Chapter 14 - Christmas and a visit
'Icelandtic
'English'
'Norwedgian'
Friday 25th December.
Christmas morning Harry woke with a smile and moved to get showered and changed. The night before Erlendur had told them all to shower that night or early morning. Harry had voted morning. As he did, he thought about the last couple of days. After writing letters to Ron and Hermione, he had sent a small note to Magere Akademi. In it, he said he wished to continue and was looking forward to the visit. He hadn't been told to but couldn't help feeling it was the right thing to do. You sent thankyou notes for gifts and to confirm meetings, or at least the Dursleys did. It may not be a wizarding custom. But it was one of the few things he had seen at the Dursleys that he agreed with.
After they had started a round of games as people finished with craft projects. Wednesday everyone had wrapped gifts and wrote cards for everyone. A list was posted with everyone's names on and the correct spelling. Harry had also, with help, sent replies off and Christmas cards to all those that had written to him. They had even gone through another 6 months worth of mail. They were now into the stuff sent when he was 3 to 4 years old. It was progress, but it would take time to get through it all. The amount was actually tapering off a little as people had slowly realised he had never replied.
Yesterday they had gone on a mammoth cleaning spree in the morning. It helped Gunner and Neevia get ready, so there was less to do today. After all, it was a holiday for them as well. Enough would also be cooked today so that no one had to do anything tomorrow. The leftovers would just be laid out with fresh sandwiches and drinks on a table. Then there had been more cooking and games in the evening.
Shaking his head, he walked back to his room, spotting a few presents at the bottom of the bed. His post box was flashing again. It was always flashing. Ignoring the box, for now, he opened the few presents on the bed. He noticed they were all clothes and were from Erlendur and Mary. Quickly he stripped off the fleece he was wearing and pulled on the blue chinos, the label told him, red polo shirt and red long sleeved, hooded lopappeysa sweater. Harry smiled, he was coming to love lopappeysa as much as he loved fleece. The jumper was warm, and you could wear it almost anywhere and still be appropriate.
Shaking his head, he turned to the post box. Inside were a ton of cards. Harry stuck them to the wall with the rest of the hoard. He would put them all in a folder and give them to Will once Christmas was over. There was also more clothes that were a bit too big for him. They would be given to Erlendur since he prefered his own stuff. Then there was more chocolate that would be checked and shared. Waving his wand, he levitated the stuff downstairs, pausing only to put the clothes in the cupboard he had been shown. They were undoubtedly replenishing this hostal, and many of the other hostals clothes supply doing this.
Harry found he wasn't the first downstairs. Piled under the tree were a sizable amount of presents. Many of the kids were wearing outfits similar to his. But all were things they would like and enjoy.
"Merry Christmas Harry" Tabitha called. She was wearing a green dress with a black lopappeysa cardigan.
"Merry Christmas Tabitha" he sat the chocolate out the way until it had been tested. Tabitha solved that problem as she pulled her wand out of a holster she wore and shot a spell at it.
"One bad" between them they found the contaminated box. They hid it behind Erlendurs desk with a note, before letting the younger kids who had had breakfast at the sweets.
It took an hour for everyone to wake, shower, dress and have breakfast before it was time for presents. Neevia and Gunnar were sitting closest with the younger kids while the older ones were at the back. The Grundel and Brownie had the honour of picking a gift, reading the tag, and passing it to the correct person. Pausing only to open their own. It was a good system. As people waited, they had time to examine what they had already been given. Everyone had a piece of paper and pencil to note what they had from who. Mary and Erlendur helped with the younger kids, along with some of those who were of age and lived at the Hostal.
Harry could tell as the presents were passed out that this was an adapted version of how some families did Christmas. Dean and Seamus had talked about it a lot at Hogwarts last Christmas before going home. He didn't care. Instead, Harry had fun opening presents and talking to his friends in between.
"Thanks, mum" Tabitha spoke in a flat voice as she opened another present. She had the most out of the group, followed by Demelza and Eveline. Harry had learned that the twins only had their mother. The woman was very sick, not expected to live much longer. It hurt that, knowing that his friends would soon be orphans like him.
"Harry, we may be orphans at some point. But we have a family here. Mum will never recover. But she is happy that we are happy and doing well in school. Its why we work so hard, to make her proud of us."
"Though she always says she is proud of us no matter what" the twins gave a sad smile.
"You're lucky like that I guess. Mum and dad couldn't have cared less about me and Robert, they hated us. Hated that we had magic and they didn't" Harry's head snapped to Jakob. "I've grown to except it Harry. You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends, and at least I have Robert."
"No, it's just that's why my guardians hated me. Because I was different and had magic."
"Small world" Agnar whispered. They all knew why he was here.
