AN: So yeah, I'm kind of happy that this story has received positive reviews so far. As the semester wraps up, I'll have less and less time to write, so I'm trying to get as much out there as I can before Thanksgiving. I'm still working on Saiyan DxD though, so stay tuned for that!
Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 2: Rebirth
HARRY P.O.V.
"Mum?" I ask. I-It can't be true. She's dead. That's what everyone said. And yet…
"Yes, it's me, Harry," she replies softly, her eyes brimming with tears, and her voice being music to my ears. If Mum's really here, then…I turn my gaze to the familiar-looking man.
"Dad?" I ask. He nods, crying silently to himself.
"Am…am I…dead?" I ask. I have to be, to see them again.
"No, Harry, you're not," Mum replies. Boy, do I like saying that. Mum.
"Then how am I…" I begin.
"Shhh…it's alright, Harry, anyone in your situation would be confused. I was the same way, you know, that night," Mum tells me.
"What do you mean, that night? You were alive this whole time? Then why did you leave me? Why?" I yell, tears flowing.
"Calm down, baby," Mum says softly. "You see, your father was stunned by Voldemort that night. By the time he woke up, and finished explaining everything to me, you were already gone. We looked for you everywhere. We tried everything we could, but we couldn't find you. We even tried sending you letters, but we never got any replies. I have been hoping every day for the past ten years that you were still alive and that I'd get to see you again someday. And now that you're here, I can say that you're my little boy, Harry, and I love you very much. It broke my heart that we weren't able to find you," she explains, hugging my head as she cries.
"We've been consoling ourselves with the fact that at least Padfoot and Moony have been raising you well, though I can't image why you're so light. I'd have thought that with Sirius raising you, you'd be, oh I don't know, heavier," I hear Dad say.
"Wh-what do you mean, explain? What did you have to explain, Dad? And who are Padfoot and Moony?" I ask. As I finish my questions, Mum and Dad's faces take on expressions of horror.
"What do you mean, 'who are Padfoot and Moony,' Harry? Didn't they raise you?" Dad asks.
"I mean that I don't know those names. And they didn't raise me. Aunt Petunia did," I reply, as Mum's face grows white.
"Harry," Mum growls in anger, "how were you treated there?" I'm almost afraid to answer, but I need to ask one thing.
"D-do I ever have to go back there ever again?" I ask, hopeful. At this, Mum and Dad smile.
"Of course not, Harry. Why would you need to, with us here?" Dad replies.
"A-alright, I'll tell you. Just, make sure they get in trouble, OK Dad?" I ask, hopeful. At this Dad cracks up.
"Merlin help us all, he's inherited your puppy-dog eyes Lils," he tells Mum, smiling.
"I can see it too, James. But tell me Harry, why do you think they need to get in trouble?" Mum asks. I pale.
"A-A-Aunt Petunia m-made me cook since I-I-I was f-four," I stammer nervously.
"What else Harry?" Mum growls angrily. I let out a girly squeak.
"I-I-I…" I begin.
"Yes, Harry?" Mum growls.
"I'm sorry! I don't deserve anyone's love, I'm just a freak; they were right, weren't they," I mumble. At this Mum and Dad's faces pale, and then growl in anger.
"Harry…I hate to ask…but what was your bedroom like?" Mum asks. Oh no. The cupboard.
"F-F-For the t-t-ten years b-b-before I got m-my letter, I l-lived in t-t-the cupboard under t-the stairs," I stammer. Mum and Dad growl even louder.
"Lils?" Dad asks, his tone suddenly sweetening. "Do you mind if I kill them?" he asks her, looking straight at me with a smile. But that smile. There's something wrong with that smile. It's scary. I start to shake.
"Get in line James, I'm first," Mum says, a similar smile adorning her face.
"MASTER JAMES! MISTRESS LILY!" I hear a voice yell, "IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED YET, YOUR VENGEFUL FACES ARE SCARING YOUR SON!" At this, the scary faces disappear. Their gazes turn to me. Seeing my shaking, they walk over to my bed and hug me tightly.
"Oh, I'm sorry baby, I didn't know I was scaring you. I'm just really upset at my sister's behavior. After all, there's no one in the world I love more than you, your father, and your brother and sister," she says softly. I-I-I have siblings? Like Ron does? I've always wanted some.
"Harry, we weren't trying to scare you like that. Like your mother said, I'm angry that our own flesh and blood could do that to you," Dad says softly, yet forcefully. At their words, I smile. They love me!
TIMESKIP – TWO WEEKS LATER
HERMIONE P.O.V.
