Author's Note:

The disclaimer is in chapter one.

I planned this to be one story, but I decided to turn this into a prequel for what is now two stories.

The explanation of the three levels of Wizardry are from Merlin ((1998) Miniseries Part 1).

Ch. 4 Decisions

1 Year Later

Harry tossed and turned restlessly in his bed, sweat poured from his body, soaking the luxurious sheets. The clock counting down the second until midnight. At the stroked of the midnight hour, a powerful burst of light engulfed our hero. It continued outward in an intense magical wave, washing over the room, and continuing to move outwards at the speed of light. The wave of magic washed over the palace and its inhabitants, out over the sleepy village, across the shores of Avalon.

The powerful magic clashed violently with the ancient 'wards' protecting the cloaked magical island. The affect if witnessed from space by an astronaut would have appeared to make the unseen magical isle blink in and out of existence for several minutes. The magical wave continued in rippling waves across the globe causing electronics everywhere to stop working for several seconds. The non-magical agencies that monitored such phenomenon would be puzzled by the static but would eventually dismiss it as a caused by a solar flare.

The magical inhabitants of the world would feel the effects of the magical wave as it washed over them. Most would ignore the feeling, but a few would be having varying reactions from intense pleasure to extreme pain. The magical creatures and beings who were more sensitive to the primal magical energies of the world would know that something special had just happened. In Queen Mab's private study, as she sat watching the fire dance in the fireplace, a knowing smile would grace her lips and a twinkle in her icy blue eyes.

Scene Changes

The next morning, Harry awoke with vigor, he stretched and leapt from bed full of energy. He quickly went about his morning ablutions before dressing for the day, in a pair of brown pants, silken shirt and vest, finishing the look with a belt and pair of boots. The last year had been good to the youth, a course of regular meals had seen him put weight back on his bony frame while regular activity and exercise had seen that he gained a sculpted, athletic body. The added sunshine saw his pale skin take on a healthy glow.

Harry left his rooms in the palace, cheerfully speaking with the palace staff as he made his way to the smaller dining room used by the queen and her closest family.

"Good morning," Harry greeted as he entered the room to find the queen and Prince Oberon already at the table.

"Good morning, Harry, dear," Mab greeted from her seat at the head of the table.

"Good morning," Oberon intoned in his distant way.

Harry took his usual seat opposite of Oberon on the queen's left. Frik stepped forward filling Harry's goblet with fresh-squeezed juice.

"Thank you, Frik," Harry showed his appreciation.

"If I'm not mistaken, Harry dear," Harry attention now on the queen as she spoke, "but today marks the day of your birth seventeen years ago. It is also the anniversary of your arrival here on Avalon."

Harry thought over the last year with fondness. "I believe it is customary for a part to be thrown in your honor," she continued to speak.

"I'm touched that you remembered, your majesty, but a party isn't necessary," he stated humbly.

"Really, I'm not used to such things, and I would feel most uncomfortable by all the attention," he added.

The queen smiled, "Yes, I know, dear, but nevertheless we will celebrate. If only with a small dinner gathering this evening."

"Of course, ma'am, if you wish," Harry agreed if only to make the queen happy.

With her plans made known, she watched as Harry tucked into his morning meal. Quite conversation over taking the trio as they ate.

Scene Change

That evening, Harry was surrounded by Queen Mab, Prince Oberon, and a few of the friends that Harry had made over the year as they wished him a Happy Birthday. Everyone was dressed in their finest clothes as the festivities were in full swing after a filling dinner and cake, the room was cleared as a band began to play and dancing ensued. Harry was usually charming self, but inside he had a troublesome feeling.

For the first time in a year, the eye socket of his missing eye was hurting greatly. A sharp pain crashed through him violently as a result the punch crystal goblets, punch bowl, the floor to ceiling windows and musical instruments shattered in response from the teen's magic lashing out. He collapsed, grasping his hand over his face, and the missing eye.

"Harry what is it, dear," the queen rushed to his side but was repelled by the boy's strong magic to protect him.

She gently cooed to Harry reassuring him. Mab began suppressing her own powerful magic in a show of submission, hoping to sway the teen's own magic that she wasn't a threat. Slowly, Harry's magic responded by opening a pathway for the queen to inch closer to Harry's side. She knelt beside him, wrapping him in a protective embrace.

Harry moaned and whimpered in pain as he was rocked. The party was at a complete stand still as the magical beings could sense the boy's distress. Oberon took charge of the crown and he and Frik quietly escorted the guests from the room. The duo made excuses for the queen and Harry they saw the guests out.

