Johnny's Third Job, Part 2
Standing down from the stage, the man began gesturing to the various cages. Harry began casting stabilization spells on himself, using the wand motions for diagnostic spells; Sayorahn's books had been very helpful with that.
"Here, we have a number of European Veela! Exotic and powerful, gentlemen, and with the right binding work, they make for excellent guardians and sex pets.
"Over here we have a half-giant. Captured in Upper Mongolia, it killed a dozen men before it was brought in! Properly broken to the whip, it can perform the labor of fifty men!
"European goblins, folks! Excellent at mining and mathematics!
"Ladies and gentlemen, these lamia were captured in the Middle East. Lamia are fantastic guardians, and their knowledge of nerve agents is unparalleled!
"Ah, the fearsome Japanese Oni! Captured in the wilds of mountanous Japan, they are most powerful! Once properly enslaved, they will obey your every desire, laying waste to your enemies!
"Fox spirits! Not as powerful as their older members, these Three Tailed trickster spirits will cause chaos and strife wherever you direct them!
"Yes, wizards and witches with the poor fortune to be in the wrong places at the wrong times. Sadly, their only real use is to be reduced to ingredients, but that is what the tables are for, no? Magicals tend to be inherently healthier, and the black market for organs is never sated!
"The special cages. A trio each of succubi and incubi! Sexual demons to fulfill your every twisted fantasy, or corrupt and assassinate your enemies!
"Even I shall admit that these... aberrations are confusing. I haven't a clue what they are or what to do with them. Still, the more research minded of you can surely find a purpose in their existence, I am certain.
"Last, but certainly not least. An actual sphinx, captured near Rwanda attempting to flee the conflict there. This one, ladies and gentlemen, is our crowning glory. Everyone knows what can be done with a live, intact sphinx. He will be our final auction piece."
Rubbing his hands together, the man ascended the stage with a satisfied grin. "Now, we shall get the simple things out of the way, yes? Bring up the humans!"
Harry, in the back of the crowd, made a hand sign. Seconds later, three of the tents went up in pale blue flames. Everyone jumped, even as the charges at the stage went up. The world went white for a moment, vaporizing the leader and half of the customers. Harry leaped back and rolled with the blast, screams erupting all around him as the smell of cooking flesh grew.
Moving fast, Harry reversed the transfiguration on his outfit, reverting them back to what he called his Expedition Outfit. Tapping his glasses brought up the data feed as he began remote detonating more of the charges.
On the end of the camp, he could barely make out a trio of what appeared to be some sort of flaming beetles cutting their way through tents; clearly a result of Yakumo's Beast Magic. Just over the din, Harry could make out the report of a heavy rifle. It was slow, but people were dropping.
Twisting, Harry pulled his own blade out while silently casting a Shield charm on his vambrace. A man was cut in half by Harry's first strike, another exploded into mist. Harry felt something strike his back before screams came from there. Gesturing with his Shielded arm, he simultaneously pushed out the effects of the Summoning and Banishing charms. The man was torn apart by the forces, causing more disarray as he splashed the already panicking crowd.
Rushing up, he slashed open the cages for the half-giant and the oni, shouting, "We're here to kill slavers!" and then moving on towards more of the camp people, parrying piercing charms and blasting curses with his shield while sheathing the sword and pulling his pistol. All of the modifications that Lara had made to it meant that it it hard, fired rapidly, and above all had twelve rounds. Three men dropped to the mystically enhanced hollow point bullets, their spines cored out mid-chest.
Harry then turned, felt something hit his leg as he cast the Expansion Charm. Instantly, both the cage and the chains holding down the sphinx expanded, and the creature immediately began shrugging off it's now loosened bindings before leaping to attack a slaver.
Meanwhile, Yakumo had tanked two blasting curses and then killed a man with his own severed arm. Yakumo's, not the man's. He reattached it, and began using a pistol to rain lead into the crowd even as Johnny's rifle picked at the edges of the camp.
