Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
In the comforts of his private room, sparse save for long strings of parchment and a poster or two, he slowly contemplated his life at Hogwarts as he prepared his trunk.
Harry Baker was not a particularly gifted wizard, he knew that ever since he first stepped inside the brown oak doors of Hogwarts. He could feel it deep inside the marrow of his skinny little bones.
It wasn't rocket science for him to figure out, he lagged behind a good bit of peers grade wise, he found homework dreadfully dull, sometimes it was hard to concentrate in class, other times it was hard to concentrate at all.
He had never felt particularly jealous of others for their success and talents. Only a deep seated inadequacy in himself that he couldn't do better. It clung to him in every class he went to but he never once allowed it to show.
Harry Baker wasn't the hating kind.
Harry was also good at acting but don't tell anyone, it was a secret.
He had learned to live with it ever since his disappointment from his first year where he struggled to keep up, slowly losing ground before gradually only being a bit ahead of people like Crabbe and Goyle.
Distraught, that same winter he had made the journey back home to his uncle in tears and he had comforted him, telling him that it was okay. That soon he wouldn't have to worry about that at all. That he would one day be the greatest wizard to walk the earth.
This wasn't about him however, it was about Harry's most recent failure that had admittedly hurt quite a bit.
It had taken him quite some time to gather the immense amount of courage, especially considering how little of it he had but he had confessed to a girl he had liked just a week ago.
Yes, little Harry Baker at 14 years of age had for the first time in his measly life, outdone his peers and had professed his affection for a girl he liked. The very first one to have done so.
Of course to rouse such a thing from the overwise below average boy it had to be someone truly stunning and in Harry's eyes she was.
Kind, pretty, a bit snooty, somewhat snarky and with intelligence that intimidated him, Daphne Greengrass, the budding ice queen of Slytherin was everything Harry wanted in a friend.
So when Harry had presented his problem to his male housemates he was glad to see them laugh and cheer him on, giving him such good advice.
They had told Harry to confess to her in the middle of the great hall. That his confidence would impress her and she would be his friend.
Harry had taken their advice a bit surprised they even helped him but convinced himself that this was his turning point at Hogwarts.
Of course Harry did not confess in the great hall but instead sent a letter asking for a meeting. While he appreciated their advice, Harry, a bit arrogantly, thought he knew the girl better than them.
It turned out he did, as she had sent him back a letter stating that it was agreeable to her and so giddy with excitement he set their appointment for that particular corridor everyone knew to avoid on the fifth floor.
Harry had panicked a bit, knowing he didn't have many good clothes, so he had bartered with one of his housemates who had given him one of his suits for free!
Everything was going perfectly.
So suited up, his hair cut to a manageable length with charms he painstakingly practiced, while trying to groom his less pleasant features, he had bought a set of flowers ready to woo the girl of his dreams.
However like most things in his life he was met with bitter disappointment for the umpteenth time.
She hadn't been very mean about it in hindsight. She had simply told him that they weren't 'compatible', that he wasn't the 'type' of wizard she wanted, wasn't 'noble' nor 'smart' enough. Neither was he 'strong' or 'clever' enough.
That her father would never allow it. That he wasn't of the right stock.
It was rather awful for him to hear and his heart had begun beating like a drum. He had wanted to run but with the little courage he had, he stayed while in pain and listened to her requirements very carefully.
So taking it with grace, with his pride barely in tact, he had thanked her for her time resolute on becoming the man she could be friends with expect-
The very next day he heard whispers, he saw amused eyes, he could feel the atmosphere around him shifting as the people who once ignored him pointed and laughed behind his back, whenever he appeared anywhere.
Harry who thought he perhaps made a particularly funny joke had happily asked an upper year girl in his house what the joke was.
'D-Daphne w-would you like to be f-friends.' The face of his kind senior classmate he once thought amused and light became scornful and dark as he heard the mockery of his word by word confession.
It was the worst day of his life when he heard the boisterous laughter that erupted right after, all around him. Nothing could top it yet, as his vision had become blurry and his insides had coiled and shriveled up like a spring.
He didn't know how many, or how long but he knew they all laughed, all of them, he was sure. He couldn't see, he couldn't breathe or hear but he knew.
He understood. Everything fell apart as the slow boy finally was able to piece everything together.
His housemates weren't kind to him. They hated him, hated him for what he was, for how dumb he was, how easily manipulated he was.
His year mates didn't want to help him, they wanted to harm him. That was why they helped him so much, gave him advice, gave him clothes, encouraged him, told him to confess in front of everyone.
They didn't want to see him succeed, they plotted his downfall. They wanted him to be humiliated in front of everyone and Harry's heart was stuck at the realization.
Yet it was far from the worst thing he understood.
That solely belonged to the fact that the girl he liked so much, thought was so nice, so pretty and smart had gone behind his back telling everyone what he did word for word.
Not even a day after.
It was what had finally broken down the strong little boy as he sat down on his bed and stared at his raggedy old trunk half packed full, almost ready to board the train back home in a daze of agony.
He looked down at the painting of his that he made to send to her in private. Funnily enough it was a daphne flower. Something he had spent quite some time on before to make sure it was perfect.
He used to be proud to say he could hardly tell the difference between it and a real one. Now all he felt was-
For a second he stared at it, an obvious thought on what to do with it flashing through his eyes, the thought dripping with malice, oozing inside his mind.
He allowed his eyelids to slide shut and sighed, placing it in his trunk observing it before looking away.
Downcast he simply continued to fill his trunk in silence, unable to think rationally as his hands shook.
What an awful year this was.
(Break)
A walk of shame is what he would call his sad little trek to carriages down by the black lake. Feeling exposed he had wrapped a thick wooly scarf around his neck even though it was summer, wishing he had brought something to hold other than his wand as he made his way to the train dreading any more confrontations. Boot certainly didn't seem to want him to forget who he got his suit from.
