So, there are a lot of stories out there about how "this happens and this happens and this happens and suddenly Harry has massively powerful allies (often in ways that wizarding Britain is not well-prepared to deal with) who teach him all sorts of things the Dark Lord Knows Not, and Harry is a badass and wins. The End."
So, what's the second *least* likely source for Harry's !New !Powerful allies?
The Dursleys.
The Dursleys have been keeping secrets from... well, basically everyone. Vernon is a spark. Dudley is a spark. Petunia is a competent minion. They have an enormous laboratory in a secret basement under their house, where they've been pursuing SCIENCE! (while keeping a low profile). The time they spend visible to the rest of the world is basically just maintaining a front (with the aid of some reasonably well-built constructs that resemble them well enough). The constructs in turn are desperately keeping the existence of *Harry* from *them* - they accepted him in because they knew that infuriating wizards was bad (Petunia told them), but they also know that they had orders not to let anyone in the house, and if they admit that they actually adopted a kid, then the Masters might get Angry - especially now that they've been keeping him secret for a few years. The constructs weren't created with a whole lot of people skills, and they're terrified that Harry's magic will at some point trigger some piece of sensing equipment in the labs. They lock him int he closet under the stairs because the Masters never go there, and they take their fear out on him. It's all his fault, after all.
Of course, at some point (wherever you want, really) the whole pack of lies comes tumbling down - one of the Masters comes up unannounced, and Hilarity Ensues. After everything calms down again, and the Sparks accept him in (and whatever happens to the constructs... happens) Harry heads back to school with some nifty new sparky devices to play with (after handing off some interesting *magical* devices to play with) ...and Hilarity Ensues.
Of course, the *first* least likely is Umbridge... but good luck on *that* one.
So, what's the second *least* likely source for Harry's !New !Powerful allies?
The Dursleys.
The Dursleys have been keeping secrets from... well, basically everyone. Vernon is a spark. Dudley is a spark. Petunia is a competent minion. They have an enormous laboratory in a secret basement under their house, where they've been pursuing SCIENCE! (while keeping a low profile). The time they spend visible to the rest of the world is basically just maintaining a front (with the aid of some reasonably well-built constructs that resemble them well enough). The constructs in turn are desperately keeping the existence of *Harry* from *them* - they accepted him in because they knew that infuriating wizards was bad (Petunia told them), but they also know that they had orders not to let anyone in the house, and if they admit that they actually adopted a kid, then the Masters might get Angry - especially now that they've been keeping him secret for a few years. The constructs weren't created with a whole lot of people skills, and they're terrified that Harry's magic will at some point trigger some piece of sensing equipment in the labs. They lock him int he closet under the stairs because the Masters never go there, and they take their fear out on him. It's all his fault, after all.
Of course, at some point (wherever you want, really) the whole pack of lies comes tumbling down - one of the Masters comes up unannounced, and Hilarity Ensues. After everything calms down again, and the Sparks accept him in (and whatever happens to the constructs... happens) Harry heads back to school with some nifty new sparky devices to play with (after handing off some interesting *magical* devices to play with) ...and Hilarity Ensues.
Of course, the *first* least likely is Umbridge... but good luck on *that* one.
) And then Ranma could intersect the main Naruto story as either a member of the Sound team at the Chunnin Exams, or as a member of the Sound Five (Six?) later on.