A/N: This is quickly becoming a ritual for me. The beginning A/N I mean. Well I decided to through outanother chapter to you all because of all the great reviews I received. I know I said that I don't require reveiws but it is still fun reading them. I am also surprised that no one has tested me on the no flaming thing. I had one come a little close buy not near what I have read for some authors. Another thing...everyone does realize what you have done. I mean I get the most feedback and reviews for one of my shortest chapters. Hum, that is interesting. No don't worry, so far the rest of the chapters I have written are around 5K-10K words except on which is one of those inbetween chapters that are so short. I also want to apologize in advance for the crumy work that will be appearing on chapters 20 and 21. This is where I am bogging down and I can't get anything to work for me. So just a warning that those two will seem choppy and substandard, even for my not so great spelling and grammer work. Still I am hoping that after I finish those two I can get into differant areas and liven it up a bit more.
Another thing that I can't hold in any more. After reading HBP the day it came out like so many of us out there (personally I blameHBP for my writers block) I was left feeling stragely disappointed. I mean Harry is just a average, and in many cases sub-par, wizard in knowledge and skills still. I mean who in the world that finds out that they are going to have to beat a super evil and powerful opponent would be stupid enough to just sit around and do nothing to get better. Oh lets list the disappointments. No Occlumency: It is obvious that is what Snape is talking about at the end when Harry is trying to curse the hell out of him. He panics in desperate situations: when the inferi were dragging him into the lake... du, Dumbledore already told him how to get rid of them, FIRE. In no other book did Harry panic like he did in this one. No motivation: The entire book Harry knows that Draco and Snape are up to something but he doesn't do anything. He just waits to catch them at it. He should have just cursed the two to hell as soon as he figured it out. Hell even in the middle of class rip the sleeves of the two and show the school they are deatheater and have the ministry arrest them. How hard would that have been? Another thing was how the entire book was written as a prequel to book seven unlike all the others. ARG...just left me disappointed and I know that book seven is going to be Harry stumbling all over himself finding the Horcruxs and really learning nothing important then he will face Voldie and somehow connect with him and pure his love for everything he has felt before into him. Knowing that something cheezy like that will happens really get to me. Come one the prophesy says they will be equals. I know that it is a self fulfilling but how in the hell could Harry become equal to Voldie in a year with how J.K. writes. I am under no delusions that something like I have dreamt up will happen. Anyway enough of the rant and happy reading.
Chapter 11
Harry had found Paris to be better than he could have thought. After arriving he found a secluded alley and enlarged his chopper. He had received many an appreciative stare from female and male alike as he cruised through the city in his tight dark brown leather pants and light linen shirt. Complete with a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses he had picked up while in Florida and silver tipped hair. So it was that Harry toured the streets his first day in the new city. He had managed to find a nice four star hotel to stay in while he was there.
The next week was spent touring the city and searching for the Delacour residence. He had received a few curious glances as to his questioning but had not managed to convince anyone to show him to the house. In the mean time he was enjoying himself. The mornings were spent seeing the sites the city offered. The museums were rich with marvelous paintings and sculptures. He had even managed to get into a debate with some wanna be artist who thought a toilet seat with yellow colored water consisted of art. Harry's argument was that the man was just a plain idiot who should be lock away because his sanity had surely left. As the crowd gathered listening to the heated debate they all laughed as Harry managed to put the eccentric 'artist' in his place. He walked away to a round of applause after reciting a list of real art work from the famous renaissance work from Leonardo De Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti as well as Picasso. The self proclaimed artist skulked away clearly defeated. It had however seemed to have broken the ice with the city folk and Harry spent his nights touring the night club district with one of his new acquaintances.
So his first week was spent with tours in the morning, reading and studying in the afternoon then out clubbing until the early hours of the next morning. Over all Harry was having a blast. Still he kept asking if anyone knew his 'old friend' Fleur Delacour.
The morning of the sixth day found Harry sitting in front of a small café he had found the day prior. He had taken a liking to the owner who was a middle aged man with a cheery disposition. As he was finishing his breakfast he was toying with the last few lines to a song he had started writing a few days before. After a bad night spent thinking about Sirius. As he finished up the song he thought about what Silver had told him about maybe having a talent for instruments.
So after a quick good bye, Harry set off to a music store he had seen during his touring across town. After a ride on his chopper, he walked into the store. The inside was filled with all sorts of instruments. One entire wall was dedicated to guitars. The whole center to piano's, keyboards and drums. Microphones and sound boards had a corner. Another wall was filled with sheet music and books. Another wall had tuning equipment. He was just amazed by the sheer volume of merchandise in the store.
He quickly asked the man behind the till if it was alright to try out the equipment. He smiled and led Harry over to an area set up with amps and cords. He quickly explained what each was used for and told Harry to feel free to test anything in the store. He first looked through the drums but decided that those weren't for him. The keyboards felt alright and he was even able to play some on it by ear. He next ventured over to look at the wind instruments, but quickly decided against those because he couldn't sing as he played them. Finally he made his way over to the guitars. The same man must have finished with his business or wanted to make a sale because he came over and showed him the different types and what they were used for.
