Chapter 3
The month of August was primarily a month of cramming as much magical knowledge as possible. In the first week we covered as much wizarding etiquette, culture history as possible. The second week we, mostly Dudley brushed up on Occlumency so that our minds would be safe, our memories in order and as a benefit our magic at an easy reach. The third week was spent on trying to memorise as much as possible about potions and herbology as possible. The fact that I had the alchemist perk was a blessing because after reading anything about potions and the ingredients with the added benefit of knowing chemistry my retention and apprehension rose to new heights. I could tell you anything about potions and herbology in my sleep, my brother on the other hand well he was proficient but not to my degree. The last week was spent on any thing we wanted to. I spent it learning both runes and arithmancy year 3 to seven, well it turned out it was more like a refresher because the Scriptomancy perk and learning all those languages and college level math helped, because now all I just have to do is think of an effect and my mind starts supplying me the needed Runes and Rune-chains, and Rituals are just as easy how ever I still had to look things on astronomy just to be safe as certain astronomical times and signs could effect rituals even thought with enough arithmantic calculations I could ether ignore, remove or bypass the effects of astronomy on rituals.
Finally we had everything ready for the first of September which was a Sunday I guess we would start classes ether on Monday or Tuesday. On Sunday morning I woke up at 7 and then had 'morning-wood' store all our luggage for Hogwarts so that we wouldn't have to bother carrying anything, in addition we wouldn't look any different from others on the train station.
When we reached Kings cross station at around 10, it took us no time at all to find platform 9 and ¾ mostly because all we had to do was follow the people with lots of luggage and animals. When we saw to entrance I also noticed the Wesley family I sighed and holding onto Petunias hand while Dudley held onto Vernon's we walked through the barrier. Petunia was happy to see the train and Vernon looked like he wanted to ask so many questions, but he held him self in check. I smiled and told him, "Remember dad you can always write me about any questions you might have because I left Hedwig at home so that you could contact me or Dudley any time. There was a honk and all the students began rushing to board the train, I looked at my watch and seeing that it we still had half an hour until the train left I hugged them and asked them if they wanted me to lead them back to the regular platform. They smiled at me and thanked me for being so thoughtful. Several minutes later I was back and headed onboard the train with my brother.
After finding an empty compartment we decided to each do some more studying Dudley was reading first year charms book while I was working on how to make an ever-expanding notebook, that way I would never have to get a new one. I already had an eternal pen. About five minutes before the train departed the door to our compartment was opened by Ronald Weasley and he asked if he could sit here as all the other compartments were full. I looked at my brother and with Legilimency asked if he believed the crap Ron was spouting and if we should let him stay.
The main reason that we didn't believe that all the other compartments were full because in Hogwarts A History it informed the reader that the train would never runout of compartments as it was self expanding, and we tested it out when we got on the train by one of us standing at where the last train cart began and the other opening the door at the other end and we found another train cart just as identical.
After a moment Dudley nodded his head and I told him to come in.
Two minutes later Ron began talking to us, while completely ignoring the fact that we were busy reading. Sighing my brother put down his book and engaged chit chat.
Ten minutes into the conversation Ron finally decided to introduce him self. "Hello, my name is Ron Weasley and you are?"
"Dudley Dursley, and this is my brother Harry Potter." Dudley introduced us.
…
…
"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ron blurted out.
I nodded.
"And have you really got – you know …" He pointed at my forehead.
"A forehead?" I asked.
"No, a scar it should look like a lightning bolt." He said.
I looked at him and asked. "Now why would you know that, or even ask. As far as I know this is the first time that I'm meeting you. Right Dudley?" I looked at Dudley. He nodded.
"Well every one knows that you have a lightning bolt shaped scar, black messy hair, bright green eyes and glasses." The ginger pompously stated.
I looked at him, then at my brother, then at him again, and finally said. "Well you got one thing right, I have bright green eyes."
I looked at my brother and asked him. "Now, why is it that every one wants ne to look like a scrawny, scared hero I have no idea. I mean those books that were written supposedly about me were some of the stupidest pieces of crap I've read so far."
Dudley smirked. "Yea, then you went and sold it to the local pawnshop."
"Yea, I also left a message that can only be seen by any one who possesses even a bit of magic to contact me for the complete explanation." I replied.
"So, Ron your family is magical?" I switched the topic, as I could see that he was lost.
"Er – yes, I think so," said Ron. "I think Mum's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."
"So you must know loads of magic already, right?" I looked at him with a smirk.
"I heard you went to live with Muggles," said Ron. "What are they like?"
"The regulars?" I looked at Dudley, "they are wonderful, some of the best people I know." I said truthfully. Because after I mentally helped my parents get over their hang ups they truly became wonderful people.
