I own nothing, J K Rowling IS Harry Potter. All my 'ideas' are basically ripped from stuff I enjoy; Harry Potter (duh!), Lord Of The Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dragonball, The Matrix, The Lion King, 24, and anything else that even remotely looks far too creative for me to just make up! Don't say I didn't warn you alright!

I'll bet you didn't see THAT coming did you! What do you reckon Voldemort will do if he finds out that little piece of info!

Huzzah! It's finished! Done, ended! I've completed HP & The Dormant Power. 31 chapters worth. I've gone through the first twenty and touched them up a bit. I'll do the rest over the coming weekend. After that's done, I might be able to update two chapters a week (I want to give everyone time to digest it all, and whacking all of it on the net won't give you that chance).

I'm also starting to work on my sequel (yes I've decided to write one). I'll be using the same method I did for this, just writing down ideas as they come to me, then figure out later where they fit in.

Sorry also, but I think this is the longest chapter I've written. Hope it's interesting enough and makes sense.

Chapter 9 – Opening Old Wounds And Having Fun

Remus recovered first, or rather spluttered first. "Wha…What! Br…brother! You never told me that before!"

"No I didn't, Remus. Mainly because you aren't the one that needs to know, Harry is. To truly defeat Voldemort, he must vanquish me as well."

Harry then spoke up, although his voice was little more than a whisper. "But how? You're twice as strong as he is. What chance do I have of beating you?"

Again Trent sighed before answering, "none at present, but unless you find a way, then I'm afraid you won't fulfil the prophecy"

"Wait, how do you know about the prophecy?" Harry asked

"Dumbledore told me the first bit, that's why I'm helping you with Occlumency. Besides, Voldemort already knows that part, so Dumbledore didn't think it to be that critical. I'm just here to train you up, and give you enough confidence in your own abilities, so that when the time does come, you are able to find a way to do this."

"If you don't know the prophecy, why are you so convinced that I'm the one to defeat Voldemort then?" Harry queried

"Quite simple really. He's gone after you now what, five times?"

Harry nodded and Trent continued "well obviously you're still here. So there has to be something about you, or why would he continually come after you for?"

Harry looked thoughtful and said "point taken, but I'm still having a hard time believing that you're his brother"

"Well, technically I'm not. It's just the easiest way to explain it."

"I think I understand it" both Trent and Remus looked at Harry

"I mean it makes sense doesn't it? Voldemort tries to become immortal and loses his body. Then in the next eleven years, he somehow managed to get enough power to be able to possess Professor Quirrell. No one knows where he got that power from, but the way you explained it makes sense."

"I think I need to lie down!" Remus exclaimed

"In that case, you up for learning some basic martial arts Harry, or are you going to wuss out like wolfie over there!" Trent smirked

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that, Blaze" Remus growled as he walked towards his room.

Harry had to suppress a laugh before answering "I think I'll be alright for a while, I just had a sleep before watching you two spar. If what you say is true, I'll be needing all the help I can get."

"Righto then, we'll start with the basics. What would you prefer to learn first; Karate, Judo or Ninjitsu?"

Harry grinned. "How about…all three?"

Trent just raised one of his eyebrows in reply.

Five months had passed, and Harry was coming towards the end of his exhaustive Judo training.

"C'mon Potter, you can do better than that" Trent taunted after Harry had fallen flat on his back for what felt like the hundredth time that hour, although he may have been only fighting for five minutes for all he knew. It was taking some time for him to get used to hand to hand combat.

Through gritted teeth he replied "for Merlin's sake Trent, I'm no good at this all right! I told you that, ages ago!"

"That's no way to treat your teacher, Harry. You sound like Sirius did when he was learning how to ride that blasted motorbike of his. I remember him screaming like a little girl at James as he went clean over the handlebars after James had conjured a log to appear in front of the wheels!" Remus said, amusement showing on his face.

"Don't talk about Sirius like that. DON'T SAY THAT!" Harry screamed, and feeling his anger rising within gave him comfort. Harry jumped back onto his feet and took a defensive stance.

Trent smiled, "good, I know how hard it is to learn this, Harry. You're gentle, you don't like to hurt. It's because your cherish life, that you must work to protect it. That will be all. We'll start your Karate training in ten hours alright. But first we'll get some of those injuries fixed up."

At that, Trent muttered a few words and a soft pink glow shot from his wand and encompassed Harry, who could feel his strength slowly returning. After a couple of minutes had passed, Trent stopped and deemed Harry fit enough, so Harry slowly trudged his way back to his room, anxious to soothe his aching muscles.

