Summary: In what could only be described as an act of God, Sirius manages to convince Dumbledore to let him take Harry out of the country for his summer vacation before Fifth Year. To just get away from the dangers of Britain and see the world in peace, even if it's only for a couple months. A nice trip to Paris, perhaps a day or two in Beijing? How about Rome, Uganda, or Brazil? With magic and adventure hidden around every corner, what wonders await, especially when your name is Harry James Potter.


Harry Potter and the World of Magic

~ Chapter One ~

"You all set, Harry? It's almost 7:30. We'll be leaving in just a few minutes."

"Yeah, I'm good. Where's the portkey?"

"Right here," Sirius said, taking out the enchanted item. Much to their amusement, the portkey was a world map of all things. How fitting.

"You still won't tell me where we're going, huh?"

"Nope."

"Oh, c'mon! We're about to leave and no one is here!"

"So?"

"This is cruel!"

"Really? Personally, I think it's hilarious," Sirius laughed as his godson sulked. "Chin up, kiddo. You'll see where we're going soon enough."

"Yeah, I know." Brushing off any lingering annoyance at his godfather's antics, an excited smile spread across Harry's lips as his mind went through dozens of different places around the world. Where would they go first? India? China? Brazil?! There was so much he wanted to see. So much he wanted to experience. The culture, the food, the sights. But this waiting… It was killing him!

"I know you're excited, kiddo, but if you keep shaking like that, you're going to piss your pants."

Harry blinked and immediately scowled at his grinning godfather. "Oh, stuff it. This is the first vacation I've ever been on and you only told me about it a few hours ago! Can you blame me for being excited? I'm probably still trying to process it all!"

"Doesn't change the fact that you look like you're about to wet yourself. I'm sure that would make a great first impression on the locals though, so if that's what you want to do…"

"Arse."

"I know I have a nice arse. Thank you for noticing!"

"… Do I really have to put up with your antics all summer? Why couldn't Professor Lupin come along?" Harry groaned, knowing that the mild-mannered man could have somewhat mellowed out his insane godfather. Maybe.

"He's been working on an assignment for Dumbledore up in Germany for the past month. Top secret stuff, so yeah, you're stuck with me."

"Bugger."

"Oi! Way to show the love, you ungrateful brat."

"I try," the teen grinned, feeling a little better at getting a shot in. "Consider it payback for not telling me where we're going."

Sirius laughed. "Fair enough."

"How much longer?"

"Just a few more seconds. Oh, by the way, we're arriving in a non-magical area, so remember the statute."

"Right."

"Okay, here we go in three, two, one… Now-WHOAH!"

The portkey activated, whisking the duo off to their destination! A rainbow of colors swirled around them as Harry and Sirius travelled through space, time, and magic at speeds beyond anything a jet airplane could hope to match.

And it felt bloody awful.

After a nauseating minute of travel, Harry finally felt the deceleration starting to kick in. He immediately kicked out his legs to take an upright position and landed hard onto the ground with Sirius right beside him, though in a far more graceful manner. The man didn't even look ruffled… Harry, on the other hand, felt like he was going to hurl.

"You okay, kiddo?"

"Barely… Urp-!"

"Deep breaths, Harry."

"Merlin, how do you not feel sick after all that?"

"Time and practice, mainly. You get used to it."

"Ugh… I really don't see that happening."

"Well, some people do react badly to magical transportation no matter how many times they do it… Lily had that problem."

"Really?"

"Yeah. James got really good at cleaning charms after he and Lily started dating. She would just puke all over his robes every time they took a portkey or the floo," Sirius snickered. "Honestly, it was kind of funny after the first time."

The sheer amusement behind that image, coupled with hearing stories about his parents, helped Harry push past the nausea. Slowly, he straightened, and once he was sure he wasn't going to hack up a lung or something, the young wizard dashed out of the alley they had appeared in and out into the open street, letting everything wash over his senses with a feeling of awe.

