Bonus mid-week chapter! A long one too! This is about the day all the students arrive back to Hogwarts - so the morning with just Harry and Severus, then the train ride, then the feast! The lines from the feast are taken from the films, not the books, as it was more easily adaptable to the chapter.
Enjoy :)
The morning of the first of September brought a madness to the Hogwarts elves that Harry had never seen, not that he saw the elves much anyway. He had gotten up early in order to have one last quiet walk around the grounds before the other students arrived, and was now walking through the corridors of the school while busy elves worked on the last-minute clean-up operation. There were about twenty in the Great Hall alone, lifting benches into place and making sure the candles were in just the right position on the teachers table.
"This happens every year." Severus had drawled, joining Harry in the Great Hall to watch the chaos around them, "It is only nine o' clock, for Merlin's sake. The students won't arrive for nine hours and yet the elves act as if they only have minutes left."
A passing elf gave Severus a stern look, and then shooed them out of the hall. They returned to their chambers and ate their last breakfast of the summer together, as many families all over Britain would be doing right about now. All the while, Severus quizzed Harry on the packing of his belongings, "Are you sure you have packed everything that you will need in the Tower?"
"Yes."
"And you are sure you wish to take the train? It would be easier for you stay here and enjoy the peacefulness of the grounds before the rest of your peers arrive tonight."
"I already took a last walk around the ground this morning. Taking the train is a tradition, and I promised Ron and Hermione I would meet them as usual. I can't go back on that now."
Severus grumbled, "I suppose not. You can floo from our fireplace at half past ten. That will give you plenty of time to find your friends and board the train. Now, please go recheck your packing and make sure you have everything you need in a backpack for the train."
Harry grinned, swallowed his last mouthful of food, and disappeared into his room. He bumbled around until ten, making sure his map and his cloak were safely hidden at the bottom of his trunk, and that his hoodie, a book and his money (he and Severus had eventually sorted out an allowance) were in his backpack for the train. Then, he pointed his wand into his studio, and began to levitate two semi-large canvases into the living room.
"Severus!" He called out, when the frames were positioned against the back of the sofa, "Can you come here a minute!"
"Harry I am just trying to sort out –." Severus stopped speaking as he noticed the covered artwork in his living room, "What is this?"
"A gift, of sorts." Harry explained, suddenly quite nervous, "Go on, look."
Severus set down the paperwork he was holding on the sideboard, and walked slowly towards the canvases. He tugged at the material concealing the artwork to uncover the paintings he was being given, and stood back to appreciate Harry's work.
Without Severus' knowledge, Harry had finished the paintings of the first and third tasks of the Triwizard tournament. Both frames were the same size as the one currently hanging in Severus' study, Harry's Triwizard Tournament painting of the Black Lake. The first painting in front of Severus now was depicting the task of retrieving a dragon's egg, and it was a semi-close shot of the Hungarian Horntail guarding its golden nest. Each boulder around the bottom edge of the frame was done with incredible deliberation, and painted around the top edge of the frame were the distant crowds of people cheering for Harry to win. The detail was incredible, and Severus even thought he recognised a band of redheads and a surprisingly bushy haired girl in the crowd.
The other painting was much darker, even darker coloured than the murky painting of the Black Lake. The edges of the frame were crowded with dark green bushes, to represent the maze the four competitors had been sent into. The sky was a dark, swirling mess of colours and the floor of the maze had vines ripping out to try and snatch the feet of the four people running through. The centre of the painting was taken by a dementor, which Severus knew was Harry's boggart (and many boggarts had been released into the maze during the third task).
"So, what do you think?" Harry hesitantly asked, jumping from foot to foot.
Severus studied the two paintings for a second more, and then without saying a word, he began to levitate them into his study. Harry followed, confused, asking what he was doing with the paintings. Severus did not respond, but instead carefully placed them down against a bookshelf. He magically moved his painting of the second task to a more central position on his wall, and then, one by one, levitated and stuck the other paintings in their chronological order.
