LAST TIME
"Wait." Harry looked at her sharply. "Three Stones?"
"The Space Stone too, is here, on Earth." The Ancient One said. "The Norse God, Odin, left it on Earth around the time of the Great Agamotto in care of a special line of mortals that helped him in the battle against the Frost Giants."
"Where's it now?" Harry asked.
"Where it should be, Mr. Potter." The Ancient One smiled. "Exactly where it should be."
"You do realize that half of the six most powerful objects in the Universe are here, on Earth?" Harry said dryly.
"I do, Mr. Potter," she replied. "There is a lot coming and worrying about it isn't going to stop it." She smiled slyly. "And if it makes you feel any better, we aren't the only ones that will be standing on the front lines to protect the planet."
"Who else will be there?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
The Ancient One rose from her seat and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Earth is going to attract a lot of attention, Mr. Potter. But not all of it will be bad. Earth is evolving, Mr. Potter. And in my centuries of experience, there are none more adaptable than humans when it comes to change. It is our greatest quality."
'She is saying something without saying it.' Harry met her eyes. 'But what?'
"Keep learning, Mr. Potter." She removed her hand from his shoulder. "Every bit will help."
She swept out of the room, her yellow robe fluttering behind her, leaving Harry alone in the room.
Ch.11 The Dawn of Destiny
6th February 2006
New York Sanctum
The edge of the dagger glinted in the light of the crackling fireplace. Harry carefully rubbed a cloth over it, avoiding the sharp edge of the blade.
"Thank you for helping me out here, Harry." Master Hamir smiled. His lone hand ran over the curve of the bow as he polished it. "With Daniel away, I had been afraid that I had to do this alone."
"It's my pleasure, Master Hamir," Harry returned his smile. "And you let me see in the Cauldron of the Cosmos. I did say we are even." The vision of swirling galaxies and burning stars shone in front of his eyes. "I never knew space was so beautiful."
"It is," Master Hamir's eyes twinkled. "And you had to learn about the relics sooner or later. This kills two birds with one stone."
Harry examined the shine on the dagger in his hand and placed it back on the table before picking another one from the set.
"I don't get why we don't use magic to keep them clean," Harry muttered, rubbing a spot vigorously. "It is fun to know more about them but they're so bloody tough to clean."
"Some of these are very fragile," Master Hamir glanced at the bow in his hand. "Or would refuse the magic. Like, most spells you cast on those daggers would roll right off."
"The Daggers of Daveroth," Harry spun the dagger in his palm, its edges glowing green. "They can penetrate through magical barriers and shields. And they never lose their sharpness."
"But they lose their shine," Master Hamir chuckled. "It was an oversight on the creators' part. Despite whatever you do, perfection is not attainable, Harry. Because even perfection has room for improvement."
"That's… a brilliant thought," Dumbledore's twinkling eyes under the half-moon spectacles flashed in Harry's mind. "These are excellent relics. But they're not perfect."
"Nothing ever is, Harry," Master Hamir put the bow away. "One can always do better."
Harry nodded, scrubbing the dirt off the edge of the dagger in silence.
'I should at least see if my magic works on this.' Harry covered the dagger with his cloth, avoiding Master Hamir's eyes. 'Scourgify.'
The magic rolled off the blade, onto Harry's trousers.
'Shit.' Harry felt the skin of his thighs itch as the fabric was scrubbed clean.
He removed the cloth and looked at the dagger. The uncleaned part of the blade remained dull, dirt wedged between its carvings.
'So my magic doesn't work for cleaning this either.' Harry pressed the cloth to it. 'But what if—'
"Master Hamir," Harry called. "If we cannot use magic on the relic itself—" Harry waved the cloth he had been using. "We should use magic on the cloth."
The cloth rose from his palm and began to rub down the edge of the dagger in Harry's hand.
Master Hamir leaned forward, peering at the dagger through his glasses.
"It is getting cleaned," He whispered. "That's clever."
Harry grinned, twirling the dagger as the cloth continued to clean it on its own.
"It still requires human assistance," Master Hamir said. "But perhaps you could make a relic to clean the relics, Harry."
"A dusting cloth that cleans on its own," Harry's lips twitched as he remembered the Weasley household. "Maybe even a broom."
"Sanctum masters would be forever grateful if you do that," Master Hamir twirled his graying goatee. "And so would your future self when you are the Master of the Sanctum."
Harry's head snapped up. "Pardon?"
Master Hamir raised his eyebrows. "You aren't telling me that you don't know that you will one day be a Sanctum Master?"
"I mean— it is a huge responsibility and an equally large honor," Harry waved his hands. "And, I am not even a master yet."