It's been two weeks since the term ended. Two weeks since Harry went missing. He can't be dead. He just can't. Ron is distraught, barely speaking anymore. I, on the other hand, try to push it to the back of my mind. Harry can't be gone. He just can't. I won't believe it. I've tried all sorts of things to get my mind off of Harry, but I just can't. He was my first friend ever. The first friend I ever had. Summer homework? It's too hard to think about next year without thinking about the possibility of Harry not coming back. Reading? Every time I pick up a book to read, I am reminded of Harry tell me to relax. Hedwig's presence helps somewhat; she seems to understand my pain, probably just as sad as I am. And looking at Harry's trunk in the corner only makes it worse. Even Mummy and Daddy are puzzled. But I haven't told them yet, because he can't be gone. He just can't. Please come back, wherever you are, Harry. Ron needs you. I need you. We all need you.
RON P.O.V.
"Hey Ron," I hear Ginny say.
"Hey Ginny," I reply. Harry's gone. My best mate. My best friend. He's gone. I don't know what to do with myself anymore. He's gone. My friend is gone.
"Where's Mum?" Ginny asks.
"In the kitchen," I reply again. Nodding her thanks, she walks towards the kitchen. I might as well eat to try to get my mind off of Harry. I follow her down the steps. As we reach the door to the kitchen, I hear two voices. One is Mum's, but the other's is…Professor Dumbledore? Curious, I signal for Ginny to be silent, and put my ear up against the door.
"…Then, after we make sure Ginevra has his child, we set him up to die at Voldemort's hands…" I hear Dumbledore say. What…this isn't the Dumbledore I saw at school! And they're talking about doing that to my best mate and my little sister! BLOODY HELL NO! NOT IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT!
HARRY P.O.V.
It's been two weeks since I first came to the Underworld, to Potter Manor. When Dad first explained our heritage, and the Three Factions, I was so surprised I fainted right there. But then again, I had Dad's devil heritage to thank for them still being alive.
Apparently, Padfoot and Moony, or Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, as Mum said their names were, were supposed to be the ones who raised me after Mum and Dad's 'deaths.' But it was due to Professor Dumbledore's meddling that Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon raised me.
I also got to meet my younger brother and sister. My younger brother is named Charles Michael Potter. He's two years younger than me. He looks a lot like Dad, but he has straight black hair like Mum's instead of the curly black hair that Dad and I share. He also doesn't wear glasses like Dad and I do. I think he didn't like me at first, but after a while, we sort of grew on each other. My younger sister is named Rose Lily Potter. Hagrid once told me I looked like Dad, but with Mum's eyes. Rose is sort of the reverse. She looks almost exactly like Mum, but with Dad's brown eyes. Unlike Mum however, she inherited the need for glasses from Dad, like I did. Rose is four years younger than me, and she is adorable! When I first met her, I felt a sudden urge to just hug her senseless. She's just so cute!
"Harry?" I hear Dad call.
"Yes Dad?" I reply.
"Can you come here for a moment?" he asks.
"Coming!" I reply. I run down the stairs and past the dining hall to Dad's personal study.
According to Dad, Potter Manor is unique among all the Pillar House Manors because the Potter family, during an ancient war, went into hiding in the Human World, and eventually became the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter in the wizarding world. As such, one of our ancestors used Wizardcraft (Dad's name for the magic he learned at Hogwarts) to make the manor self-expanding. According to Dad, it's a very similar system of partial sentience to Hogwarts Castle. So each member of the household has their own study. One of the first things Dad told me was to NEVER go into Granddad's study without his express permission. He also told me that I was free to go into his, Mum's, or my study rooms anytime.
"What is it, Dad?" I ask, opening the door to his study. I see him seated behind his desk.
"Listen Harry. I need to explain a few things to you about titles in the Underworld," Dad begins. I nod.
"Your grandfather, the current head of the family, holds the title of Duke Potter. I, the next head of the family, hold the title of Count Potter. You, as my heir, hold the title of Baron Potter," Dad states. Wait, BARON!
"Oh great. More fame," I say, grumbling.
"What's wrong Harry?" Dad asks, seeing my face.
"You don't know this Dad, but the night you were 'killed' has become legendary. People gave me the title 'The Boy-Who-Lived' because I survived that night when you guys didn't. They have this big feast at Hogwarts and everything; everyone just seemed to conveniently forget that I have no reason to celebrate that night because that was the night I lost you guys for ten years," I say, gripping the edges of my chair angrily.
"Oh," he states. "Well Harry, there's nothing I can do about that, but I can at least say that we're here now, and you'll never have to say that you lost us ever again," Dad tells me, rising to hug me.
"Is that it Dad?" I ask, after calming down.
"Actually, I have one more thing to give you," he replies, sifting through drawers and cabinets. What's he looking for? "Aha!" I hear him say, "Found it."
"Found what, Dad?" I ask.
"Remember how I told you about how I reincarnated your mother as a Devil, and about how I used a similar method to reincarnate you as a full-blooded Devil?" he asks. I nod. Oh I definitely remember that conversation.
"What about it?" I ask.
"Devils have created something called Evil Pieces," Dad begins.
"Evil Pieces? What kind of name is that? Are they like evil chess pieces or something? Because Ron would get a kick out of that," I say, laughing at the silly name.
