Children of Prophecy

by Tendragos

Spin-off idea from 'Just Add Water.' Harry and Dahlia would never have met in a world without the Empire. But... what if they did? What if Harry Potter spent a summer away from Britain, exploring foreign cultures and the magic they practice? What if he found a soul who'd suffered and overcome, just as he had? And... What could Harry accomplish, together with a true equal?

2. Chapter 2

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Children of Prophecy

Chapter Two: Welcome to India

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Harry was not surprised when all three Dursleys promptly fell to their knees and vomited when they finally arrived in India's international portkey terminal. Magic knows I'm just barely keeping my lunch down. A surprisingly upbeat man in a blue uniform greeted them in mostly-correct English, then waved his wand and the ten-by-ten patch of floor they were standing on rose slightly and slid to the side of the room as another square took its place. Another wave of his wand vanished the vomit. Looking around the room, Harry saw there were dozens of these tiles; as he watched another family portkeyed in and one member couldn't hold their lunch. That tile was then slid back to the wall as the travelers recovered. Harry dry heaved a few times as the room seemed to spin around him, then slowly regained his senses. Harry turned to the uniformed man and tried to speak to him in the new language swimming in his head. {"Greetings. Do you need our British passports?"}

Harry and the attendant both frowned at the strange mix of English and Japanese in that statement, then Harry tried again. On the third try, he actually got the right language and the attendant smiled indulgently. {"You took two language potions at once and this is your first time speaking either, yes?"}

Harry chuckled. {"Yes. I didn't want to rely on others speaking English on our little trip."}

The attendant laughed. {"Mangling languages together like that is normal at first. It may annoy some but most will respect that you went to the effort to learn our native tongue. And I only need your passports if your family is intending to travel outside India's magical quarters."}

Harry nodded and withdrew his trunk, tapped it with his wand to un-shrink it, and walked down the stairs to the pile of luggage as quickly as he could. He was glad he'd put them all in the same bag before leaving. A few moments later the attendant had all three passports in hand and stepped back. {"Please remain here sir, I will be back in a moment. I will process the paperwork for your companion's mundane visit, but be aware that you will not be able to leave the country by any mundane method without a passport."}

Harry shrugged. {"There's another international portkey in my future. So much fun."}

With a laugh, the attendant walked away and Harry turned to Vernon, who seemed to be the best off of his three relatives. "They're processing your passports, Uncle Vernon. As soon as we get through customs, I'll find a hotel room for the night." He sighed. "I'll have to exchange some currency, hopefully I don't get ripped off."

Looking decidedly green, Vernon rose off his knees and leaned against the wall. "You'll probably get the best deal with a government money-changer. Just be polite and hope for the best, boy. Ugh, have you used these damn portalkeys before?"

He nodded. "Four times now, but the others were all in Britain. This one was a lot longer and really awful, but at least we're here ahead of schedule. After we get some rest I'll be looking around the magical quarter, it would be nice to find something interesting, like trinkets or books."

Vernon nodded in understanding, Harry had mentioned that the wizards were about to have another war so he assumed the boy was looking for spells the British wizards didn't use. Petunia had shown him the pistol Harry had purchased, and only said it was 'special.' A quick look in the magazine or at the runes carved into the barrel had told him what he needed to know and he respected Harry for giving him a lethal weapon despite the animosity between them. "When we get home, I'll put together some pounds for you, as much as the plane tickets from London to Mumbai and the equivalent of the hotel you book for us in pounds."

Harry nodded. "I appreciate it. I don't have any pounds, and the exchange rate from Galleons is murder."

Further conversation was interrupted by the attendant returning with the three passports. {"Your paperwork is in order. Now please come this way to customs."}

Harry nodded and helped Vernon help Petunia and Dudley into his trunk, then shrunk it down and carried it in his pocket. Neither of them were ready to try walking just yet, and Harry was eager to leave customs behind. Vernon spoke up as Harry pocketed the trunk. "Damn useful thing, that. Our luggage didn't even move."

Harry nodded. "When I first got my school supplies Hagrid bustled me through the Alley much faster than I would have liked. You don't really need something like this as a first year but I can't believe I didn't even know trunks like this existed until last year."

Things were quiet for a moment until they reached an office. Harry and Vernon sat down and he opened the trunk, showing the customs agent the rest of their group slowly recovering in the trunk. As their guide nodded to the customs agent, a smartly dressed man in a green suit, Harry gave him a greeting after only two attempts that mangled three languages together into something incomprehensible. After they finally got the greetings out of the way, the customs agent spoke. {"Sir, please place both palms flat on my desk."} After Harry complied, he continued. {"State your name."}

{"I'd like to go by Harold Abbott while I'm in India."}

The customs agent gave Harry a very unimpressed look. {"Sir, unless your life is in danger, you are required to submit your name upon entry like every other visitor. Is your life in danger?"}

Harry laughed darkly. Without removing his hands from the desk, he replied. {"My life is absolutely in danger. I don't wish to bring my troubles to India, simply get away from them for a while."}

While Harry had been speaking, the desk glowed green. The customs agent furrowed an eyebrow and continued. {"Who do you believe wishes to kill you? And do you wish to apply for sanctuary in India?"}

