September 1st, 1992
Harry placed his trunk2 in the overhead shelf as he sat down and immediately cracked open a book. Harry had received it recently as a late birthday present from the Flamels. He had sent Perenelle the details of his latest Runic Ritual for her to look over as well as the results for it. It was somewhat sparse given he had only used it on Albus and then later on Ron who had accidently fell down his stairs and twisted his ankle.
She seemed to be ecstatic to about his Runic Rituals idea as well as the practical applications he had already managed. In return for some of his research, her and her husband agreed to send him another book that, after discussions with Albus, they thought he might enjoy reading. Upon seeing the title and then looking at the contents, he had been ecstatic.
The book was called A Historical Recounting Of Worlds Unknown by a man named Albert Everett. He was apparently a muggle-born student of the Flame's in the 1800's who had also been interested in the ideas and possibility of other worlds. His book had a recounting of different cultures and their possible interpretations of different worlds some claimed were parallel to Earth's. Harry had started reading it and had already been enthralled in the work.
The man spoke on stories first, then dissected them and tried to find possibly historical evidence to support or disclaim the story. He would also theorize on how the story claimed that the travel between the worlds was possible with his own current understanding of magic.
In truth, it was less the stories he was going through that had Harry's attention but rather the authors own musings. Harry considered himself rather learned, especially for his age, but the things this man wrote of had even Harry's mind twisting trying to keep up. He had already made several notes to look up certain theories this man spoke of and referenced on his own time to hopefully give him a somewhat better understanding of what he talked about.
Harry was interrupted from his thoughts and readings though by a knock on his compartment door. He glanced up and saw the door open to reveal two girls that he did not immediately recognize. The one on the left and slightly behind the first girl had short brown hair and caramel eyes. Her face seemed curious and Harry noticed a certain look in her eyes that somewhat reminded him of the Weasley twins, though, to a lesser extent.
The girl in front was almost the opposite of the other girl. Her hair was longer and down her back as well as being a dark blonde in color. To contrast, she had blue eyes that looked like they were carved from ice itself. He felt his head tilt almost without his permission at the indecipherable look in her eye. Both girls seemed to have pretty features, which is something he wouldn't have noticed more than a month ago.
"…Yes?" Harry finally decided to ask. The girls stared at him for another moment before looking at each other and seemed to have a silent conversation. It lasted only a moment before they looked back and the blonde spoke.
"Do you mind if we sit here?" She asked him. Harry blinked before looking around the compartment. They could probably fit six comfortably in here but they'd all be a little close. There was also the fact that he didn't know these girls.
"Well… I suppose. Though I have three of my friends who are planning to join so if you do decide to, it may be a little tight." Harry pointed out to them.
"That's fine with me. Better than the alternative anyway." The brunette in back grumbled. The blonde regarded Harry for a moment before nodding in acceptance.
"Thank you, we shall take you up on your offer." The blonde finally said. It was strange how unmatched her words and tone were. It also looked like she was giving a perpetual glare to him but he had a feeling that was just how she looked. Nonetheless, Harry nodded and scooted down the bench so they could have the seats nearest the compartment door. With their presence, he and his friends would likely not be able to speak as openly but he could use the time to read instead.
While the girls started to situate themselves, Harry went back to his book reading. If he was right, the train would be leaving in fifteen minutes so his friends should be boarding soon. He had a feeling a certain redheaded mother was holding them at this point. Nonetheless, he waited patiently and kept reading. Or, at least, he tried too. Unfortunately, it was not to be as only a few moments later one of the girls piped up.
"So… Aren't you going to ask us our names?" Harry frowned as he looked up from the book and over to the two. The blonde seemed to be giving an actual glare to the brunette while the girl in question simply stared at him with a smirk on her face.
"I wasn't since I did not believe you wished to for us get to know each other further but if you would like then, sure. What are your names?" Harry asked politely. The brunette broke out into a full smile at that while the blonde simply frowned harder.
