Come what may, I will be there - RAP

Harry's mood dimmed for the next day but soon he seemed much more happy. While talking about it, he smiled sadly "Well. at least I know about them a bit now."

At first, Hermione did try to make him ask Dumbledore or Snape even; about his parents but Harry denied the "request". Ron and I just shrugged when she turned to us for help.

"It's a huge thing for him. We should let him take his time and ask the questions when he is ready for the answers.", I answered her look wisely.

"What do you mean 'when he is ready'?", Ron interjected. Hermione just gave us a look and that matter was laid to rest.

Time passed in between lessons (all theoretical for me) but the trio seemed to getting a hang of themselves. Their friendship progressed its path and I could see the tell tale sign of Ron's jealous behavior sometimes. Though a bit sad?; Hermione didn't seem bothered by it as much. Then suddenly :

[Checking (?)...]

[Your ? has changed]

[Your Story : Dastaan and the Philosopher's Stone is waking up..]

[Reader's character setting is being updated]

[Immersion : 5 %]

[*&^%? is whispering to ..;]

[The (:?) interest in you has increased]

These messages had appeared after Harry had come out of his shell. It made me a bit scared especially something about me being changed or updated. I had to pat myself down for a good 10 minutes before getting to the conclusion that I hadn't changed..at least not physically.

There did happen a change for me, though I only noticed that after a couple of hours. I could hear and see much further than previously. Like I could hear the general chatter around me before but now I could single out pieces of info that I wanted to hear. It is a great experience for me and I quite liked this new ability of mine.

The change that I had induced to the narrative gave me a few shivers though when I read it. The thought of it, that I had started to change this legendary tale made me sigh. I temporarily ignored the comments.

Even the trio seemed changed after that incident. I left them to their devices most of the time except lectures which seemed to bother Hermione a lot. She had taken to following me to the Library and hanging around me for as long as I sat there. This decision followed her unanswered question she had asked me about my whereabouts one Saturday night (I was in the Room of Requirements).

My immersion as the window said had progressed to 5% and stuck there. The "comments" as I had started calling them due to their similar nature had increased greatly. From whatever I could find these entities; if they were entities whose name I couldn't read, they were some sort of [Readers]. They had all the major points down. They exclaimed in a moment or snickered something or basically commented whatever they wanted anytime.

At least that's what I thought of them. They had a unnatural amount of interest in my life. They couldn't read my thoughts but they could listen and know everything around me. As far as I could tell, they didn't have any inkling on what will happen here in the future but to what extent I couldn't tell.

These entities accompanied me and would "comment" on my actions and reactions. They were like a live audience focusing only on me. Since only I could see them, it made me feel weird to react to their comments when I am not alone.

Fortunately they turned silent when I wanted them to be which I took to be that my privacy was my own. I could show them what they wanted to see and only what I wanted them to see, nothing else. At least that's what I thought happened.

Since I couldn't do Magic and frankly speaking I was a cheat in this world with just [Read], I had started to think of a few more projects to keep me busy. These projects could only be brought to fruition in the Room of Requirements since only there I could have the necessary things needed for my experiments.

I didn't take the Ravenclaw's Lost (Now Found!) Diadem though, I had entered the 'the place to hide something' but I couldn't bring myself to seek it. I only felt fear at whether my holding the diadem would do something. If Voldemort's Hocrux invaded my mind or somehow made me croak something...anything out, they this world would be fucked. Honestly I couldn't help but think; that there had to a better way to take care of myself (and the world!) which brought me to Occlumency.

A strange art, focused only on the mind and if trained properly; I could protect my mind from everything. The method that Harry practiced with Snape; of forcefully having someone invade my mind wasn't at all suitable for me. I had to take a longer more stable approach. I had [Read] the Occlumency book and started practicing it with a shred of trepidation.

My magic didn't seem to react to external stimuli and my wand (as extraordinary as it is, I am sure!) is of no use to me. I hoped that at least my mind would be magical enough to practice Occlumency.

