So I was given the challenge to write a creaturefic Harrymort without Good!Voldie/Bad!Dumbles. I took it a step forward, and I will not be using Ron/Hermione/Weasley!bashing. Hope you enjoy!
There were very few moments in which the Burrow could ever be considered quiet. The Weasley family was always full of chaos, full of sound, full of life. And honestly, Harry loved it. He preferred the lively chatter of the Weasley household to the sterile silence of the Dursley's.
But at 11:54 on July 30th, the Burrow was probably at its quietest. Everyone was sleeping, recovering from the aftermath of rescuing Harry from the Dursley's, as well as preparing for Bill and Fleur's upcoming wedding. Sure, there was still noise, what with the Weasley men and their penchant for snoring, but it was calming background noise.
Harry was probably the only person still awake, as he sat on the front steps to the house. In his hands, he held a small digital watch (which he may or may not have swiped from Dudley's room, not that the other would notice its absence).
But the digital watch didn't work inside the house (too many wizards and residual magic), but he could watch the display while he was outside. True, Harry probably could have used a clock inside the house (as soon as he found a clock that was actually a clock), but after so many years, Harry had built the habit of counting down the minutes until his birthday.
"Harry?"
Turning his green eyes from the watch, Harry looked up to see Hermione standing in the doorway. In her hands was a mug (and from the smell, Harry could guess it was hot chocolate). "How long have you been out here?"
Harry smiled softly, "About fifteen minutes…" He admitted, because there really wasn't much point in lying to Hermione, "Why aren't you asleep?"
"Do you really think we'd go to sleep without you where you're supposed to be?" From behind Hermione, Ron stepped into view, carrying two mugs, "Who knows what trouble you'd get yourself into?" He smiled tiredly, "Tea, or coco?"
"Coco, please…" Harry chuckled as Ron handed him one of the mugs before taking a seat next to him on the steps.
Hermione took her place on Harry's other side, "So what are you doing out here?"
Harry looked back down at the watch in his hand, taking a drink of coco, "Just counting down the minutes…"
11:56
"Do you always insist on doing this alone?" Ron chuckled, sipping his tea.
"Can you imagine the Dursley's staying up with me?" Harry couldn't help but grin, "But at least this time, I get to be with you instead of your owls."
"Yeah, Pig isn't all the great of company."
Harry couldn't help but laugh at the image of Pig at a birthday party. "No, I think I prefer this."
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Hermione got up quickly, setting her coco on the step before heading back into the house. After a minute or so, she returned with two wrapped presents, "Nothing completes a birthday like presents."
A smile spread across Harry's face as he reached for the presents, "What did you get me?"
Ron smacked Harry's hand away, "Hey, it's not your birthday yet, Harry. You've still got—" he looked at the watch, "two minutes."
"Since when did you become a stickler for the rules?"
"Since we don't want to spoil the surprise." Ron chuckled, "This isn't just any birthday, Harry. This is your coming of age." He nudged Harry with his shoulder, "This is the big one…"
"And you deserve to have a proper birthday, especially if we're going to be running around the country for the next few months." Hermione nodded.
The trio fell silent as they reminded themselves of the herculean quest that lay before them.
"We can do this…" Ron murmured, though none of them were sure whether it was an an affirmation, or a question.
"Of course we can." Hermione nodded, "But right now, let's focus on Harry no longer being a minor."
Harry snorted, "You make me sound so young when you say it like that, Hermione."
"Well you are the baby of this group."
"Yeah, well this baby has to stop a homicidal maniac from taking over the world."
"Again."
There was a small chuckle between the three of them, before they settled into comfortable silence. They took sips of their drinks, leaned on each other, and watched as the minutes ticked by.
"Do you want us to do a countdown?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Nah, the watch will do that." Harry smiled softly, watching the glowing digits of the watch.
11:59:50
11:59:51
11:59:52
11:59:53
11:59:54
11:59:55
11:59:56
11:59:57
11:59:58
11:59:59
Harry didn't see the watch tick over to midnight. He wasn't even aware that the midnight had even come. Because the moment midnight had struck, Harry's world went black.
—
Ever since his resurrection, the connection between the Dark Lord and Harry Potter's mind had been growing stronger. It had been useful in manipulating Potter into going to the Department of Mysteries. And it was quite amusing to torment Potter with his rage.
But for the entire experience both of them had with the bond, Voldemort had always been in control of what Potter experienced.
So when midnight struck, and the sensation of agonizing pain seared through the Dark Lord, needless to say, it was unexpected.
After the agony came the visions.
He was in the countryside. Most likely Briton still, knowing Potter's habits. And the ramshackle hut of a house didn't do much to boost his opinion of the setting. Honestly, surely the Order could find better safe houses…
But as much as Voldemort could spent hours critiquing the Order's shortcomings, but there focus of his vision required his attention.
Potter was sprawled on the front steps, with his usual flunkies, the Mudblood and the Blood Traitor, on either side. Both were calling out his name, but the Boy Who Lived was unresponsive, limp in their arms.
But in an instant, the limp body of Potter began to contort, twisting out of his companions arms with superhuman strength. Limbs were stretching and reforming to the point that parts of his clothing were beginning to rip. Interesting, to say the least. No doubt years of neglect were being forcibly reversed.
But then Potter's spine began to become more pronounced through his shirt, the bones sharpening and eventually erupting through the shirt as beautiful (if blood-covered) spikes of emerald green.
