The Awakening of a Magus

The Awakening of a Magus
Chapter 5 - Fri, Jul 21 - Day 1
Looking Good!

As Dumbledore and Harry appeared in the front hall of the Privet Drive house, Harry was standing with his eyes closed, an intense look on his face. Blast it, Harry thought. I almost caught how to do that! I sure hope Dumbledore will teach me how to apparate soon. That feeling between here and there is ... wow ...

"My, my, my!" Dumbledore looked Harry up and down, his voice conveying surprise and amusement.

"What's wrong?" Harry said as he opened his eyes and saw a blurry Dumbledore. Blurry? But he had his glasses on. Harry reached up, took off his glasses to see if they were damaged, and realized he saw better without them. Then he looked at Dumbledore and tried to figure out what was different. Was Dumbledore shorter? "Bloody Hell! Did I get taller?" Harry gasped out while Dumbledore choked down laughter.

"It would appear that your magic took advantage of the apparition to speed up your physical changes, Harry. Quite impressive, actually. Turn around and see for yourself." Dumbledore waved his hand at the mirror in the hallway and continued in explanation. "Between the time that a wizard's body is 'here' and 'there', there is a fraction of an instant when the wizard is pure energy. Then the body reforms. But your magic chose to reform you a bit differently."

Harry stared in the mirror. Not only could he see without his glasses, not only was he a couple of inches taller than he was five minutes ago, but his shirt and pants were straining at the seams. Luckily he had been wearing very loose shoes, castoffs of Uncle Vernon's. He was ... bigger ... all over. With more than a little embarrassment, Harry thought to himself, Damn, you look good! It was unsettling enough to find out he was suddenly so much stronger than normal. Now he looked like it. Through the straining cloth, he could see he had real muscles now, looking like someone who had been a serious athlete all through school. He didn't even look 15, but more like 17. Plus, he had just realized that his voice had changed to a smooth baritone.

"You should probably do something about your clothes before the seams give out. There's a spell ..." Dumbledore began to suggest.

Harry finished for him. "Vestitus Aptare!" he said with a smile, after which every piece of his clothing fit like it was custom made, including his shoes. "Wow, I never had clothes that fit me like this before." He wiggled and stretched his shoulders. "That feels great." Harry looked one more time in the mirror, trying to believe his eyes, his sparkling, intensely green eyes, no longer covered by the eyeglasses he had worn since he was five years old. The teacher and principal had forced Uncle Vernon to buy glasses for him. He absently put them in his pocket, then he pulled himself together and headed in the direction of the kitchen. His trunk was stored under the stairs, in the cupboard that had been his room until four years ago.

Dumbledore looked at the small storage area, shaking his head at how cramped it must have been, even for a child. He began to wonder if he had been too lenient with the Dursleys. He then followed Harry upstairs to his current room.

When Harry opened the door, Hedwig became agitated, sensing a change in Harry that she didn't understand. Harry opened her cage and tried to soothe her, though his changed voice confused her even more. "Hedwig! There's a girl. There's a fine lady. It's just me. Harry. And you know Professor Dumbledore. We're going to Hogwarts, Hedwig, and we don't have to come back here, ever again." He smoothed her feathers and she slowly calmed.

She tilted her head, emitted some questioning owl sounds, but Harry seemed to hear a low voice say, /* My Harry-wizard? Hedwig doesn't understand! */

Harry looked up at Dumbledore suddenly. "Did you hear that? I heard her like she was talking to me ... almost like ... the time I first heard that snake talk at the zoo. Did you hear her talk? Or was I talking in owl or something?" Harry couldn't decide if he was excited or afraid. How many more changes could he take in one day?

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "I heard you speak English. I heard Hedwig make the usual owl sounds, first distressed, then calmer and questioning. I can interpret owl sounds as can any experienced wizard. You heard words from her?"

