The Mutated Amagi Chronicles

Chapter Six: Canalis Psychia

Harry Potter tensed as the thing rose from its crouch. Fading sunlight from the keep's window cast a distorted caricature of the being in front of him onto the walls. Yet the caricature would've been more realistic than the creature, who, with its lightly armored torso and giant claws, possessed unbelievable agility and grace for something so monstrous. The Sword of Godric burst into life, flames shrouding its blade and illuminating the creature's face.
What is the matter, Harry Potter? Am I more horrifying than you expected? The voice boomed into his mind.
"How are you doing that?" Harry Potter asked, still keeping his serene pose. "Projecting your thoughts in my head... I've never heard of anything like you..."
Would you not like to find out what I am? I've followed you for over two years now, Harry... Across continents, over oceans... Waited so long for this moment...
"What for? I don't have anything you want, do I?" Harry commented, as he studied this specimen.

Strangely, with six limbs, the creature manages to balance on two legs... Leaving the other four free to attack, parry, or grab on to handholds... Its wings seem to be armored... It looks like it's too heavy to fly... But then why the wings? The head seems oddly familiar... Like a dragon with horned ears... for ramming, perhaps? I wonder how well it performs in combat... Thoughts ran through Harry's head, threatening to overload him. What was this thing? Why did it want to meet him so desperately?

Shadow was sadly disappointed. Even in this light, he could sense that this "Harry Potter" did not have the slightest clue about who he was. All his hope... All of the work... For nothing? The globetrotting, the tracking across seas and skies, all for... nothing? No! This couldn't be! This "Harry Potter" must be shielding his thoughts!

Harry Potter noticed the tremors of fury that the beast obviously had no control over slowly taking over its body. He considered the possibility of grabbing Ron and Apparating before the creature could reclaim himself from its anger, but decided against it. He had seen how fast it had snatched Ron, and the blades that it sported would be more than enough to cut him to ribbons.
Well, Mr. Potter... Do you know who I am?
The voice seemed to be on the edge of desperation. Harry wondered why... He hasn't given anything about himself away, has he?
"No, I do not know who or what you are. Now, will you permit me to transport my friend away for medical attention? I think he could be seriously..."
LIAR! Speak the truth, or your "friend" dies here and now!
What is going on? Why does he think I know him? And why is it so important to him? Ron's life is on the line here... But what do I do?

"Wait! Don't do anything rash. I really do not know who you are..."
I am warning you, Harry Potter... Stop lying, as you might find that my arm unintentially "slips"...
"Stop it! I am willing to prove it." Harry stepped forward, dropping the Sword of Godric on the floor. The flames burning merrily on the blade abruptly died out.
And exactly how do you propose to do that?
"By the power of the Canalis Psychia." Harry adamantly replied. He slowly fished out his wand from his cloak, and began preparing himself for the spell.
The Mind's Gate? You can't be serious... Do you not realize that we're both likely to go mad from this?
"I know, but this is the only way to prove that I am telling the truth... Unless you have the time and the ingredients for Veritaserum." Harry began to trace the arcane runes of the Mind's Gate in the air. "And if you think about it, 'does the walker choose the path, or does the path the walker'?"
As you wish... But prepare yourself, Harry Potter... My mind is not what you would expect...
Harry finished tracing the circle of runes, and with a flourish of his wand, he connected the runes with a stream of blinding light that filled the room with a myriad of motes in every imaginable color. Time slowed, and reality became warped and impossibilities became feasible. The minds of Harry Potter and Shadow became linked, and all of their secrets exposed to the other.

Harry's spirit explored much of this being's mind, and was devastated at what he found there. Images of blood. Of pain. Of someone's desperate attempt to find out who he was. Inside this creature's mind, Harry found the thoughts of a human. He found also, glimpses of faded memories. Of light, of fire. Of the creature's awakening. Yet... there were no mention of its creators or anything before its awakening... Only one vivid picture. An image of Harry Potter.

As he felt Harry examining his thoughts, Shadow was in turn probing Harry's mind. He felt hopeless. It was impossible to hide anything from the Mind's Gate, which forced you to bare your soul and your deepest secrets to your counterpart, and vice versa. Unless... unless Harry Potter had suppressed his memories, as well... He probed deeper. There were vivid memories of the then Hogwarts, of his peers and past loves. Of his frequent encounters with Voldemort. But nothing... Nothing... on Shadow himself. Finally, he emerged from Harry Potter's mind... and collided with Harry Potter's soul emerging from his. But Harry Potter didn't seem to respond. His mouth dropped open, and he looked as if he's seen a ghost...

Shadow was surprised at Harry Potter's response at seeing him. He hadn't expected that bumping into Harry Potter would cause him to go to shock... That is, until he saw the reflection in Harry Potter's eyes.

For the first time since he last encountered Voldemort, Harry Potter was afraid. He had emerged from the creature's mind, with much more valuable information than he possessed when he entered. But what he didn't expect was to find an exact duplicatate of himself smashing into him. Examining this soul, he found himself going into shock. This wasn't possible. Heck, this wasn't even probable! He couldn't be in two places at the same time... Unless this was him, from the future... But the creature doesn't even know who it is! His questions unresolved, Harry Potter pondered as he attempted to reestablish control of his spectral self: What was this creature... And why did its soul look like a mirror image of him?

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