Meanwhile

Harry was lost in a world wind of disorientation. Images flashed through his mind in a way that remind him of old reels of silent movies, but with out the pause for commentary. He watched as a group was gathered around a table and he sat observing from a height a few inches above the table. Some of the people, he recognized, Bellatrix Lestrange sat to the right, Rudolphus and Rabasten Lestrange, across from them on the left, was Lucious Malfoy and Severus Snape. Peter Pettigrew sat further down the table with others that he recognized but couldn't recall their names and then there were those that he wasn't able to remember their names.

On the table, in front of them, a map laid upon the table. It seemed plans, were being made, but for what he did not know. Focusing on the map, he recognized the layout of the structures as being Diagon Alley. Beside the map, a copy of the Daily Prophet, with a headline, "Mass Breakout at Azkaban Prison," was emblazoned on the front, along with "Dark Mark Hovering over Destroyed Prison Fortress," and finally, "Boy-Who-Killed Found Dead Amongst the Ruins."

The images began to fade, Harry subconsciously reigned in his magic, his vision clearing on its own. Harry found himself in the embrace of the queen. "I'm…I'm all right, Queen Mab," he said shakily.

He tried to stand up, but was wobblily, the queen helped to steady him. He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head trying to clear his thoughts, he staggered a bit. "No, you're not, dear," she worryingly replied, "Here sit down," she commanded having seeing Oberon and Frik return, both men sharing worried expressions. The queen bid Frik to bring her a chair.

She all but shoved, gently, Harry into the chair as Frik sat it down behind Harry. Resting in the chair, Harry surveyed the damage done by his magic. Seeing his puzzled concern, Mab informed him, "Your magic is most potent when your upset Harry. I'm afraid that it responded violently to whatever ailed you."

Harry started to apologize, but Mab cut him off, "Don't worry everything that has been broken is easily fixed," she waived away his concern. "Though I do believe that it would be best if you began training your magic again, dear," seeing him about to protest, "I know that you have been abstaining from using any kind of magic, but I don't believe that will be possible anymore. Your magic has become too strong now that you have broken the final block on your magic after your third magical maturity."

"Magical maturity?" Harry asked puzzled.

Mab took the seat offered by Frik as Oberon handed a repaired crystal goblet filled with wine to the wizard. Harry took the offered drink with a grateful smile, "thanks," Oberon gave the wizard a grim smile.

"Yes, magical maturity is an event that every magical goes through three times in their life," Oberon offers the answer. "Though, each magical race is different about when the maturities happen. The final maturity marks the magic user's ascension into adulthood and the stabilization of the user's magical core and final power level…"

"I believe that for wizards the ages of eleven, fourteen, and seventeen are marked by the first, second, and third, final, maturity events." Oberon said as he took as seat next to his mother.

"Indeed, they do son," Mab looked proud that her son had remembered his schooling on the wizard's magic.

Then she looked grim as she looked to Harry again. "Though I believe that Harry final maturity was also is first and second, as well," She stated grimly.

"Why do you think that ma'am," Mab regarded Harry with a warm, comforting smile.

"I'm afraid that when you first arrived, Harry, the healers could detect the damaged remains of multiple blocks on your magic." Harry appeared upset and confused.

Oberon was to shock by his mother's announcement, gripping his own goblet of wine, firmly in his hand, he listened, "While it is quite common for a magical parent to place a block on their child, especially, if the child demonstrates exceedingly rare bouts of early childhood magic, it is done only for the child's and other members of the household…

…Magic responds to an individual's emotions and childhood is known to be a notoriously emotional time for any being. So, for safety reasons the block is placed or else the child could harm themselves or another in the household in a fit of emotional magic…" Harry seemed to understand the reasons for the block.

"But mine wasn't removed," Harry queried.

"It seems not, which is unusual because magical blocks dampen the individuals magic that for a person to use magic while its in place is exceedingly hard because the child has to work harder against the block to produce magic at all. The fact that you could do any type of magic with it in place speaks to your magical prowess in the first place…"

"It, also, seems to have worked in strengthening your magic beyond what it would have been normally if the block had been removed…" Mab paused thinking of the power she felt pass through her and wash over the island.

Oberon, too, was thinking of the night before when he was awoken from his slumber by a powerful rogue magical force. The experience had been intimidating even for his considerable amount of power. It caused him to give pause and thought to the wizard before him. His respect for the young wizard growing with the more he learned about the orphan. Though, it made sense as to why his mother had all but officially adopted the orphan wizard as her son.

"I don't want to be a danger to anyone," Harry said worried for his new friends.

"Then, you will take the offer of magical tutorial," Mab said hopefully, having expected more of a fight.

"Yes, Queen Mab," Harry nodded affirmatively, "I will."

"Excellent," Mab responded happily, "Frik you will tutor Harry, won't you, after all you have spent the most time around wizards and while magic at its core is the same for every magical race…there are subtle difference that make it unique to each race."

"Of course, my queen, I'd be honored to instruct Master Harry in the magical arts," Frik said having stepped forward as the queen spoke.