"You're actually right Harry, they are chess pieces," Dad says, with a completely serious look on his face. I stop laughing.
"So they really are chess pieces?" I ask, trying to confirm. He nods. I sigh.
"This particular set of pieces belongs to you, Harry. It has 15 pieces. I used the King piece two weeks ago to reincarnate you," Dad replies solemnly. I swallow nervously. "To reincarnate someone, there are two steps. First, you have to select the right piece for the person. Then, you must place it on their chest. Then, you must chant 'In my name as Harry James Potter, son of Count James Charlus Potter, scion of the Pillar House Potter of the 73 Pillars, I hereby bestow new life upon,' followed by the person's name. Then, you must continue with 'as a' followed by the type of piece. Finally, you conclude the chant with 'of my peerage, so mote it be!'" Dad explains, pausing for me to fully absorb the information.
"I think I understand that, Dad. One question. How do I choose people to reincarnate?" I ask.
"Ah. Good question Harry. To choose people, they should typically fit one of two criteria. One, he or she is a close friend of yours who is dying in front of you. Two, he or she should have some sort of power, whether it's magic, sword skills, or a Sacred Gear," Dad explains, pausing again.
"One question. What's a Sacred Gear?" I ask in confusion.
"A Sacred Gear is a power given to certain chosen humans by God," Dad replies, flinching slightly, rubbing his head.
"What's wrong Dad?" I ask in concern, noticing his actions.
"Oh it's just a little headache Harry. See, when Devils like us say the word 'God,'" he begins, flinching again, "or attempt to read the Bible, we take a little damage from the Holy power inherent in God," he says, flinching again, "and the Bible. Things like Holy Swords, crosses, Holy Water, and Black Keys are much, much worse. If one of them touches you, you could be seriously damaged or even permanently exorcised," Dad explains in a worried tone. Oh. Now I understand.
"Oh," I reply solemnly. "But anyway, can I go now, Dad? I need to go hug Rose some more," I ask, grinning.
"Of course. Oh, don't forget these, Harry. I would keep them with you at all times if I were you," Dad tells me, grinning as he hands me an ornate chest, presumably containing the 15 remaining Evil Pieces.
"Um, Dad, how DO I keep these with me at all times? I don't have magically expanding pockets," I say. He grins sheepishly.
"I knew I forgot something," Dad explains. "Anyway, store them in a pocket dimension. It's a technique that wasn't really all that popular last year, but with the sudden rise in popularity of the famous Xenovia of Rias Gremory's peerage, who stores the Holy Sword Ex-Durandal in a pocket dimension, people have been copying her and storing stuff in pocket dimensions," Dad explains.
"Xenovia? Rias Who?" I ask.
"Oh, you'll meet them when we announce your presence to the rest of the Underworld. See, no one believed that you actually existed, so we have to show them that you actually do exist and formally make you my heir," Dad replies.
"Oh. So how do I make a pocket dimension, Dad?" I ask, curious.
"It's actually pretty simple, Harry. All you do is focus on the space around you. Then, imagine an invisible closet that you can access from anywhere," he says. That's kind of vague, but I'll see where I can go with it. Working demonic power into my fingers like Mum taught me, I imagine in my mind's eye a huge closet, no, a large warehouse for storage. Opening my eyes, I see the Potter crest rippling in front of me.
"Good job Harry," Dad tells me.
"Thanks Dad," I reply, smiling sheepishly, grinning. I place the box of Evil Pieces inside the pocket dimension, and run out of the study. I run past Granddad's, Grandmum's, Mum's, Charlie's, and Rose's study rooms, until I reach an empty locked one that I assume is mine. I place my hand on the doorknob, quickly withdrawing it after feeling a small prick on my finger. Suddenly, the knob vanishes, and the door opens.
"Welcome, Master Harry," a voice says. I turn around, looking for the source. "I know you're confused, but I am your digital personal assistant, J.A.R.V.I.S. I was created by Lord Ajuka Beelzebub and placed here by your grandfather to assist you with adjusting to life as a Devil," the voice says.
"Um…. OK. So you're my computer helper program thingy," I say, confirming.
"As you so put it, Master Harry, I am your 'computer helper program thingy.' As the future heir to the House of Potter, Master Harry, I recommend you work on your vocabulary," J.A.R.V.I.S. tells me. I huff.
"Cut me a break, J.A.R.V.I.S., I just got here two weeks ago," I say.
"I know that, Master Harry. I was just making a suggestion. Also, I would like to inform you that I am preloaded on all of your devices, including the desktop in your room, your laptop, and your cell phone." J.A.R.V.I.S. informs me.
AN: Yes, I included J.A.R.V.I.S. from the MCU, but Harry needs a helper. Also, technology has been advanced by 20 years. Harry will have resources.
"A-a-a cell phone? Two computers? I-I-I don't…" I stammer.
