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

Harry Potter X Bioshock Infinite

Chapter 4

1912

Columbia

Shaking my head I continued past the terrible twins at the gate. How could it have been that many heads in a row? That doesn't seem possible. I shook my head sharply. No reason to focus on them right now since it would only annoy me even more than I already was. Honestly that would be a pretty impressive achievement right now.

I passed two little girls playing hopscotch and couldn't help a small smile play across my lips as I let my anger at the twins leave me. I felt the need to apologize to the twins since I had been unnaturally rude. Unfortunately, that feeling of sympathy left me as soon as I turned around to where they'd been only to not see them; like they'd just vanished into thin air…again. I really was starting to think those two were magical in some way.

As I made my way down the walkway, I noticed another billboard poster with a bird-like silhouette. 'Sing praise to the Songbird for he is the protector of the Lamb.' And just like that I'm no longer worried about the twins. Was I going to have to fight that thing? Hopefully it wouldn't come to that, or that it was as big as the billboard made it out to be. I felt a chill streak up my spine at the thought. I don't feel so good about either of those prospects.

As I walk down the way I over hear a small group of people talking about Lady Comstock. I slow down to give a quick listen. Can never know too much about this place after all. Hermione would be so proud.

"Oh, that poor woman," started the woman with the two men. "The things she suffered." Suffered? I wonder what happened to her. I was starting to realize that I don't really know all that much about the Comstock family.

"Suffering don't make you holy," one of the men snarked.

"Well, it certainly doesn't hurt," rebuked the woman harshly.

I shook my head as I continued on my way since I obvious wasn't going to get much from this group since they'd devolved into arguing with each other. As I walked, I passed two officers that were having their own conversation.

"When did you get that?" the first officer stated as his partner showed off some type of gauntlet with a spinning hook. I leaned over the railing looking out at the floating city while I listened in.

"This little beauty?" the second officer proudly asked. "The whole division got them. If we're going to flush the Vox out of the skyline system we gotta have the best."

"They got any openings in the group?" the first officer responded with some venom in his words. "I'd love to bust some Vox skull."

Hmm? Intersting. The skyline system must be those railway systems I've seen throughout the city with the crates on them. I wonder how a gauntlet like that would allow someone to travel on one of those. I noticed that the two officers had moved on themselves on in their patrol and decided to let the matter drop for now.

Making my way down some stairs I noticed a large statue that wasn't Comstock, shocking I know. But it was of a well dressed man holding a floating model city almost like a butler which was wonky. However what really surprised me was that the statue was of Robert Lutece. I made my way over to it when something really strange happened. The statue shimmered wildly with a strange tearing noise and slowly shifted into a statue of his sister, Rosalind. I was left gobsmacked and slack jawed as I stared at the new statue.

Walking as fast as I could towards the statue I passed some children playing in front of the statue; however they didn't even act like anything out of the ordinary had just happened right in front of them. I saw a bench with a strange bird-like stuffed animal on it with a rose in its small clawed hand, and a chocolate bar next to it. Oddly the stuffed animal looked like the silhouette on the billboard I'd passed recently with the Songbird on it. Putting that to the side for now, since it wasn't as important to figuring out what I'd just seen, I read the name plate at the feet of the statue.

R. Lutece

Gave Columbia

Her Wings

"Madame Lutece," I grimaced as I heard a little girl's voice in my head and looked up at the statue. "I have read all your books on the sciences. Mama says, 'It's not a fit occupation for a lady,' but I think she's jealous of our cleverness." I gave a little snort. "Is it true that only you are allowed the visit the girl in the tower?" That drew a glare from me towards the statue as I again wanted to know why I was needed if Rosaland was that close to the girl. "If the Lamb is lonely too, I should like to meet her, as we would have much in common. Warmest regards, Constance." Unfortunately little Constance, I highly doubt you would know what it's like to be kept locked away somewhere. I turned with a growl as I made my way from the statue and just barely passed the children playing when I stopped with a thought.