He stepped back, and admired the three altogether, then looked at Harry, satisfied.
"So, you like them?" Harry asked timidly.
"I do. They are brilliant paintings, Harry." Severus told him firmly, "The detail on the crowd in the first painting, and on the dementor's cloak in the third, is quite marvellous. The artistic detail of the tasks becoming darker, through the colour palette you used, is incredibly thought out, and you can see that when they are displayed together. I know the headmaster is interested in some new artwork for his office. He might even pay you."
Harry beamed at the praise, "Maybe. These ones I just wanted to do as a gift you for."
"That is very generous of you Harry, and I am very thankful."
"You know, you have done a lot for me this summer. You never had to." Harry continued, fidgeting a little, his gaze on the study floor, "And it is probably going to cause problems with your Slytherin's. I just wanted to say thanks…"
"In that case, I must thank you as well." Harry's head rose from his gaze on the floor at Severus' comment, "My perception of many things has been changed this summer, thanks to your presence. I must say the events have come as a surprise to me, as they have to you, but I am thankful that they happened. Any problems will be overcome. Nothing about my guardianship of you will change."
Harry smiled brightly, then walked forward and wrapped his arms around Severus' waist. Severus stilled, as he and Harry had never hugged before, but then he awkwardly placed his arms around the boy and patted his back.
"Thank you." Harry mumbled again, as he stepped away from his guardian and professor.
"Of course." Severus clasped his hands, not sure what else to do, "I suppose it is almost time for you to floo to London. Stow your wand in your backpack and make sure, one final time, that you have everything you need for the journey. Binky!"
A small elf appeared, "Is it urgent, sir? Binky is helping prepare the Gryffindor common room."
"Could you please transport Harry's luggage to his dormitory in the Gryffindor Tower?"
"Certainly sir! As Binky said, Binky is already helping in the Gryffindor common room. Binky would be apparating back there anyway!"
Severus thanked to the young elf, who almost teared up at the appreciative comment.
"Follow me, Binky, I will show you." Harry smiled at Severus again before leading Binky out of the room and into his own, where there was a distinct 'pop' noise, as Binky apparated away.
Moments later, Harry met Severus in the living room, his backpack slung over one shoulder and his glasses propped up on his nose. Severus lectured him on not eating too many sweets, before Harry rolled his eyes, made some promises, and climbed into the fireplace. Severus held out the pot of dust.
"Remember to say it clearly." He reminded his ward.
"I will. See you tonight." Harry said, grabbing a handful of floo powder, "King's Cross Station, Platform Nine and Three Quarters!"
He landed with a stumble onto the platform, coughing the floo powder out from his lungs. He adjusted his backpack on his shoulder, and looked around the platform. It was already bustling at half ten, parents wishing their children emotional goodbye's, and teenagers eagerly waiting for such goodbye's to be over so that they could find their friends. Harry looked around for the crowd of redheads, as the Weasley's were usually easy to spot due to such fiery hair colour. Spotting them some distance away, Harry pushed and apologised his way through the throng of people to reach his friends.
"Harry!" Molly, Arthur, Ron and Hermione all exclaimed at once, upon seeing him walking towards them. Molly beat Hermione and Ginny to him and wrapped him up in a hug, before holding him at arm's length and inspecting him.
"You look wonderful!" She said finally, bright ginger hair bobbing, "Not so bony anymore! Wonderful! Oh we have been worrying about you, but Ronnekins has been reassuring us, telling us that you have had a good summer with Professor Snape. I wish you would have come to Grimmauld a few times more, so we could have seen you." She had ignored Ron's annoyed wail at the despised nickname she had for her youngest son, and continued to beam at Harry.
"It's been great, thanks, Mrs Weasley. I would have come to Grimmauld but Sirius and I fell out a bit. Didn't think it would be a great idea. I was perfectly happy at Hogwarts anyway."
