Hello everybody!

Okay first of all, I'm sorry for the delay, last week I was so tired after coming back from my little trip to the countryside. I literally slept 5 hours in all the weekend. I tried to finish the chap before last Wednesday, but college isn't forgiving for the ones who take little holidays, they gave me like 3 assignments and a groupwork, I made them all by Friday but was left for dead. So that's the story behind my little disappearance.

All hail Princess Abigail vi Britannia, thank you again for reviewing after all my chapter, it really helps me not giving up, when I see something reacting to the story, so thank you again. To ease your worries, as I said before, your previous reviews made me think about some things I could add to my story, in that sense you already are a part of the story, but my plot is almost entirely in my head since the start. I even wrote the end so don't worry about the story! Thank you again for thinking about my health (even if it's more for the story lol), I will keep your advice in mind.

Okay so now this chapter is, if I'm not wrong, the longest I wrote. A difficult exercise for an untrained writer like me, I wanted to post it yesterday, but I wasn't satisfied with the result, so I ended up rewriting some parts and added some others.

The chapter covers the return at Hogwarts, it contains the development of some relationships between characters (platonic one), mostly Harry and the figure. I wont tell anything else as it could spoil, but be attentive to detail, you might catch some little hints I tried to hide here and there.

Enjoy!

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"What the heck was that" The emerald-eyed boy all but shouted, to the figure he was now facing.

He just came back from where he had been sent by the figure, it looked like a dream, but he could not interact with it, he was only a spectator. That is why he was so angry right now. The dream he just had, while already being in a dream, reminded him too much something he already experienced before, and he did not like it. It was like his dreams about Voldemort he had before the World Cup. Even worse, it looked like the vision young Tom Riddle made him see through his diary in his second year. Whatever it was, it made Ginny, the shy girl he knew, assault a lot of student. He had no idea what it was, but he was sure it was something dark, to control a human like a puppet is definitely not something you learn at school.

The vision showed him two wizards, escaping from a horde of something, he could not exactly say what because he focused all his attention on the two young men. Their appearance looked like straight out of a medieval movie. Coat of mail, armor, and a dagger and a scabbard for one of them. Their gears was not what caught Harry's eye, rather it was their name that were more intriguing. They called each other Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor, and they were as friendly as two best friends can be. That was the craziest thing coming from his vision, how could he even imagine those two being friends, like from all he heard at Hogwarts they were the opposite from each other. Maybe it was not true then. He concluded. Wait a minute, if I think like that it means that I have accepted that figure speech, when did that happen?

"Well, I just showed you a memory, mine, actually" Came the reply.

So, it is like before, a memory, maybe it's still Voldemort. Maybe he found his way in my mind and is now trying to wreck me up from the inside.

"Don't compare me to that thing, not only we are not on the same level, but his existence rely on something disgusting" Answered the figure, and while his words were harsh (Not that I mind though), he did not look angry or even disgusted.

Still there is no way Voldemort would talk like that about himself, even while trying to control me or whatever.

"What do you mean he relies on something disgusting. He doesn't drink unicorn blood anymore. Doesn't he?" Harry asked, lingering on the last part of the figure sentence.

A silence followed the boy's question, the figure raised his hand to his chin, as if he was considering the pro and con that his possible answer could bring. After what seemed to last an entire hour, the figure appeared to have come to a conclusion.

"No, not any more unicorn blood, it's not even that disgusting of a feat. No what I meant is something else, but for the time being you don't need to know it. You don't deserve such a knowledge yet."

Harry did not speak, knowing well from their past interaction, that the figure will not continue his explanation. Still, he pondered about what information he gathered. First of all, the figure don't think drinking unicorn blood is something that disgusting, that goes at the opposite of what I was told Second, he affirms that Voldemort has something disgusting that keep him alive for now, something even more disgusting that unicorn blood. Well, the part where he relies on something to stay alive is pretty much what Dumbledore said to me. He is sure that he is not dead, that assumption must relies on something, and apparently that figure know what it is about.