The oni and the half-giant weren't idle. People were torn in half, limbs bitten off, and outright gored with horns. Harry avoided their bloodlust in favor of the other set of tents.
More hits to his body were felt as he sheathed the pistol, pulling out the rod of red cypress. Chanting in ancient tongues, the earth itself rose up to beat down the slavers, their bodies crushed beyond recognition, even as flames from the campfires animated, leaping at people in apparent gleeful feeding.
Finally, silence reigned across the battlefield. Panting heavily, Harry gave himself a once over. And then cringed. Casting spell after spell to stabilize himself, he then began chugging potions before casting more spells, taught to him by Gurrimurra, others taught on the fly by Salim, to clear curse damage.
Final count: his liver had to be regrown, as well as a kidney. Three broken ribs and a nearly severed leg (all easily fixed). Multiple piercing hexes had to be healed up and sealed, and yet another potion was used for the concussion from the first explosive blast. His hearing had to be mended; he'd gone deaf from the level of noise halfway through the battle. And somehow, the stabilizing magics he'd cast had kept his heart beating even after a bullet had slammed into it.
Finally, covered in blood, viscera, and ash, Harry laid down on a patch of grass and passed out.
Harry awoke to the sounds of night insects. Groaning at the stiffness of repaired flesh, he slowly sat up to see blurred figures around a central fire. A very blurry Yakumo was seen talking to a few of them, and Johnny to others.
Walking up, Yakumo asked, "How you feeling, man?"
"Stiff," Harry admitted, letting his friend help him up. "It all caught up to me at the end. Did I miss anything?"
"We lost a few of the slaves," Yakumo admitted. "But the others aren't holding us responsible; they know we did what we could."
"How are they for food?"
"Poor," Johnny responded, walking up to hand Harry his bag. "Since they weren't going to be here long, the slavers barely packed anything apart from tools."
Harry sighed, limping over to a now open cage. Transfiguring a hook, he hung up his bag to open it. "Go inside. The third bedroom is a pantry full of canned good and stasis-boxed food. Feed them." Johnny nodded as Harry wandered over to the fire, sitting heavily. He cast another diagnostic on himself, and then nodded in contentment that he hadn't missed anything.
"Human," one of the goblins spoke up, "why did you rescue us?"
"Didn't have to," Harry bluntly admitted. "Job was to wipe out the slavers. They didn't care if we just blew everything up, so long as the slavers were dead. Just didn't seem right," Harry finished, his voice exhausted.
"We thank you then," one of the veela spoke up. "We owe you our freedoms."
Harry just kind of shrugged, before frowning. "I don't mean to be rude, but I'm wiped out. That took a lot out of me."
"It's fine," one of the wizards said, offering Harry a mug of water. "We still appreciate your efforts. So, what happens now?"
"Dunno yet," Harry answered, yawning. "Let me get a bit of sleep, and then we can figure something out."
"Very well, young human," an incubus stated. "We shall wait to see what you come up with."
Harry ended up falling asleep right there, and Yakumo ended up carrying him into his bag.
The next morning, Harry woke up on the floor of his living room. Blinking rapidly, he realized that Yakumo had done him a favor. While someone had rinsed off the blood and chunks, his clothes were still heavily stained, and he really liked his bed sheets. The rug was easily replaceable.
Squinting, he took off his glasses to clean them, as his vision was still blurry. Once they were off, Harry could see perfectly clearly. Blinking in confusion, he finally accepted the fact, set his glasses on a table, and walked out of his bag.
There, in the late morning light, the slaves still rested. Some had assisted others with basic First Aid, and more of them were talking among themselves.
Yakumo walked up to say, "How're you managing, Harry?"
"Better," he admitted as his friend handed him a mug of coffee. "What's our situation?"
"Not great," Yakumo sighed out. "The food situation is okay; you packed a lot. Water isn't a problem, since there's a river less than a mile away. But I don't know what to do with these folks. Johnny told me before he went to bed that he didn't have a plan for any of this, so..."
