A/N: Wow, people are reviewing this story – I think I'm going to go into shock. I so glad you are all enjoying this xover – hidden in the depths of the HP category that it is.
Jack -- I'm glad your enjoying the fic, and thank you so much for reading the prequel AND reviewing. Yeah, I was disappointed when I couldn't find any stories with Will staying forever as a child so I thought I'd write my own.
Obdormio – Dumby and Minnie didn't react mainly because they were in shock (even you ever see something REALLY unexpected you're more likely to completely freeze before you overreact) and I thought they had too much self-composure to react wildly. As for Will keeping Munin, do you really think they would have been able to STOP Munin from following Will? The things a bloody death phoenix! Also, this is after seeing Merriman so Dumby and Minnie are feeling pretty ambivalent towards Will right now. As for his name appearing now instead of at his birth – I kinda didn't know about it. I was under the impression the names appeared at the beginning of the next school year or something. So thanks for pointing it out, it gave me a great idea for this chapter, so you will get your answer then. Thanx for reviewing, you gave me a great idea and it keeps me on my toes!
Sasigirl – Thank you so much for the review, I'm glad someone else likes to see Dumbledore completely flummoxed for once! I've always felt sorry for Will, and I'm glad too that he's able to go to Hogwarts
Maraweaves – Ah, one of my favourite two reviewers, I'm so glad I haven't disappointed you so far. I loved imagining his voice too, which is why I finally settled on Josh Groban/Charlotte Church song (more for her voice than his though). I'm so glad you're going to read the books again – my own copies are worn out from use!
Ruth – My other favourite reviewer, I'm glad you enjoyed Will's singing. It took me forever to find the right song for him to sing. As for Munin's humour, let's just say Munin is going to be saying everything I would say if I was in the story – so expect a lot of one liners and sarcasm!
Now, pretty much all of you commented on the fact that Will seems to be showing his powers awfully quickly. It's funny that I would do something like that isn't it? Poor Will, he's trying so hard to keep acting normal and it's almost as if something is preventing him from doing so…. (this is the part where I trail off with a sly smile and leave you all wondering what I meant by that.)
Chapter 4 – Powers
Will sat in the Sanctuary thinking. Ever since the visit by the dragon, the entire population of Hogwarts seemed to be avoiding him. His disappearances into the Sanctuary, where not even Dumbledore could find him, wasn't helping matters. But at this point, Will was at a loss. Ever since coming into his powers, Will had never failed to protect his secret in such a manner before. The last time was when he had confessed to his brother Stephan, but he had protected his secret by having the white moths carry his older brother's memories away.
Will sighed.
Unfortunately, the same situation didn't apply here. The magic of Hogwarts didn't affect his powers as an Old One, but they could still produce interesting affects if they interacted with someone whom Will had used his powers on. For example, if the Old One were to erase everyone's memories.
Of all the bloody times for the dragon to come visiting, he had to choose that moment.
The Old One stopped, repeating his own thought over in his head. Why had the dragon come at that moment? It was not the work of the Dark, nor had it any essence of the Light. Wild magic was just that, wild, and would have no ambitions to do other than what was in its nature. So that only left…
Standing, Will regarded the many doors that led to the Old Ways. He opened one that was sealed by runes, and suddenly found himself in the middle of Stonehenge. It was night, and Will searched his senses to determine when he was.
"Relax, Old One, there is no need for you to know when you are, merely that you are here," carried a voice from the darkness.
Will turned sharply, then kneeled as he recognized the person. The Pendragon walked regally towards the boy and came to stand just before the kneeled figure.
"You need not kneel to me, Watcher. As the last of the Old Ones, you have the right to stand before me as an equal."
Will did so, and asked his question, "Lord Arthur, have you been interfering in the world of man since your crossing?"
"No, the events that have been occurring have been done by the Earth itself. I am here to act as proxy for that magic, since it cannot speak to you directly."
Will was surprised. The magic of the Earth was completely neutral like the High or Wild Magic, but with no ambition or purpose either than to simply exist. For it to take the initiative and cause events was unheard of.
"Why has it done this? It is contrary to its very nature."
"Ever since the Light and Dark left this world, the fate of the world now completely rests with that of mankind. However, the Earth also has a vested interest in its own survival, since its only real purpose is to exist. Apparently, with no one fighting for it on the cosmic scale as the Light and the Dark had, it has taken the task upon itself. However, it can only induce events through causality by initiating events that will trigger the desired results."