"Well, I heard the usual sounds, but over that I heard words ... she called me her 'Harry-wizard' and said she didn't understand. This doesn't sound like the same type of thing as being a parselmouth." After another moment, Harry put Hedwig up on a perch and began emptying his dresser drawers into his trunk.

"Try to send your thoughts to her. This may be a form of mindspeech," Dumbledore suggested. To himself he thought, Now he's a beastspeaker, not only a parselmouth. At least this gift is actually less frightening to witness than hearing parseltongue being spoken. I wonder if it's only birds ... no, knowing Harry, he's probably full-spectrum... any kind of animal.

Harry stood still a moment, then looked at Hedwig, who suddenly flew up and landed on his shoulder. /* Hedwig comes as you ask, Harry-wizard! When did you learn owl-speak? */

He could hear the mind voice better than the owl sounds now. "It worked, Professor! I asked her to come, land on my shoulder, my right shoulder, and she did! She says I'm using owl-speak." He took a deep breath. "Professor, I'm not sure how much longer I can hold back the questions."

"In that case, Harry," Dumbledore waved his hand, and all of Harry's clothes in the dresser and closet flew into the trunk. Harry sent Hedwig back to her cage with a quick thought, and got down to pull his wand and spellcasting supplies from the hiding place under the floorboards. By the time he stood up again, everything of his in the room was in the trunk. "Did I miss anything that you care about, Harry?"

"No sir," he said, putting his paraphernalia into the trunk. "I just need my broom." He started to get down so he could reach under the bed, then changed his mind, smiled, tweaked a finger, and his racing broom slid across the floor, floated up, then stood itself up beside him as though at attention. "I'm ready, Professor. How do we bring the cargo along?"

"Not 'we' just yet, Harry. We need more time before we can mesh our powers together safely. I'll mark each item for transport," Dumbledore touched the trunk and Hedwig's cage with his wand, took Harry's right hand as Harry's left grasped the broom, "and we're off."

And Dudley's second bedroom was empty, save for a cheap bedroom set and a lamp.

"Oh, this is so exciting!" Minerva McGonagall was pacing just outside the defensive screens of Hogwarts School for Witches and Wizards, clutching an old book. "A Magus, and Albus is to be his Mentor! If only his training goes quickly, so we can all stop worrying about You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters." She stopped pacing as she felt the little warning magic that Dumbledore usually used when apparating in. They appeared in front of her, but facing away: Dumbledore, a trunk, an owl cage, and an apparently attractive young man. "Oh my, the girls will be shadowing this one around," she thought as she saw the broad shoulders and muscular arms in the perfectly fitting Muggle clothing. Then he turned around and a gentle low voice said, "Hello, Professor! I didn't know you'd be here."

Dumbledore also turned and smiled. "Hello, Minerva. I should have guessed you would be too excited to wait at school. Do you recognize him? By the way, Sylvia and Erasmus will follow when they can."

Minerva didn't understand a word Dumbledore said. She was still in shock, light-headed, staring at the young man who looked rather like James Potter and very much like his son ... "Harry?" The soft whisper barely escaped her lips. The young man's face was mischievous, then became concerned, and he reached out to her.

She vaguely heard Dumbledore caution, "Gently, Harry ..." When the young man's hand took hers, she felt a warmth spread throughout her body, banishing the chill of shock and filling her with a sense of being comforted and protected.

When he released her hand and smiled gently at her, she found her voice. "Harry!" A sense of wonder filled her eyes and her voice. She continued, speaking to Dumbledore but staring into Harry's emerald gaze. "Albus! He's already manifesting the physical changes, but ... oh, but he's so young ... " A note of sympathy entered in as she thought of the new changes and burdens he faced, then, a note of total awe as she repeated, "but he's so young!" as she remembered something about Magi. The younger a Magus at awakening, the more powerful he became. The most powerful Magus on record, a veritable force of nature, had awakened at 25, and Harry wasn't quite 15. His potential must be staggering!

