CH 4

Harry gaped at what he thought must have been Whitehall. It was as he remembered it with its regular set windows and white stone walls. No the building was much the same except that above the original facade was a tall sleek tower of shining metal. This massive tower extended far into the sky and jutted out and random intervals. It was beautiful in an odd sort of way. Around were more towers with much the same design. Harry had seen skyscrapers before, but never this tall. High in the sky he could see large specs flying about the towers, but couldn't make out what they were. Looking down and around himself there seemed to be some strange cars parked around him. They were quite large and sleek, but what Harry noticed first was that they all had no tires. He then noticed that they all looked mostly the same except for color. There were people walking down the sidewalk. He thanked the stars that they looked like normal people. Their clothing was not too strange either, but they did have some embellishments that Harry hadn't seen before. He noticed some also appeared to openly carry what appeared to be very large pistols at their hips.

He must have been quite the site standing there dumbfounded as he started drawing unwanted attention of several people walking around. He was about to leave when he heard a voice yelling at him.

"Oi, you there! Stop right there!"

Michael Kent had been working the Whitehall district for about 6 months. It was a more sedate beat that he enjoyed. He liked the relative routine the area fell in during workdays. He was making his way down Whitehall Court making sure no one was parked in an illegal fashion when he noticed several pedestrians staring behind them as they walked. He looked further up the block and noticed a young teen drawing everyone's attention. He looked like a wreck in all honesty. He was wearing drab, odd looking clothing that was worn and torn in random places. His eyes looked exhausted and he was half starved looking he was so thin. Kent saw that the boy had turned away and was starting to walk away when Kent called out to him.

"Oi, you there! Stop right there!"

The boy turned towards him. He tensed as if to make a break for it, but froze once his eyes rested on his badge.

"Hey kid. You alright?" Kent asked quizzically.

"Not really." The kid said, and then looked surprised that he had said that. Kent assumed that his apparent exhaustion had made him more honest than he intended.

"My name is Officer Kent. What is yours?"

"Harry…Harry Potter. Are you with the police?"

"Yes son, but don't worry. You aren't in any trouble."

"Good." The boy replied.

"Are you from around here?"

"No."

"Where from? I'll give you a ride."

"Don't think you'll find it."

"Try me."

"OK, I'm from Little Whinning."

"The factory district?"

"I guess."

Kent knew that the boy, Harry, was hiding something. The kid wouldn't meet his eyes and from his beat up appearance, he seemed to develop an idea.

"Anyone hurt you son?"

"I got in a fight the other day."

"I can tell."

"Any family I can call for you?"

Kent saw him tense at this.

"No, they're all dead."

Kent couldn't decide what to do. He couldn't leave an unattended minor like this when he looked like someone ran him through the entire N7 program in one night.

"Hey son, would you like to grab a bite to eat?"

Harry looked up at Kent. He was looking for any opportunity to get away from this police officer without arousing too much suspicion when he made an offer he couldn't refuse.

Food.

Harry felt like he could eat a horse, or two, or as much as Ron at the sorting feasts.

"Sure."

"Well let's get to my patrol car and I'll need to make a call."

Harry agreed. He felt for his wand. He had managed to discreetly slide it up his sleeve whenever Kent had called out to him. It was still there. Harry figured that in worst case he can use a Confundus charm and get away. They walked toward one of the blue cars he had seen along the street. This one was affixed with a police light bar and marked for London PD. Harry was still wondering where the tires were when the side and top windows opened out revealing the inside.

Harry stood there gaping when he heard Kent say "Hey kid, you act like you've never seen a Skycar before."

Harry noticed the car had a divider that separated from front from the back. Harry made to sit in the back when Kent said, "Harry, you're not under arrest. Hop in on the passenger side."

Sheepishly Harry sat down in the passenger seat. Harry buckled himself in and watched as Kent sat down and did the same. The next thing Harry saw was Kent raise his hand to his face and his arm and hand become surrounded by an orange gauntlet of sorts.

"You can do magic?!"

Kent looked at him puzzled.

"This is just my omni-tool son."

Harry returned the puzzled look.

"You do know what an omni-tool is right?"

Harry looked embarrassed at him. Obviously Harry should know have known what this was in this day and age. Harry turned away from him and looked out his window.

"I guess I forgot."

Harry heard Kent's "omni-tool" make a loud beeping sound and Kent began to speak.

