Hey, this is Cimmeriishadows, and I'm bringing you my first Fic, The Blind Seer: Bonds Stronger Than Blood. This is the first story in a saga that is right now, residing in my head, but no worries, I'm having an operation on my foot, and will be in traction for a few months, so I'll have pleanty of time to write! Please try to be nice, this is my first try at anything close tothis, I'm doing my best. Now I bring you...
The Blind Seer: Bonds Stronger Than Blood
By cimmeriishadows
Disclamer: Everything related to Harry Potter, including the original characters and any settings or names, all belong to J.Kand Co. I'm just a girl trying to amuse myself in the least dangerous way possible, hopefully.
Some people say I'm cursed, some say I'm a disgrace to Wizardkind, a pathetic excuse for a human being, useless, defective. That's all because I'm blind. Yes blind. I see, ha, bad pun, that people might think that way, those poor deluded fools, but the truth is, I'm not blind. Now there's something to be gobsmacked at, a blind boy who can see, it's not seeing really, it's more like, visions, visions of what is going to happen. Joe, who is American, by the way, says I'm a seer, I somehow found that rather ironic and now whenever I hear that term I always oh so politely laugh until I can't breathe any more.
Well I guess I'm getting ahead of myself, you must understand some things about my past before you can jump into my present life. My name is Harry James Potter, and I became 'a permanent border' (a.k.a I was abandoned,) at Cambridge Hall, located right next to St. Murgos. CH, as we call it, is connected to St. Murgos through two doors, locked so only someone with the code can get out, but practically any one can get in. Not very safe for us, is it? By us, I mean the other kids here. You see, I'm not the only forgotten child, I'm one of many.
In the Wizarding World, it's not looked upon kindly to be disfigured, deformed, disabled, or impaired mentally or physically. Well, it only applies to children I guess, because adults seem to be all right with imperfect grown ups. It's like this, having a disgrace as a son or daughter is looked down on, it's too much trouble they say, it's too hard on them, it's too hard on the kid, it's too hard on the rest of the family. Bollocks. It's just an embarrassment to have a child that isn't perfect.
CH isn't an orphanage; it's more of a home, an institution, for mentally and physically handicapped children. For my parents, Lily and James, it was the perfect place to shove my burden upon. With a small fee, scratch that, a rather hefty bribe is more like it, to the Minister of Magic, who is a total arse by the way, I disappeared from public view forever, or at least until I reach the legal age of 17. When I hit that mark I bet they'll lock me up in some Muggle asylum or something. They'll cross that bridge when they come to it.
I had a brother; I had parents, though I refuse to acknowledge the fact that I do. Sonya and Joe don't blame me for that. My parents, who are the famous Potter's, I might add, who raised the Boy-Who-Lived, my brother, Eric Matthew Potter, are the scum of the earth in my opinion, and my view is widely shared with the staff of CH, well most of them anyways. The rest of the world thinks the sun shines out of that family's arses or something, but in the painful reality of the fact that they abandoned me, they're total prats.
Anyways, back to my life story, I've lived at CH for eh…..what is it now? I was left here when I was 5….so 10 ½ years, jeeze, how time flies. I'm 15 going on 16 soon, and though I don't have a family who I'm proud to be a part of blood wise, I have another family, an extended family. They aren't related to me by blood, or by paper, but they have been more of a family than the Potter's any day with both hands tied behind their backs. Sonya, Joe, Luna, Neville, Ginny, Hermione, they are all my family.
I met Joe and Sonya one cold December day.
Flashback
The cold breeze made little Harry's jet black hair fly like a halo around his head, like some small dark angel, pale unhealthy skin glimmered slightly under the fading sun. Walking behind his mother, he tapped his cane on the ground in front of him to get a clearer picture of the area. He could hear his mother's heavier footsteps in front of him, she was pregnant, she was having a baby, and he was too much trouble to take care of in the first place, or that's what they said anyways.
His parents. Lily and James, he didn't care for them, he didn't feel any attachment for them, no love, he really had little opinion about them at all. Them; leaving him here, didn't bother him at all, he had known it was going to happen sooner or later, he was exceptionally smart for his age. Harry reached up and readjusted his thick black sunglasses which his parents had bought him, if only to hide his dead eyes which caused anyone to shiver when they were exposed.
They were green, or so he was told, like his mother's, except his were cloudy and dead, like a sharks eyes. It was one thing his highly esteemed brother loved to poke fun at, in truth, Harry knew his eyes were special, he just didn't know why yet. One time he tried to explain it to his father, and the man had laughed him off, saying all those hours of sitting in the dark had turned his brain to mush, his eyes were an abomination and disgusting. Freakish.
That was a year ago. Quickening his pace, he shivered as the cold wind seeped through his thin coat. In his family, his brother was clearly the favorite. The Boy-Who-Lived. He got all new stuff, presents, cards, candy, love. Harry got all his cast-offs and hand-me-downs. Harry played with all his broken and forgotten toys, Harry tried hard to please his parents, while Eric did nothing and still got praise.
It was hard at first, but after a while he became cold and distant, sitting in the corner, listening to the world around him. Always excluded, always forgotten. Even Moony and Padfoot forgot him, though not as badly as his parents. He scared people; he knew that, sitting around, dead eyes following them, his face expressionless. One time his father got so fed up with him for scaring his friend, an Aurror from the Ministry, he hit him.
After that, Harry never said a word to his father. James was never able to get Harry to say one word again, though if Lily, Sirius, or Remus, asked that same thing, he'd answer it. That's probably what sealed his father's decision to send him here, and with the new baby coming………He was just an extra burden.
He stopped behind his mother as she opened a door, holding it for him, something she rarely did. She was probably trying to make a good impression. He entered a room; it smelled nice, like pine. It was warm, there was a fire. He stood still as his mother walked past him and walked up to a counter. She rang a bell, which startled him. "Hello?" Her soft voice said, "Anyone here?"
He heard a door open, soft footsteps were muffled by the carpet, but he could still hear them, probably a woman's. "Hello, can I help you?" Her voice was soft and sweet, like syrup, unlike his mother's, whose was soft, but had an edge to it, an impatient edge.
"Yes. I'm here about boarding my son here." Lily said, "Who are you?"
"I'm Sonya Adams, and I work here. You are……"
"Lily Potter, and this is my son Harry." Lily said this like the woman was crazy, not knowing her name? Preposterous. She was in every magazine, on radio programs; she even had a book written about her. Not to mention her son, who got even more press than she did.
Harry nodded his head in her direction, but didn't say a word. Sonya smiled at the boy, but frowned slightly as he didn't return it. "Let's sit down." She suggested.
Harry followed the sound of their footsteps over to three couches and a chair surrounding the fire, he took a seat across from the woman, Sonya. Lily sat on one of the couches away from her son.
"Why do you think this is the right place to leave your son, Mrs. Potter?" Sonya asked, Harry liked he sound of her voice, it was like velvet. "This is an institution for disabled children, you do know."
"Yes, of course I know." Lily nearly growled, "Harry is disabled, he's blind. That makes him hard to take care of, and dangerous because of my other child Eric, and our new arrival." Lily patted her stomach.
Sonya's hand formed a fist, they didn't want this cute little boy because he couldn't see? And because he was too much trouble to look after since they were having a baby? What a beastly woman. Harry seemed like a well-behaved child, and with the looks of Mrs. Potter's fur coat and expensive heels, it seemed like she could afford someone to help take care of her son. There was something else going on here.
"I see. Well I assure you that this is the best facility available for your son's needs. How long will he be staying?" Sometimes patients stayed until, if they were sick, until they got better, or until their families, who were usually poor, had enough money to care for them.
"Until he reaches Age, then we will see what to do about his placement. This will be indefinite, and discrete I presume. I believe the Minister spoke with one of your staff, a…" Lily paused to pull out a scrap of parchment out of her leather purse, "Ellen Welsh."
Sonya nodded, Ellen was in so much trouble when she came in to work, neither she nor Joe knew of this arrangement. "Are you sure about this? I mean, you can still visit, or pull your son out at any time, but it will be a long time before he comes of Age."
"I understand that Miss. Adams, but this is the best for everyone. We may stop by sometime, if we find the time that is, but you know, with the baby coming, and with Eric's press arrangements and training, free time is just very hard to come by." Lily looked at her watch, "Oh blast, look at the time, I must be going, I have an appointment. Do you have someone who can get his bags; they're in the entrance hall. Thanks, you're a peach." And then she was gone, without saying goodbye to her son and without looking back, she just left.
Sonya coughed slightly, and Harry's attention was brought back to her, "So Harry, what do you like to do? Any games?"
Harry thought for a minute, "I like feeling things and trying to figure out what they are."
Sonya smiled, "Now that's one I never played, though it sounds fun."
"Yeah, it is, but no one likes to play it with me. They all say it's stupid and weird. I think it's because I always beat them, and they can even open their eyes and see what they're holding!" Harry smiled slightly, a sad smile.
"Well I love games, and I know Joe does as well, you'll meet Joe later, he's zonked out in the lounge room right now, his mum called last night and wouldn't hang up, kept the poor man up until 2 in the morning!" Sonya laughed, and she was delighted to hear Harry laugh as well.
"So what now?" Harry asked, Sonya was taken back, Harry was very mature for his age, very mature.
