Chapter 5 – The Alieno Abnotitia
Nothing. The door refused to open no matter what Harry tried. He was just about to give up when he noticed that the door had a faint blue glow about it if he looked at it out of the corner of his eye and he assumed that there was some kind of locking spell on the door, though what spell the creator had used eluded Harry as he had never seen a locking spell that left a glow about the door. However he realised that without his wand, or even with it, there was no chance he was going to get in the house. So he slowly made his way back to the graveyard that contained the portkey point.
It was only when he reached a small summer house at the back of the main building that he realised how late it was and how long he had spent both at Griffins retreat and here, where ever here was. For the sun was already beginning to set even though he had left early that morning. This put him in yet another pickle and made Harry wish once again that he could just be normal and not be faced with situations such as these. He could portkey back to the ruins of his parents hideout and begin his flight back to Diagon alley. Or he could find somewhere to spend the night and begin his trip again. He main worry was that if he had been recognised at the House elf's Head then the Order or worse the Ministry could be there waiting to pick him up when he returned. With this in mind he decided that it would be best to find a sheltered spot here where he knew the Ministry or the Order wouldn't find him and try and get to Diagon alley tomorrow so that he could arrive in the late evening when there would be few customers there to spot him. Having decided that he would need to find somewhere to rest out of the elements he grabbed his trunk from where he had left it by the door and moved to try the door on the summerhouse, though with little hope. However his luck seemed to be with him today as with a sharp twist of the lion headed door knob the door opened in wards revealing a small room lit gently by the late evening summer sun. The room was painted in a mellow yellow colour that for some reason reminded Harry of Ginny. There was a small couch and a swinging love seat as well as a few potted plants dotted around the room to brighten it up.
The young bespeckled man closed the door with a click and set he trunk down against it before throwing himself down onto the couch and promptly fell asleep.
Green. Fields as far as he could see. From left to right and all around. He appeared to be in the middle of nowhere.
'Hello. Is there anyone here.'
When he got no response he picked a random direction and set off at a brisk pace. Somewhere in the back of his mind registered that this place wasn't real and was really a dreamscape but unlike his usual dreams it didn't seem to matter that he was having a dream. So he kept walking. And walking. And walking. Until eventually in the middle distance nestled between two hills, that had previously hidden it from view was a small castle that seemed to erupt from the gap in the hills and looked as if it had formed as naturally as any rock or ravine. Never once did Harry question the reason he was in this place. The small voice in the back of his head that had registered that this was a dream world seemed to also realise that he was meant to be here at this time. That there was something of vital importance he had to see or learn and it was this that kept Harry walking towards the castle.
For the second time that summer Harry caught a glimpse of the ancient man with long flowing white beard and robes that seemed to radiate power and assurance in a way that he had only seen Dumbledore do. However the moment Harry seemed to lock onto the man then he would disappear only to reappear further away nearer the now looming yet not oppressive sight of the granite grey castle. The castle itself, Harry could now see, seemed to be made like Hogwarts of one solid piece of granite and visible radiated power in the form of a faint throbbing green glow that pulsed to the beat of some hidden power like blood from the beat of the heart. The castle sported very few towers and buttresses compared to Hogwarts, obviously it wasn't supposed to support more than a few people. Nor was it's design akin to the muggle fortress's built for defence. It was obviously designed with the sole purpose of providing a comfortable yet practical habitation for a Wizarding family, though one that should have long since passed judging by the architecture of the building. As Harry approached the entranceway he had expected a drawbridge or monstrous oak doors studded with iron. Instead what greeted him was a small carved oak door depicting a Griffin and Unicorn one on the left half and one on the right there tails intertwining and having been created in iron to form the knocker. He also noticed that the old man had now completely disappeared. Therefore Harry grasped the metal knocker and knocked it against the door.
Silence greeted his effort but the door slowly creaked open and the torch light beyond beckoned him forward into the vast entrance way that would have easily rivalled that of Hogwarts. Whilst the out side hadn't looked that impressive the owners of the building sure liked to give a good impression when one entered the castle. The walls were decorated with rich yet tasteful tapestries depicting brave wizards fighting dragons and fight scenes of muggle knights fighting side by side with wizards of the chivalric period. The sight that beheld him amazed Harry. And it took a while for him to register that someone was calling his name silently. Urging him deeper into the castle. Again the voice in his mind assuring him that he was in a place of safety. How he knew that he wouldn't be harmed he didn't know but he did and so he slowly followed the voice down several corridors all lined with suits of armour from all over the word and from several periods in time. He once caught a glimpse of a shadow moving down one of the corridors but as soon as he turned around to get a better look it was gone. All this while the disembodied voice called him forward. It was only now that he registered that there was a faint trill and ululation to what was otherwise a deep and flat rumble it was truly a peculiar sound that for some unknown reason reminded Harry of phoenix song.
