Disclaimer: See chapter 1
The Misplaced Potter
Chapter 13
In which Henry returns to Hogwarts
"Henry Porter's back," someone from the Hufflepuff table shouted as he, Maggie, and Barbara entered the great hall during supper
The large ovation that erupted that both embarrassed and deeply touched Henry. He was still a stranger to most of the students yet kids from all four houses applauded and cheered him in welcome. Henry headed toward the Hufflepuff table but the headmaster had other plans. He moved to the front of the staff dining table and beckoned Henry to him.
"Welcome back, Mr. Porter," he said warmly when Henry was at his side before turning to face the hall. With a friendly arm around Henry's shoulders, he spoke to the students.
"Mr. Porter, having concluded that he had ignored his studies for long enough has decided to return to us," Dumbledore said lightly. "I think that I can safely say that all of us at Hogwarts are delighted with his decision."
"Do you wish to say anything, Henry," Dumbledore asked quietly as more cheering erupted.
"I just want to thank everyone for all the letters that you wrote to me while I was recovering from my, uh, misadventure," Henry said. "All of them meant a lot to me especially when my spirits were kinda low. I must say that the toilet seat that was sent to me that had 'The hole of Hogwarts awaits your return' written on it was a big hit amongst the healers."
Henry walked over to the Hufflepuff table as the laughter and applause died away. His housemates quickly surrounded him. It was several minutes before Henry could take a chair.
"Do you have room for a pair of wandering Gryffindors?" Chris asked as he and Hermione walked over to their table.
"There is always room for the two of you," Ernie MacMillan said.
"You can see as well as ever?" Justin Finch-Fletchley, a muggleborn, asked in amazement as Chris and Hermione sat down.
"Better really," Henry answered. "I don't need glasses anymore."
"You don't look quite the same," Susan Bones observed. "The eyes are the same color but your face is just a bit different."
"Is that better or worse?" Henry asked.
"Are you fishing for complements, Henry?" Hannah asked.
"No, not really," Henry said. "It's just that I still haven't gotten used to the face I see in the mirror yet."
"Tis no great improvement," Bridget said.
"But none the worse, mind ya," Bess added.
"As painful as growing the face bones back was I was just glad when it was over," Henry said honestly. "I could have turned out butt ugly and been glad that I wouldn't have to go through any more."
"Your bum isn't ugly," Maggie said without thinking.
Dead silence and stares met that statement. Maggie's face turned a deep crimson as several grins appeared around her.
"Spill, girl," Susan said.
"The hospital gown that I was wearing was backless," Henry said coming to the floundering girl's rescue. "I accidentally mooned them. I had gotten so used to walking about in it with the staff around that I didn't think about turning my back on Maggie and Barbara."
Laughter exploded at the end of the Hufflepuff table. Henry and Maggie were subjected to some good-natured catcalls and kidding.
"If we were still in the muggle world, you would have been horribly scarred and be blind right now," Justin pointed out as the ribbing died down. "If you survived, at all."
"Yeah, that's true," Henry replied. "But I don't remember any trolls roaming the halls of my old muggle school either."
"I've known Professor Dumbledore all of my life but I have never seen him as furious as he was after they took you to St. Murgo's," Maggie said. "The only way the troll could have gotten in to Hogwarts was for someone to have let him in."
"I thought that he was going to kill Professor Quirrell for turning tail and not doing anything to keep the troll in the dungeon," Ernie said. "My grandfather can swear enough to make a marble statute blush but I learned three or four new words as Dumbledore gave Quirrell that tongue lashing."
"I wouldn't have thought that Professor Dumbledore would have chewed out a teacher in front of the students," Henry said with a frown.
"He didn't," Chris assured him. "They were in Quirrell's office when he dressed him down but you could hear Dumbledore over half the castle. That skinny old man has can bellow with any parade ground sergeant when he gets going. As nervous as he is, I'm surprised that Quirrell didn't curl up and die."
"I felt rather sorry for Professor Quirrell," Hermione said.
"Professor Dumbledore had a point, Hermione," Maggie responded. "He's a fully trained wizard and a teacher who is responsible for the safety of the students yet he did nothing to capture or even slow down the troll. I'm surprised that Dumbledore didn't give him the sack."
"So, what did we cover in the last five weeks?" Henry asked trying to get off the subject.
"Ah, lad," Bess said with a grin. "Ya at the bottom o' the mountain and the avalanche is a-comin'."