"Now I'll get your bags and show you to your room. Right now we only have one other resident, but he's going home in a week, but until then, I think you two will get along fine. I'll put you in the room next to him. His name is Jason, but I call him 'Jase. It drives him up the wall. He's great fun to hang around with, just watch out; he's a real trouble maker."
"I'll keep that in mind," Harry said, following Sonya back into the entrance hall. He listened as she picked up the bags that one of the St. Murgos workers had left there. Since they arrived by Knight Bus, the Minister made sure everything was perfect.
After a short walk, they reached their destination. "Harry this is your room," Sonya said, and Harry heard a slightly squeaky door hinge open.
"What does it look like?" He asked, Sonya was heartbroken at that, though the fact that Harry had to ask almost a complete stranger what his room, in which he was to live for the next 12 years, looked like was just an everyday thing.
"Let's see, there are two windows, it's begun to snow. The walls are…….Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"You see, a few years ago, when this place opened, a witch by the name of Sandra Hayworth worked here, and she was a brilliant spell maker. She created a spell that changed the color of the resident's room to suit their preferences, or what they liked the best." Sonya paused, "Have you ever seen colors Harry?"
"No." Harry was puzzled, what was she talking about?
"Well your walls are black, the carpet is black, and all of your furniture is black." Sonya paused, "Though I guess that would make sense, seeing as how you don't see colors."
"Yes, I think so anyways, I was able to see as a baby, but I was blinded as a result of the magical backlash from the killing curse when my brother, Eric, defeated Voldemort." Harry said calmly.
Sonya was stunned, "How old are you, four? Five? You are very intelligent; I couldn't even color within the lines of a picture properly at your age."
Harry's pale face flushed slightly at the compliment, "I'm going to be six in July," he said, "My mum and dad brought in a lot of specialists, and that's what they figure happened any way."
"Oh…Well I guess Joe's had enough sleep, let's go wake him, then you can meet him and 'Jase." Sonya placed Harry's bags on the floor, "I'll help you unpack later."
"Okay," Harry said quietly. Sonya frowned slightly.
"What's wrong?"
"I just……I think you're really nice, please don't leave." Harry's little knuckles which gripped his cane turned white.
"Why do you think I'm going to leave?" Sonya bent down so she was level with Harry.
"Everyone who is nice to me leaves," Harry said quietly.
"Oh Harry, sweetheart, I'm not going any where." Sonya pulled Harry into a hug, the boy tensed. It was almost like he never had been hugged before. She pulled away.
"That's good," Harry said, a tiny grin making it's way onto his face, "because I really like you. Was that a hug? I never had a hug before."
Sonya smiled sadly, poor kid. "Well I'm sure there will be plenty more from where that came from. Let's go find Joe."
"Can I…….." Harry started, but trailed off.
"Yes?" Sonya asked brightly.
"Can I hold your hand?" He asked shyly.
"Of course! I love holding people's hands!" Sonya felt a small hand grab her own, "Let's go wake that sleepy head up!"
The two of them slowly made their way down the halls, to another room. "This is the Rec. Room Harry, Jason should be in here watching the television." She pushed the door open, "'Jase?"
"Huh?" There was a boy's voice; there was the sound of voices quietly speaking in the background.
"This is Harry, he and I are going to find Joe, you want to come?" Sonya asked, beckoning the boy to turn off the television. The sound stopped, and quiet footsteps could be heard coming towards the twosome.
"Sure! Hi Harry, I'm Jason, I'm eight years old," Jason stuck out his hand. For his age, he had wonderful manners; Joe and Sonya were good teachers.
"Hi Jason," Harry said, but Jason's hand was ignored.
'That was rude' thought Jason, "Aren't you going to shake?" He questioned, Sonya wished for some duct tape to shut the boy's mouth.
"Eh……Shake what?" Harry asked innocently.
"Jason." Sonya interjected, but Jason ignored her.
"My hand of course!" Jason said, waving his hand in front of Harry's face.
"Where is it?" Harry asked perplexed.
"In front of your face!" Jason said laughing.
"Jason, that's enough!" Sonya reprimanded, he quieted. "Harry is blind. He can't see your hand."
"Oh……" Jason said, taken back, "sorry."
"That's okay, I'm used to it," Harry said with a shrug of his tiny shoulders.
Jason, who was born with a disease which was slowly killing him, bills had been adding up. His parents, who loved him, had to send him to CH, only for medical treatment, which was free, and to save up enough money to get out of debt. Jason understood this, as did Sonya and Joe. These were the cases they were used to dealing with.
Normal sized for his age, Jason wore slightly worn, but well cared for clothes, he had brown hair, and pale blue eyes, he was a favorite patient at St. Murgos, all the healers loved his friendly disposition and carefree attitude. They were surprised he had lived as long as he had, but his prognosis wasn't good. There was a good chance he'd die before his 10th birthday, even if he died; at least he lived a life filled with love and laughter. He was looked down on by most people as a charity case, but people who met the boy knew that he gave back as much to people that he received, only in a different way, with love and kindness.
