Title: The Lyrium Ghost

By: Aina Song

Fandom(s): Harry Potter/ Dragon Age II

Genre: Yaoi

Rating: PG-15

Warning(s): Crossover; AU; OOC; Language; Excess Blood; Mentions of Character Death; Flashback(s) to Death Scene; DA2 Direct Quotes and Spoilers.

Pairing(s): Anders/Harry x Fenris

Reviews: Yes, please!

Author's Note: Standard Disclaimer. This story was not written for money. Italics = thought, messages, the Fade.

Teaser: When Harry's magic unlocks a lifetime of hidden memories, he decides to take matters into his own hands to settle a number of wrongs – both recent, and long-ago.

Chapter Nine – "He's…"

The boy gripped his arm, ducking his head down, as though fearing abject rejection. "Hello…"

Varric cast a glance toward Era'harel, who smiled and gave an encouraging nod. With a heaving sigh that seemed to release more than a simple breath, the dwarf crossed the room until he stood before the embodied spirit. Silence hung heavily for a moment. Varric brought his thick hands up to shakily cradle the boy's face before dropping them down to his shoulders. His eyes were suddenly older than ever, showing all the years he had lived, the ages he had seen born and die. "Will you be able to get back?"

Cole's entire demeanor crumbled. He looked very vulnerable, indeed. "You don't want me here…?"

"No!" Varric shook his head wildly. "I'm not saying that! No, Blondie told me the Fade has been…"

"Dying."

He flinched, "Yeah. And if the Fade isn't there… what will happen to you?"

The deceptively youthful-looking spirit offered a saddened smile. "I will disappear."

Varric's grip tightened noticeably around the boy's shoulders, but Cole made no attempt to free himself. His doe-like eyes never wavered. "The ache is bone-deep, Varric. I will welcome the rest."

A choked cry escaped the dwarf, and 'Harel felt a tightness swell in his own throat as he witnessed his old friend pulling the spirit into a fierce, desperate embrace.

~o~

Era'harel entered his library and paused, bemused. Lucius Malfoy was sitting sequestered with his son upon a reading chaise beneath a large window, while Severus seemed to stand guard in front of them, wand held cautiously at his side. All three were staring across the room. Grapple stood before a low table, looking somehow patiently annoyed, a look only goblins appeared able to master. Set upon the table was a small chest and a smaller hatched box.

It took a moment, but eventually his presence was noticed. "Lord Anderfel," Grapple greeted him. His hand rested atop the chest; "The item you requested was located and retrieved without consequence."

He nodded his head in thanks, stepping further into the room. "I do not doubt Gringotts' efficiency, but it would ease my mind to hear it aloud. Will the removal be in any way discoverable?"

"No," the goblin answered, unoffended. "And when you have done as you need, we will return it with no one the wiser."

Malfoy Senior looked back and forth between the two, before settling his incredulous gaze upon their host. "You convinced a goblin to steal from a vault they are sanctioned to guard?"

"Borrow," 'Harel corrected with a smirk. "We have every intention of sending it back."

The blond aristocrat nearly sputtered at that.

He motioned to the smaller box. "I expect that one gave you a bit more trouble."

"She wishes it returned whole, if you please."

Chuckling, the young mage lord nodded. "I'm fairly confident I can fulfill such a request."

Grasping as high up 'Harel's arm as he can reach, the goblin Grapple stepped back with a nod and apparated away. Era'harel held up a hand, forestalling any questions. Moving around the table, he pulled out a chair and sat down. "I suspect you know me well enough to know that I will not let sleeping dogs lie." He motioned toward the box and chest before him; "What Grapple has brought me were tools toward Voldemort's immortal reign, but they are also keys to his defeat."

"How?" Draco wondered.

"What are they," was Severus' more pragmatic question, as the professor stowed his wand away.

"I will not say." He gestured for peace when Severus looked ready to argue. "It is magic most foul, and when he is vanquished, I will destroy all knowledge of it, that it may never be discovered again."

"Magic isn't evil," Malfoy Senior spoke up, seemingly reluctant to contradict the young mage. "It is only intent that can be labeled light or dark."

"You saw my memories," he softly reminded. "Even with the best of intentions, there are just some things that must never be attempted."

