Disclaimer: In the beginning, nothing of this will be original. Harry potter and all characters plots and elements that are used are property of the author J.K.Rowling. This is an alternate universe fictional story beginning from the end of year one (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone), the differences should become greater with each chapter.
Alone...
So alone...
Abandoned once again.
Caught on the border of life and death.
Incompetent fools.
Shadows and light.
Darkness and cold winds.
Thick underbrush.
...give up.
...no right or reason.
Here by sheer force of will.
Whether it be seconds...
...minutes
...hours
...days
...weeks
...months
...years
They will come...
They have to come...
Without them all is lost...
...hopeless
...barren
Cold
So cold
Dark
Death
It calls...
It calls to me...
...peace
...rest
...welcome
Promise of better tomorrow...
...weary
So tired
So cold
But it is wrong...
So wrong...
Stay away from the light.
The light offers oh so much needed relief.
But the cost is so very dear.
Must fight...
Must survive...
Regardless of the cost...
...will not let them beat me.
I will win...
I must win...
For if I don't...
...I am lost.
So cold.
Shades and shadows...
...hunger
...
Harry watched as the sun rose over mountains that shaped the skyline on the far side of the lake. He sat near the window with his knees pulled up to his chest. The frame was of ancient wood and stone and the the heat from his hand left a ghostly impression on the cold glass.
The room was comfortable.
The dorm room was always comfortable.
His dorm mates continued to sleep unhindered by the troubles that weighed heavily on the miserable young wizards shoulders. He knew he was at a turning point in his mentality. He knew that the rest of his life hinged on the decisions he would make and that he was stuck between two paths at the moment. To act and play into the headmaster's hands gave him a certain type of freedom while it also limited his actions to the shadows and closed doors. To, in essence, knowingly live a lie. Though if he rebelled against the old man he knew Dumbledore could and would twist his world to make his life a living hell. He doubted that Dumbledore would abandon a pawn, as developed as he, while it still had potential. He would forever haunt his life until death, his own or Dumbledore's.
Harry knew that ignorance would be better, for being shown behind the illusions have stolen his naiveté, his innocence. It was so unfair. Why could he not be just a normal boy? Why did he have to be chosen as a pawn in the sick and twisted power games? And most importantly, the question every individual asks at some point in their life, why me?
The minutes ticked onward and the world became lighter as the golden globe rose over the horizon. Inversely the young wizard's mind continued moving into darker levels trying to figure out what of his life was fate and what were the actions of the goat. Some of the ramifications of his thought were horrible and he had no idea of how far the man was willing to push.
Harry wanted to survive and he was not willing to gamble his freedom and sanity. To act kept the ball in his court. He would hold his cards close to his chest and hope when it was time to call it would not be his bluff.
...
About an hour before breakfast, while his dorm mates still slept behind the crimson curtains of their luxurious four poster beds, Phobos returned. Or maybe it should be crashed?
Harry was lost in thought when all of a sudden there was a loud thump from the other side of the glass. When he peered out the window and found ...nothing. His hand passed through his multicoloured hair to ensure it was all out of his eyes. He turned when he heard a large thump over near Neville's bed, behind his drawn curtains. When he peeked through he met a face full of snake.
Ssssorry, detour...' Osirus mentioned before the other two snorted.
With no more word the snake dropped a rectangular package on his bed along with a letter and a note.
...
Harry!
Quite surprised by your new friends sudden arrival, Phobos right? It is very useful for it to carry the gift of Phoenix Flight (travel by fire regardless of wards). There was a slight scuffle where there was a fire ball thrown in my direction (I am not sure this was intentional so I will not hold it against them). The Lockhart's of the world are our favourite wizards. Not only does he release a great deal of misinformation but he takes out so many of the Dark creature experts **cough hunters**. One of my ...er relations actually spent time with a certain vampire hunter in Albania. Oddly enough the book 'Voyages with Vampires' for some odd reason coincides with her experiences (even mentioning her name and parentage at one point) with the dreadful man. Little issue from her, she honestly never remembers coming across any man by the name Lockhart. When she tracked down the original hunter he no longer seemed to remember that he was even a wizard. Don't take the idiot at face value and never confront him when you're alone.
