For Whom the Bell Tolls

Chapter One

Javier Lizardi had led a relatively normal life up until his eleventh birthday. He was tutored by five different men and women who had Ph.D.'s in their respective fields, he had read all of Plato's works, as well as Aristotle's, and his family took him on vacations to Delphi and Stonehenge. Given his isolation, he did not make any friends; his mother was the only friend he had ever needed. Perhaps his life wasn't so normal, but that's why it was described as "relatively" normal.

Mr. Victor Lizardi and Mrs. Isabel Villaseñor-Lizardi had an unnatural nterest in all things magical. And, being rich, they could afford to indulge themselves. No one was ever sure where their money had come from, or where their families had come from for that matter. They simply showed up ten years after the death of Franco, and King Juan Carlos granted them certain lands which were theirs by way of heredity from some cousin killed in the Civil War.

Even considering their interests, they were still very much surprised when, on Javier's eleventh birthday, not one, but two owls arrived in the kitchen just in time for breakfast.

"Madre Santisima!" screamed Isabel, who had just been reaching for the toast on which one of the owls was perched.

"Madre, these letters are addressed to me! They say 'Javier Lizardi, Lizardi Manor.' And that's where I am." Isabel and Victor exchanged looks of excitement, knowing what was to come. "They are letters of acceptance ... to schools I've never even heard of! Mother, is this some sort of joke? 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?' 'Beauxbatons Academy of the Magical Arts?' I know you want me to indulge in your penchant for all things magical, but this really is too extravagant a prank. Honestly, even training the owls behind my back. I thought I was mature enough to be treated more like an adult than a child."

Victor's smile of excitement turned into a smirk of knowing. "Have you read the letters, all the way down yet? You will find that they are quite authentic. Perhaps you should take a look at the booklists, you will find that many of those books are in the Arcane Magic section of our library that you chose to ignore. And, as for the owls, I think they are waiting for a reply."

Javier, dumbfounded, blinked at his father for a full minute, then turned to his mother who was beaming at him with her smile that she reserved for his greatest achievements. Even more confused, he looked at the owls, who were indeed looking at him as if they wanted something. One, the large tawny, hopped over and nipped him, bring him out of his daze, and used its beak to point at the letters. Javier read them both, all the way through, twice. Still confused, he walked to the Arcane Magic section of his library, which he had ignored considering them to be all works of elaborate fiction. He found many of the books named on his booklists to be there: Charms for the Beginning Wizard, by Hiladra Brickle, Basic Potions, by Geldro Kavershoot, and Defence Against Dark Arts, by Aberforth Dubledore. There was also another book next to that one, entitled Defence of the Dark Arts, that had no author on its spine. Opening it to the title page, he was greeted by a photo of a rather handsome man, who seemed to be deciding whether or not Javier was worth his notice. The gold lettering below the picture made sure the reader knew that the above man was 'Tom Marvolo Riddle.' Javier almost dropped the book when he noticed the picture moved, giving him a sneer and saying, "You're too young for this book. Why don't you put it back and return in a few years. It might not drive you crazy then." Javier hurriedly closed the book and put it on its place on the shelves.

He decided that he'd been here long enough and returned to the kitchen where his parents were having a discussion over where he should go, Beauxbatons or Hogwarts. "Ahem." Clearing his throat to gain his parents attention was usually enough, but they paid him no heed. So he picked up a vase and dropped it. His mother whipped around, saying some Latin phrase, and the vase stopped. It hung mere centimeters from the floor. His mother came over, picked up the vase, and set it back on its stand. Turning to her son, she said, "Do you have something to say dear?"

Closing his gaping jaw, and shaking his head to clear it, he gathered his parents' attention to proclaim his decision. "The letters were addressed to me, so I gathered that the decision of which school to attend was mine. As such, I have decided that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be the best, as I have a greater command of English than French. I will simply write to Beauxbatons Academy of Magical Arts and tell them that I decline to attend. And I would like to go to London as soon as possible to pick up my school supplies"

His father, looking slightly disappointed, replied, "Well, I can see your reasons for choosing Hogwarts, but I guess you would choose your mother's Alma Mater over mine. Oh, and do call them Hogwarts and Beauxbatons, their full titles are only for historians and headmasters. As soon as you finish penning your replies to both schools, we can leave for London."