"Oi lads," I said loud enough that the three boys would hear me over the celebration music that got louder the closer I got to the raffle area. The three boys stopped their playing and looked at me questioningly. "Did any of you see that statue there change just a bit ago?" I asked pointing the Rosalind's statue.

"What are you talking about mister?" one of the boys asked with a confused tilt of his head.

I gave a sigh and nodded to myself; another question for me to add to my growing collection. "Nevermind," I stated jovially as I could and raised my hand lazily. "You lads have fun." Suddenly I saw all three of them freeze and pale as they looked at me, or more accurately my raised right hand. The one closest to me took a fearful step back and took off like a ghost was after him followed by the other two.

"It's him! Run!" I heard one of them yell as they ran off.

I stood in confusion as I watched them take off wondering what had set them off like that. Nobody else had acted like that. As I turned forward my query was given an answer and I really wished I hadn't gotten it. Their in front of me was another billboard poster with a demonic clawed hand with the initials AD glowing on the back of it. 'You shall know the False Shepherd by his mark.' I paled and looked down at the back of my right hand and sure enough there were the same initials that I'd noticed at the lighthouse, but had completely forgotten about. How the bloody hell had nobody else noticed that?!

I felt panic start to set in like the presence of a Dementor. I was in a floating city full of cult worshipers to save a girl they believed to be their chosen one and on top of that I was branded with a mark that would identify me to the whole bloody populous as their own personal Tom Riddle. Just bloody fucking brilliant! Calm it down Potter! Just calm down. I took a deep shaky breath. Just need to keep a little more low profile. That's all.

I walked slowly passed the cursed billboard sending it a furious glare as if it was somehow the thing at fault. Real mature Potter, but it did make me feel a tad better. I glanced around as I came up to another round of steps leading to what I can assume was this raffle everyone seemed to be interested in. To my right I stopped and stared at large balloon figures of the three founders tied to one of the floating buildings. I shook my head again and turned to make my way up the steps. I saw a large poster of a man like the one who was advertising the vigors as I entered the fair. 'Jeremiah Fink wants you to attend the July 6th Raffle.' To emphasize the point the picture of the man was pointing towards me. I snorted at the idea. Good luck with that mate. I won't be going through that raffle if I could help it.

I saw more of those skylines the officers were talking about with the crates passing on them before I noticed the large looming obelisk of Monument Island seemingly overhead. I hadn't realized I was getting that close to my destination. Maybe I'll be able to get there faster than I thought. Hey it's not a sin to be hopeful. I laughed at my own little joke.

I made my way in front of the entrance to the raffle intent on going around till I stopped suddenly as my eyes fell upon two more officers behind a barricade blocking the only other exit. Shite! Why me? Why did I have to have some hope? You know that never leads to anything good Harry. I gave a sigh and looked back to were the line for the raffle was. Only option now huh? Maybe I can just walk through with nobody taking an interest in me. I gave a suffering sigh as I realized I was hoping yet again. I may need to see a healer about that.

With another glance towards the barricade I turned and made my way back towards the entrance. I noticed a line of people grabbing, what looked like, balls of some sort out of a basket. Wonder what that's all about? No matter focus Potter.

I passed a large marble water fountain on my way to a large, double gate. When I looked up I could still see the monument above me to know I was more or less heading in the right direction; however when I looked down from the top of some more steps I found myself pausing with a gulp. That is a lot of bloody people.

Down below me stood a large gathering of people in front of an extravagant stage with a man dressed like that Fink bloke leading them in the song I'd been hearing since I got close enough. Looking around I saw some more steps leading back up so I knew where I needed to go at least. Now to make it through the raffle.

I took leisurely steps so I wouldn't draw as much attention as I could and kept my head on the lookout for anything that would stop me from making it through the crowd. It wasn't too busy, but there was only a small area to squeeze through as well. I was just about at the center when I heard the man on stage start to speak.

"And now the 1912 Raffle has officially begun!" he stated with excitement. The crowd clapped happily.

