Title: Survival of the Fittest
Author: Marcielle's Musings
Previously In Survival of the Fittest:
"I understand," said Harry with a serious nod.
"Good!" said Baird cheerfully.
Harry's eyes widened at Baird's sudden mood swing and then it dawned on him. The old coot had just manipulated him! Harry couldn't force himself to be mad with Baird because he had just been demonstrating exactly what he had been trying to say...
"Why you old manipulative coot!" Harry yelled as he leaped off the checkout counter to follow Baird to the back staircase.
"Guilty as charged!" said Baird with a grin as they climbed the stairs to the apartment they shared, "Now let's have some dinner."
Harry just sighed. He was never going to get to sit down let alone put his shopping bags away at this rate. Baird would never let him have a moment's peace... but for some reason that was ok with him because for once in his life he felt like he was on the right path.
Chapter 12: Slytherin Secrets
It turned out that Harry did get his wish to kick back and relax but it was much later in the evening than he had initially hoped for. He also wasn't on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table. Nope, he was tucked up in his bed, reading, with only the lamp on his bedside table for light.
A few hours earlier, after dinner, Harry had gone to his room to empty all of his shopping bags into a pile on his bed which he then went and placed in the correct drawers in his dresser.
Once he had finished putting away all of his new belongings he had grabbed 'Metamorphmagus Me' and a mirror so that he could practice how to change the colour of his eyes and his hair. As the book had mentioned, changing his hair was much easier than changing his eye colour. It had taken him three hours but in the end he had gotten it.
He now had Weasley red hair, and bright blue eyes. That was, before he had changed his hair back. He really, really didn't look good as a red head. He had, however, kept the blue eyes because they made him look mysterious and also nothing like the old be-speckled Harry which had first entered the wizarding world.
One other miracle of the evening was the discovery that Harry could completely fix his eyesight using his Metamorphmagus ability.
He couldn't believe it when it had first happened.
He could see!
Nothing was blurry or out of focus!
He had perfect 20/20 vision!
After that huge success of the evening, Harry decided to give 'Metamorphmagus Me' a rest and had picked up another book. The book was titled 'A History of Parseltongue' by Salazar Slytherin and its contents, if known by the wizarding public, would change the way that they viewed Parseltongue... forever.
A History of Parseltongue
By Salazar Slytherin
Introduction
Parseltongue, a language now viewed as a mark, a mark of Darkness and evil. But this now hated language was once viewed as a mark of a healer, prophet and high priest/priestess. How has the truth of this ancient and noble gift been corrupted so completely that its past has been entirely forgotten?
Parseltongue is the language of serpents and other magical serpentine creatures such as the Runespore, Naga, Basilisk, Ashwinder, Sea Serpents and even Wyverns. Any human being who can speak Parseltongue is known as a Parselmouth or 'Snake-Speaker'. While the commonly hereditary gift of Parseltongue is now viewed as a rare skill, this was not always the case. There was once a time when there were many Parselmouths roaming this planet but now these numbers have dwindled to a short few due to interbreeding with non-Parselmouths. This interbreeding has caused this once revered gift to become a whisper. There are many historical legends which inadvertently speak of the creation of Parselmouths and all will be touched on in this book. But let me finish this introduction with a final message: forget what you think you know about Parselmouths and the gift of Parseltongue because the truth is like nothing you could ever imagine.
Chapter One: The Origins of Parseltongue and Parselmouths
All around the world there have been snake deities; Gods and Goddesses who could speak to snakes and serpents. And there were also serpentine creatures themselves which were revered as deities. From the Feathered Serpent of the Americas to the Naga of Eastern Asia Serpent deities have been around since the dawn of time. So are Parselmouths the mortal children of these great beings? Or are we something else entirely?
The Feathered Serpent is a prominent deity found in multiple religions in the Americas. To the Aztecs it was called Quetzalcoatl, to the Mayans this deity was called Kukulkan, Q'ug'umatz and Tohil. Instead of being some mystical single deity as the Muggles during believed, these species of serpent are actually distant relatives of the Chinese wind dragons and Wyverns which are believed to have flown over from Asia and evolved as a separate species, complete with their own identifiable characteristics. These feathered serpents are now under the classification of serpentine dragon like their featherless cousin the Wyvern.
