Chapter 2:
Harry awoke to find himself in a strange room. He blinked stupidly in the cool blue light until he remembered; he was at Hogwarts. He rolled out of his four poster bed and looked around. The other bed's had their night blue curtains closed and he heard the faint sound of snoring. He looked out the window and saw the sun low in the sky. He looked to his wrist and saw the time. 7:30. He opened his trunk and unpacked his clothing in to his dresser and put his books in his nightstand drawers before getting dressed for breakfast.
Going down to the common room, he was surprised to see Lisa coming down from her dorm as well.
"Morning," he said with a yawn. "Up already?"
"I used to waking early," she said happily. "I hope we get our schedules today. I'm so excited!"
"Keep the excitement down," Harry grumbled, rubbing his eyes. "It's too early for that." The two friends left the common room and may their way downstairs, following the other students they saw until they found the great hall.
As they ate breakfast, Harry removed a piece of parchment and a quill and started to compose a letter to Rita.
Dear Rita
Sorry for not sending this last night, but I was extremely tired. I'm a Ravenclaw. Something about me needing this house. The hat said I could have fit any of the other three. Anyway, I'll try and send you another letter at the end of the week.
Oh yeah, I've already made a friend and two sort of friends. She's a muggleborn, named Lisa Turpin. So please, you don't have to try and find anything out about her. She's perfectly safe. Also, I'm on speaking terms with Neville Longbottom, so that should be useful in the future.
I'll wrap this up. Professor Flitwick is coming with the timetables. See you at Christmas.
Harry
He finished just in time as Professor Flitwick reached the pair.
"Hello you two," he said jovially with a squeak in his voice. "Here are your schedules. There was a lot of hassle earlier about them," he said, giving Harry a pointed look. "Also, Mr Potter, Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you after breakfast in his office. The password is 'Parma Violet'. The entrance is on the gargoyle on the second floor." He walked away from the pair who looked at each other mystified.
"Why would he want to talk to you?" Lisa asked him curiously. Harry shrugged.
"Dunno. Guess I'll find out."
He quickly finished his breakfast and went off in search of the gargoyle on the second floor. When he found it he was surprised as the gargoyle turned on its spot to reveal a spiral staircase leading upwards to a wooden door. He knocked twice on the door and a reply came from inside.
"Come in."
Harry pushed the door open and looked around the Headmaster's office. It was rather incredible, he thought, with all the portraits of former headmasters lining the walls, some of them sleeping, others watching him with interest. His eyes swept across the bookshelves with curiosity to rest on a perch upon which was the most astonishing bird he had ever seen.
It was red and gold, its wings folded comfortably in against its side. It looked at him with its head tilted to the left, as if regarding him with amusement. His eyes moved to finally rest on the aging Headmaster.
It was awe-inspiring, he thought, to stand so closely to the currently most respected man in the wizarding world. His wizened face looked rather strange with two vivid blue eyes watching him with a boyish glam about him. Harry's mouth went dry, trying to think of something to say.
"N-nice bird," he stammered eventually, mentally smacking himself on the forehead.
"Yes, Fawkes is rather incredible, isn't he?" said the headmaster, eyes shining. "Fawkes is a phoenix, a bird born of fire. His kind are capable of carrying immensely heavy loads and their tears have healing properties that have unknown limits. They also make highly faithful companions."
"He's not your pet, then?" Harry said.
"Dear me, no. No man can call a phoenix his pet, Harry my boy."
Harry nodded before looking at the man and asking him, "Why did you want to see me, sir?"
"I wanted to see how you're settling in," Professor Dumbledore said. "After all, your childhood cannot have been an easy one." He looked over his half-moon glasses at Harry with concern.
"It wasn't too bad," Harry said with a small shrug. "My aunt is a good person."
"Is she now?" Dumbledore said with interest. "Well, that's good. She raised you knowing about magic, then?"
