Harry Potter and the Alchemist's Secret
Identity
Severus Snape opened his eyes. He had been in his trance for four years; his basic skills had greatly sped up the mental process once he had entered his mind. Cracking his neck slightly, he stretched his legs slowly before checking his joints for any movement problems. Finding none, he sighed and made his way to his bathroom for some well needed 'freshening up', all the while, his mind set on a most disconcerting dilemma, his Unbreakable Vow to Narcissa Malfoy.
For the past six years (though he didn't know it had been that long), Harry Potter had been in a trance-like state, slowly building his mental skills. The process of training Mind Magic was ridiculously time-consuming, but was an essential part of a Wizard's skills. In the early dark ages a (powerful) Wizard's lifespan was estimated at somewhere near three to four hundred years. The powerful magics that they had access to helped to strengthen the body and prolong life. With such long lives being common, many took the time to strengthen their mental capabilities with Mind Magic, because the time was not really an issue, the popularity of Mind Magic was great, thus making it an essential skill. It would no do to have other Wizards legilimising one's secrets, of course.
When Harry entered the trance, he had immediately found himself in the place he had least expected, yet the one that was the most understandable; the one place that Harry identified safety with, The Cupboard under the Stairs. Harry sat in the cupboard and reveled in the feelings that ran through him; the quiet, allowing him to think, to imagine, and to escape reality – where he had time to dream; the darkness, the barriers keeping him safe from pudgy fists, bony palms, and acerbic tongues; the solitude, Harry's space. As he sat engulfed within himself, Harry's life replayed through his mind. From the moment of his birth, to stumbling in to the small cottage after destroying four Dementors, his entire life, all of his memories locked themselves inside the small biscuit tin underneath his cot – the one he had stolen from the cupboard when Dudley mistakenly thought he had finished them and sent his mother out for more.
Hiding the tin under the thin mattress, between the cold steel bars of the cot, Harry stopped to look around. To his surprise, the Cupboard light was on, and the door was open – in fact, the cupboard had shifted. Harry was now standing in the middle of an immense room filled with lights of all types, shapes and sizes. From immense bonfires, to tea lights, to gas lamps, to electric bulbs, shivering slightly at his sudden openness, Harry knew that these were his Occlumency defenses. Reaching for the nearest lamp, one that resembled the one Dudley had broken when they were five, Harry pulled the dainty golden chain, shutting the bulb off, giving Harry a sense of ease in the bright, open room. With determination, Harry set to engulfing his mindscape in darkness, closing it from the world outside.
When Harry opened his eyes, he found himself in the same position he had entered the trance in. While he had been building his skills, Harry had realized that the entire field of Mind Magic was reliant on how much of your brain was active; the process of building defenses also helped to 'activate' the inactive parts of the brain, greatly speeding up intelligence and mental strength. During the course of this process, he had come across a unique ability that his magical tome had described. Telekinesis. Now that Harry was out of the trance, he decided to put his skills to the test. With a thought, he raised the staff that was resting over his knees into the air, spinning it like a propeller. Allowing the staff to fall to the bed, Harry entered his bathroom, mentally activating the shower, where he proceeded to bathe himself entirely using the telekinetic power, all the while thinking, 'This is so cool!'
When Harry finally descended to the downstairs, he found that Snape was privileged to two years further training with his book of Anciente and Moste Afeared Magicks; giving him a big head start. Harry didn't waste time with his training, and immediately engulfed himself in his studies. Snape helped bring him up to par with Wizarding Magicks, since most of them weren't covered by the book (it was a thousand years out of date to their knowledge anyways); while James helped to correct most things, including both Harry and Severus' use of incantations.
Harry and Severus stood in a series of concentric circles, shining golden on the ground. James watched silently as they began dueling, both were using verbal spells, as Harry hadn't yet been able to use them efficiently as yet. Spells flew between the two Magi, whether it was to impact upon a shimmering shield, or to hit the ground and send chunks of earth flying. Harry, noticing a rather large piece of sod a few feet beside Snape, pointed his wand at it saying, "Wingardium Leviosa!" as the chunk of earth flew towards Snape, James jumped up shouting, "Wot' the bloody 'ell was tha'!" Harry and Severus stopped for a moment before Harry replied slightly winded, "The hovering charm?" James snorted, cursing loudly before switching to Anglo-Saxon (which thanks to their training, Harry and Snape were now fluent in), "The Hovering Charm? Wingardium Leviosa? WHERE IS THE FEATHER, BOY? Its basic spell mechanics of course! All you should be saying is LEV for bloody Merlin's sake! An experienced duelist could take that opportunity to cast another shorter syllable curse, even your Reductor spell takes less time to cast than the damn Hovering Charm!"
