Chapter 2
Flitwick opened the door with a grin, "come in, Mr. Potter." The half goblin hadn't been able to stop grinning all day.
"Hello, sir. You said you wanted to talk about my process?" The diminutive little eleven year old wizard greeted him.
"Yes, you see, there's a few ways to change spells the way you did and I believe you've stumbled upon a rare one. If you'd be so kind as to explain then I could verify my suspicions."
"Right. Well sir, you already know I don't like to use incantations or wand movements if at all possible. But in the process of doing that to the Point Me spell, I found that the words don't matter at all. If that is true, it follows that what shapes magic is nothing but imagination and intent. With that in mind I first changed the words to Google, since I like that muggle invention. But then it didn't take into account height since the wand must lay flat on the palm of the hand, not at all useful when in a library, I'd say. So, why not keep the wand in hand, I thought. Then I imagined an arrow, or pointer, much like you see in muggle school books. The result you've seen for yourself, sir."
Fillius clapped his hands in delight. "Indeed I have, Mr. Potter. I guess I was right after all. You are doing unstructured magic. Do you know where Arithmancy comes from, Mr. Potter?"
"Isn't that used to understand and create new magic, sir?"
"Yes! The first part being the most important here. How can there still be magic to understand if it's all structured, like the discipline of Arithmancy tells us? That discipline is actually rather young, magic only got structured after we put effort into it."
"It's because magic is built not only on imagination and intent but also on belief that we get someone like you, Mr. Potter. Like Merlin before you, you don't believe you can only learn from others, or by restructuring parts of other structured magic. To truly make new magic work is to believe in the fact that magic is endless and unstructured."
"So, you're telling me I'm like Merlin, the guy everyone swears by? Hah, that's funny."
"Yes, Mr. Potter, that is what I'm saying. But there is danger in your situation, the ministry and all the other entrenched powers will not like the changes you're going to make. You see, however loosely, the wizarding world is based on an economy, and your new magic is going to upend the game board so to speak."
"Professor, I'm already planning some new magics, are you saying I shouldn't give them to everyone?"
"No, I'm not. Do whatever you like, just factor in the opposition is what I'm saying. You're a game changer, Mr. Potter, one that is sorely needed, or at least you have the potential to be one."
"You're saying I'm still missing something?" Flitwick nodded his answer. "And I can't be told, since it's about belief. It's probably obvious too. Well, don't worry, Professor, I'll figure it out."
"I've no doubt about that, Mr. Potter." Flitwick said. 'It has already been foretold after all.' "You do need to think about repercussions before sharing your inventions."
"So, say I figure out how to teleport like house elves, through wards I mean, that's bad right?"
"Definitely! Keep that a secret, Mr. Potter. You can use me as a sounding board if you need one. Or use someone else you trust."
"Will do, Professor." He promised.
-X-X-
"Time for flying lessons!" Megan shouted when they arrived at the courtyard.
"About time, I say." Hannah said.
"I don't really see the appeal." Harry admitted.
"What, you'll love it." Susan joined in.
"We'll see." There was no arguing with a pack of Quidditch fans. Harry just went with the flow.
"Now gently push off the ground. Gently I say." Madam Hooch admonished one eager student that had pushed off hard.
Harry gently took to the air. He had to admit that he liked it, it felt natural even. When he and his friends were given leave to do their own thing, he did. Anything he could imagine he did and damn it, he loved it. Loop the loops and corkscrew turns, nothing was too crazy and then it was time to touch down again.
"Told you dummy! You loved it, admit it." Megan again.
"I admit it, you were right and I was wrong." Harry had never understood how hard it was for some people to admit their failings.
"Did you see his big smile? It was huge, we finally found something that gets him excited." Hannah laughed. "Hermione, Su! Did you see this guy's smile?!"
"Hey! I get excited. Just not for everything, that's all." Harry defended himself.
"Seeing is believing, Harry, seeing is believing. Are you going to try out for the quidditch team?" Hannah bumped his shoulder.
"No way, too much work. I love flying but I don't want to train two times a week."
"There's that laziness you're always talking about. You're very selective with that, you know?" Megan told him.
"I did the math, the only reason to fly is because I think it's fun, not to play a game I'm not interested in. Besides, I don't intend to fly in bad weather, ever, I'm definitely a fair weather flier." Harry explained.
"Oh yes, the 'what's the use' excuse, you are not lazy Harry, you just have your priorities straight." Harry didn't know if she was sarcastic or not, 'better safe than sorry.'
"Thanks Megan, that actually means a lot." Harry hugged her.
"Ooh, there's a new side of Harry we've never seen before. Are we girls rubbing off on you?" Susan teased loudly.
"Yes, you are, and I couldn't be more happy about it."
"Oh my god. Group hug!" Harry was soon buried under girls as all the girl Puffs and two Claws joined in, the boys just looked at the pile and laughed."
Amidst the groaning pile Megan could be heard saying. "Can you feel the love, Harry?" The male at the bottom just grunted, prompting enough laughter to shake the pile apart.
-X-X-
"Mr. Potter. Can you please stay after class, I require some input."
"Of course, Professor Snape."
