~O0o-(A Wizard in the Clouds)-o0O~

Harry Potter X Bioshock Infinite

Chapter 3

1912

Columbia

I held my breath as I laid my hand upon the white double-doors leading out of this beautiful garden preparing myself to enter Columbia proper for the first time. What was I about to get into? Once again the faces of my family back home played across my mind and strengthened my resolve. If I ever wanted to be free of this debt and see them again then I needed to buck up and focus dammit! And that's just what I did. With my resolve steeled, I pushed the doors open wide and was greeted with one of the most amazing sights I may have seen in my life. It may have even rivaled the first time I saw Hogwarts from the Black Lake.

Columbia was amazing looking in its architecture and grandness. Lines of steel spanned throughout the square and tall buildings. On those lines were crates moving around in a way that reminded me of the Gringotts' carts. Admittedly at a much slower pace than those carts ever did. I could see at a closer look than when I was in the rocket, and not coming down from a possible out of body experience, that the city seemed to be held up by massive balloons like those on zeppelins and were being moved by equally massive propellers.

I soon noticed the bottom of the steps connect with the main section of the square with mechanical interlocking teeth. I was again amazed by the technology on display in this city and once again wondered if some form of magic didn't exist here. I made my way cautiously over the teeth and looked at yet another giant statue of Comstock, this time in a heroic stance complete with a saber and cape to add to the effect. This man really was reminding me of Dumbledore with his grandstanding. It made me snort a little that maybe this man was this worlds Dumbledore. That little joking thought though made me take him more seriously considering what I'd found out about the machinations of my old headmaster. Although…he wasn't the worst from what I'd found out.

I passed several smartly dressed people; they seemed to be talking about just the simple day to day goings on, as I made my way towards the center of the square. I saw, to my amazement a building fly in and connect to another part of the square. I even passed an old timey hot dog vender along the way that caused my stomach to grumble. I couldn't remember the last time I'd eaten anything and decided to take out a couple of those silver coins hoping I had enough to get a hot dog.

"How much for one of those hot dogs mate?" I stated happily hoping to not draw too much attention as a newcomer.

"No need for that friend," the vender said with a happy grin. "You just came from the welcome center right?" I gave him a nod. "That would make you new to Columbia huh? Well then this one is on the house friend. Just remember to come back soon alright and buy a couple off of me."

I gratefully took him up on his offer and pocketed the silver before taking the offered dog with a swift thank you and promised I'd come again. I left his stand munching on the dog with mustard and relish on it and walked towards the statue once more. I saw a young boy, maybe ten or eleven waving a paper in the air and made my way towards him discreetly while still looking at the statue.

"A full transcript of the prophet's address to you, the Columbian people, on the holy forgiveness of our dear Lady Comstock, our beloved mother of forgiveness," he stated in a clearly chuffed voice.

Glancing stealthily at the paper in a pile as I finished my meal the headline simply stated; 'All of Columbia Celebrates.' I wondered idly just what they could be celebrating as I made my way away from the newspaper boy and towards another couple that were admiring the statue of Comstock. Maybe today is the Lady Comstock's birthday or something. Wouldn't be the first time someone famous was remembered on their birthday. I snorted as I walked behind the couple when I heard the woman state how she thought the statue was lacking in how it presenting the father's divinity. God but people were sheep. I guess my trainer was right; 'A person can be incredibly intelligent, but people are just plain stupid.' Unfortunately, these people were starting to remind me of the sheep of magical Britain.

I heard some more people making small talk as I passed a clothing store named 'Hudson's.' I quickly realized that it was the building that I'd seen fly in and park from the welcome center. With a shrug I decided to have a look in just to peak. Hell maybe I could find a replacement for my lost hat I thought as I ran a hand though my messy hair. As I entered I heard some upbeat vaudeville music playing from an old radio and saw two blokes inside; one seated complaining about a worker, not happy about a job he was performing while the other man shined his shoes. It didn't look like the man doing the shoeshine really cared all that much about what his customer was saying to be honest. Up at the counter I saw a sign that said 'Pilgrims Welcome,' which reminded me of what the rocket had said just before it launched. I then saw something curious. A tall wooden box with a plaque on it and light coming out of a hole just under the plaque with another sign under that. The bottom plaque read 'Fink MFG.' which made me think that was the company that made this box. Then I took a closer look, adjusting my glasses, at the top plaque.