"How humble. Well, my name is Tracey Davis and this is Daphne Greengrass. We're in Slytherin."
"Pleasure. I am Harry Potter. I am in Ravenclaw." Harry said back easily. He recognized both those names. Greengrass was an Ancient and Noble house but not a Most Ancient and Noble, so she was one station below him. The Davis family was only a Noble house but they had connections internationally that apparently gave them more sway than one normally had at their station. The Malfoys we're in a similar situation since, even though they were only a Most Noble house, they had similar sway to that of a house station similar to Greengrass. In some ways, even more.
That being said, the girl introduced herself and her friend without any titles which meant she didn't care as much for some of the older customs or simply thought she could ignore them when it came to him. Judging by what he had seen so far in her personality, he was betting on the former.
"I think everyone in the castle knows who you are. The elusive Harry Potter." Tracey said dramatically. Harry rose an eyebrow at that.
"That's not really what they call me is it?"
"One of the things, sure. They say the only ones who can find you are your friends and the teachers and that you have a way to hide yourself from everyone else using some sort of secret magic." Tracy said excitedly. Harry blinked at her words as he digested that tidbit of information.
"… I just spend most of my time either in my room or in my Club's room, I suppose." Harry tried to explain.
"You're the president of the R&D Club, right?" She fired off again. Harry nodded slowly at that.
"Yes, I am."
"Does that mean you have club every single day, pretty much all day?"
"No. The club has no set meetings. You just go and show up when you wish to participate. All of the work is done on personal projects of the members own choosing." Harry tried. In truth, he didn't want to get to into his club. He didn't really want to have new members joining. That was the point of making it hard to fine as well as the partial reason he had chosen Albus to be their club head. No one would dare approach the Headmaster about something so simple.
"I see. I see. And what do you work on in the club Mr. President?" She teasingly asked. Harry frowned at that.
"I'm afraid that's somewhat private." Harry said back hoping she would drop it.
"Private? Why is that?"
"It's simply things that I'd rather not speak to others outside of my inner circle about. No offense." Harry told her.
"Is the rest of your club in your inner circle then?"
"At the moment yes, though they did not start so. However, after the untold number of hours we spent in each other's presence, I have come to trust them and consult with them on my work." Harry revealed already seeing where she was trying to go with this. He had a feeling she was going to claim him bias in only allowing his friends to join the club which was technically against school rules. Clubs could reject applicants but it couldn't only allow friends of members in otherwise a complaint could be made against them.
"So, you're other club members are allowed to speak about their projects then?"
"If they wish." Harry confirmed. At that, the brunette finally went silent, not having an immediate rebuttal. Harry almost missed it but he did see a quick look exchanged between the two girls and he suddenly had a feeling he had been missing something.
Instead of the brunette who had been in his face, he looked over to the now identified Daphne Greengrass. She had been silent for the entire conversation but she had looked to still be listening. While she hadn't looked happy at the beginning, she had never tried to stop her friend from speaking. In fact, if Harry didn't know better, he would say she was…
Ah, so that's how it was. Tracey blindsided the target with questions and Daphne would deconstruct the information gained and analyze it. She was the thinker. He'd never encountered a pair like that before and his own inexperience with people almost caused him to miss it. Luckily, he was good at picking up side glances and small gestures which allowed him to spot what was happening finally.
Harry wasn't able to say anything further, not that he would have, because the door to the compartment was suddenly opened.
"Hey Harr-… Oh, I didn't realize you were already with some people. Heir Davis, Heir Greengrass." Neville straightened up and said.
"Heir Longbottom."
"Heir Longbottom."
Both of the girls said at the same time in greetings to him. Of course, his friend would know these girls. Due to his grandmother, he was much more active in political and social circles among the elite. He had probably been to a few parties or outings that included these girls.
"Did you need a moment with them Harry?" Neville asked looking at Harry curiously, his eyes asking if he needed back-up in this situation.
"Actually, Tracey and Daphne have requested to sit with our group on this train ride and I said that would be fine. I hope that's alright."
