Disclaimer: See chapter one.

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The Ivory Cane

Mysterious Introductions

"A jumpy fellow aren't you?"

The light in the room increased and Harry was able to see the owner of the voice for the first time. He was an old man with a short white beard not dissimilar to Dumbledore's but definitely not as long. His dark brown eyes bored into Harry's as he looked over from the oil lamp he had turned up; this new light showing the whiteness of his hair and the remaining few streaks of it's original brown colour struggling to show through.

The man was quite tall and walked with an attractive cane even though his strong stride showed Harry that he did not need it for walking. The white handle of the cane glinted in the dim light and Harry could make out some sort shape carved into it. He didn't have a chance to study it intently though, as the man moved swiftly and effortlessly through the minefield that had caused Harry so much trouble, stopping right in front of him.

"Quiet fellow too."

He lifted his cane and placed the cold smooth handle under Harry's chin, closing Harry's mouth gently. Harry felt his cheeks reddening in embarrassment as he realised he must have looked pretty stupid standing and gaping at the man this whole time.

"So are you going to tell me why you are in my home, and how you got here?"

Harry shuffled nervously on his feet trying to think of a plausible explanation as to why he was standing there. What if the man wasn't a wizard? He couldn't exactly say he had apparated in case the man was a muggle.

But then what kind of muggle kept a stuffed crow and used parchment to write on?

"Hmm, perhaps that's too hard a question. Maybe we should start with your name young sir?"

Harry tried not to wince. What if this man was a wizard and a dark one at that? Maybe he just hadn't recognised him as Harry Potter but would easily turn him over to Voldemort if he found out…

Harry looked up to see the stranger watching him with a small smile of amusement creasing his face. He felt like a complete idiot.

"Um… Harry. Harry is my name."

The man nodded slowly, running a hand down his beard thoughtfully.

"I see. A very short and lonely name, Harold, but I'm glad to find that my appearance did not cost you your voice."

Harry wasn't sure what to say to this.

The man studied him silently for several moments before speaking again in that voice that Harry decided sounded like it hadn't been used in some time.

"I'm assuming, now forgive me if this makes little sense to you, that you used magic to enter my home?"

Harry met his gaze solidly, trying to discern whether the man was asking in a hostile manner or a friendly manner.

"Yes, I did," Harry said quietly, waiting for a reply that didn't come so he continued, "But I wasn't, er… I wasn't supposed to end up here. I was supposed to appear somewhere else."

Again the man nodded.

"That makes a lot of sense. No muggle should be able to break through my wards. Come to think of it, however, no wizard should be able to either."

This time he reached into his robes and pulled out a little silver box which he opened and studied intently. Harry tried not to look intrigued and instead directed his eyes at the raven again.

"Ugly chap isn't he?"

Harry's gaze whirled back to the man who was nodding towards the raven.

"He's a bit… creepy." Harry returned with a half smile.

The strange old man watched Harry for slightly longer than was necessary, smiling a little smile that made the small lines around his mouth more pronounced before his eyes dropped again to the silver box for several more minutes.

Harry didn't really know what to do. He felt pretty uncomfortable being here and was starting to wonder what his teachers in the Great Hall were making of his disappearance. However this man didn't seem to pose any sort of threat, indeed he seemed quite friendly.

"Harold…" The man muttered, "Harry Harry Harry, I see."

Harry frowned and stood expectantly, waiting for the man to say something further.

"You're currently studying magic I take it?"

Green eyes darkened as Harry's mind wandered back to the equation.

"Yes, well, I'm supposed to be learning magic." Harry replied lightly.

"Something on your mind?"

The old man seemed amused by Harry's obvious discomfort at this question. When he didn't reply, the man continued.

"I merely ask because something must have caused your apparation attempt to go so awry. It's not everyday someone manages to break though my wards. Perhaps you could think back to what you were feeling when you arrived here."

Harry squirmed under the man's watchful stare, not really wanting to explain that he'd been feeling embarrassed and ashamed about a stupid spell. He sighed when the man's persuasive tone invaded his thoughts once again.

"There must be a reason why you ended up here. Perhaps I can help?"

"I- um… Well I was thinking about a spell."

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A/N:

Not much of a cliff-hanger ending there but I had to end the chapter somewhere! I think it becomes a bit clearer where I'm coming from in the next chapter, but I hope you're enjoying everything so far. x x x