i

"Alright Hadrian, starting today you are my apprentice. That means, that you follow my orders to the letter. After a while I will ask your input for projects, but for now keep your comments to yourself, unless you notice something is wrong. You may ask any question that is not stupid, as it is my job to teach you, but stupid questions are not worth the breath it took to ask them. Now, you will refer to me as Master, or Sir while we work. Outside of our time together you may call me Sidir, unless you've figured out my true name?" Sidir asked with a smirk.

"I haven't, but I think I'm close." Harry said. "Well, when you think you've got it, ask." Sidir said. "But once you do, you must not speak it outside these walls, or outside your manor. Immortals are rare, and regular people don't like people who are thousands of years old wandering around." Sidir explained. "So you're thousand of years old hm?" Harry asked. Sidir swore as he let that tidbit of information out. "Anyway, do you have any questions before we begin?" Sidir asked.

"I have two questions actually." Harry started. "Ask away." Sidir said. "Bod taught me that runes use ambient magic to power them. But in focci crafting, we use runes. How does that work since runes don't use our magic?" Harry asked. "Good question. While Bod was right for the most part, there are a few runes, and rune sequences that use the magic from the user. But that does not answer the question now does it?" Sidir asked rhetorically. "The runes that I put on the focci I craft do use those rare runes I just mentioned occasionally. It really depends on the type of focci. But the main runes I use absorb the magic that is naturally released from our bodies. For example, your wand that I crafted has a smokey quarts that I imbued with runes. I assume that you carry your wand on you most of, if not all the time?" Sidir asked.

"I keep it on me, and use it often." Harry said. "Good, that means that your left over magic has been absorbed by the runes. The three runes that I carved into your wand are the strengthening rune, absorbing rune, and the control rune. The absorbing rune is important because it absorbs your left over magic that leaves your body every second of your life. This makes it so that no one else can use your wand. The strengthening rune uses the magic from the absorbing rune to protect your wand. It makes it so that if your wand is directly attacked, then most spells will be ineffective. Now, this happens over years, and will slowly get stronger, not straight away. The last rune helps you will lessening how much magic you expel from your body, as it states, it increases your control. If you expel less magic, you have more to use." Sidir explained.

"OK, that makes more sense now." Harry said. "And you're second question?" Sidir asked. "Do you get a lot of business?" Harry asked. "And why, pray tell, is that your question?" Sidir asked a bit upset. "I want to know so that I could form some idea of how my training will go. Will I be doing hands on with reading? Or will I be observing you while you tell me what is going on?" Harry asked. "Ah, I understand now. As for your training, it will be both until you are at a high enough level of skill. But my business is a bit, different." Sidir said.

"Have you ever heard of Portal Keepers?" Sidir asked. "I actual am one myself." Harry said. "Be careful with that knowledge, Portal Keepers are extremely rare, and extremely sought after. Do not divulge that information until you can trust the person with your life." Sidir said. "But, since you have knowledge of Portal Keepers, my explanation will be shortened. My shop exists in a pocket realm, but the door and front of the shop show up all over the world. Who shows up, and for what reason is entirely up to fate and luck." Sidir said. "So how do I get home?" Harry asked. "Well, you can open a portal, or I can just bring us back. The spell that is on the shop is tied to me, so I can choose the destination if I really want."

"Now, do you have any other questions?" Sidir asked. "I think that covers my concerns." Harry said. "Good, lets get started. Now, you will also learn a bit of enchanting while I am your master. That is just a byproduct of crafting focci, as the two are very similar." Sidir said, motioning to the devices in the shop. "These devices for example." Harry looked over in awe at the devices. "Do you understand?" Sidir asked. "Yes sir." Harry replied. "Good. Now, lets start with the basics. The most common forms of focci are wands and staffs. That is because they are used throughout the entire world at this point, while the rest have been all but forgotten." Sidir lectured.