He had already heard the laughter, could feel the stares as soon as he stepped out and had walked with his head down straight out of the common room, his complete and utter assassination of confidence was working quite well all things considered. Assassination because it was a deliberate attempt to harm.
At least it wasn't like the leaving feast. That was pure torture, something he hadn't even predicted.
Luckily it was all over, he could return back home and hope everyone had a spontaneous bout of amnesia. That he could just lie on his quilt and hope it was all a dream.
Stopping those thoughts his eyes glided over the corridors before he took a left.
It wasn't a hard navigation out of the enormous castle known as Hogwarts. While famed for its ability to get you lost and he wasn't the best student, he still made up for it in other areas.
He liked to draw since it was the only thing he could do without messing up, to help that along he walked about Hogwarts wide stretching halls for ages finding anything to take in.
So it was little wonder why he found himself out and away from the castle, down outside by the carriages so soon?
'I'm lucky…' Harry thought with relief seeping in his mind as he saw the carriages stationed there. He had come early, hoping without much expectations but at least he wasn't totally out of luck as the world would make it seem.
Weaving past the disorganized carriages he picked the furthest away one stopping to pat the rather pretty thestral before he climbed in.
Moving to the end, his scarf showed its true purpose when he pulled it up over half his face to feign sleep as he hunkered down with his snug blue sweater.
It was the only comfort he got truly.
Time drifted by faster than he wished and the boy who was wide awake kept his breathing shallow and leveled despite hearing the carriage door open and close as what he estimated as 3 bodies crawled inside.
He willed his body to relax as he got the final stretch of today over.
Soon the carriage began moving forward at a steady pace and he tried his best to ignore the conversation.
"-onestly sis, I have no clue why you even want to participate in those tournaments. In fact I'm not even sure why they allow us to be in them when we're so young. We hardly know any spells at all." Harry quickly tried figuring out who this voice was, realizing it sounded deeply familiar.
"It's not hard to understand is it? I just want to be a better dueler, Parvati, you saw what happened this year right? How can you not even feel scared?!" Harry froze hearing the voice of his housemate and yearmate speak in hushed undertones.
While he was having his certified panic attack the conversation didn't halt on his account.
"You mean the werewolf attacks? You should leave that stuff to the adults, Padma. That's what they're paid for. It's insane otherwise, they'd rip you apart like a poor little bowtruckle! Who else will be my friend if you're wolf meat?!"
Harry heard the next voice of what he presumed was the fourth and final rider as he hoped this would quickly pass by.
"Gee- you only care because you won't have a friend anymore-"
"-and you mean to say I would get ripped apart no matter what I do right? Isn't it better to at least, I don't know, try?! You've heard there has been an uptick in attacks in Britain by them and you don't feel nervous?! Even the aurors can't keep up!" She said, annoyed clearly trying to convince them of her logic as she continued her tone coming out rushed.
"Not only that it isn't like we don't know it isn't possible for someone our age to do so! Just look at her-"
He heard a dry cough.
"Seriously? Did you forget who you're talking about?" Parvati spoke as if she heard something amusing.
An embarrassed shifting in the plush seats and giggle that lit the air came right after as Padma spoke perhaps a little less enthusiastically.
"Point taken but that doesn't mean we should slack off too! You know what you're helping me when we get home!"
"What? The hell I am! When I get home the absolute last thing I'm doing is more work! I already have so much homework!" A deep derision was heard in her tone as she snorted and the two sisters got into an argument shortly after.
Harry, who had been trying to calm down the entire time, did not realize he may have been a bit too calm as he dozed off surrounded by the friendly ribbing.
Still he couldn't help but be a bit jealous as went to sleep.
Why couldn't he have a family too?
Unfortunately his sleep wasn't long at all.
"Hello? It's time to go. You wouldn't want to be late, would you?" Harry awoke to gentle shakes, a soft palm and voice as his head raised from the crook of his arm and mind began clearing.
Rubbing his eyes blearily, still feeling the numbness of his good nap, he turned hazy eyes towards the person who woke him, as he yawned feeling a tad refreshed.
"Ah! Baker…?" He heard the surprise in the voice as he stilled in fright, seeing the pretty eyes of one Padma Patil now boring into his soul.
Harry paused for a quick second wondering if he was dreaming but the light touch on his shoulder certainly brought him back to reality as he pulled his eyes away from those now wide dark eyes.
'Dear god!' He slammed his eyes shut, pressing to the opposite side of the insides, before pushing his way out of the carriage without hesitation landing on his two feet like a startled cat.
His feet hadn't even landed properly before he flinched at the quick shout.
"Baker, wait!"
Keeping his mouth clamp shut he pulled out his wand before looking up and with a flick, casted a sloppy levitation charm on his trunk above the black carriage.
Lowering it down onto the ground he kept his head down as he tried rolling away without her notice.
Unfortunately the sound of feet cropped up behind him and he shivered feeling the hand on his shoulder pressing down.
"Didn't you hear me Baker?" Harry glanced at the hand apprehensively before he followed the hand turning him around, feeling his heartbeat go a mile a minute.
"I wanted to talk to you but you were cooped up in your room-" She began as her face twisted strangely looking at him before she opened her mouth-
"Padma! Where are you? It's time to go."
Her eyes cut away from his and in that split second knowing he wouldn't get any other chance he sped away without taking a single look back, unable to think.
He did not turn back once at the startled shouts as he took off, more akin to a rabbit than a frightened 14 year old and he did not stop until he reached the door to get inside the Hogwarts express.
Coming to an abrupt stop seeing the hustle and bustle he took a look back before shrinking seeing the group he came with making a straight line towards the train, right behind him.
'Of course, I can't catch a break yet!'
And so he found himself squeezing inside, uncharacteristically forceful to avoid another awkward ribbing at his expense.
