The Rise of Overlord Vulcan - Rewrite!

by The Dark Dragen

Read as how a different history, having an imaginary twin sister at a young age, and a having a different life before Hogwarts changes Harry from a weak and lonely boy, to the most powerful Dark Wizard the world had ever seen - Overlord Vulcan. (Second Year Begins!) Please read and review. ON HOLD UNTIL MUSE RETURNS!

16. Chapter 14 - The Blood Stone: Part 8

Author's Note: I say this, I know many of you won't like the first part of the story, but I think it is important, as it shows that Harry doesn't always get his way. This will be one of these times that part of Harry's plans doesn't go the way he wants. I hope you like it…

Chapter Fourteen...

The Blood Stone - Part 8!

(Grand Opening of The Abyss…)

23rd of December - Merlin's Station:

It had been nearly two months since Harry killed the Mountain Troll, where he gained fifty points for Gryffindor. But it cost him in more ways than one. The first way wasn't as bad as the other ways, being only a minor concussion, a cracked rib, and magical exhaustion. This had forced him to stay in the Hospital Wing, to make sure he both recovered okay and to make sure he didn't use any magic. At least until his reserves had replenished.

The others cost him in ways he had hoped he could have avoided. The first way he knew would come out sooner or later, but was hoping to be much later, years from now preferably. This was the reveal of some more of his powers, whilst they didn't know all of his powers, it was the main power that he had hoped to keep secret as long as possible. That is of him being a Fire Mystic. And there was nothing Harry could do to hide this.

Dumbledore was investigating what happened with the Troll, he wanted to know how a first year could have killed the Troll. From what Hermione told him, and Ember being forced to back up, the Headmaster learnt about Harry's fire abilities. Thankfully they didn't mention anything about his sword magic skills, for which Harry was grateful, although he would have preferred if this came out rather than his fire abilities. Because the two girls remembered this small detail, Harry was forced to admit that he was a Fire Mystic, as well as a Shapeshifter.

During the Headmaster investigation, which took place while Harry and the two girls were in the Hospital Wing, Dumbledore told Harry how disappointed that he was that Harry had not found another way to deal with the Troll instead of killing the poor creature. The Headmaster preached, that all life is important and should not be taken as easy as Harry had. Harry admitted that he had nightmares killing the creature and might have for a long time. This was true, but on the other hand, this was his first kill and so he would have nightmares for a time. He wasn't after all a Sociopath or a homicidal maniac, or something like that.

But the investigation did give Harry a good opportunity to strike back at the Headmaster. Whilst he might have been forced to reveal his fire abilities, he could turn the Troll incident around on Dumbledore. In front of the girls, he asked the old Headmaster how a Troll could have entered the school in the first place. As he had read in Hogwarts: A History, that there were wards around Hogwarts that prevented dangerous creatures from coming onto Hogwarts grounds, more or less into the castle itself. Not only that, should the wards fall, the Headmaster would have known long before Quirrell informed them, that something dangerous was in the castle, as there was a Warning Ward for just the reason. Not only that but why did he send at least two of the Houses back to their Dorms, when he knew that their dorms were in the dungeons - it was like he knew that the Troll wasn't in the dungeons anymore.

And the last question Harry asked was why did the Troll go to that bathroom in particular. Where Hermione and Ember just so happened to be. There were many rooms from the dungeons to the second floor. It didn't make much sense, as there shouldn't have been any time by Quirrell informing them about the Troll to the time Harry got to the girls for the Troll to get to the girls. It was like the Troll knew that the girls would be there, and went straight to them, skipping every last room to get there.

Whilst Dumbledore was trying to talk himself out of this dilemma, saying it was a bad set of coincidence and he would look into them and see what he could find out about the answers. It had the effect that Harry was hoping for. The questions were logical, ones that Hermione couldn't deny, and it made her rethink some of her beliefs in authority. If someone like Dumbledore could not protect her, or lie about what really was going on, it meant that others in authority could do the same.

Up until now, she wanted to deny that fact, despite what her parents had tried to tell her before. Her world as she knew it was based on the fact that authority was right. And although they had reason to keep things from the public, they could do no wrong. But with her life being in danger, and the Headmaster of Hogwarts being unable to answer the simple logical questions from her friend, she didn't know what to think. All she knew at the moment was that the only ones she could trust at the moment other than her family were Harry and Ember, as they were there for her when she needed them. They after all had risked their lives to protect hers. Which went a long way in gaining her trust. A trust that she would do whatever she could to show, and prove that their trust in her was not mistaken.

Now the last and most likely the worse of the outcomes of the Troll incident were the rumours. Whilst many of the rumours painted Harry as a storybook hero for something he'd actually done for once; helped along by a hesitant Hermione telling her roommates of what happened after she left the Hospital Wing; Lavender had found the story incredibly romantic and had told it to everyone in her budding gossip network, there were some that made him out like a Dark Lord in training. As there was no way a first year with no real training could have done such a thing as kill a fully grown Mountain Troll. The only way he could have done it was if he had performed some Dark Rituals to make himself stronger, or learnt some obscure Dark Magic.

Whilst they might not know the truth that he was thinking about becoming a Dark Lord, the fact was he hadn't yet done any Dark Rituals, or learnt any Dark Magic yet. But whatever the case the damage was done. While the rumours would be forgotten over time, the seeds of doubt were planted and depending on other rumours in the futures to water it, it'll grow and become stronger, making Harry's plans more difficult. As people would be watching carefully to see what he did.

The fact was it had already happened, for during the week following of Harry's killing of the Troll, the Headmaster wanted to know what else Harry could do with his fire abilities. Harry had to inform him of a few things to get the old man off his back, sadly one of them was his fire teleportation skill. Sure he could have not said anything, but it helped his future plans.

After some talks, Harry was able to convince the Headmaster to allow him to use his fire teleportation to return home at the weekends, after the Christmas Holidays, so he could keep up his own Muggle Studies. He wanted to keep up the studies there so that he could pass his Muggle Education. It wasn't something the Headmaster was happy about, but thanks to some lucky bylaws, he wasn't able to do much about it but allow Harry to do so.

But his Muggle Education was just part of the reason he would be going back at the weekend, this would allow him to make appearances as Mavrick, so people wouldn't ask any unwanted questions. For Harry knew that if Mavrick was gone for too long, people would begin to wonder what was going on and ask questions that Harry didn't have the patience to answer.

But still, with the rumours of him being a Dark Lord in training, people had begun to watch him more, mainly the Headmaster, but there were a few other students that were keeping an eye on him as well. It didn't help matters that Quirrell had a lesson while he was in the Hospital Wing. The stuttering fool just had to teach about Trolls and how hard they are to defeat. This fueled the rumours, and made it harder for him.

He was glad that his true friends, Hermione. Ember and his new Hufflepuff friends were by his side, and knew what Harry was like. The side Harry allowed them to see that is, and so defended Harry when people talked badly against their friend.

Since the attack of the Troll, both girls seemed to become quite clingy, Hermione more than Ember, as many of her beliefs had been shaken. Added in the fact that she was still getting over being attacked by a Troll probably didn't help any there. Hermione informed Harry that Ron was serving a detention for a week, and was forced to apologize to her. But Hermione told him that his apology wasn't at all convincing, but she knew that was the best she was going to get, and that while the friendship had taken a serious blow, he was still Harry's friend, so she accepted it.

His stay within the Hospital Wing, wasn't wasted though, as Harry accidentally stumbled upon a new skill. After a few days laying in bed he was completely bored out of his mind. He had nothing to do and was wondering what Madam Pomfrey was saying to herself in her office. Suddenly, the candle she was using next to the parchment she was writing on flickered violently before settling down. In the same instant he could hear what she was saying. It was warped at first, the matron's voice warbled and the volume fluctuated heavily, but Harry concentrated harder and listened to her dictate the day's events to herself. What she was saying was rather ordinary, just dictation of the day's events for her journal.

It took a few moments before Harry realized he was hearing Madam Pomfrey by the flame in her office. After thinking this over Harry was thoroughly excited about the new ability. The potential for spying was quite high. Especially in the magical world where candles and torches were everywhere. But less useful back in the rest of the world where electricity was used for lighting.

Before long Harry was out of the Hospital Wing, and getting back to school work. During one visit with Hagrid, Harry, Hermione, Ember and the two Hufflepuff girls learned something about the third floor corridor. It would seem that Harry's gut feeling that the package that the Half-Giant got from Gringotts, the same object that someone tried to steal but didn't as it wasn't in the vault at the time, was now at Hogwarts.

