Scion of Sorcery, Dimensions of Destiny
Disclaimers: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Review Answers:
Silverdragonstar: Well, if you know the original, you'll know she's no friend of Harry's…to begin with; whether or not that changes later? Keep reading to find out;
A10riddick: I think I just heard the most-ominous thunderstorm and scary music possible;
WhiteElfElder: Given Albus isn't his usual manipulative, evil, Harry-Must-Die self in this story, that's not likely…the Ministry, on the other hand? I'd say it's possible; shame they forgot the most basic rule;
Jostanos: Have I thanked you for letting me use him in that tale? If not, thanks; if so, thanks again…hmm…I wonder…could I do it? Is it too out there for a non-crack…oh, crud, I'm writing this down; oh well…haven't made my mind up yet;
"Her Grandpa, Shang Li, doesn't like her Dad, who had a bit of a fling with Su's Mum, but, at the same time, things happened that he blames her Dad for, so he only gets to see and be with Su when she gets the opportunity to visit the Sanctum…or she sneaks out…"
"So, your Dad taught Harry?" asked Neville.
"Yep," answered the two, earning an awestruck look from Neville, before Su took up the conversation.
"His name's Wong; he treats Harry like the son he never had, which is why I call him my baby brother…even though, trust me, Neville Longbottom, my little brother is so much more that baby dragon would be more-appropriate."
Phase One: Potter-Strange?
Chapter 5: Stranger Things
The journey to Hogwarts continued.
While Neville seemed to pass the time with a book on Herbology, Harry chose to enjoy the scenery that rolled past the window, occasionally giving a hint that he was either off in his own world – when his brow furrowed in suspicion – or whenever he kept glancing at his other two companions, though without saying anything as, after a moment, he returned his gaze to the window again. Su, meanwhile, seemed to have opted to spend the ride locked in deep meditation, her legs crossed in a lotus position while she rested her hands in her lap, the tips of her fingers and thumbs touching one another in a contemplative pose.
In this silent vigil that the trio seemed to have chosen to observe, it was pretty easy to guess that the three of them were the curious, but also studious sort, which, Neville guessed, was the reason that nobody chose to bother them, even if only for a short while.
When they were finally broken out of their silence, by a knock on the door to the compartment, it was Harry who got up and opened it, revealing a kind lady who gave them a friendly smile as she asked, "Anything off the trolley, dears?"
"Yes please; what about you guys?" asked Neville, earning a polite decline from Harry – who returned to his seat – and Su – who still kept her eyes closed as she continued meditating on whatever it was she was thinking about – before he rose from his seat, "Pumpkin Pasty, please."
After paying the woman and returning with his treat, Neville sat down while the trolley lady left them alone, the door closing as she left.
As he picked at the pastry in his hands, Neville looked up to Harry and Su before he asked, "You not hungry?"
"Not really," admitted Harry, looking back to the window as he added, "But don't you worry, Neville: if I need anything, I've got the means to get it."
"Same here," replied Su, still keeping her eyes closed as she explained, "Although my meditation takes the need for food and drink away as it helps me centre myself, preparing for the next step of our education."
"And given who I am and what I know about the somewhat-prejudiced attitude of Britain, I think we're going to need it," added Harry.
"I believe that," chuckled Neville, taking a bite out of his pasty before he asked, "So, I never asked you before, Harry: where's your trunk? I mean, you've got a carry case, which I can guess is for Mana when you're in the Mug…sorry, No-Maj world…"
He quickly changed his terminology when Harry looked at him, while Su smirked as though she didn't need to open her eyes to see the look of displeasure on the boy's face as he told his god-brother, "Call it what you want, Neville, I don't mind the cultural difference: personally-speaking, I prefer to use the term No-Maj because Muggle sounds just as degrading as Squib and Muggle-born, but I won't force my ways on others."
"Why?" asked Neville, earning a curious look from Harry before he went on, "I mean why do you think it degrades them? Your Mum…"
"Was a No-Maj-born, yes, I know," said Harry, linking his fingers together while he crossed his legs so that his hands rested on his knees, "But that doesn't mean I have to appreciate the term, just the lady who was willing to pay the ultimate price to save my life from that monster, Voldemort."
"Same here," said Su, finally deciding to open her eyes, earning a raised eyebrow from Neville, which prompted her to explain, "Like Harry's Dad, mine's also what you'd call a Muggle, whereas my Mum was a powerful Chinese witch whose ancestry can be dated probably as far back as your Founders and then some. However, because of the racial difference, not to mention my appearance and beliefs, I wouldn't exactly be accepted as one of you, be it for being a half-blood or for being a foreigner. However, I respect the heroes of your world for what they were willing to do to stand up to and even vanquish evil, so there, I feel like one of you."
