Harry comes to Hogwarts

Dumbledore looked at the list of incoming students that needed a second letter to be delivered to them. Usually these second letters went to the muggle-born students since the majority of them thought it was a joke of some kind, and therefore the second letters were delivered in a more magical fashion. Harry Potter's name was nowhere on that list. Harry Potter's name was on the list of students that needed to be scheduled to get a visit from a Hogwarts professor. After a brief moment of contemplation, Dumbledore wrote 'Rubius Hagrid' in the space slotted for visiting professor on the spreadsheet. He would have to discuss when Hagrid would be able to give Harry a visit.

"Dumbledore, do you really think Hagrid is the best choice?" How much would he be able to tell the Dursleys about how Hogwarts runs?" Ah, right, things were running so smoothly that he nearly forgot that Professor McGonagall was sitting across from him. As Deputy Headmistress, she was helping to organize the letters from the incoming students, the returning students and doing general before-term paperwork.

"My dear McGonagall," Dumbledore said, adjusting his glasses, "I doubt we will need to convince the Dursleys, but I believe Hagrid will make the best impression on young Harry." McGonagall suddenly remembered her impression of the Dursleys when she observed them ten years ago. With Mr. Dursley being such a large man, it would be better to send a bigger one to meet them - one that would and could get through to see the boy without the use of magic. Hagrid was their best choice. She didn't think much more on it except in the general 'oh, Harry Potter, boy-who-lived was old enough to start Hogwarts this year.' That was, until Hagrid came into Dumbledore's office the day he was sent to meet Harry Potter, cajoling something behind him. Naturally he attracted Dumbledore's attention. Dumbledore wasn't worried about any animal in Hagrid's care, but he did wonder why Hagrid would bring one to his office.

He was doubly surprised when a young boy walked into the doorway and stopped there. He had a bright red dog collar with a leash, which the boy held in his own hands. The child looked curiously around the room, especially attracted to anything shiny or moving.

"Come in 'Arry, Tha's it, See 'ere, this's Perfessor Dumbledore, like I've been tellin' you 'bout. We're gonna help you, us and the rest of the perfessors. Come on 'Arry." Hagrid patted his thigh and whistled softly, catching Harry's attention. Harry's head snapped toward Hagrid and he ambled forward. "Tha's it, tha's a good boy." Harry came forward then sand down to sit on the floor. "There 'Arry, now stay there so's I can talk to Dumbledore. Can you do that fer me?" Harry looked up at Hagrid, panted much like a dog, then looked away again, attention caught by some other shiny thing.

"Perfessor Dumbledore, I couldn't jus leave 'im there, I didn' know what t'do. I thought…" Hagrid was speaking uncharacteristically calmly, Dumbledore suspected his calm had to do with Harry beside him. Hagrid collected himself then said "The other one, Dudley or summat. He said when 'Arry's acting like a dog he's willing to be friendly. Not to push 'im when he's acting like a cat. To watch for the warning signs and if he speaks at'all, he'll do it in someone else's voice."

Dumbledore sat back in his seat wondering what he could do. Could Harry be allowed into Hogwarts as he was? Did Harry's behavior include any violent tendencies? The only way to test that would be to antagonize him… and the only person he had on hand that would be willing was Professor Snape.

"Hagrid," Dumbledore said finally, "We will need to speak with the rest of the professors. If Harry is willing to be in a group of strangers I shall call them up now."

Hagrid bend down to Harry, absently petting Harry's head. Hagrid explained that more people were coming and that none of them would hurt Harry. Harry seemed to be agreeable – he barked once, walked to the door then walked back to Hagrid. If Harry had a tail, it would have been wagging.

Dumbledore sent out the message. Currently the professors in the castle consisted of McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, and Trelawny, but Dumbledore neglected to send the seer an invitation. She tended to have an odd effect on people. They either loved her, or hated her, and Dumbledore thought one source of pressure was enough. Plus Snape could defend himself.