The Word of the Prophet

Presents

"Father Comstock's Gift of Prophecy"

A Columbia Kinetoscope Company Production

With a shrug I decided to look in to the lighted hole out of curiosity. I was greeted with an old black and white movie-like showing of the 'Prophet' foreseeing sunshine after a cloudy day. They can't be serious can they? Anybody could make a prediction like that and sooner or later it would come true. I can imagine Lavender Brown making a better prediction than that in her bloody sleep. I shook my head with a chuckle as I took my head away from the Kinetoscope, as it seemed to be called. With another quick glance around I noticed the shop didn't carry much in the way of hats. Well other than bowler hats anyway, but I wasn't going to start dressing up like Fudge. No thank you! I made my way outside of the shop and behind the statue heading away from the square. As I looked up at the carts passing on the lines over head a saw a large billboard on the side of a building with a picture similar to the one on that postcard that was in the box Rosalind handed me, however this one had a small silhouette of a lamb at the heart of the statue with words at the top and bottom of the poster stating; 'The Tower Protects the Lamb from the False Shepherd.' What could that mean?

I'm not sure who this lamb is although I have a pretty good idea, but who was this false shepherd? I started to get a feeling of foreboding and decided to simply let the matter drop…for now. I made my way past a nice little café that had a few people outside having a light lunch it seemed and I gave them a friendly nod in greeting which the man returned by tipping his bowler hat while his lady friend waved brightly. I made my way down the street leading away from the square and could see people going about their seemingly normal lives. Children playing in the street next to an open fire hydrant; people enjoying a meal like I saw back at the café; other people just sitting on benches enjoying the day; and even an ice wagon being pulled by a mechanized horse with lightning on it's back…Wait? What the bloody hell?! Sure enough there was a mechanical horse just standing there with an ice wagon attached to it. What kind of place was this Columbia? I started to feel like I was in one of those Doctor Who episodes that Dora and her dad loved so much. That thought just made me miss those two so much. They'd really took me in as one of their own when I came to visit after by third year at Hogwarts. I was devastated when I heard that Ted had been killed by snatchers sometime during the war with the Death Eaters. Seeing Dora's dead body in the Great Hall after the Death Eaters gave us a reprieve in the Battle of Hogwarts had nearly broken me completely. I just hope Teddy wouldn't have to go through what I had to with no parents to be there for him. At least he would have his grandmother for certain if I wasn't successful.

I shook my head not wanting to go down that road right now. I could remember my loved ones later. Right now I had a mission to accomplish, no matter how much I was starting to dread it. With one last look at the mechanized horse I made my way towards a group of people that seemed to be watching a parade of some kind.

"After the victory at Wounded Knee," I overheard a voice on some kind of speaker system. "The angel Columbia did present herself to Father Comstock and show him a vision of the future." I could see the floats literally floating through the air itself through some alleyway-like area between to sections of this part of the city. Each float told of the Prophet and his journey in paintings. "And so our Prophet led the people away from the Sodom below, up, up into the city, where they created an even more perfect union. But it was the miracle child, the lamb, that is the future of our city. For the Prophet has said that she in the tower will lead the Sodom below into righteousness."

After the parade had past the two sides of the city became connected again as two parts of a bridge sprang up and locked together once more. Unfortunately I only partly paid attention to this as what I just heard replayed in my head.

'She's in the tower,' I thought. I pulled out the postcard of Monument Island thinking back to the large sign I saw as I was leaving the square. 'Of course she's in the bloody monument you dumb arse. Where else would the damsel be held?'

