf instead of the red and yellow of Gryffindor. Yet, despite his mismatched colors none of the teachers bothered to tell him off. Not even the foul tempered Snape.

Besides, it’s still part of the school uniform and Headmaster Dumbledore think that it promotes school unity. That was the other thing that differentiates Link from James; he doesn’t care about House loyalty. Remus even saw him helping a young Slytherin when some Gryffindor tried to harass the child. Even if the Slytherin doesn’t like him, he brushes off any of their nastiness like water off duck’s back. It was remarkable.

Really, why wasn’t he in Hufflepuff?

Then Remus learned many teachers referred to him the Lion of Gryffindor and considering all Gryffindors were called lions, it showed that Link had managed to stand out even among his own. He also learned the reason why. And when he compared to the nonsense James and his friends are often up to, Link stood on the opposite side of the spectrum. In this way he is both like and unlike Lily.

Link didn’t go out of his way to trouble himself with whatever events that went on in Hogwarts. Rather, he just stumble on it and gotten involved because people are in danger. One could call him nosy and meddling, but he had only ever shown that his only interest was the mystery until whatever it was invaded his peaceful life.

So Remus found that he was slightly excited at the idea of what the boy could show in their one-on-one class…

Link came right on the dot. He knocked exactly when the clock’s hand reached the number and the bell chimed. Remus welcomed him and Link politely accepted the seat placed before his teacher. Remus went through the usual motion of lecturing before coming down onto the spell itself.

Link take notes through the lecture, eyes stern and focused, sharp like a blade. Lupin cleared his throat as he take out his wand, “So…the spell I am going to try and teach you is highly advanced magic, Link…well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level. It is called the Patronus Charm,”

Link nodded, taking the gesture as sign to put away his note and take out his own wand, “How does it work, sir?”

Lupin sighed and explained the best he could, “Well, when it works correctly, it conjures up a Patronus, which is a kind of anti-Dementor - a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the Dementor. The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the Dementor feeds upon - hope, happiness, the desire to survive - but it cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so the Dementors can’t hurt it. But I must warn you, that the charm might be too advanced for you. Many qualified wizards have difficulty with it,”

Link nodded and stood up, “Please, teach me,”

And so the lesson started. Remus quickly realized that Link’s fear has proven to be interfering with thoughts of happiness in which the charm is powered by. In a twisted way, he accepted that the boy is broken. So far, he couldn’t even produce a vapor.

Had Link’s fear been in the form of the Dementor, than he could have used a boggart to try and motivate the boy’s instinct. However taking out a boggart would be futile and not even Remus would want to see the carnage of innocence. So he began questioning Link about happy memories.

This time, he found that Link can be tight lipped upon the subject of his private life. Even for a lesson, it was like prying the fang of a dragon.

He quickly understood; Link does not trust him.

This revelation stung but there is nothing Remus can do. And so the lesson continues every evening until Christmas holidays rolled in, in which they stopped until the next term started. Remus’s trouble took most of his energy out of him and he had to excuse himself from the rest of the lesson until his health return to normal.

Link accepted his excuse and left…

However, unbeknownst to Lupin, Link continued to try and produce a Patronus. He thought of many things, even things that he had never told to anyone, things that he tried not to dwell on. Dreams that plagued his sleep, a familiar yet unfamiliar lay of land, creatures that would send even Hagrid running in fear. Terror so deep and primal he often wakes up wondering how he still lives.

Again and again the adage of “courage is not the absence of fear but rather taking action despite of it” became his morning mantra as part of his routine. Link does not believe that he’s fearless but he simply knew that there are things that strike fear more than Ron’s fear of spiders asking him to tap-dance.

So Link meditates through the holiday, wondering how to find that exact state of mind needed to produce a perfect Patronus. But his fear has no form and his enemy hides beyond his reach. Until he strike either down then happiness would be beyond him.

He tried simple everyday pleasure; like flying on Buckbeak or fooling around with his friends. Nothing came out of it. He tried vaguer impression of happiness like good food or simply content for living another day. Still nothing come out.

Link looked up at his reflection on the morning of the second term and realized; he’s void of happiness because She is still trapped and endangered. How could he be happy in the truest sense?

He failed them…

He failed Her…

How dare he be happy?

“Din’s flame,”

Chapter Text

The next Hogsmeade weekend arrived and Link wandered aimlessly. Ever since coming to realization the morning of the second term, it was like all drive to master the Patronus Charm had left him. He still tries his hand at it but there’s no spirit behind it. In then end Lupin let him go and told him to come back once he get over whatever it was that bothered him.

Basically, Link had hit an insurmountable wall.

His friends seemed to notice his mood and tried different ways to cheer him. They tried to take his mind off of his lesson with Lupin and Link will entertain them. But they all knew that he will return to his apathetic state when left on his own.

In the ends Link break away from the group and wandered to where he once felt the stare. Something reckless stirred inside and Link found himself running straight through the Forbidden Forest. Despite the roots, the hanging branches and the uneven terrain, he moved like gale.

Link could hear something chasing after him but he didn’t care. That almost forgotten need to move, move, move came over him and Link enveloped himself in that feeling of restlessness. He leapt, dodged, climbed, and rolled until his lungs burned and his muscles screamed in pain. But he ignored it until the cold of winter transformed into the cold of despair.

Once again, the image of Her standing before him, hand high and palm facing towards danger flashed through his vision. He could see Her death, hear Her scream, Her plea. He could feel his skin cut open, his body breaking apart and life fluid dripping off of him.

“But you know, there is a fine line between courage and recklessness,”

Gentle voice like bubbling spring echoed in his ears and Link found that he’s being chased by a horde of Dementors. There’s barking chasing him, four legs thundering after. They sounded desperate as they chased him, calling and calling for him…

“I’ll be fine,”

Yet She’s not here…

“As brave as you are, that does not make you immortal,”

He didn’t want to be immortal if it means losing Her…

“Silent Princess is my favorite flower,”

Why? Why is he thinking and hearing all this? Why do these Dementors bring with them this auditory hallucination?

“It’s a rare endangered species,”

He wanted to give in to this bone tired weariness in him, to succumb to the temptation of listening to Her lost voice…

…and yet…

“Despite our effort, we can’t get them to grow domestically yet,”

“HARRY!!”

Hoarse and unfamiliar voice from an unfamiliar man but whose face was plastered all over; Sirius Black, called out to him desperately. Link saw him standing there, exposed to his executioners. He called out to the Dementors, “Oi you bastards! I’m right here! Don’t you dare touch him!”

It was then that Link realized that he had grown slow and barely holding himself up. He watched as the madman convict called out, turning the Dementors from flocking to Link towards him, sacrificing himself…

Golden light, the sacred triangles of the Golden Goddesses on the back of Her hand…

A memory comes unbidden…

“I come seeking help…regarding this power that has been handed down over time…But I don’t hear…or feel anything! Curse you…I’ve spent every day of my life dedicated to praying! I’ve pleaded to the spirits tied to the ancient gods…and still the holy powers have proven deaf to my devotion. Please just tell me…what is it? What’s wrong with me?!”

The Dementors unfortunately ignored the convict in favor of Link’s soul. Desperate, the man threw a rock at them. It hit one of the hordes and it hissed at him but ignored him. Link could feel himself weakening with every pull of their breath.

Link remembered tears and screams of desperate anguish to be heard. Shivering figure in pure white stood in the middle of cold spring water before an unmoving sculptured marble. Driven to the point of breaking, a decade of dedication with nothing to show, but She never breaks and never bend.

Black stepped between the Dementors and Link, whispering, “Harry, you need to go. Please, I don’t know what makes you so desperate but you need to go. You need to live!” He shivered, legs shaking from the sheer effort of standing tall against the memories that the Dementors bring down on him, “I know you don’t trust me but to me, you are everything! If not for me or even for yourself, then live in the memory of James and Lily!”

Link blinked, something clicking in place just as Black succumbed to the effect of being exposed to Dementors, whispering, “Harry…Lily…James…brother…it’s my fault…my fault…”

“The Princess can only thrive out here in the wild,”

“EXPECTO PATRONUM!”

Wide wing, large beak like a shoebill stork and body the size of the hippogriff. It screeched at the Dementors and snapped one that had drifted too close. It shouldn’t have happen normally but at the same time Link almost expected it, as the Dementor was snapped into two pieces that fell to the ground.

Black opened his eyes feeling warmth returning to him and took in the sight of a majestic bird attacking all the Dementors, flying after the ones that came to their senses and tried to flee from the growing carnage of dead Dementors. He looked to the side and saw a beautiful war horse standing over him, nickering at him and he swore he could feel ghostly puff of breath coming from it.

“Sirius Black?”

The convict froze and looked to see the last person he wanted to be seen. But given the situation he didn’t think that he could have stopped himself. The boy was running wild and concern had moved him before he could even think. Then the Dementors come flocking after him and all Black could think of are getting the boy to safety. But all his barking was ignored and when the boy started losing speed with the strange injuries accumulating on his body, all Black could think was to sacrifice himself.

Now the table had turned and instead of rescuing his late friend’s son, he was the one rescued.

The boy told him, “I prefer being called Link, if you don’t mind,”

Black blinked and dazedly returned, “Call me Sirius then,”

Link nodded and smiled, a smile as gentle as Lily’s, “You don’t seem like someone out to kill me,”

Sirius’s mood soured but he shrugged, “Think what you want, but I have my reasons,”

Link nodded again before asking, “Can you please turn back into that dog that looked like Grim faerie and help me get back to Hogwarts. I promise not to let them get to you,”

Sirius frowned before staring at him, “You…you really shouldn’t trust people easily, especially someone everyone told you out to kill you,”

Link chuckled, his striking blue eyes finding dark grey and Sirius froze, “I know a murderer when I see one and you don’t have that air,” Before Sirius could retaliate, he added, “There’s someone here you want to kill but that someone isn’t me and that is good enough for me,”

Sirius blinked in confusion, “How…?”

Link sighed, “I have my way and besides, you are ready to die for me and that told me enough,” With that Link fell forward and Sirius was left with an armful of bloody Boy-Who-Lived.

“Fuck,”

Chapter Text

Link woke up in the hospital bed surrounded by his two Patronuses and Dog-Sirius lying on the floor beside him. Lupin strangely sat on his other side, eyes on the dog, when he noticed Link coming to. The dog stood up as well but didn’t move when Lupin growled at him in warning.

Link cleared his throat and managed to croak, “He’s innocent,”

Lupin looked at him in surprise before asking while handing him a glass of water, “What makes you so sure?”

Link looked at the man and answered after finishing his glass, “Could have offed me in my state. Makes no sense to bring me back, no?”

Lupin looked less than happy before sighing, gesturing at his two Patronuses, “I see you managed it but how did it came in two?”

Link looked at the side table next to him and Lupin complies, opening the drawer and blinked, “You owned two wands?”

Link nodded, “They complement and complete each other,” He then looked at Lupin, “Who else know?”

Lupin glared at Black and sighed, “Just me,”

Link nodded before asking, “Does anyone else know about the dog carrying me back?”

Lupin looked uncomfortable but in the end answered, “It was after curfew and only the patrolling staff saw you. That would be me and Minerva,”

Link quieted down and an uncomfortable silence enveloped the air in their vicinity. Lupin doesn’t trust Black alone with Link and Black won’t leave. The Patronuses seemed content hanging around and Lupin wondered how Link managed while unconscious. Such a spell should be beyond a Third Year normally and not many witches or wizards can cast true corporeal Patronus let alone two at the same time or keep them around while unconscious. Link is truly something else.

Link suddenly spoke, “Can you please call Headmaster Dumbledore? There is something I want to tell him,” Before Lupin could reply, he added, “It’s urgent,”

Lupin grimaced and glared Black before deciding to teach Link something new, “You can pass messages with your Patronus. Hear, let me demonstrate,” He did just that, a wolf prowl out of his wand and Lupin looked highly uncomfortable as he informed the wolf to call for Headmaster Dumbledore. He could have used the fireplace in Pomfrey’s office but he refused to leave Link with Black.

Link hummed, “Interesting,”

It didn’t take long for Dumbledore to show up and the Headmaster looked at the odd sight before him. He especially took interest on the giant bird Patronus, “I have seen a shoebill stork but I certainly have never seen one quite this large,” He then smiled at Link, “It seems you have a penchant for overgrown birds,”

Link would have scratched the back of his head but both his arms are broken and in casts. He asked the Headmaster, “Headmaster, can I ask you to prevent people and other creatures from hearing what I’m about to reveal to you?”

Dumbledore stared at him for a moment, his twinkling gaze focused before he raised his knobby wand and cast a powerful privacy charm. He conjured a familiar plushy chair and sat down, “It seems rather secretive, Link,”

Link smiled, “Sirius Black was going to sacrifice himself to the Dementors just to save me,” His revelation shock them and Dumbledore’s interest turned serious, “What were you doing today to be exposed to the Dementors?”

Link shifted painfully before looking at his lap in an obvious shame, “I…I was frustrated by something that I recently learned about myself,” He bit his lip, bracing himself and looked up, “I realized that I am an unhappy person. I tried to cast the Patronus Charm using so many different emotions that could even slightly make me happy; my friends, the daily things that brings happiness like a great job done or even good food, I even use memories of my parents though I barely recall,” He scoffed bitterly, “There is nothing in this world that can bring me the happiness that could power the Patronus Charm,” He breathed deep after the confession but everyone can tell that there’s more.

He sighed after a moment, “Because I’m broken. I realize now that the reason I am born with all these scars is because deep inside, something in me has long been broken. I don’t know why or how but…I have always had this sense of failure in me. That I failed in fulfilling something so precious and sacred to me. Every day, for as long as I can remember I am restless. If I don’t run myself to the ground physically then I cannot sleep, I cannot rest,”

He then looked at the two Patronuses he cast, “So I did what I always do, I try to outrun my mind. Somehow instinctually I knew that I mustn’t think too much or I’ll break. That’s how Sirius found me. He kept up with me but then I run afoul the Dementors and he tried to get my attention but I was too deep I didn’t notice until they were almost unto me,” He looked at the two teachers, “That’s when Sirius jumped out to sacrifice himself so that I may live and I realize that if there is anything that will truly break me then it would be to have someone else die for me,”

Link looked at the dog, “I don’t think Sirius is guilty. I don’t know what happened but Dementors brings out the truth from you and someone who sold their family in cold blood would never be haunted by guilt the way he did nor will they sacrifice themselves for the very reason they sold their family,”

The dog morphed into Sirius Black and he was ready to be taken down…

But neither wizards moved, only stare at him. Link added, “I know murderers, I know madmen. Sirius is unhinged by his constant exposure to Dementors but he is sane. Something pure kept him sane in that dark place and something in Hogwarts moved him from where he thought he deserved to be,” Link looked at his teachers, “Give him a chance to explain himself, please,” Link bowed his head along with his plea.

Sirius nodded, “I’ll take the Veritaserum if you want!”

Lupin finally moved, “Then why did you kill Peter?”

Sirius face darkened, “I didn’t! And that is also the reason why I’m here!” He looked at Lupin, “I’m sure you’ll see what I meant if you use the Map,”

Link blinked, “What map?”

Dumbledore smiled, “Yes, Sirius, what map?”

Lupin sighed, “It was a map, special map that we…James, Sirius, Peter and I made back when we were students. It can show where everyone is in real time,”

Link blinked, “You made something so useful? And here I thought I have to make that from scratch,” When they turn their attention to him, Link shrugged, or tried to but was in too much pain to actually do it, “I have been wanting a map since First Year. Hogwarts is an interesting structure, almost like dungeon in design and very lively too. So I thought a map would be really handy but then Ron said something about having one that shows you where everyone is so we can find the Headmaster easier due to that thing with Quirrel so…yeah…” He trailed when he noticed their interest at his off tangent topic.

Dumbledore nodded, “So that is the secret behind your many successful venture in Hogwarts,” He smiled at the two men before adding, “And where is this…map, now?”

Lupin sighed, “I don’t know,” He looked at Sirius who also shrugged.

Link hummed, “Can’t you summon it? I’ve seen seniors practice that spell,”

Dumbledore smiled, “Very well,” He raised his wand before stopping, “Pray tell, does this map have an official name or…?”

Lupin shared a look with Sirius before both announced the name;

““It’s the Marauder Map,””

Chapter Text

Black padded alongside Lupin and a hateful Snape. He promised to stay disguised as a dog as they patrolled through the halls of Hogwarts late one evening far after curfew. Snape had been…explosive. When he was called to dose Sirius with Veritaserum, the Potion Master was all but ready to commit a heinous murder. Then they viewed the memories of that terrible night 12 years ago inside the Dumbledore’s Pensieve.

Snape still looked ready to murder either men or even both men but his bloodthirstiness was successfully turned to the rat hiding somewhere in Hogwarts. The Headmaster had failed to retrieve the Map which had been charmed against summoning spells; a fact unfortunately forgotten by its creators due to the immense number of spell casting that took place while making their masterpiece.

So Harry had called on Dobby to help look for the Map. He had concluded while in bed no less (!) that it will either have fallen into the hands of Filch or the Weasley Twins. His reasoning was simply; Filch or his predecessors would have confiscated the Map for being used to violate school rules but since they couldn’t or didn’t know how to use it forgot about it somewhere in their office OR the Twins discovered it during their many detentions with Filch and took it to further their mischief in Hogwarts. Either way, such a Map would have been a treasure to any Hogwarts student but the likelihood of simply anyone getting their hands on it is minimal.

The Headmaster was immensely impressed by Link’s deduction.

Thus after two more days waiting for the Map, Dobby finally came through. Turned out that Link’s second guess hit true and Dobby had to be extremely patient to nick the Map from the Twins as they always have their hands on it. So he had followed them through their day until they become distracted enough to keep their hands on their precious treasure.

Now two staff members and a framed convict used the Map to investigate every living being in Hogwarts, keeping an eye out for the name ‘Peter Pettigrew’. Link would have come along but since the three insisted that he should rest and let adults do as adult does for once, he relented lest Madam Pomfrey chain him to his bed.

Snape glared around the corridors, on high alert for wayward students and suspicious rats. Neither Lupin nor Black made a noise as they both concentrate on the task at hand. They have decided not to bring any attention to their intention by having the Twins panic for their missing Map, so they only have the night to finish the job.

Dumbledore even have most of the House Elves working at Hogwarts to keep an eye out for a rat and alert them of its whereabouts if they come across it.

Suddenly during one surveying one of the corridors, Lupin whispered, “Crookshank is coming towards us,”

Black had informed the real perpetrator that smuggled him inside and needless to say they were speechless. They knew kneazles are smart creatures and distrustful of suspicious characters, but to think that it can also tell innocent people despite their criminal records is a whole other discovery.

Scamander would be jumping for joy…

Immediately after noting it out, they quickly hear Crookshank’s mew ahead and found the cat waiting. Upon their approach, it stood up from where it sat waiting and swiftly ran. They shared a look, cast a silencing spell on their person and quickly chase after the feline beast. Black easily kept up while the two wizards behind them lagged a little.

Lupin followed as he kept an eye on the Map, Snape kept his ears sharp as he used Legilimency to sweep the minds of those around his as he tended to do while patrolling. There’s a reason why his capture rate during patrol was the highest in comparison to the other staff members.

Soon, Crookshank came to a stop and sniffed the ground which Black quickly joined. Lupin turned his eyes back to the Map. As good as the Map is the fact that Hogwarts have many residents and thus many names to keep track of can make pinpointing names a little hard. Then Snape turned his head to the side and stalked to a corner. Lupin quickly looked at the corner where his name wandered to and noticed the familiar dot along with a familiar name.

Snape kept his wand pointed at the corner and Crookshank instantly pounced. A sharp squeak of shock and soon a fat grey rat came shooting out of the darkness. Snape cast the counter spell and the rat instantly morphed into a man. He kicked at Crookshank and Black bounded at him in turn, fangs on his throat, which silenced the man’s trashing.

Snape petrified Pettigrew before the man could do anything more and Black stepped back. Lupin conjured special ropes to prevent his escape and the group looked at each other before Black turned to an unconscious Crookshank. He whined pitifully at his first friend outside of Azkaban and Snape rolled his eyes before crouching next to the cat.

He pressed his fingers against the cat’s body gingerly before casting a simple healing spell as a first aid to its cracked ribs to ease its breathing. He then gingerly picked the cat before looking at Lupin, “You deal with the rat,”

Luckily the full moon had yet to arrive or Lupin won’t have been able to do his part well…

The group quickly gathered in the Headmaster’s Office but not before Snape stop by the infirmary to ask Pomfrey to help with Crookshank. Snape’s a Potion Master and thus have some knowledge in healing but he’s not a trained Healer and thus could only do so much for the poor but brave kitty. Like it or not, and though he won’t ever confess even under the Cruciatus, the cat had earned his respect.

A bloody Gryffindor at that!

The transaction between Dumbledore, Black and the Ministry of Magic’s Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour was a quiet and stern affair. Dumbledore had even invited the Head of Magical Law Enforcement to study the Pensieve and record of Sirius Black’s memories regarding the incident of the Potter’s demise.

Now that the final evidence of his innocence has been presented in the form of the very much alive and marked Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black’s freedom is all set and in the bag.

The next morning, the people of Hogwarts and the rest of Magical Britain opened their subscribed papers to find that the trials of Sirius Black, proof of his innocence and the life and lies of Peter Pettigrew written in black and white. Sirius Black’s offense as an unregistered Animagus also helped strengthen the security of Azkaban as he revealed to the court how he escaped and that he kept his sanity with his knowledge of his innocence.

He kept the name of the poor family who unknowingly kept Pettigrew as their pet rat silent in respect for their privacy. After all, he doubted that the boy who had ‘owned’ Pettigrew even know about the rat’s true identity. He also stated that he feared that the family might be targeted by remnant of Voldemort’s (the whole court all but left their seats at the name in mass panic) followers should their name be revealed so he asked the Ministry to prove their competence in keeping their name under special witness protection.

The trial of Peter Pettigrew took place a few months after with strict barriers against Animagus’ transformation set in place. Needless to say he has nothing to proof his innocence and the more he tries to defend himself, the tighter the noose around his neck. The trial concluded and Pettigrew was set for an execution through Dementor’s Kiss.

Link would have wrapped the whole thing up and leave it behind him if it wasn’t because of the news that reached him a scant few weeks before the end of Hogwarts’ term;

Peter Pettigrew managed to escape during his transfer to Azkaban pending his execution.

Meanwhile, on the eve of the rat’s escape, a certain Seer rasped out a prophecy;-

“It will happen tonight...the Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers

His servant has been chained these twelve years

Tonight, before midnight...the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master

The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant's aid, greater and more terrible than ever he was

Tonight...before midnight...the servant...will set out...to rejoin...his master..."

Unfortunately no one was there to listen and thus the prophecy disappears into the fogs of her heavily incensed tower while the Seer lost all recollection of making one.

Chapter Text

Sirius looked around him, trying to figure out the carefully drawn map that was included in the letter that Harry “Link” Potter, his godson, had given him. Upon his absolution of crimes, which was really wasn’t even his own crime; Sirius had asked Albus Dumbledore to allow him his full custody of his godson Link as written in his family’s will.

However due to certain events, Link had to stay with his detestable Muggle relatives. When asked, Albus told him about Lily’s sacrifice and the ritual that she had used to bind a powerful protection to her bloodline. Link had to remain with his Aunt until he reached his majority at age 17. Link will have to remain close to his mother’s blood to ‘recharge’ the protection for all parties involved so that Voldemort could not place a finger on him, as proven during First Year.

But Sirius was allowed visitations and the man vowed to visit as often as possible which might as well be every day. After all, despite detesting his own blood, the Blacks are one of old money and that meant Sirius is very, very rich. Since all but him alone remain in his family, his family’s fortune became his. Sure there is still Narcissa Malfoy nee Black but she’s married to the Malfoy line and thus unqualified for her natal family’s fortune other than through her son. And since Draco Malfoy is still a minor, he can’t take on the family’s fortune until he reaches his majority.

The rest of the Black is either incarcerated in Azkaban, exiled, missing, insane or dead…

It speaks much about his family’s mental health. The only decent one has been exiled for marrying a Muggleborn wizard. This leaves Sirius, the only living Black of the direct line alive, eligible for all their fortune.

Sirius has immediately used most of the money to try and buy a Muggle home in a Muggle populated district closes to Link. He wanted to be available to Link in any way possible. One of his greatest regret when stuck in Azkaban was that he chose to chase after Pettigrew. Had he kept a tighter hold on his emotion, then Link won’t have to live a miserable life with his relatives.

Sirius had studied the Dursley when he first escaped. He had seen Link by accident when the boy was given the chore to buy some grocery at a nearby market from an alley and had followed the boy discreetly. Link may not even remember it but he had noticed Sirius, an emaciated dog and had taken a whole packet of hotdogs for him.

He had received a smack on the hand for ‘forgetting’ an item on his grocery list…

Sirius then studied the family Link lived with. He wasn’t always there but from what he had seen, it left his blood boiling. But the worst part was the self-hatred. He was a fool to hope that Link have decent relatives. It wasn’t as bad as his own, but Sirius remembered too late about the one time he met Lily’s sister and brother-in-law.

They had left a bad taste in his mouth then, and that taste had only grown stronger now.

Sirius looked at the paper again, sure that he’s in the right place of the small wooded area near Little Whinging. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice, “Sirius?”

Sirius’s face brightened as he caught sight of Link who seemingly appeared out of thin air, “Link!”

The two shared an awkward hug as Link is not used to physical affection and it has been too long for Sirius since he last shared a brotherly hug with James. Sirius pulled back before Link could grow even more uncomfortable and asked, “So? Where’s this famous tree house?”

Link smiled that small smile of his before pulling on Sirius’s sleeve, taking him past this seriously complicated barriers and revealing the clearing that has completely been transformed by his hands. Sirius gaped at his surrounding, “Holy Merlin…wow…”

The tree had grown bigger, sturdier and healthier since last year. There’re signs of Bowtruckles living on the tree itself and from the hole by the root, some gnomes have made a home amongst its roots. Link even had managed to make a small garden patch full of useful plants that can be used in food or potions. There’re herbs and vegetables, even some fruits trees.

Moss grow at the base and Link had strung up some modified fairy lights that he had bought from Diagon Alley which leave the whole place looking like it came right out of a fantasy book. A House Elf came into sight, happily watering the plan.

Sirius smiled, “Is that Dobby?”

Link looked at his roommate, or tree-mate (?), and nodded, “He has been adding more and more protection around this place,”

Sirius barked out some laughter, “It’s not a wonder why I can’t find your tree then!”

Link smiled and invited the man towards the rope ladder, “Come on in,”

As Sirius climbed up, he noticed several more magical creatures hanging around the area. This place must be submersed with magic to attract this much creatures. As he pulled himself into the hollowed out hole of the tree, he looked around.

