Harry Potter and the City of Masks
by Josephine Taylor

Discalimer: Do I need to bother?

Chapter Six

The di Chimici palace at Giglia, boasted the most beautiful (and expensive) artworks, buildings and grounds in Tuschia. What better place for the home of the current Grand Duke and his Duchess?

Duke Fabrizio and his brother, Gaetano, were sat down at breakfast at a table fit for 20. Their wives had gone visiting there family in neighbouring cities and so it was a quiet meal between the two last sons of the late Duke Niccolo. Fabrizio ate steadily through his food, taking the occasional sip of his wine. Gaetano picked at his meal, his appetite deserting him and it was obvious that there was something important on his mind. Finally, Fabrizio lost patience with his brother.

'Come Gaetano, I haven't seen you this way, not eating a good meal, since Falco passed away! Tell me, what is on your mind?'

Gaetano looked up, a little startled that his elder brother would mention their youngest sibling, Falco. Although he loved his brother, Gaetano and Fabrizio had never been close confidents. In fact it was only through their wives that they spent so much time together now. 'I was just thinking of the Duchessa of Bellezza and how they left so suddenly. It must have been something very urgent to call them away.'

Gaetano watched his brother's expression carefully. Whilst the duke had expressed his worry at the Bellezzan's being called away so suddenly, he had not seemed to be too surprised by it.

'Yes. No doubt we shall hear something. Put it from your mind for now Gaetano, news will arrive soon.' And Fabrizio went back to his meal as though nothing had happened.

Something was definitely wrong.

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Harry opened his eyes and joy sung through him. Sunlight was bursting through the shut drapes but Harry knew that it was not the sunlight of a London morning. The fresh smell of bread rolls and coffee drifted through the house from the lower levels, barely disguising the smell from the canals. In England the canal smell would have been unbearable, but here it seemed to fit.

Climbing out of bed, Harry was pleased to note that his wand was still in his trouser pocket. He had changed into a pair of light trousers and t-shirt before falling asleep, knowing that if he transported to Bellezza in his normal night attire he would be too hot. Luckily, these trousers had deep pockets so Harry was able to conceal his wand. He thought it best not to let these people know that he was a wizard, after all, they may be Muggles, unknowing of magic's. In fact, magic as Harry knew it, may not even exist in this world!

On a chair beside the bed Harry discovered a set of clothes much like Matteo had been wearing. After a moments hesitation Harry changed into them, keeping his wand under his new clothes. He knew that in his own clothing he would stand out to much.

Opening the door Harry made his way through the house, following the smell of food. Excitement was building in him again as he took in the place. It reminded him so much of the Borrow. It ignited in him a longing for the Weasley home and he knew that he had been avoiding the place for far to long. Maybe when he got back, he would call on Mrs Weasley and catch up on the doings of the family.

'Ah Harry, there you are!'

Matteo called to him cheerfully from a worn, wooden table set in the centre of the comfortable and homely kitchen. Him and his wife, Lorna, were sat in the middle of breakfast. At Harry's entrance, Lorna stood and got him a plate, setting a place for him next to Matteo. He thanked her and sat, beginning to eat at Matteo's invitation. Suddenly famished, Harry helped himself to the fresh, home cooked food. After his fill, Harry sat back, satisfied.

I could get used to this!

Seeing that his guest had finished his meal, Matteo stood and gestured for Harry to follow him. Giving Lorna a kiss goodbye, Matteo led Harry from the house and down a side passage along one of the many canals. Confused, Harry followed close behind, not wanting to get lost?

'Where are we going?'

'There's some people that you should meet. They will be able to explain a lot more than me!'

Although Harry had only known Matteo a day, he felt that the man could be trusted. Matteo's easy attitude and open appearance invited friendship to all but that those that did not deserve it.

As they walked over canals, down alleyways and across waterways, Matteo pointed out some of the sites of Bellezza. They crossed through the Campo San Sulien, a prominent area in the north of the Island. As they drew closer to the heart of Bellezza, Harry noticed the silver domes that he had noticed on arrival. Matteo, noticing where Harry was looking, named them as the domes of Santa Maddalena. Crossing the Piazza, the pair hurried down several more streets before stopping before a large, tall building.

'Here we are!' Matteo stepped up to the heavy doors and knocked. Muttering their names to the servant that answered, the couple were shown in and led up through the house. Harry, although not normally nervous, found himself so. He knew that he was about to meet a man of a lot more importance than Matteo.

After a few moments they were pushed through a door into a vast room and Harry gasped. It looked like a cross between a Muggle laboratory and a Wizard's potion/laboratory room. Strange instruments and apparatus were scattered about, one wall covered in gars of powers in different shades and glitter-ness.

'Welcome to Bellezza.'

At the sound of the voice, Harry turned to see a man stood before an open window. His shadow streaming out in front of him. For the first time, Harry was acutely aware of his lack of shadow, although that fact didn't seem to faze this man.

