Chapter Text
Harry Potter, now 10, is no stranger to feeling isolated. The Dursleys have made sure of that. One quiet afternoon, while seeking refuge in the garden away from their shouts, Harry is lost in his thoughts. The air is crisp, and for once, it’s peaceful. Then, a sudden flash of light makes Harry jump, his eyes wide in surprise.
Where it had been just an empty garden, there’s now a shimmering disc lying at his feet. It’s small, round, and sparkling in the sunlight like it doesn’t belong here. Harry reaches down to pick it up, and as his fingers graze its cool surface, the world around him seems to blur for a moment. His heartbeat quickens, and he feels a strange energy pulse through his body, as though the disc is alive.
Before he can even think to let go, he hears a voice, bright, almost too excited, as though it’s been waiting a long time to speak.
"OH! OH, YOU’RE HERE!" the voice shouts, a burst of static excitement. Harry’s eyes widen, looking around. "HELLO, IS THIS—THIS IS IT?!"
The voice doesn’t sound like a grown-up or even a normal person. It’s childlike, energetic, and way too enthusiastic for comfort. Harry looks down at the disc in his hands. "Uh, hello? Who are you?" he asks cautiously.
"OH, I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS!! I DIDN’T THINK ANYONE WOULD EVER FIND ME!!" the voice continues, its tone utterly chaotic, as though the speaker can’t sit still for a second. "I’m THE COLLECTOR!! But you can call me Collector, or C! Or hey, do you wanna give me a nickname? I’m so good at nicknames!"
Harry blinks, feeling a little overwhelmed. "Uh... okay. Collector? You’re inside the disc?"
The Collector’s voice hums with giddiness. "YUP! I’m in the disc! Isn’t it fun?? Kinda cramped, but—OH, WOW, YOU’RE SO MUCH COOLER THAN ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE I’VE BEEN STUCK WITH!! I’ve been stuck in here for so long and—" The voice cuts off suddenly, as if realizing something. "Wait! You can hear me, can’t you? I thought I was talking to nothing for a second! Is this a dream? Are you a dream??"
Harry shakes his head, unsure what’s going on. "No, I’m real. I’m Harry."
"OH, HARRY! What a nice name! So normal, so fun! OKAY, I’M NOT JUST A VOICE. I’VE GOT SO MUCH TO SHOW YOU!" The voice drops into a lower, conspiratorial tone. "Wanna see something REALLY cool? It’s so dark and spooky but also super fun!"
Before Harry can respond, the disc in his hand suddenly flickers, and with a rush of shadowy energy, an eerie, darker version of the Collector’s form appears before him. It’s almost like a shadow in the shape of a child, its eyes glowing with an unsettling, mischievous light, and its grin is wide and full of secrets. The shadow-Collector waves at Harry with an exaggerated, almost dramatic flourish.
"Oh, oh, this is gonna be SO GOOD!" the shadowed version says, its voice still the same excited chaos but now echoing with a slightly menacing twist. "Look at me!! I’m all powerful, I’m all mysterious, I’m—wait, what’s that?" The shadow-Collector tilts its head as if noticing something for the first time. "What’s that feeling in your heart? Ooooh, this is new! It’s warm and soft! You’ve got a heart!! I like this! I like you!"
Harry stares at the shadow version, startled but also oddly comforted. "You... you’re kind of creepy," he says, feeling a little awkward but not scared.
The shadow-Collector pouts for a second. "Creepy?? Pfft, I’m NOT creepy! I’m Interesting!! And fun! You’re not scared of me, right? Right?!" It swirls around him in an over-the-top display, as if trying to impress him.
Harry shakes his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I’m not scared. You’re... different."
The Collector’s voice echoes brightly again. "YAY! I’m DIFFERENT! That’s exactly what I’m going for!!" The shadow fades as the Collector’s voice returns to a much lighter, almost playful tone. "So, what’s the deal? Am I your friend now, or are we just casually existing together in some strange, wibbly-wobbly, cosmic connection? Because I’m SUPER okay with either option, but I think... I think friends sounds fun!"
Harry, still holding the disc, feels a strange warmth in his chest. He’d never expected a friend to show up like this, let alone someone so... eccentric. But for the first time, he doesn’t feel so alone.
"Okay, Collector," Harry says softly, his voice full of tentative excitement, "I think we’re friends."
The Collector squeals with joy. "YAAAY! I HAVE A FRIEND! Oh, this is so good! So good!! I’m never going back in that disc ever again! We’re gonna have so much fun together, Harry!"
As Harry sits in the garden, the sun warm on his face, he holds the disc close to his chest. For the first time in a long time, he feels like he’s part of something—something special, even if it’s a bit strange. And maybe, just maybe, this weird, eccentric being inside the disc is the start of something wonderful.