DISCLAIMER: This is all just my imagination. J.K. Rowling is the wonderful inventor of the main character.

Author's Note: Thanks to my wonderful two reviewers. I love you with all my lil' heart! I'm Canadian, by the way. I have no clue to what British slang is, or how to speak British. I'm just slugging along, doing my best. Does anyone feel like telling me how to do the bold, italic, thingy? That would be nice.

2: New Beginnings

The sun warmed his body as he lie there. Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived, was for once, just enjoying sleeping. There was a warm breeze that was more comfortable than any blanket and if it weren't for that warm stickiness around his face, he would lie there forever. Ron would love this place…

Harry sat up with a jump. His head swam as he looked around him. Was this heaven? He ran a hand across his forehead and grimaced. The blood was still there. What had happened? Were Ron and them safe?

Slowly, Harry gazed at the surrounding environment. They definitely weren't anywhere in England. There was a huge grassy plain that seemed to go on forever. Trees were non existent and the long grass tickled his hands as he walked by. The ground itself was soft and dirty yet the sun overhead didn't bear down on him harshly. It was perfect. Except for the silence. All he could hear was the wind swerve through the grass and the lack of birds, frogs or any other animals made the silence seem threatening.

Harry gripped his wand in his hand. He called out "Hello…" into the wide expanse of land. He jumped when he heard a snappy reply "Finally!" Looking around, he still couldn't see anything. He turned in a full circle; still nothing. "Where are you?" he questioned, feeling slightly foolish for talking to nothing.

"Say please, and I might let you see me." Came a saucy reply. Harry was not in a teasing mood though.

"Please" he said shortly.

"Right here," came the voice from behind him. Harry tuned around yet again, feeling slightly woozy from loss of blood and dizziness, and took a step back. There was a huge dog in front of him. Not a dog, a wolf. It looked wild. Yet it was sitting on it's hindquarter's giving Harry a look that was clearly showing it was not impressed.

"Um...hello." Harry said. The wolf snorted. Shaking it's head and pointing to the ground, Harry took it as a gesture to sit down. Sitting down, the wolf's head was level with his. That didn't feel too good. He then took in its features. Its eyes were a brilliant green, almost the same shade as his. Its fur was a pitch black and shiny. It looked as if it had never come into contact with dirt in its life. It had white fur on its ankles though, covering its feet. Boots, he thought. It looked like boots.

"Are you through?" Came the voice again. Harry nodded sheepishly. It was rude to stare.

"Do you know where you are?" It asked. Harry shook his head no. "You are in the Celestial Realm." Harry wondered if he should be impressed. The wolf shook its head again. "The Realm, as we call it, is a nesting ground or recovering area for those who have suffered in their earthly lives. You are being offered a chance Harry. You can keep going to the Divine Realm, or you can train with me here, then when you are ready again, return to your Mortal Realm."

"So I died?" Harry said softly. The wolf eyed him, it seemed to be debating what to tell him.

"No. Your mother's blood once again saved you from the Killing Curse, even though it had been greatly diminished by the use of it to resurrect Voldemort." It looked up into the calm blue sky. "You have merely…disappeared from the Mortal realm. Your soul knew it was time to go. And here you are."

"But the prophecy said only I could kill Voldemort. I have to get back. What happened to the train and to my friends?" Harry demanded. He put his head in his hands, twitching away when he accidentally rubbed his raw scar.

"You will return when you are ready to return. And the train and students were rescued by Aurors. Ron and those you think of are fine. But you need to make your decision: what shall it be?" The wolf asked. It seemed impatient.

"If I train, will I get another chance to bring Voldemort down?" Harry asked, a hard gleam in his young eyes. The wolf nodded. "Then I guess we better get started then." Harry stood up. "By the way, as you already know, I'm Harry. What's your name and who are you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was being rude. I'm Kalypso. I'm what you mortals would call a timber wolf. And I'm your new Guardian Spirit." Kalypso said it with great relish. I think I should be worried right about now, Harry thought.

"Yes, yes you should." Kalypso answered. Harry looked at him in surprise.

