3. Rufus Scrimgeour

Rufus Scriemgeour is a hardened Auror, who has risen through the ranks rapidly during the wizarding war. He has proven himself a powerful wizard, maybe even on par with Moody, he has a tough exterior and a strong sense of justice which has helped him attain a high position among the Aurors office in the Ministry Of Magic.

Right now he was sitting in a room with three of the most powerful wizards that have ever lived, maybe even on par with the founders and Mr. Knott was even rumored to be on par with Merlin himself! After last night, when the Dark Lord was finally beaten by Mr. Knott, while he was protecting the homes of the Potters. Fleamont and Euphemia Potter died in the battle, along with mrs. Potter. But the small child of James and Lily survived along with his Father, what exactly happened no one is sure of as of yet. But with this feat he might actually believe Mr. Knott to rival Merlin!

It was a serious conversation they were having and one he could not quite believe he was having, Mr. Nicolas Flamel, Albus Dumbledore and Alan Knott were sitting in front of him proposing that he adopt a child! But not just any child, one whom they told him was supposed to be the vessel of the Dark Lord Voldemort!

It was not known by many, but before the war started he and his wife had planned on starting a family, children, house and the whole thing. The house was built, even among the turmoils of the war he managed to finish it. But the children never came, less than a year into the war, the Death Eaters got to his wife, they killed her, but not before doing unspeakable things to her.

So now he had an entire mansion, built near Hampstead Garden Suburb, he had bought it from an old wizarding family who had 5 acres hidden behind magics that completely hid the property from all others. He had hoped it would be their sanctuary, but now it was just a lonely place.

"Dumbledore, you cannot be serious! How am I supposed to take care of a child? It's just me alone in a giant manor!".

Dumbledore chuckled and with a glint in his eyes and a smirk he looked left and right at Flamel and Knott, before looking back at Rufus, "It's quite simple, take him home, love him, raise him, and do your best, you need this in your life as much as he needs stability in his. And with your property being nearly as well guarded as the blacks, you will be able to protect him".

Knott and Flamel just sat there smiling, like they knew something funny, but Rufus failed to see what was funny about any of this.

By the time morning came, Rufus Scrimgeour was convinced he had become mad, how else could he consider fostering the boy!?!

The talks had lasted most of the night, and now he was just standing in the doorway to the room, watching the child sleeping.

I didn't dream at all during the night, and as I awoke I abruptly jumped out of my bed, and immediately fell on my ass, "where am i?!? Who is that?! Where is this!?!... oh right… " I looked down at my body and the body of a child with small arms and legs, this was so surreal! The memories of last night appeared in my mind, Moody! I remembered waking up on the stone altar, and Mad-eye Moody taking me, did I also see Dumbledore and Flamel?!?

I looked around me, I was in some sort of hospital room, a chuckling could be heard and I turned towards the sound, there in the doorway stood Rufus Scrimgeour.

I quickly stood up slightly embarrassed, this was all too surreal, I was actually in Harry Potter! "Sorry". I quickly sat in my bed again, "That's alright son, no harm done, this must be all very scary for you, but you are safe. I don't know how much you remember, but your parents had an accident, they didn't make it, I'm sorry for your loss".

I didn't know how to react, my supposed parents had died, it must have something to do with that altar I woke up on.

He started to explain that I would be living with him from now on, we ended up spending most of the day talking, he explained about his house, what he did for work and I had to come up with some things a kid would do. By the afternoon I had a feeling that this might be okay, he seemed very stiff and proper but he did loosen up a bit, it seemed just as weird for him as it was for me, but it was for very different reasons.

We left St. Mungo's walking out the streets of London, Rufus hailed a taxi which we rode to Hampstead Garden Suburb, though it was a mainly muggle district wizards had lived for long among them, since originally the property was at the very outskirts of London when it was warded first, but since then all the muggles had built around the property expanding London to the great city it was today.

I didn't say much at first, but I did exclaim in surprise when we walked through the ward to the property. It was like walking into a new world, the property expanded in every direction, and as we walked, we came upon the large mansion that had been built. Three stories tall in a H shape, with columns at the doorway, it looked very expensive and very well built!

At the door stood two house elves, beaming at us, they were both dressed well, not in rags but in proper uniforms. A male and female house elf.

Rufus greeted them both, and they both bowed as we walked in.

He led me up to the first floor and showed me what was to become my room, "I hope you will like this, it is now yours to do with what you want. I think we should both head early to bed, and have a proper start tomorrow".

"Okay.'' Being in such a small and young body, I felt really tired, and immediately went to bed.

The first couple of days at the house was spent getting used to my new body, and wondering how all this happened! I could remember my last life, but the emotional attachments were gone. I remember that I loved my parents, that I missed them, but now it was more like looking back at a memory without any real attachment. It was the same for all my other memories.

What I also felt was weird was that Moody casted an obliviate on me, but it didn't seem to work, since I could remember him? But I don't know what he was actually trying to obliviate from me, was it the experience of the ritual? Or him trying to make me forget the entire night? That seemed to have gone wrong since I remembered everything since I awoke.

