The Natural Animagus by wsbenge

5.6K 29 3
                                    

Chapter 1 Life in Surrey

A young child had just finished getting his first annual medical check-up, in a moderately sized house in Godric's Hollow, Wales. It was three months late, but there had been mitigating circumstances. His mother and the healer were discussing it, as the young child happily played in the corner of the room.

"Harry is a normal wizard baby in most respects," said Madam Pomfrey, a healer employed by Hogwarts School of Magic and Wizardry. "Wizard children get muscular control a bit earlier than most muggle kids, and I have seen muggle kids walk at 7 months old. I have even seen muggle kids in diapers jump off the end of a one-meter diving board and dog paddle, so it really isn't surprising wizard kids are quick."

"Harry was toddling at 6 months," said Lily Potter, the child's mother. " He was toilet trained shortly there after. At one year old, he could move pretty well, which keeps us on our toes now days, let me tell you. I can hardly believe his vocabulary. He understands a lot more than he can actually say."

"That is fairly quick," said the healer, "but still quite normal. You should hear some of the stories I have heard about the young Ravenclaw students, when they were young. There is one thing to watch, however."

"What do you mean?" asked the young mother quickly. "Is there a problem?"

"Harry was born with a powerful magical core," said the healer. "That in itself isn't unusual, even though he is in the top 5 percent, as far as power goes. What is unusual was that Harry's core is extremely sensitive to magic near him. Have you noticed this? Harry reacts to my examination, without his conscious control. Most of us are a bit sensitive to magic, but I have never seen such acuity in someone so young. Harry treats it like hearing, or the sense of touch, and for him ... it is normal."

"That is probably why he is such a happy, contented baby," replied Lily. "He can sense when James and I are nearby, and intuitively, Harry is comfortable. He knows when James leaves the house. I have never left the house, since I brought him home."

"Harry doesn't have any conscious access to his core, any more than he can control how he hears, or sees," said Madam Pomfrey, "but his core is very active, never the less. I want you to pay close attention for accidental magic. He could get himself into a situation, in a heart beat."

"Oh Poppy," said Lily, "he is rarely out of our sight. I never knew having children would be so enjoyable. I just wish we didn't have to hide here. There are so many places I would like to take him."

The night that sent Harry to Surrey was like about any other night, except out of the blue, Harry started crying. When Lily Potter picked him up, the wards rang in alarm. James was already moving. "Peter has betrayed us!" he yelled. "Take Harry and run."

Lily tried to apparate, and couldn't, so she ran upstairs with Harry, hoping help would arrive in time. That did not happen. Harry's core could feel the fight between his father and Voldemort. His father was in a panic, and it paralyzed the stricken child. There was a definitive surge of magic, and Harry's core could no longer touch his father's.

A short time later, his mother's magic was billowing. There was a stranger in Harry's room, and his mother was crying. "NOT HARRY!! Please, please, not Harry." The oppressive surge happened again. Harry's core could no longer touch his mother's. Harry was now in a full panic.

For the third time, that self-same surge built up, and started moving toward Harry. Accidental magic roared out of Harry's core to meet that surge, but there wasn't quite enough power to completely stop it before it met Harry. It left a bleeding, jagged cut on his forehead, and completely exhausted his core. Harry fell into a deep sleep, and it is just as well he did. When he woke up, he was in Surrey.

The Natural Animagus by wsbengeWhere stories live. Discover now