A.N.: It seems everyone wants to know WHY I kept Harry's parents alive, but that would ruin a few really great twists I've come up with! Lol I know I portray Harry to be somewhat perfect but he really isn't. If you notice a few hints the reason he is so great at thieving is because people brush off what they don't think of as threats. Harry always wears nice presentable clothes, is very quiet most people take that for shy and he is used to blending in with the furniture so to speak. I will say that these first two chapters are more of background information then the real story and when Harry starts to go to school more of his faults shine threw, right now everyone is either to scared to challenge him or just don't care. That WILL change when they get to school, thanks for the criticism it was very eye opening.
Prologue for the wizarding world
Everyone knew the story of that faithful Halloween night, the story had ran like wild fire not four months after the incident there already was parents putting their impressionable little ones to sleep with tales of the Boy-Who-Lived. You were just foolish if you didn't the "noble" story about how Harry's brave parents were killed defending their son and how the infant himself vanquished the evil tyrant.
However, just as every story tends to lose its most important facts in the telling so did the story of that Halloween night lost some very important details. Everyone just assumed that Harry's parents had died that night leaving Harry with some distant relative to vanish from the wizarding world.
What few people knew was that Lily and James Potter had been NEAR death that night because while Voldemort had cast just some fearsome dark curses on them he had not used the killing curse. Only Albus Dumbledore and a select few knew what really happened that night months ago.
Lily and James Potter had ended up in the intensive care unit of St. Mungos they had yet to wake up the healers were afraid that they might not wake up at all. The surprising thing was that Lily had been a month pregnant when the attack took place and miraculously had not lost the baby. Currently Five months along the healers were not sure if the baby would survive for much longer if she doesn't wake up soon.
One day what one could call a miracle happened, Lily and James after four months and seven days in a coma woke up! The first thing they did when they could think straight was call for Dumbledore they needed to know Harry was all right. Dumbledore almost had a heart attack when the mediwitch called him through the floo network stating that a Mrs. And Mr. Potter had requested he visit them at the hospital.
They were in their beds holding hands smiling sadly at each other when he arrived.
"Albus, Where is my son?" lily said respectfully.
"WHERE THE HELL IS HE OLD MAN!"
"Lily, James I am heartened to see you've awakened."
"Please, answer the question."
"He is safe Lily, alive and well. You should know James, Sirius was imprisoned shortly after the attack on charges of being the death eater who gave away your position to Voldemort."
"WHAT!! Sirius is my best mate! Wormtail was the TRAITER!"
"Quiet right, but I couldn't prove anything while you were asleep so we should petition the Ministry as soon as possible."
"Your off topic Albus, where is my son?"
"Lily, I am truly sorry I cannot answer that."
"WHAT!"
"James, Lily you must admit that even our most extreme measures to keep Harry safe had failed! We couldn't protect him when it was most crucial! After you were incapacitated I placed Harry with a muggle family then oblivated their location from my memory…" he went on as they tried to interrupt "…it is the only way Lily the only way we could keep him safe. Voldemort I am sure is still out there weakened but I am positive he is alive!"
"Will…will we see him again?"
He smiled in his grandfatherly way, "of course my dear! I wouldn't keep him from you however the only way to contact him is when his letter of acceptance is sent out of course! I told you even I have no idea where he is…it'll keep him safe."
They paled and James held Lily as she cried they missed Harry terribly. Nevertheless they trusted Dumbledore he wouldn't put Harry in harms way as much as it pained them they would wait to see him. Lily clutched at her belly where Harry's little brother was awaiting the world. She would tell him of his brother, never let him forget how much Harry had sacrificed to save their world.
Dumbledore left the grieving couple to send in James' petition to the Ministry of Magic.
--Time skip--
Clark Evan Potter was born June 12, exactly one year, eleven months and nineteen days after his big brother. Lily and James both doted on him but at the same time made sure he remembered all that his older brother had done to protect him from Voldemort.
By the time the time he was two (Harry was four) Clark had developed a sort of hero worship of the entity that was his older brother. In his eyes Harry was perfect and when they finally met Clark was sure Harry would be a very cool older brother.
When Clark asked at four exactly when was he going to meet his brother he was disappointed to learn that because he was put into hiding he wouldn't be seeing him for a long time.
Clark was the spitting image of his father but he had his mother's hair. He had also inherited his father's attitude, Clark loved pranking just as much as his father did and he had also adopted his father's arrogance. However, no matter how hard his parents tried not to be they were very over-protective of their youngest child.
As a result Clark became a strange combination he was shy and nervous a lot of the time but he still had his father's arrogance wanting to show off all the time. They spoiled him at times giving him the extra affection they had for Harry. James got Sirius released finally, two years to the day after his imprisonment.
Sirius lived with them right after that because James refused to let him go beck to his family 'home'. So his godfather doted Clark on just as much as his parents if not more so. Clark had was very happy growing up, his parents kept the press away from him and he was often regaled with tales of adventures of young Harry.
Lily and James never once asked Dumbledore again about Harry, they were sure he was safe and happy. Oh how wrong they were, while they went on with their picture perfect family life their abandoned son was killing for the first time.
