Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 of this opus

Harry Potter and the New Day Dawning

Chapter 2

Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Ron were standing in Professor McGonagall's office. The professor herself was seated behind her desk. Several times she started to speak only to stop in an attempt to gain mastery over her anger.

Finally when she was able to speak her voice was unruffled but was chilling for all that. "Can one of you explain how you four received two weeks detention and lost Gryffindor one hundred and twenty points in your very first potions class?"

"It seems that Professor Snape doesn't like questions," Ron said. "But I didn't know that so I asked one of him."

Professor McGonagall stared at the lanky redhead but she didn't fail to catch the small tight smiles on Neville and Harry's faces. Hermione simply looked mortified. The head of Gryffindor House closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Pray tell, Mr. Weasley, what was your question that cost us one hundred and twenty points?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Ron is only responsible for fifty of the points lost, Ma'am," Harry interrupted. "I lost fifty more."

"I lost ten of them," Neville said.

"Leaving ten for Miss Granger," McGonagall said.

"For the high crime of trying to answer Professor Snape's questions," Ron injected as Hermione tried to hide in plain sight.

"I am still waiting to hear the question that triggered this avalanche, Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall said calmly.

"Well, Professor Snape was firing all these questions at Harry and making snide remarks when Harry did not know the answers although Hermione apparently did because she kept waving her hand in the air," Ron began a matter of factly. "Anyway I asked the professor to clarify a point for me. You see, as I explained to the good potions master, I have never attended a proper school before. Up to now I have been taught by my mother and by Mrs. Lovegood until her tragic death last year so I am unfamiliar with the ways of professional teachers. To satisfy my curiosity, I asked if humiliation and ridicule are the normal methods of instruction or was he simply a petty tyrant of some sort. Things got a little loud after that and when the dust settled, well, you know the results. He never did answer my question however."

"Mr. Weasley, the staff and faculty of Hogwarts are to be shown proper respect," Professor McGonagall barked.

"Yes, Ma'am," Ron replied.

"My Great Uncle Algie always told me that respect must be earned," a stunned Neville heard himself saying.

"He is your teacher, Mr. Longbottom." Professor McGonagall. "That entitles him to your respect."

"In the muggle school I attended, the teachers were there to teach," Harry said. "We weren't expected to have memorized the textbooks before the school term started."

"That's enough, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall. "I don't think that you four realize how of an obstacle you have placed in the path of your fellow house mates in our attempt to win the House Cup."

"Yeah, I cost us fifty points for not knowing any answers on the first day of class," Harry said bitterly. "And Hermione lost us ten by knowing the answers and all of us got two weeks detention. Sod your cup! It's a rigged race."

"Enough!" roared Professor McGonagall slamming her fist down on the desk. She watched horrified as Harry crawled backed into his shell. With visible effort she struggled with her emotions. Slowly and deliberately, she folded her hands together and rested them on the desk before her. Her eyes lingered on the four miscreants as her nostrils flared and dilated with her breathing. Finally she sighed.

"Do you have anything to add, Miss Granger?"

"No, Ma'am. I'm sorry, Ma'am," Hermione said in a quiet voice.

"Mr. Weasley, There is a tea service in the corner there," Professor McGonagall said tranquilly. "Pour everyone a cup please. Mr. Longbottom, please bring over that tin of biscuits. You two pull chairs for everyone to the desk, please."

With looks of surprise at each other, the four fell to there tasks. Shortly, they were seated about their Head of House's desk, sipping herbal tea and munching on shortbread biscuits.

"My mother often said that the world always looks better over a cup of tea," Professor McGonagall said.

"If someone is upset the first thing Mum does is to hand them a cuppa," Ron said.

"Smart woman, your mother," the professor said. "She was one of my favorite students although she never had any great skill at transfiguration. Her charm work was outstanding. Now your parents, Mr. Longbottom."

She hesitated then continued. "They were incredible at transfiguration. I taught them everything I knew and they still wanted more. They were true scholars. It gives me great pleasure to be able to teach their son, now"

"Thank you, ma'am," Neville said staring into his mug. Professor McGonagall reached out and squeezed his hand gently. She was rewarded by a small, brave grin as Neville stretched for another biscuit.

"Did you know my parents, Ma'am," Harry asked eagerly. "I can't remember a thing about them. I don't even have a photograph of them,"

Professor McGonagall laughed. "It was impossible not to know James and Lily while they were here but for very different reasons. Your mother was every teacher's dream student. She absorbed knowledge like parched ground drinks in rain and, rarity of rarities, translated knowledge into wisdom. Bright, eager to learn, polite, and like you Miss Granger, she came from a muggle family, the first in her family to display any magical talent."

"Now your father, Mr. Potter, was a rascal. A brilliant student mind you and a great quidditch player but he and his three closest friends created more havoc then the rest of the student body combined times two."

"My brother Bill often talked about the Marauders," Ron said with a laugh. "I think his stories inspired Fred and George."

"Well, I can not thank him for that," Professor McGonagall said. "But please remember me to him none the less when you write him next."

"I will," he promised.

Professor McGonagall sat her tea cup down. "Now, I want you four to listen to me and heed my words. First, the four of you will publicly apologize to Professor Snape at the beginning of your next potions class."

"You will," She snapped as they groaned.

"Yes, Ma'am," They said in more or less unison with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

"I know the faults and shortcomings of my colleagues far better then you do," she said reasonably. "Whatever the nature of his personality, Professor Snape is a gifted brewer of potions. You can learn more from him about the art of potions then anyone that I can think of. I want you to be quiet, be polite, ignore his jibes and insults and learn. Do you understand me?"