"It would be hard for her not to, wouldn't it? It's played a rather large role in our lives, after all," Harry said, not realising that the two of them were talking about different people. He remembered something from earlier. "Sir, can I ask you a question?"
"Ask away, my boy."
"Professor Flitwick there was some hassle about our timetables earlier. Can I ask why that was?"
"Ah yes. I felt that we should switch up some of the traditions we usually follow," he said, his eyes not quite reaching Harry's. "After all, we've always paired the Gryffindors off with the Slytherins to try and mend their relations, but we thought we would experiment with your year."
"Really? Thanks for answering sir," Harry said. "May I go please sir? Lisa's waiting to explore the castle with me."
"Oh, yes, do go on. No need to keep you from your friends." He dismissed Harry with a wave of his hand and a smile. Harry quickly left and found Lisa waiting at the gargoyle for him.
"What did he want?" she asked.
"He wanted to see how I was settling in. Makes some sense, since I'm the all-powerful Boy-Who-Lived," he said jokingly. He laughed at his joke and indicated for Lisa to follow him. "Come on, let's explore the castle."
And explore they did. Harry ignored the whispers as they found their way to the owlery where he sent his letter with one of the school owls, and then left in search of the library.
"They should put signposts around," he grumbled as they found themselves in a dead end. "Seriously, how does anyone find anything?"
The day went by swiftly with their explorations, and the next day classes began.
Charms had gone well for Harry, and their head of house seemed to dote on Harry's apparent aptitude for his subject. Transfiguration was held with professor McGonagall, and her classes reflected her nature; straight to the point, and stern. They had shared the class with the Gryffindors and Harry had been forced to partner with Neville when Lisa had teamed up with Hermione. It took them both a while, but by the end of the class the two girls were close to having their matches turn into needles. They were both awarded two points for their houses.
But by far Harry's favourite subject had been History of Magic. If only Professor Binns hadn't been the teacher, he would have loved it even more. When the class ended, he was astounded to find he was the only student still awake. He couldn't believe it. Rita had always taught him about politics and the past, telling him that it was important to know about someone's past and their culture if you want to get the most information out of them.
But when Friday came around he had his first potions lesson and discovered that Professor Snape, head of Slytherin house, hated him. And it had begun with Snape questioning him relentlessly.
"Mr Potter, what would I get if I added powdered root of Asphodel to an infusion of Wormwood?" he asked suddenly. Harry was quite taken aback and stumbled.
"I-I don't know, sir," he said.
Snape's lips curled into a sneer.
"Tut, tut - fame clearly isn't everything."
Harry felt his anger fire up but fought to keep it down.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Across the room Harry saw Malfoy snickering.
"I don't know, sir," he repeated.
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?" Harry forced himself to look away from Snape's eyes. He knew he would lash out if he did, and that would only make things worse.
"What is the difference, Potter, between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"
Aha! Harry knew that one. He spoke immediately.
"They're the same plant, sir. It is also known by many other names, including Aconite and blue rocket."
Snape's sneer grew even more.
"Well well well, it's seems you aren't as useless as I expected." Harry was baffled.
"Er, thank you sir," he said.
"Don't speak out of turn! Five points from Ravenclaw."
Harry opened his mouth to retaliate but stopped when he felt a hand on his arm.
"Don't" Lisa whispered. "You'll just make it worse." His eyes flared but he sat back, glaring at the Professor, who merely smirked at him.
Throughout the rest of the lesson, Professor Snape would send snide remarks in Harry's direction, who would try his best not to rise to the bait. But one thing made the fire burn more intensely inside of him.
"Just like your father, ignoring what's best for you," he heard Snape say.
"DON'T TALK ABOUT MY FATHER LIKE THAT!" he roared, making students in the vicinity jump. "DON'T YOU EVER-"
"Mr Potter!" The voice was nowhere near equal in volume, but it cut him like a knife. The tension in the room grew palpable as the two glared at each other. "Mr Potter, do not speak about what you don't understand!"
