Chapter 2 – Training is the spice of life
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That second day at Gringotts was a real something else. Ragnok brought me into his office and explained that I was going to be training. This was nice to hear because I was worried that the Goblins were going to leave me in the basement and I would have to face Vernon sooner or later. When I got home that night I found another door. I opened the door and took the stairs down to a huge room. I had found my place of training.
"Here is your schedule Harry we are making it as broad as possible as we have found a couple of prophesy over you so its best you train hard. I will tell you the prophesies as you get older. Do you have any questions?"
"No Sir except what does this say? I have not been taught to read yet." That went over well with Ragnok.
"Harry we are not mad at you and i did not mean to scare you. You keep on asking us about anything you don't understand." He was always nice even when I knew he was mad at someone for something. What I didn't realize at the time was I was comparing him to Uncle Vernon.
My schedule made for a long day but not all of it was hard. They bought me a house elf named Tiki who got me food and cleaned. She was nice company in my spare time which wasn't much. The Goblins taught me Goblin magic but everything else was taught by different human adults that portkeyed into my basement well except for the ghost tutor Jacob who taught me to read and write. A lot of what they had me learn was fun like the swimming lessons. Since the Goblins couldn't use wands they taught me how they did things like 'slipping'. When I 'slipped' I moved from one place to another and that was fun. One instructor had us running around a track and taught me kung fu. Actually it had a long funny name but it was like the TV movie I got to watch once. My life was turning into a lot of fun still a lot was hard work.
Now and then odd things happened in my life. Finding Drac, the Goblins or that I was magical were some of these odd things. Oh! There was a big hula ba lue when a white owl was found in the basement waiting for me to come home. Nothing was supposed to be able to enter the basement Hedwig the owl could and it drove the Goblins crazy. They finally gave up and just said she was magical.
A couple of weeks after his last attempt a drunken Vernon attempted to take an axe to the door of the basement only to be thrown backwards with a splinter axe handle in his hand. John the etiquette instructor heard the noise and soon Ragnok was there. "Harry what's going on?"
"I think Vernon tried to break down the door. It was kind of funny as the instructor must have jumped three feet when he heard the noise." I giggled.
"Well we will have to do something about that won't we?" Ragnok had an evil grin on his face.
I asked Ragnok if his wards could make something I saw on TV and for a moment I thought Ragnok was going to really start laughing. Well it did scare even Vernon when they saw it on the TV.
A couple of weeks later the instructor took me to Knockturn alley to have a wand made for me. The poor man really had to work and kept mumbling, "Any normal person only needs one type of wood, oh! No the kid needs three. Now he needs my rarest cores and how the hell is he going to power that focus stone. Mumble mumble."
The first time I used the wand in the training room under my basement the entire house shook and the target was obliterated. I got so tired that I fell asleep minutes later. The instructor had to rearrange his teaching to help me moderated the amount of magic I put into a spell.
A couple of weeks passed and Vernon made his next attempt at the door. The borrowed shotgun rattled the windows but only affected the door by activating our special ward. Ragnok's instructor had been working with me on my writing skills in the basement. So we knew when the gun went off. My illusion I suggested to Ragnok jumped out as if leaping from the basement and at the Dursleys. I had seen one of the horror movies that were on TV so it was a strange ugly thing. First it was about eight feet tall, with only front legs which had three toes and dragged the rest of its muscular slug like body. The toes ended in horn like nails. The monster was green and had only one eye. Over the eye was three horns and from the mouth came two fangs that were a foot long. As the creäture leaped out a crazy sounding maniacal laugh erupted to accompany the monster's arrival. I unfortunately did not see the Dursley's reaction but the door was never bothered again by them.
/Scene Break/ One year later:
"Harry the tutors say you are doing a great job in all the different field of study. I have a suggestion for you and it's totally your decision. What I would like to do is age you up a bit. You will look the same the only difference is if you are checked your age will show you older which in fact you will be regardless of your birth date."
"Why?"
"Access to your vaults is the main reason and more time to train is another. Since you are the last of your line the law says emancipation at fourteen is possible if you wish. Being emancipated will be better for you in legal areas."
"Well you have never led me wrong so what do we do?"
/Scene Break/
SCREAM! "Where is Atropos when I need her!
"Clotho what is wrong?"
"Grrrr, the Goblins have messed with the Thread of Life and we are going to have to add a few years to Harry Potters allotted length of yarn."
"No problem I'll just lay out a couple of centuries and you can tell Atropos when he needs to be snipped for the final time."
As Clotho and Lachesis headed out to find Atropos Lachesis had just laid down Harry's new spool of thread meaning to have Atropos and Clotho tell her when enough was enough. The two finally found Atropos but in all that was going on the final snip was not established so Harry Potter's spool of yarn lay uncollected nor snipped.
/Scene Break/
"Drac old boy I can't tell you how I missed you and you too Hedwig."
"You have only been gone for four days Harry."
"It was four years for me Drac."
"So did you learn anything?"
"Where do I start? All I will tell you is that Ragnok is a slave driver he had more tutors in that time distortion chamber then there was time to learn it all. Slide back into my arm and let's go aggravate the Dursleys before I take you two out to eat." It didn't take much to aggravate the Dursley family. I 'slid' into the living room said Hi and 'slid' out as Vernon started his cursing.
