Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters are owned by J.K. Rowlings. Story and plot are mine. Any references to Merlin and other Merlin characters and objects are owned by T.A. Barron.
Chapter 1
It was probably the best summer holiday for as long as he could remember. He'd spent almost 17 years doing his aunt and uncle's bidding because he had no choice. They were the only family he knew and choices were limited until his 11th birthday. That was when he'd discovered he was a wizard. He'd also found out that he was well known in the wizarding world as Harry Potter, the boy who lived.
He was born to two of the greatest wizards in the wizarding community and just last year he found that he descended from the great Merlin himself. Although he hadn't visited with him for a few weeks, he knew all he had to do was think of him and he was where he was. That type of power was what both excited and scared him. He was still under age according to wizarding rules and knew he could no longer practice magic because he was away from school, but he also knew that he didn't have long to wait before he was no longer under age. The rules were still a little lenient on him in case of emergency, but in a few weeks, the rules no longer applied.
His green eyes twinkled at the thought of being able to practice magic without being worried that the minister of magic will be sending him a nasty owl or threaten to break his wand or expel him from Hogwarts School, his true home. He ran his hands over his everlasting unkempt raven hair and started his daily exercise routine before Aunt Petunia called him down to make breakfast. Even that task no longer irritated him nor did having his aunt or uncle yell at him. They really thought he'd gone mad when all he did was smile at them for their abuse during the first week back from school. They were more irritated that they could no longer put the fear in him than having him being agreeable.
Harry Potter had showed them maturity and instead of praising him for his actions, they tried harder to degrade him. However, even Harry had his limits and he kept dropping hints that on his birthday he would no longer be under the restriction of under age magic and would be allowed to practice at his leisure. He explained to them very subtly that it meant he could hex them, curse them, jinx them or do all types of magic and he would not be in trouble.
That quieted them the second week. They didn't know what to believe. His uncle Vernon tried hard to laugh it off.
"Right, like you would be able to actually do any of that M- stuff that would actually work," he told him with a smirk.
"Well, then I guess you'd have to wait a few more weeks to find out then won't you. Not to brag or anything but adding pig ears on Duddley would be as simple as my breathing in and out. Believe what you want, but you've been warned."
"Ha. Petunia would you listen to this boy. He thinks that crackpot school of his had actually taught him anything that would be useful." Petunia looked at Vernon with fear in her eyes while Dudley laughed at his father's comment. He still weighed like a whale if not heavier. For sure he took up twice as much room as he did last summer.
"Aunt Petunia doesn't seem to think it's funny."
"Oh Please, Petunia tell him."
"Vernon, I don't think you should make fun of him. He's right you know." Vernon's mouthed dropped open. He'd never had Petunia actually disagree with him when it came to taunting Harry and there she was telling to practically shut up.
"You should listen to her Uncle Vernon. She knows what I will be able to do once I turn seventeen."
"You've got to be joking. Both of you, go away," he shouted and pointed at Dudley and Harry. Harry immediately got up and walked out of the kitchen with a smirk on his face.
"Mum! Tell Dad he can't send me away. I want to hear what you have to say."
"Dudley!" Vernon screamed with his face almost purple with anger. "I told you to go. Make yourself scarce."
"Go on Duddikins. Mum will bake a nice chocolate cake just for you." Dudley stood up and walked out of the kitchen.
"Now, Petunia, you've got to pull yourself together. He can't really have learned any type of M-you know the m word at that godforsaken school."
"Vernon, I can't say that he did not. I remember when Lily came back after attending that school she would make things happen with her wand or the liquid concoctions she'd brew in her cauldron. If Harry even had half the skills my sister had, then he could do what he claims he could do." Vernon snorted at her statement. "And, even though I knew my sister was a freak, I did admire some of the things she could do. I just didn't want to be abnormal like her in the process, but I couldn't help but be in awe of the power she did wield."
"Then, what should we do?"
"I think maybe we should start being nice to him. We don't have to treat him like we do Dudley, but I think maybe we should ease up on him a bit."
Vernon hesitated then agreed after a few minutes of deliberating in his head.
The few weeks before his birthday were glorious. Aunt Petunia made an effort not to wake him up early to make breakfast though he'd already be awake exercising and just waiting for her to shout up and order him to make breakfast. She'd made breakfast herself and even served him a few times. He concluded they were either afraid of what would happen or they've turned a new leaf which was when pigs flew.
He'd occasionally still hear a few screaming for him, but they'd stopped it as quickly as they'd started. He'd written Ron and Hermione about the changes and they'd written back immediately asking for more details. He missed them terribly especially Hermione who'd become his girlfriend in the middle of the term. He missed kissing her and holding her in his arms when they cuddled during their study breaks or when they'd had time.
