Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters whose names can be found in the Harry Potter books.
The next few days were very tense. Harry was always edge wondering just how his parents were going to react to the fact that he had been accepted in a school in another country. He waited three days before he finally got the answer to some of his questions.
The Potter family had just sat down to lunch when there was a noise from outside, a great roar echoed through the ancient stone walls.
"I think you just got your letter" Aidan remarked.
"What is that?" Harry asked.
Leaping up and running after the rest of his family to investigate the source of the noise. Sprinting through the front doors after Matt Harry stopped short when he caught site of the creature in-front of him. A sphinx stood on their front lawn, her wings tucked up, her eyes roaming across the grounds until they fell on Harry. When she saw him she stepped forward. James unconsciously moved closer to Harry, his hand in his robes ready to draw his wand if the creature turned hostile.
"Hello young Harry." When the sphinx spoke her voice was deep and melodic but had an air of authority.
"What is your business here?" James asked, his voice commanding.
The sphinx slowly turned her head to look at James, her great wise eyes seeming to look straight through him.
"You have no right to ask me any questions human, however I will answer. I am here to deliver a letter to Harry in accordance to his acceptance in Flaeria." As she said the sphinx reached into thin air and pulled out an envelope and handed it to Harry, whose eyes went straight to examining the paper.
"His acceptance where? We did not apply" Lilly started.
"Oh but you did not need to," The sphinx said. "It is his birth right. You will be expected young Potter." Harry looked up from his letter at hearing his name. "All you need know is in your letter. Good day." With that the sphinx took to the air, not waiting around to be questioned by Lilly and James.
Both Lilly and James turned to Harry who was holding the letter half in amazement and half in dread.
"What, may we ask? Was that about." James demanded.
"I got accepted, at another school." Harry said, gazing down at his letter, not sure if he wanted to open it or not.
"You do not need another school." James said gruffly. "You're going to Hogwarts." With that James turned towards the house.
It took a few seconds for Harry to snap out of his daze and realise his dad wouldn't let him attend.
"Dad!" Harry called, running after his father.
James spun around to face him. "Dad please can I at least look at it. I'm not saying I want to go but a sphinx delivered it. I can't just not open it."
James sighed. "I'll admit I'm a bit curious too but what if it is dangerous. You never know."
"Please Dad. You can check it before I open it but I really want to know." Harry pleaded, even though he already knew what the letter held.
"Alright," James sighed. "But I want to be there when you open it."
"For sure!" Harry said eagerly.
"Come on open it!" Matt said racing up behind Harry. "What is it? I want to know!"
James chuckled, "alright Harry give it here so I can check it then you can open it."
"Score!" Matt said, jumping up and doing the whole motion of pulling his arm down.
James just laughed at his antics as he waved his wand over the envelope. "It appears to be safe. I'd know if there was anything harmful about it. Not much else I can do, alright open it Harry."
Harry took the envelope in his hands and pealed off the seal which happened to be a hoof stamp and opened up the letter.
Dear Mr Potter
It is our pleasure to inform you that you have been accepted into Flaeria. Flaeria is situated in Australia and we specialise in bringing out talents that would be left dormant in other schools. We are aware that you live a fair distance from campus and are unable to currently travel on your own so other methods of transport have been arranged. You are to meet one of your professors in London in the Leaky cauldron where you will be escorted to campus. You are allowed to bring familiars and there are facilities on campus to care for them. All equipment required will be provided by the school. Term begins on August the 4th
We wish you well
Headmaster
Onaldias Postaf
"Well," James said. "That was interesting. I've never heard of that school. Flaeria, hmm, I'll think on it. You can chuck that away Harry." James said as he started walking away.
"Dad," Harry said nervously, James turned around.
"Yes?"
"I want to go." Harry said.
"What?" James blinked as if he couldn't believe his ears.
Harry took a deep breath "I want to go."
"Say that one more time I don't think I understood. You want to quit Hogwarts. The best wizarding school in the world and go to some odd ball school over in some foreign country!" James' voiced which had started out calm had escalated to a yell.
"Yes." Harry said.
All the air seemed to go out of James. "But why?" James asked sounding utterly defeated and making Harry feel very guilty.
"It's just, I don't think I really fit in at Hogwarts." Harry said feeling very small under James stare.
"Fit it?!" James asked, sounding both angry and exasperated. "Of course you fit in. You have Neville who is your best friend. You are achieving tops marks in all your classes. How is it that you don't fit in?"