{"Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Britain's idiot minister covered things up and refused to investigate, he even had a man who supposedly died in prison killed before he could be interrogated."} Harry let out a deep breath, raking a hand through his hair before he continued. {"I'm… I'm not seeking sanctuary right now, I just wanted to get out of Britain and see the world a little. Before..."}

The agent nodded his head, he would be making an appointment to speak with his department head, if only to pass on a warning. In fact… {"The official position of Britain's Ministry is that Voldemort's supposed return is a hoax. Do you have evidence that proves differently? The Truth-Detection charm on my desk only has so much weight, since mind-altering magic is so common."}

Harry shook his head sadly. {"Only my word and memories. No one in Britain even bothered to let me testify under Veritaserum."}

The customs agent stroked his short beard for a moment. {"Are you willing to submit a memory for review? If you're telling the truth it would allow my government and our allies to prepare and possibly even isolate your 'Voldemort' from international support. Dark Lords are bad for business after all, especially ones that endanger the Statute of Secrecy."}

Harry leaned forward, excited to contribute to the struggle against Voldemort even if not as directly as he had expected to. {"Yes, absolutely! What do I need to do?"}

The agent simply replied calmly, ignoring Harry's excitement. {"Take a moment and focus on the memory in question. When you have the entire thing fresh in your mind let me know; I will place my wand to your temple and remove a copy."}

Five minutes and two failed attempts later, the agent withdrew a shimmering silver strand from Harry's temple and carefully placed it into a vial. {"Thank you. I will make an appointment to use the department's pensieve and if your memory is pertinent I will pass it up the chain of command."}

This man expected to further his career in some small way and took the gamble that this teenager might have witnessed something useful. There was usually a week-long waiting list to use the department's only pensieve and he would find out whether he'd wasted his time or not then. {"Now, what is the purpose of your visit?"}

Harry replied. {"First I intend to get my relatives to Mumbai so they can catch a flight they almost missed. Other than that I want to be a tourist and buy as many interesting books and useful trinkets as I can to bring back home. I don't really know much about the wider magical world, and that's a shame."}

As Harry spoke, the table glowed a light shade of green once more. The agent asked another question. {"Do you have any intentions to harm our nation or anyone residing in India?"}

Harry shook his head and replied. {"No. I will defend myself if attacked, but I'm just here to buy spellbooks and such before I move on. Maybe hire a tutor for the summer."}

{"Do you have any magical creatures or cursed items with you?"}

Harry paused for a moment and tapped his forehead, smudging the makeup covering his scar. {"My scar is from dark magic, it's never healed completely. But as far as I know it's harmless to everyone but me. I have no other cursed items or creatures, I even sent my owl to a friend before I left."}

The agent nodded. {"Very well then sir. Please enjoy your stay and remember not to violate the Statute of Secrecy. Our prisons are most uncomfortable."}

Harry nodded. {"Thank you. Do you know where I can exchange galleons for the local currency and find a hotel for the night? Oh! And can underage wizards use magic in India or are your laws like Britain's?"}

{"After you exit this room, you will be escorted to the main terminal. Currency exchange is on the left and you can find brochures for local businesses near the exit. Once you choose a hotel there is a magic carpet rental just outside the main doors. They will take you anywhere in Nagpur's magical district. As for Underage Magic, that is only legal in the presence of a registered tutor. However, if your life or the Statute are in danger you are permitted to act as you see fit. Be aware that any such actions are investigated meticulously."}

Harry thanked the man again and they left the room. As they were following their guide out of the arrivals processing area and into the main terminal, Vernon spoke up. "That was a lot faster than any time I've been through customs, but what was that silvery thing?"

Harry shrugged. "That desk had a truth spell on it, and the arrival chamber probably has every detection spell known to man. If I'd had anything dangerous or if I'd come with nefarious intentions we'd be in a lot of trouble right now. The silvery thing was the agent taking a copy of my memory of the return of the wizard who murdered my parents. With some luck they might keep Voldemort from getting international support. I don't expect them to do much, but I had to try."

Vernon nodded. "So what's next?"

"I need some local currency, enough for a hotel and to spend until I leave for Japan. Do you want me to meet up with you there or…"

After a moment of consideration, Vernon replied. If he was honest with himself, the boy had made a real effort to save his career at Grunnings, even evading his inept security detail. Between that and the apparently very illegal enchanted firearm the boy had purchased to protect people that hadn't exactly welcomed him into the family with open arms… Well at the very least he could be cordial. "You can stay with us or go your own way if you want. It's your decision." Vernon paused and spoke again. "How did you learn the language?"

"I found a special shop in Diagon Alley; I know the language but I have to use it or I won't remember it when the potion fades. It wasn't cheap, but if I can find something useful in the local books it'll be worth it. I'm also hoping I won't get cheated as much if I speak the language."

"Knowing the language will help. The more you blend in, the less you'll stand out and the less people will hassle you." Vernon paused for a moment. "Don't be afraid to haggle; some places you can get better deals if you're willing to fight for it."