I gave a low sigh and pocketed the postcard as I made my way across the bridge. However half way across I stumbled when I heard another voice in my head just as I had in the welcome center in Comstock's wife's room. This one, however, was clear and strong, obviously a man's voice and I got that damned picture of Comstock in my head.

"And then, the archangel showed a vision: a city, lighter than air. I asked her, 'Why do you show this to me, archangel? I'm not a strong man. I'm not a righteous man. I am not a holy man.' And she told me the most remarkable thing: 'You're right prophet. But if grace is within the grasp of one such as you, how can anyone else not see it in themselves?"

I steadied myself on the railing of the bridge until I could get my bearings. The voice hadn't done anything to make me stumble it was just the suddenness of it that caught me off guard. That was Comstock himself recounting what happened in his past. But why was I getting these voices in my head. Did I develop some sort of connection to people in this world when I crossed over? Was that why I had that strange dream after the baptism? Suddenly I remembered something my trainer told me just as I was leaving with the twins on the boat: "You'll learn more about that place and its people as you go through your mission. Whether you want to or not."

Could this be what he meant? Some kind of side effect to the journey through the rift? The Luteces said that there could be some side effects that would be unknown till they happened. I gave an audible sigh as I continued to make my way across the bridge and saw a sign advertising the 'Columbia Raffle and Fair.' Maybe that's what this celebration was all about? No time to be worrying about side effects to this journey since they don't seem to be that big of an issue at this moment. Looks like I just keep getting more obstacles put in my path. Nothing new there right Potter? Keep moving forward.

I made my way up some steps where I saw more people chatting about and a grocery store on my right with what appears to be a florist shop flying in on the left to connect to this section. That whole building flying in is going to take some getting used to I'd wager. However, on the side of a building just in front of me I see another large billboard, only this time with a grim reaper, the representation of death, leading a young lamb away from the angelic statue from before. 'The False Shepherd Seeks Only to Lead Our Lamb Astray.'

This false shepherd warning again huh? I'm starting to get an uneasy feeling that it's referring to me. Hopefully that's just the paranoia talking. As I make my way past the billboard I see another of those Kinetoscopes with the title of 'Beware the False Shepherd!' It doesn't take a genius to figure out what that one is about, but I decide to take a page out of Hermione's book and gain some knowledge about something that may be important in the future. Sure enough it's a propaganda piece trying to sow dissidence amongst the people to keep them vigilant for this false shepherd bloke. Shepherd indeed. Fittingly appropriate since sheep seem to live up here. I'd no more finished that thought when I was hit by that same voice from the bridge.

"One man goes into the waters of baptism," the voice of Comstock started. "A different man comes out, born again. But who is that man who lies submerged? Perhaps that swimmer is both sinner and saint, until he is revealed unto the eyes of man."

Not really sure what to think of this one. Maybe just an insight into the man that is Comstock. With a shrug I make my way away from the billboard once again and stop to listen to a singing quartet sing 'God only knows.' Honestly I have to admit it's a beautiful song and they are great singers from what I can tell as I lean against a lamp post to listen for a pip. I even see a couple dancing in front of the flying ship that they are singing from. Okay maybe sheep was a little harsh. Some people up here are just trying to live their lives and I could honestly respect that.

After a short time, I push off from the post and begin making my way forwards to continue my journey. I pass a couple who seem to be having an argument and make my way towards a large archway leading up. Through the archway I can see the massive obelisk of Monument Island in the distance surveying the city like some guardian angel. I snort at the thought since that's most likely why it was made that way.

"So that's where they're keeping her huh?" I thought out loud. I'm doing that a lot these days aren't I? I sigh to myself. Maybe I have gone mad and this is all some dream I'm having while still in that cell in the Goblin Nation. With my luck I wouldn't be all that shocked.

