Chapter 6: Preparation

Summary: Sephiroth makes realizations and is forced to leave behind the notion of being a Rhapsodos to don a new identity. An identity that he hope would help him in his endeavors in surviving this foreign New World.

Days became weeks and weeks had gone into going into a few months when Sephiroth realized that if he wanted any real change to happen, he had to start at the problem's very root.

He had to start at Shinra.

Formulating a new plan, he knew one way or another he had to give up being Sephiroth Rhapsodos and become Sephiroth Shinra to actually make a difference in this whole bloody system.

From what he got from the Flamels' own memories, there's a certain ritual that could be like a mass obliviating device that could erase/modify all the memories they had about him when he leaves Banora village. It only needed the patience of making intricate runes, a sacrifice and his blood.

So, biding his time he went with the necessary preparations and researched enough on what he was about to get himself into. Like, what was happening in Midgar and what were the Shinra family's actual status.

Being a bloody four-year-old is a pain but with the help of his magic and Death's lovely gifts he was somewhat able to compensate for it. But what he begrudgingly didn't want to admit was Voldemort's own memories and knowledge about magic made things a lot easier for him far more than what he expected.

Who knew that being Dark Lord made it a requirement to actually know about spells that could copy and/or steal someone's abilities and memories even without them knowing about it?

This revelation came to him one day when he was having trouble on figuring on how to use a freaking computer in this god forsaken world. The Rhapsodos family and Banora's inhabitants were mostly asleep when he apparated to Midgar with a very drunk traveler that said he wanted to go the golden city as they termed it because of how he missed the sights there.

Using the opportunity that presented itself, he took the man who had memories of the place and apparated there. That's when he was in a public library that had computers the very problem came about and to his utter surprise the knowledge suddenly came about presenting itself in his mind.

Muttering grudgingly, "Bloody unfair. No wonder Voldemort was supposedly all so knowing and talented. The fucking bastard had the option to just steal abilities from people."

So, having a few trips of searching for someone suitable to leech of their skills, he finally found his mark.

A few men were busy going on their merry making when he just heard one of the guys exclaim happily how glad he was becoming a senior scientist in doctor Hojo's team now that a few of the earlier positions were vacated. Another was muttering about being rather content in the position he had in computer engineering department that the Shinra Corporation had. While, the rest of the members of the crew were just seemingly happy with the free booze that would appear in this celebration.

Smiling in his luck, he decided to go for the two and what other talents he may get from the rest.

Disillusioning himself whilst following the motely crew, he casted a large scale confundus and stunned the seven unknowing members in the dark dingy alley they seemed to walk into. Adding a powerful muggle repellent and notice-me-not charm he began to take his fill.

A few more weeks passed since Sephiroth's first coming into Midgar and with each visit that he made, he always made sure to go and take new talents and knowledge. Starting from dead useful ones to the knowledge and talents that at some point he deemed he might need them even albeit at present they may seem so inconsequential. Like knowledge about different machinery and how to hack in them to things like knowing how to play musical instruments like the piano and violin.

To make things more interesting, he had even forgone of just staying in the slums and went to some of the so called upper districts of the place. Grabbing hold of knowledgeable individuals whom he got from certain sources, he abducted copied and/or stole these things which he afterwards made sure to obliviate them so nothing happened.

Immoral or not; Harry James Potter soon stopped worrying about his moral compass when he realized being Sephiroth meant only to bring pain if he continued to make himself weak.

It was option he could take and continue being good. But the Slytherin in him told him to better make up his mind if he really wanted to live. After all, what other choice did he have?

It was a kill or be killed type of situation in this world and he wasn't even exactly killing anyone when he copied or stole someone's abilities. He was just taking them into his own and make it his; using or storing that knowledge for a later much needed time.

Leaving Banora village was somewhat saddening for the silvernette. After all, even if it was just a few months of staying in that place, he kind of found himself regretful that he didn't train or warn the two boys about their future. But then again, as much as he pitied both of their situations, he knew that he couldn't change things so much or he wouldn't know what would happen next in the future. Besides, feeling sadness and pity for the two of them, as far as he knew, would insult both would-be-soldiers.

That said, Sephiroth knew that what he did was for the good of everyone. Him, remaining as Rhapsodos would only make things complicated for the three of them if they still do become the "Holy Trinity" of Shinra corporation.

The anger, jealousies, insecurities and power struggles that comes with them all going for the same type of program involvement would make everything around them a competition. Sure, right now as children things for them would be all nice and dandy. But when they grow older, Sephi-no Harry James Potter knows that it would make things only go worse for them when they grow up all together.

Particularly, when it comes to Genesis' part.

According to the original story from the game, he had always been angry with how things end up with the power struggles that happen in their ranks in Shinra. The auburn haired man actually even loathed the real Sephiroth for his achievements, mocking the silver sword man in every turn. Hell, it was even a real miracle the three of them became friends with how explosive and dangerous their relationships is with each other.

So, to put that aside, he already made his choice and continued with his plan of becoming a Shinra. Particularly, ensnaring the young Shinra heir, Rufus, into adoring him.

Which in a way, turned out to be easy.

The small child was too starved for love and his mother was very desperate for a child that would get the electric corporation's president attention. He could just make a few certain arrangements and memory alterations with his magic and things would be as he planned.

The hard part was getting his hands on the previous data that the crazed Hojo has on him.

The bloody psycho had underground labs left and right as far he got from the information he had from his previous life and the one's he got here presently. It would probably take him more or less half a year just wipe things out and make things a new for him. Particularly, when it comes to the mind of the delusional mad man.

But then, Harry Potter knew that he had time. He just had to make things go into action before his seventh birthday wherein he knew the original Sephiroth was forced to go into sword training in Wutai. That's why, he knew he could waste a few more months

With a smirk on his face, the Master of Death started on his watch.