'My name is Rodolfo.' He advanced on Harry and gave the younger man a deep bow. Harry stood shocked. Rodolfo was like nothing Harry had ever seen before. His hair was white and long, tied back with purple ribbon. His elaborate black clothing wouldn't look out of place at Renaissance fair and his black eyes twinkled in amusement. For all this, Harry felt the power that Rodolfo put forward. One that had been around Wizards for such a long time, knew it. It was the type of power that Albus Dumbledore had produced. The connection gave Harry a twinge of sadness and regret.

'Harry.' He said simple. Harry returned the bow, keeping his eyes on Rodolfo's face. He was much used to the strange customs of other countries that the bowing didn't bother him too much. Rodolfo's face broke into a smile and he gestured for Harry and Matteo to following him through the window onto a terrace, where another young man was waiting, seated at a table with refreshments.

'Harry, I would like to introduce Luciano Crinamorte, Duke of Bellezza.'

Harry was amazed at being introduce to such an important person. He looked at Luciano closely. The man could not be more than 25 and yet he was in a position of such power and influence! Luciano's black curls were tied back with ribbon as Rodolfo's was, but was wearing clothes of more vibrant, if subdued clothes.

'I'm pleased to meet another Stravangent from my old world.'

Harry had to sit at his. Old world? That would have meant that this Luciano would have to be from England! And yet here he was, Duke of Bellezza!

'I'm afraid I'm totally confused! You are really going to have to explain this to me!'

Rodolfo looked apologetic and invited them all to sit whilst he poured them all a glass of the same sparkling wine, Prosecco, that Harry had tasted at Matteo's.

'I am sorry Harry. It is sometimes easy to forget that people from the other world know nothing of this. Luciano, or Lucien as he used to be known, was indeed born in your world, London in fact. However, a tragic accident meant that he was forced to remain here for too long a period. In that time, his body ceased to function in your world, until it eventually died, meaning that Luciano was forever transferred to this.'

Harry latched on to the parts that he could understand. Being a wizard lad, he was able accepted it without much doubt. 'You mean that I cannot stay here for long periods of time, without dying in my own world?'

Luciano nodded. 'That's right. You must stravangant back every night. I found, and so did others that came from your world after me, that when it was day in Talia, it was night in England.'

Harry sat quiet whilst Rodolfo explained the basics of the Stravanganti, much like he had done for Luciano all those years ago. How it all began with one man, William Detheridge (who himself was still alive in Talia) and how the secret of time travel must still be kept from the ever growing di Chimici family. 'For if they got into your world they would take your magic for themselves to make them even more powerful!'

Harry snorted in laughter at this. He imagined someone (who reminded him strongly of Dudley) holding a wand and trying to make it work. At the curious glances he received from the three Talians' he tried to explain. 'They wouldn't be able to use our magic. You have to be a wizard to use a wand, Muggle's can't!' At once he realised he'd said to much and his eye's grew round, but the faces of his companions still remained black.

Luciano's, however, took on an incredulous look. 'Wizards? You're a pagan!'

Harry stared at him. His laughter and shock disappearing. 'A pagan is a Muggle fad! They're just a joke really and have no real powers. In fact they are an embarrassment to the whole wizard kind. Most of them are made of squibs!' Harry's eye's blazed. The nerve of someone calling him a pagan! It was as bad as calling a Muggle-born a Mudblood!

Luciano's eye's narrowed. 'If you're not pagan, but call yourself wizard, then what are you? Magic doesn't exist in England!' Luciano folded his arms across his chest. He was now starting to fear that the person that he had believed could help find his child, was nothing more than touched in the head!

Harry just stared at Luciano. Magic didn't exist huh? Without thinking of the consequences, or who might be watching, Harry drew out his wand and pointed it at a potted plant. Instantly it turned into a graceful, tabby cat.

'Dia!' Matteo exclaimed, making the hand of fortune! Even Rodolfo looked astonished at the cat, which had just a second ago been a potted plant. Harry grinned smugly and returned the cat to its original state. He smirked at Luciano as if to say 'There! Now tell me magic doesn't exist!'

'You are certainly different to those that have come before you Harry! I think it best that no one outside the brotherhood and Arianna know of this power. If it got out you would be wanted my more than just the di Chimici!'

Harry nodded and slipped his wand back inside his clothes. His display had discovered two things. One, that the stravanganti were a mix of Muggles and Magic, without any knowledge of Wizards; and two, that his magic still existed in this strange, yet compelling, Bellezza.

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A/N - Hello again. I would just like to say I hope no one was offended by the pagan comment that was in this chapter. I have nothing personnally against them! I just felt that pagans, particulary those like Wiccan's/druids etc, area and idea's of magic, might be offensive to the wizarding world that have, what they would call, 'real magic.' Once again, NO offence was intended!

If you read, please review! Thanks.