Chapter 03: Overlording 101

Dumbledore had a heavy frown when he made it back to his office.

It wasn't easy to get the information he needed, especially since he had to find the Dursleys-which was a lot more difficult than usual considering with young Harry living with them he should've been able to find them because of his magical signature.

However there were two problems.

One, somehow Harry's magical signature was hidden, to where even he couldn't find it, he could sense it-enough to see that he was alive thankfully, but he couldn't pinpoint it showing that something was blocking it-that in itself was worrying.

Two, Mr. Potter wasn't even with the Dursley's as it turns out they weren't in the house when whatever destroyed it had attacked, in fact he found them at a hotel actually cursing the young boy, silently without anyone overhearing them. In fact the only reason he managed to find the Dursley's was because of the info he got from Arabella who had gone to Diagon Alley that very day, unaware that anything had happened. Not even her Kneazles were able to see anything that happened.

The only reason the Dursley's didn't notice Dumbledore was because he still had a 'Notice-Me-Not' Spell casted to see if young Harry was alright and not to alarm any of them. On seeing that the boy wasn't there and they were cursing him, he decided to use some Legilimency, or the art of going through the layers of a person's mind-something he didn't usually do but he felt the need outweighed his morals.

What he saw horrified him as they treated the boy horribly and punished him for anything that would be out of his control, seeing them attempt to 'stamp' the magic out of Harry reminded him horribly of his younger sister Ariana.

Dumbledore sat in his chair, his fingers locked together while he closed his eyes in shame.

Minerva McGonagall warned him that the Dursley's weren't the best caretakers and Arabella Figg even told him of some of the abuse that Harry has suffered, yet none of them knew it was this bad.

He never intervened because despite Harry's less-than stellar life with the Dursley's he was safe from the influences of the Magical World and the Death Eaters who have escaped persecution and slowly gained power, yet now the boy was gone because of his inaction.

Leaning back, Dumbledore sighed, not even reaching for his bowl of lemon drops or even reacting to the shrill tone of Fawkes, his Phoenix familiar who tried to cheer him up.

Once more his manipulations ruined a life despite how well-intentioned they were.

'I'm sorry.' Dumbledore thought hoping that they would be able to find Harry Potter eventually and that he was safe, wherever he was.


Harry gave a yawn while he was standing in an open space of the Caverns where Gnarl was having him learn how to use his magic.

"Now the art of calling your Magic to your command isn't an easy one to learn but it's well worth the time placed in it," Gnarl began, making sure that Harry was paying attention. "There's a few societies of Magic Users that have a focus using a wand, clever on paper but without the wand that makes them vulnerable unless they know wandless magic."

"So I'm learning wandless magic?" Harry asked, a bit surprised that in society today there were still magic users who hide in plain sight apparently.

"No, you'll be learning ancient magic, something that would put you above the rest of those wand-waving buffoons," Gnarl gave a dark chuckle. "You have the advantage in learning a lot quicker than anyone else with both the Cavern Heart and a Mana Stone and each time you use a spell you enhance its strength making it more powerful and easier to use on command. Plus those wand-waving buffoons can suffer from magical exhaustion while your Mana makes you fine as it can recharge in mere moments."

"Interesting." Harry said already seeing how useful that could be in certain situations and he was a little excited about the idea of learning Magic.

"Very, now the spell we're going to try and get you to learn is going to be your Natural Affinity of Magic," Gnarl said, confusing Harry. "Many Arcane Users have an Affinity to a certain element and this will show yours in a form of a simple spell, many Overlords before you had an Affinity for Fire Magic for example. Now it takes a normal Magic User a long time to learn this but with you being the Overlord it shouldn't take too long."

Harry gave a nod, now getting it. "So do I just push this out like I did when I bonded with the Heart?"

"You can, but preferably you can aim it away from me Sire." Gnarl sounded a little nervous as Harry was facing him at the moment.

"Okay." Harry muttered, turning away from Gnarl, not seeing the sigh of relief from the old Minion Master as he put his hand forward.

