1Harry followed Cyric through the corridors of Hogwarts. He found himself wondering where they were going and just what he might learn from somebody who was instructed by both Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel. The idea just seemed so unbelievable. Today had started out with the simple idea of leaving the Dursley's forever and then heading to the Burrow. Somehow that plan got botched leaving Harry with two more House Elves then he had upon waking today and rather than taking the Knight Bus to the Burrow to visit his friends, he instead took it to Hogwarts to have a conversation with the portrait of his late headmaster who implored that he leave to learn from a mysterious former student of his.

"So, were you really tutored by Professor Dumbledore?" asked Harry, trying to start some conversation.

"Yea. From third year on." replied Cyric evenly.

"What did he teach you ?" asked Harry

"Most of what I'll be teaching you this summer." said Cyric.

"So he taught you to be as cryptic as possible when somebody asks you a question?" asked Harry sarcastically.

"Amongst other things, yes." said Cyric with a smile tugging at his lips.

They had reached the staircase and proceeded downwards towards the entrance hall. Harry decided he would try another line of questions.

" Dumbledore mentioned to you that I am going to Bill Weasley's wedding, is that because you used to know him?" asked Harry, this time trying to get some insight on Cyric's past.

"Yea. We were in the same year at Hogwarts Bill and I. We met briefly on the Hogwarts Express, though we didn't speak much then. During the feast he got sorted into Gryffindor and I, Ravenclaw. The first day of class we both had Transfiguration together, we even sat next to each other. Halfway through McGonagall's class I noticed him reach into his pocket and pull out a dungbomb, you don't have to be a Ravenclaw to realize what he was going to do with it so I whipped my wand out of my robes and as soon as he tossed it under her desk I cast a bubblehead charm upon myself. Obviously she noticed the fact that it looked as if I was wearing a fish bowl upon my head. She queried as to why I had performed said charm. At this point the dungbomb had performed its desired effect. Which of course disrupted the class causing several of the students to gag and cover their mouths and noses. Bill might have gotten away with it had he not have been laughing so hard he began coughing causing him to bring his hands up to his face. The right one completely clean the left not so. We were both scolded and sent to filch's office as accomplices to the act despite my proclamation that I was indeed only preventing myself from having the dungbombs effect interrupt my astuteness during the lesson. We spent the entire detention talking to each other earning us two more detentions but laying the foundations for our friendship. During our first year we spent hours together, he brought out the troublemaker in me and I the student in him. We ended up having potions together during second year, it was the best times we ever had during school. Snape never liked us despite the fact we were the best in our year and as a direct result of his words and actions we never respected him despite his being a Hogwarts professor. We sabotaged his lessons by charming the blackboard; it would erratically change or misspell words and give the wrong measurements and directions. He knew it was our doing due to the fact that our potions were always perfect, but he was never able to prove it. We became increasingly close, towards the end of the year I spoke to him about what happened to my family and that I lived alone in my father's cottage. He immediately asked if I would accompany him to his families for the summer. At first I refused but he kept on about it until I agreed. The Burrow was one of my favorite places. The Weasleys are amazingly kind. I ended up spending every summer with them until my Sixth year when I joined Dumbledore at Nicholas' Lab which Coincidently is where I am about to take you."

"Take a hold of my arm." said Cyric

It was only then that Harry noticed that they had long since left Hogwarts and it's grounds behind them and were presently standing outside the Three Broomsticks. Feeling a mixture of excitement and hesitation Harry took hold of Cyric's arm and felt it twist away from him, next came the darkness and horrible squeezing sensation he'd come to associate with apparition. He opened his eyes, gulped in a large lungful of air and noticed they were atop of a huge hill surrounded on all sides by even larger hills. Far below them were a large lake and a village.

"Welcome Harry, we are standing atop Ben Lee, to the north are the Trotternish Mountains and to the south are the Cuillins. This is Portree, a small village in Skye, Scotland. We are only about one hundred or so miles from Hogsmeade actually. That is Loch Sligachan down there, quite possibly the freshest most relaxing place to swim in the entire British Isles. If you can see that peninsula down off the southern side of the Harbor, I believe the muggle refer to it as 'the lump', just so happens to be the Quidditch pitch for my favorite team Pride of Portree. If you progress enough we should be able to squeeze in a game or two." Said Cyric pointing out the area to Harry.

