HEY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS, NON-BINARIES, FIRETRUCKS, WATER BOTTLES ETC. !
PERSEUS IS BAAAAAACK!
I know it's been long. Too long. And I am sorry and not sorry for that. Until last month, I had exams. And in the past two weeks, Grade 12 began in earnest.
So, yeah. I was swamped with work. And I want to murder my teachers. And I want to murder my classmates. And I want to go into a homicidal rage and destroy the world.
All in two weeks.
I have no idea why I chose to take JEE. Oh, wait, I know. CUZ I LIKE IT! But simultaneously, I hate maths—especially Functions, Trigonometry and some other shit that's bound to happen.
And do not. I repeat, DO NOT forget about Calculus.
That's an entirely different ballgame.
sigh*
REVIEW TIME, MAH FRENDS!
Note: A reader said that too many replies to Reviews might end up being a turnoff, so I decided to cull it a bit.
GenesisYD - It's your lucky day!
Katphysh – CLIFFHANGER! Done. Yelled it. Oh yeah, CLIFFHANGER (for this chap)
Hands Off MY Wolfie – Tupperware was my name of choice since I was eating lunch at school while writing it. And my extremely weird-tasting pasta was in a Tupperware vessel.
Thank you to all others who reviewed. Your reviews are like ambrosia to my tasteless life, like the first drop of rain in a sweltering summer, like the smell of petrichor from newly wet soil. I thrive on them, survive on them. At times when I feel like I should just give it up, you all remind me that there are still people who do give a shit about me.
And with that, I'm done with the reviews. Let's get on with it, my friends!
THE NAME'S POTTER… HARRY POTTER
Chapter 13
MI6
"What the fuck!" Harry whispered. He held the parchment closer to his eyes and kept reading.
"One day, a very pleasant and quiet day, Dumbledore showed up at our doorstep. He was visibly sullen and agitated. We invited him in, gave him the customary tea and biscuits, and sat down to listen to him. We feared that someone we knew had probably died. It is a common occurrence in such times. After taking a deep breath, he looked up forlornly and said, "I have bad news."
He told us that he was interviewing someone for the Divination post at Hogwarts. A witch, claiming to be the descendant of the Seer Cassandra Trelawney, showed up last."
"Trelawney?" Harry thought, "That fraud?"
He kept reading.
"Midway through the interview, she froze up and began delivering a prophecy. Dumbledore told it to us word for word.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."
According to Dumbledore, a death eater overheard part of the prophecy, before Aberforth, Dumbledore's brother, kicked him out of there. When Dumbledore found out, he was afraid. Such knowledge was best kept solely in the hands of the Light.
Not to mention, Voldemort was a very esoteric monster. He believed in prophecy, divination, and all such. I, just like several other muggleborns, did not believe in those things. In McGonagall's words, it was an 'imprecise' profession. She never put much stock into it either. Nevertheless, when most people believe in something, it is wise to believe in it too. Unless it violates your ethics. Then please don't, Harry.
But since Voldemort believed in the prophecy, even Dumbledore was forced to, no matter how much he wanted to do otherwise. He said that the prophecy applied to two children. You and your godbrother, Neville Longbottom.
We were, in your father's words, bloody terrified. You were barely a year old, and here was Dumbledore saying that your life was under threat. It was then that I decided to quit the Aurors and take up almost permanent residence in Potter Manor's extravagantly sized library. My first day as a Potter was spent perusing the books in the library, so it was no surprise that books were my first solution for anything. I scoured the Potter Grimoire while James fought alongside heroes like Boras Weasley, the Prewett brothers, Padfoot, Moony, Emmeline Vance, Jeanette Cole, Nina Perez, and several others. Flitwick, McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Vector joined in at times too.
And then, I found them.
Two spells. Or more aptly, one spell and one ritual.
The Fidelius Charm and the Balem Rakhanim.
