Chapter 3: Hogwarts

Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore didn't know what to think of the recent developments: Amelia Bones wouldn't listen to his argument about why allowing Sirius Black a trial instead of letting him rot in Azkaban would be a waste of time; the Dursleys were treating Harry better than expected (which he was relieved since he only left Harry under their care for lack of choice); Harry does know about Sirius Black and believes he should have been allowed a trial (which Dumbledore considered a bad thing since he expected to use Harry to ask the Ministry to deny Black a trial); and now, Lucius Malfoy had called for an emergency session of the Wizengamot and Dumbledore was sure it had something to do with Sirius Black. Well, if Malfoy hoped to rig the trial on Black's favor, he'd have something else coming.

"Order! Order!" The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Oswald Fudge, announced. "The Wizengamot is on emergency session ordered by Lord Lucius Malfoy, Head of the House of Malfoy! Lord Malfoy, you have the word."

"Thank you, Minister." Lucius Malfoy politely replied. "Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, I've called this emergency session for one reason: Sirius Orion Black!" This declaration drew gasps from everyone except for an unsurprised Chief Warlock. "Considering all those years he spent having dementors as companions, I believe he should be thoroughly examined by mind healers to be sure he'll understand the gravity of his situation when he's finally tried."

Albus Dumbledore quickly raised his wand. "Is there anything you wish to say, Chief Warlock Dumbledore?" Minister Fudge asked.

"Yes, Cornelius." Dumbledore calmly answered. "I'm afraid that, given enough time, Sirius Black will be able to make up some story to help him get away with his crimes. Therefore, we should avoid this or anything else that would delay his trial."

"Headmaster, you shouldn't be so sure of his guilt." Lucius Malfoy intervened. "The trial hasn't even begun."

"And there shouldn't even be one." Dumbledore replied. "I'm disappointed Amelia doesn't understand trials for obviously guilty people are a waste of time."

"Then we're even, Headmaster." Amelia Bones replied. "I'm disappointed you don't understand investigating a murder case, regardless of how sure everyone is about the main suspect being guilty, is never a waste of time."

"I agree with Madam Bones, Headmaster!" Lady Augusta Longbottom intervened. "Once we start convicting people without allowing them a trial, how can anyone tell how many innocents will be sent to Azkaban?"

"Lucius Malfoy only wants to give his wife's cousin enough time for him to fabricate a defense and use insanity as an excuse to justify any lies from his questioning that becomes proven as such!" Albus Dumbledore pleaded. "Agreeing to his request will only help a criminal to go free!"

"Regardless of Lord Malfoy's reasons to make this request, I agree Sirius Black will need to be able to give coherent answers and, therefore, I believe Lord Malfoy's request should be granted." Lord Greengrass stated and several other Lords and Ladies agreed. In the end, those in favor of granting Lucius Malfoy's request won by a landslide.

Time skip to September, 1st, 1991

At King's Cross station, there were considerably more people than in most days. The reason for this was that it was the day Hogwarts students had to board the Hogwarts Express to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Among those students was Harry James Dursley Potter, who was driven there by his foster parents, Vernon Dursley and Petunia Dursley née Evans. "Mum, how are we supposed to reach Platform Nine and Three-Quarters?" Harry asked.

"We run through the wall between Platforms Nine and Ten, Harry, and I've already told you before." Petunia answered with an annoyed tone.

"I still can't believe that." Harry replied.

"I know." She said. "I was skeptical myself before Lily's first time. Let's run together."

"Not so fast!" Vernon intervened. "Is every school material in your trunk well-tight?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Then let's go." Vernon Dursley said and then they, against Harry's (and Vernon's) fears, crossed the wall. "Look!" Harry exclaimed. "That sign reads 'Platform Nine and Three-Quarters'! And it's not made of plastic like the others."

"Artificially-made materials aren't up to the taste of wizards and witches, Harry." Petunia explained. "In fact, they don't use anything electronic other than radios at Hogwarts. Even then you'd be hard-pressed to find any station you could hear from the muggle world."

