1st Year [pt2]
Harry exercised starting at 4:30am. A couple sets of each pushups and situps, all the while reading from Transfiguration and History of Magic, his two morning classes. Then he hit the treadmill in the sub-basement. At 7:40am he jumped off the treadmill and ran all the way to the 1st Year room to shower. He was ready for breakfast just as his dormmates were stirring "Seamus! Ron! Dean!..." he called the roll "Breakfast! Move it!"
"Look who's up early." Said George.
Harry grinned "Fred up yet?" tweaking the twins again.
"There's my ugly twin." The other bounced down "Morn George."
Harry shook his head "That's Fred."
"How do you know?" asked a black boy, who just arrived.
Harry winked and quipped "Magic. Say? How much time do we get between classes."
"Just enough to" Fred began.
George completed "get to next class."
"Why?" they both asked.
Harry smirked "Got a new penpal to send a letter to."
"Who?" the black boy wanted to know why his best friends started glaring. "Lee Jordan by the way."
After introducing himself, and shaking hands, Harry giggled "Their little sister."
"I see." Said Lee "Living dangerous, kid?"
To which Harry shrugged "They can try, Lee, they can try." And "See ya at breakfast."
Welcome, Harry, to your first Hogwarts breakfast. Two missions this morning. First, and this is not to say EVERYONE up there is a friend, but look along the Head Table until your scar hurts. Knee jerk reaction, the one giving you a nasty look is your enemy. Well true. Wait until Potions class. Actually the one in the turban is far more dangerous. What you need to do is manufacture a reasonable situation to touch him. Remember how he didn't shake your hand in the Leaky Cauldron. Also better to do it with people around. When you do, his body will turn to ash. Know that you won't have killed the Professor, he was basically already dead. Mission #2 Houses ARE important, but they're not your world. And there is no Hogwarts rule that says you must sit with your House all the time. I was blind to that fact. As you look around, notice that Weasleys are not the only redheads.
Harry was more than a little worried, Old Harry was basically telling him to kill someone. Could he actually do that? And why would just touching Quirrell make him fall all apart? The other part made more sense, mostly telling him to make more friends. Here with no Dudley, he could do that. "Hmmm…redhead, redhead?"
"Hi Harry." He could read her lips, and a wave came from a redhead who was sitting next to a blonde who was wiggling to get comfortable. The blonde giggled into her hand.
Harry waved back. He couldn't remember her name. it started with a B?
Abcij
Arthur, Molly and don't-call-me-Ginevra Weasley were settling down for dinner at the Burrow, the Weasley home. A large snowy owl flew in the kitchen window. Molly attempted to take the letter and got a minor bite for her trouble "Well, Molly" Arthur chuckled "did you notice the letter is not addressed to you?"
"Thank you, Ms Owl." Said Ginny, kindly "Would you like some food and water?"
Hedwig fluffed up her feathers and preened. She liked this human. Ms Owl? Mmmmm. And, of course, food and water after a long flight was most welcome. Yes, she would like it if her human sent her here regularly.
Hi Ginny
Harry here. We met at the train yesterday. My owl's name is Hedwig. I know she likes bacon, if you have some, great. If not whatever you have should be ok. Except for tomato, don't even try to feed her them. I almost lost my ear.
Hogwarts is amazing. It's a huge castle. It'll take months to explore it all. I got sorted into Gryffindor along with Ron. He was one of the last because they went alphabetical. We share a room with 5 other boys all the way at the top of a tower. By the way, I'm not allowed to tell how we're sorted. But here's an important tip, don't believe what your brothers say. Fred and George had Ron convinced they fought a troll.
My classes are Potions, History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms and Astronomy [that's actually a night time course, neat huh] Between that, homework and other stuff I do, it looks pretty busy. But I'll make time to send you a letter every week or so. Bye
Harry
"Well, he does seem the adventurous sort. Doesn't he?" Arthur commented lightly, after reading the letter for himself "And polite, too. I suppose it is alright for you to have a penpal, princess. But we should see these letters to make sure there is nothing inappropriate. Understood?"
