A/N: Edited for minor grammar and spelling mistakes, no major changes. Next chapter to come soon.

Harry Potter, age 6, was living with his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon Dursley. They were incredibly horrible people, Harry had been ridiculed, he never even knew his name until he went to school and the teacher called out to him to take roll. He knew his life was not normal, having watched the other kids with their families and saw them treated with love. Harry was not treated this way, his cousin Dudley would bully him constantly and bully anyone who talked to him keeping him alone and friendless. Hated and feared, seen as a freak by everyone Harry quickly drew into himself and never again spoke a word to anyone at school unless a teacher directly asked him a question.

Harry went on like this, having to do every chore there was around the house while his cousin just sat on his arse watching TV and eating as much food as he could. Harry was just finishing a very cold shower since the Dursley's always used the hot water before he could shower. He went to his cupboard and closed the door, almost instantly the lock latched close and he was sealed in for the night. He was hungry, having worked so hard all day with no food, and the Dursley's never gave him dinner at all not even the usual scraps.

Harry sighed and laid down and heard a humming start very quietly until it reached a pleasant background hum and he looked around turning his light on and saw a present. It was wrapped with a ribbon and tied into a bow. Harry looked at it strangely, mainly because it was suspended in mid air, floating as if being held by strings. He quickly tried to determine if anything held it up, and nothing did. He was amazed and confused. There was a tag on it and he turned the tag slightly to read it.

To: Harry James Potter

From: Myrddin Emrys

Harry, it is time for you join me, open the present.

Harry blinked and wondered who the hell Myrddin Emrys was, and who his parents were to have named him that. He carefully opened the present pulling the ribbon bow and it unraveled smoothly and fell away, he lifted the lid on the smallish sized box and looked inside, he saw a piece of paper and lifted it up and saw it was a letter.

Dear Harry,

I know you do not know who i am, we have never met, however i do know of you. I apologize i could not get this gift to you until now, but circumstances were beyond even my control. Either way, the present contains a pocket watch, and you may be thinking, why in the world is this weird guy sending me a pocket watch? Simply put, it's a teleportation device. Pick it up, and say the phrase. 'Myrddin's Tower' And you will be teleported here. It will feel like being grabbed by your navel(bellybutton) and yanked sideways. Be sitting down when you speak the words Harry.

If you doubt the words i speak, and don't want to risk it, then when you finished reading this note, it will change into a puppy for exactly 1 minute and then turn back. It is magic Harry. This is why i want you to join me, so i may teach you. My name is Myrddin Emrys, however i went by a few other names over the years, you may have even heard of me. My other name, my most famous name is Merlin Ambrosius Harry. I am not joking, this is not a prank or elaborate ruse on the part of your horrid and vile relatives whom i am seriously considering turning into frogs and setting them loose in a pit of crocodiles.

I was with Arthur, and his Knights of the Round Table over a thousand years ago, i helped him secure what is now England as a viable nation and helped him ward off the supernatural threats. I want to teach you Harry, and tell you about your parents, the truth about them. Your relatives told you they were drunks who died in a car crash. They are lying to you child. Your parents were magical, a witch and wizard. Your mother, Lily Potter nee Evans was a witch of exceptional skill and talent. She was hailed as the smartest/brightest witch of her age. Your father James Charlus Potter was a wizard born from a long line of wizards. Your mother was born from non-magical parents, though her family was descended from squibs(non magical human born from magical parents).

He was a brilliant man with Transfiguration, the art of changing one thing into another thing temporarily. He was a prankster in school, and a bit of a bully, but he grew up when your mother smacked him around a whole bunch. He chased her for 6 years at school asking her nearly every day to go out with him. She rebuffed him every time, nearly always involving hexes or curses thrown. If you want to know more Harry, come stay with me, i know it is a risk, but here you'll be safe, cared for, fed and most of all Harry. I will teach you magic, true magic. Not the stuff they teach these days, but the old magics of a thousand years ago i have learned in my time on this planet.

I Myrddin Emrys aka Merlin Ambrosius hereby vow on my life, magic and immortality that i mean Harry James Potter no harm, so i say, so mote it be. (This line was written in red, it was blood, Harry knew it after seeing his own so much.)