The Balem Rakhanim is costly, very costly. It drained the Potter accounts of 10,000 galleons in one fell swoop. But it works, so I think the exchange was fair. It essentially used all the magic it could find from the surroundings to make a shield impenetrable to anything. Not even the killing curse. But sadly, it was only a one-time use thing. If you want details, read the Grimoire.
For the Fidelius, we initially used Padfoot as the Secret Keeper. But Peter convinced us that he was the obvious choice, so we changed it to him. Since I never did trust Wormtail, I will tell you beforehand that if we are dead, then blame him or any freak accident in the house.
But, Harry, the main purpose of this box is to pass on some family heirlooms to you. They are just as priceless in terms of value as they are in terms of sentiment. They contain several goblin enchantments, too, which can block several offensive spells.
Every time you cross a milestone, you can give them something from here. It goes all the way from a beaded bracelet to a proper marriage ring. There are also things for males, if you perhaps swing the other way.
Harry, we love you. I wish we had more years at your side. Tell Paddy and Moony that we love them and that we hope to see them decades later.
Love,
Lily Evans-Potter"
By the time Harry finished reading, he was pissed.
Pissed at Dumbledore, for everything. Pissed at Trelawney, for deciding his life so early on. Pissed at Voldemort for just being Voldemort. Pissed at his parents for trusting Peter. Pissed at Peter for being the self-serving sanctimonious piece of shit he was.
And he was pissed at himself. Pissed that he couldn't pull up his socks and become the son his parents would be really proud of. Pissed that he let his education go down the drain. Pissed that he was so easily manipulated, so easily controlled. Pissed that because of him, everyone he loved and cared about were in danger.
His face hardened. With James's arrival, he started having the barest hints of hope. And there was no way he was going to let that hope fly away too. He was going to kick Voldemort's arse with MI6, and he was going to thrive through this ordeal.
He kept the box away and laid down on the bed, falling asleep in minutes.
Over the next few days, Harry woke up early, went out for a run, exercised, did his chores and homework, talked about Hogwarts to Dudley, and began practicing for his Animagus transformation.
Finally, on Wednesday, Harry packed a bag with unspiked food, water, and a few books.
"Aunt Petunia! I'm leaving! I won't be back for a long time!"
As usual, no reply was forthcoming. Harry scoffed and walked to the park, where Jones waited in a red car.
"Morning, Jones!" Harry greeted the chauffeur.
"Good morning, sir! James said you're going to headquarters today?"
"Yes. Finally, I've joined MI6"
"Congratulations, sir. Belt up, and let's get going." With that, Jones gunned the car and raced out of Privet Drive.
After an hour of driving around in light traffic, the car stopped in front of an office building.
Majestic Intelligence Services Pvt. Ltd.
Harry got down and stared at the sign while Jones took the car into the building's underground parking lot. He suddenly jumped when someone tapped his shoulder.
"Not so impressive, eh? The magic's inside. Come on in!" James grinned. Harry followed him in, eager to see what was in store.
Honestly, it wasn't too interesting inside, either. Just a large atrium with a lone man sitting at the reception, reading a book. Until James pulled Harry into a corner and pressed a tile.
Suddenly, Harry was freefalling through a gaping hole. He screamed and closed his eyes, bracing for the impact.
An impact which never came.
Harry opened his eyes to see that he was slowly floating down to the ground instead of hurtling like a rock. He looked up to see James calmly descending with a smirk.
When his feet touched, he saw a large room plated with steel tiles, runes etched into them. The floor was plain white marble, shiny enough for him to see his reflection.
He looked up shakily and scowled at James, "Couldn't see fit to warn me?"
James chuckled and knocked on the door. Moments later, it opened to reveal a burly guard standing by a metal detector, armed with a gun and a wand.
Harry was so focused on the guard that he missed the doorman.
"Good morning, James! Who might this be now?"
"Ryan." He acknowledged, "This boy is our recruit. Since you are not yet part of the operations, let's just forget his existence, yeah?"
