Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
After dinner on Saturday evening, the whole school and the visitors assembled in the Great Hall, where Minerva announced the performance of the band BABA.
"Previously, BABA have mostly given concerts in the muggle world, however, from about ten years ago, they have proceeded to solely concentrate on the magical world, which is no wonder, considering that all four of them are magical."
With a flick of her wand, the door to the antechamber opened, and two witches entered the Great Hall, closely followed by two wizards. Huge applause greeted them.
Harry had never heard of that band or any other band, nor had he ever attended a concert in either the muggle or the magical world. However, a few minutes into the BABA's performance, he already loved it.
The students of all ages and houses quickly began to hop around, alone, in pairs or in groups and were soon joined by parents and teachers alike.
'Amazing,' Harry thought. 'I wished I could join them in playing with my Suikan.'
The more time passed, the stronger did his wish become, and when the band took a short break, he hesitantly stepped over to Minerva. "Do you think I could perhaps ask them if I could try to join them playing on my Suikan?"
"Of course, Harry. That's a fantastic idea. Go and fetch it."
Harry did not have to be told twice, and when he returned to the Great Hall a minute later, Minerva was talking to the musicians in apparent excitement.
"This is Harry Prince." Minerva's voice was laced with what Harry understood as pride, even if he had no clue why she would be proud of him of all students.
When the men asked him if he knew any of their songs, he shook his head and explained that the Suikan worked in a different way. "I don't have to know the melody, only the mood."
Somehow, he felt very shy and began to berate himself for speaking to Minerva in the first place; however, when the band set to play and he began to join them on his Suikan, he suddenly felt just wonderful. 'This is just brilliant,' he thought, unconsciously guiding his joy into the music.
The applause was deafening, and for the rest of the evening, Harry continued playing together with the band. 'This is even much more fun than just listening and dancing,' he thought, feeling extremely happy. He was almost sad, when they finished their last song for the evening.
"Would you be willing to play for us again some time?" All four of them looked at him with apparent interest.
"I'd like that. It was much fun." Harry smiled, happily.
"Whom would we have to ask if you can leave Hogwarts for a few hours?"
"Either Professor McGonagall or my parents, Professor Prince or Regina Lestrange-Prince."
"Professor McGonagall it is, then. Harry, we shall contact you sometime this summer."
"Thank you so much." Harry grinned, happily. "I look forward to playing together again."
'That was brilliant, Harry. Well done.'
'Thank you, Marvolo. I had much fun.'
Regina said about the same, when Harry came over to his parents, pressing the Suikan into her hands.
"Sorry, I will accompany the others to the guest rooms to make sure that their families have everything they need. Afterwards, I'm going to return home right away."
"All right, Harry. Take care. Will you take Lucy with you?" Regina gently ruffled his hair."
"I will," Harry replied, before he transformed into his canine form and chased Lucy over to where the other first-years and their families were just leaving the Great Hall.
With Hogwarts', Minerva's and Harry's parents' help, the first-years had arranged for guest rooms in the so-far unused wing behind their study rooms, which the elves had then brought to perfection. To Harry's relief, everything seemed to be perfect, and he was able to return home shortly.
HP
After breakfast on Sunday morning, the Quidditch match parents versus teachers took place. Just like before, Charlie played Seeker, Rolanda Keeper, Minerva, Poppy and Miranda Chasers and Frank and the headmaster Beaters. On the parents' team, Severus was the Seeker – much to Harry's amusement and Minerva's annoyance that visibly intensified, when the parents won the match.
"Lord Prince has caught the Snitch. The parents win, 420 – 270," Marvolo announced, grinning. "Now, we're going to have a thirty-minute break. According to Harry, refreshments will be served in the Great Hall. Afterwards, we can look forward to another game of the parents versus their children."
HP
"Are you going to play as an elf again?" Daphne cast him a questioning look, when they walked out onto the grounds again after enjoying some hot chocolate and muffins.
"Should I? Why not?" Harry shrugged.
"I'd like that." Teddy eagerly mounted his broom, grinning broadly when Harry once more transformed into an elf.
'I don't really like playing Seeker against Dad,' Harry thought, as he rose into the air, while Marvolo once again introduced the teams.
It was about thirty minutes into the game and Harry was eagerly looking for the Snitch, when he sensed some very dark magic nearby. He did not know what it was, and he could not see anything out of the usual; however, he felt alert.
'Misty,' he urgently thought to the elf, 'I can sense some very dark magic nearby. I don't know what it is and if it's on the grounds or just nearby. Can you please take my Mum, Felix and Lucky home quickly?'
'All right,' Misty immediately agreed. Only two minutes later, she contacted him again. 'I've taken them home. Your mother is looking after Felix and Lucky in your rooms, but what's wrong?'
