Trish!
One of us would best the other and shape the future of humanity!
You must d-defeat the coming darkness, Harry…
Precisely one month before his eleventh birthday, Harry Potter, now named Harry MacGrath, awoke with a start. It had been 4 years since he and his uncle, Cole, had saved Empire City from annihilation at the hands of the First Sons. For not the first time, Harry used his mentor's memory device to go over everything that happened in the last few days they were in Empire City. "Play memory sequence 13. Begin at 7:48."
"You can't keep focusing on things you can't control, Harry," said the A.I. assistant Harry created named Holly.
"Just… please."
"…Beginning Sequence 13." Harry watched as his room was enveloped in a projection in the memory of Empire City.
Harry had just managed to complete his first solo freeclimb and was sitting on top of a tall building with a rig like Cole's on his chest. He smiled as he looked over the skyline and basked in the glow of the midday sun as Cole called his new modified phone.
"How's the view, kid?"
"I know why you like it, now."
"Heh. Yeah. It's got a certain majesty to it." Harry looked around and froze when he spotted something unusual.
"Hey, Cole?"
"What's up?"
"Where are you right now?"
"Just finished off some Reapers Uptown. Why?"
"I might be wrong, but I think there's some people in danger nearby. Closer to you than me, it looks like."
"In trouble how?"
"We're talking suspended from a 13 story building trouble."
"Dammit, alright. On my way."
"I'll head down and meet you there, still not confident enough with the Static Thrusters to try and hover across rooftops."
"Forgot we figured out how to transfer knowledge between us. Remind me to thank Zeke for that idea."
"It was my idea to transfer data with an electrical current, Zeke gave you your new toy."
"Either way, it's been coming in handy. See you at the building." Harry grinned and jumped off the building towards a powerline and Jumped into them, heading towards the building. He came out of the powerlines onto the ground a couple of minutes later next to Cole who put his phone away, face pale.
"What's wrong?"
"Kessler's got Trish." Cole pointed up to a building that was blocked from Harry's sight by the crane.
"Well, let's save her and the people then."
"I'm afraid you can only save one," said a voice from Harry's phone.
"Kessler?"
"And to make sure you two don't try splitting up, the cranes have bombs that will go off simultaneously. To deactivate the bombs, two of our kind need to work together to stop it. One to keep the energy levels stable while the other dismantles the bomb, all while racing against the clock. You only have time to stop one bomb from detonating and dropping these people to their deaths. Which will it be, gentlemen? Cole's girlfriend and love, or the city's doctors who can do so much for this city? Clock's ticking." Harry looked at Cole and saw he was conflicted.
"Cole, we have to save the doctors."
"But, Trish…"
"I know. But how would she feel if we put her life before the lives of everyone in the city?" Cole sighed and his shoulders slouched.
"She'd never forgive me."
"Good. Then let's go."
"When did you become the voice of reason?"
"When it was your girlfriend on the line. Come on! Maybe we can save both of them if we hurry!"
"Yeah, maybe." Finding no wires leading to the roof, Cole and Harry climbed to the top of the building and started working on the bomb. After a minute, they disarmed it and Harry used his magic to pull the crane from over the drop to the roof as Cole ran for where Trish was. Harry was about to join him when he heard the bomb explode.
"Coooole," yelled Trish as she fell.
"Trish!" Cole jumped off the building and, using a magnetic pull, tried getting himself to Trish quickly. Harry watched as they fell out of view. A few seconds later, he heard a single shout. "NO!" Harry jumped as thunder sounded above him at the same time and clouds started moving overhead. Harry saw First Son and Reaper forces moving on Cole's position and Harry tried calling him. When he got no response, Harry tried to move but stopped as he saw massive bolts of lightning strike a few feet from where he lost sight of Cole and Trish. Harry watched as one of the bolts stopped in the air and scattered itself. A second later he could see lines of code flowing to where the lightning was striking.
Turning to the doctors he got them down. "Is everyone fine?" They nodded and Harry Jumped into the powerlines, moving to Cole's position. When he got there, Harry saw nothing but bodies from the two factions. Following them, Harry found Cole holding a Reaper by the neck, arms arcing with red electricity instead of the normal blue. Cole held out his hand and the lines of code gathered until they formed a hard light hologram of a dagger.
"Tell me where Kessler is."
"I-I don't know! I swear!"
"Wrong answer, buddy."
"Cole don't," shouted Harry.
"They killed Trish, Harry!"
"Kessler did that! Not him!"
"And we need to find him. Who cares if one of these Reaper scumbags dies while I'm hunting him down."
"This isn't the way to do things, Cole," shouted Zeke from behind Harry. Harry turned around and saw Zeke with Officer Rowe who was aiming his gun at Cole.
"MacGrath," shouted Reggie. "Drop him!"
"Come on, Cole," shouted Zeke. Harry turned back to Cole and saw his electricity changed back to blue before he let go of the Reaper.
Reggie moved in and cuffed the Reaper before turning to Cole. "I don't care what happened here. I'm filing this as a freak accident from a thunderstorm. This is the last time I cover for you, MacGrath."
"Got it. Do me a favor, Officer Rowe. Get my girls body. It's a few feet behind me. I need to call someone." Reggie looked where Cole gestured and sighed.
