Harry woke up to the sun shining dully in the hospital wing, causing him to groan inaudibly and turn around placing the pillow over his face. Merlin, he hadn't had such a good sleep in a long time, it had also left him vulnerable, but the only danger right now was Dumbledore's curiosity and cautiousness, he knew nothing of what or who he really was. It must still be early, the sun was weak and would only get brighter, no, no it wouldn't he belatedly realized, it was November here, the sun was always weak when it was out. He'd need to remember it wasn't summer anymore; he'd need to remember a lot more in fact. Being in a new time was just as terrifying as it was exciting. Only time would tell whether he would grow to like it here or if it would be just as bad as it is fifty years in the future.
"Good morning, Hadrian, how are you feeling this morning?" Chang said walking through the door and into the hospital wing, she had in her arms a tray which she promptly placed across his lap when she got to him, smiling at him reassuringly.
"Good morning, ma'am," Harry replied, his stomach growling at the smell of the food wafting from his lap, Merlin he was hungry. "I feel a lot better today," he admitted.
"Sleep will help you heal, your magic always works better in healing you when you are asleep, it's an unconscious thing, and awake your magic is preparing for you to use it." Chang said in a way she thought the teenager would understand.
"Really? Wow, I wonder why it's different!" Harry said his eyes twinkling, this he already knew, had known since he was a child. Every time his family struck him, he healed overnight, his magic focusing on the damage and getting rid of it. He had long ago come to the conclusion why his magic hadn't been explosive or geared towards other things. Like Tom Riddle, he had gained control of his powers very young, using it to better his life the only way he felt he could. Causing those that hurt him pain, controlling them, and animals. His instinctively saved itself for the pain he knew was coming. He was his equal, he'd asked himself why he hadn't been able to do it, and he had his most likely correct theory.
"When you've learned a little more about magic, I'll give you a book that will help you understand it a little more." Chang promised, "Now eat up while it's warm," he had to eat; he was far too thin and malnourished. It was a good thing his relatives were dead, otherwise they would be facing criminal charges for endangering and neglecting a child. They would have pushed it through a Muggle court, of course, Muggles didn't get sent to Azkaban as much as they sometimes wished they could send them there. It would be nothing more than they deserved for their actions against a magical child.
"What will I be learning at school?" Harry asked, wondering how similar the curriculum would be from when he had been there. Probably the same, which meant he'd find the classes extremely boring he had already done it once before. He would just take the minimum amount of classes and go from there, spend his time in the library, although he wasn't sure how many books would hold his attention. Five years he had to stay here at Hogwarts, so perhaps he should make sure not to read too fast.
He had no idea how wrong he was.
"Hogwarts teachers a variety of classes, in fact this year you chose your own electives, that will help you choose your career, I am sure someone will come in with a list for you." Chang informed him, glad to see him eating properly.
"Why do you have that stick to use magic?" Harry asked, digging for information on how long he would wait to get a wand. He needed to get to Diagon Alley, the problem was getting into Gringotts, and he doubted he would be left on his own to go so someone would be taking him. He had a feeling he knew exactly who would volunteer to take him, so he wasn't going to Gringotts when Dumbledore was around. He couldn't risk the wizard finding out he was a descendant from Peverell, he would try to use him, and his obsession with the Hallows lasted until his dying breath, his cloak and the damn ring. It's odd; Dumbledore had at one point had all the Hallows in his possession, why had it been him? Was Dumbledore found unworthy? Or was it the fact he was a blood relative? Certainly something worth asking Death about for sure.
"It's a wand, Hadrian," Chang explained, "It helps us harness out magic, we need a wand to perform magic, its one of the most important tools we have at our arsenal."
"Will I be able to get one?" Harry enquired, not getting his answer.
"Of course, Headmaster Dippet has already pushed for the funds you'll need for your school things," Chang informed him. "Soon you'll be learning how to be a wizard."
"Thank you," Harry said, "How long do you think it will be before I g… start learning?" cursing inwardly he'd almost said get sorted, he had to be very careful; one slip of the tongue could cause numerous complications.
"Soon," she replied, banishing the tray with a flick of wand, and then disappeared through her office.