"Oh… Yeah, I guess that should be fine. Hermione and Ron should be joining us soon. Mrs. Weasley was… being herself." Neville said as he sat across from Harry, the last remaining seat that would keep him as far away from their guest as he could possibly be.
"We were just speaking with Harry about your club."
"Oh yeah? And how did that go?" Neville asked rhetorically. His friend was more than aware on his lack of interest in sharing things with people he didn't know, having been on the other end of the stick himself at one point.
"Didn't say much. What about you Longbottom? Any projects you can tell us about?"
"Nah. Ron and Harry are the only ones who have reached the practical stage in their projects. Hermione and I are still in the theoretical areas. We have helped them both though." Neville admitted.
"Yes, dear Ronald. I've heard the rumor abouts him." Daphne finally spoke eyeing Neville carefully. For his part, Neville just rose an eyebrow in curiosity,
"Rumors?"
"Indeed. Something about him being involved in the sudden increase in Wardstones that have flooded the market within Gringotts." Daphne mentioned. Harry felt his eyebrow twitch at that. He wasn't necessarily surprised that such information was already going public. Things like that couldn't be hidden. He was, however, surprised that Greengrass already knew about it and that Ron was involved. It was a little sooner than he would have guessed before reaching the student population.
"Geez, you always seem to have your ear a little too close to the ground." Neville shot at the girl good naturedly. Harry processed those words and came to the conclusion that perhaps this girl was just good at getting information.
"There is no such thing. I also heard that you finally grew a spine Longbottom. Seems that can be confirmed as true since there's no way you'd have been able to manage a conversation with me this long without stuttering and blushing." Daphne shot right back. Neville just lightly chuckled at that.
Harry would have had to agree. Neville, along with his illusionary practice, had also been practicing a lot with some other spells. He and Harry had been practicing Transfiguration together and the boy was actually moving along at a similar pace to Harry, which, according to Minerva, was prodigy levels of learning. Even further though was Neville's growing skill in Defense against the Dark Arts. This year he planned to look into Arithmancy and spell theory so he could hopefully start developing his own creations. As a result of his competency, the boy had become even more laidback and confident in himself, which Harry was happy to see.
Before Neville could respond to that, the compartment door opened and Ron stood in the doorway with Hermione right behind him. He had a grin that had been wiped off as soon as he saw the other people in the compartment. He went silent for a moment as he took in the two girls then looked at Harry and Ron in confusion.
"Um… Are we interrupting something?"
"No, this is Tracey and Daphne, they are going to be joining us for the trip up." Neville answered.
"Why?"
"Ronald!" Hermione exclaimed from behind him.
"What? I'm not trying to be a prat. I'm just genuinely curious why they would want to sit with us. I don't think we've ever spoken a word to them." Ron pointed out.
"I've spoken to them. We've gone to a few events together. They're alright." Neville assured. Ron still didn't look entirely convinced but nodded slowly anyway.
"Well… if you say so." He spoke as he entered the compartment and placed his trunk on the overhead area before sitting down between Tracey and Harry. Hermione then entered and did the same before sitting between Daphne and Neville. With that the compartment was now full.
"So… Were you guys talking about anything before we entered?" Hermione asked after introducing herself. At this point, Harry was only partially listening. His eyes were tracing the words on the page in front of him and paying them the most attention.
"Yes. We had actually just been talking about Weasley and his connection with the sudden influx of Wardstones now on the open market." Daphne answered.
"You already heard about that?" Ron questioned wearily.
"Yes, and it has many wondering where you apparently struck some sort of secret Wardstone mine near your home."
"Wardstone mine? Does something like that even exist?"
"Yes. They are extremely rare and usually only pop up in places where powerful ley lines cross. It is believed that Hogwarts likely has one or two deep under it but as the institution is private no one is allowed to look." Harry answered easily.
"Can't the Headmaster allow it?"
