Saturday, 2:46pm; October 23rd, 1993
Hogsmeade, Scotland, Great Britain
Harry's third year
Harry smiled as he walked through the Hogsmeade High Street, hummin under his breath as he took in the sight of the picturesque little village.
No matter how many times it was described to him by upper years, nothing could compare to seeing the little village in person. Hogsmeade looked like a Christmas card; the little thatched cottages and shops were all covered in a layer of crisp snow; there were holly wreaths on the doors and strings of enchanted candles hanging in the trees. Harry couldn't help but wonder if perhaps whoever made the Muggle Christmas cards was a Squib and tried to recreate Hogsmeade whenever he took a picture of a similar village.
It wouldn't surprise Harry if that was true. A lot of the best fairy tales written by Muggles could be traced back to Squibs in the line. The Lord of the Rings particularly was inspired by an old legend amongst magicals from the time before most magicals migrated to Britain. Obviously a lot was added and changed but it was still similar enough that most learned magical scholars would recognize it.
Harry snorted at the thought. Not like most magicals bother with magical history beyond Binns classes. It actually made Harry wonder why he only taught Goblin Rebellions. Sure there were a lot, but he completely skipped over much more important dates in magical history such as Merlin's birth and successes, Morgana Le Fay's rise to power and the reasons behind her actions. That's not even mentioning the time before the founding of Hogwarts. It's like that entire time was purposefully forgotten for some reason and investigation into that time was discouraged if not outright forbidden.
It made Harry think that they were being purposefully ignored for some reason and made him even more curious.
Harry was brought out of his thoughts by two familiar life signatures sneaking up behind him. For the past year since he turned thirteen, Harry had gotten a sort of... 'sense' when people were around him. Actually, it was more like he could sense people's presences sort of like a Muggle radar. It actually reminded Harry of the Marauder's Map in a way since he could sense every living person within a certain distance around him. The limitation was that he couldn't tell who it was unless he was intimately familiar with the person's signature.
An example were the two people trying to sneak up on him.
Harry smothered a grin and just as the person was standing a foot behind him, he spoke. "Hello, Diane, Nymphadora."
Harry yelped when he was smacked over the head harshly and turned around to smile innocently at a slowly reddening Nymphadora Tonks. The funny part was that not only were her cheeks reddening, in anger, but so was her hair. Beside her, the blond-haired, brown eyed Diane Carter was giggling at the look on both of best friends' faces.
Nymphadora Tonks and Diane Carter were Harry's best friends at Hogwarts ever since he was sorted into Hufflepuff. While Tonks he'd known since he was young due to her relation to Sirius and their similar ages putting them together for playtime, Diane he'd met when he reached Hogwarts. While Diane was sorted into Slytherin, Harry had gotten to know her during classes, mostly because being a half-blood made her an outcast in Slytherin. The blond girl had been glad for a friend and while Tonks had been wary at first, she had eventually come to trust her as well.
Nowadays, Sirius joked that he was trying to create a female version of the Marauders only without the pranks.
"Don't. Call. Me. Nymphadora." gritted out an angry Nymphadora Tonks much to Diane's amusement.
Harry put on a faux innocent look. "But it's your name, isn't it? Should I call you Crimson Hair instead?"
Tonks huffed and punched Harry's shoulder again only to frown when she saw it didn't have as much effect as she wanted. 'Stupid boy and having muscles and stuff.' thought Tonks childishly. Beside her, Diane was having much the same thoughts, only hers were more appreciative than derogatory.
Unlike most magicals who let themselves get fat and lazy, Harry believed a healthy body was essential for a healthy life. Even if his magic protected him from getting too obese, he didn't want to rely on it like most magicals. Therefore, he had a strict exercise routine to keep his body in peak condition and had been doing it ever since he was 8. He didn't change it once he reached Hogwarts and even managed to convince Diane to join him in it halfway through first year.
The results had been evident by the fact that Diane got a lot more male attention than other girls due to her lean and attractive look. This year, the had even managed to rope Tonks into it by saying that Aurors needed to be in top shape as well. Despite her many complaints, Tonks had eventually conceded and now joined them every morning.
Tonks huffed childishly at her best friend's words. "I don't like it."
Harry cocked an eyebrow. "Why not? I think it suits you. Especially after what happened last week."
Tonks blushed as Harry and Diane snickered at the memory. About a week ago, Tonks had been with Harry and Diane as the former practiced her Metamorphagus ability. Harry helped her because he was good at Transfiguration and had enough control over his magic to change her back if she ever got stuck. Diane was there because she had a very good eye for detail and was the best at setting up detection wards so they wouldn't be caught.
Last week, Tonks had gotten curious about the limits of her ability and decided to see whether she could cause certain... aspects of her body to increase in size. Needless to say, it didn't go well as she ended up on the floor with double D-cup breasts that would have caused her to fall flat on her face... if those selfsame breasts hadn't managed to cushion her fall. It had taken over an hour for her to bring them back to normal, mostly because Harry and Diane had spent most of that time on the floor in stitches due to their raucous laughter. Neither had let Tonks forget it since.
Tonks gave her best friends a deadly glare as they snickered. "Shut up." mumbled Tonks through her blush which of course, only got them to laugh harder.
Diane was the first to control her laughter and threw an arm over Tonks' shoulders. "Don't be like that. It was hilarious and at least you know more about your ability."
Harry stopped snickering and nodded his agreement. "Yeah, and now you know you can change every aspect of your appearance instead of just small things like some Metamorphagus."
Tonks huffed as she looked at Harry suspiciously. "You just enjoyed looking at me with large breasts."
Harry just smiled genuinely as he brought her in for a hug. "I prefer you just the way you are, Dora. You're perfect the way you are."
Tonks looked away so Harry wouldn't see the blush on her face. Tonks had had a hard time with men ever since it had been discovered she was a Metamorphagus. All men seemed to want her for was so she would change into the woman of their dreams and not for her specifically. Tonks would never forget her first boyfriend asking her to change into his ex-girlfriend during her first kiss. She had been heartbroken and had quickly broken up with him... after breaking his nose and hexing him, of course.
