Disclaimer: I don't own it; just having a go at fanfiction to see if I can em-provvvee my Eeng-lish.
Dreamer's Note: No, I won't call myself an author. Every half an hour before I sleep, I'll have some idea popped up in my mind before I drift away in my slumber. Sometimes, I wrote and deleted paragraphs after paragraphs just to suit my plot in the future of the story. I'm not very good at writing a poem or such thing, so mostly when witchcraft is mentioned in my story, I'll just say, some verses were chanted or the incantation was there, but not the thing itself. Bear with me.
The True Journey of Harry Potter
Chapter 10 – Uncertainty
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HARRY!" shouted the guests and residents of No. 4, Privet Drive. Harry knew in advance of the party, but he was surprised nonetheless. It was a small gathering of the people who knew him well such as the Grangers, Mr. Androix, the Finch-Fletchleys and just his family including Aunt Marge. The guests came to greet and wished him, then all joined the marvelous dinner cooked by his aunts. They smiled satisfyingly as people praised them. Harry just walked and hugged them both blissful. The cake was cut and spread out. Once the kitchen was cleared, they all assembled in the living room.
A few minutes past eight, Harry called for everyone's attentions. "Everyone, I have something to tell you and ask you for secrecy."
They all nodded and looked at him listening eagerly.
"As you all know, I'm ten today. There're things I'd like to tell you, but firstly," he paused and drew a rune of secrecy in the air before sending his magic to do its job. "Right, now what I just did is calling for secrecy, which would settle into your bodies, souls and magic. It won't trouble you any bit. I apologize for doing this, but what I'm about to say is… ah… rather…"
"Dangerous knowledge?" Aunt Petunia helped from the corner she sat.
"Yeah, dangerous knowledge. People would seek this knowledge out and willing to do anything to you guy if they think you know," Harry continued and nodded at his aunt thankfully.
He then announced about his Baronage in the muggle world and the Lordship in the wizarding world. It was well-received to say the least. Hermione was ready to jump and went straight to a library for more research on his family's history in both worlds. Justin just shrugged; he grew up in high-society where they met celebrities, nobilities and royalties.
"So, you're deciding to introduce yourself to Her Majesty?" Mr. Androix said after sitting quietly listening.
"Yes," Harry replied, "but it'll have to wait till I've talked with the goblins first."
"Why bother?" Justin spoke up, "I'm sure grandfather could help you there, right, grandfather?"
Mr. Androix looked at his grandson and smiled, "I could, but Harry made a good point there. The goblins deal with this kind of thing. You know; legalities, communication, settings and such. They would be more helpful and it would benefit Harry that he show them respect by asking their helps."
"How can you help, Kristov?" Uncle Vernon asked. He never knew much about this councilor of the Squib Society.
"Well, you may guess… or know that I'm doing business around the world and originated from Russia, right?" Mr. Androix started replying, "So what if I tell you that the Androix was one of the Royal families in the Russian Empire?"
"You mean," Hermione was stammering, "as in the Tsardom of Russia?"
Mr. Androix raised his eyebrows, "you know about it? A very clever girl you have there, Daniel." The older man praised his fellow.
"Why, thank you, Kristov," Mr. Granger smiled. "Now, where did you learn about that, Hermione?" he asked his daughter quite curious himself.
"Well, you know I love reading, Dad," Hermione replied, "and I'm always fascinated of the story of princes and princesses, which later on brought me to the royalties in the world." She blushed admitting her interests. That called for a round of snickers from the children and chuckles from the adults.
"Anyway, as I was saying, even though the Tsardom was revolted back in 1917, the royal families are still around. We hold high profiles in the communities around the world. We, Androixes were the very first magical family with long history to migrate here even before the revolution. The Royal family of Britain acknowledged our status, but approved of our silent plea that we remained unannounced. However, we still attend any social events; both to keep our names around the society and expand our business, of course."
