Chapter 4: Home

The usual din of conversation fell over Hogwarts once again. The comfortableness of normality set the mood for the students and faculty. Harry and Ginny made their home in Hagrid's old cottage, and with a lady's touch, it soon became a cozy place for the couple. Everything seemed back to normal, except for Harry. His time in the institution seemed to change him in manner and hubris.

While Ginny spent her days teaching her class, Harry stayed at home. He accepted no visitors during this time and kept exclusively to his own secret pursuits. Harry had learned he could cast spells and conjure matter without the use of his wand. At first, it was small things; levitating stones, but soon his powers grew to conjure up the spirits of the dead-which pleased Harry greatly.

The abnormality of this feat frightened, as well as excited Harry. It was no wonder he decided to keep it a secret-even from his wife, Ginny. This new ability made Harry feel powerful, and the more he learned, the more intoxicating it became. Harry thought: "With this ability, I am more powerful than the Dark Lord ever was. I am the only wizard who can project his powers without the use of a magical device. Have I become the essence of pure magic itself?" He first noticed this ability while breaking the spell that Umbridge had him under which brought about his extraction from the institution.

The thought of the potential of this new power made Harry drunk on his own hubris. The intensity of Harry's new form of magic built up all day to an incredible amount until just before Ginny came home. As soon as she entered the threshold, he seemed back to normal; good old loving Harry again. However, these powers and the mystery of their source was always in his head. Consuming, obsessing, to the point to where Harry didn't know if he possessed the power, or if the power possessed he.

"Evening, love. How was your day?" cheerfully asked Ginny.

"Oh, mostly boring things: thinking and sorting things out-you know." replied Harry.

"Dear, you've been spending too much time alone. You should come to school with me tomorrow."

"I'm content with what I am doing here." snapped Harry.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you so cross?" plead Ginny.

"I'm sorry, love. You know I've not been myself lately." complied Harry. "Perhaps I will join you tomorrow. I want to speak with Professor Snape about something."

The evening continued as usual with the flickering flames of the fire-place. After Ginny fell asleep, Harry lay awake thinking about how he will discuss this with Snape. Could he trust him?

"Will he think me a freak or a danger?" Harry thought, "I should approach this carefully. We shall see what tomorrow brings." With that, Harry follows Ginny off to sleep.

Walking down the halls of Hogwarts brought back many memories for Harry. Some were good, some were bad, but all welcome as if he had never been gone. Making his way to Professor Snape's office, Harry knocked on the thick, old door.

"Come in," came the reply from inside, from that unmistakable voice. "Well, Mr. Potter, what brings you to my humble abode?" spoke Snape, this time speaking to Harry as a friend instead of with the loathing once present.

"I wanted to speak with you about the subject of a book I am thinking of writing."

"Book, you say?" replied Snape, in his curious manner.

"Has there ever been a wizard in your knowledge who could work magic without the use of a wand, spell, or potion?"

"No," replied Snape with a curious tone, "that would be impossible. Our magic comes from within us, but we need an object, like a wand or potion, to focus the energy. It is a matter of magical physics."

"What would you think of someone who could do this?" asked Harry.

"I'd think that there would have to be some other force, some independent, separate force behind this." Snape said with steady seriousness. "I've been wondering for some time now, Harry: how did you escape the institution and Ms. Umbridge without your wand?" Snape inquired, moving his chair closer to Harry's.

"I don't know, it all happened so fast. It must have been the magic charm necklace I grabbed from Umbridge."

"You know, Harry, if there is anything you would like to talk to me about, don't be afraid. I am and have always been your friend; long before you even knew of it."

"No, I'm alright, sir." Replied Harry. Then Snape moved even closer to Harry and said, in almost a whisper:

"If what we talked about were true, it would be an abomination more severe than the Dark Lord himself." Standing angrily, Harry's chair flew back with great force.

"Perhaps you just don't understand: you can't know everything about everything. No one does." Harry retorted. With that, he stormed out of Snape's office, the door closing behind him without a touch. Snape sat quietly, contemplating these events with a worried brow.

All the way back home, Harry thought Snape was a fool-incapable of contemplating this powerful magic.

"All he knows are his potions and spells. He has no idea that the true power of magic lies within our minds."

"It would be an abomination." Snape's words echoed through Harry's mind.

"I knew he would think this freakish and bizarre. I'll show him-I'll show them all what true power is! The Dark Lord had it all wrong. He depended on others to help him win his goal. You can't trust people, they are fallible. They will always let you down. To achieve ultimate power, one must do it on their own, then never reveal the secret to anyone. This power is so great that even the ministry would be powerless against me. They would never see it coming."

Chapter Five: Reunion

"Mrs. Potter, I've been wanting to have a private talk with you. Do you have the time?"

"Yes, Professor," replied Ginny in her usual cheery tone. Snape draws her in closer.

"Have you noticed anything different about Harry lately?" Puzzled, Ginny replies:

"No, not really. You must remember that he's been through a lot. Of course he seems a little distant."

"I am very concerned that there might be something mentally or physically wrong with Harry," Snape confesses.

"What do you mean?" questions Ginny.

"He came to see me today speaking of magic without wands and when I disagreed, he became strangely irritated."

"He does seem on edge and prefers to be alone." replied Ginny.

"I'm not asking you to spy on him, just help me keep an eye on him. I'm very concerned about Harry's safety." Slightly shocked, Ginny replies:

"Yes, sir."

Back at the cottage, Harry sits alone. The dilemma of his new power roaring through his mind.

"I'll ask Dumbledor and see what he says." Without any motion or words, Harry thinks of Dumbledor and he appears.

"What am I doing here…?" asked Dumbledor.

"I conjured you up, sir. I need to ask your advice." Harry replied, calmly.

"But how? This is impossible! I see no charms or devices." spoke the old mentor.

"I have no need of wands and potions. I merely will it and it is so," spoke Harry, confidently. With urgency, Dumbledor says:

"Harry, you're playing around with things that you don't understand. This power is an abomination. It will corrupt your very soul until is it blacker that the Dark One. You must stop this before it takes over you and you become something evil and vile."

"Be gone, old man." Harry commanded and Dumbledor was gone. "They are all against me. I'm not being corrupted. I'm only becoming aware of how powerful I am and they're all afraid of me because they can't control me anymore." As Harry stared, wild-eyed, into the fire thinking of all the new possibilities that awaited him, he seemed enchanted; not by the fire in the hearth, but by the fire burning out of control in his soul.