"Guess I can say why I'm here. Mum and dad are unspeakables for the Canadian ministery. They got word that someone was hunting Omega creatures that was why I was moved first. But it's been years now, and that's sorted. Mum and dad, they do a lot of missions, and I could be put at risk from it. Sometimes I wonder if they just left me here, so I'm out the way. Now they don't even know me. This is an example" Harry, for the first time, took a good look at what Tabitha had received and frowned. Most of it was books or clothes. That wasn't the problem, though. All the clothes were that a 10-year-old would wear. The stuff he had seen Ron's little sister wear. Not a fifteen-year-old. The books were all on Runes, History, Arithmancy, Charms and Transfiguration. They were books that Hermione might enjoy. But not Tabitha who wanted to become a magical creatures vet. Sure she could use the books as references. But they weren't something good as a Christmas present.
"When I was really young, I wanted to be a unspeakable like them. The Omega hunting started when I was seven. They taught me to hide what I was for safety. Then when I started Euro-Glyth in the Canadian branch, the headmaster went through checking everyone. He did it at the front of the dining hall, and everyone knew what I was. Soon after a few of the older Omega creatures disappeared. Mum and dad moved me at that point. They approached the Euro-Glyth overseer, the one that checks all the sites. The overseer arranged for me to come here. A year later, I got word that that old headmaster of the Canadian branch had been part of the ring targeting Omega creatures. That check, supposed to be looking for creatures who were being abused, was all apart of it. I thought then maybe I could go home. But then mum and dad started working away a lot. They moved around to different unspeakable branches in the different ministries around the world. And I was left here. They write but never visit, and I'm not sure if they even read my letters properly now."
"You have us" the twins spoke together for a change and put their arms around Tabitha.
"I just worry about them turning up one day wanting to take me away."
"You're old enough now and been here long enough, to decide if you want to go with them or not. You don't have to" Jakob noted. "It was the headmaster that caught what was going on to Robert. They spoke to my parents, checked me for magic and removed us both. I was only four. But I do know that from 15 you can choose to stay here if you want to. Even from 11, they will encourage you to build a relationship with them, maybe set up some meetings. But will never force you if you don't want to."
"And what Demelza said was right. You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends. And I like to think that in some strange way they think they are protecting you and do love you."
"Thanks, guys" Tabitha smiled. "We make a strange bunch right. Humans, sprites, werewolves, unknowns. Orphans, or soon to be. In one way or another. We're all the same yet different."
"Yeh, your right" Eveline had a sad look in her eye at the thought but knew it was right.
"Harry this ones yours" the present was passed over and interrupted them. Slowly Harry opened it seeing it was from Hermione. He had put the presents from his friends under the tree with the rest. Inside was two books. One on defence and one on quidditch.
"She knows you well" they all laughed and the dark mood was broken by something happier.
In the end, he had Hermione's books, chocolate from Ron, fudge cake and a jumper from Mrs Wealsley. A wand holster from Oliver Wood. The rest of the quidditch team had got together for a broom care kit. He was reminded of the Sunday afternoons he had spent with the quidditch team learning and then caring for their brooms together. They had insisted he learn properly. Harry had come to find the sessions soothing and helped them come together as a team more. He also had various models, pictures and cards from his new friends and people at the hostal.
Lunch was a sit-down meal before the afternoon was spent playing with their new gifts and playing group games. There was pass the parcel, musical statues and others he had never played before. Tea was sandwiches, something light as all of them had eaten plenty of chocolate. It was as he fell into bed that Harry couldn't help thinking that this Christmas was just as fun, if not more then last year.
Sunday 27th December
Haley Porter shivered as she arrived in Iceland. She quickly cast a strong warming charm before hurrying around the corner towards Snjó Kastala Farfuglaheimili. It was her last stop of the day. She knew she was pushing it visiting 5 students in a day, but they didn't have the time. 5 today and 4 tomorrow. Two students had pulled out after the tests. But that had only lightened her load a little.
Monday afternoon, they would review and assign mentors. Those selected were already waiting and would move into the hostals on Tuesday, they just needed to know which. The new students would arrive Wednesday or Thursday or arrange to meet their mentor at Butikk Distrikt to get their school supplies. School started on Friday, so they didn't have much time. Other schools were all waiting on them, and they had promised them a final list of names Tuesday morning. All the remaining students were down for two schools and needed to notify the other whether they were definitely going or not. As tight as it was Haley knew they couldn't have gone any faster, not with Christmas and their current students on top of things.
