LAST TIME
Fury's eye was white, with cracks visible on the cornea. The light of Harry's glowing hand shone in eye and the cracks disappeared, the eye turning the same shade of black as the other eye.
Fury blinked and Harry retracted his hand. "You're welcome."
"You… healed it." Fury looked around. "Just like that."
"I will not say no to saving someone's life or healing someone." Harry repeated. "But don't call me every single time unless the person is dying. And I cannot revive the dead, remember that."
"Understandable," Fury held out his hand. "You will be a consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D officially. You can contact Agent Coulson or Agent Hill or directly me if there is a threat."
"You can do the same if the threat is not of Earth." Harry shook his hand. "But no troubling me or going after the Sorcerers. Anything you have, you call me. I need your word."
"You have it." Fury said. "Welcome aboard, Mr. Potter."
Ch.13 New Beginnings
16th July 2006
New York Sanctum
The world was tinged in a shade of brilliant gold. Time moved through thick honey, the clock on the wall frozen between ticks. Burning orange lines ran down Harry's hand as he looked around the shining sanctum.
Harry's body sat in the center of the room in a lotus position, his hands folded on his lap and his eyes closed like he was meditating.
"Excellent, Mr. Potter," the voice of the Ancient One boomed as she swam forward like a golden ghost. "I see you've got a tinge of color too."
"Effects of the Soul Stone, I reckon." Harry glanced at the clock, which had ticked forward by half a second. "Why's time moving so slowly?"
"That'd be due to me." The Ancient One smiled. "Stretching a moment into a thousand, just to live longer. To experience things on a scale that you cannot in real life. It gives you a better perspective on life and nature. Things that move past us in a flash look so beautiful and enthralling when slowed down that one could only imagine them in their wildest dreams."
"I am guessing you're using the stone?" Harry frowned, noticing the absence of the eye of Agamotto around her neck. "But—"
"I am not using a stone or a spell, Mr. Potter." The Ancient One drifted toward the window, Harry floating behind her. "I am just imposing my will on my astral perspective, and in turn, yours."
Harry's eyebrows rose. "You can do that?"
"Amongst other things." The Ancient One eyed the cars crawling through the street slower than a snail. "The Astral plane, amongst other things, is the most special dimension of all. It is where you exist in your truest form. At your most powerful and at your most vulnerable."
"The realm of the soul."
"Indeed." Her lips tugged upwards. "Most sorcerers and masters of the mystic arts see the Astral plane as nothing more than a topic to be studied and be done with. Most will only use it to give the body adequate rest while continuing their work without hindrance of physical limitations."
"Sounds useful." Harry commented. "And honestly, there aren't many monsters in here, are there? On the plane around Earth?"
"No, there aren't," she agreed. "But occasionally something comes up, sending ripples through the astral plane, if not waves. About four years back, a K'un-Lun dragon from the pocket dimension found its way into the astral plane, emerging near China. The resulting ripples were not pretty and caused an earthquake in the physical plane. Not to mention, head-splitting migraines for many sorcerers."
"Seems bad." Harry murmured. "What happened?"
"Master Hamir, Master Li, and I defeated it before it could cause any further harm." The Ancient One held out her hand. "You want to see it?"
"Why not?" Harry grabbed her hand and the world moved around them.
The buildings of Manhattan raced below them, giving way to the ocean for a moment before another landmass appeared. Flashes of great cities, forests, and mountains whirled by in a golden-tinged blur.
The two stopped amongst tall, snow-capped mountains, flakes of snow drifting past them. In the distance, faint ripples emerged, running down the side of the mountain before dissolving in the golden haze.
"The magical realm of K'un Lun." The Ancient One followed his gaze. "It is a pocket dimension attached to our own. Right now, the gateway isn't open. But it makes its presence known. You might've read about its inhabitants."
"The warriors of the Iron Fist." Harry grimaced. "Aliens who fell on earth and had no option but to stay here… in a pocket dimension created under mysterious events."