"Crap. I didn't know…"
"It's fine…" Cole walked away, and Zeke turned to Harry.
"Shit man. What the hell happened?"
"Kessler," said Harry, voice filled with fear and venom.
"Skip ahead to time stamp…" started the real Harry.
"I know. This is only the 87th time you've asked me to review this memory sequence, after all." Harry sighed.
"I know. But the nightmares never stop. Everything that happened…"
"Was unavoidable. You should stop the memory sequence for now. Your mother is on her way in."
"Did you?…"
"Of course. She did give me directions to notify her if you did this again." Harry sighed and sat on his bed.
"End memory sequence, Holly."
"Right away." The projected memory ended just as Cindy walked in. She looked at Harry worried and sat down beside him.
"Again?" Harry said nothing and nodded. Cindy sighed and wrapped her arms around him. "I should've pushed harder for you to come back. You shouldn't have had to see what you did."
"I needed to, Mom. If we hadn't confronted Kessler…" Cindy looked at him before standing up.
"Holly. Can you resume the memory sequence?" Harry looked at her.
"Mom?"
"Maybe if I see what you saw, I can help you overcome it."
"But Mom…"
"Don't. You and Cole have been hiding this from us for too long. All we know happened is what you've told us. I need to see it for myself. I put it off for as long as I could because you asked me to. But I can't let you go through this alone. You're my son. You have been for three years and I want to do everything I can to help you. But you need to let me help you. Holly?"
"Shall I resume the memory from where Harry left off or skip to where we were heading next?"
"Where did you leave off?"
"Trish," said Harry. He noticed her hand clench slightly before she released it.
"Skip ahead, Holly. That's the only thing I don't want to see."
"Skipping ahead. Timestamp 8:30." Harry and Cindy watched as the projection changed to Harry and Zeke walking over to Cole as he hung up his call.
"Cindy," asked Zeke. Cole nodded and sighed, sinking to the ground. "How did she…"
"She was… distant."
"I cried," said Cindy. "Trish was my best friend. At first I couldn't process what had happened then, after my brain caught up to Cole's words, I broke down."
"You were in love with her, weren't you?"
"How…"
"Zeke. He thought that was the case."
"I forgot how perceptive Ezekiel can be."
Memory Cole answered his phone as it rang. "Yeah?"
"Cole," said a voice on the other side of the line. "Was that massive lightning storm you?"
"Yeah, John. Long story."
"Tell me later. We've got something to deal with."
"What's up?"
"The First Sons are gathering in the blast crater."
"Good thing I tested our radiation resistance," said Harry.
"Is that a kid with you?" Cole shot Harry a look before sighing.
"Yeah. My nephew, Harry." Both Harry's smirked when Cole said that, and Cindy rolled her eyes much like Cole. "He's like me. Doesn't have the same moves, but he's got his own tricks. He's been helping me track and take down Reapers and First Sons for the last three weeks."
"Please don't tell me you're going to take him into a firefight."
"Wouldn't be my first," said Harry. "There's been a few Cole hadn't been able to reach in time and the police needed help." Present Harry cringed as Cindy gave him a look.
"Be that as it may. I'm not having a kid do this."
"Kessler knows him, John," said Cole. "He's been watching both of us for what we can do and seems to know we can do more." As Cole spoke, Harry's mind drifted to what Cole had just done and turned to a nearby computer screen of an intact laptop. Harry held out his hand and gathered code into it, forming the shape of a dagger, but felt nothing there. He looked at Cole and remembered him channeling electricity throughout his entire arm. Cindy watched as he formed a dagger and grinned.
"This is when you figured out how to conjure?"
"Yeah. When Cole went on a rampage, he absorbed information from everything in a three block radius and that included a wizards research paper on how conjuring worked. Being close to him as he did things, I witnessed how he did it and replicated it based on how Cole told me his powers worked."
"Your intelligence never ceases to amaze me, Harry."
"Thanks." They watched as Holly skipped ahead to show Harry and Cole standing in front of Reggie and a man Cindy hadn't seen before. "That's John White. Cole's NSA contact."
"I still don't like the fact that a kid is a part of this operation," said Reggie.
"Neither do I," said White. "But I've seen what Cole said he could do in action. The kid can spot weak points in their tech armor. We've got an advantage and have confirmed Kessler is in that metal base in the crater."
"Think he knows we're coming," asked Cole.
"I know he does. But unlike last time, it's more than just my team. Officer Rowe, are your men ready?"
"Yeah. Putting an end to the terrorists that destroyed our city? You can't ask them stay away."
"Cole," shouted Zeke as he ran over, something on his back and an E.C.P.D. Kevlar vest under it. "Took me a few hours, but I got you a weapon to use against those armored bastards."
"Language," warned Reggie. Zeke ignored the officer as he took the object off his back and unwrapped it. It looked like a tuning fork with conductive wires covering the handle.
"Say hello, to the Amp!" Cole took it and sent a jolt of lightning through it , smiling as it expanded.
"Now we're talking!"
"Do I get one," asked Harry.
"Sorry, Little Man, only had enough spare parts to make one for Cole. Besides, can't you just make one on the fly, like the armored First Sons?"
"I don't have that much control over tech, mentally speaking. Kessler somehow transferred not only his power, but knowledge of how to use it as well. I barely know how I can do half the stuff I do, and you expect me to replicate the Amp without any known blueprints?"