Ginny nodded "Okay Daddy."
"What about your crush on The-Boy-Who-Lived?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
Ginny blushed and shrugged "I dunno. But Harry's a real boy."
Abcij
Between lunch and his next class, Harry told Ron he was going running. Ron thought he friend was a nutter and said so. Oliver Wood heard the exchange and looked the First Year over. If he was into fitness, would he try out for the team? He decided to follow along and see exactly what the boy thought was running. Bookbag, robes and all, Oliver watched the kid sprint for a solid ten minutes. Take a five minute break, during which he did situps and pushups AND read something the Quidditch captain could not see. Then he ran again.
Right. Harry. Time to meet Severus Tobias Snape, up close and personal. You're not ready to know all, yet, sorry. But here's the history. He knew Mum before they went to Hogwarts. He was in Slytherin while Mum and Dad were in Gryffindor. Mum, being who she was stayed friends with young Severus. Young James Potter hated everything Slytherin, so he and his friends often pranked them. Young James was besotted with Young Lily at first sight. So, young Severus became a target of some of young James' meaner pranks. To sum up, he'll hate you just because you're James Potter's son. Never mind you're also Lily Evan's son. Of course, you don't know that, yet.
"Hi. Hi." Harry was sitting between his two Gryffindor friends, Ron and Hermione, but looking behind and past them to be sociable with others in the class.
The redheaded girl next to Ron, extended a hand behind him and introduced herself "Hi Harry, I'm Susan Bones, Hufflepuff."
"Nice to meet'cha." Said Harry with a broad smile, he leaned over and took it, then almost fell. The girl's grip tightened, allowing him to save himself from crashing to the floor. He blushed "Thanks."
Susan's blush was even more pronounced due to her coloring "Welcome."
"There will be no juvenile hand holding or wand waving in this class!" sneered Professor Snape as he burst in "Potter, that will be five points from Gryffindor. Bones, five from Hufflepuff as well. I do not expect many of you to grasp the exact science that is Potion making."
Draco Malfoy grinned as the professor offered him a glance. His two friends looked pleased as well.
"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach." Snape went on.
Harry was dutifully writing his notes.
"And perhaps some of you come to Hogwarts with talents so formidable they need…not…pay…attention." Professor Snape bore down on Harry "Tell me, Potter, what would I have if powdered root of asphodel was added to an Infusion of Wormwood?"
That wasn't in any book he'd read to date "I don't know, sir."
"Let's try again." The professor sneered "Tell me the difference between Monkshood and Wolfbane."
His Diary already told him this was an enemy, so he slid his book across the bench and snapped "Why don't you tell me what page it's on?"
"Gryffindors note, that is twenty points off for your classmate's cheek." He declared as he stood menacingly and swept back to his desk "Instructions for your first potion are on the board! Begin!"
Abcij
Harry
Thanks for the warning, but the twins have been teasing Ron about that ever since they started. No worries. I'm looking forward to your castle explorations. Mum and Dad read your letter and you received approval. But don't make yourself out to be too much of a troublemaker. Oh, Fred and George mentioned Professor Snape as someone who seems to have it in for Gryffindors. And, while you can talk to Madam Pomfrey, I'd rather you never need her services.
Cheers
Ginny
"Can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late." Ron huffed and puffed as they arrived in the Transfiguration classroom.
The cat sitting stiffly on the desk jumped off and magically turned into the aforementioned professor. Harry gasped "That was bloody brilliant! Can anyone do that?"
"A particularly advanced form of Transfiguration, Mr. Potter." Replied McGonagall with irritation in her voice "But, perhaps I should transfigure you into a pocketwatch. Then maybe you might be on time?"
Ron gulped "WE got lost."
"Then perhaps a map." She countered primly "I trust you and Mr. Potter do not need one to find your seats. First up we are going to learn to turn a toothpick into a paperclip."
