Updated: 2/11/22
AN/: Added a bit about Harry's motivations.
As Harry walked back from the front gate of Hogwarts, he realized he had learned more about the wizarding world in the past two days than that previous two years. Given he had chosen his electives, which would in theory determine his career path, last year he thought this lack of knowledge reprehensible. He found himself disgusted at the lack of education for muggleborn and muggle raised who joined this society.
As he walked, he did realize that Dean and a few others he had seen with other textbooks and guides to the wizarding world. He thought they were pleasure reading, but looking back Dean would never pleasure read. The only thing he read for pleasure were those magazines the older years smuggled in.
So, there were preparatory materials available to muggleborn, Harry had just been overlooked. He needed to confirm the fact, but it seemed highly unlikely that society would be this far along with no way to educate people entering, to them, an entirely new world. Still, that didn't fix the fact that Harry had not read these books, and he didn't know how effective they were in answering the questions he had been carrying.
Things like, "What is magic?". "What do wizards do after they graduate?", "How does the wizarding government work?", "Internationally?", "Why were goblins in charge of the economy?" Some high level concepts, sure, but Vernon had always complained about those who had control over the things he did. (Meaning the bank and money, the government and votes and laws, and the church for moral reasons.)
Which lead to another question, religion in the wizarding world. He'd heard Merlin used a lot, the same way his relatives had used God, so did wizards worship merlin? Hogwarts celebrated Christmas, so were they Christian or catholic? How was this society he had joined, or rather been abducted into, formed and maintained?
Harry had pages of questions, of why and how and where, pages that even the simplest of magically raised children would know. Crabbe and Goyle knew more about the world than he did, which rankled. He was way smarter than Crabbe and Goyle combined, yet ignorant of the wizarding world. Pacing in front of the main doors to the castle, harry entertained the thought that if he was wrong and the introductory guides were utter shite, then it was no wonder there was a pureblood movement. Although, it would be their own fault.
If they did not educate the people entering their society as to how things were done, how could they complain when those entrants did not abide by the rules and mores of the society and instead abided by the old systems they were familiar with?
It was foolish, Harry thought. But, as he reflected, he realized he was not one to talk. He had after all, slacked off greatly in his classes. Barely doing the homework, skipping the readings. When he was able to cast a spell, he normally stopped trying it. A lackluster performance, to be sure.
And not living up to his parent's example. Harry wasn't certain, but he suspected that no one made head boy with poor grades. He had been told that his father had been head boy and his mother head girl. Beyond that, he really didn't know much about them. And, thinking briefly on Sirius, he was possibly running out of people he could ask. Long Harry had heard people mention how devastating the war with Voldemort had been, but not until recently had he realized just how poorly the wizarding world had gotten. His parents' year from Hogwarts had barely a handful of living members, and the surrounding years were similar. There was a memorial somewhere with the names of the pureblood lines who had died out from the conflict. Hogsmeade had been one of three purely wizarding villages, and now was the only one left standing. For a man who claimed to champion the pureblood cause, Voldemort had done more damage to Wizarding Britain than anyone else.
Harry wasn't certain why he wanted to dig into his parents now, but he knew that's what he wanted. Perhaps it was losing Sirius, who was supposedly his godfather. Or Remus being forced to leave and taking the stories of the marauders with him. Maybe it was even that Harry was just becoming more mature and realizing what he did reflected not only on him, but his parents as well. Coming face to face with dementors and death, and remembering the terror he felt in the chamber last year, it was probably that Harry was fixated on what people leave behind. What he would leave behind.