Soon enough they heard McGonagall's sensible heels on the moving stone stairs. The urgency of the summons had her unwilling to wait for the stairs to bring her up. But it was Professor Snapes's voice they heard first. "Really Headmaster, I expected the fawning over Potter, but the school year hasn't even started." His voice became clearer as he entered the office, followed by McGonagall and Sprout. "What could possibly merit," His concentration faltered when he saw Potter sitting on the floor with Hagrid petting him. It wasn't lost on him that Hagrid had a loose hold on Harry's leash. But Snape had the presence of mind to finish his sentence as strongly as he began, "This attention."

"Now Severus, my boy," Dumbledore said quietly, trying to project friendliness with his voice. "I did explain my reasons for calling you up here." And he had – each message had pretty much the same text. They needed to discuss Harry Potter as it seemed he had some psychological issues, and would Severus please antagonize the boy?

"Hello Mr. Potter," McGonagall filled in the silence. Like everyone, she ignored Harry's odd behavior. "We're looking forward to your enrollment into Hogwarts." Sprout smiled but said nothing.

Snape ignored the pleasantries, turning to Dumbledore he said "Yes you did explain Headmaster, but I fail to see the point in pandering to a boy that is acting out for a little attention." Snape curled his lip in Harry's direction, but Harry only flicked his attention curiously between the new arrivals – apparently more comfortable with being petted than greeting them. "The letter should have been more than enough to explain the situation to the boy."

"And it would have been if the stupid boy knew how to read." For all the world it sounded as if Snape had finished his tirade, but Snape hadn't moved his mouth. They all followed Hagrid's gaze to Harry, who, it seemed, had just discovered Fawkes.

"Mister Potter, you can't read?" McGonagall asked.

"Nope! He can't write either. No reading writing or arithmetic." The voice Harry used was different, and only Hagrid could place whose it was. "Dudley" he mouthed to Dumbledore. Harry crawled over to Fawkes and watched the bird intently. Hagrid let him as it was away from Snape.

Dumbledore held up a hand to stop Snape from speaking. "That's enough Professor Snape." Dumbledore recognized the cat-like behavior and decided to heed Dudley's advice. "Now we must decide what we are to do."

Their discussion lasted barely five minutes. They had gotten to the point where they decided one of them would have to try to teach Harry what he needed to know when a loud squawk from Fawkes interrupted their conversation. Hagrid had kept an eye on Harry, but deemed it OK for Harry to lie on his back batting at Fawkes' long tail feathers. Fawkes turned a beady eye on the floor below and turned around on his perch. In response Harry grinned and batted the feathers again. Fawkes squawked out a full sentence at which Harry sat up and responded. In squawks and trills. The whole room, including Fawkes was taken aback. Fawkes said something more, and Harry answered. They weren't mimicking sounds back and forth, it seemed as if they were having an actual conversation.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, gathering everyone's attention again and said "Well we should decide on who should instruct Mister Potter." He opened his mouth to say more but was interrupted by his own voice issuing from Harry's mouth.

"Who among you have a pet?"

"Erm," Hagrid said hesitantly, "I do, but I ent exactly qualified."

"Ah Mr. Potter," McGonagol said, "Perhaps I could be a second best? I am a cat animagus." Harry tilted his head to the side, indicating confusion, so McGonagol decided to show him what she meant. When she transformed fully into a cat Harry actually bristled and hissed a bit before yowling. McGonagall mewed in response and returned to her human form. "That's amazing." But she didn't continue, apparently flummoxed.

"Thank you Perfessor McGonagall." Harry responded using Hagrid's voice, complete with bashful undertones. The others waited for her to find words.

"We spoke," She explained "Mister Potter can talk to me as a cat, er, in cat. Mister Potter, can you speak with all animals?"

Harry continued to use Hagrid's voice as he said "Well, I don' rightly know Perfessor, I haven'a met all animals 'ave I?" Harry said shyly.

"But you can talk to all the animals you have met?"

"Aye"

"Amazing, Headmaster," McGonagol turned to Dumbledore, "Mister Potter's talent goes beyond simple mimicry. He can actually talk to animals, and fluently too. I'm not sure how, but even the visual cues are there, it was as if I were communicating with another cat." At this Snape mumbled something about Mrs. Norris, but was drowned out by Dumbledore.

"Mister Potter, would you be willing to study with Profesor McGonagall?" In response Harry barked. "Very well then, as soon as we set you up in a room we'll get you started." He finished with a smile, "Lemon drop?"