"Okay, let's not talk about that anymore, I've brought you here for a reason, and unfortunately for you, it is not to talk about that creature. It was to talk about your shortcomings in the noble Magic's art, and why being under my wing to do so is actually your best choice." The figure said, interrupting him from thinking further.

"You mean the noble art of Magic, not the noble Magic's art" Harry said just for the sake of it.

"Oh… Yeah that's what I meant. Quite hard to follow the language and being perfect at it, and my memory is not what it used to be." The figure answered with a little laugh.

If what he showed me is real, I could learn as if I lived with the founders of Hogwarts, and who could help me better than the ones who founded the school I go.

"Okay, I accept. Not that I have something to lose anyway. But how should I call you? I keep thinking of you as "the figure" and that's a pretty weird appellation."

"Huh, just when I started to like it. Alas all good things must come to an end, I guess. About my name, I had a lot of them through the age, but the one I like the most, the one I was gifted by my dear mother is Chaos."

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When Harry woke up the next morning, he felt as if he slept no more than three hours, he was so tired he did not take part in any discussions that happened at the Burrow. And that must have been obvious to his friends, at least Hermione tried to see what happened with him.

"Is that because of what happened at The World Cup?" She asked him." I have sleeping issue to, I keep remembering the atrocities that happened that day, and the fact that slavery is still normal in the Wizarding world! Can you believe it, like it is so old-fashioned. Don't they think about the poor family the elves must leave behind."

Harry did not listen more than her first sentence, feeling that she would rant for another hour. He kept nodding his head after reassuring that his tiredness had nothing to do with nightmares or something linked to the World Cup.

When Mrs. Weasley started talking to her eldest, in hope that he would finally cut his hair shorter, a flapping noise was heard. Hedwig came flying from the window, straight to him.

"Hello girl, how was your flight? Good? Here, here take that bacon, you deserved it." Harry gave her a piece of his breakfast. "Who's the best girl? Hmm. Yes, that's you Hed." Harry started talking to her. A habit he got from being alone for two months in a little room with only Hedwig. It forges bonds.

She had a letter attached to her claw, it smelled like lavender and gooseberry. Good taste. He was so engrossed with his owl and the letter she was carrying, he did not notice how everyone became silent.

Bill and Charlie, seeing how he dotted on, Hedwig were both holding their laugh. Mrs. Weasley was smiling kindly to him, Hermione had a smile on her face, but her eyes were hungry for answers. Ron for his part just looked curious, but not overly so. The reaction that was the strangest, was Ginny's she was looking at Harry with burning eyes, if her gaze could burn, his letter would have been ashes. Only the twins were busy taking about something else and did not notice what seemed to happen before their eyes. However, Harry did not see anything else than the letter. Except Hermione, that was the first time he received a letter from a girl.

At a point Bill and Charlie must have noticed the smell or even the feminine writing on the letter, because they started whistling and laughing.

"Atta boy" Said Charlie, putting his hand on his shoulder. "So, what's the name?"

That seemed to wake Harry up because he blushed and tried to free himself from the strong arm attached to him.

"That's just a friend, why do you think it's a girl, I can have male friend you know."

"I never asked about a girl, Harry, I just asked you the name of your friend" Charlie looked at him triumphantly.

Harry was so embarrassed he could dig a hole with his bare hands and start living down there. He did not want to be pestered so he ran all the way up to Ron's bedroom. Laugh followed him until he closed the door of the overly orange bedroom.

He sat on his bed and unfolded the fragranced letter.

Dear Harry,

I was really surprised (in a good way) when I saw your letter arriving. At first, I couldn't understand who among my friends has such a beautiful owl. And guess what? Daffy knew it was yours, she even said her name was Hedwig, is that true? She hooted happily when Daffy mentioned the name, so I guess it is.

To answer your worries (and it makes me happy to know that you worry) we were safe. We came back home just after the match, so nothing happened to us, but how about you? Daddy wouldn't tell me details but even though there were no casualties, I heard it was scary, are you alright?