A few moments later they came out into a cavernous hall and their guide returned to his post. Exchanging Galleons for the local currency turned out to be easy: the new currency was slim gold coins called Serpents, probably due to the Runespoor engraved on both faces of the coin. The local currency also had silver 'Cobras' and bronze 'Kraits,' but the values were different from the currency he was used to; one silver coin was worth fifteen bronze, and one gold coin was worth fifteen silver, which was a little more straight-forward compared to back home. To Harry's surprise the local coins were enchanted by Parselmouths during the forging process with useful protection charms. In a windfall for his finances, the exchange rate that summer heavily favored the Galleon, giving him more Serpents to spend when he exchanged four hundred Galleons.

As they reached the brochures, Harry quickly collected one of each. Thankfully there were a number that included information on the various magical districts around India and instructions on how to access them. Harry pocketed most of them and quickly flipped through several that advertised local hotels. To Harry's surprise, Nagpur had a booming tourist industry and the magical district seemed huge compared to Diagon. After a few minutes he picked out a hotel that claimed to cater to both magicals and 'mundanes' and was reasonably priced. Vernon decided to join his family in the trunk while Harry rented a magic carpet for two days and set off. The flight was an entirely different sensation than any broom he'd ever used. It was slower, more relaxed with none of the adrenaline Harry felt when he used his Firebolt. Maybe I should buy one for Hermione? Shame they're illegal in Britain, and the only reason I've ever heard is that they count as a 'muggle artefact.' Arthur Weasley is a decent man, but what idiot put him in charge of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office? So there was a problem with people cursing muggle items and they ban the use of any magic on anything muggle? Like that law isn't going to be abused against muggleborn. And he's a damned hypocrite too: He helped outlaw enchanting muggle items while he enchanted his car to fly and expanded the interior.

Before long Harry's carpet arrived at the hotel he'd chosen and he drew his wand and tapped the carpet, causing it to roll up. Harry lifted the surprisingly light carpet and headed inside. Soon he'd booked a room for the night, gotten his relatives settled, and returned with especially mild food from a local restaurant next door. When the Dursleys turned their noses up at the Indian food, Harry shrugged. "This was the best I could find, there's not a lot of British food here but I'm sure you can find something better in Mumbai. If you don't like it, there's bread and fruit in the trunk."

Harry claimed his portion of the mild curry with a wide array of traditional side dishes and headed for the desk he'd set up in his trunk. Harry found himself enjoying the meal and to his amusement he overheard Dudley admit he enjoyed the curry. Before Harry knew it, he was finished and getting into bed in his tent, which he'd set up inside his trunk. It was already after nine locally and Harry had every intention of browsing the market before taking the Dursleys to a muggle hotel in Mumbai after all.

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Harry woke early and quietly left a note behind for his relatives as he left the hotel room with his rented magic carpet clutched under his arm. The Dursleys had stayed up later than he did, their dinner had been a long affair with many cups of a soothing tea Petunia had purchased in Britain. As he neared the hotel's front door Harry spoke to the sleepy young woman manning the hotel's front desk. {"Good Morning. I'm looking for a few things, first I'd like to buy a few outfits so I can blend in, then I'd like to find a place to pick up breakfast. My family isn't very adventurous but I would love to try something new."}

The teen blinked her eyes a few times and replied. {"For the clothes, do you want something fancy or…"}

Harry shook his head. {"Just something comfortable and sturdy that blends in well."}

{"Then you want Durable Clothing; it's where a lot of families get their clothes. They don't do formal wear, but they're the best at the kind of stuff you wear if you're going to the market or working at home; their clothes never really wear out. For food there's a lot of stands, but I'd recommend Early to Rise. It's a good spot if you don't have time to cook. Remember that you can just touch your wand to the rental carpet and say your destination."}

Harry bowed his head slightly, slipping the strip of paper he'd been writing on into his pocket. {"Thank you, have a nice day miss."}

Much like the Diagon map, Harry appreciated the carpet's sense of direction. As he watched the market a few feet beneath him go by, Harry took in everything he'd missed the night before, all the new sights and scents. Obviously, compared to Britain his skin color was very much a minority but what really caught his attention was the clothing. When British wizards weren't endangering the Statute with their ridiculous muggle outfits they usually wore drab colors; so much black and gray. In India the early morning shoppers were wearing a riot of every color imaginable, all gleaming in the dawn's first rays. And the scents… As Harry passed a street stand selling, well he didn't have any idea what they were selling, but Harry could pick out every spice he'd ever used and dozens more that were new to him. There were enough little stands where cooks were getting the day's foodstuffs started that the entire market was inundated with scents that made his stomach growl, and admittedly a few that made his sinuses burn.

Five minutes after leaving the hotel he was landing in front of a shop. Harry stepped inside, glad to see it was open even with the dawn just barely breaking over the horizon. Catching the attention of the homely, dark-skinned grandmotherly woman tidying up a rack of scarfs, Harry cleared his throat and spoke up. {"Excuse me ma'am. I'm looking for a few things but I'm afraid I'm entirely lost."}

Turning around to look at the young man, the saleswoman replied. {"Oh? And what can I help you with young man?"}

Harry smiled, her demeanor was warm and friendly, something that probably served her well if this was a family store. {"I'd like three sets of clothing, just something comfortable to wear while I shop for knickknacks and souvenirs to take home. I'd like two that let me blend in inside the magical areas and one that wouldn't look out of place on the mundane side. Oh, and a comfortable pair of shoes too."}

(It felt strange using a term that translated to 'mundane' instead of 'muggle,' but Harry decided to follow the local custom. Vernon had a point about blending in, the more he looked like he belonged the less people would notice him.)