Time passed the wizarding world praised Harry for ridding them of the 'evil' that was Voldemort, boys wanted to be him, girls wanted to marry him and everyone else wanted to meet him.
--
Dumbledore wasn't entirely sure what he was doing was right when it came to Harry but damn it all it was right for the wizarding world. He needed to think about the big picture not the small one because this affected the entire world not just one little boy.
He needed Harry and he hated lying to the Potters but Harry needed to grow up away from the fame he couldn't get a big head. Harry had to be strong enough to withstand abuse from the world at large he needed to understand what it was to be the little guy.
Dumbledore had always looked at the big picture Harry would be the ultimate weapon against Tom he needed to be able to control the boy to wield him effectively. He really did have the best intentions at the heart of it just had lost sight of people on the road to it.
As the saying goes the road to hell was paved with good intentions.
--
The years passed with happiness for the Potters and what was left of the Marauders. They all missed Harry of course but they were happy and despite everything sometimes they even forgot him. They were content, Clark flying around on the training broom like little Harry (not quiet as naturally but still good), and playing pranks on everyone around him.
Clark never had trouble making friends, in fact his best friend was two years older then him went by the name of Ron Weasley. Though they had thought Ginny, Ron's little sister, would have had a crush on Clark if she didn't already have a rather large one on Harry.
Clark turned six and it was celebrated with love, hugs and plenty of presents. The Potters around a week after Harry's birthday decided to take a rare trip to Diagon Alley for ice cream, Sirius declined he was still having trouble dealing with the affects of Azkaban.
They were the picture of familial love the whole day, James teasing Clark, Clark Pranking him back and Lily laughing while gentle pulling them apart. She was still giggling softly when they entered the ice cream shop toward the end of their day. They never noticed the pretty Black haired boy with piercing green eyes that stared at them with boiling hate.
Clark only noticed him in passing thinking he looked vaguely familiar as he passed him to get through the door but then his mom handed him a sundae the thought was pushed from his mind.
--' Chapter 1: Changes
Harry was still aggravated from the afternoon, he couldn't get the truth about the way they had abandoned him out of his mind. Irritated he glanced over to see Suzie sleeping soundly on the bed peaceful as always.
He found himself wanting to get rid of this, dare he think it, hurt, Harry had thought himself long passed these useless emotions but it seemed every time he managed to kill them off they just kept coming back. They were like cockroaches or something equally unpleasant these emotions that he seemed to never be able to get rid of.
He wanted his childhood back he wanted the peaceful ignorance back he couldn't ever remember experiencing it but he must have. He wanted to feel that, just once, that innocence he was never granted but it was all for not all he could do was watch it in the lives of others.
No, he was a freak a thing like love didn't belong to him, he wasn't meant for it he would never feel safety in the arms of another he was cursed in to be in this deep black loneliness. Grabbing a canvas and his paints he quickly placed in on his stand emotions gripping him once again. Oh, how he wish with all his stony heart that they would just die.
Snatching a brush he mixed the paint expertly, if he couldn't have the innocence he could damn well capture it. Harry closed his eyes and pictured the image in his mind what he thought was the symbol of all he could never be. Brush to paint to canvas, a stroke and repeat he painted all night until he was finished as well as covered with various paint colors.
There before him was his masterpiece of what embodied childhood, it was Suzie with her crocked broad smile, front tooth missing and surrounded by a pale gold glow that he had come to associate with her magic. It was a perfect likeness, it looked as if she was standing there before him smiling and it was one of his best works.
Harry left it to dry while he went to wash off the paint grabbing the necessary clothes, soaps, and towel on the way out. It was dawn the sun barely peeking out of the horizon so he was sure to have the bathroom to himself. He turned the water hot wanting to wash the whole thing from him, a few tears escaped unbidden down his face and he looked for a moment the vulnerable small child that he was.
But just as quick he pushed it all from him refusing to let him be this hurt again, he didn't need his parents he wouldn't need love! Emotions made you weak and your actions rash he didn't need them! But he couldn't get rid of them, that was what torn at him, he was so frustrated that he was more hurt then angry his parents were ALIVE.
Harry had always thought that they were dead and that brought some sort of comfort. That they had wanted him he had been his only comfort the first few years of his life. Now he finds that not only are they alive but also have another son there to take what should have been his place.
He couldn't understand, usually he was very good at grasping things but now all he could think about was how happy they seemed. They had given that boy all he had ever wanted when he was younger, a home, family, and…love. BUT he didn't need it anymore, didn't understand it there was only empty yearning for what he might have known. He didn't know love but it didn't stop him from longing for it.
He bathed quietly after that back to his cold stoic self. His body especially his back was riddled with scars, Harry fingered them lightly tracing the lines that marked the journey that brought him here. Reaching behind his neck he let his fingers flow along the word branded on his back, freak they had made sure he could never forget it.
Harry dried and dressed swiftly after he had gotten the last of the paint off him. His scars were one of the many reasons he hated people touching him, his body had been tainted by muggles (he rather liked the word these wizards had come up with for the normals). Harry was tainted and scarred he didn't want people to feel them when they touched him. Mostly as much as he hated to admit he was somewhat frightened of touch, good or bad.