For awhile, nothing happened as Harry twitched but he kept going because he could feel heat emanating from his hand-something that wasn't normal and eventually sparks shot from his hands, hitting a nearby rock, leaving a small scorch mark.

"Ooh a Lightning Affinity?" Gnarl mused in surprise. "That's a good one, keep practicing that Spark spell to increase its potency and you'll soon be ready for the real spells."

"That was a lot easier than I thought." Harry muttered as when Gnarl explained it, he made it sound like it would take ages to do this.

"That was only a simple spell to find your affinity and you're more tuned to magic than most people sire even for an Overlord, of course it's easy but that doesn't make it any less bloody useful," Gnarl explained before grinning. "Now again. Practice makes perfect after all."

Harry nodded before holding his hand out and shooting more sparks.

He was completely out of Mana after a minute or two of this, on his back panting from exhaustion while he felt his energy slowly come back.

"Rest for a good seven minutes, then we'll continue sire." Gnarl told him knowing that doing this would definitely increase the duration of this spell while he mused what sort of spell he should teach him next.

Perhaps a shield spell-something to help him until they find a smelter and the reds? Though once he learned a shield spell he would need to work on making it last for quite awhile.

While Gnarl was lost in his thoughts, Harry lifted his hand to look at the gauntlet that covered it.

Hard to believe that just two days ago he was just a boy doing chores for his 'family' and now he was this 'supposed' Dark Overlord training to start a conquest.

It was pretty surreal to think about.

Even with everything that happened from the giant spiders to retrieving the Heart, Harry is certain they got the wrong guy.

'Did the other Overlords think this or did they just jump into the roles of conquest?' Harry thought as Gnarl made it sound like they accepted this without question.

Unknown to him, Gnarl saw that he was lost in deep thought before he grinned. "Sire, would you like to see the Arena?"

That caught Harry's attention. "Arena?"


A bit past the spawning pit, Harry stood at the entrance to a large room that had a huge gate that looked like it was on its last legs.

"We chose this area to be the arena for you sire, the Heart has the ability to recreate enemies you have fought-right now just the spiders-but it's the best place you can hone your combat prowess without being in danger as while they can hurt you the Heart prevents these type of enemies from killing you." Gnarl explained his voice echoing around the place with Harry walking into it, his footsteps echoing. "Would you like for us to have some of the spiders created?"

After a moment, Harry nodded and unsheathed his daggers. "Just the small ones." He said, pulling his hood up, his eyes glowing again. "Not the big one."

"Understandable sire, you want to work your way up," Gnarl said as the heart pulsed before at least six small spiders appeared, clicking their mandibles at Harry who tensed. "You can have Minions in these fights if you wish-."

Harry glanced over his shoulder and shook his head.

No, as much as he liked the Minions protecting him, that mess with the giant spider showed that if he continued doing this he needed to fight on his own.

"As you wish." Gnarl said with a grin, the changes in their current Master was already pretty noticeable as he seemed to be a bit more pragmatic with this choice, a result from collecting the Mana Stone along with the Heart.

Given a bit, he should change into a very suitable Overlord from the submissive boy they found.


Harry sat on his throne a good hour or two after the combat practice, shifting a bit as he tried to be comfortable while Gnarl was giving a lesson on Minionkind and the four different Minions there were.

"Now I already explained the Browns to you sire, once we have the Hives back the Browns will be your main fighters for anything up close and personal-in fact you should never go anywhere without them once you have them," Gnarl said with Mouldy and Gubbin holding up portraits of different Minions, Harry trying and failing to hide a laugh as one of the browns in the picture was riding a sheep into battle for some odd reason. "They are capable of much more than that and can take the role of bodyguard until you are capable of defending yourself."

Snapping his fingers, Gubbin let go of the portrait much to Mouldy's discomfort as he stumbled out of the room before falling back, a loud crash emanating from where he fell followed by a pan rolling past, while Giblet came in with a picture of different colored Minions, these ones were red with devil-like horns and flames protruding from their fists.

