10/8/95.
Noon.
Fudge had won.
Umbitch had won.
Harry sat in the bullpen of the DMLE, waiting for Tonks to take him home to Headquarters.
Malfoy had bought enough votes to have Harry cast out. Fudge was right now holding a press conference and publicly snapping Harry's Holly wand.
Shacklebolt can striding through the Bullpen and grabbing Harry under the arm, drug him to the floo. Hissing the name of Headquarters and the password, he pulled the Lad in his wake.
In the Kitchen, he released the boy. "Get your trunk, meet me by the front door." He turned to Black as Harry ran to his Room. "Fudge has declared that he intends to send the boy through the Vail. I had a Long range portkey made years ago, that would take me away if Vol…" he stumbled on the word, "If HE came knocking. I am sending the Boy to Japan. Is your old school trunk still in your room?"
Black bolted for the stairs, Hermione a step behind him.
Lupin frowned, and looked at Molly. "Get your things packed. All that is keeping Kreature from killing you in your sleep is Sirius's presence. And with him joining the Cub in Japan, Headquarters is going into lockdown. Anyone not gone by nightfall, won't be waking up by dawn." He, too, hurried off to pack.
Black stopped by his Mother's Room and opened the french doors out to the obscured balcony. "Okay, Big Guy. I need you to fly back to Hagrid now. Let me obscure you, and let you go." A flick of his Black Bespoke wand, the Hippogryph faded from view, and vanished out the open doors.He closed them and sealed them be heading to his room.
In his old room, he packed everything, and then shrunk the trunk.
As he passed the door of Reggie's Room, he brushed the nameplate. He then thought of something. "Kreature. Attend me." He started down the stairs, and was met by the Cranky Elf at the foot of the stairs.
"What Bad Master want."
"Everyone in the House has until Nightfall to pack up and leave. Anyone still in the house will not leave until I or my Heir return." He placed his hand on the Elf's head, and pushed a large dollop of power into the nasty beast. "I don't mind the dust and grime, but the pests are not Welcome." He stepped off the stairs before looking back at the Elf. "Wizard or otherwise. At dusk, start sealing the House. At Midnight the entire house should be under a stasis enchantment and everything that is not you should be dead, dying, or frozen under the stasis enchantment. Also, reclaim any and all Heirlooms missing."
"Yes Master Black." Elf grinned evilly,
Hermione came running down the stairs, dragging her trunk behind her, Crookshanks yowling from inside his carrier. Right behind her was Harry, dragging his trunk and carrying Hedwig's cage, the Owl eager to get out of the creepy house.
The trunks were shrunk, and placed in their pockets as Lupin loped down the stairs, pulling his fedora low over his eyes. His patched, Columbo style, coat was floating behind him, as it hung from his shoulders.
King looked them over, "That was quick."
"Packing Charm." Lupin answered.
"There's a Packing Charm?" Hermione blurted out.
King handed Sirius a wooden throwing ring, like a wooden frisbee, the centre missing. "The Activation phrase is 'Holocaust'. It's going to be a bumpy ride. Good luck."
Sirius was looking it over, Something deep in his chest was calling out to it. "What is this thing when not a portkey?"
"A tribal throwing disc. Used to hunt smaller game. My grandfather brought it with him when he left Uagadou. He also used it as his focus. When you get to where you are going, give it to the Lad."
Lupin reached over and took it from the man. "Let's take it outside, before you jump." He turned and raised an eyebrow at Hermione. She nodded.
"Hermione dear, say your goodbyes and then upstairs to make sure you have everything." Molly was at the foot of the stores.
"Mrs. Weasley." Hermione smiled politely at the hefty woman, "I think you misunderstand the situation before us. I am going with Harry. If he is not at Hogwarts, it is not safe for me. Malfoy alone is an issue. Only Harry being there has protected me these last four years." She looped her right arm through Harry's left as he shifted Hedwig's cage to his right.
Before the matron could respond, Lupin opened the door, and waved everybody out onto the stoop. Once the door was closed, everybody grabbed the loop.