"It was before the time of the great Agamotto." The Ancient One nodded. "It was a time of great unrest for Earth, which had been a newborn mystical nexus for the universe. Barely born and home to considerable mystical wonders, both good and bad." The Ancient One's eyes gained an afar look. "It was the time when many visited Earth— until it lessened considerably after Odin, the All-Father put it under his protection through the use of force and influence."
"A lot happened during those times." Harry nodded. "Pantheons emerged, gods played with Earth, monsters ran rampant."
"Earth was always special, Mr. Potter." The Ancient One smiled. "A mystical nexus, whose only reason for safety is the treaties made between us sorcerers, the Asgardians, and a lot of other powers that led to us being left alone on our own devices. Some, in fear of the All-Father and some in fear of what we could become if we continued down the path."
"We could've been the most dominant species in the universe." Harry shook his head. "Or been destroyed. I feel the second one was more likely."
"Maybe." The Ancient One raised her hand. "Now perhaps, you would like to see the fight."
"Yeah, that's what we're here for." Harry bobbed his head.
The Ancient One raised her palm and snapped her fingers, the noise echoing through the valley. A golden ripple moved through the mountains, shining brighter by the second. The snowflakes disappeared and a roar shook the world.
"This is just a memory." The Ancient One said as Harry tensed. "Don't worry."
A golden-green head emerged from the side of the mountains— the entrance to the realm of K'un-Lun, writhing free.
The faint ripples turned brighter and rougher signifying the disturbance.
The dragon was long like a snake, spikes running down its back. It had six pairs of small wings and no legs. The dragon roared again, swimming out of the portal, its spiked tail slamming into the side of the mountain. The Earth shook, snow rolling down the mountain into the valley below.
"Here we come." The Ancient One pointed to a nearby mountain, where a portal formed.
She emerged, followed by Master Li— the Master of the Hong Kong sanctum; Master Rama of the London sanctum; and finally, Master Hamir. Harry felt a sharp sting beneath his ribs as he watched Master Hamir look around, his hands behind his back.
The Ancient One said something to the other masters, and they nodded. Master Li and Master Hamir lay on the ground while Master Rama removed a long staff from within his robes, nodding to the Ancient One.
A moment later, three golden forms floated out of their bodies, Master Rama remaining behind in the physical plane.
"You had Master Rama guard your bodies." Harry said.
"We couldn't leave our mortal forms unguarded, could we?" The Ancient One in the memory flew forward with Master Hamir and Master Li, surrounding the dragon, who was yet to take their notice.
The dragon swam around the mountains, circling its peak. A second later, a spell slammed into the dragon's side and it roared.
"It was highly resistant. Semi-astral even." The Ancient One said. "It was an anomaly. You cannot exist in the astral plane while in your physical form. Not unless you have the aid of great magicks and powers that transcend the power of the Astral plane itself. But this dragon did."
"It was from a magical realm, wasn't it?" Harry watched as spells soared toward the dragon, sending it crashing into the mountain's side. The mountain shook again in a way that sent Master Rama stumbling on the physical plane. "Maybe it was saturated by enough magic to do this."
"It is a possibility." She nodded. "It was exceptionally resistant, though not uncommonly for a dragon."
"Its hide is too strong," Master Li's voice rang. "We can't kill it from outside."
"Then we kill it from within." A glowing sword of orange energy appeared in Master Hamir's hands.
The Ancient One turned to Harry. "That is an—"
"Astral sword." Harry said, raising his hand. The glowing orange energy ran down his fingertips, shaping into a sword. "I know."
"Impressive." The Ancient One turned back to the fight. "Now, you shall see the greatest act of bravery I've seen by another in my life."
Master Hamir floated up, slashing his sword. A beam of energy caught the dragon's chest, fizzing away on its scales. The dragon roared and lunged forward, opening its jaws wide.
"Oh no." Harry murmured as Master Hamir flew forward, straight into the dragon's mouth.
"The most… ingenious way to slay any huge reptilian creature." The Ancient One said as the dragon froze and roared. "Well, those who don't spit poison or breathe fire anyway. Mind you, it might not be as efficient in the physical plane without adequate protection."
