Disclaimer: Actually, this is all mine! Apart from what belongs to JKR. Which is just about everything. So none of this is mine….eh, c'est la vie!
"Speech" "Other Language" 'Thoughts' >>Parseltongue>>
1 Galleon 5 Pounds $ 8.66 (As of December 2005)
Regarding any romance in this story…Harry is 12 years old people, (even if his mind is 22) so it is still fairly far off.
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Chapter 5 – Into the Vale
Longbottom manor comprised of several acres of land in Glamorgan Vale in Wales. The house itself was quite large, and showed that whilst the Longbottom family may not have the riches of the Malfoys, it was far from being destitute. It was a long, rectangular house, 2 stories high. It also had a large greenhouse next to the house, which explained some of Neville's prowess in Herbology.
After giving a tour of the house, Mrs Longbottom led Harry to the guest bedroom, in the south end of the Manor.
"This will be your room while you stay here Harry."
"Really? All this is mine?" said the boy with wonder in his voice whilst peering inside.
"Of course Harry"
"So this is actually my room? I get a room to myself?"
"Why Harry, you are acting as if you have never had a room of your own before!"
Harry fidgeted and looked at his shoes, reddening 'Come on…get the clue…'
"Don't tell me…..you have had a room, haven't you?"
"Well…I got a room after I got my Hogwarts letter…"
"At 11? By Merlin boy, where did you sleep until then?"
Harry mumbled something.
"No need to be ashamed boy, speak up."
"The cupboard under the stairs." he said meekly.
"Why those awful muggles….I understand why Albus thought it would be best for you to come here my boy. Don't worry, we are much better than that." She said kindly, giving him a motherly hug. "Now, if you need anything, just call the house elf. Her name is Trixie. Just call, and she will come. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to see my grandson. Dinner is at 7 am sharp." She said, leaving the room.
'Good…she is softening up to me…now I need to figure a way to act in this house without Dumbledore knowing every single thing I do' He focused his magic, sensing the wards on the house 'He has used ancient blood magic to protect Neville…interesting…and there are Anti-Apparition wards too…so I will need to take a rather long walk exploring the countryside some time soon…or sneak out at night. I need to get started on training my magical muscle.'
The Dinner was quite good, though not up to Mrs Weasley's cooking standards. Not that Harry minded, for he wolfishly downed 2 servings. After all, he is a growing boy. After he finished, he retreated to his room, unpacking some more of his belongings and preparing for the next day.
Then, a knock sounded on his door.
"Come in" Said Harry, turning around and sitting on the bed.
"Hello Harry" said the pudgy faced boy with the lighting bolt scar. "Like the House"
"Yea…it's great. I can definitely see where your talents in Herbology come from" answered Harry, pointing towards the greenhouse,
which could be seen reflecting the pale light of the moon outside the window.
"So…Harry"
"Yes Neville?"
"Umm…when…we…umm"
"When you want to know something, just ask straight away Neville."
"Well…remember the confrontation between you and Quirrell over the stone?"
"I do not think I would forget that…I almost died after all."
"Well…I watched most of it…"
"I know…Dumbledore told me as much."
"He…told you?"
"We had an interesting talk on the finer points of magic and my esteemed relatives"
"So…what exactly did you use down there?"
"You mean the spells classified as Dark Arts Neville?"
"Umm…"
"Dark is not necessarily evil Neville…the Dark Arts intend to hurt people…but in a situation like the one we faced down there, you either kill or you are killed…after all, if you think about it, touching you made him burn, yet you were not doing anything evil then were you?"
"I do not even know what I was doing at that point…it just sort of happened."
"I didn't think you were doing it consciously…as to what you did, I do have a theory….and this is just a theory mind you….but I do believe that your mother sacrificed herself out of love for you…and that created an innate protection against the dark arts…"
"Yes. Professor Dumbledore talked to me about that once…he said that is why You-Know-Who's curse rebounded."
"Yes…the protection would certainly work against Voldemort's curse…but it does not last forever. From what I have gathered about blood magic, it needs to be recharged, which is done so by living with here in Longbottom manor. It would be much stronger if you lived with someone of your mother's blood, but since your grandmother is related to you, the magic still recharges, albeit much slower…it is quite complicated really…"
"Wow. You certainly know a lot about it!"
