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:
Deathday Party Planner: In that case, I hope you love the introduction and first meet with the other half of this story's formula;
WhiteElfElder: Hmm…interesting reasoning there, my friend: you don't mind if I use that later as a line for our hero, do you? It gives me chills imagining him saying it to someone else;
PappyOldGuy: Let me first say a HUGE thank you for always reviewing my work; now an added thank you for your kind words on how to best deal with the negativity some people aim at my work – like how some are already complaining about how I'm writing Harrison in this particular story: it's good advice like that, which keeps me going;
"What do you know, Garrick?"
"Only this, if Harrison James Potter ever chooses to walk the same path as Riddle and Gellert, there will not be a power in all magic that can stop him…so, for all our sakes, my old friend, keep a very close eye on him…and all who may want to use him for their own ends."
Chapter 6: When Harry Met Hermione
At long last, after a summer filled with research, reading material and doing what little he could to get a grip on his magic thanks to something called the Trace keeping him from using magic outside Hogwarts – though Filius did say there was usually an exception for Muggle-born houses, which made Harrison curious why the same couldn't be said for his temporary home at St Christopher's – Harrison opened his eyes on the morning of September First, the first day of his Hogwarts life looming ahead of him.
After packing his possessions into a multi-compartment suitcase – he could have gone with a trunk, but something about the idea of a suitcase just appealed to the prodigy in Harrison – and checking on the health and comfort of his pets – a beautiful snowy owl he'd named Hedwig and, rather humorously, a male black cat he'd named Loki – Harrison made his way downstairs dressed in his favourite chinos and shirt combination, a pair of sneakers covering his feet while he wore a loose, dark-blue denim jacket over the top.
Making his way to Roger's office, where the care worker had agreed to give Harrison a lift to King's Cross to catch the train, Harrison stopped and looked back for only a moment, letting his eyes wander over the décor of St Christopher's.
However, he wasn't feeling nostalgic.
Far from it, he was actually looking around because he was content, if not determined, to ensure he did not come back to the orphanage next summer, if ever again.
His readings on law and everything he'd be able to do to help his situation had provided beneficial, but there were a few elements he still needed if he was going to be successful.
And, for that, he needed Hogwarts.
So, as Harrison finished looking around the hall, he allowed himself a thin smile before he whispered, "And goodbye to all of that…"
Then, turning back to the office, he knocked on the door, earning a response from the other side that told him Roger was waiting for him.
Which was good, in Harrison's opinion, because the sooner he was on his way, the better it would be…
Well, better for him anyway.
Knowledge is Power
Thanking Roger for his assistance, whilst pretending to assure him he'd get in touch if and when he needed a return trip in the holidays, Harrison waited until the man's car was gone before, hefting his case as well as the carry case holding Loki and Hedwig's cage, the young wizard made his way into the station.
As he'd expected, King's Cross was packed with commuters and people going about their businesses.
There were conductors, ticket officers, station security and a whole cavalcade of sounds, smells and atmospheres that could only be summed up in one word as far as Harrison was concerned.
Life!
Heaving a sigh as he appreciated the way he could just vanish into the crowds as he made his way to the right platform, Harrison adjusted his grip on his suitcase before he walked off towards Platforms Nine and Ten. Thanks to Professor Flitwick's information, Harrison knew exactly where he needed to go in order to find Platform 9 ¾, but even so, as he walked towards the appropriate spot, Harrison slowed his steps while he also kept an eye and ear out for any indication of others attending Hogwarts.
Because of this decision to scope out the competition, as they say, Harrison's eyes narrowed when a particularly-loud voice suddenly reached his earshot, "It's the same every year, packed with Muggles, of course! Come on, Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters this way!"
Stopping just short of the correct location for Platform 9 ¾, Harrison turned slowly, his eyes darkening in their sockets as he saw the owner of the voice was a middle-aged redheaded female leading a gaggle of redheaded males – and one female, which both amused and bemused Harrison as he saw them – towards where he was waiting.
As soon as he saw the woman leading her troupe, however, Harrison felt his blood run cold as, for reasons he couldn't really understand – but he didn't care because the fact was, he felt them and that was bad enough – this woman reminded him of Mrs Miller.
No…strike that.
She reminded him of Mr and Mrs Miller combined!
Something about her screamed the sort of person who'd enjoy using the skills and talents of others to further her own causes while she also had this controlling, if not dominating air about her that made her look more like an old Alpha wolf who seriously needed overthrowing by the new young pup in the pack.
