Before Hogwarts

School

School started the next week and Harry noticed that Dudley and crew didn't pester him as much. Vernon's attitude didn't change and he was still treating Harry the same as always, mostly. But Petunia's attitude did show some change, slowly; she always had a snack ready for both boys after school, where last year only Dudley got one. Also, Harry had a decent breakfast before going to school now, and supper was much better - even if Vernon still gripped about feeding "the freak" decent food. Harry had not gone back to visit Rick until after the third week of school, and Rick explained that Harry needed to get into his school habits for the time being.

The first time Harry went to stay with Rick and Lucy they both asked about his school work and offered to explain anything Harry was having problems understanding. Only after schoolwork was dealt with would they instruct him in magical subjects. when Harry asked about this they explained that he needed a good basic education to be a well rounded person, and that the more he knew about the world in general the better off he would be in the future. Both adults stressed math, language skills, penmanship (strongly), and science as these related to both the mundane and the magical worlds (Rick and Lucy preferred the American reference to non-magical persons).

As far as magical education went it was physical fitness and defense, manners and procedures, potions, and then spell work and wand techniques. Harry was introduced to more of the martial arts as a way of becoming fit and being able to defend himself in the world he lived in. Some of the manners carried over to the mundane world as well. But potions, spell, and wand work well only useful in the magical world for the time being. Harry enjoyed the martial arts, potions, and spell and wand work more than the lessons in manners, and he really disliked the penmanship drills Lucy had him doing with pencil/pen and paper, and quill and parchment. But his teachers at school were starting to notice the improvement and complementing him on his penmanship.

On the weekends he went to stay at Rick's a routine developed in that on Fridays either Rick or Lucy were waiting for him when he got home, usually Lucy. They would leave Privet Dr. and go to Rick's house, sometimes they used a car and sometimes they just "popped" away. After arriving one or the other would help Harry with his homework or explain anything Harry was having trouble with. The next day would start with physical fitness and martial arts, then breakfast, then two to three hours of basic education, then a 30 minute break and then start on some of the magical training until lunch. After lunch it was back to magical training, usually potions as that took the most time. After another break and a snack, it was either spell or wand work until supper. After supper it was time to relax, watch a movie, read for pleasure, play games, or maybe go out for a movie.

Harry was surprised when he went to visit Rick the last weekend in November, they didn't follow the usual routine. Rick explained that in the US it was a holiday called Thanksgiving and as it was a national holiday nobody worked, except emergency services and such that never closed. So it was to be weekend of fun with very little work. It fact, the only real work Harry would have to do was his school work, and learn how to fly a broom. When Rick told Harry this he needed sunglasses since Harry's smile was so bright. Friday night was spent doing all of Harry's schoolwork to get it out of the way. Saturday started out the same as usual with physical training and Ti Chi. After breakfast it was time to go outside and learn how to use a broom. Rick had Harry stand by a broom, hold his right hand out and say "UP" with authority. The broom jumped to Harry's hand instantly, Rick and Lucy were both amazed as neither of them had had that happen to them when they learned about brooms. Rick showed Harry how to mount and sit his broom so it would hover. Harry had no problem with this and when Rick told him to kick off Harry's broom took to the sky with Rick and Lucy right behind him scared he would panic and fall off. Both were surprised when Harry acted as if he had been flying for years and showed no signs of panic or fear. "It has to be his father's genes", Rick was heard to say several times that weekend. Lucy took several calming potions that weekend.

Christmas was not like any other Christmas Harry could remember, he got presents! And he was to stay with Rick for two weeks since school was out. One thing that happened was that Rick and Lucy took Harry to America and took him shopping for his very first personal wand that was a match for him and not just one he could use. Harry ended up with a wand made of Redwood with a core of Unicorn hair and an Eagle feather, a very unusual dual core wand. The wand maker suggested that Harry might benefit from a staff, when he got older and more settled with his magic, as he seemed to have a very strong magical core judging by the core items that reacted to him, those two in his wand were just the strongest that reacted at this time. Lucy got Harry his first potion kit, junior level of course. And Harry was introduced to Disney World at Orlando, both the mundane and the magical side.

