Some review answers:
Toolazytologin: First of all stop being so lazy, and login so I don't have to reply to you here— people will say that I'm word boosting because of you guests. With that said, faeries don't need normal humans to believe in them to exist. Dresden Files has never made any mention of that— hell, most people don't believe in such things.
orangeknighthide: Only the people related to the Smallville TV Show exist in my story, and not the DC Comics heroes. Quite frankly I dislike the DC comics with a passion :P
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any other fandom I manage to squeeze in this story.
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Lightning Dragon's Roar
A Harry Potter Fanfiction
By Zero Rewind
© 2015
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Chapter 59: Plans
Thor scrutinized me for a moment.
"As I have said." He said. "The Asgard would like to offer you our assistance."
"Are we not going to question what just happened?" O'Neill asked, wringing his hands helplessly.
"No." Thor replied simply. "I am aware of the nature of the creature at hand."
This was a bit amusing to watch, really, but there was a situation to defuse.
"All you need to know." I addressed the man. "Is that the sword answers to me, and me alone."
"Right." O'Neill rubbed at his temple before addressing Thor once more. "Okay. So, assistance? That would be appreciated; I've seen your work. It's great."
"The vast majority of the Asgard Fleet is currently unavailable." Thor said.
A moment passed.
"…Oh." O'Neill shifted slightly. "So what did you have in mind?"
"With your permission," Thor said, tilting his head. "The Asgard will attempt to negotiate with the Goa'uld System Lords to include Earth in the Protected Planets Treaty."
O'Neill considered that, for a moment.
"That's a good thing, right?" He asked.
"It would prevent this attack." Thor said in a monotone.
O'Neill nodded, looking around. "Good, um. To be honest with you, I'd rather have a fleet of your ships, here. A few of these babies and we could just—"
He made eye contact with the Asgardian, and thought better of speaking his mind.
"Annihilate every single one of them with impunity." I finished for him. "Kill every last one of this parasitic species that preys on countless billions."
Thor didn't answer.
"We sh—" O'Neill backtracked, giving me a dirty look. "We could try the negotiating thing."
He probably didn't want to sound like a greedy species trying to take the technology away from other, more advanced races.
"I will contact the System Lords." Thor acknowledged. "You may return to your planet now."
There was a flash of light, and O'Neill was gone, leaving me alone with Thor.
"You are not like the other Tau'ri we have seen." Thor said, tilting his head slightly. "How have we not found evidence of your existence?"
"We can cloak ourselves." I answered carefully. "And we spend most of our lives hidden from the general population."
"Understandable. The unknown causes fear to arise in the populace, no matter the race." Thor said. "Their power is strong in you. I had thought O'Neill possessed a strong link to them, but yours is much more prevalent."
Huh?
"Them?" I asked.
"One of the five great races." Thor replied. "Comprised of the Nox, the Furlings, the Asgard, the Kryptonians, and the Ancients."
"Kryptonians? As in Krypton, the planet that was destroyed?" I asked, remember the conversations between Clark and I when I was staying at Smallville for a few short days.
"Yes." Thor confirmed. "The recent extinction of the Kryptonians was a veritable tragedy."
"So there are no other Kryptonians left, out there?" I asked, to clarify.
"Not to our knowledge." Thor replied.
I nodded, absorbing this information.
"There are Kryptonians on Earth?" Thor asked after a second of deliberation.
He was a sharp one, that was for sure. Why, else, would an earthling know about the destruction of Krypton, if he were not told of it by a remnant of the civilization itself?
"Yes." I confirmed.
There was a fairly long silence.
"This is good news." Thor said. "Then, as the human who is the most closely linked to the Ancients in power and stature, I have a request of you, Harry Potter."
"Your request is…?" I asked.
"Attempt to re-instate the alliance between yourself and this Kryptonian." Thor suggested. "Protect this planet, if this attempt at negotiation fails."
"…You said the majority of your fleets are busy, right now." I said slowly. "Fighting other Goa'uld?"
"No." Thor said. "I am afraid it is an enemy far more dangerous than the Goa'uld could ever hope to become."
Something far more dangerous than hundreds of gigantic ships raining hell on planets?
Okay, then.
"I see; how ominous." I acknowledged his statement. "So, you're asking me to figure out how to defeat hundreds of Goa'uld motherships? I'll be honest with you; I'm not that powerful. At most, I can destroy a few buildings with my full power."
