Note:
One day later and I present you Chapter 2 ! I know it's a short Chapter, but the next one will be longer. This is more of an informative chapter, laying a base for the next one...
Btw ofc Mrs. Figgs sounds much better :P and yes it's Mrs. Figg in the original books.
Chapter 2 - The Mind Arts
Harry woke up after his first night in his new room. He rolled onto his back, staring out the window.
The room was far from furnished, there was a bed, a small square bed table with a lamp that didn't work. There was an old empty bookshelf next to the door and a desk facing the window.
The nearly six year old wizard was wondering why no one had waken him up. Aunt Petunia always expected him to make breakfast for her, himself, Uncle Vernon and his cousin Dudley. Now that he thought about it, it was strangely quiet.
He heard a rumbling sound from his stomach and decided to get up and have breakfast in the kitchen. When he arrived downstairs there was no sign of life. He looked around and saw a note on the table.
Boy,
Petunia and I took Dudley to the hospital, he has to see a doctor.
Mrs. Figgs is coming over at 9 and you will go with her.
Don't try anything funny.
The Dursleys
Harry smiled, for the first time in his life he felt good. He didn't fully understand what changed the Dursleys behavior. The day before he had done a little magic and now they were avoiding him and gave him his own private bedroom.
Mrs. Figgs would arrive in thirty minutes, Harry made his breakfast, took a quick shower and got dressed in one breath. Harry stepped out the front door and walked to the street, he couldn't wait to see his first friend again.
After five minutes, Mrs. Figgs appeared, not surprised to see Harry waiting for her outside the house. She didn't expect him to be smiling though nor did she ask why he looked happy.
Harry rushed through the photographs and went outside. Mrs. Figgs didn't have a problem with this as she could now continue reading her book about Goblin economy. The large and old book was written in Gobbledegook, the native language of the Goblins. Mrs. Figgs worked from time to time for the Goblin Liaison Office of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures in the Ministry of Magic. For this line of work the knowledge of Gobbledegook was indispensable. She knew only two other humans who had mastered the ancient language almost as good as her, one of them, a wizard, head of the Goblin Liaison Office and the other one, the great Albus Dumbledore.
In the garden Harry talked to Korin about what had happened between him and the Dursleys. Korin explained to Harry that the muggles he lived with, are scared of magic and now particularly of Harry.
"Think about it Harry, people are afraid of what they don't know"
"Well they know magic, I showed them yesterday," Harry countered.
"The fireblasts made them even more afraid of you," Korin replied with a comical hiss.
"I don't mind, everything will work out great this way," Harry said, knowing he'd love to be further left alone by his relatives.
"Believe me, you won't have to do the daily chores nor cooking meals for them ever again. They'll try to ignore you as much they can," Korin said mysteriously.
"I never told you that, how do you know they treated me like a slave?" Harry asked surprised, looking down catching the eyes of his friend.
The snake decided he could tell the boy, "Harry, some snakes like me are born Legilimenses. Muggles would call us mind-readers, however Legilimency is much subtler and more complicated than the muggle mind-reading."
"Can only snakes practice this?" Harry asked fascinated, "and how much can you read in a mind?"
"I'll explain it to you" Korin reassured Harry. "The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly. Legilimenses will be able to detect if a person is lying, as well as delve into their thoughts, emotions and memories."
"Is there a way to keep people from attacking your mind?" Harry asked, slightly worried.
"This brings us to Occulmency, the act of magically closing one's mind against Legilimency. It can prevent a Legilimens from accessing one's thoughts and feelings, or influencing them. Yet a normal trained Occulmens will have trouble closing his mind against a highly skilled Legilimens. For example if I enter your mind you could easily shut me out with little skill in Occulmency due to my limited magical abilities or Legilimency skill," Korin explained slowly.
"Korin, can you teach me?" Harry asked politely. He didn't like the thought of strangers messing around in his head.
"Yes, I will start learning you the Occulmency and Legilimency basics. You don't know but you've been using light Occulmency unconsciously against some of my probes. Learning you these arts will be simple but to become skilled at the mind arts you have practice a lot on your own, strengthening the mind."
Harry jumped up and down, he couldn't wait to start learning something new.
"Explain to me, what do I need to do…," Harry requested with eyes that looked as if they were trying to see beyond the horizon.
The snake grinned at the sight of the young wizard and continued coolly. "The most basic form of Occlumency involves clearing one's mind — making it blank and empty — in order to prevent a Legilimens from perceiving one's emotions and thoughts."
