I would like everyone to know that I changed my penname. It was originally SiriusStaff7, now it is PhoenixFlight72.
Chapter 2: So it Continues
The day after Harry's birthday brought with it a bundle of surprises. For one, Harry was now in charge of his own training. Another was that he could talk to his friends whenever he wanted. At first Harry was surprised by finding out he could train on his own, then he realized that he surpassed all his mentors, with the exception of Dumbledore perhaps.
This realization made Harry go back to the reason he had come so far. The reason of course had to do with Voldemort.
Flashback: It was the third day after term ended. Harry was once again stuck in the Dursley's home and he was wallowing in depression. The loss of his godfather, his last parental figure, had hit him hard. The fact that he was partially responsible did nothing to raise his emotions.
Harry wasn't stupid. He knew Voldemort manipulated him and in doing so had been responsible as well. Then there was Bellatrix who had caused the actual death. He also couldn't dismiss the fact that it was Sirius who came of his own free will to do battle that he died. Yet the fact remained that because of Voldemort's ideals and plans, all the people he loved died.
It was then that Harry knew he wouldn't wish this on any other person. Sure it would have been nice to live a normal life, but to wish someone else to go through so much pain wasn't fair. He would do what needed to be done and he would make sure that no one else he cared for died. He would no longer drown in self pity, there would be time after the war to mourn, but instead he would train to kill the monster that took away so much in his life.
Harry got up and started to write a letter to the Order of the Phoenix.
Dear Fawkes,
I was wondering if you could help me learn some new tricks. I had always loved my father's ability to transform and was envious of his career choice. I was hoping you could educate me in the arts of your fan club; after all he was apart of that club.
Please let me know ASAP and I will be able to let you know of a time when my family is available.
Sincerely, A Werewolf's Friend
After sending his cryptic letter away with Hedwig, Harry had laid back down on his bed. He tried to clear his mind of all emotion, yet the day's determination had stayed with him. He just couldn't shake the determination to not let another loved one die and the hatred he felt at Lord Voldemort for making taking so many good lives.
After minutes of trying, Harry Potter fell into darkness…
"Where am I?" thought Harry and he awoke. He seemed to be inside a gray room. The only exception being that it wasn't a room at all, more of like an endless void of gray. For some reason he could hear his own thoughts yet could not speak.
"At least I'm not in Voldemort's head," just as he said it, Harry felt different. He blinked and noticed that he was sitting in a throne like chair, with a small balding man that had a silver hand kneeling in front of him. He also realized that he was much paler in the dark light and held a longer wand. That's when Harry figured out he wasn't in his own head.
"I don't want to stay in his head. Let me go back to the gray void!" Harry desperately thought to himself. And instantaneously he was there. Once again in the endless gray Harry began to wonder what going on. He wasn't so much as frightened as curious. "Might as well experiment."
"Umm, I wish I knew all Voldemort knew," Harry thought. This time the sound was heard in the gray, not just in his mind. To make matters even more interesting a list had appeared in the void. It seemed to hang in the thin air and had categories such as Life and Death, Immortality, Shields, Defense Formation, Attack Formation, Curses, Jinxes, Spells, Charms, Transfiguration, Occlumency/Legimency, Hand to Hand Combat, Weapons Handling, and Magical Animals.
Thinking to himself, what the in the name of bloody Merlin, Harry decided to try and touch a category. He started with shields.
Once his hand made contact with the mysterious writing, Harry felt himself becoming suffocated. The interesting thing was that he was being suffocated with knowledge. After what seemed like eternity to Harry, the feeling stopped and he the category labeled Shields, disappeared.
A feeling of power suddenly filled Harry and he felt the urge to try to do a shield. He surprised himself when he raised his wand and did a complex movement creating a golden shield in his hand. Trying this many times Harry soon understood what was happening. He was literally in Voldemort's mind. He was privy to whatever information resided in it.
Apparently his subconscious had chosen what areas he wanted to know the most about and had dragged that information to him in the void. Harry now knew all the information on shields that his nemesis knew. "Now this can be fun."
