Knowledge is Power
Disclaimer/Plot/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my many good friends and loyal fans: my recommended reads are Saviour of Magic by Colt01, For Love of Magic by Noodlehammer, Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Less Wrong, Partially Kissed Hero by Perfect Lionheart, Harry Potter and the Daft Morons and Angry Harry and the Seven by Sinyk, Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin by The Sinister Man, Harry Potter and the Rune Stone Path by Temporal Knight, A Study in Magic and A Study in Magic: The Application by Books of Change, Dark and Light by Pleasedial123 and Harry Potter: My Life Is My Own by Sashian
Key Pairing: Eventual Harmony;
Other Pairings: To be confirmed
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Ahhreader: Don't forget the Twins;
SLYNNR: I assume you mean for a way for Harrison to act from time to time? To which I say…maybe;
Nagiten: You actually have to ask that question?
BMS: I know that series and think it just as weird as I do its main series, so if there are any similarities, they're just coincidences;
Quatermass: Ah; thanks for that: hope you like this chapter;
George Cristan810: No;
Sliksick: If not, then this will be a very short story;
Lmill123: Reasoning like that makes me hope you like what happens in this chapter;
WhiteElfElder: I think you might be the only one to get it;
"Well, to fully help you understand what's going to happen, Mr Potter, I have to ask: have you ever made anything happen? Perhaps when your emotions were in a heightened state like being angry or scared?"
However, if Minerva thought Harrison was going to give her a surprised, stuttered answer, she was in for a shock;
"No."
Chapter 4: Why I'm Going
Minerva was speechless.
Filius was surprised.
Harrison was…bored!
"Is that meant to be a bad thing?" asked Harrison coolly, turning his eyes away from the two professors while he explained, "Your starts suggest I should have used magic for some accidental purposes in my childhood, but when I say no, you look like I've just declared you both dead on arrival. So, what's so wrong about not having experienced Accidental Magic in the first place, if that's what you'd call it?"
"It…it is," replied Filius, his shock still evident on his face and the air of surprise in his voice as he explained, "As…as you said, Mr Potter, when they're younger, many witches and wizards experience moments of magical outbursts, mainly whenever they are angry or scared. And, if I may be so bold, knowing the magical strengths of your parents as we did, Professor McGonagall and I are surprised to hear you've never had a single outburst…unless it's possible you blanked it out?"
"Highly improbable," drawled Harry, tapping the side of his head as he explained, "I remember everything about my life; from the day my loving family decided their satisfaction was more important than a child's welfare to the day my foster family learned the hard way not to underestimate me or what I'm capable of. And that didn't require magic, Professors; simple science added to computerised data and a nice little revenge scheme that involved everything they forced me to learn about covering my tracks and technological interfacing."
Minerva looked like a fish out of water while Filius just looked surprised, his eyes as wide as saucers as, although he didn't understand some of those terms, he did understand enough to realise one thing.
Harrison Potter was clever…perhaps even a genius!
Forget Slytherin; Ravenclaws would probably honour and even worship him for generations stretching out forever and a day once he left Hogwarts with the knowledge he had. His mind must be sharp indeed to have such observational and mnemonic skills, not to mention his surprising way with understanding things that he probably wouldn't have had to learn about until he was well into his teenage, if not adult years.
Filius also suspected his siblings in the goblin nation would love Harrison for his keen mind and financial skills, not to mention his intelligence and lack of childish notions when it came to things like wealth, power or even respect.
He was an individual, a solitary icon in a world of cliques and clichés and someone with a very strong sense of independent thought and solitary confinement to the point where there were only three people Harrison would completely trust.
He, himself and his.
Clearing his throat in a bid to try and return himself to the here and now, Filius looked to Harrison before he asked him, "So…do you also remember your toddler years, Mr Potter? Like say…Halloween night, ten years ago?"
"You mean one of the strangest memories I ever had concerning a green flash, a weird, ominous sensation on my forehead and the whispering voice of my Mother telling me to be safe, strong and know that I was loved?" asked Harrison curiously, earning another surprised look from Filius while Minerva's eyes darkened as she too was reminded of that dark night.
