Wish Four – The Perks of Being a Wizard
"A lost child?"
Harry Potter was already ten years old but looked nothing his age. Frail and malnourished, he looked too much like girl. So on the unfortunate day that he did get separated from his relatives during their trip to Diagon Alley, the policeman who saw him alone and lost had straightaway brought him to an orphanage.
"Sir, you don't really have to. My aunt and uncle might be looking for me right now," he said but deep inside Harry knew the couple might as well be praying for him to stay lost and to never be bothered by his presence.
"I'm sorry little lady but I can't just let you roam anywhere knowing full well the dangers lurking in the city. So if your relatives do come by to the station then you'll be in a safe place full of children, okay?"
Harry gritted his teeth, "I'm a boy."
Wool's Orphanage was dreary and dull which might as well be anyone's first impression. The building looked absolutely terrible and grey especially from a child's perspective. Harry was questioning as to why the government still lets them keep the children.
As he they reached the gates, an old woman who looked strict and thin approached them, "You know I can no longer accept any more children in the orphanage, officer?"
"No worries Mrs. Cole, this young boy will stay here only till his relatives come by. He got lost you see."
The old woman's prune face frowned as she stared at Harry, "Are you sure he is not just some child of a street beggar?"
"I'm not. My name is Harry Potter, ma'am."
"Tsk. At least you have some manners. Fine, come on then, Mr. Potter. I'll bring you to the children."
Harry hated this helpless feeling. How had he gotten astray so quickly? He only glanced at the books in Flourish and Blotts for a few seconds and they were already gone. Now he has to stay in the orphanage for an indefinite amount of time. He is pretty sure his relatives won't even bother looking until the police will come knocking through their door.
"As you heard, my name is Mrs. Cole. And I expect best behavior from you, Mr. Potter. And you better pray to God that your relatives will come and get you," she then muttered to herself, "I haven't got enough money to feed another mouth in this orphanage."
Knowing full well not to further aggravate the ire of the old woman, he responded, "Yes ma'am."
He was then left behind in what can be called a playground with all the children frolicking and running around. Awkwardly, he stood still even when a pretty girl introduced herself as Amy Benson said, "You're new here, aren't you? You can be my friend then." Harry was almost confused at the unexpected kindness until she added scathingly, "It's hard to find girls to be my friends. The others aren't worthy enough to be part of my group. They're not pretty!"
Harry was irritated to no end as the girl continued to rant about everything yet absolutely nothing. So as calmly as he could he smiled and stated, "I am undoubtedly a boy, Benson." But he was not able to fully rein his pent-up anger and continued, "Unless you need to get your eyes checked and wear the same glasses as the girl you seem to loathe or maybe you prefer something similar to mine."
Amy Benson flushed red in anger and embarrassment as she screeched so loud that even the children from the other side of the playground heard, "Wha- You?! You're a queer! DISGUSTING! I can't be believed a talked to you. What if I'll have cooties because of you!?"
Harry did not even bother to retort at her foolish accusations because seriously, she seems to have already stemmed the idea on her little head. And Harry refused to waste his breath explaining to the other girl how ridiculously irrational she was being just because she misunderstood from the get go.
So he went to a corner of the playground and sat near the tree. The other children began to whisper on how much of an abomination he must be but it did not really matter because being isolated was nothing really new to him. Harry was already used to his relatives' complaints and insults that petty slurs from children against him was something he can easily just roll off his back.
"Pathetic."
Harry almost jumped at the sudden presence behind him. He looked back only to discover that there was actually a boy hidden behind the tree. He seemed to be a tad bit older as he began inspecting Harry with a blank face.
"Uhhh…" Harry responded awkwardly.
"You're no better," the other boy added.
Blinking rapidly as the insult was finally processed in his mind, he stood up and glared at the other boy who went back to reading his book laid on his lap, "What?! What did I ever do to you?!"
"Oh I don't know. Breathe the same air as I? Sulking and invading into MY territory? Daring to even look down on ME?"
"You're incorrigible!"
"Am I really? Do you even know what it means, little munchkin?"
Harry was usually a rational child. He had to be if he wanted to appease his Aunt Petunia's bitterness or Uncle Vernon's wrath. That is why he did not understand how he was easily ruffled by this boy of all people. But something just snapped in him. It could be because the boy looked so unperturbed and proper despite living in such a place or how he seemed to emanate superiority over Harry. Or maybe all the stress and anger accumulated in him just wanted to burst out and the other boy's presence did not help. And he well... He retaliated in the most undignified way (dignified if you really think about it) and began brawling.
