As the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, Amanita's startled exclamation jolted the room into alertness. "Holy shit, there's someone in our bed!" Her voice, edged with shock, cut through the morning stillness.
Nomi's eyes flew open, instantly locking onto the unexpected figure beside her. It took her a moment to process the sight of Harry, his presence an anomaly in the serene sanctuary of her bedroom. "Harry? How did you get here, from London?" she asked, her voice a blend of astonishment and confusion.
Harry, equally taken aback, sat up abruptly, his mind racing to make sense of the situation. "I... I don't know," he stammered, the perplexity clear in his voice. He was just as bewildered by his sudden appearance in their bed as they were.
Amanita, though still recovering from the initial shock, began to piece together the oddity of the situation. "What's going on?" she asked, her tone shifting from alarm to curiosity.
In the soft light of the morning, with Nomi and Amanita's eyes fixed on him, Harry tried to piece together an explanation that even he was struggling to fully grasp. "I think... it's my subconscious magic," he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "It's somehow seeping through this connection we share. It's never happened like this before."
Amanita, still trying to process the extraordinary scene unfolding before her, looked at Harry with a mixture of bewilderment and fascination. "You can do magic?" she asked, her voice reflecting a mix of incredulity and awe.
Harry sighed, feeling the weight of explaining a phenomenon he himself was still coming to terms with. "It seems so. Our emotions, our thoughts, they're more powerful than I realized. They can trigger reactions, magical ones, in ways I didn't think possible."
The room fell into a contemplative silence. The idea that thoughts and emotions could transcend physical boundaries and evoke real, tangible magic was both daunting and wondrous.
Amanita's expression shifted from shock to curiosity. "But how does that work? I mean, magic is one thing, but teleporting across countries because of a bond? That's something else entirely."
Amanita's question about the bird drinking coffee from a cup jolted the trio from their deep conversation. They turned their gaze to where she was pointing, and there, perched comfortably on the kitchen counter, was indeed a small bird, nonchalantly sipping from a mug.
Harry, as surprised as the others, stared at the scene. "That's... unexpected," he remarked, an eyebrow raised in bemusement.
Nomi leaned in closer, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Is this another part of your magic, Harry?" she asked, her tone a mix of intrigue and amusement.
"I assure you, conjuring birds to drink coffee isn't part of my usual repertoire," Harry replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. He walked over to the bird, observing it closely. The bird, seemingly unperturbed by the attention, continued to sip the coffee.
"Maybe it's Fawkes," Harry mused aloud. "Though I've never known him to have a taste for coffee."
Amanita chuckled at the absurdity of the situation. "Well, this is a first for me. A bird that drinks coffee. What's next, a cat that reads the newspaper?"
Fawkes, having finished its drink, hopped onto Harry's shoulder, giving a contented chirp. Harry stroked its feathers gently, feeling a strange sense of familiarity with the creature.
"Maybe it was Fawkes who brought me here," he said, more to himself than to Nomi and Amanita. The idea seemed to click into place, fitting the puzzle of his unexpected arrival in their bedroom.
Harry remembered Dumbledore using Fawkes for long-distance travel, a magical ability that had always intrigued him. "Dumbledore once used Fawkes to travel great distances. It's called phoenix travel," he explained, his voice tinged with a newfound understanding. "Maybe, somehow, Fawkes brought me here through our sensate connection."
Nomi and Amanita listened, their expressions a blend of awe and curiosity. "Phoenix travel? That sounds incredible," Nomi said, her eyes reflecting her fascination.
Amanita, who was still adjusting to the reality of magic, added, "So, this bird can just... teleport you places? That's kind of amazing."
Harry nodded. "Yes, phoenixes are extraordinary creatures. They can carry heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they can apparate with their companions." He paused, contemplating the implications. "If Fawkes sensed my connection with you, maybe he used his abilities to bring me here."
The idea that Fawkes could have been instrumental in bridging the physical distance between them added another layer of wonder to the already mystical bond they shared. It suggested that their connection wasn't just emotional or mental, but could also transcend physical boundaries in ways they hadn't imagined.
