I'd like to Thank for adding Love of Legend to their favorites stories .great, Aniangel Ryo, Artemis-Potter-Snape, BINGBANG4EVER, Dark Sould 1988, dhuron, dysall75, Good-Fellow, JadedPanther, jlihifrswyghkl, leobutler, lilyflower50, lilyluna78, ready-set-think, Seraphinus, shharper, Sura88.
Thanks to briarprincess, cozmic, Dilligas762, Dorkchic, DracoRiddlePotter, GodofMischiefandChaos, Isuckatgramma, kentrek1, Kplum101, Legobricks, linzi, Lusiek, Madd Girl, Midnight Owl7, Nari88, ogremage640, Prophetical, purrfection21, RabiNut, Salyrian, Tenshi-no-shi69, twilightserius and xAkikaze for following
Chapter 4
-Love of Legend-
The next morning Harry and Kieran decided on a schedule. Since the bindings were removed Harry needed to relearn every spell he knew, and pour in the wand only the amount of magic required. After several exploded pillows, he managed to make one levitate before it shot to the ceiling covering them in feathers.
Other than that Kieran took upon himself to teach Harry, in the next days, the basic laws of magic, fundamental for transfiguration, charms and defense. He also would made him study all the potions ingredients and how they reacted when mixed before they could start brewing. Then it was politics and financial management, so Harry could understand the contents of the files when they decided to view them.
Several hours later, Harry was beginning to get frustrated. Why he couldn't get even a stupid levitation charm right?
"Emerald, calm down. I think I know what the problem is. One of them actually." Kieran told him calmly. He sat down on the bed waiting to know what he was doing wrong.
"First of all, you lack concentration. Starting this evening you will meditate for an hour, it is the first stage for learning occlumency too. Second, your wand. Close your eyes and tell me what you feel from your wand"
Harry closed his eyes and furrowed his bow in concentration, trying to feel something from his wand. He remembered the first time he hold it, he felt a warm tingling feeling. "It's gone. The warm feeling. Now it's cold and unresponsive" he said a little sad. His wand didn't work anymore for him. Probably because he was way more powerful now.
"Don't worry. We'll get you another wand shortly. But not from Ollivander, they never match a wizard completely and a lot of materials used in wand crafting are illegal here in England."
Staying in Knockturn Alley was not safe for Harry, thought Kieran. Dumbledore would not be thinking of searching his golden boy here but, it was still risky. Maybe they should relocate elsewhere. He had houses everywhere, Harry too he was sure. The wards would keep them safe and practicing magic would be easier, without worrying of being noticed.
"You know what? We could leave the inn tomorrow, and stay in one of the Black or Potter properties. Maybe travel a bit. What do you think about it?" proposed Key.
"That would be brilliant!" replied Harry, eyes sparkling in excitement.
"Well then, go pack and rest. I promise you'll like it" he ruffled his hair and winked at him before going to pack himself.
At Grimmauld Place, the marauders and the twins were debating if they should try and recruit more people. Dumbledore was a manipulative bastard who used his order members like chess pieces, Harry too was just a weapon for him. They didn't know what to think about Voldemort. If the leader of the light was not so light, what about the dark lord? Was he as evil as they thought? Or maybe he was the good guy. Everything's possible.
Anyway. The wanted to bring more people on their side. You could call it gray side. So they made plans.
From the people of the Order of the Phoenix they decided only on a few. Remus would talk to Nymphadora Tonks, since she had a crush on him, she was a young auror but being a Black she was more likely to understand their point. Sirius would talk to her mother too, Andromeda Tonks nee Black, his favorite cousin, a powerful witch married to a muggle and expert in law. The twins would recruit their older brothers, Bill and Charlie. Both of them left home straight out of school for jobs out of the country. Bill was a curse breaker for Gringotts in Egypt while Charlie a dragon handler in Romania. Both were quite powerful and resourceful.