"Hermione isn't the only one that likes to read something extra" said Harry chuckling "and I admit I was quite curious as to why he burned when he touched you."
"Erm…you talked about some prophesy down there..." started Neville
"Ahh…the fabled prophesy. I'm afraid you will have to ask our dear Headmaster about that, as he made me promise not to tell you about it. I do believe that you should know about it, but he likes to think the opposite."
"Well…if Dumbledore thinks I shouldn't know, then I guess I should forget about it."
"Everybody makes mistakes Neville. Even a wizard as great as Dumbledore. Forget about it for now if you wish, but you should eventually talk to him about it. You should talk to him more often, he has a lot of wisdom that he is quite willing to give away."
"Yeah. You are right…but you are also quite wise Harry…sometimes when you talk, you resemble him."
"I am quite far from being at Dumbledore's level Neville" said Harry "but I have talked with him, and I guess you absorb certain things. Now, I am certain that you are interested in some of the other things that went on when Moldywarts and I had our little tea party, right?"
"There is that thing about…occulmency?"
"Occulmency is the warding of the mind against external penetrations. Quite a useful skill actually, helps stop the effects of many dark creatures, even Veelas, and it stops direct attempts to infiltrate the mind, like Legilimancy, which is what Voldemort used."
"Sure sounds useful. Why have we never learnt about all this mind magic at Hogwarts?"
"Even Occulmency is defensive in nature, it is a mind magic, and they are not generally liked in the world. Studying the defensive part of it also means that you often study the offensive part, and people do not like having others snooping in their mind."
"So you can read my mind right now?" asked a alarmed Neville.
"It is not exactly mind reading…and I am not at such an advanced level anyway…my mental shields were only able to keep Voldemort out because he was a spirit.
"Can you teach me? Not only the mind magic part, but all the other stuff you know…in fact, I think you Ron and Hermione too! We can form a sort of club or something…"
'This reminds me eerily of Dumbledore's Army…' "A club? What are we going to name it? Lets-Kick-Slytherin-Arse?" said Harry, snorting.
"You know that wouldn't be a bad name…"
"Bit too much of a giveaway though…"
"Yes…but seriously, a club is a good idea, especially since we found out that the lovable dark lord is not quite as dead as the world would like to believe…we might have foiled his return this time, but he will try again…and we should be ready to stop him if he does."
"Yes…well, I'll go write to the others about that. Goodnight Harry." said Neville, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts.
'Good…this way I can create a group that will fight against Voldemort, but will be under my command and not Dumbledore's…"
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Knockturn alley is usually a dark place. The pitch-black night sky made it even more so. The occasional light created fearsome shadows that would have created nightmares for many children. Yet it was a child that was moving fast through the streets at this ungodly hour.
Now you might ask, what is a child doing at this place at such a time? Well, for a start, Harry James Potter, whilst still in the body of a 12 year old, could easily fend off any sort of danger that the alley would present. And while most shops would be closed at midnight, do not forget that this is knockturn alley, and midnight is when the 'best' wares are on sale.
And these are the kind of wares that the young Potter is after.
You see, there is one specific part of Knockturn alley called Cronk's Stand. It was a part which few people, and even fewer Ministry officials, dared to enter, for law had no place there. You could be mugged and killed within sight of many people, yet no-one would bat an eye-lash.
This made it the ideal place for the illegal trafficking of illegal items and creatures. And illegal is exactly what Harry was out to get. Though right now he sported a rather annoying headache.
'Stupid runespoors…do those stupid three-headed snakes ever shut up? What is the point of having three heads, if all they do is argue? I understand now why parselmouths stay away from them.'
He entered a dark shop and was immediately hit by the odor of several illegal and extremely rare potions ingredients.
"What are you doing here little boy?" Asked one of the guards in a malicious tone "This is no place for children. Now run along before somebody decides to use your corpse for a ritual"
Harry raised an eyebrow and answered only with a short jab of his wand "CRUCIO!"
