Reborn in HP Verse

On the outskirts of London, in a dilapidated building near the slums along the River Thames, stood an orphanage. The building had once been vibrant, but it was now falling apart, with cracked and peeling walls. The air was thick with the smell of dampness and decay. The children living there had long given up hope of a better life. They'd grown accustomed to the strict wardens, bad food, and odd jobs assigned by the caregivers. It was a place of despair, where dreams would die.

Ezekiel woke up with a sharp, throbbing pain in his head. "Where am I?" he muttered, blinking as he surveyed his surroundings. The room appeared to be some sort of infirmary, a stark contrast to the cold, dreary atmosphere of the orphanage. He touched his bandaged head, feeling a sting of pain. Then, an intense headache hit him like a freight train, and memories that weren't his own flooded his mind.

He gasped as memories of the body's previous owner, Remington, flooded back. He recalled the harsh days at the orphanage: the cruel wardens, the tasteless food, the chores, and the sense of despair. But the memory from last night stayed with him. He had overheard the matrons talking about child trafficking. They intended to sell the children to some unknown buyers next week. Remington, intrigued and terrified, bolted when he heard, but he tripped on the stairs and fell hard, possibly causing the death that allowed Ezekiel to take control.

"Shit," Ezekiel thought, now in the body of Remington. "Red flag right after transmigrating. I need to get out of here as quickly as possible."

He glanced around the room, his heart racing. "Wait, what was my item?" Ezekiel now remington scanned the room, his eyes landing on a letter under his pillow. The letter looked exquisite, with gold writing on it. It almost seemed magical in nature.

You lucky brat, I was going to give you a normal appraisal system as compensation for sacrificing a power-up, no matter the draw. But, it seems fate was in your favor. You must have contact with the item and say 'Appraise.' But be warned, it has been removed of its negative effects. Don't die too soon.

P.S. This letter will self-destruct in 3... 2... 1!!!

Remi barely had time to react before the paper spontaneously combusted, flames licking at the edges. He threw it into the air, and it burned into nothingness, leaving behind a strange fruit a devil fruit. It had a yellow fiery stem with light blue swirls, its ethereal glow almost mesmerizing.

From above, Remi heard faint laughter, almost like the voice of an angel, though he wasn't sure whether it was real or just his imagination playing tricks.

Shaking his head, Remi got out of bed and approached the door. He cautiously opened it, peeking out into the hall to make sure no one was around. After confirming the coast was clear, he closed the door behind him and picked up the fruit. Sitting back down on the bed, he hesitated for a moment before speaking aloud.

"Appraise."

[Item] - Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix (No Negative Effects)

[Grade] - Mythical

[Ability] - Grants the ability to transform into a Phoenix, grants Inhuman strength, control over fire, heal injuries and regenerate rapidly. Negative effects, such as fear of the sea and seastone, have been removed.

Remi grinned as he absorbed the information. 'I really was lucky,' he thought to himself. Without another second of hesitation, he took a deep breath and bit into the fruit.

"Ugh, it's still disgusting," he said as he chewed the fruit, forcing himself to finish it quickly to avoid leaving any evidence. The bitter taste lingered in his mouth, but almost immediately, he felt something change. His malnourished body, once frail and weak, started to regain color. His limbs began to feel stronger, his height increasing slightly as his body adjusted to the new powers coursing through him.

The bandages around his head, where he had been injured, began to burn with a strange, blue flame. Remi touched the spot where the injury had been, only to find that the pain had vanished entirely. He felt the overwhelming surge of energy coursing through him, as if he could bend steel with just his hands.

He walked cautiously toward the window, opening it and peering down. The third floor seemed like a dangerous height, one that would have been suicidal for a normal person to jump from. But with his new abilities, he felt an immense confidence. 'I could do this,' he thought, his muscles tensing as he prepared to leap.

And leap he did, landing gracefully on the ground below in a superhero landing that would make anyone proud. Just then, the door to the orphanage opened, and one of the workers came out. The man spotted Remi and shouted, "Remington! Get back here!" But Remi was already on the move, his speed far greater than a human's. He bolted through the streets like a cheetah, weaving in and out of alleyways and side streets to lose the worker.