Before the two boys knew it, they were being pulled apart by another older woman. And the taller boy had the gall to actually glower at him for ruining his day when he was the one who started it!
Mrs. Cole did not even waste her breath when she immediately punished the two boys by slapping their wrists hard with a wooden stick.
"I can't believe YOU of all people got into this mess! You knew the rules. I trusted you knew it more intimately than any of the children," he pointed at the other boy standing rigidly. She then turned her head towards Harry to continue, "And you, Mr. Potter had caused this entire ruckus when you're just nothing in this household!"
Tom Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt can be considered a bloody wizard in any field. He was absolutely brilliant in anything he does and he knows it.
Despite having spent most of his childhood in an orphanage, Tom was able to make name for his own the moment he got outside the field. And at the age of 32, he is now infamously known as one of the most feared underground boss. Although he hides his real façade behind the name Lord Voldemort, he is still the CEO of the Slytherin Empire the moment he was finally acknowledge to be part of the family and even made the heir of the Gaunt family when he had turned 16.
But while men and women clamor for any possible affection in his part, Tom got bored of having them as lovers. Life was tedious. Everything was too easy. Even his underground work was getting monotonous with how foolish the government can be, Dumbledore especially.
Nonetheless, he had a plan and he intends to stick with it or else all these years will be for naught. Sometimes he forgets why he even started all of this in the first place. Was it revenge? Fury? Righteous anger? It was all a blur now. But the feeling of wanting to crush those pathetic excuses of living beings only fueled his work.
"Boss, here are the files for today's meeting later at 2pm with the Gryffindor's," a well-kept woman said.
"Hn. Postpone the meeting tomorrow, Greengrass. I have personal plans this afternoon."
"But my Lord," Tom gave her a look, "Sir, the Longbottom's are beginning to-"
"I know. But that is something for me to worry about and not you. You're my secretary and I expect you to act like one and postpone ANY of my plans this afternoon. Are we clear?"
"Yes boss."
Looking at the mountain of paper works, Tom almost cringed in annoyance but he knew it's not something he can't finish in a few hours... No matter how troublesome it may be.
Times like this he missed seeing Harry Potter. Maybe he should send him another set of flowers just to fluster the man. He was always a sight to behold. Plus the very factor that Tom was somehow very comfortable at the presence of the Potter boy was a mystery.
Tom was like any other Slytherin who was capable of wearing any sort of mask to suit the situation but with Harry that is never the case. The man was most definitely different and Tom can surely vouch for that with his long list of partners whom had entertained him for the past few years. But none had held his interest as long as Harry.
Oddly enough, Tom cannot get any clear memory of Harry during their school years. It was just the idea and rumors surrounding the golden boy of his generation. His first clear memory of having seen Harry was four years ago when Vladimir was hospitalized due to his own carelessness with dealing a particular woman.
In the end, she did pay the price, did she not? Tom was many things but never merciful.
Tom cannot believe this! That preposterous woman actually dared to harm his child.
"Daddy? Am I going to die?" a ten year old Vladimir asked. The little boy was sickly pale, his breathing heavy, and his hair sticking all over his face which was drenched in sweat. He looked about ready to pass out.
Gritting his teeth, he responded, "No, you will not. Don't worry, Vladimir," he then thought, 'If anyone is going to die then it would be that wench. I'll make sure of it.'
"Daddy… It hurts," his son cried. It was rare for him to cry like this and that only serve to infuriate Tom more knowing his son was in unbearable pain because of him. If he hadn't gotten in a relationship with that woman then he could have avoided her sudden possessiveness and delusions of him having her as his wife.
A foolish mistake in his part really for while this wasn't the first woman (or even man) to have desired his affections outside the bed, she is actually the first to dare go after his own son due to her wretched yearning.
As Vladimir was being rolled away into the emergency room, the nurse stopped him before he could go any farther, "Mr. Gaunt, please wait outside the emergency room. We'll also need you to sign the information sheet for your son in the front desk."
After he was done dealing with formalities, he did not waste any time calling his men to capture the woman, "Inform the others as well, Lucius. I don't care what they do on the process because I'm pretty sure Bellatrix won't respond kindly to this information but make sure the wench is still alive when I arrive. Besides I want to deal with her myself as well."
After tense hours of waiting, the doctor finally left the room, "Mr. Gaunt? Your son has finally been stabilized but we'll still have to monitor his current state. We'll be transferring him to his room for now but we'll only allow one visitor for tonight."
"Can I stay?"
The doctor nodded, "Of course. The young lad would need to be with his father after all."
