Magic Will Find a Way

By: Ryu Katanna

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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Ten

It was almost dusk by the time Harry and Owen arrived home with dinner; having decided on grabbing take-out after leaving the Compsognathus enclosure. Harry had stayed to play with the little dinosaurs for over three hours. He had laughed freely while playing what seemed to Owen and Hamada to be some version of tag as he and the compies darted around the enclosure. They had tired themselves after a while before Harry just plopped himself on the ground with the group of them pressed around him. The compies had started dozing around him when Owen had called out that it was time to leave.

Owen was just glad to see the teen looking more cheerful than he had before they left the bungalow. The smile on his lips hadn't faded even now as they placed their pasta on the table after unloading the trays from the take-out bag. Their meal started quietly as they both felt like they were starving after their little adventure that day. They were about halfway done when Harry spoke.

"I think I know what I want to do..." He said after taking a breath.

"Oh?" Owen inquired as his attention shifted from his food to his son.

"I took an equivalency test online to find out what my level would be for school when I start classes. I wanted to know how far behind I am. I'm not behind. Actually, according to that test, I'm slightly ahead of my age group except for history. It seems both worlds are almost identical historically. The only real difference is the events connecting to wizarding history. It's like they're the same world only without the wizards, witches, and creatures that can harness magic and how advanced the technology is here." Harry confessed and Owen's eyes widened a bit in surprise.

That wasn't something he had expected Harry to say. Honestly, he had thought he would have to push a little bit harder to get him to want to continue his non-magical education. He had been busy for a while now and the topic hadn't come up again after the last time they had spoken about it. Owen had figured he would let Harry have his summer off to come around to the idea and to explore the island. Time to just be a teenager.

Instead, Harry had taken the initiative. It made him proud that he was doing so. At the same time, he was a little confused. Harry had tested above the level he should be for his age? How was that possible when he hadn't attended a nonmagical school since he was eleven?

"First, I want to say I am proud of you for doing so on your own, but I thought Hogwarts didn't teach subjects that weren't magical. Have you been studying a lot while I'm at work?" Owen asked in confusion and Harry shrugged a bit.

"I have, but I had a lot of time over the summers at my relative's house too. I would read my cousin's old school books. I... I've always thought it was a bit stupid for Hogwarts not to offer subjects like math or science. Even at eleven, I knew it would be stupid not to learn what I could. I love magic, but there's more to the world." Harry replied as he fidgeted as he always did when mentioning his relatives in any way.

"You're a smart kid, Harry. From what you've told me about the magical world it seems you understand more than most of the adults there about the real world away from a small community. Now that's to your advantage because you won't have to work so hard to get caught up. What have you decided?" Owen asked and received a smile for his praise as Harry's easy brightened a bit in enthusiasm.

"I was thinking I could work on my nonmagical schooling during the week while you're working, and then on my magic on the weekend. I know you wanted to supervise with the stronger spells to be safe. Remus has also offered to help with learning spells and other skills that may be useful over mirror communication. He also suggested talking to Professor Snape… He thinks he could help me with alternative ingredients in potions and my brewing. I'm just not sure though. The man has hated me since I started school." Harry admitted and Owen frowned lightly as he remembered what Harry had told him about the man.

"It may be a good idea. I really don't want you having any accidents when you're experimenting. You said the man is a master in his field. He may be able to help if you can both look passed your dislike for each other. I could also speak to your old professor and as him to teach you as your parent. We will have to figure out a way to compensate the man for his time." Owen suggested having heard stories from Harry about his classes in school.

He had also looked through a few of his son's books when he'd had the time. He didn't want Harry experimenting on his own. If he were to have an accident while Owen was working, then there was the possibility he could be hurt and not be found until Owen returned home. They would have to have another talk on safety precautions later when the teen started attempting any potions.

"I thought about that. I think I should ask Sirius if he or Remus can get to Gringotts, the wizarding bank, safely so I can talk with my account manager through the mirror. We know I can get money from my vault because of whatever magic the goblins use for their bags. I want to find out if other things could be taken from my vault. Like books or supplies." Harry told him as he remembered testing to see if he could still withdraw money from his Gringotts pouch and finding he actually could.

"That would be a good idea and a good use of your time. It would also be useful to know if you could get more books. I can't help you with your magic so it'll be mostly self-study for you except for any help you can get over the mirror." Owen replied thoughtfully as he set down his fork after taking the last bit from his meal.