As Link had grown, so does his furniture. Dobby helped a lot in making the place more homely. He has a proper bed instead of a cot made out of leaves and thrown out potato sacks. Along one side of the ‘wall’ are shelves filled with books charmed with protection against humidity and any hazards to books. Dobby also filled the middle row with things that he no longer use but presentable as collectibles or ornaments like his brass telescope and older instruments used in Potion Class.

There’s mosquito veil hanging over the entrance and over and around the bend like the four poster bed in Hogwarts. Throw pillows with neutral, tan and forest green of numerous shades littered the floor and around a low table, arranged over a neutral round carpet made out of fibers.

On the low table is a modified oil lamp that uses magic to light up the room. Sirius noticed several more similar lighting tools around the room that help keep the room bright. He sat on one of the large and cushy throw pillow, “This is really…you have a making to design rooms, Link,” He gestured around, “It’s all so airy and bright…considering you have no windows to speak of,”

A deep hoot declared itself as Gaepora entered the hole and took its place on a giant round cushion made entirely out of fibers, so obviously his that Sirius would be a fool to sit in it. It snapped up the rat in its mouth and swallowed it whole. Sirius feels a wicked satisfaction at the sight.

Link thanked Sirius for his compliment, “It’s all Dobby, really. He’s very good with his work now that he’s no longer labored under the Malfoy,” He then sighed, “Although Dobby still refused to stay in here with me despite the fact that he lives here more than I am,”

Sirius accepted his tea, “So where does he sleeps?”

Link glanced down, “He room in with the gnomes. Apparently they made a deal; Dobby can room in with them and they will receive some of Dobby’s crops,” He chuckled, “The gnomes also like the tree. They keep the pest away as they often eat them,”

The two shared some stories as they while away the day when Sirius finally bring up the main reason he came visiting, “Anyway, this year the Quidditch World Cup will take place in Britain!”

Link looked up from where he has been trying to knit, something he felt might be a good skill to learn for some reason, and asked, “When?”

Sirius smiled smugly, bringing out three tickets, “Next week will be the finals and I finally have my hands on these beauties!” He wiggled his brows, “So how about it, Link? You, me and good ol’ Moony?”

Before Link could give his answer, Sirius added, “Oh, I have also invited the Weasleys and your Witch friend Hermione Granger,”

Chapter Text

A source of vehement disagreements, a security risk for all who attend it and a frequent focus for unrest and protest, the Quidditch World Cup is simultaneously the most exhilarating sporting event on earth and a logistical nightmare for the host nation…is how many bureaucrats describe it and Link can see why.

The people who owned the lands are Muggles who kept being brainwashed whenever they saw something off. Link really does not like what he seen was done to them. No one should have their mind modified to someone’s whim. Sirius saw his expression and sighed, “I get it. Having been under the mercy of Dementors for as long as I did, I hate having my mind and memories messed with. Had this land belong to a magical family they won’t have to do all this but they just have to choose one belonging to a Muggle just because they didn’t want to pay extra,”

Link sighed but said nothing; he’s not an official and has no power over what can be done. In fact, he feel more comfortable speaking to one person of his concern and seek out solution together before leaving the declaration of their solution to Her while he do the field work. Shaking his thoughts away, he followed Sirius deeper into the crowd of excited people.

They passed a tent that resembled a miniature castle made of white fabric with albino peacocks strutting in front. Sirius sneered, “Malfoys,” As they walked further in, they reached a cleared space and Sirius pulled out his wand, “Here we are,”

Link watched with great confusion as Sirius pitched a completely basic scout tent with a flick of his wrist and ducked inside, “Come on in!”

Link pushed aside the flap and gawked with wonder at what he is seeing; a larger inside structured like an ‘A’ shaped cabin complete with wood and industrial iron finishing revealed to him. Sirius pointed at the spiral stairs, “Sleeping space is in the loft, bathroom and toilet this way. We even have a small kitchen complete with stove and oven as well as a fridge, we can eat around that fire pit there…” Sirius started giving him a tour of the space, helping him take out the miniaturized luggage from his pocket and enlarging them to their original size.

A moment after setting in, Sirius heard a voice coming in from the outside. He grinned, “Moony!”

Link excused himself as the two greet each other. Sirius called out, “Don’t go into the woods now! I mean it!” It seemed that the man still have nightmares about the stunt Link pulled in the Forbidden Forest last year so Link obeyed his wish and kept to the bazaar of odds and ends of a festive tournament.

He kept seeing double and Link worried that he’s seeing things that he really shouldn’t. Instead of people badly composed fashion or witches in pointy hats, he’s seeing people in armor or medieval dresses. Instead of a sea of round ears, he’s passing by strangers with similar ears to his. And though there are no horses near, he could hear them neighing and stomping their hooves.

He’s not in bazaar selling trinkets of Quidditch teams for Bulgaria and Ireland. Instead, he’s in a bazaar selling fruits, skewers of meat and funny masks while men betted on their favored knights. It’s not a tourney of flying brooms but one of horses, swords and spears and arrows.

“Link!”

Link blinked out the strange image and saw his friends crossing the river of people to reach him. He closed his eyes, calmed his nerves and centered himself before opening his eyes to greet them, “Hi,”

Ron scoffed, “That’s it? Come here!” He then pulled Link into a hug. Link grumpily noted how the boy had once again shot up head and shoulder above him. Seeing his friend’s face, Ron snickered, “Still such a small bean Link?”

Link swatted the hand ruffling his hair in playful annoyance, “Shove off,” He then feel Hermione’s familiar hug squeezing the stuffing out of him, “Hi, Hermione,”

The group then toured the bazaar together, sharing stories of their summer. Link told them about Sirius’s new apartment in the city and Hermione told him about her cancelled trip to Rome when Sirius appeared on her doorstep one morning, tickets in hand.

“My parents know about him after I came home from school. They still have trouble believing but once they meet Sirius, they mellowed out. Still, Ron’s dad had to come over to convince them to let me come,” She elaborated the long discussion she had with her parents who are simply worried for her wellbeing, “They still have some misgiving about Sirius because, well, you know…” She glanced at Link.

Link nodded, “Sirius still suffer nightmares about his days in Azkaban,”

Ron shivered, “Merlin, I’ll be more worried if he’s not affected,” He then, being the tallest in the group, noticed someone in crowd, “Neville, mate! Over here!”

Soon the group of three grew into a group of four as Neville joins them, Simon slithering out his collar. Ron told Link about his new owl, whose name is Pigwidgeon but shortened to Pig by Ginny, “It was crazy chatty and flew around like a big fluff of Snitch,”

The group spent some money on certain Quidditch must-haves like the peculiar binoculars that the salesperson pitched to them as Omniculars, “You can replay action...slow everything down...and they flash up a play-by-play breakdown if you need it. Bargain; ten Galleons each!”

The group showed interest and Link decided to buy one for each of his friends, though Hermione told him that she doesn’t need it but Link insisted while Neville told him that he could have paid for his own. Ron looked shy by his generous purchase and told him to come over for dinner as thanks, since that’s the best he could offer.

They go around, noticed some familiar faces like Luna, the recently graduated Woods and, unfortunately, Malfoy. They made eye contact but Malfoy preferred to peruse the stall before him instead of confronting them.

They also came across some foreign groups along the way, some speaking French and others in an American accent. Link come across an interesting fortune telling tent but Hermione decided to pull him away, reminding him of his own advice on how unless properly gifted fortune telling are all but useless to them.

Link pouted, “But I want to see how big their eyes are,”

Hermione frowned, “What does that has to do with fortune telling?”

He seriously answered, “It has everything to do with it. Think his name goes by Sparrot?”

His friends shook their heads and changed the subject of discussion. Link huffed on the side, “Meanie,”

They soon come across more familiar faces, like the Twins bargaining something with someone whom Ron quietly introduced as someone his father worked with, “Ludo Bagman, he’s one of the people in charge of this whole event,”

Link gave the man a stink eye, “A cheater, that one. You should warn your brothers, they’ll never see their Rupees ever again,”

Ron looked surprised and confused by his sudden observation, “How…?”

Hermione sighed on the side, “Its Galleons, Link, Galleons. Not the Indian currency,” She then pointed out, “You have been calling Galleons, Sickle and Knut as Rupees more and more often. Why?”

Link shrugged, “Seems easier to remember. Why does Wizarding currency have to have so many names?” He then grouched, “And the amount from one to the next makes little sense to me,”

The discussion turned from Ron’s brothers losing their money forever to Link’s confusion on Wizarding currency, logic of the values from one to next, and how using different colored gems called Rupees would make more sense. Hermione as usual tries to defend an already established element, thinking Link’s ideas as whimsical.

Neville started playing with his Omniculars and snickered, “Malfoy almost fell into a mud…no wait, he fell in!”

Ron looked over his shoulder, “Really, show me!”

Chapter Text

The climb to their seats are rather jarring to Hermione who has never been a fan of height, much less the ridiculous structure that the magical people seemed fond of. Despite reminding herself that it is all magic, the logic of physics being ignored does not make her feel any better…nor does the sight of Link leaning over the visually unsafe railing, even if she knows that magic made it safe.

So she gripped onto Ron like her life depends on him. Ron winced at the pinching but said nothing, letting his friend hang unto him. Sirius bumped into the Malfoy family on their down where it is densest. They exchanged curt greeting that barely hid their animosity to each other. At one point the children worry that wands will be pulled out but luckily that didn’t happen.

Thanks to Sirius, they get a good seating. Arthur Weasley confessed that he had thought to accept the only tickets available that he could effort but it would be the wind blew the hardest so he’s extremely thankful that Sirius included the Weasley clan in his purchasing of the tickets.

The introduction of the teams and their mascots bring some funny and uncomfortable reaction to Link. The leprechaun made him laugh because of how much they reminded him of this odd man in his mind dressed completely in green and believe himself to be of a fairy race. They cast a spell into the air that burst into gold coins that the Twins quickly tries to gather. Link take one look at the gold coin that landed by his shoe and decided to leave it be.

Then the Bulgarian mascots, the Veela shows up and Link found that he felt strange. He shifted in his seat and noticed how the males in the stadiums appeared stoned, for lack of better words, at the appearance of the Veela.

Having read about them, Link acknowledged that they are extremely attractive but all his mind could think of is that their coloring is off by a shade or two. In his mind he’s seeing different faces with similar name looking at him in disdain, dressed in different royal dress designs. Feeling properly scolded, the itchy feeling disappeared and he adopted a stony expression and pretending to be part of the bench while one hand grabbed Ron who’s about to ‘float’ out of his seat while Hermione wrestled with a dazed looking Neville whose face had gone slack.

Then something happened between the mascots on the fields and the Veela transformed right before his eyes (or rather through the Omniculars); cruel beaks instead of lips and scaled wings. Blinking, he pulled the device away from his eyes. They launch across the field with fire in their hands, screeching at the leprechaun.

He looked at his friends and found the older wizards laughing at them. Sirius even went as far as to say that “it is a completely normal reaction” while the women of the party pouted at their male counterparts.

After the mascots successfully separated, the referee began introducing the team to the spectators and one whole side of the stadium showed their favored player; Viktor Krum.

The rain fell in the middle on the game and adult witches and wizards shoot out spells to cover the area they sat under to stay dry. Link saw different variations of spells used and find himself fancying the one that conjured an invisible umbrella with the wand as the handle. He managed to get Hermione to discuss about the spell with him and had changed seats with Ron to do so.

They both agrees to look it up once they found the time to do just that…

Meanwhile Ron fanboy-ed over the Bulgarian Seeker Viktor Krum, raging when the player’s nose got busted by a Bludger sent by the Irish Beater. Yet the game carries on and Link spotted the Snitch several times throughout the game. Once his friends figured out that he kept noticing the position of the Snitch, they begged him not to spoil the game for them though Hermione kept being tempted to ask Link to just end the game.

At one point, they shared a dirty joke as Ron replayed the part of wizard picking his nose that he managed to catch over and over, causing both Hermione and Ginny to roll their eyes at the boys and their humor.

In the end, Bulgaria caught the Snitch but Ireland outrun them…something that Link overheard the Twins betting with Bagman the evening before. Ron argued that it just shows how good Krum was at his game and swooned at the player’s portrait. Link snickered with Neville that Ron’s as bad as “Hermione with Lockhart”, to which the ginger took offense.

Sirius invited Molly to have a cookout at his tent and she glad accepted the offer. They then found out that Link has great cooking skills as he helped them around the kitchen. The reason he does so is because Sirius wanted to cook like a Muggle but Molly has no idea how so he helped them along with Hermione helping Molly on the side. In the end Molly roped all her other children to learn alongside her.

Arthur and Remus managed to escape by accepting a drinking invitation from some old school friends…

The celebration of the end of the Quidditch World Cup continued right past midnight and well after a very filling dinner. Link was sleeping when he suddenly woke up. His instincts tingled and he jumped out of bed, swiftly putting on his clothes and shoes, tying his belt with his wands holsters and putting on the travel pouch that he had managed to create with Dobby’s help. He then run down the spiral stairs and peeked out the tent, taking note that Sirius had gone out for to join Remus and Arthur which left Link alone in the tent.

Soon he noticed a familiar face coming towards him and Sirius pulled him inside, “I need you to run out the back, alright? Just…just stay out and hide in the woods,”

As he lead Link out, Link finally heard the emergency situation that the muffling charm on the tent had stopped. He could see shapes bouncing in the air like string less dolls, screams crying out in fear and terror…

Sirius grip on his arm brought him out of whatever it was that took over him and Link looked at his godfather, “Link, let me handle this. You go find your friends. Arthur should have sent them to the woods,” He pushed the boy in their direction, “Go! And stay close together!”

Having nothing else to do, Link followed his direction and ran past the ruined stalls and burning tents, past dueling magical and masked terrorists. People screaming in fear and children crying for their parents echoed in his ears. He felt numb as he ran past them.

He wanted to help them…

He wanted to stop and confront the people who abuses the owner of this camping site…

He would have stopped but Sirius’s worried face forced him to keep moving. He ran through the dense wooded area in depth of the night, body low to an almost crouch, ears out for the voices of his friends. Someone shot a spell and Link dropped to the ground. He then rolled behind a tree and listened.

Someone’s moving in the wood, giggling quietly to themselves in a deranged manner. They then disappeared, only the crushing of rotten leaves and branches announced that there’s someone there. Then that too disappear.

He then heard some spoke in French and Hermione’s voice haltingly answering them. He quickly headed in their direction and found the rest of his friends. The person speaking French had left when he reached them and it was Luna who noticed him, “Oh, it’s Link,”

His friends turned to him and Hermione quickly pulled him into their close circle, asking questions about his wellbeing before huddling closer together as more sounds from the campsite reaches them. Link looked at his friends and kept on hand on his wand holster, ready to whip it out to defend them.

As they wait out the danger, they speaks in hushed tones of their recent experience. Hermione looked sick when she recalled the poor Muggle family who owned the place being treated so cruelly. Luna simply looked sad while Ginny looked furious. The Twins whispered between them, keeping an eye out for their brother Percy who was part of the team in charge of the event, worried.

Ron kept an eye out for their surrounding while Neville kept his senses on Simon who had appointed himself as their alert, hissing now and then.

Then the sky lit up in bright toxic green and Link saw the image of a skull with a snake slithering out its mouth like a living tongue floating above the camping ground. The image alone sent chills down his spine. Even the sounds of battle fell silent at the sight…

One of the Twins cursed, “That’s the Dark Mark,”

Chapter Text

Needless to say everything after that was a mess and Link only have a vague recollection of being found by Sirius, Remus and Arthur before being shoved into the tight embrace of Molly. They then hastily clean up their campsite and everyone gathered at the Burrow after a hasty escape.

Since it was late and everyone’s tired, Sirius set up his camp outside the Burrow and he, Link and Remus slept in there before joining the Weasleys for breakfast. Everyone’s mood was subdued by the event of last night and hushed conversations amongst the adults can be heard but none of the children are allowed to listen in.

Instead they were given chores. Hermione had returned early in the morning to her parents and promised to meet up at Hogwarts Express. Neville returned with his Gran to their estate and Luna hopped back to her own home just beyond the glade. Link and co was cordially invited before summer ends.

When September 1^st rolled in, they gathered at Platform 9 ¾ and bid goodbye to their respective family members. Hermione grumbled as they arranged themselves in their shared compartment, “It’s too bad that Prof Lupin was ousted as a werewolf last year. He was the best Defense teacher so far,”

Neville nodded while Ginny asked, “Any clue on who it was that ousted him?”

Collectively they turned to Link, which confuses the boy, “What?”

Ron glanced at everyone around him before clearing his throat, “Well, usually you’re the one with the ideas,”

Link blinked, “I think it was Prof Snape,”

Hermione gawked, “What?! Why?!”

Link helped Gaepora with his feathers as he ruminate over his thoughts, “Well…remember the Shrieking Shack? Apparently Sirius and my Dad used to accompany Remus during the full moon as animagus,” No one mentioned anything of the unsaid missing member, “And after he returned to Hogwarts as a professor, Remus used the Shrieking Shack as his transformation abode which he did when he was a student. This is so no one will come across him when he transforms. But one night he forgot to take the Wolfsbane Potion and Snape noticed this because he was supposed to be the one to provide it for Remus. Luckily Remus ended up running around naked in the Forbidden Forest and its fortunate that no one get bitten,”

He shrugged, “I guess Snape just want to make sure that there’ll be no more slip up,”

Hermione scowled, “Well…guess we can’t blame him. For all his mistreatment and abuse of authority, Prof Snape take his job as a teacher and keeping students safe seriously,”

Ron pulled a face while Neville tries to curl into himself, “Are you certain about that? I’m pretty sure even graduates still traumatized by memories of him,” He then added, “Once on a Diagon Alley trip, I saw him down the main street and some of the witches and wizards actually ran and hide when they saw him!”

Hermione swatted at him, “Ron, he’s not that bad!”

Neville mumbled to the side, “No, he is that bad,” When he found her looking at him, he added, “I saw the same thing just last week during a final checkup for school,”

She relented, “Seriously?”

Ginny turned to Link who’s busy helping Gaepora with his preening, “Link?”

He looked at her in acknowledgment before returning to Gaepora. She take it as him telling her to continue, “I heard from Ron and the Twins about your tree…”

While Ron, Hermione and Neville argued about Severus Snape and the primal fear his very presence incited in even graduated Hogwarts students, Ginny tries to peek into Link’s private life. Truth be told ever since Link rescued her from Tom, what was once a childish infatuation had turned into true affection for elven eared boy in front of her.

But after a sleepover at Luna where she complained about going unnoticed by Link, Luna had pointed out that she had not really tried to get his attention proper. So now she’s trying her best to get to know the quiet boy as Link and not the almost mythical Boy-Who-Lived.

Link quietly answered all her questions politely and she noticed how whenever he didn’t feel like answering he will simply smile at her that small, somewhat shy smile. Soon the conversations died out as everyone turned to their own choice of personal entertainment. Hermione brought out a giant tome to for some “light reading”, Neville showed off his new pet plant to Ron who quickly changed the subject to a game of chess before the boy could poke the plant to show off its defense mechanism.

During the lull of quiet, Ginny studied Link as he turned from preening Gaepora to taking out a strange shell-like instrument to blow through experimentally. He even take out tools to refine the object in his hand and Ginny found herself mesmerized by the sharp focus of his blue eyes as he worked on his little project.

At one moment, Ron groaned after growing bored of beating Neville, “Did you guys notice the odd addition this year? Ginny, did Mom force on you a dress robes that smells like Great Aunt Tessie? I swear I saw her wear them once,”

Ginny blinked as Ron called out to her, taking her out of dreaming of Link’s eyes, “What? Oh, she bought me a new one,”

Ron gaped, “What? Then why didn’t she buy me a new one? Or at least transfigure it to look less like it comes out of Dumbledore’s time?” He then paled, “Wait, what if I ended matching with Dumbledore? That will be so awkward,”

Neville shrugged, “Maybe this is her way of telling you to brush up on your transfiguration and charm skills?”

Ron groaned before looking at Link, “What about you, Link? Have you bought yourself a dress robes?”

Link nodded, “If there is one thing Sirius is all about, then it is looking good to the ladies. He won’t have me dress like beggar…no offense Ron,”

Ron grumbled, “None taken,” He then looked at Hermione, “Hermione, can you help me before whatever it was that we have to dress up for? I could really do with the help,”

Hermione looked up from her book, “Sure. Lucky for you, I’m no longer crazy enough to take up all the subjects,”

“Yeah, lucky me,”

Chapter Text

When they finally reached their bed in their dorm at Hogwarts, bone tired and full from the Feast, Ron grumbled, “I was so looking forward to try Krum’s Wronski Feint! Can’t believe they cancelled Quidditch!”

Dean looked at him, “But Ron, you’re a Keeper. When are you even going to use that?”

Ron scowled over his pillow, “It’s the principal of a fan,”

Neville shook his head when the Seamus and Dean looked at him, “Don’t think too much on it. The Twins said Ron is all but proposing at this point,”

Ron grumbled as he hit his pillow, “It’s not fair, I tell you! We can’t even join the Triwizard Tournament!”

Link nodded before adding his piece, “I’m more interested in the other schools coming here,”

The next week was filled with watching staff members straightening up either the students or the castle. Professional conservators and restorers were even called to help restore the colors and charms of the old paintings and tapestries around the castle. The Fat Lady is preening at the end of her session with the wizard in charge of her.

Not even gargoyles and armors missed their part. Although the gargoyles only need some dusting and buffing of their stony surface, they gained certain glamour at the end. Meanwhile, armors around the castle are given an armor polish each and some oil to help with the creaking.

Hermione tilted her head with the others when they found Link helping an armor with their straps one evening. She asked the other two, “Did you know that Link knows his way around armors?”

Ron shrugged, “I know he knows about weapons. Got a bunch of carved ones back at his tree,”

Neville approached Link, “I want to know how the armors keep themselves together,”

Ron being a boy himself, are piqued by this as well so he followed his friend and the two sat around Link and the armors that gathered around him to help them with their fraying leather straps. Hermione, who would never turn from gaining new knowledge, ended up helping the armors with the niches that they couldn’t quite reach with the polish rag.

Since this year the teachers are more preoccupied with preparations, they have little to no school works. But Hermione reminded them that once the other school arrives, they will be flooded with works to which Ron told her to stop so he could enjoy this “peaceful days of no work”. So they ended up being followed by armors who wanted some extra sprucing up by Link and his friends help.

Minerva McGonagall stared at the commotion down one hall where she saw all the animated armors collected around the familiar quadruplets, “What in the world?”

Albus Dumbledore looked at what she was staring and chuckled, “Well, it seems we have some helpful students. I should hand them ten points each for helping the school,” He then returned to his work, “Now, Minerva, about the enchantment in the Great Hall…”

Severus Snape and Pomona Sprout were both approached by Link who asked permission to use both empty potion classroom and a greenhouse. When asked, he told them that he knew a better polishing formula since the polish and the oil used by the armors seemed to clash and leaves streaks behind. Curious, Severus followed Pomona and Link to a greenhouse where both teachers watched him pick his ingredients for the solution he had in mind. They then watched as he made his own armor polish.

By the end of the week, Hogwarts looked like a new school what with the restored paintings and tapestries, cleaner gargoyles and shiny armors that looked like they just came out of the forge. Even the walls and flagstones of the school looked like it has been replaced by new ones although everyone knows that’s not it.

When 30^th October arrives, every single residents in the school are buzzing with excitement. The D-day snowed all day long but it didn’t deter them. The students huddled together while Hermione simply waved her wand for a warming charm on her person. She then taught the boys the wand movement and spell so they could do it on themselves.

She then helped Ginny when she arrived with the rest of her Year.

Professors and Head of Houses moved around and straightening them, Lavender Brown had her rather gaudy charmed hair pin confiscated by McGonagall and Luna Lovegood had to hide her necklace of Butterbeer bottle caps under her scarf by her much more lenient Head of Ravenclaw. Sprout combed the hair of some of the First Years Hufflepuffs and Slytherin preened by the fact the Snape had already made sure they do not look scruffy.

Then Dumbledore’s voice can be heard, “I can see the delegation of Durmstrang on the Black Lake!” Immediately after that, the lake’s surface burst and the comically small boat turned out to be the crow’s nest as the rest of the ship floated to the surface.

Link whistled, “That is one handsome ship. Tetra would love it,”

Ginny whispered to Ron, “Who’s Tetra?”

Ron quietly answered, “Don’t think too much. Link liked saying things that make little sense,”

She nodded, remembering, “Right, he calls Halloween Din’s Fall Festival,” And no one knows who Din is and Link won’t explain anything to them.

Ron suddenly all but squealed, “It’s Krum! It’s Viktor Krum!”

Simon hissed in annoyance under the collar as Ron shook Neville who had stood too close to him with excitement. Hermione rolled her eyes at the display and looked at Link who stared at Ron in bewilderment, “I’m just waiting for him to faint from swooning too much at this point,”

Link watched the celebrity walked close to the Headmaster of Durmstrang Institute, whom Dumbledore called Igor Karkaroff, and how the man kept the obviously favored student close. He frowned, “Krum looked uncomfortable,”

Neville looked at him, “How do you tell? I mean, his face looked like he’s bored by all the attention,”

Link couldn’t tell his friend that he felt a kinship with the Bulgarian Seeker. With that much attention, he has no choice but to pretend that he’s used to it. Even as the Boy-Who-Lived, Link prefer to keep his head down and his thoughts private. The status of a celebrity is never solid. Public opinions are less dependable than the weather at sea.

An hour after the arrival of Norwegian school, the sounds of wings reached them and Hogwarts witnessed a flock of large winged horse (to which Hermione whispered “Abraxan” and Link countered with “Gerudo War Steed?”) pulling a gilded powder blue carriage to the open space before them where Hagrid stood to call them down, barely dodging the hooves as they landed, and gracefully stop right before Dumbledore with the door of the carriage in front of him.

The door opened and a woman as large as Hagrid stepped out. She’s greeted by Dumbledore as Madame Olympe Maxime, Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Link noticed how Hagrid kept stealing glances at her like a man smitten of Gerudo beauties.

Her students soon flowed out of the deceptively small carriage, albeit the carriage the size of a double decker, and Link heard Ron come out of his stupor that Hogwarts will be hosting Viktor Krum only to be ensnared by one of the French witches. Link took interest as it seemed that all the boys around him react the same way and found what they were all staring at.

Ginny sniffed, “She must have Veela’s blood in her,”

All Link could think of was that he should be politely disinterested. Can’t be looking at other girls now. She won’t like that and Link liked keeping Her happy. After all, life has given Her little reason to truly smile and Her smile is Link’s most precious treasure.

