Harry Potter - Superhero

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter works belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 06: The hero has a choice

If someone were to be looking at the end of the street, they would see an old man appearing out of nowhere. But no was and the old man walked down the street toward his destination.

Albus Dumbledore was troubled. When Minerva showed him her memories on meeting with young Harry, like her, he was surprised that Harry wasn't more excited about the magical world during the meeting. He asked many valid questions, but the emotions behind those questions were not the ones he expected to see from someone who never heard of magic before. And then yesterday Harry sent a letter declining his position at Hogwarts. This troubled the old Headmaster. Harry must be trained for what lies ahead.

He reached #4 privet drive and spent a couple of minutes examining the wards. They are indeed as strong as he first placed them. He stepped into the drive and rang the bell.

Few moments later a young boy around 5 feet tall answered the door. The headmaster disagreed with Minerva's assessment of young Harry. He looked much like James. But he had more than Lily's eyes. And without the glasses he looked like a good mix of both his parents.

Harry recognized who the visitor was immediately. He saw a few pictures of Albus Dumbledore in the few books he bought on his second visit to Diagon Alley.

Professor Dumbledore smiled. "You must be Harry."

Harry gave him a pleasant smile and nodded. "I am, sir."

Then, there was a holler from inside. "Who is it, Boy?" bellowed Uncle Vernon.

Harry smirked inside and called back. "It's Professor Dumbledore from Hogwarts, uncle Vernon."

There was a brief bit of silence, before he heard his uncle and aunt scramble from the dining table to the hallway. "You!" shouted aunt Petunia on seeing the old wizard.

Professor Dumbledore gave her a pleasant smile. "It is I, Petunia. It's been many years."

"We don't want freaks inside this house. Out, get out," shouted Uncle Vernon turning bright red in anger.

Professor Dumbledore ignored the rude behavior and continued as if he hasn't heard it. "I am sorry to intrude on your lovely home Mr. Dursley. I just want to talk to young Harry here for a few minutes and then I will be on my way."

"He won't be going I tell you. He won't be going. We swore to put a stop to this nonsense that day we took him in." Bellowed Uncle Vernon in anger.

Dumbledore straightened and Harry could feel the power radiating from him. He chose that moment to analyze the old headmaster. Harry was floored by what he saw. Professor Dumbledore's power energy was huge. It was like 3 times that of Harry's. But what he found intriguing was his power energy and life energy were not as closely linked. It was about the same as professor McGonagall.

"I assure you Mr. Dursley, magic is not something you can put a stop to. You are either born with it or not. I am merely here to discuss why Harry didn't want to go to Hogwarts."

The Dursley's were cowed by the headmaster's radiance, but were more surprised by the later statement. Aunt Petunia stared at Harry gob smacked. "You knew? You knew and decided not to go?"

Harry shrugged. "I had my reasons."

Professor Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Is there some where we can talk in private, Harry?"

"Why don't we head up to my room, sir?" He led the headmaster past the gawking Dursleys and up the stairs.

As Professor Dumbledore neared Harry's room he felt what seemed like a notice-me-not on the door. It didn't have exactly the same feel to that spell, but quite similar. This confirmed his suspicions that Harry was in contact with someone from the magical world even before he got his Hogwarts letter.

The bedroom was very small and barely adequate. When he stopped hearing any complaints from Mrs. Figg, he hoped that Harry was getting treated better. But if this room was any sign, that was not the case.

"I am sorry there isn't much space sir. Can you create yourself a chair?"

"Not to worry my boy." He swished his wand and a nice plush chair appeared out of thin air. "What I did just now is called Conjuration. You will learn about it in your seventh year as part of your Transfiguration course, that is if you chose to come."

Harry gave him a nod and settled down on his cot. "So what did you want to talk about sir?"

"Just that, Harry. About your reasons not to come to Hogwarts. I gather that Professor McGonagall told you about Voldemort?"

"Yes. Though you are the only person I heard using that name."

The headmaster smiled sagely. "Never fear the name, Harry. Fear of the name will increase the feat itself."

Harry nodded back. "I agree and I don't fear him."