Vladimir did not wake up till the next day but when he did his son sobbed, "Daddy…"
"I'm sorry Vladimir."
His son shook his head, "You don't have to. It was my fault I followed her and-"
"Young Lord!"
Bellatrix Lestrange was undeniably an attractive woman but she can act crazy and wild when handling certain matters… Dealing with her lords was one of them.
"Bellatrix, do not forget that we're in a hospital," Tom said as he can already feel the budding headache with having to deal with her theatrics.
Immediately the woman kneeled in front of Tom, not even wasting any moment, "Forgive me, my Lord. I just could not contain my feelings."
"For God's sake Bella, we're in public area!" Rodulphus Lestrange said in exasperation as he entered the room with his twin brother, Rabastan.
Bellatrix glared back at her husband and reluctantly stood up.
"Aunt Bella," the young boy gave a watery smile.
Hugging Vladimir tightly, she cried in joy of having seen him safe, "Oh my! My favorite nephew!"
Smiling, he hugged back, "Thank you, Aunt Bella."
Leaving them to entertain Vladimir for a while, Tom went out for a breather, "I'll be back, Vladimir."
Tom was still furious of having to see his son in a hospital bed. This feeling of desperation was one of the many reasons he strived for power. Now how shall he reciprocate his vengeance to the horrid woman? While he was pondering as to how he should punish rather just torture the wench, he did not notice having two new companions sitting on the other bench close enough for him to hear an adorable laughter.
"Really Cedric why are you here?"
"Well Professor Potter…"
"You do remember I was just a substitute teacher, right?"
Flustered, the young teen fumbled his words, "You were still the greatest teacher we had!"
"Harry. Please just call me Harry."
Initially Tom had no intention of eavesdropping to the conversation of both men and even intended to leave as he himself wanted some semblance of privacy until he heard the name. Harry Potter… To actually think that the reckless golden boy of the house Gryffindor actually became a teacher? How curious.
"Harry. Well I… You know my parents are strict, right? They expect me to take on the Diggory Corporation and all. But…"
"That's not what you want," Harry stated it like it was a fact.
Cedric nodded, "Does it sound weird not wanting to follow my family's footsteps? I mean I know it's an amazing opportunity to become CEO and have something stable under my name but that is not what I really want to be…"
"It's not really weird. A lot of people are often times pressured by expectations of what to be and not to be but you don't have to be fall prey to that, Cedric."
Sighing, Cedric smiled sadly, "I'm the only child of the Diggory family, Harry. I can't just back out without disappointing or worse facing the wrath of my family."
"… For now all expectations aside, what is it really that you want to be Cedric?" Harry prodded gently.
"It's embarrassing..."
"Nothing is really shameful, Cedric… Well unless you make it so."
"It's impartial for people to see me as nothing more than an honor student. The prefect!" he ruffled his brown hair in frustration. Hesitantly, he continued, "I want to be in a band with my friends. I really love playing the piano, Harry… I just really want to perform with Viktor and Fleur in something official and public."
"Viktor and Fleur as well?"
"Yes. Remember our stunt during the Tri-tournament?"
"Of course! It's something hard to forget because of how incredibly outstanding the music composition was. Many were really REALLY impressed," Harry chuckled, "Even Snape reluctantly grunted in appreciation."
"It was only supposed to be for fun and to please the student body. I composed the tune, Viktor wrote the lyrics, and Fleur made it all work. Before we knew it, we began to create and wanted to entertain more," Cedric smiled fondly at the memory of them three struggling and spending sleepless nights just to produce and rehearse the songs. And yet it was all worth it. They felt immense satisfaction and pride in making music more than anything in their entire life.
"The three of us want this so bad… But the problem is we're pretty sure our parents will just shut us down with all our families being both rich and prominent. Why waste money in possibly being famous in something they find useless and insignificant?"
Harry enveloped the teen in a full blown hug, "And here I thought you were going to confess doing murder or some sort of addiction to drugs but this is not just something insignificant to YOU, is it? I'll tell you to go for it but if you set your mind to always listen to your family rant on what you have to do or have to be… Then nothing will change."
"But-"
The older man embraced Cedric even harder before letting him go, "Life is short, my friend… Terribly so. It is better to regret doing something than to regret not doing anything from the start. You have a dream and all three of you actually have the motivation to go far in that world. Not many can say the same," Harry looked at the younger man in the eye with a look of compassion, "So even if you are filled with people blocking your way, they don't really matter in the long run because if they can't appreciate you for being you then why is it YOUR fault?"
