The Brightest Sun

Chapter 9

She had been in the library when she made the discovery.

For a moon, Elia had been mindful of her host. Harry was rarely so sullen, and a part of Elia ached at the thought of this man growing up an orphan. It made sense, why he so obviously cherished his child. Many lords in Westeros had seen their children as pieces in the game, but Harry adored his son beyond the boy being his heir.

The portraits had quietly explained the importance of that night in their traditions, had explained why the glimpse she had seen of Harry and Teddy in the room of stars was so important to them.

It was in the library that she had discovered the truth of Lord Potter-Black.

Harry and Teddy had stepped out for the day, some manner of business calling them into the broader world. He had been concerned but Elia had waved him off, insisting that she would be fine with his absence. Rhaenys was learning her letters, the Potter portraits practically duelling each other for the right to teach the young princess to her delight, and Aegon had been preoccupied with the stuffed dragon Harry had charmed to fly, chasing after it exuberantly.

Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century the cover read. It had been a massive tome, and Lady Lemelle had told her it covered the past hundred years, up to the past three years before she had arrived in England. The lady had softly urged her to read the last ten chapters of the book, and Elia had found herself engrossed in the most recent history of the Wizarding World.

She had not expected Harry to play such an obvious role in their wars, though there was a sense of importance to him. Something magnetizing that made you believe there was more to him than you saw.

This war had taken much from him, and it had cemented the first thought she had of him. Harry was a warrior – a skilled killer if the book was to be believed – and had been forced to fight for the better part of his life.

"…the death of Sirius Black in the Department of Mysteries revealed the existence of a prophecy, Harry Potter was hailed as the Chosen One, prophesized to defeat the Dark Lord. In the…"

Prophecy, she thought, her mind whirling with the memory of Harry when she had mentioned such to him.

He had grimaced with the air of one intimately familiar with the notion and caring not one whit for the whims of fate.

"He is the Prince That Was Promised," the voice echoed in her mind as she absentmindedly continued to read the rest.

It was on the final pages describing the events of 1998 that she saw a note that surprised her.

Harry Potter was formally adopted as Herakles Potter-Black and took up his seats on the Wizengamot during the opening of the Winter Session. Lord Potter-Black also announced the adoption of his son Edward Remus Regulus Potter-Black – formerly his godson Edward Remus Lupin – and formalized the boy's status as Heir Potter-Black.

Adopted. She had thought Teddy his natural son, legitimized as his heir for the nonce but it seems Lord Potter-Black had instead taken in his godchild, whatever that term meant.

"Mama, mama!" Aegon beamed. "Look, dagin rawr!"

Smiling fondly at her son, Elia placed the book on the side table as she made her way to him.

"Is that a dragon, my love?" she asked, reaching out to tickle him beneath his chin.

He giggled, his carefree laughter a balm to her soul. Her precious boy, heir to the Iron Throne and unknowing of the death of his Father; it allowed him to live in innocence for the time. It was nearly enough to have Elia request that Harry not search for a way to return them to return to Westeros, but the selfish part of her wanted to see home again.