Having Snape on their side would have been great, with him being a famous potion master and fast with a wand, but since he was already a double spy and not knowing his true alliance they decided not to risk it. Mostly because of his relationship with the two marauders, who pranked and taunted him in school.
They decided on a list of other people too. From Hogwarts there were Lee Jordan, the twins friend, and the cheasers Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson, who were all very protective of the little seeker. Oliver Wood too, the quidditch fanatic would jump at the chance to help them. Then from the younger years Neville Longbottom, he was loyal and with a little confidence boost he would be a great wizard, Luna Lovegood, the strange raven who seemed to know everything, Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff were the only ones to believe Harry in both second and fourth years. Su Li was on the list too, along with Padma Patil who had a huge fall out with her twin, Terry Boot and Fay Dunbar.
The twins would meet them during summer and explain what was happening after consulting Harry on the idea.
From the adult wizards they would contact Amelia Bones, the head of DMLE, Belladonna Zabini, Marius Greengrass and a couple of friends Sirius made while on the run.
Remus had his doubts on the thing, the kids would stay at school for nine months under Dumbledore's nose and he didn't want them to get in trouble. But soon the twins managed to reassure him.
Meanwhile Dumbledore was in his office thinking about his plans. All was going well. The Potter boy was at his relatives, abused, the perfect pawn for him to lead. And when they boy would die in battle, he would save the day killing Voldemort. Yes, the wizarding world would see him as a hero once again, and he would have the boy's money too. Having the Weasley boy and the muggleborn spy on the brat was quite useful and they would lead him where he wanted him to be.
Fawkes trilled angrily from his perch, not liking what his master was doing. When he bonded with a young Dumbledore he could not imagine the wizard would become such a power hungry man. The evil of his actions and soul was slowly killing the poor phoenix, unable to free himself from the bond.
From one of the portraits Phineas Black watched disgusted the man who managed to become headmaster through manipulations and lies, he was slowly destroying Hogwarts and her magic. Someone needed to stop this abomination. And maybe he knew who could do it, the problem was finding the lads in questions.
It was now Wednesday, and the boys were ready to leave the Wicked Witch Inn and England for a while. Harry could barely stop himself from jumping around. He never went anywhere, the only places outside Surrey he knew where the school, Hogsmade, King Cross station, Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley, even if not that well. And now he was going to another country.
"Excited are we?" chuckled Kieran "We are going to use a kind of transportation you don't know" Harry was clearly happy about that. He always landed on his face or butt when he used floo, apparition made him ill and better not talking about portkey, he didn't want to use one never again.
"Actually, very few people know about it, and even less can use it" continued Key "It's called Shadowing. Just hold onto me and close your eyes. You won't feel anything, I promise" he smiled opening his arms inviting Harry to come.
Trying to contain his blush at the thought of practically hugging the other, Harry went forward and did as told. Their trunks were already shrunken in their pockets while Hedwig was sent to Potter Manor with a missive for the elves, so they could clean for when they decided to come back.
Closing his eyes he could feel something enveloping him, like a warm untouchable blanked, and next thing he knew he was somewhere in the sun. He looked around trying to guess where they were. At the foot of the green hill there was a big city, full of houses and other buildings, 'till it reached the sea. 'So beautiful' Harry had never seen the sea before. Maybe they could go to the beach one of these days.
"That, Emerald, is Los Angeles." Kieran said. He tightened his arms around the boy "Ready to go?"
Without waiting for an answer they shadowed to his house. It was a modern white house with a lot of windows, situated on a private beach. He brought it himself a couple of years ago wanting a place to relax. Harry kept looking around awed at both the home and the sea. Keeping an arm on his waist Kieran led him inside.
"We can stay here until your birthday" started "I have wards all around the beach so no one can come in without my permission, you can practice magic all you want. You can look around for a while now, we have an hour before going to take your wand"
Harry didn't need to be told twice, and went to explore the house. There was a huge library, a training room, a gym, a potion lab, an inside pool and several bedrooms. He could not wait to read some of the tomes he saw. Before he knew it, it was time to go.
