Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

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


"Did you feel the magic in the room during the ritual? It was impressive."

Harry gave Draco a short nod. "It always is. I've attended several rituals with Marvolo before. He's really great at rituals and at magic as such."

Harry, Draco, Neville and Teddy were sitting in the Prince family's living room discussing the earlier events. Lucy was fast asleep next to Harry on the sofa.

"What I still don't get around is…" Draco looked at Teddy, "… why so many elves were involved in this. In all the pureblood families I know, elves are mere house-elves. They do whatever we tell them, and that's it."

Harry nodded. "They're slaves." He began to tell Draco about the Isle of Elves, ending up holding a long monologue about the elves, their relationship to humans and the unrightful enslavement of the elves.

Regina and Severus entered the room after bathing Felix and putting him to bed, and after hearing Harry's last words, Severus cast his godson a stern look.

"Draco, please be careful what you say at home. Your parents would not agree to our opinions about magical creatures including elves, as they believe that having house-elves is convenient for wizards and witches."

"Uncle Severus, why did you free Cicero?"

Severus quirked an eyebrow. "Because it was the right thing to do. I pay him one Galleon per month, and he has one day off every week, but he is making up for everything tenfold, because he is very happy. I do not regret making that decision in the slightest."

Draco nodded in apparent understanding. "You know Dobby, don't you?"

"That hyper elf of yours?" Severus smirked.

"Yes. Him. Do you think he'd like to be free?"

Severus let out a sound close to a snort, causing Harry to look at his father in surprise. "I'm sure he would be delighted. However, you can only free him if he's only bonded to you and not to your father as well."

Draco remained pensive for a moment, before he sighed, deeply. "He's probably bonded to father as well."

"So we'd have to think of a way to trick your father into freeing him."

"Harry." Severus stared at him, exasperation clearly written in his face. "How do you suppose you can trick Lord Malfoy into freeing his house-elf?"

"Didn't Marvolo's elf Draht trick his own master into freeing him?"

Severus shook his head in obvious annoyance. Turning to Regina, he stated, "Our son definitely has Gryffindor traits."

"I think I might have an idea," Draco said, pensively. "I merely need a fake letter from someone at Hogwarts, perhaps Professor McGonagall."

HP

In the morning, the headline of the Daily Prophet shouted in red letters.

'Lord Voldemort and the Weasley twins heal Harry Prince from the Epiales disease'

Underneath, a short explanation followed.

'Fred and George Weasley, both soon-to-be third-years at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry and student assistants to the head of Slytherin and Potions master, Lord Severus Prince, have developed a potion, which they and Lord Gaunt used in a magical ritual to cure Harry Prince's eyesight.
Read more about Lord Gaunt and the Weasley twins on page 5.'

Molly Weasley stared at the paper in front of her in absolute horror, the cup full with tea in her left hand hovering in mid-air.

"Arthur."

"Yes, my dear?" Arthur looked around the parchment he was studying in preparation of his work at the Ministry of Magic.

"Look at this. Our children are working together with You-Know-Who."

"What?" Percy stared at her in apparent horror.

"Honswy," Ron gasped, bits and pieces of porridge flying all over the table.

"Ron, you pig." Ginny glared at her brother.

Sending a collective glare at her children, Molly summoned parchment and a Quill and began to write.

"What are you doing, dear?" Arthur asked in a soft voice.

'He's always been too soft with these troublemakers,' Molly thought, angrily. "Writing a Howler of course, what else can I do, considering that they've spent the whole holidays at Hogwarts and not at home."

Arthur gently laid his hand over hers. "I wouldn't do that, Molly."

Molly glared at her husband. "Oh, believe me, I will."

HP

Looking at the deadline of the Daily Prophet, the twins chuckled.

"Severus, thank you so much…"

"… for allowing us to return to Hogwarts…"

"… and not to the Burrow last night…"

"… as reading this, our mother is surely going to be very upset."

"Why?" Harry looked at the twins, questioningly. "There is nothing bad about healing my eyesight, is there? On the contrary, you're absolutely amazing."

"It's not because of that…"

"… but because of working together with Marvolo…"

"… as she doesn't believe that he acted how he did…"

"… because he was under the Imperius curse."

"Messrs. Weasley, there is no actual proof that he was. He is an extremely dangerous man, and your parents are firmly on the side of the light. Especially Harry is in grave danger because of him."

