~World of Legacy~

August 14, 1993/Leaky Cauldron 1 Diagon Alley, London England

Harry Potter sighs as he closes his History of Magic book and rolls up the last of his summer homework after making sure the ink has dried. A week had passed since he had run away from the Dursley's, and he had since not only completed but revised his summer homework not once but twice. Fudge had told him to stay at the Leaky, so he hadn't wandered too much into the alley, but he was starting to get bored. With another glance towards the bed with his schoolbooks piled to one side with his homework scrolls beside them, he sighs again and gets up. Opening the door to head downstairs, he almost runs into a boy a few years older than himself. Flinching back, he is quick to apologize.

"I'm sorry, I should have looked first."

"No problem," The boy says, offering his hand. "I was so excited about the response I got from Gringotts about my Apprenticeship search that I didn't look around me."

Harry looks at him confused for a moment furrowing his eyebrows, as he shook the offered hand. "Apprenticeship search?" Harry asks. "What's that?"

The boy looked at him strangely, before looking Harry up and down again, his almond shaped brown eyes crinkled in confusion. "Oh, sorry, your year head will explain it on the first day of classes. It's part of the first-year Introductory classes."

Harry stares. "I don't recall first year introductory classes at Hogwarts, and I'm going into third." He says confused.

The boys' eyes widen significantly. "Well, don't know about Hogwarts, but it's covered in the Introductory classes at most of the upper-level schools outside of it. Though I suppose attending Hogwarts you wouldn't really need one like the rest of us."

"What do you mean?" Harry asks, curious.

The boy looks at Harry again. "Muggleborn?

"Muggle raised." He answers.

"Your Wixen Parent never explained?" The other boy asks, before blushing. "Where are my manners, Malachi Evans. Oberon Academy 6th year student."

Harry looked at the boy shocked, he'd gotten more than a little used to not having to introduce himself. "Harry Potter," the boy Malachi goes white for a moment before glancing at his forehead, wincing when he spots the scar. His hand reaches up to rub the back of his neck awkwardly, as he goes to speak. Before he can the door a few down from Harry's open and three people exit the room, the youngest a boy looking to be a firstie runs straight into Malachi's legs laughing. The man shares Malachi's slender build, and tall frame, while the third a woman has hair the same soft color of reddish gold, in the same hint of a curl. The younger boy shares Harry's own green eyes but has his brother's eye shape. Hair liquid black comes about to his shoulders, in soft waves, nothing like Harry's own messy locks.

"Is something the matter?" The man asks, glancing his eyes towards the woman beside him that looks like his wife.

"No pa, I just almost ran into Heir Potter coming back from Gringotts." Malachi answers.

The man stiffens glancing at Harry before Harry speaks. "Heir Potter, what's that mean?" The man raises an eyebrow, as Malachi gapes.

"I understand you not knowing about Apprenticeship searches, bein raised by muggles and all, but not knowing yer own title. Barmy, what has your Magical Guardian been teaching you?"

"Malachi," the man admonishes, before turning to Harry. "Adrien Evans," he introduces himself. "Malachi is my son." The mad takes a moment to study Harry hard. "His wording may have been improper, but you do seem a little uniformed about both yourself and the world around you to not know those simple things." At Harry's wince he hurriedly assures him. "Nothing against yourself, lad, but these are things many younglings know in our world. Please join us for dinner perhaps my family and I can explain a few things?" Harry nods following the family of four down the steps and into the pub proper, sitting at a corner booth in the back.

After everyone had ordered, Adrien turns back to Harry. Smiling at the little boy who keeps inching just slightly closer to Harry in the way boys do when curious. "Allow me to introduce the rest of the family. "This is my wife, Adeline." He gestures to the woman sitting to his left.

"Marcus" The boy to Harry's right says before blushing. "Sorry, I'm Marcus Marron-Evans. I'm Eleven. I'm about to start my first year at Oberon."

Harry nods. "It's good to meet you." Harry says as he reaches out to ruffle the slightly younger boy's hair. Who scowls at Harry for a moment, before smiling and laughing at Harry's soft pout.

