Hi! I didn't die! Covid didn't get me, nor did working over 100 hours a week for months at a time. I'm back and am working a lot less hours and actually have time for my self so here I am working on this again. I've wanted to for a while but every time I opened it I couldn't focus on it and i have that small issue of struggling to read my own written notes cause my handwriting is trash.. but finally here is the next bit. On a side note, Can anyone teach me to write conversations? I feel like mine are rather stiff. Also I changed stuff and added some more to the first chapter. hopefully you can see some of the things I'm trying to set up with this chapter.
With out anymore rambling here you go!
Chapter 7
It had taken Harry most of the walk to Hogsmead just to calm down. Had the morning gone much nicer, with less violence, he probably would have asked one of the teachers or madam Pomfrey for directions to madam Bones' office. At present Harry had no idea where it was.
It didn't state in the letter where or how to get there just that he could come any time Sunday. Harry assumed her office was in the Department of magical law enforcement or DMLE as it is commonly written. Was the DMLE part of the ministry or was it its own separate building like Saint Mungos? He would have to find out fast.
Flooing from the three broomsticks to the Leaky cauldron was a terrible experience. Flying by different fireplace exits until he was practically spat out at his destination.
After being laughed at for practically landing on his face, Tom the bartender was kind enough to explain that the DMLE was in the ministry and to get there you could floo or use a booth.
Harry didn't know what a booth was and didn't wanna seem dumb for not knowing so instead decided to go back into the abomination of travel that was called the floo. One more almost faceplant later and he was in an atrium.
Pulling himself up off the floor he took a moment to look around and what he saw made his jaw go slack.
The far wall was lined with elevators with black metal cages you would find in old buildings . Up above were massive windows looking into the sky and letting light rain down on the many people walking around. In the center was a large fountain that depicted a wizard, a goblin, a centaur and a house elf. The three non-human species looking at the wizard in awe with his wand spewing water.
In a single look Harry decided the big gold statue was arrogant and definitely an awful thing to have in an atrium as nice as this one. Before he could continue his thoughts he was almost run over as the fireplace he had just came out of lit up and another wizard came rushing out and pushing past him.
Stepping away from the fireplace and more into the atrium Harry saw the entire back wall was fireplaces. Easily thirty or more and half had people flying out of them with seemingly no pause as they continued their journey to whatever destination they had, and the other half had small lines of people stepping in and disappearing.
For just a few minutes Harry disappeared in the crowd of people going to and from their destinations. From the time it took Harry to get from the fireplace he came out of to the front desk not a single person seemed to recognize him, or maybe they didn't care. After the violent morning Harry had, being in a crowd and having no one seem to care or stare at him was a small slice of heaven.
Nothing lasts forever.
Harry approached the front desk where a pretty brunette in her early twenties sat. Before Harry could ask anything she gasped and practically shouted.
"Harry Potter!"
A good portion of the crowd seemed to stop and stare. Whispers started immediately.
"Harry Potter in the ministry?"
"Is he here?"
"I want to see him"
"Does he really have the scar?"
Harry did his best to ignore it but was pretty sure his face went red with the attention. The young lady behind the desk blushed with embarrassment realizing her blunder and gave a soft "sorry" before straightening her appearance trying to be much more professional than her outburst.
"What can I help you with mister Potter?"
Harry attempted to steel his nerves to get rid of his blush from the attention but didn't totally succeed.
"I uh.. I have an appointment with madam Bones but I don't know how to get to her office"
"Madam Bones?" The receptionist asked, clearly surprised.
"Yeah, uh.. she said to some see her Sunday but I'm not sure where to go" Harry said rather uncertainly. Madame Bones didn't say where to go or give a specific time.
Was that special treatment? Was it normal? Does she open her schedule for everyone? Is it just because it's Sunday? Harry didn't have any answers but wasn't going to ask because he didn't want to stand out even more. People were already staring and listening in. Who knows what sorta rumors will be around. Knowing his luck it's already going to be in the papers tomorrow.
BOY WHO LIVED SPEAKS TO MADAM BONES ABOUT ATTACKING STUDENTS AT BREAKFAST.
Or.. something just as ridiculous.
Harry was soon brought out of his thoughts by the receptionist. "Madam Bones' office is at the back of level two. Just go to an elevator and once you're at level two walk all the way to the back and her office has her name on it."