"Harry, everyone can see that the Ancient One has great plans for you." Master Hamir tilted his head. "I wouldn't pretend to know what she thinks. But she has taken more interest in you than any other disciple of the mystic arts in years. And, you, dear boy, pick magic up like none I have ever seen in my years of teaching the mystic arts. Many of us masters already think that you will succeed the Ancient One as the Sorcerer Supreme."
"I don't think I am destined for that, Master Hamir." Harry felt a fist curl around his heart. "I would never be capable of making decisions like the Ancient One can. And I don't think that's her plan for me either."
"Perhaps," Master Hamir tilted his head. "Sorcerer Supreme or not, you still must be prepared for responsibility. Sooner or later, you will be a Master of the Mystic Arts. You will be standing at the front lines to protect reality and the natural law. You've faced some of its dangers but many more will always come."
"True," Harry sighed, placing the last dagger in the set. "These daggers are cleaned."
"Good." Master Hamir picked a dagger up and examined its shine. "That cloth of yours did good work. You're good at enchantments too, it seems."
"I have picked a few things here and there," Harry's hand drifted to the pouch that hung on his belt.
"Perhaps one day, you will make your own relic." Master Hamir placed the dagger back with the set. "Most great Sorcerers have a relic or two in their names. The great Agamotto foremost of them."
Harry shifted, feeling the soft thrum of the stone through the fabric of his cloak.
"I… will try, Master Hamir," Harry leaned back in his chair, his lips tugging upward. "Perhaps I will start with a self-cleaning broom for you."
Master Hamir roared with laughter. "Oh, I hope you do, Harry."
Harry grinned, scratching the back of his head. "Well, it shouldn't be hard. I'll get back to you in a few days. Seriously."
"That'd be great," Master Hamir nodded.
"Now, what else do we need to clean or polish?" Harry cleared his throat, looking around.
"The Gyre of the Gateways needs to be cleaned. It has been gathering dust." Master Hamir's eyes flicked to the relic that sat innocently on a side table.
"I am not touching the thing after what happened the last time," Harry shuddered. "I do not want another Shadowfiend incident. Or worse."
Master Hamir sighed. "Harry, the Gyre of the Gateways is like any other relic. With enough knowledge, it can be controlled. What happened that day was the gateway was just activated but not controlled. Had it been controlled, we would have sent the Shadowfiends back without any of the trouble."
"Can the monsters be controlled?" Harry frowned. "Like the Vipers of Valtorr?"
"Not as much as controlled as set." Master Hamir's forehead creased. "As the will of lower demons can be very susceptible, we can set them on a path with a singular purpose. Of course, that means you have to know exactly where the gateway opens and what you wish to come through."
"But it can be done?"
"I wouldn't recommend it unless you're desperate, Harry," Master Hamir shrugged. "But yes, it can be done. Now—"
A chime rang through the room.
"Someone's at the door," Harry stood from his seat. "I will get it."
"No," Master Hamir shot to his feet. "Whatever is at the door is not human."
"What?"
"Stay behind me, Harry. I will see who or what it is." Master Hamir slowly walked toward the entrance. "If whatever that is shows—"
The doors rattled as whatever was outside banged on them.
Harry glanced at the table and picked two daggers from the set, pushing them into his pockets.
"If it shows any signs of hostility, take it to the mirror dimension." Master Hamir hurried forward. "The Sanctum must not fall. Stay out of sight for now."
'I can do that.' Harry ran his hand over the helm of his cloak and disappeared, the hallow working its magic.
Reaching the center of the entrance hall, Master Hamir stopped and waved his hand.
A wave of magic latched onto the doors and they swung open to reveal a rather tall man holding an unnaturally long umbrella. The man frowned at a small rectangular box in his hand— looking like a rather thick tablet and put it away as he stepped in, his reddish-gray eyes scanning the sanctum.
'Corvus of the Glaives, the son of Charfus.' A voice whispered in Harry's ear as he got a good look at the man— Corvus Glaive.
Harry could see the edges of his umbrella flicker slightly as it moved.
'He's not human.' Harry held his hand up, ready to summon the mirror dimension around the sanctum. 'And that umbrella is an illusion. It is likely a weapon of some sort.'
"How may I help you?" Master Hamir asked politely.
"I am looking for something," Glaive said in a gravelly voice. A small blue light blinked just under his collar as he spoke. "Something that my sire seeks and you… harbor and hide."
"I am afraid I do not know what you're talking about." Behind his back, a spell began to form in Master Hamir's hand.
"Don't you, human?" Glaive stepped forward. "This place swims with powers of higher realms. Powers that your kind cannot control."
Master Hamir twisted his hand and the doors of the sanctum slammed shut. A shimmer of magic washed around the room, and several small bangs echoed over Glaive.
Wisps of smoke curled from his clothes as the Glaive's body flickered like a mirage. His skin turned gray and his clothes morphed into armor. Deep scars melted onto his face while the Umbrella in his hand turned into a long, peculiar type of spear with claw-shaped blades at both ends.
