Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

…

Sitting in the library, Harry was engrossed in 'Magic Inside Us: How To Bring Out Your Full Potential'. Just the fundamentals were well beyond anything they were expected to learn over the school year, perhaps not even throughout school in general. Next to him were several other books he had purged from parts of the library where few likely dared to tread. Not because the information was worthless, but rather the knowledge trapped within the literal tombs were not pivotal to the curriculum, or at least that was what Hermione had gathered from talks with older students.

It really was amazing what a few Sickles could do here and there.

Almost as if a sixth sense was triggered, Harry's eyes shot up as three of his peers closed in on him. While he was sure they wouldn't do anything too reckless in the library he couldn't help but grip onto his wand just a touch tighter than before. "Can I help you?"

"Perhaps," said Draco Malfoy as he crossed his arms over his chest, Crabbe and Goyle standing on either side of him like a pair of bodyguards. "Word around the halls is that you refused to become the youngest Seeker in years."

"What about it?" asked Harry as he closed his book and stood up, his wand now clearly visible.

"No need to be so defensive," said Malfoy. "We're just here to talk."

"Fine, then talk."

"Well if the rumours are to be believed then you gave up a once in a lifetime opportunity. Had you taken the position I can almost guarantee that you would have had people on the outside very interested, perhaps even scouters would have come to Hogwarts to watch you play."

"Somehow I don't think any team is going to want me as their poster boy," interrupted Harry.

"Perhaps," said Malfoy with a shrug of his shoulders. "Still, who knows what could have been? Maybe you made the right decision, maybe you did not. Down the line I'm sure though when the time comes you'll make the right decision."

"We'll just have to wait and see then won't we."

"Indeed, be seeing you around Potter," said Draco as he started to walk away, his two buddies following suit like loyal henchmen. Harry meanwhile bit at the inside of his lip as he tried to figure out just what had been accomplished by the three Slytherin boys. They had clearly come up to the library for the sole purpose of talking to him and other than their brief chat there had been no conflict. Which considering that at one point Harry had knocked him down he had expected some kind of retribution.

Had this just simply been a reconnaissance mission? In the few words they had shared had Malfoy managed to get what he was after or was this merely the beginning of something far grander?

…

"Neville," said Hermione as she looked up from her homework. "I know I might be going on a bit of a tangent to everything we've learned up to this point but what's the point of our wands?"

"Our wands?" repeated Neville.

"Well I mean almost every student here had a bout of accidental magic at some point before we even got our letters to Hogwarts," said Hermione vividly recalling her unexplainable situation. "We didn't use a wand then, so why should we need to use one now?"

"I remember Professor Flitwick informed me of a duellist he once faced who was able to cast small shield charms with just a twirl of his finger," said Harry as he inserted himself into the conversation.

"Well it's not like our wands aren't unnecessary," said Neville. "They just make everything easier."

"Easier?" said Harry and Hermione at the same time.

"Well look at Hogwarts as an example, apparently the courses haven't changed in decades. The only one that has is the Defence class but that's because a new teacher has been coming in every year for ages. Magical Britain is almost suspended in a never ending circle, all because it is the easiest route to follow. We get taught how to cast spells with a wand but never look at alternate ways of doing so, just because we have found the easiest way to do so," explained Neville. "Think of the levitating spell that Professor Flitwick is teaching us at the moment. We have the wand movement, the incantation and the intent of making something float. Straight away we are led to believe that all of those elements are necessary in order to make something float. I remember Gran giving me books telling me that it's possible just to do things with just the intent but with each part we take away it gets more difficult."

"So we have to have intent above all else," summarised Harry.

"So theoretically we could do the wand movements and the pronunciation perfect but if we didn't want whatever we're pointing at to float then it won't work," said Hermione.

"I guess so, nobody these days really tries anything different because they already know the easiest way," said Neville.

"So how are we going to do this?" asked Harry, knowing full well that now they had discussed this that they were going to attempt to put it into practice.