The only one he let touch him, barely, was Suzie and she was only allowed his hand or sleeve. Mostly he thought it was because she called him "big brother" he had taken on that roll. It felt nice to be needed by someone, Suzie depended on him to protect and provide for her so that's what he did to the best of his ability. There was something about seine her smile because of him that made him feel better (most people ignored or feared him, they never smiled). Harry decided since it was Saturday and there was no day care today he would take her to Diagon alley.
He woke Suzie a little early wanting to get out of there before the others woke up and caused problems. Harry dressed her in a casual red dress, a jacket, tall knee socks and comfortable shoes. After he had brushed both of their hair he got what was left of the 'wizarding' money from yesterday and some muggle money just in case.
Suzie was very excited she loved the weekends because that was when she spent the most time with her big brother. She was very ecstatic when she finally saw the 'magic mall' as she put it for the first time, Harry bought her ice cream and held her hand the entire time.
He didn't want her running off or getting kidnapped so he made sure Suzie was by his side the whole time. They explored the different shops, discovering all different kinds of things about magic and how truly special being magical was. Harry used the time to observe the wizards again; it became clear there were a few different types of wizards just as there were with Muggles.
Wizards, like every animal, had a pecking order on which consciously or not they followed to some degree. There was the highly influential, exceedingly rich upper class, the middle class, content but not very significant. Then there was the low class, mainly consisting of the poor and mentally unstable.
Not to say there weren't subdivisions but these were the three main classes that were easily identifiable. Harry wasn't foolish like the arrogantly rich upper class; he knew having the right 'friends' in low places could be very beneficial. Of course everyone had to have some sort of goal in life otherwise what was the point in living and Harry had plenty of goals.
For one thing he wanted to kill his family but he very much wanted them to suffer first. Where was the fun in killing someone when they think themselves noble for it, that its some sort of honor to die fighting. No Harry needed to break them first, take everything away until there was nothing left but pain, just like him.
Harry wanted them so broken they would BEG for death, crawling and begging at his feet to end there misery that would be when he would strike. That way no one could glorify their deaths; they would be viewed as pathetic worms that had needed to be disposed of.
All that would take planning and years of hard work he'd need allies in all the right places, money for one. Then after all that Harry wanted to make a name for himself; so he would be feared and respected in this world. Then after he has gotten enough power he would kill off those who were not worthy enough to live.
He wasn't foolish, killing off every single muggle would be impossible but controlling someone from the shadows to wipe out most of them would be nice. Maybe start a world war III have them kill each other off, well mostly, then just swoop in and kill off the rest.
Harry would bring this world, this amazing place out of the shadows and into the light where it belonged. However, that all would come about in time for now he decided he'd enjoy the day with Suzie (or enjoy it as much as a person could with emotions locked away as tightly as his).
He bought her a simple silver locket that day it was plain but she loved it enough just for being something he gave her. Harry even paid to get their picture taken the wizarding way, where their picture moved. In it Harry was holding her hand as she smiled up at him a huge grin on her face and if you looked close enough a tiny, tiny, smile on his lips too. Suzie almost cried when he had the picture shrunken and sealed into the inside of the locket, it was the only picture they had ever taken together.
Then Harry thought he'd try something, so he found the most deserted shadowed corner of an abandoned alley between the shops and tried to work some magic of his own. He had learned early if you wanted it enough and knew exactly what you wanted magic would be happy to guide you to achieve your goals.
So Harry willed his magic to make it so that the locket would protect Suzie from harm, even going so far as saying that only he and Suzie could take it off (he WAS a pick pocket after all). The locket literally glowed and thumped with power before it settled down and Harry put it around Suzie's neck.
"Don't take it off." Harry said in a serious tone that broached no argument and Suzie who was so unused to him actually talking in public agreed immediately. However, even if Harry hadn't said anything she would never have taken it off Suzie loved it and when he had put it back on her neck after doing magic to it she had felt so safe she would have never have considered it.
Harry took his time to explore the alley this time around since he now he didn't need to think about picking up Suzie, that was how he first noticed the entrance to Knockturn alley. Though he had desperately wanted to explore it he knew better than to bring Suzie down there, Harry knew a dangerous place when he saw one.
They spent most of their day just enjoying this world that they would one day belong to, Harry had made sure he taught her some very small things with magic so Suzie wasn't thrown for a loop later. Mostly she just knew how to make things float a little, Harry thought he'd teach her more things later.
Eventually it got late and they made their way back to the orphanage it had been a long day besides Suzie wasn't used to staying up passed eight (Harry made sure she had a good sleep schedule). The next day was Sunday and it was a day that Harry hated the most out of the week it was what the orphans dubbed adoption day.
They were paraded in front of perspective 'parents' and every so often someone was adopted. To Harry it felt like they were some animals at the freaking pound or zoo that people came to gawk at or they cooed at them he still wasn't sure which was worse.
A couple of times the other kids had tried to get Suzie adopted as a way to usurp her place as Harry's favorite sending the horrible people their way. However, over time Harry learned to use his ice-cold demeanor and flared his magic a little to send them packing.
There were other times when people had taken one look at Harry, he was a beautiful child and had wanted to adopt HIM. That was when things got ugly he showed some of his true colors then and usually a very cold very murderous glare that sent chills up their spines sent them on their way.