But what really warmed her heart was what Harry did to the 4th year afterwards. She didn't know what Harry did but whatever it was caused the boy to avoid them both like the plague and flinch whenever he saw Harry. While Tonks had pretended to have been annoyed by Harry's actions, she had secretly been very touched and had considered him a surrogate big brother since. They had known each other too long for her to have any romantic feelings for him unlike Diane.
Tonks and Diane had talked a lot about the latter's growing feelings for the boy but neither knew how to move forward. Harry didn't seem all that interested in Diane as anything more than a friend and Diane had to watch jealously as he crushed on another of their friends, Lizzie.
Lizzie was one of their muggle friends that they met through Harry. Her family were old friends with the Potters and so Harry often spent time over the summers at her mansion. She knew about magic and so kept in contact with them through letters and similar. Their other muggle friend, Julia, was the daughter of a Squib so she knew about magic as well but had a harder time keeping in contact since she had no magical friends to lend her an owl.
Diane wanted to be jealous of Lizzie but couldn't since Lizzie was too likable to hate.
Harry turned to look at Tonks when he felt her stiffen in his arms and looked at what she and Diane were looking at. Harry saw them scowling at some upper years who were openly leering at Tonks and Diane, the former mostly because of her status as a Metamorphagus and the latter because she was one of those that developed early. Harry scowled as well when he saw the reason for their actions and openly moved his hand toward his wand as a silent threat to the upper years.
This action caused the upper years to walk away, not wanting to test their luck against the school prodigy. They might be stronger magically and know more spells, but Harry had proven that he fought dirty and craftily. Seriously, who ever heard of using Expelliarmus to literally disarm an opponent? The time he did that to a training dummy in Defense Against the Dark Arts class had scared the shit out of most students.
Tonks watched them go with a hint of sympathy. "I sort of feel sorry for those guys now. You can be scary when you want to be."
Harry looked at Tonks with a cocked eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Diane looked at Harry in bemusement. "You mean you haven't noticed?" At Harry's confused look, Diane sighed in exasperation. "Your magical aura. It reflects your mood, more so when you're angry. When you're..." here she blushed prettily. "... excited everyone reacts the same. It affects people a lot when you flash it."
Harry looked interested in that before setting it aside for more important things as he turned to Tonks with a worried look. "Those guys weren't bothering you while I was away right?"
Tonks smiled warmly up at her best friend and shook her head. "No more than I'm used to but thanks anyway. Rose is lucky to have you as a big brother. How is she anyway?"
Harry noticed Tonks changing the subject but allowed it anyway. "Rose is fine. She's happy cause now that I can apparate I can once again spend her birthday with her. The last two years have been lonely for her since Mum and Dad tend to conveniently forget that it's her birthday on the 31st. Apparently, Nathan defeating Voldemort is more important than their daughter's birthday."
Diane looked up sadly at her scowling friend before laying a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Harry. Where are they going this year anyway?"
Harry scowled. "Same place as every year. To the Ministry Ball in Nathan's honor. Poor kid. He hates those things but Mum and Dad drag him there every year. Supposedly it would be rude to not go when it's given in his honor and Rose is too young to go. Never mind that Nathan has been going to those ever since they started when he was 2. They just leave her at home with the house-elves."
Tonks frowned at the elder Potters obvious favoritism. At first, Tonks thought that this would pass but as the years passed, it only got worse especially for Harry. While before Harry at least interacted with his parents on occasion, ever since he was sorted into Hufflepuff, the relationship between him and them had worsened. Apparently him being sorted into the 'House of the Duffers' only reinforced the image that Harry was less important than Nathan.
Harry forced a smile on his face and turned to his friends. "Forget about them. This is the first year since I entered Hogwarts that I'll be able to spend Rose's birthday with her and I want to make it memorable. My baby sis is turning 5 and I want to celebrate the occasion by spoiling her rotten."
Tonks rolled her eyes at her friend even as she smiled. "She's going to grow to have a major big brother complex I just know it. You spoil her rotten and she has you wrapped around her tiny finger."
Harry gave Tonks a faux affronted look. "I'll have you know that no little girl is my boss. I am completely the boss of myself."
Diane gave him an amused look. "Uh-huh. Then why are you wearing a Hello Kitty scarf?"
Harry blushed and mumbled, "Rose insisted cause she was afraid I'd catch a cold. I couldn't say no to those puppy dog eyes."
Tonks and Diane laughed at their friend's words and made a show of making whipping sounds which caused Harry to sulk even more. This caused them to laugh even harder causing Harry to huff and turn away.
When Tonks and Diane finally managed to regain their composure Diane turned to Harry with a smile. "So what are we gonna do today, Harry?"
Harry huffed in mock indignation but answered. "I'm still looking for something to give to Rose for her birthday. I've missed the last two and I want something for this one."
Tonks gave Harry a bemused look. "Didn't you give her a pet cat for her 3rd and a toy wand for her 4th? Methinks you spoil her too much. What did you give Nathan for his last birthday? A small country?"
Harry shook his head. "No. I got him a bicycle."
Diane stopped and frowned at her friend and at his, in her mind, favoritism. "Isn't that sort of... you know, showing favoritism?"
Harry shook his head as he explained. "Not really. Nathan doesn't like all those expensive and flashy gifts. He actually hates it and he prefers things that mean something. My gift was his favorite not because of what it cost but because of what I did with it." At their confused looks, Harry smiled gently. "I had bought myself a bicycle earlier during the summer and taught myself how to ride. So when I bought Nathan one I spent the entire month of August teaching him how to ride it. Mum and Dad couldn't say anything since it was his birthday present and he wanted to and it gave him a break from the constant tests and training they put him through. Poor kid needs some normalcy in his life. I think he loves me cause I never treat him like anything special."
Diane gave Harry an impressed look and couldn't help but think he'd make a good father someday. Blushing at her thoughts, Diane shook her head and turned to Harry. "You're a great older brother. Sorry for thinking you were picking favorites."
Harry smiled and threw his arm over her shoulders again. "Forget about it, Deedee. If there's one thing you need to know about me, it's this."