Harry had fun trying out a bass but it still didn't give him the sound that he wanted. The acoustics sounded and felt right but he wasn't able to get that real metal sound out of them. Finally he told the guy what type of music he liked and how to get a sound like that. The man led him over to the other side of the wall to the electric guitars. There had to be hundreds of different designs. One though stood out to him. It was black with marbled silver streaks running through it like lightening. The board was pure black with silver fret bars and mother of pearl inlaid on the board. All the tuning knobs were silver also and on one side of the end of the board. He took it down from it's stand. It was heavier than he thought it would be but the weight was comfortable. He took it over to the demo station and plugged it in and started picking the strings getting a feel for it. It seemed Silver was correct about having an affinity with music being of elfin blood. He could feel where to place his fingers most of the time to get the desired sound. He was so caught up in listening to the music he was creating that he forgot to plug the headphones in. Soon Harry pulled out the scrap paper he had written his song on and started making music for it. He spent nearly two hours in the store until he got it the way he wanted it. And unnoticed to him he had gathered quite a crowd, one being a silver haired girl he had met once before.
He started to hum the song but it felt wrong and started over strumming and picking at the strings as the words flowed from his mouth.
A/N. Thanks to the new rules we can't list lyrics. I would like to state how utterly stupid that is. Anyway if you want to know the song lyrics you can find them www(dot)lyred(dot)com/lyrics/Simple+Plan
Insert Song: Simple Plan - I'll Meet You There
As he sung the man from behind the counter moved behind a set of drums and started playing in with the song. A short time later a girl from the crowd moved behind a keyboard and started playing. The effect was amazing though Harry was too far into his own little world to realize it. People passing by on the street stopped what they were doing to come listen to the music being played. People even lined up on the sidewalk outside the shop to hear better.
The song finally came to a close and Harry drifted out of his daze and for the first time noticed the crowd. He blushed furiously knowing that he had been singing the song to the group. Only he was met with wild applause. That's not what he had expected.
"That was great man!" The sales man came out from behind the drums, clapping him on the back. "You're a natural. And that song. Man I've heard few that can compare."
"You are very good." The young lady said from behind the keyboard. "How long have you been playing?"
Harry grinned sheepishly at them. "Would you believe this is the first time I ever played the guitar?" The statement was met with the entire store staring at him in disbelief. "I've been writing lyrics for a few weeks now to help take my mind of things. This is the first one that I've put to music."
"Well let's do it again. This time we'll accompany you through the whole song then we can write out the music for you." The employee stated.
"Sure if you want to." Harry stated. He smiled when he realized last year he would have been absolutely petrified to do something like this. But the cheer through the crowd spurred him on and the group started playing again.
As the group started the song again the little silver hair girl finally pushed her way to the front where she could see. Her breath caught as she recognized the man singing and playing the guitar. It had been two years since she had seen him last and only then for a short time. And he had changed drastically in that time. But there was no way to mistake that messy black hair, emerald eyes that lit up the room and the scar on his forehead. Harry Potter was in Paris. The girl listened with a new amazement as Harry finished the song and clapped and cheered as the song finished. The little group moved over to a table and started writing things down and the crowd inside the store started to leave. She however stayed and cautiously made her way to her one time savior's side.
"Harry? Is that really you?" She asked timidly.
Harry turned quickly as he heard his name. He stared curiously at the girl in front of him then recognition lit his eyes. "Gabrielle?"
"Oui Mr. Potter. I can't believe you are here in Paris. What are you here for?"
"Please call me Harry." He beamed at the younger part veela. "I'm actually here to try to find you and your family."
"Really?" She asked excitedly. She had been a hug fan of the boys since he had saved her. "I could take you home and introduce you to my mother and father. Fleur is home. She finished her schooling last year and has been searching for something to do."
"Great I look forward to seeing her again."
"Hey Harry was it?" The girl asked. To his nod she continued. "You know I'm part of a band that is going to be playing December tenth, it's a Friday. Are you still going to be around?"
"I hope that I am. I have some business to conduct and if everything goes well then I should. Even if I'm not I could get back for it." He picked up the finished sheep music for his song and stated walking around with the group as the sales guy started picking out everything he would need for his new guitar.
"Well how 'bout I set you up with a few tickets. I'd like my group to meet you." She turned to the girl. "You said you and your sister know him?" She pointed a thumb toward Harry. "Well I'll throw in two more tickets for the both of you. How's that sound?" She spoke in a decidedly American accent. "Here's my cell if you need to get in touch or just want to hang out or something. Names Daphine, use it at the ticket window."
Gabrielle squealed with delight as she gave the girl her's and Fleur's names. "The tickets will be waiting for you at 'will call'. Ya just need to pick them up. Well I'm late. It was nice meeting you." With that she left.
Harry gathered up the contents that had been piled up. The guitar with a hard case, numerous different style picks, two different capos, six packages of strings, a polishing kit, amplifier, sound cords, he even put in a little sound board that he could change with his feet. Finally he got a mixer so he could record any of his own songs and plug other instruments to it if he wanted to. On a whim he decided to get one of the keyboards also. Then with a few different style mics and even more sound cords Harry was set to pay.
Gabrielle nearly fainted after hearing the price but Harry just smiled at the little girl and produced his Gringotts card. After the salesman went to the back Harry discreetly shrunk the items and placed them in his saddle bags of his bike.
"So you want a ride to your house?" Harry asked as the little veela drooled over the chopper.
"Could you? I would love a ride."
"Sure just hop on."
Soon they were on the road with hair whipping in the breeze. Gabrielle gave directions with a beaming smile. She couldn't believe that she was riding down the streets of Paris on a motor bike sitting behind one of the most famous people in the world. The fact that he was drool worthy in his new outfit was only adding to her excitement.
After 45 minutes of driving around Paris the two finally made it to the gate of the Delacour residence. Harry had laughed out loud when he noticed the little girl was having him drive in circles around the city to show off. He even reached around at a stop light to ruffle her hair a little. But he really loved her attitude. She was always happy and he could already tell she had a mischievous steak in her that reminded him so much of Sirius.
The gate man let them pass as he noticed Gabrielle and sent a withering glare toward Harry who only smirked back.
Fleur was sitting in a hammock reading as she heard the loud sounds that could only be made by a powerful American motorcycle. She put the book she was reading down, aggravated that her quiet had been interrupted. She became more upset when she caught a glimpse of her sister's hair on the back of the bike through the hedges lining the drive. Didn't that girl know anything about secrecy. The nerve having a strange man drive her home. Even if he did seem to be good looking. The man could have seen anything. What if she had been practicing magic or one of the families magical creatures showed up. Resigning herself to having to obliviate the man she stomped over to her sister.
"Gabby, just what do you think you are doing?" Scolded Fleur. Then before the little girl could even answer she continued her lecture. Harry had to hold back from laughing as Gabrielle seemed to have resigned herself to blocking out the tirade. "And what if he would have seen something? Eh, what would you have done then?" She finally finished.
"Then it would have been no big deal!" shot back the little veela.
"What if one of our pets wondered into the yard?" Fleur obviously wasn't about to back down now.
"I'm sure he's seen them before. After all they teach about magical creatures at school!"
"He is a wizard?" That seemed to dumbfound the elder veela. She just looked over at the man. He certainly didn't look a wizard. He was tan with tight leather pants. A nice shirt, expensive sunglasses. Styled and dyed wild hair. Then her eyes fell to the faint scare that could barely be seen through the tan. Harry smiled as he watched her try to remember him. "It can't be Harry Potter." Fleur stated in awe. Then she seemed to break out of her shock. "Harry, oh it is wonderful to see you once again. But what are you doing here? William tells me that they are trying to find you back in England."
"It's great to see you again too Fleur." He took off the glasses and walked over to shake her hand. She only slapped the hand away and embraced him. He hugged her back and when they let go he continued. "I just had to get away for a while. Decided not to go to school this year and tour the world. I've had a hell of a time keeping Dumbledore off my trail. The two of us aren't getting along well together at the present."
"I gather. From what I have heard about recent events in your country things are not looking well right now. William keeps me informed of the important things."
"So are you and Bill still keeping with the language lessons?" The smirk implied that he thought language wasn't the only thing being taught during their sessions. To his amazement the veela blushed red and Gabrielle laughed.
"Yes well William did believe that I might want to learn a little more than English. I however did not. Really he is just too old for me. Plus his mother, argh. The woman started planning a wedding after our first lesson."
Harry laughed along with Gabrielle. "Well may you find the one destined for you milady." Harry bowed mockingly to receive a playful swat from both girls. "But really I came to ask you and your family something. Would we be able to speak with your parents?"
"But of course Harry. Just follow little Gabby she will lead you into the sitting room while I retrieve my parents." With that Fleur slipped away and Gabby led him to the sitting area.
"So that about explains what I've been up to and what I need your help with." Harry had spent a hour and a half with John and Florence, who would only answer to Flo. He had told about his escape from Privet Drive with the help of his dead godfather. A brief explanation of Australia, where he said he studied magic for a bit. He told them About Rome and his stay with Markis and Sophia. Then about touring America. He only hinted that he had met a few elves while he was there. Then he told about hiking the mountains of South America. He left out everything that happened there and just stated he wanted to just get away by himself for the time. He even went as far as telling them about going back to see his friends before he arrived in France due to the fact that Fleur probably already knew of the events that happened that night. "Markis told me that I should seek out training from a Veela but wouldn't tell me what your art is."
John was very impressed by this young man. He had of course heard of him since he too was a wizard but only the usual rumors. Then when Fleur participated in the Tri-Wizard Tournament she and Gabby both had come home with stories of a beaten and bloody Harry Potter appearing on the edge of the maze with the body of a fellow teammate. He later heard through channels of the rumored return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and that the boy had dueled the Dark Lord himself and survived. He had passed it off as over exaggeration, but seeing the young man in person now he knew it was true.
Flo immediately took to the boy. His easy attitude, truths of his words and power that seemed to radiate from him. They were all desired traits sought after by all veela but rarely did one find all those characteristics in one man. The only problem she could foresee was his reaction to the Veela charm. He didn't seem to be effected by Gabby or Fleur but to be confined with a full blooded veela, that was another matter entirely.