Thanks to Hagrid, who let the information slip, they knew that the object belonged to someone named Nicholas Flamel. They also learned that the object was protected by a Cerberus, by the name of Fluffy. Now the kids found this strange and wondered why Hagrid named the beast Fluffy. Thanks to yet another slip from Hagrid, there were other things protecting the object. The protections were from the four Head of Houses and Quirrell. Whilst the other four didn't think much of Quirrell helping to protect whatever was on the third corridor, seeing that he was a Defence Professor, even a bad one, but Harry did. Quirrell until this year was a Muggle Studies Professor, with no real training in Defence. So he had to wonder why Quirrell was helping to protect whatever was on the third corridor. The other four, and even Hagrid he could understand just not Quirrell. The Heads of the houses were masters in their subjects, and so understandable, and Hagrid was a master in the subject of magical creatures.

So whilst the others suspected Snape was up to something, seeing he was injured by the Cerberus, Harry suspected something was wrong with Quirrell helping. Harry didn't know what it was, but he was going to keep an eye on Quirrell and see what happens.

Once Harry left the Hospital Wing, things went back into routine, school work, or doing homework - or in Harry's and Ember's case training. During this time, Ron had somehow managed to worm his way back into Harry's growing social circle. Harry wasn't one to forgive, nor forget, easily though, and kept a closer eye on Ron's actions. And as time passed, he and his friend's found their study schedule increasing, something not many people were happy about, not even him - as nothing really interesting was to be learnt.

When they had the time Harry, Hermione, Ember and his Hufflepuff friends, were trying to find out who Nicolas Flamel was and what the object was. As they searched most of them had a feeling that they had heard or read about the man before but for the life of them they couldn't remember where. They had to stop their search when the school broke up for the Christmas Holidays.

Another thing that happened to Harry during this time, was that he made three new friends. The first was Katie Bell, a second year Gryffindor, who was on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team as a Chaser. She learnt that Harry didn't know or understand anything about Quidditch, so she took it upon herself to teach Harry, and try and persuade him to join the House Team next year once she saw how good he was at flying. She even dragged him to their first Quidditch game to show him what it was like. Honestly Harry found it a bit boring, as he was able to find the Snitch within ten minutes of the game. Harry would have told the girl where to go, but he found her cute, and let her be for now.

The other two new friends were twins, in fact they were Ron's brothers Fred and George, the grand pranksters of Hogwarts. They were the fun loving fools, who loved pulling pranks on people, and Harry was no different. The only reason the twins haven't done anything to him like they had with the others, was that they hadn't gotten around to him yet. And by now Harry was onto their game, and so they had to up their game to catch Harry out.

It ended up happening one evening over supper. Harry was understandably a bit distracted between his search for Nicholas Flamel and his growing irritation at Quirrell's poor teaching. He had just taken a bite out of a piece of treacle tart when he noticed from the corner of his eye one of the twins watching him far too closely and grinning in triumph. He felt a strange feeling rush through his body. It was hard to describe until Ember, who had been sitting beside him, bumped into him causing them both to be hit by a static shock. Harry's already unruly hair started to stand on end looking to all in the hall as if the boy had a large black Afro. Sadly this didn't wear off till early the next morning.

Harry got back at the twins, by pulling his own pranks on them, in doing so introducing them to Muggle pranks. Most of the pranks Harry pulled on them had very little to no magic added to them, as he knew the twins might have found them before it was time. One of his pranks was an old one, but a classic, when the twins were in the shower, he swapped their shampoo with a potion shampoo which caused their hair to became emerald green and silver like the Slytherin colours. The potion made it so that nothing they could do would get rid of it for a long time, by the winter holidays, their hair was still green and silver. Oddly enough the twins took the prank in stride just vowing to get back at Harry once more thus sparking the first of many prank wars between the trio. Sadly for their friends they were caught in the middle of the war and more often than not fell victim to the pranks as well. That was until Ember made use of her growing gravity powers to suspend the pranksters upside down for an hour. Which showed her growing confidence that she gained from being around Harry.

With so much of his time being taken up, with school work, pranking, training and exploring Hogwarts, Harry wasn't able to think much about his darker goals. In fact, he enjoyed being a normal child; he had friends, he was doing well in school - and more importantly he was proud of this fact. Since he was living up to his mother's reputation - and had no reason to become an evil being at this time.

That didn't mean that he wanted to give up being Maverick. Being Maverick gave him another sort of freedom where being normal didn't. Being a normal child meant he could have friends, pull pranks and not worry about the law. But being Maverick give him the time to let the Darker Side of him out, but without being full out evil. So he was happy with how things were coming along, and would see what the future holds before deciding what path to take.

Before Harry knew it, it was time for the Christmas holidays. No one could blame him for losing track of time; what with his training, school work and being with his friends.

Not only that he was taking care of Aneira, as she didn't seem to be in great health and so Harry was going to Diagon Alley, to see if he could find a vet to see what was wrong with her. Even though Hedwig and Aneira didn't get along, Hedwig also seemed to worry about the feline.

Anyway, it was the morning of the twenty-third of December, that the students that were going home for the holidays. Two of the students that were going home, were Harry and Hermione. Harry would have stayed with Ember, but he wanted to make sure Aneira was ok, and he had his new club to open. But he did say he would return on Saturday night and spend Sunday with her, and after that he would come back every other afternoon to see her.

So here he was, late afternoon at Merlin's Station, where he and Hermione were going down the long corridor to get to one of the cafes that were located here. Unlike the last time he was here, Harry had more time to look round, and found it interesting place. Just like King Cross, Merlin's Station had many shops, many of them were run by Mystics that sold many of their items in them.

In one of the cafes, Hermione spotted her parents, and with a smile she ran up to them and gave them a hug, as she greeted them. As she pulled back from her parents, she said, "Mum, Dad, this is my friend Harry Potter, Harry this is my parents, Doctor Emmaline and Daniel Granger."

As Harry looked at the two more closely, he saw that Hermione's father was tall muscular man with short brown hair with a bit of grey in it, his blue eyes scanning the crowd for his daughter and their summer guest. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. Hermione's mother was… well to put simply an older sexy version of Hermione. It seemed where Harry was supposedly a clone of his father, Hermione was the same with her mother. If Harry didn't know any better, he'd say the woman was in her early twenties.

"Nice to meet you Harry." Emmaline said with a smile.

"It's nice to meet you too Mrs. Granger." Harry said with a smile, "I can see Hermione takes after you, gorgeous."

Both the female Granger's blushed at this, with Hermione saying embarrassment, "Harry!"

"What, it's true." Harry waved his hands in front of him to ward off her swats with a grin, remembering what Syrio Forel said about women, and how flirting with a woman was not only was fun, but sometimes make them look the other way if you do something wrong, which is why he often did so. Because sometimes as the First Sword of Braavos, he sometimes got into trouble with the fairer sex, and flirting before or after getting into trouble got him out of it too.

"You're handsome yourself young man." Emmaline complimented. Harry could have easily been mistaken, due to his inexperience, but there seemed to be more than just playful teasing in her tone. He decided he would put that info away to use later on if his hunch was correct.

"Thank you Mrs. Granger, but I wasn't always like this." He evaded humbly, "If it wasn't for good friends that I have, I'd still look like a skinny runt. As Hermione might have written to you about." Harry surmised, as he remembered he and Hermione talking, and how before confronting him, she wrote to her parents about it.

Emmaline and Daniel both nodded, accepting him not wanting to talk about it further easily. "Oh, and please call me Emma, Mrs. Granger makes me feel old, and I never liked being called Emmaline." Emma said with a smile.

"Well, I wouldn't want to do that, you look anything but old," Harry returned charmingly. "You could easily pass for Hermione's older sister."

"Why you." Emma blushed.

"I hope you're not trying to hit on my wife young man." Daniel interjected with an amused smile. The elder Granger was surprised at the boy's behaviour, from what he'd gathered and been told about his childhood Harry shouldn't exactly be a social butterfly. Then again, Dan admitted to himself, from what his daughter told him about the boy, he had good friends back where he lived and knew how to defend himself. Sure he was worried about the boy, as he knew that kids that have been abused don't always turn out right. He knew that Hermione wanted to stay with them for the summer so that he wouldn't have to deal with his family, but he and his wife wanted to meet him before deciding. So far what he had seen, he would like to see more of before deciding if his daughter could be near the boy.

"Oh no sir, I'm only telling the truth." Harry answered, bringing the man out of his thoughts. "You're a lucky man to have two gorgeous women in your life Mr. Granger."

Daniel laughed happily; the lad was making quite the first impression. His comments could have been mistaken as ass-kissing, but he sounded genuine with his compliments. "Please call me Daniel, or Dan, I would prefer the latter because I'm more comfortable with it but it's your choice. I spent enough time around my father when he worked that I keep thinking people mean him." He admitted with a smile, turning his gaze towards his wife and daughter his expression turned proud. "And yes I'm a very lucky man. Anyway, I'm sorry if I sound rude, but we have to go, as we need to do some shopping before we head home. Do you need a lift home, or are your aunt and uncle going to pick you up?" Dan asked in interest, the truth was he wanted to meet Harry's aunt and uncle for himself, and see if he could find out more about them and Harry if possible.

