Chapter 11
"Harry, this is totally reckless! You could very well die!"
"Phoenix was fine."
"You are not a phoenix."
"Which is why I was smart enough to take added precautions, like a Portkey."
"But not smart enough to not shoot yourself off the planet!"
Harry was currently arguing with Aurora Sinastra on the grounds of Hogwarts.
They had quite the audience, the entire school was there, pupils, staff, ghosts… the portraits were crowded into various frames that looked out the windows.
Nicholas and Perenelle were there as was Amelia and Moody.
They were currently watching the Astronomy Professor argue with a second year in front of a large metal sphere. It was big enough to fit maybe three adults.
"You've seen me float around in this thing." Harry reasoned, or more accurately; whined. "I can go higher than any broom or carpet."
"We don't know what will happen when you hit the outer atmosphere!"
"Now would be a good time to find out." Harry said decisively.
Aurora growled in frustration and turned to the adults. "Mister Flamel, Filius, can you talk some sense into him?" She practically pleaded.
"Aurora." Harry said solemnly as he reached up and placed calming hand on her shoulder. "It's for the Greater Good."
Aurora was completely confused as several adults burst into giggles.
Perenelle took pity on the young teacher and shoved Harry gently out of the way. "Have faith in your work, my girl. You have done an amazing job. Let Harry have his fun. He is far more capable than we give him credit for." She smiled reassuringly.
"I can't believe you are letting him do this." She scowled.
"Phoenix! Ember!" Nicholas called out.
The mother and hatchling appeared in front of him, hovering in the air.
"Harry is going to test his little space machine. Would you go with him and make sure he doesn't kill himself?"
Phoenix gave a chirp of confirmation whilst Ember seemed fairly excited and started flying happily around Harry's shoulders.
"I guess it will have to do." Aurora said morosely.
Ember picked up on the woman's worry and landed on her shoulder and began to sing softly whilst rubbing her head against Aurora's cheek.
It had a calming effect on her and she began to relax.
"I'm not finished with you." She said calmly with her eyes closed and still enjoying the presence of the young phoenix.
Harry paused, his foot just inside the circular opening into the spherical capsule.
"But if you come back with a single scratch I will never let you hear the end of it." It was a little unnerving to hear her say that with both complete serenity and conviction.
"Erm… see you in a bit then." Harry gulped as he stepped in. Phoenix swooped in after him but Ember stayed on Aurora's shoulder.
Nobody backed away from the magical craft as it lifted off.
Unlike muggle space rockets this vehicle didn't use explosive combustion to fly. It used all manner of flight runes that were normally found on magic carpets, brooms and a certain Ford Anglia and Triumph Motorcycle.
So the take-off was completely silent, completely vertical and… relatively safe. It was Harry's idea after all.
The entire school watched in awe as the twelve foot in diameter sphere ascended into the sky gaining speed as it went.
Making a broom go fast was not a problem. Making a broom go fast and not break into little pieces or throw the rider off was.
But Harry's little sphere didn't have those worries. It was made from the same material as the muggle spacecraft and was engraved with runes and covered in enchantments that made it nearly indestructible.
That was the easy part.
The hard part was making sure the occupant of the sphere wasn't squished by G-Forces and that there was enough oxygen.
A bubble head charm was fine in the short term but limiting in the long. They didn't want to try carrying oxygen though as that meant there would be a limit on how long a person could stay up there.
So Harry had sent the 'Space Engineering Team' (also known as Aurora, Septima and Bathsheda) to Knockturn Alley where they purchased a certain Vanishing Cabinet from Borgin and Burkes.
The three 'Engineers' began investigating the process used to transfer items and created a similar system that would allow a continuous stream of fresh air to be transferred to the sphere.
"Hello? Sirius?"
Sirius pulled his communications mirror out of his robes. "Harry? Is everything ok?" He asked anxiously.
"Sort of-"
"What the hell have you done Harry?" Aurora demanded as she ripped the mirror from Lord Black's hands. "Activate your Portkey immediately!"
"Would you relax?!" Harry said in exasperation. "I just realised a flaw in our design and need your help."
"If there is a flaw then abandon the sphere and we can fix it in the next one!"
"The sphere is fine! For Merlin's sake! I have a full grown phoenix up here! I'm in more danger from you than I am from this trip!
