The Provisional Laws of Acquired Behavior or Learning

Authors Note: Split this from the previous chapter, Professor McG is a bit het up aboot something hence the accent. I always have the next chapter written before I post the previous one, keeps my creative juices flowing. So delays for double posting yay.
Disclaimer: I don't at this time own any published work of Sega or JK Rowling, if I did I'd gut the current Sonic fandom and only allow literate people to contribute cutting the fandom back by 90% and improving the quality by the same percentage.

In a large magical castle in the Scottish highlands a rather irked tabby cat clawed, bit and scratched at a toy doll fashioned to look like a plush Gandalf in a tie-dye robe before tossing the effigy against a wall, jumping off the desk and transforming into a severe looking old witch.
The reason for the literal hissy fit? As clear as day on her desk, a letter to be sent to a prospective student.

Mr. Maurice Bluewind
The Earth beneath your feet
United Kingdom
Gaia
Earth

Mrs. Minerva McGonagall despite previously shredding a effigy of her employer in a fit of angry kitty fury was not angry with the man, she simply needed something convenient to shred without causing undue collateral damage to her surroundings.
Also Dumbledore was at the ICW about something and thankfully not present to walk into a duelling practice match with the temperamental witch.
Reason being that Professor Minerva McGonagall was a little bit angry and had a tendency to forgo transfiguration to just blow things up when mad.
The reason she was mad went like this:

Clearly some doaty dobber needed a thorough skelpin round the lug, and whit was Rosemerta thinking? Employing a ween tae transport things aboot the country. And whits worse the bonnie wee trollop ad made her a parties to it!
Which was just braw a regular day at ogwarts even. AYE RIGHT! Prawly some prats bum's oot the winday or aff dere heid. Either way McGonagall dinnae hae a clue whit to do, sae shed haud her wheesht. anywho the baw's not on the slates yet, not if she'd use her gumption and dauntered on doon tae three broomsticks and done er dinger with said bonnie we trollop laldy and make her haud HER wheesht.

Professor Minerva McGonagall was the very stereotype of a Scotswoman, utterly terrifying.

Three days after the fire Maurice got air mail in the form of a rather exhausted looking owl, the harried feather duster looked like it had flown up and down the country trying to find him i.e. chasing him down, Maurice assumed a rather sheepish expression at the owls glare. Taking the letter and deftly dodging the annoyed avian claws as it flew off, Maurice sat on a bench outside Hogsmeade post office and settled down to read breaking the red wax seal with the Hogwarts school insignia.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Bluewind, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September.
We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

The rest of the parchment included a booklist and a extra sheaf of parchment

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Due to the recent incident in Diagon Alley several changes have been made:
All school supplies can be sourced from Broomheed Alley in Cambridge
The restriction on first years bringing their own brooms has also been lifted.

Yours sincerely,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorceror, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards

Right, Diagon Alley was gone-
'Don't think about it'
Maurice gazed up at the huge brickwork castle behind him, he hadn't really taken notice to time passing since Diagon Alley, he'd buried himself in transporting, putting off his desire for international travel even longer, running solely for running had lost it lustre though it kept his mind clear from nightmares.

As well as the heightened travel restrictions making people jump through even more hoops to go anywhere.
Madam Bones was holding onto power with a iron grip, the secrecy of the ministry at a all time high, The Auror Force had increased massively and was joined by new divisions Wizarding Army of National Defence, the Nautical Fathom Force, the Sky Patrol Task Force and probably more yet to be unveiled.
The Goblins had gained full equal rights in Britain under the Bones Leadership, a great many joining the new divisions. Maurice had expected a little protest from the public about that but saw nothing about it in the papers, to which he's just shrugged.
One thing he had to suffer through was listening to the seemingly unending debate over the wizarding sports every time he walked into public places, Bones had cut International sports from the Ministry letting them manage themselves.
Which without government support to cover up things up had exposed massive corruption, Maurice liked sport, wizarding sport not so much.
All said a lot had changed in the wizarding world, cleaner and fairer somehow in a unquantifiable way.
Maurice gazed up at the castle expression hardening learning magic might just help distract him and maybe, just maybe he could help next time.

The Hogwarts Express was an experience Maurice decided as he settled in a empty compartment, honestly though he'd rather be running but tradition being what it was dictated all Hogwarts students arrive by train, the long hours aboard the train forced into close quarters with each other supposedly making it easier for the Sorting Hat he'd been told about.

In a different compartment a rather unhappy teen rolled his shoulders with a wince.
"You okay Lee?" asked the redheaded freckled boy in the compartment.
"I'm fine Fred, didn't get enough sleep last night" grumped the boy wizard, Tall for his age with a dark complexion, black dreadlocks and odd purple eyes Lee Jordan was a oddity at Hogwarts, in his first year Lee had had a interest in potions which had like many other students died a swift death upon meeting his teacher.
That interest had completely switched to exploring and treasure hunting in Hogwarts an odd change from prospective potioneer to treasure hunter to be sure.
Fred Weasley was his constant companion in these ventures having needed something to focus on after the falling out with his twin brother the year before last.
But this year Lee would be occupied by other things and Fred found he liked exploring and hunting around for things in Hogwarts unexplored nooks and crannies therefore he needed a partner to watch his back hence the third person in the compartment.
"So what makes you think you have what it takes to be a detective?"
The third occupant of the compartment gave no indication of offence "I simply wish to put my abilities to good use and redeem my family's reputation and joining the group that found the four Loyalty Crystals of Hogwarts would be a good first step"
Fred inwardly winced at the mention of the crystals in question hoping for a tamer year than the last one.
"You're in."
Blaise Zabini raised a eyebrow "Just like that?"
"You wrote a very compelling CV and with the amount of trouble Fred gets into he'll need someone competent to bail him out of the fire" Lee explained with a fond eye roll.
Blaise yelped when he was pulled into a noogie by Fred dignity and composure out the window.
"Well it looks like the Discord Detectives are back in business once again! You sure you don't want to rejoin Lee?"
Lee leaned back against the wall with a wince "No can do I've got stuff to research"
"Good luck, I'll keep my eye out for any of that Druid stuff you were looking for"

Meanwhile Maurice had just settled himself into the compartment and with nothing to do for the next however many hours cracked open a book, when at that moment the door opened.
"Excuse me, do you mind? Everywhere else is full." Maurice looked up and felt the breath leave him "Not at all" hair red like fire stunning blue eyes the colour of the sky on a sunny day…