A Wyvern is a magical winged serpent with a barbed tail which is as sharp as the blade of a freshly polished sword and unlike their cousins, dragons; Wyverns have no legs and are incapable of breathing fire. Instead these flying serpents with leathery bat-like wings are capable of creating one of the most deadly venoms on the planet. This species also is capable of biting their prey and not injecting their venom as is quite common during hatching season since baby Wyverns are unable to eat poisoned meat. Like the Feathered Serpents, Wyverns are under the classification of serpentine dragons.
Now, the Naga were deities found in Hinduism and Buddhism throughout Asia who took the form of a large snake – specifically the King Cobra. These 'deities' had the upper body of a mortal human being but the lower body of a serpent. A male Naga is called a Nag while a female Naga is called a Nagi or Nagini. In India, Nagas are considered to be spirits of nature and the protectors of springs, wells and rivers. They bring rain, and thus fertility, but are also thought to bring disasters such as floods and drought. According to traditions Nagas are only malevolent to humans when they have been mistreated. In many countries throughout Asia, the Naga concept has been merged with local traditions of great and wise serpents or dragons. In Tibet, the Naga were equated with the klu, which dwell in lakes or underground streams and supposedly guard great treasures. In China, the Naga were equated with the lóng or the Chinese dragon.
However, in a Cambodian creation myth, the Naga were a reptilian race which ruled over a large empire on a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. Now here is where the first myth about the creation of Parselmouths begins. In the legend the Naga King of this vast empire had a very beautiful daughter named Nagini. And it is said that, on the day of her betrothal to a Nag of much wealth and power, she fled the Naga Empire and made her way to India. There, while hiding in a river Nagini saw a man get thrown from his horse, which had spooked at the sight of a snake in the reeds beside the river. Seeing that the man couldn't swim and was sure to drown, beautiful Nagini saved the man's life by swimming him to the banks of the river.
"I am indebted to you, fair maiden," said the man, "as a reward I will make you my wife"
But the man had not yet seen that Nagini was half serpent since the murky river hid her lower half. It was then that Nagini revealed her true form to the man. He was shocked and asked her if she was a Goddess to which she replied; "I am no Goddess but I am a Princess to a vast empire in the stars and I would be honoured to be your wife"
In reply the man said, "Well I am no mere peasant either. I am the Brahman, Kaundiya. I own vast lands and you will be my Queen."
From the eventual union of Nagini and Kaundiya sprung the beginnings of the Cambodian people and possibly the first Parselmouths in existence. Even today there are still Cambodians, both Muggle and Magical, who say that they are 'Born from the Naga'.
So, are Parselmouths the children of a Naga princess and an Indian Brahman? Or are we the descendents of an entirely different magical race.
With a yawn, Harry glanced up from the book and looked out the window. It was pitch black outside and the only light was from the moon which was half hidden by clouds at the moment.
'What time is it?' Harry thought to himself as he put a scrap of parchment into the book to save his place and grabbed his wand from his bedside table.
"Tempus," whispered Harry.
Now hovering before Harry's face in glowing neon numbers and letters was the date and time before they faded into nothing after a seven second interval.
"Crap," cursed Harry as he saw the time.
It was 11:45 at night and knowing Baird he would be banging on the door to Harry's room at five o'clock in the morning telling him to "Get up and get studying!"
So Harry put the Parseltongue book on the nightstand, turned off the lamp and lay down to sleep.
Just as Harry predicted, when five o'clock in the morning arrived, so too did Baird's annoying wake-up call.
"Get up and get studying! No lazing around for you this morning. Up!" Baird yelled from the other side of Harry's bedroom door as he banged on the door with his fist.
After jack-knifing up in his bed at the sudden noise, Harry sighed and ran his hand over his face.
"Are you up yet?" Baird yelled.
"I'm up! For the Gods sake, would it be impossible to wake me up in a different way?" Harry yelled back as he stormed to his door and thrust it open.
Baird stood on the other side of the door frame, grinning like a loon, which only succeeded in infuriating Harry even more before his anger just drained out of him. There was no point in trying to stay mad at Baird, he would just find Harry's anger funny and would keep antagonising him until he either forcibly calmed down or he cracked.
"See, I'm up," said Harry with a sarcastic grin in Baird's direction, "Are you happy now, you old loon?"
