Interesting. The sun is shining from the edge of the horizon. A normal sun. Not like the new sun I'd once made and then destroyed. A real, actual sun in space. A great ball of exploding burning gas impossibly far away and impossibly large and bright. It fills me with a sense of nostalgia for a time, before I turn my attention to something niggling at the back of my mind.
I can feel this place. Something about learning to use that white portal makes this world call to me. I think I could get here from anywhere now, but I think to get somewhere new I would have to cast myself adrift through the portal.
Turning my face from the sky, I considered the sight in front of me.
Houses. All in a row. With little paths leading up to them from a road. Contraptions sit in front of them… cars?...
All of this niggles at my memory… of a time before… but it's been so long… I can barely remember…
But it slowly comes back to me.
Suburbia… Disturbing suburbia at that. Something about the sameness of each of the houses bothers me. On the face of it, it has some aesthetic appeal, but it feels… soulless.
Shaking my head, I allow the memories to fill in the blanks. I must be on Earth. Or something like it. I couldn't begin to figure out how long it's been. Eons perhaps.
Turning around, I viewed the house in front of me in consideration. I suppose I should try to figure out where I am. The easiest method would be to introduce myself to the locals and ask where I am. From there… Well, who knows? Perhaps I'll go exploring.
Stepping up to the front door, I paused and considered myself. My ruby red robe, gold sash, and gold amulet with a large multifaceted ruby sparkling in the center would likely make quite a sight, nevermind the golden halo floating above my head. I can't imagine the pitch black of my hood that obscures my face would help either.
For the first time in a very long time, I lowered my hood. It does not reveal anything spectacular I think. A fairly average Caucasian face, hazel eyes, and brown hair. If not for everything else, I would likely not even draw the eye. I suppose that's what invisibility is for, at least.
Actually… I had to pause as I considered the knowledge that swept my mind. When HE said I'd have full control of my perks, I guess he meant it. Not only could I turn my invisibility on and off at will, but it seems I can use it selectively. I could make my robe disappear, revealing my clothes underneath, assuming I ever get any. I imagine showing my bits would be worse, so I'll just have to make do.
Knocking gently on the door, I still winced as the knock was still a bit louder than I would have liked. It seems I'll have to relearn my strength, rather than just go full bore as I had for so long.
I heard a stomping down the stairs. I could see him rise, along with some of his family from the upstairs. Of course, I can't actually see whoever it is, but I can sense an outline of everything around me within a certain radius around me. I'd guess it to be about 300 meters or so. I can't see the outlines of people exactly, but I can see where they are and vaguely sense their intentions. Up to this point, those intentions were usually to harm me, so I'd usually reference them as enemies, marking them red to my sight. Very few were simply neutral or peaceful, and thus a light purple.
This person may as well be red, while he had been purple earlier, causing me to wonder what I may have done to earn such hostilities. Then I vaguely remembered what sleep is and that people usually don't like to be woken up. Despite what HE said, I haven't slept in a very long time…
Whoever it was seemed to be large as their steps seemed to echo through the house to a very large degree while another followed slowly from behind. Another had not even come down the stairs from the second floor, seeing fit to peek out a door, while the last was… hidden in a closet under the stairs? Weird.
Actually I think that particular person has been in that location the whole time since I got here. I inwardly frowned at that little detail while the door opened.
Whatever the man was about to say suddenly died on his lips as he sputtered and his face shifted various colors between red, white, purple, back to red again. Was he about to have a heart attack?
"You- You!... GET OFF MY PROPERTY!" he shouted, then attempted to slam the door in my face.
Only for me to stop it in its tracks, barely any effort needed as I frowned at the man, something about him niggling my memories. I casually brushed the man's efforts to push the door closed aside and stepped into the house. Something about this situation and this man has set me on edge in a way I hadn't experienced in… well, ever, come to think of it.