Eventually the corridor he was in broke into what appeared to be a vast meeting room that was dominated in the middle by a large rectangular table with rounded edges. The simple splendour of the room was enthralling to someone who had spent ten years of their life in a cupboard under the stairs and it took some time for Harry to realise that he was not the only one in the room, but that at the head of the table sat the ancient wizard with his elbows propped on the table and his fingers steepled under his chin. He was smiling broadly at Harry's mixture of wonder and confusion.
'Ah, Greetings child. Please take a seat.'
When Harry failed to move he promoted him again to take a seat next to him. Eventual Harry found the use of his legs and sat in the cushioned chair two down from the old man, where he could watch everything he did and easily make it to the door. After years of struggle Harry wasn't fooled by age as a sign of weakness and he was going to be ready for it.
'Who are you and what do you want?' Harry demanded forcefully deciding to make a show of confidence he didn't quite feel in this strange place.
'But surly Harry, you must know that...Unless…Wait, who taught you history child?'
'Not that it any of you concern but Professor Binns teaches History of Magic at Hogwarts.'
'Ah' sighed the old an as if he had just be given the answer to a crossword clue that had been eluding him for a while, 'that explains it then. Well then I believe an introduction is in order. I Harry am your great, great, great. Well the list goes on a while but the point is I am one of your ancestors. My name is Merlin, just Merlin.'
'What!' Harry exclaimed almost laughing at the very idea. 'So you're the Merlin. Great magus extrodinaire. Saviour of Briton. Advisor and mentor to King Arthur Pendragon.'
'I see you have heard of me then. Well I suppose I did a few things that might have been seen as special. I did help that young lad with that blasted sword. Took me nigh on two weeks to figure up the binding charm used on the stone. Quite ingenious if I do say so my self.'
'You honestly expect me to believe that one moment I fall asleep and the next I am speaking to Merlin the great, who just happens to be dead I might add. Who then turns around and claims that he is a relative. Come on Voldemort you can do better than this. You might be arrogant but a three year old wouldn't fall for this.'
'Ah, I see you were jesting earlier. No matter for I came prepared for such an occurrence. If you would follow me. You would admit that if this were merely a fantasy realm then it couldn't do any harm to just see what I have to show you.'
With that he rose steadily to his feet and summoned a tall oak staff with a small diamond embedded the top and a metal heel binding the other end. Harry remained undecided momentarily but decided that if Voldemort were dragging him along on some fantasy ride then he would humour him, though keeping his guard up of course. As the walked the old man continued to explain where they were and what it was they were going to see. He explained that the place they were in is located in Southwest Wales and Harry was almost correct in the assumption that they were in a dream world.
'A dream world would however be of no good for the purpose for which you have been called for,' he continued after explaining at length about the events that had occurred leading up to the creation of a completely unrelated tapestry that happened to be hanging on the wall they were passing, 'We needed something a bit more stable in order to perform the transference rite. This place it actually what is known to muggle physicists as a transdimentional space. Basically it's a hole in the fabric of space time, a bubble if you will. Here we are out side of time and space as we no it. While you are here no time will pass in your world and so it is here that we had to bring you. But enough of the boring stuff did you see that magnificent suit of arm…' And so he went on until the reached what Harry felt must have been the very tallest part of the castle and the piece furthest away from where they had been before. He found he was in some sort of meeting chamber. Around half of the room was a semicircular table with seats situated along its back length so that their occupants would all be focused towards the centre of the room. In the centre was a large globe of silver that occasionally would flicker and hum.
'This my boy, is a viewing globe. It will allow you to view what is going on at any time at any part of the world. You have to remember though that time is not moving there unless we let it move a lot faster here. This is the best proof that I can give you that our intentions are not to do you any harm.'
By this time listening to the ramblings of the eccentric old wizard had already convinced him that either that the old geezer was talking the truth or that this was a normal dream, albeit a strange one. He didn't believe that Voldemort had neither the patience nor the tenacity to drag him on such a well though after fantasy. It wasn't his style to elaborate things so much and though he knew that he had messed with his head before, with dire consequences, the feeling he had had then had been entirely different and that spoke volumes to Harry about this situation so he decided for the moment to allow the wizard to have his say and to play along as if this was a real opportunity.
'So you're saying that with this I can see anyone at any time?' Harry asked receiving a curt nod in reply. 'Alright show me,' he thought for a moment and then said, 'Dumbledore.'
What happened next surprised Harry for the large silver sphere gave a large hum and the image of Dumbledore's crooked nose hove into view. Harry gave a light chuckle when the camera, or what ever it was that was relaying the image moved back to reveal that the headmaster was wearing pale blue Pyjama's with small teddy bears printed over them and on the bed side table floating in a small glass was a set of false teeth. The eerie thing about it was that, though Harry watched for a short while, nothing stirred at all in the image. There was neither a rise and fall in Dumbledore's chest nor a sound of birds chirping in the distance. Then the image flickered out.
