Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
Harry had the impression as if he had only just fallen asleep, when Regina lightly shook his shoulder.
"Harry, aren't you going to get up? It's time for breakfast."
"Just ten more minutes," Harry mumbled, not even bothering to open his eyes.
"Are you ill?" His mother's voice was laced with concern.
"No, we had a party last night, 'cause it's Hermione's birthday. Please don't tell Dad." Harry slowly opened his eyes, letting out a huge yawn.
"I won't. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Harry smiled. "No Mum, thanks, but I'll get a grip on myself and attend breakfast."
Ten minutes later, he popped himself and Lucy into the Great Hall only to realise that no other first-years showed up. Sitting between the twins at the Slytherin table, he overheard the conversation at the nearby head table, where the professors were wondering what happened to the first-years.
'Harry, do you know where your classmates are?' His father neither sounded angry nor amused, but Harry simply shook his head.
"Today is Ms. Granger's birthday." Professor Flitwick sounded excited. "Perhaps, the first-years are celebrating in their study room."
If Harry had not been so tired, he wouldn't have been able to contain a chuckle, especially when Severus asked in apparent disbelief, "Wouldn't my son be with them if they were having a celebration?"
Harry sobered quickly, when Poppy rose from her chair. "That's true. Severus, will you please come with me to check their dormitories? If they're still asleep after possibly celebrating during the night, I have just the right remedy in my stock."
Seeing Severus and Minerva smirk, Harry inwardly groaned. 'Teddy…'
HP
Severus and Poppy walked to the Slytherin first-year dormitories first, only making a slight detour to the hospital wing to fetch the most disgusting potion that Poppy had in stock. When the Slytherin head opened the door to the boys' dormitory, he stopped dead in his tracks. All beds were empty.
"Oh, so my assumption seems to have been wrong." Poppy sounded as surprised as Severus felt.
Nevertheless, they decided to check the girls' dormitory as well, however, it turned out to be equally deserted.
"Look at the state of the place." Poppy shook her head in apparent annoyance. "One should think that at least the girls would be able to keep their room at least a bit tidy."
Severus let out a scoff. Sending Poppy back to the Great Hall, he made his way to the first-year study room, only to realise in surprise that the first-years of all houses – including his son – were sitting at the tables eating breakfast. Everyone looked extremely tired though, and not a single student apart from Harry were wearing their robes.
"Who allowed you to have breakfast here?" he sneered, glaring at the students.
"Sorry, Dad, but it's Hermione's birthday, and we thought that it warranted for something special." Everyone nodded their agreement to Harry's words.
"See to it that you're in class on time and in proper attire." With that comment, he left the room and returned to the Great Hall.
'That must have been Harry's and the house-elves' doing,' he realised, thinking of how to retaliate as he went.
HP
If the first-years thought that they had been lucky, they should realise soon that the professors were not exactly stupid. On this September 19, each single professor decided to have a pop quiz in their first-year class, much to the students' annoyance. The only student getting excited by the quizzes was the birthday girl.
HP
After the last afternoon class, all first-years headed back to their dormitories to get some sleep – apart from Teddy and Harry, who popped into the elves' quarters and went to see Misty.
"Mummy, we had a wonderful party last night, but we're so tired now. Can you please cast some kind of refreshment spell at us?" Teddy cast his mother a pleading look, which even the strict healer elf was barely able to resist.
"Only this one time, mind you," she replied, giving both of them a sharp look, before she let her magic flow, and Harry and Teddy relaxed.
They thanked her profusely, before they popped right into the founders' quarters, knowing that the study room would be deserted that evening.
"There are two things I need to do," Harry informed Teddy, gently cradling Lucy close. "I need to ask the founders about Ceridwen and also about the wards around Hogwarts."
HP
Harry, Teddy and Lucy stood in front of the painting of the four founders.
"Excuse me, Professor," Harry addressed Helga. "The Giant Squid told us that he wanted me to make herb drops for him like those which Ceridwen always made for him."
Helga smiled. "Harry, first of all, we are your great grandparents, so there is no need to call any of us Professor. Ceridwen was my younger sister, and I believe that Salazar should have the recipe for these specific herb drops in his lab." She glanced at her husband, who nodded, seemingly grumpy as ever.
"Your lab?" Harry stared at his great grandfather in disbelief. 'Does it still exist?' he wondered. 'He never told us about it, although it should be obvious that Dad, the twins and I would be more than interested.'
"Yes. My lab. How long have you been living in these rooms now?"
