Chapter 11: Hogwarts: A History
"Janus-"
"I hate that man and his damn Corporation!"
"My dear fellow wizards and witches, please, please listen to the last order of today's cession of the International Confederation of Wizards. My name is Adrian Baehler, delegate from Switzerland, and I am here to direct your attention on a man called Janus."
Many in the auditorium were suddenly interested, but none as much as the Supreme Mugwump, Albus Dumbledore. The old, and wise, wizard perused the small file left on his desk and mentally compared it to what he knew.
"Several years ago, a man, identifying himself as simply 'Janus', financed heavily the election of the current Minister of Magic of England. As you all know we keep an eye on private funding to avoid Ministers from being opened to external influences. At the time, we believed this man to be an unhappy worker for the exiting Minister Bagnol since he provided information on her plans. A background check didn't provide any result but we safely ruled out any members, current or past, from the Bagnol's team."
A picture of a man shrouded in darkness appeared behind the speaker. Like any photo developed by wizards, it moved. The man was taking off his hood and the smiling face of average person with pale green eyes and dark hair appeared, before the picture reset itself and his hood was back, hiding his features.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Janus, or at least the face he has been providing to the world for the last few years."
A tall and broad black man rose from his seat. "Would you please go to the point? If this is important as you said it was, I would like to know why."
Several people shared his opinion but with less courage as a few said "Hear, hear."
Adrian Baehler flushed for a second before steadying himself.
"Four years ago, Janus started to build an empire. He offered traders to buy their shops. Many refused, but he had much success with those who had started for less than a decade since he offered to buy their shops based on their incomes, without taking into account the loans they had to take to open in the first place."
"This allowed him access to up to twenty percent of the available trades in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, the reunited Germany, and Portugal."
"At the time, nobody realized he had bought entire production lines. In the following year, the entire market of any industry related to animals in one way or another in Western Europe collapsed. The textile industry wasn't far behind. Very few noticed it, and I believe you, honored member of this assembly weren't aware of it until I mentioned it." Baehler stopped for an instant and drunk water as he let his auditorium digest the information.
"Janus is not a trader. He offers those whose shops he bought back to remain working there as gerents, with a salary based on the total turnover of the businesses. As such, you have the same interlocutors when shopping and nobody really noticed anything out of the ordinary."
"There must have been shoppers that resisted! Or banded together against him!" An Asian looking man said without even bothering to stand-up.
"As Ambassador Kinishawa pointed out, some resisted. Janus retaliated, buying the buildings their shops were in, and increasing their rent. Not overtly, just enough so that it was based on their turnover. But keep in mind he bought entire production lines. He was able to increase the prices of ingredients, pets or plants for those 'resisting' him. The shops he owned had special discounts that allowed them to keep going, but the 'resistant' had a rent based on a turnover they weren't able to reach anymore. In several months, they all went bankrupt. And he bought them back, offering a place as gerent to the former owners."
"As things stand, Janus owns twenty-one percent of the wizarding world's official shops."
"Can we do something against it?" Someone asked from the back seats.
"Unfortunately, the Monopolies Law that exist in the Muggle World do not in our. I will not go into the discussion of Wizarding Laws against Muggle Laws, Merlin knows we had enough of those." A few laughers could be heard, rippling through the assembly.
"The real concerns started two years ago. Janus Corporation, as it is how he named his company, started to make business in the Muggle World. Through clever manipulations of the system, he has been able to become a major player on the stock markets, thanks to several front companies."
"Can we call him on that?" The Supreme Mugwump asked.
"Sadly, no: the companies are owned by other companies, then traded every couple of weeks, exchanging their assets and mixing everything, it is quite frankly, a nightmare. We have, however, been able to identify the owners of several of the biggest fronts as being Lord Black and Harry Potter."
Janus's picture disappeared and got replaced by a question mark and a picture of a green-eyed boy.
"We did some researches on Lord Black and have nothing. We know he claimed his inheritance, that's it. Potter, on the other hand, is known to be Janus Apprentice."
"Harry Potter cannot be anything but a man of straw" Albus Dumbledore objected. "The boy is eleven. Do you expect us to believe he could have a hand in this since he was six?"
"Well, no but he must know of something. Unfortunately, Apprenticeships are highly defined by our Laws and we cannot under any circumstances interrogate Mr. Potter or his family."
"I personally know the last Scion of the Blacks and he is not a Lord, nor does he know who it could be since… well, he is the last of the Blacks."
"Thank you Supreme Mugwump." The Swiss delegate said condescendingly before turning back to the assembly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Janus, who ever he is, has started to buy shops in Brazil, Greece, Egypt, India, China, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and Madagascar. If we do not act now, our projections show he will be the major shareholder of the entire Wizarding World in less than ten years."
"What do you propose we do then?" The Italian Ambassador asked. "From what you told us, the guy is not even amoral in his actions and hasn't broken any of our Laws."
"True, but he did break the Muggle Laws on monopolies."
"We can't use that against him." The Scandinavian delegate recalled loudly to the nervous assembly.
"We can't, but the Muggles can."
"Are you suggesting" the Senegalese Ambassador asked "that we recede the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy?"
The question was far from being innocuous. Many African countries did not apply the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy very strictly. Many African Wizards lived in tribes or small country villages hardly reached since generations, they could hardly hide themselves and instead of using the Secrecy Act, they had decided to stop using wands. Their main abilities resided in their excellent knowledge of Potions, Herbology, and Divination. Janus Corporation would certainly never impact on them, which brought them back to the question of the Wizarding Secrecy and the reason behind the potential bending of the rule.
"Well… I… I am just telling you how we can fight him."
"Which brings the question as to why we should fight him" the Portuguese ambassador snarled. "Portugal has been aware of Janus's action in the country, but since then Unemployment is at the lowest recorded percentage. Buying power remains good and our Gross National Product is increasing every year. Portugal has no interest whatsoever in acting against Janus Corporation."
"Seconded" the French Ambassador said.
"Same here." The Spanish, Belgium and British delegates said.
"The Netherlands were not aware of Janus's action extend, but we do join Portugal and France in our opinion of the man."
The German delegate only nodded at his comrade's comment, probably reserving his opinion for later if need be.
"Please, honored members, listen to me! Every office of Janus Corporation is under the Fidelius Charm. If what he is doing is legal, why would he do such a thing?"
"Maybe in prevision of such an event?" the Algerian Ambassador offered.
"We do not even know where he has his funding from. That cannot remain."
"Are you asking us to act against this man because his bank accounts are not held by the Helvetica Confederation?" The Monegasque Ambassador asked softly. The Lichtenstein's delegate rose at these words and demanded an immediate answer.