The old woman glanced at Harry, looking him up and down briefly. {"That's easy enough, and won't take long. The magical outfits will draw attention in the mundane world; I use materials and dyes they just don't have. But you can wear the muggle clothes in any magical quarter without drawing attention dear. Now, let me get you measured."}

Half an hour later, Harry was very impressed at the old woman's skill with clothing charms. After she'd measured him the slightest flick of her wand seemed enough for bolts of cloth to unroll, cut in exactly the right spots, then for a dozen needles and thread to surge through the cloth, stitching it all together. As Harry counted out the five Serpents he owed her for the three outfits, a sturdy belt, new shoes, and a pair of enchanted sandals her smirk told Harry that she took pride in her skill. As he left the store behind, he looked over the clothes in his bag. All of them were cotton, which would make them cool despite the warm days and the ones made to be used in the magical quarters even had a charm to keep him comfortable in the heat or cold. Harry's new mundane clothes were a long cream-colored outer coat called a Sherwani that reached just below his knees with white khakis and a white undershirt that couldn't be seen. Despite the two layers, Harry was promised that the cotton material would allow air to flow through and keep him cool. His magical clothes were much more colorful and gleamed in the light; he'd purchased a second bright emerald Sherwani embroidered in gold with matching sea-green pants and a long embroidered brilliant copper Kurta shirt with golden pants that glittered in the sunlight. All the clothes were a little large, which was why he needed the belt. Hopefully I won't outgrow them before I get back to Britain.

Harry was wearing the simple cream Sherwani and new sandals out and he was astonished how comfortable the new clothing was. I'm definitely keeping these in my closet from now on. I might not get to wear these clothes in Little Whinging, but they are far too comfortable to get rid of, no matter what my uncle says. Pleased with his first purchase Harry ordered his carpet onwards, to breakfast. Reaching the stand and finding it very busy, Harry waited patiently and ordered a simple but hearty breakfast, choosing flatbread with an interesting filling and a kind of savory crepes. Knowing his relatives, Harry bought twice what a normal family would eat, and started eating some of the flatbread as his carpet flew back to the hotel. Harry nodded at the sleepy girl manning the front desk and offered her a steaming cup of Chai, (a strange milk-based tea) one of the five steaming hot cups he'd purchased with breakfast.

The Dursleys were just stumbling out of bed when Harry arrived at the room's table and began setting out breakfast. Despite Vernon's grumbling about the Chai tea not being a match for a good English leaf he still finished his cup and looked much more alert afterwards. Personally Harry enjoyed the tea and was planning to get the recipe before he left. Dudley spoke up as he demolished another helping of flatbread, despite complaining about the taste. "What are you wearing?"

Harry shrugged. "Something to help me fit in. When you're ready we can check out and head for Mumbai. I'll get you all to a hotel near the airport where you can stay until your flight. The magical government took care of your entry paperwork, but do not draw attention to the fact that you arrived before your flight left. The Statute of Secrecy is enforced vigorously."

Soon breakfast was finished and Harry led the group downstairs to find that a middle-aged man with sharp features and dark skin had taken over the front desk. Harry walked over to him and decided to make it worth his while placed a gold Serpent on the desk between them. {"Good morning. I need to get my mundane relatives to Mumbai, do you happen to know the best way?"}

After a quick glance at the coin on the counter, the man replied. {"You could head out to the mundane side and take a train, but those tend to be cramped and hot unless you get lucky and find one of the luxury coaches. I don't know the schedule though. I'd actually recommend Carpet Adventures, they do flying carpet rentals that can take you anywhere in India. Anything else I can help you with?"}

Harry nodded. {"I'll only be in India for a few days, maybe a week. I'm hoping to find some magic I wouldn't see in Britain. Some fun stuff, but also things like Warding, Dueling, and things like that."}

The clerk took another look at the young man. With a close inspection he noticed the boy was wearing makeup on his forehead and his hair was probably dyed. So he was probably not a normal tourist. After a moment of thought, the man glanced at the paper the boy was using to write out places to visit and the gold coin he was offering. {"For fun stuff, you're heading for the right place. Mumbai's magical district has a few shops most teens visit at one point or another, you should go to Sensual Pleasures. You're underage so they won't let you in, but you can go to the side door and ask for a starter kit. Trust me, you won't regret it. There's also a second-hand store in Mumbai, Lucky Find. They sell all kinds of trinkets and things from estate sales; it's all safe, they keep a cursebreaker on staff. You might find something useful. Hmm. How do you feel about non-human magical species?"}

{"I don't mind them, as long as they don't try to kill me."}

The clerk chuckled. {"Sounds like there's a story there. If you have time, you should check out Naga Nagri, Serpent City. It's one of India's all-magical towns, and the majority of the non-human species in India live there; lots of neat Parseltongue magic there, something you won't see anywhere else. Over the summer you can find tutors teaching all kinds of traditional Indian magic there for a few coins; some of them are students trying to make some spending money and some of them are older folks who just enjoy teaching. The town's bookstore is the best place to get new prints of all kinds of old spellbooks, they translate them into modern Hindi from all sorts of languages too. Some of the things you'd find there are illegal in most other countries, but they're still interesting. That's my advice, there's a lot of shops here in Nagpur but mostly the books are sanitized for students and tourists; the stuff they offer can be gotten anywhere."}

Harry dipped his head in respect and slid the coin to the clerk. {"Thank you for the information, have a nice day sir."}

{You as well, young man."}

With that, Harry checked out and led the Dursleys out of the hotel. As he unfurled his rented carpet, Harry turned to his relatives. "So, we have two options to get to Mumbai. The first is about 600 miles on a crowded train without any air conditioning, or we could take a climate controlled magic carpet and probably get there in a few hours while riding in luxury."

