DDRAIG

CHAPTER 2:

ADRIFT

Arcee could tell Harry was telling them his story, or what he claimed to be his story, to distract himself. Some people coped with trauma in different ways. She didn't like talking about what happened with Airachnid, for example. About how that glitch tortured her, before slaying Tailgate in front of her. Even now, she could feel Tailgate's Energon spraying onto her face.

True, Harry's tale sounded fantastic, unbelievable, even. That there was a hidden breed of humans who could use abilities they called magic. That Harry had been orphaned by a warlock who seemed to be every bit as much of a fraghelm as Megatron. That Harry got pulled into a war, despite only being a teenager.

He'd won that war, but not long afterwards, allies turned on him, as did the Goblins. They were sore about Harry committing a heist, even if it was to retrieve and destroy one of Voldemort's Horcruxes. They intended his imprisonment in revenge. Harry tried to flee, only for his Portkey to be attacked by a spell just as he left.

Cliffjumper frowned. "So, how the Pit did that Portkey thing dump you on Cybertron? It's thousands of light-years away."

"Buggered if I know. I was lucky I had enough presence of mind to use a Bubble-Head Charm when I started choking on your planet's atmosphere," Harry said.

Arcee nodded, even as she looked around the desert landscape they were walking through. "Cybertron used to have an oxygen-rich atmosphere before the last war. You probably would've been able to breathe it then, not that we need oxygen ourselves. Now, though…it's about the same atmospheric pressure, but very little oxygen. Anyway, I'm guessing you got captured by Shockwave?"

"I triggered a trap he left for any intruders," Harry said. "I was looking for food, water, or even a way off Cybertron. When I came to, I was in a cell he'd filled with oxygenated air. And that's where he interrogated me. I knew he was bad news, but I gave him a few answers so that I could find a way back to Earth. Plus, I was hoping I was wrong, that the big purple cyclops robot wasn't actually evil." He chuckled bleakly. "More fool me."

The quiet despair in his tone got through to Arcee. She got ahead of him, and knelt down, meeting his eyes with her optics. "Hey," she said gently. "I know what it's like to be captured, to be brutally interrogated…to see someone being murdered in front of you for just being in the way. Pit, it wasn't even the first time. I…I don't like talking about it myself, but I know what it's like."

"You mean what happened to Tailgate, huh?" Cliffjumper asked.

Arcee winced, before shooting Cliffjumper a glare. "Yes, and I thank you not to mention what happened to him for now." As he held up his servos in acquiescence, Arcee returned her gaze to Harry. "So I understand what you're going through, Harry, even if only a little. War is atrocious, and we Autobots fight for our survival and freedom, and that of other sentient beings. I wasn't too keen on coming here, I thought I could do more out there. But the 'Cons are coming to your world, and while I reckon it would've happened sooner or later with all the Energon on it, the fact remains that my capture brought attention to Earth sooner, or at least gave the 'Cons the particulars of Optimus being here. I won't pretend that all Autobots are good. Most of us are, but there's more than a few that I'm not fond of at best. But…if the 'Cons are coming here, then I'll help Optimus protect this world. I'm sure Cliffjumper here will too."

"Damn straight," Cliffjumper said.

Harry hoped the Autobots were telling the truth. True, the shit he pulled out of what passed for Shockwave's brain (albeit by 'smash and grab' Legilimency, meant as an attack more than gaining information, in revenge for what Shockwave did to him) suggested that they were the good guys. Anyone opposing someone as cruel and heartless as Shockwave had to be somewhat decent, even if only by comparison.

But he'd already been burned by those he considered allies before. Certainly, what happened with 'Moody', Dumbledore, and so many others had him wary. And that was without the Ministry scapegoating him when the Goblins decided to take their revenge.

Even now, it was so disconcerting how…normal he felt, now that he was back to his human form. And it was disconcerting precisely because he knew he wasn't human anymore. He was a Techno-Organic, a hybrid between human and Cybertronian. The fact that Shockwave had intended for him to become a spy and saboteur was even worse.

Both Autobots were at least being friendly enough, even if there was a wariness with Arcee. But he couldn't blame her too much, and as she pointed out, if he was tricking them with a cover story, why murder Megatron's most prized scientist? If it was someone like Starscream, someone Shockwave had a very low opinion of (and who was as treacherous as Decepticons come, even plotting against Megatron himself), maybe, but Shockwave?

