Hello readers, welcome to my new chapter of Harry Potter and the Gift of Memories. For this chapter, McGonagall is going to join in and they will read chapter 3, where Harry enters the Leaky Cauldron. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and the Gift of Memories. That honor goes to The Engulfing Silence.
Chapter 3: The Crisis Chapter
"Great ambition," Blaise said with respect in his voice. Daphne, Terry, and Lisa T nodded in agreement.
"Okay, I"m done," Anastasia said, "Who's next?"
Before anyone could say or do anything, a bright light was in the room like before and reveal an elderly women that the young magic-users are all too familiar with.
"Mcgonagall!" All of the magic-users said in surprise and happiness. Mcgonagall turn to see the kids there and a few more.
"What's going on here?" Mcgonagall questioned with her usual critical gaze, "Why I am teleported here? Why are you kids here? Why are muggles here? How did we get here?"
Suddenly, a note appear in her hand. Mcgonagall read the note quickly and her eyebrows got higher and higher with every word she read. Eventually, she tore her gaze off the note and look at the muggles.
"Allow me to introduce myself," the transfiguration teacher said, "I am Professor Mcgonagall. Transfiguration teacher, meaning a teach kids to change any object into something else, Headmistress of Hogwart, and Head of the Gryffindor room." The Crawfts are wide eyes at that while Wei raise an eyebrow.
"That is a lot of responsibility for one person,"
"I'd manage over the years."
Eventually, Mcgonagall ask if she can read, and she open the book to read.
"Chapter 3: Small Time Crises," Mcgonagall raise an eyebrow at that. This must've been the time Harry got mob in the Leaky Cauldron.
Everyone else is worried what might happen when they heard the title.
The very next morning, Harry Potter, still sitting crossed-legged on the floor, opened his eyes with a sigh. He had been meditating all night, unable to sleep. He was too excited.
"Harry? Excited?" Tracey asked in fake shock, "Is Snape nicer to others now?" Few other magic-users snickered a little while Mcgonagall and Hermione gave her glare. Although there was a hint of a smile in the Professor's lip.
Today was the day he took his first steps on the path that his parents had walked. He would be going to get his school supplies, at a place called Diagon Alley.
"Best. Place. Ever!" Tracey said, grinning at the time she went there. All the wizards and witches, even Mcgonagall, nodded in agreement.
He had spoke at length with Aunt Petunia last night about how to get there. His Aunt, though hesitant and obviously miffed about talking about something she had no desire to even remember, answered all of his questions to the best of her ability.
"Bitch," Tracey said in anger, ignoring the looks Anastasia, Hermione, and Mcgonagall sent her.
It wasn't much, but it was enough.
In one fluid motion Harry Potter brought himself from his sitting position to a standing one. He moved over to the window. It was early, the sun just now rising, casting rays of light upon the land before him. It was too early to go to Diagon Alley. Uncle Vernon was unlikely to even be awake. A pity.
Seeing how it was Saturday, Harry had nothing to do but take a shower and get prepared. He didn't exercise on Saturdays, instead letting his body rest and recover from the arduous tasks, he put it through during the week.
"At least he rest when he needs it," Susan said, with a little relief in her voice. She sometimes worry that Harry would tire himself out.
With that thought in mind, he went into the bathroom, washed himself off, then got dressed in a pair of dark green pants, a black sleeveless shirt, a collared button up shirt the same color as his pants, and his converse shoes.
He then practiced his magic for the next hour, levitating a football around his head. To add some more difficulty to the task, he took it to changing it into something else. A flower. A book. A cup.
"No wonder he's good," Hermione grumbled, "He practices his magic ever since he was six without a wand. So unfair." She wish she knew magic before she eleven like Harry did.
Meanwhile, Mcgonagall look at the scene in shock. She knew that Harry is better in magic than anyone in his generation, but he can do wandless magic?! And two transfiguration and levitation at the same time?! Then Mcgonagall eventually smile. She should've expected that from her best student. But he keep surprising her every time.
