Chapter 2 - Truths unfold
"Where are we?" Harry asked when he and Azoth reappeared.
He looked around. They were standing in an old shabby alleyway. It was dark as the alley had no lights, but further away, he could se the sun gleaming and up behind the rooftops.
"Knockturn Alley", Azoth answered
"Knockturn Alley? Why?"
"It is a very good place if you want to be inconspicuous". Azoth gave him a knowing, small smile. "Now, come on! We need to get you somewhere to change".
Harry suddenly realized that he was still in Dudley's old pajamas.
"You better tuck in your tale, little demon", Azoth added, gesticulating with one of his hands. With the same hand, he then pulled a packet of cigarettes out of his pocket, took one out, and then lighted it with a silver lighter.
"Er…what if I…catch fire?", Harry said uncertainly. He hadn't at all got use to the fact that he actually got a tale; it was a very odd feeling and to add, said tail was on fire.
"Of course you won't", Azoth said matter of factly, still with the cigarette between his lips. "Don't worry, the dark flame will never and could never, hurt you." Azoth then started walking down the alley.
Harry followed and hurriedly started tucking his long and black tail in his pants.
"We may need to use some kind of glamour on you though", Azoth said "If you are going to walk around people." He let out a big cloud of cigarette smoke. "Though hiding your tail under a glamour will be the more difficult." Azoth took a sharp left and Harry hurried to keep up with him. "We are going to the Vipers-inn until we can go to Gringotts", Azoth continued. "It's a dodgy and shabby place, but no one will ask a lot of questions there, as long as you pay them. You have gold, yes?". He took another turn, this time to the right.
"In Gringotts, yeah", Harry said. "I have some left from last term in my bag, though".
"Good. We will need to go to Gringotts later anyway. But for now…"
Azoth suddenly stopped in front of what definitely looked like a very shabby inn. The front window was grimy with dirt over the door there was an old wooden sign hanging loosely on its side with two serpents coiling around each other and the name "Vipers inn", in scuffed golden letters.
"Before we go in", Azoth said. "You need to use another name, just for now. You cannot be Harry Potter in here. So we need to come up with some alias."
Harry understood. If he doesn't want to be found by anyone, the Ministry of Magic, or the Order, he would have to ditch the Harry Potter persona for safety. Also, he didn't want to go back to Private drive, which he was certain if he was found.
He thought for a bit and then said, "What about…Aamon?"
"Aamon, huh? I like it", Azoth said testing the name out. "You should use Smith as a last name. That has always been the name for those who do not what to be found."
"Aamon Smith it is", Harry said grinning.
Azoth took a step forward and was just about to open the door when Harry called out. "Wait!" Azoth turned around and looked at him with his eyebrow raised.
"Yes?"
"What about you?" Harry asked. "Don't you need to conceal yourself?"
"Oh, no. Only a demon can see other demons, so I will be quite invisible to the simple mortal's eyes, you don't have to worry." Azoth explained. Harry nodded and then walked after Azoth, into the inn.
Inside it was dark and smelt of damp and mold. Harry walked up to the check-in desk and an old, balding wizard with yellow teeth, looking very bored, and cleaning his fingernails with a small knife. Harry nervously flattened his hair over his scar.
"Er…hello", Harry said uncertainly. The wizard only stared at him. "Can I have a room, please?"
The old wizard took a moment and looked at Harry's with a glare and at his strange attire, but didn't comment.
"Its 10 gallons a night", he finally grumbles out, holding out his hand. Harry scrambled in his pocket for his money and then gave the man the gold. He snorted and pulled out an old and strained leather ledger. "Sign your name here", he said. Harry signed with his alias.
The man banged a key on the counter and then said; "Up the stairs and then take a left. End of the hallway. Room 1" as he pointed with a grubby finger towards the staircase. Harry mumbled a short "thank you" and then headed in the pointed direction.
"Nice fellow", he said to Azoth, who only gave a small chuckle.
Opening the door, which creaked loudly, Harry found a small and gloomy room, with only a single light bulb, dangling from the ceiling. There was just one small and dirty window, a small bed, dresser, wardrobe, and what looked like an old-fashioned vanity of some sort with a washbasin and a water pitcher. Another door led into a small bathroom.