"NOW SEE HERE! YOU CAN'T JUST-"
"Silence." I waved my hand, using my control of the Essence of Air to steal the wind from his lungs. He promptly started to turn purple and then blue as I watched curiously. Would that really be enough to…?
"VERNON!" a woman with a long thin face and neck cried tugging at the man, this Vernon, and turned to me. "Please! Please don't hurt my husband! Please, just leave us alone!"
The begging got to me, and I released my control of the air in his lungs, and he partially collapsed, gasping great heaving breaths as he slowly recovered.
Humming, I pulled out one of my wands, a small red rod with a light blue crystal at the end then equipped and cast a healing bolt at the man. Immediately he seemed to recover, but stayed on the floor and eyeing me fearfully, his wife crying great sobs of relief. I actually felt a little bad, but then I hadn't expected such a simple thing to nearly kill the man.
Turning my gaze past the two, I regarded the face of the boy up the stairs, large and blonde and looking much like the man at my feet, who promptly paled as he saw me looking at him before ducking back and fleeing to his room and slamming the door closed.
My mind was slowly putting long lost and forgotten details together from the dredges of my memory from a time before, and I didn't like what it was coming up with.
Turning my attention to the last occupant of the house, I noted the still closed door and the occupant who seemed to be pressed against it, at least until I turned my attention to it, then it backed away. I spied the slats of a grate near the bottom of the door, and the simple locking latch that would hold the door closed from the outside, and narrowed my eyes.
Reaching out, I thumbed the latch, ignoring a noise of protest from the woman, and opened the door.
There, curled in the corner on top of a threadbare mattress sat a small boy who was practically swimming in the fabric on him that it took me a moment to realize was clothing. I could see nothing but small hands, a tuft of black hair, and two startlingly green eyes looking back at me fearfully.
Doing my best to arrange my face into that of a smile, I crouched down to be at his level as best I could, still towering over him unfortunately as there is only so much a tall man like myself can do to shrink down, and tried to present myself as friendlily as I could.
"Hello Harry Potter," I said gently, though I'm not sure how effective my attempts were since I haven't actually spoken aloud in ages nor have I even revealed my face or bothered to express emotion in as long a time. "I'm here to rescue you. Would you like to be rescued?"
The small boy whimpered near silently and I gently held my hand out to him. His small hand reached back. I couldn't help but grin at that. The boy really was cut out for Gryffindor. Either that or he was just that desperate to be saved. That thought wiped the smile off my face, which I desperately tried to bring back as the boy touched my hand and I took it, then reached in and drew him out and set him against my hip.
"We're leaving." I announced to the household. "God willing, we will not be back, nor will we willingly set foot in this house ever again."
At those words, I felt something magical react around me and attempt to reach out at me. It did not feel friendly. I also had a fairly good idea what it was. Turning to the small boy, I asked gently, "Harry? Do you want to stay here?"
Harry hesitated only a moment, then shook his head. The magic of the wards faltered.
"Can you do something for me Harry?" I asked gently, "Can you say out loud that you no longer consider this place to be your home?"
It took a moment before I heard a tiny voice mumble the words I requested and I relaxed as I felt the magic in the air shatter around me then draw into the boy, strengthening him slightly.
I nodded in consideration, then turned to the two adults in the room who were frozen to the side of the hall, both of their faces twisted in a rictus of emotions I couldn't begin to start deciphering. Considering the two, I hesitated, then simply said, "It might be in your best interest to leave town immediately. Not just town, but perhaps out of the country. If you catch a plane, you might be able to avoid the others entirely. And trust me when I say they don't take kindly to child abusers such as yourselves."
Harry's small grip on me tightened imperceptibly and I nodded, then strode straight out the door without another word, closing it behind me with a soft click.
Stepping down the drive to the sidewalk, I considered my options, letting my feet take me down the path on their own as I thought.
I have one small, malnourished, emotionally abused, and potentially physically abused, little boy latched to my hip, wearing dirty clothes far too large for him making him look as though he were swimming in fabric. That they didn't fall off him was something I couldn't fathom at the moment.