Dudley, who was already starting to sweat in the strong morning sunlight, spoke up before his parents could object. "I'll take the carpet."

Grudgingly, the other two Dursleys agreed and Harry stepped onto his rented carpet. "Well then, all aboard. Unless you jump off, you can't fall off, there's a charm on the carpet." After a moment everyone was on, and Harry knelt and pressed his wand to the rug. {"Carpet Adventures."}

Despite the obvious fear, the three muggles managed to stand still as the rented carpet rose into the air and wove through the huge shopping area. Harry simply stood still and took in the scents and sounds of a place entirely unlike Britain. Soon they came to a business at the edge of the magical district and Harry led the way to the travel office. A few moments later he stepped back out and commanded his rented rug to return home; he and the Dursleys watched it shoot up into the air and return to the portkey terminal. Harry shrugged and led them to a smaller building behind the main office where they found a man sitting behind a desk with dozens of rolled-up carpets sitting behind him. Harry handed him the purchase stub and the man looked at it and got up. A moment later he returned with a sky-blue carpet that perfectly mimicked the morning sky. In an obviously long-memorized lecture, the man explained the carpet's functions and features. Harry had sprung for the deluxe model that included everything from cooling charms to a spell that kept the breeze from blowing over papers and beverages. The charms that kept India's mundane citizens from noticing were of course standard on all flying carpets.

Harry followed the man outside and watched him roll out the carpet. As he did, a couch, comfortable chairs, and a low table popped up, like a children's folding book. With a gesture, Harry beckoned the Dursleys to step on and he joined them. With a wave to the attendant, Harry pressed his wand to the twenty by thirty foot carpet and spoke clearly. "Mumbai."

They rose up into the air, the carpet oriented itself to face southwest and then it started moving forward. They were moving slowly at first, but the carpet gradually sped up until they were moving at a rather good clip. There was a charm that kept most of the wind from bothering them, but it still let a cool breeze through. Harry relaxed into one of the chairs and put his feet up on the low table. "Okay, we'll get there in about four hours. Four and a half if we have to fight a headwind." Harry gestured to the small shed at the back of the tent. "If you need the loo, that little room is bigger on the inside. Make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the ride. Let me know if you see something that looks dangerous."

With that, the Dursleys took seats and joined Harry in watching the countryside flash by below them. After half an hour, Harry got tired of watching farmland fly by beneath them and stepped into his trunk for a moment. He returned with the Japanese workbook and an ice chest he'd filled with drinks before leaving the Dursleys. He was glad he'd taken a moment to fill the chest with ice before checking out of their hotel as he pulled out a coke and started sipping it as he started the workbook.

Four hours later Harry noticed they were slowing down and put the chest and his workbook away. Stretching his stiff shoulders, he watched as they slowly came down for a landing in Mumbai's magical district. Once they landed, he accepted a brochure listing all the shops and amenities in the district before leading his relatives to the nearest exit. Stopping at a currency exchange near the edge, Harry traded a few galleons for enough mundane currency to at least pay for a taxi. Flagging down a taxi was a bit of an adventure and they ended up needing to visit two hotels before they found one with staff that spoke English, but soon Harry was saying goodbye to his relatives for the time being. To his surprise, Vernon spoke up just before Harry walked out of the hotel. "Harry. We'll be staying at the Hilton Tokyo from July fourth to the thirteenth while I finalize the deal for Grunnings. You can join us at any time, just ask for the Grunnings party at the front desk. But I understand if you would rather spend the summer with your own kind."

Harry didn't really have any idea what to make of that, so he just waved and left instead. After flagging down another taxi, Harry found himself back in the magical district. Without all his attention focused on shepherding his relatives through the magical settlement, Harry took the time to take in the atmosphere. Superficially it was much like the magical district in Nagpur, but the mood was different. (If Harry was more traveled, he'd say Mumbai had the air of a carnival or party.) To Harry's surprise, he could smell even more spices and strange scents in the air than in Nagpur. It only took him a few moments to find a restaurant for a late lunch, (a French-style bistro) then Harry made his way to the second-hand shop the hotel's clerk had recommended. While the storefront wasn't anything special, inside the shop was huge, orderly, and meticulously clean. Harry decided to browse, and ended up spending two hours rummaging through the utterly fascinating shop. It's like Borgin and Burkes without the dark magic!