"Thank you sir, but I am fine," Harry admitted to Hermione's father, "I wanted to make sure that Hermione met up with you two before I leave. I'm making my own way home, so I bid you three good afternoon, and I'll see you again in two weeks." And with that he used his fire abilities to teleport himself away.

"Did you know he could do that honey?" Emma asked her daughter.

"No I didn't." Hermione admitted, but made a mental note to ask Harry about this when she saw him next. And with that the three Grangers left the station to head off to do some shopping before heading home.

o0OoO0o

24th of December - The Abyss:

It was the afternoon before Christmas, and Harry in his Maverick form, was being shown about the Abyss. It had been a day since he got back from Hogwarts and it felt somewhat strange being back here as Maverick. Although he had been at Hogwarts for a few months, it seemed like he had been there longer.

When he returned to Privet Drive, he informed the Dursleys that he had returned, something that they weren't happy about. Harry told them that he wasn't either, but until he was able to get free from those who was watching him and trying to control him, he would have to come back here during the holidays. But that didn't mean that he would be sleeping there all the time, only every so often to make those who was watching him believe he still thought of the place as his home.

He spent last night there, and this morning spent the day shopping to get a few gifts for his friends at Hogwarts, and at the club. Whilst he was at Diagon Alley, Harry went to Magical Menagerie to see where he could take Aneira to be looked at. Where he found out not only was it a shop that sold animals, but a world class veterinarian. Here the store owner informed him that the reason that Aneira was ill, was because she was dying due to the bond between the two of them not growing strong enough to sustain Aneira. The store owner was unhappy at Harry for not keeping his familiar close by, so the bond could be formed as it should be. That was the case until Harry told the veterinarian the reason for why he couldn't keep his familiar as close as he should.

Upon hearing this, the veterinarian was way beyond pissed at Albus Dumbledore, as he knew more than anyone else how important it was to keep master and familiar as close as possible for the first year or so. So the owner made a Floo Call to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, where once they done a few tests to make sure that Aneira was Harry's familiar, they gave a document ordering Harry to have Aneira at all times for at least the next year, as much as possible. Anyone making it so that Harry and Aneira were apart, would be fined and should Harry's familiar die, would go to Azkaban. As it was a great crime to interfere with bonding a familiar and master. But seeing who it was, it would be hard to convict Albus Dumbledore. Seeing that the man didn't want to ruin his image, he would follow the order to let Aneira be near Harry as much as possible.

Once he had finished his shopping, he visited the Asylum to meet up with Charlotte, Blink and Bowser. There they began to inform Harry about the book keepings and staffing at The Asylum. Once they had completed that, they explained that they would be happy for when The Abyss opened. As they had to turn many people away several times over the last few months, as there wasn't the room for them all. They also informed Harry that they were more than happy when the Abyss was open as theft and cheating were still a problem and the item that Harry had the Goblins create would help to stop it.

Once they dealt with the final talks about how well Asylum had done in its last few months, and how they would be closing it down for good the next day. After Harry shifted into Maverick they visited the new site of The Abyss. The first stop was to the new Reception Chamber, it was much bigger than the original Reception Chamber, and apart from the Reception Desk, there were also four Cashier Counters for people to get their chips among a few new features that Maverick and the girls had planned for the Abyss.

Once Maverick saw the new Reception Chamber, they headed into the Abyss, where the first thing Maverick noticed was at the entrance were two men like Hagrid, where Maverick's suspicions about his oaf of a friend were realized. These men were Half-Giants. Maverick learned the half Giants had founded a small colony, where they hid from the rest of the world, and very few knew about them.

Maverick learned that Half-Giants were hated by most humans and Giants, humans because of their Giant blood, as by their nature, they're like trolls... they just like killing. And whilst not as dumb as trolls, they aren't that smart. And Giants hate and look down on Half-Giants due to their inferior sizes, as it is a Giant's pride to give birth to large children. And they consider Half-Giants as weak, and useless, and often they kill them at birth. Unless something happens to stop this. Maverick also learned that most Half-Giants are magical, as their parents are often magical to have them, and they had resistance to most magic.

Because of their strength, resistance to most magic and able to do magic, Bowser hired them to be the guards for the Abyss. So that if anyone was able to use magic after wearing Maverick's magical dampeners, the Half-Giants would deal with them with ease.

Maverick thought this was a great idea, other than him, Charlotte, Blink and Bowser, these Half-Giants wouldn't wear the bracelets. They would be ideal for protecting his club.

Once Maverick meet with the new security, his friends and partners showed him around the Abyss. Maverick saw this place a few times before he left for Hogwarts, but it seemed that it had gotten bigger since he left. The hotel was now bigger, and they created smaller hotels around the place, but these small ones are for sleeping at, if the clients want the girls and other fun stuff, they would need to go to the main hotel. The hotels were run by the homeless, like before, as Bowser and Charlotte explained, they were cheap to use, and giving them a place to stay with food, drink and some money, the homeless wouldn't think of turning him in.

They then as they were showing Maverick the casinos, and restaurants, Maverick asked about the staff, "So what is the deal with the dealers, the bar staff and the other staff for the restaurants."

"At the moment we have enough staff for now," explained Charlotte, as she looked through the books she had on her, "but should we need more, we go with your plan, and use those who owe us to work in the areas we need them."

"That's good, let me know if you need anything else and I'll arrange it with the Goblins." Maverick told the girls and Bowser with a smile, "So what about your plans for setting up homes for the girls, so they have somewhere to go during the mornings, or when they aren't working?"

"Better than planned," Charlotte admitted excited about it all, "got a few places set up about a mile from here in another set of underground tunnels. I've also began to set up a few shops for the ladies to use when they aren't working, and for the younger girls I've started up a school for them too."

"That's great." Maverick spoke with a smile, whilst he might not be all good, the best way to keep soldiers or people on your good side, was to give them what they need, and in doing so they would follow you anywhere. In this case it was to give the young girls working nights some schooling. In doing so it would give them a chance out of the game and in better jobs. With luck these jobs could be something that could help Harry in the future, and because he was the one to appear to help the girls, they would want to repay him and so help him in somehow within the job. But there was something on Maverick's mind and so asked, "What about the teachers that are teaching them, can we trust them?"

"I believe so yes," Charlotte said thoughtfully, "we got teachers who wouldn't dare betray us. As they are prohibited to be near anyone under the age of eighteen, for one reason or another, mainly misconduct against their students."

Maverick knew what Charlotte meant by misconduct against their students meant, but this only made him worry more and so had to ask, "But how can you know these teachers won't hurt the girls?"

"We have made a few deals with them, one being if they hurt the girls we would show proof they are not only teaching children when they aren't meant to, but also that they have been having sex with them again." this came from Blink, "So they would be arrested, and jailed for a very long time."

"And should they mention you to get some time off the sentence, I know a few people who'll deal with them inside whatever prison they go to." Bowser added with a dark smirk, "They won't be killed, as it would be too fast, but they'll be wishing for death if they say anything. So you see, none of them would want that so the kids will be safe."

"That's good…" Maverick sighed, relieved that there would be no needless deaths, "so what about the other areas at the Abyss?"

And so for the rest of the afternoon, the main thing that caught Maverick attention was the Fighting Pits, as instead of having one, there were now six different Pits. With tables and chairs around them, so that people could watch the fights clearly, there were also Viewing Lacrimas for those who didn't want to get close to the fights in the bars. All in all it was better than Maverick ever hoped for, not only that, but anyone would be allowed to fight to show off their skills.

The last interesting thing that Maverick saw was the control room, it was something the Goblins, Blink and Charlotte had come up with. They got the idea after the Goblins had requested a place to set up the new computers they would need. They ended up setting up this control room, which would allow them to not only keep the date, but keep an eye on The Abyss and send people in the right places quickly.

Maverick was shocked to learn that the person who would be looking after the control room was a Cyborg Mystic, by chance, funny enough, was also called Cyborg - although he didn't give his real name. A Cyborg Mystic was just as it sound like, someone who looked like a cyborg and had control of technology and able to use it as they see fit. Cyborg was a black fifteen year old homeless boy, with metal plating on his top right side of his face, and his left arm up to his shoulder was robotic, along with his right leg that came just above his knee.

It would seem that some teens who were children of group of Witch Hunters known as the Paladins, wanted to make a name for themselves. So when they found out about Cyborg, they took him to a new medical research technology lab that was being built at the time, and started to beat the magic out of Cyborg. At first the gang broke Cyborg's legs, arms and a few other parts of his body, and badly scared Cyborg's face, but the leader got over exaggerate. He stubbed Cyborg's eyes, and cut off part of Cyborg's left arm and right leg. The leader's friends had to pull him off Cyborg, so he wouldn't kill the freak, and so they left the Magic User to die in the building.