Either way, Harrison decided almost-instantly that he didn't like her.
As the redheads reached the spot where he was standing, Harrison tried not to throw up or show anything other than his usual apathy when the woman addressed him, "Oh, hello dear; what's wrong? Don't you know how to get onto the platform?"
"He must be a Muggle-born, Mother," argued one of the redheads, whom seemed to be the eldest and gave off an air of self-made authority that, if things were different, Harrison might have respected it.
He might have even been interested to get to know the boy, except for one small thing.
When he looked at Harrison, the proud teenager looked straight down his nose at Harrison before he drew himself up, as though he were trying to imitate a peacock getting ready to strut, as he added, "Have no fear, first-year: I am a school Prefect and I can help you find your way!"
"Prefect?" asked Harrison coolly, clearing his throat for a moment before he asked, "So you follow rules, is that right?"
"Yes," replied the Prefect, earning scoffs from a pair of redheads whom looked almost-identical, the sight of whom also told Harrison they were twin brothers, if not siblings somehow born and raised well enough to be the same height despite being older or younger than the other, so he went back to guessing they were twins.
Ignoring his curiosity for the time being, Harrison returned his attention to the Prefect before he asked, "So, you'd know about the Statute of Secrecy too, am I right, Prefect?"
"Of course!"
Suddenly, the edge of Harrison's lip twitched before, gesturing to the matriarch of the group, he asked, "Then would you kindly remind your Mother of the penalty for breaching the Statute of Secrecy by discussing magical matters in earshot of Muggles! Because I'm sure, if she had been any less subtle with her declaration, all of King's Cross would have heard her…even the Underground!"
Suddenly, the redheaded Prefect and his Mother turned a nasty shade of red.
When he saw the looks, however, Harrison dipped his head in what looked like a courteous gesture as he added, "I mean no disrespect, my lady; I just wish to ensure that the secrets of our world and the safety of all involved stay that way…as they have done for over two hundred years. Now, if you'll excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I wouldn't want to be late for the train."
Then, without another word, Harrison turned and strolled through the barrier between worlds, leaving the redheads surprised, humoured, outraged and more than a little curious about the strange boy who'd made their prefect look like an even bigger idiot than he already was.
In the case of the twins, however, their only thought was a shared one;
'Who was that brilliantly funny guy?'
Knowledge is Power
"Extraordinary…"
That was the only thing Harrison had to say about the sight of the gleaming scarlet steam engine that waited on the tracks of Platform 9 ¾.
He didn't seem too concerned about the crowds or the varying styles and looks of the students.
His attention was on the train for all of two minutes before, picking up his possessions once again, Harrison boarded the Express, finding an empty compartment in a matter of minutes.
While the rest of the world seemed content to run around like headless chickens, discussing whatever it was they discussed on the platform next to the train, Harrison opened the carry case and let Loki crawl onto his lap. Hedwig, meanwhile, seemed content to remain in her cage, one wing over her head as she snoozed lightly, leaving her human to enjoy the peace and quiet of his compartment.
As he stroked his feline companion with the same care and respect he'd shown him ever since Harrison found Loki in the Magical Menagerie, the young wizard unlocked one of the compartments of his suitcase, which allowed him to reach in and retrieve the Encyclopaedia Mystica. Closing the case once more, Harrison shuffled himself along so his back rested next to the window while, curling his knees up, he rested the book on his lap.
As for Loki, he let out a meow of confusion and complaint before deciding to lay himself across Harrison's stomach, stretching out as he did so while he mewed again, earning a small smile from said boy as he tickled the cat behind his ears, earning a purr from Loki. Once fully relaxed in his calm state, Harrison let his eyes wander over the pages of his book, reading up on the sort of things he'd been a little disheartened to discover weren't in the books he'd been assigned for Hogwarts.
However, in the Encyclopaedia Mystica, Harrison was able to look up information on almost anything, such as the topic he was reading up on as he sat alone in his compartment.
Occlumency.
Admittedly, Harrison had been looking for information on Mind Magic, but when he'd consulted the Indexing Charm built into the Mystica two nights before, he'd found its pages shuffling and turning as they usually did once consulted. Seconds later, Harrison had found several pages describing arts that shielded one's mind from others and also allowed witches or wizards to invade, control, read and even unhinge the minds of others.