The sudden thud of the owl against the window shattered the morning's calm, startling Nomi and Amanita. Harry, too, was taken aback, not expecting an owl, especially since he thought they had been killed off. "I thought they were all gone," he muttered to himself.
He cautiously opened the window, allowing the owl to hop inside. The bird extended its leg, revealing a parchment attached to it. "Smart one," Harry thought, admiring the owl's trained behavior.
With a sense of apprehension, Harry took the parchment and broke the seal. The words on it sent a chill down his spine:
"THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT IS CLASSIFIED AS A LEVEL-VI HAZARD. UNAUTHORISED ACCESS WILL RESULT IN TERMINATION THROUGH DREAMTIC KILL AGENT. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK."
The document outlined details about an Agent 566, codenamed [REDACTED], clearly referring to Harry. It spoke of "MAGIC," describing it as an unstable property, and listed various crimes and anomalies associated with Harry. The document even mentioned a secondary anomaly, a wand, that influenced anyone who interacted with Harry, inducing knowledge of their own death or violent tendencies.
The most unsettling part was the description of Harry's ability to evade capture and the mysterious nature of his physical appearance, which seemed to be erased from observers' minds soon after encountering him. The document was from the Scientific Senate Organization, signed by Jacob Sansury, Director of Foreign Affairs.
Harry's heart raced as he read. The file painted a picture of him as a dangerous anomaly, an entity beyond comprehension, whose very existence posed a threat. The realization that such an organization had this level of information about him, yet he had no memory of them, was deeply troubling.
Nomi and Amanita, sensing his distress, moved closer. "Harry, what is it? What does the letter say?" Nomi asked, her voice laced with concern.
Harry handed her the document, his mind racing. "I don't understand. This... this isn't me, but it is. It's like someone's been watching me, documenting my life, but in a way that I can't even remember."
The room fell into a heavy silence as Nomi and Amanita read the document. Amanita's eyes widened in disbelief. "This is... it's like you're some kind of... experiment or a creature in a lab. Harry, this is insane."
Nomi looked up from the document, her expression serious. "We need to find out more about this. This organization, the Scientific Senate, they know about you, about your magic. We have to figure out who they are and what they want."
Harry nodded, his resolve firming. "They've been observing me, maybe even controlling parts of my life without me knowing. We need to uncover the truth."
As Harry handed the parchment to Nomi, he felt a surge of hope, the kind he hadn't experienced in a long time. "Maybe you can find something about these names, Nomi," he said softly, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.
Nomi, peering over his shoulder at the parchment, nodded with determination. "I'll do my best, Harry. And about that ink..." she trailed off, looking at Harry with a blend of curiosity and admiration. "How did you make it disappear?"
Harry offered a small, melancholic smile. "Magic, Nomi. But not all magic brings pleasant memories."
Will, standing beside them, looked at Harry with a mixture of concern and awe. "I didn't realize how complex your magic is... How did you make them forget, Harry?" he asked, his voice filled with empathy.
Harry's gaze dropped to the floor, his mind drifting back to painful memories. "You don't want to know, Will," he murmured, the weight of his past actions heavy in his heart.
Wolfgang, leaning against the wall, interjected with a hint of bitterness. "Hope is a fool's gamble." But his tone softened as he looked at Harry. "We're here for you, no matter what."
Nomi, sitting at her computer with Amnitia, began her search, her fingers moving deftly across the keyboard. Amnitia's whispered question about Wolfgang was heard by all due to their sensate connection. "Who's Wolfgang?"
"He's one of us," Nomi replied gently, understanding the depth of their newfound bond.
Wolfgang stepped closer to Harry, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've lost so much, Harry. But we can help you now. You haven't failed anyone."
Harry looked up, his eyes meeting Wolfgang's. In that moment, he felt a profound connection, not just to Wolfgang but to all of them. "Not yet," he said, his voice stronger now. "We need to understand this organization before we act."
Feeding the owl some meat, Harry reminisced about Hedwig, his voice tinged with sadness. "She was more than just a familiar to me. She was a friend."
Will placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. "You're not alone anymore, Harry. We're in this together, for better or worse."
Nomi embraced Harry warmly, her smile genuine and reassuring. "We're your family now, Harry. We'll face whatever comes, together."
