Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
Everyone did their best to keep Harry busy during the summer holidays. His morning classes with Nina, Tony and Barney continued as usual, in the afternoons, he had his lessons with Misty and Cicero, and in the evenings, Severus and Minerva, sometimes even Poppy, took him and Lucy flying.
Harry absolutely loved to fly; however, somehow, he could not help wanting to fly together with Lucy.
'Severus,' he thought to his guardian at dinner one day, 'may I try flying together with Lucy please? She can show me what's ahead of us, so it shouldn't be a problem.'
The older wizard nodded in apparent understanding, before he repeated his question aloud.
"If you fly with them, just to be sure, it should be all right," Dumbledore decided. "I will watch from the ground and ask Fawkes to join me."
'Sometimes, Dumbledore is really nice,' Harry thought in surprise. When he had first come to Hogwarts a month ago, he had been very apprehensive towards the headmaster, knowing that he wished for him to remain with his relatives; however, when he slowly got to know the old wizard better, he realised that he did not even mention the Dursleys anymore and turned out to be very supportive of him.
HP
"Here Harry, take this broom. It's the best among the school brooms. All of them aren't really good though." Madam Hooch let out a deep sigh.
Harry nodded, gratefully, as he accepted the broomstick and mounted it, before Lucy followed his example and sat in front of him.
'Lulu, hold on tightly. We're taking off now,' Harry warned the canine, who returned a thought of comfort and reassurance along with the image of their surroundings, before they took into the air.
If Harry had enjoyed himself flying together with Charlie or Severus, flying just with Lucy was the greatest joy he had ever experienced in the almost nine years of his life.
'I love it,' Lucy thought to him, yowling in apparent pleasure.
'Me too.' Harry added silent screams of happiness to her yowls, as they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. 'Waaah.'
He flew over the lake and descended, so that they almost touched the surface of the water, before he pulled up again.
'Harry, don't give Minerva a heart attack,' Severus lightly scolded him.
'This is so much fun,' Harry thought back in happiness.
From that time onwards, Harry and Lucy were allowed to fly together every evening with Severus and his colleagues supervising them.
"I have seen you flying, and you're a wonderful flier," Misty commended him one day, when Cicero had urged her out onto the grounds the previous evening to watch child and dog fly.
"Thank you," Harry replied, shyly. Misty always urged him to speak aloud, and Harry complied to not anger the gentle elf, who taught him so many useful things; however, he still did not feel comfortable making any sound whatsoever.
HP
One day in the middle of July, Molly Weasley called Severus through the fireplace and invited Severus and Harry to come to the Burrow on Sunday.
'Do you wish to go and visit Charlie and his family?' Severus thought to the boy, who had become close to a son to him during the last three months.
'Will you go with us?' the child asked back, once again making Severus aware of just how unsure he was.
'Of course.'
'Then yes, I'd like that.'
Interrupting the woman's tirade, Severus assured her that he would accompany Harry and his guide dog to the Burrow after breakfast on Sunday morning.
HP
On Saturday evening, Harry felt extremely disappointed, when Severus insisted that they should return home for a moment before heading out onto the grounds to fly.
'Why?' Harry thought to Lucy, while he obediently headed home together with his familiar. From the magic coming from behind, he realised that Minerva and Poppy accompanied them.
'I don't know, but I hope we'll go flying shortly,' the canine replied, pleasantly.
Once back in their rooms, Severus motioned everyone to sit down, before he began to speak in his soft voice that always felt soothing to Harry's ears.
"Harry, as you probably know, your birthday is in two weeks' time."
'I don't have birthdays,' Harry's mind screamed, when his guardian continued.
"Minerva, Poppy and I bought a broom for you for your birthday. However, knowing that you're probably going to fly at the Weasleys' tomorrow, we decided to give it to you now instead of waiting for two weeks." He handed Harry a broom.
"It is a Nimbus 2000," Minerva explained, and in the image Lucy sent to his mind, Harry saw that she was smiling broadly. "It's not even out on the market, but a former student of mine is a manager at Nimbus and was willing to sell us their pre-release product."
