Parts of this are word for word from the first book which I own a copy of but nothing more in case you thought I did. I have decided to add some more crackish elements back in and speed up the storytelling because I'm starting a really intensive year long course next week and don't know how long I'll be able to keep all the balls in the air for~
Also guess the hidden object in this chapter- whoever guesses correct first can have a cameo :) I don't think it's too hard but I'm the one who wrote it~
The morning dawns brightly through the window. Ron is still in bed, trying to ignore the fact he has to get up. The other boys are in a similar state, bemoaning the sun's rise.
Harry finally sets up the magic to locate the Philosopher's Stone. Hopefully.
Honestly he's just screening for any stones with magical power so it's probably going to be hit and miss but it's the best he can do.
The second day of school is uneventful aside from Harry seeing Professor Binns and immediately leaving the classroom. Nobody had been quite sure what to do, least of all Hermione Granger who just stared after him in confusion. Later Ron had told him he didn't miss anything but the rumour had spread through Hogwarts like wildfire causing the event now.
"Potter's afraid of ghosts!" Sneers Draco from behind Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville. Behind the boy stand his two cronies whose names Harry can't remember- something about fish maybe? Or was it cathedrals?
Hermione instantly begins lecturing him on not skipping classes again (Harry thinks it might be the ninth time today) whilst simultaneously correcting Draco's assumption. Ron just shouts the other boy down. When the din has quietened down Harry puts down his fork.
Neville shivers.
"My family can get rid of ghosts- why would I be afraid of them? Even I know how to kill them."
"Harry- I don't think you can kill ghosts." States the voice of correctness. The boy shrugs.
"It's fairly easy actually- all you need to do is find the remains, salt them and burn them. I mean Hermione's right, they're already dead so you can't kill 'em again but it gets rid of them forever." Judging by Draco's response he doesn't believe him. Either way the Slytherin disappears for his own table after making his customary 'my father will hear about this' departure preceding speech.
The next day brings yet another boring Herbology class which Neville really seems to be enjoying.
By comparison the second Transfiguration lesson is a lot more interesting despite the fact he has already perfected turning a matchstick into a needle. McGonagall relocates him to the back of the room where he can't put other students off. While he's sad to be moved from his friends it means he gets to practise his wandless transfiguration and confirm his suspicions. He's kind of concerned the woman might want to adopt him when he sees the pride on her face.
Charms was interesting too. The basics seem similar to what Auntie Rowena has taught him but the effects are much more precise and follow different magical pathways. The teacher was strange too. He was tiny, required to stand on a pile of books just to see over his desk. When he had reached Harry's name in the register he had tumbled off, landing amid a flurry of paper on the flagstone floor.
That evening there are reports that Peeves hasn't assaulted a student for the whole day and that Professor Binns hasn't turned up to lessons for the first time since he was still alive.
When Professor McGonagall calls Harry to a meeting that evening he is unsurprised by Dumbledore's tired gaze.
"If you could have at least waited until I had your godfather out of Azkaban it would have been a lot easier my boy. I'll have to find a supply teacher before anything else- I hope you understand." Harry nods.
"Yes sir. I understand. I'm sorry for the trouble." The Headmaster slowly smiles.
"I do have good news on that front though. It seems like we'll be able to get your godfather out of Azkaban within the month. Upon his release we would like to put him in specialist care until his mental state has been deemed safe but we hope that we will be able to reunite you both sooner rather than later." Harry smiles because he thinks it's what's expected.
"I can't wait to meet him but I don't really know much about him… Or my blood family." Dumbledore nods.
"Yes. Minerva told me- I gather that you would like to be tutored by her?" Harry grins.
"I would!" The Professor smiles at this although it is fleeting. The boy can't help but remember Rowena's warning. He doesn't think she is right but he will keep an eye on Professor McGonagall anyway.
"Then it shall be arranged. Pomona says you are finding her lessons uninteresting though- I assume this is due to your prior tuition too?" Again Harry nods.
"Yes- my teacher has been very thorough. There are some things I haven't been taught like Transfiguration and Charms is different from what I've been taught but it's easy enough to figure out. My family have helped with what Defence Against the Dark Arts seems to be too even though my teacher didn't teach me that. I think that Potions will be similar to what I have been taught as well." The Professor frowns but Dumbledore just smiles.
"Thank you for warning us, my boy. I believe that it is getting a little late however Minerva and I have much to discuss- would you be able to make your way back to your dorm room by yourself?" The boy stands, yawning a little.
"Yes. I think so. Thank you for telling me about my godfather." The Headmaster just nods as Harry leaves.
He fits in a few hours of sleep, without Rowena's tuition, before heading off to Astronomy which is just as pointless as he had predicted.
When he finally gets around to it his training with Rowena is focused on Transfiguration again.
"Any news on the stone yet?" The woman asks, watching as Harry turns a chair into a metal bowl for the umpteenth time that session.
"No. I haven't felt anything yet- I'll make sure to get it though!" It turns back into a chair then into an ironing board.
"Anyone giving you any hassle?" Chair, ruby.
"No Auntie Rowena. I don't think the people here are very good at magic at my age." Chair, rock, chair.
"You're a born natural, my wee lad." Rowena smiles. Origami crane, chair.
"You taught me almost everything I know though." The older witch smiles at that too. Ring, chair.
"There's a lot more left for me to teach." Harry pauses for a second.
"Yeah- do you think I'll ever be as good as you?" Oar, chair, fork, chair.
"Let's not focus on things like that- after all, the limits of your magic are the limits of your imagination." The boy nods, considering the wooden chair.
"So you think I could?" Rowena purses her lips. The witch sits on the edge of a table, looking away from Harry. He waits.
"Yes." The woman answers. She crosses one leg over the other, voice quiet and somewhat bitter.
Elastic band, chair, rag, chair. Neither of them speak. Ink pot, chair, shield, chair.
"I'm sorry." Rowena nods. Earring, chair, domino.
"I think that we should end this session here." She says, standing and brushing off imaginary dust. Chair.
"Okay. Thank you, Auntie Rowena." The witch smiles slightly before leaving Harry to his dreams.
The next day brings his second Charms lesson. Professor Flitwick doesn't fall off his chair this time. Harry realises that chairs look really weird to him after the amount of times he transfigured them in his dream the night before.