His abilities at transformation were much more limited than his levitating abilities. It required far more concentration to change an object into something else, than it did to lift said object into air.
"And yet, he's doing both," Hannah said in amazement. The others agree with her amazement. Harry is doing what most wizards and witches dream to do.
Still, with enough effort, application of power, and proper visualization, he was quite capable of making the transformations in time. When a sufficient amount of time had past, Harry decided to go down and make breakfast.
Breakfast itself was a silent affair. No one would speak. Aunt Petunia because of the conversation yesterday, Uncle Vernon because of the fact that he would be driving his 'freak' of a nephew to get supplies for his 'freakish school' today,
Everyone glare at the image of Vernon Dursleys, even Anastasia, Daphne, Mcgonagalland Wei feel great anger at the man and is showing.
Mcgonagall frown. She would have to ask about Harry's life to the others since she miss the other two chapters. But what she hearing so far, she is beginning to regret leaving Harry with those muggles.
and Dudley because he was stuffing his face to the brim with pancakes.
"Pig," Tracey and Lisa C. muttered. Everyone agreed with that statement.
Harry ate his breakfast silently. Scrambled eggs with a side of toast and a glass of orange juice. Then when everyone was done, he grabbed the plates and made to wash them. It was during this time that conversation finally started.
Uncle Vernon looked up from his morning newspaper. His face is puce colored, agitated, but he managed to reign himself in and from refrain from saying anything stupid. It was an admirable show of restraint, for him at least.
"I wonder what he would say," Hermione commented, burrowing her eyebrows in thought. Then she shook her head. She shouldn't think about what that monster is thinking.
"So this place I need to take you…" Vernon began, trailing off as his face somehow grimace and glare at the same time.
Tracey made of face when they saw the face. "Okay, that's creepy." There were nods of agreement and looks that show there creeped out as well.
"The Leaky Cauldron," Harry supplied and Vernon grunted.
"Right, will I need to pick you up?"
"What kind of question is that?" Mcgonagall questioned, appalled that a guardian will ask a child that, "Of he suppose to? Who kind of guardian don't?" She look at the others when she heard silence and saw them looking away. Mcgonagall raise an eyebrow. What are they not telling her.
"No," Harry supplied. "I can take a cab," he lied, as always.
"Heh?" was everyone comment, even the non talkative ones said that. Anastasia look worried.
"Then how is he suppose to get home?" Anastasia ask in concern. Everyone else is thinking the same thing. Blaise, Daphne, Hermione, Lisa T., Terry, and Mcgonagall have a thoughtful look. Can Harry use apparition.
Harry only took a cab when he did not know where he needed to go. Once he saw the place he was to be visiting today, he would no longer require any kind of transportation other than his own magic.
This six mentioned above widen their eyes when they heard, already figuring out. Tracey saw the shock looks and got suspicious.
"Okay, what do you know that we don't?" Tracey questioned. The six of them look at the others and saw the questioning looks of the others.
Hermione decided to explain, "Harry can apparated. In muggles words, a form of teleportation." Everyone widen their eyes, for different reasons. The muggles because they are surprise that wizards can teleport as well and the magic-users because someone can apparate in that age.
"Good," Vernon grunted again, then went back to reading his morning news.
"Good?!" Mcgonagall exclaimed, "His nephew said that he doesn't have to drive him back and he said good?!" She turn the others to see that they aren't surprise.
Mcgonagall have a bad feeling about that, so she have to ask. "How bad was Harry childhood." No one said anything for a few minute. Finally and surprisingly, Neville spoke up.
"You'll see in the book, but it isn't good until he's six." Mcgonagall grimace. That sounds very bad.
Harry roll his eyes and finish his task. The time past, and before too long Harry found himself being driven through the streets of London by his disgruntled uncle. The man was holding onto the steering wheel tightly, his face stilled color, the leather of the steering wheel creaking as his hands.