"Adeline and I decided to be foster parents, so the house wasn't so empty during the week when Malachi is at Oberon. Marcus was our third, he blended so well into the house, that we decided to make it permanent and adopted him." Adrien explained.

Harry nodded before asking. "There's a wizarding foster care. And what's Oberon?"

"Aah, and to the questions. Yes, accidents happen even in the wizarding world, and even if it's not an accident that causes it, children are important to our world. The wizarding department of family welfare is very particular about taking care of all our world's children. Oberon is one of the Wizarding schools." Adrien explains.

"One," Harry blurts out.

"Yes, my Lord. One of the, surely you didn't think that Hogwarts could or would take all the school age children?" At Harry's blush and weak nod, the man laughingly continues. "Oh, dear." Adrien seems to get serious a moment later as he takes a moment to study Harry. "I'm a master of arithmancy, so I'm going to tell you a few kind, and hard truths, young man. Statistical truth's number's that is. It can be a bit difficult to get through all the numbers sometimes but if you'd bear with me. We'll get through them, while you eat. After which you can ask all the questions I can answer."

Harry nods seriously before he takes his food from Tom who is just bringing them their food.

"Before we begin, I want you to throw every assumption of the wizarding world you've made based on the muggle one out the window. It's absolute rubbish. Everything from schooling to health care and life expectancy is different in the wizarding world."

"First thing to understand is the government. Technically, Wizarding Britian is a country state of the greater Avalon Empire." He held up a hand as Harry went to speak. "As I said technically. No heir of house Pendragon has been able to claim the throne in over five centuries, closer to a millennium. Yes, that house Pendragon, yes, the heirs of that King Arthur. No, the actual story is nothing like the muggle legend. Back to the matter at hand."

"The British Isles are ruled by the British Ministry of magic, as most of the individual country states are. Theoretically even if we had a king that would be the case, sort of. So, at the top of the ministerial food chain are the three offices. The Office of the Minister, the Chief Warlock, and the Lord Paramount. It's the same in most of the Avalon ruled country states, with the exception of some, most of the realms." Adrien points to Harry's food pointedly, as the boy goes to ask a question. "We will come back to the realms in a moment."

"Most of the administrational departments of the ministry answer to the Minister. House Cadeyrn is our Lord Paramount technically. They haven't had a lord in a few centuries however, and without a sitting monarch no new lord paramount has been able to be appointed." He glanced at Harry's confused face, before sighing. "Words are not wind in our world, oaths and promises hold weight. Every magical born in the lands of Avalon with the exclusion of members of very specific houses and lines, whether they be Wixen, creature or being are bound to the will, and word of house Pendragon. Now Muggleborn and foreign lines not as tightly as houses who swore in perpetuity to serve the house but enough that their power is absolute. As such, certain roles and duties can only be appointed and or delegated by royal command; Lord Paramount's are one such position."

"Traditionally the Chief Warlock is both the strongest and weakest of the three, as his job is to manage the British branch of the Wizengamot, technically their job is to levy taxes, and regulate commerce. Their power is economic, while the ministers are administrational. The Lord Paramount's power and inherent responsibility was judicial, and security to a certain point. War was of course the King's prerogative, but maintaining order, enforcing the king's laws and middle and low justice was their responsibility. To a certain point high justice was also their responsibility. Those that weren't where the king's, treason, and such actions.

In the absence of a Lord Paramount, the Department of Law Enforcement now answers to the Minister. While the Department of Defense answers to the Chief Warlock. The passing of new laws, and prosecution and judgement of law cases fell to the Wizengamot as a whole. For the regular judiciary cases there is a rotating board of thirty who judge cases, in panels of three to seven. With appointment terms of three years, ten new lords are appointed to the panel every year. Severe cases, such as those against members of the nobility are judged by the full body, in different levels, we'll come back to this."

"That for the most part is our government. I won't go into all the individual departments and such. When it comes to people things can get tricky as we first must talk about the nobility."

