DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything. All Harry Potter stuff belongs to J.K. Rowling. Also, this story is heavily influenced by Good Omens, which is written by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. The title comes from the song "The Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash.
A.N.: So I've been writing again for the past few days (see my shining new story for example) and I've had most of this typed up over a year now. So I cleaned it up a bit and decided to post it. So, sorry for the long wait. It's been a long, long time. Anyone still interested in this story? Well, hope you enjoy this chapter.
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CH. 3: Bullies and Horsepersons: School Daze
It was another day of Harry Hunting. Dudley and his gang were closing in on him and there was not a teacher in sight. Harry had reached a dead end near the school kitchens and there was nowhere to go with the boys just around the corner. He could hear their feet pounding on the pavement and their voices yelling, "He went that way!" Any second now, they would round that corner and he would be trapped. He had nowhere to hide, or run. The only way to go was up and onto the roof, which was impossible. Not to mention that students were not allowed on the roof and Harry would get in a lot of trouble (especially since he has already been in trouble this week for turning his teacher's wig blue. Not that he meant for it to turn blue, nor that he even knew how he did it in the first place). Harry shook his head, trying to dislodge that thought. It was useless to think about the impossible, but his desperate and panicked mind imagined himself safe on the roof, high above any malicious students. He could sit right by the chimney and Dudley's gang would never think to look up. He could almost feel the tile under his feet, the smell of smoke from the chimney, the cool breeze sweeping over the slant roof…
Just as it seemed he was actually on the roof, a crashing noise brought him back to reality. Harry realised his eyes were closed and he reluctantly opened them, thinking that he would open them just in time to see Dudley's fist flying at him. This was not the case. There was no one. It was silence. Harry stood dumbfounded. Where had Dudley's gang gone? Had they somehow missed him? Not believing his luck, Harry cautiously made his way out of the passage, where he had accidentally turned and trapped himself. He reached the corner and heard a noise. It sounded like…groaning? Perturbed, Harry peered around the corner and was faced with a sight he never thought he would see. Dudley's entire gang lay scattered around the pavement, at least a couple out cold. Dudley was in the center of the mess whimpering and clutching his head, not paying any attention to his surroundings. No one noticed Harry.
Glad that they wouldn't beat him up today, but a little worried about who beat them up and if they were worse than Dudley's gang (though he couldn't imagine anyone being worse than the gang), Harry started to back away from the defeated boys. And bumped into something tall and solid. He let out a yelp and turned around, looking up. A big man stood in front of him. His black hair was cropped short with white streaks on either side. He had a scar that went across his right eye, which was pale and filmy unlike his other, dark brown eye. He wore a red uniform and his whole posture screamed "military".
Harry's eyes widened and was prepared to flee, when the old man spoke, his voice like the rumble of thunder, "Hey, White, we are not here to kill the young whelps." This confused Harry, but he quickly realised that the man wasn't talking to him, wasn't even looking at him. Instead, he was looking over Harry at someone behind him.
Harry whirled back around and saw a boy dressed in white scrubs who wasn't there a few seconds before. He was crouching over Dudley. For some reason this made Harry worried for Dudley, instead of the much smaller being over him. With the other man's words, the boy looked up with a pout on his face. When he spoke, his voice came out light and dreamy, at complete odds with his childish expression.
"C'mon! It's only a little plague. Plus, Red, you got a turn with them, why can't I?"
"Because I didn't kill them. It would've been fun, but things like that draw the wrong sort of attention nowadays."
"You just don't appreciate my art."
The old man was about to reply, but that was the moment Harry found enough courage to voice his curiosity.
"E-excuse me, but who are you?"
The old man looked almost startled at the boy standing in front of him, as if he didn't even notice Harry standing there. The boy stood up, and Harry realised the boy was older and taller than he initially thought. The boy was actually a young man, with short, curly blonde hair and grey eyes that were now focussed intently on Harry.
"Ah. It's the boy. Hullo, little one. My name is…well. That would be giving the game away, wouldn't it?" Here the young man giggled. "And we wouldn't want that, would we?"
The other man clapped Harry on the shoulder, and gave Harry a smile. This was probably the man trying to be gentle, but the effect was more of a bear trying to make friends with a rabbit. Harry was busy trying to keep upright under the man's hand than actually trying to escape.
"You can call me General Red, though I haven't officially been a general since several wars back. This one," he gestured to the smiling man in white, "is Dr. White."