"What are the forgotten focci?" Harry asked. "Good question. There are actually an infinite number of combinations of materials, but there are a few categories that we sort them into. Make a note." Sidir said before Harry took out a notebook. "These categories correlate to the devices I have in my shop. These categories are wand, tomes, staffs, accessories, and weapons. Like I said, of the five, two are the only ones that are really left in circulation. Now, there is a sixth category, but it is extremely rare, and the hardest to get right. This category, is armor." Sidir explained. "Why is armor considered a category, and why is it even more rare then the others?" Harry asked.

"Armor as a focci usually are gloves, but, that could be considered a weapon, as a martial art weapon. Weird styles of magic and fighting tend to be developed because it can be any form of armor. This includes breastplates and shoes." Sidir said. "I see why it is the rarest. What are the other focci that I can use?" Harry asked. "An accessory, and either a weapon or a tome." Sidir said before continuing with his lecture. "Accessories are like rings, piercings, necklaces, things like that. Weapons are different woods and metals mixed with the magic of the future user, some animal materials, and some runes, and sometimes some gemstones."

"And Tomes?" Harry asked. "Tomes are... quite different. A tome is a book, so it is made using the paper of magical trees. Then you soak the paper in different creature materials. Finally you give the user a bottle of magic ink that you write the incantation to spells. Then you channel your magic into the tome and speak the incantation and the spell happens." Sidir explained. "I've got a lot to learn." Harry said staring off into space. "We got all the time in the world."

"Alright Harry, grab ahold of my hand. It's time to go home." Remus said with a smile. "Finally! I can't wait to see what Grandpa designed for us." Harry exclaimed. "Speaking of which, where is he?" Harry asked. Remus looked puzzled for a moment. "Harry, Ambrose has... changed." Remus said slowly. "What do you mean?" Harry asked fearfully. "He's moved on. But we had a portrait made for him, so he's not really gone." Remus said. "Why didn't he, sniff, mention anything?" Harry asked. "He held on as long as he could, but he fulfilled his contract to stay in this realm. You are ready to rebuild the Thornwood family. He couldn't bare to say goodbye, so he made a portrait so that you can still talk to him." Remus said. "Okay, I feel a little better now that you explained it." Harry said.

"Alright, now, lets go see your new home!" Remus said, lifting Harry's spirits. "Let's go!" Harry said grabbing Remus's hand. The two apparated away with a large crack. The two arrived in front of a large wrought iron grate. The gate had a large tree with thorns jutting out. "Are you the future Lord Thornwood?" Said a voice from behind them. The two whirled around to see a large man with a hardhat on. "Yes, and who are you?" Harry asked. "I'm Mr. Jilt, I'm here to make sure that you get the ward book and are properly tied to the wards. Did you understand any of that?" The man said.

"Yes, even though I am young, I have learned many things, wards included." Harry said. "Alright, I just had to check. Here's the book. I need you to sign the owner's section in blood. Then once you get your lordship ring you need to press it to the book so that it accepts you as owner of the wards. For now, they will not be as strong, because you haven't been fully accepted yet, but the wards will be about seventy percent powered up, so you should be fine." Mr. Jilt explained. "Thank you. Has your company been paid in full yet?" Harry asked. "Yes, Mr. Lupin here paid everything two days ago." Mr. Jilt explained. Harry nodded before cutting his finger with his dagger and signing the book. He then wrote Remus's name in. "Alright we are added to the book." Harry said. "Then my business here is done. Good day gentlemen, and congratulations on the new manor." Mr. Jilt said before apparating away.

"Shall we?" Remus asked as the gate swung open. "So how big is the whole area?" Harry asked. "Well, it's certainly not Hogwarts big, but it is large. Roughly one hundred acres, with a forest, rolling hills, and a medium sized lake. The entire area is surrounded by a stone wall that is magically enhanced. There's also a few magical creatures around, but nothing we need to worry about, even with our luck." Remus said cracking a smile. "Remus, why don't we just apparate to the front of the manor?" Harry asked. Remus slapped in forehead before grabbing Harry's hand.

