Harry Potter and Threstral Guardian

Chapter one: A Marauders Intervention

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the associated characters. Throughout the story there may be quoted segments from the Goblet of Fire, but it will soon stop once the story has diverged from cannon.

June 25, 1994

Harry sat in the near darkness of his room - or Dudley's spare room he should say. In his hands was a letter with Font that glowed in the dark. The letter was from Sirius, but one main part of letter struck him. It said. "remember pup, if you are feeling down, you are a marauder and the mischief will save you.

Now Harry was not slow by any sense of the word, but, that was a pretty vague message and it had Harry stumped for days. Until he thought of what it said. "marauder" as in marauders map, and it had a password, so, by using the same password he may be able to see a secret message. He wouldn't put it past sirius anyway.

Harry didn't have his his wand on him, so he would have to try and use his hand to unlock the letter, if there even was a hidden message. Harry hovered his palm above the letter and said. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." and just like that the letter transformed into a new one. The letter now read.

Dear Pup,

Congrats on getting the password of the letter right. Now the reason I put this here is for a couple of reasons. But I'll give the main one, and that is, I've noticed that you are severely malnourished for your age, and you lack clothing that for lack of a better term fit you. I also know from my time around the castle that you are known as a mediocre student at best. I know that this cant be true, because I witnessed with my own eyes - okay, maybe not my own eyes, but you were the only one there that could of saved me - that you produced a Patronus charm, a corporal Patronus charm.

This brings me to one conclusion. You were severely neglected and bullied if you achieved high grades, add to the fact that your Weasley friend isn't exactly an achiever, and Hermione is insecure when it comes to anyone that achieves higher grades than her. I suspect that you remained in the middle ground, so that you can remain friends with the two.

Look pup, I'm not judging, but I have a place that you can stay at. Its likely in bad condition, and has a few magical pests. Attached to this is a few spells that you will need to clean the house.

Next, you need to know that the house is called number 12 Grimmauld place. You are now the second person who knows the location of my ancestral house. Now if you want to get there, just say take me to number 12 and you will be taken there. Also remember when you get there call the name Kreacher, and tell the elf that appears that you were invited into the house by Lord Black and you are part Black and so you have the right to enter the house, and that you were given permission to stay in master Regulus' room.

When you get there, its unlikely that the house will be cleaned, so I want you to clean it - I'm assuming that its mostly Doxies - so use the scouring charm, the siphoning charm and the Knockback jinx, those should sort out the house.

And lastly I want you to study the next subjects thoroughly - the library can be found on the second floor, in the west wing - the subjects are runes, counter and defensive spells, wards, Occlumency and Legilimency(mind arts), magical meditation, offensive spells, spell crafting with runes, duelling, transfiguration applied in duelling and revise your previous four years and perfect all the spells in them, as well as silent casting.

Yours, Padfoot.

Harry sat there thinking for while. How as he going to get his wand and other school supplies. Since they were locked in the broom closet under the stairs, he would need a way to get it. He took some time before he was hit with sudden inspiration. "Dobby!"

Pop!

"Harry Potter sir, calls on Dobby." the house elf said.

"Er- yes Dobby, can you do magic that does not affect the trace?"

Dobby looked up at Harry with his golf-ball sized eyes, and said. "Yes, Harry Potter sir, but Dobby must be bonded to to that under-age wizard."

"Bonded? What do you mean bonded?"

"It is a magical bond between Dobby and Harry Potter sir, it can be used for many things, the most important is that it allows Dobby and Harry Potter sir to draw magic from one another, its called a symbiotic bond." Dobby said, as if he were reciting it from a text book.

"Okay I understand, so how is it done? Bonding I mean, is it a ritual? a potion? a spell? what? And does it alert the trace." Harry asked, rapid fire questions.

'Harry Potter sir need only say, "I invoke the ancient Magick's, I wish to bond "Dobby" to my person, so mote it be. It does not alert the trace Harry Potter sir." Dobby answered.