As one they chorused, "three, two, one, Holocaust!"
HPEA
They touched down lightly in a cathedral chamber, in a inlaid circle In the centre of the chamber. Hermione immediately went to one knee to inspect the circle as Lupin and Black drew their wands to inspect their surroundings and Harry opened the cage and carrier. Hedwig hopped to his shoulder as Crook snaked about his ankles. Harry took the chakram in hand and felt the focus grab him and accept him as it's wielder.
"Velcome, Velcome, Velcome. Ve have been expecting you for some time." The men turned to see a person in a pink and white top hat seated in a chair that Albus would find… favourable… floating three feet in the air. "Velcome to the True Cross Academy. I am the Headmaster here. The Name is Mephisto Pheles. And you are Potter Hari and Granger Hermione. Along with your Guardians Black Sirius and Lupin Remus. This way, this way, this way."
As they exited out into the darkness of an early night, Hedwig hooted and lifted off to hunt.
"You said were expected?" Hermione turned to the Headmaster as he floated just ahead of them. "How? We did not know we were coming until an Hour ago?"
"Ve house an Oracle." He spun his floating chair about to see the humans following him. "I just realized that you don't speak Japanese yet do you?" He flicked his parasol style umbrella at them.
eins
zwei
drei
There was a buzzing in their ears, and then the language and culture unfolded in their heads.
(From here on until I say otherwise, all language in Japan will be in Japanese.)
"What was that?" Hermione's eyes exploded wide open. "Can you learn other Languages with that spell?"
The Headmaster just smiled and pulled out three brass keys and tossed them to Harry. "These are your Dorm Keys. Just insert them into any keyhole and the door will lead you to your Dorm. The Dorm Hall is called the Old Male's Dorm. The only two of our students to be staying there will be the Okumura twins. If you want, the students can share a dorm, or take rooms across the Hall from each other." He waved at the Door to the Cathedral Entrance.
Harry tried it. The door swung in, and beyond was the reception area of a Japanese College Dorm.
A Poof behind them showed a white Scotty Terrier with a mini hat like the one the Headmaster was wearing. "This way." The white dog pranced into the Hallway, where he turned to look at the Humans.
Lupin and Hermione removed their shoes, Black just Grinned, and shifted to Padfoot. Harry frowned before it clicked, and his ratty trainers came off. The humans found house slippers in the cubbies over the shoe rack, and then turned to enter the Dorm… only the Scotty would not let the Grim pass.
Lupin swatted the dog on the head. "Unless you want to accept a geis to never step past this point as a human…"
The grim blew a raspberry and Black shifted, changed shoes, and returned to Padfoot. The Scotty pranced off, through an empty dining hall and up the stairs to the second floor, past a room where a young man where glasses was unpacking some boxes.
The room next door was nudged open by the Scotty before it jumped onto the desk on the right, and the humans looked in at a mirrored two bed dorm. "Potter will have this Room. Lupin, the one across the Hall. Granger can either share this one, or have the one next door. Black will either sleep as a dog with Potter or in his own bed across the Hall." The Scotty looked pleased with itself.
Harry sat on the Left hand bunk, before looking at Hermione. "I don't think I care, but the only Advantage to having a whole room to yourself, would be more space for your books."
Hermione quickly stepped out and checked the Room, before returning. "They are the same." She smiled at the Lad. "And you are correct. The second bunk and desk could be used for Book storage."
"Okay, Each Human will need a brass key." The Scotty thumped his tail. "You will be joining the Cram-School classes. I presume that Black will either be playing Potter's Familiar or walking with Lupin. Tomorrow after you get back from the Arcane District in Town, and your shopping. Okumura-senpai is just finishing up moving in, and Okumura-kun will arrive tomorrow. They are Twins, but Okumura-Senpai has reached the Rank of Middle First Class Exorcist with a Meister as both a Dragoon and a Doctor."
Once everyone had dropped off their items, and adjusted for the warmer weather, they gathered in Harry's room again.
The Scotty jumped down. "Walk this way." He pranced out of the room. Padfoot looked at Remus, snorted, before he too pranced off.