"Is he always mad?" Susan ask the muggles. Anastasia, Lisa T., and Wei shrug. They don't know if that man is ever happy.
Harry paid very little attention to the man as he looked out the window, his mind occupied with other, more important, things.
Hogwarts. He wondered what he could learn when he finally got there. Would they be the same as his own brand of magic?
"You mean float things with our bare hands and do transform things a thought?" Tracey rhetorically asked, then shook her head sadly, "I wish I could." Most/all of the younger wizards and witches agreed with her statement.
Harry knew that witches and wizards used wands in their magic. His mother had one, his father had one, and the few people he had seen before they went into hiding had one. He had watched them use their wands many times, waving them in the air in intricate patterns, chanting interactions in Latin.
"He can remember that far?" Mcgonagall ask in awe and shock. That would explain the title, the 'Gift of Memories' but still, that is surprising. No wonder he learned he learned wandless magic at that young age, made the top scores, and same mature for his age.
He wondered if his magic was even the same as their magic. Or did the fact that he didn't need a wand make his magic different? Time would tell, he supposed.
Enhancement, healing, levitation, transformation, teleportation. Those were the five types of magic Harry was capable of. He would have to disintegration in there, but that was more of a sub branch to transformation than it's own branch of magic.
Everyone by now have there eyes wide and/or mouth dropped, even Master Wei eyes widen at what did. How talented is Harry? Not only he has eidetic memory and is super smart, but can self train himself in the art of magic? Man, that boy is talented.
Harry had experimented with these powers quite a bit, and came to the conclusion that they were useful, but limited. He had seen his mother and father do quite a bit more with their wands than he could do without one.
"Still, it still is absolutely incredible for a child to learn very advance magic like that," Mcgonagall said with pride in her voice. Hermione felt a flash of jealousy in her heart, but push it away. She had accepted Harry is better than her in magic and can deal with it. No more jealousy.
A part of it, he was sure, simply had to do with time and training. He had only started consciously using his magic when he was six, that was about five years ago.
Mcgonagall, again, look shock. He had practiced magic at the age of six without help of an adult and with no wand. Harry Potter is a boy with surprise, that she can absolutely sure about.
His parents had to have been in their thirties when they had been killed.
Everyone flinch when they had heard that and Mcgonagall eyes misted up, remembering hearing the news from Dumbledore.
They had at least two decades over him in experience. Harry was sure that with enough practice and training, he could accomplish everything they did with a wand without one. All it would take is time.
"If anyone can do it's Harry," Daphne said, with a small smile. "He's the smartest and strongest in our generation. Have strong magic abilities, the brains to use it wisely, and the patience to do it. Harry can even be stronger than Headmaster Dumbledore as he get older." There are nods of agreement at the wizard side, even Mcgonagall agreed to that. Anastasia smile. She is glad Harry made such loyal friends at his school. She just hope her Lisa won't get jealous of them.
The car slowed to a stop, and Uncle Vernon grunted, "We're here."
Harry nodded absently, unstrapped his seat belt, opened the car door, and stepped out. "Thank you, Uncle Vernon," he said politely.
"He shouldn't thank the man. He just to get of Harry," Tracey mumbled. There were nods of agreement and Minerva crinkle her eyebrow in worry. From what she is hearing, Harry life doesn't sound good.
His uncle merely grunted, and the moment Harry had closed the door he sped off.
"That was rude!" Anastasia exclaimed, getting a nod from Mcgonagall.
Harry didn't bother watching his uncle's car as it speed off, merely turned about face and looked at the place that would supposedly lead him to Diagon Alley.
It was a bar of some kind, from the looks of it. A place named he Leaky Cauldron. It was a grubbly looking place, and were it not for the fact that Aunt Petunia had given Uncle Vernon very implicit directions, Harry was sure the man would have missed it. This was due more to the fact that no one even seem to realize it was there. The people hurrying by didn't even glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other side as if they couldn't see the place at all.