"I can't believe Fink really showed up for this," stated some man I walked in front of to his female companion. This brought me up short. I could see the steps leading to the exit, but now I had something tickling my curiosity. Here was the man who came up with the Vigors right in front of me. I could ask him some discrete questions if I got the chance right? Maybe find out how he made them? That opportunity was too much for me to pass up. Plus I could keep a low profile and not stick out right? Right.

I made my way into the crowd at the front of the stage keeping my hands firmly in my pockets. Unfortunately, someone saw me and made their way towards me from the front of the stage with a basket around their neck. It was a woman similar in dress and in some ways looks to the flirtatious woman who'd given me the Possession Vigor back at the fair. Only real difference was that she looked a tad younger than the other; with strawberry blonde hair and hazel eyes.

"Hey, mister!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"Sorry ma'am I'm not interest," I tried to dissuade her gently.

"No silly," she said keeping her chipper attitude. "There's never a charge for the raffle. You been sleeping under a rock?"

"I'm just not interested ma'am sorry," I tried again. Hopefully she'd just let the matter drop.

"Oh come on," she said with a pout. "Just take a chance. You might get lucky."

I was about to decline again when I noticed a few people eying me oddly. Great. People are starting to notice that I'm not excited about the raffle; which would set off alarm bells for most of these people since this was such a big event. I gave a sigh and consciously reached with my left hand keeping my right firmly in my pocket. I pulled back what I could now tell was a baseball with a red number on it. The number was 7. Why did I just get a chill up my spine?

"Number 7 huh?" asked the lady happily. "That's an incredibly lucky number since that is also the date of our Lady Comstock's birth. Maybe she's smiling on you sir."

As she walked away I couldn't stop staring at the ball in my hand or more accurately that damned number. Whatever you do, don't pick number 7. The telegram the Lutece's sent me. Shite. Lady Comstock smiling on me my arse!

"Bring me the bowl!" Fink yelled shocking me out of my focus. I looked up to realize the people of the raffle had closed in on me. I couldn't get out unless I pushed my way through and that would only draw more attention my way. "Is that not the prettiest young white girl in all of Columbia?" Fink stated with a laugh at the end.

That…was an odd statement. Why would he point that out? Oddly I was remembering some of the lessons from my training when my trainer taught me of the race relations were back in this time in American history. If I was going some it up in one word it would be…tense. Way to understate the obvious Potter. I gave pause as that last thought wasn't mine. I didn't have time to question that however.

I woman dressed like the raffle girl with blonde hair tied in a tight bun sauntered out to the wolf-whistles of the men in the crowd carrying a red, white, and blue bowl. I watched with hope as Fink reached in for a number.

"Alright then," he stated dramatically. "And the winner is…lucky number seven!"

My hopes went out like a wet blanket; soggy and useless. Wait. I'd just ignore it. It's not likely they'd go through checking everyone's lots. I could just slip out when people tried to claim the prize for themselves. Or better yet just drop the ball to the ground and let the crowd fight over it.

"Over here!" I heard a voice that made me groan in annoyance and anger. I looked over my shoulder to see the raffle girl who'd gave me the damned thing making her way through the crowd right to my side and hold my hand up. "Over here! He's the winner!"

I was about the curse at her when Fink looked directly at me. The girl let go of my arm as he saw the number on the ball and gave a happy grin and whoop.

"Number seven," Fink yelled in excitement and raised his hands before motioning dramatically towards the curtain that was drawing back as he spoke. "Come and claim your prize."

"First throw," Fink said as his voice changed from excited to down right menacing. I noticed some props on stage that were made to look like tall grass move out of the way, along with some large props that looked like caricatured monkeys at a wedding. However what made my blood stop cold was the tied up couple that were being moved in front of the crowd. I could hear that chants of 'first throw' fade into background noise. The man was blonde with a ragged looking tuxedo jacket on with bruises on his bare chest and ripped slacks; poor bloke looked like his face had been messed up pretty good too. The woman tied next to him was in a similar state although she was only dressed in an old potato sack that contrasted terribly with her dark skin. I could hear them both pleading for mercy to the crowd which fell on deaf ears. I felt my rage rise like nothing I'd ever felt before as I glared at Fink who was riling up the crowd.