"Ecstatic," Baird grinned, "Now go have a shower and get dressed then join me for breakfast. I have something important to tell you."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm going," said Harry's retreating figure with an absentminded wave in Baird's direction.
After finishing his morning ablutions and dressing in a pair of beige slacks and a light blue button up, Harry made his way to the kitchen. On the table was a plate of fresh assorted fruits.
"Set the table will you?" Baird asked while he ladled porridge into two bowls.
"Sure" Harry agreed as he moved to grab the place mats and the cutlery.
Once they were both seated and happily munching on the fruit and eating their porridge Harry finally spoke up with the question that had been bugging him since Baird had woken him.
"You said that you had something important to tell me?" asked Harry curiously.
"Oh, yes. I really need to begin your Occlumency training. I can't just have you walking around with your thoughts going everywhere. We need to organise that mess up there that way you will find learning new things easier because information will become more accessible." Baird said once he swallowed his mouthful of porridge.
"But you still haven't told me what Occlumency really is. You've just told me that I have to learn it. How about a little explanation first," Harry replied.
Baird smiled and then began to speak, "It's good that you are finally asking questions. You should really learn to question everything that you are told because most of the time it will not be the complete truth. People are naturally biased due to how they were raised, what culture they were raised in and what their personnel experiences have been."
"Now, Occlumency is the art of magically organising one's mind and protecting it against Legilimency. Legilimency is the opposite of Occlumency and is the art of penetrating a person's mind and navigating through this persons mind and correctly interpreting one's findings. A person who practices the art of Occlumency is called an Occlumens and a person who practices the art of Legilimency is known as a Legilimens. As an Occlumens you would be able to prevent a Legilimens from accessing your thoughts and feelings, or even influencing them. It would also give you much better focus because your mind will be organised and your emotions calm. Essentially it is a permanent, magical version of Muggle meditation," Baird explained.
"I'm not sure that I will be very good at this," Harry mumbled bashfully, "My thoughts are all over the place at the best of times and I really don't have time for meditation."
"Well then you will just have to make time," Baird replied, "I went ahead and bought you a Muggle book on guided meditations for you to listen to every evening before you go to sleep. This will succeed in calming both your mind and your body and will help you get a better night's sleep."
"Wait, but you said it was a Muggle book. How will I listen to it?" Harry asked.
"By using the Libroquar charm, of course," Baird replied.
"And what on earth is that?" asked harry in frustration. Baird always did this. He would tell him something but he would never elaborate unless Harry specifically asked him to.
"It is abbreviated Latin for 'book speak'. When saying this spell you are essentially commanding the book to speak," Baird answered.
"Ok, and let me guess you want me to meditate now?" Harry asked sarcastically, already knowing what the answer would be; 'Yes'
"No, like I just told you; practice your meditation before you go to bed. It will give you a head start on your Occlumency training, later," said Baird.
"Oh, now that reminds me. How is your Metamorphmagus training progressing? Will you be able to work in the shop this upcoming Monday?" Baird then asked.
"Really, really well. Here watch!" said Harry as he excitedly started morphing his hair into short, chestnut coloured spikes and his eyes morphed into the same icy-blue colour that they had been last night.
"Very impressive," said Baird with a smirk, "I will, of course, expect you to be working down in the shop all of next week while I work down in The Vault."
"Fine," Harry sighed.
"Oh, one more thing!" said Harry as he gestured to his eyes, "No more glasses! I'll never need those pesky liabilities ever again!"
"Congratulations!" Baird exclaimed with a clap, "And how are you doing with all of the other books?"
"Um... well I've started the book by Salazar Slytherin on the history of Parseltongue..." Harry replied.
"Good, good. And what do you think of it so far?" asked Baird as he reached for a cube of honeydew melon.
"It's really interesting. I always thought that Parselmouths were descended from Salazar Slytherin but if the information in the book is accurate Parselmouths are supposedly descended from the Naga! How cool is that? One thing I don't understand is why the Wizarding World thinks that all Parselmouths are descended from Salazar Slytherin..." said Harry.
"As you probably already know, snakes and serpents, both magical and non-magical, tend to prefer warmer climates. Therefore, it is quite possible that Salazar Slytherin was the first Parseltongue in Europe, that is, and that other Parselmouths remained in the tropics." Baird answered.