I remembered the magic washing over me, then a familiar feeling, and then it just went away?

But maybe this was also an opportunity, a new lease on life literally! I died and reincarnated into the Potter verse. At least I hope it's cannon, I really do not want to fight in a senseless war, just because of the stupidity that is blood purity, which can't possibly be very pure with all the inbreeding!

I had never in my wildest dreams imagined being adopted by Rufus Scriemgeour, he wasn't a very important person to the plot of Harry Potter, and now he was my "father".

The day after arriving, I was awoken by one of the house elves named Tobrey, "Little master, it's time to wake up, breakfast is ready in the dining room". I nodded and got up, it was weird being small again, Tobrey helped lay out clothes, he snapped his fingers and I felt clean and fresh again. I put on the clothes with the help of Tobrey, he was very gentle and encouraging, it was well made and fit perfectly, I followed Tobrey out of my room down the stairs and into the dining area.

Rufus sat at the table waiting, he wore a dark blue suit with a vest, he did look alot younger than I remembered from the movies. I sat next to him where the table was set, and looked nervously at him, he smiled at me "I'm told your name is Thomas, is that right?" I had no idea what my new name was, so I just nodded. "It's okay Thomas, this will take some getting used to, but I do hope you will consider this your home from now on, you can go anywhere you want in the house, except the study, but that room is locked, my papers from the ministry is in there, along with case files, you see I'm what is called an Auror, I help catch bad people, like the ones that hurt you, you will be safe here". He laid a hand atop of mine and gently held it as he said it.

We started eating and talked a bit back and forth. I was supposed to be 3 so it was limited to what games I played or interests I had.

After breakfast, Rufus showed me around the mansion, there were so many rooms, besides the study he even had a large library. He also took me on a tour of the grounds, they were beautiful, large trees, and a large and wide lawn, a couple of football fields large, I think I'm going to be alright living here, maybe even start to learn some magic?

As time passed we got into a rhythm. Rufus spent most of his time at the Ministry, but he did take a surprisingly large amount of time off to spend with me. We visited Diagon Alley, went on small trips and explored London. He bought me toys he thought I would like, even one of those toy brooms that can go half a meter off the ground and fly slowly around, but it was flying!

Most of my time was spent trying to feel my magic, hoping for quick results was not happening, but I did get my first bout of accidental magic, when in a fit of frustration and yes, I admit, RAGE! I managed to make myself glow like a miniature sun! After that, I could finally feel some sort of flow in my body. Trying to move it, shape it or affect it in any way was a frustrating ordeal that took several more months before I even managed to successfully cast lumos! I actually did it without an incantation, but that might have more to do with my still lacking control of my body. But I do remember intent being a big part of magic, so I focused to the point of turning red in the face, willing the light to appear in the palm of my hand! But it finally succeeded and with each attempt it became easier and easier!

I would not see myself as a prodigy, but an adult in a child's body, with nothing else of interest to do, finds a way.

I spent most of my time trying to work on my magic since my lumos actually worked!

Having house elves around took some getting used to, but Rufus treated them very well, and they seemed to like it. It was a weird feeling, but I didn't know what else to do, other than go with the flow.

By the time I turned 5 Rufus had noticed my interest in magic, and had bought several books on introduction to magic, and even some first year books from Hogwarts. He first did it just to test me, but as I consumed the books he gave me, he was surprised, even when he caught me casting a wandless Lumos. So he did what any rational person did, he went immediately to Dumbledore and Knott, somewhat frantic and at a loss of what to do.

<Scene change to Hogwarts>

Dumbledore sat in his chair chuckling, while Knott stood to the side petting Fawkes, they looked like they were great friends, and could be mistaken to be having a conversation with each other. Scrimgeour stood in front of the headmasters desk looking with a ruffled head of hair, and his off-work clothes that were wrinkled and looked out of sorts.

"Dumbledore stop laughing! This isn't funny, and you Knott, can you not just stand there talking to the bird and focus a bit here on the current issue!". Dumbledore full on bellowed at this, like it was some sort of internal joke, and started banging like a lunatic on his desk.

Knott turned from Fawkes, and smiled at Rufus, and walked up to Dumbledore and extended his hand palm up in a give it here motion.

Dumbledore reached into his robes and withdrew a small bag of what looked to be containing something jingling, most likely galleons.

Rufus was staring slack jawed at their interaction, where they betting on me?

Knott hefted the pouch and put it inside his robes, and looked smugly at Rufus, "Rufus, we were both or should I say Dumbledore was expecting more from you, he bet me you wouldn't crack under the pressure, and I thought you would. But relax, so the kids a genius? As we said, be there for him, care for him, help him where you can, maybe in a couple of years you can let Moody train him during the summer? You will do fine, let him read, let him practice, help him where you can and it will all be well. Now I think that settles it, and you should get back to Thomas?".

