The Awakening of a Magus

The Awakening of a Magus
Chapter 17 - Sun, Jul 23 - Day 3
Hidden Talents

Harry sent a quick mindcall to Ron. /* Hey pal, who-all is around the house at the moment? */

Ron answered in kind, a little clumsily at first, then with more confidence. /* Damn, Harry! I was wondering if I had imagined everything last night, since I can't reach anyone here. Uh, if you mean who besides the ones who know about you, Ginny, Fred, George, and Percy are all here. */

/* Ok. Then Darius will make the fire-call. See you in a bit! */ Harry sat by the fireplace in his room, shifted into his Darius form, and initiated the spell to send his image to the Burrow's fireplace.

"Arthur Weasley, are you available?" Darius asked as his vision shifted, and he saw the kitchen at the Weasley home. As Arthur came to stand beside the fire, Molly, Ron and Hermione joined him. The other Weasleys just muttered in confusion, wondering if this was the new Magus that their dad was now supposed to work with.

"Yes, Darius, what do you need?" Arthur answered.

"I'd like to meet with you and Molly for a short while. I could meet you at the Hogwarts gathering point. And would you please bring Ron and Hermione with you to visit with Harry while we talk?" Darius decided that would be a good excuse for the rest of the family.

Arthur asked, "Do you need us immediately, or would an hour or so be sufficient. We were just starting breakfast."

Darius laughed. "Of course! I'm sorry, I was up very early and didn't realize that most people would just be getting started on a Sunday morning. Come when you're ready. I'll know when you get here. And thank you." Silently he added to the four of them, /* Have Ron call me just as you leave and I'll be waiting. */ And the head of the Magus disappeared from the fire.

An hour to wait. Harry was restless, then he thought of something to fill the time. /* Severus? If you aren't in the middle of anything too important, would you like to try the animagus spell now? */

Snape was taken off-guard, and answered, almost with excitement, /* Now? Where? */

Harry suppressed a laugh ... he'd never heard Snape sound so excited and yet so apprehensive. He sent back, /* Wherever you would be most comfortable. */ He could sense vaguely as Snape considered and discarded various places.

Then surprisingly, hesitantly, Snape asked, /* In the Slytherin commons? The passwords are disabled in the summer. Do you know your way there? */

Harry tried not to laugh. Snape didn't know about the adventure of the Polyjuice Potion in second year, when he and Ron were temporarily morphed into Crabbe and Goyle. /* I'll meet you there, Severus. */

Severus Snape looked around the empty common area in Slytherin Dungeon. It had been almost 20 years since he had last attempted the animagus spell. He was proud to be Slytherin, but even here, he hadn't really fit in. He wasn't a leader, but he wasn't really a follower, either. In Slytherin, you were one or the other. There were rarely any that a Slytherin actually called 'friend'. He had been a loner. He focused almost totally on his studies, much the way (he hated to admit), Hermione Granger did. But Granger had friends. He had spent his spare time trying to get the Marauders in trouble. After all these years, he could admit, he hated them because he envied them. They enjoyed life and they enjoyed it together.

He heard the entrance open behind him, and in stepped Potter. "The last person I would have ever expected to see in this room," Snape remarked dryly.

"Oh, I don't know. Did you know the Sorting Hat almost put me in Slytherin that day?" Harry smiled gently, then more broadly at the surprise on Snape's face. "Remember when you asked me when I had run into Polyjuice Potion?" He paused, and Snape nodded. "Well, I was in here once during second year with Ron, when everyone was trying to figure out who the Heir to Slytherin was."

As Snape connected the statements, he asked, "Who?"

"Crabbe and Goyle," Harry answered.

Snape almost choked at the image of Potter and Weasley morphing into Crabbe and Goyle. "I assume Miss Granger was the potion-maker. Neither of you seemed to have the patience to successfully produce that formula."

They stepped over to the chairs by the fireplace, which flared to life as Snape muttered the triggering spell. As they sat down, Snape tried to shift his point of view. For this, he was not sitting with his Potions student, Harry Potter. He was sitting with Harry Magus, the most powerful Magus in history, to whom his loyalty was pledged. Who was about to help him achieve something he had given up dreaming about. But even though he had given up, he remembered every detail of the spell, every word, focus point, gesture needed for the first transformation. He jerked as he realized Harry had leaned over to grasp both his hands.