They shadowed in the city, and walked to the magical shopping area that was called "Circus ring". It was a circle like area, the alleys were wide and clean, on the sides tall modern buildings and skyscrapers; nothing like the old Diagon Alley. After promising to visit all he wanted, Key managed to move Harry from the entrance.
The wand shop was located on the main alley. As Key told him, it was famous worldwide because the owner was not a wand maker, but a wand crafter. The first one made wands in block to sell them later if he found a wizard that matched them; the latter instead made the wands to match the wizard perfectly. They did cost a lot, but the result was 10 times better.
"Good morning. Is everything ok with your wand young Lord Black?" the owner asked from behind the counter-
"Of course Master Henrich" the wand crafter motioned for him to pass him the wand.
"Ah yes. In perfect condition, I see. Shadow wood mixed with Stardust wood fused with gold. Core of grim hair, dragon scale, basilisk blood and griffin feather. Sapphire focus. One of my better creations." he described before giving it back.
"Master, my friend here is in need of a wand. He had an Ollivander one, but it is not a good match and now that he removed some bindings from his magical core it doesn't work for him anymore" Key explained.
"I see. That would be the mentioned wand? Holly and phoenix feather… strange combination. Well, come in the back, we'll find something for you lad"
The old wand crafter lead them in the back room, the walls were covered with shelves filled with jars and pieces of wood.
"Now, hold out your hand and feel the wood that is calling to you" Harry did as told and found two pieces of wood. The first one was crystal wood while the second was from a Fire tree. Doing the same with the cores he picked nundu hairs, basilisk venom, royal phoenix tears and griffin heartstrings. The woods would be fused together with silver and his focus stone was an emerald.
Master Henrich was surprised at his choices "It will be on the top three of my better creations along with Kieran's one. Well, come back in four hours and it will be ready" with that he retired to his workroom leaving them alone.
As promised, they visited almost all the shops at the Circus. Harry bought a full muggle wardrobe, dueling robes in basilisk hide, several ingredients and tools for potion making. At the book store he collected tomes on advanced transfiguration, charms, defense, arthimancy, runes, warding, curse breaking, spell crafting, dueling, healing and potions. Also books on politics, magical creatures, goblin culture, werewolves and vampires too. Kieran then made him buy a few weapons, namely throwing knives, a katana and a gun.
Walking along one of the alleys Harry felt a pull. Following it he found himself in front of an animal store, it was large and full with every kind of creature. Once inside the pull divided itself in different directions.
"Don't worry. It means that the creatures that are pulling you will become your familiars. It's unusual to have more than one but not unheard of. I have three of them for example"
Reassured it was not something bad, he walked inside through the cages. The first pull came from one of the cages situated in a shadowed corner; inside he could see the a little figure curled on the ground. He kneeled trying to make out what it could be. Jade green eyes opened, it was a panther cub. It walked closer to the cage bars and sniffed Harry's hand before mewling cutely. An assistant came hurrying towards them.
"Careful please! This is a fire panther! Tried to attack all the customers and" he stopped seeing the little cub nuzzling to the boy's hand through the bars of the cage "Um.. it is a female, only three months old. Are you interested in buying it sir?"
"Yes I am." Harry replied before opening the cage and taking the black beauty in his arms "Could I have all the things needed to take care of her please?" asked the assistant before following the second pull. It came from a tank, inside a beautiful sapphire snake was looking at him.
"You came to get me young ssspeaker?" the snake asked raising his head.
"Yess, what are you?" there was no tag on the tank and he wanted to know if it was poisonous or dangerous.
"I'm a basssilisssk, young master. But my sstare will not kill for sssome time, yet. I'm too young."
Opening the tank he asked him to wrap around his shoulders while Kieran went to tell the clerk to prepare everything for the basilisk too.
