AN: Wow I wasn't expecting such a positive response to such an off the wall fanfic idea. Near as I can tell I'm the first one to do this pairing, and I was half expecting to be crucified in the reviews for it.
A few reviewers pointed out some plot holes, I'm trying to answer them and here's my responses, some of it would make sense if I wrote it correctly however a few other things are admittedly deliberate AU.
I did need to rewrite Professor Snape's introduction to make it more sensible, and to make sure it was clear that they knew Hogwarts was a school. Seriously thank you to those who caught that.
As for the presence of Nanoha and co in England let me ask you this. Do you honestly think they'd stop just because one place accepted their relationship? They were on a sightseeing trip and stumbled into a rally, similar to how Harry landed in one really just, no bully trying to hunt them personally down.
They were staying a hotel on planet and that's where the owl found them, as for how, well how did the owls keep finding the Dursley's when they tried to evade them in Canon (assume that bit is the same by the way)
Lastly only Fate reported back about Yuri-Ken finding a wielder, Nanoha was at the hotel with Vivio.
Now for the Erumpent in the room, Armed Device Yuri-Ken and why Fate Happened to have an extra Device in her purse.
That's one of two major things that I'm taking MSLN canon and giving it the finger with. In this there's a TSAB general order that says operatives visiting UAW 97 (Earth) need to take along spare devices for recruitment purposes, just in case they stumble on the next White Devil. If you're wondering about where it came from on the meta-level it's an OC of mine. The name roughly means Lily Sword (couldn't help myself with the lily reference).
One thing I'm a tad surprised about though is that no one commented on what happened to Heidi S. Ingvalt, or as you might know her better Einhart Stratos. That's the other divergence point which should shake things like a soda can. Yes she's dead in this, but the precise how and why will be hinted at over the next few chapters. I'm planning on stating it outright at some point just not quite yet.
It was the morning after Hagrid told him he was a wizard. The morning after the mystery that his was life finally started to unravel. The knowledge that he was a magic user, though hard to swallow at first answered too many questions not to be true.
Hagrid and Harry took the boat back to land and headed for Charing Cross. Reaching the Leaky Cauldron where familiar faces awaited. When the greasy haired man saw Harry he froze for a moment. "Hagrid I was just about to take these two" he indicated Nanoha and Vivio beside him "to Gringotts, of interest to you is that Vivio is the one who tipped me off about Harry's Living conditions."
Vivio piped up "This is Severus Snape, he teaches potions. I'm really looking forward to it even if the love potions are a bit sketchy." The potion master had to stifle a laugh at that statement. Usually love potions were all a girl Vivio's age could think about. Wait a bloody moment did Harry react to his name?
"Hagrid if I may borrow Mister Potter for a moment?" he asked hoping to ascertain where the boy had learned his name.
The moment they were alone Harry pounced on the opportunity to learn of his parent's murder "Sir, Hagrid tells me you were my mom's best friend at one point. He also says you're the best person to explain how she died." Harry had hoped to get his hands on the murder if possible if only to strangle them for landing him with the Dursleys.
Snape let out a harsh bark of laughter. "Is that what he remembers? Well I guess he sees good in me still." The professor shook his head and clarified his status. "Yes, I loved her dearly but in our fifth year I did something unforgivable." Gathering his thoughts he started the story.
"Around the time we were young, a certain wizard started gathering followers, among them, shamefully, myself. He was as bad as they come and to make matters worse no one even knows where on earth he sprung from. Most people are too scared of him even now to speak his name but I ask you to use it often. Voldemort."
Harry scoffed "French, means flight from death. Sounds like he's a coward." his eyes then widened in amazement "How did I know that?" After all Harry had no recollection of ever learning French.
Professor Snape said "I've no idea but I advise you keep that defiant side of you. No one really knows what happened on your second Halloween, but here are the facts. Voldemort attacked the house where your parent's lived. When the smoke cleared that place was rubble, Lily and James were both dead, and no trace of Voldemort. Just you, alive and with the exception of that scar, unharmed."
Harry scowled like no eleven year old should have a reason to scowl and scoffed "And let me guess; since I was the only one who survived the attack they pinned the credit for bringing him down on me despite the fact it was more likely Mom or Dad. Probably got some moronic nickname for it too."
"Very astute Mister Potter. You survived the unsurvivable, they call you The Boy Who Lived." Snape said.
Harry surprised him by being angry "My fame has done me no favors. I'm famous for living when others didn't? Haven't these idiots ever heard of survivor's guilt? Didn't they think I might resent what happened?"