/* Severus, */ Harry sent with mindspeech, /* first I'd like you to go through the spell, as you did in the past, while I watch your mind and power center to see what is going on. */

Snape took a deep breath, pulled his hands gently from Harry's, took his wand and stood up in an open area of the room. He meticulously executed the spell to perfection, but nothing happened except for a slight flutter in the pit of his stomach. He fought the despair he had experienced so long ago.

Harry said aloud, "Again. Focus on the image of the raven within you." Snape repeated the spell, focusing all his will on making it succeed. To no avail.

With a bleak expression on his face, Snape looked at Harry. "Blast it, Potter! Are you sure ..."

"Wait, Severus." Harry's eyes were unfocused but glowing, though no hint of the purple aura showed yet. "There's something blocking a part of your power center." Though he hadn't really learned to recognize Lucius Malfoy's touch for certain, Harry was fairly sure that Malfoy had been responsible for the Imperius Curse on Fudge. And this block had a similar 'flavor', faint but clear. "Was Malfoy in your House while you attended Hogwarts?" he asked suddenly.

Snape was shocked, wondering what that had to do with anything. "Lucius was five years ahead of me. Why do you ask?"

"Because someone put a block on your powers, many years ago. The animagus potential is behind it, as is about 80 percent of your general power potential. You should be one of the strongest wizards alive, Severus." Harry looked up at his teacher in surprise. "I sense some of Voldemort's power in the block, and what I believe is Lucius Malfoy's signature. If not Malfoy, then whoever put the Imperius on Fudge. It's very old, probably dating from some time in your first year here. Maybe they saw you as a threat, somehow?"

Snape thought back to that first year, the political jockeying that went on in Slytherin House for leadership, affiliation, the not-so-political bullying and intimidation as various factions would form. How he was threatened when he refused to pledge his loyalty to any one faction, but stubbornly remained an independent Slytherin. There was one memory, of Lucius Malfoy using some kind of spell on him to persuade him to declare for his faction; of a surprised and uncertain look on Malfoy's face as Severus fought the spell, whatever it was. Of Malfoy's voice muttering, "We'll see about that!" And there had been a strange nightmare that night, one he never could remember, but whose terror stayed with him for three days. Malfoy had surprisingly left him alone after that, but Severus had only been grateful and didn't question the reasons.

"I'm sorry, Sev, I didn't mean to eavesdrop." Harry was whispering. Snape looked up and realized that Harry had experienced those memories along with him. "That residual link seems to have made the Sodalis link deeper than it should have been with anyone but Albus. I'll work on blocking it out." There was concern and sympathy written clearly on Harry's face, and an unconscious broadcast of comfort radiating from the Magus. "I promised Albus to check with him before doing anything major, and this probably qualifies. That is, you do want to be rid of that block, don't you? I wouldn't think of forcing ... "

"Stop, Harry." Snape said quietly. "I want to be rid of anything having to do with Voldemort, no matter what the risk. Call Albus."

Harry explained the situation to Dumbledore, who answered mentally, /* I'll be right down, Harry. I want to monitor while you do this, but I agree it needs to be done. */ Privately, he thought that he had somehow always known there was more to Severus than anyone realized. "Now we will all find out just how much," he said softly as he left his office.

While waiting for Dumbledore, Harry sent a quick message to Ron. /* Something has come up I need to work on. I'll call you when I'm done instead of you calling me when you're ready, ok? */ Ron agreed, stifling his curiosity, knowing Harry would only talk about it when he was ready.

Snape was standing by the fireplace, staring into the fire. Harry had figured exactly where to block to stay out of Snape's memories. He found himself losing the last of his reservations, the last barriers to real friendship with Severus Snape. Voldemort had stolen from him, as well. He would tell Snape later, but Harry believed that Voldemort had left a careful compulsion to seek him out when Snape was older, so that Severus would submit to the Dark Mark. Yet, even then, Snape turned against Voldemort and agreed to spy for Dumbledore, both in the past and recently. Voldemort had counted on the crippling block he had imposed on young Severus to prevent Snape from resisting the compulsion to serve him. Harry thought to himself, Blast, Voldie is a devious bastard! Just then, Dumbledore joined them.

