Chapter 4 - A visit from a teacher.

Wednesday 11th November

The doorbell rang at nine on the dot and Harry was waiting having been sitting at the bottom of the stairs. Without a word he opened it and blinked at the man standing there. He was tall with short blond hair and brown eyes. The man himself was dressed in a black overcoat and Dark Blue trousers, he was holding a black briefcase in his hand, giving off an air of professionalism. If anything he was sure to relax the Dursleys just a little.

"Hello."

"You must be Mr Potter. I'm Jai Little from Magi Academy."

"Pleasure to meet you, please come in." Harry opened the door and let the man in. He had decided to wear his school uniform, minus robes, for the meeting as it was the only thing he had, that actually fit properly. "May I take your coat its a little warm in here."

"Certainly." Mr Little smiled and took off the overcoat showing a dark blue suit jacket that matched his trousers. This was paired with a light blue shirt and white tie.

"My relatives are in here." both Dursleys had got up and ready for the meeting, they wanted him gone and if that meant playing nice to some man to do it, then so be it. His uncle was wearing black trousers and a blue shirt, more then what he would normally wear on a day off, but not over the top. Aunt Petunia had on a dress but then she always wore them, it was just one of her nicer ones.

"I'm Jai Little from Magi Academy, a pleasure to meet you." Harry could see his uncles approving look at what the man was wearing and his manner, maybe this would bode well.

"Vernon Dursley and this is my wife Petunia. Our son isn't here he is away at Smeltings, my alumni."

"Very good. I was sent to meet Mr Potters family and explain a bit more about Magi Academy. I do not know how much Mr Potter has shared with you."

"We don't care, as long as he attends some school it doesn't matter." Uncle Vernon stated and Mr Little blinked.

"Very well, is there somewhere we can talk ourselves then Mr Potter."

"Em, sure we can use my room." Harry moved from where he had been standing by the door. Mr Little had barely sat down and was getting back up again to follow him upstairs. His room still had the locks on and Harry missed the teachers look at them or the cat flap on the door before they entered the barren room.

"Busy re-decorating?"

"Something like that."

"Now Mr Potter what have you been told about Megere Akademi or Magi Academy as you may know it."

"I just have the information given to me from Hogwarts and that which was given when my orb changed colour."

"You were one of those that kept them."

"I didn't know we still had to send it back, I thought it was cool. Here." he went to the drawer and pulled out the papers and his orb"

"Great Merlin." Mr Little breathed.

"Sir?"

"Sorry, Mr Potter out of the about 300 students at Hogwarts only around 1% of Orbs would change to that colour, so about 3 of you."

"I didn't realise it was that rare but I thought it was uncommon."

"It certainly is Mr Potter and don't worry you can keep the orb, you didn't need to send it in. Any that attend will be asked if they want their orbs back, it just lets us know who to chase after more."

"What do you mean?" Harry waved at the bed and grabbed his wonky chair putting a book under to keep it upright.

"The Hogwarts curriculum is aimed at Witches and Wizards. As such someone with your potential isn't challenged and therefore doesn't meet their full potential. You still have the chance right up until you reach 21. In your case if you continued at Hogwarts you would maybe reach Magi level by the time you left, Warlock at the most. After you left you would either reach Warlock or possibly mage depending on what work you went into."

"So Hogwarts would hold me back."

"It is simply due to what their subjects are geared towards. They don't get magical creatures and yes they get powerful students but not many of the more powerful ones reach that full potential. Out of the 300 of you only around 75 of you had the ability to attend Magere Akademi, and we would never be able to take that many. We are starting with the younger students and the more powerful who were interested in attending and working from there. We only take 30 students at maximum a year.

"We have 2 places each for first and second years. 3 for third years, 1 for fourth, 4 for fifth and 2 for sixth years though we dowt we will fill them all. We had a larger intake than in the past last few years. Many want to attend a school with history. Yes, we have the Repository but it does turn some off, having that lack of history. The fact we are also open to scholars or the extra rules or cold can also turn people off."

"Cold?"

"You saw the ice and snow in your pictures yes?"

"Its like that all year 'round!"

