His Savior (Damian/Asric)

Muggle Neighborhood
Surrey
Summertime


Damian stopped to try to catch his breath behind a foul-smelling dumpster. It felt cowardly to run, but he was outnumbered six-to-one, and he was sick and tired of going home a bloodied mess. His mother always looked at him with that sad, pathetic look on her face, as though Damian wanted to fight with the other children, as though he had meant to make enemies of all his friends!

"Stupid muggles," he growled to himself. Sufficiently able to breathe, again, he started running once more. He just had to round the corner and make it halfway down the street - easy. The others weren't as fast as he was. They had never had to be. Damian gritted his teeth as he ran. He would make them pay, some day.

Rounding the corner, he skidded to a stop, finding himself facing three more boys. He turned back, the other six were catching up. He was trapped. Clenching his jaw, Damian balled his hands into fists.

"Filthy wizard!" one of the boys - Bryce, to be precise - snarled at him.

Damian ducked as his former best friend threw a punch at him, pounding his fist into the other boy's belly.

And then, they were on him. Damian fought fiercely. He would not go down without a fight! But there were so many, and they were so hateful, that a small part of the boy couldn't help but wonder if this would be the fight in which he died.

Asric had often found traveling in his bird form was a better way to get to places. He spread his wings enjoying the feel of the wind beneath his feather when he heard those two annoying words 'filthy wizard'. He let out a squark before heading down to the ground in a steep dive.

Once he was close enough to the ground he transformed back to his human form so he landed neatly on his feet. He tilted his head to the side and cleared his throat to get the boys attention.

"Do we have a problem here boys?" He asked lazily.

Damian eyed the newcomer from the headlock an exceptionally large boy by the name of Harrison had on him. Incidentally, said headlock was not enough to hold Damian, so somebody else had his arms, but he didn't know who. Those who had been taking turns throwing kicks and punches at him had parted a bit, thus his ability to see the man at all.

The person holding his arms let go for some reason or another (had Damian been able to see the boy, he would have noted that he'd gone very pale and was gaping in horror at the man), and Damian took the opportunity to elbow Harrison in the side, ramming him with his shoulder the moment he loosened his hold. Finally released, he could only try to fall to the ground with dignity as his left leg hurt far too much to stand right away.

Damian wrapped his arms around his torso - it was likely bruised again. Then, he glared defiantly up at the stranger. He didn't recognize the man, but it wouldn't be the first time an adult had helped him only to torment him themselves.

One boy, braver - or perhaps just stupider - than the rest, dared to answer. "Jus' putting this'n in his place," he declared.

"Are you insane?" another hissed at him. Damian could hear him, but wasn't sure if the man could. "Didn't you see what he did?"

"Whattaya mean?" whispered someone else.

"He just appeared outta nowhere!"

"No..."

"Yes!"

"Let's just go," said Bryce, nudging some of the others. He sent a last, spiteful glance at Damian before they all turned and fled like the cowards they were.

Damian was left alone with the stranger. Swiping at his bleeding nose with the back of one hand, the boy finally removed the other arm from his abused torso and pushed himself up to standing position. He had to grit his teeth against the pain shooting through his leg, and one of his eyes was quickly swelling shut, throwing off his depth-perception, but he refused to show anymore weakness than necessary in front of this stranger.

Even if the show of bravado cost him dearly. His head already starting to feel faint, he tilted his chin in defiance.

He smiled noting how the boy was injured. "Oh really? Where would that be?" He asked stepping forward to help what he guessed was a wizard. His eyes flicked to the other boy that spoke, this one seemed to have more sense than the others.

He laughed clearing the tension. "I'm good at that you know im always disappearing and reappearing, it's good fun." He smirked pulling out his wand to spin it around his fingers.

"Oh why you leaving? This was about to get fun." He smiled apparating with a loud crack in front of where they were about to run to. "No one leave until you have learnt something. It is my job after, to teach those that need teaching and you obviously need it." He said casting a solid dome around them all so everyone was trapped inside it.

He conjured a chair for the boy to sit on it was clear he was in pain. "Take a seat and enjoy their pain." He smiled. "Right kid, what would you suggest we do with them? I think they need to learn their rightful place don't you?" He smiled pointing his wand at each of them in turn. "Who's first? I'll leave the killing to you, when you've learnt how. Revenge is sweet justice."

Damian felt a small bit of relief. This man was like him. He was a wizard.

