"Speech"
'Thoughts'
Disclaimer:I do not own anything in this story unless I do own it.
Possible future crossovers.
Diagon Alley-three days before September 1
While Harry was concerned about his cousin. He also knew that if Michael needed help, he would ask for it. Given that, he felt no need to offer help when not asked in this situation. After getting a large meal from the first floor pub he made his way out onto the alley. To finish up what shopping was left would only take a few minutes. There were a few things that he felt would make the school year more interesting.
Leaving the apothecary with ingrediants that would normally only be required for years five through seven. He was planning to learn enough that for once Snape could not fault his skills in potions. With the extra time he'd spent studying his texts and practicing at the Lair he was sure to be capable enough this year.
Not to mention the techniques Michael had expected him to learn . They had been incredibly draining, but simply being capable of some of those feats was incentive enough for him. Michael seemed to learn in much the same way Harry did. With practical training Harry was quite capable, but book learning was Hermione's study method. While Hermione had a massive number of spells to choose from Harry and Michael were adaptable enough to learn spells as they were used upon them. What Harry didn't tell anyone was how easy it was to use the spells he'd only seen used once or twice. The most difficult magical manipulations had been the ones he'd seen his cousin using.
The altering of the energy flows through his body was his biggest hang-up. While Michael had been working through his arsenal of abilities, in a short exhibition for Harry, he'd demonstrated things Harry had never heard of before. This opened his eyes to the flexibility of magic. Michael explained that he had never explained how he did what he did to anyone. Harry would have to figure the how out for himself.
Harry with thoughts of mastering his family's special skills didn't notice the crowd of red heads until he was upon them.
"Harry mate, you alright?" This was from Ron causing Harry to come out of his thoughts.
"Oh, sorry Ron. Didn't see you all there. It's been a little hectic around here." Looking around at the mass of students and parents. Ron could see that happening.
"Did you hear"
" The new Lord"
"Gryffindor is"
"in the alley today."
Two guesses as to who was speaking, and both were smiling in a mischievous way.
"I had heard and have had the honor of speaking with him." Speaking in a haughty voice he couldn't help but grin at the two.
"You have met him Harry? The ministry has been trying to get in contact with him. He is very illusive though." This came from Mr. Weasly. Mrs. Weasly and Ginny weren't with the men. Probably searching for robes for the coming year.
"Well he doesn't seem to like meeting with many people in official capacities."
"Did you meet him while staying at the Leaky Cauldron?" This was from Percy who seemed to be more detached and formal this year. The position of Headboy was well known. Surprisingly enough the goings on at Hogwarts were well known. Information was power on Diagon Alley and what happens at Hogwarts could affect many things in the world. Suprisingly only minor details about Harry were known anywhere outside of Hogwarts. Not a bad thing in Harry's opinion though definitely strange. He'd heard about Percy being headboy the first few days on the alley.
"Actually, he met with me a few days into my stay on the alley. I can't just ignore my Family Head and cousin now can I."
This was apparently news to the family because their mouths were about to start collecting flies. For the first time the twins had nothing witty to say and Harry wished he had a camera.
"You.. you are related to the newest Lord Gryffindor?" Percy was the first to recover.
"He's the head of your family?" This was Mr. Weasly.
"Yes, on both accounts. You mean you didn't know? I suppose we haven't announced the connection between the families, and Michael prefers his privacy. So it might not be well known."
"Harry, does that mean you don't have to live with your relatives anymore?" This came from Ron who might know the most about his home life.
"Of course he will Ron. I'm sure Harry won't want to pick up and leave his relatives to live with an unknown that he's only just met." This was from Mr. Weasly.
"I'm sorry sir, but as the Head of my family he has offered to give me shelter in his home. I accepted."
"But why Harry? I thought your were doing alright with your relatives." Mr. Weasly was confused.
"Sir, I made a decision and one that I am not about to back down on. My relatives and I have never been on the best of terms. In fact, that is putting it mildly. Neither I nor my relatives would care if I were to never see them again." Smiling to show that he was not upset at Mr. Weasly who was taken aback at harry's response. He then turned to Ron and asked where his mother and sister were.
"They went into one of the thrift shops down the lane and we were about to split up to do our own shopping. I get to go to Olivanders to get a new wand." Ron smiled at the end. This was going to be something of his own in a family with plentiful hand me downs.
"Good on you mate. Have you seen Hermione yet?"
"Yeah, she came with us, but hasn't left Flourish and Blotts yet."
"Well, I guess I'll meet you in the bookstore then. Getting a wand is a very personal experience."
"Not so"
"fast mate"
"You need to"
"introduce us"
"to your new"
"relation."
Looking at the twins in amusement he couldn't help but notice Percy was very interested as well. Mr. Weasly was more interested in observing Harry than listening to the conversation.
'He seems to be in complete control of his faculties. I doubt he's being controlled, but was his home life really so difficult? Why would he be placed in such an environment?' These were just some of his as his sons questioned the boy.