"Severus," Dumbledore began, "I'd like Harry to show me what is involved, if you don't mind. I'm going to have to monitor Harry closely to ensure he doesn't overextend himself, or push too quickly for your sake." Snape agreed, and sat down, relaxing all his mental and magical barriers for the Magus as though he had been doing this for years.

Harry linked his mind with his Mentor in that special way that only existed between them, then focused on Snape's power center, showing Dumbledore exactly what they were facing. As they pulled back, Dumbledore looked at Snape with a bit of awe and a great deal of pleasure. "Powers above, Severus! You would have broken all my records if not for that block. The only thing that will keep me ahead of you is an extra 115 years of experience!" This from the man who was secretly the most powerful wizard in three centuries.

Snape was looking at Dumbledore, trying to maintain the unemotional mask that had protected him all these years. Dumbledore looked at Harry. "I'm going to need you to set up fairly strong shielding around the room, or at least this area by the fireplace ... the type you can set and maintain unconsciously. I'll handle shielding myself, monitoring you, and protecting Severus to some extent. There will likely be a great deal of backlash when that block comes down, and you will need to contain it immediately without it rebounding on Severus."

He then looked back to Snape. "Severus, I am confident that Harry can do this without permanent harm to you, but there may be some 'rough weather ahead' as the saying goes. Are you ready to face it?"

"As I told the Magus, I will do anything to be totally free of any hint of Voldemort's contamination. That is even more important than regaining what he stole from me." Snape affirmed quietly, then smiled his cold Slytherin smile, "Though that is something I will somehow repay the Dark Lord for, someday."

It went far better than Dumbledore had hoped. After setting up the necessary wards, Harry had carefully examined the power block. He found that Voldemort had managed to weave Snape's own power into the block, so that, in effect, Snape was blocking himself to some extent. As the young Severus had matured and grown in power, so had the block. It was positively insidious! Harry decided to try to 'slide' around the block, as he seemed to slide around the Hogwarts wards. He found his focus deep within the hidden areas of Snape's power center, power that fought to be released. Looking 'outward' he saw the block, formed of native and foreign magic. Then, he thought of how he had removed the binding on the Death Eaters that first day, and how he had removed the Imperio from Fudge. As he moved his focus back out, around the block, he sent his own power into the block to temporarily reinforce it, then checked with Dumbledore, who acknowledged that all seemed well so far.

Harry then pulled farther away from the block, into the active part of Snape's power. He sent, /* Severus, do you see what I'm doing? */ A quiet acknowledgement and question came back. /* I've wrapped my power around the structure of the block. I'm hoping that when I pull out my power, the block will come with it. I'll try to do this slowly, but I need you to be aware of your power, so you can try to take hold of it as it's released ... assuming this works. */ Again, a faint acknowledgement, then a sense of Snape taking hold of his active powers, strong and sure, waiting.

Harry's body began to glow, the purple aura slowly pulsating with his heartbeat. Then Snape began to glow, and Harry's heartbeat synchronized with Snape's. In that strange world of imagery within the mind and power of a wizard, the block began to show purple tendrils woven throughout, also pulsating to the synchronized heartbeats of the Magus and his friend. Then the tendrils were being drawn back, and the block began to disintegrate, the particles following the tendrils. The power that pushed from behind to be released was wrapped in the strong bright green aura of its rightful owner, and slowly, though painfully, assimilated into the whole it had been separated from for so long.

When Harry and Dumbledore tried to ease the strain on Snape, he refused, stubbornly, sending that this was his job and his power. They both smiled mentally and just stood back to watch in case things got out of hand. They didn't. With all the stubborn arrogance of a true Slytherin, Snape conquered his wayward powers, and, at length, pulled his mind out of his power center, looking across at Harry and Dumbledore. Then, with a triumphant smile on his face, he blissfully fainted.