"Dispatch this is officer 277 I have an unattended minor. He has some mild abrasions and looks in need of a meal. We're going to grab something and I'll swing by central when we're done."

"Kent!" said a gruff voice from his omni-tool, "You picking up strays again? Don't answer, I already know you are. I'll send Blair around to cover your zone. Don't take too long."

Kent looked at Harry, who was still looking out the window "Don't mind him about the stray comment. He's always trying to rile me up like that. Knows I don't like it when he calls anyone that."

Harry continued to look out the window, too embarrassed to face Kent.

"I am a stray, aren't I?'"

He was jerked out of his brooding by the sound of the sky car turning on. He noticed the engine had more of a high pitch whine than a rumble of cars he was used to. Harry had a suspicion about why this was a called a "Skycar" and it was confirmed whenever they started moving up into the air.

Harry grinned. Looking at his own reflection in the glass of the sky car, he knew this was the same grin he always got whenever he got to fly his broom at Hogwarts or the Burrow. They rose higher and higher until Kent rose higher than a series of lights lining one of the floors of the skyscraper. Harry noticed that all of the towers had these lights at this same level. Once above them, Kent started the Skycar forward. Harry noticed floating objects in the sky that looked sort of like flying traffic lights. Kent directed them towards a stream of skycars moving past the Whitehall tower. Kent pressed a button with his left thumb on the steering column and lights on the left side of the sky car started to blink. Seeing a spot open, Kent eased his sky car into the flow.

"Thank goodness traffic doesn't look bad today." Kent said, with an air of relief.

"Is it often that bad?" asked Harry.

"Well, not around this time, but when everyone's trying to leave work in the evening, it's a nightmare."

Harry guessed some things never changed. Uncle Vernon would often complain about traffic on his way back from Grunnings.

They flew in relative silence for a while, only interrupted by a radio in Kent's patrol car chiming in to request backup with an arrest here or a suspicious person there. Harry was admiring the buildings around him. Everything was so uniform in theme, yet no building looked the same. All sleek, shining, and metal, but the towers bent at weird places and windows were set at different intervals.

"I've always liked the towers." Kent said, breaking the relative silence in the Skycar, "From a distance they all look the same, but once you take a closer look, you see that they are each unique. I think the designers wanted that, you know, to show all the others what we humans are like."

Harry turned and looked puzzled at Kent.

"What did he mean by 'we humans'?"

Harry opted to remain quiet rather than ask Kent what he meant. He had decided that the more questions he asked about this place, the more questions he would draw about himself. Finally, after a few minutes of flying, Harry saw something that everyone from his time would recognize anywhere. The golden arches of a McDonalds.

"Some things really never change!"

The restaurant was set into the side of another sleek tall tower. There seemed to be a place to land skycars nearby that led into what looked like a dining area. Kent slowed down and drew closer to the golden arches on the walls of the tower. Harry then noticed two small windows under each of the arches. Kent pulled up alongside the first arch and his radio blared to life again.

"Hi welcome to McDonald's. Will your order require any dextro substitutions?"

"No, just normal is fine." Kent said.

"Order when you're ready."

"Two Big Mac Menu's with Nutreen Colas on that."

"Ok, that'll be...280 credits, please pull up to receive your order."

Harry watched as they pulled forward and the small side panel window on the side of the Skycar went down. Kent's omni-tool flashed as he waved his hand towards a black panel set into the side of the wall. After this the window in the arch opened and an older teen with a headset leaned out with a bag which Kent took. The older boy retreated and returned with two large cups. Kent grabbed them and handed one to Harry.

"Nutreen Cola?" Harry asked.

"What? Do you not like it? You look like you could use one."

"No, it's just that I haven't had it before."

"Oh… well... I think you'll like it."

Harry took a tentative sip of his drink. It was sweet, but not overly so. It was not like the fizzy drinks he had managed to try when he was with the Dursleys. Contented with the flavor he then tore into the wrapping surrounding his burger. He bit into it and nearly groaned with satisfaction. He did not realize how hungry he was. He noticed that Kent hadn't touched any of the food and had begun directing the sky car back into another stream of traffic.

"Are you not going to eat?"

"I already did. I'll keep this drink, but I figured you could use the extra burger and chips."

"Thanks."

Harry hungrily devoured the burgers and started in on the chips. He noticed that they were orange and not salted. He stared at them quizzically.

