Spirit Walker
Chapter 1 - Destiny Brings Us Together Once Again
October 16, 2010 - Diagon Alley - Anonymous
Freezing raindrops splashed against the wooden barrels outside of a dimly-lit bookstore in Diagon Alley. The lantern hanging above the door swayed in the biting breeze, flickering before extinguishing in a hiss of agony. A man, frail and ageing, stared out into the empty cobblestone street.
"Rather empty even with the awful weather," the man muttered, peering across the way at an empty hot beverage shop. He turned to grab his umbrella, fumbling with his cane before opening the door and stepping outside. The crisp air stung his lips and cheeks, a breath of steam emitting from his mouth as he began walking.
"Mr. Roberts, how good to see you!" A woman had opened the shop door across the street, an umbrella in hand as well.
"Ah, Ms. Falmar, it's always a pleasure! Not the most pleasant day for walks, is it not?" She shook her head, smiling and making her way over.
"It's unusual for the alley to be this empty, don't you agree? I haven't a single customer in hours!"
"I could say the same. Rather peculiar," Mr. Roberts replied, his wooden cane creating ripples in the glistening puddles below. They walked in silence, only pausing to comment on the brand new flower shop opening a block down. Droplets latched onto a dazzling teal petal, holding on for dear life as it slowly slid down the green stem.
"My, Mr. Roberts, it seems as if this flower has seen much better days," Ms. Falmar exclaimed, studying what seemed to be a dried tulip.
"It certainly has. A shame the shopkeeper would keep such a pitiful display in front of his store for the world to see." They continued walking, the wind picking up in a ferocious gust. Turning the corner, Ms. Falmar let out a blood-curdling scream.
A cloaked figure stood in the middle of the road, a black wolf by its side. Mr. Roberts shuddered as the creature's eyes bored into his, as if knowing all along they'd turn the corner. On the cobblestone laid hundreds of what appeared to be dried bodies, their skin cracked and faces shrunken as if wrung like a sponge and left to bake in the scorching sun. A putrid smell emitted from the display.
"Ah, more volunteers! I wasn't expecting so many!" The cloaked figure spun around, his face hidden by an oversized, drooping hood. A death eater.
"I'm calling the ministry!" Mr. Roberts yelled in the pouring rain, the wind howling as if to deafen anyone who would come to their aid. The cloaked figure began to chuckle, strolling over to the two with his wolf in tow.
"Now, let's not be so rash! The fun has just begun!" The figure raised his hand, a glowing teal ball of sparkling matter appearing on his fingertips. With a quick mutter, Mr. Roberts watched in horror as his walking companion's eyes bugged out of her face- her skin sinking slowly before collapsing to the ground in a heap of dried skin and bone.
"You see? Quite fascinating isn't it. A form of magic older than your grandparents, rediscovered at last." The cloaked figure approached Mr. Roberts, stripping back his hood to reveal his sunken, pale face. A manic smile played on his lips, a dangerous sparkle flashing in his red eyes.
With a flick of his wrist, Mr. Roberts felt his mind being torn from his head. He felt himself leaving his physical manifestation in a frenzy of pain.
He could only see darkness.
October 17, 2010 - Diagon Alley - Hermione
Hermione wasn't having the best day. She'd managed to miss her boss's summons three times due to careless snoozing, spill half her instant coffee onto her new blouse, and stumble into Draco Malfoy on her way to the crime scene.
"Lovely seeing the mudblood out and about," Draco sneered from a cafe table, a pale toddler sitting on his lap while playing with what appeared to be a small bowl of ice cream.
"Draco, I see you haven't changed." His eyes raked across her body before smirking.
"Well, someone definitely has changed in the right areas." Hermione glared daggers at the Slytherin graduate before walking off, fuming. The nerve of that boy. In front of his own child. Who would even be desperate enough to shag him to have that poor thing pop out?
"Ah Ms. Granger! I see you've finally arrived." A burly man in a burgundy coat with black slacks and a tie waved her down, an amused expression on his face. Hermione flushed slightly and made her way over quickly.
