Scion of Sorcery, Dimensions of Destiny

Disclaimers: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

Review Answers:

Archdruid89: All interesting suggestions, though I have my own plans in mind and, admittedly, the Sorting is one thing that won't change from the original, while Harry's amusing bashing of the bossy know-it-all is another – after all, every Strange needs their Mordo, every Spiderman their Venom, every Mr Fantastic their Von Doom etc.

Dennisud: Well…not every wand…

WhiteElfElder: Let's just say the impression will be a tough pill for Snivellus to swallow;

A glow of raw power filled his green eyes as he gave his decision, earning a small smile from Stephen as, not for the first time, he saw courage, truth, determination and a fire in his son's belly that made him remember not only whose son he was – meaning his and Lily's – but also recall the motto of the very school Harry was soon going to be attending.

Never tickle a sleeping dragon, they said…

Or, to put it in a way Stephen would sum up his thoughts concerning his son's choices…

'Avengers Assemble!'

Phase One: Potter-Strange?

Chapter 4: The Return

Although he had visited the country from time to time, during visits and training sessions held in the London Sanctuary, Harry couldn't deny that he still felt a little odd returning to Great Britain for his education, although he didn't feel so odd that he'd changed his mind.

He knew what it was that he wanted to do…no, what he had to do, even how far he'd have to go to make sure people either got the right impression or were made to see things for how they really were instead of the rose-coloured glasses wore by most of the Wixen out there.

Anyway, now the day was here, Harry felt more determined than ever to take care of his business, as well as his chosen path any way he could.

On the morning of September First, Stephen Sling-Ringed Christine from their home in New York to see Harry off – though not before the female doctor grumbled good-naturedly about the time difference, though a loving hug from her adoptive son soon shut her up – before all three of them used one of the portals in the London Sanctuary to reach the British Capital.

As well as his adoptive Mother and birth Father, Harry was accompanied by Mana, albeit in an enchanted carry case that meant anyone who looked at her would only see a bird in a cage and not the glamorous thunderbird she really was. That being said, Harry wasn't too fond of the idea of having to hide himself, or his beloved familiar, as they turned a corner with his parents before they all stared at the awe and magnificence of the olden-days building and interchange commonly known as King's Cross Station.

As he looked at the station, however, a frown crossed Harry's face as he looked from the station to his solemn-looking Father, "I still don't get why they can't just let us Sling our way there or whether or not they might let me use my special powers to get there in no time, Dad. I mean, I'd bet my last year's allowance that Ilvermorny would let their students get there any way possible."

"Yes, but you have to remember that this place won't be even half the free-spirited openness that you'd experience if you'd gone to Ilvermorny instead of following Rameses' declaration and coming to Hogwarts, Harry," replied Stephen, though he silently agreed with his son about how long it was going to take just to get to school.

SoS

Heck, a Sorcerer could go from Hong Kong to London and New York, as well as other locations, in an instant.

And this lot were meant to be the best in the world?

SoS

"However," added Stephen, patting Harry on his shoulder supportively as he explained, "Remember, if you get the urge to leave, knowing you have no other choice, Rameses has arranged it with Principal Morrigan to leave your prospective place open just in case."

"Hopefully that won't be the case," mumbled Harry, sniffing once as he wiped at his eyes, quickly brushing the tears away before he turned back to his parents, "I mean, you can't even come with me, Dad: all because you don't have the same core I do and because Mum's…a No-Maj, you have to wait on the mundane side, unless we want to start a riot."

"Then there's the bit about these Brits thinking you're as bad a criminal as Hitler and Zodiac," added Christine, earning a hateful-sounding scoff from Harry as he too was reminded of just how bad his Father was hated and even hunted by the Wixen.

SoS

And yet, for all their greatness, none of them even realised how many times Stephen, sometimes accompanied by Wong, Harry and Christine, had walked the streets of Great Britain, even all the way up in Scotland where Hogwarts was located.

