Disclaimer: I do not own Harry potter or any of the characters from the book. The new characters in this story are mine; I leave it up to you to work out which ones. I also do not own the poems that will appear in this story. The poems are all owned by William Butler Yeats

WINE comes in at the mouth

And love comes in at the eye;

That's all we shall know for truth

Before we grow old and die.

I lift the glass to my mouth,

I look at you, and sigh.

Child of the Earth queen: The Philosopher's stone

Chapter 3: Birthdays and Becoming

By Morte Bonita

"Speech"

(July 30th 1985: three years & 8 months from the last chapter)

(Somewhere in the Palace) (Gaia's POV)

I quickly walked down the corridor towards my son's room occasionally breaking out into a brisk jog before slowing down to a walking pace. I knew for a fact that if anyone saw me acting like this they'd report it to Aiden and then he'd spend the rest of the day teasing me for running about like a headless chicken. Right now though I didn't care what he would say. I had to take my little one to his Aunt's house in the mortal realm and, to do so easily I had to take the twilight portal and, to give my son a full day in the mortal world that meant leaving at sunset in the immortal realm so that we arrived at dawn in the mortal realm. This was the reason I was currently speed walking then spontaneously breaking into a run before going back to speed walking and looking quite crazy doing so. So far I'd managed to be late whenever I traveled anywhere but not today god damnit! Today, for once I was going to be early. I looked out through one of the many giant windows I passed in the hallway. It was such a beautiful day what with the gorgeous blue sky and the sun slowly turning it bright orange as it started to sink. Hang on one moment sun, sinking. "Bloody heck!" I screamed as I broke into an all out run towards my son's play room. I can't believe that I'm late even after I planned my day so I wouldn't be.

Throwing dignity to the wind I picked up my skirts and sprinted down the corridor until I reached my son's playroom which was at the very end of the hall. I threw open the gem studded doors and stepped into the room only to be greeted by…. nothing. Where has he gone now? I walked further into the room carefully stepping over the many toys and the overturned furniture I had to admit that my son really wasn't the tidiest person in the world. I looked around and noticed too small legs sticking out from underneath a pile of teddy bears. Smiling I began to dig my sleeping son out of the teddy mountain so that slowly he became recognizable. I picked my son up and brushed his now shoulder length black hair out of his eyes. I found it amazing that even when he was sleeping with his mouth wide open he still managed to look absolutely adorable. I sighed and began the normally painful task of trying to wake him up.

"Come on Angel. Twilight is approaching and it is time you woke up." As my angel began to wake I thought back to how I'd been forced by my wonderful little brother Aiden to give my son a better pet name.

Flashback

"Gaia!" yelled Aiden. "You cannot and I truly mean cannot call a boy not to mention the Crown Prince of the immortal realms 'Flower'. It's a girls name and for a boy to be called that is just humiliating."

"Well how do you know?" I asked him. "He might like it."

"I know because I'm a guy and I also went to school and remember how cruel children are. The poor boy would never be able to show his face in public."

"Well what would you suggest then Aiden?"

"What about Angel? It suits his current personality and is one of those sickeningly sweet names you seem to love, but most importantly it's a unisex name and won't strip the kid of his dignity."

I couldn't help but agree with Aiden's logic, and Angel suited my son far better than flower.

"Alright brother you win. Angel it is then."

"Thank the dreaming." Aiden sighed.

End Flashback

(Angel's POV)

Yawning I looked up at the person who had woken me up from my dream about dancing candy canes and saw my favourite person in the whole world staring into space with that weird smile grown up people get when they're remembering something funny. I looked out the window in my room and saw that sunset was almost over. I giggled quietly remembering that we were supposed to go see Aunt 'Tunia and realizing that Mamma was once again late. I looked up at my Mamma again and saw that she was still out of it. It's hard to be a son sometimes but a kid's gotta what a kid's gotta do. I took in a deep breath then yelled "Mamma!" She nearly dropped me.

"Hello Angel. Ready to go?" she asked me.

"Yes. I've packed my night bag and I'm ready to leave."

"That's brilliant." She said looking pleased. Then tucking me under her arm and grabbing my over night bag with the other she sprinted out the door then through the palace until she reached the transportation garden. I love the transportation garden, it's got this arch made of vines that at any time of day but twilight is just an arch, but at twilight it becomes a gateway between here in the immortal realm and anywhere you choose in the mortal world. I giggled when I heard Mamma's sigh of relief that she hadn't missed the twilight. She obviously heard me.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"You forgot again."

"I did not. Lets go." She said, and stepped through the arch still holding me carrying us both into the mortal world.