"Well, it is not the Ritz, but I guess it will have to do", Harry commenting and threw himself on the dusty bed.
Azoth waved his hand and the door slammed shut behind him. He then waved it again and a leather armchair appeared out of thin air. He sat down and then lighted another cigarette.
"So…shall we get down to business then?" he said
"I…guess?" Harry said and sat upon the edge of the bed, creaking with the movement.
"First, your clothes. You should change to something more…fitting". Azoth again waved his hand and a hanger with a black dress shirt and trousers appeared. He handed it over to Harry.
"Come on, little demon, don't be shy. It should fit you perfectly"
Harry pulled off the old pajamas and notices something that had noticed before. On his chest, their now was two big and black tattoos, one on each of his pecks. On one side there was what looked like some sort of pattern in a round shape with ancient-looking runes that was encircled by a dragon or snake that was biting on its own tail. The other side was also circular but with a triangle shape inside and with a slightly different pattern and runes. But instead of a dragon or snake, there was a menacing-looking wolf, its mouth opens in a growl, showing of its very sharp looking death and drooling.
"Looks like you've got your demon markings." Azoth said looking at his chest.
"Markings?" harry asked confused
"Yeah. Every demon gets its markings when coming of age. It looks different for every demon and is very personal." Azoth said unbuttoning his shirt and showing his own tattoos on his chest, which looked like a tribal pattern. "It is also an indication on the rank and power of the demon, the more detailed and intricate the mark is, the higher rank and power the demon has".
"So…mine?" Harry looked down again at his tattoo and now noticing how very detail it was. He could see every scale on the snake and every hair and drop of drool on the face of the wolf.
"Your power is yet to be determined but seems to be able to grow very great indeed" Azoth said with a grin.
Suddenly Harry felt very embarrassed and blushing he quickly scrambled to put on the shirt and trousers. It was made out if the best cotton and felt light and soft, and it did fit him perfectly. Harry also made sure that his tail was tucked into his pants, wrapped around one of his thighs, and securely hidden from view.
"Much better", Azoth commented. "Here, put these on". He handed Harry a pair of black, shiny dress shoes and a pair of black socks.
"Now", Azoth then said. "We only have little under two months before you will have to go back to that school of yours". He pulled out the cigarette packed again and lighted another cigarette. Then pausing, he offered the package to Harry. "Want one?"
"Er…I don´t smoke", Harry said.
Azoth smirked. "You will. We demons have a curtained yearning for all those good things in life, nicotine, alcohol and sex. Although they don't affect us the way it would do normal mortals. You won't have any of the bad side affect from the cigarettes and you will never get a hangover. The sex, well you will just have to find out for yourself." Azoth grinned. "You may just start now…with the cigarettes". Harry blushed.
Harry took the offered cigarette and Azoth lightened it with his lighter. It wasn't as bad as Harry thought it would be, he actually kind of liked it.
"I will have to give you a crash course in everything you need to know and learn." Azoth began. "In our magic and language. You will also have to train your body to be able to deal with it all. Training your body is just as important as your mind. Your abilities should already have increased, better memory, speed, strength, vision and hearing and will probably keep improving even more with time. And although you will be able to process information a lot more quickly than a normal mortal, because of your greatly improved memory, the magic demon posses take a lot of energy, even more so for someone who is new to it."
"
So demons have different kind of magic? But I still have to go back to Hogwarts to learn wizard magic?" Harry asked.
"Yes", Azoth said and took another drag on his cigarette. "You will have to learn control".
Harry's head was spinning again and he felt like he was on a very fast roller coaster.
"What happens if I don't?" he then asked
"You don't want to know, so you better listen to me, kid." Said the other demon, not reassuring Harry even a little bit.
Deciding "the hell with it" and just going with this, as his life just couldn't seem to get more complicated, Harry asked: "So, when can we start?"
"Calm yourself", Azoth said. "We have some things we need to take care of first, before we can start your training. We will go to Gringotts bank and ask for the manager of the Potter accounts. You do know about the Potters vaults, don't you?"
"You mean that there is more than one?" Harry asked shocked. "No, I only thought there was one, the one withdraw money from when I buy my school things and stuff".
