Chapter 15- On School Grounds
The ride on the Hogwarts Express tested the patience of everyone in Harry's compartment. No real conversation occurred despite several valiant attempts by Ginny to start conversations. Ron glared at Malfoy all the time except he was on patrol. Draco never really said much. His expressions when he looked at Hermione or saw Harry and Ginny holding hands spoke volumes for him though.
As the train pulled into Hogsmeade station, Harry joined in the last minute scramble to gather everything up and to get their robes on. Stepping off the train, Harry felt an odd sense of displacement. He never expected to be back in Hogwarts. Leaving last spring seemed to be the end of his time here. Harry was not sure if Hogwarts without Dumbledore would ever seem the same.
Yet some things seemed the same. Harry heard Hagrid calling the first years to meet him down at the far end of the train. The carriages with the thestrals waited to take the older students to the castle. Nothing had really changed here.
Hermione and the Prefects spread out down the train to help students off the train and make sure every one had their robes on.
"What is he doing here!" a voice yelled out.
Harry turned and saw a mixed group of 6th and 7th year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws advancing on Draco. Suppressing a groan, Harry turned to where Draco had exited the train after him.
Dean and Neville advanced towards Draco with their wands drawn. Several students moved to follow their lead. Draco looked like he wa preparing to go down hexing.
Dropping his wand quickly into his hand, Harry pointed at his throat and said, "Sonorous!" Turning the advancing student mob, Harry said, "Stop right there! Put your wands away!" The thundering voice shocked all of the students.
Harry ended the spell. In his normal voice, Harry called out, "First year students keep moving down to where Professor Hagrid is waiting for you. All other students, please climb into the carriages. Any questions you have will be answered my Professor McGonagall. Whoever starts casting spells now will lose house points and have to face me!"
Ron watched Harry facing off against the entire upper class of Hogwarts and admitted he was impressed. Ron smirked thinking he wasn't sure what scared the students more, losing the points or facing "The Chosen One" in a duel.
Harry turned to face Malfoy.
Draco sneered, "I could have handled myself, Potter."
"Probably," Harry acknowledged in a cold distant voice devoid of emotion. "In a fair fight, you probably could have. I promised I would protect you. I don't like it but I will keep my word. How do I know that Riddle doesn't have a student compromised in that crowd? Voluntarily or not. In a wild melee on the train platform, who would see a blade thrust or hear a deadly curse?"
Draco's jaw had dropped to hear Harry speak in a tone like that. Draco's father had tried to adopt such a tone when trying to be intimidating. Harry was not trying to intimidate or scare Draco, he was simply discussing ways the Death Eaters could kill Draco. Draco found his father's effort in the past to be a somewhat amusing affectation. Harry's unthinking use scared the magic out of him.
Hermione and Ginny joined Harry and Draco walking towards the carriages. Ginny immediately took Harry's hand. Hermione ignored Draco but eyed Harry subtly out of the corner of her eye.
The rest of the students already boarded the carriages and left for the castle. Ron stood waiting at that last carriage.
Ron smiled at Harry and said, "I think someone is already enjoying his Head Boy role. Facing down the whole student body, that was brilliant. It looked like something Dumbledore would do."
The feel of cold metal against his neck prevented Harry's reply. A firm hand held the back of Harry's neck, holding him immobilized. Harry forced himself to remain calm when he felt someone start to talk into his ear.
"I did not need to use a magic cloak to get you."
Harry froze, this time in disbelief. He knew that voice.
Suddenly released, Harry spun to find a familiar, troll-looking ugly man looking up at him.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked Mike Dursley.
"It seems Mr. Filch needed an assistant and Professor McGonagall asked me to take that job. She also wants me to teach some physical drills." Mike replied.
"You are not going to make us train like you did Harry?" asked Ron in a slightly worried voice.
Draco's over-cultured voice cut in. "I did not think this place would go down hill after Dumbledore was gone. But McGonagall is letting half-trolls in too."
Mike smiled and stepped up to Draco. Grabbing the front of his robes with one hand, Mike hoisted him a foot of the ground. "Next time pretty boy, I'll just let the car hit you."
