The Druids Apprentice
Ch. 4 Changes
The days following their encounter with Draco and his father Merrill brooded. He still trained Harry daily and just as hard, but he seemed distant, as if his mind was a thousand miles away. The boy bore it for as long as he
could stand then one morning as they sat down for breakfast the boy leveled a piercing stare at his grandfather. "are you going to tell me What's going on?"
The old man stared at the boy as if unaware until that moment that he had company. "I'm sorry my boy," he said with a sigh. Straightening in his chair he continued, "My attention has been elsewhere for the past few days. Since our last little trip to London I've been thinking about young Draco." Leveling a steady gaze at the boy he asked, "Tell me Harry, what is your impression of the Malfoys?" The boy thought for a moment. "He seems nice enough, a little pompous but with a father like that... but Mr. Malfoy... I don't trust him, excepting for the concern he does seem to have for his son he seems a total git."
The druid nodded, "I agree. I'd assume the boy would much more like his father by now but... there is more innocence in his eyes than I had any right to expect. The two of you are to start school at Hogwarts in two years. I fear that by then his fathers influence may have destroyed any virtue left in the boy. We need to get to him while he is still the most malleable and at least temper his fathers influence." Harry nodded in agreement. "You're right grandfather, but what can we do? There's no reason for me to be anywhere near him until the start of school and from all you've said his father would love to get his hands on me."
"No, my boy," said the old man with a twinkle in his eye. "It's Harry Potter that Lucius wants so much to get his hands on and said Mr. Potter would have no business messing about in the wizarding world when he is supposed to be in hiding, it would draw far too much attention." The mans eyes fairly blazed with mischief, "But Damon Forester... his family's return to society would put both Draco and himself together on a quite regular basis, especially if Lucius is trying to recruit the Forester family patriarch into joining his cause."
Harry grinned at his grandfather and gave him a searching look. "What are you planning?" "Simplicity in itself my boy." he replied, "Two things drive Lucius Malfoy, his lust for power and his pure-blood pride. I think with a
little time I can chip away at his loyalty to Voldemort and insert a few doubts in his actions while you begin working on Draco. It may make your job just that much easier."
The boy frowned "Alright then, say we do this... What happens to me? I mean Harry Potter can't just disappear." "But he won't my boy," the man said as the front door slammed heralding James' arrival. Harry Potter has and will continue to live at number 4 Privet drive until he goes to Hogwarts, and when he attends Damon Forester will be one of his schoolmates."
"James?" The boy said incredulously, "you can't be serious... grandfather, he was transfigured from a bird, he's not me. Won't somebody like Dumbledore notice? Anyway he doesn't have any magic of his own." The druid
nodded to his pupil, "True points all, but I've been working on it for a few days now. James! Perfect timing my boy come in." Harry and his grandfather spent the next half hour bringing his brother up to speed, the boy was skeptical.
"Merrill, Harry's right you know. I mean I have all his memories and his form but I can't do this indefinitely.. I'll be found out."
"Not to worry lads," Merrill assured them, "I have a spell that will put everything right.... Go out side for a bit and I'll call you when I'm ready." The two boys did as the old man asked and went out the back door into Avalon.
"Are you sure you want to do this Harry?" The smaller boy asked, "I mean if I take your place what happens to you?" Shrugging, he answered, "I honestly don't know. I guess I'll be Damon Forester until it's all over, what about you?" James shrugged as well, "I'm not too thrilled that I'll be living with the Dursleys for that long but things have gotten better since you talked to Dudley the other day. You know he's even defending me to his parents? He even gave me his second bedroom." The boys sat talking for the better part of an hour when Merrill came out and called them back.
Inside was a large cauldron simmering over a very low fire. "Don't worry boys the water's not that hot, like a good, warm bath. I need you both to strip down and get in... Before you do, Harry I want you to understand that this may be quite painful, if you aren't sure, let me know now." The boy didn't bother to answer, he simply began removing his clothes. When both boys were in the cauldron the druid asked, "Are you both ready? Then we'll begin."