Legilimency, it was called, though the topic of Occlumency was the one Harrison was interested in.
After all, his mind had become a palace of knowledge and, where magic was concerned, he'd prefer to be able to keep the palace gates shut.
To anyone but him.
As he read the information in the Mystica, Harrison grunted softly when he felt the train shudder beneath him, accompanied by a whistle that told him he was finally on his way to Hogwarts. Outside the door to his compartment, Harrison heard steps and more hushed, excited conversations taking place, but he didn't pay any of them any attention.
Not when his was more-importantly focused on his book and the treasury of knowledge held within.
The only time Harrison even moved was to turn the page or scratch Loki behind his ears, along his back or even on his tummy, earning a content, if not soothing purring sound from the black cat as he snuggled up with his master.
Knowledge is Power
For a while, Harrison was content thinking he'd get to enjoy the ride in peace, just reading his book and surrounded by his pets.
However, after nearly twenty minutes on the road, figuratively-speaking, Harrison's eyes looked up from his book when he heard the door to his compartment being pulled open.
To his discomfort, the one responsible for the pull didn't even bother knocking, let alone asking permission to join Harrison in his compartment.
Instead, the source of the disturbance revealed themselves to be a curiously-quiet, if timid brunette with one of the wildest-styled heads of brown hair Harrison had ever seen – even putting the rat's nest he used to have on top of his head to shame – while she had one of their school books under one arm, the other being used to drag a dark-brown trunk in behind her.
For a moment, given the fact the girl had a book in her hand that she seemed intent on reading, Harrison decided to ignore her and just return to his studies; however, after a few seconds, he was a little surprised to hear the girl's voice, "Oh…sorry, I didn't even see you there!"
"And yet you came in through the same door and looked up the entire time," drawled Harrison, though he was surprised by the girl's confession about not noticing him, even with the evidence he'd presented. "But as long as you let me read in peace, I suppose you can stay, Miss?"
"I'm Hermione Granger," answered the girl, earning a curt nod from Harrison before she gasped as she asked, "Oh! Is…is that a book of your own? I don't recognise it from the list for school."
"What can I say? I got bored reading the same stuff over and over again," drawled Harrison, but when he did so, he was again surprised to hear the girl, Hermione, giggle as though he'd just made a joke.
However, it was her response that really caught him off-guard as she told him, "I know what you mean; I must have read our books so many times that I think I've learned them by heart. And I was able to practice the spells too, but no matter how many times I begged Mum and Dad to take me back to Flourish and Blotts, they just didn't listen."
"Poor you," replied Harrison, though he unwillingly let a sarcastic drawl lace his words before, clearing his throat, he added, "I'm Harrison, by the way. Now, if you'll excuse me, Miss Granger, I'd like to get back to my book."
"Oh, of course," said Hermione, settling into her own seat across from Harrison before, to his mild amusement, she opened the book – which he saw was a copy of Hogwarts: A History that looked like it had a few dog ears kept for favourite parts of the book – and left him to his reading.
She didn't even seem to notice he hadn't given her his surname.
And yet, even as he returned to the Mystica and his readings on Occlumency, Harrison couldn't help but smile as he thought – to himself, of course, since he didn't want to admit it aloud – about something impossible happening if this girl proved as understanding as she was at that moment;
If he wasn't careful, Harrison might have actually found himself a friend.
Knowledge is Power
With Harrison and Hermione as the only ones in their compartment, neither of whom seemed too eager to disturb or otherwise bother the other with any thoughts or trivia, the journey passed in relative silence. While the world rushed past the windows of the train outside, Harrison examined the sections of the Mystica with a fine-tooth comb, committing everything he read to memory while he also kept an eye on other areas that he knew might require further study later – such as a section on false memory magic and mental illusions as a defence.
However, after another forty-five minutes of silent study and the pleasant company of his fellow scholar, Harrison's attention was taken from his studies once more when the door opened again.
This time, however, instead of entering the compartment as brusquely as Hermione had done, the source of the disturbance revealed themselves with a boisterous tone of voice. "Oi, either of you seen Harry Potter around here?"
Looking up with disdain, Harrison blinked once before he returned his attention to the book in his hands, willingly and blatantly ignoring a young boy whom, unless he was very much mistaken – which was impossible since he hardly forgot anything – he remembered as the youngest male in the brood of redheads. He looked just as dishevelled as Harrison had seen on the Muggle side of the platform and, to be perfectly honest, as soon as he'd opened his mouth, Harrison lost interest because of the blatant lack of manners or tact, let alone subtlety with his desires.
