Conquering Magic
Chapter 1: Waking Up
What does death feel like? I wouldn't know.
The sensation of being shot in the head certainly was not nice, although the pain was forgotten almost immediately upon noticing myself lying on a small mattress in a dark chamber. While I analyzed my surroundings, I noticed my own body. My arms were short and thin, my body was small and my skin was quite pale. As my fingers felt my face, I touched a mouth and nose that weren't my own. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on.
One moment, I was killed by another dealer for selling in his spot and, in the next, I woke up as some kid in a very confining room.
Who the hell does this body belong to, i thought to myself. It wasn't mine, normally my skin was tanned and I was never this thin.
"Boy, wake up and cook breakfast. I won't ask again!" I heard a man shout as he knocked on my door quite hardly. After I left my room, or cupboard as it seems, my eyes found a man I recognized. He was fat, his eyes were too small for his face and he had a horrible mustache. That man was Vernon Dursley.
I knew it without a doubt. "Could I use the bathroom before I begin? I think I won't be able to cook properly before visiting the loo." I asked hurriedly and before Vernon could answer, I bolted towards the restroom.
Luckily, I guessed correctly, somehow, and after I locked the door behind me, I looked into the mirror above the sink.
I saw emerald green eyes staring back at me. They were almost glowing. My raven black hair lay messily on my head, its curls giving me a relaxed look. My face was quite gaunt, I looked a bit unhealthy, but I knew that I had the potential to be handsome in the future.
I was Harry bloody Potter!
What to do now, I wondered. I was still a kid, which meant that I haven't visited Hogwarts yet. I guessed that I was around eight years old at this point.
Learning magic may be possible, since I was here instead of the original Harry. I thought that I might be able to feel it, since in my old life I didn't have an arcane energy coursing through my veins.
„How much longer is this going to take!" I heard from the kitchen, breaking me out of my musings. Quickly, I scurried out of the bathroom and entered the kitchen. Vernon huffed after he noticed me and continued to read his newspaper.
While I scrambled some eggs and toasted a few toasts I continued to think about my situation. The mind arts were certainly the top priority for me. I did not want anyone to find out that I was not really Harry Potter. Knowing what others think and maybe manipulating their head a little is only a bonus.
Using the Potter fortune to further my own goals would be third one the list, while learning magic and becoming a truly powerful sorcerer would be second. Voldemort was a threat, but with my knowledge of the Horcruxes, especially the one currently in my forehead, I hoped that I could manage him. Serving Vernon the scrambled eggs with toast left me without something to do.
Just as I tried to leave the kitchen, Dudley shoved me and ran to his father. The similarities between the father-son pair were striking. Both of them were overweight and had small ugly eyes. If he had a mustache, Dudley would look just like his Daddy.
"Have you already bought me my gifts for Friday Dad? You know that my tenth birthday needs to be special!" The mini-whale shouted. Not wanting to hear the rest of his entitled rant, I left the kitchen with an empty stomach.
After I arrived at the park, I ate all of the chocolate bars I, or past the past Harry, sneaked into my cupboard. I then searched for a secluded spot on the grass. "Dudley's tenth birthday is coming up, which means I'm nine years old at the moment.", I muttered to myself quietly. I have two years before entering Hogwarts to prepare myself for the magical world that misses its savior, the heroic Harry Potter.
I couldn't help but chuckle at that, I was always a typical villain-type. The circumstances of my upbringing made me ruthless, my experiences formed me into a man that always wanted more.
My death was evidence of that, I simply bit off more than I could chew and then paid my life for my mistake. As Harry Potter, I could have everything I ever wanted and more.
I could be revered by the people, I could be powerful and I would have the opportunity to hold the world within my grasp. Out of instinct I touched the famous lightning bold scar on my forehead. I noticed that it didn't hurt and seemed almost … faded? It seemed like the former Harry took Tom Riddle's soul fragment with him.
That would also explain my perfect vision, even though I wasn't wearing glasses.
The missing Horcrux certainly changed a few things. First of all, the prophecy was void, which left me vulnerable to being killed by some random lunatic death eater. Second of all, my journey to destroy all of the soul shards became a lot easier without having to figure out how to safely remove a soul piece out of my head.
I stopped my plotting and decided to concentrate on my mind and body. I tried to feel.
It didn't take long before I felt a strange energy, moving within myself. Magic was everywhere, in my brain, eyes, fingers and legs. I felt warmth and power course through my whole being. After relishing the awesome feeling that was magic, I concentrated on my head, trying to protect my brain with a shield.
Unfortunately, my success was very limited. Besides feeling a sudden headache, I did not accomplish much. "Well that was shit" I muttered to myself before I stood up and searched for a small stone. The stone I found was quite small, only a the size of a small pebble.
I sat back down and tried the easiest magical discipline: moving something.
After I concentrated, and once more found my magic, I tried to pull the small stick towards myself. It did not work. After a whole hour of trying, I was frustrated. After two, I was livid. "Why don't you move!" I shouted and just in that moment I sent the stone flying away, without ever touching it. "What the hell?" I said confused, not expecting the violent reaction of my magic.
Another hour and countless tries later, I realized what I was missing before. Desire.
Of course, I wanted the stone to move. and I had enough imagination to picture it rolling towards me in my mind, but the desire to see the stone move was too small. Only my emotions gave me the push I needed to see results . I realized that a certain amount of will was required to move the pebble.
