A.N.- This is just a small experimentation, just to see if other people have a similar interest and want this to continue on. My first crossover story! Yay!
The entire won't be canon or there would be parts where I would add my own material into the story…just so everybody knows. I'm undecided on pairings thus far, for Harry I clarify and I'm open to discussion about this. I'm also not sure whether to turn Harry into a Witcher or not, I might just make him take on the world as a human with talented magical abilities.
Crossover Harry Potter and the Witcher
Chapter 1: Loss
"What am I fighting against, you ask?...I plan to destroy the manifestation of destiny and in doing so…allow the world to move on its accord." – man known as the moniker 'The Reaper', 1272
He saw nothing but darkness, felt nothing but a coldness that made his spine curl.
"I'll hold him off, take Harry and go!"
The male voice yelled before a flash of sickly green light echoed which was followed by a feminine scream and the sound of a body dropping heavily to the ground. A cold chuckle, tone filled with a mixture of amusement and mockery echoed as a dark hooded individual looked down on the body of the man he had just killed.
"Step aside foolish girl…" The robed figure snarled before the pathetic scene before him, a stick pointing menacingly at the red haired woman standing in front of him, arms spread wide.
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" The woman begged.
"I will not repeat myself again, step aside now." The hooded man warned.
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead…please, have mercy…have mercy…" The woman continued to beg but was struck down by a green jet of light sent her falling lifelessly to the ground. The dark hooded figure then leveled his wand at the small babe who stared back at the stick pointing at it. He could see it now, the gleaming red eyes of the dark hooded figure that seemed to bore through his entire being. The man's lips curled distastefully as he mouthed something inaudible and everything flashed vibrant green.
Immediately shooting up from his bed, a boy with long thick midnight black hair was now fully alert with adrenaline rushing rapidly through his entire body. It was that dream again, just who were those people? Shaking his head, the boy got out of bed and got dressed in his usual attire, which consisted of a white shirt, dark slacks, and flat heeled shoes.
"Ah, Hadrian sweetie…good morning." A woman with mahogany colored hair and warm green eyes kissed him gently on the cheek as he climbed onto his chair with a plate of eggs and slices of bacon waiting for him. The mere smell of it made his stomach growl like a starving Fiend.
"Good morning, mama." The boy, Hadrian responded with a shy smile.
"You look a bit pale…" The woman said as she placed a hand on his forehead to which he attempted to shrug off with childlike petulance.
"Might have to get that Witcher over mother…my poor little brother looks to be affected with vampirism." Across from Hadrian, a beautiful young woman in her late teens with long flowing mahogany hair, heart shaped face and brown doe eyes grinned widely at her said younger sibling who was less than amused.
"There's a Witcher here?" Hadrian asked, fascination in his tone while his mother merely shook her head with disapproval.
"Yes, apparently he and a young girl arrived around midnight…" His older sister said in a hush-hush tone as Hadrian nodded, his hair bouncing as he did so. He had heard of them, vaguely from the tales of his parents, that they were monster slayers that underwent some strange trial that gave them extraordinary powers yet stripped them of their humanity. Additionally, the young boy had learnt that there use to be more of their kind but as civilization evolved and further developed, Witchers had become relics of a past long forgotten. Even so, the tales that his parents had recounted to him were the type of stories that would easily trigger the imaginations of any impressionable young curious child.
"Where is Father?" The younger child then asked, surveying the kitchen.
"He's went to your Uncle Simon's forge…he should be coming back." His mother responded, as she sat down next to him.
"Hmm, maybe I should alert the Witcher that a Waterhag is on the loose and is now terrorizing children." Hadrian shot back, matching his older sister's smile.
"Selina…quit picking on your brother...its unbecoming of you." Hadrian smirked as his sister looked affronted.
"Hadrian, quit antagonizing your sister. I've raised you to be a better boy than that." Now it was Hadrian's turn to pout as Selina smiled.
Whatever banter the two children were planning on unleashing against each other was quenched as a man opened the front door of their house and shot them both a wide bright smile. He was tall with broad shoulders with untamed black hair and deep brown eyes that were identical to his daughter's.
"Good Mourning, my two wonderful rapscallions…" The man greeted both Hadrian and Selina with a twinkling smile and proceeded to ruffle their hair, which caused both of them to shoot indignant stares towards him.
"And there is my man-child of a husband…" The woman shook her head as the man dipped down to give her a peck on the cheek.