Here, she patted Harry's hand in a show of support as she explained, "Plus, it helps having a celebrity for a little brother because, in your nation's mind, if I'm bezzie-mates with the big, famous Boy-Who-Lived, they have to accept me."
"You never heard me say I'm not here to be Harry Potter, but Harry Strange, didn't you, Su?" asked Harry, earning a sly wink from his honorary sister, earning a scoff from Harry as he looked back to Neville.
"Anyway, I'm getting off-topic here, Neville. My point is; calling them anything less than witch or wizard, or in my case, sorcerer and sorceress, is degrading because it makes us think they're beneath us, but look at the evidence, Neville. A No-Maj-born was the only one to have the stones to stand up to Voldemort and, even without that, she is hailed as being one of the brightest, most-talented witches of the past fifty years despite being what she was; add in how dangerous some No-Maj-borns can be when pushed to the extreme, which is why creatures like Obscurials exist and, really, they're no less than anyone else."
"Or, to put it another way, your Mum's their Tony Stark and others like her, if pushed past their limit, can be the Not-So-Jolly Green Giant," said Su, earning an amused snort from Harry as he nodded.
"Basically, but that's why I prefer to call them what they really are: First-Gen, as in first generation or new bloods because, despite the narrow minds of magical communities like Britain, at the end of the day, they have the same magic, and the same potential for greatness, be that for good or for ill, as any other Wixen. All that matters to your cliques is that they just don't have the legacy…the blood purity, to match, which, between you and me, Neville, is more than just annoying, it's downright pathetic to think that blood makes anyone better or worse than anyone else. At the end of the day, all bloods are red, all flow like rivers when spilled and all make sure we're either alive or bleeding to death."
"Says the son of the Sorcerer Supreme," sniggered Neville, earning a smile from Harry as he held up his hands.
"Okay, so maybe I'm biased in saying that my bloodline does give me an advantage, but for one thing, my bloodline is just a gift, an inheritance, and not because it's purer than anyone else's. at the end of the day, I am my Father's son, but I also possess my Mother's skills, her heart and, I hope, her willingness to open her soul to all walks of life."
"More to the point, it's not one we'll flaunt like many so-called purebloods," argued Su, tapping her heart while she also nodded in Harry's direction as she went on. "Like Harry, my magical ability is as great as it is right now because I learned to use it, training and studying until I was sure I could control their energies. And, unlike many Wixen, Sorcerers like me and mine don't have such blind notions of what it means to call something Good or Evil, with the possibility of forbidden arts, which only one person has the right to access."
"Dad," said Harry.
"And does he?" asked Neville suddenly, earning a frown from Harry when the boy added, "I mean, he is a Dark Wizard as far as the Ministry's concerned, so does that mean he does use Forbidden Magic?"
"Only as far as invoking the will of those eldritch forces that don't touch the worst of the forbidden elements, such as power over Life and Death," answered Harry, remembering the many debates he'd had with his Father, Hamir and Wong about how his power was so similar to Kaecilius, the Ancient One and the zealots who'd given themselves to Dormammu.
"The worst kind of magic he'll use is the magic contained within his personal relic," said Harry, shivering as he remembered the many times he'd felt such great and terrible power coming from inside his Father's Eye of Agamotto.
At one point, he'd accidentally overheard Wong talk about something called an Infinity Stone, but because he didn't know how they'd react to the fact that he knew of such thing, Harry had forgotten about it and let the matter pass him by. More to the point, seeing as how Harry himself was now, basically, a walking nuclear reactor of magical energy, and always seemed to be under observation from his Father as well as, on occasion, Master Rameses, he would probably be a hypocrite for saying there weren't times he thought about what his worst kind of magic would involve.
For now, though, he kept his thoughts on the here and now as he explained, "Even then, he only uses it if the situation calls for it; as for the forbidden elements, they're bound and chained in enchanted areas that are only accessible by the Sorcerer Supreme, or with his express permission and, before you ask, Neville, no, I haven't received said permission because, for all my power, I'm still just an acolyte in level."
"I thought there was something different about you, Harry," said Su, looking now to Harry with awe and surprise. "I…I could feel it while I was trying to centre myself; your body's radiating so much more magical energy than normal. To be honest, when I first felt it, I thought you were somebody else, actually impersonating my dear, sweet, little brother."