Harry didn't have to wonder what she was doing, not even a few minutes later the Headmaster and Dumbledore stepped through the office door, having obviously used the Floo network to get here. He stared at them in feigned surprise, "Headmaster!" Harry exclaimed, his gaze going from the door to the entrance, "I…how did you…I mean…I didn't see you…"
"We have many ways in which a wizard or witch travels, young Hadrian, which you will learn about today." Dippet told him, as he moved to sit by him. "These books need to be learned before you start classes, we will get someone to help you catch up. Before that I'm afraid you must pick your classes before you can go to Diagon Alley, our shopping centre to pick out your books for this year." the books he placed on the bottom of the bed and the rolled up parchment he handed over to the teenager who thankfully didn't look too overwhelmed. He must be good at adjusting to new things, some people were like that, and others didn't do well with change.
Harry unrolled the parchment, curious to see what classes there were on offer, his eyes widened in surprise. There were classes he had no idea existed, what had happened to them in his time? His heart sank, Dumbledore, he had even tried to get rid of Divination he remembered that, apparently he had gotten rid of more classes than he'd thought possible. These had been hand written with very detailed descriptions of what the classes were it wasn't Dumbledore's handwriting so it's definitely Dippet's. Even extracurricular classes, two he really liked the sound of, and it would keep him busy.
"I know what I'd like to take," Harry said, glancing up at the Headmaster a serene but determined look on his face.
"Are you sure? There is no rush," Dippet said, despite the fact there was, Hadrian was two years behind in his education. The quicker he had his wand and books the more prepared he would be for joining classes soon. Yet this wasn't something done lightly, but in two years if he changed his mind new electives can be chosen.
"I'm sure," Harry replied adamantly. Perhaps he wouldn't be bored after all, especially with these new classes, although he couldn't take a few until he was older - there was no stopping him reading ahead.
"Which classes would you like to take?" Dippet asked, flicking his wand parchment and a quill stood at the ready - presumably to write down everything Harry said. The main curriculum wrote itself down automatically, after all Harry would need to take those classes there was no question about it.
"Charms, Transfiguration, Astronomy, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, History of Magic, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Muggle World Studies, Healing, Ancient studies, Magical Law and Finances and Magical Theory." Harry listed them off one by one.
"That is a lot of classes, are you sure you wish to take so much?" Dippet cautioned, "You have a lot to catch up on."
"I've always been a quick study," Harry said proudly.
"Do you have the list Albus?" Dippet enquired, "As the deputy Headmaster he's responsible for making sure letters go out to all students, letters with information on what they are supposed to get for the upcoming year. You have quite the list to get, but Albus will be helping you. You will also learn how to fly with the first years. The flying class only lasts one year; if you would rather not then I cannot see why we don't give it a miss."
"I do," Albus said staring at Hadrian pensively - as he had been doing since they'd came in.
"Okay," Harry said agreeable. He would take a few flying lessons then let the teacher tell him he was a 'natural' and concentrate on the other classes. Some of them looked really hard and complicated; he was looking forward to the challenge.
"Good!" Dippet said giving him a pat on the knee. "Tomorrow evening you shall be sorted into your house that will give you the weekend to get used to Hogwarts and learn everything you can. The teachers will be told so don't feel pressured into doing anything until you are ready. Now are you up for a trip to get your school things?"
Harry nodded eagerly; he couldn't wait to see what it was like here. Dumbledore was far too quiet for his liking; it wasn't like him at all. He just knew as soon as they were away from the school he was going to be bombarded with questions, he wasn't ready for that, and he couldn't exactly continue to ignore him. That would be even more suspicious, maybe he could spin it in a way that made Dumbledore look like the suspicious one. Turn the tables on him, oh that sounded like a great idea.
"Stand up," Dippet urged, "I will transfigure your pyjamas into something temporarily to wear until you get some clothes from Madam Malkin's Robe shop."
Harry stood waiting and then his pyjamas changed, "Amazing! You're brilliant!" he said in reverence, once again noticing that he had done Wandless magic. Even Dumbledore hadn't been able to do Wandless magic like this; either that or he had hidden it. Merlin, was Dippet blushing? Surely people had said something similar in the past.
"It's nothing, now off you go," Dippet told him making a small noise, "And before I forget, here is the money, the gold coins are Galleons, the silver ones are Sickles and the bronze ones are Knuts, it is our currency, it might be a little strange at first but you'll get the hang of it." he promised.
"They're heavy," Harry said, wondering if light feather charms hadn't been invented yet. He clutched the money close, not willing to let it out of his sight.
"Follow me, Mr. Peverell," Albus demanded, "I have a class to teach in little over an hour so there is no time to waste."