Drac and Hedwig loved the pizza parlor. After two large pizzas were delivered to our table I put up a 'Notice-me-not' charm around the table and Drac popped out and started on one of the pizza pies. Hedwig loved to snitch the pepperoni followed by a drink of Pepsi. The Pepsi did something to her as she would do a quick two-step before hunting more pepperoni. We always had a good time like the ghost party.
Flashback:
How was I to know, I'm supposed to be the kid around here? Jacob had asked and brought a few of his ghost friends over one night. Apparently some had not seen each other in quite a long time so they started reminiscing. One ghost popped out to find some other friends the first group hadn't seen and it continued. The next thing I know there was a room full of ghosts some were from the headless hunt. They thankfully left their horses in the training room. Some one brought a couple of kegs of ghost ale and the party was underway.
Finally the party started to break up but could they leave like normal people? No! Some how the music got even louder and they did a conga line out the basement door. I think it upset Vernon as they dances through his bedroom and vanished out through the wall. I learned all this later from Jacob. He thought that the funniest part was when Vernon was storming down the stairs the Headless Hunt mounted on their horses and swinging their decapitated heads raced out of the basement wall and out through the living room wall.
End Flashback:
Three years later:
"Alright the tutors say you're ready for the big test how do you feel about it?" Ragnok asked.
"Scare, terrified and ready to run just about sums it up." I wasn't kidding.
"Alright the Christmas party is being held at the Longbottom Manor. There is going to be a ton of kids your age but the party is for the rich and famous adults. Since no one knows what Harry Potter looks like except for a lighting bolt scar which you no longer have, the party should be a good test of your social training. Here is your gift for the hostess and you will be going as Harry Von Trit a Dutch aristocrat's son."
I almost choked at the name, leave it to Ragnok to use Dutch slang to insult me under the noses of the English.
I had to use the 'floe' and I hate the 'floe'. So after choking on soot and cleaning my dress robes of that soot I launched into the pureblood introduction ritual. I was then given to Neville Longbottom to escort me around for the introduction circuit. Ragnok was correct these people were the pompous and arrogant in the upper-crust of magical England. It wasn't long before I realized why Ragnok was so adamant in me coming to this soiree.
Neville was more nervous that I and sometime stuttered the introductions, "This is the Chief Warlock among his many titles, Headmaster Dumbledore this is Harry Von Trit."
"As I shook his hand and said "pleasure to meet you" the turkey tries to read my mind. It was a passing probe but an attempt none the less.
"Yes Chief Warlock is it your habit to use the spell 'Legilimens' on all that are introduced to you?"
"I assure you Mr. Von Trit that you are mistaken."
"Sure I am, come Neville the buffet awaits us."
"You shouldn't say things like that to the Dumbledore his is quite famous and respected." Neville was scared.
"Tell you what, introduce me to the red-head and you can do what you would like to do, ok?"
"Miss Susan Bones I would like to introduce you to Mr. Harry Von Trit." Neville left.
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Von Trit."
"The pleasure is mine and more so if you will dance this waltz with me." I was off and running the rest of the evening. Susan introduced me around to the younger crowd which had some arrogant snobs trying to be adults. One such poof was Draco Malfoy. Later I got mixed up with some Wizengemot members that were discussing a proposed law. Rotating around I was having a nice discussion with the Head of the DMLE Madam Bones when Susan returned demanding another dance.
"You know you're the only boy here that is dancing? Most are afraid to ask or are pompous asses like Draco."
"I am here to please besides I like dancing." it turned out to be my famous last words.
"May I cut in Susan or are you going to hog him all night."
Hannah Abbott had the next two dances before Pansy Parkinson stepped in for a slow dance. "I find these gatherings quite boring; all Draco does is hang out with Crab and Goyle. Theodore Nott I do believe cannot dance. I must say you dance adequately."
Thankfully Susan cut back in and dragged me to the punch bowl when the waltz was finished.
"Look boys the dancing queen is taking a break." Draco Malfoy mouth had been engaged.
"Yes it is enjoyable to dance with enjoyable company that is why you are probable not asked."
"How dare you my father…"
"Your father is probably going to be embarrassed with you making a fool of yourself at this party because if he isn't he needs to be. Run along and depress someone else with your incompetence."
"What is going on here?"
"He is insulting your guests and threatening me." Draco stated as if it was the final word.
"Actually he is making a fool of his family by acting like a three-year because I enjoy dancing at your ball."
"Susan?"
"Draco is being Draco." That was all that Susan said and Lady Longbottom hauled Draco off to his father.
I have been told that the magical community was behind the muggle world. All I can say is the Foxtrot and the Lindy Hop was considered the new fashion in dancing. Still the Quadrille and the Gallop were still in play. As the evening progressed we kids started to fade out. I said my goodbyes and headed for bed.
The next morning Ragnok beat the tutors into my basement, "Harry, well done! The reports are you handled the old blowhards well and did yourself good in most people's eyes with the dancing, even dragged a few old ladies onto the floor, very good. You get high ratings handling young Malfoy the way you did."
"Who was your spy at the party might I ask?"
"Now that would be telling, let's get you up as your tutor is anxious to get started with your advanced shielding."
So the days proceeded and I learned and learned. While not an aged old man of the world I still like to learn. My life was without most everything normal for a kid but what I was being provided was appreciated. I did my best as I really did enjoy most everything except being knock on my bum by the dueling instructor. I do hate getting my ass handed to me by my fencing tutor and the potions still taste like dragon dung but these are small compared to what I am learning.