What they didn't know was that once they left, Cyborg's magic begun to act to save the young boy. Seeing how much danger Cyborg was in, brain damage, parts of his body being cut off, his magic had to use what was around Cyborg to save him. Luckily for Cyborg he was in an area that had a lot of advanced technology, and so his magic used the advanced technology to fix its user.

To begin with Cyborg's magic stopped the bleeding, so it could deal with the main problem, the brain damage. The magic had more or less created a new brain for its user. One that'll be much better than his old one. Not only would he now have a better memory, but he would be able to interact with technology in ways people could only dream of. Once the main problem of the brain was sorted out, Cyborg's magic could deal with the other problems.

Next was the bones. Finding the bones that were broken, Cyborg's magic had to heal them but it feared that they might break again and so had to do something so that it wouldn't be so easy in the future. So it searched for the strongest metal in the area, and found titanium, which it fused into Cyborg's bones once fixed. Than healed the rest of the damage within Cyborg's body.

First was the internal problems, the lungs and kidneys that were damaged because of the beating that Cyborg had. Cyborg's magic improved the damaged not only his lungs and kidneys after they were fixed, but it made them into cybernetic organs, so that its user can live longer and use it longer than other Magic Users.

Once Cyborg's magic dealt with the internal problems, it began to fix the rest of Cyborg's body. The first thing that it did was to fix Cyborg's eyes. It was lucky that the medical research technology lab was almost finished, and that they were starting to being in the stock, and finishing a few parts of the building.

One of the things that were stocked into one of the rooms, were fake eyes and tiny non-magical creatures nanobots. Cyborg's magic used the nanobots and alter them to make them magical, fused them into its user, so that should he be attacked, they would heal the damage. Not only that, but they would alter to fit the Cyborg's needs as he grew older. As for the eyes, Cyborg's magic used the tech around the place to make them real and alter them so that over time and training they would become better and more useful, like the nanobots in him now.

Then with the titanium that was in the area, Cyborg's magic created a new arm and leg for its user, using the nanobots to allow Cyborg to move. Not only that but Cyborg's magic used some titanium for a small faceplate on right side of his face, as it was badly damaged and scarred, and by now Cyborg's magic used a lot of its energy to fix its user up and plating the right side up was easier to do than fully healing the face. With that done, and with most of its energy depleted, Cyborg's magic went dormant so it could recharge itself.

But when Cyborg came too though, he felt weak and found himself tied down to a medical bed as doctors were doing tests on him. Not only what was going on, called the doctors to see what was going on, but they said nothing and carried on until a scientist asked Cyborg what happened and how he became the way he was. Confused Cyborg admitted being in beaten up and left for dead, where he blacked out and had no idea what the scientist was talking about.

This is where the scientist showed Cyborg what happened to him, where in his shock and horror saw his new arm and leg, and his faceplate. Told the scientist he didn't know what happened, he asked to be let go, but the scientist wouldn't and for the next few months the scientist and other scientists begun to research on him to see what he could do.

After the third month though, Cyborg regained enough strength that he decided it was time to escape. Over the last few months he began to realize what happened to him, he knew he had magic, and suspected that it made him this way to save him. He wasn't sure if he preferred to be dead or not because of what happened to him, but seeing he was alive he wasn't going to allow himself to die. And over the last few months he learnt a few things that the scientists didn't know about.

Over the last few months the scientists found out that Cyborg had super strength, and from what Cyborg told them had a much better memory, and better memory recall. They even found out that Cyborg had some control over some technology, either control to a small agree, and download any sort of energy, data, matter, etc. they want from anywhere. They also learned that Cyborg could shape and manipulate it to make something else.

But Cyborg kept one or two skills to himself, so that he could plan his escape, one such skill was how he could manipulate the images from the recording security cameras, so they he could become invisible on the camera and make it so they see another thing altogether. Another skill he found he could do, was turn his new hand into keys and other everyday tools, and suspected if push comes to shove, he suspected he could turn his arm into a weapon.

So one day when Cyborg knew there was little stuff at where he was around, he made his mistake, using his new powers to do so. And over the following years, he gained a few new skills as he tried to hide from not only the scientists, who wanted to experiment on him, but from the Witch Hunters who wanted to use/kill him. He changed his name from what it used to be to Cyborg, and lived on the streets so not to be noticed.

It wasn't until about a month ago when Charlotte Brown bumped into him, who offered him not only a safe place to live, but a job and make friends like him. He knew after what he learnt he would be a fool to deny the offer, sure he would be working for some kind of mafia boss, but after everything he been through, it was better to work there. It wasn't like there was anything better out there waiting for him, and this Maverick character seemed to be a decent character who cared for those who work for him, so he would wait and see what would happen.

Back with Maverick though, once he learnt about Cyborg, he could see huge potential within the Cyborg Mystic, and how he could fit into his plans for not only for the club, but his future plans too. He would have to keep an eye on the teen, so he would have to wait and see what the future holds and go from there.

After taking the tour around the Abyss, they went to get something to eat, where they talked about the Grand Opening the next day.

o0OoO0o

Later that day - Harry's/Maverick's Personal Training Area:

"You're dead boy…" Syrio Forel the First Sword of Braavos told Harry two hours after the tour around the Abyss, where Harry was training with Syrio. "What's wrong with you today boy? We've been training for half an hour today and I've already killed you five times. Have you even been training whilst you were at that school of yours?"

"Of course I have!" Harry snapped at his insinuation. "I know what you think of time wasters."

"So what is wrong with you boy?" Syrio asked in concern, "You're better than this, you only die twice by now not five times. And don't tell me that you have things on your mind, as you know my thoughts about that."

"Yes I should leave my troubles outside of battle, as should I bring them into a fight, it'll only make more trouble within the fight." Harry summarized what his Sword Master told him before.

"That is right, so tell me what is troubling you that you would bring your troubles into training?" Syrio asked his student, "Either you tell me or we forget it all. I can't train someone who can't leave his troubles behind whilst we are training."

Harry was in two minds about telling the First Sword of Braavos about what happened, but on the other hand he needed to talk to someone. The nightmares weren't getting any better, and as someone who had killed before Syrio Forel might be able to help him. It wasn't like he had anything to lose. So with a sigh he said, "On the night of the All Hallows' Eve, I killed a Troll to protect my friends, but yet I have nightmares about it. Although I am fine training by myself, when I am facing you, all I see and feel and the events of that night."

"Damn your first kill, I wasn't hoping to face that for a while longer," Syrio admitted darkly, "I wanted to build you up to it so this wouldn't happen. Did anyone by the chance talk to you about it?"

"No they did not," Harry admitted in a dark torn, "I told the Headmaster that I was having nightmares, but he done nothing about it. I believe he wants me to be afraid of killing again for some reason, and doesn't want me to talk to about it."

"The damn fool," muttered the Sword Master, "there's other ways to stop people from killing, but for someone who has killed for the first time, they need to be talked to, as most often kill themselves in guilt of killing someone or thing. Let's start this off, tell me what happened that night."

And so Harry told Syrio about what happened that night, he hid nothing, and by the time he finished, the First Sword of Braavos sighed as he said, "This is why I wanted to wait before your first kill, so that your adrenaline and emotion wouldn't control your actions, and so you would be emotionally ready for the kill."

"I didn't mean for the death to happen, I was trying to keep the Troll busy until the girls were out but the thrill and the adrenaline of the fight got to me, I hadn't felt something like that for a while and I lost control." Harry admitted to his Sword Master, "But now I'm paying for it with these damn nightmares."

"It happens to the best of us, I was lucky to have a good Master to train me, and I was training you more or less the same way as he trained me." Syrio told Harry, "That's why I was hoping to get to your first kill slowly, as you know, being trained as a Swordsman means that one day you may have to kill. You would be lucky if you don't, but the risks are there. Tell me are you afraid to die or to kill again? Do you pray to any Gods?"

"To be honest I don't believe in the Gods," Harry admitted to the Sword Master, "if there were any gods, why would they let the bad things happen to us. I understand that we have free will and that, but there's a few things that if there was a God that they could stop. Not only would it give hope and make people believe in them, but it would mean less death and unhappiness in the world. And yes part of me is afraid to die and kill again, but I know I will need to kill again sometime in the future, which is why I'm talking to you."

"Sadly I know what you mean about the Gods, if there were any around they should be around to help with the major events to show that they are about. To not only give people hope, but also belief in the Gods." Syrio admitted to Harry, before he went on to say, "Harry I have one philosophy about the Gods, and that is there is only one true God, and that's the God of Death. He doesn't judge us, or care about good or the evil that people do, he will not care how they die at least, he only cares about one thing and one thing only, Death."

"I'll admit, getting over killing for the first time will take time, but as long as you have your friends with you, you'll be fine, just don't keep it to yourself. It might take a while before you kill again if ever, but remember this a saying I have, when you are facing Death in the eye, say to yourself: Not today!"