"That why you and Dad gave me this non-digital wrist watch, right?" Harry asked as he showed it.

"That's right, son." Vernon replied. "And, Harry, when you come home for the Christmas Holidays, will you bring me some of those chocolate frogs I've heard about?" He asked with water at his mouth.

"Vernon!" Petunia Dursley mock-scolded her husband.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll get you some." Harry replied. Vernon and Petunia then helped him to place his trunk inside the train. "Whatever spell might make it easier to do this, I hope to learn soon."

"Don't forget to write, Harry." Petunia asked with tears at her eyes.

Having arrived early, Harry easily found an empty compartment and then started reading a book. A few minutes later, a student wearing Gryffindor robes entered. "Sorry for interrupting." He said. "Do you mind if I stay here?"

"Not at all." Harry replied.

"Thank you. My name is Cormac McLaggen and I'm a second-year Gryffindor student." The Gryffindor student identified himself. "And you?"

"I'm Harry Potter, a first-year student who has yet to be sorted. Nice to meet you." Harry replied out of politeness.

"Right." McLaggen sarcastically replied. "Harry Potter is supposed to be an orphan. If you're him, who're those people I've seen you call "Mum" and "Dad" before you entered the train?"

"My Uncle Vernon and my Aunt Petunia adopted me after my birth parents' deaths and I consider them my parents." Harry explained, annoyed at McLaggen's attitude.

"Sorry if I offended you, Potter." McLaggen replied.

"It's okay." Harry accepted the apology, deciding to give McLaggen another chance.

"So, Potter, do you already know where you'll be sorted?"

"No. I was told people who know how it works like to keep it a secret to surprise first-years." Harry explained. "Well, I only hope it's not Slytherin given what I've heard about that House."

"Agreed, Potter." Cormac McLaggen replied. "Anything is better than being a slimy snake."

Harry then noticed Cormac's broomstick. "Do you play for Gryffindor's Quidditch team?"

"Not yet but I hope to become the new Seeker." Cormac explained. "I'd rather be a Keeper but Gryffindor's current one, Oliver Wood, who also happens to be the team's captain, is good enough for the position and will remain a Hogwarts student for this and the next two years. The only opening is for Seeker. The last one, Charlie Weasley, graduated last year."

"I've heard he went to Romania to work with dragons after graduation." Harry commented.

"That surprised everyone who knew him." Cormac replied. "Everyone expected him to play for a professional Quidditch team but, how did you know that? I thought you grew up isolated from the Wizarding World until it was time for you to attend Hogwarts."

"My parents and I met the Weasleys when we went to Diagon Alley." Harry explained. "My parents wanted some ideas of things I could do for a living after I graduate and then asked the Weasleys about the jobs held by their already graduated sons. Honestly, I think I'd rather be a curse-breaker than handle dragons."

"You could be a professional Quidditch player, Harry." Cormac suggested. "Your father, James Potter I mean, played as Chaser for Gryffindor and was good enough to earn a spot in our trophy room."

"I'll think about that." Harry replied. Meanwhile, Ronald Weasley showed up. "Oh, hello, Harry. Mind if I sit here?"

"Not at all, Ron." Harry replied with a smile. "Ron, may I introduce you to Cormac McLaggen?"

Looking at Cormac's Gryffindor robes and his broom, Ron actually liked meeting him. "Sure!" He happily exclaimed. "My name is Ronald Weasley." He then offered his hand for a handshake.

"Cormac McLaggen." Cormac replied while accepting the handshake.

"Is that one of those Nimbus 2000 that recently entered the market?" Ron eagerly asked.

"Exactly." Cormac happily replied. "It was a gift from Uncle Tiberius. You must have already heard about him from your father since the both of them work for the Ministry of Magic."

"Yes. Your Uncle is a high officer, right?" Ron asked and Cormac nodded. The conversation was then interrupted by three boys who, like Harry, had yet to be sorted. The seemingly leader of them was a blond boy who was visibly shorter than the other two. "Then it's true? Harry Potter is attending Hogwarts this year!" He stated.

