Chapter 016 The Cube and The Letter

Christmas was a lively affair as the new addition to the household was welcomed warmly and with open arms by everyone. The boy was understandably amazed by all the magical things he'd seen being performed on a daily basis. There was also, Midas, a real live Phoenix! The bird of course lapped up the attention from the boy. The people here could also turn into animals! Sirius, the funny man who loves to play pranks on everyone could turn into a huge black dog. Harry could turn into…well…he couldn't describe it but it was still awesome! He was told that Harry was sort of a unique creature. Then there was Remus who was a werewolf. He was shocked! Werewolves and phoenixes. He was still finding new things until now about magic and it was amazing. But most of all, Freddie felt that he finally has a place to call home and a family he can consider his own.

Sirius and Remus were appalled when Freddie told them the treatment he endured from his parents. The Potter household was definitely not new to abusive relatives and so all of them made sure to shower him with love and careful attention. On the other hand, Harry had been thinking for some time now since he rescued Freddie and brought him home. How many more magical children were out there that were in similar situations? Were they like Freddie, tossed out of his own home, abused by those who should have cared for him. Were there others like Harry himself, afraid and confused of the weird things that keep happening around them and hated by people that should have been family but were treated like vermin?

He couldn't well scour every household for magical children and then monitor them all day to see if they were being treated right. As powerful as he was he was only just one person. Maybe he could create a ward or something that could detect children in the muggle world? It was something to think about. As much as he wanted to start right away he had things that needed his attention. Like getting Freddie a practice wand.

It was January 10, 1991 and it was Freddie's birthday! The older boy turned 11 today and Harry promised that he would start teaching him about the new world he suddenly found himself in. Getting him a wand was also part of his birthday gift. So now both boys were in the Potter Vault in the Library and picking out a wand.

"Go on. Try one out and see if one responds to you."

Freddie nodded and approached the dozens of wands arranged neatly on a wall. There were a lot honestly but Harry told him he just needed something to practice with for now as he would get himself fitted with a proper wand later when they shopped for their school supplies.

Freddie focused his senses just like how Harry taught him. Magic was all about intent and a strong will to make it happen, at least that was what he was told. Closing his eyes he tried reaching out with his senses. Was it a few minutes? An hour? He didn't know but suddenly he felt something. Opening his eyes his heart beat excitedly as he approached a stand.

The wand was one of the longest among the lot with an ash-colored polished wood. Looking at its display case it said:

Griselda Potter née Gould

856 AC - 1043 AC

Ashwood & Dragon Heartstring

13 Inches

"Go on. Try it out." Without any more prompting Freddie took the wand from its case and held it firmly. Suddenly he felt a soft warmth throughout his whole body and the ash-coloured wand shot out a few red sparks.

"Hmmm. It doesn't seem like a perfect match but that's to be expected. It's not your personal wand after all. Don't worry about it for now. Come on let's go back. We don't want to be late."

Freddie stared a moment more at his new wand but tucked it in his robes and followed the other boy out.

—-

For Freddie's birthday the taller boy didn't expect much but everyone surprised him by telling him they would go to Paris.

That morning two adults and two boys went to the International Portal Station which was located in Diagon Alley. Freddie was understandably excited as he hasn't had the chance to see a portal in action before. Ever since portals were introduced it has become the main and more favoured form of international travel leaving the portkey to be used only in more remote places. Portkey travel was rare nowadays as you needed a license to get a portkey. On the other hand, you just have to pay a small fee to use a portal. Local Portals in Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, St. Mungo's, and Platform 9 & 3/4 are free to use for all, courtesy of Potter & Black Inc.

The wait wasn't long as people flashed and teleported to their destinations. Paying their fee an employee guided them to the outgoing portal. There were five in total, the three on right were for outgoing and the two on the left were for those visiting Diagon Alley. The man led them to the rightmost one and set their destination to Place Cachée.

"Everyone ready? Alright. The portal will activate in five seconds. Good morning and safe travels." With a last smile from the man, all four of them were enveloped in bright white light and in a blink of an eye they appeared in

Place Cachée, the magical district in Montmarte, Paris. Their portal seemed to have brought them in a huge building filled with bustling people using the other portal stations.

"Wow, except for the bright light I didn't feel a thing!" Freddie exclaimed.

"Indeed, Harry has done the Wizarding World a favour by inventing the portals. Trust me you don't want to travel by portkey." Remus added as a man approached them dressed in uniform.

"Welcome to Paris. Please follow me." The man gestured for them at the direction of a booth. The others didn't really understand French but Harry quickly translated for them. He said that the the adults have to hand in their wands for a quick identification except for the two boys as they were didn't have their own. Well, they have but nobody needs to know that. The process was quick and the frenchman bid them a good day and to enjoy their stay.

"Good thing you're with us, pup. So where next?" Sirius bounced around itching to explore.

"Let's grab a quick bite."

Paris was wonderful and the people were friendly, often offering them free samples of their products. People spoke mainly French and Harry was a lifesaver as he conversed like a native speaker. There lots to see like the French Ministry of Magic, where they saw the Matagots. They were a type of magical beasts that was cat-like in appearance with luminous blue eyes. They protected the French Ministry from intruders. They could only roam around the visitor's area but it was fascinating all the same. They also watched a magical play at a secret location in the Opéra de Paris.

They also explored the muggle side of Paris and enjoyed the famous tourist spots like The Louvre Museum, the Versailles Palace Gardens, the famous Arc de Triomphe and many more. Harry made sure to take many pictures. At the end of the day they ended up in Jules Verne, a popular restaurant located high up in the famous Eiffel Tower.