"Dad please, I didn't even know I had magic till I got my letter, no one even thought I was a wizard. I have elemental control that even Professor Dumbledore can't explain. Wand control is hard for me but elemental control is like breathing. They don't teach that at Hogwarts maybe someone in this school can teach me. I want to go, I want to find out."
"Harry," James sighed. "Hogwarts is the best wizarding school in the world. What makes you think this little odd ball school will be able to teach you anything you cannot learn at Hogwarts?"
"I don't know Dad, but I know I want to try. Something tells me that this is what I have to do. Dad please, I know Hogwarts is your school and I know that's where every Potter has ever gone but please Dad let me go. I want to know." Harry begged.
James looked over at Lilly. "You take care of him." He said and walked away. Harry just hung his head. He'd known this would happen, his parents would never just accept him going anywhere but Hogwarts.
Lilly came forward to stand in front of Harry and looked down at her youngest son.
"Harry why do you want to go to this place. Why does this mean so much to you?"
Harry just looked up at his mother. "Mum I know this is unexpected but for years you accepted that I wasn't going to go to Hogwarts, that I was just a squib. Please let me go, I don't know why this means so much to me. I just know that I have to go to this school. A sphinx delivered the letter, this school isn't like everywhere else!"
Lilly sighed. "I don't know about this, it's just so." Lilly sighed again. "It's your choice Harry, I not going to stop you. I could stop you but I'm not going to. You'll have to work on your father though. You can go but that doesn't mean I'll like it."
Harry lowered his head and nodded. "Yes Mum" he said, sadly.
"I guess you'd better pack, the term starts earlier then Hogwarts, it's only two days before term starts. The letter came a bit late."
Harry nodded and trudged inside, feeling very low.
"Harry." Lilly called and Harry turned around. "Dumbledore will be informed about this."
"Yes mum." Harry said before he turned around and trudged up to his room.
As soon as he closed the door behind him Harry threw himself onto his bed a let out a small yell, not enough that anyone would hear him but enough to let off some steam. Sitting up Harry turned to face his familiar who was sitting on his desk chair.
"Well that could have gone better." Aidan remarked.
"Too right" Harry agreed. "They didn't say no but they might have well have."
"Yes." Aidan said, sounding just as down as Harry. "What are you going to tell Neville?"
"I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it. It's not like I got a choice, I have to go to this school and I have to pretend I don't know why all the while telling my best friend that I'm leaving him. That sucks."
"Yes," Aidan agreed. "I couldn't have put it better."
Harry sighed, better get writing.
To Neville
Hey mate how are you going? I hope you're having a good holiday mine have been good so far but they turned pretty rotten today. I got a letter from this school in Australia. They want me to go. I don't know. I feel like I have to, it's one of those times, when you just have to do something. It feels like that. I just don't know. My parents are really mad at me and I haven't talked to Matt yet. I think he's ignoring me. I don't know but I really need to do this. I'm so sorry Neville, I've just left you but this is something I feel I really have to do. I'll be back over the summer holidays so if you want to hang out we can meet up. Please reply soon.
Harry
Harry sighed as he read the letter through, it seemed so pathetic but it would do. Harry walked downstairs, being careful not to let his parents see him, walking into the owlery. As soon as he reached the large stone room Harry whistled and a tawny owl flew down form its perch.
"Can you take this to Neville?" Harry asked, tying the letter onto its leg.
"Oh course." The owl hooted in response, taking off once the letter was secure and flying out of one of the upper windows.
Trudging back up to his room Harry spent the rest of the day packing, making sure he had enough clothes and everything for the whole year. He wasn't sure if students could come home for holidays or even if they had the same holidays.
When he could no longer avoid the fact that he needed food, having missed lunch, Harry trudged down to the dining room.
Lilly and James were sitting at the table, Matt had yet to come down. As Harry sat down James looked at him as if he was a traitor and Harry just looked down at his plate, wishing he could sink into the floor. The two days passed very slowly and to Harry it felt like the 4th would never come. But eventually the morning of the 4th did arrive. Harry stood waiting at the front doors when James wondered down the stairs. In a very unlike James fashion Harry's father was actually awake in the morning and looked ready to go. It seemed he had been dreading this day as much as Harry.
"Dad I'm sorry" Harry said. Speaking some of the first words to James since the letter arrived.
"I know." James said, looking up at Harry. "I know it's just hard to see you turn away from what I always thought you wanted."
"I did Dad. That's all I ever wanted but now this has come up and I just don't know but I feel like I need to go."