Harrison, however, took a breath before he said, "So that actually happened; I always wondered if it could be real. I mean, a flying motorbike, a giant of a man who looked like something out of Dahl and a green flash that kills on impact…so…that was magic?"
"Y-y-yes," replied Minerva, her voice wavering with fear as she suddenly realised how cold Harrison sounded about that night.
He sounded so cold that it was like he didn't even care his Mother had died that night, let alone what he'd done himself.
"I see," replied Harrison, lifting himself from the window sill before he looked again to Minerva as he asked, "And that flash, what was it?"
"It's known as the Killing Curse," answered Filius, earning a curious look from Harrison while Minerva paled as the goblin teacher explained, "It is cast with a spell so Dark in origin that it is labelled Unforgivable in terms of law and magical class."
"And what, exactly, makes it Dark?" asked Harrison curiously, earning another blanched look from Minerva while Filius' eyes narrowed in genuine interest as Harrison went on, "A spell that kills could be used for good as well as evil; I mean, I assume your world knows what euthanasia is, don't you? Or perhaps the mercy killing of putting a suffering victim out of their misery rather than having to endure pain any further?"
"Mr Potter!" exclaimed Minerva, a note of sheer horror in her words as she asked, "Do you even know what you're saying? That curse murdered your parents; no-one survived it…no-one…"
"Except me, apparently," drawled Harrison, earning a surprised look from Minerva and Filius as he went on. "I told you I remember the green flash and the feeling on my forehead and, between you and me, I always wondered and speculated that my scar came from the same place as that odd memory, but I could never prove it. So, this Killing Curse was cast at an innocent baby with about as much threat to anyone as a piece of paper?"
"That…that sums it up," said Filius, though he was still surprised by Harrison's argument about the nature of Good and Evil as well as the same calm demeanour he spoke with when he talked about something that feared, awed and even confounded many people since that day.
"Well," remarked Harrison, shrugging ruefully as he snorted, "I'd think anyone crazy enough to do that without good reason would need a very long stay in a padded cell, if not a premature meeting with the Reaper, although I hope I wouldn't be the one to meet such a figure. After all, I have no desires for revenge and I definitely have no desire for a death wish, so I'll leave the execution of the world's most dangerous to the police."
"Aurors," said Filius.
"Whatever," drawled Harrison, turning away from the teachers once more before he added, "As long as they're dead and I'm alive, I don't care what name you give the forces that do the deed. So, now we've established ironclad proof, courtesy of my own memories and Professor McGonagall's impressive act of shapeshifting, what happens next, Professors?"
"We…that is, if you're certain of accepting your place at Hogwarts," explained Filius, speaking up for both of them since he could see Minerva was still struggling to come to terms with what Harrison said about the one responsible and how he didn't want anything to do with the actual execution himself – again, speaking so callously about it that he might as well have been discussing the weather – while he went on. "Then our next port of call would be Diagon Alley, where you will be able to retrieve your possessions for school and we will also help you figure out anything else you'd like to know about Hogwarts or magic."
"Then I suggest you and I go to this alley place, Professor Flitwick," insisted Harrison, turning to the goblin before he took a breath as he explained in his usual apathetic manner, "Professor McGonagall looks like she might collapse if I give her any more shocks today, so I think it would suit us all for her to return to the school and you and I will go on our little shopping trip. However, if I might offer one bit of advice, Deputy Headmistress?"
"Y-Y-Yes, Mr Potter?" asked McGonagall shakily.
"I might recommend some soothing herbal tea and scented candles," drawled Harrison, earning a surprised look from Minerva as he told her, "It'll help calm you and keep you centred long enough to deal with the stresses of your job. After all, at your age, you might want to watch that old heart of yours, otherwise you'll also be on your way to a meeting with the Grim One."
While Minerva looked shocked at the boy's generous, yet sarcasm-laced remark, her eyes narrowed as Harrison looked to them both before he continued, "However, let's get one thing perfectly clear here and now. I'm not coming to Hogwarts for the magic or because of my Mother and Father, because it's physically impossible to want to do anything to make the dead proud or disappoint them."