That day had been different though, Harry felt it right from the beginning something was different about that day and he knew he wasn't going to like it. Suzie was by his side as always clinging to his sleeve and though she tried to hide it Harry could see the hope in her eyes sometimes. Harry knew that even though she was happy with him she wanted a family again, badly; she remembered what it was like to have good parents (he knew he'd never understand he never had the experience).
Harry had gotten very good at reading people, especially when it came to people who had wanted to take Suzie he wouldn't let just anyone take her. Then THEY had come; they were an odd couple like they didn't quite know what they were doing there. They had the most clashing clothes Harry had ever seen like they had dressed in the dark and hadn't looked in the mirror everyone else had written them off as crazies.
Not Harry though he felt it the moment they had come through the door, Magic, they were obviously wizards hoping to find a magical child to adopt. The man was tall well-built and somewhat handsome with sandy blonde hair and warm brown eyes. The woman was equally pretty with a petite frame, dark red/brown hair and laughing cerulean eyes.
As much as Harry hated to admit it they were good people, he always knew right off the bat if anyone had a malevolent bone in their body they did not. Harry knew they would make good parents and would love Suzie right when they saw her, Harry just KNEW they were meant to adopt her.
So he heaved a sigh and took Suzie aside it'd be a good fifteen minutes before they got to their end of the 'orphan line' so Harry needed to convince her to go before then. He took her to an empty room close by so they wouldn't be overheard and he could talk without feeling paranoid.
Suzie knew that something was wrong the moment Harry had taken her in the direction of the room he never did that before. He faced her and bent down a little to look her in the eye. Gently and softly he said, "I know you want a family, don't deny it I know Suzie." She looked down a little ashamed, she loved her big brother, really she did he protected her made sure she was educated and even gave her his food so she was always well feed.
Harry was her rock, shielding her from everything that could even think of anything ill towards her; he bought her clothes and school supplies for her daycare. Harry had taught her so many things he was closer to a father even then a big brother but she still missed having a family. Her big brother tried but he could never be physically affectionate with her. That was okay with her but she missed hugs missed feeling wrapped up in her mother's arms.
However, as much as she wanted it she could NEVER leave Harry he was her everything she would do anything for him and even if it meant killing she was willing to do it. Suzie wasn't blind she knew Harry kept the others in line by hurting them but they deserved it in her opinion.
"No big brother I don't want to go." She knew the only reason he would bring this up was if he thought there was someone that was 'worthy' enough to him to adopt her. "I don't want to leave you Harry! What if I never see you again!!" She was crying now thinking about it.
Harry looked at her and sighed he didn't think she would be so unwilling. Nevertheless, he knew she had to go and he would convince her like only he could. "No, it is time for you to go. I will always be with you and we will see each other again I'm sure of it."
"Suzie, if anything you have the locket you can see me whenever you want." Tears flowing rivers down her face she choked, "No." Then Harry did something he thought he never do he pulled her into an embrace and acting on impulse for once did something he never thought he'd do with anyone in earshot…he sang.
He didn't quite know what he was doing but he followed his instincts.
I'll
sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've
been the only thing that's right
In all I've done
Harry held her as she slowly calmed, shocked and mesmerized by his voice.
And
I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know
we'll make it anywhere
Away from here
Everything that he sang in that soft gentle unused voice was what he really thought about when he contemplated this situation. Harry knew that as much as Suzie hated to admit it they could make it alone, she just didn't want to.
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even
if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
To Harry Suzie really didn't have a choice, wherever she went she had a spirit that just lit up the room like a star and she just glowed an infectious happiness to the people around her (even though he didn't seem to be as affected as others, sometimes he thought her magic was at work there).
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even
if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
He let his voice fade as his little song ended. Harry held her through all of it and she clutched at him, Suzie found it so sad that the first time he ever hugged her was to say goodbye. When he released her Suzie held his hand tightly eyes still glued to the floor she whispered, "okay big brother. I'll go."
They made it out just in time Harry could see the couple coming their way, and he saw the moment they laid eyes on Suzie they were done for he saw the spark in their eye he observed to be love. And ten minutes later Suzie Lounder became Suzie Forester.
As she was leaving after she had packed everything (which was quite a lot Harry did take very good care of her) Suzie escaped and ran back to him hugging him tightly. She looked up at him and put something in his hand forcefully. He looked down to find the only thing Suzie had left of her former family, a silver hoop earring with a ruby drop dangling from it.
It had taken a while to get the story out of her but this earring was all she had left she always carried it with her ever since Harry had known her. Nodding he knew she wanted him to have it (partly to insure that they did see each other again) and he forced it through his left ear piercing it.
He ignored the blood that trailed down his neck, "So no matter how long we're apart, I'll always know its you big brother. Don't ever take it off." Suzie said in a serious tone that she imitated from him he just nodded. Harry whispered in her ear "If you ever need me I'll always be there for you." She nodded tears escaping as she walked back to her new parents, to her new life.
Harry watched her go, feeling something he never wanted to feel again a little sadness but he brushed it off Suzie would be well taken care of and be raised as she should. Still as he sat in his suddenly empty room he pulled out a plain sliver pocket watch with the picture of them, the same one she had in her locket. He had gotten it because Suzie had insisted he get something for himself too.
