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"What then is freedom? But the power to live as one chooses." - Cicero
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Once upon a time in the heart of Germania there lived a boy named Harry Potter. He lived with his cousin, aunt, and uncle and it was time to wake up.
Harry had a lot to do already. He rolled off of the straw mattress with a crunch and gave a long stretch.
He exited the closet he called his room and kneeled down by the fireplace to light it. It was frigid in the small house the Dursleys called home and Vernon preferred the place warmed up by the time he was awake.
So Harry sat and flicked the sparks out into the tinde. Next it was time for cooking, he carefully reheated the stew from the night before.
He cleaned the kitchen first, as was his tradition. It's not that Petunia preferred the kitchen cleaned first. But she did want it done before she was up.
Harry wasn't sure why. It's not like she was the one who used it, but it still needed cleaning 'or else.'
So he did. He cleaned all the cinders from the small kitchen area. The Dursleys lived better than most. A part of a growing middle aristocratic class between the ruling freiherren and their lower class subjects.
"Its frigid in here, boy. Absolutely frigid. Fetch more wood for the fire." Vernon was the first one up and the first one served as Harry handed his large uncle his breakfast before running off to feed the fire.
Vernon Dursley was a simple banker. Worked for one of the largest banks in Germania. He often bragged about it but Harry knew that Vernon Dursley was a large man playing the role of a small cog in a much larger machine.
But Harry was an even smaller cog in an even smaller machine.
He set down the imported tea out for Petunia. It was by far the most expensive substance in the house. It was from China. All the way from the far East. Petunia drank a watered down cup every day.
It really did smell lovely, even watered down. Harry could see why Petunia enjoyed it.
"It's much too stuffy in here. Be a dear and take a log out of the fire."
Harry moved at once, pulling a log out using a poker and spreading cinders across the floor.
Then came Dudley, fat and porky as he was, meandered to get his breakfast. Harry's cousin sat down and picked the meat out of the breakfast stew, avoiding the vegetables at all costs.
Dudley, unlike Harry, had been given something of an education, he could read and write, and seemed to loath the experience of being taught.
Harry loathed him for that.
Sometimes when all his chores were done he was able to slip away and read from some of Vernon's books. Harry had had to work hard for the same thing Dudley had been given. Really, Harry knew that he could barely read. Not more than a few of the most basic words.
Reading was a privilege Harry couldn't afford.
"Out you go, boy." Uncle Vernon snapped. It was time to begin outdoor chores. Fetching water and splitting firewood.
Harry moved to begin without complaint.
There was a man outside. Harry stared. The man stared back.
"Hello?" Young Harry greeted.
"Greeting young man. You must be Harry Potter. You've grown so much since I last saw you. Of course you were just a baby back then." The man's eyes twinkled.
Harry paused. Was he in trouble. He gathered the water and bid the man come in.
"Uncle, Aunt we have a guest," he delivered the water.
"Well don't just stand there! Take his coat!"
"He doesn't have a coat uncle. He has robes."
"Robes?"
"Yes uncle."
"No I won't have it!"
Harry hesitated at his uncle's sudden burst of anger.
"Well I shall." The man entered. "I'm rather shocked to see young Harry wearing rags and little more. I doubt if your son had been sent to live with Lily and James he would be wearing rags. I've come to take Harry as my apprentice. It is time."
"Apprentice?" Harry asked.
"No! I won't have it!" Harry's uncle stood. The man waved his hand and Harry's uncle was pushed by an invisible force back into his seat.
"It's quite outside of your control. I've waited long enough to take Harry as my apprentice. You must have known this day would come."
"Sir? Apprentice in what exactly?" Harry asked.
"Young man, in magic."
"Magic?"
"Just so. Have you ever done things you can't explain? I shall teach you how to hone your skills. I taught your father before you. I am Albus Dumbledore the Merlin."
"I'm a wizard?" Harry asked.
"You are. You possess the talent. And I shall be your guide, should you choose of course. I shall take you from here and we shall explore the deeper mysteries."
"Will you teach me to read? To write?"
"I should think so! My beard! You weren't taught to read and write?"
"I can a little. I taught myself."
"That shall be rectified. I will teach you. Book learning is critical for a wizard."
Harry couldn't breath. It was like something out of a distant dream. Could it really be possible?
"You're sure I'm a wizard? That I possess this talent?"