You know, you hurt Daffy's pride, she won't ever admit it, but I can see how disappointed she is because you didn't write a letter to her. I'm not letting her see what I wrote so don't go and tell her!

The following letter is from Daffy, try to not disappoint her further!

Thanks again for asking!

Astoria Greengrass.

Harry cracked a smile, the young girl's good mood expanded to him. He really liked her, no matter which house she belonged to. Harry checked and found a little piece of paper, more or less a quarter of the size of Astoria's one. He unfolded it to see some words written on it.

Potter,

I am safe,

Thank you for asking Astoria,

Bye.

Huh, a bit cold, isn't she? Harry thought. Is she really Astoria's older sister? Are they really family? Well to be honest, let's look at Percy and his brothers, maybe there is always a member of the family who's different. Now is it Astoria or Daphne?

Harry then took a quill and followed the youngest Greengrass advice. He wrote to Daphne a letter, explained why he did not want to write her a separate letter and promised he will not do it again. Then he answered Astoria's one. Much easier to deal with.

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The journey abroad the Hogwarts Express went quietly for most of the time. They talked with Neville about his holidays. Apparently, he did not go to the World Cup. No surprise here, everyone know how he is on a broom, he must hate Quidditch. Harry did not participle a lot in the conversation, just putting a word every five minutes, he was too exhausted to do anything more than that.

The only hitch was when Malfoy came in with his two golems, who did not do much except showing their masses as if someone with a wand would be impressed by it. Harry still decided to ignore the blond, did not even move when they barged in boasting about who-knows-what. He kept looking through the window reminiscing his last dream.

Flashback

"So, you're telling me that the time I spent here is worth more than the one passing outside my dream?" Harry asked for the fourth times in a row to a Chaos who did not look fazed at all by his question even though the young boy sounded like a broken record.

"As I told you before, that's not the exact truth. What I said is that, as we are currently in a domain between your dream and my projection, the influence of your imagination may distort your perception of the time, and it would feel like more time passed in here than in the outside world. Mine won't, but as yours is, your training time is longer than just a night per day."

Harry gaped for like thirty seconds, he still had question about some technical things Chaos mentioned. Like what is a projection, why his perception of time does not change or even how could he mix a dream with the said projection. However, the fact that he could finally start his training was having him jumping in place.

"But be careful. That method is not something that comes without any inconvenient. The fact that you're using, unconsciously, your imagination to do it, draws a lot of your mental power. So that's why I will always let you at least two hours of real sleep every night. Or else it could have really bad consequences on the long term." Harry gulped loudly when he heard that, he did not want to have something to wreck his head up. "The only drawback, you will be facing no matter what, is an exhausted state at first, it will be better when your mind is trained to it. If we don't go overboard with your training, nothing bad will happen so don't worry."

Silence followed that little monologue. And after a minute, the young Gryffindor sighed.

"So, when do we start?"

End of Flashback

They did not start the training. Even like that he was still exhausted, now that he thought about it, he always was after a dream with Chaos. Ugh if I'm this tired from just a discussion how would a lot of memories and teaching would make me, maybe I should start drinking coffee? I heard Uncle Vernon talk about it as if was the miracle solution to stay awake. Malfoys and his minions were finally out of their compartment. Mmh, the issue here is that I'm British, won't it be like treason to drink coffee? Well, it's not like I used to drink tea anyway.

"Who are you?" Came the angry voice of his best friend when the door of their compartment opened again.

"I'm here to see Harry, I have something to tell him"

Harry who was still daydreaming, his eyes fixed to the sky through then window, almost jumped out of his seat when he heard the voice coming from the doorway. He turned slowly his face towards it and found two big blue eyes looking at him expectingly. Astoria Greengrass was looking at him, a wide grin on her face as if she was having the time of her life.

"Harry who is she?" Asked Ron.

That question bring him back to reality and he saw his friends looking at him waiting for an answer, and he could almost see the gears activating in Hermione's mind.