"I'm incredibly sorry Mr. Finnick! I overslept and didn't get your calls. It won't ever happen again!" He smiled lightly, although a troubled look spread across his face.
"Ms. Granger, your punctual record indicates this a mere outlier. Relax. As for the investigation, we have quite the case on our hands." He spread his hands, gesturing towards a cobble road filled with bodies. Hermione gasped.
Hermione had become an auror after completing her final years at Hogwarts, much to the surprise of her parents and friends. Something had drawn her to pursue the dangerous job. Was it the excitement? The aspect of not knowing what would be thrown her way? A longing to fill the shoes of a certain someone?
Ron had been quite supportive of her decision, deciding to stick with his brothers in managing the joke shop in the alley. They'd remained quite close, attending their usual Friday dinners and talking whenever they had the chance. Truth be told, the relationship they believed would almost certainly blossom as the years passed seemed to become a distant memory as they settled for being friends. It was mutual. On good terms.
In her years of fighting wizarding crime, Hermione had never seen a display like she did now. Corpses lie strewn, their bodies mangled and withered as if death had touched their very souls. Some faces held expressions of pain, their mouths open in surprise and horror. There had to be at least a hundred on the street in front of her, bags of goods dropped at their feets. A man carrying a wooden cane lay closest to her, appearing to have stumbled into the scene at a later time.
Hermione knelt down, examining the frail man.
"I've never seen a charm of this liking," Hermione muttered, running a finger along the dried forehead. Mr. Finnick knelt down alongside her, seemingly stumped.
"When I first saw them, I believed this was the work of some dementor. But hundreds of wizards falling to a swarm of them? At least one would be able to ward them off with a patronus." Hermione nodded in agreement. She got up, glancing around at the other victims. It seemed like all had fallen at the same time- as if one moment they'd been walking and the next collapsing.
"There is a possibility, and I believe we both know how serious this could end up being if word got out." Hermione turned to face her boss, a pained expression on her face. "It seems to me this is the work of Psyche magic."
"Impossible!" Mr. Finnick exclaimed, eyes wide. "No sane wizard, even death eaters, would dare trifle in that branch of magic! We know the risks associ-"
Cries of confusion rang throughout the air. Hermione turned to find what appeared to be three aurors chasing a figure. With a flash, he or she was gone. Lying in the cobblestone where the figure had once stood lay a lens cover. For a camera.
"How did he get through! The concealment charm should have stopped him!" Mr. Finnick angrily stormed over to the three aurors, a terrified look in their eyes.
"Well, so much for keeping this case under wraps," Hermione sighed.
October 17, 2010 - Crete, Greece - Harry
A thunderous crack emitted from the glass cup as Harry poured himself another serving of seltzer water over a mound of sparkling ice cubes. He reached over and grabbed a slice of lime from the wooden cutting board propped next to him on the bench, watching as he dropped it into the swirling bubbles of carbonated bliss.
"Master Potter, I believe that's your third bottle today." Harry chuckled, peering over at a small boy across from him. They both sat on benches facing each other, a warm breeze carrying scents of the foaming sea below. They were in the backyard of Harry's cottage, positioned on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean. Lush grasses and flowers littered the ground, swaying in the steady wind.
"Guilty. Although it is quite warranted from this morning's ordeals."
"You always come up with an excuse! Come on, we have more research to do. Are you just going to mope around all day?" The boy got up and tugged on Harry's sleeve.
"Mope? A better term would be enjoying the beautiful outdoors, Theo. Just look at this view!" Harry replied, a smile dancing across his lips as he brought the carbonated beverage to his mouth. The harsh sting of the beverage in the back of his throat, along with the bitter flavour of lime, seemed to always find its way into his daily routine.
Theo had worked for Harry as his personal assistant for years, initially running into him at a market near the center of town. While he didn't see much use for him these days besides the constant nagging, Harry had grown fond of the boy.
Harry had traveled to Greece six years ago, following the trail Dumbledore had left him with before his death. He had left immediately after the fall of Voldemort, although the pain of leaving his friends and what he considered family had been difficult. This, however, was a task he was employed to do alone. He couldn't afford to endanger anyone else.