I couldn't know for now but clearing my mind had been one hell of a step. I couldn't stop thinking of all the possibilities and every change in this whole wide world that had started due to me.

It took some time before I could clear my mind at least partially for now. I wanted a whole Mind Palace (Get it?) for myself. That is one of my most important motivation. I had began the preparation for this exact thing.

My other projects were quite not that fruitful. My "inventions" needed me to have quite a plethora of knowledge of many different subjects which also had me in an almost constant head-ache.

I had in desperation just chosen the head ache potion as my reward for the [Permanent Record] which made it a very convenient thing for me. Also since [Check] had already unlocked; that means I could have this same reward in the future sometime...probably.(I hope to high Heavens!)

[Permanent Record is being used..]

[The Head-Ache potion is being recorded...]

[With your current integration you may use it once every 2 hours.]

It is one of the most interesting thing to use. It didn't matter what I was doing or what I was eating, the moment I wanted to use the Head-Ache potion; the effect would be immediate and fantastic.

I told so to Madam Pomfrey who felt delighted about it.

With the Head-Ache potion all I had to do was [Read] any one book per couple of hours and just at the onset of my head ache immediately use it. This cleared my mind for the other stuff but I often had to stop myself in trying to [Read] more than one book.

I did try to [Read] two books simultaneously which didn't go well. I blacked out for a minute straight and woke up with a killer headache and I couldn't use the Head-Ache potion anytime soon. That was a horrifying painful experience. Thankfully none of the trio saw me like that. (I hid in a small unused classroom.)

I didn't think I would find myself loving learning so much. I had a ton of fun with the teachers and my fellow students. The teachers appreciated my input which showed them a novel way of thinking but was actually just my world's fanfic knowledge. It was fascinating to figure out just how much among the things I had read in my world could actually work here and how much actually didn't?!.

Of course I didn't forget the antagonist for the year; Professor Quirrel. Honestly this guy could win an Oscar for his acting, if I didn't already know his other face and I hadn't seen him anywhere without his turban I would have started doubting myself.

My bond with him is tenuous at best but his subject (which Harry loved!) the Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA) made my mood worsen. At least in transfiguration, most of the class failed and in Charms I could spend my time with Prof. Flitwick while others were trying but in this class, almost everyone had their chance. They had this spells that they could practice and their happiness infected me until I felt the red stone hung around my neck which dampened my mood.

The trio picked on this after one such class and to cheer me up; took me to Hagrid with them. The half giant man who lived in the hut with the Forbidden Forest as his backyard. On second thoughts, this guy really had the balls and the correct qualifications to be the Future Magical Creatures Teacher. That reminded me of Newt Scamander, a pity I couldn't see the third movie. I would have to get to know the answers from Dumbledore sometime.

The quad (with me) went on our way to Hagrid's hut and I couldn't help but marvel at the whole scenery. The sun hadn't went down and its beaming rays lit the whole forest as if it had come alive from where I saw it. The greenery which spread for as far as I could see was one of the most magnificent scene I had seen.

I slight breeze ruffled my hair and I couldn't help but smile ruefully. This was the place where it ended and began for Harry.

"I am about to die..", I whispered in reverence.

"Did you say something, Dastaan?", Harry's voice beckoned me. He looked weirdly at me just standing there.

"No..nothing. Did you hear me say something?", I looked at him anxious at my slip of tongue.

Harry shook his head and pointed towards Hagrid who had come out of his hut and was now waving his hands at us.

"Al'ight there Dastaan?", he asked when I reached him.

"It's fine. I was just admiring the view. Got to say Hagrid, you are one fearless man.", Hagrid laughed a booming laugh. The trio just smiled and Hagrid gestured us to enter his hut.

Just before I entered though, I saw something move in the corner of my eye. I turned around to look at it but didn't see anything. Looking at Hermione seated there, I shook my head,'That's two years from now..'

