Harry Potter and the Druid Pathway

Author's Note: Second chapter here. I am trying to move the story forward now and I hope you enjoy it. Warning: a single incident of swearing in this chapter, nothing too bad.


Chapter Two: Set into Motion

In the week following Harry's return from Privet Drive, Harry had progressed in Occlumency in leaps and bounds. His mind was developing at an alarming rate as he dedicated at least 13 hours a day to building his mental defences and his inner wall was looking fuller with every 'brick' laid. The 'water-wall' as it had come to be known by Harry was at the same time beautiful shimmering 'water' and rock solid defences against mental intrusion; truly wondrous.

Whilst resting within the boundaries of his mind upon his island, Harry had been leaving himself open to the calming nature of his mind when he felt his magic. It was a steady hum that flowed throughout his entire mind. When he listened, he noticed how steady, powerful and immense his magic was. It was a revelation to the teenager and from that day forth he would listen to his magic for some time each day. He even suspected that it grew in power each day and deduced that this was the magical maturation that all teenage witches and wizards undergo at some point.

With such vast amounts of his time devoted to his Occlumency, Harry had found little time to explore the newfound freedom of his magic and wand courtesy of Ollivander. A silencing charm upon his room and locking charms on his door so far were the only pieces of magic he had performed over the week. However, with what Harry suspected to be his Occluded mind, the magic flowed much more smoothly and controlled through his wand and he was more confident in his magic than he ever was before.

It was the day prior to the reading of Sirius' will and also the memorial service and Harry had taken a few minutes to withdraw from his mind and look out the window at the slow drizzle of rain relentlessly coating Surrey. With downcast eyes he thought of exactly how much the weather echoed his mood right now.

As Harry sat on his bed in deep depressing thought, he was startled to attention by a large barn owl tapping the glass of his window. Hedwig was currently out hunting and so when Harry granted the owl entrance, it flew proudly over to Hedwig's cage. Untying the attached letter, Harry found it bore the Ministry seal of education and realised that his OWL results had already arrived.

With a bitter laugh, he realised that he really didn't care about his results. Last year had just been too much and he really wasn't about to be surprised if he had failed all of his exams. Opening the letter, Harry found enclosed a letter of congratulations on his exams (standard) and his OWL results.

Ordinary Wizard Levels (OWLs)

Test results for:

Mr. Harry James Potter

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Gryffindor House

Outstanding (O) – 2 OWLs

Exceeds Expectations (EE) – 1 OWLs

Acceptable (A) – 1 OWLs

Poor (P) – 0 OWLs

Terrible (T) – 0 OWLs

Transfiguration:

Practical – O (97)

Written - EE (86)

Grade – O (92)

Charms:

Practical – O (98)

Written – O (95)

Grade – O (97)

Defence against the Dark Arts:

Practical – O (100) - distinction

Written – O (100)

Grade – Distinction (3 OWLs)

Potions:

Practical – EE (74)

Written – O (90)

Grade – EE (82)

Herbology:

Practical – EE (81)

Written – EE (73)

Grade – EE (77)

Care of Magical Creatures:

Practical – O (93)

Grade – O (93)

History of Magic:

Written – T (14)

Grade – T (14)

Divination:

Practical – A (N/A)

Grade – A (N/A)

Astronomy:

Practical – A (Affected by outside occurrences)

Grade – A (52)

You received: 13 OWLs

Congratulations!

Also, included with his results was yet another envelope addressed in the usual Hogwarts green ink. Upon opening and reading the letter, Harry found that it was from his head of house, professor McGonagall. The letter congratulated him on his results which he admitted he was a little proud of (despite his 'not caring') and also detailed the courses applicable for his sixth year. McGonagall also reminded him of his dream to become an auror and expressed her delight that this was now possible.

After much thought however, Harry decided that he didn't want to become an auror. It was just something that he thought would be cool at the impromptu careers meeting last year. When thinking on it, he found that he wouldn't want to work for the Ministry at all. He wasn't sure about what he wanted to do for a living after Hogwarts, but he decided that after his dealings with Vodemort, a career in dealing with like-minded individuals was not on the calendar.

