Chapter 4 – Who am I
.
Connie was as Susan said very nice and a senior Auror. It was fun shopping in Diagon Alley with her and Susan. It was especially fun when we ran into MadEye Moody.
I had been practicing using my powers while having my wand appear in my hand. Muscle memory is important in a lot of activities and I wanted mine to bring the wand out if and when I started doing my Elemental manipulations. With it out it would appear that I was doing wizard magic. People saw what they wanted to see and I didn't want to stand out more that I already was. My research showed that the last elemental was Merlin and of course the magical community just knew he was a magical wizard. I knew this was untrue as I couldn't use a wand and do a wizard spell if my life depended on it, I had already tried. I could however do what the spell did just by using my elemental powers in most cases. Hogwarts classes that required wand work usually had lectures that lasted or seemed to last forever. When the real wand work was to be demonstrated it was normal for the students to fail, sometimes for several classes. That took the pressure off of me as I was walking into the unknown.
I found out why the wand maker and Goblins said not to let my capabilities out to the public. Merlin was said to have two of the four elements. I had all five elements at my disposal. If it ever got out I would have everyone coming to me to cure a wart or a common cold. The wizard community apparently acted as sheep in many instances. Instead of taking care of a problem they looked to someone else to take care of their problems. That type of attention I would not welcome.
Madam Malkin's was a nightmare, Connie and Susan dressed me up and had me parade around for longer that I wish to remember. I swear that I tried on the same clothes more than once but mercifully I got to escape.
We had our books so it was the apothecary for potion supplies and the stationery shop for quills and parchment. The interesting part came when we went into Eeylops Owl Emporium. I wandered into the back where the snakes were all talking and joking with each other. There I saw a white owl and when her amber eyes met mine…"And you are?" she asked.
I was a bit taken aback and said, "Harry Potter how do they call you?" It appears that I understand more that parseltongue. I understood the chirps and barks.
"Hedwig will do. Are you in need an owl? I need out of this zoo!"
Hedwig told me after I let her out of her cage, "Ok Harry you now have a bonded messenger at your service. Don't you ever stick me in one of those prisons again and we will get along fine." So I paid the emporium and told Hedwig to find us later for a chat. I wondered what was normal in this wizard world as this was definitely not normal in the world I grew up in.
Susan was not finished with shopping in the alley and headed to Gambol & Japes. That brought, "Potter where have you been?" MadEye had shown up in the alley.
"Here and there and you?" I replied.
"Come along lad Dumbledore is wanting to have a chat with you."
"MadEye he is under my protection, have Albus contact Amelia." Connie answered.
"I'm afraid you are overruled by his guardian he is to come with me now!"
"Tell my phony guardian he can stuff it."
"Now lad don't make this difficult."
"At your pleasure OLD MAN!" Always try and make them mad as then they make mistakes, at least that's what the books on dueling said.
Moody drew his wand but his stunner went wide as his peg leg found a soggy spot in the stone street thus making him stumble. I kept my hands in my pockets so as to not draw attention to my little manipulations.
Connie's stunner hit him which caused her to have a surprised look upon her face. "I actually landed a stunner on MadEye?"
I returned the spot to normal stone and had my gathering wind attack subside.
"We best get gone" Connie looked shaken, "He's going to be in a right mood when he comes too."
We then proceeded with haste out of Diagon Alley to downtown and started a muggle shopping spree. We just left MadEye laying there in the street.
Thankfully I got to stand outside for quite a while when the two girls went into a lingerie shop. I found out later that the muggles were not as Victorian as the magical community when it came to underwear.
They made me a pack-horse for a good part of the day. Finally we got to return to Bones Acres. Excitement was high as we anticipated the morning, it was the Hogwarts express and our introduction to a magical education at Hogwarts.
I was awoken by Sissy stating that I would go down for breakfast so she could take care of the trunks. I had learned that you did not argue with a house elf. Amelia was already at the table with Susan doing some enthusiastic chatter over Hogwarts.
"We are all going to 'floe' to the station. I want you two to immediately get on the train. That will stop anyone from trying any funny business. Sissy will bring your luggage to Hogwarts and unpack all your goodies. You two have a good time at Hogwarts and learn everything that you can."
/Scene Break/
We arrived early, like an hour early! We found a compartment and settled in for the long ride. The first to come into the compartment were two girls looking for asylum from some body called Draco. Susan, Daphne, and Tracey started chatting which left me looking out the window. I did see MadEye who appeared to be coordinating several people on the platform in search of something. I chuckled to myself as I figured it was me who was being sought. I saw a herd of red-heads charge in at the last-minute with a lot of yelling and loading of their trunks, seconds later the train departed the station.