"My dear Alice…cruel and sharp your tongue pierces me deeply, yet I will not waver..." The man brought a hand to his chest dramatically before taking a seat next to his daughter who only rolled her eyes at their parents antics while Hadrian scrunched up his face at the mushiness on displayed.
"What did the Witcher want, Joseph?" Alice asked uneasily, her eyes darted towards her son with protectiveness.
"He was on a contract set up by Horace and his recent livestock problem and wanted to ask some questions." Joseph responded, digging into his breakfast.
"Was that it?" Alice responded.
"Now that you asked, he did say something along the lines of sensing something peculiar as he arrived in this village…didn't hear anything after that, something about some hocus pocus about being similar to a Source, whatever that is." Joseph waved his hand off.
"Did you ask the Witcher whether they recruit children into their ranks or not?" Selina asked with excitement in her voice.
"Selina!" Alice chided her daughter.
"What?" The young woman defended herself, "Father was curious about it too. Tell her father."
Joseph was obviously startled as his wife's gaze centered on him.
"You didn't." Was all she said.
"Well…I asked it in more of jest and the lad seemed to treat it as such…" The man seemed to shrink and fidget nervously. Alice sighed and decided to let it slide as the family continued their meal in relative peace. After washing and drying their plates and utensils, Alice informed her children of her imminent market trip as Selina and Hadrian rushed out of their home to walk around the small village, hopeful in catching a glimpse of the Witcher their parents and the whole village were talking about. However, their fellow village neighbors were rather tight lipped about it and many told them to go home, do something else or just sent them away with some snacks shoved into their hands.
The two siblings were planning on walking back home when they stumbled on a scene.
"Give it back!" An ashen haired girl shouted as two boys were throwing something back and forth while the girl struggled to get whatever they were tossing back. Hadrian watched as the girl stumbled and fell. Selina immediately marched towards them and caught the item in her hand as the two bullies stopped immediately as their eyes widened with fear.
"Well, well what have we here?…It would seem that your parents would soon be having a chat with you both." She said coldly as she watched the two young boys in front of her squirming. The two bullies blurted a half audible apology before scampering off, tails between their legs. Hadrian then slowly approached the ashen haired girl who had fell to her knees and offered a hand.
The first thing he noticed was that she had big, bright green eyes similar to his. The girl warily looked at his proffered hand for a split second before taking it as Hadrian lifted her up to her feet.
"Hi." Hadrian greeted.
"Hello." The ashen haired girl responded slowly.
"I'm Hadrian." He introduced himself.
"Cirilla…you can call me Ciri though." The girl allowed herself to smile as Selina approached the two and immediately locked the boy in a headlock.
"Ah, you were with the Witcher this morning, were you not?" She asked, giving what seemed to be silver necklace back to the girl as Ciri slowly nodded.
"Does he know where you are?" Selina asked as the smaller girl started to shift uncomfortably.
"No worries, my brother likes to wander off too…he has a terrible sense of direction." She winked at Ciri who grinned.
"Selina!" Both girls laughed at the glare Hadrian was shooting at them. However, Ciri felt a tinge of envy rise within her as she watched the two siblings argue good-naturedly with each other. It was a bitter reminder to herself of which she could never have as she watched Selina pull at her brother's cheeks as he struggled.
"Come, lets get you cleaned up." Ciri touched her cheek and grimaced at the dirt and soot she saw on her finger.
"So where are you headed towards?" Hadrian asked as the trio walked with the autumn breeze blowing gently against their faces.
"Kaer Morhen." Ciri responded.
"Is that where Witchers are trained?" Selina piped up.
"I suppose you could say that, yeah." Ciri responded.
"Do you not wish to become a Witcher?" Hadrian asked.
"I…don't know." Came the quiet response.
"I would like to travel…see the world." Selina said with a sigh as Hadrian nodded too. He loved his parents dearly and the village he was raised in but he would like to see what the world had to show him beyond the horizon.
Reaching their house, Selina went to grab a basin while Hadrian poured some water into it. After a quick wash, Ciri was drying her refreshed face with a towel.
"Thank you." She smiled as Selina waved her off.
"Now that's done and dusted…" Ciri's ears perked up as she saw the boy return with two wooden swords in his hands and beckoned her towards the backyard. There was a nice flat clearing present.
"You've handled a sword before?" Hadrian asked as he held out one wooden weapon to the girl.