While they were in the US Rick took Harry to a magical ophthalmologist and had Harry examined and fitted for contacts, he was also given several potions to correct and strengthen his vision so that maybe he wouldn't have to wear glasses or contacts for much longer. They would have to order refills from the US as the doctor wasn't sure that the potions were available in England. Part of Harry's vision was genetic, but part seemed to be caused by trauma. This information, the trauma, was not taken well by Rick or Lucy as they suspected Vernon mostly. This lead to a full medical exam by a pediatric healer and more trauma related injuries were found, but most were semi-easy to correct and the healer said that the potions Lucy had been using were the correct, he just wanted add another to be taken for the next month. The only problem they had was when the healer checked Harry's magic and saw the high value, in fact he repeated the tests three times before he would believe the results. Like Lucy he predicted that Harry would be a very powerful wizard; Harry's score had risen to a 55, more than twice what was normal for his age and development.

They took Harry to his first Quidditch match, which he enjoyed very much. After the match Harry got to meet some of the players and even got invited to come to a practice session, Rick and Lucy couldn't resist Harry's "puppy dog eyes" so Harry got to go to the practice. After the practice one of the players asked Harry if he knew how to fly and offered to give him some tips when Harry said he loved to fly. Unfortunately the player was the keeper and he soon realized that Harry needed to be helped by the team seeker. When the seeker, who was arrogant and pompous, saw Harry fly he didn't believe Harry was only 7 1/2 years old and spent three hours showing Harry different seeker moves and techniques, much to Lucy's distress as Harry was doing stunts that even Rick wouldn't think of trying on a broom. It seemed that the coach was watching, as were the rest of the team, and Harry ended up playing his first practice game and caught the snitch! The coach said that if Harry wanted to play for him when he got older just come on by and he had a place on any team the coach had.

By the time the trio returned to the London area, Harry was ready to move to America and live just so he could fly and use magic more. It was with a sad day when Harry returned to Privet Dr. as he had to do without being able to fly or use magic except for the weekends at Rick's. Harry had even brought Dudley back a souvenir from America, a new video game that was all the rage there called Zelda. Harry brought Petunia a few potted plants that he thought she would enjoy. For Vernon, Harry - with Rick's help - bought several new ties. The Dursleys had not gotten Harry anything since he had been living with them, Petunia felt very bad after getting the plants from Harry. Dudley even asked Harry how to play his game and for tips.

Now it was time to go back to school and Harry was looking forward to it as he intended to tell his class about his trip to the US, leaving out the magic part of course. Rick and Lucy had taken plenty of pictures, both mundane and magical, so Harry had proof to show his classmates. Harry was one of the most popular students in his age group for a week or two. Harry's teachers were happy to see Harry's grades were at the top of the year, in fact he was performing at an advanced level and was ahead of the rest of the class. Harry's school reports were such that Vernon got mad because Harry was out performing Dudley both academically and in deportment. It took another visit from Rick to settle Vernon down, or was it because Vernon was transfigured into a walrus for a few hours to get his attention.

Easter was the next major holiday and Harry had a ball, he spent ever chance he had flying. Rick and Lucy were proud of Harry's grades and the fact he was doing so well in his magical studies also. Harry was performing just about all of the first year spells, some were more difficult for him just because he was so young but he could do most of them. His potion skills were on par for a first year student and he had even attempted a few second year potions, with close supervision by Lucy.

School was out and Harry had received an award due to his scores on the end of year tests, he was first in his year! There was only one other student in the system citywide that beat him, a girl in London named Hermione Granger. Harry was looking forward to his summer with Rick. It was the week after school let out before he went to Rick's, but Petunia asked that he come back for an hour or two on his birthday and to bring Lucy. It seems that Petunia and Lucy had developed a friendship, even if Vernon didn't know about it.

Sorry this was so short, but it did cover quiet a lot of ground and time. As Harry gets older there will be excitement and adventures, maybe even a few more problems for someone named Vernon. Comments and suggestions are welcome and encouraged, so click the green button and tell me what you think.