Cedric gazed up in the sky, his grey eyes shone in understanding, "I don't detest my parents but their suffocating expectations and hopes for me only made me push them further apart."
"The journey is yours to make. Your parents may help you in formulating ideas and possibilities but you are the one that takes the full brunt of your decisions... I know they love you but even adults should learn to compromise with what their own children really needs and so do you."
Laying his head on Harry's shoulders, he said anxiously, "Somewhere deep in my mind, I felt that they would leave me for being such a disappointment."
"It is part of living, Cedric. Sometimes we can lose something important just because of that one life changing decision... Whether the benefit falls to you, to the other party, or even both may depend on how you choose to handle it."
Tom who was silent throughout their conversation couldn't help but agree. We gamble what we already have to achieve something more. Glancing at the two, he saw the teen smile in wonder at Harry whose back was turned from Tom.
Harry stood and took the boy's hand, "Cedric, life is inevitably give and take. But I think sometimes it is alright to be selfish. While we fear the repercussions of our actions, the point is we learn on the process. Failure doesn't always mean the end of the line. It's just part of our journey in finding ourselves."
Chuckling, Cedric said, "Thank you… I think I know what to do for now. I'll try talking to mom and dad tonight. Baby steps, right? After all I have months before graduation."
"Remember that while perfection is nice and all, it can be dull. Well for me it is more fascinating to just take a leap of faith and branch out all the other possibilities when we can," Harry said grinning childishly.
"You really are the epitome of being a Gryffindor, Harry."
The man on the other bench briefly glanced at Harry and the Diggory heir who were now walking side by side to go back inside the building. Tom smiled in spite of himself, 'He is indeed amazingly so.'
Luna Lovegood loved to write.
She loved reading fantasies like those her mother used to write. She was what can be considered as your average gal if not for her habit of losing herself in her imaginations of a world where everything was answered by nargles, wrackspurts or other mythical creatures.
But in exchange for her odd perspective in life, she was bullied. She learned to accept it as a norm in her life but that didn't mean it made things any better. It simply made things more… Well more human.
"Lovegood?"
The said girl was actually hiding in one of the school's storage rooms to escape her assailants. It was best not to test their rage for whatever it was her existence seems to persistently stir within them. Curiously though there was also another constant thing in her school life and that was Vladimir Sebastian Riddle-Gaunt, the only heir to the Slytherin Corporations.
Opening the door, Sebastian looked down at the girl who was once again bruised and filthy from whatever stupid deeds her bullies did this time. It pissed him off that they never seem to learn their lesson. Are they seriously waiting for him to resort to drastic measures? Because they would most definitely regret that.
"You're hurt… Again," he stated bluntly.
She hummed in agreement.
Moving away from the door, Sebastian said, "Come on."
She did not hesitate to follow the other teen for she knew fully well that the Slytherin did these things discretely as to not cause any blemish in his public persona but she didn't really mind. It was weird enough that he helped her despite the apparent difference in their social status.
"… I heard that my minio- I mean friends got you hurt last time?" Sebastian awkwardly started the conversation.
"It wasn't them you know?" she responded airily.
Sebastian looked back in question, "But Black said so." The young teen may have disliked his gym teacher to the core but the man was one thing if not honest. He was stupidly candid that Sebastian doubted if he was even capable of any sort of manipulation that was not related to pranking.
But Black takes his job seriously and in fact, he truly cares for his students unlike certain people.
"They just blamed it on your minions," Luna said.
"Basically, since the Slytherins have gone too far they could just use us to cover up the bullying… Tsk… They discriminate us too much."
"It was more of the factor that the day simply coincided with one of your raids against the school," she disputed easily.
He smirked, "I haven't the faintest clue what you're talking about, Lovegood."
Luna giggled, "Of course. Since you were either with one of your girlfriends? Or you were lounging comfortably in the chambers? It seems something like the true mastermind would do."
"Do you have eyes everywhere? Aren't you supposed to be the school's outcast?" Sebastian eyed the pretty girl warily.
"I am, aren't I? But they are benefits in being so," she then stopped walking, "You know it is quite peculiar for you to begin a conversation with me…"
Sebastian gulped inconspicuously.
"Should I be worried for your health or mine?"
"Nothing of the sort, Lovegood, I was just making light conversation."
"Is that so?" she questioned knowing there was more to that than merely nothing but decided to drop it.
As they continued to make their way to the school clinic, Sebastian added, "I just wanted to-"
But when Luna turned to face him, he fumbled, "I just wanted to establish an acceptable relationship between us for future references since you are still the successor of the Lovegood Enterprise." Wanting to slap himself, Sebastian regretted how he sounded like some sort of jerk which he might as well be.
