An Eclectic Catalogue of Ideas

Harry lay upon the ground, panting. He had just sent the Dementors away. He had nearly been kissed. It had its mouth near his, and he could feel something starting to tear free. Luckily he cast the Patronus Charm in time.

At least it didn't actually take his first kiss.

Not sure where that hilarious thought came from, Harry pushed himself to his knees. His cousin lay on the ground beside him. "I am going to be in so much trouble." As he rose to his feet, swaying, he heard movement. And then, walking down the street towards him was a gaunt-faced man wearing what looked like a black suit and a top hat. The first thing Harry thought of when he saw someone dressed so oddly was wizard. He lifted his wand towards the man, "Who're you?"

"I would put that down, young one." The man's voice was deep and cultured. "You do not wish to anger me. I came to see what was happening. I sensed the unsouled dead here as well as a blessed child. It drew enough attention for me to manifest myself."

"Manifest yourself?" Harry asked suspiciously. He pointed his wand at the man, not trusting him, even though something about the man frightened Harry.

"Mortals," the man whispered, before surging forward, reaching for Harry's throat with his pale hand, "They never obey."

Harry dived down the side, rolling, "Hey, what are you doing?" As he spoke, he instinctively cast a spell, sending a Stunning Spell at the man. It hit him, and did absolutely nothing, "What?"

"Do you really think your mortal magics could affect me?" The man laughed, "So you are a wizard. Fascinating. You should know that very few mortal magics affect one such as me, all such being those dealing with the Greater Mysteries."

"You keep saying mortal. What are you, a vampire?" Harry snorted, "Whatever you are, you're certainly arrogant."

"Oh, you poor boy." The man lifted a hand, and shimmering into thin air came a horde of skeletal warriors wielding swords. "I am your Death. I am Death itself. I am Hades."

"Okay, either this guy is nuts, or I'm in big trouble," Harry muttered. As the soldiers attacked, Harry let loose, murmuring, "Confrigo. Confrigo. Confrigo."

Most of the soldiers were cut down in an instant, and Hades murmured, "Hoh. You have talent. The average mortal wizard would be unable to slay my soldiers." He paused as he looked at Harry, "Ah. I see. I sense both Death and Life about you. An intriguing combination." He gestured, and the last remaining soldier suddenly grew taller, growing more real. "I see I was underestimating you."

More soldiers appeared, an entire phalanx of them, following behind their leader. "Crap," Harry muttered. He was already in trouble, might as well go wild. "Confrigo Maxima! Confrigo Maxima!" He'd learned that for the Tournament. As he cast, he ran, the lead skeletal warrior--now looking like a man in armour--chasing him.

Hades laughed. "Run, boy. Run from Death." He gestured, and another set of skeletal warriors appeared. It was like a cat playing with a mouse.

Harry whirled and cast, "Ignis Flagellum!" A slender whip of fire sprung from his wand and curled around the knight's arm. The now-solid armoured figure cried out in pain as its hand was ripped away by the fire whip, its weapon falling to the ground. "Accio Sword!" Harry barely caught the sword, nearly impaling himself with it, his fingers clasping the blade and cutting himself, his blood flowing down the metal. "That was stupid. Where are the aurors, you'd think they'd be here what with me throwing around all this magic." Even as he spoke, Harry ran around the phalanx, even as the knight's hand slowly began to reform. He waved the whip through the horde of skeletons, shearing through many of them as he moved.

"This is more entertaining than I expected. Do you plan on duelling with my warriors? You do realize these are mere fodder? Now, that knight...you may have heard of him. You mortals called him 'The Greatest Knight'."

Hades continued to monologue, which was really starting to piss Harry off. Every time he cut through the skeletons, more were summoned. This man was trying to kill him! And he would not let it happen. Harry continued to move, and then suddenly thrust forward with the sword when he passed near Hades.

