For this chapter, I will refer to the demon Harry as Pravus, and the young still in school Harry as Harry, to reduce confusion.
Sorry this chap took so long. I've had a lot of school stuff to deal with.
A lot of people pointed out the lack of Seb in this story. That is because, I'll admit, I kind of forget to include him. I have made it a rule now that there has to be at least one large scene including Sebastian per chap. Also, I actually do have plans for him later on, and by that I mean he will actually do some stuff on his own.
Thank you for reading, and enjoy :)
Pravus leaned against the wall, Sebastian at his side, and stared at Harry. The child was staring, lost, around King's Cross station.
Sebastian was staring bemusedly at Harry. "You were adorable as a child," he said. His tone darkened, though, as he said "He is far too small. It makes me want to rip out the spines of those fat pigs."
Harry was eleven at this point, but it was hard to tell. He looked more like an eight year old, and his clothes were far too large, further dwarfing his small frame.
Pravus smiled, a tinge of bitterness edging it. "You know we cannot afford to change anything at this juncture." Sebastian sighed. "Yes, I know. It does not mean I can't fantasize." He smiled sharply, and several passing people looked at him, askance, and walked away as quickly as possible.
"You're scaring the humans, love," Pravus said idly. Sebastian simply shrugged, watching as little Harry approached a red headed family. "I presume those are the Weasleys?"
Pravus nodded, tracking the movement of the Weasley twins running through the barrier to Platform 9 ¾. "It is strange to see them and myself together, I will admit."
Sebastian said nothing, and together they watched as Harry ran through the barrier. "Well," Harry said briskly, "we should go." They both walked away, neither looking back.
Over time, Pravus and Sebastian had developed a kind of schedule, which repeated itself day after day. When Pravus had taught, Sebastian had gone to do whatever had struck his fancy. Pravus had not asked, as it did not matter- the things Sebastian did in his free time were usually quite depraved by human standards, yet inconsequential in the long run. He did those things simply to while away the free time and boredom. Pravus, after living for so long, could relate. He could not imagine having lived as long as Sebastian, yet knew that in the end he would.
It was why the two of them were so set upon wreaking havoc in Harry's time. It was one of the most interesting things they could possibly do, aside from somehow creating another Ciel. Pravus doubted that would happen.
Once he had quit teaching, Sebastian had started taking Pravus with him to join in his games of cat and mouse. It was enjoyable for them both, and afterward Sebastian had reluctantly admitted it was even more so with Pravus there. Pravus had smiled at him indulgently, and he had huffed and turned away.
Ever since they had returned from King's Cross and Harry's departure to Hogwarts, however, Sebastian had become uncharacteristically quiet. He had sought solitude every available moment, and seemed distracted when he did talk to Pravus.
Beyond that, he was now missing. Pravus could not find him anywhere. Usually he would not be overtly bothered by this, but he knew Sebastian was up to something. He narrowed his eyes, and left the trunk,
He followed the trail Sebastian had left behind and not even bothered to hide, relaxing slightly as he did. If it had truly been bad, Sebastian would have hidden his trail.
After a few minutes of follow the trail, he realized where Sebastian had gone.
He arrived at the Dursley house moments later, eying the house for a moment. He was struck with the urge to burn it with fiendfyre for a moment, but shook it off. He could burn it later. He sighed, annoyed at having to come here, and stalked over to Sebastian, who was glaring down the house as if it were personally offending him.
"Sebastian," he sighed long-sufferingly, "what are you even doing here of all places?"
Sebastian turned his red eyed gaze to Pravus, and there was a heat there that surprised Pravus. "I want to rip it apart with my bare hands," he growled, and Pravus could see he meant it.
He was silent for a moment, before replying "All this after only thinking I was a bit small?" Sebastian gave him a withering glare. "You have told me what those heathens did to you. I had managed to ignore my urge to rip limb from limb whoever dared to hurt you, but seeing you so," his lip curled, "malnourished…it has rendered it difficult for me to not end them here and now."
Harry smiled wistfully, taking a moment to imagine the bloodshed. "I would like nothing more." He frowned, then. "Yet this is where I was taken from. If we were to kill them, I would no longer live here, and beyond that, it would change me. I would rather not turn into a different person."
Sebastian smiled that sharp smile again, and Pravus rolled his eyes, knowing Sebastian was imagining the bloody deaths of the Dursleys for what was probably the thousandth time. "Come on, Seb." Sebastian sighed, resignedly. "Must you call me that?" Pravus grinned. "Of course I must, it bothers you."
Eleven year old Harry Potter was frantic. No one would listen to them! The Philosophers Stone was going to be taken, and even once he, Hermione, and Ron had tried to tell McGonagall she had dismissed it. The least she could do was check! She was their Head of House, for Merlin's sake.