(The Durseley's front garden) (6 o'clock in the morning) (Gaia's POV)

I walked out of the portal into Petunia's Garden. It never ceased to amaze me how well she took care of it. When I had made her garden for her as a gift the night I took Angel, I'd expected to come back to find it an overgrown jungle. It had surprised me how neat and beautiful it had become when I'd brought Angel to see his Aunt for the first time. I was also glad I'd left the arch I'd used to go home the first time as well, it made traveling between the realms so much easier since I had something to aim for. I was brought out of my thoughts by a tug on my arm. I looked down at my son who was pulling on my sleeve.

"What is it?" I asked him.

"Looky someone's coming out." He said pointing to the Durseley's door which was slowly opening. I smiled and walked towards the tall slim figure that was stepping out of the house.

"Good morning Petunia." I said setting Angel down knowing what his reactions to his Aunt's presence were like. I wasn't wrong.

"Aunt 'Tunia." Shrieked a small high pitched voice as my son raced towards petunia instantly latching on to her middle. Laughing Petunia picked him up.

"Hello Birthday boy." Petunia said to Angel.

"It's not my birthday today Aunty 'Tunia, my birthday is tomorrow."

"Well darling." I began, "You're going to celebrate your birthday today with Petunia because, tonight your going to go through the adoption ceremony so that you can become a full elf and my son in blood." I explained this as simply as I could; it was easy seeing as my son already knew I'd adopted him.

"But why can't I celebrate tomorrow." He asked me.

"Because the ceremony is changing your blood, body, magic and race. Your body needs time to adjust so you will go to sleep until your body has adjusted to the change." I answered.

"Oh." Angel replied.

"Petunia will you be ok with him tonight." I asked her.

"Of course, we'll be fine. I've planned a small party for him with some kids from the neighbourhood they remember him from the last visit and can't wait to see him."

"All right then, I'll be back to get him at sunset which I think is six PM in England." I told her.

"That's fine Gaia. He'll be ready by then."

"Great. See you later Petunia and be good Angel." I told him.

"I will Mamma."

"See you later Gaia." Petunia said.

I nodded to Petunia then walked back to the arch. I turned and waved at them before going through the portal. I had a lot to plan.

(Normal POV)

Angel had a wonderful birthday party and got a lot of presents from the friends he had made in little Whinging. Throughout the entire party Petunia's neighbors congratulated her and Vernon for having such an adorable and polite nephew. The only problem had been when Dudley's friend Piers Polkiss a rat faced boy decided to knock Angel over for laughs, he'd gotten a kick in the shin as a reward from Dudley and from that day forward Piers would be the target of a game known as Piers Hunting. Never let it be said that Dudley didn't look after his little cousin. By the time the party was over and all the guests had gone home it was quarter to six and both Angel and Dudley were sleeping on the couch while Vernon had gone to bed upstairs. When it was six o'clock Petunia woke up Angel and carefully picked him up being careful not to disturb Dudley and carried him outside. By the time they were in the garden it was twilight and Gaia still hadn't shown up. Petunia and Angel looked at each other before saying at the exact same time what they were both thinking. "She's late again."

"Who's late?" said a new voice. Petunia and Angel looked over and saw that Gaia had arrived while they weren't paying attention. Petunia put Angel down and he immediately ran to Gaia who picked him up.

"Thank you for having him over Petunia." Gaia said.

"It was no trouble Angel was an absolute…. angel." Petunia replied.

"That is very True." Gaia laughed. "Goodnight Petunia."

"Goodnight Gaia and you as well Angel."

"Night Aunty 'Tunia." Called Angel before Gaia turned and walked through the Arch carrying him back home.

Once they had arrived back in the immortal realm Gaia sent Angel to bed since, while it was daytime in the immortal realm they had to wait until it turned July 31st in the mortal world, the day Angel would officially turn five. So that meant that they could sleep until Midday then it would be midnight in the mortal world.

(The Blood Ceremony) (July 31st) (Angel's POV)

I waited alone in the antechamber that led to the throne room. I can't believe this is happening. I've wanted this for so long but I'm so scared. I took a deep breath and went over the instructions Mamma had given me.

Flashback

"Wait in the chamber room while the throne room is being prepared. When everything is ready you will be called into the room." Mamma said.

"What will I be called by?" I asked. "Angel isn't my real name."

"You will be summoned by your title Aurel Tuathal." My Mamma answered.

"What does that mean Mamma?"

"Aurel means 'Golden' in Latin while Tuathal means 'Prince of the people' in Gaelic. When they are put together it means 'Golden prince of the people'. It is simply the term we elves use when referring to our crown prince"

End Flashback

I stood up straight and smoothed out my clothes. I smiled as I brushed my fingers down the soft silk of my robe. It was beautiful and the embroidery was really good. It was covered in pictures of ancient civilizations and plants. The strange thing was that on the back of the robe a diamond shape had been cut out exposing the middle of my upper back. I didn't understand what it was for but Mamma says it's important. I was brought out of my thoughts by a knock on my chamber door.