A glowing sword burst out of the dragon's neck, before moving in spirals down the dragon's body. The dragon burst in a shower of eye-searing sparks, raining down the mountainside, onto the valley below. Ripples ran through the astral plane as the glow began to subside, revealing master Hamir floating in the air, the orange sword disappearing.
A second later, the scene vanished, crumpling before Harry's eyes, leaving only him and the Ancient One.
"Let's return to the physical plane, shall we?" The Ancient one turned around. "It is not wise to leave the Soul Stone exposed to the Astral plane for long, even if we're existing between the ticks of the clock. Return to your body, Mr. Potter."
Saying so, the Ancient One vanished, leaving Harry over the mountains of K'un-Lun.
"You could've taken me." Harry muttered. "Right, my body. I have to return to it. Across the world."
The snowflakes began to drift down at a normal speed, time returning to normal.
"And soon." Harry looked around. "Or control time."
Harry concentrated on his surroundings willing them to slow back down. The orange lines on his body brightened a tad, and the snowflakes froze in mid-air.
"One thing down." Harry smiled. "Now, to my body."
Closing his eyes, he imagined his body sitting on the floor of the New York Sanctum. Warmth ran through his body and he opened his eyes.
The golden glow around the room had vanished and the Ancient One was standing in front of him, beaming. "Excellent, Master Potter. Bravo."
Harry opened his mouth, before freezing.
"Master Potter?" He breathed.
"Master Potter." She confirmed, her smile brightening. "You've successfully controlled your astral form and ventured into the astral plane. The last step which you hadn't achieved thus far. So, by the powers vested in me, I welcome you to the ranks of the Masters of Mystic Arts, Harry Potter."
3rd August 2006
The Triskelion, Washington DC
Sunlight shone against the side of the huge, white building, the logo of the eagle glinting brightly. Harry removed a card from his pouch and showed it to the security guard before being let in. He walked up a few marble steps, pushing through a set of revolving doors, ignoring the two men with rifles standing guard.
The entrance hall was huge, tiled with white marble, and a huge marble statue of the shield logo— again in white, stood proudly in the middle of the floor.
'This makes me almost glad we sorcerers aren't attached to our logo.' Harry walked up to the desk at the side. 'And colors. Though the Ancient One is up for debate.'
"Good morning." He drew the attention of the receptionist and slid the card across the desk. "Harry Potter— Consultant. Can you put my authorization through?"
"Just a moment, sir." The receptionist's fingers ran over the keyboard. "You have to report to the seventh floor."
Harry frowned. "Not the sixteenth?"
"That's what it says, sir." She said politely. "I have allowed you in for today. There's a note saying you've to meet Agent Thirteen."
"Agent Thirteen?" Harry's frown deepened. "Well, thank you."
"Have a good day." She flashed him a smile.
Harry strode to the elevators which dinged open. As he entered, a screen flashed on the side with his photo on it.
Clearance Authorization
Level 4
Potter. J. Harry.
"Seventh floor." Harry glanced at his watch.
The elevator moved upward for a few moments before dinging open. Sharon stood on the other side, dressed primly in a suit, her hands clasped in front of her.
"Miss Carter." Harry stepped out. "I heard you were babysitting me today."
Sharon blinked. "That's not the word I'd use."
Harry shrugged, putting a hand in his pockets. "Let's get a room. You can do your work and I'll do mine."
They walked through the floor, Harry's eyes roaming around the floor. There were several small offices, and a few desks at the center. Agents milled around the room, most dressed in suits and some in S.H.I.E.L.D uniforms.
And everyone was carrying a sidearm or some other sort of weapon.
"Um, come in." Sharon pushed open a door.
The room was small, with a desk and three chairs, alongside a small bean bag in the corner. On the desk, a golden plaque glinted with the words, 'Sharon. P. Carter. Agent Thirteen.'
"This is my office." Sharon walked around the desk and sat on her seat. "And… I don't really know how this is done. Usually senior agents— the ones above level five, handle consultants."
