Chapter 36 Back to Hogwarts at Last
"Good evening Harry, enjoy bashing the death eaters?" Harry dismounted, with a wave of his staff the saddle and pack were gone, Diablo snorted and trotted down to the lake.
"Yes I certainly did." He replied to the headmaster's question. Dumbledore eyed the longbow and quiver across his back with interest. For a moment Harry thought that he could see a look of recognition, as if Dumbledore was trying to remember something. Harry remembered having the bow with him when he had saved Dumbledore and his brother, many years ago for Dumbledore.
"Is that dragon bone?"
"Yes, both kinds."
"Severus returned with some interesting stories, were those darts of yours poisoned?"
"None of the ones that hit him were." Dumbledore nodded and walked with Harry back up to the castle, Harry continued up to the Gryffindor dormitories, none of the Gryffindors had stayed over the break so he had them all to himself. Which was fine by him, he gave them a thorough inspection, finally deciding that they were safe he created a hole hidden in the wall, here he placed ten miniature crossbows set to fire their arrows as soon as the panel in front of them vanished, which it would only do on his command. Each arrow had barbs so once it was in it wouldn't come out. All were aimed at the portrait hole. Harry arranged his things in the dormitory then went to go see Hedwig, the students would be back tomorrow, and he couldn't wait to see their reactions.
**
The next evening the students came streaming into the hall, near the end of the rush Harry slipped in, he had refused to wear the uniform black robes, but instead wore a black long sleeved shirt under a black vest laced up the front. He wore black pants tucked into the tops of black boots, black socks, belt; everything in black, even the strip of leather tying back his hair was black. The gold buckles on his boots were in the shape of a ancient rune for phoenix, as was his belt buckle and the clasps on each shoulder holding his long black cloak that nearly swept the floor, he did not wear the Gryffindor badge, and he carried his staff in one hand. The hall slowly quieted as he walked down and sat down across from Ron and Hermione nodding a greeting to everyone in his house who stared back in shock.
"Christmas gone, and now I have a few announcements. Firstly, as you have noticed, Mr. Potter is back with us again." Here everyone turned to look at Harry, farther away people were standing to get a good look. "Secondly in three weeks Hogwarts will be hosting the Bulgarian national Quidditch team for three days, and four weeks after that the English national Quidditch team." This created a storm of excited whispers. "Lastly, because of increased dark activities Hogsmead visits have been cancelled and security is being tightened. No one is allowed out of their dormitories after 5:00, professor Sprout will be attempting to train some plants to attack only dark wizards and placing them at the entrances. The professors and I will be going over all of the Hogwarts enchantments and making sure all are working at their best. That is all, now lets eat!"
"Harry, it's so great to have you back! Why didn't you owl us when you returned?" Ron asked.
"I was a little busy…don't ask. And after losing my memory and spending four years in a different time it's is going to take me a while to readjust."
"Oh, you really did lose all your memory? How did you get it back?" Hermione asked him curiously.
"Almost all of it, all I remembered was most of the magic I knew and fighting. It slowly came back over the years, and I developed a form of meditation that helped me reorganize it and find the missing pieces. Not exactly fun. So how has Hogwarts been without me?" He asked calmly, keeping his voice a little cold and neutral.
"Not as much fun, um, different, Malfoy's been gloating over your…death." Ron said. Harry raised and eyebrow at that, maybe Malfoy wouldn't be so overjoyed when he saw what Harry had done to his father.
"Harry! Your hand, what happened?!" Dean asked in astonished horror, staring at Harry's left hand, at the missing ring finger.
"Ah that, while on a mission my group and I had the bad luck to on Mt. Phoenix when it erupted. Mt. Phoenix was a volcano, well over 22,000 feet high, after the eruption it was only about 20,000 feet. A large blob of lava hit my hand while I was rescuing a friend, melted my finger right off. And I've got horrible scarring on my back form lava burns." Harry said, watching as they all tried to not stare at the missing finger.
"Hey is it true that you're Godric Gryffindor's soul brother?" Lee called form a few seats down.
"Yes." Harry replied, he didn't bother to elaborate, any mention of Godric was still painful, the gaping wound in his soul would never fade. He had allowed this information to be released, he could use it to explain his coldness and how distant he knew he must seem. A War Mage is only at peace when around other war mages.