'Well, he's an alien.' Harry felt his eyes widen.
"What are you?" Golden lines crisscrossed in front of Master Hamir, forming a shield.
Harry flicked his wrist and the air around the room cracked and glass shards appeared as they were shifted into the mirror dimension.
The alien looked around, his scarred face ripping into a sneer. He made a series of guttural sounds in response before frowning and tapping the small device at the base of his neck with a thin, claw-like finger.
The blue light flickered back on and began to blink.
"Hello," Corvus said, cracking his neck. "Yes, this will do. Now, where's the stone?"
Harry felt his blood run cold. 'He's here for the Soul Stone.'
Master Hamir gave him a blank look. "What stone?"
"Don't play a fool." Corvus Glaive stepped nearer, peering at Hamir through the shield. "You harbor an Infinity Stone and play with powers beyond your kind at will." The scars on the alien's cheeks ripped as his lips curled into a grin "Give me the stone and come with me. Sire will reward you handsomely and you shall have a glorious place amongst the Black Order!"
"And… What does this Black Order and your sire do?" Tendrils of crimson energy coiled around Master Hamir's fingers behind his back.
"My sire seeks to rebalance the universe," Glaive's reddish-gray eyes lit up. "We seek to bring stability to it. To liberate worlds from the burdens of its ever-increasing populations. My sire's world crumbled because there were too many people and far too few resources to sustain them. He seeks to protect other worlds from the fate that his world suffered."
'He does that by killing people. Mass genocide.' Harry felt cold fingers curl around his heart. 'Is he the one death talked about?'
Master Hamir's jaw twitched. "And who gave him the right to do this?"
"Destiny itself." Corvus Glaive smiled. "My master is the conduit of destiny. He brings peace to worlds even though many don't appreciate it. But that's destiny. It shall arrive all the same."
"And why does he need an Infinity Stone?" Master Hamir enquired.
"Because my sire cannot be everywhere. He faces resistance from weak-minded fools who seek to stop him." Glaive's red eyes glowed like embers of a fire. "Once all the stones belong to him, he can balance the universe with a snap of his finger and fulfill his destiny. In a single second, every world shall get rid of half its population, freeing it of its burdens."
'Alright, it's him. The one whom death talked about.' Harry decided. 'His master aims to sacrifice half the universe by gathering all the stones. That's what death told me but with a different reason.'
"I am afraid I cannot let that happen," Master Hamir replied.
The alien's spear blurred, tearing through Master Hamir's shield in the blink of an eye. Golden sparks fluttered to the ground as Master Hamir took a step forward.
"Think ag—" A whip of crimson energy struck Glaive in his chest.
The alien was blasted backward and sent hurtling through the sanctum doors with a resounding crash onto the road outside
'That should hurt.' Harry winced, remembering the time he was hit with the Whip of Cyttorak during his spar against the Ancient One.
Master Hamir waved his hand, multiple purple-blue ropes of magic forming in the air that snaked after the alien.
'And he is probably done for.' Harry willed himself to appear and walked up next to Master Hamir.
"Should we get him to the Ancient One?" Harry asked, trying to peer outside the sanctum, looking for the alien. "Or kill him here?"
"We must know more about his intentions of—" Before Master Hamir could finish, a motorbike came hurtling through the doors of the sanctum.
Harry acted on instinct and pushed Master Hamir out of the way. The bike crashed through the furniture behind them, flames licking its sides.
The acrid smell of gasoline wafted through the air and Harry immediately waved his hand, extinguishing the flames. Turning to the door Harry found Corvus Glaive standing there, his armor severely cracked.
'There is no way he got up so fast.'
Glaive's eyes latched onto Harry. "You weren't here before."
'So he doesn't know I have the stone. That's good.' Magic coursed through Harry's veins tingling at his fingertips.
"But you will die too. And I shall find the stone—"
Corvus stopped short, bringing his blade in the way of the blasting curse. The curse bounced off it and blew the remnants of the door of the sanctum to dust.
'Alright, another magic-resistant blade.' Harry's hand moved, another spell forming in his hand.
A disc of energy soared toward Corvus from Master Hamir's hand. Before the disc could hit him, Corvus tore it to sparks by swinging his spear through it.
'Energy spells are doing no good,' Harry swirled his fingers in a circular motion.
"Vipers of Valtorr!"
A spiral of red energy formed in front of him and four thick, long serpents burst through the circle, their heads lashing toward the alien. Corvus Glaive's spear blurred as he chopped off two heads in a single strike and caught the third with his left hand while dodging the fourth.
'He's faster than humans,' Harry watched as the alien ripped the serpent's head off with his bare hands before stabbing the other. Harry's spell crumbled as the serpents died. 'And stronger too.'