"Here we are." Remus said as they popped in front of the manor. "Wow!" Harry said in amazement. The manor stood tall at three stories high. The manor was a deep ebony wood, with silver trim. In front of the manor were hedges that we immaculately trimmed to perfection. There were two wings that Harry could tell, an east and a west wing, while the central part of the building was the largest. "Let's go in!" Remus said in a child like voice. They entered through two large oak doors into the foyer, which shocked both newcomers, as they had never seen such designs. The room was large, taking up a good portion of the central area, being the entire three stories tall, with the hallways being overlooks into the foyer from the second and third floors. There were two stairwells that connected on either side of the room to the second floor. In the middle of the room, a statue of a woman towered up to the second floor, she was surrounded by a circle of water that flowed from somewhere upon the third floor. There was a skylight in the center of the ceiling, letting the morning sun shower the statue in it's golden rays.

"Do you like it?" Said a voice next to them. Remus and Harry turned to see Ambrose in a portrait being carried by a house elf. "Grandpa! Why didn't you tell me you were moving from this realm? I was going to give you a ceremony." Harry said. "I couldn't face you, from what my memory shows me." Ambrose said. "What do you mean, your memory?" Harry asked. "Harry, I am not the same Ambrose that you knew. I am a collection of his memories, and given his appearance by a most talented artist. I essentially have only existed for a few days. But I can still guide you, as I have the most important aspects of my mind, and abilities in my memory. Besides, now I can be with you and forge new memories that I can use to guide the future Thornwood's." Ambrose said. "That makes sense." Harry said before noticing the elf shimmy in discomfort. "Excuse me, what is your name?" Harry asked.

"I be Pipit, my lord." Pipit said. "Are you tiring from holding my grandfather?" Harry asked sincerely." No, my lord, Pipit would never dare get tired." Pipit said. Harry walked up to the elf and leaned down a bit to get eye level with him. "Pipit, I don't want you to overwork yourself. I want to be a reasonable owner. If you get tired, take a break, and go back to work after you have recovered." Harry said with a smile. "Thank you my Lord!" Pipit said excitedly. "Pipit, are there any other house elves, or is it just you?" Harry asked. "Just me's, but Master needs to bind Pipit to him." The elf said. "Remus, would you mind taking Grandpa's portrait?" Harry asked. "Sure."

After Ambrose was in Remus's hands, Harry placed his hand on Pipit's head and called forth the magic contract he memorized from his lord training. "I, Hadrian James Thornwood, here by bind Pipit the house elf to the Thornwood family. I will try to be a good Master, and serve him well as well." Harry said before a flash of magic happened. When the light died down, Harry has taken his hand off of the Little elf's head. "Pipit, how many elves would you say the manor and grounds will need to efficiently sustain itself?" Harry asked. "Pipit thinks two or three more Master, but there also is a brownie that moved in." Pipit said. "Already? That was quite fast." Ambrose exclaimed. "What is a brownie?" Harry asked.

"Bownies are rare creature's that moves into a house if they feel good intentions from the owners. They will help around the house at night if they are given treats such as honey or cream, but will leave if they are mistreated or under paid so to speak." Remus explained. "Hm, it seems that even the brownies are no longer around much." Ambrose said. "Pipit, would you mind taking Ambrose here to the study along with Harry? I'm going to go get our things along with Selena." Remus said. "Yes Misters Remus." Pipit said before grabbing the portrait and leading Harry up the stairs. "Pipit, remind me to take a tour of the Manor after we are done talking." Harry said. "Yes Master, Pipit be reminding yous." He said.