"Come on, are you going to throw it, or are you taking your coffee black these days," Fink stated jovially with a laugh. I felt something snap in the back of my head as I saw red. I reared my arm back with the ball in hand fully intent on putting it right through Finks head. Unfortunately, I had half a second to realize I'd subconsciously switched the ball to my right hand when my arm was grabbed stopping in from the throw. I glared to my side to see an officer had caught my arm on the backswing. I soon felt another slip up to my other side and roughly grab my other arm.

"This is him," the first officer stated. "He matches the description the kids gave us." They forcefully brought my hand down as I turned my glare back towards Fink.

"Now," Fink stated with shock and some contempt as he walked to the edge of the stage. He must have realized I wasn't aiming for the couple on stage. "Where'd you get that brand boy?" He was now matching my glare with one of his own. "Don't you know that makes you the back-stabbin', snake-in-the-grass False Shepherd?"

The crowd started to rabble around hearing Fink call me the False Shepherd.

"And we ain't lettin' no False Shepherd into our flock," he stated out to the crowd that started to curse at me. However my eyes and attention was only locked on the couple currently being pulled back into the shadows looking at me with grateful eyes. My glare went back to Fink. "Show him what we got planned boys!"

The dark-haired officer on my left brought up that hooked gauntlet I'd seen them talking about earlier and started it up. It started to spin in front of my face and time seemed to slow down as I did what I always do when things go completely bedlam. Let instinct guide me. Unfortunately for the officers that were restraining me, I'd gone through not only a year of firearms and history lessons, but also physical combat designed for my survival not theirs.

I tossed the ball up between the three of us and saw the officer holding my right side follow it with his eyes and loosen his grip. That was all the window I needed as I shoved the other man's arm, the one with the spinning hook of death on it right into his partner's exposed throat. I felt the spray of blood hit my face as my right hand came up with a haymaker arch aimed right at the man's Adam's apple with the hard bone of my wrist. I felt it crush beneath my strike as he stumbled back clutching at his destroyed throat. I was vaguely aware of the rest of the crowd as I moved at lightning speed ripping the gauntlet out of the first officer's throat with my left hand.

I caught movement out of the corner of my eye as another officer rushed out of the panicked crowd with a Billy club. He swung it at me from above, but I'd rushed closing the distance making his elbow hyper extended on my shoulder forcing him to drop his weapon with a cry of pain. Turning with the momentum I grabbed my assailant's head with my right arm and threw him harshly to the ground where he cradled his broken arm.

I soon heard whistles heading my way and ran up the steps I'd been making my way towards earlier. I turned to face two more officers with billy clubs coming at me. Using my practiced footwork I split them backhanding one with my newly acquired gauntlet tearing a chunk out of his face and using the momentum to get behind the other. He was more cautious than his partner and squared off with me instead of rushing at me like the other's had. Unfortunately for me, this gave his back up time to get there. Another problem I noticed quickly was that his backup had a pistol. Thinking quickly I shot at the one in front of me with a shell around my head using my arms to deflect his strike with the club. I did this in the hopes that his partner wouldn't shoot his friend. Luckily, my gamble had been right as he hesitated giving me a chance to thrust a kick up at my primary target launching him into his partner and giving me the opening to hit the pistol wielding officer hard enough to knock him out while his partner rolled on the ground clutching his chest and gasping for air.

Moving quickly I grabbed the pistol off the ground which luckily was the same type of gun Rosalind had given me on the boat. I holstered the pistol and searched the downed officer for extra ammunition before casing the area for more enemies. Unfortunately, while I didn't see anymore enemies I did notice that the bridge to Monument Island was down. I'd have to find another way to it. Bully for me.

I quickly made my way to what I believed was the only exit not closed. It let to a little alley way behind the stage with boxes, props, and two cages with monkey heads on them. I growled deep in my throat knowing what they'd been used for. How could people do this? Keep other people in cages for something as stupid as race. I know it was part of the times, but it just baffles me. Luckily or unluckily they were empty so maybe they'd been able to get away. I guess I could hope, although my hope wasn't all that good today.