The cauldron was rather large and the water warm and soothing. Harry rested the back of his head against the edge and his knees barely touched his adopted brothers. He watched through slitted eyes as his brothers face became
more and more relaxed, too relaxed in fact. James face began to sag like a wax figure over a fire. Harry wanted to jump up, to say something but he found he couldn't move. After several minutes where his brother had disappeared
completely into the liquid a small sparrow suddenly burst from the surface and struggled to the lip, it shook out its feathers and flew to land on Merrill's shoulder. The boy was struggling to voice a question to his grandfather when a
dull aching pain started in his stomach.
Slight at first, the discomfort quickly grew into full-blown cramps. His stomach began to swell and he felt as it his skin would burst. "Gg....Grandfather..." The mans words came from close beside him as the man whispered in his ear. "Try to relax Harry, James' essence is in the pot, your brother in spirit will soon be your brother in the flesh. The boys stomach continued to swell, If he'd been able to he would have screamed with the agony
coursing through him. After an eternity of torment there was a popping sensation and his stomach deflated as the water turned red.
Several more minutes passed as the pain eased into a dull ache. The water in the cauldron rippled and a small head suddenly popped up across from him. The boy looked as he had at the age of two, as Harry watched the toddler
began to grow and mature until a scrawny and undernourished nine year old James Harold Potter opened his eyes. The boy was identical to the one that had melted into the pot moments before, save that he was missing the curse scar. "Harry?" "Hi James" Both boys spoke so softly they could barely be heard. Harry
felt so weak, like he'd run night and day for a month. He struggled to get up but was unable. The boy was growling in frustration when he felt two strong hands slip under his arms.
Merrill lifted each from the Cauldron, wrapped them in comfortable towels and sat them on a comfy sofa. They sat limply as the old man dried them and Harry began to feel his strength returning. "the Hard part is over lads,"
the old man said encouragingly, "just a few details left." he propped James against an arm of the sofa and turned Harry to face him. "Now if you're up to it, James put your left palm over Harry's scar... just so.. Now Harry, do the
same where James scar should be" Both boys did as they were asked and the old man explained.
"As you well know I created James four years ago when I started your training, Harry. This very noble and brave sparrow," the bird on Merrill's shoulder chirped, "allowed himself to be transformed into your brother. For the
relatively short time that I thought he would do this and with no real magical scrutiny he was perfect. With our new plans I felt we needed something more... lasting. To accomplish this I have allowed you to experience something quite unique for a male... you are likely the only nine year old boy ever to give birth to his own brother... unless you believe those silly supermarket tabloids."
"You both are now indeed brothers," the man continued, not giving either boy a chance to respond, "Twins in fact. Two separate bodies joined by a single soul." They both looked at him with shock but he chuckled. "It's quite alright boys, Many twins share a soul, it gives them the unique ability to know what the other is thinking or feeling. Now, that you share body and soul, so must you share the effects of Voldemort's curse."
He placed a hand on each boys head and began a long intricate spell in Celtic. Harry's scar began to itch madly while James grimaced in pain. There was a brief flash of green light that threw knocked him away from his brother, when he looked again James now bore the same scar that had marked him since that Halloween eight years ago.
The old druid had James dress while he finished with Harry. He touched a finger to the boys scar and traced a line down his cheek, neck, across his chest and stopped on the boys left hip. The itch had returned to his scar with a
vengeance, it felt like it had grown hundreds of spidery legs and was crawling down his body, following the line the man had drawn. When it was finally done, the boy bore a lightning bolt on his hip, just below his belt line. "Remember this well boy, Hogwarts is a boarding school, you'll live with the same people for seven years so sooner or later someone is going to see it. Tell them that it's from the car accident that took your parents. Lets say it happened when you were four... now for the rest." Harry's grandfather cast spells to permanently
change the boys hair and eye color. Glasses were not an issue as the boy hadn't worn them since the old mage had fixed his sight when he was five. "Alright then, a little decency please... Get dressed Harry, before you catch your
death."
As they put their clothes back on he spoke to them both. "James, when you're in Avalon or in my home, you will be James and you'll remember everything. Outside, at the Dursleys or anywhere else you will truly believe you're Harry Potter and only have the memories that he should." Turning to face Harry he said, "As for you, young man, you'll have to get used to answering to the name Damon. Other than in Avalon, you'll answer to nothing else...
understood Harry?" The boy stared into the mans eyes, biting his lips to keep them closed, a smile plastered on his face. "Good boy," laughed the man. "Run along back to the Dursleys, Harry, we'll see you tomorrow." James blinked a couple times and smiled, "Right!" he ran up, gave his twin a hug, "See you tomorrow Damon" Laughter in his eyes Harry answered, "You too Harry." the smaller boy gave him a quick squeeze and was gone.