Nanoha had heard enough. She huffed "That Voldemort creep is lucky I wasn't around England at the time. Vivio, you have my permission to use full power on him if he shows his ugly mug around Harry again! Got it?"
Vivio chirped "I'll completely destroy him!"
Nanoha turned back to Harry "I got you a training manual to go with the sword Fate gave you." she handed him a book, "Practice these forms and keep in shape, Vivio can help you with hand-to-hand."
"Thank you Miss Takamachi." Harry said grateful. He would master the sword and grow strong enough to where the Dursleys knew not to strike him without a very good reason and he could have friends that wouldn't be afraid of Dudley.
That's why Fate gave him the sword after all, so he'd find the courage to stand up and fight for happiness. It'd be spitting in her face if he didn't master it and his fear. Taking the manual and holding it gently, he went about his business.
When he saw his vault he took measures to make sure that the Dursleys wouldn't find out about it. Greedy pigs were always complaining about his upkeep. Well if they had treated him a little better he wouldn't mind contributing to it. As things were he had no reason to help them, and if they learned of that fortune awaiting him they'd be trying to steal it before he could say 'inheritance'
Hagrid slipped off for a "little pick me up" leaving Harry to attend his own shopping when the time came to pick out a wand things got interesting. He and Vivio walked into the wand shop together. Nanoha walked in as well, not exactly intending to buy a wand but curious about the shop.
Garrick Ollivander was an eccentric man even by wizard standards, who had long sought perfection in his craft. He was wondering when Harry Potter would at last pay him a visit. When the boy walked in alongside some girl he didn't recognize, he was particularly intrigued
"Ahh Mister Potter. Good to meet you." Garrick started rifling through the boxes "I remember every wand I've ever sold you know. Every last one. You've got your mother's eyes, her wand was 10 and ¼ inches of willow, great for charms. Your father though was a transfiguration master with that eleven inch mahogany wand of his."
Eventually Garrick saw the scar "I'm sorry to say that I sold the wand that put that scar on you. 13.5 inches yew and phoenix feather, If I'd known what that wand would go out into the world to do…"
Garrick shook his head and refocused on his work "I've traveled far and wide to master my craft and trust me there's not a wizard or witch I can't equip! Make no mistake there's a wand here for you Mister Potter!"
Grabbing a box that looked promising "Beechwood and Dragon Heartstring, give it swish." Harry tried it, nothing. Another box "Maple and phoenix feather." dud. "Ebony and unicorn hair." Nope. One after the other failed wands accumulated.
On a lark Garrick tried "Holly and phoenix Feather, quite supple." nothing happened "Oh well not like I honestly expected that one to work, but now it's time to bring out the Unidentified stock." He said confusing Harry and Vivio (who'd had similarly troubling levels of difficulty finding a proper wand) Nanoha was just amused, after all nothing could be easy when dealing with Vivio.
The old man stormed into the back of the shop and brought out a large trunk, now there was fire in his eyes "This trunk contains wands whose wood or core I couldn't identify but couldn't overlook either. The right wands for these two have to be here somewhere!"
Garrick Ollivander popped open the trunk. Eighty-five boxes were arrayed within. Vivio and Harry could both feel it. Each wand-case contained its own mystery. Each one had a story to tell. Each one harbored the results of an adventure. Harry eventually selected one and after a moment's consideration Vivio too made her selection. Oddly enough the boxes containing their wands had been right next to each other.
"Curious, I'll tell you what I know but I only know the woods of these two wands. Miss Takamachi, your wand is twelve inches long and made from rowan. Quite well suited to working protective magic, it will not countenance evil, and should you find yourself in combat, it's not likely to fail you either." he explained.
"Mister Potter your wand is also twelve inches, but made from ebony. Suited to offensive magic and transfiguration. This wood favors those with the courage to fight and someone without an iron will is going to be out of their depth." He said.
At this moment Nanoha chimed in. "So what are the cores for these wands?" She'd been watching the display with great interest, and having heard one thing after another about Harry Potter, was beginning to grow concerned for the boy her daughter was apparently developing a crush on.
Garrick Ollivander was intrigued, "Well that's the curious bit. The cores for these two wands are the same material. I found it hanging from a tree in Uminari, Japan, silver hairs giving off a form of magic I'd never felt before."
Nanoha's purse hit the floor and her eyes widened comically "Fourteen years ago?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
Ollivander blinked in surprise "Yes. why do you ask?" Information about that wand core was too tempting to ignore. He knew it was powerful, that sort of thing was obvious, but it's inclinations were beyond him. For all he knew he'd just armed the next Dark Lord and Lady.