"Hmm, yeah that would make sense..." said Harry with a nod before he began to stand and clear up his breakfast from the kitchen table.
As Harry cleaned up Baird asked, "So, what do you plan on doing today now that you are far more inconspicuous?"
"Unfortunately I have to go shopping again, but this time in Diagon Alley. I need some more robes and a new trunk since I left my old banged up one at my relatives," replied Harry as he cast Scourgify on the dishes and then levitated them to their place in the cupboard.
Watching Harry cast those spells Baird remarked, "You have gotten much better at casting those spells."
"Thanks," said Harry with a happy grin, "Alright then, I'll probably be back for lunch but if I'm not I'll just eat in the Alley," Harry continued to say as he walked towards the front door to the apartment.
"Wait," Baird said, "You should probably get a wand holster as well, while you're shopping and perhaps you should get a multi compartment trunk so that you will have space for everything to be organised instead of just throwing them inside like you do with that backpack of yours. I won't have you damaging any of the books that I've given you, understood?"
"Understood," said Harry with a wave and then he was out the door.
He really didn't want another shopping trip like yesterday. One was more than enough in a lifetime. He really didn't need another. He just wanted to get some new robes that actually fit him, a trunk and a wand holster and then he would be done. Since Madam Malkin's was the closest Harry decided to go there first and get his robes shopping over and done with.
Walking outside of Obscurus Books, the Alley wasn't nearly as crowded as it had been yesterday since it was so early in the morning. The shops were only just beginning to open for the day. Across the street, Mr. and Mrs. Scribbulus were opening the front door to their shop, Scribbulus Writing Instruments. Baird had mentioned them to him two days ago when the old man had been telling him where the inks used in copying the books down in The Vault came from.
Slightly apprehensive Harry opened the front door to Madam Malkin's Robes for all occasions. Because it was so early Harry was the shop's only customer and he was immediately approached by one of the shops assistants. Thankfully this assistant was a twenty-something looking male so Harry wouldn't need to go through another 'Lisa Attack' simply because he said he needed clothes.
"How can I help you today?" the sales assistant asked.
"Well," Harry said as he looked around at the many racks of robes that lined the walls of the store. "I was hoping that I could get a few pairs of tailored robes."
"Sure we can do that," the man replied with a smile that looked effortless.
"Well, nothing over the top... but maybe two sets of black robes and one royal blue and the other emerald green," Harry continued to say.
"Yeah, we can do that too. Seriously, don't sweat it. Any sort of robes in any colour – we do them all," the wizard reassured, "Here, just step this way, up on the block"
In less than two minutes, Harry was standing on a wooden block in the centre of the shop as one of those magical measuring tapes flew around him taking his measurements from how tall he was to how wide his shoulders were. It was a lot less annoying than the one in Ollivander's shop which measured how far apart his eyes are and how big his nostrils.
Meanwhile the assistant was in the back room fetching the fabric. When he returned he began layering the bolts of fabric over Harry's arms.
"Good choices on the colours," he said before he looked at Harry inquisitively, "You wouldn't happen to know what style of cut you want for your robes, would you?"
"Um... well yeah," Harry nervously answered, "I have this really old pair of blue robes back at Obscurus Books that I really like which have a high neck and buttons down the front until it reaches my hips and then it flows loosely around my ankles. Oh, and it's sleeveless too and has a silver trim. Do you think you could make these like that?"
"Wow, are you the store owner of Obscurus Books' apprentice?" the sales assistant asked in apparent shock.
"Something like that, yeah," answered Harry because really, what else could he be but Baird's apprentice?
"What's it like?" the young man asked as he began pinning the fabric until it somewhat resembled the robes that Harry had described.
"It's a lot of hard work and a lot of studying but it's worth it. I've learnt more stuff with Baird that is actually useful than I have in all of my years at Hogwarts so far," Harry replied as he watched the man work.
"Wow, that's good. So you are still going to Hogwarts and what – working and doing your apprenticeship over the summer? That's a really good arrangement. Madam Malkin wouldn't start my apprenticeship until I had completely finished my schooling at Hogwarts. What's your name by the way?" the shop assistant asked as he began pinning the next set of robes.
