A/N: Wow, I actually got reviews?! I can't tell you how amazing it is to see that people actually read this. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Some info about this story: I decided to write it because I wanted to make a creative, combat-driven HP fanfic. There's so much that magic *could* do, but JKR (and, to be fair, most fanfics) tend to make magic a 'point-and-shoot' type of situation. I wanted to do something more imaginative, push the boundaries of what I could conceive of using magic to.. well, to wage war. Harry will be very weak for the first 20 or so chapters, because I am trying to make it realistic within the boundaries of the Wizarding World. But trust me, things will get wild. Harry will never be a 'god' or tremendously OP!, but he will use magic in different ways than what we normally see. I hope I pull it off, and I hope you all enjoy it!
albus-potter-greengrass: It will likely be Daphne or Susan. I like them both, but I'm only at around chapter 27 in my outline, so honestly we'll have to see where the story goes.
Soniasingh: Your review made me very thoughtful. Full disclosure, Neville will pay a big part in the first/second year, but will be more of a side character from then on. It's challenging to speed through to the 'main' plotline without ignoring everything that happens in between! Still, I hope you'll stick with me. I promise that by the end of 2nd year, canon will be long, long gone.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my OCs.
Chapter II
Three people arrived in the infirmary of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Albus Dumbledore levitated Harry Potter's limp body into a nearby bed. Madam Poppy Pomfrey, the school Mediwitch, bustled over and administered a series of diagnostic charms, her expression turning more and more grim.
"Albus Dumbledore, how could you! The boy is half-starved and shows evidence of years of physical abuse!"
As Minerva McGonagall rounded on him, the fury of a thousand suns evident on her face, Dumbledore inquired, "But that is the extent of his injuries? He was hit with a second Killing Curse less than an hour ago, Poppy."
Eyes wide, the healer shook her head. "There's no evidence of that, but then what evidence would I look for? No one's ever survived it except -"
"I TOLD you they were the WORST sort of Muggles, Albus! We cannot send him back there!" interrupted McGonagall, unable to hold her tongue, her Scottish brogue appearing in her rage. "Harry must be found a new home."
"Minerva, today has shown that there are still wizards that wish him harm, and are more than capable of acting on those desires. Would you have me place him with an innocent family? How many of them would have survived the curse that young Harry endured yet again?"
"He is a child, Albus. Could you look Lily and James in the eye and tell them what you just told me?"
A shadow passed over Dumbledore's face, and for a moment he looked every one of his 109 years of age. "No. But it must be done. Hopefully, today's assassin believed he succeeded. Harry should remain safe from other wizards at the Dursleys. I'll instruct them to pull him out of primary school and to remain home as often as possible." He turned to the elderly matron. "Poppy, can you heal his injuries to the best of your abilities? He can remain here until tomorrow morning. I will approach the Dursleys this evening and remind them of our agreement."
Poppy nodded, her expression stony. "I'll do my best to vanish and regrow the broken bones that healed incorrectly. Instruct Severus to brew me a full set of nutrient potions, it's apparent he isn't being fed there. You had better make your message clear to them, Albus. No child in our world would face this sort of abuse."
Before Dumbledore could respond, a quiet "Excuse me?" came from the bed.
Harry Potter awoke on the softest bed he'd ever been on. The sheets were clean, the mattress soft, and he even had a pillow beneath his head! He tried to stretch his arms and legs, but the numbing charm that the Auror mediwizard had cast was still affecting him. His blurry vision - 'What happened to my glasses?' - could make out three adults nearby. Never having been in a hospital, Harry wasn't able to recognize the antiseptic smell and sterile nature of the infirmary for what it was.
"Excuse me? Where am I?"
The tall blurry form approached and sat down on the edge of his bed. "Harry, my name is Albus Dumbledore. You had an accident, and then were attacked by a bad person. Can you tell us how you feel, and what you remember?"
"Mean person... do you mean Dudley? He's my cousin." Harry could hear, but not see, one of the blurs beyond Dumbledore choking in anger.
"Why don't you tell us what happened, Harry?"
"Well, Dudley and his friends were playing Harry Hunting-"
"What's 'Harry Hunting'?" one of the female voices asked.