As Harry made his way towards his room, Trent turned to Remus and smiled.

"Did you feel that? Just a flash, but it was there."

Remus nodded. "Yes, I picked up eleven point eight, and only after five months. He's amazing!"

"I did tell you that. I reckon in another five months, he'll be at your present level."

"And the final two months?"

"We have some fun. Merlin knows he deserves it."

Remus nodded and looked Trent in the eye. "I hope you know what you're doing. If he turns dark, we're all screwed."

"He won't turn dark, Remus. As long as everyone stands by him, he'll be fine. Riddle's problem was that everyone abandoned him, Albus won't make that mistake again."

They both got and headed towards their respective rooms when Trent asked "by the way, exactly where did Albus put Peter anyway?"

Remus grinned "I think Severus will be having some fun with him for a while"

Trent chuckled "I see, well, I'm sure he'll be quite grateful for a new pet subject" and both Remus and Trent burst out laughing, oblivious to the fact that Harry had not yet shut his door.

As time passed and Harry had grown to become quite good friends with both Remus and Trent, but still only felt comfortable talking about his parents and Sirius to Remus. Harry had found out that he'd been quite wrong to think his father was a prat based on what he'd seen from Snape's pensieve.

Harry found himself being able to cope much more easily over Sirius' death, by talking to Remus, who knew him far better than he did. Harry had never talked that much to Remus, but he quickly understood why his father had become such good friends with him.

Remus told him about the adventures the Marauder's had during their last two years at Hogwarts, after James, Sirius and Peter had learnt to become animagi. He recounted how elated James had reacted when Lily said she'd go on a date with him at the end of their sixth year. And how Sirius had spent the next two days in the hospital wing, courtesy of James, after constantly teasing him about being in love.

If Remus was becoming more like Harry's surrogate Godfather, then Trent was more like an acquaintance. A stranger, who only appears when something important crops up. Harry often saw Trent laughing with Remus, sharing pranking stories, and basically acting like a big kid. But when it came time to train, Harry soon found out that Trent was a hard taskmaster. Despite this, he always offered helpful tips to Harry to improve his abilities.

Trent was the reason that only after another four months had passed, Harry had become efficient in all three arts of Karate, Judo and Ninjitsu, and it was just the reason to celebrate.

"I think you've earned a break for a while, Harry. After nine months you've learnt more than enough martial arts, time for some fun I reckon" Trent announced, while Harry looked more than pleased.

"It'll be good to muck around a bit. But one thing I don't get is that you said you were from an ancient martial arts family, Trent. Why'd you lie about that, I mean Voldemort doesn't know any martial arts…"

"I didn't lie, Harry, it's on his muggle father's side, but like four generations back. The reason I was in my meditative state for so long was that my ancestors came to me and were teaching me their ways, both muggle and magical. It took ages to absorb all that knowledge then figure out how to use it. As for Tom not knowing, I think he does, but most wizards and witches don't bother with fighting like muggles. That's definitely one edge you'll have over him. I think the only things I have left to teach you before we go back, is the basics of wandless magic, and weapons duelling. But that'll only take a month…"

"One month to do all that? Are you insane Trent! There's no way he could do that in SIX months!" Remus exclaimed

"You're forgetting, the first thing I'm going to teach him is the duplication spell, then we can do all three at once."

"Oh, of course. But why didn't you do that at the start? It would've been far easier."

Trent got a dangerous gleam in his eye "I wanted to make him sweat a bit first!"

Harry groaned "thanks Trent. Remind me, that once I find a way, to kill you first please."

"My pleasure, Harry. Oh, and about those nine months of training we gave you? You're welcome" Trent replied while Remus was on the ground howling in laughter.

The duel had been going on for some time now. Remus and Harry were using long swords and magic.

Trent was watching with a look of satisfaction evident on his face. "Good, that's good Harry, now try that sweeping move you learnt earlier. Nice work Remus, remember to keep your movements fluent, any stalling and your opponent gets their chance."

Harry and Remus were now circling each other intent on out-glaring the other until Trent said "right, kick it up a notch now you two."

Harry and Remus let out a cry and both were instantly surrounded by a soft yellow glow. The movements became much faster until they were blurs, curses and hexes were rapidly being traded. All in all, the sight before Trent could be compared to a muggle laser display.

This went on for another ten minutes before Trent decided to call it quits. "Ok guys, that'll do for now."