Harry was just about to reply that he had no idea, when he suddenly felt cold. At the same time, he saw that the sky towards the Forbidden Forest darkened considerably. It looked as if a completely black cloud was heading straight towards Hogwarts.
'Dad, look at the forest. What's happening?' he thought, urgently.
Only a moment later, Severus shouted for everyone to hear. "Dementors! Everyone, descend to the ground as fast as possible. Marvolo, call for a break!"
"Everyone, please land on the ground immediately." Harry admired how calm his friend remained, however, immediately followed the instruction. "All who can cast a Patronus charm and are willing to help remain on the grounds; everyone else run into the castle immediately!" Marvolo's voice sounded over the pitch, and everyone hurriedly complied.
'Dad, don't worry. I asked Misty to take Regina and Felix home, before I could even see the dark cloud,' Harry thought to his father, who returned a feeling of absolute relief and gratefulness. He did not have time to marvel about the matter, however, as noticed the cold getting stronger and realised that it was time to begin sending out his Patronus. He quickly transformed back into his human form, uncertain if he would be able to cast an equally strong charm in his elf form.
'Thank Merlin that we practised the Patronus charm so often and that the whole school was outside to watch the match,' he thought, as he cast his spell. He could already see that the Dementors were not a simple black mass anymore, but looked like hundreds of individual ghost-like beings. His canine Patronus came out strong and immediately joined the twins' monkeys and many other corporeal Patroni that chased away the Dementors.
As quickly as the Dementors had come, as quickly they fled from everyone's Patroni, and Harry was just about to ask Marvolo if they could continue the match, when Poppy chased everyone into the castle.
"But we need to continue the match."
"The Dementors are gone."
Ignoring the students' protests, the healer waved them inside. "You may only continue the match after eating and drinking a sufficient amount of chocolate."
It was an hour later that they were finally allowed to resume the match, and this time, Harry managed to catch the Snitch after ten minutes ending the game in favour of the students.
HP
During lunch, Harry stepped in front of the high table and congratulated the first-years for winning the Quidditch matches. "The prize for the winners is an audience with Hogwarts herself."
"Huh? Hogwarts is a castle."
Harry turned to the redhead, rolling his eyes. "Feel free to stay away from the event, Ronald."
"Is that for our whole class or only for the players?" Susan enquired.
"Of course, all first-years are welcome to participate," Harry quickly reassured the girl. "You'll have the opportunity to speak with Hogwarts after dinner tonight."
'If Hermione asks too many questions, we'll just have to limit the number of questions per person,' he thought in amusement, as he returned to his seat at the Ravenclaw table.
HP
In the afternoon, the three groups who had won the rally on Saturday went to Hogsmeade together. Before the group left, Ronald Weasley still made some comments towards his sister; however, Regina quickly involved the girl into a conversation about Felix who was toddling along between them.
'He's so cute. You can be so happy to have a little brother. My brothers are already big and real prats,' she thought to Harry, who smiled, happily.
Harry had been to Hogsmeade together with his parents a couple of times; nevertheless, he absolutely loved Flourish and Blotts, especially now that he was able to look at the books on the shelves by himself without Lucy's assistance. 'Thank Merlin, the twins and Marvolo cured me,' he thought, just like he inwardly thanked the three in absolutely gratefulness every morning upon waking up.
By the time they returned to Hogwarts, he was carrying three shrunken books in his robe pocket: 'A distinctive guide to magical animals, past and present', 'Magical maladies without known remedies' and 'Difficile concoctions with interesting effects for the sensitive brewer'. As scientific as the third book sounded, it was a collection of recipes for prank potions, and Harry looked very much forward to exploring it together with the twins.
'Dad won't mind if we occasionally prank the school by a potion,' he thought, recalling how his father had instructed the twins to only prank the school by transfiguration and charms methods.
'A knut for your thoughts? You seem strangely absentminded,' Ginny thought to him, making Harry notice how observant the girl was. 'Almost like Regina,' he thought.
'I'm thinking of brewing a prank potion together with the twins,' he replied, truthfully, causing the girl to chuckle in apparent amusement.
'Well, I'm looking forward to seeing the effect.'
HP
Dinner in the Great Hall concluded the family weekend, which had been a huge success – at least in the opinion of the first-years. After saying good-bye to the families out on the grounds, Harry motioned the first-years over.
"Everyone who wishes to speak with Hogwarts follow me."
Somehow, he hoped that at least Ronald Weasley would refuse to come, considering that it meant leading the whole group into the founders' quarters to get to the parlour; however, all first-years eagerly followed him upstairs.
"These are my classmates. Please let them in this one time, as I wish to introduce them to Hogwarts."