"What do you mean 'not today' Master?" Harry asked as he wondered what his master was talking about.

"Not today, as in you won't be dying that day and you'll fight with everything you got not to die that day," the First Sword of Braavos, "and should you die, you meet him with a smile, knowing that you have done everything in your power to deny Death his prize. You. I think for today, we talk and do a few mental exercises to help you should you need to kill again before you are ready."

So for the next few hours before Harry flamed to Hogwarts to be awake for the morning to see Ember, they talked about the kill of the Troll and about the kills Syrio made. By the end of the night, although Harry was still a bit uneasy about it, he felt a bit better and was able to go to sleep a bit easier. In fact he didn't have a nightmare that night. One of the few times he didn't.

o0OoO0o

25th of December - Hogwarts:

It was Christmas morning, and for the first time in a long time, he was having a lay in. But that lasted for only a few more moments before he was rudely shaken by Ron.

"Harry, Harry, wake up mate." Ron said cheerfully.

Harry glared hot death at the redhead, half lidded and sleepy eyes boring into the other boy and he growled, "Ron I'm going to smother you with a pillow if you don't tell me why the bloody hell you're waking me up." Harry usually woke up earlier than the rest of his dorm mates for training, which that wasn't saying much considering who they were, but he was a person who deeply loved his sleep when he was able to get it. Anybody who disturbed him before his body was ready to wake up by itself did so at their own peril.

Ron, either too excited or too stupid to realize his life was in very real danger, continued jumping up and down. "It's Christmas Harry! Presents! Presents!" He yelled.

Harry felt his eyes twitch, the cheek muscle under his eye trembling completely on its own. That did it; forget about doing things in the shadows, he was going to take over the world using the bloodiest means possible so this kind of cheer would never again wake him up. Yes… that was a perfect plan.

Thankfully for the first year male Gryffindor's, the potential multiple-homicide was averted when Harry grunted, rolled over, and fell back asleep, completely forgetting about his plans of mass genocide against people with too much holiday spirit.

Ron pouted, but was far too distracted by the thought of presents to bother trying to wake his best mate up a second time. Presents!

It was about noon by the time Harry awoke, and he was happy to see that Ron wasn't in the room. 'Most likely down in the Great Hall for lunch.' Harry thought as he looked at the time and shook his head in disgust. Harry often wondered why he kept up with Ron with the way he acts often. 'God forbid the bottomless pit misses a meal.'

As he got dressed, he was shocked to see a small pile of gifts at the end of the bed. To be honest, Harry wasn't expecting gifts from those at Hogwarts, seeing that they couldn't get out to get them. He was suspecting them when the term started again. As he opened the first gift, he saw it was from Ron, it was a box of Chocolate Frogs. However, as Harry opened the box, he was disgusted to see that a few of the Frogs were missing, 'The fucking pig, I hope he choked on them.' Harry thought darkly.

The next gift was from Molly Weasley, prompting feelings of confusion and he'd never met Ron's mother before, so why was she was already sending him gifts? Harry wondered what the hell was going on. As he opened the gift - he had no idea why he didn't throw it away - he found it had a thick, hand-knitted sweater in emerald green and a large box of homemade fudge inside it. There was a note saying that Ron told them that he didn't expect any gifts for Christmas.

Although Harry suspected Ron was trying to be nice and that, he was still angry that Ron would tell people that he wasn't going to get gifts when Ron knew he had friends here in Hogwarts and out of Hogwarts, so he set the gift aside in disgust; he would be having words with Ron about this soon. But not today, it was Christmas and he didn't want the trouble. And so he began to open the rest of the gifts that he got.

The next gift was wrapped in thick brown paper with the words 'To Harry, from Hagrid' scrawled across it. Inside was a roughly cut wooden flute. Hagrid had obviously whittled it himself. Harry blew it - it sounded a bit like an owl. Harry was grateful for the gift, he and Hermione had spent some time with the giant of a man and apart for liking dangerous animals and cooking awful food he was an okay sort of a man.

The rest of the gifts contained candy; box of Chocolate Frogs and pumpkin cakes from his friends, he smiled at the gifts. He'd purchased the three Puffs, Tony, the twins and Katie some Chocolate Frogs, Ember a book about the Wizarding World to help her get to know the world she was now in, and Hermione a book voucher for Flourish and Blotts with an enclosed note saying that Hedwig had agreed to help her purchase the books.

Harry picked the last gift and weighed it. It was very light and felt like some kind of cloth, so he unwrapped it.

Something fluid and silvery grey went slithering to the floor where it lay in gleaming folds. A note landed on his foot, so he picked it up and read it: Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well. A Very Merry Christmas to you.

There was no signature. With a shrug he picked the shining, silvery cloth off the floor. It was strange to the touch, like water woven into cloth. Harry realized this was a cloak, but not just any cloak. It was one that his father once owned. Putting it on he walked over to the mirror and was shocked when he saw his reflection; only it wasn't his fully body he saw in the mirror, it was just his head, seemingly floating in mid-air. He pulled the cloak over his head and his reflection vanished completely.

If he didn't already have the ability to become invisible himself, he would be more apprehensive about the gift. Still, he was grateful for the gift none the less, not for what it was, but because it belonged to his father. Seeing as he didn't want anyone else to know about it, Harry put it back in his trunk before he went down for lunch.

Now since nobody that had sent him gifts were currently at Hogwarts, other than Ember and Ron, and seeing as he hadn't managed to corner Ron to talk to him, Harry spent the afternoon with Ember and Aneira relaxing. It wasn't until after dinner that day that Harry thought back about his father's cloak and the message that came with it, the three words in the note specifically; 'Use it well'.

He could have kicked himself as he thought about it, all this time he was able to become invisible himself, and he never used it to go to one place that he and Hermione hadn't looked for Nicholas Flamel: The Restricted Section of the school library. And all it took for him to think of it was his father's cloak - he felt somewhat foolish for not thinking of it sooner.

Wanting to see how good his father's cloak worked, instead of becoming invisible himself, Harry used the cloak and went down to the Restricted Section to look for Nicholas Flamel. As he was making his way to the library, he used a shortcut when he came across a sixth year Slytherin student by the name of Matthew Alvin, he was one the people that the Weasley Twins pranked often. At the moment he had a young witch with the robes of a Hufflepuff, against the wall and as Harry passed without sound, vanished the girl's robes.

Now normally Harry would have walked passed as if nothing had happened, until he heard Alvin say to the girl, "Now, now Tonks, don't struggle, we both can have some fun here."

"Fuck off Alvin!" the girl Tonks spit in Alvin's face.

"You bitch," Alvin slapped Tonks around the face as, he then groped Tonks' breasts, as he said, "you're going to make your breasts bigger, and I'll have some fun with you."

This caught Harry's interest, it would seem that this girl was either a Shapeshifter like him, or she was a Metamorphmagus that he heard about. If she was a Shapeshifter or a Metamorphmagus it didn't matter, what mattered was that she could change her looks, and if he could turn her, she would be very useful. So making sure that they didn't spot him, he turned the corner and removed his cloak.

But as he came round again to save the girl, he saw her making her breasts bigger, and as she did Alvin began to relax a bit and begun to grope Tonks breasts. Harry found this a foolish move, to relax and let go of your grip. Because just like Alvin found out, it gives the opponent a chance to act and kick him in the balls - which Harry winced at - and Tonks began hexing the fool.

She only cast three hexes at the fool, before Harry got near her. Once he got near her, she was putting her robes back on, as she was doing so, Harry asked, "Umm, are you okay ma'am?"

"It's Tonks and yes I'm fine," Tonks said as she finished putting her robes on, "can't say he'll be okay."

Harry could help to smirk at that as he said, "You're right about that Tonks. So do you have another name other than Tonks?"

"If you don't want to end up like him kid, you'll only call me Tonks," Tonks warned the Boy-Who-Lived, as she pointed her wand at his manhood, "I hate my name and other than my parents and the professors, mainly the Headmaster, no one calls me by my first name unless they want to get hexed. I don't care if you are the Boy-Who-Lived, should you learn my first name and use it, you too will get hexed."

The way she talked, Harry could believe it, and with the fire in her eyes, Harry knew he needed to try and get her on his side somehow. "I understand, and I won't use it should I learn it." Harry told her, but to himself he added, 'for now.' He went on to say, "Listen, when I came here, I think I heard that bastard say something about you changing your boobs? Is that right?"

"What of it!?" Tonks asked darkly as her wand begun to grow dangerly. She had kept the wand pointed firmly at Harry's cock. She didn't think that a eleven year old would be after that kind of thing just yet, but she knew anything is possible, and she didn't want to be used like Alvin tried to.

"Ha, ha, it's nothing like that Tonks, you have my word on that." Harry held up his hands in defence, he didn't like someone pointing a wand at his 'wand.' If it was anyone else, he might have said a few words, or send a fireball at the person doing so, but he wanted her help and trying to have her side with him. And attacking her from the get go, would be a bad idea. "No, what I want to know is if you were a Shapeshifter or a Metamorphmagus? I know you are at least one of them."