"Oh well, at least we know that you are alright!"
"Exactly, hey mate." Ron pushed forward and clapped Harry on the back, "Still alive then. Bat of the dungeons didn't eat you alive over the summer. Loved getting your letters."
"Ronald, be nice." Molly beat Harry to saying, "Professor Snape has treated Harry wonderfully. Hasn't he Harry?"
"He really has." Harry confirmed, while Ron looked sheepish at being told off.
"Which is all that matters!" Hermione chipped in, appearing next to them and giving Harry a hug, while Ginny had decided to keep distance, "Hi Harry, I loved all your letters! I can't wait to see some of this natural magic you have been practising all summer! Will you show me some after the feast tonight? I don't suppose there will be anything we can do on the train…"
Harry shook his head, "No, not on the train. I will show you something in the common room tonight, if we have time before curfew."
"Excellent! I suppose we should board the train then! We only have ten minutes before departure and all the compartments will be taken." She rushed off to say goodbye to her parents, who had been standing off to one side as they usually did on the magical platform, looking rather worried, as if someone may jump out at them and yell 'BOO'.
Harry said his goodbyes to Molly and Arthur, and then led the way onto the train, closely followed by Hermione and the Weasley's. Fred and George left to find their seventh year friends, and Ginny left to find Luna, leaving just the trio to find a compartment. There was an empty one near the end of the train, so they slid the door open and got comfortable.
"What a summer, eh?" Ron said, after the train began moving and they had waved until all the parents were out of sight, "Moving from the Burrow to Grimmauld Place for the summer… You moving in with Snape. Mate, I still can't believe that."
"I can hardly believe it either." Harry told him, pulling his green hoodie out of his backpack and then over his head. Ron and Hermione were sat on one side of the compartment, so he sat long ways along his side and stretched his legs out, "But it's been good. We talked about it a little this morning. He's been great, and we get along, I just wonder how the rest of Hogwarts will take it."
Ron and Hermione nodded, and there was a brief silence.
"So what's the new defence teacher like? Is she really as awful as you said in your last letter?"
"Worse. I had an argument with her at dinner last night."
"You got in an argument with a teacher?"
"Hermione, let the guy finish."
"No, she's right, I shouldn't have done it. I just couldn't help it." Harry ran a hand over his face and began to explain the situation to them, and Hermione's horrified face would have been amusing had it not been completely warranted.
"The new defence curriculum is completely theoretical?" She blanched, wand twirling between her fingers as she always had done when in her own anxious state, "They aren't teaching us any practical spells? Not at all?"
"Apparently." Harry told her, "Something about creating a risk-free environment… Theoretical is enough to pass our exams at the end of the year, so that is all they are going to teach us."
"But that isn't enough!" Hermione yelped, "I have been studying OWL examination papers for the past year! I have poured over the curriculums that they cover. All subject exams have a practical side, we won't be prepared at all!"
They remained fairly quiet for a while after that. Hermione drew out a book out from her bag, and Ron convinced Harry to play exploding snap. When the trolley came round, pushed by the same old lady as it always had been, they abandoned their separate entertainments. Ron and Hermione began to fill Harry in on what had been happening at Grimmauld Place.
"They had all these meetings, every couple of days. Dumbledore and Snape would arrive, we could hear them, but we weren't allowed into the room while they were discussing the war. Mum said we're too young, but I don't think that's fair." Ron said, catching and then biting into a chocolate frog.
Hermione licked her lips free of pumpkin-pastry crumbs, "I see her point though." She said, ever the diplomat, "We are still in school. Yes we've had our adventures with Harry and we've been involved with things and will probably be more involved in the war than anyone else our age, but our magic still has limits."
"They could still tell us what's going on." Ron grumbled, "Anyway mate, you didn't miss much. Probably got told more by Snape than we did by Mum or Sirius or Lupin. We tried to listen in on one of the meetings once; Fred brought an extendable ear just for the occasion. But someone's mingy cat destroyed that plan." He through a dirty look at Hermione.
