Chapter 3

January 18, 2004 Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, headmasters' office.

Headmistress Camilla Benthamy sat in her office reading reports over the mid-term. Things had been quiet, and no major incidents had occurred. Few injures here and there, but that was to be expected from students conducting their own experiments. The only note of interest she had gotten was the letter from the MACUSA concerning reports of underage magic from a completely no-maj area.

The knock on her door brought her out of her thoughts. "enter." The door opened and in stepped the deputy headmistress Agilbert Fontaine.

"Professor Fontaine, good evening, busy night?"

"quite busy headmistress, all the preparations for tomorrows search for the underage magic user are complete." Professor Fontaine replied, "still don't know why the MACUSA requested us to investigate."

"ohhhh stop your complaining, you get to go out, see the city, and witness a child learning of the true nature of their talents, that their not alone." Benthamy retorted. "think of the fun."

"it's an under-developed area in a city filled with gang violence and police brutality" she said with a sad face, "I've been researching the area and there has been an increase in homeless children due to a lack of funding's and violence, so chances are we are searching for a homeless child that's been living on the streets for merlin knows how long, and their powers are going to make him an outcast amongst the no-maj. Their going to be extremely vulnerable and dangerous." She sighed. "to us and themselves."

"don't think I don't understand Professor Fontaine, you just need to keep your hopes up, and make sure your bundled up, the report from the MACUSA said its still snowing and near freezing. Make sure we have the supplies to care for the child should he need warming."

"already prepared headmistress"

"thank you Professor, have a good night."

The next morning after breakfast two made their way to the portkey supplied by the MACUSA, a decorative silver spoon, they gripped it as it began to shine. They landed on the roof top of an abandoned factory.

They braced themselves against the cold, applying warming charms to fight of the chill. Old, broken factory buildings stretched out before them. They surveyed the area, then they heard the sirens of the no-maj authorities.

They apparated towards the sound, disillusioning themselves, appearing on the roof top overlooking the scene.

Two male no-maj officers parked their cruiser and had opened the back door, roughly pulling a child out in old rags, dragging him down the alleyway.

"just don't learn, do you?" Said one officer, "told you give us a cut, and not to run, but you just don't want to listen do ya?"

"come on Sgt. You know it's either going to be us roughing him up or the 67th Row boys." Said the other. "he just thinks we're going to go easy on him."

"yea, yea, I know." The Sgt. Replied, "I just like hearing my voice sometimes, you know." He said laughing, slamming the boy against the wall, the punching him in the stomach, making him collapse. "and I need to let off some steam sometimes too, ya know."

Fontaine flexed her fists, aching to reach for her wand, but Benthamy grabbed her arm first. "we cannot interfere with no-maj authorities, we must wait until they leave, or if the boy shows any signs of magic." She said calmly, but her face showed her anger and disgust. "we must wait."

The beating continued for close to half an hour before the no-maj's grew tired of their prey. "so still nothing huh… ya fucking piece of trash!" Yelled the Sgt. Delivering a kick to the downed boy. Still no response. "we catch you hanging around the subs again and well make sure you don't walk out here again." He spit, "red eyed freak."

The officers made their way back to their cruiser, speeding away.

They watched as the boy began to rise, propping himself up against the wall. He removed his tattered jacket, then his shirt. Large bruises and scars covered the entirety of the boy's torso and arms. His face was swollen, and blood ran from his mouth. Fontaine made to apparat to his aide, but was restrained once again by Benthamy, "what are you doing?!" She hissed "he needs help!"

"just wait…and look" Benthamy whispered, pointing, eyes wide with amassment.

Fontaine turned her attention back to the boy and saw his eyes closed hand roaming over his battered body. But the body was no longer bruised, the large purple marks where disappearing. He then began to heal his face. "he's able to pinpoint heal himself, with no wand." She remarked with amazement, "see the small pool around him, he's heating the area to keep himself warm."

"Merlin, his skills and powers are far advanced for his age."

The boys head jerked his head, eyes falling on where they were. They saw his crimson red eyes staring into theirs.

He jumped up, dressing himself has he took off running down the alley.

"quick, cut him off, but try not to endanger him!" Yelled Benthamy "ill cut off his retreat."

They apparated to their positions, surrounding the boy, he skidded to a stop. Eyes shifting from person to person. They disillusioned themselves, raising their hands. "please calm yourself child." Spoke Fontaine, "we are here to help you."

