An abstract of Aura.
Red – Power, Security, Jealousy.
Orange – Pleasure, Appreciation, Comfort.
Yellow – Status, Authority.
Green – Love, Compassion.
Blue – Knowledge, Influence.
Violet – Clairvoyance, Unification.
Unknown – What is enlightenment?
Complications
Once upon a time, before the wars with Goblins and clashes with non-magical folk, Magical Britain was known to the rest of the magical world as wand crafters. Magic was even considered as a gift of the gods and worshiped in secret temples. Then, one fateful day, a temple being constructed near a mountain deep inside Scotland broke into an underground city and found creatures never heard or seen before. They spoke a strange language and were ferocious at the breach into their city.
It was the beginning of a conflict between two dominating species and the slow extermination of the wand crafters.
Ollivander shut his ancestors book and sighed. He was the last of those of the last era. Humans may have won the war but the battle was never over.
The old wand crafter felt old.
His mind sank into the mystery that was Harry Potter. The boy was the result of a tragedy. The Void in his soul was too deep. So empty that his magic could only resonate with the tenere tree.
Not to mention his magic felt like that of a bygone era. He felt nostalgia upon experiencing the boy's magic. It reminded him of the old world. He was one of the few who was old enough to remember it. There was a reason why the only history Binns taught was Goblin history. He knew. He knew the danger Goblins posed to Wizards. It was a pity no one seemed to care anymore. All the world cared about now was the money the Goblins made for them. Wizards may control the throne. But the economy had a Goblins axe at its neck.
The entrance bell rang the arrival of a customer.
Ollivander smiled. The joy of gifting a Wizard a sacred tool allowing them to touch magic was his addiction. He disillusioned himself and stepped into the store. It was a man looking nervous. He sighed. Another wizard had broken his wand.
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First August Nineteen Ninety-Four - Diagon Alley: Flourish and Blotts
Centaurs had captured Harry's imagination. Ever since watching them try and escape his labyrinth with remarkable intelligence, he wanted to learn more about them. Apart from the physiology and history he was fascinated by the role they played in the forbidden forest. They were the guardians who kept the real danger away from the forest towards Hogwarts. Beyond the breach, beyond his desert, was where the true danger students were warned about lay. The place where no wizard had ever returned from once ventured. It was the home of herd of Minotaur's and they were kept far away from the forest of the centaurs. No one had ventured into that side of the forest for centuries. The last person recorded to enter was Francis MacFusty.
Harry was in the second floor of Flourish and Blotts. As usual there weren't many people there as the books stored above were only for those who came hunting with a purpose. It had a wonderful atmosphere that Harry hadn't realised the first time he had come. Yellow and blue colours of magic whispered through the bookshelves and most of the people there had strong blue colours: the colour of knowledge.
He followed the alphabets marked on the shelfs until he came to M and found the book on the family of MacFusty. His excitement grew. The cover of the book was a menacing black dragon. With care and respect, he opened the book and read the first page synopsis. Apparently the MacFusty clan were the guardians of the Hebridean Black dragons who lived in the Hebrides islands of Scotland. Maybe he could go there once he was at Hogwarts.
Harry closed the book with an excited smile and put it in his floating basket over the book on Minotaurs. He had enough material to last him through until the beginning of school and was ready to leave. "Sirius," he called and then realised his godfather had told him to wait for him to return while he ran some errands. Harry frowned. He didn't want to wait and he didn't have gold.
Harry went down to the front desk.
"Excuse me," he said softly.
"Yes dear?"
No one recognised him. He was in disguise after Sirius had insisted. His eyes had been charmed brown and a nifty glamour spell had disguised his lightning bolt scar that served as a beacon of hope to the common folk.
"Where do I get gold?"
The lady behind the table frowned. "At Gringotts dear," she said warmly. "But where are your parents?"
"Keep these for me," Harry said. "I'll come back for them."
"Wait," she called, wanting to know more but Harry had levitated the basket onto the table and had already begun to walk to the exit while skilfully avoiding the mass of people who flooded Diagon Alley.
The atmosphere in the alley was bleak yet still thriving. Minister Malfoy might have radical ideas but his skill at governance was turning out to be a welcome change from the inefficiency of Cornelius Fudge. Common folk were already starting to adjust to the new laws and getting on with their business. Magical Britain was moving forward even with a muggleborn rebellion underway. The new force of werewolf Aurors and the recent treaty with the Vampire Covens had forced the muggleborns to fiercely defend their annexed villages. There was a fragile peace forming over the chaos concentrated around isolated villages. The Daily Prophet was reporting news as dictated by Lucius Malfoy to erase any progress made by the rebellion.
