The Awakening of a Magus

the-dreamer

Story Summary:
In the summer after the Triwizard Tournament, Harry suddenly awakens to new powers and a new look. However, the powers of a Magus aren't so easy to control, and they don't make life easy. Voldemort is much more powerful than ever. Some new characters come into the picture, some old characters will not survive, and other old characters will learn a new outlook. No slash, O/C but no Mary-Sue, light R/Hr ship, possible other light ships, lite Harry/Tonks

The Awakening of a Magus 11 - 12

Chapter Summary:
In the summer after the Triwizard Tournament, Harry suddenly awakens to new powers and a new look. However, the powers of a Magus aren't so easy to control, and they don't make life easy. Voldemort is much more powerful than ever. Some new characters come into the picture, some old characters will not survive, and other old characters will learn a new outlook. No slash, O/C but no Mary-Sue, light R/Hr ship, possible other light ships. - This file: Chapter 11: ‘Private talks and bad publicity’ and Chapter 12: ‘Testing 1 2 3 and then some’
Posted:
06/12/2003
Hits:
4,226
Author's Note:
Author Notes, Some Answers to Reviewer Questions, Credits and Local Canon (spells and characters of the 'Harry Magus' universe added to the 'Harry Potter' universe) can be found on website helena.whitaker.name . (warning ... local spoilers on website.)

The Awakening of a Magus
Chapter 11 - Fri, Jul 21 - Day 1 and Sat, Jul 22 - Day 2
Private Talks and Bad Publicity

Hedwig was fussing, and Dumbledore was shushing her, telling her that Harry needed his rest. Harry wondered for a moment why Dumbledore would be in his bedroom on Privet Drive, when he suddenly remembered everything that had happened that day. He started to sit up, but his head spun and he plopped back onto the pillow.

"Harry, I really think you should avoid any sudden movement just now. You've suffered quite an overload." McGonagall walked into the room from Dumbledore's office and sat on the edge of his bed beside him. She felt his head, as if for fever, nodded in satisfaction, then smiled at him. "Even a Magus needs to learn moderation in the beginning," she lectured kindly.

"How long ..." he whispered.

Dumbledore answered. "You passed out five hours and ... 20 minutes ago. I actually expected you to sleep much longer. Minerva, did you get that potion that Poppy is so fond of?"

"Yes, Albus, I've had it ready here for hours," McGonagall scolded Dumbledore with fond exasperation. They had been dear friends for quite a long time, and it showed when they weren't 'being Professors'. "Here, Harry. This is especially for reviving bodies worn out by too much magic. You may have begun your physical transformation, but you still can't really handle fully channeling even the power you have now, let alone your full potential. That is why a new Magus needs time for training and experience."

"And toughening up!" said Dumbledore, smiling. "I'm a tough old bird. At my age I've finally built up the physical resistance to use my power to its limits for a fairly long time. So has Minerva." At McGonagall's scowl, that he was implying she was as old as he, Dumbledore amended, "and she accomplished it at a much younger age than I did." His eyes twinkled, as he continued, "Which is why the two of us are back to normal, and the younger ones are still exhausted."

The potion did help clear Harry's head, and he sat up in bed on his own. "Is everyone else alright? Severus? "

"Sylvia and Erasmus are staying the night," McGonagall answered. "They went to sleep about two hours ago, but only if we promised to call them when you awakened. Suppose you let them know you're awake, so they can rest easier. Both of them were quite worried about you."

Harry took a deep breath to get his focus ... he was still physically very tired, though his magic seemed as strong as ever, if not stronger ... and gently mindcalled, /* Sylvia? Erasmus? Hullo? */ He heard back a sleepy response from both of his new friends. He quickly sent that he was awake, tired, but fine, and that they both needed to stop worrying about him and get some rest.

/* Yes, Harry. Anything you say, Harry. G'nite, Harry, */ Erasmus thought back mischievously. Sylvia's mindvoice giggled and faded back into slumber.