Ryan grimaced. "I can't wait to get back into action. I hate secrets."
"Ryan. You literally joined the Secret Service. We are essentially secrets. You busted your leg and got three others wounded that day. You're lucky you weren't fired or sent to a sleeper post. Get better quick, and you can join us again."
He sighed and bade them ahead. James clapped his back and kept going. Harry walked behind him down a corridor and into another small atrium.
James went up to the receptionist and said, "James Verlan. I have a meeting with Casio. Please let him know I'm here, Edwin."
"Of course, sir. Please go ahead." He replied, taking a small device and typing something on it.
"Thank you." James beckoned Harry on.
A few moments later, Harry piped up, "You have a guy named after a calculator?"
"It's his codename. No one knows his real name. He is our main Head Of Operations, but he still falls under Primus. Primus is the Head Of MI6 Magical Division. He only answers to the Prime Minister and, through him, the Queen. Now, we are going to Casio to get you introduced, named, and briefed. It won't take too long. You will have to tell him everything about your Hogwarts years, and should you choose to, your life with the Dursleys. We can easily destroy them."
"I've made peace with Dudley. I wouldn't want to do something like that to him."
"Your wish. Casio is a squib. Veteran of the Falklands War. He may seem a bit rough, but he's a good guy. Just don't piss him off."
"I'm all for not pissing him off."
"Good. Now walk faster." James said, setting off at a brisk pace. Harry sighed and followed after him.
He looked at the signs on the doors as he walked. Barracks, Office, Stores, Armoury and finally, High Command.
When James and Harry walked in, they saw several people hunched over files and computers, typing or scribbling away. As they passed through, a few of them lifted their heads, quirked an eyebrow and went back to their work.
Ever so often, someone stood up with a file and dropped it into a bin-like object, which sent it to god knows where.
Then James knocked on a door.
HEAD OF OPERATIONS (MI6 MAGICAL)
CASIO
"Come in!" someone yelled.
James opened the door and walked in, Harry at his heels.
"Good morning, sir. Flair, reporting for duty with our recruit." He said, snapping into attention.
"Stand at ease, James. I take that this is Harry Potter?" he held out his hand. Harry shook it and stepped back respectfully.
"Good, good. He has manners. Don't see that much nowadays, eh?" he laughed. "Please, sit down."
Casio, AKA Peter Thompson, OBE and Veteran of the Falklands War, was a tall, slightly bulky man. He looked around fifty years old, maybe even more, since all of his past records were scrubbed. He had a grey goatee and salt-and-pepper hair, fashionably cut and styled with generous amounts of hair lotion. He wore a plain white shirt and black trousers. He had an easy smile, and his eyebrows crinkled in amusement.
"So, Harry, can I call you Harry? How are you doing today?"
"You can call me Harry, sir. I'm doing rather well."
"Excellent. I guess I should welcome you. Welcome to MI6, Mr Potter!"
"Thank you, sir. I'm honoured to be here."
"Of course, of course. Let's get down to business, eh? Relax in your seat. Tell me, Harry, about your life."
And so, Harry started telling Casio about his life. After the briefest mention of the Dursleys, he started with his first year. Then second year, and then third year. At the end of the tale about Sirius's rescue, Casio interrupted him.
"Mr. Potter, you say that Sirius Black is innocent, right? We can help you with that. MI6 can withdraw the warrant for him and make it publicly known that damning evidence has been found which puts him out of suspicion. If we can find a trial transcript, it would help us."
"He never had a trial."
"Travesties of justice. Fear not, Harry. We'll ensure that he can roam around freely in the muggle world. If he keeps out of magical areas, he can be completely free. What we need is a way to tell him without making people suspicious of you."
"Thank you, sir! He will be overjoyed. What if the public notification is spread over a newspaper? I could say that I read it when I was at the Dursleys."