Ironically, and to Harry's amusement, they'd even taken a trip to Fort William, which was the nearest No-Maj town to Hogwarts, on a dare from Harry's loving Uncle Tony, but even there, the so-called top dogs magic users hadn't gotten as much as an inkling of Stephen's presence, not even when he'd used a Sling Portal to take Harry and Christine to Muir Island and then onto New York.

If ignorance was bliss, then Harry assumed British Wixen were as happy as pigs in shit and then some.

SoS

"But that won't stop me being there if you should need me, Harry, I promise," Stephen assured him, his voice breaking through Harry's train of thought as the Sorcerer Supreme took a deep breath before, together with his wife and son, he led them across the road and into the station; as they walked, Harry adjusted the collar of his flowing red coat – which he'd admitted was his second-favourite birthday present, after the gift of his true power from his birth Mother, and the memories of times Harry would treasure forever – while, next to him, Christine gripped his free hand in hers as they made their way to the destination that Archmage Wulfgarden had already told them about.

Platform Nine-and-three-quarters, location of the Hogwarts Express and departure point to the school, which could be found via passing through a barrier located at the central-most point between platforms nine and ten.

Stopping before the aforementioned barrier, Harry gulped hard, clenching and unclenching his fist, accidentally squeezing Christine's hand in the process before, looking to his parents, he quickly apologised and hugged Christine warmly, earning a soft kiss to his brow from his adopted Mother.

Then, as Harry turned to his Father, the two Strange men looked into each other's eyes before Harry smiled and gave a bow of respect and love, both of which were aimed at his Father, "So…see you at Christmas?"

"If not sooner," replied Stephen, his apathetic expression failing as he smiled warmly and embraced his son, tousling Harry's hair as he added, "If you need anything, don't be afraid to use your Sling Ring or even teleport back to Kamar-Taj: remember, you are more than these others who'll be at school with you, but never forget you represent not one, not two, but three great and powerful legacies."

Nodding in agreement, Harry looked to the necklace around his neck, which had the three rings of his family looped through the chain – the rings of the Potter and Peverell legacies as well as Harry's own Sling Ring, just in case he ever found himself in a situation where his other gifts failed him and he had to resort to the Mystic Arts rather than the magical arts of his inner core.

"You had better be going, sweetheart," Christine told him, her eyes trying and failing to hold back tears of motherly emotion, ironically making her look like a normal Mother seeing their favourite son off to school on his first day. "Make sure you have a great time and be sure to send word to us or visit when you're free to do so, and tell us all about how you're doing."

Again, Harry nodded before he turned and vanished through the barrier.

As he did so, however, Stephen's eyes narrowed as he noticed, and heard, something drop from his son's body as he vanished through to the other side of the realm, clattering to the ground as it fell from Harry's neck.

His Sling Ring.

"That's odd," said Stephen, retrieving the device before he looked again to the barrier, "Can't they even allow a simple relic? Do they honestly think they can exclude the power of the Mystic Arts so easily and successfully?"

"What about the power of his Eyes?" asked Christine.

"As you know, love, they were assimilated by Harry's magical core, in whatever manner, allowing him to wield their powers for himself with none of the downsides, but, given his power boosts, I can only hope there's nothing else we need to worry about," answered Stephen, shuddering as he could still remember how powerful Harry was with those Eyes, as well as the power that had been released with Lily's last gift.

Put them together, and you had someone you didn't want to find yourself in the way of for any reason at all.

"For their sakes, I hope this barrier is the only part of their ass-backwards world that is blocked off to our gifts."

SoS

Although he didn't know it, Harry was just as curious and surprised as his parents when he felt the barrier snatch his Sling Ring from his necklace, and yet his chain, which was supposed to be enchanted so that it was not only unbreakable, but it could only be removed and affected by Harry himself, stayed around his neck, including his Family Rings, which he quickly tucked out of sight, if only so nobody he didn't want to have to deal with came over to him because the crest was that of a wealthy and influential pureblood family.