"Even Loki wouldn't go that far, just to get a laugh out of it," argued Harry, earning a surprised look from Neville, while Harry went on, "As for what you can feel, Su; it's a long story and, to be honest, part of me is still trying to wrap my head around the whole thing, so, if it's okay with you, for now, I'd just like to keep my thoughts to myself, okay?"
"Sure," agreed Su.
Before Neville could say anything else, an announcement sounded through the train, informing them that they would be arriving at Hogwarts in a matter of minutes.
Trying to put his fears aside for now, Harry gave Neville a small smile as he said, "It's a story for another time, but don't worry about what you heard, Neville; all you need to know is that, my learning advantage aside, I'm just the same as any other witch or wizard."
Neville's eyes narrowed while Harry surprised Neville when he shed the coat he was wearing, revealing his Hogwarts robes in the process before he sat back down, Su doing the same as she too managed to change without having to strip down, before they both returned to their seats, content with the thought of waiting for the journey to Hogwarts end.
And the journey to whatever their eventual, individual destinies would be to begin…
SoS
When Harry, Neville, Su and Mana left the Hogwarts Express at the other end of the journey, the first thing that the young sorcerer thought about what he saw was, 'I was right; well, at least that's something.'
The thing that he was right about was how it was getting dark by the time they reached the station, a cool, mildly-discomforting chill blowing across the platform as Harry stepped off the train. Next to him, Neville shivered while Mana let out a low trill of discomfort as the eyes of many students looked in the direction of her and her young friend.
Thankfully, Su brought up the rear, keeping the faithful familiar shrouded by three humans whom she knew she could trust, and not just because of how one of them was her precious little one, who smiled fondly as he sensed her discomfort with the others' looks.
'Ignore them,' Harry told her, petting her feathers while he noticed many of the students eyeing Mana with awe, alarm and disbelief. 'Remember, my beautiful friend; no-one can or will take you from me, girl, I promise. You are my familiar and, no matter their thoughts, they can't keep us apart.'
'I know, little one,' agreed Mana, nuzzling Harry's touch, while she also chirruped in delight as Su carefully ran a hand along Mana's back, helping to further soothe her feelings of apparent unease, if only enough to keep close to her little one. 'I just wish they wouldn't stare: it should be bloody well obvious that everyone is different at this place. More than that, however, I am uncomfortable because I sense many of them wanting to try and use me for their own ends.'
'That makes sense: after all, thunderbirds are magical creatures with unknown powers and possibilities that can come from so many elements of their genetics and physiology,' Harry reminded her, but before he could say anything else, he was cut off both verbally and mentally when a loud voice boomed in their direction, drawing the first years away from the rest of the group.
As Harry looked towards the source, his eyes widened as he saw a man who could have rivalled a certain not-so-jolly green giant with his size and stature: he was a broad figure whose face seemed to be hidden beneath a nest of dark hair that only allowed the man's dark eyes to be seen, but when Harry looked into those eyes, he felt a semblance of warmth run through him.
The man was dressed in a very large overcoat that seemed to be nothing but pockets while, in one hand, he carried a lantern that looked as though it had been lit magically.
As the students reached him, Harry gasped while he also felt slightly amused when the man let out a gasp.
"Blimey, who does that little beauty belong to?"
'I like him,' commented Mana, earning a snigger from Harry.
'Of course you do; everyone loves flattery,' drawled the young sorcerer, watching as she proudly stepped forwards and, as the students watched in awe, they all saw the large man gently stroking Mana's feathers, his soft touch and his gentle movements betraying his giant size.
"She…she's mine," said Harry, earning a look of amazement from the large man before he added, "And I think she likes you, Mr…"
"The name's Hagrid," said the large man, earning a nod from Harry while Neville's eyes widened, "Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts: and I 'ope yeh don't mind me askin', but I'd like ter see 'er a little more; would tha' be a'right?"
"Of course," answered Harry, watching as Mana walked back to his side while Hagrid, wiping what looked like a stray tear from his eye, turned on his heel and led the students away from the station and along a narrow pathway.
As they followed the giant man, Harry looked down at Mana, 'Would you be okay visiting Mr Hagrid from time to time, Mana?'
'I'd have somewhere safe to stay if they don't let me stay with you, Harry,' argued Mana, earning a nod of agreement from Harry, while, as Mana continued talking, Harry quickly explained to Neville and Su what they'd discussed, though he didn't neglect his bond with his familiar. 'But I like him: he's soft, gentle and reminds me of…'
'If you're going to say The Hulk, don't bother, because if he ever found out, he'd probably want to smash me into magical pâté and serve me up on crackers at one of Uncle Tony's parties,' drawled Harry, earning a laugh from Mana before he added, 'Mind you, when I first saw him, I thought about Dr Banner's not-so-jolly-green-giant other half, but like I said, don't tell him that.'
