Learning to Understand

by ADuskWithoutDawn

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter 1) I'd wouldn't need to write an AU 2) I'd be rich. 3) One of my friends would call me the goddess. None of those are true... Therefore I don't own Harry Potter.

THIS IS AN AU STORY. THEREFORE IT DOESN'T FOLLOW SOME THINGS IN THE BOOKS. IF YOU DON'T LIKE, DON'T READ.

IMPORTANT

SOMEONE KINDLY POINTED OUT HARRY DIDN'T HAVE AN AGE! HE WAS SEVEN WHEN THE HOUSE BURNT DOWN! THANK YOU!

Chapter 5

"You'll never catch me, Uncle Edan! HAH!" a nine year old Harry shouted at his Uncle.

"Is that a bet?" Edan returned. "'Cause you know, if I really wanted to, I could fly up there like you and then bring you down here and hand you over to Ilo for more training."

Harry dramatically pretended to faint in the air. "Not Ilo. Not more training." Then he said, "You know it's not like I can't 'puppy dog eye' my way out of trouble. Come on Uncle Edan... I'm just too cute."

"That's it. You took my position as cutest up here. I'm coming to get you," Edan pretended to growl in anger. Harry giggled, laughed and screamed in happiness on their way back to the house.

"Lunchtime, kiddies," Maya yelled out the back door.

"Right on time," Edan said upon touching back to the ground.

Aira, Ilo, Nitesh and Nana Sen were all seated at the table when they got in. "How have your studies gone today?" Ilo asked when Harry sat down.

"Always on about studies, Ilo?" Aira teased.

"Of course," Ilo returned, "It would be useful if he actually learned something in the process of being here. I mean-"

Harry saw that this was going to go on for a while, so he interjected, "They're going fine. I stood on top of the tree today."

Nana Sen gasped and glared at Edan. "You didn't-"

"What...? I didn't keep him from going further than he is?" Edan retorted before she finished her sentence.

"You're supposed to be teaching him about Fire. Air is my job," Aira said.

"Exactly," Sen agreed. "Aira is best at Air. You're best at Fire. Teach him-"

"What he's supposed to," Harry cut in. "Nana Sen, you don't have to worry. I learned about Fire today. I just love being in the sky."

Sen's face softened. "I know child. I just don't want you hurt."

Nitesh decided it was time to change the conversation a bit. "Harry, how have Light, Earth and Water been going?"

"They're definintly not my strong point." Harry looked downcast.

"You can't expect them to be great, sweetie." Maya smiled at him. "After all, they're just a bit of transplanted powers. Only for emergencies."

"I know Aunt Maya... I just wish..." Harry trailed off.

"No one is perfect," Ilo finished.

"What happens when you can't teach me any more about those Elements because I'm not strong enough?" Harry asked.

"Oh... Don't worry," Nitesh replied.

"Physical conditioning," all six of the siblings said together.

"Grandpa Albus!" Harry cried out. "Look at me!" Harry was drifting around the grass on his new broomstick.

"That's great, Harry," Albus said for the fortieth time, not even looking up from his book.

Harry's breathing suddenly became shallow. He fell from the broomstick into the grass. Albus, having heard the fall quickly got up and went over the boy. Harry's eyes were fluttering like butterflies and he could barely feel a pulse. This same occurrence had happened three times from when Albus had first brought Harry to his house.

It happened around once every six months. Harry would pass out and then Albus would lay him on a bed, get a heating bag and get some potions. Albus could sometimes swear someone else was with the two of them as he would pour a few potions down his throat and felt Harry's clammy forehead. It would be almost like an illusion as Harry would flicker and then just wake up thirty minutes later as though nothing had ever happened.

The entire scenario was totally baffling Albus beyond belief. He knew someday he would figure out what was truly happening to his adoptive grandson twice a year. Until then he would grow as a happy child in his household.

Sen walked through the door and shut it quietly behind her. Maya and Aira were having tea on the couch. They greeted their sister quietly.

"How's the fake doing?" Maya asked.

"Healthy, good nutrition and nice clothes?" Aira specified.

Sen sat down on the couch. "He's doing quite well. Albus is a little suspicious when he passes out, but fakes are never perfect."

"Remember when we'd use fakes of ourselves to prank the boys," Aira said distantly.

"That was so long ago," Maya replied quietly. "Times have changed."

Indeed, the fake Harry grew up quite well.His first year, he along with his friends, Ron and Hermione, saved the Sorcerers Stone from Voldemort. In his second year, he saved Ginny from the basklisk and the memory of Tom Riddle. His third year he helped to save his godfather and find out that Sirius did not really betray his parents and finally, in his fourth year, he was a part of the Tournament. Voldemort did come back to life only because the illusions do have to have some of the person in there. The way the illusions keep longest are through blood. In his fifth year though, something happened more unexpected than had ever happened before. Something that would shock Dumbledore, hurt Ron and Hermione terribly and change how everyone looked at Harry in general. The true Harry Potter was coming back, but no one knew he was gone in the first place.

COME ON PEOPLE! READ, REVIEW and ENJOY!

I will attempt to update tomorrow. The next chapter is honestly the one I've been most excited about writing.

Hugs & Kisses