"Alright. Thank you" Harry did his best to keep his voice even while other people listened in and whispered.
Acting quick Harry spotted the elevators and headed towards them. Getting in an empty one and pressing the fancy two, the metal cage doors closed and an overly fake female voice spoke "level two. Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services."
By the time the female voice had finished her spiel about the second level the elevator gave a loud *ding* and the doors opened to reveal a large open room and a great many cubicles although most were empty, if because it was Sunday and most had the day off or the place was generally understaffed harry didn't know. Off to one side looked to be a few benches and holding cells. The other side of the room was doors to storage or possibly offices? Interrogation rooms? Whatever they were for the rooms didn't have any labels, only numbers marked the doors. At the back of the room was a wall of door with nameplates. This is where Harry figured madam bones office would be, so he made his way towards the fall wall.
As Harry got closer to the wall he read off names that he didn't recognize, nor stood out very much besides the rank that preceded the name. Passing a few that said sergeant and even one that said captain until finally coming upon a door that said Director Bones.
Taking a steadying breath Harry knocked on the door three times. A pause of silence then a voice called "Enter".
Was she in a good mood? Was he interrupting something? How should he greet her? Would mam be enough? Madam? Would she already know about this morning's incident in the great hall or would he have to bring it up? Would he be in trouble for it? Could he even call it self defense?
Too many questions bounced around in Harry's head and he froze with his hand on the door handle. Sweat started to form on his brow and his nerves got to him, binding him in place.
"Enter" the female voice called a second time, breaking Harry's pause and he opened the door.
M.A.
Amelia Bones sat in her office unable to seriously concentrate on her mountain of paperwork. It was Sunday and she would much rather be at home relaxing or doing almost anything else rather than be crammed in her office, but as director and having low funding for her department meant everyone worked extra.
Earlier in the week Amelia received a letter from Harry Potter and it specifically requested her and that piqued her interest. Why request her and not any other auror? That was enough to have her attention and though in her position she normally only dealt with red tape, Bureaucrats, and politicians, dealing with the young Mr Potter would be a welcome change of pace.
As any good investigator knows, information is everything. Knowing that Amelia had written to her niece Susan who was in Harry's year at Hogwarts to find out what she thought and knew about him. While she waited for a reply she did a bit more poking around to see if he had any records both in the magical and muggle worlds. What she found only made things more confusing.
From his magical guardian being Dumbledore himself, to his school grades being impossibly average in every regard except for defense and transfiguration, though they were only a bit above average, To Harry's hospital records. The magical ones were just written off as healthy and that in itself was odd but it was the muggle ones that took her hours to dig up that bothered her the most.
Not a single time did Harry Potter ever go to a hospital or clinic for a sickness. No flu, no cold, not a fever or chickenpox. Every time he was brought in it was always for physical ailments. Cuts, bruises, concussions, fractures, broken bones, It was all on the list.
The most disturbing part to madam Bones?
It was a long list.
A very long one.
Any idiot could see that something didn't add up with Harry Potter's life. Amelia didn't know If nobody noticed because they didn't want to, or because it was being covered up. She hoped talking with the young man would clear it up, if not then at least point her in the right direction.
When her niece Susan's letter did arrive with what she knew of Harry, it helped clear up the picture she was forming in her mind of the young man. The picture was getting much more clear though she didn't feel she had any color to it yet.
Susan's letter didn't have too much fact besides her own personal encounters with Harry. Classes and meetings in the hall that made him seem like a quiet and shy boy. Susan did include all the rumors she had heard. From killing Quirrell to basilisks to fending off a hoard of dementors. Plenty of rumors surrounded Harry but Susan herself said she couldn't prove any true.
A knock on her door brought Madam Bones from her thoughts so she called the person to enter. After a moment's pause and no one came in she called again wondering if they didn't hear her or maybe they left. This time someone did enter and it was just the person that had been on her mind for the last while . The last few days even.
When Harry opened the door she could tell immediately why she called twice to enter. He was nervous. The look on his face reminded her of a cat discovering a new room with people. He poked his head in and slowly stepped into the room almost as if he was afraid of being yelled at or chased out by some unknown source. His face was attempting to copy stone, but his eyes didn't seem to get the memo. They shined with curiosity and fear and a great deal of other things.