"Population wise Wixarding Britian has 16 million Wixen. About 3 million of them are school age or about to be. Hogwarts couldn't hope to hold that many. Now before we go too much farther into that we need to talk power levels."

"There are 11 different power ranges, and 60 different levels. Level 1 is a muggle. Level 2 is a squib. Neither level one's or two's have active magic, but they can occasionally have some gifts pop up, such as clear sight, or clairvoyance. All together these levels are classified as the mundane power range."

"Level 3-4 are the Hedge Range, Thay all have a slight ability to cast wanded magic, but strength wise anything beyond a 2nd to 3rd year spell would exhaust their cores. An exceptionally strong level 4 may be able to cast 4th year spells. Level 5-6 are the Savant and Savant Adept. Savants could theoretically cast spells through to owl levels, but it would be immensely draining on them. Savant Adept's have one or two types of spells, that they are exceptionally good at, to such a degree that they might be able to cast a few post OWL's spells. But not without a serious drain on their core. With me so far?" Harry nods.

"Approximately a third of the Wizarding world falls into either range 2 or range 3. Everyone that falls into these ranks is classified as commoners. Usually, they will attend school full time from the ages of 7 to 13. After they turn 13, they will apprentice under someone of equal power, generally a parent. In the endeavor to gain useful employment. Most of the general working class comes from these ranges."

"The Wizarding range begins at level 7 and goes through level 11. They are all able to cast spells in all 3 major wanded subjects through OWL levels. Everyone at this level will have a specialized focus specific to them, rather than a family wand, or foci. These foci can run from wands to rings, or similar such items. Level 10's and 11's requires a wand for magic regulation, whereas a level 7 may be able to pass with a simple wizarding metal ring."

"Level 12-18 can cast magic in all 3 major wanded subjects, up to NEWT level spells, require personalized foci, and generally have at least one magical gift. Silent and moveless casting should be possible for 1st and 2nd year spells. This is the Enchanter Range."

"The range of magic levels between 19-25 are called Sorcerer's. With each level a greater amount of wandless magic is possible in each of the main wanded subjects. Wordless, and moveless spells can be mastered through NEWT level Spells."

"Now I want you to remember that any level above level 12 is also subject to the individual person, creature, or being in question. I have personal authority that every student enrolled in Hogwarts currently is at least a level 12. Some of your classmates, however, will barely pass their OWL's when it comes time, as study and practice are required to meet these expectations. Without such a level 18 can be limited to the skillset of a level 12. That becomes a further gap that only widens the higher the level one is."

"With these 26 levels you encompass 90% of the Wizarding world populace. The regular magical training provided by any of the ministry run educational institutions stops here. That includes Hogwarts, and Oberon. Most Range 3 Wizards and Witches, attend a standard day school that teaches them non wanded subjects from there 7th birthday onward and wanded from their 11th onward to their 15th. In their 9th year, the year they turn 15, they take their OWL's and Apprentice out full time, usually in a vocation of some kind."

"For the rest of the students not nobility they will attend a day only school until they test out or go for apprenticeships. During the summers of their 3rd and 4th years they can take apprentice courses that can aid them in searching for a master through Gringotts provided they have the power levels to complete a mastery. The Ministry operates outside of Hogwarts, Oberon, and Tatiana 18 boarding schools for NEWT study each of which offer 20 scholarship positions each year based off the scholarship exam every commoner can take at age 11, which last through NEWT Study provided the student remains in the top 30% of the student body or maintains an EE average in the majority of their classes. Though operated by the ministry like Hogwarts, Tatiana and Oberon, these schools are private, and are mainly attended by the nobility."

"Oberon, Tatiana, and Hogwarts are the three invite only schools in Britian. Thirty of each year's muggleborn are sent to the three schools based on the earliest sign of accidental magic, as it can be a clear indicator of house strong the core is. The first ten are offered a place at Hogwarts, while the remaining twenty are split between Oberon and Tatiana, some exceptions are made in Tatiana and Oberon in cases of siblings. Beyond that, while Oberon and Tatiana cater more specifically to power levels to base their invites. Hogwarts is more based off title and political power, it's the heirs school. Which brings us back to the Nobility." Adrien says, watching Harry's yawn.

