Chapter Two

William Longbottom had been in the muggle world for several years before he had come across anyone or anything that was familiar to him from the magical world. Occasionally he would receive letters from his nephew and his mother but it was a very rare occurrence indeed. Over the years William had dedicated himself to the pursuit of knowledge. Having grown up in the world of magic and upon finding out that he did not have the same access to magic that his mother and brother did he was obviously devastated. He had always dreamed about taking his place as the lord of the most ancient and noble house of Longbottom one of the most powerful and respected houses in the magical world. It was not meant to be. All the training and the work he had put into his future was worth just about nothing now that it was discovered that he was essentially nothing more than a powerful squib.

While his brother was sent to Hogwarts to learn the archaic craft of magecraft and master as many acts of sorcery as he could William was sent to mundane world and put through the finest muggle education money could buy. He eventually made a name for himself in the study of the mind and his works on psychology. Because while he wasn't a mage he wasn't completely without magic. William had been gifted, though sometimes he would claim it to be a curse, with empathy. He could read the emotions of the people around him. He could feel their pain and sadness and he could experience their greatest joy and channel their fury should he wish. As he grew older so did his ability. He eventually managed to gain basic telepathy, he could uncover the thoughts of the people that surrounded him just by being in their presence and with physical contact he found that he could delve into the depths of their minds with dare he say more ease than a master legilimens. After honing what he considered to be his own craft and doing a crazy amount of learning and traveling and teaching he decided that he needed to some time just to live. He had spent so much time trying in vain to be special in some way that he forgot to live his life.

Coming to the decision that it was time to just live and enjoy life William retired his work and settled down in a smallish village in his home country. He took up the job as the master librarian and for a while he was content. It was after only a year that something happened. Someone had entered his library that would once again bring the magic of his youth back into his life.

Entering the library after such a troubling morning was a relief that harry couldn't possibly begin to explain. Seated at the table at the back of the building closest to where the master librarian placed his office harry put the books he had selected on the way to his table down and took a seat. Closing his eyes in order to calm his breathing harry finally allowed himself to think about the strange letter in his pocket. Opening his eyes harry carefully organized his books in a sort of barrier that had become his best tactic at avoiding contact with others as well as making it easier for him to study.

Finished stalling for the moment harry pulled out the envelope that was not only strange but also left him with a feeling that it contained answers to questions he hadn't ever really explored. It was just as harry flipped it over and was preparing to tear it open that the librarian appeared beside him The man William or will as he demanded to be called was probably the only adult that harry could stand for long periods of time. He wasn't condescending like his teachers at school who never believe that harry truly was as smart as he claimed. He wasn't an abusive monster like his uncle and occasionally his aunt and he wasn't a sympathetic onlooker who was saddened to watch what was going on with harry but refused to do anything about it. The leaned over to see what he was reading and before harry could even think to hide the letter from his view the man saw the envelope and immediately had a strange sort of recognition in his eyes.

I was wondering when you would be getting that, William stated with a soft almost sad sigh. You probably shouldn't open that here. Come with me

Confusion settled in harry. Did will know something about this letter. Did he know what secrets lay within.. Standing up and following the man into his office harry was gestured to a seat which he took. Will closed his eyes and it was like his presence left his body, it was only for a portion of second but harry still noticed. Only when the man was back and had opened his eyes did harry begin to question.

Do you know what's going on? This showed up on my door this morning and was not only addressed weirdly but also left me feeling weird.

It's been a long time since I have seen one of those letters and I had hoped that I would not have to encounter one again but then you showed up in my library a few years ago and I figured it was only a matter of time.

What is it, wondered harry aloud.

I think you'd best open it. I warn you that what lay within is no joke. William's voice was sad and serious and he looked like he was struggling to process what was going on even more than harry. Odd was harry's thought as he broke the purple wax seal with the unusual crest. He promptly began to read.

Dear Henry James Potter,

We at Hogwarts School of Magecraft and sorcery are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into our most prestigious institution. Attached is information about our school should you need it as well as a list of supplies that will need to be acquired should you decided to take a place at Hogwarts. We expect to hear from you no later than July 31 regarding you place with us.

May magic lead you to us,

Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall

Head of Gryffindor, Master of Transformation magic, Head of the high council of Hogwarts

Harry looked through the other pieces of parchment included with the letter, however he didn't really register anything that he was seeing. The set up of everything was simply too good to be a prank and when he gazed into the eyes of his long time adult friend he could see a severe sort of seriousness in his eyes. Harry didn't know what to think. For a second he thought he might pass out.

For a long moment nothing was said. For a while harry just let his mind think. Turning to will, he spoke softly but William could sense a change in his young friend. In an instant it was like looking into the hungry eyes of the young man who walked into his library five years ago. This young man thought he looked more than half starved and was small and thin it was obvious that he was not hungry for food but rather for knowledge. He looked like a young man that would be satisfied by nothing more than learning everything the library had to offer him. Those emerald green eyes shined with purpose desire and a need. As William gazed into the eyes that hadn't realized had lost some of their shine over the years he saw them shine once more. There was a new purpose for harry potter and William knew that he would do whatever he could to help.