He wanted to remain standing, even when the man made a chair appear for him. He didn't want to seem weak, but he just hurt and the world was threatening to start performing acrobatics around him.

Damian regarded the other boys, who were now looking back at him with a mixture of terror and futile hope at the man's pronouncement. A year ago, most of these boys had been his friends. They had played and gone to school together. They had built forts and gone swimming, caused mischief together.

That was a year ago.

Damian's gaze hardened. He wrapped his arms around his torso, wincing a bit at the pain this elicited from his ribs. Now, he knew where to start.

"That one cracked my ribs a few months ago," he nodded towards Harrison. His tone was a bit nasally, which brought his attention to his next tormentor. "He likes to bloody my nose."

He continued through the list. The two boys who had broken his arm over the last winter holidays, the four who had stuffed him into a dumpster and left him there, three who tried to drown him at the pool. In numerous combinations, he coldly listed all their crimes against him.

Then, he came to Bryce. For a moment, Bryce was the boy he'd been a year before, looking fearfully to Damian for help when it came time to pay the consequences for what he had done. Bryce always had been a coward.

"He's the reason they keep coming after me," Damian told the man, his voice only a fraction as loathing as it would have been if his nose wasn't bleeding and his ribs weren't killing him. "He told everyone I have magic. He was my best friend, and he ratted me out."

Damian regarded the other boys, his once-friends, through the eye that wasn't swollen. They looked terrified, and suddenly contrite. They were apologizing, now, begging him to remember they'd been his friends.

They should have remembered that themselves a year ago.

Damian smirked at them, his expression made all the more terrible by the blood covering the lower half of his face and the dark bruising around his eye.

"I think they should go through everything they've done to me," Damian told the man. "It's their place, and they've earned it."

He frowned. "Don't be stupid and sit down. I don't care about your strength right now." He said looking to each of the muggles in turn taking in their weaknesses and strengths.

He nodded flicking his wrist so his wand flew back up his sleeve, he wouldn't be needing it right now. "Ribs you say?" He said moving up to the boy. "Get on your knees and kiss my shoe. Filthy muggle." He spat looking down at the boy.

Seconds later he connected his knee with the boys ribs, smiling as he heard the familiar crack of breaking bones. "Next?" He said turning his head to look at Damian. He glared spinning on the next boy. "An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth..." He smiled. "A nose for a nose." He said pulling out a knife and seconds later most of the boys nose ended up on the ground. "Nose bleeding check." He said as if ticking it off a list.

The next two each had their arm snapped in three places making it harder for them to heal. The one after that was sent to a secluded place in the middle of no where so he had to find his way back himself.

He shook his head. "Drowning is not nice now is it boys?" He said tutting. "I'm a shamed of you." He flicked his wrist again so his wand appeared back in his hand. He pointed to each of the three in turn and tied them so they couldn't move, then made a cloth appear in each of their mouths. "Right tell me when to stop." He smiled to Damian, waterboarding was one of his favourite ways of torture. "Aquamenti." He said making water shoot out of his wand into the faces of all three muggles instantly making their bodies think they were drowning.

"Ill deal with him in a minute first these will pay." He said laughing at Bryce. "Muggles are muggles Damian. They are all the same." He shrugged turning to watch the muggles before him choke without oxygen. "You're right it is their place and they will know it once we've finished here." He said spitting at the feet of one of the boys.

Damian looked on, a cruel smile twisting his lips and an unmistakable glee shining in his good eye. Theo had show him magic, before, but this - oh, this he wanted to know, someday!

He frowned as the sputtering of the three who'd almost drowned him started to weaken. "Stop," he said. "You said you wouldn't kill them - I want them to know I'll be coming for them, someday."

Damian turned his head towards Bryce. His best friend. His traitor. Death is too good for you, he thought as he glared. But it will come. You will pay.

For now, however, Damian turned his attention to the stranger who knew his name. He wanted to see how Bryce would start to pay.

He flicked his wand up making the water cut out. "Stopping. Don't worry these aren't my kill. It's better to have them dread their deaths for years than to kill them right away." He said pulling the sleeves of his robes down.

He sighed looking down at his watch before pointing his wand at Bryce. "Bryce... i don't like that name." He said scratching his arm. "You know what else i don't like? Cowards, bullies." He said gently tapping his wand at the boy loving how it made him squirm. "Now get on your knees and kiss my shoe muggle." He said shaking his head as he actually did it. Once the boy was close enough to his foot he kicked out instantly breaking the boys nose. "So pathetic." He said spitting on the back of Bryce's head. "Now for some real pain." He smirked. "Crucio!"

