Chapter 15: Muggles

Harry was kicking a red football around the back garden, one of his Christmas presents from Severus. Severus had bundled him up in a cloak and scarf and added a warming charm for good measure. The air was crisp and cool, but it was a beautiful clear winter day. The football scuttled across the snow, hardened by melting in the sunshine. Severus was glad that he had outfitted Harry in solid boots.

After a particularly hard kick, the ball skidded across half of the back lawn and into the neighbor's yard. Harry turned to look expectantly at Severus, but otherwise did not move to follow it. He seemed hesitant.

"Go ahead and get it. You will feel a slight buzzing when you pass through the wards, but it won't hurt you. Just go get the ball and come back. I am right here, so it is okay. Do not go past the wards without my knowing." Severus said.

The boy trudged over to the ball. Instead of kicking it back over, he leaned down to pick it up. When he stood up, the door to the house next door opened. A girl Harry's size came bouncing out.

"Hey! I haven't seen you before. Whatcha' doin'?" she asked.

Harry held his ball protectively to his chest. He seemed wary of the exuberant greeting. "Sorry," Harry said finally. "I was just getting my ball."

"Oh. You live over there?" the girl pointed to Harry's yard unnecessarily.

Harry nodded.

"My name's Hettie. It's short for Henrietta, but no one calls me that. If you call me that, I'll punch you in the nose!" Hettie informed Harry of this matter-of-factly and with no malice whatsoever. She seemed to have not noticed Severus.

"Harry. My name's Harry."

"Hi, Harry! You want to play?"

At this invitation, Harry seemed undecided. Severus wasn't sure whether he didn't think he was allowed to, or he didn't want to. Finally, he told her, "Let me ask."

As Harry started walking over, Severus started walking to him. They met halfway, just on Hetty's side of the wards.

"Why don't you invite her to your yard?" Severus suggested. "Make sure that her parents know where she is."

Severus did not mind Harry playing with the muggle neighbor. He did not know the family well and thought that it was good for Harry to make friends. He would prefer for Harry to remain inside the wards though. You could never be too careful.

It was arranged, and Harry played with the girl in his yard for almost an hour. They kicked the football back and forth for awhile and then tossed snowballs and at each other before settling on making a small snowman together. Severus watched inconspicuously from a chair on the patio. Harry had started out awkward and shy, but eventually the two seemed to get on well. If memory served, the girl was about a year younger than Harry. The two were almost evenly matched for height and she outweighed him. She was more boisterous, but Harry was not allowing her to push him around.

"Well, now, you two must be half frozen!"

Turning, Severus saw Henrietta's mother headed for them, her voice ringing out ahead of her. She was a plump but attractive woman that seemed to have her daughter's outgoing personality. Severus nodded to her congenially.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Thomas."

"Afternoon, Professor Snape. We don't usually see you 'cept a week or two in the summer."

He inclined his head an inch at her observation. "Yes, well, I will be spending more time here."

"I can see that!" She indicated Harry. "I didn't know you had a son."

"He is a rather new addition." Severus answered cryptically.

"Well, congratulations!"

"Thank you, madam. I believe that Harry and Henrietta are enjoying one another's company. I am pleased that he has someone his age to play with." Severus said.

"Yes, she was very excited when she saw him outside. She gets lonely, especially on school breaks."

By now, the girl had seen her mother and trotted up to the two adults. Harry followed, carrying the ball.

"Hetty, I am just about to take some fresh brownies out of the oven. You look positively pink." Mrs. Thomas reached out to touch her daughter's exposed rosy cheeks. "It's time to come inside. You can help me frost them."

At this suggestion, Hetty began to jump up and down excitedly. "Can Harry come, mum? Harry, do you want brownies?"

Harry glanced at Severus, as if he wasn't sure how to react. "No thank you, Hettie."

The girl looked disappointed, but they said their goodbyes. Once they were inside, Severus turned to Harry.

"Why didn't you want to go with them?" Severus kept his voice neutral.

"I don't know." Harry looked down.

"Harry, you know you can if you want to. They were being polite in inviting you. I do not mind," Severus assured them.

"Really?"

"I would not say it otherwise."

The boy looked thoughtful. "I can still go?"

"Certainly, you can."

"I don't know what to do." Harry's voice was so soft that Severus almost could not make it out.

Severus took the football and then started walking over to the Thomas's house. "You will figure it out. It is not difficult, Harry. You have already made a friend. Just be polite and do not stay longer than they ask you to."