More importantly where to take him? I had a Shelter stone in my pocket so I could take him just about anywhere. More importantly though would be to get him dressed, cleaned, and fed, and a small single room cabin with only a bed, ceiling lantern, and a table with a box of gunpowder would not be conducive to that.
After that, well…
Who knows?
Shaking my head, I decided to head into London. I've no idea which direction that is, but it wasn't long till I found a bus station and paused to study the map there. Or would it be called a lorry here? I don't honestly know.
Going off the map, London is that way. Rather than take all day of it, I used invisibility to hide myself and the small boy under my arm from prying eyes and quickly took to the air, going a small percentage of my top speed to get there safely with Harry unharmed.
For his part, the small boy tightened his hold on me but his eyes were absolutely sparkling as his head darted about, taking in the sight of the ground from up here.
Grinning I may have thrown in a few loops for the kid's benefit, getting a small whoop and delighted laughter, causing me to grin in return.
I flew a bit more level as we reached London proper, looking about until I found what I was looking for, and landed us in an alleyway. Coming back into sight, we stepped out and around the corner, before entering a door into a pawnshop.
Taking a moment to browse, I grinned upon finding a map of the area and took it to the front. The poor properietor's eyes nearly bugged out of his head when I set the map and a chunk of gold the size of my fist on the countertop. It was honestly the smallest I could go, not that it matters after I'd hit a certain amount and gained the boon of infinite gold.
Leaving the shop 400 pounds richer and with my map, I studied it intently as I took to the air, invisible once more. I'm fairly certain the man had gouged me quite heavily, but I didn't really care. And to his credit, he didn't say a word as I grabbed a water bottle and a bag of crisps for Harry. I'd get him real food later, but hopefully this should tide him a little for the moment.
It took some navigating, but I eventually found a hotel and booked a room for the next three days. After that it was off to find a clothing store. Eventually my eye caught a storefront with the name of Harrod's which I vaguely recognized and headed inside. It was a little fancy and seemed to have a bit of everything.
Unfortunately it was all extremely expensive. High quality, but extremely expensive. Four hundred pounds wasn't going to get me much here, especially as I'd already used a good chunk of it for the hotel. I'd need more money, which meant selling more gold.
Deciding to grease the wheels a little, I caught the attention of an employee and held up another chunk of gold. Rather than his eyes bugging out, he merely raised an eyebrow, his eyes flicking over me and Harry, then proceeded to lead me to their jewelry department where I offloaded several chunks of gold for a line of store credit.
That saw to me and Harry being waited on as we were outfitted in a good pair of clothes, the both of us in a white collared button up shirt and black slacks with black loafers and a red sweater vest that matched my robes. I found it amusing and a bit adorable that Harry wanted the same clothes I got.
Finally seeing the boy in clothes that he didn't have to swim in, I frowned at how small he was. I frowned even more when I asked him his birthday and how old he was and he could only shrug. I know, for obvious reasons, that Harry was born at the end of July, and surprise surprise, when I asked, I was informed that today is July 31st, but I have no idea what year he was born, though I suppose knowing the year is 1989 is helpful at least.
With my new clothes and my robes invisible, I stepped out of the store, Harry still held to my hip and dressed in his new duds, Harrod's gladly agreeing to dispose of the old duds. I also had a second copy of his outfit which would need to be used after I got the boy back to the hotel for a bath.
That was the next thing we did actually. Running a warm bath for Harry Potter, I left his clothes out on the bed and ordered the hotel's room service to deliver up some soup and sandwiches. Something light to get Harry used to eating full meals, and enough to share. I didn't need to eat, but I suppose I could use the temporary boost to power if nothing else. I'd just turn that particular perk back off after my stomach emptied so I wouldn't start taking damage.
