All disclaimers are the same as Chapter 1 – I'm trying to keep the story dated to 1991.
AN: Originally written: May 2003
Rewritten: July 12th 2010
Chaos Destiny
Chapter 3
by LadySonics
The Leaky Cauldron.
"Dark and musty. And Harry was in this place?" Ryoga asked as he was glancing around. Though he did spot a family of red heads eating dessert at a corner table. They took up the entire corner section themselves. All of them looked nervous and were excitedly talking in hushed voices.
'If a family eats in here it can't be that bad,' he thought.
The Leaky Cauldron was slightly crowded and dark. No electricity was used. He can see some old style lanterns and some candles keeping the place lit. All around, the people inside were chatting in exciting tones on the glimpse of Harry Potter. Their missing young hero.
"It's a magical tavern all right," Ranma said as he recognized this as the type of place that his print Lina Inverse had visited frequently.
Ranma's eyes narrowed as he pointed at the red headed woman in the corner.
"Harry's signature is strongest near that woman," he said.
"So we should follow them and force them to tell us what happened to our brother?" Ryoga asked. He could feel some magic in this place. But his magic power was limited to wild magic which he received from the springs of Jusenkyo. Ranma is believed to have not only been born with powerful magic he also has the powerful magic he unlocked when he received some of the memories of his girl form.
He was amazed at Ranma's potential especially since he could add his ki abilities to a spell to increase the magic a thousand fold.
Ranma nodded. The family didn't look dangerous. Their aura's were magical and peaceful. But Ranma knew that there were many masks to people. They could be dangerous if they wanted to and if they got Harry they had to go through his defenses which was tough. Harry was a phoenix even when he was in human form. He is stronger than pops was as a panda and he was fast. Ranma knew if the red heads knew how to use magic he was going have to get to them - and hard too.
Diagon Alley
"I hope Harry will be okay," Molly said to her husband Arthur. The Weasley family had made their way back into Diagon Alley. They needed to finish their shopping before they all went home and got some sleep before the kids left for the train tomorrow. It was still early in the evening, so she let the kids run around to work off some of that tension that was built up from inside The Leaky Cauldron.
"He will be fine. He looks like a strong kid to withstand that spell,"Arthur acknowledged. That alone was an amazing feat.
"Mum. Where has Harry been this entire time?" Her young daughter Ginny asked.
Molly turned to look to all of her kids. The twins also had that question on their mind but they were also kind of in a amazed shock at what Harry did to Snape. Ron was in a quiet mood for once.
"I don't know sweety," Molly answered.
"I heard they sent him to some nasty relatives who hurt him and left him out in the middle of no where to die," Ron finally spoke up. He had a look between awe and thoughtfulness. All his like he was sheltered with his family.
Molly shuddered at that thought. When Harry had disappeared from where Arabella Figg had been monitoring him from, the entire wizarding world went into shock as their savior was mistreated and hurt by his only relatives. They had searched and looked but found nothing of the boy who lived. Until now. And the boy had just walked up to them.
"Those were some bloody amazing tricks that Harry did though," Fred piped up.
"Yeah," George agreed, "We should ask him when we get back to Hogw.." he was interrupted by a loud voice behind him.
RIRIRI
Ryoga was silently walking on the other side of the street behind the family. He could hear them talking about Harry as they walked further into the alley. By now, the alley was less crowded – Most have probably left for the day. It was time he made his move.
"Your going to see even more amazing tricks if you don't tell us where he is," Ryoga said in a menacing voice as he stared across to where all the Weasley stood. Thankfully he had remembered to use his English as Ranma mentioned they were in England. Ranma had agreed that he would be the speaker since Ranma was faster for their plan to work.
"Who are you," Arthur Weasley said. His hand on his wand. His eyes narrowed. He didn't take threats well when they were directed to his family. His wife beside him also had her wand out and their kids were behind them.
"Answer my question and I won't hurt your family. Much," Ryoga said in a tone promising pain.
"STUPIFY!," Molly yelled.
Ryoga only had to side step using a fraction of his speed.
"Pathetic," He growled while he popped his knuckles.
"YOU WILL NEVER GET TO HIM," Molly yelled. She now thought that this man was trying to hurt Harry and she would protect Harry. They owed it to the small boy.
Ryoga smiled.
"Wrong answer," he replied.
A second later a blur of wind hit the Weasely's so fast they were all knocked to the ground. All except one.
