*22nd of December*
I was coming back from one of Eric's lessons, snow crunching with each step and munching on the pastry Rose gave me. I have thoroughly enjoyed the little party they threw for my birthday. They had waited until the end of the lesson before guiding me towards the dining room with a cake and some presents. It was a welcome surprise, and the gifts were small enough that I won't have trouble hiding them.
Despite the freezing air and the falling snow, I felt warm enough that I didn't mind the biting wind. Having a family is wonderful, isn't it?
I hummed as the orphanage came into view, hiding the remainder of the pastry in my bag for later. It wouldn't do for anyone to get jealous.
I brought my status into view as I reminisced about the last months.
[Name: Ethan Shaw
Title: Traveler; Master of Self
Class: Apprentice Mage (6/10); Magician (5/5); Gambler (5/5); Thief (10/10); ...
MP: 300 - 375
Stats
Strength: 10
Agility: 30
Dexterity: 20
Perception: 25
Intelligence: 21 - 27
Wisdom: 23 -26
Charisma: 15
Skills: Essence of Self (R) (6/60)
Stealth (Un) (34/40)
Throwing (Un) (27/40)
Trapping (Un) (23/40)
Dagger arts (Un) (14/40)
Lockpicking (Un) (24/40)
Pickpocketing (Un) (31/40)
Crafting (Un) (7/40)
Sense Treasure (Un) (16/40)
Sixth Sense (Un) (18/40)
Mana control (Un) (10/40)
Mana sense (Un) (6/40)
Acting (C) (19/20)
Cooking (C) (15/20)
Showmanship (C) (14/20)
Sense intent (C) (13/20)
Singing (C) (13/20)]
Progress was still as slow as ever. Granted I hadn't given my all into it, preferring to explore mana and the new nifty skill I received at level 3.
[Mana sense (Uncommon): If Mana control is the bread and butter of any self-respecting mage, then Mana sense is the knife that spread said butter on the bread. Having and not having this skill is the difference between a true practitioner of the magical arts and the arrogant who takes Magic for granted. Most sense Mana with one of the Six senses. Sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste and the sixth sense in order of rarity. For you, you sense Mana with your smell. For now, that is.]
A nifty skill it is. No matter how strange it was to suddenly being able to smell magic.
At first, I couldn't discern any magic apart from when I used it. Which is a bit like smelling yourself, difficult unless you dearly need a bath. But after emptying my reserves a few times the skill leveled up enough so that I could finally use on something else than myself and that was as gratifying as it was disappointing.
The air in London is stale to say the least. Like Magic itself hadn't moved or was used in years or even decades. It is only when I make an effort in using my Magic that the staleness diminished in noticeable amounts, but it goes back once I stop. Which begets the question, am I the sole mage in the World?
Doubtful, but if it is the case that would mean all magical users are dead and advancing my magical knowledge is going to be like grasping at straws.
That is frustrating. I will not, however, give up that easily.
"Still, - I mused – I will have to go around the globe to search any remnants of a magical civilization. Perhaps becoming an archaeologist is the path I should go on."
I went through the gate, opened and close the door and carefully didn't put any snow inside. I don't need the hag to be on my case about bringing a bit of snow inside.
Back on my new skill. Smelling magic is weird, even now. Everything gave off a bit of Magic, even stone however small that is. The children did too, even if I must be particularly close to them to smell anything. Their emotions changed the smell they emit too so practicing my new skill on them was difficult. I'll just try again when I can do that across a room.
It isn't because I don't want to interact more than I have too, no sir.
I couldn't really discern what smell anything gives, like apart from the overwhelming staleness of London, I can't tell what emotions smelled like or even if some events could smell differently. Does a murder scene smell different than a funeral or an anniversary?
Obviously, it should but I don't know that, and does the potency of the emotions change the smell too? I was eager to find out, but I don't think I want to do that when I may or may not be able to even tell there was a difference.
I quietly slid in my room, taking a seat on my bed and happily finishing my pastry. I'll have to ask where Rose got them, they were delicious and would probably serve well as gifts.
A sudden knock at my window drew my attention.
Why is there an owl knocking at my window? Is that a letter too?
Something was familiar about this scene but for the life of me I can't put my finger on it.
I got up to open the window, the frigid air hitting me as the owl hopped inside, ruffling its feathers before presenting the letter, eyes expectantly looking at me.