"Telegraph Mister Potter," a voice shocked me out of my depressing thoughts. I looked down to see a young boy with a yellow telegram for me. "Telegram for you sir!" I took it from the boy and handed him two silver pieces and thanked him. "Wow! Thanks Mister Potter!" he said with a wide grin and skipped off. I smiled at the boy and looked at the telegram.

Potter STOP

Do not alert Comstock to your presence STOP

Whatever you do, do not pick number 7 STOP

Lutece

Huh? Well that's worrisome. I made my way up to the railing and leaned forward looking back up at Monument Island. How was I going to get there? Looking to my left I saw a telescope pointed towards the monument and decided to see if I could get a better look. When I looked through the telescope I realized that while I could see it better it didn't really help answer my dilemma. However what did shock me was what, or rather who I saw when I looked down. The Lutece twins were right there with Robert juggling and Rosalind watching him.

"Oi!" I started as I wrenched my head away from the telescope and looked where I'd seen them only to see no one there. In confusion I looked back through the telescope and didn't see them there either. What the bloody hell? I quickly made my way around the guardrails to where I'd seen them, passing a few concerned patrons as I hurried passed them like some maniac after my shout. Nice and subtle Potter.

"Good day sir," a man on a bench startled me as I past him on my way around.

"H-hello there," I stuttered in confusion as I kept moving around trying to not be rude.

I ran full tilt up to where they'd been only for there to literally be no sign of them what so ever. Have I finally cracked? Maybe this is a dream. I gave myself an extra hard pinch and grimaced from it. Nope diffidently real. I backed away from the place I'd seen them daring them to show themselves. I was starting to feel like I'd just had a prank played on me and I wasn't too happy about it. I turned and made my way back towards where I'd come from and noticed a carnival of sorts ahead of me. This must being the fairgrounds.

As I made my way towards some large steps I noticed some old, carnival-style posters that took my mind off the Lutece twins. Vigors? What could those be? Murder of Crows? Bucking Bronco? Shock Jockey? Devil's Kiss? Those are some odd names for drinks.

I heard a man yelling from up the stairs and I quickly made my way up. I came to a stop as a large crowd was hanging around a man on a large podium barking out a speech about vigors and two men in devil outfits were down under him and they were…were…performing magic?! No. This was impossible. They'd told me that magic didn't exist here. But sure enough they were doing it.

"If I told you a man could shoot lightning from his fingers now, would you believe me?" the barky began. "If I told you a man could hoist a one ton stallion straight into the air, would you believe me? Well friends, I am here today to tell those are not flights of fancy! Those are no tall tales told behind the pool hall! No sir! No ma'am! Those are Vigors I'm talkin' about brought to you courtesy of Mr. Jeremiah Fink himself!"

I tuned out the rest of what the man was saying as I watch the two 'devils' conjure lighting and fireballs from their hands; one used his powers to lift the other with no effort from ten feet away; and even seemed to possess the other. This was magic. There was no doubt in my mind about what I was seeing being preformed right in front of my very eyes. Maybe…maybe I could get my magic back someway. Through these potions called Vigors. That's the only thing I could think to call them. Potions that could actually grant magic to people without magic. I had to get my hands on some just to make sure I wasn't wrong about them. I didn't see any samples, but then I realized I was at a fair. Those places usually had samples for people to try. With a crooked, hopeful grin I made my way into the crowd and the heart of the fair.

I didn't have to move into the fair far before I saw a booth for a vigor called Bucking Bronco. I saw the keeper of the stand barking at the people around him looking with curiousity at his booth.

"Young sir! Young miss!" he started with a flourish. "Roll up and try the amazing power of Bucking Bronco! Whether you need it lifted, lofted, tossed or tumbled, Bucking Bronco is just the ticket!"

"You sir?" he stated surprising me as I looked to see him pointing at me. "Care to give it a go? It's just a sample so it won't be permanent."

That last part saddened me a tad, but this would give me a good opportunity to test out these vigors.

"Sure mate," I stated. "I'll take a crack at it." The gathered crowd clapped and gave me a bit of a cheer. I guess they wanted to see a show.

