Jericho Potter

Disclaimer/Plot/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

Dedication: I would like to dedicate this story to everyone who encouraged me to stay strong during these dark times: my recommended reads are Saviour of Magic by Colt01, Silver King, Trickshot and Damaged Raven by JustBored21, The Mind Arts by Wu Gang, The Power Of Love And Family by llst40, Harry Potter and the Tribe of Mystics and Harold Peverell and the Order of Snow Leopard by Lord of mystics, Dark Lord Peverell by Callisto Blackridge, Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin by The Sinister Man and When the Thunder Breaks by WeLonelyOldSouls

Key Pairing: Eventual Harry/Luna

Other Pairings: To be determined

Normal Speech

'Thoughts'

'Mind Speech'

/Parseltongue/

Review Responses:

Yo0617: I'm sure I can come up with something for just such an occasion

WhiteElfElder: Would anyone be surprised by that?

Dannyrockon122: Huh, I suppose I did: coincidence;

When Dumbledore opened his eyes again, he saw Harry, sitting with his wolf companion by his side, a smug, interested look on the scarred boy's face as he tapped the side of his head with one hand while he rubbed Lupa's fur with the other as he looked at a shell-shocked, disbelieving Dumbledore, who, for once in his life, had no idea what he was supposed to do now.

And, judging by how Harry's smile widened as he saw Albus try and gather his senses, he knew Dumbledore was at a loss.

'I agree old man,' said Harry, once again consigned to using his mind to speak to the Headmaster as he chuckled slyly at Dumbledore's pale face.

'What do we do now?'

Chapter 4: Day of Delusions

'And here…we…go.'

That was the thought that silently echoed through Harry's mind as he pushed his trunk, containing all his new things for Hogwarts, as well as a cage that held a beautiful snowy owl – which Harry had decided to name Hedwig – and, of course, Lupa, who ran alongside her master as they raced towards the barrier dividing platforms 9 and 10.

Also known as Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters.

Thanks to his power, Harry was able to convince people to ignore the sight of Lupa, which he personally hated, seeing as how his beautiful friend and familiar was as important a role in Harry's life as Harry himself. Of course, his same power had convinced the Dursleys to leave him outside King's Cross Station, though, when Harry had told them to leave, he had been about as merciful as they had been kind.

'I want you to drive to the nearest petrol station and fill up to the rim: then, you're to drive as far away from the United Kingdom as you can get; when you run out of petrol, I want you to keep walking until your feet bleed or your hearts stop from exhaustion, whichever comes first. Even then, you'll keep walking, even if it means walking into shark-infested waters, busy motorways or into the path of oncoming trains.'

Now, don't get him wrong: Harry did feel a bit remorseful that he was basically sending the Dursleys to their deaths, but, at the same time, he still remembered every smack, every cry of things like freak, monster, ungrateful orphan, disgusting bastard and everything else they'd called him and done to him.

Harry never forgot, and he never forgave: that was a creed he had chosen to live by, ever since the day he'd become Jericho, taking charge of his life as he saw fit.

And nothing, and nobody, was going to get him to change his mind: not Albus Dumbledore, not the magical world, nobody.

Jericho

Speaking of the Magical World, Harry was already beyond-annoyed with them, mostly thanks to Albus Dumbledore and his delusions of grandeur concerning Harry and the path his life was meant to take.

At the same time, he was annoyed with the Magical World because of how a lot of them, especially the younger generations, kept thinking about him, and meeting him, getting to know him, influencing him or, more-disgustingly, marrying him and having his babies.

Ye gods, these people were insane!

After the Dursleys had left Harry alone outside King's Cross Station, Harry had been given the misfortune of sensing not only Muggle minds, which were as loud and aggravating as he could remember, but also the minds of several magical people, which, while it did help him track down the entrance to Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters by following the terrible din, still annoyed him as he found more thoughts surrounding him.

Then he'd had the misfortune of meeting a group of these ingrates up close and personal…

Jericho

A Few Minutes Ago

"It's the same every year, packed with Muggles, of course! Come on, Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters this way."

As soon as he heard the obnoxiously-loud and definitely-tactless tone of voice, Harry felt a scowl cross his face, even as he neared the barrier where Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters was located.

Thanks to his psychic gifts, he didn't need to look back to know that the human-mouthpiece was an apparently-kindly redheaded lady leading a small burrow of bunny rabbits…sorry…Weasleys towards Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters. However, what really annoyed Harry, even more than the woman's loud voice, was the sea of thoughts he picked up on as he went to push his trunk through the aforementioned barrier between worlds.

'Merlin's beard, Mum: can you scream any louder?'

'I agree, brother-mine: it's not exactly Statute of Secrecy safe, is it?'

