Harry Potter and the Broken Starlight

Chapter 2

On the first Monday of April, Harry Potter was running. He was late out of the door that morning after being held up by uncle Vernon, he had been griping about his new job. Apparently nothing was going right for him here, unlike in Brittan he had no seniority so he was forced to do all of the work he would have passed off to a subordinate at home himself. He also didn't understand many of the people working around him, this meant that he was losing clients almost every day when he said or did something that offended them. Of course this couldn't be his own fault, it must be the freaks, and he let him know as such. For about ten minutes at breakfast he was subjected to Vernon's ire, he was used to this, it had happened before but he had never seen his uncle so mad, at least not without one of the strange accidents or the mention of the word magic.

He also hadn't gotten the best night sleep, he had been having a weird dream about a voice calling him for help. Harry was no stranger to strange dreams, but this one was different than his usual nightmares of screaming and green light. He shook himself awake as he was forced to run before the school gates closed. Arriving just before the bell covered in sweat and tired, he took his seat as classes began. At lunch he found himself cornered by a concerned Alisa, "Harry, are you OK? It's not like you to be so late for class, when you arrived you looked like you had just ran all the way to school."

He tried not to meet her gazes as he answered, "That would be because I did have to run all the way to school, something happened and I got held up this morning."

"would this something have to do with that bruise on the back of your neck." Nanoha asked grabbing the collar of his shirt to get a proper look at the purplish yellow mark forming there. Harry flinched away muttering a curse under his breath in English.

"what was that! Harry we are just concerned about you." Chided Alisa, before looking at him softly, "We're you friends, and we're just worried about you."

"Harry, this isn't the first time we've seen you come to school with bruises. Don't write it off as an accident or from kendo either, we the difference." Suzuka said giving the boy a hard stare.

"Look guys it's fine. Look, you know Dudley in the international class?"

"Wait the kid who got thrown out of the class for bullying last week, what's he got to do with anything?" asked Alisa.

"He's my cousin, I live with my aunt and uncle, and well, have you ever heard the phrase the apple doesn't fall far from the tree?" he was starting to feel uncomfortable. "My uncle doesn't like me neither of them do. Something about being an unwanted burden being dumped on them. My uncle has been having a bad time at work so I caught the tail end of his temper this morning." He was starting to get desperate now, "Listen, because of Dudley I never had any friends at my old school. He would always chase them of when it looked like I'd make any, because he was mostly copying his parents. A few times a teacher or someone would talk to me about it, but every time they would say they would do something about it, the next day they would have gotten a new job, or moved, or just left for no real reason." He finished quietly, "Please, you guys are the first real friends I've ever made. Please, just drop it OK." And to his relief they did. The conversation turned to lighter things, like the talk in class on future careers and what they wanted to be when they had left school. From there the day continued on as normal, after class Harry had calligraphy with Goudou-sensei.

In calligraphy Harry could barely focus on the class. Goudou saw that something was off with the English boy He came up to him after class and asked him, "Harry-kun is everything alright with you, you were barely paying attention in my lesson today, normally you are one of my best students."

Harry looking up at the older man smiled weakly. He didn't want to lie to him if he could help it, he really liked the old man who had taught him so much, and he was always nice to Harry if a little strict at times, but Harry thought that was just part of being older, as many of the people he had met over fifty seemed to be rather stern. "I'm sorry sensei, I was running late this morning and had to run all the way to school, then at lunch I had something of an argument with my friends about it and I kind of pushed them away a bit. It was on my mind and I was a bit distracted."

Goudou simply nodded his head and hummed, "I wouldn't worry about it if I were you, a part of friendship is that sometimes you worry about you friends, and sometime you get into arguments. It will not mean the end of your friendship, it just means that you care enough about the other person to worry and argue with them if there appears to be a problem for them. I'm sure you'd go out of you way to help them if they needed it, and likewise you should let them worry about you."

"Thank you, sensei, I will take your advice to heart."

"and Harry one more thing, sometimes it is alright to ask for help with your problems, especially the ones that seem like far beyond you to solve, there are those who would help, even if the situation seems impossible." Said Goudou, smiling kindly at the boy.

"Sensei… thank you, for talking to me, you've given me a lot to think about." Harry said as he left to eat his dinner. Seeing the girls leaving their prep classes, he walked up to them. They decided to walk home together for as far as the park where they would have to split up. While they were walking Harry stopped the girls. Taking a breath, he said, "I have an apology to make, I was being a real prat at lunch, I'm sorry you three were only worried about me and I was upset because I don't like talking about my relatives. That's not an excuse for the way I behaved though."

