Harry Potter and the Rise of the Ordinary Person - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Afterwards

After All Hallows Day had gone by, Charles returned to his research with a ‘do as his heart desired’ attitude. The only difference now that he had joined with the Golden Trio was that whenever Charles came and went by the Gryffindor table to eat, he would go to the classrooms of every professor every so often. Although he somehow managed to keep his strength hidden, the amount of pressure from being watched was far more than before.

In short, instead of it only be Hermione in the school library with him, it was now Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Becoming the nanny of the savior of the wizarding world was something Charles was nonplussed over!

The life of Harry Potter was rather too pitiful. At birth, both parents were killed and he grew up with his maternal aunt living a life not even fit for a dog. Then, after managing to enter Hogwarts, he was unfortunate enough to make the acquaintance of Draco Malfoy. By his third year, he came across his godfather, but because of the groundless crimes put on him, the godfather and Harry weren’t able to live a normal life together. In his fourth year, Harry had to watch as a fellow classmate was killed right in front of him before his own blood was used to resurrect Lord Voldemort. In his fifth year, the Ministry of Magic had planned against Hogwarts which indirectly led to Harry’s godfather being killed right in front of him as well. His beloved headmaster too, was killed right in front of him in his sixth year without him powerless to do a thing. His seventh year had started off with him escaping for his life before ultimately defeating Lord Voldemort in battle, but there had been a heavy price to pay. Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, and Severus Snape were not family, but they were closer to him than family were. But in the end, even they died. It was only at the end that he realized, he wasn’t a savior. He was only just a chess piece both the white and black sides had thrown away. It was only 19 years later that he had finally an intact family.

To a youngster, this was far too cruel–a cruelty that was too unreasonable. But it was war, a political war. But Charles wouldn’t interfere with Harry’s growth. To him, the scar on Harry’s forehead was both the crowned halo of the savior, and a burden. Whomever wanted to wear the crown would have to bear the weight, isn’t that right? It was this harsh reality and experience that made Harry Potter what he was today. Without them, then Harry Potter simply wouldn’t be Harry Potter. He wouldn’t be able to persevere through the life and death battles to become the star and savior of the wizarding world. For the sake of tomorrow, Harry had to mature and throw away his weaknesses. Moreover, Charles didn’t see any benefits to interfering with Harry’s growth. Besides, if he were to disturb Dumbledore’s savior nurturing plan, who knows just what the white wizard lord would do. While Charles was weak, it was better to not disturb him.

This was the real world where everyone had to be responsible for themselves. If he wasn’t strong enough and Lord Voldemort actually ended up winning, then even if Voldemort didn’t win against the muggles, Charles would bet that he still wouldn’t be able to live a good life. He couldn’t just stand there.

Charles knew that after the matter with the troll, Dumbledore would definitely put more energy into observing him now. But for him who was so fanatical about researching, coming into Dumbledore’s eyes was an inevitable thing. So, Charles would count this matter as a mistake and to make the best of it.

Nowadays being low-profile wasn’t a good thing and would easily make one suspect to being eccentric or furtive. Even though Charles had sprung up from the family of muggles, it would still be difficult avoiding being monitored. Show one’s power as soon as one can to receive teaching and attention, that was the proper way.

Aside from the yearly professor of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, each of the other professors were masters of their own domain. In his sixth year, Snape had been able to improve his potions, brew Felix Felicis, and invented the strong curse Sectumsempra. In Book Six, Snape was even capable of temporarily stoppering the effects of the curse Lord Voldemort’s horcrux had placed onto Dumbledore. McGonagall was a rarely seen Animagus with a control over Transfiguration that was second to none. Flitwick was a dueling champion in his youth. Even Hagrid was a highly capable person in his subject. Domesticating a cerberus, an eight-eyed spider, and even accomplishing in the feat of being a friend to unicorns, everyone knew that Hagrid was extremely interested in rare creatures.

