Unspoken
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
During the following months, the Grangers joined the extended family every Sunday. Hermione usually came well prepared carrying small packages of papers filled with questions with her.
One day, she cast Connie a look of pure irritation. "When I visited you the first time, you told me that Connie was a muggle. That's not true, now, is it?"
Connie's expression turned sad. "Unfortunately, it is."
"Then why do you know so much about the magical world? Are you not going to Hogwarts with us?"
"No. I can't. I've been studying with Harry and the Unspeakables for six years now, and I am going to join him and study the theory behind the magic with him every day after classes."
"So, we can meet and study together?" Hermione's voice expressed pure excitement and joy, which was also visible in her eyes.
"Yes." Connie smiled, broadly.
"How is that going to work at Hogwarts though?"
Connie grinned. "Come with me. I'll tell you, but Harry isn't supposed to know yet."
HP
Two weeks before Harry's birthday, he received his Hogwarts letter, much to his and Connie's amazement, especially when Regina and Remus decided to take them shopping on Saturday. Even knowing that Connie would not be able to attend Hogwarts as a student, they bought the same books and Potions ingredients for her which Harry received.
"Don't forget to reply to your Hogwarts letter," Rebecca reminded him later the same day and, as soon as he had written his response, she waved her wand at the parchment, grinning mischievously.
"What are you doing?" Harry cast her a look of irritation combined with curiosity, before he leaned over to realise that she had changed his address.
While the Hogwarts letter had automatically addressed his letter to Harry's real address at Regina's and his home, the reply address was now set to 'Harry Potter, The dragon dungeon 7, The Good for Nothing Coven'.
"Let's see if the headmaster will notice that something is off. He probably won't even notice."
HP
A week later, Rebecca's and Artemis' son Aidan was born, followed two days later by Lily's and James' baby Niamh and Amelia's and Sirius' girl Julia on the following day. While Niamh and Aidan were born in the infirmary of the Unspeakables' office, Amelia gave birth to her daughter at St. Mungo's.
By the time Harry's birthday approached, all mothers and babies were well, and the extended family decided to have a large birthday party for the three new-borns and Harry together on his eleventh birthday.
The weather on this last day of July was not only cold but stormy and pouring with rain. Harry's first thought, when he woke up and looked out of the window, was, 'I so wanted to play Quidditch with everyone.'
To his delight, however, Rose AKA Lily waved her wand around the garden and efficiently changed the whole area within the boundaries of the house into a tropical paradise with an agreeable temperature, blazing sunshine and small spots of shadow around the spectators' bench.
Right after breakfast, Harry, Connie and Hermione insisted on going out into the garden to play Quidditch, even though Harry had seen that a pile of presents was waiting for him on the table in the living room.
The three young mothers took turns watching the babies together with Lucy, who seemed to adore the tiny beings. To everyone's relief, she was very gentle with the babies and only lightly licked their tiny hands when their mothers let her. One of the magical adults always remained on the ground with them as referee, and everyone else engrossed themselves in their game. Connie always rode together with Harry, but the others took turns taking the Grangers and the Coxs with them. On Harry's request, the adults even decided that the people on the passenger seats were allowed to actively participate in the game, be it as Seeker, Keeper, Chaser or Beater, whatever position the flyer was playing.
'Now, go for the Snitch,' Harry thought to his wife, 'before Artemis will catch it.'
However, in the five matches they played, neither Connie nor the Seeker of the other team was able to catch the Snitch even once, because Harry was just too fast.
"I hope you're going to be sorted into Gryffindor." Minerva smirked. "I'll convince the headmaster to forego the rule that first-years aren't allowed to play on the house teams."
"Whatever house he'll be sorted into, their team is going to win the Quidditch cup over the next seven years." Artemis smirked.
"Whatever house? Hey, it's my godson you're talking about. Of course, he's going to be a Gryffindor." Sirius glared at Artemis.
"And why would that be?" Rebecca looked smug. "We've raised him to become a Ravenclaw."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Connie, Hermione, will you help me open presents? Let's leave the discussion about the Hogwarts houses to the adults."
HP
The others nodded, and the trio hurried inside. "Harry, do you not mind where you're going to be sorted?" Hermione cast him a surprised look.
