Fan Fiction ❯ The Weaver Telarius ❯ Enter Telarius ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

It has been a fascinating year.

Allow me to clarify. You see, I was minding my own business, having a jolly good time at college, while at the same time stressing out quite a bit over the workload I'd been assigned. As a music student, I had about four times as many classes as the typical college student, and still received the same amount of credit. So when I say that I was having a jolly good time at college, I really mean to say that I was contemplating just how else I could survive in this world and still enjoy my life. I didn't come up with anything that was appealing, though I suppose whoring myself had a slight bit more appeal than the rest of the options. Being madly in love, though, and having ideals that are considered archaic by some of my teachers, that option lost all appeal it could have had.

So life was a bit rough. No problem. I've had worse, I thought as I remembered my high school days with a shudder.

I was lying down in my dorm room, minding my own business, as I said before, and enjoying a good book. I don't know what happened first. The strange tingle, the book disappearing, the letter falling into my lap from outside, or the feeling of disorientation. My theory stands that they happened in such quick succession that my mind could not possibly comprehend them. At any rate, my thoughts were this, and I shall give them in the order of their occurance: 'Where is my book? How did the letter get through the window? Was that an owl I just saw in broad daylight? What in the world was that tingle? I could really go for a steak right now...'

What? I'm a musician and a college student. Put those two together, and you come up with one incredibly hungry individual. Plus, due to genetics, I wasn't due to stop growing for another six years, so my appetite was that of an early teen. Back off!

Well, opening the letter seemed to be the most logical course of action. That being said, I decided against it in favour of looking for other abnormalities. Outside my window was bright, with wonderful green leaves on the trees, and people walking around in shorts and tank tops. Ordinarily I would have appreciated such a view from the third floor of a building, but the drive just didn't seem to be there, and I had other things on my mind. The main one was distinctly remembering being in the month of February. In New York. Near Lake Erie. This does not go well together with warm weather and green leaves.

Feeling even more disoriented then before, I turned about, my intention to look at the letter for clues as to what might have happened. I stopped in mid-turn, though, as I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror on the door to my room.

I was so used to being short that I simply didn't notice how much of an effort it was to look out the window. Now the mirror showed me something that I did not expect to see. My appearance was actually altered. I maintained a majority of my facial features, nixing the facial hair as I now appeared to be at an age too young for it to make an appearance. My hair was now a bit longer (or maybe it simply looked that way since I had shrunken at least a foot in height) and had taken on more red than ever before. My eyes seemed to maintain their shifting colour ability, but the entire spectrum seemed available to me, now, and I could notice this because they were getting used to looking at the new me in the mirror. I looked younger, but my mind was the same as it had been before. I could not help but smirk at this. Whatever would happen, my appearance would give any opposition the belief that I was not nearly as clever as I really am.

I felt something warm in between my hands as I turned to the letter. I looked down to notice that I had them idling in a position I used quite a bit. I am a magus; one who uses his own energy to fuel magickal effects. It's another unique characteristic about me which came in handy, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I had them in a standard position for an offensive ball (usually a fireball, since fire is my dominant elemental). What caught my attention was the glowing orangish ball of flame nestled between my hands. I had it there ever since the book disappeared, since my instinct in such situations is to be on guard. I didn't even realize that I was charging one. There was a problem with this, though. Manifesting a physical fireball is bad. Vulgar magick is something no one should ever do. Since most people, where I come from (that will make more sense later, trust me), do not believe in magick, and so to manifest something in the physical world is known as vulgar, and usually results in roughly ten times as much backlash. For me, that means the equivalent of getting hit in the kidney by a twenty ton sledgehammer. Not a good thing to be doing. However, the fact that the fireball actually caused my hands to feel warm alerted me enough to dismiss the possibility that this was a dream.

I dispelled the fireball immediately, and surprised myself quite a bit when I realized the amount of physical drain was a little less than the normal, astral ball I usually summoned.

