Disclaimer: We all know how these work, I acknowledge that J.K. Rowlings, Warner Bros. and Scholastic own Harry Potter and all other characters and settings from cannon, and I get to write whatever I please and even add in characters of my own as long as I don't get any money. The no money sucks but there you go, at least I don't get lawyers knocking on my door. Addendum: If you recognize a name of a character from elsewhere it isn't mine.
A/N: I'm shifting to weekly updates RL stuff and giving myself time for Speaker of Truth
Sirius' Savior
Chapter 46 Salem
The portkey deposited them in the entry hall of a luxurious townhouse in the magic section of Salem, Massachusetts. They rapidly did their time jump and Rachel called for the Massachusetts security crew. Harry explored the house that would be home. He was pleased that there was a bathroom attached to each of the bedrooms and there was a sun room that he planned to claim as his study he would ask Rachel to do privacy charms to prevent spying.
This segment he planned to do his Latin class. Harry almost resented the slowed pace of his classes. The only saving grace was the increased martial arts and the stepped up mind arts that Rachel and Sirius gave him . Montana hadn't been bad he supposed. The challenge of revamping Reynolds Ingredient Supply and Reserve had made a good change of pace not to mention the books Mal had got him. He hoped the books that Inarra Serra picked were as interesting. Harry had mastered his control of his metamorph talent and had locked his mock scar on his chest into his consciousness. Now there would be no questions when he returned to school.
He had control of his magic he could bring it up and suppress it at will. Sirius now was having him do exercises so the normal magical field that wizards by their very natures tended to emit could come under conscious control. It would mean the difference between attaining total camouflage if surrounded by enemy wizards and his ability to use muggle electronics without shorting it by accident.
He wondered about his teacher for this segment. Inarra Serra sounded so exotic. He knew she was a spell crafter and a wand-maker. Idly, he wondered if Sirius would commission a wand for him or not. In Britain the were laws one wand per wizard. Sirius said the laws were written such that you could only buy one wand, what many people didn't realize was the pureblood elite left a loophole you could only buy one wand but you could commission a wand-maker to make as many as you wanted. Usually only the aurors and the bad guys took advantage of the loophole. But if Harry got a wand here it would fall into the commission loophole. Especially since he was supplying the materials. He wondered what traits a juniper, pegasus and ki-lin hair wand would have. Inarra Serra was to teach him magical theory. He hoped it would be interesting. If not well, it wouldn't be the first boring lesson he'd ever had. He got himself settled into his room and pulled out his guitar picking out the notes of one of his favorite songs.
Sirius brought Harry his potion for this leg of the jump, and was pleased to hear the strains of Harry's guitar as he approached the bedroom door. He sighed because he really missed Beth but it would be another two weeks before he could call and even then he would only get to talk to her one day a week. "Harry here's your potion. How does pizza for dinner sound?"
"Thanks, only if it's veggie, I can't handle all the meat you like especially on top of this." Harry tossed back the potion."
"One veggie pizza it is. I'll go call the order in You rest while that potion kicks in."
Sirius felt bad for having Harry take the de-aging potion. But they couldn't have him go back to Stuart-Cavanaugh looking almost a year older and he needed training and time to get his magic under control or the whole secret of magic would be out. It was very scary to realize just how strong Harry was likely to be as an adult. Even now he was strong enough to give Sirius and Rachel a run for their money. He and Harry spent an hour in the morning and another hour in the evening between meditation, centering exercises, and occlumency exercises. He hoped that this leg went as smoothly as the last.
The next morning Sirius escorted Harry to the home of Inarra Serra. They knocked and she opened the door. "Yes." The first impression that both Harry and Sirius got was beauty. Inarra Serra was certainly one of the most beautiful women either of the had every seen, but their initial impression was that she was untouchable and remote. Sirius wondered if this was such a good idea.
"Ms. Serra I'm Sirius Black and this is Harry."
"Come in." She opened door further. "I haven't been a teacher before Mr. Black and I'm still uncertain as to why you think your ward deserves tutelage early but you are paying me very well and I did need the money to pay for my mother's treatment. I took you at your word. Harry the stack of books on the coffee table is for you. Read those first, later we will discuss them. Mr. Black How exactly did you envision the next few weeks?"
"We will do them however you see fit Ms. Serra. If you want to assign Harry work and then have me bring him back for discussion then that's the way we'll do it. I have a commission for a wand for you as well, my only requirement is that you allow Harry to observe as you make it."
"I'll charge double my normal wand commission fee for the observation. My standard wand commission fee is seven galleons over and above the cost of materials."
"Fine."
"I paid twelve galleons for the books. I would prefer that Harry reads before we start any formal lessons. Therefore..."