"They chase me, and if I can't get away they hit me." He paused for a response, but there was none. Without his glasses, he was unable to see the look of utter contempt that McGonagall levied at Dumbledore. "Dudley likes to get me on the way to school. They.. they were kicking me, I couldn't get away. I wanted to get away so bad, and then I was falling somewhere..." Harry trailed off. "I can't remember after that."
There was a moment of quiet, while Albus gathered his thoughts and made a decision. "Harry, you are at a place called Hogwarts. It's the school that your mother and father went to. You were brought here to treat your injuries."
"Another school? What injuries? I don't feel bad, I feel better than I norm-" Harry abruptly stopped talking.
One of the women asked encouragingly, "Yes? Better than what, Harry?"
He didn't respond. Every time he'd told anyone about being hurt, it only got worse. His green eyes dimmed, and he lowered his gaze to his hands in his lap.
"Harry, what do you know of your Mum and Dad?"
"Aunt Petunia told me how they were drunks, and how my dad got them killed in a car crash."
At this, several cries of outrage came from the adults, and sparks appeared from something in the hand of the woman to his left. Harry shrank back against the headboard and looked around for an exit. The hand that came down on his shoulder though, was gentle and not heavy.
"Harry," the man began, "Your parents, James and Lily Potter, were two of the most outstanding people I have ever met. They were not what your Aunt told you." The boy's attention perked, and his eyes snapped to Dumbledore upon hearing his parents' names.
"You didn't know their names, did you?" asked Dumbledore with a sigh. "Harry, this is going to sound strange, but the school you are at is a school of magic. You are a wizard, Harry Potter."
Harry gave no reaction. He had learned, from years of experience, that jokes weren't funny for him, and usually involved a hefty amount of pain. In the end, he decided to try and find a way out of this strange place. "When can I leave here?"
"You'll remain in the infirmary until tomorrow morning, Harry. I'm going to speak with your relatives, and there will be some changes at your home. I'd like you to focus on getting better for now. Madam Pomfrey will have a late breakfast brought for you, as much as you want."
"Mr. Potter, do you normally wear glasses?" Poppy saw him squinting towards Dumbledore.
"Yes, but I don't know where they are."
"No matter, replacements can be easily acquired." A brief wave of his wand, and Dumbledore placed the glasses he'd conjured on Harry's face.
Harry stared at the wand in Dumbledore's hand. "You were telling the truth about magic?" he squeaked.
"Yes, and you will be capable of that and so much more when you start here, Harry. That falling sensation that you experienced at school? That was what we call 'accidental magic'; you wanted to get away, and so your magic made it so. It's quite common among magical children to experience, but rarely so dramatic as your situation."
"How can I learn more magic? Do I get to start tomorrow?"
McGonagall looked away, and a shadow passed over Pomfrey's face. "I'm sorry, Harry, but Hogwarts' first year begins when you are eleven years old. You have two more years to go." Harry reluctantly nodded his acceptance. "I know that it must seem very unfair to learn about magic and not be able to use it, but it is of the utmost importance that you not tell anyone who doesn't already know about magic. There is a whole world of magic out there, but it has to be kept a secret. Do you understand, Harry?"
Harry nodded, mind whirling at the revelations he'd had in the last few minutes. Dumbledore stood, and nodded to Harry, before turning away. "Minerva, perhaps later in the day Hagrid can give young Harry a tour of Hogsmeade. I will inform Severus of the potions you require, Madam Pomfrey. Harry, enjoy your stay at Hogwarts."
As Dumbledore took his leave, a tray piled high with bacon, sausage, pancakes, eggs, hashbrowns, and more appeared on Harry's lap.
For Harry, his experience at Hogwarts was... well, magical. All of his bruises and lingering injuries were healed by Madam Pomfrey, he had a full stomach for the first time in memory, and presently was strolling through the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade village alongside the largest person he'd ever seen.
"Alrigh' there Harry?" Hagrid asked, seeing Harry gaze around him in wonder.
"Yes Mr. Hagrid. It's just really neat!"
His excitement caused a booming laugh in the half-giant. "Sure is, Harry. And non' o' this 'Mr.' nonsense. I'm jus' Hagrid. So, wha' ya' feel like seein'? Bookstore? Joke shop? Lunch?"
