CHAPTER 8:
UNWANTED CALLS
Harry and Hiiro slept in the same room, Hiiro setting up defences just in case. They'd entered into an uneasy compact with Ariel, Lily and Hermione, but they were going to ask about things in more detail later. Specifically, the next morning.
But their sleep was soon disturbed by a song, specifically Bohemian Rhapsody. Harry met Hiiro's eyes from the nest she created in the corner, before looking at the metal and plastic rectangle with the glowing screen on the ground. Ignore it, Hiiro said. It's a smartphone, I'll bet any money that's D ringing us.
The phone stopped its song abruptly, and then, the familiar faux-cheerful tones of D came from it, presumably on speakerphone. "Got it in one, Kumoko-chan! But I'm afraid this is one call you'll have to take. Oh, and don't worry about the others hearing you. ZA WARUDO! Toki yo Tomare!"
…Did you seriously make a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure reference? Nai wa…
"Oh, don't be like that, Kumoko-chan, or there'll be a steamroller in your immediate future!" chirped D. "Anyway, I've been watching you two. I have to admit, I was both excited and disappointed. Disappointed that you didn't get to fight that climactic battle with the Queen Taratect…but the reunion was interesting."
"You reincarnated my mother, didn't you?!" Harry demanded.
"It was the price she paid for the ritual that protected you and your half-brother, though it was you Voldemort attacked. I actually erased Charlie's existence from his mind, just to keep things interesting. Lily was a test case for the n% I=W skill. I wanted to see if reincarnations could keep their memory in the transfer between worlds. I succeeded, but I had to obscure her memories of you and her family, just to be safe. Couldn't let her have any ideas of coming back to you, not that she could with the System in place."
"You evil bitch," Harry snarled.
"Flattery will get you nowhere," D said cheerfully.
"It wasn't flattery!" Harry snapped. "You might see it as such, but you are the most evil person I have ever had the displeasure of meeting, and believe me, I've met more than a few! It says a lot when I'd rather be friends with a bloody Demon Lord than with a sadistic, evil bitch like you!"
D chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, now, hush a moment. I wanted to talk to Kumoko-chan. You haven't yet evolved, have you? I'd suggest you do so, right now."
Huh? Oh, right, we were sidetracked by the whole Ariel and her hangers-on thing. Hiiro appeared to push something in mid-air, only to flare with light.
As the light faded, D said, "Congratulations on making it as a Zana Horowa! Have a look-see at your Skills. I think you'll be interested."
The light faded, and Hiiro was shaking her head. Some of the spikes were more protuberant, and her rear was no longer black, but Harry couldn't tell what else was different. Hiiro seemed to be looking at something, before she muttered, Nai wa…Immortality? I can't die while part of the System?
"Nope! Of course, Abyss Magic would annihilate your soul, so it's something you should avoid, Kumoko-chan!"
"Her name is Hiiro Wakaba!" Harry snapped. "Use it!"
D snickered. "It's so cute that you think your anger affects me, Harry. Or that your opinion on her name matters. Anyway, think about it this way. You're more or less the same, now that your own powers as a part-Administrator have been unlocked. You're far from invincible, of course, but you won't age after a certain point. Your mother is the same. Wealth, fame, power, prestige…and of course, immortality. Desires are the same across the universe. But when they get it, what do they do? I let them strive for it, only to expire and return the fruits to us, to return to the System and heal this world."
Why did you let me become immortal, then? Hiiro asked suspiciously.
"Well, that variety is meant to be an undead monster of sorts, but I never imagined anyone would voluntarily go for it, so it was unintentional. Zoa Ele Taratects, a prior stage, have Rot Attacks as standard…but not Rot Resistance. In other words, unless you had Rot Resistance, it was quite literally an evolutionary dead end…emphasis on 'dead'. Because the Rot Attack hurts you and your foe, that is why Zoa Ele were considered symbols of bad luck in this world. The Ede Saine is considered even more so, given the Annihilating Evil Eye. So, congratulations are in order. You're a unique monster. I'll bake a cake."