"I have so many questions." Harry says. "But I'm also so tired."

"I can see that," Adrien answered having sent Marcus up to bed a while back after he fell asleep cuddled up to Harry. "Do you want to continue now or wait for tomorrow. We're here til Wednesday and happy to answer any questions."

"Tomorrow, please. I don't want to fall asleep on you sir." Harry says fighting back another yawn. Parting ways with Mr. Evans, Harry can't help but think about all that the man had said. He wasn't sure he really needed to know about the way the ministry works, but it is good to know he guesses. The tidbit on the kind and Lord Paramount was interesting and he's certainly got questions about it, but Mr. Evans seems pretty good at answering such questions before they get asked. With a smile Harry wonders what level of magical he is, as he gets ready to sleep. As he gently slips off to sleep for once without nightmares of the Basilisk on his mind, Harry's mind tuns Malachi and Marcus over in his mind. His action when it came to the where surprising. The same feeling of trustworthiness Harry got from the twins seemed to follow from Malachi, he couldn't help but want to trust him. It was the same feeling Harry had followed when he refused Malfoy's hand back in the first year. He didn't completely understand but had followed his instincts.

He winced when he thought of Marcus. What had he been thinking ruffling his hair like that. He was never that forward with people. Not even with Ron and Hermione. But his instincts had gone a bit crazy around the younger boy. They seemed to scream not just respect but also protectiveness, it was confusing. When the boy had fallen asleep on him, he had just frozen before softly hugging him. The way the slightly younger boy had snuggled into his arms made Harry wonder if that was what it was like to have a younger sibling. If it was, he didn't understand why Ron was so put off by affection by his siblings, or showing any for Ginny really, but perhaps he had missed something. With a smile Harry fell softly into a sleep, unaware of how the coming days would change his life.

~World of Legacy~

August 15, 1993/Leaky Cauldron 1 Diagon Alley, London England

It was a smiling happy Harry who joined the Evans family to explore the Alley, in the morning.

"Has anyone properly shown you the alley and it's surroundings before?" Malachi asks, as they slipped into a booth to order breakfast.

"Hagrid took me through Diagon Alley for school supplies, before first year. Mrs. Weasley took me school shopping before last year, what more is there?", he asked.

"Well Diagonal alley is just one section of the great square; we'll take you down the major streets later." Adeline answers. "In the meantime, I believe we were about to discuss the noble houses."

"Oooh, can I start." Marcus asks his father who nods. "Well to begin with we have the rules to be a noble. To be a noble no matter the rank you must at least have a certain level of power. I think it's Enchanter or range 5." Malachi nodded at his brother.

"For the most part, Nobility in the wizarding world, much like the wizarding world is dependent on your family or house." Malachi continued.

"A good start." Adrien says as he joins them. "With that being said, the place to start would be the founding of a Family. Now I'm both speaking of and not of the unit of people called a family as in a mother, father, and their children. In this case let's start with them. When a first-generation witch or wizard, born in the wizarding world or the muggle, marry another witch or wizard not already a part of a Family they have the opportunity to start the process of forming a family. Here an example." He says grabbing several paper napkins from the table and ripping one into four pieces. Using a quill, he pulled from the briefcase he had sat at his feet when he sat down, he wrote a single letter on each of the papers, A, B, C, D.

"While it may perhaps not be the best way to explain this process, it's the best way I know how. I'll warn you know it's complicated, there's going to be a lot of terms and words I'll know doubt have to explain, but understanding this basic concept starts you on the building blocks of so much of the culture of the Wizarding World that it's incredibly important. First two terms to know first-gen and muggleborn. All muggleborn with a magical ranking within or above Wizard/Witch are First-Gens. The term First-Gens does however also include those born of Hedge Wizard and Witches, to separate the two groups, they are referred to as either a muggleborn or a first gen not both. Magical Children for the most part, especially in the lower 2 ranges inherit their magical power from their parents. For example, if a level 3 Hedge-Wizard/Witch married a level 4 Hedge- Wizard/Witch, their children would be either level 3, level 4, or squibs. Predominantly however a child's magic will take the level of the stronger magical parent." Adrien states as he butters his toast. "However, if two level 3 Wizard/Witch's were to get married their children predominately would be level 4's magically. No, the reason why isn't known, we haven't been able to track why those with cores within the same magic level have children with significantly stronger core's allowing them to be classed at the higher level."

