I do not own Harry potter. I am not making any money from this story.

Harry Potter and the New World

Chapter 3

Harry didn't go back to Gryffindor Tower. Instead he headed to the seventh floor to the room of requirement, hoping that the fiendfyre didn't destroy it. He walked back and forth in front of the room focusing on the need to escape from the heartache.

I need to find a way to get away. I need to find a way to get away. I need to find a way to get away. he thought until the door appeared before him. He silently thanked the gods and opened the door.

inside the room was shelves upon shelves of books, a desk in the middle, and an old man standing next to it.

The old man had long white hair with a matching white beard that hung to his waist. He wore long, flowing white robes with a indigo sash tied around his midsection., and glasses. In his hand was a large tome bound in brown leather.

"Good afternoon, Harry" he said pleasantly.

Harry didn't know how to respond. Who was this person? How did he know my name? What was this all about?

"I suppose you have many questions for me, but first allow me to introduce myself.. I am Maerlin Embrys Myddrin." he said with a bow.

Harry gasped. "Merlin? Are you serious?"

Merlin nodded

"But, why are you here?" Harry asked astonished

Merlin set the book he was holding on the desk and explained "There have been many stories and legends told and written of me and my adventures, but I am foremost, a teacher. Now your request to the magic of this room was 'to find a way to get away'. I must assume that you mean to escape the painful situation you find yourself in. I am here to teach you a form of magic that will help in this endeavor."

"What magic is that, sir?" Harry asked

"It is a type of magic that I have developed and worked with for a number of centuries. Dimensional magic." Merlin said

Harry was floored. Dimensional magic was a very obscure area of magic. Most people believed it to be mythical. True, some times it is possible to create pockets within our dimension for storage and the like, but traveling through them is so rare that people who have done so are usually seen as nutters.

Merlin continued, "this will require study in arithmancy and ancient runes. Also we will perform a number of rituals to prepare you for this jump." he said. Do you have any questions?

Harry shook his head dumbly.

Merlin nodded "Now, Harry, must warn you that while you are in this room, you will be distracted from your troubles. However, once our studies are over, they will come back along with the pain they bring." he then added, "since this room works through dimensional magic, time will move much quicker here than outside of it. Therefore I must ask you not to leave this room once our lessons have begun."

Harry pondered this for a moment before responding. "no offense, but, how do I know you are who you say you are? I don't think this has happened before."

Merlin smiled and said "Good question, my boy. And I admire your vigilance. No, this has not happened before, and may never happen again. However, to answer your first quandary," he held up his right hand "I swear on my life and magic that I am Maerlin Embrys Myddrin, teacher to Arthur Pendragon, Author of several magical tomes, and innovator of dimensional magic, so mote it be." once this was said, a white light surrounded him for just a moment before flashing out of existence.

Harry finally decided that this was the real Merlin. He thought for a moment then asked, "Why me? What's so special about me that you are willing to teach me?"

Merlin answered simply "You asked."

Harry was struck by that answer. Could it really be that easy? The most powerful wizard in history was willing to teach him because he simply asked?

It was a bit too much to take in. Harry was feeling a bit light headed. Harry was going to be taught by Merlin himself to use an obscure magic to travel through dimensions. But the question remained, what all does that entail? Harry decided that it was a question that would be answered through his lessons.

Harry looked at Merlin with resolve in his eyes.

"Where do we start?" he asked.

"First we shall perform a ritual that will strengthen your magical core. Then another ritual that will strengthen your physical body. Once those are done we can move on to your studies." Merlin answered.

An hour later found a half naked Harry sitting in the middle of a ten sided star painted on the ground with various herbs and liquids. His spectacles were on a desk by the wall, and his eyes were closed. Merlin was walking around the star chanting in a strange language under his breath, and throwing dusts and powders at various intervals. Finally he turned and yelled, "HARRY JAMES POTTER, STAND AND TAKE THE POWER THAT IS NOW RIGHTFULLY YOURS!"

Harry stood and immediately, there was a blinding flash of golden light as Harry was lifted off the ground. His body felt as though it was on fire, burning from the inside out. He felt the magic radiating from him in waves. He couldn't see or hear. He couldn't breathe. Then all of a sudden it was gone. The light, the burning, the breathlessness. Gone, and left behind was a teenager with the magic core more powerful than he could fathom. He swayed from the power surge.

"Careful, Harry." said Merlin, "the growth of your core is quite disorienting. You cannot hope to gain all of your magical power like this and keep your head. Sit, your equilibrium will adjust in a few moments." as he said this he conjured a stuffy chair for Harry. Harry sat down and closed his eyes.

After a moment that felt like an hour, Harry looked up to Merlin and gave a nod. Merlin took this as being ready to continue. He waved his hand and the ten sided star was removed, and replaced by twelve statuettes surrounding him in a circle. There was a bull, a panther, a ferret, a hare, a stag, an eagle, a fox, a python, a gorilla, a stallion, a phoenix, and a man each with a line drawn on the floor connected to a smaller circle in which Harry stood.

"Now, Harry, as I say the name of the animal represented, you must touch the statue." Merlin instructed.

Harry nodded.

"The bull, for strength." he said Harry touched the bull.

"The panther, for dexterity." Harry touched the head of the panther.

"The ferret, for ingenuity, the Hare for speed, the stag for grace, the eagle for sight, the fox for cunning, the snake for fluidity, the ape for intelligence, the horse for endurance, the phoenix for life." Harry touched each statuette in turn, and a small light shined from each. Merlin spent a few moments speaking in a strange language, then said "now hold the totem of the man in front of you and say 'ti purra et minita.'"

Harry did as he was bade and the statuette flashed with magic that engulfed him and knocked him to the floor where he fell unconscious.

A short while later Harry awoke to the sound of Merlin shuffling books. He looked up to see Merlin setting books up that, apparently, were needed for the lessons.

Hang on, he thought, I can see him. But I took my glasses off for the rituals. The rituals. He'd almost forgotten that the second ritual was to make him physically more healthy. He sat up to look at himself. Hw had more muscle mass. He had broad shoulders and narrow hips, now. He could see perfectly without his glasses, and he seemed to actually be a bit taller.

"Sir," he said quizzically.

"Ah, Harry, I see you finally found your way back to the light." Merlin said. "I could guess to the questions you have. So lets get through them. Yes, your vision is cleared, you are approximately 15 cm taller, and you weigh approximately 27 kg more than you did 4 hours ago." he nodded as though that should be enough.

"Is this some sort of transfiguration, sir?" Harry asked.

Merlin shook his head. "No, Harry. All the ritual did was release the potential you already had. Had it not been for your first encounter with Mr. Riddle, you would have been just as you are now. When he attacked you, not only did you get that scar, he siphoned some of your magic and physical properties, as well. This is how he was able to keep a corporeal form, though it was wraith like, was it not?"

Harry thought about that for a moment. It made sense, in a weird way. From what he was told all these years, Voldemort's Killing curse backfired when it hit the ward Harry's mother built. He should've been dead, and he would've been forced to use one of his horcruxes to return. So he stole some of Harry to keep him bound, and in that space, he left a fragment of his own soul.

" Now, Harry, I believe it is time to begin your studies." said Merlin.