Beta: Artemis_HNR
Pairing/s in this chapter:
Warnings in this chapter: Time Travel, Crossover, Alternate Universe, Character death, Murder, Assassination, Pouting Voldemort (yes that's a warning), Mention of Slash
Nr words in this chapter: 3,928
"Talking"
'Thinking'
–Private Message–
Dream/Memory/Letter/Journal/Book/Newspaper
Time change/date of time
Chapter V
–Pluto's Guild–
Saturday, January 08, 2023
Floor 11: Taft
Harry sat on the inn's chair petrified. There was no way! There was no freaking way…
"How are you even alive and on this level, Freak?"
Before his wooden table stood his cousin Dudley and his gang of friends. Harry didn't react to the term freak he was used to it by now, he was more concerned about the fact that his cousin was in this horrifying Death Game with him. He could already feel himself panicking at the idea of how by Dementor's Kiss was he going to make sure his cousin made it out of here alive!
Harry looked at each of the boys they were no older than he was in this new world and each of the boys had so much of their lives to look forward to. He knew his cousin in his past life lived to his 18th birthday but now that was being drawn into question. Would his cousin make it out of here? Just the idea of his cousin dying so soon made his heart clench in worry.
"Oi, Big D, is he alright?"
How was he going to face his aunt or his uncle? What would they even say? Would they even let him live should Dudley die? He didn't think so. He was almost certain they would pull his plug the moment Dudley's heart flatlined.
Harry's heart raced faster than a snitch as he tried to think of ways to protect his cousin. He was sure he was paler than the Bloody Baron as he got lost in thought. Maybe he could talk to Voldemort and see about protecting his cousin. But he knew Dudley wouldn't want to leave his gang. Why did it have to be his cousin of all the bloody people from his old world?
-P-
This was not bloody happening. Of all the bloody people he had to run into from home it had to be his little cousin.
"Oi, Freak!" Dudley yelled as he rushed to his cousin. Damnit all, Harry! Dudley wasn't sure how he was supposed to help him. His mother always knew how to handle this.
"Freak… Oi… Harry I don't have bloody time for this! Damnit. Snap out of it!" Dudley reached over and shook his cousin's shoulder. It was like his cousin had become unresponsive. He just stared at the wall.
"Big D…" Looking over his shoulder, he saw Piers looking at him in concern.
"You know I'm all for picking on your cous, but… this time… I think you need to be a bit… you know… nice… the freak… he's not gonna snap out of it… if you rough him up." Piers tried to explain.
"I know!" Dudley yelled in frustration, kicking the table.
Dudley looked between the faces of his gang and gave them all a look to swear them to secrecy before he reached out to his cousin slowly pulling him into a loose hug.
"Hey… Cous, come on it's Dudley, ok? I know you're… freaking out right now. Its pretty scary being here. But look I'm here and so are my friends. We will look out for you and make sure nothing bad gets you. You know, I'm killing my rep here. The things I do for family." Dudley said as he watched his seemed to shake out of whatever daze he was in.
"Dudley?"
"Oi, Its Big D. No poncy real world names here." He stated with a smirk lightly tapping his cousin in the chin with his fist "Ima watch out for you cous. You aint roughing this alone anymore got it? How in name of the Bloody Queen did you make it this far anyhow?" Dudley questioned, while looking his cousin over.
–P–
Dudley must have thought that he was having some sort of attack. Harry blushed as he felt his heart warm at his cousin's concern for him.
"How in name of the Bloody Queen did you make it this far anyhow?"
Harry glanced at his own HP gauge to see his level and then to the gang.
"I've been fighting solo… I stay on the floors I know I can handle with my current level."
"Of course you've been." Dudley agreed, throwing his arm over Harry's shoulder. "Don't worry, you've found us and now we will keep you safe. We won't let anyone or anything get to you."
Harry glanced at his cousin and then to his plate, unsure.
"What about you guys? Wouldn't I slow you down from leveling up? With my level and yours being so different?" Harry asked.
