Back in September…

Amelia Bones, Director for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, was sitting at her desk reading the latest reports from her Aurors. Or at least she was trying to; her Aurors weren't the best at proofreading and editing their sentence structure. 'I feel like I ought to break out a red pen and make the corrections before sending it back to be fixed properly.' She shook her head and grumbled before giving up on the report and tossing it back on the desk. She rubbed her tired eyes and leaned back in her chair contemplating whether or not if there was still time to make a career change.

A knock on her door startled her out of her reveries, "Come in!" she barked. In walked Senior Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt, one of her best and most laid-back Aurors she'd ever had the privilege of working with. She sighed and held out her hand for the report.

Kingsley merely shook his head, "No report yet, boss."

Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, "Then what brings you by? It can't be because of my good looks."

Kingsley smirked at her obvious attempt at humor, "No, but I just received a floo call from a cursebreaker assigned to Saint Mungo's. He and a Healer were attending an underage patient at Hogwarts regarding a cursed scar.

Amelia's eyes widened, 'A child with a cursed scar?' "How bad was it?"

"Bad enough. The diagnostics registered it as Dark Magic and contained… what did the Healer call it?" He flipped through the documentation quickly, "Ah, yes. A 'Dark Entity.' After gaining permission from the child's Head of House, an emergency surgery was performed to excise the scar, surrounding tissue and the 'Dark entity' from the patient's forehead."

Amelia's face grew puzzled as she mentally sorted through the information. 'Scar, child at Hogwarts, located on the child's forehead?' Her puzzlement changed to one of consternation, "Shack, please tell me that this patient wasn't Harry Potter?"

Shack merely handed her the documentation. She read through it quickly and sighed again. At least now her day was going to be interesting.

Present day…

Amelia was a woman on a mission. In the intervening couple of months, she'd spoken with the Healer and Cursebreaker from Saint Mungo's and gotten a copy of their records for her report as well as any insights they might've had. The Healer had said that the patient in question remarked that whenever he was in the presence of the Defense professor, the scar would sting and cause numerous painful headaches. When Amelia tried to confirm that the patient was actually Harry Potter, the Healer grew stern and repeated that due to patient confidentiality rules, she could neither confirm nor deny the identity.

She did reach up and tug on her hair while simultaneously tap on a potted plant. Amelia's eyes narrowed then immediately widened when she caught the implied message.

Amelia had asked her secretary to contact Shacklebolt and if she could manage it, send word to the Director of the Department of Mysteries then send both to her office. After that she stated that the three of them weren't to be disturbed for anything short of all out war.

Twenty minutes later, Kingsley knocked on her door and was bid to enter. Amelia looked around and wondered when Director Croaker was going to show. Knowing the man as she did, she merely called to the open air, "Alright Croaker, enough with the theatrics! I'm a busy person and don't have time for this crap."

"Awww, Amelia! You're no fun sometimes," came the sound of a mock-whiny voice from the shadows in her office. Stepping out of those shadows was an elderly man of indeterminate age wearing a grey cloak. He impudently grinned at her and took a seat.

Amelia gestured to Kingsley, "Shack? This old coot is Director Croaker from the Department of Mysteries. He's here, I hope, to shed some light on the background for that cursed scar we were initially told about." She turned to Croaker and just gave him a pointed stare.

Croaker gazed back with a bemused smirk before throwing his hands up, "Okay, okay! I give! Don't hurt me. Sheesh. The scar in question does in fact belong to Mr. Potter. Well, it did until the Healer excised it from his head. Brilliant idea on that surgery by the way from whomever it was that suggested it."

"Do you know what the Dark entity was?" Kingsley asked. Croaker nodded.

"Yes, it was an inert fragment of the Dark Lord's soul."

Silence reigned…

"IT WAS WHAT?!" Amelia screeched. Croaker merely stayed silent, as he knew it was a rhetorical question.

"We examined the fragment after we recovered it from Saint Mungo's and can conclusively prove that it was indeed an inert piece of the soul from Lord Voldemort. It's dead now that it's no longer receiving magical sustenance from Mr. Potter.

Amelia could only mutely shake her head in shock. She then asked, "Why was it not discovered earlier?"

Croaker shrugged, "I doubt anyone took the time to examine the boy after that night. Dumbledore had snatched him away before anyone could get a look in and for the past ten years the boy has been living in the muggle world."

Kingsley spoke up, "Dumbledore has claimed he has been the boy's magical guardian this entire time, right? It makes me wonder why he's never said or done anything before. Why now and why did it take the inquiry of an eleven-year-old to get the situation resolved?"