"And why would you want to know kid?" Tonks asked in wonder, as she lowered her wand.

"Because I am a Shapeshifter and I was hoping you could help me in training my abilities." Harry told her, as he begun to shift his body to look like a sixteen year old Harry Potter.

'Damn, if he wasn't really eleven year old I would take him, here and now in fact.' Tonks thought to herself lustfully as she saw a sexy sixteen year old Harry Potter, with a body of an athlete including a six pack. In fact as she kept looking at the body, her own body was willing to forget his age and act her desires anyway.

Shaking her head off these lustful thoughts, she went on to say to keep herself from acting on her desires, she asked, "By the looks of it you are doing very well without any help."

"Whilst that might be true, and I have been training on it, I do have two problems I need help with." Harry admitted to the Metamorphmagus, "The first is that I can't hold my form in a fight for a long time, after a while I begin to change back in my original form."

This was true and why he had Warchief and Dante, so that should a fight break out and took longer than needed, he could escape before his body shift back in his original form - something he and the others didn't want to happen. The longest Harry could fight in one form, is about ten to fifteen minutes, less if he had to use some of his more powerful attacks.

Tonks could understand this, she too had problems fighting in a different form for a while, after some training, she was able to do so. But it took years to do, so she could understand the Boy-Who-Lived wanting help, as some things one could not learn by themselves - they could but it would take longer to do so.

"The other reason I need you help is that I need help in changing sex." Harry admitted to Tonks as she was thinking about his first reason.

"What!?" Tonks hissed as she raised at Harry's family jewels, something Harry was really getting pissed off with, and if he didn't need Tonks, he would have reacted by now. "And why the hell would you want to learn to transform into a girl you perverted bastard?"

"It's nothing like that I swear," Harry told Tonks, well it wasn't fully like that, part of him might have thought something like that, but it wasn't his main reason, "I want to know so if I need to I could turn into a girl should I need to escape." Tonks give a look that told him that she didn't believe him, so he went on to say, "Listen I know it is hard to believe, but until recently I never thought about changing into a girl before, as I never had a reason to. But I realize that if I was in trouble, I could shift my body into a girl, and they would be looking for a male, and not a female."

Tonks had to admit that is a thoughtful idea, most people when they know the person is some kind of Shapeshifter, they would be looking for someone of the same sex. But if a Shapeshifter or a Metamorphmagus, could transform into the other sex, which she could, they would never suspect to look for a female you. So with a sigh she said, "I might be able to help you to get better in fighting in another form, but as for changing into another sex, I need to think about that."

"I can agree with that," Harry said with a smile, he wasn't getting everything he would like, but at least he got something, "I can't start training until after the holidays as I'm busy, afterwards I can come up with a training plan to fit our needs if that's ok with you."

"That's fine, I need to find a few of my old books anyway, so it'll give me time to find them." Tonks admitted, and with that the two bid their goodbyes, and left. Leaving the unconscious Alvin where he was.

o0OoO0o

Later on at The Asylum:

It was a few hours later, and Harry as Maverick was in the centre of Asylum, where all his employees and patrons were waiting for him. Before he got there he was able to get into the library, where it had a few students still doing their homework before curfew. Harry's luck of not being discovered held until he got into the Restricted Section, because as he tried to open one of the books, that book, along with the rest of the books on that shelf screamed, as if they knew someone was there that wasn't meant to be there.

Before Harry could do anything, the school librarian, Madam Irma Pince, and the students there, came to look what was going on. Madam Pince went into the Restricted Section, and looked around to see who was in there that shouldn't be. This meant that Harry had to move carefully out of the Restricted Section, and the library, so not to get caught by anyone. Even once out of the library, he had to be careful not to get caught by the students

He could have Jumped or Flamed away, but he wasn't sure if the old fool of the Headmaster of Hogwarts, had wards informing him of such things. On the way back to the tower to get Aneira before returning to The Asylum for the night, he met a few students and professors, making it hard to remove his cloak. But as he walked down one corridor, it was full of students and two professors he didn't want there: McGonagall and Snape, who were talking about who could have been in the Restricted Section. It would seem that Madam Pince informed them about someone being in the Restricted Section.

With them there, and not enough room to easily to hide, he had to put his back against what he thought was an alcove, and hope not to get caught. Lucky for him though, Harry wasn't about to lean against an alcove wall, but a doorway that was partly open and so he fell into one of the many empty rooms of Hogwarts.

The two professors saw the door open, quickly looking around and found nothing, they muttered that it was one of the strange going ons at Hogwarts that they were used to, or some prank that the Weasley Twins were trying to pull. Either way they closed the door and carried on walking to the library.

Harry sighed in relief that he wasn't caught, and decided he would wait here for a bit before leaving the room he was in. He then looked around to see where he was, to see if there's anything of interest. The room looked like it was abandoned, the only thing of interest was a large bronze mirror, with strange lettering at the top of the mirror: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

Gibberish, really. That thought triggered something and Harry's brain suddenly made a connection between mirrors and gibberish and he remembered reading about how ambulances had the word Ambulance backwards on the front so people in front of them could read it when they looked behind them using their rear-view mirror. Without looking through a mirror, the word 'ecnalubmA' printed on the front just looked like gibberish.

With that in mind it was easy to figure out that the letters said 'I show not your face but your heart's desirE'. Thoroughly curious as to what his heart's desire was, Harry looked into the mirror. On the mirror's surface he saw himself, his family - including his imaginary twin - and behind them were a few more people; none of which he recognized. Harry suspected they were other family members that he wasn't aware of. They were standing in the middle of The Abyss, not as Maverick but as an older and stronger himself, with the bodies of those who were against him lying about, some were even on fire. In the mirror, Harry saw Lucy dancing around the bodies laughing as she did so. Whilst Charlotte, Blink, Bowser, Syrio and to his surprise Ember was standing behind him.

Harry was intrigued by the mirror, he always wondered what his heart desires was, and this mirror showed it to him. Powerful and strong, the leader of The Abyss, with those he trusted the most behind him, he could stay there looking at his desire for a long time. But he had the Abyss to open, so he left and went to get to Aneira before leaving the grounds to get to Asylum, soon he would return to see more of the image.

Now here he was, facing all his employees and patrons, who were wondering why all of them were gathered together, so in his Maverick form, he said, "Greetings everyone, most of you know of me by word of mouth or seen me about in the club, for those who don't, I am Maverick and I've been running this club for the last few years. Now many of you are wondering why all of you are gathered here today, well the reason is to inform you that from this day forth, The Asylum will be closed."

This got a lot of whispers from this, giving them a few moments to take the news in, Maverick went on to say, "This is because I'm opening a new club, some of which you might heard rumours about, called The Abyss." Here many were shocked to hear this, as they won't suspecting a new club to be opened from him so soon, as he just opened The Asylum a few years ago and normally it would be many years later before someone like him would open another.

"I know many of you are shocked to hear this, but this was always the plan," Maverick explained to the group, "I only opened The Asylum to get the money to open The Abyss. As it'll be much bigger than Asylum, what you see here is nothing compared to Abyss. More bars, more hotels and such, not only that, but it'll now be much safer, which is why it took so long to open."

"What do you mean?" someone called from the crowd.

"As many of you know, at Asylum there have been people who started fights, cheated at the games and stole from you. But I have solved that problem, as with the help of the Goblins we created The Sphinx." Here Maverick pulled out a small leather bracelet, with a four inch by eight-inch screen. "With this you'll no longer have to carry money with you, as from the Reception Chamber, which has also been reformed, you use The Sphinx to put your money onto it, which will stop the theft that has been going on in Asylum.

"Not only will The Sphinx keep track of your money, but it'll keep track of other things too." Maverick told them, "Like your wins and losses, where you are, so you can find where you want to go. You also use The Sphinx to pay for everything, seeing that no money will be allowed in The Abyss, so you better have put enough money you want to use on The Sphinx, or you'll soon find yourself in debt to The Abyss. Should that happen and you can't pay the debt off within a time frame I set or fail in the payment system we work together, you'll learn how much The Abyss is like its namesake. So you have been warned."

"What about stopping the fights and the cheating?" someone called out, as the whispers began about what Maverick told them.

"The Sphinx," Maverick replied simply, "they'll block all formsof magic."

"What!?" "You bastard, I won't have this!" came a few of the angry replies. Some of them started to leave.

"If you want to be cheated and beaten on, no one is stopping you to leave, you know where the exit is." Maverick told them plainly, which stopped most of them, "The Sphinx's are there for your protection so that no cheating or magical fights can happen. But if you want to leave, you are more than welcome back another time, as long as you're willing to wear the Sphinx."

