1) This story is inspirited by Corwalch's HPSG story: Two Shall Be As One.

2) Disclaimer: Honestly, I own nothing. Don't sue.

3) Please forgive my grammar. English is not my first language, and I'm without a beta.

One Plus One Equals One

by novacarta

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Chapter 01

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The sensation of being spirited away was too unpleasant for his liking that Daniel felt a moment of nausea before regaining his balance.

He was no longer on Abydos, instead he was standing in front of a small crowd. Daniel did not recognize these people because except Oma he had never met other ascended beings before. Though he could make a guess of their identity. Oma did tell him to watch out for the rule enforcement entity in this higher plane of existence called 'the Council". If he was deemed an offender by it, this very first meeting could be his very last one.

The Councilors all looked stern and disapproving, and Daniel must say he felt the same way. He would like to curse them in 23 different languages, but first thing first, right now Oma Desala was the one who pissed him off.

"Why did you stop me!" Daniel ignored the glares given by the Councilors. "Thanks to you Abydos is now annihilated!"

"Calm down please, Daniel. I helped its entire population to ascend."

"You preserved their existence but you ruined their lives!" Daniel retorted bitterly. "You stopped me because I am ascended. Then why don"t you stop Anubis from interfering the Milky Way galaxy?"

"Anubis is not one of us." Oma shook her head.

"It was not what he said, and it definitely was not what I see."

Daniel pointed out coldly.

"Anubis had ascended once by mistake. When we found out his true nature, we descended him back into his corporal form. Thus we do not recognize him as our equal." Oma told him, a flash of regret and shame shown on her face.

"Since there is a half ascended goa'uld running around, apparently it was a job badly done." Daniel breathed in deeply then puffed out. Even though he was a bodiless mass of light, the breathing exercises still had a calming effect on him.

Once he toned down his anger, he stepped forward to face the Others.

"How many more death will there be before you step in to clean up your own mess? You are doing a great evil by just watching with your folded arms!" He urged them to answer. However, his criticism was ignored completely.

The eldest one, supposingly the chairman, eyed him up and down before turned to Oma Desala.

"This boy must be taught our way and learn obedience. Send him to the Arcade."

His tone implied it was a strict order. The others also nodded their agreement.

Daniel refused to let them avoid his question. But before he could voice his indignation again, he was swept away by his ascension mentor. Oma bowed her head to the Council, immediately left to catch up with her youngling.

"Let's hope he is not another Moros." Someone grumbled.

Outside the door Oma found a sulking Daniel. His Pouting lips and tangling eyebows were so adorable that she wanted to pet his head. A glare from the blond warned her from doing that.

She led him away to a faraway place.

"That was a close call." She told Daniel. "You are lucky that the Council didn't really sentence you. It seems that they are somehow soften after the Moros case.'

"What happened to Moros?" Daniel tried to remember this name but recalled nothing.

"He went against the non-interference rule and he paid with his life." She said with a hint of sorrow. "You two are so similar that it is scary."

Daniel walked alongside of her, did not inquire further.

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Harry looked at the passing scenery distractedly.

"The train was going too fast." he told Hedwig. "It must be magic." Hagrid did wish him come home safe and sound before he took his leave. Might be Hagrid had done something to speed up the train as a parting gift.

His excitement from the Diagon Alley trip died down as soon as the train pulled out. Leaving meant going back to Dursleys. He remembered the purple face Uncle Vernon made last night. He remembered Uncle Vernon shouting insults about the "freaks". He also remembered THAT curly pigtail on Dudley's big fat butt.

He didn't find it funny anymore, and he knew Dursleys didn't find it funny either.

His stomach lurched dreadfully as he realized there is no Hagrid in No.4 Privet Drive to shelter him. He had to face their ire by himself after all.

Harry signed unhappily. He had just broken his confinement record after the zoo incident. He hoped he wouldn't break it anytime soon. For God's sake 'the longest confinement time' wasn't even included in the Guinness Book of Records!

It was after sunset by the time Little Whinging station came into his sight. Street Lights lit up on each side of the pavement. Harry dragged the trunk behind him with one arm, hugging Hedwig's cage to his chest with another arm. In an awkward posture, he headed back to Privet Drive slowly.

There was quite a distance from the train station. He walked for half an hour before he could see the overly neat and identical housing of Privet Drive. Some neighbors were walking their dogs and ignored Harry as usual. Not than Harry wanted to talk with them, mind you, but it would be great to have someone or something distract him from his nerves.

"Better now than later, though I hope for never than late."

Harry murmured to himself. Took in a deep breath, he gathered all courage he possessed and rang the doorbell.

Door opened.

"You've got some nerve showing up at our door!"

A fuming Vernon Dursley roared.

In the end, today was not his best birthday either.

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