"No. Hogwarts is still technically owned by the lines of the Four Founders. All the direct descendants, or the closet thing too, would have to come together and allow it. Such a thing these days is pretty much impossible so… No digging."
"Huh… Well, no. I didn't find any secret mines of Wardstones. I made them. It was the project I was working on last year."
"You… made them? How did you make a Wardstone?" Tracey asked in disbelief. Ron paused and seemed to weigh his options. Truly surprising behavior from his friend.
"I guess it's not like I have to keep it a secret, though, I'd appreciate it if you didn't go spreading it around. I made them through Alchemy."
"You know Alchemy?" Daphne questioned seeming the closets she could be to completely stunned. Harry idly noticed that the train had just started moving signaling the start of their journey to the school.
"I know some, yeah. I'd consider myself still a beginner though." Ron answered with a shrug though Harry could tell in his voice that he took great pride in his achievement.
"You can make a Wardstone as a beginner in alchemy?" Tracey queried skeptically.
"Well… If I'm honest, I figured out how to do it on accident. I was trying to make something else and ended up making it. Afterward, I did figure out how to make the thing I wanted but still. It was a happy accident I guess."
"Did you write down the formula?" Daphne pushed. At this Ron gave the blonde a raised eyebrow.
"Not planning to steal my formula, are you?" Ron asked almost jokingly but clearly at least somewhat seriously.
"Not steal… But perhaps you'd be willing to sell it. My family would be willing to offer a fair price for such a thing." Daphne hinted.
"Yeah… No thanks. I'm quite happy keeping it to myself." Ron said back squinting at the girl suspiciously. Daphne eyed him for a moment before shrugging.
"If that's what you want. I just thought I'd offer." Daphne assuaged. Ron nodded but still looked a little suspicious of the girl.
"What about you Granger? Any plans for this year?" Tracey asked trying to move the conversation forward.
"I'm thinking of trying to experiment with charms and see what I can make. I already have a few ideas."
"Do you already know that much Arithmancy?" Tracey probed.
"I believe so. I'm the second best in our group at it and I'm probably close to sixth year level."
"Second best?"
"Yes well, Harry's first. He's probably close to NEWT level in it." Hermione explained causing both of the newcomers to look at Harry. He briefly glanced up from his book and met their gaze before looking back down without saying anything.
"That's extremely impressive. I guess your club is no joke. How do you find time for that and your school work?"
"School work is pretty easy for us. At least it was last year. The level we work at as well as the leeway the teachers offer in terms of our work due to our age has us pretty much showing expected or higher levels of competence in pretty much every subject." Hermione explained.
"What about in Potions? I believe Potter does not attend that class." Daphne dropped in.
"Harry does self-study in the area and then submits his work directly to Professor Dumbledore who then hands it off to Professor Snape who grades it." Hermione answered thoroughly while still giving as few details about the actual situation as she could manage. Harry's Potion situation wasn't brought up lightly despite Harry not being bothered by it. As long as he didn't have to directly interact with the Potion's Professor.
"Why is it that Harry is allowed to self-study anyway?"
"Technically any student can request self- study in a class if they can prove initial proficiency and then are also willing to take periodic test to show their continued proficiency." Hermione again answered without actually answering.
"Is he that good then."
"I believe he usually gets either O's or EE's for grades. Didn't you end the year with an EE in the class Harry?"
"I did. It was my second lowest grade." Harry mentioned quietly.
"What was your first then?"
"Herbology, in which I received an A in. I don't have much of a green thumb."
"Herbology is easy if you're willing to actually put in the effort for it." Neville argued.
"Which I'm not." Harry retorted causing his friend to scoff.
"What place did you get in the end of the year listing then?" Tracey asked.
"Fifth." Harry answered. He had gotten an O in every other class. Even if he couldn't match the proficiency in those classes that he had in his preferred areas, they were still only first year courses and had the simplest of the simple magic. Even Charms, which was something he didn't get instinctively, he still had an easier time with then his year mates.
"I got eleventh." Ron answered as well.