"What is that about, does he need some more tips?" Megan asked him curiously. She had become his regular class neighbour, which also paired Hannah and Susan.
"I hope so, that would mean good things. Well, see you later then."
"What's up, Professor?" Harry asked the usually dour man when they were alone.
Said man waved him closer and showed him a knife. "I took your advice and am in the process of making a syllabus of sorts. Since you say you know your way around a knife I'd like your input on that part. How would you hold your hands while cutting?"
"Like this, sir, holding bent fingers straight against the knife will prevent you from cutting yourself. The cutting itself will be using sawing motions, like so." Harry explained whilst showing him what he meant.
"I see. Say I wanted to get as much juice from this bean as possible, how would you do it?"
"Slice diagonally and then squash the halves with my knife sir, if it's big enough that is, otherwise just use whatever's more handy."
"Have you read about handling magical ingredients already?"
"Yes, sir."
"Boiling techniques and using fire to boil?"
"Of course, sir, it's remarkably similar to cooking."
"Sunday morning then, we'll cobble something together."
"I suggest keeping it small, sir, with references to books.
"I agree, but why do you say that?"
"We need to entice them and help them along, not drop them off at the station," Harry answered. "Although I do say, sir, you might want to write a book on this, the books I've read till now have been sorely lacking in this department. If you incorporate muggle cooking techniques without making it seem that way, you'll teach the readers useful skills that can be used everywhere."
"Right, I'll think about it. Sunday morning, be here at eight, Mr. Potter."
"Yes, sir."
-X-X-
"So, what's up with you and Snape? You can tell me you know?" Megan told him Saturday morning on their way to their casting meeting.
"No, I told you it is a surprise, you'll know soon enough, now get casting."
"Have you even prepared for 9am? Lots of students are coming to learn your Google spell, you know, it's gone all over the school." Susan asked.
"Of course I have." Harry assured her.
"More than one sentence?" Hannah laughed.
"….."
"That's a no then. Should have known." Megan laughed. "Let's have it then, I'll write it on the blackboard."
"Imagine what you want to find, then know what you want to find. Think of an arrow pointing to what you want to find while saying Google plus what you want to find."
"Seriously?! That's it? At least it's two sentences."
"Isn't this stuff self-explanatory enough? There's literally nothing more to it."
"Yeah yeah, Harry. But people expect more, want more. Do you want to disappoint them?" Su asked him.
"I warned them, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did." Megan smiled at him. "Screw them if it isn't enough. We got it easy enough, didn't we?"
"Now get to casting already." Harry admonished them and immediately put deed to word.
"Better listen to Professor Potter, girls." Hannah laughed before joining him.
"I'm no professor."
"You got that right." A new arrival stated. It was the same Claw that had asked him to teach them. "Lesson is on the board, I see? Nice, fan of Snape much?"
"Yes actually, now get to casting." Harry admonished lightly, he had a feeling he'd end up saying that a lot today.
"Right-o, Yoda sensei." The Claw laughed.
"Too much talk, young Padawan." Harry replied with a grin, at least some people around here were cultured.
Naturally, that's when the rest came in, the classroom was full to bursting with students eager to learn. Harry was unsurprised to see they didn't just 'Get to casting'. After a few minutes of holding out hope, he stood as tall as he could and shouted. "Instructions are on the board! Now! Get to casting!"
Two identical redheads that Harry knew only as the twins gasped loudly and shouted, "Oh God! The rumours are true! A mini Snape!" Causing a lot of laughter. But they did get the memo and got to casting. 'Finally.'
It didn't take long to hear a lot of people get into the Google Me craze, arrows pointing every which way, with increasingly funny search terms. 'This is exactly like the muggles do with the real Google. It seemed my instructions were sufficient after all.' Afterwards, most of the extra students joined the silent point casting exercises. 'If this continues, we're going to have to relocate to a bigger room.' Harry resigned himself to the inevitable.
-X-X-
"Any news on Mr. Potter?" The headmaster asked his staff in the second biweekly meeting of the year.
"Where is he, anyway? Isn't he a teacher now as well?" Minerva quipped.
"Yes, I hear he's emulating Severus' teaching style." Filius joined the banter.
"Instructions are on the board, get to casting!" Rolanda Hooch laughed.
"Did anyone not go to get a look?" Severus drawled sarcastically. Hagrid raised his hand and dropped it when he saw he was the only one.
"Well, I think it's splendid how he's inspiring so many students." Albus opined.
"." The teachers had learned long ago not to go and respond to these benign statements of the headmaster. Not even Severus tried anymore.
"I've already notified the headmaster but you need to know this as well." Pomona started. "With Aurora's blessing, Mr. Potter will not be attending Astronomy as of next week, in recompense he promised to get his Herbology OWL."
"What?! How do you justify that to the other students?" Minerva asked, a reservation more than one colleague shared.
"There's actually a rule in the Charter that says exceptions can be made for students who're proven unable or unwilling to learn a course." Dumbledore explained. "We're not going to tell other students this but it's a point for the board when there are complaints. Otherwise we're not going to justify it at all."
"You think the rest of the brats will just take that?" Severus asked incredulously.