Suffice it to say, Harry and Severus both quickly picked up the shorter incantations after they were drilled in learning to speak Latin.
When Harry's tutorship in Wizarding magic was completed, he was up to par with a post-graduate of Hogwarts, and had a deadly repertoire of both the Light and Dark Arts at his disposal, the former thanks to James, and the latter to Severus, respectively. Since Wizarding Magic was of a scholarly sort and Harry, not being predisposed to the idea of rules and guidelines, it took nearly a year of intense, daily training to reach that level. Once they were up to that level, they took to London for supplies; Diagon Alley was smaller than it would be in a millennium, but it was still bustling with wizards and witches of all sorts. Severus needed to buy cuttings for his potions greenhouse, and James took the opportunity to visit the bookstore for any of the latest publications.
Whilst the two elder Wizards went about their business, Harry took the time to explore the alley. There seemed to be a larger focus on weapons and armour in Diagon Alley, there were several blacksmiths and shops displaying elaborate swords and suits of armour in their windows. As Harry wandered through the alley, he spotted the familiar sight of Ollivander's Wand Shop, still looking ancient and dilapidated. The one sight he missed, however, was the looming marble building that was Gringotts. In its place was a simple stone hut, however there were two goblins in full battle regalia standing guard at the entrance. With a nod to the two guards, Harry entered the small hut. Inside were four more guards flanking a large desk, behind which sat an ancient looking Goblin upon an elaborate chair.
"May I help you, Wizard?" croaked the elderly Goblin.
Harry looked around the room before nodding; "This is Gringott's Bank is it not?"
Nodding, the ancient Goblin replied, "It is; and I am he."
"I would like to entrust a sum to this Bank, how may I do this?" Harry asked, moving closer to the desk; surprised that he was speaking with Gringott himself.
"A Vault would be constructed for you, protected by any protection requested. The location of the Vaults is kept secret to all but our Customers. A key will be issued to your bloodline; all records are kept written in an archaic form of Grendeldren remembered only by my kin."
"I believe you've misunderstood my meaning," Harry said carefully, "I wish to offer assistance to this Bank and to the Goblin Nation," he pulled the charmed moneybag from his belt and held it in his hand, "How much would be required to upgrade your staff and facilities? I believe this is an excellent idea and wish to invest in your company."
Gringott looked confused for a moment before grinning; exposing freshly sharpened teeth, "Thank you, Sir Wizard, the Bank is a novel idea although I do believe it will catch on quickly; especially as a rallying point to solidify the burgeoning Magical Society in Britannia. Anything you would be willing to contribute would be greatly appreciated. A Vault would be provided free of charge, and a percentage of yearly profits deposited for your interest in our business."
Harry nodded silently before saying, "Thank you but that will not be necessary, I am simply investing for the future of Britannia," Opening the bag and sticking his hand inside, Harry said "I would like the name of your business to be changed to Gringott's Wizard Bank however," before dropping an even twenty galleons on the Goblin's desk to the astonished group of said creatures.
Gringott managed to croak a strange 'Thank You' before Harry disappeared from the building to resume exploring the Alley.
By the end of their trip, James had purchased two new publications on the advancement of Transfiguration; Severus had bought many of the plants he needed (and some he didn't for next to nothing (he assumed it was because they had nearly no use other than in certain foods and as decoration); while Harry was sporting several new robes and cloaks, looking every bit the powerful wizard he was. As the three men stepped behind an empty looking cottage, the two elder ones disappeared with their cargo in tow, and Harry held out his arm, letting out a high, sharp whistle. Almost at once in a flurry of snow, appeared a snow white bird. Hedwig. As Hedwig transported Harry back to Surrey, he smiled as he remembered the day he had woken from his trance to find Hedwig had returned. As it turned out, a creature's magical potential defined their intelligence; and as a Snowy Owl, Hedwig's increase in magical power had turned her into one of the four elemental birds. She had explained this to Harry through a type of mental communication; it was far from telepathy or Beastspeaking, but it allowed Hedwig to have her hoots understood by those who she wished. There were four types of elemental birds, Phoenixes which were of course fire elementals and evolved from the exotic Scarlet Macaw, Quetzals – air elementals evolved from Eagles, the Snow Phoenix – elementals of water evolved from Snowy Owls, and the Diricawl – earth elementals evolved from the Indonesian Cockatoo. Each were capable of evil repelling song, tears of healing, lifting many times their own weight, rebirth, and elemental apparition. They were also able to control their element to an extent as defensive and offensive weapons. To put it mildly, Harry was glad to have Hedwig as a companion.