Chapter 18 - Sun, Jul 23 - Day 3
A Long Day

After settling the unconscious Snape on a couch in the Slytherin commons, and checking that he hadn't taken any harm from the procedure, Harry asked Dumbledore. "Before you go back to your work, could I go over with you what I came up with on the defensive spells, and what to do about the non-living residents?"

Dumbledore sat down on the other couch with Harry and opened his mind to the Magus. Harry reviewed his perceptions of the existing wards, pointing out where he thought he could help matters, then went into his plan for a type of security spell on those entities in the castle that were more echoes of people than people: the ghosts and the portraits.

"I am pleased you have come up with something on this matter, Harry," Dumbledore said, "because the matters I am working on with 'the old crowd' as I've called them, will also need to be kept secure. Did you want to try now, or do you need a rest?" Dumbledore asked, but he guessed what the answer would be.

"Now, please. Oh, and I think I have an idea on how to set the anti-apparition spells to allow certain people through, like the circle. It was an idea I had while working with Severus' power block." Harry quickly showed what he wanted to do, based on how he himself slid past the wards. Dumbledore agreed, that too should work. Harry would be able to key a person to the defensive spells so that they could apparate around the grounds when necessary.

Again, the Magus and the Mentor linked, then Harry sent his mind out into the defensive net around Hogwarts. He carefully added power to the irregular areas of the defenses, then wove his power around the anti-apparition spells so that he could key people to them, as McGonagall had keyed him to the wards in the library. Next, he sent his mind around the castle, lightly touching the ghosts: Nearly-Headless Nick, The Bloody Baron, Moaning Myrtle, and all the others. As Harry scanned around the castle, he decided to add the poltergeist, Peeves, to this group. Pulling them carefully together like threads, he wove the tendrils of power into the defenses and set a security directive into the weave: tell no one, living or dead of what you observe regarding the Magus or Harry Potter. They could add whatever Dumbledore required later.

Dumbledore made Harry take a short break before finishing with the portraits. It took a few minutes to finish the portraits, since there were so many of them, but the security web was finally in place for them as well. As Harry came back to himself, and released the Mentor link, he realized that during such times, he was sharing Dumbledore's memories and knowledge of the castle as he worked, and it sometimes seemed as though Albus actually directed Harry's power to some extent. He shared this perception with Dumbledore, who had been noticing the same thing.

"This Mentor bond is much closer than anything I've ever heard of," Dumbledore said aloud. "I actually believe I could tap into your energy reserves if I needed to. At some point, we may need to experiment with such a thing. I'd hate to burn myself out by finding in a crisis that I was drawing too much, too fast."

"But for now, I need to return to my work. Very well done, Harry! You're learning to use only the minimum amount of power to accomplish your goals, and are keeping everything under meticulous control. I probably didn't need to call that break, but I also decided not to take any chances. What is your next project, Harry?"

"Next," Harry said, looking at the other couch, "I rest a bit. As soon as Severus wakes up, I want to stand by while he tries a few things, including the animagus spell. Then I'll have my meeting with the Weasleys."

Snape was half-asleep as he sensed Dumbledore and Harry working on changes to the defensive system. He sent himself down into a working trance so he could see what was going on within himself. He could hardly believe the deep reserve of power he saw. The knowledge he had accumulated over the years, even of spells he didn't seem capable of at the time, suddenly seemed to match up with the power that pooled so deeply and extensively within him. As he pulled out of his trance, and wakened completely, he saw that Dumbledore had gone, and Harry was sitting on the other couch, relaxing, watching him.

"Hi!" Harry said quietly. "Strange feeling, isn't it."

As Snape sat up, he realized they had something in common. "So, this is how you've felt the past few days, though on a different scale, of course."

"I suggest you work that animagus spell gently, Severus. Since you have so much more experience with magic, it shouldn't take more than a few experiments to get the new power flows figured out." Harry stayed relaxed, but was prepared to try to help if Snape asked.