Harry rolled his eyes at the headmaster, however, became distracted, when a soft voice penetrated his mind.

'Hello Harry, are the twins near you?'

'Hi Ginny, yes, they are. Why are you asking?'

'Our Mum is just sending them a Howler, just so you all know in advance. Congratulations, by the way, for being cured.'

'Thank you, Ginny. Your brothers are amazing.'

He quickly informed the twins of their sister's warning, just a few minutes, before Molly Weasley's voice could be heard all over the Great Hall.

HP

On the following day, the day, on which Harry's house-elves were supposed to come back to Hogwarts, Draco stepped into the fireplace to return home for the ten days before the beginning of his first Hogwarts year.

He stepped out of the fireplace, smirking upon seeing in relief that Dobby was waiting for him, bowing deeply.

"Dobby, pay attention, when Father gives you something." It was only a whisper; however, Dobby stared at him, wide-eyed in apparent shock. "Where are my parents?"

"In the dining room, Master Draco." Dobby strode ahead in his usual excitement.

"Mother, Father, I am back." He handed his father an envelope. "Last minute instructions for the Sorting ceremony. Usually, they send it by owl, but as I was at Hogwarts…"

He slowly trailed off, observing how his father tossed the envelope at Dobby.

"File this with the other Hogwarts letters."

Dobby carefully opened the envelope, only to pull out a sock. Staring at the treasure in his hand, he shouted in a combination of excitement and happiness. "Master has given Dobby clothes! Dobby is free!"

Draco inwardly smirked, before he saw his father point his wand at Dobby.

"Dobby, quickly, go to Hogwarts and wait for me. The others will help you."

With a loud crack, Dobby disappeared, right before a green curse hit the wall behind the spot, where the elf had been standing an instant ago.

"Draco, go to your room. I do not wish to see you, before you leave for Hogwarts."

Draco happily complied, not surprised at all by his father's reaction.

HP

"Harry, can you please come to the elves' quarters for a moment?"

Looking at Misty in surprise, Harry nodded and, grabbing Lucy's paw as he was used to, popped them into the elves' quarters.

"What happened?"

"This is Dobby."

A seemingly hyper elf nodded in apparent enthusiasm and began to explain. "Hello Harry Prince, the saviour of the elves. I is Dobby. I was bonded to the Malfoys, but little Master Draco tricked Master Lucius into freeing me and sent me to Hogwarts to wait for him. Dobby would rather work for the great Harry Prince though."

Harry inwardly groaned and explained how he intended to free all the Hogwarts elves upon their return from their holiday later the same day. "If you wish to work for me as a free elf just like all the other elves, you may do so, but don't you wish to work for Draco?"

Before Dobby could even respond, all the other house-elves returned from the Isle of Elves, and Barney addressed Harry.

"Harry, do you wish to speak with everyone now?"

"Yes please."

Harry once again explained his idea of freeing them all to the elves, who had not wished to be freed right after their conversation two weeks ago. After the exchange of a few sentences, promises and reassurances, during which the elves made a huge fuss about the matter that he was cured and able to properly see, Harry freed them all but eighteen, who absolutely did not wish to be free. He also introduced Dobby to the elves and asked them to allow him to work together with them.

"Master Harry." A small house-elf, who did not wish to be freed, addressed him.

"Please just call me Harry. What is your name, and what can I do for you?"

"I is Millie. I don't want to bes frees, but I'd like to have such a jumpsuit with the Hogwarts crest, too."

"Misty, Cicero, Barney," Harry called his most trusted elves and explained the problem at hand.

"You are right, Harry. You cannot give Millie a jumpsuit, but I can make her one."

Millie stared at Misty, wide-eyed. "Oh yes please, Misty."

Misty pointed her finger at the tea towel the elf was wearing and changed it into a grey jumpsuit with the Hogwarts crest in the front.

Millie bowed deeply. "Thank yous so much, Master Harry and Misty. Now, Millie looks like everyone else."

After Misty had transfigured the other seventeen tea towels into jumpsuits and everyone was happy, Harry left.

'Thank Merlin I don't have to cook dinner tonight,' Harry thought, as he returned home with Lucy in tow.

HP

Exactly a week later, five days before the beginning of the new school year, Ginny suddenly thought to Harry.