"Let me ask you something." Azoth lent forward propping his elbow on his knees. "Don't you think it strange that you never got to read or hear your parents will? If they died and you inherited everything from them, as their sole heir, why wasn't there a will read?"
Harry had never thought about that before, but had to admit that it was strange. No one had ever mentioned that there was a will.
"You also inherited everything from your godfather, Sirius Black, but I guess that that is news for you as well".
Harry nodded. The knot tightened in his gut. He didn't know what to say. Why hadn't anyone told him? Dumbledore, did he know? Azoth seemed to see what Harry was thinking.
"Who do you think is responsible for leaving you at that godforsaken place with those cretins you call relatives? Who do you think definitely would be certain to be informed about your parents will and your family inheritance? And lastly, and this is the million-dollar question, why would this person, keep all this from you? It is YOUR birthright by blood; no other has any right claim to it. And the Potters is one of the oldest and most influential families in the wizarding world."
Harry could feel the pulse beating in his ears. THAT was a very good question. There could only be one who he knew could to such a ting. Only one who had that kind of power and influence? Dumbledore. He felt utterly betrayed. But why? He had always trusted Dumbledore, however that trust was disappearing very quickly. Somehow it all made perfect sense.
"That son of a bitch", Harry exclaimed angrily. Suddenly he couldn't sit down or be still anymore. He started pacing in the room, thinking furiously.
"I see that you realize the truth now", Azoth said. He lent back down in the chair again. "That old goat may think that he is doing it for your own good, or the
"greater good", but what he is to foolish to realize, that in the end by withholding what is rightfully yours, he is doing more harm than good, and breaking many laws as well, I might add. I would not trust him. He can't see longer than his old, croocked nose points. He is an old man and a fool".
"But why? Why would he do that?" Harry asked angrily.
"Why do you think?" Azoth said calmly. "It is all about control, baby. Without knowing everything, to whom do you come to for answers and advice? Who have you always come to for answers, since you were eleven? And trusted? You were oblivious of the wizard world before you got that letter, right? You knew nothing of your parent's real life and their death. Because of this he could give you all the answers and play puppet master".
"But wouldn't anyone else know about my parents will? And tell me about all this?"
"I don't think that you realize how much power and influence Dumbledore has over people. He may have convinced others that it was better for you not to know, at least until you were of the right age. He can be very convincing and persuasive when he wants to be. He is the great Dumbledore, that took down Grindlewald and the supreme Mugwump in the Wizardgamot, or whatever. Many people trust his judgment, almost to a fault. Certainly others have questioned his decisions. There were those who that doubted that the Dursleys was a suitable enough home for a wizard child like you, but he used his influence and convinced them that it was the best place for you" Azoth said.
"Because of that stupid blood protection from my mother", Harry spat out between gritted teeth
"Oh, don't even get me started on that. Very convenient is it not, that protection? But what if I told you that you could get the same protection with other, ancient wards? The same wards that were put upon many of the other Potter estates."
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Harry felt drained again.
Somehow it all makes perfect sense, all of it. It made his blood boil. He couldn't believe hadn't seen it clearly before, but it all making sense now.
"I will never trust that man again", he said angrily.
"That is good", Azoth smiled. "You should not trust him. Although, it is better for us if he believe that you do. You need to be smarter than him. Lets play a little game with the old goat and then see how hard he will fall on that bony ass of his when his life falls into shambles. Azoth gave a very evil grin at these words and Harry could not help but smirk back. The though of Dumbledore on his ass was both amusing and satisfying. He nodded as in confirmation.
"So, that is a little error we must first must sort out with the goblins", Azoth continued.
"I will be there to guide you. Then we locate the Potter manor and start your training. Now, before we go there is another subject we must discuss, namely, dear old Voldemort".
Harry suddenly stopped pacing and turned abruptly to stare at Azoth.
"What about him?" he asked, his voice a little strained. He had totally forgotten the cigarette in his hand and swore loudly when it burned his fingers. He dropped it on the dirty wooden floor and stomped angrily at it.