And what he experienced in those first few seconds very nearly overwhelmed him.

Despite the late hour, the streets were alive with music and chatter as thousands of tourists and locals enjoyed the city's nightlife to its fullest. Everywhere Harry looked, there was something happening… Musicians and circus performers entertaining captivated crowds on every other street corner; Dozens of stands and stalls lining the crowded cobblestone streets, their vendors beckoning (or begging) the public to look at their wares; Outdoor cafés filled with people enjoying a wide assortment of food and beverages… Even at a distance, Harry could smell the mouthwatering confections that had many kids begging their parents for sweet indulgence.

Beyond the almost frenzied happenings filling the streets, Harry also took in the more elegant side of the city… From the beautiful classical architecture that made every block a sight to behold, to the vast river gurgling below, reflecting the city's countless lights off its surface. The combination of all these things was beautiful, so much so that the young wizard was not at all surprised to see several artists attempting to capture the beauty on their canvases.

It was then, as Harry looked beyond the buildings and into the night sky, did he see the iconic structure that told him exactly where Sirius had decided to take him for the first part of their journey…

"Harry! Over here!"

He blinked. Harry had been so wrapped up in just soaking in his foreign surroundings that he had completely forgotten about his godfather. Surprisingly, Sirius was talking to someone. A local by the looks of it. Curious, he hurried over.

The two men smiled at him.

"Harry, I'd like you to meet an old friend of the Marauders, Léon Braille!"

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Monsieur Potter. Sirius has told me quite a bit about you over the past couple of months," the man greeted with an easy smile. Tall, well-dressed, and handsome in a way that just wasn't fair, Léon was a young man with permed brown hair, sky blue eyes, and glasses. And yet, for some inexplicable reason and despite knowing they'd never met before, Harry couldn't help but feel that the man seemed familiar in some way.

How odd.

Shaking off the peculiar thoughts, the young wizard returned the smile. "It's nice to meet you. Call me Harry."

"Then you may call me Léon," the man replied. "Now, would I be correct in assuming that Sirius didn't tell you a single thing about me?"

"Oh, he did much more than that," Harry grumbled. "I didn't even know about this trip until earlier today."

Léon winced in sympathy and shot Sirius a withering look. "Really?"

"It's more fun that way," he replied with a cheeky grin.

"For you maybe."

"Isn't that all that matters?"

Léon snorted and shook his head in amusement. "You haven't changed at all, Sirius."

"That's where you're wrong."

"Oh? How so?"

"I'm obviously more awesome than before."

"Really?" A wry smile spread across the man's face as he made a show of looking Sirius up and down. "I don't know. If anything, you've regressed."

Sirius's jaw dropped. "What?! I have not!"

"Au contraire, mon ami. Do you remember what you said to me the last time we met?"

"What?"

"You claimed you could get any girl to invite you to their home with just a look and, I quote, your "patented roguish smile". And maybe that was the case years ago, but now…" Léon shrugged. "I doubt it."

"Oi!"

"What do you think, Harry? Think your godfather's still got it?"

"No way. He's just a mangy old mutt now," Harry replied with an impish grin. "I doubt any girl would give him the time of day, let alone go on a date with him."

"I completely agree. Face it, my friend, your time has passed."

Sirius spluttered in horror and outrage. "Oh, yeah?! I'll show you!"

He marched off and headed toward the first attractive woman he laid eyes on. Stylish clothes? Check. Roguish smile? Check. Dashing good looks? He couldn't lose that even if he tried! Now all Sirius needed was the right pick up line… Something that made his intentions clear, but had an air of sophistication and romance…

"Hello, gorgeous, how about you and me do the horizontal tango?"

SMACK!

As expected by everyone but Sirius, the woman's response was a slap so hard, it actually spun the man around in a complete circle before he crumbled onto the cobblestone in a disoriented, dateless, mess. Seeing all this, Harry and Léon lost it. They threw their heads back and howled with laughter! The sheer hilarity… The absolutely pitiful sight of Sirius on the ground, looking remarkably like he'd been slapped with a fish… It was too much!