I finally saw Hagrid's famous Rock cakes which were really made according to Giant standards. I couldn't eat them but I accepted his offer of taking a few back (just for snacks!, he said).

The trio talked about their week here at Hogwarts and Harry's first quidditch practice. Hagrid always put on a kind smile and listened to whatever the others and I said. I always the liked this gentle giant even when I just read him; not to mention now.

The sun started setting as we got up to the castle. I admired the fantastical view and took a deep breath. Hogwarts looked amazing, like something straight out a dream. The trio looked at me but they had seen my weird behavior many times already so they didn't comment.

I joined them soon for the warm Great Hall and the tasty food that the house-elf's had made for me.

"I love Magic!", I said to the trio while showing a great smile. Harry looked astonished then smiled, Hermione just shook her head and Ron looked as if trying to understand whether I was going nuts.

"That would seem the case, Mr. Dastaan but refrain from shouting that at the entrance of the Great Hall.", Mcgonagall seemed to silently appear behind me at the exact moment. I almost jumped at her voice but managed to control myself and smiled sheepishly at her. She soon passed me while behind her trailed a smiling Pomfrey no doubt listening to my shout.

I just rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment all the while the trio gave me a wide berth. The Gryffindor table had lots of other side characters, whom I had just seen and not known about so I made a point to sit with them when I felt like it. I sat not far away from the trio who already knew that I wasn't sitting with them for dinner.

"See, I knew no one who can see the future is a normal person", Ron confided loudly in Harry and Hermione. I heard his jealousy rear it's head but I shook my head.

"He is just enjoying himself, I don't think it is that weird.", Hermione defended.

"Yeah, you would know...Miss Know-It-All.", he whispered the end. The jealous words seemed to hit a spot as Hermione left him and joined me. I could see her downcast face and the slight tear at the corner of her eyes.

"Hey, you okay?", I nudged her.

"Mm", she nodded but not convincingly. I turned my head around the table to look at the other students. Around me sat Seamus, Dean, Padma Patil, Percy and a few older year students whose names I couldn't recall. Neville wasn't present for some reason. As we enjoyed our food, we naturally discussed different topics. I was always curious about their day to day opinions as both characters in a book and..well students.

"Hey guys, can somebody tell me why the Houses are so segregated, I mean Padma has her sister in Ravenclaw. Why can't she visit her House sometime? Or have her come here for breakfast or dinner?", I asked.

"Well, the teachers say it boosts a certain competitive spirit and we are together most of the time so it doesn't bother us", Padma commented.

"More than the already competitive exams?", I questioned.

Padma shrugged and I couldn't help but look around at all the other tables and their occupants.

'Hmm.., another thing to think about.'

"Mr. Dastaan", a curt voice behind me startled me out of my thoughts. I smirked as I recognized the voice.

"Yes, Prof. Snape?", I turned finding the forlorn Professor looking at me with a sinister gaze. My smile seemed to have irked him because I saw his eyes narrow. I made sure to not look directly in his eyes.

"The Headmaster wishes to speak with you after dinner in his office.", he handed me a piece of paper.

"Blueberries, huh. Have to say the Headmaster does have a unique naming sense.", I turned to see Snape turning his back on me.

"Thank you, Professor Snape.", I waved the paper. The surrounding noise immediately died down and I could almost feel the palpable tension. As soon as I saw Snape turning, I put my face back into my food. I could feel him boring a hole in my head with his glare.

"Seriously, how do you do it?", Neville (who seemed to have just appeared) nudged me when the noise came back i.e Snape went away.

"Well, it's quite simple. For you Snape is a monster that will eat you alive but for me he is just a teacher and as such I give him the proper respect he should receive. That's the only difference between me and the rest of you lot.", I pointed at all the pointed ears that were listening to me.

"They say he once deliberately poisoned a Gryffindor student right before the Quidditch finals.", Seamus whispered.

