Harry Potter and the City of Masks
by Josephine Taylor

Chapter Five

Harry woke up with a start, looking wildly around he expected to see the veranda where he had drifted off to sleep, amongst vines and the smells of a strange world. Instead, he found himself in a small, dark room in the heart of London.

Harry shot a glance at the alarm clock and was startled to see the time, 10.12am. For a second his heart started beating madly as he was almost 2 hours late for work. Then the memory from the previous day kicked in, how he was now on "vacation".

Sinking back onto his pillows, Harry ran a hand over his eyes, his mind replaying the strange event that had occurred during the night. Now back in his London room it was hard to believe that Matteo or Bellezza (as Matteo called the place he had found himself in) was real. It was all like a dream, but a really real dream.

It was hard to believe that any of it was real, even when he was there. Harry had seen some strange things in his time, so he had only a small amount of doubt that Bellezza actually did exist. His mind replayed everything that had happened in 'that over world.'

Matteo had taken him through a maze of streets and over numerous canals and bridges. It was after a while of walking that Harry began to associate Bellezza with his Venice. After a few minutes, Matteo led Harry into small house. Although Harry could see that it was not a rich man's house, it was comfortable and serviceable and Matteo seemed very proud of it. Matteo took Harry into the small back garden that was overflowing with plants of all sorts. A young woman, who Matteo introduced as his wife Lorna, served them a sparkling drink that Harry enjoyed very much even though he couldn't quite remember the name now.

As soon as he was settled, Matteo started on one of the wildest and probably most complicated stories Harry had ever seen. It had been obvious that Matteo was not a story-teller, from the way in which he would travel along strange tangents before coming back to the original point, of which Harry could not always remember.

According to Matteo he was a Stravagant, a person that travels between the worlds of Harry's England, and Talia. Harry had already figured out that Talia was no part of his world, but another parallel to it.

Matteo had also tried to explain Harry's absence of shadow, which he was most anxious about. But apart from naming him as a Stravagant, Matteo knew no more.

Harry sat up and swung his legs out of the bed. Standing on his feet he moved across the small room into the ajoining bathroom, stripped and stepped into the shower. The warm water running down his back helped to revive him somewhat.

No matter how confused he had felt about this Bellezza, with its talk of a Duchessa, a powerful enemy known as the di Chimici and missing children, Harry reasoned that it had to be better that London, where he hardly knew himself anymore and his friends were slowly abandoning him. Moving on with their lives and not appearing to look back.

'Maybe I'll find a purpose in Bellezza and makes some real friends.' Harry muttered to himself as he went to find toast.

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'A new Stravagant you say?'

Matteo was perched, semi awkwardly on a spindly chair in Signor Rodolfo's roof-top terrace. Matteo had been here a number of times and so was not quite so terrified that first occasion when he had stepped through the window onto a terrace that stretched more that it proportions should have allowed.

'Yes sir. I have been keeping an eye around Bellezza like to instructed me to and then yesterday this young man appeared out of nowhere. I knew he must have been what you said he would for he wore strange clothes.' Matteo hesitated. It was one thing to be in the presence of Rodolfo Rossi, it was another to be speaking directly to him. The man issued a sense of power and importance that was, at times, over whelming for a young man of the islands. 'I would have brought knowledge of him sooner Signor, but you were not yet back from Gigla.'

Rodolfo nodded and smiled at the young man. 'You did well, Matteo, but please just call me Rodolfo. All this 'sir' and 'Signor' is making me feel old.' He gestured for his servant to bring refreshment. 'besides, if you are going to become my new apprentice we must put aside those formalities.'

As the servant was pouring drinks another young man stepped through the window onto the terrace. He was richly dressed indicating wealth. Straightening the young man ran a hand through his black curls before spotting the pair and hurrying over.

'Luciano!' Rodolfo stood and embraced the young man. He looked at him, with a worried frown on his head. 'How are you both?'

Matteo sat silently whilst the two exchange words. His heart went out to Luciano. Matteo didn't know what he would have done if it had been his child that had been taken. The whole city was in shock that the child of the Duchessa could have been taken in her own city. It was rumoured that the Duchessa had arrived home in a blinding rage and thrown the nurse, who had been looking after her daughter, into prison. He didn't know if it was true or not, but certainly no one had seen the woman again. Looking up from the floor, Matteo flushed slightly to see the two men looking at him. Luciano smiled at him before sitting and taking a glass of the sparkling wine.

'I hear there is another Stravagant. What's his name? What is he like?'

'His name is Harry, sir. He seems like a nice enough person although, he is a little ... different.'

Both Rodolfo and Luciano frowned at this. Luciano shook his head and smiled. 'Everyone is different. It might be that he is not English at all and so might not look like anyone you have seen before.'

Matteo shook his head. 'No it's not like that. Harry looks as normal as can be. Black hair, tall, fair skin. Granted his green eyes are unusual, but that is not what is different.' Matteo paused, trying to describe what he felt was true. Although he was new to the world of the Stravagant, and not a Stravangant himself, he had met many people from across all cultures and times, but no one like Harry. 'It's as though he has this strange ... aura about him. A strength and power that no one in Talia seems to have.'

Rodolfo sat silent, pondering what young Matteo had just told them. He was not sure what the young man meant when he said that this Harry was different, but on that he would decide for himself when they met. There was one thing for certain, he couldn't have arrived at a more opportune time.

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Night fell in through the open curtain's and the full moon shone on everything that was not covered in the soft glow of the fire. Harry preferred this time of the day. Everything was peaceful and he could unwind without anyone or anything interrupting him.

He'd had an uneventful day. His usual weekly invite for tea from Mrs Weasley had arrived before midday. As usual, Harry had sent back an owl declining and making up some excuse about something needing to be done for work. He didn't know what he'd do when Mrs Weasley found out that he was on 'vacation' as that excuse would no longer work. He'd have to invent a new one. He'd gone to see a new blockbuster in some cinema somewhere in the centre of London. Harry had not been to the pictures since before Hogwarts. Hermione or Ron hadn't owl-ed him yet, but then no doubt they were off on there own lives and not bothering.

Harry gave a deep sigh and downed the last of the Fire whiskey in his glass. Looking into the fire his thoughts turned to Bellezza. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the small, silver amulet. it was funny really.

Harry had put the necklace away but had felt that he felt naked without it, like he was vulnerable or missing apart of himself, a similar feeling to if he had found himself without his wand.

Closing his eye's for a moment and resting his head on the back on the chair he didn't notice himself drifting off to sleep.

A/N - thanks to everyone for reading. Please review with your comments. Thanks.

Grizzlepelt, IHeartZacEfron and Arta- thanks a lot, im glad your all enjoying the story!

Masked Dragonfly 0926 - glad you like it and in answer to your question; nothings planned for the next few chapters but when things het up a bit i had planned to bring in more recognisabily people. whether they'd be from HP or not, you'll just have to wait and see, D