Harry instantly started to feel the rush of information as he touched another category, this time Curses. When it was done he tried a curse that made something disappear from one area and reappear in another. Taking a galleon from his pocket he placed it on the floor and performed the curse. After noticing the coin went to the other side of the floating words Harry acciod it back to him. "This is definitely going to be fun!"
Harry performed the same system of touching a category, trying out some new knowledge, then moving on to a different category until everything there was done. The only thing Harry had not touched was Life and Death. In a way he was afraid of what knowledge was held there. "Better leave now before I wish I had left earlier," with that thought Harry tried his newly acquired Occlumency skills and willed his mind back to his own.
Waking up in his own bed, Harry was startled to see Remus there looking down at his in concern. Behind him Harry could see Nymphadora Tonks, and Alastar "Mad Eye" Moody.
"We came here after getting your letter, Harry. I must say that it wasn't easy to understand what you were saying," Remus started.
Harry just smiled. "That is the point in a letter that you don't want to be intercepted and understood. Isn't it Mad Eye?"
"That's right, CONSTANT VIGILANCE! Now, if what we're led to believe, you want the Order to train you. That's what you meant, wasn't it? It better be 'cause that took us a dammed long time to figure out."
"Well, it may have taken you guys a while but that was the point of the letter. Yet I think I have a surprise that will make your job a lot easier," Harry felt like drawing this out as long as possible. He wasn't looking forward to telling them he had learned knowledge beyond a many's comprehension from the darkest of dark wizards. And that was leaving out the fact that some of the things learned would likely not be found in the Restricted Section in the Hogwarts Library.
"Now, Harry, what in the world are you talking about? First you owl asking to be trained for battle, then you claim that you can make that easy. Please tell us what that might be, considering that you still can't even do magic during the summer," Tonks didn't seem to like the idea so far.
"Well you might not understand so just let me finish. I learned a few, tricks, last night. Actually, more than a few. I basically learned all of Voldemort's knowledge in Immortality, Shields, Defense Formation, Attack Formation, Curses, Jinxes, Spells, Charms, Transfiguration, Occlumency/Legimency, Hand to Hand Combat, Weapons Handling, and Magical Animals."
Remus started to interrupt but with raising a hand Harry was able to silence him. "I know it sounds crazy Remus, I thought so too once I found out was I was doing. The bottom line is that last night I was able to gain access to Voldemort's mind and just sort of pick what I wanted to learn. After I got to the Occlumency I realized it was a variation of Legimency. I guessed that the connection we share as a result of my scar let me enhance the Legimency to literally be in his mind in a physical form. It's really complicated, just know that now I banish all your carcasses to Hogsmead and keep you there."
Tonks looked disbelieving. "If that's the truth, which no offense seems far fetched, than we still have the problem of you not being able to do magic still."
Harry once again smiled in response, "I forgot to mention one of the spells Voldemort knew was how to hide your magical signature from detectors-"
"Which is the way the Ministry knows about underage magic," Remus finished. "Brilliant, do it now Harry just so we can be sure it works."
Taking his wand from under his pillow in a quick draw, Harry waved it in a circle above himself and muttered "Hidium Macigratelum." He seemed to glow a light blue until the color faded. After waiting ten minutes and no interference from a Ministry owl, the three adults held stunned and awed looks on their faces.
Remus was the first to recover. "If what you said earlier is true, than what would we even help you with?"
Harry had thought about this a bit while in the void and already had an answer. "There was one problem with the information transfer. I never learned how to incorporate all this stuff in a duel. There's just so many different options, how do I make them flow and work together? Besides, I only learned what Voldemort knows. That won't help me too much because he would know how to counter anything I throw. You guys could teach me some of the things you know and help me learn to use all this new stuff I know in an actual fight."
There seemed to be a pleading sound in Harry's voice. No one had the heart, or the right for that matter, to turn him down.
"Of course we'll help you Harry, but I think we'd need to pick up a few things first," Tonks seemed almost eager to go shopping.
"I think your right, Tonks," Mad Eye agreed, "but we would need to take Harry with us. Personally, I don't have a problem with bringing you with us, Harry, but the rest of the Order might."
"If you want to keep your new ability to yourself than there isn't really a problem. Otherwise we would need to come up with some way for you to buy what's needed without being noticed by anyone but the necessary," Remus finished.
