Chapter 21 - A Muggle called Mr. Cool
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A true seer is very rare and Trewlancey had the dubious distinction as a genuine Seer. One can question whether the great Albus Dumbledore believed her prophecy or just use it to fit into his never-ending plans. Dumbledore had convinced the parents of two certain children to hide under his provided protection. Rather than hiding in terror one family was proactive. One of many of Dumbledore's great plans was about ready to take a turn away from anyone's greater good. The parties involved had been informed of the night and this was probably that night… Halloween.
"James its tonight isn't it?" Lily Evans stated as she gazing down at her 14-month-old child she had cradled in her arms and wishing that this night never came. James Potter nodded and kneeled down in front of the plush chair in which Lily sat.. Lily sighed resignedly and leaned back into the chair as James placed his hands over hers.
"Dumbledore said that there is nothing that we can do for Harry, Lily, it's supposed be for the greater good. Don't worry Lily all the wards have been established and prepared for this night, the three of us will be safe regardless what Dumbledore says."
"I just wish there was someplace we could run to and hide," Lily growled through her falling tears. "But I'm not ready to let that barmy old bastard win, James I know he's up to something."
"He says that the prophecy states that the three of us must die tonight for the greater good as it is the Longbottom's child that is destined to defeat the Dark Lord."
"Let's get this ceremony over with, and then maybe we can have a serious go at Voldemort. I can't believe he could get to us with all these wards that surround us."
"Right, we need to be around to see Dumbledore's face when his plan and that prophecy fails." Neither was very optimistic in seeing Dumbledore ever again.
James Potter had spent a goodly amount of gold with the goblins for them to find the right spell or ceremony. The goblin made quill increased the costs along with the special ink requiring three drops of the mother's blood. The final rite cost more than many made in ten years of work. With almost everything magic there were restrictions and imperfections in the ceremony. James and Lily Potter could only use the ceremony once and the child had to be specifically marked…
They had just finished drawing the required symbol on Harry's forehead, in the shape of a lightning bolt, right above his right eye, when the front door exploded. Voldemort had arrived.
A man stood in the shadows of a nearby tree as his hand stroking his long white beard. He stared as a curious little rat sniffed the air and scamper into the house. Suddenly Voldemort appeared, strolled up the walk and approached the house. As the time had come the white bearded man turned on his heel and tried to vanish to the next child's house. Voldemort must have set Anti-Disapparation wards as he could not leave. He was not shocked by the house lighting up with spell-fire, and explosions. After the house went deathly quiet he was surprised that no one had exited the building by magic or Muggle means. If the Great Albus Dumbledore couldn't leave maybe no one else could. Finally curiosity got the better of him and he entered the severely damaged house.
Albus Dumbledore mind was racing, they were all dead except… The baby Harry Potter stared at him from his crib…Some how my plans have been thwarted… His face set with ruthless determination as his mind churned in thought… Hagrid would be sent… Sirius Black would minipulated… Harry would to be hidden in his aunt and uncle's house. Harry would now survive under Dumbledore's newly devised plan, young Harry Potter would need to molded into the prophecy under his great leadership rather than the Longbottem bint…Dumbledore would be the power behind the Boy-Who-Lived…Yes! A great nom de plume; the greater good would be served now that Riddle had been eliminated.
/Scene Break/
Vernon swung his beefy fist out as Harry tried to duck. Six-year-old Harry picked himself off the floor and ran into his cupboard under the stairs.
Harry had been disciplined, abused, and worked like a slave but this was not the first time Vernon had violently struck Harry. Vernon was not going to let the little freak get off easy this time. Vernon was going to thump on the little shit but good and dead. As he flung open the cupboard door the dimension flickered and he found that Harry Potter no longer existed at number 4 Privet Dr… this was also the last time the cupboard door would be opened for many years.
/Scene Break/
There in his post was a letter for that long gone freak. Some school called Hogwarts. The fireplace would soon receive this stupid letter. The letters however, continued to arrive. Vernon was smugly tossing the current letter into the fireplace as he always did. The flames always turned emerald green but this time an old man with long white beard stepped out of the fireplace.
Vernon Dursley being the stouthearted person was suddenly struck with a bowel problem. Instinct had Vernon backing up until he tripped and fell into his chair.
"Where is Harry Potter!" Dumbledore roared and Vernon passed out.
/Scene Break/
"Dumbledore are you sure that all these new laws are necessary?" Minister Fudge queried.