He huffed again. Well, then they would just have to go and make sure the Stone was safe themselves. He turned to Hermione and Ron, who were watching him anxiously. "We have to go and make sure it's safe ourselves, then."
Hermione looked stricken, and Ron looked scared but determined. "But Harry, McGonagall said…" Hermione attempted to say. "The Stone could be gone right now!" He interrupted her. "We have to go, no one else will!"
She still looked terrified, but nodded hesitantly. Ron nodded, too. "I'm with you, mate." Harry smiled, happy to have friends who stood by him. "Then let's go!"
Albus Dumbledore sat in his office, the Philosophers Stone in his hand. The red stone was so innocuous, that if he had simply seen it, he would never have guessed it to be a Philosophers Stone. It would have to be destroyed; Tom had come close to getting it, and if it weren't for Harry Potter, he would have.
He sighed, setting the stone down, and rubbing his face. Harry Potter. He had genuinely wanted the boy to have a normal childhood, with normal school days. It seemed that just wouldn't happen. With Tom still out there, there was bound to be more things Harry would be drawn into simply because of who he was. He would do his best to protect and guide the boy, but he refused to turn the boy into his puppet. The boy could make his own decisions and learn at his own pace.
He stood, clutching the Philosophers Stone, and walked to the fireplace. He grabbed some floo powder, and threw it in. The flames turned emerald, and he stepped in, announcing "Gardenia Heights." He spun, disappearing in the flames, and reappearing in a drawing room.
A beautiful platinum haired woman, with the hair down to her waist, was waiting in the room. He smiled sadly at her. "Perenelle. It has been a while." She smiled gently back at him. "It has," she agreed.
"Nicolas is waiting in his office," she said. "You know the way?"
He nodded. "Of course."
"Then I will be in my gardens," she turned and walked away, her steps graceful.
He walked out of the room and down the hallway, stopping at the door to what he remembered to be Nicolas' office. He knocked, once, and a voice from within called, "Enter."
He opened the door, finding Nicolas Flamel looking as he always had. He was finely dressed, with reddish-brown hair, hazel eyes, and a trimmed goatee. "Nicolas," he greeted, a friendly smile on his face. Nicolas turned to look at him, his eyes slightly wary. "I know what you are going to say, Albus. You ask too much."
Dumbledore sighed. "It must be done, Nicolas. You know that."
Nicolas narrowed his eyes. "What I know, Albus, is that the Stone was perfectly safe until you persisted with badgering me upon letting you 'keep it safe' as you put it, despite the fact that the stone has been safe where I keep it for longer than you have been alive. I know that the stone has been in your care for only a year, and already it was almost stolen by Voldemort himself, and that he was stopped by a mere child. I know that if I were to hide the Stone myself, it would be fine. No, Albus, I will not destroy it. It would be killing myself, and I am not suicidal." With that, he held out his hand, obviously requesting the Stone to be handed over.
Dumbledore put it in his hand, a frown on his face. "If the Stone gets into Voldemort's hands-"
"It won't. It was perfectly safe where it was. The fact that he almost acquired it is entirely by your fault." Flamel walked over to his desk, depositing the Stone into a drawer that disappeared once it was closed. "Now, out, Albus, I have business to attend to."
With that, Dumbledore left.
TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT TO BE QUADWIZARD TOURNAMENT?
There has been much hype this year about the upcoming Triwizard Tournament, which is a competition between the three largest European magical schools; Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and the Durmstrang Institute.
The Tournament is to be held this year at Hogwarts, and consists of one champion from each school competing in several different tasks.
Yet this year, there are four champions! Cedric Diggory of Hogwarts, Viktor Krum of Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons, and Harry Potter of Hogwarts! That's right, the Boy Who Lived has managed to once again do the impossible and champion for Hogwarts, despite the limits of both an Age Line and of only one champion for each school!
I think I speak for us all when I say "Good luck, Mr. Potter!"
By Rusean Fortior
For more on the Triwizard Tournament's history, go to pg. 6
For more on Harry Potter, go to pg. 8
Pravus put down the paper, remembering how outraged he had been that they had focused more on him than the other champions. Ah, he had been so needlessly embarrassed.
"Sebastian," he murmured, knowing the demon could hear him, "would you like to watch the Triwizard Tournament?"
Sebastian emerged from the other room, an eyebrow raised. "Didn't you tell me they were rather boring to watch? That one consisted of watching water, one of watching a maze? That only the dragon one was exciting for an audience?"
Pravus smiled. "You do remember what I tell you! I had assumed you only remembered what you deemed the important parts. Anyway, I ask because we might as well. The alternative is to just sit here."
Sebastian narrowed his eyes, and Pravus realized he had just taken that as a challenge. A shiver went up his spine at the sudden heat in Sebastian's eyes. "So we aren't going," he breathed, watching as Sebastian's eyes fixed onto his lips. Sebastian hummed in agreement, already stalking towards him. "I'm fine with that," he managed to get out before lips claimed his own.