Harry shrugged. "No, not really. The only thing I know is that I don't want to be a Gryffindor. Granny Minerva is going to be much stricter towards me than to everyone else. At least that's what I think."
Connie nodded. "Yes, I think so, too."
Hermione remained pensive for a moment, before she let out a deep sigh. "I was hoping to get into Gryffindor, because I really like the professor, but being together with you seems more important now."
"You'll be able to study together anyway." Connie smirked, as she pointed Harry to a small present, which was wrapped into the kind of light brown wrapping paper, which he could recall having seen at the Unspeakables' office a few times.
When he opened it, he held a tiny suitcase in his hands and inspected it from all angles, before he cast Connie a questioning look.
She shrugged. "Put it down and point your hand at it, then say Engorgio. Are you a wizard or not?"
Harry quirked an eyebrow at Hermione, who seemed to be observing the scene in obvious amusement, before he obeyed. "Engorgio."
All of a sudden, the tiny suitcase grew to the normal size of a suitcase. When he tried to tentatively open it by pushing the button, which clearly was there for that very purpose, he felt a little prick in his index finger, before he could hear a small click, and the suitcase opened.
"What was that?" He looked at Connie, questioningly.
"I think it took a drop of blood from your finger, so that it'll be able to recognise you. No one else will be able to open it."
"Oh, all right." Harry turned back to the suitcase, only to stare at it in bewilderment, when his eyes fell onto a staircase.
"What's that?"
"It's your own living quarters, which you can place anywhere to live in, and it has a fireplace, through which I can come and join you at any time." Connie grinned, broadly.
"Where are you going to put this though? How am I going to get inside to study together with you, if I'm in a different house? What if anyone closes it?" Hermione looked from Harry to Connie.
Connie smirked. "Am I going to Hogwarts or are the two of you?"
"Harry, you may leave your suitcase in my rooms. Connie will be able to travel through the fireplace, and for Hermione, I am going to make a Portkey that will take you right into the study room inside the suitcase. Have you checked it out?" Artemis cast him a questioning look.
Harry shook his head. "No, sir. I just only opened it."
"Well, then let's go and check it out. Tell me if there's anything you want me to change."
"Excuse me, sir." Hermione addressed Artemis, questioningly. "Your rooms?"
Artemis chuckled. "Have you ever heard of Argus Filch?"
Hermione's face was crunched in thought, when she shook her head. "No sir. Should I know him?"
"He's the caretaker at Hogwarts, an old Squib." Artemis swiftly changed his features into those of his second persona. "You must not tell anyone about this."
"No, of course not, sir. This is amazing. So, we'll be able to see you at Hogwarts as well."
"No, not my real self, only Mr. Filch, and he is not nice to students." Artemis smirked, as he changed back. "The other students will believe that you're nuts if you talk to me or even to my cat, Mrs. Norris."
"You have a cat? I love cats." Hermione smiled.
Artemis spontaneously decided that it might be better to include Hermione into their Occlumency studies. During the last four weeks of the summer holidays, he proceeded to teach the three eleven-year-olds at Regina's and Harry's home right after breakfast every morning. Afterwards, the three friends discussed this and that, before Hermione returned home and Harry and Connie made their way to the Unspeakables' office for their respective studies.
HP
Too soon for Harry's and Connie's liking, September 1 approached. After a longer discussion who would take Harry to platform nine and three quarters, the adults had decided to keep appearances and send Harry onto the platform just by himself.
He readied himself to simply pop himself and Lucy after saying good-bye to Regina, Rebecca, Remus, Lily, James and Artemis, who had come to see Harry off at their home. Connie had already said her good-byes earlier, before she had to head to her muggle school.
However, Rebecca stepped over to him. "Did you really think that we'd allow you to go just by yourself? No, little one. I will be with you, invisible to everyone but you and the Grangers. I'll only leave when you board the train."
Harry smiled, feeling very much comforted, when they popped right onto the platform. A few days ago, Jamie had taken Hermione, Connie and him to the muggle side of the platform to show them how to get onto the platform if one wasn't able to pop or apparate. 'Hermione and her parents are probably going to use that way,' Harry thought, glad that the Unspeakables had taught him their method of simply popping everywhere.