The four founders nodded in apparent understanding, and the women leaned into their husbands' arms to make the small corridor appear much to the girls' apparent excitement.
"This is simply amazing," Hermione marvelled, before she discovered the other life-size painting of the founders inside and immediately began to ask questions.
"Hermione." Harry's voice was calm, however, the girl turned around to face him instantly. "Today, we've come here to speak with Hogwarts, not with her founders." 'Why is she that excited?' he wondered in annoyance, recalling that he had brought her into the founders' quarters once before.
His classmates' excitement only intensified, when they were sitting in a circle on the floor of the parlour and Harry made each of them introduce themselves to the castle. 'She knows them anyway, but they don't have to know that,' he thought. 'Otherwise, Hermione and Daphne will bother everyone asking never-ending questions.'
However, he should be surprised. After Hermione asked a couple of questions concerning the time of Hogwarts' founding, she profoundly thanked the castle for making the study rooms for them.
Everyone nodded their agreement, which Susan, Daphne and Ginny also confirmed verbally.
When Hogwarts asked if they wished for any other possible room, it was Ronald's reply that caused a huge discussion among the students.
"We should have a kiosk selling sweets, especially to the first and second years, who are not allowed to go to Hogsmeade yet."
"While I understand your wish, there is nothing that I can do about it." Hogwarts' voice was gentle but firm. "Perhaps, my owner might be able to discuss the matter with, for example, the deputy headmistress."
"I will do so," Harry promised, smiling. "The idea is not bad, although we'll have to have someone to operate said kiosk." 'Perhaps, one of the elves would be willing to do so. They could buy everything needed and take the money from my account, and they can keep the net profit as payment for operating the kiosk.' "I'll speak with Professor McGonagall and with a couple of elves and try to arrange for something."
HP
As soon as his classmates left the founders' quarters, he returned home through the connecting door with two intentions. One was to thoroughly cuddle with Lucy, and the second intention was to discuss the matter of the kiosk with his parents.
However, when he stepped into the living room, his father informed him that the headmaster wished to see him.
"Why?" Harry's eyes narrowed.
Severus smirked. "Can you really not imagine why that might be?"
Harry shrugged. "No?" he replied, tentatively.
"He did not inform me, but I can imagine that he wishes to talk about your choice of the referee."
Harry rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I know that he called him Voldemort yesterday morning. He's horrible. Dad, will you please accompany me?"
Severus nodded, apparently understanding that he did not trust the headmaster enough to be alone with him in his office. "Will you please pop us, so that we can over with it as quickly as possible?"
HP
A moment later, they passed the gargoyle that automatically opened, when Harry came into sight.
"Thank you," he said, smiling, before he stepped onto the moving staircase, closely followed by his father and Lucy.
He did not even have to knock, before the headmaster called him in.
"Professor Dumbledore. You wished to speak with me?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Thank you, Harry, for coming to see me. Thank you, Severus, for bringing him here. You may leave now."
"No sir. My father will stay with me. Otherwise, I am going to leave together with him," Harry replied, carefully holding Lucy back, who lightly growled at the old wizard.
"Would you care for a lemon drop?" Dumbledore held out a small bowl. "I always find that a nice sweet helps me with difficult decisions."
"No, thank you, sir." Harry inwardly rolled his eyes, when the headmaster offered the same to his father, who impatiently declined.
"Please come to the point, Albus. Curfew has already begun, and Harry is only a first-year."
"Yes yes." Dumbledore thoughtfully let his hand wander over his beard, before he turned back to Harry. "Harry, you are in great danger. You must stay away from Voldemort."
'Don't fight him. Just pretend to agree with him, or it's going to be a long night,' Severus thought to him.
Harry stared at the old wizard in disdain. "And why might that be, sir?"
Dumbledore let out a deep sigh. "That, my dear boy, I will explain to you, when you're a few years older and able to understand the background of what I'll have to tell you."
Inwardly rolling his eyes at the headmaster, Harry rose from his chair. "Thank you, sir. Good night. Night, Fawkes." Without looking back, he swiftly left the office with Lucy and his father in tow, smirking when Severus mumbled something sounding like "Stubborn old coot" as soon as he closed the door behind them.
HP
A few days later, Arthur Weasley and Bellatrix Black were sitting in the kitchen at Grimmauld place sharing a bottle of muggle red wine. Sirius was still at work, and Amelia had already retired to bed.
"You look incredibly smug tonight," Arthur observed, casting her a questioning look.
Bella grinned. "Last night, I went out together with Marvolo," she admitted, causing Arthur to smirk.
'Of course, we all know that, considering that Sirius still doesn't trust you but has some of the Auror trainees observe your every move,' he thought in amusement. "And? Did you have a good time?"