Harry stopped and looked at Tonks and Diane with a serious look in his eyes. "No matter what I have to do, I'll always protect my family."
8:00 am, Friday; March 11th, 2002
Harry's penthouse apartment, PCB headquarters, New York
Day of White King inauguration
Harry slowly opened his eyes as the alarm sounded through the room. After reaching over to turn it off, Harry stayed where he was as he stared at the ceiling.
The dream had been a memory of one of his few happy times from before he met his second mentor and before things really got bad between Harry and his parents. It would only be two weeks later that the elder Potters would leave Rose with the Dursleys while they went to Europe to give Nathan another round of tests. Harry had been furious when he found out what happened to his little Rose and this event had led to the first, but certainly not the last, screaming match between him and his parents.
Harry sighed at those thoughts before banishing them to the recesses of his mind. The past was the past and should be left there. Plus, he didn't need anymore depressing thoughts.
Despite Harry's flirting with Emma Frost last month and yesterday at the party, it had just been a front. Harry was still very much hurt by his break-up with Satana even if he understood her reasons and agreed with them. He had been childish and stupid about it but the thought of losing Satana had hurt so much that he couldn't help but lash out. Satana had been in the right but he hadn't wanted to admit it because admitting it meant letting her go, something he didn't want to do. However, he had to and now he had to continue with his plans alone.
His flirting with Emma Frost had been part of those plans. While he was attracted to the blonde bombshell, his heart hadn't truly been in it. He needed to get in her good graces in order to be able to get a place in her school.
Her school for mutants.
That school was very important to Harry. He didn't trust Xavier's school as far as he could throw it and he'd noticed that it got attacked far too often. No. Emma's school was best since it was still unknown and protected. He would add his own protections once he joined of course but its anonymity was its best defense.
For that reason, Harry had used his aura to influence Emma during their meetings. Harry's third mentor had taught Harry how to use his aura to subtly influence people's behavior. When it came to the opposite sex, Harry used it to cause them to give in to their baser desires more often and wore away at their masks. Emma was a good example. Harry had subtly used his aura to increase her desire while wearing away at her ability to hide her emotions. Powerful telepath she may be but Emma wasn't a witch and therefore had no way to fight off his aura's effects. The fact that he layered his voice with magic also helped in that as well.
A part of Harry felt bad for using such tactics but he reminded himself that it was necessary. Emma Frost was a crafty and manipulative woman who rose the top from almost nothing. If he didn't pull out all the stops he'd end up being under her control. His Occlumency may keep her at bay while she's doing a cursory scan of his mind but it wouldn't stop her if she actually got serious and forced her way in. He needed to gain her loyalty so that wouldn't happen.
That meant Harry had to flirt and maybe even bed Emma even though his heart still ached from his break up with Satana. Out in public, Harry put on a convincing mask as though nothing bothered him but in private he'd already had a few moments where he felt extremely lonely and depressed. Luckily, Jade and Julia had done their best to make those moments scarce with their upbeat atitude in Julia's case and... other methods in Jade's. The kept saying that they hated 'emo Harry' since his aura made everyone depressed.
Harry still wasn't sure of letting his bodyguards talk to him like that, and even at times boss him around, was a good thing. But then again, after so many years working together, they were more friends than employees. Of course, some were more than just friends to him.
As if knowing his thoughts, the naked woman in bed with him groaned before slowly opening his eyes. Jade looked up at her boss/lover and gave him a sultry smile. "Good morning, Boss. Is there anything your secretary can do for you today?"
Harry gave Jade a bemused smile before shaking his head. "No thank you, Jade. I need to get up since my inauguration as the new White King is today."
Jade was a beautiful Vietnamese woman with long black hair and dark eyes. She had a very curvaceous figure that made most men drool when wearing normal clothing much less her preferred clothing of a barely decent kimono blouse and short shorts. Jade was the definition of exotic and curvaceous woman.
Harry had met Jade when she was still a mercenary. Jade had been born a mutant with an extremely rare psionic power that Harry had taken to calling anti-psionicism. The ability had two stages. The first stage was her normal stage and was always unconsciously activated. In this stage, Jade had a constant shield around her mind that not only gave her impenetrable protection against telepaths but could even kill them if she consciously wished it. When she wanted to kill the attacking telepath, the shield would work like an acid, burning away the invading telepaths mind until there was nothing left. Not even the most powerful telepaths could survive it.
The second stage was Jade manifesting her shield outside of her body. The shield turned into an enormously strong, powerful, durable and impenetrable psionic exoskeleton armor around her entire physical body.. This exoskeleton drastically enhanced her strength, endurance, stamina, agility, invulnerability and durability. At first, she could only maintain it for a short time but by the time Harry met her she could maintain it indefinitely unless her concentration was broken. In addition, the armor greatly heightened and strengthened the concussive force behind her offensive and incredibly destructive blows and made her practically invulnerable and immune from a significant degree of physical harm and damage. The armor managed to maintain its ability to protect her from most psionic abilities to the point that direct telekinetic attacks didn't affect her.
Of course, this didn't protect her from a telekinetic grabbing a large boulder and hurling it at her but it did prevent her from being telekinetically disintegrated. This caused her to believe she couldn't be controlled since telepaths couldn't control her and unfortunately, led her to be enslaved.
This ability caused her mercenary father to train her to be an assassin and mercenary much like him. However, while she was trained to be an assassin and mercenary, she had also been a very lonely woman. After her father died on a mission, she had no one to lean on for emotional support, giving her a weakness in her normally impenetrable armor. This weakness allowed her future husband to seduce her and convince her to marry him within a year of them meeting. However, it had all been a trick as the man had been a dark wizard who had tricked Jade into signing a magical marriage contract that basically made her his slave.
Her armor may protect her from outward telepathic control but it didn't protect her from magic.
The man had then spent the next two years abusing her sexually, physically and emotionally all while forcing her to kill the people he told her to.
