A/N: Frau and I flipped a coin. We aren't going to end this and start a sequel. Here's the next installment. We decided not to dwell on Harry's school life. So the first year is going to go by fast. Also, we are going to drift a 'little' away from canon (tongue in cheek). Anyways, thanks for all the great reviews, keep them coming. "Somewhere Out There" and "Ave Maria can be found at: http:// www. ronstadt-linda. com/ mousemovie. htm and http:// www. carols. org. uk/ ave-maria. htm–GF and The Frau

Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames aren't.

Chapter 14: Somewhere Out There

Standing, Harry reached up and peeled off the cheek scar as it had served its purpose as he placed the hat on the stool. Smiling, with a bit sleigh of hand, he pulled out a red rose, "'Th' hast spoken right, 'tis true. The wheel is come full circle I am here.' For you Professor." Stepping back from her, he bowed slightly, then he turned to face the Head Table. Raising one hand, he did a sweeping theatrical bow amidst the cheering from the Gryffindor table.

0o0o0o0o0

All was quiet. The feast was long over with and all the students were safely tucked in their houses under the watchful eyes of their prefects and head of houses. Well, all except for one young first year, that is.

Garion aka Harry had managed to sneak out of the common room and through the portrait by using a bit of goblin magic undetected by the denizens of the castle. Fingering the crystal that hung around his neck, Harry was too wired to sleep and a bit homesick. He kept waiting for a goblin or two to pop in to check on him. As of yet, no luck.

Quietly he roamed the halls looking for a bit of fresh air and a hidden nook or alcove to play. He couldn't quite leave the castle, that would've set off too many alarms. He hadn't wandered far from the Gryffindor common room when he found what he was looking for. A small out of the way spot with a window seat that seemed almost too perfect.

The moonlight shining through the window cast a silvery glow on everything it touched. Perfect.

Harry pulled out his acoustic guitar and tuned. He leaned against the window frame composing his thoughts allowing the magic to flow around and through him. The crystal was almost full and the overflow was starting to make his skin crawl. He had to ground the magic or he'll never get any sleep. If the crystal filled this fast, he would have to do this about every night! Just peachy! He'd never make it to the end of the school year like this!

His fingers strummed the opening chords on the guitar as he thought about what song he should be playing. His fingers started on the tune "Somewhere Out There." Soon he was singing, "

"Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight

Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight . . . "

He called to the magic in the crystal forth. As he sang, the released magic joined tendrils of the free magic within the hall. Soon the tendrils were dancing around Harry in a swirling rainbow vortex of colors. He lost himself in song and concentrated on sending the magic back to the Underground pool.

Lost in the moment, Harry didn't realize that he had an audience. Out of the shadows, the goblins and house elves crept close to listen. Harry's voice rang clear and sweet as only a young boy's could.

When the last fading note died, Harry was brought back to the present by the sound of many voices releasing their breath in awe.

Goblins and elves looked at each other in surprise, then back at Harry. Harry blinked. "What the . . . ? Where did you all come from?"

o0o0o0o0o

Filch and Mrs. Norris were patrolling the hallways looking for rule breakers when they heard music. Music? This late at night? However, as they drew nearer, something stopped them. The sounds of giggling caught his attention. The music could wait. He had better fish to fry.

Taking off in the darkened hallway, the caretaker and his cat, intent on finding the miscreants, never noticed the trio of goblins hiding in the shadows.

It's the first night of school and the little cretins are at it already! More giggles echoed further down the hallway luring him onward.

Filch never realized that the castle had been invaded by goblins.

0o0o0o0o0

Dumbledore sat in his office after the feast, pondering what he had witnessed. Harry Potter wasn't what he expected. The boy seemed a lot like his father and yet, there was something different. Something more.

'Where were you, my boy? Who raised you?' That mystery as well as many other questions circled in his mind without any solutions. Thankfully the boy had been sorted into Gryffindor. He would shudder to think if it had been in any other house.

The boy seemed well versed in the classics. That quote he gave to Minerva was from Shakespeare and that bow. It told him that the boy had been given training in proper pure blood etiquette. That could cause problems down the road, if his attitude towards muggles was the same as many purebloods.

'Will he be ready to face his destiny? What does he know?'

Deep in his thoughts, the old wizard failed to notice the shift in the ambient magic of the castle. He never noticed a pair of eyes watching him from the shadows. Nor did he noticed the alert posture of his phoenix, Fawkes. He broke out of his reverie when Fawkes started to trill. Unbeknownst to the old wizard, Fawkes was harmonizing to the music that Harry was playing.

0o0o0o0o0

Harry returned to his bed a bit dazed. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he'd find a following at the castle. He knew that the goblins could go anywhere if there were shadows to hide in. However, to find house elves, that was something different. They were nothing like the elves Underground! He would have to find out more about them. Thankfully, they seemed to like him and his music. They might make great allies in the future.

Sleep came easily after that. Clearing the crystal helped. His dreams were filled with music and his brothers. However, he was still a tad homesick. He had never really slept away from home before. This castle didn't make all the right sounds like his father's did. A soft giggle erupted under his bed. So he wasn't truly alone after all. His goblin playmates would watch over him.

When he awoke the next morning, it was still quite early. His fellow roommates were still sleeping soundly. Grabbing his music case, he would be carrying it with him from now on as it doubled as a book bag, he hurried to the Great Hall.

It was just starting to get light when he wandered down to breakfast, after getting lost a bit first. Setting his case aside by the Gryffindor table, he looked around. He was alone. The first one down for breakfast. Perfect!

Going up to the Head Table, he stood on the dias, facing the house tables. Last night, he had noted sheer vastness of the Hall. He really wanted to test the acoustics. He would bet that they would be awesome. Looking around carefully as he really didn't want to get into trouble, he squared his shoulders and tightened his diaphragm before letting out a clear bell toned 'doe'.

A smile spread across his face as the note floated across the Hall echoed off the walls in its pure bell like clarity.

Now what song to sing? He wanted to test the clarity and music would only get in the way. He could quote Shakespeare. Hamlet came to mind. He was feeling a bit like the Danish prince at the moment. 'Nahh. More like Puck,' he thought, looking up at the vaulted ceiling. "Ahh! Yes!" he exclaimed, rubbing his hands together. Squaring his shoulders, he raised his chin and eyes to the heavens as the dulcet tones of 'Ave Maria' spilled forth.

Ave Maria Gratia plena
Maria Gratia plena
Maria Gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum

0o0o0o0o0

Outside the doors, Severus Snape stood enthralled. He had been all set to burst in on Potter when he had watched the boy enter the Great Hall and step up on the dias. He was sure that the he was up to no good, just like his father and friends. What he hadn't expected was Potter singing like an angel.

"Severus, my boy. What a way to start the morning. Who is that singing?" Albus Dumbledore asked.

Something within the Potion Master seemed to stir just for a moment, then fell silent. "Potter."

o0o0o0o0o

For the person that asked about the 'ghostbuster bit', you'll have to wait for it. It's very corny. Maybe when Harry is on a sugar high. Thanks for the reviews. Until next time. --GF and The Frau