The savage Life Keeperoliver Chapter 4
Harry had been brought up knowing love of Family, Friends, and of his fellow man. At five years old, Doc asked him to take a creed. One that Doc had taken when he was a young man. One that he has lived by and tried very hard to keep. It has not always worked the way he wanted it to, but, for the most part, he abides by it. Harry stood with doc, that day and made the pledge.
{ Let me strive every moment of my life, to make myself better, to the best of my ability, that all may profit by it. Let me think of the right, and lend all my assistance to those who need it, with no regard for anything but justice. Let me take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage. Let me be considerate of my country, of my fellow citizens, and my associates in every thing I say, and do. Let me do right to all, and wrong no man.}
Harry took those words to heart, and strived to live by them. If Doc could do it, and he has taught me to be like him, then he could live by this oath.
At six years old, Harry was already a giant among men. He stood at 5' 5" and weighed 180 lbs. He was trained in seven different fighting styles, had a black belt in all, and in two, he was considered a master. He trained with the Army Rangers, and the Navy Seals. He was a sharpshooter, with weapons. He was a medal winning fencer. His IQ was 180, and his memory was photographic. He cut his hair short, like Doc's, mainly because, when it was long, it was quite unruly. The scar on his forehead never went away. Pat had tried cosmetics, to hide it, but, Harry would immediately go wash it off, as it felt stiff on his skin.
Lily, James, Sirius and Remus had trained him with magic. Doc asked James to talk to the President of the American Federation of Wizards, to allow this to happen. James was surprised when the President took the request, and without looking at it, signed it. He asked James to pass on his greetings to Doc.
Since James had returned, he and Lily became closer than they were before the incident. He had realised that life was too short, and fragile, to ignore the obvious. It was obvious he was in love with his wife and son. In fact, he considered all in this group, family. He owed more than his life to Doc Savage. He owed him his soul. He had become vast friends with Monk and Ham. Patricia was like the sister he never had.
Doc asked the group to join him for a glass of lemonade, as he had something he wished to discuss. They all found a seat, with Lily settleing in on James' lap. Harry sat next to his father, and between Moony. Sirius sat next to Pat, as he and Pat had become quite close. Monk and Ham flanked Doc on the other couch.
"I have been approached by the AMA, to speak at a seminar for Laser Surgery. It is being held here, in the World Trade Center, and will be attended by surgeons from around the world. It will include Dental surgery as well. Harry, I have been asked by one of the surgeons from England, a Daniel Granger, to see if you could escort his daughter, Hermione, on a tour of New York City. I made no promises, as this is strictly up to you, but, he said if you would, then he would like to return the favor, and have us visit London, and he will allow Hermione to give you a tour. I wasn't planning on going back to England until you were nine, but, you have excelled beyond my expectations, in all fields presented to you. I now feel it is time for you to train under Albus Dumbledore. I know this is not your normal routine, but, if you do this, it will speed things up, and get you trained properly."
"Doc, I would have done this, if you just asked, without the promises. I think diplomacy is the best solution to any problem, and if Hermione doesn't mind being escorted by me, then I shall consider this an act of diplomacy on my part. Besides, it will give me a chance to maybe learn something of the Brits. I do hope that she is not a air head."
"Harry. be nice. You haven't even met her, and already you start making character assumptions. She may be a very pleasant girl."
"You're right mom. I should hold my tongue until I have met, Hermione." He turned to Remus and whispered, "My luck, all she can talk about is which fashion stores she wishes to got to next."
Moony chuckled, "Or which shoe store, or, heaven forbid, which fast food chain."
"Oh, I hope not McD's. I can't take all that fat. Being from England, I hope she likes fish."
TSL-}
Doc and the group entered TWTC, and followed the marquees leading to the conference. They found the room designated for it, and upon entering, he was beset by a man in his late twentys to early thirties. "I hope you are Clark Savage, as I have been embarrassed too many times this morning? My name is Dan Granger."
"Hello Mr. Granger, and this time you are correct, I am Clark. These are my associates, and family. My cousin Patricia, Monk, Ham, Lily, James, Remus, Sirius, and this is Harry."
Dan almost fell over. He was expecting a boy of 6, not 15. "I'm sorry Clark, I thought young Harry was only six. He is much too old for Hermione. She is only six."
Doc smiled at Dan, "Harry is only six, Dan. He's just big for his age."
"Mr. Savage, Harry is big for a person twice his age. Harry, if I may ask, How tall are you?"
"Not a problem sir, I am 5' 5". I weigh 180 lbs. Just thought I would throw that in."
"What do they feed you here in the States, that makes you grow so tall? Please let me take you over, and introduce you to my family."