He really didn't feel at all comfortable, surrounded by all these people who's magic worked nothing like his, who didn't know how to survive on their own in the wilderness, who wouldn't stand together as a unified force, they were weak and would break under even slight pressure. They did not know how to fight, they did not know how to die. Even before he had gone back in time he had already had a mind different from theirs, he understood that now. Their minds pressed in on him, a jumbled mess. It was unusual, after all these years. A war mage's mind is made of ordered controlled fire, these witches and wizards reminded him of tangled balls of yarn after a cat finished with it. Harry frowned and tried to ignore it, knowing it would take time to really grow used to it, and knowing that in their jumbled mess they would never be fully able to understand him. Dumbledore stood up again at the end of the meal to make a few more announcements. Harry nearly sighed in relief as their thought patterns focused and unwound a bit more. In the name of everything good they didn't even THINK the way he did!
"Students because of recent attacks if you see anyone or anything on the school grounds that shouldn't be here please report it to a teacher or Mr. Potter at once. Also Harry asked me to tell you to please leave the horse you might see on the grounds alone. He is a powerful war horse and not particularly friendly to anyone else besides his master. And my last announcement, for those of you who are interested there is a defense club starting. I mean martial arts, fencing, and archery, taught by Mr. Potter, Professor Figg and myself, this club will also include dueling. If you hate physical exercise don't come, we intend to get you in shape for a fight incase you are ever attacked. Those of you who are thinking about possibly becoming aurors should certainly attend. Sign up sheet and descriptions of the class will be posted in the entrance hall. Good night." The students left, chattering excitedly, Dumbledore signaled Harry to stay after which he did. When the last students had left Harry walked over to where the professors were standing.
"Harry in history class I would like to do a unit on the War Mages and that time period.
Could you help?" Professor Binns asked.
"Certainly professor."
"How much do you know about the Phoenix Mountains? It was a continent almost the size of Australia that was around then, though it flattened out and joined with Europe to become most of England."
"That is where the Palace of the War Mages was located."
"Do you know about the mountain tribes?"
"I lived with one for nearly two years."
"What about the elves and giants war? I know that was seventy years after you were there…"
"I watched most of the major battles and it was I who arranged things so that they would end up making peace."
"You did?"
"Part of my responsibility as Keeper of the Ways is to make sure everything turns out as it was supposed to."
"That is rather confusing…did you change history?"
"No, I had already done it you see, in that time, I just had to go do it again so that history wouldn't change. It is rather difficult to explain but no I have never changed history, merely made it happen the way it was supposed to, in our reality."
"The elves council?"
"I was one of the grand Master War Mages assigned to guard the king of the elves during it, as there was an assassin after him."
"I don't suppose you know anything about Merlin as a child?"
"It was I who saved him from the fire that burned down his home when he was five. And I saved him from a flash flood when he was ten, I know him well and advised him in learning about his powers."
"How come your name has never surfaced before then in the records?"
"It has, I have two names Professor."
"Oh? What are they?"
"The one you know and then it translated into High K'haril, the language of the War Mages. Don't ask what that is."
"Alright then, what about the Dark Wizard that tried to kill everyone at the Sorcerers Council of 1000 AD?"
"I was still in training with the War Mages, the Glaz'rahan students were sent to guard them throughout the three day meeting. I held off his supporters while a friend of mine killed him."
"Why didn't you kill him?"
"That would have changed history."
"How do you know when something will change history?"
"Extra sensory perception, its just a feeling I get."
"Okay then, I'll set up a timetable of when you should come…it will probably mean you'll miss a few other classes. But I think you can keep up." Dumbledore said, professor Binns floated off through the wall, looking very pleased.
"This could get interesting, what do you know about human to inanimate object transfigurations?" Professor McGonagal asked.
"With a wand? Nothing, and I probably can't do it with a wand anyway, wandlessly I can do up to three people at a time, five or six if I use the staff."
"Alright then Potter, do you know anything about the Hearing Correction potion?" Snape asked, clearly hoping Harry wouldn't, Harry let his amusement show a bit.
"Professor my soul brother invented it." Snape looked very put off at this and stalked off. Dumbledore looked at Harry with amusement.
"I think the quality of teaching here is about to take a sharp upward turn." He said, Harry chuckled. "Are you going to be writing any history books?"
"Oh yes, of course, good evening Sirius." He added to the big black dog that had come over to them, McGonagal, Snape, Sprout, Figg and Dumbledore were the only ones who knew about him and the students certainly didn't so he had to stay in dog form most f the time.
"Harry how much do you know about the enchantments surrounding this school?" Dumbledore asked, suddenly serious.