"I-I… You…"
Harry was seething. It wasn't because Snape had spoken badly about his father that angered it. It was that he had never heard anything about his parents before, not really. And the first thing he heard was an insult. In fact, it brought Harry close to tears. He stopped his potion and gathered up his books in preparation to leave.
"Mr Potter, what are you doing?"
"I-I can't stay here," Harry mumbled. With his head bowed down, he ran from the room, fighting back the tears that threatened to rise. He sprinted as far away from the class as he could, locking the door behind him in the boys' toilets on the first floor. He collapsed against the sink and proceeded to cry his eyes out.
"Rita," he moaned. "Why aren't you here?"
He didn't know how long he'd stayed there, but it had been long enough to hear the chime calling everyone to dinner. He cleaned himself up and went down to the great hall, trying to ignore the whispering that sprung up around him.
"He ran out of class."
"I heard he shouted at Snape."
"I heard he cursed him."
"Pssh. Yeah right."
He plonked down on the seat next to Lisa, who turned tense when eyes turned in their direction. She pulled a plate close and put some salad on it, trying to get Harry to eat. But he just wouldn't.
"Harry, please eat," she hissed, conscious of the eyes that followed her. She shivered uncontrollably as she poured him a glass of pumpkin juice and set it in front of him.
"I'm not thirsty," Harry muttered. Lisa ben her head to look him in the eye. It was only then that she noticed they were red and puffy. He'd been crying? Casting a look around the watching crowd, she hesitantly pulled Harry up to his feet and dragged him out of the great hall. Harry felt his body go stiff. Was she going to chew him out?
"Okay Harry, what's wrong?" she asked softly, so quiet that He couldn't hear. Harry relaxed immediately, thankful she wasn't being demanding about his problems.
"I-I miss Rita," he said with a sniffle, not being able to meet Lisa's eye. After all, what would she think if the Boy-Who-lived was getting homesick?
"It's alright, Harry," she said, rubbing his arm. "I miss my dad. And my-" she stopped, but Harry knew what she meant. "But you'll get over it. You'll see her in a few months, won't you? And you promised you'd send her a letter tomorrow didn't you?"
"I know," he said. "It's just hard. I-I've never been away from home before. And now, there's all these people here who expect something from me and-"
His rambling was stopped as she pulled him in to a hug. It wasn't like one of Rita's hugs that he was used to, but it was comforting all the same. He held on to her tightly.
"Thanks for listening, Lisa," he whispered in to her ear.
"Thanks for talking," she replied. They separated and each blushed. Harry couldn't remember ever having a friend before and didn't think he would ever have one better than Lisa, despite only having known her for a week.
"Come on," Lisa said encouragingly. "Let's go walk around the grounds."
The two friends went out through the giant oak doors and in to the cool evening breeze. The sun was starting to set and they walked down towards the lake until it started to rain. Seeing the castle was too far away, they saw the cabin near the woods and ran for it.
Banging on the door, it opened to reveal the giant man who'd taken them from the station.
"Sorry, but it started to rain. Could we come in please?" Harry asked, seeing Lisa's eyes widen in fear.
"Sure thing," said the man. "Come on, le's make you some tea."
"Thank you," Harry said, shrugging of his cloak. "If you don't mind me asking, what's your name?"
I'm Hagrid," said the man, busying himself with the kettle. "Keeper of keys and grounds here at Hogwarts. And you?"
"I'm Harry. This is Lisa," he said. The ma turned round and looked at Harry carefully.
"Harry Potter, then? I took you to yer aunt, I did," he said proudly.
"Did you?" Harry said curiously. "Funny, she's never mentioned that."
"Well, you were left on the doorstep. She wouldn't have known it was me."
"I was left on a doorstep?" asked Harry. He didn't know that. Surely Rita would have mentioned that, right?
