y

"Make sure you take everything Harry, we aren't returning until the Manor is built." Remus called over his shoulder. "I know Uncle Moony." Harry said as he packed his trunk. "Also don't forget to take the translation potion." Remus said. "Okay! When are we leaving?" Harry asked. "In about twenty minutes. So hurry with your packing." Remus responded. Ten minutes later everyone was packed and ready. "Okay everyone, lets head to the Portkey Zone." Remus announced. "See you around Tom." Remus said as they entered the alley.

As they arrived at the zone, an Auror approached them. "Passport and Portkey pass please." The Auror said. Remus handed them to the man. "Hm, everything seems to be in order. Have a good trip you two." The Auror said before walking over to other people. "Let's go find our Portkey." Harry said. The team searched for a few minutes before spotting a sign that said Dengfeng, China. "Here we are you two." Remus said. "Why do we have to go to Dengfeng?" Harry asked. "Dengfeng is very close to the Shaolin Temple. If Bodhidharma isn't there, we can at least get information on where he might be." Ambrose explained. "Please grab ahold of the Portkey." A voice said over an intercom. "Hold on tight Harry, and don't let go until we get there." Remus warned.

The two grabbed ahold of a rope that worked as the physical key. They waited for about two minutes before they felt a pull on their naval. "AAAAAHHHH!" Harry screamed in surprise. For about twenty minutes, Harry had no sense of location. All he saw was lights flying past at speeds unreal to the boy. "HH," Harry yelled. "Harry, you can let go now." Remus said with a smirk. Harry looked around and saw that they had arrived at their location. "Where is Grandpa?" Harry asked. "Bbbbuuuh." Ambrose said with a shiver as he appeared next to them. "Remind me to look in the grimoire for a better way to travel." Ambrose said as he turned to the duo.

"Welcome to Dengfeng, China." A voice said over the intercom. "Wow, I didn't know they spoke such good English here!" Harry said in awe. Remus chuckled and said, "they can't Harry, that is the magic of the translation potion." Harry blushed in embarrassment. "Let's find someone who can give us some directions, shall we?" Remus asked as they set off. The Magical section of Dengfeng looked a lot like ancient China. Paper lanterns floated through the sky, illuminating the district. Fireworks exploded from a nearby shop, and a deep drum could be heard echoing through the area. "Wow!" Harry said in awe. "Excuse me sir," Remus said to a man, "how might we get to the Shaolin Temple?" The man was silent for a moment before explaining the directions. "Does any of this look familiar to you Grandpa?" Harry asked.

"Hm, Dengfeng's magical district looks larger than the last time I was here. It also seems to have advanced in building materials quite a bit." Ambrose said as he rubbed his chin. "Alright you two, I have the directions." Remus said as he led them out to the muggle side of things. "Taxi!" Remus yelled, gaining the intention of said driver. The taxi drove for about a half an hour before it stopped on the side of the road. "What are we doing here Uncle Moony?" Harry asked. "This is the road to the temple." Remus explained. Indeed, before them stood a long, beaten down, cobblestone path.

As they made their way up to the main temple, they passed many monks going about their day, practicing martial arts, doing chores, or meditating. Soon, they came upon an elderly monk who was waiting for them. "Hello there. Welcome to the Shaolin Monastery, how might we help you?" He asked after he bowed. "Tell him we are looking for the ancient master." Ambrose whispered. Remus leaned in before saying, "we are looking for the ancient master." The monk's eyebrows rose up before he motioned for them to follow him.

The group moved their way through the monastery at a quick pace, weaving in and out of the corridors and rooms. "Ah, here. Now we may speak." The monk said as they arrived in a room with a statue of a chubby man with earrings and a goatee. "This is the statue of Grandmaster Bodhidharma. He will know we are talking about him here." He explained. "So what is your business with the Grandmaster?" He asked. "An old friend of his wants to call in a favor for young Harry here." Remus explained. The monk studied Harry for a moment. "Indeed, the last we heard of him, Bodhidharma was in the Himalayas in Tibet. Do you have a map?" The monk asked. Remus pulled out a map that he bought and gave it to the man. The man pulled out an ink well and brush and drew a circle in the Tibet region. "If he is anywhere, that is where you should look." The monk said. "Thank you for you're time and help." Remus bowed before they left.

The trio traveled for about a month and a half around the area that the monk had circled, searching for the ancient Buddhist. Eventually they found a small temple deep in the mountains, at an oasis. "I hope this is the place." Remus said, looking worse for wear. His beard had grown out a bit, and he was covered in snow. "At least we are out of the snow." Harry said. "That's true. I envy you Ambrose, you are already dead." Remus said with a smile. "Hardy har har." Ambrose said. "It does not do to insult the dead." Came a voice from behind them. All three whirled around to see a large, slightly chubby man, with earrings and a goatee. "Bodhidharma! My old friend!" Ambrose said with a smile. "Thornwood Ambrose, it has been quite some time. I did not expect to ever see you again." The immortal said.