Bella's face lit in apparent happiness. "He took me to the seaside on the Irish coast, where we had dinner in a beach restaurant. It was truly amazing. Talking to him, I realised that I still love him."
Arthur stared at the witch, who was only a couple of years younger than himself in shock.
"During the war, when we were both under the Imperius curse, I already had feelings for him, but I was too crazy for him to see me as a woman if you know what I mean. He was much older than me, too."
Arthur nodded.
"But now… He is so smart, but still very sensitive, and… Oh well, I know we only met twice after ten years, but I completely fell in love with him."
'We've been only living here for a few weeks. I'm surprised that she would admit such a thing to me,' Arthur thought in confusion, when a small voice from the back of his head told him, 'She is attractive indeed, even if not as beautiful as her sister.'
"What about you?" Arthur stared at her in shock.
"Perhaps, we could go on a double date with Marvolo and Narcissa one day?"
"Maybe, we could do that," Arthur replied, absentmindedly, while his thoughts went haywire. 'It must be the wine speaking. Due to her stay at Azkaban, she isn't used to drinking anymore,' he thought, however, knew better than to contradict the woman. "It's late, and I believe that it's time for me to go to bed if I don't want to fall asleep at work tomorrow."
Bella nodded. "G'night, Arthur."
"Good night, Bella."
HP
After discussing the matter with his parents, Minerva and the elves, Harry asked the elves to install what they called a snack box in each of the common rooms. The boxes were filled with all kinds of magical sweets, such as chocolate frogs, Bertie Botts Beans or liquorice wands.
If someone wanted to buy a package of sweets, they had to insert a Sickle, which was the price for one package of sweets, into a slot. They then had to tap a screen displaying the respective sweets to make their choice, and the box then spat out the sweets chosen.
Of course, Hermione was the first to question Harry how the box worked. "We have something similar in the muggle world, but it operates on electricity."
Harry smirked. "Professor Flitwick and one of the elder elves helped us charm the boxes. I think they're quite brilliant."
Several times a day, the elves filled the boxes again, unnoticed by the students, who only realised that the boxes never seemed to become empty.
HP
Two days after the elves had installed the boxes, Ronald visited his twin brothers at the Slytherin table during dinner.
"Do you have any idea how I could earn some money?"
The twins exchanged a glance, much to Harry's and Ginny's amusement, who were sitting opposite of the twins.
"How would we know…"
"… what ickle Roniekins could do?.."
"… We earn our money selling potions…"
"… but according to Professor Prince…"
"… you're an absolute dunderhead at it…"
"Why don't you ask Charlie?" Harry interrupted the twins' tirade. "Perhaps, he could use a student assistant to care for his many animals?"
Ronald nodded, eagerly. "That's it. I will ask him." With that, he turned around and headed to the high table to speak with his brother.
"Ronald!" Ginny's voice made the boy turn around instantly. "Don't go there during lunchtime. Go to see Charlie later on in private."
Nodding in apparent exasperation, Ronald seemingly grudgingly returned to the Hufflepuff table, causing Ginny to chuckle.
"Thanks Harry…"
"… for turning his attention away from us."
Harry sent them a glare that would have made his father proud. "Ah, that was mainly for all our safety. I wouldn't want him near Dad's private lab trying to brew anything."
"Can you imagine him feeding flobberworms though?" Ginny chuckled.
"Nope." The twins then began to make a spectacle of using a spoon trying to feed something invisible something incredibly disgusting, causing the whole Slytherin table to watch and laugh at their antics.
Only when Severus strode over to his house table to check what the matter was, everyone returned to their meals. 'I'll tell you tonight. It was funny,' Harry thought to his father, who returned an unobtrusive nod.
HP
Later in the evening, when Severus and Harry joined Regina in the living room, Harry explained about the twins' conversation with Ronald, making Severus roll his eyes. "You don't believe that I'd allow him as much as a foot into my private lab, do you?"
Harry and his mother exchanged a look of pure amusement, before Harry shook his head, grinning. "No, sir."
"By the way, Harry, there is something that we'd like to discuss with you. This summer, we wish to go on a family holiday. Only the four of us. Oh, right, five. Sorry, Lucy."
"I'd like that," Harry replied, seeing that his parents were both smiling. "I can still spend a week or two on the Isle of Elves, can't I?"
"Of course, you can. I shall ask Cicero, when your elf family is going to leave, and we'll choose a different time for our own holiday."
"Thank you." Harry felt relieved. Somehow, the Isle of Elves was like a second home to him, and he was already looking forward to spending time in Granny Anastasia's home. A holiday just with his parents, Felix and Lucy sounded good, too though. "Where are we going to go?" he suddenly remembered to ask.
"That's for us to know and for you to eventually find out." Severus smirked, causing Regina to playfully slap his arm.