"Just get your telescope and try and find me. We forgot to put windows in this thing so I have no idea if I have reached space yet."
"Oh… that does seem like a rather silly oversight." She said with slight embarrassment.
"Wait- I think I hit space."
"What happened?!" Aurora asked frantically.
"Zero gravity is wicked!" Harry shouted happily.
"I'll go and get my telescope."
"How is he going to get down if he can't see where he is going?" Sirius wondered as he watched Aurora walk off with his mirror.
Floating above the Earth (literally) was Harry Potter. His only source of illumination was a set of glowing runes that were used in certain ancient ruins.
Next to Harry was Phoenix who was also enjoying the ability to fly without using her own power.
"The next model definitely needs a window." Harry told his companion resolutely. "Just think, I'm probably the first wizard to ever go into space!" He declared with excited glee.
"The first in several thousand years in this galaxy."
Harry frantically tried to spin himself around at the sound of the new voice. Phoenix gently nudged him so he drifted to the wall of the sphere where he could steady himself.
Sitting across the way was a dark haired woman wearing a white dress.
Harry stared at her for a few moments. "What the hell?" He asked casually. "I doubt you're an enemy or Phoenix here would have acted."
"You call your phoenix… 'Phoenix'?" The woman frowned in confusion.
"No. I wasn't quick enough. This is someone else's companion."
The woman smiled approvingly. "You understand the nature of a phoenix."
"Ember?" Harry called out.
There was a flash of fire and the little phoenix appeared.
"This is my companion." Harry explained. "So, now that you know who we are… who the hell are you?"
"You assume I know your name."
"You aren't surprised to be in this little ship which means you meant to come here. You aren't surprised to see me so that means you were expecting to meet me… you can see where I'm going with this, right?" Harry asked with a bit of sarcasm.
"For one so young, you are quite astute." She said wryly. "But yes, I know who you are Harry Potter. I have been watching you ever since you sent your last vessel with the phoenix into orbit."
"Watching or spying?" Harry asked.
"So suspicious." She said chidingly.
"Says the woman who has been watching me in secret, hasn't given me her name and somehow managed to get into my sphere." Harry countered.
She chuckled at that. "I have gone by many names but you may call me Ganos."
"I don't recognise that name, or a country it might come from." Harry shrugged. "How about another name?"
"Later… perhaps." She said carefully. "For now, I wanted to meet the child who has inspired those far beyond his age and experience to venture beyond the bounds of their planet."
Harry stared at her for a moment. Then he waved. "Hi!" He said with fake cheer.
She laughed. "You are quite the young scoundrel, Harry. I hope you will allow me to visit more often. I cannot tell you much or help you, but I would very much like to encourage you to chase these dreams you have of travelling the stars.
"One day, when you have travelled far enough, I will be able to tell you more."
"How far?" Harry asked warily.
She handed him a piece of paper. "When you can decipher this you will know where to go. When you get there, I will be there waiting to greet you and tell you more."
"Why?" Harry asked as he stared at the strange symbols on the page. "Why approach me? There has to be more to this than pure curiosity."
"Much more." She admitted. "But I can only tell you more if you meet me there." She pointed at the paper in his hands. "I can tell you that the future of this entire galaxy rests in your hands at this time."
"I'm twelve!"
"And you are the only one of your kind to have come this far."
"What about the muggles? They've been all the way to the moon." Harry practically pleaded.
"They have come far with their own technology." Ganos admitted. "But at their current rate they will not be ready to meet the challenges that await. With your magic you will be able to do so much more in so little time."
"How little?" Harry asked.
"Years… a decade at the most."
"Fine. I'll be there." Harry scowled.
"And I will be waiting. Until then, Harry Potter."
Harry merely raised an eyebrow as she began to glow bright white and her body from the neck down began to lose definition and appeared to be made of light.
She then floated up through the top of the sphere.
Harry turned to Phoenix. "Is she really gone? Or just spying?"
Phoenix gave an uplifting trill.
"Let's get back to the surface then. Some of us need to have a long talk."
"Whilst I can honestly say I have never come across beings like you have described, I can recognise these symbols." Nicholas said gravely as they sat in Harry's rooms.
