Chapter- 70 : Greetings Part - 7

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Brian sunk back in his chair, looking mostly despondent but a little more hopeful at Harry's confidence that everything would be all right.

"Are you really the new Divination teacher?" he asked softly with a little incredulity.

Harry blinked. Brian was used to Trelawney and compared to her he was probably not what his new students would be expecting.

Trying to lift the boy's mood he mock-preened. "What? Don't I look the part?"

"Well..." Brian trailed of delicately.

Harry mentally flinched as he realised that he was making an impression on the boy. One of his students. Oh Merlin, was he supposed to be a role-model?

"Um, this is one of those 'do as I say, not as I do' things, all right?" he said awkwardly. "Remember, breaking the law is wrong."

He turned away from Brian and shot a vomiting hex at the Death Eater who promptly threw up. Harry was forced to cancel the petrifaction too as he almost choked to death on his own bile.

A puddle of putrid half-digested food splashed on the floor – though a little dribbled down his robes – and the bezoar landed in the middle, sending spatters everywhere.

"Ew," Harry drawled, quickly vanishing the disgusting mess.

"Now," he said, smiling maliciously as he approached with a goblet full of tainted pumpkin juice, "let's get some answers."

The Death Eater's name was Malculum Locutio – of the Noble house of Locutio, at which Harry rolled his eyes – and Brian's father would be all right. Locutio had simply left him in an out of the way place, unconscious but otherwise unharmed. Both Harry and Brian let out simultaneous breaths of relief at that.

"What does Voldemort want with me?" Harry asked finally, on edge. The notion that the Dark Lord knew of him was finally sinking in.

"He's curious," Locutio bit out.

"Why?"

Locutio grimaced, but the potion forced him to answer. "The prophecy makes him truly invincible – beyond the power he already held – but Dumbledore summoned you, an expert."

Harry let out a weary sigh. "What were your orders?"

"To find out more and kill you."

Fabulous. "And what will he do, now that you've failed?"

Locutio smirked maliciously and didn't even try to stop himself from answering, "Send someone else."

Harry ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "How did he even find out?"

"I don't know," Locutio said gleefully before his smile slackened as the potion ran its course and the final component kicked in.

"Wonderful," Harry muttered distractedly, sinking down in a chair.

Voldemort had found out about him and had decided to kill him as a precaution. It was stunningly similar to the circumstances that ended up killing his parents

How, in Merlin's name, did he get into these things?

There were a few silver linings though. First, Voldemort wasn't obsessed with him. He was merely cautious and lashing out, like swatting at a fly that zoomed irritatingly at the edge of his peripheral vision. Secondly, galling though it was, it wasn't Harry Potter that had gotten all this stunningly familiar attention; it was Harry White.

His fake identity was holding up and with every major party now aware of him that was a very good thing. Even if people ended up reacting to him quite the same despite it.

In all honesty he should have been expecting this. He'd been treating this world like a new beginning, trying to ignore the madness that brought him here or the conflicts that were raging lest he go stark raving mad. But even if he didn't seek it out, the conflict was drawing him in.

But if the war was like chess, he would not be a pawn.

Coming to a decision Harry rose to his feet, taking out his wand once more.

"I'm thinking Madam Bones will have many questions for you," he said gravely.

Locutio didn't respond, the paralytic poison leeching out any and all control he had over his muscles.

"Ah, bugger," Harry said when he realised the man was not in any state to answer questions.

"Can we... Can we go get my dad now?" Brian asked hesitantly.

"Sure, kid," Harry said distractedly. "Just have to do one quick thing first."

For the fourth time today he focussed on the idea of a small grey stone zooming into the room and called out, "Accio bezoar!"

There was a commotion outside and suddenly the door exploded inwards, splinters flying everywhere. Harry instinctively cast a shield charm to protect himself and pushed Brian behind him and to the ground. Two fit wizards in bright burgundy robes rushed inside, wands drawn and pointed at the pair of them.

"Aurors!" the older one barked.

"Put up your hands!" screamed the other, looking very young, like he had just graduated Hogwarts.

The fourth bezoar of the day came zooming in through the broken window and Harry reflexively caught it as he spread his hands to clearly show the trigger-happy wizards he was not a threat.

"Caught red-handed!" the older one said with satisfaction.

The other plucked the wand from Harry's hand, crowing, "You're coming with us, thief!"

Harry ground his teeth as they broke out the handcuffs. "You should probably also do something about the Death Eater stuck to the wall before he dies of poisoning." He wiggled the hand holding the 'evidence of his crime'. "You know, with a bezoar?"

The Senior Auror scowled. "Stevens, add torture and attempted murder to the charges."

"Yes sir!" his Junior partner said eagerly.

Harry just sighed in exasperation.

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