Snape stood up, took his wand in hand, and carefully began the animagus spell for triggering the first transformation. After a first transformation, the shift in forms was a matter of will and a short trigger word, personal to the individual. With the final flick of his wand, his hand began shifting to the glossy black wing of a raven. As the wand fell to the floor, the transformation was complete. The Snape-raven hopped about a bit, checking out balance, stretched its wings, and, flapping them a bit, tried to take off. Clumsily at first, then with more assurance, the raven took a turn around the room, then decided to land on Harry's head. "Don't you dare!" Harry said, laughing, thinking the raven might leave a ... message ... in his hair. Cawing raucously, the Snape-raven took off again, hovered, and shifted back to human form. The expression for a moment on the wizard's face was one of peace and satisfaction, before it slipped back into his usual facade.

Without comment, he tried a few simple incantations, with and without wand. A couple of them got away from him, whereupon he cursed, muttered, then tried again with complete success. As Harry had guessed, it didn't take more than five minutes for Snape to adjust for the new power flows.

"So, Potter, I believe you have a meeting to deal with, and I have some work for the headmaster that needs to be finished before tonight." Snape was trying to slip back into their old public relationship, but he had to add one more thing out of character as Harry left the Slytherin commons. "By the way, thank you, Harry," he whispered.

/* Ok, Ron. I'm ready when you are! */ Harry sent to his friend.

Ron answered, /* Finally ! Are you going to tell us what took so long? */

/* We'll see, */ Harry answered mysteriously. Then he apparated out to the gathering point to wait for the Weasleys.

It didn't take long for Harry's guests to appear. Arthur brought Ron, and Molly brought Hermione. As soon as they had regained their balance after the transport, Harry apparated the group to the faculty dining room that seemed to have become the circle meeting room. As soon as everyone was settled, Harry came straight to the point, explaining the Sodalis spell, the circle pledge and mindspeech links, and the level of trust required by the circle. He also told how he planned to arrange separate groups, for those that wouldn't be involved in the detailed business of the Magus circle, at least at first. He even explained a little about the Mentor bond he shared with Dumbledore. He told who was currently in the circle, and who he expected to invite, like Remus, Sirius, Hagrid when he returned, and ... the four of them.

Arthur began. "Albus warned me about this," he smiled. "I even asked him the format of the pledging rite to be sure. My Lord Magus?" he reached out his hand.

Relieved, Harry answered, "Yes, Arthur?", and the ritual between the Magus and the Deputy Minister was quickly completed, including the Sodalis via mindspeech. Then Harry said, "We'll deal with the extended mindspeech links after the others here have decided if they're ready." He looked around the table.

Molly quickly agreed, though she asked that the only circle links be with her husband for now. "I'll leave the business to Arthur and the rest of you." After the ritual was completed, Molly impulsively leaned forward to hug Harry, which brought a pleased blush to his face, and drove Ron to say, "Aw, Mum, you've gone and embarrassed the Magus." At which everyone started laughing.

Then Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other and looked at the adults, who understood the teens needed to be alone, and so decided they would go say hello to McGonagall while they were there. As soon as the Weasley parents left, the trio stood up and wandered over to the chairs by the fire. For long minutes they just stared at the fire instead of each other, wondering what to say.

"You know, it's weird having them say 'My Lord Magus'," Harry began, still staring into the flames. "I think they need to be formal for something like that, especially with someone who's not really an adult, even if you count this magic aging me a couple of years. It doesn't have to be like that. It can be anything we choose to make it."

After a moment, Hermione asked, "When you mentioned separate circles, were you thinking of us?"

"At first, anyway. I mean, this situation may be forcing me to grow up too fast. I didn't want to drag you two into all the politics and the strategies and all that dragon dung." Harry looked at both his friends. "But I don't want to lose you, either of you. I think I'd like to have something that just belongs to the three of us, someplace I can be 'just Harry' when the Magus business gets to be too much. It means more than I can express that you haven't gotten scared of what's happening to me."

"If we make our own circle, can you still tell us everything that's going on, or would you have to keep secrets," Ron asked.

"As long as I wasn't specifically asked to keep someone else's secret, I don't see why you couldn't know about nearly everything," Harry promised. "And, if you're interested, I'll teach you everything you can handle about magic, whether they like it or not. Some of the changes in me include being able to learn from books very fast, and I can sense magic potential in others, if I look for it."

"Found anything special in us yet, besides Ron being a mindspeaker?" Hermione asked too casually, then smiled.