When they reached the back door of the neighbor's house, Severus indicated for Harry to knock. They could see the kitchen through the window in the door. Hettie opened it, and the smell of chocolate and home cooking wafted out.

"You changed your mind!" she exclaimed.

"Uh, yeah." Harry said awkwardly.

"Great, come on in. We are just starting." Hettie grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him into the kitchen.

"Be home for dinner," Severus told him blandly, as the door shut.

Severus stayed just long enough to see Harry settle down at the table with a tray of brownies and a bowl of frosting. Hettie sat across from him with the same. Both children looked thrilled. Mrs. Thomas handed them spatulas and they began the process of getting more chocolate on themselves than the treats. Severus smiled and headed back home, waving at Mrs. Thomas before he left.

The rest of the vacation went smoothly. Harry played with Hettie on three more occasions. At one point, he stayed in her house for several hours. Severus was pleased that Harry was coming out of his shell, because the next challenge would test his mettle.

From what little Severus had been able to wheedle out of the boy, school was not a pleasant experience for Harry Potter. It seemed that he had been bullied mercilessly by his cousin and teachers had not understood his bouts of accidental magic. His relatives had not supported his academic efforts either, of course. Academics were of supreme importance to Severus. He knew that the boy could read and was intelligent. School had never been a priority for him because it had always been more about survival than studying.

The logistics of enrolling Harry in school were complicated too. Once Harry turned eleven, things would simplify greatly because he could attend Hogwarts. They had a year and a half of school before then. Severus had considered hiring a tutor and dismissed the idea. He wanted Harry to be socialized with other children, even if they were not wizards. Unfortunately, security was his highest priority. There was no viable option for wizard children Harry's age other than home schooling.

On the Monday when Severus should have returned to Hogwarts, he was instead sitting in the office of Mulberry Independent School. Harry was sitting in the chair next to him reading a muggle fantasy novel. Severus had suggested the book so that Harry would not be nervous about his entrance examinations. Severus himself had no idea where Harry's results would fall. He knew the school's curriculum was rigorous. He had chosen it because it had excellent security—for muggles. He had been assured that if Harry's prior school experiences left him behind, the school would provide tutors. If that was the case, Severus intended to support the boy as well as he could.

The school had offered both day and boarding options, but Severus had not taken guardianship of the boy just to abandon him to school. They were wizards, after all. There was no reason that Harry could not be a day student and live at Hogwarts. Yet, Severus wasn't quite ready to subject Harry to the scrutiny of spending too much time at Hogwarts. He as used to experimenting and plotting, planning every move with a reasonable sequence. He would ensure that Harry had as many positive experiences of the wizarding world as possible and introduce him gradually. Hogwarts had to be the last step.

Severus had even considered taking a leave of absence for the next year and a half. That would make things easier for him and Harry, certainly. He had settled instead for taking an additional week of vacation to help Harry settle in. Severus had arranged for Professor Sinastra to oversee his responsibilities in Slytherin House during that time, and a halfway-competent substitute had been chosen to take his classes.

While Harry was undergoing his examination, Severus interviewed with the headmaster.

"We offer small class sizes, so that each pupil receives individual attention and guidance," Headmaster Nickleby was telling Severus. "The students study science, geography, history, literature, composition, and maths."

These muggle subjects were all a good foundation for Hogwarts. Severus nodded, and asked about co-curricular activities.

By the time Harry was finished, Severus had enrolled him in the after school club and been provided with brochures and lists of activities for him to choose from after school. They walked outside, and Severus looked at his ward appraisingly.

"Are you tired? Would you like to go to a café for lunch or return home now?"

Harry seemed to consider this and chose the café. He had only been out to eat a few times, and it was still a treat for him. Severus had suggested it to get his mind off the new school and the tests. He walked them to a park near the school and into the men's loo there for privacy, and then apparated them to an alley behind a muggle café.

After they had ordered sandwiches and tea, with milk for Harry, he left the topic of conversation up to the boy. Harry did not seem to be in the mood to talk. Usually that meant that Severus did not push him. It was important for Harry to eat, and Severus never wanted to upset the process by upsetting Harry. His curiosity was getting the better of him though.

"What are you nervous about? This seemed like a safe, but open-ended question.

"I am a little nervous because it's a new school," Harry finally said. "But I'm excited that I get to go to school without Dudley. I think I could like school without Dudley there."

