Before Hogwarts

School 4 (age 10)

Rick was able to get in touch with Alana the next day and she said it would not be any trouble for Harry and Hermione to attend classes at Peaks, in fact if needed she would send the letters out that day and include the supply list for the term. Alana offered to send a portkey that would transport them, once they got to the states, to the school's portkey point. Rick told everyone what he had found out and Lucy called Emma and Hermione to let them know the outcome. The two women, and Hermione, decided to have a get-together for both families the next night at the Granger's house.

Harry got his letter the next day, but it came to #4 Privet which upset Vernon. Petunia called Lucy and told her Harry had a letter from somewhere in the states. Harry and Lucy went to pick up his letter but had a bit of trouble. It seemed that Dumbledore had decided to try and contact Harry again, and again had been repelled by Rick's wards. He was watching when Harry and Lucy came to Privet Dr. and approached the door. Dumbledore could sense that the woman was a witch, but couldn't get a good look at the young boy with her.

Dumbledore had not thought to disillusion himself, he just cast "notice me not" so the muggles would ignore him. It was after Lucy and Harry were inside that Petunia told them that someone was standing across the street watching the house. Lucy disillusioned herself and went out the back door and around the house to see who was watching. She was surprised to see Dumbledore standing across the street, he seemed to be struggling to fight the effects of the ward. Lucy went back inside and called Twinkie and had her to go tell Rick about Dumbledore. Twinkie returned moments later with Rick in tow.

"Why is Dumbledore watching the house?", Harry asked.

Nobody had an answer for that question, but Rick commented that Dumbledore surprised him by being that close to the wards and still standing. While they watched they saw Dumbledore cast a spell towards the house, Harry reacted faster than anyone else and put up his shield - between the house and Dumbledore. Dumbledore's spell bounced back to him and canceled the "notice me not" spell that had been cast. That was enough to distract Dumbledore and the ward took effect again, Dumbledore became very confused and wanted to leave the area. Dumbledore had gotten one piece of information, there were three magical people in the house, before the shield went up and reflected his finite spell.

Once Dumbledore was back at Hogwarts he thought about what he had learned, his spell had revealed three magical people - one was male and two were female. That must mean that Harry was in the house, but maybe he was wrong in that the child with the witch was male - it could have been an underdeveloped female. He had also learned that the wards around the house were on top of his own wards, and stronger. This was very puzzling, who would have cast those wards. He should have been able to break them, but didn't get the chance. It was hard to break the wards and control his fear and need to leave at the same time.

Meanwhile back at #4, Petunia had given Harry his letter from the states. Harry opened it immediately and it was an acceptance to Peaks and the school supply list. Also, there was his "Assistant Flying Instructor" badge in the envelope. Harry was now officially accepted at Peaks, the supply list didn't look too bad (most of it he already had, except for a few books). Rick left via Twinkie, while Lucy and Harry left like they came.

That night Harry told Hermione about Dumbledore showing up at #4 again and the effect the wards seemed to have on him. Harry also told Hermione that he was going to see if Peaks had any classes on wards and if so he wanted to take them. Hermione wasn't too interested in the warding classes but she was interested in seeing if they offered anything related to international law regarding witches and wizards, she thought that would come in handy later. The group enjoyed a very good meal and everyone was having a good time.

It was after supper and the kids had gone outside to play ball or fly, the adults had sat down to have coffee when Lucy said she had found some information the Grangers might find interesting. After hearing about Dan's aunt, Lucy had started doing some research into Dan's family background. It turned out that his great aunt "Lizzie" was a witch, and she was related to the Black family - a family listed as Ancient and Nobel in the magical world of Great Britton. But that particular branch of the family had not produced a magical person in over 200 years, other than Aunt Lizzie. Lucy went on to say that when she looked back in Emma's family tree she found that Emma might be related to the Abbots, but she wasn't sure and the easiest way to find out was through the goblins at the bank.