Now in a state of total confusion, I picked up the letter, retrieved my letter opener (a fine one from Paris, given to me by a high school friend), and cut the top, unfolding it in a bit of a hurry. It read as follows:

Dear Telarius,

It has come to our attention that you possess the natural abilities necessary for you to be brought into the wizarding world. You will be contacted shortly by one of our representatives. You are to be placed into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Whatever your initial supplies turn out to be, they will be paid for by the school. This is the only year this will occur, though, as a warning. Also, you are not to perform any magic outside the school, especially when in the presence of Muggles (those who do not possess any magical aptitude). We will overlook this first incident, since it informed us of your position and abilities. Our representative will give you a placement exam to decide which year of schooling you will transfer into as.

Good luck
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts

I blinked several times. I remember that well. Most of what I read made little to no sense, but the day was turning out to follow that trend. I remember thinking that these people must not waste time. The book disappeared, I instinctively summoned the fireball, and a letter dropped in my lap.

A knock at my door snapped my attention. These people had the best timing I'd ever heard of. This could turn out to be interesting...

"Come in," I said, mostly because I was still overcoming shock, and really didn't feel like I could get up without having the room spin.

A large figure somehow squeezed his way through my doorway. I had seen big people before, but this one was bigger than big. He was monsterous. He really looked like he might be part Hill Giant. The way things were going, I wouldn't doubt it. His hands were freaking anvils! As I sat in awe of his massive presence, I noticed the huge grin on his face fade into a somber expression. He must have noticed my confused look. He didn't look like the brightest bulb in the store, but he knew more than I did about what was going on.

"You Telarius?" his voice boomed, and yet wasn't loud enough to draw attention from anyone outside the room. It was more like it took its time resonating within the cavern of his mouth before it spun its way out. I noticed a thick Irish accent, which just seemed to fit so nicely into the rest of the character before me.

I resolved immediately to lie for all I was worth. Sure, I had used the name Telarius before, and called it mine. It wasn't the one that my parents gave me, but it was the one I always thought my true name to be. I had used the name for so many different characters in so many different fantasy stories that I decided to go with it for as far as it would take me. Also, I could probably find out more about what was going on if I did so.

"Yes, that would be me. I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, sir. Might I inquire what I am to call you?" I noticed, immediately, that my voice was slightly altered as well. A bit younger, yes, and thus it was pitched up a little bit, but still quite deep. It also carried a hungarian accent. I resolved to check myself for fangs later. Just in case.

As I said before, he speaks with an Irish accent. Use imagination on the pronounciations, because I don't really feel like notating them in my brain the way they sound. Too much IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) can make anyone sick of thinking in sound as opposed to real words. "Hagrid, laddy," he extended one of those enormous paws, and I shook his index finger. I was impressed at how gentle his grip was. "You will be needin' the placement exam..."

As he dug in his robes, or whatever those things he was wearing were, I tried to come up with a way of asking a question that would gain me some information without revealing that I had no idea what in the world was going on.

As he handed me the exam and a quill with ink, I had it. "What took you so long to find me?"

I saw his face shrivel up a bit. I was afraid I hurt him with my question, but as it turns out, he was just trying to come up with an appropriate response. I had no idea how I knew that. "Well, the school usually looks for youngin's with magical powers, so I guess you just never used yours until now, eh?"

I grinned inwardly. Even though it was most likely a true statement on his part, I could tell he was hiding something. It was far too contrived of a response to have been entirely honest. "No, I've used my powers many times before."

What was great about that statement was that it was true. Before this time in my life, I had used magick quite a bit. Sure, it had never physically manifested until now, but I never had red hair or shrunk or aged backwards until now. I suddenly wondered how Merlin must have taken the whole aging backwards thing.

My response made him bite his lower lip a bit. "I can't answer that one, laddy. I'm not supposed to say anything about the strange appearances of late..." he paused at that point, and my inward grin became toothy. Damn I love being good at this.

I took the placement test without asking him another question. Didn't want to put the man's job in jeopardy or anything. That would just be mean.

The questions were pushovers. Multiple choice questions which made loads of sense to me already. They seemed to be divided into various subjects. After acing that one, though, Hagrid handed me more papers. I realized that this would keep going until I couldn't get a single question right.