Harry, despite how he acted sometimes, was no fool. He knew that each year was getting more dangerous for him, more challenging and deadly. First year Quirrell practically defeated himself. The basilisk was terrible, yes, but Fawkes blinded it While Harry had known he was going to die in the moments before the phoenix flew in, once he was there Harry felt that it would be alright. This year, under constant threat of losing his soul, it wore him down more than any other year. And most of all, Harry dreaded what was coming next year. He didn't know what could be worse than dementors, but he knew something would happen. And he knew he needed to be prepared, to be better. For his ow sake, and because he had people to live up to. James's pranking mastery and the brotherhood of the marauders, Lily's firm devotion and insatiable need to understand- Harry wanted those things. Any scrap of family resemblance he hoarded greedily, like Dudley did sweet cakes.
He knew the process of becoming more was not an easy one, and he had a long road ahead of him. And Harry knew he might fail, might slip back into his old ways of fading into the background as much as he could., but he had to try. If he wanted to be anything like his parents, he had to buckle his bootstraps and do his best to make something of himself. And doing so had to start somewhere. The first place Harry thought to go in order to put his life on track was his head of house's office. Professor McGonagall was his head of house, his transfiguration professor, and an admitted admirer of his parents.
Harry's drive and passion took his to the edge of the hall, but his inner zeal evaporated in the light of that corridor. It carries a poor reputation, the stretch of hall leading up to McGonagall's office. It is not dark and cold like professor Snape's. It is certainly not bright and airy like Flitwick's either, however. No, McGonagall's corridor is rather plain and boring, if a little cluttered with suits of armor and statures. Harry gathers his courage and starts down the hall, measuring his steps. It does not do to show fear, but neither should one be reckless approaching the lions' den.
The home of the-bun-that-endured was not to be approached lightly. The bun in question had its own reputation smaller, but just as powerful as his own. It had survived not only all three generations of the Weasley clan, but the Marauders, and the Lovegoods. All without one flyaway. There was a dark tale told by the common room fire that one death eater had managed to disturb it and knock a lock of hair loose. He died, on the spot. No spell was cast, no jinx or hex or transfiguration. No, he simply died were he stood in retribution.
Truly, the bun was to be feared. It deserved just as much respect as the woman underneath it. Harry, reaching the door, felt his hands tremble. But he was a Gryffindor, and knocked like he belonged.
"Enter." Harry swallowed down his nerves and stepped into the now unlocked office.
"Professor McGonagall, do you have a minute?" he said politely, clearly, carefully. He didn't want to mess up in any way- term wasn't over was it? She could still fail him for stuttering.
"Mr. Potter, my door is open to all students who want to talk. My star seeker is welcome anytime." She says with a thin smile, pointing him toward one of the armchairs.
"Thank you professor," Harry says as he sits, "I have a few questions I want to ask, about my electives."
"If this is about you dropping divination, Ms. Granger already broached the subject. You can rest easy that you are removed from that class." She says.
"Thank you professor, but that's not all."
"Oh?"
"No, Ma'am. I wanted to ask, what electives did my parents take? And what kind of fields would the electives lead into?" Harry asks.
Professor McGonagall draws back for a moment before rising from her desk and walking over to have a set across from Harry, "I think it would be easier for both of us to approach this without that desk between us. You father, James, he and Sirius took Care of Magical Creatures together. James also attended Muggle Studies with Peter Pettigrew. He tried to take Arithmancy with Professor Lupin, but it was too rigorous for him and dropped end of third year. Your Mother, Lily, she took Runes and Arithmancy, Muggle Studies for her third year before she too dropped it. She said it was caught up in the past and was no longer relevant. Lily also attended Care for two years, but stopped taking it after her OWLS. She joined Magical Theory her Sixth year in replacement."
McGonagall waves her wand and a tin of biscuits floats over from her desk. She offers them to Harry, who accepts one.
"I suppose I might as well finish out the Marauders, since you'll ask sooner or later. Sirius Black signed up for Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies, and Divination. Peter wanted to take Muggle Studies and Divination. Remus, being the overachiever, tried to take Runes, Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, Magical Studies, and Care of Magical Creatures. He was unfortunately barred from Care due to his condition, and like Lily, he dropped Muggle Studies after one year." She continues.
"They tried to cover all of the electives, didn't they?" Harry says.
