Welcome to chapter two readers! Still doing the intro exposition of course, but sorry about the cliff hanger of sorts.
Thank you for all of the favs and follows and to 1eragon33 for their review!
Like always rated M because I tend to foray into mature things, and I don't own anything but the stringing of the story together... and my muse bunnies.
The blonde haired, blue eyed boy hurried towards the pig bull of a boy when his name was called. ''Still not used to that.'' he muttered. The other boy just snorted and shook his head, before pulling the other boy with him. The two walked towards the library, and Harry knew that the computers weren't taken yet. After all, his polite and good nature made it easy for the librarian to trust him and reserve a few of the devices for him and his friend.
''Well, we need to get there, I have to show you something I found!'' said Dudley, a grin lighting up his face. It was truly a blessing to get along with his cousin for one, and second they could do it so covertly. It was like they were secret agents, and that idea was almost giggle worthy. But Harry found himself looking forward to what the other would present. Their friendship wasn't that long: a month and a half at most. So sometimes, Harry would find himself weary, wondering when this dream would be shattered like everything else.
Like the peace that had been over the world, after Voldemort's death at his hands. Unfortunately, his resurrection was at Harry's hands as well. Or his blood rather, and the boy could feel the shivers down his spine, remembering the horrifying scenes. But what stuck to him, what clung to him like a stomach ache, was Cedric. Cedric Diggory was a classmate, and he had been hit by the Avada Kedavra curse, a curse whom's green light took away the lives of people. It was that curse that killed his parents, and rebounded off him to finish Voldemort. But it wasn't just this event that made Harry suspicious of his luck.
Perhaps it was the gauntlet of trials he had held at Hogwarts over the years. The riddles and challenges to get to the Philosopher Stone before a Quirrell possessed Voldemort. The basilisk of an ancient chamber, unlocked by a controlled Ginny Weasley, the great snake only petrifying. The break out of Sirius Black, an untried criminal, the intent to grab the betrayer of his parents misread as a need to kill his godson. And then finally, the Triwizard tournament, an ancient tournament that Harry was dragged into, the end the Graveyard of Voldemort's resurrection. Needless to say, the boy had some of the strangest years at the magical school. The feeling of being safe, of being secure, was foreign to the Boy-Who-Lived.
So it was no wonder he expected this to break as well. They arrived at the library, and instead of their computers, Dudley brought him to the back, where nobody went. ''Hey, look at this!'' he said, grabbing the other's attention back to this world. In Dudley's hand, there was a talisman, imbedded with strange symbols. They looked familiar somehow. He couldn't quite place them, but Dudley grinned wider at him.
''Where did you find this?'' he asked.
''You wouldn't believe it. It was stuck on the ground, near Mum's rosebushes. I might not by magical, but bloody hell, even I can tell this is not normal. Want it?''
Harry looked at his cousin, and made a split decision rather quickly. He took the offered Talisman into his palm.
''Sure. It looks familiar, any ideas Dudders?''
''Yeah, it kind of reminds me of Zilean.''
''Shurima? Yeah, I could see, kind of looks like the runes on the circle of his clock.''
''Yeah, makes me think of time and going back. I wonder if it is magical? Maybe one of the Riot people is a witch or something and took the inspiration from there?''
Harry shrugged, as his mind was slowly distancing himself from the conversation. Staring at the talisman, he turned it in his hand, before placing it in his pocket. ''Let's go play.'' he said.
The boys spend their day playing on the computers, although Dudley had to leave a bit for lunch. When he came back, he snuck his cousin some of the sandwiches, telling him what happened. Apparently, his aunt and uncle were being visited by a business man of Vernon's company, Grunnings, so Harry was supposed to stay scarce. Not that the teen minded, it let him play more League, and keep away the thoughts that haunt his sleep. Of course, due to the curious artifact they found, Harry had been on a streak of playing Zilean all day. It gave him time to study the runes on the model's back, and compare them to the runes on the talisman he held. Although something bothered Harry, Dudley was quite content to assume Shurima.
But that wasn't quite right. By the end of the day, Harry realized why. Zilean wasn't from Shurima, but Urtistan. And that place manipulated time. Glad with his answer, he was packing up to leave, when Dudley was running to him again. ''Harry! Look!'' he said.
The disguised male looked, and his breath was stolen away. That was a pink crystal, similar to what one would find on the Crystal Scar. That thought made him blink, but the raw sense of magic, of power, reached out to him. In his right hand, he held the talisman, and reached out with his left to the crystal. ''Where did you find this Dudley?'' asked Harry. He was awed by this crystal, as he held it, feeling it's rough texture. The Boy-Who-Lived felt his body shiver, as if something was reaching deep inside of him, drawing nearer to the crystal. He remembered this feeling, it was like when he locked wands with Voldemort, or when his magic did things without him asking. It felt so familiar.
''It was in our rosebush again! I swear it's like someone is sending these things.'' said the pig bull. He was shaking his head, but his gaze looked at his cousin. Despite the change, the expression that was in his eyes was something of wonder, and of something powerful. Dudley didn't hate magic, he was just a bit scared due to the pig tail, but this felt strangely nice. ''Can I keep them?'' the other asked, looking up at him.
''Sure Cuz. Not like I could do anything with it right?'' he said. Laughing loudly, his hand smacked the other on the shoulder, before waving. ''I'm going home. See you soon?'' he said. Unaware that it was to be the final answer for a while, Harry smiled and nodded.
''Yeah, seen you soon.''
Once Dudley had left, Harry found his spot. It was in a desolate park, since nobody came here, away from the eyes of everyone. Turning over the crystal in one hand, and the talisman in the other, he noted how the bottom of the crystal could fit in the indent of the talisman. Debating if he should do it, the boy slowly let his disguise melt away. Just in case something would happen, he'd have to make sure he had everything he treasured. The infinite bag Hermoine had gifted him, stocked with all of his possessions, minus Hedwig. Said owl flew in the air, and landed on his shoulder, letting out a gentle hoot. With a soft pet and scratch, the owl settled on his shoulder. This was common to happen when outside of the house, since Vernon would not stand the owl inside.
Harry had a feeling that if he did this, he couldn't go back. So in a moment of paranoia, he checked once more, but then smiled. He was good. The boy pressed the circular bottom into the indent, and then heard a small clicking noise. The crystal under his fingers began to glow, brightly. Almost blindingly, and then suddenly, the light was too bright, swallowing the world. Feeling Hedwig's claws dig deep into his shoulder, the boy winced. But then he tumbled, as if he was falling, and falling. It was like everything was changing.
Closing his eyes, he let the darkness of unconsciousness take him, as he felt his magic pulse around him. It would keep him safe, he would trust in it, and rest.