Hey fellow readers, writers, and Potter fanatics! I understand that it has been a few day since the last time I updated...(my apologies) Anyways, I have decided that the first two chapters have been slightly to vague so I am going to start to make more detailed chapters.
Oh yeah, and if you want me to add in any character to make the story more interesting let me know! You can P.M me or tell me in a review.
Anyways...Please, Please review! I love hearing what you have to say!
Happy Reading!
"Time to get up, Harry!"Harry groans and pulls the covers over his head. He tries to go back to sleep, but was woken up again by a knock on his bedroom door.
"It's too early!" He moans, looking over at the clock next to is bed that reads seven thirty. A few minutes of silence pass. Harry sighs and snuggles back into his bed closing his eyes.
"Harry James Potter!" The sharpness of her voice startles Harry. Before he knows it, he ends up on the floor struggling against his blankets that refuses to let him go. "Awake this instant! And quit being lazy, we have much to do!" Harry, now freed from the wrath of his blankets stands up rubbing his head. He doesn't even bother to dress before walking out of his bedroom.
He walks out to the living room and slumps onto the couch pulling his knees to his chest. He stifles a yawn and looks around at the house he once hated not too long ago. When he turned eight a few months ago, Albus suggested for him and his mother to leave Hogwarts only during the summer, and go live in Minerva's old home in Hogsmeade. Albus figured it would be better for him if he could grow up in a regular house and not some office with a living room, inside a school. So Harry could have a normal summer, Albus had said. Harry had argued at first and refused to leave. After all, Hogwarts was the only place Harry had ever known. He loved being with the professors and playing with Hagrid and his dog Fang. But after a while, he agreed and moved into this house with his mother. Well, it isn't necessarily a house, but a shack or cottage.
And after a month or so, this house began to grow on him. Plus, Honey dukes is only a few blocks away. He looks up at his mother who enters the room in a haste trying to do a million things at once.
"Mother, what's the hurry?" He asks curiously.
"It's September first, Harry! The students will be arriving in about eight hours and I have so much to do." Excitement floods Harry. He has forgotten that today is the first of September. That means that they get to move back to their old home in Hogwarts! Forgetting about how tired he is, he walks over to his mother who is trying to prepare breakfast, and look over some paperwork floating in front of her.
"Mother, would you like any help with anything?"
"Why don't you go pack your things. And make sure you don't forget anything." Harry nods and runs to his bedroom. His bedroom is down a small hall next to the living room and his Mothers bedroom. Though most of the time he ends up sleeping with his Mother because of the nightmares that haunt his almost every dream. He throws open his bedroom door accidentally slamming it into the wall. He winces and waits for his mother to reprehend him. But she doesn't which is a shock. He pulls the suitcase out from under his bed and begins to throw his clothes in first along with a book on his nightstand. Tales of Beedle the Bard. His mother reads from it every night to him. It is one of his utmost favorite storybooks.
After stripping his room of his belongings, he drags it out to the living room where he tries to fit the rest of his books into the suitcase. Harry has to bounce on the suitcase to try to close the latch which is refusing to oblige.
"Time for breakfast!" Harry ignores his mother out of complete frustration. "Harry what are you do-" She walks into the living room and smiles at her son. He glars at her when he notices her standing there smiling.
"Mommy! It won't close!" He whines jumping off the suitcase, giving up and pouting.
"Oh Harry. There is no need to whine. Have you already forgotten that I am a witch?" He watches in amazement as Minerva waves her wand over the suitcase, which closes and latches tightly.
"But Mommy! My dragons aren't in their yet!" McGonagall sighs.
"Harry, aren't you getting a little too old to whine? Shall I put you down for a nap?" She raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms.
"But-" He begins.
"Harry please." McGonagall walks over to Harry and places her hands on his shoulders. "Today is going to be a very busy day. And Mommy will need your help. Unless you would rather cry then help me.." Harry shakes his head quickly. He hates to be treated like a child, but his mother is right and needs his help.
"I'm sorry." He whispers looking down at her bare feet.
"Oh Harry, what did I do to deserve such a wonderful young man." She hugs him before leading him to the kitchen.
Harry sits across from his mother at the table. In front of him is a plate of toast and eggs. "It isn't much..." Harry begins stuffing his face with the food which stops Minerva and makes her laugh.
After breakfast, Harry finishes getting ready and grabs his box full of dragons. He meets his mother at the front door with his suitcase.