Harry accepted the broom from Severus, his thoughts going haywire. 'They bought a broom just for me? Because it's my birthday soon?' He had often heard the students complain about the school brooms and envy those with their own personal brooms.
"Thank you," he uttered in a small voice, feeling too happy to even realise that he was talking.
"Oh Harry, it's so good to hear your voice. You should speak more often." Minerva once again smiled broadly at him.
'Did I say that aloud?' Harry thought to Lucy, trying to keep himself from panicking.
'Yes, but that was good. You made them very happy by talking, just like they made you happy with the broom. You should try to talk to them more often. They want to hear you speak.'
'Thanks Lucy, you really are the best.' Harry gently caressed the canine's ears with his free hand.
"Shall we go and try it out?" Severus enquired, quirking an eyebrow.
Harry nodded, eagerly, causing the adults to laugh. 'Yes please,' he thought a response, which Severus probably did not even need. 'He knows me well enough to realise that I want nothing more than to go flying, especially now that I have my own broom.'
HP
Thirty minutes later, Harry and Lucy were soaring over the lake, and the teachers watched them in amazement, smiling upon hearing Lucy's happy yowling accompanied by a barely audible "Waaahhh."
"It appears that you've made Harry a very happy young boy."
Severus slightly inclined his head, wondering where the headmaster had suddenly come from. He inwardly grinned, when Poppy immediately spoke up.
"Don't sneak up on us like that, Albus. I'm already having a hard time keeping Minerva from getting a heart attack, when Harry almost crashes into the lake."
"He won't." Albus' voice was laced with apparent confidence. "Harry, Lucy, will you come down for a moment please?"
'What is it now?' Severus frowned. 'Just let the child enjoy himself for once.'
However, the headmaster managed to completely surprise him. He held out a golden Snitch to Harry. "Do you know what this is?"
Harry shook his head.
"This is a golden Snitch."
'Oh, that's what Charlie was talking about, when he told me about Quidditch,' Harry thought to him in apparent excitement, and Severus quickly relayed the boy's response to the headmaster.
"Well, seeing how fantastic a flier you are, I thought that you might wish to have your own Snitch. This is your early birthday present from me," Albus said, as he handed Harry the small ball that was struggling to get away. "Release it, and then try to find it."
"Thank you, sir," Harry replied. His voice was barely audible, and Severus wondered if he had heard correctly or if his imagination had played a prank on him, when Albus replied.
"You're very welcome, my boy."
Together with the others, Severus observed how Harry released the ball and then searched for it.
"This must be very difficult for him, seeing that he needs Lucy to search for the ball to show him the correct direction first," Minerva spoke up.
Severus smirked. "That would work, considering that they're a very well-matched pair, but I believe that Harry doesn't even need Lucy to find the Snitch. He'll probably be able to sense the Snitch's magic."
"Is that so?" Albus stared at him in apparent surprise.
Severus gave him a curt nod, smirking, when Harry held out the Snitch for him to see that he had caught it once again.
"Shall we give him some company and see who gets to catch the Snitch first?" Minerva's voice was laced with excitement, and Severus and Poppy immediately agreed.
Severus telepathically warned Harry of the impending competition, before he took into the air together with his colleagues, while the headmaster made himself comfortable on the bench next to the shore.
During the following hour, Harry managed to catch the Snitch five times.
"Harry, please see to it that you'll get sorted into Gryffindor in two years' time. We're going to make you the Seeker on our house team." Minerva addressed the child in obvious eagerness.
"Ah, but I am certain that we could offer the same position on the Slytherin team." Severus smirked.
'Severus, can you please thank your colleagues for the broom and the Snitch?' Harry thought to him. 'I never had so much fun before.'
'I will do that, but they'd be much happier to hear it from you. Just talk to them. I know that you can do it.'
However, Harry did not show any reaction, and Severus obediently relayed the boy's gratitude to his colleagues.
HP
'I just love flying. It's so cool,' Harry thought to Lucy, once they were in bed later the same evening. 'And the Snitch is just brilliant.'