"A Kryptonian affected by the light of a yellow sun." Thor said. "Is considered to be as god-like as the legends behind my name of Thor."
I knew that all too well, having fought the man.
"Moreover, there is always the chance that the treaty shall pass." Thor added.
"O'Neill succeed at being a diplomat?" I scoffed. "Yeah, I have to say; he doesn't seem the type."
"Still." I continued. "That's hundreds of ships, at once. We might be able to destroy every single one, but the amount of time it would take for us to do such a thing would render our efforts in vain; by then, every single city on the planet would be decimated."
"This is true." Thor agreed.
"And, I personally don't possess any kind of technology that could fight these ships." I said, thinking hard. "Maybe, if I could get to these Goa'ulds, I could kill them individually like I did with Bastet."
"You have killed a System Lord?" Thor asked in slight surprise.
I nodded.
"Intriguing news." Thor said. "When did this occur?"
"Today." I said. "A few hours ago, I think. I haven't kept track."
"Accurate enough." Thor acknowledged.
"But I didn't have to go against space ships." I said, running my hand through my hair helplessly. "I caught them by surprise."
Why were the stakes being raised continuously? It seemed like every time I reached a new level of power, something else appeared to overshadow it. At first, I didn't mind it, but this seemed so ridiculous it was almost insurmountable.
It was like graduating from learning to count to having to solve second order differential equations. I didn't even know where to begin. Whose help could I enlist? Who would accept? Who was actually powerful enough to aid me?
"Calm down." Erebus clattered in his sheath. "It has not even been a week, and you are already in trouble."
I relaxed slightly. I wasn't alone— never alone.
"A still considerable feat, nonetheless." Thor praised. "Where would you like to return?"
I had a choice?
I opened my mouth, and closed it again. Sure, I could go right back to England and have a little confab, but it was probably best for me to do something else, first.
"You can send me back down with O'Neill." I said. "I need to figure out what to do about this, and the best way to get that done, right now, is by securing a place with the SGC— at least. That way, I'd have access to their Stargate."
"A wise decision."
I closed my eyes as the expected flash of light came, depositing me right back into the concrete surroundings I had before.
I was right back in the same spot I had left, standing in that conference room.
O'Neill was there-as well as everyone else— munching on the remainder of the food.
Dick!
"What took you so long?" He asked flippantly.
My lip quirked upwards. If I punched him I would have no hope of joining these people.
"Had a little chat with Thor." I replied with.
"Oh yeah?" O'Neill said. "How'd that turn out?"
"Seemingly well." I said. "Apparently you have to be a diplomat with these Goa'uld while I try to put together a plan B."
"Plan B?" Daniel Jackson repeated.
I gave a nod and suppressed a wince— ugh, explaining things is so annoying. "...According to Thor, I'm some kind of descendant of the people calling themselves the ancients." I began.
That seemed to get the group's attention.
"You mean, part of the five great races, ancients?" O'Neill asked for clarification. "Those ancients?"
"That's what he said." I confirmed.
O'Neill whistled.
I rolled my eyes.
"And your plan, son?" Hammond asked reluctantly.
"I haven't given it a lot of thought yet, but I don't think I can destroy invading space ships that are in orbit with my power alone." I started.
"Wait, what?" Daniel asked, startled.
"Did you say an invasion?" Hammond said, looking to O'Neill for confirmation.
O'Neill nodded. "I was about to get to that part before you beamed your way down here."
"... Dude, you were stuffing your face with food." I pointed out.
"So?"
"So, you had plenty of time." I said with a slight grin.
"He does indeed have a point, O'Neill." Teal'c said in his ever impassive voice, though I could feel the amusement in his body language.
"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" O'Neill whined.
Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
"Traitor." O'Neill muttered, before addressing the General. "But yes, sir. It would appear that the action we took against the Goa'uld Hathor has caused them to view us as a serious threat."
"But they've already sent ships here, before." Daniel pointed out.
"Yeah." O'Neill acknowledged. "Apparently that's them just giving us a slightly hostile pat on the back." He said. "Thor said that they are actually considering sending hundreds of ships here."
There was silence for a long moment.
"A tactic that they have been employing for millennia." Bra'tac cut in, his knowledge on these creatures extensive. "Whenever a population seems to be developing more and more advanced technologies, the Goa'uld System Lords send in fleets to cull the species and return it to its roots— helpless victims living in famine and filth, who are then 'saved' by their gods."
It was an ingenious tactic.
Horribly cruel, but ingenious nonetheless.
