Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

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

During lunch, Harry stepped in front of the high table and congratulated the first-years for winning the Quidditch matches. "The prize for the winners is an audience with Hogwarts herself."

"Huh? Hogwarts is a castle."

Harry turned to the redhead, rolling his eyes. "Feel free to stay away from the event, Ronald."

"Is that for our whole class or only for the players?" Susan enquired.

"Of course, all first-years are welcome to participate," Harry quickly reassured the girl. "You'll have the opportunity to speak with Hogwarts after dinner tonight."

'If Hermione asks too many questions, we'll just have to limit the number of questions per person,' he thought in amusement, as he returned to his seat at the Ravenclaw table.

HP

In the afternoon, the three groups who had won the rally on Saturday went to Hogsmeade together. Before the group left, Ronald Weasley still made some comments towards his sister; however, Regina quickly involved the girl into a conversation about Felix who was toddling along between them.

'He's so cute. You can be so happy to have a little brother. My brothers are already big and real prats,' she thought to Harry, who smiled, happily.

Harry had been to Hogsmeade together with his parents a couple of times; nevertheless, he absolutely loved Flourish and Blotts, especially now that he was able to look at the books on the shelves by himself without Lucy's assistance. 'Thank Merlin, the twins and Marvolo cured me,' he thought, just like he inwardly thanked the three in absolutely gratefulness every morning upon waking up.

By the time they returned to Hogwarts, he was carrying three shrunken books in his robe pocket: 'A distinctive guide to magical animals, past and present', 'Magical maladies without known remedies' and 'Difficile concoctions with interesting effects for the sensitive brewer'. As scientific as the third book sounded, it was a collection of recipes for prank potions, and Harry looked very much forward to exploring it together with the twins.

'Dad won't mind if we occasionally prank the school by a potion,' he thought, recalling how his father had instructed the twins to only prank the school by transfiguration and charms methods.

'A knut for your thoughts? You seem strangely absentminded,' Ginny thought to him, making Harry notice how observant the girl was. 'Almost like Regina,' he thought.

'I'm thinking of brewing a prank potion together with the twins,' he replied, truthfully, causing the girl to chuckle in apparent amusement.

'Well, I'm looking forward to seeing the effect.'

HP

Dinner in the Great Hall concluded the family weekend, which had been a huge success – at least in the opinion of the first-years. After saying good-bye to the families out on the grounds, Harry motioned the first-years over.

"Everyone who wishes to speak with Hogwarts follow me."

Somehow, he hoped that at least Ronald Weasley would refuse to come, considering that it meant leading the whole group into the founders' quarters to get to the parlour; however, all first-years eagerly followed him upstairs.

"These are my classmates. Please let them in this one time, as I wish to introduce them to Hogwarts."

The four founders nodded in apparent understanding, and the women leaned into their husbands' arms to make the small corridor appear much to the girls' apparent excitement.

"This is simply amazing," Hermione marvelled, before she discovered the other life-size painting of the founders inside and immediately began to ask questions.

"Hermione." Harry's voice was calm, however, the girl turned around to face him instantly. "Today, we've come here to speak with Hogwarts, not with her founders." 'Why is she that excited?' he wondered in annoyance, recalling that he had brought her into the founders' quarters once before.

His classmates' excitement only intensified, when they were sitting in a circle on the floor of the parlour and Harry made each of them introduce themselves to the castle. 'She knows them anyway, but they don't have to know that,' he thought. 'Otherwise, Hermione and Daphne will bother everyone asking never-ending questions.'

However, he should be surprised. After Hermione asked a couple of questions concerning the time of Hogwarts' founding, she profoundly thanked the castle for making the study rooms for them.

Everyone nodded their agreement, which Susan, Daphne and Ginny also confirmed verbally.

When Hogwarts asked if they wished for any other possible room, it was Ronald's reply that caused a huge discussion among the students.

"We should have a kiosk selling sweets, especially to the first and second years, who are not allowed to go to Hogsmeade yet."

"While I understand your wish, there is nothing that I can do about it." Hogwarts' voice was gentle but firm. "Perhaps, my owner might be able to discuss the matter with, for example, the deputy headmistress."

"I will do so," Harry promised, smiling. "The idea is not bad, although we'll have to have someone to operate said kiosk." 'Perhaps, one of the elves would be willing to do so. They could buy everything needed and take the money from my account, and they can keep the net profit as payment for operating the kiosk.' "I'll speak with Professor McGonagall and with a couple of elves and try to arrange for something."

HP

As soon as his classmates left the founders' quarters, he returned home through the connecting door with two intentions. One was to thoroughly cuddle with Lucy, and the second intention was to discuss the matter of the kiosk with his parents.

However, when he stepped into the living room, his father informed him that the headmaster wished to see him.

"Why?" Harry's eyes narrowed.

Severus smirked. "Can you really not imagine why that might be?"

Harry shrugged. "No?" he replied, tentatively.

"He did not inform me, but I can imagine that he wishes to talk about your choice of the referee."

Harry rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I know that he called him Voldemort yesterday morning. He's horrible. Dad, will you please accompany me?"

Severus nodded, apparently understanding that he did not trust the headmaster enough to be alone with him in his office. "Will you please pop us, so that we can over with it as quickly as possible?"

HP

A moment later, they passed the gargoyle that automatically opened, when Harry came into sight.

"Thank you," he said, smiling, before he stepped onto the moving staircase, closely followed by his father and Lucy.

He did not even have to knock, before the headmaster called him in.

"Professor Dumbledore. You wished to speak with me?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Thank you, Harry, for coming to see me. Thank you, Severus, for bringing him here. You may leave now."

"No sir. My father will stay with me. Otherwise, I am going to leave together with him," Harry replied, carefully holding Lucy back, who lightly growled at the old wizard.

"Would you care for a lemon drop?" Dumbledore held out a small bowl. "I always find that a nice sweet helps me with difficult decisions."

"No, thank you, sir." Harry inwardly rolled his eyes, when the headmaster offered the same to his father, who impatiently declined.

"Please come to the point, Albus. Curfew has already begun, and Harry is only a first-year."

"Yes yes." Dumbledore thoughtfully let his hand wander over his beard, before he turned back to Harry. "Harry, you are in great danger. You must stay away from Voldemort."

'Don't fight him. Just pretend to agree with him, or it's going to be a long night,' Severus thought to him.

tbc...

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