…No thanks, GLaDOS, I know the cake is a lie, Hiiro retorted.
"And one day, we'll be coming for you," Harry said. "I don't know how long it'll be, but if gods bleed…you will."
"And I look forward to it, Harry! I get so bored, I could do with a challenge. But for now, I'm going to tell Kumoko-chan a little secret, just to clear things up. Or rather, something she suspects already. She died, along with Hermione-chan and the others, when a certain classroom blew up. It was the fault of Ariel's predecessor as a Demon Lord, along with the previous Hero. They were brilliant magic users who could create magical attacks that could cross dimensions. But they messed up, as they couldn't handle the advanced spell, not to mention messing up part of the MA Field on this world. I actually had to clean up some of the mess it caused to the System."
"Boo hoo," Harry snarked. His antagonism of D was probably unwise, but in truth, his anger from the past year at Hogwarts needed an outlet, and D showed no inclination to retaliate. "Did you miss playing the latest Final Fantasy game or something?"
"Well, I was a little salty, I will admit. But of more concern was the flood of souls from Earth to this world. The n% I=W Skill allows them to retain their memories, as well as ensure their souls didn't disintegrate upon arrival. Aren't I nice? I even threw in a free Skill, individual to each of the reincarnations, and based on their personalities and aptitude. It's the least I could have done."
"You're all heart," Harry retorted. "So why go to all that trouble? Aside from entertainment?"
Harry, Hiiro said, her tone filled with a sudden realisation. I think I know why. I think D was actually there, that the magic was targeting her. She was masquerading as a student.
"Bingo! Give that girl a cigar!" D cheered. "I sent you guys there with your memories and skills as compensation for what I did. You were reborn according to what you were most suited for. For you, it was as a spider. Most of the others are human, though you know of Hermione-chan and Oka-chan. Don't feel too glum, though. You were born about six months before the others by Earth's calendar, so you have a pretty good headstart. And I sent Harry to you. I did not see that whole 'Peverell Inheritance Link' thing coming, but hey, it works, even if it's a cheat code even more broken than the Konami Code. And it seems to be making you chattier than I thought."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked.
"Nothiiing!" D said.
Harry just glared at the phone. "I don't think it's nothing, just as I think you put these poor people into this world, this dying world I might add, all for your entertainment. You weren't being remotely altruistic at all. You haven't got an altruistic bone in your body."
"If that weren't the case, I wouldn't have modified Kumoko-chan's Appraisal to give her Wisdom on request," D said snidely. "Anyway, bored now. Just so you know, Kumoko-chan, I'm sitting back in Japan, eating chips and ice cream. I'm actually having a bit of trouble deciding between flavours, vanilla or chocolate chip. Hmm…what do they say online? YOLO. I'll have both. Toodles!"
The phone hung up, and then, it disappeared. Hiiro sagged. Nai wa…Harry, why did you keep antagonising her?
"Because she gets off on our misery!" Harry snapped. "I don't want to hear her speak like that to you, to me, or to anyone else!" He went over to Hiiro and hugged her gently. "She views us as her fucking toys, Hiiro. She shoved you, your classmates, and two of your teachers into this mess. Not because she felt guilty, but because she took the opportunity to entertain herself. Even if I can't get her to stop, venting my anger makes me feel better, and I have a lot left over after the past year at Hogwarts…well, for me, anyway. The only good thing about this crap is that I've met Hermione again, and my mother, if she is telling the truth. That, and I've met you. You're actually quite friendly when I got to know you, even if you said you weren't in your past life."
Hiiro shook her head. I dunno why I am, Harry. It's like there's something telling me…I can try befriending you, despite the fact that your aura is like Gülie's. I feel at ease around you. Maybe it's the Peverell Inheritance Link thing. In any case, let's sleep on it. I need a good rest…
The music woke up the hazel-eyed man from his slumber, and he looked around blearily for its source, only to freeze when he saw it on his bedside table. It wasn't his smartphone: he was perfectly fine with Muggle contraptions and appliances, so he had an iPhone, modified to work around heavy fields of magic. But this wasn't his.