"Enter Aurel Tuathal crown prince of the Daoine Sidhe." Someone called. The door to the chamber swung open and I saw that the throne room was packed with elves though a path that lead to the thrones had been left clear. I took a breath, held my head high and began to walk towards the thrones. Only when I reached them did I look at the person sitting on the larger throne. My mother smiled at me before nodding her head signaling for me to go on. I kneeled down in front of Mamma's throne and said the words she taught me.

"I Aurel Tuathal crown prince of the Daoine Sidhe kneel before her Majesty the Earth Queen. Though I am a prince I am not an elf nor am I the blood child of the Earth Queen. I hereby plead with the Earth Queen to become her child and one of her court in blood, body, magic and race." I stopped speaking and kept my head bowed. I couldn't see her but I knew she was standing up. She placed a hand on my head and stroked my hair before sliding her hand under my chin tilting my head up so I was looking her in the face before she started speaking.

"I Gaia the Earth Queen hereby grant your request. I give permission for Aurel Tuathal to be blood adopted as my son and made into a full elf." Mamma said. She then pulled me to my feet. "Well done." She whispered in my ear. Holding my hand she led me away from the thrones towards the centre of the room where an Elvin mage holding a silver bowl stood waiting. When we reached him he bowed low holding the bowl out in front of him. I could see that in the bottom of the bowl swirled to liquids, one was crystal clear, while the other liquid was a shimmering silver. The elf mage straightened up and must have seen my confused expression since he grinned at me before lowering the bowl in order to give me a better look.

"My prince, I see you are curious as to what is in this bowl." The Mage said. I nodded a yes as I was still to shy to speak more than was necessary in front of all these people. The elf did not take offense since he could probably sense my nervousness.

"The clear liquid that you see is known as Phoenix tears." Began the mage "The bird is a magical creature famous for its unusual method of reincarnation and the fact that its tears have the power to heal any wound and cure any poison. The silver liquid is unicorn blood. The unicorn is like a magical horse known for its beauty and for the horn on its head. Its blood is useful in many potions but will cause great harm to a person if it is taken against the unicorns will, the same goes for a phoenix's tears."

"Oh!" I said. I looked at the blood and tears in the bowl and couldn't help but think that there was a lot of it for one animal to give. The creature would either have to be a masochist in the case of the phoenix to cry so many tears, or suicidal in the case of the unicorn to give up so much blood. I looked up when I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder.

"Don't worry." Mamma said. "The blood didn't come from the same unicorn it came from five who were happy to donate a little blood each for you, the same went for the phoenix's and their tears."

"My lady if we could begin now." The mage said.

"Of course." answered Mamma.

The mage called me over to him and handed me a sharp silver knife. I was surprised when he told me to cut my wrist with it but a nod from Mamma caused me to do just that. I pulled back the long sleeve of my robe then held my wrist over the bowl. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again forcing myself to watch as I drew the blade across my wrist leaving behind a semi-deep already dripping with blood. I clenched my palm into a fist in an attempt to make the blood flow faster and flow it did. My blood rushed down the sides of my wrists and into the bowl, I soon began to feel as if I would faint. Finally the mage raised his hand to signal enough and then used his power to heal my wound and clean the blood from my arm. I barely noticed what he had done, couldn't tear my eyes away from what my blood was doing to the previously pure liquids in the bowl.

When my blood had first entered the liquids it quickly sank to the bottom looking ugly and tainted. Now, it had risen slightly as the clear Phoenix tears attacked it or so it seemed. Mother explained to me that the phoenix tears were trying to heal my blood as to the tears it was the same as a wound, but since there was no wound for the tears to heal, they were fixing my blood instead, removing toxins and curing my blood of the genetic defects all humans had for example if that blood in the bowl was now inside my body my fuzzy eyesight would be cured. Soon all that remained in the bowl was the unicorn blood and my own now clean blood since the tears had fused with my own blood cells. A few seconds after my blood had been fused with the tears, the mage took a jeweled rod out of his robes and began to stir my blood and the unicorn blood together with an anti-clockwise motion I had learnt was called widdershins. When the unicorn blood and my own were mixed together as closely as was possible (which wasn't much since the blood in the bowl had swirls of silver showing clearly through it) the two bloods began to react whith each other. I watched as the blood began to bubble and I watched as steam began to come off of the liquid as it grew brighter and brighter until I was forced to look away. When I looked again I saw that the unicorn blood and my own blood had completely fused together so that where my blood had been dull and dark at the start of the ritual, it was now a startling bright red and had a luminous glow much like that of the unicorn blood.