After a few minutes of misdirection, he reached a nearby subway station. Remi quickly crossed the counters and found his way to the platform. 'Hm... if my memory serves me right, I should be heading to Charing Cross Road' thought remi while scanning his surroundings.

"Excuse me, sir," he said, approaching a gentleman in a black overcoat and a hat. "How do I get to Charing Cross Road?"

The man glanced at him, a little concerned. "Well, young man, you'll need to take this train to the central station, then transfer to the blue line. But, where are your parents?"

Remi hesitated, offering a calm smile. "They're behind, catching up with me."

The man nodded in understanding. "Just don't run on the platform, it's dangerous."

"Yes, sir," Remi said, saluting him with a grin before moving on.

Once on the train, Remi transferred at Central and finally arrived at Charing Cross Road. He slipped past the counters again and hit the streets, feeling a sense of freedom wash over him. His eyes scanned the area, and there it was the famous black door every transmigrator hoped to see, right beside a little bookstore.

With a deep breath, Remi pushed the door open and entered. Inside, the Leaky Cauldron pub was alive with a strange mix of witches, wizards and even goblins. Some of them were young, others old, all wearing pointy hats and deep cloaks, talking in low voices while drinking and eating.

Remi made his way to the bar, where an older man stood serving drinks. The man looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. "First time seeing you, boy. Who are you?" the man asked.

Remi smiled nervously. "Hello, sir. I'm... running away from bad people, and I need your help."

The man's expression softened. "Bad people? Poor thing. Where are you from, and where are your parents?"

"I'm an orphan," Remi replied. "I live in an orphanage in Deptford. They were planning to sell me as a slave, so I ran away."

Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron, looked sympathetic. "Here, child," he said, placing a plate of eggs, beans, and bacon in front of him. "Eat up. I'll contact the Ministry and get you some help."

But before Remi could respond, there was a sudden screech, and everyone turned to look at the window. A magnificent bird its feathers glowing red flew through the open window, circling the pub with grace. Many of the patrons gasped in awe.

Remi recognized the bird immediately. 'That should be Fawkes' he thought, his heart racing. 'Dumbledore's Phoenix.'

Fawkes gracefully landed on the bar counter opposite Remi, and for a moment, everything fell silent.

'Damn' Remi thought. 'I shouldn't act like I know it... but why is he here? Is he threatened because of me? Or is it just curiosity? Well, here goes nothing. I hope this isn't too crazy.'

With a cautious smile, Remi extended his hand toward Fawkes. "Hi there, you look handsome," he said softly.

To his surprise, Fawkes trilled happily and rubbed his head against Remi's hand, the bird clearly enjoying the attention.

"Hm... interesting," came a low, smooth voice from the side, cutting through the murmur of the pub.

Remi flinched and turned his head sharply, his heart skipping a beat. Standing there, observing him with piercing blue eyes behind half-moon spectacles, was an old man with a long white beard flowing down to his chest. He wore a deep purple robe embroidered with silver stars and a matching pointy hat. There was an aura about him calm yet powerful. It was Albus Dumbledore.

"Yeah, probably your child you forgot about," smirked Tom from behind the bar, wiping a glass with an amused twinkle in his eye.

"Funny, Tom," Dumbledore replied, his voice laced with dry humor, "but I assure you, I am far too old for such youthful endeavors." He turned his attention back to Remi. "What is truly fascinating, however, is Fawkes' behavior. He's rarely this affectionate, even with me."

Remi hesitated as those sharp blue eyes bore into him, but he managed to steady his voice. "My name's Remington, sir. I'm an orphan from Deptford."

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "Remington, would you be willing to accompany me for a small test? A bloodline test, to be precise. I've made mistakes in the past, mistakes I do not wish to repeat."

Remi's mind raced 'A bloodline test? That could mean inheritance, power, or maybe even a family name to shield himself behind. I would be lucky if I was related to some long-extinct magical family and gain access to a vault full of gold!'