When Harry returned to Surrey that day, James had told him to return to his book of Ancient Magic, it was time to begin his training in Natural Magics. Harry caught on to this branch of Magic much faster than he had with the Wizarding Magic, and found the idea of wanting something to happen, and then letting it, much more appealing and easier to perform than 'silly wand waving and incantations', and as it were, Severus' book did not include much on Natural Magic, restricted to Elemental Magic, Druidic Herblore and Potions. After the course of three years, Harry had finally completed his apprenticeship to James as it was required. James never actually told him this, but Harry knew – firstly because James had disappeared leaving behind only a note for the two budding Magi,
Harry-boy and Sevvie-kins,
You're now ready to enjoy being jumpers, go explore, learn, save a life or two! You've learned all you can for now from me. I've got places to go, things to see, and people to do (wink wink)! The best of luck to you both, make up new names and identities for yourselves as I did, you're both skilled with permanent glamours so use them! Oh and Severus, you'd better figure out that Vow'ed predicament you're in before it comes back to bite your pasty white behind.
Til' we meet again,
James Mundungus Icarus Fletcher II
When Harry and Severus found out that James was actually the insanely eccentric father of the Order of the Phoenix's very own Mundungus Fletcher (whom Severus had only met once just prior to Voldemort's first defeat), they simply shrugged it off, clearly expecting something equally as odd to come from the shrewd man they had spent the first ten years of their journey with.
The second reason Harry knew he had completed his apprenticeship, was the ritual that was now outlined on the last few pages of his book of Ancient Magic. The Naming Ritual – a ritual that would magically accept a wizard's status as a master of any magical branch, affixing their titles as such magically when the wizard signed their full name; the ritual was used in the twentieth century by powerful wizards, which would attach their magical ranking as a title. It was always performed at the end of any apprenticeship or tutelage in any subject, as a symbolic representation of completion.
When it was performed, Harry found himself looking at a rather long list of titles;
His Excellency, Arch Mage Harrolde James Potter of Pembrokeshire, heir to the House of Potter
(Magus, Lord Archon, Mind Mage, Elemental Mage, Rune Mage, The Boy-Who-Lived)
The title Arch Mage of Pembrokeshire was explained by Severus, the Potter family had originated in Pembrokeshire and as such, Harry was now the most powerful wizard to have originated there giving him the title of Arch Mage. An ancient but still recognized (in the twentieth century) custom. Severus' list was just as long,
His Excellency, Arch Mage Severus Hertion Snape of Conwy, Head of House Snape
(Magus, Lord Archon, Mind Mage, Druid Mage, Supreme Potions Master, Dark Arts Master, Charms Master)
Snape was surprised that he too was named Arch Mage, but was glad as Harry was to have completed learning the skills they would need for the long journey ahead of them. After discussing their titles, each retreated to their own bedroom to begin working on their disguises.
Harry's glamour quickly took shape as he was modeling himself after a familiar form. His hair lengthened to the middle of his back, turning an ashen gray as a similarly long beard sprouted from his face (which incidentally had not yet begun to grow naturally – much to Harry's dismay). Harry's eyes turned a milky white as his face began to wrinkle, the structure becoming much more thin than angular. The muscles that had formed on his arms over the past few years appeared to disappear as they too became pale and wrinkled, his hands thinned, displaying prominently green veins against the thin white skin. When the glamour was complete, Harry added a couple of special nuances as James had taught him. An age spot here, a mole there, a faded scar or two and his look was complete. To complete the 'full package' as it were, Harry extended the glamour to cover his staff, once magnificently black; it was now a gnarled piece of wood that stood just to his eyes.
When the two met in the kitchen an hour later, they both nodded at each other smirking, Harry the wizened mentor, and Severus the foolish apprentice boy. Severus had taken the form of a young boy, he had greater skill in glamours than Harry and was able to alter his height (which was usually only possible with Metamorphmagus skills); he was now shorter than Harry at just under five feet tall with impeccably blond hair and bright hazel eyes. His face was rather unremarkable and all in all Severus looked like an average eight year old boy.
"Have you thought of a name yet Harry?" came the giggle inducingly high-pitched voice of Severus. After a moment of hesitation, Harry replied,
"Nicodemus." Severus snorted.