"Yeah. Dumbledore's orders. Don' know why he didn' just ring the doorbell, though," Hagrid said thoughtfully. Harry exchanged a look with Lisa, who just looked baffled. Harry was equally confused. Rita didn't have a doorbell…
"So, you two are in Ravenclaw, are yeh then? How're you findin' it?"
"It's good," Harry said, looking at Lisa exasperatedly. Would she ever say a single word? "I love the colour scheme in there too."
"Aye, I'm sure you do," Hagrid said with a grin. "How abou' you, Lisa, how're findin' Hogwarts?" Harry grinned at the look on Lisa's face being asked a question directly.
"Er, I-it's very, er…" she stuttered. "I mean, I like it." Hagrid chuckled.
"You seem rather shell-shocked," Hagrid. "Muggleborn, are you?"
"What of it?" Harry asked angrily, cutting across Lisa.
"Nothin', nothin'!" Hagrid said hastily. "Ain' go' no problems with muggleborns meself, Harry, I mean look a' me! You think I'd be this big if I were human?"
"Oh, sorry," Harry mumbled. "I just can't stand all the prejudice there is in the world."
"Me neither, Harry," he said. Harry nodded and bowed his head apologetically. On the table he saw a cutting from a newspaper. He picked it up and looked at it.
GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
Investigations continue into the break in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizard or witches unknown. Gringotts' goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day. '"But we're not telling what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you" said a Gringotts' spokesgoblin this afternoon.
Harry cast his memory back to that date, which was also his birthday. That was the day he'd gone to Diagon Alley with Rita to get his school equipment. Thinking back to when he was in Gringotts, he remembered seeing Hagrid there with a small grubby package sticking out one of his pockets, as though it had been hastily shoved in. He looked up at Hagrid, who was now in a full conversation with Lisa.
"Hagrid, do you know anything about this?" he asked, showing the clipping to him. After all, there must be reason why this in particular had been removed.
"What? Tha'? S'not important, Dumbledore's taking care of i'," he said, waving a giant hand nonchalantly.
Harry frowned, thinking. If Dumbledore was taking care of it, then he knew what was in vault. And that package, that must be what was in the vault! He furrowed his brow further. Then, was that package in the third floor corridor? Harry wouldn't put it past Dumbledore. Rita had always said he was more cunning and deceptive that he let on.
He looked up and out the window. The rain had stopped.
"It was nice talking, Hagrid," he said, "But we should probably get going."
"Call by again sometime," he said, smiling down at the two children. They said goodbye and returned to the common room.
"What was all that with the newspaper clipping, Harry?" Lisa asked.
"I think I know what's in the third floor corridor," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Want to find out?"
Lisa looked at him apprehensively.
"I don't know, Harry. Shouldn't we just leave it be?" Harry laughed.
"Please, this is just asking me to investigate it. You in or what?"
"I- no, Harry," Lisa said, shaking her head. "I came here to learn, not go on adventures."
"Aww, please Lisa," Harry pleaded, pulling out the puppy eyes. Lisa looked at him and sighed.
"Alright then. Just one adventure. But if this gets dangerous, I'm backing out."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Harry squealed, hugging her. "This is going to be so much fun!"
"Harry, your Gryffindor is showing."
He laughed and said goodnight, making his way up to the dormitory where two of the other boys were talking.
"Oh, hey Harry," one of them said to him. He looked up and cast an eye over him. Lanky, long dark hair and a pointed face. He tried to remember his name but came up with nothing.
"Hi, um…"
"Michael," the boy said. "Haven't seen much of you around."
"Yeah," Harry said, not feeling very comfortable talking to this boy. The other, who he assumed was Terry Boot, watched the proceedings carefully.
"You want to come out with us tonight? Explore the castle."
Harry looked cautiously at the boy. He seemed genuine, but Harry doubted him somewhat. Something in his eyes made him question the reasoning behind this action. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and gave a single answer.
"Yeah, sure."
