A/N: Sorry about the wait, but it's longer than the last chapter, so please don't send any death threats. Actually I'd be thrilled to find that someone liked my story that much…
I will be updating chapters whenever I find any grammatical mistakes, etc, but will tell you in a note if I make any important changes.
Shadowed Rains: Thanks for telling about the reviews, I've fixed that now.
Thoth Father of Magic: I'll be in VA for a week, so don't hold your breath on updates, though I'm going to have a lot of time to plan the next part out. And I'm not trying that hard to get Matt to read it. (I do have a brain.)
Disclaimer: When the books say that the author is R-o-w-l-i-n-g, they mean 'Rowling,' not 'Master Bombadil.'
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Chapter 3: I travel through time and still can't ride a train without meeting a Malfoy
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1975
Mordecai groaned, wishing he hadn't woken up. Khelavaster had kept him up until after 1, and he'd had a busy day.
Realizing he wouldn't be going back to sleep, as it was almost 8, Mordecai summoned Dueling with Minds by James Sultzey, because he didn't want to have to get up yet (the Ministry couldn't detect who was doing magic or how old they were, so he was safe as long as he stayed in areas where there were adult wizards doing magic). The introduction was nearly Snape-like, with Sultzey informing the reader that if they couldn't do all of the exercises in his book after the second reading, they were either lazy or mentally retarded.
After saying this, Sultzey devoted an entire chapter to the complexity of the mind. He described three layers of the mind: physical, which was what controlled muscle movement and all bodily functions; sensory, which processed information, experienced emotions and governed reflexive actions or thoughts; and rational, which was where thought took place. The physical layer didn't matter in occlumency or legilimency, since no legilimens had ever been able to detect it. Occlumency and legilimency relied on the link formed between minds when they sensed each other and their sensory layers connected, through which their rational layers could battle.
As he read, Mordecai found there was more to 'the most basic and rudimentary methods of occlumency ever devised' than trying not to think of anything: you were to focus on a single thing and use it to clear all other thoughts from your sensory layer, thus preventing a link from forming so that a battle could not even begin. You could focus on nearly anything, though each wizard usually had one or two things that worked best for them. What you focused on made a difference: a legilimens who focused on water would have a much easier time defeating an occlumens who used fire than one that used stone walls; these differences could be overcome, though, and Sultzey referenced a wizard he had met once who constructed his defenses with amazingly fire-resistant wool socks (Mordecai was pretty sure that had been Dumbledore).
After studying for another hour, Mordecai got up and dressed in the one set of clothes he had brought with him, deciding as he did so that he needed to buy some more.
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1975
Mordecai glared at the interrogators in front of him.
All he'd done was walk into a muggle bank and announce that he wanted to open an account with nearly 700,000 pounds of cash. Then they'd called security and accused him of being a drug dealer, and he'd been detained for, as near as he could tell, a complete lack of a paper trail.
"You've got no evidence, no charges and no business arresting me!"
"You've been behaving very suspiciously, and it is our business to investigate suspicious behavior."
"You've tested me for drug usage, you've run background checks on me and you've had dogs sniff me and my money and none of that's been suspicious. And whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty, huh?"
"We'll do our job and you'll answer our questions. What do you know about–"
"I've been answering your questions for three hours!"
"You haven't been answering honestly. If you'll just–"
"I have been! It's not like this is some test where you have the answer key; though I'll bet you'll get a nice bonus if you can lock up a 'drug dealer.'" Mordecai knew it was uncalled for, but being arrested and interrogated like this had been uncalled for, too.
Apparently he had touched a nerve, as both interrogators clenched their jaws and one bit out, "You will shut up and do what you're told. What do you know of–"
Mordecai tuned the rest out as he relaxed himself, feeling the sensations of flight envelope him, the swooping in his stomach as he soared into the air on his Firebolt, the wind through his hair, the sting on his face…
Mordecai pushed his mind outward, trying to imagine the magical energies swirling about him, though the fact that absolutely nothing was happening didn't help.
"Mr. Saunders? Mr. Saunders!"
Mordecai pelt a prickling at the edges of his senses and pushed toward it. He felt his senses latch onto it; a voice was speaking.
