Chapter Ten – Introductions

A small plan began to form in Harry's mind. There were other reasons he needed to go back but he also needed to spend more time on Earth. He certainly wasn't done here and he had a lot of work to do so he could expand his knowledge of magic.

"Mr. Ollivander, would you do me a favor and hold onto that wood for me? I have an idea for some additional wand cores that perhaps we can try."

"Certainly, Mr. Potter. You are actually the first customer I've had that even matched with that wood, so I doubt it will come up again but I'll save enough for you just in case."

"Thank you. It may take me a few days to track down what I'm thinking of though."

"If you can bring me different cores that will work for making wands then I will make your wand for free, Mr. Potter. Finding more wand cores than what is already used is a rare find indeed."

"I'll see what I can do. I may even be able to find some different woods that will work."

"Now you're just taunting me, Mr. Potter. New types of cores and new types of woods would brighten my day more than anything else."

Albus laughed at his old friend.

"I'll see you in a few days, Mr. Ollivander," Harry said as Albus and he left the dusty shop.

"I'm looking forward to it, Mr. Potter. Another time, Albus."

"Take care of yourself, Garrick."

On their way to the bookstore where Albus pointed out some of the books Harry would need to start on so he could educate himself about magic, Harry expounded on his idea to go back and collect some possible cores. Albus was worried that Harry would not be able to find his way back to Earth without the summoning ritual. After all, it had to be performed in a highly magical area, such as Stonehenge, and done during the Summer Solstice on top of that.

However, Harry assured him that he didn't need any help. Once he followed it here, he explained, and experienced the leap between worlds and time; he now knew how to go back and forth. He was positive he could even travel between planets without use of a ship and adjust time as needed.

Actually, it was quite simple to him now, especially since he had already accomplished it.

Albus admitted to Harry that he didn't understand how that worked but trusted Harry to know what he was doing and left it at that. Albus finished showing Harry around part of the Alley then left to go to the Ministry for a meeting.

Left on his own, Harry continued to check out Diagon Alley and buy items he thought he might need. He had already purchased a trunk that was expanded on the inside so he could put all the books and other items in it without a problem. The trunk would also shrink down to pocket size and be just as light when it did. Since he had plenty of money, he loaded up on clothes too. He was in Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions trying on some items to help him blend in better, when he had a visitor.

One of the biggest and hairiest men Harry had ever met, other than a Wookiee he ran into once, came through the door looking for him. He remembered meeting the giant man at breakfast but Hagrid had been sitting when they were introduced. He no doubt looked huge even then, but to see him standing was an entirely new experience. He also held a cage with a snowy-white owl in it.

"Harry?"

"Hagrid, right?"

"Tha's right, Harry. It's me, Hagrid. I was feeling strange this mornin' when we met. I s'pose seein' you all grown up and all t'was a bit of a shock. I did come to my senses though and wanted ta let you know that I knew your parents, Harry. We were good friends and all. In fact, I was the one who rescued you from the Godric's Hollow house after you were attacked."

"I didn't know that. I believe I owe you a sincere thanks then Hagrid," Harry said as he held out his hand for the big man to shake it.

Hagrid took Harry's small hand in his giant one and shook it gingerly.

"Tha's alright, Harry. It weren't nothin'."

"That's a beautiful bird you have there, Hagrid."

"Oh! Silly me. I almost forgot, Harry. This here owl's for you. Sort of a welcome home present, if you will, and I reckon to make up some for all the birthdays I missed."

"Wow, thanks Hagrid. That's very kind of you. Can you answer one question for me though?"

"Sure, Harry. Ask away."

"What exactly does one do with an owl?"

"Oh, tha's right. You wouldn't know that, now would ya. Wizard folk use owls to carry messages back and forth between'em. They're very smart creatures and this one I'd wager is one of the smartest."

Hagrid went on to explain more about owls, how they behaved, etc. so Harry would have a good understanding about them and trust his new owl.

"Okay. Thanks Hagrid for explaining everything. By the way, what's its name?"

"It's a she and you can name her anything you're of a mind to."

"Then I thank you again Hagrid for such a wonderful gift. It's very much appreciated."

"I picked up some owl treats for her. I'll leave'em all right here for ya." Hagrid placed them on the floor next to the caged owl. "I've a few errands to run before I go back to Hogwarts."

"See you around, Hagrid."

"Bye, Harry."

Harry looked at the owl carefully.

"An owl, huh? What do you suppose your name ought to be? Right now, I haven't a clue."

The owl just stared back at him and turned her head at the question. Then she responded with a soft "hoot."

