Research

No matter what they said or how they said goodbye, Isaac leaving was always going to be hard. Thankfully it helped that he knew Isaac spoke the truth and should he wish to go home all he would have to do is ask. Even hinting at unhappiness would land him on the first plane home. With this in mind, Harry showered and dressed for the day, heading down to the crowded Great Hall for breakfast.

It was like a blanket of silence fell over everyone as Harry entered with a few straggling students. Ignoring them Harry walked straight up front to the dais, accent back in place for the day. "Professor McGonagall? I wanted to apologize to you. Yesterday I was short with you, and I shouldn't have been." Harry glanced at the teachers present for breakfast, "I ignored or was short with all of you. Tiredness be damned I shouldn't have treated you in such a manner on my first day back." Feeling better about himself Harry turned to sit down before remembering why else he had come up front. Turning back, he smiled at McGonagall. "Also, Professor, would it be possible to get my schedule and set aside time to speak alone with you; about classes that is."

"Of course, Mr. Potter. Come to my office after dinner tonight. For today join the Gryffindors in their joint lessons. This once I will allow you to attend any elective classes that you wish since you were not signed up for any over the summer. Go, eat breakfast. Classes start in just a half an hour."

Harry nodded and walked over to join Neville, who was sitting mostly by himself. "Neville, how was your summer? Find any new plants of interest?"

Neville smiled shyly at harry. "Not really. But my Gran gave me the old greenhouse on our land. Says that after I clean it out, I can plant anything I'd like in it." His smile dimmed slightly," course it's taken all summer to get it mostly done. I'll probably finish it sometime in July or August if I'm lucky."

Placing a hand on Neville's shoulder, Harry squeezed and let go. "it's okay Neville. You're amazing at Herbology and with plants in general. You'll get that greenhouse done when you know it's ready to be. Own your skills Neville. Also, and this may be a little odd coming from me of all people, don't be afraid to ask your grandmother for help. Or any of your nearby friends like Hannah Abbot. It's okay to need help with things."

"How did you know Hannah and I were friends?"

"She's one of the few people I've ever seen you talk to. I'm glad you have someone Neville. I really am." Grabbing a couple pieces of toast and fruits Harry stood to leave. "You can also talk to me as well if you wish." With that he left to go eat his meal outside on the steps. After a couple of minutes, he realized that a glass of water was sitting beside him as well. "I can do this. I just must look at the glass as having water to matter what. I wanted to come back, and I wanted to see everyone and be here, so I have to at least try." Finishing his breakfast Harry walked through the crowds of students leaving to class. He quickly returned his dishes to the Great Hall before following Seamus and Dean up to Charms for first hour.

Classes were fun now that Harry was letting himself enjoy them. He knew that he didn't have to be the dumbest person in the room anymore, but he also wasn't ever going to be the smartest and he was fine with that. Just as he knew that there were things in this world that he knew about that his peers didn't and probably never would. Sometimes things were supposed to be like that.

What Harry wasn't expecting was a letter during lunch. He had just walked down the stairs of the Entrance Hall when Hedwig came soaring over everyone's heads to drop onto his shoulder, a letter in her claws. "Hello girl, what's this?" he quickly opened the letter and finished making his way down to the kitchens for his meal.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Although we spoke briefly at breakfast about you wanting to speak about classes there is another matter of importance of which I believe we should discuss. I wanted to bring to your attention that change in guardianship should be documented with the school for security purposes. I will give you the rest of the day in which to think on this.

M. McGonagall

Harry nearly slammed into the table he was about to sit at, reading the letter once more. "Hedwig, did Professor McGonagall go to get you this morning?" Hedwig hopped onto the table and gave a little ruffle that usually meant yes when they spoke. "I don't get it. Why though? Wouldn't Dumbledore be the one knocking down my door with questions?"

So lost in thought that Harry didn't even notice when food was placed before him until someone gently pushed a fork full of potatoes into his mouth. Harry jumped and his eyes snapped onto Hermione. "I saw Isaac was gone so I guessed that you'd be back to forgetting meals. Eat Harry. We've got double potions then two electives next to finish the day. You'll need your strength of will."

Harry smiled around the fork at Hermione and switched her the fork for the letter. As she read, he took a few bites of food. He had an important decision to make tonight and it would potentially affect the rest of his school year. Honestly, he wasn't expecting any of the teachers to figure it out yet. He just thought that they would think he was going crazy and talking to the dead. Apparently, he underestimated McGonagall. "Any bright ideas 'Mione?"