The three glanced uneasily at each other, and Era'harel was gladdened that they understood and seemed to take his words to heart. "What I am about to do," he spoke again, bringing the subject around full-circle, "I usually do alone. It is neither dangerous, nor difficult. For me. But I ask you… I am trusting you, to not disturb me or interfere in any way. Liken it to sleepwalking; it would be unwise to wake me."

Though it was clearly written in their expressions that they were brimming with curiosity and questions, each nodded their agreement. Giving a small reassuring smile, Era'harel settled back in the chair and let his head drop toward his chest, closing his eyes…

~o~

He was greeted by the two he had freed before, and they welcomed him anxiously. The dark young man held the boy, who gripped its older counterpart tightly, face buried in the other's side. He looked upon them with growing sympathy, knowing their trepidation. Turning, he let his gaze fall upon the twin mounds of writhing tar he had brought with him. With a heavy sigh, he plunged his hands into their unclean auras and set his magic alight.

Behind him, he could hear the elder shard cry out in pain, and the younger whimper in dismay. Hardening his heart, he let his magic do its work. The shards behind him continued to let their anguish known, but he pushed on. The wait was a distressingly long few seconds, before at last the mounds of tar flashed brightly under a last swell of his magic – revealing a golden cup and a diamond diadem – and blinked out of existence. He took a deep breath, feeling his magic settle once more beneath his skin.

A tug at his cloak drew his attention. Turning, he saw the boy stare up at him with wide eyes and a trembling pout. Era'harel lightly tousled the boy's hair, earning a shy smile for his efforts. Standing, he turned to the older shard, which had collapsed to the ground.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes," the man rasped breathlessly. It lifted a hand to rub at the center of its chest; "I feel a weight, now. It hurts."

'Harel looked upon the shard with every pity. "I would apologize, but…"

Both shards quickly shook their heads in denial. "Don't," the older shard insisted, dark grey eyes unwavering.

~o~

Blinking his eyes open, the young mage could not halt a slow smirk at the sight of his three guests dozing quite comfortably together upon the small chaise. He cleared his throat. Loudly.

Severus Snape startled awake first, rousing the other two. The dark professor narrowed his eyes upon seeing their host, casting a wandless Tempus. "You didn't move for an hour."

"My apologies," Era'harel offered sincerely, though still unable to reign in his smirk. "Pardon my catnap. Kreacher."

The house elf appeared, looking up at his mage lord expectantly.

"Please return to Gringotts and inform Grapple that I have done as I needed, and that he may reclaim the items at his earliest convenience."

Kreacher nodded, popping away. Moments later, both the chest and the box vanished from sight.

"Harry?"

The young mage turned, giving Draco his attention.

"Would Magic be offended… if I asked to learn to wield it as you do?"

Chuckling, 'Harel shook his head. "I told you; you are one of Her chosen. But we would have to start from the beginning. Please accept that there are no shortcuts toward what you are asking. What I do is wandless – your core would have to learn to focus itself without a conduit."

Draco nodded, eyes staring distractedly at his hands as he seemed to take that in. The two older men exchanged a glance over his head, and Lucius spoke up. "I believe we might benefit from this training, as well. If you deem us capable, of course."

"Of course," he smiled. He summoned a handful of thin tomes from one of the higher shelves, settling them upon the table. "These lay out the founding theories of the magics I learned."

"Homework?" Draco smirked.

Era'harel gave another chuckle, appreciating the irony. "I won't expect several feet of parchment to prove your understanding."

Severus Snape snorted, rolling his eyes at the not-so-subtle jab toward his own teaching techniques.

"Take the evening to read them," he suggested. "I will gladly answer any questions you may have before we move on to your practical lessons."

There came a knock upon the library doors, one of which swinging open to reveal Varric and Cole. Both were undisguised; Varric stood predictably bold, while Cole hovered shyly behind him, head ducked down. 'Harel was unconcerned by their decision to reveal themselves. This was his manor, secured by his own wards. Everyone in this room was a friend. They were safe here.

"You look familiar," Severus quietly spoke up.

Varric huffed a short laugh. "I was in those memories Blondie let you peek into."

"Blondie?" Lucius blinked, looking unsure whether to take offense.

