Of Mind and Magic
Chapter 3
Stepping out of his flaming portal, his rucksack bouncing against his shoulder, Harry stared at the building before him.
It was a three-story manor with columns holding up the wraparound porch. Pristine white siding covered the outside accented by black shutters, a railing wrapped around the top of the porch allowing the bedrooms on the upper floors to use it as a balcony.
A frigid November wind curled around his body, tugging at the dark blue robe draped over his torso.
Stepping onto the sidewalk, Harry allowed his eyes to scan the street. Larger houses lined the street on either side of the manor. The largest one was surrounded by a brick wall. Iron spikes decorated the top of the wall.
Curious, Harry approached the Manor eyeing the brass nameplate mounted beside an iron gate.
Montesi Manor, the family that stands against the dark.
Raising an eyebrow at the plaque, Harry reached out with his senses. A purple aura clung to the iron.
"So, I'm not the only magic user on the block," taking a step forward, he placed his hand on the wall. Energy flared down from the iron, meeting Harry's hand and pushing him back, "and apparently they're very powerful, since they can enchant a magical resistant metal like iron."
Turning he made his way back to the Manor, a heaviness gathering in his chest with each step. Stopping before the steps leading up to the front door, he stared at the black piece of wood with its brass trimmings while taking a deep breath.
He hadn't been in his home since his mother's death, part of him wanted to sell it, to distance himself from the pain of living in the last place his mother spent time in before she died. However as much discomfort as this place may bring him, it had some useful tools for the future.
Straightening, Harry climbed the stairs, his footsteps echoing through the wood. With a gesture, minuscule runes along the doorknob flared to life.
A click reverberated through the quiet morning. Slowly the door swung open on silent hinges.
Grey sneakers glided across the hardwood floor as Harry entered the home, running his finger along the table just inside the door.
To his left was a living room furnished with black leather furniture. A white rug lay in the center with a dark mahogany coffee table sitting atop it, light reflecting off its glass top.
To his right was the dining room, a medium-sized table with eight chairs was positioned in the center. A cabinet of fine China set against the doorway leading into the kitchen.
Ignoring a doorway to the left of the winding staircase that led into the kitchen, he climbed the stairs, his pace quickening. Entering a hallway, he walked past a bathroom furnished in white tile and silver fixtures.
Beside the bathroom was a bedroom, a queen-size bed in its center. A dark black wooden canopy set above the bed, casting its white sheets in shadow. To his right were two more bedrooms.
Reaching the end of the hallway, there was a second bathroom on his right with a master bedroom taking up the space on his left. Directly in front of him was another staircase leading to the attic.
Taking a deep breath, Harry stepped forward, feeling a wave of magic wash over him as the wards hidden beneath the wood floor tested his magic. A slight give made him stumble forward and grab ahold of the railing leading up.
A smile spread across his face, "I guess the wards find me worthy." Slowly he climbed the stairs, letting his hand glide along the curved banister.
He really needed to check his bank account. A place like this would cost way more then what the Gringotts statements said they were transferring, unless his mother bought it as a fixer upper. With magic, it wouldn't take long to turn a dump into a palace.
Pausing before the door to the attic, he reached towards the silver handle. He shivered as his fingers wrapped around it, the runes etched into the metal flaring to life. A small prick in his hand caused him to yank his hand backwards, just in time to see a needle withdraw into the keyhole.
The door swung inward on soundless hinges.
Entering the room, Harry gazed around him. Bookshelves with hand bound books and leather lined the right wall. A smile spread across his face, these books contained the magic of his mother's world.
Shaking his head he continued his look around. More shelves lined the left side of the room, these containing jars of liquid or dry ingredients.
Straight ahead of him was a half circle window overlooking the street below.
On either side of the window were two shelves, these containing chock, metal, candles, and cloth.
A deep red rug covered the floor.
Two long tables sat in the center of the room spaced enough apart so that there was an aisle between them. One table held a cauldron, and other magical equipment, but it was the second that drew his attention.
On it was a single piece of parchment.
Dear Harry,
If you're reading this then it means I have passed away, since the magic of the house was supposed to keep this letter hidden from you until then. This house is the house of secrets from my home reality. I bound it to my blood and soul and now pass it on to you.
In this place, you can further your study of magic and rise to the greatness I know you have within you.
Remember that I will always love you, my son.
Putting down the parchment, Harry wiped his eye with a finger.
The parchment burst into blue flames spiraling into the air, eyes widening, Harry took a step back only to be knocked to the floor as the flames leapt inside him.