"I don't understand your surprise Master Harry, I am just an AI. However, your grandfather has programmed me to make sure that you have all the resources you need when you're at Hogwarts," he assures me.
"O-oh, alright then," I reply.
"Your devices are already set-up. I can call any Devil in the Underworld. I can also call any phone in the Human World. I can even search for a phone number by name," J.A.R.V.I.S. informs me. I think I should call Hermione. I know Ron doesn't have a phone, but Hermione does. But what should I tell her?
"J.A.R.V.I.S, I just need to ask Dad a quick question, but in the meantime, can you search for all numbers in the Human World of a certain Hermione Granger in England?" I ask.
As he replies, "Certainly Master Harry," I run out of my study and down the hall to Dad's. I push open the door to see Dad talking to an older man who I've never met.
"Dad! I need to…." I call, trailing off.
"James, who is this?" the older man asks Dad.
"Well Dad, this is our son Harry," Dad replies. Wait, Dad! The older man, no, Granddad, turns to face me.
"So this is my grandson, eh?" he says to me smiling.
"Um…nice to meet you sir," I greet him nervously. He laughs, filling the room with warmth.
"Drop the 'sir' my boy, it's Granddad to you, Harry. And from what I can see, I haven't seen your parents happier in 10 years," Granddad tells me.
"OK Granddad," I reply, smiling.
"So what did you need, Harry?" Dad asks me.
"Oh! That reminds me Dad, when I call Hermione, what should I tell her? Should I tell her about this whole situation? I don't want her to cry with worry," I ask.
"Harry, if you consider her trustworthy, tell her. J.A.R.V.I.S. will make the line secure. But, keep in mind that her mind may not be secure. Keep that in mind," Dad replies.
"What do you mean, her mind's not secure?" I ask, confused.
"There are certain wizards and witches that can invade the minds of others. Devils don't have that problem, but a human like Hermione would," Dad replies.
"So what should I do?" I ask him.
"Come up with a cover story. You should say you were brought abroad. Maybe Japan," Granddad interrupts.
"Not to be rude or anything, Granddad, but why Japan?" I ask.
"Ah, well, that's because Japan is a big hub of activity among the Three Factions, considering that the heiresses of Gremory and Sitri attend school there, along with their peerages. Not to mention the fact that Azazel teaches at the same school," Granddad explains.
"Wait…Azazel as in the Fallen Angel leader?" I ask.
"Yes, that Azazel," Granddad replies. Sometimes, this stuff still goes over my head.
"Oh OK then," I reply. "By the way, if there's a magic that Hermione can study to protect her mind, what's it called?" I ask.
"It's called Occlumency, and there's usually books about it in Flourish and Blotts if you ask," Granddad replies.
"OK, thanks Dad, Granddad!" I call, running out of the study in a hurry. I run back to my study and quickly enter. I pick up my cell phone, and dial the number on the computer screen. After a few rings, I hear it connect.
"Hello?" a female voice asks.
"Hello? May I speak to Ms. Hermione Granger, please?" I ask.
"Of course. May I ask who this is?" the voice asks.
"Of course, Mrs. Granger, or I'm assuming. I'm a fellow student from Hogwarts," I reply, not wanting to give away the surprise just yet.
"Of course Dearie," she replies. I hear her briefly take her mouth away from the receiver, yelling for Hermione.
"Hello? This is Hermione," I hear finally.
"Hello Hermione," I greet.
"Harry? Is it really you?" she asks.
"Yes, 'Mione, it's me," I reply. I hear her start crying.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" she yells finally. Ouch. All three names. I'm in trouble.
"How dare you just disappear like that! I was…I-I…was… so….worried!" she stammers, crying openly.
"It's not like I had much of a choice, considering I nearly died. It was due to their help that I'm talking to you right now," I reassure her.
"So? Who are they? And where are you right now?" she asks, sniffling.
"I can't tell you right now, 'Mione. I learned about a branch of magic called Occlumency, which is used to protect the mind. I've learned that there are people that use its counterpart, Legilimency, in order to read people's minds. I don't want them picking off the truth about what happened out of your mind. As to where I am, right now my cover story is that I was in Japan, where they used a combination of magic, Muggle techniques, and rare Japanese herbs to revive me to full health," I explain.
"Alright! I'll learn Occlumency, and then you'll explain, OK?" she says, still sniffling.
"Of course 'Mione," I reply. "When you have good shields, I'll tell you the truth," I assure her.
"Oh, and take care of my stuff and Hedwig, would you? I'll pick it up when I meet you," I ask her.
"Of course, Harry. But you should pick up Hedwig. She's really sad," Hermione replies.
"OK, 'Mione. Just give me a few minutes. I'll be right over," I tell her.
"Wha…but how?" she asks.
"It's part of the secret. For now, just sit tight," I tell her.
"Mhm," she says, and then hangs up. Grabbing my phone, I create a transport circle.
"J.A.R.V.I.S, inform Mum and Dad that I'm heading to the Human World for a bit," I command.