Harry walked down the cobblestone path towards the gleaming white building that dwarfed all others in sight. It was magnificent and Harry was in awe at the amount of magic that protected the white dome. The wards rivalled those at Hogwarts.
A newspaper flew past him, carried by the wind, and Harry caught the words World Cup printed across the page with an image of the British National Squad. He paid it no mind.
The sun shone brightly in the Alley and Harry noticed dozens of children crowding in the Quidditch store, looking at broom on display on a pedestal.
Harry walked past them and up the marble stairs of Gringotts.
Two armoured Goblins stood guard and a strange waterfall poured where the doors were supposed to be.
The magic was a mix of violet and red. Harry interpreted it as to reveal. A goblin growled through the metal head piece he was wearing and gestured with his spear for Harry to walk through.
The Void, calm for now, simmered. Harry hated being threatened. He glared down at the goblin and the green in his eyes shone for a fraction of a second making the goblins eyes widen. Harry saw their colours change to pale red. To fear.
He smiled darkly and returned to observing the waterfall. There didn't seem to be any bad intention about the enchantment. Harry frowned but took a step anyway, through the waterfall, and felt the magic of his disguise get stripped away.
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Gringotts
Sirius was tired of arguing.
"Look Longclaw." Sirius stressed the goblins name and gnashed his teeth. "The Lestrange vaults are mine. All claim to that vault by any Lestrange is gone seeing as they are in Azkaban on charges of treason!"
"Lord Black," the goblin retorted from behind his gold and silver desk with black beady eyes wide and smug over square rimmed glasses. His long green nose stuck out from under the bridge of his eyes, curved and sharp. "The Goblins of Gringotts are not interested in the matters of men. We have a treaty with the ministry that states the only laws that matters in cases of inheritance are the laws of Goblins on Goblin soil! You are in Gringotts and therefore on Goblin soil and Goblin law states that claims of inheritance have to settled in a trial by combat under the dome of the Magistrate of Gringotts! Now. If this is unacceptable you have to go to the ministry and apply for a bylaw from the Wizengamot which will then grant you the right to present your case before the council of Gringotts who will then determine if your claim is valid or invalid!"
Sirius wanted to murder the Longclaw. He really did.
"As per the laws of Goblins, if there lay no claim to a vault then the next in line is awarded control and seeing as Bellatrix fucking Lestrange was Bellatrix Black and I am Bellatrix Black's cousin still, control belongs to me as per you bloody laws! And seeing as the Wizengamot has been abolished they can't hand out the memos you need!"
Longclaw smirked and crossed his fingers under his hairy green chin. He was glad the stupid wizard finally got it.
"And therein lies the trouble," he said softly. "Our treaty was made with the Wizengamot. Now the Wizengamot is no more so doesn't that make the treaty invalid?"
"These are dangerous times to be speaking such dangerous words Longclaw," Sirius warned.
"Yet they are true words," Longclaw hissed. "Go to your ministry. Go back and tell them the Goblins demand a new treaty. One that ensures the continued peace and smooth transactions that you wizards enjoy from Gringotts. Until then, you get nothing."
"You know very well who control the ministry now Longclaw. I represent a different point of view Longclaw. And my views will help your views if I could only get access to the vaults. Helping me will help you. Choose wisely Longclaw."
The goblin scowled. "Albus Dumbledore is a school teacher with no power. Lucius Malfoy on the other hand is taking over Britain. I respectfully disagree Sirius Black. You are the one who must choose wisely or risk annihilation."
The Goblins were playing it safe, Sirius realised. They had their own plans that could very well be harmful to Dumbledore's.
"Albus Dumble-"
The sound of a crash and scream made both of them jump and their eyes turned sharply towards the closed door.
A goblin shouting in Gobbledegook alarmed them and wizard and goblin went rushing towards the door and into the main hall.
Sirius's eyes widened in horror when he saw what the commotion was about. Harry was in the centre of the hall. His disguise was gone, revealing a tanned boy with black shaggy hair and furious dark green eyes that were ominously glowing with a dark aura. His wand was out and there were fallen people around him.
Harry was angry.
It had happened a minute after he walked up to the goblin teller ignoring the line. The man at the front had roughly pushed him and ordered him back to the line. Harry was about to lash out with the Void when his eyes widened and his eyes gravitated to his scar.
