Magical Origins
Year 3: The Wind's Whisper
Harry walks down, feeling slightly nervous. His previous two years had proven to be a disaster. Flint was a terrible captain and cared more about cheap tactics and playing dirty, then relying on any real skill.
Now that Harry was captain, he was going to change how Slytherin played.
Harry got on his uniform and picked up his Nimbus Two Thousand and One.
Harry was sitting on his broom, waiting for the Slytherins to arrive. Needless to say, none of them were happy about waking so earlier for tryouts.
Harry waited until the time expired before he addresses his fellow Slytherin's.
"Welcome to Slytherin Quidditch team tryouts. My predecessors had a different way of running things. I'm going to say this now; underhand tactics will not be allowed or tolerated as long as I'm Captain of this team. Skills will win you a spot on this team, not favors, or because you think your family is rich." Harry said the last comment is directed at Draco Malfoy, who paled realizing his family fortune didn't guarantee him a spot on the team. "Everyone, get on your brooms and begin."
Everyone jumps on their brooms and quickly race across the pitch. Harry sat on his broom, watching the House of Slytherin, who was grumbling about having to practice so early after breakfast fly across the pitch. However, they did so.
One reason why Harry wanted to do tryouts so soon was so no one would try to buy their way on the team. Harry didn't know how good a player Malfoy was, but money did not buy games. It took skills, talent, and teamwork to win games.
Harry blows his whistle, causing everyone to stop. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Artemis with her friends in the bleachers.
"You're out…" Harry said as he points to a Slytherin seventh year. He had flown terribly. He slowly moves between the Slytherin's picking off people who did not do well. Some of them chuck their brooms as they walk off.
"Let's see how you all handle simple drills," Harry said as everyone got back on their broom.
After an hour of making them do drills, Harry finally got his lineup.
For Keeper, he got Daphne Greengrass, who showed she had great insight in defending the ball. Her best friend, Tracy Davis, was Seeker. Draco, who pouted instead tried out for Chaser and was able to make the team. Joining him as Chaser was also Blaise Zabini, who was a great shooter and flier. Peregrine Derrick and Lucian Bole rejoined the team after proving they could fly well. Though Crabbe and Goyle showed some promise, Harry didn't trust the two brutes, knowing they wouldn't follow the rules.
One problem he faced was getting Weasley's rat. Ron Weasley was ill-tempered and foul mood over it. Despite being offered an owl as well as a large sum of gold for the rat, Ron Weasley refuses to part ways with it. Another factor was Hermione Granger's new pet, Crookshanks. Ron kicked Crookshanks for just getting near Scabbers, causing Ron and Hermione to start shouting at each other again. Lily, tired of it, left, leaving her two friends screaming at each other in the middle of the Common Room. It only ended when Professor McGonagall got involved.
So Ron Weasley walked around a mess of irritation and peevishness.
Harry knew the only thing that would make him feel better is if he took it out on him.
Harry sighs as he sits in his charms class. Professor Flitwick was going over color charms. Harry looks at Lily, who showed some boredom having to listen to both Ron and Hermione bicker.
Harry knew he wouldn't get the rat, but Lily could. She was in Gryffindor.
The bell rang, signally the end of the class.
"Mister Potter, Miss Morris… please remain behind." Professor Flitwick calls out.
Wondering what on call the Charms Professor wanted Harry and Lily hung back.
Ron hung back, listening, blatantly doing his best to eavesdrop.
"Mister Weasley, you can go." Professor Flitwick said in a cheerful but stern tone. Ron storms off clearly upset.
"You two have been pulling ahead in your classes," Professor Flitwick said in a cheerful tone.
Saying nothing, Lily and Harry just look at the tiny Charms, Professor.
"Gifted students like yourselves are a rare sight. It is for this reason, I'm going to be giving you extra assignments. Things that you wouldn't normally be studying until your later years at Hogwarts. Now, this isn't special treatment. The truth is, it's a privilege the school is giving you. Abuse it, and you will lose the opportunity to study advanced magic. Is that understood?"
They nod their heads.
"Here," Professor Flitwick said, giving them two large books with the same title.
The Charms Concordance
"Professor Flitwick, this is…" Harry began slowly.
"This is something you would normally study after you get your N.E.W.T.'s in Charms. However, you two are pulling far ahead of your year mates. I would say you two should be in your fifth or sixth-year classes. Hogwarts has no advance class as everyone moves together at a steady pace. The Headmaster has agreed to allow me to teach you both in advance charms should you desire it."
"Are you serious, Professor?" Lily said in surprise.
"This will acquire you both an extra hour of your time as well as you both have to keep up with your normal school work. Can you do that?"
They nod their heads.
They turn to leave. Both walking to lunch.
"Lily," Harry said slowly.
"What?" She asks as she tries not to look smug.
"I need your help," Harry said slowly.
Lily stops as she stares at him.
"When do you need my help?" Lily asks, clearly suspicious.
Harry stops to turn around to look at her.
"I'll put it simply, can you get me Weasley's rat?" Harry said.
Lily paused as she studies him carefully.
"What is it with you wanting that rat? Going to feed it to your owl?"
