Zoe, no Harmony as she learned her first day here, quickly treaded the stairs to escape to her room. Yes escape. Those people in the dinning room down stairs weren't her parents. No they were strangers, complete strangers. She tried to get along, to at the very least get to know them, but it hurt. She didn't know them and they didn't know her. They knew Harmony. Not Zoe Knight.
(—)
She tried to get to know them, instead they opted to ignore her. She didn't exist. She wasn't allowed to talk at the table, apparently it was poor manners. They weren't home for most of the day, so 'Harmony' had decided to explore her knew house, the most interesting thing was finding the money. Lots and lots of money hidden in little nooks and crannies, under the couch and love seats, and many other places that only her tiny arms could comfortably fit. Zoe didn't know why, the original Harmony would something like this, but she was getting an idea and one she fully agreed with.
She knew the moment she got her Hogwarts letter from that special owl. If the crosses around Harmony's parents neck and the many portraits of the son of god was anything to go by. She had a believably firm idea of what poor Harmony's parents would do if they found of she was a witch and Zoe didn't want to find out.
So the morning of receiving her letter, she went out of her way to find the Leaky Caldron. It took her a good while, but she found it. It was both amazing and horrifying all at once. Here was Zoe Knight, walking through the gateway to a magic filled world. For the gateway to magic it sure felt dark and eerie, but still somehow oddly welcoming. Like a black cat that walks in your path then stops to stare, to judge you, then it to continues walking, leaving the feeling of approval. She could almost hear the walls tell her there was something coming, she could only hope... well she didn't know what to hope, her nerves were eating her alive at this point.
And the stares weren't helping.
She ended up having to explain to the bar tender she was a muggleborn who wanted to scout out the stores in Diagon Alley for her parents. That was the first genuine smile she had received since she had ended up in this world. In happiness and relief she returned it as the kind wizard (she didn't know if he'd think she was rude if she called him old, that and calling the kettle black wasn't her cup of tea) tapped the stone wall, creating, no allowing her into a whole new world.
It would have been confusing if she hadn't seen a bit of it before, still she didn't want to believe it. The Hogwarts letter for 'Harmony' should have been enough proof and in a way she didn't want to believe it. Everything was just so overwhelming. Harmony's family was crap, that much she knew, she was a witch and now Zoe had another nail to add to her coffin. She would never see her family or friends again.
Zoe Knight does not exist.
At least not for her. She wasn't 'Zoe Knight' anymore, for some reason she was now Harmony Tauris. A witch who's family would crucify her the very moment they found out, she could feel it in her bones. She didn't plan to risk it. As much as it hurt, she didn't now if she'd ever find a way back and she owed it to her family and friends to live. She could at the very least keep them alive in her memories. If she wanted to survive in this new world she would have to adjust. For right now (and maybe permanently) she would have to lock Zoe Knight behind a door. An 11 year old Harmony Tauris would have to find away to live in the magical world by herself, or at the very least away from her new parents.
She had to learn how to live in the wizard world. For now she would get a taste of the wizards world, window shop, learn the prices and some insight. It would help if she had brought a note book or two to write down the prices of her supplies, Harmony did have a limited amount of money after all. She would have to make a bank account at Gringotts and wondered if the wizard in world had any stock markets. She didn't know much about goblins, and would have to learn soon if she wanted to make it in this world.
With that she set off to explore a little and as luck would have it she found a gallion amongst the crowd, odd but useful. So she went to Flourish and Blotts, a book on Goblins would be very important, and if she happened to have some left over t\she hoped she could get a book to write down prices and location.
Walking into the store she couldn't help but feel giddy, it was bigger on the inside! Like helloooo! A Book store had become a TV show reference! She couldn't help but wonder if the Doctor would love the treasure trove of knowledge here, honestly she wished she could show him around but its not it'd ever happen. Besides the store reminded her of the Beast's library, just a lot less white and gold. Lost in her thoughts and day dreams she missed a brown bushy hair girl gleefully dragging two adults into the store.
Harmony went over to the used book area, it was frugal of her sure but it was a habit she picked up from Zoe's dad, 'a penny saved is a penny earned' he would say. It was normal for them to go shopping for deals every Sunday. With a small smile she searched the shelves. She had to hold back a few scoffs when she skimmed through a few books. It was frustrating how the authors would look down on magical creatures, especially the goblins. They did control the bank and keep the economy going. In America the Great Depression was caused by foolish handling of money, constant lending money out with no way to pay for it. She knew, back when she was Zoe, that even the government would crash if the banks (*cough* other countries *cough*) demanded repayment. Money is a form of power, one she was sure they would eventually use and it was in her best interest to not be on the wrong side of the coin.
Finding an ideal book, she went down the stairs and grabbed a leather journal for her notes and paid, unsurprisingly the used book cost less than the journal, though it was a close call, but at least she still had some money left over.
As she was about to leave the store, she looked up only to stare in shock. There right in front of her was, in all his snobbish glory, Draco Malfoy and The Harry Potter. She could easily recognize Ron and the twins. She felt a taunting chill run down her back as more nails sealed her coffin. It's not that she wasn't pleased or happy to be here, it was just as terrifying as it is amazing. Just gong between the two was stressful enough. It didn't help matters that Lucius came in not long after. She watched as a hidden battle formed. In front of her was a soap opera.
Literally and physically. To her they were both people and actors, people she would never get to see up close and now here she was, standing a few feet from the fight itself.
She watched as Harry stood tall in the face of an adult, defiant in his stance, and still there was a taste of fear. Reminding her of his horrible relatives. Berating herself internally, Harry Potter wasn't an actor, not here, not in this world. He is real. He is just a young boy who grew up in hell and forced to fight, Lead a fight in a world that was supposed to accept him. She... she wanted to help even if only a little.
But what could she do? When she was Zoe, she knew of love, she knew she was loved. She always had someone there for her. But like him she was now alone in a cruel world. She felt her heart stutter at a thought, one simple, little thought. What if she could be there for him? She didn't know how, but if Harry had at least someone to lean on he could find a time to breath. He didn't have to seem so alone, even when surrounded by others. She continued to watch as Harry stood tall.
There was just so much anger, so much tension. The bridge would drop at any minute. And Harmony realized she what she was doing. She was being a part of the problem. Smacking herself hard in the head, she told herself to stop being an idiot, stop gawking and Move!
Only she moved too late.
Her thoughts having delayed her enough to miss Lucius and Malfoy leaving. Instead of the wonderful smack down she wanted to do, she instead smacked into a little red headed girl. She didn't mean too! "I'm so sorry!" She cried. Frantically picking up their fallen books, two of which she knew were hers and handed the rest to the red head who looked familiar. "God, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to. I didn't hurt you did I?" She asked looking over the girl only to notice a large family of eyes on her, from the group she was previously watching. Internally swearing, every 'bad' word she knew (which sadly wasn't much), as her eyes widened in absolute horror as she took in their faces.
Oh, they weren't mad, heck the twins were down right laughing, while a few others were flabbergasted or a bit shocked. No her horror was from acting so stupid in front of someone, from Zoe's world, famous as all of them. Hell it would be like face planting right ing from of Hugh Jackman as you asked for an autograph and desperately wishing you would die right then and there so you've never have to live through the humiliation. She bit her lip nervously, not daring to look at the golden trio, "Sorry." She said again.
"Oh, it's alright deary." Said a womanly voice.
Before Harmony could feel relieved, she felt eyes burning her very being. Slowly she turned, not hearing anything, not even seeing anything. She locked eyes with the man she knew as Arthur Weasley who was giving her The look. Not the 'How Dare you Touch my daughter, Die!' look, no it was how a predictor looks at its prey, starving.