"Good Merlin," he gasped. "It's Harry Potter!"
Whispers ran through the line and a moment later Harry was being crowded.
A pleasure Mr Potter! A real pleasure!
Hands were reaching out, touching him, grabbing his clothes.
Are you going to do something about the war?
How is Hogwarts? Are you friends with my children?
Are you a supporter of Minister Malfoy? Will you be coming to watch the world cup?
The surprise and shock of being crowded wore off and Harry let loose a pulse of magic using his yellow and red with the intention of pushing everyone away from him.
Screams resonated in the hall when a dozen people around Harry felt like they were slapped by a giant hand and sent tumbling back into the others behind them.
Harry drew his wand. He wanted to kill them. He wanted to see their blood pool on the marble floor.
The Goblins sensed his intentions and four of them charged forward with spears aimed at Harry.
Pandemonium broke out.
"Stop this madness!"
That was Sirius's scream and it fell on deaf ears.
Harry slashed his wand in an arc and the goblins were sliced clean. Eight green bodies fell to the floor.
Black blood began to corrode the floor.
Harry was not going to stop. He raised his wand again, eyes alight with fury.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
It was the sound of a big gun going off and succeeded in distracting Harry.
"Harry!" Sirius shouted. "Stop this at once."
Harry controlled his rage. "They attacked me," he hissed.
Feeling the reigns of control Sirius quickly turned towards the other goblins who were readying their spears and calling for reinforcements. He noticed an owl leaving the hall through the open window high above.
"My name is Sirius Orion Black and as a Lord of an Ancient House, I demand the goblins to let me and my ward leave Gringotts peacefully!
Harry, put your wand away and start moving toward the exit."
Harry growled.
"Do it now! Listen to me for once!"
Harry grit his teeth and with great reluctance began to walk back towards the exit. He didn't put his wand away.
"There will be no peace now Lord Black," growled Longclaw. Hundreds of goblins were coming out from within the heart of Gringotts and all were armed to the teeth. No one made a move however. They all just stood there, glaring.
"If you hand over Harry Potter to us, then we might be able to talk. Take him away and Gringotts will not forgive the heinous murder of its brothers."
Sirius had caught up to Harry by now.
The rest of the people were still. They were petrified. One minute they were waiting for gold and now fear strangled them in a death grip.
"Wh-what about us?" a girl whimpered. "Can we leave… please?"
A bigger goblin walked into the hall and the smaller ones gave way for him. It was Ragnarok: the goblin magistrate.
"Everyone can leave or stay and finish your business. Goblins are not murderers. We do, however, collect our debts and one way or another we will collect."
His voice was deep and roughed with authority. It was a promise. There was going to be hell to pay for this.
Sirius put his hand on Harry's shoulder and gasped when it felt like he had dug his hands into blades. "Come on, Harry," he said through grit teeth.
Harry levelled a glare at Ragnarok and the goblin returned it in force.
"Leave boy," he taunted. "Leave with your tail between your legs or come face us like a true wizard."
"Harry don't fucking make this worse," Sirius warned.
Harry felt the panic Sirius was feeling inside. He sensed the fear of his godfather and decided to stand down. He wrapped the void around himself and Sirius like a protective shield and grinned at Ragnarok.
"I will return," Harry promised.
Their pair disappeared through the magical waterfall and the tension that had built up in Gringotts began to simmer.
"Did you feel it Longclaw?" Ragnarok asked.
"I did Magistrate."
Ragnarok rested his clawed hand on the axe hanging from his dragon skin belt. He grinned and revealed razor sharp black teeth.
"Looks like our axes are going to need sharpening," he growled with a feral smile.
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Fifth August, Nineteen Ninety-Four – Hogwarts: Headmaster's office.
"Well you've done it now Harry," Dumbledore said with a dry smile.
Harry scowled at headlines of the newspaper on the table.
Harry Potter wanted for Murder
The article had two versions about the events that went down in Gringotts. One that Harry went crazy and killed four Goblins. The other said Harry was attacked first and he only defended himself. The Rita Skeeter exclusive was yet to come.
The other was the version Dumbledore had managed to push through the media of information giving rise to doubts against the goblins claims.
The result was Harry in Dumbledore's custody at Hogwarts where the Ministry no longer had jurisdiction. Sirius had been wise to bring Harry straight to Hogwarts after Gringotts.