When they arrived at the edge of the platform, it was still fairly empty, as the train was only going to leave in an hour. Harry noticed in relief, however, that the Grangers were already there looking around as if they were waiting for him.
'Let's join the Grangers.' Rebecca followed him, when Harry approached his friend.
"Hello Rebecca, Harry and Lucy." Hermione pulled him into a light hug, before she gently caressed Lucy's fur.
"Hi Hermione, hello Mr. and Mrs. Granger."
"Are you as excited as Hermione?" Dan Granger smirked. "She has been driving us nuts about the Sorting all morning."
"I can understand that it's important," Emma spoke up. "I can't wait to know where the two of them end up."
"Join the extended family tonight after dinner," Rebecca whispered.
"We'll do that, but why are you here? I thought…" Emma slowly trailed off.
"I'm invisible to everyone but you and Harry. Others will neither see nor hear me."
"Harry, shall we board the train? I can't wait. Perhaps, we can get an empty compartment."
Rebecca chuckled. "It won't remain empty for long. Have much fun, Hermione and Harry, and I'll see you soon. Remember to use your Occlumency skills, whenever you're in the company of any of the professors apart from Professor McGonagall."
"We will," the new first-years promised, before she said their good-byes and boarded the train in excitement.
"Don't you have your suitcase?" Hermione asked in surprise, when her father helped her put her own luggage away.
Harry patted his robe pocket. "I have it here with me. I thought it might be safer, considering that it's our means to see Connie and the others."
Hermione nodded in understanding, as she slid the door to a still empty compartment open. "Shall we sit here, Lucy?" she turned to the canine, who proceeded into the compartment, lightly waggling her tail in apparent anticipation of what was going to come.
"Remember, we only got to meet here on the train. We didn't know each other before," Harry reminded his friend, after they had taken the seats next to the window.
Hermione cast him an indignant glare. "I know that."
"Sorry."
Lucy gently licked the girl's hand, seemingly trying to emphasize Harry's apology, before she stepped over to Harry and lay down on his feet.
HP
'Remember, you have to play the innocent boy, who only learned about magic a few weeks ago and doesn't know much,' Connie reminded him, when he informed her that they had boarded the train.
'I know. It's going to be hard, so I guess, I won't talk much.'
"Harry, is everything all right?"
Harry looked up in irritation. "Ah, sorry, Hermione. Yes, of course." He smirked. "It's just that I only learned that I am a wizard four weeks ago and am not sure what to expect."
"Oh really?" Hermione replied, just when a boy of their age hesitantly slid the door open.
"Excuse me, may I sit here?"
"Come in." Hermione smiled. "We're first-years as well. These are Harry Potter and his familiar, Lucy, and I am Hermione Granger."
"I am Neville Longbottom." He held out a toad. "This is Trevor. Lucy will not harm him, will she?"
Harry shook his head. "Hello Neville, and no, Lucy is very gentle to everyone."
'I hope I'll be able to complete my doggy Animagus form soon, so we can roam the castle together. It's going to be so much fun,' he thought, while Hermione lectured Neville about something, which he did not bother listening to.
A few minutes later, Susan and her friend Hannah joined them, and only when the train had already begun to move, a boy with red hair took the last empty seat. "I almost missed the train. Dumbledore told my mother to wait for Harry Potter on the muggle platform, because he wouldn't know how to get onto the train, but he never showed up."
"And why would that be?" Harry's eyes narrowed, as he stared at the other boy in surprise. "I've already been on the train for an hour."
"You are Harry Potter?" The red-head stared at him in apparent disbelief. "Do you have…"
"What?"
"The scar?"
Harry shook his head in annoyance. "Why does that concern you?" With that, he demonstratively pulled a book out of his robe pocket and engrossed himself in his studies. From the outside, it looked like a copy of 'Beedle the Bard'; however, in fact, it was his assembled research material for the construction of a Chaser's broom.
Hermione apparently decided to follow his example, and the train ride passed uneventfully with Susan and Hannah playing some kind of game and Neville and the redhead talking to each other.
Every now and then, Connie talked to him, but nevertheless, by the time the train reached the station of Hogsmeade, Harry had the impression as if he had made good progress with his broom construction.