'Shit,' thought Harry. He hadn't thought up a name that he would be using when he was in this disguise! What would his name be? How about James, like his father? No that was too similar. How about Evan like his mother's maiden name, then? Yeah, that would work but what about a last name...
"Evan Thomas," Harry said with a smile as did a slight bow of the head down to the assistant. It was enough of a bow to be considered a greeting but not too much to signify that Harry thought himself beneath the shop assistant, "and you are?" newly crowned, Evan asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, sorry. My name is Daemarcus Desbrowe," Daemarcus replied with a similar bow, "There all done!"
"Really? That was quick," said Harry. He had expected the fitting to take much longer.
"Yeah, well you're only getting four sets of robes and a little bit of magic helps to speed up the process. Do you want to watch as I stitch them?" Daemarcus asked.
"Sure. Is there a special spell that does the stitching?" asked Harry as he saw Daemarcus pull out his wand.
"Yeah, there are but they are all part of the apprenticeship," Daemarcus replied with a wink.
Before his eyes, the robes started stitching themselves together. Not a seam was out of place. Out of the back room a pair of scissors and a box of buttons flew out and began attacking the robes.
"Stop that!" Daemarcus commanded with a flick of his wand.
The scissors and buttons ceased their attack and began floating around the robes appearing to look, if it was possible, chastised. Five minutes later the robes were completely finished.
"What do you think? Let's try them on you to make sure they fit," Daemarcus said as he held up the finished products.
"They look really good," Harry replied enthusiastically as he tried on one of the black ones and then the blue one, "And they are all really comfortable."
"You should keep that one on," said Daemarcus from his place behind Harry as he admired his new robes in the mirror, "It goes really well with your eyes."
"Ok, I'll do that. So how much, in total, for the robes?" Harry asked as he stepped down from the block.
Daemarcus, with the other three pairs of robes in his arms, walked to the counter and began to figure out the price, "Well that is four custom made apprentice robes. Two black, one blue and one green, all with silver embroidery at the hem and on the left lapel and with anti-staining, anti-wrinkling and anti-stretching charms put in place. That will come to a total of eleven galleons and six sickles."
"Here you go," said Harry as he passed over the appropriate amount of money from his money pouch that he had grabbed from his backpack earlier that morning.
With Harry's new robes folded up carefully and placed in a bag, Harry walked happily back out into Diagon Alley, glad to get his robe shopping over and done with. It was much busier now than it had been earlier when he had started shopping but it still wasn't as bad as the 'Hogwarts Rush' when all the Hogwarts students are out in mass buying their supplies, the first weekend after the letters arrive.
Next Harry began making his way to Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment where he figured he could buy a new trunk. Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment sold a wide variety of magical instruments like telescopes and hourglasses but they also sold wizarding tents, magical clocks like the one at the Burrow and multi-compartment trunks. There was also a local branch in Hogsmeade that Harry had visited once or twice, just to have a look around.
The shop was crammed full of wizarding items. There was a pile of brass scales to the left of the door and on the far right wall hung what looked like twenty cuckoo clocks. There was a sign in the centre of the shop that advertised 'Witchy Prices on Wiseacre's Wizarding Tents' and next to it was a pile of what looked like telescopes in their leather cases. There were only four or five customers in the shop, all browsing the many magical wares the shop had to offer. There was so much stuff that Harry thought he could have walked in without a disguise and he still wouldn't have been noticed.
Clambering through the piles of merchandise Harry finally made his way to the counter at the back of the store.
"Hello and how can I help you today?" asked the middle age looking wizard behind the counter.
"I'm looking for a multi-compartment trunk. I need one split compartment for my Muggle clothes, another for my robes, one compartment that folds out into a bookcase, and another fold out compartment full of drawers to store any other items," said Harry, "Oh, and also if you have them, I need a wand holster."
"You're in luck!" said the wizard behind the counter, "We do have a trunk that meets your specifications but it also has one other compartment used to store potions ingredients. Is the trunk and the wand holster for your apprenticeship?" the man asked as he glanced at Harry's new robes.
"Yeah, something like that," replied Harry, "Can I see the trunk and then decide if I want it?"