"One of the perks of being a demon is that we have an endless knowledge of all dark magic and those who preform it. We watch and observe from the shadows. There is nothing that can escape our eyes. So, in the quest of power little Tom Riddle, for that is his real name and he is no real Lord, performed some of the darkest magic there is. He thinks that this kind of magic makes him immortal and invulnerable, that no one will ever be able to touch him. But the truth is that it rather makes him weak and very vulnerable. He is just as big of a fool as Dumbledore. Have you ever heard of a Horcrux?"
Harry shook his head.
"A Horcrux is a object were in a person keeps a part of soul fragment of ones severed soul. You do this by committing one of the greatest mortal sins, murder, as it tares the soul apart. By doing so the owner cannot be killed before all the soul fragments, or Horcruxes, are destroyed. This may sound like an advantage, but the soul that remains in the body is also greatly damaged and it will likely leave the person insane. A soul is supposed to remain whole. Also you have the disadvantage and difficultly to hide and protect these objects, were in you have left the other soul- fragments." Azoth put out his current cigarette and lit another one.
"So, Voldemort did this? Created a Horcrux?" Harry asked.
"Yes, but not only one, he made several. Seven to be exact".
"He split his soul into seven pieces?" Harry said shocked. "No wonder he is bloody insane"
Azoth grinned. "Oh yes. The fool that he is, though that is was the perfect way to become immortal. How wrong he was."
"So we need to find these objects and then destroy them to defeat Voldemort?"
"Exactly. And here comes another little cherry on top of that sundae of information for you. Don't you think that someone like Dumbledore that has been fighting long against that moron, would do some research off the background of dear old Tom and find out something like the Horcruxes? He is not stupid after all, I'll give him that"
"He knows? Dumbledore knows about the horcruxes? And he never thought it important to tell me?"
"Nope. That is another thing that he convinced himself was for your own good. He claims it is because you are too young for such information and that he wanted to give you a normal childhood, that you shouldn't be burden with such heavy knowledge. But since when have you had a normal childhood? Why shouldn't the only person that is destined to defeat the darkest wizard of all time be kept from this valuable information? Again, it is his idea of the greater good.
Harry could not believe Dumbledore. What if he had had this information years ago? Then maybe they could do something and have prevented Voldemort from coming back in the graveyard at all.
"Another reason not to trust Dumbledore then", Harry said. "But if you demons have knowledge that Voldemort made these seven horcruxes, do you know what and where they are?"
"Of course", Azoth said with a smirk. "As I said, nothing escaped our eyes".
"So what and where are they then?"
"This I can not tell you, not yet. Not here. I will tell you when we arrive at a safe place but it was important that you had this knowledge and of Dumbledore's schemes, before we begin our own little quest".
"But was does all this mean?" Harry said frustrated
"Well, to put it simply, we better start moving. Gringotts should be opened by now, if I know the goblins at all, they are never late."
Azoth stood up from the chair and waved his hand again and it disappeared. "Come, we must go", he then went for the door. Harry followed.
Members of the order of the Phoenix appeared at the corner of the street of Private drive with several pops. The six members quickly walked down the identical houses and stopped at nr 4. It was an odd collection of people. A very old man with silvery hair in and beard that was so long it was tucked in to his belt of the midnight blue robes, a young woman with short, spiky bubblegum pink hair wearing a ordinary t-shirt and ripped jeans, a tall black, bald man with a gold hope eating in one ear and scarlet robes. A shabby looking man with light brown hair that looked tired and worn out, another middle ages man with balding red hair that was wearing what looked like pinstriped trousers and an odd poncho and lastly a sour looking man, all in black, with long black hair that framed his thin stern face and a hooked nose. The oldest of the group, the man with the silver beard, looked at his fellow order members and nodded knowingly and took the last of the quick strides forward to the front door of the house and rang the doorbell.
From inside the house the group of people could hear an angry voice bellowing;
"WHO THE BLAZES CALL AT THE DOOR THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING?"
The door was ripped open and showed a wale of a man with a purple face and his bushy mustache twitching out of anger.
"Who the hell are you and what do you want?" he said angrily
"Ah, Mr. Dursley I presume", the old man with the silver bears said politely. "May we come in?"
"I bloody hell think not", the man shouted again "We don´t what your kind in our house, so go away and never bother us again."