Sun stepped forward, sharing a story of her father and a witch he once knew. The cruelty of her loss resonated with Harry, highlighting the harsh realities of their world.
Lito's embrace and kiss on Harry's cheek lightened the mood, bringing laughter to the room. The group's shared laughter was a reminder of their unity and strength.
"We are family," they all echoed, a chorus of voices filled with determination and love.
In the warm embrace of their group hug, each member of the circle felt an extraordinary connection. Harry, at the center, experienced a unique sensation as his magic subtly flowed through him and into each of his newfound family members. It was a gentle, almost ethereal feeling, as if their very souls were intertwining.
"Woah," Wolfgang murmured in awe, his gaze fixated above them. The phoenix, Fawkes, was an ethereal presence, its feathers shimmering with a golden hue. As it began to hum, a serene and haunting melody filled the room, captivating everyone present. The bird's glow intensified, casting the entire room in a soft, golden light that seemed to pulsate with life and warmth.
"What's happening?" Kala's voice was a mix of wonder and uncertainty as she gazed at the spectacle, her eyes wide with amazement.
"I don't know," Harry responded, equally mesmerized. "This is a first for me." He watched in fascination as the phoenix continued to grow in size and brightness, its light enveloping them in a cocoon of safety and love.
As the light began to wane, the phoenix's hum softened into a gentle trill, causing a startle among the group. "What just happened?" Nomi asked, pulling away slightly, her expression one of bewilderment.
Harry, still in awe, gently motioned for silence. "It's not over yet," he whispered, his eyes never leaving the majestic bird.
With a graceful flutter of its wings, the phoenix released eight feathers, each one gliding gently into the hands of the group members. The feathers were aglow with a residual golden light, warm and vibrant to the touch.
"What is this? I'm actually holding it. How is this possible?" Will's voice was filled with astonishment as he stared at the feather in his hand.
"Magic," Harry said softly, holding his own feather. "It's more than spells and incantations. It's a connection, a bond that we're all part of now."
The feathers, though delicate, seemed imbued with a profound energy. They were not just gifts from a magical creature; they were symbols of their united journey, emblems of a shared destiny that was only just beginning to unfold.
As each person held their feather, they felt a sense of unity, a bond that transcended their individual experiences. It was a moment of profound realization that they were no longer just individuals with unique abilities, but a family connected by something far greater.
Fawkes, having completed its task, gave one final, melodic chirp before soaring upwards and vanishing into a burst of golden light, leaving behind a feeling of hope and wonder.
One by one, each member of the group approached Harry, their expressions a mix of gratitude and wonder. They exchanged glances, nods, or gentle touches, silently conveying their shared experience. Lito gave a reassuring squeeze on Harry's shoulder, Kala offered a warm smile, and Wolfgang nodded solemnly, his eyes reflecting the depth of the moment. Even Sun, usually reserved, showed a hint of emotion in her gaze as she passed by. Will, Capheus and Riley lingered a bit longer, their eyes conveying a deep sense of kinship before they too departed, leaving Harry with Nomi and Amanita in the room.
Amanita, still grappling with the surreal events, turned to Harry and Nomi. "What the hell just happened?" she asked, her voice a mixture of awe and confusion. "You were... golden. It was like something out of a fairy tale."
Nomi, holding her feather, walked over to Amanita and gently placed it in her hands. "This... This is a part of what happened," Nomi explained softly. "It's hard to believe, even for us. But what you saw was real. It's a connection we share now, something more magical."
Amanita turned the feather over in her hands, examining its radiant glow and feeling its warmth. "This is incredible," she murmured, her skepticism giving way to fascination. "And you're all part of this? plus magic?"
Harry nodded, joining the conversation. "Yes, it's something we're all still trying to understand. But what happened here today, it was a sign of our bond, of something much bigger than us."
Amanita looked from Harry to Nomi, a sense of realization dawning on her face. "So, this connection, it's brought you all together? And now you're... what, like a family?"
Nomi smiled, squeezing Amanita's hand. "Exactly. We're more than friends now. We're connected in a way that's hard to explain. We can feel each other's emotions, experiences... It's as if we're part of each other."
