The Years of Adventure: Frozen North

Chapter 1 - Setting Out

Disclaimer: Hmm. Fanfiction for a reason people, Harry Potter isn't mine. If it was then Ginny would have gone kapoot ages ago.

Author's note: And so continues the story of Harry. This story will be mostly Harry but Bill will make an appearance, it can't be Bill/Harry if you don't have a Bill.

This is the story of how Harry gets started, it fits in right at the end of the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Years of Adventure, you really should read that before going any further.

Enjoy!

Harry didn't really know where to start, his plan consisted of 'travel the world', and that wasn't exactly very specific. Well, I guess food would be as good a place as any to start. So he stuffed his cloak in his backpack and walked into a Muggle grocery store. After stocking up on just about every food imaginable he stopped by the Three Broomsticks and bought out Madam Rosmerta's stock of butterbeer and then to Honeydukes where he bought piles of chocolate. They each gave him extremely funny looks but let him make the purchase anyway. Standing at the very edge of Hogsmeade, Harry pulled his map of the world (magical and not) out of his pack, because there was a fairly large chance that people would be out looking for him he wanted to get as far from people as possible. He decided that no one – except the genius who made him his pack – would expect him to go to the ocean and sail anywhere, so that's exactly what he planned on doing. Harry dug around in his pack for some clue as to where he should go, he planned on going across the entire world so it didn't really matter where he started, his hands found a small globe, he pulled it out and looked at it carefully. However, even though Harry had the world at his fingertips – literally – he still couldn't decide on where to go, so, he tossed it up in the air with a spin and pointed his wand at it. When he caught it there was a tiny glowing dot where the tip of light from his wand had pointed, it was hovering over Iceland. Well, that settled it, he was starting in Iceland.

Harry reached into the pack and found detailed charts of every body of water in the world rolled and meticulously labeled. Seeing as he was in Scotland he opened the one labeled 'North Atlantic' and found Scotland, he saw a tiny grouping of islands just off the northern coast. They were the called the Faroe Islands and had a tiny light blue dot on them which, when Harry looked at the legend of the map, indicated a small wizarding community. He also figured the islands were just about at the limit of his apparation range. So, taking a deep breath and gathering as much of his magical energy as possible, he turned on the spot and vanished from Scotland.

When he arrived in the tiny town of Torshvan on the main Faroe island, the first thing he noticed was the change in temperature; even thought it was nearing the end of June there was a definite chill in the air. Hmmm, I think I'm going to need some slightly warmer clothing if I'm going to be spending time in Iceland.He thought as he went in search of the wizarding settlement that supposedly existed here. Turns out, the town was so small that the wizards hadn't even bothered trying to keep the Muggles separate. It was odd, at first, to see magic being performed on the street without a care but he got used to it pretty quick. Because it was a small town the people immediately noticed that he wasn't from around here and people gathered and started muttering in a combination of English and some other language Harry couldn't identify. Finally, after wandering around for a while, a young girl came up to him and tugged on the back of his coat.

"Sir, you're new here aren't you?" The girl asked with wide eyes.

"Yes miss, I am. In fact, I just arrived a few minutes ago. Would you happen to know where I could find a clothing shop and a book shop?" Harry asked with a kind smile, he needed the clothes and he thought it would be a good idea to get some books about the area to which he was going.

The girl nodded her head energetically. "You'll want to go to the store, we only have one but it has everything!" With that, she grabbed Harry's hand and literally dragged him to the middle of town. This caused many of the townsfolk to laugh. When they got to the store the girl dropped his hand and showed him inside saying, "Just talk to Hanz, he'll get you whatever you need."

The shop was probably one of the most interesting ones he had ever seen, there was every item imaginable, there were hundreds of books (Harry's eyes lit up), guns, swords, fabric, clothing, toys, tools, food; everything was there. He walked up to the counter and addressed the old man who he assumed was Hanz. The man looked like he had lived a full life and seen at least part of the world, his dark blue eyes sparkled with knowledge and his skin was leathery from years outside.

"Hello sir, I was wondering of you could help me."