"Minerva, can you fly, my dear?" Dumbledore asked her solicitously. "We really should get inside and Harry has waited long enough for his answers. I see you brought the book with you."

Minerva looked down at the book she had been holding so tightly. "Yes, I thought it would be useful for ... whoever you brought with you."

"It won't be necessary, my dear. I'll be using the Memorare with Harry so he won't need the book. But it's well that you unearthed it from the restricted section. I want Sylvia and Erasmus to review it. It should have more information for them than what the Ministry currently provides." Dumbledore looked fondly at the volume, bound in a mesmerizing pattern of black, purple, and silver, titled 'Magi: Fact, Fable, and Everything in Between' by Albus Dumbledore. "Ah, I had forgotten what lovely work Amalthea did. She designed the binding, Harry, though that was quite some time ago. It was published back in 1899." Dumbledore paled a bit as he remembered why he had written that book, the visions that had convinced him the next Magus would awaken in his lifetime. Those visions had begun on July 21, 1895 ... precisely 100 years ago today ... today, the Day of the Seventh Magus as it would someday be called.

"Accio broom!" said Dumbledore, calling his broom from its hiding place nearby. "Mount up, Harry, Minerva. We need to talk in my office as soon as possible."

Chapter 6 - Fri, Jul 21 - Day 1
Finally some answers

Dumbledore gave the current password to his office, "Watermelon Candy", and he, Minerva, and Harry rode up the stairs. They were met at the door by Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes.

He appeared quite flustered at the changes in Harry, who decided to experiment. /* Hello, Fawkes, */ he thought at the phoenix. /* Can you hear me? */

Fawkes began happily circling Harry and answered, /* Harry-wizard is a beastspeaker! Wonderful! Fawkes must tell the others. Can Harry-wizard do more than bird-speak? */

Harry answered out loud. "I don't know Fawkes. Professor, Fawkes wants to know if it's just birds I can talk to."

Dumbledore smiled. "That explains his behavior. It is probable that you can talk to any animal, though that isn't always the case ... which is likely why he asked."

McGonagall looked variously at Harry, Dumbledore, and Fawkes. "A beastspeaker? Goodness, things are progressing quickly for you, Harry. Sometime soon, we will need to see what Animagus forms you have."

"Animagus forms ... as in, more than one? Professors, you both seem to know what's going on, what I'm turning into. I've got to know. What was that Memorare spell you mentioned, sir?"

"It's a memory exchange spell. I plan to give you what I've learned about the Magi, much of which is in that book you saw, and in return, I wish you to give me the information on what has happened to you in the last hour or two since your new powers began to awaken." Dumbledore sat down at his desk. "Before we can do that, however, there is a one-time preparatory spell, to form a psychic link between us for the transfer of information. Normally, this is a simple matter. In your case ..."

Dumbledore stopped, searching for the right words. "You, Harry, are a Magus, and eventually will be known as Harry Magus. My book represents four years of research into the lives and powers of the first six Magi. You are the seventh Magus in history. The first Magus awakening was between four and five thousand years ago. In summary, a Magus is an extremely powerful wizard. The powers of a Magus that set him apart from wizards are often called Wild Magic and rarely need wand or incantation. The younger a Magus is at awakening, the greater his potential. Before you, the youngest Magus was 25 years old at awakening, and Darius Magus almost succeeded in preventing the destruction of Atlantis in 1450 BC when he was over 200 years old."

Harry had turned pale at Dumbledore's words, his tone of voice, at McGonagall's expression. "Now I understand your reaction when you saw me, Professor McGonagall. Your comment about how young I was." He sighed and turned back to Dumbledore. "And the Code Purple business?"

