Chapter 6

Behind the Scenes

It was just as his foot touched down on the bottom landing of the stairs did Harrison remember the reason behind the feeling of having forgotten something right after leaving the room. He turned abruptly on his heel with a curse only to smack right into something- or rather someone. He blinked at the sight of a boy he didn't recognize standing a step above him. Harrison wrapped a hand around the kid's throat when his eyes met the completely blacked out ones of this unknown boy. "You got some creepy eyes, kid."

"Now that is a rude thing to say, Master."

"Death?" Harrison asked as the skin under his hand felt warm rather than the usual bone cold. "Did you steal some poor kid's body?"

"Is it not a fitting sin?"

It came off as a question but the raven could clearly hear the amusement in the Entity's borrowed voice. He released his hold and patted the human husk's shoulder as he stepped around them to head back upstairs. "You've gained quite the funny bone since I've been here. Dumbledore is here by the way, I almost forgot that was to-" Harrison only got a few steps up on the staircase before he smacked into the same body again. "Oi, what gives?"

"You can not intervene."

"What?" Harrison nearly growled.

Death pushed back on its Master's chest, ignoring the warning grip around their wrist, until the raven was stumbling backward into the wall at the end of the staircase landing. Those blackened eyes boring into confused gray tinged with annoyance. "Fate will not allow it, there are still guidelines to be kept."

"You're telling me the strongest of the entities has to follow rules?" Harrison tried to move the hand on his chest without any luck whatsoever despite the borrowed body being a few inches shorter and slimmer than his own. "What bullshit."

"Balance is key."

"You knew I wanted to mess with Dumbledore's magic introduction. Why didn't you say I couldn't do so earlier?"

"It will not hinder your plans." Death remained completely unswayed by the disapproving glare. "I have finished off the other tasks, if that eases your ire."

"Muggle studies teacher?"

"Yes."

The annoyance prickling under Harrison's skin seemed to indeed lessen. Riddle's first interaction with the two-faced headmaster was something he had wanted to take from the old coot so bad. The moment had two life changing factors. One, Tom would know he can do magic and is a part of a whole different type of world. Two, Albus Dumbledore found the perfect scapegoat to mold. The old man probably did not have that intention in mind when arriving here but the idea had taken root with Tom's confession of bad deeds and ability to talk to snakes. Harrison hadn't been sure if it was possible to control who would be the one to take Riddle to Diagonally but it seemed Death had worked out a way. He relaxed against the wall not minding the weight of hand anymore. "Is my name down?" A nod. "Bank setup?"

"Your magical presence is required to finish the process."

"When was Tom taken to get his supplies the first time around?"

"A week before departure."

"So we have some time." The raven crossed their arms loosely over their stomach feeling more relaxed toward the postive news of his plans going smoothly. "Is he going to put a tracker on him like he did me?"

"No."

"Must be nice to get some freedom." Harrison mumbled a tad bitterly. When he was Harry Potter he had no freedom, all his movements were watched after that halloween night. He wasn't sure how he missed the obvious clue that was literally shoved in his face in the form of his Hogwarts's acceptance letter. Cupboard under the stairs…tch. "Since they're gonna be awhile take me to the Godric property."

"As my master wishes."

"You're so funny." Harrison's sarcastic remark echoed in the empty space.

Godric's Hollow was a magical little town that looked not much different from its future self minus a few under developments that came with modern times. Harrison had visited the small town around the two month mark upon his return to the past on a curious whim more than any real interest of actually staying. He had needed a personal space away from unwanted eyes to get the velocity of his plan further going and unexpectedly found it in a golden deal encased in ironic irony. The brick structure that would house the parents of the future Harry Potter was in a similar condition to its post Halloween state of 1981; which Harrison found rather funny. Apparently whoever had started the building process ended up abandoning the property after a death in their family during construction. However this worked out in the raven's favor as a recorded death, even in the magical world, lowered the price of the property entirely. It also didn't help the property's value that the house had been left in a half finished state which allowed for considerable weather damage to accumulate as no one thought to put a protective ward around the lot. Either way it was perfect for what Harrison needed and the location being pretty much in Dumbledore's own backyard was its own type of camouflage.