"It's ok Harry, I understand, I should have known none of my children would ever be conventional."
Harry snorted.
"So are you ready to go?" James asked.
"Yeah I'm ready." Harry said.
"You said goodbye to everyone?
"Yeah"
Aright then," James said. "Lets get going."
The pair caught the night bus down to the leaky cauldron. The shabby building looked more daunting then it ever had before. As Harry opened the door he was met with the familiar darkness and smell of the bar. The bar was relatively empty except for a group milling in the corner. As Harry opened the door some of the group turned towards him. As he stepped into the bar, James behind him, a tall man stepped forward. He was nothing compared to Hagrid but he was no shrimp either. About 4 inches over six feet, the man had very pale skin and looked almost dead.
"You must be Mr Potter?" The man remarked and as he spoke Harry caught a quick glimpse of fangs, it could be very possible the man was dead.
"Yes." Harry said, stepping forward. "Nice to meet you."
"Oh the pleasure is all mine." The man said, warmly. "Please come and stand with the others. I am Professor Vitra and these are some of the students."
Most of the group in the corner smiled some nodded, acknowledging Harry's presence before going back to their own conversation.
"Well" Professor Vitra said rubbing his hands together. "That appears to be everything. Unless you wanted to speak to me Mr Potter" he said turning to James.
"Oh no," James said, looking at Harry. "I'm sure Harry will be just fine."
"I'll make sure of it." Professor Vitra replied as James turned to leave. As soon as James had left Professor Vitra turned back to the students.
"Alright guys most of you know the drill by now, Harry you'll pick it up as we go along, out the back now." Professor Vitra ushered all the students towards the back of the bar and the entrance to Diagon Alley.
Harry was standing towards the front of the crowd when they reached the barrier. Professor Vitra was at the back and he called forward one of the students.
"Danny would you open the barrier please?"
"Sure professor." The boy called Danny replied and he tapped the wall with his hand and it opened. As the group walked through the barrier Harry took the time to observe the rest of the group. Like him they were carrying tucks, some with ease, and others struggling like him. Not all the students were human looking. There were a few centaurs, a goblin by the looks of it, some vampires for sure. Their appeared to be some sort of nymph and some creatures Harry had never seen. There was an insect looking creature that walked on six legs and there was a creature that floated a few centimetres off the ground. It appeared to be wearing some kind of travelling cloak. There were two creatures had a leather like appearance and walked on four legs but had wings poking out of each shoulder joint. Overall they looked a very odd bunch walking through Diagon Alley, hauling their trunks.
"You must be Harry." A voice remarked over Harry's shoulder.
Harry jumped almost a foot in the air and whipped around to face the floating creature behind him.
"Yeah I'm Harry." Harry replied, trying to get his breath back after the fright.
The creature laughed. "Sorry for giving you a scare I'm just used to people being able to sense where I am, I don't really watch when I sneak up on someone."
"Oh it's fine." Harry said. "I really should be paying more attention, all this is just so new."
The creature laughed again. "Yes I suppose it would be to you. I doubt you even know what I am." It said.
Harry shook his head sadly. "Sorry" he murmured.
"Don't worry about it." The creature assured him. "My names Arashi, I'm a retisia."
"Cool, you already know who I am and I'm pretty sure you can guess what I am." Arashi laughed.
"You never know with folks around here though. You meet plenty of strange people at Flaeria. Trust me I know. Ever tried to communicate with a ninch?"
"Um…if you'll tell me what a ninch is" Harry said.
Arashi laughed again. "Wow you really don't know much, do you? Well a ninch is a shape shifter and they're pretty tricky, they hate staying in one shape for too long though and they often take on too much and end up taking a form that they can't handle and knocking themselves out. It's very hard though to hold a conversation when they keep changing forms."
Harry laughed nervously. "I can imagine it would be."
"So what's your story?" Arashi asked. "If I'm not mistaken you aren't from around here."
"No, your right" Harry said. "Well as you probably guessed I'm human well at least I'm half human."
At this Arashi raised an eyebrow. "You look pretty human to me, what's the other half?"
"I'm not sure I'm allowed to tell." Harry said looking to the side.
"Why not?" Arashi asked. "Don't worry I won't judge. Even if your half flobberworm I couldn't care less. You're good company, that's all that matters."
Harry laughed. "Well I'm glad for that. No I'm not actually half flobberworm and I'm not ashamed of my heritage I'm just not sure if I'm allowed to tell. My familiar is sleeping at the moment and generally he knows more about this then I do."