As he opened his eyes, his vision blurred for a moment, then settled back to normal. "Whoa, I guess I really overdid it. But I had to. You still haven't told me about Sev-, uh, Professor Snape yet. He isn't ..."

"Calm down, Harry. Severus is in far better shape than anyone could have hoped for. He, too, is sleeping soundly by now, though he also was concerned about you. Because of the Mentor bond, I could assure everyone that you were quite exhausted, but unharmed. You did begin to relive some of your encounters with Voldemort, and your encounter with Matilda and Quigley." At Harry's questioning look, Dumbledore answered, "Yes, I recognized the wizard who attempted the Killing Curse. I had met him at a wizard's conference some years ago. I'm not too surprised he was a Death Eater. In any case, part of the bond let me divert those dreams so you could sleep peacefully. It's quite intriguing. We have a stronger telepathic and empathic bond than I expected, and I sense some sort of link at the level of our power centers, which I've never heard of before."

McGonagall interjected, "I have to ask. When did you learn to apparate, how did you deal with the Dark Mark ..." In her excitement, she was at a loss for words.

"Well, I almost figured out the apparition spell during the two jumps on the way here. When you gave me that advanced spell text, that was the first thing I looked up." Harry grinned. "Then the pieces fell into place. And I know you're going to ask how I did it on school grounds ... I'm not sure. I was so worried I forgot it wasn't supposed to be possible. I sort of felt the defensive spells slide around me on the way, but I don't think I broke anything. Did I?" Both Dumbledore and McGonagall shook their heads.

"On the Dark Mark ... well from the parts I'd already read and the parts I looked up, I'd gotten stuff about cleansing, stabilizing, warding, healing. I knew what to try before the binding from sensing how the Mark affected him, but I was afraid to use that much magic until after the Mentor Bond grounded me. I wasn't sure it would be enough for safety until after the ritual, but it was. When I hit the Mark itself, it was hard for a moment, then there was a kind of power surge. That's when it hurt Severus so badly. I blocked it as fast as I could, but I couldn't prevent it." Harry's voice had trailed off, remembering.

"I can see your thoughts are all on Severus right now. Minerva, would you excuse us?" She nodded, patted Harry's hand as she stood, and went back out to the office, closing the door behind her. "Severus is recovering quite well, Harry. Have no fears about that. But we need to talk about you and Severus, past, present, and future." Harry nodded wearily. "Go ahead and lie down again while we talk, Harry. Let's see. Where to begin? Severus told me you interrupted his pledge." Dumbledore just looked at Harry, waiting for him to take the opening.

"I didn't want him to make any commitment because of some sense of obligation that he would regret later. I guess I couldn't bear the thought of the rejection later, or the regrets. And I guess I'm still not sure how I feel about him. I trust him, but I still don't like him ... much ... oh even that seems different. When he was taking his usual jabs at me, for some reason it didn't bother me. It was just Snape being Snape. I didn't take it personally. But then I'd remember the way he's been ever since I arrived. He didn't even know me as a person. I was 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' and I was James Potter's son, and that was enough for him to treat me worse than dirt. I guess I want to believe it can be different, but I'm too much of a coward to take the chance."

Harry paused for a few moments, trying to find the right words. "I suppose I'm two people in a way. Harry Magus can handle almost anything, is comfortable with anyone, strong and confident, uses people's first names because his magic senses them so personally and individually he can't do anything else. But then the old Harry Potter pops up, and that Harry Potter is considered worthless by his only blood relatives, is being hunted by Lord Voldemort, and hated by anyone associated with Slytherin House. Even his best friends can stop trusting him, like when they found I was a parselmouth, or when my name came out of the Goblet. And that Harry is afraid to believe Severus Snape could accept him enough to want to be as close as the inner circle will be. And I already know that we're a lot closer than circles in the past. It's scary how much you all matter to me, and even scarier how much I matter to you." Harry fought the tears that threatened to fall.