"Your parents both did. We won't know for sure until we begin your training. But it can be assumed. I have had faith for the longest time that you would. I planned on taking you as my apprentice since you were a year old. When your parents died."
"No!" Harry's uncle shouted.
"Silencio." Dumbledore demanded. Harry's uncle's jaw worked but no noise came out. Harry's aunt was petrified and Dudley was still picking at his stew.
Harry knew what he would choose. "I'll go with you. If you teach me to read and write I'll go anywhere. If you get me out of here I'll travel anywhere."
"Very good." Dumbledore smiled.
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The first thing Dumbledore did was buy Harry new clothes. Robes and pants and shirts. A wizard's apprentice's brown robes. He gifted Harry a silvery pentacle to wear around the neck which Dumbledore assured Harry had enchantments to it but did not reveal what they were. And finally a wand.
Harry received his wand from a man named Olivander who believed it was curious but at Dumbledore's look said little more. It was holly and phoenix feather. It felt chill to Harry's touch. But it was strangely comforting.
"The wand chooses the wizard or witch young man. Remember that."
Harry just nodded.
Dumbledore noticed Harry had a limp from his last beating and gave him a series of potions he bought. Harry immediately felt better after drinking them though they tasted awful.
"Young man, have you ever been to Britannia?"
Harry shook his head. "My aunt's from there but I've never left Germania. At least that I know of."
"I have good relations with the covens of Europa. France and Germania and Britannia in particular. I make my home in Britannia and so shall you."
Harry nodded.
"You mentioned you taught yourself reading. Any other talents?" Dumbledore asked.
"I can… I can speak to snakes. They find me. Whisper things. Is that normal? I can also tell when people lie to me. Are there others like me?"
"Some. Such talents are not unheard of. Speaking to snakes or parseltongue is quite uncommon. Tell me, have you ever read the thoughts of others?"
Harry shook his head. "Not that I know of, sir."
"Hm." Dumbledore hummed as he walked with staff. "Well I shall foster these talents as best as I am able. Now for your first lesson. I am about to open a way through the nevernever. Through the lands of fairy. The intent is to bend the distance between here and Britannia. Some places connect in strange ways through the fey wilds and through winter and summer. I know a path which shall take us to my home. Do you understand?"
Harry thought about lying and saying he did understand. But then he shook his head. "No sir. Bend the distance how?"
"A dark place in our world connects with a dark place in fairy. A happy place with a happy place. By walking through fairy time and space can be bent into a shorter path."
"How does one open a way?"
"You can open the nevernever with a spell. Despite what you have told me I believe such a task would be beyond you so I won't teach you now. But I shall teach you one day. For now…" The man incanted in latin and waved a knobbly wand. A ripple of air into existence followed in front of them. Dumbledore stepped through and beckoned for Harry to follow him. Harry did.
Dumbledore trekked through the forest until he reached a river. Two enormous beasts with clubs guarded the path. Dumbledore clicked his tongue and the beasts flinched back away from him.
"Trolls Harry. I speak their language. You may one day as well."
The beasts let us past but Harry felt their eyes follow them as they crossed another forest. Dumbledore arrived at a lake and summoned a boat from thin air. He beckoned Harry to join him in the boat and Harry did. Dumbledore waved his hand and the boat began to make its way across the lake.
Out of the mist appeared an island. The boat stopped and Dumbledore tapped the roots of a waving tree just so. The tree stopped moving despite the slight breeze. Dumbledore incanted in latin again and opened another portal. Harry stepped through it after the old wizard.
There was a mansion waiting on the other side.
"I require a drop of your blood now, young man. To key you into the protections around my home." Harry held out his hand. Dumbledore touched the tip of his wand to Harry's forefinger and Harry felt a prick. Blood welled up and Dumbledore gestured with his wand to bring a drop of the blood with him.
"Wait here, Harry. I shall return once my protections accommodate you."
Harry nodded.
Dumbledore disappeared into the front door of the mansion and Harry had only to wait a couple of minutes before Dumbledore returned.
"Come along Harry. I shall give you a full tour."
Harry was led into an entrance hall with a comfortable dining room off to one side fit for a party. There was a large living room with comfortable feather looking couches. There was a kitchen and small creature was inside.
"Harry meet Bitty."
"Hello," Harry greeted. The creature with long ears bowed deeply.
"Hello young master."