"The person that hair belonged to? She died trying to save a friend of mine. She was a form of magical creature and extremely powerful, but beyond that I'm not at liberty to discuss much about her." Nanoha stated in bitter remembrance.
"Mama?" Vivio asked wondering why the woman who adopted her was so sad.
"It's nothing Vivio, just someone I couldn't help when the time came." She waved off her daughter's concerns.
"There's one more thing though." Garrick said. "The cores come from the same magical creature, such 'sibling wands' are rare. I've never sold them in the same day before. Your daughter has some special bond with Mister Potter here, though for good or ill I cannot say."
Nanoha was too depressed by the memory of failing Reinforce to tease them about the sibling wands and what they meant. She tried to cheer herself up but it didn't quite work.
They paid for the wands and walked out of the shop together to be greeted by Hagrid who had a cage containing a lovely snowy owl "Hello there Harry, Got you something." The owl would receive the name Hedwig.
Nanoha being her helpful self volunteered to drive Harry to King's Cross station when september first came, as she knew that the Dursleys wouldn't do anything that would help him. The fact that this would give her more time to help through the pain they'd caused was a happy side effect. Maybe teasing them a few times about the wand cores would keep things from getting to tense.
Harry's situation had improved somewhat there but it still was a long way from the loving family that everyone ought to have. He carefully packed his trunk and eagerly awaited the Dursley reaction to the presence of his owl.
During his last month with the Dursleys Harry was careful to study up on magical and mundane subjects as learning both was sure to be helpful. After all, Vivio's mom said it was going to help so it had to be true.
As for practicing his sword forms well that was a bit more difficult, as it was tough to find a place to practice without scaring somebody, and people already blamed him for ninety percent of the mischief Dudley got up to, he didn't need the fact that he was studying the sword out in public otherwise the idiots would call for his arrest.
Really how the people in Surrey ever believed he was the problem child was beyond him! One fat and happy, the other skinny and bruised. One brash and loud the other quiet and solitary, anyone who bothered to pay attention would draw the right conclusion.
Instead of actually thinking about the situation however they believed whatever lies that Vernon Dursley told them, and kept their children away from him. Vivio was his first friend. Vivio's mother was trying to help him. Trying to make sure he was okay. It was the first hope he'd had, and if there's one thing an abuse survivor can do it's make the most of hope.
When the time came to go to King's Cross, Harry was bright eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to roll. On the drive over a few topics were discussed, among other things the possibility of setting up a kendo (After receiving the training manual, Harry had asked about the term to find it meant swordplay) club when they got to Hogwarts and of course how they were going to keep up with their mundane studies while they were there.
When they got to the station the issue still remained; How to get on to platform nine and three quarters? Fortunately the answer came in the form of a clan of red haired wizards who were talking amongst themselves the word muggle being prominent. Nanoha approached them and introduced herself.
"Hi I'm Nanoha Takamachi, my daughter and her friend are going to Hogwarts and being a bit of a ditz, I forgot to ask how to get on to the platform." She stated politely with a most endearing smile.
The red haired woman smiled and said "a Muggle eh?"
Nanoha shook her head "No but I am muggleborn The reason I'm not familiar with this place is because I received training elsewhere, but my daughter made a friend here in England and was dead set on making sure he was okay."
"I'm Molly Weasley, as for the platform just go through that pillar there" she said pointing at said pillar. "Your daughter had best do it at a run if she's nervous." Taking the witch's words to heart Harry Potter and Vivio Takamachi charged the pillar.
Sure enough on the other side another platform a brilliant crimson colored steam locomotive was docked. "Hogwarts Express" was written on the sides in great golden letters. Harry was going to gawk but Vivio sort of dragged him onboard to keep them from being left behind.
The two found a compartment and Vivio finally decided to talk about the sword that Fate Harlaown had given to Harry. When they sat down she asked "Did you wind up using the necklace Fate-Mama gave you?"
Harry nodded "The Dursleys tried to keep me from getting my acceptance letter, but the school was unwilling to concede that point. Apparently Dumbledore sent Hagrid to come and hand deliver it. I was scared so I used the necklace and I was grown up sized for a little bit." he recounted the incident in brief.
Vivio's shocked expression gave Harry the impression that the adult mode wasn't exactly normal and her next words absolutely confirmed it "I only know of three people who could do that. Two of them are in this compartment the other is dead." she said with tears in her eyes
"As for the blade, it's what's called an Armed Device, think of it like a high tech wand that's built for battle." She continued. "Fate-Mama can sniff out an abused child from a mile away, and Yuri-Ken had high compatibility with you. That's why she gave it to you." So the mysteries of the rally were unveiled.