Sirius pulled out his money pouch and fished out the twenty-six galleons. "We'll call when he's finished the books."
Harry picked up the seven books. "Thank you Ms. Serra."
Sirius was less than happy about Ms. Serra's manner but Harry hadn't allowed her attitude to faze him. They looked around Salem and visited some historic sights before going back to the townhouse Chuck the security for the day wasn't happy about the change in plans but admitted that the risk was low especially since they were touring muggle historic sites. That afternoon it clouded up to rain so Harry settled in the sun room and started the first book.
Sirius was surprised at how easily Harry set himself into to studying magical theory. He had never felt drawn into theory always preferring the practical application of magic. He supposed it was yet another proof that Harry was very much Lily's son. He looked to see the titles of the books Harry was reading: The Nature of Magic by Imelda Jansen, Magical Theory by Aldabert Waffling, Principles of Magic by Ulster Farquar, Magic, Mysteries, and Linking Yourself to the Universe by Constance Fulbright Classifying Magic: Analyzing the Mysterious by Constance Fulbright, Magic What It Is and What It Isn't by Felix Milson , Magic Fact and Fiction and Everything in Between by Anna Treadstone. Of all the titles he only recognized one, the Waffling book. It had been a new release the third year he was at Hogwarts and it was still almost a international standard when it came to magical theory textbooks. He was even more astonished when three days into studying the books Harry pulled out his cell and called his honorary grandparents.
"Hi Grandmother. Are you busy today? You're not that's great. Oh I'd forgotten. Yes. Relax about it. Beth will be slightly frantic cause it was harder than we thought we exhausted ourselves magically but we got rid of it. I'm much better now. Yes we're in Salem now.I was hoping you would be willing to go to the Stuart-Cavanaugh's bookstore I need a physics textbook and a chemistry textbook the AP class ones should work and I like you to overnight them to Salem for me. Yes they probably will be hard for me but they're the ones likely to have the information I want. Thanks bunches Grandmother. I love you too."
"What are you up to kiddo?"
"Well I.. I'm trying to figure out the physics of magic. How magic affects the principles of science."
"Okay you have got to be channeling Lily. I recall those same words coming out of her mouth while she was working for the Unspeakables while she was pregnant with you."
"Really? Do you think her journals would have any of her research?"
"I don't know. I suppose I could apparate to the house and get them out of storage."
"Could you? Would you?" Harry practically vibrated with excitement.
"I suppose." Sirius drawled playfully. Harry's eyes danced with anticipation.
Sirius dialed Maryanne and let her know that he would be at the house so she could drop the books there instead of shipping them. His plans made for the day he left while Harry went back to studying.
Six days later Harry took his notebook of questions, the juniper branch, the feather and ki-lin hair and knocked once more of Ms. Serra's door.
When she opened the door she appeared to be in a slightly better mood than last time. Harry smiled at her and followed her in.
"So you have read all those books have you? Let see what you remember. What is Mandelbright's law of …."
The next four hours were a test of Harry's memory. He was relived when they stopped for lunch. After lunch Harry started asking his questions one after another.
Inarra was astonished here was this little boy asking the kind of questions she had asked her master. However he wasn't giving her the chance to answer. She frowned and waved her hand.
Harry found himself silenced and stuck to a chair.
"Mr. Potter one thing I do not tolerate is rudeness. Asking a string of questions is unbearably rude, especially when you are asking without giving your listener a chance to answer. Learning is accomplished through observation be that observation of the eyes or of the ears. In the future you will ask one question at a time and you will listen to the answer before asking another is that clear?"
Harry nodded his eyes wide.
"Ask a question then?"
"How did you do that? You didn't say anything you just waved your hand and whoosh..."
"What did I say about after asking a question?" She said in a warning tone.
Harry shut up.
"That was wandless and wordless magic something that requires focus on the desired outcome, concentration to control the magic and will to bring the magic into being in the first place. It is something that all wizards and witches are capable of contrary to popular myth. However most witches and wizards never bother because wanded magic is so much easier. That said, I assume that you are the intended recipient of the wand your guardian commissioned?"
Harry nodded.
"Then let us go to my workroom and start selecting materials."
"I already have the wood and the core."
"Really? Let's see it."She asked skeptically.
Harry pulled the juniper branch and the pegasus feather from his day pack. When Inarra saw the branch she was somewhat surprised because it glowed slightly to her mage sight. She hadn't expected that but it was typical of wood that was meant for wands. But when Harry pulled out the ki-lin hair wrapped pegasus feather she swallowed hard. She recognized the feather for what it was Pegasus feather wands were almost as rare as phoenix feather wands. Pegasus feather wands usually went to highly intuitive magicals and were powerful. At first glance the hair looked like a unicorn hair but closer examination showed it lacked the true translucent iridescence of a unicorn hair it was almost a light chestnut with a faint iridescence. "What kind of hair is this?" she asked.
