Chapter 14 – The Apprentice

Harry felt he had barely slept, one moment he shut his eyes, and the next he had been woken up by the sobbing of his mother.

Not understanding the reason for their outburst he questioned them.

"Mom what's wrong"

Harry got worried when she wouldn't stop crying, and noticed that some of the other paintings had tears in their eyes, while some were somber. There was one thing that Harry never liked from people and that was pity, and he hoped they weren't pitying him.

Seeing that Harry's mother wouldn't be able to speak, Godric choose to respond to Harry's question

"Well beside the fact that she was never there to give you the love and affection you deserved, your stay at your relatives i.e. Lily's sisters home, was how should I say it – Brutal"

Harry forgot about what his parents reaction to his memories would be, he had long accepted his past, because he knew he wouldn't be half the man he was today, if he hadn't lived the hard life so as to call it.

Godric continued "She is also unhappy with the way your years at Hogwarts have passed, even though Sirius gave us the gist of it, seeing it first hand is a different experience altogether. Think about it this way Harry, if you see your son fighting a twelve foot Basilisk at the age of twelve, what would your reaction be?"

Harry nodded in understanding; he knew if he lived long enough to fall in love and have a family, he would do anything to protect them, and the same for his friends.

Godric had first noticed Harry's reaction, he understood that pride was very important to him, and pitying him would not be the correct action. But now he seemed calm and understanding, though there seemed to be more determination in his face.

He watched the boy stand in front of his parent's portrait, trying to calm his mother with assuring words.

So much hardship on a boy so young.

Then there was this prophecy that needed to be fulfilled, Godric hated himself for letting Slytherin live now, the man's blood had created a monster. From what he could conclude from Harry's memories, Voldemort was not a character to be trifled with. He may be overconfident, but that comes because of his innumerous transformations, and vast knowledge of the dark arts, not to mention he himself is a half blood without a door to the source.

So the boy is send to keep the balance in the system

Taking a deep breath Godric came to the conclusion, that the boy needed to be trained, and he needed to be trained hard. He felt responsible that he didn't end the Slytherin line, and he knew that he could redeem himself, if he taught the boy everything he knew.

It's time to act

He cleared his throat to get everybody's attention. He noticed that Lily had stopped crying, and was being comforted by her husband, while Harry was sitting on the chair with his hands on his temples, doing exactly what Godric would do to clear his thoughts. When everyone had their eyes on him, and Harry nodded for him to continue, so Godric spoke.

"Now that we all have been given the general idea, about Harry, its time we discuss something that is very important." He waited to make sure that everyone was listening to him, and was waiting for the pandemonium when he spoke the two words "The Prophecy"

Of course most had forgotten about that because they were too shocked about the boys life, thus it had slipped their mind, but now the words were coming back to them, and Lily started crying again and was getting hysterical, she kept on repeating "Why my baby"

Harry hadn't moved, he had expected to be asked that question. The noise was getting too much out of control, so Godric gave Harry a nod hoping he would understand what was being asked of him.

Harry got up with his wand in hand, and pointed it at his throat and said "Sonorus" Then he spoke "SILENCE"

Most of the nearby paintings had to cover their ears, but in the end there was pin drop silence except for a Quietus done by Harry to cancel his earlier spell.

"Now that I have your undivided attention" Godric spoke in a commanding voice that he had perfected many years ago as a headmaster, he knew nobody would interrupt him now.

"Now that we know Harry's destiny, I think it is time that we all must understand that, if Harry dies, our whole line will end, he is the last Potter in this world. I for one have been very happy since I have joined this line, the Potters are a very noble house, no disrespect meant to the others in any way."

Nobody interrupted or said anything, so Godric continued, "Normally I don't interfere in the wars that have occurred after my death, I have watched many people die and join on these walls, many have come to me seeking guidance or to learn from me, I have always refused them."