"The Reds are the little firestarters that take the role of Archers in your army, they are better suited to being on higher ground away from the combat as unlike the browns they aren't as durable and can die easily," Gnarl explained to him. "They use arcane magic to control fire which Giblet uses for the Forge and are usually the cooks for the Overlord-which explains why none of the meals so far have been hot sire."

Harry shrugged not minding as so far the only food they had were bread, water and occasionally fruit.

"It's imperative that we find them before winter sets in as while we Minions are used to the cold that comes down here you are not," Gnarl explained to Harry. "Once they're found we'll have quite a bit of heat in here."

Mouldy came in dragging a third portrait while giving Gubbin a glare, the Minions on this portrait were a forest green with what look like gas protruding from them as they had dagger like gloves and spikes on their tails.

"The Greens are the Assassins of your dark army and the most knowledgeable of the art of stealth, capable of turning invisible at a whim." Gnarl stroked his beard. "They prefer to stab their opponents in the back-quite literally-and are immune to every type of poison imaginable-although that's because of their putrid scent how could they not be?"

Finally Gnarl had the last portrait brought out of blue-amphibian like Minions.

"Finally we have the Blue Minions, these are not your fighters but they are your healers, capable of healing you on the battlefield as well as resurrect dead Minions back to life," Gnarl explained surprising Harry. "Their unique ability allows for them to be able to counter most spirits and they are able to attack and cause damage even to Ghosts, plus they're the only Minions that can swim."

"Wait, you guys can't swim?" Harry asked, not expecting that at all.

"As much as I hate to admit it, swimming is one weakness that almost every Minion shares, that was the sole purpose the Baron even created the Blues as he was annoyed at the drawback of the other three, imagine his surprise when the Blues showed him their different abilities along with that," Gnarl said with a smirk. "Now alone each different Minion is formidable but all together we are nigh unstoppable."

Harry gave a nod as despite the weakness of each Minion, they counteract their weaknesses together quite well. "What about you?"

"Me?"

"You don't look like a Brown and you're definitely not like the others."

"Very astute Sire, however I am a Brown one of the oldest," Gnarl explained to him. "The only other Minion as old as me is Mortis who is an ancient Blue Minion but he seems to have disappeared."

Despite wanting to ask who Mortis was, Harry just raised a brow, Gnarl taking that as his cue to keep talking.

"Now what makes us two Minions different is the way we think, I'm sure you noticed how I'm able to speak unlike these idiots who I swear are dumber than sheep and that's being generous to those fleece covered animals," Gnarl said gesturing towards the Minions where one was dragging his butt across the cavern floor while another was licking his leg like a dog. "Mortis and I aren't really bound to the Heart unlike the rest of the Minions because we were created for the sole purpose of helping the Overlord grow into the position they gain."

"And the reason you can't fight?" Harry asked no doubt remembering that from the spider incident.

"The Baron wanted to ensure that for our smarts above the other Minions that we wouldn't be a problem or try a power play so he made it impossible for Mortis and I to be of use in a fight," Gnarl scratched his head with a sharp fingernail. "Now my job in particular is to guide you until you are truly ready to lead your dark domain because at the moment you are still learning-think of it like an advisor talking to their King."

"I see." Harry said getting it and was relieved that despite his misgivings he would have a form of help here instead of just being expected to be their Overlord right off the bat.

"Mortis on the other hand handles the souls of the Dead, while the Blues can bring them back to life that's only if they catch them quick enough-Mortis is capable of doing that and much more despite how long it has been thereby being able to bring a certain Minion back-perhaps if you were picking favorites?" Gnarl then sighed. "Sadly his ability needs Lifeforce, a life for a life if you want to be technical although since he's not here we can't do that, do enough and he should come back, I think he'd rather wait to see if you survive rather than be disappointed again."

Harry tried not to think about the not so subtle way Gnarl said he might die doing this. "So back to the Minions, you mentioned the Hives, where are they?"