"Of course, Master Harry," J.A.R.V.I.S. replies. I step onto the circle, and as the circle begins its work, the world fades to white.
As the world fades out of white, I see a very ordinary-looking house in what seems like the middle of a Muggle neighborhood. Looking at the mailbox, I see the name 'Granger.' So that confirms that I'm at the right place. I walk up to the door and ring the doorbell. I hear a voice yelling, "he's here!" followed by some running.
The door opens to reveal a disheveled Hermione, wearing a spaghetti-strap top and shorts, the typical Muggle summer wear for girls.
"U-u-um…hi Hermione," I greet, blushing heavily.
"Are you OK, Harry? Your face is red," she inquires, initially clueless. Then, she realizes what is causing this reaction, and blushes heavily.
"O-o-oh. I-I-Is my o-o-outfit making you u-u-uncomfortable, Harry?" she asks, still blushing.
"N-no, it's fine, 'Mione," I reply. Then, I hear it. A bird call. But the only bird that sounds like that is…
"HOOT!" the bird screeches, landing on my shoulder, pecking at my ear.
"Owowowow! Sorry, Hedwig! I know I made you worry! I'll make it up to you! Just please stop pecking me!" I yell exasperatedly. She stops, glaring at me like Mum and Rose do. Oh great. Why do all the girls/women in my life have me whipped with just a glare?
I walk up to Hermione slowly. Wrapping my arms around her, I whisper, "I missed you 'Mione." I hear a squeak.
"Hermione dear, who was…it…who might you be young man?" I hear a man ask threateningly. Blushing, we break apart.
"Um…Daddy…this is my friend Harry. Harry, this is my Dad," Hermione tells me.
"So you're Harry Potter?" Mr. Granger asks.
"Yes I am. Nice to meet you, Mr. Granger," I reply, extending my hand. He shakes it, and then pulls me aside.
"What are your intentions towards my daughter, Harry?" he asks in a threatening tone.
"Eep!" I squeak. "Um…for now, I guess she's my friend, um, uh, but uh…I mean…oh I don't know yet. Right now she's my friend, my highly intelligent friend who can kick my arse if I don't do my best," I reply. He nods, and then smiles.
"If you mistreat her in anyway, or let her get hurt, then it's the end of you young man," he threatens.
"If that happens, get in line, Mr. Granger, because if I let that happen, I would never forgive myself," I reply calmly.
"DADDY! STOP SCARING POOR HARRY!" Hermione shouts.
"Blimey 'Mione, your temper is as bad as mine," I muse, smiling at her.
"So anyway Harry, what happened to you?" Hermione asks.
"As I was dying, my magic called out to those two people, and brought them to me. They then transported me somehow to a medical wing where they healed me," I explain.
"How? You can't apparate through the wards of Hogwarts. It says so…"
"in Hogwarts, a History. Yes Hermione. They said something about different systems of magic or something like that," I explain. She nods. Then, my phone rings.
"Excuse me 'Mione, I need to take this," I explain. I pick up the phone.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" I hear Mum yell.
"Yes?" I croak.
"I TOLD YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO TELL US WHERE YOU'RE GOING BEFORE YOU LEAVE! YOU CAN'T JUST EXPECT J.A.R.V.I.S. TO TELL US!" Mum yells.
"Eep!" I squeak.
"I WANT YOU TO TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, YOUNG MAN!" she commands.
"I-I-I'm at Hermione's house," I stammer. I hear her calm down immediately.
"Oh, you're at Hermione's house? Tell me, what's she like?" Mum asks, curious.
"Can I tell you later?" I ask, hopeful.
"Well alright then, Harry. Come home soon, OK, Rosie is looking for you," she tells me.
"OK, I will. Bye!" I say, hanging up.
"What was that about?" Hermione asks.
"Oh nothing. It involves the stuff I can't tell you yet. Oh, from what I hear about Occlumency, your parents can learn it too, as it doesn't require a magical core. Legilimency does, but Occlumency doesn't. I would recommend that you three learn it. Make it like a family exercise or something," I instruct her. She nods.
"I should probably get going now, 'Mione," I say. She nods, and leads me to the door. Hugging her once, I pull away, and say, "I'll see you on the platform, OK, 'Mione?" She nods, opening the door. I walk out the door, with Hedwig on my shoulder, pulling my school trunk behind me. Once I am out of sight, I call up a transport circle and teleport back to my study.
As I arrive in my study, I hear J.A.R.V.I.S. greeting me. "Welcome back, Master Harry," he greets.
"Hey J.A.R.V.I.S.," I reply, walking out the door. I walk towards the dining room when a small moving object pushes me to the ground.
"Big Brother Harry! You're back!" I hear a voice say.
"Hey Rose," I greet, grinning.
"Harry…" I hear an ominous voice say. I pale, and turn to face the source. I see Mum's face contorted in a combination of worry and anger.