Hanz squinted at him, "I can help with many things, but the unrest I sense in your heart, that I can't do anything about."

Harry looked at the man in shock, how did he know that Harry was restless? Was it really that obvious? "Oh, well, um...I was just looking for some sturdy clothing and a few books. I'm working on the other stuff myself."

"Ah yes, in that case I can get you whatever you need." He walked over to the clothing section and pointed at the different outfits available. "I can make you any of these, in your size, within the hour so, what sort of clothing would you like?"

Harry stood looking at the many different jackets, pants, and boots, he really had no idea what he needed. He just knew what he wanted to do and where he wanted to go...sorta. "Well, thing is I don't really know what I need. I'm going to be sailing to Iceland and then probably on to Greenland, beyond that I don't really know."

Hanz nodded his head, "A traveler I see. Don't see many of those anymore, a pity really, people seem to have forgotten that there is a whole world out there, just waiting to be seen. But you are different." He looked even closer at Harry, seemed to approve of something and nodded. "I have just the thing, you will have to get something else when you get to Iceland, they have proper land clothing; for now, I will make you this." He held up a full-length coat made of dark brown leather, there were two overlapping slits up the sides to make for easy movement, from the waist up it was lined with a very silky fur. There was a thick, tight belt around the waist which separated the fur lined top from the rest of the coat. Hanz also held up a pair of pants made from the same material, they were also lined with fur. The entire ensemble was coated with a thin wax-like substance that Harry assumed made it waterproof. Finally, Hanz picked up a pair of shoes which, Harry was extremely surprised to find, had very thin soles.

"These shoes look fairly thin on the bottom." Harry commented. "Why is that?"

Hanz gave Harry a toothless grin, "I'm glad you asked. A few minutes ago you mentioned sailing, these are cold weather sailing boots. The thin soles will allow you to feel where your feet are and help you keep your balance, but don't worry, they are just as warm as other boots. You know, I haven't sold a pair in almost twenty years?"

"Twenty years!" Harry exclaimed.

"Yeah, no one sails anymore, especially not up north." He smacked Harry on the back, "Don't look so shocked young man, think about it; how many people do you know go sailing? Or better yet, how many come up north on holiday?"

Harry frowned, but he couldn't think of a single person who had gone north, and certainly not anyone who went sailing.

"You see," The man said sadly, "No one, not one single person, in twenty years, has needed boots like these. I'm extremely happy to see someone as young as you needing them. Now, I will have all this ready in about an hour, you can go ahead and look around. There are some interesting books over there, I would recommend the bottom left shelf."

Harry thanked Hanz and wandered over to the books, he was very please to find that there was a sailing guide more tailored to the Northern Oceans, he also found a very slim volume called 'Myths of the North', it contained a few sketchy accounts of explorers, wizard and Muggle, legends of Northern cultures and a few tall tales of creatures who haunted the ice lands. By the time he had finished looking around the man had finished with his sailing clothing. Harry had paid for his books and clothes and was putting them carefully in his pack when Hanz asked him to wait a moment. A few minutes later he came out from the back of the shop with an old wooden box which he pushed into Harry's hands.

"Here, take this, it's my Arctic Compass from when I went traveling myself. It is specially keyed to work near the magnetic north pole, it has never led me wrong and I hope it does the same for you."

Harry stared at the beautiful compass in his hands, it was the size of his palm and seemed to be carved out of some sort of bone, the actual compass was a dark wood with beautiful etchings all around the edges. "Oh no, I couldn't possibly take this, it is yours." He stammered.

"No, I insist," Hanz said. "I have no use for it anymore and any other compass will become more and more inaccurate the further north you go. I know you will make good use of it, and anyway, this may be my only chance to give it away. Like I said, you are the first in twenty years."

Harry was silent as he ran his thumb over the crystal covering.

"And now, I think it is time for you to go. You must start sometime, now is as good a time as any."

"Right, yes." Harry blinked to clear his mind, "Thank you. I don't know what I can do to show my thanks but I will figure something out."

As Harry walked out the door he was sure Hanz had tipped his head at Harry and said, "No, thank you, Mister Potter, may you find what you are searching for." Harry resolved to send him something special when he found it.