"I haven't looked that far yet. I didn't think it would be polite. May I, 'Mione?" Harry asked quietly. She nodded, then tried to relax, but was too excited. /* Calm down! */ Harry's mind voice was laughing gently. /* Try breathing slow and deep, and watch my eyes. */ As Harry told her this, his emerald eyes began to glow.

Ron was looking at them, feeling a bit left out. Harry sent to him /* Ron? Are you ready to try a three-way link? */ Harry asked.

As Ron sent back, /* Wicked! Let's do it! */, Harry reached out to both Hermione and Ron, tying them together with a light three-way linkage. When Harry focused on Hermione, Ron could sense part of what Harry sensed. When Harry focused on Ron, Hermione could sense part of that interaction.

As they were linked this way, all three knew this was something they wanted, this special tie among just the three of them, a deep friendship that would last no matter where their lives took them. /* Harry Magus, I pledge you my friendship for always, and I'll do anything to help the work you have before you. */ Hermione's eyes were shining as she sent the thought. /* Ron, please be my friend always. No matter what disagreements may come up, I'll always be your friend, */ and to herself, she thought, and who knows ... maybe more ...

Ron hoped that Hermione didn't realize he had heard the last part. It touched his heart in a way he hadn't known he needed. They'd just have to take it slowly. /* 'Mione, we'll always be friends, no matter what. Harry Magus, take my pledge to do all I can to help in your work, and to be your friend when the rest of the world wants too much of you. */

With the close link they had already formed, Harry had heard and sensed the extra unspoken pledges between his two friends, and he was very happy that they just might find more than friendship between them. Harry sensed that it would be very hard, if possible at all, for him to find a soulmate, especially since he realized that, because of the transformations needed to survive as a Magus, he genetically couldn't have children. He had matured enough to realize this could be a major issue in his future, and that he may have to depend on his friendships for much of his emotional survival.

/* Ron, 'Mione, I pledge Harry's friendship to both of you for always, and the Magus' protection for as long as we live ... Sodalis! */ Then the three-way link expanded into the full, permanent mindspeech link, and, for the three of them, there would sometimes be a deeper connection, something special that Harry could only find with his own age group, with these particular people.

/* You asked if there was anything special in you. I assume you meant, besides *this*. */ Harry smiled. /* Actually, how would you feel about *eventually* being an animagus, 'Mione ? */

Both Ron and Harry grinned at the look of delight on Hermione's face. /* Oh! Oh! What is it going to be? You've just *got* to tell me, Harry! */

/* Well, I suppose it's appropriate, since you're such a *wise*scholar*, */ Harry thought with humorous sarcasm. /* Your animagus form is an owl, 'Mione, but you're not quite ready to try it. Maybe by the end of the summer. */

Aloud, Harry added, "I might as well tell you. Both of you are going to be fairly high-ranked spellcasters by the time you graduate. There's a lot of potential in there." This information excited both of them.

Ron exclaimed, "Yes! That will show those Slytherins!"

As they slipped into just babbling among friends, Harry heard a tentative, mindcall from Molly. /* How are things going, Harry? Arthur needs to get back soon for his Ministry planning meeting. But he didn't want to bother you. */

Harry answered, /* Come on back then, we're finished. And thanks for giving us time to work this out. */

When Molly and Arthur returned, Harry's last piece of Magus business was to complete the mindspeech links with other members of the circle. He connected Arthur with the other adults, and Molly with Arthur. Ron and Hermione decided to wait before getting connected with the adults, though Hermione shyly asked if Mr. and Mrs. Weasley minded being connected with her. Both agreed gladly. Ron didn't need to be connected by the circle links. Now that his parents were involved in mindspeech links, he could communicate with them, even though he didn't have his full abilities yet. Ron thought to himself, I wonder how long I'll keep that secret from the rest of the family ...

Just before they left, Harry cleared both Molly and Arthur for apparating directly into Hogwarts. They planned to target the meeting room as their destination in the future. After good-byes and hugs all around, the Weasleys returned straight to the Burrow, just in time for Arthur's meeting with Sylvia and Erasmus.

/* Later, Harry! */ Hermione sent from the Weasley house.