"That's the popular question sire, currently we have none of them and Quaver is still out there searching for the Brown Hive. As for the others the Red's would be someplace warm, the Greens love to be in swamps and the Blues near sources of water," Gnarl listed them off his bony fingers before musing. "We should keep an eye out for all of them as even without the Browns any Minion Hive would do."

"I see," Harry muttered with a sigh at how this was. "So what do we do in the meantime?"

"We wait and hone your abilities until Quaver finds one of the Hives," Gnarl snapped his fingers as the other Minions took off. "They'll be searching for any Cavern Artifacts for you as well, we'll have to see about restarting some old alliances once you're old enough."

"Alliances?"

"Ah yes, did you just think that your dark army would consist of just Minions?" Gnarl asked with Harry shrugging. "Oh no, while we are powerful sometimes you need a bit more fear in the army, that's why we have much to do. However given your current… Status no one will take you seriously."

Harry had a feeling that Gnarl meant both his age and his less than healthy state and from what he's seen and heard of all the past Overlords he wholly agrees with the Minion Master.

Compared to them he looks bloody ridiculous.

"So who are these alliances?"

"Ghosts, Assassins, Demons, Goblins, Orcs, Trolls, Necromancers, Dragons- just about anything the light condemns and calls dark," Gnarl said with a scoff. "Which is a lot if you really think about it."

"How do people not notice this?" Harry asked incredulously considering how the modern world was.

You would think that someone-anyone would see it.

"Like the Wizarding Society they are really good at hiding in plain sight sire, especially since these wizards erase the memories of those who aren't magical to their existence." Gnarl said with a smirk. "Pretty dark for a light-only society am I right?"

Hearing that Harry had to agree.

Messing with a person's memory was beyond messed up.

"Best be patient, sire, you'll be able to do all of this in due time." Gnarl said with a savage grin, just imagining the bloodshed and screams that would come in the future.


A week passed in the Cavern as Harry honed his abilities in magic, mostly just the spell that Gnarl taught him but he was able to manipulate it to where it would create an electric shield-he could only hold it for a good twenty seconds before he had to stop, and a bolt of electricity if he focused for a bit.

Not only that but his physique was starting to look better as he was eating a bit more after taking some disgusting potion-it turns out Gnarl was pretty adept at making medicine-but he was still physically weak because of the malnutrition, his days of fighting off the small spiders in the Arena has improved his hand-eye coordination and stamina.

"Yes very good, sire." Gnarl clapped his hands as Harry finished off at least twenty small spiders by himself with magic only, the boy panting but still standing showing an improvement. "Are you sure you don't want to fight the big one yet?"

"I'll get to that when I get to it Gnarl." Harry said a bit coldly, tired of being asked that.

Gnarl grinned as with this week, Harry's attitude was slowly changing.

While he was still friendly and cordial with him, he was beginning to show more of a backbone and a bit of a dark attitude.

"Very well, sire, now let's move onto-." Gnarl stopped as the Tower Heart pulsed surprising Harry who felt it.

"What's going on?" Harry asked-no he demanded without thinking.

"Nothing to worry about, sire, that was a result of Quaver finally contacting us," Gnarl said with a grin. "Which means that damned Jester finally found something worth reporting."

Moments later they were in the Spawning Pit where Gnarl gestured to Harry.

"Place your hand on the Heart and you'll learn what Quaver is contacting us about."

Harry gave a nod and did as instructed only to frown.

"He found the Brown Minion Hive but something is wrong, it's protected." Harry said with Gnarl looking annoyed at that.

The Hive being protected meant trouble for them.

"And," Harry frowned. "I don't see any Minions just-I don't know what these are."

That caught Gnarl's attention. "Hang on a moment," He muttered walking up to the Heart to have a look for himself, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Those arrogant creatures."

"Gnarl?"

"Oh these wizards are crafty not only did they keep a Hive hidden from us but they managed to create a new species by splicing Brown Minions with Elves of all people to make servants for themselves?" Gnarl gagged at the thought. "Why if the Baron were here they would be skinned alive and flailed for that."

Harry just rolled his eyes at Gnarl for getting into a bit of an episode before the old Minion calmed down.