"Jeez, no need to get hostile." White looked towards the base as a loud boom was heard.
"Mortar! Move!" He tackled Harry away as an explosive landed right behind him. Harry sat up, dazed. His vision and hearing took a few seconds to correct themselves but when they did, gunfire soon replaced the ringing. The First Sons and E.C.P.D. had begun fighting. Harry looked next to him and saw White with some shrapnel embedded in his back. He tried to move him but White waved him away. "I'll be fine, Harry. Hurry and help with the armored targets." Harry nodded and ducked into the crater.
"I should've grounded you longer than a month for going into that crater," said Cindy.
"At least we know I'm resistant to radiation."
"That's not the point, and you know it." Cindy watched as he stayed out of sight of the First Sons and used an amplified laser pointer to show the weak points in the First Sons tech armor, giving the E.C.P.D. an advantage in the fight. Cindy vaguely registered Cole taking out wave after wave of First Son members with the Amp and his own powers, conjuring items and levitating others. "How did Cole learn to do this stuff so quickly?"
"He just remembered seeing you do it at home when not at Ilvermorny." Holly skipped ahead to later in the battle when Reggie approached Harry and Cole.
"Looks like they're starting to thin down."
"How many members did they have," asked Zeke, checking his clip.
"Enough," said Cole. "But it looks like me and Harry were able to turn the tides in the police's favor."
"Thanks for that, by the way," said Reggie. "Without you two, a lot more good people would be dead right now."
"Where's White?"
"One of my men found him shortly after the fight started. He's being treated for his wounds right now outside of the immediate area." Harry looked at the base.
"Uh… I think we're being invited in, Cole." Cole turned around and saw a metallic ramp being lowered in their direction.
"Well, it'd be rude not to accept. Reggie, can you guys finish up out here?"
"You kidding? A kid could finish these guys off. Uh, no offense Harry."
"Some taken."
"We've got this. You take care of Kessler and cut off the head." Harry looked up as he felt something.
"Cole, you go in first. We've got company."
"Don't tell me, Sparky's back."
"And divebombing right now." Cole looked up and groaned.
"Yeah, I'm going. Try not to get hurt, Harry."
"Do I look like you?"
"He's got you there, Cole," said Zeke.
"Bite me." Cole started running for the base as Harry led the thunderbird away from the officers by sending bolts into the air to get its attention. Cindy watched as Sparky picked up Harry and looked at the real Harry.
"I thought you said you rode it."
"I did, after it had me in it's claws for a minute." Cindy sighed but continued watching as Harry managed to climb onto the thunderbirds back and managed to communicate with it using his lightning as a signal, and they took an aerial advantage over the First Sons. After a few minutes, Harry watched as a large bolt of lightning shattered the roof of the base. Harry looked into the base and saw Cole on the ground.
"Come on, Sparky!" Harry had the thunderbird charge at the base. Kessler turned to them and held up a hand. Several lances shot from the base at Sparky and impaled it in the chest and pierced its wing. "No!" The thunderbird glanced back at Harry and surrounded him in a field of lightning as it plummeted towards Kessler. Harry was thrown off above the base and he absorbed the lightning cage before using Static Thrusters to slow his fall. Sparky crashed into Kessler and pinned him to a wall as he slid along the ground. Harry landed just as Cole got to his feet again.
"Damn. Hit's like a truck."
"You ok, Cole?"
"I'm fine." He looked at where Sparky was. "Sparky's not looking to good, though." Harry ran to the thunderbird and saw it looking at him weakly. Harry tried to send lightning to it to heal it, but the bird raised its wing, stopping him. Soon the bird turned into pure lightning and its entire body was gathered into one of its eyes. Harry caught it and looked at it in his hand. It looked like pure lightning in a glass sphere. (Picture the treasure of lightning island in Pokémon 2000 Just blue instead of yellow, and the size of a marbel.) Harry looked from the sphere to Kessler and saw him coughing up blood from being crushed.
"It's over Kessler."
"Not yet." He absorbed some electricity from a broken computer monitor nearby, healing himself slightly before grabbing ahold of Harry's head. Instantly, images were poured into his mind. Cindy watched as the images surrounding them changed into a black expanse with images running across her field of vision. She saw still images flashing before her as Kessler's voice filled the room. "My name is Robert Kessler. I am a self-taught wizard and a first generation Technomancer. This means that I had a small understanding of mechanical equipment and could understand how to incorporate magic into No-Mag technology without the need of runes or shorting out the equipment.
"There was also something else I was born with, the abilities of a seer. I saw the future of humanity and saw a dark shadow enveloping the Earth. I also saw three beacons of light to push back the darkness. How they would achieve this was unknown to me, what wasn't was who one of them might be. I saw you being found by Isabel Daniels and brought to her company. And I saw one of two mentors who would help you learn everything you could do. I knew what I needed to do to ensure your destined mentor would find you. I had to set things up to force a confrontation between us. No matter what happened, you would have your mentor.