"we are like you, see?" Benthamy spoke raising her wand and transfiguring a trash can into cat.

They boy stared at the cat, then the wand with a quizzical look. "why do you have a stick?" He asked, not breaking eye contact, as he approached the cat.

He then spoke to the cat in a series of mewls and yowls, but the cat didn't respond. He hissed, snapping his fingers and forcing the cat to turn back into trash can. "why would you attempt to make something that doesn't have a will?" He asked turning on Benthamy who stood shocked with amassment.

"you can transfigure wandlessly, and speak to animals." Fontaine interrupted, "tell me boy, can you speak to others as well?"

"all animals...…and people." He said while his eyes shifted from person to person. "who are you people?"

Benthamy stepped forward, "I am the Headmistress of Ilvermorny child. My name is Professor Benthamy. its s school for gifted children such as yourself. It's a school of magic for witches and wizards to train and cultivate their talents."

"and I am the Deputy Headmistress, Professor Fontaine, I also teach Transfiguration."

"then does that mean you here to take me away?" He asked eyes still shifting.

" That depends on your age child, could you tell us?" Asked Fontaine, "and what is your name?"

"I'm 10." He replied, "my names Tyler...…Tyler Donnelly."

"why did you not defend yourself earlier with the authorities Tyler." Fontaine asked, "you can clearly defend yourself, and they would have been no match."

"it's my rule."

"and what rule is that child" asked Benthamy

"my powers aren't normal...so to use them carelessly will only bring more attention...…..more danger."

"tell us Tyler, where are your parents?"

"I never met them" he said quietly "I grew up in a group home."

"well I'm sorry but admittance to Ilvermorny does not allow students until they reach the age of 11, Tyler." Explained Benthamy, "when do you turn 11." She asked while slowly approaching.

"July...…July 1st." He spoke "so you can't help me?"

"yes, we can child." Fontaine spoke quickly, "we can, we have homes, and safe houses available that can keep you safe until the start of the term in September."

There was no talk for a minute, all the while his eyes shifted from professor to professor. Then he spoke.

"I'm sorry but I don't need any help...…..and I've already dropped out of school." He said stepping towards Benthamy. "and I won't be going back, I won't allow my life to be dictated by the deceit and kindness of adults...…not ever again."

"stupefy!" Fontaine spoke quickly aiming her wand at the boy.

Then he spun slapping the spell away and into the wall, causing it to collapse.

Fontaine faltered for a second, reeling from the event that had just taken place, before sending more stunning spells, forcing him to back pedal.

"Bombarda!" Shouted Benthamy, aiming for the ground at his feet.

But Tyler had been too close and had heard her speak. He spun eyes following the spells course. He gracefully scooped the spell, spinning towards Benthamy. He connected with the side of her wand, causing and explosion.

Both flew back, Benthamy's arm bent awkwardly, twisted and bleeding. Tyler collided with a dumpster and then the wall.

Fontaine set upon him, but he inhaled and focused snapping his fingers.

Then the loud pop.

The boy had apparated away.

Fontaine rushed over to Benthamy, she was still conscious, but her arm was mangled, her wand destroyed. "hold still, ill repair your arm." She said while propping her against the wall

Fontaine ran her wand along her arm running diagnostic and healing spells. When the arm had stopped bleeding, and was no longer twisted, Fontaine asked "can you move it?"

She focused for a few seconds, then frowned, "no"

Benthamy may be an aged witch, but she was still incredibly powerful. She was nearing 80 years of age but had never shown any signs of weakening. Fontaine had always looked up to her as a mentor and guide. But here she was, wand destroyed, and her wand arm useless. "I'm sorry Headmistress, he got away, he apparated wandlessly."

"Fontaine, we must find him." She said standing up, "when the MACUSA learn of his powers, they will either lock him up for experiments or the most likely outcome is they'll put a kill on sight for their auror's and hit-wizards."

"what are 'auror's'?"

They spun to see the boy standing at the entrance to the alley. Fontaine drew her wand but Benthamy lowered it. "They are what you might call the magic worlds equivalent to a detective." She said eyeing the young boy. "and hit-wizards are the bounty hunters."

He continued to stare at them, then he asked, "is your arm ok?"

"no child, it is not." Benthamy said calmly, "I will probably never be able to use it again. I believe the nerves where severed from our little scuffle."