He took a deep breath and continued "Magic is an amazing thing, we have been blessed with it, while others haven't. But it is the intention of people that turn the gifts into a curse. I myself have traveled the world looking for obscure branches of magic, magic that is practiced by people who are dying out, or tried to find magic that have only survived in the books. After that I returned to become headmaster. I have watched generation of wizards pass through the gates of the castle into the new world; I have also watched many courageous heroes perish in battle. When I would look into their dead eyes, I felt they were mocking me asking me if I did anything in my power to stop their deaths from occurring. Many powerful wizards begged and pleaded for me to share my knowledge with them, young wizards wondered whether someday I would leave an apprentice behind me, or the knowledge I had I would take to my grave. My death was very hard on many people especially scholars searching for old tomes, because they knew I possessed the knowledge that they sought inside my head, alas my head doesn't function without me being alive."

Even Godric's attempt at poor humor didn't help, many including Harry was wondering what the man was talking about.

Then he dropped the bombshell, "I believe after all these decades I have finally found a wizard who has earned my respect, and I shall be honored if he would accept my request of being my Apprentice"

He continued even when he heard gasps from many people "Mr. Harry James Potter by the power vested in every wizard by Merlin himself, do thee wish to be my Apprentice even though I am just a painting. Do thee agree to follow the terms and conditions of being an Apprentice, and you must understand once agree you cannot back out. If you agree please complete the first part of the ritual by vowing to me in a wizards oath your allegiance"

Harry couldn't believe what was going on, things were moving soo fast, that he couldn't comprehend what to do. On one hand it would be an honor to be Godric's Apprentice, but could Harry complete his training while still going to school, and sneaking out of the Dursleys everyday.

"There are many questions that I would like you to answer before I accept, no disrespect meant Godric of course"

Godric smiled "Of course not Harry, A smart man is one who thinks before charging into battle"

"How long will the training last?"

"A Year at the most if you work extremely hard" replied Godric

"How would I be able to complete it with school work, and other stuff, and another thing someone will notice if I keep on missing for hours at a time"

"I have a solution for that, but that's for later, please continue with your questioning" replied Godric

"I was also wondering that if the other paintings would agree to impart some knowledge as well, I am sure everyone will realize that this room holds the essence of people who have vast amount of knowledge. Everyone must know something that the other wouldn't, I would still be Godric's Apprentice, but I would be honored if you would all teach me as well."

Some people seemed to be pondering, while other were nodding in a positive manner, so Harry thought maybe a little more persuasion could help him.

"As I once told you all, I never had any family, many children are taught things from their parents or some family guardian. Sadly I wasn't. I would be really happy if my whole family would help me here, it would really make me happy"

It looked like the statement had helped, because everyone was nodding in agreement with tears in their eyes.

"That's concludes the questions that are coming to my mind right now. Now its your turn to give me some answers"

"First the wizards oath Harry" said Godric

Taking a deep breath and holding his wand pointed to his heart Harry spoke the words "I Harry James Potter, the eldest son and family heir of the noble house of the Potters, take a wizards oath to pledge my body, mind, and soul to Godric Gryffindor, so I can become his Apprentice. Do you Godric Gryffindor pledge that you will impart all the knowledge that you can, that will make me a able wizard to defeat the forces of the dark, till my last dying breath?"

Godric replied in the same manner "I Godric Gryffindor pledge a wizards oath in front of everyone, that I will take Harry James Potter as my Apprentice, and impart to him all the knowledge I can, to make him a able and powerful wizard to defeat the dark forces till his last dying breath. Do you Harry James Potter agree to follow all the terms of being an Apprentice, to follow my every command till I release you, and give you the title of a master?"

"I agree to follow every command that Godric Gryffindor gives, till he gives me the title of a master, and I agree to follow the terms of being a Apprentice"

The Magical buildup that was occurring in both Harry wand, and Godric Gryffindor painting was released, two sets of blue lights met together.

Suddenly Harry's forearm started burning in pain, and his skin felt it was on fire. The red skin slowly and slowly started taking the form of a tattoo, his eyes started watering with the pain, Harry fell on his knees and brought his throbbing forearm to his chest hoping for the pain to end.