"Um…hi Mum," I squeak in reply.
"I would ground you, but I know from the last time that it doesn't really affect you all that much," she begins. I smile. NO punishment! "However…" she continues. Oh this doesn't sound good. "You still need to be punished, so…I have decided that you will be spending the remainder of the time until your birthday training," she finishes. I pale in fright.
"T-t-t-training?" I croak.
"Yes Harry, training," she confirms, smiling her scary smile. My face grows white.
W-w-w-who will be training me?" I stammer.
"I've gotten someone special to agree to train you, Harry," she replies. "The name of the person who will be training you is…Yuuto Kiba, Rias Gremory's Knight!" she exclaims. Again, this Rias person…
"U-u-um, OK," I reply.
THE NEXT MORNING
"Hello, Harry-kun. I am Kiba Yuuto. I shall be training you, per your mother's request," he introduces. He looks about 16 or 17 years old, with blond hair. Not artificial looking blond hair like Malfoy, but a more natural blond. If I was a girl, I'd have a crush on him.
"U-u-um…Hi," I reply, smiling.
"Alright then. Let's begin," he tells me, smiling. I can't help but feel terror behind that smile.
"Come on Harry! Go for it!" Yuuto cheers, as I try to battle an animated mannequin. In my hand I have a broadsword. Today I learned how to properly hold a sword, the basic stance, and basic sword skills. But I'm still a long way from being able to fight Yuuto. Dodging the mannequin's sword, I dash forward to face the mannequin, and slash it in two before it can retaliate. As the pieces disappear, I see Yuuto and Mum approaching me.
"Good job Harry," Mum tells me.
"You've surprised me Harry. You've done in one day what I took a week to do," Yuuto explains. I blush.
"Oh, I'm nothing special, Yuuto. I guess I just wasn't thinking," I muse.
"You weren't actively thinking during that fight?" he asks.
"I-I guess I…once the fight began, my mind just wasn't paying attention," I reply, as his eyes widen.
"If that's true, then your instincts are some of the best I've ever seen," he comments.
"I wasn't really trying to win. I guess I was just trying to not die," I inform him,
"Few people have such natural battle instincts Harry. I think we can expect great things from you," he muses, as I smile.
"What's so funny Harry?" Mum asks.
"Oh, it's nothing Mum. It's just that Mr. Ollivander said something similar when I got my wand," I reply, smiling as I remember it.
"Kiba-san!" I hear a feminine voice call. He turns towards the source.
"Oh. Asia-san," he greets. Asia? Who? Isn't that the name of a continent?
"Oh, Potter-san!" she greets, noticing Mum. What is this 'san' business?
"Asia-san, I'd like to introduce you to Harry Potter, my student," Yuuto tells her. I grin sheepishly, rubbing the back of my head.
"Um…hi, I'm Harry. Nice to meet you, Asia," I greet.
"Oh, it's nice you meet you, Harry-san!" she replies enthusiastically.
"What brings you here, Asia-san?" Yuuto asks.
"Oh! Rias-onee-sama was looking for you, Kiba-san!" she tells him. First 'san,' then 'onee-sama'? What is up with these suffixes? And why did Asia call Yuuto and Mum by their last names?
"Oh right! I completely forgot! Thanks for reminding me, Asia-san," Yuuto tells her. "I'm sorry, Potter-san, but I have to get going now," he tells Mum. She nods. He turns to me. "I have to leave now, but I'll be back tomorrow, OK Harry?" he asks. I nod.
"Alright then, see you!" he calls, smiling as they teleport out.
"Well, that was eventful," I muse.
THE NEXT DAY
"Good morning, Harry!" I hear a voice greet.
"Good morning Yuuto," I reply.
"Are you ready?" he asks. I nod. He hands me a sword, and then smiles.
"Today, you'll be fighting someone else. She's not nearly as strong as I am, but she's agreed to help me," he tells me. As he says so, a transport circle appears on the ground. It's not the Potter crest, nor is it the crest on Yuuto's circle. In addition, the circle is surrounded by flames. When the circle dissipates, I see a young woman with light brown hair and green eyes wearing grey armor over a white tunic. I see a sword attached to her belt and white wrappings covering part of her head. Not like a turban, but more like a headband. "Her name is Karlamine," Yuuto concludes.
"Hello. I am Karlamine, a knight in the service of Riser Phenex," she greets.
"Um…hi Karlamine. I'm Harry," I greet nervously, extending my hand. Shaking it once, she withdraws her hand, drawing her sword.
"Are you ready, Harry?" she asks. Taking my stance, I ready myself.