Harry almost instantly accomplished about half the task. But the diary told him Hermione was supposed to succeed first. He didn't know why it told him that, but as soon as he heard the girl squeal in delight he did as well. Ron didn't do too bad, making the paperclip before half the class, he was pleased.
Flying class, Harry. This is your ticket onto the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Neville Longbottom loses control of his broom and takes a bad spill. Don't worry, it's only a broken arm and Madam Pomfrey can fix that in minutes. The key here is Malfoy claiming something that belongs to Neville. Don't let him keep it. Don't think ill of me for not telling the rest, don't want to spoil that first flying experience.
And Harry was still flying high with the memory as Halloween approached. No, he didn't begrudge his Diary the least bit for not sharing every detail of that occasion. Even the fear McGonagall inspired as the only thought going through his mind was he was getting expelled.
So, Harry, how did that Snitch taste? Hahaha! Hermione and Ron were right. Your broom was being jinxed, but not by Snape. It was Quirrell. I know, he comes off as a stuttering fool, but he's the most dangerous enemy in Hogwarts. The man is possessed by Voldemort. The turban is covering proof. You have to find a way to 'accidentally' touch Quirrell, as an alternative, yank off the turban. It's Halloween, here comes that something bad for something good. In Charms, Hermione needs to succeed at Winguardium Leviosa first. Ron will be a true git about it. Don't be too hard on him and drag him along when you go after Hermione. Wait until after Quirrell faints. Tonight is not the night to expose him.
Professor Quirrell came running into the Great Hall yelling "TROLL IN THE DUNGEON! TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!" and promptly fell on his face.
"QU—UIE—TTT!" Headmaster Dumbledore yelled over the panic caused by that announcement "Prefects, lead your Houses to their Common Room. Teachers, follow me to the dungeons."
Harry noticed "Where's Hermione?"
"In the loo, crying." Said Neville Longbottom, "Padma Patil said she's been there all day…crying."
Harry shot looks at the pair and said "Ron, Neville, she's a Gryffindor. We take care of our own." The three boys took off with Neville leading the way. "HERMIONE! DUCK!"
"Bloody!" the girl cursed as she looked up.
The troll roared and swung its massive club. Most of the stalls shattered and at least one toilet splintered. Hermione threw herself on the floor, avoiding impact.
"Accio club!" Neville cast, but the spell wasn't quite strong enough. Harry ran forward hoping to pull it from the loosened grip, but he was so light the troll pulled him into the air. He landed on its shoulders, desperately dodged both giant hand and club. He incidentally drove his wand up its nose.
Hermione fearfully scrambled away from horribly smelly troll feet. Then Ron cast "Winguardium Leviosa!" in mid swing the club was pulled from the troll's hand and stayed over his head. The spell failed and impacted the troll's forehead. He fell over just as Hermione crawled away.
"What is the meaning of this outrage!" Professor McGonagall ranted.
Hermione stepped up before Harry could "It's my fault Professor. I read all about trolls and thought I could handle it. If it wasn't for the boys I'd probably be dead."
"Well, be that as it may, it was very foolish Miss Granger. Five points will be taken." Minerva berated the girl, then turned to the boys "As for you gentlemen, five points will be awarded to each of you. For sheer dumb luck."
Harry grunted, unimpressed "Hmpf! Snape takes twenty for not knowing answers and taking out a mountain troll is only worth ten. Some system."
McGonagall chose to ignore that and sent them on their way.
"Why'd you come after me?" asked Hermione.
Ron replied "It's what friends do." And all four Gryffindors joined hands, smiling at each other.
Packing it in for the night, Harry saw the Diary glowing
Well Harry, now you have the Golden Trio. I hope now you understand what I meant about sometimes letting nature take its course. Had you known Hermione was in danger, you might have prevented the whole incident from happening. I doubt Hermione would ever become friends with Ron without it. She's definitely the brain. Not counting the advance knowledge I give you. She'll drive you both nuts to do your homework. Tell her to HELP Ron with his, he needs to do it himself [you'll see] But remember what I said before, Your House and the Golden Trio are certainly important. But seek friends elsewhere.