Harry walked to the edge of the island, reached into his travelers pack and pulled out the neatly bundled package labeled 'Tent', opening it up he found a very normal-looking tent with nice, simple instructions on how to set it up. Once it was up, Harry stuck his head inside to find that it wasn't nearly as lavish as some wizard's tents he had seen. It was only one story tall and wasn't filled to the brim with furniture like a house would be. In the kitchen area there was a three-burner stove, preservation box, small counter, a few cupboards and a sink. In the main area there was a small couch, sitting chair, and side table. The bathroom had a tiny shower, toilet and sink and the bedroom only had a single bed, chest of drawers and a wardrobe. The wardrobe however, was very large, Harry wondered why it was so big and then realized that it was the first day and he already had a new set of clothes. He got the feeling that over the years he would fill that wardrobe up, the idea was both appealing and appalling at the same time. One of the nice things about the tent was that it didn't have any walls inside it, there were curtains and dividers all around and some very solid-looking screens around the bathroom, but no walls. It gave the tent a very open and adventury feel.

But, the best thing by far about the whole tent was the study area. There was a massive desk, four tall bookcases, two sets of drawers and a magnificent chair. Harry could just imagine himself sitting there, with wind and snow howling around outside, reading a book or pouring over maps. It was a wonderful picture and he couldn't wait to make it a reality. On the desk he found a note;

Mr. Potter,

Harry, if you're reading this then you have accepted my gift and are taking a much needed vacation. I hope you enjoy everything I have put in the pack and find a use for most of it. I've been working on this pack for nearly a year and I'm pretty sure you will find it most versatile. Now that you've opened up the tent the inside of the pack will change when the tent is in it. Any of the books you put in the bookcase closest to the desk will appear in a box in your pack, the same goes for the top drawer of the desk and the middle section of the wardrobe. Any food in the box on the counter will also be there. I hope you find this helpful. I would explain everything the tent and pack do but to be honest, I can't remember it all myself. I should have stuck notes to things where they don't makes sense but you're traveling, have fun, take risks, find adventure and please, come back in one piece. I don't think the wizarding world would thank me if I provided the means for their saviour to go off and get himself killed.

Best wishes,

Michael Leatherman

Harry smiled, at least now he knew who the genius was that made him all this stuff, now he had a name to send his thank you to. He also couldn't believe how much thought Michael had put into this whole pack, Harry had just been debating which books to put on the book shelves and which to keep in his pack. Now, he didn't have to decide.

Over near the door was a small piece of wood that seemed to have wizard-style buttons on it, they were labeled 'Desert', 'Rocky', 'Tundra, 'Mountain', 'Cliff', 'Field', 'Jungle', 'Ice', 'Beach', 'Scrub land' and 'Sea Floor'. Harry frowned, they were all different types of terrain, why would there be buttons for those? Well, He though, Only one way to find out! And with that he pressed 'Rocky' because that was what the ground outside was at the moment. When he peeked his head out the door he noticed that the tent had changed shape slightly, instead of being a simple, two-pole, old Muggle-style tent, it now had a more rounded, modern look to it. It had also changed colour to match the ground, it was dark gray with deep green and brown accessories. Wow, that is really cool. Now no one will look at the tent oddly, it will look right at home wherever it is. As he was pulling his head back in, he noticed a little tiny blue star next to the zipper, it had a small 'M' inside it, he touched it lightly with his finger but nothing happened so he shrugged and went back in. What met him though was not his tent, it was what he imagined the inside of a Muggle tent would look like, there was his pack on the floor, a sleeping bag, camp stove, pillow and a few books. This guy thought of EVERYTHING! Harry thought in awe, if a Muggle needed to come in the tent for some reason or another, they wouldn't know they were standing in a wizard tent. He pressed the blue star again – which now had a 'W' in it – and the tent went back to normal. Convinced that he had the best tent ever, Harry started unpacking. He put all his books on the bookcases (they looked kinda sad and lonely so he resolved to get some more as soon as possible), his writing supplies in the desk (making sure that at least one journal, quill, sketchbook, and piece of charcoal were in the top drawer), his clothing in the wardrobe and drawers, the food in the preservation box and cupboards (with a few meals in the box on the counter) and he reverently laid the maps out on the desk (the charts for the North Atlantic he place in the top drawer of the desk so he could get at them on the boat). Satisfied, Harry took a long look around the tent, made a cup of tea, grabbed his sailing guide and settled himself in the couch. He was originally going to leave that day but there was more to sailing than he thought so he kept reading late into the night and planned to set off the next morning. When he felt his eyes falling shut he moved to the bed. A normal person would have just stayed in the living room but ever since that summer with Bill he couldn't sleep on a couch, ever. Right before he went to sleep he brought out one of his brand new journals and carefully wrote down everything that had happened, he had resolved to keep an account of his travels so he figured now was the best time to start. By the time his head hit the pillow he was exhausted and he slept soundly through the night