Shivering, she pushed the door open and hung her coat on the rack for visitors. Entering into the main lounge, she spotted many of the children laughing and joking. They were playing with things they had obviously got for Christmas. It always saddened her to come to one of the Hostals for an interview first or second. It meant that one of their prospective students had had a hard life. It was good that it was caught, but still. All elf children were cherished. It hurt her that humans and other creatures could abuse their own children, sometimes for things they couldn't control. Of the 18 children remaining 8 were in hostals. All but one was due to this trouble with been placed under the wrong care organisation and hopefully most would return home from it. Harry Potter, who she was to see now, was not one of those most. He had been put under the wrong system yes but had been removed initially due to abuse.
"Lærer Porter, are you here to see Harry?" Mary came to her from behind the desk, speaking in English. The woman knew Icelandic wasn't one of the languages Haley could speak.
"Yes I am"
"I'll go get him, take a seat" Haley didn't hesitate in doing so. She smiled as the children gave her strange looks. But none of them commented on her being there.
"Lærer Porter good to see you" Agnar came from the reading room and walked over. The incident last term that had resulted in him been bitten was still being investigated. Not that it would change much with the boy's parents.
"You too, Agnar. How are you finding things here?"
"There different from home but everyone is nice, and I made some friends."
"Good to hear." Haley smiled. "Looking forward to the new term?"
"It will be different. I just hope my friends still want me. Barnabas and Oreth haven't written, and Vesh was always a bit of a follower."
"If they are really your friends, they won't care. Agnar, you know how the werewolf-vampire instinct is. It's not right, but you and your friends are still growing and learning to control those instincts."
"I guess."
"It doesn't make it easy or right, but you will find new friends."
"Most here don't go to Magere, Harry is hoping to though"
"Harry?"
"Yeh he doesn't care doesn't mention it, and he told me about his parents. The twins Demelza and Eveline said that we can't choose our family, but we can choose our friends. They're right about that. He told us how his aunt and uncle didn't want him just because he had magic. It's like me in a way, they didn't want me because I got bitten. At least they did the right thing and said not to come home and to come here instead. Harry's guardians they didn't do that, didn't give him up. I'm lucky like that. Been here helped me realise that even if I don't like what happened or what they did. It was a better option."
"I'm glad" Haley smiled and looked up. "Mr Potter good to see you."
Harry had to take some deep breaths when Mary told him Lærer Porter was here. He made sure he was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt knowing for this, they were better than his beloved fleece. He also quickly checked his room was tidy. He didn't know where they would be having this interview. There weren't many places in the hostal they could. They may well end up in his room.
It was only then did he venture out and down the stairs. Once down, he stood at the door and watched Agnar talk to Lærer Porter. He was relaxed and didn't have any of the tenseness you saw when students spoke to Professor Snape at Hogwarts. Even the Slytherins would sometimes tense. But there was none of that. It looked like when the Ravenclaws or anyone talked to Flitwick or Sprout. Neither of them ever put a student down and only encouraged them. McGonagall was a different kettle of fish. She didn't always believe you and always took the majority side. Even if it was a group of Slytherins saying a lone Gryffindor had attacked them.
"Mr Potter good to see you" the deputy's head looked up. Slowly Harry moved from the door and over to the two seeing Agnar smile at him. Harry tried to smile back but knew it was more of a grimace. His experience with teachers was so varied. Between Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout and all his primary school teachers, that had never believed him over the Dursleys. So far his experience with Magere had been a lot different, they had removed him from the Dursleys. But he still couldn't help but be on his guard a bit. "Don't worry, Mr Potter. I am only here to have a chat with you."
"Where do you want to go? We can use my room, but I don't know where you normally go."
"Depends on the student. If I were visiting someone who lived with their parents, we would use the living room or something, partly chatting alone and partly with the parents. With those in the hostals, it depends on how comfortable the student is. Some are fine in bedrooms, others are possessive over it. In that case, we'll simply claim a corner of the reading room and put up a silencing spell, that is up to you."
"What about the Guardians bit, you speak to family?"
"Yes I do, and since you arrived, Mr Sigurdsson has been sending us small notes on how you have been getting on here and settling in. That you could say is the guardian bit."
"O"
"Where are we going, Harry?" Harry didn't know, now he had the option. At the Dursleys, there hadn't been. And while his friends had seen his room, he wasn't sure about the teacher. "How about we start in the reading room and if you want to show me your room after we can."
"OK" Lærer Porter stood saying something to Agnar in that strange language. He guessed it was Norwegian as the other Magere students sometimes spoke in it. He was getting used to hearing languages he didn't understand as the Euro-Glyth students practised their speaking on each other.
It didn't take much to commander a corner and the deputy's head to put up a silencing spell.
"Relax Harry I just want to chat, just like with my colleague Jai Little."
"Sorry I guess before there was plenty of questions and I didn't really get fully what was going on or who he was"
"Now, you know."
"Yes"
"Well don't worry, now you received our note about your grades. If you do come, you'll be assigned a tutor for those subjects until you get caught up."