"Wait, but just because they're not normal Minions doesn't mean they aren't useful." Gnarl mused looking further to see what they were doing. "Magic? Now that is interesting."

"I take it that I'll be heading there?" Harry asked with Gnarl shaking his head surprisingly.

"Sadly no, while the Brown Minion Hive is important it's inside of the stronghold of the British Magic Society, the Ministry of Magic," Gnarl scoffed in annoyance. "No offense sire but their magic is currently stronger than yours and they have an army while you only have five Minions-three of them fighters."

"So we raise an army then to get the Hive back." Harry said thinking about it.

"Easier said than done sire, that could take years before you're ready and even then it'll be guaranteed that you'll take a life or hundreds there," Gnarl warned him as Harry has yet to take an actual life and would most likely freeze up on his first true kill something Gnarl didn't want to risk in the battlefield.

Maybe he should have the Minions bring someone who would no doubt be an enemy of the Overlord for him to kill to get it over with?

"Like you said I have time." Harry voiced, Gnarl smirking right before the Heart went off again making the Minion Master look into it.

"Very well, I'd recommend retrieving the Health Stone that Mouldy just found, he's waiting for you in the area," Gnarl said with Harry giving a nod. "Giblet and Gubbin should be there as well when you arrive, I'll stay here and coordinate everything."


Harry stumbled as the heart transported him to what looked to be a desolate forest-like area in time to see the three Minions.

Giblet approached him however holding some sort of Helmet. "Giblet fixed this." He said with glee.

Harry blinked at seeing that knowing there wasn't a forge as he accepted it before putting it on over his hood, the helmet amplifying the effects of his eyes glowing.

"Ah there we go." Gnarl commented, his voice inside of the Helmet. "Now we have a secure connection, Giblet had to go to an active volcano to get this fixed for you, sire."

"I see," Harry said his voice further distorted through the helmet. "Where are we?"

"Hm let's see-ah yes the Heart transported you to a hidden forest-I say hidden because magic kept it out of mortal view-especially when non-magical folks began to tear forests down." Gnarl sighed sadly at the thought of this forest not suffering the same fate.

Harry gave a nod and began to walk with the Minions forming a protective circle around him.

The woods looked to be getting darker and more foggy the further he went in though.

"Also be sure to keep an eye out, there might be more objects in this forest that we haven't found yet," Gnarl explained while Harry swore he saw something move above him after about an hour of trekking through the woods. "Sire?"

"Gnarl, what exactly did you say was out here?"

"Elves are usually the ones in a forest," Gnarl said with a frown on his face as even he was a bit unsure. "While laughable and annoying they can be quite dangerous if underestimated."

"Who dares trespass?" A voice whispered throughout the lush with Harry reaching back to where his daggers were sheathed on his lower back.

That voice had a bit of static in it.

The Minions tensed, ready to move.

"Careful sire, something isn't right." Gnarl muttered to him.

"Anyone can see that," Harry muttered before calling out. "Who's there?"

"You dare ask us in our territory?" The same voice whispered, anger evident. "Who do you think you are?"

"Show yourself and I'll answer." Harry called back not liking this.

At least with the spiders they were visible.

"Such arrogance from a small child," The voice sounded a bit mocking now. "Very well."

Leaves rustled around them before a figure appeared and Harry meant appeared, not walked out.

But this figure was tall-skinny too so one would glance over the figure and think it was a tree wearing some sort of black suit with a red tie.

Harry's eyes travelled upwards until he was looking at the creatures lack of a face.

Gnarl gave a slight curse. "Great, it's him."

"Who are you?" Harry questioned warily, wondering how Gnarl knew him.

The figure tilted his head, seeing that this child was protected against his mental attack as most who looked upon him began to have their sanity torn down-most likely the helmet was preventing this. "I go by many names, child. Fear Dubh, Takkenmann, the Operator," The being then appeared behind him. "But more recently the Slenderman."

Harry turned to see he was gone, but the Minions kept close to him.