Adrian Baehler flushed heavily. "It is not a question of money, but if we should let this man do what ever he wants or not."
Whispers could be heard in the assembly, anger seemed to be preeminent, and the Swiss Ambassador believed for a second the ICW would force Janus to surrender several of his holdings. Unfortunately, it happened that many delegates left the room at this instant.
The Supreme Mugwump, Albus Dumbledore, rose from his seat. "Mr. Baehler, it would seem your desire to harm Janus Corporation is not born out of concern for your fellow wizards but of your country's greed. I do however propose a vote to decide if the International Confederation of Wizards will take any step against Janus. It is useless to discuss what reproaches we have against him if we do not desire to act."
The following vote was tense. Many had heard the prediction that Janus Corporation would own the Wizarding World in a decade or two. But those who had dealings with him were on his side and seemingly quite happy about it.
The final vote was clear. No action whatsoever against Janus Corporation at sixty-three percent, against twenty-four, with thirteen percent abstaining or already gone.
In later years, many would express concerns about this cession of the ICW. The grievances ranged from the over-simplicity of a presentation on a highly complicated file before lunch to suspected briberies. The fact is, Janus Corporation was given free reign and would not be part of any of the ICW debates for the next nine years. By then, the concerns were clearly on another scale.
Adrian Baehler handed his resignation two days later. On the 1st of September 1991, he became the Muggle spokesman of Janus Corporation.
On the same day Adrian Baehler started his new function, the owner and founder of Janus Corporation was up by six. Now, had he been a normal child, it could have been explained as excitation or stress; for that matter, it is certainly what James Potter thought as he turned back in his bed and held his wife closer to him. The truth was as simple, but less common. Harry had used a Time Turner for the majority of the last four years in order to maintain his Janus persona and differentiate it from Harry Potter. As he was in vacation, he hadn't. Since his need for sleep had been highly reduced by a ritual four years prior, Harry didn't need, nor could he sleep so much anymore.
He had sat in the garden, a steaming cup of tea in his hand and watched the sun rise while he pondered. His meeting with Hermione had highlighted many things, mainly how changed he was, and despite every excuse he made, Harry understood that those changes weren't necessarily good ones.
The distance he had tried so hard to make between Harry Potter and Janus had slowly diminished. It wasn't too much of a problem as Harry had officially been an Apprentice for four years: any bleed in personality could be explained that way. However, he wasn't the young boy he had once been. Thus, he couldn't act like it. Today, this day of all days, was the day he could make a conscious choice. The slate was clean, he could choose who he would be.
One lonely tear fell silently on his left check; was it a small testimony or maybe a remembrance of what was or could have been? All in all, when Harry Potter got up and reached the kitchen of his family's home to cook a lamb stew, one thing was for sure: all bets were off.
Harry James Potter was dead. Long live Harry Janus Potter.
..ooOoo..
The gleaming red locomotive let steam out, a sure sign departure was approaching fast. The crowd hurried, bringing trunks on board, collecting pets, receiving allowances, or blowing kisses to their loved ones.
Harry let go of his mother, pretending not to see the unshed tears in her eyes and faced his father. They had little to say to each other, at least from Harry's point of view. James was certainly not one to give up even though he got the hints. Solemnly, the man put his right hand on his son's shoulder and said the only thing he could think of.
"I am not going to ask you to be nice and all like your mother. Just… Just remember you're our son, and we will always stand by you."
Harry blinked. With a nod, he bent, grabbed a small basket of willow and a leather case before turning around and climbed into the compartment he had already claimed as his when storing his trunk. Distantly he heard the train signal and felt the doors close. Staring absently out of the window, he waved at his parents.
Unknown to him, this was the day he really started reconsidering his opinion of his father.
"Anyone sitting there? Everywhere else is full"
Harry turned around. There he was, Ronald Billius Weasley as a tall and lanky first year, still with this dark smudge on the nose.
"No. You may have it if you want." Harry extended his hand. "I am Harry Potter. You may call me Harry."
"Hmm… Ronald Weasley. But everyone calls me Ron." The boys shook hands and sat as Harry realized something. Ron was his best mate. The guy he bonded with around sweets, who had a rat animagus for a pet, a friend who fell in love with Hermione Granger and bore the scars of a war yet to come. This was not Ron. This was a kid of eleven whose perspectives did not extend beyond lunch and fun, who didn't know, couldn't know how a beautiful thing as magic could be twisted for evil purposes.
"How come?"
"I guess it's shorter that way."
"But Ronald is not such a long name."
Ron shrugged. "I suppose not."
"Do you mind if I call you Ronald?"
Ron shrugged again. "Whatever." His gaze landed on Harry's forehead for a second but quickly slid away when he saw Harry studying him back.
"Yes?"
"I just wondered…" Harry motioned for him to go on. "Is it true you… You killed…"
"Bellatrix Lestrange?"
Ron nodded weakly.
"What do you want to know?"
"I heard you had a cool scar."
Harry smiled. It was so refreshing. So many things changed, yet Ron still remained fixated on the same ole scar.
"Sure" Harry answered as he slid his hair away to reveal the infamous lightning bolt scar.
"Wow." After several seconds, Ron finally tore his eyes for Harry's forehead, somehow remembering that staring just wasn't done.
"I heard you had brothers" Harry probed, unwilling to let the discussion die down, yet not quite ready for the questions on how he gutted a Death Eater.
"Five" Ron grumbled.
"How is it like? I only have sisters, so I know about siblings but I always wondered what it would be like to have brothers."
And they were off. Ron talked about his older brothers and how being the last one wasn't such a comfortable place. Harry listened, interjecting a comment or a question here and there. Before they knew it, the train had picked up speed, leaving the city of London behind as it passed through fields and pastures where sheep and cows grazed absently.
The discussion moved to more mundane subjects, Quidditch and magic being the most popular. Ron wondered aloud about Hogwarts. Harry let him, smiling when needed, and giving some insight about what 'Janus had told him'.
"I know Janus!" Ron suddenly exclaimed.
"Yes, he seems quite fond of your family. I heard wonders about your mother's treacle tart."
Ron's face reddened. "Yeah. She's quite the cook."
Some noise outside preceded the opening the compartment's door. "Anything off the cart, dears?" the smiling lady asked.
Ron's face remained a radish-red as he muttered about sandwiches. Harry for his part was already up and checking the proposed products. There were only sweets. Even though the selection was large, Harry frowned.
"May I ask who is sponsoring this cart?" Harry smiled softly at the lady as he picked a pair of Sugar-Quills.
"Honeydukes, dear."