Why won't the kid answer?
Other messages flickered though his awareness, some short and half-formed glimpses that were gone almost before they formed, others nearly articulate, but not quite. It was several moments before Mordecai realized they were thoughts.
He's so stuck up he won't even answer questions. Kids these days…
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't think of me as 'stuck up.'"
A surprised yelp answered Mordecai, and it was a few moments before the shocked officer could think strait.
Did he just–
"Yes."
That's impossi–
"No, it isn't."
The first officer was staring at Mordecai in fear and the second was looking between the two trying to figure out what was going on, What in the blue blazes is–
"It's not in the blue blazes, it's down here."
Both officers were now staring at him in astonishment and something approaching terror; it was time for a convincing lie…
"If this goes on any more, I'm going to have to wipe your memories and get on with my assignment." Not fifteen minutes later, Mordecai walked out of the bank after a successful transaction, wondering if Salazar Slytherin sacrificing muggles on a blood-soaked altar in Trafalgar Square could have attracted more attention.
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1975
For the rest of the summer, Mordecai studied occlumency and legilimency, practicing the legilimency on muggles, since he didn't want to risk meeting an occlumens. This lead to some interesting revelations, including that 14 of the national transportation budget was spent on luxury cruises and that the Pentagon had somehow obtained a stone that had survived every nuclear test by the United Stated since 1963. Mordecai had wondered if he should tell the Ministry about the last bit, but decided they were probably busy enough as it was.
When he wasn't invading the minds of unsuspecting muggles (he rationalized this by telling himself it didn't matter since he'd probably never see any of them again), Mordecai studied transfiguration. He'd gained a thorough understanding of what he'd spent the last five years learning, gotten partway through An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration, begun practicing transfiguring his hair into different things, and was well on his way to carrying out his latest plan…
Mordecai hadn't had any trouble getting into Hogwarts, he'd just sent a letter to Dumbledore telling him his parents had home schooled him but had been killed, and he'd gotten a letter back telling him that, even though he hadn't been able to take his O.W.L.s, he could sign up for any courses he thought he would be able to take (this was the man that had hired Snape, after all). Wishing his O.W.L. scores had arrived sooner, Mordecai had signed up for DADA, Transfiguration, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures and Potions (he'd actually enjoyed brewing potions during his O.W.L.s, when Snape wasn't breathing down his neck).
Speaking (or thinking) of Hogwarts, Mordecai had completed all the rituals in Slytherin's book that he'd been planning on, and the more than a dozen rituals had had a substantial effect on his appearance: he was now six inches taller than he'd been, his muscles were far better toned and his whole bearing spoke of strength and power beyond that of a normal human. His strength, speed, eyesight and hearing were also greatly improved, though they were nowhere near the levels of, say, a vampire.
The most interesting ritual he had done was the Elemental Transformation, which allowed him to convert magical energy into a specific raw element and project it from his hands (in English, that meant he could shoot lightning from his fingers, since that was his element).
September the first had come, and Mordecai was carrying a trunk he had purchased down the stairs. After paying Tom, who was the barman even in the seventies, Mordecai flooed to platform 9¾, crashed to the ground, and let a very disgruntled Khelavaster slither off his neck. Once he'd picked himself up, Mordecai made his way to the train and got an empty compartment; he hadn't had any trouble finding one, most likely because he'd actually arrived early for once.
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1975
It wasn't long after the train had started that Mordecai heard his compartment door slide open; glancing up from his Transfiguration textbook, he saw all four Marauders on the other side.
After an uncomfortable pause, James Potter's mouth slowly opened, and, speaking as if he didn't believe it was possible, he said, "You've actually used ritual magic." It had been too much to hope that he wouldn't notice the change, especially after Mordecai had told him that rituals affected appearance.
"I'm not the only one," Mordecai said, filling his senses with wind to dampen the emotions he was feeling, "you've used it too."
"I have never used any form of dark magic in my life!" James responded heatedly, his hand twitching as if he wanted to curse Mordecai just for suggesting it. It would fit what Mordecai knew of him at this age.
