Chapter 3—Meeting new people?
.
The next morning Albus Dumbledore was sitting in the Great Hall enjoying his sweet cinnamon bun roll when that morning's Daily Profit arrived. The headlines read …
HARRY POTTER MISSING!
The other teachers were shocked and confused as Albus Dumbledore stormed out of the hall. That was until they read the headlines. Every one knew how much Albus cared for young Harry. Albus had after all taken up guardianship and safely hidden the Potter heir from all of Vo- The Dark lords followers.
Meanwhile later that evening at the Leakey Cauldron:
"Tom, another round for the boys." When the drinks were delivered Sean MacGyver continued…
"You all saw the article in todays Daily Profit over Harry Potters disappearance but did you see the London Times the other day? Looks like the Muggles are looking for Harry Potter also, they think there was foul play."
"No I haven't, what did it say?"
"Seems the Muggles were doing an audit in something called a computer and they found several reports from a child about his abuse that were never acted upon. Seems the kid was named Harry Potter. What was odd was nobody in that office knew anything about it, sounds to me like they were 'Obliviated' by some wizard it does."
"You know Sean that Dumbledore always swore that Harry Potter was safely hidden away."
"Well Tom, they have arrested the kids uncle on suspicion of murder. It's not like the Daily Profit to be right on anything but it is saying that Harry Potter's missing. Bloody well sounds like Potter been done in by that uncle of his."
"Well I'll tell you one thing, I wouldn't want to be in Dumbledore shoes right about now. There's going to be hell to pay I tell you."
Meanwhile two things where in the happening:
Dumbledore was unhappy at not finding Harry Potter but was smiling to himself that the Dursley's were just starting to see troubles. Voldemort was going to return and the Dursley's would be one of the first to know that fact. The Dursleys would learn it was a mistake not to follow the advice of Albus Dumbledore but right now September 1st was arriving tomorrow and it was sure to bring Potter to Hogwarts. With Tom's return the entire country would be clamoring once again for the leader of the light and he Albus Dumbledore would have control of Harry Potter.
Unfortunately at this moment Harry Potter was unexpectedly being snatched up by Hedwig the Phoenix and was being flamed to a different type of "learn faster" place.
/Scene Break/
This was not the first time that my familiar Hedwig the Phoenix had transported me. This was the first time she had transported me onto a tree limb in the middle of nowhere.
"Hedwig what's going on?" But she just flamed away. I was glad she hadn't left me on top of some tall tree but put me on a lower limb. This gave me a good view of the surrounding area and still left me able to get to the ground without breaking something.
My first impression is everything that I could see wasn't exactly normal. Things seem to be too vibrant and alive in colors. Being perched on a limb wasn't getting me anywhere so I proceeded to drop limb to limb and finally to the ground. As I left what I assume was a forest as I crossed what seem to be a meticulously mowed pastureland void of any living creatures. My destination was a town I thought I had seen in the distance while sitting in the tree. Somewhere gnawing, in the back of my head, was the feeling that this was not real.
I felt like I have been walking all day as I entered the town which I just knew to be deserted. Again I found the place to be clean, vibrant and alive in colors. As clean and as spotless as Aunt Petunia house, I chuckled to myself. I felt comfortable in that at least there was no screaming Uncle Vernon and so far no other threats as one found in Knockturn Alley. The comfort and the peace that I felt still sent me directly to a building that was clearly labeled a library. It was amusing to note to myself that in my early life the library meant safety and here I was also basically reverting to that same instinct.
As I entered I knew that the town was definitely deserted because there was no dedicated librarian guarding her treasures which occupied the many shelves. Also by the main desk there was no card index files showing were books could be located. What was curiously was there instead was a stand with a very large book prominently displayed. My curiosity would never allow me not to open that book.
I opened the book to the first page or index and as my eyes read the first few words I knew I was in never-never land. It read...
"Welcome to Lyonesse Library Harry Potter and welcome to our world."