"Yes. As this is Mr. Potter we're talking about, students will just have to attribute it to his legend. Of course, Mr. Potter will have to keep it quiet to quell any rumours."
"We can't let him stay in my class either. This way, the other students will not see him defy me for two hours every week. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say." Aurora added.
"I can see that at least." Minerva admitted.
"This way, instead of ditching two classes, at least he'll do the work in Herbology. History at least, doesn't matter, seeing as how everybody has used Binns' lessons as free study time since after he died." Pomona concluded.
"It will have to do." Albus gave his verdict. His staff all nodded, they knew there was no use arguing with the man.
"Anything else?" Albus asked.
"Well," Rolanda began, "He's a talent on a broom to rival his father for sure. Never saw someone take to a broom that quickly!"
"Mmm, maybe the badgers will take the cup this year!" Pomona mused to the groans of her colleagues, quidditch discussions always turned sour.
"Don't bother. Heard him say he would only fly for fun, and definitely not in bad weather, Hahaha, shame for such a talent I say." Hooch laughed.
"We'll see about that," Sprout disagreed.
"Right then, on to other matters." Minerva suggested to a lot of agreement.
-X-X-
"You know, DADA is almost as useless as History with that stuttering fool." Megan said when they were all studying in the library. "We should study those spells independently too. I mean the book is good but the teacher sucks."
"I hate to admit that a teacher isn't teaching well, but you are right." Hermione agreed.
"Alright then. I guess we need to make a list of spells and practice them." Su said. "Might as well ask the second years for those too."
"Don't bother, Su, I made a list of spells for all of first year." Harry said. "There's some extra useful spells from my charms book on there too."
"." The girls all stared at him, making him explain.
"What, you think I listen to that guy's stutter? You know me, self-study all the way." Harry defended his position.
"Do we trust Harry with this?" Hermione asked the rest of the girls.
"Are you kidding me?" Hannah laughed, Susan and Megan grinned.
"Why, what am I missing?"
"Harry only does useful stuff, he probably literally questioned second years for their experiences with the first year exam spells and wrote those down, coupled with what he thought could be useful in the future. I'd trust his list more than that of the teacher." Susan explained Hannah's reaction. Hannah agreed with a "Yeah."
"." Harry just stoically took their stares, not willing to deny or confirm their accusations.
"Nevertheless, I will double check your list. Can you bring it tomorrow?" Hermione asked.
"Sure."
"On other news, what do you all think of the stories of the Cerberus on the third floor?" Megan not so subtly changed the subject.
"Don't care, don't want to die." Su said.
"Jup not going there." Hannah agreed, earning nods from the rest.
"." The girls all stared at Harry.
"No damn it, why would I even go there?" Harry asked. "Megan is much more of a thrill seeker than I am."
"He is right, you know." Susan agreed.
"Well, I'm not going alone…" Megan trailed off.
"."
"We're not going, and that's that Megan." Harry decided for them all.
"Aaahh!"
"Why would you even want to do that?" Hermione questioned.
"Live a little, don't you guys get bored just studying and lazing around. There's no variety!"
Harry mimed weighing two scales. "Mmm, on the one hand a boring life. On the other, a short and terrifying end. You know? I think I'd rather live a boring life." He decided. "Actually, that's my number one goal in life."
Megan raised her eyebrow at him. "You? Boring? Hah!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, earning him a few incredulous looks.
"Don't bother, he doesn't see it," Su told them.
"What don't I see?"
"."
"Is that a boy thing?" Susan asked the rest.
"No, that's a Harry thing." Megan answered at the same time as Hermione, making all the girls laugh.
-X-X-
"You know Potter, I've heard you are good on a broom. Have you ever heard of quidditch?" A seventh year male Puff asked him at dinner.
"Yes I have, and no, I am not interested."
"But the team needs someone like you, don't you want to bring us the cup?"
"I won't be on your team."
"What about badger pride?"
"I am proud to be a badger, but I don't like people badgering me."
"Just leave him alone, Cadwallader, he obviously is not interested." Tonks told her yearmate off.
"Yeah, it wouldn't get me anything, I don't want to practice all the time."
The quidditch obsessed Puff finally backed off, you couldn't play quidditch without practising.
-X-X-
"Mr. Potter, would you please come by my office for a talk today?" Sprout asked Harry the next day in front of his Puff friends.
"Ma'am, please be honest, is this about quidditch?"
"Yes..."
"No."
"Why? Is it just about practice, or are you afraid to fly in front of the school?" She wasn't proud to resort to children's tactics but needs must.
"Madam Sprout, don't do that again. If there is one thing I loathe more than physical labour, it's being manipulated by an adult. If anything, it makes me want to rebell. You don't want me to rebell, madam." All this was delivered in a monotone, and not in his usual talk about the weather tone either.
"Right, sorry. Forget I asked, Mr. Potter." 'That kid is scary.' The 58 year old witch thought whilst quickly making her escape.
"You really don't want to be on the team huh?" Megan asked.
"It's kind of admirable. You don't care about peer pressure at all." Susan added. "It isn't the badger way though."
