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
Pairings: Eventual Harmony; Others TBD
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Clive54: That's something we'll be touching on soon as we explore that particular knowledge and the trance state involved;
SLYNNR: Actually, it was Sebastian and Oliver who used the crucible speech, but I appreciate the compliment;
"And, for the record, no matter what Dad's intentions were in getting Neville and I to swear never to abandon you, even if he hadn't done, we won't, Harrison…just please, don't stop being…this!"
"You just indicated to all of me," muttered Harrison, earning a laugh from Hermione as she had done just that before he added, "No promises…"
Even Neville seemed surprised, but also relieved that Harrison might have found a way to turn the crack of humanity in him into something more, though he also had to laugh along with the others when Harrison looked up before he went on;
"Now, if we're all done spoiling a guest, I think it's someone else's turn for presents."
Chapter 22: Closing the Circle
Snow.
Even after the interesting Christmas holiday Harrison had shared with the Grangers, as well as Neville, he couldn't get over how pure and calm snow looked, even as it fell against the windows of the Hogwarts Express. In their compartment, the three friends were sat around a small jar, which Hermione had filled with small, bluebell-coloured flames that helped warm them on the cold ride ahead.
After that, the brunette seemed content to lose herself in her copy of the Mystica while Neville decided to occasionally switch his attention between Harrison – especially after the revelation the emerald-eyed scion had made over the holidays – and one of his own school books, as though he was cramming for the new term.
As for Harrison, he was sat in his usual, straight-backed posture, one hand stroking Loki's fur while the other rested by his side, his eyes looking out at the winter wonderland that had welcomed them to Scotland. As it had been on their first day, it was already starting to get dark as they drew nearer to Hogwarts, though Harrison didn't move his gaze from the beauty and wonder of the snow-capped night-time scene outside.
At one point, however, his attention was broken when Neville asked, "Um…Harrison?"
"Yeah?" asked Harrison, looking away from the window as he glanced at his friend.
"Before we get to school," replied Neville, stretching up before he took a breath as he asked, "I was wondering if…if we could talk about what you said over the holidays? About…about remembering me from…from when we were babies and everything?"
"Sure," said Harrison, earning a curious look from Hermione, who seemed content to close her book while she shared in the conversation between the trio of friends, which Harrison must have noticed as he smirked before he asked, "I suppose this is something you've also been curious about, right, Hermione?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," admitted the brunette, though as she did so, she cleared her throat before she added, "But you should only talk about it if you feel comfortable, Harrison. I…I know, and I'm grateful you decided to finally open up to us over the holidays, but if you think we haven't…"
Before she could finish, however, Hermione's eyes widened when Harrison smiled at her, lifting a single finger to cut her off before, heaving a deep sigh, he looked from one friend to the other as he explained, "Look, before we get to school, I think we should clear the air about that, especially after how your parents opened their home to me, Hermione, for which I might never say it to their faces or show it so openly, but I am grateful to them for doing that. In truth, aside from Master Flitwick, they're the first adults I actually feel like I can trust to have my best intentions, even when I might seem to be doing things for the wrong reasons."
While Hermione was both surprised and humbled by Harrison's words, the young Student of Four looked back to her as he went on, "Anyway, as I was saying, let's clear the air with that right now: I can't promise I will gladly open up to everyone or that I will forgive you so easily if you repeat anything I've said to you this past holiday without my permission, but, to be honest, you two have helped me this winter more than anyone has done in ten years and a little longer."
Again, Hermione was surprised while Neville smiled as Harrison looked to him before he went on, "I never thought I could open the gateway to my own comfort zones with anyone and, although it is going to take time and patience, I want you both to know you will always be my first friends and I trust the two of you as friends. You came to me when you believed I needed help in being ready for the unknown; you stayed true to the loyalty you showed me when we first met and you believed in me, even though we still don't understand the power I used against Malfoy, you still chose to stay true to that friendship, even though I didn't admit it was two-way."
"Harrison, you don't have…"
"Yes, I do," said Harrison, cutting off Neville before he could finish as he told the young boy, "I always remember how nice it felt being around you, Neville; when we were babies, we settled around one another and our parents both let us play because they knew we were happy. I even have a memory of lying in the same crib and drifting off with my Mum singing to us."
To Hermione's surprise, Harrison shed a tear, which he swept away before he told Neville firmly, "That is how I know you are my friend, Neville Longbottom and, although it's taken me the better part of four months to admit it, I will always consider you my friend…even as close as my brother, though we don't share blood."
"Harrison," whispered Neville.
Rather than respond, however, Harrison looked to Hermione before he continued, "So, as long as it's just us or in the presence of anyone else I can trust, such as Professor Flitwick, I want you to know you have every right to talk to me about anything, Hermione. But if I ask you not to press the issue or I don't respond, I also hope you'll respect my desire not to say anything as you will anything I say."