Honestly, their dogma made him want to throw up sometimes.

Silently making a note to Flash back home once he was settled in and sorted, Harry allowed himself to look at the platform and the train that stood there. It was a beautiful, olden-days-looking scarlet steam engine that blew smoke from its stack, the clouds drifting through the air and out into the world through the opening at the far end.

Along the platform, Harry noticed men, women and children of all ages and backgrounds moving to and from the train, some of them showing a front that looked like nobility while others were excited, nervous, anxious and even in awe of the train itself. As Harry made his way to the train, a look of amusement rose up in him as he considered the fact that this journey would take as long as he'd read that it would whereas, as he'd said to his Father, any real sorcerer could just transport themselves there with the aid of magic.

Sling Rings, teleporting, Apparition, Floo Gates, portals and even Portkeys.

These could all be used to get the students to Hogwarts in minutes, but the British Magical World preferred a train that would take somewhere between six-to-seven hours to reach their destination. Harry wouldn't be surprised to find it getting dark by the time he reached the station at the other end, but, despite his thoughts, he allowed himself to put those thoughts aside as he boarded the train, settling into an empty compartment.

After taking a moment to let himself get settled, Harry reached down and opened the case that contained Mana, his eyes shining as he watched his familiar spread her six wings before she slipped out, her form stretching as she let out a cry of elation.

'Ohhhhh….by the Mother, that's much better! Honestly, it's about time, little one: I was getting wing cramp in there.'

"I'm sorry about your discomfort, my beautiful girl," said Harry, watching as Mana curled up in his lap, her small form easily settling in the embrace and comfort of her master.

As he started stroking Mana's beautiful feathers, Harry smiled with a mixture of relief and friendly understanding as he explained, "I didn't want the No-Maj's asking questions if they'd noticed you: I mean, sure, I could have used the power of the Eyes to make them see you differently, but this world already frowns on Dad, so I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to myself."

'That's all right,' Mana told him, her beak rubbing against Harry's fingers as he stroked her, their bond telling her he was being sincere in all his words and the feelings behind them. 'But what about when we get to the school? What will you do when they ask you why you don't have a simple owl, a filthy cat or a warty toad as your companion?'

"Then, in that highly-likely scenario, I'm going to tell them the truth," answered Harry, tickling Mana under her chin, earning him a trill of contentment from her, "That you're my familiar, which you are, recognised by magic and the highest authority on the planet, meaning Master Rameses. As such, the rule about owls, cats and toads can be overlooked because the bond between a true sorcerer and their familiar goes beyond companionship."

'If half the stories we've heard are true, they won't accept that,' advised Mana, earning a scoff from Harry.

"Mana, once they see what I'm capable of, this world won't accept me," argued the Strange Heir, his voice filled with a note of amusement as he gently tickled at the feathers on her head as he explained, "But, both before and after my birthday, both Dad and Master Rameses told me it'd be wrong for me to think that I have to hide what I'm capable of and, for whatever reason, you're part of that amazing arsenal. So, whatever they might say or think, they can take it up with the two most powerful magical forces on Planet Earth: the Sorcerer Supreme and the Archmage of the Mystic Assembly known as the ICW. More to the point, magic is more than foolish wand-waving and silly incantations, anyway, so…meh!"

SoS

Little did Harry know that, at that particular moment, a certain someone who was not looking forwards to who was coming with the latest batch of dunderheads he'd have to teach suddenly shivered, before he sneezed loudly.

He didn't know why, but Professor Snape suddenly felt really violated.

Still, he knew who was to blame…

SoS

Again, Mana trilled as she heard Harry's reasoning, and the logic therein, while Harry looked down at her, "Anyway, even if they did choose to make something of it, I think it's pretty damn stupid for them to judge me by their archaic standards: after all, I've spent the better part of the last ten years living outside of Magical Britain, away from the corrupt influences of their dogmatic-minded Ministry, not to mention the somehow-free supporters of Lord Voldemort and the backside-backwards beliefs in real magic that this country has."