They looked at each other and Nanoha said, "It's ok Harry, we probably shouldn't have pushed you like that we were just concerned, and we still are. Harry you do know you can come to any of us if you're having troubles at home right, I'm sure my parents won't mind if you come over. They seem to really like you."

As Harry was about to reply both he and Nanoha froze, "Did you hear that?" he asked

*H—p –e*

"It came from over there." Said Nanoha, rushing off into the woods.

*Ple-se, he-p -e.*

"I hear it to, over there." Called Harry. Finding a pile of leaves he began sifting through them. Under the deadfall he found a small animal, it was a mammal with four short legs and short blond fur, with a jewel wrapped around its neck. It had white patches on its muzzle and tail, and brown paws. "it's a ferret, or maybe a stoat, I'm not sure which." He mused tapping his chin contemplatively.

"Who cares what species it is, the poor thing is obviously hurt," said Suzuka, gently smacking Harry over the head, "besides I think it's a ferret, that jewel, it looks like it's someone's pet. They were a popular pets a while ago."

Nanoha passed Harry the books from her bag as she emptied it, then carefully she put the creature in her book bag, on top of a nest she had made from the cloth from her necktie and her handkerchief. "Alisa, your family were picking you to up today can they give us a lift to the vets office. They would know what to do with it." Getting a nod in return, the four left the park to where a car was waiting for them.

At the veterinary clinic the animal was taken quickly by the vet. Twenty minutes later vet came and told the news "It's a good thing you children brought him here. His cut wasn't as bad as it looked, but it was deep, he'll be fine with a bit of rest, but it looks like he'd been on his own for a while. You'd best leave him here for a few days." The four cheered up at this chorusing "thank you very much," at the doctor.

Looking over the animal themselves, Nanoha asked "Doctor, this is a ferret, right?"

"I wonder if it's somebodies pet." Alisa wondered out loud.

"it might be a ferret, but if it is, it's certainly unique. Also it has some kind of jewel around its neck." As the doctor went to touch the jewel, the animal woke up, much to the surprise of the five humans there. Then it turned around and stared at the children finally settling its eyes on Nanoha and Harry. Nanoha reached out to it and it licked her finger, before falling back to sleep. "It's best to let it get some rest, why don't I watch out for it for you four until tomorrow?"

"Yes, thank you very much!" called out the children.

"if you'd like you guys can come by tomorrow to see how it's doing."

Nanoha said "Yes please," then suddenly realising something exclaimed, "crap, we'll be late home if we don't leave now."

On the way home they discussed what they would do with the ferret. Nonoha suggested one of the other girls take it, but Alisa replied that they had dogs, so it might be a bad idea. Suzuka said it was the same problem with cats for her. Nanoha said she couldn't take it because her parents ran the midori-ya and animals and cafés didn't mix. When the three turned to Harry his reply was "Two puppies, three kittens, six goldfish, and a budgerigar."

"What kind of answer is that?!" yelled Alisa.

"That was the list of Dudely's pets growing up, not one lasted a month. The budgie didn't last two days. I should know I had to bury them all. Besides our apartment doesn't allow pets, it's rented by the company uncle Vernon works for, and they send cleaners around once a week to check on the place."

"Ah well, it's a shame but the dogs might not get along with the ferret, or I'd take it home." Said Alisa then seeing Harry give a shudder asked "what's wrong with you?"

Harry calming himself said "I'm not too fond of dogs, Vernon's sister, aunt Marge breads them. She has this nasty Yorkshire Terrier she takes everywhere with her, called Ripper, treats the thing like her child, last summer it attacked me and chased me up a tree, vile thing gave me a scar on my leg, see." He said raising his trouser leg to show a bite shaped scar on his shin. "While your dogs were fine when we met them, dogs still make me nervous. Nanoha I'm pretty sure if you asked Momoko and Shirou, they would let you keep it at yours, you would just have to keep it away from the kitchens and they have a lock on them anyway, it's worth asking." Deciding it was a good idea the four friends went their separate ways.

That night as Harry was about to go to sleep, he felt something shifting in the air. Surprised by the sensation, he closed his eyes and focused on it.

*Can you hear me?*

'It's that voice again' thought Harry, 'the one from my dream, and the park.'

*Please listen to me. You who can hear my voice, please! Please, lend me your strength!*

'That voice, it,,, it's the ferret.'