There has always been quite a deal of speculation on Dumbledore's line. They tend to hold positions of power with little to no effort. What you describe sounds accurate to other accounts. Binding soul magic is not something that should ever be taken lightly. As a human wizard I knew that it was something better left alone and most of wizarding society tends to agree with that. After I crossed over, the soul magic became quite a bit easier for me to understand. Vampires tend to deal with blood magics which are closely related to the soul variety. What happened to Hedwig though is not surprising, though the fact that even the owls are bound at that level is worrying, especially at Hogwarts. Slytherin's dark magic wards should still be in place which should make such things almost impossible. Hogwarts wards should increase in strength as time continues absorbing much of the magic that its students and professors release. There are ways to "block" the soul magic, but those that you called puppets and most of the automatons would be beyond help as the magic is so deeply imbedded in their personas that if you remove it, that which is considered themselves would be destroyed. New personalities could be built but the effort of retraining them would be so taxing as to render all methods unfeasible on such a potentially large portion of the population. I am sorry. You spoke so highly of Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley that I know that it must hurt so much. There is nothing you can do about it, so do not take it personally.
I have been subcontracted to the dragon reserve in Romania so I should have plenty of time available over the next few months. Wizards are such idiots (I never considered you a wizard so there should be no insult, but they really are idiots). They have yet to realize that the only thing needed in handling creatures, regardless of race or level of magic, is to think like them, empathize per say; to understand their motives behind their actions. Instead they all use brute force to subdue them. Then they have the nerve to not realize that the reason they are trying to fry them is that there are dozens of spells shot at them. I would react in the exact same way damn it. Feel free to contact me whenever, my door will always be open (though please tell your friend that fire and vampires do not mix).
As to your questions about the potions, if you need them then you will know how to use them. If you don't, don't touch them. Each of them are deadly in their own right whether because they are poison or overdose. The runic ones are actually charmed to be self explanatory when needed. The book in the package should force one of the potions to reveal their purpose and use. Please read the note, then look through the potions, before you open the package and after you have breakfast when you have a day free.
I will keep an eye out and think over what you have revealed.
Don't let the old man get you down.
Friendly Yours,
Damon
PS I stumbled on an old spell that charmed any written language to parseltounge. Phobos nodded when she read the note so you should have no problem reading this letter.
PPS Warning you should know that I intentionally picked the vilest book that I could find, have fun.
...
At breakfast Harry sat near Ron and Hermione. Ron oddly being his normal morning self had yet to say a word to either of the other two as he shoved handfuls of food into his mouth. Hermione on the other hand had no clue how to start the conversation that needed to be done. Harry just sat there in silence pretending ignorance as he brought another forkfull of pancakes to his mouth. Hermione did not notice when one of the sausages on her plate vanished from thin air though Harry's knowledge of the hybrids existence probably gave him an advantage in this observation. Hermione looked down at her plate just as Ron was grabbing a sausage link from the serving dish. When Hermione looked up her confused look turned to one of severe annoyance.
Really, Ron Weasley. If it is not bad enough that you insist on eating with your hand right from the platter you have to go about and take it from some ones plate,' the bushy haired witch growled.
I already told you that some thing was stealing stuff from my plate! And I never touched your plate! I bet it is the bloody house elfs...' The red head did not immediately notice the piece of bacon vanishing from the palm of his hand until he bit his finger instead of the crisp meat.
You probably have just eaten it so fast that you can't remember the inhalation!' Hermione was about to go into full rant mode when her academic senses tingled, 'What in the world is a house elf?'
Little to say she did not notice the pile of eggs on her plate disappear into thin air.
...
That was ...interesting,' the green eyed Gryffindor thought to himself. The horrified look on Hermione's face when she found out where all her food came from was priceless. Harry missed the chopping block once again and he did not have to justify his actions yet.
Harry took the long way back to his dorm room and was walking along the battlements that looked over the lake's eastern shores. The giant squid stuck out a tentacle and skipped a stone the size of a small horse across the cold crystal clear clean waters. The forbidden forest so dark and frightening last year after facing the shade of Voldemort, was so stunning and alluring. It whispered of wonder and adventure on the wind. The cool breeze blew from the mountains to the north. Harry felt that the clean smell of rain and snow was refreshing.
It was at this moment that Harry realised exactly why the founder's chose this spot for building their castle of knowledge. He felt honoured to be there and promised that he would continue to follow the ideals that they had set together for the school and the greater wizarding world.
The ancient stone beneath his feet warn smooth by a thousand years had stories to tell of all that had happened here. Of battles and treaties, of honour and treachery, of ages past and ages forgotten. He felt very humbled as these thoughts filtered through his mind and it was a much more peaceful Harry Potter that entered Gryffindor tower than the one that had left for breakfast.
...
Harry,
The book that is wrapped within this cloth is charmed with some rather interesting enchantments. These by themselves might be considered Dark Arts because of how they react directly with the mind yet they are common among certain books. The vial you want is a crystal runic one, though you will have to use your instinct to find the right one.
