Summary: After a stressful and emotionally exhausting fourth year, Harry is so done with all things magical and supernatural. Hoping to have a normal, stress free summer (or as stress free as it could be with the Dursleys), Harry returns to No. 4 Privet Drive only to have his Potter luck strike again, this time in the form of the Ghost with the Most.
A/N: Ok this is a long note but bare with me. This is my first story on this site (just to let you know). I recently got this plot bunny stuck in my head and, originally, I was just going to find a fanfiction that would satisfy my needs. Unfortunately, there's hardly any Beetlejuice crossovers and so like any fan that isn't satisfied with the fanfiction options I said, "Fine. I'll just do it myself". So here we are! Also, there will be no romance! At least between Harry and Beetlejuice, I will try my best to write any canon romance though.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Beetlejuice or, really, any of the characters.
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Chapter 1: Hey, Somebody's on the Roof!
Sighing in exhaustion Harry flopped onto his rickety bed. It had been another day of hard work doing "chores", cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry, scrubbing the toilet, and dusting the living room where all part of his routine plus more. Normally, he'd be grumbling in the unfairness of it all but not this time. This time, Harry embraced his chores and cleaned the house with vigor he hadn't had since he was four, back when he still thought cleaning would earn the Dursleys praise.
Now, he just wanted to forget. He wanted to forget how Cedric looked like lying there, not breathing, the feel of Pettigrew running that knife down his forearm, the sheer terror of facing his resurrected enemy. He just wanted to forget. The labor that the Dursleys made him do was his way of escape, it also helped his nightmares. Exhausted from a day's work, Harry usually passed out from exhaustion. Unfortunately, this method didn't always work. At times, he would still jerk awake in the middle of the night crying out Cedrics' name as he was hit with the Merlin awful Avada Kedavra.
Reluctantly closing his eyes, Harry fell into a restless sleep full of darkness and occasional flashes of green light.
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Early the next morning Harry was up and about, washing dishes and making breakfast.
"Boy!"
Scrambling to turn off the stove Harry stood at the kitchen doorway, "Yes Uncle Vernon?"
The whale of a man grunted, "We are going to visit Marge for a few days."
Harry felt his stomach drop in dread. Aunt Marge was a vile woman who enjoyed making Harry suffer. One time when he was six, Aunt Marge sent Ripper-her prized pitbull, after him and he'd been stuck up in a tree for hours on end. Harry would even dare to say she was worse than Voldemort. At least he didn't act like Harry was an unwanted mistake. Oh, wait. He does.
He licked his lips in nervousness, "W-When are we leaving?"
"You aren't going boy!" Vernon snarled, spittle flying everywhere.
Harry practically melted in relief. That was one disaster averted. Uncle Vernon must have been thinking that he would "attack" his sister again. With how his year was going, Harry just might have if Marge pushed him far enough.
"While we're gone I want no funny business, you hear?!"
Frantically nodding Harry replied, "Yes sir! I promise not to do anything Uncle Vernon!"
A sniff from the right caught his attention, Aunt Petunia glared at him with beady eyes, "Not nothing, boy. I have made a list of things I want done by the time we get back, am I understood?"
Gulping and hoping to Merlin that his luck didn't act up, Harry nodded his head, "Yes Aunt Petunia."
Satisfied, she turned around to walk into the living room, "Are you ready, popkin?"
Vernon gave Harry one last long look before lumbering away.
Two hours later and the Dursleys were gone, off to Merge's house for three whole days, and Harry was left alone. Alone. In the house. With his thoughts.
This sudden realization was crippling to Harry. Everything came crashing down and he started gasping, almost instantly not being able to breath. In the back of his mind Harry realized he was having a panic attack, but could do nothing to stop it. Curling up in a ball in the middle of the hallway he tried his best to take in air. Harry was shaking, he didn't want to be alone, not now, maybe not ever. Clenching his eyes shut Harry choked out a sob as he drowned in the sound of his own heartbeat racing.
Thud.
Gasping, his eyes snapped open. Freezing in shock and fear Harry strained his ears to listen closely.
Thud. Thud.
There it was again, and it was coming from above. Standing up with his heart pumping but for a different reason he looked around for a weapon. Uncle Vernon had locked all of his things in the cupboard under the stairs as soon as they got home from the train station so Harry couldn't use his wand.