Hovering his luggage up above, placing it down with a loud bang Harry held the book to his chest with sigh of relief as he threw himself in the chair feeling the train's acceleration forward, onto their final destination.
He had been searching for a carriage that was empty nearly the entire time, while also making sure to avoid anyone he knew from his house or year.
It had been a largely useless effort, as it seemed many had the same idea as him wanting their own private compartment for them and their friends, but luckily he had found this one all the way in the back when he scoped out a half formed group leaving to join another.
Harry rested the book down on his lap as he pulled at the edges of the cover turning it. It was a book on creatures, one not prescribed by Hogwarts mandates, something he found himself interested in as this was one of the many subjects he was actually good in.
Anything that hadn't much to do with wand work, potions, herbology, history for example, he found came to him without much work as he didn't need to disappoint himself in seeing another failed spell that should be easy for someone his age.
He emptied those depressing thoughts as he lied back reading on where he stopped last. Maybe if he studied hard enough he could at least get a job as a magizoologist? Hopefully it didn't require him being too quick with a wand or otherwise….
--
Originating from Arabian and Persian roots, where it is described in texts such as the "One Thousand and One Nights," the magical beast known as a Roc is said to be so large that it can carry both fully grown Hippogriffs and Hungarian Horntails, 5 each, on its back should it so please.
A towering figure, both literally and figuratively, its physical attributes are a reason many magical civilizations worshiped them as deities in the past with a wingspan that could stretch across entire valleys, a abyssal roar that can generate a terrifying soundwave that can kill most and talons as large as tree trunks, it embodied a awe-inspiring power.
Native to the highest and most inaccessible mountain peaks, the Roc builds its immense nests from a combination of natural and magical materials, mirroring the elaborate nests of other magical avians such as simurghs and thunderbirds.
Like most of its powerful counterparts, the sheer amount of accumulated magic that resides inside a adult roc shields it from most conventional signs of observation magical and otherwise-
A loud bam snapped him out of his reading.
Harry jerked his book close looking up, feeling his heart jump out of his chest as he observed the man before him who was panting with a clammy smile on his lips, his back on the door.
It took a bit but Harry's eyes widened as he saw who it was standing before him, suitcase in hand, and his necktie rumpled.
"Professor Lockhart?!" Harry exclaimed in disbelief.
The man with wavy blonde hair and bright blue eyes flinched at his name being spoken, his head swiveling like a peacock as he looked for the disturbance.
"Ah! You…..!" The man smiled looking at Harry as he stuck his hand out clearly hinting for something.
Still baffled, Harry gave his hand and name as he shook it. "Harry. Harry Baker sir. Your former third year student?"
"Ah yes muggleborn Baker! A bit sluggish on the uptake but an overall good champ. You did explamary on my exam I must say. Good job my boy. You have potential." The man slowly winked at Harry whose shoulders dropped at the blatant insult.
In fact this was his best turnout ever for defense against the dark arts. Simply because of this man and his antics. They hardly lifted a wand the entire year and Harry didn't know exactly what to feel about it.
He watched as the man sat down, placing his luggage away as he pointed at the door chanting a spell that Harry had no clue about. However he could nearly feel something being set up as he sent amazed eyes to the man who now looked more than a bit tired.
"What was that spell professor?" He asked as the man who was wiping off sweat he just noticed looked at him with a smile.
"That? A simple charm that toys with the perception quite a bit. Nothing sinister of course, you can liken it to the charm used on the Leaky Cauldron to hide it from muggles if you will or even platform 9 and , though it is not the same. It simply allows those who are not actively looking to pass by. For example, I imagine this door may appear as a wall to those it affects. Notice me not if you will. Though most revealing charms will take care of it."
In the absence of words, it was Harry's eyes that spoke his true feelings.
He looked at the man who tapped on the door with a satisfied look on his face as someone passed by with only a curious glance before he turned to Harry perplexed.
"Is there a problem Baker? I know that I'm rather dashing but that is no excuse to space out…or is that your temperament coming up?" The man mused aloud.
Harry shook his head, again ignoring the rather stinging insult as he reassured his teacher.
"No sir. I just thought it was impressive, that's all." Harry said to the pride of the man whose chest puffed just a tad more as he examined his nails.
'Also that's the most I've ever learned from you, even if we combine all your classes. Something that's actually important anyway.' Harry noted as he set aside his book before listening to the man.
"I'm glad someone at least admires my genius these days Mr Baker. You don't want to know how much someone as famous as I Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin third class, honorary member of the Dark Force Defence League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award is unappreciated!"
The man looked genuinely upset as he said that his fist clenched in his lap and his eyes focused on Harry but somehow looking past him.
Harry looked down and away from the anger he saw, shifting his clothes hoping the man was alright.
He did give him his first O in defense after all.
"Professor are you alright-
"Has anyone ever told you that you look like someone before? If I squint my eyes…" The man interrupted him with a potent fire in his tone and a beastly look in his eyes.
The hair on Harry's neck stood.
His rusty survival instincts coming up, Harry spoke carefully keeping his eyes down, not sure what the man would do otherwise.
"No sir. Just an orphan who doesn't even know his family. Too old to be adopted and too young to do anything." Harry told him his true feelings on the matter as he fiddled with his wand.
He didn't know why though. There was no way he could beat an adult wizard after all. At best he would only make him mad.
Luckily it didn't turn to that, he realized as he heard the deflating sigh as the man's posture slouched.
"What am I thinking? How could that even be-" Harry heard the man trailing off as he looked up into disappointed eyes.
"You asked if I'm alright Baker? In truth I'm not, unfortunately my tenure at Hogwarts ends this semester, I shall not be returning to impart my wisdom on you all." He sighed out massaging his forehead.
Of all things that surprised Harry the most. He knew the man was well liked after all. Why else would he have such a large following at school?
"Really sir? You're such a good teacher though…." He saw the man's lips tugging just a tad as he shook his head.