The headmaster smiled back with a twinkle in his eyes. "Then you are braver the most in our world. But unlike what many people might think, I know he's not dead. I'm afraid, one day he will come back, Harry, and when he does he will look for revenge on the person who destroyed him."

Harry stared at the headmaster for a minute. "It's a reasonable assumption, professor, but I am still not interested in coming."

The headmaster nodded back in seeming acceptance of that decision. "Might I enquire of the reasons?"

"I read about you Professor. You are a hero to the magical world. You defeated Grindelwald and put a stop to the Second World War. You fought against Voldemort and also helped many people with their problems. I respect you for that. But how I can trust you with my secrets? After all this is the first time we are meeting in person and you are also the head of Judiciary body in the magical world."

Professor Dumbledore stayed silent as he thought about a solution. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple of candies. "Lemon Drop? I find it helps me think clearly."

Harry took one. "Thank you." After tasting the candy, he thought it was a bit too sour for his tastes.

After a few minutes, Professor Dumbledore came to a decision. "Do you know what a magical oath is, Harry?"

Harry gave him a slow nod. "I read about them in a book about the laws of the magical world. They can be used to form legal contracts, which are then enforced by a binding magic?"

"Indeed," agreed the headmaster. "If one was to give a binding magical oath and then went against the basic rules of that oath, a severe penalty would be enforced by magic herself. It could be the loss of doing magic, or even death, depending on the severity of the breach. I'm willing to give you an oath that I will never repeat what you will tell me today to anyone without your expression permission. Will that suffice for you to share your secrets with me?"

Harry frowned. "Are you sure, sir? I don't want you to get hurt because you had a slip of the tongue."

Professor Dumbledore chuckled. "It doesn't work like that, Harry. The oath will prevent the person from as you put it, slip of the tongue. One needs to make a conscious decision to break the oath."

"But why are you willing to do this? Doesn't it effect your job as the chief of the wize… wize…"

"Wizengamont. If you did something illegal, then yes it will. But I feel that I have a greater responsibility to you. Many years ago, that night after your parent's were killed, it was I who decided to give you to your aunt, the only remaining blood relation you have. Though I knew of the jealousy your aunt had for your mother, I hoped she would take care of her only nephew. You see Harry, I believe, though I do not have proof, your mother sacrificed her life for you. In doing so, she gave you an ancient blood protection based on her love for you. This is why I believe you survived the killing curse. After that night I knew Voldemort's followers would be out looking for revenge. I used the same magic as your mother did to recreate the protection around this dwelling. As long as you called this home, no one who means you harm can touch it until you became an adult."

Harry frowned. "Is that the red bubble shield around the house?"

Professor Dumbledore sat a little straighter. That was unexpected. "Indeed. We call them wards. And that red bubble shield as you called it, is a blood ward."

Harry nodded back in agreement. "Yeah, its very powerful."

This intrigued the old wizard even more. "How do you know this, Harry?"

Harry smiled back cheekily. "One of my many secrets sir."

"Indeed, you seem to have many secrets for one so young. As I was saying, it was my decision to put you in the house. If that led to you doing something illegal, then I am as responsible for it as you are and as such I will protect you in anyway I can."

Harry thought about it. "Alright Professor. You give me your oath and I will tell you my reasons for not wanting to come to Hogwarts."

The professor raised his hand to the air. "I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, swear on my magic that I will not repeat what Harry James Potter tells me today to anyone without his express permission. So I swear, so mote it be."

There was a brief flash of light and the oath was sealed.

Harry shook the professor's hand. "Thanks professor. I have two reasons for not wanting to come to Hogwarts. One, I don't believe Hogwarts will teach me much and Two, I don't believe I will fit well with the magical world."

The headmaster stroked his beard. "Tell me about the first reason, Harry. Why do you think you will not learn much at Hogwarts?"

"I bought a few books on how magic works and about the different courses, sir. And frankly I was disappointed. They don't talk about what magic is and where it comes from. They only talk about the many limitations. Wands, wand moments, spell incantations. I don't believe in limitations sir. The only limitations are your own ability and your imagination. Do you know what martial arts is, professor?"

