Disclaimer: I don't own either harry potter or x-men
Chapter 9 Revised
Of Fights
(Italics are parts I have changed as I was rereading this chapter and wasn't too happy with it.)
Spotting his Aunt and Uncle Harry nodded to them and followed them to the car. Or at least that was what he had intended to do until they were approached and threatened by the order about treating him right and to keep an eye on him. At the last part Harry had wanted to strangle Mad-Eye but had to settle for a very quiet growl that only Dudley would have been able to hear.
That things started to go downhill. His tail had caught in the door when his Uncle had tried to slam it shut on. Making Harry to have to hold in a hiss of pain then blame the door not shutting on the seatbelt being caught. After that the hour long ride was torture as he wasn't able to sit sideways like he had on the train his tail had started to go numb, and he could have sworn that as his tail twitched it had hit Dudley a few times.
Surprisingly Dudley hadn't said anything just sent him a glance whenever it happened.
When they had arrived Harry followed Dudley into the house while carrying his trunk after being ordered to put it in the cupboard under the stairs. Thinking that his Aunt and Uncle would be right behind him. Unfortunately his was incorrect as Vernon slammed the door on his tail again. The sudden pain caused him to drop his trunk on his foot and a hiss made it past his lips as Dudley exited the kitchen with a glass of water.
The pain leaving as his body healed the bruises in seconds but annoyance at Vernon already starting to grow.
Looking at Harry and the trunk that was still sitting on his foot Dudley handed over the full glass, closed the lock on the cupboard, picked up the trunk and started to carry it up the stairs all the while Harrys mouth had fallen open as he watched his cousin.
Following his cousin up the stairs and into his room he was surprised to see that it was in half decent shape for once. It looked like there was a newer bed and blankets. An actual book shelf and a small desk that he could study at.
As he was taking it all in Dudley had been shifting back and forth from one foot to the other.
"Harry I just wanted to apologize for the way I treated you in the past. I was a complete asshole to you and you didn't do anything to deserve it. Well the bed isn't brand new I managed to get Mom and Dad to buy me a new one this year even though they just got me one last year and when the delivery company was here I had them take my old bed and bring it in here and take your old one away. The book shelf and desk I bought second hand over Christmas from the surrounding five block area. I know it's not much but you saved me last summer and I realised that how we treated you wasn't right. Please don't think I am trying to bribe you. Just think of it as a belated birthday and Christmas gift if you want." Dudley said.
Not knowing what to say Harry just shook his head in shock and thanked him.
"I also noticed that every year when you come home you have nightmares if you want to talk to someone well…. feel free to come and get O.K.?" Dudley asked.
"I will leave you to get to it then." Dudley said and left the room when Harry showed no immediate signs of moving.
Taking a few minutes Harry organized his stuff so that it was either in his closet or the desk. He sat his pack in the gap between his bed and dresser. Making sure that he had his muggle clothes, invisibility cloak, two useful D.A.D.A books along with some paper and a pen (a lot easier than worrying about an ink bottle or quill nub breaking).
Using a bit of string Harry fashioned a forearm holster for his right hand with a quick realise knot tied to the one end around his thumb he would have to be careful while moving his hand but his wand would was easy to get at in an emergency.
Harry started a mental shopping list for Diagonally. A proper wand holster and books on self-defence were the first things on that list.
Over the next couple of days Harry was kept busy.
First it was with getting caught up on the yard work as it had fallen dreadfully behind. Then it was the vacuuming scrubbing dusting and countless other chores in the house. On the plus side he was left alone most of the day so he got used to hiding most of his appearance the only hard part was keeping his ears down and his tail wrapped around his waist, especially as it was now needed for him to keep his balance on his new feet. Most days after the first week he didn't even bother wearing his boots when he was either inside or outside as his pants covered his feet well enough. Plus the boots couldn't grip as well as his bare feet.
On his not as busy days he would go to the library and study human anatomy and genetics. All under the guise of a summer project for school.
Hedwig was kept busy carrying letters and packages back and forth from Diagonally. He had ordered his travel papers and five thousand worth of Pounds, Euros and Galleons after finding out he had a net worth of over five hundred thousand in money and another seven hundred fifty thousand Galleons in property. Plus business he had shares in. He had also ordered his wand holster and sixth and seventh year books which had arrived the day previously.
The books were in his backpack with his boots his invisibility cloak stayed on top of the pile. The bag now sat at the end of his bed. Along with the money that was now tucked away in an inner pocket that was now keyed to his magic.
His wand was now secured to his right forearm in a holster that was able to turn invisible to all eyes keeping his wand hidden from muggle eyes but easily accessible for days like today when he wanted to go downtown to do some shopping.
