Chapter nine

After Albus and Severus determined who the man posing as Moody was, Albus went straight to the ministry while Snape decided to act like he was patrolling. Minerva and Filius remained in the headmaster's office to wait. Minerva wasn't sure how she felt when Filius explained why Harry had gone to him and not her or the headmaster. That was the second time Harry had said she had not help him when he needed it. Did she really ignore things where Harry was concerned, it seems she did so she knew that would need to change.

Harry had woken early, he and Padfoot went into the boys bathrooms, where Harry sealed it so Sirius could change back. They showered, dried, and dressed.

'Remember, don't go anywhere alone.'

'I won't, but do you think Dumbledore has others here by now, to keep an eye out?'

'Probably, the thing is, that bloke is using Mad-eye's fake eye, which can see through things like invisibility cloaks or glamour's.'

'Can it see through polyjuice potion or metamorphmagus abilities?'

'No, my cousin, I haven't seen her since she was a baby, Tonks, she's an auror, she's also a metamorph, Remus mentioned that she joined the order of the phoenix. I think you're right, Tonks is here along with others using polyjuice potion.'

'Then hopefully he will be watched, you better change back or the boys will be thumping the door down.'

Harry and Padfoot went back to the boys dorm room, the other boys were just waking. Harry and Padfoot decided to wait down in the common room, Hermione was already there.

'Do you think it's taken care of?' Hermione whispered.

'I hope so, but I suppose we'll find out when we get down to breakfast. With the way the death eaters carried on at the world cup, you'd think the ministry might be watching everyone, especially Hogwarts. It's full of kids who couldn't defend themselves. But I wanted to ask your opinion on something,' Harry pulled his iPod out of his pocket then let it play, 'As you can hear, it works, I found a charm my mother came up with to make things like this work. You charm the battery which gives it the power to work around magic but the battery is also charged by magic. If Hogwarts ever decide to move into the modern world, why not use something like petrol run generators, or generators that could be charmed to run some other way. It would give the castle electricity which means we could use smaller computers like laptops, we could have mobile phones. I'm sure you're parent's would like to talk to you of an evening or on a weekend.'

'I never thought of generators, but yes, they would work as they aren't electrical, they are mechanical, run on things like petrol. A mobile phone could have its battery charmed as well, like a laptop, they have batteries to run them that you just charge when needed. You're mother really was clever Harry, I would never have thought of that.'

'I'm fine if you want to read it Hermione, even if my mother did invent the charm she also liked having a modern kitchen and all the best appliances. The house is connected to electricity so I did all the laundry using a normal muggle washing machine and drier, then cooked using what I was used to at the Dursley's. I like magic, I really do, but I shouldn't have to give up my non magical part.'

'Hey, is that an iPod mate?' Dean asked as he walked into the common room with Seamus, Neville and Ron coming last.

'Yeah, my mother invented a way to make them work around magic,' Harry handed the iPod to Dean who listened before handing it to Seamus, Neville and Ron next who were amazed at what they were hearing. Soon a lot the students who were raised in the magical world were arguing to see who could listen on the iPod. Harry, Hermione, Dean and Seamus all laughed as they realised how many just in Gryffindor alone would love some of the muggle items that were around.

The group walked together down through the school, Padfoot was keeping a look out as well, just to make sure. If anything looked suspicious he would protect his godson.

The group of Gryffindor's entered the great hall. Within minutes word had spread about Harry's iPod so he had heaps of muggle-borns and half-bloods coming up to him to ask if he would charm theirs to work while at Hogwarts. When Harry agreed they said they would write home to their parent's to have their iPods sent to them, some even mentioned a disc-man. Hermione shook her head, she realised that half the students would have earphones stuck in their ears whenever they weren't working.

'Look up at the staff table Harry,' whispered Hermione.

Harry turned, 'All the teachers are there, apart from Moody, but they all seem fine, not worried. Do you think they found out what was going on?'

'Yes, I do, hopefully professor Dumbledore will tell you what happened.'

'Which means I would tell you,' Harry smirked at his friend, she liked to learn even if it wasn't about anything to do with your education.

'Well, I would hope you would fill us in.'

'Of course I would Hermione. Let's just have breakfast before we find out about our classes.'

'Do you know you've got a few girls staring at you?'

Harry glanced around at the girls in the different houses, some were staring at him, 'Strange, maybe it's the iPod.'

'Harry,' Hermione sighed, 'Without your glasses and now you wearing nice clothes, not robes, your quite nice looking, especially you're eyes.'

'No, it has to be something else, I'm just Harry.'

'Just Harry is a cute looking boy, the girls are finally seeing you.'

'Some see the-boy-who-lived, fangirls, I could never take them seriously,' Harry leant closer to Hermione, 'It's why I can't stand being near Ginny, she's one of the biggest fangirls around.'

'Yes, she is, she has told me she likes you, more than a friend, but I know your right, it's more like a fan than real attraction. So is there any girl here that you could like?'

'There are a few that's got to know me so they don't see the-boy-who-lived, but I've never really thought about it. I mean look what's been going on over the last three years, not really the incentive to look for a date. There are some pretty girls here though, you, Susan, Hannah, Katie, Luna, Cho, yet she seems a bit snobby.'

'You think I'm pretty?'

'Yeah, I do.'

'Thank you Harry,' Hermione pecked him on the check then went back to her breakfast.

Harry looked down at Padfoot who seemed to be smirking, he had no idea how a dog could smirk or why he thought Padfoot smirked, but he did.

Right at the end of breakfast the heads of house went to each table to hand out the class schedules.

'I won't be going to potions Professor, I explained to Professor Dumbledore, but I'm also dropping history of magic and divination. I will learn more about history from the library than Professor Binns.'

'Potions is a core class Mr Potter, which means they are mandatory.'

'As I said to Professor Dumbledore, Snape doesn't teach, I will not have anything to do with that man. Now if Professor Dumbledore got a competent teacher to take potions then I would join my classmates. If it's going to cause a problem then I'll leave Professor.'

'No, I'm sure the headmaster is working on that, he just needed to sort out that other problem. He does need to speak with you about that, so during your next free period go to his office.'

'Yes Professor,' Harry raised his eyebrows at Hermione and Ron before the friends all headed to their first class, charms, Padfoot following behind.

While Harry was writing in his notebook he got a nudge from Ron, 'What?'

'Everyone keeps staring at you.'

Harry looked around, 'Did you lot want something?'

'We were wondering if you had any spare pens,' Dean shrugged.

'Sure,' Harry pulled his bag onto the table then began to hand out pens to anyone that wanted one. He knew it would happen that was why he bought ten packets, just in case.

'What are those you are using Mr Potter?'

'A pen sir, muggle pens, they are cheaper and not as messy as quills, plus the ink is in the pen so you save money on the ink as well.'

'Fascinating, would you have a spare so I can try it out?'

'Sure,' Harry grinned then held out a pen to Professor Flitwick, 'I buy packs of ten, but I had a feeling some of the students raised in the muggle world would rather use these.'

'I can't wait to try it,' Filius squeaked making most of the students laugh. Hermione grinned at Harry as she shook her head then she put her hand in her bag and pulled out her own pen making Harry laugh.