He decided to ignore it, rolling back over and hoping it'd go away before it woke up his companion in bed. But his hopes were in vain. A too-familiar voice cheerfully rang out via speakerphone. "Hey there, Iggy-Jamie-chan! Your latest sex toy won't hear this, just so you know."
James Potter rolled back over, and glared at the smartphone. "D…and here I was thinking I'd never hear from you again. Then again, I knew I couldn't be so lucky."
"Aw, don't be like that, Iggy-Jamie-chan! I did appreciate the present you dumped into my lap. I thought you'd like to know he's currently having a bad time on the world I left him on. Do you wanna know details?"
"No. Good night."
But even as James rolled over to go back to sleep, he came face to face with D, who was smiling that damned familiar too-wide smile, having taken the place of his bed partner, somehow. While dressed in a Japanese school uniform. "Bad night," she said.
James recoiled, falling off the bed with a yelp, with D clambering over the bed. "Aw…poor Iggy-Jamie-chan, still afraid of his own shadow. I remember how your brothers bullied you for being cowardly. And they were right, but you…you at least were interesting in your cowardice. Your eldest whipped out his penis substitute in public, and got his throat slit for it, while the middle brother decided to hang himself. I will admit, I did not like getting shit in my face when I tugged on his legs, but that's on me. But you…you scurried about like a rat in a maze, fearing me so much, you found a rather interesting means of immortality…via the cloak I gave you."
He sat there, frozen, like a deer in the headlights…pretty apt, given what his host's Patronus used to be. "Oh? Cat got your tongue?" And then, she was wearing cat ears on a headband. She put her hand up and moved it like a paw. "Nya. Nya. Megami-Neko D-Chan nya. No? Boring."
"…Why are you here, D?" James hissed.
"Just a friendly reminder that I exist," D said, dismissing the headband. "And that I've helped you out a little, keeping Hermione Granger's little blackmail material from hitting the press. For now, anyway. I mean, look at you. Until now, you've been content to remain in the shadows of the Potter family, influencing events, until Charlus locked the Cloak away, and Jamie-chan stumbled across it. And yet, now you're Minister of Magic, a war hero, and a celebrity. What changed?"
"None of your business."
"Oh, I think I know. Immortality got so boring, didn't it? You'd already gotten fame thanks to Beedle, but power? You couldn't resist the siren call, and eventually, you got sick and tired of wielding it from behind the scenes. And the populace ate it up, even though you fed them shit about the true hero, the true Boy Who Lived, not your spare meatsuit whom you've already taken over. One soul over two bodies, you're getting greedy. But here's the thing: Harry's already better than you, Iggy-Jamie-chan."
"…No, he isn't. And he's dead."
"He's alive. I kept him alive, partly to see that look on your face." D's smile widened, even as James tried to school his expression from the look of surprise and fear on it. "He's now on another world which I've been administering, long before you and your brothers decided to spoil my fun with that bridge you made. And like I said, he's better than you."
"I…you…"
"Hush now. Your better is talking. Now, I'm an evil goddess. That will never change. I laugh at good and evil alike, as long as it is entertaining. But to be frank, Harry is a lot more entertaining than you. I let your little game with Iggy-Charlie-chan and Dumbledore persist because I wanted to see the look on his face when you revealed yourselves. And he didn't disappoint. Anger, rage, despair, existential angst…what a palette of emotion. And yet, despite that, when I brought him out of stasis, when I dropped him into that world…he didn't give up. He found himself a new reason to live, to fight. He's protecting…well, I guess you could call her my appendix I just had removed. And you know what? That makes him way more entertaining than you." She leaned forward. "All you are is a pathetic old man scared of death, hijacking bodies. The only difference between you and Voldemort is that you had maybe a few more standards and are more subtle. Over the centuries, you've clocked up an even bigger bodycount than Tommy Riddle. But you are a coward, and worse, you are boring me now."