"Ki-lin."
"Ki-lins are only found in China. Where did you get it?"
"There's a small herd at a reserve in Montana. That's where I got both the feather and the hair."
"So this wand is to be a double core?"
"Yes."
"Did both animals give them willingly?"
"Yes."
"And you wrapped the hair yourself?"
"Yes did I do it wrong?"
"No, no tell me how you got the branch."
"I went of a vision quest in Arizona and the wolves brought the branch to me."
"I see. Follow me."
Harry followed her into a work room that had a lathe, several work benches and an enormous cabinet that ran the length of the room. She pulled a tape measure from the drawer a wave of her hand and it zipped around him measuring his head, his arm, his hand, the space between his eyes his height and the length of his feet. A few moments later she waved it back to her side it landed on a piece of parchment. She examined the branch again then said, "I assume a wolf made the chew marks?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Do you wish for a remnant of them to exist on the wand?"
"Is that possible?"
"On the grip yes." Inarra locked the branch onto the lathe handed him some protective goggles. She pulled on a set of goggles herself and said, "Turn the crank." Harry cranked and watched as she used a stone knife to cut away excess bark and wood.
"Why a stone knife?"
" Iron interferes with the intrinsic magic of the wood and silver is to soft."
Harry was quite fit but he was very exhausted by the time Inarra judged the wand to be done on the lathe. He had asked only a fraction of his questions when she dismissed him for the day.
The remainder of his lessons were not what Harry was expecting. Inarra Serra would answer his questions for a while then she would make him experiment utilizing some aspect of magic it was always some thing he could do sometimes she had to show him first but he could always do it, He found that usually by doing and carefully observing the experiment his unanswered questions of the day before would be answered. And she would make him do the grunt work in his wand. He cranked the lathe, he cranked the borer when she made the space for the pegasus feather. And he sanded for hours it seemed. He didn't mind the work much but it irritated him that in the time it was taking him to do the grunt work she had completed several wands. Harry had been very careful as he sanded the grip of his soon to be wand he wanted it to be smooth enough he didn't need to worry about splinters but still textured enough that he would be reminded of the wolves and the lessons they taught him and to provide a non slip grip. Inarra would answer some of his questions but frequently she would ask him questions to make him think through his questions and try to reason the answers from the books she'd had him read, the experiments she'd had him do, and the supplemental reading he had done.
Finally his last week there she had him sit with her. She asked him, "What have you learned about magic, Harry?"
"Magic is for lack of better description an energy that can be used to transform thought into reality. It can be harnessed by those with the ability to use magic."
"How is it harnessed?"
"Magic is harnessed through focus, concentration and will."
"Is that all?
"No most witches and wizards use incantations, wands and wand movements that have proven to have repeatable results to do magic."
"What else can you tell me about magic?"
"Magic has many disciplines Charms, potions, transfiguration, mind magic, sex, runic, warding, healing, divination, blood, black and elemental."
"What is dark magic?"
"Dark magic is a way of classifying magic that is used by magical governments to discourage practitioners of magic from harming others for their own benefit. Most magic is neither light nor dark it depends on what it's used for. Most governments have classified blood magic and black magic as dark,along with various spells, potions, equations, runes, wards, and mind magic practices as dark because they are prone to abuse."
"Tell me about black magic."
"Black magic is a form of magic that is destructive, addictive and requires a large output of negative emotion, that tends to slowly drive its users insane. Spells such as the avada kedavra, and cruiatus curse that are a black version of old healing spells are two examples of black magic."
When is blood magic truly dark?"
"Blood magic is truly dark when the blood used is unwillingly shed. Most forms of magic have some aspect to them that can be classified as dark even healing because the imperious spell was created by healers to help suicidal people, but has been used by others it to hurt and even kill others."
"Good you have a very good grasp of what dark magic is. What forms of magic is the most rare?"
"Elemental magic is the rarest form of magic. Divination is the second most rare."
The interrogation continued for hours even over lunch The questions had started with an almost recitation quality but as it proceeded more and more of them required that Harry synthesize the answers. At the end of the day Harry went back to the townhouse and fell into bed. Sirius was a little concerned but accepted that Harry was tired.
The next morning, Harry mentally prepared himself for a continuing onslaught of questions but was surprised when Inarra lead him to the workroom and pulled his wand and waved the core out. She smiled at Harry then murmured a spell, Harry watched as his wands core rolled into a tight almost pipe cleaner like form. Inarra gestured for him to come forward. "It is time Harry. You must put the core into your wand."