The owner of the shop looked on in an odd mixture of fascination and horror as the guards screamed under the force of the boy's torture. Nobody moved to stop him. After all, business was commonly done this way here, though only the most powerful and rich customers actually used the unforgivables. It was sort of a sign of what the customer was after. After a few long seconds, the screams stopped.
"I assure you that I have every intention of doing business here, and whoever disagrees will find a very early grave" He then turned towards the owner and deposited some galleons in front of him "I am perfectly capable of paying for some of your more…rare….ingredients Mr Suthenspore, now if you would please show me some of your wares?"
"Certainly Mr…?"
The boy just remained silent, and Suthenspore knew that he would have no answer. Instead, he led the way to the storage area in the back of the shop.
Harry eyed the ingredients with interest. 'Re'em blood, Runespoor, Chimaera and Ashwinder eggs, Acromantula and Manticore venom, Demiguise hair, Dragon brains, Erumpent and Graphorn Horns, Lethifold hide, Even Nundu and Unicorn Blood! I don't even want to know how they got the last ones…good thing I got all that money from Gringotts…I should get a seven lock trunk too…better not be seen with any of this…'
A few hours and sever Crucio's later, the young boy left Knockturn Alley having collected an array of ingredients, items and books that would have probably given him several lifetimes in Azkaban if he was found out. Which naturally meant that he took great steps to prevent that from happening.
'I need to see if I can get some access to the Black estate…with Sirius's incarceration in Azkaban, I should rightfully be able to withdraw some funds…and since my Parent's account is going to be running rather thin with my activities…I'm going to need it.'
He proceeded to the bank which was opposite the entrance to Knockturn alley. Even though there was almost nobody around at this time at night, goblins were still around, never stopping their work. Harry proceeded to one of the Goblins that looked at least less occupied than the others.
"Hello Grapnol" He said, recognizing the name from his previous universe "I was wondering if I could speak to the accountants of the Black Estate?"
The Goblin was shocked that this boy he had never seen before knew his name. Yet he quickly composed himself. "And who might you be to have any business with the Black Estate?" He asked, sneering.
"I am Harry James Potter, godson of Sirius Orion Black and, with the incarceration of the later in Azkaban, controlling heir of the Black Family Vaults"
The Goblin gaped. "Very well Mr Potter, please follow me." He said, leaving his desk and leading Harry through some winding tunnels to a large polished wooden office door with a sign in Gobbledegook saying Brandok: Black Estate.
"Harry James Potter, godson of Sirius Orion Black and appointed heir of the Black Family here to speak with the Black Estate Accountants" said the Goblin. The door opened and Grapnol rapidly made his way back to his desk.
"Greetings Mr Potter" Said an elderly Goblin. He was short and dark skinned, with a long nose that looked as if it had been smashed. It had a pointed beard and a red cap
"Greetings Brandok. May gold always flow in your coffers." said Harry in perfect Gobbledegook.
The goblin looked surprised. While some wizards spoke the language, it was very difficult to learn it, and not many bothered to try in the first place, for they considered Goblins inferior.
"I see you speak our language Mr Potter. That is very impressive in someone of your age. Now, what business do you have with the Black Estate?"
"Seeing as my Godfather appointed me as his heir before he was taken to Azkaban, I was wondering what access rights, if any, I have to the Black fortune"
"Normally, in your position as an heir, you are allowed to withdraw a certain amount of galleons a month. This amount is set by the ruling Black family Lord, which in this case would be your godfather. The allowance has remained unchanged for a long amount, and it stands at 100 galleons a month until age 11, and 200 galleons until age 17. You then gain full access to the vaults for as long as the family Lord allows you to have it."
"And if I am correct, we can set up for that to be immediately transferred to my trust fund every month, just like the monthly allowance from the Potter Estate?"
"Certainly Mr Potter. From my knowledge, the current allowance from the Potter Estate is 50 galleons a month. If you would wish it, I could arrange for the transfer to be done right now."
"I would like that Brandok. Now, I would like to speak to you regarding the incarceration of my godfather, whose welfare is a primary concern for you, seeing as he is Lord Black. You see, I have reason to believe that he might be innocent of the crimes he has been accused of…"
A short while later, Harry James Potter left the wizarding bank, leaving behind a very thoughtful goblin.