Ropes of golden magic twisted toward Glaive from Master Hamir's hand, only to crumble in a shower of sparks as his spear chopped through them. The alien rushed forward toward Master Hamir and Harry, batting away the cutting curse Harry sent at him.
"Brace yourself, sir," Harry grabbed Master Hamir by the shoulder as Glaive neared, bursting through a shield Master Hamir had erected to stop him.
The world twisted around them and they appeared on the first floor balcony. Master Hamir immediately clutched the railing, as the world righted itself and heaved.
"What— what was that?" He coughed.
"I need you to go get the Ancient One." Harry said. An orange beam curved toward Glaive who stood below. "I will hold him off till then."
Corvus brought his blade in between the spell, the orange beam splitting in two.
'I have never seen a spell splitting into two.' Harry winced as the two halves of the spells blasted craters into the floor below and the sanctum shook.
"I cannot leave the sanctum even if we are in the mirror dimension," Master Hamir began to prepare a spell. "And I cannot leave you."
"I will hold him off from afar," Harry took a step back as lightning cracked down from Master Hamir's hand.
The bolt of lightning blasted into Corvus, sending the alien writhing on the ground.
'I need to finish this then,' Harry slashed his hand, a trio of claws of purple energy shooting toward Glaive. 'He is here for the Soul Stone. He cannot get back to his master.'
Spurts of grayish blood flew into the air, splattering across the wooden floor and the debris from Harry's previous spell.
Corvus Glaive roared in pain, curling into a ball, leaving his spear on the floor.
'That's it,' Harry drew his fingers into a sharp vee. 'Sectumsempra.'
Three thin gashes appeared on the alien's back as the spell sparked across his armor.
"Harry, get the Binding Bands of Cyttorak!" Master Hamir roared over the crack of the lightning and continued to electrocute Glaive. "It'll trap him."
Instead of moving, Harry waved his hand. 'Accio Binding Bands of Cyttorak!'
A great crashing sound echoed from the floor above and a skeletal structure made from metal soared toward him.
'Arresto momentum!' The soaring relic slowed down to a crawl and Harry caught it in his hand.
"Throw it at him with the intent to trap him!" Master Hamir broke the lightning spell and Harry hurled the relic at the downed alien like a quaffle.
The metal bands snapped around the alien, pulling him onto his knees as the metal bands snapped in place, expanding by themselves to accommodate the alien.
'That's something,' Harry decided as the mouthpiece snapped into place, gagging the alien, trapping him completely.
Beside him Master Hamir staggered, breathing deeply.
"That should hold him in place." Master Hamir commented, watching as Glaive's face rippled, muffled grunts ringing through the mouthpiece.
The metal bands strained slightly as the alien struggled.
"What now?" Harry asked.
"Get out of the mirror dimension and get the Ancient One." Master Hamir said. "I will secure the alien. We must know more about him and his master. If a threat is coming to earth, the masters of the mystic arts must be ready."
"Do we even know what he is?" Harry frowned. "Cause he is not a Kree or a Skrull or an Asgardian, which are the only species who have visited Earth in the past three centuries."
"Earth had been left alone until now," Master Hamir nodded. "Honestly, this is my first time seeing a proper alien and not just a creature from some other dimension. Till now, aliens were supposed to be green for me."
Harry snorted and Master Hamir's lips tugged upwards.
"Now, if you'll allow me, I shall secure the prisoner." Master Hamir walked down the stairs toward the bound alien. "Get the Ancient One."
Harry nodded and turned around, moving his fingers in circles. A golden spiral appeared in front of him, expanding to let him see the other side… the real world.
He stepped through it, into a much more pristine, undamaged sanctum.
'That's one thing done,' Harry looked around. 'Let's hope this alien didn't bring his buddies— the Black Order or whatever he called it with him.'
A loud crash rang from behind, drawing his attention. Swiveling around, he sprinted back through the portal into the mirror dimension.
'What the hell?' On the ground floor of the sanctum, Glaive had freed himself somehow and was attacking Master Hamir. The metal bands of the relic lay around their feet, dismantled.
Harry waved his hand and a spectral stag bounded through the portal.
Without waiting, Harry slid down the railing and jumped to the floor, shooting a pale-yellow curse at Glaive just as Master Hamir ducked under his blade.
Glaive roared in pain as the curse stuck him in the face, scoring a deep gash across his cheek. Master Hamir whirled around, jabbing his palm into Glaive's abdomen. As the alien went staggering back, Harry drew his daggers from his pocket.
'Might of Mokarr!' Wisps of faint purple energy wrapped around Harry's wrists and he rushed forward.
At the same time, Master Hamir threw a lasso of golden energy that wrapped around the bottom of the spear in Glaive's hand. Master Hamir yanked at the whip, trying to disarm Glaive but the alien clung to his spear.