Finally, Dumbledore invited everyone inside and a great sigh of relieve can be heard echoing from around him…

Chapter Text

Link was sure he spent the rest of the day with his friends and even managed to sleep that night, so it baffled him how his name come out of the Goblet of Fire. After all, he was tired of yesterday’s celebration and the impromptu singing session that Dumbledore pulled on them. He didn’t even know Hogwarts has a school song, so how was he to know the tune to sing it to?

Turned out the solution was to pick any tune and sing the lyrics to that. The Twins decided to sing along to a very slow funeral march and finished last. The Headmaster playing along caused McGonagall’s face to sour. Meanwhile, Link felt like he changed the slowly worsening weather outside with his chosen tune. The tune make him extremely fatigued after so he knows that the blizzard outside was caused by him, one that he changed to calm by changing the tune.

It’s just one of the things he simply knows…

Back to the present, he was just as surprised as his friends when his name was pulled out as the Fourth Champion; something that shouldn’t happen. At the same time he couldn’t help but wonder why he even feel surprised that something like this would happen. After all, strange and dangerous things kept happening around him. He really should just get used to it.

Albus stared at the stone faced Gryffindor who seemed have taken up the pretense of being part of the room’s decoration. Link doesn’t look like he knows what’s going on. Although the boy have done some strange things before, he never went out of his way to cause trouble. If anything, Albus has never met a more silent Lion.

When Maxime and Karkaroff started bringing up the matter of choosing another Champion from their schools to balance out the two Hogwarts’ chosen, Albus pointed out that the Goblet had chosen and it would be a very long time before the blue flames burn once more. When Albus finally asked Link for his opinion, the boy bluntly answered, “Sounded like someone want me dead,”

This silenced the group of incensed witches and wizards as they stared at him. Minerva asked, “What do you mean?”

Link straightened his shoulders and answered calmly, “I have not reach the age of majority, so I won’t be able to cross the Age Line the Headmaster circled the Goblet with. I have no knowledge on how the circle is made so I have no idea how to counter or undo it and I have also seen the Twins failure to fool it using potions and no matter what Prof Snape said, they have the talent for potions which meant that their potion is perfectly made,” Everyone has seen them racking their brain to try and join the Tournament and everyone has seen the spectacular sight of their failure.

“Also, this mean I have little to no knowledge to prepare myself for whatever trials, most probably dangerous and deadly trials, that will take during the Tournament. And because I am unwittingly bound to whatever contract between the Champions and the Goblet, I cannot back out of this. I have no choice but to compete,” He’s trapped and he knows it.

“Being underage and under prepared, I am bound to be dead before the Tournament even finished regardless of how safe the people in charge made it,” He concluded grimly and the reality of what this meant for the Fourth Year sobered those in the room. Those older and wiser than Link had died, so who’s to say he who has yet to receive his watch will survive?

Since he sobered them up from dreams of glory with the bleak reality of competing in the Tournament, Karkaroff grumbled something in his native tongue while Maxime studied the forced Champion with a perplexed look. After all, they were all incensed about the unfairness of a sudden Fourth Champion and drunk on dreams of fortune and fame that they forgot the steep price one has to pay to win the Tournament.

But the boy keeps a cool and clear head.

Viktor Krum, Champion of Durmstrang, studied his third opponent with a new light and Fleur Delacour, Champion of Beauxbatons, felt a twinge of shame of accusing him for wanting the glory of winning the Triwizard Tournament. Cedric Diggory, Champion of Hogwarts, stared at Link with a new found respect and slight pity. After all, the boy speaks the truth.

People had died in this Tournament, that’s the reason why it was banned the past century.

After they all agreed to proceed, not that they have a choice in the matter, Link was returned to his dormitory. Ron glared at him, suspicion in his gaze but Neville’s uncharacteristic stern look stayed his tongue. They were both with him throughout yesterday and this morning.

The only time Link could have possibly sneak away to put his name in the Goblet would be when everyone’s asleep but that still doesn’t explain how he cross the Age Line. The Twins had even tried throwing their names from afar into the Goblet only to have the parchment burst into flames long before it could reach the Goblet. So Link couldn’t have done that either.

As Hermione had furiously pointed this all out when Ron grumbled about Link hogging it all, Neville had forced the temperamental boy to clear his head before Link comes back. He told Ron to recall how much Link would rather stay out of anyone’s attention and how he literally hid himself when people started noticing him for more than just his unwanted fame.

Thought Ron still has his suspicions, after all Link has always been capable of the impossible, Ron decided to keep his silent. As the Gryffindor House split between celebrating their unprecedented Champion and scorning Link for trying to upstage Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff, Ron come to the decision to stand by Link. His promise to Link from First Year after the troll incident echoes;-

“I promise you this, Link. I will never leave your back open,”

The knowledge that he almost broke that solemn promise made so long ago send chills down his spine. Ron may be a lot of things to his friends and family, but he refused to play the part of a traitor.

So he was there with his friends when Link chased after Neville after that horrendous Defense class with Moody. Link’s face had darkened and he was furious but his anger kept simmered low in his chest as he accompanied Neville to an empty corner in Hogwarts’ castle.

The Three Unforgivable Curses. He’d never expect that the famed retired Auror and friend of the Headmaster would perform them before students that has never been exposed to cold violence. But the fact that Neville had gone white even when he was the one who gave name to the second Unforgivable set warning bells in Link’s mind.

He understood how Ron would know, as the mind controlling curse was something his father probably had encountered one too often in his line of work, or even Hermione who made it her mission to learn. But Neville…his reaction was one of personal experience, or at least one that hits too close to home.

Neville had only ever spoken of Gran but never his parents. Though Link does not make it a habit to assume, he respected his friend’s privacy so didn’t think much about the lack of parent figure in Neville’s life. After all, what would an orphan like Link knows of parenting?

Yet somehow…this reaction…

Link asked, “Did that happen to someone in your family?”

Neville’s breath hitched before he pressed his lips tightly together that it turned white. Hermione turned to Ron as he would be the only one that would know anything about the Longbottoms. Ron thought back what he knows about Neville’s family, things he heard from his parents. Lady Augusta Longbottom is quite famous, especially after last year with the Boggart. Now that he think of it, Mum sometimes find it pitiful about the Longbottoms and felt sorry for Neville on occasion when Ron brought up about him but she never elaborate.

Ron looked at his friend, “Neville…was it your parents?”

Neville shuddered and sighed, “Guess I never talked about it…” He sniffled, “Bellatrix Lestrange drove my parents to a catatonic state with the Cruciatus. Gran always spoke of it like it was some kind of grand sacrifice, that I should be proud of them for fighting to the very end. I always wanted to know just how bad it was that it would drive them to that…” He sobbed, “I’m…a terrible son…”

Link scowled, “No, you’re not!”

His friends looked at him and he continued, “You’re not ashamed of them. You’re just sad…and there is nothing wrong in being sad, Neville. Being pained by a subject does not mean you are ashamed, but rather it is painful to even think about it. It shows how much you cared,”

As Neville sobbed and finally told his friends things he never felt like sharing, they accompanied him and listened until he calmed down…

Chapter Text

Link has gotten busier. With the Tournament looming over him, he spent every available moment studying and asking Sirius about offensive and defensives spells beyond his year. He even brushed up on both Charms and Transfiguration though he has the least talent for either. In addition to this, he also studied on Creatures extensively.

Sirius upon hearing of his involvement with the Tournament, decided to stay close by renting a room at the Three Broomsticks. Even though he has been cleared all charges, many witches and wizards avoided him thus it was one of the main reasons he spent more time on the mundane side as opposed to staying close to the magical side. But for Link, he would face all the discomfort that magical society could throw at him. Unfortunately, Remus couldn’t come along especially due to his now known status as a werewolf along with the tightening regulations on all none wizards or witches.

Sirius even asked Dumbledore permission to help tutor Link, saying that he’s far outranked in term of skills when compared to his more senior opponents. Besides, Link would not ask for help in regard to the Tournament and there are no rules stopping the Champions from brushing up their skills. In the end, Dumbledore gave permission for as long as it has nothing to do with helping Link through the Tournament’s trials itself.

As the Champion will have to stand alone in terms of investigating and overcoming the trials, Sirius became more of a mentor for studying than an actual helper. However, taking note of this ‘loophole’ the other schools also started to tutor and mentor their selected Champions. The ministry official presiding over the whole thing couldn’t interfere because it didn’t break any rules. If they were to stop them, then the Champions must stop attending classes altogether.

As for Cedric, he had his Head of House mentor him on his skills as opposed to Link being mentored by Sirius or the Headmaster/Headmistress mentoring their respective Champions. This way, no one can claim Dumbledore for favoring either one of the Champions. Mr. Diggory had tried to do what Sirius had done but unfortunately he could not dedicate himself due to his job, thus he leave Cedric in the hands of Sprout.

Thus it goes with Link’s current schedule. For fairness, another teacher will preside over their session for impartiality as well to be witness that they do not cheat. McGonagall preside over Cedric and Sprout while to be doubly certain for all parties involved, Snape presided over Link and Sirius. Since everyone and their cats know of the animosity between Snape and Sirius, no one would doubt his impartial witness.

Meanwhile, a ministry officials will watch over the other Champions’ session so that no one could accuse Hogwarts of sabotaging the other school Champions should anything happen during the Tournament.

Needless to say, Sirius’s involvement changed a whole lot of things…

Ron sat with his friends as they watched Sirius showing Link an Auror approved defensive move against an attack. He sighed, “Link is so busy these days,”

Hermione looked up from her book, “What do you expect? If he don’t take this seriously, he’ll die or worse maimed,”

Ron glanced at her from the corner of his eyes and shook his head, “You still need you to check your priorities,”

Neville looked up from the fashion catalogues he had asked from his Gran, “Ron, how about this style?”

Ron looked at it, “I’m not so sure, Neville. Might clash with my hair,” He then returned to what he was doing; practicing his color changing Transfiguration. The burnt orange he had managed to turn from the previous mud brown is slowly burning his eyes.

The three were helping Ron with his dress robes. He’s still terrible and the worse he had done to it was cutting up most of the frills and laces that’s far from flattering him. He had hoped to master the color and texture transfiguration spells before whatever it was that requires him to wear the monstrosity passed to him from Great Aunt Tessie.

The least he could do is to look less like he come from Dumbledore’s time…

Meanwhile, Sirius had noticed that Link has an extremely agile physique and remarkable reflex as well as top notch hand and eyes coordination. Added with the fact that he has what can only be endless stamina, Sirius’s only job would be to add to his spell casting arsenal and more Creature knowledge.

It’s unfortunate that James’ skill on the broom has not been passed down unto Link. He had not believed Link’s friends and even Hooch’s words about Link being completely hopeless when it comes to flying so he had bought the best broom, a Firebolt, that summer and watched with great anticipation. If Link’s bad with flying, Sirius could help him with his posture.

At least that was the plan…

Link didn’t even take off…

What posture? If he can’t take off, how would Sirius help him with postures?

Then Link showed his splendid equestrian skill with that Hippogriff Hagrid called Buckbeak as well as the perfect flying on a beast posture and Sirius wondered what went wrong with his best friend’s gene.

But all that aside, in terms of physical prowess Link outstrip all the other contestant. Just the other day Sirius saw Pomona running that Cedric kid through an obstacle course that he has seen Auror trainees use. Morgana’s hat, he had run through that course in his early days as Auror himself!

Severus watched the two danced around each other, dodging (or rather fencing in Link’s case) as spells after spells flew at each other. As expected Black lacked in the more gruesome offensives but that’s to be expected. Black, for all his rebellion to his family, refuses to use anything even remotely dark. But Link has no qualm in using his surrounding, making use of something as simple as the levitation Charm taught in First Year to rip out roots and flinging rocks at his opponent.

Severus concluded that Link will be an extremely difficult opponent to duel. The boy has his shielding spell perfectly applied but not only that, he uses his body more than his wand. That made targeting him hard and the fact that he snap up his shield in an instant or flinging the spells away from his person, redirecting their trajectory, make him an impossible opponent.

Honestly, that boy would have the Tournament in the bag if it wasn’t because the trials are not about dueling. Severus has a niggling feeling that the boy would have been perfectly fine if the Tournament was an all-out battle royal, he would even come out on top.

Besides, as Severus studied the look in Link’s eyes, the boy is a survivor to the bone. The way he studied his opponent and keeping his senses open showed how used he was to danger. He even use Black’s movement to his advantage, making feints when he least expect it.

Severus looked away to the sky and see what the student dubbed “Link’s Hippogriff” flying in circle above before a sharp whistle caught its attention. The students watched in captivation as it dives down, turn its body and caught Link’s out stretched hands, catching him as he ride on its back.

Sirius called out, “Foul, Link! You’re not supposed to fly!”

The boy cheekily answered with laughter in his voice, “All is fair in war and love, Sirius, all is fair in war and love!!”

Severus snorted from his spot under the tree. If only the first trial is not against a dragon…

Chapter Text

When Link heard from Ron that his brother Charlie has arrived at Hogwarts, several things ran through his mind. And when Buckbeak decided to stay close to him whenever he went out of the castle, Link decided to study his surroundings: he noticed that the Forbidden Forest had gone quiet and that the owls in the Owlery no longer fly over the forest.

It can only mean one thing; there’s a bigger predator hidden in the forest and considering all the things that lives in there, Link could only think of one animal.

A dragon…or several dragons.

He remembered how Ron’s brother Charlie worked at a dragon’s reserve in Romania and the fact that he’s here at Hogwarts during the Triwizard Tournament, Link can put two and two together. Then Hagrid decided to ask him to visit sometime at night with his Cloak of Invisibility…

From all the signs, Hagrid’s suspicious invitation cemented this. But at the same time he quickly realized that Hagrid’s idea of a date with Madame Maxime meant that Beauxbatons’ Champion will be forewarned. Not to mention the clumsy Karkaroff whom he noticed fleeing from the site upon noticing the dating couple. Well, whomever it was running away was clumsy and hidden by a cloaking spell but Link could guess the only other person who would be curious enough to challenge death.

However, this leaves Link with a conundrum.

As of now, Hogwarts’ divided but the majority of the division sided with Cedric being the True Champion. Ron and Neville have been rather grouchy with all the badges that both validates Cedric with praises and abuses Link with name calling that Link can easily see being pinned on most Slytherin’s robes and book bags. Hermione have been going around picking up the badges that has been discarded or forgotten, charming them with nasty but harmless curses; like spitting boiling hot water at anyone staring at it.

The Twins happily passed them around in her stead, making no one the wiser that it was Hermione’s idea all along…

But the fact remained that the probability of Cedric knowing the danger that the First Trial will present is extremely low. So now, Link being Link, decided to brave the glares of the Badgers and seek out Cedric Diggory. The Seventh Year in question hushed their jeers as he greeted Link, “Hello, Potter. How can I help you?”

It is moments like this that makes Link wish that other could understand his sign language. But alas, life never deal him a fair card. So he gestured Cedric to follow him. The boy looked at his friends who tried to warn him against following the Lion but Cedric calmed them before following Link. From the daggers stabbing him from the back, Link knows that the Badgers are warning him against harming their Champion.

Honestly, he’s trying to keep it fair!

Once they walked down an empty corridor, Link waved a privacy charm around them and waited for Cedric to walk beside him. The boy had been trying to tell Link that he has been doing his best to stop the spreading of those horrid badges, but obviously failing. When Link placed the privacy charm, he realized that Link has something to say to him.

Cedric walked next to Link and looked nervously at the stone faced Fourth Year Champion, or quietly called the Forced Champion in the more secluded and quiet corners of Hogwarts. To be absolutely honest, Cedric is both awed and terrified of Link. He has never seen anyone more composed and more private yet so amicable and friendly. It made him nervous because Link has an excellent poker face. No one really know what he’s thinking.

Not to mention that even Cedric can tell that physical wise he’s under prepared when standing next to Link. He’s catching up but it’s like a short distant runner trying to boast to triathlon long standing champion. There’s no one in Hogwarts who hasn’t seen Link’s ridiculous morning routine, especially during the weekend.

The boy’s restless.

Just watching his physical activities make one tired.

And who on the Quidditch team hasn’t heard about Link’s unfortunate incapability to fly a broom? Those not in Gryffindor all breathed a sigh of relief when this became known. Oliver Woods whining about the natural athlete that is Link being unable to fly has been his greatest regret and the other teams’ greatest glee. They have seen how Link easily catch a Snitch during one game back in 1991, having flown too close to him.

It was his first experience with Quidditch and the game had to restart because Link’s not on the team. Problem was, he kept catching the Snitch by accident due to his impeccable reflex. Due to that, Link was forbidden from attending the game until next year.

That was when he was eleven, that reflex must have gotten even better with age…

This was proven back in 1992 and that failed Dueling Club arranged by Lockhart. His reflex as well as his hand-eyes coordination once again showed their impeccable skill. One that so far no one could emulate.

So Cedric looked as Link stared at him, his nerves playing his spine like a xylophone. That was the other thing with Link. The boy doesn’t have to speak to make his presence known, but at the same time he easily erase his presence that people forget he’s in the room. And once those blue eyes with emerald flecks landed on you with the heavy kind of focus that Cedric has never seen from anyone else, he took their breath away and not in the dreamy sense.

People never mention this unless in the privacy of their mind and everyone who ever shared their thoughts agree; Link has a predatory gaze.

It’s unsettling when he look at you without speaking.

Link finally grace him with mercy but now Cedric wish he never open his mouth, “Its dragons,”

Cedric blinked, “What?”

Link exhaled and elaborate, “Ron, my friend, told me his brother Charlie is in Hogwarts and I know Charlie worked in Romania with dragons. But that won’t have proven this if not because Hagrid’s idea of a romantic first date is to take his lady to see dragons,”

He quickly added before Cedric could ask, “Don’t ask why I’m there. I have no idea why either,”  

He then continues, “I also suspect Durmstrang’s Champion know because there is someone else there besides us, under some kind of spell to turn invisible. So since I know, Beauxbatons know and Durmstrang know, you’re the only out of the loop,”

Cedric really wish that Link never opened his mouth, “Bloody hell,”

Link nodded like he just agreed the weather’s nice, “Yeah,”

Deciding to store this away for later perusal, Cedric asked, “Why are you telling me?”

Link stared at him with a  “are seriously asking me that” look, “Fairness. This is a Tournament and though it is not my intent, I had cheated. Since everyone else also cheated, it is only right I inform you,”

Cedric breathed easier, “Oh…thank you, Potter,”

“Link,”

“What?”

Link sighed, “Call me Link, I prefer that,”

He then waved his wand and cancel the privacy around them. Cedric realized that Link had circled around and take him back to his friends. Turning to thank the boy, he realized that Link had left without a single sound.

Honestly, there’s something about Link…but at least the boy’s not hostile until you step on his tail.

Cedric will do his best not to do that and considering all the things his friends have been doing that would warrant the Lion’s ire, Link has extraordinary patience. And people with that kind of patience are scary when angered…

Chapter Text

Link looked at the miniature animated dragon he’ll be facing, “At least it’s not Volvagia,”

Everyone now know that Link has two wands after that wand weighing ceremony. After all, even if others don’t care, Link prefer to be fair especially during a competition. So he expected the surprise on everyone’s faces when he presented both holly and aspen wands to Ollivander who inspected both. He also showed that he’s capable of double casting using both hands, showing that he’s ambidextrous.

But showing both wands does not mean he showed them all he has…

Link also feel that familiar prickly gaze of being watched but he has yet to pinpoint the stalker proper. Link hated being watched like this because it agitate his senses which could be dangerous. He didn’t know why but he disliked being watched like this. He liked knowing who’s around him, be they friend or foe. That way he will know either to keep them in mind when he moves so he won’t accidentally hurt them or to cut them down immediately.

Link doesn’t like being the one hunted…

All he could think was that intrusive witch Rite Skeeter whenever he thought of his stalker. Somehow he has a feeling she will try to pry into his life more than he had allowed, which was none. She showed intense dislike at his non-reactive when she dragged him into the closet until Sirius barged in and stopped the impromptu ‘interview’.

Also, was it just him or is that beetle being oddly out of season?

Soon, his name was called with an explosion of the canon. Link breathed in and focused. Instantly the air around him shifted. This was the side of him only few have been exposed to and most was hostile. A side he kept his friend safe from and now everyone will see…

He would have laughed had he been in a different state of mind. He has been hiding his bloodlust for so long that it’s ironic to him to suddenly show it to the rest of the school so openly. As he stepped out of the waiting tent, he barely notice the stumble his unknown stalker made as the beetle fell from its perch and rolled on the floor.

Link studied the Hungarian Horntail before him, quietly cursing his luck; he always draw the short stick in this situation. But at least it’s not as frightening as a Guardian Stalker. Link don’t really know what a Guardian Stalker is, but just the name sent chills down his spine.

Link recalled what he could about this species of dragons; The Hungarian Horntail was a species of dragon native to Hungary, which was considered to be one of the most dangerous dragon breeds, if not the most dangerous. It possessed black scales, a spiked tail, and was lizard-like in appearance.

Why oh why was he always cursed to face the most dangerous breeds?

Link cursed, “At least it’s no Volvagia,”

He moved, eye on the price; the Golden Egg. As he dodged the fire breaths thrown his way, his mind detachedly remembered one of Ron’s stories about his brother Bill who worked at Gringott as a Curse-Breaker. He was once sent to retrieve a famous golden egg made to look like the perfect replica of a dragon’s egg from a mother dragon who mistook it as hers.

Honestly, the name Unwary suited that Goblin. Who in the bright mind would make something that a dragon would covet?

Apparently wizards took that story to heart and tried to replicate it in the Tournament. Yay for Link…

The crowd watched with baited breath as Link weaved around the dragoness’s attacks but couldn’t come any closer. Whenever he made any move to get closer, the dragoness grew wilder in her attacks. In the end Link conceded that he can’t do this on his own and raised his fingers to his mouth.

He did only bring his wands to the Trial so he didn’t break any rules…

It was all technical…

Crowd gasped as a Hippogriff flew in like a comet and Bagman crowed in excitement when Link ride on its back, “What a show, ladies and gentlemen! I have never seen such trust between a wizard and a Hippogriff! Wait, what? His name is Buckbeak?! Well, we have the Hippogriff’s name, ladies and gentlemen! Buckbeak the Hippogriff and apparently an extremely brave stead of one Harry Potter! Or Link, whichever it is ! I’m sorry! Alright! Link it is!”

Link bent close to Buckbeak’s ear, “Are you ready? Do you trust me?”

Buckbeak screeched and Link took that as a “yes” as they flew seamlessly through the air. As they worked together, Link tried to shoot her eyes. However the dragon is very particular about her eyes so it made it hard for him to get a real shot at it. But he and Buckbeak are relentless and at one point she grew so agitated by their attack that she broke free of her chains.

Link can’t hear them but the crowd gasped in horror, certain that they’ll be eaten but Link’s equestrian ability are nothing to sneeze at. He effortlessly guide Buckbeak away from the Horntail’s snapping jaw. The crowd gasped as the dragon and the rider danced an impossible aerial dance. Link made sure to keep Buckbeak away from her flames while Buckbeak moves his wings and muscles in a way he never thought he would outside a hunt.

Dragon handlers took off on brooms to try and keep any damage on the minimum. The Ministry officials governing the Tournament ordered for them to keep the Horntail away from Hogwarts castle and Hogsmeade. However they’re not allowed to help Link or Buckbeak.

Link maneuvered expertly, controlling both speed and turns to keep the Horntail focused on him and ignore the witches and wizards flying around the perimeter. Once he’s certain that they had flown high enough that the air grew thin that frost almost grew on his hair and Buckbeak’s feather, they hovered. Using the sun behind as cover, he waited for the dragoness to find him.

Bagman mumbled though he simply voiced everyone’s though with his ‘Sonorus’ spell, “What is he doing? Can you see him? The sun’s too bright,”

Just as the Horntail reached them, Link cast a strong ‘Lumos Maxima’ right in front of her, blinding her. The spell was bright enough that for a moment the sky was cast in shadow. Unable to see, she instinctually stopped mid-flight. Then, Link guided Buckbeak to free fall just shy of her mouth that with a turn of her wicked head she would have bitten them out of the air had she not been blinded.

With a swing, Link sent a cutting spell against her wing’s membrane, greatly reducing her flight capabilities. Shrieking in pain and rage, she followed but the damage was done. Link fell faster than she could follow due to the fact that he had cast an anti-friction barrier as Buckbeak shot towards the ground, gravity and distance keeping her far from them.

As the crowd shouted in fear and concern as the two fall faster and faster, closer and closer to the ground fearlessly….a sudden shout of “Look” forced them to look up only to see that the dragoness had regained her senses and she’s furiously chased after them with a roar.

Link respected her mother’s fury and tenacity to protect her eggs…

Did his mother who sacrificed herself for him share their sentiment? He couldn’t but wonder as he guided Buckbeak to snap his wings a moment before making a barrel roll just as the flew close enough he could touch the ground. But it wasn’t the ground that Link touches, but his target; the Golden Egg.

The Hungarian Horntail landed furiously over her nest as Link flew straight into the tent with Buckbeak with the prize in his arms, glinting victoriously before disappearing. Furious that her enemy had gotten away, she roared a pillar of flames skyward in anger.

Inside the tent, Link dropped his body over Buckbeak with groan, “Dragons never like me anyway,”

When Madam Pomfrey reached him, he’s already fast asleep. Unaware that he not only won the First Trial by taking first place but that he had created a history that will go down as the most improbable thing to ever happen again with his stunt…

Chapter Text

Link dropped his Egg with pained grimace, his ears bleeding and his friends had to drag him to Pomfrey since his balance was off due to the damage done to his ear drums. Neville helpfully put the Egg on his bed before helping Ron bear his weight on his other side.

Ron winced as Pomfrey forced Link to sleep in the infirmary for the night before shooing them out, “Bloody hell, what was that?”

Neville shrugged, “Forget that nightmare. What I want to know is how come only Link’s eardrums burst? I mean, I get the ringing in our ears. I swear I saw stars for a moment, it was that horrible. But Link’s ears just right off popped!”

Hermione, who had rushed after when she saw them, contemplated, “Maybe because his ears being long isn’t just something superficial? I mean, I once read that pointed or enlarged ears tended to be more sensitive to sounds,”

Ron looked at her, “Wait, are you telling me that Link have very sensitive hearing? How sensitive?”

She scowled at him, “How would I know, Ron? It’s his ears,”

“Well, you always have answer for everything,”

Neville ignored their routine quarrelling and said, “But Ron, does it really sound like your brother Percy’s shower singing?”