Everyone was quite shocked of the announcement. They knew that this was a secret of the Androix family. Mr. Androix himself had pondered about letting it out in this circle. Harry's circle, as he liked to call it, was quite an important and well-respected in the Squib Society. They were like the leader of the leading councilors of the society itself. Seeing Harry's advancement in magic was another factor that he really appreciated. Justin had found a good friend after all. He just wished he could ask Harry to help train his grandson. Of course, Mr. Androix did not know about Harry and Hermione's witchcraft training as the Androix did not practice it himself. However, the Russian man had some trick in his sleeve if he would ever need one against the magical ones.
Everyone in the room knew there were granted a very rare secret that they should not ever tell anyone. Harry's secrecy rune was in effect so the information would be safe in their minds and memories. After a brief history of the Androixes, Mr. Androix concluded that he could be help arranging an audience with the queen for Harry's introduction, though he agreed upon letting the goblins do it.
"Well, that was it then," Uncle Vernon said from his fluffy chair. "The goblins will be contacted and requested for their arrangement for both the statuses in the both worlds. Is there anything else, Harry? I'll say it's too much serious business for the evening and it's your birthday, my boy."
Harry smiled thanking his aunt's husband, but he shook his head. "There's still one issue that I'd like to say and… ah… do," he said looking directly at his two friends who would be joining him at Hogwarts.
Hermione and Justin noticed the look and asked him together, "what is it, Harry?"
"Well, you know that my knowledge of magic is a secret, right?" Harry started. Seeing their nods, all of them, Harry continued. "Thing is, in the magical world, there're some people who could read your mind, see your memory and skim your thoughts."
Hearing that, the children's eyes widen. The adults, though, were also surprised, but did not show it. Dudley, who had been very quiet, spoke up. "You mean, all the secret things could be taken from us? Can they do that without us knowing, Harry?"
"Yes, Dud, a very skilled legilimens can do that with none the wiser," Harry replied. "Anyway, there're also ways to prevent that. It'd be a very hard work for us all, I mean, Herminone, Justin and I."
"What's the way, Harry?" Mr. Granger asked eagerly. If his precious daughter would be at risk entering the world unknown to him apart from the family memoir, he would do anything to overcome or avoid any problems.
"It's called Occlumency," Harry replied. "I'm not very good at it yet, but I'm trying to master it before we all enter the wizarding world. But, for the instant, I've got a solution too."
"Alright, Harry. Spill," Hermione felt Harry's nervousness.
"I… ah… I can… kind of… umm…" Harry stammered looking at his aunts for help.
The aunts found Harry, Mr. I'm-too-mature-for-my-age, stuttering funny and both giggled like some silly girls. Harry sighed desperately. He inhaled before saying what was in his mind. "I can cast a charm… ah… it's kind of a ritual of witchcraft I found using runic symbols and charm incantations. However, it's required to be accepted willingly from your end."
"Well," Hermione thought about what her friend was saying. "You know that we both," she indicated Justin, who nodded, "trusted you, Harry. So, just do it and get it done, will you?"
Harry blushed feeling grateful of his friends trusting him. "Well, I just don't want to assume, you know," he said smiling.
Mr. Androix and Granger looked at the children proudly. They saw the kids bonded with each other and thank their lucky stars for granting Harry to their lives. Justin used to be very quiet and withdrawn, while Hermione was nerdy and kind of a geek. Meeting Harry and befriended him brought them out of their shells and now they were just like any normal kids.
Harry stood up and started drawing runes in the air. Red lines of light appeared as he drew them. The strange line of runic symbols, once done, moved and formed a circle. Harry stated chanting a few verses and the runes glowed. A few minutes later, the rune circle split into 2 and rose in the air and hung over his two friends' heads. It floated there for a while along Harry's chanting and then slowly it lowered. White light shone at their head until the runes vanished once down to their forehead level.
The adults looked in awe at the show of magic. True be told, Aunt Marge and Petunia knew exactly what it was, but they never thought Harry would do it to the extent that he added his own runes in there. Hermione, being as a student of the witchcraft and rune casting, noticed the extra runes, but stopped herself to ask Harry about it later on.