Deciding to go on Harry went in front of a wide cage meant for birds. A majestic white phoenix was trilling at him. The tips of the feathers were green, blue and violet; he didn't know there were different kinds of phoenix. This one was even more beautiful than Fawkes. In a flash of bluish fire the phoenix appeared on his shoulder, careful not to hurt the basilisk with his claws.
Harry could hear Key laughing at him after he jumped, startled because of the bird. Pouting he walked to the counter to pay for his familiars and a lot of things they would need, along with books on fire panthers, basilisks and royal phoenixes the clerk showed him.
Back in the street he attracted some attention, so Kieran not wanting his companion to feel uncomfortable decided to head back for the wand, knowing the old man and the way he worked, he was most likey finished. After all they had been around the Ring for nearly three hours and half.
"Are you planning on starting a zoo?" the wand crafter asked as soon as he set foot inside.
Pouting again Harry replied "No, they're my familiars" Kieran grinned at seeing how cute his little wizard was like that. Meanwhile the old wizard went in the back to retrieve the newly crafted wand.
"Here it is" he said presenting his creation "the last thing to do is binding it to you using a couple of drops of your blood. If you please?" offering a needle to the boy he waited. When the blood touched the wand he spoke the incantation, the wand glowed gold for a minute and the bond was complete.
"What are you waiting for? Try it, go on" Harry took the wand in hand and could feel immediately his magic pulsating along with it, a warm feeling and calm washed over him. Waving it he whispered the lumus spell and a blinding light erupted from the tip.
"Whoa there! Too much power, lad. You need to practice a bit, but it's perfect" Harry beamed happily at them. Along with the wand he paid for a professional wand hostler too, and after thanking the kind master they left.
Once back at home, after leaving his shopping in his bedroom, Harry offered to prepare lunch for them and in little time he presented Kieran with a plate of spaghetti. The young man had never tasted something so delicious and praised the boy's culinary skills more than once during the meal.
"So have you decided what to call them, yet?" asked Key pointing his familiars.
"Oh yes" smiled Harry "the panther is Yoru, it means night in Japanese; the basilisk is Vidar meaning forest warrior and the phoenix is Charon, fierce brightness. Do you like them?"
"Very much. Thinking about it, I should probably let my familiars know I'm home" sending out a pulse of magic he waited for them o show up.
The first was a pure black wolf named Ebony, he was a shadow creature Kieran told him. The next was a sinuous snake like dragon, it was white and blue with a long body and wings, short clawed limbs and a cute muzzle; it didn't grow more than 3 meters in length. It was a rare kind of water dragon who instead of fire breathed cold jets of water or ice, her name was Yuuki. Last was a magical falcon, it had golden feathers with a little silver around the eyes and neck, his body was bigger than a normal bird and its claws very sharp. It was rumored that the most powerful of these animals could control the winds, and Kieran confessed that his Aiolos was one of them.
Harry played for a while with the animals before his companion told him it was time to really start training.
The next days were filled with revision of old spells, practicing of meditation, learning of his Lord's duties, laws and finance.
The time together passed fast and the boys grew to know each other more.
Lord Voldemort had yet to exit his study since he came at Slytherin manor a week ago to rest and recover from the ritual without idiotic followers disturbing him. But he could not face the memories that haunted the place yet. Shaking his head he gathered his resolve and headed for the door. He was not a scared little 'puff.. he was the dark lord, for Morgana's sake!
He walked along the wide hallways, his shoes clicking against the black and green marble floors. Arriving in front of a set of wide doors he stopped, admiring the intricate snake cravings who slithered and greeted him.
Inside there was the master bedroom. He remembered it well; the huge four poster bed, its frame showing a basilisk ready to strike, the black marble floor and lush green carpet; the mahogany desk. Then there were the paintings, a wide one showing Hogwarts at his foundation, another of his ancestor Salazar Slytherin himself and the last one. The one that made his heart break thinking of its resident.