"I invoke the ancient Magick's."Harry said, and a silver tendril of magic wrapped around him."I wish to bond "Dobby" to my person, so mote it be!" the tendril extended to Dobby.

"Dobby accepts Harry Potter sir as his master, so mote it be!" the elf said, with a snap of his fingers and a small tendril of green magic intermingled with the silver and the two dissipated.

"So is that all?" Harry asked. "Wait Dobby what's happening to you? You're changing."

And indeed Dobby was. His ears shortened, his eyes became slightly smaller, and more focussed. His nose also shrunk considerably, the skin around his face and eyes became much more smoother and less like, old leather. If Harry was honest, he was sure that Dobby looked more like an elf he had seen in the few folk lore books he had read as a child.

"Master Harry Potter, I think this has happened because of your heritage." Dobby's voice even sound more cultured.

"My heritage? What do you mean my heritage?" Harry asked.

"Your elvish heritage, master Harry Potter." Dobby replied.

"You mean I'm related to a house elf? That cant be right - although that might explain the way aunt petunia looks."

"No master Harry Potter sir, they were an ancient race of beings that were considered the most powerful magical race in the world, they died out, but some of them mated with wizards and witches, but most wizards and witches have some elvish ancestry and this has not happened, the only answer could be that you are descended from high elves." Dobby replied.

Harry was only filled with more questions, but he decided to put them on pause for the moment. "Never mind Dobby, I want you to collect all my things, if that's okay with you? And in about five minutes I want you to bring my things to me, but first I need you to get my wand, its under the stairs. Be silent."

Dobby left Harry's room and appeared about a half-a-minute later with Harry's wand in hand.

"Master Harry Potter, I have retrieved your wand." Dobby handed him his wand.

Harry smiled warmly as he felt the familiar presence of his wand. "Gather everything Dobby, see you soon," said Harry while holding the letter,"take me to number twelve." suddenly Harry felt a tug at his naval, then a whirlpool like sensation took over his body and he landed in a heap at the front door, of a house that had a silver snake knocker.

Harry opened the door and stepped inside. "Kreacher!" Harry shouted, as he closed the door, while the other hand gripped his wand.

There was an immediate pop in front of him, and an old bat eared house elf with narrow eyes appeared. "Filthy blood-traitor, how dare you step into-"

"Whoa, calm down Kreacher, Lord Black invited me here, I also have Black blood, so I don't even need lord blacks permission to be here." Harry tried to reassure the elf.

"I am sorry master," the elf bowed. "may I punish myself now. . Or will later be more convenient?"

Harry opened his eyes in shock, it shouldn't surprise him really, he had met Dobby already, but still he was taken aback by the casualness of it. "No Kreacher, I will not allow any self-harm, it is stupid, punishing oneself wastes time, time that could be better used for serving your master."

Kreacher nodded slightly, he seemed to agree with the logic, but mere word from a boy the elf barely knew wouldn't change decades of teachings from masters he was loyal to. "Kreacher, lord Black said that you should show me to master Regulus' room, he also said that there are magical pests in this house, so could you keep them away from the room, until I am able to deal with them myself?"

Kreacher hesitated before answering. "Very well master, Kreacher would like to know your name?"

"My name is Harry James Potter." Harry replied.

"Harry. .Potter. . You are the one who defeated the dark lord as an infant?" Kreacher asked.

"It is what they say, but between me and you I think it is the ancestral magic that protected me." Harry had read a few books on the origin of magic and other magical theories, and the study of ancestral magic was glossed over in the book he read. He knew if he said that, it would ensure that he is seen in a positive light to the Pureblood house-elf.

Kreacher's eyes sparkled for a moment before they returned to normal. "Very well, master Potter, if you will follow Kreacher to master Regulus' room."

Harry nodded. The elf led Harry through the corridor, the corridor had a troll foot umbrella stand at the far end of it, that seemed to lead to what Harry suspected was the drawing room.

