CHAPTER 2:

THE MAGES FROM ANOTHER WORLD

Harry Potter wasn't sure what to make of the whole situation. He was trying very hard not to panic. Only the fact that Aerith seemed friendly enough, though her mother seemed guarded, prevented him from toppling over into a full-blown panic. That, and some of the training the Unspeakables put him through after hiring him.

Not for the first time, he cursed Percy Weasley. A pedantic and opportunistic creature like that becoming Minister of Magic was bad enough, but to publicly expose Delphi's heritage was beyond the pale. He shouldn't have given the anal-retentive fucker any benefit of the doubt. It was bad enough when Percy denounced her at a Weasley family gathering, and in front of Delphi no less, and wasn't that a clusterfuck to work out? He thought he'd never speak to Delphi ever again, if it weren't for the intercession of her 'guardian angel'.

His other friends had left for overseas, but Harry had to make separate arrangements. They wanted to bung him in Azkaban, and subject Delphi to the Dementor's Kiss, due process be damned. They condemned her for the sins of her father, her birth father. Unfortunately, the Aurors pre-empted him before he could flee, and they had fired a spell at the rope he was using as a Portkey just as he and Delphi were leaving to New Zealand, Croaker having gotten him work there.

They'd lost consciousness on the way over. And when he woke up…he wasn't expecting to find an angel peering at him. Okay, she wasn't a literal angel, but she had something to her not unlike one.

Her beauty wasn't truly stunning, not in the way, say, a Veela was. But she was strikingly attractive, even in relatively plain clothing and little makeup. Long light brown hair framed a heart-shaped face, while emerald eyes, much like his own, twinkled in a way that was both like and yet unalike Dumbledore's. There wasn't the same sense, at least in hindsight, of Dumbledore keeping things from Harry. There was a playful and yet gentle nature, but also a strange sadness, he felt, and he wasn't sure why.

Though he could hazard a guess. Elmyra Gainsborough, even when taking into account age, didn't resemble Aerith much. The face was a touch too sharp, the hair too light. It was possible that they were still blood relations, but Harry was willing to guess that Elmyra had adopted Aerith, though he wasn't going to point that out, not when he had adopted Delphi.

Elmyra also seemed less than happy that they were here. It was subtle, but it was there. Or rather, less than happy he was here. She fussed over Delphi like a mother hen, reminding Harry of Molly Weasley. "Why are you wearing those sunglasses indoors?"

Delphi shot Harry a look, and Harry said, "Normally, the cover story I give is that her eyes are sensitive to light. But…there's another reason. Delphi, it's okay, show them."

Delphi, hesitantly, removed her sunglasses, but kept her gaze down at the floor. However, when she looked up at Aerith and Elmyra, Harry heard them both gasp in shock. He knew what they were seeing, the pale blue eyes with the reptilian slits. Not unlike her birth father's, though his were crimson in colour. Though they also resembled those of her guardian angel.

"I can see why," Elmyra said, with considerable understatement, before giving Delphi a reassuring smile. "I'm sorry, Delphi, it was just something of a shock to see them. In fact…if I didn't know any better, I would have sworn I would have seen eyes like those before, though I'm not sure why."

Aerith nodded in agreement. "It's okay, Delphi. I know what it's like to be an outcast for being different to other kids." Her smile was warm and reassuring.

Delphi returned the smile, albeit a little shakily, before she looked to Harry. "Dad…can I play with my toys? I know you want to explain things to them."

"Sure," Harry said, taking the Expanded Trunk from his coat pocket, and then looking at the others. "Umm, do you have a room I could set this up in?"

Elmyra peered at it. "It looks small enough to put on a shelf."

"Trust me, you'll need the space…"

He had to admit, he enjoyed the look on Elmyra's face, her eyes bugging out of her sockets, her jaw dropping. Aerith looked more bemused than surprised to see the Expanded Trunk return to its normal size, though even she gaped when Delphi walked into the open trunk. Harry just hoped Delphi would be less withdrawn soon. She was shy around new people, especially since her parentage was exposed.

Sitting down at the table, he said, "Aerith seemed to understand, but I come from another world entirely to yours. Don't ask me why or how I ended up here, because I have no idea."

Elmyra blinked, before looking to Aerith. "Did…did you learn through your usual ways?" On Aerith's nod, she then turned back to Harry. "Delphi…she's not your daughter by blood, is she?"

"No. And I'm guessing the same goes for Aerith?"

Eventually, Elmyra nodded. "…But she is my daughter in every way that matters. It's something of a long and painful story, and you are newcomers, so you'll forgive me for not divulging it for now," Elmyra admitted. "I am grateful for you telling your own story, though, which I presume is what you are doing?"

Harry nodded, albeit a little nettled by Elmyra's words and somewhat icy tone. But he needed to show some trust to be offered it in his turn. "So, let's begin. It started with a prophecy made by a drunken seer…no, it started with a boy called Tom Marvolo Riddle…"

And so, he told his life story, albeit in abridged form. Of how he grew up, ignorant of his own fame and why his parents were dead. Of Magical Britain and Hogwarts. How he had misadventures every year, until Voldemort regained his body. And then, when Voldemort took over Magical Britain.