"That would work like a charm. Now your fourth year, please."
Harry regaled them with his fourth year's story but quietened to a whisper when he began speaking about the Graveyard. At the end, he closed his eyes in painful recollection and slumped on the chair.
"You, Harry, have been through a lot. Way too much for a child. I've been through a war. A simple 'I'm sorry' will never make it easier on you. What you need is help and support, and MI6 will gladly provide it to you. You have given us a lot of information to process. James, please prepare a report on this soon. Nicholas will help you out. Now, Mr Potter. It is a common tradition for MI6 to name its new operatives after mythological heroes. Greek, Roman, Indian, Norse, and more."
"Woah. Wait… what hero is Casio?"
"The hero of accountants. I'm just joking. Higher-level operatives can choose their names. James is Flair. I am Casio. You will be whatever the machine chooses. Argus Filch is one of the few who didn't change their name. Argus was, is, and always will be, until he dies, his identity."
James cut in. "To the world, you'll be Harry Potter. But to MI6 and related institutions, you will be your codename. Now, let's see your codename."
"Harry, this machine right here," Casio pointed to a small box with a lever and a slit, "will decide your codename. Pull the lever, and it will print your name on a slip of paper. Go on, do it."
Harry tentatively got up and reached his hand for the lever. He took a deep breath and pulled it.
The printer stood still for a moment, and then, with a beep, it began whirring. Seconds later, a thin slip of paper fell out. Harry picked it up and grinned.
"Perseus says hello."
"From now onwards, Mr Potter, you will be known as Perseus within MI6's walls and in every official communication."
"Yes, sir."
"Fantastic! Now, let's get on with discussing how your training will go. Sit down." Casio relaxed into his chair and sipped from a cup. "Refreshments?"
James and Harry both opted for cups of coffee with cookies.
"So, Harry! MI6 Magical works a wee bit differently from the rest of the department. We have to handle everything magical. International relations, international espionage, internal affairs, counter-terrorism, everything. Now, with such an incompetent Ministry, we are forced to do more. Our team is also smaller than any other. The main reason for that is because the muggleborns are afraid of the Ministry. Technically, what we do is treason to the Ministry."
Harry gulped. Treason was a big thing. But he had to do this to keep his loved ones safe.
"Because of our small ranks, we need all of our, or at least most of our, employees to be well-versed in everything. Espionage, guerrilla warfare, fighting, discussions, security, negotiations, what not. Due to your young age, we will not be as demanding of you. Our primary focus will be your education, magical and muggle, defence training, minor offensive training, espionage, fitness, and some other things. As you know, your timeline is short. Very short. Which is why you're going back to third year."
"Pardon?" Harry asked. Casio stood up with a smirk and paced around the room, building up the tension.
"MI6 owns a few time turners, of varying power. Some can send you back five days, some an hour at most, and one can send you back three months. That is the one you will be using. In three hours, you and a team we have assembled will go back three months into the past. There, you will learn your muggle courses so that you can get a Uni degree if things go south in the Magical World. For the magical courses, we will focus on the important ones. Transfig, Potions and DADA, primarily. As in Hogwarts, you can choose to learn Runes or Arithmancy. I would personally suggest you learn them. Occlumency is also a compulsory thing. It is a branch of the Mind Arts that is used to block intrusions to your mind. It can also be used to keep emotions under check, memories properly organised and other things. I am not too well versed with it."
"Can I also take up Animagus transformation?"
"If you would like to. Though I warn you, the team has no animagi. You'll be on your own."
"Thank you, sir."
"We have to save Britain from Voldemort. There's no holding back on that. You will keep using the time turner as much as required. Without interfering with the progression of any other branch of you at the same time. As in, you go to, let's say Wales. Then after three months you come back. The next jump, you go to Northern Ireland. Your locations will be as far apart as possible, to reduce chances of you meeting yourself."
Casio suddenly opened the door to reveal a gobsmacked man holding a tray with their refreshments. Casio took them and bade the man away.