A burning pain passed through his body before it faded, leaving behind a faint sense of knowing everything about the house.
Slowly Harry sat up, spinning his body until he was facing the bookcase containing his mother's work.
"Well, mom went to the trouble of writing down her magic, it would be a shame to let it go to waste."
With a flick of his hand, for books floated off the shelf, "Rituals of Creation," Harry mumbled letting his gaze sweep over the first book, its title written in elegant golden scrawl on the cover. The three other books were advanced magical energy manipulation, potions of earth three, and Arataz book of alchemy.
For what seemed like hours, Harry floated in the air his mother's elegant scrawl floating before his eyes as knowledge seeped into his brain. Finally, the books closed slowly drifting back to their spots on the shelves.
Unfolding himself from the cross-legged position, he stretched his back as his legs hit the floor. He glanced at the books.
He didn't know if it was by design or pure luck that his mother's knowledge of magic matched well with the ancient one, but either way if all of her books were written in the same style he should be able to finish them all within a month or two.
His hands rose to his head, massaging his temples. There was way too much knowledge in those books to binge on and finish them quickly. Step-by-step instructions carefully teaching you some of the most powerful arcane arts he had ever seen.
Letting his hands fall away, he stared at the shelves full of magical supplies.
The knowledge in those books did give him an idea, sometimes magic failed, he needed a weapon. Something powerful that he could use to defend himself when magic wasn't possible. He took a step towards the shelves, only for a pulse of magic to freeze him in his tracks.
Though it didn't seem hostile, the dark malevolent force that washed over his body caused the hairs on the back of his neck to rise. Slowly he turned, staring down the stairs in the direction of Montesi Manor.
He shook his head, whatever magic Montesi was using. It wasn't any of his business.
Another pulse slammed into him, this one tinged with desperation and fear.
Okay maybe he should check it out.
Releasing a breath he closed his eyes. He felt a sense of weightlessness as a light blue translucent version of his body rose from his flesh.
Willing himself forward, he drifted through the wall a sense of vertigo passing over him as he passed through the solid object.
–XX –
Harry looked up, a half-moon hung in the sky, but the stars seem to have pulled away from the earth tonight letting darkness take hold. He glanced down. He was floating five feet above the ground, the shrubs encircling the back of his house hidden in the shadows of the overhang of the roof, their combined efforts hiding him from view from anyone with the site, the ability to see into the unseen world.
Glancing towards Montesi Manor, he saw a light purple barrier clinging to the brick wall and the iron spikes like a second skin. Each time the pulse of malevolent power shot out from the house, the barrier would weaken for just a millisecond.
Harry floated forward, waiting on the next pulse to weaken the barrier so he could slip inside. When the next pulse came the dark purple almost black energy pushed him away, making him realize he was more vulnerable as a specter.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed forward, wondering whether if whatever he was going to find in the house was worth this trouble.
–XX –
Victoria Montesi jump to side, wincing as the claws of her attacker grazed ribs. Sweat poured down her face, burning her brown eyes, strands of her dark hair clung to her lightly tanned forehead.
Dark pink energy flared around her hand. She thrust it forward, bolts of power flying through the air.
Her 4'11" assailant jerked under the impact, the arms splayed out to keep them from falling, three claws protruding from the knuckles on each hand shining in the light.
Again golden runes shone along there leather outfit. Her assailant shifted their weight. Hunching forward, they launch themselves through the air, the bone claws positioned to pierce her chest.
–XX –
Harry emerged from the wall into a living room. White furniture was flipped over. A coffee table had been smashed, and drops of blood stained a white fur carpet.
In one corner of the room stood a woman of Italian descent, her long black hair flowing down the back of her white dress. Sweat glistened on her tan face in her brown eyes were locked on a shorter opponent dressed in leather.
Blue eyes shone from beneath the leather clad woman's mask. Two scars ran in a straight line going vertical from her eyes. Bone claws sprouted from the knuckles on each hand, punching through her leather gloves.
Dark hair flowed down her back as golden runes glowed along the leather.
Harry narrowed his eyes, the runes were rectangular in shape, but most ended leaving one side of the rectangle open. Extra shapes were drawn in the open space.
The leather clad girl hunched forward launching herself into the air, her claws poised to stab the Italian woman through the chest.
Reaching back through his connection with his body, Harry pulled on it feeling his body moving towards him at high speed.
Normally when someone was in astral form they couldn't affect the physical world, but according to the ancient one his unique magical signature was a mix of Psionic and mystical energy, giving him a few unique abilities.
As his body approached the brick wall around the Montesi estate, Harry released his hold on the astral plane.
