Harry groaned as he came to.

"And the Hero awakens." Ron snarked.

"Hero?" Harry eased into a sitting position.

"When the Dementor ripped the door open, your blackthorn wand jumped to your hand and pinned it to the far wall with a white bolt of light. While it was screaming there, the Professor rose, and finited your spell and drove the beast from the train." Hermione spoke softly. "Here, eat this." She passed him a chocolate frog. "It should help."

"Where are we?" Harry yanked the wire,popped the top, and caught the frog, which he then scarfed.

Ron frowned, having hoped that the frog would have fallen into his hands.

"We have been under motion for twenty minutes." Ginny answered. "We should be to the End of the Line within the Hour."

"Okay." Harry climbed to his feet beside Hermione. "Hey, Kitty, hold me please." He dropped beside her as she wrapped her arms about him. Within minutes he was asleep.

BMP

As the Express arrived at the station, Six Battle Mages were waiting for Harry.

Frenchie ran his wand over the lad, as soon as both of his feet were on the ground.

Shemp frowned at the shaking and shivering Masses around them. "What the bloody hell happened out there?"

"A Dementor boarded the train." Hermione spoke as one did to a Policeman. "Harry pinned it to the wall, then fainted. The Professor awoke, released it from the wall and drove it from the train." She rubbed Harry's back, "The Professor had us all eat some chocolate."

"Good, good." the Blond Viking nodded as she adjusted her shoulders. "And why were those… Beasts on the train?"

"Sirius Black." sneered Ron.

"And why would he be on the train?" Peppe was rubbing his fingers together.

"To kill Harry!" Ron sounded like he thought Peppe was dumb."

"Naw, Black can not touch Harry." Anna smirked. "Sworn Godfather."

Frenchie nodded. "Found the records this morning. Black is the blood-sworn Godfather of the boy."

"There was also no file on the Trial of Black…" Peppe grinned at the boy, "so I went to that Lawyer of yours, you know…"

Harry frowned, "Only Lawyer I know is Gripsaq."

"Yeah. Him." Peppe sighed, "Now I have to tell him he gets to sue the Ministry for the attempted murder of a Lord and Heir."

Harry nodded. "Be sure to tell him to add a new claim everyday that those things are here. Be sure to tell him to include court costs." Harry led the witches to the last carriages. "Including his two percent compounded interest retainer."

That does not sound like much." Peppe frowned.

"One the second day he raises his fees two percent." Harry handed Hermione in the carriage. "The third day, he raises it again, compounding the two percent… and again…and again." He helped Ginny in. "If They settle up and pull the Dementors quickly, they might only pay about five to fifteen percent…" But Harry grinned at Shemp who grinned back. "But this is the Ministry. I am not expecting them to even notice that they are being sued for at least a month. And thirty days at two percent … compounded daily…" He climbed in, closing the carriage door behind him. "I will let Gripsaq and Barchoke do the math on that one."

Shemp snickered. "Peppe. In the Morning, drop in on Gringotts Diagon. Talk to Barchoke and Gripsaq."

Harry clicked his tongue, and the carriage pulled off… leaving Ron running to scramble into the carriage… he was staring at Anne's fur trimmed cleavage.

BMP

The Potter Entourage had to scramble to get to their table before the first years were led to the Head of the Great Hall.

McGonagall unrolled her scroll and began to read off the names of the students. One by one they were sorted into one of the four Houses.

Then Albus stood and Welcomed everyone, and began the Feast…

And so began the Year at Hogwarts.

BMP

The next morning Classes began.

First was Runes… and Potter was disappointed that the majority of the first year was just memorizing the Runic Table!

Next he stumbled into Transfiguration. Ron was pale as Lavender and Parvati were excited. It turned out that Ron had turned up a side-wise Grim meaning someone close to was going to die soon.

After Lunch was the first class Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid introduced the class to Buckbeak. Harry got his ride… and then Malfoy stepped up.

With the first words out of the Blond's mouth, Harry was moving. He swept the wizard's legs out from under him, as his Blackthorn wand became a staff, the foot capped in a silver metal cup, the head a claw holding an eye that turned to look at the Hippogryph.

Buckbeak stepped back from the staff raised as a shield over the two wizards, before he bowed to Harry, then pranced off with two mares hurrying up to fuss over him.

"Mister Potter." Hagrid huffed as stood over the two wizards. "Ten points awarded for protecting a Student from their own stupidity." He reached down, and pulled Malfoy to his feet, by his ear. "Ten Point Loss, Mister Malfoy. Failure to heed the Professor's Instructions. Come along, we need to speak to your Head of House and the Headmistress." Hagrid glared at the class. "Eighteen inches on Hippogryphs. Bonus of six inches on Why keep Hippogryphs. Miss Granger. I mean eighteen and six."

