Hey everyone,
Just a quick warning, this challenge will also be a story on my Storyplans story, but then without the challenge rules, guidelines, etc. That will just be there for you to read and – if you consider it the best – vote on through PM or Review. The Poll to vote on those stories might be posted sometimes later this month.
Enjoy,
Venquine1990
Challenge #16
Timespace And Spellwork
The whole evening has been one great disaster and Cedric's death pretty much tops the whole series of events that went wrong, with Voldemort's resurrection and now Fudge's denial of the madman's return being just under the horrific death of the youth that, during the entire Tri-Wizard Tournament, became my friend and comrade.
Still, with the methods that Dumbledore has tried to convince Fudge that Voldemort was back, which were either retarded, unfinished or better left off in his own hands, can I not even blame the bowler hate wearing man for his refusal of belief as I wouldn't have done so either had I not witnessed the resurrection myself.
By now I am desperately trying to convey my understanding to the man through my eyes, feeling as if no words will make the man believe that I am sincere in my understanding, but while his eyes are on the window on the left side of my hospital wing bed, do they suddenly widen as I notice something occurring from the corner of my eye.
Turning from the man on my right to the thing I saw occurring on my right, do I see something that looks remarkably as if magic itself is trying to form together in one particular place, this being above a different hospital wing bed, before suddenly a hole made of blue beams of light actually spits out some kind of creature.
The creature itself falls headfirst onto the bed, landing on it and obviously unconscious, but apparently not from the fall itself, yet it is his exterior that has my eyes widen in shock; grey fur covering all of his body save for some of the black stripes on his tail, alongside the body parts that are covered by a blue shirt, hat, gloves and shoes.
Alongside the creature a wooden cane with golden bend angle at the top falls from the hole before it disappears, the cane actually falling into the creature's hand while he is clearly out cold and while everyone looks at the creature shocked is the small explosion and the smoke coming out of his ear enough to stir us into action.
Instantly I jump out of my bed, acting purely on the adrenaline of what is going on around me, the previous fight between the adults and the sudden appearance of this strange beast that almost looks human, bar his raccoon features and the fact that he is without either pants or underwear, his fur covering his private parts.
Madam Pomfrey is the first to reach the creature, her wand going over him and checking him for injuries, while I reach my hand out and grab whatever is causing the smoke, pulling out a strange metal earpiece that seems to have overheated from the inside, while small circles that were once alight are now hanging from the device.
Looking from the strange little thing in my hand to the even stranger creature before me, do I raise an eyebrow as I see it cringe, as if in pain, before Madam Pomfrey gives me an answer to this strange behavior as she says: "He – he's not an Animagus. His – his fur is really his. This – this isn't Animagus Magic gone wrong."
And while remembering what Professor Lupin told us about the spell he and Sirius performed to force Pettigrew out of his own Animagus form last year, can I not help my amazement at the fact that this strange creature isn't just someone who tried becoming an Animagus, only to fail and be stuck in some weird in-between form.
"If it's not an Animagus, then what the devil is it?" Snape asks, actually voicing a question I am pretty sure is on all of our minds and then suddenly do I see Dumbledore and Fudge share a knowing glance before the elder man turns back to us and says: "We know what this creature is, yet – his appearance here must remain a secret."
"At this point do I agree with Dumbledore. No one outside this room is to ever know this creature appeared, let alone that he exists." And – as if to put power behind the words of the two – does Hermione suddenly grab for something she apparently saw sitting on my nightstand, all of us looking at her strangely.
She shakes her head and while putting whatever she took in her pocket, does she ask: "So what is he?" And Dumbledore's answer of: "A Raccoon." Makes me want to roll my eyes before he says: "One that is supposed to live in a world that runs parallel to ours and that is supposed to be as secret to our society as ours is to the Muggles."
This shocks all of us and Dumbledore says: "Let's awaken him so we can find out how he came to be here." And while I again look up at where the portal was just minutes ago, does Madam Pomfrey glance at the Headmaster nervously before again raising her wand and casting the Enneverate spell on the creature.
The Raccoon itself stirs and grunts, his hand instantly tightening its hold on his cane and while part of me wants to reach for my own wand, do I keep still as the being raises himself up and mutters: "That filthy skunk." Madam Pomfrey gasping and me – while feeling shocked – believing that he didn't mean the word skunk as just an insult.
The gasp of the mediwitch then seems to attract the attention of the being as he opens his eyes slowly, his eyes being almost honey-brown in color and widening as he sees us all standing around his bedside before, his voice curious, wary and smooth all at the same time, he asks us: "What on Earth are you strange beings?"
And while I can see Ron feeling insulted at this and I quickly raise my hand at him to keep him calm, does Dumbledore step forward and say: "We, my dear friend, are humans. We live in a world that runs parallel to your own. Kind of like when a galleon rolls with 2 marbles rolling on each side of it, never seeing each other, but still rolling."