He closed it with an audible click a moment latter before picking up the Potions for Beginners book throwing himself into his studies. The next couple of weeks that all he did, study, tirelessly learning everything he could teaching himself to be the best at everything he fancied to learn. With his material arts training he didn't need a teacher anymore and was making up a style that would suit him.
His body was too small to ever have sheer brute strength but he was nimble and incredibly fast. Harry even got himself some various daggers to work with, he used his attributes to make a style that would be both deadly and useful to combat the fact he would never be as strong as other fighters.
So, he focused on swift movements hitting small pressure points that could incapacitate quickly and quietly. Harry studied human anatomy extensively so that soon he knew all the vital parts of the body that could kill a man fast or slow depending on his mood.
He didn't neglect his other studies either, still teaching himself various languages he found appealing as well as instruments, and he used his dance classes to complement his fighting style too. It took a while but about a month later he remembered that he wanted to explore knockturn alley so the next Saturday he did just that.
It was a gloomy place, everyone cloaked and in shadows it reminded him strongly of the slums of London. Not that he visited that place often all the good marks were on the other side of town and they didn't pay him much attention on that side making it easier to steal from them.
Harry's uncanny ability to blend in with the shadows came in handy as he was exploring he didn't run into any trouble. He had found that if you acted as if you belonged to wherever you weren't supposed to be people paid you less attention. Its like running away from a predator just gained their attention but if you walked calmly they don't pay you any mind.
It was a fascinating place Knockturn, he loved the feel of the magic there, and dark he was sure felt great. The magic of the place welcomed him as Harry noticed Magic always did when he first stepped into the alley. After about an hour he found himself outside an interesting pet shop filled with all kinds of dangerous animals, he went in without delay it was very appealing.
Inside there were all kinds of animals, snakes, things he that didn't recognize but dangerous nonetheless and all sorts of exotic deadly animals. One snake in particular caught his interest he had never seen a snake up close before but he had seen plenty of pictures in books.
It was a baby by the looks of it barely six inches long; it had sleek pitch-black scales and a dusty dark gray underbelly. Its head was diamond shaped and it had a horned nose. However what caught Harry's attention was its molten silver blue eyes, "your beautiful", he said with awe in his voice.
"Thanksss." At first he was somewhat startled it had answered back but then again this was the wizarding world magic was unpredictable at times. "Can others talk to you?" he asked wanting to know. "No, you the first speaker that has been here in a long time."
That was good; Harry liked to think this just confirmed that even in the wizarding world he was special and destined for great things. "Do you want to come with me?" She nodded her head slightly hiding how eager she was to leave this place. Before he reached into the glass cage however Harry took a look at the grimy inscription under it.
It said that she was called the Horned nose Mamba, extremely poisonous one bite could kill and there was no known anti-venom. She could grow up to a little over six feet in length and was said to be very short tempered. He looked at her again, "you'll not bite me" it was more of a command than a question.
"Never" she replied. So without further delay he snuck his hand into the case so she could slither up his sleeve all the while keeping an eye out for the shopkeeper. Once that was done he exited just as unnoticed as when he entered the establishment. After that he mostly wondered down the Alley looking for anything interesting of useful no one paid him much mind because most didn't notice him unless he wanted to be noticed.
An hour later he found himself in a dank grimy shop that reminded him strongly of a cross between an antique and pawnshop. What had pulled him in there however had been the pristine arrogant blond man however, he had been the one that he had followed into the alley the first time. It had him wondering what such a wealthy man would be doing in this alley, talking heatedly with the storeowner by the looks of it.
Harry was like a shadow blending in and remaining unnoticed by the two men. The blond had an old book in his hand and was basically threatening to kill the man if anything happened to it. Apparently the Ministry of Magic was making raids on houses for dark items he wanted to stash the book here to keep it safe. However he knew the store owner would try to sell it so that was why he basically threatened to kill him slowly should he even think about it before he said he'd compensate him in the end.
The blond man left the book on the counter and calmly strode out of the shop. Now Harry was very interested, of course he had felt the magic on the book the moment he had stepped in the store but what he really wanted to know was what made it so important. The owner was in the middle of moving a pile of junk to get to what he assumed was a safe of some sort and paying no mind to the book whatsoever.
It was almost to easy to glide pass nick the book and silently leave the other man not even aware he had ever been there. Deciding that it had been a long albeit productive day he headed back to the orphanage.
The book, a journal he found out, was old and worn but surprisingly it had nothing written in it only the inscription of T.M.R. on the leather cover. Harry could feel the magic on it, dark but that wasn't surprising considering he had gotten it from Knockturn alley. However, he had no idea what it could do there was nothing inside it, no clues of any sort.
Well he thought the only way he would figure out what it did was to experiment a bit, not the wisest ideas but he saw no other option. So he took out a ballpoint pen and not knowing what to do with a journal/dairy he just wrote: hello. Then he watched the page for a minute waiting for it to do something, he wasn't disappointed, the word soaked into the page and Hello appeared back in a different writing.
Now that was curious, either someone had enchanted it to reply something he thought was foolish or more likely someone got themselves cursed into a book. Now that was very interesting, it was dark so he was inclined to believe the latter. However, he didn't trust anyone but himself he certainly wasn't going to trust a book whether it was really a person or not.