"I only have one test to see if you are worthy." Stated Flo.
"And that would be?" Harry queried. However instead of answering she merely unleashed the full power of her charm. Harry's mind was assaulted with the charm trying to burrow into him and increase his lust for the woman in front of him. However to the amazement to all those there he merely closed his eyes briefly, reopened them and smirked. "So do I pass?" He asked in amusement.
"The charm does not effect you?" Asked Fleur bewildered.
"Not really. It hasn't after I went to the World Cup before the tournament. It was amusing to watch all the guys in Hogwarts drool all over themselves when you came though. After that year's World Cup though I seem to have built an immunity against it."
"I am willing to train him John. Do you have any reservations?"
"What are your views on Dumbledore?" John asked after a moment of thinking. He hadn't liked the man after he had basically abducted his younger daughter and had her staked to the bottom of a lake. Only afterwards did he apologize for it and assure him that she was in no danger.
"Oh, the great and powerful Dumble-dork. My opinion of him is sorely lacking. I have seen first hand his manipulations. Much of my life has been dictated by them. I think very little of him. Yes he is a powerful wizard, however he will never do what is needed to win his war."
"I think we are going to get along just fine Mr. Potter and I would be happy for you to stay with us." John smiled at the young man and shook his hand. Flo and Fleur beamed at John and Gabby was bouncing with excitement. "It's just a shame you only have a month to spend with us."
"Yes," Flo said shaking her head slightly. "We could learn much in a month depending on you aptitude for the subject and willingness to learn but three to four months would be ideal for what I wish to teach you."
"Mother, are you sure it would be permitted for us to tell our secrets?" Asked Fleur worriedly.
"Of course it will be dear. Just don't bring it up. What others do not know will not hurt them.
Harry watched in only slight confusion. He was able to understand that what ever Flo would be teaching rarely is given those of non-Veela blood. What excited Harry a little was the smirk that John wore. If four or more months were needed then it could be done fairly easily. He, however, didn't want to bring up the subject of the time turner. For one, he had it illegally. Two, by doing what he had previously done and would be doing in the future he was breaking nearly every law governing time travel.
"Yes and though I am no longer in politics I would like to teach you the ins and outs if you will. My guess is that you will need all the political leverage you can grasp when the time comes. I doubt the pompous idiot Fudge will take kindly to you executing a teacher even if he was a deatheater." Added John looking thoughtful.
The revelation gave Harry pause. He had rarely thought of the bumbling idiot and his ministry lackeys. But John was right, Fudge hated Harry and would do anything he could to put him away. He didn't really care if he was expelled any more. After all he had quit Hogwarts on his own. He had been planning on spending his seventh year there though.
"Dear, you should not speak bad about the man in front of a British citizen. It is impolite." Admonished Flo, mistaking the contemplative look crossing Harry's features.
"Oh no madam." Replied Harry. "The man is a menace and a fool to the foulest degree. He has wronged me only slightly fewer times than Voldemort has."
As he said the name the other shuddered. "You speak his name?" Gabrielle asked astonished once again.
"Sure. It's not like he will appear out of thin air if you say it. It's not bad luck. I've faced ol' snake face five times now. Admittedly once I was still in nappies and had no idea what I was doing. But the last four times I've managed to best him. I've dueled him. Been possessed by him." He knew he had said too much as soon as the words left his lips. "Alright let me explain that last one a bit." The rest of his company had lost most of the blood in their faces so he figured an explanation was in order. "Toward the end of the battle at the Ministry in June Voldemort and I faced off again in the atrium. I had just cursed Bellatrix and told her that what they were after had been destroyed earlier in the battle. I was tired and hurt pretty badly at the time. If I would have been forced to duel him I would have lost I have no doubt. Well then for the first time in since I've known the man, Dumbledore shows up in the nick of time. The two dueled as a few magiked statues protected me from any stray curses. I've got to tell you how amazing it was watching the two. I didn't believe then I would ever be that good. Well Dumbledore finally got the upper hand and Voldemort just disappeared. Me being the idiot I am, stepped out of my hiding place. The next think I knew it felt like my soul and body were being ripped apart. He forced me to talk to Dumbledore a bit and as he did the ministry workers started to arrive. The pain seemed to go forever and I was about to give out. It was almost a peaceful moment. I could only think that I was going to get to see my parents and Sirius again. I didn't know it at the time but the one thing Voldemort can not stand is love. He neither understands it or feels it. So when the love of my family flowed though my body it was like a hundred Crutiatus curses to him. I was able to kick him out of my body where he was seen by nearly everyone in the ministry, Fudge included. Voldemort quickly apperated to Bellatrix and left. So now basically he won't try it again because he knows what I will do to him as soon as he does."
John just shook his head amused. "You have had one hell of a life young man. More of one than most will every have. Tragic in many places yes, but where would the hero be if it wasn't for a bit of tragedy."
"I would trade everything I had to just have the ones I love back." Harry stated in a voice laden with sorrow.
"Would you really?" Asked Fleur. "You would give up the money, fame, popularity just like that?"