Dumbledore moved from the desk chair to sit beside Harry on the bed, as McGonagall had done. He took Harry's hand, looked into his eyes, and projected all the affection and respect he had for Harry through their bond. "No Magus has had to deal with an awakening at the same time as dealing with growing up, my boy. And your magic is accelerating that. I think you're actually aging as your body changes, but you've had no time to adjust to so suddenly becoming a near-adult. This new perspective will likely be the hardest thing for you to hide around others. Give yourself time. We understand, especially because the circle link is so strong. I told Severus to give you time. He, too, is afraid, you see. Afraid that no one can trust him because he wore the Dark Mark. When he is ready to ask again, I urge you to accept. Though he seems older, he is only the same age your parents would have been, and not much older than Erasmus Sylvia. Freeing him of the Mark has given him a new start. Perhaps there can be a new start between you both."

"Maybe now that he's free of the Mark, you could give him his wish of being the DADA teacher." Harry smiled. Everyone at the school knew that Snape desperately wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA) position.

Dumbledore laughed. "You know, that's an excellent idea! The witch I was considering for the position, though qualified, would probably be happier in Potions. And you guessed correctly, Harry. Even though I trusted Severus, I couldn't give that position to anyone with the Mark because it left them too vulnerable to Voldemort."

"I can see that potion wasn't enough, and you're beginning to fade again. Let's see, what other messages did I want to give you? Ah, yes. We heard from Remus and Sirius. They will arrive the day after tomorrow. I told them you were here and safe, and I would explain when they came. And Hedwig returned with a message from Ron and Hermione. Shall I read it for you?" At Harry's sleepy nod, Dumbledore reached over to the desk and opened the note:

(-letter-)


Harry,

You didn't need two copies after all, Hermione is spending the next few weeks here. Her parents just left for a dental convention and second honeymoon (grown-ups are something, huh?).

You've got us wondering about the details of why you're there, though I'm ... oops, make that 'we' are really glad you escaped the Dursleys. Any chance you can tell us more before your birthday? If not, I guess we understand, but we'll get even! (ha ha)

Take care and let us know about the 'arranged transportation' when you can. Hermione will still be here, so you just have to get us both from the Burrow.

Take care,

Ron and Hermione

PS- I didn't -quite- faint, Harry (ha ha) H.

Dumbledore looked at Harry, smiling at the PS. Harry mumbled, "I told her I'd be studying, then said 'don't faint'. Professor, don't let me oversleep, OK? I've got so much to do ..." Harry's voice faded out as he fell asleep.


Sat, Jul 22 - Day 2


When Harry found the others for breakfast, he followed a bunch of very angry voices. Everyone was grousing about something in the Daily Prophet. "I don't know who I want to turn into a slug first: Fudge, or this Tammy Tattler!" Sylvia was looking murderous.

"A slug is too good for them," Erasmus put in.

Dumbledore tried to bring some order to the table, but McGonagall and Snape were scowling and muttering as well. Dumbledore saw Harry coming in, picked up the newspaper, and said, "Don't ask, just read."

And Harry read the front-page headline: "The Year of the Magus? Fudge Says: Hoax!" Groaning, he sat down at the table, not noticing he was sitting next to Snape. "I suppose we should have guessed ... if Malfoy found out, the press would find out."

Snape commented, "This Tammy Tattler is a worthy successor to Rita Skeeter," his voice dripping with the scathing sarcasm for which he was known. "I won't bore you with the details, Potter, but she obviously made up much of the story, and she has no idea who the 'alleged Magus' really is."

Snape absently pushed a glass of pumpkin juice towards Harry, who absently muttered, "Thanks," as he read the story.

Dumbledore finally rapped his knuckles on the table, saying "Order! Please!" As everyone finally quieted down, he said, "We all need a decent breakfast after last night, and we can discuss ... calmly! ... what our best recourse is."

While they were eating, and discussing just how much they would have to go public with, Harry glanced at Snape and quietly asked, "Back to normal, sir?"

Snape glared at him at first, then realized it mattered to Harry how he was recovering, so he quietly answered, "Approximately, though what is normal now is anyone's guess, Potter."