Seeing him nod, Harry continued. "For the last 2 years I learned an art called Jeet Kune Do. I just finished my fifth level out of the eight levels and am the youngest person to do so in the entire world. I believe and live the basic tenant of this art. To have no limitation as the limitation. The books I read are very limited and restricted in nature. If Hogwarts is similar to my old school, where we learn from books and just practice what's in them, then I will be miserable there."

"Why do you believe that these restrictions are not needed for magic?"

Harry got to his feet. "One of the limitations I researched was about flying. Every book I read said wizards and witches could only fly with the help of a broom or a carpet."

Professor Dumbledore felt a wave of Power emit from Harry, before he started floating in the air and sat with his feet folded close to the ceiling. "As you can see sir, that's completely wrong. It took me a while to learn it, but I can assure you, that I can fly better than any broom will allow me to."

Professor Dumbledore stared at Harry with a look very few people had ever seen on his face, that of complete shock. He schooled his features and studied the magical currents around Harry. "You learned this on your own, Harry?"

The young boy nodded. "Mike and Jess helped, but they are not magical and only gave me some ideas."

The professor wondered who Mike and Jess were but put that question aside for the more important questions he had. "What else can you do, Harry?"

Harry shrugged as he floated down and landed on his feet. "Anything I want really, as long as my energy ball has enough power to do it. If it doesn't I will have to borrow energy from an outside source."

"Borrow energy?"

Harry nodded seriously. "That's another thing I failed to see anywhere in the books. No one talks about the energies in the world. There's so much everywhere. In the air, water, earth."

"Yes, I can see the magical flows, which I understand you can as well. It generally takes a long time for one to develop that skill and they need to be moderately powerful to do that. But what do you mean by borrow?"

"Well, you talk to your energy ball about what you need and why you need it and your energy ball will channel its energy through your body to talk to the energies outside. You cannot take the energies against their will. You will need to ask for it."

"Ahh… And how does one go about talking to the energy ball, by which I assume you mean the magic inside you?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. It took me a few months of meditation to get it right. The first time I talked, it was like talking to a baby. But the more I talked to it and more I taught it, the more it learned. We have a good understanding now."

Professor Dumbledore nodded in deep thought. "I must confess, though I have heard of magical objects with highly concentrated amounts of magic like in Hogwarts, being sentient, I have never heard of a person's magic being one. I need to think on this further. Very well, you talked about a second reason for not fitting into the magical world?"

Harry nodded. "Other than the fact that this world has too many limits, I cannot understand the bigotry against non-magical people and even among magicals. Why does blood matter? Why use different terms like muggleborns, half bloods and pure bloods? I simply don't get it. You are either magical or not. And I also don't understand why this world is hidden away from the normal world. There are so many problems that could be solved if both the worlds can work together."

Professor Dumbledore couldn't help but smile. Ahhh, the wonder of youth. "You might not believe this, Harry, but when I was young I dreamed about a world where the magical and the non-magical people can exist in harmony. But alas, it was not to be. Our world has always been a small one, Harry. And we have always been afraid of the non-magical world finding about us and for lack of a better word, exterminating us."

Harry shook his head adamantly. "I don't believe that professor. Yes, people would be afraid at first. But once they start to learn more about us, they will learn to accept us. It will be the same with the magical world. Fear comes from the unknown sir. Remove that unknown and you will remove that fear. John F Kennedy, the American president once said, 'Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.' So how can a society like the magical world sit ideal when so much good can be done with the power it wields? The magical world has great power sir. And with great power comes great responsibility. To deny that responsibility is to deny that gift we were born with."

Dumbledore stared at Harry with a heart swelled with pride. "That's the most compelling argument I heard till date. There have been a few proponents, who wanted to combine both the worlds, but many wanted to do it for the wrong reason and they didn't have enough power to bring about a change." He took a huge breath and stood up. He started pacing the small room, which he enlarged to a room thrice as big with a flick of his wand.