After about 15 seconds of watching Bryce scream and squirm in pain he stopped the spell and knelt down beside him, ranking his head his way so he could get eye contact with him. "Wizards are very powerful people kid, we are the stronger race. No matter what your parents say. Everything that comes from their mouths is. A. Lie." He said. "Tell anyone about what you saw today and ill set my little friend on you." He smiled narrowing his eyes as he forced the memory into the boys mind.

Aspen apparating onto a mans back his laughter filling the air until the loud squelching sound of the mans neck being ripped out by razor sharp teeth.

"If you're not careful that will be you. Aspen loves to eat people, he'd just keep your finger as a memento of your death." He smiled. "He likes to remember how tasty you were."

"Now fuck off before i change my mind and kill you all." He spat removing the dome from around them whilst he moved back over to Damian. "Well that was fun." He said glancing down at his watch. "Let me guess muggle born?" He nodded. "I'm Headmaster Chaos you may call me Chaos." He said routing through his robes for the right potion. "Arr here we are. Drink this it will heal your bones and this one..." He said pulling out another vial of potion. "... this one should help settle the bruising and cuts."

"Yes, sir," Damian replied in response to whether he was muggleborn. "My sister has magic, too, though."

He took the proffered potions. They tasted as horrible as he thought they would (Theolynne had given him potions, before), but he felt better almost instantly. "Thank you, Hea-Headmaster Chaos! I'm going to Hogwarts!" the boy exclaimed. "I saw your name on my letter. That magic you did was awesome!"

Damian grinned. He couldn't wait to go to school. But then, he sighed, frowning. School didn't start for another couple of weeks.

He raised his eyebrows in shock. "Wow that's unusual, what do your parents think?" He asked wondering whether they were like th rest of the muggle kind.

"You're welcome. It's about time those muggles learnt where they stand in this world. They might think they are better than us but they are far from it. We are the one's with the power they are all just cowards and bullies." He frowned looking around to make sure those muggles really had gone and that they were under no threat.

"Good i should hope you are. You will need to know how to fight if you are ever going to get revenge. At Hogwarts you will get the best magical education possible." He explained running his hand through his hair. "That? Oh that was nothing, there is worse... a lot worse believe me. I thought i'd keep it pg since you were all only kids. You'll find out sooner or later how bad it can really get." He smiled.

"Where are you currently stay? I don't think it's wise to stay around here now, not after what has just happened."

Damian shrugged. "They're okay with it," he said. "Magic, that is - they don't think it's evil or anything. They don't understand, though. They think I try to get into trouble." He sighed, frowning a bit.

"I live with my parents," Damian told him. "It's this way." He led the way towards his parents' house. After a moment, he spoke up again.

"My sister, Theo, went to Hogwarts," he said. "She's a professor there, now. She's taught me loads, already, and she left some of her old textbooks at home, so I read them. I really like potions - good at 'em, too. Theo's taught me lots of 'em that don't need magic to make. I can brew Polyjuice and Pepper-up and a bunch of others. Only if Theo brings me the ingredients, though. We don't have all of them at home, 'cause they're magical.

"I know about spells, too. Been practicing the incantations and wand-movements when I'm bored. And I like reading about them, too, but I bet they're harder to actually do." Damian turned onto his street, glancing back to make sure the man was still following. "Crucio is an Unforgivable, innit? I'm not gonna tell, though! Bryce deserved it. A lot nicer than I'd like to do to him. Actually, there's this one potion I read about that -"

Damian broke off, abruptly realizing that the Headmaster probably didn't want to hear him go on about what he did or didn't know. He blushed, ducking his head sheepishly. He was actually rather friendly, by nature - his suspicion of people had come later.

They arrived at the house whose mailbox said "GRAY" in big black letters and Damian opened the gate.

"Sorry, sir," he said. "Didn't mean to talk your ear off. My mum's home - I hope she's in the garden and not baking, again, though. Dad doesn't get back 'til later." He moved towards the front door, still a bit embarrassed for talking so much.

He raised an eyebrow in shock. "Oh really? I guess their love for you made them accept it. It's a shame other muggles don't share that love for their family and friends. It's quite sick really how people are willing to kill their child for having signs of magic. We do our best to save as many children as we can but we can't save them all i'm afraid." He shrugged.