"You can read minds?" He asked suspiciously. There would be no privacy at all, if she could do that.

"Only yours, when you let me. As your mind shields aren't up yet, I can pretty much wander around in your mind freely. So maybe that'll be on our to-do list on your training schedule." Kalypso explained and she started loping off towards the horizon. "Come on…" She called out.

Harry started running, ignoring the stitch that came to his side instantly. Why can I still feel pain in this Realm, he asked himself.

"Because you have to hold on to your emotions and feelings to train how to fight in the Mortal realm. How else will you judge what will hurt you or not?" Kalypso explained yet again.

"Okay, you have to quit doing that. It's slightly odd." Harry said to her. She growled at him playfully.

"Maybe you better learn how to stop me then…" She taunted as she loped ahead of him.

"Aren't Guardians supposed to be nice? One would think so." Harry said, slightly gasping. They had finally arrived. He hadn't even noticed that the scenery had changed. They were now deep in the forest, with huge pine trees and damp moss clinging to the tree stumps. The sun shone through gaps of the forest sky, gleaming gold against the darkness of the shadows.

"So where are we?" Harry asked. He really hated not knowing things.

"We are another part of the Realm. You just have to think of an ideal spot suited to the needs you have for your actions, and viola. Here you are." Kalypso sat down again. "We only need to wait a minute."

"What are we waiting for?" Harry looked around. He could actually hear animals here now. Birds, rustling in the bushes, squirrels.

"Oh, here they are now." Kalypso got up and bounded towards two figures emerging from the trees. They stood in the shadows, it was too dark to make out their features clearly. Stepping into the light, Harry sat down heavily when he saw them.

"Mum...Dad...Sirius?" He could see them. They were solid. They were real. "What's going on?" His mom came and sat down beside him, careful not to touch him.

"Harry, we're merely spirits. We were given the opportunity to come and help you train. But remember this - you must not touch us or you will lose the chance to return to the Mortal Realm and travel to the Divine instead." She warned him in a soft, melodic voice. Harry watched her as she spoke. Her hair was still a deep red and her eyes glittered. He really did have his mother's eyes. He noticed his dad standing close behind, pushing Sirius, who was jumping with happiness.

"Hay there Harry." Sirius waved. Harry grinned. He looked happy. "You're dad's feeling a tad shy. Emotional and all. Say hello." Sirius got a elbow in the ribs for that, and James came and leaned down next to Lily.

"Hello Harry." He said simply. His dad's hair was still unruly and his dark eyes traveled over the length of Harry, trying to absorb all the details. Harry noticed that his dad's frame was slightly thin too, very tall and fit, just at ad bit on the skinny side. He felt relieved. He wouldn't be small all his life. Lily laughed at Harry's expression, guessing what he was thinking.

"Let me see my godson." Sirius demanded from the back. Harry stood up, feeling much better and ignoring Kalypso's smug smile. Sirius gave him a huge smile. Sirius was also looking much better - healthy, if it was possible to be healthy once you were dead.

"What's going on now? Why are you guys here? I'm happy you're here though." Harry sputtered, trying t work it out in his head. He saw James and Sirius share a smile as Lily started to speak.

"Harry, we are here to inform you of your powers. The powers you inherited through your father and I actually." Lily smiled at Harry's expression. "Yes, there is more to your father than being a great Quidditch player. Let's go somewhere more comfortable shall we?" She started to walk through the forest, followed closely by James and Sirius, and Harry and Kalypso were at the trail end.

"Kali, is this real?" Harry whispered to her. He could see his father and his best friend joking around and Lily scolding them as they walked ahead.

"They are real but from the Divine Realm. The had permission to come here to help you. But your mother meant what she said Harry. Do not touch them or you will travel to the Divine Realm and never return." Kali told him as she ran around in circles by him. "Come now, you will love what they are going to tell you."

They entered a new clearing, Harry once again never noticing abrupt change. It just seemed to happen and now they were in a small area with a small waterfall trickling gently along and the grass was glittering. From dew or from…faeries? They flew all over him, he could hear them chatting in small high voices, an one kept poking his glasses with her tiny, tiny wand.

