Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

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


In the evening, Harry patiently guided Neville through the brewing process of the simple first-year potion. Thirty minutes into the process, a perfect concoction was simmering in his cauldron.

Neville let out a deep sigh. "Harry, thank you so much for helping me. I just didn't know how to do it. I don't even know what I did wrong."

'Dad, do you know what Neville did wrong this morning?'

Severus came over from the teacher's table, where he had been quietly working. Towering over the cauldron, he sniffed at the potion, before he banished it with a flick of his wand.

"Mr. Longbottom, that was well done. You probably cut the birchbark into pieces instead of slicing it if I'm not mistaken." He quirked an eyebrow in silent question.

"Ah, yes, probably," Neville admitted. "How do I know the difference then?"

"For ingredients, which you haven't handled before, it is usually stated in the book. You'll have to remember how to prepare each of the ingredients, as in your seventh year, it will simply state the amount of the ingredient and not the method of preparation anymore."

"What if it's an ingredient which you can prepare in various ways?" Harry raised an eyebrow in challenge.

"If you can't know which method to use, it'll be stated in the recipe." Looking at Harry, he added, "Did you ever encounter problems before taking your NEWT?"

"No," Harry admitted, grinning. "I had a good teacher."

Rolling his eyes, Severus dismissed them.

"Let's go." Harry ushered Neville and Lucy outside. "Do you want to visit your parents for a while?"

"They're not at home. Mum said something about having to visit Gran tonight," Neville replied, smiling.

"We'll take you back to your common room then," Harry decided and accompanied his friend to the entrance to Hufflepuff house, before he transformed into his canine form and ran all the way back to the founders' quarters together with Lucy.

'Thank Merlin we didn't meet the headmaster tonight,' he thought, as he stepped through the connecting door leading into the Prince quarters, where he found Regina sitting in front of the fireplace together with Narcissa Malfoy.

"Your father is in a meeting with the other three heads of the houses," Regina explained, smiling, before she informed him that Narcissa had separated from her husband and taken on the name Black again.

"Would you like to speak with Draco? Shall I fetch him here?" Harry offered, somehow feeling very sorry for Draco and his mother.

"Won't you or he get in trouble?"

Harry shook his head. "No, please give me a moment." Instructing Lucy to wait with Regina, he strode into his own room, turned himself invisible and popped right into the Gryffindor common room. Finding Draco sitting alone in a corner seemingly engrossed in homework, he silently addressed his friend.

'Draco, please go to your dormitory or some other place, from where we can pop away without anyone noticing. Your mother is at my home and wishes to see you.'

Unobtrusively nodding his head, Draco swiftly packed parchment, quill and book into his bookbag, said good night to his classmates and headed upstairs, looking around in silent question.

"Here," Harry whispered, before he reached for Draco's arm and popped them home.

"Harry, let's give Narcissa and Draco some space." Regina's voice was gentle but firm, and together with Lucy, they headed into Felix' room watching the baby sleep.

"He's so cute. I love him so much." Harry smiled happily.

It was far beyond curfew, when Draco knocked at the door letting them know that his mother had returned to where she was currently living.

"She mostly came to warn me that my father might try to do something to harm Harry or me." Draco let out a deep sigh.

"Let's speak about this tomorrow," Regina said, reasonably. "It's late."

The boys nodded, and Harry quickly took Draco straight into his dormitory and popped back, right when Severus entered the living room mumbling something sounding like dunderheads of colleagues and having to speak with Harry in the morning.

HP

"What happened last night?" Harry cast his father a questioning look, seeing that he was sitting in the living room and was obviously waiting for him.

Severus smirked. "Did you know that my colleagues made bets concerning the house into which you would get sorted?"

"They did what?" Regina looked up from where she was breastfeeding Felix, staring at her husband in disbelief.

"They made bets?" Harry could not believe that the professors would do such a thing.

Severus nodded, grimly. "As obviously no one won the bet, we all had to go to Hogsmeade for a few drinks last night." Ignoring the annoyance evident in Regina's and Harry's faces, he continued. "We'll have to go at least one more time, considering the amount of money the bet entailed, hopefully then during the weekend."