After a few more bites, Harry tried again. "Professor Snape, we're both having new beginnings just now. Could we maybe start over, or at least call a truce?"

Snape kept eating quietly for awhile, then commented smoothly, "You called me Severus last night, Harry." Harry's head shot up as he stared at Snape; Snape, who had never called him just 'Harry'. Snape, who finally turned to return his gaze. "Suppose we start there."


"Powers above! A Magus?" Remus Lupin was staring at Sirius Black over the edge of the Daily Prophet. "It says Albus is supposed to be the Mentor, even though this so-called reporter has obviously made up much of this rubbish. Do you suppose that's what he wouldn't talk about, last night?"

Sirius had begun pacing around the room. "If there really is a Magus, that may be why Albus brought Harry to stay at Hogwarts. A Magus could protect Harry from Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Well, once the Magus himself was ready. Isn't there something about a Magus needing time to adjust or he burns himself out?"

"Something like that," Remus agreed. "Should we try to get to Hogwarts sooner?"

Sirius thought about that, then said, "If he thought it was necessary, Albus would have at least hinted he wanted us to hurry. He seemed satisfied with Sunday instead of today, though he did have that devilish I-know-something-you-don't look in his eye, didn't he?"

Remus laughed. "He certainly did! Well, if he's really Mentor to a Magus, he can worry about the press coverage. We'll just worry about getting there unobtrusively tomorrow night, and hope there aren't any reporters hanging around the school."


Chapter 12 - Sat, Jul 22 - Day 2
Testing
1-2-3 and Then Some

"How do you want to handle it, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

Harry had been thinking about what had just passed between him and Snape ... Severus. He hadn't been paying attention to the others. "Sorry, I was distracted, Professor. What are we talking about?"

Dumbledore and the others noticed Harry had pulled back from calling them by their given names and were puzzled. Harry sensed the questions before they were asked. "I think I need to stay in the habit of dealing with you as student to teacher as much as possible or it will look suspicious. At least out loud, anyway. There would be too much chance I'd slip up around outsiders."

Harry suddenly felt Snape's reaction to the term 'outsider', assuming it applied to him. It wasn't as strong as the inner circle Sodalis bond, but there was a link there, probably left over from the deep contact needed for the cleansing last night. /* Severus, I didn't mean you by that, honest. */ Harry couldn't hear Snape's thoughts back, but sensed his confusion. /* I can't actually hear you, but there's a bit of an empathic link left from last night. Can we decide later what to do about it? */ He sensed agreement from Snape, then returned to the discussion. "So, what do I need to decide how to handle?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore had to agree with Harry about keeping distance in public, but he could feel how it hurt Harry to give up even that bit of closeness. "You need to decide how you want to appear to Cornelius, or for that matter, anywhere in public as 'The Magus' before you are identified. There are several possibilities, though they depend on just what powers you have available so far. Illusion is a possibility, or Polyjuice Potion." Harry's face screwed up in disgust.

Snape observed, "Well, Harry, it appears you have experience with the ... unique ... flavor of Polyjuice Potion. Care to enlighten us on when you had that opportunity?" It was almost classic-Snape, but there was more curiosity and amusement than the usual scorn. McGonagall and Dumbledore exchanged glances, also noticing Snape's use of Harry's name, and smiled at this encouraging sign.

"Actually, I'd rather not, just now. Later maybe?" Harry looked embarrassed, then tried to get back on the subject. "I was thinking about how Polyjuice Potion changes a person from themselves into another, but could it work like that with shapeshifting? Could I make myself look half-way like someone else? Or for that matter, could I use that concept to partly change myself to look more like I used to around other students."

McGonagall asked, "Do you think you're ready to shapeshift, then? If so, you'd definitely be ready to find your two animagus forms. A Magus always has two forms; no other animagus has more than one. Since showing your animagus forms could be a proof of your status, this might be a good time to try both. Shapeshifting without Polyjuice Potion is even more rare than being an animagus, but I believe it's standard for a Magus. Albus?"