"So it's probably going to be down to me," Harry sighed out, conjuring a camp chair to slump into. "Give me an hour, okay? Let me chew on it for a bit."
Thirty minutes later, and Harry was softly swearing. "What's going on, Harry?" Yakumo asked.
"I don't know very many people," Harry admitted, "and it's really coming home now. I considered making a portkey to Yamatai, but there's nothing there for these folks yet. And I don't want to free them, only to trap them again."
"What about the magical U.N. you were talking about? Can they help?"
Harry blinked, his mind making connections. "Genius! Yakumo, I'm not gonna kiss you!" he exclaimed, getting up to pull his sat-phone out of his pack.
Dialing the number, Harry waited. "Hmwhaaa?!"
"Dobby, it's Harry. Sorry to call so early, but this is important."
"Fine," came the surly response; Harry guessed that it was well before dawn in Blackpool. "What does Harry Potter Sir need?"
"Just before breakfast, I need you to go to Hogwarts. Take your phone. I need you to tell the Headmaster that Sun King Potter needs to speak with Supreme Mugwump Dumbledore. Then call me so that he and I can talk."
A loud, jaw-popping yawn was heard before Dobby replied, "Dobby hears and obeys, Harry Potter Sir. Dobby can get coffee and breakfast before running."
"Thank you, Dobby. Seriously, and Neville agrees, you truly are a blessing you us."
"Butter Dobby up later," was the reply before the house elf disconnected.
Three hours later, Harry's phone rang. "Hello, Harry Potter."
"Good morning, Harry!" came Dumbledore's cheery voice. "Your intriguing little house elf has outright demanded that I speak with you in my official capacity. How might I be of assistance?"
"The ICW has strict policies on the slavery of sentients, right?"
"Oh, goodness yes," the elderly man replied, an edge to his voice that hadn't been there before. "The enslavement of sentients is strictly forbidden the world over."
"Are there provisions for sentients who were enslaved, but rescued?"
"There are. Please elaborate, Harry."
"Green-Tooth Johnny was hired by a government to wipe out a pack of slavers. He contracted out for a team, and we got the job done. The problem is that we don't know what to do with the now-former slaves. We have veela, asiatic oni, some sex demons, a sphinx, and some... Man, I don't even know what those guys are. But we're here in the middle of Myanmar, trying to figure out how to get these people someplace safe."
"Hm. Could it... No, that's not... I think I see now," Dumbledore waffled out. "What are your coordinates, Harry?" Harry rattled off the lattitude and longitude coordinates. "Translate for... Yes, yes I see now. I have good news, my boy. This was an officially commissioned job direct from the ICW Being Rights Division. That means that I can send assistance to you. Are you and yours safe for the moment?"
"We are, sir," Harry answered with a sigh of relief. "Although I do recommend that you bring brooms. There's a portkey redirect ward still up, and it shunts people about fifteen miles away. I haven't figured out how to drop it yet."
"Ah. Thank you for that, Harry. Our people should be there within three hours. You were correct to send your little friend. This was extremely important."
Harry and Yakumo went to the slaves, telling them in various languages what was going on. One of the wizards was kind enough to teach Harry how to cast a modern translation spell, and Harry loaned the man his holly wand to help out in spreading the charm.
Just over two hours later, a dozen people on brooms were spotted flying in, as well as four flying carpets. Harry had his rod out, and Yakumo had a paper demon summoning in hand, just in case it was backup for the slavers.
The group landed, and Harry was relieved to see Dumbledore dismounting a broom. Directing the people around, he walked up, saying, "Harry, excellent work. I take it from the scorched earth and lack of bodies that something occurred?"
Harry, having already holstered his cypress rod before they landed, replied. "I think that the oni and the sphinx were hungry, thus the lack of bodies. And yeah, a lot happened.