For the most part, the store was full of various knickknacks, but it also had sections dedicated to books, old wands, and a long line of paintings along the back wall. Harry tried the various wands, but none of them worked for him at all. He almost walked away, but then he had an idea. Pettigrew had me mostly helpless because he took my wand, but what if I'd had a decoy? Unless you know exactly what my wand looks like, anyone searching me would assume this wand with the dead core is mine. He also picked up a couple of knickknacks, a few the twins would enjoy taking apart to understand the trick and an old but meticulously maintained broom along with an expanded lunchbox with a preservation charm for Ron. He even found a forearm wand holster that fit him perfectly, and added it to the pile of things he was collecting. But it was in the book section where Harry really started his collection.

Without hesitation Harry snapped up books on curses, dueling, warding, and a pair of books covering the useful household charms and one that was full of spells for the bedroom. (While he was terribly awkward around girls, he was still a teenage boy.) Harry blushed profusely as he paid for his collection when the cute female clerk winked at him as she recorded the items he was buying. He glanced at the final price and tried to haggle, but he was hesitant and only managed to get it down a single Serpent after the clerk admitted his new decoy wand had a dead core and nearly gave it away; still he felt like he'd gotten a good deal, escaping the shop with his spoils for only nineteen golden Serpents and five silver Snakes. Altogether he'd collected fourteen books and as he set them down in a corner of his trunk he made a note to pick up some shelves. Feeling pleased with himself, Harry got out the map of business locations and made his way to the other place that had been recommended for him.

As he worked his way through the crowds, he noticed a magical optometrist and decided to step inside on a whim. In that visit Harry learned more about magical eye care than he had in the rest of the four years he'd been in the magical world combined. Feeling a little shell-shocked, Harry walked out of the shop with a pair of self-adjusting glasses in a new style marveling at how much he could see. He also walked out with a box of seven potions clearly marked with dates and times; each potion would improve his eyesight slightly and after he took the final potion at seven-thirty Universal Standard Time on September 23rd, he would have perfect eyesight. (He made a mental note to buy an enchanted watch with an alarm.) Harry thought it was interesting that the last potion had to be taken at the equinox, the moment when exactly half the planet was in light and half was in shadow. As he continued on, he reflected that forty gold Serpents was a small price to pay for perfect eyesight.

After ten minutes spent leisurely strolling through the shopping district Harry realized exactly why he wouldn't be allowed to enter 'Kamuk Anand,' if a name that translated to 'Sensual Pleasures' hadn't been enough of a clue. Judging by the signs and its location a little off the main thoroughfare, it wasn't just a sex shop but also seemed to be a brothel. Still, Harry was a teenage male and he was curious enough about what a 'starter kit' might contain so he made his way to the obvious side door and knocked. To his surprise, it wasn't a human that answered, but a creature that, according to Hogwarts' DADA, was a known predator of wizards. As he looked at the breathtakingly beautiful woman with perfect, pale human skin over a body that literally made him drool he took in her pitch-black inhuman features; the curved horns sprouting from her forehead above her eyes, bat-like wings jutting out from her shoulder blades, a long tail with a spaded tip, and fingernails that were very clearly claws.

In a split second, Harry had drawn his wand and spoken. "You're a succubus!"

Replying to him in English with only a faint hint of an accent, the succubus replied. "Yes, I am. My name is Dali. Are you here to point that out or is there something I can do for you?"

Harry blushed, feeling oddly embarrassed. "Uh, someone told me I should come here and ask for a 'starter kit?'"

"Well, we certainly sell plenty of those over the summer. Have a conversation with me for a few minutes so I can figure out which one fits you best."

Harry gradually lowered his wand, becoming convinced that the succubus wasn't about to try eating him. "How does that work?"

Giving him an indulgent smile, she replied. "Succubi are masters of sex and everything involved. With only a few moments of conversation or physical contact we can get a read of anyone and understand their wants, their desires, and their secret kinks even better than they do. Even the parts of their minds they refuse to acknowledge or don't know about."

Harry nodded. "That explains your choice in career. I thought your species killed wizards through sex, that you needed to in order to survive. Is that wrong?"

The breathtakingly beautiful shopkeeper replied after a few long seconds where she shifted her body, dragging Harry's eyes exactly where she wanted them with a smile on her face. "My people do need magic and sexual fluids to survive. While we can kill to get what we need, only idiot succubi do that anymore." Seeing Harry's confusion, she continued. "I have the choice of draining a wizard to death, taking everything he has, and that will keep me fed for a couple of weeks. A month, maybe, if he was unusually powerful. Or I can have sex with four or five wizards a week, drain them just enough that they can barely stand, show them what a real carnal creature is capable of and leave them wondering if the reason they can't walk straight is from my meal or if the sex was just that good. If I chose to kill, it's very easy to draw attention and even run out of wizards in a small town. But if I choose to just nibble, just draw a little of what I need… Well those wizards will be tired for a few days, but odds are good that they'll come back later all on their own. Hell, sometimes they'll even bring their girlfriends with them. 'Nibbling' is also so much more fun."

"That makes a lot of sense. I apologize, my school failed to mention any of that."