'Your Mother isn't here to scold you for your language, little one,' laughed Mana, earning a smirk from Harry.

"Old habits."

'More to the point, what if they choose to call you a disgrace to who you once were, albeit adoptively?' Mana warned him, earning another scoff from Harry, 'What if they target you by invoking the honour of your late Mother and adopted Father?'

"First I'll seal them in the Mirror Dimension for thinking they can use the dead as a weapon against me," answered Harry, before a sly smile crossed his face, "And second, I've already planned for them using such a weapon against me, anyway. Master Rameses helped and even the goblins of Gringotts International have set wheels in motion. According to what Dad said, his last visit to their UK clan showed that the plan is in motion."

'Not that they'll listen…so what then?'

"Then," answered Harry, letting his fingers drift along his familiar's white wings as he explained, "As I said, I'll send them to the Mirror Dimension before we'll sit back and watch them struggle against real magic: let's see them use their supposedly-real magic to get them out of a plane of existence that has no ties to their medieval ways; their little sticks and pureblood crap won't help them out in there, neither will their blood money!"

As Mana laughed over the bond she shared with Harry, the son of the Sorcerer Supreme looked down to his familiar, "On a similar note, if I have to leave you alone while I'm in their lessons, will you be okay, girl?"

'Even if we are physically separated, I can and will always be close to you, little one,' replied Mana, looking up at Harry with her bright blue eyes as she explained, 'Our bond was forged by Magic, uniting my greatness with the power that makes you equal to and greater than even the Sorcerer Supreme, much less the Grand Master. No supposed restraints will keep me from you if you should ever need me.'

Smiling in response, Harry took a deep breath before he explained, "Our journey's going to take a while, girl: would you mind if I slipped into the Astral Plane for some private time?"

'I will keep watch over your body, Harry,' said Mana, before she looked up at him and, in a tone that reminded Harry why she was more than his closest friend and most-loyal supporter, she added, 'But you shouldn't be antisocial, my friend. Remember you have potential allies awaiting the chance to meet you and you need to remain on alert in case things should turn sour.'

Harry hated to admit it, but she was right.

While Mana moved to the seat next to him, the young sorcerer took a deep breath before, narrowing his eyes, he drew on the power of the Eyes of Horus, if only to get a clue about the level of magic that he was dealing with: however, Harry had barely called on the powers for five seconds before, wincing in pain, he returned his eyes to their normal green, rubbing at his head.

"There…there's so much magic in the air already: the train is ripe with it. Even in Master Rameses' presence, I…I've never seen so much potent magic, be it from the ancient, mystic powers of the builders and…or the strength of witches and wizards both past and present…so much of it! I could barely handle looking at it for five seconds; honestly, it was like looking into the fire of the Phoenix Force itself…so bright…so painful…ow!"

'It overwhelmed you, which is impressive, but also curious,' said Mana, nuzzling her human's chin, whilst earning a nod from Harry as the magical bird nipped lightly at him. 'How do you think you'll learn to cope if you have to use it at school, Harry? Hogwarts as a bastion of magic is far older than this wooden travelling apparatus and its magic is as sentient as the powers above, beyond and outside the known realms of magic.'

"I guess…" sighed Harry, leaning back into his seat while, at the same time, a loud whistle and the slow chugging motion of the train shuddering announced that the journey had begun, much to the relief of the emerald-eyed sorcerer.

"I'll just have to resume my training and try to endure it…even in this outdated realm, you never know when such a gift will come in handy."

SoS

With the strain put on him by the Eyes of Horus, as well as the thoughts he had concerning why his preferred mode of transport hadn't come with him through the barrier, it was no surprise to see that Harry was on edge as he watched the world pass them by, Mana never leaving his side while her company and her silent vigil kept her young friend in as calm a state as he could be.