I took a drain on the bottle and felt a tingling sensation pass through me though it felt dulled slightly it felt like my magic was back. I gave a grin and watched as a curtain slides away to reveal an old room with furniture around and a man dressed as a devil hiding behind a chair. With a gesture of my left hand I felt the familiar power surge forward from my hand and heard the sound of a wild horse naying. As that was happening I focused on the results of my actions and saw rock and concrete kick up on a straight trail leading towards the man and to my joy he was picked up by a force as if gravity itself was reversed for him. I was able to do this two more times before the effects wore off, much to my annoyance. However I did get a pouch of silver as a prize for helping in the demonstration so it wasn't a total loss.

I pocketed the coins as I made my way away from the booth deep in thought. No doubt about it now. That was most definitely magic. Different but still the same. I looked at my left hand as I could still lightly feel the tingling sensation still there. Looking around the fair I noticed some other carnival games that people were playing two shooting galleries and even an old mallet strength tester. I also saw some more display booths. One was even for those mechanical horses like I saw earlier. Apparently they are called Easter Automated Stallions.

Moving past a stage with a band playing I saw something that disturbed me a little bit. A Handyman it was called. It looked like an elderly gentleman in a massive robotic body that wasn't too happy about getting his picture taken. I saw a man standing next to him dressed like the man that'd been advertising vigors when I'd first walked up to the gates for the fair.

"Come on down and see the amazing Handyman!" he stated loudly. "Is he man? Is he machine? Only Columbian ingenuity could create such an amazing marvel!"

I felt sad when I looked at this Handyman. He seemed confused and scared about where he was. I wish I could help him, but if I did it would only bring undue attention onto myself and that was the last thing I needed. With a sad glance back towards the spectacle I made my way towards some large gates leading out of the fair. On my way I noticed one last booth just before the gate. A poster on the side of the booth of a woman riding one of those stallions. 'Possession! Any stallion can be tamed!"

Another vigor booth huh? I made my way towards it out of curiosity. Surely it would be the same as the first booth and only be another sample right?

"Dear friend!" the lovely young lady with dazzling green eyes stated in a sultry, alluring voice as I made my way up to her booth. Her eyes actually reminded me of my mom a little and her brown hair was tied back in a bun. She was dressed in a puffy silk blouse that was off the shoulder with a lacey chocker and a long white and red pinstripe skirt. "Have you ever lost a penny to a vending machine? Has a pay telephone ever refused to connect you with a beloved spouse? Well! It's time to take back control from the men of metal! With Possession you are the master! You will bend any machine to your will!"

"How much for one of those?" I asked simply.

"My but you're a yummy one aren't you dear?" she stated and I could feel myself blushing as she sauntered up to me with a sway in her hips. "No charge for a hunk like you sir. With just a whisper, they're all ears."

I gave her a wary eye as I looked at the green bottle with a woman's image laying on top of it. With a gulp I uncorked the heart shaped stopper and looked at the woman who was now batting her eyelashes flirtatiously at me. Bottoms up Potter. I took a pull and chugged the liquid down. It tasted as sweet as honey and I felt a charge rush through my whole body like something trying to get loose from its chains. My vision blurred and a saw the woman move her hands in the shape of a heart, but I could see her fingers glowing emerald leaving a trail behind. She blew me a kiss and she suddenly took on a ghostly green glow. I could even see her skeleton for a second as she gave a sultry giggle. Only a second later did my vision clear up.

"That was different," I stated.

"You look like you could use some rest sir," the temptress stated as she trailed her fingers over my chest. "I know a good place."

"Maybe later ma'am," I stuttered. This woman really was being too forward. I was just now starting question if I didn't jump into things head first again without thinking. Boy would I be hearing about it if I did. Hermione used to be bad, but Andy makes her seem like a lecture form Professor Sprout.