"Ganos said they were the details of where I need to go." Harry reminded him.
"Harry, I believe that Aurora may be of more help here." Nicholas sighed. "These symbols often have vocalisations based on Latin, but at the same time, these specific symbols are constellations. I have seen them rarely but… I have seen them."
"So Harry wasn't hallucinating? He really did see alien creatures?" Minerva was shocked.
"Phoenix has probably seen plenty of aliens." Harry shrugged as he nodded to the bird perched on the back of Nicholas' chair. "They can move between planets. Ganos seemed to recognise them as phoenixes."
"I am less worried about this particular alien and more concerned with her dire proclamation that the fate of our galaxy rests on Harry's shoulders." Filius said angrily. "Harry has done more than enough. He has so far had to do it twice!" He squeaked.
"We could talk to the centaurs." The Sorting Hat offered tentatively. "They may have seen portents of the future."
"We might as well go into the Department of Mysteries and grab all the other prophecies that refer to me." Harry snorted.
"We should do both." Amelia said decisively. "Tomorrow, Filius and I will take Harry to the DOM and we will retrieve the prophecies. This weekend we will talk to the centaurs."
"Again, Harry, I would suggest bringing Aurora in to our group. And… others." Nicholas said pointedly.
Harry scowled. He didn't want Sirius involved. He didn't want him knowing he was actually closer to twenty than thirteen. "Fine." He spat unhappily. "But someone else can take their oaths. I don't want anymore."
Everyone in the room had sworn an oath to him. He hated having that sort of responsibility to others.
And that was what made him nothing like Riddle. Harry would consider these oaths his responsibility. Riddle considered them power and control. It was why, even at that moment, a certain Indian couple were extolling the virtues of their lord to their friends.
"Harry, put me on and do as I say." The Hat instructed.
Harry frowned curiously, but complied. A few seconds later he stood up with a shrug and summoned the Sword of Gryffindor.
"Nicholas Flamel, Amelia Bones and Filius Flitwick, kneel before me." Harry instructed.
"Harry!"
"Hush Minnie!" Perenelle chided with a look of glee.
Seeing Nicholas also smiling and moving to kneel, Amelia and Filius both moved to join him. Amelia was a little hesitant, but she wasn't going to argue with the Immortal Alchemist or the Sorting Hat.
"Each of you has proven your loyalty and your worth in my lands." Harry said officiously. "You have defended my honour and my people. In return for your services, I hereby dub thee my knights." As he spoke he tapped each one on both shoulders causing a light to rest upon their backs. "You are granted authority to act in my name. You may enforce my laws. You may claim my favour in your dealings.
"Rise my most loyal servants."
Again, following Nicholas' lead, they stood and bowed.
"Thank you my Lord, we are most honoured." Nicholas said with a smile.
Harry just slumped on the chair and took off the Hat. "I hate doing official stuff." He grumbled.
"What just happened?" Amelia asked.
"Harry has just appointed the three of you as… well, his stewards. You are knights of his lands and as he said, you may act in his name." Perenelle explained. "This means that you may accept the oaths of others on behalf of your lord. To put it in the terms of the past; you may raise up armies in his name."
"And we will." Nicholas said with an authority that forbid objection from Minerva or Amelia. "But there are some you must accept personally. Such as Aurora and Sirius who both care for you greatly."
"Fine." He said sulkily. "I really doubt that Riddle is a 'threat to the galaxy', so we should probably put extra effort into squashing him. We've got everything but the cup and Riddle himself."
"We'll never get the cup, not without Bellatrix herself." Amelia shook her head.
"We can always steal it again. Harry did it once." Nicholas said dismissively. "Leave it to me."
"Just don't do it in my name." Harry warned. "I don't want that contract coming back to bite me."
"Relax, just because I can act in your name doesn't mean I always act in your name."
"Wow."
"You said that already."
"1998?"
"For God's sake! Yes!"
"And you're quite sure it wasn't a dream?"
"I swear that if you three don't pull yourselves together I am going to tell Ember to use you as part of her training when she flames around the world.
"She still hasn't gotten the height issue down."
Harry was sitting in his armchair in his quarters whilst Sirius, Remus and Aurora sat on the couch opposite. On a small table next to Harry sat the Sorting Hat.