Hades smirked. No such blade, even an enchanted one, could harm him. He watched the blade strike him, waiting to taunt the boy for his folly. And was shocked and horrified when it cut through his flesh and lodged itself deep within his body, the blade severing his spine in its passage. "How?!" He paused and laughed, becoming lucid as he neared death, his eyes looking at the young wizard, "Ah. A blessed child, blood of life and death, and mine own folly. A potent combination." He chuckled, voice rasping as he fell to the ground, the blade ripping from his body as he met Harry's gaze, as if judging, weighing him. "Take my Authorities, child. If anyone should have them, it is one such as you."

Harry suddenly felt dizzy as energy began to pour into him. On his brow, he felt a sharp pain and a hissing cry as something tore free from his temple. Staggering, Harry tried to lean on the sword he took from the knight, only to see it fade into silver-black motes of light and disappear.

Then, everything went dark.

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In his dreams, Harry saw a beautiful girl speaking to him. She was no older than him, with long, purple hair.

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When Harry awoke, he heard voices.

"He broke the Statute of Secrecy! Think of all the damage! He must be arrested!"

"You can sense the residue near his home. A heretic god came to earth there. As such, he was perfectly allowed to defend himself. The amazing thing is he apparently won. Normal people rarely are able to grasp that which happens near a heretic god. I doubt the Obliviators had to do much to handle the situation?"

"He must be put on trial!"

"It doesn't matter what he did, he's beyond our laws now. The Witengamot will be looking into this."

"They have no right!"

"They have every right. Remember, by treaty, they investigate all sightings of gods and godslayers."

"Will you two stop arguing?" Harry's voice rose, and he opened his eyes. He was surprised to see Headmaster Dumbledore and Minister Fudge standing near him. What was he doing in the Hogwarts hospital wing?

"Ah, Harry," said Dumbledore, offering a smile, "I'm glad to see you with us. Could you perhaps tell us what happened?" Beside him, Harry could see Fudge glaring at him.

"I and Dudley were going home, when I felt cold. I recognized it from when he," Harry glanced at Fudge, "put Dementors around the school. There were three Dementors. I told Dudley to run. He tripped and passed out. I fell on him and lost my wand. One of the Dementors leaned over me, and almost Kissed me before I got my wand back. I cast the Patronus and they left." Harry shrugged, "Then this guy in a black suit came, and started talking. He was more arrogant than Voldemort. Eventually, I beat him, though I'm not sure how. He seemed surprised the sword I stole from one of his men hurt him."

"What a load of poppycock!" Fudge snarled. "He's obviously lying. Dementors? Why would there be Dementors there?"

"I don't think you understand, Cornelius," Dumbledore sighed. "Something called a heretic god down. He is a Campione now."

"Hades said that he came because he sensed the 'unsouled dead' and a 'blessed child', whatever that means," Harry supplied.

"Poppycock!" Fudge declared again. "You two. Bind him. We're taking him to the cells. Then, we'll be trying him." Harry glanced to where the man looked and saw two men in red robes.

One of the two responded, gesturing with his wand. Ropes began to circle Harry before fading away to nothing. He blinked and tried again; the same thing happened.

Dumbledore simply watched, a smile on his features, "I think you will find that he's immune to a wizard's magic, Auror Dawlish. That is one of the many traits of the Campione." He looked at Fudge, "Do you truly wish to upset the Witengamot, Cornelius? They, unlike our Wizengamot, are not likely to listen to your platitudes. And if you upset a Campione enough, he could make Voldemort look like a child."

"How dare you?" Fudge said, frowning. "Grab him then and carry him."

"I think not." Dumbledore gestured with a hand, "Leave. I, for one, am not going to break the law. You are attempting to break treaties that have lasted centuries. Go."

"I will see you arrested, both of you!" Fudge declared before stalking towards the door and leaving. The two aurors, after a moment, followed.