"Excuse me." Harry interrupted. "I'm afraid we haven't been introduced yet."

"Then, it's time to rectify this." The boy replied with arrogance. "My name is Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." The now identified Draco then noticed how Harry was staring at his friends. "Oh, and these are Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Now, I see you have an odd taste regarding friendships. Nothing against McLaggen despite him being a Gryffindor since he's at least well connected but a Weasley? Look at that! His family is so poor the robes he wears are obviously hand me downs from his several brothers. In fact, I think all of them have previously worn this one. Then again, he probably still smells better than the muggle filth you grew up with."

"Don't talk about my friends or my parents like that!" Harry angrily demanded.

"Parents?" An astonished Draco asked. "I know your original mother was a mudblood but for you to consider her relatives as your parents it shows how much the House of Potter has fallen."

"It's the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter!" Harry replied. "And, while I'm glad your father had the forethought of making sure my godfather would be able to stand trial by the time he has one, I must ask you to either leave or stop insulting my family and friends."

It's unclear which factor had the most weight in Draco leaving instead of starting a fight: it could have been that Harry invoked his family's status of Noble and Most Ancient; or that Harry had shown appreciation for something Draco's father had done; or a mix of both. The fact was that Draco and his cronies left without causing any ruckus. "I'll let my father know you appreciated his concern." Ron then looked at his pockets. "Can you believe this? Scabbers slept through the whole thing!"

"Who's Scabbers?" Harry asked. Cormac had the same concerns but Harry voiced his first.

"My pet rat." Ron explained.

"I thought cats, owls and toads were the only pets students were allowed to bring." Cormac commented.

"We had him for years." Ron replied. "He was initially Percy's rat but Percy no longer wanted him when he gained an owl from my parents as a reward for becoming a Prefect. Honestly, my sister, my other brothers and I should have been rewarded for enduring him gloating over the fact."

"What happened to his toe, Ron?" Harry asked out of curiosity.

"I don't know." Ron shrugged. "His paw was already like that by the time we got him."

Then a lady with a tray showed up selling sweets. Harry bought licorice wands and some chocolate frogs and Cormac bought one of each sort of sweet she had, including Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. The two of them then looked at Ron, who simply said. "No sweets for me. Mum already made me some lunch." Then he showed some sandwiches. The lady then left.

"Okay." Cormac said and then helped himself to his licorice wand. Harry then opened one of the frogs and, remembering what Petunia heard Snape telling Lily once, he quickly ate it. "Which card did come with the frog, Harry?"

"Agrippa."

"Bloody Hell!" Ron exclaimed, shocking the others. "Sorry, it's just that Agrippa and Ptolemy are the only cards I need to complete my collection. Wanna trade, Harry? I trade a Dumbledore for your Agrippa."

"Perhaps I'm open to discuss it by the time I get a second Agrippa." Harry replied.

"Take your time." Ron said. "I've got six Dumbledores."

"Harry, you said you approve Lucius Malfoy's idea regarding that treacherous Sirius Black." An amazed Cormac McLaggen commented. "Why'd you like anything that'd help Black to worm his way out of Azkaban?"

"Sirius Black needs his sanity to be able to answer questions and I need to know if he's really guilty or not." Harry explained, to the shock of Ron and Cormac.

"Harry, everybody knows Sirius Black betrayed your family to You-Know-Who and later murdered Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles with a single blast!" Ron exclaimed.

"Unless he actually pleads guilty, there's a chance Sirius Black is innocent." Harry replied.

"Harry, my Uncle confided in me that Black expects the Wizengamot to believe Peter Pettigrew faked his death and was the real culprit behind the other crimes." Cormac replied, shocking Ron.

"What?" The Weasley boy asked. "My parents told me that Black was crazy but I didn't expect that!"

"And what makes the Ministry so sure Peter Pettigrew died in that explosion?" Harry asked, shocking the others with the fact he's not surprised Black would contest Peter's death.