Finally, Hagrid told me the results. "Alright, Transfiguration you would be a first year in, but since you seem to be a bright lad, I'll place you in third year," so nice of him to notice my huge learning curve, "You'd do well in Divination class, but Arithmancy is scored high, too. I guess we'll just have to see how things go there. Care of Magickal Creatures is also at third year level. You have the basic knowledge of a lot of creatures, but no idea how to take care of them. Don't worry, lad. I teach that class, and you're in good hands," and big ones, "Potions you did pretty well in, but I'm gonna put you in the third year of that as well, mostly because your accuracy seems to be because of educated guesses rather than actual knowledge. Charms you need serious catching up for, but I think you'll manage at third year level. As for Defense Against the Dark Arts..." and at that moment, he paused. I realized that he was shuffling to the last page he gave me, the tenth one, and looking puzzled, but amused, "I'll have to talk with Professor Lupin, but I'm pretty sure I heard him request a student teacher for his sick days, as opposed to the Potions Professor, Severus Snape, taking over."

I blinked a few more times, but grinned. Regardless of how confusing this was, it could be fun.

"So, what happens now?" I asked, attempting to be genuinely inquisitive rather than entirely baffled.

===

I had never imagined being to London at this point in my life. Even when I had considered the thought, it was never to pick up supplies for attending a wizarding school. I won't bother you with the particulars. You encountered the same thing. The Leaky Cauldron, the spot to take you into Diagon Alley, etc. Therefore, I will simply go over the experiences which were most interesting.

I entered the wand shop solo, since Hagrid assured me that he would find a familiar to best suit me. I trusted the man. He seemed to know more about animals than I would ever care to learn.

While I wondered what need I would have for a wand, the shopkeeper rolled behind the counter towards me and gave me a lookover. "Hmmm..." his voice was rather scratchy, and he looked quite old, "I will have to experiment a bit with you."

Being thoroughly lost as he disappeared again, I decided to simply remain there and wait for a clue as to why I was here. When he reappeared, he handed me a stick which looked like a miniture pool cue in shape. "Try this. It's yew, eight inches, with a unicorn's tail hair."

Feeling the beginnings of a headache as my mind tried to wrap around why that simple statement should have made sense, I decided to do what I always saw people do in movies with these things. I gave it a bit of a flick. Nothing happened.

"Oh, that will never do. Let me see your wand arm."

I decided that extending my right arm would be the best way. I made a supenated extention, which I can attribute to my years of fencing. The shopkeeper looked more and more puzzled.

"Haven't had a challenge since the day Harry Potter graced this shop with his presence. That's okay, though. I rather enjoy such things."

Not asking seemed the best idea. I don't wish to reveal my ignorance. The shopkeep returned with a slightly longer wand. "Redwood, ten inches, phoenix tail feather, rather flexable..."

I took it in my hand and waved it a bit. This wand didn't like me anymore than the last.

"Well fiddlesticks," and the shopkeep disappeared again.

Over half an hour was spent before the shopkeep finally started picking out wands randomly, rather than trying to figure things out. Finally, he seemed to have an epiphany, and took out of a box a wand which looked quite glorious. My eyes latched onto it immediately, and I wanted it to be mine. While I had no idea how to work a wand, I wanted this one to be the one for me.

"Mahogany, eighteen inches, dragon's heartstring, and said to be nigh-unbreakable by the one who crafted it. Excellent for spells most people never use. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. I always wondered why this one was made. It's been in this store as long as I've worked here, and it has never chosen anyone. I've been told that it's rather commanding, and demands more willpower than any young magician usually has."

Oh how I wanted it to be mine. I gently wrapped my fingers around it, instinctually holding it in tierce, and gave it a wave. I felt a wonderful warmth and a strong presence was suddenly with me, and the wand tip glowed for but a single second. The shopkeeper seemed rather pleased at this. I took the wand and went on my way.

Hagrid had procured me a beautiful Snow Owl by the name of Parry. I almost chortled at the humour I saw in this, being a fencer. I am certain if I had I would have gotten a most puzzled look from Hagrid. I decided against it.

I insisted on getting the books by myself, mostly because I wanted a choice in what I got. This was, after all, the only year I would be able to get stuff without using my own money, so I decided to get anything that caught my eye while Hagrid went to acquire my cauldron. I was actually getting rather excited about all of this. The only downer was that I would eventually have to discover how I got here and how to get back home. My lover was back home, after all. I certainly hoped that I would return at the age I was before all this happened...