"Wonderful," Mab looked to Harry seeing how tired he was she dismissed them, "I think that it is time that we all adjourned for the evening. Harry your lesson will begin tomorrow."

"Of course, ma'am," Harry stood wearily, bowing to the queen and Oberon, Harry left the room.

Harry would keep quiet about the images he'd seen about the death eaters and their plans. At least, until he knew more.

Scene Change

Next Day…

Harry, currently, found himself, in a room that had been converted into a classroom. It was located adjacent to the place's massive library. In front of him, Frick stood by a black board wearing a long black robe over his usual palace attire, a pair of spectacles adorned his face and a scholar's hat sat on his head. On the table, immediately, in front of him, were several stacks of tomes on all sorts of magic.

"Now, master Harry, there are three types of wizards, the first type is a wand wizard. These wizards have taken to using a focus, i.e., a wand, which is usually reserved for children who are first starting their magical education and need the help of a magical foci to help them learn what their magic feels like and how to command it to do their bidding. It was, also, used by wizard kind when a boost was needed to finely tune one's magic for more complicated or powerful ritual magic, but weaker magical wizards would also need the foci to wield their magic to do their bidding…

…However, over time, as you yourself have witnessed wizard kind has become reliant on the ease of use of a magical focus. As they have limited their magical power and understanding how magic works over the centuries. They have, in turn, become weak and reliant on wands. This is problematic in that any wizard who display any amount of magical prowess are immediately revered or feared by the general population…" He paced in front of the blackboard as he spoke.

"…Now, the second class of wizard is what is known as a hand wizard," Frik paused in front of his pupil. "Allow me to demonstrate…" Frik waived his hand over a vase, said a few magic words and Harry watched as flowers rose from inside the vase and opened their blossoms into an array of colorful and fragrant flowers.

The demonstration wasn't really needed as Harry had witnessed enough of the Fae people using hand gestures to perform magic, but it was something he had written off as being unique to the Fae. "Now, this type of magic is where we will begin, master Harry," Harry watched as Frik cast another spell and gestured with his hand, he watched as the flowers disappeared from the vase.

"We will start with these books I have chosen from the queen's personal archive. They teach the fundamentals of hand wizardry and history throughout the wizarding world and cultures…" Frik pointed to a stack of books to Harry's right.

"I, also, want you to learn how to meditate and learn to control your emotions because I'm afraid for one has powerful you stray emotions can be quite dangerous," Frik said compassionately.

"…to that end I have requested Madam Laurie's help in instructing you in meditation practices…"

"…a healthy diet and exercise are also essential, but a foundation in defensive techniques and dueling will also help exercise your magic. The Crown Prince Oberon and the Master of the Guards, Wilf, have both offered his service to teach you the basics of dueling and defensive techniques…" Frik informed him of his class schedule.

"Finally, depending on your understanding and how readily adept at hand wizardry…we will see about moving you to the third level of wizardry, a level for wizards of pure thought."

For the first time in a long time Harry was eager to learn about magic. He quickly opened the tome to the page Frik instruct and began to read, every once in awhile he would jot down some notes or ask a question of Frik for clarification.

Scene Change…Time Jump

1 year later

"How is Harry progressing Frik?" The queen asked as she observed her charge a year later.

"He progressed faster than I had anticipated, your highness," Frik said proudly of his pupil, "He's a natural wizard of both hand and thought…and he his other tutors all have been glowing in their reports on his progress. Even, Crown Prince Oberon, has been impressed with his dedication and skill level."

"That is good to hear," Mab was proud of her adopted son, but she also worried for him as any mother would. The two Fae watched from the veranda as the wizard in question as he sat meditating in the palace gardens.

Suddenly, they noted Harry double over clutching his forehead, in concern, the two rushed to aid him.

Scene Change

Harry's head throbbed in pain, but using his meditation techniques, he breathed slowly through it. The pain subsided, but his mind was awash with images again, this time though the images seemed to show Diagon Alley at midday. Busy shoppers were tending to their errands when suddenly, an explosion rocked the alley way. Bit and pieces of debris flew everywhere. The happy crowd stood shocked at the carnage as bodies littered the sidewalks.

The surprise and fear shown on everyone's face as wizards in black robes and face masks began to cast spells and destruction and panic ensued. It was this atmosphere, in which, the object in which he was seeing through apparated into the middle of the panicked crowd. The object seemed to show the fear and horrified face of the people as they recognized the person, gasps, and screams, seemed to be everyone's response.

The slow, methodical breathing took over him, as he seemed to return to his surroundings. The images faded and Harry opened his eye o find himself, once again, in the beautiful palace gardens.

"Harry! Harry! Are you alright, dear," Mab worriedly knelt in front of her adopted son?