"Peter Pettigrew's finger was found at the crime scene, Harry." Ron explained. "It was all that was ever found of him! Everyone knows that!"

"What was found of the other people reported as having been killed in that explosion?" Harry asked.

"Charred bodies." Cormac answered wondering what point Harry wanted to make.

"If Peter Pettigrew really died in that explosion, why was there much less of him than of each muggle killed in that explosion?" Harry asked, hoping Ron and Cormac would see the grounds for doubt.

"Black's only issue was with Peter Pettigrew, Harry!" Ron explained. "He didn't care about the muggles."

"I agree." Cormac added. "Sirius Black hated Peter Pettigrew for preventing his escape."

"How can anyone tell who did what if Sirius Black's and Peter Pettigrew's wands weren't checked for spells?" Harry asked.

"Well, Madam Bones was indeed upset at the Aurors who arrested Sirius Black over this wand checking issue." Cormac conceded. "But even without that, there's no way Black might be innocent."

"Well, it's the Wizengamot's duty to sort what Sirius Black is guilty of and what he's not." Harry replied and the others assented.

Later on, after the three of them were leaving the Hogwarts Express and wearing their uniforms, they heard Hagrid calling for the first-year students. "I'll see you at the sorting ceremony." Cormac told Harry and Ron. He was about to leave when Ron interrupted him. "Cormac, how did you defeat the troll?"

"Which troll?" A confused Cormac asked.

"Didn't you have to wrestle a troll during the sorting ceremony?" Ron asked.

Realization hit Cormac McLaggen. "The twins said that, right?"

"I should have known they were pranking me." Ron angrily muttered as he and Harry walked towards the boats. As the rules regarding the use of the boats established a maximum of four people per boat, Harry and Ron shared a boat with a boy named Neville Longbottom and a girl named Hermione Granger. Once Hermione told the boys she's a muggleborn, Harry asked. "What's like only learning about the Wizarding World when it's time to attend Hogwarts?"

"Shouldn't you know it yourself, Harry, since you're being raised by muggles?" Ron asked in confusion.

"Muggles who already knew about magic even before I was born, Ron." Harry explained. "My parents started explaining it to me as soon as I told them about one of my early bouts of accidental magic."

"Your parents?" A confused Hermione asked.

"My birth mother's relatives adopted me and treat me like a son." Harry explained.

"In that case, it was a shock." Hermione answered. "All that time I was wondering why weird stuff kept happening around me. My parents were skeptical about magic when Professor McGonagall showed up but then she did some magic and they no longer doubted her. It was hard to convince them to let me attend Hogwarts but they eventually understood I need to learn how to control my magic and Hogwarts is the world's best magical school! I've already read all books for the term! And you?"

"Me too." Harry uneasily answered.

"Professor McGonagall guided my family when we went to Diagon Alley to buy supplies!" Hermione eagerly said. "Who guided yours?"

"That was complicated." Harry explained. "Because of my unique situation: born to a wizarding couple and raised by muggles who already knew about the Wizarding World, Hogwarts' magical addressing system didn't tell me I'd be offered a guide and Hogwarts staff failed to notice that, so my parents and I went to Diagon Alley by ourselves and bought everything except for my wand since the law wouldn't allow me to buy one before I became eleven years old. Then we got a surprise visit from Professor McGonagall and Groundskeeper Hagrid. The biggest shock, however, was learning I have a godfather who spent all those years in prison for crimes he was never allowed to be tried for."

"What?" A horrified Hermione asked. "How can any Government deny such a basic right?"

"Everybody knows Sirius Black is guilty." Ron stated. "My Dad said the only reason Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, bothering to investigate the case wasn't a total waste of time was the discovery about Sirius Black being an unregistered Animagus."

"Aniwhat?" A confused Harry asked.

"My Dad said third-years are taught that during Transfiguration classes." Ron explained. "Basically, Animagi are wizards and witches who acquire the ability to assume an animal form. It's very complicated to become one so most people don't bother trying and, with the discovery of Sirius Black being one, his cell must be warded against Animagus transformation so he won't use his animal form to escape."