Harry entered the room and gave a polite, if a bit quiet "good morning" to which Madame Bones gave her own and then waited on him to start the meeting. He was after all the one to request it.
"I'm sorry. I'm not sure where to start" Harry stated.
"Why don't you Have a seat and start from the beginning, or even start with what you'd like to accomplish and I'll see what I can do to help you get there?" The way she said it was much more of a question than an order or statement in a way of trying to calm Harry down by making him feel it's completely his choice to be here.
While waiting for Harry to start, Madame bones adjusted her monocle. Something that seemed rather innocent to most but to a select few who knew meant she was cautious.
Cautious how? Well the monocle was primarily to help her one eye see, but along the rim was a few runes she could touch to activate a few enchantments. Most if not all were detection related. Weapons, charms, curses and the like. To Madame Bones it was a habit to brush over all the runes whenever she adjusted the eye piece. She didn't expect any results from Harry and seeing what she saw almost made her drop the monocle.
Sure enough it was Harry, but not quite the same. Through the monocle he glowed green indicating a glamor charm. Normally that would mean an imposter posing as someone else. In this case it was pretty obvious it wasn't. It was the Potter heir alright, just.. Sunken? Skinny? Looking extremely worn down and exhausted?
Amelia's mind clicked another piece of the young Potter puzzle into place. If the glamor charm was strong enough and if a healer didn't look for it then it might disguise anything wrong with a person. That only explained the magical health records and left too many questions about his current appearance and the muggle records. Were they connected? She couldn't ask without explaining how she knew and right now she wanted the young man in front of her to feel comfortable enough to talk about the meeting, and she had a feeling his health records and appearance was a touchy subject.
"Well" Harry started. "Originally I wrote to you about how I had been thrown down stairs and almost killed. I had wanted to find out who and all that and see what could be done but, this morning they kinda confronted me, admitted it was them and I kinda smashed their face into the table in front of the great hall." Finishing a little meekly before rushing to add "But he attacked me first!.. Though.. I don't know what to do now."
"Smashed his face into a table? In Front of the great hall?" Madame Bones repeated slowly.
"He attacked you first?... Show me." The last was clearly not a question.
"Uhh show you? Like.. how I hit him? Or like the great hall?"
Madam Bones blinked, having forgotten that even though the young adult before her had the name of Potter he was not raised in the magical world.
"Have you ever heard of a pensieve?"
Harry shook his head.
"It's a fascinating device that allows someone to review a memory"
She pulled a small stone bowl with runes carved along its surface from her top drawer and placed it on her desk. A gassy silver liquid seemed to fog the bowl.
A bowl? How was that supposed to show a memory? Would it work like a tv but laying down? Project it on the surface or something?
With a flick of her wrist Madam Bones had her wand out and Harry froze on the spot.
"Relax, I'm just going to place my wand to your temple and all you have to do is think of the memory and ill copy it"
Harry was absolutely still with a stranger's wand against his head and his anxiety went through the roof but still managed to think of the memory. Once it was copied the weirdly silver blue stand of .. memory? Trailed from the witches wand was placed in the bowl. Harry watched closely expecting something to happen. Nothing did. The weird stringy thing just floated on the surface.
"Bring your face to the bowl and you'll understand," Madame bones said before placing her face by the bowl and vanishing. It took a moment for Harry to gather his courage and do the same. As soon as his face got close to it a quick falling sensation then he was suddenly standing back in the great hall watching himself eat breakfast. The only thing that was different was the director of law enforcement was also now watching him. But not this him, the him from this morning.
Madam Bones had a notepad out and a quill. She was avidly taking notes even though nothing had even happened yet. It was a surreal experience watching all the events repeat but not being able to do anything except stand and watch.
After watching the whole thing five times and asking small questions Madam Bones flicked her wand and the memory was suddenly gone and Harry found himself back in the office staring at the bowl. It took a few moments for Madam bones to gather her thoughts before speaking.
"After everything you've told me there are a few options we could take. First , you could attempt to call him out to a duel to settle it. Second, you could press charges for attempted murder. Thought that might not stick after your .. retaliation. Third, you could attempt to bring it up to a professor or the headmaster and if they do see your side, the best case is Flint would get expelled. More likely suspended or something smaller but with the way Dumbledore didn't react i'd guess that nothing would happen"
Harry thought for a moment. "Then .. I probably need to learn how to duel properly. Is it different for adults to minors?"