Taking up a quill and parchment, as his parents never had much faith in pens, he wrote his replies as politely as he could while being concise. After giving each owl his replies and watching them fly out of the window, he turned to his parents and saw them taking out two long, wooden ... wands. Confused, he asked them what the wands were used for in the magical world. Smiling, his mother told him, "Come close, Apparating is very hard over long distances, and it makes it easier if you are close to us."

Javier replied, "Apparating? What's that?"

His parents replied together, "You'll see," and then they were no longer at Lizardi Manor, but in the middle of a large pedestrian street, crawling with people of all descriptions, dressed in outlandish robes. Taking a second look, he noticed his family were the ones wearing outlandish clothes.

Exited at all the new things to learn in this new, magical world, he let himself be led around by his father and mother, going from one shop to the next. He was fitted for robes, and then went to get his books. Javier had always loved libraries, and this bookstore was full of books that he had never seen! And the pictures in all of the books moved, just like the one at Lizardi Manor. In addition to his school books, he convinced his parents to buy several other ones, among them Defensive Magics of Celtic Wizards - Level One, Apparation and Apparitions - an Explanation of Magic to a Muggle Born Wizard, and Muggle Rulers who used Wizards - from William of Normandy to Franco.

From there his father said he would go get the cauldron and potion supplies, while his mother took him to see Ollivander. Not quite sure who Ollivander was, he followed his mother, happy to be meeting a real life wizard. Apart from his parents, who apparently were wizards as well. His mother took him to a shop which had written above it, "Ollivander, Maker of Fine Wands since 382 BC."

"Do I get a wand as well?" asked Javier.

"Of course. How else could you do magic? All Wizards and Witches have a wand."

"But you stopped the vase from crashing and you didn't have a wand..."

His mother looked embarrassed, and replied, "Some wizards choose to learn wandless magic, but it is harder to control, if often stronger. Your father learned some at Beauxbatons and taught me. However, it is not something I recommend, as it can often be risky and looked down upon in certain circles. I would appreciate it if you never mentioned that I preformed wandless magic in public again."

Not understanding, but respecting his mother's wishes, he followed her into the shop where another boy had just walked in before them. Wanting to watch, he stepped to the side and saw an old man, who could only be Ollivander himself, come out from a back room.

"Ahh...Young mister Jordan. I was expecting you soon." Expecting? Did wizards know the future? Seeing the surprised look on the other boy's face, he turned back to Ollivander to wait for him to explain himself. "You see Mr. Jordan, I keep track of all wizarding births, and after eleven years, I know to expect them. So do not be so surprised that I was expecting you. Well, which is your wand arm?"

"Right," replied the boy, "and I'd appreciate it if you called me John. My last name brings up too many bad memories." Wondering what sort of memories he could be talking about, Javier almost missed Ollivander's reply.

"Yes, yes, of course. Your parents were very unfortunate, and I'm afraid that I must admit that I sold the wand that did that. Very sorry indeed, had I known what would become of the boy, I might never have made that wand." It was then that Javier noticed that John was alone. Unfortunate parents...did that mean dead?

"But enough about the past. Let me see..." He went into the back and came out with several boxes. "Willow perhaps? It's eight inches." Taking the wand from the old man, he raised it, but Ollivander snatched it back. "No, no...how about oak, fourteen inches?" Again, John was about to raise his hand to wave the wand, when Ollivander snatched it back. And so it went through "Holly, eight and three quarter inches," "Willow, nine inches," and "Pine, nine and one half inches," until John was finally able to wave a wand. It was ironwood, eight inches. "It has a core of hippogriff mane," he was saying, "and has picked well in choosing you. For it is the Wand that chooses the Wizard after all." Saying this, he turned to Javier. And hello to you, mister..."

Javier felt uncomfortable with that man's stare boring into his head. He said what the man wanted to hear to remove that stare. "Lizardi. Javier Lizardi."

"Strange," the man muttered loudly, almost as if he wanted to be heard, "I could have sworn I heard that name before, but where?"

At this, Isabel cleared her throat and spoke. "Mr. Ollivander, my husband's family name is very prestigious, I'm sure you have heard it spoken many times."