It had been under these circumstances that Harry had met Jade. Her husband had ordered her to kill him and due to the magical contract, she had been forced to carry out his orders. Harry had managed to defeat her and then killed her husband before destroying the contract that bound her. By destroying the contract before the man's brother could get inherit it, the magic binding Jade had been broken.
They had parted ways where Jade went on to get revenge on all the men who made the last two years of her life hell. After that, having nowhere else to go, she had gone to Harry who had offered her a job as his personal secretary.
After a year of spending time with him as his secretary and seeing him with Satana, Jade had fallen in love with Harry. Being a succubus, Satana had sensed her lust for him and talked to Jade, getting her to admit her feelings. Rather than be against it and knowing Harry needed more wives, Satana had pushed them together with her blessing.
Harry and Jade had been lovers ever since, Jade not wanting to call it a 'relationship' due to her bad experiences with her last one. Jade preferred to be considered his mistress for some reason though Harry suspected that Jade had had a dirty secretary fantasy when she was younger and was acting it out through him.
It could also be that Jade now had an almost phobia for marriage, not that Harry blamed her. As much as she loved Harry, the idea of marriage scared her more than anything in the world. In her mind, marriage was now attached to the loss of her freedom and she wanted no part of that which meant that, unfortunately, she couldn't be one of his wives.
After breaking up with Satana, Harry had refused to sleep with Jade or even do anything outside of strictly boss-secretary relationship out of respect to Satana. He thought that sleeping with Jade so soon after breaking up with Satana would be an insult to the memory of their relationship. It was bad enough he had to flirt with Emma and act as if breaking up with Satana hadn't affected him in public. Having sex with Jade in private would have basically been akin to spitting in his feelings for Satana in his mind.
Jade vehemently disagreed and things had gotten frosty between them until eventually Jade contacted Satana a few days ago about what was happening. Satana had been less than pleased to know that Harry was treating Jade badly out of some misguided attempt to respect his previous relationship with her. She had called him and said in no uncertain terms that while she was glad he respected the memory of their relationship, he had been with Jade before they broke up and it wouldn't be disrespecting it to continue his relationship with Jade.
After saying her piece, the two former lovers told each other how much they missed each other with Harry once again apologizing for having acted so childishly when they parted. Satana forgave him and after talking for a while and once again confirming that it would be better if they didn't see each other until she finished her training they hung up. However, Satana promised to stay in touch through letters and calls much to Harry's joy.
After having been brought into line by Satana, Harry made up for his attitude by inviting Jade out on a date. Jade had responded by rolling her eyes, stating she wasn't a 'date' kind of girl before pushing him to his room and having her way with him. Despite everything, Jade's response brought a smile to his face. Jade's blasé attitude always helped get through Harry's brooding no matter what.
Harry was brought out of his thoughts by the feel of Jade's silky hand fondling his cock. Harry looked down to see Jade giving him a sultry smile. "Well, if you're going to such a stressful meeting, I might as well do my best to relax you. After all, it's a secretary's job to attend to all of her boss's needs."
With that Jade slipped under the covers and out of sight. As her mouth encircled his cock, Harry couldn't help but think that Jade definitely had a dirty secretary fantasy when she was younger.
1:00pm, Friday; March 1st, 2002
Hellfire Club mansion, Manhattan, New York
840 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan's East Side
A black limo rolled down Fifth Avenue on route to the Hellfire Club Mansion for the scheduled inauguration of Harry as White King.
Inside the back of the limo, Harry was talking on the phone with a friend who had recently started living with him a couple of months ago. Harry and Satana had bumped into Julia after she had been tricked into a non-sanctioned experiment to recreate Spider-man's powers. With her having to drop out of college and her daughter's father not helping, Harry took her and her daughter in due to his history with her. Harry had felt guilty since the last time they had seen each other, he had promised Julia he would return quickly only to disappear for years and reappear under a different name without even contacting her to let her know he was okay. As apology and also as a way to reconnect with her, Harry had offered to let her live with him while she got back on her feet.
Julia had hesitantly accepted (after hitching a fit for him not contacting her to let her know he was still alive) but since Satana and him had broken up she'd been more nervous about the arrangements. She didn't want Harry to have problems with the press due to what the public would think if it got out she was living with him and had a daughter. She didn't want to bring him trouble and had often stated she should move out, much to Harry's frustration since he knew that she still hadn't found another job.
"No, Julia, it's fine." Harry was reassuring her through the phone. "No, I don't care what the reporters will say if they find out you're living with me. You're my friend and you need somewhere to stay where you can raise Rachel in peace and leave her whenever you go do your superhero gig." Harry outright laughed at something Julia said before taking the phone from his ear as Julia yelled at him for laughing at her words. "No, no, I'm sorry. It's not funny. Well... it is sorta funny. The idea of you of all people being a kept woman is freaking hilarious. Just ignore the reporters and do your thing."
Harry sat back and listened to Julia for a moment before speaking. "Don't worry about Rachel while you're out doing the superhero thing. Danielle is the best and she'll protect Rachel when you're gone or don't you trust me?" Harry chuckled as he listened to Julia deny it. "Then there's no problem. I have more than enough money and you're more than earning it by helping the city. It's the least I can do after all we've been through. Well, I got to go to that meeting with the Hellfire Club now." Harry rolled his eyes as he listened to Julia on the other line. "Yes, I'm sure about this. It's necessary for what I have planned. It'll help you as well if Rachel turns out to be a mutant. It's possible, you know. We just have that kind of luck."
Harry rolled his eyes and nodded at John in the front seat as he signaled that they were arriving. "Ok, ok, I promise to be careful Julia. Seriously, sometimes you act like my wife with how you nag." Harry had to take the phone away from his ear or risk losing his hearing as Julia screamed at him that she wouldn't have to nag if he wasn't so reckless. Sitting in front of him, Jade held back a laugh at her boss's expression. "Ok, ok. I'm sorry Julia. You don't nag and it's totally my fault but I have to go. Ok, talk to you later."
After Harry hung up, Jade let loose the chuckles she was holding back much to Harry chagrin. "Damn boss. Why do you let her nag you like that?"