Through it all, he watched them both. Both were listening attentively, but he also noticed something about the way Aerith looked. Aside from the impish playfulness of Dumbledore, he noted there was something akin to Hermione and Luna's gazes in them.

"At one point, we were captured in Malfoy Manor, Voldemort's base of operations," Harry explained. "Despite being Delphi's birth-father, he put her through a dangerous ritual, designed to draw a powerful being to her, in a way, like a guardian angel, though I reckon Voldemort wanted something more demonic. What's the old saying of being careful what you wished for, lest you got it? Voldemort and most of his followers were killed by whatever the hell they summoned. I managed to get free, and found Delphi, sobbing, amongst the corpses of the Death Eaters. They'd all been slashed apart, by a sword. Hermione thought it was like an odachi, a kind of long sword from a country we call Japan back home. Something is bound to her, but he's not dangerous unless you provoke him. Though he's a scary bastard, her guardian angel. Anyway, for all that her parents caused me so much pain and misery, never mind to so many others, I opted to save her, to adopt her."

"…It can't have been easy, to adopt the child of those people," Aerith opined.

"No. But I also knew what it was like to be orphaned, and to be left to guardians who hated me. I tried to be the best parent I could be to her. She learned the truth, and…that took a lot of effort to make up for. Eventually, some folks wanted her dead, no matter what, never mind that she was only a kid. No, what mattered was her blood. That, and she had something bound to her that killed anything that truly threatened her. And while some people are born evil, I don't believe Delphi would be. I never did. I was worried about her turning out like them, but not because of her parentage."

"…How could they justify such a thing?" Elmyra asked, a hand pressed to her mouth in horror. "Murdering a young girl simply because of their parents?"

"The public of Magical Britain wasn't exactly known for being smart," Harry said with a grimace. "They couldn't decide whether I was their messiah or the next Dark Lord. I know it's hard to believe, but…"

"Harry, if Aerith believes you to come from another world, then I'm willing to give such a notion credence, unbelievable though it is," Elmyra said. "Though when you said magic was hidden on your world, do you use Materia to cast magic?"

"…Materia?"

Aerith showed him a bangle on her wrist, revealing crystalline orbs of various colours that seemed to glow. "Materia. A crystalised form of Mako Energy. If you really are from another world, then you probably don't know about Mako. It's, for want of a better term, lifeforce, the very essence of living beings, from as small as bacteria to as large as the very Planet. Materia is used to wield magic or enhance abilities. It's pretty common these days. I even have one here that's good for nothing."

She indicated one attached to a ribbon tying her hair back. Harry got the feeling she was making a joke about that Materia. Elmyra, however, looked more serious. "If you're from another world, you don't know about the Shinra Corporation. They built Midgar, placed what are known as Mako Reactors all around the world. But these reactors extract Mako Energy from the very Planet. Harmlessly, Shinra claims, but there are many who claim otherwise. Wars have been fought because people didn't want to accept Shinra's Mako Reactors. My husband died in the war against Wutai, who didn't want a Mako Reactor on their land. Even now, that war ended in a ceasefire, not a true peace settlement. Anti-Wutai sentiment is still pretty high."

"Wutai?" Harry asked. "Do you have a map?"

Elmyra nodded, and got a tattered atlas out of a nearby cupboard, and placing it on the table, opening it up. The three major continents there were far from familiar to Harry, with a couple of smaller landmasses adding to it. "That's where Midgar is," Aerith said, pointing to the northwest of the easternmost continent. "There's other settlements, like Kalm, and the port city Junon." Her finger moved to the central continent. "That continent has more settlements. Corel, Gongaga, Cosmo Canyon, Nibelheim…and it's a popular tourist destination, what with the Costa del Sol and the Gold Saucer being there. The former is a beach resort town, while the latter is a theme park. You have those, right?"

"Yeah. Admittedly, I never got to go to Disneyworld or anything similar with Delphi, just Blackpool Pleasure Beach, but that's it," Harry mused.

Aerith nodded, before her finger moved to the northern continent. "This continent is mostly arctic. I…was born there, at Icicle Inn." Her finger moved over to a smaller continent to the west. "And that's Wutai. Do they have ninja or shinobi on your world?"

"Yeah, at least in tales. So…maybe that place is like Japan on our world," Harry mused.

"Wutai's shinobi are infamous," Elmyra said. "The war went on for nearly a decade, even with Shinra fielding its elite military operatives from their SOLDIER group. Their best, Sephiroth, is lauded as a war hero for helping end it. However, after he disappeared, officially announced as KIA, Wutai's been getting antsy. There's even rumours of a coup against their leader, Godo Kisaragi, in favour of war hawks who want to start the war up again, especially with less elite members of SOLDIER around."

"Yikes. Though it's bugging me…how the hell is a corporation running the show? That's giving me a bad feeling," Harry said. "I mean, they even have their own army. Isn't there like a president or prime minister or even king or queen of this country?"