Harry stared up at the man, or general, and couldn't think of what to say. Finally, he settled on reciprocating the introduction. "Uh, I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
He wasn't expecting the odd pair to burst out laughing. The younger one, the doctor, had a creepy sort of giggle while the general had a deep, hearty laugh. Red was laughing so hard, he folded his arms so they were clenched around his stomach. Now, Harry had just about enough. Yes, these two were very weird and scary, but Harry was quite used to people laughing at him and therefore on more familiar ground. He decided that he has had a trying day and he did not need to be laughed at for his name.
"It's not funny!"
He tried his best to seem in control, but the effect was ruined by the fact that Harry only came up to the general's waist. Apparently, they thought this was hilarious and laughed even harder. Harry clenched his fists together and could feel his teeth grinding together. Something deep within him stirred.
"Stop laughing!"
The two immediately shut up, more out of surprise than actual fear. They looked at one another and then at Harry. There was a pause, and then the general spoke in a soothing tone.
"Relax, boy. You don't have to use that tone with us."
Dr. White cut in. "Yeah. It's just, you're Harry Potter. Of course we know who you are. Introducing yourself to us is beyond absurd." He then pointed at Harry, who was still angry, but it was being replaced by bewilderment. "And your expression was so comical! Er."
The general cut in, shooting the doctor a look. "Harry, my boy, we may seem…odd, but we're on your side! Well, that actually depends on you, but there will be time for those things later. For now, can't you see we mean you no harm? Other people…that's another story, but it's the whole reason we helped you today!"
Harry looked at him, his anger completely gone, and then looked at Dudley and his gang, still spread across the pavement. They didn't look to be getting up any time soon. "I-I don't understand, sir. Why me? I'm…just a kid." Just Harry.
White stepped closer to Harry. "Just a kid?" He smiled. "Oh, Harry, you are-"
He never finished his sentence. At that moment, Harry heard an exclamation of surprise and realise that a teacher had finally spotted the scene. Harry panicked and realised that this would look bad and he would probably get in trouble again.
Suddenly, it seemed, Harry was surrounded by school staff all worried and fussing over the boys on the pavement. In the confusion, Harry didn't see the two men slip away, but they must've because there was not a trace of them left, save the beaten gang. Harry was braced for the teacher's to demand explanations or assign Harry the blame, but they all seemed to ignore him. Strangely, it's as if they didn't even see him standing there.
Harry decided that before his luck ran out and he was spotted, to slip away unnoticed and pretend he wasn't even there in the first place. He nearly succeeded in it, and even almost forgot the strange encounter with the two men, when he overheard Dudley talking about his encounter to his parents.
The Dursley's were looking for someone to blame for poor Duddykins' black eye. Harry realised he was waiting for Dudley to describe the general and the doctor, but Dudley's answer surprised him. It was odd how he spoke, with a blank face and an almost absent-minded tone. He said that it wasn't serious, that his friends just got into an argument. They were…he didn't know what they were doing before, but suddenly they were fighting each other. No one else was to blame, because it was all between them. Harry knew this was wrong. He knew that General Red…did what? Harry didn't actually see what happened. He assumed that the general had stopped Dudley's gang by, well, beating them up or something. Dudley wouldn't lie about this. At least, he would lie if it could get someone else in trouble, and Harry knew for a fact Dudley wouldn't cover for someone like the general or the doctor. So that means he was telling the truth.
Harry didn't know what to think, but he knew that he hadn't seen the last of General Red or Doctor White.
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The incident did nothing to deter Dudley's gang from picking on Harry and it got to the point where his babysitter, Ms. Ryder, noticed.
He was sitting in her kitchen one day (which was a dreadful mash of colours and patterns, just like her wardrobe. Harry was too polite to say anything to her, though), drinking some poorly made tea (she was getting better, but it was still too watery and he was sure that she didn't know the meaning of the word 'sugar') when she brought up the topic of bullying.
"Now, Harry, it's perfectly normal for a boy your age to be scared of these things, but you must not let fear guide your decisions!"
"Er, alright? I-I'm sorry, Ms. Ryder. I don't know what you mean."
"Bullying, my boy! Your cousin of yours needs a serious talking to!" Harry flinched. He didn't think Ms. Ryder noticed the way Dudley pushed him around. No one else seemed to care. Then the rest of the statement caught up and panic rose up in him.
"I don't think that's necessary, ma'am!" He really didn't want Ms. Ryder speaking with his aunt or uncle. Especially about Dudley.