Right, this isn't weird at all.
I took the letter, untying it carefully and giving some of my pastry to the owl. I have no idea if owls could it those, but it seemed happy enough.
"Huh."
I didn't expect this at all.
{To: Mr. Ethan Shaw,
The third room, right wing,
Grace's orphanage,
7, Allcroft road,
London,}
Wait, was I in the Harry Potter World?
{Dear Mr. Shaw,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)}
"Bugger."
If this was a fake, it was very well done. They even somehow got parchment and green ink.
I stared for a long while before my mind kicked into gear, my boosted intelligence surging with theories and discarding them faster than I ever could have before my Awakening.
The first Harry potter book hasn't even come out yet, it should be written and published somewhere in the late nineties. Ergo, unless the timeline was advanced by a couple decades and Rowling decided to write her first book in her teens then this shouldn't be a fake. The information in the letter was much too precise for it to be a prank. The possibility is there but the chance should be minimal. I could have landed in an alternate universe where some random schmuck decided to stalk me and write this for a laugh, but this would be an awful lot of efforts for an orphan they don't even know.
An acquaintance then? The other children wouldn't resort to this kind of revenge. Too elaborate, too much planning and lack of resources. Ms. Cole? No, she wouldn't. If she wanted to punish me it'd be either chores or even physical harm. The Williams?
I snorted; the very thought was ridiculous. They'd have to be extremely twisted to maintain a front for over a year, the effort put into the act would be enormous.
I lack any possible culprit for now, that means I'll have to focus on anything that would prove this is real.
I looked at the owl.
It looked back.
You know maybe the owl was the only proof I needed. Who trained delivery owls apart from barmy wizards, right?
I carefully ignored the part of me that thought that it wasn't only wizards that were barmy.
The owl nicked my finger, so I gave it the very last of my food. The thing was very curious. Calm as a cucumber, friendly to a point and patient to boot. I don't know what it was waiting for, but I still have paper to go over. The letter was quite thick after all.
"The list of equipment, A Primer on the Houses of Hogwarts and what's this?" I opened another roll of parchment, "We are pleased to accept you... However, there are requirements expected of you... As an orphan you are required to keep silent on the existence of wizards and witches and the magical World as whole... If you accept your enrolment to Hogwarts, the world's premier school of magic, a professor shall start exchanging letters to assuage any concerns you may have... They will guide you towards Diagon Alley to help you with your school shopping and to give you your allocated funds from the Orphan Trust Fund..."
Well, well, well. Isn't that convenient.
It went on and on about how the magical World was great and the muggle world was a sad, lonely place whose people would never understand me. That they expected great things from me and that I should repay them later by becoming an upstanding wizard instead of staying in the muggle World. They didn't say it so bluntly but that was the short version.
They were quite thick on the propaganda, weren't they. I don't think anyone ever accused wizards of being subtle, but this is a bit on the nose.
Still, they were right that it would be a waste to not take this opportunity. No matter what awaited me later down the line. I would regret not accepting this and I knew it.
The question was, would I accept the price?
I considered this for a moment before letting a wry smile cross my face.
There wasn't any question I would go.
I got up, penned a response, tucked it in the envelope and tied it to the owl's leg before sending it away, not forgetting to give it an affectionate pat on the head.
I sat on my usual place to look at the sky, the grey clouds and falling snow greeting me.
I was going to Hogwarts if this was real. I was going to do Magic. The very thought filled me with anticipation and excitement. The only thing preventing me from having this would be Voldemort.
A big problem, that.
The man had decades of magical knowledge and practice over me, and I doubt very much he would accept a mudblood in his camp. At least the purebloods won't leave me alone and that was unacceptable.
And that was without what they could do to the Williams.
This time dread filled me at the mere thought of any dark wizards getting their hands on them. They would be tortured and killed without any thought. Crushed like an ant before a foot without even knowing they were living people.
Or perhaps they just didn't care at all.
Regardless they were my people, and I won't let anyone hurt them. That didn't mean I would cower in the dark, however. I'll just have to stand so far above them that they wouldn't dare touch what is mine. They will be so utterly outclassed that the distance between the earth and the heavens wouldn't be enough to describe it.
The fact that I wanted to study the limits of Magic was just a happy coincidence.
_________________
Right, first things first I need to draw a timeline of the HP universe ASAP.
I took a fresh notebook I bought just for this and opened the first page.