'I hope, Dad, Sirius and Remus will find a place to open their shop soon,' he thought, as he followed his classmates out of the train and to the boats, 'considering that the Keeper's broom is already finished and this one will be at least theoretically done soon, too.' He and Archie had decided to wait for the opening of the shop, which was still only at the planning stage, before releasing any new brooms.
Together with Hermione, Neville and Lucy, he climbed into a boat, looking up in surprise, when Neville asked where they thought that they were going to be sorted.
"Anywhere but Gryffindor," Harry replied, truthfully, causing the other boy to stare at him, wide-eyed.
"My Gran wants me to become a Gryffindor like my parents were, but I think Ronald was not really nice on the train, and he wants to become a Gryffindor, too."
"Neville," Hermione said in a soft voice. "I don't think it matters what your granny wants. This is only about you and what you want."
"I'd like to be friends with the two… oh, sorry, Lucy, … three of you."
"That's easy." Harry chuckled, as he held out a hand to the other boy. "Friends?"
Lucy leaned over from where she was sitting on Harry's feet and gently licked the boy's hand in silent confirmation, before they all became distracted, when Hogwarts came into view.
"Beautiful," Hermione gasped.
"True," Harry agreed and quickly sent Connie an image of his new school through their link.
'It's gorgeous,' she returned a feeling of absolute excitement. 'I hope you're going to show me every little bit of it.'
'I will,' Harry promised, feeling very happy at the idea of having Connie with him every now and then.
HP
Harry almost squirmed, when Minerva let her eyes wander about the group of first-years wearing the strict expression of someone who was the deputy headmistress and head of Gryffindor.
'I must do my best to not upset Granny,' he resolved, relaxing slightly as the corners of her mouth slightly curved upwards, barely noticeably, when their eyes met.
She held a small monologue about each of the houses, before she led the group into the Great Hall.
"Finally, we get to see the charmed ceiling." Hermione's voice was laced with apparent enthusiasm, causing Harry to inwardly grin, although he could not help looking around with interest as well.
Standing between Hermione and Neville in front of the high table, where the teachers were seated, Harry unobtrusively let his eyes wander. 'That must be Dumbledore,' he thought upon seeing a very old wizard who was wearing a long, white beard. 'Oh well, much younger than Nicholas though,' he realised in amusement, before he returned his mind to the Sorting ceremony, just when Hermione Granger was called to the Sorting Hat.
"Good luck, Hermione," he whispered, noticing that his friend seemed excited beyond belief. 'Remember, it doesn't matter, where we're going to be sorted. We'll study together anyway,' he thought to her, smiling, when she cast him an unobtrusive nod, as she took her seat on the stool.
An instant later, Minerva placed the Sorting Hat onto her head, so that her eyes were covered by the Hat's large brim. Seconds later, the Hat shouted, "Ravenclaw."
Together with everyone else, Harry clapped his hands, smiling, when Hermione headed to the Ravenclaw table with apparent enthusiasm.
"Remember that you don't have to please your granny. It's your life and therefore, it's your choices that count. Wherever you get sorted, Hermione, you and I will be friends," Harry whispered to Neville, knowing that it would be the boy's turn soon.
"Thanks, Harry. I'm very happy. I never had a friend before. Yes, I will use the chance to defy Gran. She won't even know, as I can make it the Sorting Hat's fault."
"Exactly," Harry agreed, grinning broadly.
Five minutes later, Neville was sorted into Slytherin. 'Cool,' Harry thought, feeling happy for the shy boy, of whom Lily had told him that she had been his godmother.
'Hermione is in Ravenclaw,' he informed Connie and sent her an image of the Sorting Hat on the girl's request.
'You must show me and tell me everything in detail,' she demanded, causing Harry to inwardly groan. 'I should have asked Whisker to bring her with him, invisibly,' he thought, only to look up in surprise, when Minerva suddenly called his name.
'It's my turn now,' he informed Connie, hoping that she would refrain from distracting him until his own Sorting was over. To his relief, she remained absolutely quiet.
As soon as Minerva had placed the Hat onto his head, he heard a small voice in his mind. 'Hmm, what am I going to do with you? You'd fit into any house.'
'Anywhere but Gryffindor please,' Harry thought back.