"Yes, Sir," Harry murmured, shielding away from the old man, inwardly sniggering when he looked taken aback by his actions. Honestly did he think he could just treat people like that and not have them wary of him? He continued to follow him, making sure to keep his distance from him.
Unfortunately that didn't help keep the questions at bay after they used the Floo Network to get to the Leaky Cauldron and through the wall protecting the magical world from detection. "Are you sure you do not know who your parents were?"
"How could I? Sir, my parents died when I was a baby." Harry stated sharply. Why the hell did Dumbledore have to suspect him of all people? He was already grating on his nerves, and he knew this wasn't the end of it.
"You cannot remember magic being part of your life at all?" Albus asked, as they walked, the first place to go was Ollivander's, he did need a wand. He wasn't sure about allowing him into Hogwarts, he would have felt better if he could read his mind and see how the attack happened, whether they had been trying to kill him because he was a threat or trying to get him to join. Gellert had many people in his services; those that didn't join weren't left alone.
"First time I saw magic was when those men were doing it," Harry lied barefaced.
"I'm sure that must have been terrifying for you," Albus said, looking at the boy from the corner of his eye.
"I thought I was going to die," Harry murmured, "Of course it was."
"You have recovered remarkably well," Albus commented, noticing he showed no emotion over what had happened.
"I was unconscious for a month, Madam Chang said magic heals while you're asleep," Harry said shrugging his shoulders.
"Mr. Ollivander will fit you with a wand," Dumbledore said, opening the door gesturing for the boy to go in. Frowning when the boy once again avoided him as much as humanly possible, he didn't understand him, most students reacted just the opposite.
"Albus Dumbledore, fifteen inch, willow wand with a unicorn tail hair core," Ollivander said, gazing at them both with his silvery eyes.
Harry's mouth dropped open, it was odd seeing him so young, very young he looked as though he was maybe only one or two years out of Hogwarts. It might be a slight exaggeration, he had been…no, was good looking, long black hair tied at the nape of his neck with his silver eyes, only Malfoy's had those eyes, he'd never thought about it before maybe he was related to them however distantly. "Hi," he managed to squeak out, wondering if he could sense his wand.
Or if he would know who he was.
"Bit late for your wand is it not?" Ollivander questioned.
"I didn't know about magic until well…a few days ago to me," Harry said, wondering if the wizard would buy it, he had always seemed so all knowing.
"Well, let's see, which wand will suit you!" Ollivander said cheerfully, reminding Harry very much of his older version.
Then the chase was on, Harry hadn't really thought he would go through so many wands again, but he was proven wrong. Even the holly wand he'd had in the future…the twin core rejected him so spectacularly that it splintered into a thousand pieces, and nothing Ollivander or Dumbledore did could repair the mess lying at his feet. After that Ollivander was reluctant to place any wand in his hand for fear that he would destroy more of them. Thankfully after five more, with no instances he found the wand that suited him, as it light up surrounding him and bathing him in its protection.
"Interesting, this wand is nine and half inches, Yew with Dragon heartstring," Ollivander told him, handing over the box to go with it. "That's five galleons."
Albus Dumbledore's suspicion became more profound; Yew and Dragon heartstring were both dark in nature. He definitely would need to keep an eye on the boy, and the fact he had destroyed the wand with Fawkes phoenix feather…well he couldn't help but think the worst. Did the wand know something the rest of them didn't?
"Those are the gold ones right?" Harry said, digging into his pouch and bringing them out, surprised by the low cost. He heard Garrick confirm affirmatively, handing them over with difficulty he didn't want to snap his wand after all. "They're different…the wands I mean, do they have different meanings too?"
"They do, here," Ollivander said, picking up a pamphlet from behind his desk, "It's very informative," he didn't give them out to just anyone, only those that expressed a desire to know, otherwise it was just a waste of time. They were read and discarded on the streets like litter in the Alley, and it was insulting to him, Wandlore was his life.
"Thank you, Sir," Harry said wondering what to do with it all, he wasn't supposed to know about magic after all. "Where do I put my wand?" wondering if he would have enough to get a holster.
"Anywhere you like, but I'd advice against putting it in your back pocket," Ollivander said winking.
Harry laughed nodding his agreement, still sniggering softly even after his initial amusement had faded away.
"You can always purchase a wand holster," Ollivander suggested, pointing to the selection he had.