Harry hoped he'd killed the bastard. He overpowered the Sectumsempra curse to try and destroy the Spark through Shockwave's armour. It seemed to do the trick. Oh, he pitied what the Decepticon went through earlier in life, effectively being lobotomised into reducing his emotions by a corrupt government. But Shockwave had fallen into evil for a long time, and he was never going to atone.

Harry was brought out of his thoughts by another swirling sickly green vortex appearing, like something out of Doctor Who. As he tensed, Arcee said, "Hold on, I think this is a Groundbridge, not a Spacebridge. In fact, I think this is the red carpet."

Then, the powerful thrum of a truck came through, and a large articulated lorry, painted in red and blue, drove through. Harry had an idea he knew who this was, if only from Shockwave's memories. Then, came the noise, that by-now familiar noise of a Cybertronian transforming, a staccato series of buzzes and clanks heralding a rapid transformation: WHRR-TSCHZZ-TSCHZZ-TSCHZZ-CHK!

And then, there he was, standing before them. A massive robot, towering over even Arcee and Cliffjumper, his torso painted crimson, his helmet blue. He looked to the others, a small smile touching his mouth, even as the Groundbridge closed behind him. "Cliffjumper, Arcee, welcome to Earth."

The voice was the same he heard in that recording. A low, weary, and solemn tone, yet gentle and paternal, like the father Harry never knew. Yet Harry was uneasy. After all, for someone who led the Autobots in their war against the Decepticons, he never could stop them, and he wondered whether this was someone too much like Dumbledore. Shockwave seemed to think so, a pacifistic coward he thought, yet Optimus fought on the front lines, and was willing to kill if need be.

"It's good to be here, Optimus, though I have to say, I didn't think we rated a personal greeting from the last Prime," Cliffjumper said.

"There is only Ratchet and Bumblebee currently present at our base, though we have received word that Bulkhead will arrive soon." At this, Optimus then knelt down, and looked at Harry, looking him up and down. "And yet, we saw three Energon signatures when you arrived. But you appear to be accompanied by a human. May I have your name, please?"

"…I'm Harry Potter." Harry didn't know why, but Optimus seemed to blink in surprise, as if recognising the name. "I somehow ended up on Cybertron when my…transportation went awry. Shockwave experimented on me. He was trying to turn me into a Pretender. He succeeded, but…when he captured these two, I broke free. He wasn't able to put any brainwashing into me. And I killed him."

Optimus' eyes widened, and he looked to the others. "That's right," Cliffjumper said. "Claimed to use magic. Whatever he did, it turned Shockwave into a scrapheap, his Spark Chamber sliced in two."

"…I see. A shame Shockwave is dead, and unable to atone, but…sometimes, there is no other way, and the list of Shockwave's crimes is a long one." Optimus turned to look at Harry again. "Harry Potter, as much as I detest killing, save as a last resort, you have prevented other beings from falling prey to his cruelty and callousness, and you have robbed Megatron of one of his most valuable lieutenants."

"…Yeah. Don't get me wrong, killing for me is a last resort, unless someone is so monstrous and evil…I've encountered too many people like Shockwave or Megatron," Harry said quietly. "From what I took from Shockwave's memories, Megatron is too much like the person who murdered my parents."

"You speak of Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort?" Optimus asked.

Harry blinked in surprise at such a thing being spoken of so readily by an alien robot he had never ever met. "…How did you…?"

"Know, in spite of your Statute of Secrecy?" Optimus asked. "We have a number of humans as liaisons and assistants. While we have contacts with the government of the United States of America, others are friends of yours, people who believed in your innocence, and escaped from Britain not long after you did, albeit after making a concerted effort to seek you out. Thus, I should say that it is my very great honour to finally meet you, Harry Potter."

Harry stared up at Optimus, unable to grasp this. "…My friends are with you?"

"A few are, yes. But…I should warn you…you have been gone a long time."

"What do you mean, a long time? Okay, I've been gone a month, but…"

"Harry…your attempt at escaping the Aurors in the pay of Gringotts was in August 2000," Optimus said. "The current local date is July 24th, 2011 CE."