The Hat scoffed. 'Your thinking is much too logical for a Gryffindor. Considering what you're hiding, it should be Slytherin. Your intellectual level would make you a Ravenclaw, and your loyalty to your wife is very Hufflepuff-ish. Let's make it…' The voice in his mind stopped, when the Hat suddenly shouted for everyone to hear.
"Slytherin and Ravenclaw!"
Taking the Hat off his head, Harry handed it back to Minerva. "Two houses?" he mouthed.
"Mr. Potter, please sit at either the Ravenclaw or the Slytherin table and come to see me after the feast. Don't worry, you'll make this work," she added in a barely audible voice, gently patting his shoulder.
Harry nodded. "Come, Lucy." With the canine on his heels, he walked in the direction of the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables, only to realise that no one was clapping their hands like they had done for any other student. Not even the professors clapped their hands, and one could have heard a pin drop, when Hermione shouted, "Harry, here!"
'Well done, Paws.'
'Thanks, Whisker,' Harry replied, feeling very much reassured. 'I'm in Ravenclaw and Slytherin,' he thought to Connie, who returned a mental squeal of happiness.
'Well done, Harry. Ravenclaw is cool, and Slytherin will surely be interesting.'
Sitting between Hermione and another first-year, who told him that she was Mandy, Harry observed the rest of the Sorting, noticing in surprise that Ronald Weasley was sorted into Slytherin. 'He who was one hundred percent certain to become a Gryffindor?' he thought in amusement, as he observed how the redhead took a seat next to Neville eyeing his surroundings in apparent disgust.
HP
After dinner, while the Ravenclaw and Slytherin prefects accompanied their first-years to their respective common rooms, Harry made his way to the high table with Lucy in tow.
"Harry, my boy, how nice of you to join us on this fine evening."
Harry sent the headmaster a fake smile hearing the greeting, however, refrained from replying.
"Never before in the history of Hogwarts has a student been sorted into two houses. Do you have any idea why Sopho, our Sorting Hat, placed you into Ravenclaw and Slytherin?"
Harry lightly shook his head. "No, sir."
"Albus, I don't have the whole evening to fawn over Mr. Potter and the mystery of his Sorting, as I have to lead a house meeting." The professor with long, black hair, who had previously been sitting next to the man with the turban, eyed him in obvious disdain.
"Yes, Severus, I know, and we will make it short, before we excuse you and Mr. Potter for the Slytherin house meeting. Minerva, due to Harry's Sorting, I believe that it would be best if the Ravenclaws had classes together with the Slytherins. I am very sorry, but would you please change the timetables accordingly?"
Minerva stared at the headmaster in apparent shock. "Albus, that's going to take hours."
'Granny Minerva, if you change into your cat form, I can take you a few hours into the past, after the meeting is finished,' Harry thought to her, receiving an unobtrusive nod in response, just when the headmaster replied.
"I am really sorry, Minerva. Now, Harry, as the classes will be the same for Ravenclaw and Slytherin, you only have to consider where you spend your time outside of class."
"If Mr. Potter wants to belong to both houses, I suggest that he takes turns spending time in both common rooms."
"Yes sir," Harry replied to the Slytherin head, trying to ignore the underlying malice in the man's voice.
"If I may suggest something," Minerva spoke up. "Perhaps, Mr. Potter should decide on one student from each house, whom he will keep updated on where he is going to spend the night, so that the heads of the houses will always be able to contact him if the need arises."
Dumbledore nodded in apparent consent. "A very good idea. Harry, do you already know someone in Ravenclaw and Slytherin?"
"Yes. Hermione Granger from Ravenclaw and Neville Longbottom from Slytherin, sir."
"Very good. Filius, Severus, please turn to Ms. Granger or Mr. Longbottom if you need Harry for some reason."
"Yes sir," Professor Flitwick replied, casting Harry a broad smile.
'He's a goblin like Buckbean, and he seems to be equally nice,' Harry thought, noticing that the Slytherin head merely cast him a glare. 'Ah, he must be Severus or Snivellus as Sirius uses to call him. No wonder that he hates me, considering that Dad and Sirius constantly fought him during their time at Hogwarts. Oh well, that's not my fault, even if it's totally annoying that he hates me because of something they did.'
"Now, Severus and Harry, I won't keep you from your Slytherin house meeting any longer."