"Mom!" he called out desperately, not wanting to swat them and hurt them. But damn, they were annoying. Lily turned and laughed as Kali growled at the wee faeries. Lily whispered something and the faeries all flew away except one, who hovered near hi shoulder and sat down. Harry turned trying to get a look at it, and laughed. It was making a home on his shoulder, arranging the folds of cloth and conjuring up new furniture.

"Um, hello. That's my shoulder. I'm Harry, by the way, but that's my shoulder." He gently tried to run the faerie off his shoulder but it remained firm.

"Hello Harry. Nice to meet you. I'm called Rhianne by my people, and I shall keep you now." Rhianne introduced herself and swept away the furniture. "But you are right, these pieces will be too big. I'll just have to rough it." She settled down, her legs crossed Indian style, and looked at him expectantly. "Yes?"

"I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but I already have a guardian spirit, a mother, father and godfather. Why do I need a faerie?" Harry questioned the tiny thing. She was wearing some sort of float-y dress that allowed her sparkling multicolor wings to fly free. She was quite cute though, being tiny and all that.

"You need me because I am charming and fun and will be able to go where others can't. Quit questioning and just accept Harry. It will all be clear with time." The faerie lectured as she shook her wee wand at him. He looked up to hear Sirius and James laughing. He glared at them.

"Sorry Harry, but she's such a wee thing. And she's bossing you around. It's funny." Lily was also hiding her smile behind her hand.

"So what is it that needed explaining?" Harry asked, deliberately changing the subject.

"Well, have you ever wondered why my sacrifice saved you from the killing curse while other children did even though their mothers did the exact same thing?" Lily questioned Harry, keeping a safe distance from him. Harry nodded slowly. "Well, it's because I'm an elemental and passed that to you. The magik in your blood saved you, partly. And the other part is…" She was cut off by James.

"I'm am mage, and that was also passed to you. Both powers bring with very strong survival instincts. You defended yourself without even realizing it. But your powers haven't made themselves show until the incident at the train. That was your Awaking Harry. Your powers are ready now, they just need to be trained." James finished. Harry just gaped at him, then snapped his mouth closed at Sirius's laughs.

"Please explain what an Elemental is." he asked Lily. She sighed.

"I'm not surprised you don't know. It's an ancient magic that skips every hundred or so generations. And I was lucky enough to receive. I can't imagine what Petunia would have done if it had been here." Lily made a face. "Anyway, I received it and had to receive special training from Dumbledore. No he's not an Element, just very wise in all forms of magik." She said at Harry's sharp look. "Anyways, this elemental blood gives you the ability to control the elements around you. One element is usually stronger than the rest so we'll have to test you to see what your element may be. And no, I don't know why you received it as well as your father's powers. You are one lucky boy, Harry." She finished off.

"I guess there goes any chance of being normal, hey?" Harry asked softly.

"Um, that's not all Harry. Do you know being a Mage means?" Harry shook his head no. "I'm very powerful though not as powerful as my father and grandfather were. It comes out in odd ways. I can only do one animagus form but I can do wandless magik. I can talk to animals but only a certain few. And on it goes. I'm sure you'll find out through your training what you can do." James finished off, looking at Harry sheepishly.

"Well, that was interesting. So I'm all powerful and have to kill Voldemort while everyone I care about dies or almost dies and does Voldemort know about this?" Harry ranted. He was agitated and stood up, pacing in a circle.

"We think he probably does, since he tried to steal your powers at the train. That was all he wanted. He knew he had to weaken you since you at full power you would have lashed back somehow with raw power but I don't think he expected you to totally disappear." Lily said, a small grin on her lips.



"What happens now that I'm gone? How will Dumbledore know how to reach me? Will Voldemort attack Hogwarts now ht he knows I'm gone? They must think I'm dead!" Harry rages at his parents and Kalypso.