"I know how to empty my mind, let's try it Korin!" Harry asked hasty.
Korin didn't wait and attempted to enter Harry's mind. He thought he struck before Harry was ready as he could see a huge hairy man on a flying motorcycle. An instant later everything went blank, Harry succeeded in emptying his mind.
"Well done Harry, well done." Korin said gently.
"It was not difficult, using magic is much harder." Harry replied, still in concentration.
Korin wanted to ask why Harry cleared his mind seconds after the break in and why not earlier, when suddenly he felt little attacks probing his own mind, he quickly raised his Occulmency shields.
Harry smiled, "Sorry Korin, I couldn't resist trying it myself."
The young wizard had waited to clear his mind till after the attack on purpose. He wanted to know how Korin would enter his mind and what it would feel like.
Korin looked amused, his student learned fast, real fast. He knew he could start with the advanced Occulmency techniques.
"You think you're up for the more advanced level, Harry?" Korin asked teasingly.
"Of course," Harry said calmly.
"Like I told you before, to become a master at Occulmency you'll have to practice each day and after a few months your mind will be strong and impenetrable. Advanced Occulmency is setting up and training the defenses of your mind, it's nothing like the basics. You can imagine running around every day with an empty mind to prevent intruders, will drive you crazy. That's why you have to make firm defenses and your mind will be able to defend itself." Korin explained, paused a second to look up to see Harry staring at him, all ears for what he was telling.
"The most common used method for defense of the mind is building walls and shields. I can't learn you how to make them, you have to figure it out yourself. Making a solid defense is not hard but it takes months of work and practice. The more walls and the firmer the walls, the better you will be protected. If a skilled Legilimens penetrates a fortified mind he won't be able to pass the walls or shields unless his attacks are a lot stronger than the defenses." Korin continued.
"Do I need those defenses? If someone tries to enter my mind I can just empty it and they won't find a thing." Harry said unsure.
"You will never be in time to stop an intruder instantly. He'll get the chance to read or use your mind till you are aware of him. A second window is enough to tell if someone is lying to you, again it all depends on the skill of the intruder. Secondly a skilled Legilimens won't be stopped by an empty mind, he'll just dig deeper to do the things he need to do or find out what he needs to know." Korin replied keenly.
Harry nodded, he didn't want to interrupt the snake.
"And Harry, never ever underestimate your opponent, always assume they are stronger than you and be prepared for the worst." Korin added seriously, learning the young wizard an important lesson.
Harry had more questions, to his frustration he had to wait as it was lunchtime. Mrs. Figgs had prepared a nice meal, they ate in their usual silence. Harry busy in his mind trying to build massive walls, he was making quick progress. Mrs. Figgs thinking about economy and her book while wondering why the boy in front of her spend the whole morning in the garden talking to himself.
When they were almost finished eating, Harry decided to try a little Legilimency on Mrs. Figgs. He remarked she didn't have any defenses, and dove deeper in her mind. After several minutes Harry abruptly left Mrs. Figgs mind, synthesizing what he just found out.
Apparently Mrs. Figgs was not the boring old woman he thought she was. Harry's eyes lit up like a cat's in a room full of yarn. Mrs. Arabella Doreen Figgs is a Squib, working undercover as dealer of cross-bred cats and kneazles. She did important assignments, preserved and maintained relations for the Goblin Liaison office. Harry had no idea what that might have been, he could find that out later. Lastly, Albus Dumbledore, an old but powerful looking wizard ordered her to live here on Privet Drive to keep an eye on Harry.
"Legilimency is absolutely marvelous!" Harry thought excited. Mrs. Figgs noticed his reaction, she looked up, he replied with his poker face and went back to his thoughts like nothing had happened.
"I have to further improve my mind defenses, I can't let someone ever do this to me." He reasoned alarmed. He understood why Korin had told him he should practice Occulmency every day.
After his plate was empty, Harry, preoccupied with the news, left the kitchen and searched for Korin in the garden. He had much to talk about.
When he saw the snake bathing in the sun, he came closer and asked curiously, "Do people notice it if you are using Legilimency to invadetheir mind?"
Korin responded, not feeling disturbed, "If they never learned Occulmency then they won't detect a thing." He knew the boy just used Legilimency on Mrs. Figgs. "Harry, you shouldn't use Legilimency on everyone around you, you are invading innocent people's privacy. You wouldn't want people using it on yourself do you?" Korin continued, knowing he had to talk some sense in the young wizard.
