Harry stared at the rune stones etched around the Dursleys' home. He had spent two days of his last week before school began reading through the le Fay library on warding.
Though he had a tentative grasp of magic and of warding itself, the books were informative and described the easiest methods for creating, removing, or altering blood wards.
Picking up a vial of blood he had 'borrowed' from Petunia the day prior, he quickly vanished the blood staining the stone, before re-etching the runes and adding a couple drops of his aunt's blood.
It took an additional fifteen minutes, and four more stones to be altered, before a near-translucent dome flashed around the property, confirming the wards were active but fundamentally changed.
Smiling, Harry stared at the house one last time. 'This can be my present to the family, and a surprise for Dumbledore. I wonder how long Petunia will stay healthy. It should last another five or so years. Karma is a bitch,' he thought.
Teleporting away from the home for the last time, Harry arrived at the le Fay castle. His eyes still widened each time he beheld the monolithic architecture.
Moving swiftly through the ancient hallways, he climbed a spiraling staircase until he stood before his 'study'. Entering the room, Harry quickly took a seat on the couch in the corner, before resuming his previous studies.
'Mind Magics: The Truth,' Harry thought, reading the cover. 'This book is an absolute life saver. They didn't even have readily available knowledge on this branch of magic in Flourish and Blotts.'
Leafing through the pages, Harry nodded as he memorized the knowledge inside his mind. Though he hadn't practiced the art, he had one final step before beginning.
"Time to use the Phoenix Tear. From canon, it was hinted that Harry was unable to practice the mind arts effectively due to the soul fragment in his scar. Plus, I'd rather have it removed; who knows what this version of Voldemort might do once he realizes the link."
Shutting the book, Harry stood up and teleported to the beachside. He wasn't sure if the tear would cause any physical damage to his surroundings, and he preferred to be safe than sorry.
'System, use the Phoenix Tears,' he commanded mentally.
Pain.
Pain unlike anything he had experienced before washed over his body and magical core as the Phoenix Tears began to make changes to his body.
The heavy weight he always felt since arriving in his new body began fracturing, as if weighted chains were slowly fracturing and dissolving. The sound of cracking resonated in his mind and ears, a pressure building deep inside, akin to a volcano, before it erupted.
The land around Harry for a dozen meters began to shake, as the sand cracked and fractured, as air and gravity visibly morphed, then swiftly repaired.
BOOM
Like a volcano or a dam, Harry's shackled magic exploded, a searing pain spreading through his head. The cursed scar tore open, blood oozing, and a dark wraith broke free, disintegrating into the air.
Harry's mind cleared, as if he had finally woken up from a haze that had shrouded it for eleven years.
Taking deep gulps of air, Harry hunched over, stabilizing his breathing and magic.
"H-Holy shit... that was insane!" He gasped, blinking away the tears in his eyes.
His magic thrummed just under his skin, as he fished his wand out and sent a blasting hex towards the shoreline. His magic smashed into the water like a small bomb, violently pushing the shore back.
"Is this what the prophecy meant when it stated, 'and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not'? Did marking the child mean more than they thought? This kind of power is far more than a full-grown wizard's. Did fate have a hand in this?"
Harry couldn't help but contemplate the possibilities. He didn't believe in the power of love; it seemed like a crackpot version of placating a loveless child.
Shaking his head, Harry teleported back into the study and lay down. The sensation of every magical ailment in his body being removed exhausted his mind, and he needed a nap.
———
Harry stood in front of his study, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
It had been five days since his magic had been unbound, along with the Horcrux removed, and he was awaiting the moment he would teleport to King's Cross station.
He was adorned in beautiful arcomantula silk robes, dragonhide boots, his two wands holstered at his forearms. His trunk was resized with its weight reduced and placed in his pocket.
He had naturally adjusted his weight and height to match a 13-year-old teen. His muscles were strengthened to exceed adult males', while retaining the flexibility of a cat. He had found this to be optimal 'base' form: medium-length black hair, buzzed at the sides, a sharp jawline with high cheekbones, and AK neon green eyes.
Double-checking he had everything, Harry nodded to himself before teleporting to the magical side of King's Cross.
The beautiful red and black locomotive was a sight of excitement for Harry; he had always wished to see it with his own eyes in the past.
He watched as students began filtering through the station, saying their final goodbyes to their families, some shedding tears in sadness.
Picking up the pace, Harry moved through the crowd and entered the train. His eyes scanned the compartments, searching for one worth entering.
After walking for five minutes, he paused at a particular compartment, weighing the pros and cons of entering, before shaking his head, then knocking.
Opening the door, he smiled gently before slightly inclining his head.
"Excuse me, I was hoping you had a seat available?"
Blonde hair and blue eyes swiveled from the book she held, then paused at Harry's eyes.
"Please, come in. I'm Daphne Greengrass, and you are?"
———
A/N - Tell me what house you'd like the MC in!