"This is a training battle between Harry Potter and Karlamine. The victor is the one who draws first blood," Yuuto announces. "BEGIN!" he yells, as Karlamine charges forward. She swings her sword straight at me. Dodging, I flip backwards. As the adrenaline rushes through me, I feel my conscious thoughts fading. I see her blurring in a burst of speed. I can't even see her, she's too fast. Then, I feel a sense of danger behind me to my right. Quickly spinning, I bring my sword up to block as her sword suddenly appears and strikes mine with a clang. Seeing the surprise in her eyes, I quickly slide my sword off hers and kick her stomach before running behind her and slashing down at her armor, only to encounter air. She continues this pattern, occasionally charging straight at me. I block swing after swing, strike after strike. It's tiring; I've never felt anything like this before. Up. Down. Left. Right. Back. Front. Repeat at random. As the battle continues, my conscious thoughts fade into the background, and a strange feeling rises. Suddenly, I can see her clearly.
I charge forward, swinging my sword. Left. Right. Up. Left. Left. Right. The battle continues, yet I'm only barely aware of what I'm doing. It's like I'm an observer as my body moves on its own. Then, I feel it again. I swivel to my left, meeting her sword in a flurry of sparks. Using my right hand, I turn my entire body, punching her face before she can move again. Clearly surprised, she wobbles backwards. Seeing my chance, I burst forwards, willing both demonic power and my wizard magic to enhance my speed. Before she can recover and burst away, I raise my sword and slash at her armor. As I move past her and land on the ground, I hear cracking. Looking back, I see her armor fall off completely. Slowly but surely, I see red liquid dripping onto the floor. Blood. Her blood. As it to interrupt my thoughts, I hear Yuuto speak again.
"Winner: Harry Potter!" he announces. Huh? I won? How? But more importantly…
I run up to Karlamine, who is standing on one knee. "Are you OK, Karlamine?" I ask. "I didn't hurt you too much, did I?"
"I-I'm fine, Harry. But you really surprised me out there today. I never expected that you'd be able to predict and block my strikes," she explains.
"Predict? I didn't…I didn't predict anything," I inform her.
"Then how did you…" she begins, confused.
"He must've instinctively blocked your strikes Karlamine," Yuuto finishes. "From what I observed yesterday, Harry has instincts to make up for his lack of experience. Yesterday, I set him on a training mannequin that Sensei told me about after a week of training. However, after returning home from the training, I realized that I had accidentally set the mannequin to the max level; the level I was at shortly before the Rating Game played between Buchou and Riser-sama," he explains. "That he was able to defeat it purely on instinct after just a few hours of training leaves a lot to be said about his future battle prowess," Yuuto concludes.
As if on cue, I feel a large blur colliding with my body, knocking me over. "Harryharryharryharryharryharryharryharry!" I hear a voice say excitedly. Oh. Rose.
"Hi Rose," I croak.
"Rosie, what did I tell you about disrupting Harry's training?" I hear Mum ask.
"I know Mummy. I'm sorry," she replies, pouting. Man, that girl is cute! It'll be the end of me. Hedwig agrees. Since she got here, she's divided her time between spending time with me and rubbing her face against Rose's cheek. I swear, Rose will be the end of us all.
"So, Yuuto, how's he doing?" Mum asks him.
"His growth curve, as far as I can tell, is monstrous. You saw him yesterday, right? What I realized afterwards was that I accidentally had the mannequin on the max difficulty setting," he begins. Mum opens her mouth in shock.
"The…max…setting? How good were you when you were able to defeat it on the maximum difficulty?" Mum asks him.
"As I told Karlamine here, I defeated it shortly before the Rating Game between Rias-sama and Riser-sama. And that was after many long years of training. However, Harry here defeated it on the first day," Yuuto tells Mum. I blush hard at the compliment.
"And what about today?" she asks.
"Today, he defeated Riser-sama's Knight, Karlamine. Although he had some difficulty with her speed given to her by the Knight piece initially, once he got going, I think he blocked her strikes instinctively. He must have a natural instinct for battle," Yuuto concludes.
"A natural…battle instinct?" Mum inquires. At that moment, the door opens.
"All of the Potter men, without fail, have had, in the words of others, natural battle instincts matched only by those with years of intense training or by those who've seen war," Dad interrupts. "I'm glad to see that Harry's manifesting it early."
"What about Potter women, James?" Mum asks, that special scary smile on her face.
"P-P-P-Potter women are kn-kn-kn-known for their natural healing instincts," Dad stammers in response.
"Oh? Healing instincts?" Mum asks him. He nods nervously.
"Well then that's fine," Mum muses.
As the three of them exit the training area, Yuuto turns to me again. "Well then, Harry, shall we continue?" he asks, as I shudder. Something tells me this isn't going to be fun.
TIMESKIP – 4 WEEKS LATER
(AN: I know, I said I wouldn't skip training. But I kind of need to move the story along. Don't worry. This isn't the end of his training. It's easier to tell a lot of this stuff through flashbacks/reflections like this.)
It's been four weeks since my training *cough* punishment *cough* began. As my training continued, I started with simple sword training. Well, at least for the first two weeks. After two weeks, Yuuto told me that there was nothing more he could teach me, and that I had to keep practicing. I still can't beat him, but that's to be expected, considering he has both his Balance Breaker.