They followed Dan a short distance, Harry saw a a woman and a girl, both with brown hair. The mother had short hair, while the daughter had long wild hair. All he could think of is wet finger in socket. When he was introduced to the two, Emma looked at Dan, and Dan just gave her a look of tell you later. Hermione just stared at the young man who was to be her escort. Being just six years old, she shouldn't have the thoughts she was having. Hey eyes were as big around as half dollars, and her jaw dropped.
Harry looked to Dan, "Sir, if you don't mind, we will take our leave. Hermione, would you like to accompany me on a tour of our fair city?" He held out his hand to her.
Hermione blushed at his manners. She wasn't used to this kind of treatment. When Harry got her outside, she was in shock once again, as Harry took her to a huge Limo. He opened the door for her, and followed her in. The tour followed the route taken for the Macy Christmas parade. Hermione would be hurting in the morning, if she continued to crane her neck like she was doing. Harry was surprised by her questions, as they were quite intelligent. In fact, everything about her was intelligent. He felt upset with him self, for even thinking oh her as being an airhead. Hermione Granger was a challenge for Harry himself. Instead of the mall, she wanted to go to the Library. In stead of shoe stores, she wanted to visit Juliards. The day went by so fast, and he had such a good time, Harry asked Hermione How long her and her parents were going to be in town.
Harry brought her back to the WTC, and they joined her parents, and Harry's family. Moony looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow, and Harry gave him a thumbs up. Remus laughed. Doc soon joined them, and offered to take them all out to dinner. At first Dan said no, but, Hermione tugged on his coat tail, nodding her head. Dan looked up to Jean, and she was also nodding. "Looks like I have been out voted."
Doc took them to a very posh restaurant, specializing in French Cuisine. Harry asked if he could order for Hermione, and she agreed. Harry ordered one order of Chateau Briand, and two plates. Hermione looked at him like, thats not natural. She realised why he did this, when the food arrived. It was a full seven course meal. Harry split every thing when it arrived. Hermione was thankful for Harry's order. She was stuffed by the time they were finished. "Thank you Harry. If you hadn't ordered, I would have to call for a take out bag.."
"I have eaten here before, and knew what to expect. If I had known that Doc...ooops."
Dan spit the drink he was taking back in his glass. "DOC SAVAGE. You have got to be kidding me right. The Doc Savage."
Doc looked over to Harry. "Sorry."
"Yes Dan, the Doc Savage, I'm sorry if I mislead you, but people tend to go beserk when my name is mentioned."
"Ya, I guess I did go a little overboard."
"Actually, you acted quite reserved, compared to others I have met. My wardrobe takes a beating whenever I am found out in public. That is why I chose to eat here. People are used to it, and because people get a chance to see me, I and my guests get to eat free. It's sort of like free advertising for the owner."
"You must be good friends of the owner then?" Asked Jean.
"Well, I guess you could put it that way. You see, Jean, I am the owner."
Jean just blinked, while Hermione and Dan just laughed.
They left the establishment, and Doc took the Grangers back to their Hotel, promising to pick them up in the morning.
The Grangers stayed for a week, and Harry and Hermione had become very good friends. He brought her back to Doc's suite, and showed her around. Hemione drooled over the books in Doc's library, mostly written by Doc. There wasn't a part of the suite that didn't get her excited. The lab, the communications room, every thing.
Once the week was over, Doc promised to meet them in one week, for their return to England.
It was the longest week of Harry's life. He wanted to get to England, and resume his friendship with Hermione. Harry didn't meet many people his age, and thrived in her companionship.
TSL-}
Upon their return, Doc and his group, once again set up their quartres in the Regency Hotel. Doc called Dan, and set up a meeting for this weekend, but, asked if Hermione could spend some time with Harry. It was agreed, and the next morning, Dan and Jean dropped her off at the entrance to the Hotel. Harry met her, and took her up to their suite.
They enjoyed their time together, and it did not go unnoticed by Doc. He decided to try something. "Hermione, have you ever tested you Intelligence quotient? I would like to test you for it, if you haven't."
Hermione shook her head no, but, if it had to do with a test, she would enjoy it. Doc took out several briefcases, and set up different areas for different types of tests. He and Hermione were at it for two hours, and he told her to go join Harry in the living room, and he would total her scores.
Hermione found Harry sitting in a lotus position, with his eyes closed. She thought he was sleeping, when in fact, he was throwing out groups of numbers, mutiplying, dividing, squaring, adding and finding their square roots. It was to strengthen his mind. He did this every day for two hours. He was still like this, when Doc came out. Rather than disturb Harry, he waved her over, and they went to her bedroom. He left the door open, though. "Hermione, You are an amzing young lady. The test you took, put you at a ninth grade level. This means, that you would fit in well with high school students. I wouldn't do that to you, as you would not be looked at as normal. When I said you would fit in, I meant academically. However for you to know this, is enough for you to feel proud. At six years old, you can do the work of a student who is fourteen. Now, I have to talk to your Mother and Father, as I have a program I wish to enroll you in, which would keep you from attending school, and train here with Harry."