"Who is They?", I questioned back.

"Well the seniors'", he continued.

"Utter nonsense, I checked all the teacher's records. Snape included. In the last 10 years of his tenure here, he had rescued a total of 50 students from severe harm and since he had become the Potions teacher, Hogwarts overall Potions evaluation has only increased. Rodrick Yards, who redesigned the Sleepless Draught Potion, claims he couldn't have done it without Prof. Snape's help.", I fired back.

The students who did hear me had a gob smacked face with the boys having forgotten they were still eating. Hermione looked particularly astonished more to the fact that I knew such things.

"And Milecent Burdot , the heiress to the Magnificent Potionaire has frequently said that she would kill for a chance to look at Prof. Snape's potion brewing.", I continued while looking at the juicy fried chicken in my plate.

"Prof. Snape has won the award for being the Youngest Potion Master at the ripe age of 26 though I couldn't help but think that he could have done it sooner since for some reason he stopped participating in any competition in his fourth year", I deliberated through mouthful of chicken.

"NO WAY", some of the Gryfindor students exclaimed.

"Yes Way", I affirmed with a mouthful of chicken.

After gulping I continued," I am not saying he is the best teacher considering his harsh critics and the unusual bias he has towards other houses ; but I would like to point out that the other teachers in their own degree have a bit of bias as well. This preconceived notion that Snape is a bad teacher has clouded your minds to the basics of being a student."

"Which is?", Hermione pointed.

"Curiosity and Admiration", I said, "Just try to have those in Potions; it does wonders. It works for me."

"So you are saying we have to respect Snape", Ron said while overly emphasizing.

"Sure, that's a start.", I shrugged and got up.

"Where are you going?", Harry asked.

"Oh, I have an appointment with Dumbledore regarding...well my condition I think.", I implied while pointing to myself with my wand. I had rarely if ever used the wand since...well I couldn't use the wand. Though I did like to flourish it while imagining the various magics I had seen whenever I grew bored of the constant studying and occlumency practice.

I looked at the dark finish of the wand and made a note to try to find it's origin. After giving the password to the statue at Dumbledore's office(/bedroom? I guess) I knocked twice.

The silence lasted for a moment before I was permitted to enter. This was my 2nd visit here which I couldn't help but think are just going to increase. Dumbledore sat behind his desk eating his sweets while beaming at me.

"Mr. Dastaan, thank you for joining me in such short notice.", his stare on me always made me slightly conscious.

'No wonder, Harry always said he left X-rayed in front of Headmaster.'

I took a deep breath before I employed what simple knowledge of Occlumency I had and drew a smile on my face. My eyes didn't look straight at Dumbledore but a spark of fire attracted me as Fawkes presented itself. The sudden arrival did startle me but I composed myself soon and reached out my hand slowly to stroke the Phoenix. I didn't touch him but stopped just shy of his feathers.

Fawkes stared for a second at my outstretched fingers before obliging and closing in. I smiled at the soft touch of his feathers. They felt warm unlike the obvious deduction. I could feel the blue eyes still looking at me though.

"Professor, how do you get a phoenix?", my question didn't bother him (as rarely anything not-Harry-Potter thing does.) With a practiced smile and a repeated answer he replied.

"Ah...Fawkes is as they say a family gift."

"Did someone gift you a phoenix?", I sounded more exasperated than astonished.

"No, Nothing of the sort. You see, Dumbledore's have a rare connection to these magnificent creatures.", while still smiling; he walked up to me and peered at Fawkes closely.

"You mean, it's a bloodline connection? Has anyone else been given a Phoenix in your family then, I mean except you, Sir?", I asked ahead.

"Rarely, I myself in my long fruitful life have been able to only witness them thrice.", he said. I already knew all three ; Fawkes, Credence's phoenix and Sparky but I didn't let it show.

"That rare huh, I guess then I would have to be very very lucky to get such a magnificent companion.", I smiled at Fawkes while he preened at me.