Harry smiled and took a step…
"No!" Hermione snapped. "If you had a four legged form, I might put up with it, but no prancing as a Human!"
Harry sighed.
Lupin grinned. "Thanks, because if the Cub did it, the son of a bitch would have expected me to do it as well." There was a twinkle in his eye. "My knees would not have accepted the treatment. Besides, now I get to blame you."
Harry pouted, before he brightened. He opened the window not over his desk, and headed out after the two dogs.
HPEA
Okumura had just unpacked the last box and was feeling a bit hungry. He was debating heading down to the Dining Area and making use of the Kitchen or going out to eat. As he stepped into the Hall he saw the Headmaster in his Scotty Form trotting along, before a big black dog that did not look right, came from the room next door, mimicking the Headmaster's steps.
"Okumura-Kun!" The White dog called as he pranced by. "There is someone who you should meet."
Okumura frowned as the Dogs continued prancing down the stairs.
"Okumura-Senpai." A female voice behind him, as he had turned to watch the dogs descend the stairs as only the Headmaster could. He looked back at the people behind him. A female in denims and a short top as opposed to a crop top. A man that looked more worn down then Pops, and youth that had an aura of 'Trouble Magnet' even bigger than Rin's. "Kon'nichiwa. I am Granger Hermione, and with me are Potter Harry and Lupin-Sensei."
"Sensei?" that raised Okumura's eyebrows.
"Self defense." The scarred man smiled.
"As much as I would like to get to know you, Padfoot is getting away, and you know how he gets when unsupervised."
Meow.
An orange, smashed faced, Tom Cat sauntered past and down the stairs.
"And Now Crook has a head start!" Potter nodded at Okumura, and took the stairs with a speed and control that spoke of running stairs often.
"The Headmaster wanted to show me something too, allow me to accompany you down."
In the Dining Area, the Scotty was sitting on the counter leading into the Kitchen.
"Everyone here?" The Scotty wagged his tail. "I would like to introduce
Ukobach. " A creature like a House Elf with horns and a tail appeared behind the the ScottyaHe is a minor demon of the Kitchen. He was summoned years ago, and decided to stay. When the school upgraded the men's dorms, he has been a little bored. With Okumura-kun and you four, He should be busy. The Kitchen is his Domain."
Harry frowned. "What if I want to cook?"
Ukobach snarled.
"You will have to prove that you are skilled enough to match him in his cooking." The Scotty wagged his tail.
"Would he accept my English Fare… does it have to be Asian?" Harry asked.
Ukobach stopped snarling. He even looked intrigued.
Harry smiled, "This weekend, I will show you what I can do, and let you judge. Most meals, we are going to want you to do the cooking anyway."
"No exploiting Ukobach." Hermione growled.
"Then you can buy your own books." Harry snapped back. "Do you know what it took to get the Elves to not throw you into the Lake? I had to tell them that the knit stuff in the Tower was mine. They were to wash it and put it in my trunk. And then I would 'owl post' it to an orphanage in the name of Harry Potter and Company LLC."
"So you engaged in the exploitation of Elves?"
"No, but I won't allow my Friends to be hurt, because a Swot is using Twenty Century Muggle Ethics for Everything. They were happy. Did you know that I had to turn Dobby down, because I was afraid of how you would react to my Bonding him?"
"[Great Wizard Harry Potter Call Dobby?]"
Harry facepalmed. "[Hey Dobby. Do you still want to bond? This whole building is in need of Care. Only the Kitchen is off limits to you, unless Ukobach invites you in.]" Harry put his hand on the Elf's head, and there was a snapping pop, and Dobby bounced twice.
"Dobby take nap. Clean tomorrow." Dobby vanished.
Okumura frowned at where the 'Elf' was just a minute ago. "What was that?"
"That was Dobby. Think of him as an all purpose version of Ukobach. His race are a symbiotic parasite race that feed off people like us." Lupin-Sensei spoke softly. "In exchange for the energy they leech off us, and general protection, they keep Home and Hearth for us. Granger-hime objects because some Families are known to have abused the little ones." The worn man extended his fist for the Demon to bump.