It would be a lie to state that Harry hadn't missed his old life. He missed the light-hearted, comedic antics of Ron, the ever-bossy Hermione, and even Ginny. He missed the Weasley family, his mentors from Hogwarts, and the school life he would always cherish. Harry could still picture himself wandering the stone halls of the castle, echoes of laughter and talking portraits filling the school chambers. He would have to live a life away from those he cared most for to ensure their safety.
The irony… Harry thought, slightly amused.
Dumbledore had left him a diary- one owned by the infamous dark wizard Ekrizdis. Ekrizdis had been known for possibly creating the manifestation that was Azkaban, a current prison utilized by the Ministry in the middle of the ocean. He was also known for his experimentation in a branch of magic known as Psyche, his studies eventually leading to his loss of sanity and death. His studies, however, resulted in the creation of the wraith known as a Dementor.
Psyche was and still is a branch of magic studied by only a few daring wizards and witches, its effects on sanity proving far too dangerous even for the most capable. It involves the manipulation of the soul in a being- having the ability to extract and hold the spirit of a living being while also having the ability to transfer said soul into another body. The Imperius Curse, long thought to be one of the most dangerous charms in the modern wizarding world, was structured on this branch of magic. The caster could essentially seize control of the soul inside an individual.
Unlike other branches such as Divination and Charms, Psyche is a forbidden form of magic not taught in any school around the globe.
Harry had studied the branch of magic for years, still unable to understand Dumbledore's intentions. Why had he led him to discover this? Even with limited knowledge, Harry continued his experimentation for Dumbledore's sake. Knowing the deceased headmaster, Harry knew something substantial was at stake.
His studies brought him to the the birthplace of Ekrizdis's ancestors- the island of Crete off the coast of Greece. For years, Harry poured over the dark wizard's notes in hopes of finding the answer to this task Dumbledore assigned him. He could see how the branch of magic had corrupted the mind of the author, preferring to stay away from spells extracting fragments of his own spirit.
Harry's exploration of the island had uncovered even more documents on the matter, where he learned the coveted process of soul extraction. It had been over a year since Harry had first performed it, watching in awe as a teal glow appeared to burst out of the test beetle.
Ever since that day, Harry faced the predicament of finding a home for the extracted soul. He had attempted to insert it into the lifeless beetle's body, but found the task fruitless. It was almost as if the body was rejecting it.
"We have to be missing something!" Theo exclaimed, continuing to roughly tug on Harry's sleeve.
"Obviously, or we wouldn't be in this situation," Harry snorted, flicking Theo's forehead. The boy stumbled backwards, rubbing his minor wound and scowling at Harry.
"You're mean!" He pouted as Harry got up, tousling the boy's hair.
"Come on, we have research to do!" The boy smiled, clinging onto Harry's hand as they made their way through the thick field towards the cottage. Although Theo was a muggle, he had been surprisingly calm about Harry's studies. Perhaps it was his introduction to the wizarding world at such a young age that brought less shock to the ordeal.
In a gust of wind, an owl dove in front of Harry and perched itself on his shoulder- newspaper pinned between its beak.
"Ori!" Theo laughed, stroking the owl's feathers as Ori cooed in pleasure. Harry took the newspaper from him, giving the creature a pet. While his connection was limited, Harry still paid the monthly subscription for the Daily Prophet to keep an eye on things back home. He peered at the headline before stopping abruptly.
"No," Harry murmured, an image of dried corpses dancing across the page. "Dementors- or Something More?" read the headline.
"What is it Master Potter? Did something happen back home?" Theo inquired, looking over. Harry quickly raised the paper above the boy's head, preventing the sight of the grotesque images swimming across the page.
"Nothing, Theo. Just some internal strife within the government again." Harry lied, turning towards the cottage door. The mention of politics seemed to bore Theo, who burst in and looked towards the kitchen.
"I say we have pasta again!" He exclaimed, dashing towards the cupboard and whipping out a box of uncooked penne. Harry rolled his eyes, his thoughts preoccupied by the headline.