The next morning, Harry separated his stuff into what he might need on the boat and what he could leave in the tent; with his charts, maps, coat, boots, hat (he found this rolled up inside the coat, an extra gift from Hanz), sailing guide, compass, and pack, he stepped outside and used magic to put the tent neatly away. Then, he walked to the shore and set the boat carefully in the water, it looked like some little kid's toy, but when he re-sized it it turned into a brand-new, full sized, sail boat. It was a fairly good-sized, double-masted sail boat. It looked too big to be sailed by one person but upon closer inspection, Harry could see that there was an elaborate rope and pulley system, which all led back to the helm, there were so many lines that he figured a bit of magic must have been used to keep them from getting tangled. Or maybe the boat builder was just a genius, it didn't really matter. Even though he had read all about how to work the boat the night before, it would take a while to figure out. However, for the time being, he cast a spell he had found in the introduction of the sailing guide. The spell could be used up to five times on a particular ship before it became useless but it's purpose was to teach you, in combination with reading the guide, how to sail that particular boat. At first, it would do everything except navigate and then, as time went by, it would have you do more and more of the actual work, until you were sailing it all on your own.

Harry apparated onto the boat because he didn't really feel like getting cold and wet (he had forgotten to take the dingy off it's rack at the stern), and started inspecting it. Everything was in pristine condition and was intricately spelled to stay that way – this was a really good thing because the boat was mostly made of beautiful wood. Modern boats were usually made of fibreglass, plastic or some other synthetic material. But Harry was glad his boat was made of wood, it gave it a timeless feeling that he absolutely loved. He could imagine himself sailing past icebergs or anchored near palm trees in this boat, it was perfect.

However, when he walked into the cabin of the boat he was extremely confused; there was nothing there, no chairs, bed, toilet, kitchen, nothing. Then he saw a little note pinned to the wall.

Harry,

There is a very good reason for the boat to be empty, I figured you wouldn't want to have to move your stuff back and forth from the tent to the boat and back again so I built a feature into the tent which will fit it to the boat. When you pull the tent out of its bag you will see a little wave right in the middle of what would be the floor of the tent, line that wave up with the one in the middle of the boat cabin and step outside.

Best Wishes,

Michael

Harry did as Michael said; as soon as he had left the cabin the tent sprung open and the walls melted into the side of the boat. The entrance to the tent seemed to be fused to the door to the cabin, when Harry opened the door it led straight into the tent. The inside had shuffled around a bit and the tent was now boat-shaped but it was basically the same, it was also scaled normally, the boat was big enough not to need wizard expansion. Impressive. Harry thought, And quite convenient, too. He was excited to see that his bed was now a kind of hammock thing. The small portholes which looked out to sea really completed the boat feel.

So, Harry laid the charts and maps back out on the desk – which had conveniently moved to be right near the door and looked a bit like a navigation table. He then enlarged and copied the north part of the North Atlantic ocean chart and covered it in plastic. He stood at the helm and cast the learning spell, or what he liked to call the 'training wheels', and set a course for Iceland.

After a full day of sailing, during which Harry had gained his 'sea legs' and become quite a good sailor, hardly ever using the spell, he calculated that he was about half way to Iceland, that meant it was time for bed. He opened the sailing guide – not that it had been closed much – and found the spell for the night. It was a handy charm that would held the boat on course overnight, at half speed, and wake you if something approached.