While Harrison focused on the Mystica once again, however, he hid a smirk when he heard Hermione ask, "Harry Potter? He's at Hogwarts? Wow, I've read all about him: and you're looking for him, why? Do you want his autograph? Or perhaps you'll learn how he survived that night or…"
"Jeez, a simple no would have done, bushy-haired nightmare," scoffed the redhead, closing the door once again before he left.
Once he was gone, however, Harrison visibly smirked when Hermione told him, "Well, I doubt he'll be coming back anytime soon."
"Nicely played," said Harrison, turning a page in the Mystica without looking up from his reading, which, to his amusement, began to describe the art of false memories as he'd previously considered researching.
How anyone would need another book with a copy of the Mystica was beyond him.
In the meantime, however, Harrison's smirk faded when Hermione replied, "I figured you wouldn't want to make yourself so publicly-known, Harry!"
Looking to her, Harrison's eyes narrowed, but as they did so, he saw Hermione tap her own eyes as she explained, "Like I said, I've read all about you and one of the things I read about describes your eyes. Just like those of your Mum, whom I think has to be the bravest, most-loving Mother and witch ever to do what they say she did."
"I'm sure she'd appreciate the compliment, Miss Granger," argued Harrison before he scoffed as he added, "If she weren't dead!"
While Hermione looked surprised by his remark, Harrison scanned the page of his book while he idly stroked Loki's fur as he asked, "So why didn't you do anything about it back then?"
"Because," replied Hermione, blushing slightly as she admitted, "You're the first person I've met who accepts my studious nature…without being so cruel about it at the same time. And, although I was curious about the book in your hands, you still chose to let me stick around and study on my own instead of…of being like anyone else I've met."
"Not everybody's a Homo Sapiens," drawled Harrison, though when Hermione opened her mouth to argue the point, Harrison smirked as he quickly added, "I would say Neanderthal, but everyone says they actually had bigger brains than the ape-men whom became people like you and me today, Miss Granger. By the way, can I actually admit that I like your name? Let me guess…your parents are Shakespeare fans?"
"Dad," answered Hermione, laughing softly as she told him, "I asked him why he named me it and, of all the names he could have picked, he said it fit me the best…though I think he also had a bit of a Grecian thing too."
"Derived from Hermes?" asked Harrison, earning a surprised look from Hermione before she nodded while he scoffed as he asked, "So which are you? A girl with serious mental acuity or someone who enjoys tricking others and being nothing more than the messenger who winds up shot?"
Hermione blanched when she heard this, but when she did so, she also let out a laugh as she asked, "You're really not the boy I read about, are you, Harry Potter?"
"Actually, it's Harrison, not Harry," corrected the young wizard before, for the first time in his life, he smiled with a friendly, if joking air, which he directed towards Hermione as he added, "And to answer your question, Hermione Granger, I find it both funny and a little offensive to say, but you really shouldn't believe everything you read."
Looking back to the Mystica, Harrison sighed before he idly turned the page as he finished his statement.
"Sometimes, the only way to know the right answer is to see it, find it and then decide for yourself; as a wise man once said: Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
Perhaps for the first time in her life, Hermione had no idea what she was meant to say in response to that.
Even if she did recognise it as something from Einstein, she was still left speechless as she wondered what, exactly, Harrison was trying to say.
Clearly, he wasn't the boy-saviour, Boy-Who-Lived from her books…
So then, who was he?
Chapter 6 and, wow, talk about an interesting first meeting: Harrison has definitely made an impact on both Hermione and Ronald, but what is he trying to say? Is Hermione going to be able to figure it out and, if so, will she be able to actually become – gasp – a friend?
Also, what will Harrison's practical explorations into Occlumency and Legilimency reveal and what about the apparently-invisible skill he had by just becoming part of the scenery? Was that magic or just Hermione not paying attention?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: As if one idiot isn't bad enough, Harrison and Hermione find themselves having to put up with another; also, Hermione's left stunned when Harrison shows off a bit more of just how much he's learned when a lovable underdog asks them for help, resulting in a whole new trio being formed, especially when Harrison provides a little insight to said lovable lion cub…but will he/they be cubs this time around? Only one way to find out…
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