"We got notice-me-not charms around it to make sure muggles end up there," Mcgonagall explained, seeing the confused looks from the muggles. They nod in understanding,
In fact, Harry was quite sure that out of all the people wandering around, he was the only one who can see it.
He wondered about this. Was there some kind of enchantment that made it invisible? A spell that made it so only who could use magic could see it? It made sense. Harry could feel the hum of magic in the air, it emitted from the Leaky Cauldron, and sent a pleasant tingle down Harry's spine. The magic of this place was a near palpable thing.
All of the wizards and witches once again felt the shock of Harry's power. He can feel magic?! What can't he do?!
With his curiosity running in the forefront of his thoughts, Harry entered the grub known as the Leaky Cauldron. He was unsure of what to expect, but when he saw what the inside look like, he was most disappointed.
The pub was dark, dank, and dirty. There was very little in the way of light, and only a few candles here and there could be seen in the room, casting shadows along the walls and floor in equal measure. The tables were all dusty, they looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months, and the few people he saw sitting around at the tables were equally unkept. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut.
The image of the Leaky Cauldron appeared in front on the TV. Anastasia balk at that, Lisa C sag in disappointment, and Wei raise an eyebrow. Do these people have no pride?
Harry couldn't help but wonder at these people. Did they have no pride in their appearance?
"No they do not," Mcgonagall said while Wei inwardly chuckle at how his apprentice thinks like him.
No one seemed to have noticed him yet. Given how low the lighting was Harry was not surprised, it would be hard for people to make the features of those just a few inches in front of them, much less someone several feet away. A part of him wished he could stay like this, anonymous.
'I wish he did too,' Mcgonagall thought in her mind, 'I wouldn't had to save him from that mob,'
He wasn't quite sure he wanted to associate with these people, men and women who looked like they had no pride in themselves. But he knew that in order to get into Diagon Alley he would need someone to open the path for him. With that thought in mind, Harry walked over to the bartender and tabbed on the bar table to get his attention.
"Excuse me, sir?" Harry started, his words grabbing the man's attention. He would have spoken further, but the moment the old man's eyes landed on him, they widened. The man nearly dropped the cup he was cleaning, his surprise that great.
"Huh?" Lisa responded, confuse at what the man surprise about. Anastasia and Wei are confuse as well. Did the man not expect a child to be in the bar?
Harry shifted uncomfortably. The man was looking at Harry like he had just seen god. It was very disturbing.
"Why?" Anastasia questioned, looking at the magic-users. "Why is the man looking at Harry like that?" Lisa C. and Wei look at the others as well.
Mcgonagall only said, "It will be on the book," because she really don't want to tell that story again.
"Good lord," said the bartender, "is this - can it be - ?"
The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent. The silence unnerved Harry. He could feel the eyes of those around him now on him and the bartender.
Wei narrow his eyes at the screen. "Something is going to happen soon. Something bad." There are many nods of agreement, especially Mcgonagall since she knows what's going to happen.
"Bless my soul," whispered the old bartender, "Harry Potter...what an hour."
Anastasia and Lisa C. eyes widen while Wei eyebrows shot up. How did that man know Harry?
A stiffening of the spine was Harry's sole indication of surprise, and in the darkened room, even someone as skilled as he was in the art of observation would have missed it were it not for his eidetic memory.
This man knew him. He knew his name. How was that possible? Harry had rarely ventured beyond his parents cabin when he was in the magical world, and never ventured into the magical world when he was living with the Dursleys. Before his parents went into hiding he had gone over to Sirius' house a couple of times, once or twice he had gone out for a fly with his father.
Mcgonagall eyes darken when Sirius name was mentioned, but no one noticed.
