The Book of M

By Leda Medea

Disclaimer: These stories are based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros. Inc. No funding is received for the publication of this story, and no copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the Prologue!

Evergreen Sceptre, a special note to you – I've noticed that you've stuck with me through my years on this site, and I'm especially grateful for it. It made my day to see your review. Thank you so much! :D And…I'd tell you the answers to your questions, but then you wouldn't need to read on, now would you? Lol. :D Thanks again!

And to Lientjuhh and Rori Potter, thank you so much for reading and reviewing the prologue. I hope you stick with me! :D

"Chapter One – Understanding Magic," Harry read aloud. Understanding magic? His brow furrowed. It wasn't too complex, really. So why was this a whole chapter?

'Magic is decidedly different for each and every living creature, due to the nature of that creature's magical core. Yes, every living creature does in fact have a magical core, even muggles. Even a tiny red ant has a magical core. This is what makes us have souls. However, there are fundamental differences in a muggle's core as compared to that of a witch or wizard. In a simple explanation, a muggle's 'wiring' in their magical core is improperly hooked up to perform magic, while the witch or wizard is fully equipped to perform the art due to the functionality of their core. As witches, wizards, and muggles procreate, their children receive a special combination of their parents' 'wiring' to create their own magical core. This is why fully wizarding families produce squib children, and why fully muggle families produce wizards. Also, over time, a person's magical core will grow and change in tune with that person's personality, per se. Thus, a man in his prime is able to become magically stronger than he was at, say, age ten. Though the core may change and grow, it is impossible for a wizard to lose their magic, as it is just as impossible for a muggle to gain it.'

'The first wizard was a man named Abhinav Nehru, an Indian man. His parents were ordinary muggles, but, when combined into their son, their cores made his into one the world had never seen before. All magic, in theory, branches from this man, Abhinav. Therefore, there is no such thing as a 'pureblooded' witch or wizard, as every witch or wizard is related (however distantly) to Abhinav's muggle family. Now, Abhinav knew there was something different about him, as the other men and women in his band of wandering nomadic people couldn't do the things he could. Abhinav is said to have once summoned an animal to him so that he could eat it in the presence of his family. Though his parents did not show this, Abhinav could tell his mother and father were frightened of him. And he was frightened of himself; witchcraft had not even been conceived by anyone at this point in time, but here he was, able to do things no one else could do. He was scared, and alone in his ability. Thinking maybe it would die with him, Abhinav later went on to have a family with his wife, Sujata. To his horror, Abhinav discovered that his children, too, possessed this gift; Abhinav then tells Sujata in desperation for his children and his own sanity. Though she is frightened, Sujata is nothing if not a loving mother, and steals away from her fellow wanderers with her children and husband in the dead of night. Through the years, the children procreated, and their children procreated, and the family grew and grew until magic became the colossal empire it is today.'

Harry read through the first chapter, surprised; he had automatically assumed (as had most of the wizards he knew of) that magic had been around since the dawn of time. According to 'M', though, that was not true. Harry wondered briefly how long ago it was that Abhinav had lived. It didn't seem as though he had been around too recently, but he wasn't exactly a caveman either. Harry was confused, and decided to set the book down for a while in order to get his thoughts wrapped around what the text had said.

Harry tried to picture himself in Abhinav's shoes; what if he had been the first wizard, the only one who could do magic – in the world? Harry knew he would have been incredibly confused and maybe even a little terrified. Abhinav must have been brave to keep living with people as he did, and to even have a wife and kids. Harry sympathized with the man, knowing what it was like to be looked at as 'different' and 'strange', having grown up with the Dursley family. They hadn't appreciated his accidental magic, just as Harry could imagine Abhinav's fellows doing the same. It made Harry admire the man's bravery that much more. And with that thought, the second chapter appeared in Harry's book, unnoticed by the teenage boy. Harry, in the meantime, sat down at his beaten desk and started to pen a letter to his best friends, Ron and Hermione.

Ron,

How've you been, mate? Nothing's been too terrible over here, the Dursleys are actually being bearable for once. It's odd, really, but I'm not exactly complaining. Listen, mate, I'm really sorry about what happened at the Ministry. I know you only went because you wanted to back me up, and that means a lot to me. I'm glad I've got friends like you that'll be there for me when I need it the most. I hope you're fully recovered, mate. I feel awful about what happened. I don't suppose you want to hear much more of that, though, so I'll try to knock it off. Hopefully I'll see you soon.