"Though there are some ordinary wizard spells that produce a purple light, a Magus always has a purple aura, for any magic that is visible, though you will learn to keep much of your magic invisible, so it won't be as noticeable. That will be the only way to keep your status as a Magus secret while you learn the extent of your powers. The Ministry considers the identity of a Magus, even his existence, to be a highly classified secret. Sylvia and Erasmus will be filing an ultra-top-secret report. Selected Ministry personnel in their departments alone, and the Minister himself should be the only ones to know that there is a Magus. The discovery team has a right to withhold the identity of the Magus, even from the Minister, and they plan to do so at this time. The senior member of the team, Sylvia in this case, chooses a wizard to be Mentor, to assist the Magus in his training. Sylvia rightly chose me, as I likely know more about the Magi than any living wizard does. I, as Mentor, can then choose others to assist in your training. Minerva was told immediately, before I knew you were the Magus. I now plan to recruit Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Professor Snape to assist in your training."

At Harry's sour expression, Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes, I know that you and Professor Snape don't get along, but he will be invaluable, both for his knowledge and skills, and because he can assist us regarding Voldemort. Perhaps you will be able to afford him additional protection. His work is extremely dangerous."

"Which brings me back to the Memorare bond. Normally, this link, though it is a complex spell, is easily done. In your case, you will have to be totally relaxed and willing. Any resistance would prove to be dangerous in the extreme." Dumbledore looked hard at Harry.

"Don't worry, Professor, I wouldn't fight you. I know you wouldn't hurt me." Harry spoke quietly, meeting Dumbledore's eyes with no hesitation.

With a rueful chuckle, Dumbledore said, "You misunderstand me, Harry. I couldn't hurt you. If you resisted, it would be extremely dangerous for me. Though not usually needed for the Memorare, in this case, we need to have absolute trust in one another. To prepare for the linking, I'll do a light scan of your mind; scout the territory, so to speak. Look into my eyes. Relax. You will probably feel a tickling in your mind, 'behind' or 'below' the area where your beastspeaker gift resides. Try not to react in any way, please."

Harry wiggled to settle himself in his chair, closed his eyes, took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Raising his head, he opened his eyes, the green in them almost glowing, and met the headmaster's gaze. "I'm ready," he said softly. He felt the promised tickle, but it was more like a gentle stroking sensation than an irritation. He had no trouble staying relaxed. However, he saw Dumbledore flinch and tear his gaze away, grumbling, "Bloody Hell!" Harry leaned forward with concern. "Did I do something wrong? I didn't think I did anything!'

"No, Harry, it isn't your fault. You stayed in perfect control. The problem is that your shields are already well established. There is no way that any single spellcaster can get through them, and you don't know enough yet to allow me in." Dumbledore looked at Minerva. "I'm going to need help."

Professor McGonagall stood. "I'll make preparations for a Dualis ritual, so I can assist you."

"I'm sorry, Minerva, but that won't be enough. We'll need a full Quadralis, though I'm not certain who the other two spellcasters should be." Dumbledore sighed in resignation, as McGonagall sat back down, stunned at the implications regarding Harry's shielding. "Here, Harry. Start reading the book. I'm afraid we won't be able to perform the Memorare safely without more help, and the more you know, the easier it will be. A vicious circle, this. We need the Memorare to best teach you what you need to know, but we can't do it until you know more and we recruit some assistance."

As Harry began reading Dumbledore's book on Magi on the other side of the office, Dumbledore and McGonagall began discussing who the other two members of the Quadralis ritual might be. Completing a link with a fledgling Magus was going to require the combined, interleaved power of four spellcasters. They didn't notice that as Harry became engrossed in the book, he began to turn the pages faster and faster, until he was spending less than a second per page absorbing the information.

"When is Severus due back, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not until well after dark tonight, I'm afraid," she replied, "and we'd still need a fourth. What about Remus and Sirius? How long would it take to reach them?"