He nodded and followed the boy to his home. "Oh Professor Gray? Yeah hired her myself." He nodded. "Well i expect you to be top of your class then with all this amount of work you're putting in. If not i will be very disappointed." He said pulling out a cigarette and lighting it up.

He glanced at the boy then at the cigarette and smiled. "Old habit." He said blowing out smoke rings. He looked around ans gave Damian a little wink. "Yes it is but that's our little secret okay. I'd lose more than my job for using such a spell. But i think it was necessary don't you? Besides it was only a mild shock nothing like the real thing." He smiled.

"Go on you don't need to hide anything from me. I may be headmaster but i never act like one." He smirked giving him a wink. "In fact it shocked a lot of people that i got the job, i don't have the best reputation." He whispered the last half of the sentence. He looked at the house in wonder, he'd never really looked at a muggle house before. "What's that?" He said admiring the mailbox. "What does it do?" He asked leaning down so he was eye level with it.

"Thanks quite alright kid. It's been a while since i spoke to someone." He smiled still looking at the house. This was all new to him. "Your mother is in? Would you like me to explain what happened?" He asked.

"My sister says I'm gonna be the greatest wizard ever," Damian stated frankly when the Headmaster said he expected him to be top of his class. "I'm gonna prove her right."

Damian didn't mind about the cigarette, it didn't bother him, at all. It seemed rather normal, actually. "I'll bet you're a brilliant headmaster," the boy remarked. He liked the man, in any case, which is all that really mattered, at present.

"It's a postbox, sir," Damian explained, smiling slightly. Theo had told him that some wizards weren't familiar with muggle customs. "Muggles don't have owls bring their post, so it's delivered in a box like that or through a letterbox in the front door. It doesn't do anything special. Just holds stuff. My sister go me an owl, though. His name is Maximus. He's a tawny owl."

Damian shifted a bit when the headmaster asked if he'd like him to explain what happened to his mum. "You could, sir, but it'd probably be better to leave out the bit with the magic," he said. "She wouldn't understand, see. Muggles are different."

He considered that for a second then shrugged. "You're aiming high but it can happen." He said. "I can help you with that. I'll make a hunter of you yet." He nodded still eying the house. It was all so fascinating to him. "I should hope you do. Any apprentice of mine will grow up to be the best. Otherwise i will have to kill you." He said only half joking.

He smirked pausing in bringing the cigarette to his mouth. "Well i like to think so but i like to have a lot more fun than most headmasters but that's just between us alright?" He smiled taking a drag of the cigarette.

"A post box you say?" He asked leaning in closer to take in all of it's detail. "Weird things these muggles aren't they?" He said opening the box to take a look inside. "Don't do owls? I think i'm going to have to look up muggle posting. It seems very interesting. I have no idea how they have coped so long without magic." He said straightening up. "Oh good you will need an owl. We only send things by owl, none of this complicated muggle posting."

He nodded. "Leave out magic? I can do that." He said dropping the cigarette onto the floor where he stood on it to put it out. "Right lead the way them m'boy." He said rubbing his hands together.

Damian's head snapped up. "I get to be your apprentice?" he asked, eyes bright with excitement. "I'll work really, really hard! You won't be disappointed!"

The boy grinned, and nodded. "Owls are much better than postmen."

Damian led the way up the walk and opened the front door. "Mum?" he called. "Mum, Headmaster Chaos is here. From Hogwarts?" He motioned the Headmaster into the entryway so he could close the door.

Moria Gray appeared, drying her hands on a towel hanging from the pocket of the apron she wore. Damian groaned. Baking, again. He hoped that, this time, at least, it was just that a neighbor made her mad. He'd hide under his bed for the rest of the summer if she was 'at a loss for what to do about him', again.

The woman smiled at the visitor. "Yes?" she asked politely. "How may I help you, Headmaster... Chaos? I'm afraid I wasn't expecting you, since my daughter brought Damian's letter already." She held out her hand. "Moria Gray, as I'm sure you already know."

He nodded. "Yes who else is going to train you up so you can take your revenge?" He said glancing around at all the other houses. "But whatever i teach you will remain between us alright? Until you get an apprentice of your own to share your skills with. I will be teaching you a mixture of well known magic, magic that i have come up with myself and magic that belongs to my family. If you share anything i teach you i will not hesitate to kill you and those you've told." He said leaning in to whisper before he stood up straight and clapped his hands.