"You outlined many good reasons for not coming to Hogwarts, Harry. But let me give you one reason why you should. Being a magical society, we primarily believe in magical power. There have always been powerful people who changed the magical world for good or bad. Most in our world, will follow these powerful individuals if they choose to lead. And it's these powerful people who can really effect any change. But magical power comes with age. I might be considered as a very powerful wizard in our world, but I was also part of this society for well over hundred years. For me to advocate change at this point would be futile. Many would consider me insane. In fact few already do. What we need is someone new, someone young and powerful, someone who can relate to the next generation, and someone our society already puts in a high place. What we need, Harry is you. You quoted something wonderful. With great power comes great responsibility. Take this responsibility. Don't try to change the world by yourself, it is too big. But instead lead the future generations of wizards and witches to become what you are now, Bolt, a superhero. Isn't that what the papers call you?"

Harry was surprised. "How do you know that?"

Professor Dumbledore chuckled. "Unlike many in our world, I like to know what's happening in the muggle world. After you showed me your flying skill, and heard what you said, it was easy for me to connect the dots."

Harry smiled. "Yeah. I'm Bolt. That's how I started working on my powers you know. I wanted to be a superhero so bad, that I figured out how to do small things at first and then learned more from talking to my energy ball."

The headmaster nodded. "I don't doubt you, dear boy. It takes uncommon dedication to do what you did. But Harry, there is so much to magic that you still don't know. There is much we can learn from each other. Take the responsibility Harry and lead our world into the future. Maybe its fate or magic itself that brought about it, but you are so uniquely positioned to bring about this change than anyone in the past 300 years."

Harry stayed silent for a few minutes as he absorbed what was said. Then Professor Dumbledore saw magic flowing from the ring on Harry's finger in two different directions. He knew Harry was doing something with it, but waited for him to respond.

Harry opened his eyes to find the headmaster sitting there patiently. "Sorry sir, I was talking to Mike and Jess. They invited you to lunch by the way."

"Indeed. Were you by chance using that ring of yours?"

Harry was surprised again and then it clicked. "Oh! You saw the energies around the ring?"

The professor nodded and Harry continued. "Yeah, I created three rings like this, so that Mike, Jess and I can talk when we want in our minds just like a telephone."

"May I see it?"

Harry gave him the ring and the professor observed it closely before waving his wand a few times over it. "Hmmm… Interesting. How does it work"

Harry explained it to the professor. "Ingenious, Harry. I dare say, this would be an extremely profitable product, if you were to sell it to the wizarding public. But I don't believe I am acquainted with this metal."

"Oh, that's because I created it." Seeing the professor's questioning expression, Harry related the story of how he wanted to make a shield and his finding the energy lines, which the professor explained are called lay lines, at Stonehenge and using that power to create the metal.

After that Harry showed the Professor his shield and how it works and answered many questions on that topic. "Harry, my boy, I do believe that it's been a while since I was surprised so many times in a single day. Now, you said your friends invited us to lunch?"

"Well, they are more than friends. They are my real family. Them and little James of course. Do you know Little James is magical as well?"

Harry then explained how he met Jess and Mike and how he saved Mike's life. When Harry took the professor's hand and teleported them to just outside his London home, the professor was again surprised by the ease with, which Harry did it. But he was more surprised when he felt a blood ward around that home.

"I put up that ward myself," explained Harry. "I asked my energy ball… I guess I should call it my magic now… I asked it to analyze how the ward you put at number four works and then when I learned the intention behind it, I put it up across our home here. My magic actually cut my hand for some blood and then healed it."

The lunch went well and Professor Dumbledore liked Mike and Jess and they him. It was decided that Harry would attend Hogwarts and the classes with his year mates. But every weekend he and the headmaster will meet in his office and discuss about magic and teach each other everything they both know.

Professor Dumbledore flooed into his office from Mrs. Figg's and saw his deputy waiting for him. Professor McGonagall for her part was very anxious and was quite surprised to see a bounce in the old wizard's steps.

"Albus, how did it go? Were you able to convince him?"

Professor Dumbledore chuckled. "I see you're anxious. Not to worry Minerva, Harry Potter will be attending Hogwarts. Here's his acceptance letter."

Professor McGonagall took it and gave it a quick read. "How did you manage to convince him? You didn't force him did you?"

Professor Dumbledore chuckled. "Oh! I don't think I could have forced him to do anything. No Minerva, it was his and only his decision to attend."

"Well… what happened then? Why did he change his mind?"

"Ahh… I truly wish I could share that information. But I gave young Harry a magical oath not to reveal what he told him today."