"Don't worry, we're already on late 20s. All of us. We can mingle down with you. To protect you." Harry glance at his level; 40. He bit his bottom lip, unsure. Maybe it would be for the best to keep his level a secret, at the least for now. Dudley pulled him close and smiled. "Don't worry, Harry. We'll protect each other. You'll return home. Mother is most likely worried sick about both of us." Aunt Petunia… Harry glanced at Dudley, who made a guild request. Harry smiled. For Aunt Petunia Harry would stay with them. He'd protect Dudley, make sure he survived… no matter what. Harry accepted, nodding. Dudley frowned. "Plu… Pluto? Like the planet or that yellow dog?"
Harry shrugged.
"At least I'm not named Big D." Harry said as he raised his brow at his cousin.
Dudley smirked at him
"Now you're in the guild of Big D's Gang." one of the scrawnier of the boys pointed out.
Harry glanced at him surprised, he'd practically forgotten how Piers had a scrawny rat face back at 11-year-old.
–P–
Sunday, April 16, 2023
They had taken the time to stop off at one of the shops for supplies for their next raid. In the three months he had stayed with them he saw the gang level up a ways. Furrowing his brow he pulled up a calendar and started counting out the days on his finger. Something was nagging at the back of his mind.
There was something important he was forgetting. Glancing over at one of the shops he paused when he saw a row of children's toys. Looking them all over he saw a multicolored wolf when it hit him. Teddy! Harry then wasted no time going over to the counter to make the purchase of the multi-colored plush.
Dudley glanced over Harry's shoulder.
"Is that… a toddler's toy?"
Harry snickered and nodded. He quickly purchased the toy before storing it.
"Why in the blazes did you just waste resources on a toddlers toy? Is there a side quest?" Dudley asked watching Harry in confusion .
Harry just laughed as he, picking it from his storage, gifted it.
"For that person you keep talking with?" Piers wondered.
Harry nodded again, following them out of the shop with a silly grin on his face. It didn't take long for him to receive the message.
–Just because it's his birthday, doesn't mean you are entailed to spend money on things he'll never use! LV–
–How was the face of the others frontliners when they saw it? GP–
–You are a rock in my shoe, you little menace. LV–
Harry laughed.
"What is it?"
"He's screaming at me." Harry chuckled.
"Whatever the hell for?" Dudley retorted, puzzled.
"Because I gifted him a child's toy for his son who is in Real World." The rest of gang's eyes grew looking at Harry as he walked ahead. –You don't say that when I'm cooking for you. GP–
–I'm not that suicidal. LV–
–Oh, yeah? GP–
–What's with the good humour nowadays? LV–
–Joined a guild. GP–
"A man?" Harry nodded at Dudley as he ran to join him. "Didn't know you were into that kind of thing."
Harry frowned back puzzled, which only made all of the others laugh.
"It's a good thing you're so unsocial."
That only confused Harry even more.
–P–
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Harry glanced at his message inbox. Still no reply from Voldemort. Had something happened to him?
–Is the Dark Lord dead? Pluto– he messaged Hagrid.
–Nah wy ja ask? Grawp–
Harry frowned into his message box.
–It's been a month with no reply from him. P–
–So he finly won some sense tha head. It's abt time yeh two stop spekin. G–
Harry closed the menu list throwing himself back on the bed looking at the ceiling with a groan. Bloody hell, why had he messaged Hagrid? Of course Hagrid would be happy they weren't talking. Sighing yet again he narrowed his eyes puzzled with himself. Why did he care if the Dark Lord wasn't talking with him?
Harry stood with a huff and left the room he'd rented for the night. He went to the apparating area and went to higher levels. If he couldn't sleep, might as well go gather the condiments for Dudley's food…
Harry glanced up from his sitting position, after he finished a bonus challenge he decided to take a rest only for it to be interrupted, as a bottle of wine dropped at his feet. Volde… Harry's eyes grew at seeing the twins before him.
"What are you…?"
The two pointed to a group behind them. Harry glanced to see the Gryffindors old Quidditch team. Oliver Wood, Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell and an irritated Angelina Johnson.