"I am afraid so, Mr. Dastaan but Life is a very interesting journey. It has a way of showing us great things if we let it."

"You would know, Sir. I am sure of that.", I replied smiling at him thinking of his life, his deeds, his secrets.

"Ah...yes that I hope so to.", his smile faded a little. "I hear a great deal about you from the professors' nowadays. Sherbet lemons?" We had walked back to his desk and I sat on the cushy looking chair while he offered his favorite lemon sweets. I shook my head and he popped one in his mouth.

"All good things, I hope", I looked sheepish as I knew Snape must have complained to him.

"It seems the theoretical aspect of the classes isn't a challenge anymore for you. Is that true?", he stared at me while looking like a teacher who seemed to have caught me red-handed.

I rubbed the back of my head and looked embarrassed, "I am not that smart, Sir. Its just a gift. I can remember everything I read once no matter what, though it does cause a slight headache."

"Perfect Memory. Amazing, I have met a few such lucky people. They are without a doubt a rare kind of genius. Knowledge will take you a long way, its always better to remember more and that would also explain your headache potions you took from Madam Pomfrey.", he said glancing at my head then back at me.

"Sir, I didn't know you were keeping an eye on me.", I smiled (of course I knew!)

"Your medical condition had me worried", Dumbledore said truthfully.

"Speaking of..can you tell if they found anything about it?", I leaned in asking.

"Hmm...do you know of the Philosopher's Stone, Dastaan?"

My hands immediately went to the stone hanging from my neck. This little detail didn't go unnoticed.

"Ah..I see you already have some doubts."

"I checked the library for famous stones and it matched the characteristics.", I removed the stone carefully making full sure that I had skin contact with it. It's surface gleamed a reddish hue (which I could swear didn't happen before) and I could see a hint of light within.

Dumbledore's eyes stuck on the stone as he observed it carefully.

"I would like to study it for a bit; if you don't mind?", Dumbledore asked. I couldn't tell but he suddenly sounded a bit hurried.

"It is yours anyway. But..."

"Don't worry, this won't take long. I will be back in a jiffy. Your condition should be fine for a short time", Dumbledore replied as he took the stone from my hands. The moment it left my hands, I thought I would feel that terrible coldness once again or even something over-the-top magical but I didn't fell anything. No bright lights, no sparks nothing.

Dumbledore waited for a moment longer, looking at me for any signs of discomfort. When none presented itself, he waved his hand and a second later he was gone in a burst of fire. I only noticed it after that Fawkes too had vanished. The scene was spectacular to watch though there wasn't any rebound or shock-wave like in the movie.

I got up and looked around the Headmaster's office. His trinkets which looked weird (or normal in a magical way, I don't know) but since I already knew about Dumbledore's history and future, his inventions were too unique and too powerful. A single deluminator which was designed as a more of a muggle magic gimmick had become something that could actually connect to people with a special connection.

'This guy is a veritable genius...if ever I have seen one...except me of course.', I looked around with a flourish. The other portraits and their inhabitant Headmasters had a slight hesitant look on their face. I looked at each of them, I knew a few of them (as it had been written) but their were so many. The room seemed studded with portraits on every single vertical surface. Every eye followed him but I didn't feel eerie so I let them. The Hat remained asleep and I didn't want him badgering me with questions so I let him be too.

My eyes roamed the office for...well anything. A mysterious tome, broken wand or something but I didn't see anything that magical. So I shrugged and sat down in my seat again and played with a hourglass that seemed to contain a very sticky red liquid that didn't want to fall down making the time telling trinket faulty. The curious thing being that I could somehow feel that this hourglass didn't actually tell time rather it was about the weather.

The rest of the portraits remained rather still. Most of them were empty and the rest of them didn't seem eager to talk but I didn't have anything else to do.

"Don't you guys get bored?", I raised my eyes at the group nearest to me who were surreptitiously keeping an eye on me.