"How many siblings do you have?" Dudley asked as he saw that I didn't want to say any thing else at the moment.
'Five,' said Ron. For some reason, he was looking gloomy. 'I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left – Bill was Head
Boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a Prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects
me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand and Percy's
old rat.'
Ron reached inside his jacket and pulled out a fat grey rat, which was asleep.
'His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being made a Prefect, but they couldn't aff– I mean, I got Scabbers instead.'
Ron's ears went pink. He seemed to think he'd said too much, because he went back to staring out of the window.
I looked at the rat and I had to restrain my self from stunning the boy and the rat, I might have no memories of Sirius, but that didn't mean that the man had to live in hell. I began planning how to get the rat away from Ron.
While we were talking, the train had carried us out of London. Now we were speeding past fields full of cows and sheep. We were quiet for a time, watching the fields and lanes flick past.
Around half past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, 'Anything off the trolley, dears?'
I looked at Dudley and then at Ron and after a bit of thought. I replied to the lady. "Can we have eight of each please." Then as I went and paid for the hoard of sweets, Dudley came to help carry everything over to the foldable table which sprung out the moment that it was required.
When everything was on the table and the door was closed I raised my hand with the wand wrapped around my hand and gathering magic and intent I intoned, "SORT" and everything began to move and sort it self so that there would be enough for eight people to have a piece each. I pointed at a pile and said to each of the guys take a pile.
Dudley just shrugged and began to try the new sweets.
Ron looked stumped, but when I told him that he could have I pile he grabbed and began eating.
When I got to the chocolate frogs I unwrapped it and immediately bit of its head so that it wouldn't run away.
I looked up both of the guys were looking at me. I swallowed the head and asked. "What?"
Dudley smirked and replied, "I forgot that you are a chocoholic."
"Am not I just like my chocolate eaten, and not seducing with its chocolaty goodness."
After I was done with the frog I looked at the card. It showed a man's face. He wore half-moon glasses, had a long crooked nose and flowing silver hair, beard and moustache.
Underneath the picture was the name Albus Dumbledore.
"So this is Dumbledore!" said Harry.
"Don't tell me you'd never heard of Dumbledore!" said Ron.
I turned over the card and read:
Albus Dumbledore, currently Headmaster of Hogwarts.
Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern
times, Professor Dumbledore is particularly famous for
his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945,
for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's
blood and his work on alchemy with his partner,
Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys
chamber music and tenpin bowling.
So this is the asshole that thought that it was a good idea to leave a baby on the porch in the middle of the night in November. I hate him already. I sighed and decided to look out of the window.
The countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers and dark green hills.
There was a knock on the door of their compartment and the round-faced boy. He looked tearful.
"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"
When they shook their heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"
I turned to face him and told him in a stern voice. "Take a deep breath, relax," when I saw him follow my instructions, I went on. "Now, what is your toads name?"
He looked at me and quietly said. "Trevor."
"Well now," I held my hand out palm up focused on the toad gathered my magic and said. "Cio Protinus Trevor" and with a pop Trevor the toad appeared in my hand, he looked a bit woozy, but other vise fine. I handed him over to the boy.
"Here you go. If you need to find him just ask me any time." I stood up and held out my hand to shake, "My name is Harry Potter nice to meet you,"
The boy switched the toad to his left hand and shook my hand. "Oh, sorry for not introducing my self, my nave is Neville Longbottom, I'm very happy to meet you."
After the introductions I invited Neville to sit in our cabin and gave him a pile of sweets and while he was eating them I saw that Trevor was making an escape so I pointed at him and said "sto aeternus," and with that he was stuck in that spot, and because I new that toads liked moist areas. I added. "nebulus." And a small sphere of fog surrounded Trevor. We could see him and now he just sat there in bliss.
Neville looked at me and seeing that I just helped him out once again relaxed began chatting.
Mean while Ron looked at the toad who was enjoying him self and then at his rat and said. "I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you,
look …"
He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand. It was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end.
"Unicorn hair's nearly poking out. Anyway -"
He had just raised his wand when the compartment door slid open again.
This time a girl came in She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.
"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said. She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth.
"Oh, Hi Neville, did you find your toad," at hearing 'toad' once again everyone pointed at the fog covered toad.
I stood up once again and held out my hand, " Hello, my name is Harry Potter," I pointed at my brother, "This is my brother Dudley Dursley, this is Ron Weasley and you already know Neville."
She shook my hand and replied. "Hermione Granger, are you really Harry Potter, I read all about you , of course – I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century.
"The only thing those books have got right about me is that I survived that maniacs attack, while my biological parents didn't." I said with an annoyed voice. "I mean, where did they get their info, when the only one who was there was the so called Dark lord, my parents and me, and I was the only one who survived. And I certainly didn't give an interview."