"Harry!" The Mudblood cried, her eyes wide with shock and horror. The Blood Traitor couldn't speak, but judging by the sickly pallor on his face, he echoed the girl's sentiment.
There were scales spreading over Potter's body, the same stunning emerald that studded his back: patches down his arms, collaring his neck, and even decorating the hollows of his cheeks. And that was just what was visible, no doubt there was more. As the scales reached Potter's hands, the tips of his fingers began to lengthen, sharpening into razor-like claws.
But then Potter's eyes opened, wide and unseeing. Voldemort was well aware of the color of Potter's eyes, but he could note the luminescent quality in the moonlight. That, and the fact that Potter's pupils were now nothing more than slivers of black in the glowing green.
"Oh sweet Merlin…" The Blood Traitor finally spoke, trying to keep Potter's thrashing to a minimum.
Up until that moment, Potter had been silence in his violent transformation. No moans of agony, no cries of pain or fear, not even a gasp of shock.
So when Potter opened his mouth, revealing sharp fangs behind his blood red lips, and let out an inhuman shriek, it was quite unsettling, even to the Dark Lord.
The shrieks sounded like nothing more than screams of pain and agony at first, drawing the attention of the sleeping inhabitants of the hovel as lights began to flicker to life inside.
But as the members of the Order made their way to where the trio were located, the shrieks escaping from Potter's mouth because more understandable.
To Voldemort, at least. The spitting hisses were not meant for the human ear.
"…My sssoul…" Potter shrieked, the Parseltongue words laced with pain, "I hunger…my sssoul…"
Before Voldemort could hear more, or see the Order's reaction to Potter's transformation, the vision ended. The Dark Lord opened his eyes to find that he was still seated in his chair in front of the fireplace in his chambers. Nagini was curled in his lap, in a state of aggitation.
"Massster, what isss it?" His familiar hissed lowly, "What causssesss you sssuch pain?"
"Fret not, my dear." The Dark Lord allowed his hand to caress Nagini's head, "It isss jussst the Potter boy. There hasss been an…interessting development…"
—
When Harry opened his eyes, his body felt as if he had done ten rounds of "Harry Hunting" with Dudley and his groaned. He should have expected as much from falling asleep on the front steps…
Though when Harry spied the horrified look on both Ron and Hermione's faces, as well as the fact the rest of the Weasley family was up and circled around him, he could guess that there was more to his sore body than sleeping in a poor position.
"Harry…" Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, "You're awake…"
"How long was I out?" Harry blinked. Had he passed out again?
"About a minute and a half, Harry." Hermione nodded, checking the discarded watch.
There was a pause before Harry decided to speak again, "Then why do I have the feeling this isn't an early birthday party?"
Before anyone could answer him, Harry carefully got to his feet. He stumbled slightly, but Ron was quick to reach out and stable Harry by grasping his shoulders. Clutching Ron's arms for support, Harry smiled down at his friend in thanks.
Hold on…
Harry looked down, to see if Ron was standing on a lower step. But no, they were both standing on the same step, and Harry was looking down at Ron.
"How am I taller than you?" Harry whispered.
Ron gave Harry a weak smile, "I think that's the least of your worries, mate."
That was when Harry saw the state of his hands wrapped around Ron's biceps, from the sage green scales to the blood crusted claws. But as soon as Harry could comprehend what he was seeing, the claws shrunk back and the scales dissolved into his skin.
Harry looked back to meet Ron's eyes, "You saw that, right?"
Ron nodded, "It's not just your hands, Harry."
By now, Harry was about to start hyperventilating. He needed to see what had happened to him. Pushing his way past where Fred was standing with the rest of the Weasley family, Harry made his way into the Burrow.
The rest of the Order was making their way from where they were sleeping, and their shocked looks at seeing Harry didn't do much to comfort him. But he was used to strange looks.
Screams, not so much.
Harry had to cover his ears at the sound of Fleur's terrified screams. The Veela was only partially down the staircase, and her usual peaceful beauty was now contorted in absolute horror. Bill wasted no time in rushing to his fiancee's side.
"Fleur, it's just Harry!" Bill grasped the Veela's shoulders tightly.
But the blonde's only response was to hide behind her soon to be husband, "Do no' let 'im 'urt me!" She cried, trembling behind Bill's frame.
Harry shrunk away, trying to hide himself from Fleur's terrified gaze.
"He's not going to hurt you, Fleur. It's Harry!" Ron shook his head, stepping in front of Harry to keep him out of the Veela's view.
"'E iz Lamia!" Fleur shrieked, "'e iz going to eat me!"
Harry could not listen anymore. Bolting from behind Ron, he rushed to the closest washroom to get a good look at his reflection.
He didn't even look like himself.
There were green scales running up his neck and face, his cheekbones were now high and prominent. His hair was no longer an uncontrollable mess, and only now did Harry realize that he was not wearing his glasses, yet maintained perfect vision.
And the green eyes he had received so many comments on were now nearly serpent-like with slitted pupils.
But mere moments after Harry noted his snake-like appearance, the scales and spines disappeared into Harry's now flawless skin, leaving only the perfect, scarless flesh behind.
Not even Harry's scar on his forehead remained.
"What the hell is wrong with me…" Harry whispered, looking up in his reflection to where Ron and Hermione were standing behind him. "What the hell is a Lamia?"
Neither could answer him. Hermione shook her head slowly in defeat. "I don't know Harry…"
Well, there's the first chapter! Let me know what you think, and what you think should happen to Ron and Hermione!