"I thought that might happen, no matter which school really unless it was Se Ridica, I would learn in class there."
"Correct. Now the tutor is something we will work with you and your mentor on or Stor as we call the mentors. Often where possible it will be a friend of your Stor. You see, you have one Stor. But as is often the case, the little or Liten is not under the same care system. Or in the case of creatures are not the same type. Such as an Alpha will never be paired with another Alpha. For Creatures, we always try to give an Alpha Stor to an Omega Liten to better help them and protect them."
"What about an Omega or Beta... Stor?"
"Good question. Omega's often get paired with Beta's and Beta's often get paired with Alphas. They are close enough not to cause problems. But this is where the Stor's friends come in. A Beta can't understand or help with some of what the Alpha is going through. The same with Alphas been the Stor of Omega's. So it's the friends that help here. Students naturally form study groups with their friends helping each other. That in turn, when something like their Liten needing a tutor means there are people to help. Sometimes the Stor's stor or Grand Store will help if needed. Since the liten will know all the Stor's friends and be introduced to them in time, it isn't a problem."
"What about humans?"
"Humans get mixed in a bit. But we do try to accommodate gifts or put people with a Stor that can train them. On rare occasions, it means that someone might have to change Stor when they come into a creature inheritance. But we do try not to do so. But again they are often not under the same care system. But for Humans, they could be depending on how prevalent the gifts are. It just depends where we have people left over or space. Pairing the creatures up takes prevalence. The help with tutoring and such all works the same for Humans as it does for Alpha, Beta or Omega magical creatures."
"Good system."
"It took some working out and years to really get going. But we have it down now" Lærer Porter smiled. "Any idea what you think is important qualities for a Stor to have?"
"I don't know I guess it would depend on the... Liten. What works for one doesn't for another. My friend Hermione is quite driven and gets lost in her books sometimes. Her... Stor would be someone who could help her find hobbies outside of books. They would need to help her learn to relax and not need to learn something all the time. She's going to Merlin, and they have mentors so hopefully been there will help.
"My other friend Ron he's more laid back and likes to leave his work to the last minute. He works more physically then theoretically. His mentor would have to be someone who would work with him, push him and help him learn that reading isn't all bad. That it is sometimes needed to reach your dreams. He's going to Se Ridica, and I think they have mentors there to"
"They do, and that is some good points you make. What about you?"
"I don't know... I guess... when I was with Ron and Hermione I was caught between the two. I studied but not to the extent on Hermione. But Ron always complained if I tried to study more then him. I don't know where I would be there. Then trouble always seemed to find us. So I guess my Stor would have to be someone who could both push me a little. But also know when I need a break. They would have to be someone that didn't mind the unexpected popping up sometimes. We also think I'll come into a creature inheritance. But we don't know what or when. I'm a sensitive and still learning about my gifts and my family since no one could teach me. I don't know what I would want from a Stor. Maybe just someone who would see me for me and not as the boy-who-lived."
"Well we don't have a lot of people to draw on, but I think I might know just the person should you come. He's an Alpha creature who didn't receive a liten the first time as we didn't think there was anyone to match him too. We had more Alpha's then Omegas and none of the Beta's fit. Putting two Alphas never ends well but sometimes pairing omega to omega or beta to beta works well. Humans, it's all by gift and personality alone."
"Really!"
"Yes. Now, why did you apply to Magere?"
"I didn't think about it at first. I thought it would be more Hermione's thing. Then the Eagle came with the orbs and shocked me. At the time I was more focused on something year around, I didn't consider anywhere else. Then I read the reviews and what the kids talked about stuck with me. Some of the rules I kept thinking would be good at Hogwarts. If the teachers didn't abuse the system sometimes. The hostals solved my year around problem, so I replied. Then Lærer Little came and brought me here, and I started studying the subjects I needed. Doing that we wrote a list comparing the three schools, Hogwarts, Se Ridica and Magere. It struck me they could be so different. There was no one here for me to talk to about Se Ridica. But I learned some from Ron and reading. I guess it was just that the more I learned and the differences, the more I saw that... I guess its the way that Magere is run with the set rules and set punishments for each one."
"Why that?"
"At Hogwarts, it depends on what house and what teacher what punishment you get. One teacher will take points for answering a question wrong, one doesn't. One awards points for a correct answer one doesn't. If one teacher comes across a group of students where it is one Gryffindor and a group of Slytherins they will give a warning. Another teacher would take points from the Gryffindor for harassing the Slytherins. Another would punish the Slytherins with points while another would give detention. It just varies. For another, it doesn't matter that the Gryffindor is injured and on the ground, they would still be in trouble. That's because all the Slytherins say they were defending themselves and the teacher had to go with the group. I guess that's why I liked that all the teachers followed the same punishments. That there were ways to find out the truth."