By the time Harry and Léon got themselves somewhat under control, Sirius had picked himself up and sulked back over. He glared at his companions, looking understandably put out as they continued to snicker at his misfortune like true friends and family would. "Not one word," the wizard growled, which only served to spark another bout of laughter.

"Oh, but of course! We would never think of doing such a thing. Right, Harry?"

"Right!"

"You bastards."

"You're just out of practice." Léon laughed, throwing an arm around the man's shoulders. "Don't worry, mon ami, I'm sure some girl out there will take pity on you."

"My revenge will be swift and merciless, Léon."

"You mean like that girl's rejection?"

"I hate you."

"It is good to see you too, my friend."

Despite himself, Sirius couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, you too… Thanks for having us."

"It's no trouble. Now, come! I'm sure you both are hungry."

He got no arguments there.

Harry and Sirius quickly took off after the man through the bustling streets, trying their best to keep up even though the large crowds made them lose sight of their guide more than once. All the while, the two marveled at the many sights all around them. It was particularly striking to the youngest in their group, who had never really been to a big city before, let alone one with such an active and hectic nightlife. 'It's a quarter to eight and the streets are completely packed. So different from England,' Harry thought as they entered a public square. There were dozens of tourists milling about, most of them busy admiring a decorated fountain at the square's center. Two identical-looking buildings stood on either side of the square, both of which were lit with golden lights that accented the beautiful stone architecture.

He would definitely be taking some pictures later.

"Here we are."

Upon stepping inside the crowded café, Harry's nose was immediately assaulted with mouth watering aromas. The smells were so intoxicating that it took all of his self-control to not outright drool right there on the spot. As for the restaurant itself, it was beautiful. The interior was painted with rich earthy colors and decorated in a manner fit for royalty. The ceiling was particularly eye-catching with intricate details and paintings. Classical music played in the background, completing the overall historic atmosphere. It was an experience in itself and despite never having much interest in history, Harry found himself soaking it all in as Léon placed their orders with the waiter.

"Right then. I imagine you have quite a few questions for me and your godfather, Harry," Léon said, shedding his jacket for comfort. Even at night, the summer heat could still be felt. "Perhaps it would be best if we simply started from the beginning."

"Yeah, I'd appreciate that. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed to be honest."

"Completely understandable. Well to start, I met Sirius and your father about… Eighteen years ago? I think? Does that sound about right, Sirius?"

"It was the summer of 1976, so nineteen years actually."

"Sure doesn't feel like it's been that long."

"I know. Where did the time go…"

"A lot has happened."

"Yeah, no kidding," Sirius grimaced, his mind flashed back to the years in Azkaban.

Seeing this and not wanting his friend to dwell on such dark thoughts, Léon quickly moved the conversation along. "Anyways, the three of us kept in contact for a few years, even visiting each other several times, before your parents went into hiding. That was the last I heard from either of them until just a few months ago, when Sirius contacted me out of the blue."

"Err…" Harry looked at his godfather. "Did you tell him why you've been out of touch the past decade?"

"No worries, kiddo. I already told Léon everything and he believes me."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really."

"I will admit I was skeptical at first," Léon admitted, shooting a good natured smile at the man. "But I have a couple friends in your government's law enforcement and they were able to confirm enough of Sirius's story for me to believe him. They're now working on trying to locate the real culprit, although, according to their latest correspondence, he's proving rather elusive."

"He's a sneaky rat," Sirius growled, a dark look flashing across his gaunt features.

"Do not worry, Sirius. We'll find him and he will get what he deserves. In fact, one of my contacts is supposed to get in touch sometime next week. She might have something for us then."

"You think?"

"She's good at finding people. If anyone in the UK can find your man, it's her."

"She's that good, huh?"