Harry spent the rest of the day wandering around the school, looking for an area that might make a good gymnasium. He also explored the library, particularly the restricted section, mostly to just pin down where everything was for future reference. He spent some time introducing himself to many of the animals on the school grounds, especially visiting the Owlery to see Hedwig and to meet all the school owls. Hedwig had told them her Harry-wizard knew owl-speak, but they didn't believe her until he actually talked to all of them. He wandered to the edge of the grounds, past Hagrid's cottage, wondering when his friend would be back from his mission to the giants. Then he walked along the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Most of the forest was outside the Hogwarts defenses. An enemy could approach on broom or on foot from that direction after apparating a few miles away from the school. He shifted to wolf form and went a ways into the forest, looking for animals that could serve as sentries for them. It wasn't too long before he was challenged by a great dark gray wolf, the pack leader for that area of the forest.

The pack leader was confused, because he sensed both a dominant male wolf in his territory, and something that was not-wolf ... Harry's magic. With the audible wolf language, and his beastspeaker wolf-speak, he assured the pack leader he had no desire to fight him for his pack, but insisted on being treated as though he were the pack leader of an adjoining territory ... the school. For the sake of formalities, Harry had to mock-skirmish with the pack leader, an exercise he won easily, as his unusual physical abilities followed him in his animagus forms. After that, the pack leader could honorably deal with him.

Harry managed to convey to the pack how he needed to know if not-forest beings were discovered within the forest, especially approaching the school grounds. They promised to send a messenger to the edge of the forest if such were discovered, and that they would contact packs in adjoining territories to try to negotiate the same. As he noticed the sunset, he remembered that Remus and Sirius would be here soon. He indicated to the pack that two of his own pack would be arriving soon, though they might both be human or they might be a human-like-a-wolf and dog. The pack had lived around the wizarding world long enough to accept that a few humans had non-human forms. They promised not to attack anyone not-forest tonight and Harry promised to introduce those of his pack to the leader as the opportunities arose.

Feeling quite satisfied with his day's work, Harry shifted to falcon form and flew out of the forest and through the window into his room for a short rest before his godfather and his favorite werewolf arrived.

Dumbledore sensed when Harry returned from the forest. He had finally finished the preparations he wanted ready for when Sirius and Remus arrived. Dumbledore was pleased that Harry had chosen not to snoop about what was coming up. It wasn't that big a secret, but it assured him of Harry's growing maturity and his ability to respect the privacy of others as much as possible. He suspected that Harry would eventually have full telepathic powers with anyone he chose, from thought reading and memory reading, to mind control of all but possibly the most powerful wizards or witches. Harry was, thank the stars, convinced that having the power to do something didn't necessarily make that action right and proper. He believed firmly in the responsible use of power.

So, as soon as Sirius and Remus arrived, and they were briefed about Harry Magus, Dumbledore would in turn inform Harry about the rebirth of the Order of the Phoenix, an underground group of unregistered Animagi, some registered Animagi, and a few others, who had worked in secret to oppose Voldemort during the Dark Years, and now would gather together again to oppose the reborn Dark Lord. It was named 'the phoenix' for two reasons. One, because their leader, Albus Dumbledore, was an unregistered phoenix. Second, because Fawkes wanted to indicate his displeasure that one of the only two feathers he had granted for wands, lay at the heart of the Dark Lord's wand. Now, there would be a third reason. In honor of the phoenix feather at the heart of Harry Magus's wand, though he would rarely need it anymore. They had guarded their secrets by a form of the Sodalis spell, one of the rare times that a Quadralis had been able to cast the spell, usually used in a Magus circle.

In this version, they could impose the security portion on any member of the group (which is why Wormtail hadn't been able to betray the Order then or now), but the mindspeech link was limited to the members of the Quadralis and was of limited range. All those years ago, the Quadralis had been composed of Albus, Minerva, and James and Lily Potter, the strongest and most balanced Quadralis in many a year. This was how Albus and Minerva knew when James and Lily were murdered by Voldemort. Lily managed, just before she died, to call them, telling them James was dead at Voldemort's hands, and that she would soon follow, begging them with her last thought to see if Harry survived.