"Of course," replied Hermione, swallowing hard before she cleared her throat before she asked, "So does that mean you're going to tell Professor Flitwick about…about what happened in…in my home and…and what those other Muggles did? I know…I mean, I get he's not exactly your Head of House, but if he can help…"
"If I believe he can help me, then I will confide in him, but only when I'm sure," said Harrison, linking his hands together before he leaned forwards, accidentally shifting Loki off of his lap as he did so while he went on, "As for the rest, I can't promise I won't be like I used to before the holidays: there are still tasks at hand that need fulfilling and I have to take them on at my own pace. But, if it means proving this winter wasn't just some fluke, I will give you both my word that I'll try harder with our peers."
"Thank you," said Neville, letting out a soft laugh before he added, "I know the Weasley Twins would definitely love to get to know you a little better, especially after what happened with Malfoy and how you always seem to be able to shift from this serious side of you to a side worthy of…well, I think your Dad would probably be proud to see you being such a brat at times."
"Maybe…we'll never know," argued Harrison, earning a nod of understanding from Neville while Hermione wiped a stray tear from her own eye as Harrison looked back to Neville as he asked, "So, what exactly do you want to talk about from the holidays, Neville?"
"Well…actually, what you just hinted at," said Neville, indicating Harrison with an amused smile on his face as he asked, "You said you remember when you were a baby and, more than once, I've heard you say you never forget anything, right?"
"Right."
"How?" asked Neville, looking now to Hermione before he asked her, "What I mean is: is that just as uncommon in the Muggle world as it is in the magical one, Hermione? Can people actually remember as far back as their baby days as though it was only yesterday?"
"Not many," admitted Hermione, looking to Harrison, who nodded once as though encouraging her to take point with this conversation, which she did as she told Neville. "In the Muggle world, there are those who can remember a specific thing or information without much effort; some even have a name for it: eidetic memory, or photographic memory to give it a different name. However, there have been some who claim they can remember every little detail of their lives, right the way back to their own birth, which sounds weird, but that's what it is."
"Panmnesia," explained Harrison, earning a nod from Hermione before he went on, "It's much stronger than eidetic memory too, Hermione: it's a skill that surpasses all forms of memory, be it sensory or emotional or otherwise. I first learned its name thanks to…You-Know-Who…and when I did, I realised just how special it made me. At the same time, like you and Neville, I too wondered if it was some sort of by-product of my magic; it could even be some positive consequence of the night my parents died at Voldemort's hands."
While Hermione cocked an eyebrow, Neville grimaced as he asked, "Harrison, do you have to use the name so carelessly?"
"Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself," chorused Harrison and Hermione, earning an incredulous look from Neville before Harrison smirked as he explained, "I know what I can do might seem unusual, Neville, and, believe me, for obvious reasons, there are parts of my memory that I wish I could just close off and never have to think about again, but I've never found a way to do so…until before Christmas, anyway."
"The Mind Palace," said Hermione, earning a nod from Harrison before she asked, "Have you been trying?"
"Every morning and night while I'm in my room, but I'll be looking up more information on it at Hogwarts too," explained Harrison, frowning with a look of thought that Hermione and Neville hadn't really seen on their friend's face as he told them, "It's strange: most things with magic just come to me, as do most things I've read and experimented with…"
"Intuition," said Hermione, earning a hum from Harrison as he continued.
"But working on my Mind Palace, forging it and being able to focus my mind enough to make it how I want it…it seems to evade me somehow, like it's a skill I'm either not ready for…or there's something inside me that…that's stopping me from accessing that potential."
While Hermione frowned, Neville's eyes widened suddenly as he asked, "Could it be whatever made you go into that trance against Malfoy?"
Even Harrison seemed surprised by that suggestion, though as he looked to Neville, he shrugged as he admitted, "I don't know…and you know how much I hate saying those words, Neville. But if it is, then it only spurs me on to discover more about that other me before I lose control, not just of my own mind, but my own magic as well."
"So, in other words, it's experimenting time," laughed Hermione, earning a groan from Harrison even as the train started slowing down, indicating that the journey back to Hogwarts was nearing its end.
And the new and improved future of the Hogwarts Trio was about to begin.
"Hermione, surely even you remember me telling Professor Flitwick not to tempt me with that word…"
A short aftermath Chapter 22 and it looks like Harrison is back…new and improved and better than ever, but now he's willing to open up a little more, can he rely on friends and allies to help him solve the mystery of his own mind's capabilities?
Also, bigger question here: what is the secret of the Trance Harrison went into against Draco? Is Neville right about it being some sort of block between our hero and what he's really capable of?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: A chance encounter with a certain magical object brings Harrison back into contact with a certain old man, but when an assumption is made, it results in a shock for both parties;
Please Read and Review
AN: Philosopher's Stone canon
So, since people have asked, I've made a choice:
Harrison will NOT be getting involved with the Stone or keeping it safe, but there will be something happening to Quirrellmort, but not because of Harrison or any of his friends.
Like I said before, I'm enjoying how I'm writing this year's AU too much to even slip in the Stone; so, all that's going to feature as part of it is what's in the next chapter; after that, nothing else involving Harry in canon will be in this story.
As for the other years, some of them – like Chamber because, let's face it, that's a major turning point for Harry – will be in and mostly split between canon and non-canon events while others will be ignored completely because I either feel they don't fit the overall idea of the story or I don't need them to make an impact on the bigger adventure involving Harrison, his friends and allies.