But he had never ventured into Diagon Alley, never been inside of the place known as the Leaky Cauldron. So how did this man know of him?
"That what I want to know," Anastasia said, speaking for her daughter and the old veteran/martial art teacher.
His question would, unfortunately, go unanswered. With a speed Harry had not expected the bartender to possess, the man had moved from behind the counter and was now directly in front of him. The man who looked like a walnut grabbed his hand in both of his, shaking it furiously, tears stainin his eyes.
The muggles would've found that comical if they weren't flabbergasted. Why is Harry being treated like a hero from that man? The wizards and witches weren't surprise, considering that they knew of Harry's tales.
Harry could feel the eyes of those around him. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out, the ones drinking sherry had stopped with the glass half raised to their lips, their drinks spilling from the glass. The man in the top hat that had been talking to the bartender was gawking at him like he was some kind of circus display, and everyone else in the room held similar looks. This entire situation had just gone from strange to highly disconcerting within seconds.
"Got that right," Lisa C. manage to say. How did all these people know Harry?
"Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back."
This seemed to be the cue everyone was waiting for. There was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Harry had scarcely any time to speak before he was mobbed by everyone else in the room.
Mcgonagall eyes flow with anger, remembering that time. Did those people hold no shame? Meanwhile, Anastasia is shock at these people behavior. She hope Harry doesn't panic and if he does, she hope the people will notice.
"Doris Crackford, Mr. Potter, I can't believe I'm meeting you at last."
They crowded around Harry, jostling him and each other so they could get close to him.
"So proud, Mr. Potter, I'm just so proud."
Many began to shake his hand, grabbing and jerking said appendage in their own grip, not even taking into consideration the fact that he might not want to.
"Always wanted to shake your hand - I'm all a flutter."
Those who could not shake his hand, simply grabbed his clothes. Their hands clawed at him, crowded around him. Greedy, rubbing hands from people he didn't know is touching him everywhere.
The adults and the kids are feeling their anger rising, especially Anastasia, Wei, Susan, Daphne, and Lisa C. Mcgonagall don't have that much anger since she already seen it before. What are these people thinking?! They're clawing at Harry like he's a doll to be fighting over, with no consideration of his feeling! These people really don't have any shame!
They were all talking to him as well. Harry could not even get a word in edgewise, though not for lack of trying. He did try to speak, many a time he opened his mouth, only to close it as the cloying of so many bodies filled him. The smell of alcohol on those who had consumed too much. The terrible, rancid stench of smoke from the witch that had been puffing on the pipe. The noxious fumes of sweat, combined with the scents of so many different people. It was impossible for Harry to speak for when each time he sucked in a breath, the digusting scent of a dozen bodies pervaded his nostrils.
With the anger still intact, some of them feel sorry for Harry since he got advance senses. They can't imagine how he feels back then.
Even if he could speak, it wouldn't have matter. The many people around him weren't even paying attention to him. So busy caught up in their own excitement that they hardly noticed the boy they were clawing at. Their voices were raised, each one trying to be heard over the others. It only caused the volume in the room to increase exponentially. No, even if Harry was capable of speech right now, he would not have been heard.
There are growls heard from Anastasia, Lisa C., Daphne, and surprisingly Susan while Wei, Neville, Terry, Hermione, Lisa T., Blaise, Hannah, Tracey, and Mcgonagall frown.
Harry felt his panic rise up inside of him. There were a few things in the world that he truly feared, at least that he knew of.
Tracey, Hannah, and Lisa C. lean up to the TV, momentarily forgetting their anger when they heard that there are a few things Harry is afraid of. They could use that to their advantage to scare him.
Of those things the one he feared the most is the unpredictable. The things he could never see coming no matter how many memories he accumulated. To see so much yet never notice when something is coming, never even think about it happening, or how it could happen. It was a terrifying thing for Harry.