Harry wondered at this. How come there was no mention of Neville? And, a Trio? Not all four of them?
While dealing with Quirrell is a must, and soon, it's time to talk about Scabbers and Sirius Black. You've had enough Transfiguration with pets, remember Ron's rat goblet with a tail? Well, people can become animals. I never did, but I'll point you in the right direction soon. Professor McGonagall is one, a cat. Scabbers is a rat Animagus named Peter Pettigrew. History has it that Sirius Black murdered Peter Pettigrew and a dozen Muggles. Sirius is also blamed for the murders of your parents. He's been in Azkaban Prison since 1981 for a crime he didn't commit and was never even tried for. And he is your Godfather. Peter Pettigrew framed him and got himself adopted as Percy Weasley's pet rat. Now, I suggest exposing him in Transfiguration, McGonagall's subject. As no plan is perfect, get Fred and George to be on guard outside the classroom to prevent an escape.
In the Great Hall, the next day, Harry sought out the Weasley twins "Hey, guys, I need a favor. Would you mind terribly risking a detention Friday? It'll be during my Transfiguration class."
"A detention is a serious thing Harry." Said George.
Harry noted "Wouldn't be your first. And I know you're seeking the all-time record."
"He has a point, my ugly brother." Said Fred.
George suggested "Is it worth your secret of telling us apart?"
"Maybe, George, maybe not." Harry grinned mischievously "All you have to do is be there as backups to catch either Scabbers, or a man, trying to escape McG's class…. Say five minutes in."
Fred began "And why"
George continued "would we
"stun Scabbers?"
This time Harry wore more of a smirk "Let's say he's been pranking the Weasley family for years. And catching him would prank Hogwarts, Dumbledore, the DMLE and the Ministry as a whole."
"We will"
"be there!"
"Great!" Harry enthused "Now just one more person to bring to the occasion." He strolled over to the Hufflepuff table.
Susan Bones was talking homework with her partners in a project, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Hannah Abbott, when a shadow fell on her, she asked "Can we do something for you Harry?"
"Actually, you, Sue." Said Harry, grinning at the girl "I would like to invite the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to the capture of a Death Eater. Ask your aunt to be outside the Transfiguration classroom at 8:05 Friday morning."
The Hufflepuffs all blinked, bugeyed, at him. The redhead coughed and exclaimed "You're kidding! Right?"
"Have you seen me use my reputation for anything, Susan?" he asked seriously. When she numbly shook her head he confirmed "8:05 McGonagall's class, Friday."
Abcij
Professor McGonagall entered her classroom as the clock ticked over to 8:00 "Good morning, Class!"
"Good morning, Professor McGonagall." The Gryffindors and Slytherins replied dutifully.
She nodded pleasantly and said "As you know, today is something a little different. I asked you to research the whole subject of Transfiguration for something that is of interest to you and come up with questions you might have. Miss Granger?"
"Professor? You transfigured a desk into a pig." Hermione began "Was it truly a living thing?"
She nodded "Absolutely. Any inanimate to living transfiguration does indeed create life in the object. It will take a number of years to enable you to perform that level of magic. Yes, Mr. Potter?"
"Professor, I was really interested in your ability to become a cat." Harry began, trying to fill a bit of time.
McGonagall nodded "That is beyond NEWT level. Any questions about that would be just theory at this stage."
"Yes, ma'am." He replied, his eyes briefly flicked to the lazy rat on Ron's desk "I was wondering if there's a spell that tells you if a person is an Animagus?"
She liked that question "An interest of yours, Potter? Very well, Mr. Crabbe, please stand. Revelus animus. Were Mr. Crabbe an Animagus he would glow red, as you can all see, he glows blue. Therefore he is not an Animagus. Very few wizards or witches have the ability. Thank you Mr. Crabbe, 5 points to Slytherin."