"Harry could confirm that as well as I, Minerva." Dumbledore chuckled. "He knows everything I know about Magi now, plus everything he can sense about himself. Suppose we adjourn to the lab again. Sylvia, dear, will you and Erasmus be accompanying us to the Minister's office?"

"Originally, I would have insisted," Sylvia answered, "but after this ... public statement ... concerning our likely suspensions, I don't think you want either of us anywhere near Cornelius Fudge for a few days. Erasmus, suppose we tie up some loose ends on some of our other projects, then take some vacation."

Erasmus agreed totally. "Unless the circle needs us, I think we should head back to London, finish some business, then maybe we could come back for a visit in a few days. If something comes up, we could be here quickly enough. Will that work for you, Harry? And by the way, we're not your teachers, so you can keep calling us by our first names." Erasmus smiled. He also knew, though not as clearly as Dumbledore, how much Harry depended on their closeness right now.

Harry looked at them, realizing that they might be his inner circle, but they were still individuals and needed to deal with their own lives as well as be there for him. "Sure, whatever you need to do. Thanks Erasmus, Sylvia. And we're only a mindcall apart, if something comes up. Can I call you later?" Harry looked a little wistful. They immediately agreed that if they didn't check in first, he should call later that day.

As Sylvia and Erasmus headed out, and Dumbledore and McGonagall headed for the lab, Snape said, "Harry and I need to discuss something first. He'll be up shortly." The professors nodded in understanding and left the room.

"So." Snape began to pace slowly, not looking at Harry just yet. "Last night's work left a residual link between us. You can sense my emotions, but I don't sense anything more from you than before the cleansing. Can you mindspeak anyone or is that part of the residual?" He now looked at Harry, who shrugged.

"I don't know. No one else here to experiment on." Harry wasn't sure where this was leading and he was so unsure of himself regarding Snape, he refused to try to sense anything ... he just waited to hear Snape out.

"So you can mindspeak me, but I can't mindspeak you," Snape stated without emotion.

"Not yet, anyway." Harry took a chance, looking up at Snape ... at Severus.

After several long moments of staring at each other, Severus whispered to Harry, "My Lord Magus?"

Harry let go the breath he had been holding. In a shaky voice, he whispered, "Yes, Sev?"

In an equally shaky whisper, Severus Snape extended a very steady hand, palm up. "If you will have me, Harry Potter, Harry Magus, I would be part of your circle, and support your work as far as I am able."

Harry's voice steadied, and he extended his hand palm down, the purple haze already surrounding it, saying "Severus Snape, it is my honor and privilege to accept your pledge. In turn I pledge to give you all the protection I can as we go about the work before us. May our bonding be a new beginning between us." As the glow engulfed both their hands, their eyes still locked, they clasped hands. After a few moments, Harry Magus thought to Severus Snape, /* Sodalis! */, and the residual link blossomed into a full circle bonding.

And they knew that the sarcasm and the jabs and the bickering would still flow back and forth, but the trust and respect beneath would take any sting out of the exchanges. Harry was still Harry and Snape was still Snape, but they were now a part of each other, closer than any others in the circle, except for the Mentor, because of the history they'd had to overcome. Finally, with a twist of his mind, Harry extended the mindspeech link from Snape to the rest of the circle, each of whom were surprised to various extents, but all welcomed Snape completely. As the mindspeech links quieted, and the purple aura faded, their hands fell to their sides and they slowly shifted to their public faces.

"Well, Potter, you'd better get to the lab. You don't have that much time before your appointment at the Ministry." Snape made a half-hearted effort at his old attitude, but Harry felt the smile, and the unasked question.

"Why don't you come along? I need someone to tell me what I'm doing wrong, and you've got more experience at that than anyone here ... and you enjoy it so!" And Harry turned away to head up to the lab, knowing Snape would follow.


