Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.


In front of Harry's mind, the image of a bright room appeared. It was built around a large fireplace and completely surrounded by white bookshelves, which were only interrupted by tall windows. 'I can see,' he thought, incredulously, before the image vanished as sudden as it had appeared.

'That was the room we're in,' Lucy's voice penetrated his mind.

'Wow, thank you,' Harry replied in surprise, thinking that his dog was totally amazing.

'I will show you our surroundings every now and then. If you want to see something, tell me.'

'Thank you, Lucy. You're the best.'

'I am happy to make you feel good. Will you pet me?'

'Sorry, what is pet?' 'I hope she won't be angry,' he thought, frantically.

The canine forcefully rubbed her head against his hand making him understand what she wanted.

Smiling, Harry gently petted the canine's head, causing her to let out small sounds which he understood as contentedness. 'I hope it means that I'm doing it right,' he still thought in concern.

Suddenly, another image appeared in the front of his mind. A man, completely dressed in black, was sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace, which Harry recognised as the one in their room. A small smile was playing on the man's lips as he stared at them.

'Is that Severus?' he thought to his familiar, suddenly feeling very excited.

'Yes, he seems very nice.'

'That he is,' Harry replied. Somehow, he had the impression as if he could fully trust his guardian, although he had only met him for the first time just a couple of hours ago.

'Lucy is able to show me pictures,' he informed the older wizard. 'She just showed me your room.'

'That's fantastic Harry, and it's our room now.' The response came right away.

'Thank you so much for everything,' Harry thought back, gratefully.

'You're welcome.' Suddenly, Severus continued aloud. "Harry, we will ask Cicero to help you care for Lucy, but in general, it is your job to feed her and to take her outside, whenever she has to go. If you need assistance, Cicero or I will always help you."

Harry could sense that Lucy waggled her tail in apparent approval.

'What do I need to do, sir?' He suddenly felt extremely uncertain, as he had no idea how to care for a dog.

"Do you remember where the kitchen is?"

Nodding his head, Harry slid down from the sofa and hesitantly made his way to the kitchen, realising that Lucy automatically followed him. As soon as they entered the tidy, bright room, an image of the kitchen appeared at the front of his mind. He noticed that on the other end of the table was a spot, which was equipped with two bowls, one containing water and one filled with small pellets.

"Cicero has already prepared water and dry food for Lucy, so that there is nothing for you to do right now. Please see to it that you give her something if she tells you that one of the bowls is empty. I trust that you will be able to make yourself acquainted with our kitchen. You can find the dog's food on the floor, on the left side of the bowls. Usually, Cicero will see to it; nevertheless, I wish you to feel responsible for her and see to her needs. You will also have to take her out into the garden. Let me show you the way."

'The garden?' Harry wondered. 'I thought we were in the cellar. Although, it is very bright for a cellar.' Led by the magic he could sense coming from the professor, he followed him along the corridor with Lucy on his heels. Finally, they stood in front of what seemed to be a portrait. Harry could feel magic similar to that of Salazar Slytherin, who was guarding their rooms, yet slightly different.

"The lady in the portrait is Ceridwen Hufflepuff, Salazar's sister-in-law. They both lived one thousand years ago."

Harry nodded at Severus' explanation. 'That probably explains why her magic feels similar to Salazar's,' he accidentally thought back in excitement.

"Is that so?" Severus queried, sounding amused.

'Yes sir. Magic is really helpful. I am so glad that it exists."

'That we all are,' the older wizard reassured him, just when Lucy sent Harry an image of the portrait in front of them.

'Thanks Lucy.'

'You're welcome.'

"Ceridwen, this is Harry, my ward, and Lucy, his familiar. Please let both of them in and out at any time."

"Of course dear, I shall do so. I suppose that Lucy is Harry's eye?"

"Exactly. She is his guide dog, and she needs to go out into the garden to release herself."

Harry and Lucy followed the professor into what he explained as his herb garden. "Only Madam Pomfrey and I come here; no one else can access it."

Harry nodded in understanding, all the while he was completely overwhelmed by the magic erupting from different parts of the garden.

HP

Severus led Harry and his familiar through his herb garden, of which he was very proud. He showed the dog to a corner and instructed her to do her business there and not at any other point.

The canine let out a small woof of what appeared to be understanding, only to confirm the sentiment by gently licking his right hand.

At the same time, Severus noticed that Harry's face displayed a deep frown. "Harry, is something wrong?" he asked, kindly.

The response came after a moment of silence. 'No sir. I'm just surprised just how strong the magic is, and it changes with every step we take. This is just amazing.'