Amanita's eyes softened as she looked at the feather again, then back at Harry and Nomi. "That's... that's really beautiful. I'm just... trying to wrap my head around it all."
Harry gave a small, understanding smile. "It takes some getting used to. But having this connection, it's changed everything for us. For the better."
"I need a drink of wine," Amanita declared with a half-hearted jest, the day's events still lingering in her mind.
"Nomi gently admonished, "Amanita, it's too early, plus we have the parade to go to this afternoon, remember?"
"Right, well, I'm getting coffee then. Harry, do you want one?"
"Coffee?" Harry echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What's that?"
Both Amanita and Nomi burst into laughter at his innocent query. "You have a lot to learn, pal," Amanita chuckled. "Nomi, coffee for you?"
"Yes, please," Nomi replied with a smile. "Go on, Harry, you'll love it."
"Sure, why not," Harry agreed, a sense of curiosity in his tone. "It's not like I'm going anywhere soon."
"Right, I'll be right back," Amanita said, heading towards the kitchen.
Harry nodded and turned his attention to Nomi, who was busy on her computer. "Don't mind her; she's just protective," Nomi explained.
"It's okay," Harry replied. "She reminds me of one of my old friends. What are you doing, and what is that thing in front of you?"
Nomi looked up, surprised. "It's a computer, Harry. Come on, doesn't everyone have one of these? Don't tell me you don't know what this is either."
Harry shook his head earnestly, pulling a chair next to her. "I've never had the chance, but hey, I know how to cook and watch television," he said with a laugh.
"TV, Harry. TV," Nomi corrected playfully, giving him a light shove. "So we have a lot to work on. I'll show you a few things about this if you show me how to make a potion."
"Potions? You want to learn potions? I thought you'd be into transfiguration," Harry said, reaching for his wand.
Nomi scoffed lightly. "I have no idea what that means, but in the muggle world…" She paused, her expression turning serious. "I used to be a boy."
Harry cocked his head to the side, puzzled. Nomi shared a memory with him—a young boy stood in a bathroom, looking at his reflection with tears in his eyes. "Oh," Harry uttered softly in the present. "I'm sorry, that felt like a painful memory."
He hugged her as Amanita returned to the room, carrying three cups of coffee. "Here you go, love," she said, handing a cup to Nomi.
"Thank you," Nomi replied, accepting the cup.
"Harry, I hope you enjoy it. Now, move it," Amanita said playfully, nudging him to make space.
"Thanks," Harry responded, sitting up to take his cup.
Harry's face twisted in distaste as the coffee hit his tongue. "Oh god. Yuck," he exclaimed, spitting it out abruptly. The sudden outburst startled both Nomi and Amanita.
Nomi, trying to stifle a laugh, said, "Oh, come on, Harry. Amanita makes the best coffee." She took a leisurely sip, leaning back in her chair with a contented sigh.
Harry, still grimacing, disagreed vehemently. "It tastes like dirt. How can you drink this?" He poured the rest of the coffee out of the window, causing a small splash below, and set the empty cup on the table. Determined to have something more palatable, he pulled out his wand.
Focusing intently on the cup, Harry waved his wand over it. "Aguamenti," he murmured softly. From the tip of the wand, a gentle stream of crystal-clear water began to flow, filling the cup to the brim.
"Woah," Amanita and Nomi said in unison, their eyes widening in amazement.
Amanita, her curiosity piqued, commented, "A bit anticlimactic, but still, that was something I've never seen a stick do before." She took another sip of her coffee, seemingly unperturbed by Harry's reaction to it.
Harry chuckled. "It's a wand, silly. And if I wanted, I could fill this whole room with water. It's all about intent and concentration." He took a sip of the freshwater, finding it much more to his liking.
Nomi leaned forward, her interest evident. "So, your magic can do stuff like that? Just create water out of nowhere?"
"More or less," Harry replied, setting his wand down. "Magic is about harnessing and directing energy. It's not creating something from nothing, but transforming what's already there."
Amanita, still holding her coffee, looked thoughtfully at Harry. "And here I thought my coffee machine was the most magical thing in this house."