Hermione looked like she wanted to say something at first, then she stopped and thought for a bit. I knew from reading about her that she had a strong belief in books and authority figures and I was hoping to shake her belief so that she could be a bit more independent and hope fully she would make more friends then just 'Harry and Ron'.
"I mean look at those books about me, the so called adventures, they are clearly just fantasy books, but people treat them as if they are history books, I mean come on who would believe the dribble written in them." I looked around and continued, "I mean look at history books, and I mean any kind of history be they regular or be they magical you would have to read at the very least four different histories from four different sources and then compare them to get even a some what truthful picture."
I looked at the girl and she looked like she wanted to find a hole and climb inside of it to hide.
I hugged her with one hand and whispered. "I know its hard when your world crashes around you but remember you can always rebuild and make it stronger than it was before."
After some time passed I rubbed my hands and asked. "So, does any one know what house they will be?"
Hermione perked up and replied, "I've been asking around and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best, I hear Dumbledore himself was one, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad."
Neville quietly said. "I know my grandmother wants me to be Gryffindor just like my father, but I don't think I have enough magic to be a wizard, I just hope I'll get into Hufflepuff."
I looked at Ron and raised my eyebrow. "I will be in Gryffindor, Mum and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."
Finally Ron remembered that he was holding his wand, "oh right the spell, Er – all right."
He cleared his throat. Pointed the wand at the rat in his other hand and said.
"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,
Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed grey and fast asleep.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said Hermione.
I looked at the rat and decided that this was a great chance to get it I grabbed an Every-Flavour Bean and said. "Can I try?" when Ron nodded his head I grabbed the rat and while I was turning to wards my seat I quickly turned the rat into a stone and the Bean into a very similar looking rat. I put enough magic in the transfiguration spells to be sure that they would not turn back for several weeks. As I sat down I held the new rat in my hand and intoned. "Colovaria" and the rat became a dark blue color. Happy with the color I handed the blue rat to Ron and the stone was put into my pocket.
"Stupid spell – George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud."
He threw his wand back into his trunk.
"What house are your brothers in?" asked Harry.
"Gryffindor," said Ron. Gloom seemed to be settling on him again.
"So what do your oldest brothers do now they've left, anyway?" asked Dudley.
"Charlie's in Romania studying dragons and Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts," said Ron. "Did you hear about Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but I don't suppose you get that with the Muggles – someone tried to rob a high security vault."
Every one in the compartment stared at him.
"Really? What happened to them?" Asked Hermione.
"Nothing, that's why it's such big news. They haven't been caught. My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything, that's what's odd. 'Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens in case You-Know-Who's behind it."
I zoned out when Ron went onto to talk about quidditch. I was thinking of how I was going to get my hands on the Philosophers stone.
I could try and get it immediately or wait until I get my fathers invisibility cloak.
Once again, the door was opened and this time it was tree boys who entered.
One of the boys was pale looking with aristocratic features grey eyes and platinum blond hair. His two companions were about a head taller and looked like they wanted to hit something. Those two looked like they didn't have a braincell to share but I could be wrong, you can't judge a book by its cover.
"Is it true?" he said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"
"Is it true?" I replied. "That on the door it is written 'just barge in and don't introduce your self?', "
Draco was stumped for a moment and the moment that he looked like he was about to say something I introduced my self by trying to portray my self with as much nobility as possible, "Allow me to introduce my self and my companions. Harry Potter, my brother Dudley Dursley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, and Ron Weasley. And you are?"
Draco quickly composed him self, "Draco Malfoy, and these are Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle."
And not letting him start with the pure blood doctrine, I invited him and his companions to join the group and we spent the rest of the time discussing the merits of each Hogwarts House.
"Well here is what I get from our discussion on the houses.
Gryffindor is supposed to be the house of courage, bravery, nerve and chivalry, but it has become the house of people who are blinded by the light, and those who rush in with out thinking.
Hufflepuff house is supposed to value hard work, patience, justice, and loyalty, but it has become the house of unwanted and are a house of followers.
Ravenclaw which valued intelligence, creativity, learning, and wit has become the house that values only learning, and they look down on the rest.
And Slytherin values ambition, cunning, leadership, and resourcefulness, but now this house is seen as the house of evil because of one asshole and his group of followers. This house decided that it would no longer dream for a better future, that being a bully is much better then being clever, and that the house of leaders has become the house of followers.
So as far as I can see each of the houses are a disappointment to their founders as they have fallen far from what they were supposed to be.
And don't get me started on the fact that magic has been divided into 'light and dark' that's like saying that fire is bad because it kills while water is good because it provides life."