That is a magical oath Harry, signed in my own blood that i will never harm you. If i do, i will have my magic ripped from me, something that is excruciatingly painful i might add, then die, and as a even worse bonus, i lose my immortality. I hope you will take the offer Harry, now, prepare yourself Harry, because this note is nearly done and when you have finished reading every word, it will turn into a puppy, don't worry, it won't wake your relatives, the cupboard has been silenced and made to be ignored by the non-magicals since you opened the present.

Take the minute and enjoy the puppy, i'll get you one if you want if you come to stay with me.

I hope to see you soon, Harry.

- Myrddin Emrys

Harry stared at the paper as it suddenly shifted into an actual puppy! The puppy looked at him with adorable eyes and yipped happily and he pet it gently, a smile on his face. Magic was real and he had just witnessed real proof. Merlin was real, even the non-magicals had stories of Merlin and Arthur but they were regarded as myth and legend now. Harry knew it was a pretty easy choice, the chance to learn magic, with Merlin of all people could not be passed up.

He picked up the pocket watch and braced himself after the puppy had turned back into the note and he watched as it and the box the watch and note came in vanished into thin air leaving only the pocket watch in his hand. "Well, here goes nothing i guess, Myrddin's Tower" He felt the hook of his navel and being flung sideways and he landed a bit roughly but he was sitting down so it was easier, had he been standing he would have probably slammed into the ground and broke something.

"Welcome Harry." He heard a voice and looked around seeing a middle aged man with a short black beard and black hair with ice blue eyes with a large smile on his face wearing elegant flowing white robes that seemed to be made from pure magic and were moving on their own. He was holding a tall solid white staff made of something Harry couldn't identify, it was polished and had a gem socketed in the top that was glowing softly. Harry slowly got to his feet and Merlin, he assumed anyway, tamped his staff on the floor and a wave of energy released from it and Harry felt every hurt and previous injury in his body vanish in a heartbeat. He had never felt better. He smiled widely at the man. "Thank you sir."

"You are welcome Harry, welcome to my Tower, located on the island of Avalon, have you heard of it?" Harry blinked and scoured his meager knowledge of myths and legends for something called Avalon. He dug up a measly single sentence he remembered from a book at school. "It's the island that was said to vanish, taking with it you and King Arthur. Someday it was to return, along with King Arthur and you." Merlin chuckled and nodded. "Yes that is the fairy tale version. My dear friend Arthur died many centuries ago, he was a non-magical, he lived for 84 years before he succumbed to old age. After that, i took Avalon and retreated from the world. I have been here since."

Harry looked up at this legend of history itself. "So...why bring me here?" Merlin smiled and gestured for Harry to follow him to somewhere and Harry followed behind the man in flowing robes that seemed to shimmer and change before his eyes. They reached a large round table and Harry giggled and Merlin smiled. "Yes, i know, a round table, it stuck with me what can i say." He and Harry sat next to each other and the ancient mage tamped his staff once more and food aplenty loaded upon the table making it groan under the weight.

Harry gasped at the display of magic and looked at Merlin who gestured at the food. "Eat Harry, i know they barely ever fed you, we need to get you healthy and strong. Once you eat, i will heal the rest of you as much as i can, including your eyes. No more glasses for you." Harry's eyes were wide with disbelief and Merlin chuckled. "Oh yes, i can fix your eyes Harry. For good, no contacts or glasses or anything, just a spell to diagnose the problem and either a spell or elixir to fix it."

Harry gingerly started grabbing a chicken leg when Merlin started loading his plate, the two ate in comfortable silence, Harry getting bolder with the food as he went on and Merlin actively encouraged him to eat as much as he could. When Harry was full he had 2 plates worth of food and had never felt so good in his life that he remembered. Harry looked at Merlin's staff and the old mage noticed he was staring curiously at it after he finished eating and smirked picking it up and bringing it over to Harry's side. "Go ahead." Harry reached out with both hands and wrapped them around the smooth surface of the staff and then felt a connection of some kind, from deep within him.

It was building, like a rising crescendo of jubilation, his body felt...right...unlocked, free. The staff began shooting out gold and silver sparks showering the room in a brilliant display and Merlin watched with a very pleased smile on his face, happy Harry was able to even hold the staff. It would only work for a true Mage, a regular wizard would get no reaction from any staff regardless of how well aligned it was to that wizard.