Harry took it and carefully pushed the core into the center of the wand. When he finished Inarra nodded and murmured another spell. Inarra smiled. "That will relax the core tomorrow we will finish the wand.
"You have been an excellent student Harry Your understanding of theory exceeds the grasp of most students and you should be proud of the work you have done. You have come a long ways from the impatient boy demanding answers to questions but unwilling to wait for the answers."
"Now I will teach you about wands. There is a saying in the magical world the wand chooses the wizard. For most witches and wizards this means that the wand they get before they start school is the wand that they are the most compatible with. However that does not mean that they are not compatible with other wands or that they will always be compatible with that wand. That wand can be won from them. When ever a wizard or witch duels it is possible to win their wand most wands remain compatible but there are some that will not. Wands bond to their owners so for the most part once you are older and have worked with your wand your wand will accept use by those you call friend and by those who can defeat you or disarm you. Intent is always the key.
"Your wand will be finished in two days you have a unique mix for a wand. Juniper for cleansing the spirit, Pegasus feather for power and creativity, ki-lin, and I had to do research to find this, for purity and knowledge. About the only wand I can think of that would have the potential for more good is holly and ...Phoenix feather. But a word of warning never do a black spell or even borderline dark with your juniper wand it will likely either rebel or burn out on you."
"What if I were doing a borderline spell to purify someone who did black magic?"
"Given how tight a bond you are likely to form with this wand it may be possible but I wouldn't risk it."
"Why do you say it's likely to form a tight bond?"
"You collected the elements, I have touched the core only once you did most of the true work. It is truly your wand although I would like to add a small gift to it if you will let me."
"What?"
"This." Inarra held out a small seven eights inch diameter button like object.
Harry examined it closely it was a yin-yang symbol made of moonstone and onyx. "How would we add it?"
"Leave that to me. I would need a small amount of metal like what your pendant is made from."
"I could probably get some."
"Do so and tomorrow we will finish your wand."
"I know it's only lunch time but are we doing anything else today?"
"No, you're excused."
"Thank you ma'am."
"You are welcome Harry."
The next day Harry returned with some tungsten carbide, anxious to finish his wand. Inarra had Harry put a small juniper plug into the haft then she had him rub oil into the wood. When he finished she said a spell to dry it. After that he put three polyurethane coats over it which she also dried between each layer. "What next?" Harry asked her.
Inarra took the metal from him and using her own wand created an anchor for the yin-yang stone and seal for the wands haft and smooth but twisted wires that ran up the grip to highlight the teeth marks left by the wolves and that would provide a grip that would have lots of texture to avoid slipping when held. When she finished the spell work she handed Harry the wand.
Harry took the wand and a fountain of multicolored sparks formed from the tip.
"Congratulations on your new wand Wizard Potter."
"Thank you Ms. Serra. Thank you for the wand and the books nut most of all thank you for the lessons. They weren't what Sirius or I expected but I suspect I learned more than I would have if you had been a conventional teacher."
"You're welcome. You were a much better and easier and more deserving student than I originally thought. Now, I have wands to make so take yourself home."
Harry and his guard for the day went back to the townhouse.
Sirius was a little surprised when Harry and Ralph came in. "What are you doing home this early. I thought your lessons went till four it's only eleven thirty?"
"Ms. Serra sent me home we finished my wand this morning and I think she gave me my final the day before yesterday. She told me after she handed me my wand that I was a much better and more deserving student than she originally thought."
"Show me." Sirius grinned at the delighted expression on Harry's face as he proudly pulled his new wand from his day pack. When he saw the wand he was impressed. The detail on the haft was marvelous, the tungsten carbide wires for a secure grip, the yin-yang stone and practically microscopic runes in the tungsten carbide ring around the stone. The thirteen inch wand was a work of art. He knew from things Harry had said that Harry had done much of the work himself. "Beautiful. Rachel should be getting up soon, how about you go make lunch. Once she's up you can show her okay." Harry gave an enthusiastic nod and bounced out of the room. Sirius asked Ralph, "Did Ms. Serra say Harry was done with his lessons?"
"Yup, she said that he has a better grasp of theory then most kids and that he had learned all she planned to teach him. And I have to say having listen to the quizzing she put him through two days ago was intense. He has a better grasp of theory than I do."
"Okay guess that means we'll be leaving a little early then." It suddenly occurred to Sirius the bright side of this. This would mean getting back to Beth just a few days earlier. So he immediately perked up. Next stop New York, Charms with Jack Harkness. In New York Sirius planned several things for Harry books, a wand holster, introducing transfiguration, sightseeing all kinds of fun.