'My beak is sealed…for now,' sniggered Mana before she, along with Harry, let out a gasp of awe as they, along with their classmates, got a first glimpse of Hogwarts as they made their way towards a small fleet of boats at the edge of a lake.
Even without activating the power of the Eyes of Horus, Harry felt like he could actually feel the air of magic that the castle with its lit towers and ominous, but awe-inspiring scenery let off. Everything about the school screamed magic and, even as Harry reached the edge of the lake with the rest of the students, he couldn't help but shiver as the same feeling brushed over him.
'This place is old,' commented Mana, earning a nod of agreement from Harry as, together with Neville and Su, he made his way to one of the boats, which bobbed lazily on the surface, waiting for the kids to board them and head off across the lake. 'Filled with mystery…and wonder…the very air sings with magic; do you feel it, little one?'
'I can feel so much here, including some sort of protective warding,' agreed Harry, his eyes narrowed as he let his magical sense brush lightly over the surface of the magic in the air – he would have looked deeper, but after what happened on the train, he didn't dare risk it.
'Much like the concealment wards that keep Kamar-Taj away from the eyes of the No-Maj and the mundanes who work in the Nepalese capital city. But there's also something else: an ancient power lies in the warding, but also within the school. Even without the Eyes fully activated, not that I'm going to after what happened on the Express; I…I can sense them; their power…it makes me think of…'
'The Sorcerer Supreme,' added Mana, earning a nod from Harry, who closed his eyes momentarily, withdrawing his brush as he felt a stirring of discomfort in his optical energies. 'Are you all right, Little One?'
'Like I said, I'm only brushing over the surface,' admitted Harry, blinking several times as htough he was trying to clear his vision after staring at an explosion of light. 'I could barely handle the Hogwarts Express' ambient magics, so I daren't do more than peek through the cracks of the door as far as Hogwarts herself is concerned. But you're right too, Mana; the energies I can feel. They remind me of Dad and Wong and the others.'
'Could this place have some sort of connection to him or someone else, perhaps the Ancient One who came before him?'
'If it does, then it's my duty as his son and heir to find it and either contain it, master whatever mystery it presents or return it to Kamar-Taj to be dealt with there,' said Harry, earning a trill of agreement from Mana before he shushed her as he sat down in the boat.
At the same time, Neville looked to Harry as he asked, "Hey, are you all right there, Harry? You still look a bit dazed."
"Sorry," replied Harry, running a hand through his dark hair, "Because of my advantages, I can sense and feel the magic of the school and, although I've been raised around magic, even my Dad's strength doesn't compare to the awe I feel because of the school."
"Sirius told me that there's a rumour that says the school is sentient," agreed Neville, earning a small laugh from Harry.
"Given what I can feel, I believe that."
"Your relic playing up again?" asked Su, earning a soft snort from Harry as he looked to her.
"You have no idea, although my skills have improved with that since the last time I saw you, Su…anyway, you might want to shift up a bit; we've still got room for one student, even with Mana here…"
As Su moved out of the way, Harry smiled thinly when a blonde-haired young woman who, from the moment he saw her, Harry sensed she had an air of danger about her that reminded him of another on-again-off-again companion of his Father's named Natasha Romanov, also known as the Black Widow. Her skin was smooth in appearance while her eyes were a cold, piercing shade of blue that made Harry think of ice. Despite this, the girl looked pretty attractive in a certain light while, like them, she was already dressed in her school robes, though she wore hers with an air of pride and nobility that made Harry curious about her and wary at the same time.
"Hi there," said the girl, her voice soft, but clear, her tone also making Harry think of crystal chimes and coldness as she asked, "May I join you?"
"Not at all; my name's Harrison Strange, but my friends call me Harry," explained the son of the Sorcerer Supreme, his name earning a curious look from the girl, who eyed him with mystery and a look that almost seemed to try and read Harry's language or his presentation.
"I'm Su Li," added Su, earning a polite nod from the blonde.
"And I'm Neville Longbottom," answered Neville, before he indicated their boat-guest as he explained, "And this, Harry and Su, is Heiress Daphne Greengrass: I've met her and her family at a few parties over the years, but I've never had the pleasure of talking to her."