"In a heart beat. Money can't buy love and happiness. I know, believe me. Fame is a fickle friend. One day you may be on top of the world and everyone's hero. The next everyone's accusing you of one thing or another. As for the popularity, you can have it. Most people only want to know Harry Potter the Scar, Boy-Who-Lived, ect. All I've ever wanted to be was just Harry. Very few know just Harry. Few want to know just Harry. Most just want the association with the image. However since I've left this summer I've come to terms with who I am. I'm proud to be me and I've been making a name for myself through achievements, accomplishments and alliances that I have knowing done. I guess I left in June to find who I was. I have found that but I keep going because I'm just having way too much fun and learning things that I never thought I would learn."
"That was the right answer Harry." Fleur whispered. Only Flo heard the young woman and her heart leapt. She had been worried about her daughter for so long. It was very difficult for someone of her nature to find love. She herself was lucky enough to find a man who loved her for her, not the image. It seemed her darling daughter had found someone she could identify with.
"I believe we can relate to that particular problem as well." Flo told Harry.
"I have no doubt you can. I can see how being a veela could be every bit as bad if not worse than my circumstances." Harry looked over to John and knew he needed to tell him about the time turner before the discussion was over. The man struck Harry as one who valued truthfulness above all else. So he decided to take the plunge with only a little twisting of the tale.
"John I have a question for you."
"Feel free to ask anything Harry. What would you like to know?"
"Earlier in our discussion you told me that you could use a longer period of time for instruction."
"And" John seemed wary but led the conversation on.
"And I know this guy who managed to get an unregistered time turner." Harry slowly led in. "I was wondering if you or your family wasn't opposed to just violations if I might ask him if I could barrow it for a while?" That was it. He told them. He could only hold his breath and pray now. Which he was to any and every god he had ever heard of.
"This…friend… of yours. He knows the legality of such a device yet he has used it in the past?"
"From what he has told me: yes."
"You do realize how much trouble your friend would be in if he was discovered?"
"I do and he does. Yet he has found it as a necessary tool for study in short amounts of time."
"You are quite the young man Harry." John chuckled. "I will not report you so fear not." Harry let out a breath. The rest of the room again look on in shock as Harry admitted to using the device to travel an untold amount of times into the past to relive it. They realized what had only been six months to them could have been years uncounted to Harry. "As a matter of fact this will stay a family secret and be told to no one." John received nods around the room. "So tell me, how often have you used it?" He asked curiously.
"Well the one I have is a weekly turner instead of hourly. So one turn takes me back a week instead of an hour. I got it while I was staying with Markis. I turned out to be in the right place at the right time and they took me in. I spent a month there but in reality it was a year I was being trained by the vampires in both rune magic and fighting skills. I then used it liberally when I went to America. I traveled from New York by following the big waters. Meaning I went south to Florida, west across the continent, then north through California. On my way back I went through Yellow Stone, a national park. There I came across Dunharrow, the elfin nation. It had been totally destroyed. Every inhabitant killed from youngest to oldest. I traveled back a week and put a stop to the destruction." He still didn't want to go into details. "I was then asked to stay with them for a while. Their wards have a time slowing feature and Celeborn and Galadriel turned the next month into five years. Some time after that I replayed a couple weeks over again and now I'm here."
"Alright, enough shocks for one night. To bed with all of you. Training states tomorrow morning. And yes we will use all the available time we can." Laughed John. "Never let it be said you are a simple man Harry."
Waking up the next morning, Harry couldn't quite believe how well everything was going. It seemed no matter what he landed with his feet on the ground. He had come to Paris with nary a name. Then in a little over a week he had found them. Well really they had found him but that was beside the point. Now he was lying in a huge four poster surrounded by satin sheets and silk hangings. A lush rug lay on top of a marble floor. Leather chairs, rich wooded furniture and numerous books lined the walls. Really the room was fit for royalty.
As with his routine he had become accustom to, he woke as the sun breached the horizon. He again dressed in his elfin attire and made his way to the kitchen. It appeared that he was the first one up that morning so Harry quietly put on a pot of coffee and looked out across the grounds of the manor. It was really quite beautiful. A layer of fog still clung to the ground hiding it from view. The orange sun brightened everything giving the feeling of living amongst the gods.
"It is quite lovely, is it not." Came Flo's voice from behind him. It had not frightened him. Really he had sensed her presence before she even made it into the room. It had been a sense that started after he bonded with Markis and Sophia and only gotten stronger as time went on.
"That it is. This must be why the Romans built on Mt. Olympus. You can almost make yourself believe you're a god. Above all the other mortals. Above all their petty problems and wars."
The only response he received was Flo handing him a cup of coffee which he took readily. Sometime in his contemplation a house elf had arrived and started making breakfast. It wasn't what he was use to being from England. Even in Australia and America breakfast was a fairly heavy meal. Eggs, hashers, sausage, ham, it could be felt in your stomach. It let you know you had eaten. Here however light croissants and fruit was the preferred quinine for the morning. And though he like it he still liked his english breakfast every now and again. As it was he sat down and tucked into his meal and like with every meal he had ever eaten which had been prepared by one of the small creatures, it tasted wonderful.
"Are you ready for today?" Flo asked.
