Talento Para La Vida (Talent for Life)
This is that one other fic I keep mentioning that I am going to post/am writing. Other than this one, I'll continue the Badger stories, but that's all that's left from me once the other stories are finished. Which will probably take a while #shrug#
This one is a little different, to be frank. The idea is, Fem!Harry Banksia is presented as a mary sue to start, then starting with unable to kill Voldemort, she unravels and is much more normal. Part of it is to do with her secret heritage: you can probably guess from this chapter alone.
The modern Sherlock Holmes timeline will be changed a bit, as I am pretty sure the years are slightly different to Harry Potter. None the less, we go through seven or eight chapters before we really see those characters, due to building the story. John and the Holmes brothers will be in this story, and John will have a moment of triumph where he works something out before them.
The rain poured down, drenching everything it touched, and it blew into several places straight falling rain would normally not reach. It was quite late in the day and raining, which left the streets pretty empty. However, there were two people, a boy and a girl, seeking shelter in an alley, trying to hide from the rain where the roofs of some houses go out quite a bit.
"Why does it have to be like this?" the girl groaned. She had hair like the banksia bush and murky eyes. Dark, browny green was normally how one described them, but really, they were a dark murky brown with a few pigments of green thrown in. Despite her tomboy appearance, her face was quite pretty and well defined. Much like the boy with her. He had dark eyes and black hair and was tall but quite lanky.
"With all your talents, Sia, I would have thought you could predict the weather, or even control it," the boy retorted.
"That is unfair, Sherlock! Just because I happen to have a talent for life does not mean I deserve that response! And it's not like you're without your perfections!" the girl called Sia cried. She was really called Banksia, and Sia was just a nickname she had been gifted by her friends.
"The only power I have is the power of observation," Sherlock shot back.
"And magic! I saw you levitating that box earlier today!" the fourteen-year-old cried, extremely frustrated.
"Alright, fine! That is true! But everything you do you are perfect at or pick up extremely easily! And it gets frustrating, and disheartening," Sherlock said, raising his voice.
"I don't try to be like that! How do you think it feels to be called a Mary Sue, and have no one likes you just because you have a talent for life, as they call it? And I have to have some compensation for the abuse my relatives give me!" Banksia said, also raising her voice.
"You call it, you mean: you have just made it up as an excuse for something: clever idea, I'll give you that," Sherlock corrected. Banksia hissed in frustration and things only went downhill from there.
"AUGH! Sometimes I bloody hate you!" Banksia ended up shouting.
"We agree on that at least. But good news, this is the last time we are meeting, because my family is moving. Goodbye, Banksia Potter," Sherlock said icily. Then he marched out into the rain and away from Banksia before she got to process what he had said.
"What do you mean?! Sherlock, come back!" Banksia exclaimed, running out into the rain after her friend. She could not catch up to him though, she fell over and cried a bit instead. Banksia then walked sadly back to her aunt and uncles' home: her current residence.
Current day
Banksia Potter was the girl-who-lived and a perfect little golden girl. There was nothing she could not turn her hand to, she was an enigma. Everyone loved her, (even if they hated her perfectness) and she always did what was asked. A true golden girl.
She saved the Philosophers stone as a mere eleven-year-old; facing Voldemort as part of it! Most eleven-year-olds would never survive that. Then during her second year, a Basilisk was released into the school, and it was discovered Banksia was a Parcel Mouth. After the first few weeks of getting used to it, everyone went back to loving her. Only in those two weeks was she accused of being the heir of Slytherin.
Down in the chamber, she faced a shade of Voldemort; a memory of his young self, she defeated him, even if she got bitten by a basilisk as a result. Luckily Fawkes was near. However, seeing the young Voldemort disturbed Banksia: something about him reminded Banksia of herself, and she found that frankly frightful.
The next year, Sirius Black who apparently betrayed her parents, escaped Azkaban and was after her. During that year there were dementors around the school, which badly affect Banksia; she kept hearing her mother dying when she was around them. As a result, she learnt the Patronus Charm to keep the dementors away. It took the form of a stag.
Banksia would never go after Sirius, but when she discovered he was her godfather, and her fathers' (at least) best friend, she became sorely tempted to go after him. But she didn't. In the end, Ron got dragged off under the Whomping Willow, where they discovered Sirius was innocent. However, Peter Pettigrew, their proof that Sirius was innocent, escaped, leaving Sirius to almost be kissed. Luckily Hermione had a time-turner which meant she and Banksia could save Sirius from meeting that fate.