Luckily I didn't need to worry overmuch about Harry's health beyond that. I'd already cast an invisible healing bolt at him earlier so most of his health problems were a thing of the past, including the need for glasses. I disposed of them after Harry came back out of the bath with them in hand, a curious look on his face which cleared up into a bright smile when I explained that I'd healed him earlier so he wouldn't need the glasses anymore. Considering the look of wonder as he stared around at everything, I didn't think he minded.
It wasn't long after that when the food came and Harry ate at the table everything he could with a look of wonder that was simultaneously adorable and heartbreaking and made me want to go find the Dursleys and render them down into their component atoms, call upon their souls, and make them minion ghosts, which would blank their minds and leave them as nothing but thralls to do my bidding, destroying who they previously were utterly and completely.
I only held back for Harry's sake and the fact that I didn't really like using minions anyway.
After we finished eating, I asked Harry if he'd like to stay in the hotel for a bit or go flying with me while I looked for the Leaky Cauldron and the entrance to the British Magical World, though I didn't mention that part out loud.
Three guesses which option Harry chose and the first two don't count.
Taking to the air once more with the boy laughing and whooping while tucked under my arm, I zipped through the sky as I kept a metaphorical eye out for concentrations of magic. I honestly didn't expect to spot the Leaky Cauldron with my eyes after all and I have no idea what street it might be on, though it did occur to me it might be in the vicinity of King's Cross, so after consulting the map I angled that way.
It actually didn't take very long to find it. I spotted Gringotts from up high first actually. A great big marble building within the center of a collection of alleyways unconnected to any streets was actually surprisingly hard to miss. I could feel the magic wash over me that was likely the wards that would turn our attention away if we were muggles, but they didn't do anything so I guess as far as magic is concerned I'm a wizard. Or at least not a muggle anyway. I do so dislike that word… Perhaps I don't qualify as baseline human anymore, but I share the shape, same as mages do. Normal humans may not spot it, but I can, and so can Harry as he's looking at the location curiously as I angle down towards it.
While on approach I had to wonder though. Would I really just be able to fly in, no issues at all? Is there no restriction against flying? Then again, mages here can't fly unassisted, barring the outlier that is Voldemort. Brooms let them fly, but that's an artifact which might very well have a ward targeted against them. But internal flight via my own magical reserves? Why would they have a ward against that when they likely assume no one can do it?
With that realization in mind, I came in for a landing slightly out of the way and let myself appear within the crowd.
Harry for his part, turned this way and that, trying to take everything in at once, his mouth agape. For his sake, I walked a bit slower than I normally would as I headed my way towards Gringott's Bank. Harry eyed the Goblin's curiously as we walked past the guards and through the front doors. They eyed him back, causing him to duck his head shyly.
I barely glanced at the poem above the doors as I walked inside. Once inside though, I paused. I don't know why, but this place doesn't quite look like I'd expected. The first obvious thing is that it's far larger inside than its exterior would suggest, which was already fairly large. For another, the open space in the center is also bigger, and everywhere you look is white marble. White marble floors, white marble pillars, white marble walls, ceiling, counters, all of it. The floor especially gleamed with a shine that I could see my reflection in fairly easily.
Looking around, I couldn't discern immediately where I might go to exchange gold for cash, so I simply got in a short line for a Goblin measuring jewels on a set of scales. It was a few minutes wait till we got to the front of the line when he called "Next!" as the bloke in front of me left.
Stepping up I gave a small nod. "Hello there, I'd like to exchange some gold for galleons and pounds, as well as purchase a mokeskin pouch or two if possible."
The Goblin, who already looked to have the human version of resting bitch face along with the rest of the Goblins I could see, seemed to sneer. "You're in the wrong line human. Gold exchange is handled by tellers over there."
I followed his pointing claw and noted the lines he indicated, which were a bit longer, but not too bad. "Thank you." I gave him a short nod and headed off. The Goblin didn't react much beyond a hmph and a call of "Next!"
