Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

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


Ginny hovered in front of the high table, when Dumbledore rose from his chair.

"Dear students, I am happy to announce that we have a belated Sorting tonight. I ask our Sorting Hat to sort Miss Ginevra Weasley into one of our houses."

"What?" Ginny could hear an outburst of obvious enrage coming from one of the house tables. "Why is she going to be sorted? She's only ten."

"Ronald…"

"… you're an absolute git," the twins shouted from a little farer away, making Ginny smile.

When she sat on the stool indicated by Professor McGonagall, Harry's father stood from his chair and spoke up in a strict voice. "Why Miss Weasley has been accepted as a student a year earlier is a decision between the owner of Hogwarts, the four heads of the houses, the headmaster, herself as well as her magical guardian and is no one else's concern."

'Thank you, Professor Prince-Snape,' she thought to the man, who returned a barely noticeable smirk.

Suddenly, a small voice entered her mind. 'Now, you can't wait another year. I see. What am I going to do with you though?'

'Not Gryffindor please,' Ginny thought back in excitement.

'Not Gryffindor? No? Are you sure? What you did today was outright Gryffindorish though.'

'Not Gryffindor and not Hufflepuff please.'

'Well, as you won't really fit into Ravenclaw, it will be…'

"… Slytherin."

Grinning broadly, Ginny headed to the Slytherin table, where her twin brothers immediately made space for her between them.

'Congratulations Ginny.'

'Thanks, Harry.'

"Did Mum send you another Howler today?"

"Yes, she did…"

"… right on time during breakfast."

Ginny nodded in understanding. 'Dad, Mum sent the Howler to the twins this morning. Just so you know. And… I'm in Slytherin together with them. I am so happy. Thanks for allowing me to become a student right away.' Knowing that her father was not capable of telepathy, she could not expect a response and decided to divert her attention to the feast that was laid out on the table in front of her.

HP

Harry was observing Ginny's Sorting from the Gryffindor table, where he was sitting between Draco and Oliver Wood, as he had promised Minerva earlier the same day. He agreed with the Quidditch captain that he would attend their training once in a fortnight, considering that he had been made reserve Seeker for all four house teams and also needed the evenings to study for his classes and the Potions mastery.

'I also want some free time to do some potions research together with Dad and the twins,' he decided.

"Harry, once in a fortnight is fine. We all have seen you fly and catch the Snitch, even before you were cured. You're brilliant."

Harry shook his head. "No, I am not. I have one condition though and that is that Lucy will be allowed to fly with me. The professors have already agreed to it."

"Of course. She probably enjoys flying as much as you do."

"Yes, and I can't forbid her to come with me just because I don't need her to see anymore."

"Fully understandable."

"Thanks," Harry replied, happily caressing Lucy's ears. She had been lying on his feet, before she smelled that the food appeared on the table and was now standing in front of him with her head perched on his lap, ready to accept whatever goodies he was willing to share.

HP

At the same time, Narcissa Black readied herself for her meeting at Hogwarts, to which Severus had invited her sending her a Patronus earlier the same day.

After she had seen Draco off at the station a few days ago, Sirius had taken her to Gringotts. He had told his account manager, Buckbean, that he wished to make use of his position as head of the ancient and noble House of Black and annul her wedding with Lucius, thus welcoming her and her son back into the Black family. On Buckbean's advice, she had opened a new account and transferred all of the jewellery apart from any Malfoy heirlooms as well as a huge amount of money to the new account, enough to last her and Draco for a lifetime.

Sirius had then invited her to stay at the old Black town house, where he was residing with Amelia and their daughter Lily. While the small family was living on the second floor, Narcissa chose a room for herself on the top floor, so as to not get into the way of Sirius and his wife. She was extremely grateful that the two of them had welcomed her into their home, and due to the size of the building, she did not even feel so very much as an intruder as it might have been at a different place. The only problem was that Sirius had allowed Dumbledore to use the ground floor as head quarters for his Order of the Phoenix and had advised her to stay out of the way, when meetings of the Order were going to take place.

