Lantern of Shadow (Book I): There's Always Darkness In The Light

Chapter 1: The Fateful Night

" I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light, things that have saved my life over and over again so that there is really only one logical conclusion. I need darkness as much as I need light."

Barbara Brown Taylor.

Hadrian James Potter witnessed silently as his mother succumbed from the powerful green light.

He watched his mother's magic slowly dimmed and finally left her body to form a shield around him, under the shimmering shield he could hear words of comforts and humming in his mother's voice. Then, he focused on the looming figure in front of him.

The 'man' before him produced the same green light that hit his mother before, only now it is targeted at him. Instead of hitting him the green light rebounded by his mother's shield and went sailing towards the figure. Hadrian witnessed the same green light that took her mother away engulfing the figure, decimating its body completely and leaving a floating blue orb.

The toddler gurgled happily and made an effort to reach the circling orb above him, he felt an uncharacteristic elation towards the orb, as if it has a connection to him and that connection felt right and complete. The orb made a few circling motions before descending and stopping in front of Hadrian's nose.

The toddler felt a slight probe in his mind as if the orb was asking permission, knowing that the orb wouldn't hurt him he let it settle in and it went inside through Hadrian's forehead, leaving a lightning bolt scar as a memoir.

Feeling as if someone had been watching the whole time the toddler looked up to find a strange cloaked figure standing in the doorway of his bedroom. He couldn't see its face at first but then it moved forward towards the light. The man stepped forward towards the cot and stroke the baby's cheek with its long bony finger. Hadrian giggled at the touch and grabbed the skeleton man's finger.

The skeleton man chuckled, "Little Hadrian Potter. You intrigued me." He murmured under his breath while letting the toddler in front of him plays with his boney finger. "I now know why my sister chooses you as one of her mark-bearer. I am positive that your life will have many adventures that rivals' stories of old.".

Hadrian didn't understand what the scary skeleton is saying, then he got distracted by a surge of magic appearing before the skeleton man. A mysterious woman with long brown hair and vibrant violet eyes wearing a white elegant robe appeared from thin air. The warmth emitted from the beautiful lady made Hadrian so happy that he gurgled happily when the woman picked him up from his cot.

"Lady Magic." Gruff the man. The lady smiled charmingly but didn't answer his greeting, instead, she turned her attention to baby Hadrian. She lovingly kissed the boy's forehead and from her kiss two runes (*) materialize. The runes glowed and faded out afterwards, Hadrian yawned sleepily the warmth from the runes began to seep through his body, and slowly fell asleep on her arms as she rocked him gently.

"You just gave him your marks."

"I did, yes. He will be my champion and I have faith in him that he will be able to save the Magic in this universe and that includes my blessed beings." She sighed heavily while looking at the baby in her arms. "I can't dally any longer Death. Can you feel it weakening? The Magic? My Blessing".

"It is... deteriorating." He paused. "But him? What makes him so special? I do not understand."

"Fate gave me the idea and Destiny made it all possible. Hadrian has ancient blood in his veins, far more ancient than Slytherin's. The combination of all those ancient root and Lily's heritage, this child may unlocked dead magic and bring forth new ones. With that ability I am positive that he will be able to restore the magic in this land." Said the Lady as she gently lowered the sleeping baby into the cot and conjured a velvet light blanket on him. "There are others alike like him, spread across the world, guarding my Blessing as we know. But for him, he shall face many challenges and with Slytherin by his side... I can only hope he will manage to unite everyone in order to restore my Blessing. I also hope that Slytherin will see things in a different lens by living with Hadrian."