"Sorry Dad, but do they make bets for all students' Sorting?"

"No Harry, they only did that in your case, one reason being that they all know you quite well considering that you've already been living here in the castle for almost two and a half years and are my son. The other reason is," he smirked, "that the three heads of the houses were all eager to get you into their house and in extension into their Quidditch teams."

Harry let out a deep sigh. "Did you not want to have me in your house?"

Severus stared at him in what looked like disbelief. "Of course, I'd have wanted you in Slytherin, but no bet would change where the Sorting Hat was going to place you, so no, I did not participate in their bet."

"I'm glad to be in the founders' quarters, because I can continue living at home, but on the other hand, it's really sad that I can't play Quidditch for a team."

Severus nodded. "We discussed that as well, and Minerva suggested that I should ask you if you'd be willing to play reserve Seeker for all four teams if their Seeker was unable to play in a match for some reason."

"Of course," Harry replied, eagerly. "But how often does that happen?"

"It happens more often than you think." Smirking, Severus continued, "I believe that during the next few days, all four house teams are going to train their Seekers for the other positions to make them the reserve Chaser, Beater or Keeper."

'That must have been Dad's idea. It sounds really Slytherin,' Harry realised, chuckling.

"In any case, the captains will probably speak with you about occasionally attending their team practice."

Harry nodded in understanding. "I look forward to it. Thanks Dad and please also tell Minerva and the others thanks for arranging that for me."

"I will, but I believe it's time for us to head to the Great Hall for breakfast," Severus replied, ending the conversation.

HP

When Ginny Weasley came downstairs in the morning, her mother was sitting at the kitchen table, seemingly fuming in anger. At least that was what Ginny saw upon noticing that she was just preparing another Howler wearing a grim expression. Her father had apparently not returned from the ministry yet.

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "Mum, don't tell me you're going to send another Howler somewhere."

"The twins deserve it. I won't have them speak in such a tone with me. I am their mother after all."

Ginny stared at her mother in disbelief. "Did you not hear what Dad told you last night?" she asked, incredulously, only to add, "He spent the night at the ministry."

"Ah, he'll calm down eventually," her mother replied, lightly, continuing with her writing.

Without any further word, Ginny left the kitchen and dashed upstairs.

'Charlie, I'm going to live with you during the last year until I'm going to become a student. Please confirm through Harry that it's all right. He can think back to me. I'm going to Hogwarts now,' she thought to her older brother, who was in his first year teaching Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts.

'I hope they'll all still be in the Great Hall for breakfast, so that he can reach Harry,' she thought, as she quickly packed her belongings, informing Harry as well in the meantime.

'Ginny, did something happen?' His response was immediate, and she quickly informed him about the situation at her home and that she wanted to live with Charlie.

'Are you ready to leave?'

'Yes.'

'Come outside the wards and contact me again. I'll go and get you.'

'Will Charlie be all right with that though?'

'As I am the owner of Hogwarts, no one can forbid you to live there, provided that your father agrees. We will have to contact him as soon as possible.'

'Too bad that I'm not able to shrink my luggage,' Ginny thought, as she began to drag her bag downstairs, before she decided otherwise. 'If Mum realises that I'm going to leave, she might stun me, so I better go without any luggage. Perhaps, Charlie or Dad can fetch my belongings later on.'

Five minutes later, she was standing outside the wards, from where she contacted Harry again. It only took a few seconds, before she heard a very tiny, barely audible 'pop'. Before she could wonder what it was, Harry's voice penetrated her ears.

"Ginny, it's me, Harry. Hold on tightly." He then held her left hand and immediately apparated away with her.

The next thing she knew was that she found herself in what seemed to be Hogwarts. Harry just became visible next to her.

"Is this Hogwarts?" she asked, incredulously. "I thought it wasn't possible to apparate into Hogwarts."

"Please keep this to yourself. Now, I need to go to the Great Hall for breakfast and also speak with Charlie. Please wait here at my home together with my adoptive mother and my baby brother." He then led her out of the room.

"Mum, this is Ginny Weasley. Ginny, this is my adoptive mother, Regina Lestrange-Prince. Sorry, but I really have to leave for breakfast and classes. I'll speak with Charlie and inform you through telepathy."