"Then it's an honour to make your acquaintance, Heiress Greengrass," said Harry before, to Su's surprise and Neville's amusement, he didn't just take Daphne's hand; he kissed the back of it like a gentleman. "As far as Heirs and Heiresses go, I guess you could call me Heir Strange, but it makes it sound like estranged, so, if you want, just call me Harrison…or Harry, since that's my less-formal name."
"Or just strange," remarked Daphne, earning a laugh from Neville while Harry inclined his head at the play on words, a part of him agreeing with his earlier statement that the girl was someone to be wary of: her voice was as smooth as her looks, but she had a cold air that was indifferent and on alert almost every minute of every day.
Like he'd thought, just like Miss Romanov when she was either on assignment for her boss or her allies or whenever she entered a new situation around people she didn't know or didn't trust.
"If you like, Greengrass," drawled Harry, earning a raised eyebrow from the girl, "I was just trying to respect your ways of addressing those from old families, but if you'd rather be informal and on a last-name basis, then that's fine."
Daphne looked surprised by his frankness, but she also seemed to hide it well enough as she gestured to Mana, who seemed to be eyeing Daphne with the same wariness with regards to her danger factor as was shown by her beloved little one. "And what about her? Your friend made quite the impression back there."
"I'll say," laughed Harry, stroking Mana's feathers while he explained, "Her name is Mana and, to answer the question that you probably want to ask, she's my familiar, which is why she's here and I feel confident in having her."
"That might not last very long," argued Daphne, earning a shrug from Harry as they reached the other side of the lake.
While Neville and Su clambered off the boat, Harry kept to the role of a gentleman as he offered a hand to Daphne, helping her off the boat.
As he did so, however, Daphne tripped and fell against Harry's chest, earning a few looks from others who saw them; however, as the girl pulled herself up, clearing her throat as though trying to rid herself of the awkward feeling, she looked into Harry's eyes before, to his amusement, she smiled and, giving him a sly wink, she dropped her voice to a low whisper.
"Harrison Strange, are you? Not with those eyes…there's only one first-year with such a powerful shade in their eyes this year."
"That may be true, but that's my name and that's who I've been for several years," replied Harry, indicating the area around them before he gave a sly smirk, adopting an air of challenge that he'd seen and heard his Uncle Tony use, as well as other members of the Avengers on occasion, as he remarked, "But by all means, Miss Greengrass, feel free to tell them who I really am: I'm not ashamed of it and I'm not afraid to start a collection, be that Galleons, Pounds, Dollars or even Euros for every time I have to correct them because, despite that being my other, adoptive name, the fact of the matter is that I choose to be Harrison Harry Strange as well as You-Know-Who…and I don't mean Voldemort."
Daphne's eyes widened, though not before she flinched at the use of the name.
SoS
Admittedly, her tripping had been intentional.
She'd needed a closer look at Harry's face after seeing the green fire in his eyes that was infamous amongst many of the witches and wizards, but when she'd asked about his true name, part of her wondering if he feared it or chose to loathe it for some reason, it had been the Slytherin in her sensing an opportunity.
Yet Harry had thrown it back at her with the logic of a Ravenclaw, the bravery of a Gryffindor, the personal loyalty of a Hufflepuff and the sly sense of cunning and covering all bases necessary for him that a Slytherin would possess.
Even though she knew this was Heir Harry James Potter – as many knew the name to be, though she silently wondered whether anyone else had clicked as to his false identity yet – Daphne was stunned because this wasn't the boy of legend she'd heard so much about.
This was someone that knew how to play the game very well indeed.
SoS
Clearing her throat again, Daphne gave Harry a thin smile, "Well whoever you are, it's nice to meet you and I can't wait to see where you get sorted in a few minutes' time, Mr Strange."
"Likewise, Miss Greengrass," answered Harry, gesturing for Daphne to take the lead as they followed the rest of the first-years up to the top of the stairs where most of the group had vanished through a set of large oak doors.
Following the group inside the building, Harry and Daphne found themselves standing on another stairway with the rest of the stragglers while, at the front of the group, a stern-looking witch with her hair done up in a bun and dark robes that seemed to cover every inch of her body eyed them curiously as she addressed the group as a whole.
The speech she gave seemed well-rehearsed, but he paid attention nonetheless, which meant he noticed the air of emotion that the witch showed when she mentioned Slytherin and the sense of pride and warning that she gave off when she talked about the point system and the House Cup.
Then, once she was done, the witch, who Harry learned was named Professor McGonagall, left the students to tidy themselves up a bit, which, for Harry, meant checking on himself, making sure Mana was ready and comfortable and keeping an eye on the group as a whole.