With one last quick apology she bolted, completely missing Mrs. Weasley scold that terrifying predator of an actor. Even remembering that he really liked muggles didn't help, instead it edged her on, chanting 'Never wear pants in front of Weasley! Never wear pants in front of Weasley!'
It took a while before she felt comfortable enough to stop running and an even longer time to start breathing.
Once she finally caught her wind, she started laughing, hysterically. She didn't care she got a few weird looks, she need this okay?! She needed to let it out somehow. It didn't matter if others thought she was crazy, hell she'd even agree! She's in Harry Potter for crying out loud! And she doesn't even know how it happened. Sure she's wanted adventure! She's wished time and time again! But she's in frick'n Harry Potter! She wants to cry, she loves magic, don't get her wrong, but Harry Potter! Others would kill for the chance! Its Harry Potter after all.
Fuck. Couldn't she have ended up in a Disney movie or something?! With a happy ending and all that!? Hell, she would have been thrilled to be a plate or something in the Beasts castle! Imagine tying to touch that fluffy fur or those magnificent horns, ...sure she'd probably end up smash a few thousand ways but it would have been worth it! Touch the fur or Die trying!
But Harry Potter! Damn it she couldn't breath! Breath damn it!
Harry Potter. It was fine in the beginning, but it got got just so damn dark! What kind of children's movie is that?! A movie that sends children off to war by 'grandpa' of all things! 'For the Greater Good!' He said! Dying in a war, she wasn't ready for a war! Hell she planned to off herself if her old world went nuclear (less painful, death by radiation would be hell on earth). A war of good versus evil. Lord she was grateful she didn't end up in 'Lord of the Rings' she would have offed herself before the first chapter ended! Well, she might have waited to see the grey hat wizard who played Magnito, but that's beside the point!
She's in Harry Potter! God she didn't even know she was crying, until she put her hands on her face. Letting out a soft hiccup and a few deep breaths she forcibly calmed herself down, now wasn't the time to freak out. Determined, she stood up straight and walked ahead, complete her window shopping now, she could find an outlet later.
That outlet came in the form of a leather diary, the one she planed to use to write items and prices on, till she figured she could just use her Hogwarts letter and save a bit of time writing. Why write if she didn't have to? So she just added to the list. It felt really good to get it out, sure she had to be a bit vague in the Diary, she didn't know who might read it. She wasn't an idiot she knows children are curious, even the adults, best to be vague but honest to get some of the stuff off her chest.
She did find it a bit odd to sign her name though, is it normal to sign your name at the end of an entry? But somehow it just felt right, like she needed to. It was the polite thing to do after all. Let the diary and others know that yes the diary belonged to someone and yes, please return it to it's rightful owner because, yes she cares and yes she'd want it back no matter how embarrassed she'd be it it was returned.
She realized if she really wanted to spill her guts out she would need invisible ink and a black light. Wizards wouldn't even be able to think of that and other muggleborns would just think its an advance spell. She could even make plans to ease Harry's horrible life and possible future events, she did not want to be known as a seer thank you very much. She only knew one timeline.
So when she opened her new diary after dinner with those people she was shocked to find the page blank. She flipped the page over, 'cause why the hell not? The chances of pencil bleeding through the page was zero to none, so why not check.
And check.
Then just to be sure, check again.
The journal did not come with an instruction manual, she didn't think it would need it.
Apparently she was wrong.
So Harmony did what any smart person would do, she tried again. Taking her pencil out and began writing. As any good scientist would do try the same thing over just to make sure there's similar results.
Dear Diary,
I am currently writing on the second page in bewilderment, yes bewilderment because all that I wrote yesterday is missing, not that I can remember everything that I wrote, but sometimes its nice to go back and laugh at yourself. A true time capsule.
Now I completely understand if I wrote in invisible ink but I didn't I wrote in pencil. Unless this book has some type of spell that turns all written words invisible or possibly lemon juice to make it invisible. Never tested lemon juice to see if it was reviled with heat or black lights, I'll have to do that later It'll be fun.
Only this time she watched the book to see what would happen...