As Harry neared them, Glaive twisted his spear, sending master Hamir face-first to the ground, the whip of energy bursting to sparks.
Harry leaped over Hamir, closing the distance with Glaive.
The alien swung his spear but Harry caught it with the dagger in his right hand, the purple wisps flaring with power. Harry thrust the dagger in his left hand, plunging it straight into Glaive's abdomen.
Glaive grunted, slamming his fist into Harry's face.
Harry felt his feet being lifted off the ground, the taste of copper filling his mouth. The world spun before pain flared at his sides as he rolled across the hard floor of the sanctum.
Harry felt the amulet on his chest warm up. The power of the Soul Stone rushed through his veins, soothing away the pain.
'Bloody hell,' Harry spat blood on the floor and got to his feet, wiping his lips.
Master Hamir was defending himself against Glaive as the alien tried to skewer him with the huge spear. Harry watched, as almost in slow motion, a green shield— the Shield of Seraphim formed in front of Master Hamir as Glaive jabbed his spear.
Harry knew what was going to happen before it happened. An orange beam of light hurled from his hand toward Glaive just as the alien jabbed his spear toward Master Hamir.
The tip of the spear punctured through the shield, digging into Master Hamir's chest as the orange beam of light slammed into Glaive. In a flash of fire, Glaive was blasted back through a wall while Master Hamir staggered back, clutching his chest.
Harry ran over to him, catching Hamir before he could fall to the floor.
"No, no," blood had begun to seep through Master Hamir's robes, the red slowly spreading outward. "No."
Images flashed through Harry's mind: Dobby dying in his hands, Hedwig getting hit by the killing curse, Dumbledore's fall from the Astronomy tower, Sirius falling through the veil of death.
"No," Heat coursed through Harry's bones, the Amulet thrumming against his chest. "You cannot die." His hand glowed a fiery orange. "Heal."
The edges of the wound glowed a brilliant orange. Slowly the glowing edges began to come closer together as the wound sealed. The glow turned into a thin line and disappeared into his chest.
Master Hamir gasped and coughed, his eyes wide.
"What?" Master Hamir took deep breaths. "How?"
"It's okay," the heat receded into the amulet and Harry beamed at Master Hamir. "You're alive"
Master Hamir looked down at his bloody robes before looking past Harry's shoulders. A shadow fell on his face and his eyes widened.
Before Harry could see what it was, Master Hamir's amputated hand slammed into his chest, pushing him away.
As Harry rolled onto the floor, Glaive's spear descended where he had been a second ago, piercing through Master Hamir's chest. The blade sunk into the floor below like a hot knife to butter as Master Hamir gurgled, light leaving his eyes.
"NO!"
A wave of magic exploded, sending Glaive sprawling as Harry scrambled toward Master Hamir.
"No, no, no," Harry whispered, as he felt nothing from Master Hamir. The glow on his hand didn't cling to the wound or heal him like it had a few moments ago.
Blood pooled beneath his body, the crimson spreading on the wooden floor.
"Now, if you value your life, you will give me the stone." The Alien's gravelly voice broke Harry out of his thoughts. "Or you will meet the same fate as him."
"Fate," Harry whispered, turning his eyes toward Corvus Glaive. Heat bled through his bones, spirals of orange energy forming around his wrist. "I will show you fate."
Glaive yelled as his body floated in the air, his legs and arms being stretched. Golden blurs of Glaive's form vibrated around his body as Harry slowly rose to his feet.
"STOP THIS!" Glaive's scream echoed through the sanctum.
Harry met his eyes and images flashed in his mind.
A small, gray-skinned child skipping down a purple street. Massive spaceships loomed in the sky, releasing an army of metal warriors that descended upon a town inhabited by the gray-skinned aliens. A huge purple-skinned man strolled through the town, dragging a colossal two-bladed sword behind him.
Harry watched as the small child pushed away a metal soldier and leaped at the purple-skinned alien who caught him with a single hand. The purple-skinned alien smiled at the child, his pearly white teeth peeking through his lips. The sound of fire occurred as a whole line of aliens were slaughtered while the child kept glaring at the purple-skinned alien.
The images blurred again, showing an older version of Glaive battling an alien woman. Another image flashed where the same alien woman smiled at Glaive and kissed him on the lips.
The images changed. Smoke rose through cities as Glaive fought on its streets, slaughtering anyone who came in his path. Around him, the same metal warriors who had descended on the city and slaughtered people flew, helping him turn the streets into a river of blood.
The final image showed Glaive kneeling before the same purple-skinned alien.
The wind whispered a name in Harry's ears.
"Thanos," Harry said as Glaive dropped to the floor, crawling away from him. "Thanos is the one who sent you. And he is coming for the stones."