Harry.

Next, Harry started on Hermione's letter.

Hermione,

How is your summer going so far? Mine's been alright, actually. The Dursleys are actually being nice to me this summer. Alright, not exactly nice, but they're not being terrible like usual either. I know I won't have to ask you how you've been doing on your summer assignments; you've probably got them all done, knowing you like I do. Anyway, Hermione, I'm writing this letter mainly because I wanted to thank you for coming with me to the Ministry, even when you didn't believe me. I wish I had believed you when you said it was most likely a fake vision, but I really was convinced Sirius was in trouble. I suppose you'll tell me it's not my fault, Hermione, so I won't tell you what I think about it. I'm just thankful you'll stick by me even when I make mistakes. Truth is, I'm going to need you and Ron to get me through. I love you guys.

-Harry.

Just as he had finished Hermione's letter, his Aunt called up the stairs, signaling lunchtime. Harry, confused as to why Petunia would feel the need to tell him, went downstairs anyway, upon which he was handed a (hearty) plate of food. He looked in surprise at his Aunt; she had made him lunch? Harry thanked her softly and sat down in the living room, eyeing her as she eyed him. He wondered, not for the first time that summer, what was making his Aunt so…so nice to him. Petunia sighed suddenly, and he gave her his full attention.

"I suppose you're wondering what brought all this on, Harry."

Harry was even further shocked. His Aunt had never, not in his whole life, ever called him Harry. What had brought this on, indeed!

"Well, yes, Aunt Petunia."

She nodded. "Do you remember that…loud mail…I received last summer, from your Dumbindorn?"

"Dumbledore, yeah. What of it?"

"Your headmaster sent me a letter, once before, when you were in primary school. I'm sure you remember that day you ended up on the roof of the school building, when your Uncle almost threw you out?"

Harry remembered, very well. "Yeah, and then…you said no."

"That's right. I had gotten a letter from Dumble…Dumbledore right after the phone call the school left us, telling us what you had done. Dumbledore told us that you were depending on us to raise you right, that we were all you had left of your family and that we were expected to treat you as we would our own son. Dumbledore told us that one day, you would be the key to saving the world as we knew it, and when that time came, he would send us another letter."

Harry's eyes widened slightly with realization. "And…that was the letter he sent to you last summer."

She nodded. "Yes. He said that the time was coming for what he had told us, and that we were to protect you until you could do so for yourself. Harry…I know we haven't been the kindest to you here, but…well, we were afraid of you. If you, a tiny little boy, held the burden of the entire world on your shoulders, we would have to make you tough enough to handle it. So we raised you with a…a firm hand, so to speak. And Harry, I want you to know that at some moments…I truly hated you for making me break my own heart. I'm so sorry, for everything we've done. I know you probably will never forgive any of us, but we needed to know you'd be prepared. We needed you to have that built in. Do you understand?"

Harry was surprised…and more than a little hurt. "All these years…you haven't- you haven't really hated me?"

Petunia wiped away a tear and shook her head sadly. "No, Harry. We never hated you. Well…maybe Dudley, but we had to raise him to believe the lie, too. I'm so sorry…"

Harry nodded. It wasn't that he accepted it, or agreed with it; Harry simply couldn't get over the shock of his Aunt's revelation. How was that even possible? Surely this was a cruel joke; the Dursleys had always hated him, had starved him, belittled him, sometimes even hit him. And now, Aunt Petunia was saying it had al been out of duty? Out of maybe even love?

"But- but you all…you can'tve…you're lying, you all hate me, you've hated me since-"

"No, Harry! I'm not cruel enough to give you such false hope. I am truly sorry for what we've done, but it was necessary. I've wanted to tell you this every day for the past fifteen years now, please, believe that if nothing else."

Harry didn't know what to say, so he simply put his dishes away and went back to his room.

So much for another normal summer…

A/N : Hm, like it, hate it, want some more of it? Tell me all about it, lol. :D I looove reviews, they're my favorite. Thank you all so much for reading this story, I hope you continue to enjoy it! (Oh, and if I get more reviews it tends to make me want to update faster. Reviews mean a lot to us fanfiction writers; it's the only payment we receive!) Thanks guys. :)

Love Leda Medea.