I was distracted from that train of thought by the books in the store. I picked up quite a large sum. All of the required books, plus the ones that would catch me up to date ("The Standard Book of Spells (Grades 1-3)" would be necessary, for example). I got a few books that weren't on the list just to give myself an edge, such as "The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 4)", "The Book of Obscure Spells (Grades 1-4)", "Curses and Countercurses", "Advanced Transfigurations (Grade 4)" (I thought it best to study ahead and prove myself a good student of the arts), and so forth. Needless to say, the stack of books was quite heavy, but I was certain that I would receive some help in carrying them. If not, then it would certainly help beef up my young muscles, which were not as strong as I was used to my older ones being.

I was given a complimentary cart for my enourmous purchase, and I walked out of the store, feeling quite fulfilled. Hagrid had my cauldron, which was big enough to fit all of my books. He eyed them for a moment, suspiciously, and, before he could shuffle them around to notice the more eccentric ones, I interjected by saying: "I have a lot of catching up to do, sir, no?"

He gave a sharp nod of affirmation. We were about to head to the train station when we passed by the familiar shop, and one of the animals in a cage gave an awful ruckus at my passing. I turned my head to notice a feline of silky black, with large, golden eyes. It was beautiful in its own right, of course, and gave a meow at me that seemed a little deep for a standard house cat. I walked towards it at first, but Hagrid's massive hand met my shoulder.

"Ye dinna want that, laddy. That there's a panther kit. Will grow to be much bigger than ye are, it will."

"But sir, clearly it wants out of there. I could take care of it. Who else in the wizarding world would know how?"

I gave myself a pat on the back for that argument, though I assume it came out because my connection with Parry had already been made, so my mental awareness was increased somewhat. Still, having this kit would give me another edge. I would, most likely, become more stealthy, more sneaky, which, if I was to find anything about the many mysteries I was surrounded with, would be a necessity.

Hagrid chewed on that thought for a moment, then replied, weakly, with, "Hogwarts said ye only ken have one familiar..."

My internal grin was becoming more sinister by the second. "So many other rules are being bent for me to enter this school, so why not that one as well?"

"Well, I don see..." he paused, and I could almost hear the gears grinding. Make no mistake, I think Hagrid is an absolutely wonderful person, but he isn't that sharp. I call it like I see it. He was blessed with massive size as I was blessed with a keen mind, "How de ye ken that rules are bein' bent?"

I allowed the grin to make an external appearance as I dug in the cauldron, retrieving my newly bought copy of "Hogwarts Rules and Regulations" and happily flipped it to the page I had bookmarked back in the store. While he saw fit to give me a piercing glare, I made my reply, "I made it my business to know such things."

I could tell that he wanted me to have it. I took advantage of that fact, so? We both got what we wanted, in the end, and it got the approval of Dumbledore, which is the real point. Good man, he. Lot of sense... or not. I can never really tell.

At any rate, we got my robes all situated and I made sure to get a set with a much larger hood. You, of course, realize why that is by now. Every once in a while, it's nice to just be a shadowy, unidentifiable figure.

So, with Parry and Riposte (as the panther's name turned out to be, much to my further amusement), and Hagrid leading me around, we procured the remainder of my supplies, then he gave me a train ticket and walked me to the station. Then he was gone.

This turned into quite the problem. I remember reading the ticket at least three or four times, and each time contemplating the mathematics of it all. I walked into the station, and paced between platforms nine and ten. I was getting a headache and it was approaching time to ship out. My supplies weren't the lightest bunch in the world, either. Just as I was considering the possibility that I might have made a mistake in purchasing so many books, my rational mind kicked in and invaded my creative mind for a little dinner and dancing. Platform nine and three quarters. There is a platform nine, and then, four pillars later, there was a platform ten. Logically speaking, the third pillar should be the location of platform nine and three quarters.

I moved quickly, before my mind could wrap itself around the concept of running through solid brick and why it shouldn't work. I breathed a sigh of relief as I passed straight through to a place with crowded young people. My ticket passed me through and I sat in an empty booth, reading my books, trying to get caught up before I got there. I had memorized larger texts in smaller periods of time, and that was with distractions.