"I think I am. Though you still haven't told me what I'll be learning from you." Harry smirked back at the lovely lady.
"Well young man. Though it may not be known but to few others outside my nation, Veelas specialize in wandless magic." She smiled at the gobsmacked appearance on Harry's face. "Don't get your hopes up yet. It is an extremely difficult branch of magic. And even when mastered can only perform spells to around a sixth or seventh year level. Anything that requires complex wand movement can't be done."
Harry interrupted quickly. "Can't be done or hasn't been done before?"
"Is there really a difference." The lady asked while she thought to herself.
"It just seems that the impossible becomes possible around me more often than not. Most of the time it includes me doing it." Harry warily stated.
"We will just have to see. We will practice and if you perform well we can see how far you are able to take it. Still even a basic spells to disarm or summoning could save your life. It also works very well with transfiguration. Since most of the magic is incantation and concentration on the object you want. What more is that it is untraceable. Since the magic is not focused through a wand that has been approved by the ministry there is no way of determining the caster."
"Wow" Harry whispered at the thought. He would be able to do so much if he could learn this branch of magic.
Not long after John, Fleur and Gabby had arrived and the four conversed amongst eating. The final schedule determined that Harry would start the day with Flo learning wandless magic from 8 to 11. The other three seemed to cringe at the thought of having an awake and perky Harry to teach that early. Then Harry would have lessons with John about wizarding government and politics from 11 – 1. Then lunch. Then he would train in fencing with Fleur who was renowned around France as the best swordsman in the country for an hour. Then the rest of the day would be spent doing what they wanted. And thus was how the training started.
Harry and Gabrielle followed Flo into a room buried deep underground. It had already been explained this was for everyone's safety. When unleashing the magic with out a focus for the first time one of two things can happen. The first is that the spell is much weaker than it normally would be. The second is that an uncontrolled torrent of magical power could be released. It was never just right the first time. Gabrielle, Harry had learned, had already gotten out for her winter break. He wasn't about to try and figure out the Beauxbaton yearly schedule. It was going to be 'one of those things'. And since wandless magic could not be traced, Flo thought to start her daughter off as well.
"Alright, the first thing you need to do is find your magic within you. This is the most difficult part of the training. Even so, it is a requirement for many advanced arts such as animagus training and self levitation. You will need to sit comfortably on the ground and delve into your body and mind. Meditation is good for this. Unfortunately every persons magical core is in a different location from another's. Take your time and find it. We have all the time in the world remember that."
Sitting on the ground Harry started thinking about how to proceed. He was fairly accomplished at meditating. He sat in thought for awhile when another thought struck him. "Flo, what if I share a blood bond with another magical creature. Would that effect this? Maybe give me two magical cores?"
"It is possible. Your core would be separate as the magical blood flowing through you would put off a magical signature. It really depends on the bond. We will only know after you have found yours. Be sure to tell me what you find. My curiosity has been piqued."
Harry nodded and closed his eyes starting to draw within himself deeper and deeper.
Time seemed different while he was in this state he noticed. After a week of trying to find his core and failing he had come to some odd conclusions. The first time he had delved into himself the three hours passed faster than he believed. Other days it seemed he stayed hours or even days locked within himself. Still no matter what he had not found his core. It was slightly frustrating as on the fourth day Harry was drawn from his trance with the excited squeaks of his class mate. Gabrielle had found hers and now her mother was training her on the other side of the room.
It must have been extremely tiring, because everyday Gabby looked exhausted as she left. The week had not been a waste though. Harry had found many nifty things within him. As he searched his mind the first few days he had come across his connection with Voldemort. It was a strand of woven magic black as the darkest pits of hell. He played with it a bit and found that by pulling one of the strands his scar burned. The harder he pulled the more pain he felt. Forgetting what he had started out to do that day, Harry started making plans and forming shields for that strand. Finally he decided on breaking it. Carefully he did praying he would not end up insane because of it. Really it was stupid to do but he had enough connections with the ponce and any ties he could destroy seemed to only be a good thing. He pulled, tugged and twisted the line only to cause himself pain. Finally he sat back to figure out another approach. What he really needed were his daggers. Harry thought pondering. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than they appeared. He knew he had bonded with the magical artifacts but this was getting ridiculous. Deciding not to look a gift horse in the mouth he used them on the strands.
Pain, that was the only word to describe the feeling. No pain beyond belief. Still the daggers that had been rumored to have been blessed by Christ himself and by him inscribed with holy runes of dark destruction prevailed. With a great snap the line was cut. Next he started on the one that brought him visions. Again pain beyond pain. It was like taking ten Cruciatus curses at once. Still he persevered. Deciding to be vindictive he poured a little of his magic into the stands and fused them into the lines he determined sent his feelings and visions back to Voldemort. Hopefully every time the demon was hoping to send pain or visions to Harry he would be also receive them. Harry hoped it confused the hell out of him. Maybe get stuck in a looping vision for eternity. Hey one could hope.
After accomplishing his goal Harry decided that a little payback was in order. He jumped, twisted and stabbed the two other cords hoping that Voldemort was feeling every bit of the pain he had put himself through. Then he added crude shields around the lines so that any visions from him would not be seen.