He put the dairy on his bookshelf he had nicked from one of the unused classrooms in the orphanage and moved into his room when he started to buy books with his money.
Well Harry certainly thought the day was interesting, he got himself a snake (who was currently hunting for mice), procured more wizarding money from some generous bystanders, and gotten himself a cursed book. He still wasn't completely sure way he had taken it but if anything it was very good blackmail material. That blond man had been anything but poor he would probably pay through the nose for it back.
Then again that brought him back to why he would do that, some would probably have assumed that the person in the book had the man were related. Then again most didn't observe people as closely as he did, that blond man looked like he had plenty of power and would have discarded a troublesome relative that couldn't benefit him.
He'd think it over later when he had more information about the whole thing for now it was time to study and then a well-deserved rest.
--'
Seline looked out across London from her suite balcony, she still had no idea what had drawn her here. She still had plenty of paperwork to do back at the school as Headmistress even though it was the winter holidays. Seline hadn't been to London in years then all a sudden that nagging feeling that never left her alone was there, finally she just had enough and gave in.
She had searched the regular places this feeling usually brought her to but no luck, today she would just follow her instincts see where that took her. Seline was a very powerful witch and although she was in fact ninety she didn't look a day over thirty five at the most she was told.
Her hair was long impossibly straight and a deep black, so black that it in fact looked blue almost like a crow's wing when the light hit it. Her eyes were like storm clouds, dark gray, and her skin was a healthy peach not tan but not pale either. Most wizards and witches thought there was only three ancient credible magic schools: Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons.
All had been founded by various powerful ancient wizards/witches and well known. However, what few knew was there was one other school founded before all three of them founded by the two greatest wizard/witch to date. Unlike the other more, ehem, public schools Noctiluca had more standards and the students were carefully selected.
Founded by Merlin and Morgan le Fey in the dark ages Noctiluca was a very prestigious very private school. Unlike Hogwarts or other schools one just couldn't be JUST magical to be accepted you had to be worthy. The fact of it was that Noctiluca wasn't common knowledge because they were anything but common.
Every student was hand selected by the staff, tested and if they have what it takes they are enrolled. A student of their school had to have certain traits that were very hard to come by one: magically very powerful, two they had to be intelligent and three they had to be able to do wandless magic (something very hard to come by now a days).
Noctiluca didn't start at eleven like the other schools they preferred to start students out at ten sometimes nine depending on how developed they are. Also they didn't have seven short years to cram knowledge into their student's head their school years lasted another three years. However there were exceptions, students who passed their final exam that was given usually on their tenth year early graduated but that was very unlikely.
When Merlin and Morgan founded the school they had done it in the belief that their knowledge needed to be preserved and kept safe. That was why even though they were bitter enemies they built the school, brought in apprentices and taught them everything they knew. To the founders there was no light or dark magic there was just magic that was used in different ways so both were taught at Noctiluca.
Another thing that held Noctiluca above the rest was that there was no discrimination when it came to the race, in other words vampires, werewolves, centaurs, humans it didn't matter to them if they meet the standards they were in. The one fault in the school was that the students, the teachers and even the school itself mainly kept to the shadows.
This was done for many reasons, anyone who attended, or taught at Noctiluca was extremely powerful they didn't want to do hated for it though. Another was that through the years they had seen many wars between the 'light' and the 'dark' they didn't need nor want to be involved in that mess.
Nevertheless, it was because they were so secretive or selective that not many knew of their existence. Seline sighed, she loved her school and was it so bad that she wanted everyone to acknowledge what an ancient/powerful school it was. Oh she knew that the Headmasters and Mistress of the three other schools knew and were awed by their supremacy it just wasn't enough.
Seline sighed and took one last look out her balcony before heading out following whatever was calling her.
--'
When Harry woke it was the day he dreaded and hated again, adoption day. Usually he would have left at the crack of dawn but unfortunately he had woken late, it didn't forebode well he NEVER slept late. He got dressed in his usual bottom long sleeved dress shirt (white toady) untucked, pullover knitted vest (deep forest green) and khakis (black).
Shoes on and after his hair/teeth were brushed he stood in line once again to be viewed. He hated it, it made him feel so low and he was special he was above this. The day progressed in the usual fashion; some spotted him but his cold glare sent them on their way.
Suddenly he felt it, Magic, and it was like nothing he had felt before from someone other then himself of course! Most wizards/witches magic reminded him of a small fire, others if they were somewhat powerful were like bonfires up until that moment he was the only one that had felt like a burning star.
Harry felt her before he saw her, a burning star just like him someone just as special but what was she doing here now that was the question.
--'
Seline could feel it; she was getting closer to the power that had drawn her to London. The first time she had felt anything like this before the old coot had gotten to it first, and it had resulted in such wasted potential.
Even in Noctiluca you didn't feel power like this until they were older and their powers more developed. Seline had felt it with Tom, this power but it had a immature feel to it that could only be a young one not the trained dominance she was acquainted with in graduates.