"We brought that policy in after an incident with the repository and it been a student against a scholar. We needed to know the truth; it seemed natural to carry it to other areas. But I never really thought about the benefits to it before" Lærer Porter half seemed to speak to herself. "What do you think about the repository? You never mentioned it before, and you must have heard something about it here?"
"I don't know. The expedition squad sounded cool, and it would be something you could only do as a student. It makes it more Mageres repository, not the scholars. But from what I've heard its a strange and old library. My experience with them is hiding from bullies and then Hermione forcing me. I've mixed feelings on them, but a strange, unexplored one sounds cool. Then again, maybe wanting to explore before others is the adventurer in me. I bet it could be dangerous too, and why there are all the rules in place. Despite what some people would say I don't go looking for trouble."
"Why would they say that?"
"Alright, I'll tell you about my last year at Hogwarts..."
By the time Harry Potter got to the end of his story, Haley was foaming. Something like that in a school under a basic locking charm and tests first years could beat. And now with the knowledge of a strange creature roaming the school after sleeping for 50 years when it killed someone.
"In a way, I am glad Hogwarts closed after hearing that. We have our rules, but they are all there for a reason, and that reason is explained. For the Repository not going into areas that are marked is because there might still be traps or spells. Some of the scholars think it is because we are withholding information from them. No, it's just because it might be unsafe. That is also why only those from 5th year up can join the squad. And in all actuality, some scholars do help with exploring the repository. They are just former students that were on the squad during their time as a student."
"That's cool, being able to join as a student leave and get a job. Then visit and be able to help as a scholar sometimes. You have the best of everything really."
"Yes, some do that but with us been so new not many yet. We have only recently started receiving children of former students joining and applying. I actually have the rule book here if you want a flick through. You'll go through more thorough with your mentor and sign it if you come."
"Please" Haley nodded and brought the book out the bag she had and sat it between them.
"Some of these don't apply to you right now so we'll skip them, your mentor will cover them as you get older."
1 - No Fighting
"That's self-explanatory."
"Mostly you are allowed to request duels to sort out arguments. But if they are authorised or not depends on what grade the students are in. Such as we wouldn't let a beginner fight an advanced. But a good beginner might be able to fight an intermediate with a teacher present. It's taken on a case by case bases. Two beginners or two intermediates would always be allowed. There is also the option of with or without magic, and that can sometimes help depending on the level of experience the two have. But outside of this all unauthorised fights are forbidden and punished."
"Case by case" Harry nodded, and Haley read out the next one.
3 - No stealing
"That again makes sense, no one wants their things taken and hidden" Harry's mind went to the first year Ravenclaw who was always having her things taken just because she was different.
"Good, you would be surprised at the amount that do and try. This also covers times that someone might borrow something without asking, even their roommate. Even if you intend to return it later, it is still stealing unless you ask permission and they can confirm it."
5 - Only go outside on the full moon with permission
"This one is important. We are still looking into how Agnar got outside. All doors and windows are locked, this is also why we have the tunnels between buildings to keep people safe."
"Right"
6 - Vampires only feed from students with permission
"There are specific rules for this. Wearing the band is one thing, but attacking that student from behind isn't. Those rules are for the vampires. What you need to know is it is optional to wear the band. But also that going up to a vampire and asking about it could lead to an offer of trying. Those instances and the first feed must be monitored by a teacher and regular checks in the infirmary. There are plenty of students, teachers, scholars and blood offered at meals for students. There should be no reason to attack someone. If it does happen, tell a teacher, and it will be looked into.
"Right"
7 - Only go in explored areas of the repository
"This one we have already covered, yes?"
"Yes," Harry nodded.
8 - Students don't enter scholars or visitors area
"Another one to note. The scholars have their own dorm block, and it is clearly marked. Don't go down the tunnel and there won't be a problem. Visiting students are housed on certain floors in this block and adults on others. They are not allowed into students areas so that shouldn't be an issue. Should you find yourself down there for any reason, tell a teacher and your mentor. It will be looked into before any punishment is given."
"Right"
9 - Year 1 to 7 must live on site. Years 8 to 10 may travel in
"This one doesn't affect you right now but good to know."
"How can the older students travel in?"
"They would be given a portkey to the arrival site and must be able to command their own dog team. There are wards up to prevent magical travel around the school, even the floo network won't work. That is why we have healers on site. In situations that might need someone else, they will be brought in. Or the student will be flown above the wards using a broom and then taken by portkey to the hospital. That is quite rare though" Harry just nodded and looked at the next one.
10 - Don't talk to students in an orange vest or join them in detention.
"Orange vest?"