His mother smiled reassuringly. "May I call you Ginny?"

Ginny nodded. "Yes, of course."

"Then take a seat and tell me what happened. Harry only told me that you left your home to come to live at Hogwarts with your brother. Afterwards, we will call your father as Harry instructed us. Did you already have breakfast?"

Ginny shook her head. Her thoughts went haywire, and she barely noticed how Regina called a house-elf and asked for breakfast for the two of them. She then hesitantly told Harry's mother about her fight with her mother and between her parents and her decision to live with her older brother for the year, before she was going to become a student anyway. Somehow, she realised quickly that Regina was very easy to talk to. She seemed to understand her so well.

'This is so strange. She seems to understand me better than my own mother,' she thought in surprise.

"Do you wish to call your father, or should I try to contact him?" Regina's voice was so gentle that Ginny felt very comforted.

"Please," she thought back, smiling at the kind witch.

Regina then headed to the fireplace and called the address that Ginny told her. A moment later, her own father's head appeared in the flames.

"Mr. Weasley, I am Regina Lestrange-Prince, Harry's adoptive mother."

"Hello Lady Lestrange," her father replied in apparent surprise.

"Your daughter Ginny is here at Hogwarts with me. Apparently, she had a fight with her mother and wishes to stay with her older brother at Hogwarts for the time being if that's all right with you. Charlie already gave his okay. She is here in our rooms for now, but Charlie and Harry will come here during lunchtime. May we perhaps invite you to join us as well?"

To Ginny's relief, her father immediately agreed, before he asked if he could speak with her for a moment.

Ginny knelt in front of the fireplace. "Hi Dad. Sorry, but seeing that Mum was writing another Howler to the twins, I decided to leave."

"She did?"

"Yes. I don't know if she actually sent it, but reasoning didn't work, so I decided to leave."

"All right. I shall see you at lunchtime. What is the address, where I am supposed to floo to?"

Ginny quickly vacated the space in front of the fireplace for Regina to reply. "It is 'Prince quarters, Hogwarts'. I look forward to seeing you then."

"Thank you very much for helping my daughter."

With that, Regina ended the floo connection and turned to the baby that chose that moment to quietly begin to whimper.

"Are you up to helping me change his nappy?"

"Of course." Ginny grinned broadly. "I just love babies, and Felix is terribly cute."

'Dad will come here at lunchtime, too,' she thought to Harry, while she followed his mother into the nursery.

'That's great. I already have an idea what you could do during the school year' came his immediate response.

HP

Harry looked up, startled, when Lucy gave him a fierce nudge into his soft parts from where she was sitting on his feet.

"Mr. Prince, do you think this is too easy for you?" Minerva's voice was strict, and Harry noticed in horror that the others had already begun practising the Transfiguration.

"Of course not. Sorry, Professor," he replied, sheepishly, before he swiftly began to practise, inwardly thanking Merlin that he had at least heard her demonstrate the spell.

"Too bad that I can't award you house points." Minerva sounded apologetic, as she commended him for managing the Transfiguration before everyone else. In a smaller voice, she instructed him to remain for a moment after class.

HP

"Did your father tell you about our idea to make you the Quidditch teams' reserve Seeker?" Minerva sounded excited.

"Yes, and I'll be happy to get a chance to play at all. Thank you so much. I heard that it was your idea."

"Oliver Wood is the Gryffindor captain. I trust that you already know him?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, I know him. I'll sit at the Gryffindor table and talk to him at dinner then. Would you please excuse me from lunch? I'll have to return home." Knowing that Minerva knew the Weasleys well, he told her about Ginny Weasley as well as about his idea for an additional class, looking up at her with apprehension.

However, Minerva's reaction exceeded his expectations. "Harry, that is a wonderful idea, and I will support you by any means, although I am afraid that it's a bit too late for this school year. Please let me know…" She trailed off, looking at him with apparent eagerness.

Harry nodded. "I will. Perhaps, we could meet at my home around curfew tonight to discuss the details? I will inform you at dinnertime at the latest."