I saw a gangplank going up on to some type of sky ship and walked towards it, but stopped when I heard yelling coming from above me. I drew my pistol not a moment too soon as two more officers came down from the skyline at me with guns drawn. Bringing up my pistol like I'd been taught I fired at the same time as the first officer. Luckily for me his aim was high and the bullet missed, unfortunately he wasn't so lucky as my two shots hit center of mass right in his chest. His partner hesitated a half second allowing me a chance to take him in the shoulder twice disabling his shot and sending him to the ground clutching at his wound. I sprinted past him up the plank only to throw myself behind some crates for cover when a hail of bullets was launched at me. Peaking around the corner carefully I saw what looked like an automated turret gun with a robotic top half firing it. It must have a sensor on it to detect hostiles. I could hear more whistles coming from behind the turret so I was about the have a lot of company. Think Potter, think. I looked down and saw my left hand glow a ghostly green and remembered about my Possession Vigor. Bend any machine to your will huh? Why not?

I flicked my left hand at the turret and sure enough the green, ghostly female figure burst from my hand and raced toward the turret before it infused with it. It glowed green before turning and raining down bullets at the officers below the bow. Moving up along side it I hoped down to the stone below and made my way past the bodies as the turret took out stragglers. I noticed I was at the entrance to the raffle and sprinted down towards the barricade I'd seen before entering not really worried about raising suspicion now. I flung myself behind one of the step guards when I saw another turret start to fire at me and about four more officers coming in from the exit gate. I quickly flung another specter towards the turret to give the officers some crossfire to deal with.

I heard an explosion and looked out in time to see the turret had been destroyed by the officers. I guess they were a little bit better prepared than the others had been. Luckily the turret had left only one that wasn't too injured or dead; and when he turned towards my location I'd already made it to him and smashed the skyhook across his jaw knocking him out cold. I noticed a tall, blue locker next to the gate and looking inside grabbed two more clips of pistol ammunition. I warily looked around the corner and made my way down the street. I saw several civilians rush down the street away from me in fright as two more officers fired at me from behind a produce stand.

I ducked behind an abandoned hot dog stand and heard one of the officers tell his partner to call for the 'Fireman'; and couldn't help wondering what they would need to call the firemen for. I shook that thought and got one of the officers in the leg that he'd not gotten behind the stand. This dropped him and when his partner looked towards him it gave me the chance to hit him in the stomach. I felt bad as I moved past the stand as they lay there in pain, but I needed to keep going towards the next gate.

As I got to the gate I could feel a shift in the temperature as it suddenly got hotter. I pushed open the gate and noticed a lone man in an odd suit standing on some type of platform. Unfortunately before I had a chance to really notice much around him, he suddenly exploded in flames. I think I may have found the Fireman.

Any other thoughts were scrapped as I had to move when he started lobbing balls of fire at me. When one landed just to my right I quickly noticed that it wasn't really a fireball, but more like a lavaball. Luckily my survival instincts kicked in and I was able to jump away from it just before it exploded sending globs of fire everywhere. I took a couple of shots at him; however they just bounced off with metallic clangs echoing. Did he have armor on? This was bad.

I made a brake for my left and another abandoned stand while I kept my eyes locked on this enemy to see if I could spot a weak spot in his armor. He kept lobbing those bombs at me as I made pot shots at different body parts till I finally hit something that made him slow down: his stomach. Taking my pistol I started to unload into his stomach as he made a last ditch dash towards me with his fire getting hotter till I rolled behind another stand only to hear another explosion bigger than the first one he'd released when I'd arrived. I paused for a few seconds till I noticed I couldn't hear his metallic stomps anymore, only the crackling of fire. Looking around my now flaming cover with some satisfaction and sadness that he laid there burned to an unrecognizable degree. His suit must have exploded. Maybe I hit a line on one of those tanks on his back.

