After a quick stop at home, Nora was at Hogwarts moving into the living quarters she shared with Severus. He was there already and had been unpacked for quite some time. With a lazy flick of her wand, Her trunk was opened and began magically unpacking its self. Seconds later Zeus had been released from his cage and perched himself on the sofa next to his favorite male companion.
"Are you going to keep me in suspense the whole evening or will you tell me how your meeting went?"Severus said before sneaking a pat on the cat's head. "I'm at the edge of my seat." He added dryly.
"Oh Sev, he's the sweetest boy I've ever met. He was kind and...you have no idea how badly I wanted to take that boy home with me today."
"That's called kidnapping." Severus warned sarcastically.
"You don't understand." Nora's hand reflexively touched her right arm where Harry's bruise had been. "He had this bruise, disgusting purple and yellow it was shaped like a hand..."
"HE HAD WHAT?" Severus roared, jumping to his feet."And you allowed the boy return to those wretched..."
"I didn't let him go back to them, if that's what you're about to suggest! He's staying with Hagrid for the night and then he'll be on the train ride here. What kind of a moron do you take me for?"
"We should speak with Dumbledore at once, he can't be allowed to stay with those vial..." In a swirl of Black robes Severus stormed out of their living quarters and into the Dungeons' hallway.
"Hold your hippogriffs!" She stormed after him. "I told Harry that he had a choice."
"Why?" He rounded on her. "Why would you leave such an important decision up to an eleven year old boy!"
"Because he has to want me too." She breathed. "I can't just pull him out of his life, what if he has friends or something that he's close with? There may be good things about his muggle life too. So we'll wait until after the Welcome Feast for his choice."
The Great Hall was decorated in its usual splendor as the Professors and older students began filing in. Severus and Elenora took their usual seats at the Slytherin end of the staff table. Once everyone had been seated either at their house table or the staff one, Minerva McGonagall began the sorting ceremony of the first years. Nora was surprised by how many first year student names she recognized. Susan Bones, niece of Amelia Bones, was sorted into Hufflepuff. The children of Death Eaters Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy were each, in turn, sorted into Slytherin and a Neville Longbottom, son of Alice and Frank Longbottom, was sorted into Gryffindor.
At long last it was Harry's turn to be sorted. The room silenced as the famous young wizard sat on the stool next to Professor McGonagall. He was mumbling something, possibly arguing with the sorting hat. The back and forth exchange went on for almost four minutes, which meant Harry could be considered a near-hatstall. Everyone was waiting with baited breath for the Sorting Hat to bellow its final decision.
"GRYFFINDOR!" It yelled out at last. The Great Hall burst into cheers, the loudest of which came from the Gryffindor table itself.
"You must be pleased." Severus sneered, whispering quietly into his friend's ear.
"That's my boy." She smiled. The sorting ceremony concluded with the addition of another Weasley at Hogwarts, Molly and Arthur's youngest son, Ronald. As McGonagall took the sorting hat away Dumbledore rose to his feet.
"Welcome!" The Headmaster beamed down at his students, his arms open wide. "Welcome to a New year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! BLubber! Oddment! Teak! Thank you."
He sat back down and everyone clapped. Then the feast began. As everyone started portioning out food on to their plates, Nora stole a glance at the Gryffindor table. Harry was sitting next to Ronald Weasley and the pair were talking to the house ghost, Nearly-Headless Nick. Once Nick floated off further down the table. Harry and Ron started talking to the other Gryffindor students around them.
"He's already making friends." She grinned, elbowing Severus as the desserts appeared.
"Yes, very good for him." He grumbled before returning to his conversation with Quirinus Quirrell, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.
"Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered," Professor Dumbledore addressed the Great Hall again as desserts were being polished off. "First years should not that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember it as well. I have been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be bused between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death. Off to bed now." Students began filing out of the Great Hall.
"C'mon Harry!" Ron waved his new friend on.
"I, um...I think I'm suppose to wait for my Aunt..."
"No need to wait." Elenora said, walking towards the two children. "I don't want to keep you boys long since you're not meant to be out of the Gryffindor tower past curfew. I just need to know if you made a decision, Harry."
"I have." He told her confidently. "I'd like, that is, er if it's all right with you...I really do not want go back to live with my Aunt and Uncle."
"Then you won't have to. I'll take care of everything." She promised. "You'd both better hurry to catch up with Percy, you don't want to be caught out of bounds."
"Right, C'mon Harry. " Ron tugged at his new friend's robes. As she watched them join the swarm of other students leaving the Great Hall, she heard Severus sneak up behind her.
"And?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"He's giving me a chance." She smiled.
"Congratulations. It's a boy." Severus commented sarcastically.
"And what has our young Mr. Potter decided?" Dumbledore asked his pair of Potions Masters. "Forgive me, but Hagrid told me of the boy's predicament and I wish only to know of the outcome." The Great Hall was still filled with students and staff members so neither Nora or Severus could shout at the Headmaster as they'd like. That didn't stop the later from growling through his teeth.
"Did you know how he was being treated?"
"I can assure you, my boy, that had I been fully aware of the situation I would not have allowed him to remain in Petunia and Vernon's care. Am I correct in assuming he will become your responsibility following the end of term, Elenora?"
"Yes." She nodded. "And I'll take care of him. We can move into back my parent's house. I'll get him clothes that fit and I'll finally learn how to properly cook..." Dumbledore held up a hand to silence her.
"You do not need to convince me. If you remember it was I who thought you ought to take him in the first place." The headmaster reminded. There was a knowing twinkle in his eye. "This morning I took the liberty of having some paperwork drawn up, just in case this outcome should arise. You'll forgive me, I'm sure if it is over stepping my boundaries, but they have already been signed and notarized by Petunia Dursley and Ministry of Magic officials. All it needs, is your signature." With a flourish of his hand Dumbledore removed a bundle of parchment from his robes and handed them to Nora.
"I'll read them over tonight and have them owled to the Ministry first thing in the morning." She promised before tucking the papers in her own robes.
A/N: Thank you to misswitlock16 and Harlan Malkavian for your reviews of Chapter 5! I'm so glad to hear that people are enjoying this story! The idea sort of just came to me, and now I've gotten myself involved in such a unique way of looking at Harry Potter's story! Thank you to everyone who has so far enjoyed the story of Elenora Potter. Please continue to read, review, favorite and follow her journey!