As the group fidgeted nervously and whispers started to rise, Harry smiled as he saw Neville and Su make their way over to them, the lesser's eyes filled with curiosity as he asked, "What kept you? We were already through the door before I noticed you were gone."
"Sorry if we worried you, but Miss Greengrass and I just had an interesting chat about one's identity," said Harry, nodding once as he added in a lower voice, "She knows who I really am, as far as your lot are concerned: apparently, my eyes make me pretty recognisable to some people."
"Given they're similar to your Mum's, can you blame them?" asked Neville, earning a shrug from Harry.
Before he could say anything else, however, Harry saw Neville's expression turn sour when a drawling voice cut through the peace.
"Well, well, well; look what the Kneazle dragged in."
"Oh great," scowled Neville, turning to face the owner of the voice while Harry's eyes flicked up as he saw a blond-haired boy moving through the crowd, flanked by two people who looked more like mini-Hulks than human beings. The boy seemed to be as proud-looking and noble as Daphne, but as Harry looked at him, he didn't get the feeling of possible friendship from this one.
Instead, alarm bells started ringing as the boy addressed them, or rather, as he addressed Neville, "If it isn't my blood traitor cousin's little charity case: so, Longbottom, has he decided to poison our blood further by making you his heir?"
"You know as well as I do how that right is saved for…someone else, Malfoy," scowled Neville, trying not to look in Harry's direction, which meant he didn't see the look of dark suspicion cross Harry's face as he watched the back-and-forth between the other two boys. "Anyway, even if he did, it's because Sirius thought I deserved it, not because some supposedly-innocent Death Eater forced him to make his decision: how is your Dad? Still kissing Fudge's boots and lining his pockets to stay out of Azkaban like your demented Aunt?"
"Watch your mouth!" snapped Malfoy, earning a snigger from Harry that had him looking at the emerald-eyed scion in curiosity.
He also missed the way Harry rolled his eyes while Su chuckled softly as she saw her brother blank out the blond, while said blond nodded, as though he'd found what he was looking for. "Ah, you're the one the Thunderbird belongs to: this makes you someone with real strength; of course, if you don't learn to realise some families are better than others, you'll wind up making friends with the wrong sort."
He glared at Neville and Su, whom he actually seemed to wrinkle his nose at when he caught sight of her Asian features, as well as the unknown element she possessed – meaning she was someone he didn't know, so she was immediately a nobody.
"Good thing we're not friends then, isn't it, Malfoy?" asked Harry, snapping the blond's attention back to him before, to Neville's amusement and Malfoy's alarm, the young sorcerer tapped into his magic, which caused him to levitate a few inches off the ground much like his Father would do with his Cloak – though, given his wellspring of power, Harry didn't need the Cloak to do so.
This brought him eye-to-eye with the blond while Harry drew in a deep, calming breath before he explained, "Also, for the record, even if I wanted to make friends with you, it'd be because, like this title you say Neville should have, whatever that means, you've earned it, not because of some belief you're someone because Daddy is friends with the Minister."
"Choose your enemies carefully, you filthy Mudblood," snarled Malfoy, earning a hardened look from both Harry and Neville while, at the same time, Mana let out a cry of warning, her body crackling with lightning at the insinuation towards her little one.
Malfoy, however, just scoffed before he added, "You think I'm scared of you because of that weakling? Wait until my Father hears about this."
"Then I suppose he'll have to contend with my Father, and our family's very good, close personal friend, ICW's Supreme Commander-in-Chief, aka The Archmage, Grandmaster Rameses Wulfgarden," drawled Harry, earning a shocked gasp from Neville, an awed look from Daphne, a smug smirk from Su and a horrified look from Malfoy as Harry, dropping to the ground again, smiled just as smugly as his honorary sister, before he patted the blond mockingly on his cheek.
"First law of nature, Mister Malfoy: as big as your guppies are in this teeny-tiny pond, there's always a bigger fish and a much bigger ocean out there; translation? As big as your Father is, I'd like to see him stand up to the one, true power in the magical world…and Master Rameses too."
As Harry had partially expected, Malfoy closed his mouth as quickly as he'd opened it before, clearing his throat, he nodded curtly, "I…it seems I spoke out of turn, friend: on behalf of the House of Malfoy, I apologise."
"And on behalf of my Father, my bloodline and my legacy, I accept your apology…this time," said Harry, smiling before, deciding to stick the wound in deeper, he extended a hand as he added, "I never got your first name."
"Draco," said the Malfoy boy, accepting the hand before he asked, "And you?"