"Harry Bitty is a house elf. She takes care of all the household needs I may have. If you have a request you can summon her by name. She takes care of all the cooking and cleaning of the house and helps with the protections." Harry nodded along.
Dumbledore led Harry to an enormous library. Harry stood in awe of the three story room with surrounding circular platforms and ladders. "You will one day read all these books. All of them."
"That will take years sir."
"You have time. We aren't going anywhere."
Dumbledore showed Harry his own room and then Harry's quarters. It was a decent sized room with a bedside table and wardrobe. Harry deposited his clothes on the bed to hang up in the closet later.
Harry was then led to the old man's study. Dumbledore sat and beckoned for Harry to sit opposite him. Harry did.
"Lemon sherbert, Harry?"
"What's a lemon sherbert?"
"Its a candy. Try one."
Harry did. It was sour and sweet. It tasted good, Harry decided.
"I'm sure you have many questions."
"Some sir."
"Fire away."
"What is a wizard really?"
"Ah. Perhaps its to be expected that the answer varies person to person. For some it means summoning fire and energy. For others it means brewing potions and bringing forth the fey. We shall see how it manifests in you. Magic is different and varied. There is no solid answer."
"Well put, master." A skull on the headmaster's desk lit up with fire in the eyes. Harry stared at it.
"Ah, Harry meet Alexander. Alexander is a wind spirit. A spirit of knowledge. He helps me train my apprentices and furthers my research."
"Your research?" Harry asked. He was still staring at the skull.
"I study alchemy and deeper magics. I once published a paper on the uses of dragon's blood."
Harry nodded. "I'm sort of overwhelmed by all this. All this magic. It's incredible. I hope… I hope I don't disappoint you, sir."
"Not to worry Harry. It is my firm belief that you are a hard working and perhaps even talented young man."
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Harry had a feather bed. Feather. Bed. It was the most comfortable night's sleep of his entire life. If he had his way, then he would never go back to straw. He dressed in his robes. The brown ones unlike Dumbledore's deep royal purple. He went downstairs to the kitchen to find a plate of eggs, sausage, and toast waiting for him. He stared at it.
"Um… Bitty?"
There was a crack and Bitty appeared before him.
"Is young master displeased with his breakfast?"
"This is for me?"
"Of course, young master. Please let me know how I can serve you."
"Nothing for now. Thank you Bitty."
The elf vanished. Harry took his seat in the dining room and ate his food. Then he went looking for the old wizard. The old Merlin.
The skull was waiting for Harry on the desk.
"Ah, you're awake." Alexander said.
Harry nodded.
"Very well. Shall we begin your education?"
Harry hesitated. The skull continued.
"Each day we shall begin with reading, writing, and arithmetic. After breakfast you are to report straight here for lessons. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded.
"Very good. We shall now begin. Pick up the first book on the desk. From the stack to my left."
Harry did. He read the cover. Intro to Transfiguration.
"Well go on and open it. Read the first chapter. After this is charms, defense, potions. Then arithmancy. The Merlin is a master of Arithmancy and he won't tolerate a student unable to rise to the occasion."
Harry started slowly reading. He managed to get through Transfiguration and charms but then found he was getting thirsty.
"Bitty." He called.
Bitty appeared with a bow.
"Er-can I get a glass of water?"
A glass appeared before him.
"Thank you Bitty."
"It was my pleasure young master. Will that be all?"
"Yes it will." Bitty vanished.
"Ah mortals with your bodily needs," The skull scoffed from the desk. Harry stared at it. "Oh I meant no offense. But you must admit its a distraction from the deeper questions."
"Where's Dumbledore?" Harry asked.
"Out. As the Merlin he has many responsibilities. He also needed to get you registered."
"Registered for what?" Harry wondered.
"As his new apprentice of course. The white council is a pretty tight ship."
"White council?"
"The council of wizards and witches. Magic users from across the world. To enforce the laws of magic."
"What are the laws of magic?"
"Well there is thou shalt not kill with magic. Thou shalt not open the outer gates. Thou shalt not change the currents of time."
"That's it?" Harry asked.
"That's all of them."
"It seems like a short list."
"Well these are all the capital offenses. There are laws against changing the minds of mortals but that's a little more vague and not a capital offense. Its also against the law to torture with magic. But those two only result in a sentence to prison."
"Wizard prison?"
"Azkaban in Britannia."
Harry nodded along.
He returned to his potions textbook. It was tough reading but he managed.
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-WG