You're an Umbran Harry! ch3

“Hey.” Luka’s friendly greeting meant one of two things. Either he had had all the facts calmly explained to him, or he was too frightened of Rodin to protest. Given Rodin’s usual less than talkative demeanor, Bayonetta was betting on the latter. “This the kid you stole?”

Inwardly Bayonetta sighed. Definitely the latter then. Aloud, she said. “I didn’t steal anything. This time anyway. He was freely given.”

“Uh huh. How much of that was from you being intimidating?”

She shrugged. “Not much. His aunt seemed quite glad to be rid of him.”

“Rodin said he’s got someone else’s soul in him.”

She nodded and put Harry down on her lap, handing him one of the new toys she had bought, a large stuffed cat. Harry cooed happily and enthusiastically began to chew on one large ear. Smiling, she said, “That’s why we’re here today. Rodin seemed confident he could remove it.”

“I know I can baby.” Rodin appeared out of thin air behind the bar, and proceeded to toss back a goblet full of something rose colored that was smoking slightly. Slamming the empty container back on the counter, he wiped his mouth. “Seems your friends downstairs were pretty pleased with all the angels you sent their way. Made them a little more talkative.”

“Oh?”

“Apparently the folks in Paradiso were up in arms because there was an upheaval in power, and they weren’t the ones to do it. Inferno is angry because they weren’t able to get their piece of the action. Basically no one won.”

“So that mess the other day was a pissing contest between the trinity?”

Rodin nodded and picked up Harry, cat and all, placing him on the counter. “Pretty much. Earth just got caught in the middle as usual, since its native powerhouses prefer to remain neutral.” He stared down at Harry. “Now let’s see about getting this other soul out of you.”

Harry looked up at him and seemed to twitch for a second, then he started chewing on his cat again, though he kept shooting glances at Rodin. As this was a typical reaction to concentrated attention from Rodin from people of all ages, Bayonetta wasn’t terribly concerned. She still put a hand on his back, however, rubbing it in circles.

Rodin ruffled his hair. “Promise it won’t hurt.” Under his breath he added, “If I can help it.” This seemed to calm Harry, and he watched with interest as Rodin started setting up tools, though Bayonetta was willing to bet that it was simply because they were shiny.

“Speaking of the other day.” Luka tossed Bayonetta a newspaper. “I had a stopover in London this morning on my way back from Sri-Lanka. That you’re handiwork?”

She frowned and read aloud, “Manhunt continues for killer of wealthy industrialist.”

Flipping the paper open, she continued. “The hunt is on for the killer of industrialist Johnathon Edgecombe, who was found dead in Surrey the morning after Halloween. His wife called law enforcement after her husband failed to return from a costume party the night before. Police say he was still in costume, consisting of black robes and a white mask, at the time of murder. According to forensics, the assailant shot Mister Edgecombe in the face at what appears to be point blank range. Anyone with information should inform their local law enforcement, a reward is being offered for valid information. Longtime family friend Lucius Malfoy was unavailable for comment.”

She tossed the newspaper back. “Judging by the description, I’d say that’s the man I killed, yes.”

Luka frowned. “Since when do you go after humans? They’re aren’t exactly your usual angelic fare.”

Bayonetta watched as Rodin’s equipment began to glow, creating a mystical sigil with Harry in the center. “He was tracking the little one while we were in Purgatorio. Apparently he served a master who wanted him dead.”

Luka blinked. “Wants him dead?! How old is the kid?”

“A little over a year, according to the letter that he was left on a doorstep with.”

Luka’s expression turned thunderous, but before he could say anything, Rodin made a pleased noise. “Got ya now.” He was making peculiar motions with a metal stick that was engraved in something written in Enochian. Something black as night was being pulled from Harry’s scar, appearing to fight every single step of it.”

Luka looked sick. “What the hell is that?!”

Sucking the cloud of darkness into a vessel, Rodin sat back, looking somewhat winded. “That was the other soul. Nasty piece of work. Powerful too.”