Running up stairs as quietly as possible Harry opened the door to Dudley's room and grabbed the first thing he saw, which happened to be a baseball bat. Gripping the handle, Harry cautiously walked outside.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Shielding his eyes from the sun, he squinted and saw a humanoid figure banging his head on the chimney causing the thudding noise. The Gryffindor could faintly hear the person muttering, "Stupid...tired...nobody sees...the point…"
Feeling a lot braver than a few minutes ago, Harry shouted towards the figure, "Hey! What are you doing?!"
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Beetlejuice was having a horrible day. Scratch that, he was having a horrible afterlife. After the whole fiasco with Lydia and the Maitlands he spent five years waiting for his turn to meet Juno only for the old hag to nag at him for what felt like days. Then he spent the next two years trying to make someone say his name, or hell! For someone to even see him. But no. So here he was, moping on some random ass house. Damn those middle class, suburban and white ghosts! Damn the Deetz! And damn that gothy teen, Lydia! He was so close to getting his freedom! So Close! But then his underaged bride had to go and stab him.
So deep in his depressed filled thoughts Beetlejuice didn't notice someone opening the door to the house he was perched on. Nor did he notice when a head of messy hair stopped to look up at him.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
Freezing mid head slam, Beetlejuice slowly turned his head. If he were alive his heart would have been beating a mile a minute, hope swelling in his chest.
Immediately, the demon spotted who had spoken and at that moment, as if God was mocking him, the clouds that had mysteriously rolled in during the short amount of time it had taken to turn his head, parted to shower this mysterious person in a golden light.
"Uriel, is that you?" Beetlejuice breathed.
The angel in front of him tilted his head in confusion, "Who?"
Snapping back to reality Beetlejuice floated towards his savior, though he made sure to stay a few feet away from the breather, you know, as a precaution. He totally wasn't afraid of this puny kid, nuh-huh. No siree. Still...
"You can see me?" he cautiously asked.
The kids brow furrowed, "Am I not supposed to?"
"No-Yes-NO! I mean-"
As the uncharacteristically flustered ghost tried to explain himself, Harry frowned in confusion. What was this guy on about? On second thought...did he really just fly? Gazing at the person before him Harry realized that this guy wasn't normal. Oh, now you noticed? A sarcastic voice in his head piped up. But the young wizard couldn't really be faulted for his lack of observation skills, he was having a panic attack a few moments ago after all.
As if my magic (ha!) all of Harry's earlier fears and concerns came rushing back. Panicking and trying to find a distraction, his eyes fixed on the-the being in front of him. Who, was still babbling on about something...ghosts? Whatever, he needed to do something, now.
"Do you want to come inside?" Harry blurred out.
Beetlejuice could only blink in confusion, "What?"
Blushing in mortification, Harry stammered out, "I-I uhm...I m-mean," now it was his turn to be flustered. In his head Harry was screaming at himself, who invited a total stranger into their house when they're alone?! Harry freakin' Potter. That's who.
Beetlejuice on the other hand was unexpectedly calm. There was something strangely calming knowing that the other person was just as anxious. Feeling his confidence being restored he grinned, "I'd love to babes!"
Babes? What? Outwardly Harry responded, "Ah, right. Um, follow me then?"
Soon they were both sitting down at the kitchen table across from each other drinking the tea Harry prepared. This is so awkward. Harry internally bemoaned, what was I thinking?! Fidgeting the boy who lived tried to desperately think of something to say.
Beetlejuice, not one to stay silent for so long decided to break the tension, "So babes, what's your name?" Not that he really cared. The demon just wanted something to steer the conversation towards his name. If he couldn't become mortal, then he'll do the next best thing; create chaos. After all, he was an opportunist.
Feeling relieved that the other decided to speak up first Harry happily told him his name, "I'm Harry Potter." Pausing to think, poor naive Harry then continued, "What's yours?"
Bingo. Beetlejuice couldn't help the grin that split his face, floating off his seat he exclaimed, "Why babes, I'm so glad you asked!" Trying to rein in his excitement he said, "Sadly, I'm not able to tell you my name," The ghost sighed dramatically, "It's part of my curse."
Leaning toward him in interest Harry gasped out, "Curse?" At that moment something occurred to Harry, leaning back in his chair he frowned, "Wait. Who did you say you where again?"