"Cornelius what would the public say if Harry Potter went to America for schooling?"
"That would indeed cause many problems. I'll have these laws added to the next financial request. They will be arguing over the money and never notice these new laws are part of the bill." Fudge smirked. What Fudge didn't know was Harry Potter was already missing but that information hadn't made itself out; September 1st was only a week away.
/Scene Break/
As in all places in the universe time moved on at it's own pace. Albus Dumbledore was however having no luck with any of his plans. He insured that a story of that fateful night in Godric Hollow was spread far and wide. How an infant, the Boy-Who-Lived, defeated Lord Voldemort only to receive a lightning bolt scar to the forehead, Harry Potter had survived the killing curse. How that vulnerable infant, Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, was hidden safely away by none other than Albus Dumbledore. While the myth and tales of Harry Potter occupied many books but his absence and non-appearance in public didn't register with the general public. If Harry Potter didn't show on September 1st he Albus Dumbledore was going to be in deep Dragon dung.
Albus Dumbledore was in deep Dragon dung on September 1st as well as many Septembers thereafter.
/Scene Break/
August was slowly burning itself away while many things were happening in many different places. Albus Dumbledore was at Hogwarts and was still hoping Harry Potter still somehow would show up to be sorted. Dumbledore's birdie club had been searching all these many years for Harry Potter but where had they failed to look, Gringotts? Heaven? Hell?
Meanwhile Harry Potter's physical training was being interrupted by a snowy white owl carrying a note that read… This owl's name is Hedwig, your new familiar and here are your instructions...
Vernon had just returned from work and was in a foul mood, August always was one of his busiest months. His thoughts of a glass of stiff bourbon soon ended quite spectacularly as the cupboard under the stairs door exploded and out stepped an older Harry Potter. Whether by instinct, rage or just poor judgment Vernon lumbered toward Harry with the intent of stomping him back into cupboard under the stairs. Harry flicked a finger and Vernon learned a bit about magic as his flight ended by crashing into the nearest wall. Harry James Potter was back!
Harry Potter stepped out of number 4 Privet Dr. and disappeared with a slight 'POP'.
/Scene Break/
I was laughing to myself as I arrived in an alleyway just outside the Leakey Cauldron. My arrival in the magical world was going to cause oh so much potential fun. I checked my baseball cap to ensure that it was covering my scar. My T-shirt and blue jeans would start the day off with at least me smiling. The front of my T-shirt read "I make beer disappear what's your superpower?" while the back of the T-shirt read, "Mr. Cool". The moment I ran into someone who could see my scar, and who felt they were important, I knew the first question would be, "Where have you been?" If I ever answered that question truthfully they would have me locked up in an insane asylum.
"Hey Tom, have you got spare room for a wayward Muggle?"
Laughing Tom pushed the sign in book at me, "Sure thing lad, always room for a Muggle, take room 11." I signed the book Harry G. Evans and headed off to Gringotts. Oh! The looks I was getting in my Muggle outfit as I strolled down Diagon alley.
"Master Teller I need to see someone about claiming several lordships and their associated vaults."
"And what lordships are you going to claim Muggle?"
"Are your guards prepared to take on a mob of fools you call customers? I'm not sure I could whisper the titles low enough." Apparently I was being ignored as being a Muggle but the teller took heart from the number of people in the area that turned their heads in our direction. The Teller said no more but led me into a conference room.
As I awaited someone to show up I was again laughing with myself. During the years I was gone I received training in magic and martial arts. I was no Superman or Superboy but I had received knowledge and training of Magic long forgotten. I had no future knowledge of events that would take place but I was kept abreast of what had transpired in the past right up until today. Part of my training was in learning occlumency and becoming an Animagus.
As my wait continued my thoughts shifted to my wandless capabilities which fit in perfectly with all the spells and curses that I was taught. I could 'POP' like a house elf but there were downsides. My mentors had released me so I could live a normal life as a chew toy in this dimension. They had made promises but it all came down to the definition of a normal life. Our first problem was that the laws stated that if I was to reside in the magical community I had a pass my OWLs at Hogwarts at a minimum. Some turkey had passed some laws stating that OWLs could only be taken at Hogwarts with at least a year of previous schooling at Hogwarts. Well they might me make me attend school before I can take their stupid OWLs but they would have put up with one cocky Ba%$#rd.