"How are magical levels determined?" Harry asks.

"That's complicated, simple there's a spell that will tell you. Long answer is a long and complex arithmetic formula." Harry nods.

"Onto our example." Adrien says as he begins to show Harry using the papers what he's talking about. "Paper A is a level 7 muggleborn they met Paper B a level 11 first gen and they got married, just like C a level 7 first gen and D a level 7 first gen." Grabbing another paper he wrote AB1, AB2, CD1, CD2, CD3, on individual sections of napkin he also quartered. "AB1, AB2, AB3 are A and B's children. AB1 and AB2 are male, while AB3 is a girl. CD1 is a male while CD2 and CD3 are female all of them are C and D's children." Adrien holds up the AB1 paper. "Once we get to the Wizard/Witch range, inherited magic levels can start to be a little more complex. Paper A is level 7 while Paper B is level 11, it doesn't sound like a huge difference in magical power, but it is, and their children can reflect that. AB1 as a consequence turns out to be a Savant Adept, it unfortunately happens that when there is such a gap in power levels that the child's core can be weaker than both their parents. However, because of this no matter who they marry AB1's children if they are Wizard/Witches will all be First Gens and have to start the process over." Adrien pauses allowing Harry to process.

"AB2, AB3, CD1, CD2, and CD3 are a born Wizards/Witches, which means they are Second Gens and as long as they marry a fellow witch or wizard the count to start a Family continues. In accordance with this AB2 marries CD3 their children AC1 and AC2 are both Range 4's they are classified as Third Gens. As long as their children marry someone who is a First, Second, or Third Gen their children will be Fourth Gens. When a Fourth Gen marries, as long as it is a First, Second, Third or fellow Fourth Gen they will be asked to register a family name. Their children will be born as the heirs of said family name. For Example," Adrien pulls over another section of the napkin writing AD on it.

"Before their marriage in situation where a formal introduction was needed AD introduced themselves as AD, if their being overly formal, they may say AD of the Fourth Generation. Say they chose the family name A, after their marriage they would say AD of the A Family. While the first step has been taken on the path to nobility, it gets complicated from here on out. When it comes to the Families the fathers name does not automatically pass onto his children. A child's surname is decided by the name of the higher ranked family.

AD's Family is exactly that a Family. Adrien says. Pulling a few more napkins forward he sections these out as well. "AD has two children AD1 and AD2, both are male. AD1 marries E, E is also from a Family of the first rank. Their children will carry the A name, and A's generational count will continue. AD2 marries F, F is from an Honored Family, or a Family of the second rank. Their children will carry F's family name, and the Generational count of F's family will be continued. At 6 generations a family is named Honored, at 9 they are named Noble, Senior at 12, and Elder at 15."

"That is the simple progression. Let's go back to E here." Adrien says pointing to the slip of paper. "At 20 generations a Family is given the status of a House. E's family has the title of Honored House, as such things change one of 2 things happen. Either the children will all be born with E's name, or AD will be offered a contract that if the A family swears fealty to the Honored House of E, A Family will gain the protection of House E, some property, various other things and the title of House. Should AD accept Family A will become vassals of the Honored House of E and will henceforth be called House of A. Generational counts will continue and they will continue climbing the ranks provided the name is passed on, and the House they are sworn to is at least ranked one tier above them."

"If House A reaches 20 generations wherein, they qualify to become an Honored House but House E their liege lords are only at 24 generations, 1 away from the next rank Respected, they cannot become Honored until that generation has passed, unless various caveats happen, and the fealty oath is broken. When this happens E's Children will carry the A name."