"I- But-" Remus stopped, like the others he was completely befuddled by Harry's revelations. "I have no idea what to do with this… information." He admitted.
"You aren't supposed to do anything." Harry said firmly. "I never wanted you to know but Nicholas and Fil were… pushy." He scowled.
"Why wouldn't you want me to know?" Sirius asked slightly hurt.
"Because you suffered enough in Azkaban!" Harry exclaimed with angry frustration. "I wanted you to enjoy the rest of your life and just assume I was… eccentric. But now you know that I am not twelve but instead I'm… nineteen!"
"I told you we aren't counting those years, Harry." The Hat said sternly. "You never had a childhood and so you are going to enjoy this one."
"Harry… do you remember what I told you when you warned me not to betray you?" Sirius asked with a sad yet compassionate look at his godson. "It doesn't matter how old you are, you will always be my godson and I will always look after you and love you."
"I know that Padfoot. But I didn't want you to have to deal with the stress of trying to stop Riddle and everything else. It was hard enough just trying to get you out of Azkaban. At least this time we did it legally."
"It doesn't matter." Aurora interrupted with a frown. "It's happened and we can't change it."
"Well, that might not be entirely true." Harry said as he shuffled in his chair. "I've already changed it once."
Aurora glared at him and he quailed appropriately.
"You said that you had dealt with these horcruxes except for one, right?" She asked.
"The cup is in Bellatrix's vault."
"I can get it easily enough." Sirius waved a hand dismissively. "All her possessions were returned to the family when she was expelled from the House of Black."
"Take Nicholas with you." Harry ordered. "There are a lot of enchantments and it could take control of you and kill you."
"I'll be careful, Pup." Sirius promised. "I'll even take Remus."
"And then, what will happen to No Name?" Aurora asked. "With his anchors gone will he just die?"
"That is a hard question to answer." The Hat sighed. "We have never dealt with something like this before and there are no records."
"Then we should save the horcrux until we can confront No Name and confirm it works." She said decisively.
Harry fought to hide his emotions and thoughts. He had planned to do that anyway… just not with this particular horcrux. He had the one in his head to deal with after all.
"Aurora, you don't need to worry about Riddle and all of that." Harry changed the subject slightly. "We need you to work on the symbols I was given. I need to get there soon. Ganos told me I had a decade at the most. But she seemed to imply it was a lot less."
Aurora looked down at the piece of paper in her hand. "I know where it is… but it is three million light-years away! The only thing magicals have that travels at anywhere near the speed of light… is light."
"There has to be a way." Harry said with conviction. "Ganos said that wizards travelled in space thousands of years ago. We just need to work as hard as we can."
"Alright, here it is." Sirius plonked a trunk down on the coffee table in Harry's living room the following day.
Harry looked at the large school trunk glibly. "It seemed smaller last time."
Sirius grinned. "Sure, but this Bellatrix's trunk! I thought we could have some fun and go through her stuff. Maybe look at her diaries." He waggled his eyebrows.
"You're a sick, sick man, Padfoot." Harry said gravely. "Remus, maybe you should take him to the V-E-T?"
Remus' lips quirked slightly. "Your mother once tried to set up an appointment for him. Regrettably the war intensified and we were unable to keep the appointment."
"Might want to set up a new one."
Sirius looked between them in confusion.
"Nicky Old Boy, Old Chum-"
"What now Harry?" The Ancient Alchemist sighed as Harry flooed into his home.
"Is your better half here?"
"She's shopping. Shouldn't you be in class?" He asked as he put down his book.
"Been there and done that. I have something I need to discuss with you and it is very sensitive so please put up every privacy charm you can."
"Is this more sensitive than your last big reveal?"
"Yes."
Nicholas scowled as he stood up. "Follow me."
Nicholas led Harry to a bookshelf. He pulled on a book and the bookshelf seemed to dissolve to reveal a hidden room behind it.
"You watch a lot of movies, don't you?" Harry smirked.
"Of course!" Nicholas smirked back. "Do you like my secret little room?"
Harry looked inside and saw that there was a complete potions lab. There was a large safe in the wall.
"Very nice. But clearly not where you keep the stone."
"What gave it away?" Nicholas smiled.
"You told me it is under the Fidelius. You haven't told me the secret so I shouldn't even be able to assume it is in this room… or even see the room."