'He always was a big softie at heart. But honestly teddy bear pyjama's for a man of a hundred and fifty.' He let out a small sigh of exasperation. 'Well then Harry do you believe us now?'
'Well. I know that this isn't the work of Voldemort as he would have never have been able to come up with something that original. So the worst this could be is a regular dream and so there is no harm in listening is there. Though if I might sir. You keep referring to a we but I can only see one of you are there more?'
'Why of course my boy do I look like a need that many chairs. Even you cousin couldn't take up that many chairs,' this response caused Harry to chuckle once more, 'Harry I am the leader of an elite group of old fuddy duddies known as the elected ones. Basically we are responsible for over seeing that the Wizarding world is kept in check. As you can see some things go wrong from time to time and that is where you come in. Let me introduce you to some of the members.'
With that there was a blinding flash and the chairs all filled up with several people all dressed in various Wizarding fashions and all holding a staff made of a type of wood and with a coloured gem in the top. He immediately recognised most of them as being on various Chocolate frog cards.
'I believe you know Godric, Helga, Rowena and Slazar. Though they think the 'Founders' sounds cooler. Something about making them seem important. Any way this is our latest addition Mr and Mrs Flamel, who I believe you know.'
'And might I say thank you for saving that blasted stone. The trouble that thing caused wasn't worth the effort.'
'I hadn't heard that you had died. Though I haven't heard a great deal of anything so that's not a surprise. I am sorry that you had to stop taking the elixir.'
'Nonsense my boy. The time had come and between you and me this is better any way. I can still talk to everyone down there that has the power to receive me, though there are only four people who quailify and only three I would want to. I also get to be part of a group made of the greatest witches and wizards ever known.'
This caused Harry's mind to wander as they bid goodbye to the Flamels and was introduced to the other members of the 'Group'. How had they been chosen for this? Was there some form of selection process? Who were the others that had the 'Power' as Mr Flamel had said? He assumed Dumbledore and Voldemort and now he assumed himself but who was the forth?
'Sir,' He began before Merlin cut him off.
'Please call me Merlin, Harry.'
'Si..Merlin. How did all these people get here? I mean who set up this place?'
'Well Harry that if I do say so myself was one of my better plans. Basically in the Afterworld wizards retain their powers. In fact its pretty similar to Earth but with out the evil dark wizards trying to get you. When I died I met up with the powers who be and arranged to create an elite faction designed solely on aiding people like you. The members of the group were all chosen because of the large amount of power that they wielded and the knowledge they had gained during life. Though now we accept basically anyone who had a Chocolate Frog card, as I believe you had noticed?'
Harry nodded his acceptance before returning his gaze to the other members of the hall. 'So why am I here? What do I have to do?' he said asking the question that had been playing on his mind ever since he had discovered the group that 'Resided' here.
'Have you ever wondered why the Wizarding age of consent is seventeen whilst in the Muggle world it is a year higher? Well that is for the simple reason that in the Wizarding world a wizard's true potential has been reached at that age. Over the next year you will notice that your power increases faster than it would normally for someone of you age. This happens in anyone who had more power than is usual. However if your to fight Voldemort then all the power in the world isn't going to help if you don't know how to use it. We are here to help you gain the knowledge you need in order to use the power that is within you and so that you may use your full potential. You see Harry you will find that the group is split into two sections. One section is made up of the smartest witches and wizards ever to have lived and the second half is made up of people like you and me. Those with the power to use this knowledge for you see one is useless with out the other. You my dear boy are here for the Alieno Ritus.'
'The what?' Harry asked stupidly staring at the venerable wizard after the reams of information that he had received.
'In layman's term Harry we give you all our knowledge, not our experiences but our learned abilities. From Animagi transformations to language. Now there is little time to waste as though time doesn't pass here you will still feel the loss when you awaken.'
'Right,' said Harry determinedly as he finally understood the implications of what this group was offering, 'What do I have to do?'
'Just stand under the large silver globe and we'll do the rest.'
Whilst he said this, the group had spread themselves around the room in a large circle and Merlin swiftly entered into the remaining gap whilst banishing the table with a wave of his hand. As he began to chant Harry was forcibly reminded of the time of Voldemort's rebirth but he had little time to dwell on that before he felt a growing pressure in the back of his mind and with a burst of white light he blacked out.
A/N – There you go Chapter 5. I know it was one of those classic chapters that you read in every chapter but I think its better than Harry being able to read years worth of books in half a holiday. I also had to have Harry worry about Voldemort because so often you see him get transported places and he just accepts what he sees. Any way I hope you liked it and just to let you know that I have already started Chapter 6.
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