"Never let anyone say you aren't smart Baker, however it seems others don't possess even a modicum of intelligence that you do."
Harry looked down at that, not knowing what to say as he felt the pleasure of the complement wash over him. He didn't know if it was the man's true opinion or not but it didn't change the fact that he couldn't remember anyone other than his uncle ever telling him something like that.
Picking up his book feeling the need to look at something he flicked through the pages in an unsteady rhythm not really reading as he glanced up at the teacher regularly.
"So why are they replacing you sir? Can't you contest it? Teachers have overturned unfair decisions with the board of governors before." Harry gathered his courage and asked as the man continued looking in the window.
"I'm afraid there's no getting out of this for me Baker. My own fellow co-workers, those who I thought were friends and your very own headmaster, conspired against me, springing a nasty surprise without warning or consideration to my mental health." Harry glanced outside to the ever changing scenery feeling a bit uncomfortable at hearing this.
Wait, was he supposed to hear this? If it didn't get leaked already that meant it was pretty serious right?
"Apparently they've brought someone, some foolish scarlet witch from somewhere or another, who knows, to replace me, me! Just because she's a bit famous, a bit pretty, they decide she can just waltz in and take my place! They even had her challenge my syllabus and clearly helped her as she took it apart like she was long familiar with it! If I had even a bit of time to prepare-" The man exploded in a rant as Harry leaned back shoving his head in his book, a bit confounded at the turn of events.
Scarlet witch? A bit famous? Syllabus? Sense wasn't sensing as Harry's eyes peeked over his book watching as the man huffed, puffed and blew his well hidden grievances onto him.
At the very least 5 minutes went by before the man started losing steam and he looked down dabbing his eyes before bringing out a bottle of…something from somewhere taking a hearty sip.
However a second later Harry's nose twitched and his face twisted at the pungent overpowering scent.
'Its spirits isn't it? I never smelt one so strong too. It must be magical.' He thought watching as the man downed the whole lot of it, not stopping until he began gagging on the no doubt strong taste.
"Ah Merlin almighty, that's awful!" Lockhart said with a mighty ragging gasp but immediately began drinking more clearly enjoying the burn of it down his gullet.
Harry simply watched the spectacle with his spectacles, already knowing the outcome as he flipped a page of his book.
The man burped without any decency, slouching in his chair as he dug around in the satchel Harry now noticed placing the bottle back before getting another.
"You're a good kid Barry-" The less than focused voice took Harry out of his awe for the bag, pulling his head upwards he saw the man hiccuping as he looked out the window a little forlornly.
Harry didn't even try to correct the man, already knowing it was a lost cause.
"What do you mean professor?" Harry relaxed seeing the man's taut grip slacken on his wand as it fell to the wayside of his side of the compartment chair.
"I've heard you have been having some troubles right? I'm not too sure on the details but for you to comfort me while you're hurting, it must be difficult-"
The man spoke but Harry had stopped listening because it was simply impossible. There was no way he was insinuating that he knew what happened right? Why would a teacher know about such a small thing between third years? He couldn't wrap his head around it at all-
He stared blankly at the man feeling his heart sink as he looked down at the recently deposited book in his lap.
"I don't know what it's like to be an orphan but trust me I've gone through my fair share of struggles to become this famous and well respected. I'm sure this book can help you out, after all it's my most recently written one that hasn't quite hit the shelves yet. So I have given you the
honor of being the first to read it! Take it as a gift from me and watch out, its a bit different from others." The man who seemed a bit dazed spoke to the boy gesturing for him to look at it.
Harry's hearing came back as he felt sweet relief running across him like a breeze. So that's what he meant, him being an orphan? Thank goodness, he didn't know what he would do if even his teachers knew about-
He looked down at the book a tad more intrigued at his first gift he had gotten from someone who wasn't his uncle.
"The Lockhart Legacy: Unlocking the Secrets to My Unmatched Success" by Gilderoy Lockhart
Harry even saw the fancy handwritten signature on the back and front covers as he observed it.
Even the title was rubbish but that didn't matter when Harry craned his neck upwards, about to thank the man profusely, as he wondered why the world now had a hazy blurry sheen.
Unfortunately-
The loud, grating sound of his snoring echoed in contrast to the now quiet room, each inhale and exhale telling exactly how far gone he was.
Blinking away the emotion that spilled, looking at the man, he saw as the little bit of alcohol left over in his bottle spilled over onto his shirt with him snoring away.
Turning his attention back to the book, Harry began peeling at the gold gilded cover wanting to see what it held before he stopped.
Placing it to the side making the decision to read it when he got home, he picked back up his book on creatures, feeling a bit better than he had before he came onto the train.
Just a bit of course. A smidgen really.
Harry awoke with a jerk as his compartment shook, and the train came to a screeching halt, his glasses tumbling to the floor due to the sudden motion.
His vision blurry, he looked outside the window of his compartment, moving his body from its sprawled out state, he realized why they stopped, as he observed the frantic movements of the many blobs he assumed were bodies.
They had finally arrived at their destination King's Cross station, the 9 hour wait having flown by while he was out.
"I must've dozed off again. I can't even stay awake right or maybe that book was just boring?" He sighed as he bent down squinting for his glasses feeling around before he stilled.
As he brushed against the suitcase, he felt its hard, textured surface—sturdy and slightly cold beneath his fingers. The softness of the fabric told him it was new, as he noticed the lightness of it.
"Professor? Can you help me with my glasses?" Harry asked, realizing the man should still be inside as he felt around for his spectacles.
He got no answer however as he frowned a bit, feeling something brush on his finger as he gripped it, realizing it was his glasses.
"Professor..?" Putting them on, his vision refocused as he looked around the compartment bafflement in his eyes, seeing it empty.
Looking down he saw the man's wand thrown askew, his satchel the same, his suitcase and a string of alcohol bottles that caused a painful gulp down his throat.