"A tiny bit." Ciri responded as she took it and gave it a test swing. Hadrian said nothing as he readied his own wooden sword in a stance that was taught to him by his father before lunging. Selina merely watched on as she saw the two children 'play'. Blocking a heavy blow, Ciri immediately knew that she was facing an opponent who was fast, efficient and brutal in his style as he skillfully blocked or dodged every single blow she attempted to land on him while still managing to swing out towards her.
Parrying an upward slash, the ashen haired girl countered with a forceful straight jab that narrowly missed brushing against the dark haired boy's left cheek as he shifted his head quickly towards his right in anticipation of the move. Ciri felt adrenaline running rapidly in each of her four limbs like never before as she glanced over at Hadrian who was breathing evenly, his eyes never leaving hers. She lunged towards him, their wooden swords clashing against each other as they once again traded blows.
Hadrian made note that his opponent's blows had gotten faster but he could not feel a tad disappointed as he had expected much more from a person that was trained by a Witcher. His emotions must have been picked up despite his even face as he saw Ciri's expression morphed into one of anger as charged at him and a flash of cyan light promptly filled his eyes.
"Teleportation?!" He thought to himself as his eyes widened a tad for the briefest second as the ashen haired girl vanished before he felt the cyan light flash behind him and he reacted. Selina could only watch on with wide eyes as the ashen haired girl teleported behind her brother, wooden sword aimed towards his head as Hadrian bent his knees and twisted his body at an angle with a flexibility that even the most experienced dancers would be impressed at. The swing aimed at the back of his head ended up slicing air.
Ciri was in shock as not even attacking from behind could bring her victory and before she knew it, the wooden sword in her grasp was knocked out of her hand and clattered uselessly on the ground a few feet away from her.
"How?" Ciri stared at the wooden weapon lying motionlessly on the dirt ground. She was brought back to the present when she heard his footsteps approach.
"What are you?" Hadrian inquired as he strengthened the grip on his wooden sword, the maneuver he had just performed was a risky move that he had only began to learn recently from his father and if not done properly could cause damage to his back muscles. He had to give the girl credit to be the only person apart from his father to push him this far.
"I…" Ciri started, her mind racing to come up with an answer to a question that she had asked herself many times. "What am I?"
"I don't know." She quietly whispered as Hadrian could only stare incredulously at her.
"Tch, whatever." The green-eyed boy shrugged and picking up the second wooden sword, walked back into the house to store them away.
"Cheer up." Selina patted Ciri gently on her head as the ashen haired girl looked up at the taller girl.
"It's been a long time since my little brother has had a more than decent challenge. You did just fine." She finished as Ciri blushed.
"Where did Hadrian learn to fight like that?" Ciri asked courageously.
"Father was once a knight before he married mother and decided to settle down." Selina responded with a smile.
"Oh." Ciri replied. "Was that magic you just did…can all Witchers do that?" Selina asked, curiosity shining from her eyes.
Taken aback by the bluntness, Ciri stuttered. "I'm not sure…I haven't met many Witchers yet." Selina was about to respond when she felt a chilling sensation touch her right shoulder. Looking up, she saw snow descending upon the village as her little brother stepped out.
"Odd, snow this time of the year?..." Selina remarked, hand out.
"What's that…" Hadrian pointed out to the hill overlooking the village in front of him, eyes wide.
Two heads darted to where he was pointing at and gasps escaped from both girls as in the skies was a enormous vessel not dissimilar to a navy galley floating and sailing effortlessly in the air out of what seemed to be a portal of pure darkness. It had to be dream, a nightmare as Hadrian felt the blood running through his veins freeze as the vessel in the sky approached his home.
Then it happened, the screaming and surprised shouting amidst the loud noise of what seemed to be distorted barking of dogs and the clinking of heavy armor. Before Hadrian could process what was happening, two figures rushed in front of them.
One individual was clad in what he saw was a mixture or leather and metal armor but that was not the matter that caught his attention, it was the man's white hair and amber eyes not unlike that of a cat's that had him frozen. The man did not say anything but Hadrian could tell he was furious as he glared at Ciri for what seemed to be longest and simultaneously the shortest time before grabbing her and rushing off without speaking a word.
Before Selina and Hadrian could say anything, they felt a large and steady hand on their shoulder and looking up, they saw their father's grim face.
"Father-" Selina started but was silenced by what their father said next.
"I'm going to find your mother...take Hadrian and run!" Joseph said solemly. For some reason, the words seemed so very familiar for Hadrian.