This wistful statement made Severus look into the boy's eyes. He could see that Harry was hopeful. He too wanted the best for the boy. He wanted him to have a fresh start.

"I am sure that if you try, you will do well." Severus said. "Is that the only problem you had with school?"

"Well, I used to get in trouble a lot," Harry told him honestly.

"Because of your accidental magic? Did it happen that often?" Severus asked.

"I think it was more that strange things happened around me. People didn't know how to act. My cousin and his gang would beat me up and not let the other kids play with me. My aunt told my teachers I was a liar and a cheat, and they should watch me." Harry's eyes narrowed.

"They never gave you a chance," Severus broke in, before Harry could get angrier.

"Yeah, I guess."

"You are starting over here, Harry. No one knows you. You can be anyone you want to be."

Harry seemed to consider this, and then nodded. They ate the rest of the meal in silence. Severus considered that Harry's temper was a matter of concern, and something he would have to observe and work on. Harry was going to be a powerful wizard, and he would need to learn control or there would be more accidental magic.

When they returned home, Severus explained the routine to Harry.

"I will take you to school in the morning. You will stay after school three days a week. You can choose the activities you want to do." Severus handed Harry the pamphlets. "You do not have to join something every day, but I want you to choose at least two activities at first. I know you have not had a chance to play a sport or instrument or take art lessons, so this is a good time to experience different things and decide what you are interested in.

Severus could tell that the boy was a bit overwhelmed by the pamphlets. The school did offer a wide variety of choices, with everything from archery to theater and many sports. Severus had no idea what would interest Harry.

"I will be at Hogwarts during the day. There is a telephone number that goes to an answering service. Your school has that number, and I will give it to you too. I want you to memorize it. Of course, if you are ever sick or have another kind of emergency, you should let the school know and they will contact me straight away. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir."

Not convinced that Harry would call him if needed, Severus continued. "After school, I will bring you back here. You can stay with Ariel and Fleance until I return. Sometimes you can come to Hogwarts with me and stay in my office or my quarters there, but I do not want you to spend too much time at Hogwarts yet." Severus did not really want to leave Harry alone with Ariel as his nanny for too long, but she was an expert at caring for children and he knew the boy would be in good hands. It was a common practice, after all.

"How will we get to and from school, Sir?"

This question made Severus grimace, although it was a valid inquiry. "Our neighbors are muggles, and Henrietta attends the same school as you do. Her mother is a homemaker and quite astute. They would notice if we did not have an automobile."

"You have a car?" Harry seemed impressed.

"I have leased an enchanted automobile from the Ministry for the next two years. I suppose at some point I might have to purchase one of the blasted things, but they are rare. Most wizards consider them a very inefficient method of travel." Severus said.

"I'm sorry you have to go back and forth, to do all this, for me." Harry said.

"Oh, no, Harry, do not say that. Your safety is my priority. We will work on controlling your magic, although accidental magic is common in children your age. It is nothing to be ashamed of. I will also teach you self-defense. There are muggle self-defense classes at your new school." Severus indicated the brochures.

"Oh?" Harry was interested. "I would like to try that. And art."

"Fine choices."

The next morning, Severus was straightening Harry's tie on the sidewalk in front of Mulberry Independent as he surveyed the crowd from the corner of his eye. Everything seemed normal. It was a crowd of boisterous schoolchildren, as well as few parents dropping off their offspring. Severus had provided Harry with a leather messenger bag sporting a discreet featherweight charm. His entrance exams had shown high intelligence and allowed him to enter the proper grade level for his age.

"There you go, Henry," Severus said appraisingly. He nodded in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. "Are you ready for your first day, Henry Prince?"

"Yes, Sir."

The response was clear and confident. Severus just hoped that Harry's first day went well. Severus had covered his scar with a glamour, given him a pseudonym, and enrolled him in a muggle school with high security. Had he done enough to protect Harry Potter?

"Harry!" There was a cry from behind them and Hettie ran up to Harry. "Mum said you'd be starting soon. You're not in my year." Hettie sounded only slightly disappointed by this.

"No, Hettie. I'm nine, and you're eight." Harry told her matter-of-factly.

"Henrietta, Harry is going to be using his formal name, Henry Prince, at school." Severus informed her.

"Of, okay. Can I still call you Harry?" Hettie asked.

"Yes, Harry is his nickname though. The teachers will likely call him Mr. Prince. His friends can call him Harry if they like."

Hettie nodded, and grabbed Harry's hand. As they headed off to class, Harry did not look back.