Seeking instruction from them would be the best shortcut to raising his skill level in magic. Of course, that was aside from Potions. Instead of it being called “seeking instructions”, it would be more accurate to say “seek discussion” instead.

And through Ron, Charles was able to hit it off with the famous Fred and George Weasley twins. With a single conversation, the twins had begun to admire Charles for his mischievous way of thinking. He had even taken out a piece of candy that would grow out hair in an instant after consumption. If the candy was crushed, then the entire body would change into several colors before giving off smoke for half an hour. Commissioning the two to help sell it, Charles had also expressed to them in secret, “If there’s ever any business deal or idea you have, bring me on board.”

By the time November came along, the weather had begun to grow colder. The mountain peaks surrounding the school had grown frosty and the lake had a layer of ice that was as hard as steel. Every morning, the grounds were covered in white. And from the windows on the higher levels of the castle, Hagrid could be seen wearing his moleskin overcoat, rabbit-sized gloves and beaver-skin boots.

Quidditch season was nearly upon them. In this upcoming weekend, the hard-working Harry Potter would be able to take part in his first ever match: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, then they would be able to move up to second place in the house championships

Practically no one had seen Harry practice before since Wood had taken him to be their top secret weapon and safeguarded him zealously. But news that Harry would be playing Seeker had soon made its way out. Harry hadn’t known what was worse, that people were telling him that he would be brilliant, or that they would be ready for him down below with a mattress and run to greet him–Harry really didn’t know what was worse. But Charles had told him, “You need to have faith in yourself. If you don’t have faith, then why should we?”

And so after that, Harry had a little more self confidence.

It was lucky for Harry that he had Hermione as a good friend now. If not for her, Harry would have received a zero for all his assignments. She had also guided him through Quidditch Through the Ages, which was actually quite an interesting read.

As for Charles, he was busy enough with his experiments and simply had no time to help Harry with his homework questions.

Charles was quite dumbfounded when it came to Quidditch. Just how could a sport have almost 700 different ways to commit a foul, where was the fun in that?!

After the matter with the troll, Hermione had grown more relaxed with breaking the school rules. On the day before Harry’s first Quidditch match and at the fierce request of the three, Charles had followed them into the freezing courtyards during the morning. Hermione had conjured a bright blue ball of fire that could be contained in a jam jar. Charles had conjured an igloo with a Heating Charm interwoven on it so that it wouldn’t melt. Sitting with their backs against the fire, they suddenly noticed Snape crossing the yard and limping to the other side. Hurriedly moving together, they blocked the fire from his line of sight while Charles go rid of the igloo. But nonetheless, they seemed to have caught Snape’s eye who came then came forward with a dark disposition.

“What are you doing here, and what’ that you’ve got there, Potter?”

“Quidditch Through the Ages, professor.” Harry replied and handed the book over for him to see.

“Library books are not to be taken outside the library.” Snape spoke. “Hand it over, that’ll cost Gryffndor five points.”

“Professor, what happened to your leg?” Charles suddenly asked.

“That’s none of your concern, Mr. Goole.” Snape replied icily.

“Yes sir!” Charles answered before taking out a potion from his bag to give to Snape. “I hope this will help you.”

Snape unstoppered the bottle before giving it a sniff. “Dittany,” Then his eyebrows creased together as he added, “Jasmine, acorus calamus, and monkshood root. This produces an anesthetic effect.”

“Yes sir.” Charles responded. “This way, the dittany helps heal the wound without the itchy sensation.”

“Superfluous.” Snape spoke calmly, but he had stowed the potion away into his robes.

After Snape had left, Harry let out an angry mumble, “He made that rule up. Charles, why did you give him that potion?”

“No matter what you say, he’s still our professor!”

“I hope your potion will give him some pain after he drinks it.” Ron spoke with detest.

How could a child like you understand the importance of someone like Snape? Charles had thought.