Harry looked at the staff in awe as it hummed in his hands, thrumming with power as little waves of energy burst from the gem ever few seconds like a steady, slow heartbeat. "I...am i doing this..?" Harry asked and Merlin gave a brilliant smile to the young lad. "That you are Harry, congratulations. You are a true Mage. The first since myself, i know, i've been looking and watching, hoping one would be born into the world again. I knew the moment you were born that you were a mage. Then...your parents were killed by a vile wizard named Tom Marvolo Riddle Jr. Aka Lord Voldemort. He is a Dark Lord, you stopped him when your mother's protection when she died for you reflected a usually unblockable curse that kills every time, it hit you, then rebounded and destroyed his body. He died, but is not fully dead. At this time he is in Albania, living as a disembodied spirit, waiting to come back."

Harry gasped and stared at Merlin, searching for any hint of a lie and found only sad honesty. "He killed my parents? He's not dead? He is the reason i was with my...relatives...for that alone i want to turn him inside out or something." Merlin smirked a bit at that, he could definitely understand that. "Understandable Harry, but there is more you must know. You are the Boy-Who-Lived to the magical world, the only person who has survived the killing curse, the Avada Kedavra. You are famous there Harry, here on Avalon, you are safe, nothing, and i repeat, NOTHING can find this island unless i allow it. Even if someone did, i don't like to brag but i am slightly gifted in the magical arts."

Harry snorted and laughed at that understatement. "Now Harry, the reason Riddle went after you, and killed your mother and father is because of a prophecy that was made, yes they are real, and its dodgy at the best of times." Merlin then told him the full prophecy, at age 6 Harry was told he was supposed to kill the Dark Lord. Or be killed by him. Merlin calmed him down immediately putting the boy down in a chair and kneeling before him. "Harry, you will be fine, i will see to that. By the time i am done training you, you will be the strongest magical user in the wizarding world by leaps and bounds. My teaching will let you use ancient magic, things the wizards of today have long forgotten. They use wands, much like a staff but severely less powerful. Stave's are used by Mage's Harry. I am a Mage, as are you."

Harry nodded, following along and learning something incredibly interesting at least to him. Merlin continued seeing he had no questions yet. "We are the only two Mage's who exist at this time Harry, we are a rare bunch. It is almost a guarantee if you ever have children of your own, they will not be Mage's but regular wizards. It is likely you will be the last mage born for centuries. Now, we are going to learn a little magic for tonight, then we are going to bed, i have a room all ready for you and everything. For now though, your first spell. I'm going to teach you a Mage's bread and butter Harry. Learn this, and everything becomes easier."

Harry nodded eagerly with a bright smile on his face and Merlin chuckled with a warm smile upon his features. He loved having a pupil, especially one so eager to learn everything he had to teach. True, any magical would love to learn from him but he couldn't teach wizards, he was a Mage, they did things very differently than wizards and witches did. "Alright Harry, i'm going to teach you Telekinesis, do you know what that is?" Harry slowly shook his head back and forth trying to figure out what it meant. "That's understandable. It's the power to do this Harry." Purposely leaning his staff on the wall nearby he raised a hand with that hand raising Harry also floated into the air much to his surprise, letting out a yelp of surprise.

"Making people float?" Harry asked from his floating position in mid-air. "No Harry, making things move with your mind. The hand gesture isn't even needed. I could control every object in this room at once at will regardless of whatever shield may try to stop me. Telekinesis is the Mage's single greatest tool. It allows us to accomplish a great deal and allows us to practice focus and control of our magic." Harry nodded as he was slowly set back down onto his feet and he stared up at Merlin, awaiting instruction.

"Alright Harry, first thing you need to do, is find your magic. It lives within you, you probably felt it well up and burst almost when you grabbed the staff right?" Harry nodded. "Good, remember that feeling, where it came from, call it forward. It is merely waiting for your call Harry. Believe, and know it is there, waiting for you." Harry nodded closing his eyes and concentrated on the feeling he had felt before, it was one he would never forget. He felt something deep within him as he mentally called his magic forth for his use and like a dam had burst it flooded his body at an alarming rate, saturating his arms, legs, and every other part of his body in magic as he began to glow and was floating slightly off the ground with his eyes closed.

