The Shadows Solace Book I: The Growing Years Prequel

What forces a person to reach for the unknown and want to grab at something they didn't know existed or perhaps understand? To feel the need to grasp at something so completely opposite to their nature and cradle it to their chest as if it was theirs in the first place? For some people; it is easy to do, like simply removing a pair of shoes to put on another and walk away as if nothing changed. Even when they have no logical or explainable reason to do it. Then for others; the choice of change comes at a cost that no one ever would foresee nor want to pay.

They fight it; until they give in or realize that they cannot fight the change anymore.

As an old man who should have known better left an infant on the doorstep of his aunt and didn't look back to the child; not once even out of concern, he missed the verdant emerald gaze flash slightly red and did not bother to question the silence of the child.

No infant of a year and a few months of age would be content to simply lay on a concrete step all night. To not cry out once in discomfort or hunger or cold. Never mind the blanket around it with the warming charms that had been added by a woman who had left with the old man.

Harry James Potter was one year old; his parents had fought and died mere hours ago against a force they knew they had not stood a chance of once he had found them. Their son and heir had been orphaned during the last stages of a war he would hardly remember.

But the man who had murdered the parents had not expected the child to defeat him; even if temporarily. The pain and agony of defeat had torn a new fragment of the man's soul from him and it had sought safety within the child's body.

The child had not tried to keep it out and his magic had not tried to harm it; the spirit was unsure if that was because the boy was too young or some other factors. Regardless, the child and his powers had welcomed the soul that sought refuge. Now, the sentient spirit knew of the boy's magical potential and was determined to see him prosper and to survive.

It knew that the man of the main portion of the soul would object; at least at first, considering who the boy was. But, the fragment of the soul to the dark wizard could see opportunity and would not waste it. It too knew of the war that had cost the child so much; it was determined to see his host turn against those who dared to leave this magic child bereft of his own world as the world had ordained to do to him.

The fragment of the dark wizard within this child had decided to be honest to him once he was old enough to understand the decisions made by those who were in power. He would nurture the child's magic and growth where possible.

To make him more amenable to all types of magic and to be more acceptable by the man who would one day return and hopefully accept the boy as his. Whether as his horcrux and something to be kept safe, a follower underneath his command, or an equal who stood beside him; time would tell.

First thing though, the spirit of the dark lord would have to wait and to see how the boy's aunt and uncle responded to him being left there this way and with only a short letter by way of explanation.

He doubted they would like it; that and he very much also doubted Albus had even asked of them to consider raising the child should the war end and he was left orphaned.

He doubted Albus had explained too much of anything in the thick envelope that had a lot of parchment within. Ghosting over what was most important and leaving far too much to question without means to find answers.

For now, he used what energy he could to keep stray animals at bay. He did his best to keep the child calm and comfortable as the cool November morning was barely begun and as the warming charms began to wane.