"Otherwise, Dumbledore will expect you to join the Order, and I believe that you'll have to consider your allegiances without pressure from any side before deciding for or against it."

'He's right, and I'm not ready to join Dumbledore's side. I'll have to ask Severus to advise me,' she thought, knowing that she would not want to stay in the Black house for a long time if the Order of the Phoenix frequented the ground floor.

'I could ask Drommy if I can stay with her,' she thought. She had yet to tell her sister about Sirius' offer to add her back into the Black family. 'But their house is much smaller, and I'd really be in the way.'

Dressing in a much simpler way than anyone would expect from her previous status as the Lady Malfoy, she made her way downstairs into the kitchen to use the fireplace to travel to the Prince quarters at Hogwarts. 'Thank Merlin for good friends,' she thought, gratefully, knowing that even though Severus had originally been Lucius' friend, he was clearly on her side after her husband's recent behaviour.

HP

When Narcissa stepped out of the fireplace, the Princes' living room was surprisingly full with people. 'I wonder why Severus summoned me here,' she thought, noticing Regina and Severus, Harry, Draco, an elf, an unknown girl as well as the four heads of the houses sitting around the table in front of the fireplace.

"Narcissa." Regina was the first to greet her and motioned her to take a seat on the sofa between her and Draco.

"Hi Mum," her son said, leaning into her side.

"Narcissa, thank you for coming." Severus smiled, causing Narcissa to unobtrusively stare at him. 'He smiles, and he seems to have completely forgone dressing in black,' she thought in amazement. "We have invited you to this meeting, as Harry wished to suggest something to you."

"Mrs…?"

"Black," Narcissa informed the boy, smiling.

"Mrs. Black, we have decided to set up a new course at Hogwarts, a course for ten-year-old magical children who have grown up in the muggle world. There is no difference if they're muggleborns or purebloods like myself. They know nothing about the magical world."

"That is absolutely correct and very sad. I am Hermione Granger by the way, muggleborn and first-year Ravenclaw."

Narcissa nodded, smiling.

"Anyway," Harry continued, "we were wondering if you might be available to teach said class."

'I'd love that,' Narcissa thought; however, before she could voice her consent, Professor McGonagall spoke up.

"Even if the students would probably return home after classes, you would be offered the same conditions as any other professor concerning living quarters, salary etc."

Narcissa smiled. "Thank you so very much for this offer, which I gladly accept if you deem me adequate for the position."

"Thank you very much. Hermione and I would be ready to answer any question you might have about the muggle world," Harry added.

"I suggest that we plan to commence the class from January onwards, as it is too late for the beginning of the school year now. As the deputy headmistress, I will visit all magical children living in the muggle world a year earlier than usual, and we will see how many students are interested."

"Excuse me," the lone house-elf spoke up. "Will elves be allowed to attend the class? I think that it would be good for those who are allowed to become students the following year." Turning to her, he added, "I am Teddy and a first-year Ravenclaw as well."

Narcissa smiled at the elf, secretly admiring that he had been able to become a student, let alone to be sorted into Ravenclaw. "If an elf is allowed to become a student here, he or she should naturally be welcome to attend my class."

"Thank you." Teddy cast her a bright smile.

"As to the number of elves allowed to attend classes at Hogwarts," McGonagall said, seemingly thoughtful, "I suggest that we fix the number on two students per year. Harry, will that be agreeable?"

"Yes, that's fine with me. How are we going to choose the students though?"

"Harry." Narcissa could not believe McGonagall smile at the boy. 'She smiles. Wow.' "I will leave that decision to you. You are closest to the elves and will be able to find the two best candidates for us."

The deputy headmistress then proceeded to discuss some formalities with her, and by the time Narcissa returned to Grimmauld Place to tell Sirius and Amelia the good news that she was going to move to Hogwarts first thing the following morning, she felt outright happy. 'My life is so much better than it was with Lucius,' she thought, grinning broadly. 'I even get my own rooms at Hogwarts, where Draco can visit whenever he wants.'