"Harrison Strange," answered Harry, giving a sly wink to the blond
"But in another lifetime, I would be called another name…see if you can figure it out, not that it means anything to me…ahh Vienna!"
When only Su laughed, Harry blanched; ye gods, didn't these Wixen even know classical music?
Uncle Tony, and his love of hard rock, would have a field day putting the fear of God – or rather, Iron Man – into them.
Lowering his hand, Harry stroked Mana's feathers while he noticed McGonagall returning.
As Draco went to ask his question, the young sorcerer cut him off, "Patience, Heir Malfoy: you might be about to learn what that name is."
Then, without another word, Harry, Neville, Su, Mana and a stunned Daphne walked into the Great Hall with the rest of their classmates.
SoS
As soon as Harry got his first look at the Great Hall, he felt a surge of awe and wonder rise up in his heart that he'd only felt one other time that day.
When he and Mana had gotten a look at the school from the outside.
Now, however, in a place that felt like they're standing in the heart of the school, lights burning from enchanted candles while the air above, around and even the ground below seemed to ripple with magic, Harry felt like he could understand what it was that made Hogwarts so revered, though her teachings were somewhat outdated.
Four House Tables filled the room, running vertically from the head of the room to the doors where the new group of first-years walked in, each of them occupied by two rows of students spread out randomly down the tables, each dressed in robes that were highlighted by one of four colours.
Red, blue, yellow and green.
'This is disgusting,' commented Mana, her place at Harry's side earning a few points and whispers from some of the students, not that Harry noticed this nor did Mana as they made their way forwards with the rest of the students.
As he walked with her, Harry shushed his friend before he asked, 'What's disgusting, girl?'
'The format,' answered Mana, putting emphasis on the last word, her voice singing with her disdain for what she'd noticed as she told Harry. 'They segregate themselves between Houses and don't seem to respect or appreciate each other. The ones in green even feel malefic towards others while the blues don't hold any respect for the old ways of knowledge as Master Wulfgarden told us. How they can call themselves wizards, much less children of my Mistress, is beyond me!'
'Well, I guess we'll have to introduce a little disorder, won't we?' asked Harry, sniggering under his breath as he reached the front with the rest of the group. 'Let's make Uncle Tony proud of his lessons in how to make them remember us, shall we, beautiful?'
While Mana nuzzled his fingers in response, and as he looked up at the head of the room, Harry saw a fifth table that was occupied by a number of adults, each of whom watched the group with interest and curiosity in their eyes. However, as soon as Harry looked up, his eyes were drawn to the centre where an elderly gentleman dressed in red robes with a white beard that trailed down his chest was seated in a throne-like chair that looked as though it had been forged from solid gold.
As soon as their eyes met, Harry felt a modicum of familiarity pass from him to the old man and back again before, to his bemusement, the man inclined his head to Harry, who politely returned the gesture, 'Mana…that's him…the one Mum said I had to see…'
'He feels as powerful as your Father, little one,' replied Mana, dipping her head to the old man, 'Remember you're meant to claim something that rightfully belongs to you. But be wary: remember how this disgrace of a magical community sees your powers and the name of your Father.'
'Don't worry, I won't forget that,' muttered Harry, tearing his eyes away from the old man where he saw Professor McGonagall holding a roll of parchment, her eyes scanning the crowd as she called out from a list of what Harry assumed were names of the new students.
Out of Harry's group, the mysterious enigma that was Daphne Greengrass was the first called and, when she sat beneath an old, raggedy hat that looked like it had survived the test of time, a moment seemed to pass before the hat declared her a Slytherin, which surprised Harry.
Given what Mana had told him about the students in green, they weren't exactly the sort who preferred the company of neutral elements, much less those who didn't give off the air of malice or immorality that Harry's Thunderbird familiar had sensed.
Pulling himself off his train of thought, Harry just caught Su emerging from under the hat, where she headed for the table clad in blue – flashing Harry a knowing smile as she did so – before he also saw Neville make his way forwards and, like Daphne, he too sat beneath the hat, though it was only for a moment before the hat declared him a member of Gryffindor House, which had a smile forming on Neville's face and, as he walked past Harry, he gave him a curt nod as if to say see you soon.
Malfoy was next, but this time, it was Harry who was amused as the hat barely touched his head before it sent him to Slytherin.
After Malfoy, there were a few more students whom were called up before, to Harry's chagrin, Professor McGonagall called, "Harry Potter?"
As soon as the name left the woman's lips, whispers, pointing gestures, questions and looks of surprise, disbelief and wonder filled the Great Hall.