"I'm sure something will come to me… eventually. Say, how would you like to get out of that cage?"

"Hoot!"

"Alright then." Harry opened the cage door. "Come on out."

The owl walked out of the cage then stopped and looked up at her new companion.

"Feel free to ride on my shoulder if you want. Otherwise, keep up until it's time to go home. I'll put your cage and treats in my trunk."

The owl watched Harry as he expanded his trunk and put her cage in along with the treats. He also went back to the counter and picked up the clothes he bought and placed them in the trunk too. Then he shrunk the trunk before pocketing it. When he stood up straight again, she flew up to his left shoulder and perched there.

"Let's finish my shopping," he said to his new friend before setting off.

Harry grabbed lunch at a small café when he got hungry then continued on exploring while he shopped. After shopping a while in Diagon Alley, he heard pops behind him and people running and screaming. He turned to see about a dozen Death Eaters, based on the description given by Albus, all in full regalia with black robes and white masks. They portkeyed in together.

One of the Death Eaters, a female, cast the Cruciatus Curse on a young girl nearby. The small girl started screaming and squirming in agony. Harry quickly sent his Space Distortion Spell toward the Death Eater with emphasis on making it very painful without killing her.

Once the Cruciatus Curse was broken on the girl and the Death Eater was yelling in agony on the ground, Harry levitated the girl over to the doorway of a shop where a wizard took her inside. The other Death Eaters just stopped and looked between her and the strangely dressed wizard, wondering what he did to her wandlessly.

"Find a safe spot to wait while I take care of this," Harry said to his owl.

She flew up out of the way as he requested, watching from a rooftop. Harry checked on the result of his Distortion Spell one more time as he approached the Death Eaters. The female Death Eater was still in a tremendous amount of pain. Evidently, many of her bones were broken, if not crushed.

"My name is Harry Potter. Where is your master?"

None of them spoke for a second, and then one with white hair stated his doubts.

"You can't be Harry Potter. No one has seen him in at least a decade. Besides, you're too old to be Harry Potter. He'd only be sixteen by now."

Harry kept staring at them while he de-aged himself from 22 to about 16. He never even used his hands. His clothes were a little big on him now.

"Does this work better for you?"

The Death Eaters all looked on in amazement.

"Where have you been Potter?" asked the blonde-haired person.

"None of your business, Death Eater. Answer my question."

No one said a word. They just stared at him. How was he using wandless magic, they wondered? What exact spell did he use to cause that much pain even after he stopped it?

"Unless you want what she just got you better answer me. Where is the coward Voldemort who attacks babies in their beds?"

Most of them hissed at his insult. Then suddenly they began firing curses at him. There were all kinds of nasty spells they were using. Cutting Curses, Blasting Curses, Killing Curses, Torture Curses, Entrails Exploding Curses, you name it and they sent it.

Harry just stood there as the onlookers gasped in shock at all the curses hurtling toward him. In fact, Harry didn't move a muscle. He didn't even cast a spell. He just stood there.

The next thing everyone knew, Harry was standing where the Death Eaters were and they were standing where he was. The spells, which were all headed to one spot before were now more spread out so they hit several of them as everyone just watched in shock. Death Eaters were dying from the Killing Curses and Entrails Exploding Curses, screaming in agony from the Cruciatus Curses, flying back from the Blasting Curses, bleeding from the Cutting Curses, and all around not having a good day.

The five, besides the female, that were hurt but left alive just stopped and looked around where they were, not believing what just happened.

"Are you done?" asked Harry.

They all reached for their portkeys but they didn't have them. They looked at Harry with worried looks on their faces. Harry raised his hand and all their masks disappeared showing who they were. The female Death Eater still on the ground in pain from his spell was Bellatrix Lestrange. One of the onlookers in the crowd behind Harry pointed that out. Of the Death Eaters still alive but wary, there was Lucius Malfoy, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, Antonin Dolohov, and Augustus Rookwood. Dead on the ground from their own spells were the other six.

"I don't believe you will find your portkey devices gentlemen and besides, you would leave this poor woman here all alone by herself?" Harry gestured to Bellatrix in front of him. He was glad Albus explained about wizard ways to travel and Death Eater's usual methods. "I'm sure there are quite a few people here watching who feel they owe her some payback and I'm not sure what they would do if I stepped aside. Besides, one of you has to be her friend, relative, husband, or boyfriend, right? Which one is it?"

Someone behind Harry said 'Rodolphus Lestrange is her husband.'

