Author's Notes: Yes, another new story. I couldn't get this one out of my head, so I decided to write it out for a while so I could drain the plot bunny and focus more on AIT. Please enjoy minna-san.
More Than Useless
Prelude: The Beginning
Riddle Manor, England
August 2nd, 1998
"Come out to die, Harry!" Voldemort crowed, his eyes fixed on the shadowy figure hidden behind one of his snake statues.
Harry Potter rolled his eyes, wondering when his nemesis would realize that that line was starting to get real old. 'Maybe he should spend less time plotting and more time coming up with better phrases to yell at his opponent' he thought absently, before coming out of his dark corner. He stopped feet away from Voldemort, who was now staring at him intensely with crimson eyes, and raised an eyebrow at the snake-like man.
Compared to the pale, scaly form of Voldemort, Harry was nothing short of impressive. His hair which he had started to grow out after Sirius' death in tribute to the man flowed past his shoulders and had a dark red tint to it. He was still short, due to malnutrition during his time at the Dursley's, but the weak muscles he had gained from Quidditch had strengthened into a wiry build. He was dressed in dark gray and black battle robes, and his cat-like green eyes gleamed in the shadowy throne room, without any glasses to hinder them.
Voldemort eyed his nemesis with no little surprise. What had happened to the scrawny, four-eyed, ignorant child he had battled so many times before? Granted he hadn't met Potter face-to-face since that little fiasco at the Ministry, but how could a child change so much in just three years? Had that Black traitor really meant so much to the boy?
Deciding that Potter's new look wasn't worth pondering over; Voldemort raised his wand and hissed out, "Crucio."
To his surprise and dismay, Potter merely twisted his body in a way that should have been impossible and side-stepped the spell completely! And then the brat had the utter gall to say, "Can't you do any better than that Snakey boy? Honestly, Crucio is fruitcake compared to some of the Dark Arts."
Harry was enjoying himself – while baiting Tom Riddle may not be good for one's health, it was always so much fun. He grinned as he side-stepped another Crucio and a nasty looking Cutting Curse – at least the old snake was getting some variety. Getting Unforgivables thrown at him all the time got a little boring. Now all he had to do was wait for the perfect moment to execute his plan and then Voldemort's reign of terror would be over.
Harry kept moving and started to build his magic – he had to get closer to Voldemort to finish this, but he needed to be prepared. As the Dark Lord threw yet another Crucio at him, Harry swept close and chanted one long sentence in one breath.
"Peragro ut mundus fretus noster nostri vita (1)."
Bright white light exploded in the room, gathering around Voldemort and Harry in particular. The snake-like man screamed as the magic hit bare scales, but Harry remained silent as a corpse, eyes fixed on his enemy's pale face. A large door-like portal opened behind Voldemort, long arms of pitch blackness reaching out to wrap around his skinny body. The old snake's screams grew louder as he came closer to the portal but were silenced abruptly as one of the dark arms wrapped around the lipless mouth.
Harry watched the portal pull in and close around Voldemort with dispassionate eyes. Another door opened nearby him, this one made of green and gold light and he smiled. He walked calmly through the door, leaving the throne room empty.
To the Order of the Phoenix and Others,
By now you have discovered I left on my own to go to Riddle Manor. I'm sure you're all properly furious with me (well except for Snape) and are planning a rescue plan or some other sort of nonsense. I'm telling you now – stop. When you get there both Voldemort and I will be gone. He has been banished to a dimension of Hell from which he can never return and must suffer forever for his crimes. The spell demanded the user to go to another dimension as well, as a sacrifice, and so I will have disappeared as well. To my friends, family and comrades, a few words of advice and gratitude:
Ron – The world isn't black and white. Not all Slytherins are bad, just as not all Gryffindors are good. Every house has its traitor. Don't make assumptions based on houses or appearance, because then you will only make an idiot out of yourself. Thank you for befriending this orphan boy, who thought no one could ever like him. And for Merlin's sake, ask Hermione out already!
