Chapter 4: Last Days Alone

I awoke on my cot with a sharp pain in both arms stopping at the lower deltoids and aches in my legs all the way up to my back. With a groan I rolled out of bed. I noticed the sun was not yet up, so I returned upstairs to begin adding the first few articles to Nupedia.

I started with simple subjects I had a firm grounding in and used the burgeoning internet to cross check some information just to make sure I was as factually correct as possible. I managed to write 15 or so articles on subjects such as history, science and pop culture. which was remarkably similar to the entertainment on my earth, aside from some minor naming conventions with characters techniques.

The information from the Infinity Well paid off big dividends when it came to the history articles. it having gave me a Birds Eye view of several key moments in this world's history as well as a plethora of knowledge to fill in the blanks the images were missing.

After finding and citing sources to corroborate all the information I knew to be correct. I published the first few Nupedia pages. I then went on a few history buff forums, the kind frequented by professors and deans in high academia. Quickly I began posting links to relevant topics on Nupedia. Hoping to drive traffic to my new site. I knew once word spread new articles would begin to appear from willing contributors. And hopefully that would propel the site in a similar direction to the one from my universe.

The process took a few hours and was only interrupted by the grumbling from my stomach. I took a quick break to find sustenance. And returned moments later to write a few more articles. A task which soon grew to bore me.

Deciding that was enough for today I posted a few more links on the relevant forum pages and decided now would be as good time as to fortify my mind and maybe practice a few small spells that won't trigger any detection wards the ministry might have over the muggle areas to detect potential statute of secrecy breaches. Since the trace only applied to Hogwarts students, I should be fine if I don't do anything destructive. No one should notice.

I started with occlumency as Voldemort's memories showed it was a gradual process to truly become an occlumens. And I knew having a structured mind would do well with the influx of information in my head.

The mental defenses aspect should be moot for me but the other benefits such as a faster thought process and perfect recall would definitely be boon in this world of super inventors and twisted scientists all with perfect memories, and unfathomable intellects.

The process Voldemort was taught involved keeping your mind blank as harry would be taught by snape in an alternate time. The method he discovered however involved flooding the mind with emotion in his case it was a rage so deep it would drown any invader in hatred. causing them to become enraged themselves and create openings either in combat or conversation; The times Legilimency was most often used. His method was an effective shield that none he met could penetrate.

However, it was mostly useless to me due to Death's boon which actively shielded my thoughts from all but her. Yet Riddle's method did provide boosts over the basic method including a sharper mental acuity and the ability to partition the mind while one side rages the other could plan and vice versa. And while the emotions themselves would be useless to me due to Death protecting my mind already. But I could use every boost to my mind I could get.

The building blocks for faster processing was the sorting of memories. So, that's where I began it was a tedious process. as I sat cross legged on the living rooms plush carpet. I closed my eyes and willed myself to return to that formless misty place.

When I opened them, I was there standing right in front of the house I willed into being here after I removed Voldemort's soul fragment. This place was a simple protection, I realized the mist only reacted to myself. I recognized that should another come here they would be trapped to wander the endless mists of my mindscape until they either left my mind or were discovered. I wasn't sure whether this was deaths boon or a natural result of Harry's mental defenses.

However, there was a simple way to check I began to draw on deaths essence and noticed that familiar darkness began to creep along the edges of the formless mist. Like nightfall was coming in a 360-degree radius around me the mist began to meld with the darkness causing a rather interesting effect. The darkness began to dance like the mist; a formless sea of shadows reveling in its own glory. This darkness must be deaths protection. now mingling with Harry's own natural protection, the formless mist.

And while useful I needed a place to store and organize my memories, I stopped channeling deaths essence leaving only a mid-sized white bastion in the center of the swirling and dancing darkness. There I stood and willed the mists to form into a library a simple modern one with an endless number of shelves.

I decided on a library because of the ease of sorting a computer would also work. However, interacting with such a thing mentally would be rather tedious when I could simply will a book to move and sort itself just as easily. And the majesty of an infinite library would be much grander than that of a common computer.

The mist followed my will just as it had before. creating that which I requested in seconds. And finally using the knowledge from Voldemort. I willed copies of my own, as well as Harry's and the few I had of Tom's memories into existence as books on each of the shelves.

Only filling up the first fifty or so. the rest I willed to fill up with stories I had read, any media I had consumed in my past and a few creative ideas I had bubbling around my head before my passing. The rest of the shelves were filled with dummy books containing no real information.

with that done I decided to leave the sorting of the information to later as I was eager to try a few wandless spells.

From what I could feel in my mindscape the darkness on the edge of my library's misty grove would both disorient and drain the life essence from any who was unfortunate enough to try entering it. and while unsorted this library would be a true representation of my mental state. once organized I knew I would be able to move on to occlumency's next steps but that would require time.

I willed myself to exit my new mental library and with nary a thought my eyes opened. I had returned to the Dursley's living room.

Noticing that nighttime was drawing near I hurried to practice a spell or two before heading off to bed. I then stood from my position on the plush carpet and began moving furniture hastily away from the middle of the room the couch and recliner that Vernon and Dudley respectively preferred were moved abruptly against the wall and with my newfound space I decided to try a simple spell. But one with some offensive capabilities.

I walked back to the center of the room and spoke "incindio." Holding my hand palm upward as I focused my intent on heat and visualized a flame in my mind.