Molly gasped in shock. As she got up she noticed Ginny was missing.
"GINNY! WHERE'S GINNY," Molly yelled in panic.
"Look up," Ryoga calmly said.
All the Weasley looked up to see another man flying about 50 feet in the air without the aid of a broom holding a pale Ginny.
RSRSRSRS
"LET ME GO," Ginny screamed crying in Ranma's arm.
"Shh...calm down. We are not going to hurt you or your family" Ranma whispered to her. Ranma didn't want to hurt the girl. Their plan was to grab the youngest weakest child and force them to bring them to Harry.
"What to you mean?" Ginny asked. She was starting to calm down a little bit. She was still scared though.
"We're only doing this to find my brother. He was kidnapped and we believe your family knows what happened to him," Ranma said.
"Harry is your brother? Aren't you trying to hurt him?" Ginny asked.
"Kuso!" Ranma swore in Japanese, "Of course not I'm trying to protect him from your family!"
As a ten year Ginny was very confused.
"This is just a misunderstanding," Ranma sighed while thinking his whole life can be a misunderstanding.
"You give us who we want and we will give you your youngest back," Ryoga said unaware of this confusion continued on with the plan. Emphasizing this threat, a sickly green aura surrounded him.
Arthur Weasley took a step forward to protect his family and fell into a dueling stance. He would risked all to save them.
"Release my daughter. I will not allow you to hurt my family or Harry," he said in a dangerous calm voice.
For once in his life, his stubbornness didn't overtake him. Ryoga was at a loss of words.
"What do you mean hurt Harry? I'm trying to save him from you folks," he said giving them an incredulous look.
At that point Ranma flew back down with Ginny and landed half way between Ryoga and Arthur Weasley.
"It was nice talking to you Ginny," Ranma smiled as he released her. He gave Ryoga the stand down sign to stop.
" "
Both sides were at a loss of words. Ryoga was the first to recover.
"Um..Ranma were trying to save our brother Harry remember?" Ryoga asked with confusion eminent on his face.
Ranma looked up at the Weasley while tugging on his pigtail.
"I'm Ranma. Sorry about this um uh misunderstanding," he replied giving them a look of sincerity.
Some of the Weasley just blankly nodded and the others just stared in confusion.
Hogwarts
Harry Potter was in an annoyed mood. He was completely awake the entire time that this greasy git or what he identified as Snape had used magic to teleport them to kami knows where. Also, in reality he had almost broken the body casting spell that was places on him. He was just waiting for the right time to escape.
But Snape was in a worse mood. He was ecstatic with having the boy found especially when he learned the way he was being treated by his own family. But the boy had kicked him-hard-and in several places. His body was still in severe pain at the amount of speed and strength that went into those punches and kicks. He knew they had more strength in them then a professional heavy weight class boxer as he had had the experience in the past by being punched by one - which was thanks to the boy's father.
"Well.. Potter were here at Hogwarts," Professor Snape said as he carried the boy through the gate.
Harry looked up at Snape and then at the castle.
"Wow," Harry breathe in the beauty of the enormous castle. This place was magical as he can feel the magical energies that were surrounded it. He jumped down from Snape's arm as he continued to take in the surroundings.
Professor Snape was surprised the boy had broken through the spell but didn't seem too much harm in it as the boy didn't run away as he was just standing there looking at the beauty of the castle. Even he had to admit the castle was breathtaking the first time he had seen it when he was eleven.
"Yes Potter it is amazing. I went to school here along with your parents," he said.
"My parents?" Harry asked. This was a school?
"Yes your parents Lily and James Potter studied magic here when they turned eleven until they graduated 7 years later."
"My real parents studied magic?" Harry asked. He couldn't believe it. His parents were sorcerer's! He knew his parents died a long time ago from what he remembered of his aunt and uncle telling him they were in a car crash and that was how he got his scar. Harry knew it wasn't true since he learned it was a dark curse that had caused the scar. Ranma had felt the dark energy around it and they had determined it was some type of curse.
"Yes they were wizards as you are a wizard," Professor Snape didn't feel comfortable telling his this especially since this boy was James's son.
"Perhaps it would be better for the Headmaster Dumbledore to explain this to you," he said. Seeing no reaction from the boy.
"Are you listening Potter?" he asked.
No answer.