Harry stared at Optimus in shock. "No…no, you're lying! I can't have been gone that long!"

"Starscream bragged that Harry was found a Cybertronian Orbital Cycle ago, Optimus," Arcee said, even as Harry began panting in panic. "That's about a month local time, isn't it?"

"…Then it seems things are more complicated than I imagined," Optimus said, before looking back to Harry. "Harry Potter…we will figure out what this means later. But your friends never gave up hope that you were alive and well. That you have returned to Earth in the company of Arcee and Cliffjumper is fortuitous, even if it came at the cost of you ending up in Shockwave's foul servos and being subjected to his cruel experiments. But I promise you, you will not have to fight unless you wish to. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, even if they have to ensure they are responsible for what they do with such freedom, and I hold freedom of choice to be sacrosanct. Indeed, if you do not choose to stay with us, then that is your choice. But please, if only for the time being, come with us, if only for your friends to see you. If you need confirmation, they told me a passphrase that belongs to the Marauders, the pranksters who included your father and godfather: I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

"…Mischief managed," Harry replied quietly, the familiar words cutting through his mounting panic. He had to find out the truth. Then, he could have the luxury of succumbing to his fears and trauma.

Harry, eventually, nodded. "…Okay. But…if I don't want to stay, I don't have to stay?"

"Indeed."

Harry wasn't sure if he'd regret this. He'd spent the past day having his mind-raped by an evil alien robot, escaping with other alien robots whom he wasn't sure if they were the good guys, and now, he had learned he had travelled in time. All while his body wasn't actually human anymore. He felt exhausted, mentally and physically, and on the verge of having a breakdown, or needing to lie down lest he have one.

But…he needed this. He needed to know his friends were okay, if nothing else. He needed to know.

Optimus, presumably seeing the resolve in his eyes, spoke seemingly to thin air, though it was probably a communications device. "Ratchet, open up a Groundbridge at my coordinates. We have two Autobots requiring a check-up…and a third person. Prepare to contact our liaisons in Jasper too, and tell them to come to base as soon as they can."

"Contact our liaisons, Optimus? Why do we need them? Do you want them to meet the newcomers?" asked a querulous, curmudgeonly voice.

"Indeed, Ratchet…"

They walked through the vortex that opened up, and found themselves in a vast chamber, lined with red rock walls. A vast platform stood at the far end, near what looked like an elevator shaft. Tunnels ran off from this central chamber. A vast array of computer screens filled one part, where a red and white Autobot manned them. Another Autobot, with yellow and black colouration, watched on curiously.

"What is this place?" Harry asked.

"A former nuclear missile silo, thankfully decommissioned," Optimus said. "Fear not, there are no missiles or nuclear material of any kind left here."

"I'm surprised the US government rented this place to you guys," Harry said. "This shit must've been built during the Cold War."

"During the presidency of Ronald Reagan, I believe," Optimus agreed. "And the US government help keep our existence secret. In any case, Harry Potter, this is our medic and scientist, Ratchet, a good friend of mine. And this is Bumblebee, one of our most capable scouts. He is unable to speak English or even Cybertronian, due to torture he received at Megatron's own hands. However, one of your friends suggested a solution."

A crackle of static, like a radio, came from Bumblebee. "Hey there!" he said, sounding like a radio or TV, made up of multiple disjointed voice recordings spliced together. "So you are Harry Potter?"

"…Uhh, yes?"

Ratchet, meanwhile, had turned around, the Autobot approaching Harry, and peering at him. "A Techno-Organic?" he asked.

"Courtesy of Shockwave's experiments," Optimus said. "Harry ended up on Cybertron, somehow. Shockwave made him into a new attempt at the Pretender program, but it was Shockwave's last mistake."

Ratchet's eyes widened, before he nodded. "If he is dead, then good riddance. I'll need to scan them all. The usual, for damage, shell programs, and the like. Especially if they've been anywhere near Shockwave."

"Be my guest," Arcee said. "The fragger used a Cortical Patch on me. Optimus, while we destroyed the Spacebridge Shockwave rebuilt, Starscream knows you're on Earth. Shockwave managed to rip the decryption code for that transmission from my mind. He's dead, but Starscream was present when your transmission was decoded. I'm pretty sure he escaped after Harry managed to repulse his attack."