"Calm down Harry. Get off your hissy-fit. You will now the answers by the end of your training. That is all you will be allowed to know, but I can say this: you worry for nothing." Kalypso stated in her bored voice. Harry just growled at her, she yipped back in surprise.

"I've heard a lot about this training period but I don't see a lot of action. When do we start? There must be a lot to learn if I'm both Mage and Elemental so get off your ass and teach Kalypso." Harry started to walk away and was instantly surrounded by the grassy field again.

"Let it began." Kalypso stated in a ominous tone.

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Next few months:

"Harry the proper way to hold the sword in this way.."

"No, that's wrong…"

"You're letting the magic control you…"

"Harry, just trust yourself…"

"Get off that damn animal!"

"Yes, that's it, slowly…"

"You're getting much better Harry. Trust your instincts…"

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Finally:

"Congratulations. You have completed your training."

"I'm done then?" Harry asked suspiciously. They had put him through hell these last few months.

"You are a fine student but will be an even greater master to those you will someday teach Harry. You are done." Kalypso proudly told him.

Harry went over the last few months in his head. He had discovered his animagus forms, more than two actually, which was pretty rare. He was a wolf like Kalypso in his natural animal form but he also had a Unicorn form that he knew Hermione and Ginny would love. And finally he had a Phoenix, all white with startling green eyes just like him. All his forms were pure white with green eyes. Even as an animal he stood out.

They had also discovered his elements to be all of them. The basic ones at least. He could control water, air, fire and earth but his strongest element was earth. He seemed to have a special connection to it and it obeyed him almost at will, except when it felt the magik would harm Harry. Yet he had flawless control over the rest and practiced often, thanking the elements afterwards for their cooperation.

And his wandless magik was his greatest skill. The phoenix feather from his wand had transferred to his hands in the form of small glittering tattoo by his right thumb and he had learned to control it within days. Of course there had been a few minor fires and one little earthquake before that happened but he did learn to control it.

And the animals. It was like there always conversation going on in his head. He could actually hear everything. He had been upset when he heard two chipmunks in the forest glade talking about that new upstart in the area but got over it when he heard two of the baby dragons cheering him on during practice. The only thing was he could only beastspeak to the animals that he could turn into. Kalypso told him eventually, as his powers grew, he would be able to turn into the other animals that he heard and be able to talk to them, not just hear them, but for now, he was stuck with three forms.

And of course Rhianne was by his side constantly. She actually turned out to be a big help. She corrected fighting stances as she could be around Harry at all times since she flew faster than the eye could track. She was often in the midst of swords practice and his martial arts training, criticizing. She told him that she had to stay in the glade, the Realm, so she wouldn't be returning to the Mortal Realm with him. She gave him a special amulet though. It was tiny and he had it fitted around his finger, as a ring. She wouldn't tell him what it did, only to use it in emergencies. She gave him the incantation to start it but that was all she said.

"Goodbye Harry. We're going to miss you. Take care down there. Only tell those you have to tell about where you have been. Watch who you trust." Lily started to reach for Harry but she drew back. "Maybe someday, I can give you a hug but not today." James wrapped his arms around her as Sirius looked dejected.

"Come on Mum, it's not like I'm dying. Quite the opposite actually. I'm going back to live again." Harry teased his parents. Lily smiled, her eyes watery as James grinned. Sirius waved goodbye as Kalypso let loose a ferocious growl. The world went black.

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Mortal Realm:

The cries were heard throughout Hogwarts. Dumbledore, who had been talking with Minerva, rushed towards the scene, his serene aura for once shattered. Time crept by slowly as they climbed stairs and rounded corners. They came upon a fainted Hermione and a dazed Ron.

"What is it Mr.Weasley?" Professor McGonaggal demanded, seeing no apparent danger to them.

"Um, hello Professor. I think I may have scared them." Harry stepped from the shadows. Minerva gave a start than peered at Harry.

"Where have you bee?" She asked, anger from also being scared evident in her tone. At Harry's crestfallen look, she said "posh!" and wrapped him a quick hug. Harry blushed as she let go, and she fiddled with her robes.