"You have a familiar. Wow that's early. Most people don't get one till much later. Can I see him?"
"Sure" Harry said. "That's if I can wake him up."
Arashi laughed.
"Aidan" Harry said.
"Yes?" Aidan replied grumpily. "I was sleeping, can't you leave me alone?"
"I've met one of the students and they want to meet you. Can you come out?"
"Fine," Aidan said. "But I'm only coming out to see you don't get yourself into a mess."
With a gentle trill Harry felt his tattoo heat up as Aidan emerged. There was a collective gasp from the students and even professor Vitra gave a start when they saw Aidan.
"A shadow phoenix," Arashi said in awe. "When you said you had a familiar I thought you meant something like an owl or a cat, not a phoenix. Those phoenixes are meant to be extinct but I'd heard one had been bonded. I just didn't believe it." Arashi turned his gaze sharply to Harry. "Do you know how lucky you are? I don't know who you are but you must be someone really powerful for a creature as magnificaint as a shadow phoenix to bond with you."
Aidan preened his feathers at this and trilled, looking very happy at the praise before he looked at the retisia.
"Well it was worth coming out. I thank you for your complements."
Arashi looked shocked that Aidan would speak to him and quickly replied. "Oh it was my pleasure. You really are a beautiful creature."
"Thank you," Aidan said. "Please call my Aidan."
"Hey Aidan can I tell him what I am?" Harry asked.
"Oh course." Aidan said. "Harry, you're going to spend your time transforming and using your powers all the time you really can't hide them for very long. Besides, everyone here will understand. They may be a little shocked at first but they'll get over it."
Arashi looked a little offended at Aidan's assumption he would be shocked. "Go on Harry." He said. "Throw me what you've got, I bet I've come across much stranger creatures then you."
Aidan laughed, "stranger you may have but none more powerful."
"Oh really?" Arashi said. "So what are you; sphinx maybe or vampire, no you would have gotten the teeth. Go on tell me I really want to know now."
Harry laughed. "Dragon."
Arashi stopped dead and that's not easy when your floating. Harry turned around to see what was wrong and saw the retisia floating motionless on the spot.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"Are you serious, of course you are I'd know if you were lying but I mean I expected something wild but I mean, are you sure?"
"Yes." Harry confirmed. "Pretty sure."
"Wow. Well, wow. I don't know what else to say." Arashi seemed to have trouble putting words together in a sentence.
"I told you you'd be shocked." Aidan said. "But does anyone believe the phoenix nooooooo."
This seemed to break Arashi out of his stupor and he laughed along with Harry and kept walking.
Harry was gazing around at the area; they seemed to be walked down a grubby old alley full of dirt and grime. Harry was pretty sure he knew where they were but he had to ask, just to make sure.
"Hey Arashi." Harry started.
"Yeah."
"We're in Knockturn Alley aren't we?" Harry asked.
"Yep," Arashi replied. "We're almost at the pick up zone actually."
"Pick up zone?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, you didn't think we were just going to keep walking did you. Nah the headmaster sets up flame portals so we can travel. We're just about there now."
Within the next few minutes the group stopped in-front of a seemingly solid wall.
"Is it like Kings cross?" Harry asked.
"Kings cross?" Arashi asked.
"Yeah you know where you walk through the wall to get to the platform."
"Oh nah, nothing like that." Arashi said. "It's a fire portal, sort of like your floo powder thing. We travel in the fire except there is a direct route so you can't get lost and there's a lot less spinning."
Harry looked relieved. "Well that's good. So you just step in?"
"Yeah pretty much," Arashi confirmed. "The wall is just an illusion, the fire is beyond it."
"Cool" Harry said.
Slowly the group began to dwindle as members of the group stepped through the wall and disappeared beyond. There were only about five people left when it was Harry's go.
"Just step through," Arashi said. "You'll be fine."
Harry hesitated for a second, this was the last chance to turn back, once he stepped through the wall he was in a totally new country and the only person he really knew was Aidan. Taking a deep breath Harry grabbed his truck and heaved it through the wall.
Harry didn't realise when the fire started and the wall stopped, all he knew was there was a giant flash of light and the world went white but only for a second because the next thing he knew he was standing in a large room with the rest of the group who had already gone through the portal.
"Come over here please." A veela was standing against a wall "All new students please come over here."
Harry stepped forward but he appeared to be the only one. Walking over to the veela with Aidan on his shoulder Harry stopped a few feet before the beautiful creature.