Harry mumbled in a non-committal fashion. "How much are you paid for this service, if I may ask?" He selected a pair of licorice wands.
"Ten percent of the profits." She answered proudly before her smile wavered "Why?"
Harry grabbed a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and several Pumpkin Pasties.
"Would you be willing to add several products, like sandwiches, and beverages, for the same percentage?"
The lady nodded, her smile coming back in full force. "I'd be glad"
"Well," Harry grabbed a dozen chocolate frogs and half a dozen Cauldron Cakes. "My name is Harry Potter. Send me an owl, I will be at Hogwarts obviously. We will discuss it."
He gave her a full galleon, perfectly aware it was well above the price of the goods.
"Keep the change." He told her with a last smile as he closed the door.
"Hungry much?" Ron asked when he saw him with his arms full of candy.
"Starving, but those are for later."
"Later?"
"Yes." Harry answered mysteriously as he grabbed his leather bag and put it in the middle of the compartment. "Can you put your legs up, please?"
"Why?" Ron answered as he did it.
"Trust me."
Harry took out his wand, folding his own legs, he bent and tapped the bag twice with his focus. Nothing happened for a second. The bag suddenly opened and an entire table sprung out of it, a tablecloth already covering it. Two plates and glasses, with pairs of knives and forks stayed on one side while a steaming pot with a ladle was on the other side.
"Whoa! What's that?" Ron asked forcefully.
"Something Janus had developed for me. He knows there is no real food provided on the Express, so…" Harry gestured at the table. "Would you join me for lunch? We have a lamb stew I made this morning." Harry paused. "I hope it is any good. We also have some cider to drink and a lot of sweets for desert."
"You bet!" Ron laughed as he set the plates up.
The meal proceeded nicely enough. However, Harry had forgotten Ron's table manners.
"There is enough food for the both of us, and some Ronald. You do not need to eat so quickly." He observed once the plates were polished.
"When you are so many around a table, like at home, you tend to eat fast."
"Let me guess. You are often starving around meal times, are you not?" Harry asked a he tapped the table three times with his wand. It folded back into the inconspicuous leather bag with a small tingling sound.
"Yeah."
"This is because you are eating quickly. If you eat slowly, you masticate more. Thus your stomach does not need to produce too much acids to process it, lessening the sensation of hunger when it is empty."
"So, you're saying I need to eat slowly, even if I'm starving, 'cause if I don't I will always be starving?"
"In a nut-shell, yes." Harry acquiesced. "Chocolate Frog?"
Ron's eyes started to shine. "Yes! I might get Agrippa."
"Help yourself then" Harry said as he carelessly pushed the candies toward the boy, taking care to keep the Sugar-Quills with him. It wasn't that he didn't want to share them but he knew Ron, and Ron ate sweets at such a speed, it didn't matter which ones he had access to.
The train kept on rolling. The fields had been replaced by forests, then cities, new fields, new forests, yet there was no sign of slowing down. The door opened again. Harry didn't bother looking. He was pretty sure he'd know who was there, and why, once this person spoke.
"I heard Harry Potter was in this compartment."
"I would have thought you would be more interested in Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy. Unless you are here on a familial quest?"
Harry's gaze left the window to turn to the future Slytherin.
"Oh, and loose the trolls."
Draco Malfoy seemed taken aback. He blinked and stood there, his mouth halfway opened for a second before he recovered.
"This is Crabbe and this is Goyle" the boy said as he indicated each of his companions.
"I do not care. I do not talk with muscles. You want something? Sit down and loose them." Harry snapped.
Ron didn't say anything, his eyes balancing from one to the other, clearly unsure of what to do. Harry internally sighed. It couldn't be helped. Sooner of later, Ron would have to see he wasn't just a nice guy with cool gadgets and advices. It was a shame it had to be before the arrival to Hogwarts.
Harry had hoped to cut Malfoy's visit, since he wasn't the Boy-Who-Lived, but it seemed the Warrior wasn't as politically deprived as he had thought.
"Then what are you doing with a Weasley?" Draco shot back startling Ron who, thankfully, didn't move but reddened and stared at Harry with expectation.
"I happen to know Ronald." Harry calmly enunciated as he studied his fingernails. "He is a very nice person who is certainly of a better conversation that your goons here."
Harry stared into Draco's grey eyes. "I understand their skills lie in muggle beating. However, I have absolutely no need of their competences. Now, if you are scared of staying with us…"
Draco immediately rose to the bait and pushed the boys back before sliding the door in their face.
"Good. Draco Malfoy meet Ron Weasley. Ronald meet Draco Malfoy." Harry said pleasantly.
The two boys barely made eye-contact and even there if their gazes could have killed, Harry would have ended up with a pair of corpses.
"Sit down Mr. Malfoy." Harry offered, purposely offering the seat next to him as he got up and sat next to Ron. "What is the purpose of your visit? I hope it is pleasant."
Draco nodded and took a deep breath. "I am to tell you that the Malfoy family had severed ties with my aunt and does no, in any way, feel ill toward you for her… demise."
"That's nice." Harry sneered. "Now, why are you here?"
"You are an Apprentice."
"Yes, I am. You can forget any political alliance between my master and your father. Same for business. However, if you want us to get to know each other and eventually make some ventures together, I am open to it."
Draco sneered. "Please, everybody knows the Potter's fortune is all but gone. You're near bankrupted. What venture could function with you?"
Harry didn't move. Not a single muscle betrayed his emotions. True, he had never looked into his parent's accounts, they both worked and there was food on the table. How could they be bankrupted?
"Yet, I wear Accromentula Silk custom made shirts. You are wearing Madam Malkin's products. Which brings us to the question: do you trust the goblins or you own eyes Draco?
Draco stayed still before nodding. "Those tiny buggers are ready to do anything for money."
"Considering what my father pays them to keep our finances secret, I tend to agree. So, are you staying or leaving?"
"I'm staying."
"Very well" Harry said jovially as he got up. "Now, I am going to go for a walk. I would appreciate it if you two could learn about each other without just sprouting back what your fathers told you. Do not talk about blood though."
Harry opened the door, a bit surprised to see Crabbe and Goyle standing guard on both side. "Oh Draco? If one of you touches Ronald, I will show you how good I have become with a knife in the last five years."
Harry walked leisurely in the train, going from one carriage to the next. Students were running everywhere, yelling, laughing and generally creating as much mayhem as they could with out getting caught by the prefects also running around. A large group was formed around a pair of red-hairs, Lee Jordan showing his tarantula to any who cared to see it. And it was quite big Harry noticed, around the size of his hand.
"Quite big…
"…Don't you…"
"…Think?"