I stopped and looked at everyone, scratching the back of my head I sheepishly apologised about getting of topic.
"How about this?" I proposed. "No matter which House we get sorted we will try and talk peacefully and if we have any problems with any house be it classes, studies, or other students we can ask each other for help and any one of us could try and help each other if we can." I paused and looked at the group.
"Please take the time and think about my proposal."
Everyone in the compartment began thinking about what I said, some of them I had to nudge with mental magics to be a bit more open to what I said. I didn't want mindless obedience, I needed friends that would help me to survive in this world and maybe make it better than I found it.
After a while the others began chatting as I took out a book on introduction to runes. The moment I had the book open Hermione was glued to my side reading over my shoulder. When it looked like she was going to interrupt my reading I held a finger to her lips and then returned to reading.
When it started to get dark, I looked at every one and said that we should get changed so that we would be ready for Hogwarts.
Draco and company were the first to leave, when Malfoy looked back I could see gratitude in his eyes that I didn't reject his hand in friendship. Then it was Neville followed by Hermione who looked like she wanted to take my book with her.
"If you join Ravenclaw you can borrow any and all of my books to read and study." I told Hermione as she was leaving.
After Dudley, Ron and I changed we waited for a bit.
A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
I looked at my forearm and shrugged I wasn't going to leave a valuable artifact on a train just so that I could find it later in my room, I looked at Dudley and he shrugged and left his trunk behind without care as anything truly important was carried by me.
Any sweets that were left behind I got morning wood to store as I wasn't going to waste food.
The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way towards the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. I shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and we heard a booming voice: "Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!"
Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads. Hagrid looked to be about 11 feet tall and thick, I would never say fat because he wasn't, I knew he was part giant and so his proportions made sense to me he was big I would say that his look was similar to the Dwarfs in the MCU movies. Man I haven't seen those movies in a long time.
Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.
"C'mon, follow me – any more firs'-years? Mind yer step, now! Firs'-years follow me!"
Slipping and stumbling, we followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark either side of them that I thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody
spoke much. I saw Neville and Hermione and had my small group join theirs so that we wouldn't feel alone.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!".
The narrow path had opened suddenly on to the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many
urrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Dudley and I were followed into our boat by Neville and Hermione.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself, "Right then – FORWARD!"
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over us as
we sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. The castle was magnificent it looked to be at least two or three time more massive then the one in the movies.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; we all bent their heads and the little boats carried us through a curtain of ivy which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. We were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking us right underneath the castle, until we reached a kind of underground harbour, where we clambered out on to rocks and pebbles.
As we clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last on to smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.
We walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the
huge, oak front door.
"Everyone here?"
Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
The door swings open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in
emerald-green robes stood there. Professor McGonagall stands there with a stern face and she has an air of do not mess with and do not cross me down pat.
I grin at her and I only receive a twitch of an eyebrow as she looks at me and then looks over everyone else.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid. "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She pulled the door wide.
The Entrance Hall was so big you could have fitted the whole of modern two story house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
I sidled towards Hermione and walked beside her as we followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. I could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right – the rest of the school must already be here. However Professor McGonagall showed the first-years into a small empty chamber off the hall. Many of the new students were standing considerably closer together than they would usually and looked about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting
is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house
dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front
of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose.
"I shall return when we are ready for you, "said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." Then she left the chamber.
I looked at Neville and adjusted his cloaks fastening so that he would look a bit more presentable, and threw a 'Scourgify' spell at Ron to clean him up. Then I turned to Neville and said, "Neville, look at me." When he looked at me I continued. "I know you are nervous, I want you to take a deep breath and count to ten, after that breath out and center your self on what you want. Just remember Gryffindor is a great house for those who seek glory and adventure, Ravenclaw is great for those who seek knowledge above all else, Slytherin is for those who have connections and know how to use them and Hufflepuff is for those who need dependant friends and who know the value of hard work. So tell me which house do you think is the most suited for you."
Neville followed my instructions and then thought about it and whispered, "Hufflepuff, but my grandmother wants me to go to Gryffindor just like my father."
"Yes, but thus is your choice, and not your grandmothers, which house is best suited for you? And remember when you walk towards the sorting do not rush and calm yourself before moving."
Just as I finished saying that, several people behind me screamed.
"What the –?"
Several people around me gasped as about twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to each other and hardly glancing at the first-years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying, "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance - "
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost – I say, what are you all doing here?"
A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first-years.
Nobody answered.
"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be sorted, I suppose?"
A few people nodded mutely.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first-years, "and follow me."
I stayed beside Hermione and grabbed Neville just as he was about to shuffle away, Dudley smirked when he saw me acting like that. He knew that I had a force full personality, because those that I would choose to hang out with would usually end up following my directions when I was around.