"Young Harry, you look all grown up. Perhaps you would like to enlighten us to where you have been all day." Dumbledore asked. Harry noticed the all day part. Dumbledore seemed to know something, as always. Dumbledore hardly seemed surprised when Kalypso crept out of the shadows behind Harry and wrapped herself around Harry's legs, her head brushing his hips. She was really quite large, Harry thought.

"Dumbledore, can we talk in your office. Sorry about the rude way we came in, it's just that…I'll explain in your office." Harry said. Dumbledore nodded, and Minerva woke up Hermione. He barely shook his head as Dumbledore gestured towards Ron and Hermione. He didn't want them to know this - it seemed very personal. Very magikal yet he didn't want them treating him any different than they had before.

They walked up into the familiar hallway towards Dumbledore's entrance. Once in his office, Harry sat down without being asked and Dumbledore took a seat beside him, not behind his desk. It seemed more of an equality stance for once. Harry was no longer a little boy. At Dumbledore's wave, a seaming teapot and mugs appeared, along with sugar and milk at the small table between them. At Harry's wave, his mug was instantly filled with a small amount of milk and plenty of sugar. Harry smiled at Dumbledore's surprised laughter.

"It seems you have developed your new powers Harry." Dumbledore stated. Harry just nodded as Dumbledore poured himself some tea. "Sow here have you been all day? Mr. Weasley and Hermione were quite worried when you disappeared. The train had to be repaired, and testaments were transported by Aurors, just so you don't worry about that. But still, instant disappearance when shot at with the killing curse. It's not a everyday occurrence."

"As you know Dumbledore, I've inherited my parent's powers. I was…transported, beamed, apparated, whatever you want to call it, into the Celestial Realm. I was called for training by my guardian Kalypso and I have completed it. So I'm back now." Harry jus grinned at this confusing explanation, but Dumbledore, of course, knew what he was talking about.

"So how is James and lily? And is Sirius getting along better with your parents?" Dumbledore asked casually. Harry just laughed.

"Nothing ever gets by you. My mum and Dad are fine. It was a bit harsh, since I couldn't even hug them the entire time I was there. One day? I could swear I was gone for months. Look at my hair. Look at my body. It's been months for me." Indeed, Harry's hair was longer, reaching the nape of his neck and he was tall, almost as tall as Ron's 6'2. He was still slim though and only if one looked closely would they see the muscles straining within his thin frame.

"Have you completed all aspects of training, or were you sent back for a reason?" Dumbledore sipped his tea.

"My mum wanted me to get some extra training in my elemental abilities, seeing that you trained her. And I am to have a ton of Animagus forms so that will develop throughout the school year. Other than that, I think it's just regular classes for me. Nothing else special will be going on." Harry answered he sipped his tea. "Also, will you please help me keep this from Ron and Hermione? I don't mind if some of the select teachers know, as well as the Order, but I get treated differently enough around here that I don't want to be that way with those two. Basically keep it from the student body in general, I would say."

"It is your choic Harry. I will respect it." Dumbledore said. Harry looked at him quizzically.

"But you don't agree with me?" He questioned.

"I merely think that Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger have been your friends through many fights with Voldemort and through many accusations. It wouldn't shock them to hear about your new powers." Dumbledore said above his mug.

"I know that, but like you said. It's my choice…but do you want to bet that Hermione will figure it out within the month?" Harry laughed.

"She most likely will, but she will also respect your wishes. Now come, t is time to explain to Minerva and the rest of the staff about you. I will ill them in on your powers while you go and talk with your friends. Welcome back to Hogwarts Harry…" At Kalypso's growl, he added, "..and Kalypso." Dumbledore led them out of his office and watched as Harry and Kalypso walked quietly down the hallway to the Hospital unit. Harry didn't see quit how much he had changed.

He walked quietly, as though a hunter would. He had a confidence that stood out with every sentence he spoke and his eyes gleamed brighter, almost demonically, when he used his magikal abilities. You could feel the magik flow off him in waves. Hermione would figure it out in one day, if that.

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As always, reviews are welcome. Thanks for taking the time.