I need to do something before they all realize it's a Slytherin, at least she is not wearing her uniform right now, I'd be dead otherwise.

Then all of a sudden, he stood up, took Astoria by the arm, and went out of the compartment, leaving his friend still waiting for an answer. He walked until he found an empty cabin, entered it, sat down, and released a sigh he was containing since a good five minutes now.

"So, tell me Astoria, what did you need me for?" Harry looked at her, and she still had a big smile on her face. It was infectious because barely after a second looking at her, he started smiling too.

"Well first I wanted to say hello, it has been a while since we saw each other. I wanted to check that everything was good on your side, you know after the incident." Harry's ears became red after hearing that, except for the Weasley and Hermione, and now Sirius, that was the first person who was asking about himself and that made him feel good, really good.

"To be honest, I also did it because I was asked to do it" She added in a conspiratorial tone." Daffy was really worried about you, you know? But she never will come to you, so I had to do my job as a little sister and do it myself, but you absolutely cannot say to her what I just told me, she would kill me otherwise."

If possible, Harry became even redder than he was. In a Weasley scale he should be on a good nine. He only talked once to Daphne but apparently, she cared about him and knew his owl's name. He did not know what to do with that. At least from her letter he knew that she was not some Harry Potter fangirl, like Ginny was.

And that's a relief, I didn't recover from the second year Valentine's Day yet. He thought with a shudder.

"As you can see, I wasn't injured, I'm perfectly fine." He showed his arms to prove what he was saying. "

She examined his extended arms for a minute then nodded professionally, like Madam Pomfrey did when one of her patient finally ingurgitated one of her disgusting potions

"I also wanted to see if the thing we talked about last time was still good for you?" She continued shyly, her head a little lowered but her big blue eyes were directed right at him.

Oh, the Quidditch, I almost forgot about that. Well, I love flying and I quite like her, so I don't see any problem here.

"Of course, don't worry, just tell me when you're up to fly and we can go together."

She jumped excitedly to that.

"It's going to be soooooooo fun, I can't wait! Okay, now I need to go back, we're close to Hogsmeade, and I still don't have my uniform on, see you soon!" She almost ran to the door, who was not even that far from her. No need to run there.

"Oh, and before I forget, Yoshi tells you Hi."

And with that she was out.

Wow, how can her little body contains so much energy. I'm pretty sure it doesn't respect any existing physical law.

Oh boy, I forgot I left the others with no explanations whatsoever, they're going to eat me alive.

He resigned himself to his fate and started walking slowly out of the compartment and took the direction of his most certain public execution.

To his surprise, no one asked him any question when he came back, even if Hermione looked like she restrained herself and Ron looked at him with a knowing look, they did not say anything related to Astoria and Harry did not know if he should be happy for that or dread what is bound to happen when they arrive to Hogwarts. He decided to put his worries aside and resumed looking the sky that had now become totally dark.

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Harry for the first time since his years at Hogwarts finally attended to a sorting other than his own. And now he was thankful he got to escape his two previous one. So boring, it take so much time and I'm so hungry. He thought. That's it I'm getting bitter, I sounded like Ron who only think with his stomach.

The dinner finally started, and he was so engrossed with eating that he didn't notice the hunger strike Hermione just started, nor did he care to be honest. When all Hogwarts' belly were full, except Hermione, Professor Dumbledore stood up and made a snapping sound with his fingers to attract everybody's attention.

"Now, now, I know all you want right now is to finally go to bed. However, I have some information to partake with all of you tonight." Dumbledore said, a mysterious smile plastered on his face.

Harry did not listen at all, he would surely talk about the forbidden object, the forest and Hogsmeade. Nothing new here.

"And unfortunately, it's my duty as the Headmaster to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not be held this year."