"Now while this place is fantastic I thought we were headed to Flamel's lab." Said Harry.

"We're already here. Hang on a moment I was letting you get a visual in case you need to apperate here." Said Cyric.

Cyric raised both arms and then opened them wide in an arc.

"Ostendo sum vestri super illud ques scientia est vox" said Cyric speaking in a language Harry couldn't make out. A faint yellow glow seemed to spring off of his hands and transfer onto what appeared to Harry to be a large stone archway. Slowly as if it was growing inch-by-inch two high towers appeared and then spread stone over the archway creating a passage connecting the two. On and on it went till what looked like a small castle stood upon Ben Lee along with Harry and Cyric.

"Well why don't you come in?" asked Cyric politely.

Once they got inside Harry could tell that over his extensive lifetime Nicholas Flamel had amassed quite a fortune. Adorning the walls were both portraits and extremely lavish tapestries. All along the entry way were various busts all perched upon pedestals of the whitest marble Harry had ever seen. The doors to the various rooms were made of the smoothest dark wood that money could buy. They reached the end of the hallway and Cyric pushed open the double doors to reveal a large dining area, not quite as large as they great hall yet much larger then he entire of privet drive.

"This is where I'll be training you most of the time but first I think I'll get you fed. Why not have a seat?" said Cyric.

With a wave of his wand a very comfortable high backed chair appeared. Harry sat down and the chair slid into position against the large table. Another wave and a full place setting appeared right in front of him. A flagon of pumpkin juice popped up seemingly out of nowhere and as Cyric sat down across from Harry the food appeared. Steak pie, roasted potatoes, carrots, and sliced bread. It was delicious almost as good as Mrs. Weasley's. Harry had three helpings before he was full. Cyric drew his wand and vanished the food and assorted china.

"In order for us to make significant progress over the next six weeks we'll be starting every day the same way. At five every morning breakfast will appear on this very table, however it will only be here till six. Promptly at six as the table clears I will enter and we will begin with physical training straight through till nine. The next three hours will be spent in the library. I have read every book you can find in this place, as such I believe I can teach you anything from them ….at least the practical side, the theory I expect you to have a handle on prior to leaving the library and returning here from lunch. So from one till seven thirty we will go over as much as possible before dinner. Once you are finished the night is yours, I would suggest that you use it to write to the weasleys as well as any other friends you have. If you'd like some fantastic reading material I've left Nicholas', Albus', and my own personal journals which contain some incredible spells each have come up with on our own, as well as some insight on our thoughts. Any Questions?" finished Cyric.

" Well I've heard it mentioned twice today and was wondering if you'll tell me about what Voldemort did to your parents." Said Harry quite timidly. Cyric leaned back in his chair drew a deep breath before speaking.

" It was the summer of 81' and I had just turned ten. Voldemort was at the height of his power. My dad was Bartemius Crouch's assistant and as such I rarely saw him. So the evening that it happened was a rare one. My father had been showing me spells for several years already and I was quite capable since the wand I was using wasn't mine. We were wrapping up a lesson on Banishing charms when my six year old sister came in saying she had seen somebody on the inside of our front gate. This should have been impossible do to the security measures that my father had put in place around our property. My father quickly realized the possible danger and cast several quick charms rendering my sister immobilized and silent. He put her in a chest that he kept in his study and disillusioned her. He told me to run and get my mum, that he would take a look outside. I had just reached the door when it was blown apart, sending me sailing into and then over my father's desk. As I lay on the floor gasping for air, I heard a brief struggle; muffled spells and I watched my father's wand land less than a foot away from where I lay. I was still disoriented but I could hear them asking my dad what the aurors knew and what they were doing to combat the death eaters. I heard one say that he wanted names and posts so that they could hunt them. My father refused, it was the first time I heard him scream. They repeatedly hit him with the Cruciatus. I heard Voldemort speak for the first time.

"Perhaps we can loosen your tongue yet."

It was then that I heard my mother sob. "Crucio." She screams. My father begs them to stop. I reach out for my father's wand I can see my father on his knees defenseless. Three death eaters are gathered around him, wands pointed at him from all sides. To the left on the floor was my mother, the Cruciatus lifted but her body still spasmed. Her face was swollen and bloody, her robes torn. Standing above her was Voldemort. He was terrifying beyond anything I'd ever imagined. I admit I lost any bravery I had, so I retreated back behind the desk clutching my father's wand to my chest, hoping that the aurors would get here soon. They never came. The Cruciatus was cast till my mother could scream no longer.