'Yes, flying is wonderful, especially over the lake,' his familiar agreed. 'Catching the Snitch is fun. It's not really difficult though.'
Harry shrugged. 'Perhaps, it's easier for us than for other kids,' he thought back. 'Perhaps, your vision is better than that of humans, and I can just sense its magic.'
'No, I don't think that my vision is better than that of humans, but I can sense it, because it keeps moving its wings, rather than because of its magic.'
'Oh, all right. Oh well, together, we'll always be able to catch it,' Harry thought, feeling very happy. 'Tomorrow, we can fly with Charlie and his brothers. That's too cool.'
From Lucy's light snoring, he realised that his familiar had already fallen asleep, firmly cuddled against his stomach.
HP
After breakfast the following morning, Harry and Lucy stepped into the fireplace together with Severus. Harry was firmly gripping his broom in his right hand, while his Snitch was safely tucked into his robe pocket.
"The Burrow," Severus shouted, and from the tone of his voice, Harry had the impression as if his guardian was not overly delighted at having to visit the Weasleys.
When he stumbled out of the fireplace together with his guardian and his familiar, they were immediately surrounded by a whole group of people. He could sense at least eight people's magic, of which he only recognised Charlie's.
Before he could feel too uncomfortable, however, Lucy sent him an image, which only confirmed that they were surrounded by two adults and seven children, some about his own age.
'Hi Charlie,' he thought to his friend, trying to smile in spite of feeling overwhelmed being surrounded by so many people who were all staring at him.
Suddenly, the girl spoke up.
"Back up, all of you. Can't you see that you're making him uncomfortable?"
Everyone stepped back, making Harry inwardly sigh in relief. 'Thanks,' he thought to the girl before even considering the matter.
'You're welcome. Just ignore my brothers. They don't have manners. I am Ginny, by the way,' he almost instantly heard her reply right into his mind, while Lucy gently licked her hand.
'Lucy seems to like her. She's nice,' he thought, smiling.
"Ginny is right. Now these are Professor Snape, Harry and Lucy. Please give them some space, especially Harry, as he can't see," Charlie added in a firm voice. Turning to Harry, he added, "I see you brought a broom. Shall we go flying?"
Harry eagerly nodded his head, and the whole crowd of red headed children stormed outside.
"Just flying is boring. Let's play Quidditch."
'That's my brother Ronald. He is nine years old and always jealous of everything and everyone,' Ginny informed him, telepathically.
"Harry, do you know how to play Quidditch?" Charlie asked in apparent concern.
Harry nodded, eagerly. 'Yes, the professors taught me, and Professor Dumbledore gave me a Snitch,' he thought back and hurriedly pulled his Snitch out of his robe pocket.
"Very well, I will head one team and you, Bill, the other," Charlie decided and stood aside from everyone else, while another older boy, who had his hair pulled up in a pony tail, stood on the other side.
'He looks like a girl,' Lucy thought to him, and Harry could only agree.
'That's my oldest brother, Bill. He has just finished Hogwarts and is going to work at Gringotts, the wizarding bank,' Ginny informed him.
Harry thought back a quick thanks, when he became distracted by Charlie's question. "Harry, what position do you want to play?"
'I'd like to catch the Snitch.'
"All right, I will play Chaser today, Bill?"
"Keeper."
"Okay, Harry as Seeker."
"Professor Snape as Seeker."
"Ginny Chaser."
"Fred Beater."
"George Beater."
"Dad Chaser."
"Ron Keeper."
"Mum Chaser."
"Percy Chaser."
The two boys took turns choosing the members of their teams, and Harry realised in shock that he had to play against his guardian.
'The three adults on the one team, and the youngest on our team. Harry, we need to do our best,' Lucy informed him, causing Harry to smile.
'Thanks Lucy, for helping me. We only have to fly and look for the Snitch. That's good.'
"Is the dog going to fly, too?" Ronald asked, causing Harry to almost stumble, as he was just going to take into the air with Lucy sitting in front of him as usual.
"Of course, Harry needs her to see," Charlie explained.