"The Heirship of the house is usually passed from father to son but there are exceptions. When children are born of a union between two houses children's names are decided by specific questions. If male Parent A is heir, then the children will carry his name. If female Parent B is heir, then the firstborn will carry her name and the rest his, unless she is last of her name, then all children will bear her name. If both parent A and b are heirs, then the house with the most Senior rank will have the firstborn carry their name, with the second born the others. In this case senior does not always mean the elder, as court positions and other title's must be accounted for as well."

"At 20 generations a House is named Honored, if named Elder Family they are named the same. At 25 they are named Respected, at 30 Honorable, at 35 Regarded, at 40 Erstwhile, and at 45 generations are named Senior. Senior is the last non-titled rank given to a House. At Fifty generations a house becomes part of the lower Nobility and are afforded the rank of Aged."

"Generations of work can go into climbing through the ranks. One misstep and your entire house can vanish into the annals of History, so what's the point of going through all that trouble." Adrien asks Harry, who just shrugs. "There are benefits beyond just age. As a family becomes a Family, and then a House, magic, traditions, customs, and rights are formed, and take shape. The magic that forms from this is called Family or House Magic. Family Magic coalesces sometime between the 9th and 12th generational marks. By 20 it is solid and has started to give back to the family. This can take the form of Family gifts, or abilities, or more generally in a proclivity for a specific branch of spells, such as animation charms. Now this is not a charms gift but just in that specific type of charm."

"At about 25 generations this magic has grown strong enough to start giving back to the individual witch or wizard in more personal ways. Adding a few years to your lifespan or at birth instead of being born a level 8 it can influence a core to be a level 9 instead. Such actions by the family magics are solidified further with each generation."

"The easiest way to measure this is by our lifespans. Average life expectancy of a muggle is 75, Hedge Witch/Wizard is 100, Savant is 115. Basic Witch/Wizard life expectancy is 150 for a level 7 to 175 at level 11. That's without taking family magic into consideration. A level 7 Witch/Wizard of an Honorable House can expect to see 160. One born to a Senior House can expect 175. A level 11 of the same will see their second century. If Proper care is taken, of both your body, mind, and magic and you live in a magically saturated area, it can be even longer. It's also why disownment can be so devastating, having that magic ripped from you is not easy."

Malachi smiles at his dad as they finish breakfast. "Can we head to the square as we explain the Noble houses?" he asks to which Adrien nods. Marcus shyly grabs Harry's hand as they head to the back alley of the pub.

*Authors note

Well, here we are. It may not look it, really may not look it, but this started as a rewrite of POAM. Once I really started writing, however the ideas and guidelines I had for POAM sort of faded. This chapter and the next one seems to just be one huge info dump, and in all honesty, it sort of is. When I go back and edit later that may change, but these first few chapters begin to set up the greater worldbuilding we will see in this world and help me flesh out the world overall. World of Legacy is one of 3 fics set up in relatively the same sort of political, economic, and geographic world. As they are posted I will mark them as the same world. The general idea of magical levels and ranges are pretty com in the HP fanbase, but the idea for the specific ranges and level specifics, was taken from a Windsor at Hogwarts. While many of the other ideas you see going forward such as the hundreds, will come from various other fics such as Herukane's Avalon series, The Avalon Seven, The Pendragon Family, and several other such fanfictions. Others are present but not mentioned due to a loss of name, and or authors for the individual fics. Rereading my POAM fic now my biggest issue was the speed in which I moved things and my shoddy explanation of how and why things were happening. The introduction of so many OC's that where there but I never built the relationship that suddenly appeared. Which is part of the reason it was so difficult to finish, as several of the events that where to happen going forward just felt wrong, as the relationships that triggered them, or that they were the result of never happened in the text but in the ephemeral off screen way. It didn't really work. As a first writing it is good, but it certainly has taught me a few things. With that being said let's take a journey into an idea that has culminated from three different fic ideas and merged into one massive expanding world.