Amelia's face grew dark, "I think it's time we head up there and ask for ourselves."

Harry had received an official looking letter from Director Bones the day after her meeting with Croaker and Shacklebolt.

15 November 1991

Dear Mr. Potter,

My name is Director Amelia Bones and I've been reviewing your case into the detection and removal of your famous cursed scar. I wished to let you know that I along with two other coworkers shall be arriving at the castle tomorrow morning to discuss this issue further.

Please secure a location for us to speak privately.

Amelia Bones, Director DMLE

"Huh," he commented quietly. Apparently not quiet enough as Susan turned and tilted her head in silent question. He held up the short message and replied that it was from her aunt in response to the scar surgery he'd had back in September.

"I have no idea where in the castle would be secure enough to hold a meeting. The headmaster has spies everywhere!" He widened his eyes comically and stage whispered that last bit which caused her to giggle and whap him on the arm lightly.

The next morning…

Amelia, Kingsley and Croaker arrived at the castle just after morning tea. Harry met them at the main entrance and led them downstairs to the entrance of the Hufflepuff House.

Curious, Amelia asked why they were heading here. Harry turned to look back, "I figured that the headmaster would have his spies and whatnot all over the place so I figured my trunk would be the best place to have a private meeting."

Amelia's eyebrows rose, "Your trunk?"

Harry nodded as he gave the password to the portrait, "Yup, I have a four room traveler's trunk I found in my vault this past summer after I got my letter and got into Gringott's." He motioned for the trio to follow him through the warren of hallways to his dorm room. Upon entering, they spotted that Justin Finch-Fletchley was the only other occupant in the room. The boy was lying on his bed reading a comic magazine.

"Hey, Justin!" Harry said as they entered. Justin just gave a lazy wave in return and didn't even look up.

Grunting in amusement, Harry opened up the lid to his trunk and started clambering down the ladder with the other three following behind. Turning to face them, he gestured over to the couch and chairs in the study area of the living room.

"Go ahead and make yourselves comfortable. I'll go fetch us some drinks." He headed into the kitchen.

Amelia glanced around and was duly impressed, "I wish I had one of these during my training days at the Academy. It would've been nice to have my own space." Kingsley quietly chuckled while Croaker smiled.

After Harry came back, bearing a tray of Butterbeer bottles and got settled, he turned to Amelia and asked what she wanted to know.

"Well, I wanted to know how you're doing post-surgery? Any problems that we should know about?"

Harry pursed his lips in thought, "No, I can't think of anything. The headaches disappeared and I'm able to see a bit better when I take my glasses off."

Croaker sat up and asked if he could examine the area where the scar used to reside. Harry didn't mind so Croaker cast some diagnostics and nodded to himself after they cleared Harry of any trace of Dark magic.

"He's clean. It's as if there was never any problems to begin with."

Harry grinned, "You should've seen the look on the Healer's face when I suggested the surgery."

Croaker returned the smile, "I can well imagine. That was a brilliant idea, by the way."

"Director Bones, since you're here I guess I can finally ask you if anyone's made any progress in my claim that Sirius Black is innocent of the charges of betraying my parents to Voldemort?"

Amelia frowned, "No, I can't say that I've heard about this. When did you file the complaint?"

Harry grunted, "Well, that's the thing. My Account Manager sent in the paperwork for the investigation back in August but because he's a Goblin, the request was shunted off to the Goblin Liaison Office and we've not heard about it further."

Amelia hummed about that then waved her hand at him to continue, "Assume that it was lost in transit and just give me the complaint."

Harry held up a finger as he rose from his chair, "I can do you one better. Let me get you a copy of my parents' Will." He hurried out of the room.

When he came back, he handed her the copy and stayed quiet while she read, occasionally sipping on his Butterbeer. When she was finished, she leant back in her chair and quietly contemplated the ceiling.

"Mr. Potter? This is a very serious complication, no pun intended. I don't know what happened during his trial, as I wasn't in charge of the case back then nor was I in a position to investigate. Allow me some time to review this and get up to speed as well as make an interview with Black, himself."

"That's assuming he's even sane at this point," Kingsley interjected.

Harry looked puzzled, "Why's that?"

"Because the Dementors of Azkaban make you relive your very worst days and suck out all happy feelings from your mind. If those worst memories are all you have left, most prisoners go insane within a matter of days."