I suggest that you close your curtains and do this on your bed away from prying eyes. The charms can get a little enthusiastic.
Damon
...
Harry pulled his potions kit from his trunk and set it in the middle of his bed and then proceeded to take of his socks and shoes. He closed and warded his curtains to keep everyone away. He pulled his robe over his head and got in a comfortable position before he opened the JP3 before proceeding to pick up the crystal vial that called his attention, though it was not the only one. "Sustain," the descriptive runes read. "A drop an hour. Twenty all together. Consumed all at once," the runes had given the impression of this more than actually reading this precisely. Harry consumed the recommended dose and felt a warm feeling in his stomach. He carefully resealed the vial as he put it away.
Turning to the package that he would later curse and bless he opened it.
"From Bylaws to Declarations- Global Wizarding Laws: An In-depth Analysis, collective work of the Wizemengot and international Ministries, updated daily..." Harry read almost putting the book down as soon as his mind comprehended the cover. Yet he could not and his hand quickly opened the cover very much against the will. Every word he read burned into his memory ready for instant recall.
He swore very painful revenge against his vampire friend.
Reading about the proper procedure to register a charm in thirty two separate countries could almost be considered interesting.
The various trade agreements between different ministries including an island some where in Indonesia that had three thousand thirt two different procedures (not including combinations of two or more procedures) depending on various factors including whether the moon and Mars were in the same quadrant had been (Harry realised early on he could plan new torture methods and read at the same time, death by bunny rabbit one of his personal favourites) enlightening.
The quarantine methods on potion ingredients actually turned his stomach.
Immigration processes in the Norwegian Ministry had been tedious (including the thirty utensils required in the welcome feast) especially considering it came with wizarding pictures.
The cross species breeding restrictions in England were educational. Phobos was actually against the law in no less than seventeen ways not including what ever spells were used in their development.
The process of electing delegate members to the Oceania council of wizards was humorous (the mating dance of the Billywig certainly looked complicated).
Beauxbatons' process of replacing a professor of etiquette almost had Harry breaking free of the damn books magic. Though the rights and responsibilities of British professors had him thinking of ways to hex the headmaster.
The several hundred Qudditch fouls gave him a few ideas to try out during the next match.
The laws of releasing a new product on the general wizarding population left him baffled. While the muggle protection act made him contemplative. Classification of people and beasts (past and present ones) were a joke.
The werewolf registry acts of South Africa were down right barbaric.
After the eighth hour of reading the proper way to greet some minister of magic Harry had upped the level of revenge to involve sharp weapons and creamed cheese.
In the twelfth hour he had decided that he would have to kill him several times as painfully as possible.
The fourteenth carried on to accordion playing chipmunks.
By the sixteenth hour and with some interesting charm casting he devised death by singing purple dinosaur.
In the seventeenth he admitted that the dino might be too cruel but killer bees looked promising.
In hour nineteen the boy decided he might be able to kill two birds with one stone by involving Gilderoy Lockhart.
He soon decided that that plan had to be saved for either Dumbledore or Snape.
When the spell finally had him read the minutes of the last Wizengamot closed council meeting and then re wrap the book he breathed a sigh of relief.
When he turned back to the note that was with the book he read the new text that appeared there.
...
I warned you that it was vile so you can't hold it against me. You can keep the book and if you try to read it again you will only get the updated information. It trapped me for two hours the last time I read it. A motto to live by, "If you are planning to break the law you may as well do it right." Write again soon I really don't mind hearing from you. Don't let them get you down.
...
Professor McGonagall was not pleased.
Well if that tick in her left eye was any indication her emotion might have been a little bit stronger.
For some odd reason she did not enjoy being the recipient of over a thousand of her colleagues fan letters. Especially when most arrived just in time for her breakfast. Some may have been a little early at four thirty in the morning. Monday morning, her classes were continuously disrupted by late stragglers.
Unfortunately Harry did not take into a unique ability that teachers tend to develop after years of experience.
She could easily identify any of her students' handwriting.
He would later recall that the two weeks with Filch built character yeah character, not even taking into consideration that Filch's detentions were no where near the level that the Dursley's had subjected him to.
It gave him a unique perspective on the school, especially trophy rooms and poltergeists.
(Damon had yet to send the book on wizarding spells for ghost and spirits.)
The entire experience taught him one very important life lesson that he would treasure many years down the track, "don't get caught."
...
As September drifted into October the weather took a turn for the cold and wet.
Most of the Quidditch team were being driven batty by Wood's "training" sessions. Well most but not including the green eyed second year. The young Potter did not even feel the cold rain. He would take off, fly a few laps and then get right in to the manoeuvres. There were times that even Oliver Wood believed his seeker was missing some mental functions, but as long as he stayed on his broom and caught the snitch he would not complain.