The deputy headmistress was taken aback. "A magical oath, Albus? What possessed you to do that?"

"It was needed at that time. But I will tell you this. Harry Potter will change this world in many many wonderful ways. I'm sure of it." Then he laughed out loud and made Professor McGonagall jump in her seat. She never heard Albus Dumbledore laugh like that. "It's going to be exciting times Minerva. Very exciting. How I wish I was young again."

The deputy headmistress smiled. "I don't think I ever saw you laugh like that, Albus. Now, Quirinus confirmed that he would be coming back to teach defense. And Hagrid wants to know when he needs to deliver the Cerberus."

Professor Dumbledore tapped his fingers in thought. "We will come to that. But there is something more pressing we need to attend to. Call for a staff meeting. I have a proposal I very much like to get the staff's opinion on."

Harry Potter was walking in Diagon Alley with his appearance slightly altered. He didn't care for being mobbed. Today was also his birthday. But Mike was back at the shoot and Jess needed to take care of little James. So Harry decided to go about his shopping alone. Professor McGonagall did show him a few important stores on his first trip to the alley.

The Dursley's didn't bother him at all except for asking if he was going to Hogwarts. Aunt Petunia was disappointed when he said he was going, but Harry didn't really care what they thought. They never cared for him before. It was just Mike and Jess' opinion that mattered to him and they were encouraging him from the start to attend the magical school. He gave back the 50 pounds to uncle Vernon on his demand. Harry smirked. It's not like he needed it, did he?

Harry was just entering Madame Malkins to get his school robes, when a blonde boy his age strutted past him with a sneer. Harry shook head in wonder. What a ponce. After getting his robes, which Harry was not a fan of, he continued to get his schoolbooks and a few others, which he felt had good ideas. After books he went to the apothecary for potion ingredients and then got his potion supplies as well as the telescope. Harry thought about getting an Owl but decided not to. The only people he would write to were Mike and Jess and he could already talk to them through his ring.

His final stop was Ollivanders to buy his wand. He entered the dusty stop and took a step back as if he had been delivered a physical blow. His magical energy automatically tuned his senses for the power levels in Diagon alley after his first trip, but this shop had so much concentration of raw energies that it overwhelmed him.

His magic adjusted his senses and Harry opened his eyes to see a wonderful sight of beautiful colors flowing from the thousands of boxes lined up along a wall. Harry guessed they were all wands and he could see that every one of them was unique. Harry also saw a bright energy, which the headmaster explained was an aura, nearby and glanced at it.

"My my my…" came the voice of an old man as he faded in. He had grey hair and large moon like eyes. He looked at Harry excited. "I never thought I would see someone like you in my lifetime Mr. Potter."

"How do you know me, sir?"

"Your disguise though good, cannot fool me. I remember every wand I ever sold Mr. Potter. It seems only yesterday that your mother and father were here buying their first wands. You look much like your father. But your eyes are entirely your mothers."

Harry nodded. He half expected someone to recognize him through the disguise. He was after all in the magical world isn't he? "Why do I need to buy a wand sir? How will it help me?"

"Every wand is different Mr. Potter, just like every wizard or witch is different. The wand has a magic of its own, which comes from the magical core within it. The core is usually a magical animal like a Dragon, a phoenix or a unicorn. To do any kind of focused magic, you need a tool, which can force the magic within you to the surface and then use it to fulfill your intention. But I am sad to say no wand will ever work for you."

Harry looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"I can see your magic Mr. Potter and it's very different. On the surface it might look the same, but I can see it's true nature. You don't need a tool to force your magic out. You call on it and it responds."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "How do you know that?"

"Like you, Mr. Potter, I can see magic. But my gift is far more powerful. You must be born with it."

"So I can't use a wand?"

The wand maker kept staring at him with unblinking eyes. "No, you cannot. But I might know of something that you can use. I know of only one wizard throughout known history who had trained his magic like you did Mr. Potter. He's legendary in both the worlds."

Then he went to the door and put a closed sign and locked it. He passed Harry on his way back and kept walking inside. "Come Mr. Potter, we have a trip to make."