This child had so much potential, just like Tom now if only she could get there first she hoped she wasn't to late this time Noctiluca needed power like this it wouldn't do having it wasted on Hogwarts. It would be too, once they had gotten their letter from Hogwarts parents were hard to convince that Noctiluca was the better choice. In Tom's case she hadn't even been able to go near him with that crazy old man his magical guardian.
It was a block away now she was almost there; she dreaded that she was too late. Then, THERE it was an orphanage it was calling her from inside. There were a few cars parked in front and couples hanging around the entrance that could only mean one thing. Seline sneered, she had thought muggles had gotten over that ridiculous adoption day apparently she had been mistaken.
However, it was an excellent cover for her so she didn't complain when she was ushered in to see the children. A pathetic lot they were, underfeed and dressed in rags obviously this was one of the orphanages were the money lined the 'caretakers' pockets.
As sickening as it was they were all muggles and not her concern no she just needed to find the one special child that was radiating all this power. In the end he wasn't that hard to find, for one he may have been underfed but he defiantly had better clothes.
Another thing unlike the rest of the puppy dog eyed bunch vying for attention he was sending glares at perspective couples that went his way. When he turned his eyes on her though she was surprised she was just given an indifferent stare when she approached him.
"And who might you be little one?" Seline asked politely. But he just continued to stare at her with that cold indifference that frightened her somewhat.
"You'd be better off talking to a wall then that one miss." Seline turned to see who had spoken to her to find an old lady standing behind her probably one of the 'caretakers'.
"Oh, and why is that?"
"That one has hardly spoken a word since he got here but when he does you'd best be running the other way." That piped her interest.
"Why?"
"He's dangerous 'hat one, strange things happen to thoughs unfortunate enough to get in his way. Only the lil' un could tame him some'hat but she's gone now."
"Who?"
"Lil' Suzie cute as pie that one but a little funny too. He used to take care of 'er but she got herself adopted few weeks back."
Seline crouched down in front of the boy who had been listening the whole time just not caring if she could take a guess. She was reaching out to take his hand when he stepped back and another hand grabbed her shoulder.
"Best not be doing that ma'am. He doesn't take kindly to being touched, like I said only lil' Suzie got to touch him but even she only ever touched his hand."
This mystery was getting better by the minute, he was such a beautiful child too and with that power he was going to be hard pressed defending himself from suitors when he got older. Nodding Seline turned to the boy, "Would you come with me for a moment little one?"
He looked at her for a moment like he was measuring her worth before nodding slightly before he turned gliding out of the room. Seline saw he seemed to expect her to follow, she did, she always had a weakness for puzzles and this was turning out to be a good one.
Harry had listened to the woman, no witch as she talked with one of the Muggles who ran the orphanage. He scuffed internally at what she was saying it was clear it wasn't deterring the witch at all just getting her more interested. Not that he had a problem with that though, Harry was just as if not more so interested in what this witch was doing here.
She like Suzie was worthy of his attention so when she asked to go somewhere private with him he accented and began leading her to one of the multiple empty rooms.
They just stood staring at each other for a moment before the witch spoke, "I'm Seline by the way, what's your name?" Seline watched him as he contemplated whether he would answer her or not. In the end he decided they would get nowhere if he didn't speak to her, "Harry."
Seline smiled a little, his voice it was smooth and elegant with a commanding tone, not exactly what one would expect of a child. Even though his voice had been quiet because she assumed he didn't use it often. "Tell me Harry what do you know of magic?"
The look he gave her said it all something along the lines of 'what don't I know do I look that stupid to you' kind of look. She chuckled a little at that, "Well now what do you know of the Magic Schools?" At his curious glance she was extremely happy, Seline had been afraid he knew of magic because Albus had beaten her to him once again!
But since he was curious about the schools she had obviously managed to beat the old coot here, "how old are you?" He looked so small but Seline knew looks could be very deceiving. "Eight."
"Would you like to leave here Harry? I'm the Headmistress at Noctiluca Academy the oldest, most elite school in the entire wizarding world, we only allow certain people in through rigorous testing but I'll make an exception for you. There are other schools of course but they would require money, and that you spend holidays here, I am willing to let you live on Noctiluca grounds until you gradate."
"Tell me more." Three words she was doing better.
"Most schools like say Hogwarts have failing standards in my opinion, they start accepting kids at eleven and only train the bare minimum letting the students figure out REAL magic after they leave the school. Noctiluca holds itself above the rest, not only do we train you in using magic through your wand but other methods as well including: wandless, through instruments, staffs, various object and even just your voice!"
"We prize education above everything, there are no more then seven students to a class allowing for more focused teaching. Not only do we teach magic but other things as well, like music, art, fighting, flying, math, languages, rituals and much more. Noctiluca is not for the faint of heart we will take nothing but perfection! Classes start at Six a.m. and end at eight p.m. if you can't keep up transferring out will be the result."
"Noctiluca is not a well known school simply because we can't be bothered endlessly by people who are beneath us, we are the best of the best and accept nothing less. Unlike most schools, we offer ten years of education over the usual seven. However if you manage to test out earlier that is fine as long as you are powerful enough we will not hold you back."
Harry liked this already, he had read about Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons (though Beauxbatons was an all girl school) already trying to decide were to apply. Hogwarts was out because it was too risky the Potters were sure to go there and he already hated Dumbledore. Beauxbatons was much too full of idiots for his tastes and Durmstrang had been a possibility with its dark arts program. But this was too tempting to pass up…well almost.