CEDRIC DIGGORY DEAD; HARRY POTTER CRAZY?
In the shocking conclusion of the Triwizard Tournament, Harry Potter appeared from the maze holding Cedric Diggory's dead body. Witnesses claim the Boy Who Lived was screaming, "He's back! He's back! Voldemort's back!" While the cause of death for Diggory is unknown, it is being said that the Boy Who Lived is extremely shaken and does not know what he is saying.
Mind healers are being called in to examine Harry Potter's mind, and there is already some surety that the Boy Who Lived has snapped.
When asked what he thinks of these events, Amos Diggory, Cedric Diggory's father, snarled out, "I think that good for nothing Potter killed my boy. We all know You Know Who died long ago, so the only other culprit is Potter."
When asked of this, Madame Bones, and head of the Aurors, proclaimed, "There is no reason to jump to extremes. While I'm sure Mr. Potter is extremely shaken, I have no doubt that he is not the one to have killed Mr. Diggory."
Whether or not the Boy Who Lived killed Cedric Diggory or not, he is not in his right mind.
By Rusean Fortior
For more on events that night go to pg. 5
For more on Cedric Diggory's journey through the Triwizard Tournament go to pg. 8
HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED BACK; ATTACKS MINISTRY!
Last night, the Ministry atrium was destroyed in a battle between Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, and You Know Who! Rubble was strewn everywhere in the aftermath, with the Boy Who Lived quickly whisked off to the Healer at Hogwarts.
It seems that near the end of this epic battle, the Minister himself, Cornelius Fudge, caught sight of He Who Must Not Be Named battling Dumbledore. When asked of these events, Fudge replied "I knew, of course I knew! I was simply trying not to panic the public! This is a very delicate matter, very delicate, and if I were to announce that You Know Who is back, there would be panic!"
Why Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore, and You Know Who were there has not been found.
Both Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore were unavailable for questioning.
By Vienne Solemn
For more on Albus Dumbledore go to pg. 5
For more on Harry Potter go to pg. 8
For more on that night go to pg. 10
For casualties go to pg. 12
HARRY POTTER MISSING?!
The new year at Hogwarts has just begun, yet one student has not appeared for his schooling. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, has gone missing!
The Boy Who Lived was not at the Welcoming Feast, and once asked, Albus Dumbledore seemed to know of Mr. Potter's disappearance. "While Mr. Potter may be missing," he said, "I am looking for him tirelessly. I will find him soon enough. I can only hope that he is safe."
Why did Dumbledore not tell the public of the Boy Who Lived's disappearance? If Albus Dumbledore, widely believed to be the leader of the light and the greatest wizard of our age, cannot find Mr. Potter, then where is he?
There is no sign that Mr. Potter is even alive, despite that Dumbledore insists Mr. Potter is alive and out of You Know Who's hands.
By Leonidas Grant
For more on the disappearance go to pg. 5
To join efforts to find Harry Potter, go to pg. 8 for the sign-up sheet
-The Same Day Snape Speaks to Dumbledore-
Lord Voldemort, aka Tom Riddle, was satisfied. His followers had thoroughly infiltrated the Ministry, to the point that there were no efforts going on to find and kill him by the Ministry.
In fact, his only opposition now consisted of the Light Wizards in the Order of the Phoenix and Albus Dumbledore. Harry Potter had been missing for two years now, and people were more focused on finding the pathetic boy than stopping him. It was quite helpful how they all held a belief that Potter was the only one able to stop him.
The general stupidity of the Wizarding World was quite helpful in general.
Of course, they were right. According to that damn prophecy, Harry Potter was the only one with the power to stop him. Prophecies were tricky things, though, and he knew they had no power if they were not heard, or if they were not acted on. He had, foolishly, acted on the prophecy and set it into motion.
It seemed Potter had acted himself. Wherever the boy had gone, he had obviously abandoned the Wizarding World. He doubted Harry was every actually coming back.
There was a knock on the door to his office, and he called, "Come in."
Lucius Malfoy entered, bowing. "My Lord," he murmured.
"Report, Lucius," he commanded.
"I was able to recruit ten more this week, my Lord. While Dumbledore has been fighting as much as possible, there is not much he and his order can do. They have no idea what we are doing ourselves. Until we act, they are helpless. They are, however, steadily gaining more recruits themselves. It seems that many have noticed your rise."
Voldemort frowned. "Yes, I knew they would gain more recruits, no matter how subtle I was. Despite that, the old man has no idea how to lead a war, especially without his golden boy."
He leaned back, his eyes gleaming. "We will act soon. It is time to win this war."
Yes, you guys were right. Redbeard is Flamel. I did my best to point that out with his description by using the exact same description I used of Redbeard, but some of you might not have noticed.
Next chapter, it begins (I know I've said this a lot. I mean it this time)