"You clearly have plenty of experience with the Fidelius, but not much finesse. Come here." He instructed.
Harry moved to stand next to Nicholas so they were exactly where the bookcase had been.
Nicholas suddenly began stamping vigorously on the spot.
Harry was about to ask if he had lost his mind when the floor beneath him vanished and he fell into the abyss.
Harry felt like he was falling forever. He could see absolutely nothing. Wind was rushing in his ears and he couldn't find anything to grab onto. Not a floor, not a wall… not even a ceiling!
"The Flamel's secret room is beneath the bookcase."
The rushing wind turned into a vicious vacuum that dragged colours and shapes before Harry's eyes, quickly forming into a comfortable living room.
He gasped for air as he fell to a knee.
"Sorry about that Harry." Nicholas clearly didn't mean it as he smiled. "So, take a seat and tell me what ails you." He offered as he sat in front of a comfortable chair in front of a fire.
Harry grumbled as he took the opposite chair. "I'm offering you the chance to pay up the life debt you owe me."
"I assume this doesn't include me wasting my time making gold and elixir for you?" He asked dryly.
"You only make me gold. You only do that because you agree with me. It's the only reason there is this debt between us.
"I'm offering to help you pay off the debt with a single spell."
Nicholas wasn't sure he liked this. Harry was being far too serious. There was no spark of mischief in his eyes like there normally was.
"What spell?" He asked cautiously.
"The Killing Curse." Harry said with a sad shrug.
Nicholas closed his eyes, took a deep breath and sat back. "Killing you would be the same as Severus Snape betraying your family."
"Not if you're doing me a favour and I might survive it." Harry said as he also sat back. "There are a few things that I haven't told anyone. Not even Filius. I don't want them to have to deal with it."
"But you are happy to lump it on me." Nicholas said sarcastically.
"Payback for everything that happened in India." He smiled… but there was no happiness.
"Tell me the reason." Nicholas instructed. He was not pleased.
"There is a piece of Tom's soul here." Harry tapped his scar. "The only way to remove it is to hit me with the Killing Curse. Last time I came back to life and the curse just killed the soul fragment."
"You stupid child!"
Harry was startled as Perenelle burst out from behind Nicholas with tears in her eyes. She stormed forwards grabbing Harry in a crushing hug. "You are wrong, Harry." She said as she sobbed, holding Harry's head to the crook of her neck. "There is always another way."
"It would appear, Harry, that I will have to find another way to pay off the debt." Came Nicholas' dry yet amused voice.
Harry and Sirius stood outside the cell of Draco Malfoy. Inside the boy was clinging to the aging Headmaster and shivering.
"What happened to Fawkes?" Harry asked as he looked around the cell.
Dumbledore glared at the annoying brat. Brat? Oh dear. He'd been in the cell too long.
He shook his head to clear himself. "Fawkes was unable to help Mr. Malfoy so he headed back to the castle."
"Did Draco come to a decision?" Sirius asked sternly. "He can either stay with a muggle family, perform menial labour at the Hogshead or we can cut him loose in the muggle world with his wand snapped and his magic bound never to return to the wizarding world."
"I-I- I am a-a-a M-M-Malfoy! A-A-Any p-p-pureblood f-f-family wo-ould be proud t-t-to have me live with t-t-them."
"Tough. It isn't a choice you have, Thief." Sirius sneered. "Albus, you can take him to the docks. You have until he gets there to help him make his decision."
Albus really wanted to argue but he had no legal standing in an internal matter of A Most Ancient and Noble House. He dragged the shaking Draco to his feet and led him out of the cell.
He frowned as he looked around. "Where are the Dementors?"
"They were never here." Sirius shrugged. Albus looked at him in surprise and Sirius looked affronted. "Do you take me for a monster or something? I would never condemn a child to a life of torture and enslavement! I would never lock someone in a cupboard that barely fit them just because they were born or treat them like a house elf to sate my hate!"
Albus scowled as he quickly led Draco away.
It wasn't so much that he hated the way Black was accusing him of treating Harry… it was the fact that he had thought that his mind and spirit was so strong that the Dementors didn't affect him.
Except the Dementors weren't even there.