...
In the third week of September, Harry had finally cleared the last of the headmaster's magic from the lounge he had found. The magic affected the millennia old wards in such ways that it circumvented half of the safeguards in place. It also forced an unnatural feeling of security on those that were ignorant of such. To be completely honest they made him sick.
He was sure that Hogwarts agreed with him.
He now spent more time in his lounge than in the Gryffindor common room.
It was here he was able to talk directly with his three headed familiar and it was here he could modify his charms and create ones with slightly more interesting results. It was not odd to see the odd bald rat or frogs with wings in that section of the castle. Mrs. Norris even spent several hours bumping drunkenly into walls down near the potions lab. Apparently some Slytherin (rumours pointed to Professor Snape) actually took photos.
Dumbledore's manipulations stretched far and wide. The first time he had reached over to use his invisibility cloak, he dropped it in shock, when he felt the headmaster's personal touches. It now connected to several of his wards (ones that were stronger than his bindings) few of which were tied into a location system. He quickly felt that he should not be surprised for how else could he have crossed him with the Mirror of Erised.
Harry hated how dark his first happy memories became when his eyes were wide open, bitter even.
...
The storms broke one Sunday in the middle of October. The clouds parted and the air became almost comfortable. Walking along the shore of the lake closest to the castle the young wizard breathed in the magic saturated air and breathed out some of his darker thoughts. The forbidden forest looked extremely alluring in the early autumn morning light. He had watched as the sky grew from black to grey and finally burst into the spectrum of colours of the sunrise. Light reflecting off the clouds on the horizon warned of the storms that were even then not far away. As if to emphasize this point lightening flashed within the distant storm The student once fearful of the forests inhabitants was left with nothing but an odd need to explore. The very fact of its forbidden nature only increased its appeal. Following the shore until he reached the closest part of the ancient forest Harry walked carefully with the only sounds being the hisses and occasional flutters of feathered wings from his invisible companions.
The trees that he passed were tall and majestic though no two were exactly alike. The further into the woods he walked along the winding path the cooler it became. The sun only occasionally broke through the canopy above him and the light created a surrealistic impression almost as if Harry was wondering through a dream. Magic flowed through every millimetre of the hinterland, but here the magic was alive. It teased the senses, played through the air, flowed in the streams, fed the roots, and clung to the rocks. It saturated every grain of soil, every molecule of air, every ounce of blood, and drop of sap. It pulsed and sang and danced. It was such a fundamental part of this world that Harry knew the human one would smother it the instant they had the opportunity. His instincts cried out the danger yet his curiosity was stronger. The shadows moved in patterns all of their own and odd birds chattered in the distance as the wind rustled through the leaves.
Is it sssafe to come outsss?' Anubis hissed in the young mans ear. Harry stretched his senses out and found no wizards within the area of the forest he currently inhabited.
Assss long asss you threesss are careful...'
Thanksss midget,' Prometheus hissed before the three made a quick exit towards the canopy.
If Harry was not so contented at the moment he was sure he would have hexed them.
...
The boy stopped about an hour after he lost sight of the school grounds. He turned around taking in the flora and fauna that thrived in the old forest's depths. He could sense the creatures around him, some oblivious to this stranger among them, while others kept a wary watch for the dangers that this biped could introduce. Harry sat down in a sunny spot among the roots of an ancient oak tree and rested as he looked out at the ocean of green that was only complemented by the occasional burst of colour. Finally he could be himself and relax. He shut his eyes and allowed the forest to lull him into sleep.
...
Where is he?' Grumbled a certain brown bushy haired Gryffindor. She stomped through the halls having no idea where to locate her arrant friend. She just wasted almost half an hour walking from Gryffindor tower to the Quidditch pitch in the hopes she could find him. Ron being his normal pratish self had grudgingly admitted that his bed was empty by the time his dorm mates woke up. His invisibility cloak remained at the bottom of his trunk. He never showed up for breakfast and she had already checked most of classrooms. She had stalked up and down the isles of the library and still had no clue where he could possibly be. She had even ventured into Slytherin territory with still no luck. Harry had promised that he would study, with her, for the charms quiz on Monday and instead of showing up he disappears.
That was it! If he was not in the Owlery when she went up there she would study on her own. It will be his own fault when his notes are missing important details and he comes crawling to her,' she reasoned with herself. It was already ten and she refused to waste any more time tracking down idiots.
...
Harry jumped from asleep to awake in an instant when he heard a loud blaring sound in the distance.