Hermione – Books can't teach you everything, and not all authority figures are right. Everyone makes mistakes, even the supposed heroes. Learn that sometimes you don't always know best, and that there will be people who do better in things than you will, or you will be living a very unhappy life. Thank you for never leaving my side, even during my most crazy of schemes. Keep Ron in check (and for heavens sake go out with him already!).
Moony – Sirius loved you, and probably wouldn't want you to mope like you have been. Life goes on, Moony, and we just have to learn to live through all the hardships. Tonks is so very much in love you and I think that you should give her a chance. You, of all people, should know that age doesn't matter when it comes to love. Thank you for being there for me (and get some new clothes, you old cheapskate!).
Forge and Gred – An order from your beloved contributor – keep the pranks coming, and give the world something to laugh at. Never listen when someone tells you that your dreams will never get you anywhere.
Mrs. Weasley – I know you love your children, but you need to give them some space. There comes a time in every parent's life when they need to let their children go, so that they can grow and change. Keeping them wrapped in cotton will only hurt them in the long run. Thank you, however, for giving an orphaned boy his first hug and a home.
Mr. Weasley – Learn that sometimes you need to stand up to your wife, because she is not all-knowing when it comes to her children. Keep your love of all things Muggle, no matter what anyone thinks of it, because sometimes Muggles are wiser than Wizards. Thank you for giving me someone to look up to, and a person to lean on in my later years.
Ginny – You are the most wonderful girl I have known, and I wish I could have returned your feelings. I know you don't want any more big brothers, but unfortunately you have gained another one. Remember me Ginny, but don't grow into an old spinster with 39 cats (no offense Mrs. Figg!) just because your Dream Boy doesn't show up.
Snape – I cannot apologize for any of the antics of my father, because I never knew him. I will tell you this – thank you for being a constant in this orphaned boy's life, and for telling the truth even when others wouldn't. You brought me down in my arrogance, and taught me lessons that I needed to learn. This is my lesson to you – the past is the past, and while one should never forget it, one should never live their life by it. Be free of your mistakes – neither my mother nor I blame you for that night.
Moody – You taught me all you knew, and helped me survive until now. Thank you for giving me some hope in adults – you listened to me when no one else would, and helped me solve my problems.
Tonks – Never let Remus deter you from loving him – he is especially stupid when it comes to romantic love. Take care of him for me and for his friends – we love him too much to see him suffer.
Luna – Luna, my wonderful wacky friend, never let anyone change you. Ignore those that mock you because they can't see what you can.
Neville – No one can insult you without your consent. Get a backbone, my shy friend and show the world what you are made of. You are stronger than they are, and all you need to do is tap into that strength.
Dumbledore – Learn that the pieces on your chessboard are people old man. Don't put the needs of the many over the needs of the few. Your deceptions, lies, and manipulations will come to bite you in the ass someday. People can manage their own lives, and do not need you to do it for them, even if you do supposedly know "best". People will follow a person who will tell the truth and not a person who tells only half of it.
Remember to live for those who are alive, and to remember those who have passed you by. You will live in my heart and memory wherever I go.
Sincerely,
Harry James Potter, "The Boy Who Is No More"
Harry's first thought was that the portal was warm and welcoming; the green and gold light smoothed over his skin and made him feel comfortable and happy. It seemed that the spell literally was sending him to a place of light and happiness. He absently wondered what kind of hell Voldemort was sent to, but was shaken from his thoughts when the light stopped and he was standing in the middle of a room.
The most extravagant room he had ever seen, in fact. Plush dark blue carpet lined the floors, and where there wasn't carpet there was smooth onyx crystal. The walls were painted a dark blue and had deep green, gold, and silver tapestries depicting people in battle and victories draped over them. The ceiling was high and made of the same onyx of the uncarpeted floor. Overall the effect reminded Harry of the night sky.
He turned when he heard whispers behind him and raised an eyebrow when he saw a bowl placed on a pedestal made of what looked to be ebony wood. He made his way over and started when he realized that the whispers were coming from the silvery water in the bowl. He cautiously looked into it and stiffened.