HP

At the same time, Lucius was slowly waking up, nursing a big hangover after having drunk three bottles of fire whiskey on three consecutive days upon hearing that Narcissa had left him.

'I'm going to get my revenge on that Prince-Potter boy and the Dark Lord,' he swore to himself, knowing that he had to plan carefully, as he had sworn an oath to Severus to not harm the boy or his family. 'He and the Dark Lord cost me my son and my wife.'

HP

After much excitement during their first week as students at Hogwarts, their second week passed uneventfully. Harry found it interesting to attend the classes of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs for a change. However, he could not tell which he liked more. Originally, he had expected the level of the Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff class to be a little higher; however, the Hufflepuffs' laziness made up for the Ravenclaws' study ambitions. At the end of the second week, a sudden thought crossed his mind, and he decided to discuss the matter with his parents.

He returned an hour before curfew that evening and settled down on the sofa together with Lucy.

"Hello Harry, is everything all right? You're fairly early tonight." Regina cast him a worried look.

"Everything is all right. There's just something I'd like to discuss with you," Harry replied, absentmindedly caressing Lucy's ears. "Somehow, I like all my classmates, no matter in which house they are. We all get along really well, but there is no place for all of us to study together. I know, the founders told me I could bring my friends into the founders' quarters, but can I bring all my classmates from all four houses?"

He glanced over at Salazar's portrait, when the founder let out a snort. "I believe that the Great Hall would be more adequate than our private rooms."

"That's what I thought." Harry sighed. "Would it perhaps be possible to make a study room for all first-years, where everyone can meet and study together with their friends? There are enough unused corridors at Hogwarts to make an additional room somewhere."

"I like that idea." Regina smiled in obvious approval.

"Yes, the idea is good." Severus nodded. "Why don't you call Minerva here to discuss this with her? I suppose that we should even involve the headmaster, at least to inform him, even if his approval is not necessary."

Harry nodded. 'Minerva, do you have a few minutes to spare? Could you please join us in our living room for a moment?'

"I've asked Minerva to come," he informed his parents. "If you wish to invite Dumbledore?"

"Let's speak with Minerva first," Severus decided.

'I just hope she'll come, as she doesn't have a way to reply to me,' Harry thought, smiling, when the fireplace flared just a moment later.

"Good evening. Your son summoned me here." Minerva stated, matter-of-factly.

"Good evening, Minerva. Please take a seat. Would you like some tea?"

"Thank you, Regina. I'd love a cup of tea," Minerva replied, as she lowered herself into the seat next to Lucy.

"Harry had an idea, which we'd like to discuss with you. Harry, will you please explain?"

Harry gave his father a sharp nod, before he explained to Minerva what he had already told his parents a few minutes ago.

"A study room for all first-years? That's a phantastic idea."

Severus smirked. "I don't believe that it'll be done with a first-year study room. Once the older students hear about it, they might want one as well."

Minerva frowned. "Do you really think so? Considering the animosity between the houses…" She slowly trailed off.

"Yes, but there's still one or the other student with friends in other houses. I know at least three in my house."

"Harry, have you already decided where you want the study room, and do you know how to make a room? Otherwise, you'll have to involve Professor Dumbledore, which we should do in any case."

"Rubbish." Salazar bellowed from his portrait. "There is no need to involve the good-for-nothing headmaster. Harry, go into the parlour and ask Hogwarts to make the room for you. You can discuss possible spots with her. She will also make seven rooms if you so wish."

"Thank you, Salazar." Harry turned back to the adults in the room. "Would the three of you mind accompanying me into the parlour of the founders' quarters, so that we could involve Hogwarts in the discussion?"

Minerva's eyes widened in apparent surprise and excitement. "Can you simply take us with you?"

Harry nodded, smiling at the older witch. "The founders have told me that I can bring my friends and family at any time."