Next Harry was lead up a flight of stairs, that had dead house-elf heads attached to the banister, they ascended two more flights of stairs, before Harry was lead to a room that had the name Regulus Arcturus Black across the door. When Harry entered the room, he noticed that room was in very good condition, which was a significant contrast to the rest of the house.

"Thank you Kreacher, goodnight." Harry said, as he closed the door. Harry heard a soft yes master, as the door clicked. Harry surveyed the room, and noticed that it had what seemed to be a comfortable double bed that was covered with grey satin bedding.

There was a desk in the far corner of the room, near the window that was covered with silver curtains, to the right of that was a small book shelf that was filled with school textbooks, and related subjects. There were books that covered charms, transfiguration, potions, runes, defence against the dark arts and the dark arts.

Harry thought that they were worth giving a look, but tomorrow, now was not the time, he needed to sleep.

26 June, 1994

Grimmauld place

Harry awoke with a start and groped around for his glasses, he quickly put them on and he scanned the room thoroughly. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, until he saw all his belongings were in the corner of the room. And in-front of them stood the altered Dobby with a serving tray filled with food.

"Good morning, Master Harry Potter." the house elf greeted cheerfully.

"Morning Dobby, is that for me." Harry asked, His voice was dry from thirst.

"Yes master Harry Potter, Dobby was thinking -"

"Dobby why do you call me master? And why my full name?" Harry interrupted.

"It is in the ancient magic of the elf-wizard bond, and I call your full-name because you have not told me whether you want Dobby to call you by your full name, first or last name." Dobby replied.

"Okay, please call me master Harry and please may I have my food?" Harry asked.

Dobby nodded. The tray had a sliced orange, oatmeal, bacon and a glass of orange juice. "Dobby, thanks, but the breakfast didn't have to be so. . .so, well elaborate."

"It is, okay master Harry. Dobby knows that you will be needing your strength." Dobby replied.

Harry nodded absent mindedly while he dug into to his delicious breakfast. He was halfway through his breakfast when he noticed something that was off with his possessions. "Dobby, where is Hedwig?" Harry asked.

"Hedwig is flying here as we are speaking." Dobby replied. "Her cage is in the attic."

Harry nodded, before completing his meal.

A couple minutes later

Harry was dressed in a long sleeved shirt, pants, trainers and a balaclava that had holes for the eyes, nose and mouth. "Kreacher!" Harry bellowed.

Kreacher appeared and gave Harry an odd look. "Master is calling Kreacher?" the elf bowed while muttering under his breath.

"Kreacher, I'm going to be cleaning the Black house, of both the Doxies that inhabit it, and the dust and grime that dishonour it - now don't give me that look - I'm doing this to clean the house, as well as increase my increase my reflexes and magical reserves." said Harry.

Dobby nodded in understanding, Kreacher not so much. "Why is master cleaning if he as two house elves to clean for him?"

"Because one of the two house elves standing here, has not done a good job around here," Harry gave Kreacher a pointed look. "and it is - as I said - to help improve my own skills."

"I understand master, what do you require of me?" Kreacher asked.

"I want you to watch my back while I kill the Doxies." Harry instructed. Kreacher seemed to struggle to accept his task, but he decided to do so reluctantly. "And Dobby I want you to clean the kitchen, and make sure it is stocked, withdraw any money that you need to from my Gringotts account, also I want you to request an audit of my accounts from one of the goblins."

"Dobby knows his task sir!" Dobby did an imitation of marine salute and popped out the room.

"Okay Kreacher, take me to the library, if there are any Doxy swarms, I want them out of library as soon as possible." Harry replied.

Kreacher nodded before taking Harry's hand - which surprised Harry - and led down a flight of stairs and to a door with a silver knocker, and what Harry assumed was the Black family crest. "The Black library?" Harry said. "I assume it requires blood?"

"Yes master."