Harry while thinking about what Snape had said about his real parents being wizards when he had caught the magical aura of a phoenix. There was a phoenix in the castle! Though not the same kind that he was but a real life phoenix who was not part of Saffron or his people.
"A phoenix," he whispered and then he took off to find the bird.
"What" Severus said in wonder. 'Great not again' he thought as he saw the boy take off towards the castle. Did he hear the boy say phoenix? How did the boy know there was a phoenix inside?
Hogwarts Staff Meeting Room
"Now does anyone have questions on the new term?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked as he stood at the head of the staff table. All the teachers were around accept Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell who both had separate errands to run.
"Are there going to be any standards set with testing students at the second year level to decide what electives would best be taken starting there third year?" asked Septima Vector who was professor of Arithmancy. The question was familiar as she asked it every year for the last 10 years she had been working at the school. There was an average of 45 students in each grade year in the school. Last year her third year elective class had 7 kids only.
"No Septima. We always give our students the options to choose for themselves what electives they want to take," Albus replied while he stroked his phoenix Fawkes. Fawkes at the moment was really testy and fidgeting in his arms.
Septima just humph in response. Beside her Aurora Sinistra who taught Astrology just rolled her eyes. She knew the only reason Septima asked that question was her classrooms usually had a hand full of kids as more students would rather take classes like Divination then study the magical uses of math and symbols whether they would be good at it or not.
"Is there going to be restrictions on the Weasley twins leaving for Hogsmeade as it is now their third year as they would have access to Zonkers?" asked Pomona Sprout the head of Hufflepuff and Herbiology Professor who was openly shuddering at that thought. After the Slytherins it was her Hufflepuffs who were the most targeted by the twins.
It was this time for Filius Flitwick to laugh at this request. Since it was common knowledge that his Ravenclaws have always been able to easily evade the twin's jokes. Most of the time anyway.
"Shouldn't that be up to their head of house?" Filius asked while still chuckling. Sometimes these staff meetings had a good laugh.
Minerva McGonagal, Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration Professor shot him a look as to say that she can keep her own Gryffindor's in line.
Albus Dumbledore sighed as he rubbed his temples. He was about to call the end of this meeting when the doors in front of him burst open.
A young boy who was strikingly familiar broke into the room and was staring at Fawkes, Fawkes at this moment flew out of his arms and landed onto the boy.
Amazingly Fawkes started singing in a way that Albus had never heard him sing to this boy who was happily stoking him.
Every teacher and staff member was watching the boy in awe and confusion and the boy was oblivious to this for several minutes as he was with Fawkes. Finally with Albus curiosity, he tried to get this boys attention.
"Ahem," he cleared his voice. After several attempts , the boy finally looked at his surroundings.
The boy who appeared to be eleven stood up and looked around the room at everyone in curiosity . He was wearing for what Albus could tell was muggle style fighting clothes.
"I'm Harry. Harry Potter. Sorry about this." he said as he nervously brushed his bangs to the side showing his lightning bolt scar.
Everyone in the room eyes went wide. Mouths dropped open and the Divination Professor Trelawney even fainted.
At that point Severus Snape had entered the room out of breath.
"Harry, I thought you weren't running," he said while trying to catch his breath.
"Sorry Snape," Harry said.
At that point Severus Snape noticed the room he was in and the people in the room who-the ones that were conscience that is-openly gawking at him and Harry.
"Oh damn," he muttered.
Albus Dumbledore's office
"So that's the story?" Albus asked. After all the teachers had recovered. He and the other Heads of House and a few of the tenure teachers gathered in his office where Harry began his long story of his journey to this point. His eyes twinkling at all the adventure that this young boy had mention and of course all the chaos that came with it. Though he had a feeling Harry was leaving something out.
"Yes Headmaster," Harry said. He had told them his entire life on the road learning martial arts with Ranma even all the special ki attacks that they have learned. Of course the edited version where he didn't mention Jusenkyo or either Ranma or his curse or the God Saffron that Ranma had fought and killed. Because even in the wizarding world that would be too freaky.
Severus Snape stood to the side along with the other heads of houses. He didn't show it but inside he was admiring the strength that this boy possessed. No wonder the boy didn't collapse in shock at the mention that this was a magic school and that his parents were wizards
Minerva McGonagal and Pomona Sprout had and angry look not at Harry but at his adopted father and they too were amazed at the inner calmness and strength that Harry possessed.