After that he spent the rest of his time twirling his daggers searching the rest of his mind.
Another time he was looking into his blood as a possible source for his magic. He prayed it was not it. After all, Voldemort used it for his resurrection. Luckily it seemed not to be the source. Though he was mesmerized by the magic that now flowed through them. He instinctively knew what magic was from what being. The sickly green he knew was the venom from the basilisk. There was quite a bit of it in his blood but the golden tendrils of the phoenix tears wrapped around the venom neutralizing it. Then there was the white magic of the elfs. It was strong in his blood as he already knew. He didn't have to worry about Voldemort using it against him. He probably didn't even know it was there to begin with. Even if he did it did nothing but heal and enchant objects. And an elf would die a thousand painful deaths rather than give their secrets to the foul being. There was a swirl of dark blue and deep violet that was Markis and Sophia. Even though they had not been able to do magic before the bonding they were still magical creatures and therefore able to use other types of magic. And since both the vampires were very strong it appeared so was their blood. The giant tendril of magic wove it's way though out his body infusing it with the gifts he had been given through the bond. However even it was dwarfed by the river of silver magic flowing through him. It had to be from Silvernesti. Harry had known she was powerful but to grant him this much magic was phenomenal.
So another class ended with not finding his own magical core but even so it was sure interesting.
The classes with John had been extremely helpful already. He had learned by law that everything Dumbledore had done to him since birth was illegal. Taking him from Sirius and placing a magical being with non-magical people had broken about ten laws in itself. He had also learned that he had no rights to Harry. So he could do as he pleased. If he was found on his journeying since his magical guardians were gone and the Dursleys could care less about him as long as he wasn't with them, he couldn't send him back. Harry had been right about him effectively dropping out of Hogwarts when he didn't return in the fall. So Dumbledore as headmaster nor the Dumbledore as chief bigwig on the courts currently could do nothing. He had learned about all sorts of things relating to heirs and wills, enough to make Harry more than a little concerned about what Dumbledore might have been up to when using his money so freely with the Order. Really the only thing that kept him from going to Gringotts right then was the fact the old man had been banished from the building for a year. It still didn't stop him from sending a letter to his account manager stating quite clearly that he was accepting his place as the head of the Potter family and would sufficiently deal out pain and problems if his account was touched by anyone but him, either in person, verified with a magical signature, or through his Gringotts card which would only work with him. He knew Dumbledore was smart and if he couldn't get into the bank to withdraw funds for the Order he would try and send others. He just wanted to re-affirm his demands from that summer.
Fencing lessons with Fleur had gone rather well. It was a new form to add to his already long list of styles. Currently he was incorporating it in with the other styles he had learned with Markis and Eildith. Before they began Harry had asked if she would mind if he…tweaked… the two blades they were using. He skillfully engraved unbreakable runes on them then enchanted them to be blunt when they hit flesh via elfin magic. He didn't want to expose Nova yet. Plus with the new style he was learning the sword wouldn't work. First he wanted to learn the new style, then meld it into one decidedly his own, all the while using the practice rapier he had been given. After that he would practice it with Nova. The days passed in a training blur as Harry tried not to give away all his secrets. He made sure all his movements were human speed but still fast like he had always been. He had to alter his strength also. After all he had the strength of a dragon now. Fleur wouldn't know what hit her if he went all out.
He had explained that he wanted to make swords for his friends for Christmas presents. And the first free time he had Fleur showed him to a dungeon room he could use. He easily conjured a large kiln and the tools he would need. After all they were simple tools nothing complex. Then after setting a smokeless fire in the kiln putting enough magic runes around the room to keep it from falling in during a nuclear explosion, he left to allow it to heat for a day.
'FINALLY!' Harry yelled in his own head. It had taken ten days to find his magical core and he could have kicked himself for not thinking about it sooner. Every clue pointed to it. Every time he had been bonded to a magical creature his magic had grown along with the other skills he had gained so really all he needed to do was follow the magic in his blood. After all, if his magic increased with each bonding they must intercept somewhere. The only thing that bothered Harry was the ironic fact that Dumbledore might have been on to something when he, Harry, had asked about the so called 'power' he had from the prophesy. Dumbledore had then placed a hand on his chest, directly above his heart.
His heart was the source of his magic. His so called core. Though the other magic didn't mix with his core magic they did merge together in this one place and at that point it became potent; extremely potent. It was like looking into the sun. The magic flowed and swirled killing curse green mixed with streaks of silver. It seemed as if there was a virtual ocean of magic just waiting to be tapped into. He searched it, memorized it as he moved around the ocean of magic. He could see places were it looked as though damns had been broken through and figured that these must have been blocks placed on him. It was impossible now to determine by whom but Harry had his suspicions it was Dumbledore. After all there was no dark presence here like there had been when he found his connection to Voldemort. So Harry set about the task of removing the remnants of the blocks, effectively allowing smoother flow. As he worked he thought of when he could have broken the binds. It had to be during one of the bonding, most likely with Silvernesti. It was then he felt as though the core of his being was being pulled and expanded with such pain. It was after that when his magic had become extremely powerful. It mush not have been just additional magical power given to him by the dragon. He smiled as he finished: Dumbledore was going to get one hell of a shock the next time he saw Harry casting spells.