The adult's conversation was interrupted by one of the wards going off. Everyone ran for the back yard as Rick explained that the alarm indicated that a were creature had passed through the wards at the rear of the property. When they got outside they found that Harry and Hermione were on brooms and playing catch in the air. Rick was just getting ready to call out to the kids when Remus was heard to say "Greyback!" to himself. When he looked, Rick saw the werewolf just below the kids. Lucy reacted first and sent her elemental to protect the kids, Remus could be heard cussing under his breath that it was too far to cast a spell accurately. That thought didn't stop Harry who was above the creature, suddenly the creature was engulfed in fiery bands that held him captive.

When the adults, minus the Grangers, arrived at the site of the creature it was all Rick and Lucy could do to keep Remus under control. Remus explained that it had been Greyback who had bitten him when he was a child and turned him into a werewolf. Greyback had a habit of seeking out children to attack. Harry asked if killing the creature would make Remus feel better later after he calmed down. Remus admitted that it wouldn't. It was decided to turn Greyback over to the DMLE, after he was restrained by the usual wizard spells instead of the fiery bands of Firebeard. It took all three adults to Stupefy the werewolf and bind him securely. Harry and Hermione were sent to hide until the DMLE had left with Greyback.

Harry, Hermione, and Lucy arrived at Peaks two weeks later so the kids could start school. They had arrived a day early as requested by Alana; she wanted to speak with Harry and Hermione before classes started. Alana asked the kids if they wanted to concentrate on magical or non-magical studies, both kids said they would prefer magical but wouldn't mind a few non-magical classes if they were interesting. Alana told them that the classes for non-magical weren't that interesting unless the two wanted to spend most of their lives in the mundane world and work there. Harry would stay in the House of Fire and Hermione would stay in the House of Air, just like they did during the summer term.

The first day of classes was on Monday and Harry and Hermione had already been up and done their run before going to breakfast. Just as breakfast was over the heads of house started passing out schedules for the first years, all other years had received their schedules during the nigh before. Harry was taking Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, and was scheduled to assist with the first years, and remedial, flying lessons. Hermione was taking Herbology, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, and Spell Creation, plus helping with the flying lessons. Both kids were automatically on their House's Quidditch team.

The first flying class was real interesting as some of the students knew Harry from the dorm and were surprised when he was assigned to work with a group of five students, as was Hermione. As usual there was at least one person who thought they were better than everyone else and didn't need lessons. The cure for that was a challenge to compete against either Harry as a seeker or Hermione as a chaser. After the challenger was firmly embarrassed everyone paid attention to their lessons. The first remedial class wasn't much of a problem once Harry and Hermione showed what a broom could do, even a school broom, and offered to work with anyone who needed extra help.

It was the start of the third week of school and it was Hermione's birthday, Harry had gotten with some of the kids that hung a round with them and they had planned a party for her, a surprise party for after supper that night. Shortly after supper Hermione was called to her head of house's office, she was told she was leading her year already and the head was proud of her. When Hermione walked back in to her common room there was a large crowd there waiting along with a banner proclaiming "HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMIONE". She received several gifts, but the best was the party itself.

The next big event was the weekend seminar on wands and magical aids. Everyone attending was housed in one tower, so the time compression wouldn't effect the whole school. Once the seminar started the first thing was the introduction of the guest instructors, one of which was the man that had made Harry's first wand and suggested he might do well with a staff. With the time compression the weekend would last three weeks, one week would be spent in each area - wands, staves, and other aides. Harry and Hermione spent the first week in wands under the instruction of Ollivander from London.

Harry and Hermione had been warned by Alana that like previous British students they would have to acquire a "British" wand before they went to Hogwarts and it would be best if Mr. Ollivander didn't recognize them. She offered to cast a strong glamour spell on them and to hide their identity on the attendant rolls. The kids took her up on her offer. Harry and Hermione both learned a lot from Ollivander and about the creation of wands, after all his family had been creating wands for over 22 centuries.