"Thank you, Harry."

HP

By the time Harry arrived at home, Severus, Charlie and Mr. Weasley were already there.

"I'm sorry for being late. Professor McGonagall kept me back after class to talk to me about Quidditch."

"That's fine, Harry. We only arrived just a moment ago and listened to Ginny's story." Charlie smiled at his younger sister. "I don't mind having Ginny live with me. My rooms are large enough, even if Tonks decides to finally move in with me."

"Cool!" Harry cast his friend a broad grin. "Congratulations, Charlie."

"Thank you, Harry. Just one question though. What is Ginny going to do the whole day?"

"There are several possibilities," Harry replied, gratefully nodding to his mother, when she called Cicero and asked for lunch for all of them. "I could ask one of the elves to teach Ginny. I have been taught by elves as well, and they're brilliant teachers. I have a better idea though. As Ginny told me that she has been home schooled together with her older brothers, she doesn't really need to be taught primary school knowledge anymore." Seeing that everyone looked at him in expectation, he began to explain his new idea.

"In fact, it is not my idea, but Marvolo's. He told me to watch the muggleborns and in the future decide on having special classes to prepare them for Hogwarts. Seeing Hermione, for example, I realise that she is extremely motivated, intelligent and studious, but she knows nothing about the magical world. None of the things that magical children are being taught as kids. I mean the things, which my mother taught me, when she came to live with us."

"Harry, I know exactly what you mean," Regina agreed.

"Ms. Weasley grew up in the magical world though." Severus cast him a bewildered look.

Harry chuckled. "Of course, Ginny doesn't need that class. The idea is to install such a class for the ten-year-old muggleborns. They could come to Hogwarts just for a few hours each day using Portkeys, and someone could teach them about the magical world. Concerning Ginny, she could perhaps assist the person teaching it."

"I'd like that," Ginny spoke up, smiling in apparent excitement.

"Do you already have a teacher for said class?"

"No, but Draco told me about his mother, and I thought that maybe she'd be willing to teach the class, as she doesn't seem to have anything else to do right now. She comes from one of the old magical families, so that she should be able to teach the class, provided that she wants it. The question is if we can get students on such short notice though."

Severus nodded. "That's going to be the problem. Minerva will have to visit each of the muggleborns first, and they'll need to have some time to consider the matter together with their parents. I believe that we won't be able to commence said course before January. Harry, we shall discuss this with Minerva and if she agrees ask Narcissa if she would be willing to teach."

He remained pensive for a moment before turning to Ginny. "Ms. Weasley, you have been taught together with your brothers?"

"Yes sir."

"Perhaps, it would be the best for you to simply attend first-year classes if you're ready to do so."

"Oh, yes please. That would be amazing." Ginny stared at Severus, wide-eyed.

"I must discuss this with my colleagues." He glanced at his wrist watch. "Please excuse me for a few minutes. I shall head to the Great Hall and speak with the headmaster and the other three heads of the houses. As Harry is the owner of Hogwarts, the headmaster won't have any means to not accept this, but still, we need to inform my colleagues beforehand. I shall be back shortly."

"Dad, shall I take you to the Great Hall?" Harry offered and rose from his seat.

"Yes please."

An instant later, Harry was back and began to devour his lunch.

"Mr. Weasley, provided that the professors agree, shall I take Ginny to Diagon Alley to buy her school supplies this afternoon?"

Arthur Weasley shook his head. "Thank you, Mrs. Lestrange-Prince, but I will take the afternoon off and accompany Ginny myself. Thank you so very much for everything you have already done for her. I appreciate it very much."

"Thank you, Mrs. Lestrange-Prince, and thank you, Harry." Ginny grinned in apparent happiness.

A few minutes later, Severus was back. "My colleagues have agreed, and you will be sorted in the Great Hall right before dinner."

"Thank you very much, Professor." Ginny gently caressed Lucy's ears, before she suddenly began to chuckle. 'Oh Merlin, Ronald will be so upset that I'm going to be a first-year at the same time as him,' she thought to Harry, who nodded, grimly.

'I believe that immediately. He seems quite the prat,' he thought; however merely cast her a smile as response.