There were a few angry whispers, as they whispered about what they should do, leave or stay. But someone who seemed to be okay with The Sphinx's called out and asked, "Whilst you might be able to stop the magical cheating and fighting, what stops the non-magical cheating and fighting? And who says you won't use magic to cheat us?"

"As for non-magical cheating, we'll keep an eye out for it, and if we see it happen we deal with it. But it'll help me if you find any cheating going, you inform Pit Boss Bowser as soon as you learn about it, so he can deal with it." Maverick told them with a smile, "And as for us using magic to cheat you, it won't be possible, as the employees too will wear one, so that they can't cheat you, and only will be allowed to use magic should there br a fight going on that they need to break up."

"Why should we believe you won't cheat us?" someone called out.

"Whilst I might be the most law abiding citizen, and I lie, cheat and such, I setup this place with honour, so that I can make money." Maverick explained honestly, "Think about it, should I have my employees cheat you and you learn about it, you'll leave the place, taking your money with you. Why would I allow that to happen, I created this place to get your money, if I allow my people to cheat you, or allow you to get hurt, you would leave and that means I don't get the money. So it makes sense to do everything I can to make sure you don't leave, so no one other than me, my enforcers and my security are allowed to use magic."

There were a few whispers here once again, and someone called out to ask, "What about the non-magical fighting?"

"If there's any fighting at all, or any other problems that the floor staff can't handle, my new security will deal with it." Maverick said with a smirk, before he said as his smirk went bigger, "I think on that note allow me to introduce the new security for The Abyss."

And with that six half-giants walked into the area with security gear on, and walked behind Maverick, who said with a smile, "If there's any problems that my staff can't handle, these gentlemen well deal with it. So you know, that for some time I would give a blind eye to drug deals within the place, but now that stops. I only allowed this as I didn't have the means to stop it, but now with the opening of The Abyss and these gentlemen, I have. So this is your only warning, should I see any of you dealing in drugs, you'll be dealt with, so you have been warned. But the same rule applies, I don't care about if you are light or dark, good or evil, as long as you keep your beliefs at the door, you are welcome here." Maverick explained to the group, rather than showing off some of his Earth Abilities he went on to say, "But if you cause any problems, then I'll personally show you why this place is called The Abyss. So once again you have been warned, is that understood?"

Here in fear, all the people agreed, "Good, one last bit of news before I sort out my office, if by chance you have place tracking charms here, and you have been waiting, I say you undo them." Maverick explained with an evil smirk, "As over the next few months, I'm making this area for these gentlemen and the rest of security and their families to live here if they want. So you'll be dealing with them if you appear here. Now if you want me before I enter The Abyss, I'll be in my office for the next hour or so, otherwise you can see me later at The Abyss. For now please follow my staff and they will set you up for The Abyss, I wish you a good time within the new club."

And with that everyone started to move out, and Maverick went to his office, to make sure he hadn't left anything there.

o0OoO0o

Maverick's Office:

Maverick smiled, the meeting with the employees and patrons went as suspected. He just hoped that things stayed this good for a while longer. As he was sorting things out, there was a knock on the door and Dante entered the room and said, "Hey Boss, there's two gentlemen and a lady wanting a word with you."

"Did they say what they wanted?" Maverick asked his enforcer.

"No just that they wanted a word, and they would only talk to you." Dante told his boss.

"Okay, let them in but you and Warchief stay here just in case there's a problem."

"Of course Boss." said Dante as he went and get the people who wanted to talk to Maverick.

A few moment later three people came in, other than wearing the club's mask, they were dressed in matching black robes. Although the robes were different than what he'd seen in the Magical world. These seemed to almost cling to the top of their bodies as if formed of seamless darkness. Matching black pants completed the outfit. If he squinted just right he could make out a golden sun pattern around their necks and a faintly embossed Phoenix on one shoulder in a dark blue.

"How can I help you three?" Maverick asked the three of them.

"My name is Dusko, and the two with me are Windia and Deatho," explained Dusko, "and we're here to offer you an offer you can't refuse."

"Oh and what kind of offer is this?" Maverick asked with interest.

"Our Mistress the Dark High Priestess Averna, has sent us to offer you to join her ranks." Dusko told the black man in front of him.

"In which case I'm not interested." Maverick said simply.

"Do you even know who Mistress Averna?" Dusko sneered at the club owner.

"If I have to guess some kind of a wannabe Dark Lady." Maverick replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

"How dare you say that about Mistress Averna." Windia hissed at Maverick, as winds begun to blow up in the office, at this Dante and Warchief drew their weapons to defend their boss.

"I haven't heard of this Dark Priestess, so all I know she is a Dark Witch who's trying to be something she isn't." Maverick told the three of them. "So why would I risk my club and myself for someone I don't even know?"

"She is working in the shadows, and has been for years," explained Dusko, as Deatho tried to calm Windia down, "she is trying to make sure she has the people she trusts in places where they can do the most damage. It is taking time, but soon she'll act and you'll know her name. You should feel honoured that she picked you to join her ranks."

"She sounds like a smart person, someone I could get along with," Maverick admitted as he smiled, this Dark Priestess was someone who thought the same as him, and someone he would have to keep an eye on, as she could be a risk to his plans, "but I don't want to risk what I have. I have a good deal with the Mystic Knights, one that I don't want to ruin for something that might not work out. The same deal that I give everyone in the club, they can come and go as they like as long as they keep their beliefs at the door, and anything they learn here they can use as they like as long as they don't interfere and make problems with the club. So if your Dark Priestess want information, and such, as long as she doesn't cause problems, she can send someone here. Otherwise you can leave me alone, unless you can prove to me that I should risk my club and myself."

"Thank you, I'll let my Mistress know about your decision," Dusko told Maverick, "but I should warn you that she isn't one to give up on something she really wants. She'll keep on coming to you until you say yes, she might even try and force you if you push her too much. She only sent us today, as she has respect for what you have done with the club, and wants to do this without bloodshed."

"Tell her thanks, but until I know for sure that she'll become the next Dark Lady and will rule, I prefer to keep my head down until then." Maverick told the group, not wanting to get on their bad side, "But she is more than welcome to send people to the club as she has been, be it to gain info or just so that they can relax, as long as no fights start or you make problems for The Abyss."

"Thank you. I'll inform my Mistress," Dusko informed Maverick, "but I don't know how she'll react."

"I'm willing to help where I can, but I won't put myself or my club in danger." Maverick explained to the group, before they left, with Dante and Warchief leading them out, making sure that they wouldn't make any problems for those who are out there. But Windia was making remarks about how Maverick should pay for disrespecting their Mistress, as they left.

When Maverick finished checking his office out, he decided to check the news on the Viewing Lacrima. When he turned it on, he was shocked to hear the breaking news of that night,

"For those who haven't been watching tonight's news, our breaking news is the attack on the Bones Mansion." said the News Reported, "There's little is known about the attack, as the Mystic Knights and Department of Magical Law Enforcement, have been keeping hush about it.

"But what we do know is that the attack was lead by the Death Eaters that escaped justice when the last Dark Lord, Voldemort, was defeated. The reason for the attack is still unknown, but we do know that there have been two deaths, Edwin and Samantha. Their daughter, for legal reasons cannot be named, and Edwin's sister Madam Amelia Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, is at this moment at St Mungo's. We still don't know what their conditions are, but what we do know is that they are being treated by the best Healers there.

"When we got more news on this, we'll inform you. Now…" then the News Reporter went on to other news, but the news about the Bones got Maverick interested. As Susan Bones was someone he was interested in, as she was the niece of the the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. And whilst he would want her as a friend, she was more useful to him because of her aunt, one he hoped he could use in the future.

Either way, that's for a later date, he would send an owl to her to see if she is okay and would be returning to Hogwarts after Christmas tomorrow. For now though, he had to go and get Aneira from his new office, so that he could be near her longer. The cover story was that he got her from a Magical Travelling Pet Shop, he got a magical collar from the Goblins so that she had different markings than the one they knew Harry Potter had. So that people wouldn't be able to tell the difference, but people knew about Harry Potter having Aneira, and he didn't want to put things together.

With one last look round his office to make sure that he didn't miss anything, Maverick left his old office, and went to his new one in The Abyss. Once he got Aneira, he went on floor of his new club and made his rounds, making small talk and such, being a good host.

o0OoO0o

28th of December - Hogwarts Abandoned:

It has been three days since the Grand Opening of the Abyss, and things were running great, no problems had arisen and people were enjoying the new club. Sure there were those who were upset about the Sphinxes, but that was expected, no one would like having their magic blocked off… even if it was for a few hours. But they didn't they act on it, not with the new security around, and some even if they didn't like the bracelets, felt safer with them around.

Anyway, with the first night done with, Charlotte, Blink, Bowser and Syrio Forel had a few drinks, celebrated the Grand Opening and a few fights that Syrio won in the Pits. Although the First Sword of Braavos wished that his opponents were more of a challenge, as they weren't up to the standards he was used to fighting. He had thought that fighting against a Mystic would be more of a challenge, but the ones he faced that night weren't all that.