"Father!" Selina protested as Joseph squeezed her shoulder.
"Run! You're in charge of Hadrian…it's up to you now! GO!" Joseph yelled and pushed his daughter away before drawing his blade and spinning around to block an oncoming sword with a clash of metal rang.
Selina with a resigned cry turned around and grabbing her little brother's hand made a run towards the woods.
Hadrian was resisting as he saw the back of his father who was currently engaging a figure clad in heavy black colored armor with a matching colored nefarious helmet with a white skull as the faceplate shrinking past his tear filled eyes.
"Let go Selina!" He screamed, tugging as his sister continued to run with his hand locked in an iron clad grasp in hers as the distance between him and his father grew.
"What are you doing?!..." He continued struggling as the grip hardened, he could no longer see his father.
"We have to go back for mother and father!" Bruises started to form and pain shot up his right arm yet his sister did not listen nor speak.
"Father!" His anguish scream was but one of many that fed into the chaos amidst other anguish cries. Soon there was nothing but silence as they were surrounded and engulfed by trees. However this peace was short lived as Hadrian's grief and tears were soon replaced by a fear that made his heart sink due to the sound of distorted growling and barking echoed his ears.
Noises of quick shuffling could be heard from behind them and it was gaining on them. Hadrian had never felt so tired, the struggling as well as the running had taken its toll as the barking, growling and shuffling continue to ring in his ears. He was broken from his trance like state that operated between reality and his thoughts when Selina stopped at the bottom of a tree.
"Sis-"
"Hadrian, remember the time when we were playing hide and seek and you revealed your perfect place to hide?" Selina spoke softly, kneeling to speak to her little brother, staring into his suddenly wide eyes.
He nodded.
"Can you get to that place again?" Selina asked as she placed both of her hands on her brother's rosy cheeks.
He nodded again.
Selina then hoisted him up to the lowest branch of the giant oak tree to which he caught and lifted himself safely on the branch. He then proceeded to climb up two branches. He then looked to his sister down below him to which he was given a thumbs up.
"Come on sis….come on up!" He said, the panic in his voice making it sound more like a croak.
"Hadrian," Seline spoke with a smile, "no matter what happens…you'll always be my bratty, little brother that I adore-"
"What the hell are you talking about? Stop talking rubbish Selina and take my hand!" Hadrian shouted, anxiously starting to climb down, his vision fogging up as he extended his hand as far as his body allowed it to extend.
"I know you'll become a great man, know that wherever I may be, I'll always be with you, so live Hadrian…" Tears rolled down Selina's eyes and down her cheeks.
"I love you, little brother." With a final beaming smile, Hadrian watched as young woman that was his best friend, partner-in-crime, playmate and sister turn away from his extended hand and instead ran in a different direction.
He wanted to scream, to shout but the approaching sound of growling as well as shuffling made his throat clamp up.
Then, he saw it. A distorted, twisted variant of what seemed to be a hound. However, it was unlike any hound he had ever seen as it simply looked wrong. Jagged razor sharp crystals covering its back with sharp claws at the end of each limb and scaly lizard like head with a jaw of serrated teeth and those eyes, eyes that were red like that of a ruby gemstone that shone maliciously. To Hadrian's terror, a second creature appeared from behind the first one and another one. He could only clutch onto the trunk of the oak tree with his life as a whole pack of those creatures appeared into his view.
The lead creature was sniffing the air, growling all the while salivating. Hadrian saw it slowly lift its head up but before it could do so entirely, a rock struck its head as it elicited an angry growl towards a direction which Hadrian could not see clearly. Then it barked at its fellow creatures and the entire pack resumed pursuit of whatever that surprised them. His mind was unable to process all that was said to him as he could only watch, paralyzed on the spot and unable to shout his sister's the time his mind had finished processing all that happened, she was gone as was the sounds of barking, growling and shuffling.
The concept of time was lost on him though he could see that it was night with the only source being the moon. He could hear no noise of any kind save his own breathing. It was as if everything that had happened during the span of this particular night had been a distant nightmare and that none of what he saw, heard or experience had ever happened.
Tentatively, he made his way down back to the ground. He had never felt so small surrounded by towering old oak trees. The air was chilly as the small boy hugged himself in an attempt to warm himself. He started in the direction he last saw his sister and started walking. It was not long before he was in a part of the woods that his father had specifically told him to stay away from. In the distance, he heard the sound of water flowing and ran towards it. Soon he found a stream that led him to the end of a cliff.
