Chapter 4: News
By dinnertime that evening, the students of Hogwarts had had the whole day to celebrate the end of the war and the defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and the Great Hall was buzzing with excitement and happiness. How could it be? Overnight, the terror of the past few years had ended. The Dark Lord was gone, and for 95% of the students in the Hall, this was the best news they'd heard in a long, long time.
Before heading down to the Hall, Dumbledore had spoken to the rest of the staff and informed them of everything that had- and would- happen. They had taken it well, after the initial shock of having all the rumours that had been circling around confirmed, and all seemed to be very taken with Harry. All except for Severus Snape, of course. Dumbledore had informed him before anyone else, even before The Daily Prophet article had been published, and the man had not taken it well. He was completely destroyed with grief over Lily's death, and he didn't care at all that the son of James Potter was alive and going to live at Hogwarts, which- Dumbledore supposed- was understandable. He only hoped Severus would see sense with time.
He had also taken Harry down to Hagrid, who had been in tears by the end of the visit. 'I'll be yer friend,' he had whispered hoarsely, giving Harry a scratchy kiss on his forehead. 'I'll look after yeh!' Then to Dumbledore: 'I'll be honoured ter watch 'im sometimes. 'S what Lily 'n James would'a liked.'
The chatter of the students slowly died down as more and more people noticed the dark-haired baby sitting in a high chair at the Staff table, and a curious mutter spread around. Dumbledore tapped his goblet with a spoon and stood up, addressing the entire Hall, and a hush went over the room:
'Students. As you all know, today has been a day of happiness and celebration,' Dumbledore began. 'Lord Voldemort is gone, and we are free from the terrors of war.'
'As you have no doubt heard in The Daily Prophet, Harry Potter has managed to defeat Voldemort, although we do not yet know how. It sounds impossible, but it has happened, and he is sitting with us now.'
Everyone was staring at Harry intently, who was busy squishing some food with his hands. Some of the students even stood up to get a better look.
'Harry will be living here at Hogwarts from now on, as his parents Lily and James Potter were killed when Voldemort attacked them yesterday night.' Dumbledore continued. 'And although he is now considered a hero amongst our world, I ask you to remember that he is only a child- a toddler barely over a year old. An ordinary boy, that just so happens to have done an extraordinary thing.'
All eyes were on the Headmaster now.
'Celebrate the end of the war, as you should,' said Dumbledore, smiling sadly at them all. 'But also acknowledge the horrors that have occurred, and remember that we have all been affected in some way or another, and that some of us in this Hall have lost people close to us. Like Harry Potter, who has been left an orphan. Like many of you, who have lost parents too. Brothers, and sisters, and grandparents. Uncles and Aunts and cousins. Friends. Family.'
'Now, let us enjoy our feast. Tuck in.' Dumbledore sat down heavily, and talk resumed in the Hall- thought his time it was louder and more frantic. Next to him, Minerva was wiping Harry's broccoli-smeared face with a napkin. She smiled thinly at him, and he nodded back, reaching for Harry's head and ruffling his hair softly. The toddler turned his head towards him and exclaimed: 'Da!'
'I'm not your father, Harry,' said Dumbledore sadly. 'James is gone. And Lily, your mother. You understand that, don't you?'
'Da!' went Harry again.
'He doesn't, now.' Minerva tapped the empty bowl in front of Harry with her wand, sighing, and it vanished off the table. 'But he will soon enough.'
'So,' said Minister Bagnold, pressing her lips together tightly. 'This is Harry Potter.'
She had arrived shortly after dinner- and after Harry had taken his first bath at Hogwarts- and was currently sitting in a hard-backed chair which had been conjured in the middle of Harry's new room, hands clasped together on her lap. Harry was playing on the baby mat in front of her with a set of colourful stacking blocks, occasionally throwing them a few feet away much to his own amusement.
'Yes,' said Dumbledore pleasantly. 'This is Harry.'
'Well,' Bagnold said, looking around. 'It looks like you have done quite an adequate job so far with this room, Dumbledore. Has he settled in, yet? Who will be caring for him?'
'I believe he is starting to get used to being here,' Dumbledore replied. 'And as for who will be looking after him, I will be watching him as I work with the occasional help from the rest of the staff, who have offered up their time during their breaks.'
'Well,' the Minister said again after a few seconds. On the floor, Harry gurgled and put a block in his mouth. 'Saviour of the Wizarding World indeed.'
A/N: Please read and review :)