Filius' eyes widened as he heard this, but Harrison wasn't done, "And I'm not coming to be some kind of guinea pig to figure out how I did what nobody else did or to become part of any clique or pathetic idea of friendship. I'm not even coming for the knowledge I'll gain from your world."
"Then…why are you coming, Mr Potter?" asked Minerva curiously, earning a cold, un-caring smile from Harrison that didn't even look like he was joking around; instead, it looked more like the smile of a shark smelling blood in the water, especially when his green eyes also shone with the look as he answered the Deputy.
"I'm coming to Hogwarts because, in all honesty, I'm bored!"
Knowledge is Power
Not for the first time that day was Minerva horrified and questioning who, exactly, she was looking at in this strange place.
And not for the first time did she wish she'd never let Albus leave Harry Potter with the Dursleys.
Sorry…she meant to say Harrison Potter!
Knowledge is Power
"Welcome, Mr Potter, to Diagon Alley."
As Professor Flitwick introduced Harrison to the sight of the magical shopping district, after having taken him through a dingy little pub in London called the Leaky Cauldron, the goblin teacher was a little surprised to notice how Harrison didn't take any time to take in the sights. Instead, he slowly, methodically made his way down the street, his green eyes scanning both sides of the street with an inquisitive air while, dressed in his loose clothes and with his calm demeanour, he also earned more than a few stares from passers-by.
Even as Filius rushed to catch up with the young boy, he also marvelled at the way that nothing – from the act of Side-Along Apparating to the Leaky Cauldron to the magnificence of the Alley itself – seemed to faze Harrison all that much.
He was also thankful nobody in the Cauldron had tried to point Harrison out or otherwise identify him because of his features or the scar on his forehead, if they'd even noticed it at all since Harrison had made an unusual move in wearing what he called a baseball cap over his fringe to hide his scar from view. Instead, Harrison looked just as bored as he claimed he was about sticking around in the Muggle world or at the orphanage where he lived; even when he caught sight of certain stores – including, not to Filius' surprise, the bookstore Flourish and Blotts – he barely showed any emotions or looked anything beyond curious at their contents.
In fact, it was only when they reached the end of the street that Harrison finally broke his silence as he looked to Filius before he asked, "So, is there a place I can get some money out of my accounts? I can't see any of these shops taking Visa, Maestro or any other credit card, especially since I can't even see a hint of electronic devices anywhere nearby."
"Electrical devices don't do too well around magical areas, Mr Potter," explained Filius, earning a scoff from Harrison.
"So, we work by candlelight and, let me guess, we write with quills and ink? Talk about being stuck in the Dark Ages," drawled the young boy, his expression once again looking bored as he asked, "Go on then, Professor, how do I go about getting anything to pay for my possessions? IOU's?"
"No," replied Filius, indicating just ahead of them as he explained, "We need to speak to one of the goblins of Gringotts Bank, but be warned now, Mr Potter. Goblins are a proud race…"
"I figured as much," interrupted Harrison, looking now to Filius before he explained, "I confess, I was curious about your stature since I thought you as just another little person, Professor, but given the magical edge and the air of danger I sensed when I first met you, I also suspected several other alternatives. Now you mention goblins that run a bank and, well, everything makes sense: so, if it's all right with you, since I'd hate to disrespect your kinsmen with my ignorance, I'll defer my wealth and the withdrawing of such to you for now."
Filius' eyes widened again: he had wondered about Harrison might react or even treat the goblins, but the fact he was willing to take a back seat and watch events unfold was a surprise. He was also in awe of the sense of logic and process of elimination the boy's mind possessed to be able to deduce that Filius was either a little person or a goblin warrior of some kind.
And what was that about the air of danger?
Was that meant to be interpreted as a sign of respect for the man?
Well, if it was, he wouldn't let it go to waste.
"Then," said Filius, clearing his throat in a bid to hide his curiosities and surprise while he explained, "If you will follow me, Mr Potter, we can get this over with and then we can proceed with you getting your possessions for school."
Harrison just nodded in response before he followed Filius into the white marble building identified as Gringotts Bank; along the way, the young boy's eyes looked to the goblin guards as well as the well-worded warning on the plaque near the entrance. When the guards greeted Filius with a firm fist pressed to their hearts, which Filius returned the gesture in kindness, Harrison committed that to memory while he also kept a keen eye on his companion as the proud man led him into the bank's interior.