"Not all rituals are dark magic–the Animagus Transformation, for example." A brief look of surprise and suspicion flickered over James' face before disappearing, only to return full force when Mordecai added, "Oh, yes, I know. Keep quiet and I will too, Prongs, Padfoot, Wormtail."
"You could have heard those names anywhere!"
"You'll notice I didn't include Moony."
"You could have…you're…you're bluffing!" James exclaimed as he seized on an explanation even he knew couldn't be possible.
"Even if I was, you're reactions have told me all if need to know."
All five merely looked at each other for several moments, before James said in the most menacing voice he could manage, "All right, but if I catch you doing anything suspicious…" and then James hurried away as quickly as he could without looking like he had been scared.
When he was alone again, Mordecai let his mental wind vanish from his senses. When it did, he felt the tingling in his eyes become a sting, and moments later he was curled into a ball crying for the first time in twelve years.
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1975
An indeterminate amount of time later, Mordecai awoke to the sound of his compartment door opening. Not wanting to be caught crying, he transfigured a strand of hair that had fallen in front of his face into a sliver of paper towel and made it brush itself across his face until all evidence was removed.
Turning the paper towel back, rolling over and groaning slightly he asked the only thing that came to mind: "Who?"
"Are you new here?" inquired a cultured-sounding voice as Mordecai struggled to focus on the people in front of him, "I am Lucius Malfoy," the voice continued as the corresponding body stretched out a hand.
Still not completely awake, Mordecai sat up and shook the hand, "Mordecai Saunders, I'm joining sixth year."
"Ah," Malfoy said, "have you heard about the houses yet?"
"A little," Mordecai answered, not wanting to reveal his knowledge.
"There's Gryffindor, supposedly for the brave and courageous, but in my experience that usually means hot-headed and reckless. (Mordecai wasn't in a position to argue the point after the Department of Mysteries fiasco.) Hufflepuff, for…hard workers," Malfoy continued, giving a sneer his future son couldn't hope to compete with, as if hard work was something incredibly revolting, "Ravenclaw, for the intelligent, if a little stuffy. And Slytherin, (Malfoy shifted to make the badge on his robes ever so slightly more prominent) for the cunning and successful."
"Thanks," Mordecai said, "what else can you tell me about the school?"
Malfoy inquired what classes he was taking and told him who the professors were (McGonagall and Flitwik still taught, Potions was taught by Professor Slughorn and Care of Magical creatures by Professor Kettleburn), and that the Defense would be someone new.
"None of the last eighteen Defense teachers have lasted longer than a year and a lot of people are starting to think the job is jinxed. I expect good duelers will get pretty rare when Dumbledore runs out of decent teachers, so it's a good idea to take Defense before that happens."
"Yeah," Mordecai agreed, thinking of Quirrell, Lockhart and Umbridge. Lucius Malfoy was surprisingly pleasant, though Mordecai was sure it was only because he wanted to make allies for his own personal gain. Still, he probably wanted to keep on friendly terms with Malfoy, just in case he was sorted into Slytherin, which was a real possibility.
"Were almost there, so you should get changed," Malfoy said before leaving.
Mordecai did so and got out onto the platform when the train arrived. Finding Hagrid, he asked and was told that he was supposed to go with the first years.
As Mordecai walked down the path, he froze as he felt his mental senses abruptly expand. Almost as soon as he did so they returned to normal.
Making his way forward rather cautiously, unsure of what to make of the new phenomenon, Mordecai noticed nothing unusual until he reached the beach with the boats. As he headed towards one, he felt his senses expand like they had earlier; the mental wind surrounding him and allowing him to sense minds close to him melded into a cloud of fog extending across a ten foot diameter circle ahead of him that revealed not only minds and unshielded thoughts but wands and other magical or enchanted objects.
A thought came through the wall of storm clouds at the center of the fog, Another legilimens?
As Mordecai realized that his senses had connected with those of another legilimens, he tried to push a thought through his own comparatively flimsy walls, No, I'm a really smart flobberworm.
A sensation of chuckling came from the other mind as its corresponding person turned to look at him and Mordecai saw the other legilimens was a shorter boy of about his age, but could tell little other than that in the dark.