Padfoot reared up and put his feet on the counter to sniff the little guy, before he morphed into a human. "He smells of burning wood and gas. Of an ever changing array of spices, and…" The Tall Black haired man lucked his lips. "Grilling meat."
"So that's him I'm smelling, not food?" Lupin-Sensei frowned.
"All him." The man morphed back into a big black dog.
"Is He like Mephisto-Sama?" Okumura asked.
"That he has two shapes, yes" Lupin-Sensei smiled at the teen, "But as far as I know there is no one like your Headmaster."
The dogs both barked in laughter.
The Scotty jumped down from the counter and before it hit the floor, it was gone.
Everyone raised an eyebrow, looked at each other and then turned to the demon at the window.
"My Good Chef. Four dinners, hot tea, and a meaty bone or a plate of meat scraps, please." Lupin nodded and turned to the nearest table.
The teens followed, as Padfoot curled up under the counter and window.
HPEA
Back in London.
The Minute Black disapproved off the stoop, the Manor started to darken. The twins packed up shop, as Ginny scrambled to be packed quickly. Ron took his time, as His mother stood over him.
Arthur and Shacklebolt went room to room, collecting everything that had arrived since when Black had opened the Manor up to the Order.
Kreature stood on the landing above where the Weasleys were staying as he cackled and rubbed his hands together in glee…sadistic glee.
By the Time the sun had touched the skyline, the house was empty except for the Elf, the Doxies, and the Boggart. Kreature took a full minute to pick apart the Master's Orders. Deciding that the Boggart was more defender than Infestation, he instead moved it to the Grandfather Clock in the front Hall. He put off the doxy apocalypse until he had reclaimed the Thief and the stolen Heirlooms.
HPEA
A week later.
Albus was not happy. He had lost his Weapon. He lost everything in government and only held onto the Headmastership by the thinnest of margins.
The only bright light was that Shacklebolt had been ratted out as the one to allow Potter to escape, and was dismissed until a full review could be held. As Fudge was the one running the review, the human sack of human byproduct waste could hold off the review indefinitely. Being dismissed, allowed Shacklebolt to shrug off his oaths to the DMLE and take up the DADA post.
When Fudge and Umbridge tried to push themselves into Hogwarts, Shacklebolt was there with the Charter and Guidebook. He was able to deny them even the most basic of toeholds.
When Delores threatened to set Dementors on the School, Like she did to the Potter upstart… Shacklebolt blew her head off. Because she was in the courtyard at the time, Bones Ruled it Defense of the School, the Primary Function of the DADA Processor when not in Class.
Fudge made a tactical retreat.
And now the boy was missing and had been gone for a week.
School started in two weeks, and with no sign of the Boy, Rita Skeeter was probing the disappearance of The Boy Who Lived, and His Annoying Bitch…
He popped another lemon drop and turned to look at Fawks bare perch. The Phoenix had a Burning day the Morning of the trial, and was why Albus was late getting there. Last Night was the first Time he was big enough to Flash out to his favourite feeding ground.
Shacklebolt had the Location of the Portkey wiped from his memory with a modified Fiddlus Charm, so that should be have to use it, no one could find him.
Albus had asked Moody and Tonks to find out what they could, and with the Official Backing of the DMLE they were hunting two escapees. Unofficially they were to just bring them back for a real trial.
They had left two days ago.
HPEA
It had been a week, and Harry and Hermione were in the thick of it. The three of them, Harry, Hermione and Remus were in the cram class, learning the Art and Craft of Exorcism.
Harry was studying to be a Dragoon, Knight, and Tamer.
Hermione was going with Aria, with a second in medicine.
Lupin was all in, into Medicine.
Black was just happy to run on all fours and sniff the pretty females.
Hermione learned to cast the stinging hex wandlessly, and then Harry had to learn to cast protego and Accio wandlessly. He also learned to throw his Chaukrum both as a flying club and as a blade. When he would chuck it, he would picture a fanged frisbee. The Ironwood would extend a blade of mana, saw blade teeth of mana, or a blade of Chi. Because it was his Mana or Chi, it never cut him when he caught it, but he could slice through a cubic foot of marble.