"But, Professor," Ron began.

"Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Hermione and Ron said together as Neville nodded.

"Mr. Potter?"

Harry shrugged. McGonagall could almost feel the shields he erected around him. "I've known nothing but bullies my whole life," he said. "After a while it doesn't really matter how many there are kicking me."

Professor McGonagall felt a rush of guilt at Harry's resigned acceptance of abuse. Her belief in Dumbledore's assertion that leaving Harry to the mercies of the Dursleys was for the best and that it offered his greatest protection didn't crumble but it did creak. She remembered the wave of horror that washed over her when she saw how Harry's Hogwarts letter was addressed: The cupboard under the stairs. She would definitely have a word with Severus and Dumbledore too if that's what it will take.

"Secondly, I want you four to appear contrite when you return to the Gryffindor common room," Professor McGonagall said. "And in any private conversations with other students."

"That shouldn't be too hard," Hermione said remorsefully. "They'll all hate us for losing the House Cup for them before the first week is up."

"Trust me on this, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall said with a ghost of a smile on her lips. "I have been teaching for a long time and, though to you I am ancient, I still remember my own school days as well. For every student who is angry over the loss of points, five will anoint you as a hero for standing up to Professor Snape who, unfortunately, is a rather unpopular teacher."

"To maintain good order and keep an atmosphere conducive to learning in tact, such rebelliousness must be nipped in the bud. After all, the whole purpose of this institution is to teach pupils the Ars Magica, is it not?"

"Yes, Professor," Hermione said.

"Courage is the predominate trait of a Gryffindor student," Professor McGonagall continued. "Courage, however, has many facets. One facet is bravery. You four and this does NOT leave this room, showed bravery by defying a strong figure in the wrong and coming to the aid of each other. However, another facet of courage is temerity. Do you know what that means?"

They had known each other for only a week but the three boys automatically turned their heads to Hermione.

"It means a reckless disregard for, or foolish contempt of, danger," Hermione said. "To behave rashly."

"Precisely, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall said. "History is resplendent with tales of those who perished while braving great odds. Most are called heroes but many were mere fools who threw away their lives without thinking. They were hoodwinked and provoked by emotion into running imprudent, irrational risks."

"You boys should be very familiar with our recent precarious history. All three of you have lost relatives; relatives that showed incredible courage in the fight against darkness, courage to the point of dying for a cause. The Sorting Hat placed all three of you into Gryffindor so I am certain that the same courage flows through your veins as I am confident that it fills the heart of Miss Granger here. Please temper that courage with reason. Do not allow your emotions land you into situations that your common sense could have easily avoided."

"Yes, Professor," the four answered soberly.

"If Professor Snape runs true to form, detention will consist of cleaning and organizing his classroom and storage room," Professor McGonagall said. "It is a very good opportunity to become familiar with many of the substances that you will use in his class. Take advantage of it."

"Yes, Professor," came the unified reply.

"If anyone asks, I came within a hair of sending for the whips and chains that Mr. Finch keeps in good working condition."

The four chuckled and voiced their willingness to say so.

"I also expect those points to be earned back before the school year is finished, is that clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Ron said. "We'll do our best."

"We'll get them back, Professor," Neville asserted.

Professor McGonagall smiled kindly at them as they began to move the chairs back and clean off the desk. They showed a lot of promise. Harry and Neville had been through quite a bit she knew yet they were still standing. Ron was not at all like any of his brothers. There was a surprising maturity in him for such a young boy.

She secretly laughed to herself remembering how the boys turned to Hermione for the definition. She was obviously very intelligent if a bit tightly wound. It wasn't easy for those from muggle families to blend in with the other students but she had made three good friends quickly although a female friend would have helped. Yet it may be that Hermione was simply one of those girls more comfortable in the company of boys.

Minerva McGonagall sighed. She knew better then most that the darkness was gathering again like a storm just over the horizon. She hoped that before the Death Eaters rose again that there was enough time to train these four and their classmates to defeat Voldemort and his minions once and for all. She shook her head to dispel the gloom. "Sufficient unto the day the evil therein" she quoted to herself.

"Before you go, Percy tells me that you four formed an impromptu folk group on the train," Professor McGonagall said.

"Yes, Ma'am," Hermione said. "Ron played the concertina and I sang with Neville and Harry doing harmony."

"Well, when I ask for a performance during this term, I expect some Scottish tunes to be included," She said.

"They'll be in there, Professor," Ron promised as he held the door for the others.

"But I don't know any Scottish songs," McGonagall heard Neville say in the hallway.

"She let us live so we better learn some," Harry replied to him.

A/N: I would like to thank EbonyRiverand TomTom21 for their kind words in their review

To: Ebony River

RE: Harry's strength of character.

Harry and Neville will both get stronger in this particular AU. I would not think that Harry with his raising would be an assertive sort. Strong, yes indeed to have survived but he would have to have hidden such force of character from the Dursleys. Years of suppression would make it difficult to show such a facet of his personality. In my little tale here, Ron and Hermione will provide the stable foundation that will allow Harry and Neville to break the shackles of their upbringing and allow them to come into the power they inherited.

I do agree with you about strong central characters make for much more interesting reading. I recall trying to read Stephen Donaldson's books about Thomas Covenant. Well written books with a good story line and interesting characters except for the lead character. Thomas Covenant spent several thousand pages whining and wallowing in self pity. I finally gave up before the series ended because all I wanted to do was to reach into the pages and strangle the idiot. A few million fans disagree with me no doubt but that's okay.

Also, despite the title of the story, Ron is actually the central character.