Hermione jumped up and hugged Doc, "Do you really mean it, Doc? I would be able to train like Harry does? Oh, I hope mom and dad say it's ok?"
"Well, right now, it will just be school work, until I find out something. You interest me, Hermione. You are not your average youngster. I feel there is more to you than meets the eye.. As a matter of fact, come with me, I want you to talk to Lily, if you don't mind?"
Doc led her to the other side of the living room to the Potter's suite, where he found Lily and James talking. "Lily, can I speak to you for a minute?"
"Sure Doc, in private?"
"Oh no, here is fine, I just didn't want to disturb you and James."
"Well come on in. Oh, Hi Hermione, I didn't know you were there. Come in and find a place to sit."
Doc brought in a couple of chairs from the room next door. "Lily, I would like you to perform a test on Hermione for me if you would. I believe she has the arcane in her."
Lily raised her eyes at this. This was how Doc talked to her about magic, when they were around people not in the know. Lily pulled out her wand and asked Hermione to bring her chair closer. She handed Hermione her wand, and asked her to grip it by the base, think about wanting to read something in the dark, and say, "LUMOS."
Hermione thought about what Lily said, thinking about reading a book, when there really wasn't enough light. She held the wand tight, but. was corrected by Lily, "Loosen your grip sweetheart, you don't want to break my wand."
Hermione blushed at this, and loosened her grip. Thought once again about the light, and said, "LUMOS."
The tip of Lily's wand turned bright white, spreading a soft glow through out the room. Hermione gasped at this, and dropped the wand, thinkiing it was on fire or something. The light immediately went out. Lily clapped her hands togehter. "She is Doc."
"I'm what? What did I do, Lily? I'm sorry if I broke your stick."
"No, no, Sweetheart. you are fine, you didn't break my stick. Well, it's not really a stick, It's a wand. Now, don't take this the wrong way, but, have you ever done something, mostly when you are upset, that you can't explain?"
"Like what?"
"Well, like move something, or knock it over. Change the color of something."
Hermione gasped. "How did you know? My mother got me a horrid pink sweater, that I just loathed. The next morning, it was green, my favorite color. Then there was this time I wanted a cookie, but I couldn't reach the cookie jar. I wanted it so bad, the jar just appeared in my hands. I was like three years old. But how did you know this?"
"Hermione, don't be afraid, it is common place for children with magic to do uncontrolled magic, although, it sounds like you are just like Harry. He was able to control his magic, when he was 15 months old."
"What do mean magic? Like the magic they show on TV?" Hermione asked?
"No, sweetheart, that's stage magic. You have real magic, let me show you. Doc, can you try what Hermione just tried with my wand, please?"
Doc took the wand, and thought about light, "LUMOS." Nothing happened.
"Now Hermione, try it again, but, this time, don't think about the light, just say the word.
Hermione took the wand again, and said "LUMOS." and once again the wand glowed, Hermione brought the tip of the wand up to her face and looked at the light. She saw no bulb, or anything out of the ordinary, just the wood of the wand. "How do you turn this thing off, without dropping it?"
"Just say NOX."
"NOX." and the light went out. "That's so cool. Can it do anything else?"
Lily and James laughed. "For now, that's enough. You will learn a lot more, when you go into training, as I assume that is what Doc is intending."
"That it is Lily, starting tomorrow with a visit to our old friend Albus."
TSL-}
Hermione and Harry had never seen such a place as Hogwarts. They had both seen castles, but not as big as Hogwarts. They arrived at the gate, and as soon as they got there, Hagrid was there to meet them. "Why if it isn't Doc Savage ere to pay us a visit. How ya been Doc. Hello Li...James. Is that you?"
James laughed. "Yes Hagrid, it's me. How have you been you old dog?"
"But, yer dead. Saw so meself, I did. Be you a ghost or sumtin."
"Hagrid, I'm as real as you are. I will talk to you later about it. Right now we wish to see Albus about Harry and Young Hermione."
"Thas right, Harry, where is the little bugger."
"I'm right here sir."
Hagrid looked at the young man in front of him. "Thas not Harry. Harry is only what, six years old?"
"I'll be six in two days. Why do you ask sir?"
"Harry, your almost as big as your dad. It ain't natural."
"Hagrid," Lily said, "Can we talk about this on the way up to the castle."
"Sure Lily, Hey did you know Molly and Arthur finally had the little girl they wanted? Yup, as a matter of fact, she will be celebraten her fifth bithday in a couple of weeks. You should drop in and pay her a visit."
