A/N: Hey everyone! I had a couple questions after the last chapter and they will all be answered in time because I hate when loose ends are left in a story. Harry took his first big step in establishing himself last chapter and I'm excited to share his journey with you all. Now, onto the next chapter.
Disclaimer: No, I do not own these intellectual properties…yet…
Chapter 6: An Unforeseen Circumstance
The door slammed behind Harry as he strode out of the house onto the sidewalk. As he made his way down the street towards his safe place: a small pond surrounded by trees about a half mile from the Dursley's house. As he walked, the adrenaline from his confrontation with Vernon began to fade, and with it a sense of fatigue swept through his body instead. Harry's eyelids fluttered as he walked, and he stumbled, just managing to keep his footing.
'What happened to me?' Harry wondered.
'You just unknowingly performed a rather intense fearcrafting so it is natural that you would feel tired,' Alera provided.
Harry had a puzzled look on his face, 'Fearcrafting?'
'Fearcrafting is a subset of firecrafting that allows a crafter to manipulate a target's emotions and the one you placed on your uncle was quite powerful, considering how young you are.' Alera answered, 'Oftentimes, Aleran politicians were skilled firecrafters as well, for when you must stir the people's hearts to action it helps to have a little magical assistance.'
As Harry thought about what Alera told him, he began to understand the enormity of the gift that he had. Furycraft didn't just affect the elements around him, it affected the people as well. It was an art that, if mastered, could offer him untold power and he thought of the different things he could achieve. As he thought of all the heroic things he could do to help people he pondered the affect that he had just had on the Dursleys. He thought of the abject fear and horror on their faces and his eyes widened as he realized just how easy it would be to turn his gift towards more…nefarious purposes.
'I see you have started to realize the affect your gift could have on the world,' Alera spoke softly, 'You could easily become a tyrant; crushing your people beneath your feet, as you could a wise, benevolent and just ruler. One thing you must understand in furycrafting, young one, is that every single action you take has an effect. Like ripples in a pond, your choices may be far-reaching, or they may only affect you, but you must be aware of the consequences of your actions. If there is but one lesson you learn from me, young one, let that be it.'
Harry nodded, a serious look on his face as he pondered what Alera had told him.
'Excellent,' Alera said, 'Now, you should make your way to the pond, so you can rest. When you have the energy, we will continue with your training in watercraft, it will aid you immensely going forward.'
Harry nodded again, feeling emotionally and physically spent as he trudged on towards his pond.
(1 week later)
As Harry made his way back into the house, he reflected on everything that he had learned over the past few weeks. His earthcrafting abilities had grown, learning how to use his crafting to track and hunt, as well as calm some of the more…excitable animals in the neighborhood. He also spent more time with his earth fury; Tellus, whom Harry had named after the Roman term for Mother Earth.
'Many furycrafters in the outlying areas of Alera named their furies,' Alera said when Harry asked about names, 'It was a practice that most in the more, shall we say, civilized areas of the country scoffed at. However, gifting furies with names has shown to instill something of a personality after a while and some of those crafters were exceptionally powerful. I believe that creating such a bond with your furies can only benefit you in the future,'
In addition to theoretical furycrafting knowledge, Alera began to teach Harry the basics of water, wood and, what was quickly becoming his most interesting subject, metalcrafting.
'Internal metalcrafting allows a crafter to manipulate the iron in their body to reduce pain and fatigue as well as dull emotions you may be feeling. I advise you to do so cautiously, as pain is there to tell your body that there is a problem and emotions are a necessary part of being human,'
Harry pondered Alera's thoughts on metalcrafting as he continued to walk through the house. He almost missed Vernon's coughing to get his attention,
"Boy," Harry leveled an unamused glance in his direction and Vernon shivered, "Umm…Harry, I mean. There's an envelope on the table for you that was brought in the post this morning."
Harry looked at the large manila envelope on the table and nodded at Vernon,
"I see, thank you."
Vernon let out a noticeable sigh of relief as it seemed he avoided his nephew's wrath and returned to watching the television. Harry picked up the envelope and made his way to the room he had managed to get the Dursleys to organize for him. He took a look at the envelope that said:
Mr. Harry Potter
The Smallest Bedroom
#4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging, Surrey
Harry's brow creased at the line about the smallest bedroom, concerned about that specific piece of information. He turned over the envelope and noticed the wax seal on the back with a badger, snake, eagle and a lion all wrapped around a stylized "H". Harry broke the seal, opened the envelope and began to read the letter inside. As he read, his eyes became wide as the words on the page registered in his head:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. A school representative will be sent to assist you on 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry could barely believe the words on the page in front of him, if it wasn't for the fact that he had effectively been using magic himself the past month he would have dismissed the whole thing as a practical joke. Harry heard a tone in Alera's voice that he had never heard before; confusion.
'Well,' Alera said, 'This was certainly unforeseen,'
Harry snorted and replied, 'You can certainly say that again,'
A/N: So, Harry finally has his Hogwarts letter! What will happen next? Will he even go? Check out the next chapter and as always, please read and review. Thank you all!
~Uzumaki200