"You guys shouldn't give wine to a child." Angelina approached, reprimanding the two.
"Pluto isn't a child." The two argued. "He's the one who taught us all about how to survive the game."
"Oh really? You must be really good then." Oliver claimed impressed.
Harry shrugged.
"He's a frontliner." Fred put in.
"Was a frontliner." Harry retorted. "I left it."
"Why?"
"Too many kills."
The team nodded, not arguing.
"So you're in a guild now?" George asked, Harry raised an eyebrow and he pointed to the symbol over Harry's HP gauge.
"Oh, that… Yeah. My cousin. Trying to make certain he survives the game."
"Your age?"
"As is the rest of the guild."
"Any cute girls?"
"Only boys, sorry." Harry argued, taking a sip from the wine. "Merlin, it's been too long since I've drank wine!"
Harry glanced at the bottle sadly. Since Voldemort's anniversary…
"What does the Dark Lord thinks of you in a guild?"
Harry shrugged.
"It's been awhile since we spoke."
"Why?" Harry shrugged. "Does he know you're in a guild?"
"Yeah. I told him… right before he stopped talking with me." The twins started laughing. "Wha…?"
"You're The Roman God, right?" Katie asked and Harry nodded. "Aren't you The only one the Dark Lord parties with?" Harry nodded puzzled. "Yet you've formed a guild with someone else?"
Harry's eyes grew, before he lowered his head and groaned loudly.
"Bloody domineering, uncooperative, autocratic, pig-headed, apathetic, callous, snake-faced, no-nose, possessive Dark Lord!" he grumbled. "Does he really think he's the only person in the whole world?"
"If he's that bad why do you keep partying with him?" Fred argued, as he laughed.
"Because he's good enough to party with me on an equal level."
"Hmm, Gred will you remind me who is it that is partying with his low-rank cousin?" George retorted.
"I don't know Forge I believe it would be someone about yea tall, bit of a effeminate face too." Fred said leveling his hand about the height of Harry.
"You guys are impossible!"
"We know." They agreed.
Harry glanced at the message box.
–were r u Freak?–
–With friends.–
–were? Big Ds orried sik!–
Harry put his head on his hands.
"Guild?"
He nodded and stood, returning the wine.
"I better go, before they attempt at following me."
"Have fun." Harry rolled his eyes and went to the apparating area. He had a cousin to calm down…
–P–
Monday, June 12, 2023
An arm appeared around Harry's neck and pulled him into a male's chest.
"Where did you go?" Dudley hissed.
"Dudley…"
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"Couldn't sleep… went to fetch the condiments for your food." Harry groaned, forcing himself from the blond fat boy. "I do this every night, you need to stop freaking out."
"Harry…"
Harry approached and looked at him eye-to-eye.
"I'm fine!"
Dudley looked directly to Harry's HP bar before he nodded.
"Next time…"
"I'm fine, Cousin!" Harry hissed coldly.
"You're nooooow, but…" Harry closed his eyes with strength waiting for Dudley's big speech on how he was being stupid. How Dudley was bigger than Harry and he needed to let Dudley help him… or something like that.
He'd heard this so many times these past weeks that he was practically immune by now… although Dudley sure could make quite the sermon while saying so.
"That is enough!" Harry froze and turned slowly, only to see Voldemort in person. "Let's go, Pluto."
"Wha…?" Harry gasped as Voldemort just grabbed his hand and pulled him away at fast speed. Harry glanced back towards his cousin and guild, who started to run after them. He watched Dudley draw his weapon "It's okay, Big D. I'll see you later."
"Bu…"
"It's okay, Cous'. He's my… friend."
"Oh…" Dudley nodded and stopped running, storing his weapon.
Harry let Voldemort pull him out of town, through several boars and wolves spawn zones and into another town. In there they entered an inn and quickly Voldemort bought a room pulling Harry with him upstairs. Harry sat on the bed as Voldemort changed his Slytherin themed robes to some trousers and shirt.
"Are you going to change or not?"
"Not sure why you brought me here after you avoided me for 2 months."
Voldemort sneered.