"LET'S GO!" Jason exclaimed gleefully, causing Harry to smile at the boy's enthusiasm.
Harry grabbed Sonya's hand again as he listened to the sound of Jason skipping along in front of them, they left the carpeted halls and entered a room with a wood floor, a door opened, Jason giggled.
"He's drooling," Jason explained, then they heard a loud snore, both the two boys and Sonya broke into quiet laughter.
"That's Joe, right?" Harry asked, nodding his head in the direction from which the monstrous snore came from.
"Yep, that'd be Joe, the king of every bodily feat including: snoring, farting, burping, and making noises with his armpit." Sonya giggled, Harry made a face.
"Are you kidding?"
"Nope, you'll love him, he does these great impressions of people as well, It's so funny," Sonya sighed, "Shall I wake him?"
Both boys exclaimed at once, "Yeah!" Just Harry's bit was quieter than Jason's loud exclamation.
"Okay, now, how about some water?" Sonya asked, Harry shrugged, his father and Remus and Sirius were the pranksters of the family, they had been teaching Eric, who had made Harry his favorite test subject and victim.
"Cold water!" Jason laughed, "Really cold water!"
"Okay 'Jase, Harry, ready for some fireworks?" Sonya asked, raising her wand, both boys nodded, though Harry had no idea what fireworks were.
A second later, Harry heard the sound of water hitting something, it must have been Joe. The sound of something heavy falling to the floor was then heard.
Sonya and Jason were laughing madly when Harry heard a thick male voice, still clouded in sleep, say, "What in bloody hell was that?" The voice came from the floor.
Jason noticed Harry's confused expression, "After Sonya dumped the water on Joe, he fell off the couch, he's a bit slow after he wakes up."
"SONYA!" Joe's voice yelled, it seemed clearer, maybe it was the icy cold water that was dumped on him.
Sonya's melodious voice barely was able to choke out, "Wasn't me."
"Wasn't me!" Yelled Jason.
"Then it must have been……..Eh…….Whoever you are. Who are you?" Joe asked Harry.
"Oh, Joe, this is Harry, he's our new resident. Just came in today, Ellen has some explaining to do, I had no idea he was coming." Sonya said, all giggles forgotten.
"It's nice to meet you Harry, as you probably already know, I'm Joe," the man said, "How old are you Harry?"
"I'm five, but I'm going to be six in July," Harry said shyly.
"July is a long time away," Joe said, "But I'm glad you're looking forward to getting older, I'm not though. I'm twenty six, I'm OOOOOOLD!"
Harry smiled slightly, "You don't sound old."
Joe was silent for a moment, he looked at Sonya, who frowned and pointed to her eyes, and then shut them. Joe got the point. "Thanks kiddo, I'm grateful one person still thinks I'm hip and cool."
Sonya laughed lightly, and punched Joe softly in the arm, "You big marshmallow, living in the past, don't you know hip is so el passé?"
Joe grunted, "Just because you decide to follow the path of reality doesn't mean I do, I will save you, my damsel in distress!"
Joe's large arms grabbed Sonya and threw her over his brawny shoulder in a fireman's carry, all while she kicked her legs, and beat on his back with her fists screaming, "JOE! PUT ME DOWN! PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!"
Jason was rolling on the floor laughing, while Harry quietly showed his approval by laughing almost silently, but it was better than nothing. Though Harry couldn't see the scene, in his minds eye he could picture Joe with Sonya over his shoulder. He guessed, by Joe's footsteps, he was a big guy, and by the ease that he held Sonya's slight, but still rather heavy, form.
"Okay, Madam, no need to thank me," Joe said, placing Sonya back on her feet and taking a small bow.
"Thank you? I'm not cooking for you for a week mister!" Sonya screeched.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Joe bellowed, "I'll do anything. ANYTHING!"
"Ask Harry what he wants, and if you do it to my satisfaction, I might cut your sentence down to three days instead of seven." Sonya said slyly after a moment of pondering.
"Okay kiddo, what do you want me to do?" Joe asked Harry earnestly.
Harry thought for a minute, and then innocently said you make that noise with your armpit?"
Just as a warning, there will be a lot of flashbacks in these first chapters, so please bare with me. i just need you to get the feel of what Harry grew up like, and how he met the other characters in the story. I found Joe and Sonya to be quite amusing, but I'm not sure about their relationship at this point. I enjoyed writing this chapter, I hope you liked it. Please drop me a review, or just leave me a message or e-mail. Any input will be gladly recieved, as will any questions or suggestions.
Signing off,
cimmeriishadows