'What does he mean?' Severus wondered, as he absentmindedly observed Lucy do her business. Yes, he could feel the garden vibrate with the herbs' magic; however, it felt the same all over the garden. 'Could it be that he feels the specific magic of each herb? Is it possible to distinguish them by their magic?' He pushed the question aside for later. 'I'll try to teach Harry about magical and non-magical ingredients later on. I don't know if he will be able to do anything in the lab with his dog's assistance, but we'll see,' he decided. 'At least, his mother was extremely adept at Potions and he seems to be tolerable.'

He led Harry and Lucy back into the living room, where he settled down in his favourite armchair, wondering how to proceed with the boy who had suddenly become his ward earlier the same day. When he looked up, he realised in amusement how Lucy was comfortably resting on the sofa with her head on Harry's lap. He was just about to tell the child that dogs were supposed to sleep a lot, when he noticed that Harry's head slid down and came to lie on top of the canine.

'Oh well, he's probably knackered, considering that his life completely changed today,' he thought, as he observed Harry and Lucy sleep.

He was still smiling, when Minerva stepped out of the fireplace looking at him in apparent surprise.

"Severus, you're smiling." Her voice was laced with a combination of disbelief and delight.

"Pure imagination." He quickly schooled his expression to his usual, blank mask.

"Oh my, aren't they cute?"

"Could you perhaps remain for them for a while, so that I could look in on my Slytherins?"

"Of course. What do they need, when they wake up? Is there anything I should do?"

"They only just fell asleep, so I hope that you'll have some quiet minutes," Severus informed his colleague, before he suggested reading a book to Harry. "Perhaps 'Hogwarts: A History'."

Minerva cast him a flabbergasted look. "Is he able to hear? I am not capable of telepathy."

Severus let out a deep sigh. "Please keep this bit of information for yourself, but yes, he is able to hear, and I'm sure he'd love it if you read to him. I didn't have the time to try it out yet. Just don't be disappointed if he won't reply. I don't know if he is unable to speak aloud or if he just doesn't speak, because he might have been punished for making as much as a sound all his life. Only time will tell."

Minerva nodded in apparent understanding, and he swiftly left his rooms in the direction of the shortcut to the Slytherin common room.

HP

Minerva quietly sat on the sofa opposite of the small boy and his dog. 'How can someone treat such a cute little boy like that?' she thought, feeling horrified at what seemed to have happened to the child. In fact, his parents, once her students, had been very close to her after finishing Hogwarts, especially the boy's mother. She had often babysat him, thinking of him as of her grandson. Until Voldemort attacked the Potters and Albus decided to send the baby to his muggle relatives. 'That was a grave mistake, Albus,' she mused, feeling very much upset at the old wizard, who had been her colleague and friend for so many years.

Trying to shake off her annoyance, she quietly called Malcom and asked for some tea and biscuits, casting the elf a grateful smile, when he brought her favourites a mere instant later.

All of a sudden, the dog, who had been lightly snoring and obviously fast asleep, sniffed a few times, lazily opened her eyes and got off the sofa, apparently careful so as to not wake up the boy, whose head was lying on top of her. Before Minerva knew what happened, the canine was gently licking her hand while at the same time casting a longing look at the biscuits.

"Do you want a biscuit?" she asked in a soft voice, albeit knowing that biscuits were not exactly dog food. However, the canine carefully accepted one of the delicacies from her hand, just when Harry sat up, probably feeling the loss of his familiar's warmth.

"Hello Harry, would you like some tea and biscuits as well?" she asked, gently. Receiving no response from the child whatsoever, she once again called Malcolm and asked for some hot chocolate, tea and an assortment of biscuits for Harry.

The boy merely shifted in his seat, even when Lucy went over and sat next to him, obviously waiting for another treat.

"Harry, please help yourself. I don't know if you prefer hot chocolate or tea, so I have asked Malcolm to bring both for you. There are biscuits as well, and apparently, your doggy would like another one. Do you need my help?"

To her relief, the boy lightly shook his head and hesitantly reached for the cup of cocoa. A huge smile played on his lips after taking a first sip.

"Do you like it?" she asked, kindly, feeling very happy, when he gave her a small nod. "You must be careful that your doggy doesn't drink any, as chocolate is not good for dogs. Why don't you try a biscuit?"

It took some convincing, however, after a little while, Harry had finished his hot chocolate along with a few biscuits. Minerva contentedly nodded to herself.

"Harry, would you like me to tell you a bit about Hogwarts? I have brought one of my favourite books. It's called 'Hogwarts: A History'. I will read the first few pages to you. Please just listen."

The child did not show any reaction but quietly cuddled with the canine at his side, and Minerva began to read in a soft voice. She read the first chapter, in which the building of Hogwarts by her four founders was described. Whenever she looked up, she noticed that the boy's expression was one of pure joy, and when she finished the first chapter and asked if he liked it, he lightly nodded his head.