"I can take care of that. I guess we're off to a day in Diagon Alley!"
"Hold up, Harry, we still need to tell Dumbledore," Tonks said. Remus was too busy chuckling at Harry's enthusiasm to make a comment.
"That won't be a problem. He's supposed to be at headquarters right now, I'll just apperate over and let him know," Mad Eye was just about to do as he suggested when Harry interrupted.
"Actually, could I go? One of the things I learned was how to apperate and I think I could make it to Grimmuald Place."
"Fine, but you better get ready first. We'd be heading straight to Diagon Alley after we inform Dumbledore," Remus informed Harry.
"Plus you'd have a lot of explaining to do. You know how he is with your protection," Tonks added.
"My protection will no longer be his concern once you three get finished training me. Besides, with you guys there plus what I learned last night, I'll be perfectly fine. I'll just give you all the pleasure of explaining to him later," Harry replied.
"Get ready, Harry, and we'll just let Albus no you're going out with us today," Remus offered.
With a hurried thank you, Harry Potter ran to the bathroom to get ready.
"Alastar went ahead to tell Albus, Tonks is waiting downstairs trying to make you some cloths, and I took the liberty to wait here and tell you what the other two were doing," Remus finished with a smile.
"Thanks, Remus. I need to be ready and your training will only make me be ready quicker. But what I don't get is why we're going to Diagon Alley," Harry finished purposefully.
"Well, there are a few reasons actually. One is that Sirius left about 30 of his money to you in his will. He also said that in the even of his unfortunate demise, you are to become a legal adult. That means that you can now visit the Potter Family Vault. I was only in the once, but I remember James telling me about all of these old family heirlooms that were always made for 'the better of man kind'. We also need to buy you some battle robes, new dress robes, probably another wand, and I would like to make those glasses of yours disappear."
"Okay, not too much to do. Let's get out of here then. Tell Tonks thanks for the toast," Harry added with a mischievous wink.
Just as Remus was about to ask what he meant, Harry said calmly, "Accio toast." The toast Tonks was in the middle of preparing came flying up the stairs and into Harry's hand. "See you at Gringotts." With that said, a small pop was heard and Harry Potter no longer stood in front of Remus Lupin, but instead stood staring up at the staircase in the wizarding bank.
After waiting thirty seconds, two more pops were heard followed closely by a third.
"About time you got here. I've been waiting." Smiling cheekily Harry started leading the way into Gringotts. He was currently dressed in a pair of black jeans with a plain blue t-shirt. The both were the right size and seemed to fit Harry perfectly. Catching the appraising look Moody was giving him Harry told them, "I used magic. I took Dudley's old garbage and transfigured it into this. You look like it's never been done before."
"Potter, you need to be discreet still. Let me see you conjure a cloak with a nice long hood," Moody said.
"I have a better idea," Harry replied. Taking wand in hand, he made a complex movement and the next thing everyone knew, an emerald green baseball cap was sitting atop Harry's head. "I can't make any fancy stuff for the clothes or hat, but I can make the shape. That's why there's no writing or shapes on the shirt and hat. Now come on, I want to go visit my family vault."
Once the group arrived in front of a goblin and told them they had business to attend to in the Potter Family Vault, the goblin immediately tried to act better. "I am sorry for being rude Mr. Potter. If you wish to visit your Family Vault we will acquire a cart right away." That said and done, the goblin rushed off to find a free goblin for the cart ride down.
The three wizards and single witch soon found themselves traveling down the inside of the earth. They were going deeper than any of them had ever gone before when Harry let curiosity get the better of him a ask, "Excuse me, but why did the goblin at the desk treat me so kindly once he found out I was visiting my family vault?"
"Ah, the Potters were some of our best costumers. They have been around for the longest of times and own a great deal of wealth. If the Potter Family Vault were to empty itself from Gringotts we would lose a great asset." The driver said no more as the cart continued. After nearly five minutes the cart slowed down and finally came to a stop. "Vault #1072, sir. If you would please put your hand on the circle in the middle of the door. You will feel a brief sting and then the door should open if you are a true descendent."
