03-13-2017, 05:19 PM
(02-16-2017, 05:51 AM)Harry Potter Wrote: Harry Potter sat on the brim of the Nexus Fountain for a rather long time, wearing his invisibility cloak, and watching a rather chaotic scene unfold.
First, he had been startled by the sudden appearance of a vampire, who had drank the now blood-red waters of the fountain from a goblet.
He was less surprised when the pretty elf girl emerged from the fountain. Harry listened intently as the two fresh Primes remarked on where they might be and how they ended up wherever they are now. Harry was less concerned, having had these same questions on numerous and occasions and eventually coming to the conclusion that it's best not to ask.
Perhaps the least surprising thing of Harry Potter's entire day, not counting his breakfast, was watching a vampire rip a man off a horse and suck his blood out through his neck.
Harry was more hungry than surprised when a third figure rose from the fountain, now formed into the shape of an hourglass and filled with ash.
Harry was starting to get bored and considered getting up when a human figure fell out of the sky and landed in the floor of Nexus, before comically deploying a parachute.
He summoned a sandwich as the fountain again changed into a granite pillar, from which emerged a flurry of parchment and ink that quickly formed itself into a rather polite young man.
The fountain again became the smooth, clear waters Harry had known, and another figure emerged, this one a girl barely old enough to attend Hogwarts.
Harry was quiet interested in their conversations despite himself, but still did not feel the urge to reveal himself.
Harry was once again surprised when the Fountain began billowing smoke, and then he was mad at himself for his surprise. He edged away from the monster-like Prime as it walked out of the fountain.
Harry had finished his sandwich and was neither hungry nor surprised when six guards arrived to pursue the vampire, who had been languidly observing the different gates and chatting, looking for a new home.
The most surprising part of Harry Potter's day, not including his sudden abduction into an alternate universe, was watching the vampire turn himself into a playing card and play a beautiful game of three-card-monty with the pursuing horsemen. The second most surprising part of Harry Potter's day (again not counting his abduction) was watching that vampire jump into the trunk of a speeding ghost car driven by a transparent version of himself and disappear into one of the gates.
Harry sighed deeply, and removed his cloak.
He was a lean young man with a thousand yard stare in his bright green eyes, glinting behind a pair of shining spectacles. His untidy black hair came down in front of his hard face, failing to conceal the jagged lightning bolt scar on his forehead.
Harry walked towards one of the mounted guards calming his horse. His black wizard's robe stayed close to his body, and his right hand held his holly-and-phoenix-feather wand casually.
"Excuse me," Harry asked the guard politely, as the guard tried to reign his horse in. Harry waited, perhaps less patiently than he would on another day, but the guard did not acknowledge him.
Harry cleared his throat, pointed his wand at his neck, and murmured 'sonourus'.
"EXCUSE ME," Harry repeated in a thundering voice, spooking the guards horse further. Harry stood on the rim of the fountain as he waited for the guards and interested Primes mulling about to form a kind of small group around. Harry dismissed his speaking spell and addressed the group.
"Is there someone here who has been in this universe for more than an hour?"
***
Harry (and perhaps some of the other fresh Primes in the vicinity but to be fair he wasn't really paying attention) listened as closely as he could as the Camelot guard gave his garbled version of Omniverse history, trying not to feel like a History of Magic lesson taught by an American redneck.
He learned about Primes, and Secondaries, and Omnillium.
He learned about the war between Aragorn and Palpatine, and thus, Camelot and the Empire.
Of all the events Harry Potter had experienced that day, including his abduction, by far the most surprising event was hearing that Albus Dumbledore was currently living in Dalaran.
***
His ears were ringing. His eyes were filled with light. His forehead felt like it might split open.
In front of him was a monster. It had giant eyes the size of dinner plates, and long ropey tentacles that pulled at his robes. He saw himself reach out a hand, and tickle the monster.
The monster giggled, and released its grip. He watched the giant squid sink back down into the lake. He felt himself walk over to the lake and lean forward.
He saw the warm, handsome face of the young Tom Riddle staring back at him.
***
Harry removed himself from the conversation awkwardly, stumbling to the gates of Camelot and falling to his knees. He stared at the gate, and asked himself questions only Dumbledore could answer.
When he rose to his feet, it was with the conviction of a man who took every test Albus Dumbledore could throw at him and passed with flying colors. It was with the conviction of a man who, for once in his life, can choose his own destiny.
And Harry Potter felt his destiny lay elsewhere.
Harry James Potter, The Chosen One, sat on the edge of the Infinity Fountain and looked through the eyes of Tom Marvolo Riddle.
***
Tom Riddle was watching a young Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived , make sharp turns around a Quiditch pitch.
***
At the Nexus fountain, Harry James Potter, The Chosen One, felt a rush of pride from Tom.
***
Tom Riddle walked unhurriedly down a familiar Hogwarts hallway, his robe swishing perhaps a bit less menacingly than Harry remembered. Harry could tell there was something on his, some magical theory that was too technical for Harry to understand. There was variable in there, OM, that Harry was quite sure he had never seen before. Tom Riddle caught sight of himself in a mirror, and couldn't help but grin, fixing the hair around his handsome face. He looked in his own dark eyes and seemed startled for a moment.
"Well," he said to his reflection as he leaned forward, gazing into his own eyes deeply. "Isn't this a pleasant surprise?"
***
At the Nexus Fountain, Harry James Potter, The Chosen One, smiled. He leaned forward over the fountain until he is looking into his own, bright green eyes.
"Hello, Tom."
***
"Hello, Harry," Tom said, in the Hogwarts in the Pale Moors.
A silence stretched between minds. Tom was always the one who had a way with words, though.
"You are a man now. Did you ever manage to defeat your greatest foe?" Tom asked casually.
In the Nexus, Harry grinned. "My greatest foe? You mean my self doubt? No, I believe that is an ongoing war."
"Ah," said Tom knowingly. "Well, perhaps the power of love will overcome such obstacles in time."
"Voldemort lost," said Harry, without malice or apology.
"Ah," said Tom. A flicker passes over his face, too fast for Harry to read, but then the handsome face is smiling warmly again. "I'm sure it was for the best."
"Yes," said Harry quietly.
After some time, Riddle spoke. "Have you heard? Do you know who is here?"
Harry nodded. "I've heard. Is he-" Harry's question died on his lips.
"Albus Dumbledore will fight until the day he dies," Tom said sadly.
"I will not survive another war," Harry replied. Tom shrugged in response.
"Come teach," he suggested.
Harry looked away from the fountain. It was a long time before he looked back.
"I'm sorry Tom, some wounds need time to heal," Harry replied. Tom Marvolo Riddle, the man who, in a different life, would become the dreaded Lord Voldemort and murderer of Lily and James Potter, understood.
"Well, perhaps another time then. You know there will always be a place here at Hogwarts for you," Tom said sincerely. "For now, I think you should relax."
Harry's eyebrows rose. "Sorry, that's just...not advice I ever thought I'd hear from you."
Tom shrugs again, a casual movement Harry had not seen from him before.
"The Omniverse is strange that way," said Riddle.
Harry nods, communicating his understanding that he didn't understand. And Tom's idea had merit; Harry was very anxious as of late. "How do I...where could I go to relax?" asked Harry, his mind full of the warfare in Camelot and the fire of the Ashen Steps.
Tom smiles at his old enemy. "Try Costa Del Sol."