Tracey, Hannah, and Lisa C. grin evilly. Now they can scare Harry for the first time. Lisa T., Hermione, Anastasia and Daphne shared a look. They agreed to keep an eye on three if they try to prank Harry.
There were several facets of Harry that he took great pride in. The first was his intelligence. Harry Potter was smart, he knew that, his peers knew that, and his teachers knew that.
"Yes we do," Lisa C., the young magic users, and the Transfiguration teacher agreed to.
He was the top student in his class, and though none of the teachers knew this, he was far ahead of every subject they taught. He was almost sure that he could graduate from Secondary school with top marks with how much he knew right now.
"No surprise there," Terry said with a snort, "He also got the top grades at our school as well. The only people who can come close to him is a few fellow Ravenclaws, Hermione, Blaise, and Daphne. Neville can also tie up in Herbology since he's a natural in plants." Some of the magic users nodded in agreement while Neville blush at the compliment Terry gave him.
Anastasia and Lisa C. smile. Look like Harry is still keeping up the grades. And it look like everyone forgot about their anger at the wizards and witches in the book. For now.
The second aspect he took great pride in was his skill martial was the best student under his master's tutelage. While there were those who were better than him, none of them had learned as quickly as he had.
Master Wei silently agreed with Harry. He really is one of his best student and maybe even equal his own skills in combat. He won't tell Harry that though. No need to give his student a big head like the others.
Each day he became just a little better, each day he was one step closer to matching the black belts of his class. While Master Wei may insult him about his form, he knew it was just the old man's way of he's still had a long way to go, and ensuring that he did not get a big head.
Wei gave a hint of a smile, that only Mcgonagall, Daphne, and Anastasia can see. At least the boy agree with him.
Thirdly, Harry gave pride in his appearance. Harry had a body that no eleven year old boy should possess. His body was defined by hard, sinuous muscles. Like a whipcord, taut, strong, and meant to be used. His muscles were the kind that only came from constant and training, not the bulky and outlandish ones people gained from going to the gym.
The young girls blush hard remembering seeing Harry shirtless body on the TV, Susan and Lisa C. the hardest. The reason for that cause they actually felt the muscles. Lisa C. because of her time falling asleep on Harry and Susan cause she hugged Harry after the day on Halloween. She didn't thought about it then, because of her worry for Harry.
Of the aspects he prided himself on, the fourth was a recent addition, gained only within the last two years. Harry prided himself on his reputation. As a student, Harry was looked up by everyone, both for his vast intelligence and his helpful demeanor.
"He's also became popular at Hogwarts as well," Susan said. "And not just because of, er, what those people are excited about." Mcgonagall gave a nod of approval for avoiding telling them about the boy who live. But it seem it's going to be revealed soon.
He enjoyed the respect and admiration his fellow students had for accomplishments and how he was always willing to lend a helping hand, even if he did not particularly like any of the people he called peers.
"I was wondering if he like the others," Lisa C said. Well, she glad that Harry consider her, his closest friend.
Out of all the aspects he prided himself on, it was the fifth that he took the most pride in. Thanks to his perfect memory, Harry's talent in observation went far beyond those of anyone's else. It only took him a single glance at something to pick up every single detail of whatever he was looking at. Due to this, and many subjects he had studied, Harry's ability to predict the way people would react to stimuli both outside and inside of the body was unprecedented. He only need a few minutes speaking with someone to have most of their personality down a T. After that it was a very simple matter for him to predict what they would do in any given situation.
"Wow," Hannah said in awe. "That's impressive. I doubt anyone at Hogwarts can do that." The others are impress as well.
"But it's an ability that's failing him right now," Daphne said, with a little bit of concern. The other started looking worried as well when they realize that Harry is still dealing with a bunch of wizards and witches surrounding him.
It was this ability which was failing him right now.
No one comment or laugh at how Daphne said the same thing as Harry, due to their worry.