"A few weeks," Harry replied, sheepishly.
"Ah, Sal, leave the lytling in peace. He's only just now getting used to students' life, and he is doing great." Helga lightly admonished her husband.
"Anyway, you have been living here and did not even properly explore these rooms. Have you found my lab? No. Have you met Amaterasu? No. I believe that I have introduced you to her weeks ago. Her real self should still be alive and hopefully well in this time."
"I am sorry." Harry really felt remorse. He had been so busy managing his many new friends, making the study rooms and concentrating on his first-year classes that he had completely forgotten about the secrets the founders' quarters might bear.
"As you ought to be," Salazar scoffed, causing Harry to wonder why the founder was so extremely grumpy that day.
Without further ado, he turned away from the painting and headed into the parlour, closely followed by Teddy and Lucy. For the first time, he firmly closed the door behind them, causing Teddy and Lucy to cast him questioning looks.
"I don't like being around grumpy people," he whispered, only for them to hear.
Lucy jumped up at him to gently lick his face in reassurance.
HP
"Hogwarts, how are you today?" he asked in a soft voice, trying to not have Salazar's grumpy behaviour destroy his good mood.
"I am fine, my dear, and how are you? Did you have a nice party last night?" Hogwarts sounded as friendly as usual, but Harry was still shocked.
"Excuse me, Hogwarts, does anyone know about it? Did the wards perhaps alert the headmaster to it?"
Hogwarts let out what sounded like a small chuckle.
"The wards could have alerted him to something happening out on the grounds, but as you might not know, I am the one to control the wards. Ever since my founders died, I have controlled my wards, even if the headmasters always officially had control over them."
"Does that mean that you prevented the wards from alerting Dumbledore to our party?"
Hogwarts chuckled again. "I had much fun observing your party. Why would I allow the wards to alert the headmaster? The party did not do any damage. A whole class of sleepy students every now and then is not a problem. On the contrary, I loved seeing all first-years have fun together, independently of their house affiliation. During the last decades, I had to observe much animosity between the houses, and I am extremely grateful to you for trying to remedy the problem."
Harry smiled. "Thank you, Hogwarts." He hesitated for a moment, not sure how to ask what he needed to ask.
"Harry, I believe that we should divert the wards from the headmaster to you." Hogwarts seemed pensive, when she continued. "Are you up to looking after the wards?"
"I'd like to do so, but I have no idea what I need to do." Harry replied, honestly. "Where can I learn about the wards?"
"Perhaps, you could come here together with your parents. If I tell them a few things, especially your father will probably be able to efficiently assist you. I suggest that you bring them here sometime during the weekend."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Thank you, Hogwarts. I will ask them to accompany me here on Sunday morning."
"I will be waiting," Hogwarts replied, gently.
"Hogwarts, can you tell me where Salazar's lab is?"
"You can reach it through Helga's and Salazar's bathroom, the first bathroom on the right side. Through the bathroom, you can also reach the Chamber of Secrets, where Salazar's basilisk Amaterasu resides. I trust that you have met her?"
"Yes." Harry nodded, even if he had only met the basilisk in a portrait so far. 'I'm going to visit her now, before I'll look for the recipe for the herb drops for the Giant Squid,' he resolved and took his leave, thanking Hogwarts profusely for the information.
"Thank you for visiting, Harry, Teddy and Lucy."
HP
"Let's try to find the lab and the Chamber of Secrets," Harry whispered to Teddy and Lucy and pulled them away from the portrait of the founders into the direction of Helga's and Salazar's bathroom.
When the three entered the bathroom, Harry immediately looked for a connecting door to Salazar's lab. "Do you see a door somewhere?"
"Over there." Teddy pointed at a spot on the wall opposite of the door, where they had just come through. "There are even two doors."
Following Teddy's finger, Harry saw the barely noticeable outline of two doorframes, and he eagerly opened the door on the right.
"Wow, this is amazing." He looked around in surprise. They found themselves in a modern looking potions lab, which seemed extremely bright for an ancient room at Hogwarts. It seemed as well organised as Severus' private lab, and when Harry crossed the room, he realised that one half of the room was much colder than the other part.
"Ingredients," he realised. "They're being kept cool. "He opened one or the other part of a shelf, only to notice that the herbs inside seemed as fresh as if they had only been harvested earlier the same day.
"They must be kept under some kind of a refreshment charm."
Harry nodded at Teddy in confirmation. "I think so, too. This is absolutely brilliant. We should show this room to my father."