"Grawp said as we left the dungeons that you messaged him worried about me." Harry tensed. Hagrid and that big mouth of his… "Of course he immediately grumbled that he shouldn't have said that."
Harry chuckled.
"He always does that… but still… I only asked if you were alive… like a month ago."
"I am."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Then why the avoidance and now sudden contact?"
Voldemort raised an eyebrow and signalled into Harry's clothes. While grumbling under his breath, Harry changed his clothes.
"Who were those children that were bullying you?"
"My guild." Harry replied, only for Voldemort to sneer. "My cousin." He added.
Voldemort looked back as he went through his storage menu.
"Biologically speaking?" the man asked and Harry swore he could hear the man's hopeful tone. "Is that why you joined such a low-ranking guild?"
Harry nodded.
"Can't let anything to happen to him." Voldemort huffed but nodded. "I'm serious, Voldemort!" Harry hissed.
Voldemort smiled back.
"You're the only one who calls me that, you know?"
Harry fumed, crossing his arms. No, the man didn't get to suddenly pretend everything was alright. Merlin, why did Harry care so much what the other thought of him?
"Why did you rent this room? Don't you have a house by now?"
"I warned Horace not to wait for me tomorrow." Harry looked at Voldemort as he opened the bed sheets. "As a solo player I come and go as I please. Like you once did yourself."
"Not that any of them ever let me do that willingly." Harry argued.
"No… they did not. Only because you let them do so." Harry glared back, standing. "When was the last time you had a good night sleep?"
"New Year's Eve." Harry's eyes grew. "Wait, you can't possibly mean… Voldemort!"
"It's almost 3 am. I've spent all day and night in the dungeons. So: you either move into the bed willingly…" Voldemort opened his menu list and then a rope appeared on his hand. "Or I'll make you." He added with a smirk.
Grumbling, Harry walked to the bed to lay down and Voldemort laid on the other side, turning off the lights.
"Voldemort?"
"Yes?"
"Will we ever return to our world?"
"If we do, we'll be a different people then." Voldemort replied. "Why? Finally decided to start living?"
Harry turned on his side, looking at Voldemort in the dark.
"It's not that… living isn't my priority… but… my cousin… you saw him. He's not made for this. He's pampered. Not used to being told no… I'm surprised he lived this long without me."
"He was treating you like an invalid."
Harry nodded, smiling.
"Whether we like it or not… I am A child. Who can't socialize in Real World. I am a freak who has nightmares of people that are alive being killed. Of You killing them."
Harry saw Voldemort's red eyes narrow in the dark.
"Mad Eye's death. You saw it before. You knew his real name."
Harry nodded, turning to lay on his back.
"I know almost everyone's real name. Like Grawp's real name is Rubeus Hagrid. Yours is an anagram of 'I am Lord Voldemort'. The twins… it's hard not to call them by real name, actually."
"There is more to you than meets the eye." Harry blushed and was thankful for the dark. "It's a good thing I insisted on talking with you in the Beta Game… I just knew there was something special."
Special… could Voldemort feel the Horcrux's pull? Was that even possible?
Harry glanced at the message icon.
–will u b ok? we cn go get u–
–Yes. I told you, I know him.–
–es scry… how d'u know im?–
–He's the person I sent the child's gift couple months ago.–
"And you call me possessive."
Harry glared at the Dark Lord, the only way to seeing his face being the light of the menu list.
–r u comin bak?–
–No, he's paying a room for us to sleep at.–
–Im goin 2 prten he gt a 2 bed rm.–
Harry narrowed his eyes at his cousin's message. What did Dudley meant by that?
–Go to sleep, Dudley.–
–ont stay up 2 long.–
"Don't stay awake too long? What in Dementor's kiss you mean by that?"
Voldemort chuckled.
–Who is it that wakes the whole guild every night because I had a nightmare and went for a walk?–
–harry!–
–I'm just the freak, Big D. stop worrying so much. Uncle wouldn't be proud.–
Harry watched the screen curiously as Dudley took his time to respond.