"One of us would best the other and shape the future of humanity! But who would stand victorious was a mystery to me. I needed to put you to the test. I had to know how you'd act when faced with difficult decisions, and you have made me proud to know you shall lead with courage and knowledge. You will need both to best what is to come." A loud blast like a foghorn sounded and several red lights seemed to peer into Harry's soul before Kessler let go of him, removed his mask and hood and collapsed. Harry looked at him as he coughed up blood once more. "You have a great destiny before you, Harry Potter. You must d-defeat the coming darkness, Harry. Only our kind can turn the tide against what is to come. Lead this world to a bright future and unite the worlds. Revelation Day is approaching. You must prepare the world for the Revelation."
"What Revelation?" Kessler didn't respond as his breathing slowed.
"He's bleeding internally," said Cole. "I think when Sparky hit him, one of his ribs broke and punctured something." Harry watched as Kessler's body went still. Holly stopped the memory and Cindy turned to her son
"When you said he looked like Cole, I wasn't expecting…"
"I know." Harry went to a shelf and picked up the glass orb with Sparky's essence inside. It was small enough to fit in his screwdriver. He handed to her and she observed it's encased lightning calmly keep striking this way and that. "I don't know what Kessler saw. But those lights you saw are always what haunts me. Those lights, that sound. It's almost…"
"Suffocating, right?"
"Yeah." They stood there in silence before Cindy spoke up.
"Thank you for showing me, finally."
"You're welcome, Mom." Cindy smiled slightly.
"Miss MacGrath," said Holly.
"Yes?"
"Isabel is asking for both of you to come to her penthouse."
"We'll be right up." Harry waited for Holly to send a reply to Isabel before heading to his computer and unplugging a small chip and replacing it in his screwdriver.
"Can you get out so I can change, Mom?"
"Of course."
"Thank you." When Harry was came out of his room, he was in a smart suit and his hair resembled Tony Stark's in Iron Man. He had contacts on instead of the glasses he had four years prior. Slipping the two ends of his Tesla Staff, a weapon Zeke made for him based on a slimmed down version of Cole's Amp prototype from Empire City, into his jacket, he smiled at his mother.
"I knew you'd look nice in these."
"This is actually comfortable."
"Well it's bespoke. Come on. Her highness awaits."
"Oh right, it's her birthday. I was wondering why she wants to meet us up there. Stupid princess of vampires."
"It's the only day I allow her to be lazy."
"And she exploits it to high hell."
"Like you don't when it's your own?"
"That's different, I'm a kid. She's…"
"Don't say it. You know she can hear us and will make the rest of the day a living hell."
"Point," he sighed. They made their way to the penthouse and saw Isabel in a stunning dress, her hair in a bun and contacts making her eyes brown instead of red. "What's going on?"
"We've got a meeting to get to. Apparently, someone wants to incorporate our technology into a security system for their school."
"And we're meeting at a No-Mag location, I take it," said Harry. "You only wear those brown contacts when that is the case."
"Yep. We already get stared at enough because of our company's success, no need to draw any more attention."
"Someone is being awfully cautious today," said Cindy.
"It's in London."
"Where vampires, or even dhampirs, are not even considered human anymore."
"Well, we can blame Grindelwald sympathizers in World War II. Good thing my father dealt with all of them."
"He did have help, though, if you remember," said Cindy.
"I know, I know."
"What was the name of that organization, again," asked Harry.
"I don't know. They weren't important enough for me to remember."
"Oh good, so now if they ever do business with us we can't ask them for more money."
"Yeah, well what can you do?" She turned to them and grinned. "Ready?"
"Hold on," said Cindy. "I need to change my outfit."
"I swear, Mom," said Harry. "You're worse than Isabel when it comes to outfits."
"Different occasions require the right appearance, as I've told you."
"At least I haven't adopted that habit from you."
"You have," said Cindy and Isabel with a smirk.
"You switch out your suit as often as I pick a new outfit."
"No I don't."
"You do, Harry," said Holly from his screwdriver.
"Oh what do you know," he said, pulling out his screwdriver.
"I know that when it comes to certain things, meeting with Sakura, business meetings Isabel lets you attend, and social gatherings, you have to switch out your suit as much as your mother does her outfit."
"I really do that?"
"Unfortunately, yes," said Isabel as Cindy headed back to her apartment to change. "While Cindy's changing, why don't you check on R&D? Zed and Zeke wanted to ask you about one of your designs."
"Alright," he said, adjusting his cufflink before looking at a camera. "Holly, would you kindly give them a heads up?"
"Stop using that phrase. You're not Atlas," said Holly.
"Isabel uses it all the time."
"I'm the boss, Kid," said Isabel. "I can do whatever I want."
"Except. If that were true, you'd have made me into a mini-you already."
"Who's to say I haven't already?"
"Because Mom."
"Doesn't mean anything. You've picked up some habits from me."
"Name one," he said as he turned to face her and stubbed his toe on a piece of furniture. "Gah! Stupid, motherfucking, piece of shit!"
"Oh, I'm sure you can think of one."
"Alright, landing area cleared, Harry," said Holly.
"Thank you, Holly." Harry held his hand to the camera and Charged, Zeke's term for his Jumping ability, through into the security system. Soon he landed in the R&D room and grinned when he saw his uncle in the room. "Cole!"
"Hey, kid! How you been?"
"Fine. We were about to head to London for a business meeting."
"Before you do that," said Zeke walking over. "Got an upgrade for you."
"What's the new gadget?"