"We've got a free period tomorrow morning, meet me down the Charms corridor after breakfast but make sure that we don't all leave at once, don't want to raise any more suspicions than necessary," said Hermione. Harry and Neville both nodded in understanding before they each returned to their individual tasks, knowing that they were going to attempt something ridiculously difficult tomorrow based simply off a theory.

A theory they were determined to prove right.

…

It wasn't uncommon for students to mess around with what they had been taught, the Weasley Twins were already infamous for the way they put their knowledge to practical use. When students did put what they had learned into action however it did help bolster their respective teacher's morale. So when Professor Flitwick made his way towards his classroom only to hear one of the first incantations he taught children he couldn't help but be a little intrigued as to what was going on.

Pushing the closed door open no more than a slither he peered inside to see two first year Gryffindor's practising a spell they had only just been taught the wand movement for. Pushing their abilities to this extent already meant they truly were ploughing through their studies. If this was the stage they were at practicality wise he saw no reason in scrapping their written report on the subject and allowing them to learn the next spell in the curriculum.

"Focus clearly, Neville," instructed Hermione.

The boy in question took a deep intake of air before slowly releasing it. "Wingardium Leviosa," he said using the respective wand movement, the book he was pointing at slowly hovering into the air, making the Charms Professor all giddy inside. Part of him wanted to charge right in and award points but believed that it would be wiser to wait and see if anything else surprised him.

He was not disappointed.

Hermione Granger was the next to act and he knew he could expect great things from the young witch. Never before had he given so many points to a first year student before Christmas but the amount of knowledge that the young girl had at her disposal warranted every point that he gave her. The mere fact that she came from a Muggle upbringing only made him more proud of what she could one day accomplish. If she were to come to Hogwarts after her studies asking for a job he would not be the only one who would back her for a position.

He watched as she stepped up to where Neville had previously been standing and looked at the book that lay bare in front of her. She whipped out her wand and did the 'Swish and Flick' method that he had only written on a blackboard for them thus far. It would seem that they had gone through some of their peers in the upper year levels to learn what was required of them.

As Hermione did the wand movement once more Filius bit at his inner lip as he tried to figure out why young Miss Granger was having difficulty. Once more she did the wand movement, perfectly he had to add, without much success. It was only then that he understood why Hermione was having far more difficulty than she should have been.

She was trying to cast silently.

Nonverbal magic wasn't taught until the sixth year, the mere idea that first year students were even attempting something so difficult was mind boggling. His mind however was indeed boggled at the sight of Miss Granger performing the wand movement once more and the book in front of her began to float. It was clear though that it was putting a strain on her magical power, the amount of concentration required to channel magical energy in such a way was highly taxing on the body.

So it was to no surprise that Hermione collapsed from exhaustion, thankfully into the arms of Neville Longbottom who seemed to sense that something had been amiss. Sensing he had seen enough, Fillius pushed open the door fully and stepped inside only to realize that there had been a third student practising the Levitation Charm.

In hindsight he shouldn't have been surprised to see Harry Potter training with his friends. He was also well aware of what the young prodigy was capable of if he put his mind to it, the amount of raw power pumping through the eleven year old was beyond comprehension. Despite that he couldn't help but allow his jaw to drop at the sight of young Mister Potter sitting in what looked like a meditative position atop one of the school desks.

A desk that just so happened to be two feet off the ground.

The Charms professor found words failing him as he struggled to comprehend what was happening in front of him. Here was an eleven year old boy channelling his magic in such a way that most adults wouldn't even attempt. Even were he to tell any other member of the faculty they likely wouldn't believe him.

By now the other two Gryffindor students had noticed that their self-study had been interrupted but if they were saying anything to the small teacher he didn't hear any of it. Sharp eyes quickly started to notice beads of sweat forming at Harry's brow and he whipped out his wand as a precautionary manner as the desk began to wobble slightly. It was clear to Fillius that Harry was straining himself as the boy had managed to get his balancing act back under control.