Rufus didn't know what to say or do, and let himself be led by Allen to the fireplace where he waved his hand and pushed him into the fire taking him back to his house.

What came from this, was that Rufus elected to put me in a private school for gifted youngsters.That was not what I wanted! I disliked school in my previous life, and the feeling was not exactly roaring for another decade of schooling. Magic held my interest, and traveling!

Besides school, I often stayed out reading in the garden, enjoying the weather whenever it actually wasn't raining, I met one of the neighborhood kids, a girl named Hermione, she seemed cute in a non sexual way, like looking at a cute kid, she always had a thoughtful look, like she was trying to figure out the world, and yes she is that girl! One of the three amigos, part of the Golden Trio!

But she also had a bossy attitude, she actually told me i wasn't supposed to read such books, they were only for adults! I was currently at the time reading another Stephen King book that Rufus for some reason had in his library. Turns out, Stephen King is a wizard! Who would have thought? it does make his stories alot more scary, considering some parts of them are true!

At first he kept trying to hide it from me, but I eventually got it sneaked out.

I quickly became friends with Hermione, she was surprisingly good to talk with, even though she really liked following the rules!

When I was about 7, I experienced my first bout of accidental magics. It happened one day when I was climbing a tree trying to get away from Hermione, since she kept pestering me with questions! But trying to climb a tree with low to no muscles, meant i lost my grip about 10 meters up in the air!

I slipped from the tree, a panicked expression on my face, I didn't even manage to scream, arms flapping and legs kicking in the air, I sailed through the air, trying to will my magic to do something! About halfway down I felt my magic flaring and suddenly I was engulfed in flames!

I felt myself moving and suddenly I was standing on the ground beside Hermione in a gust of flames.

She shrieked and suddenly I felt her magic flaring and I was blasted away from her, rolling on the dirt and finally coming to a stop a couple of meters away on my back, looking confused, because, that's not supposed to happen, What just happened?

Hermione walked up to me looking worried, "Thomas are you ok? How did you do that? How did I do that?", I just looked at her, shrugged my shoulders and said, '' Magic?

She laughed and helped me up, looking at her a bit worried, "Has anything like that happened for you before?", I knew it was accidental magic, but i hadn't seen it happening to her before. She shrugged and had a thoughtful look on her face,"I once made my teddy bear float in the air, and I Once floated a book down from a high shelf, is that magic? I didn't think it was real ''. Nodding, since that did appear to be just accidental magic. We spent the rest of the day trying to do more magic again, but without any real success, I could do a Lumos without issues now along with some cleaning spells I learned from the elves and I was able to heal minor bruising and cuts, but I didn't think that would be smart just showing. Most of what I had read in the books from Rufus, was mostly theory, he told me he wanted to expand my theory before allowing me to use proper spells, he allowed me to use lumos, and push and pull exercises but those weren't working much at the moment.

The days turned to weeks, then to months and finally to years, I spent most of my time trying to further my magic, and figure out different kinds of magics.

By the time I was 9 I could do most basic magics at will, I never figured out the flaming that happened, but I can tell you, it was hard to learn any kind of magics! Just activating it was hard, but actually getting the results you wanted was even harder. I also tried to trick myself into doing the flaming thing again. I climbed up a large tree and jumped, willing my magic again, but I broke both legs, my left foot and my right arm... That sucked, even with magic supposedly making me more durable! That was also a hard conversation to explain to Rufus, but I chose not to lie to him. I told him of my apparent ability, he was initially shocked but then he told of some of the ritual they had learned in the years since. He also told me of the phoenix soul I possessed, which somehow had affected me. He made me promise that I wouldn't try the ability again or talk about it to anyone else, and any training of the ability should only be on the grounds of our home!

Besides trying to replicate what I was calling Phoenix travel, fingers crossed for that! which I for some reason was able to do that one time, but not really again, I also got better at my wandless magic, not something epic, but I mean it's magic, it's cool no matter what. Lumos, wingardium leviosa, Accio, Aberto, Alohomora and Arresto Momentum were the spells I had successfully learned at the time. If I do say so myself, I'm very proud of this.

I tried teaching Hermione some of the wandless magics as well, but she was never able to feel her magic, so I guess, she still had to go through her maturation at 11 for her Magics to become strong enough. At least I think that's it. Why it seemed I already had gone through the maturation I wasn't sure of, it must be either the ritual at the cemetary or because I reincarnated, I asked Rufus, but he wasn't sure either, I didn't mention reincarnation, that would never go well.

i spent a lot of time with Hermione and we became good friends, unfortunately we didn't go to the same classes, since I was a year ahead.

During the summers we would go on adventures, dreaming of seeing exciting and interesting places. Hermione did not have the same drive to travel, but was fascinated by other cultures, and their histories. I imagine she would make a great historian.

In the years I was never really able to get her out of the rules must be followed mindset, I guess me being older did not exactly give me an abundance of patience for teaching her that not all rules should be followed!