"Two different ones. First, these." Zeke handed him a pair of cufflinks.
"Oh swell. Something I already have." Zeke grinned and held them in his hands.
"Arc." Harry watched as the cufflinks turned into a pair of gauntlets. "Say hello to the Arc Gauntlets. They work just like Cole's Amp and your Tesla Staff." Harry pulled out two sticks from his jacket and combined them into a staff.
"So just channel my magic into them and they'll spark up?"
"Yep. Even added a few things to them as well like extendable wires to use as either a taser or a grappling hook."
"Wouldn't the wire be too thin for a grappling hook."
"You've got magic. Strengthen it," said Zed from his computer.
"I haven't learned that yet. It's advanced magic that I learn in my seventh year of school."
"Which seems stupid," said Zeke. "It seems like something like that should be taught to kids at a young age."
"Except," said Sasha. "It takes too much magic for most to properly use it."
"Then shouldn't your schools teach people how to increase their magical reserves, or something?"
"Some do. Ryuga Academy in Japan is one of the leading schools who teach that subject."
"Ilvermorny doesn't?"
"We haven't had a teacher who could give us a proper instruction on it outside of theory."
"We're getting off topic," said Harry. "What else can they do?"
"Well, they've got magnets in the palms," said Zeke.
"You can use them to climb or to pull things from a medium distance away."
"Define medium distance," said Harry.
"20 feet," said Zeke. "Cole tested them just now before you got here."
"And given their based on how much power you put into them," said Zed. "We estimate that, as you are now, your max radius would be 13 feet."
"How do I get them back to their cufflink form?"
"Just say nullify," said Zeke, handing the gauntlets to Harry.
"Nullify." Harry watched as the gauntlets compressed into their cufflink form.
"Hope you don't mind," said Sasha. "We used your birth mother's design for compression runes that you found in her trunk. Isabel figured they'd be useful for something like this."
"Better being put to use than sitting in a trunk collecting dust," said Harry. He smiled at them. "What's the second thing?"
"Finished up your design for the hard light generator," said Zed. "We've got the prototype ready to be added to your screwdriver."
"Wait," said Cole. "Is that A.I. of yours in there right now?"
"Indeed I am, Mr. MacGrath," said Holly.
"No offense, Holly. But you scare me."
"Something like me will always scare the simpleminded."
"Hey!" Cole glared at Harry. "Why did you create that thing again?"
"Needed something to help operate some of my equipment. That and Cindy needed a nanny for me whenever she had something to do."
"Which is Cindy for whenever she had a date," said Sasha.
"Which is surprising because I didn't think she had a social life," said Zed.
"She developed one shortly after she adopted Harry. I think she's been trying to keep her mind off of Trish," said Cole. Sasha went over to Zed and took a small device, the size of Harry's thumb, from his desk. She handed it to Harry who plugged it into his screwdriver. Almost instantly the small projector came to life and projected the image of a small blue pixie-like figure floating next to Harry's head. Cole frowned. "Shoulda figured it'd do that."
"She, Cole," said Harry. "Holly is a girl."
"The fact that you classify it as alive creeps me out." Holly's hologram flew over to him, looking him in the eye.
"Says the man who could easily turn my code into a battery. You have no idea how terrifying that concept is for me."
"Didn't know you felt fear."
"Self-preservation can create fear in anything, mechanical, biological, or digital, Cole," said Zeke. "You've seen Terminator. Skynet became self-aware, grew paranoid humans would shut it down and it wiped out majority of the population."
"And if Harry were more like other humans," said Holly. "I'd have the same reaction." Everyone turned to the hologram. "That was a joke."
"Bad joke, Holly," said Sasha.
"Blame Zeke for bringing up Skynet." Holly's hologram floated over to Harry. "It feels like I can adapt this form to create a temporary shield against energy and projectile attacks."
"Well," said Zeke. "Yes and no. You can change that projection into a shield, but it's not recommended."
"We haven't been able to find a way to have the device compensate when the generator is overtaxed due to damage to the projections."
"You guys are so lucky I'm me," said Harry.
"Yeah, yeah," said Zeke. "Go ahead and do your thing, show off." Harry grinned and unplugged the projector from his screwdriver so he could examine it. In the four years since the Empire City incident, Harry had gotten used to using some of the tricks he'd seen the First Sons and Kessler using in both his and Cole's memories, including telepathically dismantling and reassembling pieces of tech to get a better look at its components alongside his mental blueprint. Harry looked through the components.
"I can't figure out how to better this one," he said, disappointed.
"Seriously," asked Zed. "If you can't figure it out, then that's the best we can do."
"You might try a better conductor," said Holly looking at the components.
"We're already using copper," said Zeke.
"You could try magically enhanced silver, prevent it from tarnishing."
"And ensure a higher conductivity to send more energy into the device as a whole."
"One problem," said Harry. "Your budget can't cover purchasing pure silver to convert into wiring."
"Can't you just magic something into silver?"
"Transfiguration doesn't work that way," said Sasha. "It's basically altering something in appearance alone, not its full composition."
"What about conjuration," asked Zed.
"Wouldn't last long. It's always based on how much power one puts into the spell and usually wears off after a certain amount of time."
"Why does so much about magic make no sense," said Cole.