My thoughts again shifted as I started chuckling when I thought about all the false information circulated about Harry Potter. My wand was supposedly made of the rarest of woods and an exotic core but in actuality it was a dead stick covered in phony precious gems. I wondered how much trouble I could get started at school for waving it around like an orchestra conductor rather than following prescribed wand movements. My scar came from the goblin ritual my parents had conducted and not from my forehead rebounding the Avada Kedavra curse. The ritual caused the curse to rebound off its magical intent and if Riddle ever tried it again he would find I have a power that he knows not.
The door opened and an older goblin came in looking none too happy, "What is this nonsense about claiming a Lordship, Muggle."
"Might I suggest you perform an inheritance test before you stick your foot in your mouth?" This grumbling goblin would soon see how low on the totem pole that he really was.
The goblins do run around in circles quite enjoyably, at least from my point of view. I was now heading out of Gringotts with a credit card and a stack of blank bank checks. The bank manager Ragnot was quite accommodating and appointed Yanktooth as my account manager. After all one of the vaults I claimed had been accumulating a 1000 years of compounded interest. I was now the Lord of four major houses.
My mentors had told me that I could go as a cocky little shit but insisted that I pretend to be an average student. I would ride the train to Hogwarts, have regular school robes as a student and live in the dormitory. Furthermore I would not enter myself in the Tri-wizard tournament nor turn Albus Dumbledore permanently into a toad. Their reasoning was quite sound.
I purchased books I would never read as a normal student and bought school robes. BUT! When I went to buy a normal school trunk I couldn't help myself. Well the outside looked like a normal school trunk the inside was fabulous. It had a kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom and a room with a Jacuzzi. It even had a mini elevator to take me to the triple locking trunk lid. Muggle London and a few pounds help fill my clothing closets and food lockers.
/Scene Break/
It was unfortunate that my mentors responsible for my training knew me too well. If I had my way I would have just appeared in the Great Hall's of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry probably dressed in the finest Muggle business suit. I sent Hedwig notifying them that I would be in attendance. Right now I was sitting in the Hogwarts express. I was in my T-shirt and jeans and in a compartment twenty minutes before the train was to depart and was just looking out the trains' window.
The platform started to fill up and then got busy with rushing students saying goodbye to their parents. At the last minute a gaggle of redheads rushed on the platform and still they almost missed the train. As the train ride started it started to get a little weird. A dirty blond haired girl dragged in a heavyset boy and plopped down on the bench across from me.
"Hi, I'm Luna Lovegood and this is my boyfriend Neville Longbottom. Neville this is Harry who has too many last names."
"Nice to meet you Harry." Neville mumbled.
The compartment door slid open once again and a bushy haired girl entered.
"Neville why aren't you helping Ron look for Harry Potter? You heard Dumbledore's instructions. You know Ron's mouth is going to get him into trouble if he finds Potter."
"Hermione, Ron is not my responsibility…"
"Get out of the way mudblood!" This was said by a blonde boy followed by two lumps that appeared to be semi-human." Nothing here except a mudblood and a couple of losers."
"Yep that's me, Mr. Cool the mudblood. What sewer did you crawl out of slimeball?"
"I'll have you know that I am Draco Malfoy of The House Malfoy."
"Oh, I've heard of that house of Death Eaters. Do move along your polluting this compartment with your presents." He looked like he wanted to argue with his wand but he and his two goons seem to be pushed out of the compartment down the corridor. It was almost like magic.
"What did you do? What spell was that? I didn't see you use a wand. Can you do wandless magic?" The girl Hermione seemed to be on a roll. I just pulled my baseball cap further down and pretended to go to sleep. That's when the redheaded Ron showed up…
"I've looked all over the train I can't find Potter, who's this? What is he doing in our compartment?"
I was hoping they would survive the rest of the train trip as my excitement and good humor was slowly slipping away.
/Scene Break/
I followed the majority of the students to the terrestrial drawn carriages which of course took us through the Hogwarts gates. There mounted on top of huge stone pillars large boar gargoyles with spread wings sat as if in defense. We arrived at steps that led to the huge front doors of Hogwarts. I noticed these large gargoyles seem to be on top of every tower. Two of the gargoyle set high above the entrance doors. Since there didn't seem to be anyone around to provide guidance I started playing my arrival by ear, I grabbed a seat at one of the four tables next to a stunning blond headed girl. I was still decked out in my Muggle outfit and baseball cap. I didn't have to wait long for the fun to start.
"Who the hell are you? She asked in a very icy manner.
