2
A week after he had taken the evaluation exam Harry received a letter of acceptance and along with all the information about the school and its programs. Three days after that he was on a train heading to the school to settle in early. An option which was offered to all new students but rarely acted upon.
As he journeyed to the school he began to make a list of ever spell that he could remember from his former life. He began with Gray's Ice Make Magic and continued until he reached Mirajane's Take Over Magic.
He knew logically that most of the spells would be impossible for him to use considering that they would clash horribly with each other. Still he thought that he could use most if not all of the lower powered spells. Even though he knew most of those spells were useless in battle situations he would make it his life's mission to master all of them. That decided he only had to figure out which magic to start with.
Even though he couldn't get his hands on weaponry he saw now reason to not try to create pocket dimensions. With them he would be able to eat and dress better as his 'family' wouldn't know that he had things hidden away. So that became his first bit of magic he would learn and master.
Next he needed to figure out which way his non-magical education would go, because he couldn't just focus on magic in this new world. Though his education would only advance as he did he felt it was only logical to look at his options. Though the choices offered by the school were varied he decided to go with learning to be a doctor, specifically one who deals with trauma. Mostly because he didn't know if he could learn to use any of the Sky Dragon Magic that Wendy was so adept at especially without a dragon around to teach him.
o0o0o0o
Within the first few weeks of school it was pretty obvious that most of the kids were in fact 'privileged' and not necessarily in a good way. They all, down to those who had only just begun school, were snobs and that was putting it mildly. And it was obvious who as to who was there for their education like him. Though they too were very stuck up, as most highly intelligent people tend to be.
Since most of the scholarship children were older the he was they tended to stay away from him. The three that were his age had unanimously decided that he wasn't worth their time as such they ignored him. Aside from not making any friends he liked the school very much. The teachers didn't discriminate and their assignments weren't as hellish as he had thought they might have been.
His schedule, once he finalized his list of magic, was grueling but worth every drop of sweat and yes, blood. His days began with some exercises designed to build up his stamina and strength, though not much else. Afterwards he would shower and whilst he was in the water he would channel his magic in such a way as to control the water around him. Once he was dressed he had a large breakfast and went to all of his classes. When classes finished for the day he did his homework and some more physical exercise before building up his ability to wield water magic.
He figured that water and ice were the same thing in different stages and so if could wield one the other would come easier.
o0o0o0o
If anyone from his old life could see him at the moment they would probably not recognize him. Well aside from the fact that he was a he and not a she, they wouldn't even have imagined he would train so hard and so long that they could confuse him with Natsu. Well they weren't that dense but they could be at times and with certain things.
Still his training regimen was so full since he added ice magic into his routine. He had begun to believe that he might burn out if he didn't slow down some. So instead of the usual four hours of magic after school he decided to cut it down to three with a bit of light reading to cool down before bed.
Though most wouldn't consider the books he chose as light reading to be exactly that he didn't particularly care.
o0o0o0o
As the holidays drew nearer he asked about remaining at the school and was told that arrangements had already been made for him to go home. Turns out that non of the staff wished to stay at the school throughout the holiday season. The letter he received from his aunt told him were exactly he were it was he was going to be staying for the two weeks of holiday.
She had booked him into a small bed and breakfast near the coast so that he wouldn't in her words, 'stench up her lovely family holiday.' Though she didn't explain where exactly it was she got the money to pay for it he was grateful he wouldn't be under anyone's eye for the holiday.
o0o0o0o
As he swam through the ocean he made and unmade balls of water and ice while swirling water around his lower half to propel him farther from the shoreline. He needed to practice without adults around to ask him if was lost that had gotten old the second time he was asked.
During the short train ride he had been contemplating all the ways he could train while being so close to the ocean and had gotten a marvelous idea. He would swim until he couldn't see the shoreline and then he would make an ice floor on the surface of the ocean before manipulating the water around him. Of course he would have to keep an eye on how much magic he had left so that he could get back to shore but that was a given rather then a training method.
Standing on top of a small island of ice he thought he finally understood what Gray found so interesting about frozen substance. It really was beautiful and majestic and just slightly dreadful considering how many ice could kill and had killed. From that train of thought emerged the respect for water as well for very much those same reasons except water kept things living as well as it took life away.
After that first day his remaining day fell into a similar routine even as using ice and water magic became easier after those revelations that day. When it was time for him to return to school he set about beginning to map out ways to train in fire and wind magic. Since he hadn't known anyone who utilized earth magic he decided to begin his training on the two other elements he had witnessed.
o0o0o0o
The rest of the year was spent refining the water and ice spells he knew until he use them without such a big build up before hand. His non-magic education went so well a lot of the other children felt he was getting some extra help from somewhere but non could prove it.
As summer began he told his aunt that he wished to find a secluded camp site that had a relatively large water source. When she asked him why he told her he didn't wish to stay her home much more then he must. As it was she knew of a place he could make his if he worked for the old man who owned the place.
Meeting Richard was an experience he had expected. The old man was what he imagined Gajeel would be like when he became elderly. Cranky, suspicious, loud (his hearing going out on him but he not caring just spoke louder) and full of shit. At least that's what he believed Gajeel would become but if he read the signs right then Levy would soften him a bit.
Still Richard was nice in his own way in that he allowed Harry to camp on his grounds near the lagoon if Harry helped him with the yard. All in all it was a nice arrangement and both parties felt good at the end of summer. Richard even told him that he could come back every summer for the same price.
A/N: An early birthday present to me!