"Of course! Just follow me and I'll show you the trunk I was talking about." Said the man as he darted out from behind the counter and began weaving his way through the piles and stacks of equipment. Eventually they reached a pile of trunks that were piled in a fashion so that they made a pyramid shape.
"Hmmm, now which one was it..." the store clerk mumbled under his breath before he yelled, "Aha, that one," he said as he pointed to one of the trunks near the top of the pile.
Pulling out his wand, the store clerk waved it in a circle and then he waved it in a figure eight shape before he pulled the wand closer to his body. As he did so, the trunk that he had just pointed to came shooting out of the pile and landed at Harry's feet. Somehow the precarious pile hadn't toppled over and appeared to be held up by pure magic until the trunks began to rearrange themselves until they formed a, once more, stable pyramid shape.
"Here are the keys," said the clerk as he passed Harry a ring that had five brass keys on it.
All of the keys were numbered one through to five and each corresponded with a lock on the trunk. Grabbing the first key, Harry opened the first compartment which opened like the trunk he had bought before his first year. However this compartment was broken up into three sections.
"One for shirts, one for pants, and one for undergarments and the like," said the sales assistant.
Next, Harry opened the second compartment but this one folded out to a small long-hang wardrobe for Harry to hang his robes. The third compartment was similar to the first but was broken up into fifty small sections each with a glass potion vial inside.
"The whole trunk is covered in unmovable, waterproof, fireproof and unbreakable charms," the clerk added helpfully as he watched Harry inspect the trunk.
The fourth compartment was similar to the second and folded out but instead of a long-hang wardrobe it was made up of ten squared drawers. The last compartment, compartment number five, was the same size as the long-hand wardrobe but it was a fold out bookshelf. It was perfect.
"I'll take it," said Harry as he stood up from where he had been crouched beside the trunk.
"Excellent. Oh, and for an extra two galleons I can tie the trunk to your magical signature so that only you can open it" the shop clerk mentioned enticingly.
"I'll do that too," said Harry with a nod. Having the trunk tied to his magical signature would prevent anyone from breaking into his trunk. It would also prevent his classmates from seeing his book choices which, at the moment, weren't exactly legal or 'light' in the eyes of the Ministry.
"Wonderful! I'll just take this up to the counter while you go pick a wand holster from that pile over there," the clerk said as he pointed to a pile of wand holsters to Harry's right.
The sign hanging from the ceiling advertised 'Quick Draw Wand Holsters: Just flick your wrist and into your hand they pop. Extra anti-summoning charm for a galleon'
Picking up one of the black leather holsters Harry attached it too his wrist with the leather straps that hung from the holster. It felt a little weird having something that large attached to his forearm but for some reason it didn't feel like it weighed a thing.
'Must be an added feather-light charm' thought Harry as he made his way back to the counter.
"Ah, there you are. Did you find a wand holster?" asked the middle-aged shop clerk.
In response Harry just held up his forearm where the wand holster was safely secured.
"Good, good. Now, did you want that anti-summoning charm put on the wand holster?" the clerk asked Harry.
"Yeah, and could you also tie it to my magical signature like you will for the trunk?" Harry asked.
"Hmmm, not many people have asked for that but I'm sure it's possible. That would prevent anyone from trying to take the holster from you... That is a very good idea. I'll try to see if I can do it," said the clerk as he levitated the trunk onto the counter, "Now just place your forearm with the holster on the counter as well."
Doing so the clerk began a series of complicated wand movements and Harry began to feel a small tugging in the pit of his stomach. It was a little bit similar to the feeling he got when he morphed. And then, suddenly the tugging feeling stopped.
"There we go, All done!" the shop assistant exclaimed with a clap, "Both the wand holster and the trunk are tied to your magical signature and the wand has that extra anti-summoning charm that you asked for. That will be twenty four galleons in total."
Harry passed the shop assistant the money and then levitated the trunk behind him as he made his way out of the shop and back to Obscurus Books. One of the things he loved about Diagon Alley is the fact that no one blinked an eye at the levitated trunk that was trailing behind Harry as he walked. It was considered normal in Diagon Alley for things to be floating, glowing, or even bubbling. It was insane but Harry loved it.
When Harry walked into Obscurus Books the bell chimed merrily and Baird who was helping a customer glanced over. When his eyes landed on what Harry was wearing his eyes widened.