"Do you think I can speak to the brownie? I would like to talk to him." Harry said. "Hm, well, when I was alive brownies were very secretive, not every wishing to be seen. If what I can gather from Remus's statement on them, they either have gone into hiding, or have been dying out, so they must be even more reclusive. But you can always give it a shot." Ambrose said. "Here we's be." Pipit said as they arrived at a pair of large doors. "This be the Master's study." Pipit announced. Harry entered first, and studied the room. It was very bare, only having a fire place, an empty bookshelf, and a desk with a chair. There was plenty of room for growth, but for now it was quite empty. "Pipit, would hang my Grandfather's portrait next to the desk?" Harry asked. "Yes Master." The elf said.

"Now Pipit, I want to lay down some guidelines for you to follow. First is, I want you and any other elves we get to have a uniform. I am not releasing you, I want you all to look respectable. For everything I want you to have the family crest on it. For females I believe some form of dress would be appropriate. If you are working in the house, how about a butler's uniform. The kitchen an apron and some shorts. And outside a hat, some shorts and some gloves. I want you all to be protected from things that could hurt you." Harry said. "Yes Master, Pipit understand." The elf said.

"Now the next thing, I would prefer if you called me Sir, but if Master is you're thing that's fine." Harry said. "Yes Sir." Pipit said. "Next, I want every elf to have a day off per month. I know it is not orthodox in today's world, but you are living creatures too. Use it for sickness or recovery, or whatever it is you want, but try not to have it when another elf is off unless you absolutely have to, or ask me before hand. Understood?" Harry asked. "Yes Sir, yous are most gracious towards use House elves." Pipit said. "I respect every living creature, and the dead as well." Harry explained.

"Now, let's see if we can't get our brownie friend to appear." Harry said to Pipit. "Pipit, would you go to the kitchen and get me some honey if we have some?" Harry asked. "Yes sir." Pipit said before popping away. "You are handling things rather well." Ambrose said from his new perch. "You, Bod, and Uncle Moony trained me well." Harry said with a smile. "That we did." Ambrose said before Pipit popped back into the room. "Here yous go Master." Pipit said. "Thank you Pipit. You may go now." Harry said.

"Yes Sir. Don't forget to explores the Manor." Pipit said before popping away. "Excuse me, Mr. or Mrs. Brownie, if you can hear me, I would like to talk to you, I have some honey here for you." Harry said, channeling his magic to his voice. He placed the honey down and sat in his chair. After about ten minutes Harry was alerted by the wards that Remus had returned. "Pipit, could you tell Remus that we are in the study?" Harry said aloud. "Yes Master." Pipit's said, his voice materializing from nowhere.

"Bit of a broken record huh." Came a voice from beside Harry. Harry whipped his head around looking for the owner of the new voice. "Down here." The voice said once again. Harry looked at his desk in front of him, and saw a small man standing a little smaller than the spoon that he used to eat the honey with. "You must be the brownie that moved in." Harry said. "Aye, that's me. Tag at your service." Tag said, tipping his hat. He was dressed in a kind of top hat, along with a brown vest and shorts. He had a bit of a beard, and long pointy ears. "A pleasure to meet you." Harry said.

"So why did you want to talk with me?" Tag asked, leaning against honey bowl. "Well, I just wanted to meet you, as I have never heard of a Brownie until twenty minutes ago. I also would like to welcome you to the Thornwood Manor, and hope that you can help keep the place in the best condition." Harry said. "If you give me some snacks like this honey or some cream and crackers every few nights I'll stick around and help out. The mother knows we don't want to many house elves parroting their yes master around. Oh yeah, tell them to not mess up my home if they find it, else I'll get really mad." Tag said.

"What happens if you get mad?" Harry asked. "I become a type of boggart, they are real nasty, and I start doing mean stuff to the people who live here." Tag explained. "I'll see to it that they don't disturb your home to the best of their abilities. Where is it that you made it anyways?" Harry asked. "It's in the basement, near the cellar." Tag said before snapping his fingers and disappearing. "Well that went well." Ambrose commented. "Yeah, seems like I nice fellow." Harry said before the doors opened and Remus and Selena walked in.