The raccoon nods and seems to indeed understand this – slightly – awkward explanation as I can't help but ask: "You fell and lost consciousness. Do you remember anything that happened before you were taken here?" As just the blue portal appearing makes me feel as if his trip here was as voluntarily as my own to the graveyard.
The Raccoon touches his head with his empty hand, his other still on his cane, but then as a way to comfort and support himself as he says: "I – I was fighting Le Paradox. I had – beaten the lowlife skunk and he – he tricked me, stealing my paraglider and trying to escape his own blimp with it, but he – he got hit by an airplane.
After that, I just saluted the idiot and wanted to turn around to find another exit when – when some kind of blow knocked me out and – and I woke up here." I nod at his explanation before Fudge asks: "And do you have any idea what could have – by any chance – caused the blow?" At this the Raccoon closes his eyes and says:
"It – it must have been the time machine that was on Le Paradox's blimp. He – he had ruined it and – and it was ripping the whole blimp to pieces. The whole thing was ripping apart at the seams while I was fighting Le Paradox. I – I must have taken too long to beat him and – and the time machine must have activated itself somehow."
This makes my two teachers share a confused and wary look, but the whole explanation makes sense to me and I say: "That explains why I never saw something like this before." And the Raccoon looks at me as I look down at the strange device still in my hand, the creature cursing as he asks: "What happened to it?"
And this time Hermione answers: "My guess, it got overpowered. The magic around Hogwarts never works well with technology and you're pretty much inside Hogwarts right now, so the two forces must have clashed and the magic must have won, short circuiting the device." The Raccoon nods and Ron asks: "In English, please?"
And while the words of my best friend seem to have – for some reason – calmed some of the Raccoon's nerves, do I answer: "The magic attacked the device from the inside and made it get overrun with too much energy." To which my female friend sends me a short glare before the Raccoon softly asks:
"So I'm in England?" And I answer: "Yes, on June the 24th 1995." And while everyone looks at me confused, do I answer: "He clearly time-traveled due to the machine he spoke about activating itself. How else did he get through the Wards and land here exactly?" Those around me nod in understanding and the Raccoon groans.
We all look at him and he says: "I'm turning 4 in three days from now, at least my present self is." This makes the Headmaster and Fudge cringe and Fudge mutters: "Just sending him through the door then won't work." And we all shake our head before I suddenly realize something and ask: "What's your name anyway?"
This makes everyone look at the creature in surprised intrigue and a small smile appears from under the hand that the Raccoon had laid over his eyes before he peaks at me through his fingers and says: "Call me Sly, Sly Cooper." And without knowing why, does this again make Dumbledore and Fudge share a shocked look together.
And there it is!
Another challenge, one that will also appear on Storyplans, but then without the upcoming rules, guidelines, etc. as I just really want to add this one to that series and see where you – my readers – take it from there; whether you consider it better than my six others or not – regardless of the fact that this is actually a crossover.
Rules:
HP-based: Must start at the Hospital Wing Scene in GoF
SC-Based: Must start after Sly Cooper Thieves In Time
Sly and Harry must slowly develop a bond of Friendship
Sly must be willing to teach Harry the Skills of the Cooper Line
Harry must be the first to offer a way to get Sly Home
The Patronus Spell and a Time turner must be involved in getting Sly Home
Bentley, Carmelita, Murray and Dimitri must, later on, make a visit to Hogwarts 1995
Sly must decide to partake in the war against Voldemort
There must be a Human-HP-World and an Animal-SC-world
Only truly powerful men – Ministers, Headmasters, etc. – are allowed to know of the other world before the story starts.
Sly's appearance cannot be discovered by Public right after his entrance to the HP world
Sirius gets freed – if you wish for tips on how, see Guidelines.
Guidelines:
The Potters can be the Human form of the Coopers on Human Earth
The Coopers can be the Animal Form of the Potters on Animal Earth
The Ancestors are allowed to join Bentley and co on their trip to Harry's time
Harry helps Sly explain to Carmelita how he feels
Sly helps Harry find someone who is like Carmelita to Sly
The Cooper Gang plays a role in Voldemort's defeat
Harry leaves the HP-World for the SC-world in the end
Sirius leaves the HP-World for the SC-World
Sly and Sirius become brothers because of their criminal pasts
Carmelita helps free Sirius – only if Harry and Sirius remain in the HP world
The students – after a few days or weeks – discover of Sly's presence at Hogwarts
Sly actually meets his father before Connor Cooper's death
Forbidden
Starting before or after the GoF Hospital Wing Scene or the end of Sly Cooper 4
The Hospital Wing crew hurting Sly after he arrives
Harry believing Sly a threat to his health
Fudge attempting to arrest Sly
Sly meeting his younger self
Sly returning to his own world by his own accord
Voldemort attempting to kill Sly
Bentley and Gang not coming to Harry's world
Sly having travelled ONLY to another dimension
Sirius remaining on the run – See Guidelines