Ratchet had gone over to a table, and had returned, running a scanner up and down the three of them. "I'll have to scan you more deeply later, but you two seem to be in fairly good health, considering. As for you, Potter…well, from what I have gathered, you seem healthy enough, but you all need some Energon. Especially you, Potter. These readings suggest recent intense Energon usage."

"…Must've been when I breathed Fiendfyre over those bastards," Harry mused out loud. "Dunno how that happened, or my becoming a dragon for that matter, but…"

There was an alarm from the computer bank, and Ratchet frowned, checking the camera feeds. "Well, Optimus, it seems Potter's friends are here. They're taking the elevator down."

Optimus nodded, before explaining, for Harry's benefit, "They usually take a Portkey or Apparate to the top of the mesa this silo is built into, on a designated area away from the helipad. That way, they can avoid accidents."

Not long after, the elevator opened up, not that Harry could see it from this angle. A vaguely familiar voice said, "Good evening, Optimus. What happened? Is Bulkhead on Earth yet?"

"Not as yet, Andromeda," Optimus said. Harry realised, he was speaking to Andromeda Tonks…meaning his godson Teddy should be here too! But who else was here?

"However," Optimus continued, "we have three new arrivals from Cybertron. Two of them are loyal Autobots, Cliffjumper, and Arcee. The third, however…well, why not see for yourselves?"

A clatter of footsteps, and then, a girl in her early teens with silvery white hair with blue fringes peered over the railing of the platform. She blinked and stared at Harry. "…Uhhh, Mum?" she asked. "You're gonna want to see this guy."

"What do you mean, Delphi?" came a far more familiar voice, before an equally-familiar mane of bushy hair peered over the railing. Brown eyes widened in shock. "…Harry?"

"…Hermione?" Harry whispered.

"He recognised the Marauders' passphrase, Hermione," Optimus said.

"That's not enough," she said. "How did you rescue Sirius in our third year?"

"WE rescued Sirius on Buckbeak, with the help of your Time-Turner," Harry said. "And what was the thing you said before I went to face Quirrell in our first year?"

"…That you were a great wizard, because of friendship and bravery being more important than books and cleverness," Hermione said.

Harry chuckled wearily. "Well, I'm no great wizard, and I like a good book and some cleverness, but…it's good to see you again, Hermione..."

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Harry is on Earth, and has received an offer and welcome news from Optimus. But will he join Team Prime?

The time-travel via damaged Portkey was something I had in mind from other stories I've been working on, including a Sword Art Online crossover. I did this partly because I wanted Harry to interact with a teenaged Delphi, but the other methods I considered (like extending how long he was Shockwave's guinea pig, having him locked into a coma for several years due to an enemy, etc) didn't work, and would only increase Harry's trauma, more than I was willing to write for this.

Arcee is being less bitchy than she was at this point because she's putting that aside to help Harry. True, she's still suspicious he may be a sleeper agent, but she's also hoping that he is what he claims to be, and she's showing him some much-needed kindness. Plus, he killed Shockwave, which is always aces in her book.

Harry's magical abilities do use more energy in his Cybertronian/dragon forms, unless he dials it down. Then again, Shockwave gave him enough Energon to keep him alive and lucid, and Harry drained his reserves to a degree in overpowering the Banishing Charm, the Legilimency, and then the Sectumsempra curse. If he hadn't overpowered the latter (and specifically targeted Shockwave's Spark Chamber), he would never have been able to kill Shockwave.

I also wanted to write wrinkles to Optimus' character. He may be somewhat pacifistic and big on redemption, but unlike Dumbledore, he tries to draw the line, and is willing to kill if need be. Hell, he's far more willing to fight on the front lines than Dumbledore, who seems more content to send others out. That's the impression I get in canon. I also wanted to expand on Optimus' famous catchphrase of freedom being the right of all sentient beings. I was reminded of Lord Vetinari in the Discworld novel Going Postal claiming the greatest freedom of all to be the freedom to take consequences, and that all other freedoms are based on that one. Plus, he can't argue with Shockwave being taken out.

No numbered annotations this time.