He had about one thousand pounds on him along with his passport. The chain he had under the loose floorboards under his bed.
As he sat on the bus he read an interesting article about human evolution and human mutations. It theorised that the more complex mutations like what he was dealing with was just the human species evolving to the next stage. But it also suggested that it wouldn't happen for many years from now.
When he had arrived in London he stopped to get a bite to eat in Diagonally before hitting the shopping mall for some clothes.
It happened as he stood up to leave after paying for what to him was a snack but to most was a full meal.
Suddenly the glass shattered as beams of light started to fly around him. He was sent flying about a foot as a curse caused the wall behind him to explode sending out chunks of stone. One chunk hit him in the back of the head causing him to black out for ten seconds. Causing him lose the grasp he had on his human look.
When he stood back up his claws came out automatically along with a sense of strength and power.
Looking around at the chaos the alley had become. There were five groups of at least four death eaters each attacking various people and places.
With a roar of challenge he charged a group of death eaters that had some children separated from their parents who were fighting a second group.
He punched the first one in the chest. Bone claws puncturing all the way through as blood ran onto his hand and filled his nose with its coppery scent, the vibration of his enemy's heart ran up his claws into his arm. His wand forgotten as the rush of battle got to his head.
Dropping the body as a gurgle escaped form the blood that ran from the mouth of the mask he turned to the other three that were still in shock. It was the hesitation that made their deaths come faster. Number two fell as his throat was slit and blood gushed out. Three had also was stabbed in the chest. Four who tried to run away had his neck broken with a satisfying crack.
A young teen ran out of one of the nearest stores and herded the children back to the store he had just ran out of.
Next he ran to help the parents that were trying desperately to get back to their children.
When he saw one of the adults fall he saw a red haze come across his vision.
He climbed the back of one of the death eaters and allowed his talons to dig in. Puncturing his lungs in the process but missing his heart. He fell with a gasp and another gurgle.
Landing in front of the adults he was dimly aware that his hood had fallen off. Or of the blood that now coated his face, hands, arms and feet. His tail was twitching as he readied to attack again wand still forgotten as he charged.
Number two of this group was decapitated. While three and four fired off spells that he dodged easily as if he was dancing. In a way he was dancing with death as three had his head caved in with a punch to the skull sending his claws into the brain matter. Four received a kick to his thigh as the talons sliced into his femoral artery. He fell with a scream wand rolling out of reach as he tried to stop the flow of life blood escaping his body.
That was when he looked down the alley and saw the third and fourth group had joined together as they blew open Olivenders. Half went inside and the other half stayed out.
Upon seeing him covered in blood and their allies lying dead on the street the four outside started to fire off spell after spell. All of which he dodged as gracefully as before. The first he beheaded, the second got a slash across the stomach the softness as he tore through the abdominal wall was different from the solid impact of hitting the rib cage. Number three had his wand arm severed mid humorous tearing through the brachial artery. That was when the other four came out the wand maker bound and blindfolded in tow.
They had been alerted to what was going on by the screams of their allies. Stunners were shot at him by the five that were still standing. They slowed him down just enough to give them time to disapprate.
Knowing that it wouldn't be long until the Aurous showed up he pulled up his hood, slouched and retracted his claws and made his way to the most conspicuous shop in the alley. Weasels Wizard Wheezes.
It also happened to be the shop that had the bodies of the first four dead death eaters in front of it. As well as the children that he had saved.
Fred and George were just letting the shoppers that had taken refuge in the shop and hadn't been able to apparite away. The children that were running up to their parents and whisked away just as quickly as parents took their children home to safety.
Amidst the small amount of chaos he was able to slip into the shop without a problem just as the Aurous arrived.
Harry stood in the shadows of a corner trying to catch his breath as the twins gave statements about what happened. Listening in Harry found out that they had gone to defend the entrance leaving a summer worker to lock the shop down as it had its own defences. They closed the shop and started to clean up.
It hadn't been targeted but having twenty or so terrified children all trying to find places to hide did tend to make a mess as well as the accidental magic the attack had caused. Add to the fact that most of the products reacted when a spell was cast on them it was no surprise that they headed straight towards Harry.
Well it was more like the broom cupboard he was hiding beside.
Harry was too exhausted to try and hide his appearance. So when the twins pulled their wands on him all he could do was lower his head in shame and raise his hands in a sign that he meant no harm.
"Show yourself." Ordered George.
Stepping forward his tail twitching nervously Harry raised his head and used all of his concentration to show his face how it used to be.
"Please don't shoot guys." He asked.
"Harry?" Fred asked.
"What are you doing here?" George questioned.
Opening his mouth to answer Harry stumbled as he took another step forward and his leonine face showed through and all of his remaining energy left him as he blacked out.