"It does thaw some during the summer but it is still very cold. The highest temperature we have ever experienced is 11 degrees in the summer and we have hit minus 33 in the winter before. We don't expect people to go out in those temperatures more then necessary, so we have tunnels beneath the different buildings and the flying area is in a dome that can be opened if necessary, so people can fly all year. There is also a swimming pool so people can swim and the water is heated."

"I don't know how to swim?"

"We could teach you." Mr Little smiled. "Now what were your grades last year like?"

"Average except in potions. Professor Snape hates me and often banishes my potion without letting me try to fix it, and the Slytherins often throw things inside if it looks like its going ok."

"Alright, we'll leave that then. None of that, besides the interference, is surprising you are using a wand correct?"

"Yes."

"Many Sorcerer potentials have trouble using a wand, to begin with, you'll need a different focus and then learn to temper your spells for a wand."

"So it's not my fault."

"No." Harry sighed and looked to where Hedwig should be, she had left that morning. But to think all his trouble it wasn't his fault. He had seen the teachers frowns and other students look when he had struggled. To think it was all because he was too powerful for a wand right now.

"You should also know that Magere Akademi has some extra or even different rules due to the repository and different students we get." Mr Little stated and Harry looked at him. "You might have picked up on some of these from the reviews by students. We call them privileges. It is considered a privilege to be able to carry your wand outside of class, to carry a knife even in class, go flying without supervision and others. It all has to be earned through readings or talks to a teacher but they can be lost. Such as for your wand or focus you can earn it but then should you start a fight in the halls you lose it. Defending yourself doesn't count and a thorough investigation with memory viewings and talks with people or even mild truth spells get to the bottom so the right people are punished."

"That's different, I thought they could do with something like it at Hogwarts after I read through it."

"It's not just for fighting between humans but also the different creatures. We also have a five strike policy. So again going with the fighting the first instance punishment or stage 1 would be a loss of the privilege to carry a focus or wand and if that wasn't available an essay would be assigned. Stage 2 would be detention that can be things like working in the kitchens, cleaning the Post Bird House, helping in the infirmary or others. Stage 3 would be grounding and there are different stages for that such as been grounded to your house, wing or tower and then going down to your room. More information is given on this in the student welcome pack. Stage 4 is suspension and stage 5 is expelled.

"All of these are reset each term so you could get grounded up to 6 times each term for various things. And even in our short history, we have rarely expelled students, scholars have been forced to leave several times but we've only expelled two students. Both Vampires who couldn't follow the don't drink from unwilling students rule."

"We'll be given a list when we arrive?"

"You will be given a welcome book that has a map of the school and a list of all privileges to be earned, information on clubs, a list of all rules and the possible punishments you can receive and how those would work. This means that students have no excuse for saying but we didn't know." Mr Little smiled and Harry guessed people still tried to pull that trick.

"Someone mentioned the hostels." with those four little words Mr Little's face became deadly serious as he opened the briefcase and pulled out some information.

"Mr Potter from meeting your guardians downstairs and seeing this room I have a basic idea on why you would want to know. People only ask about them when things are bad at home. Most don't mention them or are interested until they get to the school and learn about being able to stay to visit friends or if parents are going to a conference or such. No student stays at the school outside of term, all go to a hostel either temporary or permanently, yes some do have permanent rooms there, the hostel becomes their home. Now can you tell me more about why there is a cat flap and locks on this door or the broken furniture in here?"

"No." Harry glanced towards the door worried they would be listening.

"Alright from what I have seen we do have grounds to move you and do a more thorough investigation at a later date. I also don't feel comfortable leaving you here, so even if you decide not to attend the Academy you are coming with me today." Harry breathed a sigh of relief at that and got a sad smile from the teacher. "Do you have any more questions?"

"How will the mentor thing work with those of us from Hogwarts and if we did come when would we start? Se Ridica sent me a letter saying they were making a list about starting after Christmas."

"Good questions. All of you would be assigned a mentor. How it would work on receiving your own student to mentor will depend on how you adapt and your wishes, there would be a meeting with the headmistress about it. For any older students, it is unlikely they would receive their own student to mentor unless there was a real shortage. As for starting terms at Magere Akademi run from September to the end of November. We then have a month off and start up again in January through to March. We then have April off and the last term goes from May to July before everyone has August off.