Outside the compartment, Harry could hear people flitting about, trying to find seats as well as companions, some of them sounding like they were discussing topics that didn't really concern him while, once or twice, Harry thought he heard his name mentioned, but he drowned it out.

As he said, he wasn't that boy anymore and he had already set wheels in motion to make it official.

Finally, after what seemed like a long time, Harry received his first visitor when a knock sounded at the door; because he'd experienced the pain of using the Eyes on the express, Harry didn't bother trying to see who lay beyond the door.

Instead, he replied in a courteous voice, "Come in."

As he watched, the door opened revealing a young, handsome boy with dark hair and brown eyes that seemed to be filled with an air of strength that made Harry smile; the boy was already dressed in his Hogwarts robes while Harry noticed a new, forest-green-and-brown-coloured trunk as well as a cage that carried a beautiful-looking snowy owl being pulled behind the boy as he looked in.

"Hi," said the boy, earning a curt nod from Harry as he asked, "Sorry for disturbing you, but I was wondering if I could join you?"

"Of course," replied Harry, remembering Mana's words about being antisocial, while he also indicated the spot opposite him as he added, "Please, come on in and take a seat: I'm Harry."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Neville," said the boy, earning a wide-eyed look from Harry while, at the same time, Neville's eyes also widened as he caught sight of Mana now lying next to Harry, watching him curiously, her blue eyes filled with suspicion and curiosity.

"Wow…is…is that…is that a…"

"A thunderbird, yes," finished Harry, stroking Mana's feathers before he quickly nodded with a knowing smile, "And yes; she's my familiar, which is why I don't have an owl, cat or a toad like your lovely friend there."

"Wow," repeated Neville, placing his trunk in the overhead storage area before he sat down, placing the owl cage next to him, which was his cue to fill in the blank as he added, "Oh, sorry, this is Hedwig: she's my owl and she was a birthday present from…from my guardian. But, still: wow! To be able to recognise your bond with a familiar at our age: that's pretty strong magic, Harry."

Shrugging in response, Harry smiled as he narrowed his eyes before he asked, "Sorry if I'm being a bit abrupt here, but you said your name's Neville and…and you're the same age as me. So…your surname: that wouldn't be Neville Longbottom, would it?"

"Yes," answered Neville, looking now to Harry with surprise, before he asked, "That's an impressive guess…what about you?"

"Harry S…" Harry began, before he cut himself off with a smile as he figured he might as well get used to saying his other name, for now, in this backwards world that saw him for being something he wasn't. No matter how hard he may try, he wasn't going to be able to convince many people to use his other name, especially since his Dad was, apparently, a criminal in the British Magical World for being a No-Maj with magical knowledge.

As well as abilities they'd only call Dark Magic anyway, he didn't hesitate to add, so, for arguments' sake, he might as well be the boy he was and the Sorcerer Supreme's Heir at the same time.

With his decision made, Harry cleared his throat.

"My name's Harry James Potter; well…that it to say that at least that's how you lot know me, but since you'd probably not accept my other name, then that's who I am for the time being, I guess."

Neville's eyes widened as Harry introduced himself, his jaw dropping before, as he looked at Harry, he asked, "Is…is that really you, Harry? I…I've heard things about you from…from my guardian, but…wow…meeting you here…now…I never expected this!"

He gestured to Harry as he said it, but the other boy just smiled, waving it off before he asked, "Your guardian? Not your parents?"

"No," said Neville, sniffing sadly before he quickly continued, "Mum and Dad are dead: they died in a revenge raid by Death Eaters after…after your home was attacked ten years ago. Mum was tortured beyond all reason before…before she succumbed to death and Dad…they left him to burn and suffer from a curse that…that left him weakening day by day; he finally succumbed to…to death four years ago and…and by then, my guardian had taken me in and he treats me as his son, but…but I know that, compared to you, I'm only his ward."

"Why?" asked Harry, a tear rolling down his cheek as he heard Neville tell his story, while Mana also trilled sadly, earning a gentle pat from Harry as he asked in a softer voice, "Who…who raised you, Neville?"