"Well, he went back to the inn earlier because he wasn't feeling well. Maybe later today when we're done shopping." This seemed to satisfy the group for the time being.
Splitting up Ron and his father headed toward the wand shop. Percy mumbled something and headed toward a stationary shop and the twins ambled toward the apothecary. Heading to the bookstore Harry could only hope his cousin wouldn't mind being disected by his, unofficial, adopted family.
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Michael woke with a mild headache and quickly made his way to the pub and asked for a potion to relieve it. Thanking Tom for the potion and leaving for the alley to complete his shopping he was suprised to see the sun at the other end of the alley. Meaning it was late afternoon and that he was late to pick up his orders.
Hurrying down the alley he noticed his cousin with several red heads heading in his direction.
"Hey, Harry. Need to be in three places at once. Would you pick up order at Aaron's Armory? Thanks. See you back at the inn." This was spoken in a blur as he blew by his cousin shooting for the knockturn alley.
Staring at the form that ran past them Harry could only chuckle.
"That was my cousin everyone."
"Seems a bit excitable." Gred "That he does brother mine." Forge
"He just ran down knockturn alley we should stop him." This was from Hermione who was loaded down with bags from Flourish and Blotts and her pet carrier.
"I don't think we could catch him if we tried." Ron was keeping a close eye on the devil cat Hermione had purchased.
"Do you guys want to come with me to the armory? It's just a few minutes away from here."
Everyone agreed to follow there unofficial leader into a small shop actually situated under the shop that sold leather goods. Making their way through the shop door they were met with a massive blast of heat and sound. Hammers were pounding away and billows pumped to increase the heat.
They were soon noticed by a worker and lead off into a side office that cut the noise down to a much lower level.
"Good day, how might I help you? You don't seem to be the usual folk to desire armor or weapons."
"I'm here to pick up an order for the Lord Gryffindor." Harry had found that mentioning his cousin right at the start was helpfull with dealing with the shop keepers. Normally, the shops were restricted in what they could sell to underage wizards without a guardians approval. The business men and women of the area however had been informed by the goblins themselves the ties between the boy-who-lived and the current richest man in the area.
"Ah Mr. Potter. I have your cousin's items ready. If you would wait here for a moment I'll be retrieve them this moment." Stepping out of the room to retrieve the vague items. The others began speculating what had been comissioned.
"What could your cousin have wanted from and armory Harry?"
"I don't know. Maybe armor?" This seemed to be a little sarcastic, but also somewhat reasonable answer. "I wouldn't mind a little of it myself after last year. Could have used it. That reminds me I have to tell Michael about the sword of Gryffindor."
"You haven't told him yet? I'd imagine he'd want to know about a family heirloom like that." This came from the man walking back into the room wheeling a large crate in front of himself.
"None of my business of course. Would you like to see what he had commissioned before you leave?"
Not waiting for a responce he opened the crate to reveal an assortment of weaponry and strange clothing.
"What does he need these for? Is he going into battle." This was from Ginny who had been quiet the entire time they'd been shopping.
"I don't rightly know miss. All I know is that these are some of the strangest things I've yet crafted. That being said they're also the most original."
"How's that?" Hermione asked eyeing the items with curiosity.
"They choose their weilders in much the same way a wand does. Very few ever commisioned because none know who could even touch them let alone use them." Looking at the obviously curious and now knowledge hungry muggle born he continued quickly. "All secrets of my trade of course. The young man asked if I could make 'em and he got what he paid for."
"The most unusual piece here is the blade though." At this he pointed at the longsword with a red slit eye in the hilt.
"What's unusual"
"about the"
"sword."
"It's connected to all of the other weapons and armor. If the wielder of one is in trouble the sword's wielder will be able to find him or her. If the sword wielder needs help he or she can summon the others with a signal. A call for aid if you will. The sword is meant for the leader."
The man was so involved in his explanation of the items he didn't notice the young adults handling the weapons. That is until their was a bright flash of light and four of the six were clad in armor and holding weapons.
Looking in awe of his creations at work he jumped for joy at the results. To find four compatable individuals in the first group to handle the weapons was unheard of. At last count there had been three successes in the last 500 years and none had the power of these commisioned items. The only reason the items had never been outlawed was the low success at bonding with anyone.
The twins were holding two pouches on belts when they suddenly changed into one piece body suits in brown and blue. The belts and pouches were around their waists. A buckle with the head of a roaring black cat on a red back ground decorated the front of the outfit. An obvious physical change had also take place. They were both incredibly muscular, where before they had been in good shape they now looked ripped.
Harry had been holding a short stick with three red orbs on the end when he was affected. Growing several inches and becoming as muscular as the twins he filled out his blue uniform incredibly well. Feeling rather dizzy he looked down at his new apparel and the symbol on the chest of his new clothes and recognized the crest his cousin used.