'Hi Harry, are you busy? I must share something funny with you.'

'It's fine,' Harry replied, smiling. He was just relaxing on the sofa in the living room together with Lucy after helping Regina to give Felix a bath.

A moment later, images began to play in the front of his mind. He found himself in what he recognised as the Weasleys' kitchen. A barn owl dropped a red envelope onto the table, where Ginny, Ronald, Percy and their parents were gathered for a meal. It unfolded itself and began to shout in the twins' voices.

"Molly Weasley…"

"… Are you really our mother…"

"… scolding us…"

"… while the rest of the magical world is congratulating us?"

"Minister Bagnold introduced us…"

"… to the head healer of St. Mungo's…"

"… and promised Lord Gaunt and us the Order of Merlin third class…"

"… for inventing a cure for the Epiales disease."

They continued in quieter voices.

"Dad…"

"… we'll come to see you…"

"… when we're at the ministry to receive our rewards."

"… and Mum…"

"… congratulations for winning the stupidity award of the year."

With that, the scene ended, and Harry found himself back in his own home.

'Oh Merlin, thanks for sharing this with me.'

'I just had to share it. Percy and Ronald always take my mother's side, but my Dad and I don't. I think she should be happy, for the twins for having been able to cure you, and for you for being able to see again. Congratulations Harry, by the way.'

'Thank you,' Harry replied, smiling.

'Oh, I so wished I could go to Hogwarts now, too, instead of having to wait another year.'

'I fully understand, but a year is quick. Shall I ask the twins to write to you?'

'Oh, yes please. Did I tell you that they're my favourite brothers?'

'Yes, you did, and I understand that well. I like Charlie, too though.'

'Yes, he's great and Bill as well, but I barely get to see them now that they're both working. Oh well, good night, Harry.'

'Night, Ginny.'

HP

On Friday morning, Harry popped Lucy and himself to the muggle part of King's Cross station in London, while Teddy followed with Regina in tow. Severus remained at Hogwarts looking after Felix, after Regina had reassured him that she knew how to get onto platform nine and three quarters at least three times.

A few minutes later, they stood on the platform and stared at the red steam engine in amazement.

"Finally, we get to board that thing." Neville joined them together with his father, while from the other side, Draco appeared, only accompanied by his mother.

"Hi Draco." Harry quickly waved him over.

"Draco, take good care of yourself and write to me. After how your father behaved after the stunt you did with Dobby, I am considering separating from him. I will ask Lord Black if he is willing to annul our wedding and thus take me back into the Black family."

Harry quickly explained the matter to Sirius, completely forgetting that his godfather was not capable of telepathy.

However, a few minutes later, while Harry talked with Teddy, Neville and Draco and Regina pulled Frank and Narcissa into a conversation, a large, black dog appeared next to Lucy.

"Sirius?"

The dog nodded, before he transformed back into his human form.

"Cissa, I'd love to annul your wedding and welcome you back into the Black family, and Drommy as well if she wants it."

'Thanks Sirius. I appreciate it,' Harry thought to his godfather, before he became distracted, when two identical faces looked out of a window and shouted his name.

"We better board the train. Come Lucy and Teddy, bye Regina, I'll see you at the Sorting."

Accepting a warm hug from his adoptive mother, Harry ushered Lucy onto the train, glad that the twins had reserved seats for him and his three friends in their compartment.

Harry, Teddy, Neville and Draco had just made themselves comfortable in the compartment together with the twins, when the door opened and another boy stuck his head in.

"Do you have space for one more?"

Harry recognised the boy as Theodore Nott. His father, Artemis Nott, was a good friend of Marvolo, and he had met the boy a few times at one or the other ritual which had taken place at Riddle Manor.

"Hi Theodore, come in. The more the merrier," Harry said, smiling, as he pulled Teddy closer to himself to vacate a seat for Theodore.

"Heir Nott." Draco nodded politely, before he looked from Theodore to Harry. "The two of you are on a first name basis?"

Harry smirked and explained why they were acquainted with each other, before he introduced Theodore to the twins, Neville and Teddy.

"We've met as well." Theodore looked at Teddy. "You're really going to attend Hogwarts together with us?" Seeing Teddy nod, he added, "That's amazing. Well done, Harry and Teddy. Congratulations for having your eyesight cured, by the way."