Slowly and slowly the pain subsided, and Harry brought his forearm forward to examine the tattoo.

The back of his forearm was now occupied by a tattoo of an Golden Gryffindor, but this Gryffindor was like the Gryffindor of his house's logo, it was golden, had long wings, had a lions head instead of a eagle, and covered about four inches of his skin starting from his wrist upwards to his arm.

The Mark of a Apprentice, thought Harry

He brought his eyes upwards to see that the bottom left corner of Godric's painting now had a symbol of a lightening bolt.

"I am sorry about the pain, can't help that. Luckily I am a painting, so I didn't feel anything" said a cheeky Godric.

"I am used to the pain right now, it's like another friend" replied a not so amused Harry

"Now I shall tell you what I had in mind for helping in your training. Well even though I never took an Apprentice, I laid down plans in case I ever had one after my death. Long ago I came upon a group of people who devised a very effective way of imprisoning people, they called it 'vertere solum' which is a Latin word for 'To go into Exile', instead of creating prisons for people, they would imprison people in a different plane of time, if one day were to pass outside, then the person would have lived for a month inside this plane. They trapped the magic in a crystal, and with it they attached some sort of machine, you would have to enter the amount of months or years a person would have to live in the plane, and it would transport that person to that time realm for that time period"

"So you want me to be trapped in a another plane" asked a shocked and slightly scared Harry

"Well in a way, Yes"

"Are you insane, no disrespect meant of course" replied a now very scared Harry

"No disrespect meant, and don't worry, after that method was banned, I took the crystal and the machine and made a few modifications to it. For one, this whole vault shall be included, Titus and Greta would act as a medium for contacting us and the outside world, and this way we can complete a year's work in just twelve days. Also we can shut down the machine whenever we want. So you have everything to gain while nothing to lose except you would be a year older than your class mates."

The plan looked perfect, but Harry knew everything had a catch, "What's the catch?" Thinking it would be better if he was direct about it.

Godric smiled at the boys suspicion, "Nothing what so ever, other than living with only us for company for a year, and you better find something for living and eating purposes, maybe only living. Since I am sure Titus and Greta can arrange eating for us."

Harry took a few minutes to think about it, and agreed

"But I need all my stuff from the Dursley's, I also need to send letter's to my friends, and Dumbledore before they start worrying, not that I care what Dumbledore thinks, but I wouldn't want him to waste the orders resources on finding me"

"Very well return quickly, in the mean while I shall start making preparations" said Godric

Harry took out his watch to use the portkey function to go to his bedroom in Privet Drive.

With a tug behind his navel Harry left his vault.

Authors Note: Phew I had a problem finishing this one; I had to rewrite it, because I wasn't Happy with my earlier draft. Hope you like it. Also i seem to be having a problem, one of my reviewers mentioned, that they are unable to search for me or my story through the search engine of FFNet, I myself have sent a mail to the webmaster, but I was hoping more people could also do it on my behalf. The more that clog their mail box, the more faster this can be fixed, and I would be eternally grateful to those people.

Crazy-Psycho – Oh I will include that later, must have slipped my mind to elaborate on that

Uten: At first I kinda thought I hadn't explained enough, but since everyone is happy so I am happy too.

Jennifer: Thanks please continue reading

Icy Tears: Hope your MSA went well

Tuxedo Mac: Have you read Joe's story, and Ross's then have loads more info then me even. I felt I hadn't written enough. Sometimes you have to explain things elaborately or people will find the story boring, and like another silly fiction.

SeekerTLK: Ya I hope to include more stuff like that, don't know when I became this smart ;)

Frozen Wands: Don't worry I will elaborate later about that

Project Jay: I sent an email to them, they haven't replied yet, so was hoping someone else could also tell them this.

Anyways Read and Review, and also before I forget to mention Constantine is an amazing flick go check it out now!