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really, dear, I think it is best-"
Harry's words scrambled over hers. "No, no! It's okay, really! I'm sure he doesn't mean any harm by anything!" He winced internally at the blatant lie.
Ms. Ryder's eyes narrowed and her gaze turned piercing. He took a sip of his tea to cover his discomfort, but then had to struggle not to spit the liquid out. He managed to swallow just as she said, gently, "Harry, you really shouldn't lie." Harry felt embarrassment well up in him. "We both know your cousin is a dreadful little boy and he means many malicious things towards you."
Harry looked away. It was rare for someone to take his side and not Dudley's. "Yeah, well, try convincing my aunt and uncle of that. Their 'Duddykins' can't do anything wrong." He didn't sound bitter. No, not at all.
Ms. Ryder's gaze softened. She patted him on his arm. "I know it's hard, dear, but you are a strong boy." Harry gave her a disbelieving stare. "You are! And I will tell you what you should do." Ms. Ryder leaned in closer. "Now, there are several ways to handle this. One," she held up a finger, "you tell your aunt and uncle. Who won't listen, I know. So, two. Get revenge. Do something to Dudley. Get him back."
Her gaze was so serious that Harry started to actually contemplate revenge against his cousin. And why stop there? Why not his aunt and uncle as well? Or the boys at school, and the mean teachers and-
Her voice interrupted his thoughts, cutting through like a flaming sword. "However, that would be wrong. Understand, Harry? Two wrongs don't make a right. Trust me, dear. You wouldn't feel any better. And where would it stop? No, best not go down that road."
Harry sunk back in his chair, digesting this. "So, I don't tell my aunt and uncle, and I don't get back at Dudley, then what do I do?"
"Why, Harry, tell a responsible adult. Someone who can't take sides. Someone who has enough authority that Mr. and Mrs. Dursley have to listen to them. Alas, that is not me. Try a policeman, or a nurse, or even a teacher-"
Harry interrupted. "How about a school counsellor? Isn't that their job?"
Ms. Ryder paused. "Well, yes, but-"
"Perfect! We have one at the school! I can talk with him immediately!" Harry, excited, got up to leave.
"Er, dear, I don't think-"
"Thanks, ma'am! See you later!"
After Harry left, Gabriel sat in his kitchen, shocked at the turn of events. How had his talk on bullying end up with Harry's plan to take advice from Belial? He groaned and pinched his nose. The demon was sure to get a kick out of this.
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Gabriel sighed as he sat down in the booth. He knew that Belial was going to spend this meeting gloating about how Harry was listening to him, now, not Gabriel. However, the demon was silent. This confused the angel so he decided to stick to small talk.
"Hello, Belial. It's nice to see you again." Gabriel waited for a response.
Nothing.
"Erm. I had trouble finding this place, you know. I don't frequent bars and this one was really just a whole in the wall and-" Gabriel abruptly stopped, peering at the demon closer through the dim lights. Angels couldn't see very well in the dark.
"Are you alright, dear?"
Finally Belial responded. "No, I'm not! Those blessed little buggers are worse than Hell!"
Gabriel started at the fervent response. "Er, dear?"
Belial picked up a drink Gabriel hadn't noticed before and downed it in one go. He slammed the glass on the table and it refilled itself. "Those kids, Gabriel. Those rotten, horrible kids. I-I tried, okay? I thought these kids will be easy to corrupt." He shook his head and drained another glass, which refilled. "I was a fool!"
Gabriel was taken aback by this response. Surely a few school kids weren't that bad? Gabriel had baby-sat Harry on a regular basis and he was a rather sweet boy. Sure, his cousin Dudley was a little brat, but Gabriel had thought Dudley's behaviour was the exception. Looking at Belial's face, it appears Gabriel got it wrong. Still, though. School kids against a demon? Surely Belial was stronger than that…
"I know that look, angel. That's your 'Belial is acting like an incomprehensible evil thing again' look. Well, trust me, okay? Or, you know, don't. I mean, we're anemones. Er. Enemies. The point is, Hell could learn from these kids. Okay? I even- I even sent memos Downstairs! Really, I said 'take a page out of these kids' books. Learn.' O' course, Hell takes things literally so all they did was take pages out of the children's textbooks and then berate me for wasting their time saying they don't need to learn about numbers or spelling and to stop messing about." Belial looked wretched. And quite drunk. "Messing about! I'm putting up with these fu-" Gabriel gave him a look. Belial just continued on, too wrapped up in his tirade. "-cking kids so that I can get closer to Harry Potter. I'm actually doing work, which is rare, and they say stop messing about!"