Merlin watched, astounded at his connection to his magic, after all the abuse, it had hidden deep, so as not to endanger it's host, Mage magic was nearly sentient in actuality. It knew when it was causing more harm than good. But now that Harry was being encouraged to use his magic, to bring it forward the magic responded with gusto. Manifesting as a bright white aura around the young boy as his face was a picture of serenity. Harry felt amazing, better than when he had used the staff. His magic, his own magic was radiating through his body he felt his body changing, as his magic used all the repressed energy it had built up not being used at all and fixed his body to how he should have been. Harry's magic was very happy, he could feel it, it was feeling joy, joy at being used, at being called forward and joy at helping Harry.

Merlin watched as Harry's magic, to his mage sight, flooded his body, changing it, growing him to what a 6 year old should be, with a lean build and about 6 inches taller. Merlin had never been more pleased with his decision, Harry's magic was eager, it was practically brimming with potential and strength."Alright Harry, now that your magic has come forward, you need to direct it to make something float." Harry nodded slowly and opened his eyes which were glowing an iridescent green as Harry looked at him with a smile on his face and he thought about Merlin floating like he had done to Harry and his magic eagerly responded and spread out. His magic grabbed Merlin and lifted him up in the air gently, knowing that Harry didn't want to hurt him. Merlin laughed in joy and excitement. "Well done Harry!" Harry slowly lowered him back down and then lowered himself, the glowing died down as his magic receded but he could still feel it, ready to answer its master's call at a moments notice.

"Well done again Harry, very well done. The connection you have to your magic is simply perfect. I know you probably want to keep going, but i suggest we sleep, i did bring you here rather late at night." Merlin said with a smile and Harry nodded following the old mage through the floor of the Tower they were on and he led Harry to a little room and motioned Harry inside. Harry went into the tiny room and Merlin came in behind him, the door to the room close and Harry inhaled sharply, now locked in a small space and Merlin put a hand on his shoulder to calm him. "It's fine Harry, this is my version of an elevator." Harry blinked as a bright flash went off and the door opened and a different floor than the one he had been on previously was there and Harry blinked a few times.

"Wow.." The entire floor was open, there was a huge king size bed on one side of the room to the left, in the middle was a big 360 fireplace making the room a warm and comforting temperature. The other side of the room was a huge library with shelves lining half the room's circular walls, all the shelves were filled with books and Harry stared at them in wonder. "Are those..?" Merlin grinned and nodded. "Yes Harry, i took the liberty of putting together a little library for you in your spare time, with books on nearly every subject of magic. New and old alike." Harry's head snapped to him his mouth agape. "This is my room?!" Merlin chuckled and nodded. "Yes Harry, this is the 7th floor of the Tower, my room is on the 8th, we were on the 6th. Tomorrow i will show you around the rest of the tower and the island to get you feeling more comfortable and at home here. But yes, this is your room. The books are yours, read as much as you like, practice as much as you want. If practicing something dangerous merely call out. "Dangerous magical test" the Tower will monitor you and alert me to any problems it can't fix. Also, the Tower is sentient and is a bit of a joker."

Harry went bug eyed. "Sentient? The Tower can think?" A tiny rumble came from the stones beneath his feet and a ghostly image of a pretty blond lady floated through the floor. "Indeed i can Mr. Potter. Welcome to our humble abode, do enjoy yourself here. If you need anything, merely call for Nimue. I will come." Merlin looked at her sadly and she smiled at him gently and vanished again. "Goodnight Harry, feel free to stay up for a bit and explore your room, i will see you in the morning, when you want to leave your room and return to the 6th floor step into the little room and think 6th floor, and it'll transport you to that floor. Then we'll have some breakfast, and go explore the rest of the Tower, alright?"