Right now he was working on controlling the slicing of one inch slabs of Marble off a one foot cube, and having to ricochet through an obstacle course of granite pillars to do so. He was awarded points for every successful bank off a granite pillar without leaving a cut, before he had the blade/ fangs extend to slice through the marble, and then retract to bank out of the maze to his hand, without leaving a mark.
Lupin was sitting on a taller pillar, in a chair that made Mephisto-Sama's look plain, as he tallied up the score.
Hermione was sitting off to the side, reading and memorizing Scripture. She could chant with Bon, but against him, she was weak. She had yet to learn to have complete Faith in anything but Science, her Wand, and Harry.
Padfoot was laying his 'weary' head on the lap of the female who was always playing a handheld game system. They could tell by her smell and they way she moved.
Harry caught the Chaukrum as it exited from the trees of granite.
"Three points on that one." Lupin stood, and dropped down, his werewolf enhanced body absorbing the distance of the fall easily. "You finished that Block of Marble. I don't want to have to rebuild one that you are not going to finish. You have target practice in five minutes, and Hermione and I have not finished the runic layouts for your pistols, yet. We should have the patterns by the weekend, and then we will teach you how to engrave them yourself."
Harry huffed, and hooked the Ironwood Circle over the catch on the strap of his shoulder rigging for his pistol layout. He picked up Hermione in his arms, more to build up the strength of his arms then just to allow her more time to read. Lupin whistled, and with a groan, Padfoot rolled to his feet and trotted up.
Later that night, in his room, Harry put the finishing touches on a Dobby sized Exorcist Coat. He had used dyed Black pillowcases, and the brass buttons from Dudley's pants. He even included his old belt. He had made it two sided with one side having the Symbol and Colours of the True Cross Academy. The other he did in Hogwarts. Under the collar and along the seams, he had hand sewn the runic arrays for Protection, Impervius, and Indestructibility.
He was now ready to Charge the Runes and give it to Dobby.
He took a deep breath, this was going to be hard on the little guy, but he had to do this. He exhaled.
"Dobby. I have need of you." Harry spoke to the air in front of him.
Dobby popped in, standing within a foot of Harry's knee. Dobby saw the coat, and he froze. He was going to be given clothes!!!
"Dobby, Look at me." Harry put a hand on the guy's head. "I made this for you. If I give it to you and it breaks our bond, I will rebond you… after you put on your Coat." He showed the coat to the little guy. "It is both True Cross and Hogwarts. As it came from me, for My Elf to Wear, it could be argued that it also belongs to me. It will also stop Hermione from Harping at me about Elf Rights."
Dobby worried his ears. Before looking at Harry with the House Elf version of Puppy Dog Eyes. "Master Harry swear on his Magic that he will rebond Dobby?"
Picking up the Ironwood ring, Harry smiled at the little guy. 'I Harry Potter swear on my Magic, that should giving Dobby this Coat break our Bond, I will rebond Dobby as long as he promises to stop calling me Master."
"You cheated." Dobby frowned at Harry, before taking the Coat from Harry's hand, and shrugging it on. "Dobby Accepts."
There was the sound of breaking glass, before a gong sounded.
Dobby went wide eyed. "Bond broke and reforged. And Dooby still gets to Call Potter Harry, Master!" He bounced twice and popped away.
"[Little Pissant!]" Harry roared loudly.
Hermione was quick to burst in. "What's wrong Harry?"
"Dobby wiggled an Oath from me that now lets him call me Master and I can't say boo about it."
Hermione started laughing, and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
HPEA
A Month later.
Today was the day of the outdoor survival test.
Lupin and Black had gone elsewhere for the night, as it was the night of the Full Moon.
Rin was made into the Baggage Bitch, but he had the raw strength so that it didn't matter. He was the Physical equal to Harry's Arcane. He was such a City Boy that even the stream based waterfall was of interest to him.