The second week was to be the study of staves. The instructor was named Grimstead and he recognized Harry right a way but agreed to keep his secret. Grimstead started out explaining that not everyone needed, or could use, a staff. That the only wizards or witches that needed a staff were the ones that had a very strong core. Grimstead explained that the construction of a staff was different from a wand in that a staff could have as many as 5 to 10 cores while a wand usually only had two at most. The first lesson was how to select the staff itself, what types of wood was best. The class would each select the wood type that suited them and that suited their magical core. The next step was to find out what cores suited each person, and were compatible with the wood, and what the person thought he, or she, would need a staff to do. The next step was to insert the cores into the staff and seal it. The last step was to finish the staff so it wasn't rough.

The second day of class was when they tried to finish selecting the correct type of wood for their staff. Hermione chose, or was chosen by, Redwood; Harry had a hard time choosing his wood type, nothing seemed to fit until Grimstead suggested Ironwood. The sliver of Ironwood seemed to glow when Harry touched it, but there wasn't enough there for a staff so Harry would have to find a mature Ironwood tree or cut down a smaller one to get his wood. The afternoon session was devoted to going out and watching Grimstead "harvest" the wood needed for the staves they would create. Most of the wood needed were easy to find and Grimstead demonstrated the technique used to gather the wood without killing the tree or having to cut down a young tree.

Hickory, Oak, Elm, Ash, and Birch were easy to find. Cypress, Hermione's Redwood and Harry's Ironwood weren't that easy to locate as Cypress didn't grow in the mountains, the Redwood would be found on the California side of the mountains, but the Ironwood was very rare. Only one person needed Cypress and only Hermione needed Redwood, but everyone went to watch Grimstead "harvest" the Redwood for Hermione. After class was over that day Harry still didn't have his wood, Grimstead said that if Harry would come back after supper the two of them would go and collect Harry's Ironwood from a secret location; and they did, Harry didn't ask where they were but thanked Grimstead for the extra help.

The next morning the class started the selection of cores for their staff. Most of the attendants selected common cores, Harry and Hermione had to be different and select, or be selected by, some unusual core components. Hermione ended up with Unicorn hair, an Eagle feather, a Hippogriff feather, a sliver of Fire Crab shell, and two Phoenix tears. Harry had a larger piece of Fire Crab shell, Dragon Blood, a Hippogriff feather, a Mermaid scale, a sliver of Granite, and three drops of his own blood. Grimstead just shook his head when he saw the cores for both Harry and Hermione, he suggested that they ask the third instructor if she though they could use gems (even if they wouldn't have her until next week, they could ask her after supper).

Harry, Hermione, and Grimstead met with the third instructor, Ms. Smit, after supper that night. After Grimstead exsplained why they wanted to speak with her she agreed to take a look at the staves and see if she thought a gem would be of any use to the two kids. After she got over the shock of seeing the cores of the staves she said that if she knew which elementals they had connections to she might have a better idea as to what gems would be appropriate. Harry asked that the two not mention what they were about to see before calling Firebeard and Windford, while Hermione called Windy. Seeing someone as young as Harry call two elementals, Ms. Smit said he would be best served by Rubies and Diamonds, while Hermione would be served by Diamonds alone. But they needed to see if the gems reacted to the kids first, and it would be the next day before she would have access to her gems.

The next morning instead of going to Grimstead's class, Harry and Hermione went to see Ms. Smit in her class. Smit had Hermione handle several stones and appeared surprised when an especially perfect blue-white diamond glowed when Hermione handled it. Harry on the other hand seemed to be very selective when he picked up a gem. The first Ruby he touched glowed slightly, but the forth one glowed very brightly and a ball of fire formed over his hand.

When Harry got around to handling the diamonds he got several reactions but none as strong as Hermione's. Then Hermione happened to drop hers and when Harry picked it up it glowed even brighter than it had for Hermione. Ms. Smit asked if there was a place where they could try out an idea she had. After turning the class over to her assistant, the three went outside to an area that was included in the time compression, where it should be safe to cast spells.

Harry was asked to hold both gems in his hand and cast a simple spell without a wand. When he asked which spell Ms. Smit said whatever spell he could cast without a wand. Harry explained that included almost all of the first level spells and a few of the second level spells. Harry chose the levitation spell. He cast it on a rock and the rock shot up into the air.