For the remainder of the training, I trained with Dad in using the Potter family magics. Apparently, because of the wizard influences, the Potters are different from the other Pillar Houses, in that we have family magics. The Weasley family magics, for example, deal with fertility. Dad was joking that their family magics are probably the reason that they managed to have seven kids.
Apparently, our family magics deal with parallel worlds, or so Granddad told me. He said something about a very strange vampire meeting one of our ancestors and teaching him something called the Kaleidoscope, or something like that. That ancestor later made this 'Kaleidoscope' into Potter family magic. I'm still skeptical. But that's a moot point now. Dad says my control over the Kaleidoscope is satisfactory.
As if to interrupt my thoughts, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I take it out and briefly glance at the screen. Placing my wireless headset in my ear, I ask, "J.A.R.V.I.S, what's up?"
"Master Harry, there's been an update to your summoning logs," he informs me. Summoning logs? What?
"Dad?" I call.
"Yes Harry?" he asks.
"What's a summoning log?" I ask him. He pales.
"A summoning already? Oh damn, I had hoped we'd have more time before this happened," Dad mutters. He looks up at me. "Harry, the primary job of Devils like us is to grant the wishes of those who summon us. If your summoning log is updated, then that means you've been summoned," he concludes.
"OK…" I respond, still skeptical.
"Let me see them Harry," he commands. I nod, and then turn my attention to J.A.R.V.I.S.
"J.A.R.V.I.S, show Dad the logs," I command.
"Certainly. Right away Master Harry," he responds. After a minute, Dad pulls out his phone, and starts looking at a document, presumably the summoning logs.
"DAMN IT!" Dad suddenly yells.
"W-w-what's wrong Dad?" I ask worriedly.
"You've been summoned in a parallel world," Dad tells me.
"Sh-should I go?" I ask nervously.
"You have to Harry. Just gather your stuff and go. Let your demonic power guide the Kaleidoscope to your proper destination. I'll inform your mother, OK Harry?" he tells me. I nod. I run to my room, quickly gathering some clothes, placing them in my pocket dimension. I create a transport circle, and infuse it with the world-jumping magic of the Kaleidoscope. Stepping onto the circle, I feel myself vanishing in a brilliant flash of white.
Mid-teleport, I feel myself suddenly getting a headache, as my head is filled with all sorts of information that doesn't really make sense to me.
When the world returns to color, I see that I am standing in what looks like a bedroom.
'Who the hell are you, and what the heck is going on!' I hear a voice say.
"Who's there?" I ask. I suddenly notice something very wrong with my voice. Looking around the room, I see a full-body mirror. I walk over and stand in front of it to see…WHAT THE HELL! THAT'S NOT ME!
My thoughts turn to the voice in my head. 'Hello?' I call out mentally.
'Who are you, and why are you in my body?' the voice asks.
'I-I-I don't know! One minute I was teleporting to grant someone's wish; the next, I find myself in this situation!' I yell mentally.
'So you're stuck in this situation just like I am,' the girl muses. Oops. I must've accidentally borrowed her body or something. 'So anyway, I'm Ayako. Mitsuzuri Ayako.'
'Nice to meet you Ayako,' I reply mentally.
'Hey! I haven't given you permission to use my first name like that!' she yells mentally.
'What do you mean? Isn't that how you address people?' I ask her.
'You must not be from Japan then. Speaking of which, who are you anyway?' she asks me.
'I-I'm H-' I can't say it! What the hell! I am struck by a sudden urge to introduce myself differently, though I can't imagine why.
'Upon the summoning of the Holy Grail, I'm Servant Ruler, nice to meet you.'
AN: So that's the chapter. Yes, I'm FUCKING with Nasuverse canon to fit Harry in. But yeah, that's what I do. So what if Harry has battle instincts: he's nowhere close to Servant level. But he needs peerage members before second year, so Ruler is the best class for this, all things considered. Ruler Harry possesses someone just like Fate/Apocrypha Ruler did. However, Harry possesses Mitsuzuri Ayako, the captain of the Archery team, someone of the opposite sex. I considered having him possess Ryuudou Issei, but it's more fun this way. Plus, I can now write about how he deals with the awkwardness of being a guy's mind in a girl's body. I like Harry to be confident. I need him to be confident for this fic by fourth year. This ordeal is just a stepping-stone to get there. Right now, he's mostly the timid Harry from after first year that has just come out of ten years of abuse and is adjusting to having a proper family. As such, I need him to be thrust into unfamiliar environments and have him struggle, eventually coming out on top. His position as Ruler is perfect for that.
Due to end of semester stress, my fics will mostly be going on hiatus for about a month or so, as I finish up the semester. I may publish Chapter 2 of Saiyan DxD sometime in the next few days, but most likely I won't be doing any writing after that. Therefore, I'll see you after the semester ends!