First off, my deepest apologies for how long it has taken to update. I fell into a minor depression and pretty much let everything go. I have resumed working full-time in a completely new field and have restarted school this summer, with an actual plan in place. This has done wonders for my psyche, but not left me with a lot of free time. Fortunately, I have a break of a couple weeks between summer and fall sessions coming up, for school at least, and some remaining medical issues are being resolved faster than I thought possible now that I have a competent doctor who believes me and orders tests when I say something's wrong. So glad I finally have health insurance!! So, it will be slow going for maybe a month while I get back into the swing of things, but none of my stories will be abandoned.
Second, in answer to those who have asked when Harry will be meeting up with the CSI gang; it's not going to be until he finishes school. There is going to be a lot of character development, and a fair amount of action coming when he returns to Hogwarts, followed by a lot more character development. My stories, in fanfiction and real-life, tend to be more character driven, but I'm working on the action thing.
Thirdly, the only things related to Harry Potter and CSI that I own are a pile of books and DVDs and a few merchandising tie-ins (my favorite being a magnet of the Slytherin crest that I picked up at Borders yesterday). I have not made and will not make any money off this endeavor and will certainly be giving even more of my own money to the entities that can claim ownership within the week. Please don't sue; I need to be able to afford Book Seven!
In a preemptive response to anyone who may be a dedicated Windows user and hates Apple's with a fiery passion- while I used an Apple at home, I had intended to have Harry get a PC. I had a whole page of notes on possible alternative uses for the various Windows Wizards. Then, when I stopped in my Apple store the other day, one of the Genius Bar techs was wearing a wizard hat. I had to change it.
Finally, on to chapter three!
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After a quick lunch of fish and chips, Petunia pulled a small pad out of her purse.
"Well, we have a meeting with the admissions office at St. Thomas to get you all squared away, then we need to get you a computer."
Harry just nodded, still a bit overwhelmed by the last day and a half.
The school was located in an office building, not far from Uncle Vernon's old office.
"It would have been convenient to have a meeting yesterday, but I though that might be bit overwhelming."
"Yes, that probably would have been a bit much. Thanks Aunt Petunia."
In what seemed like no time at all, Harry was seated in a small cozy office across from a no-nonsense type woman who reminded him a great deal of Professor McGonagall.
"Good afternoon Harry, I am Mrs. Stromrae and I will be your advisor and primary contact point here at St. Thomas. During each of your classes, your professors will give you contact information but if you have any questions or concerns about your overall education here, or your future, you may come to me."
"Thank you."
"Well, in a few minutes we will go to the testing centre. You will be tested in a few basic areas; math, science, grammar, history; and then we will look at your choices for study paths while your tests are scored. Do you have any preference about your test format?"
"What do you mean," asked Harry.
"Pen and paper or computer based." Mrs. Stromrae clarified.
"Oh, pen and paper," Harry said quickly. "I've never really used a computer, but Aunt Petunia said we are going to get one this afternoon."
"Well, I would advise taking a basic computer course straightaway. We have both Windows and Apple based courses, so you can pick based on the system you end up getting. While you can do your courses by mail, or in person, it is much faster by computer. I must admit, I've never met a boy your age who hadn't used a computer."
"I've spent the last five years at a traditional school my parents picked out before they died. There is no technology there at all. I used a computer a bit before that, but…"
"Of course, it would be difficult with how quickly technology advances when you're so separate from all that for most of the year. You are continuing at your current school as well?"
"Yes, I go back on September 1st, but I will be able to come to London for testing over the holidays, and possibly weekends, if needed."
"That's fine, we have several students in similar situations, it may be best for you to do the computer based courses during the summer to get caught up, if you feel comfortable enough with the computer, of course, and then switch to the correspondence format during the year…Although, let me check something. Your Uncle said you attend Hogwart's Traditional School in Scotland, correct?"
"Yes," answered Harry, stunned that Vernon had willing mentioned Hogwart's to anyone, even if they didn't know what it was.
"Ah, here it is. We have several other students from Hogwart's right now. Colin and Dennis Creevy and Susan Bones. There is a note that they are able to use the computer-based courses during the regular school year and all of them are using Apple based systems. Perhaps there is a network in the area. Are you familiar with those students?
"Yes, the Creevy's are in the same House as I am."
"Lovely, it will be good for you to have a student support system all year. Their contact information is in the current student directory. The next one will be published next month; your enrollment packet includes a form to be included in it. Now, on to the testing center."