As Freddie laid in his bed in their hotel room he thought of all the fun he had today with his new family. The sights, the smells, the magic! He was forever thankful and glad that Harry found him in that alley back on that cold December night. If not, he didn't know what could have happened to him. Harry was the best friend and brother he could ever have.

——

It's been several months and Harry finally succeeded in creating a working detection ward. It also pays that he didn't need much sleep, only needing a few hours of shut-eye a few times a week. Honestly, he just liked the feel of his soft bedsheets. He's almost always in his Mewtwo form now and just wore his disguise all the time. The Mewtwonite stone in his chest was almost gone now, already being smaller than the tip of a pinky finger. He surmised that a year at most the pink stone would be completely integrated with him. He wasn't that much concerned though as the ones who knew were the only people who were the most important to him.

The detection ward was probably the most advanced thing he has created to date. He decided to use a big cube of Mystic Diamond as an anchor to power it and carved delicate runes on its surface. The cube glowed a brilliant pink as he buried it deep in the ground in his backyard. He would always have a connection with the cube as it was his own energy that was powering it. Midas, his fiery phoenix watched to the side as he completely covered the stone in soil. His birdie friend had been a constant companion during the creation of the stone. Harry thinks that Midas sensed how important this project was to him. It was almost a bitter pill to swallow as the original Mewtwo also tried to rescue pokemon from their masters although this time Harry didn't think all muggle-raised children needed saving. Just the rare few like Freddie and Harry himself that were being abused. As soon as the ward stone was buried there was a tangible burst of energy that was probably felt by magicals all throughout Great Britain.

There were three functions that he had imbued the magical artefact. First, it would detect all children, magical or muggle that were underage throughout Great Britain. Yes, even under heavy wards. Harry hated it but making a larger stone able to encompass the entire world was just impossible. He tried it of course but the stone always exploded in his face as it couldn't handle the surging energies. He had to find a more sturdy material that was able to handle being pumped full of psychic energy and keep it contained.

Secondly, he designed the cube to absorb the natural magic in the air and earth and replenish itself. Potter Manor was built on a minor Leyline that ran deep underground and supplemented the the manor's own ward stone. Leylines are like the Earth's blood vessels and concentrated magic flowed through them enriching the whole world. Without them magic wouldn't exist and the magical races wouldn't exist and probably the muggles too.

The third and final part was arguably the most important. The stone can pick apart distress signals. Once the stone has mapped Britain it would monitor any and all intense negative emotions and if it detected a distressed child it would send him a mental map of the location. The runic array for that one had been a bastard to create and he had to consult several Runes Specialists in his employ. He was proud of his creation though and it was probably on par with Hogwarts's mysterious Quill of Acceptance and the Book of Admittance.

Harry admitted that this would be a huge undertaking but he wasn't alone in this. Sirius was very supportive of his goal of protecting children from Harm and Remus even suggested getting help from the many muggleborns working for them if they were near a distressed child. The young protector agreed that doing everything on his own would only tire him out as there was a lot of places to cover.

Speaking of the Book of Acceptance, it was July 31, 1981 and it high-time for their Hogwarts Letters to arrive. Teleporting inside Freddie's room, Harry yanked the curtains open and sunlight flooded into the room.

"Get up, sleepy head!The letters are almost here!" Harry jumped on the sleeping boy and tickled him mercilessly.

"Ah! I'm up! I'm up!" Scrubbing his eyes and yawning Freddie finally registered what the other boy said and immediately jumped up. Gasping he quickly dashed to his bathroom and went to wash his face and change his sleeping wear.

"Ugh, you're so slow." He heard Harry whine outside.

"I'm ready. Let's go!"

"Finally!"

Both boys dashed downstairs to the breakfast table pushing and shoving each other playfully.

Arriving at the large dining room, Sirius and Remus were already eating and both boys quickly joined them.

Sirius looked up from his today's issue of The Daily Prophet and greeted the boys good morning.

"Someone's excited today. I wonder why."

"Our Hogwarts Letter! It's today!" Freddie put a generous helping of eggs and sausages on his plate courtesy of the ever diligent house elves.

"What about you, pup. Anything good today?"

"Err. Oh, I finally finished my ward stone today. I buried it in the backyard. And yeah, my letter's also arriving today."

"Erm, pup. Aren't you forgetting something important?"

"…No? I don't think so." Harry feigned ignorance as he snickered in his head.

"It's your birthday, Harry! Of all the things you could forget about."

"Ohh. That. Yeah. I just remembered." He smiled innocently. His godfather only exasperatedly shook his head.

Silently eating for a few minutes enjoying their breakfast, there was suddenly a flurry of wings that shot through the open window. An large barn owl landed gently on the table amidst the bacon. The bird eyeing it with interest. Shaking off its fluffy head, it puffed up its chest and held out its leg. Duties first, it thought. Occasionally looking at the juicy piece of pork.

Harry gently untied the two letters and floated one of them to Freddie, the boy excitedly snatching it from the air.

Looking at it the letter was in yellow parchment and vibrant green ink was used on it. On the back it said:

Mr. H Potter

The Master Bedroom

Potter Manor

Wiltshire

Harry opened the red Hogwarts seal on the front. Inside it was a bigger Hogwarts crest on top.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT & WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

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 no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

—-

The second page was a list of all his books and equipment. Harry looked up at his godfather feeding the owl some bacon. He looked at the bird amusedly as he clearly heard its thoughts enjoying the juicy pork.

"Congratulations, boys. Write down your reply so the owl can be on its way. We'll go tomorrow to purchase your supplies but for now…Harry? Where do you want to go this time?" Remus smiled at the two excited boys.

"I want to see the Library of Alexandria and also the pyramids." The birthday boy said after a but of thought.

"Well then!" Sirius clapped his hands together. "Put on some lighter clothes, boys. We're going to Egypt!"