'If things go as I want them to, I won't have to wait at all for the old man to act…even if he did. I will have to face the stupid Ministry's bureaucracy…but they will eventually bend…if they don't, I'll just break him out.'
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"Master Guest must wake up! Breakfast is to be served shortly! Mistress says that Master Guest should wake up now, or he will have no breakfast at all!"
Harry groaned, and looked around at the entirely too bright room. "Thank you Trixie" He said to the house-elf, stifling a yawn "I'll be there soon"
Once the house-elf disappeared, Harry grabbed a restorative potion from his bag. Once he felt able to get up without falling asleep where he stoop, he cast a few charms to make his belongings undetectable and went on to prepare for the day.
'Good thing that this is a wizarding household…It would be harder to do all this magic if I was still with the Dursley's…just shows how incompetent the ministry is…" He though as he sat down with Neville for breakfast. "Morning Neville" He said to the bleary eyed boy.
"Hello Harry" he answered weakly.
'Never was much of a morning person that boy…something he'll need to fix if he wants to survive the war. Though he is only 12, so I guess some things can be excused.
"Neville," said Mrs Longbottom entering the room "why don't you take Harry out on the grounds for today?"
"Yes Gran." said the boy "Can we go up to Cardiff?"
"Better stay away from the city. You can go up to Rhoose on the coast if you want, but in that case you must take Dan with you"
"Dan?" asked Harry
"Our dog; a Great Dane" clarified Neville "He is big and will keep any trouble away, but he'll never anyone unless they try to hurt me."
"He'll keep you boys safe. Now, you will probably be gone for the whole day, so Trixie has packed some lunch for you." Said Neville's grandmother, passing two large packets to the boys. "Make sure you are back before it gets dark!"
"Come on Harry! You can have some of my clothes." Said Neville, whose previous sleepiness seemed to have vanished as fast as his breakfast.
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Dan was indeed a Great Dane, and looked quite a bit like Fang, including the fact that deep at heart, he was a coward.
'At least Neville knows where he is going…this dog could hardly harm a cat, and if a death eater or dark creature came along…well, I think it might be useful by running home and hiding, informing everyone we are in danger…" mused Harry, as they walked through the forests to come out to the coast.
"Look Harry! That's Ilfracombe over there!" Said Neville, pointing to an area on the land on the other side of the Bristol Channel "That is where the dragon swept down in 1932!"
"Are there still dragons around here?"
"Oh sure, we have the common Welsh Green that still nestles in the mountains up north of here, but they never come down…"
Harry stopped paying attention to Neville at that point, for he could hear voices nearby.
>>You idiot, why did you bring us here? I swear sometimes you are…>> said a voice
>>Quiet! I decide where we go, so now lets go west! I smell food!>> answered another
>>Food…lets dream about food>> added a third voice
>>This is not the time to dream you numbskull! We need to eat>> said the first voice.
>>So lets go eat then! Now be quiet or I'll bite you>>
A 7-foot long orange coloured snake with three heads and a black binding appeared from the nearby bushes. Neville stopped whatever he was doing and took a step back. Dan whimpered and bolted towards home.
'Oh great…a runespore!'
>>Humans>>
>>Food!>>
>>Attack you fool! What are you waiting for!>>
The snake heads continued bickering, whilst at the same time they were nearing closer to the two boys.
'I'm going to regret this but…' Thought Harry >>Do you mind not attacking us?>> he said.
>>The snakes froze. You speak?>>
>>Of course he speaks you fool! He just did!>>
>>Well, if he speaks, we must not attack them>>
>>Why?>>
>>Because he speaks!>>
>>Right…erm we'll be leaving now…>> said Harry
>>Go then speaker…>>
>>Why are you speaking to him?>>
>>Because I can>>
>>Idiots!>>
The snake heads continued to argue, whilst Harry grabbed the petrified Neville and left,
'Seems like he didn't understand anything…which probably means that he did not get the parselmouth ability along with that scar…so how did I get it? Or did I have it all along?'
Before they went far however, Neville broke from his hold and looked at him
"You…you're a parselmouth?"
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