Either way, during this time the five of them traded gifts, something they couldn't do before opening the club. Harry got Charlotte and Blink a limited edition, Nimbus 1500 broomstick that can be shrunk and used as a hair clip. It was something Harry wanted to get them, so that if they were in a fight and they couldn't use their powers to escape for whatever reason, they would have a way to escape. For Bowser, Harry got him a bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac, and some Cuban Cigars. As for Syrio, Harry also got him some Cuban Cigars, but also a magical sword too, one that wouldn't break and had other runes across the blade, that depending on the user had different effects to the sword.

As what they got him, Syrio got him another sword, one which would be worn when he was Maverick, to make him more intimidating. To help with this, Bowser brought him some clothes and armour to help with this. As for Charlotte and Blink they got him a gauntlet, which had a green gem resting on the back of the hand. They told him that they got it from one of the traders that sold their things at the Asylum. From what they were told, the gauntlet once belonged to the Overlord's of past. Seeing that Harry was interested in the Overlord, whilst they didn't know it was the real thing or not, they thought it was something Harry would like.

From what Harry read about the past Overlords, it did look like the gauntlet in the books, the only name for it was The Gauntlet. The gem on it had the ability called Soul Magic, which allowed it to gather the Lifeforce of a person, or as some called souls, magic, or whatever the user preferred calling it, of the victims that were killed by the Overlord or one of his minions.

Harry wasn't interested in this though, what immediately caught his attention was another feature that the Gauntlet had. Aside from granting him a number of abilities, all powered by Lifeforce - apart for bringing people back to life, that had to be done solely with his own magic - he could also summon and grant the dead corporeal bodies, as long as they stayed close to the user, within about fifty feet.

It was rumoured that the Gauntlet could temporarily bring back the dead could be used without paying any Lifeforce, but it would require a constant stream of power from the user, as opposed to one payment of Lifeforce per summoning.

But seeing that Harry wasn't sure if the Gauntlet was real or not, he wasn't going to try and use it. Not only that, he wasn't ready to kill another living creature. Maybe in a year or so, but for now he would use it as show and gain power to make it work properly when he did use it.

Either way for the last few nights Harry found himself going to the abandoned classroom where the mirror he called the Mirror of Desire was.

Harry was intrigued by the mirror, and to his chagrin kept coming back to it. It wasn't the mirror itself that was pulling him back, it was like it was something else. Also, he had to think about the image of the people behind him, he guessed that they were his parents, it had been awhile since he had any serious thoughts about becoming a Dark Lord. He liked being Maverick, he had the money and the women, and had no real thoughts about becoming a Dark Lord. He didn't want anything to ruin what he had, so for a while he'd forgotten his heart's desire, this made Harry smile, knowing that his out desire from the past was still there.

On the fourth night of visiting the mirror, to see his family, friends/self-made family and to watch his sister, who he missed, dance and laugh in the flames, Dumbledore stepped out of the shadows.

"So, back again, Harry?" Albus Dumbledore asked, sitting at one of the desks. Harry must have walked straight past him. He had to wonder how he'd missed him; Harry was normally very good at special awareness. Not even his almost blind journey to get to the mirror would have made him to miss the old man.

"I didn't see you, sir." Harry said, a bit annoyed with himself for not seeing him.

"Strange how near-sighted being invisible can make you." Dumbledore said with a smile. "So, you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."

"I didn't know it was called that, sir, being calling it Mirror of Desire," Harry said honestly, "although thinking about I was right. Although I was right, Erised is desire spelt backwards. Anyway I do know what it does; it shows a person's heart's desire. It showed my family. To be expected, I suppose; I haven't thought too much about my future yet so I have no grand aspirations as of yet." He analysed, giving a half-truth.

"I'm shocked that you guessed is so easily." Dumbledore said a bit surprised that Harry had figured it out.

"It helped that I was able to figure out the writing on the mirror, 'I show not your face but your heart's desire'." Harry admitted humbly with a smile of his own. "I'm sure if Ron was to look into the mirror it would show him stepping out of his brother's shadows, maybe earning the Captaincy for the House Team, something Charlie never did, but came close to doing, if I remember what he told me right."

"You're right young Harry," Dumbledore nodded, he couldn't believe that the young boy would figure the mirror out so completely without instruction. "I should warn you Harry, this mirror will give us neither knowledge nor truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible. For this reason, the Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that."

"True sir, but what's life without a dream to work towards?" Harry reasoned. "And I have to agree with you moving it, it is a dangerous item, seeing that someone could sit here forever and forget to live. I'm just lucky I got a dream to live for, to have a family, otherwise I would be sitting here for a long time."

"Very true young Harry," Dumbledore said, impressed the young man would be so thoughtful, "Now, why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?"

Harry stood up.

"Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?"

"Obviously, you've just done so," Dumbledore smiled. "You may ask me one more thing, however."

"What do you see when you look in the mirror?" asked Harry.

"Myself? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks." Dumbledore replied with a sad smile.

Harry stared.

"One can never have enough socks." Dumbledore said sagely. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books."

It was only when he was back in bed that it struck Harry that Dumbledore might not have been quite truthful. But then, he thought, as he tossed Ron's rat across the room from where he'd been sleeping on Harry's pillow, it had been quite a personal question. And should have suspected that not to get a honest answer from the old fool.

TO BE CONTINUED!

Author's Note: Here ends the eighth part of the Blood Stone Saga, and I would like to thank you for reading and I hope you have enjoyed the chapter, as much as I did write it. There might be a few parts that aren't fully good, but I think I have covered everything that I needed to in this chapter. I have to say that this chapter became much bigger than I first thought it would be, but there was more to it then I first thought there would be, and I had new ideas that I needed to add as I wrote this chapter, which explained the longer chapter.

I hope you liked the new OC Cyborg, whilst we haven't seen him much, I'm hoping to add more of him in the upcoming chapters. He was one a Mystic I was planning to use in this story for a long time, so I hope to fit him in more often when I can.

Now I would like to thank Beta Reader Benny37760 and my new Beta Reader Zen Dandros, for their great work, without them, the chapter wouldn't be as good, so thank you guys. I hope they'll be able to help me more as the story comes along.

Now as I end of this chapter, I'm hoping that with luck the next chapter - as long as things go the way I want it to - will be the last chapter of the Blood Stone Saga before I write one or two Interludes. This leads me to a question I want to ask you all, what would all of you like to happen in the second year? With all the new stuff that I have added, I would like to ask what you would like to happen during the summer holiday and during the second year. As there's so much to add with the Mystics, and a few things that I have added in the side-story.

I would like to ask what other Technomagic Cyborg could have, what skills he can gain over time? At the moment he has the basics skills, but I would like to hear what you would like him to be able to do.

There is another question I would like you to think about: should I have the basilisk killed at the end of the story or not? I say it is more useful dead and being in the money as I think about it. But I would like to hear your thoughts about it, and I'll go with the most outspoken thoughts.

I'm still looking for ideas for pranks, and I hope you can help with this as I'm wanting a few magical and non-magical ones. Please help me out here, as I'm after some ideas and would like to use some of them soon. I'm now looking for a prank that the Weasley Twins could pull on Harry first, as it'll start off a prank war between the three of them, any ideas please let me know.

I'm still after ideas of how Harry could turn his friends Dark and joining him, instead of using Confundus Charm. Any and all ideas are welcomed.

I'm still after ideas for how to make this harder for Harry, be it with his underground club, his everyday life and such. So I would like to ask you what sort of problems should Harry run into now? I love to hear what you lot may come up with.

Just a reminder, if I get a flame review and they are guests and aren't helpful I'll be removing them. But if they point out a problem that needs to be fixed, or ideas that I could use to make the story better I'll keep them. I'm not against flame reviews, but only if they are helpful and help me to become a better writer. Otherwise I don't want to know about them. Please consider this when reviewing, as I don't want you to waste your time or mine in useless flame reviews that if not going to be helpful aren't going to be seen.

Either way, I would like to thank you once again for reading and I hope you spare a few minutes to leave a review and let me know what you think of the chapter, and any ideas you might have for the future chapters, and any powers you would like to be used in the story.

Next on Rise of Overlord Vulcan: With luck the next chapter should be the last chapter of this second saga, so in the next chapter Harry & Co is going to find out about Nicholas Flamel and his Philosopher's Stone. Depending how things go, we'll also see Harry and some of his friends getting Philosopher's Stone, otherwise it might happen in the next chapter. I want to clear a few things up before that, so them getting Philosopher's Stone might happen in the next chapter. The main thing that has to happen before them finding out about Flamel or his Stone is that Harry needs to become friends with Su Li. So I would like ideas on how to do this… I hope you can help me here.