"Yes," he hasped, "I'm alright, I think," Harry shook his head clearing the images from his mind.

"Why does this keep happening?" Harry queried. It had been a year since his last vision that he had forgotten all about it.

"Why is what happening, Harry," Frik asked with concern.

"These visions," Harry whispered.

"What visions, Harry," Frik and Queen Mab shared a worried look.

"I…" Harry paused to get his thoughts together.

"…I it only happened once before…Last year at my birthday party," he explained, "When I collapsed and again just now, but it was different from last time…"

"Take your time, son," Mab told him. Harry, ignoring the warmth that filled his damaged heart that her words brought to him, nodded, and took several deep breaths to calm himself.

"The first set of visions took place in a large dining hall. Several people I recognized from my life in magical Britain. They were making plans and there was the newspaper, the Daily Prophet, next to a map of the Diagon Alley. The headlines talked about the breakout of prisoners at Azkaban and another headline declared me dead…but this one was different…this time an attack was taking place in Diagon Alley…People were being killed by Death Eaters and then, they were looking at me or whatever I was looking through in horror and surprise." Harry shuddered at the feeling of helplessness and despite the turmoil that wizards had put him through, he still felt compassion for them.

Mab and Frik shared a worried and knowing look. "What do you think it means," their attention turned to a conflicted wizard.

"Come, Harry, I think we best have this talk in a more private and comfortable setting," Mab said, the trio straightened before Mab led the way to her private study.

Inside the study, Frik, excused himself to get some tea and snacks. Left alone, Man addressed her adopted son, "Harry you know that although two years have passed since you came to Avalon and because the island is outside time and space that outside our shores only two days have passed…" he nodded in understanding but stay quiet.

Choosing her next words carefully, Mab said, "…and although you have continued to age and grown in magical power and confidence in your time here…" pause "…there are things that you are still fated to do…"

Harry sighed, "You mean facing Voldemort?" he looked to her for confirmation.

"I'm afraid so, dear," Mab confirmed, "but you don't have to do so now, Harry, you still have time to train and grow in your magical prowess. Frik, has been most impressed with your dedication to your studies and with how adept you are at magic…

…There shouldn't be any reason that you won't be able to beat Voldemort once and for all," Harry smiled at her encouraging words.

"Of course, he'll be able to beat anyone who stands against him, my queen," Frik said joining them.

"Why, even now, master Harry give's Crown Prince Oberon, a worthy fight, which he has fought the prince to a stalemate," Frik grinned, as he sat the silver serving set on a table.

"He's also been able to best several of General Wilf's best recruit's and palace guards," Harry listened to Frik's praise of his fighting skills.

"Thank you both for your confidence in me," Harry interjected, "but Voldemort has had decades of experience and understanding of advanced wizarding magics."

"But is he at the same level as you master Harry," Frik looked a fronted, "you who show an adept talent at hand and thought wizardry that borders being a prodigy that hasn't been seen in your world since Merlin…" snapping his fingers, a thoughtful look upon his face.

"That's the answer, my queen," Mab shares a puzzled look with Harry.

"What is the answer, Frik," she queries.

"Merlin, your highness," Frik says excitedly.

Mab waves her hands in a frustrated frenzy for her butler to explain. "Ma'am with your permission I will retrieve Merlin and bring him here to instruct Harry in advanced wizarding magics. After all I can only teach him so much about his own type of magic and Merlin is a master of all type of magic."

Mab considers the suggestion, a hand rub at her chin, "I agree, Merlin would be ideal…"

Harry was astonished by what he was hearing. "Could you really do that? I – mean get Merlin to come here, but the time…"

A wide smile spread across Mab's features as she saw the excitement shown in Harry's brilliant green eye. Strolling to him, she caressed his face lovingly, "Of course, dear, it's just a matter of opening a doorway through Avalon's wards to the appropriate era in which Merlin lived…"

Mab trailed paused, "…why do we have to stop with just Merlin. Your basically going to have to fight a dark lord and his army of followers and it is very likely you will have to, at some point, deal with the wizarding idiots at that Ministry of Magic and I would like to see you bring down meddlesome Albus Dumbledore…for that you need all the understanding of wizarding magic, combat, strategies and planning…" hmmm, she pondered, "…you will also need to know the inner workings of politics and etiquette and your own family's history and magic…

…Yes…" she paced before both men, "…Harry, we will get you the best war wizards and strategist that have ever lived," she cheerfully said, "…but we will also get you, not only Merlin, but the best wizards that ever lived in Great Britain and Ireland, but also the most notable members of your ancestors to teach about you family magic and your family's place in wizarding society…"

Harry was filling more optimistic about his chance of survival against Voldemort and his followers than he ever had, but the idea of knocking Albus Dumbledore of his pedestal and taking the Ministry of Magic down with him filled him with a desire for revenge.

End of Chapter