"He's definitely drunk if he left his wand of all things…" Harry said with caution as he looked up to his trunk, pulling out his wand and slowly casting the levitation charm.
With no shaking or trembling his singular trunk landed down into his hands and he turned his attention to his professor's things.
Harry rolled on the balls of his feet for a second indecisive but ultimately he knelt down, placing his trunk down, opening it and began shoving the professor's things, alongside his books inside the only compartment that was unoccupied.
Of course he left the bottles.
It was split into 4 different ones and the insides were about 2 times larger than one would expect. It would be amazing if he didn't need to use nearly all of it for his Hogwarts supplies.
Luckily he didn't have much to carry other than his things at Hogwarts, a consequence of not being well off.
He closed it shut with a bang, sighing as he got up rolling his shoulder feeling the extra weight. He still didn't understand how spatial expansion charms worked and probably would never.
"I hope he appreciates this!" He muttered under his breath as he peeked his head outside to make sure no one he knew was there before he shuffled outwards, taking care to look for the professor as he adjusted his glasses properly.
Walking out onto the train's corridor Harry made his way all the way to the front where the exit was. He kept his head down as he maneuvered past the idling bodies on the train, speeding up so he could get off and go home.
However, whether he was unlucky or lucky, he would let his future self decide that when he looked back in hindsight as the crowd in the train that was dispersing gradually filled up again, as Harry looked around at the many whispers around him.
"Wait?! Is that-?"
"It has to be right? Who else dresses like-
"But what is he doing with the-?"
"Is that a glass bottle-"
"Dear Merlin! Professor Lockhart has gone off his rocker!" It was that shout that heralded the mayhem of what happened next, as Harry found himself pushed to the side by the crowd of students in hurry as everyone pressed themselves to the glass urgently watching the unfolding spectacles.
Frantic shouts filled the area as the dizzy boy caught his bearings before he caught what they just said.
'Professor-?!' Long forgetting what he thought about stealth, he jammed himself inside a compartment filled with panicking students as his eyes bulged in sheer shock seeing the crazy scene unfolding outside.
"Stay back! I won't give up without a fight! You fools have made a mistake! I'm Gilderoy Lockhart, how dare you accuse me of plagiarism?!"
His once somewhat composed professor screamed in utter bloody lunacy as his teeth bared like a savage beast saliva dripping from the orifice, his eyes vermillion red pulsing angrily with veins, his suit askew with the buttons popped, his tie nowhere to be seen as he wielded a broken bottle, the tip of it stained in blood at the neck of some girl he couldn't see yet.
'What the hell is he doing!?' Harry observed with a gaping mouth as he held his trunk. He caught a glance of a long golden scarf before his professor's body spun, hiding it again, as he cackled crazily like a fool.
"Don't try it! I know you're there! Come out or she gets it!" The volatile atmosphere nearly exploded as the man punchered the girl's skin causing her to whimper aloud.
The enclosing circle of people quickly spread out as the palpable worry showed when they quieted down like mice.
Harry heard the gasp in the compartment and felt a bead of sweat dripping from his forehead. He could feel the pounding in his chest as he watched the man who he thought was pretty swell, smirk nastily, his sweaty hair nearly shadowing his eyes.
"Good, good! No one wants the golden girl to get hurt do they?!" The man spun again clearly paranoid as someone shifted in the crowd.
"Now come out…aurors! I know you're posted here fools! I am a teacher at Hogwarts! Or at least I was!" The man spat onto the floor as he glared into the crowd, his eyes darting about.
"Now, now Mr Lockhart, there is no need to resort to this kind of violence. Just put the bottle down and we can sort this out properly." Harry's eyes raced towards the tall, well dressed dark skin man who stepped from the crowd like a ghost, his hands raised in surrender.
That only seemed to make Lockhart madder.
"Pick up your wand and cast a revealing charm! You think I'm dumb Shacklebolt?!" The man shouted as he squeezed the short girl's neck in silent warning.
That got the newly named Shacklebolt's eyes to tighten as he slowly reached for his wand before taking it in his hand.
Clearly trying to not disturb the man he casted the spell, unveiling the disillusioned aurors who were already backing away from the peaky Lockhart.
'They nearly had him!' Harry's hands clenched as he thought both elated and unwilling to see one of the aurors who nearly got in Lockhart's blindspot leave.
"Happy? Now Lockhart, drop the bottle and we will allow you to leave so long as you let her go. You know you won't be able to live in peace if you don't, right? She's on her way." Harry admired the professionalism as the man's calming voice got even Lockhart to look uncertain as he glanced down quickly.
It didn't last long.
"Hah hah! You think I'd fall for that? The oldest trick in the book?! That harlot won't let me off even if I let her go with all that power you all give her! A tigress always protects her cubs! No, I think I'll be carrying this one with me and well-" Harry shivered seeing the disturbing smile grow
on the man's face as he petted the near catatonic girl's hair in a very unsettling manner that nearly made Harry throw up, feeling the nausea bubble to the surface.
Was this who he was admiring a second ago?! He couldn't feel more shame if he tried!
"-you better don't do anything stupid or she'll be back a bit less than whole." The man let the unsettling statement linger as his wild eyes took in the fearful, disgusted faces looking at him to the girl whose body shook like a leaf in the wind.
"He's a certified nut, he is!" Harry heard the whisper from a Gryffindor, an upper year, right beside him.
"But why aren't they doing anything?! What if he kills-"
"Shh! Can't you see the way he's positioned? They'll hit her before they hit him! They can't do anything without a clear-" Harry somewhat listened to the conversation as the gears in his head turned.
The aurors glanced at each other clearly at a loss as the man slowly circled around the crowd, no doubt planning to escape.
"Lockhart! Let's hash this-"
He looked down at his hands feeling them shaking in something he didn't even know properly himself, as he looked back up.
'I gotta get out of here!' was the first frantic thought that raced through his mind.