Not long into the trip a bushy haired girl came in almost in tears. Hermione had run into a red-head idiot who insulted her most viciously and told her to get out of his way. He was looking for Harry Potter and called her a mudblood!
I figured that four girls in our compartment were enough so I closed the door and sealed it. I cannot tell you how happy I was that I sealed that door. Everyone in the compartment was first year and had no practical information about Hogwarts. Hermione had read Hogwarts a history but the sorting was still a mystery among things that would directly affect us. The parade of people that attempted entry was almost funny, well it was funny. The red-head actually pounded his fist on the door for a while yelling for us to open up untill a blond showed. They were in a fist fight before some older students showed and broke them apart.
Finally the trip was over and we boated to the castle. The sorting was fun especially the sorting hat. He put Daphne and Tracey in Slytherin while Susan went to Hufflepuff. When it was my turn the battle of minds began.
"Ah Mr. Potter, such a strong mind, OW!
"A problem Mr. Hat?
"That's Abe to you and what are you, you are not a wizard that I can tell."
"Are you a blabber mouth?"
"No Mr. Potter I am sworn to secrecy on what I see or hear in the sorting."
"Know what at elemental is Abe?"
"Oh shit! They are going to have a melt down if they find out."
"So what house were you thinking about for me Abe?"
"The head guy wants you in Gryffindor but I rule here."
"Dumbledore I presume, any idea why?"
"Oh yea! He has plans, plots and challenges for you from here to when the prophesy kicks in."
"Can you fill me in on any of these plots and challenges?"
"Nope, the "can not tell rule" works both ways, but I am glad I am not in your shoes."
"Well I guess its decision time, how does Hufflepuff sound to you Hat?"
"Sounds like you want to keep your head down and watch the fun between houses. You do know the Ravenclaw's have private rooms?"
"Sounds like a plan, thanks Abe."
"RAVENCLAW!"
I was in no way able to view the head table and their reaction but Susan and Hannah filled me in on their observations the next morning at breakfast.
Hannah Abbott was an old-time friend of Susan's so after they quit their girly stuff in the common room they headed to breakfast and started giggling as they told me what they saw.
"You had to see Professor Flitwick fall off his chair when Harry was selected for Ravenclaw. I don't know if it was shock or happiness." Hannah giggled.
"Did you see that greasy looking Professor, when Harry's got Ravenclaw I though he looked like someone had stolen his last tube of hair grease.
"What are you two gaggling about, you sound like old hens at an egg laying event" said a boy who just arrived.
"Who the hell are you and who invited you to this party?" I asked.
"I am Zacharias Smith and the heir of Helga Hufflepuff."
"Why don't you blow your aristocratic ass at someone who cares for excess gas." I comely stated
"Peasants" he stated and huffed off.
"Anyway Harry you should have seen Dumbledore he lost his twinkle and if daggers could kill you got an eye full of death."
"I think you will find that Dumbledore and I are going to have our share of problems."
"High Mate, I missed you on the train." A red-headed boy was standing there.
"And you are?"
"Ron, come over to the Gryffindor table we talk Quidditch there and not girly talk."
"Sorry don't know what Quidditch is…"
That conversation ended as well as breakfast, but Dumbledore started, "Mr. Potter report to my office after breakfast!"
"Sorry but you haven't cleared your problems with my head of house."
"This has nothing to do with school this is about my being you guardian!"
"Oh well then stuff it old man as you are not my guardian!"
"You will show respect to me as headmaster of Hogwarts."
"Oh dear! You will have to quit switching between headmaster and my guardian or I may tell the Headmaster to bugger off when he is acting as my phony guardian." I was smiling a broad grin as I didn't think he would start this soon.
"He is right Headmaster, are you talking as the Headmaster or his guardian."
"Poppy! Don't interrupt the headmaster! Professor McGonagall stated in her tight-lipped stern way.
The discussion/argument proceeded for a few minutes between the teachers, with the added comments of Professor Snape. "The trouble making brat, just like his father in his…
"ENOUGH! Shouted the headmaster.
"Mr. Potter report to my office!"
"Sorry headmaster that hasn't been cleared with my head of house."
"I WANT YOU THERE AS YOUR GUARDIAN!"
"Why didn't you say so to start with, bugger off asshole!"
The gasps that erupted around the hall were due to Dumbledore starting to pull out his wand. He however thought better of it and left the Great Hall.