"All students in detention wear orange vests while in detention. We had cases of people stopping to help or talk to a student before. It's a punishment. Our detentions involve working in the kitchens, infirmary, cleaning the school bathrooms, putting library books away, dusting portraits and other jobs that create life skills. We needed a way of telling those in detention from those not. Its a punishment and supposed to be done on your own with no unnecessary talking."
"Hue different" that certainly wasn't like Hogwarts at all.
11 - No other students inside your room expect between hours 6 to 8pm on a weekday and 10am to 8pm on the weekend, doors stay open.
"This one is important. You might share a room and having someone in must be agreed for both. You don't have the door open for just you and your roommate. Others you do and that rule is mostly for older students but a good habit. You don't have to let someone in your room, but those are the only times allowed."
"OK"
12 - No unauthorised Brewing
"That's brewing alone or in the areas without the privilege of been allowed."
"Because it's unsafe. You or someone might get hurt."
"Correct"
13 - Only brew in authorised areas.
"Some people have been known to brew in their rooms, and that's unsafe as they are not warded. Explosions could hurt many people. The safe areas have wards and precautions."
"Right" that made sense.
14 - No magic in the halls
"We had that rule at Hogwarts; not many followed it through."
"They will at Magere or be in trouble. We are not the only school with this rule. It is to make sure that no first year or beginner student in our case is caught between a fight between older students. If someone is attacking or fighting, someone else may use magic to stun them to stop the fight. That is allowed and will be checked case by case. But the teachers and prefects are all on the ball with this. Pranks are normally where people break this rule, While most people follow it. I will say that this is the rule most break at some point."
"Ours was due to the caretaker been a squib and a bit on safety. He was jealous the students had magic. I've no idea why he even worked at Hogwarts."
"Strange place for him to work" Haley blinked, a squib caretaker who hated magic working in a magic school.
"He used to threaten to hang students in the dungeons as a punishment like the old days."
"Not conducive to learning. We do have a caretaker, but he is a born werewolf so don't worry."
15 - Pranks, tempory, not targetting one person.
"This one can take some explaining sometimes. Targeting one person with pranks is considered bullying. We have a tough no bullying policy that we'll get to. Pranks are fine. But must not last longer than an hour, repeatedly be cast on the same person and never during exams."
"I can see where that would be bad."
"Good"
16 - Fireworks outside at set times.
"You're a bit young for fireworks, but it has happened before. They are only allowed at set times which you will learn and only outside. Sensitives can be affected by fireworks, and the headmistress is. This is the main reason for the rule. Not to mention, it isn't safe to let them off inside. At odd times we do allow it. But there are rules in place, and a clear warning for Sensitives to leave must be given" Harry could only imagine the havoc the Weasley twins would cause if they ever had access to fireworks. He shuddered and nodded.
17 - No badgering students returning from a blood magic ritual
"This one you only need to be aware of. Blood magic takes 6 to 12 hours to settle after a ritual. All students walking back to their rooms will be in yellow and black robes. While you can talk to them if it is important no spells can be cast and touching without permission is generally discouraged. Just leave them be."
"Right"
18 - No badgering students returning from a purification ritual.
"This one does apply to you as a sensitive. Generally, you know yourself that the purification rituals can make you tired and sleepy."
"The only one I had so far knocked me out for 12 hours."
"You know then it is best to leave those students be. A quick purification shower and you might be alright. But a full ritual takes more out of you. Those students are generally escorted back to their rooms. However, some go on their own, and they always wear pyjamas and dressing gowns. It is easy to spot them. Like before just leave them be and if you need it, they will offer the same courtesy to you."
"K"
20 - Only do privileges earned
"brewing without permission right."
"That is part of it. Taking the dogs out without permission, flying on your own without the privilege, healing students without permission, it all falls under this category." Haley nodded pleased the boy was taking this in and remembering. Although he was also interested and looking at the list eager to see. It was a good sign.
21 - No attacking the dogs or pets
"You wouldn't want your pet attacked, so don't attack others."
"Unless the pet attacks you first in which case they shouldn't be at the school."
"All those here are friendly and mostly stay in peoples rooms."
"The dogs are the school dogs, and of cause, they can't take you to the transport building if you hurt them."
"Why would someone do that?"
"You would be surprised." Haley smiled.
22 - Help keep the school tidy by keeping things where they belong.
"This means keeping your outdoor things in the cloakroom or your room. Keeping potions ingredients and kit in their place in the cupboard. Don't leave things lying around the library or books on tables. Put them where they need to go. Yes, we have librarians and a caretaker. Nevertheless, they are not there to chase after you but to help you. The caretaker polices the halls and assists the house elves and other beings that work at the school. The librarians watch the repository and help students find books in the library. They do not run around after people putting books away. If everyone does their bit, it makes the school a better place. People need to learn to take responsibility for their belongings."