Harry muttered "Diffindo" and directed his wand at his opposing hand. His hand gained a small paper-cut on his palm, it drew a minuscule amount of blood. He placed his palm against the door and waited.

The edge the door glowed blue, and the Black family emblem glowed white and the door swung open. Harry entered the library and noticed that it was about as big as Hogwarts library. Harry swung his head from side to side, most of the books seemed quite dusty, no surprise there - the house looked like it hadn't been inhabited in years.

He noticed that there were six sets of curtains around the room, which meant that there was likely six Doxy nests. "Kreacher, give me the layout of the library." Harry instructed.

"The library has two floors, master." Kreacher replied. "And there is a private room. That only lord Black and lady Black can enter."

"Thank you Kreacher, and how many windows on each floor?" Harry asked.

"Six windows master." Kreacher replied.

"I thought so - wait." Harry paused. "How did I know that? I mean the book shelves were in the way, how could I know they were there if I could not see?"

"Master has Black blood, so he has access to all entry and exit points on any floor he is on." Kreacher informed.

"That's pretty convenient." Harry acknowledged., while walking to one of the curtains - or the Doxy nest. As soon as he reached the curtain, a swarm of Doxies flew out from their cover from behind the curtain, they had eight limbs - four arms, four legs - that were covered in dark fur that had a purple hue. Their moths were lined with rows of dangerously sharp teeth that seemed to ooze poison.

Harry whipped his wand out and shouted. "Flipendo!" and sent the a powerful knock back jinx into the swarm. The jinx did not work as well Sirius said it would, even though they were smaller than humans, they seemed as if they were still quite magical resistant. Harry thought belatedly that he should of used the Doxicide potion instead of using the Knockback jinx, pretty useless against those types of pests.

Harry didn't have time to think before the swarm returned with a vengeance, with a moment of quick thinking he shouted. "Immobulus!" and a few of the Doxies in front of him froze, due to the freezing charm he cast. He then followed it up with a powerful shout of "Diffindo!" and swiped across him. The frozen Doxies and a few of the other Doxies were beheaded by Harry's over-powered severing charm.

Harry decided that he may as well keep trying to behead the Doxies, because he didn't have any other spell that was wide-spread enough to take them all down without injury. So Harry went about firing over-powered severing charms. Harry had taken care of most that was in that curtain, so he fired a severing charm at the curtain hanging and watched it fall before he said. "Incendio." and shot a jet of flames from his wand, that burned the rest that tried to hide. "Kreacher, please put out the fire."

With a mumble of "Yes, master." and click of Kreacher's fingers the curtain, fire and Doxies were all gone.

"Thanks Kreacher, lets move on, shall we." Harry instructed.

The two moved through the rest of the curtains on that floor with Harry firing a combination of the fire-making charm, severing charm and freezing charm to eliminate all the Doxies that attacked, himself and Kreacher.

Now they moved onto the second floor, which was filled with desk and chairs on one side, and dusty tomes and shelves on the other side. Harry moved on to the windows of the library, he had managed to destroy all the Doxies up to the fifth window, of the second floor.

He moved to the last and final window of the library, and that when it al started. Doxies attacked him from as well as from the front, he Kreacher looked to their left, and once again to their right, but they were trapped with no visible escape route.

Harry struggled to think for a solution, and each second he didn't do anything, the Doxies got closer. Harry looked into the Kreacher's eyes, and it was almost as if the light was slowly fading from them the nearer the Doxies got, but - wait, light that it. "Lumos maxima!" Harry cast an intense ball of light into the Doxies, that momentarily blinded them.

He and Kreacher both sent cutting curses and severing charms respectively until the Doxies were complete destroyed. Except a small squad of them managed to flank Kreacher, and were about to bite him when Harry launched his fastest charm at the Doxies. "Expecto Patronum!" a silver stag shot out of Harry's wand, it galloped through Kreacher and rammed into the Doxies with its antlers.