"Adults can kill or permanently maim if they both agree on the rules. Minors go till one is incapacitated or loses a wand… why?"
"Well.. because the goblet chose me, In a tournament for adults .. I'm considered an adult temporarily till the tournament is over. At least . That's what the goblins say" Harry finished a bit quietly suddenly doubting Strongtooth for a moment. He wouldn't lie to him, would he?
Before Harry could spiral further into any doubt Madam Bones broke his train of thought.
"Well the goblins may be a lot of things, but they never lie"
Relief went through Harry before guilt for doubting Strongtooth.
"Then.. in theory.. I could challenge Flint to a duel?" Harry asked half planning it but obviously needing much more practice first but also had the tournament to deal with.
"He might not accept but yes you could. Although if he doesn't accept you could call him out publicly as a coward especially after what you wrote me he did to your previous wand. Once labeled a coward for that it would be permanent." Seeing Harry's look of confusion she clarified "kinda like when everyone knows you're a noble or rich.. But negative"
"So duel. After weighing of the wands. And the first task. Somewhere between trying to learn magic, banking, family stuff, and finding someone to adopt me?"
"Adopt you?"
Hearing Harry mention being adopted, another small puzzle piece slipped into place of her image of Harry Potter. Dumbledore was his magical guardian but with the memory she just viewed it was obvious he was not doing his job. Harry's sunken appearance through the glamor charm. It would make sense that he would be looking for somewhere else to live if his home life was as bad as his muggle medical records made it out to be. So wit his temporary status as an adult in the magical world he could try and set up is life to
"I ..uh.. Would rather spend my time in the magical world if possible, and with the temporary adult status I can try and make it happen before summer."
Even with Harry's explanation clearly leaving out details it still made enough sense most wouldn't pry deeper. After all, what magical child would rather spend its time in the mundane world when the magical one was.. well magical?
"Do you know anything about the adoption process in the magical world?" Madam Bones asked.
"Not really. I was gonna go about finding out after the first task.. Assuming I survive."
Another small moment of silence. "Well Mr Potter, I can show you where to start and even point you in the right direction for your duel if you'd like? I can send a list of books or even a few of my own."
Harry's eyes lit up. "That would be brilliant! But.. Why help me so readily?"
Amelia thought about how to reply for a moment. "Let's just say that I want you to succeed. Now the first book I'd recommend…"
M.A.
Harry and Amelia had talked over the next hour about the proper channels for adoption, spell books and basic dueling etiquette. The more they talked the more Harry relaxed with the director. It didn't take too long for him to discover she wasn't as uptight or stern as she came across, that it was mostly her work persona because if she didn't do that a lot of the men wouldn't take her too seriously.
The adoption process was actually rather simple. One simply needed to fill out the paperwork with the government and the goblins and a bit of bloodwork for the file. The issue with finding a household to adopt Harry lied with just that, finding people. Harry couldn't just place an ad in the paper because of his fame and there wasn't an office or news letter for it because adoptions in the magical world were pretty rare. There was an international adoption kind of paper they could put his name in and see what happens, but even with that it might get out. For right now they decided to put it on hold and think of other ideas and come back to it after the first task.
When it came to dueling and spells Amelia was a wealth of information from her time on the force to living through the previous war and even giving her own shot on the dueling circuit when she was much younger. It was much more information then Harry could totally absorb and by the time their meeting came to a close Harry had a list of books and a large amount of notes on spells and other things like when to attack shield or dodge.
Amelia Bones had no idea how the meeting was initially going to go or even what it would be about and by the end of it she could say she rather enjoyed it. She had given all the information she had on adoptions and even given a lot of her more basic knowledge of dueling and spells. She enjoyed that he did his best to soak up all she said and even wrote spell names and books and other notes. It was rather refreshing because Susan didn't care for any sort of violence even safe duels. She instead preferred charms and enchantments and therefore didn't want to learn this sort of stuff. And the aurors under her typically saw her as too high above to come to her with spells or other things.
Amelia could honestly say she was looking forward to seeing Harry again.
What was Amelia's reason for Helping Harry so much even though her job didn't require any of it? She simply liked to help others. It was the reason she originally joined the force and after meeting Harry and getting the impression he was a decent human being trying to get through and away from a tough past as well as being in a tough spot with the tournament, she simply wanted to see him succeed.
Much to Amelia's surprise Harry asked her for a favor just before leaving her office. It was clear he didn't know how to ask or even bring it up and once he did it caught her off guard and seemed like a strange request.
Harry was about to leave the Director's office. His hand was still on the door handle and the door was open when he paused and turned back to face Madam Bones.
"Er.. can I ask a favor?" it came out as almost a stutter. This was one of those questions. the random ones no one expects that end up changing quite a bit. in this case it was a fourteen year old fourth year student asking the director of the law enforcement for a favor. definitely not something that happens every day.. if ever.
"A favor? What sort of favor?" Madam Bones steepled her fingers. It definitely wasn't often someone asked a favor of someone of her position.
" Can .. Can you look into the trial of Sirius Black and tell me what you find? I've heard some things and would like to know if they're true."
"What exactly are you expecting me to find Mr Potter?"
Harry couldn't meet her eyes for fear of telling her what he knew about Sirius because technically he was an accomplice for helping him escape Hogwarts last year.
"Umm.. it will make more sense once you've looked at it" Harry replied with his eyes averted.
"Well you definitely piqued my interest.. Fine. I'll do it on one condition. "
Harry raised one eyebrow questioningly.
"The condition you owl me before your duel. I would like to see it and see what you can do when it happens."
Harry's face broke into a grin. "You have a deal! Thank you!" then practically ran out the door.
After sorting her thoughts and returning to her own work for a few hours, Amelia decided it was time for a break and with that ate her packed lunch and went to the records room to see what she could find on Sirius Black.
M.A.
Meanwhile Harry had gotten his own lunch at the leaky cauldron before heading straight to flourish and Blotts to look up the books that Madam Bones had recommended. He did manage to find two of the books. The first was a book on the dueling circuit, the rules, points and eliminations. The second book was on honor duels and how they worked and their etiquette. When you could challenge someone and also how.
Once Harry had paid for his books he had gone to the ice cream parlor Florean Fortescue. This is how Harry spent the rest of his time until his meeting with Strongtooth. Reading his books and eating ice cream. He probably shouldn't have gotten refills of ice cream every time his bowl was empty, but it wasn't often Harry got to treat himself.
A little after five Harry left the ice cream shop and went over to gringotts to meet with strongtooth.
It was only a five minute walk to the bank and once inside Harry went up to a teller and asked to see strongtooth. While a younger goblin was showing Harry to the office, he once again thought to himself that there is no way he could remember how to get here. Left, right, right, left, left, center, right. It was just too much to remember.
Harry had almost the same reaction seeing the office as he did last time. It seemed so plain and almost boring compared to the entrance to gringotts. The entrance had statues and large desks where goblins counted, weighed, and measured everything from precious metals like gold and silver to gems of all shapes and colors. The office was.. Small? Not grand? Harry didn't know the right word.. Normal? Were all the actual offices this normal? Or was it different for each goblin? Were there rules in gringotts how they were allowed to decorate their offices?
"Good afternoon heir Potter" came kel's gruff greeting.
"Good afternoon" Harry replied before taking the same seat he sat in last time.
"Business first, then we can talk about any extra things"
Harry nodded thinking that seemed reasonable and the next twenty minutes were spent just doing that. Strongtooth went over what he had done with the Potter accounts since Harry had essentially put them back in his hands. Harry didn't really understand much but he did get that progress was good. Strongtooth did ask for his input here and there and had to explain it as he went but decisions were made and the direction for the Potter accounts. For now they would try and update the old investments before trying to find new ones.
"Next we have the family history. The Peverell's were difficult to find any solid facts on as they have been gone for the most part since the Romans gave up with taking England. After that it was mainly a single line that never grew much until eventually the last descendant married into the potter family about twelve hundred years ago. Many legends and myths surround them, even apparently children's bedtime stories."
"Children's stories?" Harry interrupted
"Yes . One in particular. I can try and find it and send it to you later. The family itself was rather much like the black family was recently, but not as dark. They seemed to be rather powerful magically, politically, and they had a hand in everything. They fought on different sides of different conflicts and because many of them got involved in fights many died in them. I could find nothing on the actual family magic besides legends of grand warriors to which the descriptions painted them closer to gods then wizards. So I'd take it with a grain of salt, mostly that they had some great warriors."