He led the blond wizard off by the ear.

And that was the first day of school.

Granger made a beeline for the Library, as tried to talk Harry into a game of chess. Harry was debating it, when he entered the Castle from Hagrid's hut. As he crossed the threshold, a second year gryph student handed him a note.

Potter.

Join me in my Office.

I am liking 'Ice Mice' this week.

Headmaster.

Harry snorted. "Sorry Ron. I am needed elsewhere. The Headmaster called." Harry found his way to the Gargoyle. A whispered 'Ice Mice', and he was riding the rising stairs to the old man's office.

"Come in My Boy." Albus called, before Harry could even knock.

Harry frowned, before grinning. He was no longer the old fool's 'boy', but Peppe had taught him the basics of playing the loyal follower. "Afternoon, Sir." Harry called as he pushed the 'heavy' door open, closing it behind him. While his back was turned, closing the door, he slipped an 'armed' snap card into the door jam. If pressure was released, it would explode in three seconds unless it was blown on.

But he was not unobserved. The Sorting Hat, sitting on a self above the reach of students, snickered to itself.

[AN: according to the books, 'Robes' are like a thick heavy moo-moo or gown. But the Movies had people wearing trousers or skirts and button-downs covered with coat- or bathrobe-like robes. I am a free thinking person. Snape and Albus wear moo-moo style covered with bathrobe style. Fudge and Luci wear silk seven piece suits replacing the 'sports coat' with silk (Acromantula in Luci's case) robes. The Students are given the choice when purchasing the yearly uniforms.]

"Ah, Harry, my boy, What are you wearing?"

Harry looked down at himself. Knee high boots, of soft waterproofed cowhide. Kilt in the Hogwarts pattern, a black leather vest trimmed in scarlet and gold. A scarlet and gold school tie, and a white button-down shirt. His belt and hip pouches, strapped just above his knee. His wand holster was on his right wrist, with both his Holly and Blackthorn wands hidden. Over all of this he wore his Black War-cloak with the Kenaz broach, and beret with the Kenaz Badge. "Is Something wrong?"

"You are out of uniform."

"Am I?" Harry settled into a parade ground stance of rest. "Please point out what is in Violation."

"Your Boots" Albus smirked.

"Sorry Sir. I thought because My Headmaster enjoyed a good knee high boot, mine would be allowed." He squared his shoulders, "Besides there is no limit to the height of the boot collar listed in the Student Dress Code.

"Your skirt."

"Kilt, Sir. It is called a kilt. In the Student Dress Code, wearing a Kilt is an allowed option for males. As Hogwarts is here in Northern Scotland…" Harry allowed the thought to trail off.

"Your pouches."

"Book and Supply Storage and Carriage." Harry looked over the old fool's shoulder, "While runed for [feather light] and [expanded space], they fall into the same category as a bookbag or backpack that students are wearing right now.

'Style is up to Student, but any Staff may demand said Student to turn out said Parcel'."

Albus leaned forward. "Your Hat."

"Ah. yes. Not a Standard issue. Definitely not what is on the List sent to students. But Anne is a Fashion snob and Claire is a rule stretcher. They put together the outfit, and Claire read the student dress code just so she could walk the line. Now, the only thing you can bitch about is the fact I might wear a non-Hogwarts' pattern to my kilt. I have three plaids. Hogwarts, The Queen's, and Clan McGonagall. Now, as I am wearing Hogwarts today, you have no room to voice your complaint. The Same if I wear the Queen's Plaid. Now If I were to wear Clan McGonagall without her permission while at school, or in Hogsmead… then you are entitled to your pound of Flesh… When She is finished with me."

"You are wearing that… emblem." Albus sounded disappointed

"Kenaz?" Harry slipped his left hand into his pouch, finding a glass ball, three centimeters across. "Why would you have a problem with Kenaz?"

"You have no idea what that emblem means." The look of betrayal in the headmaster's eyes was heartbreaking… if Potter did not know what the old man had done.

"A Rune of the Elder Futhark; meaning Light, Fire, and Warmth."

"They are a bunch of War Criminals!" Albus thundered as he rose from his chair. "The Blood on their Hands…"

"Is Nothing compared to the Blood on yours." Harry hissed, as he dropped the glass sphere on the carpet.

"What are you saying?" Albus did not have to act shocked… he was knocked completely off center by the boy's words.

"I am speaking of my Godfather, Sir." Harry allowed his cloak to cover his arms. "No Trial, or the Fact that he could not harm Me and Mine would have been made Public." He adjusted his boot heel to rest on the glass ball.

"What are you talking about?" Albus frowned.