"I believe that was their goal, yes. Poor Remus was the only one in Arithmancy and Runes after third year, but they stuck together in the other classes. Up until their seventh year." McGonagall says.
"What happened seventh year?" Harry asks.
"James and Lily fell in love. It was no secret that their fledging relationship was part of the reason we voted the two into the head boy and girl positions. James withdrew from Muggle Studies and started attending Magical Studies, as well as 'chaperoning' the third-year runes classes. He was besotted, and wanted so much to be on the same level as Lily." She says.
"Was he?" Harry asks.
"No. James tried his hardest, but he simply lacked the time to learn everything she had. Your mother was a very driven witch and wanted to know everything there was about the magical world. Her first two years here were a constant stream of 'why', and 'how'. Much like Ms. Granger, though Lily was more set on finding things out herself rather than hearing about them from someone else. She had a friendship with a Ravenclaw that started her fourth year, Selene, oh what was her name. She married some boy from Durmstrang, Selene, Selene, Selene Malfoy. Caused quite a stir when she transferred here from Beauxbatons her second year. Family accident they told us."
"But enough about them, what else was it you asked? Electives and careers, was it?"
"Yes Professor." Harry says.
"Well, going down the list, Divination is primarily used in the wider world as a method of seeing and sensing. Doing well on the Owl could see you ending up attempting to find employment with Gringotts as part of their speculative department, or the daily Prophet as a sourcer.
"Muggle studies is a requirement for the department of magical accidents, the department of muggle affairs," at Harrys look she explains, "the Obliviators, dear. It is also listed for aurors, but I personally know many who have graduated and joined the force without taking the owl so I'm not sure this is accurate anymore."
"Arithmancy is used for spell breakdown and creation as well as enchanting services. Also, to a lesser extent, auditing." She eyes his disgusted look and tries not to smile.
"Care of Magical Creatures is listed for Magizoologist, for Department of control and regulation of Magical Creatures, and most exploratory expeditions, though those have largely ended since we have explored the majority of the world. It was quite the opportunity when I was graduating."
"Ancient Runes is used for warding, curse-breaking, and enchanting. Very heavy disciplines that all require a NEWT in Runes as well as an OWL." She finishes.
"And magical studies?" Harry asks.
"Magical Studies is an oddball class, only taught when it has enough interest. Most purebloods avoid it since we liaise a Goblin Historian to help teach some of the aspects, as well as other guest speakers. Half-bloods tend to shy away from pushing against the Pureblood traditions, and most Muggle born aren't aware of it. It is not like any of the other classes, since it transcends the years and houses and does not have a syllabus. There is no Owl or NEWT for the class. It goes where it wants to go. If you decide to take it, be vocal about what you wish to study. You may end up learning about Mayan Fertility rituals for half the year."
"Mayan fertility rituals?" Harry asks.
"I do believe that was Mrs. Weasley's seventh year." McGonagall says.
"I'll be careful." Harry promises.
"I take it you wish to transfer into the class?" McGonagall asks.
"Yes Professor."
"Any other changes?" she asks.
"I would like to pick up Ancient Runes as well."
"To review, next year you will be taking Transfiguration 4, Charms 4, Potions 4, Herbology 4, History of Magic, Astronomy 4, Defense Against the Aark Arts 4, Care of Magical Creatures 2, Magical Studies, and Runes 1, correct?" she asks.
"Would it be possible to get into runes 2?" Harry asks.
"You will have to talk with Professor Vector. Ancient Runes is her domain." McGonagall replies.
"Thank you, professor." Harry says, rising to his feet.
"Of course. I am here to guide. Have a good summer, Mr. Potter." She says kindly.
As Harry nears the door, he turns to ask one last thing, "Professor, what were my parents' favorite class and their best class?"