"I have not gotten a chance to examine them yet, I can do so while meditating. I suspect though that they aren't working at all. I do sense them so they are there, but they are not fully activated." Harry replied, twisting his staff back and forth in his fingers so the crystal glittered as it absorbed light and reflected it out again, he frowned, this was disturbing, and nothing should be able to stop those enchantments. "Once I get the chance I'll get back to you on it." He said, Dumbledore nodded and left, the others followed, Harry went up to the Gryffindor common room.
"Harry, over here." Harry went over to where Ron and Hermione were sitting and took the remaining chair.
"Alright, start talking, what happened in the Ways?" Ron asked impatiently.
"First off I cannot tell you a lot of it." *Especially the War Mages* Harry said and began to relate to them his story, the whole common room, all of Gryffindor, was sitting around listening excitedly. Harry didn't show them the shark jaws, but he did show them the tooth. Leaving out what that power meant, careful to make no mention of the war Mages. By midnight he was only done with his first year with the Lazue tribe. Everyone went to bed, Harry promising to continue the story later.
"Night Harry, don't go vanishing in your sleep, we need you for the next Quidditch match." Ron said as they drifted off, Harry blinked in surprise, he had completely forgotten about Quidditch.
**
Dark blue mists parted before him Voldemort's castle ruins were clearly visible.
Voldemort sat on his throne, watching as three death eaters led in six prisoners. All six had been tortured nearly to insanity.
"Now lets see, Leroy, you haven't gotten to kill anyone lately, you get one. And Crabbe, Nott, Avery, Selul, and Lucius, you each get to kill one of them. They're to be left hanging from street lamps in muggle London.
**
Harry woke, his scar burning angrily. He sighed and closed his eyes, dark blue, then it was a prediction of the future. He rolled over and picked up a piece of parchment, not noticing that it appeared out of thin air. He wrote down a description of the dream, adding that it would take place in the future, then he folded the letter and turned to Hedwig beside his bed. The owl had been so happy to see him; he'd had to strictly tell her not to come down to dinner with him.
"Hey girl can you take this to Dumbledore? Thanks." The owl, suddenly acting all important flew off, Harry went back to sleep. He'd worry about the dream in the morning. The mists hadn't been that dark, the darker the blue mists were the closer the dream was to becoming reality. Red mist meant it was currently happening, and green was the past.
He's back at Hogwarts, happy now? Updating soon I think, I'm trying to get a certain number of chapter done before I leave on vacation. Please review.
"Good evening Harry, enjoy bashing the death eaters?" Harry dismounted, with a wave of his staff the saddle and pack were gone, Diablo snorted and trotted down to the lake.
"Yes I certainly did." He replied to the headmaster's question. Dumbledore eyed the longbow and quiver across his back with interest. For a moment Harry thought that he could see a look of recognition, as if Dumbledore was trying to remember something. Harry remembered having the bow with him when he had saved Dumbledore and his brother, many years ago for Dumbledore.
"Is that dragon bone?"
"Yes, both kinds."
"Severus returned with some interesting stories, were those darts of yours poisoned?"
"None of the ones that hit him were." Dumbledore nodded and walked with Harry back up to the castle, Harry continued up to the Gryffindor dormitories, none of the Gryffindors had stayed over the break so he had them all to himself. Which was fine by him, he gave them a thorough inspection, finally deciding that they were safe he created a hole hidden in the wall, here he placed ten miniature crossbows set to fire their arrows as soon as the panel in front of them vanished, which it would only do on his command. Each arrow had barbs so once it was in it wouldn't come out. All were aimed at the portrait hole. Harry arranged his things in the dormitory then went to go see Hedwig, the students would be back tomorrow, and he couldn't wait to see their reactions.
**
The next evening the students came streaming into the hall, near the end of the rush Harry slipped in, he had refused to wear the uniform black robes, but instead wore a black long sleeved shirt under a black vest laced up the front. He wore black pants tucked into the tops of black boots, black socks, belt; everything in black, even the strip of leather tying back his hair was black. The gold buckles on his boots were in the shape of a ancient rune for phoenix, as was his belt buckle and the clasps on each shoulder holding his long black cloak that nearly swept the floor, he did not wear the Gryffindor badge, and he carried his staff in one hand. The hall slowly quieted as he walked down and sat down across from Ron and Hermione nodding a greeting to everyone in his house who stared back in shock.