"Should he play and be miserable then? No, let him be. If he doesn't want to play, we shouldn't make him play." Hannah said. "Harry's right, manipulation is not the badger way either."
Harry put an arm around Hannah to show he appreciated her support. "Thanks, Han."
"Hey, you don't get to shorten my name! I like my name!"
"Don't you want to call me Har either then?"
"No, Harry is a beautiful name, just like Hannah."
"I agree, I won't shorten your name anymore, alright?"
"Yes, thank you."
"You know, those kids are better badgers than us I reckon." A listening sixth year student says to his best friend, who happens to be on the quidditch team.
"Why?" He asked lazily.
"They value friendships above all else, man."
"Is that a hint or something?" His friend wanted to know.
"No man, it just is."
"Right…" Came the drawled response.
"Right on."
"Have you been smoking again?" The prefect seated opposite them sighed.
"." Both boys looked away and said nothing.
-X-X-
"You know Harry, we're gonna need a bigger room." Megan told him at casting practice.
"I know."
"I mean, there's over a hundred people in here!"
"I know."
"Have you seen how crowded this space is now, it's mad!"
"I'd noticed."
"Casting whatever with so little individual free space is dangerous, don't you think?"
"Damn it, Megan! I'm going already! Happy now?!" Harry cracked.
Megan just smiled sweetly at him as he walked to the door, only to follow him on his way out. "I'll join you Harry, where're we going?" She said happily.
"They'll be a nice couple in the future, don't you think?" Susan asked Hannah, both of whom had witnessed the whole scene.
"Aren't they already?" Hannah tilted her head curiously.
"Yeah, you're probably right."
"How long do you think until they realise?"
"Auntie says that boys are stupid, so I guess a few years at least."
"That's a shame, but it'll be funny to watch though."
"Yeah!"
"Aren't you guys supposed to be eleven?" Cedric Diggory, a fourth year Puff asked them with a curious look on his face.
"Girls grow up earlier silly." Hannah said.
"What she said!" A third year named Cho Chang told Cedric, looking at him with admiration in her eyes.
"Yeah. R-right." Cedric said uncomfortably.
"How long do you give him then, Hannah?" Susan asked her friend.
"This one seems particularly stupid, but I'd say a year." Hannah stated with confidence.
"You've got time then, Cho," Susan laughed.
"Yeah? I'll be right there, don't you worry." Cho confidently stated, still looking at Cedric.
"Girls are crazy, but at least you are pretty." Cedric blurted out, looking back at Cho.
Cho smiled a predatory smile.
-X-X-
"Anything happening on the teleportation front? Or will you tell me what you were doing with Snape, perhaps?" Hermione asked him after he got back from his last potion syllabus meeting.
"Nope, I haven't made any progress yet, but I'll get there! About Snape, I helped him with something but it's done now. You'll see it when you see it, have a little patience, girl."
"Argh! I hate surprises!"
"No, you hate not knowing things. There's a difference. You know I don't want you to spread around my teleportation project, right? Just you and the girls can know."
"Why though? Wouldn't you want to share a better way of travel? What kind of person does that make you?"
"A cautious one, Hermione. Elves pop through wards, now think of what would happen if everyone could. Nobody would be safe if the bad guys knew."
"I didn't think of that." Hermione admitted, shaken by her mistake.
"We're eleven, Hermione. I had someone point this out to me too, you know. But it is something we need to take into account in the future. I'm not going to stop trying to reach my goals for anyone."
"You're right, of course. I just need to think more before I make up my mind. I can do that."
"Yeah you can, now how about you brainstorm about another possibly handy spell. See if there's anything you would want that isn't already there. Even if you find it does exist, you'll still have found a handy spell through your research."
"That's not a bad idea, I'll go do that, thanks, Harry!"
Harry waved her from his room, the same room they had used for casting exercises before the room had grown too small.
"Gretty!"
"Master called Gretty?"
"Yes, hi. Thank you for coming. I was wondering, how would you describe what you do with space when you pop? You don't displace things right? Does it feel more like swapping spaces or like stepping through space?"
"Eh, Gretty not knowing, but Gretty does know somebody who would. Does the master want Gretty to ask?"
"Yes, please. Thank you, Gretty." The elf flushed green before popping away again.
Three minutes later and two pops sounded in front of Harry.
"Gretty brought Zolma, Zolma is oldest elf of Hoggywarts."
"Hello, Zolma, could you please tell me your best understanding of what happens when you pop?"
Zolma looked dreadfully old, she took her sweet time judging him worthy before answering him. "Elves use tiny portals to go places, pop sound is difference in air. Zolma know this because when elves pop to underwater, no water pops back out, but water goes up tiny bit. House elf babies pop without thinking sometimes."
"How about length and distance, does that affect the process?"
"Jumping farther makes pop louder, takes same magic, takes longer time."
"Thank you, Zolma." Harry said with a smile, making a small bow, it was the least he could do for the ancient elf's help.
"How about you pop Zolma back and then come back, we should let Zolma rest."
When Gretty came back, Harry asked her to pop him around a couple times again. Gretty was happy to oblige.
He noted that the pop was louder when Harry was side-along popped by Gretty.
"I think I have all I need now." Harry said to the empty classroom.