Harry chuckled. "Julia and I are old friends. She has the right since she knows how reckless I can be at times. Heck, the last time I saw her before this was years ago and I had told her I would be right back when I was going to a meeting with my former mentor. My 'I'll be right back' turned out to last years without her knowing what happened to me. So can you blame her?" Unsaid but understood was that Harry probably would have been Rachel's father if he had come back like he said he would. While Julia and him never dated, they had been on the cusp before his disappearing act.
Knowing where Harry's thoughts were going and wanting to lighten the mood, Jade smiled impishly. "You know that once it gets out that you have a woman and her daughter living with you, people are gonna think that Satana left you cause Rachel's your love child with Julia, right?"
Harry sighed and shrugged. "It's inevitable and I'm not gonna throw Julia and Rachel out just cause of some bad press. Julia is almost family and family takes care of each other no matter what other people think. I'll deal with it if it happens."
Jade smiled mischievously as the limo stopped in front of the Hellfire Club mansion. "You know, Julia is already acting like your wife. Why don't you make it official and marry her? I totally wouldn't mind a threesome with her."
Harry was about to retort that he wasn't ready for a serious relationship after breaking up with Satana when John knocked on the window outside. Glaring at Jade's smugly smiling face, Harry signaled that it was okay to open the door.
John saw Harry signal to open the door and did so, offering his hand to Jade as she stepped out. Jade took it and stepped out before brushing off some imaginary dirt while looking around with a serious look on her face. Harry followed behind, equally serious now that they were in public.
Harry took in the sight of the Hellfire Club Building before him. The Hellfire Club's headquarters was located at 840 Fifth Avenue, between 66th and 67th Streets. This placed it in Manhattan's East Side, only a few blocks away from the Avengers Mansion, which Harry found extremely ironic. It was a food location though since no one would look for a secret club so close to Avengers Mansion.
Harry had done some digging into the Club ever since Emma had invited him to join. From what he'd discovered, there were branches of the Club in almost every country in the world with the U.S. having one in both New York and Los Angeles. From what Harry had been able to uncover, the Hellfire Club had been around for almost 200 years and had catered to the most wealthy and influential people in the world since its founding.
On the outside, the club simply seemed like a simple stripper's club for the wealthy and famous to let loose. However, Harry had heard that some vaguely disturbing dealings had been made within those walls which Harry had to admit was only natural. The Inner Circle was made up of the most wealthy and influential of the entire Club which meant they were equally ambitious. Harry doubted he was the only one who joined with an ulterior motive. The only way he would survive would be to be more cunning and ruthless than the others as well as have better allies. Hopefully, Emma would be one of the latter.
Harry looked over at Jade who was standing beside him with large blue shades covering her eyes and a briefcase in hand. She was wearing her normal office wear consisting of a tight gray skirt that barely reached mid-thigh and a long-sleeved light blue jacket over a white blouse. Unlike her normal attire, this ensemble showed no cleavage although the jacket was only zipped up to just between her breasts. The ensemble emphasized her curves and femininity while still giving her a professional look. On Harry's other side, John was wearing his usual black tweed suit without a tie.
Jade had come along to protect him against Emma and any other telepath in case they turned on him. While Occlumency would protect him from weaker telepaths, it wouldn't do much against the more powerful ones which Harry knew Emma was. If Emma attacked him mentally, it would be Jade's job to kill her since she was immune to telepathic attack. Harry banked on them not knowing about Jade's immunity to give her the chance to kill their telepaths.
Of course, that was only if they turned hostile. If everything proceeded smoothly then Jade wouldn't be needed. Harry knew they would no doubt make Emma scan his mind to check he wasn't a threat and to make sure they could control him but Harry knew his Occlumency would be enough to protect his deepest secrets and plans. Well, at least he hoped it would be enough. If it wasn't he had a trap in his mind that Stephen said was lethal to even the most powerful telepaths. It would buy them time to get out if nothing else.
Harry looked toward Jade and saw her nod, showing that she didn't detect anyone watching them. At this, Harry discreetly cast protective enchantments over all three using his left hand. On his left hand, the ring on his ring finger glowed slightly, the symbol on the black stone shining.
Now that he was sure that they were safe from attacks to a certain extent, both mental and physical, Harry led the way into the club. At the door, the bouncer stopped them. "Who are you and what business do you have here?"
Harry gave the bouncer a slightly irritated look but answered politely. "My name is Hadrian Peverell and I'm here on invitation by the Inner Circle."
The bouncer seemed to recognize him now as well as the fact he had come to be inaugurated as White King and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, Mr. Peverell. It won't happen again. I was just doing my job."
Harry's look softened and he nodded. "I understand and no matter. May we pass?"
The bouncer nodded and opened the door for them to pass through.
The moment he entered, Harry was hit with the sound of loud music. As he entered, he caught sight of a few half-nude attractive women pole dancing in the back to the loud joyful exclamations of the men watching. To his right, Harry saw a bar and a few tables with men playing blackjack and poker all behind what he guessed was soundproof glass. The lighting was sensual near the back with the strippers while being serious near the poker tables. There were also private tables scattered between the entrance and the back with people sitting and either ordering drinks or just talking. He also saw a few men taking strippers through doors along the left wall which must be where they received private dances.
Harry took all this in within moments as Jade stood beside him with her briefcase in hand and John looked around scanning for threats. Harry sensed a familiar brush against his mind and gave a wry smile as he turned in the direction of the feeling.
Standing on the balcony overlooking the club was none other than Emma Frost. Even standing not far from the strippers and wearing considerably more clothing than them, Emma outshone them all in terms of sex appeal alone. The fact that she oozed confidence and the expectation to be obeyed also helped with that. While not interesting in a relationship at the moment, Harry had to admit that Emma cut an attractive figure and managed to make herself look like a leader even in her barely decent clothing.
Emma smiled as she saw Harry react to her light mental probe and discreetly waved him over. Emma watched as Hadrian and who she guessed were his personal secretary and bodyguard walked up the stairs toward her without causing anyone to trip or bumping into anyone. She discreetly read the mind of his secretary and found that while Emma could read her surface thoughts, it was much harder to read deeper than that meaning she had training against telepathy. The bodyguard was much the same.