"Over there," Harry began, pointing at shattered planks, "was the auction stage. Next to them," pointing at a long pile of warped and twisted metal, "were where the slavers were going to harvest human organs for the black market. The rest was collateral damage. Unfortunately, not all of the slaves survived, and I'm... While I'm not happy with it, it's something I can live with."
"I understand, Harry," Dumbledore said consolingly. "Sometimes we can only do what little we can, and we don't always succeed. This is a hard lesson for one so young, but an essential lesson to be learned by all.
"Now, while my people get matters in order," Dumbledore continued, conjuring a few squashy chairs with his wand, "why don't we sit and get caught up on these events, hmm?"
Something seemed to tingle behind Harry's left eyeball as Dumbledore cast, but he and Yakumo sat in the very comfortable chairs. "So," Dumbledore began, "where is our contact? I believe that he's the one who hired you?"
"Johnny is currently in an expanded space," Harry stated. "He's a vampire, so he's sleeping off the day."
"Ah. Yes, of course. It wasn't noted in the file, I'm afraid. And you are, young man?"
"Yakumo Fuji, sir. Harry and I have been teaching each other things," Yakumo replied, remembering some of Harry's tales.
"Excellent. So, if you two could begin the mission brief?"
Between Yakumo and Harry, the full debriefing took more than an hour, and Harry had to admit that Dumbledore had asked some very pointed and appropriate questions on the tactics, the organization of the slavers, and even the auction customers.
"So once the field settled," Harry began wrapping up, "I patched myself up and passed out. It was evening when I woke up to get some water in me, and then I woke up this morning. Took me about an hour to call you."
"And why notify me, Harry?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"Because you are the only ICW member that I know by name," Harry admitted. "You're also the only person that I could get ahold of. Thank God for Dobby."
"Indeed," Dumbledore chuckled. "He was quite forceful in that I had to contact you. That you used our titles helped a great deal, my boy.
"Now that we are caught up, I shall file this information with in records, and within a week the pay shall be delivered. You both have done a great service, yet I am concerned about how dangerous this was to such young individuals."
Yakumo shrugged at that. "I've been doing stupid things for months, sir. This isn't even in the top ten most dangerous for me."
"It was pretty dangerous for me," Harry admitted, "but I've been learning a lot, and that kept the danger down."
"It's good that you boys know your limits, then. Harry, if I might have a word alone? It's not related to this case." Harry shrugged, and Yakumo got up to see what the ICW personnel were doing. "Harry, I am curious as to when you plan to return to Britain."
"Early to mid-November," Harry replied. "I have a group already paid to get me to Hong Kong, and I'll take the ferry to Japan, leave with the bi-weekly international portkey."
"You're aware that you could just return with us, right? After all, we'll make a brief stop in Malta before I return to Hogwarts. I should be back by tomorrow morning."
"Except that I'm already in the international database as a shipwreck survivor that's currently in Thailand," Harry stated. "If I were to just show up in Britain without the travel paperwork, that could get Interpol curious as to how a fourteen year old managed to get to the other side of the world without notice."
"Mm. Yes, I see your point," Dumbledore mused aloud, stroking his beard. "While most purebloods deride anything muggle, I have a much better idea of how well muggles have advanced. Your plan is indeed the correct one, Harry. Well done."
"You need to congratulate Eshan Pembrow, the secretary at the embassy. This was all his plan."
"Hah. Yes, Mister Pembrow. I remember him from your letter. I've been working on replacing the ambassador spot in Thailand for months; it's good to have a solid replacement candidate.
"On a separate topic, have you been keeping up with your education?"
"I have," Harry replied, thumbing the pin on his lapel. "I'm officially apprenticed to the International Healers Guild; have been since early August. I've also gotten some tutors."
"That is most excellent to hear, Harry. Now before I go, do you have anything for me?"
"Actually, I do. Are you aware," Harry began, making a decision while standing up, "of my current position in Britain?"