I stood entranced as it described the death of my parents and how I arrived at the Dursley's. It described my arrival at Gringotts and finding Wendy and Hedwig. How Hedwig would bring me to this book and this the town where time stood still. Then the future began. I was unable to tear myself from the book as my eyes continued page after page. It was not like the book did a day by day in-depth description of events but highlighted things such as a flash of an individual in Hogwarts robes wearing a turban and there was a tournament and the return of someone called Tom Riddle. Just as I was feeling I was reading a fictional novel when a flash like motion picture played on the pages of the book. I was seeing a grotesque figure behind an insane cackling witch and things dressed in black with white masks. They were killing innocent people in the most horrible ways and enjoying themselves, this belied the idea that this was a novel of fiction. The horrors terminated to a list of defenses, curses, spells and charms of different races. I had the feeling that what I was to be shown I was to learn. I wondered, would I be using these horrible curses and spells?
As I looked up from the book (or was I released from the book) I saw a white Phoenix perched next to a black Phoenix. The white Phoenix was definitely not Hedwig but both stared at me intently. I felt like they want to say something but did not. Then both simultaneously broken their stare at me and both looked to a shelf in the library before flaming away.
I wandered into the library and to that shelf as if drawn. I grabbed a book which looked as if it would crumble in my hand. As I opened the ancient thing I saw a total explanation. Before my eyes were one of the ancient spells I've seen in the master book.
I suddenly felt as if I would never leave this library until I had read every book here because that's what it would take to stop the scenes I saw in the master book. I felt I would learn faster in this library. I swore to myself but I felt this was the only way.
/Scene Break/
Since the beginning I've made the library my safe haven and home. Right now I was reading and learning as much I could but I knew I would never finish this library before I was a thousand years old or be snatched away by my cranky bird Hedwig. I also knew that something strangely unbelievable was going on with me in this town. The "why" escaped me.
How many books could a speed reader read? I'm not a speed reader yet I must gone through fifty books and the sun has yet to set. I've also noticed I'm neither tired nor hungry. Maybe that book was right and this is the town were time stands still.
/Scene Break/
I was now gauging time by how many books I had read. I also knew the shelf that I was reading from was extremely important as it had been selectively provided for me and my consumption. I just hope that I could remember it all. As inaccurate as my judging of time was I still knew that months had transpired at least somewhere. Somewhere in this time Hedwig reappeared and flashed me back to my tree limb and began telling me exactly what I would do.
Chirp… "You're not allowed to tell of this place or of your experiences here" Chirp… "Do not tell of your knowledge obtained here but allow it to become part of you." Chirp, Chirp… "Do not allow others to obtain the knowledge you have obtained here or your world could become a larger nightmare. I am unable to say more on these subjects till much later in your destiny." She again snatched me up and flamed.
All I can say is I arrived back where I started from and found very little time had passed, at least that what my alarm clock showed. I am tired and with a very grumbling stomach. Something I couldn't remember about my visit was eating or sleeping and that I was going to remedy right now.
/Scene Break/
Wendy was almost ready to explode with the thrill of boarding the Hogwarts express. She was still bouncing up and down on the seat in our compartment. In all honesty I was pretty excited myself. Harry Potter was soon to be a lost in some fictionally made up book of tales while Lord Harold Wilhelm Smythe a.k.a. Harry a.k.a. Lord Slytherin would be attending Hogwarts for the next seven years.
The compartment door slid open to show a bushy haired girl and a chubby boy standing there, "Have you seen a toad? Neville here has lost his."
"Have you tried to summon it?" Wendy asked. "Well from the look on your face I guess you haven't. Come on in and have a seat while we give it a shot." Wendy stepped into the passageway and shouted, "Accio Neville's toad" and got hit in the chest with a large toad. "I believe this is yours Neville."
"How did you do that without a wand?" The bushy haired girl demanded.
Before anyone could answer a redheaded kid stuck his head in and asked, "Has anyone seeing Harry Potter? Mom says this is the year he is supposed to attend Hogwarts." I looked at Wendy and from the look on her face she also recognized the kid thief from Diagon alley.