There was to be a trial at the Ministry sooner or later or else Dumbledore would be forced out of Hogwarts allowing Lucius Malfoy the total control he desired and Harry would be handed over to the Goblins or Voldemort on a silver platter.
For now, Dumbledore had bought time. Time to decide what to do next. His options were very limited. The muggleborn rebellion was all that stood between Voldemort and Britain now. The Rebellion and Hogwarts.
Harry had just drastically reduced the timeline to the full tilt war that Dumbledore hoped never happened. He couldn't even hand Harry over to the ministry because that would mean losing to Voldemort's shadow.
He wished he didn't have to shelter the insanity that was Harry anymore. He had lost hope in the prophecy. Yet, he had to prevent the ministry from getting their claws into Harry until he had a plan. He had to think of a plan to save Britain from the darkness. Until he came up with a plan that didn't revolve around the Boy who Lived, Harry could not be surrendered.
Dumbledore sighed and touched his forehead with his wand and drew out his thoughts and plans about the situation.
Harry watched blankly as Dumbledore deposited the silver magic that glowed violet in his eyes into a bowl full of it.
"What do you want?" Harry asked softly. His voice was calm and strangely accepting.
It worried Dumbledore. There was nothing calm about the situation.
The headmaster smiled. It was time to start asking harder questions.
"I found a lovely desert deep inside the Forbidden Forest."
Harry's eyes went wide. He had been so careful!
"I followed the trail of Nymphadora Tonks," Dumbledore added.
Excitement and caution brewed inside Harry. He strained to contain the smile that wanted to stretch his lips from ear to ear.
"So what?" Harry whispered. His eyes gleamed with challenge and he all but confirmed Dumbledore's suspicions.
"Just a word of advice," Dumbledore said leaning forward. His blue eyes went cold and Harry felt like his soul was being examined.
Harry summoned the Void and drew it around him.
"The Forbidden Forest is out of bounds for students for a reason and I hope you don't go wandering in there. The Centaurs believe a monster resides there now and they have lost two of their own."
Harry blinked and stared, not offering a word of condolences or faked shock.
"Also with the incident at Gringotts, you're now a target of the Ministry of Magic. It would be in your best interests to contain yourself and lay low."
"Or else what?" Harry asked. His eyes narrowed.
"Or else Voldemort, the man who destroyed the lives of your parents, the man who left your father's mind in pieces and cost your mother her soul, will win this war we're fighting."
This time Harry was surprised. "Voldemort." He whispered the name. A strange sort of feeling rose inside Harry. It was almost like the time before he sliced his Aunt's bony neck.
Dumbledore suddenly saw an opportunity. The metaphorical light bulb turned on in his mind. "And if you listen to me you will get a chance to face and kill him."
Harry's interest was piqued. "Is he strong?" Harry asked curiously.
Dumbledore smiled grimly. "Extremely."
The headmaster saw that he had given Harry something to think about and felt the stress on his shoulders lessen.
Harry, on the other hand, saw it all. Even if no one realised it. The strings of red and yellow, twisting into manipulation from the blue. Magic revealed the truth of everything. He could see the subtle way Dumbledore was trying to point his mind in a direction that appealed to him and thereby placing some sort of control over him.
Harry chuckled. It mildly alarmed Dumbledore. There was too much humour in that chuckle for his liking.
"You're beginning to understand me Professor," Harry said mildly. "I could care less about the trials and what laws and rules govern this world. Power is the only law that governs my world." The humour faded from his face and Dumbledore saw the power behind Harry's eyes. An endless pool of something unknown yet familiar.
Harry stood up. "Magic is Power, Professor Dumbledore."
Dumbledore sighed. Well, at least this was some sort of progress, he rationalised in his mind.
"Go back to your dormitory. The library is open and you can use the school grounds if you wish to stretch your legs. Food will be served in the Great Hall as per school timings."
Understanding the dismissal, Harry turned towards the exit without a backward glance.
He walked down the spiral staircase and let loose a blast of uncontrolled magic on the Gargoyles outside. There were too many strings being warped around him. He could feel them tighten around his torso, trapping his arms, attempting to control his Will.
The Gargoyles smashed into pieces and Harry took a deep breath to calm the Void.
"Ouch," muttered one of the Gargoyles as they slowly reformed. Harry was not the first student to lash out at them.
"I'll show them all," Harry whispered. "They have no idea. They will learn."
Harry's resolve strengthened with purpose. A purpose that had always been floating in his mind and now had come to fore with sharper clarity.
He was going to show them all. They would regret forcing him into a corner.