"I can't leave Felix…" Regina cast Severus a questioning look.

"I'll cast a notice-me-charm." Severus strode away only to return a minute later, giving Regina a reassuring nod.

"Thank you, dear."

"Shall we go then?"

Cautiously, so as to not wake up Lucy, Harry rose from the sofa, smiling upon seeing that Minerva was equally careful and Lucy continued to sleep, snoring lightly. He then led the adults through the connecting door into the founders' quarters and straight into the parlour.

HP

Hogwarts greeted Minerva, Regina and Severus in apparent happiness, stating how glad she was to get to know Harry's family as well as the deputy headmistress.

"You should have been the headmistress for a long time," she told Minerva in a soft voice.

"Thank you very much, Hogwarts, but I really like teaching Transfiguration as long as possible," Minerva replied, smiling.

"Now, how did I deserve this visit from all of you at the same time?"

Harry explained about the study rooms, and Hogwarts patiently listened. Only when he was finished, she spoke up again.

"Harry, I believe that this is a wonderful idea, coming from a worthy owner of mine. Now, will you allow me to suggest a corridor for the seven study rooms?"

"Oh yes, please, that would be wonderful."

"Then please follow my signs out in the corridors. I suggest a corridor behind the entrance to Ravenclaw house, which has not been used for at least five hundred years."

'What signs?' Harry wondered, but refrained from asking, and simply took his leave and headed out into the corridor in front of the life size painting of the four founders, closely followed by the adults.

"Are these the signs?" Regina pointed to a series of blue, heart-shaped dots on the wall."

"Apparently so," Severus agreed. "We need to head in this direction. Oh well, Hogwarts said something about a corridor behind Ravenclaw."

They eagerly followed Hogwarts' signs. From where they passed in front of the Ravenclaw common room, the corridor became dusty, and Severus and Minerva took turns casting cleaning spells every now and then. Finally, the signs ended, just when they found themselves in a bright corridor with what seemed to be real windows on the left side.

Harry laid his right hand against the wall. "Hogwarts, can you hear me?"

"Yes dear. Do you want me to make the rooms here?"

"This corridor is much too beautiful to not be used." Regina stared outside in apparent amazement. "Are these real windows?"

Harry quickly repeated her question, and Hogwarts confirmed. "This is the corridor, which my founders used for their first classrooms. Please give me a few minutes now to change these four old rooms into seven new ones."

Thirty minutes later, the seven rooms were made, and Harry profusely thanked the castle for her help; however, the rooms were completely empty.

"I am sorry. I can only make the walls but not the interior."

"Hogwarts, that's fine."

Severus smirked. "Minerva, perhaps you and Filius could take the sixth-years and provide the furniture and decorations during the rest of the week?"

Minerva nodded her agreement. "I'll speak with Filius and make a plan. That's a good idea to give them some practical experience."

By the time they returned to their rooms, it was almost midnight, and Felix and Lucy were fast asleep. Harry quickly woke the canine and sent her out into the garden, before they headed to bed together.

HP

At breakfast the following morning, Harry motioned Neville, Hermione, Teddy and Draco to join Theodore, Ginny, him and the twins at the Slytherin table, where he told them about the new study rooms.

Not only his friends, but also the Slytherin students sitting in hearing range seemed happy about the news; however, Hermione stared at Harry in disdain. "Why is Professor McGonagall going to do the complete furnishing with only the sixth-years? They should teach each class a few spells. I'd like to help with the interior at least of our own room."

"Yes, that's true." Ginny immediately agreed, causing Harry to inwardly groan.

"I'll ask her," he promised. 'Minerva, I'm sorry, but my classmates insist to be involved in the decoration of the study rooms.'

Apparently realising that half of the Slytherin table was looking at her in clear expectation, Minerva nodded her understanding, causing a huge discussion to break out among the girls how the wanted to arrange their room.