"Like a butterfly flapping its wings will cause a hurricane across the world," the Old One mused.
"An apt comparison. However, the Earth has decided it needs an agent, and as I'm sure you've surmised, it has chosen you, Will the Watcher."
The Old One was stunned by this new knowledge. In the eons it has existed, never before has there ever been the possibility of the Earth developing its own will. It did explain the sudden cascade of events in his life after thirty years of relative peace. Will frowned as he considered a flaw in the proposition.
"How will I be able to discern the Earth's wishes if I cannot speak to it without a proxy? Also, I am the Watcher – it is my duty and I cannot have anything interfere with it."
"Peace, Old One. You will find that the duties as an Old One will not interfere with those as an agent of the Earth; in fact, Merriman has informed me that they are one in the same. When you receive your new powers as an agent, you will also receive the ability to link with the Earth directly."
"New powers? Will I also be given the ability to control these powers?" Will asked suspiciously, his mind drawing a nasty conclusion. The Pendragon chuckled.
"I'm sure you've already guessed, Old One. You are now the First and Last Earthan and as such your powers are your own to discover and control."
The Old One winced.
"Which means you have no idea what powers I will develop or how long it will take to learn to control them, even with all of my knowledge. That was the reason for forcing me to expose my powers so quickly, because I soon will be unable to prevent their leakage."
"Very wise, Old One. That was the intent of the Earth, but it also forced you to search out an answer which in turn brought you to me."
The Old One considered for a moment, though knew his decision was already made. Merriman had already said that his duty as an …Earthan…and an Old One were the same – other than that he had no objections. He only hoped he would be able to control his powers quickly. But given the strong essence of Earth magic, he rather doubted it.
"Very well."
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Harry walked through the common area with frustration. He had spent most of the day looking for Will, only to find that not only had he not shown up for classes, he wasn't in the Gryffindor dorms or common room either. Meeting up with Hermione, she confessed that she hadn't been able to find a trace of the boy either. Ron had refused to look, stating that Will was probably a follower of Who-know-who since he was able to sing to dragons.
Though Ron had a point, Harry didn't think so. How could anyone who sang with such beauty and peace be evil? But the boy wizard hadn't been able to get Will alone to tell him that. The younger boy was either disappearing or in class; Harry was sure that Will was doing it to avoid the stares or practical jokes of the other students. Potter had already made Fred and George promise not to play any practical jokes at the younger boy's expense.
Not that anyone could find Will when he chose not to be found. Even Professor Dumbledore appeared confused as to the strange boy's whereabouts. The only place Harry hadn't looked was the Forbidden Forest. He was across the grounds and about to enter when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Wincing, the boy turned around and was surprised to find that it was Dumbledore.
"Mr. Potter, may I ask why you were about to enter the Forbidden Forest?"
"I've been looking everywhere for Will because I was worried about him. And this was the only place I haven't looked yet, so I thought that maybe…" Harry trailed off with a pleading note in his voice. To his surprise, the headmaster chuckled.
"Well, Mr. Potter, it would seem we think alike. I was just on my way to see if I couldn't locate the boy myself. Shall we?"
Overjoyed, the Boy-who-lived didn't wait to be asked twice – or be forbidden – and dashed in the forest. They searched for a half-hour before they heard a crash and a voice.
"Would you be quiet, Munin! I can't concentrate with you making those remarks – at my expense!"
Following the voice, they were able to get close enough to hear the chirping of what sounded like a bird. Harry's eyes widened when he realized that it sounded like Fawkes.
"Et tu, Brutus? Look Munin, you're a bad influence on Fawkes. Next thing we know, he'll be dying his feathers black and being sarcastic."
The two rescuers came upon the clearing, finding two apparently laughing phoenixes and one irate boy. The area to one side of the clearing was covered in ice, while a branch was slowly burning away next to demolished boulder. The boy in question was drenched, but with no rain clouds or rivers near by Harry was at a loss to explain why.
"Will? Are you alright?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"Harry? What are you and Professor Dumbledore doing here?" Will asked in mild surprise, but didn't appear to be giving them his full attention.
"I have a preference to knowing where my students are, especially if they are foolish enough to enter the Forbidden Forest," Dumbledore remarked in the voice that usually caused students flush and stammer apologies. Will did neither of these, still staring intently on the smouldering branch.