"Thank you Hagrid, we just might do that. What day is her birthday?"
"Eleven August."
The reached the castle, and Hagrid waved goodbye to them. They reached the Gargoyle guarding the Headmasters office. Lily approached it and started calling out sweets, when the gargoyle moved. There at the top of the steps was Albus Dumbledore. He waved them up.
He had them sit when they entered. "Now to what do I owe this pleasure, Doc, and is that James I see sitting with Lily?"
"Yes Albus, it's me. In the Flesh."
"It's good to know your formula works, then Doc."
"Thank you Albus. But we are here for a different matter. We are wondering if you are ready to start training Harry?"
"He's still a little young isn't he? Six I fear, is not old enough for him to grasp the knowledge I am ready to pass on to him. Now this young man looks like he could be trained. What are you son, twelve or thirteen."
"I will be six in two days sir, I'm Harry."
For the first that they can remember, James Lily, Sirius, and Remus saw a look of astonishment on the face of the Headmaster. Siruis and Remus broke out laughing.
"You are Harry Potter? But you are too big to be the Harry Potter that I remember?"
"Sorry to disappoint you sir, but that's me."
They talked about Harry and how he got so big, and then they talked about Hermione. Albus agreed to train Harry, but was hesitant about Hermione, until Doc showed Albus his findings in her test. Albus read the results, and looked over the top of his glasses at her. He pulled a wand out of his desk and Handed it to her. She immediately said "LUMOS." and the wand lit up, even brighter than it did for Lily's wand.
"Is that all you can do, Hermione?" Albus asked her?
Hermione looked around, and pointed her wand at an object that laid on the shelf of the wall. It came right to her.
"Wordless." Lily said, with shock.
"Bring them by on Harry's birthday, and I will start training them. Are there any questions?"
Before Albus could excuse them, there was a knock on the door, Albus told who ever it was to enter, and in walked Severus Snape.
Severus walked in, and almost fainted when he saw two people he thought dead. "Lily, Potter, I thought you were both dead?"
"Sorry to ruin your day Sev, but nope, we are both alive and kicking." James replied. "Now, if you will excuse us, we have to be going."
"Lily, could I have a word with you in private, please?" Severus asked?
"James, I will meet you at the entry to the stairs. I won't be long." And she kissed James to let both of the men know how she felt. James smiled, while Severus remained impassive.
Severus turned to lily, "Lily, I just want to say I'm sorry for those words so many years ago. I was upset, but, I shouldn't have used you for my anger. I have regretted it since the moment I said it. I don't know if we would have become more than friends, but, now I guess I will never know. I so, however, wish to be friends, if you will have me back. I don't know what magic was used to bring you back, but, I will never make that same mistake again."
"You know Severus, I believe you. But you have to know, that I love James and Harry very much. For us to be friends you have to accept us all, including Remus and Sirius."
"Not the mutt Lily, I can put up with the wolf, but the mutt?"
"Sorry Severus, but, we come as a package. Take it or leave it."
"It may take a while, but, to regain your trust, I will try."
"Thank you Severus, that's all I can ask." And she kissed him on the cheek. She did not see the tear that fell from Severus' chin, after she kissed him.
TSL-}
The little girl was sitting on her seat in front of the kitchen table. It was her second favorite day of the year. The first being Christmas. Her dad made it a point to be off for all his children's birthdays and his anniversary. She waited for her slowpoke brothers to get down here, so she could get started with her birthday breakfast. All birthdays were started this way. It was ten O'clock. They should be up by now. Ginny was starting to get angry, when there was a knock on the door. Oh bother, who could be calling on this of all days. Her day. She got up to answer the door, when Molly pushed her back, and drew her wand. She opened the door, and near fainted. Lily and James Potter, were standing there. "Good morning Molly, may we come in?"
"If you answer this question, What is Arthur's nickname for me?"
"Excellent, Molly, you still don't trust anyone. Very good, Mollywabbles."
Molly threw her arms around Lily. "We thought you were dead, and you too James. Oh dear me, let me look at you. Just like I remember you. Oh, what am I doing, please come in."
Lily and James were followed by two more, one a small child about Ginnys age, and the other about Charlie's age. "Who have you got with you Lily?"
Ginny was looking at Harry with dreamy eyes. She couldn't believe a boy could look so dashing. Being five, she had dreams of her Prince Charming, but, this looked even better than her dreams. Why do they have to be so old? Hopefully, Harry Potter will look this good, when he grows up. Every one knew that her fondest wish was to be Mrs. Harry Potter some day.
"Oh, forgive me Molly, how silly of me, Let me introduce you. This young lady, is Hermione Granger. She is a friend of Harry's. Which brings me to this young man. Molly, this is my son, Harry."
Ginny started to cry, and ran up to her room