Harry followed him, curious. "Who is this wizard you talked about, sir?"

"Can't you think of a wizard who is more famous than anyone in history?"

Harry thought about it. He could think of only one wizard who was regarded as the greatest of all. "Merlin? He was real?" he half asked and half stated.

"One of his most famous names. His real name was Myrddin Emrys. And yes, Mr. Potter, he was quite real."

arryHarOllivander reached into his pocket and pulled out his own wand. He touched it to an old belt and it glowed blue. "Come Mr. Potter, touch this belt and it will take us to our destination."

By now Harry was curious with excitement. Even to him Merlin was a great hero and to know that he was not just a myth but also a real figure was exciting.

Once harry touched the belt it activated and they vanished from the shop. They arrived in a seeming blend of colors on a snow-covered mountain. Harry nearly lost his footing, but swiftly balanced himself from years of learning martial arts.

Harry shivered as he felt the chillness over take him. He was not dressed for this environment. But a moment later it was gone as his magic realized the situation and erected a temperature-controlled field around him.

Beside him, Ollivander chuckled. "This way Mr. Potter," he said as he walked uphill. Harry followed him with only a slight difficulty. Luckily it wasn't windy and it was easy enough trek for the athletic young boy. He could feel the magical energies around him. The whole place was glowing with energy.

"Where are we, sir?"

"The Himalayas."

An hour of trekking later, Harry sensed they were nearing. Throughout the long trek, he could feel the energies increasing and now it was like he was nearing the sun hidden in a tornado. It was so much more than what he felt and saw in Stonehenge.

"Are we getting close?" asked Harry.

"Do you feel it Mr. Potter?"

Harry nodded.

"This is a very sacred place Mr. Potter. We are nearing the center of the world. The place where all the lay lines of the world meet." He paused his voice in wonder. "The focal point of all magic on this planet."

Harry stared at the wizard in front of him with wide eyes. "Wow."

"An amazing place. My family has been gifted with true sight Mr. Potter. We see the world in all its forms. That is how my grandfather found this place and passed the secret down the line. To my knowledge you are only the fifth wizard to visit this place and three of them have passed away."

"How do you know Merlin was here, sir?"

"Because it was my grandfather who brought him here, just like I am bringing you."

Harry stopped in shock. "But… but… that means you are…"

Ollivander chuckled and turned around to face the boy. "Yes, Mr. Potter, I am quite old."

Harry frowned. "If you are that old, sir, you must be quite powerful, but I don't see that."

The wandmaker gave him an eerie smile. "Having been gifted with true sight, I know many ways to hide my true power."

Harry looked confused. "But, why couldn't you talk to your magic?"

"That Mr. Potter was something I never knew. I tried talking to it as you said, but I could never accomplish what you did. Magic as you know is alive, Mr. Potter. And it knows when and to whom to give what. Consider yourself truly blessed."

Harry was confused. All he did was talk to his magic.

Soon they stopped in front of a cave. "In you go, Mr. Potter. I will wait for you here."

Harry took a tentative step inside. He could feel the power radiating from inside the cave. Throughout the journey his magic kept bringing down his senses to adjust to the powerful environment. He knew the lay lines intersected somewhere inside. He could feel it.

He took a few more steps inside the cave, when he saw stairs leading down. Harry took them down to a platform, where he was enveloped by magic so powerful that he stumbled. He felt as if the world turned upside down. He felt as if he was floating in vacuum. He channeled his magic into his hand and asked it to analyze the power surrounding him.

But as soon as his magic started to interact, the overwhelming feeling stopped and the magic around him settled into a pleasant hum. Harry understood that it was some kind of a security to only let the right person through. He started feeling a pull and he followed it deep inside the cave. As he turned a corner his jaw dropped and he stared ahead in awe.

AN: I know many of you wanted Harry not to go to Hogwarts. But knowing where he is, I don't think the magical world will leave him to his business. And I also believe in what Dumbledore said. Harry is so uniquely positioned to effect change, that not doing so because that world has some flaws would be insanely head strong. But not to worry my friends. There will be a fair bit happening outside good old Hogwarts. And sorry for the delay. But i am working on a major project and I am doing my best writing when I have time. Cheers & until next time.