Teddy chuckled. "Only bring him here, when you have much time. He won't leave this place again quickly."
"That's true," Harry agreed, grinning at the thought that showing his father Salazar's lab would be like an early Christmas for Severus. "Well, shall we go and visit Amaterasu then?"
Teddy and Lucy nodded with apparent eagerness, and they both followed quickly, when Harry opened the other door in the bathroom.
They walked down a staircase, ending up in a dark stone corridor, which was still descending, and Harry noticed that the air was slowly getting clammier. Suddenly, the corridor ended in a huge hall.
"Amaterasssu," the called out in an attempt to call the basilisk and was rewarded by slithering sounds.
Before Harry was able to see the basilisk, Lucy went totally berserk. She pushed and shoved them back into the corridor, barking and growing at Harry and Teddy. She seemed totally out of character and panicked.
"Lucy, I only just want to speak with Amaterasu for a moment," Harry said, trying to calm her down – to no avail. It was obvious that something was very wrong.
=There is danger. We will all die.=
"Harry, Lucy is right. Return to my founders' rooms immediately."
"That was Hogwarts," Harry realised in surprise.
"What did she say?" Teddy looked in apparent concern between Harry and a still panicking Lucy.
"Did I hear a human ssspeaker?"
Just when Harry was about to reply to the basilisk, Lucy bit him into the hand and continued to further push him backwards.
"All right, let's return and ask Hogwarts what's wrong," Harry decided.
Together, they hurried back into Helga's and Salazar's bathroom, firmly closing the door behind them.
"Lucy, can you explain?" Harry absentmindedly rubbed his hurting hand. Even if Lucy's bite had only been a warning bite, it was painful.
The canine shook her head, before she proceeded to meticulously lick his hand in silent apology.
=I am sorry for biting you, but you didn't want to listen.=
"It's all right. I merely wanted to meet Amaterasu."
Teddy was wringing his hands in apparent uncertainty. "Harry, let's go and ask Hogwarts. She warned you as well, didn't she?"
Harry nodded. The thought 'We should ask Salazar' crossed his mind; however, recalling how grumpy the founder had been earlier, he quickly dismissed the thought and followed his familiars back into the parlour.
"Hogwarts, what was wrong down there?" 'Somehow, it's strange to speak to the walls,' he thought, hovering in front of the window that allowed the view onto the lake.
"Thank you for listening to Lucy and me and returning here." Hogwarts let out a deep sigh, which could be heard all over the school. "The gaze of a basilisk is deadly. The three of you would have died if you had looked into her eyes."
"What?" Harry stared at the ceiling in disbelief. Somehow, he always had the impression that the kind, old lady he was talking to was residing on the roof, even if he knew that this thought was outright stupid.
"You have to take certain precautions, before you can go and meet her."
"Then why did Salazar send me to meet her?" Harry slowly became upset at the grumpy founder.
"He didn't mean for you to go there without consulting him," Hogwarts explained in a soft voice. "I believe that he cast a charm over my grounds to keep everyone within my wards safe from Amaterasu's deadly gaze, but the charm has not been cast for several hundreds of years. He must teach you the charm and tell you where exactly you have to cast it. Only then, you may head to his chamber of secrets and meet his familiar. Actually, she is a very gentle old lady, and she would have been devastated if she had killed you. Thank Merlin your doggy saved your lives, as I was too late to realise what you were doing. I am sorry. I was distracted by a conversation in the headmaster's office."
"All right, Hogwarts. Thank you for the explanation. I'll go and ask Salazar."
"Harry, please do so, and just ignore his grumpiness. He is a good man, who helped many witches and wizards, while he was alive."
Harry nodded in understanding, although he inwardly seethed. 'Perhaps, he just doesn't like me,' he thought. 'We owe him though, because it was him to advised me how to give Regina magic.'
He slowly left the parlour and turned left to face the portrait of the founders. All positive thoughts about Salazar Slytherin vanished, however, as soon as the ancient wizard opened his mouth.
"Don't tell me you went to see Amaterasu without taking any precautions."
"How could I have known that it was dangerous? You told me I should go and visit your pet."
"Salazar and Harry, please behave yourselves."
"Sorry, Godric." Harry cast the other wizard in the painting a sad smile.
Helga shook her head in apparent annoyance, muttering something that sounded like "Wondering who's the kid here." Turning to Harry, she repeated what Hogwarts had already told him. "Salazar cast a spell on the grounds to make everyone safe from Amaterasu's deadly gaze. I think that has to be cast, before you can go and meet her."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Salazar, could you please teach me the spell?"