"And where may I ask did you come up with such a ridiculous name?"
"A video I saw once. He was the leader of this group of intelligent Rats, he was the first wizard I had ever heard of." The quiet, wheezing voice of Harry said. Severus was silent for a moment before saying,
"I was thinking of Brand."
"Sword. Dual edged; how Slytherin of you Severus." Harry chuckled, Severus didn't reply.
And so, three days later Harry and Severus found themselves many miles farther north than Surrey, a few hours walk from Hogsmeade ready to begin their adventures. They had apparated along with a large work horse they bought in a town that was just north of where they had built their camp. The two wizards had conjured a crude cart and were riding east to Hogsmeade. While Severus held the reigns, Harry sat back reading a book; much to the elder Magus' disgruntlement. Harry however was deeply engrossed in the text, while packing most of his possessions into his bottomless bag, Harry had found the book that he had bought at Borgin and Burkes (10 years ago from his point of view), Secrets of the Snakespeaker. After they had arrived in this time Harry had forgotten about it, and had just started reading about it; and to his great surprise and delight it was an extremely detailed text on Parslemagic, and more specifically, being a Parslemagus.
The book on Ancient Magic Harry had received from James went into short detail on Snake magic, one of the few sects of Animal Magic that had remained relatively in popular knowledge. The book (authored by the great-grandson of a fourteenth century Parsletongue named Jeff) detailed the steps to gaining the form of a Parslemage (the only form in which Common Snake Magic is useable – High Snake Magic, rituals and the like were oddly enough accomplishable through only speaking Parsletongue; Harry later found out that this was because Parsletongue itself is a sacred snake language, rather than a common tongue), and held a vast variety of spells and rituals used by the craft. Harry was approximately a third of his way through the book and was eagerly drinking the knowledge when he noticed the cart had stopped and was sitting just outside the closed gates of Hogwarts Castle.
"Who approaches?" the loud squeak of a voice came from the gatehouse.
"Fellow Mages to see the Four," Harry said, his quiet but calm voice pierced the silent evening as he returned the book to his bottomless bag.
The iron gates opened silently and the wagon creaked forward along a well worn path to the main doors where four middle-aged Magi stood in wait. After the cart had stopped, Severus helped Harry down, who had taken the habit of leaning heavily upon his staff. A House Elf appeared and led the Horse and wagon away, presumably to a stable of some sort.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, how may we be of service?" Hufflepuff seemed to have a sweet voice, not motherly, but almost serene.
"Ah, my young apprentice and I are looking for refuge. He is orphaned and I have raised him for the past five summers. The Muggles chased us from our home, far to the south. We had heard of a – what did they call it boy?" Harry said, raising his blank eyes for the first time.
"A School, milord." Replied Severus shyly.
"Quite right my boy; he is a bright one is he not? Great potential, he has." Harry said smiling.
Harry's blank eyes looked over the four founders, they showed no emotion, but Harry knew that at least one of them had telepathic skills, his own meager telepathy was telling him there was a heated conversation going on between the four of them. Harry felt Severus step up beside him feigning a sense of nervousness.
"If you have something you can offer us in return you would be most welcome to-" Harry interrupted Ravenclaw, raising an ancient and wrinkled hand.
He turned to face Slytherin, who was glaring intently at him. Harry's blank eyes appeared to flash slightly as he subconsciously strengthened his Occlumency barriers, and parried the spike of mental energy with one of his own, deflecting the Leglimency probe.
"Looking for something boy?" hissed Harry; his mouth expelling the serpentine language. The remaining founders stiffened slightly at the noise.
Slytherin did not respond, but continued to glare at Harry who began to speak;
"I wouldn't dream of not contributing to this fascinating institute, I am prepared to take on more than one apprentice or teach many if necessary; I assure you I am very well qualified." Severus nodded enthusiastically to each of the four standing before him.
"Very well," Spoke Gryffindor for the first time, "We shall arrange quarters for yourself and your apprentice, however, I don't believe we have introduced ourselves; please forgive our lack of manners, I am Godric Gryffindor, son of Herewald."
After the other founders introduced themselves, Harry placed his hand on Severus' shoulder, making him step forward speaking,
"I am Brand," Harry smiled as Hufflepuff looked on at Severus' young form with a motherly eye.
"And I am Nicodemus, Lord Archon of Earth's Magick."