"As such what the headmistress is wanting to do is get you all magic wavers and move you to a hostel for the few weeks and give you some books and basic tests to see where you are before deciding finally if you wish to attend. This is about the same as our normal policy. We always do tests as some students attend a non-magical school, some a magical primary school, some schools like Euro-Glyth and Nyx start at a younger age.

"The tests help us work out where students are and pair mentors with students. Then there is the second interview. All schools to the sounds of things are doing something similar since it is so close to the end of many terms. Many are compelling lists and maybe doing basic tests. All only have a month so it is pointless starting now, might as well wait and then start in the new term. Use the time between to see where you are and catch up a little if needed."

"I would like to go through the tests. Would we be able to go to Gringotts so I could put my name down for Se Ridica on the off chance."

"Certainly that can be done in the next day or so. Now let's get you packed and moved, we have four options for an English student, Norway, France, Netherlands or Iceland so I'll make a call and see who has space."

"I'll pack." Mr Little smiled and nodded pulling out a strange mirror and starting to talk to it.

Harry shivered as they arrived in Iceland. Apparently, there had been rooms free in all of the hostels so the headmistress had had the decision of where he was going, she had thought Iceland was safer for him. Harry wasn't so sure, wondering if the cold would get him first as he pulled his winter cloak around him tightly.

"It's just around the corner." Mr Little showed him down the frozen streets and into a small building that had something written on it in a foreign language. Inside was warm and welcoming with a large fire going and chairs and sofas scattered around the room. It was done in soothing creams and browns with a little white and blue thrown in. Above the fireplace was 5 crests.

"Good afternoon Mr Little."

"Good to see you, Mary, I contacted you earlier about a semi-permanent, possible permanent room."

"Yes, we have a single free. All the kids are at school at the moment so I'll show you up. Elendur has just popped out for something and should be back soon. Yes, here we are." she picked up a key from the pile on the board behind her, and came from behind the desk. They followed her through one of the doors coming off the main room. Inside was done in cream while the floor was the same wood that he had seen so far. Coming off the hallway were 3 doors and Harry idly wondered where they went.

"Just follow me." Harry followed the tall woman, who had her long blond hair pulled up in a ponytail, up the stairs. They came to a long corridor full of doors. Quietly they went down and then turned onto another passageway before arriving at room 27. As they walked, he noticed that she was wearing a purple top and black trousers, with black boots due to the snow outside. "Here we are."

Harry opened the door and then paused, looking around. It was done simply in blues and greens. Against the back wall was a single bed. On the right side, at the bottom of the bed was a desk and chair, with the window also on the back wall. To the left, was the wardrobe in the corner, with a chest of draws next to it. Just next to the bed was a side table. Harry noticed that there was also space for his trunk next to the desk. It was simple but better than anything he had ever had before. He was also thankful for the window since he did have some Claustrophobia, mostly at night.

"It's nice thanks." Harry looked back and smiled.

"We'll be in touch about the tests and I'll arrange for someone to take you to the local branch of Gringotts tomorrow. No doubt Mary and Elendur will tell you the rules in a bit. This hostel doesn't take students from Se Ridica. So if you do go there, you will be moved but for now, this will do."

"Why did I come here then?"

"Quickness partly, someone here, the fact it was us that moved you. Not to mention for some strange reason, the 4 hostels that cater to English students, don't take students for Se Ridica at the moment. So you will either be moved to a hostel for a different country or it will be set up that you go despite living here. But don't worry about that, that's between the schools and Erlendur. He will have first say if you can stay despite going to Se Ridica or not."

"So be nice to him." Harry smiled and Mr Littles lips twitched.

"Indeed."

"Sir, what do I call you," he asked as Mr Little pulled out his shrunken trunk and owl cage unshrinking them.

"Lærer. It means teacher in Norwegian."

"I'll do my best Larer." Harry struggled to get his tongue around the strange word.

"I'll be in contact Harry."

"I'll let you unpack. Those are our bedding at the moment, later if you want you can get your own. Shout if you need anything dear, you're the only one here. It's half nine as we're an hour behind England dear so lunch is in 3 hours at half 12, I'll give you a shout. O and the bathroom is about four doors down, there are the traditional boy and girl sign on the door."