The first book starts in 1991, it is currently the end of 1988 so I will start three years ahead of Harry, at the same time as the Weasley twins. A decent leg up the plot but not much wiggle room unfortunately. I will have to compensate by trying harder. Those saying it is better to work smarter, not harder obviously haven't tried both.
So! The philosopher's stone, the DADA professor will host Voldemort's soul on the back of his head when what's-his-name will go on a sabbatical to Albania, there he will be seduced by the Dark Lord's sweet nothings before surrendering his life like an idiot. Then he will try to break in Gringotts to steal the Stone when Hagrid went in to retrieve just before the heist.
I paused. How lucky do you have to be in order to change an item's location just before the man you know wants to steal breaks in fucking Gringotts to steal it?
I don't know whether Dumbledore is a lucky bastard, a plot armour to make Voldemort cry in a corner or just plain future vision but that's a relief.
I put my head on my left hand while my right spun my pen.
This is actually a good question. Did or will Dumbledore know about the traitor? Is he a manipulative fuck or just plain incompetent? Maybe I am underestimating Voldemort here, he is supposedly the strongest Dark Lord of the century after all. And the most evil in centuries too. There is no telling what he knows, rituals, spell, potions or whatever.
"It's just the start of the Timeline and already the mountain looks bigger than ever..."
I sighed and got back to it. After the heist is Hogwarts, classes start. The most notable are Flying and potion classes. Harry gets into the Gryffindor team and Snape is introduced, harry learns of the raging hate boner Snape has for him. Then Halloween and the mountain troll, the Golden trio is born. Nest is the Quidditch match where almost died because of... Quirrell! That's his name.
Following that is Christmas, Harry receives his father's cloak and finds the mirror. I carefully ignored the existence of the Hallows for now. That's another hornet nest that will be dealt with later. After that nothing for months until Hagrid's dragon meaning Voldemort know how to get past the Cerberus.
Which is weird that he didn't know but maybe he is simply used to powering past such problems, which Quirrell's failing body cannot. It wouldn't surprise me that each person has a certain limit to channelling Magic.
So that's first year...
Bloody hell, just one year and I'm already sweating. I don't even know if I will do anything to help harry. That was the first defining moment which put Harry against Voldemort. Notwithstanding his parents' murder and if the stone is even real to begin with. Me changing anything could very well spell the end of the wizarding World.
At least the British one.
"Bugger." I rubbed my face. There's no need to worry about changing anything, my sole presence probably put any plan to stay under the radar in the grave. My only chance to protect the Williams would be to either flee to another country and hope for the best or...
Or to fuck Voldemort seven ways to Sunday.
To do that the first step would be to level up, any stat progress will help not to mention the skills. Second would be learning any Magic I can get my hands on, never know what can be useful if used correctly. Following that...
Making allies is my best bet.
I could already feel my grimace before it even formed. Probably the most difficult step, I have no idea how to do that apart from siding with Dumbledore's troupe. Turning people from Voldemort's side would be optimal in taking manpower and financial power from him but that would require a social finesse I currently do not have.
Right, that point will go on the maybe column.
Next... Perhaps training Harry could help. To my knowledge he never received anything of the sort apart from the Patronus. Dumbledore's little lessons helping only in understanding his Nemesis. Hell, if I'm training Harry why not his little hangers-on. It would help and provide soldiers for the war.
Was it morally dubious to plan for using children in a war? Probably. Will they thank me for it? Definitely. Moral problems shelved and forgotten.
Speaking of training, I will need some myself. Knowing spells is good and all but not knowing how to use them in a fight will not help me. Dueling could help but there is a difference between duelling and fighting. I won't fight fairly when the war comes, Dark Magic will not be out of the question as long as it doesn't twist my personality.
What about the dummy from the fifth movie? But more sophisticated, something that can fight back if only for a few moments, then just multiply the number. It will have to be good enough until I can find another solution.
Mastering my charm and enchanting work just got a bump up in the list.
Damnit organizing all of this will be a pain. And I'll have to code it, wouldn't want anybody to know I have knowledge I shouldn't have. For any non-magical- or muggles I guess- I can just say I am writing a book for fun or something. For wizards however...
And privacy/stealth Magic just shot up to the top of my list alongside Martial Magic.
"Blimey, so much work and so little time."
Despite my words a smile played across my lips.