I knew I couldn't stay long and started to make my way down the street after holstering my pistol. I was just passing the platform he'd been on, which was of course on fire, when I noticed dozens of red bottles scattered around. Curious I picked one up that still had the top on it. Devils Kiss. Another vigor huh? I glanced back at what remand of my fallen foe and saluted him with the bottle.

"I'll take this as my reward for beating you," I said solemnly. "I'm sorry it couldn't have ended another way. For all of you." I twisted the devil woman's head off the bottle and chugged it down.

Unfortunately, it was nothing like the Possession vigor. It tasted like straight hot sauce from the hottest pepper in existence and I felt like my body explode in flames and when I looked down at my hands I could see fire eating away at my skin from the inside; I could even see the bones of my hands. I started to scream as the fire became unbearable. Then in the next instant the burning suddenly vanished and my hands were back to normal. I was taking in gulps of air as I stared at my hands. What the bloody hell was that?

After taking a few seconds to compose myself I looked at my hands and focused on my magic and the burning sensation then an orb of fire conjured in my hand. With a smirk I let it fade out and continued past the flames. At the bend of the street I saw a large gate at the entrance for the Columbia Gondola to Monument Island and made my way towards it at a faster pace. I saw another police barricade in the street as I made my way up to it and caught something out of the corner of my eye. Another of those damn automated turrets. As it prepared to fire at me, my instincts kicked in and I conjured another fireball and shot it with practiced aim right at it. It hit the automation in the chest area before detonating and blowing the thing up. I felt good before I heard the whistles coming from the opposite side of the street where there were four officers were running towards me.

Again I was caught in a fire fight, but this time I had some real fire power. I reached for my sidearm with my right hand while my left hand went to work lobbing a fire ball into the center of the officers like a grenade. By the time I'd brought my pistol to bear on my targets their was only one left still alive from the explosion and he wasn't looking so good. When he raised his gun in his uninjured arm I fired putting him down for good. I gave a weary sigh as I moved past them. I'd killed and injured so many people today, people just trying to do their jobs. Am I losing my humanity?

'No Harry,' was whispered in my head as I felt a comforting warmth circle my entire being. 'You haven't lost it until you stop questioning it.'

I'm not sure where that whisper came from, but it helped take away my doubts for now. I looked towards the gates and seeing Monument Island so close I looked toward a window with a sign on it: Sorry. We're closed.

Of course it was. Not going to make it that easy huh? I let out a frustrated breath and looked to my left to see some steps leading up to what looked like a restaurant called 'The Blue Ribbon.' It was grand in scale with a pig motif. Unfortunately, it seemed to be the only way forward and I wasn't about to go back the way I came. So I moved towards the doors and pushed them open.

The inside was very fancy with an upscale feel to it. A menu was situated after opening the doors for the patron to see easily enough. Up on the wall greeting the patron was a picture of Comstock with writing under it: The Rise of Columbia. Under that banner was three Kinetoscopes as well with different titles on each of them. With a sigh and shrug I looked into each of them. The first was a celebration of the opening day of Columbia. The second was about Comstock fighting enemies and getting attacked by the media for it; I could honestly feel a little bit for him in that regard. Meanwhile, the final one depicting Columbia seceding from the union. Nothing major, but still interesting things to know.

"I told you Comstock." Here we go again with the voices. Although this one I recognized without much thought: Fink. The same man that'd just attempted to have me killed at the raffle. "You sell'em paradise, and the customers expect cherubs for every chore! 'No menials in God's kingdom!' Well, I've got a man in Georgia who'll lease us as many Negro convicts as you can board! Why, you can say they're simple souls, in penance for rising above their station. Whatever eases your conscience, I suppose."

Clean off. I'm taking that bugger's head clean off the next time I see him. I know that times were different, but men like him have got to go. I could feel my knuckles popping as I flexed them feeling the flames blaze around my fist as I moved into the bar area.

"We have company," I heard a man's voice and couldn't help but chuckle. Of course they'd be here.

"We do indeed," I looked up at the female response and sure enough there they were.