The Hidden Snake of the Lions (Harry Potter SI): Chapter 2

‘What is with this family and strange people coming for them from all over?’

“Take Harry and prepare the ritual. I’ll hold them off for as long as I can!”

“B-But James-“

“Lilly! The Longbottoms were attacked very recently, we don’t have much time, He is coming to stop that stupid prophecy. Please, you need to hurry.”

My parents had tears in their eyes and hugged each other tightly before Mum ran upstairs with me.

From their words alone, it is clear to me that whatever situation we are in, it is a very, very dangerous one.

Especially since I can sense the Magic in the air getting stronger by the second, and not in a good way.

To put it in understandable terms, Magic inherently carries ‘flavor’ and ‘intent’ with it. Ambient Magic feels neutral and ‘tastes’ of nature. Every other kind has a tint of the wielder’s nature and tastes differently based on their personality.

How do I know any of this? I think it has to do with my past life, but I don’t have any memories that explain all this.

Putting aside that mystery, the magic that I feel right now from the surroundings does not carry the natural ‘flavor’ anymore. Instead, it now carries a heavy and dark presence within it. Something foul and evil.

It is this flavor of magic that is increasing in intensity by the second, and given the way my parents are talking, it is clear that whoever is coming for us is the owner of this foul magic.

Lilly Potter, the woman I have come to accept as my mother in the past few months, cried but tried to put on a smile for me as she placed me in a crib.

Meanwhile, I could sense her magic weaving itself into complex patterns according to some arcane ritual that she was working on.

I cannot identify what ritual she is working on, and neither do I feel anything familiar of anything that would jog any memories from her work.

For a split second, her magic reached a crescendo, and the ambient magic sang with her before doing something to me and her.

Whatever she did, I could now feel something hiding beneath my skin, my mind, my very soul, and the source of my magic. I don’t know if whatever spell she weaved is dormant or it is supposed to be this subtle but I know that she has now exhausted herself to the limit.

This does not bode well for us. If she was planning to run, she had now shot herself in the foot with this strange ritual. Without her magic and her body exhausted to such an extent, she is in no shape to escape by herself, let alone carry a baby like me with her.

I need to do something.

For the first time since I awoke, I truly focused on myself, my very core, and tried to search for something, anything, that could help.

But just like always, I only found broken fragments of images and emotions that made no sense. Impressions that were of no use to me right now.

Suddenly, I heard a loud shout followed by my senses lighting up with the sheer number of spells being flung about, nearly driving my senses crazy.

The noises stopped just as quickly as they started, and the few dozen people I could sense before dropped to one.

……I can only hope that Dad is the one who survives, but my heart tells me to be prepared for the worst.

“It’s ok, Harry. We love you. Mamma loves you. You are so loved, Harry.”

“Be strong. You must be strong from now on. Please.”

I did not like those words. Not one bit. It felt like she was saying her final goodbye, and out of the little things I remember from my life, the one thing I am sure about right now is that I hate goodbyes the most.

I felt the sole survivor of the previous battle move towards us.

Given the danger now approaching us, I gave up on my search of my memories and started focusing on my Ancient Magic, trying to mobilize it to do my bidding.

And yet, just like with my memories, I found no success.

The door to the room we were in was flung open, and a figure wearing a dark cloak walked in.

Disgust. That is the only thing I can feel when my senses were overwhelmed with the foul energies that overflowed off of this man. And it was a man because there is no way for a woman to grow a beard and have the kind of structure that this guy had.

He had black hair that he kept in a tidy cut and brown eyes that shone with malevolence.

Given the specks of red I could see in his eyes, it was clear that he dabbled in forbidden arts that must have corrupted his physical and metaphysical forms to some extent.

“You gave us quite the chase, Mudblood. But no matter.”

Mum glared at the guy.

“You will never succeed, Voldemort.”

“But I already have. Now, step aside or die.”

His words were an ultimatum, it was clear to me as I felt his foul magic spike with his emotion.

And yet, Mum did not even move from her spot and continued glaring at the man.

“…..Very well. Have it your way.”

Suddenly, my Ancient Magic mobilized on its own, and I felt everything slow down.

Every move made by the man, the twitch of his muscles, the motion of the man’s wand, the sudden mobilization of the ritual that Mum used previously, I saw and felt them all.

For a split second, the man’s figure was replaced by that of someone else. A young man with brown hair and eyes that held a regretful look on his face as he taught me a spell.

Sebastian, that was his name.

The image was replaced by the creep called Voldemort, whose wand was still in motion, a motion that perfectly aligned with the spell that Sebastian had taught me.

The Killing Curse. A curse that directly destroys the soul and is undefendable.

My body tensed as my mind focused.

‘I must save mum! I will not allow her to die!!’

That determination overwhelmed my mind as I tried to direct my awakened Ancient Magic. Meanwhile, a single memory formed within my mind.

The image of an elderly man with a warm smile, teaching me how to protect myself.

“Avada Kedavra!!”

‘Protego!!’

My Ancient Magic mobilized alongside my spell, casting two barriers, one of regular magic and the other of ancient magic, over Mum’s body.

The world was bathed in emerald light that knocked me back into the crib, and I knew no more.