"Your godfather, Sirius Black," replied Neville, earning a shocked look from Harry, before Neville, again, seemed to hasten with his response as he added, "And…and don't get me wrong, Harry; I…I'm grateful to Sirius for doing it, because…because my Great-Uncle's busy with Ministry business and Gran…she went into a depressive spiral after Mum and Dad died, but…but I keep getting the feeling Sirius only did it because…"

"Mum and James were friends with your parents," said Harry, earning a sad nod from Neville.

Seconds later, to Neville's surprise, the green-eyed boy shook his head as he spat, "What a load of old dragon crap!"

Snapping his head up, Neville gulped as he asked, "W-W-What did you just say?"

"Sirius didn't raise you to replace me, be a double of me or anything like that," insisted Harry, smiling softly as he looked right into Neville's eyes as he explained, "All right, I know I was only a baby when I last saw him, which was before…that night…but from what I've heard from a few reliable sources, he's a man of honour, pride and easily the biggest kid in Britain."

SoS

He didn't say that he'd gotten that impression from the pulses of memories from his Mother's last gift to him, which had also included a few choice memories about Harry as a little baby, playing with a wild, funny-looking guy who made him think of Stark, as well as friendly company and one or two whom Harry guessed were either Neville or his parents…or both.

The point was that Harry knew all he needed to know to stand up for Neville being raised by Sirius, especially since he knew that the guy also knew Harry had been spirited away to Stephen, so it was highly-likely he honoured his fallen friends in another way, knowing his pup – as Sirius used to call Harry, according to the memories – was as safe as he could possibly be. (1)

SoS

"He is that," laughed Neville, shaking his head in amusement, as well as a mixture of relief and gratitude towards the warm-hearted nature of his long lost godbrother as he explained, "Half the things he gets up to and the stories he tells: they always make me laugh."

"He's also someone who won't abandon those who mean the world to him," continued Harry, earning an awed look from Neville, "As you said, I'm his godson and, all right, that is an important role, but Sirius didn't come after me because, like Mum, James and a select few others, he knew I was in the safest place possible and I was."

"So I see," agreed Neville, indicating Harry as he admitted, "You're going to turn more than a few heads with those looks of yours, Harry: and…I'm sorry to ask this given what we just talked about, but…why do you call James Potter…his name? He was your Dad…"

"Actually, he wasn't, which is why I was going to say something else before I told you my surname, god-brother," drawled Harry, earning a stunned look from Neville, "I know we were once as close as brothers and so, because Sirius already knows and because of that friendship that I hope to keep going now that we're both here, I'll entrust you with the truth."

"Oh…o-okay," said Neville, swallowing hard as he asked, "Do…do you need a wizard's oath of silence or…"

"No," answered Harry before Neville gasped as the young sorcerer placed a hand against the door and, as Neville watched, Harry drew a mystical rune onto the pane of glass on the door that seemed to vanish instantaneously.

"What…what was that?" asked Neville.

In response, Harry smiled as he answered, "Think of it as a Fidelius Rune: now, if only until we get to school, anything that gets discussed in this compartment stays between us unless, as the caster, I give you my permission to tell others; we can still talk about it, but you can't tell anyone else or talk about it with others in earshot."

"Merlin's beard! That's some powerful magic, Harry," gasped Neville, earning another laugh from Harry as he looked to Neville.

"Actually, the preferred term for what I can do, Neville, is sorcery," explained Harry, earning a curious look from his honorary brother, which caused Harry to sigh before, hoping he was right in taking a leap of faith, he quickly filled in the blank for his honorary sibling of old.

"My real Father, as well as the man who has raised me for the past ten years and made me the wizard…excuse me, I mean sorcerer I am today is known as Doctor Stephen Strange, who is also known as the Sorcerer Supreme, the most-powerful Sorcerer on the planet…not to mention one of the most-powerful magic users on the planet, save for one in your world and…well, for the time being, let's just say the other is a work in progress."