He looked down at the shaking boy… Draco Malfoy was honestly a spoiled brat… even Albus couldn't deny that.
Draco Malfoy was currently in the bathroom used by the guards.
Albus had just been made an offer by Sirius.
"How do you expect me to look after the boy if I can't have him near me at Hogwarts?" Albus argued.
"You didn't feel the need to have me at Hogwarts." Harry said snidely. "You were happy to leave me in a cupboard with my abusive family. You left Tom in an abusive orphanage."
"Those were entirely different circumstances." Albus said as he drew himself up importantly.
"How?" Harry asked simply.
Once again Albus was infuriated by the boy. Most people would have accepted his statement as it came from the Great Albus Dumbledore.
Harry felt the need to press.
"I'm afraid a young child such as yourself wouldn't understand." He tried out his grandfatherly mannerisms again.
Sirius raised a hand with a smile and waved. "Hi. I'm an adult. Explain it to me."
Albus gave a long suffering sigh. He sometimes regretted his part in getting Sirius out of Azkaban.
"I refuse to be drawn in to a pointless debate with you, Sirius." He said sternly. When in doubt, pull out the disappointed teacher routine.
"If you are unable to explain yourself then we won't be able to consider what you have to say." Harry retorted. "Anyway, offer stands. If you are so desperate to 'save' Draco then you can assume responsibility for him. If you can get him to behave and respect others, then we will see about letting him back into wizarding society as a student."
"For which I need to have him with me at Hogwarts." Dumbledore reiterated.
"You could always quit." Sirius offered. "That or you could arrange a nanny and only stay at the school during the day."
"No one said you had to have your eye on him twenty-four hours a day." Harry pointed out. "You can arrange for carers or minders, but you are responsible for him and his actions and the resulting consequences."
"And if I refuse to take on, Mr. Malfoy?"
"He gets to choose from one of the other options." Sirius said firmly.
Albus gave another sigh. "Then I see I have no choice but to take responsibility for Mister Malfoy."
The following day was a Friday, the year sevens had their Muggle Studies lesson with Charity Burbage.
She had just finished taking the class register when the door opened and Harry Potter marched in with two first years.
"Mister Potter! Regardless of your station and ownership of this school, it is still polite and good manners to knock and await invitation before entering a room." She said sternly.
Harry actually blanched at that. "Sorry." He said sincerely. "I've just been used to dealing with idiots like Dumbledore for a while now. I promise to try and not do it again."
"Thank you." Charity said with a bit of relief. She had lost her temper a bit otherwise she would never have questioned a lord in his own castle. "Now, why are you here with Mister Creevey and Miss McCallister?"
"Well, let me answer your question with a question." Harry said as he led the two firsties to the head of the class. "When was the last time you actually went into the muggle world?"
"Goodness!" Charity said breathlessly as she patted her chest. "I used to go every summer. Not for extended periods, of course, but just to see how things were cha- Mister Potter, are you intending to commandeer my class as you did with Professor Binns?" She asked archly.
Harry gave her a sheepish smile.
"Surely my class cannot be considered in the same sentence as History of Magic?" She asked aghast.
Harry turned to the class. "How do muggles get to America?"
"By boat of course." One Ravenclaw boy declared. "They had that big ship. It sank though. I guess they learnt their lesson and make them small now."
"What about aeroplanes?" Harry asked.
"They use those like primitive broomsticks… right?" Another Ravenclaw asked uncertainly.
Harry turned back to Charity. "And your answers?"
"Similar to theirs." She admitted. "But I know they have made great strides with their cars and bikes. Anyone can see the massive lorries and buses they use to transport people."
Harry nodded, he was quite pleased with that answer. "You sound more open minded than most purebloods… but you are fairly out of date.
"Non-magicals now have ships more than twice the size of the Titanic, the ship you were talking about." He told the boy. "The Titanic sank nearly a hundred years ago and since then they have improved in nearly every way.
"Their planes can carry up to six hundred passengers! That is the entirety of Hogwarts and Hogsmede with room to spare.
"Muggles have been to space and landed on the moon.
"They can talk to each other across the oceans without needing to put their head in a fire and get sooty.
"Which brings us to why Colin and Morag are here." He indicated the two firsties who were waiting patiently, if nervously. "Both are first generation magicals. They have spent eleven whole years in the non-magical world getting a non-magical education.