"The only president is William Shinra(1)," Elmyra said grimly. "But the president of the Shinra Corporation is a king in everything but name. The supposed mayor of Midgar, Domino, is a figurehead. I saw Shinra's rise within my lifetime. It was just a weapons manufacturer before I was born."

"And now, they rule almost all of the Planet," Aerith said solemnly.

"Jesus Christ," Harry muttered, running a hand through his hair. He was beginning to get a grasp on the situation more and more. And it wasn't looking good.

The atlas at least confirmed he was on another world entirely, and not Earth in the future or something like that, not unless it was so long continental drift had rearranged the world, and even then, would humans still be around by then? He tamped down on his surging emotions with an effort. He was stranded on an unfamiliar world with Delphi. He wasn't sure if Communications Mirrors could work between worlds, let alone whether Winky or Fawkes could travel here.

In other words, he had no way of contacting his remaining friends or loved ones. Not that he had much of those anymore, but the Weasleys barring Percy were still on good terms with him, his breaking up with Ginny aside, Hermione, Luna, and Neville were still friends, and there was Remus and Nymphadora and their son Teddy too. Being separated from them, possibly permanently, hurt, and hurt badly.

Deciding to change the subject somewhat, he asked, "That huge platform overhead, what's up with that?"

"That's the city of Midgar proper," Aerith said. "Eight…well, seven massive plates that hold up the various sectors of the city above. Sector 6 collapsed during construction and was abandoned. Shinra's headquarters is right in the middle of the plates."

"And let me guess, down here is the literal lower classes?" Harry looked around the house. "Still, this place is nice for something supposed to be in a slum."

"My husband had it built like that, and there were towns before Midgar was built. But they have no name now," Elmyra said. "Just numbers. Though conditions topside aren't much better. They may have a more comfortable existence, but it's a precarious one. I've seen Platers fall from grace in more ways than one, falling to the slums because they have nowhere else to go. It was one of my first thoughts when I saw Aerith and her birth mother at the Sector 5 train station. That, or Ifalna had escaped Wall Market, possibly with Don Corneo's bastard child."

"Wall Market?"

"It's a part of the Sector 6 Slums, built away from where the plate collapsed," Aerith said. "It used to be a construction workers' settlement. Crime and vice are pretty rampant there, though there's plenty to buy. I sell my flowers there often enough. The local thugs know better than to bother me, thankfully, and I avoid the area when Don Corneo's in the market for a 'wife'."

"I'm guessing Don Corneo is a crime boss or something?" On their nods, he scowled. "Joy."

A silence fell for now, though Harry's thoughts were awhirl. Eventually, after marshalling them, he said, "So, changing the subject somewhat, I need a place to stay until I can figure out what to do. I have a supply of gold and some gems to exchange for the local currency, so that's not a problem, and Delphi and I have what is basically an entire house in that Expanded Trunk, but we still need somewhere to put it. Do you know of any hotels or places like that we can stay at until we figure out what to do?"

Elmyra seemed to think for a time, before she exchanged a look with Aerith. "Do you reckon Mirielle would take them in?" she asked.

"Probably. Kyrie's moved out, so she'll have room, and she'd appreciate any funds she gets," Aerith said, before turning to Harry. "I'd offer for you to stay here, but…Shinra has something of an interest in me. Meeting me and visiting me would rouse their suspicions, true, but not as much as you two living here. And if you can really use magic without Materia…then Shinra will find themselves interested in you two as well. While there's Limit Breaks some people can use, and the Ninjutsu of Wutai, using magic on demand without Materia is a rare feat."

Harry considered her words, before nodding. "Got it. And thanks. Though we'll come visit anyway, Shinra or not. You've made a good impression on Delphi. Not many people look past her eyes, never mind her parentage."

"As long as you don't cause trouble, you're welcome to visit here," Elmyra said. Harry had noted she had warmed to him over the time of their conversation. Aerith had accepted them both pretty quickly, but Elmyra seemed slightly frosty.

Still, it wouldn't hurt to warn them. "Half the time, I seek out trouble, but the other half, it seeks me out," he said. "Hopefully, it won't involve you…"

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

So, there you have it. Some exposition, some angst, and some hope.

I honestly didn't like the way Elmyra was portrayed in the remake. True, it's perfectly understandable why she acts the way she does, but I feel she's a bit callous about it. Especially about not wanting to rescue Aerith, deluding herself into thinking she'll be treated well. I'm still using her as the basis, and she's mostly warming to Harry on account that they're both single parents looking after an adopted child with an extraordinary legacy that makes them a target of those in power.

I've tried to reconstruct her to some degree. Aerith claims they come from another world thanks to her Cetra abilities and the Planet telling her, which Elmyra knows better than to discount.

1. President Shinra's first name isn't given at all. I actually decided on an unusual way to name him. Rufus reminded me of the name (but not the temperament) of William II of England, aka William Rufus. So I decided on President Shinra being named after William the Conqueror, who was notorious for his ruthlessness against rebellion, and also had the name of William the Bastard.