Instantly, the two blurs stopped and bowed to each other, both showing signs of being rather tired.

"Right, I reckon that might do us here gents. Unless anyone has any objections, I think it's time to let our hair down."

"Not until…I get my…breath back. Darn Harry, how'd you get so strong?" Remus panted.

"You weren't bad yourself, although some of those hexes weren't fair seeing as though I haven't been taught them yet" Harry replied

"Don't worry, Harry. You'll be learning a few of those this year in my class, although I hope you'll be taking Apparition…"

"I already can apparate, Snape taught me!" Harry cut Trent off.

"Fine, but there are many ways one can apparate. There's the one that Severus taught which is based on location. There's one that pulls you towards blood relatives, another that takes you to a place you feel safe at, and yet another way is by sensing those people's energy that you want to go to" Trent countered.

"Oh, well I might think about it, but I've already got my quota of subjects for the year…"

"I wouldn't worry about it. It's only a two month course and only available for sixth years. It doesn't have an exam, because most of you will take the apparition exam after you turn seventeen anyway."

"I see, in that case, you might as well sign me up. But I don't see how you can do anything practical. I mean Hermione keeps telling us that you can't apparate on Hogwarts grounds."

"That's true, but you can at Hogsmeade" Remus said.

"You're both wrong actually" Remus and Harry looked at Trent somewhat confused.

"Well, not the part about apparating at Hogsmeade, that's right. But if I know my magic, and trust me I do, house elves apparate around Hogwarts all the time."

"Hey, you're right. I remember Dobby doing that in second year when I was in the Hospital wing. I totally forgot about it until now."

"Good thing too. I won't be teaching the class how they do it, but I will teach you if you want. After all, think of all the pranks you could pull in the Slytherin common room!" Trent replied, somewhat dreamily, before all three of them cracked up laughing.

As the last month started in the Spirit and Time Room, Harry had completed his apprenticeship. Both Remus and he had boosted their power levels to fifteen point six million and thirteen point eight million respectively.

Remus had just finished telling Harry and Trent about a prank he'd played on the other members of the Marauders. It had included the others not being able to copy down any of Remus' notes for a full day. If they tried, all they could read was a bunch of gibberish. Remus had merely stated that it was payback for all the teasing they gave him for studying.

Harry had recovered from laughing, and voiced a comment that he had. "I wish I was telepathic like you two."

"Yeah well, we tried to teach you, but some people have it and some people don't. It doesn't really matter. Occlumency protects against mind reading anyway, and since you've nearly mastered it…you don't have to worry. As long as you raise your mental shields, you'll be fine."

Harry nodded his head before Remus voiced some other questions that had been on Harry's mind for a little while, but had been too busy training to ask.

"Trent, exactly how old are you? You said you were…well spawned when Voldemort ceased being Tom Riddle. That happened in the forties didn't it? So when did you go to Hogwarts?"

Trent sighed, and Harry thought he'd been doing a lot of that lately.

"Well Remus, Tom finished Hogwarts in the summer of 1945. I was spawned, as you kindly point out, a few months after this. But it wasn't until 1950 that I effectively came into existence as an actual physical being rather than living like a shadow. So, that's makes me what, it's 1996 now, so I'll be effectively 46 in late August."

He continued "as for my education, I had all the knowledge that Tom had learnt when he attended Hogwarts stored in my memory, but no idea of what to make of it all. I spent the first four years of my life in the same orphanage that Tom himself was in, before I was adopted by a couple who were unable to produce children. Unlike Tom, and yourself to some extent Harry, I was appreciated and loved. When I was nine, my family moved to Australia, and I received my magical education there.

"My family were very understanding of my being magical, much like your friend Hermione's parents are. That's why my Patronus is in the form of a kangaroo, it's a part of my life, but I digress. After I had finished my education at Wattles School for the Magical, I stayed in Australia, and travelled around a bit, before applying to be an Auror. The training took four years, and I qualified to be an Auror in the autumn of 1973.

"I spent a further three years there before moving back to England. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Auror ranks for the Ministry of Magic, helped of course by the fact that the Ministry needed all the forces they could get with Voldemort going about his business like he was at the time. I spent the school year 1976 to 1977 at Hogwarts aiding in the protection of the school, where I met the very overrated Marauders. You see, me and few mates back at Wattles were the Aussie version of the Marauders, so none of their pranks were that surprising for me, funny yes, but not unexpected."