"So what put you on duty today?" Harry took a seat across from her.
"Agent Coulson's… away on a mission." Sharon said. "He is my mentor. Every new SHIELD agent… new field agent has one for the first year or more. He told me to see you for today."
"So I am guessing that you just joined SHIELD in the past few months?"
"Yeah. The mission you saved me on was my first mission." Sharon bit her lip. "Speaking of which, I wanted to thank you for, you know? Saving my life."
"You were handling yourself pretty well." Harry ran a hand through his hair. "You fight really well. I haven't seen anyone fight like that. You must be special."
Heat crept up Sharon's cheeks. "Not really. I am just… well, a level three agent."
Harry's eyes flicked to the nameplate on her desk. "And does every new agent get a code name? Cause I didn't see one on Coulson's."
Sharon shifted. "I was at the top of my class at the SHIELD academy. It is an honor that comes with being at the top of your class. But most senior agents won't have a codename. Not even director Fury did. Or Agent Coulson. Classroom and the real world are a lot different apparently."
"That's true." Harry nodded.
"Speaking from experience?" Sharon's eyes sharpened.
"In a way." Harry said. "Now, why don't you do your work and I do mine?"
"Really?" Sharon tilted her head. "That's what you get paid for?"
"Yeah. I need to show up for eight hours a month." Harry rolled his eyes. "It is in my contract as a consultant. If I don't show up, I won't get my money, apparently."
"Doesn't sound like a bad deal." Sharon mused. "We work for twenty times as long and only receive a little more than twice the consultant salary."
"Which is still pretty substantial." Harry pointed out. "S.H.I.E.L.D pays its employees well."
"And makes them do an equal amount of work." Sharon smiled. "But is this what you and Coulson do? Sit and do your own work?"
"I mean, for the most part, yes." Harry nodded. "We talk when we get bored and well, he taught me to drive the last time I was here."
"Drive… a car?" Sharon's forehead creased. "You didn't have a license?"
"Not much point in driving a car when you can just step to the other side of the world, is there?" Harry shrugged. "But Coulson is apparently a car person and took offense to me not knowing to drive."
"Wait, he let you drive Lola?" Sharon's eyes went wide.
"Lola?"
"A cherry-red Chevrolet Corvette? Very dear to Coulson?" Sharon leaned forward.
"No. As far as I remember, it was a nice blue Honda." Harry said. "And he's a good teacher. Very patient and kind."
"You don't have to tell me." Sharon gave him a grin. "Did you get a license?"
"I did. Coulson arranged that for me too." Harry sighed. "I don't think I am going to use it except for identification."
"Yeah, teleportation, healing… and memory manipulation." Sharon nodded. "A very varied set of powers. More interesting is the fact that your admittedly classified file doesn't mention any special abilities, leaving only a handful of information."
Harry leaned forward. "Information like?"
"Well, your basic identity, address, phone number… an incomplete medical evaluation, and a nice line saying you're a consultant for mystical, magical, odd phenomena, objects, or the likes. Consultant to be contacted in case of an O-8-4."
"A what?"
"Object of unidentified origin." Sharon clarified. "Objects which aren't exactly technology and can seemingly be harmful and/or powerful.."
"Yeah, that's me." Harry agreed. "I have a lot of knowledge on such stuff."
"Except the fact that O-8-4s are… well, just a SHIELD protocol for field agents when they can't identify what something is and need the scientists to take a look over it."
"Fury knows what he hired me for." Harry told her. "So does Coulson and Hill. If you're digging for information, your superiors already have it."
"I know." Sharon fidgetted. "But well, you saved my life. And then made me forget the incident. I want to know why you made me forget."
"Because I didn't want my abilities to get out at the time." Harry replied. "You asked me a few questions as I healed you. I… well, I knew what I was doing and wiped your memories, not wanting to get involved with all of this."
"Then what changed?" Sharon asked. "You said that if you wanted, you could disappear from every memory and every database SHIELD has. But you didn't. So… what changed?"