Harry knew that was probably likely. Severus had been quite open with him about the Order discussions, but had asked him not to tell his friends. He didn't want to disobey and then anger Molly Weasley, who specifically didn't want her sons or daughter knowing too much about the war against Voldemort.
"How is Sirius?" Harry asked instead, casually, "I haven't spoken to him since my birthday."
"Really? Bloody hell mate, we didn't know that."
"No, we didn't." Hermione's brow creased, "We knew he was upset about you going to live with Professor Snape, of course. He was in a terrible mood for days after your birthday, he wouldn't stop muttering obscenities and we heard Professor Snape's name muttered a few times along with them. I didn't think he wouldn't speak to you for the rest of summer though. I'm sorry, Harry."
"No matter." Harry shrugged, "He didn't mention anything about it other than obscenities?"
"Not really. Heard him talking to Dumbledore once, asking if there was anything he could do, you know, so that you would live with him instead. Dumbledore shot him down. Said you were perfectly happy with Snape and that there was no way Sirius or Lupin could be guardian anyway."
Harry just nodded. It hurt him that living with Severus had caused his godfather so much anguish, but it was even more hurtful that Sirius couldn't look past that and see how content Harry was now that he was away from the Dursley's. He shuddered at the thought of them, and thought of Severus' 'one piece of information per day' scheme. He didn't feel too pressured by it, and he knew that he had to tell the whole story at some point, so bit by bit was probably a good way.
His mind taken away from the thought of Sirius Black, Harry settled back into his seat with a book on the American Wizarding ways. Severus had mentioned a short trip he had taken to New York many years ago, and the difference in wizarding ways and traditions had intrigued Harry, so he had ordered this book. It was titled, 'The Wizarding Ways of Northern, Central and South America', by an author unknown to Harry. He saw Hermione spying the cover and promised to lend it to her after he was done, while Ron grumbled about losing another friend to books and words.
They feasted on more pasties and chocolate frogs, and as always tried to guess the strange flavours of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. The trip to Hogwarts was long, but Harry enjoyed almost every second of it. He loved hearing about Ron and Hermione's summer, before and during their stay with Sirius. They recounted tales of Order members turning up at the late hours, and Black ancestors screaming at them from inside their paintings, long dead but still very vocal. Apparently Kingsley had gotten so bored of it one time, he left the house altogether and sent Arthur an owl instead.
With the time going so quickly, they arrived at Hogwarts not feeling like the majority of the day had passed. Hagrid, for the first time in the past five years that the trio had been arriving at Hogsmeade station via the train, was not there to welcome the first years. They were instead guided onto the boats by Professor Sinistra.
As they were led off, Harry and the rest of the school made their way to the carriages. Harry stopped, and started, seeing the horse-like creatures that were pulling the students along. He had not seen them before. The carriages had always pulled themselves along, rickety and unstable as they were. The reassurance he later got from one Luna Lovegood, a friend of Ginny's who said she could see the creatures too, did not do much to comfort him.
As they filed into the castle, Harry started to notice the looks he was getting. Not just from the Slytherin's, who he was used to, but from all of the other three houses as well. Severus had warned him about what the Daily Prophet was publishing and broadcasting to the wizarding world. They all thought he was a fraud. He almost wanted Voldemort to come in and yell 'I'm back', just so Harry could turn to those people giving him looks and say, 'I told you so'. That didn't happen, so Harry just ignored the stares and followed his friends to the Gryffindor table, ready for the sorting. He caught Severus' eye, and gave him a slight smile which earned him a nod in return.
When the last second-year-and-above students had filed in and taken their seats, the doors closed. Dumbledore welcomed the returning classes, and announced the beginning of the sorting. The Great Hall doors swung open again and, led by Professor McGonagall, in came the first years. Harry knew they had just had the 'your house is like your family' speech from the stern transfiguration professor, and wondered if they felt as anxious now as he had four years ago, when he was in their shoes.