"Seventh." Neville said next. His grades were the most impressive considering he started the year abysmally. His improvement in the second semester was what really carried him.
"First." Hermione answered somewhat proudly. Harry didn't need to be told that her grades, he could've easily guessed that. That being said, there were only around thirty students in their year. Their placements didn't really mean much in the real world and they certainly didn't matter much in any of Harry's goals.
"You all got in the top half and then some huh? I got ninth myself." Tracey said proudly.
"Second." Daphne groused giving a quick look to Hermione in annoyance. Hermione caught the quick look though and blushed a little in embarrassment not realizing she had been speaking to 'competition'.
"You're both in Slytherin are you not?" Hermione finally asked after a few moments of silence.
"Is that a problem?" Daphne snipped immediately giving the girl a cold look.
"No, I was just curious what that was like. Gryffindor runs differently than Ravenclaw does and I was wondering if Slytherin followed suit, was all." Hermione assured.
"Yeah, it's pretty different. A lot of the older houses of purebloods go to Slytherin so it's pretty… political." Tracey answered seemingly a lot more subdued than she had just been. Daphne scoffed but said nothing further to elaborate.
"Oh…" was all Hermione said back being able to read between the lines. Slytherin would not likely be a place any of them enjoyed.
With that the compartment descended into silence with only the occasional speech picking up again. After a while, almost all of them were reading their own individual books, except for Ron. He was writing in his notes, most likely on whatever his next project was going to be on. He had yet to tell any of them what it would be.
Occasionally, Tracey would ask more about their club and would even go so far as to try and try and trick Harry in to revealing more to her and Daphne. Now that he knew what they were doing though, he remained rather tightlipped on the subject. And that's how they spent most of their trip up to Hogwarts.
Several Hours Later
"So, Potter." Daphne started.
The group had just finished changing with both the boys and girls exchanging times in the compartment to do so. At this point, they were only a few minutes away from Hogsmeade station where they would then go to the castle.
"Yes?" Harry asked as he looked up from his book. At this point, he was almost finished with it.
"I would like to join your club." Daphne said. Harry blinked at the unexpected bluntness from the girl but did take a moment to process her words. He also noticed that the entire compartment was now silent and paying close attention to what he was about to say.
"I see. Did you have something in mind you were looking to research into?" He asked her.
"No. I do wish to find a project to do so with but I would like to be able to have the time, resources, and space before I decide. Is it required to be the other way around?"
"No… I was simply curious. Well, I suppose we can have you enter on a trial basis. You need to spend at minimum an hour a week doing club activities to stay as a member. There are also some rules. Helping people with projects is allowed but stealing project ideas is against the rules. Taking any magic from another that they have named as either proprietary or under the blanket of Family Magic is also against the rules and may have legal consequences. Of course, if there is some magic you wish to use, you may request it from the owner and may use it if they give permission." Harry laid out slightly uneasily.
"Can I join too?" Tracey asked soon after. That, at least, Harry saw coming.
"Under the same rules, yes."
"Is there somewhere where you have the rules so we can peruse on our own time?" Daphne questioned.
"There will be a sign-up membership contract you will have to sign which will have a copy of all rules and expectations of the club. If you come to the clubroom sometime within the first week of classes, I shall have it available for you."
"And where exactly is the club room?" Daphne asked. Harry paused for a moment before answering.
"On the second floor across from the large portrait of a widow spinning thread. The wall will seem empty but if you concentrate on it for a few moments, a door will appear."
"That's why no one can find you. You've hidden the room. Is that even allowed?" Tracey questioned suspiciously.
"It is if there is a valid reason. Some of our experiments are dangerous therefore the room needs to stay protected. Of course, there are some Wards on it but, in my opinion, the best form of protection is ignorance. It's much harder to find something if you have no idea where it is. I shall expect you shall tell none the location of said door." Harry snipped with a small glare at the two of them. While he was allowing them a shot at joining the club, he still did not exactly trust them. He'd hate for all of Slytherin to show up one day trying to enter.