HP

During the following few days, each of the Transfiguration and Charms classes took place in the new study rooms, as the professors made their students transfigure or charm the interior of the rooms, according to the respective class's level. Everyone had much fun, and when their own study room was finished, the first-years were very proud of their room and absolutely loved it.

One day, Teddy unobtrusively took Harry aside. "Tomorrow is Hermione's birthday. I think we should do something about it."

Harry stared at his friend, wide-eyed. "Oh right, but what can we do?"

Teddy grinned. "How about a picnic on the shore of the lake?"

The two friends conferred for a while, before they decided to invite their whole first-year class out onto the grounds at midnight either on the same day or on Hermione's birthday.

In the evening, Harry invited Hermione into the founders' quarters suggesting that she could speak with the founders in their portrait. Needless to say that Hermione immediately accepted the offer.

At the same time, Teddy spoke to their classmates in the study room and invited them to the party.

"If her birthday is tomorrow, we should do it tonight," Draco was the first to comment. "Tomorrow night, the professors might suspect something."

HP

At exactly midnight, the first-year students of all houses as well as the Weasley twins, whom Harry had invited as special guests, met at the shore of the lake. The house-elves, who had remained bonded to Harry, had laid out a huge buffet. They had also supplied lampions around the lake and cast a silencing charm as well as all kinds of notice-me-not charms over the area, so that the students would not easily attract the teachers' attention.

"What are we doing here?" Hermione stared around, wide-eyed.

"Celebrating your birthday," Harry replied, while Lucy eagerly licked her hand in silent greeting. "Happy Birthday."

"Thank you." Hermione shook her head in apparent disbelief. "Thank you all so much. This is the best birthday ever."

The party was much fun. When everyone stormed the buffet, Hermione informed them that if they intended to go swimming, they'd have to do so first, as they could not go swimming with a full belly. Everyone obeyed and finally went swimming first.

"The Giant Squid is making a huge noise tonight," Harry said to Lucy and together, they walked a bit further up the lake to attempt speaking with the large animal.

"Hello, can you hear me?"

=Can you understand me?=

"Do you ssspeak Parsseltongue?"

Unfortunately, the squid did not show any reaction whatsoever.

'Marvolo,' Harry thought to his friend. 'Do you perhaps know how to communicate with the Giant Squid?'

'Harry, what are you doing?' Marvolo enquired in apparent disbelief. 'Are you out on the grounds at this time of the night trying to speak with the Giant Squid?'

'Yes, we're celebrating Hermione's birthday.'

'Oh, all right. I could go and cast a charm at the squid, but that reminds me. Have you perhaps changed the wards around Hogwarts from the headmaster to you?'

'Err, no?'

'All right, then I can't go to help you, as he would know if I entered the grounds. You should change the wards at the earliest opportunity. You can ask either your father or Hogwarts herself how to do that. Well, then I could teach you a charm, but can't you just think to the Squid?'

'Can you understand me if I think to you?' Harry thought to the Squid, putting a lot of magic into his wish to be able to communicate with the large animal.

=Yes, now I can hear you,= the Squid finally replied. =How nice of you to come and talk with me, but shouldn't you rather enjoy your party?=

'Yes, I will do that. I'd like to ask you to be a bit quieter tonight, as we don't want to alert the teachers to our party. Could you do that please?'

=I shall do you the favour, because you asked so nicely, but please come to visit me again soon, and please bring me some herb drops, the ones that Ceridwen always made for me.=

Harry's eyes narrowed. 'Ceridwen? Should I know her?'

The Giant Squid splashed a huge wave of water in his direction. =Helga's sister, you silly boy. She lived here from the founding of the castle onwards.=

'All right, I'll ask her,' Harry promised and returned to where everyone was devouring the delicacies that the house-elves had made for them.

When everyone was completely full, the twins entertained them with a marvellous firework display, similar to the one they had performed at Riddle manor on New Year's Eve.

It was almost three o'clock in the morning, when the first-years returned to their dormitories, feeling reassured that Harry had asked the house-elves to wake them up on time for class.