Harry reached Emma with his usual charming smile in place and brought Emma's hand up to kiss the back of it. "Good evening, my lady. May I say that having you as my guide this evening will make this entire expedition worth it no matter the outcome." This time around, Harry wasn't using his aura to affect Emma, not wanting to make anyone suspicious if the people around them started to act strangely. His aura worked in a wide area of effect way and he couldn't make it affect Emma alone. He could put magic into his voice to make himself sound smoother and more seductive as well as let her lower her guard slightly but he didn't want to risk her realizing what he was doing once he revealed he was magical. He wanted her on his side after all.
Harry was happy to see that he didn't need any of that to attract Emma as he saw her discreetly take in deeper breaths to emphasize her bust and standing in a way that emphasized her long, creamy legs. It soothed Harry's ego to know that he could attract women without any extra help.
Emma noticed where Harry's eyes flickered to and internally smiled to herself as she saw him look her over. She didn't look into his mind to increase his arousal as she usually would though. She had finally come to the conclusion as to why she had acted so strangely when they first met and it tied into why she couldn't read his mind as well. She guessed that Hadrian had trained his mind against telepaths much like his bodyguard and secretary but took it a step further by creating a sort of Trojan Horse. She guessed than when she tried to read his mind when they first met, he slipped in a sort of Trojan Horse into her own mind which tore down her defenses.
It was a highly advanced mental move and very few telepaths could do it without years of experience. This made her wary of facing him in mental battle due to not wanting to antagonize him when she didn't know the full extent of his abilities.
Emma smiled demurely at Harry's words. "You flatter, Lord Peverell. We're meeting in the upper floor to inaugurate you. Unfortunately, your secretary and bodyguard must wait here. Only Inner Circle member are allowed to the third floor. I promise that they will be well attended to while they wait."
Both Jade and John stiffened slightly at the idea of leaving Harry alone with a group of people of unknown power but Harry waved them down. "It's okay. I'm sure I'll be fine. You two stay here and enjoy yourselves while I get inaugurated. We can celebrate my new position once I come back."
Jade looked rebellious since us being separated meant she would be that much farther from me if the Inner Circle became hostile but John placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her. "Very well, boss. We'll wait for you here."
Harry nodded to them and followed Emma up to the third floor, glad they had agreed. While it may seem like a bad idea, it would be worse to show fear or uncertainty. Like sharks smelling blood, they would fall on him with a frenzy. In this world, neither being the strongest nor the most intelligent was important but rather the illusion of being both. All know that it's a front but since no one can be sure how much is a front and how much is truth unless they have concrete proof, no one would be willing to risk it.
Harry followed Emma's shapely behind up the stairs, making no attempt to hide where his eyes were. It would give Emma the illusion that she had some kind of hold over him while making him seem easy to manipulate by beautiful women. Both are false and would allow him an advantage over the others.
Harry was eventually led into a large room with several people hidden in the shadows of the room. Harry had to admit it was a good way to unnerve most people. Everyone could see him and Emma but he couldn't see anyone else. A basic but still effective strategy.
Someone stepped forward into the light, revealing himself to be Sebastian Shaw, founder and owner of Shaw Industries and a billionaire by age 40. Harry wasn't surprised he was there.
"Welcome, Lord Peverell," said Shaw crisply. "We have gathered here to welcome you into the coveted position of White King. Yesterday, we observed you and found you worthy of the elated position. However, first we must have a vote to ensure your entrance. What say you, member of the Circle?"
That seemed to be Emma's cue because Harry felt her familiar mental presence slowly enter his mind and he let his Occlumency barriers down slightly to let her. Not enough to alert her that he let her enter but enough that she would believe his barriers were weaker than they were. While she searched his more recent memories, Harry made sure to hide every scrap or clue about his true intentions, making her think he had joined simply to get closer to her and for greater power. The former was to appeal to her ego while the latter was what Harry knew they expected from an ambitious young man.
Once Emma was done, she retreated from his mind and nodded at Shaw, letting him know that Harry was trustworthy. Harry showed no sign that he knew that she had managed to get through his barriers and instead had a small knowing smile on his face as he heard a slow chorus of 'Accepted' come from around him, some more grudging than others. Harry made sure to memorize each person's voice and the emotions within it to see who were possible allies and which weren't. Harry was glad to see Emma didn't bother to hide her happiness at his unanimous acceptance.
Only Shaw was left and he grimaced slightly when he saw how easily Harry had been accepted. Harry had no doubts that if Shaw said no then he wouldn't be accepted. However, with Emma signaling that he was trustworthy he had no leg to stand on and denying his entrance would lower his influence over the other members, especially Emma. The latter would be because it would be saying that he didn't trust her which would damage their partnership.
Knowing this, Shaw only had one choice. "Accepted. Welcome, Lord Perverell as the new White King of the New York charter of the Hellfire Club."
Harry bowed his head slightly in acceptance and rose it when the lights came on, revealing the other Inner Circle members.
Harry recognized Donal Pierce (who Harry remembered had sounded reluctant to let him join) and Harry Leland. Both were rich men with powerful connections and Harry wasn't surprised to see them there.
What did surprise him was that other than them and Emma he only saw one other woman talking to Shaw at the moment. 'Only three other members?' thought Harry in surprise. 'I didn't sense anyone leave so that means they must have thrown their voices to sound like more. The coup must have killed off all of the old Circle and these are the only ones he's recruited so far. That gives me an opening to put a few of my own people in the empty spots...'
Harry was brought out of his thoughts by Shaw speaking. "Lord Peverell." Harry turned to see Shaw studying him with the unknown woman beside him. "I've been informed that you are gifted much like us. Would you show us what that is?"
Harry outwardly smiled while inwardly his mind was going at a mile per minute, carefully hidden behind his Occlumency barriers. 'Clever. If I refuse, I seem like an untrustworthy person and won't gain allies. However, if I do I show my hand for him to plan against. I can hide my strength but if I seem too weak no one will stand beside me and if I show everything they can plan against me if they don't take my side. Hmmmm... why not seem weak and strong at the same time?'