"Careful sire, though I only know him through reputation he's one of the Fair Folk, an extremely dangerous and dark one if the rumors about him are to be believed." Gnarl warned Harry as the 'Slenderman' appeared next to a tree. "He could be a great ally or your worst nightmare at your current age."

"You know of me now, who are you?" The Slenderman asked, tilting his head curiously.

It wasn't everyday a child immune to his mental attacks came, one with what looked to be three little imp-like demons with him.

Harry took a breath and steeled himself. "I am the Overlord." He said, the three Minions cheered in agreement.

The Slenderman's posture shifted to look amused. "The Overlord? So that little legend is true," He asked a chuckle echoing around them. "Aren't you a little small to be the Overlord?"

Harry snapped a glare at him for the shot at his height, but said nothing as Gnarl's warning about this beings power kept him on his toes.

"No matter, let us get back to the issue on hand." The Slenderman crossed his arms. "You are trespassing in my territory, I'd like to know why."

"One of my artifacts is in these woods, I just came for it." Harry answered carefully not saying what it was or why he was looking for it.

It was at that moment that Harry realized they weren't alone.

Looking up as he could hear movement, Harry saw what looked like a young woman wearing a white hoodie and black pants with some sort of white mask covering her face looking like she was about to pounce.

Slenderman chuckled, knowing who Harry was looking at. "Kate has been following you for quite some time." He said gesturing towards his 'Proxy' who jumped down next to him.

'So that's who I saw earlier.' Harry thought with Gnarl looking ready to have the Overlord come back because if this goes south this would be a fight they wouldn't be able to win at their current strength.

"What proof do you have that your 'object' is in my woods?" Slenderman questioned looking at Harry who calmly turned to Mouldy who grinned.

"Me find it." Mouldy bragged with Slenderman just looking at it, as if he could sense how unintelligent the Minion was.

"Like I said, I'm just here for it and then I'll be gone unless I find more of my Objects out here." Harry said his voice was neutral.

"And what if I say no?" Slenderman asked in a tone of amusement.

"I'm not asking for permission." Harry said his voice going a bit darker at the end, both Kate and the Minions tensed, ready to fight.

Harry and the Slenderman just had a stare off before the faceless being gave a slight nod. "Kate stand down." He said with the Chaser looking at him in surprise. "Head back and make sure Toby doesn't get any ideas about attacking."

Kate went off without any hesitation while Slenderman looked at Harry.

"I'll allow for you to look here for your artifact for now, I see no harm in it."

Then Slenderman teleported right in front of Harry lifting him up while three tentacles protruded from his back, holding the now struggling Minions in place.

"However if you dare attack my Proxies while you're here then I don't give a damn if you are the Overlord," Slenderman warned in a dark tone. "Attacking one of us is declaring war."

Despite his heart now hammering against his chest, Harry glared right back determined not to show any fear. "If they don't attack me I won't attack them," Harry told him simply. "So keep your Proxies away and I won't retaliate."

The next thing he knew, Harry was dropped back to the ground while Slenderman was gone, the Minions quickly circling around him.

"Very well young Overlord, I'll hold you to that." Slenderman's voice echoed around him, amusement in his tone.

Soon the feeling of being watched was gone leaving Harry to give a sigh of relief.

"That was reckless, sire." Gnarl said, hiding his relief that their new Master hadn't been killed by that being.

While the new Overlord might someday gain enough power to be able to fight a being like that off by himself, now he was extremely vulnerable like every Overlord that started out.

"Gnarl, we're establishing a Dark Domain, how can I not be reckless?" Harry muttered and he swore he heard the aged Minion snort in amusement.

"True but you haven't established anything yet."

Harry gave him that one before he and the Minions continued their trek, intent on finding the Health Stone.

To Be Continued…

Again not much changed, but I hope to get the next chapter out soon enough, especially given how long it's been. Although this story won't be posted again until I get a good number of them up.

Note: sorry for not updating the story in such a long time, life happened and my family was hit very hard, in some time i will post what i have of the next chapter from the original autor, enCRYPTion5461, so that the story gets adopted