"Guess that makes sense. If we had a rainy quidditch practice, there would be no point showering at the pitch. We would just get soaked and muddy again before reaching the school. But there was nowhere to leave boots or wet robes at the doors. So mud would get traipsed through the school. Filtch hated it. But there was nothing we could do."
"We have the passages and showers, so there is no need for it. There is space to leave wet boots and outdoor clothes. Even when coming from the greenhouses. There is no need. You can use your locker to change and cleaning your own boots and kit is your responsibility."
23 - No wandering the halls at night
"Another many didn't listen to."
"Including you to the sounds of things. This is again, safety. Vampires are naturally nocturnal and need less sleep. Still, for students, it is better to be in their own rooms. We don't have ghosts but do have portraits. The scholars are allowed in the repository at night. Generally, if we have visiting vampire scholars that have less control, they are restricted to night reading."
"So if they have less control and you wonder they might attack you by accident."
"It has happened before. Most have control, and all our students do or are taught very quickly. Having blood little and often can aid control. Many carry some in a flask with them to help with this. Another reason is that some of the magical beings that work at the school are nocturnal. They aren't really ones for interacting with lots of people. They won't like you wandering, and students need their sleep to learn fully. There are portraits and ways to call help if needed. You will be shown how to do this. Merely wandering for the principle of wandering the halls is not allowed. There is no reason you couldn't go into your dorm common room or block lounge if you couldn't sleep" Harry smiled and nodded. He would have to work at that, he was a wanderer.
24 - No bullying
"Here we get to the last one. This includes the excessive pranks, name-calling, physical attacks, sabotaging students work, an Alpha punishing an omega, touching students who don't want to be, stealing and anything in between. Anything that makes a student unhappy and effects their ability to learn. We don't expect you to get along with everyone. However, we do expect you to try and be civil. If you want to fight it out, ask to duel or spar. If it can't be worked out, staff will sit down and talk to you about it. But bullying isn't tolerated in any way, shape or form."
"How do the punishments work?"
"All these rules have 3, 4 or 5 stages to the punishments depending on the rule. Its called the 5 strike policy. And all strikes reset at the end of the term. Or all but one does. The Repository is different. If you lose your chance to join the team, you lose it forever. It never comes back, even as an adult."
"You said only those that had been on the team can help if they return as scholars."
"That's right. Its due to the training one must go through. There isn't the time as an adult to learn. Now one punishment is loss of a privilege."
"The right to carry your wand that was mentioned in the perspectives."
"That's one of them. Brewing, flying, healing, dog teams there all privileges you could lose and have to re-earn from scratch. A full list is something you would be given and again go through with your Stor. Warnings are all given verbally and in writing. Consequently, you ensure that if the punishment is given again during the term. The individual staff know that you have already had a warning. They know to go onto the next level for that broken rule."
"So no one could get one warning from one teacher and then get another for the same thing from a different teacher. They would go to do it and then see that person had already been warned for that"
"They are all recorded in files and all staff can access them. When punishing a student for anything you need the file as all must be registered. These files are checked and cleared out at the end of each term.
"Detentions we have already covered. Suspension is self-explanatory you return home or to the hostal for a set time. I can tell you now you don't want to be sent here when suspended. Erlendur would punish you himself as well. I believe you would be grounded to your room the whole time."
"He says when we're grounded, it can be to the building or our room. We can go to the bathroom at any time. But you can go to the dining room for meals. You are only allowed in the reading room for books for an hour every day."
"Our grounding is very similar. This is why the staff need the file. The first time someone is grounded that term they are allowed in their dorm building, wing or tower of the school. They must be there by 7:30 at night and stay there until breakfast the next morning. It doesn't matter if they have clubs or activities after they'll all be missed. The only exception is a senior that has class when they must go straight after class."
"Seniors could be grounded?"
"O, yes. After the first time, each time after more restrictions are added. Such as only been in your room and common room, only been in your room, been in your room anytime your not in class or at meals. Nonetheless, this is the main thing to know, if you are grounded twice in a term for two different rules, it doesn't matter. In terms of grounding that is two infractions and you'll follow the grounding rules for the second infraction not the first."
"So if you are grounded once in the term that is grounding stage one. But it doesn't matter why you're grounded a second time that would be grounding stage two and so on."
"Yes" Haley nodded glad he was understanding, it was one of the hardest things about the rules to get your head around. "There are also 6 stages. Still, it is rare for someone to get that far in a term but again has happened. Some rules mean you are grounded for a week, two weeks or three weeks and they are cumulative. If you break another rule while grounded that's added. Yet it also ups you a stage instantly. That is actually the main reason people end up on grounding stage 6."
"What about detentions while been grounded?"
"They don't happen. All detentions are suspended and added up to be served when the grounding is finished. Those are carried over. If it gets to the end of term and you have 2 weeks grounding left and 4 detentions, you will serve them when you return. Seniors, if they are graduating, have a fine to pay instead."