"Thank you. Apparently, these Death Eaters are not willing to talk. Funny but it looks like they're more afraid of Voldemort," gasps were again heard, "than they are of me. Is it because he's on the Dark side and you assume I'm on the Light? I trust you have figured out by now that Voldemort is a coward and he rightly should be afraid of me. Has he been hiding? Now if Voldemort should be afraid of me and you are afraid of him, don't you think you should be more afraid of me?"

They continued glaring at Harry.

"Okay, who wants to be first? I need to know where your master is so I can go kill him. Where is he? Answer me or prepare to join her," he pointed at Bellatrix who had finally lost consciousness from her pain.

Harry raised his finger as if to cast a spell at Rookwood but he put up a shield.

"Do you think that shield is going to protect you from me?"

Harry flicked his finger at the shield and they all watched as it immediately shattered. He raised his finger again.

"Do you want to try again?" asked Harry. "I'll give you one more chance."

Rookwood was one of the ones who was hit by a Cruciatus Curse, perhaps even his own, so was not feeling very confident at the moment, especially given the power and ability of the wizard threatening him.

"We don't know," he finally admitted. "He's under a Fidelius and none of us are the Secret Keeper. He doesn't trust anyone but himself."

"Interesting, a Fidelius, huh?" Harry wasn't sure what that was but would find out.

The Death Eater nodded.

"You can relax now. I'm done with you."

Augustus Rookwood let out a big breath.

"I believe the aurors are here so they can take you off my hands. Just let me give you one warning before you go. I understand most of you escaped from Azkaban when Voldemort broke you out of there recently. I would suggest if he comes for you again that you decline because if I run across you after today and you're out of your cell then I will make sure you no longer need one."

Their eyes grew big as Harry waved his hand and sent a wide area Stunner. All the Death Eaters dropped to the ground stunned. Some tried to put up a shield but the Stunner covered them completely and their shield didn't.

Harry restored his face and body to his current age then turned to a tall black wizard who was approaching with Dumbledore by his side.

"Harry, you couldn't stay out of trouble after I left you on your own?"

"Apparently not, Albus. They just showed up looking to start trouble and I showed them the error of their ways."

"Harry, this is Auror Shacklebolt," Albus said smiling. "He can take care of the prisoners for you."

Harry looked up at the tall man.

"Auror Shacklebolt, they are all yours and they still have their wands by the way. The female will need the most medical attention. The other ones that are down were caught by their own spells, which were meant for me. They were not very nice spells based on the evidence."

"No, they never are," he replied in his deep voice.

"Well, I've got shopping to complete. Talk to you later."

With that, Harry walked off as if it was just another normal day. People in the Alley were giving him a wide berth as he went about his business with a snowy-white owl perched on his shoulder again.

Three reporters from the Daily Prophet hurried back to their offices to see who could get out a story the fastest about what they just witnessed. Harry Potter was back, dressed a little funny, but obviously very powerful!

oOo

The portkey deposited Harry in front of a large, double gate with an archway sporting a golden, stylized letter P that formed when the gate was closed. The gate was made out of a thick metal and was painted a shiny black. The gate was attached to two large pillars made of a gleaming white stone. Both pillars sported statues of a large golden gryphon sitting on top of each, wings expanded and the long tail wrapped partially around the white pillar. The gryphons shone brightly like polished gold.

He remembered what Kurlig told him and stuck his hand right through the metal of the gate. It showed no resistance so Harry walked right through it without having to open it. His owl decided she would fly over instead, so met him on the other side. He was told that only a Potter could just walk through it like that, the gate would stop everyone else. Magic was interesting, to say the least.

Once through the gate he could see a large sprawling manor in the distance. It appeared to be made out of the same white stone and looked crisp and clean, at least from this far out. It was three stories tall. He was about halfway there when an elf appeared before him on the path.

"I am Todge, the head house elf at Potter Place. There is only one Potter left so you must be him since you came through the gate without assistance. You certainly look like a Potter. Harry James Potter, I presume?"

Harry stopped walking when the elf appeared before him.

"Yes, Todge, I'm Harry James Potter. I've been away for a long time. Only recently did I learn of my inheritance. Do you think I could get a tour?"

"Oh, yes, yes, yes, Master Harry! Todge will be ever so pleased to give you a Tour of Potter Place. It's a grand manor and we Potter elves enjoy our work here. This way, please," he said excitedly.

Todge led Harry up the path and into the manor where Harry found four more elves waiting on them in the entryway.

"Master Harry has come home!" Todge shouted when they came through the massive front doors.

The other elves began to celebrate and jump around, pleased with the news. Harry was amused at their exuberance and smiled at their behavior. His owl looked on with a wary eye. When they finally settled down, they made the introductions.