Neville's eyes widened in disbelief and, as they did so, he gulped hard, "I…I don't want to offend you or nothing, Harry, but…but I think I've heard that name before: Stephen Strange, you said? Is…isn't he a criminal? One of the worst to escape the Ministry's clutches and…and defy the law?"

"Only as far as the British Ministry is concerned and, even then, it's only because, as far as they're concerned, he's nothing more than a No-Maj, but that's not true: he is a spirit of magic, just like the Wixen. He just discovered the mystic arts through study," said Harry, his choice of words earning another curious and confused look from Neville before Harry added, "Sorry, you'd call him a Muggle and a witch or wizard: blame my American upbringing, if you like, and the Wixen thing is something my Mum used to say…what can I say? I like it. Gender-neutral and all that."

"Wow," whispered Neville, looking for a moment to Mana, "And is…is that why you have a familiar, Harry? Because your Father's so…so powerful?"

'That is part of the reason, Neville Longbottom,' answered Mana, earning a stunned look of shock from Neville while Harry smiled slyly as he saw his familiar lift her head, 'I do not give my voice to everyone, but my little one trusts you with his true identity, so I shall grant you the same privilege.'

"Wow," whispered Neville, earning a laugh from Harry.

"I think that's the fourth or fifth time you've said that," explained the raven-haired sorcerer, earning an awestruck look from Neville, "Mana's a special kind of familiar, Neville: truth is even I don't much understand where she came from, but she's been part of my life for as long as I've been under the care of my true Father, his colleagues and students."

"S-s-students?" asked Neville, watching as Harry sat back down before he asked, "He…he's a teacher, Mr…"

"Doctor," corrected Harry, smirking as he imagined what would come next, "Doctor Strange is the master of the training school for aspiring Masters of the Mystic Arts headed by the Sorcerer Supreme, my Father, and the place that has been my home for the better part of the last ten years."

"W…Merlin's beard," gasped Neville, looking to the door of their compartment, "And he taught you to cast that rune?"

"And much more besides," laughed Harry, his eyes shining as he sat down with Mana, who rested her head on his lap, "But unlike my true identity, I'm afraid I need to be sure you're safe to learn the truth of what I can really do and, for that, you're going to need time, Neville."

"I…I understand," said Neville, rubbing the back of his neck before he asked, "But there's one thing I don't understand, Harry."

"What's that?"

"If you have all this power, what are you doing back here where they'll try and suppress it?" asked Neville, earning a cocky snigger from Harry.

"The key word there, brother-mine," drawled Harry, his eyes shining while his magic seemed to fill the air as he added, "Is try!"

"Not that anyone has much of a chance against you, little brother…"

Suddenly, Neville's eyes snapped to the door while Harry grinned in genuine warmth, if not delight, when he looked up to see a newcomer had managed to enter the compartment, standing now against the closed door, albeit on the inside.

The fact that they had managed to get in without Harry or Mana noticing spoke volumes about their skill, not that Neville knew that.

The newcomer was a dark-haired girl who had a few streaks of bluish-coloured hair that hung over her fringe, as well as dark, narrow, hazel eyes that sparkled with amusement as she looked to Harry before she dipped her head to Mana.

"Nice to see you again too, sister."

'Welcome, dear child,' replied Mana, leaping from her seat next to Harry before she added, 'Little one; don't be antisocial. Let your honorary kin join your other honorary kin.'

"I was waiting for you to move," argued Harry, shuffling along the seat, earning a curt nod from the girl as she sat down next to him, before she sighed as she looked to the necklace just visible beneath Harry's collar.

"You lost yours too, then?"

"Yep," said Harry.

"Agamotto be damned!" growled the girl, her voice edged by a light accent that Neville couldn't quite place, though Harry still smiled at the girl's choice of words.

"Your Father would wash your mouth out with the snows of Everest if he heard you say that, Sue," chuckled the Junior Supreme, earning a pout from the girl before she stuck her tongue out at him.