Closing his ruby eyes he entered the room only to be greeted by two people. The first one was of course Salazar. The second was much different.
"Welcome back, my love" as soon as the warm and gentle voice reached his ears he could feel his eyes sting with tears.
She was a beautiful woman, his Selena, long ebony hair that reached her bottom, deep emerald eyes, ivory skin and red lips. A real goddess.
"Oh Tom. I missed you so much." continued her "and I was so sad to hear you let yourself be driven by revenge and pain because of what happened to me" she was looking at him lovingly knowing by his expression that he was remembering that night.
Selena met Tom Riddle for the first time when she was only eleven. He was so gorgeous and charming, always being gentlemanly and treating her like a princess. Yes she liked him very much and in her young mind she already dreamed of marrying this dark prince.
She knew that even if he looked only twenty he must have been at least fifty years old, since he went at school with her father but she didn't care. As years passed, Selena's crush increased, while he began to notice her beauty, power and how much he liked to spend time with the young witch. Courting was the next step, he gifted her with rare and priceless things, took her on dates all over the world and when he finally proposed he was showered with kisses. After a rich wedding, she soon discovered to be with child. The thought of his bright eyes and enthusiastic grin when he was told still brought a smile to her face. But their happiness was not to last.
One night the Order of the Phoenix infiltrated the manor, not even knowing it was Slytherin legendary castle. Tom was away on a meeting, and she was alone at home, heavily pregnant. The Dark Lord came back home just in time to see Dumbledore strike down on his wife with a dagger and the apparate away taking with him her lifeless body.
What followed was a crazy dark lord going on rampage bringing fear on the wizarding world like never experienced.
"Tom." he opened his eyes looking back at her " my love. It will be difficult for you to hear, but I have something to tell you. About that night."
He was ready to protest, not needing to know more but her pleading eyes won the battle.
"Fine" he sighed going to sit on the overly stuffed armchair.
"That night shortly before the old man showed up here, I went into labor" he widened his eyes in disbelief and hurt. He could have hold his son or daughter that night if it wasn't for them.
"I was going to call you with our two way mirrors but there was no time. I tried to fight back but there were Moody and Potter with him and I was in so much pain" she said in a small voice. "when he wounded me with the dagger and took me away I wasn't dead yet, like they believed. Tom you have a son. Our little baby lived." she confessed with love radiating from her voice.
"A son? And he's alive?" he asked. He could not believe it, afraid of being hurt again but hope showed strong in his voice.
"Yes. A strong and healthy boy. Not even born for a full minute and already doing magic making something shiny that caught his eye levitate" she was so proud of her little prince.
Tom smiled too at the image.
"But what happened to him? Do you know?" fear gripped his heart at what Dumbledore could have done to his heir.
"Yes and no. They talked about having a light family adopting him and using his power in their favor and nothing more. I lost too much blood by then. You have to find him Tom, please" she begged with tears shining in her eyes.
"It's not easy what you ask of me, but I promise I will do my best my queen." he whispered caressing her frame with longing.
Once again Thomas Riddle had a reason to live and someone to protect. He could push the crazy Voldemort persona in the back of his mind, and go back to his old goals for the wizarding world. Not wasting any time he went to his desk to start planning ways to find his son.
Thank you for the kind reviews for the previous chapters ^-^
leobutler: I made it a bit obvious, didn't I? XD
twilightserius: I know that Harry could have grown a bit after removing the bindings, but as much as magic can help it doedn't make miracles. And i like Harry cute and short for this story XP. Maybe I'll make him grown a little bit for his birthday. I like the Remus/Sirius pairing but as you can guess Harry is not theirs..
Seraphinus: I love his eyes too and I can promise they'll stay. U.u
lilyflower50: I pratically gave it away at the end of this chapter who is his father.. so yes you're right =)
GodofMichiefandChaos: did you guess the right thing? XD
Lupinesence: thank you ^-^