"I know. I was also thinking I could use the mirror if I have any problems. At least I can ask advice or for instruction from someone though I think it would be best to be careful..." Harry admitted as he bit his lip and pushed away the container his pasta had come in since he had finished.

"What do you mean? Does it have something to do with what happened last night?" Owen asked with some concern as he remembered the loud argument that had drawn him to Harry's room the night before and left him in a mood all day until Owen had suggested they could check out the Compsognathus enclosure.

"A bit... It's just that I've started noticing some things and thinking about others since I've been here." The teen admitted as he shifted uneasily as he was reminded of the conclusions he was starting to come to.

"What is it?" Owen asked as his sharp eye caught how uneasy whatever it was had made the kid.

"It's just... Since the adoption; I feel different. Like my mind is more clear now than it's been in years. I don't know how to explain it, but when I think back on my time in the wizarding world, I feel differently about things that happened." Harry said with an almost hopeless shrug.

"Like last night. I was talking to Ron and Hermione. I told them about what happened since I've been here. They didn't like that I want to stay. Hermione started nagging about school and being responsible while Ron acted as if I had betrayed him. He started yelling at me about quidditch of all things. The whole thing just got worse, and we were all yelling at each other. It made me think, and that's when I suddenly realized that I don't even know why we were still friends." Harry continued with an angry furrow of his brows as his fists clenched on the tabletop.

"Thinking back now on the last few years since I started school it feels... wrong. Like that wasn't me. Not really. I don't know how to explain it." He said as he grit his teeth in disgust and frustration.

Harry had learned very early in his life that he had no one he could depend on. That trusting someone would only hurt him in the end when they turned their back on him. It didn't matter if it was other kids or the adults. The kids he would try to make friends with would always be driven off by either Dudley's bullying, or their parents telling them to stay away from him. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had ensured his isolation by telling other parents and the teachers that he was just a bad child. The son of no good parents who was just as much trouble. Those adults had gone on to turn a blind eye to what was happening right in front of them.

It was odd. He had looked at Hogwarts at first as his salvation. His chance to get away from his horrible relatives. He wasn't a freak. He was a wizard; just like his parents. Suddenly all the strange things that had happened as he was trying to survive his relatives all made sense.

He hadn't trusted Hagrid at first though he had been curious, and yet it was like he had taken to him quickly enough to listen to his opinions on Slytherins and dark wizards after...

That was when a thought clicked into place in his mind. The moment when the fog had settled. He hadn't trusted Hagrid fully until after having a meal with him. A sinking feeling came over him even as anger tightened his jaw.

"I think... I think someone was slipping me potions. It's the only thing I can think of to explain it." Harry said looking sick and Owen felt himself growing alarmed at the teen's expression.

"Can potions do that? Change someone? Most of the ones I've read about in those books of yours made it seem more like medicines." Owen said as he reminded himself that there were medications that could alter a person's behavior.

"A lot of them are, but there are also mind-altering potions and spells. We don't learn much about them until the sixth or seventh year, but a lot of them are considered dark arts and are illegal. One of the three unforgivable curses is the imperius curse. It's a curse that lets the caster take complete control of the person it's used on. Only someone with a strong enough will can throw it off, but it is rare that someone can resist it." Harry told him before motioning for Owen to follow and leading them out of the door and over to his room where he started looking through the shelf next to his desk.

"So, you think one of these potions was being used on you?" Owen asked as Harry pulled a book off the shelf and started flipping through the pages.

"Maybe. It's the only thing I can think of. It's like… I don't recognize the person I've been since I started school. My mind is clear now and I can't understand why I did some of the things I did. It doesn't make sense to me." Harry said as he sat down next to Owen on the bed so the man could read as he did when he found the page he was looking for.

It was one of the more advanced potions books he had picked up during one of the few times he had been alone. In this section was a brief overview of mind-altering potions and their effects. From what he was reading, Harry knew they couldn't control someone to the point that the imperius curse could, but they could alter a person's thinking and behavior. Certain potions could make someone more open to suggestions while others could lower a person's inhibitions, make them more trusting of the brewer, and even alter the personality traits of the one it was used on. All of these potions would have to be given before they were to wear off as while they could linger in the person's blood for weeks or even months they could not permanently alter the one they were used on unless used consistently.