"And yours would have your Mum wash your mouth out when I tell her who taught me that cuss, little brother," drawled the girl, Sue as Harry had named her, before she smiled and, to Neville's surprise, she embraced Harry fondly, allowing him to do the same, both of them laughing, while Mana gave Neville a searching look.

'Yes, they're always like that.'

"Sorry, Neville," chuckled Harry, parting from his friend-slash-honorary-sister – or so Neville guessed – before he looked to the other boy.

"Allow me to introduce the only other link I have to your world right now; my honorary big sister, best friend and fellow student of our ways, Su Li."

"Nice to meet you, Neville Longbottom," replied Su, bowing to Neville respectfully as she added, "My Grandfather told me about some of the Albion Houses I'd have to watch out for, apart from Harry, anyway. Yours and that of your guardian, Sirius Black, I believe?"

When Neville nodded, Su quickly continued, "Yours were up there with Harry's, both the good and bad reasons, before you ask."

"How is the old sage?" asked Harry casually, folding one leg over the other as he asked, "Still trying to catch you out when you come and visit your old man and your favourite baby brother?"

"And only baby brother, not that Grandpa accepts it; tradition and all," laughed Su, earning a shrug from Harry, before Su asked, "Speaking of Dad, how's he doing?"

"Still likes music in the library," answered Harry, earning a scoff from Su, "Still annoyed at Dad…almost every day he acts like the big kid Uncle Tony is and worse; still cautious around me because of what happened with…with the thing…"

Su nodded in understanding, before Harry looked again to Neville, "Sorry Nev; there are some things I can't quite talk about yet."

"Mostly cause he doesn't know everything about them," added Su, earning a curt nod from Harry.

"Oh," said Neville, before he frowned as he looked to Su, "Sorry, but you're saying your…your Dad, but you also talk about your Grandpa; how is it you have to talk about them like they…um…what I mean is…"

"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…not that anyone showed her how…" added Harry, winking slyly at Neville, while Su made a none-too-subtle gesture of pointing at Harry.

"Best and worst thing he ever did, according to Gramps."

"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."

Chapter 4 and we have a new friend for Harry – and a character not often given the chance to take centre-stage with our hero in fanfiction, which is part of the reason I chose to use her – but what will Hogwarts have to say when they get a chance to see the baby dragon for what he's really capable of?

Also, what's with the Sling Rings being denied and, with both the Son of the Sorcerer Supreme and the Daughter of Stephen's Second-in-Command as heroes making up part of an inevitable trio, are we heading for madness or fun?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: Neville, Su and Harry talk turkey about the future, while our young hero has a few silent thoughts concerning the way his new lifestyle seems content to try and deny his old one; also, Hogwarts and our heroes are set on a path that will make the future very interesting…and Tony Stark proud of the chaos Harry is already out to cause on Day Damn One…

Please Read and Review

AN: Su Li

So, I hope you enjoyed this surprise change to the original.

Admittedly, the idea to have Su Li as the illegitimate daughter of Wong was a thought I had while re-reading the original and considering where I could take it and change it here and there. Mostly because it gives a chance to have lesser-known characters given some time in the fanfiction spotlight, but, at the same time, it's something different. It also gives me a chance to add someone as a portrayal that I've wanted to use – but I won't say who; trust me, it's funny.

Anyway, I thought on it and decided it also wasn't fair for Harry to be the only newcomer to Britain who had his way of life. This way, he's not alone and, as we see, Stephen and Christine aren't his only siblings – even if only honorary;

Anyway, enjoy…

PORTRAYAL:

Su Li – Thalia Tran

NUMBERED ANNOTATIONS (1)

Yes, Harry saw more memories than those I wrote out for the 'flashback' scene in the last chapter, so he'll know a bit more about his adoptive family and those who they called friend and ally, hence why he was able to be so supportive towards Neville's adoption by Sirius and him being raised by the guy