Flo an Gabrielle sat in amazed wonderment as they watched a slow smile cross Harry's face. It had been a half hour before when a torrent of magic started to pour out of the boy. Minutes later he was surrounded by a emerald green aura swirling around. It grew and grew becoming more and more violent. Then with another explosion of power the green pushed out ten feet from the boy's body and another silver aura started forming within the confines of the first. However the silver was spinning in the opposite direction. Harry's hair and shirt whipped in a gale force wind only known to him. Still the silver aura expanded until it was five feet from Harry's body.
Suddenly Harry's eyes snapped open. Two orbs landed on the two females in the room. They could only watch the pure power shine in him. The emerald orbs shone brightly but now had a rim of silver.
Harry saw the two terrified women just before he saw his own aura surrounding him. He noticed it was different now. The silver must be from silvernesti and the power he attained from her. Slowly he closed his eyes and drew away from his core. After falling far enough back he opened his eyes again. He was back to his old self.
"Sorry about that. I sometimes can't control it." Harry tried to explain.
"It is quite alright young man." Flo smiled. "I must say I am surprised though. Only powerful magic users produce their aura as they find their core. But yours my dear boy. I never in my life imagined one so young could be so powerful. And your magic is yet to quit growing. Gabby, please give me some time to speak to Harry alone." The young veela still wide eyed only nodded and left the room.
"I hope I didn't scare her too much." Harry said worriedly.
"Oh nonsense. In an hour she'll have told then entire house and be thinking it a great adventure." Harry let out a relieved breath. "However I do have a question for you. Never have I heard of duel auras in a being before. Could you tell me how yours came about?"
Harry thought quickly for a moment to come up with a response. Settling on the truth with omitted sections. "During my travels I saved a rather powerful being that had been hunted down by some of Voldemort's men. As repayment for saving it, it bonded with me. Her blood flows through me now adding to my magic."
"She must be an extraordinarily powerful being to be able to transfer that much magic to you. It also must have been quite painful."
"Yes she is and yes it was. It seems that bonding with her destroyed some blocks that had been placed on me, by who I don't know. However with the added flow from the removed blocks as well as what I was given I was out of it for a few days."
"You have lead a very interesting life Harry. I hope you are able to tell me all of it one day."
"One day I will. I promise. Just for the time being I need some things to remain secret."
"Alright, I can live with that. Go ahead and rest up. Tomorrow we start your training."
With that Harry left to spent the hour he had until his lessons with John forging the sword he was going to give to Ron. A design he had found off the internet. It was the sword Aragon used when he was dubbed king in the Lord Of The Rings movie. It would be perfect for the redhead. Even though it was big he would be able to enchant it and place rune on it like he did Nova to lighten it up. He didn't want it to be too light or it wouldn't be good in battle. It probably didn't matter anyway. Ron was nearly as strong as a vampire. He would rival Remus in raw strength now. Wielding a blade would be easy for him. Currently he was shaping the blade. It had taken him a full seven days to melt all the jewels together and form a crude shape. But following the same procedures he did while making Nova everything had turned out fine so far.
The first month had passed and as December 12th rolled around Harry realized just how far he had to go. Really he had only advanced in his lessons with Fleur. His wandless magic training was coming along slowly. Flo had been right when she told him that no one ever got it right the first time. Well it seemed Harry couldn't get it right even after twenty times. Every spell he used worked correctly but the magic that flowed into the spell was so raw and powerful even a simple levitation charm on a quill embedded the thing ten feet deep in solid rock. Lessons with John had gone well but governments both muggle and magical as well as politics in general was so convoluted he had no doubt that it would take many more months of practice. His work on Ron's sword was nearly finished. He had spent a week unleashing his magic into the blade and was as far as he could go with it for now. He needed Ron present when he placed the final spells as well as when he inscribed the runes. That way the blade would see him as the owner even if he did not create it. The bond that would form between the two would be great but not quite as great as his and Nova's. The sword was beautiful though. The blade was a deep blue from the sapphire gemstone. The guard was mithril with small sapphires on the ends. The handle he made out of onyx again and inlayed mithril wire around it for a grip. The extended pummel was made from mithril with a large sapphire inlayed in it surrounded by gold. It really was beautiful.
So Harry, happy with the months work gathered his group around him and readied to travel back in time. Surprisingly Flo suggested they wait until they could go back to the day after they agreed to start the training. Some weird theory with the space time continuem would set it so that only they were there and not there past selves. Not really believing it but having no reason to doubt her and liking the chance to try out a new theory they waited two more days. It hadn't worked.
That fact had shocked Harry slightly. As he had not seen any other copies of ourselves walking the halls of the house he theorized that it would have. He didn't have long to ponder the question though as four more sets of people appeared in the room with small pops notifying their arrival. Without comment each group left and headed out into the yard when one of the groups had already started to enter an inconspicuous mother-in-law suite that Harry had not noticed before. As the group entered they could only marvel at the site of all the groups pitching in together expanding and sectioning off different parts of the house for each use.