"Ah, Harry Potter." The veela's voice was like honey and it seemed to flow straight over Harry's brain cutting off any sort of thought.
"SNAP OUT OF IT!" Aidan screamed in his mind. "She's testing you. She's trying to see how strong your powers are, resist with everything you have."
Harry shook his head as if coming out of a trace and realised that he was almost standing on a table. Feeling very stupid he quickly stepped down and hunched his shoulders though none of the students laughed, in fact most of them looked like they wanted to jump on the table too and the few that appeared to have kept their wits looked quite impressed.
Turning back to the Veela in front of him Harry was confronted with a very impressed expression.
"You're very strong, Mr Potter." She said. "It has been a long time since anyone has broken out of my trance, you should be proud. We must go and collect the other new students now. Follow me please. Oh but leave your bags here, we will come back for them later."
The veela then addressed the rest of the students. "The rest of you know where you should be. Quick smart, hurry up, I want everyone in the dining hall in one hour." There was a scurry of movement at her words and Harry caught sight of Arashi coming out of the fire as he was lead out of the room.
It appeared that the Flaeria was much larger then Hogwarts. As soon as they left the portal room, Harry found himself in a large hexagonal room with many doors leading off it. The veela who introduced herself as Professor Gitrelle lead him past several doors. It appeared that each one held another group, just like his, that had come from some part of the world. They picked up only a few new students, ten in all, eleven including Harry, then Professor Gitrelle lead the group out of the hexagonal room and down a corridor, up a flight of stairs, down another corridor and then she turned left into yet another corridor. It took I grand total of three minutes to reach their destination.
The group was lead into another large room that looked like there was room to fit two hundred people comfortably. Professor Gitrelle then left them in the care of another teacher. This teacher appeared human enough though she had golden wings folded on her back and her eyes looked very hawk like.
"I am professor Hawtrich," the women introduced herself. "I'll be allocating your timetables according to your abilities. While you are here you will be assigned a mentor. There may be up to 20 students to a mentor. One at a time I'll call you up to test your abilities. I'd like you to say your species and your main abilities. From there I'll see how developed you are and then assign you a mentor. Myra Trinesta."
A young girl stepped forward. She had black hair that fell down her back and she had purple wings closed on her back. Both her feet were bare and clawed.
"Gargolite, professor." The girl said. "I can fly, I have limited control over wind currents and I can bring down ten fully grown men with my voice."
"Through the door" said the professor. Gesturing towards a door that had appeared on her left.
This process repeated itself until only Harry was left.
"Harry Potter" Professor Hawtrich called.
"Human descended from the dragons of old." At this professor Hawtrich looked up, appearing interested for the first time in what the student in front of her was saying.
"Fire elemental."
"Interesting." Professor Hawtrich said. "Well then, through the door."
Walking through the door like he had seen his follow student do, Harry followed the corridor around until he reached a room like the one he had just existed.
"Hello then!" A jolly man called from where he was standing. A man stood in the middle of the room, he had black leathery wings folded behind his back and he had fangs poking out of his mouth.
"Hello" Harry said walking towards the man.
"So you're Harry then," the man said. "Well there has been a lot of talk about you for a first day."
Harry laughed nervously. "I'm not sure if that's good or bad."
The vampire let out a chuckle. "You know lad, neither am I but enough chit chat it's time to get down to business. I've heard you're a fire elemental. I want to test your control. Pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket the vampire held it out to Harry.
"I want you to light it but not let the flame move from the corner."
Harry took the paper with a nod and lit it, keeping the flame in the corner.
"Good," the vampire said. "Now make the flame hotter but keep it in the same spot."
Again Harry did this easily.
"Well then," the vampire said, rubbing his hands together. "We have ourselves here a real natural. Alright time to make it harder, just get rid of that bit of paper."
Harry let the fire spread and the paper was reduced to ash.
"Now I want you to conjure flames in your hands. Yes like that" he said as Harry obeyed. "Now I want you to hop and juggle it."
Harry looked at him but never the less compiled. The first time he jumped though Aidan gave an indignant squawk and flew off his shoulder and Harry lost his concentration. The fire ball he had been holding bounced on the floor a few times before it extinguished.
"Well that was interesting." The vampire remarked as Aidan fluttered back down to rest on Harry's shoulder. Meric will be pleased, yes I think that will work nicely. Meric can be your mentor. If we can make our way down to the dining hall I think it will be about time to start dinner. I'll show you to your room and then I'll take you to the dining hall. It won't do to have you lost on the first day."