The founder sent a glare in his direction. "I will not teach an important spell to a dunderhead such as yourself. Bring your father to me. He might be able to cast it properly."
Harry decided to not respond adequately. It was not as if he wasn't used to insults, especially coming from relatives. "Yes sir."
Reaching for Teddy's hand and Lucy's paw, he popped all three of them right home, not even bothering to walk through the shortcut.
HP
"Where have you been?"
"In the founders' quarters. Why?" Harry enquired, the irritation by Salazar's behaviour still at the font of his mind.
"You missed dinner."
"Oh."
"Eloquent as ever." Severus smirked and called Cicero, asking for dinner for Harry, Teddy and Lucy.
"Lucy saved our lives." Seeing that Severus and Regina both stared at him in apparent horror, he explained everything about their trip to Salazar's secret chamber.
"The deadly gaze of a basilisk." Severus seemed pensive, as he glanced at Salazar in his portrait.
"Harry, I am sorry to hear that my younger self was such a git. I will teach you and your father the spell after your dinner, and then you can go and cast it together. If you take me with you, I can show you the exact spot. There is only one spot behind the lake, from where the spell would cover every place within the wards. Please excuse me for a moment. I'm going to give that younger portrait of mine a piece of my mind."
Regina chuckled. "Oh, I'd wish to be a fly Animagus and able to listen in to that conversation."
Severus, Harry and Teddy laughed. "Mum, why don't you try to become an Animagus? I want to try getting a second Animagus form, so we could practise together."
"Harry, may I practise with you?" Teddy fidgeted in his seat in apparent excitement. "Or do you think elves can't become Animagi?"
"You could practise together here in our rooms every evening shortly before curfew," Severus suggested. "Both of you, Regina and Teddy, could try to become an Animagus."
"Teddy, have you considered what animal you'd like to become?" Regina cast the elf an encouraging smile.
"A dog like Harry and Lucy." Teddy grinned broadly. "And you?"
Regina sighed. "I am torn between a feline like your father and Minerva or a canine."
"Why don't you try for a magical animal, even though it might afford a bit more magic?" Severus gave her a sharp look. "As you probably know, all magical animals are able to communicate with each other."
"Charlie told me the other day that he was trying to get a majaroo for his classes, a magical kangaroo, which is able to take its baby with it in a stomach bag just like a muggle kangaroo. If it puts anything else into the bag, it'll automatically change into a baby majaroo. That way, you could always take Felix with you."
"Oh, Harry, you're so sweet." Regina cast him a broad smile. "I think I'd love to become a majaroo."
Harry remained pensive for a moment. "Teddy, shall we try for a majaroo then, too? We could still communicate with Lucy apart from telepathy, as she is magical as well."
"Yes." Teddy jumped from the sofa in apparent excitement. "Can we begin practising right away?"
"No." Severus' voice was firm. "Neither of you got enough sleep last night, and for the Animagus transformation you must be fully alert. Apart from that, I thought that we were going to practise the charm Salazar promised to teach us and head out onto the grounds to cast it." He quirked an eyebrow in silent question.
"Yes. We need to do that. Sorry, Teddy, but we can practise tomorrow shortly before curfew. I'll call you, as soon as I'll be back from the Potions classroom."
"In the meantime, you should try to get a photograph of a majaroo, as it is important that you know your animal as well as possible." Severus glanced from Teddy to Regina.
Harry and Teddy conferred for a moment, before they decided to ask the Care of Magical Creatures professor before breakfast the following morning.
HP
The spell Salazar taught them was not difficult, and after a few attempts from Harry and one try by Severus, the ancient wizard seemed contented.
"As I do not know if the lytling's magic is strong enough for the spell to last for a year, you should cast it together," he advised them, before he slipped into the small photo frame, which Severus had placed onto the bookshelf the last time they had used it.
"Shall I pop us?"
"Yes please." Pocketing the photo frame in his inner robe pocket, Severus walked over to him and held out his hand. "Leave Lucy here. She seems so peaceful, when she's asleep."
Harry chuckled. Usually, Lucy was still very wild, even if she was almost five years old. However, when she was asleep, she looked like a little angel – at least that was what Regina used to tell him. Reaching out for his father's hand, he popped out onto the grounds.
"Salazar?" Severus pulled the photo frame out of his robe pocket. "From where do we need to cast the spell?"