"Thank you." Harry smiled. 'Thank Merlin they managed to heal me right on time before becoming a first-year,' he thought, casting the twins a grateful look, which the two boys apparently did not even notice, as they had their heads close together, whispering quietly.

Harry let out a groan. "Oh no, tell me you're not planning a prank on everyone during the welcoming feast."

Fred and George looked up, theatrically threw their hands into the air, before they placed their right hands onto their chests.

"Ah, but Harry…"

"… have you known us to be anything…"

"… but handsome, studious students?"

Harry let out a small snort, and everyone who was already acquainted with the funny boys chuckled.

HP

The train ride was long; however, the boys had much fun. Occasionally, some of the twins' Slytherin classmates came to say hello, and at one point, their younger brother Ronald stuck his head into the compartment. Standing there wearing a defiant expression, he addressed his brothers.

"Fred and George, you're real prats. How dare you work together with You-Know-Who and send Mum a Howler? No wonder you're slimy Slytherins."

"Ah, Ronniekins…"

"You don't even know what you're talking about…"

"… so just go away…"

"… and sit with the other first-years."

"He's first year as well," Ronald replied, stroppily, pointing a finger at Harry. "And why do you have a house-elf here?"

"He's not a house-elf but an elf, who is going to be a first-year together with us." Harry's voice was firm and grim, and apparently, the other boy did not dare discuss with him but left without another word.

"Too bad he won't fit anywhere…"

"… but Gryffindor…"

"… as he's too stupid to be a Ravenclaw…"

"… too jealous to be a Hufflepuff…"

"… and not genius enough to be in Slytherin."

Everyone chuckled. "So, one needs to be a genius to be in Slytherin?" Theodore smirked, when the twins nodded, eagerly.

'I wonder where I'm going to be sorted,' Harry mused, wondering what traits he had. 'I just hope that I'll be together at least with Teddy, although he might be a Ravenclaw, considering that he's much more studious than any others of the elves. Perhaps, I should think of some study program for the eighteen elves, who are still bonded to me. I should discuss this with Misty or Bandhu some time.'

HP

Finally, they reached the station in Hogsmeade, and the five first-years separated from the twins, who instructed them to head over to Hagrid, who would take them to the castle by boat.

Their boat was cramped, but they managed to get in all together with Teddy sitting on Harry's lap and Lucy lying on everyone's feet.

'Thank Merlin I have such good friends in my own year,' Harry thought, happily, as they quietly enjoyed the beautiful view onto the castle.

HP

Hagrid led them straight upstairs, where Minerva was waiting for them. Harry smiled at what he secretly thought of as his surrogate grandmother, together with Anastasia and Poppy, and noticed that her mouth bent to a tiny smile, before her face took on a strict and intimidating expression again. She shortly explained about the four houses, before she motioned them to wait for a moment, while everything would be prepared for the Sorting ceremony.

Harry unobtrusively laid a hand against the nearest wall. 'Hi Hogwarts, I'm back. I'm a student now.'

'Welcome back, Harry, and I am going to be very happy to watch you attend the students' classes from now on.'

In the meantime, wild discussions broke out about the kind of Sorting they were going to undergo, reaching from fights against trolls to taking quizzes about magic.

"Nonsense. Really, have you not read Hogwarts: A History?" A girl with bushy brown hair who was standing near Harry rolled her eyes. "There is a Sorting Hat who sorts students according to their traits."

"Sopho," Harry added, helpfully.

"What?" The girl turned to him.

"Sopho is the Sorting Hat's name. That's what Godric Gryffindor called the Hat, when he charmed him to sort students."

The girl frowned. "How do you know that? It's not stated in Hogwarts: A History."

Before Harry could reply, Minerva returned and motioned them to follow him.

Seeing that the girl was still staring at him in silent question, Harry whispered, "I grew up at Hogwarts during the last few years, and that's what Godric Gryffindor in a portrait told me."

Had he hoped that the discussion would be finished now, the girl became extremely agitated and wanted to know everything about the portrait, where to find it and how to speak with something like a portrait.

By the time the Sorting finally began, Harry knew for sure that the girl was what his father would call an insufferable know-it-all, that she was certainly going to be sorted into Ravenclaw and that she was probably going to be his first female friend apart from Tonks and Ginny.