"That is usually what happens when Harry does that spell", Hermione said. But Harry interrupted her to say he only thought the spell that time and had not cast it (the rock was still in the air). Harry handed Hermione the diamond and she told Harry to bring his rock back down first. Harry blushed and canceled his spell so that the rock floated to the ground.

Hermione did the same spell and again the rock shot into the air and was soon out of sight. After canceling her spell Hermione did the spell again, but without the diamond and got a much more normal reaction. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Potter, I believe we should split the diamond as it is big enough to be used by several people as a focal stone and usually it only requires only a small piece for that. I would be happy to split off a small piece for each of you to use in your staff so you can complete your assignment. But I want both of you to attend my class next week. I think that class is in for a few surprises from you two", Ms. Smit said with a look of wonderment.

Once back inside Ms. Smit did as she had promised and gave Harry a small piece of both the diamond and the ruby, while giving Hermione a small piece of the diamond also. Harry and Hermione rejoined Grimstead in class after lunch. The rest of the class had spent the morning trying to learn the spells required to insert the core into their staff. While the rest worked on their own staff, Grimstead showed Harry and Hermione the spells and the techniques needed.

Harry wanted to polish his staff first so as not to disturb the core later, Hermione asked if it made a difference and was told to hold her question for a few minutes. Grimstead called the attention of the whole class and had Hermione repeat her question. Grimstead then asked the class what they thought the correct answer was, would it make a difference or not. Nobody, except Harry, thought it would make a difference; Grimstead said they were correct and incorrect at the same time. The type of wood, the contents of the core, and the method of polishing would make a difference.

Grimstead explained that due to Harry's wood type it would require much more force and time to polish his staff, not to mention the heat created by the polishing. So in Harry's case it did make a difference, but it shouldn't make any difference to any of the others - except Hermione. Everyone returned to their staff while Grimstead showed Harry and Hermione the correct way to polish their staves before inserting the cores. Hermione's staff was ready first and Harry, along with Grimstead, watched as she attempted the insertion of the core. The only problem she had was she almost arranged the core incorrectly, but Grimstead caught that and had her correct the arrangement and alignment of the core. Harry would have to wait until the next day to complete his staff.

The next morning, while most of the class was finishing up and starting to test their staves, Harry finished polishing his staff and with Grimstead watching closely started inserting his core. When Harry used the spell to make the wood open up Grimstead was amazed to see it open easily and cleanly. Harry was puzzled as to which component to put on which end, Grimstead said to put the Ruby in the middle between crab shell and the Hippogriff feather with the dragon blood applied to them afterwards. The sliver of Granite would go on the bottom of the core, the end closest to the ground.

Once Harry had his staff closed up again Grimstead had Harry to apply a special sealant that he said was a family and trade secret. Now it was time to test the staff Harry thought, but Grimstead said he wanted to do some special treatments to the staff first and no Harry could not watch as these were trade and family procedures. Harry said he would go watch Hermione test her staff while Grimstead treated the staff.

When Harry got outside to watch the rest of the class test their staves he found that nobody's staff seemed to work. Hermione was standing off to the side and looking upset so Harry went over to her. She was upset because one of the others had said that the reason her staff didn't work was because she was a poor excuse for a witch.

"Mione, you are a very powerful witch. You can do almost all the spells we are supposed to do in second year without a wand and you even do some of the third year spells without your wand. That takes power. Now point out the idiot who insulted you, then hit him with a good jinx and don't use your wand", Harry said as he squeezed her hand.

Hermione just smiled and pointed at one of the others, suddenly the boy was floating upside down in the air and everyone saw he had a large hole in his pants. Everyone was laughing and Hermione laughed so hard she lost concentration and the boy fell to the ground. When Grimstead came out and saw that none of the staves were working he just shook his head and called the students to him.