Harry nodded his acceptance. "Well, my mutant power is botanopathy or the ability to manipulate plants." Harry raised a hand and a vine came through the nearby window and curled around his hand. "However... my main strength is the fact that I'm a wizard."
Donal Pierce scoffed. "Wizard? Magic? Please, do not take us for fools. There is no such thing!"
Harry smirked and twisted the top of his cane. Before their eyes, the cane changed into a pure black twelve inch wand with a silver dragon on the hilt. Harry waved his wand toward a table near Pierce and before their eyes it turned into a lion. The lion roared at Pierce causing the blond haired and blue eyed man to jump slightly before taking slow steps backward.
"Still don't believe me, Pierce?" said Harry mockingly. Harry knew that he wouldn't gain Pierce as an ally. His disparagement of Harry and reluctance to let him join said that much and so Harry had to prove his superiority over him to make him cower. "Or do you need a greater demonstration?"
Pierce flinched as the lion started to stalk him and nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, it's fine. I believe you!"
Harry smiled mockingly and waved his wand over the lion, causing it to turn back to a table. Everyone relaxed at that and Harry turned his 'wand' back into a cane again.
Harry turned back to Shaw with a challenging smile as Shaw studied him intently. "Will that be all Mr. Shaw?"
Shaw left eye twitched at the slight of being called 'Mr.' while he was forced to call Harry Lord due to his status as Lord Peverell. Shaw gave him a fake smile and nodded. "Yes, that is all. You will make a wonderful addition to the Circle. Now let us go downstairs and celebrate."
Shaw turned to Emma, no doubt to ask her to accompany him as his date, only to see her walking toward Harry with a seductive smile. Harry caught the interested and predatory look in her eyes when he used magic and if nothing else, was now sure that she was considering backing him over Shaw if it came to it. "My King, would you like to be my escort for the celebration downstairs?"
Harry gave his best charming smile and offered her his arm. "Why, it would be an honor."
With that, Harry and Emma walked downstairs leaving a slightly fuming Shaw behind.
10:27 pm, Friday; March 1st, 2002
Harry's penthouse apartment, PCB headquarters, New York
Day of White King inauguration
As Harry entered his penthouse apartment with a sigh, Harry had to admit that the meeting went better than expected. The fact that the Circle was still missing so many members was unexpected but a great boon. It meant Harry had a chance to place his own men in those positions. The fact that Emma was already openly considering him over Shaw was also a bonus. Of everyone there, Harry considered her the greatest threat. Harry's Occlumency wouldn't stand up to her telepathic power so she could disable him if it came down to it. That was something he would have to rectify.
Still, he came out better than he expected. The members knew he had magic but didn't know what that entitled. No doubt they'd brush up on their contacts and myths to see what was the extent of his abilities but that would give them an overblown idea of his power. Myths always exaggerated the powers of wizards but they would believe that it was possible for him to do those things. Harry had no doubt they had contacts that could tell them about wizards but the lack of info on a Hadrian Peverell would make them wary about him. An unknown enemy is always more dangerous than a known one no matter how strong the known enemy was.
Like Sun Tzu said, "All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near."
He made them underestimate his mutant power while making his magic seem stronger than it was. It would prove useful in the future.
Harry was undoing his tie and hanging his suit in the closet when he froze as he felt the air shift slightly. Recognizing the feeling, Harry turned toward his bed where he saw two women sitting at the edge of it.
The first woman was perfect in every aspect; perfectly sized breasts, perfectly shaped legs and a body to die for...literally. This was because her beauty was akin to the beauty of a beautiful killed at her prime. The beauty only achieved by death before the body starts to rot. Despite this, Harry knew that many men would give their right arm for a chance to bed this woman if they saw her walking down the street. Luckily, or unluckily depending how you think about it, all men (excluding Harry himself) would see this woman once in their lifetime... and only once. The woman was wearing a black one piece that contrasted greatly with her deathly pale skin and perfectly complimented her dark eyes and black lipstick. She had a knowing smirk on her face as if she knew the effect she was having on Harry even with the knowledge of what she was.
The second woman had a different kind of beauty to her, a more down to nature beauty. She had dark black hair barely visible under the green hood of the robes she was wearing. While the robes covered her completely, except for her bare feet and face, they did nothing to detract from the mature curves of her body that Harry knew had attracted many a God-king of the pantheons. She had an almost motherly air to her while still giving off an aura of being unchanging and eternal.
Harry knew these woman well, being one woman's 'master' and the other's champion: these were Death of the Endless and Gaea the Mother of Gods themselves.
Harry quickly kneeled before the two forces of nature, showing his deference to them. "My Ladies, I did not know you would be coming to visit. Please excuse me for not readying the room for you." Harry knew that Gaea didn't care how messy his room was, in fact the messier the better for her, but Death believed everything should always be in order since one never knew when it was there time to die.
A pragmatic outlook if it wasn't so morbid in its insinuation.
Gaea gave him a soft smile before speaking. "Rise, my champion. I have told you many times that you need not kneel before me."
Harry nodded and stood on his feet, causing Death to cock an eyebrow in curiosity. "You do not ask me if you should rise?"
Harry gave her a stoic look. "Technically, I am your master so I shouldn't have to. Even if I wasn't, I would not kneel if it was only you. You do not respect men who go on their knees before you."
Harry saw the slightest hint of respect enter Death's eyes as she smiled dangerously. "Hmmm... I knew letting you be my master was the right choice." Her voice was a dangerous purr, lulling you into a false sense of security that many men would fall prey to. Harry had no illusions as to her feelings towards him being her master. It was necessary for her plans but the fact that she had someone to rule over her galled her fiercely.
Death is not supposed to have a master. Death is inevitable. Death is absolute. Death comes to even gods and none can escape her. The idea of such a force having a master... needless to say, Harry never dared to exercise his rights as her master. He preferred not to make an enemy out of her thank you very much.
Harry ignored Death's teasing as she positioned herself in the best way to emphasize her beauty and turned to Gaea. "My Lady, may I ask why you two are here?"
