Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
On May 1, Severus, Regina and Harry travelled to Riddle manor with Felix, Lucky, Misty, Teddy and Lucy in tow. Originally, Marvolo had asked them to bring the Weasley twins along; however, as it was a normal weekday, Severus could not simply allow them to leave Hogwarts without a reason that would be acceptable for the headmaster.
As before, Marvolo had prepared a circle outlined by runes and candles. 'Dad, are you sure that this can't harm Felix?' Harry enquired in sudden concern for his brother. 'I know that Marvolo isn't evil anymore, but still…'
Severus returned a calming thought. 'Yes, Harry, I am certain. He explained everything to me in detail the other day, and whilst I am not a specialist in Runes, I understand enough to know that it is harmless. Otherwise, I wouldn't allow Felix or you to be involved in this.'
'All right, thanks.'
'As soon as I'm allowed to choose the elective subjects, I'm going to take Ancient Runes. This seems very intriguing,' he decided, as he watched Marvolo's preparations with interest.
Finally, Marvolo motioned Harry and Teddy to sit on the floor inside the circle and for their mothers to place the babies into their laps.
Harry smiled in relief, when Lucy made herself comfortable behind him just outside the circle to be able to show him what happened. Felix woke up by the sudden movement, when Regina placed him into Harry's lap, and opened bright blue eyes just for an instant, before he deeply snuggled into Harry's embrace. Harry instinctively began to cuddle the baby, amazed by the fact how cute he was and how much he loved him. 'I wonder why his eyes are blue,' he thought, 'considering that Severus' eyes are black and Regina's brown.' He had intended to ask his parents upon noticing the fact; however, the last couple of weeks ever since Felix had been born had been so busy that he had simply forgotten about it. In addition to his classes with Remus, Misty, Poppy, Cicero and studying together with the twins, he had spent some time every evening helping Regina to care for the baby.
He was deep in thoughts and lured by the baby's warmth to feel comfortable and sleepy, so that he somehow missed most of the ritual. Marvolo's voice was soothing, and Harry just relaxed, feeling very happy to be part of the ritual together with his finally found family.
HP
The weeks before the end of the school year passed much too fast for Harry's liking, as he and the twins were supposed to take their Potions NEWT together with the seventh-years. When he had asked why they could not take them at the end of the summer holidays like it had been the case for their OWL, Severus had informed him that the twins were going to be busy working together with Marvolo.
"What about studying for the mastery then?"
Severus sighed. "Harry, the twins are about to finish their second year. You're only going to be a first-year in September. Don't you think that all three of you have enough time to study for the mastery? Does it matter if you take it in two, three or even four years?"
"No, of course not." 'That's strange,' he thought in surprise. 'Usually, Severus is quite the slave driver. I'm surprised that he deems the twins' research together with Marvolo more important. I wished I could assist them, too.' Turning his thoughts back to the NEWTs, he thought, 'The seventh-years are going to stare at us, when we take the exam together with them, especially as we didn't even attend their class.'
He felt quite uncomfortable at the idea, before he recalled that Charlie and Tonks were among the seventh-years. 'We can just sit together with them,' he realised in relief, deciding, 'Tonight, I'm going to eat at the Gryffindor table for a change.' Ever since the twins had come to Hogwarts, he had preferred the Slytherin table. Only when either Charlie or Tonks had explicitly invited him to sit with them had he joined the Gryffindors. 'Too bad that Tonks is going to leave Hogwarts soon,' he thought. Charlie would remain as the new professor for Care of Magical Creatures, while Tonks, who had become his girlfriend by now, had decided to undergo Auror Training.
HP
To Harry's relief, the seventh-years did not make any comments on their presence during their Potions exam. Harry felt that it was much more difficult than the OWL had been; however, his father had prepared them well, and he somehow managed to not only get through the theoretical part without problems, but also achieved to brew a potion, which according to Severus looked perfect.
A week later, the summer holidays began. On the one hand, Harry was extremely excited. 'When school begins again, I'm going to be a student,' he thought in absolute delight, when he recalled that he still had to convince the headmaster to at least have Teddy attend classes with him. 'I'm going to speak with him right away,' he decided and quickly called Teddy to him, before they climbed up to the headmaster's office with Lucy in tow.
Only when they reached the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office, Harry realised that he did not know the password. However, when he was just about to point out the problem to Teddy, the gargoyle opened for them like by an invisible force, enabling them to step onto the moving staircase. Reaching the top, Harry politely knocked at the door.
"Come in."
Harry hesitantly entered the office, flanked by his companions. "Professor Dumbledore." He lightly lowered his head in greeting. "I am sorry to disturb you."
"No, my boy, it is a pleasure to have you visit an old man. Please take a seat," he replied, offering him a lemon drop, which Harry politely declined. "What can I do for you?"
Harry inwardly groaned. 'I wonder if he really doesn't remember that we still have an open matter at hand,' he thought in annoyance.
"I just wanted to make sure that you know that Teddy is going to attend Hogwarts together with me."
"Ah but Harry, you must understand…"
"No sir, I don't." Harry rudely interrupted the headmaster, surprised at his own courage, when help came from an unexpected source.
#Albus, you won't be able to deny the nestling's familiar his education. Remember that the nestling owns the nest we all put our beaks in.# With that, Fawkes left his perch only to land on Harry's arm, which he had stretched out invitingly, as soon as Lucy had shown him the approaching phoenix.
"Exactly." Lucy turned her head to show him the portrait of the ancient wizards, who had been headmaster in their own times. "Harry is the heir of all four of us and as such the owner of Hogwarts, as Fawkes has pointed out correctly. If Harry decides to have elves attend the school in the future, so mote it be. There is nothing that the current headmaster will be able to do to prevent it. Furthermore, I believe that it is a good idea to try it out allowing only his own bonded to attend classes for the beginning. If this works out, Harry will decide to have a contingent of, for example, two elves per year, at Hogwarts. Salazar told me that Teddy here has been taught together with Harry, so that I expect that this attempt will work out well."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry replied, smiling.
"Ah, rubbish, I am not a professor anymore, but I am Godric Gryffindor, your many times great grandfather. Just call me either Godric or Grandfather."
"Thank you, Godric."
"Thank you, Professor Godric," Teddy echoed.
Dumbledore nodded, apparently realising that there was nothing he could do to prevent Teddy from attending Hogwarts.
"What about the school fees? Will Teddy be able to pay his school fees?"
Harry nodded, firmly. "How do we have to pay them and when? What about his Hogwarts letter?"
"Please speak with Professor McGonagall about both topics." Dumbledore tiredly let his hand wander over his much too long beard. "Well, remember that you can always come to me if you encounter any problems."
"Thank you, Headmaster." With that, Harry rose from his chair expecting Fawkes to leave his arm.
However, the phoenix remained seated. #Don't forget to practise becoming a phoenix Animagus. I can't wait to go flying together.#
"Ah but Fawkes, Harry is much too young to become an Animagus."
Harry did not bother to correct the headmaster, but took his leave, not caring that Fawkes remained on his arm and accompanied them all through the castle. Only when they reached the entrance hall, Fawkes trilled a good-bye and took off.
'Well, if Dumbledore really doesn't know that I'm a dog Animagus, it leaves many options for pranks,' Harry thought in amusement, as he returned home eager to tell his parents about his victory over the headmaster.
tbc tomorrow...
Thank you so very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter. I appreciate it very much, and my muse really needs the feedback. Thank you.
Where do you want Harry to be sorted?