"Like the T-shirt says I'm 'Mr. Cool' and I am just hanging around since nobody gave me any instructions on what I'm supposed to be doing to get enrolled in this institution." Of course I hadn't given them much time to respond to my owl.
"Well don't be hanging around me! Oh you're in for it now, here comes Professor Snape."
My mentors had intentionally left out any description of the people that I would be meeting except for Dumbledore. They wanted me to draw my own conclusions about people. This Snape fellow looks like he would curse first and ask questions later. I had run into this type many times in my past but couldn't remember just where. It turned out that I was correct as he charged up, and without saying a word, attempted to snatch me up off of the bench by grabbing my throat. Newton's law states that, the vector's sum of the forces F on an object is equal to the mass m of that object multiplied by the acceleration a of the object: F = ma.
That grab would have worked unless his hand ran to something unmovable with an electrical sting. That something was a unique shield that I put up with a thought. It was like slamming your open handed fist into a stone wall. Some serious verbal curses were heard from this area as Snape's words crossed the hall.
"Oh! Here comes the second team you're going to get an earful now." The blonde girl smugly said.
"Who are you and why are you not in school robes!" The professor snarled.
"Since I haven't been enrolled as a student, yet, I saw no reason to be dressed in your stupid school robes."
"Oh, you must be Harry Potter. I am Professor McGonagall and you need to join the first years over there so you can be sorted into your house. I do wish you had worn your robes today."
"No problems Prof." I pulled out my jewel encrusted wooden stick, waved it in a circle over my head, and I was now in school robes. That got the professor speechless. The wand movement had nothing to do any recognized spell. Finally my name was called and the hat was put on my head.
"Holy jumpin Jehoshaphat, you're going to fry my brains. Did you really go there and did they really…"
"Yep and yes. And now I'm an emancipated Lord over four houses with Riddle coming back as Voldemort. Actually he is already back, but he has yet to find a suitable body. Of course I haven't mentioned Dumbledore's little plans and his greater good plots. Never a dull moment being in my shoes."
"Well the best of luck Harry it of course has to be, GRIFFINDOR!
/Scene Break/
The welcoming feast food was quite good as we got to witness the late arriving Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher who was introduced by Dumbledore. It was a shame that Professor Moody was a phony, his double aurora told that tale.
Dumbledore introduced the Tri-wizard Tournament, "The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October but now it's Bedtime! Chop Chop!"
"Mr. Potter would you please accompany me to the headmaster's office, Professor Dumbledore would like to have a word with you." Professor McGonagall directed and then led the way to the headmaster's office. As we headed down the different quarters I noticed that the torches that lit the Great Hall as in the corridors were held by assorted miniature gargoyles, even the entrance to the headmaster's office was guarded by huge gargoyle.
"Harry my boy; have a seat, sherbet lemon drop perhaps?"
"No thank you headmaster. Might I ask the reasons for this interview?"
"Unfortunately I must start by saying how disappointed I am in you for your actions against Professor Snape. I also have a number of questions that, I'm afraid, must be answered."
"Headmaster I did nothing to Professor Snape. Snape did whatever to himself. You're being disappointed and afraid is indeed your problem, you might consider seeking professional help."
"I'll leave that matter as an opinion but I must ask where have you been all these many years?"
"I'm afraid you don't have the right to be asking me that headmaster. In any case that would be telling and truthfully it's none of your business. Headmaster you've enjoyed a few years of tuition in my absence but you don't hear me questioning you for a refund. Please be assured the only reason I'm here is for owl testing. Some incompetent boob found some incompetent ministry official and had some idiotic laws passed. Since I wish to reside in England I must comply with these stupid laws, up to a point."
"Harry my boy I must insist because you see I am your magical guardian. Now tell me where you have been all these years."
"Why don't you stick it where the sun don't shine! You failed to provide a trial to Lord Black and even though he died in Azkaban his Will was still valid. I am now the current Lord Black and an emancipated adult. Unless you have some school business to discuss this discussion is terminated."
Luckily I bumped into the Weasley twins who are out skulking around after curfew. I should have been back in the Gryffindor common room with a provided password and not out wandering the halls. The twins help me out of the corridors and into the Gryffindor common room. Unfortunately I was besieged with questions because I was the famous Harry Potter. I escaped up to the dorm room, with the help of Neville, only to find another fan boy called Ron Weasley. Ron was to appoint himself as my new best mate and stuck to me like a corn plaster for the next month.