"Yes sir" Remi said, keeping his voice steady despite the excitement bubbling in his chest.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled slightly, as if he could sense the boy's thoughts. "You don't seem particularly wary of me, or of what this might entail. Are you not afraid we could take advantage of you?"

Remi glanced at Fawkes, who was still perched calmly on the counter, his crimson feathers glowing faintly in the dim light. "No," Remi said with quiet confidence, "I trust him." He nodded towards the phoenix. "I also know that if you tried anything, he could probably turn this whole place into ashes."

Dumbledore raised a bushy eyebrow. "You can understand him?"

Remi shook his head. "Not exactly. But I can feel him. It's like there's a bond between us." As if to emphasize his point, he reached out and gently stroked Fawkes' head, earning a pleased tweet from the bird.

From behind the bar, Tom interrupted, clearing his throat. "Dumbledore, I've contacted the Ministry. They'll be here soon to sort things out"

"No need, Tom," Dumbledore said dismissively. "I'll handle this myself." He turned to Remi with a warm smile. "Come along, young one."

Remi shoveled the rest of his breakfast into his mouth, it was far too good to waste and followed the old wizard towards the back of the pub.

"Pay attention to this pattern, Remington," Dumbledore said as he tapped his wand against a brick wall in a specific sequence. The bricks began to shift and slide, rearranging themselves like pieces of a puzzle. Slowly, an archway formed, revealing a bustling alley filled with vibrant colors and lively chatter.

Remi's eyes widened as he stepped through the archway into Diagon Alley. Shops of all shapes and sizes lined the cobblestone street, their windows filled with strange trinkets, glowing potions, and towering stacks of books. Witches and wizards moved in every direction, some chatting excitedly, others bartering for goods.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley," Dumbledore said with a small smile, his eyes twinkling as he watched Remi take it all in.

"You are what we call a wizard, Remington," he said gently as they began walking.

"You are not surprised?" asked Dumbledore

Remi glanced at him, trying to suppress his smirk. "I experienced some things i couldnt explain. I always thought I was cursed, or just broken. But now, I'm relieved to know I'm not alone."

'That should fool him' Remi thought, keeping his expression earnest.

Dumbledore gave him a knowing look but said nothing. Instead, he asked, "And how did you find your way to the Leaky Cauldron?"

Remi thought quickly. "After I ran away, I was wandering around scavenging for food when I saw people in odd clothes walking into a... pub. I watched them for a while just observing. I noticed that normal people couldn't see it. I took a gamble and went in. I figured if something felt off, I'd run away again."

Dumbledore chuckled softly. "And yet, you stayed because of Fawkes, didn't you?"

Both of them glanced upward, where the crimson bird was gracefully soaring above the alley, his feathers glowing like embers in the sunlight.

"Yeah," Remi admitted with a small grin.

"You know," Dumbledore said lightly, "I must admit I'm a little jealous. Fawkes seems quite taken with you. I've been his companion for many years, and yet, he's never been this forward."

They continued walking, with passersby tipping their hats or giving respectful nods to Dumbledore. Remi couldn't help but feel impressed.

"You're quite the big deal around here, aren't you?" Remi said casually.

Dumbledore let out a soft laugh. "Well, I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts the finest magical school in Britain."

'Also the only school' Remi thought but wisely kept his mouth shut.

"Here we are," Dumbledore announced as they stopped in front of an imposing white building with massive pillars and the word GRINGOTTS carved in bold letters above the grand entrance. Goblins in sharp suits stood at the entrance, their sharp eyes surveying every passerby.

"This, Remington, is Gringotts Wizarding Bank," Dumbledore said with a wave of his hand. "The vaults here are protected by some of the most ancient magic and, of course dragon."

Remi's eyes lit up. "Wait, dragons are real?"

"Oh yes, quite real indeed," Dumbledore said with a smile. "And they're far more magnificent and dangerous than you might imagine."

As they walked towards the entrance, the goblins turned their sharp eyes on Remi, their expressions unreadable.

"Now then," Dumbledore said as he opened the grand doors, "shall we see where destiny leads us, my young friend?"

And with that, they stepped into the marble halls of Gringotts.