Harry grimaced at that thought, "Then I wish you all the luck, Director Bones."

As they were getting ready to leave, Harry asked one final question, "Do either of you know whom I could get in contact with to report the presence of a large and potentially dangerous creature here in the castle?"

In the Headmaster's office…

"WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR BLOODY MIND WHEN YOU DECIDED TO HOUSE A CLASS FIVE DANGEROUS BEAST IN A SCHOOL FULL OF CHILDREN!" Amelia bellowed at the top of her lungs the moment she entered Dumbledore's office. Albus could only look back and blink stupidly; this wasn't what he expected to have happen.

"It's nice to see you too, Madam Bones. To what do we owe for the pleasure of your company," he drawled in belated amusement.

Amelia narrowed her eyes dangerously at the old man, "Don't go trying for cute, Dumbledore. Answer the damn question, why is there a Cerberus in the school?"

Albus' eyes widened a fraction of an inch and he paled a bit though with the amount of hair on his face, it was rather difficult to detect.

"I'm not sure what you mean, Amelia. There must be some mistake."

Amelia wasn't buying it, "So if I were to go up to the third floor corridor and look for myself, I won't find anything dangerous?"

"Umm…"

Amelia placed her hands on his desk and leant over menacingly, "Get rid of the animal, Dumbledore. Today; if I get a note from anyone that this hasn't happened within two days, I will be back with an entire squad of Aurors, Beastmasters and Unspeakables and we will tear this place apart." She turned and strode from the room, slamming the door behind her.

Albus could only let out a squeak and sink back into his chair.

The next weekend, Draco found Harry sitting with Hermione and a couple of other muggleborns doing…something. After being greeted by Harry, Draco nudged him and pointed at the item of interest.

"What's that?"

"We're playing Monopoly. Would you like to join us?"

"Um, sure. What's Monopoly?"

Hermione got a glint in her eye as she replied, "It's a game that I'm sure was tailor-made for crafty people like Slytherins. The objective of the game is to win as much money and properties while making deals and crushing your enemies."

Draco quirked up an interested eyebrow and glanced around at everyone, "Really? Could I sit in on the next game?" Harry nodded and the others grinned.

Four hours later and Draco was grinning madly at the amount of 'money' he'd won in the last round of Monopoly. Harry was laughing his head off at the look on the blonde boy's face as he scooped up the paper money while chanting, "Mine! Mine! All mine!"

Sighing in amusement, Hermione just patted Draco on the back and congratulated him on a well-played game. He turned to her and asked what other sort of games did they have here in 'Puffland?'

Harry snorted, "Puffland?"

"Badgerville?"

Harry just snorted again and shook his head in amused exasperation, "To answer your question, we have a ton of different games. Some are board games like the one you just played, while others are card games then there are the physical games and stage performances we put on during the weekends."

Draco was impressed, "Stage plays? Really? Neat. What sort of plays?"

Justin gestured idly, "It depends on the mood of the audience and the performers. Sometimes, we'll act out scenes from wizarding stories though lately it's been leaning towards muggle stories more. Last week, we had a performance of the story of Sleeping Beauty."

"I have no idea what story that is but I'm intrigued anyway."

Hermione motioned for Draco to follow her and led him over to where they stored the board and card games. She opened the closet and pointed out various boxes for games such as Chinese checkers, Canasta, Backgammon, Uno and many others. "We also have jigsaw puzzles ranging in skill levels from beginners to expert.

Draco had a revelation when he saw all the games, "Now I understand why Puffs never get into trouble! You have so much cool stuff that you're always kept busy."

All Puffs that heard that grinned in smug satisfaction.

It was the start of December and Harry was lazing around the castle. He'd already finished his homework but really didn't have the drive to work on the pottery. He wandered along the pathway that meandered down the middle of what was quickly becoming known as 'Artist's Row.' Vincent Crabbe was only the first to follow in Harry's artistic footsteps and get themselves a workshop built for their particular craft.

There was a workshop for metalworking, woodworking, weaving and other textile crafts, a studio for painters and those who liked to draw; there was even a space for those liked to practice the musical and performance arts.

Harry waved to the other students he was familiar with and nodded politely to those he didn't. Nearly everyone found a reason to stop by and explore the shops in hopes of learning or even buying something interesting. Those who ran the shops held impromptu weekend classes on how to make various items. For example, in the woodworking shop, those who attended the class got to make and take a small handmade storage box while those who attended Harry's class would get to make and take their own pottery.