A few days after the First Trial, Link discovered that the next hurdle has nothing to do with the Egg which hold the clue to the Second Trial. Rather, the Yule Ball is coming. Ron’s panicking about his still horrendous dress robes and Neville practiced his waltz in their dorm in front of a mirror. Hermione seemed to be avoiding someone and Link doesn’t know who to ask to the Ball.

It was when he brought up this question during breakfast that his friends looked terrified by the sudden realization. Ron gulped his egg after showing it off to the unfortunate soul sitting in front of him, “Bloody hell, if we’re not quick we won’t have anyone to ask!”

Neville groaned, “I don’t even know who to ask,”

Hermione sniffed at them, “You should just hurry it up with that sewing project of yours, Ron, or you won’t have anyone to show it off to,”

Ron grumbled before looking at Link, “Forget about me! Link need a partner! He’s a Champion!”

Link sighed, “Give me Volvagia any day over this,”

Ignoring the odd name Link called the dragoness, Ron patted his back, “I’m sure girls are just waiting for you to extend your hand to them,”

Ron wasn’t wrong, Link has a lot of attention from the witches. Especially after he swept the floor with McGonagall with his waltzing skill during a dance lesson. This garnered him even more attention as girls wanted to live the dream of being a princess since Link looked so much like a Prince Charming when he skillfully lead the dance with McGonagall who was pleasantly surprised by his expert moves. It helps that he has a very pleasant appearance and his blond hair blue eyes combo just upped his value in their eyes.

Many boys grumbled that Link just made the hurdle for them harder but it also fired them up when they saw the usually timid member of Link’s friends, Neville, picking up lessons with Link who helped with his posture. Soon, Link grew busy with helping the boys with their postures and steps.

On the other side, the Twins has yet to let it down that Ron had to dance with their Head of House on the first class. It was a disaster…

One day, Ginny who came across Link in the Library found the courage to ask him, “When did you learn how to dance?”

His friends, who had gotten so used to Link just knowing things that it never dawned on them to ask him, looked up from their respective work and stared at him. Link’s face blanked and he seemed lost for a moment. Ginny was about to apologize if it was a painful subject since he looked so sad when suddenly he smiled as says, “I simply do,”

Ron swatted at him pointlessly, “If you don’t want to tell us then don’t,”

Link awkwardly laughed it off though he didn’t have the heart to tell them that he really simply do know for no reason. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell but rather he didn’t know how to tell. He couldn’t say that the moment McGonagall called on him to teach him the waltz, his body simply moved.

Or that during the dance, he had a sudden moment where he didn’t see himself dancing with his teacher or that it was an empty classroom that he’s dancing in. But rather it was an empty ballroom and the one he’s dancing with have golden hair and glittering green eyes. A beautiful crown glinted gold on her head as she tilted her neck just so.

She still didn’t like him then…

But they have no choice but to open the dance floor since he’s Her-

Link winced in pain and felt something dripped down from his nose. Ginny gasped at the sight, “Link! Are you alright?”

Link felt faint as he feel his friends pulled on him. His head’s pounding and he couldn’t remember well. This was the reason why he didn’t want to think too deeply. His nose will bleed and he will lose all sense of self for a whole day. Next thing he knew, he blacked out…

As Link stared at the ceiling of the Hospital Wing, once again stuck with Madam Pomfrey, he wondered. He knew he failed someone and that someone is always referred to as Her in his mind. But who is She? He could taste her name on his tongue but it always slip away before he could say it.

Every time he almost recall, he will black out. All Link is certain is that the emotions he hold for Her is complicated and deep. So deep he couldn’t see the bottom. His emotions will always run away from him, raging so furiously that he lost all sense of reason when it comes to Her.

Third Year was the most he ever learned about Her.

The Dementor brought out things that he couldn’t recall on his own, voice that he yearned to hear once more. He knew the where or how he learned all his skills were beyond his recollection because it has become muscle memories to him, so he never question them because instinctually he trusted them.

But whenever it has something to do with Her, he has this deep yearning that won’t go away even as his head pounded like it was being hit with the fist of a Stone Talus. He know Her face, as it was revealed to him in the Mirror. But he don’t know who She is, especially in regards to him. Every single time he almost recall, it felt like he’s being torn from the inside out.

Sighing, he decided to stop lest he ended up extending his stay in the infirmary. After all, there is so much he needed to do that being considered unwell will just get in the way.

Chapter Text

Ginny ran to her room, tears in her eyes as she threw herself onto her bed. She had been waiting and waiting, making herself available as much as possible so Link will notice her. Instead she have to witness something that made all that waiting useless!

It all happened so suddenly, really. Link has yet to ask anyone to the Yule Ball but not everyone will wait as many had already accepts invites from others. So Link, who has been busy trying to crack the mystery of the Egg, was just minding his own business in the Library looking up Creatures that will make the noise that the Egg produced.

That’s when a Beauxbatons’ student entered the Library and wandered around, searching. Fleur Delacour have been having trouble seeking out a Yule Ball partner that’s not a pervert or would look stoned when standing in front of her. But then she recalled one person who has never shown any signs of being affected by her Veela’s magic and words was he’s very much a walking chivalry.

The only reason she hesitated was because he’s a Tournament Champion and she’s unsure if approaching him was the right thing to do. So Fleur have been keeping an eye on him while trying to figure out things. Even his ginger haired friend had made a fool of himself when he stuttered out an invite only to run away after in embarrassment.

So far, she has yet to hear any news of him inviting or being invited to the Yule Ball with anyone. So that meant he’s free and available still.

Fleur has to admit that the boy called Link by his friends and secretly titled the Forced Champion was very pleasant to look at. He has a perfectly arranged features and though he’s on the shorter side, he’s very well built. In short, he’s someone Fleur have no problem going anywhere with in terms of appearance.

But in terms of personality, Fleur have to admit this Link boy attracts a lot of attention, both good and bad. He’s very quiet but it’s calming to be around him, as far as she can see. But he also has this commanding air about him when he breaks up fights. He didn’t care for House loyalty as he extended a helping hand to whoever needed it, despite being as busy as he was. Once she saw him helping one of the Ravenclaw witch a Year below him look for her things and at another time she stop his own House members from picking on the younger Slytherin.

The one word best describe Link would be ‘Knightly’. Even those from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have been helped by him at one time or another. So now, understanding his personality to an extent, Fleur decided bear the curse and approach him as Link has shown no interest in approaching anyone. So she sat right across him at the sat table in the Library, causing the people around them to stop and stare.

She’s used to the staring but she’s unsure about Link. The boy always has his hood up and if it wasn’t because he sometimes let it down, she won’t have realized about his ears. She won’t be surprised if he’s sensitive about them.

Link finally noticed that someone’s been waiting in front of him and look up. Fleur suddenly felt like she needs water from how dry her mouth feels when her eyes clashed with his. They’re intense and heavy, making it feels like he’s focusing on her and solely her. It both flatter and disturb her by how focused his eyes were.

Clearing her throat, Fleur asked in heavily accented English, “How are you?”

Link blinked and she realized that he has some freckles on his nose that’s barely noticeable, “I’m well. How can I help you, miss?”

Fleur studied him as he looked directly at her. There’s no sign of infatuation and he did not look at her with lust. It’s rare to be seen as a person instead of as an object, which made her wavering choice stand firm. So she straightened her back and said, “Will you go to the Yule Ball with me?”

Link appeared flustered, his cheeks dusted a slight shade of red which just made him look younger and downright adorable. He closed his book and cleared his throat, “I’m sorry…I…are you sure?”

Fleur smiled that smile she has been told look seductive and reached out to touch his fingers, “Why would I ask if I am unsure?”

Link stared at her and pulled back, standing up. Fleur pulled back as well, suddenly flustered and unsure of her move. She has never been rejected before because she has never done this. All the boys who flocked to her has always been suspicious or foolish so she has never accepted their pursuit. Had she done this wrong? Had she offend him somehow?

By Flamel! Had she appeared to him the way those hormone driven boys appeared to her? Oh, anything but that!

As her mind ran a mile in silent panic, she suddenly realized that Link had moved to stand next to her. She looked up at him, keeping her panic to herself and a straight face. Link stared her down and she started to sweat with uncertainty. Around them, students whispered to each other.

“I can’t believe she does that!”

“Oh, I wish I have as much courage as her,”

“He’s so dreamy,”

Link then lowered himself onto one knee and extend his hand in a very archaic but flattering manner as he conjured a yellow rose and offered it to her, “Miss Delacour of Beauxbatons. May I have the honor of escorting you to the Yule Ball?”

Fleur can’t help but blush. She understand that he wishes to escort her as nothing more than friends from the offered yellow rose. Even she knows what a yellow rose meant. But the way he does it, it was like she’s dreaming. It was all so romantic and she understand why he conjured a yellow rose, it was so she would not misunderstand his intention.

She accepted the yellow rose and bring it to her nose, before accepting his offered him shyly, “Thank you…I accept,” She quietly answered before asking, “Why…?” Why did he ask her back instead of simply accepting her invite?

Link pulled her hand and bring it to his lips, brushing against the back of her hand and saying, “Thank you for this honor, milady,”

He then stood up and let go of her before saying, “I just think it is more appropriate to ask the lady proper instead of simply accepting casually,”

Fleur blushed.

Meanwhile, some boys who had been watching began taking note from Link’s action, knowing that the witches would expect the same from them. However, just around the corner was Ginny Weasley who had seen the whole thing. She quickly turned away and rushed out of the library, barely crushing into Viktor Krum who’s spying on Hermione with his gaggle of fans nearby giggling foolishly.

That’s how her roommates found her bawling her eyes out on her bed. Knowing what had happened, they could only sympathize with her. All her roommates know that Ginny Weasley was hopelessly in love with Link. How could she not, especially after the fairytale-like rescue from her First Year?

Unlike the others who only idolized Link, Ginny had truly and sincerely fell for him…

Chapter Text

When Ron heard about the situation, he quickly sought out Ginny. He was still haunted by the events from Second Year so he always have this need to make sure that she’s alright. In the end, he comforted her by saying that he will escort her to Yule Ball. It’s not really expected of everyone to be dating when going to the Yule Ball, it was just something people do simply because of the atmosphere.

So taking his sister to Yule Ball wasn’t something disgraceful or anything. He’s simply being a good brother.

Ron didn’t even get mad at Link. Link never has feelings for Ginny, of this he knew well. Link had never led her on or treated her as anything other than just a friend and the sister of one his friends. So how could he be mad at Link?

Right now he’s more confused by the fact that he’s mad that Hermione had been asked by someone to the Yule Ball and even more that she accepted…

Ron sighed as he looked at himself in the mirror, “At least I don’t look like Great Aunt Tessie…” He sniffed himself, “Or smell like Great Aunt Tessie…”

He then looked at Link, who had on dark dress robes with red and gold highlights. He also had on a pair of white leather boots that reaches his knees and white gloves. Honestly, his friend’s looking more and more like a prince. Meanwhile, Neville had on a simple black and white dress robes.

The three then moved to the entrance of the Great Hall where the ball will take place. McGonagall had informed Link to stand there before the ball begins as the Champions will be the ones to open the Yule Ball.

Link greeted Ginny who had waited for Ron. She had on a rather simple but flattering aquamarine dress that has been slightly modified to look new. She smiled at him before accepting Ron’s elbow as he escorted his sister to the Great Hall. On the way, they were joined by Hermione dressed in blue and somehow discovered a way to slick her hair into a bun.

He greeted her as she’s waited by the Great Hall, “Good evening, Hermione,”

She blushed as she greeted him, “Link! You look dashing!”

He smiled at her, “And you look stunning,” He then looked around, “Are you waiting for your partner?”

She flustered, “Well, I…” Whatever she was about to say stopped as voice called out to her ins heavily accented words. She looked and Link found Viktor Krum, dressed sharply in burgundy and brown fur, approaching them. Looking between the two, Link politely excused himself.

He was standing around when a voice called out to him. Turning around, he found Fleur dressed in silver greeting him. Everyone else looked on in envy as she all but floated to him. Fleur had done her best for the evening but she wasn’t prepared to be struck dumb by how charming Link appeared. The boy can certainly pull any look!

Fleur can’t help but be flattered as she accepted his escort and McGonagall finally opened the door as the Champions have all arrived with their partners, although she was a little but pleasantly surprised to see two of the Champions partnered together. Being first in place, Link escorted Fleur through the door first followed by the other Champions.

Then he escorted her politely to the dance floor as instructed by McGonagall and bowed as the violin sang. Taking cue from the first tune, Link lead the dance and for a moment Fleur felt as though she’s flying. Link’s hand on her waist did not wander, which was one of her main concern. Instead, he firmly but gently supported her back as he hold her hand with the other.

Link’s a very polite dance partner…

Once the waltz ended, she felt sad that they have to pull apart. Link took notice and asked, “Would you like to go another round?”

Pleasantly flattered, she smiled, “Yes,”

And so he danced with her until she no longer could do another step. But Fleur found her heart full and content as she sat at a table. Link excused himself to find her something to drink and soon she found Viktor’s partner asking if the table’s full. Feeling good for the evening with her polite partner, Fleur smiled and said that she’s the only one at the table so far.

The girl, Hermione, took a seat and sighed dreamily as her eyes tracked her partner across the hall. Fleur can’t help but wonder how the bookish girl managed to catch the attention of the Durmstrang Champion but didn’t know how to word it. Link had been helpful by asking simple questions that she could give simple answers to; yes or no.

When Link came back, Fleur noticed that his other friend followed with his sister. The girl looked unhappy when she saw her and Fleur understood that she has feeling for her partner. But unfortunately, Fleur had been the one to approach Link while she floundered around him. So Fleur couldn’t feel any sympathy for her plight.

The boy, Ron, blushed when he saw her but kept his conversation with Link going. Fleur watched in silent amusement when his attention turned to poor Hermione in which he spat out such hurtful words that could deteriorate the relationships between Champions. Link glared at him and Fleur felt chills stroking her spine at the look he gave his friend.

As Hermione walked away with frustrated tears, Ginny huffed at her brother and chased after the girl. Poor Viktor came at the scene sans his partner and Link politely point at the direction she ran off to. He then turned a frustrated Ron with a disappointed look.

Properly chastised with a look, the boy’s ruffled feathers flattened. Link apologized to Fleur, “I’m sorry but I’m afraid I have to attend to this idiot here,” He glared at the red head, biting out the word ‘idiot’ at the boy.

Gulping, Fleur smiled and said, “I’ll be fine,”

Indeed she doubted she could move from her seat with how pleasantly tired she is. Link had been an exceptional dance partner and she couldn’t have been more pleased with her evening. It’s only right she let him go deal with his troubles. Besides, from how her girls from Beauxbatons have been looking at her, she feels obligated to entertain them with stories on how dashing, charming and chivalrous her dance partner was. So she waved goodbye to Link who pulled Ron away only to be flocked by her fellow French witches.

Link glared at Ron once they’re far enough from the crowded venue, “What were you thinking?”

He flushed, “I…I don’t know, I’m just so…mad at her!”

Sighing, Link stared at his friend, “Mad at Hermione or mad at yourself?”

Ron blinked, sputtering at the sudden question, “I…well, I…”

Flicking the boy’s ear in fond frustration, Link said, “You’d better apologize to Hermione when you see her next. It’s not her fault you didn’t take the chance when you could have,”

Felling properly foolish and scolded, Ron groaned into his hands as he rubbed his face. It seemed that he’s as much as fool as his sister had been. But at least Ginny had given her shot, or at least tried to. Ron had been procrastinating and he lost his chance.

Needless to say when the evening come to a close, Hermione told him that the next time there’s a ball he should ask her instead leaving her as “the last resort!” to which Ginny nodded grimly on her side. Ron’s evening come to a sour close while Link stood on the side, letting the lesson seep into his brain.

Link also noticed that his other friend has been enjoying his evening greatly with one Luna Lovegood. She didn’t treat him badly and entertain him when he wanted to dance more. When Link had asked why he’s taking the Yule Ball so seriously, Neville had told him that his parents met and fell in love at the Yule Ball.

He fell compiled to enjoy a part of his parents’ lives in an innocent moment. Perhaps, he even slightly entertained the notion of meeting his love at the Yule Ball the same way his parents did.

Link was about to call it a night when someone called on him along an empty corridor, “Link!”

Looking over his shoulder, he found Cedric Diggory beckoning him over…

Chapter Text

Link stared at the bottle of Gillyweed that Dobby had managed to smuggle for Link. Link didn’t know how Dobby know, as he was certain the House Elf have been staying in Little Whinging but he really should stop underestimating his friend. He also didn’t know how Dobby know what the Second Trial was all about but he’ll just not think about it too much.

About a week ago after the Yule Ball, Cedric Diggory had sought him out and told him to take a long bath with the Egg. He even suggested the Prefect’s private bathroom where there’s a swimming pool sized bath tub. So Link, who has nothing to lose, did just that.

Having half figured out what the horrendous sound from the Egg was about, he dove under the water with the Egg and the screeching sound turned into a choir of sirens voice. He then come to the conclusion that the next Trial will happen underwater and thus come to a conundrum.

How does he deal with the Trial? He can’t breathe underwater though he has no concern with his swimming ability. Sure the Dursley never sent him to any swimming lesson in fear that his body will be seen. Whenever there’s a swimming class, Link will conveniently ‘fall sick’. But Link, as usual, just know how to swim. So his main concern was staying underwater.

The song suggested that something precious to him will be taken under and that he has an hour to seek it out or he will forever lose it. Link doubted that the ‘forever’ part will be truly permanent as it’s a Tournament and not a quest. But still, he has the responsibility to see the mission through. But the first hurdle, staying underwater in the duration that the song suggested will be impossible for him. Plus, the Black Lake is large and deep. He doubted that they will keep whatever they took close to the surface.

He will have to dive deep…

So Link’s idea of preparation is to design a swimming armor that will allow him to breath underwater. He has been looking up fabrics and materials to fuse into a deep diving gear. He had also studied any and all runes that can help in this project, going as far as to informally take up Alchemy which is beyond his year. But improvising has always been something Link has been particularly good at.

He named his project as the “Zora’s Armor” and stopped himself from thinking too deeply about the origin of the idea and name.

So far he had managed to get his hands on a roll of Selkie’s skins, though they cost a fortune Sirius has no qualm spending for Link. In fact, it was Sirius who insisted to buy them when he heard what Link was planning. But unlike the original owners of the skins, Link won’t be transformed into a seal as that transformative magic belong to the Selkies. However, he believed that the Selkie’s skin have certain properties that will allow him to breath underwater. But it was something unproved so Link still need to study the properties extensively.

And so he decided to steep the Selkie’s skins in a special potion with similar properties. This is where Dobby came in. So now he sat behind Hagrid’s hut steeping Selkie’s skin in a cauldron full of dubious potion made out of Gillyweed and other ingredients like Ramora’s swim bladder that will amplify the underwater breathing ability.

Link has heard of the Bubble-head Charm but since he’s already making his “Zora’s Armor” when he heard about it, he decided to stick with his plan. Besides, he has another reason behind insisting on the armor.

It was to hide his body…

Link is sure that they will hand him a swimming trunk then pushed him off the pier into the water during the Trial but he didn’t want anyone to see his body. Thus Sirius, understanding Link’s biggest concern, decided to help the boy with materials as he’s not supposed to help Link more than this. The rule stated that Link can’t access outside help but nothing about outsourcing. Besides, all Sirius did was hand him a bag full of money and that was it. Snape, being the unwilling witness of the whole deal, said nothing.

But he kept a very close eye on Link when the boy decided to make his dubious potion. Link was certain that Snape would have stopped him had the potion gone wrong or deadly. Keeping Link safe outside the Trial has nothing to do with helping him after all. It falls under lesson.

Now that Link has completed the initial stage of preparing the skins, he started making patterns, cutting the patterns, sewing the pieces together, sewing the embroideries of runes onto the swimming suit, adding more elements to help him with the underwater breathing and ease of swimming like rubbing crushed opal dusts all over the leather, and finally the fitting.

A month later he looked at himself in the mirror of the Prefect’s bathroom. It’s a blue so dark it could have passed for black with silver threads and tiny opals sown onto the tight neck. Between the outside and the inner linings runes that he had tested again and again that will allow him to breathe underwater. Around his neck are preserved Gillyweed sown directly into the lining so that it will touch his skin.

He looked at the water that filled the swimming pool sized bath tub and exhaled nervously, “Here we go,” Once said, he dove into the water and sink himself to the bottom. Then he tested the “Zora’s Armor”…

Link woke up to Dobby calling onto him and saying that he’ll be late to the Second Trial. Rushing, he put on his clothes and ran for the lake. The cold weather bit into his skin just as he arrived. Bagman cheered as he reached the pier and he looked at his competitors as they jumped one by one into the water below.

Breathing deep, he took out his wand and switched the robes he’s wearing for the armor. He ignore the confused muttering at the odd swimming gear and jumped into the water. The magic runes glowed around him as he activated the dormant magical properties of his gear.

Bagman can’t help but gasp, “Did you just see that, ladies and gentlemen? Link Potter just switched his Champion gears to something that has never seen before! Is this going to be a trend for him in this Tournament? First the Hippogriff Buckbeak and now a swimming suit that seemed to allow him to breath underwater! Look! It’s turning blue!”

Indeed, the color change was a sign that the gear’s working properly. As Link took a lungful of filtered oxygen, he dashed through the water with incredible speed. As he passed over tall seaweeds, he saw flashes of light between the leaves.

Cursing his need to save, he dove through the leaves and found Fleur battling a Grindylow. She struggled against its many tentacles and long bony fingers as it grasped her throat. Thrashing, she lost her wand and as fear chilled her heart, a kick smashed against the oddly shaped hat of the Creature. She looked at her helper and found Link, dressed strangely but agile as if he’s on land landing stinging hexes on the tentacles grabbing her limbs.

The Grindylow hisses and she could sense many more through the tall weeds around them. Link dove and brought up her wand, wordlessly handing it to her. She flustered but accepted his help. Link then pulled on her left hand and dashed upward out of the forest of seaweeds. He stopped shy of the surface and looked at the clan of Grindylow growling under in the forest below them.

He looked at her and seemed to ask her for her wellbeing. Fleur looked at her person and only notice little scratches. He gestured at the depth and looked at her and she knew he was asking if she’s going to continue. Had she been alone, Fleur would have given up and swam to the surface.

But there’s just something about Link that gives her courage. So instead of giving up, she decided to carry on. She gestured her answer and Link smiled at her courage, causing her heart to flutter.

He swam ahead and Fleur followed close. She didn’t know where the other Champions are but Link would never lead her astray. For some reason he make her feel safe even though they’re supposed to be competing. So she followed him and he does nothing to shake her off as he simply swam ahead, sometimes stopping to look behind him as if to see if she’s still following him.

Soon, they reached their destination; the Mer-village…

Chapter Text

It seemed that the “something precious” that the Egg referred to were the people they took to the Yule Ball but since Link partnered with another Champion, they decided to take Ron. He had wondered why Ron had gone missing along with Hermione but since he was so late due to the accumulated fatigue of making something never seen before the past two months and refining the final product, he didn’t have time to ask Neville whom he barely noticed amongst the crowd at the pier.

The same thing happened to Fleur whose “something precious” seemed to be a relative of hers, perhaps even her sister. He watched as she cut off the rope anchoring her sister to the stone pillar in the middle of what can only be the village’s square and waved as she looked at him in thanks. She must have been so worried about her sister when she can’t find her on the way to the trial.

He then looked between Ron and Hermione. Cedric soon arrived and grabbed his girlfriend, looking in wonder at Link who has yet to do anything despite being the first to arrive. In fact Link was waiting for Hermione’s partner. He knew he’ll be fine but he needed to make sure both his friends will come to the surface safely.

Viktor finally arrived in a spectacular half-transformed state; he has the head of a Great White Shark. Once Link made sure that Viktor didn’t accidentally bit Hermione’s hands and legs, he turned to Ron as Viktor took Hermione to the surface. A simple movement was all it took for him to undo Ron’s knot and he dashed to the surface with a scant 15 minutes to spare.

He placed Ron on his back and started to swim faster, cutting through the water like a tornado. He jumped out of the water due to his speed and dove back into the water before speeding straight for the piers. Ron had woken up the moment they broke through the surface and screamed in shock before wrapping his arms around Link’s neck, “BLOODY HEEEEEEELLLLLLL!!!!”

Link grinned as he shot right past Viktor and Hermione as well as Cedric and Cho Chang before jumping straight onto the pier with Ron still screaming on his back. He skidded to a stop and dropped a shaking Ron onto the wooden pier. Hermione soon arrived with Viktor who sped up, laughing at the fiasco that was Link and Ron. Soon, the rest of the crowd started laughing as well as they slowly come out of the shock of watching Ron clinging for dear life of his smaller friend’s back. The last to reach the pier are Cedric and Cho, who laughed along with everyone. Cedric looked at Link, “What was that?”

Link shrugged, “A need for speed?”

The Trial finally ended and marks were given. Link tied in first with Fleur, although the judge mentions how he’s the first to arrive and the last to rescue his hostage. Ron fondly rolled his eyes at Link. They gave him a bonus for helping Fleur with the Grindylow attacks and helping her find her way through the lake thus embodying the spirit of the Tournament..

The Tournament wrapped up nicely for the Second Trial with little to no incidents, other than Gabrielle Delacour coming up to Link to give him a grateful kiss on the cheek for helping her sister. To which Fleur added her own kiss on his other cheek. Properly embarrassed by their very much French gratitude, Link quickly escaped to the Tower with his Housemates teasing the steam out of him.

Class continue as usual after that. The last Trial stayed silent and Champions will be told. But everyone already know where it will take place as all Quidditch players mourned the ‘destruction’ of the Quidditch Pit. But that does not decrease the amount of work Link need to see to.

After the sight of him in his “Zora’s Armor” were published in the papers, a group of witches and wizards from Merge School of Under-Water Spellage sought him out to interview him about his special swimming gear. Despite being busy, he decided to humor them but told them to speak to his godfather Sirius Black for anything more than interview.

It was a wise move on his part for soon after the interview, they started asking him to sell them the formulae for the swimming gear. Due to this, Sirius take charge of the discussion. And although Link had done his best with his swimming gear, it was not perfected and has numerous rooms for improvement. But Link’s still a student so he can’t drop everything to research and improve his original swimming gears.

Besides, he has classes to attend…

Although recently Moody has started training them to throw off the Imperious Curse, which Link really dislike. Although he has been an excellent teacher so far, with great insight on how magical criminals think, something about the man put Link on edge. Especially the almost hidden glee in his eyes after he cast the Killing Curse right in front of the only survivor of a homicide. That alone sent warning alarm through Link.

Luckily Link has been too busy with the Tournament that he managed to keep away from the retired Auror. But with this new class regarding the Imperious Curse, he has no choice but to take an active part. So he stood before his teacher, waiting to be cursed.