"I see I forgot to explain that a staff has to be activated first before it will work correctly. Now form a line, Ms. Granger would you come up first. Now, stand here facing that empty space with all the rocks in it. First thing is to activate your staff, place the butt of the staff on the ground and say 'Awaken' with authority", Grimstead explained.

Hermione did as instructed and when she said "Awaken" there was a slight flash of power seen. Next Grimstead had her attempt to levitate one of the rocks about 50 feet away using only her hand to direct the spell. The rock jumped into the air about 30 feet and stayed there. Grimstead had her release her staff and the rock fell back to earth. Grimstead congratulated Hermione and told her to return to the queue of students, but to tell Harry that he would be last to test his staff as it was still drying.

Each of the students came up in order and activated their staves and preformed a simple spell to show that their staff was activated. A few never got any spell to work, including the boy who had insulted Hermione. When it was Harry's turn Grimstead called Harry's staff to him and handed it to Harry. Harry saw that his staff now had metal caps on each end golden in color. When Harry took the staff he "knew" which end was the top and which end was bottom. Harry followed the procedure and when he said "Awaken" he and the staff were bathed in fire for a few seconds followed by a whirlwind that surrounded both of them.

Grimstead just laughed and told Harry quietly that he knew Harry would be powerful. Harry chose a "rock" much further away and it rose into the air and began to "dance" around as Harry moved his hand. Grimstead asked Harry if he could bring the rock closer so the group could see it better. The rock was about 3 feet across once it was close enough to see clearly. Several comments were heard from the queue, mostly in shock and wonderment.

"Now you can all see what a true staff can do, I admit even I was surprised at what this young man - a second year - could do. Now those of you who were able to activate your staff felt a small surge of power and should not have felt a strain when you cast your spells like you do normally. This is because you tapped into the natural magic of the land. This magic is called Ley Lines and a very large one runs very close to this location so it is easy to tap into. Some of you showed what I said at the start, not everyone can use a staff. Now, if you will watch I will show you how to adjust the length of your staff so it is more comfortable to use. You can shorten a staff but can never increase the length over what it was when made. To try and make a staff longer than it was when made you weaken the staff and it might explode injuring or even killing you", Grimstead explained. He then took out a wand sized piece of wood and it expanded to a full staff.

Grimstead worked with each student to adjust their staff length and explained how to adjust it as the need arose. He saved Harry and Hermione for last. Grimstead explained that he understood that they were from England and that most wizards didn't use staves there so they would have to conceal their staves when they went back home. He also explained that if they ever studied Runes they could inscribe runes on their staff to make it work better. Having seen some of the others looking "wantingly" at Harry's staff he showed both kids how to tie the staff to themselves so nobody else could use it, he also showed them how to "share" their staves with another, but warned that even shared the staff wouldn't work against the owner.

The next day was a free day so Harry and Hermione, along with several others who had been in Grimstead's class, were out practicing with their staves. The kids found that they could use each other's staff but the effect was less than when using their own. Harry and Hermione had taken a break when the same boy came by and tried to pick up Hermione's staff, he started changing colors and got a shock for his trouble. Harry and Hermione both laughed at the boy. When Hermione's roommate for the session, who had taken staves the first week and was just finishing gems, asked if she could look at Hermione's staff, Hermione said yes without thinking. The girl picked up the staff and nothing happened. This surprised both Harry and Hermione, until the girl said it was because Hermione gave permission first. The staff wouldn't work for her, but she could handle it safely until Hermione demanded it back, at which point the staff would become hostile.

Grimstead had walked up during this and awarded the girl house points for remembering his lecture and staff courtesy. He then told Harry and Hermione they had each received points for their accomplishments in his class. He went on to explain how to carve runes in Harry's staff, since it was ironwood it would take a different method than usual. He explained that the key was to inscribe a power rune in the hand position and one on the butt to receive the power either from the Ley lines or themselves. In addition to adding to the power of the staff the runes added to the looks of the staff and made it look most impressive.