The hybrid was coiled up on a rock in the sun and all three heads looked around to discover the source of the disturbance. They were quite happy basking in the warm sun.
Phobosss which direction did it comess fromsss,' Harry hissed quietly to his familiar.
Anubis and Osirus tasted the air and they started flying off in a direction that was off the beaten path. With little internal debate the black green and purple haired preteen did his best to follow between the ancient trunks.
A half hour later and there was still no sight of what had forcibly awoken the group.
Harry carefully made his way between the roots and underbrush. The canopy above became thicker and thicker as the undergrowth scratched lightly against his bare forearms and black jean clad legs. His glasses already shrunk and stored in his pocket along with his wand. The breaks above in the canopy that allowed the sun's light to pierce the darkness were few and far between.
When Harry realized that he was relying on his sense of magic more than his eyesight to follow Phobos he started to worry. He heard a soft clicking sound buried in the twilight and felt his sense of danger cause the hair on the back of his neck to stand on its end.
Phobosss,' Harry whispered.
The hybrid gave no response.
Anubisss, Ossirusss, Prometheusss!' The boy called louder at them.
Still no peep from his flying friends.
He carefully walked deeper into the gloom.
He started to hear a soft clicking sound coming from either side of him.
His eyes no longer perceived any shapes beyond the deep shadows.
Walking forward the young wizard passed through a silky veil that clung slightly to his clothing.
Not being a complete idiot the boy finally pulled out his wand and lit it with a quiet 'Lumos,' which produces a gentle crimson light with a slight change of will. Looking around all Harry saw was the red silk. The previously soft clicking increased in volume and tempo as he made his way down hill through the opposite side of where he entered. He picked up the pace as he reached a white curtain which he pushed through into a clearing in broad daylight. The clicking continued to increase in volume surrounding him by all sides until he reached the centre of the clearing and all noise ceased.
The silence was deafening.
A single hollow clicking sound came from the darkness. The silk he passed through earlier hung from all of the ancient trees.
Harry turned to the noise extinguishing his wand as he raised it.
The clicking sound changed again in volume and pitch. Harry swore he heard a name being called over and over again.
Argog!' They chanted. 'Argog!'
What is it?' A scratchy ancient voice responded from the darkness at the edge of the clearing.
Human!' The word spoken from the darkness that surrounded him. Harry noticed that he was at a low point of a valley and the ground rose in all directions.
Is it Hagrid?' The voice questioned.
Stranger!' The clicking came back towards the young wizard.
Kill them, I need to rest,' the ancient voice responded.
The clicking picked up in approval as hairy legs came through the silk webbing that surrounded the clearing. The curtain above started to be woven closed as Harry realised exactly who his current foe was. Giant spiders the size of the carriages that brought him to and from school started to edge out into the now soft twilight.
Phobosss! I could really usse the help,' cried the boy who had quickly realised that he had little chance against the army of arachnids.
A fire ball flew past as the spider closest to him tried to collect him to be carried off. The winged serpent finally made its appearance. The sight of the snake forced the eight legged beasts to pause for instant before they doubled their effort.
That was when the young serpents started to use their glares.
It took about twenty seconds for the hungry creatures to understand what was happening. Almost instantly every single one panicked the clicking swiftly receding from the clearing, for their greatest fear had arrived at their most hollowed ground.
Harry carefully made his way through the petrified creatures. Phobos lighting the way with their glowing eyes and flame kissed wings. The three of them wrapped themselves securely around the young wizards shoulders protectively.
Sssorry we were dissstracted,' Anubis hissed quietly in Harry's mind.
It'sss all right, you were their when I needed yousss,' a slightly shaken wizard replied as he started to make his way in the direction he thought the castle was. 'Jusst next time don't cut it sso clossse,' the wizard stroked each of the hybrids heads in return. Harry quickly coming to the conclusion that he would have to find what made the noise another day.
Sorry people thought I had already released this chapter.
OK question the students named in the sorting ceremonies especilly Philosopher Stone, are they all of the first years or is there room for other characters in a year? It is just that I read so often a character created out of thin air that had no prior indication of their existence. If there was only the named first years then that would make each house have no more than ten a year. So that becomes fourty total students from the four houses per year over seven years. Which makes it two hundred and eighty students all together over seven years. In reality that would be so non cosiquencial. If all british wizards attend Hogwart (with no private institutes) then that would only make the population growth of fourty a year. Is that enough for a community to sustain itself even taking in to account the larger life expectancy?
Reviews oddly enough do encourage people. Especially some one that brings up inconsistancies.
I like to know when I am wrong even though I always want to be right.