Moody pointed his wand and cast, “Imperio!”

Link’s mind clouded over as an odd sense of peace settled in the place of clarity. He heard someone whispering for him to jump unto a table. He was about to move his body but then his mind flashed golden light of three triangles stacked together to form one piece of triangle.

So he set his rising foot back down and stood his ground against the curse. Moody strengthened the curse and his command, sometimes changing them, but Link stubbornly stand his ground. Around them, students stared in confusion and some even wondered if Moody had failed casting the curse.

As the enchantment grew to the point of being unbearable, Link’s mind flashed with memories of a sacred open space and Her standing over him, Her voice solemn as She blessed him;-

“Whether Skyward bound, adrift in time, or steeped in the glowing embers of twilight…we pray for your protection…”

Link gritted his jaw, rebelling the pounding of the curse against his will. He can’t truly recall the rest of Her words but he knew that Her blessing and prayer of protection stayed true. And this man, this wizard, dared to tempt him away from Her.

Unforgivable.

How dare he try to undermine Her hold on his will?

Link’s a tempered sword, pounded over and over by trials after trials, broken and re-forged era after era, but regardless of form and appearance his oath to Her remains constant. With each rise and fall, with each cycle of hope and despair, he will always find his way back to Her.

Link scowled, letting out his bloodlust and warrior’s spirit as he roared in defiance and anger directly at a shocked Moody, his body moving like a hurricane, closing the distance between them in an instance as he whipped out both wands and pressing one at the man’s head and the other directly at his heart. His threat towards the man clear; stop or be eliminated.

Blade-like blue eyes glowing fiercely as he dared the man to try and control him. Beastly growls rumbled through his chest and echoed through his gritted teeth, fangs bared for all to see as he challenged the man.

If Link was a Beast, then he had offered his leash to one person and one person only and that person was not Moody. Anyone who dare to try wrestle that leash from his rightful Master will be shredded by his fangs.

Moody stuttered to a stop, lowering his wand and bluffing his confidence as he praised Link’s unshaken will in the face of the curse. Had it been a different Link, perhaps he would have tried the curse on Link over and over. But not this one.

Link’s warning was a clear threat. He doesn’t care if the man was his instructor. He had stepped over a clear line and Link’s warning was a onetime mercy.

There will be no second time.

Chapter Text

Rumors about what had happened in the Defense class had spread like wild fire by the time the sun touches the western horizon. It wasn’t just Moody who felt Link’s ferocious will, but the whole class present. Link acted like he didn’t do anything so outrageous and since no one was hurt other than Moody’s pride, no action was taken on behalf of the staff.

However, Moody found himself under fire from using dubious instructions in his class so the Imperious Class was cancelled.

Added to the fact that he once turned Malfoy into a ferret…

Link didn’t really get the whole story, being as busy as he was, but Malfoy got in a fight with either Ron and Neville, he’s not sure, but apparently when his friends turned their back on him Moody caught him trying to sneak attack them from behind. So he transfigured the Slytherin into a ferret and bounced him as punishment until McGonagall caught him and returned Malfoy to his human state. She then publicly scolded the man regarding his choice of punishment.

Ron was ecstatic the whole day and refused to think of anything other than “Malfoy the Bouncing Ferret” so that it will become his happiest memory regarding the blond. Link suspected that if Ron had tried to cast the Patronus Charm that day, he would have succeeded a true corporeal Patronus.

At the moment, Link had finally succeeded in his attempt to transfigure a random object into a sword. His favorite has always been the double-edged long sword. In Second Year, he had used the rapier style Sword of Gryffindor and found that though he’s capable of wielding it, he does not prefer it. He had then tried all manners of broadswords, all carved of wood of course, like the scimitars, the cutlass, the falchion, the backsword, the side sword and even all manners of katana.

In the end he found his preference in the double-edged long sword.

But Link, despite having all manners of carved weapons at his tree, decided that he’s ready for live steel. But since he’s not allowed to carry a live steel weapon considering it’s a school and the law dictated that he’s a child thus not allowed access to any form of dangerous weapons (which doesn’t apply to a wand despite its capability to cause great harm) so Link decided to improvise. His muscles yearned for an actual weight when swinging.

So Link has been practicing Transfiguration in his spare time. He recalled the toothpick to needle transfiguration that was taught back in First Year and concluded that it was something similar, only instead of a toothpick he’s using a branch and instead of a needle he’s transforming it into a sword. Transforming one element for another has already been mastered so he only needed to refine what he wanted to create.

Thus Viktor Krum found him surrounded by all manners of swords and branches in all stages of transfiguration one weekend morning on his jogging route.

Viktor doesn’t know what to make of Link Potter. His way of doing things constantly sending ripples to his surroundings without any form of intention on his part. Viktor also has never met anyone so gentle yet so fierce in his life. He has seen Link when interacting and anyone could have mistaken him for being timid.

But the boy’s anything but timid. He’s like a Beast with a full belly, lazily watching others play with his tail and paws or ignoring the flies circling his ears. But the moment someone stepped on his tail or threaten him, the claws will unsheathe and the fangs will flash. Yet he also has great patience even when threatening his opponent. He will study them before deciding whether they’re worth waking up for or otherwise ignored.

However, when those he sees as his to protect is endangered, he will ignore his previous judgment and maul them to death…

That’s the impression that Link leave Viktor with.

When he realized whom Hermione’s best friend with besides the red haired boy and the dark haired boy, he hesitated on asking her out. Having been on top most of his life, especially after his elevated Seeker status on his national team, Viktor’s seldom feel threatened by others. Especially by those younger than him.

But Link sent warning bells in his head. So he watched Hermione from afar, afraid to get closer before he’s certain of their relationship. But Link has never treated her with anything other than platonic affection. If anything, Viktor realized that the red haired boy was much more hostile towards his friendliness with Hermione than Link ever did.

But that does not mean that Viktor will ever let his guard down around Link.

So now what? The last person he wanted to be even more involved with sat before him, with a perfectly transfigured sword in his hand.

Viktor hid himself.

He then watched the boy from behind a tree. He has seen Link around when going through his usual routine. He has heard about the boy’s crazy morning activities, though so far Viktor has never come across him on his workout routine. The few times he caught sight of Link, he was with the former convict Sirius Black, learning. Viktor has to admit had the Tournament decided to have the Champions face each other in a duel, Link will win easily.

Viktor has never seen the dueling style that Link performed during his mentoring.

Had Link been a Quidditch player, Viktor would have been inspired to try and challenge the boy but from what he gathered, Link couldn’t even lift off on a broom. Yet from what he had seen of the boy’s flying skill, despite riding something so unwieldy like the Hippogriff, Link has a great amount of control and talent for it.

So what was the boy doing with the sword in hand? Viktor’s eyes widened when Link started to move through stances, slowly but surely gaining speed and precision. It was like watching a dance, a deadly dance of steel and blade that will cut him to ribbons with the wrong move.

Link then started to go through cutting stances and Viktor can tell, from the weight of the wind that slashes through the air, that the sword carries great weight. Link’s movements started to blur from one stance to the next like he was Apparating  from one form to the next smoothly.

“What are you watching?”

Viktor almost jumped when he saw Cedric behind him. Not answering since he has terrible English pronunciation, one that Hermione has been helping with (bless her), Viktor moved a little to the side and let Cedric see for himself. Cedric gaped at the sight before gulping, whispering, “Don’t ever get on his bad side,”

“Get on whose bad side?”

The boys recognized the heavily accented English and shifted so that Fleur could see. She peeked around them and gasped, “Link?”

She started chattering in French quietly but from how she speaks, they know that her mind’s far from fearing Link. Cedric and Viktor were both so used to how girls speak when admiring them that they know Fleur’s admiring Link’s form.

The three Champions watched from the shadow until Link slowed down and come to a stop. He sweated heavily and Fleur hid a squeal of admiration at the sight of the shirt clinging to his body. Breathing coming to a calmer tempo, Link sat down and began to meditate, sword in his lap.

The group couldn’t help but watch, wondering what he will do next when a giant owl that they have seen around Link screeched as it landed on Link’s head, claws on his shoulders. It turned fierce yellow eyes at them, hooting once, before looking at Link and preening his hair.

Link opened his eyes and stand up, stretching some more and sticking the sword into the ground. He then stretched his legs and ran, picking a relaxing pace. The giant owl on his head the whole time.

Cedric break away from the trio of spies and awkwardly excused himself. Fleur fanned herself before doing the same.

Viktor on the other hand decided to approach the sword stuck in the ground before noticing that it wasn’t the ground that Link stick it into rather a rock hidden just under the rotting leaves. He tested the pommel and tried to pull at it. Then he used greater strength and tried until he gave up.

It didn’t move an inch.

Chapter Text

The weeks following after the Second Trial were full of mundane events. The strangest that happened was the disappearance of one of the officials in charge of the Tournament. Percy, who had graduated the year before, became even busier as he stepped in for the missing Barty Crouch though it didn’t make much different since Mr. Crouch had been unwell throughout the event.

Meanwhile, Moody’s treatment of Link has been lukewarm at best and frigid cold at worst in class or whenever they crossed each other’s path in the castle. Link still doesn’t trust the man, which confuses his friends since other than trying to teach Link how to throw off the Imperious Moody didn’t really do anything intrusive.

On the more peaceful side, Link had been studying under Sirius’s help on becoming an Animagus. Since the fact that Sirius being an unregistered Animagus has been ousted, the Ministry would normally charge him but since Sirius already spent more than a decade in Azkaban they decided that he had already paid for it, Sirius now openly uses his ability and decided to mentor Link in the art. McGonagall watched over the lesson at first but once she deemed that Sirius will not endanger Link by taking shortcuts, she left them on their own.

Since Link had quietly kept a Mandrake’s leaf in his mouth for a whole month at the beginning of term and finished creating the required potion with the help of Sirius in between Trials, casting the spell “Amato Animo Animato Animagus” every morning and evening, he now only needed to wait for the storm.

The initial steps were easy for Link. Since he didn’t speak much, keeping a leaf in his mouth for a whole month has been of little trouble to him. And since he either didn’t sleep or an early riser when he’s busy, preparing the potion and looking for those dews in places untouched by sunlight or treaded by human was also easy. He only needed to step into the Forbidden Forest during his morning routine to do that and Link’s keen tracking skills help in finding the required dews.

Sirius’s suggestion of burying the phial under the roots of the famous Whomping Willow was genius. And since Link then became too busy to even think about checking on the phial, it was easy to follow the next step of not even think about the phial of potion.

Now, he’s running towards the Whomping Willow with McGonagall and Sirius following closely behind as the sky rumbled, flashing lights warning the coming storm. Link has been preparing for a whole year for this moment. He could only pray that the phial was safe.

Dodging the thrashing limbs of the Whomping Will, he threw a pebble at the knot that will paralyze the sentient tree. Once the tree froze, he lowered himself into the hole in the ground, hidden between the roots of the tree. Inside was a secret path that will lead him, according to Sirius, to the Shrieking Shack. Link quickly cast “Lumos” and looked for the place where he had hid the phial for almost a whole year. He easily found it a little deeper in and sees that it has turned blood red.

Climbing up the hole, McGonagall immediately guide him to an empty room and turned to him, “Now, place your wand tip against your heart and chant the incantation. After that, you will drink the potion,” She pulled Sirius to the side; “We will be here to stop anything that went wrong. Although at this stage if anything does go wrong then there’s little we can do to help,” She warned him.

Link nodded, taking out both of his wands and handed the aspen to Sirius for safe keeping. One hand pressed his wand over his heart and the other held the phial of red blood potion. Calming himself, Link whispered, “Amato Animo Animato Animagus,”

His heartbeat doubled and echoed through his body. Link quickly thumbed the phial’s cork out and swiftly downed the tasteless potion. He then calmed himself as his heartbeat grew stronger and stronger, his limbs felt like they were lit by lightning that flashes outside. As he forced himself to control his breathing from growing erratic, his mind flashed with memories of a more painful and frightening transformation.

A Beast, for lack of better word, in the form of a wolf with markings of white on its forehead appeared in his mind. As he transformed, shadows covered his form and McGonagall almost step in. She has never seen such a bizarre transformation. It was usually a morph between man to animal, but Link’s shadow crept up from the ground in odd blocky shapes that clings to him. It also happened much faster than even her own initial transformation.

At the end of it all, lightning flashes as a larger than normal wolf appeared before them, blue eyes glowing with intelligence as it studied them. Sirius called, “Link?”

A howl erupted from the Beast and Link huffed at him, tongue lolling out as he tilted his head at the adults. Sirius transformed into Padfoot and approached Link. Minerva rolled her eyes and joined them as a cat. The moment she does so, she instantly sensed the predator in the room. She looked up at her student who sniffed at her. Something about Link sent warning bells but she chalks it up to him being a wolf.

Although she has never seen a wolf like Link, from the pure black and white coloring and the way it swirled over his back and limbs. He’s also bigger than normal wolves, not that she has even seen an actual wolf other than that taxidermy wolf exhibition she once went to. Then there’s those odd scruff on the back of his neck.

They looked less like hair and more like scales or hardened matted fur. But as Link didn’t show signs of being in pain…McGonagall stopped her musing and watched as Link studied her, lowering his body and waited. It seemed that he can tell that she wanted to know what the mane on the back on his neck was and so McGonagall transformed to human. She put her hand onto the odd ‘fur’ and realized that they’re like those strange blocky shadows that appeared when Link changed form.

Her fingers almost didn’t feel anything other than fur, despite it being there visually. How odd…

Shaking her curiosity off, she instructed, “Now try and transform into human. Do not panic if you didn’t immediately get it. Just take your time. Just like when you transform, visualize your human form and appearance as clearly as you can,”

To her surprise, Link’s human transformation was smooth but the shadow particles still appear. If she could bottle shadow, she would’ve taken them to study. After that, she watched as Link morphed from one form to the other to try and makes sure he has it right. Once satisfied, she invited him to her office to complete his registration.

She walked him through the papers and the next day takes him to the Ministry to finish his registry. Even though Sirius had suggested that Link keep his Animagus status a secret, McGonagall opposed since she would not have her student get in trouble with the law if she can help it, “You’re lucky that you don’t have to pay for your decision anymore and James is lucky he’s not around to suffer the consequence of his harebrained choice,” She then apologized to Link who simply smiled and shrugged it off.

The next day, news of Link’s status as an Animagus came out as the “Youngest Animagus of the Century” on the Daily Prophet. Link scowled at the name of the writer, a Rita Skeeter. She has been trying to cause trouble to his friends since nothing she wrote gets to him. She even revealed the scandal between Hagrid and Madame Maxime being half-giants. Then she tried to start something by writing that ridiculous story about his relationships with the girls around him.

Yet somehow he couldn’t find it in him to do anything more than scowl and turn the page. Somehow he feels nostalgic whenever he saw things like this.

Not that he likes it…

Chapter Text

Link stretched his body as he waited for the last Trial to begin. Remus and Sirius sat with the Weasleys as they watched him. He had already received all the well wishing they could bless him with so now he stands beside the other Champions.

Since he had taken the first place in the Second Trial with Fleur, they stand side by side as they waited for the Minister for Magic end his speech and open the final day of the Tournament. The sky bloomed with fireworks as he set the start and Fleur smiled at Link, “See you on the other side?”

Link nodded amicably at her and the maze opened itself before them. Stepping through his opening, Link found silence as walls of greeneries surrounded him. They loomed over him and Link knew that he won’t be able to even cut his way through the maze. As he walked around, holly wand in hand, he kept his senses open. Turning a corner, he found yellow mist covering the ground ahead.

Breathing deep, he braced himself as he walked through the yellow mist and suddenly found his world flipped over his head. Knowing better than to panic, he moved forward, body tense and ready to roll should he found nothing to step on. Fortunately he found himself back on the ground and the sky back over his head.

Shaking his head, he continues to make his way. He then found a full grown Blast-Ended Skrewt that had been the Creature class’s nightmare standing in his way. Link had shown great distaste of the animal, calling it by a different name; Aracha.

Grimacing, he conjured a stick which he then transfigured into a sword. Stepping towards it, he caught its attention causing the Creature to instantly propel itself forward with a blast from its end directly towards Link. Link simply dropped to the ground and cut its underbelly as it passes over him. The beast screech as it crashed to the ground and flipped. Saying an apology to Hagrid, Link jumped over and gave it a fatal strike.

After cleaning himself as best as he could after being splattered with blood, Link moves forward. Using the “Point Me” charm, he followed the direction the wand showed him diligently when he heard Fleur’s voice screaming. Unsure whether the voice meant that she’s really in danger or part of the maze’s gimmick, Link decided to play it safe.

He headed in the direction of her scream.

But no matter how far he walked, he could not find her. Soon, he noticed a flash of red in the sky that just as quickly disappeared. Knowing that there will be people in charge of security, Link continues to walk deeper into the maze.

He encountered several more gimmick in the maze, like the Devil’s Snare that covered the ground of one path. Knowing that he can’t walk through that direction, Link decided to find a different way. Turning around several more corners, he came across an unexpected guard; a Sphinx.

She looked at him and gasped, “Sky Child,”

Having not heard that reference since First Year, Link was tempted to ask but decided to stay silent instead. She studied him before smiling, “If you can answer my riddle, then the trophy is just beyond. I will let you pass if you stay silent although I will take your remaining time as payment. But if you answer my riddle wrong then understand that I have no choice but to harm you. The decision is yours,”

Link nodded and turned away from her. She didn’t lie when she said that the trophy is behind her. He could see it. But there’s a toll to pay. So he will try to find another path when he heard screaming. It sounded like someone familiar so he ran straight towards the origin of the sound.

He didn’t stop to analyze as he saw Krum standing over Cedric, screaming in pain and writhing on the ground. So he barreled straight into the side of the Norwegian Champion, cutting the curse from continuing and relieving Cedric of his pain. Krum crumbled and his head hit the ground, rendering him unconscious.

Cedric gasped as he slowly comes out of his pained daze. Coughing, he groaned and strained to sit up, “What the bloody hell? He just come out of nowhere and attacked me!”

Link checked on Krum, opening his eyes and waved some diagnosing spell he learned from spending too much time with Madam Pomfrey. He frowned at the signs of Krum being cursed, “Someone tried to control him,”

Cedric sighed, “Well…that’s weird. Why would anyone bother this late in the Tournament?”

Link has a bad feeling and so he turned to Cedric, “Cedric, I want you to stay here after you cast the red flare for help. Someone has rigged this Trial and I have a bad feeling,”

Cedric bitterly laughed, “You sure it’s not about winning?”

Link frowned, “He’s been Imperioused, Cedric,”

The older boy froze and looked at Krum before standing and casting his own diagnosing spell. He frowned at the result, “This is not good,” He looked at Link, “And you? If I stay here and give up the Tournament, what are you going to do?”

Link stared at him, “I’ll spring the trap, whatever it is,”

Cedric scowled in objection, “What?! No! That’s dangerous, Link!”

Link sighed, “Look, I’m not even supposed to be a Champion!”

“So?”

Link reasoned, “That means that whoever put my name in the Goblet want to me to win,”

Cedric blinked, “What?” He then recalled the things Link said at the beginning of the Tournament, about people wanting him dead. Paling, he shook his head, “No, Link, you’re not going alone!”

Link stared at his senior and smiled, “If this Tournament has not been rigged, I’m sure you would have been the Champion of Hogwarts,” With that he transformed into a wolf and bounded off before Cedric could stop him. He could hear the Hufflepuff Champion calling him, telling him to stop being a sacrificial idiot and wait for help, to figure this problem out.

But Link didn’t stop. He’s furious. It’s time he face the manipulator behind the curtain of the Tournament.

Stopping in front of the Sphinx, he morphed back to boy and asked, “The Riddle, please,”

She smiled and asked;

“First think of the person who lives in disguise,

Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.

Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,

The middle of middle and end of the end?

And finally give me the sound often heard,

During the search for a hard-to-find word.

Now string them together and answer me this,

Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?”

Link listened and pondered, mind racing as he realized that though it sounded like it has three answers, in the end it only has one. Combining the answers in his mind, he confidently said, “Spider,”

The Sphinx studied him and stepped aside, “The trophy is yours, Champion of the Sky,”

Chapter Text

Link’s glad he forced Cedric to stay with Krum. The moment he touched the trophy, he was transported to a graveyard. Then he had to run and try to keep out of Pettigrew’s sight as the wizard hunt him down. Unfortunately he didn’t expect the gargantuan snake to strike him from behind.

When he woke up next, he found himself tied to a statue of an angel. Pettigrew slaved over a large tub sized cauldron as he chanted ominous words. Link watched in silence as he upturned the earth under Link to reveal an old coffin. The lid opened to reveal a decayed skeleton dressed in rotten clothes.

A waved of his wand and Pettigrew chanted, “Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!”

A decayed humerus, all but turning to dust, flew out and into the ominous potion bubbling in the cauldron. The fiery sparks of the potion turned to poisonous blue.

Pettigrew then sobbed as he stooped over the cauldron, and Link watched as the man who betrayed his parents cut off his own hand with a silver dagger, “Flesh of the servant, willingly sacrificed, you will revive your master,”

As his hand fall into the solution, it turned the potion burning red. Link then breathed heavily as he braced himself as Pettigrew, who wrapped his stump in clothes, approached him with the dagger. Growling as the wretched man cut his forearm, Link glared at him as he collected Link’s blood.

Approaching the cauldron, Pettigrew poured the blood into the potion, “Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe!” The potion burning red burst into blinding white as Link’s blood was added. Pettigrew gleefully turned, happy that the potion comes out correctly, “Master!”

Link stared in disgust at the creature that Pettigrew took out from the basket nearby. The thing Pettigrew had been carrying had the shape of a crouched human child, except that it was hairless and scaly-looking, dark, raw and reddish black. Its arms and legs were thin and feeble, and its face was flat and snake-like, with gleaming red eyes. If Link had not known what Pettigrew meant when he called it master, he could have mistaken it for a very malnourished child with how helpless it looked.

Pettigrew reverently placed the thing, that can only be Voldemort, into the blinding white potion and Link turned his head away from the resulting explosion of power. When he next looked in the direction of the cauldron, mist obscured most of his view but he could see an unfamiliar silhouette.

Tall and skeletal, Voldemort stood up from where he was formed and Pettigrew quickly dressed him in black robes upon his order. The man took up his offered wand and vanish the cauldron, turning to look at Link with venomous red eyes set in a thin face with skin whiter than skull with flat slits where the nostril should be, adding further resemblance to snake.

Link stared back defiantly with his cold blue.

Voldemort called on Pettigrew who happily step forward, offering his stump but the man hissed for his other hand. Sobbing in fear, the traitor offered his Dark Mark and hissed in great pain as Voldemort stabbed his wand against the Mark. Link watched as the once empty graveyard slowly become crowded with people.

The madman greeted his follower before turning on them, furiously calling on their lack of faith in him for abandoning him, tearing their masks off and revealing their name. Link ignored his pain and listened, eyes taking in the people that will be his enemies; Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott and Macnair to name a few. He then granted Pettigrew, whom he praised for finding him and providing for him, with a silver hand to replace the one he sacrificed. He tortured the one who tried to lie his way out of his punishment with the Cruciatus. He also praised the missing Lestrange still trapped being the walls of Azkaban and cursing those who rejected his summon.

Voldemort then turned his venomous attention on Link, “You know of course, that they have called this boy my downfall? You all know that on the night I lost my powers and my body, I tried to kill him. His mother died in the attempt to save him…and unwittingly provided him with a protection I admit I had not foreseen; I could not touch the boy. His mother left upon him the traces of her sacrifice...” He hissed in distaste with his high and cold voice, “This is old magic, I should have remembered it, I was foolish to overlook it...but no matter,” He pressed his hand on Link’s temple with gleeful sneer, “I can touch him now,”

Link hissed as the skin that was touched burned like acid.

Suddenly the ropes holding Link against the angel sculpture disappeared, dropping him to the ground. Instead of crumbling, Link folded his body and rolled into a standing position. Annoyed by the show of competence, Voldemort cast the Cruciatus on Link.

The pain was instantaneous. Link felt like all the wounds and pain he had suffered returned on him and amplified. He recalled, in that moment, the pain of being burned by intense light. How he continue to move despite of it. But above all that, he knows that it can never compare to the pain of watching Her crumple in despair.

So instead of writhing and screaming on the ground, Link gritted his jaw and stand up against the curse. Voldemort’s eyes widened at the sight and he sneered, “How admirable. Truly, a worthy opponent,” With that, he threw Link his confiscated wands, “Well, then, to applause your remarkable will I shall allow you a chance to die a fighter’s death,”

The curse stopped and Link wordlessly willed his wands to come to him. They obeyed and soon he has both wands in both hands; holly and aspen ready for battle. There’re murmurs about his magical talent and Voldemort told them to silence themselves before turning to Link, “You know the rules of duel, don’t you Potter? First, we bow,”

When Link refused, Voldemort cast the Imperious to force him but was surprised when instead of being forced, Link simply bared his teeth and said, “I do not bend my waist and knees easily, especially not to one so undeserving,”

Furious, Voldemort cast the first spell and Link moved like a hurricane. Training with Sirius paid off as he dodged the darker spells and deflect the jinxes thrown his way. Voldemort furiously ordered his minions to stand down as Link deflected some of the spells thrown from the Death Eaters. As Link danced around the tombstones, he used his surroundings and ripped objects off the grounds to slow Voldemort’s momentum.

Some of the object almost hit the Death Eaters but Link didn’t care, for he only has one mission in this place and that’s to survive and return to Hogwarts. He needed to warn his friends and allies. So when Voldemort cast the Killing Curse directly at Link when he almost reached the Portkey turned trophy, Link could only answer with the first offensive spell he learned, “Expelliarmus!”

The spells collided and since Link uses his holly wand as opposed to his aspen, Voldemort’s wand resonated with the core of Link’s wand. It created a chain and Link watched voices and forms of people killed by the wand of Voldemort slip out of the golden chain. Voldemort furiously ordered his restless followers to do nothing as the force of magic lifted them off the ground.

Link saw faces that he had only ever seen in voiceless photos slip out and looked at him in wonder and sorrowful fondness; James and Lily Potter.

James speaks first, “Harry?”

His voice echoed and Link shook his head, “Please call me Link…Father…”

James laughed out, voice echoing and formless but then grew somber when Lily reached forward. But her ghostly fingers could barely touch him as pearly tears traced her cheeks, “My baby…”

Both parents and child could only share a look before Link smiled and turned away, raising his aspen wand. Voldemort shouted at the sight, “Stop him!”