Twelve new students joined the Gryffindor table, equally split on gender with six boys and six girls. Harry applauded loudly for all of them. Ten students joined each Hufflepuff and Slytherin, and fourteen joined Ravenclaw. He clapped politely for them. All of them seemed fairly happy on where they were placed, apart from one young girl headed to the Slytherin table. Harry saw her worried little face as she scampered over and sat on the end of the bench.
After that, the feast began, and everyone grinned at the wonder on the first years' faces. Even the purebloods and half-bloods, who had older siblings attending Hogwarts, were always amazed at the amount of food. Harry, who was used to appearing of food, simply dug in. He chatted to the Weasley twins about their summer pranks, and to Neville about his plants and Herbology research, catching up with people he hadn't seen in a few months. While dessert was still on the table, Dumbledore started his speech.
"Good evening children!" He began, "Now we have two changes in staffing this year. We are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures, while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave."
"Work for the Order." Harry hissed, and Hermione and Ron nodded at his words.
"We also wish to welcome our new Defence Against the Darks Arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge. I am sure you will all join me in wishing the Professor, good luck." Dumbledore gestured towards the colourfully dressed woman behind him. Harry held back his snigger at Severus' displeased face from his place next to her.
"My god, that really is a lot of pink." Ron looked aghast, as the woman in question let out a 'hm-hm' noise, and made to stand.
Dumbledore continued, not noticing Umbridge's movements, "Now, as usual, our caretaker Mr Filch has asked me to remind you –" A small noise from Umbridge cut Dumbledore off, and he slowly turned to face her, now on her feet and making her way towards him, hands folded in front of her.
"Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome." She began, "And how lovely, to see all your bright, happy faces smiling up at me."
"Trust me lady, no one's smiling." George grumbled.
"I'm sure we're all going to be very, good, friends."
"That's likely." The twins said sarcastically, together this time, earning smirks from the students around them.
Umbridge cocked her head as if she had heard their comment, but carried on, "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although each Headmaster has brought something new to this historic school," Umbridge turned and bowed her head slightly to Dumbledore, who returned the gesture, "Progress, for the sake of progress, must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved, perfect what can be perfected, and prune practises that out to be prohibited. Hm-hm!"
With that, she turned on her heel and slowly walked back to the teachers table. Dumbledore clapped lightly, encouraging the students to do the same but he did not find much enthusiasm in the crowd. Harry, Ron and Hermione refrained. Some of the first years gave an awkward spattering of applause, not wanting to upset any teachers on the first day.
"Thank you, Professor Umbridge, that really was most illuminating."
"Illuminating?" Ron muttered, "What a load of waffle."
"It means the Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts." Harry stated, catching the ears of a few people around him. Hermione nodded in agreement, and Ron just pursed his lips, before returning his gaze to Dumbledore who had just finished his start of term 'Mr Filch' speech, warning people not to go places with the word 'forbidden' in the title.
"I also have a few, extra, announcements for you all." Dumbledore declared, "Firstly, a new system has been put in place to try and encourage inter-house unity, and to encourage you all to make the most of your study time."
There was a buzz around the hall, with many Gryffindor's casting their eyes to the Slytherin table, and vice versa. The two were known for not having much peace or unity. Harry had already told Ron and Hermione about the study system, so they simply sighed and listened anyway.
"I like to call it the 'Hogwarts Buddy System'." Dumbledore had a smile plastered onto his face that made everyone nervous, "Each and every student will be paired with another in their year. You will not get to choose your partner, and they will be from another house to your own. You are expected to spend time with your partner. You are expected to help them study, and receive help in return. Your progress will be followed."
There was a mixed response within the students. A few muttered that a 'buddy system' was annoying, but probably the best way to promote friendships between the houses. Most, however, were loudly saying that it was a stupid idea, that they couldn't be forced to spend time with someone, and Merlin forbid, they hoped they wouldn't be paired with a Slytherin. Of course, Harry could only hear the comments from Gryffindor's, but he expected the snakes were saying similar things about the lions.