Hermione coughed, "Mike, you really shouldn't threaten a student like that."
Mike smiled at her while still holding Draco in the air with one hand. "I was preventing him from getting hurt by these two." With a jerk of his head, he indicated Ron and Harry who both had their wands out.
"Harry! Ron! Put you wands away! Mike, would you please put the git down?" Ginny asked in a sweet voice.
Mike smiled, "Sure" and effortlessly flung Draco back ten feet.
Draco landed in a heap. Quickly rising to his feet with his wand, he yelled, "Reducto!"
The spell shot from Draco's wand and hit Mike square in the chest. To Draco's astonishment, Mike simply smiled at him.
Turning to the four friends, he said, "Take this idiot and get up to the castle. I wouldn't want to make you late. I will see you there." With a parting wave, Mike walked away.
The four friends and a very shocked Draco climbed into the carriage for the journey to the castle.
Approaching the school, Harry could see that all of the older students already entered the building. Hermione jumped out as soon as the carriage came to a stop.
"Hurry! We can not miss the sorting! What kind of examples will be if we miss the Sorting Ceremony?" The last was said over her shoulder as Hermione bolted into the castle with Ginny behind her.
Ron grinned at Harry, "I don't know, late ones?" As they started towards the castle Ron said, "We had been making good progress in corrupting her over the last couple years, but this Head Girl business seems to have changed her right back."
"If this gets any more cloying, I think I will vomit," was Draco's mumbled comment. Draco still seemed shaken by his confrontation with Mike.
Entering the Great Hall, Harry saw all of the tables were filled with the older students. The first year students had not entered yet but Professor McGonagall already sat at the head table. Harry could see Professors Slughorn, Flitwick and the others from last year sitting at the table. Three additional chairs stood empty at the table.
Ron nudged Harry and pointed to the Slytherin table. Only half of the House table was filled.
"I don't think many of the Slytherin sixth or seventh years came back," Ron noted.
"I only see a couple," Harry agreed. "I do see Nott off by himself."
Draco snorted, "Nott has been by himself since our first year."
Harry glanced at Draco, "Do you think he is a danger to you? His father is a known Death Eater."
Draco shrugged, "I don't know. He never took part in any of our discussions. I… just left him alone."
Ron looked at Draco suspiciously, "Why would you leave him alone? You attack anyone you see as beneath you and you see all of use as beneath you."
Seeing McGonagall glaring at them, Harry murmured, "We will talk about it later."
Harry led Ron to the Gryffindor table while Draco walked over to the depleted Slytherin table.
As Ron and Harry went to sit down, Ron said, "This should make it interesting at Quidditch matches."
Once they were seated Professor McGonagall stood up.
"I would like to welcome all of you back to Hogwarts. I know this will be a year of learning and growth for all of us. This will also be a year of change. Some of us may be troubled by some of the changes but we will have to make the best of it that we can."
Professor McGonagall nodded toward the main doors. Hagrid opened the door and led the first years into the Great Hall. Harry was slightly surprised at the number of new students. Although not as large as some of the past years, it was much larger then Harry would was prepared for.
Sorting Ceremony went smoothly with the fist student, Anderson, John, being placed in Hufflepuff and the final student, Xavier, Samantha being placed in Slytherin. The division seemed about normal. Harry wondered vaguely if the Sorting Hat paid attention to the number of students that each House received.
Hermione leaned across the table and asked, "Who is going to teach the Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts class?"
Ron nudged her and pointed to the head table. "I think we are about to find out."
Professor McGonagall had risen to her feet again. "This year we are left with two open staff positions. One is Transfiguration, which because of my new duties I am no longer able to fill. The second is our Defense Against the Dark Arts class, which we again need to replace."
Some snickering among the students over the always-open position broke out but most were silent over thoughts why it was open.
Professor McGonagall continued over the student's thoughts. "We are fortunate that a supremely talented and qualified witch has volunteered her services for the duration of this year. I could not have found a more suitable candidate. I believe all of our student will be familiar with her name. Please welcome Professor Miranda Goshawk."