Before Dumbledore could answer, Harry, while still reading, absently contributed, "That would be a lousy balance for a Quadralis, Min. What about Sylvi and 'Ras? Then you'd have a good power mix, a balance of two witches and two wizards, and the blood tie would be icing on the cake. And while we're at it, Albus could go straight to the Mentor binding." His voice trailed off as he looked up and realized he had been referring to them all very casually. He had just turned the last page of the 300-page volume. He blushed quite thoroughly, and stuttered an apology. "Oh, no! I didn't mean to say it that way! I just wasn't thinking, Professor, Headmaster, I ..."

Dumbledore looked sharply at Harry, then at the closed book. "Finished already?" Harry looked down at the book, then back at Dumbledore and nodded weakly. "Who do you think has the right of it where Darius was concerned: Pickering or Van Horn?"

Harry gulped, his eyes went vacant for a moment as he reviewed what he had read so quickly, and answered, "Pickering held that Darius Magus could have saved Atlantis if the Wizard's Council had left off playing politics and had joined to help him. Van Horn held that no combination of powers could have prevented the sinking of Atlantis. From what I've read about the capabilities of the past Magi, and that Darius was the greatest of the bunch, I'd have to agree with Pickering. If Darius just had the Wizard's Council to help stabilize some of the tectonic stress points farther away from the center, he wouldn't have been spread so thin. Is that what you meant in Chapter 14?"

"And your advice on the composition of a Quadralis?" McGonagall asked shakily, though she tried to remain stern.

"Well, in Chapter 29, Professor Dumbledore relates how an Egyptian Quadralis tried to ambush Tsien Shi Magus because he had been interfering with the spread of dark magic in Arabia and Asia. And there was a large section on the various balances that had to be addressed in forming the Quadralis. I just started thinking on the side about what you were talking about, and no one you mentioned felt right. I'm truly sorry for sounding disrespectful. I just wasn't thinking." Even with his new imposing appearance, Harry was the epitome of dejection, misery, and regret as he hung his head.

Suddenly, Dumbledore was laughing so hard he had trouble breathing. "Harry, Harry, Harry!" he finally got out. "It appears we have a third set of tests to perform. Besides magical and physical tests and training, we now need to address intellectual and reasoning abilities. I am willing to wager you have also developed a perfect memory, haven't you? What page does Chapter 17 begin on?"

"Page 201 ... I think ..." Harry replied without thinking at first, then grew cautious as he flipped through the book. "Yes, page 201 it is. But about the Quadralis ..."

"An ideal solution, Harry! You are correct on all counts, including going straight to the Mentor binding." Dumbledore looked less harried, stood, rubbing his hands together, and began giving orders. "Minerva, could you send someone to get us a meal before we have to begin work? Then begin setting up the seventh-year warded lab area for a Quadralis ritual. I think that is the most heavily protected room we have that is large enough. I'll contact Sylvia and Erasmus to see how soon they expect to arrive and let them know we'll be putting them to work."

"Harry. " Dumbledore smiled reassuringly. "Harry, you won't be staying in Gryffindor Tower, at least not during the summer. I have a guest room in this tower," he pointed to a doorway in the corner of his office. "You will live there. There's a window that Hedwig can use to come and go. We'll just need to key the shield to her. And you will have full access to the restricted section of the library ... no need to use your cloak to look around any more." Dumbledore chuckled as Harry blushed a bit. "In fact, after a short tour later, you will have full access to every room in the school, as well as the Forbidden Forest, with the exception of respecting the private rooms of the others who live and work here."

He paused again, looking at Harry thoughtfully. "Until we are ready for the rituals, suppose you get settled in your room and dash off a note to Ron and Hermione to let them know you are here now. The Magus matter must still remain secret, but you can tell them that due to recent events it was determined that for the safety of all concerned, you should permanently move to Hogwarts, and that while you are here, you will be receiving special training. That is all the truth, as far as it goes. And you may invite them here for your birthday in ten days. Tell them transportation will be arranged." Smiling, he said, "By then, I'm sure I can arrange for you to get your apparition license. The only question will be, do you use an illusion to restore your old appearance at first, or surprise them with the new Harry?"

(continued)