In this manner, it only took Harry two days and one night to reach Iceland, it was at about five in the evening of the second day that Harry dropped anchor just outside Reykjavik, Iceland. Because it was summer, and they were so far north, the sun was still high in the sky as he rowed to shore. He had switched back to his cargo pants and boots from London but kept the slicker-like jacket, letting it hang open in the cool breeze.

Once on land, it took Harry a few minutes to get used to having solid ground under his feet, but as soon as he did, he headed into town. As he walked he could feel something pulling at his magic, when he focused on it he realized that it wasn't something pulling his magic but rather his magic pulling him; having nothing else planned for the day (which would be lasting till about 11pm thanks to the season) he followed. Turns out, his magic was leading him to the magical part of Reykjavik. As he passed through the barrier - a side door next to the Raging Gryffin – he caught a glimpse of an article in a paper, it wasn't in English but it didn't need to be for Harry to know it was about him, there was a huge picture of his face taking up half the page. With a gasp he jumped into the shadows and applied a glamour to his face, he now had very tan skin and spiky, blond hair. Harry sighed, why did his face have to be splattered across a paper? He would understand if it had been right after he killed Voldemort, but now? All he had done was leave without informing the world, he was completely within his rights to do so. Could be worse, at least it's not the front page.

Harry quickly found the bookshop – he had made a pact with himself on the boat, ever time he passed through anywhere that might have a book shop he would get at least five books – walking in, he got a few odd looks, probably because of his jacket, it was quite distinctive. He found the creatures section and tried to find something about the magical fauna of Iceland but there wasn't one, he even went so far as to ask the shopkeeper.

The lady looked at Harry like he was crazy, "Why would we have a book about things that don't exist? There's nothing interesting on this island, sure, there's a few volcanoes, glaciers and rivers but that's it. Magical animals are smart enough to stay away from the cold."

"Oh. Right then, sorry for bothering you." Harry said as he backed away, this wasn't a very nice lady. He grabbed a few books about something called 'Ice Magic' and a guide to magical Reykjavik before hurrying from the shop. He found a store that sold clothing and went in to try and find some gear that would be appropriate for trekking across Iceland in the summer but all they had were some funny hats. With a sigh he left for the Muggle shopping area. There, they had all sorts of outdoor gear. There were whole shops dedicated to boots, others for coats and pants, one for equipment and there was an entire one just for hats. With a great big smile, Harry stepped into the boot shop.

The shopkeeper opened his mouth and out spewed a mash of unintelligible (to Harry) words. "Um, sorry sir, I only speak English."

"No worries young sir, I speak that too! Now, what can I help you with this fine evening?" The man asked with a strong accent.

Harry smiled, this could have been very difficult if they didn't speak the same language. "Well, I would like to walk across the country, literally, but I don't have a clue as to what sort of stuff I will need. I figured I would start with boots and work from there."

The man looked like someone told him Christmas was going to happen twice a day for the rest of the year, "Oh that's great! Across the entire country! I hope you have your permits all in order, you do don't you?"

Harry gave a mental grimace, he didn't even think of that, well, he wasn't a wizard for nothing. "Yes I do, I'm picking them up tomorrow morning! Can't wait to get started."

"Good, good, now then, you say you're doing the whole country, eh?" The man asked as he walked over to a rack of very impressive-looking boots.

"Yeah, and then on to the world. I'm planning on going wherever the wind takes me." Harry said.

"Oh, what sorts of terrain? I may be able to get you a pair that will work for more than just Iceland." The man said with a calculating look.

"Well, I'll probably be doing a lot of hiking, maybe some plain walking. A bit of trekking, basically everything, but I'm not sure."

"That means you'll want light mountaineering boots, they're good for anything, and a set of crampons." Then he turned to Harry, "What is your funding like?"

Harry shrugged, "Almost unlimited, I would probably have to think a bit before buying a country but beyond that...anything goes."