Harry gaped, turned to his teammates who were also gaping at Dumbledore. Harry did not follow the explanation and was still in a state of shock when a loud bang resounded in the Great Hall. He immediately turned his head towards the source of the noise and saw the door of the Great Hall wide open. A man entered, walking through the silence that now reigned in the Hall, the only sound hear was the rumbling of the thunderous ceiling, and a clicking sound coming from one of the man's legs. He had a hood covering his face and was walking towards the teacher's table.

When he finally reached out to his hood to reveal his face, Harry had to restrain himself to gulp from the sight he was now faced with. Never in his life had he seen someone with so many scars, his closed mouth looked like another scar on his face. But the most surprising thing in that man was one of his eye, it looked alive, he moved independently of his second one, as if he had his own consciousness. And Harry could feel something from it, something a little similar to what he was feeling when he first saw a Portkey.

The man walked straight to Dumbledore and greeted him, after what he took a place right next to him. The Headmaster introduced him as Professor Moody, the new DADA teacher. Harry ticked at the name, he remembered Mr. Weasley mentioning him earlier, calling him Mad-Eye Moody, something about giving him a hand for something.

It looked like Dumbledore was still not done with his monologue as he called the calm in the room.

"As I was saying before, the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will be cancelled this year because we have the chance to hold the Triwizard Tournament in our prestigious school." He ended his sentence and apparently waited for some reactions.

And he did not have to wait for too long as the twins stood up at once.

"YOU'RE JOKING" They shouted in unison.

Dumbledore then started to explain in what exactly it consisted of. It looked like some Roman coliseum, dangerous for the participants, and fun to watch for the crowd. He also explained that they will be joined by two different school, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.

I just hope this year I will finally be able to look at it from afar, and not actually being in the center of the mess. Ugh, I'm sure I just jinxed it now.

The rest of the evening passed like a flash, Harry did not interact with anyone. His tired state combined to his full stomach made him look like a zombie. But he knew with his luck, the evening could not end like that, and so something happened.

"So, who was the girl who came into our compartment earlier int the Express?" Ron asked when the trio sat down in a quiet corner of the Common Room.

Hermione looked at him with her inquisitory stare. If she was a policewoman and he was a criminal, he would spill all his deepest secrets just for her to stop the staring.

"She is just someone I helped during the World Cup, a very kind girl called Astoria."

"Astoria? I don't remember a younger Gryffindor with that name, and she obviously is not older than us." Hermione took the relay for his interrogation. "Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure of that."

"No, you're right. She's not a Gryffindor."

"Nice, you finally made a friend outside Gryffindor, with the whole Heir of Slytherin thing in our second year, I thought you would resent everyone outside our house."

Harry wanted to answer but he was overtaken by Ron.

"So, is she a Puff or a Claw. She looked smart, so maybe a Ravenclaw."

"I don't think so, Ron, Ravenclaw tends to be so serious. Did you look at her, she never stopped smiling, my bet is on Hufflepuff."

They both looked at him, waiting for him to decide who won their little game. He felt bad because no one got it right, but also because of what their reaction would be. He gathered all his Gryffindor courage and answered them."

"To be honest, none of them both, she is a Slytherin."

Silence followed his declaration, both of his friend looked flabbergasted. A minute passed and Ron started laughing.

"Good one Harry, you almost got me. I'm not going to lie, your serious face almost made me fell for it." He said and stood up to go to his dormitory. "Okay so now I'm knackered, I need my beauty sleep, so goodnight Hermione, Harry, I'll see you upstairs"

Not knowing how to react, Harry did not answer and let him go. Hermione was still by his side, completely silent. He looked at her and she was deep in thought. She for sure understood that what Harry just said was not a joke, and was now trying to figure out how it had happened.

Harry stood up, not willing to be the target to all her questioning when she would finally be done with her thinking. He was too tired to do it, plus he finally will start his training tonight, so he was very excited to start it.

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Harry found himself in a strange place, it looked like a cave but not as natural as a real one, it was more stylish, with furniture all around the place. To be clear, the furniture were only limited to a couple of libraries a bed and a nightstand. And In the middle of all that, a young man was sitting in a cross-legged. Harry approached him to have a better look at his face, but he did not recognize him.