Chapter Text

The ghosts (?) that slipped out of Voldemort’s wand crowded before the followers, obscuring their sight of Link. Link took that opening to cast another “Expelliarmus” with his aspen wand and the spell collided with the chain of gold. As the collision created a chain of backlash, a strange figure flew out of the chain where the spell collided, breaking the connection.

Link could only look at her, struck by the odd sense of familiarity.

Instead of pale ghostly gold, she’s shrouded in holy blue. Where hands should be were capes that resembled wings with one color darker than the other. Her legs were covered in darkness with glowing green lines crisscrossing over the length. Her face looked as though carved, like a mask made of steel with eyes wide and unseeing yet Link could tell that her focus was him. The gemstones, a small one between her brows and a large one over her chest framed in gold, gleamed as if winking at him.

“Master,”

Link blinked and the apparition guided him once again to the trophy, “Hurry,”

Voldemort roared in rage and Link rolled out of the lashing spells. James and Lily covered him along with numerous more echoes. They looked over their shoulder at him and whispered their love and pride towards him. But they could only exchange so much as Voldemort began to decimate the echoes by the dozen.

Link bid them goodbye, “Thank you,”

Thank you for giving birth to him, thank you for accepting him, thank you for loving him. There’s so much he wanted to say but could not. Time does not allow it.

The blue spirit touched the trophy and Link quickly grasped it. As he flew through the tunnel of space, the blue spirit followed him and helped make the journey easier. Her cape covered his shoulder and Link felt as though he will be safe even through the Dark World. She whispered into his elven ear;

“Master, I will wait for you,”

Link blinked as his feet landed and he almost stumbled from the sudden shift of gravity. As the crowd gasped at the sight of his beaten and bloody form, Dumbledore and Sirius quickly reached him and take him to the Hospital Wing. Even as confused as he was, Link could tell that something had changed the mood of the Tournament.

He looked around as they do this, trying to find the blue spirit again but could not see her anywhere. It seemed that she’s no longer in the physical realm. Link sighed as he let Sirius carry his weight. The night had been long and he’ll be expecting a lecture from his godfather.

The next few days were busy for the rest of the people in charge of the Tournament. Link had been forced to recuperate in his bed at the infirmary under threats of being chained to it by Madam Pomfrey. But that does not mean that he’s ignorant of the events that had taken place while he was gone.

As Cedric relied to him, he had waited for help to arrive and Moody turned up. Even though something about the man seemed off, Cedric had decided to accept his help. However the moment Krum show signs of awakening, Moody turned on them. Cedric had to use all the skills he had accumulated to keep both himself and Krum alive.

When Viktor came to his senses, he pointed out that the one who cast the Imperious on him was Moody. He may not see the man as he was attacked from behind but he can recognize the voice ordering him to get in the way of the other Champions so that Link will be the one to touch the enchanted trophy.

The trophy had already been enchanted as a Portkey by Dumbledore, since as Headmaster he’s the only one with authority within Hogwarts allowed to do so, but it was to the podium where the winner will be revealed to the spectators. But Moody had changed the destination when he was entrusted to place the trophy in the maze. So that meant that Link’s where about became unknown.

The two Champions then fought Moody together but were almost beaten if not for the sudden transformation that the attacker went through. It turned out that he was an impostor all along. Viktor had taken that chance to summon Moody’s wand, leaving him weaponless. Cedric took that opening made by the confused impostor to knock the man unconscious. They had then sent signal for help.

Soon McGonagall and Flitwick appeared, surprised by the sight before them. They had been informed that the trophy had been won but when no one appeared at the podium, the crowd became restless. They had never expected the mess that will happen and Dumbledore was furious by what had happened. They had also finally managed to locate the real Prof Moody; the poor man was trapped in his special luggage for months, only being kept alive to be used as a Polyjuice Potion ingredient.

Although the panic of the sudden appearance of a supposedly dead Death Eater sent the Ministry officials into a tizzy, it was nothing when compared to how Link appeared on the podium hours after the whole mess.

A grumpy Sirius also informed Link that the foolish Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge had set a Dementor to kiss the impostor before further investigation can take place. Not that Sirius will stay silent about the whole thing, but people are still distrustful of him despite the fact that he’s proven his innocence.

Link sighed as he put down the Daily Prophet who speculated the meaning behind the whole mess at the end of the Triwizard Tournament. A daft witch named Dolores Umbrage even said that Link had purposefully done it all to gain follower.

In the end of Link’s Fourth Year, he found himself surrounded by the other Champions. Fleur had hugged him and kissed his cheeks goodbye and once again thanking him for all that he had done for her. She also told him to keep in touch with her. She might come back to Britain, after all.

Having seen the way she and Bill Weasley have been looking at each other last the eldest Weasley son was here, Link could only guess what she meant by that.

Viktor Krum had pulled Link into a brotherly hug and thanked him for stopping him from doing something he will regret. The boy didn’t say much and the two simply shared an understanding look. Viktor had also approached Hermione and stole from her a chaste kiss, which infuriate Ron to no end at the sight. Hermione only returned a tight hug for the kiss and the memories they shared that year.

As both Link and Cedric bid their visitors goodbye, Cedric whispered, “I asked them their opinion about You-Know-Who’s return and they said that knowing you, he must have,” The Hufflepuff graduate looked at Link, “Even if no one trust you, Link, know that I do. In a way, you’ve saved my life that night,”

Link quickly replied, “Just don’t try and save me back. I don’t want that,”

Cedric blinked at the reply, “Really? Uh…that’s…uh…okay,” He didn’t really have anything to say by the stern reply, sensing that Link meant it.

When the day to return home arrived, Hermione come up to him with a beetle in a jar, “Look what I found!”

Link take one look at the weird looking beetle and asked, “You going to keep it?”

She looked at him, “Keep it?”

He nodded seriously, “As a pet,”

By the furious buzzing from the jar, he could only smirk…

Chapter Text

Link have been busy, even his relatives have taken notice of this. But unlike usual, they decided to let him be. This was due to what he did upon his return from that freak school of his.

Usually the boy kept any information from that freaky world of his to himself. But this summer upon arriving home, he immediately informed them that he has something important to tell the whole family. This would usually be ignored but when the boy said it has something to do about his parents death, Petunia Dursley can’t help but feel like ignoring him would be dangerous to her and her family.

So she insisted for Vernon to call for a family meeting.

To her horror, Link informed them that the madman that killed her family has returned to life. But before they could panic, he also informed them that as long as he lives with them, her dead sister’s magic will keep her family safe until he reach his majority which is 17 years of age. By then, he advised them to move as far from Britain as possible.

The reason he informed was more than just a reminder as to why he’s there in the first place. It was his kindness to help them prepare to move. As nasty as the family had been to him, and as much as Link’s own desire to truly leave the house he had been forced to call home for the last 14 years of his life, he’s not someone that will leave them for dead. So he informed them what needed to be shared for their own wellbeing.

For this, the Dursley husband and wife understood despite their misgiving of him. Vernon Dursley gave him proper pocket money for the first time and told him to do what he wanted as long as he stayed away from their house as much as possible. Petunia gave him little to no chores to do, preferring to keep him out of the house as well. Though Link still has to sleep and live with them to keep whatever it was that Lily had done to keep her family safe, Petunia can’t help but feel like her family has been taken hostage for the boy’s welfare and thus can’t help but resent him.

It did not make it any easier when the boy understand this and didn’t blame them for their resentment. As much as they belittle the boy and despised all the freaky things that happened with him around, the fact that his very presence in their life kept them safe wasn’t something that they can deny.

But one family member of the Dursley still has yet to truly grasp the danger that comes with Link. Dudley Dursley doesn’t understand why his parents have decided to leave his cousin alone. So when he’s left on his own instead of roaming Little Whinging with his buddies as he would have done, he decided to do something that he usually would have failed; follow Link.

Honestly, Dudley has been curious of Link’s life now that he no longer see his cousin as much. Link has his own life now and it boggle’s the immature boy’s mind. But he soon realized that following his cousin around was far from easy. In fact, it’s near impossible!

One moment he’ll be tracking Link through the residential area, then Link will turn a corner and Dudley will lose him. But for once he’s determined. Besides, what would Link do with his pocket money? Dudley’s mind supplied him with nonsensical things like new games and expensive toys.

But so far…Link has only ever used the pocket money to go to food stalls and similar places.

On Link’s side, he’s wondering why Dudley started following him around. But considering that compared to all the nonsense he had to go through at Hogwarts, Dudley’s harmless. But he also noticed that Dudley and his childhood friends have been growing estranged. Not knowing what to think about that, Link decided to just enjoy the summer.

So he certainly didn’t expect to come out of the store, bags full of foods that he had always wanted to try in both hands, to see Dudley being ganged up on just around the corner of the building, away from the pedestrian walks. Link only noticed due to his sharp senses. He hid his profile behind a large trash bin and watched as Dudley faced off against what can only be a new kid.

This kid’s taller, bigger and meaner than his cousin. They spat insults in each other’s faces, pushing and all but basically puffing with male bravado. Then the punches flew and Dudley, whom Vernon had been proudly presenting as a boxer to whoever will listen, managed to hold his own. Link watched as even his childhood friends cheered for the older boy, Jay they called him, started playing foul.

A street brawl, outside the ring, was not something Dudley had ever faced. Link can tell that Dudley didn’t want to cause injuries since if it goes on his record then he might be taken out of his club or worse, banned. But not Jay, Link can tell the boy has no qualm when he threw his punches and he has nothing to fear as he kicked and pushed Dudley to the ground. Dudley did his best protecting his vitals but Jay only grew more violent.

Link placed his bags on the ground and jumped in just as Jay took out a folded knife. He could see his cousin’s eyes bulging in fear as he interfered by disarming the Big Jay of his weapon. The boy’s aggression quickly turned to Link. From his red eyes and mean parlor, Link suspected that he’s on something illegal. Not wanting to stretch the fight, Link twisted his arm. Big Jay screamed in pain and this allowed Link to push him to the ground.

The cheers died out as the saw the pariah of the town, someone everyone has been looking down on and deemed as weak, bring down the new big guy. Link pressed on the boy and whispered in his ear, “You stay away from my cousin. I’m sure someone as street smart as you know the gap between us,”

Link meant it. Big Jay is trouble, one Dudley has never met and won’t be able to handle, but he’s also smart about street hierarchy. Link didn’t want trouble but he need to make an unforgettable impression so he leaked out concentrated bloodlust on the boy, just shy of making him unconscious like Aunt Marge. The boy breathed heavily, whatever illegal substance gone from his system as Link literally wakes him up by using his survival instinct against him. He nodded.

Big Jay has been convinced that Link’s the bigger predator.

It all happened in seconds, perhaps under a minute, but Link had done what Dudley had failed. The gang left the group, Big Jay running with his tail tucked tightly between his legs. Dudley groaned on the ground and Link looked at his cousin, “You okay, Dud?”

Dudley struggled to sit up but the pain of being kicked the way he did was unfamiliar and Dudley has no idea on how to deal with it. Link squatted down beside him and quietly guided him through the pain. He then helped his bigger cousin back to his feet. The two then head back.

Dudley still tried to wrap his mind about what he had just seen and experienced. As they reached the residential area, he gave up and asked, “Where’d you learn how to fight like that?”

Link shrugged, “I have always known,” It was the truth.

Dudley stopped and glared at him, “Bullshit! If you did, you would have fought back!”

Link looked at his red faced cousin and sighed, “Dudley, what you do is just annoying but that’s it. What that guy is trying to do is bordering criminal. Between these two, which one do you think I should fight back?” He took out melting ice-cream bars and handed one to Dudley, “Here, you need to cool down before you get heatstroke,”

Dudley accepted the bar and sucked on it. He didn’t know what to think or how to react to what Link just said. Basically, Link just let Dudley do what he did growing up because he couldn’t be bothered. He thinks he should feel insulted but at the same time he can’t help the gratitude he felt. When Big Jay had taken out that knife, he felt true fear. It made the fright he experienced growing a pig tail felt like nothing.

He was sincerely afraid for his life.

As they nearly reach home, that was beyond the tunnel ahead, Link suddenly stop. Besides him, Dudley kept recalling the fear he felt and the knife in Jay’s hand began to appear more and more sinister in his mind. He lost all sense of warmth and life as the cold hands of despair gripped tighter…

Feeling the familiar dread in his guts, Link decided to call out, “Dobby!”

Dudley barely noticed the odd creature that suddenly appeared and when he blinked with nausea, he found himself standing in front of his door. He looked around, feeling like he just woken up from a nightmare. He also noticed that instead of an ice-cream bar, he’s holding a bar of chocolate. Confused and lethargic, he walked inside and took a bite of the chocolate bar.

It felt like eating hope and coming back to life…

Chapter Text

Link was glad he told Dobby to hide his presence while in a Muggle area. He could sense the Dementors waiting but he know not to cast a spell. With the situation with the Ministry, he suspected that they will be all too happy to drag him down. So Link knew that he cannot be reckless. Had Link been the reckless sort, a teenager too eager to prove himself, he might have run ahead.

But Link’s fortunately not the hotheaded sort. He knew that he had been a hothead, though he cannot recall, and he had ruined himself due to it. It’s a path he refused to tread on again. It was so full of regret that it endured for far too long.

So instead of walking forward, wands in hands, he turned around and headed for the one person he knew he could entrust with his safety. It was a surreal feeling, to entrust his life to someone other than himself. As he made his way, he could feel the Dementors sensing him and hastened as they chased him. So he sped up.

It didn’t take long with his free running to reach his destination; Sirius’s apartment.

He ran up the stairs and headed straight for Sirius’s door just as the door opened to reveal both Sirius and Remus, raring to face the Dementors. Sirius stopped upon seeing Link, blood dripping from open wounds as the boy reached him. Remus looked at Sirius and nodded, “Take care of him. I’ll face them,”

With Remus gone, Sirius helped Link into his home. Taking the boy straight to the bathroom, Sirius uses his magic to prepare all the necessary items to clean Link’s wounds. They didn’t say anything as Sirius help clean the bleeding scars. He suspected that they’re akin to stigmata but they’re far from religious.

From what he had discussed with Remus, they both suspected that it has something to do with Link’s connection to the girl that appeared again and again. But rather than the cause, it seemed more like self-punishment.

To be honest, Sirius didn’t remember Link having all these ‘scars’ when he was a baby. In fact, Link’s hair was black and his eyes were green. Yet when he caught glimpse of Link after that terrible night, his hair had turned blond. Sirius had thought that it was his mind playing tricks on him due to Wormtail’s betrayal.

Whatever happened that night, however it was that Link survived the impossible, Sirius would not question it, curiosity be damned. So he kept the conversation going, casual stuff. Link told him about Dudley’s fall out with his gang. He then informed him just what had happened between him and the Dementors, “I sensed that it must be a trap. Dementors so close to Muggle populated area and it happened to be where I lived? Coincidences can’t be so clear cut,”

Sirius sighed as he nodded, “Right,”

Link slept at his apartment that night, too tired from blood lost to make his way back. Remus came back near dawn and informed Sirius that he managed to chase away the Dementors. Of course, subterfuge is key when surrounded by the ignorant. Remus was certain that their neighbors believed him to be high on drugs or drunk beyond redemption, should any of them look out last night.

Basically, Remus just executed any form of social life in their area with his own hands. Sirius told him that he will honor the sacrifice.

When Link wakes up, he found Remus nursing a strong cup of coffee as opposed to the preferred British tea at Sirius’s modest dining table. Greeting his former teacher, he asked, “How was last night?”

Remus huffed in bitter amusement, “My social life here is over,”

Link flinched, “Sorry,”

Remus shook his head, “Don’t be. It’s not like I actually have any to begin with,”

Link nodded before turning to the kitchen. Having come to understand Link’s love for food, Sirius always make sure his pantry’s full. Link smoothly started on breakfast and it wasn’t long before his godfather was summoned to the kitchen from the smell of breakfast. After being revived by Link’s heavenly meal, Sirius informed Link what had happened after he passed out from the potions.

He wiped his mouth as he grumbled, “I got a letter last night, about you using underage magic. It was pure bollocks if you ask me!” He handed the letter to Link who read through. He frowned, “They were sent,”

Sirius blinked, “What?”

Link waved the letter, “This was premeditated by someone in the Ministry. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for me, I know enough to not use magic no matter how dire since I know you’re close. And there shouldn’t be any witnesses since I sent Dudley home using Dobby,”

Sirius stood up, cursing the Ministry. He paced furiously around his apartment. Remus was frowning, “I’m a witness. I can give my account on what had really happened,”

Sirius snapped his fingers, “Let’s do that. They have been doing their worse discrediting you and we’ll play by their drum against them,” He started planning, “We’ll inform Dumbledore what happened exactly. This way we can coordinate our counterattack and…” He started scheming, trying to figure out what Fudge’s game was.

Later that day Tonks appeared in their apartment, “Wotcher, Link!” She looked around, “Where’s cuz and his buddy?”

Link looked to the bedroom, “Secret meeting,”

Tonks rolled her eyes before handing him a letter, “Give this to them please. We are doing you-know-what at you-know-where,” She then cheerfully bid him goodbye, skipping down the stairs as opposed to using the elevator. As a witch, she didn’t want to be trapped when the thing failed due to magic interfering with the electricity used to operate the machine.

Later that evening, Link returned to No. 4 and informed his family that he’ll be staying with ‘his lot’ for the remainder of summer. The Dursley looked relieved but Dudley looked worried. Later that evening as Link headed for his tree to pack the boy reached out to him and called out, “Link!”

Link looked at his estranged cousin who fidgeted under his gaze. Dudley always felt nervous when Link really focused on him, it made him feel small and naked. But he soldiered through, “I-! I uh…just wanted to…I had nightmares last night but I realized that…you saved me…” He rubbed his thick neck nervously and scratched his jaw in distraction, “You…saved me twice. I…I just wanted to say…” He drew in a deep breath and forced himself to meet Link’s gaze, “Thank you,”

He then looked at his feet, “That…whatever it was that you…it put certain things into perspective for me. Your life…could have easily been mine…if I was the one with m-m-ma-magic…” He stuttered; the words foreign and invoked the trained repulsion drilled into him since childhood. He sighed, “If I’m the one with…m-magic…then…my own parents…”

Link reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. The Dementors showed someone their greatest fear and fear can bring out the most horrid truth in a person’s subconscious. Dudley looked at him with wide frightened eyes. Link sighed, “It was cruel, what had been done to you and to me. But you can move past it. You still have it in you, Dudley,”

Dudley sobbed, “I kept dreaming that the one being hit with a frying pan was me, the one chased by Ripper was me, the one bullied at the park was me, the one starved was me-! I realized that it could have been me in your shoes and it made me sick! I mean, how could we have done that to you when we are supposed to be a normal, happy family?!” He cried, “It’s not normal, it’s not happy, and it’s most definitely not right!”

Link smiled, “You grew up, Dudley. Keep growing,”

Dudley sobbed, “I’m sorry,”

“I know,”

“I really am,”

Link patted his shuddering shoulder, “I can see that, Dudley. I forgive you. You’re just…taught the wrong thing. You can now make it right,”

Chapter Text

No. 12, Grimmauld Place was as cheerful as graveyard full Stal monsters. Link grimaced at all the grime covering the building’s inside. Sirius snorted in sarcasm, “Kreacher really polish up this place,”

Link sighed, “I’m sensing a cleaning quest coming up,”

Molly appeared and squeezed the life out of Link who simple patted her arm in greeting. She then fretted over him, “You’re thinner than last year! I should fix you something filling, dear. Now go to your room. Ron!! Hermione!! Link’s here!”

There was the sound of a stampede running from above and soon a gaggle of Weasley broods appeared. Hermione pushed through, the only brown in the Red Sea, and pulled him into a tight hug, “Link! Glad to have you joins us!”

Link smiled, “Glad to be here, Hermione,”

The Twins grabbed his luggage, “Alright, come here,”

“We’ll show you,”

“Your humble abode,”

“Awaits!”

Link looked at Ron and Ginny, “How are you two?”

Ron snorted, “I could do with less cleaning. Neville stuck behind his own home’s barrier. His Gran just increased their potency,” He grinned at Link, “Hey, since we are here together much longer than last years, why don’t you teach me some moves Link?

Link smirked, “I can teach you some non-magical moves,”

Ginny rolled her eyes, “The Minister’s an idiot,”

Link shrugged, “Fear can make a scholar into fools,” He frowned, “Power without Wisdom is tyranny, Wisdom without Power is useless, Power without Courage is cowardice, Courage without Wisdom is recklessness, Wisdom without Courage is helplessness and Courage without Power is pointless. Fudge has the Power but lacks both the Wisdom and the Courage to use it wisely. He has none of the quality of a true leader,”

Hermione stared at him, “That’s…real smart thing to think about,”

Ron blinked, “Wow mate. You’re probably the only one out of all of us to make Hermione stop and think like that,”

They reached their shared room and Link looked at the empty portrait. He read the name written underneath the frame, “Phineas Nigellus Black?” He read more, “Headmaster of Hogwarts, Slytherin Alumni, year 1847 to 1925,”

Ron shrugged, “He’s never in the frame,”

Link nodded, “I see,” He could already guess why the portrait’s in his room. He’s not going to complain though, what’s privacy when compared to being safe? He was guilty of similar duty when he had to follow Her around Hyrule. But where was Hyrule?

“And stop following me around!”

No matter which history book he read, which map no matter the year it was drawn he studied, Link could not find Hyrule. But oddly enough, he could draw it down with clear details. He can’t remember the names of places, but he knew the name of regions. He took out his giant map of this Hyrule, one of many. He has many of them. Whenever he compared them, it looked like the country expanded and sometimes places shifted. He didn’t recall the name but he knew certain things like the place with the trees had moved. There was something in the forest, something sacred and precious to Link.

A girl with emerald hair danced under the sunlight spotting the forest floor in his memories.

“But that’s okay. Because…we’ll be friends forever won’t we?”

Melancholy filled him even as he joined Ron in the kitchen helping Molly prepare for dinner. As he worked, he started to hum a song that came from the depth of his soul. The somber mood of the house lifted as Sirius came dancing, joining in on the tune. Remus looked less tired and soon more of the residents in the house joined them. Even the unhappy House Elf stared at Link with wide eyes, mumbling “Sky Child,” as his mind started to think deeper on the problem that near drove him mad. Something inside believed that this boy, the Sky Child of Legends, can help him.

Later Link found out about the Order of the Phoenix lead by Headmaster Dumbledore. He wanted to sit in but knew that his age will be taken into account. Molly was already against it. Link listened to her argument before finally sighing, “Mrs. Weasley!”

She looked at him, “No! Not a word, I’m not going to let you walk straight to danger! You shouldn’t even be listening-!”

Link frowned, the voice of a man who once commanded an army during war came out unconsciously out of him, “Mrs. Weasley!” She mummed, too shock by his tone and Link didn’t notice the way the rest of the Order looked at him as he lay out his argument, “I know I am young but war does not discriminate whether they be old or young. The least you should give your children is knowledge on what to avoid. Leaving them blind in hope of sparing them their childhood innocence will only lead them to their death. Innocents do not survive war,”

His blue eyes grew weary, tired and ancient as he added, “War is blind, Mrs. Weasley. It has no heart to care, no compassion to give, no eyes to judge who deserves to live and who deserves to die. Be they veterans, soldiers ready to serve, or innocent school children who only dreamt of their future. None will be spared. Your kindness is cruel, Mrs. Weasley. You should prepare them, prepare for the worst that could happen so they can survive when the worse do arrive,” He looked at each faces around the table, “I feel it…the calm that came before the storm. This peace is false. A lull to catch us unaware,”

His face looked as tired as his ancient eyes, “It is always the same. The quiet is a lie. This calm should unsettle us, not ease us. We should prepare. If not for the frontline then for the worse outcome. It is always better to be aware and prepared than taken with our pants down,” He then smiled at his young friends, “But never forget to live, never forget to have fun. Live when you are given reprieve from the fight or you will be too broken when the war ends. But never mistake your inclusion as a chance for glory,”

He watched them, face stern and austere, “War is not for glory. It is survival of the fittest and in a fight to prove whose right and whose wrong, the winner takes all. Their truth will be the only truth worth listening to and those fallen by their hands will be the villain of their story. History only record the victor, it didn’t care for failures. So never ever chase for glory. It will come on its own and it is only worth it when you live to see it,”

He continued, “War has no glory, no honor, and no true winner. We will only lose, more and more until we have nothing more to give. So win, fight to win. Do not hesitate to be ruthless because your enemy will never show mercy. The first one to kill will be the one to end the fight,” He looked at the silent Order, “Ruthlessness and death may not be our way but in a war there is often no other choice. Good if you can bring them to justice but not if they survive. Already we are at a disadvantage. They know our strength and our weaknesses. They will use it against us. An enemy that survive will always come back stronger,” He fell silent, knew from their expression that he has given them the message they needed to hear.

Moody nodded, “The boy knew his stuff well,”

Molly fretted, “But…but he shouldn’t be talking about taking lives-!”

Link smiled, but his smile was hollow, “Mrs. Weasley. I have never been a child. Voldemort took that from me the moment he stepped into my home and took the lives of my family,” He looked at Albus, “Headmaster, I will listen to your orders as closely as I can. Knowing my luck, chances of me keeping to it will be on the low,”

The night was somber. The Order decided to share the bare minimum with the juniors, taking heed to Link’s warning. They don’t know how this budding war will end. They should at least prepare them…for the worse that has yet to come but promised nonetheless…

Chapter Text

Kreacher came to Link, a strange locket held in his hands. Link stared at him, not knowing why the senile House Elf appeared. He knelt before Link and offered the locket. Severus Snape was shocked to see the locket but before he could say anything, Kreacher whispered, “Sky Child, please…please…”

Link looked at the locket before his eyes flashed with remembrance. He knew this feeling, “It was like that diary from Second Year,” He looked around, “Do any of you know something that can sure kill this thing? It’s cursed and there’s something inside. It felt foul, like an evil that purposefully trapped itself,”

Snape scowled, “Wait here. I’ll bring the Headmaster,” He all but flew to the fireplace, “No one is to touch that abomination!”

It didn’t take long for Albus to show up. The Headmaster looked at the kneeling elf and then at Link. “What is going on?”

Link gestured at the locket, “There’s something, an essence of Voldemort I believe, that’s trapped in there. I met this thing once in Tom Riddle’s diary back in Second Year. It would be nice to have a Basilisk fang with me right this moment,” He looked at Kreacher, “How long have you been holding this and where did you get it?”

Sirius listened as Kreacher politely answered Link’s gentle query. By the end, he was crying. He never expected for Regulus to die a Lion’s death. His younger brother, the brother he ignored and hated for always bending to their parents’ will, had rebelled as his final act in this world. Link scowled and suddenly a tune came to mind. He moved, kneeling and clasping his hands together in a prayer before him.