At Harry's confused look, he said, "I have great hearing. Heard him from a mile away."
Harry grinned and dipped a cookie into his coffee.
"Now, Mr Potter, what I ask might just ruin the mood. Could you please tell me about the abuse you faced with the Dursleys?"
Harry froze. "Do I have to?" he whined.
"You don't, but telling us would help us bring justice to them."
"No, please don't jail them. It would destroy my fledgling relationship with Dudley."
"So I should just ignore it?"
"You could probably just destroy their reputation. It would be fitting."
"We might be able to do that," James replied.
"Dudley did hurt me a bit, and he was also involved for a short time with the drug world. Please don't hurt him."
"We won't, but Scotland Yard will keep an eye on him. If he messes up majorly again, he's going to prison."
"I honestly wouldn't mind if Marge Dursley was faced with her due justice."
"We WILL be able to do that." James grinned.
"Now, another thing. Apart from Miss Granger, do you know anyone who will potentially help us?"
"I only know some of the muggleborns in Gryffindor. Dean Thomas and Fay Dunbar are unremarkable, but a muggleborn in a lower year, Colin Creevey, is obsessed with photography. I have no idea how you can use him, but yeah."
"We will look into them. So far, Miss Granger is a shoo-in for a position in MI6 Magical. We will approach her when she reaches adulthood. Or if things deteriorate too much."
"Could I tell her anything about this?"
"I'm sorry, Harry, but no. This is too high risk. We haven't vetted her yet, and I am not the one who can permit you. Both the PM and Primus will have to agree to it. Even then, I'll try. Bureaucracy is a tiring, slow and rarely fruitful process."
"It won't be that hard. I've heard that Primus has a soft spot for young love."
"Wha… what? James… what?" Harry stuttered. Casio laughed aloud.
"In that case, I have to do it for sure!" he guffawed at Harry's blush.
Harry was royally embarrassed, but he grinned when he thought of Hermione and him getting together.
"Don't worry, Harry, I will do my best. You get through this course with flying colours, and I promise I'll set the wheels turning. Now, I guess you should meet your new partners in crime and treason!"
Harry laughed and stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"James, they are in the barracks, rooms 6 and 7. If you want, you can accompany them too."
"Probably not. I have things I need to handle soon."
"Suit yourself."
"Sir?"
"Will I be able to retain my lordship if I go into the past?"
Casio thought for a moment and then nodded. "The magic of the lordship lies in the ring and your blood. As long as you have those, you'll still retain your lordship."
"So, I can access my belongings and my properties?"
"Yes. Though I would suggest you stay away from Gringotts, Hogwarts and the Graveyard. I know you want to save Cedric, but when you brought back the body, it became an inviolable point in time. Just like Voldemort's resurrection.
Harry sighed. "I understand."
"Don't be so sad, Harry. Cedric is most definitely in a better place. I won't say that you'll ever get over his death, but don't let it get you down. Think of the others who will get harmed if you stay fearful and complacent. Use his death, Harry, to fight, to motivate, to unite. He can be the key to bringing all Hogwarts students together against Voldemort."
"Thank you, sir."
"Don't mention it. I've been in a war myself. I know how it feels. Godspeed Harry. Good luck."
AIAIAIAIAIAI
A/N
Hey there, friends! My school is running through the syllabus very fast RN, so it means that I cannot devote that much time to writing. But that doesn't mean that I am gonna stop this!
No, no, no… I will keep writing, even if it is the last thing that I do.
Anyway, it's 1:30 AM RN, and I am dead tired. So, good night, guys
Cheerio!
Perseus, over and out!
P.S. Please don't think that I am vain for putting my name as Harry's codename. Perseus's story was a good one, and my aim was never to put my name as his. It was just to have the most accurate character similar to Harry. Perseus stood out, and I liked it. It didn't even occur to me that it was my username.