*Please! Please, hurry. There's no time. The danger…*

Deciding to go Harry snuck out of his room and out of the apartment. When he got downstairs he went to the incinerator where he hid some of his things from the Dursleys. Reaching into his hiding place he pulled out his boken for kendo and rushed off to the veterinary clinic where they took the ferret. On the way there he bumped into Nanoha, she yelled out "The ferret, we've got to hurry." Knowing that she received the same message she did chased after her. When they got to the clinic a sound rang out like a crystal bell, and the world seamed to turn grey, as an eerie howling rang out into the night.

Harry drew his weapon as the sound of crashing came from inside the clinic, when the rushed towards the entrance Nanoha called out as she spotted the ferret rush by. It was being chased by a large black mass with glowing red eyes, the groung shook as it charged past them after the small creature. The ferret dodged the monster, and jumped into the open arms of Nanoha, who fell to the floor. "W-what? What the hell is going on? What was that?!" she shouted in distress.

"You… came for me."

"holy crap, you spoke?! A talking ferret!" she yelled before regaining herself. Seeing the monster turn around Harry stepped between it and his friend as she got up grabbed his hand and ran.

While running away from the beast Harry called out "I really don't get what's going on here, but what is that thing?"

"You are both of the proper nature, would you please lend me some strength?"

"Proper nature?" asks Nanoha, "We could hear his voice earlier." Replied Harry.

"I've come from another world in search of something, but I don't think I can handle my task alone! That's why… I understand it'd be a problem for you, but… I want those with the proper nature to cooperate with me. I will repay you. I promise I will! I need one of you to use the power I have with me, to use the power, the power of magic."

Almost reflexively Harry said "Magic, but there's no such thing as magic." Sounding a little scared at what his uncle would do to him if he found out. Vernon hated magic and the most severe of the beatings he had receive over the years had been because of that fear of the unknown. Nanoha just looked confused but when she turned around she saw the monster return. Both of them dived behind separate lampposts for cover, the ferret was with Nanoha.

"I promise to repay you, so please!"

"This isn't the time to be talking about it, is it?" said Nanoha as Harry stepped out, sword at the ready, prepared to stand between his friend and the beast. "what am I supposed to do" she asked.

"Take this." Said the ferret passing her the jewel around his neck. Nanoha was surprised by how warm it was. "hold it in your hand, close your eyes and focus, then repeat after me." And together they chanted,

"I, the one who accepted this mission,

By the contract, order you to release you power!

The wind is the sky, the stars are the heavan.

And a resolute heart… beats within my chest.

This magic in my hand,

Raging Heart. Set UP!"

"STANDBY READY, SET UP."

As this was going on the beast prepared to charge at Nanoha sensing the threat the girl posed. When it tried, the monster was smashed away by the boken in Harry's hand. It charged once more as the glow around Nanoha grew. Harry was terrified, first he was told magic is real, by a talking rodent no less, then he and his friend had been attacked by a monster. He had barely blocked the beast first attempt at hurting his friend, and that should of killed him, he saw what this thing had done to a tree earlier. It had only been his lucky use of accidental magic that reinforced his limbs and weapon that had saved him from death before. Still there he stood as the thing charged at his friend again, he raised his sword as Goudou-sensei had shown him and brought it straight down on the monsters head as a huge pink beam of light shot into the sky. The monster flew back several feet, shocking Harry to the point that he froze up as the next charge came.

The monster jumped to attack the girl he was protecting. Harry turned to see the girl changed, no longer wearing her normal cloths, she was instead dressed in some kind of modified school uniform, and carrying a staff in her hands, the staff was made of metals with a white and stave caped with pink at the ends, and topped by a gold crook with a large red gem on the inside. The staff called out "PROTECTION" as a pink shield saved the girl from being crushed. The monster bounced away from the shield and blasted apart into the fences around the street. "What?!" was all Nanoha could say as Harry grabbed her hand and the began to flee.

"Spells are the programs for magic, embedded in the staff." Said the ferret as they ran, "That thing back there is a thought entity created by a horrible power. You need to cast a sealing spell on it with the staff, then it will turn back into what it was."

Passing the ferret to Harry Nanoha cried out, "I don't understand any of this what should I do?"

"The same thing you did earlier basic movements such as attacking and defending will happen just by wishing for them, but if you want to use more powerful spells you're going to have to use an incantation, all you have to do is open your heart. Listen to you heart and a spell will come to you." Replied the ferret, and closing her eyes Nanoha listened.

