...
Two years passed with Harrison spending much of his time at the Black Townhouse. Orion was treating him much like his father did. Sometimes they would play chess which Harrison grew to enjoy once he understood the game. Other times they would simply share an easy silence in the library.
Not once did Orion try to ask him what he was learning from the book. Not even when Harrison learned about Funeral Fire and tried to use it. Accidentally turning the candlelight in the library all green. The change had startled him so much he lost his concentration on his magic. Which unfortunately made the fires turn back to their normal color.
Orion did not forget that instance and while he didn't ask Harrison about it he did watch the boy closer. For his part Harrison was more careful about experimenting on drawing upon the power around him. The Townhouse had small wells of power that signified a death. From his Grimiore he speculated the deaths were likely creatures aka house elves.
Harrison attended his younger cousin Regulus's ritual. The younger boy has grown to accept his presence even if his brother and mother did not. It was one of the few things they could agree on surprisingly enough.
During this time Harrison had also started down the path of a dark wizard. Being a born necromancer was one thing. But that didn't mean he would be automatically accepted in the community. He was a Potter by name and birth while also being a Black by blood. The community had wondered which side he would stand by. Paternal or maternal.
On the first Samhain they had their answer. Harrison with the permission though not the understanding of his father attended the Samhain ritual. The Blacks, Malfoys, and Notts rotated between who would host.
His first year it was at the Nott Family Manor where he met Benjamin Nott the Lord of the Family for the first time. The man had a gentle manner about him but his son Theodus rubbed Harrison the wrong while. The brown haired boy seemed to take after his mother Rosier who also treated him like he was scum.
Lucius Malfoy was there too. He was six years older than Harry and spent most of his time ignoring the younger children. It made him want to use Funeral Fire on the boy just to see him dance. The danger to that was too great. No one but his uncle knew about what he was learning and he would like to keep it that way.
For his first Samhain ritual Harrison got to watch Lucius make his pledge down the path of the Dark Wizard. Such paths were different for every wizard. They went through a journey that depending on how powerful one was would depend on how long it lasted. Most wizards averaged two years for their journey. Though it was said that there was a wizard in the forties that his journey lasted until he was seventeen. A four year journey was incredibly rare.
With his first Samhain ritual he felt a surge of power within his realm of control. His Funeral Fires became more powerful but with that he had to relearn control. Thankfully it was the most basic of necromancy spells. This aided him in figuring out control first.
...
By the time Harrison turned eleven he had mastered the basics of necromancy. Funeral Fire, Death's Breath which should not be used indoors ever, communicating with the recently dead, and his favorite reanimation of small animals. His current reanimation was a small skeletal mouse. It had come come in handy when avoiding his cousins.
The skeleton stayed in his pocket whenever he wasn't at the Black Townhouse or Manor. Arcturus Black had come over one unfortunate afternoon while Harrison was putting out Funeral Fire. Like his uncle, the elder Black had his interest peaked. His only saving grace was that he was not bound to Arcturus in the same way he was to Orion.
The promise to meet an unspecified friend was still held between them. That had been frustrating as no matter how much he pressed Orion the man refused to tell him anything. So he was left wondering, who and when he would meet this mysterious friend.
At the table where he was eating an early breakfast an owl brought him his Hogwarts letter. For a moment he just turned the envelope over in his hands. Then he tore it open.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer Chief Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic
by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory
by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions
by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
Well it was official. He was going to Hogwarts no one could claim he was a squib now. That had been a particular favorite insult of James and Sirius. For some Merlin forsaken reason they had it in their heads he faked his ritual. Idiots.
"Happy birthday, Harrison," came his father's warm voice.
Harrison looked up to see his father entering wearing informal robes. In one hand he held the paper and the other a coffee mug. A frown crossed Harrison's face as he noted the dark circles under his father's eyes.
Another sleepless night? As an auror his father had seen many things that would set your stomach toiling. He usually kept a better handle on his emotion. Unless he had been called out in the middle of the night.
"Another attack," he guessed and by the widening of his father's eyes he was correct.
"How?"
"You forgot your glamours this morning."
There was a string of soft curses that if his mother heard she would have told his father off. He hid a smile as he returned to his breakfast. It only lasted a moment before his father remembered where he was. He took a breath held it for a minute then released it.
Then he said with a suspicious look at the boy, "I'll apply them before we leave. Did you get your letter?"
Harrison held it up and he nodded. The two ate a quick breakfast breakfast before heading to the floo room. Mother couldn't come today. She was called in to work at Saint Mungos. He understood she was a valuable healer and there would be times that she couldn't be there for him. Still today would be a good day.