At the December staff meeting…

Albus got the meeting started by asking about the progress of their students' instruction results. Everything was going according to the curriculum with no major surprises so he turned the conversation over to the latest addition to the Artist's Row.

"I must admit that I'm concerned with how distracting these workshops can be to the students' educations. I didn't mind when it was just Harry Potter that had a small shed set up but with the recent addition of the musicians, I'm wondering if it was too much, too soon?" He mused. Pomona raised her hand.

"Headmaster, I must disagree vehemently. In the past couple of months, I've noticed a definite upswing in the childrens' concentration and the kinds of questions they ask. If anything, I think these workshops are a blessing because it gives them something to apply their magical learning towards."

Filius leant forward, "I agree with Pomona. I've also had students of all years asking questions on how to cast charms for various things that normally wouldn't have been taught until either late in their seventh year or further into their Masteries."

The other teachers concurred with Pomona and Filius that the students were surging ahead in their respective classes and making wonderful progress.

Albus got the discussion back under control, "That's what I mean. There are first year students asking questions and learning things far faster than they should be safely doing. I feel that I must ask you to consider putting a stop to these activities and workshops."

The others stared in mute horror until the silence was broken by hysterical laughter, "You must be joking! That's got to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say!" The look on the headmaster's face was priceless though the fact that Severus voiced the observation may have had something to do with the look.

"You're just upset that no one asked you for your permission nor was it you that came up with the idea for the artist zone. You're jealous. Jealous that someone else came up with an idea that the rest of the school is rallying behind." He chuckled as he shook his head at the old man.

Albus looked perplexed at the usually dour man, "Now Severus, I don't think that's fair of you…"

Severus interrupted, "It doesn't matter though. The Row is here to stay and is not interfering with the operations of the school so you have no basis to see to it being stopped. Besides, I think if you tried, you'd have an uprising on your hands the likes of which would make a rampaging herd of trolls look like a garden party."

Minerva agreed, "He's right and you know it, Albus. Leave it be."

Harry exited the doorway leading to the kitchens with a bottle of milk in one hand while munching on a muffin with the other. He found Draco and some of the other first year Slytherins huddled around a heating vent, slightly shivering from the cold.

"Hey guys, what's up?"

Tracy snorted, "Not the temperature, that's for sure. It's freezing!"

"So why didn't you stay in your Common Room? I know it's well heated there."

Draco replied, "We wanted to get out and people watch. Unfortunately, most everyone has had the same idea you just came up with and are hiding out in their dorms."

Millie perked up, "Harry? That dragon heater of yours in the studio warms up fairly fast, right?" Harry nodded. "Could we go hang out there?"

Harry glanced at the others and shrugged, "Sure, I guess if that's what everyone wants to do?"

"Unless you have another option?" Daphne asked, her teeth quietly chattering.

"Well…you could always hang out in the Puff Common Room."

That surprised the Slytherins. They'd always heard that no one but those who were members of the House was allowed into their specific Common Room.

Harry waved at them to follow him and so he led the way downstairs and through the "secret" passageway to the toasty warm Badger Den. There were surprised faces on both the Badgers that were present as well as the five Slytherins who were greatly impressed with the décor and atmosphere of the room.

Harry motioned for them to take a seat and headed off to the kitchenette that had been installed to grab some hot drinks. When he returned, he found Hermione had joined the group and was practically grilling the green and silver clad kids about the recent homework assignment from Professor Snape.

"Hermione! Be nice. They're my guests so don't go interrogating them like prisoners."

Hermione just mock-growled at him and scrunched her nose up cutely before relenting and flopping back in her seat. Vincent laughed at the byplay.

"So that's the trick to getting her to ease off of the questions?" he asked between laughs.

Harry snorted lightly, "Nah, that only works with me cause of my status as 'The-Cute-Boy-With-The-Gorgeous-Green-Eyes."

Hermione let out an indignant squeal, "That's not true! I relented because you're right about them being guests. Argh! Boys…"

The others listening in around them just joined in on the laughter. By now, Hermione had figured out that no one in Hufflepuff would laugh at someone to be mean so she just huffed and got up, muttering something about finding her friends.

Greg Goyle piped up, "Do you think we could try out some of those games Draco was telling us about?"

Harry shrugged, "Sure, let me show you what we got."

The group decided on playing a game of Scrabble and after getting up to speed with the rules, quickly settled in. The topics of conversation ebbed and flowed as they talked about what life was like in the 'Snake Pit,' what life was like back home and what sort of interesting talents they had. Several other Puffs of various years had joined or left the conversations when Harry mentioned that he had a particular talent of speaking with snakes.