'Just ignore Ron. He is a thickhead sometimes, especially if he gets jealous. Your doggy is gorgeous, by the way.'
Harry quickly thought back a thanks to Ginny, before he flew further up to concentrate on the magic coming from the Snitch.
HP
After the three first games, which Bill's team lost, Severus suggested that someone else should play Seeker for their team. However, even a complete change of teams with Ginny playing Seeker for Bill's team could not prevent Harry from catching the Snitch every single time.
"Oh Merlin, the house, where Harry is going to be sorted, will win the Quidditch Cup seven years in a row," Bill spoke up, when Mrs. Weasley decided that it was time for lunch and everyone headed inside.
"First-years aren't allowed on the teams," Percy reminded his older brother.
'That's Percy. He's a bit of a git and totally sticks to the rules,' Ginny informed Harry.
"Oh, if Harry is going to be sorted into Slytherin, I'll have a word about this ridiculous rule with the headmaster, and I know for a fact that Professor McGonagall has absolutely the same intention." Severus smirked.
"Professor…"
"… Could you come with us for a moment?..."
"… We'd like to try…"
"… if there's something…"
"…. we could do to convince you…"
"… to abolish this atrocious rule right away."
'These are Fred and George, the twins from hell,' Ginny quietly introduced them to Harry. 'They're very funny and, frankly speaking, my favourite brothers. Just be careful around them though, as they try to prank everyone and mostly succeed. I think they're quite brilliant.'
Harry thanked her for the explanation, while Lucy showed him the image of Severus climbing up the stairs after the twins.
HP
Severus followed the twins upstairs with trepidation. From being the head of Slytherin, he was used to untidy rooms, especially from his male students; however, the twins' room topped everything that he had seen so far.
Not only were dirty socks as well as various other kinds of clothes scattered about the room; however, in the middle of an absolute chaos, there was a cauldron, surrounded by a box with empty phials along with several small bags containing – fortunately non-dangerous – ingredients. This alone would have been nothing all too special; however, in the cauldron, there was a bright yellow liquid bubbling lividly. Several more ingredients were scattered about.
Trying to keep his calm, Severus merely cast the boys a stern look in silent question.
"Sorry for the chaos, Professor."
"… We've just finished brewing all the potions of our first-year Potions book…"
"… and decided to try out the book with prank potions that Bill gave us for our birthday back in April…"
"… and this is our first attempt."
The dunderheads sounded proud. 'Oh well, if they have indeed managed to brew all the potions from their first book in spite of not even being first-years, they must be quite talented,' Severus could not help thinking.
"What did you do with the potions you brewed from the book?" He raised an eyebrow.
One of the twins stepped over the chaos to a wardrobe and pulled out a box with small phials.
"They're all in here, sir."
"We don't know…"
"… if you have time…"
"… to perhaps check them out for us?"
"Give them to me." Severus nodded in understanding. "I will check them later on and let you know if they're adequate.
"Thank you, sir."
"Now this here is our first attempt at a prank potion…"
"… and it's supposed to make the person who consumes it…"
"… turn into a canary," they finished their tirade together.
"We'd like to put it into the dessert…"
"… but could you please check it out…"
"… as we don't want to harm anyone?"
Severus nodded in understanding. "Show me the recipe."
An instant later, he studied the simple recipe, sniffed at the potion and pulled a small teaspoon out of his robe pocket to taste it, before he nodded, contentedly.
"It seems correctly brewed," he commended the twins. "Nevertheless, it was a good idea to have your potion checked before pranking people. Please do so in the future, too. I shall always be willing to check a potion for you."
The twins profusely thanked him.
"Do you know how to magically bottle it?"
"No sir." Two identical faces stared up at him in apparent delight.
"Are you allowed to do magic here at home?"
"Yes sir."
Smirking, Severus taught them the spell, and the twins swiftly bottled their concoction into the empty phials, pocketing one for immediate use.
'I'm going soft,' Severus thought, horrified. 'It's Harry's fault. Oh well, these twins seem quite adept at brewing though, and at least not as thick-headed as their brother Percival.'
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.