"It makes perfect sense," said Harry. "It may be magic, but it still follows the basic laws of matter and energy. For something to break the laws it'd have to be something unexplainable."
"Like the Philosophers Stone," asked Zed.
"The hell is that," asked Cole.
"It's an old concept from Alchemy," said Sasha. "Supposedly, it could rewrite an items basic components. Turn iron into gold, create artificial lifeforms called Homunculi, and basically can break the laws of conservation and physics. But there's only been person to even attempt to create one and reports still vary on if he was successful in doing so. His name was Nicolas Flamel."
"So the concept of the Philosophers Stone was used in Full Metal Alchemist," asked Zed.
"Pretty much. A squib most likely used the theories of the Stone as the basis for the plot."
"Squibs are basically the opposite of First Generations, right," asked Zed.
"Yep."
"Couldn't some of those Squibs be like me," asked Cole. "You know, with magic that hasn't been awakened yet. Particularly Technomancy."
"Wouldn't be the first we encountered," said Harry. "I mean Lucy Kuo was one. Wasn't a Technomancer, but…"
"Sorry," said Sasha. "Who is Lucy Kuo?"
"Cole's girlfriend," said Zeke and Harry.
"She's not my girlfriend," said Cole. "She's White's partner in the NSA and I've been helping her track down the First Son Remnants in New Marais."
"And I'm sure that's all that's been going on between you two," said Harry. "The last call you made you spent 30 minutes talking about her, you sounded like one of Mom's Rom-Coms."
"I did not spend 30 minutes talking about her."
"Well it sure as hell felt like it," said Zeke. "After Trish, you kinda lost yourself, Brother. It's actually kinda nice seeing you gush about someone the way you do Kuo." Harry reassembled the device and plugged it back into his screwdriver. Holly blinked back into existence and looked at Cole.
"If I may say," she told him. "I've seen Harry's memory of that day, Mr. MacGrath, enough to warrant these words. You have been through so much in Empire City and in the years following. I think you should pursue a relationship with this Lucy Kuo. More than most, you deserve a happy ending from Kessler's mad scheme."
"Dating advice from an A.I.," said Cole. "Now I've seen everything."
"What was it that Lucy could do again," asked Zed.
"Cryomancy," said Cole. "Ice creation and manipulation using magic. It's almost as rare Electromancy."
"How did she find out about that," asked Zed.
"First Sons," said Zeke. "They ambushed her and when Cole went to save her, she managed to freeze the guards to death. Whatever they did to her, awakened her magic."
"We tried finding whatever information they had on what they did but White thinks they have another Technomancer in their ranks. All data was wiped clean. I'm talking more efficiently than normal systems. It was like what me and Harry can do."
"Need any help finding them," offered Harry.
"Nah, we got it, kid. Don't you need to get to London?"
"Oh, right. Mom's probably done changing by now."
"She still has that habit," asked Cole.
"And I've adopted it, just with my jackets apparently. See ya, guys."
"Later Kiddo," said Zeke.
"Bye Harry," said Sasha. "Bring me back a souvenir!"
"No promises," said Harry as Holly disappeared and he Charged into the security system. Before heading back to Isabel's penthouse, he dropped by Sam's office. "Hey Sam."
"Sup, kid?"
"Want to see something cool?"
"Not if it's you showing off." Holly blinked into existence once more.
"Actually, it's me showing off this time." Sam nearly fell out of her seat and gasped looking at Holly.
"Please don't do that again."
"Sorry, Samantha."
"It's fine." Sam turned to Harry. "You gave Holly a body?"
"More like she highjacked the new hard light projector Zed made for my screwdriver."
"Kid, you've given that thing so many upgrades, it's ridiculous."
"Technically I'm not an upgrade," said Holly. "I'm Harry's A.I. companion and require a means to go along with him wherever he goes. Using the screwdriver just made sense since he goes nowhere without it."
"Couldn't you have made special contacts that project an image to you only?"
"Where would be the fun in that? Plus, I'd get a headache. Besides, the public knows about her anyways. Not many kids can say they've invented over a hundred pieces of tech, nor can anyone say that they've created the first fully sentient A.I. without it going Ultron or Skynet."
"At least not yet," said Holly and Sam. Sam gave her a look.
"I meant that as a joke," said Holly.
"Well I didn't," said Sam.
"Would you be nice," pleaded Harry.
"As soon as you program better humor into her."
"First of all, thank you for saying 'her'. Second, she developed that on her own."
"Oh, we're gonna be dealing with bad jokes from an A.I. now? You, Boss and Zeke were enough."
"That was a good joke," said Holly.
"Yeah, and you're a toaster."
"Knock it off," said Harry. "We're headed to London. Want us to bring you back something?"
"Yeah, have Isabel or Cindy bring me back a bottle of whiskey."
"You can get that yourself."
"Too lazy to do so, you know me."
"Unfortunately." Harry Charged through the systems once more and stopped by his room, grabbing Sparky's orb. He walked over to his mothers room and knocked. "Mom? You ready?" Cindy walked out, now wearing a dark blue suit and black 2 inch heel shoes. "How do women walk with heels like that?"
"Practice and balance," she said, smiling. Holly blinked into existence.
"It seems idiotic," said the A.I.
"I agree," said Harry.
"Both of you shush. Holly, your new look is nice."