In his panic, the boy didn't even realize what he was doing as he sprinted outside the compartment, trunk clutched tightly in his hand, his brown hair whipping wildly behind him from the sheer speed.
'Wait, where am I going? This is the wrong way!' His heart pounded as he realized he was heading towards the back of the train, where there were no passengers.
"Buggering shite!" The boy cursed under his breath as he slammed open the compartment door, throwing himself inside with a force that nearly ripped his trunk open. He threw it down with a desperate urgency.
"Of all the times I decided to not be a coward, it's now?!" He lamented, his voice cracking with frustration, though his hands never once paused. He yanked the shirt and wand from the trunk in a smooth motion.
'If I get caught, they could charge me as an accomplice! Bloody hell, that's the least of my worries—I could end up in Azkaban! Azkaban!' The very thought of that dreaded place, a realm of despair and hopelessness, sent a shiver down his spine. He wrapped the shirt around his head and face, securing it tightly.
With shaking hands, he gripped his ex-teacher's wand, which felt cold and alien against his palm, and slammed the window open with a loud bang. The sound drew the attention of nearly everyone on the train and out, making his heart leap into his throat and his palms go clammy with anxiety.
His pulse hammered in his ears, but he had learned to ignore it a long time ago.
Through the dimming light and the blur of the crowd outside, he barely registered the surprised faces of his former teacher and the aurors. With a steel in his eyes, he pulled his arm back and yelled at the top of his lungs, his voice piercing through the chaos like a killing curse.
"Professor Lockhart! You forgot your wand! CATCH!" he bellowed, his voice echoing like a banshee's wail. With a throw so precise and swift that it would have impressed even a professional Quidditch player, he launched the wand into the air.
However he didn't stay to admire the results of his reckless play.
The minute the wand left his palm he swung his head back inside and towards the door. Making a mad sprint out, he ran outside, nearly bucking into the next compartment as he sped down the lane without thinking.
He could hear the chaos at the subsequent events and he heard the victorious shouts being yelled but he had no time for that as he quickly made his way to the door, his head held down as he looked away from the compartments.
'Shite-' Just as he was about to reach he saw compartment doors opening so with little choice he ripped the shirt off his head catching his glasses as he shoved the shirt in his trunk before slowing his desperate sprint to a brisk walk.
He saw the horrified yet relieved faces as his fellow students rushed out like a tidal wave, clearly having a clear picture on what happened unlike him.
Seeing the opportunity he intermingled with the crowd as he got off the train making sure to follow step for step as he tried glimpsing the scene between bodies.
'Oh god…' The boy nearly heaved seeing the liters upon liters of crimson leaking on the floor, a large piece of fabric covering the no doubt cooling, decaying corpse of his past teacher.
He could still see even more leaking out in a frenzy as a group of aurors immediately began clearing the people out and others surrounding the body as his eyes shook.
The worst part was that he saw the man's hand sticking out, clenching the wand he threw, showing him the reason why he died as the bottle was nowhere in sight.
'I-I killed him…'
Moving his head away hastily he paused, glimpsing something that caught his attention.
Two people, a woman and a young girl, were hugging each other tightly as they kneeled a short distance away from the aforementioned body. Harry's heart sank as he recognized the girl—the gold scarf around her neck revealed her as the hostage Lockhart had taken.
'Who is that? Two redheads?' Harry thought, noticing the woman's striking, vibrant red hair cascading down her back.
In the brief moment he had, he saw that the woman was stunning, dressed far more formal than the aurors he had seen earlier.
She wore a dark, high-collared blouse, matching fitted trousers, knee-high leather boots, and a black coat draped over her shoulders with a body to match.
Harry, momentarily distracted by her appearance, quickly snapped his head away in panic as she turned her gaze toward him or rather towards the crowd. Her voice, melodious yet cold, cut through the air with a harsh authority that reverberated off the train station walls.
"Men, lock down King's Cross and don't let a single kid escape! That bloody bastard had an accomplice!" Her voice rang with an urgency that left no room for disobedience.
Harry's blood ran cold as he saw a contingent of aurors rapidly positioning themselves, effectively blocking all exits.
Panic surged through him. The realization that he was now trapped and that his escape route was being sealed off. His breath quickened, and he felt the pressure of the situation closing in around him.
Luckily for him, despite the sudden wall of Aurors blocking his way, they were vastly outnumbered by the parents, students, and workers who surged forward in a flood.The sheer volume of people overwhelmed the Aurors, who struggled to contain the frantic crowd. Spells couldn't be used on civilians obviously, which left the Aurors powerless as the masses pushed their way through.
Harry spotted his golden ticket out of the pandemonium. He was almost home free when—
"Gotcha!" The sudden, rough grip on his leg jolted him, and he grunted in frustration as he felt the Auror's hand close around him amidst the throng.
"Let go, let go!" Harry shouted, kicking with all his strength, driven by adrenaline. He grasped at the shirts of passing people, desperately trying to wrench his leg free, but the grip remained stubbornly tight.
'Dammit, I won't lose here, not when I'm almost scot-free!' Balancing precariously on one leg while clutching a shirt, Harry fumbled with his wand. He pulled it out, his hands trembling as he began to chant furiously, knowing he needed to give his all to escape or else he would get nothing.
"Petrificus totalus, petrificus totalus, petrificus totalus, petrificus totalus, petrificus totalus—" His voice was a frantic whisper with each failure, his eyes squeezed shut as he poured every ounce of his concentration into the spell. His focus was intense, driven by desperation and fear.
"Hey kid help me up, wait you—?!" The Auror's voice faltered as his face turned pale, but Harry didn't notice. He felt it—the surge of magic rushing!
"Petrificus Totalus!" A flash of white light erupted from his wand, cutting through the chaos.
The spell hit its target, and the Auror's grip went limp as his body stiffened, immobilized.