"Christmas gone, and now I have a few announcements. Firstly, as you have noticed, Mr. Potter is back with us again." Here everyone turned to look at Harry, farther away people were standing to get a good look. "Secondly in three weeks Hogwarts will be hosting the Bulgarian national Quidditch team for three days, and four weeks after that the English national Quidditch team." This created a storm of excited whispers. "Lastly, because of increased dark activities Hogsmead visits have been cancelled and security is being tightened. No one is allowed out of their dormitories after 5:00, professor Sprout will be attempting to train some plants to attack only dark wizards and placing them at the entrances. The professors and I will be going over all of the Hogwarts enchantments and making sure all are working at their best. That is all, now lets eat!"
"Harry, it's so great to have you back! Why didn't you owl us when you returned?" Ron asked.
"I was a little busy…don't ask. And after losing my memory and spending four years in a different time it's is going to take me a while to readjust."
"Oh, you really did lose all your memory? How did you get it back?" Hermione asked him curiously.
"Almost all of it, all I remembered was most of the magic I knew and fighting. It slowly came back over the years, and I developed a form of meditation that helped me reorganize it and find the missing pieces. Not exactly fun. So how has Hogwarts been without me?" He asked calmly, keeping his voice a little cold and neutral.
"Not as much fun, um, different, Malfoy's been gloating over your…death." Ron said. Harry raised and eyebrow at that, maybe Malfoy wouldn't be so overjoyed when he saw what Harry had done to his father.
"Harry! Your hand, what happened?!" Dean asked in astonished horror, staring at Harry's left hand, at the missing ring finger.
"Ah that, while on a mission my group and I had the bad luck to on Mt. Phoenix when it erupted. Mt. Phoenix was a volcano, well over 22,000 feet high, after the eruption it was only about 20,000 feet. A large blob of lava hit my hand while I was rescuing a friend, melted my finger right off. And I've got horrible scarring on my back form lava burns." Harry said, watching as they all tried to not stare at the missing finger.
"Hey is it true that you're Godric Gryffindor's soul brother?" Lee called form a few seats down.
"Yes." Harry replied, he didn't bother to elaborate, any mention of Godric was still painful, the gaping wound in his soul would never fade. He had allowed this information to be released, he could use it to explain his coldness and how distant he knew he must seem. A War Mage is only at peace when around other war mages.
He really didn't feel at all comfortable, surrounded by all these people who's magic worked nothing like his, who didn't know how to survive on their own in the wilderness, who wouldn't stand together as a unified force, they were weak and would break under even slight pressure. They did not know how to fight, they did not know how to die. Even before he had gone back in time he had already had a mind different from theirs, he understood that now. Their minds pressed in on him, a jumbled mess. It was unusual, after all these years. A war mage's mind is made of ordered controlled fire, these witches and wizards reminded him of tangled balls of yarn after a cat finished with it. Harry frowned and tried to ignore it, knowing it would take time to really grow used to it, and knowing that in their jumbled mess they would never be fully able to understand him. Dumbledore stood up again at the end of the meal to make a few more announcements. Harry nearly sighed in relief as their thought patterns focused and unwound a bit more. In the name of everything good they didn't even THINK the way he did!
"Students because of recent attacks if you see anyone or anything on the school grounds that shouldn't be here please report it to a teacher or Mr. Potter at once. Also Harry asked me to tell you to please leave the horse you might see on the grounds alone. He is a powerful war horse and not particularly friendly to anyone else besides his master. And my last announcement, for those of you who are interested there is a defense club starting. I mean martial arts, fencing, and archery, taught by Mr. Potter, Professor Figg and myself, this club will also include dueling. If you hate physical exercise don't come, we intend to get you in shape for a fight incase you are ever attacked. Those of you who are thinking about possibly becoming aurors should certainly attend. Sign up sheet and descriptions of the class will be posted in the entrance hall. Good night." The students left, chattering excitedly, Dumbledore signaled Harry to stay after which he did. When the last students had left Harry walked over to where the professors were standing.
"Harry in history class I would like to do a unit on the War Mages and that time period.
Could you help?" Professor Binns asked.
"Certainly professor."
"How much do you know about the Phoenix Mountains? It was a continent almost the size of Australia that was around then, though it flattened out and joined with Europe to become most of England."
"That is where the Palace of the War Mages was located."
"Do you know about the mountain tribes?"
"I lived with one for nearly two years."
"What about the elves and giants war? I know that was seventy years after you were there…"
"I watched most of the major battles and it was I who arranged things so that they would end up making peace."
"You did?"
"Part of my responsibility as Keeper of the Ways is to make sure everything turns out as it was supposed to."
"That is rather confusing…did you change history?"
"No, I had already done it you see, in that time, I just had to go do it again so that history wouldn't change. It is rather difficult to explain but no I have never changed history, merely made it happen the way it was supposed to, in our reality."