As I was beside Hermione, I investigated her mind and dampened her want to go to Gryffindor.
Then I switched to Neville and reinforced that he needed to choose for him self and not what his grandmother told him about which house to go to.
I know that it looks like I am controlling the people around me, and yes while what I am doing technically classifies as control, I just nudge people in the direction I want them to go to. Control can be thrown off but careful nudging and prodding over time gets people to change, and I don't feel horrible about my actions.
The line of students was led out of the chamber, back across the hall and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
The hall was lit by what looked like hundreds and hundreds of candles and I wondered how come the wax didn't drip down on the four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the Hall was another long
table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first-years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds
of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Looking around and up high onto the enchanted ceiling that looked like a night sky I heard Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky
outside." I whispered back to her, "I know it looks wonderful hopefully we might eventually be able to learn how to do that."
She looked at me and grinned after a while when she didn't find any mockery in my eyes. When I looked down I saw as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.
I really don't understand wizards sometimes they have magic and they use it for everything, so why don't they use it to clean the poor hat?
After several moments of everyone looking at the hat it twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth – and the hat began to sing.
Which I tuned out as I began preparing several cleaning, cleansing and repairing spells that I was going to cast silently and without the light show that magic usually produced. When I finally heard the last phrase of the song, "For I'm a Thinking Cap!" I twitched my fingers to point at the hat and willed the prepped magic to go off.
I felt the magic flow invisibly from my wand and fingers and into the hat. The moment the magic hit, the hat began to look cleaner and newer. The cleaning and renewal lasted only several moments, but by then the hat looked brand new and very respectable.
The whole Hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song and at its new appearance. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moment's pause –
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.
I will have to talk to Susan about reaching out to her aunt so that I could hand over Pettigrew to her.
After several students went up and got sorted I heard. "Dudley Dursley."
I sent a thought at him to try for Ravenclaw.
And after several seconds the hat shouted out "Ravenclaw" and I saw my brother heading out towards the table that was cheering.
"Granger, Hermione!" Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.
This sorting took a while but eventually the hat shouted out "Ravenclaw" and I sighed with relief.
I reached out to Neville and patted him on the shoulder and whispered, "remember what I told you and take a deep breath count to ten and reach for the calmness, you will be great in the house of your choice."
After several people Neville was called and he was sent to Hufflepuff, he looked happy but resigned. I smiled and clapped for him. This time he did not have to return the hat back to the table as he was calmer and more composed.
After that several people went by and it was Draco's turn and just like in the books he became a Slytherin however the sorting hat took its time discussing it with him.
Then I just had to wait for my name to be called, "Moon" … "Nott" … "Parkinson"… then a pair of twin girls, "Patil"
and "Patil"… then "Perks, Sally-Anne" … and then, at last –
"Potter, Harry!"
Finally I was looking forward to this for the last ten years, as I walked towards the sorting hat I heard muttering.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Harry Potter?"
I saw the Hall full of people looking at me as the Sorting Hat was dropped onto my head.
Then there was silence. I waited a bit but there was still nothing, I sighed and lowered my mental shields.
"Hmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes – and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting … So where shall I put you?".
I thought back at the hat, " you will put me in Ravenclaw, do you like being clean and repaired?"
"Ravenclaw you say? Yes that is a good place for you, but why not Slytherin? And yes I like feeling clean and new, you have no idea how long I felt grimy and worn out." The sorting hat replied.
"There are two reasons why I don't want to go to Slytherin. One the head of the house hates anything to do with my family name and two it would be an uphill battle against prejudice and followers of the Idiot."
"Hmm… then RAVENCLAW!"
The Hall broke into the loudest cheer and everyone was surprised that I went to Ravenclaw, I looked around as I walked and noticed that the Weasley twins were comically and theatrically crying about how they didn't get Potter.
I put the hat on the chair and walked towards my new house an upper year girl stood up as I passed her and shook my hand and introduced her self as Penelope Clearwater and informed me that she was a Prefect for Ravenclaw I thanked her and moved to sit beside my brother and Hermione.
I looked around the table and noticed the Grey Lady the Ravenclaw ghost, I nodded at her and looked towards the High Table. On one side sat Hagrid and when he noticed me looking he gave me a thumbs up. Looking beside him there were two other teachers I didn't recognise, then was Professor Flitwick, and Professor Pomona Sprout , in the middle was Dumbledore then an empty place I guess that's where Professor McGonagall sits, beside that one was Professor Snape and next to him was Quirrell the dead man walking and several other teachers.