"How about a spell to show a witch or wizard in their Animagus disguise?" asked Harry, he had his wand gripped in his hand. He was very nervous now. Was Scabbers?
McGonagall replied "I can demonstrate on Hedwig, there. Revelus hominum." The owl glowed green "Hedwig is NOT a witch in disguise. Mr. Potter ten points to Gryffindor. Next? Mr. Malfoy?".
"Reveus hominus!" Harry suddenly fired "Professor! Scabbers is an Animagus!" He was too young to know the stunning spell, so he just reached for the rat. And missed, of course.
The professor was shocked by the sudden chaos. She fired several Stupefys! one of which hit Seamus Finnegan. The rat scampered all over the classroom then tried to squeeze under the door. Waiting just outside and alert for noise, Fred and George both fired the stunning charm as soon as the rat's head poked out. Amelia Bones, hiding behind a dissolution spell, saw the whole thing, allowed herself to become visible and hexed the rat to force it back to human form.
"Where's Scabbers?" Ron cried.
The Head of the DLME conjured a cage and handcuffed the wizard's hands and feet outside the bars. Then approached Harry "Mr. Potter, my niece obviously passed on your message. Would you explain how you knew? And just who this is?"
"I got a letter." He replied, telling a half truth "I did it this way to give him as little chance of escape as possible. It worked. That is Peter Pettigrew. Sirius Black is innocent."
That was a bombshell among the adults. Bones said "Black was convicted of betraying your parents."
"No, he wasn't" replied Harry "If you can find trial records I'll eat them, whole."
Hermione nudged him in the side "Don't talk to adults like that."
"Ron, Scabbers is this bastard." Harry explained, stepping harshly on a leg "He framed my Godfather, then disguised himself to hide in your family."
The man woke up and whined "My leg hurts! Where am i?"
"Don't give me that shit!" Harry growled, stomping again "You're the reason my parents are dead!"
Peter whimpered "Who are you? Why are you mean to me?"
"Amelia? Quite a surprise seeing you today." Albus Dumbledore came up as if there was all the time in the world "The Ministry usually notifies me in advance of planned visits."
She shrugged "Well, on this occasion I received an invitation from my niece, Susan. More a family matter, when I happened upon some chaos coming from your Transfiguration classroom. Young Mr. Potter here has made a rather incendiary charge that I must address. Apparently there was a grave miscarriage of justice after You-Know-Who fell."
"No. Who?" asked Harry.
Hermione explained in a professorish tone "Don't forget Harry, they are all afraid to say Voldemort. And fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself."
"So true Miss Granger." Said the Headmaster "Fifty points to Gryffindor. Now, Harry, please explain how you knew about this business."
"Sorry, I can't." Harry answered. And no one was looking at Harry when his hands glowed softly.
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose for a moment, then returned to normal, he said "Well no matter. Harry, you have done a remarkable thing. No matter by accident. Fifty points to Gryffindor."
"Thank you, sir!" said Harry brightly, then "Sir? Ma'am? Can I see Mr. Black?"
"I don't see why not" by Bones was simultaneous with Dumbledore's "That does not seem wise." The two locked eyes in a battle of wills.
In his shirt, Harry noticed his Diary glowing with a new page. He looked at both adults, shook his head and said "I gotta pee. You two work it out that I can see my Godfather. Hmpf!" Harry locked himself in a stall, leaving lots of people merely staring after him.
