Chapter 7: Death's Interference

Hojo was disturbingly both smart and crazy as far Harry was concerned and it wasn't even as close or safe as it was as Dumbledore's when the Headmaster was still alive. No, the man was an actual sociopath who was far too geared on the success of his experiments and the interests his curiosities holds for him.

He was a danger and actual menace, and as the hero he was before, he wanted nothing more but to dispose the bastard once he was able to get his hands on him. But no, he still had his use and Harry needed him now that he was here in this world as Sephiroth.

He had to make those painful experiments or he would fail.

And failure here isn't an option.

That he definitely knew.

So making up his mind after months of careful thinking, analysis and planning; he made his mark on the bastard and have Death to finally work on his magic.

it was odd.

The young silvernette was perched on a fluffy mattress while his supposed mother Catherine Shinra neé McClain was busy ranting out how she hated her husband's adulterous ways. All the more about the fact that she discovered the bloody bastard to sire a son from some woman from the slum.

Rufus, far too tired to listen to those rants was now asleep in his room. While he, as the youngest, listened to what their mother was saying. True, enough the woman whom he thought to be a weakling was actually not. She kept on about wanting to kill the child and his mother by her own hand and Richard be damned. She was his wife but he decided to have another child with another!?

Curiosity getting ahead of him, he wondered if the child she was talking about was either Ethan or Lazard. Both boys as far as he knew had important roles in the Final Fantasy VII world. But, out of the two he knew that Lazard would be more beneficial to his plan.

After all, in a few years time the other blond was to be director of Shinra's SOLDIER Program. He could be a useful ally in the near future and he would be stupid if he lets Catherine kill the other just for her whims.

So, using the Slytherin within him, he asks the brunet slowly, "What is his name, mother, and how old is he?"

Suprised at his sudden interest, grey eyes turned to look at him and regarded the small child carefully. "He's the same age as the both of you and Rufus. As far as I'm concerned his mother's a whore from sector 9 and the child's name is Lazard."

Fate's fortune, it must have been his luck that the brunet was able to find Lazard of all people rather than Ethan. To have her exterminate him would foil his plans that he based out from what he knew in the future. A future where it involved the existence of the other blond and following the route that ws already known. The only difference was a few changes that he calculated would make a much more subtle change to the original path he knew.

"Can he be mine, mother?" queried the now very concerned silvernette.

Grey eyes closed for a moment as its owner seemed to gain a thoughtful expression, "Why? What interest do you have for that filth?"

The would-be five year old in a days time, tried to look both abashed yet proud for a child's level and admitted, "He's my brother, is he not? I could use him for my own interests and he could be useful to me in the near future regardless of father's claims over him."

Now, cruel mirth danced in those open orbs as they realized what the child was insinuating. Catherine was happy. His youngest, even born from the help of experimentation, had her cruelty and resourcefulness at such a very young age. The boy wanted that Lazard to be his. His servant. His plaything.

Smiling with approval at the child, she answered, " Very well, Sephiroth, dear. I could arrange a few accidents to happen for the child's mother and remaining family without your father's knowledge ever coming into play that I was on it. Yet, I promise no harm would come to this Lazard child as he would be your plaything." But a frown soon came upon the brunet's lips as she suddenly remembered Rufus very territorial possessiveness of the younger. The elder child wouldn't allow anyone else to come close to Sephiroth unless he approved of it.

"Your brother,Rufus, would not readily approve of your plaything. Particularly, if he knew that the other would be your half-brother who came from the slums," admonished the thoughtful woman.

Plaything.

That's what the female Shinra thought of Lazard. Inwardly disgusted by the other's thoughts, he did pause and somewhat think himself to be a hypocrite considering with how he views the blond child as something he could use for his survival. Frowning slightly, he let the brunet continue thinking his reasons to be the same as hers and push aside his thoughts about the blond's very own happen stance in this.

He would have to sort things out later and answered, "Do not fret, mother, I'll take care of brother. What I'll just need is your plan to work and your permission. All else would soon come as time allows it to be.

"Very well then. As long as things go well, you may have the boy. Just make sure that your brother, Rufus, doesn't make a fuss about it."

A smile and all too pleased answer, "Of course, mother, " leaves the five year old's lips as the now decided brunet Shinra abandons her room to take action on her plans.

Death was watching over his master as the silvernette was busy going about on his schemes. That said, right now, Fate was being secretive and Gaia was her usual annoying self that kept on going about needing a hero.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Death had decided to contact his master and intervene. The poor child was obviously trying his best coping in this new world and survive. But all of that wouldn't allow the Boy-Who-Lived any time to even be a child and relax.

Rules be damned, contact he did so and informed the little master of what he would do. That he would be the one to take care of Hojo, his people and the silvernette's very proof of existence. After all, he already knew the gist of what the Master of Death wanted so he might as well lessen the child's work and make sure things go as his master had planned.

So, here he was now. After finishing his tasks and delivering all the information that his master needed to know, again, he was watching. Waiting in the sidelines. Waiting for the right time to intervene again and help his master in somewhat finding the happiness he deserved and enjoying the life he wasn't allowed to have in his previous one.