"What's the matter?" Kent asked.

"They're orange."

"Of course they are."

"And they look baked."

"Yeah, so?"

"Then why do they look so healthy?"

"It's McDonald's Harry, of course it's healthy."

Harry again turned to the window to hide his embarrassment and confusion. He continued to eat the chips (they were quite good). He wondered if his cousin Dudley would have looked like a small whale if chips were all like this back during his time.

"Where are we going now?"

"Well I want to take you to the Central London Precinct to get looked over. You look like you have been through the ringer. You'll also be able to get a bit cleaned up and some sleep. After that, Harry, I was hoping we can find your home."

"Yeah, me too." Harry replied.

They resumed their silence as they continued on down the stream of traffic, only changing directions once with the aid of one of the floating lights directing them. After about 15 minutes Kent pulled out of the stream and pressed a button on the central panel.

"Parking request submitted, please wait." said an artificial sounding voice from the panel.

After a brief moment it replied; "Request granted please follow parking guides."

A small series of flashing lights appeared on Kent's window, seemingly leading him in the direction to follow. Kent moved the sky car down and forward until the lights indicated they were above the assigned parking spot. The sky car lowered and Kent hit a series of buttons. The whining of the engine stopped and the side door and canopy opened out.

"We're here son." Kent said, climbing out.

Harry did the same and followed him towards a series of doors at the base of a tall tower. Harry noticed the lot full of similar police skycars. As they drew nearer to the doors, Harry saw letters above them reading London Central Precinct and Alliance Command. Kent held the door for Harry as they arrived. Inside there was a swarm of activity. Harry saw several desks with queues of people in front of them. Kent motioned Harry to follow and the walked past desks. They made it to a hallway at the back of the main entrance. Above it read Security Checkpoint 1A. Harry saw Kent place his sidearm on a conveyor belt leading into a small hole in the wall. Kent walked into the Hallway and Harry followed. As they were walking through, beams of blue light began washing over them. They made it through to the other side where Kent retrieved his side arm from a similar hole and conveyor belt.

"I'm glad to see you weren't hiding any weapons on you." Kent said laughingly.

Kent continued on towards a series of lifts and Harry followed closely. There was so much activity around him that he did not want to get separated here. Inside the lift Kent press the button for floor 28. They rode up in relative silence.

"It's odd to be riding a lift with someone so quiet. Usually people pick this time to strike up the oddest conversations."

"Sorry, I just don't have much to say."

"No need for that now. Everyone is welcome to keep their peace. Well everyone like you who isn't here because we arrested them."

Harry was grateful Kent wasn't trying to pry. He wasn't sure how much he should or shouldn't say. He knew he shouldn't say anything about his magic, but how would he explain where he was from or who he is. Also, Harry kept slipping and showing his surprise at the unfamiliar and strange muggle technology. Harry was trying to come up with a plausible explanation, but decided against trying to make something up. He didn't know enough about when he was to make a believable story. Besides, Kent seemed nice and seemed to genuinely want to help.

Once they reached their floor Kent led Harry down the hallway to a door labeled Clinic. Kent walked inside motioning Harry to follow. Inside Harry saw room with a heavy blue and metallic theme. The chairs in the waiting room they had entered looked comfortable enough, but he did not recognize the material that the cushions were wrapped in. There was a glass coffee table in the center. Harry noticed a magazine titled SA Weekly. The picture on it showed an odd shaped statue with a tagline that read "Can Forta be the next Picasso?"

Harry saw that Kent had gone up to the window where a receptionist sat on the other side and knocked on the glass.

"Is Dr. Michel in?"

"Yes she is. Should I go get her Michael?"

"That would be great Sue."

The receptionist walked back to an office and poked her head in the door. A moment later she left followed by a woman with short red hair. She was wearing a white uniform with a blue breast piece that buttoned across her chest. She had patches on either sleeve that read X-01.

"Michael" the woman said in slightly French accent. "It's good to see you. You haven't been shot have you? When I heard they moved you to Whitehall I thought you would never see me again."

"Hello Chloe, it's good to see you too. No, Whitehall is as boring as could be expected. I'm here for my friend here. Harry, this is Dr. Michel. She is a good friend of mine and has patched me up quite a few times."

"Only because you can't keep your nose out of trouble."

"Hello" said Harry, "I'm Harry, Harry Potter."