Septima Vector being the youngest at only twenty nine was angry at Genma Saotome as well but also carried a motherly type of look and protectiveness of Harry even though she knew this boy can take care of himself.
KNOCK KNOCK
Everyone turned to the door as it opened to reveal Arthur and Molly Weasley and a young man or teenager about 17 in a similar style of clothing that matched Harry's.
"Ah Arthur and Molly. Pleasure to see you two and you've brought Ranma with you," Albus greeted.
"Ranma!" Harry yelled as he got up to hug his brother.
"Hey Harry. It's OK. You put me in a scare when you disappeared..." Ranma was glad to see his brother all right.
"Sorry Ranma. But he used magic on me," Harry interrupted as he pointed a finger at Snape.
Severus Snape swallowed in fear of retaliation. He looked very uncomfortable.
Ranma shot a dirty look at Snape but lost it and smiled when he noticed the pain that Snape was trying to cover up.
"It's not your fault Harry. Ryoga wanted to be here too but he got lost." Ryoga hadn't quite made it to Hogwarts.
Both Arthur and Molly muttered something to that. 'How can anyone get lost in a windowless room that only had one door anyway?'
On the other side of the earth in Kyoto, Ryoga Hibiki started to have a sneezing fit. 'Must be catching a cold,' he thought. He hoped Ranma was able to find Harry.
"So you want me to go to school here?" Harry finally said.
"Yes. You have been on the list since you were born. It is what your parents would have wanted," Albus Dumbledore replied.
"I don't know. It's school," Harry said remembering his old school in Nerima. He had secretly hoped he could just study on his own with Ranma.
"I think it would be a great idea," Ranma said.
"What!" Harry looked at his traitor of a brother.
"Gees! Think about it Harry. This school is different. Everyone here has magic and it could be an expansion of the Anything Goes style," Ranma replied. Even he wouldn't mind going to school if he had a school like this to go to.
"That does make sense," Harry said while thinking of the possibilities of getting more magic absorbed into his Anything Goes style.
"And besides since it's a magic school you don't have to worry about doing math again," Ranma said as he smiled brightly at his brother.
"Ok, I'll do it," Harry smiled. He was glad this school was different and that he didn't have to do math.
Across the room Septima Vector sighed as she rubbed her temples.
"Would you like to stay here as well Ranma?" Albus asked.
"You mean study here? But I'm not eleven?" Ranma asked. He was 18. He wouldn't mind learning modern magic. Ranma had enough memory of Lina Inverse's life to know the ancient arts and he can throw a pretty mean fireball...
"It doesn't matter. You should have been in a magic school when you were eleven but because you were on the road with your father your invitation never found you," Albus replied,
"You don't have to attend classes. We have had older students near adulthood in the past who have stayed to learn magic as an independent study. It will be more difficult as you will be studying with little supervision to guide you" Albus continued. He could feel the magical energies coming off the young man. He would be an awesome addition to this school.
"I can do it. I'm the best" Ranma said.
"Thats great then we do have to enroll you as an independent study. What name should we used?" Albus asked.
"Hmm..how about Inverse? Ranma Inverse?" Ranma liked that.
Florish & Blotts
"Late night again Ms. Hermione?" asked Hattie Blotts. Co-Owner of the bookstore Florish & Blotts in Diagon Alley. It was close to closing time and the place was empty except for themselves. Hermione Granger was a frequent visitor everyday since she had received her Hogwarts' letter. Her parents always stood in the background near the door.
"Why yes Ms. Blotts. I wanted to get some last minute books before the train leaves tomorrow. Sorry about coming close to closing time." Hermione answered pleasantly.
"Well.. feel free to stay and browse around. I'll keep the store open for you as long as you need," said Hattie. She smiled at her. Hermione Granger was one of her favorite customers. She was a pretty good judge of character and she had a good feeling that young Hermione here would make a fine Ravenclaw but she was also as courageous as a Gryffindor as she was always wanting to try out new things.
At that point a young boy about 11 came in. Hattie had never seen clothes like that before – It looked like lose fitting black pants with a silk looking blue shirt. Even the shoes were slip on. The boy had a blank expression emphasizing that he didn't want to be here. He had an Hogwarts letter in his hand as he walked up to the counter.
'Interesting,' both Hattie Blotts and Hermione Granger thought.
"How may I help you young man?" Hattie asked as she smiled down at the young boy.
"Books" he said as he handed her his lists of books.