After I thought about it for a few moments, it all started to make sense. Willful wizards were oftentimes quite powerful and powerful magical feats, far above their usual abilities, could be accomplished by ordinary wizards and witches in life-threatening situations. This thesis even explained the required age for Hogwarts, as a certain maturity was most likely needed to accomplish controlled usage of magic. After I concentrated on my desire more, while I imagined that I lifted the small stone before me in the air, it almost felt natural. I could make it rise and fall, move it back and forth, and even spin it with ease.
Growing bolder, I tried to concentrate on a second stone. I noticed that I could lift it too, just as easily. At ten pebbles my maximum was reached and I couldn't lift another one off the ground.
"The limit seems to be ten for now, how about fine control?" I asked myself before letting all the rocks fall to the ground.
In the evening, I returned to 4 Privet Drive, and was locked in my cupboard after being screamed at by aunt Petunia for „escaping and not weeding the garden" or some other bullshit. I was hungry, except for the chocolate bars in the morning, I didn't eat anything today. I was simply to busy to get myself something to eat, not that I even had the money to buy anything.
After I patiently waited for the Dursleys to go to bed, I unlocked the cupboard easily, with my newfound power, and ate to my hearts content. I took a few sandwiches and chocolate bars with me and returned to the cupboard.
I awoke the next morning because of Vernon banging on my door again, demanding that that I make him breakfast again.
I placed the same dish as yesterday on the table and I tried to leave the kitchen as quickly as possible. But Vernon managed to grab me by my arm and said "We will go shopping this afternoon. While we are away you will weed the garden! It will look presentable when we return, am I making myself clear?". He continued: "Dudley's birthday is tomorrow and when the other kids are brought here by their families they will notice the garden, so do it well or there will be consequences, boy!". I replied "Yes, uncle Vernon." coldly before I took my breakfast out of the cupboard and left the house.
My magic pulled out all the weeds, it was child's play for me now. I left some fertilizer on the roses ands other flowers in the garden and left Privet Drive quickly upon completing my task.
A bit later I stood on the main road of Little Whinging and tried to call out with my magic. No one came.
I turned around and settled on finding a different form of transportation. I began to walk away. But just in that moment, a purple triple-decker bus appeared seemingly out of nowhere and came to a screeching halt a few meters in front of me.
A bearded man, certainly not Stan Shunpike, left the weird bus and said: "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Patrick McDonald, and I will be your conductor today - are you not a bit to young to be stranded?". "I'm lost sir, can you tell me where I am? My parents wanted to apparate us to Diagon Alley, but I somehow ended up here alone!" I answered in distressed and sad voice. The high and childish tone made my lie even more believable. "Little man, what is your name?" Mr. McDonald asked in an understanding tone. "My name is Dudley Smith, Sir" I answered as meekly as I could.
The conductor turned around and entered the bus. A short while later, he returned with a big smile on his face. "Well young man, you are truly lucky today! We will deliver you to the Leaky Cauldron. You can probably find your parents there." he said.
I smiled at him and boarded the Knight Bus after thanking him profusely. Just as planed my performance fooled the unsuspecting man. "Soooo… you don't happen to have any money on you lad?" Patrick asked with a strained smile after we took off. Of course, I shook my head. The bearded man lat out a disappointed sigh before he left me alone.
The bus ride was turbulent, but after a short thirty minutes, I left the Knight Bus in the middle of London. Looking around, I soon spotted the Leaky Caldron. Before I entered, I pulled up the hood of my jacket and made sure that it covered my scar. In the pub I quickly walked to the back and waited until someone wanted to leave Diagon Alley.
Almost immediately, the passage opened and quite a few people brushed past me, they entered the Leaky Cauldron without giving me a second glance. While I walked down the busy alley, I was captivated by many magical sights. Among them were flying darts, color-changing hats and glowing candy. The wizards and witches were dressed in the typical magical wardrobe, colorful robes and eccentric accessories. One man even wore armor like a medieval knight. He would have looked quite imposing if his back wasn't hunched like an old man's.
I quickly made my way over to Gringotts, and entered the bank. The guards sneered at me, probably because I didn't take off my hood before going in. They didn't faze me.
After I arrivied at one of the many desks, I said "I would like to speak to my account manager, I can only disclose my name in a more private setting.". The goblin sneered at me and replied "Follow me wizard!" in a clipped tone.
The goblin lead me to a private room with two couches that were facing each other. A small table stood between them. After we sat down, I took off my hood, revealing my messy black hair and, most importantly, the faded lightning bolt scar on my forehead.
"I would like to speak with the Potter account manager now." I told the robin with a straight face. His eyes widened slightly before he answered coldly "We must first confirm if you are allowed to meet the Potter account manager. I will cut your hand with this knife. If you are who you claim to be, no harm shall befall you, but if you are not, you will be subject to a very unpleasant experience!" his mouth formed into a wicked grin as he finished his sentence.
I immediately held my hand out without fear. After he cut me nothing happened, just like I expected.
"Mister Potter, your account manager will be with you shortly!" the goblin said while quickly leaving the room.
A short while later, an old and smartly dressed goblin entered the room. He introduced himself as Goldtalon and sat on the couch opposite to me. "Well, Mister Potter, your presence is certainly a surprise. We thought that you fled England, because you did not respond to a single letter Gringotts sent you. Regardless of your disappearance, the Potter businesses and finances are in perfect condition." Goldtalon began.
"Your pottery and tableware businesses are still making little money. The plantations, broom businesses and potion breweries are still responsible for the majority of your income. Your liquid assets count 92.507.009 Galleons." he continued while reviewing the parchment he was holding in his hands.
I was a multimillionaire.