He stretched over his narrow bed and drifted off to sleep thinking of Hermione.
He opened his eyes and instead of his meager furniture and Dudley's broken toys all over the place he saw a beautiful Victorian style dresser that seemed to be made of mahogany. On the other side of the room are two book shelves of the same tint of wood but not too ornate as the dresser. The shelves were filled with books; paperback, hardcover, and leather bound books as well.
He stood there in awe thinking how much Hermione would love to be in a room such as this. Then he shifted his eyes toward the bed that matched the dresser and saw Hermione sitting back with her pillows propped up and reading a book. It brought a smile to his face. He felt the warmth radiating inside him.
He missed her. He must be dreaming because if he wasn't then she would have known he was there by now. Then she looked up with her beautiful chocolate colored eyes and smiled at him.
"Hi, Harry!" she jumped up to give him a hug, but she went right through him. They both looked at each other in shock. "What happened?"
"I.. I dunno. I thought I was in a dream because you didn't seem to know I was here."
"Sorry, I got caught up in the novel I was reading about a handsome prince facing his worst battle in order to save his kingdom and the woman he loves. I only just saw you. And I didn't even hear you come in."
"This is so weird. I can hear you, and you can hear me, but we can't touch each other. This can't be leaping otherwise I'd be here physically. I must have fallen asleep and now I am dreaming."
"No, because I know I am not asleep and today is Tuesday and," she turned to look at her digital clock. "It's almost 3:30 P.M. I only started reading about an hour ago."
"Then, why I am here. Do you think I'm dead and I'm a ghost?"
Hermione suddenly gasped. Her eyes grew wide. "Oh, dear Merlin."
"What?"
"I think you've just astral projected yourself in my room!"
"That's silly Hermione. I can't do that. All I know is that I missed you and I was thinking of you when I laid down."
"No, Harry. Listen. Astral Project can happen when you're asleep. But most of the time it can only happen if your subconscious is free, as in when one is meditating."
"Yes, but I don't even know how."
"I don't think it matters much Harry. Some things just come naturally to you. Since you were thinking of me and all and I was thinking of you too, maybe that helped a bit."
Harry wore a huge grin. "You were thinking of me?"
Hermione blushed. "And what if I was."
"Well, were you missing me as much as I was missing you?"
"I miss you more. I just wish I could hug you right now."
"I'm sorry. I'll try to practice leaping but not until next week. Hey…"
Just as quickly as he appeared, he was pulled back to his body. He felt a little drained when he finally oriented himself and heard uncle Vernon yelling his name. Must have been why I was brought back to reality, he thought.
He went downstairs to find out what all the racket was about and saw Remus, Mad-Eye and Tonks at the door. He goggled at them for a second and then found his voice.
"What're you all doing here?"
"Well, we've actually come to take you away from here. Sorry we couldn't owl you and all, but Dumbledore didn't think it would be safe, so here we are in person," Remus answered him excitedly.
"Where exactly are you taking me?"
"Well, you'd think he'd be excited to get out of this place," commented Mad-Eye. Uncle Vernon was seething, but didn't want to scream for fear of what would happen to him.
"No, it's not that. I just thought I needed to stay here for a time because of the spell or something."
"Yeah, well. You've stayed enough. Why don't you stop asking questions and go up and get packing," ordered Mad-Eye while his magical swiveled around constantly to keep an eye on the perimeter.
"Come on, I'll help," Remus volunteered.
Remus helped Harry pack his meager belongings and readied Hedwig for the trip.
"So, where are you taking me?" Harry asked as he and Remus walked down the stairs.
"Somewhere classified. You'll find out when we get there. We have to keep it quiet."
"Are we flying?"
"Sorry, no. We're going to have to use a port key for you since you can't apparate yet."
They reached the bottom of the stairs as Remus levitated Harry's trunk behind them. Uncle Vernon was turning purple with anger, but they just ignored him. Although Remus was hoping he would say or do something to give him an excuse to hex him, but Vernon Dursely just stood at the one corner of the living room as Petunia and Dudley tried there best to hide behind him for safety.
"Well, you'd better say your good-byes and we'll be off."
Harry looked at his family cowering at the corner of the living room and wanted to laugh. Instead he took the adult way out and thanked them for all the food, clothes and the roof over his head for the past 16 and a half years. He didn't point out that they had done so grudgingly, but made it a point to stress all the wonderful things they had done, which in his mind was not much. However, they did take him in and for that he was grateful. He knew he wouldn't be returning to the house on 4 Privet Drive as he held on to the soda can port key and felt the familiar pull at his navel.