"As the Head of the Line of Slytherin? Oh yes," the older man admitted with a chuckle. "Although I daresay that few others are. Your legal counsel, Miss Langley, was quite thorough in obfuscating that legitimate claim. I am only aware because I had to sign off on it as Chief Warlock."
"That makes things easier," Harry mumbled. "I assume you are also aware of the rights and responsibilities that I have at and to Hogwarts?"
"Bits and pieces," Dumbledore admitted. "Mind you, it's been quite a few centuries since a member of a Founder Line was available."
"I have a requirement, sir. And no," he added to Dumbledore's raised eyebrow, "it isn't anything outrageous.
"Basically, by the time I return I expect a level of professionalism from the entirety of the staff. I don't expect friendliness or anything like that, but there will be a professional academic environment."
"Harry, your disagreements with Professor Snape-"
"This has nothing to do with me," Harry interrupted. "You remember last year's boggart class?" Dumbledore nodded at that. "I bet everyone in the staff room got a laugh when the boggart came out as Snape, who was then dressed in Neville's grandmother's clothing."
"We did indeed," Dumbledore chuckled out.
"Then you're all a pack of morons," Harry snarled out to Dumbledore's shock. "How much of a bastard does a teacher have to be to be a thirteen year old boy's worst fear?" Harry demanded. "Everyone remembers Snape's embarrassment. Does anyone remember why that happened? Or does everyone forget that that was the shape the boggart took in response to Neville Longbottom's worst fear?"
"I-I hadn't thought of it that way, Harry," Dumbledore admitted, pale and shamefaced.
"I'm not asking for friendliness, or even apologies," Harry continued in a gentler, but still firm, tone. "I'm requiring a professional academic environment. Even-handed punishments, all that. Nothing impossible, just that."
"I'll see what I can do, my boy. I'll admit that it will be difficult, but I believe that I can make that happen."
"Great!" Harry exclaimed, helping the elderly man up out of his chair. "Glad to hear it. Is there anything else, sir?"
"I believe," Dumbledore said, gesturing behind Harry, "that some people wish to speak with you."
"Harry turned to see the half-giant, all of the oni, four of the veela, a succubus, and half of the human magicals standing behind him. "Hello, may I help all of you?"
The succubus stepped forward. "We have talked among ourselves and come to a decision. Are you truly the king of Yamatai?"
"I am," Harry replied, showing the crackling halo again. "But like I told the slavers, it's mostly in ruins."
"We care not," she replied definitively. "We ask to become citizens of your lands," she continued in a formal tone. "We have no homes, no place to return to. We owe you life and freedom. We shall repay this with our service."
Harry's gaze flicked to Dumbledore, who merely shrugged. Harry sighed, saying, "I can allow that, I guess. Just don't have any massive expectations when you get there, okay?"
"You tell," began the half-giant in broken, translated words; Harry guessed that he'd had no actual education, "that place not good. Broken, yes? Not care. Better than before. If not, we make."
"I understand," Harry replied, actually understanding after having to mentally translate Urara's broken English. "I can make a group portkey, drop you all off on Shipwreck Beach. I'll call ahead; I have historians there already, so you'll have to work with them, alright? If everyone works together, there's no reason that we can't restore Yamatai to it's beauty, and build all an new settlement for every citizen down the road."
One hour, a phone call to Frank Morgan, and a portkey cast on a length of rope later, and Harry was found back in the grass, staring up at the fluffy clouds in the sky.
"Harry, you okay?"
"I think so, Yakumo. I'm not entirely sure what all happened, but it looks like I have my first citizens."
"Looks like," the older boy chuckled out, helping Harry up. "The ICW people have taken down the redirect and are ready to go. And they'll drop us off in the embassy in Roanapur."
"Sounds great," Harry admitted. "I just want to go home and relax. Regrowing organs is a bitch. Just do me a favor?" Yakumo looked at Harry curiously. "Don't tell Revy. If she learns how fucked up I got, she'll probably kill me."
"With kindness," Yakumo added with a laugh.