"You took your time." Ambrose said as Selena jumped into Harry's arms and nuzzled against him. "I got lost a bit. Why don't we go explore a bit?" Remus suggested. "Sounds like a plan." Harry said. "Well, have fun, I guess I will stay here." Ambrose said. "You have books, a training dummy, and a bed in your portrait, so you have things to do." Remus said. "True."

The two Humans, and one Ice Leopard spent the better part of three hours exploring the manor. The house was divided into three sections they found. The east wing held the bedrooms of the main family, along with a large library that took up the first and part of the second floor. The Central area of the manor held the foyer, the kitchen, a large dining room, a sitting room, the study and a few other rooms. The east wing held a sitting room, a drafting room, an armory, the guestrooms, and the extended family rooms. The basement held a potions lab, cellar with a brownie, a large area for training, and a storage area. Hidden in the cellar was a secret passage out of the house, and a secret passage to the vault.

Two years have passed since Harry moved to his new home, and became an apprentice. He obtained three more elves, two female and one male, and gave each a day off each month like he promised. They moved everything from the vaults at Gringotts to the manor, and gave the place a more homely feel. Remus had yet to need to go to a wizengamot meeting, but was practicing for when the Thornwood's returned. Harry is currently in his last lesson with Sidir before he leaves for Hogwarts.

"So what are you teaching me today Master?" Harry asked. "Today is going to be different. Hadrian, you are just about ready to advance to the next tier in your apprenticeship, to that of an adept. But to do so, you must create your own focci." Sidir explained. "Am I doing that today!?" Harry exclaimed. "Ku-ku-ku no, no. You will take it next summer once you return from Hogwarts." Sidir chuckled.

"What must I do to prepare?" Harry asked. "You need to gather your own materials while at Hogwarts. The only ones you will be allowed to use of mine will be gemstones, as they are rare and take years to find." Sidir said. "How will I find the materials?" Harry asked. "Always asking the right questions, you are. I will teach you a spell to find magical tree's where you can gather the wood from. As for Magical Creature materials, you must do that on your own, but I have something here for you that will help you greatly." Sidir said before pulling out a piece of parchment. "Give this note to your head of house, and they will understand. If they deny you the ability to gather materials, then send a note to me, I will bring Hades upon them if they refuse once again." Sidir said.

"You said Hades." Harry said. "Crap." Sidir muttered to himself. "I have a really good idea of who you are now Sidir. I will tell you once I get back." Harry said. "Good, now let me show you the spell to identify a magical tree." Sidir said pulling out a wand. "You must circle your wand and say lignum est magicae." Sidir demonstrated. "Now, because you are my apprentice, I am going to make another focci for you, something you may very well need." Sidir said, exciting the young apprentice. "Follow." Sidir said, exiting the room.

"You are going to have an accessory type focci now, what it is depends on your magic, and your materials." Sidir said. "Go and pick." He said before Harry left for the tables. He tried wood, and metals, but none of them did anything, He came to materials, and he felt a pull towards a rope like material, and a jar of dark liquid. He made his way towards the gemstones and felt a pull towards a large blue gem. "Interesting. Hair of a banshee, woven into a rope, the blood of a spriggan, and a tanzanite crystal." Sidir stated. "Are you going to tell me what they stand for?" Harry asked. "Nope, you have homework." Sidir said, handing Harry a large notebook. "That is my notebook on everything that I have encountered in my life that pertains to focci crafting. I'll tie it to you later, as I don't want anyone else reading it. But I want it back. So use it to find what your materials mean." He said before going into the work shop.

"Blood." Sidir said. Harry cut his finger, and collected the blood in a vial. "Here ya go." Harry said. "I don't want you to watch this one, because I want you to study the seals that I engrave into it, that will be another part of your homework." Sidir said, dismissing Harry. Sidir came back a half hour later, holding a necklace. "It took a while, but here is your accessory, or in this case, a necklace." Sidir said. The gemstone was in the middle, rapped in the rope, with runes etched into the stone. "To use it either channel magic through the stone and use both hands to make the regular wand movements, or hold it with one hand and do the wand movements with the other. Only do those for now. Once you are more use to it, slowly get rid of the movements." Sidir explained before handing the necklace to Harry. He then bound the notebook the young lord.