"You know, for a Greek kid, you really like eating everything not part of your culture." Theo stuck his tongue out, crawling onto the counter and reaching for the pot. As difficult as it was to admit, Harry knew the kid had far more skill in the kitchen then he'd ever have. "I thought we were going back to work anyway?"
"Dinner first, then work!" He responded firmly, filling the pot with water from the sink and setting it on the stovetop. In half an hour, Harry found himself picking at a savory dish of roasted vegetables, delicious starch rolls, and a light tomato sauce.
"Theo, I'm going to have to travel back for a bit," Harry said slowly, looking up at the boy. The boy nodded, though looking slightly crestfallen. Perhaps he understood more than he let on.
"When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow. It's rather urgent," Harry replied, picking the newspaper up from the table. Over two hundred deaths? Who was this wizard?
"Alright, don't be gone too long. Send Ori if something keeps you." Theo said, stuffing his face. Harry glanced up and laughed, grabbing a napkin and sliding it across the table. The boy was accustomed to Harry's constant journeys away from the cottage.
"You got a little something on your face." Theo grinned, wiping the red sauce from his cheeks with his fingers and plunging them into his mouth.
"Deeee-licioussss!" Theo exclaimed, giggling at Harry's disgusted expression. They both laughed, the warm crackle of the fire in the corner echoing throughout the cottage. A soft coo could be heard from the propped window where Ori perched, gazing at the two.
After a bit of document reading, Theo bid farewell. His parents were expecting him.
"Could it be?" Harry muttered to himself, heading down the creaking steps towards the basement. "Lumos!" The dim light revealed books sprawled everywhere across a desk, along with a locked box.
He flicked the latch, swinging the top open to reveal a dried beetle.
October 18, 2010 - Auror Office, Ministry of Magic - Harry
Harry felt butterflies flutter in his stomach as he emerged into the atrium of the Ministry for the first time in over ten years. The apparation, while rather long in distance, had gone off without a hitch much to his surprise.
The room bustled with wizards and witches, paper planes flying everywhere above his head as he made his way through the crowd. Having dropped glasses in favor of contacts years prior, his appearance must not have been recognizable. That, or they simply forgot about him. Harry didn't care.
He made his way into an empty elevator, finding the level for the auror office before stepping out into a dark marble walkway. Portraits lining the walls seemed to stare at him as he walked past, as if they knew him but couldn't place the name.
A commanding voice veered him back into reality as he caught sight of a bulky man in a dress shirt and trousers, barking at what seemed to be a new addition to the office. The poor auror nodded violently, scrambling away with a stack of papers in tow.
"Mr. Finnick, I presume?" Harry asked, walking up to him. He had heard of the head auror in the paper. The man turned and faced him, a stern but inquisitive look on his face.
"That would be me. Who are you? What do you want?"
"It's quite complicated. Do you mind if we speak in your office?" Harry replied coolly, glancing around. The office was packed, aurors scrambling for leads on what seemed to be a serious case. Before he could respond, a voice Harry hadn't forgotten sounded behind the head auror.
"Mr. Finnick, we have another incident. This time in Godric's Hollow." Mr. Finnick turned to reveal a petite, brown-haired woman carrying what looked to be several folders. Her straight hair cascaded down her back and shoulders, framing a soft yet confident face. Her brown eyes caught sight of Harry, dropping the folders. Her mouth opened.
"Hermione." Harry greeted her softly, smiling slightly. "It's been a while."
Author's Note: Hi all! This was an idea I got some time ago but never got around to writing it until now. Hopefully you enjoyed it! Some information about the story:
New chapters every week on Sunday, 10am CT
Gradual relationship between Hermione and Harry, nothing abrupt, subplot
The story will follow as close to canon as possible after the fall of Voldemort, ignoring 19 years later
No bashing of any character will be present
Slightly overpowered Harry, much more mature Harry
Perspectives will change based on what I feel is needed, but mainly Harry and Hermione
Story has no beta, expect a few typos!
Please Review! I love criticism!
See you all next week!
CraftingP0tter