"That's done," Harry declared smiling widely.
"Well, is there anything else, Harry?" Uncle Vernon said after looked at the time. "It's getting late and I don't think our guests should stay longer now."
Harry was startled to see the time was quite late now. He knew he was going to visit Avalon tonight and he should get ready soon. He smiled sheepishly and said, "That's all for now, Uncle Vernon."
He, then, turned to the guests. "Thank you," he said, "for being here, everyone. I really appreciate that. And to tell you the true, I actually have one more thing to tell you, but that could wait and I'd be sure about it later, maybe tomorrow or the next day."
"Then," Mr. Androix got up, "I shall take my leave, Harry. Just give us a call if there's anything you wish to discuss and be sure to contact me when you're going to appear before the royalty."
"Yes, sir," Harry replied.
"Vernon, Petunia, Marge," Mr. Androix called and nodded his farewell, "good night to you all, oh, and you too, young Dudley."
"Good night, Mr. Androix," Dudley said. The boy was too quiet for the evening and Harry knew he would have to talk to his cousin tonight.
The Grangers also bid their goodnight and left soon after.
-o0o-
That night, after they got ready for bed or in Harry's case, got ready for the trip, Harry stopped by at Dudley's room on his way down to the cupboard.
"Dud," Harry called.
"Hey," his cousin greeted back from the chair in front of his computer.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked sitting down on the bed. Dudley turned to look at him and shook. "Nothing," he said, but he did look downcast.
"There's something, Dud," Harry spoke, "Don't lie. Tell me, you know you can say anything to me."
"It's… it's just…" Dudley faltered, "well, it's just that I felt you don't… no… I'm not… ah…"
"You felt left out?" Harry helped. Seeing the nodding, Harry got up and hugged his cousin. There were times when Dudley felt a pang of jealous or sometimes lonely seeing Harry doing stuff. Harry knew that and even had a talk with his aunt about it. Petunia told him that she used to feel the same way up until she learnt about the Squib Society in her 15th birthday. Dudley, though knew about magic earlier, would be the same as her. Harry had a feeling that this would happen soon and now it did.
"Dud," he started, "you know that you'll be learning about witchcraft, too. I just have to learn earlier because there're things I have to do. Hermione and Justin are at risk knowing me and such; prevention is needed. You're not included as I know you'd not be in person with wizarding world much. Still, there're dangers for just being my relative. I'll try to find a way to protect you and everyone here when I'm not around. For now, all I can do is warding our home against magic users and such using some witchcrafts and runes. It isn't much and may not be enough for strong wizards and witches, but it's the best there is. And remember that I told you? You're my cousin and always will be…"
"No matter what," Dudley finished the sentence.
"No matter what," Harry said smiling.
Dudley smiled; he was not losing his only cousin to the wizarding world as he had feared. He did not really feel jealous anymore, but seeing Harry and the other two in the living room earlier in the evening turned his feeling off. Harry did not really knew about that, but he only did what he thought was right and assuring his cousin was what he decided to say.
"Also," Harry spoke up, "you should not feel that I'm abandoning you for my two friends. You know, Dud, sometimes, I just felt like… I want to be normal for once in a while; just play some games with you and not studying all the time. But, power comes with…"
"Responsibilities," Dudley piped in. "I know, Harry. You said that all the time." The cousins grinned at each other. When Harry felt tired of studying or bored, he would join Dudley and complaint about things. Dudley would comfort him and offered his games especially the role-playing ones. Harry would release his stress killing monsters or just run around in the games' screen. Harry enjoyed the games as much as Dudley, but always restrained himself to get too much into it, no matter how supportive his family was. When Dudley asked why he did not come to play it as often, Harry would say the phrase and they would joke about it.
"You're leaving, aren't you?" Dudley asked.
"Yeah," Harry muttered looking at the time, "I'm heading downstairs now, Dud. We'll talk later, Okay?"
Dudley smiled, "don't worry, mate. I'm fine, now."
Harry smiled back appreciatively and left for Avalon.