Harry gave a wide smile and a nod. "Yes sir, thank you, for everything. You have done so much for me." Harry told him with as much sincerity as he could manage. Merlin gave a gentle smile and disappeared out of the room via some form of travel Harry didn't know of yet. Harry went about his room, looking at the hundreds of books lining half his room. He had an armoir that was filled with white robes like Merlin's only in his size and he smiled at that. He found a bathroom with sink, loo and shower. Once he had seen everything he could see in his new room and climbed into the enormous bed, eagerly taking up as much space as he could, snuggling into the comfy, soft and plush mattress and blankets. He was out like a light in seconds, happier than he had been in as long as he could remember.

Harry woke to a soft voice calling to him to wake up. "Harry...it's time to wake up." He opened his eyes and saw the ghostly image of Nimue, the Tower's manifestation of its sentience. "Alright, thank you Nimue, i'll get up now." She gave him a smile and then vanished through the floor and Harry went and had a shower and changed into a fresh pair of robes and made his way to the teleporter. He got inside and the door closed and he had to remind himself he could get out and kept thinking 6th floor in his head and the flash of light happened and he saw the doors opening and stepped out back onto the floor he was on before.

Merlin was waiting for him at the table with breakfast he waved Harry over with a smile. "Come, sit, eat!" Harry ambled over and sat down beside the ancient mage and started to gobble down pancakes, sausages, bacon and some toast with eggs on the side. It was heavenly and he devoured as much as he possibly could. Merlin chuckled. "Good, you'll need the energy, we have a full day. First we explore the 11 levels of the Tower you have yet to see, so you know whats where. There are 13 levels in all, 13 is a magical number, second only to seven in the magical world. It is not looked upon as a bad luck number."

Harry blinked, that was a decent sized tower in his mind. He motioned for Merlin to go on and the man out of time did so, getting up once Harry and he finished breakfast and lead him to the teleporter room. Once inside he started at the first floor. The doors opened and Harry saw a large pair of doors at the other end of the room, probably leading outside, and the rest of the room was like a lobby or foyer/receiving room. It had a fireplace that was burning idly casting a warm glow about the room, windows let in some light from outside as well.

Harry and Merlin went back into the teleporter and went to the 2nd floor, the doors opening to a dueling room, after Merlin explained what it was as Harry had no idea what the wooden dummies were for. The third floor contained a massive library the likes of which Harry had never seen, never mind the room was way bigger than it had any right to be according to the laws of physics. When he mentioned that to Merlin he snorted. "Magic trumps physics Harry, always. This room was made using an expansion charm, spatial manipulation is a cornerstone of magical society."

The fourth floor contained a potions/alchemy lab that Merlin kept fully stocked and told Harry he would be teaching him in the subtle art of potions and alchemy as they were and invaluable skill set to have. The 5th floor held a wood shop of some kind that Harry had never seen before and Merlin smiled down at him and gestured to the room. "This is where later, i shall make you a staff of your own." Harry was wide eyed and now understood the woodworking tools. The 6th and 7th floors they already knew and the 8th floor was Merlin's room. It was pretty simple decoration wise, pale blues on the walls, a few windows, and a bed with a study on the other side of the room with a fire in the middle.

Harry went to the 9th floor and looked around seeing it was empty and he looked at Merlin in question. "This is a very special room Harry, there is only one other like it in the world. This room will make anything you want, barring food. It is called a Room of Requirement, the other one is in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a school for wizards and witches in Scotland. Rowena Ravenclaw learned how to make a room like this from me, she herself stood in this very room a thousand years ago and begged me to teach her how to make it."

Harry must have looked confused because that started Merlin on Hogwarts and its founders and founding a thousand years ago, in which Merlin helped or rather, entirely designed the original ward scheme for Hogwarts. Harry asked if he would be going there and Merlin shook his head no. "No Harry, that place will spell ruin for you. The Headmaster seeks to control you, he left you at your Aunt and Uncles, knowing full well they would abuse you. He did it to make you pliable, and compliant with his plans. He wants to mold you into a weapon, so you will walk to your death when Voldemort returns."

Merlin never lied to Harry, that was one reason he liked the man so much, he gave it to Harry straight, despite his age. Probably because Harry's life so far had forced him to grow up very early to survive. "He...left me there on purpose?" Merlin gave a sad nod and Harry's magic erupted like a storm within the room and Merlin sighed erecting a shield around the room to protect the Tower, the boy would destroy the place if he truly lost control or was incredibly angry. Harry's eyes glowed an iridescent green once more, and his body began to exhibit arcs of lightning across his chest and arms and legs like he was conducting electricity.