"One of the best."

"Well, I guess I'll have to put my hopes on her then… Thanks again for helping me out."

"It's the least I can do for a friend."

"Still, thank you. I owe you one."

"We're getting off track here. Now, Harry, when your godfather contacted me a few months ago, it was mostly just about old friends catching up, but things shifted when you told him about your newfound wanderlust."

"How so?" Harry asked.

"Your desire to travel gave Sirius the perfect excuse to get you out of the country and away from all the chaos in Britain, especially after what happened with your friend, Monsieur Diggory." A look of sympathy appeared on Léon's face. "You have my condolences."

Harry gave the man a strained smile. "Thank you."

"Don't beat yourself up over it, kid," Sirius said, a somber look on his face. "The ones at fault are the bastards who cast the curse, not you. Remember that. Mourn his loss, and then honor him by moving on."

Harry's jaw clenched, but he nodded.

"Good… Anyways, this whole thing isn't just about getting you out of the country to see the world and learn magic. Dumbledore wants me to reach out to some old friends and possibly even recruit a few of them for the war. Also, with you out of Voldemort's reach, the Order can focus all its attention and resources on countering anything he and his Death Eaters might do, so it's a win-win… And no, Harry," Sirius said, cutting off the teen when he opened his mouth. "You've already done your part. You told Dumbledore that Voldemort was back and you rescued Mad-Eye Moody. Leave the rest to us and focus on enjoying your vacation."

It was clear that being sidelined was grating Harry on the inside, but there really wasn't anything he could say against it. After all, what could he, a teenager who hadn't even gotten his OWLs yet, do in the beginning stages of a war? Sure, he may have fought Voldemort and his Death Eaters in the past, but Harry wasn't so arrogant to believe that he'd survive those encounters on anything but sheer dumb luck.

That wouldn't cut it in a real fight.

He needed training and thankfully, that was exactly what he'd be getting on this vacation. And if he had a little fun along the way, all the better, right?! So with that in mind, Harry nodded at his godfather before returning his attention to Léon. "So, how do you come into all this?"

"I will be both your guide in the city and your teacher on all the basic essentials of travelling. This way, even if the two of you are separated, you would still be able to find lodgings, transportation, money… everything. This is especially important since your godfather is considered to be a… ahem… a person of interest. You may need to handle certain things in his place."

"Oh… Thank you," Harry said, feeling a little relieved. His lack of knowledge had admittedly been a concern of his since learning of their trip, but so many things had happened that he never got the chance to voice his worries. At least now, he had a teacher and wouldn't have to worry about looking like a fool trying to book a room at a hotel or something… Speaking of which, "Hey, Sirius? Shouldn't we be checking into a hotel or something first? It's getting late."

"We already got that covered, kiddo. Léon is letting us stay at his penthouse. He's got loads of rooms," Sirius answered, thanking the waitress serving them coffee with what he hoped was a dashing smile. He didn't get so much as a second glance. Still, at least the coffee smelled divine. Just a sip of the creamy concoction had the escaped convict almost moaning in ecstasy at the rich flavors that assaulted his taste buds.

Seeing this, Léon chuckled. "Good, isn't it?"

"It was one of the things I missed the most when I was in prison… I might have to live here just for the coffee."

"You wouldn't be the first to try," the local laughed. "Anyways, yes, Harry. The two of you will be staying with me at my place along with my cousin's family. They will be visiting sometime early next week. I hope you don't mind."

"No! No, not at all! Thank you for your hospitality. I just hope we're not intruding on your family reunion."

Léon waved off his concerns. "You'll be welcomed company, especially for my niece. I'm sure she'd appreciate having someone her age around. She's also magical, like you, so perhaps the two of you could visit the magical parts of the city sometime. She hasn't been yet."

"So, you're a wizard then. Did you go to Beauxbatons?"

"Not quite. I'm actually what you English Wizards call a squib."

"Really?" Harry asked in surprise.