The man's eyebrows shot up – that seemed to happen a lot when Harry was around – and he grinned, "Let me guess, inheritance?"

"Mostly," Harry said, he also had the two million galleons reward money, but decided that mentioning that to a Muggle in Iceland would be rather pointless.

"Well then, lets get started then!" He started pulling things off different shelves, measuring tools, shoe parts, wrenches, laces, all sorts of things. "Now, because you have the money and I like you, I will get you a very nice set of boots, they aren't made of that synthetic crap that will wear out in a few years, these will last you forever, and beyond. I know a man who inherited a pair from his grandfather, took a bit of re-breaking in but still going strong."

"Seriously?" Harry asked in shock, he had never heard of boots like that, even in the wizarding world. "If they last that long, why don't more people get them?"

The man gave a bit of a guilty look, "That would be because a single pair of these boots, which is usually personally fitted to the customer, costs about the equivalent of 400 pounds, and they're not offered to everyone."

"Okay, that explains the lack of commonality. If I might ask, what kind of leather is used that makes it so durable?"

The man looked around nervously, "Well, it's kinda a trade secret, and you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you..."

Now, Harry was interested. "Try me. I think you'll find I believe a lot more than most people."

"Do you promise to buy the boots even if I tell you?"

Okay...what is so special about this leather? Is it magical or something? "Yes, I promise to buy the boots no matter how unusual the leather may be."

"Well, as you may or may not know, there were woolly mammoths which lived in the north long before humans were even around. What people don't know is that many many years ago, a perfectly preserved one was found in a glacier not twenty kilometres from here. My great-great-great-great grandfather found it and dug it out, this leather was was made from it's hide. What's more, there's something about it that makes it so only a silver knife can be used to cut it and when it does, the edges of the hide seal together. At first, the leather was used for tents, sleds, coats, especially once it was discovered that nothing could break it. But over the years, the pieces got cut down or become lost, now there's only bits big enough to make small things. I don't usually sell it because it's worth so much but also because I feel that the person who buys it should make good use of it, not just use them once and leave them in a closet. When you wear these boots I think you will find that your feet will always find sturdy ground, mine certainly do. My ancestors have called this leather magical, and I'm inclined to believe them."

Harry grinned, he was pretty sure the man was right, this certainly sounded like ancient, magical leather. "You know what," He told the shopkeeper, "I believe you, especially the magic part. But it must be forgotten by now because they don't make anything like this anymore." He winked at the man whose eyes widened.

"You don't mean..." The man said.

"I do."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Wow!"

"Yeah." Harry smiled, "Now, about those boots."

"Ah, yes, the boots." With that the man proceeded to carefully fit the shoe to Harry's foot, he put a piece of normal leather in the bottom so it could mold to his foot and strung a thick pair of laces up the front. Harry had to admit, the boots were nice, really nice. And they fit perfectly, he didn't know if this was part of the leather's magic or if it was just chance but he thanked Lady Luck none-the-less. After talking with the man for a while he had a list of other stuff he would need and he hurried to get to the shops before they closed for the night. By the end of the day (but by no means near the night) he had his boots and crampons, another coat (this one was more practical for walking and came to just above his knees), a light-weight but sturdy pair of pants, thermals, good socks, and a very nice hat –it was a fur-lined toque in a deep green, almost black colour. He also had a complete set of topographic maps for Iceland and Greenland, a guide to all the notable places in Iceland, a comprehensive survival book and an English/Icelandic dictionary. All in all, he gained a much higher appreciation for Muggles and his opinion of wizards was a little bit tainted. I mean, who wouldn't want to explore their own country? And why hadn't anyone else done so? Well, that's why I'm here. Harry thought as he organized everything in his boat/tent again. He made sure the relevant maps and guides were in the pack-accessible sections and he laid out his clothing for the next day.

Author's note: Okay, so, Harry is up north. These chapters may or may not be uploaded as fast because apparently university students are expected to write papers and such! (I suppose as a grad student I should know this but hey, I can try and ignore reality, right?)

When I open my e-mail and see a bunch of reviews it makes me really happy, and a happy person writes faster...hint hint nudge nudge.