Later on, Hagrid lead the first-years to Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, who told them about the sorting and how their achievements would earn points and their rule-breaking would lose them points. On their way to the Great Hall, they met some of the resident ghosts, including the Fat Friar (the Hufflepuff House Ghost), who seemed the only ghost willing to allow Peeves the Poltergeist to attend sorting ceremonies after all the pranks he pulled.

The Great Hall has five tables: one for the Headmaster and the other Professors; one for Gryffindor students; one for Hufflepuff Students; one for Ravenclaw students; and one for Slytherin students. The students waiting for their turn to be sorted were standing up. Next to the Professor's table, there was a stool. Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall then explained that each student to be sorted had to sit on the stool and put on something known as the 'Sorting Hat'. Then, to the first-years' amazement, said hat started singing. After the song, Professor McGonagall started calling for the students in alphabetical order. Harry made a point to notice 'Crabbe, Vincent' was sorted into Slytherin, 'Goyle, Gregory' was also sorted into Slytherin, 'Granger, Hermione' was sorted into Gryffindor and 'Longbottom, Neville' was also sorted into Gryffindor. Neville was so happy he had initially forgotten to take off the Sorting Hat before rushing towards the Gryffindor table. 'Malfoy, Draco' was later sorted into Slytherin and the Sorting Hat had hardly touched him. Then it was the turn of 'Potter, Harry'. The Sorting Hat considered Harry a curious case, stating Harry had a potential for greatness that would suit better at Slytherin. Harry explained he already had friends at Gryffindor and was afraid it might end like the friendship between his birth mother and Severus Snape. The Sorting Hat then placed Harry at Gryffindor and Harry had yet to understand why he had the impression of hearing the hat laughing at the mention of Snape's wrong crowd. Anyway, he sat next to Cormac McLaggen and noticed Hermione was sitting next to Prefect Percy Weasley and enjoying hearing about the rules. Several names later, 'Weasley, Ronald' was sorted into Gryffindor and, instead of sitting next to any of his brothers, he sat next to Harry and Cormac.

Then, food materialized in front of the students. After they ate, Headmaster Dumbledore announced some warnings. First, he mentioned about the Forbidden Forest being forbidden to all students and then stared at the Weasley twins while commenting that some students should remember that. He mentioned a Mr. Filch who possessed a list of forbidden items. He also told the students to avoid the third floor corridor if they didn't want a painful death. "That's new!" Cormac commented.

"Really? How so?" Harry asked.

"Everyone in the Wizarding World knows the Forbidden Forest is full of dangerous creatures but there's no known reason to believe we might be putting our lives at stake by entering that corridor. In fact, I've attended Hogwarts last year and there wasn't any sort of restriction against students using the third floor corridor." Cormac explained. "Ron, your brothers started attending Hogwarts before I did. Have any of them ever mentioned something about that corridor being dangerous?"

"No." Ron dismissively answered.

Harry then felt something odd and concluded it came from a Professor wearing black robes. "Who's that man with the black robes and the weird nose?"

"Oh, that Professor Snape." Cormac explained, shocking Harry. "He's the Head of Slytherin House and teaches Potions but he'd do anything to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Snape?" Harry asked in wonder. "Severus Snape?"

"You know him?" Ron asked in shock.

"My Mum said she and my birth mother grew up in the same neighborhood than he did." Harry explaining, surprising Ron and Cormac. "She said my birth mother was friends with him until he joined the wrong crowd at Slytherin."

"She put it mildly by calling it 'wrong crowd', Harry." Cormac replied. "I was told Severus Snape was a Death Eater but avoided Azkaban because he spied on them for Professor Dumbledore."

Harry and Ron were shocked at this. How could a former criminal – especially one who supported Lord Voldemort – teach at a school?

After that, the students were told to go to their common rooms. (Each House had its own Common Room) The first-years were guided by the Prefects, who informed them how to enter their respective common rooms. At Ravenclaw House, one gained access by correctly answering a riddle while each other House had a password. The password (or riddle) was changed from time to time.

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