"I hope that's not going to be a problem."

Harry quickly shook his head. "No, not at all! To be honest, I haven't been very fond of wizards lately."

"Based on what I've heard from the British Ministry of Magic recently, I can't say I'm surprised," Léon agreed with a rueful smile. "Don't worry. Until my niece arrives, everything we do will be non-magical. It is important that you learn to appreciate what both sides have to offer. We all live in the same world after all."

"Sounds good."

"Excellent! Ah, and here is our food!"

Set before them was a veritable feast of foreign delicacies, many of which Harry had never heard of before, let alone tasted, but it all smelled wonderful. Within minutes, every morsel had been eaten and every plate licked clean, but before they could hail the waiter for the check, their attention was drawn to a commotion inside the café. Curious, the three diners craned their necks to see what was going on… And what they saw got a long wolf-whistle out of one, the creation of a new shade of red coloring the face of another, and an amused sigh of exasperation from the last.

Approaching their table was a curvaceous and absolutely gorgeous brunette. She was clad in a sinful wine red dress and holding a purse in her gloved hands. With long curly hair, an hourglass figure, and a heart-shaped face, needless to say, her arrival had caught the eyes of many interested suitors, but her amber-colored eyes were locked on the three of them… specifically… "Bonjour, Léon."

The man stood with a charming smile. "Raquel!" He kissed her cheek. "What are you doing here? I thought we agreed to meet tomorrow at noon."

"Well…" she said, drawing out the word in a sultry manner. "I saw you sitting here and figured we could get zis over with now." She turned her gaze toward a certain blushing teenager and allowed a seductive smile to spread across her lips. "I also wanted to meet your cute companion. Are you not going to introduce me, Léon?"

The man rolled his eyes. "Monsieur Harry Potter, I'd like you to meet Mademoiselle Raquel Duponte."

Raquel smiled, positioning herself alongside the teenager until their shoulders were touching. Bringing her lips close to his ear, she whispered, "Pleasure to meet you, 'Arry…" before planting a kiss on his cheek.

"T-The pleasure is mine, Miss. Duponte," Harry choked out, his face bright red. All the blood was rushing to his face, especially when the beauty latched herself onto his arm.

"Raquel, mon cher… call me Raquel," she replied, idly tracing her finger over the teen's bicep while completely ignoring Sirius. The poor man couldn't look more like a kicked puppy at being passed up by the breathtaking brunette if he tried. "Is zat an English accent I hear?" Harry nervously nodded. "Fantastique! English men are zimply wonderful company… And ze best in bed… Always so strong and passionate…"

It was amazing that Harry didn't pass out right there and then.

"Oi!" Sirius cried in indignation.

Turning, Raquel looked at the pouting older Englishman in surprise, as if only just noticing he was there. "Oh, je suis désolé! Et vous êtes?"

"You know damn well who I am, Raquel!"

"Non… Je ne." She looked the man up and down, seemingly taking note of his gaunt and somewhat disheveled appearance with a raised manicured eyebrow. "Êtes-vous peut-être perdu? Je peux vous diriger vers le refuge pour sans-abri le plus proche."

"She thinks you're a homeless person and said she could point you to the nearest shelter," Leon translated, knowing that his friend did not speak the local language. The man wasn't even trying to hide his amusement.

Sirius's jaw dropped. "W-What?!"

Unconcerned with the Englishman's reaction, she turned to Léon. "If you're taking in strays, Léon, you should be more careful who you decide to help… At least zis one," she squeezed Harry's arm. "Is cute. Ze other…" She sniffed. "Could use a bath."

"I'll keep that in mind, Raquel."

Sirius might as well have been stabbed in the heart with how wounded he looked.

The expression on the man's face was the final straw as Raquel and Léon burst out laughing. There was a clear vindictive glee to their laughter, something that told Harry that this had been planned. He still felt hopelessly confused though. "Wait, what's going on?"