"Do you have everything?" She asks. Harry nods, then gasps.
"Wait, I forgot something!" He shoves the dragons into her arms and takes off running towards his room.
How could I have possibly forgotten! Harry thinks as he pushes open his door. He reaches under his pillow, and pulls out a well preserved photograph. He stares at the people in the photo. A girl of about twenty with glowing red hair and sparkling green eyes like his own, is standing next to a tall, thin man with messy black hair and glasses and brown eyes. He wraps his arm around the girl who is holding a small bundle in her arms. Barely visible is a small boy with the same messy hair as his father and green eyes like his mother. Harry has many pictures of his parents, but this is his favorite. Minerva has told him that this is the last picture taken of them before their untimely death. He holds the picture up to his chest and takes a slow shaky breath and slips it into his jean pocket.
He runs back over to the doorway where his mother is waiting. He nods at her and they walk into the blinding sunlight. The streets of Hogsmeade are busy with people out and about shopping. Minerva waves her wand over the suitcase before walking down her porch steps. It turns into a small box small enough to fit in your pocket. She reaches down and grabs Harry's hand before walking out into the mob of people. Many people stop and greet Harry and his mother as they make their way to the train station. One reason why Harry likes his new home so much is that he seems to be very popular. He knows why of course, but he still likes the attention.
"Hey Mom, could we go to Honey dukes?" He looks at the small candy shop a little ways ahead of them and longs for one of their sweets.
"Not now Harry. We must get to Hogwarts as soon as possible. But maybe Hagrid will take you down later?" He smiles at the mention of his friend. Hagrid has always been like a father to Harry. Well, so has Albus, but he is always so busy he can rarely play with him anymore. Plus, Hagrid always tells Harry stories about his parents. He loves to hear about them, but everybody he meets hate to talk about them at all. Especially his mother. Whenever Harry brings up his real mother and father, Minerva looks on the verge of tears so Harry drops the subject. But Hagrid can talk for hours about them.
When they reach the train station, Harry runs ahead to a small man no taller than himself who is talking to a train conductor.
"Hello Filius!" Harry squeaks with excitement.
"Harry, it's professor Flitwick." McGonagall says sternly. But the professor just simply laughs.
"Oh, it's alright Minerva."He turns to Harry. "Well, hello there Harry. How was your summer?"
"Oh it was great! But I am so glad to be back!" Filius laughs again.
"Come on Harry. We still have much to do and Filius is busy at the moment."
They walk through the entire train station as quickly as possible. When they reach the path that leads up to Hogwarts, Harry smiles with excitement. In the distance, he sees the familiar school. A castle, he likes to call it. It looms high above the treetops of the Forbidden forest. It's made of stone that is sturdy, but definitely old. They push through the large metal gate separating the school from the rest of the wizarding world. They are finally back onto Hogwarts ground.
In the distance, Harry can see the blue lake reflecting the light from the summer sun. The Forbidden forest looms in the distance behind the school. Though grassy meadows take up most of the grounds along with the occasional tree. As they near Hogwarts, Harry spots Hagrids hut surrounded by his garden that Harry often helps him to look after. Steam billows out of the chimney meaning Hagrid is home.
"Can we visit Hagrid?"
"Not now Harry. I thought you wanted to help with the preparations for the students?"
"Oh right. I forgot. So, what exactly do we have to do?"
"Well, first we have to prepare the Great Hall and make sure all of the tables are set. Then we must check the student list and make sure I have every first year written down. We must also make sure the sorting hat is alright as well as check in with each professor including the Headmaster."
"Why do you have to do so much? Can't the other professors help you?" She smiles down at Harry.
"Well Harry, I'm the deputy Headmistress." Seeing Harry's confusion, she continues. "It is like the Headmaster. I am in charge of the first year students and must make sure everything is perfect for their arrival."
"Will I be the deputy Headmaster, like you?" She laughs and shrugs.
"Who knows. Maybe." They enter the Great Hall still hand in hand.
The four long table are pushed up against the wall along with the teacher table. A few of the teachers are bustling back and forth. Harry spots Albus talking to Professor Sprout by the podium with the Golden owl. Harry took a few steps towards the center of the Great Hall amazed because this is the first time that he has seen the Great Hall before the students arrived at the beginning of first term. Harry follows his Mother as she walks up to Albus and Pomona.