Harry then cast an additional severing charm, because he was not sure if the Patronus charm would only repel like it does with Dementors, or if it would kill them.

"Kreacher, are you okay?" Harry asked sincerely.

"No master, I have failed you." Kreacher looked down dejectedly. "Kreacher was asked to protect master, but it was master who protected Kreacher. Kreacher must be punished!"

"No! Kreacher, you will not be punished."said Harry. "but I do need you to answer a question."

Kreacher nodded. "How long have you been a house-elf for the House of Black?"

"Kreacher has been since he was born." he said simply.

"And how long as your family been in service of the house of Black?" Harry asked.

"Since master Sirius Black the first was born" Kreacher said proudly.

"Since I am part Black, and your family has served the house of Black for so many generations, I think is only fair to consider you family, so I think that all I was doing is looking out for my cousin Kreacher." Harry smiled at the wrinkled elf.

A tear fell down Kreacher's cheek. "The only master to call me family was master Regulus. Thank you master, but I have a request."

Harry gestured for him to go on. "I wish to be made your personal house-elf."

Harry looked down sadly at him before he answered. "Kreacher as you have said, your family has been in the house of Black for generations, and it wouldn't be right to bring you into a new family. Besides I already have a personal elf. .but I would be willing to bond with you as a son of the house of Black."

"But there are no other direct descendants, there are only the Malfoy's, Lestrange's, and bad master." Kreacher replied.

"Who is bad master?" Harry asked.

"It is master S-Sirius the third." Kreacher replied, somewhat angrily.

"Why do you see him as a bad master?"

"Because he brought shame to the Black family." Kreacher replied.

"Look Kreacher, Sirius saved me from a horrible life with Muggles, but by telling me to live here he saved me, so I will ask that you give master Sirius a chance, that will be payment of your debt." Harry replied.

"Why would master squander a life-debt so frivolously?" Kreacher asked, in annoyance.

"Because Sirius is the only family I have left! So Kreacher do you accept my terms? Will you follow and serve me as a son of the most ancient and noble House of Black?"

Kreacher looked at him in his eyes before he nodded in determination. "I will master."

"So mote it be." Harry declared, his magic reached out to Kreacher and coiled around him before it was absorbed by Kreacher and Harry collapsed,

June 27, 1994

Harry awoke, he was back in Regulus' room. The room was the same as it was as when he was last in it. Exactly one day ago.

And at the foot of his bed was what could have only been Kreacher, although he looked oddly different from before. He had two tufts of white hair that flowed from below his nose, and although his skin still retained the wrinkles from before, they seemed less pronounced.

His eyes sparkled a brilliant blue, that seemed almost Bioluminescent, his posture was much more upright and lively than before, and his ears were slightly smaller and more elf-like.

"Kreacher, is that you?" Harry asked, cautiously.

"Yes, master Harry Potter it is Kreacher." he replied.

"So, my elvish ancestry did the same to you as it did to Dobby?"Harry asked, unnecessarily.

"Yes master, but Dobby and Kreacher have things to tell master, with our boosted power we can accomplish it." Kreacher replied.

"Okay, and why did I faint?" Harry asked.

"Young master was magically tired from removing the vermin that inhabited the library." Kreacher replied. "Master will have to wait at least two days before he uses magic again."

"I see, thank you Kreacher."Harry smiled. "but if its not too much trouble, I'm starving."

"I will bring master some breakfast immediately!" Kreacher bowed.

June 29, 1994

For the past two days Harry had sat in his bed reading and eating while he recuperated from his magical exhaustion. The books he read were brought to him by Kreacher and they were titled : occluding the mind by Sirius Black ll and mediation, and its link to the mind arts and its other magical benefits by Artemis Dumbledore.

Funnily enough many concepts in both books could be linked to each other. And used to better understand what was being said. Harry of course practised the most pressing matter at hand and that was mediation. His meditation was a basic one that incorporated concepts from both books. The aim in Occlumency was to clear your thoughts, that way traps were not needed, and clearing your mind and controlling your breathing was another exercise that helped with the mind arts, as it taught emotional control, and was of course part of the mediation phase of training.