While I was observing the Head table I felt two mental probes, one from Snape and the other from the Dark Idiot. I ignored them and continued to observe. After a while I heard that Blaze Zabini had joined Slytherin and that meant that I would have to pay attention to Dumbledore.
Albus Dumbledore had got to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"
He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. And the tables became filled with food.
I turned to Dudley and raised an eyebrow, he nodded and we both said. "He's Mad."
And several students around us confirmed that we were probably right. Hermione was about to say something supportive towards Dumbledore, but I interrupted her by informing her that he just basically told everyone 'stupid, fat, castoffs, and wrench' and if that didn't make him slightly unhinged, what about the fact that the man held several high positions of power that basically gave him cart blanch to do anything he wanted to, and while he has been in power, there has been no progress and only regress of schooling and society.
That info dump caused the Ravenclaw table to break up in discussions over many of the facts that I raised. As we all ate several people asked if I had a lightning bolt scar. I informed them that I didn't have a scar and if they were referring to the dribble that was supposedly written about my adventures they were greatly mistaken.
When everyone looked like they were finished eating, the food vanished, and Dumbledore gave the start-of-term notices. The third floor was out of bounds. I was going to ignore that.
And after that I had to listen to the most horrible amalgam of sounds that the headmaster called music. I was ready to kill him just for that.
After that horror was done, we were ordered to follow our prefects to the common rooms. After 10 to 15 minutes of walking up the to the fifth floor of the west tower we reached a door with a door knocker in the shape of an eagle that gave us a riddle that we would have to answer if we wanted to enter.
The prefect answered the riddle and let us in, the common room was a large room that at a glance could support up to 50 people.
The walls were lined with bookshelves and there were several sets of couches, desks, tables that provided a great area to study.
We were directed to our rooms and told us that we would be given our time table in the great hall at breakfast.
In the morning I woke up at 6 and dragged Dudley on our morning exercises, 45 minutes of calisthenics then 45 minutes of magic practice which consisted of lifting different toy planes with telekinesis and having races and having them do air battles.
This trained our minds to be more flexible and reactive, then we would practice Occlumency and Legilimency on each other.
At around 745 we climbed into 'morning wood' and took a shower. Then we headed to the Great hall where we received our class schedule.
Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff
Monday
Morning: charms
Afternoon: study
Evening: defense against the dark Arts
Tuesday
Morning: transfiguration
Afternoon: study
Evening: history with all the houses
Wednesday
Morning: potions
Afternoon: potions
Evening: study
Thursday
Morning: herbology
Afternoon: study
Evening: study
Midnight: astronomy
Friday
Morning: study
Afternoon: transfiguration
Evening: charms
Saturday: study
Sunday: study
I looked at the schedule and sighed. "Hey Dudley, I think we will have to study on our own, because this schedule is a joke. I mean look at all the free time, I am going to ask our parents to get allot of empty note books so that I could setup and automatic book copying station."
Dudley looked at me and nodded. "Yea that's a good idea. I think we should learn as much as possible and graduate early because I want to go back to the regular world and finish higher education."
I grabbed Hermione and several other first years and taking out my version of the marauders map began making my way towards the charms classroom.
The first day of classes are usually introductions and safety. I was not surprised the fact that I had Toms memories of his life meant that I was bored and just waiting to the class to finish.
After class I my brother that I was going to explore and I would meet him at the defence classroom, and after promising that I would be safe I rushed of towards the seventh floor in search of the room of requirement.
Even with the map it took me a while to find the portrait of Barnaba's the Barmy.
I walked on front of it three times thinking of the room of lost things and after the third time that I passed the portrait the door to the room of requirement appeared. I opened the door and sighed in relief walking inside I closed the door behind me and asked 'morning wood' to resume his normal size and store everything in this room and then sort every thing depending on type and especially to sort the cursed items from the normal ones.
'Morning wood' dropped off my forearm and then scuttled away as he began to increase back to his regular size. I had about three and a half hours until my next class so I would have to prepare a ritual to extract a soul shard and turn it into extra magical power for me or to someone of my choice.
I asked the room to provide me a two meter by two meter sheet of metal so that I could engrave a ritual circle, taking out my engraving pen I sat down and called upon Toms memories on ritual magic and with the help of my perks I began planning out the circle. After an hour the trunk was lying beside me looking somewhat miserable and tired. I asked him to shrink and attach to my left forearm. Where he gave me the list of items, I thanked him and asked him to send out any diadems that it had.
Several minutes later the Ravenclaw diadem was placed in the middle of the metal sheet and I began engraving the circle.
The circle would do three things: one it would purify any curses, two it would separate the soul shard from the diadem and finally it would transfer the magic of the diadem into me thus enhancing my memory and comprehension.
The soul shard I would integrate with my core for an increase in my magical core.