The next, and final, week was Gems for Harry and Hermione. This would be a short week as they lost a day due to the time compression. As usual the instructor, Ms. Smit, explained the uses of gems in magic and how they could be used as focus items in some spells and rituals, on the first day. The second day was showing which gems were useful for which type of spells, like Rubies for fire related spells and blood rituals, Diamonds for air related spells and rituals (and some earth based spells), Sapphires were for water based spells and rituals, and Topaz was mostly earth based. She explained that opals were supposed to aid in mind magic, but she wasn't that versed in mind magic so she wasn't sure that was correct.

The second half of the second day was when the students started to see what gems they were attuned to and might possibly be of use to them. Once again Harry chose, or was chosen by, Rubies and Diamonds, while Hermione got Diamonds again plus Sapphires. The third day was a continuation of the previous day and they were shown general polishing techniques to shape and refine the gems. The fourth day was a demonstration of the gems in spell work. Harry and Hermione were asked to stay when the class ended.

Ms. Smit told both kids that she had been thinking about them ever since she had helped them with their staves. She had a present for each of them, but Harry's would be delayed due to the gems that were attuned to him. Hermione received a bracelet with diamonds and sapphires embedded. Ms. Smit gave Harry a ring that had ruby and diamond chips and said to wear it on his right middle finger, she then said that this ring was the first of two gifts and the second would come to him in a few days after the seminar ended.

Everyone from the seminar was a little disorientated the next day when they exited the time compression, but since it was a real time Sunday they would have most of the day to readjust. Of course the ones who didn't attend wanted to know what people had learned during their seminar. All the girls were impressed with the gemstones that Hermione wore, she had been one of two girls in the seminar. The other girl that attended the seminar didn't receive a piece of jewelry but had a nice Topaz to have made into something. Just a few of the seminar attendees had staves since everyone couldn't use or control a staff and Grimstead refused to let them keep them. Hermione did ask Grimstead if she should, or could, insert Sapphires into her staff; he said if she ever wanted to just to bring the gems and her staff to him and he would see if they could be inserted. But adding to a core was difficult once the staff had been completed and bound.

Halloween was another blast for Harry and Hermione. Harry went as a Druid, complete with staff, and Hermione went as a nymph, much to her embarrassment due to the lack of clothing. During Christmas the kids went home to show and tell what they had learned. When Rick, Remus, Sirius, and Lucy saw the staves and the jewelry the kids had they were surprised. Harry's second gift had been a medallion containing all the gems with a ruby as the center piece. The kids had fun, but Christmas was soon over and it was back to school again.

On Easter the adults came to Peaks instead of the kids coming home. The Grangers got to see the school and see some of the things Hermione had learned, plus an exhibition Quidditch match featuring Hermione and Harry. It was during this break that Alana pulled Sirius to the side and suggested that if Harry was going to Hogwarts that it might be a good idea to train him in the use of his staff in non-magical ways as well as magical. She knew that type of training wasn't available through Hogwarts. Sirius agreed and said he would see who he could find to train his godson.

The rest of the year went by with only minor incidents. Harry and Hermione were both docked points for pranks, along with two of their friends. But since a lot of the points were earned by them their housemates didn't get to upset, a few were upset because they hadn't been able to join in on the fun of the pranks. It seems that Harry had been instructed by Sirius on the history of pranks as it related to the Potter line - especially Harry's father James Potter. At the closing feast it was announced that there would be a warding seminar held over the summer for those 16 and above who were interested. They were asked to submit their names prior to June 30th.

Harry asked Alana if there was any way he could attend and was told that he had a special invitation from one of the instructors, Grimstead, as he wanted to see what Harry could do. It seemed that Harry, and Hermione, had really impressed Grimstead during the Magical Aids Seminar. For now it was time to go home, relax, and be a kid.

A/N: Well, Harry and Hermione have completed their second year of magical education, prior to attending Hogwarts. The next chapter(s) will deal with the summer vacation. I have decided to attempt to write their first year at Hogwarts, but with several changes due to their more advanced knowledge. Reviews are always wanted and suggestions are welcome as to how you think the first year should go. Remember Harry needs to have fun as well as prepare for Voldemort and Dumbledore.

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