Harry tried to clear his mind while focusing on his breathing, in the two days he spent in bed, but it was to no avail. He could maintain the feeling of apathy, and absence of thought for about thirty seconds before, he had to try again, and again and again. He had managed to push it to thirty five seconds - which was progress he supposed .

Harry looked towards his two elevated house-elves. They looked at him worriedly, Harry was sure they wanted to tell him something now that he was magically recovered, due to a combination of bed rest, food and strengthening and nutrient potions.

"Master Harry. . .we are not sure how to tell you this, but. . ." Dobby started.

"Master, as a most foul parasite that is leaching upon his magic, it is the reason that master Regulus is gone, it was because of the foul locket and now you. ." Kreacher shuddered in rage.

"If master Harry is permitting it, we would like to remove the dark parasite from your magic." Dobby asked.

"Tell me what the side-effects are?"

"Well, master. . .it will drain ourselves, it will drain master, and it will only banish the soul not kill it, where it will go we are not sure, all we know is it cannot latch onto master again."Kreacher supplied.

Harry thought about it for a moment. All things considered it would help him in the long run, plus Harry knew the basics of a parasite, it survived by feasting on its host, and even if it was some hybrid parasite that could survive without a host, the fact of the matter was that as long as it was within Harry it would hinder him magically.

"Are those the only negatives?" Harry asked.

"Well, master Harry may have to sacrifice at least half of his magical capacity to banish the parasite." Dobby replied.

"Can the magical power be returned to me?" Harry asked.

"Yes, but master Harry will have to frequently practise magic." Dobby supplied.

"Yes, master you will need to practise magic until the holiday ends, but not so much that you become bedridden - just enough so that you become tired." Kreacher supplied.

Harry nodded. "Well, I suppose the two months I have left of this holiday can be used to regain at least a quarter of my magical capacity, and I'll have to look for any books that relate to increasing the size of your core."

Harry was silent for a while, before he spoke again. "Okay Kreacher, Dobby I'm ready what do you need me to do?"

"Master we want you to use the power of the mind arts to void your mind." Kreacher instructed.

Harry nodded. He closed his eyes and bean the process of clearing his mind which was much more challenging now that he knew that there was something within that was siphoning his magic. Something dark.

After a few minutes he managed to void his mind of all thoughts, now in deep meditation, all could feel was nothing, he felt detached from his body, magic and emotions, all that remained was void.

It seemed like it lasted an eternity, and then it ended. Harry awoke in his bed, Kreacher and Dobby were both laying on the floor unconscious on either side of his bed. He tried to move, but unconsciousness claimed him once more.

June 29, 1994

Little Hangleton

A small, grey baby-like figure sat in a chair - that was too big for it - in front of the fire place. Beside him stood a balding man with straw like brown hair, and a face that resembled a rat.

"Hmm, seems like we will be changing our plans Wormtail." the baby said in glee.

"Understood, my Lord."

June 30, 1994

Harry awoke once again within his bed, his two house-elves had awoken from their slumber. They were nowhere to be seen, Harry got up from his bed and curiously looked around his room hoping to find where Dobby and Kreacher are.

Belatedly he realised that he didn't need his glasses to see, whatever the elves did to him, they obviously cured his poor-vision. Which Harry was thankful for, because if he had to defend himself, the glasses would only hinder him.

He soon found Kreacher and Dobby in the kitchen preparing breakfast, or so he assumed - there were no clocks in the house, and he hadn't looked out the window yet.

"Morning Dobby, Morning Kreacher." Harry greeted.

"Good morning Master Harry!"Dobby greeted.

"Morning Master." Kreacher said, he seemed off somehow.

"So, did you get rid of the parasite?" Harry asked.

"Yes master the parasite has been banished from your mind and your magic." Dobby answered, while frying eggs.