“Planning on making a weapon with it?”

Rodin grinned. “We’ll see. If I can beef it up, then definitely. It’s fragmented somehow, like it’s only a piece. If nothing else, I can make it into his first guns for you.”

Luka waved his hands. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You-“ he pointed at Bayonetta, “-are raising him?!”

She eyed him. “I fail to see how it’s any of your concern. He’ll be wanted, well fed, and the Chain Chomp likes him, so he’ll have a good pet.”

Luka drew his feet up reflexively as said creature bounced near, barking lowly. “From what you’ve told me, the Chain Chomp likes anything that can’t get away. I was thinking more about him being condemned to Inferno, actually.”

Bayonetta sniffed. “That soul Rodin just extracted had already marked him for Inferno. I like to think I can give him a much better turn up here.” She scowled, making Luka inch back on his stool and nearly fall off. “Besides, it’s a damn sight better than anything those fools who left him with had planned. They dropped him on a doorstep with a note and left! It was hours before the household woke up, but they didn’t even hang around to make sure he survived the night!”

Luka held his hands up in a placating gesture. “Okay! I’m curious though, can men learn the Umbran Arts?”

“It’s not common, but it has happened.” Luka cursed and spun as Jeanne seemed to appear behind him. “This would make Harry the…fourth. I think.” She accepted a goblet of wine from Rodin. “Usually it only happens when an Umbra Witch has a male child, which was fairly uncommon. We’re predisposed towards having girls.”

Luka appeared to file this away. “So it’s possible.” He glanced at Bayonetta. “You said something about a letter.”

Bayonetta nodded and handed it over. “I thought you’d ask to see it Chesire. Everyone else has.”

“Not a cat.” Luka mumbled. Then he flipped the note open and read aloud. “Dear Mrs. Dursley, This is your nephew, Harry James Potter, born the thirty first of last July. I regret to inform you of the passing of your sister, Lily, and her husband, James. They were killed at the hands of Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard that has, until tonight, plagued our world. I humbly ask that you please take in and care for your nephew, as you are the only family he has left now. We have placed an enchantment around your house that will protect both you and him, from the followers of Voldemort so long as he stays. This enchantment shall remain until he reaches the age of majority. I cannot stress enough the dangers of the world to child who cannot yet defend himself, and hope that you have the heart to take him in. We shall contact you again at the appropriate time. Yours sincerely, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.”

He was silent for a moment. Eventually he said, “I suppose he didn’t really give her an option, did he?” He looked at the letter for a moment. “This kind of reads like a form letter, except for wizards apparently.”

Jeanne snapped her fingers “That’s what this was reminding me of. There’s a bunch of magic workers that use wands. Survived the witch hunts by laying low.”

Bayonetta sniffed. “Wands? How very archaic.” At Luka’s confused glance, she elaborated. “We Umbra stopped using wands centuries before the witch hunts. They were too much of a liability.”

Jeanne frowned. “This Lord Voldemort seems recent. I’ll have to do some digging. I know the wand users had a foothold in Eastern Europe, might as well start there.”

“We’ll need to make a trip to Vigrid anyway.” When everyone but Harry stared at her, Bayonetta smirked. “He needs an Umbran Watch, and some of those parts can only be found in Vigrid.”

“Leave that to me.” Jeanne said. “It’ll be better if he has a new one, and I know what it needs.”

Luka hopped off the barstool, dodging an attempted nibble from the Chain Chomp. “If you can give me some tips, I’ll start looking into these wand users. Odds are good they aren’t as well hidden as they like to think.”

Rodin sighed as the two of them headed out of the bar, chattering. He sighed again and rescued one of his tools from Harry’s grasp, replacing it with the cat. Harry seemed perfectly content with this, and happily began chewing on it again. “You’re gonna have one hell of a childhood kid.”

Harry just burbled and chewed harder on the cat’s ear.