"Which one do you need?" Hattie asked looking at the list. Occasionally students forgot to pick up every book they needed so she always kept extras for all the years behind the counter.
"All of them." He said giving her a blank look as to saying didn't I give you the full list?.
Both Hermione and Hattie sweat dropped.
"Talk about last minute!' Hattie thought as she reached back for her extra supply of first year books and put them aside by the register.
"Are there any other books that you may be interested in?" She asked the young man.
Harry just gave her a look. 'Whats everyone's problem here?' he thought. His martial arts phoenix senses felt that the girl his age and her parents were watching him from behind.
"Well I don't see Ravenclaw in your future. I'll just ring these up for you then ok" Hattie muttered.
"Ravenclaw?" he asked in a curious tone. Harry had not explained anything about Hogwarts when he agreed to attend the school.
Hermione and her parents piped up when they heard this. Hermione had yet to see another muggleborn in the weeks that she has been coming to Diagon Alley daily. And her parents also felt out of place without other muggles around so they hoped there was someone else they could associate with.
"Are you a muggleborn?" Hermione asked excitingly.
"What's a Muggleborn?" Harry asked.
"A person who comes from a non magic family," She said in a lectured matter of fact tone.
"Oh I'm not a muggleborn then as my family is magical," Harry replied as he turned back towards the counter to hand the lady his money.
Hermione Granger was not one to be fooled easily. She narrowed her eyes. She was sure the boy was a muggleborn because everyone here knew what muggles were. She didn't know about wizards until roughly 6 weeks ago and the first thing she learned was the term 'muggles.'
Hattie Blott gave the boy a curious look as she handed the books and the list down to the boy. She also felt this boy was a muggleborn. Most likely a last minute on the list too since the train leaves in less then 15 hours.
So she had the feeling he was trying to hide the fact that he was a muggleborn. She hated how some of the kids felt that they had to do that because they were treated terrible by a small majority.
At that point Ranma Inverse came in with not one but two brand new Nimbus 2000 brooms in hand.
Hattie openly gawked at the new and expensive brooms and the young man who walked in. He was dress roughly the same as the boy except he had a red shirt on. The young man walked over to the young boy.
"Here I got you this Ha.." Ranma was cut off.
"First years are not allowed to have there own brooms!" Hermione said in an all out authority voice.
Ranma and Harry just looked at her.
"I don't see that rule listed anywhere." Ranma challenged her.
Hermione eyes narrowed further and she smiled in triumph as she grabbed Harry's school list and shoved it in Ranma's face. She pointed to the bottom and read "Parents keep in mind that first years are not allowed to bring their own brooms."
Ranma shrugged as he handed the broom to Harry.
"Just sneak it in" Ranma said.
Harry nodded with a smile. He needed his broom. If he was hiding his phoenix form he needed some fast form of flying as flying was part of his spirit now.
"I know the place to hide it," Harry said. He had just recently developed his ki pockets that Ranma had taught him where he can put anything in subspace. His brother had learned how to open and store items in subspace from watching Mouse. They both had learned to modify it with money and such.
"But the rules" Hermione stammered.
"There goes Hufflepuff as well" Hattie Blott muttered while forcing a cracked smile.
Both Ranma and Harry just shrugged their shoulders as they headed out the door.
The four that were left in the store just stood in disbelief at the two of them.
"Hermione I want you to stay away from that boy," Mr. Granger told his daughter.
"Yes Hermione. You should try and make friends with kids like Harry Potter that would be a good influence," Mrs. Granger said.
Hermione only nodded as she agreed.
Outside Flourish and Blotts
Harry sneezed for several seconds. 'Someone must be talking about me?' Harry thought.
With a shrug he threw his broom and books into his subspace pocket along with his other new clothes and robes that he had purchased.
Ranma looked down at the list.
"Hmm..a wand. We need to both get a wand," Ranma said to Harry and then smirked as he wondered if there were any wands that have any elements of chaos within?
They both walked to Ollivanders as they thought about what the future and Hogwarts had in store for them.
The End of Chapter 3
AN: Sorry I couldn't resist a little scene with Hermione in the bookstore. Next chapter Ranma and Harry will both be in Hogwarts. Ranma will not be a student as he will independently study modern magic.
As it was suggested Harry will not be a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.
This Chapter was edited and rewritten on 7/13/2010 – I hope to finally get a new chapter out by the weekend.
Thanks
LadySonics