Harry nodded. "I have seen bigger though."
"You have?" both Weasley twin exclaimed.
"Have any of you two ever seen an Accromentula?"
Leaving the gaping twins behind, Harry kept on moving. He bumped into three Slytherins, probably Fifth or Sixth Year.
"Watch it Firstie!" one snarled.
"I apologize" Harry immediately said, unwilling to start a fight he probably couldn't win in such proximity.
"I forgot my dungbombs" one of them said sadly to his friends, forgetting about Harry as soon as he had seen him.
"How are we supposed to get him back now?" a second one whined.
"I can get you some of them if you want." Harry offered quietly.
That caught the boys' attention. "Really?" Harry nodded.
"Why would you do that?" a boy asked suspiciously.
"For eight sickles the dozen."
"What? They cost less than a sickle the pair!"
"True. But I have them. You do not. I would not be a good smuggler if I did not make money out of it now, would I?"
"You fancy yourself a smuggler?"
Harry didn't answer. He didn't need to. He was Janus for Merlin's pants! He had the Marauder's Map. He could get anything he wanted in two days at most. He might be lying his way in, but he could provide anything to anyone (for the right price).
One of the Slytherins (probably the dumbest one) grabbed him by the front of his robes and hauled him up, sneering.
"Hand them here. Now!" he hissed.
Harry was so surprised he couldn't help himself and laughed.
"What are you laughing at firstie?" the boy growled as he shook him a bit.
"You."
Harry's breath got knocked out as he was slammed against a door. Any humor he had found in the situation quickly evaporated. It was a hardened gaze that bore into the Slytherin's eyes. "Unhand me this instant."
"Or what?" The boy jeered.
Harry thought quickly. He couldn't be too violent, but couldn't afford to be bullied by those three either. Grabbing the dagger hidden at his belt, he slammed the hilt with all the force he could muster with his left hand into the boy's sternum.
He was immediately let go as the older student reeled from the hit. With a casual flick of the wrist and the fingers, he pivoted the weapon, the blade now facing upward near the Slytherin's face who was still trying to catch his breath.
"Should we start again? I am Harry Potter. I can get you anything for the right price. I am always fair. You fuck with Potter and I cut you in two. Got it?"
The two other Slytherins were stunned. For an instant the stand off could go either way, but finally one laughed loudly.
"You got the attitude down, I'll give you that. When can I get the dungbombs?"
"Come to me tomorrow. We will do business then. I can also provide stink pellets for the right price." Harry said sharply. "And get this idiot out of my sight."
Without a second glance, Harry sheathed his dagger and turned around, going back the way he had come from and entered the first unlocked compartment he found.
It wasn't empty. Two girls were seated. An upper Ravenclaw Harry didn't remember ever seeing and a tiny little girl that look scared out of her wits.
Harry sat in front of her, next to the Ravenclaw who didn't even pause in her reading of an obscure tome on Divination. "Hey, how are you?"
Harry's soft voice startled the girl. "First year?" He probed.
She nodded weakly. "First time on your own then?" She nodded again. "It's my first time too you know." Harry said still softly, fearing that the girl could –
She burst into sobs and hid her face with her hands. The sudden noise drew the ire of the Ravenclaw. "What did you do? Hit her or something?" she asked with irritation.
"Go back to your useless reading." Harry snapped hotly as he drew the girl in his arms. His tried as he could to comfort her, muttering nonsense into her ears and drawing circles in her back. The Ravenclaw made a disgusted face before effectively resuming her reading.
Gently Harry rocked the girl until finally she stopped hiccupping and wiped her tears away. Slowly he let her go.
"Thanks."
"Do not worry. Come to me if you need to talk, okay?" The girl nodded. "I am Harry Potter."
"Sally-Anne Perks."
"Pleased to me you." Harry smiled once last time and got up as she smiled shyly back at him.
Back in the corridor, Harry quickly made his way back to his compartment hoping with all his heart that Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley were still alive. On his way, he met a bushy-haired girl trying as much as she could to get a pair of older boys to stop their fight on the ground.
"Hello Hermione."
"Harry!" she screeched. "You scared me! Could you tell them to stop fighting? They won't listen to me!" she huffed.
"I wonder why."
"What that supposed to mean?"
"Let me put it that way. Why would they listen to you?"
"Well, because they shouldn't do that." She crossed her arms.
"Says who?"
"The regulations of Hogwarts."
"We are not at Hogwarts. The prefects manage the students during the travel. Unless you think you are better qualified than Fifth Years, and above, hand-picked by the school teachers?"
"Of course not! But still! They shouldn't behave like that."
Harry gently led her away for the scuffle. None of the boys were hurt and considering the strength of their punches they weren't trying to kill each other, more like deciding who got the last piece of cake or something like that.
"Maybe not. But they cannot learn the point of a rule until they learn the consequence of breaking it. When they stop, they will notice they are both tired, dirty and hurt; which should be enough to stop them from doing it again. In any case, had they really wanted to hurt each other, they would have used magic, do you not agree?"
"I guess" she answered weakly but clearly unhappy.
"Come." Harry took her hand and led her to his compartment. Crabbe and Goyle were still there like a pair of guards standing at attention. That astonished Harry who always thought those guys didn't have enough brain to do something on their own.
"No scream? Fight? Magic?" he asked them.
Both boys shook their heads. "Good then" Harry commented as he gave them a Cauldron Cake each. They grabbed them like they hadn't had any food for weeks.
Harry opened the compartment's door. Draco and Ron were glaring at each other fiercely, their arms crossed, neither willing to give an inch.
"Hmm… Harry?" Hermione's weak voice sounded.
Harry turned to see Crabbe pushing her away. Unhurriedly, Harry grabbed the boy's wrist and pressed as he tried to dislodge the boy's massive arm. To his surprise, Vincent winced and immediately let his arm go limps, allowing Harry to free the way for Hermione. Got to remember I did a strengthening ritual Harry thought. A picture of the older Slytherin he had hit earlier came to his mind, but he dismissed it. Bah, he'll live.
He slammed the door and turned around. "So, what did we learn?"
"That I can't stand the ponce." Ron exclaimed.
"That Weasley are indeed of a very low stock." Draco spat.
"Maybe." Harry conceded. "But most importantly, you learned you do not need to fight each other. Meaning you can work together if need be, which is exactly the point of school: learning new things, one of them being to work together. What do you have in common?"
"Nothing." They exclaimed in unison.
"Really?" Harry asked amusedly as Hermione watched the exchange with owlish eyes. "What do I get if I can enumerate several of them?"
"Fat chance." Ron muttered.