Hermione took a breath and read the letter again. "She seems to know something. How I'm not sure. She's the Headmistress but I would have thought Professor Dumbledore would have been the one to speak with you about any changes in guardianship. Did your parents send her a letter? Your aunts or Isaac perhaps?"

"No, they didn't. Not to my knowledge at least. Dad wouldn't have done that anyways. He likes to keep everything close to the vest… Speaking of I still need to inform him of the threat that was made against the wolves that will be with me. Who was that man at the table? I've never seen him before, so I'm guessing new Defense teacher this year?"

"That's Professor Mad-Eye Moody. He was an Auror once before retiring. Somehow Professor Dumbledore got him to agree to come and work here this year."

"Yeah him. I need to let Dad know about the threat Moody made against the pack while they are here. I'd rather they not come in blind. I know Isaac would, but he'll be busy for the next couple of days while he makes it to France." Harry ate some more before shaking his head. "Anyways, we got off track. I need to figure something out before tonight. Out of all the teachers I trust McGonagall to be the most professional but… I don't know Hermione. This might be something above my head."

"Then ask for help. Who would you go to for help at home?"

"Any of the pack. Each of them has different personalities that help in different ways."

"So, who here has the personality that helps you the best?"

Harry looked Hermione in the eyes, and he knew that she already knew the answer to her own question. She had just wanted him to figure it own on his own. "To the library?"

Hermione smiled and grabbed a meat stuffed role for each of them. They stood and walked quickly to the main doors, eating the rolls as they went. "History of Hogwarts might be the best place to start. No, I'm not talking about the book, I've been through that plenty and it doesn't mention anything. There's an entire section of the library that's dedicated to Hogwarts' known history." Once they reached the library Hermione pulled Harry towards the very middle. A full shelf of old and new books moved around as Hermione started to pull a few out. "Let's see. Family Records, Old Blood; ugh. Founding Four and Friends, and Wonders of Hogwarts. Let's start with these."

The two split the books and sat, skimming, and looking for anything that might seem as though it would call out to why McGonagall would know about Harry. Oddly it was in the book of Family Records that the idea was found. The book had records of any known family that had been in Hogwarts along with some information on their family trees. "Hermione how does Hogwarts keep track of all of these students. I mean, I get tracing a family and knowing who would need a letter but what about those of the mundane? The Ministry wouldn't have been able to keep track of every student because they couldn't even keep track of when a House Elf did magic rather than a student."

Hermione's eyes sparked to life as she grabbed the book from him, the book Old Blood in front of her already. She quickly started to flip through pages on both, comparing something. What, Harry didn't know. "That's it Harry! That's how Professor McGonagall knew."

"The Ministry? If that's the case than I'm screw because the Ministry doesn't know about my parents or change of guardianship. Legally they don't have to since I was born in a mundane hospital, all my paperwork is there."

Hermione tilted her head, "I didn't know that about you. But no, not them. There must be some sort of Magical way that Hogwarts knows the students its sending letters out to, right? Who sends the letters?"

Harry's eyes widened. "Deputy Head-Mistress M. McGonagall…"

"Exactly."

"So, Dumbledore doesn't even know the students coming into the school, it's McGonagall… If by some means this documentation shows not only the future students but any changes."

"Then Professor McGonagall would know about your change in Guardianship the moment you entered Hogwarts if not before." Hermione finished for him. "I guess the choice has already been made for you then. You just have to decided how much you want to share with her."

"I mean I trust her. Sometimes she seems like she wants to do things but is held back for some reason or another. I just don't know if I trust her with this." Hermione began to pile the books together, her lips tight like she wanted to say something. "Out with it 'Mione. Whatever it is, just say it to me straight."

"Harry, I think you need to ask her why you should trust her with this information." Harry's eyes widened. Hermione wasn't telling him to just trust the Headmistress. "Oh, don't look at me like that please. I'm going to try and learn to think before I trust someone. In this case, I must let go of the old respect for our teachers. They allowed you to go back to a house that wasn't safe and it makes me wonder how many more are like that… So I realized that sometimes adults might be wrong."

"Huh, seems like we've both learned something new."

Thank you so much everyone for staying with me for this long! I started a new job, am continuing my therapy and dealing with various car problems on top of everything. Yesterday was the first time in a LONG time I felt really good and it really helped me to want to reach out and write again. I can't promise mass updates, but there will be more.