Shocked gasps rang throughout the Hall. The author of the one series of text books used by every year would be teaching their classes! The studious among the class, like Hermione, felt great excitement and anticipation. Those students that did not feel the need for more work, like Ron, felt a great nervousness.
Harry felt neither. He was simply surprised that his neighbor for the past month never mentioned her appointment. During the last three weeks, Professor Goshawk often stopped in for tea. Harry enjoyed her conversations immensely. She made a good sounding board for Harry's research. She had an amusing personality. Miranda told a very funny story about Dumbledore wandering around a Muggle shopping mall.
Professor Goshawk walked simply into the Hall through a side door. A brief bow of her head toward the students acknowledged their surprise at her appointment. She stepped over to a chair next to Professor Flitwick and settled down.
Once she was seated, Professor McGonagall said, "We are just as lucky with our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." The door opened again and an aged Japanese wizard stepped into the Hall.
"Professor Ioshi recently retired from the Japanese Ministry of Magic where he was the head of their Aurors. We were very fortunate to lure Professor Ioshi to Hogwarts. I am sure you will all do your best to make an excellent impression on him." Her last statement sounded distinctly like an order.
Professor Ioshi bowed deeply towards Professor McGonagall and then towards the students. He then mad his way over to sit next to Professor Goshawk.
If Harry was surprised at Professor Goshawk's appointment, this one truly stunned him. Harry had learned after his birthday that Professor Ioshi was a powerful wizard, but he never expected to find him here at Hogwarts. Suddenly Harry truly looked forward to his classes with the ex-Auror.
Professor McGonagall remained standing until the welcoming applause for the new professors died down. Then she gestured to her left where Mr. Filch stood and said, "Mr. Filch has posted a new list of forbidden items outside his office door. This includes any items purchased at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Also I have appointed an assistant to Mr. Filch, Mr. Dursley. Mr. Dursley will also be the instructor for physical exercise periods that will be required for all students."
Mike stepped up next to Filch but only came up to his shoulder. Standing there Harry laughed and realized that his friend really was ugly. But Harry also knew that face and short extremely muscled body hid a sharp intellect and wit.
Most of the students reacted in a very unsure manner towards the announcement of an assistant to Filch. Most students had run-ins with Filch before and the idea of him having a helper made them distinctly nervous. The required exercise periods did not make too happy either.
Professor McGonagall spread her arms and said, "Now, as Professor Dumbledore would have said, Tuck in!"
The welcoming dinner proceeded with an air of forced festivities. The students and staff seemed determined to keep the mood light. Harry noticed many glances at both himself and Malfoy.
Harry looked over towards the Slytherin table and mentally reviewed the reduced number of students sitting there. With the exception of Malfoy and Nott, not one child of a confirmed or suspected Death Eater sat at the table. This accounted for almost every one of the troublemakers and potential threats.
Draco sat at the end of the table across from Harry. Where friends surrounded Harry, Draco sat with an empty seat on either side of him. In the time Harry watched, Draco did not talk to anyone else at his table. It appeared none of the Slytherins wanted to be seen as close to their former leader.
Looking at the Slytherins, Harry noticed a slight change in his view of them. After reading his ancestor's diary of life in the original Slytherin House, they did not seem to be the stereotypical villains they had been his previous six years in the school. Harry did not know if it was the diary or his own growing maturity but there was definitely a change.
Suddenly, Harry realized that as he was watching the Slytherins, one of them had been observing him. Harry caught the eye of Nott. Nott sat with no hostility or other expression on his face. It seemed more a weighing assessment or the way a Muggle scientist would study a new creature then a hostile intent.
After a ten-second connection, Nott gravely nodded to Harry and returned to his meal. He did not look up again. The incident left Harry feeling unsettled. Added to Malfoy's unfinished remarks earlier, Harry felt the need to find out about the mysterious Mr. Nott.
Leaning into his friends, Harry asked, "What do any of you know about Nott?"
"He is a junior Death Eater like the rest of the Slytherins. What else do we need to know?" Ron asked with a mouth full of pudding.