"We will not tell anyone and thank you for allowing us to join." Daphne answered back politely losing some of the frost she had earlier in the ride. Harry simply nodded and closed his book as they finally pulled into the station.
"Good, then I shall see you at your first club meeting."
Several Hours Later
"I told them about you."
"Hmm?"
"Geralt and Vesemir. I told them about you. I assume Triss will also know by morning." Ciri spoke as she sat on the couch not seeming to make any moves. Harry remained silent as he made his way over to the couch and sat next to her. For a moment, he said nothing as he processed that.
"I see… And how did they take it?"
"They were disbelieving at first but grew more concerned than anything else. I think their concern is more to do with the fact that you might not be an actual boy my age and are simply tricking me into thinking so. I think they're looking up potential monsters you might be." Ciri admitted though despite her nervousness, he had a feeling she was somewhat amused by the behavior of her guardians.
"I suppose it wouldn't be the strangest thing in the world. I'm a little surprised they weren't more upset that you hid this from them for so long."
"Oh, they were. Hearing voices in your head while you sleep is apparently a cause for concern but once I explained that I didn't think they would believe me they settled down a bit. Though they were still somewhat upset."
"I did say that you should tell them earlier. I have been saying it for months have I not?" Harry reminded.
"You said I should tell them when I felt comfortable and I did."
"Took you awhile to be comfortable is all…"
"Shush you."
"Very well, we can move on to something else."
"Have you found anything out?"
"Sorta, I guess. They're really hush hush about it but I heard them speaking at dinner about how because I'm something called a Source, I can't channel magic on my own but magic can still flow and be channeled through me. They think the presence or whatever might be using me for that." Ciri told him.
Harry immediately used that information and paired it with what he already knew about Ciri. So, from what it sounded like, Ciri couldn't actively use magic but instead was more like a focus. It was almost like she was a magical ingredient- no. It was more like she was a magical wand. Magic could be channeled through her and he bet it would come out even more powerful. That could be dangerous. Any magic user worth their salt could then use Ciri in all sorts of nefarious things.
"You need to be extremely careful. If you're what I think you are, then it's possible that other magic users would have reason to want to capture you and possibly even dissect you."
"What! Why?"
"Hmm. How do I best put it… Imagine if you would a Wardstone? Or a power stone as you might call it. The power stone is magical inherently and has magic in it. But yet, it cannot cast magic, it needs someone else to cast magic upon it or through it for it to do anything. You're like that stone. You cannot cast magic on your own but you are in fact magical. Others might then wish to use you like they would that stone to either enhance a magical effect or even to just power one."
"Why not just get a power stone then?"
"A good question. Off the top of my head, it would actually be better to use you. You're certainly more powerful right from the start. As you are also a human you can be used in more ways like with blood magic, and the most important thing, as a living creature, you can regain magic that you have lost over time. Power stones and other magic items cannot unless recharged by something else."
"…Great. That's great."
"It's not but we'll have to figure something out. Perhaps the sorceress has a plan to keep you safe. There's also the fact that you're isolated in an extremely remote location. For now, I wouldn't worry about it. We'll think of something. Was there anything else?"
"Mm, well, I'm not sure but I thing they want to try and summon the presence again so Triss can observe and hopefully learn more from it."
"That's… hmm. That could have some merit but…"
"But it's risky. We still don't understand it."
"True though we don't believe it wants to hurt us, which is something. If she really has some way to identify it, that could be worth quite a bit to us."
"Assuming they actually tell me anything and don't just try to continuously have private conversations all the time."
"… Do you know how they plan to do it?"
"No not yet."
"Well, keep your ears open and let me know. Anything could help."
"Alright, I'll do my best… So, how was your day. It was your first day back right?"
"Yes, though, it was rather uneventful…" Harry thought back to the two girls that would be apparently joining his club for a moment, "… mostly."
"Oh? Want to talk about it."
"Guess there's nothing better to do. It happened like this…"