"So what?" James sneered, trying to cover his fear. "I was never your plaything, D. So go away and stop bothering me."
"Nope. Oh, I will be leaving soon, but I won't stop bothering you." Her eyes bore into his own. "You are my plaything, Ignotus Peverell, one of many, no matter whose body you wear as a meatsuit, no matter what your opinion on the matter is, and sooner or later…I think I'll have to take measures to stop you from being boring. Hmm…I'll have to think about it. Sayonara, Iggy-Jamie-chan! I'll be in touch!"
And with that cheerfully malevolent note, she was gone. James Potter, no, Ignotus Peverell, sat there on the floor, not moving until he felt a humiliating warmth dampening his pyjamas and the floor. He refused to admit that he feared D more than she aggravated him…but that was the truth, one he steadfastly refused to face.
But he would do what he always did. Survive, keeping one step away from the grasp of D, no matter what she thought of the matter. And so what if that half-breed decoy bastard was still alive? He was now under the complete thrall of D, and honestly, Ignotus thought that was a just and deserved fate for that little bastard who defied him.
Ignotus didn't care. All that mattered to him was survival. And, by now, getting fame he richly deserved, as the vanquisher of Voldemort. The pleasures of life and his immortality, both literal and metaphorical, were assured.
Of course, he should have known better, what with the malevolent gaze of D on him…
CHAPTER 8 ANNOTATIONS:
So, there it is, the big reveal! James Potter (and Charles Potter, aka the Wrong Boy Who Lived) is actually the latest meatsuit(s) of Ignotus Peverell.
Now, you're wondering, why Ignotus, the most humble of the Three Brothers? Well, it stems from when I did my oneshot in this crossover, D's Hallows. The thought that, given his choice of Hallow, Ignotus was NOT a humble hero, but rather, a scared, paranoid coward is actually quite a valid interpretation of his character. Unlike D's Hallows or the Tale of the Three Brothers, though, he did not die, whether pissing himself in fear or greeting Death as an old friend…because who would consider D a friend?
Over time, his paranoia had manifested into more pathological issues. He basically turned the Invisibility Cloak into his Horcrux, but he could also choose who to infect and take over, though it was best if they were a descendent. Ignotus did not take over Harry because Güliedistodiez's nature in Harry actually hampered his attempts, and Ignotus was paranoid enough not to try further. Plus, there was the revulsion of even touching (metaphysically) the soul of a child that wasn't even his. He also didn't take over Dumbledore because he was too old.
Ignotus has basically become Potimas, albeit with less world-conquering or mad scientist tendencies. Or a bit like Yoshikage Kira from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable, only with less serial murder and explosive/time-travel Stands and more megalomania. Ignotus only decided to grab for power because he got sick and tired of obscurity, hence the whole using Harry as a decoy thing. Unfortunately, that only got D's attention on him again, or rather, she basically decided to let him know that she has been keeping an eye on him the whole time, as well as to warn him that she's getting bored. And a bored D is a dangerous D, more than she already is.
Harry and Ignotus-James are more alike than they'd think, in getting angry at D to cover up their fear, but Harry intends to take the fight to her someday (even if that day is a long way off, but as he's part-dragon Administrator, he's got a leg-up), whereas Ignotus is too afraid to even think of this. Harry is angry not just for himself, but others, calling D out on continually calling Hiiro 'Kumoko' (as he has sensed, correctly, that D is deliberately not calling her that to dehumanise her, even if he doesn't know exactly why), and worried about Hermione, Lily, Ariel, and the various reincarnations. Ignotus-James only cares about himself and his personal prosperity. Harry is somewhat selfless, but Ignotus-James is selfish and opportunistic.
Still, as mentioned above, a bored D is a dangerous D, more than usual. And she will be taking action to spice things up…
No numbered annotations this time.