"Thank you, Ms. MacGrath." Harry and Cindy went back to Isabel's penthouse and saw her closing her phone.
"That was the ICW. Since Empire City, a total of 2,394 people have been found all over the world with abilities like yours and Cole's. Technomancy is being officially labeled a school of magic!"
"That's great news," said Cindy.
"I'm sensing a but coming," said Harry.
"But there are a few places where, despite all the evidence, they're refusing to acknowledge it as a type of magic."
"Let me guess, England, Romania, China."
"Actually, China has accepted it. The last place is Brazil."
"That's a surprise," said Cindy. "I thought Brazil was one of the few modernized countries."
"It is, but they don't feel it can be truly classified as magic. We'd have to give a demonstration for them to consider it."
"Guess we can take a vacation there then," said Harry.
"Maybe," said Cindy. "How are we getting to London, Isabel?"
"I was thinking, Harry could Charge us there."
"I'm not sure that's a good idea. He's never Charged with passengers before."
"How hard can it be?"
"I'd rather not risk it," said Harry. "I'm still not sure if someone can safely Charge with me who isn't a Technomancer."
"You'll need to test it out sooner or later."
"I'd rather not test it when my mother is at risk."
"…Hey! Don't think I didn't notice you left me out of that!"
"Who's the reason I went a week without eyebrows," he asked her, making her shut up.
"Damn, you hold a grudge."
"And you're surprised?"
"Not as much as most would be. Alright, we'll take a portkey to the Leaky Cauldron. It's close to where we need to meet the guy."
"Urgh," said Harry. "Time to meet those who would praise me for my birth mother's achievement and the lies in those damned books…"
"Language," said Cindy.
"…Than my actual accomplishments. Have we filed a lawsuit against the publishers yet?"
"Still processing," said Holly. Harry sighed.
"Bollocks."
"Language," urged, Cindy again.
"Sorry, Mom."
"We ready," asked Isabel. They nodded and she grabbed a rope she used for international portkey travel and Harry and Cindy grabbed hold. Harry groaned when they finally came to a stop and gripped his stomach. "Why is normal magical travel such a pain?"
"Because whoever came up with portkeys was a sadist," said Cindy, feeling the same way.
"I feel fine," said Isabel. "Don't know what you two are complaining about."
"It's because you have a higher resistance to discomfort," said Harry as he straightened up and adjusted his tie. The bartender looked at them.
"Not one for portkey's eh?"
"Not particularly. We have other modes of transportation but couldn't take them here." He noticed Harry's eyes and scar as Harry helped steady his mother.
"Blimey! You're…" Cindy shot the bartender a venomous look.
"If you so much as cause trouble for my son, there will be hell to pay. Understand?" the bartender paled and nodded.
"I-I meant no harm. It's just, your son looks an awful lot like…"
"That's because I am," said Harry. "And I enjoy not being harassed by people praising me for something my mother, a First Generation witch or Muggleborn to you Brits, accomplished. I doubt you've heard of my achievements."
"You mean the hydra?"
"No. Those children stories are just that, stories. None of them happened. My accomplishments are more centered around technology, not fighting magical creatures."
"Technology? You mean Muggle devices?"
"And devices adapted for magical use around the world," said Isabel.
"But what about the…?"
"Statute of Limitations," asked Cindy. "It's been ratified in several countries so that modern technological advancements can be adapted magically so that we can better hide ourselves from advancing No-Mag technology."
"You mean those camera things they started putting up all over the place a few years ago?"
"Those and some more advanced ones that can see heat signatures and can see past Notice-Me-Not spells, yes," said Harry as he adjusted his cufflinks. "Now, if you'll excuse us, Mr.…"
"Just call me Tom, Mr. Po…"
"MacGrath," said Harry and Cindy.
"Everywhere we go," said Harry. "Same goddamned thing."
"Let it go," said Isabel as she headed towards the entrance to the pub as Cindy was about to reprimand Harry for his choice of words. "We're going to be late for our meeting." Cindy and Harry followed her out and to the location that was agreed upon. On the way there, Harry accidentally bumped into a girl with bushy brown hair.
"Sorry," he told her.
"No, it was my… fault… you… you're…" Harry sighed.
"Yes, I'm…"
"You're Harry Potter!" Harry cringed and gave her a look.
"MacGrath. Not Potter. I was born Potter but when my mother adopted me three years ago, I took her name. Given your reaction, I can only assume you're from the magical world?"
"No, actually. I'm Muggleborn. And I know your last name. I just didn't notice the scar whenever I saw you on the tele, so I never put two and two together about who you are." Harry sighed.
"Sorry if I snapped. There've been too many times when I'm recognized for being the 'Boy-Who-Lived' and not as the world's youngest genius inventor."
"More like cheating inventor," muttered Isabel. Cindy stamped on her foot with her heel making her yelp. "Motherfucker!"
"Language," said Cindy and the girl. She blushed before trying to hide her face with her bangs. Harry grinned and moved her hair aside.
"No need to hide a pretty face, Miss…"
"M-my name is Hermione Granger, Mr. MacGrath."
"Call me Harry, please. I don't get to meet many people my age, it'd be nice for someone to call me by my first name rather than my last."
"S-sure, Harry." Hermione's parents walked over, her father looking at the boy in front of his daughter cautiously.