What do we do, Harry questioned. He knew nothing about magic, he didn't know anything about this seemingly alternate world he was about to step into however he had a good feeling that his old friend knew what they needed to do. Sighing deeply William rubbed his hand over his eyes then stared harry down, there was a question in his eyes and a need to say something but an uncertainty wrapped around him. Harry waited.

I'm sure you're wondering how I knew about the letter you received and I bet you want some information about what your getting yourself into. It's a long story but it's one I think you deserve to hear. I feel that you will appreciate perhaps more than just about anyone else. Releasing a deep breath will began his story.

My full name is William August Longbottom and once upon a time I was the heir to the most ancient and noble house of Longbottom. My family is one of the most influential wealthy and powerful families in the world. We are the descendants of the great master of olde magic and the father of modern magic the one and only Myrddin Emrys, known to most as Merlin. I was trained from birth as the oldest son of my father to take over the headship of my family.I was smart and had a thirst for knowledge and the desire to prove myself to not only my family and ancestors but the magical world as a whole. However when I turned eleven and I still had not received a letter very much so like the one right there it was immediately evident that I did not possess one very important thing. I didn't have the connection to magic that my father and brother and every other prominent member of the Longbottom family. I wasn't powerless but that wouldn't be clear until later.

I was stripped of my status as the heir and I was given to the muggle world. I still inherited a good deal of money but I would never be head of my family and I would never be a great mage like I had always dreamed. I ended up learning to live in the non magic world referred by some as the muggle world. I am what they call a squib, a magic less child to two magical parents.

I had very little to no contact with the magical world for a number of years when you walked through the door of this establishment. Even though I didn't keep in contact with the world that removed me from their society I still knew of the story of Harry Potter, the boy who lived. At first I didn't believe it was you but I guess there is no denying it. You are Henry James Potter, heir to the most ancient and noble house of potter, favored descendant of the Peverell family, You are the descendant of the lady magic and favored of death. You will one day head the council of magic and as if that isn't enough you are also the boy who lived and the destroyer of the dark lord Voldemort.

Most people would have been startled to hear such a thing. It was an instant change. Harry had always been a slave he wasn't important however in that moment harry knew that should what he was being told be true he would do whatever it took to succeed. He would become great and the first step towards being great was taking his place at Hogwarts School of magecraft and sorcery.

Removing a chain from around his neck will revealed a shiny white stone that was engraved with a crest harry would later find was the mark of the Longbottom family. Bringing the stone to his lips he whispered something that harry didn't quite catch before kissing the stone. The stone lit up and William returned the chain to its place around his neck.

I haven't used that in at least ten years. I'm sure mother will be shocked. William uttered with a kind of sad smile. Now we wait. I'm sure you have questions, you can ask anything you want and I will attempt to answer however know I haven't really been active in the world of magic since I was just shy of eleven.

Harry not willing to miss an opportunity to seek out knowledge began to fire off questions. Every time one was answered it was like there were ten more to take its place.

William was patient and answered everything he could and even though it was magic they were discussing it was a familiar kind of situation. harry did spend a lot of time in the library and in his office. The topic was just slightly different. It was perhaps twenty or thirty minutes later when there was a knock on the office door. William rose to his feet and adopted the expression similar to that of a man that was walking to meet his end.

Opening the door revealed a woman who was nothing short of regal perfection. She was dressed in fine cloth and was adorned with gems and pearls. She held a red handbag in one hand and a sort of scepter in the other.. The woman had a wise sort of presence and harry knew that this was not a young woman. She appeared to be maybe sixty though harry would have been surprised if she was older than sixty five.

William gave a grim smile and uttered a word that was not what harry was expecting.

Mother, thank you for coming with such haste.

The regal woman gave her son a fierce hug like they hadn't seen each other in a great deal of time.

Your message said that you have something important that you need help with, a family matter, the woman spoke. It was in that moment that the woman finally saw the other person in the office.

Mother, may I present to you, Henry James Potter, heir to the most ancient and noble house of potter. The woman gasped bringing one daintily clad had to cover her lips.

Surely you jest, this can't be harry potter. I as well as all of the potter allies have been informed that the potter heir is traveling training to take up his mantle. Harry didn't have all the parts yet but something wasn't quite right about the situation at hand.

Hellos and hi to everyone that is reading. I wanted to thank you for tuning in. This is the first time anyone has really ever read what I've written. I hope that you like it and will continue to read.

It would be awesome if you could let me know what you think and if you have anything you want to share just leave me a review or message me.

Thank you so much, ~OnlyJavel