Beetlejuice groaned, "Come on babes! Weren't you listening to anything I said?!"
Harry sheepishly shook his head, slumping in disbelieve the demon sulked and then brightened giving Harry a whiplash with how fast his emotions changed.
Rising up, Beetlejuice, with a flair of his hand conjured a sign that flashed white and green lights and with a flourish he bowed, "I'm the one and only Ghost with the Most, Demon from Hell, and Bio-Exorcist of the Netherworld! I am-!" With a snap he conjured up a giant beetle and a cup of orange juice, proudly displaying them with jazz hands he looked expectantly at Harry.
Gapping at the display Harry racked his brain for a name that would fit those two descriptions, "Uh...your name's...Orange Bug?...Wait. Ghost?!"
Everything he conjured poofed out of existence and Beetlejuice deflated like a balloon, literally. "Jeez sweetheart, you're killin' me all over again here!"
Crossing his arms defensively Harry scowled, "You know I could just kick you out, right?"
The ghost scoffed, waving a dismissive hand in Harry's direction, "Please, as if you could."
Feeling offended Harry rebuffed, "I could!"
Quickly losing interest in the conversation, Beetlejuice steered the topic back to his name. "So, any other name guesses?"
Harry visualized the objects that the demon showed him earlier; a bug and a carton of orange juice. Maybe it wasn't just any bug but a specific type? Having a flash of inspiration Harry snapped his fingers, "Beetlejuice! Your name's Beetlejuice!"
Bing, bing, bing!
Confetti exploded everywhere, "We have a winner!" Beetlejuice announced in his best talk show host voice. "Now, kid, all you gotta do is say my name three times! Three times, got that? It must be spoken unbroken!"
Feeling as if something was off, Harry crossed his arms stubbornly and asked, "Why?"
There was a moment of silence Beetlejuice felt all the past years anger and frustration bubble up, "Why?" Beetlejuice whispered.
Harry's neck hairs stood up in warning and he gulped, shrinking back at the feeling of the room dropping temperatures giving him flashbacks of dementors.
He tried to rein in his temper but was failing to do so, "Why? Why? Why, why, why, why? WhY?!" Hair turning a crimson red and pupil enlarging until they covered his sclera, Beetlejuice snarled, "BeCAUse I wANt tO bE FreE!" He slammed his fist on the table causing it to buckle and break from the force.
Harry yelped in fright bushing even further back on his chair causing him to topple over. This seemed to snap Beetlejuice out of it and he instantly rushed over, "Hey you-"
The words seemed to have dried up in his mouth because the kid (Larry?) flinched away from his presence. A forgine emotion welled up within him and Beetlejuice immediately backed off, running a hand through his hair he swallowed, "Shit. Sweetheart, I-I didn't...I mean..." Not being able to face the kid, Beetlejuice disappeared. Leaving no indication that he was ever there to begin with.
Harry stared wide eyed at the spot that the ghost had just occupied. Shakingly, he stood up and walked over to where the broken table layed. Harry remembered the day Aunt Petunia had gotten this particular table, she had practically begged for Uncle Vernon to buy it for her, she argued, But darling! Just think of what the other women in the neighborhood will think if we don't get this! You know that I host our monthly tea parties! What will they think when they see we still have last years dequore?! Needless to say, she had gotten that dining table and was quite proud of it.
Now, here it was, not even a year old and it was laying there broken. Harry was devastated, in fact, one could say that part of the reason Harry had been frightened earlier was because he knew he was going to get it once the Dursleys came home and saw the smashed table. At the moment Beetlejuice had advanced to help him up, Harry had, for a split second, thought that it was Uncle Vernon who was coming towards him. Which is why he now stood in silent despair and confusion, why did Beetlejuice leave just like that? Why, after all he had said about wanting his freedom did he just disappear? For some reason Harry was a bit hurt at the abrupt departure.
Shaking his head to get rid of these confusing feelings Harry sat on the floor to think. How am I going to fix this before Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia get home? Harry supposed he could magick it back together but therein lies the problem, how was he going to get his wand out of his trunk which was under the stairs? Maybe he could try doing it wandless?
Staring intensely at the fragmented table Harry stuck his tongue out in concentration and muttered the mending charm, "Reparo."