Harry bit his lip, "I don't know…if I have enough left over once I've bought all my things I'll come and get one…how much is it?"
"Two Galleons, but if you are short, just come regardless," Ollivander said, there was something about the boy, he couldn't put his finger on it. He had a feeling this boy would do well, go places, quite possibly be one of the greatest wizards in history, the same feeling he had while giving another wand to an eleven year old boy three years ago.
Albus glanced shrewdly at Garrick, why was everyone around him drawn to the teenager? It was the same with the teachers at Hogwarts, they couldn't see Tom Riddle for what he was, why must the responsibility rest solely on his shoulders?
"I couldn't do that," Harry protested.
"Nonsense," Ollivander waved it off, "The offer still stands."
"Thank you," Harry said kindly, before he was whisked away to get the rest of his things. Glancing longingly at Gringotts, wondering when he would be able to go there without someone watching over his shoulder. He knew the ins and outs of Hogwarts, surely he would be able to get to the bank sooner rather than later. He shouldn't really be taking the money - it should be used to help those that really need it, he had money…at least according to Death and he despite the fact he shouldn't…did trust him he could feel he was telling the truth - being honest with him. Unfortunately he couldn't very well tell the Headmaster that.
-------0
"….and I got a wand, loads of books! A brand new trunk! It has my initials on it, and Mr. Ollivander said I could get a holster if I had some money left! And I went and got one, see!" Harry rambled on, while the Medi-witch took notes and dealt with any student that came in her ward. Harry was packing everything in his trunk, it was a single one, hardly fitted everything in, but as soon as he could get into Gringotts and get his money he would buy a better one with multiple compartments to keep everything tidier. Once he'd pretended to read the first and second year books he can just shrink them, giving him a little more space.
Had he rambled on enough he wondered? Was he living up to the part? His throat was starting to hurt; he hadn't spoken so much for a long time. Sighing softly, he slid into the hospital wing bed, taking with him the first year charm book for show, and began to flip from page to page every so often. Soon he wouldn't have adult eyes on him all the time and could at least stop pretending to be a fourteen year old boy. Dumbledore wouldn't get a chance to annoy him as much when he started school that was an added bonus. Dumbledore had kept asking him questions the entire way there and back, phrasing them in a slightly different way as if trying to catch him in a lie. Admittedly it amused him how 'subtle' he was trying to be, key word trying of course, he wasn't really a fourteen year old boy - he was twenty one, and knew Dumbledore's tactics like he knew the palm of his hand. By the time they'd returned to Hogwarts he had been completely annoyed enough that he had all but stomped away as soon as he delivered 'Hadrian' to the Hospital Wing. He did feel better having a wand on him though; he had to admit, especially if Dumbledore was going to keep up the interrogations.
Flicking his wand out, he did the wand movements before muttering "Wingardium Leviosa!" and the book began to float, doing exactly as he commanded it, this wand suited him better than even the holly one had. He did wonder why it had splintered into smithereens; even the feather had no survived. The wand had been meant for him, perhaps because he had changed…the wand no longer suited him and nobody else could have it? Nobody else was Voldemort's equal? He did wonder if the Elder wand was his, right now Grindelwald had it, definitely something else worth discussing with Death; hopefully he would come soon so he could get answers.
"Oh, you are a natural! Professor Meadowes will be very impressed," Chang said he must have an affinity for charms to get it on his first go; either that or it was his age.
"Professor Meadowes?" Harry echoed, the name was ringing a bell, he just couldn't think where from.
"Yes, the charms teacher," Chang confirmed. She didn't normally allow students to practice in her hospital ward, but what harm was it doing? There were no injured students in here, and he needed all the help he could get to catch up to the other students. If he continued on as he was, he would be there in no time at all.
Harry's eyes widened, Meadowes! Dorcas Meadowes, she was in the original Order of the Phoenix, personally killed by Voldemort himself during the first war. Was it the same person? No, it couldn't be, from what he remembered from the picture…she wasn't Dumbledore old, just slightly older than his parents, maybe McGonagall's age…did that mean she was a student right now? Or left or not there yet? So the one teaching had to be a relative of some sort.
Tomorrow he was going to be sorted, excitement thrummed through him as he curled up on the bed, the book wedged beside him, beginning to feel normal for the first time in a very long time. Maybe normal was overrated, just…content. The real fun though, why the real fun will start on Monday.
Now where to ask the hat to put him, Harry thought with a grin.