He sat down and thought about all he had heard. 'It's nothing like apparition, that's for sure.'
-X-X-
"Any new developments for the first years?" Albus asked his staff.
"You know, I'm kind of surprised that Neville Longbottom seems to be living up to expectations, namely none." Severus said.
"How can you say that, Severus?" Minerva asked him aghast.
"Does he perform better in your classes then? If not for my watchful eye, he'd have burned through dozens of cauldrons by now. The boy's a nervous wreck! It doesn't help that he's constantly paired with the Slytherins in all the close contact classes either. Albus, you should really get by now that they are not going to magically get along better. I recommend doing the exact opposite, putting the snakes with the badgers and the claws with the gryffs."
Again, the staff could do nothing but stare at the man. This was not the Severus that they knew.
"No, mister Longbottom is failing in all his wand based classes too, the only thing he does right is Herbology. Isn't that right, Pomona?" Minerva admitted.
"Yes, he does fine in my class, one of the best really."
"Maybe there is some merit in Severus' idea, I will think about it." Albus said.
"."
None of the professors bought that as they had suggested this every year. The only difference was who'd brought it up. Now they had literally all brought it up, but it was unlikely to change Albus' mind.
"And about Neville?" Severus prompted, netting him some more stares, not that he wasn't used to those.
"Perhaps the boy is still adjusting and this will solve itself, but if it's all the wand based classes as you say Minerva, maybe it's his wand? Something to ask the boy if this continues." Albus thought out loud.
"His wand, I hadn't thought of that!" Minerva gasped. "She wouldn't have."
All that knew the Dowager Longbottom had their private thoughts regarding the woman, some winces showed what way their thoughts were going.
"Anyway, back on track. Managed to get Potter on your team, Pomona?" Hooch asked with a smile.
Pomona sighed. "I tried everything, had a seventh year try to get him aboard by asking him at dinner, in front of his house, didn't work. So then, I tried getting him for a private talk, how that backfired so fast I couldn't have imagined."
"What happened?" Severus of all people asked.
"He caught me out immediately. To my shame I tried some blatant emotional manipulation when nothing seemed to work. The boy's very eyes changed to a darker green and his voice got emotionless as he said: 'don't do that again madam, if there's one thing I hate more than physical labour, then it has to be manipulation by adults. If anything, it makes me want to rebell, you don't want me to rebell, madam.' I apologized of course, but I don't think he will forget anytime soon."
Torn between laughing or not, the latter won out thankfully for the majority of the faculty.
Severus however was laughing, oh boy was he laughing. "Hah, you tell 'em boy! Ha!" He was still chuckling with his face in a rictus of what looked to be very painful to the uninitiated.
"How bad can it be? I mean, he's eleven, isn't he?" Bathsheba asked, primarily to ignore Severus' creepy laughter.
"You should have seen it." Pomona said. "Scariest little boy I'd ever seen."
"Riiight," Albus said, "highly disturbing stuff. Anything to mention about the other years?"
"Well, as can be expected from Potter's well taught class, all my upper years have improved in their casting. Some are even managing silent casting with less blatant wand waving as Severus would call it."
"You mean to tell me he actually got them motivated enough to practice that much? How? Wasn't his lesson just on the one side of a blackboard? Read it and get to casting?" Minerva asked.
As transfiguration was less popular in the casting group due to a need for props she didn't really see massive improvements in her class.
"Oh yes! He's brilliant. The only thing he does is make it seem easy. Couple that with his work ethic and everyone else seems to feel the need to improve as well. Maybe it'll prove a fad, maybe not, but I hope that It'll stay for the next 7 years at least." Flitwick declared with a smile.
"It might actually prove very beneficial when those lower years reach sixth year. It will certainly leave us with two months of classes to reorganize, imagine the time saved!"
"Yes, yes, we'll see about that when it becomes relevant. How about we continue on to the next issue, anyone?" Albus said.
"Minerva, how many of your students have already found the Cerberus?" Madam Pince, librarian asked in the ensuing silence. Not one person didn't think this was serious if Pince was willing to end her silence.
"What do you mean, Irma?" Minerva asked.
"Minerva, I've had people look for books on that monstrosity since day one, and your house are frontrunners. Particularly the red menaces. Last sunday I overheard a group of first years discuss if they would go take a peek, they already knew the unlocking spell too. This train has already left the station, people, what are we going to do about it?"
That this genuinely seemed to shock the faculty was enough for Pince. She stood and left, nobody batted an eye. She always left because otherwise she would develop an eye twitch at the least. In her own words, Merlin these people were stupid.
"I'm sure it will be fine," Albus ineffectually tried to soothe his staff.
Bedlam greeted his hollow words.
-X-X-
"Hey Harry, where were you yesterday? We didn't see you all evening." Megan asked her friend in an otherwise empty common room, they were always the early birds.
"Hi Megan, I've been working on my project to pop like an elf."
"Any breakthroughs?" She asked good naturedly.
"Yes actually, I did it once, I think."
"You think?"
"Yeah, can't be sure really." Harry frowned.
"Now you've got to be taking the mickey. How can you not be sure if you teleported?"
