Harry Potter - Another Dark Lord

The moon's light brushed the orphan dormitory. In silence, an orphan opened his dark eyes. It was time. None were awake, none would see. Tiptoes sneaking between the bed, he froze. He heard one of the eight sleepers talking. He waited. Things about a mountain of breads, Samael was just sleep-talking. This fatty, even in his dream, he never stopped thinking about food. Still, this kid would never lower himself on gross meals. The fatty nocturnal noise didn't bother him before, but now Mikhael couldn't risk to wake up anyone.

The awoken orphan couldn't go to Samael bed and knock him out. The fatty could scream before being finished. Mikhael's plan would take more time. The child closed his fist, stretched his fingers. He lowered himself. Advancing in a low position was harder, but he wouldn't be visible if anyone woke up. Paying attention to not touch the wood flooring weak slats, Mikhael reached his destination, Marc Roger personal c.h.e.s.t. Each bed was associated with a c.h.e.s.t for the occupant to put their belonging. The c.h.e.s.ts were only protected by small number padlocks. The thief didn't know the code, but he didn't need it.

Starring at the metallic protection, Mikhael imagined a small red flame, covering a fraction of the ring part. He focused all his will in the image, making it alive. The fire's purpose was to be small, extremely hot and discrete. The thief felt something in the air moving around him. It wasn't a bad feeling. The same warmth pulse from his heart to the padlock. A minuscule ring of red fire sliced the metal with no resistance. Mikhael felt worn out. It was harder than cleaning or repairing his clothes.

Precise moves emptied the c.h.e.s.t before closing it. The orphan child could hear some delirious nonsense about a bigger bread mountain covering the sky. Breads, white like angel wings multiplied from the erupting top. The mountain never stopped rising until it collapsed. A panic shouted filled the silent room with the effect of a cold water bucket. Mikhael only had the time to sprint to this bed, hiding inside before the matron slammed the dormitory door.

" Who is it ? Who shouted ? Tell me. ", Sarah Martin scanned the beds, gripped the closest and shook it. " WHO IS IT ! ", her blood shot eyes stared at the skinny kid barely awake. He was shaking from fear. She grabbed his head. " IS IT YOU ? ANSWER ! NOW ! "

Mikhael didn't want to involve innocent. Even if he disliked them, if he denounced Samael, the matron would see that he had something hidden under his blanket. Madam Martin started to slap the poor soul, forcing him to guide her sight to someone's bed with his trembling finger. It wasn't even the real culprit. She took the new victim out of the dormitory, a night outside awaited the caught orphan.

Knowing he couldn't finish his project tonight, Mikhael fell asleep.

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One hour before dawn, the sky was still dark. A child under ten years old, crouched on the door frame the whole night. He didn't notice that someone strode over his body. Deep in the forest, Mikhael found a familiar brown fur. Joyful barks greeted him as he put clothes bigger than him on the ground. He felt sorry to have nothing to give his friend. It was too early for breakfast. To be forgiven, the orphan played with the animal, scrubbing its belly. After the light distraction, Mikhael stared at his stolen goods, he had some work to do.

The black hair child sat down, hugged the dog and concentrated. In seconds, stained tissues were consumed by fire. It was easier than the metallic padlock, the flames were colder, just like a normal fire. Mikhael laughed when his hand was watered. He knew his mana reserve was bigger than yesterday and would further inspect it, but his friend just disturbed his focus. Okay, he couldn't resist the puppy eyes. Since he had nothing to do before dawn, the child amused the ball of energy with a stick he threw back each time the animal brought it again.

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Sitting at his usual place, at the end of the table near the exit door, Mikhael waited for the serving. Sarah, though her age, she didn't let any kid help her with food, fearing their thievery. The matron personally distributed the bread and soup. She couldn't afford to waste any resources. The orphanage needed money for its roof multiple holes, broken windows and other little discomforts like the matron decreasing stocks of wine.

Samael's fat belly was in front of Mikael for once. The kid was the last to come and the other places were already taken. Mikhael wondered how this physical appearance could exist here, with all nutrition they got. The strangest thing was that Samael was just belly fat, the rest of his body was skinny. With ignorance, the bread gourmet devoured his breakfast in seconds. Mikhael didn't expect him to show any remorse for putting someone else sleeping outside. Here it was each on his own. The black hair orphan's gaze rested on Marc Roger, he too had bread. Soon, he wouldn't. Today was Sunday, the special day, the visit day. The food didn't taste anything better, it was hard. Mikhael had to crumble it in pieces before eating it. Still, it was better than nothing.

Outside, the kid thrown out for the night awoke. His eyes became livid when the matron smiled at him before closing the kitchen with her key. He stared at each orphan eating their meal. Everyone with a bit of food remaining gulped down it fast. The outdoor orphan recognized the traitor who targeted him last night. Mikhael stood up, waiting for the spectacle, his back against the wall, near the door. Even indirectly he wasn't responsible for this mess.

The attacker, bigger than his target didn't hesitate to catch the sitting child under the matron watch. His angry face spit at his opponent's eyes, blinding him for a short moment. The two kids were going to exchange blows when they were recalled by a cold voice, that they had to stay clean for the visit or no lunch and dinner. The youngest kid expired, his relief was cut short, receiving a knee to his stomach. The assailant took care to not damage the face nor leaving any visible body mark. He kicked his crawling dorm mate in the gut with his b.a.r.e foot. If he did with his shoes, there would be some stain on the clothes.

As entertaining as it was for Mikhael, the thief waited for the real spectacle to come.