They wouldn't know what exactly it was that hit them, and from the utter chaos that would follow their world's destruction, they would undoubtedly be looking for something to end the pain.
Their holy heroes, coming down from the skies and offering salvation.
All for the low, low price of eternal servitude!
Cheap, right?
It was then that another flash of light came, and with it, came Thor, sitting in his fancy chair.
"Colonel." Hammond stated slowly. "Do I need to call security?"
"That won't be necessary, General." O'Neill waved off. "I can vouch for him."
"Greetings." Thor said, tilting his head slightly, as if unsure of how to interact with the people here.
"Hello." Daniel and Carter said at the same time, while Bra'tac and Teal'c remained silent.
"General, Major, Daniel, Teal'c, Bra'tac." O'Neill said in a fake happy voice. "Meet Thor. Thor, this is General George Hammond, Major Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson, Teal'c and Bra'tac."
"It is an honor to meet with such a formidable enemy of the Goa'uld." Teal'c said, bowing his head slightly, with Bra'tac emulating the motion.
"On behalf of the United States, I would like to welcome you to Earth." Hammond said, straightening very minutely.
I stifled a snort.
"My thanks." Thor acknowledged, before addressing us all. "I have contacted the System Lords, with a request for negotiation to put your planet under the protection of the Asgard in the Protected Planets Treaty."
"Colonel?" Hammond asked for clarification.
"I believe it is our best choice considering the circumstances." O'Neill said after a few seconds, giving Thor a significant look. "The Goa'uld would definitely think twice before messing with the Asgard."
"And if that doesn't work?" Hammond asked. "If these... System Lords decide to disregard your treaty and launch an offensive?"
Thor considered the question. "We would not be able to assist you, with the majority of our fleet unavailable to us."
"So, total annihilation then." O'Neill said, still munching on the sandwiches. "Nothing new, there."
He made a grab for the last one, but I took it from him.
"Hey!" He protested, and I grinned in response, before eating the sandwich right before his eyes.
Hammond cleared his throat, before addressing me. "You were saying something about a plan B?"
"Oh, right." I said. "Yeah, plan B."
"So, what is it?" Carter asked.
"Like I said, I couldn't generate enough power within me to destroy a space ship— several houses are fine, but ships?" I grimaced a bit at the end there.
"Wait, you can destroy houses with nothing but your electric power?" Carter questioned, the scientist in her intrigued at the claim.
"That doesn't matter right now." I said before Hammond could cut her off. "Destroying their ships is the endgame. That is the prime directive of the mission." I said.
"Make it so, number one." O'Neill joked, but quieted down when no one even acknowledged the dig at the famous TV series.
"So, how do you intend to do that?" Hammond asked.
Moment of truth!
"I would like access to your Stargate and whatever information you have on these Goa'uld." I said calmly.
One. Two. Thre—
"Absolutely not." Hammond said.
That one only took three seconds.
"Why not?" I immediately answered with.
"This is a restricted facility, open only for members of the Stargate Command!" Hammond said stiffly. "While your powers are indeed formidable, I cannot in good conscience, send a child in enemy territory."
"Your concern is noted." Thor said calmly, cutting in. "However, I am confident that Harry Potter is capable of assisting you where we, the Asgard, cannot. The only one."
"And how's that?" He sounded skeptical.
I pulled out my wand, and rapped it on the top of my head, initiating the effects of the Disillusionment Charm.
"I could go in a Goa'uld ship, kill everyone inside, and take it back with me. I could sabotage their plans. I could kill a System Lord and pin the blame on other Goa'uld. And, I could do it all completely undetected." I said in what I hoped to be a dangerous tone of voice, moving around slowly until I reached Hammond, and disabled the charm, fading back into view, right in the man's face.
He tensed, but forced himself to relax.
"... I'm listening." Hammond said.
"I—" I took a few moments to gather my thoughts. "I have to get in contact with my friends and allies. See if any of them are willing to help, or get something together to fight off possible invasions at the very least."
A memory flashed before me— my mother telling me that James Potter, my father, was still alive. I wanted to go find him, but I had no idea where to begin.
"It doesn't have to be immediate, of course." I said to appease the man. "I know I can't just waltz in here and use your facilities without some kind of due process."
It seemed to work slightly, as the man deflated.
"Agreed." Hammond said. "I will give your request serious thought. In the meantime, you are free to go. Do you possess any means by which we can contact you?"
I almost balked at the dismissal.
"Just like that?" I asked. "No double or triple checking my identity?"
The General opened a nearby folder labeled "TOP SECRET"— wouldn't everything be top secret in a place like this?— and pulled out a few moving photos of myself on the Daily Prophet.
"Are those… moving pictures?" Daniel asked, unsure of what he was seeing.
"Yes." Hammond said. Carter and Daniel immediately grabbed a few to study, marveling at the impossibility of what they were seeing.
"You are… Thorough." I nodded. "Okay. I'll go, and I'll come back here in three months' time— assuming this peaceful summit of yours doesn't go to hell."
The number was arbitrary, really; I figured that would be enough time for me to settle old scores, catch up with my friends and family, and find my father.
At least, I hoped it would be enough. Besides, I also had to figure how to do what I said I could do. Infiltration might not exactly be easy if they could simply detect me through my body heat, or a "life sign" detector, or through simple motion sensors.
I couldn't rely on my magic frying the circuitry— the fact that nothing seemed to malfunction even when Erebus showed up in Thor's ship was a hint at the existence of some kind of shielding against the magical forces of the universe itself.
"That's all well and good, but how will we contact you in case these Goa'uld do not accept the treaty?" Hammond asked again.
"You—" A flash of light cut me off as two, small rounded triangular devices appeared on the table.
I looked to Thor. "Communication devices?"
"Naturally." Thor replied in faint amusement.
"That answer your question, General?" I asked. He nodded stiffly, handing the device over to Carter, who gazed at it with interest.
"I would ask that you not attempt to decipher its secrets until you have contacted Harry in three months' time." Thor said.
"But—" she protested.
"It would be greatly disadvantageous if it were broken." Thor cut her off.
"Translation: if you break it, I'm not fixing it." O'Neill made a quip.
"That would be a somewhat accurate representation of my current state of mind, O'Neill." Thor said, before looking to me.
"Where do you wish to go?" Thor asked, as I grabbed the communication device and stuffed it into my mokeskin pouch.
I told him.
"Very well. I wish you luck on your journey." He said, and my world flashed white again, before dropping me off at the familiar scene of London's rooftops.
Home, at last.
The sun was already setting, I noted as I leapt off of the rooftop, creating footholds in midair as I made my way to Grimmauld place under the Disillusionment Charm. It took the better part of an hour, but I finally found the place.
Having the aerial advantage made it much easier, but it still took some time for me to get used to the more top-down view, watching the many people walk around or drive their cars.
So, there I was, standing outside of Grimmauld place, wondering how the hell I was going to tell Sirius that dad was still alive.
I cancelled the Disillusionment Charm, and gave the door a few loud knocks.
About half a minute later, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps, before the door opened, revealing one Hermione Granger.
She grinned at the mere sight of me, before plowing into me with a crushing hug.
"You're finally here!" Hermione said. "I'm so glad you're alright."
"Not that I'm not glad to see you so soon, but what are you doing here?" I asked.
"I thought Erebus told you." Hermione said.
I looked down at the Falchion for clarification.
"Must have slipped my mind." The sword clattered in amusement.
"He felt your arrival a while back, and told us that he was going to bring you home." She said. "Everyone's here, wanting to see you and congratulate you."
Of course they were.
"One question."
"Yes?"
"Will there be Pepsi and junk food?" I asked.
"... Yes." She answered, giving me an incredulous look.
"Okay. Lead the way."
And I followed her on through. The house was alive with the happy chattering, and general revelry of the adults, who were probably still feeling the high over the war against Voldemort finally being over.
We passed by a few rooms.
"Was that—"
"I think so." I heard them say.
"Where is Sirius?" I asked Hermione.
"He'll be here in a bit. I think he went out to get some—" She explained, but was cut off.
"—Hermione, do you where my favorite robes ar—" A familiar voice said as its source entered its room; a very, very familiar voice.
Draco Malfoy.
What.
I took a moment to process this.
And then—
"What is he doing here?" I immediately said, my face shifting into an angry sneer.
"I'm right here, you know." Malfoy returned without much malice.
"Okay." I acknowledged. "Why are you here?"
"Harry." Hermione said. "Calm down, I can explain."
I reined in my temper, and turned to the woman in question as she led us into the kitchen, where Molly Weasley was chatting amiably with Narcissa Malfoy— holy shit, I think the world is going upside down.
I stared at the two for a moment in utter astonishment, before they noticed my presence. Molly's eyes brightened up and she pulled me into one of her bear hugs. Thanks to my physical enhancements, they didn't hurt anymore, but let's be honest here.