"That's good I guess, so do either of you know what the parasite was? Or where it came from for that matter" Harry asked.

"Dobby knows not from where it came, all Dobby can tell for certain is that it was very dark." Dobby answered with a shudder.

"Master, please forgive Kreacher for not telling you sooner." Kreacher answered uneasily. "But Kreacher has come across that magic once before, I do not know what it is, but I do know that it is terrible, and needs to be destroyed."

"That's okay Kreacher." Harry said in the most soothing voice he could muster. "at the end of the day you helped, and so I trust you. So, where else did you come across this type of magic?"

Kreacher hesitated for a moment before answering. "Kreacher was tasked by master Regulus to destroy the locket, the locket had this foul magic within, Kreacher hasn't been able to destroy the locket yet and he has been trying since Kreacher. . . lost master."

"Could I see it?" Harry asked, carefully.

"Kreacher would not suggest it, the magic is foul. . .and it could hurt master." Kreacher said, with an almost pleading look.

Harry pondered on Kreacher's advice for a moment before he replied. "Okay Kreacher I trust your judgement, but I want you to promise me that you will allow me to study the locket, and tell me the full story when I am strong enough."

"Okay master, Kreacher promises." Kreacher replied, his tone completely serious.

Harry sat down at the long wood table and waited for his breakfast, which was brought to him a few moments later. He finished eating his food at apace that would impress both Crabbe and Goyle, not to mention Ron.

Next two vials of potions appeared on the table. "What's this?" Harry said, while he eyed the potion vials warily.

"Master Harry the potion I bought you is to remedy severe cases of magical exhaustion, so Dobby is thinking it might help recover all the magic that you sacrificed." Dobby answered.

"And Kreacher took the liberty of getting you a nutrition potion, because master is severely under-nourished, Kreacher also hoped that it would help master recover his magic." Kreacher replied.

Harry gave the two a watery smile, he had never had anyone show this much care for his well-being. "Thank you two." Harry downed the two vials, and had to fight to hold back a grimace of disgust that threatened to appear on his face.

"I hate potions!" Harry scowled, but then he remembered something. "Dobby, Kreacher yesterday when I used Occlumency to clear mind, I felt as if it was much easier to do than before, not only that but it seemed like my mind, body and magic were all separated, yet at the same time connected. Was that me or you?"

"It was our elvish magic master, no wizard or witch can do what our magic did, because they would not be part of this reality any longer, and it would take hundred of years to get to that state, master." Kreacher informed him.

Drats, and there Harry was thinking that he was some mind arts prodigy. Oh well, back to the drawing board. "Okay, today and every other day until the house is clean I will clean the house until I'm tired, then have lunch and read the rest of the day, until I recover my strength, and then practise all my spells beginning at year one." Harry said this to his two elves. "I want you two, to make sure my food is ready, after I finish using my magic to clean the house."

Harry spent the next few weeks cleaning the house using various cleaning charms that he knew, and others that he learnt, in many cases they were over-powered. He also spent time disposing the house of Doxies. The Doxies put up a fight but Harry managed to destroy them all in many creative ways, without the assistance of his elves.

Harry also spent that time practising his Occlumency and meditation exercises. He slowly improved in those areas, but as an un-written rule, anything worth doing is not done quickly, but through either enormous raw talent or hours of practise, and that's what it required.

Harry also found that Occlumency was a broad range of various mini-skill sets that encompassed Occlumency. Currently Harry only used two of the skills at the same time when he practised, and they were: clearing the mind and controlling emotions. These two skill sets were linked which is why it benefited him to learn them at the same time. Not only did it help Harry focus his magic, but it built natural mind-magic shields. These shield were subconscious constructs that protected your thoughts. Of course they were easy to penetrate, but the more proficient in the mind-arts you were the stronger your subconscious shields would be.

Hopefully Harry's efforts to better himself will not be in vain, only time will tell.