Rebirth of a Potter

Chapter 2: The Path to Power

Harriet woke the next morning in her small, cramped cupboard under the stairs. Her mind buzzed with everything she had learned the day before. The revelation of her titles, the knowledge of the blocks Dumbledore had placed on her magic—it all swirled in her thoughts as she pieced together her next move. She was determined to take full control of her life and harness her potential, but she knew it would take time, preparation, and absolute secrecy.

If Dumbledore had already gone to such lengths to manipulate her life, she needed to be smarter. For now, she had to remain the "poor little orphan" under the Dursleys' care, playing the part so that no one suspected she was anything more than a defenseless child. But in secret, she would build herself into the witch she was meant to be.

---

Over the next few weeks, Harriet put her plan into action. Every night, when the Dursleys were asleep, she would sneak into her trunk—enchanted to fit in the cupboard with ease—and pull out her books. She began with the basics: pureblood etiquette and magical politics. She realized quickly that the pureblood world was all about power and appearances, and if she wanted to navigate it successfully, she needed to become an expert.

She memorized the names of every prominent family, their histories, and alliances. She learned the proper way to greet members of each house, the subtleties of blood status, and the protocols of the Wizengamot. It was exhausting, but Harriet knew she needed this knowledge. If she wanted to claim her titles and be taken seriously, she had to know how to present herself as a pureblood heiress.

---

Harriet's magical studies progressed at a rapid pace. Without the blocks placed by Dumbledore, her magical core thrummed with energy, and she found herself able to perform basic spells without even using a wand. She experimented with levitating objects, lighting candles, and even small defensive spells, feeling the magic respond to her in ways that seemed almost instinctive. She knew wandless magic was rare, and she was careful to practice it only when she was sure the Dursleys wouldn't notice.

Her most important project, however, was studying the texts on the founding families. Being the Heiress of Hogwarts meant she was a descendant of all four founders, and that came with both responsibilities and power. She learned about Gryffindor's courage, Slytherin's cunning, Hufflepuff's loyalty, and Ravenclaw's intelligence, and how the balance of these traits was key to ruling Hogwarts and wielding its magic.

One night, as she read through a book titled The Legacy of the Founders, she came across a passage about the Wand of Salazar Slytherin—a powerful artifact that could channel pure magic without the restrictions of conventional wands. Harriet's heart raced. If she could find this wand, it might be the key to unlocking even more of her magical abilities. She made a note to research its location later.

---

Several months passed, and Harriet continued to immerse herself in her studies. She now had a solid grasp of how to behave in pureblood society, and she knew spells and magical theory beyond what any child her age would have learned. Yet she still needed to be careful. She made sure to act meek and unremarkable when the Dursleys were around, hiding her growing strength behind the façade of the neglected orphan.

One day, after Harriet returned from Gringotts with a few extra galleons in her pocket, she slipped out of Privet Drive and made her way to Knockturn Alley. She knew the risks, but she needed rare ingredients for the potions she planned to brew. Hidden beneath an invisibility charm, she walked past the twisted shops and shadowed figures, keeping her eyes alert. She found the shop she was looking for—Borgin and Burkes.

Inside, she scanned the shelves filled with dark artifacts and rare ingredients. She kept her head down and picked up a selection of items: powdered moonstone, bezoar stones, and a few dragon scales. She knew these would be invaluable for the defensive and protective potions she planned to master.

As she reached the counter, she felt a pair of eyes on her. A man with a pale, sharp face and dark robes observed her closely. Harriet knew who he was immediately—Lucius Malfoy. She had read about the Malfoys in her books, and she knew they were powerful, influential, and always had an agenda.

"What's a little girl doing buying such rare ingredients?" Lucius asked, his voice smooth but probing.

Harriet met his gaze, forcing herself to remain calm. She had prepared for this moment. "I'm buying them for my guardian," she replied, her voice steady. "He's an old family friend."

Lucius raised an eyebrow, his eyes sharp and calculating. "Which family?"

Harriet smirked slightly. "The Potters," she said, allowing her green eyes to flash with a hint of challenge. She knew revealing her identity was risky, but she needed the Malfoys to know who she was—and to remember her as someone unafraid of them.

Lucius's eyes widened, just for a moment, before his face returned to its neutral expression. "Of course," he murmured, handing her the pouch of ingredients. "The Potters... how interesting."

Harriet paid and left the shop, feeling his gaze linger on her as she slipped back into the shadows of the alley. She knew she had taken a risk, but it was necessary. If the Malfoys believed she was playing her own game, they might become useful allies—or at the very least, respect her enough not to interfere.

---

Back at Privet Drive, Harriet carefully brewed her potions. She was meticulous, following the instructions in her advanced potions book exactly. The potions she made—shields for protection, enhancers for her own magical abilities, and even one to allow her to sense hidden enchantments—were all for one purpose: ensuring she could stay ahead of Dumbledore and his machinations. She knew that the old man had plans for her, and she would not be caught unprepared.

When she had enough potions brewed and stored safely in her trunk, she moved on to her next project: learning Occlumency. The art of shielding her mind was crucial. If Dumbledore or anyone else ever tried to read her thoughts or emotions, they would find only a wall of silence. She practiced every night, training her mind to build mental barriers and to compartmentalize her thoughts.

The books from Flourish and Blotts on pureblood society became her constant companions. She read about the customs of the ancient families, their mannerisms, and their political strategies. She practiced curtsies, polite small talk, and the art of wielding influence through subtle manipulation. If she was to be a true pureblood heiress, she would master every aspect of the role.

---

By the time Harriet turned seven, she had achieved far more than she had imagined. She was no longer just the girl who survived Voldemort's curse—she was a budding force of magic and knowledge. She could perform wandless magic with precision, brew advanced potions, and navigate pureblood customs with grace. And yet, she knew she had only scratched the surface.

One day, after mastering a particularly tricky spell from a Slytherin family grimoire she had taken from her vault, Harriet stared at herself in the mirror. Her green eyes, so much like Lily's, stared back at her with intensity. She was ready. The next phase of her plan was to claim her heritage publicly, and for that, she needed allies and knowledge about the wizarding world's most influential families.

She would spend the next few years laying her groundwork, preparing herself for the moment she would enter the world as not just Harriet Potter, but as the Heir of Hogwarts, the one who would reshape the wizarding world from the inside out.

This time, when she entered Hogwarts, she wouldn't be Dumbledore's pawn. She would be the one pulling the strings.

————————
Hello my dear wizards and witches! Are you enjoying the story so far?
Ella