With everybody giving a negative reply he left but Hermione said, "Was that kid eating while carrying a rat? How gross, and I thought we could only bring an owl, a cat or a toad to Hogwarts?"
The red headed kid was soon followed by a blonde kid. "They say Potter's on the train have you seen him?" I recognize the arrogant kid from Diagon alley who tried to kick me after his father and knocked me down. Receiving negative head shakes he left…
"I've read all about Harry Potter, he's in dozens of books." The bushy haired girl asserted factually.
"I'm Harry Smythe and this is my sister Wendy, you are?"
"I'm Hermione Granger" and she then started talking about Hogwarts and explain each of the houses and how she read all of her books in all of her classes. Neville was content to just sitting in a corner with his toad.
/Scene Break/
Before Hermione finished listing all the attributes of each of the houses I already had a good idea which house I would like, this was from talking with people in Diagon Alley. The often thought of house of the less talented wizards sounded a lot like where I needed to put myself. After Ragnot had finished filling me in on people like Minister Fudge and Headmaster Dumbledore a place that was known for its dedication, hard work, and fair play sounded like my cup of tea.
My thoughts were interrupted by again our compartment door sliding open to admit two girls.
"Hi I'm Daphne Greengrass and this is Tracy Davis, do you mind if we join you for a while? We are hiding from the blonde twit Malfoy who is being a total arrogant bore." After we waved them in all the girls started chatting among themselves leaving me to chat with Neville Longbottom and his toad.
/Scene Break/
Entering a Great Hall my eyes scanned the room and the high table. From Ragnot's description I spotted Dumbledore however Ragnot could've just said "outlandish attire" and I would have spotted Dumbledore. The look on Dumbledore's face when the professor with the pointed hat left the P's and started on the R's was quite noticeable. I also noticed a Professor wearing a turban. I hadn't forgotten the image from the book so I would definitely keep an eye on him.
"Lord Harold Wilhelm Smythe my brim, Harry James Potter is more like your given name." The sorting hat chuckled. "You do know the headmaster has been looking for you for years and here you pop up under his nose and he doesn't know who you are from Merlin."
"Goblins told me that you wouldn't give my identity away. I have no use for Dumbledore's thieving and manipulations nor do I want any of the fame and attention of Harry Potter. The only reason I'm here at Hogwarts is because I don't want to leave England. The hero of the wizard world I'm not!"
"I see you would do well in number of houses but the Headmaster ordered me to put Harry Potter in Gryffindor whenever he shows up as that is traditionally where all Potters are sorted."
"Well, being I am legally Lord Harold Wilhelm Smythe you can honestly put me in Hufflepuff."
"Ah Yes, but you are still legally Lord Harry James Potter."
"While that is correct I am also Lord Gryffindor and Lord Slytherin so I think it's about time that House Hufflepuff receives equal billing. As I said earlier I really don't want to leave England, don't make me leave.
"HUFFLEPUFF"
Neville and Hermione went to Gryffindor while Tracy and Daphne went to Slytherin. But when it turned time for Wendy I realize just how much I would miss her if she was in one of the other houses. Wendy sat under the hat for a long, long time, which only added to my nerves. Finally the hat yelled, "HUFFLEPUFF"
Wendy rushed over, sat next to me, and gave me a crushing hug and then stated, "That stupid hat wanted to put me in Gryffindor. I told it that I was to be put in Hufflepuff or I would show it all the fire spells that I know."
The welcoming speech and the feast were all new to us but started with the Professor McGonagall tapping a crystal goblet with a spoon. I felt the vibrations seem to shake the entire hall. After the ceremonies a number of interesting first few days at Hogwarts began, starting with, "Mister Smythe the Headmaster wishes to see you tomorrow after your classes are finished, please be prompt."
One of the older students at the table leaned over and asked, "What have you done to get Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster upset with you?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." I said while I gave a shoulder shrug. I couldn't see how my cover had been blown so I would just have to wait till tomorrow.