She shrugged, the motion dragging Harry's eyes to her chest and the fact that she wasn't wearing a bra. (Truthfully, she was just barely wearing a shirt and shorts. The thin fabric hid almost nothing and revealed every feature as if the cloth had been painted on.) "I don't know about the rest of the world, but my people's peaceful coexistence with wizards has been around for close to a century. My mother taught me how to take just enough not to harm my target and I've taught each of my daughters. I'm very proud that my daughters are the first succubi to attend Ekta, India's most prestigious magical school. Not only have they been attending for five years now, but they're doing their part to increase India's magical population. If I remember right your homeland has thirty or forty thousand magicals, about one wizard or witch for every three and a half thousand mundanes; in India we have a magical for every eight-hundred mundanes. That means we have over a million magical citizens."

Harry blinked, not expecting that and trying to avoid thinking about just how Succubi were responsible for that. "I suppose increasing the population is good for both them and you. India gets more witches and wizards and your people get more targets to stay fed."

The sales-succubus smiled warmly. "Exactly. My people help pair witches and wizards together, help them build happy, productive families, and in turn India's laws ensure we're protected and get what we need to survive. But it isn't always easy: The west's values have been spreading like poison; it isn't enough that they're destroying their culture and making themselves miserable, but they're also trying to shove it down everyone else's throats. Sex and its consequences are a healthy and essential part of life; you can try to ignore the instincts that drive every creature on Earth if you want but it will only leave you stressed, miserable, and lonely." The woman leaned in and took a deep breath through her nose. "I think I know exactly what you need." Leaning back into the store she shouted for a moment before dropping her voice down to a normal level. {"Luciella! Fetch me a number twenty starter kit and a copy of the Magus Council testimony from eighty-nine!"} Turning back to Harry, she continued. "Normally I don't share what I read from people like a fortune teller, but business is slow today. Would you like to know what you really want, boy?"

Harry considered for only a moment before replying. "Sure."

She smiled broadly as Harry heard someone bustling around behind her. "I'm glad to hear it. First, the thing you want more than anything else is a big family to love you. You hunger for the love of a family with lots of happy, content kids. But you also want to be respected, to be obeyed, to have your wife or wives submit to you." Seeing his expression, she continued. "There's nothing wrong with that! Until the last hundred years, nearly every culture on Earth expected its women to submit to their husbands. Unless you're secretly a cruel, petty tyrant, I suspect you will make some women very happy as they kneel in front of you." Glancing round the alley as if to check for anyone overhearing, the succubus leaned closer and spoke in a whisper. "Here's a secret for you. The west's huge culture shift? Feminism? It isn't making your women happier or more content. Which was supposedly the whole reason for the damn movement in the first place! Give a woman a comfortable home and children to love and you'd be surprised how content they are; those westerners endlessly chase careers or wealth or status only to realize their lives are empty, lonely, and meaningless when it's far too late."

Harry paused, feeling conflicted. Before he could say something, she continued. "Never be afraid to be yourself. I can tell you've led an awful life, you've had a weight pushing down on you for a long time and that has made you hesitant. I don't know if anyone has ever told you this, but you are a good person. As a being with the ability to read people and thousands of readings to compare, let me say that again. Kid, you are a good person. You deserve a family that loves you and wives that respect you. And one last thing: You want a mate that will stand by your side through fire and blood, you want a mate that will be your support when you need a shoulder to lean on, you want a mate to be the tender, loving mother you never had for your children, and you want a mate that will cover your flaws while you cover hers. Don't be afraid to take more than one wife; for a wizard with your potential only having one would be a travesty! And you do have such potential… Don't get me wrong, you'll come to nothing without sweat and blood, but if you apply yourself and use that mind of yours to its full potential? Sky's the limit boy."

As she showed Harry the bill of sale for the nondescript sealed box with the number twenty on it, she seemed to come to a decision. "Here, before you go, let me do you a small favor." Taking the receipt before Harry could count out the four gold Serpents and three silver Snakes he owed, she withdrew a pen from… somewhere, and started writing on the back. "Here. You should spend at least a day or two in Naga Nagri and visit these shops, 'Prani Sathi' and 'Gupt Gyan.' Show the owners this note and they will let you browse a few things the general public doesn't get to see; you might find something useful."

With that, Harry thanked her and paid for the box. As he left, he was curious what her note would get him at 'Creature Companions' and 'Secret Knowledge.' Harry wandered the shopping district for a while, but nothing else really attracted his interest. He was tempted to buy his own flying carpet, but the ones he saw didn't appeal to him and they seemed overpriced; it didn't help that they were illegal in Britain. I might as well move on then. I want to find a tutor in Naga Nagri, even if I don't know what I want to learn yet. With a decision made, Harry just had to decide how to get there. It's odd how India doesn't have a public Floo system, just a few private connections between government offices. I could take their version of the Knight bus but it's twice the cost of renting a carpet and these flying carpets are growing on me. I'll have to rent one that's been enchanted for inter-city travel, but the brochure I read in the taxi said the small ones are pretty cheap and I can order it down at any time. Between the anti-muggle enchantments on the carpets and the tent, I could camp anywhere and not be disturbed. Good thing I sprung for the animal and insect repelling wards on my tent.