Stepping forward, Harry put his hand on the indicated circle on the vault door. His fingers were exactly the right size to meet the edge of the circle and he felt a small sting. The next moment, the door whizzed open and Harry was left gaping. The vault was huge! What looked like millions upon millions of galleons were heaped all over. In the right hand corner of the vault, weapons could be found lining the wall. They were of all shapes and sizes, each engraved with a name upon it of the wielder. Farther inspection of the room showed a corner filled with jewelry of the highest quality. Harry could also find books that appeared to be older than Gringotts was.
With all these amazing items, Harry had failed to notice what the other three were doing. Tonks was admiring a section that seemed to be filled with the highest quality of robes, Remus was looking at a section filled with chests and labels, while Mad Eye was staring intently at one box sitting on a stool in the middle of the room.
Tonks was the first to speak, "Guys, I don't think we need to spend any money today. This vault has everything Harry needs. There are about five different battle robes, all which say they will fit the wearer. There're also dress robes and a hundred silky Hogwarts robes."
"Harry, I think you should have a look in these chests. The labels say they have some magical items in here that are very hard to find now a days," Remus added.
"Harry, if you don't mind, I would like to give some orders so we're not here all day. Remus, I want you to pick up a set of every type of weapon here. Tonks, get the robes you think Harry will need, including every battle robe, and a few fun ones. Harry, I think you better look at this box. There's a note on top and I can't look through it. That has never happened where I can't see through something and it must be either very important, or very magical. I have a feeling you'll need it."
"Yes, Professor," Harry joked, showing he was okay with what Harry had said. Tonks and Remus immediately went to work on their assignments and Harry headed over to the box. On it was a letter. Picking it up, Harry realized it was addressed to him, by his parents.
Dearest Harry,
If you are reading this than it means we were unable to show you the contents of this chest ourselves. Albus has told us the prophecy and we know you can, will, win.
Inside we compiled three items that we believe will help you in your struggle. The first is a wand. It was made from yew a dragon heartstring. Trust us, it is an extremely powerful wand and has served well in the past.
The second is talisman. We happen to know some friends who have lived in Egypt for a long time and one time they had found a talisman. We have given it a test run in a few battles and it works as well as could be expected. It can negate minor spells and weaken more powerful ones. We haven't tried it on the killing curse and we don't plan to, yet we know it reduces the pain of crucio to a more manageable level though not by much.
The last item is an old Potter heirloom that we decided to tweak a bit. It is a wristwatch that can tell the time, act as a portkey (all you have to do is speak you destination to it), and can tell you the whereabouts of the people you hold dear.
Remember, son, we love you now and we will love you forever. We'll be waiting for you on the other side, but we don't want to see you for many, many years. Remember, we have faith and faith is all you need.
Love, Mom and Dad
After returning to Privet Drive, the adults decided to call it a day. They promised they would be back tomorrow and left him with a schedule they had come up with for his training. Harry paid little attention, his mind still on the letter his parents had left him. Remus had brought back a chest full of old books along with another of family heirlooms. Moody had brought back a trunk filled with all the weapons they'd be practicing with and gave Harry two wand holsters to try on in different places. He ended up keeping his holly wand in a leg holster on his left foot while the newly acquired dragon heartstring rested in an arm holster on his right.
Tonks had thrown out his whole wardrobe and hung up his new ones. The battle robes she was very careful with. She said they were something extremely special. They seemed to be lightweight and could be worn under any other robe. One pair even fit over muggle clothing with a note on it saying it could 'blend in'. Harry promised himself to wear one every day and get the feel for them, after all you'd never know when you'd get in a fight.
The talisman was currently around his neck and the watch was on his left wrist. Having nothing better to do, Harry read over his schedule.
6-6:30 Wake up, eat, shower
6:30-7:30 Warm up
7:30-11:00 Train
11-12 Eat, shower, rest
12-6 Duel
The schedule can and probably will change, so just count on waking up at six every day Tonks…
"This will be a long year," Harry muttered to himself.
End Flashback
Author Notes:
I would like to thank voxenking for being the first reviewer. As you can see, I take reviews seriously and I will be glad to receive any advice or compliments you give.