Following the ownership came the legal permission to put a concealment ward around the whole lot. Harrison hadn't been aware that was something to be filed as Dumbledore had done the same to the Black family home when the Order of the Phoenix resided within it. The old man had placed the concealment on the house without the Ministry's knowledge nor permission. He found it ironic how Dumbledore frowned at others for doing wrong but did not bother to hold himself accountable for his own ill actions. Then again that was typical Dumbledore to those who knew the truth of the man behind the facade. It really was a huge boon to be the Master of Death as nothing could go against nor detect the Entity's own brand of magic. Thus it allowed Harrison to easily gain what he needed legitimately without anyone becoming truly aware of his existence. It had taken quite the amount of sneaky trips out of the orphanage with Death over the course of a few months to get the house's construction finished but it was worth it. Harrison was now at the final stage of the property's overall completion; embedding magic enhancing rune stones into the lot's underground structure. This would essentially bring the house to a somewhat sentinate level and also act as a safeguard in the future with the boost of cultivated magic. The raven's next step in his long term plan was his least favorite; potion storage filled to the brim of what he would need for the present, possible scenarios, and future plans that had yet to be set in stone. That alone had taken enough time that Harrison easily concluded he could not do it alone if he wanted to hit the deadline he had set himself.

So that had sent him off on an impromptu trip to the Ministry to obtain a house elf.

Krisp was a unit as far as Harrison was concerned. That house elf had the utmost dedication to its Master's orders and wellbeing without need of further prompting or question. The little guy reminded Harrison of Doby just without the questionable, if well meant, tendencies. When they first met face to face in the home's entrance hall, without the magical assistance to age Harrison, Krisp had been rather surprised to know their master was actually a child. The elf had the logical sensibilities to want to report a magical child living alone but was prevented from doing so thanks to Harrison's pressing not to do so and the terrifying presence of Death in disguise. The only other huge hurdle to get over happened a month and some weeks after their binding when Harrison forgot to command Krisp not to disturb him and the elf had poofed into the spare basement room he had been in.

Both had shared a look of utter surprise over the bleeding body.

Krisp had no aversions to harmful means having been on the receiving end by previous masters but the violent acts done by Harrison was something else; more so during the times when Harrison didn't bother to change into his adult form before shedding blood. Harrison of course dealt with Krisp's fearful reaction to his form of stress relief after getting tired of having the elf always being cautious and walking on eggshells around him. The raven decided to explain everything he had been through before the time travel in a summarized clump to the elf. The coated words shifted Krisp's take on the situation surprisingly quickly. It was for the best even if it meant being seen as a traumatized child who took out their repeated history of abuse onto others. Harrison didn't bother to correct that notion as it seemed to help ease the elf along with the realization that Kirsp's new master would never punish him without valid reason. Krisp no longer even batted an eye when Harrison showed up with a body; be it unconscious or walking into the house behind his master under false pretenses. He had grown quite fond of Harrison over the time under the young wizard's ownership to where Krisp tended to sometimes forget the fact their master was actually a grown adult in the body of a child.

Harrison didn't mind the nannying-like care sometimes as Krisp seemed to have a sixth's sense of when and when not to be. So when he arrived in the house's living room the elf had shoved a tray of finger foods under Harrison's nose prompting him to have a few before any work was to be done. Harrison had no complaints as the food at the orphanage was minimal and Krisp could cook something delicious out of barely anything. "Thank you, Krisp."

"Krisp did not know Master would be bringing a guest l-"

"Death's just inhabiting this kid's body." The raven jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the kid standing behind him. He was glad the elf had gotten used to being around an unworldly being and Death had no reaction to the loyal creature either.

Of course the first time Death had revealed its true self Krisp had died instantly of shock. Harrison had felt pretty bad about it while Death was utterly amused; even after it brought the elf back to life. Like with Harrison's warped form of therapy it took some time before Krisp relaxed around the Entity, it helped a lot in learning its new master was the Master of Death, another shock for sure but less life threatening.

The entity had taken to calling Harrison by name whenever Krisp was around though. Harrison figured it was because Death wasn't too fond of the idea of calling him by the same title as a tiny creature the entity dubbed to be of similar significance as an ant to a human. "How are things going here?"

"Master will be pleased to know Krisp has finished the house." Krisp sent the tray away with a snap of boney fingers once a few mini sandwiches were consumed. At least attempted to until Death's magic overrode the elf's and had the tray hover by their borrowed form. "All the young Master needs to do is attune to the house as owner."

"Is there something else?" Harrison asked when he noted the small fidgeting.

"Krisp is sorry Master!"

"Explain first."

So the elf did.