"You don't need to know," Harry said sharply.
"If you want Ron's rat, you better have given me a good excuse to get it," Lily said in a firm voice.
Harry narrows his eyes.
"I'll explain once you get it. I just need that rat or else a problem I'm having won't go away." Harry said slowly.
"What kind of problem? Can I help?"
"You can help by getting that rat. I can't stress enough that I need it. If you can get me that rat, it will save me a lot of trouble." Harry said.
Lily looks at him as she tried to figure out his angle.
"I don't know why you are so interested in that rat. However, I'll see what I can do. No promises though, Ron won't let anyone see Scabbers anymore." Lily said. In saying that, she heads to the Gryffindor lunch table. Harry said nothing as he walks towards the Slytherin table.
For the moment, no one in Slytherin seems to have noticed he befriended a Gryffindor. Not even Draco, who liked to discredit the Gryffindor's every day. For the time being, he and Lily seem to have not to gain anyone's attention.
Harry sits down and begins to pile his plate with food.
He had eyes in Gryffindor, now all he had to do was catch the rat.
Later that night, Dumbledore was going over the latest reports he got from his teachers. Once again, Harry and Lily were ahead of their classes and pulling far forward. Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick started giving them more advanced lessons in magic.
Dumbledore couldn't figure out the type of magic Lily and Harry were using, and it terrified.
Lily had unleashed a powerful fire spell that even Professor Snape could not dispel. Harry managed to stop it, even if he did get burned in the process.
Harry claimed he used the water making spell Aguamenti Professor Snape tried that and failed.
So the question was, what magic did Harry use to stop Lily's fire. That alone was a mystery as the flames proved to be dangerous even in memory.
Dumbledore sighs as he sits down and ponders what to do.
Over the summer, Potter had claimed that his aunt had attempted to kill him. He had indicated he wouldn't file charges against her if he never had to return to her.
Petunia didn't realize just how vital Harry was or the danger she caused herself. He would have a talk to her before sending Harry back to her. He would also put a guard detail to keep watch to ensure Harry was safe next summer.
"Still trying to manipulate people for your own benefit?" A female said, causing Dumbledore to look up to see a woman sitting in his guest chair in front of him. She was wearing a black robe that was loose but not hanging off. She had long black hair, yet it was her eyes that captured Dumbledore. Unlike Dumbledore's light blue eyes, that occasional had a twinkle in them, hers were dark blue with raging white lines as if a storm was inside her eyes. A white circle that seemed to be glowing stares into his eyes.
What startled Dumbledore was that he never heard her come or, nor did he sense her enter for that matter.
"It may have been many years, but I remember you… Veronica Gorloisen, correct?" Dumbledore said slowly.
"I see you remember." She said in a firm voice. A smile was on her face as she looks at her former Headmaster.
"You have become powerful. I can sense that much from you." Dumbledore said slowly.
'A little too powerful. Her power is radiating like a storm ready to be unleashed. I must tread carefully here. I am not as young as I once was.'
"You remember why I left, don't you?" Veronica said in a strong voice.
"If you had listened to me, then…"
"If I had listened to you, then I would have been one of your sacrificial pawns. It must have been terrible for you, a half-blood witch who reminds you so much of yourself in your younger years, only to be proven wrong repeatedly. I was, and never will be like you." Veronica said in a firm voice.
"We all make mistakes," Dumbledore said softly.
"Yes, you have made many of them," Veronica remarks harshly.
"Why are you here?" Dumbledore asks, holding the Elder Wand carefully.
"You are curious about Harry Potter and Liliana Morris' power and growth. The same as me. The only difference is, I know more about them then you do." Veronica declares.
"I think I know my own students better than you do."
"The problem you have is that you see students how you wish to see them. That's why you allowed Tom Riddle to roam free all these years. Yes," Veronica said, looking at Dumbledore's shock expression. "I know about Tom Riddle. Though much of his past is a mystery. The main question I have is, how is he still alive despite losing a body?"
"I have only speculation, no proof," Dumbledore said.
"I think you know more about this subject then you're letting on," Veronica said firmly.
"What do you want, Miss Gorloisen?" Dumbledore said.
"There are whispers in the shadows. Rumors that Voldemort is gaining strength once again. If this is true, then both the Order of the Phoenix and the Kirin Tor will have to take action. Immediately, you cannot wait. And… despite my feelings towards you…." Veronica said slowly. "You must tell me everything you know about Tom Riddle and how he can survive. I want to know it all. We have to take the fight to the Dark Lord before he takes the fight to us. You remember how bad it got in the last war."
"I do," Dumbledore said softly.
"Then help me stop him before he does succeed in destroying our world. You know, once he destroys our world, he'll turn his attention to the muggle world." Veronica said.
Dumbledore sighs.
"First, tell me, you claim you know Mister Potter and Miss Morris. Tell me, what type of magic are they using?"
"I won't tell you anything until we have terms," Veronica said sharply.
Dumbledore paused as he realized he wouldn't get anything freely.