"Sirius Black. My bloodsworn GodFather, Sir." The blackthorn wand dropped into his hand, covered by his cloak.

The Door behind Harry blew in… Harry crushed the orb, as he dove to the side.

Seeing a student diving to the side caused Snape, who was charging in to see the Headmaster, to pause in the doorway, allowing the three second fuse on the Snap Card to burn down and explode under his foot. Causing the Potion Master to fall to the floor, clutching his foot. An Atomic 'hot foot'.

McGonagall frowned as she stepped over Snape as he lay on the floor, Hagrid pushing Malfoy only a few steps behind them. "Ah Headmaster." The strict witch flickered her eye to the lad crouched under the bird, before looking to the old man. "We thought you were alone."

"Ah, Hagrid." Harry slowly stood. "As the fastest of us here, I ask that you head to the Main Gate… My Guardians will be arriving. They will want to talk to the Headmaster." His eyes turned to the Headmaster, "And They are coming in."

"Hagrid. Go get the people arriving at the Gate." Albus sounded tired. "Now, Minerva. What brings you here?"

"Severus had a complaint on how we wanted to handle the issue with Mister Malfoy." the Headmistress frowned at the way 'her' boy was standing.

"That Bloody Beast tried to kill me!" the blond screeched.

"After you ignored the Teacher's warning and insulted it." Harry huffed, before he glared at the pureblood. "Please get your Father involved. My Lawyer likes chewing on Wizards like your Father."

Malfoy scoffed and turned away from Harry.

"What was the way you wanted to handle the issue?" Albus rubbed his brow.

"Since Mister Malfoy was the only one that was attacked, and only after he disobeyed an instructor that He believes to be below him… we, Hagrid and I, decided to remove him from that class." She adjusted her shawl. "Severus thinks we are not giving the boy a chance."

Harry frowned as he swept his eyes over the room. "Now, while Hagrid was showing us Hippogryphs, He made sure to tell everyone that the beasts were Intelligent, Vain, and very Proud. Mister Malfoy was too busy preening like the Buck that Hagrid introduced me to before the entire class and after I met, handled, and even flew on Buckbeak, Malfoy struts up to his face, verbally insults and physically mocks the creature!"

Snape pulls himself from the floor, and stands gingerly. "What, the blood hell, was that?"

"Defensive ward." the Hat sneered down at the Potion Master. "Next time…Knock and Wait!"

McGonagall raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"One Question?" Harry turned to look at Malfoy, "Why did you take Care?" He cocked his head, "A pureblood like you would have an elf or squib handling any Beasts that you own. Arithmancy and either Muggle Studies or Divination would be more to your tastes." Harry cocked his hip, "Hermione did state that Muggle Studies are about a century out of date, but Ron said both classes were easy Os. Besides, what would your Mother think if you could read the futures of her Tea Circle Friends?"

Draco rocked back on his heels, "Why would I …"

"A good reader… be it Cards, tea leaves, or even crystals, earns hundreds of thousands of pounds for an hour's drinking of tea. That is from Muggles that do not believe in Magic. Now these Ladies your Mother has Tea with. Rich women, if not Malfoy rich, drink and gossip. A little card or tea leaf reading, they pay you knuts and sickles for the advice you received from mysts of time… you advise your Father that House Nott is seeking to buy Acromantula Silk in Bulk… so He can arrange for House Nott to find a friendly Merchant… for a finders fee … if not a markup."

Draco sneered, "And you are helping me for what reason?"

"Get you out of Care." Potter smiled at the blond. "Piss off Weasley. His easy O class now has you in it… predicting his Death… weakly." Harry turned serious. "Besides, if Ron proves to be any good at the Art of Divination, I will be setting him up in tea shop where he can spend his days drinking tea and talking Quiditch."

"Transfer him." Snape sneered. "Get to your next Class." Draco bolted from the room. "That was quite the Slytherin move there." The Potion Master sneered at Harry.

"I said he would do Great in your House" The Hat danced on his shelf. "But No… He had already met that Crotch-roach, and was not looking to spend seven years as his roommate."

"Weasley and Hagrid also shaded the House. 'Not a wizard that went bad that did not come from Slytherin', and Ron is fanatic about anyone in green and silver." Harry shook his head. "On the first day… It was enough to make me want to be elsewhere. Today… I could see myself in green… if Malfoy was elsewhere."

Snape's lip curled, deeping his normal sneer. "I have a Class." He swept from the room.

"Mister Potter, why are you here?" the Scot peered down at her cub.

"The Headmaster called me in, Professor." He spun his cane under his cloak. "I fear things have gotten out of hand."

"This way." Hagrid's gentle tones carried up the open staircase and door.

tbc