Harry didn't pause to revel in the well casted charm, in the sight of the Auror's unmoving form or the sudden stillness of the man. Neither the fact that his limbs didn't move.
Instead, he seized the moment and ran with every ounce of strength he had. The adrenaline pushed him forward, and he sprinted through the throng, his heart pounding in his chest, escaping the chaos of the train station as he ran like all bloody hell!
They came to a vigorous stop with a tremendous BANG as Harry was thrown, rather painfully he might add, into a bedstead, just one of many littering the speeding Knight Bus.
"And 'ere we are! Little old town settled in Kent. Harry, we have arrived at your destination, wake up!" Harry pulled himself up shaking his head as the rapid motions of the bus still played with his head.
"Thanks Stan, don't know what I'd do without you." The boy said as he kept down his lunch.
The knight bus had been warping through the countryside like God knew what, never failing to scare the living daylights out of him. It had been an arduous challenge to even keep steady, let alone try to unpack what happened today.
He wouldn't deny he got a bit of a thrill from it of course.
Pushing off the bed, he watched as Stan Shunpike pulled his trunk from overhead struggling a bit as it dropped down to the floor.
"Don't worry about it kid, you ain't half bad. Though it is a bit more late than your other years." Harry chuckled nervously as he hobbled down the aisle of the bus.
Of course he couldn't tell the man he was making many rounds around to make sure he wasn't being followed and only left when night fell.
"Just a little trouble, nothing to worry about." Harry told him not actually lying yet not being completely transparent either.
'He has been nicer to me than most but I'd rather him not get in trouble for me.' Harry's face was mixed as he thought about it before looking around.
Picking up his trunk Harry turned to the man, Stan, whose eyes darted to him and his hands strangely before he shrugged reaching in his purse.
"Will you pay yourself again, Harry? You should let Hogwarts foot the bill sometimes you know?" Stan mentioned as he wrote up the receipt as customary for all passengers.
"No thank you. Who knows if I'll be in some weird debt for it." Harry tried joking as he pulled out the ready prepared sickles.
Only he knew that letting Hogwarts take the bill may cause them to trace it back to him. In fact that hadn't even crossed his mind until Stan said it.
Far more nervous than before he quickly shoved the sickles in Stan's open hand and quickly yanked the receipt with a "Sorry".
Speeding out the bus he waved back to both the sleeping Ernie and stunned Stan as he made his way to his foster home.
About 10 seconds later a loud bang echoed and Harry knew the bus was already halfway across the country.
Harry quickly hurried inside the yard, his eyes darting over the overgrown grass and the tangled mess of weeds that had overtaken the once-manicured flower beds.
The yard was a far cry from what he was accustomed to; the bushes had grown wild, and the old wooden fence was leaning precariously in places.
He barely noticed the peeling paint on the walls of the house as he pushed open the creaky gate and made his way up the uneven path to the front door.
His new home this year was nestled in a more remote area than any he had lived in before.
Taking a hold of the decrepit door knob he didn't even check to see if it was open as he entered inside, a nervous energy running through him.
"Goodnight, Mister Baker. Terribly sorry for being out so late; my school had some issues that needed sorting," Harry said with a forced cheerfulness, his eyes darting to the motionless figure in the chair.
The portly figure, with his balding head and soiled clothes, continued to stare at Harry, his gaze unblinking holding nothing before a slow, small smile curved his lips.
"Hello Harry. How was school?" The toneless voice asked as Harry felt his pulse quickening at the static of the TV and the eerie absence of sound except for it.
"It was good, sir," Harry managed to respond, his words barely escaping his lips as the man's nod seemed to precede his answer.
"That's good, son. Food's in the fridge if you want some," the man said, his tone flat, before returning his gaze to the blank screen.
Harry watched the man for a second not feeling relieved when he turned feeling chills on his back erupt right after.
Harry felt anxiety creep up his spine as he turned to head for the stairs. The silence of the room pressed heavily around him, making every creak of the wooden floorboards sound unnervingly loud in his mind.
Pausing, unable to take it, he quickly looked back only to see the man not having moved from his position at all.
The silence only amplified the sound of his rapid heartbeat as he stared at the man unconvinced before moving his head away.
He held his breath the entire time, ascending the stairs, as the feeling came back even stronger than before.
It wasn't always like this, his foster homes had once been normal, lively people who never made Harry feel this way.
Until his 6th birthday when he was met with glassy eyes and a vacant smile.
Every year the pattern continued and he began noticing more and more how each family he had been assigned to acted the complete same.
They didn't speak to him unless spoken to, didn't acknowledge him unless he did so first, and at one point he didn't even think he existed when he went without talking for a long time.
Closing the door to his room, his body soaked in sweat, Harry collapsed to the floor, his chest heaving as he placed the trunk down.
Reaching up with wet hands he locked all 3 locks on his door as he slumped to the floor in relief.
'That day was way too long.' Harry thought moving his trunk under his bed before he crawled inside not even taking off anything except his shoes, way too tired to even think right now.
He just wanted to sleep.
Harry's eyes snapped open once again, the relentless squeaking near his door piercing through his groggy haze. He buried his face deeper into his pillow, but the high-pitched noise persisted, gnawing at his patience.
"Just let me sleep! God, please!" he muttered through clenched teeth, feeling as though he might grind them down to stubs. Through the sliver of open curtains, the ink-black sky stretched endlessly, a stark contrast to the noisy disturbance.
Determined to end the torment, he squeezed his eyes shut, steeling himself against the irritation. With a deep breath, he rolled out of bed, his footsteps heavy and deliberate as he made his way to the door.
Yanking it open, he peered out, his eyes searching for the source of the incessant squeak. Harry rolled his eyes however, realizing the squeaking was just some critter.
He heard the scurry of tiny feet and the rustling of something small darting about downstairs. Presumably his midnight guest.