Everyone froze in silence. Tracy finally managed to speak, "You…you can?"

Harry nodded, a slight twinkle in his eye, "Yup. Why is that such a surprise?"

Daphne spotted the twinkle and knew something nefarious was in the works, "Harry? How do you know you can speak to snakes?"

Harry grinned at that question, "I'm glad you asked, Daphne." He turned to Vincent, "So, how has your day been, Vince?"

The group was silent before a groan could be heard in the back. They turned to see one of the seventh year prefects shaking his head and groaning. "You did not just say that, Potter! Merlin, that was awful!"

They all turned back to Harry who by now had a smug grin on his face that kept getting bigger. Third year Puff, Cedric Diggory scrunched his face up for a moment, "I know I'm going to regret this, but could someone explain this to me?"

The prefect pointed accusingly at Harry, "He just said he could speak to snakes then turned to Vincent there, right?" They all nodded, "Well, what's the nickname for Slytherin House members?"

The room erupted in a chorus of groans and the slapping of foreheads as understanding came over them.

"Nice one, Potter. I'll have to remember that." Daphne commented dryly.

After that on-the-spot bit of pranking, Harry asked the others what they had planned for the holidays. Most commented that they were going to be heading home to spend it with their families. Some mentioned that they would be taking part in some family Yuletide rituals.

Draco turned to Harry, "What about you? Are you going to be heading back to the muggles?"

"Dunno yet. I'm waiting on a response to my last letter to my aunt and uncle."

"Do you want to go back there?"

Harry took a deep breath and let out a long sigh, "About half and half. I would like to see them again while at the same time, it was suggested by some of the older kids to spend at least one Christmas here in the castle as it's a sight to behold and experience."

Surprising everyone, Neville appeared and plopped down next to Harry.

"Hey, Nev! How'd you get in here?"

"Through the door like everyone else does," he snarked playfully. Harry just rolled his eyes and swatted his friend on the shoulder.

"Smart arse. I meant I didn't know you knew the password."

Neville chuckled as he negligently gestured back towards the door, "I don't but one of the other Puffs was kind enough to let me in as they were leaving. So what's everyone been talking about?"

Greg leant over and filled Neville in on the happenings before he showed up including the snake joke. Neville laughed uproariously and lightly punched Harry on the arm, "Shame I missed that one." Harry merely grinned back.

Harry finally got the letter he'd been waiting for just after lunch.

Dear Harry;

Thanks for the letter, it's nice to know that you've been fitting in so well and been keeping yourself out of trouble. It's nice of you to be thinking of that caretaker, I'm still looking for possibilities for him. I have the list narrowed down from jobs like an animal shelter caretaker to grocery store clerk. It's difficult trying to find jobs for the elderly let alone someone who has lived most of their lives in the magical world. (Petunia)

As for your suggestion to stay there at the castle this year, I think it might be the best option. I just got word that Aunt Marge is going to be available after all and wanted us to visit rather than coming here. I know the two of you don't really get along so staying there is the best bet. (Vernon)

Forget what Dad said, come home! Save me from the annoying adults! We can hide out in that trunk of yours. (Dudley)

Harry, ignore Dudley. Have fun up there, we all miss you; I'm sending your presents later just as soon as I figure out how to address things to the castle. If you don't get anything from us, then at least you'll know it wasn't malicious.

Stay safe and with love,

Petunia, Vernon and Dudley

"That's nice of them." Hermione said as she suddenly appeared over his shoulder. Harry nearly leapt out of his skin and yelped.

"Sheesh, Hermione! Give a guy a heart attack." He breathed heavily trying to get his heartbeat back to normal.

She just giggled, "Sorry, I thought you heard me walking up. So you have to stay here?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah, it's not really a problem. I need to write back and let my aunt know how to address things to the castle without needing to get into the Alley. I also need to send my own to them."

Hermione cocked her head in curiosity, "How do you send things in the mail to here from the muggle world?"

"Cedric explained that there are Squibs and muggleborns who work in the post offices and know to look out for packages and letters addressed to Hogwarts then reroute them to the Diagon Alley Post Office. Apparently there's a special service that goes on between them."

She perked up at that, "That's wonderful! Now I can send stuff to my parents and they can do so back to me!" She gave him a quick hug and scampered off to her room, her bushy hair bouncing. Harry slowly regained his breath and headed off to his own room to write home.