"Well, it's good to be coming back to Hogwarts, even if I wish it were for another reason," said Remus Lupin. His companion, a very large black dog, barked in agreement. They began to walk toward the school, about a mile away, expecting to meet the headmaster soon. A wolf howled and yipped not far away. Since Remus was a werewolf, he had learned the audible language of the wolf packs, and could understand them, even in human form. He was puzzled. The message said something like, 'The Great One's pack members are here.'

Not long after, a huge black wolf approached them slowly, as though it knew them. It stopped several yards in front of them, then shimmered and changed to a human form. The animagus conjured a purple ball of light, and they could see he was a tall young man in his mid-20s. "Albus, they're over here!" he called. "Hello, Remus, Sirius, you can call me Darius for now."

As Dumbledore approached, he said "Welcome, Remus! Sirius, if you wish you may change to human form. We will be going straight from here to the meeting room. Minerva and Severus are waiting."

Sirius changed back to his usual form, surprised that Dumbledore seemed to be saying they could apparate in. "Straight in?" he asked.

"Yes," said Darius. "I've already keyed Minerva, Severus and Albus to the defensive spells. As I bring you in, I'll key you to them as well, so you don't have to tramp around the forest next time. Are you ready? It will feel strange the first time, since you will be ... sliding around the defenses in a way."

Both Remus and Sirius were puzzled, but since Dumbledore didn't disagree, they decided to trust this Darius ... for now. They nodded, and the next thing they knew, they were in the faculty dining room at Hogwarts where Snape and McGonagall awaited them.

Snape had tried to act as though he disapproved of the playful deception of Harry and Dumbledore, using the Darius form to begin with. But a part of him enjoyed the prospect of seeing Sirius Black's face when he realized, first: his godson was the Magus; second: that Snape had joined the Magus circle before him; and third: that Snape was now eligible to be a full member of the Order, since he could now take raven form.

Dumbledore began by introducing Darius as the Magus, and explaining about the Magus and the circle in much more depth than they had bothered with for the Minister. These men would soon be a part of the circle, it was almost a certainty. Then, the Magus finally said, "I can't keep it a secret from you any longer. You both deserve to know who I really am." And the form of Darius Magus shifted into a slightly older, but very recognizable Harry Potter, a young man that both men had a great deal of affection and respect for.

They surprisingly were able to suppress the worst of their shock, then they both stood up, grabbing the young Magus in turn and thumping his back, chiding him for the deception, and laughing with joy at seeing him safe and strong.

"You ... a Magus ... I knew there was something remarkable about you when you learned the Patronus so well, but I never could have imagined this!" Remus shook his head in wonder. "How long has it been since your awakening, Harry?"

"Just since Friday, though it seems like a lifetime ago in some ways." Harry smiled at his friend, then turned to his godfather. "Sirius, forgive me for teasing you with Darius first. It seemed like an easier way to do things ... first get you used to the Magus, then to the idea the Magus was Harry Potter."

Sirius growled, almost like his dog form Snuffles, then smiled. "How can I not forgive you Harry? A Magus! James and Lily would have been so proud of you. Well, they would have been proud of Harry Potter, just wizard, too, of course. Well, you know what I mean." Sirius' voice trailed off. Then he changed subjects. "So, you've begun your inner circle, have you?

"So far," Harry answered, "the circle includes Albus, as Mentor, Minerva, Severus, Sylvia Forester and Erasmus Trelawney, who were the discovery team, Arthur Weasley and his wife Molly, and in a separate group, Ron and Hermione." He looked at them, as though daring them to question the inclusion of the teens in the Magus circle. "I'm hoping you both choose to join as well. And I hope Hagrid will join us when he returns. That's all for now." He had noticed that Sirius flinched when he mentioned Snape, but that was just something the two of them would have to get used to. He agreed with Dumbledore that, for now at least, they would bypass the mindspeech link between Snape and Black. It would just make matters worse.

"Now, Albus," said Harry, "you promised that I would find out what was going on with 'the old crowd' after they had heard about my news."

"Oh, you want to know about The Order of the Phoenix?" Dumbledore responded, his eyes twinkling in delight at leading on his young protégé.

(continued)