Apparently someone had snuck into the house in some animal form. Krisp had swiftly captured the trespasser and kept them locked in the basement until his master's next visit. Harrison changed his appearance into his future adult version before heading to the lower level with Krisp at the lead and Death trailing behind with zero interest beyond the tray of mini sandwiches. The three entered the basement; green flames busting to life alongside the walls every few feet. Krisp guided them past the main room of the basement where Harrison had set up a big potions laboratory to one of the archways that dipped down into a kind of lower sub level. There were three of these archways in the main basement area; one was in use as a ritual room and the other an oversized storage space for ingredients.

"Have they said anything?"

"No, master." Krisp opened the deceivingly heavy door with a simple snap before going into a small bow for their master to enter.

Harrison pointed to the unconscious figure. "Are they due soon?"

"End of old age."

"Any issues?"

Death's smile was a lethal glint even when set in the face of a child. "None."

The responding smile was just as dark.

No further time was wasted as a silencing ward wet up and the room was bathed in better lighting. The unconscious figure was forced into a kneeling position in the center of the empty space before being forced awake. The man groaned, struggling to shake off the magic induced sleepiness, their eyes finally blinking into focus. They first stared at the stone floor in confusion then to the right and left before directly in front; startling at the sight of another man was crouched right in front of them. "What- who are you?"

"Someone who isn't about to regret their choices last night."

"Did you kidnap me?" The man's confusion was turning into anger. "HOW DARE-"

"You know it's rude to accuse someone without proof, right?"

The man opened their mouth with a retort but the raven gave them no time to speak. He dug magically sharpened nails into their chest cavity and dragged his hand downward causing the hooked flesh to rip open. The screams easily bounced off the basement walls in a fizzling out muffle only to then be absorbed by the ward.

Harrison swiped the flecks of blood that landed upon his cheek away after pulling his nails from the man's chest. He pressed the blood stained fingers against those fresh dagged gashes. "There, now you don't come off as an asshole."

It was clear the man only half heard as they were still struggling to breathe through the audio of pain expelling from their lungs. Their body attempted to curl in on itself in some form of self comfort but it was then the man seemed to realize they were pinned in place. Panic over washed whatever anger the guy previously had; they began to struggle against whatever was holding them causing more blood to seep out of the scars.

Harrison tilted his head a bit when some form of words managed to enter the air from the intruder. "Hmm?"

"Wh…why…?"

"I'd like to know that too." The raven waved his hand indicating their surroundings. "This is my place you see, and it's quite annoying to find someone utterly unwelcomed- never mind not even invited, inside it." He poked the man's chest right on one of the still bleeding wounds. "So… any reason why I shouldn't take further action, hm?"

The man seemed to regain their bearings as the relying words came out more coherent. "I was drunk…i-it was a mistak-"

"Hmm, yeah. We all make mistakes when drunk." Harrison chuckled a bit while sitting back on his haunches."What were you drinking?"

"F-Firewhiskey."

"Bring me a bottle."

Krisp popped out of existence bringing the man's attention to the fact there were others within the room. His eyes widened upon seeing a child behind the crouched man. They barely looked any older than 10 and were just eating something from a floating tray like nothing wrong was going on. What had this man put that child through to be so unaffected? The man looked back at the adult in front of him with a renewed feeling that helped dull the pain in his chest. As if sensing the change Harrison raised a singular brow in mild curiosity but made no comment as the house elf came back with a bottle of Firewhiskey.

"Appreciate it." Harrison took the bottle while standing up. "Proceed with protocol Red." He paused momentarily to open the bottle; already able to feel the house locking itself up as instructed. "No better therapy than aggression release, or so I heard among the Auras."

"You're a ministry official!?"

"Used to be, you could say."

"You won't get away with this!" The man suddenly shouted; anger returning to them at the information. No Aura would cause bodily damage to another person for such a minor incident. Far as the man knew this person was a corrupt official. Their glare set upon the maniac in righteous indignation. "I will have your job and ass put into Azkaban!"

"Sure sure, if you can survive this."

The man's eyes narrowed. "Survie what?"

Harrison planted his foot upon the guy's shoulder forcing them to fall backward and rested his elbow on his somewhat raised knee. His other hand still holding the bottle tilted so the alcohol poured over the bloodied scars. Instantly filling the room with an agonizing symphony from the man's throat as the liquid burned the open wounds intensely. Green eyes glowed eerily as they bore down at the crying form with a sardonic smile. "My therapy session."

A/N:

Kinda just an Info-dump chapter

But eh- y'all finally know what else Harrsion has been up to when not around others