'This should get Harry's attention: then I can keep him safe from those slimy snakes.'

'I bet he's as handsome as Mummy always said he was: ooh, those eyes will look just perfect on our babies.'

'I should say something about the Statute, but Mother said we have Professor Dumbledore's permission to do this.'

'Where ARE you, Harry Potter? You're being VERY rude not answering me or noticing my kindness and my family! Honestly, how poorly-trained you must be to be so rude and ignorant: well, I'll soon set you straight and, when I do, you'll trust me with everything, even your key. Little boys don't need all that wealth, not when it can be used on better things.'

'STOP!'

Even though he knew he probably shouldn't use his powers on others without just cause – like, for example, if they annoyed him – Harry decided he'd heard more than enough hypocrisy and ego, and that was just from the last four voices.

As the Weasley Family froze in place, much in the same way that Dudley and his thugs and everyone in Little Whinging had done a long time before, Harry smirked when he noticed most of King's Cross doing the same, including – to his bewilderment – the trains and even the escalators leading to and from the London Underground.

However, he was also amused when, out of everyone in the station, there were still people moving.

Two of them, to be exact.

"Bloody hell, do you see this, Gred?"

"Indeedie-doo-dah, Forge: what do you suppose is the explanation?"

'That would be me,' replied Harry, drawing the attention of two of the Weasleys whom, again, he didn't need his powers to know were twins, or that they actually interested him, especially when the twins shared a look with one another.

'This ickle firstie? Impossible.'

'Ludicrous, brother-mine.'

'It's impossible, but it's true, my dear Demons of Gryffindor,' replied Harry, earning stunned looks from the Weasley Twins, both of whom stared at him in abject disbelief before Harry waved mockingly as he added, 'That's right: I can hear you two, even when you're using that twins' bond of yours. Nice gift, by the way: I never imagined I'd meet someone else with my ability, let alone so early in the game. Now, unless you'd like to share your family's fate, I suggest you step forwards and answer my questions.'

"Make…huh?" asked Fred Weasley, his confusion coming from the fact that both he and George were suddenly moving to stand before Harry, who smiled coyly as he cocked an eyebrow at them.

'I'm sorry; were you actually about to tell me to make you, boys? Surely two notorious pranksters such as yourselves know a thing or two about throwing down the gauntlet, don't you?'

"We…we…we're sorry, kid," stammered George, licking his lips nervously as he explained, "It…it's just…this magic…"

'Who says it IS magic?' asked Harry, folding his arms as he leaned against the barrier before he asked, 'Now then, first question goes to you, Freddie: why does your Mother delude herself into thinking Harry Potter will just hand over his money?'

"We…we never…we didn't know she…she…"

'Gotcha,' said Harry, waving his hand dismissively before he added, 'Okay, second question is yours, Georgie: what's with your ten-year-old sister thinking about having babies with someone who might not even fall in love with her? And, please, don't stammer this time when you answer…'

"Mum's had Ginny fooled into thinking she's going to fall in love with Harry Potter and end up his loving wife who'll give her beautiful red-haired and green-eyed babies that Mum's already thinking of naming after the Headmaster. She also has Ginny ready to dose Harry Potter with love potion and do whatever it takes to scare off any other potential suitors."

'Gross,' drawled Harry, sticking his tongue out, even as he added, 'She looks like his Mum, for Merlin's sake: okay then, third question and I don't care who answers it as long as you don't do the twin speak thing. What's with your youngest brother thinking about slimy snakes, especially since snakes aren't slimy except when they're in water?'

"Again, Mum's handiwork," replied Fred, keeping his expression calm as he explained the situation to Harry. "Ron's convinced he'll be paid by Harry Potter if he becomes his best friend: he thinks Harry will spoil him stupid and beg for his friendship because he has none."

"As for the slimy snakes thing," continued George, though not before he scowled as he added, "Ron's talking about the Slytherins."

'Ah,' said Harry, snapping his fingers for emphasis as he nodded, 'Snake on the crest, snake under the vest: gotcha…well, thanks for the info, boys and, don't worry, I don't actually plan on hurting you.'

"Why not?" chorused the Twins.

Smiling in response, Harry held up his hands before he patted each twin on one shoulder as he added, 'Because I like you…and if you want to get a chance to like me back, come and look me up…as for this lot of magpie-minded delusional morons with the attention span of a gnat…'

Here, Harry turned to the other Weasleys before, harnessing as much of his gift as he could, he pushed a single thought into their minds.

'No matter how hard you look, Ronald Bilius Weasley, you will never find Harry Potter until his name is called out at the Sorting Ceremony: you will not see Harry Potter, hear him or sense his presence, even if he's standing two feet from you talking with anyone he thinks is a real friend.'