Nomi's eyes widened in horror as she clicked through the live feed, and suddenly, the screen split into a mosaic of hundreds of smaller feeds. Each one showed a different scene, but all shared a common, harrowing theme: people in distress, confined in dimly lit rooms, their expressions a mix of fear and resignation.
"What is this?" Harry breathed, his voice barely a whisper as he leaned closer to the screen.
"It's... it's like they're monitoring hundreds of people," Nomi said, her voice trembling. The realization of what they were witnessing hit them like a wave. These weren't just random surveillance feeds; they were targeted, methodical observations of individuals who appeared to be in captivity.
Amanita, her hand covering her mouth, muttered, "This is monstrous."
As they watched, Nomi clicked on one of the feeds, expanding it to fill the screen. It showed a stark room where a person was strapped to a chair, tubes and wires connected to their body. Nearby, machines whirred and blinked with an eerie rhythm.
Harry's eyes narrowed as he observed the scene. "They're... they're extracting something from them. It looks like...," he trailed off, the realization dawning on him.
"Magic," Nomi finished his sentence, her voice laced with disbelief. "They're stealing their magic."
The scene was grotesque, a twisted symphony of science and sorcery. The person in the chair twitched occasionally, their face contorted in pain. The machines seemed to be siphoning off an ethereal, glowing substance that shimmered around the captive's body – their magical essence.
Amanita turned away, unable to watch any longer. "How can they do this? How can they just take someone's magic?"
"It's more than just theft; it's like they're draining their very life force," Harry said, his voice hardened with anger. "This is beyond anything I've ever seen. This is a violation of the most sacred part of a magical being."
Nomi, her hands shaking, continued to click through the feeds, each revealing a similar scene of exploitation and cruelty. "We have to stop this," she said, her determination steeling her voice. "We can't let this continue." In a moment of overwhelming emotion, Harry felt the walls of Nomi's apartment closing in around him. The images on the screen, the cries for help, the systematic abuse of magic—it was all too much. Without a word,In a moment of sheer desperation and emotional turmoil, Harry apparated away from Nomi's apartment, finding himself standing on a cliff overlooking the sea. The landscape was hauntingly familiar yet foreboding—a place where the memories of his past intersected with the stark reality of his present.
As he gazed out into the distance, his eyes fell upon a scene that made his heart sink. There, on the horizon, were the ruins of Hogwarts, his once-beloved school. The sight of its crumbled towers and broken walls against the darkening sky filled him with a profound sense of loss and despair. The sky above Hogwarts was tumultuous, with thunder rumbling ominously and lightning intermittently illuminating the remnants of the castle.
The sight of Hogwarts in ruins was a stark reminder of all that had been lost and the battles fought. It was as if the dark clouds and the restless sea mirrored the chaos and pain that churned within Harry's soul.
"Why? Why did it all come to this?" Harry murmured to himself, his voice lost in the roar of the wind and the crashing of the waves below.
The sense of foreboding that hung over the remains of Hogwarts seemed to spread across the landscape, enveloping Harry in a shroud of gloom. The lightning strikes, each a brief flash of illumination, seemed to mock the darkness that had fallen over a place once full of light and learning.
As Harry stood there, lost in his thoughts, the harsh wind whipped around him, as if echoing the tumultuous emotions he struggled to contain. The ruins of Hogwarts, a symbol of his lost innocence and the relentless passage of time, stood as a solemn testament to the battles fought and the sacrifices made.
In that moment of solitude, with the ruins of his past laid out before him and the storm raging above, Harry felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. The battles he had fought, the lives he had touched, and the relentless tide of darkness that seemed to follow him—it all converged in this desolate, powerful scene.
Harry's heart ached with a mixture of sorrow, nostalgia, and an unspoken resolve. He knew that the challenges ahead were daunting, but as he stood there, facing the ruins of his past, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. No matter how dark the sky, how fierce the storm, he would stand against the tide. He would fight for what was right, for the memories of Hogwarts, and for the future that still held a glimmer of hope.
The lightning flashed again, casting a stark, fleeting light on the broken silhouette of Hogwarts, and in that ephemeral glow, Harry's resolve hardened. He would not let the darkness win.