The next year the Tri-Wizard Tournament was in town. After the strange nightmares of Voldemort, and the Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup, Banksia boarded the Hogwarts Express with dread for that coming year.
And she had good reason to, too: her name came out of the Goblet, which forced Banksia to have to compete. Then there was the embarrassment of the Yule Ball and her having to take Ron: don't let her go there.
As usual, Banksia survived the tournament and won it with Cedric, but at the end of the third task she saw Voldemort get resurrected, but she managed to escape that in one piece. Cedric Diggory was not so lucky, which made Banksia very guilty, but then, what could she have done? She could not have known they would end up in that Graveyard, or Cedric would get killed.
However, the Ministry refused to believe Voldemort was back, which made them go on a Banksia hate campaign. One good thing was Banksia got to see her godfather quite a bit, in-between homework and learning about Voldemort's past, and helping Dumbledore locate and destroy Horcruxes.
By the time she returned to Hogwarts there was only two he knew of left: they had gotten rid of the Locket, cup and the ring. There was Voldemort's snake, and something to do with Ravenclaw left. The Ravenclaw item they believed would be at Hogwarts, so it was Banksia's task to look for it.
However, this was difficult with the minister placing someone he trusted in the school, Umbridge, who made their life difficult. With all of that, and having to set up an illegal defence club just to hope to pass their owls: it was not a good year.
Banksia did manage to find the Diadem of Ravenclaw and destroy it; just after Dumbledore was sent away from the school. To cap it all off, their club got discovered, luckily, Hermione could trick Umbridge into going into the forest, and the Centaurs dragged her off after she insulted them.
There was not much time to celebrate though, Banksia had had a vision of Voldemort torturing Sirius during her History exam, and they all rushed to the ministry since she had checked Grimmauld place and Sirius was not in. After making their way into the hall of prophecies and finding one labelled for Banksia, they were suddenly running, and protecting themselves from Death Eaters.
This ended in with everyone in a sticky situation, where Banksia thought she would have to give up the Prophecy, in exchange for her friends' lives. However, the Order of the Phoenix made their grand entrance then. Banksia did not have to give up the prophecy. She wished they had arrived a bit sooner though.
However, she saw Voldemort appear and decided to end this once and for all. The snake was here, Dumbledore was which meant he could deal with it, which just left Voldemort, who Banksia was after now.
When they were away from the others, and Banksia thought there would be no interruptions, Banksia sent a full-body binding curse at Voldemort, which successfully hit, and left him lying on the ground, paralysed. Banksia then proceeded to kill him.
However, every spell she tried: the cutting spell series, a few exploding charms and even the killing curse itself: they all failed, and a couple of the more powerful ones rebounded! Banksia could not believe it: this was the first thing she had failed! (Apart from probably her history exam.)
"No! This can't be! I can't!" Banksia cried in despair, dropping to her knees. What was she going to tell everyone? She could not do her job?
"This will not do at all. But what am I to do?!" Banksia exclaimed. She then quietly but quickly ran back to the atrium and snuck through the floo. Yes, Banksia was being a coward: she was running away for the first time in her life. She got out at the Leaky Cauldron and went down to Gringotts, a plan forming. She couldn't face her friends and Dumbledore after this: she was just too ashamed.
"Yes?" The Goblin asked after Banksia showed him her key.
"I need to take quite a lot of money out of my vault, enough that I should not have money troubles for a while, but enough that there is still a reasonable amount left. Will it still collect interest from the main vault? Can I also have half of it turned into Muggle money, please? I am going to America, so I need you to give me a new Identity, too," Banksia asked. She had read in the paper Gringotts could give you new identities.
"Of course, heiress Potter, and yes it will," the goblin said, grabbing some papers and quill, then getting up and moving toward where the carts where.
"Do you mind if I stay here? I am feeling a little weak, and I am not sure I could survive the trip without throwing up," Banksia asked weakly. After everything that had happened that day, and because of how late it was, she was feeling very tired and surprisingly, sick.
"Of course," the goblin said, seeming to understand, he then handed Banksia her papers.