–u'r not a wast of spase.–
Harry tensed, reading the message over and over again. No way… it couldn't be… it…
"Bad feeling?"
Harry glanced to the hands pinning his shoulders to the bed and then up to the Dark Lord.
"Yes… did I just?" Voldemort nodded, standing and putting his green outfit on. "You don't have to…"
"Text him!"
–Dudley?–
–y–
–Where are you guys?–
–cant slep, so we decide 2 com monei-untin. we'r at the dungeons on level 27–
Harry's eyes grew and stood at once. That stupid, stupid boy!
–Wait for me! Don't do anything until I get there… I mean it, Dudley!–
"Where to?"
Harry glanced at Voldemort.
"You haven't slept, Voldemort… you need to…"
Voldemort showed two portkeys.
"Where. To?"
Harry sighed.
"Level 27, dungeons."
Voldemort nodded and grabbed Harry, using the portkeys. Harry activated the track mode and tracked Dudley's footprints.
"What level are they in?"
"Dudley's the highest with 27."
"What are they thinking coming here?" Voldemort hissed as they run.
Please don't be too late. Please don't be too late…
"Hey, look. It's Freak! And his 'Boy Friend'." the boy said making sure to exemplify the quotation marks and to put a long space between the two words.
Harry sighed relieved at seeing Piers, not really mad at the boy's tactics.
"Where's the others?"
Piers pointed to a room behind himself.
"Big D said you were coming. Told me to wait for you so you wouldn't do anything stupid as they got the chest of gold."
"Chest of gold?" Voldemort asked.
Harry and Voldemort shared looks before they ran to the door and opened it. Harry's eyes grew. Inside was only a chest. No Dudley.
"Big D?" Piers started to enter, puzzled.
Harry grabbed him and pulled him back, without moving from his place by the door.
"He's dead." Voldemort replied.
"Wha… what do you mean?" Piers turned to Voldemort at the comment.
"This is a high level dungeon. What were you guys thinking coming without Pluto? Do you have any idea how until now he'd been the only one keeping you guys alive?"
"Wha…?"
Harry kneeled on the floor in front of the room. Sorry, Aunt, I tried…
"Pluto's a frontliner!" Voldemort hissed, making Piers gasp. "He left to protect you children!"
"Bu… you said you were level 20!" Piers argued, turning towards the trembling Harry.
"Would've you believed him if he told you the truth, little boy?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You treat him like an invalid! You call him freak!"
"That's enough, Dark Lord." Harry hissed.
"Dar… Dark Lord?" Piers hissed, going white as stone. "Wait… then that makes you…?"
Harry stood, putting on the cape he'd won in the first boss but stopped using since he joined Dudley.
"Roman God, yes."
"Pluto…"
Harry glared at Voldemort.
"I should've never let you pull me away from my guild. I'm not a senseless bastard like you. I can't handle your domineering possessiveness right now! Leave!"
There was a huge silence, then suddenly Voldemort turned around and left. Harry passed a hand through his hair and glanced at Piers, who was looking back horrified. Harry didn't blame him. Piers had reasons to be freaked out, one of them being that his best friend had just died...
"You killed him… it's your fault… it's…"
Harry narrowed his eyes as Piers attacked him. His fault…
–P–
Voldemort glanced back to where Pluto was with that child, only to see the child attacking Pluto. Voldemort grabbed his staff and the spear-side started shining as he got it ready to strike. Pluto could hate him all he wanted later.
Voldemort's eyes grew as Pluto's hand passed right through the boy's chest. And the boy disappeared in a loud gasp sound that echoed the dungeon's corridors. After that Pluto activated a portal crystal, leaving.
Voldemort approached the entrance of the trap room where Pluto's guild died, only to see Pluto had dropped something. Voldemort leant down and picked the package. It were Pluto's cooking spice bottles.
–Use it. I won't need it. RG–
Voldemort snorted at the lad's message. Of course he'd knew Voldemort would pick them up. He went to reply, only to see that Pluto had taken him out of friendlist. He couldn't anymore.
(TBC)
Next chapter: Birthday & Christmas' Gifts