The courses he could take for his sixth year at Hogwarts were as followed:

NEWT

Transfiguration (Double curriculum available)

Charms (Double curriculum available)

Defence against the Dark Arts

Potions

Herbology

Care of Magical Creatures

Arithmancy

Ancient Runes

Muggle Studies

NEWT (courses that don't require OWL grades in subject area)

Ancient Studies

Provisional Apparating

Additional Courses

Duelling Club

Harry decided on taking Double Transfiguration as he had been told his father was good at the subject and he thought he could improve upon himself. He also ticked Charms and Defence along with the duelling club as it sounded fun. He knew he had so far only chosen the minimum required amount of courses but he really didn't want to do anything else as he couldn't muster up the strength to deal with a mass of classes. With his selected courses ticked on the form and a note about how he was undecided on a career path, Harry sent it with the barn owl to his head of house.

With his upcoming school years courses dealt with, Harry once again settled upon his bed and sank restfully into his mind and began once again to shape the waters of his mind.

Remus approached number four Privet Drive with some amount of nervous anticipation. With how Harry had reacted to him at their last meeting, he wasn't sure what to expect from the dark haired teen. Despite this, he steeled himself and knocked resolutely upon the front door.

Petunia Dursley answered and her nose tilted upward at the sight of a wizard. She grudgingly gave him entrance to her home and Remus was quick to scale the stairs towards Harry's room.

Once again, upon entering Harry's room he found the young wizard to be staring intently at him with those liquid green orbs. To say he was impressed by Harry's dress would be an understatement. To see the young man dressed smartly after so many years of oversized hand-me-down clothes was a shock to the system.

Harry was dressed in his sharp muggle suit with an open black robe draped about him. He was already wearing his dragon hide boots and thick black cloak with the hood trailing down his back. The black wizard's hat blended with his dark bangs which created a drastic contrast with his green eyes and at that moment, Harry looked the epitome of a young wizard.

Harry was twirling his freshly treated wand with his fingers idly as he observed Remus. Remus felt magically different to his senses since the last time they had met and he deduced that it was because it was closer to the full moon and the wolf was beginning to stir. The prospect in itself was rather unnerving but Harry decided to just get this day out of the way and pay his respects to Sirius so he could move on.

Standing straight, Harry greeted Remus neutrally and the two departed from Privet Drive to Gringotts bank for the reading of the will. Harry received many curious stares whilst walking through the Alley as few people chose to wear the traditional wizard's hats or to mix muggle and wizard dress, but Harry was thankful that he wasn't recognised for 'The-Boy-Who-Lived'.

Upon entering Gringotts, Harry and Remus were escorted to a large conference room lavishly decorated with marble statues and sculptures with fabric tapestries and the sort adorning the walls. They were the last to enter as all the Weasley family were seated, as were Dumbledore and Tonks. These seemingly were the only ones to attend the reading of the will though no doubt the Order would attend the memorial, knowing of Sirius' innocence.

The reading of the will went rather smoothly. Harry made time to acknowledge his friends with a brief nod of the head as they were stood rather close together, holding hands but had yet to write to him this summer. Harry throughout the reading had sat in a stony silence and although he had contemplated it, Dumbledore refrained from placing a comforting hand on the young wizard's shoulder.

Harry was given the Black library from 12 Grimmauld Place which he noticed Hermione give him an envious look at. It had already been moved to his vault and this prevented Dumbledore from choosing which books were suitable for his 'future saviour'. Sirius also stipulated that Harry was excluded from having to have another magical guardian and was also given a vast amount of money from the Black fortune.

Remus was given Grimmauld Place which he quickly nodded to Dumbledore to say that it could continue as headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. Tonks was granted a large sum of money and the Weasley family were also were given a hefty sum of money. Dumbledore surprisingly received the largest amount of money which Harry put down to the war effort, though in thinking on it, Dumbledore never seemed to take the war to the other side?