Like himself, Veronica wasn't tied to any family or Great House. She did have a robust spy network. She had made the right connections and was able to have the right amount of pull with countless people. She may have been a Ravenclaw during her time at Hogwarts, but she was just as cunning as a Slytherin. Not to mention that…
Dumbledore opens his eyes widely.
Of course, how could he have forgotten.
"I seem to have forgotten, but you're a Wind Elemental. An Aeromancer, are you not?"
"Can't believe you forgot. As you can see, my power over the wind has grown over the years. That isn't the only thing that has grown." Veronica.
"Then Mister Potter and Miss Morris are…" Dumbledore said slowly.
"I won't tell you until we have terms," Veronica repeated.
"First, you must understand. I know you're going to tell me off for sending Harry back to his muggle relatives, but he has to go back. The blood wards keep him safe from any witch or wizard that seeks to harm him."
"That is unwise, Harry will not go back. Even willingly. He has cut all ties with his muggle relatives. Doing this will cause you to lose favor with Harry. If you send him back, you could be sending him down a dark road. A path that another walked because you didn't want to save him."
Dumbledore paused at her words. Even as a youth, Tom Riddle showed having a dark nature. However, there were many times he sought to not return to his muggle orphanage because he hated returning. Dumbledore paused and wonder if he had listened to Tom's plea, would he have to stop Voldemort from happening? Was he genuinely making the same mistake?
"If you force Harry Potter to return," Veronica said to Dumbledore, breaking him out of his thoughts. "You could end up making a wizard more powerful and more dangerous than even the Voldemort ever dream of becoming. You manipulated the system so you can put Harry Potter with his muggle relatives. You try to return him, and you'll lose him forever. His Vassals will watch over him."
"I knew Petunia didn't get along with her sister," Dumbledore said softly. "However, I didn't want to believe things were so bad."
"You believe too much in second chances. That people will change. That is your greatest failure. People can only be worthy of a second chance if they truly desire it. Petunia Dursley had no desire to make amends to her sister, and she made that perfectly clear by mistreating her nephew. Now the attempt on his life has ended all hopes you have to keep Harry Potter with his muggle relatives. Instead, you've only driven a wedge. You know there are old laws that allow Vassals to take care of their Lords till they come of age. If you want Harry Potter's good grace, then you best support this." Veronica said in a cold tone.
"I have my reasons for wanting Harry to return to his muggle relatives. However, you are right. Even I cannot push someone where they don't want to go. I also do not wish to have another Riddle rise up. Can he be saved?" Dumbledore asks.
"I've already taken steps to ensure he doesn't fall. The true key would be Liliana. For a strange reason, she has his heart. Even if Harry Potter doesn't realize it. Then again, a fire that doesn't burn out tends to attract attention." Veronica said strongly.
"They're elementals," Dumbledore said, slowly coming to the realization of what his students were.
"Yes, and they could become stronger, more so than even I. They just don't know it. Assuming they can survive their Ascendance."
"What does it truly mean to be an elemental?" Dumbledore asks.
"The truth? That's a question that may never be answered." Veronica said.
Dumbledore sits down and looks weary.
"You're getting old, you can't keep the fight going forever. Tell me everything, and I'll lend you my support. Assuming you don't keep up your old tricks." Veronica said in a firm voice.
"Something tells me you're only doing this because the Kirin Tor wants my support. They're not many of you, to begin with."
"Our order is dying. Just like the Order of the Phoenix. However, if we take steps now and prepare, then we could end this war before it begins." Veronica said.
"That would be a good thing," Dumbledore said in agreement.
"Then, we have terms," Veronica asks.
"We have terms." Dumbledore agreed.
"You should teach Occlumency to Harry and Lily. They need to learn how to shield their minds. If things are going the way I suspect, then those two will be in grave danger." Veronica said.
"They are quite safe here…"
"I'm not the only one who has their eyes on them." Veronica snaps. "I gave them their Book of Shadows to control their temptation. Many will attempt to draw them in with the promise of power. Lily Morris may be in the greatest danger. Her powers will cause countless others to have her join them. With no family or Great House to protect her, how quickly do you think she'll submit to find a place she belongs. Harry Potter is in equal danger. You know as well as I do the Potters were hailed as the strongest of the Great Families. Many Great Families will not be pleased to see the Potter's strength is returning once again. Harry Potter will be in grave danger from countless witches and wizards. Especially by the Blanche."
Dumbledore said nothing. The Blanche was a radical group of witches and wizards who sought the end of the Great Families. There were no real significant movements on their parts, but they did recruit heavily, especially at schools.
"I know what you're thinking about, that Blanche can be reasoned with. However, muggles call such groups by another name." Veronica said coldly. "Terrorist. Those who seek to unleash terror into the hearts of others. They want to remove the twelve families, but they don't have a plan to replace them. You know as well as I do, that many who join Blanche seek to replace the Great Families with their own." Veronica said.
"I'll see what I can do," Dumbledore said.
"I'm not like you Dumbledore, I won't hesitate to spill blood. If you have seen the same signs I have, then you know war is coming."
Dumbledore said nothing as he reached for his goblet. He drains it, realizing much was happening sooner than he expected.
He looks up and sees Veronica was gone.
Author Notes: I hope everyone enjoys it. Please R&R.