He continued to read the effects of prolonged exposure and felt a sinking in his gut as he knew. The magical adoption must have acted as a filter as Owen's blood mixed with his. He had known the ambient magic of this world had acted to protect him, but he hadn't known just how much. All the signs pointed to him having been doused with potions for years. It could have poisoned him and may have shorted his life depending on the ingredients in the potions used or could have caused other health problems.

Harry knew Owen must have been reading too as the man's arm came up to rest on his shoulder as he pulled the teen into his side protectively.

"It certainly explains a few things." Harry mumbled with a small sigh of defeat.

He had suspected, but he had still hoped he was wrong. There was no way for him to say what kind of potions or spells he had been under. Yet, Harry had known something hadn't been right with him before the adoption. He'd had months now to think about it, and didn't like the conclusions he had been coming to.

He was thinking clearly for the first time in years, and it hadn't taken long for him to notice the differences in how he thought and felt now compared to just after he had been introduced to the magical world. Growing up under the tender mercies of his relative's care, Harry had learned not to trust others so easily. Why then did he so easily trust Hagrid so quickly? Enough to be angry on his behalf when Malfoy had insulted the half-giant?

That was only the first oddity that occurred to him, but then there were others. Like meeting Ron Weasley on the train to Hogwarts. Harry had so easily fallen into a friendship with the boy. Even after the other child had made his motivations more than clear when he asked to see his scar. Ron had proven how shallow he was for years. The events at the beginning of the year over the Goblet of Fire was just further proof of what kind of friend and person he truly was. So then why had he forgiven him so easily? It didn't make sense to Harry why they were even friends.

His friendship with Hermione was a different matter altogether. Oh, Harry remembered what she had been like when they met. She had reminded him a lot of the kids at muggle school who had thought they were better than everyone else because they had better grades and the praise of the teachers. Looking back, she had been the one to insist on 'correcting' everything he was doing wrong. From his schoolwork to anything else he was doing.

Yet, she was also the one who had pushed him and Ron further into what was going on every year than they would have gone without her. She had been the one to push about Nicholas Flamel and protecting the stone in their first year, the one to find out about the basilisk and how it was getting around the school in their second year, and she had just conveniently had a time-turner in their third year. A magical artifact that was heavily regulated by the Ministry. This year had been a mess all on its own after his name had come from the Goblet, and she had barely spoken to him as the entire student population had turned against him.

Yet, Harry had so easily taken them both back after they had proven to be fair-weather friends? It stank of something foul.

The Headmaster and his interest in him was another matter that he had never given thought to, but now seemed off. He had never questioned anything. Never questioned how or why Dumbledore, the Headmaster of his school, would have his Gringotts key. Why the Headmaster, who he had never heard of really interacting with the other students, would visit him personally in the hospital wing. Why he would have possession of his father's invisibility cloak but wait to give it to him until Christmas, wrapping it like he was giving him a gift instead of returning a Potter family heirloom.

No, his years since starting Hogwarts were not right. His thinking and behavior hadn't been right. There were a few things that could explain it, but there was a sinking feeling in his gut that told him he wasn't wrong. Someone had done something to him, and everything pointed to one conclusion as to who.

Apparently, Harry wasn't the only one who had caught on.

"Come on. Let's look through your books and see if there's anything that can help protect you. Then we'll figure out a plan. You're safe here now, and we'll make sure it stays that way. No one will be messing with your mind again." Owen said gravely as he gave the teen a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder before standing to walk to the desk and grabbing a notepad and pen.

"Thanks, Owen." Harry replied was a small smile of relief as he was pulled out of his depressing thoughts and set the book aside and going to pull a few others off the shelf as they got to work.

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Well, that's it for this chapter. I know all of you are waiting on the action from the movie to pick up, but that still won't be for a bit yet. At least another two years if I'm remembering my timeline correctly. There are some other things that need to happen or be dealt with first as Harry grows up under Owen's care during that time.

There will be some jumps by nothing too much as I don't want to just give an outline of all the information of those two years. As much as this is a Zach/Harry pairing, it's also about Owen and Harry and the building of their father/son relationship.

Anyway, I'm sorry it took so long for me to get this out. I must have written this chapter in about four different ways. Then I had to wait for my contacts to come in the mail, so I've been almost blind and not able to do much writing for the last month. It's just been one thing or another, and this chapter had been giving me a tough time as it was needed to set up what is going to happen.

Hope you liked it, and let me know what you thought!

~Ryu