Harry's stomach growled, despite eating mere hours before. "Can I see the bookstore, then lunch?"
"Sure thing, 'arry. C'mon."
"Um, Hagrid? Where are we?"
Hagrid slowed, realizing his stride easily outpaced Harry's. "I tol' ya, Hogsmeade!"
Harry shook his head. "No, I mean, where are we in the United Kingdom? Are we still near London?"
"Oh! Nah, we're in northern Scotland. Dufftown's 'bout a two hour walk to'tha east. But magical folk don' travel the same way that muggles do. You'll see that for y'self when we take ya back t'London tomorrow."
"Okay." And with that, the quiet boy focused on enjoying the sights and sounds of his first day in the magical world.
Later that night, Harry was experiencing being 'tucked in' for the first time he could remember, as Madam Pomfrey laid out the various potions for him to drink.
"Mrs. Pomfrey?"
"It's Madam Pomfrey, Harry."
"Sorry. Can I ask why nobody has figured out magic is real before?"
Pomfrey motioned for him to begin drinking the potions while she responded. "Many, many years ago, the muggles and magicals coexisted to an extent. But our abilities frightened them; muggles took to attacking wizards and witches, and so it was decided that we would separate ourselves from the muggles. We developed spells to make them forget magical things, and even to this day our government – the Ministry of Magic – has a full cadre of trained Obliviators to ensure that no muggles learn of our existence. That's why Professor Dumbledore said it is important you never tell anyone that doesn't know about magic that it exists."
Harry nodded, and with the last potion consumed, his eyes fluttered and he fell into a deep sleep. Pomfrey brushed her hand across his face, idly noticing as his hair moved that the trademark lightning bolt scar was barely noticeable.
Albus Dumbledore sat in his office, furiously weighing the changes that the day had wrought. Learning first that Harry was treated far worse than he'd ever imagined, finding out he'd survived yet another Killing Curse, and exposing Harry to magic sooner than anticipated all raised a number of problematic issues.
He'd visited the Dursley residence after the talk in the infirmary, and had to … persuade them to adjust Harry's circumstances. Even a soul as forgiving as Albus' did not take kindly to learning the boy had been stuffed in a cupboard like a box of seasonal decorations. Harry would return to find he had his own bedroom, and with any luck the physical abuse would cease.
Harry was truly a remarkable boy. Despite an upbringing similar to that of Tom Riddle, Harry couldn't be more different. Albus sucked on a lemon drop, and smiled at Fawkes' cheerful melody. At least this was one mistake of his that wouldn't threaten the Wizarding World.
His outstretched finger made contact with the glove, and with a jerk on his navel the portkey activated. Harry opened his eyes, nauseous from the spinning, and realized he was standing at the front door of Number Four, Privet Drive.
"Boy! Get in here this second, we need to discuss the house rules." Vernon's mood was like a cold shower over Harry. He numbly followed his uncle inside and stood in front of him and his aunt in their pristine living room.
"Those freaks came by and told us how you endangered Dudley. There will be no more of that, do you understand? You are not to speak or even look at Dudley outside of this home." That didn't sound too bad to Harry, so he nodded his understanding. "Now, it was also recommended to us that you no longer attend school. But Pet doesn't need a freak like you underfoot every waking minute, so you'll be back in class, on time and with no more incidents, are we clear?" Another nod, and Vernon continued. "You can sleep in Dudley's second bedroom from now on, but I don't want to see you in this house from breakfast until dinner. Now get changed and get to school, Dudley's already left."
Harry leapt up the stairs, grabbing his threadbare bookbag and rushed out the door. The teachers at school would often make him sit in the corner when he was late, and even regular days were difficult enough without the extra negative attention.
Turning the corner he could see the fence line of the primary school, and quickened his pace. He might not be late after all!
That thought was quickly dashed as a hand reached out and held him in place by grabbing Harry's bag. He turned, and saw an adult, maybe 30 years old, with curly brown hair. "You're looking pretty healthy for a kid that got beat up, fell off a roof, and shot with some sort of magic light."
At the word magic, Harry's jaw just about dropped to the floor. "My name's Samuel Chambers, and I was hoping you could explain just what happened here yesterday."