"Lily adored Charms, and they loved her just as well. James tried his best to love them, but his favorite class was truly History of Magic. James was a bit of a history buff and loved to know the dates and events. It was one of the few things he and Lily could talk about third year on and not argue over. He would ay when things happened, and she would explain why. It was quite impressive to witness. The two of them probably saved Gryffindor's history OWLS and NEWTS for four years." She remarks, "But as for his best class, James was deft at transfiguration. It came easily to him- much like it does you when you relax and let the magic work."
"Thank you, professor, and I promise I'll be a better student next year." Harry says.
McGonagall can't help but scoff, "Do you know how many times your father said some variation of that phrase to me? I'll believe it when I see it, Mr. Potter." She smiles.
Harry thought about who to see next. He needed to return his books to Madame Pince before term ended, but that wasn't until tomorrow, and it was still morning. He also wanted to talk to Flitwick, and needed to visit Professor Vector. Plus, he had to pack still.
He thought about trying to talk to Snape, but, after remembering what Remus told him, decided it wasn't worth it. There was a small chance Snape would hear him out and overlook his relation and similarity to his father. A slight chance that Harry could explain his ignorance and ask to restart their relationship as if the past three years hadn't happened. A chance, but not enough of one for Harry to go through with the attempt. Gryffindors were brave, not stupid. Remus, as he was leaving, quietly explained that too much of Severus' personality was made up of his trauma. That Snape had built his identity on the wounds and he never tried to let go of the pain- this was who he was. Lily turning away from him and marrying his childhood bully was too much. The only person who could make him see sense today would be Lily. But, were she alive, there wouldn't be much of a problem to fix. The environment Snape is in could not be worse for him, constantly reminded of his worst years and mistakes. He would be much better off leaving to research and brew advanced potions than to stay and teach. Yet, here he stays, immersed in his pain and guilt.
"You can't help people who don't want to be helped," Remus told him, also saying the desire to help was something Lily struggled with, and he often had to remind her of that.
Harry decided his best option was to return his books and then try and find professor Vector's office. He was likely to run into Hermione, who would almost certainly know where her office was. Harry made his way to Gryffindor tower and grabbed the two books he had out from the Hogwarts library, as well as the one 'Ron' had checked out for Hermione.
Making his way toward the library, Harry heard a yelp and loud clatter on the stairs. He came around the bend to see Hermione sprawled on the steps, books having tumbled down to the landing.
"Hermione, are you alright?"
"Yes, I just-" her voice breaks, "No, I missed the trick stair and my foot went through. I think I twisted my ankle. Merlin, this castle sometimes." She swears.
"It is a deathtrap." Harry agrees.
"I know, right? Is it too much to ask for normal stairs that don't move, and don't have vanishing steps on every other Wednesday and doors that compliment your knickers and-" she goes quiet, and if she weren't' already red she would be blushing, "You weren't supposed to hear that."
"Hear what?" Harry says, gathering the fallen books.
Hermione just looks at him for a moment, wondering if he truly didn't hear her or if he's humoring her or what.
"I'm amazed you could see over all these." Harry says as the stack of books grows.
"Well, to be honest I can't." she admits.
"So, what, you've just walked around the castle with your nose in a book for so long you memorized the route to everything?" Harry jokes. When Hermione doesn't refute him, Harry lets out a low whistle.
"That's a temporarily useful talent." he settles on. Harry hefts the stack of books and waits for Hermione to get to her feet. "I would say we need to get you to the hospital wing, but I know you'd rather turn these in first."
"I promise you, I'll go see Madame Pomphrey as soon as we turn these in." she says, hobbling with the help of the wall.
"So, Elder Norse Runes, Arithmancy and you: a numbers game, 1001 Magical Beasts to run from, Jinxes, Charms, and Curses: a primer- what were all these for?" Harry asks.
"Harry, if you can't put together which of these go with which class then we can't be friends anymore." Hermione says drily.
"Hey!" Harry shouts.
"You'd have to be thicker than Crabbe and Goyle." She giggles.