"Circumstances." Harry sighed, a ripple of magic spreading from his hands, covering the walls of the room. "I am sure you aren't briefed about my actual powers and whatever I told Fury. But I can tell you this: You protect the world from threats within it while I protect the earth from threats not its own."
"Like aliens?" Sharon's eyes widened.
"In a sense, yes."
"Wait, you're seriously telling me aliens are real!?"
"Oh, very much so." Harry grinned. "And SHIELD has studied them in the past. Kree and Skrulls."
"You mentioned them before." Sharon's eyebrows drew into a deep vee. "Coulson said that it was a highly classified incident and refused to elaborate. I thought they were some sort of enhanced group of super-humans or something"
Harry shrugged uncaringly.
The two of them sat in awkward silence for a moment before Harry cleared his throat. "By the way, I wanted to ask you this. Are you in any way related to Peggy Carter, founder and ex-director of S.H.I.E.L.D?"
"She's my aunt." Sharon ran her fingers through her hair. "She retired a while back… just after I was born. Since then, there've been four directors of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury is the fifth— well, seventh director of S.H.I.E.L.D if you count my aunt and her predecessor, Chester Philip."
"Both were founders of S.H.I.E.L.D. I am aware." Harry leaned back. "Colonel Philip was the director and Peggy Carter his deputy when S.H.I.E.L.D was founded. She succeeded him when he passed away."
"You've done your research on us." Sharon noted.
"It was all available for free. Books, internet, newspaper… you name it." Harry said. "And honestly, I knew the basics about it even before we met. I just looked more into it after Coulson approached me. I needed to see what you did and whom you served."
"Fair enough." Sharon murmured. "What are you going to do today?"
"Read."
"About?" Sharon prodded.
Harry held up a book with a smirk.
"Three hundred knitting patterns?" Sharon's forehead creased. "That's a fake cover, isn't it?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
Faint beams of moonlight streamed through the darkness, casting light on the runes and glyphs drawn on the floor of gray stone. Several purple-flamed candles burned, forming the boundary of the runic circle.
In the center of it, a woman floated a foot above the ground, her legs crossed. On her lap, a dark, black book lay, its cover glowing with faint purple magic that shone all around.
The flames in the candles burned brighter and rings of purple fire rose in front of the woman, their centers distorting. Her purple eyes gleamed and tendrils of purple magic spread, grasping the book in her lap.
The wind whispered in her ears but she ignored it, flicking through its pages. A moment later, her hands glowed, the view in floating portals distorted.
"I scry with my little eye." A high laugh tore through the cackle of magic. "So, higher powers… powers beyond the elder have stepped in. The magic through the Earth roars once more while the Sorcerer Supreme scrambles to protect all she can."
Her eyes sharpened.
"A new power comes into play. A power beyond this reality. Yet, no chaos cracks the boundaries of reality. What is this?"
The wind whispered in her ears.
"The endless. The masters of the multiverse." She tilted her head. Her hand moved again and the images in the purple rings distorted again. "And forces beyond Earth are already moving. Moving for what the Sorcerers protect. Moving to get Earth. And this new player…"
A face shone within the ring in front of her. Dark, messy black hair and emerald green eyes, a golden amulet hanging around his neck.
A giggle echoed through the forest. "This is going to be interesting. Very very interesting."
AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!
So, yes. That happened. Kudos to anyone who can guess what is happening in the last scene (Do put your guesses in the comments).
Also, yes, Harry is now a Master. He should've been one a while ago, but he hadn't controlled his Astral form, which any master of the mystic arts should be capable of doing. But now, he did.
Onto other matters, for the next few chapters, SHIELD or at least, Coulson or Sharon will be quite present in the narrative. And they will play a substantial role going forward. Even in the Phase 1 and 2 of the MCU, the connecting web of the whole storyline was S.H.I.E.L.D. and they remained so till the whole Ultron arc happened. They formed the Avengers. They recruited each one of them. They set them on the path of being the world's greatest heroes.