I was finished by three pm and began the ritual, everything went well, the curse was purified the soul shard was absorbed and integrated into my core, I had to grit my teeth as a stretching and burning feeling came from my body as my magical reserves were nearly doubled in size and then the last part of the ritual completed as my mind was enhanced with the diadems enchantment. I passed out from the pain.
When I came to I was lying on the metal sheet face down and I had a horrible head ache, that was slowly going awake.
I turned on to my back and went into my mindscape, I was surprised at what I found before my scape was organised and tranquil but now it was as if everything was put in its right place and streamlined for efficiency.
I came out and I no longer had a headache each and every thought was crystal clear, and I could think much faster than before. Casting tempest I saw that I had about 15 minutes to get to my next class, so I thanked the room for the help vanished the sheet of metal and booked it towards my defence class.
I got there in time as the teacher still wasn't in the room. I sat beside my brother and asked what he was up too during the time that we were apart. It turned out that he was also exploring the library with Hermione.
Looking around the defence class room I was disappointed in the teacher, sure he was possessed but he could have at least tried to make this class a bit more entertaining, I sighed and quickly cast a modified bubble head charm, by placing two small bubbles in my nostrils so that they would filter out smells. I was very happy with the effects that the ritual was already having as the fact that my mind was much more efficient meant that I was getting new ideas from the knowledge in my head, like the modified bubble head charm.
Now I just have to plan out how to trap and capture the main soul that's possessing Quirrell, then I think I will have to do the same thing to the ghost of Professor Binns.
When Quirrell came in I was repulsed by his presence as to me he felt vile and his magic was barely keeping his body going because of the possession, soon he would have to go and hunt Unicorns to sustain him self.
The class was horrible, and after class I got up and dragged Dudley and Hermione to the library to study properly. We remained in the library until dinner.
Tuesday we had Transfiguration and after lunch history so basically we only had only one class for the day. Professor McGonagall's class was nearly the same as in the books and the movie except that when I came into the class I nodded to her as she was in her Animagus form. And just as class was about to start Ron and another Gryffindor ran in and were rude to the teacher when they thought she wasn't in the room.
After the class was over and I had lunch I went to the library to study up on how to create a triple warding circle that could hold a physical creature, a spirit and anything in between.
I spent the rest of the day in the library and only left for dinner and sleep.
Wednesday was a lot of potions with Professor Snape, who I knew that he disliked so I was far more vigilant in his class and when he sprung the quiz on me at the beginning I was ready and answered everything correctly and politely after that we had to brew a cure for boils potion.
After that class I was back to studding the circle trap the main problem was that even with my increased magical core I didn't have enough magic to hold the circle as it would have to hold Tom physically inside, prevent his magic getting outside the barrier and then hold the spirit so that I could ether cleanse it and absorb it into my self or send it into deaths realm.
Thursday was a day of Herbology, studying and Astronomy. I found working with plants relaxing, however I could learn far more from muggle education in Astronomy then from the course in school.
Friday was a day for more transfiguration and charms these two classes were the most bearable as I could help other students with their casting and the comprehension of material that was taught in class. Because of my help and the help of my brother Ravenclaw was able to gain allot of house points, even thought I found the points system pointless as it gave no benefit and only increased animosity between houses.
Saturday and Sunday was me still stuck in the library, researching the circle I had gotten the physical and spiritual trap down but the fact was that magic passed easily through. I was stumped so I decided that I would work on a different project to let my mind rest.
I was working on a notebook that would never run out of pages, that it would be light weight and always stay the same size no matter haw many pages it would have. By Sunday evening I had three of them ready, one for me, one for my brother and one for Hermione these Grimoires would be ready in two weeks as I wanted them to be as stable as possible.
With that done I decided to visit Hagrid and ask about my biological parents. I know that they aren't my true parents and that I am occupying the body of Harry Potter but that doesn't mean that I don't want to learn more about them.
On Monday I dragged my friends to Hagrid's hut where spoke to Him and asked about my parents. I also noticed the news paper that mentioned that Gringotts got robbed, I ignored it and continued on the topic of my parents and I also asked him if would be able to gather a photo book of my parents.
After that I we went to the defence class earlier where I taught Dudley and Hermione the modified Bubble head charm that would filter the air in the nostrils so that the defence and potions class would be smell free. Both of them were excellent students as they picked up the spell quickly and the only thing that they would have to work on is the duration of the spell, but that would fix itself with practice.
I also worked on Hermione to get rid of her worship of authority figures, that included mental nudging and examples of historical figures and forcing her to think for herself and not only regurgitate the facts that she learned. I had to work slowly and carefully because the mind is delicate, and it will fight back when you influence it too much to fast.