–XX –
Blue eyes snapped open and Harry flung his arms out to the side, freezing in midair an inch from impacting the brick wall. Releasing a breath, he winced as pain flared through his body.
Looking down at himself, he noticed scrapes and rising bruises covered his arm. Looking back, he grimaced at the human sized hole in the side of his new home.
He had forgotten he was indoors when he pulled his body to him. Driving magic through his body, he groaned as the scrapes and bruises faded. He then pushed more energy through his new connection with the house, allowing it to use his energy to repair itself.
Turning back to the wall, his site allowed him to see the barrier clinging to the bricks. It was weaker now, a barely noticeable purple light clinging to the physical stone.
Poking his finger forward, he dragged it through the air, the magical barrier around the Montesi estate offering minor resistance. When the magical circle was complete, golden fire burned in a circlet before him.
Placing his hand in the center, he pictured the room he had saw the Italian woman battling her leather clad assailant in. With a sound like shattering glass, he was looking into the room, the leather clad girl flying towards the Italian.
Harry lunged forward, the portal sizzling shut with a hiss as he passed through.
–XX –
Victoria tensed, pink energy gathering around her frame as her leather clad assailant grew closer. Her slender hands closed into a fist, she was about to die she knew that, the runes on her attacker's leather armor nullified magic.
Suddenly, a portal exploded open. A red-haired man flew through, his dark blue robe billowing behind him.
"Oh, great another one."
–XX –
Landing on one knee in the Montesi living room, Harry thrust his hand forward.
A light blue aura wrapped around the leather clad girl. The Golden runes on her leather armor flared.
Wisps of blue energy wafted off her body, Harry winced as pressure was applied to his mind. His arms shook as he fought to keep her in the air.
"The runes must be removing the magic part of my Psionic magic," he muttered to himself. Twisting his upper body, he threw the girl away.
She smashed through the living room window, rolling along the lawn, before coming to a stop at the brick wall.
–XX –
Victoria Montesi watched as the red haired newcomer rose from his kneeling position.
"Miss," he asked approaching her, "are you alright?"
Victoria crossed her arms under her breast, unintentionally pushing them higher, "who are you?"
He stopped a sheepish smile spreading across his face. "My apologies, I am Hadrian Grey, your new next-door neighbor."
Victoria glanced out the room's remaining window, she could only see the brick wall surrounding her estate, but she knew about the white manor that had appeared next-door. "Are you magical?"
"Among other things, may I check for your other guests?"
Victoria nodded watching as he moved over to the window.
–XX –
Harry stared at the window, unsurprised to find the leather clad girl had vanished.
"I take it she's gone?" Victoria asked.
Harry nodded, his eyes catching a few dark hairs clinging to the broken glass. Raising his hand he pinched the dark hairs between his fingers before flicking them into his sleeve, "Yes, she's gone."
He turned away from the window, "Do you have any idea why she attacked you?"
Victoria shook her head, her dark hair swaying, "No I don't. She just appeared here."
"Appeared as in by magic or appeared as in snuck in without you noticing?"
"Honestly I'm not really sure."
"Either way, she's got someone helping her. She didn't make those runes that nullify magic."
"She?" Victoria asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You didn't notice?" Harry asks a question in his voice.
"I was trying really hard to stay alive," Victoria deadpanned, "so I was more concerned with the bone claws heading towards my vital organs."
"Yes," Harry rubbed the back of his neck, his face getting a little red, "well your attacker was a young girl, long black hair, and blue eyes. Due to her lack of curves, I would say she couldn't be older than eleven."
"Well, thank you for the information Mr. Grey, but I think it's about time for me to start cleaning up."
"Of course," Harry moved towards the wall, another circular portal opening up before him, "it was nice to meet you Ms. Montesi. It would be nice to do it again under better circumstances."
With that Harry stepped through disappearing with a flash of golden light and a hiss.
"What an interesting boy," Victoria commented eyeing the spot where Harry disappeared. She shook her head, "I really need to fix the barriers around this place. The last thing I want is people dropping in unannounced."
A pink aura flared around her body as she set about repairing her home.
–XX –
Appearing back in the attic, Harry removed the hairs from his sleeve with a flick of his wrist, "who are you?" He asked the hairs, "and what were you after?"
He shook his head, he could think on that in the morning, right now he needed a shower and bed. Having to use pure Psionic energy drained him, he would have to work on that.
Turning he made his way to the attic door, the lights from the curled silver chandelier hanging in the center of the room clicked off as he crossed over the threshold.