"Remember, if you don't get permission, send me a note, and I will be there." Sidir said.

"Alright Harry, you got everything?" Remus asked. "Yep, I double checked last night, and I checked once more this morning." Harry said. "Good. Now, don't forget to right. Now give your Uncle a hug." Remus said with a smile. Harry leaned in and hugged the man. "Remember, be extremely guarded about your abilities." Remus whispered to his nephew. "I'll see you later Uncle Moony." Harry said as he grabbed his trunk and boarded the train. "It feels like a millennia ago when I first left for Hogwarts." Remus said to himself before heading towards the exit.

"Hm, it seems like most compartments are pretty full." Harry said to himself as he made his way down the train. Eventually he came to an empty compartment. He pulled out Sidir's notebook and started to study the effects of different woods on focci. The whistle of the train sounded and the express was off. After about half an hour, there was a ruckus coming from the compartment next to his. "Uh, I guess people are wanting to be loud." He said as he put a bookmark where he left off and opened the door. The first thing he saw was a wall of flab. "Now Greengrass, don't be that way." Said a voice coming from inside the compartment.

Daphne Greengrass was quite a cute girl, even for an eleven year old. Her hair was a wavy light blonde, and she had sky blue eyes. Her complexion was immaculate, and her teeth perfectly white. She had the promise of a wonderful body when she got older as well. The only problem was that she was a bit of a loner, only have a few friends like Tracey Davis and a boy named Blaise Zabini. But those two wanted to talk to other friends, and had left the compartment they were in.

Daphne was reading a book, enjoying the silence, when the door slid open. "That was fast." Daphne said not lifting her eyes from her book. "Well, had I had known you were waiting, I would have come sooner." Said a voice very different from her friends. Daphne's eyes darted up instantly. "Oh, it's you Malfoy. What do you want?" Daphne asked. "Can't I come see my future wife?" Draco said moving closer to her. "I do not like you, nor do I ever plan to marry you." Daphne said. "I'll just have to have my father convince yours to marry you to me." Draco said, putting his hand on her knee. Daphne slapped his hand away in anger. "Don't be that way Greengrass." He said moving closer.

"Excuse me Gents, but if you could all just, step aside." Said a voice from behind Malfoy's bodyguards, Crab and Goyle. Malfoy whirled around to see a very tall kid standing behind his grunts. "Who are you?" Malfoy demanded. "None, of your business. What are you doing to this young lady here?" The boy asked. "None of your business." Malfoy responded. "Well, you see, you were being quite loud, and I come to investigate, and I see something I don't really like." The boy said. "You better just move along if you know what's good for you. My father is on the board of governors, and can have you expelled." Malfoy said arrogantly. The boy was silent. "Yeah, you better leave." Draco said, thinking that he had one. "I'd like to see him try." The boy said before slamming his fist into both boys' stomachs, knocking them out of the way, before charging Draco.

Draco pulled out his wand to fire a spell his father taught him, but the Boy had moved to fast. and slammed a fist into the blonde's nose, breaking it. In the process of breaking the blonde's nose, he also knocked him into the hallway, essentially away from the girl. Draco got up with a groan. "When my father hears about this, you'll be expelled." Draco said. "I got a message for you, and your daddy. No one messes with the Thornwood's." Harry said before closing the door and locking it.

"Are you okay?" He said as he turned to the girl. "Y-yeah. What just happened?" The girl asked. "I just saved you from a potentially dangerous situation." Harry said. "T-thanks. I'm Daphne Greengrass. You are?" Daphne asked. Harry made a top hat appear out of thin air. "Hadrian Thornwood, at your service." He said as he tipped his hat.