"If you want to learn about the non-magical world then you should make use of the best resources Hogwarts has to offer." He said firmly.
Charity sighed. "Mr. Potter, as admirable as your idea is, how do you expect them to help without a lesson plan."
Harry picked up the class text book on Charity's desk and handed it to Morag. "What page are you on?" He asked the Professor.
"Thirty-eight."
"Look it over, teach them what the subject says. I'll stay with you for now to make sure you stay on target." He assured them.
Despite their nervousness the two young students opened the book to page thirty-eight.
Everyone waited quietly.
Harry tried to supress a smirk at the looks of outrage and confusion on the two first year's faces.
"This says we still use a horse and cart!" Morag exclaimed. "But everyone can see the cars on the streets. All you have to do is walk outside the Leaky Cauldron!"
Charity couldn't help but put a hand over her face in dismay. "Class dismissed for the rest of the day." She sighed.
Harry had suggested that Charity contact a few parents of muggleborn and ask them to show her around. He told her to take the textbook with her and show them… but not to take offence when they laughed.
Albus was out of the castle for a few more days. He was having a hard time finding someone to board Draco whilst he was in school. It was bad enough that his brother, Aberforth, refused to help, but every time he took Draco somewhere the boy kicked up a fuss and managed to insult his would be carers.
The irony was lost on Albus when the only person who capitulated was Mrs. Figg. She did so under duress, but she felt she owed Dumbledore and Albus was not adverse to guilting her into it.
The hard part was trying to get Draco to behave.
Harry, on the other hand, had his own miscreant to deal with.
"I hate it here." Was the sulky declaration from the twelve-year-old Dudley Dursley.
"That's the idea, Dud." Harry shrugged.
"Daddy said I could go to Smeltings."
The pair were sitting in the visitor's room at a Secure Children's Centre near the edge of London. It was a lovely place that made you feel at home.
Unless you were sentenced there… because a prison is a prison no matter how nice it looks.
Vernon and Petunia had been arrested for child abuse after Amelia had worked with her muggle counter-parts to bring them to justice. Dudley was too young for prison but not suitable for society.
"They don't let me have sweets. They don't let me watch cartoons. They make me eat… vegetables!" He whispered the last part with terror.
Harry tried not to laugh… it was hard enough not to smirk. "Do you know why you are here, Dudley?"
"Because I'm a 'bad boy'." Dudley sneered. "I'm not dumb."
"And you don't believe that?" Harry asked calmly.
"Who cares?" Dudley through his hands up angrily. "Mum and Dad are in jail and I'm here. Just because the little liars said I beat them up and took their money."
"But you did."
"They shouldn't have said anything… fucking little squealers. OW!"
Dudley rubbed his arm fearfully as he saw Harry holding his wand pointed at him.
"That is the sort of behaviour that keeps you a prisoner here." Harry said sternly. "Foul language, bullying… it's disgusting."
"You're not the boss of me!" Dudley whined.
"Actually, I am." Harry said as he sat back and fiddled with his wand thoughtfully. "Who's your favourite super hero?"
"Huh?"
"Batman, Superman, Iron Man… who's your favourite?"
Dudley had a greedy… almost evil grin. "Wolverine!"
Harry wasn't entirely familiar with comics and heroes. He didn't have much exposure beyond what Dudley talked to his mother about. As a result he had had to research the various heroes and villains before visiting Dudley.
"What does Wolverine do with his powers and abilities?"
"He kills people! Slices 'em up! Woosh! Woosh!" Dudley animatedly swung his fists as though the fictional claws were poking from his own knuckles.
"Does he kill children?" Harry asked.
"'Course not!" Dudley said indignantly. "He kills the bad guys. Like Sabertooth and Sentinels."
"Why doesn't he kill children?" Harry asked curiously.
"Because he's a hero. God, I knew you were dumb."
"If your hero, Wolverine, doesn't hurt children… why do you?"
Dudley shrugged uncomfortably. "So they give me their stuff and do what I want."
Harry had no idea how to respond to that. Well… he considered finding Vernon and Petunia and torturing them for what they did to their son.
He was practically a psychopath.
"But I don't like it when they do it to me."