Harry was breathing heavily and he stared at Merlin. "He dies." The voice, so calm and collected, did not fit on the fury written on Harry's face, and the torrential magic whipping around the room as well. "Him and Voldemort, Voldemort first, unless he gets in my way. I am to kill Voldemort, or be killed by him, fine, I can accept that. Besides, I would be lying if I said I didn't want to put him 6 feet under." Merlin nodded, motioning for Harry to continue, he had expected something like this when Merlin had told him about it. "Dumbledore left a child because of his damned plans, to be abused and neglected and nearly die multiple times. I know, I remember many times my uncle nearly killed me. I'm fairly sure my magic saved me those times."

Merlin gave a nod. "It did Harry, and...i'm sorry. I tried so hard to get that gift to you sooner, but the damned wards Dumbledore put around your relatives home were blocking my every attempt. Damned blood wards, I had to wait until they weakened, I knew they would, because of how they treated you. Love is key to blood wards like those, there was no love for you in that wretched hole. The wards finally weakened enough the second before I sent that gift. I'm sorry I couldn't get you out sooner." Harry moved to Merlin and took a risk and hugged the man, he had never done this before, but this man had saved Harry from a horrid life, and most likely gruesome death later down the line.

Merlin was momentarily shocked before he slowly wrapped his arms around Harry. "You don't need to be sorry, you cared, you got me out when you could. I'll never be able to thank you for that, not to mention everything else." Merlin just hugged the boy gently and smiled down at him. He eventually let go and the two went back to exploring the remaining floors. The 10th floor was a storage room that was expanded and the 11th was another bedroom same with the 12th floor. The 13th floor however was out of this world to Harry. It contained a massive glowing pulsating rock that sang to his magic, he could actually hear it.

Merlin smiled at the rock and gestured to it. "This Harry, is the ward stone of the Tower and that of Avalon itself. It's powered by me, through my magic and life force. My being immortal means its protections are undying. The symbols you see carved all over the face of it are runes, old languages with magical power in their symbols." Harry stared at the rock and moved a bit closer peering at the runes and he noticed something strange and gasped. His hand flying to his scar on his forehead. "This rune is the same as my scar!"

Merlin leaned forward and examined the rune Harry pointed at then looked at the boy's scar and slapped his forehead like an idiot. "Sowilo! A protection rune, that scar is no curse scar! Come Harry, we need to examine your scar right now." Harry followed Merlin back to floor 7, Harry's room and he had Harry sit on his bed and called his staff which appeared out of thin air and Harry blinked a few times, that was cool. "Heh, yes, you'll learn to do that too Harry, now hold still." He aimed the gem of his staff at Harry's scar and fired a burst of magic into it. As soon as the pure light magic hit Harry's scar, his world became nothing but sheer pain and agony. He must have been screaming his lungs out and his head felt like it was going to explode.

Merlin cursed like a sailor and quickly began chanting in Aramaic, reciting a very dark nasty spell he picked up centuries ago in Egypt. It was an exorcism spell, Harry had a damned horcrux in his head! Merlin worked for hours, slowly exorcising the soul fragment of Voldemort which was doing everything it could to try and kill Harry in the progress but his magic was awoken and fought beautifully, holding the spirit off so Merlin could remove it and destroy it. Finally, after 7 hours of grueling chanting and immense amounts of magic he was done, the soul piece extracted and he had destroyed it with a necromancy curse that destroyed souls.

About 20 minutes after it was done and Merlin had healed Harry as best he could the young boy came to and groaned grabbing his head. "Ow..." Merlin chuckled. "Yes, I do believe that sums it up nicely. Well done Harry, you can consider yourself now a 2 time destroyer of a Dark Lord, technically." Harry blinked. "Voldemort was here?!" Merlin calmed the boy down. "In a fashion, yes, he was within you Harry. A piece of his soul was lodged in your scar, when I cast the healing and diagnostic spell at your scar the Horcrux, thats what these are called, reacted violently and kept trying to kill you since I was removing it. Your magic held it at bay long enough for me to destroy it."