"It's the magic that allows us to not feel the passing of time so rigorously.", said a gruff voice. I turned to it and seem to recognize the owner.

"Hello Headmaster Storn, my name is Dastaan.", I raised my hands in a wave. I could feel more than see the rest of the portraits raise their brow's in shock.

"You have read of me?", asked the portrait headmaster.

"Oh yes, I have actually. As a matter of fact, I know everyone here.", I flourished my hands to the rest of the room.

"Who's am I, then?", a slurred voice asked. I turned towards the owner and after a moment smiled.

"Headmaster Fabirc, its nice to make your acquaintance. Your served as the Headmaster for a impressive 11 years. Shame about that Dragon though.", I smirked.

"That BLOODY reptile, I'd done it if not for that balasted scourge.",the dark bearded man seemed almost hysterical as he twisted his face in a snarl.

"May I ask what were you researching?", I asked curiously. The book 'Hogwarts and her Headmasters' did mention their deeds in detail but this one seemed to be lost in time. I was curious as to what this ancient wizards were doing in their time.

The man in the portrait looked at me, his face skeptical, tried to answer but then stopped himself.

"He can't remember. All portraits don't exactly get all the information and in his time the Magic had a lot of shortcomings.",said Storn.

I imagined a flashback of Harry standing in front of Dumbledore's portrait at the end.

'Guess this Magic did progress quite a bit from that time since Dumbledore seemed to have perfect knowledge of everything his living counterpart did.'

"I am sorry to hear that Headmaster.", I smiled apologetically to the black haired portrait.

"Ah...If I could only remember..", the portrait sighed wistfully. Judging by simply the era of the owner and the advancement at the time I didn't think the research would be all that amazing.

One of the first things I had done after having access to Library was to read about ancient magic spells. Contrary to my belief that the more ancient it is the more powerful it will be; the books I read most definitely stated almost all old magics were more than once a luck of the draw. The books were filled with examples over examples of wizard and witches who had died in droves in their pursuit of ancient magic that they thought existed.

But the keyword here was 'almost'. All known wizards and witches which publicized their research and therefore when successful their result; were almost all in the minority. One of the Books 'Wizards of old Magics' often spoke of wizards who went searching for something and eventually returned but never mentioned of what they found.

Legends upon legends from a ice breathing dragons to a mountain that spews out gold to a place that you can only go at the edge of the world. One of the notable examples is Sir Francis Drake who in a time that apparition had yet to be invented took one of the largest fleet of ships to roam the world. But soon except a handful of people, none of his crew who were all wizard themselves came back.

More astonishingly of the surviving six sailors, four were muggles while the remaining two consisted only of Francis and his cousin Miguel. When asked of their experience, the muggles could only articulate the word 'curses', 'moon flower' & 'golden blood'. Soon after one by one all the muggles died and the surviving wizards chose to never speak of the matter again.

Francis too vanished one day never to be seen or heard from again leaving behind the second wizard survivor Miguel who at he time was 26 years old. Miguel lived to a ripe age of 78 before passing away but till his death never ever mentioned or recollected his journey or what had happened to the rest of the crew.

It was so interesting to know that even in the wizarding world, there were such types of secrets or hidden pockets of history that no one knew of. Wizards being wizards didn't think much of this secret or even try to find out what happened.

My 'find-out-all-magic-secrets' senses were tingling very much when I had originally stumbled upon this book. The knowledge that seemed superficial at first glance could hide tons of secrets. Just take the 'Tale of the Three Brothers', hiding within were unfathomably strong artifacts but still the story remained a children fairy tale until now.

That's why I had started to get more hungry on this type of knowledge. I wanted to be a type of a treasure hunter in the future, searching for ancient secrets. I mean being a treasure hunter in the modern world was already pretty exciting but being a treasure hunter in a magical world with actual lost magic and lost relics that could actually be...well magical was very very exciting.