"Thank you," Banksia nodded gratefully. Then as the goblin left her presence, she collapsed into a waiting chair.
"I hope no one has noticed me missing yet," Banksia whispered. Then she filled the papers in. She needed to supply a few already known details, then her new name and anything else she wanted to set. She decided to go for the name 'Iris Camilla Russell.' She made up names for parents, too.
Then she called, "Dobby!"
"Mistress Potter!" Dobby cried as he appeared. He looked at Banksia concernedly.
"Can you fetch all my stuff from Hogwarts, please? I am going away, and might not be back for a while," Banksia asked.
"Mistress is leaving?" Dobby asked, shocked. But then he snapped out of it and nodded. "I'll be right back."
Then he left. While she waited for the goblin and Dobby, the thought occurred to Banksia: how was she going to create her disappearance? Then an idea came to mind! Get Dobby to create a brutally murdered body of herself! Perfect! House Elf magic was different from wizard magic, and in some cases seemed much more powerful.
Dobby returned first. "Here we go: Dobby fitted it all into your trunk and brought your owl," Dobby said, handing Banksia her trunk and Hedwig.
"Thank you!" Banksia cried. Hedwig hooted a welcome to her mistress.
"Hello, girl. Can you cast an extension charm on my trunk, and put a masking charm on the trunk?" Banksia asked Dobby, and he nodded and quickly did so.
"I have one more request for you, Dobby," Banksia asked the house-elf.
"Of course! Anything at all!" Dobby nodded quickly.
"Thanks, Dobby, you are a star. Can you please go and create a brutally murdered version of my body, and place it somewhere where it will be found?" Banksia asked, and Dobby nodded frantically. "Thank you, Dobby! I am really grateful. Goodbye, I won't forget you, but hopefully, I will return before one or both of us pass away," Banksia said hugging the little elf.
"Dobby is chuffed that Mistress Potter speaks with such praise. Goodbye, and good luck," Dobby said quietly. Then he popped off again, leaving Banksia alone to wait for the goblin.
A few minutes later, the Goblin returned. "Here you go, Heiress Potter: I have done the conversion and everything for you." He handed her a large back full of money, hopefully.
"Thank you so much; and here are the papers you wanted," Banksia said gratefully.
"Thank you. When you reach America, Miss Potter, go straight to Gringotts, or Yankgotts as it's called, and they shall have everything you need ready, then you can go to the Ministry. This portkey will take you into their foyer. From there, you will be able to go to the ministry," the goblin said, handing Banksia a letter addressed to herself.
"Thank you," Banksia nodded.
Then she left the bank and walked back up to the Leaky Cauldron. Before entering, she casted some glamours. Being in Diagon Alley, there was no problem with being yelled at for underage magic. They were semi-permanent charms so they would last for several months or until she dropped them. Her hair was now a deep red, and slightly wavy, but it still looked nice. Her eyes were acid green, and she had made her skin a bit darker then it was now.
Then Banksia strode forward into the pub and booked a room for the night and a light dinner, both of which she got. After eating, Banksia lay down in bed and was out like a light: it had been a very draining day!
She still felt bad for abandoning her friends, but after what happened, she couldn't face them again. They had such high hopes and expectations, and she only had one job! Which she failed. No, Banksia, despite it all, was going to take the coward's way out. If she couldn't kill Voldemort as her spells rebounded, what use was sure to England, anyway?
Here we see the Slytherin personality shine through a bit more. And the reason in this story why Voldemort can't kill her works both ways. You will find out later, or you might work it out. And the reason she as able to escape is, she goes after Voldemort, and disappears: no would is going to guess she ran away, and wizards are already gullible.
One thing I forgot to mention is the Dursleys will be nicer in this story. They won't exactly be parent figures, but nicer than in canon. So what do you think? Love it? Hate it?
Moriarty and Voldemort end up banding together, which is very frightening. Voldemort will be useful for Moriarty, and vice versa. That's how Voldemort looks over his hate for Muggles just this once. He plans a bit more and get's a bit smarter.
You will probably find that the wizarding world in America and Illvermorny in this story is very different to how JK has it. It is more fun to make it up after all, and I couldn't be bothered trolling the varies HP sites to make everything just right.
Note: I write for my enjoyment which is why I am still here. If you enjoy it too, that's an extra bonus.