"I think you both like chess."
Ron and Draco stared at each other before reluctantly nodding.
"I think you both love your family and would jump into a fight with whoever would dare to insult them."
Once again they nodded reluctantly.
"I think you both cannot shut up about Quidditch and you favorite teams."
Nods again.
"I think you both-"
"Okay! We get it! What's the point anyway?"
"The point Draco is that you should loosen up. You Ron, could learn how people interact on a more… sophisticated way. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. You guys could be best friends. But I see you are destined to hate each other guts. The problem is, if you want to associate with me, you will have to tolerate each other."
Draco nodded while Ron looked betrayed.
"Thank you very much for your visit Mr. Malfoy. You can come by any time you want."
Draco got up, shook Harry's hand and, strangely enough, waited until Hermione had moved out of the way to leave the compartment.
Once the door was closed, Harry let himself fall onto the bench. "What a ponce!"
"So why did you leave me with him?" Ron whined.
"I meant it Ronald. He has been raised to be a politician. Being around him can be good for you."
"Why?" This time it was Hermione who'd asked the question.
"Because Ronald here lived with five brothers and the method of conflict resolution must have been closer to Rocky Balboa than Gandhi."
"Whose Rock il Boa?"
"It is a figure of speech, Ronald. Gandhi was a peace activist, and Rocky Balboa is a fictional character of a boxer." Harry explained as Hermione seemed to understand what he was talking about. "A muggle fighter." He added when Ron seemed to be ready to hit his head against the wall.
"Ah. True. It's kind of a rule at home. If you're stronger, you get to decide."
"But Draco has learned you cannot always be stronger. He knows how to trick people."
"And that's good because?"
"Because, Hermione, once you have been tricked once, you usually remember how and why. As long as it happens during our Hogwarts's years, it is fine. After, it can be much more dangerous. Draco's father is a politician of high level, one of the best in his trade."
"So his son can show me the tricks while at school, even if he doesn't know it?" Ron asked after a while.
"Exactly!"
"I still don't like him."
"You do not have to" Harry returned with a laugh. "Which reminds me. Hermione, this is Ron Weasley. Ronald, this Hermione Granger."
Hermione studied Ron for an instant like he was a very big bug. "You've got dirt, right there." She pointed at her nostrils.
Ron scowled. "Is she another test mate?"
"No, she was ready to get a heart attack because two guys were rolling around about a chocolate frog card or something. I figured she would be better off, trying some Bertie Bott with us." Harry said as he put the pack under Hermione's nose.
"I… I'm not so sure, I don't eat many sweets."
"Then grab a green one" Ron offered. "You might get cabbage or spinach."
"Or green sprouts"
"I think I'll pass" Hermione politely pushed the bag of beans away from her.
Harry sighted theatrically. "What am I going to do? She does not eat sweets!"
"Maybe she'd want some lamb stew" Ron supplied.
"It's past tea-time and I already had lunch, thank you very much. Anyway, how do you expect to have a plate of lamb stew in the train? It's not like they sell anything useful on this cart of their. Have you actually seen it? They only offer candies. Like students can't eat anything but sweets. It's ridiculous. I'm lucky I thought of bringing some sandwiches. I'd have died of hunger before even getting my first view of Hogwarts. By the way, did any of you read Hogwarts: A History? I have, and it's great. It tells the story of the castle, but also of many alumni and their contribution to the wizarding world at large. It gave me many ideas on what we could do once we are out of School, which isn't such a long time since we only have seven years of studies. And unlike you two, I can't have any help from my parents since I am the first to be magical in my family for generations. Or at least, that we know of. Does-"
Ron and Harry had listen to her speech for a while, but she really seemed able to talk for hours without the usual human need for breath. Harry finally snapped and softly pressed his hand on her mouth.
"Breath, Hermione. Breath." Harry's soothing voice seemed to reach to her as she stopped struggling and took deep inspirations.
"You have to remember that we can understand you, but also need time to process."
Ron nodded vigorously as he summed Harry's explanation. "Speak slowly."
Finally Harry let go of her when she didn't seem ready to explode anymore. Her attention was apparently drawn to something else.
"What's that?" she asked pointing to a willow basket.
"Yeah, I wondered about that to. It moved a bit after you left."
Harry smiled grimly. "Do not freak out, okay?"
They both nodded, bending forward to get a clearer view. Harry put the basket on his knees and opened the top. A ten inches dark green snake slithered out of it, and agglutinated itself on Harry's hand, its head raised and its tongue moving very quickly.
"What is that?" Ron said halfway between wonder and primal fear.
"It's a snake, Ron." Hermione's statement angered Ron.
"I know that! But snakes are not allowed in Hogwarts! Harry you are so going to get in trouble for bringing such a slimy beast!"
"First, it is a she. Her name is Ilana, and she is my familiar."
"What's a familiar?" Hermione immediately asked before staring at Ron when she noticed he had said the same thing.
"A familiar is Ilana. She is the first of her kind. She was a basilisk-" Ron drew in a sharp breath.
"- but there was an accident and she got mutated. To make the story short, she's a sort of new type of serpent. We can understand each other and we kind of feel what the other feel."
"Basilisks are dangerous Harry!"
"Yes, they are, but she is not a basilisk anymore."
"Oh yeah? How do you know that?"
"You are alive."
That unnerved Hermione. "We could be dead?"
"Well, a basilisk is a snake that can kill with its gaze. Hence the dangerous part. Since you stared at her and are alive, she is not a basilisk anymore."
Ron breathed out loudly. "Okay, then. So what is she like?"
"Well, she is roughly a month old, so I do not know for sure. At the moment I suppose she is like any baby really. She sleeps nearly all the time and always wake-up when it is inconvenient because she is hungry."
'What do you want Ilana?'
'Hungry… Food… Hungry'
Ron inhaled loudly as he paled drastically. "You- You're a Parseltongue!"
Harry looked sheepish as he scratched the back of his head. "Yeah… About that, it is kind of hard to bring it up in a discussion… I do have the ability to speak to snakes, but it is new. I never use it for anything than talking to her. I actually noticed I got this ability when Ilana became my familiar. Had she been a cat or a bird, I could speak cat or avian really. I bet it must be a bit unnerving for you guys."
"Unnerving? It sounds like you're spiting!" Hermione said hysterically.
Ron nodded vigorously.
"Ah… Is it too much for you?"
They remained silent for a while as Harry talked to Ilana.
'Food… Food… Food…'
'I want food, Ilana. Repeat after me: I want food.'
'Hungry… Food… Food… Food…'
'I want food, Ilana.'