As he began to close the door, the sound of the quick retreat faded into the shadows, leaving him with an uneasy silence. Just as he started to turn back into the room, a new, unsettling noise made him freeze.
His hand hovered near the door, fingers trembling as he tried to identify the source. The room felt unnervingly still, every small creak or rustle all the more unsettling.
"No, no, no, not this one," a voice whispered in the darkness, sending a jolt of fear through Harry.
His breath quickened, and his heart pounded in his chest. The whisper seemed to come from behind him but that was impossible unless….
'Dammit they followed me all the way here?! My wand is on my bed too!'
His entire body tensed as he fought the urge to turn around and confront whatever was lurking behind him Harry closed the door silently before taking a deep breath in.
"Ah there it is!" He turned to hear it being uttered as he took in the sight of the person on his bed before he blinked.
"Uncle?" He gaped looking at the round and scruffy appearance dressed in a raggedy black cloak.
Thin and sandy-colored hair greasy and unkempt, bulging murky gray eyes, large buck teeth and a body shorter than his Harry could recognize the man from anywhere.
But that begged the question.
"W-what are you doing here?" He looked from the man to the vial of vermillion fluid in his hand, his eyes dilating at the sight of the familiar liquid.
'Already?!' He hid his unwillingness as he looked to the side away from the man who smiled at him like family, his filthy teeth shining like fool's gold.
"Harry, look at you my boy. You've grown so big! About as tall as me!" The man chattered as he got up, his arms spread into a clear indication of a hug as he walked forward.
Harry simply stayed where he was feeling deeply uncomfortable as the man wrapped his hands around him. His uncle was always a bit off with that gleam in his eye.
"Uncle…you've gotten…bigger." Harry said after a second pushing away from the contact.
The man paused.
"You've gotten more observant too Harry. Sit, let's talk about your time at Hogwarts." The man's hand pushed him in a deceptively gentle manner towards his bed, not giving any choice as Harry sat at the edge.
He didn't know why but ever since he had been humiliated he felt the world was a bit more clear, if not darker as well.
That's why, when his uncle placed his hand on Harry's arm and asked him to show him the necklace, Harry couldn't miss the hungry gleam in his uncle's eye. As the man reached forward and gripped the necklace, Harry felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Ahhh, yes. I see you've been wearing it just as I instructed, Harry. Such an obedient child," the man murmured, his voice dripping with a reverent tone as he examined the necklace Harry had hidden beneath his shirt. The uncle's eyes sparkled with a deep admiration as he caressed the emerald pendant.
Harry's discomfort grew as he avoided making eye contact with the man, who was now uncomfortably close. He forced his shirt back into place and tried to move away, desperate to put some distance between himself and his uncle's twisted and invasive gaze.
"Didn't you say you wanted to talk about Hogwarts Uncle? I've been waiting to tell you-"
"I'm sorry Harry…I would love to talk of course but I'm on a tight schedule you see?" He scratched his head, squinting his beady eyes as if he was truly troubled.
Harry wasn't so sure.
"Got to get back to work to make sure you have a future after you graduate! Can't be slacking off all the time." Harry looked away as the man clasped his hands in apology, not really knowing what to do.
"Do you forgive your uncle?"
Harry nodded once keeping his opinion to himself as he felt the hand pat him on the head ruffling his brown hair.
He could have sworn he saw something else in the smirk he gave him.
"I knew I could count on you, my boy! Dont worry soon enough, you won't have to worry about anything at all." The man got up packing up the vials he had unpacked on the bed as he headed towards the door whistling.
However, he stopped turning around with a feigned look of surprise, making Harry wince, hoping he had somehow slipped his mind.
"Oh, how careless of me! I nearly forgot to give you your medicine," the man said, slapping his forehead theatrically before reaching into his robes again. He pulled out the red vial with a flourish, prompting Harry to lean back in apprehension.
"Don't be difficult, Harry. Just one sip and everything will be fine. Trust me," he insisted, twisting the cap off and letting the contents glimmer in the light. Harry shuddered, recalling the awful effects from the last dose.
He had never felt such pain.
"U-uncle, I don't really feel sick so—" Harry's protest was cut short as a hand gripped his shoulder tightly, making him wince and stay silent, though his eyes remained stubborn and unwilling.
The man's face lost its amusement, his tone growing sharp.
"Harry, you've been increasingly rude ever since you came back from Hogwarts. While that's normal for your age, you shouldn't argue when all I'm doing is helping you."
The seemingly benign tone now edged into hostility, his voice trembling with a mix of frustration and nervousness
"How can you even argue with the person who helps clothe and feed you?! Gave you a roof over your head when your parents died?! Slaved away just so you can go to Hogwarts?! Made sure you were safe your entire life?! Do you know how much of my life I gave just to raise you? When I could have had my own family?!"
Harry trembled.
"I can't force you to take this, Harry." The man's voice softened again, though his eyes remained intense, devoted. He knelt down to meet Harry's gaze, his expression turning almost pleading.
"It has to be your choice." His earnest gray eyes bored into Harry's frightened blue ones. He patted Harry's knee, his touch almost patronizing.
"Remember, there is no good or evil, only power and those too weak to seek it." His voice took on a chilling edge. "And I am here to wield that power for your own good because you know by your own admission that you are weak. You need me, so listen. Everything I do is for you. If you refuse, something terrible might happen, and you wouldn't want that, would you? I certainly don't want that!" The man's voice cracked with concern.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
"In this world, hard decisions must sometimes be made for the greater good—decisions that might hurt others, or even you. They must be made regardless." His hands trembled slightly as he now held the vial, the coaxing becoming almost menacing in his ears as he looked down at the liquid.
He had seen it earlier today, splattered all over the floor, he could already taste the metallic pang and slight saltiness just by looking at it.
Concealed horrified eyes looked upwards.
"And your decision right now will decide exactly how much you hurt."
His uncle didn't seem so nice anymore.
"Decide."
Eh Just mozy on by.