"Professor," said Hermione only just now able to get the Charms teacher's attention.

"You three are excluded from my written assignments," he managed to say, still uncertain of the events going on about him. "I will teach you an illusionary charm to make whatever book you read during class look like the required text. I cannot preach to you enough the importance of keeping all of this secret, even to me."

Neville and Hermione shared a look amongst one another as the diminutive teacher slowly walked out of the room, uncertain of just what they were getting in to. Even the Professor had to admit that they had no real understanding of what would befall them if another teacher discovered them. They had taken the simplest of spells and were using it in a way that would confound even the greatest of Magical Theory Scholars.

They weren't just learning how to walk before the crawl; they saw how people walked, didn't like it and decided to fly instead.

It just made no sense.

Professor Flitwick would not arrive to his first class of the day, the students would find him gazing out of a window as if seeing the world with freshly opened eyes.

…

"Down the hatch," said Harry trying to prep himself up before he swallowed the contents of the vial he had been handed. After having been taken what many students would describe as putrid puddle water for the better part of two months the taste was rather tolerable these days. Still didn't mean that it tasted awful but compared to the scraps he got back at his relatives house it was respectable.

"How are you feeling?" asked Madam Pomfrey as she took the empty container away from him. "You've been taking these potions weekly for six weeks now, doubtful that you wouldn't feel anything from that as a result."

"I've been feeling good," said Harry as he ran his fingers over his arms, ignoring the scars that littered his skins to focus more on the muscles. For the first time in his life there was a touch of plumpness in his body as opposed to the skin and bones he had been prior. The day he was no longer able to see his ribs when he dressed in the morning was a glorious one.

"And are you sure you're fine missing out on the Halloween feast?" asked the resident nurse.

"Yea," said Harry solemnly. While his relatives may not have celebrated the holiday like every other family on the street they were quite adamant in reminding him that it was on that forsaken holiday they were burdened with his presence. Years of verbal harassment, not to mention the physical, had sapped whatever happiness could be preserved from the celebratory event. "One dinner without food isn't going to kill me."

"Such lack of self preservation however will be the death of me," said Madam Pomfrey. "While this may be listed as going against regulations a few students do eventually find out where the kitchens are. Instead of gallivanting on a wild goose chase I might as well inform you that they are located in the basement under the Great Hall, simply tickle the pear."

"Thank you," said Harry as he got off the bed he had been sitting on before making his way towards the exit. Madam Pomfrey meanwhile just placed her hands on her hips as she wondered what more she could do for the boy. She had consulted with a number of her friends in the medical industry about the skin issue and how if she was able to perhaps fade the scars away somehow that it would help with his confidence issues. Many of them had agreed on such tactics but none of them truly knew how to go about fixing scars created by the killing curse. Every other victim of the spell was dead and unmarked, not once before had a person struck down by the vile curse actually been left with a scar or burn or anything signalling they had been hit.

While an expert in her field, Madam Pomfrey honestly had no real idea how to go about treating Harry, provided he actually wanted to be treated. It was incredibly difficult to get a read on the kid at times.

She had heard from Professor Flitwick on how he had discovered Harry seemingly performing a first year charm both wandlessly and, assumingly, wordlessly. While at first she had been taken aback, something she was finding happening more and more often, she somehow wasn't surprised. She had started constructing theories that perhaps the strength of the killing curse cast at him as a child had actually been absorbed as opposed to rebounded as everyone seemed to believe. Sure, nobody truly knew what happened that night other than Harry and survived and You-Know-Who was gone. Dumbledore theorized that Love had protected Harry from death. She believed something else had, something that in return had ravaged Harry's flesh but spared his life.

Arguably she could theorize for years and get no closer to the truth. Chances were nobody would ever truly know. What she did know however was that Harry had an unnaturally high level of both power and raw talent, likely as a result from being attacked as an infant.