Ginny was the surprise though. She two gained muscle but it was less noticeable than her brothers and Harry. Her hair was fire engine red now and her blue uniform showed the a few curves she'd gained this year. She was however holding the sword and a yellow glove in the shape of a lion's claw.
The group was stunned at the transformation and Hermione finally recognized the items and where she remembered them from.
"Th-those are Thundercat weapons and armor." She had watched some cartoons as she was growing up in the muggle world. Her parents had encouraged their daughter to sample many different forms of entertainment. American cartoons were one form and the thundercats was a show she'd watched once. Once was all she required to decide on other forms of entertainment.
"What?" This came from Ron who was looking bugeyed at his sibblings. He quickly tossed the yellow stick he'd picked up back into the crate. "What did you do to my brothers and Ginny?" This he shouted at the man who was strangly dancing in glee.
"This is simply wonderfull. If I hadn't seen it I wouldn't have believed it possible. Your four are the first people to bond to a runic based weapon in nearly one hundred and twenty-five years. Seeing this I could nearly die a happy man."
"That doesn't answer my question. What did you do to them?" Indicating the change in appearance the man finally notices.
"Ahh, this was unexpected." Pulling out a wand he cast several diagnostic spells. Harry and company recognized them from frequent infirmary visits. "It seems that the items filled your bodies with energy and corrected any deficiencies that they could. Including causing impressive muscle density. This will likely effect your physical attributes immensly."
"It's noticeable." This was from Harry who was examining his physical changes without his glasses. The fact that the glasses were no longer necessary was a major bonus for Harry. Watching Ginny lift up the crate which likely weighed more the she herself did broke Hermione who gibbered about how fiction shouldn't be made reality.
Ron however began searching through the box that might work for him. Finding nothing he couldn't help, but feel a little disgruntled. 'Figures the good stuff would happen to someone else. Maybe I should take the headmaster up on his offer.'
Gathering there robes, which had simply slipped to the floor during the transformation including Ginnys (blush), the slipped them on over their new clothes and made their way back to the cauldron. Much to the suprise of their respective families.
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Leaky Cauldron-Private Parlor
"What do you think you were doing handling unknown magical items? Of all the irresponsible things you could do. You boys should have known better." This was directed at the twins and Ron. "And you young lady after last year you should have never even thought about touching an enchanted weapon."
At the sight of Ginny's anguished face Harry stepped into the Mrs. Weasly's line of fire.
"Mrs. Weasly stop yelling at us for what happened. It was not the faults of anyone here. What happened, happened and I for one see nothing detrimental in the results."
This caught the Weasly matriarch completely off guard. Quiet, shy Harry had spoken back to her. The honorary son had protected her daughter by literally stepping in front of her. She found this refreshing from the strangely pliant boy of last summer, but he also deserved some of the blame for the current fiasco.
"Harry, while I appreciate the fact that I'm not your parent. You are in trouble as well. What were you thinking? Going into that shop without an adult with you? Your aunt and uncle must have raised you better than that." Molly had not been around for the earlier discussion about his new living arangements and had not been told about them.
Before Harry could heatedly respond the door to the parlor opened.
"You are right Mrs. Weasely you are not his parent. Nor are you his guardian. That honor falls to me." Standing in the doorway was Michael with a stern look on his face. "As to the aunt and uncle you speak of they are no longer an issue. In fact, recently Vernon Dursley was discovered stealing from his company, and his son was found molesting another young man. They will likely never see Harry again." He said this last bit with a smile. His Uncle David had been busy.
"What about his aunt?" Mrs. Weasley aske apalled.
"Being questioned about the strange disappearance of her nephew. Who is not even on record as existing in the muggle world. The police think there was some sort of child slavery thing going on. Considering the birth certificate is believed to be fake. The hospital name was St. Mungos and it doesn't exist in the muggle records."
"We should do something then to clear up the misunderstanding." This came from Percy.
"Why pray tell should we do that Mr...?
"Percy, Percy Weasley lord Gryffindor. I would think that allowing the muggle police to incarcerate a innocent woman for a clerical problem would be unjust. It wouldn't be right. I'm sure the ministry could clear up the problem right father?" Here he looked a the Weasley patriarch for agreement. He only recieved a sad look from his father which was then directed to Harry's guardian and then Harry himself.
"She's guilty isn't she?" This was quietly asked of the boy-who-lived.
With a nod of his head and without looking at any of them he left the room.
Molly made to go after him, but Michael shut the door. Summoning a chair from the other end of the room he sat down to block the door. Indicating for every one to have a seat he began cheerfully enough.
"So what do you think of the items I had commisioned?"
It was a long evening after that.
TBC
Hey, I've been up for 20 hours straight now. This just had to be written. lol. Hope you enjoyed it. Reviews are welcome as is advice. I try to update once a week for both of my stories. I need to sleeeep, so later and please read and review it keeps me going lol.