"sorry" he said, shocking both witches. "I don't trust adults." He pointed at the spot where the police had been beating him, "you saw why."

"it's understandable Tyler" Benthamy spoke gently, "we cornered you while hiding our presence, we drew unknown weapons, and my college did attempt to stun you first." She looked to Fontaine, who felt her face blush. "you merely reacted to and unknown threat and attempted to disable the weapon in my possession."

They remained quiet for a few minutes, the two witches planning on how to help the boy the best they could. Then he spoke.

"follow me, my hideouts nearby" he said while turning setting off.

The witches looked at each other in bemusement, then set off, following the boy.

They walked for about 10 minutes before they came to collapsing factory, Tyler walked around the back with the two witches following, he approached the wall and began levitating blocks, revealing a hole. He turned to the witches and studied them for a second then removed a few more so that the hole was taller, now Benthamy wouldn't have to stoop.

'quite considerate considering we just attacked him' Benthamy thought to herself.

As they walked in their hearts dropped, it was a small room, maybe the size of a quest room, but in it where a number of children, all under the age of 6. they were bundled up in old clothes and blankets, surrounding a fire. Most looked sick. Tyler began walking around distributing food he pulled out of his jacket, applying medicine, and adding planks of wood and debris to the fire. As soon as he did there was a notable increase in the rooms temperature. Fontaine smiled knowingly, he had expanded the pockets in his jacket and protected the contents the entire time those 'thugs' where beating him, the reason he didn't want to come with us was because he had to get back to take care of these children, and he had concealed his magic by adding wood to the fire.

"I can't heal them" he spoke softly, walking back towards them, resealing the hole. "the medicine won't do much, can only get away with so much before people start recognizing me." He rubbed his hands together, "I know I hurt you, but do you think you could...…give them a look?"

"I'm sorry Tyler, but our medicine doesn't work like that, and we aren't supposed to expose magic to non-magical people." Benthamy explained. "you are underage, so you magic is contributed to accidental, but we are trained and adults, the consequences for both us and them would be harsh."

He stood there gazing at the children, "they won't make it through this winter" he said sadly, "I've seen it before, I've tried taking them to the hospitals, but the adults just turn them away." He walked over to a small bundle of blankets, carrying them back to the kids. "they're too weak to leave, and the cold won't keep out for more than a few hours, that's why I make so many runs. That's why I can't go with you. 'save myself and kill them or save them and kill myself''." He said "I won't die" he interrupted them before they could speak. "I've survived the winters twice now, I'm strong, it's the weak that die." He said calmly "they're the ones I can't save."

"we can alert the magical officials, but this is a large non-magical area, there are no known mages living in this city, chances are they will be unable to do anything." Fontaine said sadly, her heart breaking with each word.

"I'll come" he said

"what child?" asked Benthamy

"I'll come." He repeated, "in September, I'll come to your school." He said walking back towards them. "I can't come right now, they still need help, and I'll make sure the pass peacefully, ensure they get buried and their graves marked." He said with no emotion, "I owe them that for prolonging their suffering."

"Tyler...…..how many people have you seen die?" Benthamy asked

Without missing a beat "47"

Fontaine gasped, while Benthamy sighed.

"I don't have any money, and I've never left the city, so I don't know how to get to your school." He said, "I assume it's a boarding school if you have to keep secrets."

"there is a fund set up for those who are incapable of paying for their supplies. They will of course be second hand, but I can assume that that will not be a problem for you will it." Said Fontaine.

"how long are the terms? are there holidays?, how many years will I have to attend?" He asked in quick succession.

Benthamy spoke up, "term goes from September to June, most holidays are short, being only 2-3 days, weekends are for your free time, winter holiday goes from the 20th of December to the 5 of January, summer is from mid-June to September 1st, students may return home at these times." She paused "you will not have to if you don't want, you will be allowed to stay. And schooling lasts for 7 years, you become a legal adult in the magical world when you turn 17, and as an adult you would be allowed to use magic outside of school without triggering the trace." She paused "which we will have to apply to you, since I am to believe you are from a non-magical lineage."

"no trace" he said facing the children but his eyes chasing something, "and I won't be staying in school during holidays either." He turned to us. "There is a whole world, full of people with powers like me, full of creatures that have powers like us, right?" He asked. "I want to see it. I want to see it all...…I will see it. And a trace on my magic will only hinder me." He stood gazing at us, eyes alight, full of power. "I can survive on my own, I know how to get food, I know how to obtain clean water, I have proven I can combat full-fledged wizards so trace or not I will be journeying. No trace will help to keep others from confronting me."