"I thought it would be better if I wasn't around people until I got these bloody powers of mine under control." Will answered, while raising his hand towards the burning branch. Suddenly, there was a sudden burst of rain that put out the fire – but also left the three of them completely soaked. This set the phoenixes laughing – again.
Will looked at the two soaked rescuers and smiled a crooked grin.
"At least this time I put out the fire."
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Harry and Will huddled around the fireplace, trying to warm up from their sudden soaking. Even though they had used a spell to dry their clothes, the rain had left them chilled to the bone. Will noted the effect with detached amusement as he watched Harry huddle closer to the fire.
Behind them, the phoenixes continued their commentary about Will's prowess. Finally, the Old One had enough and commented to the other boy that the fire might be hotter if they threw on something with a lot of fat. Harry laughed as the chirping birds suddenly quieted.
"Can you really talk to them?" he asked curiously.
"Unfortunately. I've been listening to their comments for the last few hours. Munin has been nothing but a bad influence on Fawkes."
Harry fell silent again. Out of the corner of his eye, he regarded the younger boy. Will just seemed so completely ordinary; looking at him you would never think there was anything out of the ordinary about him.
"Will? How did you make it rain? You never used your wand or even chanted a spell."
"Yes, I believe I would like to know myself."
Dumbledore's sudden entrance, along with Minerva and Snape, caused Harry to jump. But Will just sat staring at the flames.
"A few months ago, before I received my letter from Hogwarts, I found this jewel. Being hungry, I thought I could pawn it for some cash but when I put it on something happened. All this energy filled me and I began to hear things – from trees, fires, birds … everything. That's how I knew to do all those things, because everything around me was telling me. At the wand shop the wands were explaining what type of wand I should have – I just repeated what they said out loud."
"But how are you able to perform spells without your wand?" Minerva asked.
"I think it's because I'm not a wizard exactly. I mean, my power comes from inside like a wizard – but that power was placed there by something else. I can focus the power through the wand but I don't necessarily have to. If I don't use the wand, though, the magic doesn't always work. I think that's why my name appeared on the list now instead of at my birth, because I wasn't a wizard until I found the stone."
When I was a normal boy, I never told anything but white lies. Now that I'm a powerful, immortal being it seems I do nothing but lie. I only hope they accept the story, the Earth doesn't want wizards to know about its will just yet, if ever. It is, however, as close to the truth as I can make it – I wasn't similar to a wizard until the Earth took steps to place me here at Hogwarts.
"You explained to me that a man named Merriman taught you to use your powers," Dumbledore asked, looking at Will intently.
The boy nodded.
"I figure came from pendant when I put on the stone," he replied, "and he sort of put all this knowledge in my mind before he disappeared."
"The only other time I saw him was when I received my wand," the Old One added, realizing the headmaster already suspected Merriman's identity.
Will handed over a small pendant.
"This is the jewel, but it doesn't do anything anymore." In reality, the stone was a warestone that would allow Will to keep an eye on those that wanted to know more about Will and the pendant.
The adults accepted the explanation and allowed the two boys to leave. Using the warestone, Will listened to their conversation.
"Do you believe the boy, Albus?" Minerva asked.
"I didn't sense any deception from the boy, and his story does explain many things. However, I have such difficulty sensing anything from the boy."
"If it was the spirit of Merlin that taught the boy, it would seem we've been given a powerful tool to fight Voldemort," Snape commented.
"I think we shall wait and see how the boy develops. Harry has already befriended Will and if the two become allies…"
The Old One drew his attention back to Harry as he realized the other boy was talking.
"Don't worry, Will, I'm sure Dumbledore will be able to help you," Harry was saying.
Will looked at his new friend and smiled. It was nice to have a companion again, after being alone for so long. Preoccupied with his thoughts, he didn't notice the other boy until it was too late. Will and Harry helped him to his feet, and the Old One was shocked as he recognized the boy's features.
"For an eleven year old, you sure pack a punch -- must be from playing with dragons all the time," he said with a grin and held out his hand.
"Hi, I'm Will Davies."
TBC
Walks away slowly before running to avoid the flying tomatoes yelling: If you want more, I want reviews! YIKES!
For those of you who haven't read the DIR books (which you should!) Bran Davies was Will's best friend before Will "died" and had white hair and eyes. He was also the son of King Arthur brought forward through time by Merlin.