'Want food… Want food… Want food…'
"Close enough I guess" Harry sighed.
"What was that about?" Hermione inquired.
"She is hungry. I am trying to get her to say: I want food, instead of repeating food all the time."
"What does she eat?" Ron wondered, probably fearing for his life.
Harry produced a small box inside of which there was a mouse with a dozen of babies. He grabbed on of them by the tail and raised it at eye level.
"Mice. But babies because she is too young and small to eat big ones."
Hermione made a disgusted face, while Ron seemed interested.
"How often does she eat?" he asked
"If I knew, it would not be a problem. She just wakes up and wants to eat. Usually it is once or twice a day. I fed her before leaving, I had hoped she would just sleep until we had arrived."
'Food… Food… Food'
'Ilana'
'I want food!'
'There you go ssssweetie.'
"I don't speak snake, but even I understand she wants it." Hermione commented even though she looked a bit green.
Ron laughed. "I thing I'll like her. You're sure she's not dangerous?" he asked as an after-thought.
"Positive" Harry beamed as he dropped the rodent onto the ground with Ilana.
The three First Years bent together and watched as it tried to find its bearing while Ilana rose her head from the ground and stared at it for several second. Suddenly she struck. She bit it twice. Once to make sure it wasn't going to run and a second time as she grabbed it into her jaw and her joints allowed her to swallow the then dead mouse.
Outwardly she seemed alright, but to the three of them who had watched her feed, there was a distinct place where they knew the prey's body now resided.
Ilana started to move up on Harry's leg but halfway to the knee she stopped.
'Tired… Ssssleep… Ssssleep-'
"What just happened?" Ron asked with fascination.
Harry burst in laughter. "She fell asleep!"
"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
Harry collected Ilana into his hands and settled her on his left arm below his robes. "Hermione, I am already changed, but could you go and join the other students as Ronald changes, please?"
"Sure thing" She got up and turned on last time toward Ron. "You still have dirt there, you know."
When she was finally gone, Ron groaned. "Mental that one. I hope I don't end up in her house."
"I cannot say. I hope I will be in yours though." Harry answered, unwilling to lie to his friend's face, even though in wouldn't technically be a lie.
Ron brightened. "I hope to."
Discreetly, Harry cast a Sticking Charm on Ilana. Low enough to allow her some mobility in her sleep, but strong enough that she wouldn't fall. Considering his current reputation, it really wouldn't be good to have a basilisk hybrid fall from his arm during his Sorting…
Outside of the compartment, Hermione was already gone, probably following the thong of students. Harry and Ron got out and heard Hagrid's voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"
After several more calls, Hagrid led his little troop of scared First Years away. Harry followed his lamp, Ron behind him. Like the first time he had taken this narrow passageway, thick trees were obscuring the view.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in an instant" Hagrid said.
Harry knew the next corner would offer a brilliant view and was honestly excited by it. However, as he took one more step, everything went wrong. One moment he was walking calmly, the next he couldn't move anymore. He could still see though and everybody had stopped exactly where they were, some in mid-steps, there was even a boy with a finger up his nose. None looked like they had noticed anything, but Harry did.
An enormous pressure on his skull threatened to spill his head in two. He couldn't cry, couldn't shout, couldn't even take a step back. He so wanted to fight but his Occlumency Shields couldn't and just dissolved into nothing, like if they had never been there. For the second time of his not-so-short life, Harry saw the history of Hogwarts.
..ooOoo..
It was day light. The trees and the grass were green, birds were chirping, and the wind slowly moved leaves according to its will. There was a huge clearing with a small lake. There wasn't a single indication mankind had ever stepped foot there, but for an archway made of stone.
Like slabs of stone pilled together with a single purpose, an archway, or doorway really, stood there with no aim no goal no purpose but to stand.
Day turned into night, and back into day, then night. Several times the Sun went up and down in the sky. No purpose there but to show the passing of time.
Suddenly, the Archway lit up. Runes inscribed themselves in fire, burning their sigils in and on the stone. Once the entire embrasure was filled with inscriptions, a silent explosion occurred and this doorway was revealed as a medium to hold a pool of rippling energy. A very old man was ejected from it. With the grace of a cat, he landed on his feet and surveyed his surroundings. His golden eyes would have attracted people's stare away from his long white beard and his bold head, had anyone been there. He wore nothing more than a plain looking robe of grayish material and leather made sandals. In his left hand, he held a stick as tall as him, surmounted by a pulsing purple gem.
A beam of energy exited the pool and went straight for the old man, but he used his staff to deflect it and it struck a huge block of granite. Instead of destroying it, it just got absorbed in. The old man waited until the Archway's light faded. Then and only then did he move to examine the roc.
"Ego Myrddin Wyllt , mos utor vos pro bonus."
His hands were pressed again the stone and Harry felt as if this man was directly touching his skin. Satisfied, the man turned toward the archway, he moved his staff around it many times, taking great care on some places and totally disregarding others.
Finally, he took a step back and spat:
"Vos vadum non exsisto adsuesco assuesco iterum moveo viator. Vestri plasmator erant horrendus. Permissum lemma evolve unus in Inritus."
The runes disappeared as if they had never been there. Several others slowly stood there place for an instant, before fading too. Turning around the man disappeared with a loud noise.
The Sun and the Moon kept their race going, and Harry witnessed them moving in the sky hundreds of thousands of times. Still, nothing was going on really, if one excepts the occasional werewolf eating a deer or a couple of unicorns' mating (that, truth be told, was a bit disappointing). Seasons passed, years for sure, centuries certainly, a millennia maybe.
One day, four persons came. They were walking, steadily and with determination, despite the cold wind that blew snow around them. Arriving in the clearing, they established their camp. Animal skins were stretch on wooden sticks, snow was swept away and a fire was started.
The great block of granite was used as a protection against the elements on one side of the camp. The four travelers settled for the night. One leaned against the stone. It was here and there, the four of them knew they had reached their destination.
One by one, the two men and the two ladies touched the block of granite with reverence. Harry could feel the electrical shock they had each time they touched it/him. The night went away, but they stayed.
"Canfuom 'r dde chyflea." One man said.
The others nodded. Harry assumed it was an agreement.
The Sun and the Moon kept their ballet. Snow disappeared, rain replaced it. Other people came, but none were allowed near it/him. Even the little ones with brownish/green skin were kept away by a man. He wasn't tall per say, but he had an air around him, a sort of general understanding of people. He always wore a tiny smile nearly hidden by his dark goatee when he caught a person near the block of granite, and he always caught them.
