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Chapter 2
6 years later:
Time continued, the world kept spinning and memories of a past life slowly crept in to fill the ever expanding capabilities of a certain child's brain.
On the edges of the city of London in a small street called Privet Drive, a small child laboured in the garden of number four. Said child was effortlessly and efficiently pulling up weeds but his softly glowing green eyes were unfocused and absent, the boy's mind evidently elsewhere.
Flashback
The small boy huddled by the far wall of the small, stark and sterile room staring fearfully at the door. They were coming he knew, they always did about this time, coming to "study" him they said. Sometimes it was something simple and almost fun even, puzzles and games, lessons and tests on recall, even an obstacle course which was his favourite. Always though, to cast a shadow on his enjoyment was the bespectacled gargoyle in the corner, taking notes and mumbling to itself plotting unspeakable tortures in the names of more "study".
It was those tortures he was afraid of now, of being dragged kicking and screaming to the surgical room, of being given muscle relaxants but no sedatives. Just in case they "skewed the baseline results" as they cut and stabbed, peeled back skin and injected foul chemicals, just to watch as yet again he healed without scar or suffered no ill effects.
The child's lips curled into a sneer at the thought. The expression in his eyes was wild and feral, an animal expression of trapped rage and fear. Abruptly his face smoothed out and he took control of himself firmly, face a blank mask. "I'll control myself tonight, I won't give "him" the pleasure of my screams" he stated firmly. He would though, he knew. He always broke eventually but he lasted a little longer each time before giving "him" his fun.
"Him"……..father.
End flashback
Harry paused in his weeding as the memory passed and joined the rest in the back of his head. They had been coming all his life, unprompted, unsolicited and always a surprise. Each one slowly filled in the blanks of the life he knew he had lived before this one. He knew the memories were real though, he had heard that some people were reborn through the life stream, he just didn't know it happened across different worlds or why he was remembering his last life. He had always been different though.
For he was different, he knew it. He was smarter, stronger, and faster even than the other SOLDIERs, elite warriors though they were, his senses were more acute and he even needed less sleep. He was made to be different he knew, to be the best, to be special. He remembered that much, he couldn't remember why yet but he was sure he would have learned it before his death so he was content to wait
"Boy! Get in here!" sounded the shrill voice of his aunt. He rose and turned gracefully to regard her, she was standing just inside the door looking impatient looking impatient. He shrugged and walked inside making sure to wipe his feet; the punishment if he didn't was inconsequential next to the tortures he remembered but annoying nonetheless.
"We're having bangers and mash tonight" she told him, pointing imperiously at the kitchen "now get on with it" as he strode past towards the kitchen he couldn't suppress the flare of irritation that rose within him obnoxious old hag he thought savagely when I have my strength back I'm going to enjoy leaving this place, maybe I'll kick it down as a leaving present? With that pleasant thought to distract him he finished making the supper and served himself a portion before retiring to his room to eat in peace.
As he entered he glanced around in derision before setting the plate down on the small desk he'd had to repair after Dudley had destroyed it. The smallest bedroom in the house naturally, still it's better than the cupboard at least. Honestly I was beginning to think they intended for me to spend my whole second childhood in there! He thought with a mixture of wry amusement and disgust thinking back to the firm stance he had been forced to take with all the weight of the great General's glare behind him. Luckily it had served just as well for cowing unruly relatives as it had for cowing unruly soldier recruits… except for young Zackary Fair but nothing he'd found had ever managed to cow that particular menace to society. Now at least he was left mostly to himself except for chores and he refused point blank to do any of the make-work they attempted to set him at first, it was entertaining to have the SOLDIER recruits digging holes then filling them in again all day, he had no intention of doing it himself!
As he contemplated this he began to eat, his mood slipping slightly as he remembered a few troubling flashes of memory he'd had recently. There had been nothing substantial but one of them was of Zack looking furious and betrayed in a way he'd not seen since he had found out Angeal, the boy's mentor had turned on Shinra and betrayed all of them. Is it possible there had been another betrayal amongst the soldier first classes? He pondered concerned despite himself for the last man he could consider a friend who remained with him in SOLDIER. It does not seem that likely he decided to himself his only close friends after Angeal died were myself, his girlfriend, the Turk girl Cissnei and his little recruit friend Cloud Strife. He ate another bite slowly and idly noted that his years of forced servitude with his relatives in this life were improving his culinary skills.
I certainly wasn't about to betray Shinra unless they betrayed me first if nothing else I would remain a loyal SOLDIER despite my misgivings about the companies direction. Cissnei? No, I highly doubt that girl would turn, she enjoyed being a Turk far too much. The girlfriend? Hmmm, that's definitely a possibility, he did seem highly infatuated and I never met her myself. Cloud is highly unlikely to be it though, he practically worshipped the ground Zack walked on, not surprising considering the difference in their ranks though. He pondered before the girlfriend then must have left him, a shame he was planning on asking him to marry him as I recall. With that last thought he put the subject out of his mind, satisfied that there was likely nothing too dire waiting in the memories he had yet to regain. He polished off his meal with gusto. Afterwards he sat back to read a book on world politics he had picked up from the library in his ongoing quest to understand this new world he found himself in. Good intelligence was life for any SOLDIER after all.
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Petunia Dursley sat contentedly at the dining table looking at her wonderful husband and handsome son eating with their traditional healthy appetite and enthusiasm. Life couldn't really be any better she mused to herself oh we have to take care of Lily's brat but he realises he isn't wanted and keeps out of sight, really the chores he does free up enough of my time for it to be almost worth it, I never liked cooking anyway.
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Authors note: yup its our favourite silver haired overly powerful bad guy, but he doesn't remember that bit what will happen when he does? Mwahaha!
To my one and only reviewer (you know who you are) I had a bit of trouble thinking of how to continue this story from here but you inspired me and it was done half an hour later.
Much more and longer chapters to come ladies and gentlemen