"Quiet." Dumbledore's commanding voice drowned the hall, and everyone fell silent, "This system is not negotiable. If you do not abide by it, we will know, and both you and your partner will receive detention, continuously, until you take part."
There were even more heated comments in regards to this, especially one brave sixth year Gryffindor who yelled that this new system wasn't fair.
"I do not care for fair. It is you, the students, who have created this gap between the houses." Dumbledore's voice ordered control and respect, and this time it was accusing, "The Professors and I believe this is the best way to fix that gap. It has been approved by the Governors. This school needs house unity. You will receive the name of the student you have been paired up with tomorrow morning, at breakfast. You are expected to find them and introduce yourself by the end of the day, seeing as you have no lessons until two days after that."
"Harry, do you know who you are paired up with? You never told us." Hermione whispered, right into his ear, so that no one else could hear.
Harry nodded, and mouthed, 'I'll tell you later'.
"There is one final announcement to be made, before you all make your way to the common rooms." Dumbledore said, "This concerns a student and Professor Snape, who has given permission for this information to be released. Hopefully by doing this, student concerns and rumours will not be circling the school."
Harry and Severus locked eyes, each knowing the announcement wording off by heart. Hermione reached forward and took Harry's hand, squeezing slightly. He squeezed back to reassure her that he was alright, though his sweaty palms may be telling her otherwise. Students all around them looked perplexed and curious. What could involve both a student and their Professor? Many minds leapt to the gutter. They were almost leaning forward, wanting to know the gossip surrounding their notoriously private potions teacher.
"Over the summer holidays, extraneous circumstances forced Harry Potter, of fifth year Gryffindor House, to return to Hogwarts. To be allowed to remain for the duration of the school break, against the statutory school rules, required him to have a legal guardian living at Hogwarts. After many discussions with myself, the teachers, and the Ministry, Harry Potter was accepted as the legally binding ward of Professor Snape." A collective, shocked intake of breath was heard, but Dumbledore continued, "Professor Snape, in turn, is therefore Harry's legal guardian. They wished to tell the school so it did not come out in a more unpleasant way. Please respect their privacy. That is all."
The hall was silent for a moment, before almost every eye in the room slid to Harry. Harry looked at Severus. Hermione squeezed Harry's hand again. Mouths were hanging open. Draco Malfoy looked like he could explode. Gryffindor's on every side of the trio were in shock, but their eyes were steadily becoming narrowing and more accusing.
"Prefects please lead the students to your respective common rooms." Professor McGonagall interrupted everyone's stupefied state, and movement (albeit slow) began around the hall.
Hermione and Ron smiled apologetically at Harry, having to shepherd the first years as was their duty as the fifth year Gryffindor prefects. They left and for a moment Harry thought he would be alone, but suddenly he was flanked by the twins, and he had never been so grateful to have the Weasley's as friends.
They walked slowly, letting Hermione, Ron and the band of first years walk way ahead of them. Harry wanted to be one of the last one's into the common room, because he knew what awaited him and he knew it would look even worse if he went up to his room and hide from it. As they walked up the stairwells and towards the Gryffindor Tower, Harry could see the stares and glares being thrown his way. There were so much worse than what he had encountered on the platform, and on the train, and during the feast.
The twins never left his side but the look on Seamus Finnegan's face, when they entered the common room, reminded Harry of the look on Sirius' face when he learned the same news the Hogwarts population just had. Many other Gryffindor's were crowded into the common room as well, all clearly waiting for him. Ron was leaning against the sofa. Hermione was just coming down the stairs of the dormitories, most likely from showing the first year students their bedroom. Seamus was stood in the middle of them all, looking very much like the new, very angry, leader of Gryffindor.
"I think you have some explaining to do, Potter."