"Just a moment," Baird said to the customer that he was currently helping before he began making his way to where Harry was walking to the back door to the shop.
Harry stopped suddenly when a hand grasped his forearm. Spinning around to face the person who stopped him, Harry was met with Baird's scowling face.
"Baird? What is it? Have I done something wrong?" Harry asked warily.
"Follow me, boy," Was the only reply Harry got as he was dragged by his forearm up to the apartment that Baird and Harry shared with Harry's new trunk bobbing merrily behind them.
"Do you have any idea about the significance of the robes you are wearing?" growled Baird.
"Umm, no. I just asked for robes similar to that blue pair that I have," answered Harry nervously. He couldn't understand what had made Baird so worked up but he was beginning to think that it had something to do with his robes.
Baird sighed, "You are wearing apprentice robes. Second level apprentice robes at that."
"What's wrong with that? I pretty much am your apprentice anyway." Harry replied.
"Yes, you are but all apprenticeships must be registered with the Ministry Guild Sector before they begin and you are not even a bronze level apprentice let alone a silver one," answered Baird with another sigh as he run his hand down his face.
"I don't understand what you're talking about!" said Harry in frustration.
"Sit down child and I will explain," said Baird as he began pacing on the opposite side of the coffee table.
Doing as he had been told, Harry sat on the couch and waited for Baird to explain because Harry was so confused right now.
"There are three levels to an apprenticeship; bronze, silver and gold. Bronze level apprentices are just beginning their apprenticeship and it is a full year of study and training before they become a silver level apprentice. Once you become a silver level apprentice it is two years of study until you become a gold level apprentice and then it is only three years after that you can test to become a master. These guidelines were set out by The Guild Masters hundreds of years ago. You can't just impersonate a silver level apprentice!" said Baird in frustration equal to Harry's own.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know!" Harry yelled, "Just change the robes then so that they aren't silver level!"
"It's no longer that simple, child. You have been traipsing all around Diagon Alley in that getup. People would be more suspicious if you suddenly stopped." Sighed Baird as he slumped down in one of the kitchen table chairs.
Getting up to follow Baird, harry planted himself in the seat opposite and then asked, "Well then what can we do?"
"We will have to register you with the Guild Sector. You are in luck, boy because I know the perfect cover for you as the apprentice of a friend of mine from the Republic of Chile who recently died. It's perfect. Do you have a name yet for this brown haired, blue eyed disguise of yours?" Baird asked.
"Um, yeah, Evan Thomas," answered Harry with a nervous rub to the back of his neck.
"Oh? And why that name?" asked Baird with a raised eyebrow.
"Well my mother's maiden name was Evans so I chose that as my first name but... Thomas was because of... well, the Horcrux. I don't know why I chose that but it just felt right, I guess. Voldemort has always shaped who I am so I guess it felt necessary, you know?" answered Harry.
"I understand child," replied Baird reassuringly with a pat on Harry's wrist, "Voldemort has always had a large impact on your life. It is completely understandable that you would choose his birth name to become part of your new identity."
"So, I'm your apprentice now?" asked Harry hesitantly not wanting to irritate that man further.
"By the looks of it," Baird replied, "I will file the necessary paperwork tomorrow if you can watch the shop for me."
"Deal," said Harry, "and by the way, I am sorry for causing this inconvenience."
"It's no problem, child. I was going to ask you to become my apprentice anyway. This just sped up the process," said Baird as he got up from the table.
"Really?" asked Harry in shock. He knew that he was sort of like Baird's apprentice already but for Baird to offer to make it official...
"Really but don't make me regret this decision," answered Baird, "You will study and work until you really are at a silver apprentice level and I will have no complaints. Do you understand me?"
"Completely. Thank You, I won't make you regret this," said Harry as he got out of his seat and performed a medium level bow from the waist. He now owed Baird more than he could possibly imagine and this was the perfect way to show how thankful he was.
Baird smiled at the display. Contrary to what he had said, the boy would do wonderfully at his apprenticeship and in Baird's eyes he was already well on his way to becoming a silver level, in reality. The boy may not love books as Baird himself did but he enjoyed learning and he always strived to do his best. In this apprenticeship, the boy would thrive. The only problem they might have would be trying to fit his apprenticeship in between his Hogwarts education.