Would any of you want to be suffocated by your friend's mom's boobs? Especially when people were looking?
She let me go after a while of worried babbling.
"It's so good to see you, Harry! We were all so worried you were, you look like you haven't eaten in days— might have caught a cold, where's your shirt—"
"It's fine, Mrs. Weasley." I soothed, as Narcissa stared at us impassively, as if unsure of how to deal with the situation. "I'm alive, and I'm here again."
Hermione cleared her throat. I turned to see her sitting at the kitchen table, with Draco close by.
Way too close.
Was I simply misreading the situation, or was this what I think it was?
I deflated; whatever anger I was building up was killed in that moment. I sat down opposite of them.
"So, what did you even do, Malfoy?" I asked.
"Saved the whole lot of us, he did. The Death Eaters were advancing on us with a shield powered by several of them and he turned on them after hearing your speech at that battle." Another familiar voice said as he entered the room, gave the two mothers a greeting, and sat down. "I guess it must have had quite the impact."
Neville Longbottom.
His round face had thinned up so much I almost didn't recognize him, not to mention the cruelly shaped lightning scar on his forehead, but I knew that voice.
"Neville?" I asked to make sure. "Is that really you?"
The boy in question palmed his face. "I'm getting sick of that question, you know."
I winced; he had probably suffered quite a bit during his fights against the Death Eaters— the least of which is starvation. Who knew what happened to him?
"I'm sorry." I said, feeling a hard and heavy weight settle in my stomach. "This is my fault."
"Harry." Hermione said in concern. Malfoy stayed quiet.
"No." Neville denied, eyeing my black scaled arm slightly, and the sword at my hip. "You couldn't have known that fighting the Emperor of the bloody Demons was going to do that to you. It's a surprise that you even managed to survive that. It's not your fault you weren't here."
He noticed me eyeing his scar and sighed.
"Voldemort's idea of a joke." Neville explained. "He told me there was a prophecy that could've been about you or me. He got a hold of it, somehow; there was this line, something about 'marking him as an equal' or whatever."
"The scar?" I asked, running my finger over where my own scar used to be.
Neville nodded. "He said that since you weren't here, I had to fit the role of savior so that he could utterly crush me and kill all hope in the population. Then, he did that to me."
"That's— that's sick." I said. "I'm sorry, Neville."
"Don't be." He grinned savagely. "I tore a hole through his chest and escaped."
Come to think of it, I did remember being told something like that in the past.
"The Iron Rock, huh?" I smiled.
"Yeah." Neville mimicked, but frowned. "Where's your shirt, by the way?"
"I—" I opened and closed my mouth lamely. "Lost it."
"Damn." Neville said, grabbing a drink from the nearby cooler— Sirius' rule: always have coolers in every other room, all of them filled with various drinks. The guy was rich enough to do it, so why the hell not? "I can help you look for it later."
What kind of conversation was I having right now?
"It's on another planet." I said honestly, grinning slightly.
Neville laughed.
Sometimes truth was stranger than fiction.
"Don't worry about that, Neville." I said, turning back to Draco with a frown.
I said nothing.
He didn't either.
We stared at each other for a while.
"What?" He lost the battle. "What do you want, Potter?"
"Nothing." I said. "I'm just trying to understand."
"Well, are you?" He asked. "Understanding, that is."
"Still trying."
"Well, don't strain your mind too much, Potter." Draco sneered. "You might faint from pressure your brain's just not used to."
Draco might have saved lives and done something extremely positive, but it was nice to see some things stayed the same, like him being a dick.
I relaxed, and the party finally started.
There was the threat of Goa'uld invasion, and the knowledge that my father was still out there, alive and well, being controlled by a faerie named Leanansidhe. I would deal with both of those problems.
"I'm back!" I heard Sirius' voice come from the entrance. "With enough pizza to feed an army!"
'But.' I thought as I rushed out of the kitchen and hugged my Godfather— making sure not to drop the food— 'All of that can wait, for a little while.'
At least for tonight.
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Now, before you hop on the review section and say "WTF MAN YOU SAID THIS WAS STARGATE ARC, #%(#&%(", I want you to put yourself in the character's shoes. Threat of world annihilation on one hand; on the other hand, the knowledge that your father is alive somewhere after all these years.
Logically speaking, world annihilation should take precedence, but humans don't care about logic when it comes to those who were close to them.
Just keep that in mind before you rage.