Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.

After dinner on Saturday evening, the whole school and the visitors assembled in the Great Hall, where Minerva announced the performance of the band BABA.

"Previously, BABA have mostly given concerts in the muggle world, however, from about ten years ago, they have proceeded to solely concentrate on the magical world, which is no wonder, considering that all four of them are magical."

With a flick of her wand, the door to the antechamber opened, and two witches entered the Great Hall, closely followed by two wizards. Huge applause greeted them.

Harry had never heard of that band or any other band, nor had he ever attended a concert in either the muggle or the magical world. However, a few minutes into the BABA's performance, he already loved it.

The students of all ages and houses quickly began to hop around, alone, in pairs or in groups and were soon joined by parents and teachers alike.

'Amazing,' Harry thought. 'I wished I could join them in playing with my Suikan.'

The more time passed, the stronger did his wish become, and when the band took a short break, he hesitantly stepped over to Minerva. "Do you think I could perhaps ask them if I could try to join them playing on my Suikan?"

"Of course, Harry. That's a fantastic idea. Go and fetch it."

Harry did not have to be told twice, and when he returned to the Great Hall a minute later, Minerva was talking to the musicians in apparent excitement.

"This is Harry Prince." Minerva's voice was laced with what Harry understood as pride, even if he had no clue why she would be proud of him of all students.

When the men asked him if he knew any of their songs, he shook his head and explained that the Suikan worked in a different way. "I don't have to know the melody, only the mood."

Somehow, he felt very shy and began to berate himself for speaking to Minerva in the first place; however, when the band set to play and he began to join them on his Suikan, he suddenly felt just wonderful. 'This is just brilliant,' he thought, unconsciously guiding his joy into the music.

The applause was deafening, and for the rest of the evening, Harry continued playing together with the band. 'This is even much more fun than just listening and dancing,' he thought, feeling extremely happy. He was almost sad, when they finished their last song for the evening.

"Would you be willing to play for us again some time?" All four of them looked at him with apparent interest.

"I'd like that. It was much fun." Harry smiled, happily.

"Whom would we have to ask if you can leave Hogwarts for a few hours?"

"Either Professor McGonagall or my parents, Professor Prince or Regina Lestrange-Prince."

"Professor McGonagall it is, then. Harry, we shall contact you sometime this summer."

"Thank you so much." Harry grinned, happily. "I look forward to playing together again."

'That was brilliant, Harry. Well done.'

'Thank you, Marvolo. I had much fun.'

Regina said about the same, when Harry came over to his parents, pressing the Suikan into her hands.

"Sorry, I will accompany the others to the guest rooms to make sure that their families have everything they need. Afterwards, I'm going to return home right away."

"All right, Harry. Take care. Will you take Lucy with you?" Regina gently ruffled his hair."

"I will," Harry replied, before he transformed into his canine form and chased Lucy over to where the other first-years and their families were just leaving the Great Hall.

With Hogwarts', Minerva's and Harry's parents' help, the first-years had arranged for guest rooms in the so-far unused wing behind their study rooms, which the elves had then brought to perfection. To Harry's relief, everything seemed to be perfect, and he was able to return home shortly.

HP

After breakfast on Sunday morning, the Quidditch match parents versus teachers took place. Just like before, Charlie played Seeker, Rolanda Keeper, Minerva, Poppy and Miranda Chasers and Frank and the headmaster Beaters. On the parents' team, Severus was the Seeker – much to Harry's amusement and Minerva's annoyance that visibly intensified, when the parents won the match.

"Lord Prince has caught the Snitch. The parents win, 420 – 270," Marvolo announced, grinning. "Now, we're going to have a thirty-minute break. According to Harry, refreshments will be served in the Great Hall. Afterwards, we can look forward to another game of the parents versus their children."

HP

"Are you going to play as an elf again?" Daphne cast him a questioning look, when they walked out onto the grounds again after enjoying some hot chocolate and muffins.

"Should I? Why not?" Harry shrugged.

"I'd like that." Teddy eagerly mounted his broom, grinning broadly when Harry once more transformed into an elf.

'I don't really like playing Seeker against Dad,' Harry thought, as he rose into the air, while Marvolo once again introduced the teams.

It was about thirty minutes into the game and Harry was eagerly looking for the Snitch, when he sensed some very dark magic nearby. He did not know what it was, and he could not see anything out of the usual; however, he felt alert.

'Misty,' he urgently thought to the elf, 'I can sense some very dark magic nearby. I don't know what it is and if it's on the grounds or just nearby. Can you please take my Mum, Felix and Lucky home quickly?'

'All right,' Misty immediately agreed. Only two minutes later, she contacted him again. 'I've taken them home. Your mother is looking after Felix and Lucky in your rooms, but what's wrong?'

Harry was just about to reply that he had no idea, when he suddenly felt cold. At the same time, he saw that the sky towards the Forbidden Forest darkened considerably. It looked as if a completely black cloud was heading straight towards Hogwarts.

'Dad, look at the forest. What's happening?' he thought, urgently.

Only a moment later, Severus shouted for everyone to hear. "Dementors! Everyone, descend to the ground as fast as possible. Marvolo, call for a break!"

"Everyone, please land on the ground immediately." Harry admired how calm his friend remained, however, immediately followed the instruction. "All who can cast a Patronus charm and are willing to help remain on the grounds; everyone else run into the castle immediately!" Marvolo's voice sounded over the pitch, and everyone hurriedly complied.

'Dad, don't worry. I asked Misty to take Regina and Felix home, before I could even see the dark cloud,' Harry thought to his father, who returned a feeling of absolute relief and gratefulness. He did not have time to marvel about the matter, however, as noticed the cold getting stronger and realised that it was time to begin sending out his Patronus. He quickly transformed back into his human form, uncertain if he would be able to cast an equally strong charm in his elf form.

'Thank Merlin that we practised the Patronus charm so often and that the whole school was outside to watch the match,' he thought, as he cast his spell. He could already see that the Dementors were not a simple black mass anymore, but looked like hundreds of individual ghost-like beings. His canine Patronus came out strong and immediately joined the twins' monkeys and many other corporeal Patroni that chased away the Dementors.

As quickly as the Dementors had come, as quickly they fled from everyone's Patroni, and Harry was just about to ask Marvolo if they could continue the match, when Poppy chased everyone into the castle.

"But we need to continue the match."

"The Dementors are gone."

Ignoring the students' protests, the healer waved them inside. "You may only continue the match after eating and drinking a sufficient amount of chocolate."

It was an hour later that they were finally allowed to resume the match, and this time, Harry managed to catch the Snitch after ten minutes ending the game in favour of the students.

tbc...

Thank you so very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter.