Disclaimer: I alas do not own Harry Potter I wish I did but I don't. All I own is this computer I'm working on and a few other items in this room of mine.
A/N: I must say some of you people are just to much one of you has even asked me to make the chapters shorter so I can update more often. Anyway I hope you like the new chapter and I look forward to hearing from you about what you think of it.
Chapter 11: Hogwarts and Dragons.
/ Telepathic /
01 September 1996 09:45 PM A.D
It was the day for Harry to return to Hogwarts, but Harry and Silvenestri were still at the Dursley' at 9:45 am, Tonks having left earlier that morning for guard duty at the platform.
Harry was hoping to get to the platform by ten but Silvenestri unfortunately was going through malt and was not willing to move. The dragon was sprawled in the lounge, her large silver form twitching every now and then followed by a furious bout of scratching and rubbing against the floor.
"Silvenestri come on. We have to move. You can go to the forest when we get there and finish your shedding in peace, but we have to go now." Harry watched the dragon in his living room tapping one foot impatiently. He wanted to see Tonks before being pinned by his friends who would want answers about what happened to him over the summer.
Silvenestri looked at Harry with a look that spoke clearly of her irritation and unwillingness to move before snorting her disgust. Her formed blurred and shrank and the little girl stood there dressed in black and silver Muggle clothing with her silver hair pulled back into a ponytail.
"Fine! You have no idea what shedding is like, do you? You can't understand. When we get to this train thing you can just leave me alone. Train thingy. Carriage? What ever it is." She grumbled while walking to join Harry who was standing by the fire.
Well knowing what a shedding dragon's temper was like Harry ignored her tirade. He nodded and made certain that all the things they would need at school were in his pocket, thankful that Tonks had shrunk them down the night before.
After making sure Silvenestri looked presentable Harry took some floo powder and handed it to Silvenestri. "Ok. You go first and when you get there don't wander around. Just wait for me or for Tonks to find. Understand?"
Silvenestri nodded and took the powder from Harry's hand stalking to the fireplace and muttering darkly about idiot Dragon Lords who thought that malting dragons were turned into morons. Of course she understood what she had to do. With a final grumble she threw the powder into the fire and called out the name of the platform and in a burst of green flame she was gone.
Harry grinned, knowing he really should not irritate a malting dragon but she could be such fun when she was malting, She was just so incredibly easy to annoy. Taking one last look around the room and he stepped into the fireplace and followed Silvenestri to platform 9 ¾ and for the ride to Hogwarts for the New Year. He knew already that it was going to be an unusual year, even for him.
Harry arrived at the platform a moment later into the usual mad confusion. Most of the students had all ready arrived and were talking with friends they had note seen over the summer break.
Looking for the distinctive silver hair of Silvenestri Harry began to frown when he couldn't see her anywhere. Giving a sigh and worrying that the confusion had been too much for the irritable dragon child Harry reached out with his mind. / Silvenestri, where are you? / He began to fight his way away from the floo exit and through the crowd of students and parents.
/ Over by the gate to Muggle London. At least that is what this man said. / She sent back to Harry who promptly altered his direction whilst muttering about idiotic people moving children around and away from the floo exit when their parents could be right behind them. He really should do something to them if he should ever find out who did it.
/I'm coming. Stay there. /
Harry arrived at the gate in time to see Hermione and her parents arriving through the gate. They were followed through by Ron and Ginny behind them and Mrs Weasley arrived last. All of them were talking about how their summer had been and how much fun the new year might be.
Hermione was the first to notice the little silver haired girl standing by the gate with a very bored look on her face. "Are you all right? Lost you parents?" Hermione asked as she crouched down next to the girl. She found herself looking into starlight eyes that looked back at her with an almost judging expression within their depths.
Silvenestri looked Hermione up and down, ready to snap that of course she was alright when she realised that she knew this girl. With narrowed eyes she flicked her gaze over Ron, recognising them both from Harry's photos before and deciding that she might have to be polite or irritate Harry for being rude to his friends.
"No, I'm fine thank you Hermione. I am just waiting for Harry to come and get me." Spotting Molly in behind them Silvenestri gave a small secret smile at thought of what she had done that day a few weeks ago.
Hermione looked at the girl before her. 'Harry? When did Harry look after a little girl?' she thought and was joined by Molly and her two children in her speculation. "Oh. Where is Harry? I haven't seen him all summer." Hermione said standing up and allowing Molly to look at this absolutely adorable child before them.
Silvenestri sensed that Harry was close and looked around the station, then pointed to a cloaked man standing less than 6 feet tall, the cowl of his cloak hiding his face. "There he is." With a wide grin that had Molly cooing she ran up to Harry who quickly caught her up in a tight hug. "Harry, next time you go first." Silvenestri insisted after Harry gently put her down.
Harry nodded in quiet agreement and with a deep breath prepared himself to face the questions and walked briskly up to Hermione and Ron, pulling his hood back and giving them both a smile. "Hey you guys. So how was your summer?" He said as Silvenestri stood close to him and one of her tiny hands crept into his.
Molly frowned at the sight of Harry and the child together. She had the strangest feeling that she had met this child before but she could not place where. "Harry, before you go into what happened this summer could you tell me why you are looking after this little girl?"
Harry smiled and looked down at Silvenestri who was starting to look restless and was probably getting hungry. Malting dragons were notorious for having no patience and she had not been feeling like eating this morning.
"Her parents threw her out for being a witch so I look after her now. I found her on the streets and took her home and when she found out she was a witch Aunt Petunia ordered me to look after her. Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Ron and Ginny, this is Silvenestri." Harry slipped a piece of beef jerky to Silvanestri for her to chew on while they made their way toward the train.
Molly, Hermione and Ginny looked at Harry with wide eyes when he gave the beef to Silvenestri and were about to say something when Tonks walked by and told them that the train was leaving soon. Everyone quickly said their good-byes to their parents and Molly and Mrs Granger whispered to Harry that beef jerky was not exactly appropriate to feed a little girl before Harry managed to board the train. He saw Tonks board the train before he drew Silvanestri into the carriage in search of a seat.
Harry found seating in the last carriage from the trains engine and settled there with Silvenestri and Tonks and joined them soon after. Harry found himself wondering what he was going to do about his friends if they found out about Silvenestri. For a while they watched as Silvanestri squirmed on the seat, trying to get comfortable and Harry knew her malt was really beginning to annoy her.
Tonks sighed and settled on Harry's lap and drew Silvenestri to lie on the seat beside him. The dragon child curled up like a cat and Tonks stroked her hair soothingly until she finally fell asleep next to them, her hair taken out of the pony tail and permitted to fall over the side of the seat pooling on the floor a little.
"So Harry, how did it go back home after I left?" Tonks asked while running a hand through his shoulder length hair.
"Oh, nothing much happened. We had a small delay because Silvenestri has started shedding scales and that always makes her irritable. She did not want to get up or eat but other than that it was all right." Harry replied, placing another piece of jerky next to Silvenestri's nose while giving Tonks a quick kiss. "She will eat the jerky when she wakes up and that will content her until she can hunt."
Tonks nodded and after sharing another kiss she slipped off of his lap. It was only a few minutes later when Ginny walked into the carriage with her things. "Hey. Harry can you help me with this?" she said seeing Harry and Tonks there.
Harry nodded and got up and helped pull in the trunk then lifted it to the overhead rack and moved back to his seat as Tonks rose and said that she had to patrol the train but that she would be back later.
Harry nodded and just as he sat down Silvenestri jumped off the seat and into his lap while chewing furiously on the jerky. There was a faintly feral look about her, with her eyes gleaming and her hair now in wild disarray. Harry smiled at her and lightly smoother her hair back from her face and then looked at Ginny who was sitting across from him with a slight smile on her face.
"So, Ginny. What did you do this summer? I take it you didn't make Prefect." Harry asked while continuing to run a hand through Silvenestri hair in an effort to tame it a little.
Ginny looked out the window as the train lurched into motion. "Nothing of interest just helped the twins with their shop. Your right, I didn't make prefect but I don't mind. What about you? I mean you look far stronger than you did before and now your acting like you're a father." She looked at Harry and Silvenestri who had finished now her snack and was giving her a small content smile. She smiled back at the little girl.
Harry checked that Silvenestri had at least eaten neatly and then looked up at Ginny. "Yes, well having Tonks train me over the summer helps with the strength and as for Silvenestri… well, after she was thrown out of her home and the Dursley's found out that she was a witch I just bonded with her. We get on really well. We understand each other."
Ginny nodded and settled down and while the train roared through the countryside she talked with Harry about the summer and what they would be studying this year. Ron and Hermione from their Prefect meeting and settled into seats. Harry sat back and listened to them all talk about their summer. When asked about his summer he smiled and said that other than gaining Silvenestri, it had been the usual sort of thing, fight with the Dursleys, train with tonks, fight with the Dursleys… That sort of thing.
The lunch trolley came and went and Harry was able to get Silvenestri to eat some chocolate frogs but the child refused to eat much.
/ Silvenestri, are you feeling all right? Are you able to keep your form? / Harry thought to her while Ron and Hermione sitting across from him continued talking about their summer.
He was silently wishing that his training as a Dragon Lord could have been completed, afraid that he might not know enough about the needs of a dragon. One thing that did worry him was that some foods eaten so commonly now just didn't exist in the past. He was afraid that feeding her the wrong thing, or too much or not enough of something might harm or even kill Silvenestri. All he could do was give her samples and hope that there would not be a bad reaction.
Silvenestri shook her head and whimpered softly as she started to look even sicker than before.
Harry looked into her eyes and he could see the struggle there. She was loosing control and it was inevitable that she would change back to her normal form soon. Harry sprang to his feet and ran over to the car door yanking it open and yelled down the hall, not caring what others might think.
"TONKS GET HERE NOW!"
Tonks showed up at a run, a little out of breath but stepped into the carriage in time to see Silvenestri fall on to the floor and start to give off a low glow. She only hopped that none of the others had noticed the glow as she scooped the child into her arms and nodded to Harry before she vanished with a pop. Outside of the limits of Hogwarts wards she reappeared, the child glowing in her arms.
Back on the train Hermione and Ginny looked at Harry with concern as he dropped into the seat where Silvenestri had been sitting until a moment ago. The worried expression on his face did not show just how frightened he was at what might be happening with his friend, but he dared not show his fear here and now.
"Harry will she be alright?" Ginny whispered.
" Why did you call for Tonks and not some one else?" Hermione queried moving to sit next to Harry.
"I'm sure that she well be fine in a day or two. It's just that… she was a little sick this morning and I guess the chocolate didn't agree with her." Harry sighed. "The reason I called for Tonks is because Silvenestri and Tonks are like sisters now and well… I didn't want someone she does not know taking her any where. Besides, I knew that Tonks was on patrol in this section of the train." Harry looked out of the window, worrying about what might be happening to Silvenestri.
Hermione looked at Harry and could see the concern for Silvenestri in his eyes. "It's alright Harry. I'm sure that Tonks and Madam Pomfrey can get her well. Why by the opening term feast she will be sitting there all smiles and with a hearty appetite. Now why don't you tell us what you did this summer? You never said much before." She gave him a quick hug to let him know she was there for him and that she really was sure that Silvenestri would be ok.
Harry nodded, a slightly glazed look in his eye at the thought of just how healthy an appetite that particular little girl could exercise. After taking a deep breath to steady himself he told her about his summer of training. Leaving out the fact that he had been dating Tonks, not just studying with her, going back in time, making deals with none other than the Grim Reaper and breaking into the Ministry of Magic to destroy a priceless artefact. Oh yes, he thought, and acquiring a dragon. Yes, he reflected, it was not a very eventful summer at all.
Harry told them of his training under Tonks and of how she was such a hard to satisfy teacher, resisting the urge to grin like an idiot. Hermione jumped up and opening her trunk rummaged around in the contents before she straightened with a paper in hand.
"Harry did you hear about what happened at the Ministry the other week? Here, I saved this for you to read." She handed him the newspaper cut out before sitting down and waiting for him to read it.
Harry read the headline and raced an eyebrow, fighting down the urge to fidget.
Ministry Lost Artefact
Strange break in at the Ministry of Magic.
It is reported that unidentified persons broke into the Ministry of Magic and destroyed a powerful artefact dated from the time of Merlin. It has been rumoured that the artefact, a Magical Portal, has for years been used by the justice department of the Ministry to punish dangerous criminals. This rumour has been denied by the Minister, who claims that the portal was kept at the ministry for safekeeping as it was considered to be an extremely dangerous item. The Minister of Magic said in an interview with this reporter that the incident is being investigated and that a search is under way for the criminals.
Our sources claim that a total of six Auror's were attacked and that all six had been hit with either stunning or Body binding spells. Sources say that the Auror's were found in the gate room and in the main lobby of the Ministry. The leader of the Auror team claims that there were three people involved in the break in though other sources suggest up to seven might have been involved. One person has been described as being male, approximately 6 feet tall and was wearing a silver cloak adorned with gray runes on the hem. A more detailed description is not available at this time. An unsubstantiated rumour claims that one of the criminals was described as being a little girl no older than 6 years of age with black hair and green eyes. A Ministry spokesman states that this description is extremely suspect as it is thought that the criminal was disguised by a spell.
The artefact that was attacked is said to have been destroyed beyond repair. The Ministry requests that should anyone see persons matching the people described report it to the Auror in charge of the case, one Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Harry looked up at Hermione and Ron to discover that, Ginny had left the carriage while he had been reading. "Well, that was unusual. I wonder who did it?" He commented, careful to keep a straight face and not reveal his amusement.
"Harry." Hermione whispered. "You do know that you can't get Sirius back now that the gate is destroyed, right?"
Ron nodded his head in agreement, sitting opposite Harry, watching as Hermione rested a hand lightly on Harry's shoulder. He knew how upset Harry had been when Sirius fell through the gateway.
Harry nodded and it was not hard at all to look sad. He had come to grips with Sirius's death with the help of Tonks and though he would always think of his god father with sorrow and longing, he could move on.
With a pop of displaced air Tonks appeared right in front of Harry and his friends. Leaning close to Harry and in a low voice so that Hermione and Ron wouldn't hear she assured him that Silvanestri was alright. "I got there just in time and she is in the forest now resting. She should be at the table waiting for you when you arrive but I'll tell you now. Don't ever give her chocolate again or I'll feed you to the sharks. She is allergic to it, Harry. "
Harry nodded wide eyed with relief and let Tonks go back to her job then he told Hermione and Ron that Silvenestri was fine and that she would meet them at the feast. He sighed and said that she had not told him that she was allergic to chocolate.
"Perhaps she did not know?" Hermione murmured. "We all will make sure that she eats nothing with chocolate in it."
The rest of the trip was uneventful with Tonks stopping by every now and then to see how everyone was doing and to talk with Harry about how he could improve his training.
The ride from the station up to the castle was just as uneventful with Harry sharing a charge with Ron, Hermione and Ginny who had rejoined them just before they got off the train.
When they entered the hall it was to be greeted by Silvenestri now gowned in a long black dress. Her hair was still tried back in a ponytail and her eyes sparkled. Just by looking into those silvery blue eyes told them that she was alright and the way that she ran to Harry told them that she just wanted to be with Harry again.
Harry smiled at her and crouched down, holding his arms out wide to her as Silvenestri ran up to him and hugged him. With a gentle squeeze he picked her up. "There, Little One. Are you feeling better now?" Harry said with Silvenestri in his arms as the five of them entered the Great Hall.
Silvenestri nodded with a dazzling grin and let Harry carry her to where he and the others were going to be seated for the dinner. "I'm fine now, Harry. Just very, very hungry," she said sitting on Harry's left while Hermione and Ron was on his right. /I shed an awful lot of scales too, so I feel much, much better. /
Harry nodded and looked up at the head table to see Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall talking to each other. The potion's teacher, Professor Snape was looking at Harry and Silvenestri with a raised eyebrow while all of the other professors just talked amongst them selves.
It actually felt good to be back at Hogwarts.
Just then McGonagall stood up and left the room and Harry knew that she had gone to get the first year students. Hagrid walked into the Great Hall from one of the side doors and a quick look around the room showed him Harry and he raised a shaggy eyebrow at the silver haired girl seated next to him. Harry was thankful that that raised eyebrow was all the attention Hagrid offered in so public a place and watched as Hagrid settled into his chair. After a moment Professor McGonagall returned with the first years and the sorting ceremony began.
It was a good half an hour later before all the first years were sorted and seated at their tables but the Sorting Hat was still in the hall when Dumbledore rose to his feet at the head table. "Now we have one last person to sort and she is already sitting at a table, so if she would be so kind come forward." he said, turning his head and looking at the silver haired girl sitting next to Harry.
Silvenestri grasped Harry's and buried her head in his sleeve, aware of all of the eyes looking at her. After a moment Harry got to his feet and helped Silvenestri to hers and with a gentle caress of her hair he led the way to where the sorting hat was sitting on its stool.
'What is he doing? Has the spell broken? Silvenestri was to stay with me or that is what I told his memories of what was going to happen. He was to recall that he had agreed to her staying with me. If he has broken the spell… or has he broken only a part of it? Perhaps he is hoping the hat will tell him about Silvenestri?' Harry was careful to contain his scowl as he lifted Silvenestri onto the stool and then took the hat from McGonagall's hand.
Silvenestri looked nervously at Harry but he smiled reassuring at her and so did the strange elderly lady standing beside him, so she settled and waited. Harry placed the hat and grinned as the hat slipped down, her head vanishing under its beaten and battered form. He then stepped to one side and while the whole school waited he let his mind join with Silvenestri's for this important sorting.
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Silvenestri mindHarry felt a moment of disorientation and opened his eyes. The great silver form of Silvenestri, her new scales gleaming stood before the images of four people. His eyes widened as he recognised the people standing before his friend. He had seen their portraits and he had no doubt that they faced now the four founders of Hogwarts who were looking Silvenestri over with great interest.
He looked quickly about him and realised that he appeared to be standing within the Great Hall and that somehow the Sorting Hat was responsible for the appearance of the Hall and the Founders.
Harry walked over towards Silvenestri and as he walked he brought to his mind the image of his armour and cloak. He was a Dragon Lord and Silvenestri was his responsibility and he was not going to leave her to face these four without him. He was not afraid of these people and he had been taught that the Dragon Lords bent their knee to no one.
"You know you can just place her with me." He ran a hand over Silvenestri's nose and turned to look at the four founders with a smile.
Godric and Salazar, both white haired and dressed in ancient styled robes, the colours matching their individual house colours looked at Harry with their shock clearly evident. They had not expected to find themselves facing a Greater Dragon nor her rider, nor for that matter, had they expected to be summoned by the hat at all. Rowena, slender with black hair and golden eyes, dressed in a deep blue robe surveyed the dragon and the young man and seemed to smile at Harry though her lips did not move. Helga kept an expressionless face as she ran a hand absently through her blond hair and her blue eyes surveyed the dragon with interest. Her black robes hid her figure unlike Rowena's deep blue robes.
"And what are you doing here, Mr Potter?" Salazar said walking ahead of the others, his hair and beard trimmed closer to his head unlike Godric's flowing beard that was as long as Dumbledore's.
'They know me because of my Sorting and because I used the Sword of Gryffendor.' Harry thought. "I would have thought that that would be obvious to you Salazar. Silvenestri is my friend, my bonded. I would like a say in where she goes especially as I did not want her to be sorted." Harry ran a hand over her nose gently.
Rowena considered the young man and the dragon that almost purred under his ministrations and stepped forward to stop Salazar from saying anything. "I take it that you, Harry, are the last Dragon Lord? It was you that left that message there for us to find?" She said her voice gentle and easy on the ears but there was an undertone of steel that brought to mind Professor McGonagall.
Harry nodded then stepped forward, away from the dragon to stand in front of the founders and giving them all a slight bowing of his head. "Well then, where were you planing to placing her before I got here?" he said his hands resting on his hips.
Rowena answered him before anyone else could, moving closer to the dragon and the armoured figure. She motioned to the others to hold their peace for the moment, recalling how in her long ago days of youth she had had a crush on the legend of the last Dragon Lord. She could not say that she was disappointed either. Harry looked quite stunning in his armour and magical cloak.
"We were not exactly expecting to need to sort a dragon, my dear. However, it seems that we must, and that is what we were discussing when you decided to join us. The problem is, of course, that your friend meets the qualifications for all four houses. She has the cunning of Slytherin, the bravery of Gryffindor, the intelligence required for my own house and the loyalty of Hufflepuff. She has all of these things and we can not quite decide in which house to place her." Rowena said, lowering her head a little and watching Harry closely, waiting for him to say something.
Harry bit his lower lip and looked at the founders. Salazar was looking rather hungrily at Silvenestri and no doubt thinking of her power. Godric was looking at her and he could almost see him thinking of the bravery that she was capable of and the honour she might bring to Gryffindor. He met Helga's gaze and saw that she was simply watching him and waiting for him to do something. What it was she expected of him he had no idea and then he noted that Rowena too was simply looking at him. He resisted the urge to squirm under those knowing looks. They obviously thought that he was going to come up with some bright and all satisfying solution to their problem.
What was he to do? If he chose one over all the others he was likely to get a lightening charm up the butt… or worse. He looked again at the waiting founders and then at Silvanestri who had reared back to sit on her haunches and watch the proceedings with wide eyes. Eyes that held a remarkable amount of intelligence and wisdom considering her age.
Drawing a deep breath Harry faced the founders and reached back to rest a hand on Silvenestri's foreleg. "I believe that the only one who should make this decision is the one it will affect the most. I know that she is young but it is her life to lead as she sees best. I can tell her what is best for her but that would be my decision, not hers and she will have to live with that choice. The decision is Silvenestri's to make and I trust her to make the right one." With a light caress to that silver scaled leg Harry walked over to the join the founders and stood next to Rowena, giving her a small nod.
Rowena nodded back at Harry for both his choice and respecting his wisdom for letting Silvenestri decide before she placed a hand on his shoulder. All five, Harry and the founders of Hogwarts looked at the silver dragon facing them.
"You would have done well in my house, Harry," she said in a low voice.
Harry nodded slightly and fought a losing battle against a blush and turned his attention to Silvenestri. The dragon looked from one to the other and raised a claw to scratch at her chin. "I will remain with my friend not because of my bravery, but because of my loyalty to him." she said. A beaming smile broke out on the face of the obviously happy Godric and the dragon nodded her head at the slight nod of approval from Helga.
Rowena in turn nodded her approval of the choice and then looked at Harry. "You have a good friend there, Harry." About them the founders began to fade and Rowena lightly touched his shoulder. "Can you look after my descendent for me? She is the last of my line and she is not as strong as she looks. Do feel free to visit me anytime that you wish. My essence lies within Hogwarts on the same floor as your symbol." The last words were like a breath of wind as Harry and Silvenestri opened their eyes and the Sorting Hat was removed from Silvenestri head.
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The Great HallHarry opened his eyes in time to see Professor McGonagall take the hat from Silvenestri head and to hear the Gryffindor's clapping loudly. Obviously the Sorting Hat had announced to the entire school that Silvenestri was to enter Gryffindor and Harry looked down at his new watch that Tonks had given him to see that the Sorting of Silvenestri had taken all of 10 minutes.
He picked up Silvenestri and with a nod to Professor McGonagall he walked over to where he had been sitting before. Dumbledore rose at the high table and clapped his hands together once to gain attention.
"Now before we eat I will explain to you why Silvenestri was sorted and why she is here considering that she is only five years old. Her guardian is Harry Potter and he was unwilling to let anyone look after her other them himself. A deal was made between Harry and myself that she would be allowed to come with him to the school and go to all of his classes. Of course considering the level of magic that is being studied at Hogwarts this year by Harry, she has to remain quiet and must not interfere with his studies. As to the Sorting of her… Well let us say that she is a student of this school, as much a student at Hogwarts as are you all. Her lessons are just slightly delayed." He paused then clapped his hands, and the food appeared. "Now. Let the feast begin!"
Harry looked around at the others as Ron packed his plate with his usual gusto and started to eat as fast as he could. Hermione was taking small bites of her much smaller meal, as was Ginny, both eating with the decorum one would expect from a lady. He looked at Silvenestri who was stacking her plate with beef and pork. He reached to lightly touch her shoulder and inclined his head to a big plater of vegetables.
"Still feeling a little upset sweetie?" Harry asked as she began shovelling her meat into her mouth using a fork and not touching her knife to cut the slices into more manageable pieces.
Silvenestri scowled and then grinned, nodded and kept eating at a far slower pace than was her usual habit. Every now and then she would look at Ron who was eating almost as greedily as Dudley but not as fast or thankfully not with as much in his mouth at once.
/Too well done. Anyone would think that he was a dragon. He'll be as big a porker as the Dudley brat if he keeps eating like that. /
Harry stifled a laugh and began to fill his own plate and became aware of Hermione watching Silvenestri. "Something wrong?"
"Harry aren't you going to get her to eat some vegetables or fruit? A growing girl needs those things." She said dodging an impromptu food shower as Ron asked the same question nearly showering her with his dinner.
Harry looked at Silvenestri and then Hermione and shrugged slightly, offering a napkin to Ron to clean up his mess. "I should and normally I will, but she is still a little sick so I'll let her decide what goes into her mouth. I am trusting her not to over eat or eat something that is going to disagree with her." Harry said to Hermione with a pointed look at Silvenestri who gave her plate a considering look and began to eat again, this time at an even slower rate. Harry nodded, satisfied and then went back to his meal.
The rest of the dinner passed quietly with much laughing and talking and questions about who had been doing what over summer. Dumbledore rose to his feet as the noise in the hall began to ease as stomachs filled and people began to run out of questions. It was getting late and he clapped to gain their attention and addressed the school.
"A few announcements before we retire for the night. Now the standard rules of course are that the forest is forbidden and Mr Filch would like me to remind you that magic is not to be used in the halls. The list of things forbidden in the school has grown. The full list is posted in the outer hall and can also be attained in Mr Filches office. I would like to welcome back to Hogwarts Professor Lupin who has agreed to once again become our Dark Arts Teacher. For those of you who might be concerned about his problems we are taking every precaution to ensure that you are safe. Also I would like to thank Tonks and Mad-Eye Moody for coming to Hogwarts. They will be here to teach anyone who wishes to learn to fight Voldemort or simply to learn to defend them self after leaving school. These lessons will be held in conjunction with Defence Against the Dark Arts classes. Also as we now have a young child here at Hogwarts I wish to suggest to you all that should she break the rules you should hand her to her guardian for any appropriate punishments that might be required. Now off to bed with you. Harry would you and Silvenestri see your head of house now and do bring Miss Granger with you."
Harry rose to his feet and after taking Silvenestri by the hand and walked up to the head table with Hermione right behind him. Ron walked the first year students to the Gryffindor common room and waved slightly to Harry and Hermione as he led the students away.
When Harry and Hermione arrived at the head table most of the staff had left for the night but Professor McGonagall was still there as was Dumbledore and Tonks. Both talking with Minerva and all three looked up as they stopped at the table, Harry still holding Silvenestri's hand with Hermione standing on the other side of him. "You wanted to see me Professor?"
"Yes, Harry. We can't have Silvenestri in the boy's dorm rooms so if you are willing I thought that Miss Granger could look after her in the girl's rooms at night. Would that be acceptable to you Harry, Miss Granger?"
Harry looked at Hermione to see how she was taking this, expecting her to object, but to his surprise she actually looked quite pleased. She was looking after Silvenestri with a large smile on her face.
"I don't see why not but can I say one thing?" After Professor McGonagall nodded Harry continued. "Could you tell me where Tonks's room? Silvenestri and Tonks became very close over the summer, like sisters. Before you say anything about me knowing where she will be it is because I can't get up to the girl's room if anything should happen. Knowing where Tonks is would be a good idea because she would be willing to help if it was needed." Harry said looking his transfiguration professor in the eye.
Minerva considered the request and the reasoning and then looked over at Tonks to see how she was with this only to see that Tonks had moved over to Silvenestri and was cuddling her, talking to her softly. They did look much like sisters. "Well, I don't see why not. She is staying in the spare room just down from your common room door Harry. The painting of an old witch with a hawk on her shoulder is the door. Now it is late. Off to bed with you all."
Harry nodded and led the way with Hermione just behind him and Tonks and Silvenestri bringing up the rear and talking about the up coming school year.
They arrived at Tonks's room first, at the painting of an old witch with a brown hawk on her shoulder and Tonks gave the password and told Harry and Hermione what it was. With a final caress to Silvenestri's hair she bid them both a good night.
Harry walked up to the fat lady and looked to Hermione for the password. Hermione was a Prefect and would know it and no one had told him as yet what it was. Silvenestri stood right behind him looking at the painting with her head tilted to one side in most endearing fashion.
Hermione nodded and looked to the waiting Fat Lady and said "Dragon" and the portrait open to show the common room.
Walking in Harry found that most of the house had already gone to bed. All of Harry's 6th form and some of the 5th years as well lingered in the common room.
"What? … Why are you still up?" Harry said but got his answer when all of the girls there managed to get to Silvenestri and started to dote on her. Cries of how cute she was and what she would look like in other dresses and how lovely she looked in that dress sent a shock of pure terror through him. "Never mind." Harry almost ran over to where Ron and Neville were sitting with the other boys from his year. "Hey guys. Ah, by chance could you save Silvenestri from that horde of girls?"
Wide disbelieving eyes glared at Harry and Ron shook his head in a n emphatic 'no' and was about to answer Harry when a scream of fear ripped through the room. Before he could turn Harry had Silvenestri warped around his chest and shacking like a leaf. He looked up to see most of the girls looking rather put out by Silvenestri screaming at them but Hermione didn't look at all surprised.
Hermione waved at Harry and moved between the girls and the little girl clinging to him. "I think you all see and understand after this that she is obvious not use to large groups. Harry is a security blanket if she gets scarred. We will work on her slowly. Now all of you to bed. Lavender you can see her later since Silvenestri is staying with us." Hermione said to Lavender who was looking a little hurt that Silvenestri was scared of her. All of the girls who had been looking concerned and stunned now broke into smiles and nodded to each other after hearing this and began to file into the girls dorms.
Harry nodded his thanks to Hermione before looking down at Silvenestri and started to rub her back and calm her down. / It's ok, Sweetling. They were just trying to be your friend. I need to know if you can hold this form until after breakfast. Can you do that or not? / Harry thought to her while Hermione and Ron sat back and waited for Harry to calm her down.
/ I think I can but I will have to go to the cave right after breakfast. I need to reset the spell and my form but that will only take half an hour tops. / She sent back while her body cuddled comfortably into Harry and she sat on Harry's lap, her head resting on his shoulder.
Harry smiled at her then looked at Hermione. "Thank you for that. I was afraid something like this might happen because Silvenestri has not been around this many people. Even back at her old home she was left alone and had very few friends from what she has told me."
Hermione nodded understandingly after a few minutes she rose to her feet and offered to take the now sleeping little girl from Harry's arms to bed. She could not help looking at Harry and thinking that so much about him had changed. More surely than merely acquiring a little girl could accomplish.
Harry nodded and carefully handed Silvenestri over and with Ron behind him he walked up to the boy's dorm room and to his bed hoping that Silvenestri was right about being able to hold her form.
Hermione looked at the silver haired child asleep in her arms and sighed softly. "I think that there is more to you than meets the eye." Then being careful she walked up to the dorm and started to get ready for a good nights sleep. While she changed Lavender gently changed Silvanestri to pyjamas and settled her to bed. Both girls smiled at the sleeping child and tumbled into bed themselves.
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Dumbledore's officeAlbus Dumbledore was sitting in his chair in his office looking at the Sorting Hat with a look of utter exasperation. He had been trying for some time now to get the hat to tell him about this child that Harry had taken under his wing.
"Come on. Tell me about this child. I know that you know about her, it is in your very nature to sense these things and I must know if she is a threat to Harry." He argued, pulling gently at his beard, a habit he had lost a great many years ago but which had made a come back recently.
The Hat made a somewhat unusual noise, a cross between a blown raspberry and a muffled cough and then plainly huffed at the Professor. "The child is no threat Dumbledore now leave me alone. I need my beauty sleep. You do too." Again that odd noise issued from the hat and this time when it spoke it had the dulcet tones of Rowena Ravenclaw. "Give it a rest, Albus. We are trying to sleep in here."
Dumbledore snorted in a most insulted fashion and went up to his room leaving the hat on his desk where he would tackle it again in the morning.
What Dumbledore didn't see was the image of Rowena emerge from the hat and look around the room at the sleeping headmasters in their paintings. "You are far to nosy for your own good Albus but you will simply have to learn to mind your own business." The image vanished then and the hat slumped back down on the desk.
"I heard that!" boomed Dumbledore with a grin
"Good!"
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