Of course, my story will have certain differences (some major ones too) that will set it apart from the mainline MCU (and many other fanfics). This is because Harry's presence has caused a ripple effect. And the farther the ripples go, the bigger they get. Right now, the ripples are very small, and yet visible.
Speaking of the MCU, the mainstream Universe (events of and post Iron Man 1) is a tiny while away. Some things will happen in the interim, including a deeper glance into the threats the Sorcerers face and Harry's budding relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D.
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Eternalking500: Yes, that will take place. Thor landing in New Mexico was one of the biggest events that spurred on the whole Avengers thing. This includes Loki, the phase-2 weaponry SHIELD developed… and a lot of other things. So, yes. Harry will be on site.
Uchicha ASHU: Okay, I should clarify this to you. Technically, Harry is a part of the Avengers Initiative. OFFICIALLY, he is a consultant though. I hinted at this in the Coulson-Fury conversation after the alley fight happened (one where Harry rescued Sharon). The Avengers Initiative was scrapped and is not an actual SHIELD project. This is Fury pulling moves in the shadows, basically.
Bakukan10: I was planning on introducing the good captain directly in the Avengers. So, it is not on the cards. But if it catches my fancy or I get a good reason to do it, that may happen.
Martin Grey: All he has to, and can learn about Sorcery can be taught to him by the Ancient One. As for HP magic, Harry cannot break the boundaries of the multiverse to summon them. Not even with the Soul Stone.
A10riddick: Harry's magic does have a focus. The eye of Agamotto (Eye of power). It is the thing that acts as a focus for his magic. Sorcery doesn't need a conduit unless the spell is complicated and stuff afaik.
ANTI-VENOM121299: Ripples my friend. Also, I realized this fact before I wrote the chapter. Also, this is Fury we are talking about. His plans have plans and backups have backups.
Guest: That would be interesting for sure. :)
L3onidas:... I still do not see the point of him making a network of snakes. In HP universe? Sure. They don't have technology. And to the most extent, Harry is the main person in trouble and in need. Here? That is a whole different story. So, no snakes. Not unless the story requires it.
AvidReader2425: Okay, a lot of questions. Here we go:
1. I mean… eh, I haven't thought of the Fidelius charm at all. I mean, Harry doesn't know to cast it and since it is a charm, I doubt he can just learn it by himself. Transfiguration and intent based magic? Sure. Fidelius charm or new curses? Doubtful.
2. The flying technique… was only in the movies. Only Voldemort could fly without a broom. But we will see about the flying part.
3. Reparo could repair a lot of damage but there is still a limit to what a charm can do. Fixing windows and cars? Reparo could do it. Blasted buildings? I sincerely doubt it.
4. We will see about the patronus and the other stuff.
Delphinous: In Agents of SHIELD series, Fury did know about the Darkhold apparently. I just saw that episode.
Bountyhunter1977: Well, unofficially, even you and I can go overseas by sneaking in. But that's illegal, isn't it. Yes, it is not very useful, but it was an offer by Fury for the sake of partnership.
HowlnMadHowie: She cannot clearly see the events. Doesn't mean that she won't be seeing some other stuff to tip her off. It is not a loophole. Thought of it too. Also, I never said Fury is the supreme head. And, neither is Pierce. SHIELD is overseen by the WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL. Nicholas Fury, though, is the Director.
SPeCTeR-ll7: I will be drawing from any and every Marvel source that I require, nothing more, nothing less.
Kkmememesha: Yes, he will.
EyeofSoren: The Ancient One hints at it if you read carefully enough. She knows. But there are a LOT of factors in play. Also, Harry doesn't go about reading minds, does he? He only judges intentions when he deems it necessary.
Regtech: I wouldn't call it a shit show. Fury, for all his faults, was a good man. He wanted to do what was best to protect Earth. To be its shield.
DGJabberwocky: She'll have a good role but in the grand scheme, she will still be a minor character.
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Thank you for all your reviews! (And damn, there were a lot of those, weren't they?)
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A huge thank you to Mughil, Nanu and Anax for betaing this chapter!
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