Chapter 29: Birthday!
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'Yeah, I get it.' Harry moved over to the cage's lock. 'You can rant about whatever you feel like ranting about later, but for now I want to get out.'
His daggers were un-enchanted so he wouldn't be able to slash through metal, but he moved one into his right hand nonetheless.
He pressed the other hand to the lock and channelled Asgardian magic through it. Orange light flashed through the room and the lock exploded with a tremendous bang.
'Your stealth abilities know no bounds, Harry,' Loki drawled.
He snorted and moved forwards, gathering blue energy in his palm. Suddenly the door burst open and a man came through the door, toting a pistol.
Harry projected himself forward, forcing illusions upon the muggle's mind with ease. The man collapsed to the floor as pain racked through his body, Harry making him feel as though he was on fire.
With a glance at the door to make sure no one was following, Harry kicked the man in the head and picked up his pistol.
'Are you sure that's a good idea?' asked Loki. 'You've never fired a gun before.'
'I've seen movies, how hard can it-'
He was interrupted as a man burst through the door holding another gun. Harry screamed and the man screamed, and they both began to fire.
A brief flash of pain travelled through Harry, but he ignored it as Loki numbed it. On what must've been his sixth shot, he finally hit the man, shooting him through his cheekbone and instantly killing him.
Harry swore and chucked the gun to the floor, muttering, "Useless piece of crap. Inaccurate and-"
He was interrupted by Loki. 'Yes, Harry. I'm sure it was the gun's fault, now shut up and let me concentrate on healing then bullet hole in your leg. It has travelled all the way through, so don't worry about getting it out.'
'Oh.' Harry frowned. 'I suppose that was what the pain was?'
'Yes, now let's leave.'
Without a glance at the two bodies on the floor, Harry departed from the room. As he rounded another corner, looking for a window to depart through, a sprinting man bumped into him, impaling himself upon the dagger in Harry's hand. He gasped in pain, dropping his gun as the blade was then swiped across his throat.
An icicle was already flying from Harry's left hand as another man entered his field of view, this one armed with a crowbar which promptly clattered to the floor as its owner was killed.
Harry moved forward and dived out of the window in front of him, falling to the concrete in a cascade of glass and rolling to his feet.
'Why didn't you just open the window?' Loki asked.
'Hey! I just found out I can't fire a gun very well. I need to know that I'm good at some action movie things, otherwise I'll be struck down by crippling insecurity!'
'You do realize that you left your wand in there?'
Harry groaned.
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"Happy thirteenth birthday, Harry."
He raised an eyebrow, snapping his hand out to catch the offered bag of gold. "My thirteenth birthday was eleven months ago" – he looked into the bag – "and these are just this month's wages."
Marco shrugged. "You wished me a Merry Christmas last week – six months after Christmas."
'You did,' confirmed Loki.
"Whilst the voice in my head says that I did, I don't recall doing it, so I'm just going to assume you're crazy."
The man rolled his eyes, used to Harry's behaviours after dealing with them for a few years. "Anyway," he began, "what I wanted to speak to you about is a potential job. I have contacts within the International Council of Wizards, and a lot of people are trying to push for the reinstatement of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. It looks as though it will happen."
'A competition between three wizarding schools, Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang,' Loki reminded Harry.
"And, how exactly does that relate to me?" Marco grimaced, making it rather easy for Harry to guess what he was going to ask.
"Oh for god's sake, Marco! I've told you a million times that I won't be your bloody sister's bodyguard!" Marco opened his mouth to speak, but Harry interrupted, "And don't even try to deny that's what you were going to say, I saw your expression!"
"Well it was, but I don't have any other options. Maria doesn't like any guards except you for some reason, and she doesn't know that I have a teacher at her school protecting her. She'll want to go to the tournament, but my secret guard will not be able to. They're going to Hogwarts and-"
Harry held up a hand. "I'm going to stop you there. I like my freedom more than I do money, and I'm not going to a school, let alone Hogwarts."
"Please, Harry-" Marco began desperately, but Harry cut off once again.
"I can't go to Hogwarts, Marco," he said, his tone now softer. "I told you when we met that I wouldn't tell you about my past, but I will say now that under no circumstances can I attend Hogwarts unless it is my only option."
With a sigh, Marco let his shoulders slump. "I'm sorry. I'm probably being paranoid anyway. In all likelihood nothing will happen, I just…. You know what I mean."
Even if Marco was his friend, this wasn't a situation in which Harry could help him. It had been over a year and a half since he had saved Maria, and he wasn't going to stop avoiding her now, especially if it meant going anywhere near Hogwarts.
He doubted that someone as powerful as Dumbledore would be fooled by a disguise as simple as his, and he didn't want his identity to be known yet. It would cause all kind of problems.
"Was there anything else you wanted?" Harry asked.
"Nah, only that," Marco said, seeming to be attempting to do something akin to puppy eyes on Harry.
Suffice to say, it wasn't working.
Harry snorted. "Bye, Marco. I'll see you soon."
A grin formed upon Marco's face. "I didn't think that would work. See you around."
With that he turned and walked off down Orrizo Alley, leaving Harry to stand alone.
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