As they walked towards a free teller, Harrison couldn't help but take in the many different activities and the design of the bank; he was also intrigued by the stern, unyielding sense of alertness and security held by the goblins. When they reached the station of an available teller, Harrison's eyes narrowed as he noticed the goblin sneer before he also noticed Filius standing with Harrison.
'So, a bad history with humans? Or wizards in general, perhaps?' wondered Harrison, keeping his expression apathetic as he listened and watched the exchange between the goblin teller and his goblin-blooded mentor-to-be.
However, when the exchange happened in an odd, guttural-toned language that Harrison couldn't understand, the young boy couldn't help but look surprised as well as interested. The language sounded rough and harsh in its tone, but, as with a lot of things, it was a form of newly-discovered knowledge that attracted Harrison's attention like a magnet pulling paperclips.
When the exchange finished, Harrison looked down as Professor Flitwick gently tugged on his sleeve before he explained, "Follow me, Mr Potter; I have taken the liberty of asking for assistance from some of the goblin nation's finest sages to examine your interesting case."
"Err…no, I don't think so," argued Harrison, earning an alarmed look from Flitwick before the young boy told him, "I told you, Professor, I am not here to be some lab rat for you or your interesting and very proud brethren. I am here for my own reasons and, no matter what mysteries you might think you can solve about me, I refuse to play ball just to smooth your ego. So, either we get on with the business of retrieving my necessary funds or you can escort me back to St Christopher's…your choice."
While Harrison had been giving an impressive speech and tirade about his arguments, he hadn't noticed how quiet the bank had gotten; even the wizards being aided by the goblins had fallen silent, each of them staring at Harrison and Filius in shocked disbelief. Many of the goblins, however, seemed even testier than normal as they too glared and stared at the human and the member of their kinsmen whom accompanied him.
Finally, as though recognising the silence, Harrison sighed before he drawled, "Why don't you take pictures? They'll last longer."
"I do not think you understand the gravity of your denying our aid, wizard!" spat the goblin in front of Harrison and Filius, though when Harrison looked at him, the goblin frowned as he insisted, "Nobody denies the aid of the Sages when it is offered; it is an honour we rarely give to your kind."
"Then, once again, it looks like I am the first to break that streak, Master Goblin," argued Harrison, earning a snap of their strange language from the goblin before Harrison lifted his head proudly as he added, "However, since you appear to have a problem with wizards, let me say that, on behalf of me, myself and I, I apologise if you feel I have offended your generosity in any way. However, I am not here to parley with the wisdom of the goblins or their magical aides; I am here for one purpose. To retrieve the necessary funds for my educational requirements; nothing more."
Whispers and questionable looks followed Harrison's response; at the same time, he was dimly aware of the goblins sharing looks and whispers in their native language – Gobbledegook, as Harrison later learned – before, to the shock of many of the witches and wizards in the bank, the goblin serving Harrison inclined his head before he spoke again.
"In that case, we wish you great fortune and profit in the days ahead, young wizard."
"And may you never fail in your duty to your kin, noble goblin," replied Harrison, earning a shocked look from Filius that only grew when Harrison planted his fist against his chest and bowed as he added, "In my name, I salute you."
Suffice to say, if there was one person Harrison made an impact on that day, it was the goblins of Gringotts.
Chapter 4 and…whew…is it safe to breathe now?
Harrison denies the goblins' generous offer and shows he's not too bothered about the fact it's not often offered in the first place; ye gods, how did he walk out of that still wearing his head?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Harrison has a surprising, if mysterious encounter with a dearly-departed legend's portrayal of a lovable eccentric while, in a VERY big change to canon, he also acquires a rather interesting new companion…but not who you might be thinking;
Please Read and Review
AN: Gringotts
So, I know this might sound weird, but when writing this chapter, I actually asked myself: what would it be like if Harrison said no to the goblins' aid? I mean, it's such a cliché of Fan Fiction that, for once, it might be interesting to see him turn it down…wouldn't it?
So, I hope you agree with me that it definitely made things different and interesting, but I also hope you're enjoying the adventure;