"Ahh finally you're here." A voice erupted from behind Harry, and almost made him cry out of surprise. "We can begin with your training, and today the subject of the lesson is…"

Chaos maybe waited for him to answer but after passing near death from his surprise appearance, Harry was not in the mood for the figure's antics, so he stayed silent, glaring at him.

"Pff, spoilsport." Chaos said. "As I was saying, today's lesson is about Magic, and how you should approach it. Before we start reviewing the memories, I want you to tell me what you consider Magic."

Harry thought for a moment, a lot of things came to his mind, the first being his wand. Holly, phoenix feather eleven inches long, his most treasured partner. The one that never left him when he was confronted to something bad, always to his side.

"Hmm, that's a problem, you considers your stick like the center of your magic, and it makes your magic accept it and adapt to your thoughts. Fortunately, you weren't introduced to wizarding world earlier. You still can be preserved from that corrupting piece of wood."

Harry was looking at him as if he was crazy, that man treated wands like vulgar sticks, while Harry for his part was taught that, except rare case like accidental magic, wands were absolutely necessary for the use of magic.

"Hah, that's exactly where I wanted to lead you. The thing you called accidental magic. So, if wands are so useful that everyone made you think, why when wizard are still kids, they can use magic? And while it's nothing like really using it, more like Magic reacting to the kids' whims, it's still there and kids can to an extent use Magic."

"Is it not precisely because they're not trained to using magic that it's happening? That's also why we receive our wands at eleven, to control it."

"Control it? At eleven?" Chaos snorted. "What a joke. Anyway, what I wanted to tell you is that wands are trash. As simple as that, they were first made for people who could not use Magic properly, to help them getting better. But they always ended up being thrown away, you know why? Because it limits your access to Magic, it restrict the use of Magic to it."

"Magic is now a power that come from two things. First it comes from the earth itself. Earth is an unlimited Magic source and Magic come out from the ground to finally end up in the air all around us. Second, it comes from people. Not everyone of course, but by now you should understand it, it comes from people like you, wizards. Every wizard has a little source of magic in himself, called a core. And while it can run out when you use it a lot in a short period of time, it will always replenish except when a problem rise, but let's not talk about that now. I won't enter into the specifics of a core, but know that everyone has a different one, and it can be trained, consider it like a muscle."

Harry was feeling dizzy from all the information he was getting, information that were in total contradiction from all he was explained when he entered the wizarding world.

"You said people like you when talking about the cores, does that mean that you don't have one?"

Chaos smiled widely, looking terrifying with his featureless face.

"You are quite quick-witted" He answered. "That's true, I don't have one, but I can still use magic, because as I said it, Magic come from the earth. I just have to gather it and do whatever I want with it, and since the source is unlimited, I can do pretty much everything."

"Doesn't that mean that muggle are capable of doing magic then?" Harry full of doubt frowned, if it was possible, he should have heard about it, and muggle haters would have no reason to exist.

The figure, if possible smiled even more widely.

"Ah what a curious student we have there. To answer your question, no they cannot. I'm special in my own way. Magic coming from the earth is not something you can interact with if you don't have a core. Else you would not even feel it. Well, a lambda wizard too wouldn't be able to feel it too. Do you get it?"

Harry nodded.

"Great now we can begin, the first practical thing you will learn is to get rid of your wand. But in order to do that you have to act step by step. The first step is the silent casting, Magic should be used according to your thought, not to some ridiculous chant or incantation. And for that I have the perfect teacher for you, his name should be familiar to you if I'm not mistaken, Myrddin."

Harry thought for a second, but the name didn't ring a bell.

"Hmm, I guess you should know him better under the name of Merlin then?"

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Dooooooooooooooone, finally. That was long huh.

I hope you enjoyed it, feel free to review or pm me if something bothers you!

Review even if nothing bother you and you just like the story, it encourages me soo much. I don't need a whole txt, a simple thank you is enough.

See you next time, it should me next Wednesday.