And on command one popped up right in the middle of my palm it was a small thing barely bigger than a lighter's flame I willed it to grow just a bit and funneled in a smidgen more magic. The flame grew to the size of a tennis ball. I willed it smaller, and it became the size of a marble.

"Awesome!" I exclaimed as I extinguished the flow of magic to the fire and closed my palm. I then tried another first year spell the levitation charm.

I focused on the coach I moved moments ago and willed it to float "winguardium leviosa" I spoke and felt a small pull on my magical core as the coach was slowly lifted off the ground with an unseen force.

I willed the floating coach forward and returned it to its place in the living room and did the same next to Vernon's favorite chair. Placing them all in the perfect position Petunia had them in before I moved them.

I then decided to try something a bit more difficult. Something that would be a boon for sneaking in and out of this house when the Dursleys returned. Something like the disillusionment charm.

It was an incantation I picked up from a game. So, I wasn't sure if it would work but I was determined to try.

"Invisiblus" I intoned picturing myself not being seen willing myself truly invisible.

And I felt nothing. No draw from my core, no feeling of raw egg running down my head. I looked at my hands and they were as visible as always.

I tried again this time nonverbally 'Invisiblus' and with a cold start I felt the cracked egg run down my dead and body as I looked at my hands once more and noted they left no indication that they were there at all. No tell-tale shimmer, no distortion of the air like a heat mirage. Truly perfect invisibility.

I kept the spell active for a moment more then let the magic I was feeding it dissipate. My body returned to the visible spectrum, and I let out a massive yawn. I noted the lack of a verbal component made the spell cost quite a bit of magic and the fact that it was an O.W.L level spell probably didn't help either. I was definitely Feeling the effects of casting those spells and was left rather tired.

Even still, I began cycling some magic throughout my body as I did yesterday before falling asleep. I managed five full cycles before exhaustion nearly overtook me. So, I returned to the cot in the cupboard to end another day.

I awoke feeling refreshed noticing the aches from the previous day had not occurred this morning. I knew the Dursleys would be arriving tomorrow, so I had one day to write more articles, erase all traces of my use of Dudley's computer, hide any trace of my previous 4 days of freedom and finally to figure out a plan on how to deal with Harry's abusive relatives.

I knew I could Dominate the Dursleys with magic an incendio here a levitation charm there and they would be nothing before me. But looking back on Harry's time with them full of beatings, starvation, and flat-out neglect. I knew that option would be nothing but an escalation of force and knowing Vernon as I now do. I realized it just might be a death sentence.

Although fearful of the abnormal, the man would do anything to protect his family. including taking his shot gun and shooting his magic wielding nephew in his sleep. Not an option I would enjoy as it might not kill me. but I figure being shot would still hurt like hell.

I needed a better method, one much more subtle. I would convince the Dursleys that leaving me alone would be better than anything. I could ingratiate myself to them but also remind them I was not to be trifled with.

With the vestiges of a plan concocted I returned to Dudley's room one final time. I continued writing articles for the remainder of the morning before my stomach interrupted me as was becoming a habit recently, and I decided now would be a good time for a meal. I headed downstairs and prepared a simple sandwich, ate then returned to the computer.

I noticed that Nupedia was getting a few updates on several articles adding clarity no doubt from an interested professor or two. It wasn't much but it was growth. I decided to set up a donation page as well as an account I managed to create for myself at The Bank of London in the name Harry Potter. Making it seem like the account was started for a child by a parent back in late 1980.

I then routed the donations page to several dummy accounts before eventually setting those to feed into the harry potter account knowing the transactions would eventually be traced by someone with enough know how and will. Also knowing that it would not be a big deal if harry potter was connected to Nupedia. I proceeded unhindered. As long as I wasn't discovered too soon it would all work out for my betterment.

It took no more than 2 hours to do the necessary hacks and programming, but it was time well spent allowing me to eventually gain some muggle income. I stood noticing the mid-afternoon sun high in the sky and decided to erase all traces of myself from Dudley's computer making it seem as if it was last used nearly a week ago.

I then calmy exited and closed up the boy's room before making my way downstairs to begin cleaning it took nearly 3 to return everything to the spotless condition petunia made me place it in before the Dursley's departure.

I then turned off the heating for the house and decided to practice my locking charm on the cupboard door before I returned inside. 'Colloportus.' I thought tapping the lock, deciding to practice more nonverbal casting to get use to my newfound talent for it.

The lock turned and was stuck in the locked position. I tried to manually turn it back and was unable to do so.

'not good.' I thought as I hastily cast alohomora the lock returned to the open position. I tried again this time willing the door not only to lock but to be manually unlockable. 'Coloportus' I thought and this time the lock acted as it was supposed to. I decided now was a good time to hole up in my cupboard. I unlocked the door closed myself inside then used the locking charm one last time. The oncoming cold was remedied when I willed hot air to come out of my palm to warm up the entirety of my cupboard.

When I was sufficiently warm, I began to organize my memories while cycling my magic once more and not to long after, fell asleep. It would be an early morning when the Dursleys arrived, and I would rather be well rested upon our first meeting.

Chapter 4 done. Love it? Hate it? Let me know. If there is any way I can improve, I would love to hear from you. Sorry about the delay in posting this chapter, it's been a mix of things. I'm a few chapters ahead but have been procrastinating a bit. And I've been having trouble posting on this site. However, more coming soon. I think I'll try to stick to a chapter every 2 weeks. Let me know what the thoughts are on that as well. Until next time. Your friend The Phoenix.