Just then the monster returned charging at the three. Harry took the opportunity to dive out of the way with the ferret as Nanoha raised the staff and it once again called out "PROTECTION". The attack the beast made was blocked, causing the creature to rear back. Nanoha cried out "Lyrical! Magical!..." "the thing you need to seal is called a jewel seed." Cried the ferret, "Sealing the jewel seed, please." And the staff called out "SEALING MODE, SET UP." As it fired several ribbons of light to bind the monster. A number appeared on the creatures head and the staff called "STANDBY READY" and raising the staff Nanoha shouted "Lyrical Magical! Jewel seed 21, Seal!" "SEALING" intoned the staff as more ribbons blasted the beast to pieces. On the torn up ground there was a shining gem.

The ferret said, "That is a jewel seed, touch it with the Raging Heart." And as she did the staff absorbed the gem and called "RECIPT NUMBER 21" before Nanoha was returned to her normal cloths and the staff returned to a gem. The world returned to colour and Harry asked, "so that's it, is it all over now?"

"Yes, thanks to you it's over, Thank you." Said the ferret before passing out.

"To your house then." Asked Harry collecting up the ferret, looking at the torn up street.

"Yea, maybe it's not the best idea to stick around. Oh that reminds me, you were right, mom and dad said we could keep this little fellow at our place." Replied Nanoha a little absentmindedly. "I'm really sorry about the mess." They cried as they ran away.

On the way back they stopped to rest at a park, the ferret woke up and said "I'm sorry."

Surprised Harry asked, "Oh, your awake, I hope I didn't wake you, are your wounds OK?"

"Actually, I'm almost completely healed." He admitted shaking off his bandages. "Again I'm sorry for getting you guys involved in all of this."

It was Harry that replied first, "It was no problem, actually, I'm grateful to you, tonight you have given me answers to questions I have long since asked myself."

"What do you mean?" asked the ferret.

"For as long as I can remember strange and unusual things have been happening around me when I was afraid or upset. A few times when I was being chased as a child I have suddenly found myself in impossible places like up a tree or on a roof, with no reason of how I got there. When my aunt would cut all of my hair off once a month it would grow back overnight and stay this way with no cause. One time I even turned one of my teachers hair blue. This explains almost everything."

"Really, now, Nanoha can you use Raging Heart to scan, Harry here." Asked the ferret, the girl nodded and focusing on the gem called the staff. This shocked The small mammal, but not as much as what the gem reported to the three.

"TARGET SCANED, TARGETS LINKER CORE IS BOUND BY ARTIFICIL POWER 18 BLOCKS TO B-CLASS LEVELS. TARGET IS BEING SUBJECTED TO 30 TIMES THE LEVELS OF LOCAL GRAVITY. TARGET IS AFLICTED WITH A MANA LEACH THAT IS DRAINING THEIR LINKER CORE. MEDICAL ASSISTACE IS ADVISED."

"What does that mean." Asked Harry.

The ferret gulped, "It means that somebody forcefully blocked most of your magic, and something has literally forced your body to grow up as if it was on Jupiter instead of Earth, or you wouldn't be able to move at all. Finally there is something feeding on your mana that is draining some of it from you constantly. Even with all of this you're as magically powerful as me." Causing Harry to go quiet.

Sensing the tension in the air, Nanoha said "well then lets introduce ourselves. I'm Takamachi Nanoha, but my friends call me Nanoha."

"I- I'm Harry Potter, but feel free to call me Harry."

"Well then my name is Scrya Yuuno, Scrya is my clan name and my name is Yuuno, please feel free to call me that." Said the now introduced, Yuuno.

"My, I forgot your still hurt, lets continue this at my house." Cried Nanoha, scooping up Yuuno, the three continued on their way, chatting benignly to each other.

Upon arriving at Nanoha's house the two children tried to sneak in. "Welcome back." Jumping and turning to the noise, Nanoha quickly hid Yuuno behind her back.

"Hey there, big brother."

"It's gotten late, where have you been, and why is Harry with you."

Nanoha choked, she couldn't think of what to say, then from behind them, came another voice. "it's so cute!"

"oh hay there Miyuki." Said Harry turning about to see the older girl behind them.

"Did you guts go to get him from the vet then, Nanoha." Asked Miyuki.

"Actually, we both heard some noises, and chose to see what was going on, we met on the way to the clinic, a few streets in the area are all torn up and this little guy seemed to have escaped, so something must have happened. We stopped in a park, and Nanoha was telling me about your decision to let her look after the little thing, so we came back here." Explained Harry.

"So why are you carrying a boken, Harry?" asked Kyoya.

"I'm new to the city, who knows what kind of weirdos are about this time of night. It's why I came back here with Nanoha, because your place is closer."

"Well, you guys shouldn't have left like that without telling anyone." Scolded the older boy.

"We're sorry." They coursed together.

Deciding it was for the best that Harry stayed for the night they sent the children to bed to deal with them in the morning.