"So everyone starts with a clean slate. But any punishment currently been served will be served, and then the slate wiped clean at the start of a new term."
"That's it yes."
"That's a good system" Harry looked at the sheet.
"Really why?"
"Well, it makes people know that breaking the rules is serious. If you break them as an adult, you could go to jail or lose your job. The teachers and prefects are sort of like the police or junior police of the school. I'm guessing the Stor's help as well."
"They do in enforcing the punishments. There are rare instances where Stor can punish their Liten. Mostly it is just warnings, or if they catch something really minor. Such as not putting your plate away after meals, running through the halls, they can tell you off for that. Some Omega creatures do give the stor a little more control. Like helping them write up a timetable to follow outside of your school one for homework. Some Stor find that helps a liten even if that is an alpha depending on their personality. Humans are the same depending on their personality; some might be given more help than others. Sometimes an Alpha stor might need to step in to help the Omega ground. Or if the liten has trouble with missing meals or such the stor may step in. Here the staff will sit down with the mentor pair and work out what is to be done. Then again, anyone will step in to help if anyone is having a panic attack for one reason or another."
"I could see that happening with my friend Hermione at some point. Ron is always dragging her away from her books to meals. He's the main one that makes sure we all get to meals. Once he's up in the morning, that is. I have to force him out of bed to make sure he's in time for class."
"But with our rules on rooms unless you share a room you can see why something might be put in place. Here your stor comes and makes sure your up and get to meals. For the first week, they do that anyway but after it is an agreement put in place."
"Yeh I can."
"So with our list of clubs here which ones would you be interested in" Haley flipped the book to another page and let him quickly read through it. So far, this meeting was going very well. Some today had been a couple of minutes as she had known straight away at this point they wouldn't make it. This was the second today that had taken longer, and it was a good sign.
"Quidditch definitely. Em, maybe music or art. I've never learned to swim, so that would be interesting to learn. I bet some teachers would appreciate if I improved my handwriting as its really bad. I also like the sound of world cultures or winter sports like sledging, skiing or ice skating. Its a shame that younger students can't do the trick flying as that would be cool. Martial arts also sounds good. We only had quidditch, book club and gobbstones. Each house had an unofficial chess tournament going along with exploding snap and chocolate frog cards."
"You'll have to narrow your choices down a bit" Haley laughed. "So Mr Potter are you still interested in coming to Magere."
"This just made me want to come more. The headmistress at Se Ridica sent me a list of rules out since I was down as accepted. But that didn't come with punishments. They had no duelling in the halls, try not to start fights, no bullying and no stealing. But there was nothing about pranks or what to do about blood rituals or purification rituals."
Haley just nodded again. Harry had done his homework and compared the schools to see which atmosphere fit him. Not only the lessons offered or how long the school had been running. It was probably why the repository hadn't crossed on his radar until she had brought it up. He was more focused on the rules, punishments, and how the school was run. That was partly due to his experience in the past due to the abuse. Not to mention his experience at Hogwarts. He had admitted that he hadn't cared about anything expect a year around school to get away from his guardians before. It was once he was free that he started comparing and looking for something that fit him. Something he could thrive in. Haley knew that in the right environment, this Potential Sorcerer student would thrive. He would at either Se Ridica or Magere. He might have at Merlin as well. Though it was too late for that now. And looking at him the environment after the abuse wouldn't fit entirely. Not as a sensitive either, they didn't have as many procedures in place.
"What are you hoping for in a school, Mr Potter, what do you want to get out of one?"
"Somewhere, I can learn without worrying about dark wizards after me. Somewhere I don't have to worry about been hexed in the halls just because I'm the boy-who-lived. Somewhere I can learn about being a sensitive, learn to control my gifts. Somewhere that could help me if I came into a creature inheritance. Somewhere I can become something my parents would be proud of. I had hoped to learn about them at Hogwarts. But no one would tell me about them. They just said they didn't have the time. I guess I want somewhere to become my own person. To learn and find out who I am. Away from people expecting me to be something else.
"I found here that while I'm known outside of England, it's not to the same intensity as there. People don't expect me to be someone or attack me because I am that person. They respect that I'm a person like them and don't want to be followed or jumped on every minute. Maybe a school where that would follow. I don't mind people knowing or stares. I've grown used to that, just not the other stuff."
"I think that either Se Ridica or Magere would give you all of that, Mr Potter. Well, I need to get going. You'll hear from us not tomorrow but the day after. Then it will be up to you to tell Se Ridica and ourselves if you are going or not. Depending on been excepted of cause."
"Thank you" Harry stood as the deputy did and saw her smile again and node. He hoped it had gone well, but he had no way of knowing for sure.