"I understand, it won't happen again." Harry replied honestly.
Before Harry could open his mouth to start his questionfire, Korin cut him off and began, "Now I'm sure you've a lot of interesting questions after what you just did. I will try to answer them, but realize I don't know everything. You are still very young Harry, you will find out much more yourself as you grow up."
Harry nodded, "Thanks Korin," he didn't take long to come up with his first question.
"Who's Albus Dumbledore, I saw him multiple times in Mrs. Figgs mind?" Harry started curiously, he stretched his legs to sit more comfortably.
"Albus Dumbledore is considered one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful wizard of this time. He is the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he also served as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, wizarding Britain's high court of law and parliament." Korin explained, he could have said more but he didn't.
"So there is a court of law for wizards and a Ministry of Magic, what's their function?" Harry asked, wanting to know more about the wizarding world.
Korin never thought young Harry wanted to know these kind of things, he was certain the boy would forget it all by tomorrow but continued, "The Ministry connects the British government to the wizarding world. The headquarters of the Ministry are in Whitehall, in central London, deep underground. It is headed by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. The most important function of the Ministry is to maintain secrecy thus to safeguard the wizarding community from muggles, and hide its presence from the world at large."
"That's why I can't use magic near the Dursley's," Harry understood.
"Yes indeed, no magic near muggles," Korin repeated and continued, "There is also a bylaw, the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, which bans the use of underage magic outside of school. The restriction is for wizards and witches who are under the age of seventeen, upon which The Trace still operates."
"What's The Trace?" Harry asked quickly.
"The Trace is a Charm put on wizards and witches who are under seventeen years of age to detect when magical activity is performed in the vicinity of the underage individual. It breaks automatically upon reaching adulthood." Korin kept explaining, he couldn't stop with this almost drooling boy in front of him. His hunger for knowledge was unsatisfiable.
"How come the Ministry didn't came to arrest me when I used magic." Harry wondered. "Maybe they forgot to put The Trace on me," he hoped.
"No they didn't, but good question." Korin said, he knew Harry would ask this. "The Trace's effectiveness appears to be somewhat inconsistent. First of all, the Trace is actually put in place after students begin formal learning. The Ministry does not monitor pre-Hogwarts students, as their magic is normally weak and uncontrollable. Secondly wandless magic is untraceable."
"I see" Harry nodded, somewhat relieved he didn't break the law.
"Korin, you were talking about a wizarding school, Hogwarts?" Harry said, asking for some clarification.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a British wizarding boarding school teaching the magical arts, located in Scotland. The precise location of the school can never be uncovered because it has been rendered Unplottable in order to prevent their ways of teaching being revealed, as well as protect the students and schools themselves from any harm. Hogwarts is considered the best magical institution in the Wizarding world, though other notable schools include Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute." Korin took a small break and continued again, "You and a lot of other magical children are enrolled at birth, I'm sure you'll receive the acceptance letter at age eleven."
The snake was pleased with his own description and looked up in the watery eyes of the little wizard, tears of joy appeared and dripped on his cheeks. After a brief moment of silence, Harry pulled himself together and whipped off his tears with his arm.
As the evening fell it began to get cold and the growing twilight seemed to merge into one dark mistiness.
Harry decided to go back inside and said goodnight to his friend and mentor.
Mrs. Figgs had also lost track of time, she was still reading the economy book. Harry didn't expect she would notice him entering the living room. She didn't ask where he had been the whole afternoon.
"Your uncle called," she said, not looking up. "They told me you could stay a while longer and return in the evening."
"Then I better get back," Harry guessed.
Harry waved his hand and his jacket flew from his chair in the kitchen towards him. He pulled it on and stepped outside.
Dudley was already asleep when Harry arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley were still awake, sitting in front of the tv, they ignored Harry as he entered the kitchen. Harry drank a glass of water, took five slices of brown bread and went upstairs.
Harry walked up and down in his room, eating the bread while thinking about Hogwarts. He couldn't wait to go there to study magic and meet other wizards his age. Would people like him there? What if he was not skilled enough to get accepted? What other types of magic could he learn there?
"I guess only time will tell," He muttered in himself, deciding he'd work hard to get into Hogwarts.
Before Harry went to sleep he did his Occulmency exercises and improved his mind's defenses.
This night Harry Potter didn't dream about flying motorcycles or jets of green light, he was dreaming about a big castle in the mountains near a loch.