Images from his previous life floated behind his eyes at lightning speed. After that he got images – a man with long white hair and golden eyes, a woman with purple eyes and black hair, a vague group of people that he could barely make out, a sinister person with tangled black hair and blood red eyes, a huge magnificent dog with white fur howling at the moon, two swords, one of life and one of death, and so many other things. Harry staggered backwards, feeling his mind overload at the amount of information pressed into it.
When he collected himself he found that he was on both of his knees in front of the bowl and that there was a person standing next to him. He quickly got to his feet, his wand out in case of danger. However the man wasn't looking at him, and instead was staring deeply into the waters of the bowl. Harry took the moment to study him,
He was as tall as Harry with his long dark hair pulled into the topknot generally worn by Samurai's. His face was stern and tanned, with the look of a leader, and his eyes were dark and cold. He was dressed in dark red Samurai like clothing – wide pants, with a long sleeved, low collared shirt and a pair of swords buckled onto his back.
Suddenly the man's eyes swung up to Harry's face, making him take a step back. The man chuckled darkly and stepped closer, ignoring the wand in Harry's hand. He grabbed Harry's face and brought them close together, his black eyes inspecting every inch of his face. Then, with an explosive sigh, he released Harry and stepped back.
"Excuse me," he said, his voice heavy with an Asian accent, "but I had to make sure a friend of mine didn't make a mistake."
"Who are you?" Harry asked cautiously. "And where are we?"
The man smirked, "Welcome to the Temple of Fate Harry Potter. I am called Kenshin by my people, but many others call me by a different name. I am one of the Gods or Kami of the world you were trying to pass into."
Harry quirked an eyebrow and said quickly, "Why was I brought here then? What is it you "Kami" need of me?"
Kenshin chuckled again, this time with more warmth, "Quick one, aren't you? Many wouldn't have expected Kami to have wanted anything from them. You were brought here because by putting yourself into our world you are changing the very future of it. In one timeline the end is of darkness and despair, where an evil rules because, while those working against it are formidable, they squabbled too much amongst themselves to work together to defeat it. Then there is another timeline, the timeline which will come to pass because of you, that will have long times of peace and happiness, where the evil will be defeated."
Harry groaned deeply in his throat. All he had wanted to do was defeat Voldemort. He hadn't wanted to get caught up in the troubles of another world, or any more evil beings set out for power. He had just wanted some peace and quiet, or was that too much to ask for, being Harry Potter?
Kenshin sighed, "I wish we did not have to ask this of you, child. When you looked into Fate's Holy Water you opened yourself to us – we saw your past, present, and future. It is surprising you did not pass out – only those with the strongest wills have managed to keep conscious," he gave Harry an appraising eye.
Harry snorted, "Well my old mentor always did say I had a problem with being stubborn."
Kenshin laughed again and Harry was surprised that this one sounded even more genuine than the previous two. It seemed the God was warming up to him.
"That may have had something to do with it," the God said with a small smile. "Anyhow, when we saw your future, we became aware of your effect on our world. They sent me to see if you indeed could handle this burden. My friend, Miko, was sure and I needed to be sure. I have determined you able to bear this burden, if you choose to take it on."
Harry thought it over and said, "What will happen to me if I accept?"
Kenshin looked surprised at Harry's forethought, "You will be changed or rather some of your heritage will be unlocked."
Harry was wary and didn't hesitate to say as much, "What is this heritage of mine that will be unlocked?"
"In your world and ours there is a multitude of demons and demon lords," Kenshin explained calmly. "One of your parent's apparently came from a line full of full-blood kurohyou – a Panther demon that is thought to be extinct in our world. However there is some sort of cage over your youki, which is the demon power's you inherited from your parent that prevents you from accessing the demonic part of your heritage. If you were to unlock it, you would be considered a daiyoukai – your youki is especially strong, and I'm surprised the barrier didn't disintegrate after a few years."
Harry just stood there, gaping. He'd never considered the idea that his family wasn't made of pure wizards. He hadn't come into any creature inheritances after his coming of age, although he had felt a particular restlessness that he had written off as an effect of the war. To learn that not only had one of his parent's been a demon, but that they had been a full-blooded demon at that……was astounding.