Harry couldn't figure how he did it. There were no Wards, no traps, but he was always there in time. He was Harry's protector as people came around and cut pieces of stone around him. He had a small piece of wood in his hand; with it he managed to make fire, and despite the numerous gestures and syllables he had to perform for it, Harry identified it as a wand.
He was the only one with such a focus. The others used a sort of reed, like a cane they could also use to walk. Harry hardly 'saw' the others, this man was like a father, even more like a dad, to him; always protecting him, against onlookers, stone carvers, or even the elements. Harry didn't know his name, so decided to call him 'Dad'.
Time went by. Dad was still there. An enormous hole into the ground had been carved from the Earth. Harry didn't like it but it was Dad who had wanted it, so he let it go. The other man, often talking with Dad, a tall and muscular person with long red hair started to come and see him. Protecting him too. Harry decided he was also a father but Dad would remain Dad. This one would be Father even though he now knew the man was named Godric.
One day, a woman came and cut him. It wasn't done aggressively, but with gentleness and care. She was petite and a bit plump, she laughed often and never stopped working until she was finished or day light was gone. She carefully cut the block of granite, extricating it from the other stones pressed against it. Lovingly, she polished him. People around called her 'Helga', but to Harry she was a mum, and thus he called her Mum.
Days and seasons flew by. One day, Father was polishing the block of granite with his new focus: a wand, like Dad. Speaking of which, Dad elevated Harry in the air and Mum and another woman guided him into a hole.
Time kept going, Mother the fourth companion, a woman always wearing a crown of sort, Father, Mum and Dad moved stones around him, connected them to him. Small greenish/brownish beings were allowed to come back. Together, Mum, Dad, Father and Mother raised a Ward around him and he wasn't a slab of granite anymore, his name became Hogwarts.
There weren't just his parents around anymore, but children came too. He looked at them, He looked after them. These children. His children. They were his to protect from the outside. Those inside were his. He didn't have nor needed the notion of good and bad, Light or Dark. They weren't good or bad. They were his children or they were not. He protected them, guided them, modified stairs, classrooms or dormitories for them.
Time flew by, less quickly of course since now there were many to look out for, but still inexorably time kept moving on.
One day, Dad fought against Father. Mum tried to stop it but Mother stopped her.
One day, Dad packed his belongings and sent them away with his family. He was going to leave, never to come back. Harry wept as he left, but he never stepped outside of the castle. A bright flash of light and he was gone. Forever.
Mother left soon after. She had lost her crown, and her daughter of flesh and blood, breaking her spirit. She looked always tired. Until one day, she didn't get up.
Father and Mum kept on going but their hair were grey, and they too soon died and he was left alone. Someone took the place of his parents as leaders of the school and children kept coming.
He protected his kids, sometimes he listened to the Headmasters but it was rare. He had no notion of time, just happiness of a job well done. He kept doing it for a very long time. Clothes changed. The focus used by wizards became a wand for everyone. Then one day, out of nowhere, one of his Dad's descendants came and used his Dad's gift.
How happy he was then. A new Dad was coming for him. He left him do whatever he wanted, for he acted a lot like his Dad, except people did not call him 'S'lazar' like Dad, but Tom. For year, he was there, but one day he left too. He did come back to him though, him Hogwarts, the sanctuary. Tom did magic on him. Things he didn't like. Things not right. But he could do anything about it.
One day, Magic occurred in the Entrance Hall. Magic he had seen before but couldn't control. He tried as much as he could to know what had happened but he couldn't. He felt like he was nothing more than a spectator in his own body of stone and wood. The feeling of hopelessness disappeared quite soon, but Hogwarts was shaken by it.
One day, a boy came through the passage toward the Lake. He seemed confident, his magic was bright, calling to him. When the boy crossed his Wards, Hogwarts seized him, and discovered who Harry Potter was: the Heir Hogwarts never had. The castle decided to show the boy the life it had had.
..ooOoo..
Harry took a deep breath as Ron bumped into him.
"Sorry" he said to the boy before taking a few steps forwards. His legs were shaking, heavy drops of sweats were flowing on his forehead, slowly wetting his shirt's collar, and his heart was going fast, very, very fast.
Harry didn't wait long and sat in the first available barge. Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe stared back at him.
"Who are you?" Malfoy drawled after checking his clothing.
"The guy who gutted your auntie." Harry snapped.
"Sorry Potter, I didn't recognize you in the dark."
"Whatever."
Harry could see Draco's gear turning into his head and let the poor boy be as the boat lurched forward. Nobody talked anymore as they just stared at Hogwarts. Harry for his part was assimilating the fact he now knew the castle's layout like the back of his hand, and that was not a figure of speech.
"Heads down" Hagrid's voice boomed in the silence surrounding the small fleet of embarkations.
Soon enough, they were taken in a dark tunnel that ended up in small harbor. One by one they disembarked. They followed Hagrid's lantern through a passageway and found themselves near the castle. Harry maneuvered himself near Ron, whose freckles standing out against the paleness of his face. In the corner of his eyes, Harry could see Draco Malfoy checking him several times, his stare ranging from friendly to fearful, or even contemplative. Harry didn't care much as they climbed several stairs and Hagrid knocked three times to a door that opened immediately, revealing a tall, black-haired witch in green robes.
Professor McGonagall was exactly as Harry remembered her, a few winkles and white hair off.
"Thank you Hagrid, I will take them from here." She answered the Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts.
Like on auto-pilot, Harry followed the crowd of First Year to the small chamber where he knew they'd be left to their own for an instant. Following his earlier connection to Hogwarts, Harry stood still, perfectly at ease in this room as he carefully let his magic and mind connect to the castle. He didn't even move as ghosts glided in the room, frightening the other children. He however nearly lost his cool when he noticed they were not discussing Peeves's behavior but staring at him. The Fat Friar caught his eyes and bowed slightly.
"Welcome to Hogwarts Harry Potter."
"Glad to be here Fat Friar." Harry returned automatically. "I am afraid, I probably won't be part of your house though." He added as an after thought.
"No?" The Grey Lady said with a hint of sadness on her always troubled face.
"I believe the bets should go between Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington and the Bloody Baron." Harry nodded toward the two ghosts in question.
The situation seemed unreal to him. The room was silent, even Professor McGonagall seemed speechless in front of a tall eleven years old conversing nicely with ghosts he should not be able to identify, much less name individually.
"We shall see" The Bloody Baron muttered as his chains racked against the stone.
"Move along now, the Sorting Ceremony is ready to start." The slight Scottish accent of the Deputy Headmistress shinning through her speech was the only indication something was off to Harry. The other children didn't wait and left in a single line.