Harry just stared at Merlin and the mage sat down and explained in great detail what a Horcrux was, how you made them, and what they meant. By the time he was done Harry was sick to his stomach. "That….thing...because I cannot call him a man anymore, is disgusting." Merlin agreed wholeheartedly.

Elsewhere at Hogwarts…

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S GONE!?" This was Minerva McGonagal, Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration Mistress of Hogwarts. She had just been informed by Albus that Harry is gone without a trace. "Just what I said Minerva, Harry is gone, his family has no idea where or how he might have gotten out and left in the middle of the night but he has. More troubling is every single detection and location spell I have tried comes back confused like he's everywhere at once or something." Albus explained frustrated with the situation, he needed the boy for his plans, now he was just gone.

"I see, are you going to gather the Order?" Albus gave a nod. "I already sent out the letters to the old crowd. We're meeting tonight, here at the castle in my office, they'll be coming by Floo." Minerva nodded and left the room shortly after Albus telling her the time. Albus managed to keep Harry's disappearance a secret, just barely. He told them he was fine and would attend Hogwarts when he turned 11. Now all he had to do was find the damned boy so he wouldn't be made a liar and a fool. He got ready for the upcoming Order meeting tonight and wanted to make sure he had all the assignments straight.

Back on Avalon…

"Alright Harry, ready for your first real view of Avalon?" Harry nodded eagerly as they stood in front of the big double doors that were double the size of Merlin's height. He tamped his staff and the doors clicked and opened outward and he was greeted with what to him looked like paradise. Rolling lush green hills, waterfalls raining down crystal clear water, a lone mountain off in the distance he could see and he could see the ocean from where the Tower was located on the highest hill on the far side of Avalon facing the mountain which he learned Merlin had dubbed Mount Arturius.

Merlin smiled sadly at the mountain. "It is where my good friend and brother in all but blood Arthur Pendragon is buried. The mountain is his pyramid if you will." Harry stared at the mountain in reverence and bowed his head in silent prayer for the once and apparently not future King of England, the man who had made England a country. Merlin saw this and smiled, pride and respect filled him at Harry's action. Harry nudged Merlin slightly as he seemed to be lost in memory looking at the mountain. Merlin looked down at Harry with a raised eyebrow. "Thank you too, you know."

Merlin blinked. "For what?" Harry snorted. "Arthur may have been the king, and the one the people rallied behind. You, were his closest advisor, you were his Mage, his trump card. The reason England exists, is because of you. The reason the magical world is even here is because of you. So, thank you." Merlin actually blushed and coughed a bit in embarrassment and started walking outside motioning Harry to follow while Harry had a little smile on his face at Merlin's reaction. Harry followed Merlin through a few fields and a small forested area to come to a secluded waterfall and Harry heard the most beautiful, soothing birdsong in his life, but there were many of them, all trilling and chirping happily.

"Harry, that feeling you have, is because of these magnificent creatures. They are sentient, like the Tower, but actually alive, so don't insult them. Let them come to you as well, they are very choosy." Harry saw the brightly colored birds, some gold, some sapphire blue, other red and gold and there were dozens of them. "They're...so beautiful...what species of bird are they?" Merlin grinned at him. "Why Harry, have you never heard of phoenixes before?" He went bug-eyed and stared even more at the birds thought to be nothing but myth and legend, however, so was Merlin…

"Come, lets go get a bit closer, they all know me, but will be wary of a new person, especially after this long, i'll put it this way, some of these phoenixes are older than me." Harry stared at Merlin for a few minutes and then back to the phoenixes. "Wow." Was all he could manage after that and they walked a bit closer and the phoenixes then seemed to take notice of them and Merlin waved to the birds and received trills of greeting Harry assumed. Then as if as one, they all shifted their gazes to Harry and he suddenly felt like every single part of him was laid bare before them and he felt...exposed.

A gold phoenix lifted off the ground where it was sitting and flapped over to Harry and landed on his shoulder, making him slightly flinch as he saw the rather sharp talons but found they did not dig in as he thought. The phoenix then pecked at his head and he looked into it's eyes and he felt that feeling again while Merlin said nothing and watched. Soon the phoenix trilled a gentle note and nuzzled Harry's head and he felt a connection between his magic and the phoenix's magic and realized the bird had become his familiar or companion. He gazed in wonder at the bird with a smile on his face, he reached up and gently stroked her front plumage getting the distinct impression she was female and Merlin clapped lightly drawing Harry's attention.