Harry raised a surprised eyebrow at the quiet admission.
"Someone's been hurting you?" Harry asked softly.
"No… but they said they would if I didn't let them have my pudding."
"But that's how all the kids you bullied felt." Harry reminded him. "They didn't like it when you hurt and stole from them. They were afraid when you threatened them.
"Now that you've become the victim to bullies… do you still want to be a bully?"
Dudley just shrugged. It was a bit strange to see the normally boisterous Dudley Dursley so subdued… scared.
"Do you know what is better than being a bully?" Harry asked.
Dudley gave a half-hearted sneer. "Being a goody-two shoes?"
"Being the hero." Harry said simply. "Being the person who protects the victims and stomps on the bullies and makes sure they aren't making people feel like you do now."
"Like Wolverine?" There was bit of curious hope.
Harry leaned forward and looked at Dudley intently. "Wolverine, Batman, Superman, Iron Man… each in their own way looks out for the little guy. What do you think Wolverine would say if he saw you bullying someone else?"
Dudley gave another half-hearted shrug. Harry was relieved to see shame on his cousin's face.
Harry leaned back again and played with his wand. "Do you remember when Hagrid gave you a pig tail?"
Dudley's face was a mixture of anger and fear as he squirmed in his seat.
Harry ignored it. "Hagrid was wrong. He shouldn't have done that to you. He certainly should have reversed it before we left you."
"I couldn't sit down for month." Dudley grumbled.
Harry knew the doctors said he would be fine after two days… but as usual, Petunia and Vernon had spoiled the brat. He let it pass though.
"Magic is one of the most wonderful things in the world." Harry declared as he pointed his wand at the drinking glass on the coffee table between them and turned it into a little Labrador puppy. It immediately began yapping happily and jumped on a terrified Dudley's lap.
Well… it tried to. It was too small and young to be able to climb the chair.
Harry ignored Dudley's fear and attempts to climb over the back of his sofa chair. He tapped himself on the head and disillusioned himself.
Dudley didn't notice Harry had vanished until the puppy, that was desperately trying to climb onto his chair, began to float.
All of a sudden Harry seemed to melt into view, his image pouring down like a waterfall. He was sitting on the side of the table nearest Dudley with the puppy on his lap.
"Invisibility, teleportation, mind reading, making things from nothing, turning things into other things… and that is just what a wizard or witch can do!
"I haven't even started on things like dragons, unicorns, mermaids, centaurs… the magical world is full of amazing creatures."
Dudley seemed to have calmed down a bit having seen the puppy was quite friendly in Harry's hands enjoying a tummy rub. Harry slowly handed the puppy across to a tentative Dudley.
Harry sat there patiently whilst Dudley stroked the puppy's tummy like he'd seen Harry do. The only other dogs that the two had been exposed to were Marge's. They were all the same. Vicious things that were unsafe around decent humans.
"I've seen a dog that is taller than Hagrid. It has three heads and loves to play fetch." Harry said with a small smile as he watched Dudley's mood improve as the puppy rolled over and tried to reach up and lick his face.
"I've seen a snake that is longer than a bus."
Dudley looked up in amazement.
He suddenly frowned.
"Why are you telling me this? Trying to make me jealous?" He asked with a scowl.
"If your parents had been good people, they would have stopped you from being a bully." Harry said seriously. "You and I would have been raised like brothers."
Dudley looked at him with curious disgust. "But you're just a freak."
"Why?"
"Because Dad said you were."
"You're Mum and Dad are in prison for calling me a freak, for beating me, locking me in a cupboard and barely feeding me. You are in this place for calling me a freak. For beating up me and others."
Harry leaned forward intently. "If I'm the 'freak', why are you the one in here?"
"Maybe you tricked them." Dudley clearly didn't believe that.
"Dudders, I'm going to leave you now." Harry said as he stood up and smoothed his clothes. "I'll be back… maybe next week. I want you to think about magic and superheroes.
"I would be very happy to show you magic and let you enjoy it… but at the moment you don't deserve it. Prove you can be a good person and-" He vanished the puppy causing Dudley to look shocked and upset. "-next time things like that puppy might be more permanent."
Harry didn't say anything else as he turned and left, leaving a confused and somewhat sad Dudley Dursley alone in the visitor's room.