On Wednesday in potions class I was working patiently and diligently so that Snape would have no reason to pick on me. After potions we had our first flying lesson with all the houses. I helped Neville with his confidence and that way he didn't have an incident with his broom. Thus everything was more or less peaceful. I also talked with Susan Bones and asked if she could ask her aunt to owl me as I had to speak to her. The rest of the week went by without incident.
On Saturday Amelia bones contacted me by owl post and I asked her what I had to do if I discovered an Animagus in hiding, and if it was possible for her to meet me on Sunday possibly with Allister Moody as back up to apprehend the Animagus. She informed me that she would be there at 9am on Sunday at the main gate of the school.
On September 15th Sunday I was waiting for Madam Bones and Alister Moody at the front gate.
When they arrived I asked them to follow me into my trunk and where I showed them the Pettigrew stone which I turned back into a rat and then asked them to turn him back to human.
The moment Pettigrew became a human I cast a stunning spell at him then followed by a disarming spell twice so that he wouldn't have a wand on his person, and after that I cast a spell that I was working on for the 'circle' the spell itself worked however I couldn't get it to with the other two circles as it bound the magic in the area of the cast that meant that it also bound the physical and spiritual traps. After I waited for both the Aurors to stop gawking at me. "If the two of you please question the 'Rat' please, the last spell is draining to hold and I would like to know who he is as the stunning spell will wear off soon in the magic binding circle."
After that Pettigrew began waking up and the questioning began, with this Sirius Black was going to be free and I would have access to the black library and another soul shard.
When the questioning was done and the traitor in magical binding cuffs that also bound his Animagus form, and a promise that Sirius Black would have a trial, I thanked them and asked Moody to look into Barty Crouch as I heard near nocturn alley that his son was alive and under the Imperious. With that I said farewell turned away and walked towards school.
The rest of the week was boring and on the September 19th I presented Hermione her very own Grimoire as a birthday present she was very happy and I received my first crushing hug. Dudley also got a Grimoire but he didn't try to crush my bones.
The rest of September was peaceful as I spent most of the time studying everything I could get my hands on and I decided that I would get rid off Quirrell after the New Year because I was going to need the troll that he would let in as a distraction. The troll would be used in a ritual where I would transfer its strength and resilience to me. That way I would have a boost in my survival chances.
Thus for the ritual I would only work on the first ward circle, this circle would prevent anything physical from entering or exiting. This would be a trial run as I think that if it could hold a troll it would be able to hold Quirrell.
That would mean that I would have to let Hermione get insulted by Ron, that is if he insults her. If he doesn't then I would search for the troll with my map.
October was peaceful and stressful as I tried to prepare the ritual.
I was ready for the Troll on Halloween; the good thing was that Hermione didn't sit near Ron so she didn't embarrass him and thus I would have to search for the beast.
I already had a large slab of metal with the ritual circle engraved all I would have to do is place it and wait for the troll to walk onto it and activate it.
Well my plan went pair shaped, because of my friends, I know they were worried for me with the troll on the loose. I had the troll trapped in the middle of the circle and the ritual was going full bore, and that's when Dudley and Hermione rushed into girls bathroom and nearly disrupted the ritual. The good thing was that the ritual circle was carved with 4 recipient nodes as they were needed for balance. Those nodes didn't have to be in use, but if they were the transfer would be equal to each recipient, that meant instead of my strength being increased 15 times it was split three ways between me, my brother and Hermione.
As they rushed in I told them to stop and after a quick calculation I asked them to stand to the right and left of the circle. The moment they did the ritual began the transfer and I could feel my body begin to burn from the inside as the magic strengthened my body. I could see my friends get hit and they screamed for a minute and they fell down unconscious from the powerup.
I immediately asked 'Morning wood' to hide the ritual slab and looked at what was left of the troll. The beast was just skin and bones I through a banishing hex at it and it flew into a wall dead upon impact, I also through several more blasting hexes around the bathroom to make it look like there was a battle. I just levitated both of my friends from the bathroom and I saw Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Snape and Quirrell make their way to wards us and they began to question me.
My answer was. "I was spending my time remembering my parents sacrifice on this day when I encountered the troll and it trapped me in the bathroom and I was dodging the troll swings when my friends rushed in and surprised both of us. The surprise caused the troll to swing at them, but I cast a week banishing hex at them so that they would be launched away from the clubs swinging area. They were saved from being crushed but they hit a wall an got nocked out, in panic I pointed my wand at the troll and it flew away from me and it died looking like a raisin, after that I levitated my friends and was going to go to the hospital wing hoping that Madam Pomphrey could check on them and heal them if needed. That was when you Professors showed up."
Professor McGonagall gave us 15 points for bravery, and led us towards the Hospital wing.