"Why is he so determined to have me put on trial? It's not like I wanted to have some deity appear?" He added after a moment, "It really was a deity, though? He said he was Hades, but I wasn't sure if he was crazy or if I was in big trouble,"

"Oh, it was a deity," Dumbledore assured him, "It's not something we wizards normally pay attention to. Wizard magic doesn't attract deities. Heretic gods are called when something happens within their aegis. They come down from myth and cause havoc. Think of them as forces of nature."

"Wizard magic?" Harry asked, confused, "There are other kinds of magic?"

"Oh yes," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Unlike wizards, whose power comes from within, mages or sorcerers use magic outside themselves, drawn from the world or from the power of myth."

"Myth?"

"Yes," Dumbledore agreed, "Their spells often invoke mythological figures or deities to empower their magic. It's different from our own. More powerful in some ways and less so in others."

"Do you know this 'sorcery'?" Harry wondered.

"A little bit. But it requires a talent, just like being a wizard. I can only do very simple spells that way," Dumbledore admitted.

"What did you mean about me being a 'Campione' anyway?" Harry asked. He added, "I have...vague memories of someone mentioning it. But I don't know where?"

"There is an old quote from an Italian text that, while flowery, gives an idea," Dumbledore said. He quoted, "A Campione, a Godslayer, is a supreme ruler. Since he can kill a celestial being, he can therefore call on the sacrosanct, divine powers wielded by the gods. A Campione, a Godslayer, is a lord. Since the power to kill a deity is in his hands, he therefore looms over all mortals on Earth. A Campione, a Godslayer, is a devil. Since of all mortals who live in the world, none can assume a power to match his!"

Harry blinks, "Lord? Devil?" He frowned, "What does it mean that none have the power to match one?"

"Harry, a Campione has faced a deity and lived. They have been given power due to this fact, some say by the deities Pandora and Epimetheus. They are far stronger and tougher than normal people, and have immense magic and magical resistance, among other things such as part of the deity's power." Dumbledore looked at Harry, "You are one of that august company, now."

"This is crazy," Harry muttered. "First, I'm The-Bloody-Boy-Who-Lived, and now I'm a Campione?" He shakes his head, "I can't be."

"You saw how the auror's spell dissipated when it came near you, correct? A Campione's magical resistance puts even a dragon's to shame," Dumbledore said. "Even an Unforgivable Curse would be unable to affect you." He asked curiously, "Do you know what authority or authorities you gained from Hades?"

"Authority?" Harry asked.

"An Authority is a fragment of a god's power, one of the legends which surround him," Dumbledore noted, "For instance, there is a Campione in Europe who can summon powerful wolves and shapeshift into one. Another can imbue a sword with the power to cut anything. He's even cut through entire buildings with one sword swing."

"Hm." Harry considered, "I have... a vague memory of talking to a purple-haired girl. She told me about something like this." He considered, and held up his hand. A ruby the size of his fist appeared within it. Then he closed his hand and the gem disappeared.

"Oh! Hades was said to be the Ruler of the Earth. You can summon minerals?" Dumbledore asked.

"Apparently. I can also summon spirits and the dead, though I don't want to try that right now. Even if she said it didn't hurt them." Harry paused, "She also said that part of Hades' power was attracted to something I was already bound to, and merged with it." Harry suddenly became invisible. Then reappeared.

"Ah, the Helm of Darkness!" Dumbledore sounded excited. "That authority must have come due to your cloak, it was special."

"That's all I remember," Harry admitted.

"Well, obtaining three authorities is rather impressive. Most of the time, it's said a Campione only gets one or two from a deity," Dumbledore mused. "They say the newest Campione in Japan got far more, but each is limited in some way."

"How many Campione are there?" asked Harry.

"With yourself, seven," Dumbledore stated. "The others are Sasha Dejanstahl Voban, Luo Hao, Madame Aisha, John Pluto Smith, Salvatore Doni, and Godou Kusanagi."