Over the next month, Nicodemus discovered that Hogwarts was being run much as it was familiar to his own tutelage there. Each of the founders taught several subjects easily due to the low number of students attending, there were only twenty students including Brand. When they had arrived, it was late August, and the four were anxious to begin teaching their first set of 11 year olds, it was Hogwarts first year in service to the wizarding peoples of Britannia. Godric was teaching proper etiquette, Defensive Magic, Arithmancy, and Herbology; Helga was teaching Care of Magical Beings, History of Magic, Transfiguration, and Potions; Rowena had taken the subjects of Charms and Healing, devoting most of her time to study various theorems and to take charge of the Hospital Wing; Salazar had taken charge of Mind Magic, Dark Arts, Ritual Magics, and Animal Magics. This left Nicodemus open to teach Runic Magic and Divination, giving him lots of time for study and to practice his Parslemagic.
When the first of September had rolled around, Nicodemus and Brand had settled well into life at the castle and were quite friendly with four, although they were still wary about Nicodemus' knowledge of Natural Magics - which he had discovered were viewed in a somewhat similar manner to the twentieth century's Dark Arts ban. Since this was Hogwart's first operational year, most of the students were from the surrounding area. Each had been chosen by one of the four to form the houses, most surprisingly to Brand, he had been chosen by Helga as a member of Hufflepuff House.
The Great Hall was by no means full; the houses were divided at four round tables – five to a house, while the staff sat at a longer, more elaborate table that was quite familiar to Nicodemus' sight. He sat at the table silently, looking on at the various faces in front of him. Nicodemus' only thoughts were of the few lines that he actually had read of Hogwarts: A History; the ones that described the battle in which Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, and another Wizard whose name had been lost to time defeated the Dark Lord Azkaban… occurring just after the first Hogwarts Graduation ceremony, where twenty students finished their first year of tutelage. Harry knew, and he would be ready for the Dementor Lord. As the feast ended, he smiled and gave Brand a cheeky wave. Laughing as a familiar scowl darkened the young face.
Brand entered the cheerfully decorated Common Room, ignoring the incessantly cheerful ninny's welcoming speech. The other members of his house were wary of him; he had stayed quiet during the Welcoming Feast, ignoring the idiotic conversation that was going on all around him. As he slipped into the too-soft bed that night, Brand whispered to himself,
"Cheers for a year with the Duffer-puffs!"
Nicodemus sat patiently as the first five students arrived in his classroom, his first pupils were of the Slytherin variety and Harry was expectantly nervous about what they might relay to their Head of House. As they each took a seat at one of the new desks, Nicodemus stood, leaning on his staff, blank eyes staring out at them (although they didn't know he could see them).
"Welcome to your first class at Hogwarts School. My name is Nicodemus; you may address me as Sir, Professor, or anything of a similar nature. In this course you will begin formal studies in Runic Magics, I will also be testing each of you later in the week for any Divinatory skills you may possess. Since I am quite sure you are all well acquainted since last night, I will forgo any introductory activities to break your nervousness and get right down to business. Are there any questions?"
"How would you know if we're actually working? You can't see a thing, Mudblood. I refuse to learn from you." Spoke a haughty looking girl sitting right at the back of the classroom.
Nicodemus jerked his head towards the girl, and with a sharp motion of his hand a wave of telekinetic power pulled the girl and her belongings towards him; hovering her in mid air. Her face was fair, surrounded by silver hair and bright blue eyes. A pale, faded ethereal glow surrounded her as her ire rose, her nose lengthened and her eyes became small and black. Nicodemus smiled as he let her fall ungracefully to the floor.
"Well little Veela, I assure you I am quite capable of sight, if a little roundabout. But do not presume to speak of blood's importance to myself, I care little for it. Especially when you are neither full blooded Wizard nor Veela, you may leave or stay, but make no mistake that you will suffer punishment if you speak out of line again," he turned to the other four members of the house, "that is a warning to you all. If you have something to say you may politely raise your hand and I will permit you to speak accordingly."
He tapped his staff against the floor twice, sending a pulse of magic towards the large blackboard which immediately filled with writing.
"This is the Runic Alphabet we will be studying this year, copy it down and we shall begin when you are finished." Inwardly, Harry smirked, this was going to be fun.
Author's Note: Ok.. I admit, that was really short. WELL GUESS WHAT, that's only about 3/4's of the chapter done. Should I keep it this way or should I finish the chapter? I would like to leave it like this, but if the demand is high enough, i'm sure I can squeeze in a few more school scenes...maybe one of Severus' first class? Anyways...I hope you liked it! Please Review!