"Very well, then I will come back and read the next chapter for you tomorrow," she said, decisively. "Would you like that?"

Harry nodded again, just when Severus strode into the room. He quirked an eyebrow in what seemed to be amusement. "You seem to have made one little wizard very happy and excited, and he told me to thank you profusely for telling him such an interesting story."

Minerva smiled fondly at the young wizards. "You're very welcome, sweetie." Turning to her colleague, she enquired, "Does this young lady have a name, by the way?"

Severus smirked. "That's Lucy. I trust that she behaved herself?"

"Yes, that she did, and she obviously likes biscuits." She glanced at the permanent time display on the ceiling. "It's almost time for dinner. Will you accompany me to the Great Hall?"

To her relief, Severus nodded his head. "I believe that we should do that. Harry should get used to attend the meals together with us, and we will teach Lucy to sit on his feet and not disturb anyone."

Minerva inwardly grinned, thinking, 'Good luck with that, Severus. She seems to love food, even my ginger naps.'

HP

Harry could not believe his luck. 'This is the best day in my life,' he thought in excitement. 'I got away from the Dursleys, got to live with Severus, who seems to be really nice. I got Lucy, and then, the Minerva professor told me the most interesting story about the school, where we are living. I must be the happiest boy in the world.' He sobered, when the thought 'I hope Severus won't give me back, when he notices that I'm just only a freak' crossed his mind.

He was brought back to reality, when Severus directly addressed him. "Harry, we should attend dinner together with all the other teachers and students in the Great Hall. For the beginning, you may sit between Minerva and me at the head table with Lucy lying under the table. When you get used to everything, it'll probably more interesting for you to join the students, but that's fully up to you."

Harry lightly nodded his head. 'Thank you, sir. Are you sure that it's all right for me to join you?'

"Of course, Harry. You're living at Hogwarts now as my ward, and of course, you will be allowed to take all the meals together with us. Some people, such as Minerva here or Poppy, are outright happy to have you here."

"That we are," Minerva replied in a soft voice, the same in which she had read to him from her book earlier.

The thought 'Perhaps, I should think to her and thank her' crossed his mind, however, he knew better than to bother the professor, the thought 'No one wants to hear anything from a freak' firmly plastered in his mind.

HP

Harry followed Severus through the corridors, recognising spots such as Severus' classroom and office, which he had pointed out to him in the morning. He remembered all the way up to the entrance hall. Lucy was quietly walking next to him. She had explained to him, and he had translated for Severus, that she would not have to be lead on a leash, as she was trained to walk next to the person for whom she was responsible. 'It makes sense, as I can simply follow her magic in case she walks ahead, when there is no adult with us,' Harry thought, contentedly.

He flinched back badly, when he followed the professor into what seemed to be a large room, where he was overwhelmed from hundreds of different types of magic penetrating his mind simultaneously.

"Harry, this is the Great Hall with four large house tables, one for each of the houses, as well as a high table in the front. That's where the professors sit and where you may sit as well for the time being. When you will be a student in a little more than two years' time, you will belong to one of the houses," Minerva informed him.

Harry nodded lightly in understanding. 'I can't wait to become a student here, but they'll probably realise how much of a freak I am and won't allow me to become a student,' he thought, inwardly sighing. He followed Severus to the high table, taking in the image that Lucy sent him with interest. 'This is really big,' he thought in surprise, 'and very loud, as many people are talking at the same time.' His ears almost hurt from the noise.

HP

Harry sat in the chair indicated by Severus, between his guardian and Minerva. From the witch's other side, he recognised the headmaster's magic.

All of a sudden, everyone quietened down, and the headmaster began to speak.

"Dear students, I wish to introduce someone to you. Professor Snape has taken in an eight-year-old wizard, who is suffering from an illness that causes him to be unable to hear and see. This is Harry and his guide dog Lucy. If you meet Harry and Lucy, please be kind and feel free to invite them to sit at your house-table for mealtimes. If anyone hexes Harry or Lucy, the person will be expelled from Hogwarts instantly."

"Excuse me, Professor," a boy spoke up, "how will we be able to communicate with Harry if he can neither hear nor see us?"

"That Mr. Weasley, is for you to find out. I am communicating with him using telepathy."

Although Severus' voice sounded not as friendly as when he had spoken with him earlier, Harry noticed that the older wizard somehow seemed amused.

'Perhaps, I should allow him to tell everyone that I can hear,' he thought; however, for the time being, he felt safer the way it was.

tbc...?

Thank you so very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter. Please tell me what you liked or disliked in this chapter and what you expect from this story. Any ideas are welcome, and my muse appreciates any constructive feedback.