"This is very important Mr. Dursley", the man with the red hair said kindly. "This is about your nephew, Harry. You may remember me? We met two summers ago. Arthur Weasley", said the man, put out his hand for the whale to shake.
If even possible, this made the man look even angrier but, before he could say anything else, another voice came from the inside of the house.
"Vernon, who is it? Why are you shouting? Think about the neighbors dear".
Coming into view was a very tall, thin woman with blonde hair and an unusually long neck. She wore a flowed apron and rubber gloves.
"Hello, Tuney", said the tall man with the black hair. "Long time, no see".
"YOU!" the woman shrieked.
"Please, Mrs. Dursley", the old man tried again. "May we speak inside? It is of utmost importance".
"You better let them in Vernon", Mrs. Dursley said putting a calming hand on the large mans arm. "Before the neighbors sees and begin to talk".
With this, the beefy Mr. Dursley reluctantly stepped aside and let the odd group into the house. They were shoed into the sitting room and Mr. and Mrs. Dursley sat down hesitantly on the sofa. The old man with the beard sat in a flowery armchair opposite, while the rest kept standing.
"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, my name is Albus Dumbledore and I am the headmaster it Hogwarts school", he said. "We are here to see your nephew, Harry."
"Well he bloody well isn't here", Mr. Dursley said angrily, face still red. "That delinquent ran away and we haven't seen him since yesterday evening. Good riddance if you ask me."
"Ran away? But why would Harry ran away", Mr. Weasley asked?
"How the hell should I now", answered Mr. Dursley. "Ungrateful little brat. After all we did for him, giving him a roof over his head and feeding him. That boy was nothing but trouble. A wastrel, just like his parents. Nothing but a couple of freaks they whe…"
Before he could finish the sentence, two people rushed forward and pointed their wands in the large mans face, the shabby looking man with brown hair and maybe surprisingly to some, the tall man in black with the black hair.
"Never talk about Harry or his parents in that manner again. Lily and James were good people and not what you call freaks", the man with the brown hair growled. The mans amber eyes where gleaming and he looked like he wanted to bite Mr. Dursleys head of.
The man with the black hair turned towards Mrs. Dursley and said in a cold voice; "Tuney, you should tell your fat pig of a husband to keep his opinions to himself or I will show him just how much a freak a wizard can be and what I do to a someone how disrespect the memory of Lily Evans".
"Remus, Severus, stand down", Albus Dumbledore said firmly. "This is not the time".
Both of the men slowly lowered their wands.
"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, when was the last time you saw Harry?" Dumbledore continued. This time it was Mrs. Dursley who answered.
"Last night at dinner. He then went straight up to his room and when I when up to call him down for breakfast, he wasn't in his room. He must have sneaked out somehow but how, I don't know how. " She was shaking her head. "The front door was still locked from the inside when I checked this morning and Harry does not have a key"
"I see." Dumbledore frowned. "May we see the room where Harry stays in?"
Mrs. Dursley only nodded and then stood up and started to walk towards the stairs. They all followed up the stairs and into the smallest bedroom.
"This is very empty for a 16 year old boys room", the young woman with the spiky pink hair commented.
"Looks like his trunk is still here", Remus said and bent down to look into the opened trunk on the floor. "But his fathers cloak is not." He shifted the content a little. "Just his books and some robes".
"The window is closed, so it doesn't look like he left that way either", the tall dark man with the earing said. It was the first time he had spoke since the group arrived and his voice was dark and deep with authority. The man then shifted his eyes down at the desk beneath the window.
"Mrs. Dursley, do you know if Harry smoked cigarettes?"
Mrs. Dursley, surprised to suddenly be addressed by the quite intimidating man, jumped a little when she heard her name but then answered; "Absolutely not. I would not aloud that fitly habit in my house"
"Then what is this on his desk?", the dark man held up a but of a cigarette but to show it to the rest. "And there is a clear burn mark on the desk, like someone put this out on it".
"I am sure that Harry doesn't smoke", Remus said.
"Then who has been in Harry's room? How did they get in without anyone noticing and what have they done to Harry?" the girl with the pink hair asked.
"Who and how indeed", Dumbledore said grimly. He then turned around and walked out of the room.