"You obviously do not care for this women enough to save her life. Fine Dolohov, Rosier find any children he has." Said Voldemort.

Once more my father's screams echoed in the room. A female voice laughed when my mum croaked out a pitiful "Please no." She then hit my father one last time with the Cruciatus. She seemed to sing as she cast the curse. Voldemort using legilimancy broke into my father's mind until he found out what they came to find out.

"See, was it worth it? All the struggle, all the suffering you've caused yourself and your wife. It was all for naught. The aurors will be killed as will Dumbledore's little order and finally the ministry will fall. Do not feel as if you will need forgiveness for your failure to protect those people. Forgiveness cannot be given to those that are dead. Avada Kedavra." Spat Voldemort.

My eyes widened in shock, I felt numb, my father, the man who taught me all I knew was gone in a flash of green light. I felt a hatred rise in me that I had never known before. My body felt as if it were on fire due to the magic building inside me. As I leapt to my feet the picture frames on the desk and mantle shattered, the bookcases were destroyed spilling their contents on the floor, the fire rose and washed a ball of fire into the room.

It was enough to let me get off two stunners dropping both death eaters next to my father's body. I caught sight of those pitiless red eyes with slits for pupils as they widened, whether it was out of shock or anger I'll never know. Wand raised I bellowed "Avada Ke…" it seemed as if thousands of knives were repeatedly cutting into my flesh. It was that women, I had been hit by the Cruciatus before I could see if I could even successfully cast the killing curse. I'm not sure how long I was held under but it seemed like hours. My mother who was barely conscious at this point heard my screams and reached out towards me until one of the death eaters kicked her in her side. A low moan escaped her lips as I watched her recoil into the fetus position looking utterly defeated and perhaps more vulnerable than anyone I'd ever seen before. Something made me stand up laughing in his face. Maybe it was the dawning realization that I was going to die anyway, but I wouldn't die looking like my mother. I would defy him, just as my father had. The next Crucio came from him, it was so much more intense than the woman's was. I understood why he was so feared; I couldn't wait for it to be over, to die, so that all the pain was gone.

"You had better kill me. Ava…" I spat rising again.

I was sent crashing into the stone wall, my head smacked against the floor as I fell. The room was spinning, spots danced before my eyes, maniacal laughter rang out from every direction at once. I felt something white-hot strike my back once, twice, three times, I screamed. I felt sticky on my back. I knew I was bleeding profusely and I wasn't going to make it. The blood was seeping down to my waist and around my sides. It was mere moments before I was too weak to even move. My eyes blurred, then darkness.

I woke up just about a week later lying face down in a bed at St. Mungos. I couldn't feel anything at all due to a charm the healers had placed on me to ensure I didn't move. I tried to speak but my tongue was dry and swollen, so it came out much like a gurgle. I felt a hand grasp mine. A soft feminine voice quietly called my name. I smiled but fell back to sleep. This time there was no peaceful darkness, no empty nothingness, I dreamt. Over and over again the images played in my subconscious; my fathers lifeless stare, my mothers pitiful submission. Voldemorts face. I awoke the next day, this time lying on my back in a great deal of pain. The room was dark; the sun had not yet risen. To the left of my bed was a leather chair enlarged almost to the size of a day bed, and resting upon it was my little sister Raeilyn. My back spasmed, the pain was too intense, I screamed and like most children I cried, calling out for my mother. My sister had awoken, climbed into my bed placing a hand upon my forehead and telling me "shh. It's okay. I know it hurts but I need you to be brave. I need you to be strong Cyric. Please." I stopped immediately not because the pain subsided any, nor because her words soothed me in any way. It was the realization that at the ages of ten and six we were forced to leave our childhoods behind us. We grew up as much as one can overnight. I spoke to several people over the next day I had found out from my sister that she spent four hours in that chest without making a sound after my father's charms had lost their effect after he died. She heard what they did to me and then they raped and killed my mom. I had inherited my parents' cottage and all their belongings and could stay there and go to Hogwarts…however my sister had to go to France to stay with relatives on my mother's side of the family. I would go and visit with them during the last week of summer every year until she graduated from Beauxbatons. I'll forever remember that night as when Voldemort murdered my parents but even more so it was the night our innocence was lost forever.