He then folds his arms up on the table and plunks his forehead down on his arms, so Gabriel can't see his face. They sit in silence like that. Gabriel had no idea what to say.
He settles for an awkward pat on the shoulder and a "there, there". Belial didn't even seem to notice. Gabriel was contemplating a drink himself when Belial started making weird noises and his shoulders started to shake. Alarmed Gabriel got up and changed sides so he was sitting right next to Belial.
"Belial? Dear?" Gabriel tentatively touched Belial's arm. "Look at me." He said very gently. Belial pulled his head out of his arms and tried to fix his bleary eyes on the angel's face. It didn't work. Gabriel sighed and said, "Would it make you feel better to know that I have made yet another mistake with Harry?"
Belial sniffed and said in a pathetic voice. "Yes. Tell me about it?" So Gabriel launched into his failed attempt at talking to Harry about bulling and how Harry was now going to talk to the demon. He made sure to exaggerate his motions and words to make the story funnier for the demon. By the end of it, Belial looked considerably more cheerful.
"Well, you sure bolloxed things up for yourself didn't you? Heh, at least I didn't do that!" Belial gave him a wide grin, setting his half-empty glass down. "Well, I better go prepare for Harry's visit! See you, angel!"
And with that, Belial was gone. Gabriel sank into his seat. Sighing, he picked up Belial's glass and took a sip. The liquid burned on the way down. "Yes, see you."
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Harry peered through the open door. He could see Mr. Radwan leaning back on his chair, feet propped up on his desk, fast asleep. Suddenly Harry had major doubts about this, but pushed it aside, for he was willing to try practically anything to get Dudley and his gang off his back. He knocked politely on the door and almost flinched when Mr. Radwan jerked awake, feet crashing to the floor as he tried to balance himself.
The counsellor's eyes seared into Harry's own, and had his mouth open as if he was about to say some very mean things, but something shifter in his eyes and his demeanor abruptly changed.
"Ah, Mr. Potter! How good it is to see you! How are you doing, boy? Sit, sit!" He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. Mr. Radwan straightened his tie as Harry cautiously took a seat. "So what brings you here, Mr. Potter?" Mr. Radwan's cheerfulness was a bit scary. Almost unreal, in fact.
"I, uh, I'm having a…problem with some of-of the students. I was, er, wondering what I could do about it…er." Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Mr. Radwan smiled knowingly. "Ah, bullies. Wretched little buggers, aren't they?" Harry blinked in shock. He didn't know counsellors were allowed to speak that way.
Mr. Radwan didn't wait for Harry's reply. "Look, kid, they all are beneath you, alright? You are better than them. More powerful. You shouldn't let any snot-nosed brats treat you with such disrespect, alright?" Harry wanted to point out that he didn't seem too powerful when confronted by three or four boys twice the size of him. "Here is what you need to do, Mr. Potter. You need to-" Mr. Radwan continued his speech, but Harry didn't hear any more of it. Something –or, rather, someone- had distracted him.
She was beautiful, with pale, almost white skin, and raven-coloured hair. She was elegant with her sharp cheekbones and beautiful black dress. Her lips were the colour of roses and her teeth were perfect and straight.
And she was making faces right outside the window behind Mr. Radwan. Harry was stunned. At first glance, she seemed the picture of sophistication, but then she would contort her face and blow a raspberry at the back of the counsellor's head. Mr. Radwan did not notice a thing. Harry would have laughed, but he didn't want to give the game away. Whoever she was, she was funny.
"-and that is how you will never have to deal with any more insufferable children again. Understand, Mr. Potter?"
Harry quickly jerked to attention and tried to remember what Mr. Radwan had been talking about. He drew a blank. He realised the counsellor was waiting for an answer. "Uh, yes, sir, I understand, thank you," he lied.
Mr. Radwan gave him another creepily happy grin and patted him on the head. "Good, good. You may go."
Harry stood up to leave, but looked out the window one last time. The woman in black was gone. He turned and left the office, wondering what just happened.
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A.N.: So I hope it doesn't take me so long to update. I mean, as long as no one else dies, I think I can update at least within a year. Heh. Sorry. My humor has taken a decidedly cynical turn. Anyways, please review, even if it's just to say, "Finally got your arse in gear, huh?"