"Who's your friend, Hermione?"
"Mum, Dad! It's Harry MacGrath!" They looked at her in disbelief and then took a good look at Harry, his mother and Isabel.
"Oh, my word," said Hermione's mother. "You're Isabel Daniels. Owner of Daniels' Technologies."
"Daniels Magical Technologies," corrected Isabel with a grin. "Emphasis on 'Magical'."
"You mean there's magic technology," asked Hermione's father.
"Technically," said Harry. "There's technology that's been enhanced magically by people like Isabel. Expanding the area within the car, making them faster, able to fly, cleaner for the environment."
"Which is something we normally keep exclusively for the wizarding public," said Isabel.
"Then, there's my technology which is made with my magic."
"But," said Hermione. Professor McGonagall said technology doesn't work around magic normally."
"I found ways around that," said Isabel. "Using quartz crystals to store magical energy and use it as a battery so that the technology can handle being in environments with heavy amounts of magical energy coupled with runes to make sure everything operates smoothly."
"Meanwhile, my magic is entirely different from everyone else's," said Harry. "Do you happen to have a phone, Hermione?" Hermione dug into her pocket and pulled out her Daniels Thunderbird 2 smartphone. "Oh, last years model. Isabel?"
"Go ahead," said the dhampir. "It's your invention, after all."
"I'm just asking for the broken smartphone in your purse so I can upgrade Hermione's here."
"How did you?..."
"Pulsed and saw it." Isabel sighed and pulled out the broken prototype Harry made her a few months ago. "How did you break it, again?"
"I don't wanna talk about it. Just do your thing, Kid." Harry rolled his eyes and checked to make sure no one was paying attention to them.
"Watch this." Harry took both phones and used his magic to dismantle both phones. Hermione watched with wide eyes as she saw Harry magically bring the parts from the broken phone to her own. She looked at Harry and saw the lines in his eyes as he worked. Harry handed the phone to her when it was finished and grinned as she examined it.
"How did you do that?!"
"I am a Technomancer. A new school of magic as of 7:48 Central Standard Time."
"!:48 GMT, here," said Cindy.
"Thank you, Mom."
"So, 12 minutes ago," asked Hermione's father. Harry nodded as Holly blinked into existence.
"I believe we should be going, Ms. Daniels. We are now fashionably late, as you put it." Hermione and her parents jumped.
"Is that?..."
"Yep," said Harry. "Hermione Granger, meet my A.I. assistant, Holly." Holly floated over to her.
"Very nice to meet you, Ms. Granger."
"You're the A.I…." Hermione stared at her, amazed. Her look turned to one of surprise as Holly shook her hand. "How?..."
"My R&D team created a hard light generator for Harry's patented Sonic Multitool," said Isabel.
"Really wish I could just call it a screwdriver, but you win some, you lose some," said Harry. "Here." Harry programmed his number into her phone as Holly placed Hermione's into his. "Give me a call whenever you want to hang out. I know we won't do much when school starts, probably. I can only assume you're going to Hogwarts?"
"Yes," beamed Hermione. "I can't wait until the schoolyear starts! Professor McGonagall has told us so many great things about Hogwarts! Are you not going there?" Harry shook his head.
"My magic is based on technology, for the most part. I can use normal magic, but I feel more comfortable using my Technomancy. Hogwarts has no technology to speak of. And, compared to my preferred school, Ilvermorny over in the US, Hogwarts ranked fifth in magical school education quality. Ilvermorny is second behind Ryuga Academy in Japan. My friend, Sakura, has been bragging about that for months now."
"Why haven't Hogwarts incorporated any technology," asked Hermione's father.
"It's mainly because the Wizengamot, the governing body of Magical UK, refuses to acknowledge that anything can be better than the supposed 'Blood Superiority' over half of the Lords preach since Voldemort. They feel they can hide forever and if the day comes that magic is discovered, they can fight their way to superiority, never mind that all it takes is radioactive material to destroy their magic."
"Wait," said Hermione's father. "What do you?..."
"Sorry," said Isabel. "We are really running late. We'll explain more later if Harry can have your permission to visit for a few minutes later on."
"Of course," said Hermione's mother before her father could speak up. Harry smiled at Hermione before following his mother and Isabel to a restaurant.
"Wonder why here and not at the Leaky Cauldron," thought Cindy aloud.
"They probably have a sense of taste," said Isabel.
"Any idea who we're meeting?"
"How about the old man with the horribly outdated No-Mag suit," said Harry, gesturing to the old man sitting in a corner booth.
"Holy crap," said Isabel.
"What?"
"That's Albus Dumbledore," said Cindy.
(Author's Notes)
Another chapter done, and I'm surprised how many people like this story. For Harry's wand, which will be revealed either in the next chapter or two, I'll be combining aspects from a few people's suggestions. If you're a fan of InFAMOUS, and Akame Ga Kill, I have a new Crossover story for the two on my profile called Kill the Conduit. It won't be updated as often as this or Revival, but it will be updated at least once a month instead of once to twice a week. Still taking suggestions for Harry's romance in this story, and if you've guessed where I'm taking this story later down the line, DO NOT comment on it in the reviews. Message me for confirmation on where you think I'm going with this. Until next time, Y'all!