"And the Dark arts?"
"We teach ALL forms of magic, light, dark, elemental and even creature nothing is overlooked in Noctiluca." Seline said confidently.
He was quiet a moment eyes boring into her, Seline felt as if her very soul was laid bare for his inspection it was an uncomfortable feeling. "I will go."
Seline flashed a smile, "wonderful, Semester starts August First I will be back for you then, it would be best if you just disappeared from here, yes?" Harry nodded his understanding Seline for all her adamant pushing for him to attend her school did not want to adopt him and he was fine with that. He was doing fine on his own, Harry needed no one and no one needed him.
She left him then without another word; Harry didn't really mind he had a lot to think about. He hated Dumbledore for the same reason he hated the Ministry and the muggles, they abused the authority they had. He had read an assortment of books already just about the wizarding world to get a feel for the place he would step into in the future.
He found out very interesting things, like schooling of magical Children, restriction of underage magic, and the basic by law of the world that had to be followed. Then after that of course he had to look into what kind of etiquette he would need when facing the various groups of magical creatures he was sure to encounter.
Goblins for one were complicated to please but once you have earned their respect a great deal of things could be opened to you. Or it would just make dealing with them easier. Then Purebloods, like old English society codes he had already studied and mastered pureblood elites preferred the indirect route.
They never said what they really mean; a master at their ways was purely emotionless and cold always calculating what could raise their status. To deal with purebloods was something Harry wasn't looking forward to because they talked quite a lot to state a simple meaning through subtly.
Its not that he felt he couldn't talk it was just that he was always very weary about what he was saying beyond those words. A 'hello my name is Harry' could be interpreted in many different ways. He could just be introducing himself, or he could or just insulted you by assuming you wanted to know his name.
Then there is the fact that too casual an introduction indicates low breeding, to formal means that you consider yourself above the person your talking to. If you don't introduce yourself at all indicates you want nothing to do with that person, even the WAY you say things can be interpreted in many, many different ways.
A 'hello my name is Harry' says that the person was to idiotic to not know your name and states that you are superior in that they SHOULD know your name. In all talking was way to complicated and subtle an art that most people never mastered. Harry didn't talk not because he didn't want to just that he hadn't quite mastered the art himself and didn't want to make a fool of himself saying something dim-witted.
Soon though he'd have no choice but to talk that was where the trouble laid in words, if spoken carelessly, could be more damaging then actions. All one has to do is say that someone did something unseemly then even if they had never done anything like it the thought and doubt was still there.
Harry could go up to the authorities say that one of the caretakers had done something unprofessional in their words or touches; then there would be an investigation. And even if the charges were dropped there would still be that doubt started by words tickling at the back of people's minds whenever they looked at him/her.
Words, like power, could do many things that most don't realize. Words could get you out of or into trouble; words could ensnare the sense and mesmerize the mind. The proper words in the right places could get you undying love or undying hate. The right insult could mark a person so deeply that they could never be rid of it so that it slowly drove them mad.
Harry had seen it happen because he watched people as they ignored him had seen the affect of words. One girl had been interesting to watch for a time on his regular jaunts to steal from people, she was a somewhat attractive girl, brunette, doe eyes and sweet demeanor.
However, one particularly vindictive girl told her to her face she was ugly, and that no man would ever want to touch someone as hideous as her. The effect had been subtle at first, she had brushed it off quickly enough but the seed had been sown. Harry had watched in brief moments on the street when he'd passed her.
When she thought no one was looking she would check herself in a mirror that she kept in her pocket; then it evolved to where the next time Harry had seen her it was clear she was starving herself. Then over the course of the year he had seen her with various boys on her arm walking. The boys were never the same, always different, different faces, hair, styles but all were the same in that they were males.
It didn't take a genius to figure out that she had turned into something she hadn't wanted to become after he had seen he silently crying as a man kissed her. Harry knew that eventually that seed had blossomed in her head nurtured by her insecurities until she had believed herself to be undesirable.
Soon Harry would have to talk regularly and with grace in a world he wasn't sure he was ready for. Teachers, classmates, and even strangers would talk to him and he'd be obligated to speak back. Harry knew it was more respect for the power of words then the fear of speaking that had kept him mute for so long.
The months passed in a blur for him, a haze of learning franticly anything he could so that he was prepared for this world he was about to embark into. Before he knew it, it was a week before August First and he found himself sneaking out with all his things packed into a magic trunk the size of his palm that could fit more then he had in it.
--'
A.N.: The next chapter will be more in dept about Harry and what makes him tick. School, friends, lessons, nightmares and cursed books things will get interesting. Next stop: Noctiluca Academy.
In case you're wondering Noctiluca means Moon in Latin. I thought it appropriate, the moon is both light and dark; it has always been shrouded in mystery. Noctiluca is something of a not-so-secret society of the elite the Ministry, headmasters and mistresses know of it though they do not speak of it.
Most of the world doesn't have a clue it even exists but it does. And over the centuries it has come up with diverse methods of keeping it that way. As always please review the next chapter will be up when I see some positive attention! Lol
Merci!