He took several steps towards the edge by the waterfall and looked down. His eyes widened and a lump formed in his throat as he saw a motionless body lying on the shore of the river below. The combination of fear, urgency and panic caused the small boy to slowly descend down the cliff edge via the uneven rock face. Tears flowed down his cheeks as the image of the unmoving body was burnt deep into his mind was all he could see.
He narrowly lost his footing as he misstep and in his haste to not let himself fall, deeply cut his left palm. The boy willed himself to not openly cry out in pain as he continued taking small steps and descended. As his feet came into contact with solid ground, he darted without a care in the world forward.
His run devolved into slow steps as he neared the body, reality obliterating all the hope he had and what remained of his optimism into oblivion.
"Sis?" Hadrian spoke as he knelt before his sister's still form.
No response.
"Sis?...Come one, we have to go home…"
Silence.
"It's not funny…wake up, please…" He reached his with his uninjured hand and tugged at his sister's arm.
Nothing.
His heart refusing to believe what his mind was telling him and that his sister would open her eyes with a mischievous grin and leap up with a dramatic shout that would make him fall on his bottom in surprise. She would then laugh at his credulousness in which he would pout at. When she remained motionless, tears that had been held back were finally released.
No longer having anything to care about, his silent weeping grew to anguished cries that filled the cold dark skies as he held onto Selina. Amidst his grief as he cried, rage grew within the small boy as he cursed the ones that took everything he loved from him, his inability to do anything but run and powerlessness that cost him his family and the world for allowing this to happen.
"Let her go, son…She's at peace" Hadrian froze, tears still rolling down his cheeks as he heard the voice of a man behind him. Slowly turning his head around, he saw a man dressed in a fitting brown tradesman jacket over a white shirt and dark slacks and brown knee length boots standing in a formal pose. Hadrian also noted that the man was bald and looked very normal but meeting the gaze of the stranger's brown eyes sent shivers down his spine, there was something disconcerting about them.
When Hadrian said nothing, the man then performed an articulate bow with a form that would make any noble envious.
"Gaunter O'Dimm, at your service." The man introduced himself.
"Hadrian…" Hadrian responded in a small tone, wiping the tears on his face with the back of his hand.
"Nice to meet you Hadrian." O'Dimm extended a hand with a smile which prompted Hadrian to return the gesture, as well as he could anyways.
"What are you doing in these parts of the woods, Mr. O'Dimm?...Father said that no one would venture this far." Hadrian asked, his curiosity raised despite his sadness due to having someone to talk to.
"Ah, your father seems to be a brilliant fellow..." O'Dimm scratched his head with a uneasy smile as he knelt down on one knee, "To be honest Hadrian, I'm lost."
"Oh…" Hadrian responded, then looked down. "I'm lost too." He smiled bitterly.
O'Dimm nodded with understanding as he inspected the boy in front of him.
"I'm sorry Mr. O'Dimm but I have to find a place to lay my sister…" Hadrian said as he bowed and turned away to start on his task to building a pyre. O'Dimm watched on in silence as the boy collected and carried, at times drag what wood he could by himself. Breathing hard, Hadrian surveyed at the untidy pile of wood that he had gathered into a small heap. Knowing what he had to next, he closed his eyes and approached the body of his sister.
"Would you like my assistance, Hadrian?" Hadrian opened his eyes with shock to see the strange man known as Gaunter still there, watching him. He turned to glance at his sister then back at O'Dimm and nodded.
To his amazement, O'Dimm raised extended his open hand and Selina's body started to float off the ground. Hadrian was rendered speechless as he watched the event unfold before his eyes. O'Dimm gently lowered the body of the deceased young woman onto the top of the pyre and inclined his head towards the small boy still staring at him with awe.
Shaking himself from his dazzlement, Hadrian approached the pyre with two rocks. He gritted his teeth as he struggled to produce fire as not even a spark would appear and was soon smashing the two rocks violently together, not the least caring that he was being observed.
He stopped when he heard the sound of fingers snapping and white-hot flames ignited before him from thin air, engulfing the pyre. The rocks fell from his hands as Hadrian slowly turned to face O'Dimm whose expression betrayed nothing. Knowing better than to prod, Hadrian backed up slowly and stood silently next to the enigmatic man who still had his head inclined and now had his eyes closed, while he himself stared into the flames that soon engulfed everything.
His pale hands curled into tight fists as his eyes were glued deeply into the flames.
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