Remus grumbled something like "you looked pretty shocked when James made trees grow out of your head for a day."

But Trent either wasn't listening, or didn't care, as he continued "towards the end of the school year, you may remember Remus, I vanished."

"No you didn't, you stayed behind at Hogsmeade. Everyone thought you'd been killed."

"Not quite, I was captured by the Death Eaters. My wand was snapped in front of me, and I transformed for the first time. I performed some accidental magic on my guards before escaping. I fled back home, to Australia, where I laid low for a while. I had decided to give up being a wizard, and try to live a somewhat normal life. But this was cut short on the Halloween of 1981. I'm sorry if I'm opening up old wounds, but someone needs to know this and who better than you two. One the best friend, the other the son?"

Harry and Remus both looked at each other and shrugged, so Trent carried on. "I apparated as soon as I felt Voldemort's energy being destroyed, and was able to keep your house from collapsing while I searched for survivors. I had just managed to drag you out of the smouldering building, when it collapsed. I didn't know what had happened. You were crying, wailing actually, and I picked my way through the destruction and found your parents. I had thought that one of them had managed to beat Voldemort by sacrificing themselves, which wasn't too far from the truth since you told us what Dumbledore said about the blood sacrifice.

"I snatched up your parents wands. Afterwards, everyone believed them to have been destroyed, and the moment the two wands touched each other, they started glowing. I had to shield my eyes for a bit, and when I could refocus, I'd found that the wands had merged. As you both know, the wand chooses the wizard, and for some unexplainable reason, your parents wands decided to fuse together and choose their new owner."

At this, Trent withdrew his wand and showed it to Harry and Remus. Harry thought it looked quite similar to his own wand, but a little thicker and slightly lighter in colour.

"I used the new wand to heal your injuries to the best of my ability, mainly your cuts and whatnot, with 'Epidermisa Reparo' working just fine on you. As soon as I had finished, I thought you'd performed a piece of accidental magic. The wand was summoned into your hands, where a shower of sparks was produced. Normally when this happens, it's generally only in one or two colours, but in this case, a magnificent rainbow of colours was created. Before I could even think to figure out what was going on, I could feel two presences approaching…"

"Hagrid and Sirius" Remus interrupted.

Trent shrugged "well, I wasn't going to find out, so I snatched the wand from you, and hightailed it out of there."

"I always wondered how you survived, Harry. Sirius told me you didn't have a scratch on you, and were just sitting there on top of the rubble. I guess this explains why" Remus mused.

"So where did you end up going, Trent, after you left me?" Harry asked.

"I went back home to Australia. I wasn't feeling too flash, I mean, using wandless magic to douse the flames and keep the house from collapsing for as long as I did took a lot out of me. I collapsed once I got back. My adopted parents were so worried, you see Australia didn't have a hospital like St Mungo's back then, and they didn't want to take me to a muggle one, so they just left me be. I was in a coma, and that's when I started learning all my martial arts, and how to harness my power.

"I woke up in my bedroom some ten years later, much to the relief of my parents, who were beside me, and just a tad worried, I stayed with them, getting my strength back and training here in this room, and also spending my parents dieing days with them. Since they were muggles, they don't live as long as we do, and they both died in their eighties. I mourned for a while before heading back here once again for more training, then later to England. I had read about how Sirius Black was put into Azkaban for the deaths of the Potter's and Pettigrew. I managed to scope out exactly where Sirius was being held in Azkaban. And after being able to telepathically contact Sirius, was able to get enough out of him to realise he was innocent."

"Sirius never mentioned you though."

"No I don't suppose he did. I mean, who in their right mind would admit to hearing voices in their head, Remus? Anyway, I was able to aid in his escape, by keeping the Dementors away long enough for them not to be able to feel him anymore. Since then, I've been mainly training in this fine room that you're currently in. I've spent numerous years in here, time passes so differently, that you hardly age. That's why I still look like I'm only 30. In fact I'm much older than that, I'm closer to 65 actually, but I'm stuck in the body of a 33 year old."

Trent held his wand out for Harry. "I believe this is yours. Forgive me for taking it all those years ago."

Harry looked dumbfounded but managed to stutter out "bu…but I've already got a wand! Now that I think about it though, this one should be yours" and Harry withdrew his own wand and handed it to Trent who looked somewhat confused, so Harry explained.

"This wand has a phoenix feather for its core. The feather is from the same phoenix that Voldemort's feather core is also from. They're brother wands. It's only fair that you take this if you're giving me my parent's fused wand."