Mr. Ollivander looked up. "Miss Villaseñor, or rather, Mrs. Lizardi. Willow, seven and one fourth inches, peacock feather core. Good to see you back. Perhaps you will pass by more often now? But no, I meant the name Javier Lizardi specifically. Yes, I remember now." He walked into the back room and this time returned with only one box. "Cedar, nine and one half inches, core unknown. It was sent to me under very suspicious circumstances, and with explicit instructions to give it to Javier Lizardi. Give it a try then, boy."

Reaching out and carefully and taking the wand, he somehow felt complete. Like the wand was a part of him that had been missing all his life and only now he knew that it had been missing. Giving the wand a flick he caused gold and silver sparks to fly out. It was magic. He had just done magic. This feeling of elation felt like it would last forever.

"Well that was rude! At least he could have let us walk!" John was fuming. "If I knew any hexes I'd..."

Isabel, acting the part of a mother, reasoned with him. "John, if you tried to hex Ollivander's Wand Shop, in daylight, on the very crowded Diagon Alley, the Magical Law Enforcement Team would be on you before you even pointed your wand." John looked like he was thinking about this, nodded and turned to walk away.

Javier was anxious not to let the only person of his age that he'd met get away. "John! Wait! Why don't you finish your purchases with us?" John looked back at Javier, giving him that same calculating look he had received from Tom Riddle. Having appeared to decide something, he walked back over.

"I guess it couldn't hurt having a friend there." John turned to Mrs. Lizardi. "May I accompany you as you complete your shopping? I won't be much of a hassle and I'll keep quiet."

Mrs. Lizardi, smiling her sweet smile, the one only slightly less praising than her 'great achievement' one, said to John, "Of course you may come with us. But you will not keep quiet. Javier has lived as a muggle his entire life and should be taught things about the wizarding world that I cannot teach him. I have been out of touch with the wizarding world far too long. Perhaps I could even learn something new from you. So there, teach us young professor, and we'll happily learn."

Javier was fascinated by all that John had to say. He spent the next few hours learning about moving pictures, of which he had already had a glimpse, flying on broomsticks, quidditch, the ministry of magic, to which his mother paid close attention, and magic in general. He even learned his first spell. You pointed your wand to a locked door, said, "Alohomora!" and the door would unlock. Mrs. Lizardi raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing.

Finally, the day drew to a close, and Mr. Lizardi rejoined his family and John. John was about to leave, as he had said the Ministry appointed guardian was meeting him at nightfall, but Mr. Lizardi insisted that both John and his guardian come to dinner. Waiting for John's guardian to arrive, they were all having a butterbeer at The Leaky Cauldron. When John said he saw his guardian, Javier turned around a saw a most particularly...beautiful man. Long sleek silver hair, pale skin, and impeccable fashion sense marked this man out to be a man of culture, if not of outright aristocracy. There was recognition on the faces of all the adults.

Mr. Lizardi stood up, his face unreadable. "Lucius," he said by way of greeting.

"Victor," replied the other man, "It is good to see you have returned to the land of the living, some of us had worried that you'd died."

"Worried?" replied Victor, "I would have thought Lucius Malfoy was beyond that. But enough. You will accompany us to dinner?" Javier thought that his father was not asking, but telling this man that he would accompany them.

"Of course. I see that Mr. Jordan has gotten along well with young Javier, so why separate them? Schwartz's of course?" Javier noticed that John flinched at being called by his last name.

"Of course. Isabel?" his father, ever the gentleman, offered his mother his arm. "Shall we go?" They left then, Mr. Malfoy leading the way, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Lizardi, and Javier and John behind them.

Javier, aware that his father and Mr. Malfoy knew each other from before and harbored something close to hate towards each other, was surprised to find the same awareness on John's face. John looked at Javier and whispered, "Mr. Malfoy is only a temporary guardian. He requested to look after me in my last summer before Hogwarts. He says he was a friend of my father, but I don't care to learn too much, after all, he's dead. I'm alive. And any credit I have I want by the name of John, not Mr. Jordan like my father." John then pointed his nose in the air and imitated Mr. Malfoy's walk. "That's what I think of him. He thinks he can just buy me with gifts and money. I think he's a git."

Javier, whose English was good, but not excellent, asked, "What's a git?" And John spent the rest of the walk to Schwartz's teaching Javier words of a dubious nature and their meanings.