Getting into the newly indicated line, it was a wait of several more minutes before we reached the front of this line and got called forward with another "Next!" Surely bunch aren't they, I thought to myself, coming to stand in front of the counter, which was tall enough to allow the Goblin to peer down at me despite knowing their race is nearly as short as Harry is. I barely refrained from rolling my eyes at that.
"What do you want, human? Looking to exchange muggle pounds like the rest?" he asked, his lip tilting with a slight sneer at the mention of the currency.
"Actually, I'd like to exchange some gold for Galleons and pounds, plus a mokeskin pouch or two if you have them available." I responded.
The Goblin's sneer dropped slightly before settling into what I'm coming to assume is the standard neutral or professional face for a Goblin.
"Very well," it, he I'm assuming, said, "How much are you exchanging today."
"This much," I said, allowing some chunks of gold to roll out of my sleeve and onto the counter. "Assuming this is enough to get me somewhere in the realm of 5000 galleons and twice that in pounds, though I'll definitely need that mokeskin pouch…?"
The Goblin gave a small, almost distracted sneer while he picked up a chunk of gold and almost absently responded, "Yes, Gringott's Bank has a deluxe edition of the money pouch which is made of mokeskin…"
Suddenly the Goblin made a startled bark that caught the attention of nearly every Goblin in the room. "This is blood gold!" he cried, shocked.
I raised an eyebrow. "Blood gold?"
"You slew… hundreds of enemies and magic transmuted them into gold in reward!" the Goblin explained almost despite himself, staring at me with wide eyes, "Such a thing has not been brought to this bank in over several thousand years!"
I considered that even as I felt for the general reaction of the Goblins. What I felt was a mixture of grudging respect and low lying racist hatred, along with a huge helping of greed for what was apparently shockingly valuable to the Goblins.
"I just call it gold," I said with a shrug, "But you're not wrong about how I got it. And this is just a small pittance to me. So I'd appreciate a good deal on it, understand?" I put just a touch of emphasis on the more love perk as I said this, not activating it much, just enough that they wouldn't think to try and attack me and regard me a touch better. It didn't do much that I could feel, but the Goblin did grudgingly nod. "Very well. Gringott's Bank is honorable and we will treat a fellow warrior honorably, even without the treaties and magic enforcing it." He finished with slightly gritted teeth.
Soon enough, I had my pouch full o' gold, much heavier than I expected, and the proud owner of one of Gringott's lowest vaults, free of their version of interest, which was really just rent, and a whole heap o' gold inside it. I'd asked for a more exact number and they said the worth of the blood gold I'd brought them was such that they literally could not pay me for it without doing irreparable harm to the economy, so the best they could do is hold the blood gold I'd deposited within a vault for me, using what little of it they'd been able to exchange for galleons and a good majority of the pounds they had and filling a vault full of millions of galleons, literally as full as it could be made, and topped off whenever I took any more out for as long as the worth of the blood gold would last.
Deciding to be a bit magnanimous, I decided to let them use the gold now and simply mark on the ledger how much galleons the account is worth and to simply deposit that amount into the vault as needed. They agreed, but only after having me sign an agreement in blood that I wouldn't use above a certain amount of the galleons from the vault at once within a period of a year. It was highly unusual, but then the whole thing kind of was. I ended up meeting with King Ragnok himself for this mess. And to think all I wanted was a bit of gold. Good grief.
Ah well, at least I couldn't think of a single reason I would ever need to spend more then ten million galleons at a time within a year.
With my mokeskin pouch o' gold around my neck, charmed to be very light of course, not that I would have noticed it if it hadn't, along with a second pouch stuffed to the brim with British pounds and American dollars alongside it, I started making my way out of the bank, finally.
Sadly I didn't get very far as waiting just outside the steps of the bank was Albus Dumbledore.
I smiled and turned More Love full blast. "Albus! Just the man I wanted to see!"
Dumbledore blinked, then got a strange smile on his face. "Quite, Mr…?"
"Noita," I responded. "You may call me The Noita."