'She called your name, little one,' said Mana, but Harry didn't move, not even when the eyes of the old man looked right at him while others looked around, as though scanning the sea of faces for the familiar signs of the hero of the magical world.
'You know as well as I do that that's not my name anymore,' argued Harry, standing his ground, playing ignorant of the fact that such a famous name had just been called out. 'I've told everyone who's met me so far that my name is Harry Strange, not Harry Potter. Potter was my adoptive Father and, while he died protecting me and my Mother, the fact remains that my blood, magic and strength is that of Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, so that is whose name I have taken since the day he confirmed for me that he is my Dad.'
Here, Harry's eyes shone with an air of power usually reserved for the triggering of the Eyes as he added, 'And no-one, not this medieval world, not Master Rameses, not even Merlin himself will make me take that back!'
"Harry Potter!" exclaimed McGonagall, almost as though she'd asked for Harry to come forwards several times.
In retort, more whispers followed her words, but Harry still didn't move.
Instead, he looked into the eyes of the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, and, slowly but surely, he shook his head, "That's not my name anymore."
To his surprise, the old man gave a temporary look of shock before he nodded once, almost as though he accepted this.
Then, as Harry watched, Dumbledore leaned forwards before he whispered something unintelligible in McGonagall's ear.
Once he was done, the old woman looked saddened, but she nodded in understanding before turning back to the crowd and carrying on with a couple of names before, at long last, and after clearing her throat for emphasis, she addressed the last few students, starting with the main man.
"Harry Strange?"
'Now that's more like it…although I wonder why my other name was on their list when magic, and I, decided to claim myself as a Strange,' thought Harry, moving forwards, the sound of the name earning a few more curious and alarmed looks from several students as he sat under the Sorting Hat before, at last, the item was lowered over Harry's eyes, concealing the faces of the school's occupants from his view.
As soon as he did so, however, Harry gasped aloud when a feeling of incredible, overwhelming magic surged through him, causing his whole body to tense up while, at the same time, unseen by him, the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall lit up with the equivalent of a thousand thunderstorms going off at once.
In the corner of the Great Hall, the House Point counters lit up like red, blue, yellow and green stars, each of the emblems shining as brightly as the storm hit its crescendo while the torches grew large and wild in their brackets, alarming many of the students.
At the same time, Harry's body seemed to glow with this ethereal golden light that enveloped all four Houses in its glow, leaving each and every one of the students trembling, shuddering and whimpering as what could only be described as pure magic rushed through them, almost as though some deity or divine force had entered the school.
SoS
Behind the glowing boy, Albus Dumbledore's eyes widened while, down the table, the goblin-blooded Professor Filius Flitwick crossed his arms over his chest and bowed his head, his goblin warrior's blood recognising the magic for what it was.
Raw power!
The kind that, time was, the goblins, the centaurs, the pegasi, the unicorns, the elves and many others had respected and shown due homage to in the name of Magic herself.
And now that power had returned to Hogwarts.
Even when the storm passed, the glow around the new student faded away and the remaining students were calmed by assurances from Professor McGonagall and the headmaster, there wasn't a single member of Hogwarts, staff or student, who would forget the event too quickly.
SoS
At the same time, the Sorting Hat opened its rim before it let out a cry that set the stage for the future of Hogwarts and, indeed, magic itself. Not that any of them knew it at the time as, instead, they all watched with awe, wonder and shock as the hat made a strange remark.
"The future has taken root in the present…" (1)
While Harry wasn't alone in wondering, and silently dreading, what the hat meant by that cryptic choice of words, the Sorting Hat itself seemed to snap its attention back to the aforementioned present as, taking a slow, shaky breath, it composed itself long enough to make its decision:
"SLYTHERIN!"
Chapter 5 and, curiouser and curiouser: it looks like there may be something more to Harry's future than we first thought, but what could those eerie words mean and could it have anything to do with the Not-The-Boy-Who-Lived going to the last place a hero would go?
Also, how long will the land of idiots and morons need to get the fracking hint?
Hmm…when's the End of Days? When will the Sun die out?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Harry makes an impact with his new Housemates, if only because of a choice he makes even before he gets to the dungeon; also, Stephen worries when, during a visit to Harry's new dwellings, he's told of what happened in the Great Hall;
Please Read and Review
PORTRAYAL:
Daphne Greengrass – Dove Cameron
NUMBERED ANNOTATIONS (1)
I know it's probably REALLY cheesy to use this line from the Snyder Cut of the Justice League movie, but given how this whole adventure started, I felt it was also appropriate…
And who better to say it than the Sorting Hat?