Chapter 2
If one were to look out at the side of a large cream house in the middle of the night, they would have been shocked. They’d rub their eyes not believing what they were seeing, and thinking it was a mixture of shadows and sleep deprivation. After all, there couldn’t be a figure looking into the house from the second story. Alas, both Jack and Harry didn’t follow the usual laws of reality and logic. After Harry had awoken to find himself in an odd rundown house with Jack nursing him back to health, the small boy had practically attached himself to the demon. It had taken a long time of convincing from Jack that whenever he left the house they had been staying at that he was coming back and wasn’t leaving the poor boy. Now though, after a few years of being in each others’ constant company, Harry, or Hades as Jack called him, would always go with him on hunts. (The other supernatural beings wouldn’t stop teasing him of the fact that he went from a loner to an overgrown koala bear when Harry was around.)
While Jack could easily scale the side of a building with his unnatural grip and claws, Harry could not, and so he usually rode on his back. This had earned them the teasing nicknames of “Brother Bear” and “Baby Bear” from the other creeps. (And wasn’t that an interesting time of meeting them!) Of course, despite hunting with Jack, Harry couldn’t eat the organs (at least uncooked.) and so they used the victims that were deep sleepers, or lived alone to grab some food and money while there. This helped both, as Jack could simply put on sunglasses, and pretend that Harry was his younger brother helping his “blind” older brother while their parents were away at work, which was much easier than having to break into a store at the dead of night. However, that wasn’t happening tonight.
The target (*cough* victim *cough*) was a light sleeper, and, while rather well off, constantly harassed others, and felt extremely entitled. The entire reason he had become a target, was the fact that he had been rather… rude to both Hades and Jack when they had gone to get more clothing, and kept insisting he was in the right until the manager had to throw him out. So here they were, climbing silently through the man’s bedroom window and sticking to the surrounding shadows. The man awoke seconds later, blinking blearily. Both boys tensed, waiting for him to start panicking, but thankfully, he simply glanced towards the window and closed it, muttering a quick, “I thought I closed this….”
Soon the man was once again snoring, and Jack nodded to Harry, who used what they knew to be magic to, for lack of a better term, paralyze the sleeping man. Quickly, and efficiently, Jack removed several organs, leaving more vital ones until last. Within the hour, the man would bleed out, unable to move from where he lay, or even do much besides twitch. Leaving as silently as they came, the two males quickly raced through the trees to an old well house: their current residence. It had one bedroom, and had an outhouse, and, though it had no bathroom, it was less than twenty feet from a stream which they could wash themselves and clothing. As soon as they entered the house, Harry flopped onto the ratty, but usable couch with a happy sigh. Jack gave a snort of amusement at the sight, smiling behind his mask. “Don’t… make a mess….”
Harry groaned. “But the water ‘s cold!” Jack gave a grunt of agreement, as it was getting closer to Winter. They would have to move into either the Ark or Jay’s for the cold months, like every year, and until then, they would simply enjoy the quiet they had for the next few days.. “Change then…” EJ didn’t speak in long sentences, prefering to say what was needed, and nothing more. Groaning, Harry flopped off of the couch and trudged over to a closet to grab a change of clothing. “I think we’ll have to get some new clothing soo-” Harry’s voice was cut off by the screech of an owl who dived down onto the windowsill. Both of them stared into the owl’s intelligent eyes as it held up a foot, where they noticed a letter tied. Cautiously taking the letter, Harry began to read it aloud.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter-Nyra,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You’ll find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on the First of September We await your owl by no later than 31 July
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress
They both blinked confusedly at the short note. Jack picked up the second note and began to read it. “The question I’m wondering is why you’re getting an acceptance letter to a school in Scotland when we’re usually in America?” Harry shrugged at the question. “Should we respond to them and meet somewhere?” Jack’s head tilted before nodding. “Tomorrow.” Harry nodded, agreeing with getting at least some bit of sleep.
Hogwarts
Professor Mconagall looked up at the returning owl, relieved at the distraction from all of the paperwork she had to get done. Taking the note her eyes widened in shock. “ALBUS!” she barged into his office, barely noticing Professor Snape a few feet away. “Albus, he’s alive!” “Calm down Minnerva, who is alive?” Albus’ eyes twinkled merrily. “Harry Albus! Harry Potter is alive! His guardian and he wants to meet in London next Friday!” Severus scowled at those words, while unnoticed by the others, Albus’ twinkle turned calculative. “That’s great Minnerva. Severus, my boy, would you be able to meet with Mr. Potter?” Albus too-many-fucking-names-Dumbledoore smiled grandfatherly at the scowling potion master. “I would do so myself, but I have much too much to do before the new school year you see? Thank you, my boy.” The old man ushered them out before Severus could object.