Harry turned and grasped the shaft of the spear, his gaze meeting Master Hamir's unseeing eyes. Fiery-orange energy wrapped around his fingers as Harry twisted his hand.
With a ringing crack, the spear snapped into half, its blade glowing the same shade as the Soul Stone.
"No, no, please," Glaive crawled through the doors, Harry following behind him.
"You are a monster." Harry spat. "You deserve no more mercy than they did."
Harry plunged the broken, glowing spear through Glaive's chest the same way Glaive had plunged the spear into Master Hamir.
Power burned through Glaive's body, his scars glowing a faint orange as he went limp, the acrid smell of burnt flesh lingering in the air.
Harry staggered back and collapsed at the doors of the sanctum, hot tears rolling down his cheeks. The heat of the stone receded into the Amulet, its metal feeling colder than ever.
A portal opened and the Ancient One stepped through, followed by Mordo and Wong.
She said nothing as her eyes took in Glaive's dead form.
"Master Hamir!" Mordo gasped as he peered inside the sanctum.
"Mordo, Wong, make sure proper arrangements are made for Master Hamir." The Ancient One grabbed Harry by his shoulders and pulled him to his feet. "Come, Mr. Potter," She said. "Let's get you home."
Harry refused to move.
"You knew, didn't you?" Harry whispered. "You knew this was coming."
She said nothing, refusing to meet his eyes.
"You saw this was going to happen," Harry balled his fist. "Yet you didn't intervene. You let him die!"
"Potter, you cannot expect the Ancient One to tamper with the natural law." Mordo said softly. "We protect the—"
No sound came out of Mordo's mouth, his lips moving soundlessly as Harry raised a finger.
"I. Was. Talking. To. Her." Harry growled.
"Yes, Mr. Potter, I knew this might come to pass." The Ancient One turned to him. "I foresaw it alongside where you blasted the alien back and healed Master Hamir in time."
"That did happen," Harry said. "But then—" Tears flowed down Harry's cheeks. "Then Master Hamir pushed me away as Glaive went to kill me. He took the blow for me and died."
"It is not your fault."
"How many more people have to die for me?" Harry spat. "How many more?"
"Mr. Potter," She closed her eyes. "Let's get you home. You're in no state to be… doing this."
Harry sneered and stormed through the portal. As soon as he stepped through, he twisted and apparated away before The Ancient One could follow him.
7th February 2006
Rainbow Bridge, Asgard.
A golden-eyed man stood on a podium in the center of a golden, domed room, his fingers curled around the handle of a sword. He turned sharply as another man approached, a long, golden spear in his hand and an eyepatch over one of his eyes followed by several guards.
"Heimdall, it has been years since you've summoned me here." Odin walked in, his guards remaining outside.
"My King," Heimdall bowed. "Interesting events have come to pass within the nine realms."
Odin's grasp on his spear, the Gungnir, tightened. "Go on."
"Earlier, Midgard was attacked by an outsider." Heimdall said. "He sought an Infinity Stone."
"The Tesseract?"
"Safe and untouched, my King." Heimdall said. "But not where you left it."
"It hasn't been for nearly seventy years." Odin gave a nod. "Then he came for the Sorcerers?"
"He did." Heimdall agreed. "He faced a young man with peculiar powers in addition to his Sorcery. A man, I only saw for the first time but yet could barely keep my eyes on."
Odin frowned. "What are you trying to say, Heimdall?"
"Some power protects him from even my gaze, my king." Heimdall's golden eyes shone. "A power that prevents me from keeping my gaze on him at all times. Hides and protects him."
"That's concerning."
And that's not all." Heimdall said. "He wears the second eye you helped Lord Agamotto forge and within it, if I am not mistaken, rests another stone."
"A third stone?" Odin's knuckles whitened around the Gungnir. "Which?"
"I cannot be sure." Heimdall said. "But its power was a fiery orange and caused disruptions within the Astral plane which leads me to—"
"The Soul Stone." Odin banged his spear lightly. "It was never within the nine realms. How did the boy get it?"
"The higher power, perhaps." Heimdall said. "The same that protects him from my gaze at times and had prevented me from seeing or detecting him before. A power beyond sorcery or our own. A power beyond any bestowed by the Yggdrasil."
Odin's forehead creased before he shook his head. "Keep an eye on him as much as you can. And make sure no further outsiders arrive in Midgard. Midgard is still under my protection and it shall be known."
"As you command, my King." Heimdall bowed.
"Hopefully, this boy will be Thor's problem, not mine." Odin sighed wearily.
"You think of coronating him as the king?"
"Soon." Odin nodded. "I have grown old and the time of my sleep nears."
"Are you sure it is a wise move, my king?" Heimdall's gaze grew distant. "Prince Thor has a lot to learn yet. He is not wise in ways you are."