"Oh, I'm sure I did, I just don't know if it was the same as an elf pop."
"You did it? You actually did it then?! Congrats, Harry!"
"Thanks, Megan. Don't tell Hermione yet though, I want to surprise her, it'll be funny."
"Only if I can be there, Harry." Megan demanded playfully, putting her arm around Harry and pulling him close.
"Oh alright then, it's a deal." Harry said, smiling and leaning into his friend's embrace.
"Any idea what they're talking about, Sue?" Hannah asked from their vantage point up the stairs. "No, but does it matter? I mean look at them, so cute!"
"Are you sure you're firsties?" Natalie, a fifth year female Puff prefect asked them sleepily.
Hannah frowned. "And have you looked at them yet?"
"No."
Hannah dragged her down to look at Harry and Megan curled up in a chair.
"See now?"
"Oh god, you're right. They are adorable! I give them three years, not a day more."
"Wanna start a betting pool?" Susan asked.
"God yes, let me get Stella, she's the resident bookie around here. Females only though, she's got a thing against men."
"That's actually a good precaution, there's no telling what Harry would do if he found out, you can't forget he is a boy, they're bound to be stupid sometimes." Hannah declared.
"Damn, forgot about that! Can I still up my bet?"
"No, cast is cast."
"Damn!"
"Stella?" Hannah got her back on track.
"Right, I'll get her right now, just a second."
"Can't look away right?" Susan sighed.
"You too?"
"Yeah." The two firsties sighed dreamily as one.
"You sure you're firsties?"
"Shut up and watch."
"Yes, Sir." It was two against one after all, you pick your battles.
-X-X-
"So Potter, you up for some more casting?" The Claw dissenter from the first two practices asked him as he entered the largest classroom in the school. Harry had specifically asked for that when he had approached Professor Flitwick, who'd been glad to grant him that, as well as a teacher's permission to form a club. Harry hadn't even realised he'd needed such.
"Aren't I always?" Harry asked rhetorically. He'd twice asked for the guy's name but had forgotten it again immediately. By now it was the principle of the thing, he just wasn't going to ask again. It was something silly sounding, of that he was certain.
"Yeah you are."
"Get to casting already, Padawan."
"Yes, Sensei."
At least he'd gotten an inside joke out of it.
"How far along are you on that list of yours?" Megan asked from next to him.
"About a third of the way I guess, there's not so many spells in the first year, I guess it'll pick up in the second year."
"We're only just over 2 months in, Harry, you're already way ahead of schedule. Are you going to add more or are you going to start with second year spells?"
"Bit of both I reckon, might take some more time for my projects later in the year."
"Don't you have just the one now though? One active project, I mean."
"Yeah, but I'm working with Hermione on new stuff to do, and she dragged Su into it as well."
"What kind of new stuff?"
"I asked her to build a list of things she would want magic to do for her, useful stuff you know? And then check if there already is such a spell. If so, we put it on my list. If not, I, or we, start developing a spell for that, just like with the Google spell. Sounds like a good idea, right?"
"Aren't you guys supposed to be first years?" Padawan asked.
"Shut it, you! Harry can do what he wants!" Megan was quick to defend Harry. "Alright, alright! Crazy ass first years."
"You should know by now not to underestimate your Sensei, Marcus." Another Ravenclaw cheekily told Padawan, reminding Harry that it was actually Marcus Belby.
"Right."
"You know, Belby, it sounded like you don't believe that I can. How about you come up with something too, I'll make it happen." Harry said.
"How about getting rid of farts, you think you can do that?" Belby smirked. "Would be a good thing during long classes."
"Well damn, that's not a bad idea at all!" Harry said at the same time as Megan said "EW!"
"No, we're preventing EW's." Harry laughed. "I'll do it, Padawan, for the good of mankind."
"Ha! You're alright, Sensei, for the good of mankind, he says." Belby laughed.
"Might as well expand on this. Check if there's spells that empty the bladder and the bowels, empty the nostrils, I think that's about it. Wouldn't even have to go to the toilet anymore." Harry voiced his thoughts.
"You might want to check with Pomfrey, I think they already do that in hospitals for long-term patients." Belby's friend said helpfully.
"How about we all go and research this, I'll clear with Flitwick to get us an empty classroom and we could make it our research center." Harry said. "I'm sure Su and Hermione would love to make it official. The Spell R&D club or something like that."
"We'll talk to Pomfrey. You talk to Flitwick and your friends." Belby decided.
Megan, Harry, Belby, and his friend all agreed.
"You know, for a self-proclaimed lazy guy you certainly do enough." Megan said.
"I've noticed. I used to be lazy because nothing I did and could do had any sort of value, for me that is. Now though, I'm really building something. Not only for me but for others too. I guess there's no reason to be lazy anymore because everything I do, I do because I want to." Harry explained.
"Aren't you guys supposed to be first years?" Belby's friend asked.
"I keep thinking the exact same thing." Belby agreed.
"Get to casting, you two!"
"Aye, Sensei!" Even Marcus' friend had joined in with the gag.
-X-X-
"Hey, Hermione. Got some ideas already?" Harry asked Hermione as he walked into their research room.