"Ron, don't talk with your mouth open," Hermione said to Ron. Turing to Harry, she said, "He is usually in the top of his classes. He does very well in Charms and Ancient Runes. I believe he is also the highest scoring Slythering in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Harry smiled. Leave it to Hermione to know the academic record of everyone in the school.
Seamus added, "He never joined Malfoy's click. He stays in the shadows a lot and does not say a lot. McGonagall assigned us together on a project in our fifth year. He never tried to bait me or be obnoxious. He said just enough to get the project done and that was all. Once I was going on about something and he made an observation that left me howling in laughter. He just sat blank faced and watched me. He did ask me once about you though, Harry."
"Really? About what?" Harry asked.
Seamus grinned, "He asked if you put your pant on one leg at a time or not. I thought he was barking mad and told him yes. Then he smiled slightly and said, 'Oh good. Malfoy is wrong about something else'."
The rest of the group laughed as Harry sat back to consider what his friends had told him.
Dinner soon ended and the students started making their way to their House dorms. The Prefects led the first years to their dorms and explained things to the new students.
Professor McGonagall walked over to where Harry and his friends stood watching the students file out. Hermione, in her Head Girl mode, had taken charge of making sure all of the students made it to their dorms with no mistakes. She had been handing out orders to the Prefects like a field marshal.
"Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, I will take you to your dorm and explain the details of your position with you," the professor said. Glancing at Ron and Ginny, she said, "You can fill your friends in later. Come along."
Professor McGonagall started walking out of the Great Hall without a glance back to see if Harry and Hermione were following her. With a wave to his friends, Harry followed after her with Hermione.
Seeing Draco standing near the Great Hall doors, Harry stopped and said, "McGonagall is taking us up to the Heads dorm now. Give us twenty minutes and then come up. Stay near Ron until then." Ignoring the look of distaste on the blond Slytherin's face, Harry used his ring to communicate his request to Ginny to tell Ron to look out for Draco.
Harry caught up to Hermione and Professor McGonagall just as they reached the portrait the concealed the entrance to the Heads dorm. The portrait supposedly contained a knight in armor fighting a dragon. The two tired of fighting long ago and mostly spent their time playing cards together. They looked up at the group's approach. With a quick look down the dragon set down his cards and said, "Gin."
Ignoring the pained look on the knight's face, Professor McGonagall said, "Wizard Wheezes"
Standing up, the knight bowed and said, "We are honored to guard the door for the Hogwarts Head Boy and Girl." The dragon exhaling a small stream of fire lighting the back of the knight's trousers on fire spoiled the formality of the greeting.
Harry and Hermione chuckled as the followed Professor McGonagall through the revealed opening. Harry looked around the common room and was impressed. Each of the walls decorated in the colors of each of the four Houses. Slightly more innate then the House common rooms, the room was slightly smaller but since it was intended to be the common room for only two people, it was more then enough. It was large enough for all of the Prefects to gather for a meeting if necessary.
Separate staircases in the corners opposite the entrance led up to the Heads rooms. A third door, presumably added for Draco stood between them at floor level. Walking into the room, Harry saw Dobby waving from the top of one of the staircases. Harry assumed that was his room.
Professor McGonagall said, "Mr. Potter, please be seated. We must talk and then I have other places to be."
Harry joined Hermione on one of the couches opposite the new Head Mistress. As a former Prefect, Hermione had been in the Head dorm before tonight.
Professor McGonagall started, "Ms. Granger already knows the duties of the Prefects and the Heads. I will allow her to bring you up to speed later, Mr. Potter. First, here are the passwords for my office and all four House common rooms. Please do not enter a House's common room unless your duties require it or you are invited. Next, none of the current staff except for me are former Gryffindors. This has never happened in recent memory. By Hogwarts custom, I am unable to fill that role. Professor Ioshi has agreed to fill the position for the year. I have no doubt he would have been in Gryffindor."
Harry and Hermione looked at one another in mild surprise. They had never considered that McGonagall would not be able to be their Head of House with her promotion.