"not having a trace will be suspicious and we have no reason to believe you responsible enough" Benthamy remarked.

"what's in it for us?" Interjected Fontaine.

"I will be your top student." He said plainly

"our top student?" Fontaine asked, intrigued. "most of the other students will have grown up living and being raised in the magical world, they will know things passed down their family line, things you could never learn on your own." She said as she leaned towards him. "you just told us you've dropped out of school; how do you plan to compensate for that?"

"you see, I have grown up an orphan my whole life, school has always been a secondary for me." He said with a slight smile forming on his face. "yet I still maintained the highest grades in my year, passing exams and test for higher years. The reason I dropped out was for the loss of my family...… I had no reason keep going. But now I learn that there are others like me, that now I'm the one behind. It's exciting isn't it?" The smile now wide, his eyes darting around the room. "not to mention that I'm also dangerous enough to warrant being experimented on or killed on sight, as you said. So, for them to learn of my true powers would no doubt spell trouble for you, would it not?"

'he's quick, cunning, and confident' Benthamy thought to herself, 'not to mention adaptable, a very dangerous combination'. She looked towards Fontaine, "so what do you have to say, Deputy Headmistress?

"deal" Fontaine said immediately, "there are awards for classes, trophies if you will, you will win them, you won't have to win them all every year, but you will win them all during your years while at Ilvermorny. And you will be submitting a report of your journey and discoveries during the holidays." She finalized, holding out her hand.

He stared at her outstretched hand, "what's that?"

"what's what?"

"what's the circling around your hand?"

"Tyler, look at me" Benthamy said raising her left hand and focusing her magic to cast a spell, "can you see this?"

"yes, it's the spell you used in the alley" he said eyeing her

"Merlin's beard, he can see magic Fontaine, he can see the actual circulation of magic, he can tell what spell is going to be used verbally or not, even when they don't use a wand." Benthamy exclaimed.

"yes, yes, that would explain how he was able to react to the Bombarda spell, since its invisible, but not how he was able to deflect my stunning spells or redirect your spell back on you with his bare hands." She thought as she now gazed into the boy's eyes.

"I'll tell you after you tell me what's on your hand, Miss. Fontaine." He said, eyes slowly drifting around the room now.

"it's a magical oath, it will ensure both of us uphold your end of the deal, should one of us break it, well receive a punishment, usually a painful one, but it won't kill either of us." Fontaine told the boy.

"ok then" he said grasping her hand and shaking it, feeling the tingle run up his arm. "what I did was focus on my hands, I believed them to be covered in a shield, I've bounced away bullets and other things that could harm me by doing that, that's how I stopped your red spell. But if I cup my hand while doing it I can pick up those harmful things and carry them without hurting myself, that's how I moved your spell Miss."

"Tyler, what are you doing with your eyes right now?" Benthamy asked. "why do you keep looking around?"

"Planning"

"planning what?"

"everything." He said eyes focusing, "before you appeared today I had two options, struggle and join one of the many gangs running the city, living comfortable using my skills to remain untouched, and die a kingpin. Or struggle, keeping my nose clean until I turn 18, take the GED test, and run off to the military, work my way up the ranks, until I achieve the most comfortable one and retire to live out my days." He continued "The later was the most preferable, an orphan with no family or criminal record would be a god send for them."

"So, what did we change?"

"everything" Said Fontaine.

"When you two appeared, I learned that there are others like me, that there's a whole world of people like me." He turned back to the children. "I'm guessing the world has multiple schools, animal reservations, multiple government agencies, all holding secrets. Deep secrets." He said quietly, "secrets that can help those who are too weak to help themselves." He turned back towards them. "I want theses secrets."

Both witches where stunned, both by his deductions and feeling of his power seeping off his person, something dark.

"I don't know, nor do I understand the reason for this separation between the two worlds, but I do know it's wrong." He said turning back to the kids. "when those with strength keep their powers for their own, when they use their powers against those who are unable to defend themselves, they put themselves above of it all. I will bring these worlds together. I will humble those is power. I will empower those who are oppressed. I can make the world a better place."

"Tyler?"
"I WILL make the world a better place." He declared to the two witches, before lowering his voice.

"for her."