"Hello Mr. Potter, or can I call you Harry? Good. Is there a reason Officer Kent brought you here today?"

"Well, I guess it's because I looked like I fell down an air shaft." Harry quipped.

Smiling, Dr. Michel motioned towards her office. "If you'll follow me Harry we'll get you looked over. Michael, will you be joining us?"

"After a moment. I should probably let my CO know what I've been doing and I need to make a few calls."

Harry asked suddenly "Will you be coming back?"

"Sure son." Kent replied before stepping out.

Still smiling, patted the exam table in the room they had entered.

"If you'll lie down for me Harry we'll do a quick exam. Won't take but a minute."

Harry did so. Dr. Michel activated an omni-tool on her left wrist and waved it over Harry's body. Harry, not feeling anything, wondered what she was doing.

"Have you had any vaccinations Harry?"

"Umm...not that I'm aware of?"

"Any hospitalizations lasting more than a day?"

Harry grew quiet. Several times at Hogwarts Harry had ended up in the infirmary for several days at a time. He didn't know how to respond, but Dr. Michel broke him out of his thoughts.

"It's OK Harry; no one here will be upset if you have."

"...yes" Harry said after a pause.

"Do you know how many times?"

"A few. I don't really recall how many times."

Dr. Michel punched a few buttons on the glowing gauntlet of the omni-tool.

"Harry, I'd like to get a blood sample from you if that is OK. I'd like to see if there are any vaccinations that you'll need."

Harry nodded his assent and she placed a white plastic cylinder on his arm. A quick hiss from it and a slight sting and she pulled it away.

"I need to go run this Harry. Make yourself comfortable. If you need anything, just find Susan and ask her."

Chloe stepped out and shut the door behind her. She walked into her private office and sat down, rubbing her eyelids. She activated her Omni-tool and said "Michael Kent". A moment later she heard his voice over her Omni-tool.

"Yeah Chloe?"

"Are you almost back? I want to talk about Harry when you get a chance."

"Yeah, me too. I'll head there"

After a few minutes Michael walked in.

"So, something else huh?"

"Where did you find him? I've not seen a child like him since I went to the holdout regions."

"Yeah, he's been through it. I picked him up in the Whitehall district when I was working the foot patrol. He was just standing around gaping in wonder."

"His health," Chloe said, bringing up a holographic image of Harry's body. It cycled through red flashes to different regions of his body. "It is like he has been beaten within inches of his like. I've found scar tissue all over his body, mostly on his back and arms. He shows signs of severe malnutrition and severe exhaustion. His blood work indicates an unknown toxin flowing through his system and he has antibodies for diseases that were eradicated centuries ago. Kent, he had antibodies for Influenza! When was the last case of that documented! Also, he hasn't had any of the regular vaccinations that children receive at birth. Wherever did he come from?"

"I thought as much. I suspected at first he might be from one of the holdout regions. You know how they dislike anything modern. The only thing throwing that theory for a loop is his accent. He sounds British by all accounts. I do have a theory though…"

"What is it?"

"He might have been kidnapped by or sold at birth to one of the human traffic rings. They mostly operate in holdout regions, but they may have gotten their hands on him when he was young. They may have ditched him when he didn't sell when he was older. Too sickly probably. Kid didn't recognize anything from my omni-tool to my Skycar. Either he has been locked up this entire time or they chemically mind wiped him."

"People would do such a thing?" Chloe gasped.

"Unfortunately it does happen. Batarians love slaves that have no history. Makes them less likely to try and escape. I made some inquiries. He doesn't match any known data base which is why I think he must have been taken at birth."

"What happens to him now?"

"Now? Now I will need to contact Child Services and see if there is a place we can put him. I don't like it, but he's going to need someone who can get him up to speed in this world."

Chloe nodded sadly. "I will get him a full screen of vaccinations and get him caught up. Make sure wherever he goes that he gets placed on a high nutrient diet. He'll be drinking lots of Nutreen."

Harry was close to falling asleep on the table when the door the room opened. Dr. Michel and Officer Kent walked in.

"Oh, I am sorry Harry; I didn't realize that you were almost asleep. You must be exhausted."

"It's alright; I've been up for a while."

Dr. Michel opened a metal cabinet and took down a series of plastic cylinders.

"Harry, if it's OK I will give you a series of vaccinations you should have had and then an application of medi-gel to help with your abrasions."