The testing took most of the afternoon and Harry was exhausted by the time it was over. He found himself back in Mrs. Stromrae's office where a snack was waiting for him.
"I have the results of the first assessment you took, the one to discover your interests. The rest shouldn't take long to score," said Mrs. Stromrae. "Let's look over your results and see what course of study you would like to follow."
By the time the remaining results were delivered, Harry and his advisor had decided to enroll him in a science track.
"And after you have finished the basic courses, you can chose to focus on chemistry or biology, or merge the two in an interdisciplinary program."
Mrs. Stromrae paused to look over his results. "Hmm, it looks like with the exception of grammar and astronomy, your results show little advancement past a primary school level. This "traditional school" hasn't done you any favors in that regard."
"Well, it is a highly specialized school. I don't think they really except the students to spend much time outside their community after graduation.'
"Yes, I believe that's what the other students from Hogwart's indicated as well. We at St. Thomas' are not here to judge the education our students have received elsewhere, we are here to make sure they also receive an education that is on par with the standards of majority of society. I think that your first round of courses should focus on the basics; it will be rather intense. In fact, you may benefit from taking these first classes in person. They will still be self-paced, but you will have immediate access to a professor."
"That sounds good. How long does the first round usually take?"
"Typically students move through them within four to five weeks. They meet daily from 9am to 4pm with an hour for lunch. As they are self-paced, you can work on the classes in whichever order you like and self-schedule your breaks. Some days you may want math first thing, others history. It's up to you."
When Harry met Petunia in the lobby, he was laden with books, course packets and forms.
"Well, it looks like everything went alright," Aunt Petunia said, eyeing the large stack.
"Yes, I begin basic courses here at the school on Monday, they will take about a month. Then I can take the next set here or over the computer."
"Speaking of computers, did your advisor have any suggestions about what to get?"
"She said a few other Hogwart's students attend here and they all use Apple's."
"On to the Apple store it is. I think we should drop your things off at the flat, first."
Petunia hailed a cab and directed the driver to stop by the flat before continuing to the Apple store.
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As soon as the pair walked into the store, Petunia began browsing a display of notebooks. Harry started to follow her, but paused. He felt a niggling feeling at the back of his head that he associated with magic. A feeling he had experienced whenever he was in Diagon Alley or during the first few days back at Hogwart's. He followed the feeling to the back of the store where he saw an archway leading to a second showroom.
"Harry, where do you think you are going?" Petunia grabbed his arm just before he went in. "That's labeled 'employee's only."
A store employee walked up to them. He was wearing the same uniform as the rest, with the exception of a small pin that looked like two crossed sticks.
"Good evening, madam. My name is Brent, is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes," answered Petunia. "We are looking for a computer for my nephew." She nudged Harry who was still staring at the archway.
"I don't think I'd be too far off if I asked if your nephew is looking for a system that can operate under special circumstances. One might even say a computer that runs like magic."
He chuckled at the look Petunia and Harry both gave him.
"Right this way Madam, Mr. Potter."
They followed Brent through the archway Harry had been so drawn to and Petunia gasped when she saw the second showroom.
"What on earth?"
"This is our special line of computers, all designed to run on the standard battery or on magical energy. It is patented technology that works with the magic rather than against it. The American Ministry uses it and recently introduced it in all their magic schools. I don't expect you've seen anything like it here in England. The English Ministry is still quite separatist."
"I thought Muggle technology couldn't work around magic?" asked Harry.
"Strictly speaking, that is true. But this isn't Muggle technology. It may look and run the same, but it was built from the ground up to run in magical environments. When the computer senses that it is in a magic heavy environment, it begins to switch over to a special magi-mode that works seamlessly. You won't even notice a difference. It can also access the Internet from anywhere, using magic as a network. We have the WizBook, WizBook Pro and the iWiz. Are you looking for a portable or desktop system?"
After about an hour of looking at the different computers and reviewing the technical requirements the school had given him, Harry and Petunia left the store with a new WizBook, a printer/scanner, and numerous software titles and an ipod that ran on the same magi-mode as the computer. Harry had also signed up for several training courses over the next few weekends and Petunia had insisted that he get a digital camera. Brent had explained that when used around wizards, they would see a traditional camera and that the software it came with would allow the pictures to move just like the magic developing potion.
As Harry helped Petunia tidy up after dinner, he turned to her and paused, before lunging forward and giving her a quick hug. He whispered, "Thank you, Aunt Petunia," before dashing off to his room.