Harry had finally finished absorbing the rest of the advanced spell text he had started the night before. In the lab, they discovered that Harry could indeed shapeshift between what he was now and what he used to be, and every point in between. He could also shapeshift to match another person, or even a picture of a person. They decided that his Magus form would be a copy of a painting of Darius Magus made shortly after his awakening, which appeared in Dumbledore's book. Darius had shoulder-length wavy black hair and midnight-blue eyes. His face was more angular than Harry's, he was a couple inches taller, and was 25 years old.

He wore a mostly black outfit: a simply designed black tunic with loose sleeves and loose black trousers. The tunic and trousers had a Celtic-like border embroidered in what they had begun to call 'Magus Purple' around the collar and cuffs, and a wide black belt with a silver buckle. The buckle had a round onyx set into it, surrounded by a circle of small amethysts. Using Darius as his Magus form seemed perfect, and appropriate.

Now, they were about to check out his animagus forms.

"Albus," he had gratefully slipped back to first names, since the circle was alone in the lab and Dumbledore had insisted. "The animagus spell wasn't in that text. Do you know how it goes?"

Dumbledore looked perfectly innocent to the others, but Harry realized Albus had a secret. Albus Dumbledore was an unregistered animagus! Once he realized this, he tried to sense what form he took. Dumbledore laughingly tried to hide it, but Harry found he could sense animagus potential among those in his circle. He knew, even if he hadn't ever seen her transform in class, that McGonagall was a cat. And he knew that Dumbledore was a phoenix, almost a twin for Fawkes! And he was shocked to realize that, though he didn't know it himself, Snape was a raven. He decided to save that information for later, and tried to focus this sense on himself.

Then, he went pale when he realized his primary form ... an Emperor Horntail Dragon! He looked around the room in a panic. An Emperor Horntail would be even bigger than the Horntail female he'd encountered in the Triwizard Tournament. The others didn't understand the source of his panic, but felt it nonetheless.

"Harry, what's wrong?" McGonagall said kindly, as the only known animagus in the group, though she knew Dumbledore's secret and wondered if Harry did as well.

"I'm not sure there's enough room in here. Can we go out to the Quidditch pitch? There's no one around." Harry was rattled, and didn't think to tell them he planned to apparate the group outside. When they agreed to the relocation, he just jumped.

"Harry, I wish you would tell us before you do something like that!" Dumbledore said sternly, now rattled as well, from the odd sensation of sliding around the anti-apparition spells in the school's defenses. "What is the matter?"

"Well, I couldn't do this in the lab," Harry said, then closed his eyes, focused on the animagus spell, and began to blur and get larger, and larger. Finally, he was half-again as big as the Hungarian Horntail he had faced the previous year. He was mostly black, but the wings and webs between his claws were Magus Purple. His claws and the spikes along his spine were shining silver. His eyes were glowing purple as well. An Emperor Horntail was normally hatched only once or twice in a millennium.

/* I wonder if I can use the shapeshifting to get smaller, */ Harry thought at the stunned members of his circle that were present. After a few moments, his dragon form shimmered, and he began to shrink. He managed to get down to about 15 feet in length, 8 feet in height, then couldn't shrink any further. /* Can you *believe* this? It's incredible! */ Then Harry's mini-dragon form took off for a short flight around the field. He then landed back near the professors and shifted back to his human form.

In his excitement, he didn't sense the chaos in their minds, but just babbled on. "I wonder what else is in there? Hey, this one will be neat!" And he promptly changed into a sleek, black panther. After a few moments, he shifted directly into a third shape without going back to human form ... a black wolf, then a raven, then ... he finally realized the professors were in profound shock and he changed back to human form. "What's wrong with everyone? You said a Magus can have more than one form."

Somehow, it was Snape, the only one of the three professors without animagus experience that answered. "Harry, " he said with exaggerated patience, "no one has ever been any type of dragon, and no one has ever had more than two shapes. Never. No wizard, witch, Magus, sorcerer, druid or whatever. None. Never!" he finished in an intense whisper. With that, Harry apparated them back to the couches in the dining room, slumped in his seat, and muttered, "Bloody Hell!"


(continued)