"The elves council?"
"I was one of the grand Master War Mages assigned to guard the king of the elves during it, as there was an assassin after him."
"I don't suppose you know anything about Merlin as a child?"
"It was I who saved him from the fire that burned down his home when he was five. And I saved him from a flash flood when he was ten, I know him well and advised him in learning about his powers."
"How come your name has never surfaced before then in the records?"
"It has, I have two names Professor."
"Oh? What are they?"
"The one you know and then it translated into High K'haril, the language of the War Mages. Don't ask what that is."
"Alright then, what about the Dark Wizard that tried to kill everyone at the Sorcerers Council of 1000 AD?"
"I was still in training with the War Mages, the Glaz'rahan students were sent to guard them throughout the three day meeting. I held off his supporters while a friend of mine killed him."
"Why didn't you kill him?"
"That would have changed history."
"How do you know when something will change history?"
"Extra sensory perception, its just a feeling I get."
"Okay then, I'll set up a timetable of when you should come…it will probably mean you'll miss a few other classes. But I think you can keep up." Dumbledore said, professor Binns floated off through the wall, looking very pleased.
"This could get interesting, what do you know about human to inanimate object transfigurations?" Professor McGonagal asked.
"With a wand? Nothing, and I probably can't do it with a wand anyway, wandlessly I can do up to three people at a time, five or six if I use the staff."
"Alright then Potter, do you know anything about the Hearing Correction potion?" Snape asked, clearly hoping Harry wouldn't, Harry let his amusement show a bit.
"Professor my soul brother invented it." Snape looked very put off at this and stalked off. Dumbledore looked at Harry with amusement.
"I think the quality of teaching here is about to take a sharp upward turn." He said, Harry chuckled. "Are you going to be writing any history books?"
"Oh yes, of course, good evening Sirius." He added to the big black dog that had come over to them, McGonagal, Snape, Sprout, Figg and Dumbledore were the only ones who knew about him and the students certainly didn't so he had to stay in dog form most f the time.
"Harry how much do you know about the enchantments surrounding this school?" Dumbledore asked, suddenly serious.
"I have not gotten a chance to examine them yet, I can do so while meditating. I suspect though that they aren't working at all. I do sense them so they are there, but they are not fully activated." Harry replied, twisting his staff back and forth in his fingers so the crystal glittered as it absorbed light and reflected it out again, he frowned, this was disturbing, and nothing should be able to stop those enchantments. "Once I get the chance I'll get back to you on it." He said, Dumbledore nodded and left, the others followed, Harry went up to the Gryffindor common room.
"Harry, over here." Harry went over to where Ron and Hermione were sitting and took the remaining chair.
"Alright, start talking, what happened in the Ways?" Ron asked impatiently.
"First off I cannot tell you a lot of it." *Especially the War Mages* Harry said and began to relate to them his story, the whole common room, all of Gryffindor, was sitting around listening excitedly. Harry didn't show them the shark jaws, but he did show them the tooth. Leaving out what that power meant, careful to make no mention of the war Mages. By midnight he was only done with his first year with the Lazue tribe. Everyone went to bed, Harry promising to continue the story later.
"Night Harry, don't go vanishing in your sleep, we need you for the next Quidditch match." Ron said as they drifted off, Harry blinked in surprise, he had completely forgotten about Quidditch.
**
Dark blue mists parted before him Voldemort's castle ruins were clearly visible.
Voldemort sat on his throne, watching as three death eaters led in six prisoners. All six had been tortured nearly to insanity.
"Now lets see, Leroy, you haven't gotten to kill anyone lately, you get one. And Crabbe, Nott, Avery, Selul, and Lucius, you each get to kill one of them. They're to be left hanging from street lamps in muggle London.
**
Harry woke, his scar burning angrily. He sighed and closed his eyes, dark blue, then it was a prediction of the future. He rolled over and picked up a piece of parchment, not noticing that it appeared out of thin air. He wrote down a description of the dream, adding that it would take place in the future, then he folded the letter and turned to Hedwig beside his bed. The owl had been so happy to see him; he'd had to strictly tell her not to come down to dinner with him.
"Hey girl can you take this to Dumbledore? Thanks." The owl, suddenly acting all important flew off, Harry went back to sleep. He'd worry about the dream in the morning. The mists hadn't been that dark, the darker the blue mists were the closer the dream was to becoming reality. Red mist meant it was currently happening, and green was the past.
He's back at Hogwarts, happy now? Updating soon I think, I'm trying to get a certain number of chapter done before I leave on vacation. Please review.