Chapter Two: Return of The Dark One
The next morning, Harry woke up earlier than he usually did and snuck out of his cupboard and then outside the front door. Once there, he pulled a piece of paper and a pencil from his pocket and scribbled a short note that read:
Dear Professor McGonagall,
My name is Harry James Potter and I am writing to say that I graciously accept the invitation to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However I don't know where to go to collect the supplies needed and I do not have any money to pay for said supplies or for the cost of attending the school. If you could please send someone to pick me up and help me, I will be available on the 31st of July for a trip to wherever is needed.
Signed Harry James Potter.
After writing the note, Harry looked around and spotted an owl sitting in a nearby tree. Giving a low whistle, Harry called the owl over and tied the note to its leg. After it flew away, he decided to take a walk since he was out of the house anyways. Having nothing better to do since it was still early and the Dursley's didn't expect him to be up to cook the breakfast for at least another hour, Harry decided to head to the park and sit on the swing set while he could.
However upon arriving at the park he discovered that someone else was already there. As he got closer he saw that it was a young girl about his age with long blond hair about shoulder length. She was wearing what appeared to be a blue shirt with mud and grass stains and blue jean pants also with mud and grass stains. On her feet was a pair of dirty sneakers. Seeing that there was an empty swing next to her, Harry called out. "Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?"
The girl turned to look at Harry and said. "Yea, I don't mind." As harry sat in the empty swing, he noticed that the girl had a bruise on her right cheek and seemed to be crying. Clearing his throat he said "Hi my name is Harry Potter. Whats your name?" The girl looked at him and said. "My name is Emma Swan. Nice to meet you Harry."
As soon as Harry heard the name everything froze as memories of a previous life settled into his mind. His body tingled and he realized that very ancient and powerful magic just surged through him. 'That bitch Cora thought she could kill me, Rumplestiltskin, and get away with it. Heehee, as soon as I get a chance I will deal with her. But for now lets see what dear Emma's story is.' thought Harry with a deranged melodic tone.
Out loud Harry said. "Nice to meet you too Emma. Now why is a pretty girl like you crying on the swing set at this hour?" "I ran away from home. You see I am an orphan and am living with a Foster family over on Privet Drive. Yesterday something strange happened and my Foster dad got mad and hit me before sending me to my room. I only stayed in my room until my Foster parents went to bed, then I snuck out and came here. I've been here all night." Explained Emma.
Harry thought this over and asked. "Okay. Two things. One how old are you and two what strange thing happened?" Emma looked at him and said. "I am almost eleven, and the strange thing that happened was that I was wanting a cookie for desert after dinner but my Foster dad wouldn't let me. Next thing I know, a chocolate chip cookie is floating towards me. As soon as I catch it, my Foster dad punches me in the face, calls me a Freak and sends me to my room."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. Here was a girl who lived a similar life to his own at the Dursley's. She said she even lived over on Privet Drive. "Has anything like this ever happened before?" asked Harry with some concern. "If you mean the floating cookie, then no. that was the first time that has happened. If you mean the punching and name calling, at least once a week. I have constantly been told that the only reason I am tolerated is because my presence with them gets them a check of Two Thousand pounds a month from the government." Explained Emma.
"I know what the floating cookie is about." said Harry. "What is it?" asked Emma. "Magic." said Harry, as at that exact moment a brown barn owl flew and landed next to Emma. Looking at Harry, Emma saw only encouragement so she took the letter she saw attached to the owls leg. Opening it up Emma saw two pieces of thick parchment paper. After reading over the parchment she turned to Harry and said. "Is this real?" In response Harry held up his right hand and made the pieces of parchment float to him before handing them back to Emma. "Yes, Emma. It is very real. And if you accept to come to Hogwarts not only will you already have one friend in myself. But I will show you and teach you even more Magic than Hogwarts ever can or will." said Harry
"Deal. But how do I respond?" replied Emma. Harry just pulled out the pencil he used earlier and a spare piece of paper and handed it to Emma. After Emma wrote a response she looked at Harry and said. "So what now?" "Before we go any farther, I want to tell you a secret that nobody knows." said Harry. After getting a nod from Emma, Harry began his tale and told her everything about his past self as Rumplestiltskin and the Dark One. After Harry told her the full story Emma said. "So a curse was cast by an Evil Queen and I am the only one who can break it. My birth parents are alive and living under said curse. I am unable to break the curse until I turn 28 years old. You are actually Rumplestiltskin, a Dark Magical being known as The Dark One and designed the curse in order to reunite with your son who you let go through a portal by himself and immediately regretted it. However before the curse was cast, a woman named Cora crushed your heart and you have been reborn as Harry Potter and are now both Harry Potter and Rumplestiltskin and have only just now gotten your memories and abilities back after hearing my name this morning. Is that all correct."
"Yes." said Harry as he turned away from Emma, hoping she wouldn't think him evil or reject him as a friend. Therefore it was surprising when she threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek and said. "Thank you for telling me from the beginning on who you really are and who I am. I would never have been able to forgive you if you didn't tell me and I found out later on my own somehow." "I kind of figured that, which is why I decided to be open and honest from the get go." replied Harry. "So what now?" asked Emma as she started to swing. Harry started to swing with her and said. "Well you said you lived on Privet Drive, Whats your house number?" "Number Eight, why do you ask?" replied Emma.
"I live at Number Four Privet Drive with my Aunt Petunia and her husband Vernon." said Harry. "Anyway. If you want, I can start your magical training now. That is as long as you don't mind learning Magic from The Dark One. Most of what I will teach might be considered Dark Magic though." continued Harry. Emma thought for a moment before she smiled and said "I'd like that. So what is my first lesson?" Harry smiled in return and for the next few hours Harry taught Emma how to teleport via a smoke cloud, (Emma's was white in color compared to Harry's dark purple.) Emma also learned how to create a fire ball in her hand as well as how to change the color of the fire. She was partial to blue fire for some reason. The final thing he taught her that day was how to pull a heart out of someone. For that lesson he had her practice on both him and herself.
Once the sun had fully risen Harry realized that the Dursley's would be getting up soon and wanting breakfast. He turned to Emma and said. "I need to go back to the Dursley's now, unfortunately. Remember, my magic that I teach you is far superior to what we will learn at Hogwarts and is therefore undetectable by any government. Do with that info what you will. If I don't see you before then, then lets plan to meet up outside the Dursley's on the 31st of July. That day is my birthday and I will turn eleven." Emma smiled and said. "My birthday is on the 29th of July. I will see you outside Number Four at nine am if I don't see you sooner." With that the two children gave each other a friendly hug and went their separate ways. It was time to return to the Dursley's. And this time he would have the full power of the Dark One at his disposal.