"Right let's get this over with shall we? I hate being polite and headmastery. Not that, that is a word." He smirked following him into the house. "Postmen? Is that what you call them?" He asked amazed at the way the muggles did things that the wizard was already so good at.

He paused in the entryway. "I thought you said no magic... Oh hello. It's loverly to meet you." He smiled sticking his hand out for her to shake. "Please call me Asric, Headmaster Chaos is what the kids call me." He smiled dusting himself down. He had no idea how to act around muggles. "It's a business call i'm afraid. I was just popping by when i spotted a group of mug 'cough' boys..." He smiled. "beating up your son. Don't worry i don't think they will be doing it again but you might want to keep an eye out for them. They seem to like bullying others." He frowned running his hand through his hair.

"Right back to business i am actually here to ask your permission. I would like to make your son my apprentice. He will make a great wizard in time." He smiled giving Damian a wink. He might as well do things traditionally whilst he was here.

"I won't tell," Damian vowed.

The boy ducked his head sheepishly. He had only meant that the Headmaster shouldn't mention he'd used magic on the other boys.

Moria Gray donned a disappointed expression. "Oh, sweetheart," she said quietly. "Again?"

"I didn't start anything!" Damian growled mutinously.

The woman turned her attention back to the man. "Your apprentice?"

Damian stared at her with an odd pleading defiance.

Moria frowned dubiously. "It sounds alright," she began, "but... what all would that entail?"

He nodded hoping that he didn't, this boy seemed eager to learn and he'd hate to waste that by killing him off.

"I can confirm that. Those boys seem to like beating up your son but it won't happen again, i've given them a stern talking too so they won't be coming back to bother him again." He smiled giving Damian a quick wink so his mother wouldn't see.

"Yes if that is okay with." He smiled he thought it polite to make it seem like she had a choice but the truth was, once he set eyes on something he would have it whether people let him or not.

"Well being my apprentice just means that he will learn magic the others in school wouldn't. He will be getting a master class in my very own brand of magic to give him a head start in life that others of his age wont have. He could potentially end up following in my footsteps and end up being headmaster one day... if he's lucky." He added he forgot to mention the killing of animals and possible torture of muggles.

Moria gazed at her son. The boy didn't used to be quite so stubborn - his friends hassling him had helped to bring not only that, but a fair amount of surliness to his once sweet personality. Damian needed guidance, such that neither she nor her husband could give him. Theolynne tried, and did admirably, but Moria always felt that boys should have male role models to look up to. She knew that her husband would leave the decision up to her, either way.

Finally, she gave a slow nod. "If that is what Damian would like," she said.

"Thanks, mum!" Damian exclaimed, almost before she could finish. The happy smile on his face was so reminiscent of what it had once been, what it so often wasn't, anymore, that her heart ached, just a bit.

"Of course, sweetheart," Moria told him.

Damian had already turned his attention back to the Headmaster, however. "I'm going to be your best student, ever!" he declared. He frowned a bit. "Do you teach a class, too? I'm not sure I signed up for it..." The boy bit his lip uncertainly.

Moria laughed a bit. That was her Damian, an energetic boy who could talk a person's ear off. "Would you like to stay for dinner, Asric?" she invited. "My husband should be home soon."

Damian shot the headmaster a wide-eyed look. Don't! he thought frantically. She's been baking! The dessert could kill you!!!

He glanced down at Damian waiting for his answer and gave a quiet nod. "I believe that makes you my apprentice. Welcome to team Chaos." He smiled holding out his arm for the boy to take.

He smiled. "I should hope so, you will have to prove to me that i made the right choice accepting an apprentice in the first place. Not many witches and wizards like to share their own magic so willingly." He said ruffling Damians hair.

"I teach hunting and physical education. If you haven't signed up it doesn't matter our private lessons will catch you up. I have a lot planned out for you, so make sure you are prepared." He said then glanced up at Moria. "Oh as much as i would love to accept that offer i have headmaster duties to be getting on with and the minister for magic would like a word." He smiled taking note of Damians look.

"There's no rest for the wicked i'm afraid. That is what you say right?" He asked looking at Damian. "Right well i better be off. I expect i'll be seeing you at school Damian. It was a pleasure to meet you Miss Gray." He smiled slowly backing out the door. "Farewell." And with a quick wave he apparated on the spot straight to the ministry.

Damian grinned happily, shooting a wide smile as his mother before running up the stairs to his room. He was going to repack his school things and tell Maximus the news.

The next two weeks couldn't pass quickly enough.