"Such a shame," she said with a pout. "I'll hold you to it though." She moved away with a sway in her hips that I had a hard time keeping my eyes from lingering on. Eyes front Potter! Okay that wasn't my mind at all. Sounded like a female in my head…I really hope there are no side effects to this shite. However, oddly enough I felt whole. Like something I'd been missing suddenly wasn't anymore. I shrugged and chalked it up to having access to my magic again. However minor it might be.

I made my way towards the big brass gate and stopped when I saw this weird automated contraption. I thought I'd seen something similar in the fair, but I didn't really give it much of a look. The base was like that of an old mail box with red, white, and blue coloring with gold trim. However what was really amazing was its top half which looked like a mechanical man with a straw raffle hat and matching suit.

As I walked up to it, it surprised me when it spoke to me.

"Sorry pal. The raffle is all sold out!" it stated in a clearly human, but sill stilted robotic voice. Once again I was admiring the technology in this city. However this did pose a problem. How was I to get through? I'm sure this was the way I needed to go to get closer to the girl. Sudden what the flirtatious woman said a few seconds ago sank in. Take back control from the men of metal huh? Alright might as well give her a shot.

I focused on my magic that I could still feel within my body and was surprised when in stirred. Not like it used to before I came to this world though. It was stronger, denser even. Where before it felt like a stream of steady water it now felt like a large river. More importantly I could feel it react to my commands again. I couldn't help the feral grin that passed my lips. Now this I could work with.

I glanced down at my hands and saw them take on that same ghostly green glow I'd just seen and I gestured towards the mechanical ticket taker with a flick of a wrist. I focused like I would if I were using the Imperius Curse. Sending my desire for the machine to bend to my will and let me pass. A saw a ghostly green female apparition fly from my hand towards the machine and hit it dead on.

"Well, if it isn't Assemblyman Buford!" the mechanical man stated excitedly. "Your spot at the raffle awaits." I nodded and made my way past him as I focused on the female apparition floating around it. Oddly enough it reminded me of someone, but I couldn't put my finger on who.

"Heads?" I heard a familiar voice start in front of me and I whipped my head around so fast I thought I'd get whiplash. And sure enough there they were.

"Or tails," stated Rosalind Lutece who was holding a porcelain platter while Robert stood next to her with a chalkboard around his neck that had Heads and Tails written on it with a line down the middle.

"What the bloody hell are you two doing here?" I ground out through my teeth. I now knew beyond a doubt that was them I'd seen earlier. Of course now that just brought me more damn questions. If they could literally pop around like this, why did they need me?

"Not a very warm welcome Mr. Potter," Rosalind sniffed haughtily. Like I'd somehow offended her.

"If you two could just go willy nilly from this place then why did you need me to come here in the first place," I demanded quietly, my earlier happiness of regaining my magic fully gone now.

"Because this is your debt Mr. Potter," Robert stated simply. "You're the one who needs to square your debt with us. However, if you truly wish we could easily hand it back over to the goblins. I'm sure they would be most interested in that."

That little threat brought me up short. I'd be back in the tender care of the nation if they wanted to and that was the last thing I wanted. Death would be too good to hope for at that point. So I bit my lip about the issue.

"Fine!" I bit out harshly. "Then let me pass so I can deal with this damn debt and get back home."

"Thank you Mr. Potter," Rosalind replied. "But you didn't answer our question. Heads?"

"Or tails?" Robert finished tossing me a silver eagle coin.

I snatched the coin from midair and flipped it harshly. "Tails!" I snarled. I was done with these damn exercises they always talked about. We watched the coin flip and clatter onto the platter with the tails facing up. Hah! Tails never fails!

"Well I'll be," muttered Robert in astonishment as we all looked down at the coin. I could've sworn I saw a happy little grin cross Rosalind's face before it vanished like it was never there.

"Variables dear brother," she stated as they parted for me to pass through which I did. I glared back at them when my eyes caught the back of Robert. The chalkboard around his neck had another side the same as the first with one big difference. The side with heads was completely filled in.