"Well done Harry, she has chosen you as her bonded, she we will be with you until the day you die." At that Harry looked back at the phoenix and she nodded her head at him and nuzzled him again and he kept petting her. "You need a name unless you have one already?" She shook her head no and Harry wondered what to call her. "How do you like Arturia?" The phoenix seemed to think about it and then looked at him and nodded firmly. "Excellent, Arturia it is. In honor of a great King and warrior." Merlin put a hand on Harry's shoulder and had a beaming smile on his face. "Thank you Harry, that means a lot to me."

Harry nodded and they explored around the island, Harry got to see the ocean first hand, close up for the first time in his life and he just stared at the endless mass of roiling water. It was immense, it was huge, it was the biggest thing he had ever seen. It stretched on forever, never seeming to end and he stood there mesmerized by the sight. Merlin eventually lead him back to the Tower for dinner as they had been out all day but before Merlin even could Arturia simply flash traveled them back as soon as Merlin touched Harry's shoulder. The old mage chuckled and gave the phoenix a bow. "Much appreciated Arturia." The phoenix raised up in a haughty way and flicked her tail feathers pompously, this got laughs from both Harry and Merlin as she trilled her laughter along with them.

After that day, the studying and training had begun, and Harry took to it like a duck to water. Here he was encouraged to study and learn as much as he wanted and was told to always ask questions. Soon they fell into a routine, and before long Harry had a command of magic that would make Albus Dumbledore look like a cheap hack. His magic was not Charms and Defense against the Dark Arts, oh sure, he learned those spells, and could perform them with ease with or without a staff. He only needed a staff for seriously power hungry things like Fiendfyre or certain ancient magic Merlin had taught him. No, his magic was different than a normal wizard. Their magic could be constrained by spells, could be weakened by draining spells and various other things. Harry's magic was different, stronger, more resilient and sentient to a degree.

It had been 5 years and it was nearing Harry's 11th birthday and Merlin and Harry were eating breakfast and Merlin slid a small package across the table and smiled at Harry. "Happy Birthday Harry." Harry smiled at his mentor and father figure now and took the package opening it carefully and he saw a tiny staff inside and he looked at Merlin astonished. "Really?" The mage nodded to his young pupil with a grin. "Really." Was his reply. Harry enlarged the staff immediately and wrapped his hand around it and he felt the staff begin to hum, power thrumming through the very fibres of its being as it fully connected with his magic and opened the flood gates and spread out across the island like a comfortable blanket of protection.

Back at Hogwarts…

Albus Dumbledore was staring at the Hogwarts envelope for Harry Potter in horror and not a bit of rage. It merely read:

Harry James Potter

Unknown Location

Not even the Hogwarts registry could find Harry, that told him that whoever had Harry knew magic beyond Hogwarts and that was troubling all by itself, not to mention what someone like that wants with Harry. Dumbledore tossed the letter down after the owls refused to try and deliver the letter he screamed in rage and lost a bit of his control over his magic making a big mess of papers everywhere fluttering about the office from a magical wave of energy that released from Dumbledore.

Albus Dumbledore than began pouring over books in his own private library and the Hogwarts library too, so far he had not found a method for tracking or locating someone that not even Hogwarts can find. Months went by, and it was September 1st and the Hogwarts Express was on its way to the school. Albus still had zero luck of finding the Potter brat, he was integral to his plans and they would crumble without him. Harry was a Horcrux for Voldemort, the only way to remove the Horcrux was to have Voldemort kill Harry, however his pawn needed to be conditioned first. He has been missing for 5 years, with Merlin knows who and Merlin knows where, which in a funny twist of irony, he did.

Albus sat in the Great Hall, awaiting the arrival of the students hoping beyond hope that somehow, Harry was on that train but he knew better than to think that. He was already preparing for the howlers, letters, and visitors to the school when the Boy-Who-Lived doesn't show up to Hogwarts. Albus rubbed his temples and sighed heavily. He knew what was to come would suck, quite fiercely.