"Then he will learn." Odin declared. "And it is better if I can test him as a king whilst I am still here. Perhaps it will give my heart a rest to know that he is indeed a worthy king."
"He could be greater." Heimdall said.
"I hope he is." Odin smiled. "Keep your gaze on dangers, Heimdall. I sense many might approach in the near future. If a higher power has sent the Soul Stone to a boy of extraordinary powers as you say, something must be coming. And Asgard must be prepared for it."
9th February 2006
Kamar Taj, Nepal
"I hope you've calmed down now, Mr. Potter," the Ancient One's voice cut through the silence of the room with the sharpness of the Daggers of Daveroth.
"I am still upset with you." Harry said. "You could've intervened."
"It was a moment I couldn't intervene with, Mr. Potter." She smiled sadly. "This was going to happen. It was an Absolute Point in Time."
"Oh," Harry frowned. "But—"
"I couldn't say it in front of Mordo yet, Mr. Potter," The Ancient One explained. "He doesn't understand what he doesn't know. But there was always only a single possibility. All paths ended on the same road for Master Hamir."
"He died saving me," Harry looked away. "Just like my parents. Just like Hedwig. Just like Dobby."
"I am sorry, Mr. Potter," she closed her eyes. "It was his destiny. And the beginning of yours."
"Thanos," Harry whispered.
"Yes."
"He's a monster." Harry said. "He slaughters people indiscriminately and without remorse— half the population of every planet he steps on."
"What else do you know?" Interest flashed in the Ancient One's eyes.
"He has a huge army of metal warriors and an… inner circle he calls the Black Order." Harry remembered the name Glaive had said. "He aims to unite the stones so he can kill half the life in the Universe with a single snap of his finger."
The color drained from the Ancient One's face. "If that happens, it will be unstoppable by any means. No countermeasure. Nothing."
"He can only do it with all the stones." Harry nodded. "And guess what? Three of them are on Earth and he at least suspects it."
"So, Glaive didn't know you had the stone?" The Ancient One asked.
"No." Harry shook his head.
"That's a relief." She sighed. "The possibilities that can occur are more than ever, each possibility wildly different from some other. Some visions have become clearer to me after… Master Hamir's death but many still remain foggy."
"Then what can you tell me?"
"For now?" She cocked her head. "Some meetings hold prospects for a better future. Meetings that will, in a way, connect to your actions in the past and affect your and the world's future more than anything else."
"Right." Harry frowned. "That's… something."
"I suggest you start reading about a few international organizations in this world." The Ancient One smiled. "And trust the one who approaches you."
"Are you sure?" Harry frowned.
"You can crosscheck with that, Mr. Potter," The Ancient One's eyes drifted down to his chest. "The stone holds a lot more capabilities than we had anticipated."
"It showed me all of Corvus Glaive's past— the Alien who attacked us." Harry said. "How Thanos attacked his homeworld and somehow took him in to be a loyal follower of his. And how… Glaive proceeded to slaughter worlds under his command."
"It shows the person's soul to you, Mr. Potter." She smiled. "All their world laid bare before you. Their past. Their dreams. Everything."
"That—" Harry's forehead creased. "That sounds just so wrong to do."
"You'll learn to control it." She patted his shoulder. "If you can see the whole image, you can concentrate on a part."
"Right," Harry bit his lip. "Right."
"Now, if that's all, Mr. Potter?"
"No, actually." Harry shook his head, breaking out of his thoughts. "I… brought something."
He dug into the pouch at his waist and pulled out a broom from within with a cloth attached to its other side.
"Master Hamir and I… talked about this. He had too much work maintaining the sanctum." Harry said. "I told him I did make a relic to do that for him."
"This is wonderful," The Ancient One beamed. "I supposed it should go to the New York Sanctum?"
"Yes. I think he would appreciate it." Harry breathed.
"He would've loved it." The Ancient One smiled.
"Did he… have any family?" Harry asked.
The Ancient One's smile faded away. "Master Hamir's family… was a difficult topic for him. It was the reason he sought Kamar Taj all those years ago."
"Oh," Harry said when she didn't elaborate further. "I suppose he has already been buried?"
"Cremated," the Ancient One said. "In the religion he followed, people were cremated, not buried. We followed it."
"As was right, of course," Harry felt cold fingers curl around his heart. "Is there something I can do for him?"
"Yes." She said. "Remember him and cherish his memory, Mr. Potter. And don't let his sacrifice go to vain."
"Even perfection has room for improvement." Harry whispered. "Yes."
21st February 2006
Sanctuary II Spaceship, Unknown Location
Thanos sat atop his throne, his fingers running over the designs of the armrests.
"Father, we haven't heard from Corvus since the day he reached Terra." A woman kneeled restlessly in front of him. "We cannot establish any contact with him."