Luna giggled and repeated her last question, "Is that so?"
The blonde girl is truly an enigma if she wasn't even slightest offended on what he said. It's not as though he was that obvious on his feelings… Was he?
Once more Luna stopped walking, "I believe it is time to part ways."
"Wha- Why?"
"I can go on from here," she then added quietly but clear enough for him to hear, "Bye-bye, Sebastian."
She left walking dreamily as usual. And as she turned around the corner, students began to pour out and walk his direction.
Distractedly, Sebastian wanted to smile like a loon. That was the first time she ever called his name instead of 'you' and he was ecstatic. Small change in their relationship… But nonetheless, it is still an improvement.
In room 349, its dismal colored walls only served to emphasize the glow which seems to emanate from the alluring Harry Potter who was enthusiastically filling up a job form.
Hades was truly happy for his friend but was rather reluctant dealing with the situation at hand, "You know this might not end well, Harry?"
Harry did not even paused writing on the form, "Don't you have other jobs to do than to pester me about this, Hades?"
"You're my priority right now… Besides I sent out the other reapers to deal with the collection of souls for a short while."
"That is endearing really but unnecessary… Besides taking this job would be fun don't you think?"
Well aware of the troubles that Harry can cause with just his attendance, he responded, "It would be quite an adventure if it involves you."
"For goodness sake, my friend, it's a glorious afternoon. Don't you want to walk around the sunset or something else to entertain your bored mind?"
"Not really. It seems this particular Tuesday is sort of a slow day even for me."
For some reason Hades had caught Harry's full attention, "Did you just say Tuesday?"
Hades narrowed his eyes in an attempt to look sterner, "Yes. Why? Did you miss an appointment with some doctor again?"
"Oh! It's a treacle tart day on the bakery down the street," Harry then began to panic, "Bloody hell! I forgot to ask Sirius to buy some."
Taking the coat which his godfather had forgotten last time, Harry was about to disguise himself when the man in black took hold of his shoulder and said, "I can't let you go out, Harry. It's against hospital ethics for their patients to just do so."
"But they only do it once a month, Hades! Once! I'll be in and out before they even notice I'm gone."
"Right," Hades said skeptically, "Like I can trust the mysterious force that seems to attract you to trouble."
Harry pouted, "You're lack of trust in me wounds my fragile heart."
"All that matters is you're safe..." Seeing his friend's growing frown, he added, "Fine. I'll go in your stead. I can make myself visible for a few minutes since in this instance I have no human body as substitute."
"Hmm... Although, wouldn't it be less troublesome if it were me? No? Good enough I guess," Harry took something from his pockets before shoving it to Hades' hand, "Here's the cash. It's the exact amount so don't expect any change."
Hades nodded.
On his way back from the bakery which caused quite the uproar with almost all the single women in the vicinity, Hades was successfully carrying a box of treacle tarts for his friend whilst slowly losing visibility. In all honesty, he rarely used this ability since the repercussions of long term perceptibility can be grave to normal humans, which meant having them lose their focus in mind and eventually their souls. He is still Death after all.
Only certain people are able to see Death face to face without suffering any form of consequence even if they are yet to be on the verge of their demise. And those individuals are somewhat considered special wherein they are given a special privilege… That is for him to grant them a wish.
But even then there is always some form of exchange.
Walking into the silent corridor, Hades was looking down at the frilly design of the box in hand when he accidentally bumped into something solid. Not bothering to look back, he kept going forth his destination.
"Shouldn't you be watching where you're going, sir?" the man behind him said in irritation, "The least you can do is ask for my forgiveness."
"For a human, you sure are arrogant-" Hades trailed off as he blinked and stared back at the man he was sure liked to call himself in the alias of Voldemort.
Horrifyingly, Hades was absolutely certain his visibility had been gone the moment he stepped foot in the hospital.
The greatest thing about man is his ability to transcend himself, his ancestry, and his environment and to become what he dreams of being.
— Tully Knoles
A/N: Well… Awkward first meeting between the man who fears death and death himself, right? The two are most likely to be in each other's throats anyways. Fortunately, Harry is there to mediate.
P.S. Due to the fact that I have failed to update the chapters for the last four weeks, I'll be uploading two chapters this week as compensation. Not much but still something, right?
This is the 1st of the two chapters to be uploaded for the week.
By the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all! Even if it is filled with homework and power point making and having to bleeding study for long exams scheduled the moment you come back from break. Just lovely, is it not?