The old man watched the boy go and turned his attention back to his grandson. "I have something for you Damon." The druid pulled out a small walking stick, "This is a gift from Silvanus." The boy gaped, "But... he doesn't even like me..." "Silvanus is a forest spirit, Harry," explained Merrill. "He has lived longer than mankind.. He doesn't make friends quickly but he does like you my boy." he held the staff out, "Take it."
Harry held the walking stick reverently. It was nearly tall as he was, made of ash. It had never felt the touch of machine or tool yet the surface was covered with intricate runes and woodland scenes. The finish was smooth and
silky and the whole thing seemed to vibrate in his hands. The boy looked up in wonder to his mentor. "It's alive!" The old man grinned, "Yes it is and it will grow with you... In time, when he deems you worthy you'll find other uses for it than simply to prop you up."
The old man swatted the boy on the butt and told him to run and change into muggle clothing. Harry skipped to the stairs and turned back to him... "where are we going today?" "To a place I haven't called home for more than
seven hundred years... a place that will soon be Forester manor. Hurry up Damon! we've a train to catch!"
Several minutes later they were at the front door, Harry dressed in a maroon sweater and jeans, Merrill in his pin-stripe suit. The boy looked uncomfortably to his grandfather and lifted his staff, "It's a bit conspicuous..." the man snorted, "Tap it twice on the ground and will it to grow smaller." The boy did as he asked and the staff shrank to a simple cane. "Better" The boy grinned up at him and answered, "Not as pretty, but I wont draw stares."
Four hours later they found themselves looking out the compartment window to a quaint village. "this is it? Harry asked. Merrill shook his head, Simply as near as we'll get by muggle means. From here we walk." They set out on a country road and walked for a what seemed to the boy like an eternity. "Grandfather, If you haven't been there for so long, how do you know its still there? Or even if it's still standing?" The old man spoke with a tone that
refused any arguments. "It still stands... Hidden where I left it. Waiting.
They were broken out of their conversation by the sounds of childish screaming and laughter moving towards them along the road. Shortly after they saw a boy that must be close to if not Harry's age with a mop of unruly red hair come running as if the hounds of hell were after him. The boy was within twenty feet of the pair when he first noticed them, he skidded to a halt and stared, unsure what to do. Moments later two more red-headed boys, each a mirror image of the other, came through some brush. "Come on Ron," yelled the first. "It wont hurt..." Said his brother. "We think." they both finished, catching up to him and seeing Harry and his grandfather for the first time. The boys looked to be about eleven and while they too were simply staring, Harry felt like he was being sized up for a target for something or another.
"Good afternoon boys," His Grandfather said. "You'd be the Weasleys I'd guess, or some of them... Is your father about? I'd like a word with him if it's alright." The two older boys looked suspiciously at the old man, "What would you want," said one "to talk to our father for? Spoke the other. The younger boy, Ron, Harry believed his brothers had called him, had been edging away from his brothers until he felt a safe distance and darted off. "I'll run get him!" the boy yelled and was quickly pursued by his siblings. Harry grinned at Merrill,
"Twins!" The old man nodded with a smile.
A short time later a tall, friendly red headed man came up the road and chatted with Merrill while Harry watched different carrot topped heads pop in and out of the nearby bushes. When the two men had finished their conversation they continued. "Well, it seems we're closer than we thought." the old man said. Harry looked up at him, "They knew where it was?" The druid shook his head, "No, Damon, no one but me does. The Weasleys were charged seven hundred years ago to guard the entrance to the Valley, though I doubt any remember why they continue to live here. Fog suddenly rose up about them as they went off the path and into the woods. The old man led them through a dizzying maze underbrush before leaving them all together and standing at the edge of a beautiful valley. At the far end a castle stood gleaming, its White marble bright and shiny as the day it was first milled. "Welcome to Camelot, my boy."