Her musings were shattered as a silvery whisp burst through the floor before moulding into the shape of a phoenix; Albus Dumbledore's patronus. "A troll has entered Hogwarts, keep any patients in your care there until this situation has been dealt with," said the message before the white bird vanished.

Thankfully, she had no patients in her care at the moment. One however had just left.

"Harry!"

With speed she had no idea she currently possessed, Madam Pomfrey burst out of the infirmary with wand in hand knowing full well that there was a chance that she would end up confronting a troll. It didn't matter how such a creature had stumbled into the castle all she knew was that there was a student with no knowledge of the danger he was in.

As she sprinted down a corridor she wondered just what kind of fight she'd be able to put up against a beast. Her repertoire of spells had minimal damaging magic amongst her spells though she had successfully gotten an OWL for Defence Against the Dark Arts but such knowledge had been obtained decades prior. Hopefully she would not have to try and remember her lessons from an age ago.

She paused in her search to catch her breath and pondered which way would be best to traverse. She had no real idea which way Harry would have taken on his quest to the kitchens and likely would have taken the longest route possible in order to avoid making contact with any other students who would have been returning from the feast early. That could mean that he could have taken any direction imaginable.

An animalistic roar had her praying that the boy hadn't gone the way she feared.

Swallowing a lump in her throat, Poppy charged forward with wand in hand hoping that the worst case scenario hadn't come through. The clanging of metal on the ground informed her that there was indeed something going on just around the corner. She was also aware that there was a sudden drop in temperature and prayed that it wasn't just chills coursing through her veins.

Skidding around the corner, Poppy barely managed to prevent herself from screaming as she saw the body of the troll sprawled out in front of her and she instinctively raised her wand. It would be a couple of seconds later that she realized that such an act was unnecessary.

Composing herself, she looked at just what had happened.

First thing was the floor was slippery, a thin yet thick veil of ice coated the ground which had been how the beast had been grounded. Next was one of the suits of armour had been removed from its pedestal, metal chunks of armour scattered across the floor. The axe it had possessed however was embedded into the ice, having successfully separated the head of the troll from the rest of its body, thick red blood pooling over the ice by the gallon.

Sitting with his back resting against the corpse was one Harry Potter; his right arm clutched at his ribs and instincts took over as the nurse traversed the difficult terrain to make her way to where the young boy sat. When she got to him however whatever damage was caused to his ribs were overshadowed by what had happened to his other arm. From the elbow to his fingers chunks of ice covered the skin, a few patches of flesh had even been frozen solid.

Madam Pomfrey slowly pieced everything together as she cast a mild warming charm over the limb, knowing full well that were she to try and heat it up to quickly she may cause irreparable damage. There were many things she was capable of. Regrowing limbs was not one of them.

Looking to the side, the nurse could see Mister Potter's wand sprawled across the other side of the corridor and she could only assume he had been disarmed, possibly when he had been struck if the clutching at ribs was any indication. In desperation the child cast a spell to freeze the floor using his arm in replacement of a wand to make the movements but had done so incorrectly, hence why his arm was so badly damaged. The magic had still been cast but had had some drawbacks that would take her hours to fix.

Then there was the decapitation of the troll, the axe having made a clean and precise cut with enough force to slay the beast in a heartbeat. "Who knew…the levitation charm…would be so handy," said Harry, startling Madam Pomfrey as he struggled to string words together. Instead of reprimanding him for talking in his condition the nurse took this into account as she put the final piece of the puzzle into play. A simple first year charm had been cast at the axe and Harry had used it in such a way to behead his foe before collapsing next to his fallen enemy.

As other staff members rushed into the corridor, signalled by Professor McGonagall's scream of shock, Madam Pomfrey had the feeling that somehow the hardest part of tonight would be explaining all of this to the rest of the faculty.

…

Hope you enjoyed.