My Mamma gently moved me out of the way and took the knife I'd forgotten I was holding out of my hand before cutting her wrist in exactly the same way I had allowing her blood to fall into the bowl until the mage signaled for her to stop. While Mamma healed her cut and cleaned the blood off her arm and banished the blade, the mage stirred the mixture with the rod again. The reaction was not as obvious this time but it was there if you knew what to look for. Once the mage was satisfied with his work he held the bowl above his head before beginning a chant in an old version of the Elvin language which I had not yet learned. I settled into a half awake state as the mage continued his very long chant but was brought back when he closed the chant with a more modern form of the Elvin language which I could just about understand.

"Agar edhel hin coi" said the mage. There was a bright flash of red light. When I could see again the mage was holding the bowl of blood which was now bubbling with steam coming off its surface, now while this new change was interesting the most important thing was that the blood was completely combined. I watched as the mage removed the rod and muttered a spell causing the end of the rod to turn into a long sharp point like a needle. I gulped as I realized what the point was for and why my back was uncovered. Mamma smiled at me before taking the offered needle from the mage and dipped it into the blood causing at least half of the blood in the bowl to be sucked up into the needle. She then signaled for me to come forward with her hand and explained to me that what was happening was an important part of the blood ceremony since every elf had a birth mark which symbolized their family and a blood tattoo was the only way to achieve the same affect. She told me that once the blood was injected under my skin it would kill the human tissue then replace it with Elvin tissue and since the rest of your body would be human at the time when the Phoenix tears in the blood healed the tattoo a mark just like an elf's birthmark would be left. When she had finished explaining she turned around and pulled the back of her dress down a bit exposing the royal family's marking which was a Triskilian inside a circle of vines. After she had explained it to me I nodded my head in understanding and acceptance and turned around exposing my back.

Mamma placed a hand on my shoulder holding me in place then began to draw the marking on my back. I bit back a scream as the needle peirced my skin the first time and tried to hold back tears as the hot blood was forced under my skin. It was over soon and the pain stopped then came back ten times more painful than before as the blood attacked my human flesh. It lasted for five minutes but when it was over I was proud to say I did not scream. I turned back around to face my mother who smiled and banished the needle which was her way of showing it had been a success. I was surprised when my Mamma signaled for the mage to come forward and even more surprised when he came still holding the bowl kneeling at my feet. The mage then passed the bowl into my hands and told me to drink. I gave him a horrified look. How could I drink this it's blood. As I felt the heat of it through the bowl and smelt the salty sweet smell I suddenly wanted to retch. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Mamma smiling gently at me.

"Drink and be one with us. Drink and be my son in blood." She said. It was all the encouragement I needed. I put the bowl to my lips and drank down the hot salty mixture. There was a lot in the bowl and it took almost five minutes for me to finish it and once I had finished it I felt the change immediately. I dropped the bowl to the floor as the first twinge of pain hit me. The next spasm was even more painful than the first and I could not hold back a small whimper of pain. Soon the spasms were constant and I was screaming in pain falling to the floor. I felt warm hands pull me into a hug while I convulsed then screamed once more in pain before I passed out.

(The Blood Ceremony) (Gaia's POV)

I held my son in my arms as he fell into unconsciousness. If there had been a less painful way to do this I would have done. It broke my heart to see him like this but all I could do was watch. I pulled him close to me as his body convulsed. Even though I knew the pain and convulsions came from the changes his body was undergoing, it didn't make it any easier to watch so I closed my eyes and waited. Soon the convulsions slowed down and then stopped. I opened my eyes and looked down at my sleeping son. He was perfect. Before the change he had surpassed most mortals in looks, but now he out did most elves as well and he was only a child. I looked at his face which had been wiped of all human imperfection and had the flawless beauty of the elves, it was perfectly symmetrical had thin elegant eyebrows a delicate nose and blood red lips. I brushed back his now waist length black hair which shimmered with a rainbow coloured sheen and ran a finger over his ear which had changed from a humans round shell to the long delicate pointed ear of a full blooded elf. I stood up holding my son gently in my arms and stroked his cheek. I smiled as he started to wake up.

"Mamma?" he asked me. Blinking sleepily, I grinned as he opened his eyes fully to look at me properly. His eyes which had previously been a bright but human shade of green were now a stunning ethereal shade of forest green flecked with splashes of vibrant amethyst. I smiled and kissed him on the forehead knowing his eyes were just like mine.

"Well done my sweet Angel, well done. Welcome to your life as an immortal Elf. Welcome to your life as my full blooded son.

Authors note

Hi guys. Sorry if I made you wait a bit but I have my sats on Tuesday the 8th and have been revising like hell. Any way here is the chapter which I've posted on my birthday just for laughs. I'm deciding whether or not I should have Dulcina at Hogwarts as head girl but under a different name which will be an anagram. See if you can guess what her name will be. Healthy criticism and constructive comments will be appreciated but flamers will be sent ill will via the voodoo dolls my friend gave me at school when I work out how they work. Have a super day.

Review, review, review or Morte'll get you.

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