Harry for his part, followed regally, a bit out of it since connecting to Hogwarts had given him an influx of information he was trying to decipher. House-Elves were everywhere in the castle, moving and 'popping' around. The armors he had always seen seemed ready to jump at his command. Stairs could be stopped and directed to his heart's desire. He even found the Mirror of Erised stored away in an unused classroom.
With a startle, Harry disconnected from the Castle's 'consciousness' as Professor McGonagall called "Longbottom, Neville"
Whispers broke out from everywhere in the Great Hall.
"Longbottom, did she say?"
"The Neville Longbottom?"
All eyes turned toward their target as a young blond boy, whose baby fat was still very much part of him, took the several steps required to sit on the stool. A small smirk appeared on his face an instant before the hat was dropped on his head.
Here, Harry had to wait for the Hat's decision. It had occurred to him changes weren't always good: he had spent the last half a dozen of years planning for things he knew would take a long time before taking place. He had noticed that while he was alright with waiting that long, he had become quite unable to stand waiting for other things. Today was no exception, as Neville Longbottom and the Sorting Hat were discussing his placement, Harry was exasperated to have to wait before knowing.
Finally, the rip near the brim opened widely and the Hat bellowed 'GRYFFINDOR'
Harry felt satisfied for a second. It then occurred to him his impatience was probably a remnant of his Gryffindor period. After all, he knew enough to deduct Neville would end up as a Gryffindor; it wasn't like he could be anywhere else… The illegal tapings he had done on the Longbottom family had taught him the boy had as much subtlety as rock, Slytherin was thus out. Hard working wasn't either something one would use to qualify Neville, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were out. Impetuous, hot headed and brave on the other hand…
Neville got up and joined the howling table in gold and red, under the benign gaze of the Headmaster.
The Sorting resumed with "MacDougal, Morag'. It soon reached Sally-Anne Perks, and finally "Potter, Harry"
Harry walked forward with measured steps. Like before, in an other life, or an instant earlier depending on your point of view, whispers broke out.
"Harry Potter?"
"Potter as in Lestrange?"
Harry didn't let any of the comments affect his face in any way, despite the grim feeling that penetrated him when Bellatrix Lestrange's name rose occasionally above the students chatter.
Unmoved, Harry did a quarter turn on himself, the back of his robes fluttering softly in the air before slowly letting gravity bring them back down. By then, Harry was sitting and the Sorting Hat obscured his vision of the hundreds of onlookers.
'Why, hello Harry Potter. Quite a difference since the first time we met… Between Slytherin and Gryffindor, eh? Seems time can't solve the matter for you. Heir or not, you are still uniquely suited for Slytherin… Unfortunately, I must also consider what is best for the Slytherins.… Hum, quite a decision… You have to choose Harry Potter. I cannot Sort you until you do.'
'What should I choose?' Harry thought.
'Why are you here? For your plans? To make friends? Or for something else?' The Sorting Hat whispered in his ear.
Harry swallowed heavily. He had known he would have to make this choice, but did not believe it would have to be so early. If his interaction with Hermione on Diagon Alley and then with Ron on the Hogwarts Express were any indication, then…
'Are you sure? The choice is your, after all… Very well. Maybe it is best for you in…' "GRYFFINDOR"
The table erupted in applauses; much less than for Neville or for Harry's 'first Sorting', but it was enough for him, he was finally home.
Taking a seat near Hermione who was already drilling Percy with questions on Transfiguration, Harry watched absently the rest of the Sorting, applauding for Dean's placement in Gryffindor and howling with the twins when Ron joined the table, seating just in front of him.
The feast passed into a daze. Several events remained into his mind, like when his eyes bore into Ron's skull who suddenly ate at a much slower pace. To his dismay, his brothers took that as a queue to steal his dinner. However, Harry was very, very, very good with a knife, and certainly no slouch with a fork. Ron and him did a small battle trying to steal each other potatoes. When Fred - or wasn't it Georges? – tried the same thing on his younger brother's sausage, he earned a four points hematoma from Ron and a knife stuck on the table between two of his fingers from Harry. Surprisingly, he found it a good practical joke, but Ron's plate ended safe for the rest of his life.
Harry also remembered Neville's boasting on how he had been trained by Aurors since his birth… Harry knew many Aurors had shown the boy some tips and a few had gone as far as to teach him a spell or two, but claiming to be trained was certainly not going to help him when people realized he wasn't a magical genius.
There was also the Hogwarts's song, and the message about the Forbidden Forest and the Third Floor corridor. Harry for his part was studying a teacher. A superb dark haired witch with a cleavage that would certainly give him wet dreams was eating next to Quirinus Quirrell. Evidently, he kept his Occlumency Shields but the dark wizards never tried Legilimency on him. The witch didn't specially look at him, but Harry was staring, she was so pretty!...
All feast long he drunk in her appearance, but finally, it was time to go to bed. Harry followed Percy obediently when a hand grabbed his left shoulder.
"Mr. Potter" Professor McGonagall said, Scottish accent in all its glory. "The Headmaster wishes to speak with you. Follow me."
Harry shrugged at Ron's interrogative gaze and followed her slowly since he was quite full. Had he been a regular first year, the headmaster could have quizzed him easily after such a day and meal, but Harry was not tired, not ready to talk and certainly not going to be bullied even by a guy with an age in the three digits numbers.
They reached the unfortunately familiar gargoyle and professor McGonagall whispered the password before gently pushing Harry on the rotating stairs.
"Why are you not coming with me Professor?"
"I'm sure it will be a quick discussion Mr. Potter." The woman answered somewhat nervously.
"That could not wait until tomorrow?" The words had their effect and Harry saw her face loosing composure as her face disappeared from view and he knocked on the wooden door.
"Come in, Mr. Potter."
… As for the familiars, the Potter family jealously keeps its secrets. Harry Potter, being the first to ever have one, never quite explained how he became bonded to his basilisk and always referred to his snake as the reason why he managed to get a second familiar after his expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Of Conquerors and Conquered. Romulus Leonidas Stevenson. Part I: Harry Potter – Chapter 3: Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore, Friends or Foes?
Latin
Ego Myrddin Wyllt , mos utor vos pro bonus.
I Myrddin Wyllt , will use you for good.
Vos vadum non exsisto adsuesco assuesco iterum moveo viator. Vestri plasmator erant horrendus. Permissum lemma evolve unus in Inritus.
You shall not grow accustomed to move travelers again. Your makers were horrible. Allow them to live alone in the Void.
Welsh (For the sake of facility, this is current Welsh. It should be Welsh of the 10th century, but I have not found a person speaking it fluently…)
Canfuom 'r dde chyflea. We have found the right place.