"Ah, good morning Minerva! Little Harry." Pomona greets.
"Good morning Pomona." McGonagall answers, though looking at Albus.
"Well, I should be going. Much to do!" Pomona says, sensing the tension between Minerva and Albus. She scurries out of the room.
"Harry." Harry looks up at the mention of his name. "Why don't you go see if Professor Snape needs any help." Harry groans and tries to protest. "Please Harry." Harry decides not to argue any further and went to go look for Snape, still clutching his box of dragons.
Harry spots Snape walking by the Great Hall. Well actually, all he saw was a cape swish by, but that usually means it is Snape. Harry runs out of the Great Hall and looks down the hallway he had seen Snape go down. Snape is only a few yards away from Harry. The little boy runs after the professor, trying so hard to keep up with his long strides.
"Severus! Severus! Snape!" Harry calls after the man who refuses to answer the boy. When Harry catches up with him, he grabs on to his cloak in an attempt to stop him. Snape stopps suddenly causing Harry to bump into him. He sneers down at the boy with such anger that Harry winces.
"Never call me by that, Potter." He hisses. "What is it that you could possibly want."
"Well..." Harry whispers nervously, all confidence gone by the penetrating glare Snape gives him.
"Well spit it out Potter! I don't have all day."
"I was just, urm, wondering if there was anything you need me to help you with."
Snape sighs. Clearly a waste of his time. "No." was all he said before continuing down the hall. Harry, now determined, had to trot to keep up with him.
"But my mother said to ask you if there is anything I could do."
"I'm afraid not Potter. If you want to be most helpful, I would suggest going back to the Great Hall to set the tables. And leave me alone. There, is that help enough for you?"
Harry stops and pouts. "Fine. But I'm going to tell my mother what you said. And how rude you are!" Snape snickers at the threat.
"Albus, is something wrong?" Minerva asks the Headmaster as Harry disappears out of the room.
"What do you mean Minerva?" He turns to look at her with his crystal blue eyes.
"Well, it seems you have been ignoring me recently."
"Minerva, you are imagining things. I am not ignoring you." He turns away to finish polishing his owl podium. Minerva reaches out and gently grabs his arm.
"Albus, I am not a troll! I can tell that you are avoiding me!" Her voice is persistent but only a whisper. Albus just shakes his head and doesn't respond. "Come on Albus, Harry will be back any moment. Do you actually think Severus has something for Harry to do? Severus barely does anything at all!" Albus can't stop a smile cross his face. He sighs and looks Minerva in the eyes.
"I don't want to become too attached to him, Minerva. The last time I became attached to a student, she was gone before I had the chance to even get to know her well. You don't understand Minerva, I am starting to love little Harry as I with his mother. And I am afraid that if I continue to become attached to him, something horrible will happen."
"Like death."
"Precisely."
Minerva gasped. "That's why you wanted us to leave the school! For your own personal reasons."
"No Minerva. I also feared that he may be a little too comfortable here. If he is to attend Hogwarts with the rest of the kids his age than he must have some distance from the school. We must try to make him feel as normal as possible. He is just a boy, Min. A young, confused, hurt boy."
"He is not just a boy Albus! He is you gr-"
"I know what he is. Let's finish this conversation another time perhaps?" He nods towards the doors where Harry has appeared. Harry runs over to join them, pouting.
"Snape says there is nothing for me to do." Albus laughs and pats the boys head.
"Don't take it too personal. Snape seems to hate everybody. Not just you my boy." McGonagall studies Dumbledore's face before facing the rest of the Great Hall.
"Harry, watch this." She says as she take out her wand and holds it up. "Wingadium Leviosa!" McGonagall chants forcefully. A shiver runs down Harry's spine. He can sense powerful magic when there is any. Before his very eyes the four long table that were pushed against the walls, now all are floating to their usual spots. Each table represents a house, Harry soon learned. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. And when you first arrive at Hogwarts, you are sorted into one of the houses who basically become your family for seven years. Harry had always hoped to end up in Gryffindor. Mostly because his mother is their head of house. After all of the tables settled into place, their house flags appeared above them.
"Wow! That was amazing! Will I be able to do that one day?" Minerva laughs and holds Harry close to her.
"I am sure of it." But deep down, she waisn'tsn't so happy. The conversation with Albus still tugs at her and she looks over at him and mouthed...a suggestion?...No, an order.
We will continue this conversation tonight.