Harry said "Well since the night when I used it I've been having nightmares. I don't remember much, but it included a woman who looks like you bleeding to death in front of me"
Vivio was briefly stunned by this and about to speak up when a red haired boy, whom Harry recognized as part of the Weasley brood entered the compartment "Do you mind if I sit in here? Everywhere's full." he asked.
Harry smiled "Of course. I'm Harry Potter." He pointed at Vivio "This is Vivio Takamachi. Don't let the red eye fool you she's as gentle as they come." Harry had read something about wizarding discrimination against red eyes.
Both of the boys were oblivious to Vivio's blush "I'm Ron Weasley." he sat down in a manner that left Harry between him and Vivio. "You have a cold Takamachi?" he asked. Vivio shook her head. But Ron just ignored her "So you're Harry Potter? Do you have the scar" the boy asked oblivious.
"I'm going to nip this in the bud right now. Ron I don't like my fame. I don't like the fact that until a month ago I didn't even know that magic was real, and I bloody well don't like the fact that somehow I caught the credit for something my parents probably did with their dying breaths."
Harry was in rant mode and Vivio was trying to find a way to calm him down "I have spent ten years as a bullied outcast because they weren't good enough to take Voldemort down without dying themselves."
"The Boy-Who-Lived angry at Lily and James Potter, and bullied?" Ron asked shocked. "Blimey that's, that's unreal!" The snack trolley came around and Harry bought up a good supply of sweets, though Nanoha had been kind enough to pack some oni-giri for him and Vivio. An abusive childhood is no excuse to eat only sweets at lunchtime after all.
During the ride they mainly discussed wizarding subjects as Harry was trying to get a feel for the bigotries and biases present in the hidden world, as Harry (having been abused) was far too cynical to believe there wasn't some sort of ignorant prejudice going on. Even with magic people are still people.
He was proven quite unfortunately correct on this point (though after they'd changed into robes) when a blonde boy waltzed into their compartment like he owned the place and did something that put him on Harry's bad side "So the great Harry Potter sitting with a Weasley and some mudblood. You really need to watch yourself, some wizard families are better than others, and I Draco Malfoy am ready to help sort them out."
"This is that anti-muggle rhetoric that was popular when Voldemort was on the loose yeah?" Seeing the boy's shock at his use of the name "Seems like you're the one who needs to be more careful. Keep that up and you're liable to step on someone's last nerve." Harry laid out for Draco to digest.
Draco sneered "Yeah right, you're defending the magic thief!"Harry facepalmed and decided to be more logical about it "If there was a trick that could steal magic, certainly an old family would know about it and have a countermeasure. And how would a muggle even learn how to do it with memory charms and the Statute of Secrecy in the mix? Even if magic could be stolen wouldn't you need magic to do it in the first place?"
Draco tried pushing his bigotry further "But purebloods are-"
"Just as likely to botch something as everyone else." Harry noted "Muggle borns have enough problems as it is, and bigots like yourself only make it worse. If a society doesn't integrate new ideas it will die, and when societies die people like you tend to be lined up and executed."
"My Father will hear about this!" The blonde haired boy spat before running off. Harry paid it no mind he'd had his fill of blonde haired bullies already and to be perfectly honestly if he'd picked up another one, at least at Hogwarts he'd be able to defend himself.
He was admittedly quite ignorant of politics and the like on both sides of magic/mundane divide. Such things were very troublesome and not very useful for his modest objectives. He figured Draco would write a letter to his dad, who would write a letter to the school with absolutely nothing actually coming of it.
While Ron wasn't paying attention Vivio slipped Harry a note saying that they needed to find a way to talk privately once they got to the school because there were things Harry needed to know that she didn't think should become public knowledge at Hogwarts.
Placing the note in a pocket close to his chest he sighed. What was next? Vivio revealing she was secretly alien royalty looking for husband? His life had gotten weird but it was better than it had been since he'd first arrived at number four Privet Drive.
Soon the train stopped. When the students disembarked Hagrid was calling for the First years to join him at the edge of a lake. "No more than four to a boat people!" Harry, Ron, Vivio, and a muggleborn named Hermione Granger shared a boat. Hermione shared an amusing story about how a boy named Neville Longbottom couldn't keep track but of his toad. Despite this as Hogwarts came into view, Harry's mind was on the dangers he'd face learning his magic, and how he'd conquer them...
Alright wasn't expecting to put another chapter out this fast but the muse is a fickle thing. Hunt those plot holes THEY ARE EVIL! but if you can't find any please tell a friend about this story.