"I mean, what were you planning with these books? You're quite the witch, but you know your limits. You can't do a deep dive on every subject at once and expect to retain it all. So, these had to be for a specific project. I'm curious." Harry explains.
Hermione hobbles along, face flushed. She had checked them all out to do a deep dive before finals, but Harry made sense. She had struggled to retain it all, and was tempted many times to use the time turner to buy herself a few more hours. "Dragons are one of the most magically resistant species of creatures in the world. To pacify one, it takes a team of wizards casting in unison. I was working out the arithmancy of how powerful their combination spells were, and seeing if it was possible to replicate the effect using runes." Hermione lies.
"And?" Harry prompts.
"I ran out of time. I think it's possible, but I can't prove it yet." She answers.
"Well, there's always next year." Harry says. "Speaking of Runes, do you know where Professor Vector's office is?"
"She's down the second-floor corridor, east wing. Under the charms room." Hermione replies, "Why do you need to talk to her?"
"I'm trying to switch into Runes." Harry says.
Hermione throws her arms over him in a hug, "You are! I'm so excited! I can help you study and we can work together on the projects and-"
"Slow down, Hermione." Harry says as the books in his hands waver, "I'm not in yet. I'm going to see if I can test into your class, but there's a good chance I'll be stuck with the third years."
"I have faith in you, Harry." She says. They enter the library and under Madame Pince's evil eye, return their books. She slowly counts them and compares them to the list before finally, and to Hermione's relief, marks down that they brought everything back. Hermione almost skips out of the library, but her twinging ankle reminds her that's not a great idea.
"I'd better get this looked at, "Hermione says, "See you later Harry."
"Bye Hermione," he says, "see you in the common room."
Professor Vector's office is in a quiet section of the castle, tucked away from the hustle and bustle. Her door is open as Harry walks up, and he pokes his head inside to see her working over her desk. Well, he sees her hair draped over the desk, and her wand tracing patterns on a stone tablet.
"Professor Vector?" Harry asks, knocking on the door frame. The woman jumps, diving under her desk before popping back up when nothing happens.
"Good, nothing exploded." She says, looking over the tablet, then up at Harry, "Sorry about that, I got a little too engrossed in my project for term to still be in session. What can I do for you?"
Harry goes to speak, but she frowns first, "I don't recognize you- are you one of my students? Rising second year perhaps?"
"No, Ma'am." Harry says.
She scoffs, "And he calls me ma'am. Young man, I was only a student three years ago. Stop making me feel old." She starts shelving the papers on her desk, wand clutched between her teeth, "Well?"
"My name is Harry Potter, I'm signed up to take Runes next year." He says.
"Trying to get ahead of the curve, are we? I appreciate the initiative, but I can't assign anything to anyone below third year, so-"
"I am a third year." He protests.
"Not until your exam results come in, luv. Til then you're still a second. Better than a firstie though, innit?" she says.
"I mean, I just finished my third year. I am transferring out of Divination and wanted to know if it was possible to test into the class with the other Fourth years." Harry explains.
"Not often that someone tries to switch into runes." She says, nibbling on her nail, "Normally quite the opposite. I suppose if you can pass the exam from this past year- no, wait, you're a fourth year. You have friends that are fourth years and took this exam. Probably friends who are fifth years as well. If you can pass the exam I gave my third years my first year, those students being sixth years this year then I'll let you skip out of third year runes straight into class with the fourth years, okay?"
Harry, who lost which year was which, nods, "Sounds good."
"Excellent, then I shall see you the first full day back in September so you can take the test. Study hard! I wasn't the best at writing these for a few years so it might be a doozy. Course, I could have had a bad class, or wasn't great at teaching runes yet. There are multiple factors that could have-" Harry backs out of the room as Professor Vector continues rhapsodizing about the possibilities that govern her first class of third year runes students and their poor exam scores.
OMAKE:
"So, what did professor Vector say?"
"I have to pass the sixth years test, I think."
"Ooh, advanced study. Sign me up too."