"This is Bodhidharma?" Remus asked. "Please, call me Bod. I have been expecting company, but I did not expect a friend I thought dead to show up." The man said. "Technically he is dead." Remus pointed out. "True, and he is not a true immortal, lucky for him." Bodhidharma said, ushering them into his home. "So what might I do for you, old friend? I do not believe this is a courtesy visit." He said sitting down. "Correct. I am here to request you to help in teaching young Hadrian here in the art of magic, and martial arts for the next year and some months." Ambrose explained. "Hm, come here young man." Bod said as he pulled out a staff. He place one hand on Harry's shoulder, while he twirled the staff in the other. "Hmm, oh yes. Interesting indeed." He said.

"Ambrose, Mr. Lupin, if you don't mind staying up for an hour or so, so that we can create a schedule for Hadrian." Bod asked. Ambrose nodded, while Remus was confused. "How do you know my name?" He asked. "I judged Hadrian." He said before going to the Kitchen. "Harry, I would do as he says, and get some rest." Remus said before the three convened to make a schedule.

The next day, after breakfast. "Come young man, we shall begin this phase of your journey outside." Bod said, leading Harry to an ancient training ground. "Now, before we begin, there are some things that we must go over." Bod said as he sat down. "First, what might I call you?" The monk asked. "What do you mean? My name is Harry, or Hadrian for more traditional people, or events." Harry said. "That is true, but names are not truly important. Names are ways for us to identify the world, and ourselves, without causing confusion on what we are trying to say. So, you could call yourself anything you like, you could be Clarence, Joe, Bob, maybe even Rob, and you would still be the same person." Bod said. Harry looked at the man like he had grown a second head.

"How about we just stick to Harry." Harry suggested. "Suit yourself." Bod said. "Alright Harry, now lets talk about your training schedule. Every morning, at eight o'clock, you will wake up and do your warm-ups. This includes stretches and running. At nine, you will have a half-hour to eat and freshen up for the day. At nine thirty we will work on teaching you martial arts till twelve thirty. You then have a half our for lunch. At one you will move to Ambrose teaching you ancient and family magic. I will join him sometimes, as I am even older than he is. At three thirty we will switch to etiquette and how to lead your future family. Finally at five you will be with Remus working on your application of what you learn, and as we progress I will join in the spars. After that is dinner, and your free time, but you will have a chore or two to do as well. Do you understand?" Bod asked. Harry took a minute to memorize everything that his new teacher told him. "I think so, when do we begin?" Harry asked.

"Tomorrow is when the schedule will come into play, for today, we will just do the basics, and Ambrose wanted you for a certain reason." Bod said. "Any more questions?" Bod asked. "Is there a magical part of martial arts?" Harry asked. "Depends on how far you progress. Now, let us being." Bod said, still sitting down. Harry waited a minute looking around, waiting for something to happen. "Um, Bod, nothing is happening." Harry said. Bod simply pointed his finger at the space in front of Harry. Suddenly a scroll appeared before his eyes. "Study this, it will show you the basic Kata's and stances." Bod said before moving back to his meditative position.

"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask, what did you mean that my journey had already begun? I thought it would start as soon as I started to learn from you." Harry asked. Nod chuckled. "Oh Harry, so what it was like to be young." Bod said with a smile. "Your journey began the moment you were born. It would be better to say that our journey's are more like stories. Each the hero or anti-hero forging our path until our story ends. With each new adventure, a new chapter is written, each new experience, forever being engraved into our path." Bod said. "You're really philosophical." Harry said. "Tends to happens to us Immortals. Now get reading." Bod said.

For the next few hours Harry studied the scroll, memorizing each position until it was engraved into his skull. "Alright Harry, lets take a break. Ambrose wants you now anyway." Bod said. Harry made his way back into the house, seeing his Grandfather and Uncle waiting for him at the table. "Hello Harry." Remus said. "What are we doing in here?" Harry asked. "We are going to learn what magic you can best utilize with a spell I instructed Remus on." Ambrose explained. Remus pulled out a piece of parchment and his wand and said, "Talenta revelio." A light shot into the paper, making it radiate with energy before settling back down. "Now Harry, prick your finger, and let a few drops of blood fall on to the parchment." Remus said. Harry grabbed a knife and slit his finger.

Hadrian James Thornwood

Natural Abilities:

Parselmouth

Beastmaster

shapeshifter: 2 possible forms

Portal opener

Affinities:

biomancy

umbramancy

Aeromancy

Wandless magic to a degree

Illusionist

Occlumency

Conjuration

Harry looked at the list in awe. "You mean that I will be able to all this easily?" Harry asked. "Yes and no. Natural abilities are things you could already do, you just aren't trained in it. Affinities are types of magic that you will learn easier than others. It doesn't mean that you will be good at practical magic, or theoretical. It also doesn't show things that are apart of magic, that you don't shape yourself. For example Runes or seals, depending on the location, are magical, but you don't shape them with your own magic most of the time, leading to them not showing up here." Ambrose explained. "Well, what ever the case, I've got a lot to learn before Hogwarts." Harry said making every laugh.