Trent looked amazed. "Brother wand? That hasn't happened since before the turn of the century. Thank you Harry, I don't know what to say. I mean, you've achieved so much with this wand. Not many people would be prepared to swap…"

"I'm not like most people though, Trent. Take it, may our new wands serve us like they did the other"

As Harry and Trent swapped wands, both felt a tremendous warmth flow through their bodies before both wands produced a dazzling rainbow shower of sparks.

Remus looked astounded "well, that was certainly enlightening. I believe the wands have adjusted to their new owners rather well."

Trent and Harry were too speechless to do anything but nod.

The final days slowly trickled by while Trent and Remus taught Harry some of the easier pranks to use in his final two years at Hogwarts.

"Remember the one I pulled at the Halloween feast? Silencing everyone but you four, thus guaranteeing a weeks worth of detentions."

Remus grimaced "don't remind me, I was so angry you did that. We had NEWT's that year and I could've used the study. Besides, you just wanted to pay us back for the starting feast when we made it look like Dumbledore had flung mashed potato in your face!"

"I don't deny it! I'll give you credit for that one wolf boy, although I was disappointed that hardly anyone knew what a food fight was"

Remus sighed "I wish you wouldn't call me that. After all, you made sure that I'd never have to go through that again."

"What are you talking about, Remus? There's no cure for lycanthropy, the closest thing is Wolfsbane…"

Trent smirked. "Sounds like someone's been reading up on potions. Ordinarily, I'd agree with you Harry, but during my meditation, some of my ancestors were quite brilliant when it came to the fine art of potion making. I was able to come up with the closest thing to a cure you could find. Unlike the Wolfsbane, which allows the person to keep their human mind despite the transformation, my solution allows them to not transform at all, but like most things, there are a few conditions…"

"Like me keeping my heightened senses and strength" Remus interrupted.

"But the biggest problem is that for my cure to work, one needs to be pure hearted. Pure goodness. It works for Remus because he's at peace with himself. He accepted what he was, and just got on with it, but at the same time he wouldn't hurt a fly…"

"Unless it had greasy hair and was wearing green and silver" Harry countered

"True, but given the choice, Remus would prefer to avoid confrontation and look for a more peaceful solution" Trent finished.

Harry looked stunned. "So, it's a potion. But does he need to continually take it, or is it a one-off thing?"

"It's a one-off, but I think Remus would agree that it was worth it, despite it tasting loads worse than Wolfsbane does."

"Yuck, I don't think I'll ever get that horrid taste out of my mouth, but it was most definitely worth it."

"Basically, the potion forms a sort of parasite, but a good one. It sorts out which…um, parts belong to Remus, and which belong to the wolf. It separates those and obviously works hardest during the days around full moon, but all in all, rather successful wasn't it wolfie!"

"Shut it, Blaze! But you're right, the ends more than justified the means…and taste. Besides, you should've seen the look on Peter's face when I told him!"

"Worthy of a prank I'll bet" Trent grinned.

"When did you train here, Remus? You just said you weren't troubled by Peter's silver hand. Yet you were when you tried to take him to Grimmauld Place" Harry asked.

"I thought I already told you, Harry. Trent took me that night. He knew that I'd be laid up for a couple days recovering, so he took me then. He conjured an illusion of me sleeping, so no one would know I was gone. It all worked out in the end."

They all became lost in their thoughts before Remus announced "well, I think our time's up. The door's there so we may as well head home."

Harry sighed "it's a shame to be leaving really. I've learnt so much, yet there's so much more I need to learn"

"You got that right Harry, you never stop learning. Heck, you've even taught me a few things! I never was up to snuff on a broom before, much prefer terra firma myself. Remus is right though, we really should go home."

With that, he got up and headed towards a door that Harry had never noticed before. "So, that's the exit huh?" he asked.

"Yep. We'd best head back before it vanishes, it only stays visible for an hour, so good thing we all packed up a little while ago, isn't it!"

With that, the three of them grabbed their gear, and headed off through the door. Another flash of light, and the trio were back in the living room of Grimmauld Place.

Remus sniffed. "Excellent, just in time for lunch."

As they walked into the kitchen, three screams were heard from Molly, Hermione and Ginny.

"Harry! You're back!"

"Nice to see you too, Hermione" Remus replied, sounding slightly hurt, but could hardly hide his grin.

"How was the training?"

Harry smiled at Remus before answering "Hermione. That was the longest day of my life!"