His friends and teachers looked at him in confusion when he suddenly started to hum. The air lifted and Moody felt the pain of his scars grew lighter. The locket burst open and Ginny screamed, running straight for Ron’s protective arms as a black shade appeared. Albus took out his wand along with Snape, ready to defend but the shade contorted, screaming and screeching. Kreacher had long dropped the locket in fear but listened as Link continued to hum until he suddenly broke into song of unknown tongue;

“Day to night, dark to light,

Fall the sands of time.

Let the years, like the gears

Of a clock, unwind.

With this song, bring no wrong

Lift me from this curse.

Let this form, like a storm,

Fade and disperse,”

There was something about the song. Something greater than any magic they had ever cast in their life. Something beyond mortal, something that can even be said as divine. Remarkably the song affected the shade, causing it to shriek louder and louder as Link focused on a single lyric; “Lift me from this curse. Let this form, like a storm. Fade and disperse,”

With a final scream, whatever foul magic held the shade to the locket finally broke to pieces. It disappeared and Link smiled before blacking out, the voices of his friends graced his ears as he fell into deep darkness. In his dreams, he met strange sights and stranger ghosts. He dreamt of playing the song to ease their regrets and leave him a mask, a symbol of their gift and strength to him. But for reasons only he knew, Link didn’t want a mask from the foul shade. So he unconsciously omitted part of the lyrics from the Song of Healing.

When he woke up next, Sirius was looking over him worriedly. Emerald speckled blue eyes opened and met with Sirius’s dark grey. The man sent out a Patronus to the others and fretted over Link, “Whatever magic incantation you did, I don’t want you casting it ever again. You lost so much magic so quickly I worry that you would fall under a coma!”

Link blinked, “It’s not a spell…”

Sirius blinked back, confused. By that time, more of the others including Albus appeared. The Headmaster asked, “If not a spell then what is it?”

Link tiredly answered, “It’s…it’s a song…a Song of Healing I believe,”

Sirius frowned, “You believe?”

Link shrugged, unable to say more. He has been hearing music lately, music that can do things that he was sure normal magic can’t. Most of all, he’s been hearing those tunes more and more often lately. Sirius stared at his godson, not knowing how to speak to him. He understood that Link always seemed to know things that he really shouldn’t know and the atmosphere he let out the other night…he shouldn’t have known anything about war and the grim truth of what it meant to fight in one. Even Sirius at his age only think about being the hero of the side he fought for, that he only need to beat his enemy and the war will end.

He was a naïve fool then but war break people, they break them into nothing and churn all that was left into something different. They just looked the same on the outside but within they are broken…

He blinked from a memory of almost two years ago…

“Because I’m broken. I realize now that the reason I am born with all these scars is because deep inside, something in me has long been broken. I don’t know why or how but…I have always had this sense of failure in me. That I failed in fulfilling something so precious and sacred to me. Every day, for as long as I can remember I am restless. If I don’t run myself to the ground physically then I cannot sleep, I cannot rest,”

Sirius gasped, “Link…you…you have memories of a past life, didn’t you?”

Link froze before looking at Sirius, “What do you mean?”

Sirius wiped his face, looking around before taking a seat next to him, “Some obscure study of magic was on matters of the soul. It is a study that most consider necromancy because it deals with the dead and things best left untouched. The Unspeakable used to study this as well but stopped from even before Dumbledore’s time,” He knew that he gained Link’s full attention when those eyes like blades settled on him, “One the things they studied was reincarnation. Even Muggles believed in reincarnation, with cases of people who gained memories of a past life. Witches and Wizards don’t really like talking about it because it felt like talking about resurrecting the dead,”

Something in Link’s eyes glowed emerald and he winced, nose bleeding as he became light headed. As he blacked out he could hear Sirius panicking but at the same time it sounded like he was underwater while Sirius was calling from the distant surface.

Hateful red and black snarled in his mind; "Extraordinary. You stand as a paragon of your kind, human. You fight like no human or demon I have ever known. Though this is not the end. My hate…never perish. It is born anew in a cycle with no end! I will rise again. Those like you…those who share the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero…they are eternally bound to this curse. An incarnation of my hatred shall ever follow your kind, dooming them to wander a blood-soaked sea of darkness for all time!"

Gentle gold shedding tears of love and regret; "I shall ensure that your gentle, heroic spirit will live on eternally. And I…I shall shed my divinity. The next time we meet, I wish to stand before you as a simple human,"

Sharper than any blades, blue light whispered; "Allow me to guide you through this tale. It was written on the heart of a young boy, as pure as fresh parchment…a story that weaves destinies and spans eternity. Though we have been parted by time and distance, my spirit will always be with you…"

Power, Wisdom and Courage circled and circled in a never ending dance through the endless sea of time…

Sirius said nothing about reincarnation to Link after that night…

Chapter Text

When the day of the hearing arrive, his friends woke up early at the crack of dawn and looked at him worriedly at breakfast. He went to the hearing with both Arthur and Sirius in tow, barely making it after someone who knew Arthur caught up to them and informed them about the letter then sent ten minutes before the arrival about the change of time and venue; from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from the British Ministry of Magic's headquarters, before the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Amelia Bones in her office to Courtroom 10.

Arthur bid them good luck at the door as he wasn’t allowed in and Sirius was only allowed because he was the Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black as well as Link’s designated guardian. Sirius glared at the voice who coldly pointed out their lateness, “It is indeed the Wizengamot’s fault if they only send notice to the change of time and venue a mere ten minutes before the actual hearing which I believed should be illegal. To whom should I forward this matter? Obviously your department is incompetent,”

There was no answer as Link took his seat. He eyed the chains on the rather old and used but sturdy chair with suspicion. Fudge shifted in his seat and cleared his throat, “Very well, the accused being present,” He sounded disappointed to Link. Fudge cleared his throat again and went on to address the reason hearing was even taking place; “Disciplinary hearing of the 12^th of August into offences committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident as No. 4, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey,”

He continue to introduce the people present in court and Albus made his appearance just in time to introduce himself as Link’s witness for defense. Fudge looked pale and Albus was cooler than cucumber as he informed that he had been at the Ministry three hours earlier than the arranged time. Obviously the man knew his politics well.

After gathering himself Fudge immediately read aloud the offences committed by Link but when he asked about the Patronus on the night of the 2^nd of August, Link denied the charges. Fudge frowned but he looked smug, “Oh? So then why is there a report of you casting the magic?”

Albus stood up, “That would be a mix up on the Ministry’s part, I supposed,”

Link stayed silent as the men in power argued about the competency of the Ministry. He watched the argument like one would watch the Ping-Pong tournament. Fudge flushed, “What was that supposed to mean?”

Albus explained, “See, Sirius Black was living nearby with his friend Remus Lupin and Link upon being attacked by Dementors had seen the wisdom of running for them instead of confronting those beasts on his own. I don’t know how the Ministry do their work but obviously someone didn’t do it a proper job as they completely missed the two wizards living near Link,”

Fudge scowled, “Link? Who is Link?”

Link raised his hand like a good student, “That would be what my friends call me sir. I prefer Link over Harry and they have gotten used to addressing me as such,”

Fudge growled, “Do you have evidence to this then?”

Sirius stood up, “I can give you the memory if that is what you want. I can even testify under Veritaserum to make sure no one can call me a liar,”

Fudge shook his head, “No, rather!” He calmed himself down before addressing Link again, “Was there really Dementors that night?”

Link nodded, “I have an extreme reaction to Dementors. If you ask Madam Pomfrey for my medical record than you would know that I started suffering from…stigmata…whenever they draw near,” He knew that there was no other way to explain the bleeding that his ‘scars’ would let out whenever a Dementor came anywhere near him.

Albus nodded, “Indeed. Link here almost died from blood lost the first time he ran afoul with those Dementors. Poppy have an extensive record of the most baffling reaction. We have never seen anything like it,”

Sirius added, “Shouldn’t the Dementors be under the Ministry’s tight regulation? Why would they be anywhere near Link who lived amongst Muggle his whole life? Baring Remus and I, there was no Magical anywhere near Link which meant that Dementors have no business being there,”

The plan was to turn the Minister’s game on him. They don’t know who in the Ministry sent the Dementors but they suspected that the Minister will deny there ever being Dementors in Little Whinging. If they play their cards right, then the Ministry’s credibility will be questioned as well as the security of Azkaban.

Sirius and Albus kept bringing up the foolishness of the hearing and how unnecessary as well as how much it wasted everyone’s valuable time. They also questioned why there would be Dementors anywhere near Link. Link didn’t say anything, letting everyone to come to their own conclusion. When asked if he could produce a Patronus, he admitted positive but didn’t say anything about casting it in front of anyone Muggle.

In the end, the charges against him was dropped.

Link spent his summer helping spruce up Grimmauld which was made easier with Kreacher tackling the grimiest parts. With the resident house elf working with renewed energy, the children has little to nothing to do. So one evening Ron came up to Link, “Hey, Link?”

The blond looked at him from where he had been polishing the tarnished silvers that has been deemed clean of curses, “Yeah?”

Ron fidgeted before sighing, “I have been thinking about what you said that night a few days ago and I thought; hey Link sure know what he’s talking about! And you know this weird but really awesome way of defending yourself so…uh…”

Link stood up and faced his much taller friend, “You wanted me to help you?”

Ron blushed, “Yeah…”

Link noticed that all the others has started to gather around him and sighed, “Alright but…I think we should bring in Neville,”

It took some cajoling but Arthur managed to convince Molly to let them learn how to defend themselves. Link’s warning had cut through her coddling mind and she had a hard time accepting that she need to let her children go instead of suffocating them with overprotection. Augusta was convinced by Neville easily the moment she heard that he wanted to learn to defend himself and offered for the ground of the Longbottom’s estate to be used the moment Link mentioned needing space that the Grimmauld can’t offer.

So now he stood with the Weasley siblings and Hermione in a large manor where Neville lived, stretching with his friends to warm them up, “It is important to warm yourself up prior to doing strenuous activity. I will go slow and tomorrow I will up the speed to increase your stamina and endurance. I know this may seem like nothing but believe me that you will need it if you wanted to move the way I do when dueling,”

He added, “And should the war break out anywhere near us, then you will need it even more because dodging can be more tiring than running in a straight line,” He looked at them with stern eyes of drill sergeant, “Because magic like the Killing Curse cannot be blocked and often time you will find your surrounding bare of anything that can be used as physical shield, I will train you to dodge and fall in a way that can keep you on running on your feet,”

The next few days he does just that. He trained them physically while asking rapid fire quiz on curses and counters, stressing that in a dizzying fight one often have to think and think fast on their feet. Moody, who was supervising them, was impressed. He even give pointers to Link, dredging up his extensive experiences on the way Dark Wizards and Witches fight.

He trained their perception and danger detection by throwing pebbles or have Moody send stingers to help them in their dodging training. He had them moving solo and moving in groups, making sure that they can move no matter their surroundings. Moody help build up obstacle courses and Link had them run through, demonstrating that it was possible whenever they looked skeptical. His friends started getting creative, limited only by their lack of magic.

Soon it was only a day until their return to Hogwarts…

Chapter Text

Link doesn’t like Dolores Umbridge. She made it sound like the world was one big baby cradle where nothing can hurt them. He recalled the speech she made at the Welcoming Feast and frowned at how she said that for progress sake growth must be pruned or some such. What good is learning when the world remained stagnant? He could already hear Her voice scolding, griping and hissing at the stupidity of it all.

He could tell that the new Ministry mole was trying to get a rise out of him. So he dealt with her the same way he always dealt with people like her; disinterest. So far with each class passed where he did not rise to the bait she dangled before him, Umbridge grew more and more frustrated. Even when she called him a half blood to his face, he simply nodded and said, “My mother’s a Muggleborn,”

When she said that he has dirty beast blood in him, he tilted his head in confusion, “My ears are medical defect, Professor. I am completely human. You can do a blood test on me if you’re so concerned,” He then added, “I am sure Madam Pomfrey has my medical record,”

His friends had been concerned by her malicious treatment of him but he just shook his head waving off their concern like a fly buzzing near his face, “She’s mental, true, but nothing to what I know true cruelty is like,” He knew that she can be even crueler, more despicable and hateful. What she’s doing to him was like an ignorant child bullying someone for being different.

There are absolutely no reason for him to get mad at a toddler, is there?

Link’s friends also took note of his treatment of the woman and copied. She treated them like a child so they will be the adult in this case. Keeping a cool head while she exploded was more fun and they can’t even get in trouble for it. They complied as she wished but maliciously. Link does this by dissecting every single paragraph in the text and often raised his hand to question the logic behind each chapter, actually forcing her to teach instead of just sitting there like a toad. After all, she offered to teach.

Why must he do this in this situation?

What if a different variable appeared, what should he do then?

At first his diligent questioning baffled his classmates but soon they picked up on his game. She wanted them to master the subject through theory so they will master the subject through theory…by thoroughly asking her every possible situation that they could think of. Link then started asking the actions spoken of in the text through political perspective. He questioned the moral behind each suggestion to run. He asked her what they should do if the danger chasing after them could have been prevented if only they do something instead of waiting for an Auror to pass by. He asked her their right to defend themselves using the magic given to them.

In no way did he ever bring up Voldemort or the Death Eaters. He asked her about murderer, rapist, muggers and other unsavory characters the lurked in the world. When she asked him why people would attack students like them, he answered her, “Pedophiles and human traffickers are usually the main suspect behind such crimes. Our organs can be sold on the black market at a higher price because it’s younger and healthier. Child prostitution and child labors would be the other reason. It doesn’t necessarily have to be magical criminals. Without our wand we are practically useless in a situation such as those. Not to mention, there are also rising cases of terrorism around the world, child soldiers are in demand because we are still impressionable and easier to mold into their ideal human weapon,”

Umbridge was pale by the end of the ‘innocent’ questioning session. Link brought up real concern when it comes to child safety. If they weren’t allowed to defend themselves when they clearly have the mean, what should they do? Umbridge does not like Link in her class, especially when he ignored her every attempt to dehumanize him. Link didn’t care. He just wants his friends and the other to survive the coming storm…

Umbridge once asked, “Are you questioning the Ministry?”

He shook his head, “What does the Ministry have anything to do with my concern for my own safety and education?”

She couldn’t really rebuke him. In no way did he ever bring up the Ministry’s stance in Hogwarts’ education in his questions. He asked actual concern and not the unspoken matter of Voldemort. Hermione was impressed with how he stressed on their education and safety in real world danger instead of stressing out the truth about the night he was dragged to revive Voldemort.

In Link’s defense, he somewhat knew how politicians work. If they want to deny the existence of something then they will deny the existence of something. But they couldn’t, in any way, prevent how the people think about their own personal concern. That will be dictatorship and even if what Fudge’s doing was bordering dictatorship, Link didn’t wear his Phrygian cap for fashion. He knew how to rile the people against oppressive leaders. He just needed to raise their own concern and let them do the work. After all, unless a wide spread mind controlling magic has been used, people will always think for themselves at the end of the day.

He wondered if Her Grace would be proud of his work. He was never the one for Wisdom. He winced as he walked out the classroom at the end of session; who was it that he referred to as Her Grace?

Neville peered at him, “You okay Link?”

Link blinked away the black spots in his eyes, “Yeah, I’m fine,” He felt his stomach grumbled, “It’s lunch time, let’s go to the Great Hall,”

Since Link started it, the other students started picking up on his ‘debates’ with Umbridge. The Ravenclaw was especially zealous in this, as they unlike Link are truly curious about the answers that Umbridge could provide. The Slytherin started because they wanted an insight on the Ministry to see what can be used. The Hufflepuff was probably the most docile as they only asked the things they read. His own House on the other hand just spread more rumors about the concerning way the Ministry deal with their school.

Needless to say Umbridge’s office was soon flooded with letters of parents asking her this and that about her stance on child safety. It was with great pleasure that Link saw the harried Defense Professor run around with owls after her with letter and several shrieking Howlers along the hallways of Hogwarts. The other Professors couldn’t care less about her trouble, making sure to make themselves busy or look busy whenever they hear her coming in their general direction.

Ron just stared at the whole mess then looked at Link, “Bloody hell mate, are you sure you’re in the right House?”

Link shrugged, “My father and godfather are both pranksters. It also meant to be sly just enough to get things moving. So yes, I am in the right House,”

The Ministry soon has had enough and put up Umbridge as the High Inquisitor. Link retaliated by asking what was Ministry thinking naming someone in charge of a group of witches and wizards by naming one of their own after the Muggle militant group that devastated their society a few centuries back? It sounded like she’s authorized to torture them for information and ultimately execute them just for being either a witch or a wizard. That does not sound like a good thing. Which magical person would want to be associated by the equivalent of Nazis to their people like the Holocaust was to the Jews of Germany?

The Slytherin, who had been happy when Umbridge named them her helpers, looked insulted by the idea that they’re as bad as those monsters. Needless to say many resigned. It was more that it sounded like they’re Muggle murderers than they’re people in charge of the students. Having any such similarity was insulting to their Pureblood pride not to mention the amount of Pureblood bloodline that ended because of the surprisingly competent Muggle Inquisitors was like salt on open wound. Some actually have historical family members that had been tortured by the group before being broken out, in fact some of the Pureblood hated being associated by Muggles precisely because of this little bit of history.

Hermione squint her eyes at Link, “Now you’re just playing around with her. How did you even think about stringing the two together?”

Link looked confused, “Uh…common sense?” He shrugged, “Like I said, all Fudge has are hollow Power. It has no substance to it. He’s a puppet on a string for as long as he can be bought,”

Chapter Text

Hermione exploded in frustration one evening, “I need an actual class for Defense!”

Link has always pegged her for a schemer and he was finally proven true when she came up to the boys complete with planning to start a study club. But he didn’t expect that Umbridge will bring out the nastier side of Hermione. Even with all the trouble by proxy that Link caused the woman, she still managed to keep her class as useless as it started at the beginning of term. She had even used the ever growing authority the Minister gave her to interrupt other teacher’s classes.

Hermione decided to start a rebellion…

Link has never been more horrified and more amused in his life…

In the end she convinced him to tutor them and dragged him to the Hog’s Head Inn during the annual Hogsmeade trip to kick start the whole thing for real. Now he stood in front of a number of students who had been informed about their scandalous club in the dingy pub owned by someone who suspiciously look like Dumbledore.

He looked around the pub with discerning eyes, picking out shady characters and sighed, pulling Hermione aside. She looked at him in confusion, “What is it?”

He asked her in a whisper, “Can you put up sight distorting barrier and noise cancelling barrier around us before you start?”

She blinked before whispering, “Did you notice something?”

He mumbled, “Better safe than sorry. This place doesn’t feel secure enough for this sort of meeting,”

She sighed, gathered the students and did just that. Ernie McMillan tried to question Link about Voldemort but his friends quickly put that to rest. Fred and George threateningly took out a long needle that even Link didn’t want anywhere near him, suggesting that they would put it through his ears. It took a little back and forth but they finally decided to start up the group study under Link that even the pompous Ernie voted as leader. Hermione would rather be a manager for their scandalous club than a leader.

It took Link a while but he finally found the best place to hold their meeting, especially when Umbridge put up a new rule on suspicious meeting between students especially in groups. Hermione had gone pale when she saw the rule but her eyes remained hard with determination. Link sighed on the side as he looked at the Room of Requirement, making sure that all the things he needed for his ‘class’ will be there. He snorted at the assortment of weaponry, “I doubted any of them knew how to use these,”

He will teach them how to really move their bodies, just like he did with his friends during summer…

When the first ‘class’ started, they debated on the name. Link jokingly suggested, “Knights of Hogwarts,”

Ginny asked, “Why not Dumbledore’s Army? Isn’t that what the Ministry fear the most right now?”

Link shook his head, “We’ll just confirm their lies as truth if we do that,”

Justin frowned, “You made it sound like we’ll get caught,”

Link looked at the ‘students’, catching their eyes as he grimly state, “Always prepare for that possibility. Things like this seldom stayed secret…hmm…Sheikah sounds nice too…” At their questioning look, he awkwardly tried to explain, “Well…I mean…I knew-I read somewhere about this clan of shadow warriors that defended justice even when their own government turned against them so since we are betrayed by our government due to their greed and foolish behavior, I thought this would be a great name to use,”

Ron frowned, “Link…your nose is bleeding,”

Link blinked and looked to the side to see a hanky just in reach for him to use. He grabbed that and snorted out the blood, “Sorry about that,”

He managed to wave off their worries as he prepared for the rest of their session together. He pointed out that moving their body is crucial in any situation. Some were skeptical until he had Hermione, Neville and the Weasley siblings run through the course as he sent out stinging hexes at them. They managed to raise their shield for some but for speed opted to just avoid. By the time they reached the end, Link smiled, “See? The Killing Curse can’t kill you if you can just jump out of the way. I noticed while researching on spells that our spells tended to move in a linear and direct way, making dodging them easy as long as you keep your eye on the direction that the wand pointed. Wide area effect spells used longer incantation and give us just as ample time to build a quick fort using whatever materials we can pull from around us…”

Susan nodded, “My Aunt said that the Aurors used the same strategy during an actual fight with Dark Wizards and Witches,” At their confused look, she sighed, “My Aunt is the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement,”

They oohed and aahed at her revelation. Now properly convinced, they followed Link as he introduced them to a ‘light’ warm up. By the end of their session, many grumbled about muscle pains waiting for them later in the day and tomorrow. For the next few weeks, it was a dance between them and Umbridge. Link knew better than to keep their secret club truly secret so he sought out the one witch that would appreciate such a thing; Minerva McGonagall.

At first his friends were against him telling an adult but Link huffed, “She’s an Order member and she knew well how important our Ordinary Wizarding Level is to us. Not to mention I know as well as you that all the professors enjoy watching Umbridge struggle,”

When she was told, Minerva was unhappy about it but decided to be their supervising Professor. She has seen how Link trained his friends and was happy with their result. So now the Sheikah Club is an officially unofficial club in Hogwarts. She attended one session under an invisibility cloak, making sure that Link has it all in control.

She was impressed.

In fact she was amused when the Twin called Link as Captain Link which the rest of the club members happily followed. Then again Link’s nickname amongst the student population was Sir Link of Hogwarts. He’s leaving quite the legend behind and in the most opposite of his father and friends. James Potter was a Marauder; a raider and troublemaker extraordinaire. Harry “Link” Potter was the opposite; a noble Knight through and through as many of the students would gossip.

She thought the way he drilled them was very military-esque.

She also approved of his naming sensibility. When she heard that they almost name it Dumbledore’s Army, she was amused by the idea but also glad it was rejected by Link because then should Umbridge catch him and his friends they will be in greater trouble with the Ministry. Link was almost caught in a detention with her but Minerva managed to question her authority and sensibility. Amusingly she used the parents view on her reason for detaining him as a buffer.

Usually she wouldn’t but as Link had pointed out rather loudly in a hallway; they are students and the Minister are all about approval from their parents. Unless they are completely isolated from their parents until graduation, he doubted that the Ministry can do much about what news reach them. Basically he gave an out to the harassed students from being oppressed too much by Umbridge. As long as they’re minors, their parents will be their greatest shield against her. Not to mention even if he didn’t have any he is still the ward of Sirius Black.

Sirius is also a strong contender against Fudge’s propaganda. Due to what happened with him, not many people supported the Ministry. He was living proof of their incompetency. Touching Link is equal to touching Lord Black’s reverse scale. It was remarkable how that one random word from Link managed to save as many students from Umbridge as possible.

She didn’t know this but Umbridge couldn’t use her favorite method with most of the students. If their parents saw the scars she would have left behind, the Ministry would have fired her. It was one of the reasons why she hated Link so much; he knew how to play his political cards against hers.

The boy has no teenage pride!

Chapter Text

One evening after suffering from nausea and a splitting headache, something that he has been getting more and more frequent as of late, Link dreamt something impossible…or rather he received a vision. He knew well the difference between a dream and a vision. It has been invading his mind a lot lately since the headaches started. There was the hissing sound of a large snake, much like the basilisk in Second Year. It penetrated his odd dreams, giving him flashes of something that shouldn’t be there. It was usually rebuffed by golden light and a familiar voice echoing different tones, speaking in a language he knew yet not, but tonight the voices were missing.

A blood red moon will glow in the skies of his dream whenever the voice disappeared. He hated the bloody moon because he will yearn to hear that voice. He will struggle to fly faster, to sail faster and to ride faster whenever the bloody moon rises and the voice disappear.

That night once again he was riding a familiar horse, a mare his mind supplied as Epona, when the hissing grew loud and suddenly he was crawling on the ground on his belly. He watched in horror as someone that can only be Arthur Weasley was bitten by ‘him’. Link woke up, sweating and feeling like he just wrestled with a Lynel. His whole body was shaking as he looked to see Minerva and his roommates looking at him in worry. He shook his wet hair, looking at his Head of House, “I need to see Fawkes,”

Minerva blinked at the strange request but at the grim look in Link’s eyes realized that he meant Albus. She nodded but Link asked again, “I need to see Fawkes with all the Weasley siblings,”

She froze but instead of rebuking him, simply agrees. Neville looked on in worry as the siblings gathered, Hermione followed closely with Ginny from the girl’s side. She didn’t say anything as the friends followed without asking her. The last time she ignored Link’s request, the Philosopher Stone was almost taken and the friends were injured because they didn’t trust that she will inform Albus.

They reached the Headmaster and Link asked him, “Is Arthur Weasley on guard duty?”

Albus was surprised by the sudden question, “That he is. Why do you ask?” He knew that Link knew things without really being in actual contact with it. After the strange talk about Link being a reincarnated being by Sirius, he didn’t question much about the boy odd bout of wisdom. Link frowned, “Send someone to check on him. I received a troubling vision. He was attacked while on duty,” At Albus imploring look, he added, “A snake bit him right around the throat. If it’s not venomous then he might bleed to death,”

Albus immediately burst into a flurry of actions, sending a quick message to Moody and anyone else that can enter the Ministry in that hour. He then quickly send the children to Grimmauld, knew that Umbridge will try to keep them in Hogwarts. Already news of her not so subtle ‘screening’ of student’s letters has increased with troubling frequency. If it wasn’t because of Filch who despite liking her prefer Link and his friends better, it would have escaped his notice.

Upon reaching the Order’s Headquarter, they were immediately served by Kreacher who has used his magic to permanently closed the curtain of Walburga Black after he had refused to listen to her slandering the Sky Child. He even went as far as to threaten to burn her portrait if she said anything more. As of now, he made Link and his friends a mug of hot cocoa with whipped cream and tiny marshmallows to help calm them down.