While Fred and George blanched when they saw their youngest brother's eyes glaze over, Harry turned his attention to the girl.

'You do not want to marry Harry Potter, Ginevra Molly Weasley: you don't want to have his children or even think of him in a romantic, little girl's crush: you'd like to be his friend, but that's it. Anyone who says differently is not out to help your friend and so, when you hear them speak ill of their intentions towards him, you'll react with violence, either magical or mundane, even if it means getting in trouble.'

Like Ron, Ginny's eyes also glazed over, but Harry was far from done.

Now for the head of the snake.

'You are not and never will be able to get your hands on Harry Potter's wealth, Molly Anne Weasley nee Prewitt: nor will you be able to replace the bravest, kindest, most-loving woman in his life, Lily Alexandra Potter nee Evans. Instead, you consider yourself inferior to her and any thoughts or attempts to replace her will make you slap yourself and bite your tongue, choking on your own bile until you think of this no more.'

Normally, Harry would have been satisfied just dealing with the annoyance, but, in the Weasley matriarch, he saw an opportunity.

One he was more than willing to exploit, even as he continued drilling new instructions into the elder's mind.

'Furthermore, you are happy that you're breaking the Statute of Secrecy for Albus Dumbledore, because you know you have to report it and that will either have you sent to Azkaban Prison or suffer further humiliation when the rest of the magical world realises how foolish you are. Finally, you no longer feel a need to scream and shout like a town crier, even in a Howler: instead, you wish to be a dutiful wife and kind, loving Mother who stays at home and does all she can to make her sons, William Arthur Weasley, Charles William Weasley, Percival Ignatius Weasley, Frederick Gideon Weasley, George Fabian Weasley and, finally, your daughter, Ginevra Molly Weasley, better.'

Molly's eyes seemed to glaze over the longest, leaving Harry with Percy's mind, which he just gave one thought.

'You'll take your duties as Hogwarts Prefect seriously, but professionally, including reporting the breach of the Statute of Secrecy by your own Mother to the relevant authority, Minerva McGonagall. If anything should compel you to do otherwise, you'll resign as Prefect, never to wear another badge again.'

As Percy's eyes glazed over, Harry smiled before he looked to the twins, offering them a wink as he told them, 'There; maybe now they'll realise that the mouth isn't all-powerful…see you later, boys. Awaken.'

With that, the Weasleys whom were under Harry's thrall woke from their state, as did the rest of the station.

Curiously, the only ones who remembered what had happened were Fred and George, both of whom made each other a solemn promise, even as they watched Harry vanish through the barrier.

'Whoever that was, we don't get on his bad side.'

'Hear-hear, brother-dear.'

Jericho

Moments Later: On the Train

As the loud whistle of the Hogwarts Express filled the platform, giving final warning to everyone who was already on the train and the platform to hurry up and make a move, Harry smiled as he wondered how his little mind game on the magpie-minded would play out.

He also wondered whether or not the Twins would actually fear him or consider him someone they'd like as a friend.

With their cunning, as well as his skills, the three of them could probably end up being a match made in hell.

While the last few students hurried to board the train, however, Harry had another thought on his mind.

A thought that he reached into his pocket and withdrew, holding a large, fat, petrified-looking grey rat by its tail, the sight of the rat earning Harry a low, rolling growl from Lupa, who also licked her lips as she eyed the rat like the treat it was, for her anyway.

'Sorry, beautiful,' said Harry, scratching Lupa behind her ears as he smiled down at her, 'But I'm afraid this is one rat you can't eat…not yet, anyway. You see, I need him alive, if only until I make absolutely sure that Mr Delusional Commander-in-Chief hasn't got a leg to stand on.'

Lifting the rat so that he was eye to eye with the creature, Harry smiled coldly as he looked right into the rodent's wide eyes, all too familiar with the fear its mind radiated while, at the same time, he chuckled with a sinister air as he indicated the hungry wolf at his heels.

'So, unless you actually want to end up wolf food for her first day dinner, you'll do as I say and tell me everything you know about your little trick on the rest of this world…Mr Pettigrew!'

So, Harry's adventures at Hogwarts have officially begun, but it looks like the young Master of the Mind Game is making absolutely sure that nothing and nobody can make him take any paths other than those he wishes to walk himself: I wonder, who's next?

Also, having gotten his hands, and mind, on Pettigrew, what will Harry do – or rather, what will he have to do – to ensure another red page in Dumbledore's ledger gushes like a raging river?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: Ferrets, beavers, underdogs, toads and a nice little surprise that might just make things a little more interesting for Harry as he endures Hogwarts life and the future he now wishes to take into his hands;

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