"OK." Harry nodded as the door closed and he looked around the room. The floor he noticed was carpet which was a strange concept for him. Deciding since he was probably going to be here at least a month, he might as well unpack as suggested. Harry moved his trunk to the side and started pulling things out. He first put his books in a line on the shelf above the desk and then set out his ink, parchment and quills. Next was his photo album that went on the window with Hedwig's cage. He hoped she could find him and would be fine with the journey, he really needed to sort out something for international post. Harry didn't bother hanging up Dudley's cast-offs but did hang up his cloak and invisibility cloak. He put the few pictures he had up of him, Ron and Hermione around the desk. Finally, he lent his broom up against the wardrobe, before taking a look around. It was bear, but it was home, and better than the Dursleys.

Harry meandered about his room for an hour before deciding to explore, after all, Mary hadn't said he had to stay in his room. It didn't take long to realise the hostel was a warren of rooms. Most were locked which made sense as so was his. He did find the bathroom which turned out to be a large room with two halves. One girls and one boys with toilets and showers with doors on them. He was apparently on the next to last floor and it seemed all the upper four floors had been bedrooms and bathrooms. The bottom floor had two rooms, a bathroom and then he was back to where he started at the entrance. The bottom two rooms were just packed full of bunk beds and Harry wondered what they were for.

Mary wasn't anywhere in sight, so he started exploring the doors around the main room. One turned out to be a reading area with books and tables. The second was clearly a cloakroom. Another it seemed led to the dining area, where there was a serving hatch and the kitchen behind. Inside the kitchen though was a creature he had never seen before. It certainly wasn't a house elf and when it spoke it wasn't in English at first.

"English," it spoke.

"Yes, my name is Harry."

"Mine is Neevia."

"Nice to meet you." half expecting it to burst out in tears as Dobby had. Neevia seemed to be a little taller then Dobby had been, about 3ft, with shoulder brown hair, pale skin and pointed ears. She or he guessed it was she, was dressed in a white dress with an apron over the top.

"You must be Harry." he turned at the sound of the new voice. This man was tall with short brown hair, moustache and brown eyes. He was removing a heavy furred brown coat, to show a long-sleeved black top and blue trousers with black boots.

"Yes, sir."

"I'm Erlendur Sigurdsson, call me Erlendur" he spoke with a heavy accent, much heavier then Neevia's. "Neevia is a Grundel, sort of a relation to a house elf you will be used to."

"OK."

"Just think of her as a kind cook as long as you treat her right there won't be trouble."

"Sounds good. I was just exploring."

"No reason you can't. Bedrooms are private unless someone is invited in. The only real place off limits so to speak is the kitchen, there is always water in that machine there and you can have snacks in your room. My office, the room behind the desk, is also off limits without permission.

"Rules are basic, let us know if you are going out and curfew for you is at 7pm. For you, it is in your bedroom by 9 and lights out at 10. All upper floors are quiet zones from 7 when the youngest goes to bed. Different ages have different rules. Such as we wouldn't tell an 18-year-old to go to bed at 7 or be back by six. No, they are back by 9 and in their room by 12, after that up to them." Harry nodded that was fair.

"No fighting, we don't expect you to get along with everyone but at least be civil. No stealing and let us know if you are feeling ill. Anything else we'll cross as we come to it. Just be sensible and we won't have a problem."

"What if there is a problem?" Harry asked wearily. Mr Erlendur eyed him for a moment before relaxing as if trying to guess if he would be a problem or just wanted to know. "We do groundings to your room and the building but always a warning first. When grounded to the building you can go anywhere. When grounded to your room you can be in your room, the bathroom and the kitchen but that's it. Always for a set time and it never changes but can be added if you do something else in that time. We never hit and we never shout. There are people living here who have been abused and they don't like loud angry voices." Harry nodded. He understood that. All the Dursleys liked to shout, and be loud when angry at him, or trying to get him into trouble.

"Now it is up to you what you want to do. I understand you need to make a trip to Gringotts either today or tomorrow. I actually have time to take you this afternoon if you wish, as I need to go myself."

"Sounds good."

"Good, we'll leave just after lunch. It's now 11 so an hour and a half till then."

"OK." Harry again nodded and with a last look at Neevia, fled the dining room and back to his own room. This place certainly wasn't the Dursleys. But Harry hadn't yet decided if it was safe. After all, Hogwarts was supposed to be safe yet it had closed. So far the only safe place he had found was the Weasleys. But he had only been there just under a month, not that long to really see if the place was safe.