"Harry, I agreed to allow you and your friends certain privileges above that normally aloud Head students or seventh years. I ask that I be informed of your activities."
At Harry's nod of agreement, she continued, "Professor Ioshi has placed two requests. One is that you will assist him in teaching his Defense Against the Dark Arts classes for the fifth, sixth and seventh year students. He will tell you the role you are to fill. Also he will set up private training sessions for you."
Harry asked a question, "Professor, how am I supposed to keep up on my class work, be Head Boy and continue what Professor Dumbledore and I started?"
Professor McGonagall smiled slightly, "I expect Ms. Granger will be able to pick up the slack for your Head Boy duties. She already shows a knack for it." Hermione blushed slightly at this.
"Further more, I expect you will not have much free time. When you can, I suggest you delegate work to those you can trust. I know you are keeping something from the Order. I can understand that. I suggest, however, you take advantage of the Order when possible. You have already built your own team from some of out junior members already, I dare say."
Harry nodded. "Okay, professor. I am going to delegate Ron to be the captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team. I may not have time to play and I certainly will not have time to plan practices and stuff."
"Very wise, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall said rising to her feet. "I think Mr. Weasley will be thrilled to stand in for you. Good evening to you." Then she walked out of the common room.
Before the portrait closed, Ron, Ginny and Draco entered the room. Like Harry, Ginny had never been in the room before and looked around with excitement. Draco stumped into the middle room and slammed the door behind him.
Ron muttered, "Good bye to that jerk."
"So Mr. Quidditch captain, when are you going to schedule tryouts?" Harry asked looking at Ron.
"What? Why are you looking at me?" Ron asked in confusion.
Hermione giggled slightly and sat next to Ron, "Harry has assigned you to be the Gryffindor Quidditch captain."
Shock and excitement ran across Ron's very open expression. "Mate, are you sure?" he asked.
Harry nodded, "I am afraid I will not have time to run the team. You may not even be able to count on me as a Seeker. I suggest you have a backup."
Ron nodded absently. It was already plain that he was mentally preparing strategies in his head. His three friends laughed at his distraction.
Ginny settled into the couch next to Harry and took his hand. Harry felt warmth fill him. Sitting here in Hogwarts with his friends felt right. A part of him told him this is where he was meant to be.
The next two hours were filled with laughter and talk as the four friends discussed their schedules and plans for school. Ron was horrified that Hermione planned on another Yule Ball.
Harry grinned at his friend and said, "Make sure you ask her first this time." This caused a round of laughter at Ron's sudden blush.
Ginny was delighted at the news Harry would be helping to teach her DADA class. Ron teased her about kissing up to the teacher until she said okay and started snogging Harry on the couch in front of her brother.
After a while, Hermione stood up and said, "We three need to go patrol and make sure everything is alright. Harry, you turn in and get some rest. From what Professor McGonagall said, you are going to need it."
The two Weasleys and Hermione left as Harry walked up to his new room. The room was slightly larger then the dorm room Harry had shared with Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville for the past six years. A slightly larger four-post bed stood in one corner with a wardrobe and a desk also. A door led out of the room into a small private bathroom. It was decorated in the Griffindor colors.
A fireplace filled one corner of the room with two plush chairs in front of it. Next to the fireplace was something Harry never expected to find here, Professor Dumbldore's Pensieve.
Harry was shocked to find the Pensieve in his room. A note was attached to it. It read,
Harry-
Professor Dumbledore wanted you to have this. It has been cleared out of all of his memories except for a few that he placed behind barriers. I believe you may be the only one able to access them.
-Professor McGonagall
Harry sat in one of the chairs and stared at the magical device. After a couple of minutes, Dobby appeared at his elbow.
"Harry Potter, I unpacked all of your things and taken your owl to her roost. Do you need anything else?" he asked in his squeaky voice.
"Would you please just sit with me? I just need a friend right now."
Dobby climbed into the other chair and sat quietly with Harry for a while. Dobby was the proudest house-elf ever at that moment. Asked to sit and keep the greatest wizard in the world company… as a friend.
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