Instantly, both deities lost all trace of merriment, the mask of humanity being lost and revealing the simple fact that they were no longer human if they ever were. Gaea had given up her status as an Elder God to join with the Earth, becoming the force of nature itself while Death never had humanity to speak of. Both simply wear the mask of humanity to put him at ease and make it easier to speak with him. The fact that they dropped it now said volumes of the seriousness of their words.
And as Harry feared, Death's next words terrified Harry. "The Phoenix is here on Earth."
Harry tried to hold back the urge to break out in a cold sweat and panic. Harry would be forgiven for his actions considering what her words implied. Death had basically said that the Phoenix Force, the embodiment of Life, Death's opposite and basically God's executioner whenever he decided a planet or species had stopped evolving and had outlived their usefulness was here on Earth. A being known to turn entire planets to ash and at times, even entire universes.
Yeah, excuse Harry for being slightly terrified.
And to top things off, the Phoenix Force was a telepathic and telekinetic force, two things Harry had no true defense against.
Wonderful.
Harry cleared his throat and tried to not let his trepidation at the fact that the Phoenix Force was on Earth! show. "How do you know this if you don't mind me asking? I know that the Phoenix Force has been missing for a few months now but how do you know it's here?"
Death smiled predatorily and sashayed toward him before trailing a finger down his clothed chest. "Are you questioning my abilities?"
Harry discreetly gulped at the loaded question before answering in what he hoped was a conciliatory tone. He might technically be her master, but as she had reminded him before, there have been many servants who've killed their masters. "No, my Lady. However, I find it... strange that of all places in the multiverse the Phoenix goes to this world, in this timeline, in this dimension. The same place where I, Gaea's champion and Death's 'master', exist as well. It sounds too... convenient."
Harry saw Gaea look toward a black faced Death before looking back at him. "Yes... it does. However, it is the truth. Even now I can feel its presence on my planet. However, its presence is too overwhelming to accurately pinpoint it. That... we leave to you. Your mission is simple. You are to locate the Phoenix Force and ... persuade it to return to its duties. Already things that should have been forgotten are getting restless. If the Phoenix stays here too long or worse, something happens to it, those things will come back... and that is something we do not want."
Harry shivered as he understood what Gaea meant. The Phoenix Force was not just God's right hand and executioner. It was also the warden to a prison that held beings so twisted and just wrong that they threatened even Death of the Endless herself. Considering that Death of the Endless was the master of all the different aspects of Death in every universe in existence... something that could threaten her position is vaguely terrifying to imagine.
Harry nodded his understanding. "Very well, my Ladies. I will do as you command. Leave it to me."
With that, Gaea disappeared, leaving him alone with Lady Death.
Both were silent before Harry spoke. "Was there something else, my lady?"
Death smiled dangerously before circling Harry predatorily. "Yes, there is. I just want to stress the fact that the Phoenix Force must return to its duties. I fear that the Phoenix Force is currently either bonded with its host in this reality or even taken human form. I don't have to tell you why this is a bad thing, correct?"
Harry winced and shook his head.
There was a reason that beings such as Death and Gaea lost their humanity when they ascended. Forces of nature such as them cause a lot of destruction, both good and evil, just by existing. Having human feelings was a quick way to invite madness.
An example was Death herself. How would she be if she felt compassion for every soul that she ever collected? After all this time she would have either gone insane in guilt, abandoned her duties, or even stopped death out of some misbegotten attempt to stop the 'atrocity'. In order to prevent this, most ascended beings such as Death lost their ability to feel, which let them do their jobs without fear of going insane.
How would the Phoenix Force, a being that has destroyed countless planets, races and even universes, react to suddenly having human feelings?
Harry could only feel dread fill him at the idea and he knew it wouldn't end well.
Death saw the expression on Harry's face and nodded. "Exactly. We must stop this before the Phoenix Force fractures itself from the guilt." Death stopped when it was nose to nose with Harry and looked at him with soul-piercing eyes. "Do not fail as you failed Nicholas and Diane." With those words, Death disappeared.
Harry was left alone in his room, trying to control the guilt in his heart at Death's words without success.
Harry's mind went back in time, to his lowest moment and the cause for his current quest.
August 15th, 1998
A hidden magical village in Ireland
Harry was kneeling in the middle of a burning village, bodies lying everywhere. There were hundreds of dead around him, both adults and even children. The village was silent except for the sounds of burning buildings and the wind passing through the once prosperous village.
Harry was blind to all of this. All he could see was the dead face of his once best friend, Diane. Looking up with unseeing eyes at the sky, as if asking why this happened but receiving no answer.
Harry was silently sobbing as he stared down at his friend's corpse, knowing that it was all his fault.
"I'm sorry, Deedee." sobbed Harry. "I'm so sorry. This is my fault. I promised you and Nick and I broke both those promises. This is all my fault."
The dead body of Diane Carter gave no answer, silent in death and giving Harry no assurances as she did in life.
And in the middle of Harry's bare chest was a small pulsing red circle, beating in rhythm with his own heartbeat.
11:15 pm, Friday; March 1st, 2002
Harry's penthouse apartment, PCB headquarters, New York
Day of White King inauguration
Harry was sitting on his bed, with a bottle of scotch in his right hand and a glass cup full of scotch in his left. Harry drank down the scotch in the glass cup with a single gulp and was about to fill it again before stopping.
Throwing the glass cup away where it shattered against the wall, Harry drank directly from the bottle, trying to drink away the memories crossing his mind of his greatest failure.
Stopping for a moment, Harry put down the scotch and reached up to undo his shirt. Opening it, Harry looked down at his chest before waving his left hand over it, undoing the powerful illusion he almost permanently had over it.
As the illusion fell, a circle of red light was seen where his heart was. It beat with the rhythm of his heartbeat, as if mocking him of both his failure to save Diane and his failure to avenge her.
Harry closed his eyes in pain before laying back on his bed and letting sleep take him.
That night his dreams were full of the cost of broken promises and sins that could never be forgiven.