"Calm yourself, Proxima," Thanos stood from his seat. "Corvus had gone to investigate an anomaly on the planet."
"Terra is under the protection of Asgard." Proxima looked up. "I am scared for him, Father."
"I had advised him not to go." Thanos pursed his lips. "But he was adamant. We are powerful but we are not prepared to take down Asgard yet."
"Sire," Another man stepped forward from the shadows. "Asgard has issued a statement that any intrusion within the nine-realms will be met with the full force of Asgard's army. The Nine Realms are under Odin's protection and any threat to it from outsiders will be responded to by Odin himself."
Color drained from Proxima's face. "Father."
"It seems that Asgard detected Corvus," Thanos sat back on his throne. "And it has responded."
"What does it mean, father?" Proxima asked.
"It means there is something on Earth that is worth protecting." Thanos smiled. "But for now, it is out of reach."
"What of Corvus, father?" Proxima asked.
"If he's alive, we shall save him when the right time comes." Thanos replied. "We cannot take on Asgard right now. But we will wait for the right opportunity to get what should be ours."
6th March 2006
Harry's home, Bleecker Street
The chime of the bell rang through the living room and Harry looked up from the newspaper he had been reading.
'Who's it at this time in the morning?' He frowned.
He put the paper aside and walked to the door, pulling it open. Outside the door, a man dressed in a sleek gray suit stood. He gave him a warm smile.
'Philip Coulson, son of Jacob.' The wind whispered in Harry's ears.
"Mr. Potter," Coulson held out his hand.
"Yes?" Harry shook the man's hand. "How may I help you?"
"My name is Phil Coulson," The man said. "I am from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."
"Blimey," Harry blinked at the name. "Bit of a mouthful, ain't it."
"We call ourselves S.H.I.E.L.D." The man's lips tugged upward and recognition dawned on Harry's face. "I see you recognize the name. I am sure you recognize her too."
A blonde woman walked up next to Coulson whom Harry instantly recognized.
'That's the girl I saved in the alley.' Harry's gaze slid from the girl back to Coulson. 'This is the meeting that The Ancient One told me a few weeks back. The one that connects to my past and gives prospects for the future.'
"We just have a few questions and a proposition for you." Coulson said. "May we come in, Mr. Potter?"
AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!
This marks the end of the 'Introduction Arc'. Next, we get into the Marvel Verse as MCU characters come into the limelight as compared to the glimpses I have offered.
Now, if you're wondering about Corvus Glaive, he was the one who fought Vision and Wanda at the start of Infinity War alongside his wife, Proxima Midnight. His blade pierced through Vision's vibranium body and stopped him from phasing— a power that he got from the Mind Stone.
So, yes. Glaive was a powerful fighter in Thanos's Black Order alongside his wife Proxima Midnight (whose spear Captain caught if you remember Infinity War).
So far, all characters I have introduced with the exception of Anna and Wendy are from the MCU. So you can just google them.
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Arkthemagnificent: Yes, Ginerva Weasley… I will be honest with you here. I am not Ginny's biggest fan to begin with. I do not hate her and do read Hinny pairing fics. But that's not the point here.
Story point of view, Harry is kind of suppressing her thoughts from coming to his mind to lessen his grief in a way. It will make an appearance when he begins dating. Also, I didn't want Harry hung up on her 'cause I feel it really sucks in some ways. So, see it any way you want, but Ginny won't play a big role here. She'll come up though.
Althyrios: That's why it is called fanfiction, lol.
Nikkless: I actually can't. Well, unless Harry uses it to speak to a snake, parseltongue is kind of useless… And parselmagic isn't canon so Harry has no knowledge of it. I might play on it somewhere if it hits my fancy but not really.
Ulttoanova: First chapter, Death has made the necessary documents for Harry. It is mentioned.
HowlnMadHowie: Three. Soul, Time, and Space. Mind stone comes later. And the Reality Stone is not on Earth. Jane slips through a convergence.
Crainium9: Well, this had a fight!
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Thank you for your reviews!
A huge thank you to Mughil and Anax for betaing the chapter!
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The next chapter of this fic, with a lot of other early content, is already up on pat-reon so, if you want to (and can), please subscribe and support me as an author. It would mean a lot to me if you do so.
I would also like to clear a couple of misconceptions about this pat-reon thing.
First, I will keep posting on FFN and AO3 like I've been for the past two years. I am not going to totally pay-gate/ paywall ANYTHING. Sooner or later, everything that is on pat-reon will go up for free on FFN and AO3.
Second, the pay is to support me as an author and for 'Early Access' to my works. There are a lot of other perks associated like having direct access to me, having a say in my stories, ability to appear as a character, etc. But I am not selling fanfiction there, just its early access with the additional perks.
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HPfanfictioner66