On the way out of the bank, Harry caught sight of Oswyn and greeted him with enthusiasm which other Goblins raised scaly, hair-covered eyebrows at. Harry told him that at some point in the future months he would have to venture into his vault to organize his recent inheritance and asked if he could recruit his help in the transportation and handling of his possessions (though he didn't quite word it like that). With that done and a curious Dumbledore looking on (after all, he had spoken more words to a Goblin than his two best friends), the group set off for the graveyard in Wales where Sirius' grave lay.

Standing in front of what he knew was an empty grave; Harry allowed the last tears he would cry for Sirius fall from his eyes. Soft and heartfelt words were spoken by people who knew Sirius and then flowers were rested over the grave. Each took it in turn to walk to the grave, lay their flower and then move on. Harry was the last and many of the gathered looked on as a silently crying Harry walked up to the memorial of his deceased godfather.

Wiping his eyes on his sleeve, Harry knelt before the tombstone. He laid his flower over the grave and then stood up slowly. For those overlooking the event, they saw Harry's liquid green eyes turned icy as he stood resolutely and firm. No more tears fell from his eyes as he touched the tombstone one last time.

"I'll kill the bitch," he whispered. He didn't raise his voice but the tinge of malice and fact laced in that single statement worried all watching the young teen. Especially concerned was Dumbledore who looked at his fallen saviour and decided that his only hope was to curve Harry back to the path of friendship and innocence.

Whilst Harry remained slightly separated from the amassed friends of Sirius Black and Order members, Dumbledore approached the teen. He was slightly thrown off by Harry's appearance when he first laid eyes on him at Gringotts and was wondering exactly how much Harry had changed. He was also slightly worried by the fact that Harry had sent back the Occlumency book he had given to him; meaning either Harry had not tried or had learnt all he could from the small volume and each scenario presented its problems to the old man.

"Harry?" Dumbledore asked in his calm, melodic voice, somewhat tentatively.

Harry didn't reply.

"Harry, I know that this is a difficult time for you and I offer my sincerest sympathies with your situation. I was hoping to talk with you about your choice of classes for the upcoming term. Professor McGonagall brought it to my attention that you have selected the minimum amount of classes and I personally think you should take up one other at least."

"It was Mr. Potter all last year wasn't it? Come now, after a year of severing ties with me, I think it improper for a teacher to call me Harry." Harry's voice was laced with bitterness and spite.

"I do regret that Mr. Potter, and I recognise that my decision may not have been the best. However, both Professor McGonagall and I don't want you to limit your future by giving up now. In fact, as headmaster, I require it of you to pick another class." Dumbledore started in a calm, reasonable voice, but ended his speech in a resolute, stubborn tone.

"Fine!" he spat. "I think I'll take up Ancient Studies eh. Something to pass the time," he said this in a mocking voice, though his decision was clear.

"Mr. Potter, although Ancient Studies is a recognised field, I am expressing my opinion that you should choose a course a little more… practical?" he replied awkwardly. "Potions perhaps? With an E grade your position in the class can be secured. Or even care of magical creatures?"

"No, if you insist on me taking an additional class, I choose Ancient Studies."

With that, Harry turned resolutely around and made his way over to Remus and asked to be taken back to Privet Drive. As he walked away from the headmaster, he felt a brief sensation of light fingers touching his head and knew that Dumbledore was testing his reaction to the legilimency. Quashing his anger, Harry pretended not to notice the brush of mental intrusion and kept on his way. Determinedly he decided that he had to increase his Occlumency study as he wanted to be thoroughly prepared for an attack on his mind should the headmaster try a little harder come their next meeting.


Author's Note: I hope that the story is starting to move forward a little. I have 'set into motion' a major element of my plot in this chapter and it will drive a lot of Harry's future actions. Let me know what you think of the chapter please and thank you to all those who reviewed.

To answer generally the questions posted in reviews: Harry won't necessarily specifically learn 'Druid Power' but there will be elements of it. Plus, clue is in the title on where this story is going: a pathway of some description. That's all I'm saying. Until next chapter,