"If one of my parents was a wizard and the other was a demon, wouldn't that make me a half-blood?" Harry asked the first question that came to mind.
Kenshin smiled strangely before answering, "Most would see it that way. However no matter what Demons think, Hanyous, that is a Half-Demon, are just as, if not more, powerful as most demons. Some can even be more powerful than a daiyoukai, who are the highest lords of Demon society. You are one of the most powerful Hanyous I've seen so far, although in the future there will be one close to your level with enough training. Most demons have forgotten that daiyoukai status is granted due to power level, not by blood."
Harry frowned, "Can you tell if the Youkai," his tongue stumbled on the strange word, "heritage is from my mother's or father's side?"
Kenshin cocked his head to the side, and his previously dark eyes flashed a brilliant gold before he said, "It's from your mother's side. She had demon parents."
Harry frowned. He knew that his mother's grandparents were Muggles, as was Petunia. And that meant that either they were extremely good at hiding these things, or Lily hadn't really been their child. 'It's possible, I suppose' he mused to himself 'Petunia and mum didn't look like each other at all, and mum was the only one in her family with magic.'
"So if I agree to change the fate of your world, you will unlock my youki from the cage it's under?" Harry asked carefully.
Kenshin nodded, "It is a serious crime to block it in any case. Kurohyou were always more attuned to their youki than others, especially since most of them were also intimately connected with the spirits and the elements. To cut them off from that……" the God trailed off, looking angry.
Harry frowned as well, wondering who had done such a thing. Kenshin had said the cage was powerful enough to hold down his youki for a number of years, which led to two suspects. Either Voldemort or Dumbledore had, once again, changed his life. However he refused to dwell on it – he had left that world behind and nothing he could do would change it besides unlocking his heritage.
"I will change your world for you, Kenshin," Harry said firmly, decided. It wasn't what he had planned while coming up with the idea to send Voldemort to Hell, but he wouldn't condemn a world to darkness and despair. Snape would call it Gryffindor stupidity but Harry called it chivalry. And if he got his youki unlocked then the entire thing was better for him.
Kenshin nodded, looking relieved. He stepped into Harry's personal space again, and raised a hand to the wizard's forehead. Before he touched anything the Kami said, "You will wake in my world, little one. We will speak again."
And then his hand touched Harry's skin and a burst of white and gold light shot out of it and into Harry's head. Kenshin caught the youngling as he collapsed, unconscious. He smiled slightly – he hadn't expected the child to be so strong in spirit. If anyone could change their world for the better, he believed that this one could do it. He smirked when he saw the beginnings of the changes starting to appear in young Harry and then called up the portal that originally brought the young wizard to the Temple. He gently sent Harry through it, and watched as it closed with a stoic face. He hoped that the child would be prepared for the hardships ahead in his life, and his spirit wouldn't break or they would all be doomed.
Author's Notes: This is a Prelude, which is why it's extremely short and doesn't have all of my usual warnings/disclaimer/pairing things yet. Chapter One WILL have those, and it will fast forward a bit. My style in the MTS will be quite a bit different than in AIT, as I'll be going back and forth in the past via chapters instead of flashback sequences. Hopefully this will keep you interested. TOMORROW AIT Chapter 3 will be out, for those of you that read that story as well.
A Note on the Kami: I AM NOT an expert on Japanese Gods, nor will I claim to be. I do know somewhat of the multiple Gods that are in Japanese culture, and they will be featured vaguely in this story. However Kenshin isn't giving Harry his real name, as is the case with the woman Miko who he mentioned.
Kurohyou: Literally 'Black panther'.
(1) The EXTREMELY ROUGH translation is "Travel to worlds depending on our way of life." Harry is basically letting the magic choose where to send them, and since Voldemort is so twisted and has killed so many it chose to send him to a Hell, as Harry knew it would. Harry, however has done good things in his life, and has been fighting evil for a long time, so he gets sent to a better place. I do not claim to know the Latin language, I've never taken it, and I honestly couldn't figure it out to save my life. If this is translated wrong please, please someone give me a better translation so I can look halfway smart, alright?