In my timeline, Sirius escaped Azkaban during 3rd Year because he saw Pettigrew in a Daily Prophet picture of the Weasleys. Sirius was still a fugitive with a kill on sight order from the Ministry. No one believed that Pettigrew was alive until his body was brought out of Malfoy Manor. By then Sirius was dead. Dumbledore does a great job portraying the grandfather image, but behind the scenes he manipulates people 'for the Greater Good' You most of all. Sirius needs to be free, legally, to want to live. I can't even promise you'll be successful. But, you haven't used your Boy-Who-Lived status for anything. Send a letter to Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. Explain that you don't blame him for how Sirius was jailed without trial under Minister Bagnold and you would appreciate his help in getting justice. If he goes for a bribe, tell him you'd love to make a contribution to his campaign and a matching one to the Auror budget. GG10,000 should impress him enough to override Dumbledore's advice.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore has decided it is in your best interests to not release you from school at this time." Madam Bones spoke neutrally "I promise you, this prisoner is not going anywhere. He will remain in this cage which will be put in a holding cell that will be triple guarded. A couple of my most trusted Aurors will remove Mr. Black from prison to hold him for trial."
Harry nodded and replied "Thank you, ma'am. And can you please deliver this to the Minister of Magic? And this to Mr. Black."
"I will review that." Said Dumbledore, extending his hand to take the letter.
Harry grabbed his wrist and heated his hand more than he usually did to massage his muscles. It was quite a scene for those who witnessed the confrontation. A small First Year challenging the Leader of the Light "That's a private letter." Said Harry "To my Godfather. Do you read everything kids write home?"
"Not normally one of my duties, Mr. Potter." Madam Bones said "But, under the circumstances, I will be glad to."
Ron and Hermione burst through the crowd as Harry was thanking Fred and George for their help "You set this whole thing up! Didn't you?" they both said, accusingly. "How?"
"When we're alone!" insisted Harry then he thought 'Ok, Old Me, how do I explain this?' Ultimately, in a corner of the main Hogwarts courtyard with his two best friends and the Twins he told a half-truth "Right. Guys, it's like this, I got a letter from someone who assured me he had my best interests at heart. I had a hard time with it at first, but every time he's sent me something, he's been right."
Ron asked "So all that exercising and studying you've been doing? That's part of it?"
"My relatives treated me like a slave, starved me." Harry went on "I'm away from them for good. I've been eating special magical food to put on weight and working out so it's muscle not fat. I'm three inches taller and ten pounds heavier than I was and the exercise makes my magical core grow too."
Hermione asked "Who are you living with? Strangers?"
"No one. But it's a thousand million times better than the Dursleys." He replied.
Hermione frowned "No eleven year old should be living alone. Why don't you go to a teacher? And how do you know this person is really safe?"
"I can't answer that." He said, firmly "Teachers would force me back with my relatives. I am absolutely better off alone than with them. I need you to promise me you won't tell a soul. All four of you."
Hermione shook her head "I can't make such a promise. We're all too young to live alone."
"If that gets out, I'll know who." Harry's tone was harsh "And I will no longer be friends with that person. Clear?"
Hermione was shocked into silence. She just nodded and looked at the floor.
Fred acknowledged "Well, you did deliver on your promise. We got to help prank Dumbledore AND the Ministry."
"True." George admitted "So, can we ask how you tell us apart?"
Harry smirked "Well, you can ask."
"Not fair! I'm your best friend!" Ron grumped, to the group's amusement.
Abcij
At The Burrow, Ginny Weasley received a letter from her penpal. She read it a couple of times before asking "Mummy? Who are Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black?"
"Peter was a hero who died trying to protect his friends. He was a Secret Keeper." Mrs. Weasley explained "Why dear?"
Ginny answered "That isn't what Harry says. He says Peter is actually Scabbers and that he hid with us since Harry Potter killed You-Know-Who."
"That's ridiculous!" snapped Mrs. Weasley "Your penpal would not be much older than you. And could not possibly know what happened then."
Then Ginny asked "Mummy, who was Sirius Black?"
"Sirius Black betrayed Lily and James Potter to You-Know-Who." Mrs. Weasley said, harshly "He was Harry Potter's Godfather and You-Know-Who's right hand man. He killed them as much as if he cast the killing spell himself."
Ginny took a breath to ask another question, then blinked in shock "I've been writing to Harry Potter!" she exclaimed. And promptly fainted.