As he slowly wandered back to the local carpet rental, Harry came across a small international food stand that smelled wonderful. Looking at the massive menu, Harry decided to try something he'd never had before and ordered a Gyro. Leaning against a wall nearby, Harry tucked in and discovered another new flavor that he deeply enjoyed. Resisting the urge to lick the greasy paper, instead Harry tossed it into the nearest bin and went back to the stand. With a smirk on his face, Harry spoke to the cashier. {"I'd like one of everything on your menu."}

It took Harry a while to pack all of the food into his tent's food storage and the enchanted lunchbox he'd bought for Ron but at least he'd be good on food for a while. Preservation enchantments were wonderful, they even kept food cold or hot. After ensuring everything was tucked away, Harry returned to the carpet rental. He was glad the smaller one-person carpet he was renting was a hell of a lot cheaper than the one he'd taken to Mumbai. As he was leaving he spoke to the clerk. {"Just to be clear, I can land the carpet for the night in the middle of some field and the mundanes won't see me, right? I'm… uh, meeting someone along the way."}

The clerk looked at Harry for a moment and chuckled. {"Hmm, meeting your sweetheart someplace out of the way? You can control this carpet directly while standing or when you sit it will take you to whatever city you choose, simply press your wand and give it a destination. Don't worry about returning it, if you leave it outside it will return to our rental on its own when the week you paid for is up. If you don't leave it outside you'll have a hole in your wall."}

Harry nodded and waved as he set off. Controlling the carpet took some effort, but Harry enjoyed the challenge as he directed the carpet east. A broom was much more physical, his Firebolt was like a living thing he had to wrestle to go in one direction or another. But this carpet only took a little guidance from his feet, the rest was an effort of will. Screw Britain's idiotic laws. If I can find a good deal for a flying carpet I'll buy one. A few miles outside the city, Harry sat down and pressed his real wand into the soft fabric. {"Naga Nagri."}

Onwards to 'Serpent City!'

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A few hours after night fell in Little Whinging, Daedalus Diggle began to get nervous. He'd expected the Dursleys to return after only a few hours and he'd yet to see Harry move from where he was sleeping in his bed. He could knock on the door and ask Harry if he knew where his relatives were, but Dumbledore had insisted that they were not to have any contact with him. So Daedalus continued his vigil over an empty house for two more hours until he was relieved by Elphias Doge. Under a privacy charm, he informed his replacement that Harry was sleeping upstairs and that the Dursleys were out. With his duty concluded, he apparated to Number 12 and entered the house. There wasn't a meeting tonight, but he managed to catch Arthur Weasley and speak to him as he raided the icebox for something to eat. With that done, he wrote out a short report and sent it to Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts through the Floo.

When the next shift change six hours later occurred with no sign of the Dursleys or any signs of life inside Number 4, Elphias apparated to London and sent a messenger patronus to Alastor Moody. Moody, having a bit more common sense, immediately apparated to Private Drive and looked into Harry's bedroom with his magical eye. After a few seconds wasted cursing, Moody sent out a pair of messenger patroni. "Wake up! Potter and his family are gone!"

Two ethereal hawks sped away, one going to Number 12 while the other raced to Hogwarts. Moody spent a few moments peering into the house while casting a bevy of detection spells, finding no trace of dark magic. Stymied for the time being, he apparated to Number 12 to find it in chaos as the Order rushed to assemble and begin the work of finding Potter.

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Omake: Familiar Faces

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As he was working his way through the crowds in Mumbai, Harry froze and turned to look at a face down the street. You know, I could swear that was Parvati. Eh, probably not, there's no way I stumbled onto the only person with Indian heritage I know in a nation this size, even if she does visit during the summer.

About a block away as Harry turned away, Parvati turned and saw his face. Speaking to her sister, she spoke up. "Padma, I swear I just saw Harry Potter with dyed hair in an off-white Sherwani. Look, over there!"

Padma rolled her eyes and kept moving towards the fancy restaurant their entire extended family would be dining at that evening. "You're seeing things sis, there's no way Harry's traveled halfway around the world. You said you've heard Granger complaining he's never allowed to leave Britain."

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A/N: The opinions of the succubus original character came about in this way: What would make a species of succubi make sense, what would give them a connection to the old myths and such while still making them a race of beings who can contribute to society if they choose to. Answer: They're sex vampires, but they can choose (with practice) how much energy/magic/life to drain from their victims. How do they contribute to society? And why would they want to do anything constructive at all? Answer: Their reason for contributing is for their own benefit. By feeding lightly from multiple people, they can survive without destroying the magical population. So they choose to contribute to magical society by encouraging it to grow. They serve as relationship guides, nudging the right wizard and the right witch together because they want as many magical children born as possible. They're not above poking holes in condoms either, but they'll guide the expecting parents into a stable, loving relationship so that they'll have a big family and the succubus in question can move on to the next couple. That benefits them directly by increasing the chances they and their daughters will get what they need to thrive.

So, Dali isn't a feminist at all. Her survival and the survival of her daughters directly depends on a large population of magicals. In fact, she'd prefer if all witches were dedicated mothers. Dali would look at Molly Weasley and chide her into having more kids.

If anyone complains about the 'values' of my succubi characters, I will simply point out that they are, in fact, succubi and remind complainers that they are barely-tame monsters and have probably only escaped being wiped out by their wits and wiles.

Please leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter! I enjoy each and every one! This story is now current with my Ao3 account.