Harry nodded. He didn't know what medi-gel was, but Dr. Michel had been very good to him so he trusted it would help. He was grateful that she asked for his permission first. Madam Pomfrey at the Hogwarts Infirmary would just command him to lie in his bed and shove potions down his throat. She meant well, but it was nice to be asked for once.

Dr. Michel took the cylinders and, one after another, pressed them to his arm. He only felt slight stings and they were done. She then placed a small tube on a wrist band on her left arm, her omni-tool lit up, and Harry felt a cool light wash over his body. As soon as the light touched him, those areas of his body felt relief from the soreness, scrapes, and bruises he had acquired.

"What was that?" Harry asked, surprised at the sensation.

"Medi-gel." Dr. Chloe replied. "Harry, I noticed in your blood work that you had a poison of some sort in your blood. Do you know why that is?"

"Ummm, I was bitten by a rather large snake once."

"How large?"

Harry showed them the scar on his arm where the basilisk fang had punctured it during his second year. It was the size of a sickle. Dr. Chloe's eyes widened in surprise.

"Are you in any pain? Does it cause any problems?"

"No, it happened about three years ago and I haven't had any problems."

"I am making a note in your file to keep an eye on this. Do not donate any blood Harry as it could harm someone."

At this Kent came over and said. "Harry you want to come down to my desk with me for a bit? I've got to make a few more calls to find a place for you to rest for the night and I'd like your input."

Harry didn't like the sound of that, but didn't know what else to do. He decided to follow along as best he could. They rode the lift down to floor eleven. Upon exiting Harry saw a sign that said Booking and In-Processing. Harry was led past a series of desks with uniform officers sitting at them. Across from a few were various people. Harry noticed a few were cuffed to their chairs.

"Preliminary questioning." Kent said, noticing that Harry was looking at the cuffs.

Kent stopped at a desk with his name on a plate on it. He motioned for Harry to have a seat and he did so. Kent began working on what looked like a computer in front of it. Harry noticed that the screen was made out of light and projected in the air. Harry was looking around. He noticed that the office area they were in had a high ceiling, taking up several floors above them. Offices with glass walls looked down on them. He then noticed voices growing louder at the desk a few meters from Kent's. Another officer was talking to a brute of a man. He was obviously trying to calm the man down, but it did not appear to be working. Another officer approached from the side of the man. Suddenly the man jumped up and pulled the officer's side-arm free, shouldered the officer to the ground, and pointed it around yelling.

"Back! Back away from!"

Kent immediately jumped up and pulled his side arm on the man as did several others.

"Let's just slow down here a minute and think." Kent said with a level voice. "We don't want any trouble."

"And I said for you guys to get back! I'm not afraid to pull this trigger!" The man yelled pointing his gun at Kent. Harry quickly slid his wand out of his sleeve and palmed it. Harry hid the end of his wand with his fingers and mentally prepared an Expelliarmus. Harry figured he could pull off the motions of his spell without holding it properly as it needed only a swish and jab, but no flick. Slicing his arm down and out a red light shot out of Harry's wand, striking the large man's hand. The pistol shot out of his hand and flew to Harry who caught it by the barrel. Everyone paused for a second before a burly officer tackled into the man and forced him down into the desk. Several other officers piled on top, wrestling the man's hands behind him. Once they managed to cuff him Kent returned his pistol to his side. He turned and looked at Harry and held his hand out, palm up. Harry placed the pistol into it and thrust it into the owning officer's hands.

"What have you been told about maintaining control of your sidearm? And you!" Kent yelled, turning to the officer behind the desk "Why wasn't this man cuffed? I swear I haven't seen such ineptitude since training rookies at the academy!"

While Kent was dressing down the officers Harry noticed a group making its way towards them. Harry noticed they were all wearing dark blue and black dress uniforms lined in gold. In front was a blonde woman with bright blue eyes. Upon noticing her, Kent quieted down and turned to face her. He immediately straightened and saluted.

"Officer present!" Kent yelled and everyone stopped and saluted.

"At ease." she said, looking at Kent.

"How can I help you Lieutenant?" Kent said, with more formality than Harry was used to hearing from him.

"I just happened to be watching the commotion upstairs."

"You were? I'm sorry you had to see that ma'am." Kent replied.

"I'm not." She turned to Harry and said "Hello, my name is Dr. Kahlee Sanders."