When Molly appeared, her broods rushed to her for comfort. Apparently Link’s warning managed to save Arthur his life but they will be spending Nayru’s Blessing at the hospital. Neville accepted their invitation as he was going to visit his parents with Gran on that day anyway. Molly almost strangled Link in a thankful hug before griping that he’s too boney and proceeded to cook despite it being too early but Link didn’t stop her. He supposed she cooked when she’s stressed.

On Nayru’s Eve, they marched to the hospital along with Sirius and Link watched with interest with his head covered with his hood at the working of the magical hospital. His friends grimaced at some of the magical maladies and mishap that they passed through. As Arthur greeted them wordlessly on his bed, Link gave him his condolences before following a quiet Neville to his parents. He watched his friend as he quietly greeted them.

Suddenly a familiar tune echoed in his mind. He didn’t realized when he went down on his knees and took a praying pose, humming.

Neville froze when he heard the tune. He looked to see Link kneeling, hands clasped together in what can only be a ‘praying’ gesture, eyes closed and voice humming. He knew Link can sing but that wasn’t what surprised him. It sounded like a hymn and he has never heard the language before. It sounded just like when he said something back in Second Year searching for the Chamber of Secret. But most of all, Neville can feel his fatigue lift as Link continue his strange song.

After a moment he fell silent just in time for Sirius to break into the ward, “Link!”

Link had fallen unconscious and Neville didn’t know what just happened. Sirius looked at him in fury but then realized that Neville didn’t know from his confused expression. He gasped when Alice rasped, “Frank?”

Neville turned in shock, eyes on the woman he called mother who looked in confusion at him and then at the unconscious man beside her. He croaked, “Mum?”

She blinked blearily at him as he reached her, his whole body shaking in hopeful disbelief. She looked at him from top to bottom before asking, “Nev love?”

He sobbed, almost kneeling as he reached for her, “Mom…”

Sirius sighed at the sight, still cradling Link. He excused himself, noticing Alice’s horrified look, “See you later, Neville. Take your time,” He closed the door as Neville did his best to calm his mother who was still stuck in a time where everyone believed him guilty of the Potter’s death.

He didn’t say anything as he took Link home and place him on the bed. He sighed as conjured a chair and sat. He didn’t like that Link did what he had done. But he knew that Link’s too kind. Not to mention his friendship with Neville. If he could have done something for James, Sirius would have taken it and he knew Link’s the same. Except unlike Sirius Link is far too selfless. The martyr type that made people worry for him.

He didn’t know about those strange memories that crept up in Link’s speech or habit from time to time. Even when he asked Kreacher about his title to Link, Kreacher went mum and shook his head. Not even the ever helpful Dobby whom he called when he last visited Link’s tree. It seemed that no one will say anything but everyone revered the Sky Child that is Link.

He didn’t know what a Sky Child is; none of the grimoire and books in his family’s collection spoke of anything. No matter how old and obscure, it spoke nothing about the title. Perhaps it was in the language that Link spoke unknowingly. When he asked Kreacher, the old elf said nothing and Sirius wondered if it was a creature thing. When he asked if Link’s a creature, the elf looked ready to murder him…even more than when he actually wanted to murder Sirius for defiling the Black’s home. It seemed that whatever Link was, his kind was revered by the magical creatures.

He even went as far as to ask the Goblins but they looked at him in horror. They shook their head, said something Gobbledygook that Sirius was sure were curses in their tongue and told him to never seek more. Ancient knowledge like that must never be touched especially the kind that he seeks…unless of course he’s willing to pay for it with his life…

But Sirius knew some Gobbledygook so he knew what some words translated into;

“…why is he asking?”

“…I like being sane…”

“…ancient evil…”

“…don’t want to die…”

“…the cycle…”

“…Hero…”

“…Goddess…”

Whatever it was that Link was once, it seemed that he’s revered as a Hero and not the kind that Sirius was familiar with in modern history or culture. The Goblins low key feared Link, he noticed this whenever Link visited the bank with Sirius for transaction and learning about the Potter’s massive fortune. They always avoided gaining his attention for any other than simple professionalism. It seemed the mystery continues…

Chapter Text

Link woke up just in time to return to Hogwarts. He was flustered by the presents that Augusta sent him after learning what he had done for her son and daughter-in-law. Of course she also kept what he had done a secret and leave the healing of her Frank and Alice as magical miracle that the Daily Prophet ate up like piranha. Link smiled at a happier Neville who saw him and crushed him in a thankful hug. Link patted his friend’s back.

Life continues as usual but Albus asked Link to come up to him once. He asked about the vision and Link confessed, “I have been getting this strange headache lately and dreamt strange hissing noises. But that night was the first time I saw the vision. I think…I think Voldemort has access into my mind in a strange way so I’m afraid that I might unintentionally spill some secrets to the other side without my consent,”

Albus nodded and informed him, “Voldemort is a master Legilimence. He can invade another person’s mind to learn things that even their own are not privy to…but there is a counter to this; Occlumence. I suggest you learn the art of the mind to defend yourself,”

Link accepted his suggestion to have Snape teach him. He knew that Albus can’t chance having his mind invaded so he could only hand Link over to the only other master of the art. Snape was unhappy to see him in ‘remedial potion’ class but sneered, “I will invade your mind and you will defend it at worse or throw me out at best. Legilimens!”

Link tensed as he felt his mind being invaded none too gently. He knew why there was no warning; such a thing has to be instinctive. But even he was confused by what he saw in his mind; his beloved kingdom in the sky floating higher and higher as he slowly greets death. Golden light formed in the shape of a woman, graceful and divine as she cradled him, warm teardrops falling on his rapidly cooling cheeks.

“Link…”

Glitch.

Floating islands so high up in the sky that the land can’t even be seen. He was riding a crimson Loftwing, a rare color of the species. Someone was flying beside him; pink dress, white shawl, golden hair, glittering blue eyes and mischievous smile.

“I will always be your…!”

Glitch.

An ocarina playing through an emerald forest, a girl being carried away on a white stead as she was rushed out of the coup that killed her father, pleading eyes and guilty look as she turned at him. Older, dressed in regal garment, she cried silently as she bid him goodbye from the future.

“Courage need not be remembered for it is never forgotten…”

Glitch.

A dark sky, darker hair and somber face as she looked over him. Twilight has fallen and she stood there imprisoned so that her people may find a way to survive. His appearance before her brings with him hope.

“Those who do not know the danger of wielding power will, before long, be ruled by it,”

Glitch.

She held a strange device, sad green eyes as she looked yet unseeing, golden hair swaying behind her as he walked three steps after. She stopped as she peered at him over his shoulder.

“Tell me the truth. How proficient are you right now, wielding that sword on your back? Legend says that an ancient voice resonate inside it. Can you hear it yet…Hero?”

Glitch.

War, devastation, hopelessness. He needs to get her to safety. Nowhere is safe as unfeeling machines chased them tirelessly. Unlike them he’s tiring, his wounds accumulating over each other as unlike them he’s made of blood and flesh. His sight grew hazy even as he held on, unwilling to let her go. He refused to fail her. The cold sound of beeping as he turned, the once glowing blade already dimming and once pristine surface marred by damage. He can’t let harm befall her. Golden light exploding…cold…rain…death…

Regret.

Regret.

Regret.

Severus gasped as he came out. He looked out to see a dazed Link, who looked utterly confused by what he had seen. Not knowing what to do, Severus sent him out with the order to practice emptying his mind. He looked at th fire, wondering what he had just seen. Link Potter has always been strange, not just his utterly not-Potter’s coloring and not-Lily’s eyes but also his mannerism and the way he approach things.

But if what he saw was the truth behind those eccentric habits, then it would explain so many things yet none at all. Severus rubbed his face, “Reincarnation. Not once…not twice…just how many times?” How many times had that boy been brought back to play the role of a hero? How many times had he been reborn to become their hand of salvation? Again and again, he was struck down. Again and again he lost all and gained almost nothing.

Yet in every strange recollection there is always that one constant…

That girl with the golden hair, different tones and different personalities but it can only be that girl from the blinding light who whispered his name so sweetly. But now it seemed that something that had never happened before happened. Link died…

Died before he could see his quest through…

Those strange scars, those moments of depression, the cry of despair and regret that he once heard…it explained so much. She was more than his Princess, she was something more. Snape decided to learn more even as he taught the boy to throw him out.

He saw so many memories, from founding a Kingdom to falling in battle. Each and every time it was her name on his lips, even if he couldn’t recall. From soaring in the sky to sailing across the vast ocean, Link had certainly done it all. At one time Severus found himself stuck in a train riding across the vast open field. Then he was lost in the wood. A small girl with green hair smiled at Link and Snape was painfully reminded of Lily.

The moon was falling and Link, transformed into an ancient deity, split it into two…

Giant spiders that looked like it ate Acromantula for snacks, dragons larger than any he had ever seen in life, people made out of rocks and ate rocks, tall women dancing with deadly blades out to slit his throat, swimming deep underwater with an aquatic race than can walk and breath on land, hordes of monsters that somewhat reminded Severus of goblins, centaurs with the head of a lion that breathes fire, one eyed bats that can be fused with different elements…so many things and so many strange sights.

An old man that seriously looked like Albus handed Link a sword, “It is dangerous to go alone! Take this…”

Dangerous power, dangerous magic and….an ancient evil that made Voldemort look like a toddler throwing tantrums in his cradle. Severus all but flew out when those malevolent eyes turned to him as if it can see him. He felt that if he had stayed then he would have been caught.

He looked at the pale faced Link and found tired ancient blue eyes looking back. Link croaked, “Don’t look any further. You will die,”

There’s little need to convince the Potion Master. He didn’t want to see that…beast anymore. But the next session, Severus was cradled by golden light. It eased the throbbing pain in his arm and he heard whispers, “Lost child…may love guide you to light…”

He could no longer enter Link’s mind after that, the golden light will always bar his entry.

Chapter Text

Link frowned at the front page of Daily Prophet. He didn’t like Azkaban but a mass breakout was a warning sign that things had gone pear shaped. The fact that the Ministry even suggested that it was Sirius was an insult to their own government. Incompetency can only be excused for so much. Neville sought him out one evening, “Link…I need your advice,”

Link blinked up from his homework, “Yes?”

His friend fidgeted, “You know about my parents, yeah?”

Link nodded, “You told me how they became the way they once were,”

Neville sighed, “The Lestrange…they got out,”

Link scowled, “What do you want to do?”

Neville blinked at the direct question but shook his head, Link’s sharp after all, and sighed, “I don’t know. Mom and Dad are safe…for now. I’m sure the Lestrange would learn about their miraculous recovery soon. They won’t be happy about that…” His fists tightened on his lap before his eyes gained a determined look, “Link…train me,”

Link studied his friend before leaning forward, “Neville. I don’t want you to hunt them down,” Before Neville could protest, Link added, “I only want you to defend yourself and your family. I don’t want you to become an avenger. Because revenge will leave you empty. I want you to live and think more than just getting one over them. I don’t want you to stoop to their level. I want you to be better,”

Neville was confused, “You’re…not going to stop me?”

Link shrugged, “You have your right. I’m not you and I won’t take the high ground here. Either way they will come for you and yours so it’s better to prepare you. But I don’t want you to live for the sake of revenge because once that’s accomplished, you will feel empty. I want you to focus on the reason why you need to do it, to live for that reason and not the ending. And most of all, I want you to think of what comes next, a reason to live,”

Neville stared at him. Neville knew that Link can be strange but it had never bothered him. Link’s wiser than most of his friends. Hermione’s smart and Ron’s resourceful, but neither can be considered wise. In their circle of friends, Neville often felt like he’s the odd one out because he’s just plain average. He’s not driven like Hermione or social like Ron, so between them he’s aware that everything that made him Neville is just average. He won’t even compare himself to Link because Link’s in a class all of his own.

Neville had been content to be the average one…

But Link didn’t tell him to not take revenge. He admitted that he couldn’t understand what Neville felt and so won’t take the moral high ground because he doesn’t have that right. Instead, he wanted Neville to live for himself and not revenge. That was…something that Neville didn’t think about. When he read about the Lestrange’s escape, his brain just white out. He had finally gained the family he didn’t really have; he didn’t want to lose them.

When he thought back on the fact that Link wanted him to be motivated by the reason why he had to do this instead of the ending where he finished the Lestrange, he was confused. Wasn’t it the same thing? After a few days of thinking, he realized that it wasn’t at all. His reason will keep him alive at the end of his journey for it will remind him the reason why he even embarked on the road at all. If he only focused on revenge, there will be nothing left for him at the end because he will have thrown it all away for something he meant to destroy.

Neville shuddered.

He didn’t want to be empty, that would mean that he lost the war but win the fight. It would be meaningless. He walked up to Link after the enlightenment and thanked his friend, “You always know what road to take. I’m grateful for a friend like you,”

Link looked sad but welcomed the thanks all the same, “Maybe because I had lost my way first?”

Neville stared at him and steeled his gaze, “If you’re ever lost, Link…then…then I’ll be your guide. This I promise you,”

Link smiled at him, “Thank you Neville,”

The exam days grew closer as the season passed. Link was busy both as a student and Sheikah instructor. His headache grew worse whenever the blood moon rise in his dream but so far Voldemort has yet to penetrate through the golden veil of his mind’s defense. He studied the Marauder’s Map religiously, keeping an eye on Umbridge to try and keep ahead of her in their cat and mouse game. He might not be able to read her mind but he could try and read her intention through her actions.

The Ministry grew desperate as Sirius launched a more serious campaign against their incompetence. They have decided to the play the Ministry’s cards against them by completely ignoring any attempt of talking about Voldemort’s return; keeping their side’s answer about the matter short enough that people started questioning their own view on things. If fighting against the Ministry head on was futile, then they might as well be maliciously compliant.

They will focus on the Ministry and the Ministry alone, raising questionable decisions and behaviors through the years thus getting in the way of the Minister’s puppeteer. Swaying public opinion along with the media and causing more than enough alarm and paranoia that they don’t really have to cry wolf to get the sheep moving to safety. The Azkaban Breakout was a strong incentive for the people to start following Sirius’s campaign.

As the political battle grew more chaotic, Link focused on gathering strength. It was all too familiar to him. The need to move returned with a vengeance and he became restless. He used the Marauder Map to keep track of Umbridge and to navigate during sleepless nights. Something inside tells him that everything’s coming to a head.

He has been here before; the waiting.

He barely recalled all the things that Snape drug up from the depth of his mind. He saw the open sky, the wide ocean, the endless field, and the lush forest. He met such strange people and strange races that felt like old friends. But most of all was the endless fighting. He has been fighting for so long, like a dance that never ends. Blood stained his hands, his body, his vision and his surroundings.

Something is missing though…

Someone in pure white, someone clad in gold, always beside him and always within him…

He needed to find it; the place on the map that wasn’t on the known map. The map that he can draw like the back of own hand but never could remember where. Sometimes he dreamt of great beasts, not of blood and flesh but of a strange material like a mix of stone and metal.

Their eyes and light should be blue…

Why are they red?

Link shook his head. He never liked the color red. He preferred the cooling tones of blues and greens. His magic decided that he should wear more of blues and greens too if the re-dyeing of his clothes to that color spectrum said anything. Red reminded him too much of blood, of the dead and of Malice.

It reminded him the color that permeated the whole world when war came.

The waiting sounded loud despite the silent of the hall he stalked in under his invisibility cloak.

War is coming…

Chapter Text

One morning, Ron came to him with a pale face, “Link!” He looked around and over his shoulder, evening using ‘Homenum Revelio’ to check before saying, “Someone broke the rule. Umbridge’s unto us. I saw some of the Inquisitors dragging our member to see her,”

Link sighed, “Well…at least we could just say that it’s a fight club,”

Ron nodded, “Good thing we didn’t go with DA,”

The Sheikah had grown even more restless but he told them to practice moving their body more whenever they have their free time. He advised them to use different training methods so that Umbridge won’t catch up so easily. It was easy to find the one that blew the horn on them. Marietta Edgecombe’s face was covered with acnes that spelled SNEAK, basically blowing the horn on her. She told the names of the Sheikah members, selling even her best friend Cho Chang and turning herself into a social pariah for her actions. The only ones amicable with her was the smattering of Slytherin who sneered her way. They liked that she told on the Sheikah but they won’t have her anywhere near.

Once a traitor, always a traitor.

When Link was dragged over, he saw Snape looking over him with a complicated look in his eyes. A flick of his dark orbs and Link knew that something’s in the tea served. Umbridge looked on as she forced him to drink, “Now…give me your name,”

Glitch.

“Link….Sir Link, Engineer Link, Captain Link, Major Link…His Majesty Your Highness King Consort Link….Beloved of Her Grace…”

Umbridge frowned, “Enough! What was that all about?!” She looked at the empty vial of Veritaserum in her hand, “I know this worked fine…” She tried again, “What is the Sheikah?”

Glitch.

“Protector of the Kingdom…Shadow warriors loyal to Her Majesty and guardian of Her Grace’s will…Guide of the Hero…”

Umbridge drew back, “What nonsense it this!” She looked around the room, at the openly shocked faces of the students that was part of this mysterious club that she forced to stay and watch as she demean their ‘leader’, “Why are you the only one saying such strange things?!”

Before she could say anything further, Albus Dumbledore burst into the room with a furious look. He had not looked that furious ever since Umbridge tried to throw out Trelawney. He looked at all the children collected in the room, “What is the meaning of this?”

Umbridge smiled, “Nothing to fret, just a simple interrogation,”

Albus stepped forward and looked into Link’s slightly off eyes, “By drugging my students?!” He rounded on her, “You may be here under order of the Ministry but I won’t have such a dangerous element in my school! You are fired!”

Umbridge was horrified, “You can’t do that!”

He scoffed, “I am still Headmaster of Hogwarts and when I say I want you out, I mean OUT!” His voice echoed with magic and Umbridge was banished out of the school. He looked at the students gathered, “Forgive me for not being here,”

Ron fretted, “Headmaster! Something is wrong with Link!”

Severus quickly checked on Link. His pupils were blown wide open that only a ring of blue remained. His face was pale and his lips turning purple. Severus picked the boy up, grunting slightly at the weight and rushed out to the Hospital Wing. Something had gone wrong. Veritaserum did not normally poison someone, only forcing the truth out by suppressing the frontal lobe’s ability to function in the manner that it would normally function when lying, stripping the user of any ability to form ‘stories’ and only leaving them with only the absolute truth of their being.

However…how would that work on someone whose very identity was fractured?

The answers that Link had given…those were all him. The history that Severus had witnessed…those were his truth. All of his truth. But it was too much. Even as a spectator, for Severus alone, it was too much. Too many things to recall. Too long a history to be compressed into a singular identity. Worse of all, the current Link wasn’t as long living as the others in his suppressed memory. The chances of one of the longest living identity to take over him was a far too real consequence of meddling with his brain…

If that happened, then…what about this Link?

Lily’s Link?

He laid the boy down and checked on him without magic’s aid.

Unresponsive.

Albus joined and lifted his wand but Severus glared at him, shaking his head furiously, “We don’t know how he will react with more magic!”

Albus pursed his lips, putting away his wand and turned to Poppy. The mediwitch did the same time Severus did to check on Link and decided, “We will have to wait for the Veritaserum to finish its cycle until his body naturally flush it out. Until then, it is better not to aggravate him,” She charmed the area of his bed, “I will isolate him from any stimulant. In the meantime, deal with the coming mess. That witch will bring more annoyances over,”

Albus hummed, “I will have to stand my ground. This has to stop,”

Severus snorted, “Finally…call the mutt over. We could use some paternal pressure to back off Fudge and his addle brained fools,”

Needless to say, Sirius was far from happy upon his arrival. He was going to blow this out of the water and force both Fudge and Umbridge out of office. After all, it should be illegal to use Veritaserum on a student, a minor, the Boy-Who-Lived or not.

For once, the presence of Rita Skeeter was a welcome sight. He warned her not to write anything other than the ‘tragedy of unsanctioned interrogation on students using drugs’ while keeping Link out of her narrative. He had her interview the other students that had been forced to take the potion, slowly building a case that cannot be ignored. Cornelius Fudge might be the Minister but his power came from the people.

And Sirius was adamant to turn that same power that elevated the man to tear him down into disgrace. The worse Minister of Magic in their history.

He might scorned the way of his family but if it was to protect his godson, Sirius can be as mad as the rest of his relatives.

Fudge turned pale the moment his eyes found Rita with her Quick Quote Quill in hand, already writing a damning narrative with his appearance. He turned to Albus, “S-surely this is a bit too much, Headmaster? I mean…it is just a misunderstanding-,”

But Albus wasn’t there as a disgraced politician or a senile old man. He was there as the Headmaster with his charge poisoned by the witch that Fudge had forced onto him, “Misunderstanding, Cornelius? One of my own had an adverse reaction to the potion he was tricked into drinking is not a misunderstanding. I will not have you sweep this under the rug. This end here, Cornelius,”

Fudge looked at Umbridge and said, “I did not order that. I did not tell her to use Veritaserum on minors, Headmaster! It is all her!”

But Albus will not have it, “Yes…and she had done it in your name. As her Master, for lack of better description, her sin is also yours to bear,”

Fudge knew he was done for. An attack on a minor was no small matter. Not with Rita clearly out for his blood. Once this matter came out to the world, his career was over. He had done a lot of things that had been rubbing the people wrong. There had been voices of discontent in and around the Ministry. People had started to question his sanity as he kept trying to bring Albus Dumbledore down for telling others that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had returned only for Albus to not mention it ever again.

With this damning case, it was over for him…

Chapter Text

Link was floating.

Flickers of faces and events passed through his mind faster than he could even register it.

Everything hurts.

His side, the patches of his skin that was wine marked, it burned. It burned, it burned, it burned, it burned! It hurts so much that he felt like he was being trampled and pounded into burning coals!

Yet…

Where?

Where, where, where?!

He needed to go-

His charge, he needed to-

Gold. Everything was gold-

“Link!”

His legs felt as if it had been shattered to nothing as he felt his body fell to the ground. It was wet. It smelled like grass and rust.

“Link!”

Someone had taken him onto their lap. No. He shouldn’t. She was far too divine for him to taint with his muddy appearance. She had finally discovered her long sought for lineage. He really shouldn’t muddy her-

Wet. Something warm, almost burning, fell onto his too cold skin. His vision was filled with golden light. And there she was, above him, glowing in his eyes. Her own like the wild of the kingdom, vast and evergreen. Had he ever told her how beautiful her eyes were? Had he ever told her how strong her gaze was? Had he ever told her how…her tears burned him like acid?

His fault.

Her tears were his fault. Always his fault.

He can never seem to do right by her.

“No…don’t leave me…”

Sorry…Princess…

Sirius sighed as he stared at Link, still unconscious on his bed in the Hospital Wing. He was frustrated and furious. Kicking Fudge out of his office wasn’t enough for the hound baying for blood within him. But he pushed down the madness of his family and focused on Link.

No one knew about his reincarnation.

No one knew how magic that meddles with the mind will react to a reincarnator. He had already heard Albus informing him about Snape working on Occlumency with Link and how that worked. How Link’s mind was too stuffed with his past that he didn’t even know where to look to begin helping the boy build his mental defense. And perhaps that was the best defense.

But what if that very ‘natural’ defense lost its focus?

What if the Link that he knew got replaced with a Link that he didn’t know?

Sirius tightened his clasping hands until his knuckles turned white. If there was one thing that he was sure of, it was that he won’t leave Link alone. He had left the poor boy alone for too long. He had failed as a godfather, all because of his damned pride and temper. He will not fall for the traps of his relatives, the madness that burned all senses until all that was left was rage. Even if the Link that will appear before him wasn’t the boy that he had come to know and love, he will still stand by him. It was the least he can do after all his failures.

“He’s still not up?”

Sirius turned to see a worried Ron standing nearby with his bag full of home works. Nearby was a red eyed Hermione and grim faced Neville. Sirius smiled and transfigured a large three seater sofa for them to sit on. As the trio took their place, he sighed, “I…there are things about Link that I…didn’t know if I should share but…if he wakes up and he…he’s not the Link that you know, what will you do?”

Ron frowned, “I don’t understand,”

Hermione pursed her lips, her sorrow momentarily forgotten in favor of trying to decipher this particular mystery that had prevailed from the first time she met her friend.

Neville firmly stated, “It didn’t matter. We are his friends. We’ll stick with him…even if…even if he can’t recognize any of us,”

Hermione frowned at him, “Do you know something?”

Neville shook his head, “Just…some suspicion…”

Ron ignored the duo to say, “What Neville said. I promised him. I promised Link that I’ll stand by him and watch out for him. I’m not going to break that promise. My damn pride almost lost me a brother once. Never again,”

Hermione looked at Sirius, “Sirius…about Link…are you…are you suggesting that…those things he said to Umbridge…” She fell quiet as puzzle pieces clicked in her head, “I see…that would explain a lot of things,”

Sirius shook his head, “Whatever it is that you understand from this, Hermione, I suggest for you three to be discreet. This is an extremely rare and niche case. Even more important, we can’t let You-Know-Who know,”

Neville nodded, catching his friends’ gaze, “Sirius is right. I tried digging after…after he helped with my parents. What little I managed to learn…no one else should know,”

Ron suddenly asked, “Should we learn that? Occlumency? I mean…after hearing from Link about magic that can read the mind, if anyone dig around our head without us knowing…” He clenched his fists, “I’m not good for much else. But I will protect him. In any capacity that I can,”

Hermione frowned, “But…don’t you need talent for that? Isn’t it the hardest kind of magic out there?”

Neville hummed, “I can ask Nan for some help. Maybe some books,”

Ron straightened, “I’ll even study under Snape if I have to!”

Sirius watched the trio plan before him. A different set of friends came to mind yet their image did not mix. He and the Marauders schemed to prank others and play at being a hero. Link’s friends on the other hand planned to keep Link safe. It was two very different set of mentality.

He chuckled, “I’m so glad that Link found great friends in you three. Makes me a little nostalgic,”

And hopefully, none of them will end up betraying on the others. Not that this was possible. After all, their friendship was nothing like what he and the others had with Wormtail. They had welcomed him out of pity and, perhaps, slight arrogance for taking on someone that no one else wanted as friend. And perhaps that was the catalyst. They had never been truly sincere with Wormtail and perhaps, deep down, that traitor knew this. Why else would he betray them in favor of greater power to cower under?

While the group worked on their homework and talking with Sirius, Link lay unconscious. His mind too full and stuffy. Crimson moon and golden sun waged war in his head. A great flood washed away everything. The wind cut through his hair as fell through sky and time. He didn’t know where he was heading though the ghostly touch on his shoulder guided him true.

He thought he can feel water in his ears. His body hurt. Everything was burning, his skin melting to his bones. And yet…he cannot stop. He cannot stop until he reached her.

“Link…open your eyes…”

Forever obidient, Link opened his eyes.