"He means me," the young mage lord answered, standing and moving away from the table. "Varric has a fondness for nicknames. And if you'll recall, my hair was considerably lighter in those memories."

"We've been waiting," the dwarf reminded.

Era'harel winced, remembering that Severus had mentioned an hour had passed while he had been in the Fade. "Grapple had retrieved the items I'd requested. I'd taken the opportunity, and cleansed them."

Varric nodded. Behind him, Cole was playing with the frayed cuffs of his sleeves. The boy was mumbling uncertainly under his breath, seeming unable yet to meet anyone's gaze. Varric had a light grip around his elbow, as though unwilling to let the boy disappear after their unexpected reunion. "Do you need to rest a while?" The dwarf asked.

'Harel gave his old friend a small smile. "No. We have everything we need."

"Shall we keep ourselves occupied, and out of your way?"

He turned his gaze to Lucius, who had asked that question. His three guests were looking on him with a mixture of wariness and curiosity, but it was clear they did not want to invade his privacy again so soon after the last time. 'Harel felt awash in another wave of appreciation for this family that seemed so seamlessly to be accepting him as one of their own. "Thank you," he responded, with every sincerity. Touching each on the shoulder in passing, he exited the library.

~o~

Varric tugged hard, the canvas falling heavily to the floor and stirring up small clouds of dust. The casket stood in all its glory, its glass covering shimmering under the glow of floating candles. Cole shifted his weight from side to side nearby, hugging himself anxiously with one hand lifted to worry at the collar of his shirt.

Era'harel smoothed his hand over the glass surface. Varric slowly moved to the opposite side, and together they moved the glass away and against the wall. Swallowing thickly, 'Harel reached a tremoring hand to the white fluff haloing the elf's head and carefully threaded his fingers through those tawny strands for the first time in countless ages.

"Kindling hope, dare to breathe, lungs swelling, heart aching…"

"Blondie?"

He let out a small sigh, drawing his hand away. "I'm alright, Varric." Summoning what he needed, he gently rubbed a bit of phoenix ash across the elf's brow and placed a softly luminous yellow feather upon the elf's chest. He coated the Tevinter amulet with his magic, murmuring an unfamiliar chant before placing it down with the feather. He barely acknowledged the shuffling sounds of Varric joining Cole across the room and out of the way. Drawing in a slow breath, he gathered his magic together in his hands and continued the chant.

The candles all flared, before each shrinking their flames into a shy flickering glow, dousing the walls and corners of the room in ominous reaching shadows. All of his strength fled him as he uttered the last syllable, and he could vaguely sense two pairs of hands bracing him and keeping him on his feet. Then there was another sound, as though the earth itself was sighing, and he lifted his head.

A deep green gaze had settled upon them, watching them with vague curiosity. Era'harel felt a small tug within his chest at seeing those eyes again at last, but could not deny that something felt… off. The elf continued looking upon them calmly, unbothered by suddenly being alive again, unmoved by his unfamiliar surroundings.

Cole shuddered, flinching closer to 'Harel's side and hiding his face in the young mage's shoulder. Varric took a little longer to understand, and then seemed unable to tear his own very wide gaze away.

Era'harel's stomach lurched. He curled in on himself, fighting his body's very physical rejection of what he was seeing. His heart bled in agony, and he tried to shove down the horror lodging itself in his throat.

"He's…"

Author's Note: I know my readers have been very eager for this update, and will likely feel a very strong desire to strangle me for ending this chapter in such a way. To the first, I can only ask yet again for patience. I work full-time, and lately with a great deal of overtime besides. It is not my decision, and I cringe counting the hours I put in, but I choose to stay with this job. I hope my readers can respect that. Please know that I love writing this story as much as you love reading it, and I will never give up on it.

As to the cliffhanger, well... I'm sorry to say that I had always intended to end whichever chapter included the ritual in such a way. I want the next chapter to go deeper into their reaction, moving into how it might be resolved, before devolving in an unwelcome interruption through which to divert their negative emotions. That is all I can say for now, as all of this is still in my head, and subject to change.

I welcome any and all CONSTRUCTIVE criticism and, as always, look forward to your reviews as motivation to keep this going. Ta.