At the campsite, they put up Their tents. Harry and Hermione had cheated, and had bought two Wizard Tents. The outside was small enough that they had to duck to enter and exit, but the inside had everything but a courtyard. Harry had compared them to the first two floors of the Burrow. (Black had taken the other,and Dobby, to Dog Island for Full Moon Nights.)
After Dinner the Class was given a match, a red flare rocket, and a bottle of water, each, before being sent out to find the four Lanterns. There were only Four Slots open.
Harry's pistols were not finished yet, as his carving of the 'iron' was slow, but so far he had not made any mistakes. And so he had to leave them behind. His use of the Chaukrum as a missile and as a focus were improving daily. He still wore the gigging and Holsters that would make up his Combat Harness.
Hermione had taken up a Walther PPK, to back up her Aria chanting. Granted, it was more to show up Harry and to keep her Father close. She had found Harry quickly, and followed him across the forest. Because of their Arcanium, they were only given a bottle of water and a five minute penalty.
They quickly found a large stone Lantern. As Harry went to light the Lantern, Hedwig landed on his arm.
"Ah Harry. Something tells me that this is not just a Stone Garden Lantern." Hermione frowned at it. "I think it's a 'Peg Lantern'. If we light it, it will try to eat us."
"How fast can it move?" Harry walked around it.
"Just faster than a human." She frowned at him. "What are you thinking?"
"What is your max range for that bluebell flame spell?"
She peered at the size of the lantern opening… "Maybe thirty metres. Why?"
"If you climb on my back, for a piggy back ride, and light it from down the path, I play Harry Hunting and just bookit for Camp…" he looked back the way they came. "I will need a Luminous held high to light the path, but I should be able to lead it all the way."
Hermione huffed and Glared at the owl that was focusing on ignoring her. "If Hedwig doesn't move, and we fail this test, I am going to eat her Bacon in the morning."
Bark!
Hedwig took flight at a speed close to that of Pig, Ron's Owl/Sitch.
"Not nice, Herms. Now, I don't get any bacon for the coming week. You know that she is a spoiled Bitch." Harry took a knee.
"Because you spoil that [Cunt]." Hermione said as she settled on his upper back, hooking her legs over his arms as he held his gun belt. Once she was in place he stood slowly and shook to settle her in place. She drew her wand, as he paced out the thirty metres. Once He was in place, she allowed her Cat out, and used her tail to aid in her balancing on his back. She turned, cast her goto spell for most issues. As the ball of blue fire hit dead center, she already had her wand held high over his shoulder and a blue white light shone forward to light his path.
The Peg Lantern roared to life, 'smelled' the female and saw the Aura of Life Energy running away, and gave chase.
Twenty minutes they ran, the Peg Lantern never more than twenty metres behind them, never less than ten.
Harry skidded across the circle around the camp at the same time as Rin and his squad.
Okumura-Sensei blew his whistle. "Okay, you all pass. Potter, Granger would have thought with your Gifts, you two would have been in the top three." He peered at the two, the Lantern Light glinting off his Lenses.
"You didn't say we could use our Arcanium for anything other than lighting the Lanterns and Sending up a flare. Otherwise Harry could have carried it like Rin did the Packs."
And then Semei collapsed with something in her Neck.
HPEA
School Had started two weeks ago, and Albus had not heard from Tonks and Moody since they traveled out of Europe. Seeing as Kingsley had given them an Ironwood Disc Ring that his Grandfather had brought from Uagadou, and His Agents were heading to the School to see if Potter had landed in the Area.
The Boy had been missing for five weeks, and still no word from him. No Owl would take him a letter, and Fawkes had exploded into flames when Albus had asked to be taken to him, flashing a picture of a Fireberry Tree. They only grow in high mountain areas where Phoenix fly, and drop the seeds. They're sweet Berry's, that have an almost Alcoholic Content to them.
Unfortunately they were the furthest things from Lemons you could get.
Snape had Reported that Riddle had gone quiet. It was like he was hibernating. No one had seen him in over a week. As he had Nagini In there with him, no one dared enter the Master's Bedchamber.
TBC