This was all interesting to Harry but most of this information was about two thousand years or older. What Harry really wanted to hear was the Potter history and he was sure Strongtooth started with the Peverell because he knew Harry would be more interested in his closer family.
"The Potter's, to start, were very similar to the Peverell's. They had a hand in everything, politically powerful, and seemed to fight in just about every conflict since they came to be.
They seemed to be more along the lines of business men than fighters, but when the Potters believed in something they would die for that belief if need be. The potters seemed to be magically powerful but either put up that as a front, or they actually were but didn't flaunt it. My personal guess is they were strong but had no need to prove it often and the rumors were enough to quell most people who would be against them."
Harry did his best to soak up every bit of information that was told to him. Trying to commit it to memory.
"The Potters never seemed to stick to one thing. Many have been teachers or curse breakers, a few famous explorers, politicians, potioneers, business men, and even a minister of magic. As for family magic it's almost as bad as the Peverell's for any concrete evidence. Some sources say enchanting, some say grand warrior magery that's kept hidden and others have said wards.
If you are to find a grimoire in the family vault or in one of the houses that can tell you, but nothing is clear from any public records. Either the Potters didn't want people to know or its entirely they did not specialize in anything at all."
Once Strongtooth had given all the information he could find on Harry's family backgrounds it was Harry's turn to bring up the next topics. First was his meeting with Madam Bones earlier that day and what she had suggested about flint and even what happened early that morning. Strongtooth even offered to help see what he can find out about other adoption channels.
The next topic was also on Harry. He wanted to see some of the properties he apparently owned. Specifically the three he had noted before. The cottage where his parents lived, his mum's apartment and the potter manor. Strongtooth readily agreed and said he would find out what state they were in then send him portkeys, and also look into some of the others.
The last topic of the day was a rather large shock to strongtooth..
"Hypothetically speaking, if someone were to.. uh.. kill a wild beast and its hide or other parts were valuable or consumable.. How would one go about getting it all harvested?" Harry manages not to stutter the question but, any idiot could tell there was no confidence in his voice in that moment.
Kel was not expecting that as a question and started to reach into his bottom drawer of the desk for the proper paperwork to fill out.
"It's a simple process to claim it and have it harvested. What sort of beat did you get? Acromantula? Their venom, eyes and even silk are worth a bit of gold and I know there is a nest in the forest by the school. Perhaps something else from the forest?"
Harry looked down at his feet and mumbled rather quickly "I.. uh.. Killedabasilisktwoyearsago and.. Well..itsstillsittingthere"
Strongtooth dropped the paperwork from his hand onto his lap and his head snapped towards Harry in an almost comical fashion.
The goblin manager did his best to regain his composure and pick up the papers "I beg your pardon. Did you just say basilisk?" Harry nodded, still looking at the floor.
"You killed a basilisk.. At twelve? What sort of spell did you use?"
"I.. well.. I didn't have my wand on me.. I used a sword"
Strongtooth nodded thoughtfully. "You found out what it was, probably lost your wand in the fight, got your hands on a sword and chopped off its head all without looking it in the eyes? How long was it? Six feet? Maybe ten?"
"I don't know. I haven't measured it.. But mostly yes. Found out what it was, went to confront it, lost my wand. A phenix scratched out its eyes, managed to get the sword of Gryffindor and stabbed it though its brain.. And over sixty feet easily."
"OVER SIXTY?! Cleansing Cherufe!" a bunch of what Harry assumed was Strongtooth's native language was mumbled for a couple moments before Kel composed himself once more.
"What's a Cherufe? What does it cleanse?" Harry asked curiously, pulling his eyes from the floor.
"Magma crystal metal and rock in a living form, and hopefully nothing. We goblins find them mining every so often and even the small ones no bigger than you can wipe out a goblin town with ease. They're normally found in volcanoes or deep underground in or near lava. The problem is they also like precious metals and gems. In ancient times goblins believed they would un earth a mountain of one that would burn the surface of the world and cleanse it of all life."
"Oh." Was all Harry could say after the explanation.
Once the paperwork was all settled Strongtooth said he would be there with the harvesting team personally to see the size of the creature. They would have to agree on a day and time then come to Hogwarts to get it from the chamber of secrets.
By the time Harry got back to Hogwarts it was almost eight so he stopped at the kitchens for a late snack and went back to his dorm bed to read some more of his books and head to sleep. It was a long day after all.