"No, but I like Belby's idea, so I've been researching that. It's not going well though, I've no clue how to search for something like cleaning nostrils, and the bowels and bladder spells already exist. We put them on the list."
"Why don't you just Google it?"
"Oh Harry, I tried but I just can't get it to work. I don't know exactly what I'm looking for so I can't find it." Hermione sighed. "I guess it isn't the end all be all spell for searching after all."
"Why don't you let me try the library, we'll go right now." Harry said, grabbing her arm in a surprise move.
The world seemed to blink and change, though Hermione did not feel as if she had moved.
"Alright, Harry. What happened?! Did you just teleport us?!"
"No, because that would mean we broke through the most powerful wards in Britain, Hermione. I'd rather just say we went fast, really really fast. For now at least. Really fast, get it?" Harry smirked, anticipating his friend's reaction to having her mind blown.
"."
"You want me to use 'going really fast' as a codeword for teleportation? What are you, a four year old?" Hermione said calmly, like she wasn't bothered by their impossible travel in the least.
"You know, you're taking this way better than expected, I'm kind of disappointed here." Which was clearly a massive understatement. Harry sighed, "and yes, I want you to do exactly that. That way, nobody will figure it out if they happen to overhear."
Hermione laughed out loud at his obvious disappointment. "Megan made me promise that if you did manage it, I would act rationally and calmly, as that would bother you."
"Hermione Jean Granger! Did you just prank me?! I'm so going to get you two back for that."
"Hey, don't blame me, it was Megan's idea."
"Don't go pointing fingers this late in the game, you executed the plan, remember?"
"Do I at least get to help you prank Megan?"
"Trying to get in my good graces, Hermione? Sure, help away."
"You know how her mum is a muggle, right? She has always wanted to see Hogwarts, you could beam her right into the castle."
"Not really a good prank, is it?" Harry asked sarcastically. "Doesn't matter, it seems like a good surprise anyway, I'll do it!"
"You're the best, Harry!"
"Right, still going to prank you one day though."
"Yeah, yeah, now Google away, you impossible boy."
"At once, Milady! Google, hear me and hearken to my call, I beseech you!" Harry theatrically cried. Immediately, an arrow emerged from his wand and pointed at a bookshelf to their right.
"How, damn it?!" Hermione growled. "I tried that for the better part of an hour."
"I just asked for any spells with references to boogers."
"You can add that last part? That's so cheating!"
"Why? Google uses what you want, so as long as you know what you want, it'll work. The words are irrelevant, remember?"
"Let me try. Google booger related spells!" This time Hermione got it.
"You just need to practice googling, Hermione."
"So it's a verb now, is it?"
"Sure, we are googling, aren't we?"
"I guess we are." Hermione allowed whilst paging through the book they had found. "Here it is, the bat bogey spell, it animates the bogeys in the nose that then claw their way out of your nostrils, sounds unpleasant, really."
"It's exactly what we need. Gimme that book." Harry demanded. He copied the relevant bits and stood.
"How is that what we need?"
"It's a spell that targets boogers specifically, right? Then we just need to replace the animation part with a vanishing part and Boom! Done!"
"Do you even know what you're doing? Don't you need arithmancy for that?" Hermione asked sceptically.
"Didn't have any trouble making the Google Me spell, did I? Anyway, the incantation is 'Volatilis Lutum', we can work with that. We take Lutum and the second half of the motions and "
"What do you mean? You can't just dissect spells and combine parts. That's not how this works!"
"Not with that kind of attitude, certainly! Leave this part to me, Hermione, I got this covered." Harry easily dismissed her misgivings.
Harry noticed that Hermione was getting frustrated so he added, "magic is intent, Hermione. Before wand waving and incantations, that's all magic was. It still is really. Our human side had to rationalise magic somehow and that's how we ended up with silly wand waving and spells." He gasped in realization.
"Oh my, it was right under my nose the entire time, wasn't it. Flitwick was right, I'm still shackled by one more misconception." Harry debated out loud, he was very happy with his realisation.
"What are you talking about now, Harry?" Hermione asked, confused.
"It's a surprise, and my new project. You'll see when I'm done."
"Another secret, Harry?" Hermione asked in a dejected tone. "You're really leaving me in the dust here."
"This one has potentially enormous repercussions. I need to think it through first."
"I guess that's smart."
"Cheer up, Hermione, I will at least tell you if I succeed. I probably won't tell many people about this one."
"Right."
"How about this, I'll ferry you all over the castle for a day. We'll go really, really fast." Harry smiled.
"You know how stupid that sounds right?" She smirked. "But I'll accept that offer, those stairs are a pain. Hey! You think you can teach other people to go really really fast?"
Harry laughed when he heard Hermione use his code, it did sound stupid. "I don't rightly know. I reckon it depends on whoever wants to learn. It requires a certain, flexible mindset."
"I imagine you've got five volunteers. The other girls will surely want in on this too."
"I'll draw up a lesson plan." Harry said seriously. His face scrunched up as he thought about it.
Hermione just raised an eyebrow, she knew Harry's teaching style already. The plan was probably the same as the training and would fit on an A4 paper.