"Not so many. Am I really so powerful?" Harry asked.

"Harry, I'll be honest with you," he said with a sigh, "I couldn't beat you as you are now. None of my spells would affect you, and my transfigurations and conjurations would fail when they neared your body." Dumbledore shook his head, "As for physical assaults, Campione are very tough. Also, as a wizard, you will find yourself able to do very powerful magic. In fact, I suggest you practice or you could kill someone."

"Er, why aren't we taught about all of this? Campione, sorcerers, and so on?" Harry asked.

"You are. It's taught at the NEWT level in History of Magic," Dumbledore said. "It isn't considered important to learn before that as it isn't something likely to come up with how few Campione there are and how separated our world is from that of the various Mage Associations. It's esoteric information for most wizards."

Sighing, Harry shook his head, "Okay then. What happens now?"

"Now, we wait. The Witengamot will likely send someone to speak to you. I notified them of you when you were found," Dumbledore said, before explaining, "Think of the Witengamot as something like the ICW. It's composed of mages from many Mage Associations who act as something like record keepers of the sorcerous world. They don't maintain law and order like the ICW, though. They allow individual Mage Associations and governments do that. They do aid greatly in keeping the Statute of Secrecy, however. Due to long-standing treaties, they are the ones to handle the aftermath of heretic gods and the birth of Campione."

"Wonderful," Harry muttered. "More to think about." He ignored Dumbledore's chuckle.

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Harry woke as a door slammed open. Yawning, he looked around in confusion and found himself to be alone. Dumbledore must have left after he'd fallen asleep.

Coming into the room were five aurors, one of which was that Dawlish fellow from before. "Harry James Potter, you are under arrest for breaking the Statute of Secrecy as well as the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Wizardry."

Harry sighed, "Really. Once again, is defending myself from Dementors and a bloody heretic god not a good enough reason to use magic?"

"We aren't here to listen to your lies," one of the other aurors drawled. He sounded a lot like Malfoy. Harry decided he must be a pureblood. "Surrender, or we'll be forced to get rough."

"Where's Dumbledore?" asked Harry cautiously as he pulled the blankets off of himself.

Dawlish smirked, "The Minister called him to the Ministry to talk. He won't be saving you this time." As he spoke, he gestured and the aurors spread out as they moved towards him.

Harry sighed, "I feel like I'm dealing with five Malfoys." He asked, "How are you going to take me in if magic doesn't work on me?"

"The Minister said it was some sort of trick. You couldn't be a Campione, they're just myths anyway. 'sides, even if you were immune to magic, there's five of us and only one of you," said another of the aurors.

"Idiots. Well, I guess it's time," muttered Harry. He lifted a hand, voice speaking in a rather stilted cadence, "I am the one who carries all away, he who judges souls! I order thee, Charon, to bring my servants across the rivers and past the jaws of Cerberus to serve me!"

The air shimmered around Harry. Then, a figure appeared. Then another. Then another. And another. Soon, there were five figures in front of the bed between him and the aurors. The figures wore the armour and cross of the Knights Templar.

"What the hell?" murmured one of the aurors. He lifted his wand, and said, "Praemium Os!" The dark purple spell struck the figure, and nothing happened. Other aurors cast spells as well, "Diffindo!" "Bombarda!" More spells came, and each in turn did absolutely nothing.

The knights drew their swords and began to move towards the aurors and started to lash out with the weapons. Luckily for the aurors, Harry didn't want them killed and so the wizards were struck with the flat of the blades. Soon, the aurors turned and fled, and Harry leaned back, letting the spirits disappear.

"That was too easy. Just what am I?" he muttered to himself.

A soft soprano voice answered from the doorway, "You are a Campione, Mr Potter. It's really that simple."

Looking up, Harry saw a beautiful young woman with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes.

"I am Alice Louise, sometimes called Princess Alice. I have come from the Witengamot," the woman introduced herself as she curtsied.