Taking pity on him, Raquel explained, "My apologies, `Arry. In truth, Léon and I are married. Sirius here asked us to play a prank on you, but I saw zis as an opportunity to get back at him for all ze teasing and pranks he played on us many years ago when we first met."

"Yes and you nearly made the poor boy faint," Léon laughed, poking fun at his embarrassed guest even as Raquel giggled in agreement.

"I wasn't that bad…" the teen muttered, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Wait, did you say this was supposed to be a prank? On me?"

"Oui."

Rounding on his godfather, Harry immediately walloped him hard on the shoulder.

"OW! What was that for?!"

"Seriously?! A prank?!"

Sirius rolled his eyes, even as he rubbed his bruised shoulder. "You act like you weren't expecting this from a Marauder."

"We only arrived a couple hours ago!"

"So?"

"So?! Can't you show even a little restraint?!"

"Hmm, let me think about tha-Uh, no. Not going to happen."

"You bastard…"

"I'll have you know that despite being batshit crazy, my parents were married when they had me, so I'm not a bastard."

"That's not-!… I give up."

While amused at the byplay, both Raquel and Léon apparently had other things on their mind as they led their group outside. The city had become noticeably less boisterous in comparison to when they had first arrived, and it seemed like the night's privacy had been what the two locals had been waiting for if their conversation was anything to go by.

"Have you seen Alfred?" Léon asked, getting a nod in return. "Did he speak to the client?"

The woman hesitated before answering. "Oui… and zey client has given us a deadline. We have until ze end of next week."

For the first time since they had met, Harry witnessed his host sporting a frown. In fact, it was more than a frown… it was an expression of genuine annoyance at what he had just heard. A glance at Sirius showed that he was also surprised. Apparently, this wasn't a common occurrence. "Alfred knows we don't accept deadlines and for good reason too. It complicates everything. Plus, I have plans for the next two weeks. I told him all this three days ago!"

"You can discuss eet with Alfred tomorrow. He wishes to speak to you."

"Fine. He better have a good explanation… Where will you be?"

"At zey studio. Where else?"

"Will you be coming over tonight?"

Raquel shook her head. "I do not zink so. I need to get started if I wish to finish on time."

"Do you need help?"

At this, Raquel's face softened into a beautiful smile. It brought forth a whole new level of splendor to the beauty. "I shall be fine, mon amour. You are talking to zey best after all."

"Is everything alright? It sounds like you have some kind of problem," Sirius asked, stepping forward.

Léon waved the question off. "It's nothing. Just some business we have this week with a friend of ours."

Raquel simply nodded to the man's response, too busy looking for her cell phone which, upon finding it, got the brunette to squeak at the late hour. "I must get going, Léon! Time is of ze essence!" She embraced her lover, kissing him passionately as she did so, before turning to the two Englishmen. "I must depart, but we will see each other again soon. Au revoir, Sirius, `Arry!" She swooped down and pecked the blushing teen on the cheek. "Eet was a pleasure meeting you!"

Blushing, Harry nodded in agreement as he committed this moment to memory… and who could blame him? He had finally escaped his prison in England and was now travelling all around the world with his godfather. The background held a magnificent scenery of amber lights that set the white stoned city aglow with the Eiffel Tower standing proudly in the night sky above... and now a drop-dead gorgeous woman had just kissed him on the cheek?… Seriously, who wouldn't commit this moment to memory? A wide smile broke out across his face as he looked up into the sky and immediately found the Dog Star. It twinkled at him… And Harry knew, as Sirius came up behind him and wrapped his arm around his godson's shoulders, that the stars were saying, "Bienvenue en France (Welcome to France)!"


Author's Note: And here is Chapter One of World of Magic! Hope you guys liked it. I know things feel slow right now, but the story will pick up in the next chapter. I just needed to put down some groundwork first.

Once again, please feel free to share any legends, folk stories, or ideas you have around the world. Who knows... I might just include it!