"Yes, I think I've got it!" Harry decided.
'Definitely fits on an A4.' Hermione thought.
"Now, who can I best approach for a lifelike replica of a head?"
"What?!"
-X-X-
"I did it!" Harry cheered as his spell worked. "That's two for two!"
"Are you done with that creepy doll then?" A disturbed fifth year asked him. He was doing this in the Puff common room, and he was gathering a lot of stares today.
Harry had gone to McGee to ask for a lifelike human head, hair, eyes, teeth and all. She had wanted a reason but saw no reason to deny him his odd request upon hearing him out. Some people however, did not like his process. 'Bunch of squeamish people.'
"Yes. And yes, I just invented another spell."
"Thank god that thing can go! Finally! May I vanish it now?"
Harry nodded, chagrined. Did nobody appreciate his R&D process?
"I'm going to call it, The Bogey Bye Bye spell!"
"."
"Really, nobody? Argh! I just mashed two spells together, that's supposed to be impossible."
"."
"Sigh, I'm going to bed."
-X-X-
"You can do what?!" A pretty female seventh year asked Harry at dinner.
Harry had just pointed his wand at his body and fired a few silent spells. His explanation had gathered some interest.
"Use spells to empty my nose, bladder and bowels, no more toilet trips for me." He summarized for the older Puff.
Her mouth literally fell open. She closed it and demanded, "Teach me! Please! I need that for reasons."
"For reasons?" Harry queried, not really interested but just glad for the first really positive response to their research and his spell design.
"You'll understand someday. Let's just say this will make a lovely surprise for my boyfriend."
"Oh my god!" Tonks shouted, drawing a fair bit of attention. She waited until people started looking at her to whisper loudly, "count me in, Samantha! I know a few other girls that might benefit, but we need to do this quietly."
"It's better that way, yes. I'll spread the word too. Is Saturday good for you, Potter?" Samantha asked.
"Ehhh sure, 1am?"
"Deal, I'll arrange everything, I'll let you know the place Friday at the latest. Eh, do your girls know the spells too?"
"Yes?"
"Bring them as well, they can help. Besides, they need to know." She finished her statement with an intent stare.
"Sure, we'll be there." Megan answered from next to him.
"What was that about?" Harry asked Megan as Tonks and Samantha left on their mission to spread the word.
"I've no clue. But I am curious, it's bound to be something amazing if their reactions are anything to go by."
"Yeah. In any case, we'll find out Saturday.
-X-X-
"So, what's this all about then?" Harry asked Samantha and Tonks as everybody was starting to practice their new spells.
He'd made a simple how-to explanation sheet for each spell and had Tonks copy them, so now all they had to do was practice. Harry was practising the copy spell. Hermione, Su, Susan, and Hannah were going around, helping them with the wand movements and incantation. Harry had even showcased the spells personally, an improvement for his teaching style for sure. Harry was really just enormously proud and willing to tell anybody anything about his Booger spell.
"Uhh," Tonks mumbled uncomfortably. "You take this one, Samantha," she said and fled away.
"." Harry stared at Samantha, who was suddenly very red.
"I can't tell you, you're too young." She said.
"Didn't you say that my girls needed to know? They're my age too, remember?" He said sarcastically.
"Umm, you know, you don't really want to know, trust me. It's a girls thing."
"Seriously? I teach you and I don't even get to know why?" He cried unhappily.
"Sorry, Harry, just think about this in four years and you'll know. Trust me, it's better this way."
"Sure." He said with disappointment.
Two hours or so later, most girls had gotten at least two spells down and things were wounding down. For some reason, only a few had bothered to practice his Bogey Be Gone spell. Hey, he did invent it, so he could name it however he liked. The previous name didn't get him much appreciation so he had changed it. Harry was still a little peeved about this though, wasn't his invention good enough? At least Belby had appreciated it.
The older girls were grouping and whispering together in small groups, oddly blushing all the time. "You, first years, come here for a sec. Not you, Harry, this is girl talk."
Harry looked on as his girls started whispering with the older girls. As one, all five of his friends suddenly sported massive blushes. None of them seemed able to look at him at the moment, though the older years all sported identical smirks as they looked either at the girls or at him.
'Maybe it's best if I don't know.' Harry decided belatedly. 'She said I'd get it in a few years anyway.'
A minute of whispering later and Samantha beckoned him to come to them, he obliged, now oddly frightened.
"Now, Harry," Samantha started. "For the service you have just provided us we owe you big time. You're way too young now but when you're in fifth year or so some of us girls would be happy to reward you properly. If one of these five girls hasn't already taken one for the team that is." She laughed, most older girls joining in heartily.
His friends however, all looked at the floor with tomato heads.
"Definitely best if I don't know." He decided out loud.
"Ha, you're a smart one, aren't you?" Samantha laughed again and patted him on the shoulder. "But seriously, little man, we owe you one."
"No problem, happy to help."
That sentiment started to fade as Megan had trouble looking at him for the rest of the week, much longer than the other girls had needed. He kind of missed her.
"Don't worry, she'll get over it." Samantha told him she'd taken a liking to him and had appointed herself his big sister after his help.