"Master Harry," said Todge, "I would like you to meet Pipsy, Benny, Grady, and Letty. They help Todge with the manor. Todge and Letty are married, and Benny is our son. Grady is Letty's brother and he is married to Pipsy. They both joined Potter Place at the same time. Grady takes care of the grounds and cleans the outside of the manor mostly. Benny does most of the cooking since he is best at it and prefers that task."

"The place looks great inside and out. Thank you for taking such good care of it. Who wants to give me the grand tour?"

"Todge is the head elf and the head elf takes care of the master," said Todge, "so Todge will show you around. Can Benny get you something to drink or a snack, perhaps?"

"No thank you. I should be fine for a while."

"Benny will be sure and make you a grand coming home feast for dinner, Master Harry," said Benny. "I will do my best!"

"I'm looking forward to it Benny," replied Harry with a smile.

"Master has a lovely owl," said Pipsy. "What is her name?"

"That is a good question, Pipsy. She was given to me today and I haven't decided yet on her name," he said looking at his owl still on his shoulder. "We are already great friends so I will have to come up with a great name for her. Any ideas?

Pipsy shook her head. "No, Pipsy is not good at coming up with new names. Sorry, Master Harry."

"No worries, Pipsy. Anyone else have an idea for a name?" Harry asked the others.

They all shook their heads or shrugged their shoulders.

"I guess then it's still up to me." Harry turned to his owl on his shoulder. "I promise I will come up with one soon. I just need a little more time."

"Hoot."

"Letty will bring the nice owl stand from storage and place it in the Master Bedroom for Master Harry's owl and make sure Master Harry has clean sheets," offered Letty.

"Thanks. That will be nice, Letty."

Letty smiled and disappeared with a small crack. Benny left to work in the kitchen, most likely to plan what's for dinner. Grady popped away as well, along with Pipsy as they returned to work even happier than they were earlier. That left just Todge and Harry so they started the tour of Potter Place.

When they arrived at the garage, Harry stopped and looked around. He liked the large space but he would need it much, much larger than this if the ideas he had planned were going to happen.

"Todge, is there a way to expand the garage to a much bigger space?"

"Yes, Master Harry. You can make it as big as you like with magic."

"Can you expand it to a thousand times its current size?"

"No, Master Harry, Todge can only expand it a little bigger than it is now. Master will need special magic to make it that big."

"Do you know what this special magic is called, Todge?"

"Runes, Master Harry, you will need proper runes to make it that big. There are many books on runes in the library."

"Looks like I have a lot of studying and catching up to do, Todge."

There were quite a few magical portraits in the manor and everyone seemed pleasant, but they were obviously only a shadow of their former selves. It wasn't the same as talking to a real person or family member. Nevertheless, they all appeared excited to know there was still a Potter left to carry on the name.

After the tour and a delicious dinner prepared by Benny, Harry sat in the library that evening and began to read one of the books he bought. It was called 'A History of Magic.' While reading he came across a name that stood out to him. The name was 'Hedwig.' When he asked his owl if she liked the name, she agreed excitedly with two joyful hoots.

Finally, he had a name for his owl – Hedwig. It appeared to suit her perfectly.

Now, what else could he accomplish? Thinking on that, he came up with a plan on how best to spend his time.

oOo

Two days later, Harry was admiring his handy work. His garage was now close to 1000 times larger than it was before he added the runes and expanded the space. Of course, the previous day actually lasted almost two years for Harry. With a judicious use of time manipulation, he managed to learn enough magic to get started with his plans.

Today, he was planning out the space and coming up with ideas for everything he would need. Droids were going to be a must, he decided. Luckily, he still had his datapad so he recorded all his ideas on it.

After he completed as much as he could on his own, he decided to head back to his ship on Coruscant and put his plan into action. The house elves had already been told of his special abilities and what he wanted to do. They were excited just to be a part of it but the droids he spoke of was something they would have to see before fully understanding.

One thing they were sure about was the need for more elves in order to keep that new large space clean. They had never seen a room that large before.

Harry decided to take a few items with him he thought he would need, including some pouches with the Undetectable Extension Charm applied. He had learned how to make them as well should he need more. His trunk was already in his pocket. He also learned how to shrink and expand things. He thought that might come in handy given his plans.

With everything ready, Harry walked out into his former garage, which was now expanded into a large planet-based space station, and prepared himself to travel through time and space. He pictured the exact spot where he was standing on his ship with his droids and the time he left them.

With a small Pop, he was gone.