Nothing. Nothing had happened, slumping in defeat the wizard sighed, "Guess I'm not cut out for wandless magic."
His thoughts wandered back towards Beetlejuice. He was weird, but Harry found that he didn't mind that. Really, anything was better than snake faced Voldemort in his opinion. Even if Beetlejuice was a ghost-demon-thing. Come to think of it, he wasn't like any of the ghosts Harry had seen, Beetlejuice actually seemed much more powerful. Suddenly thinking of something Harry sat up. That's right! Beetlejuice could fix this mess! If he could conjure up a bunch of things with no problem, surely he could fix the table? After all, wasn't he the one to break it in the first place?
Mind made up Harry took a deep breath but stopped himself before he uttered even the first syllable of his name. Beetlejuice had left in a bad mood, so what if he didn't show up even after Harry had called him? What if…?
Harry licked his dry lips in nervousness, what if the reason he left was because of him? Not feeling as enthusiastic about calling Beetlejuice, Harry flopped onto his back. "But I need him to fix this." He murmured to himself.
Screwing up his courage, Harry hyped himself up, "Come on, Potter! Where's your Gryffindor bravery?"
"Beetlejuice."
Harry held his breath in anticipation, thinking that something grand would happen. When nothing did he said it a second time, "Beetlejuice." As he was gearing up to say his name a third time, there was a sudden poof of smoke as Beetlejuice appeared right above Harry's laying form. The ghost with the most but his hand over Harry's mouth and said in a soft whisper, "Don't."
Harry could only gape up at Beetlejuice, removing the demons' hand from his mouth Harry simply asked, "Why?"
Exhaling, Beetlejuice stood and helped Harry up to his feet, "Cuz babes, I-well I hate to say it but, I feel bad for scarin' ya into saying my name." Beetlejuice wanted to blench at what he was saying. Him? Feeling bad about scaring a breather? Psh, never! Yet, here he was, apologizing to one. Man, he hated his afterlife.
Harry felt perplexed, "You didn't scare me into saying your name. I just needed you to fix the dining table." He emphasized this by pointing towards said table.
Beetlejuice looked back and forth between Harry's scencere gaze and the broken table, "Oh." He paused, lightning up and grinning he crossed his arms, "In that case, I take back my apology! And you can call me anytime babes!" Beetlejuice winked.
Smiling Harry nodded, "Sure! Uh, can you fix the table now?"
With a snap of his fingers the table was as good as new, "Now, babes, what about we have some fun?" He smiled mischievously.
Harry's own inner marauder sprange forth at the ghosts' tone and he gave Beetlejuice a grin of his own, with matching grins they began to plan. At that moment, the neighborhood collectively shiverd, because the most chaotic ghost and the son of a prankster had just teamed up.
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After the initial hiccup of their first meeting, Harry and Beetlejuice got on like a house on fire. Whenever Harry wasn't doing his chores he was pranking the neighbors with Beetlejuice (the best part of it all was that Beetlejuice made sure they couldn't link it back to them). Of course pranking wasn't the only thing they did, with Dudley not around they both watched TV and occasionally tried their hand at some video games. With the amount of fun he was having, Harry almost forgot about the Dursleys arrival. Almost.
Halfway through a level Harry gasped, "Oh no!"
Staring at the TV intently with a console in hand, Beetlejuice distractedly asked, "What's wrong kid?"
Harry jumped off the couch and rushed to turn off the TV, Beetlejuice gave an indigent 'hey' at that.
"What was that for babes? I was totally kicking your ass for a second there!" Beetlejuice complained.
Swiftly Harry started going around the living room cleaning up any mess they might have left, "I forgot my Aunt and Uncle were coming home today! If they see a speck out of place they'll-"
Click.
Harry could only watch in horror as the door slowly swung open.
A/N: Ooh, cliffhanger!:0 Lol, I was going to write more but then I thought; nah. I hope you guys like this and that none of the characters are too oc I don't actually own the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix book so I apologize if I miss anything (might mix things up with the movie since I DO own those). The Beetlejuice that I imagined while writing this was the musical version which is why you might see so many references (I haven't actually seen the musical, just heard the songs). Sorry about any grammar errors :( I don't have a beta and I'm too lazy to really read through it and edit. Soo, tell me what you think! Should I continue? Pls review!