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At noon, the orphan population was served the only lunch of the week. Mikhael was in his 'costume suit' like every other child while the only two girls were in pinkish dresses. Girls never lasted long here. Customers, parents preferred young cute girls to adopt rather than ugly skeleton boys found in here. Mikhael didn't see Marc Roger, this carrot head was too shameful to not have his proper attire to face the matron. This would teach him to not mess up with him.

A couple composed of an old man in a black suit and his young wife in purple mantle observed each orphan under ten years old. The other, too old were invisible for the couple. This opportunity could give Mikhael a better future if he was picked up. The customers weren't poor, the number of necklaces on the woman was high. Yet, the orphan pride felt hurt when he wasn't selected. Was his features so ugly, the reason the a.d.u.l.ts didn't stop at his rank. Instead, like the other times, a girl was chosen.

There were so many benefits to get into a family. Mikhael knew it, he had one before. Still, he felt dirty. Just like a product for sale, he stood there the whole afternoon. Orphans couldn't disobey this ordeal, or they were kicked out of the orphanage.

Marc missed lunch but not the 'visit'. The carrot head was in the same clothes he slept with. Old stained pant and holed top, clients didn't come near him. Some even talked to Sarah about the degradation of the establishment. The matron could only pity up while speaking of her difficulties, disobeying orphans with no respect for the furniture nor the clothes she gave them. The lack of money couldn't be resolved with small donations alone as she couldn't force the orphans to work. Her predecessor did, it worked for a time before he was cast in prison.

Ending the day, still not chosen, Mikhael was going to the shower when someone impacted his shoulder.

" I know it. It's you freak ! ", Marc faced the thief, shouting for others to hear.

" What are you talking about carrot head ? Can't find decent clothes ? Losing your possession is your problem, alone. You are such an airhead. ", Mikhael bashed away the unwanted hand grasping his collar. Dirt marks on his white shirt faded away.

" It's him Miss Sarah. I know it is him. ", the kid begged the matron. " No, I didn't see him, but... ", he couldn't finish his sentence. She rambled and left him alone.

Mikhael felt good. This fool deserved it.

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<center>HP - Another Dark Lord</center>

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The rain didn't go through the heavy layers of leaves in the forest. " Useless animal ? ", Mikhael observed as the dog growled disapproving this nickname. With its size and face, it didn't work, it wasn't scarring at all. " Such a drama queen, it's just a name. ", the orphan threw half his breakfast in the air. It met a muzzle before touching the ground. " What about Ace ? ", seeing the happy tail waving, he grabbed the dog and lift it in the air.

Ace sniffed the air before sprinting away. " Ace, come back ! ", Mikhael was nervous. This was the first time his dog ran this fast with no warning in the last month they met. What could have scarred Ace like that. the dog owner scouted his surroundings, green grass, green leaves, green trees, nothing unusual. The kid followed the path his pet took. He didn't notice anything, but animals had better sense than humans. It was dead silent. The forest wasn't supposed to be this mute. No bird sang nor insect made any noises.

Mikhael could only hear his heartbeat. Pumping, and pumping, stronger, faster, he didn't notice he was sprinting with burning lungs.

Drenched in sweats, the orphan stopped moving and fall on the ground. He was lost but this place was normal. There wasn't any eerie feeling crawling under his skin. He never appreciated more than now the sound of birds. He thought he did the right thing to follow his instincts, or Ace's action. After some time to recuperate, the lost child sped up, he was far from the orphanage, his freakishness told him.

Hearing a familiar barking, the orphan pulled up his last strength. Trees surrounded him but the sound was closer, to the left. He felt relieved. He found Ace. He found Lucy too. She played with his dog. His dog was playing with someone else. Something hurt his c.h.e.s.t. While he ran alone, Ace was playing with the last orphanage girl. She was older than him by one year, but they had the same height. What was she even doing this deep in the forest.

" Ah, Mikhael. ", Lucy let go of the animal embrace. " I finally found you, Misses Sarah wanted you to repair the garden barrier. ", she smiled and continued to pet the dog. She did her job. The dog was cute. " Such a silly dog. Wait... ", the animal jumped from her arms and made a happy dance around the boy. She was speechless. Mickhael wasn't friendly with anyone, he was strange. How could such a nice creature preferred him over her.

Mikhael had difficulties to not forgive Ace when he saw the joy in its brown eyes. He couldn't help but sneer at Lucy's open mouth. Yes, the dog knew who its master was. The boy walked past her, he noticed the trail he used to follow when wandering in the forest. He wondered what kind of excuse he could muster to the matron to not do the barrier reparation. They didn't have spare plank nor screw or tape. He let go Ace when the orphanage roof became visible from the forest.

Contouring the building, he saw the garden at the back. They rose some vegetables for the soup there. Success as small as it was, it still saved some pounds for food expenses. What awaited him at the garden entrance wasn't the matron. It was Marc with its read head, and two friends from the next village. Mikhael knew them from faces. They met before when he visited the village two kilometers East. The smirk on carrot head told him why they were here.

Mikhael concentrated on his heart, he imagined a fire. His thought never finished as the third villager he never noticed hit him in the back. His arms allowed him to not splattered on the dirt. Two pairs of arms wrestled him. He couldn't move. His arms were restrained. He focused to set fire running on Marc's hair, the kid facing him. His jaw dislocated. Blood stained his shirt. He saw a phantom image of the villager distorting. His guts were punched.

He didn't know why. They always fought, for no reason now. It didn't matter. He spluttered red. It was this orphan fault, he wasn't vigilant enough. He had difficulty breathing. At least they were gone. He touched his face. His nose was broken. There was a smile. It hurt, less than a Crucio. It was raining.

No one wins all the time.