These people that were mobbing him, he had never expected them to, could have never even hope to anticipate this happening. Were he not in the beginning vestiges of panic he would have probably begun asking questions. Why were these people reacting like this?
'Because they are seeing the boy-who live' Neville thought.
How did these people know him?
'Cause of Dumbledore and the Ministry,' Daphne thought.
Just what had he done to deserve such recognition?
'You defeated You-know-who,' Hermione thought. The reason none of the wizards or witches are not speaking these thoughts because they don't want to spoil it for Lisa C, Anastasia, and Wei.
In most cases it would have been clear to him that he was severely lacking in the necessary information that would allow him to come up with a logical conclusion. As things were, his mind was in such disarray from the many people mobbing and grasping at him that he couldn't even think.
That increase the worry from the others as well as the anger at the wizards.
The people around him didn't seem to notice his discomfort, or that he was starting to shake with the beginnings of a panic attack. They did not see how his breathing was starting to get labored, or how black spots were starting to form on the edge of his vision. Due to him being the sole attention of damn near everyone in the room, they did not see or hear the tables, the chairs and all the glasses and table wear in the room begin to jitter and shake.
Most of the people are even more worried for Harry and little bit for the crowd. The few immature ones hope that one of glasses will hit them in the head.
Fortunately for Harry and the people currently harassing him, someone did.
'And thank Merlin I was in time,' Mcgonagall thought while the others wonder who was it, 'If I didn't went in the Leaky Cauldron at that time, that would be a major disaster.'
Minerva Mcgonagall was sitting in the Leaky Cauldron that morning, lightly sipping at some black tea with a bit of cream while she looked over a list that sat upon her table.
"Here's Mcgonagall!" Tracey declared, seeing the professor on the screen. Some of the magic-users shook their head, amuse at Tracey antics.
The list was of those students who she was to meet today. She had done this every year since becoming the Head of House Gryffindor. Each year she before the school year started, Mcgonagall would get an early head start and head toward the Leaky Cauldron, where she would have a cup of tea before heading off to meet her potential students.
"My favorite meeting is Ms. Granger," Mcgonagall smiling at the girl who smile back. Hermione is her second favorite student out of the Gryffindor students. The first is Harry.
Currently her eyes were scanning the list, the steaming cup of black liquid slightly tanned by creamed beside it. At the top of the page was her first student, one Hermione Jean Granger. The girl was from a well off family, as far as Mcgonagall could tell, her parents were dentists and made a nice living for themselves.
Hermione smile at the mention of her family and the day she found out about magic.
The wasn't much more information than that, just the address she needed to take the Hogwarts acceptance letter to.
"Good lord, is this - can it be -?"
As soon as the words had been spoken, Mcgonagall, like everyone else, had turned towards the source. Her eyes had widened at the sight that shown before her. A young boy, he was thin, but his muggle clothing framed his form nicely. Raven locks sprang from his head in a messy birds nest. Emerald green eyes that glowed the same color as those of the killing curse.
Susan, Hannah, Neville, Terry, and Lisa T shivered. They remember Harry's eyes glowing in anger after the troll incident. Harry can be scary when he's angry. Draco experienced that first hand.
She knew that hair and those eyes, they belonged to two of her most favorite students. And she knew this young man, even if she had not seen him since he was a baby.
Everyone turn to Mcgonagall when they heard that.
"You knew Harry's parents and saw Harry when he was a baby?" Blaise ask everyone silent question. Mcgonagall nodded, but didn't say anything else about the subject.
And then she was subject to watching the young man was mobbed by a horde of well wishers. For a moment she felt disgust well up inside of her. How could these people just invade a person's personal private space like that? Was there no common decency in this world anymore?
"If there is, I haven't seen it for a long time," Mcgonagall muttered. Honestly, what were those people thinking? Or were they thinking at all at the time? Everyone else has the same thought, just worded differently.
Disgust soon turn to pity as she watched the people clawing at the boy, trying to shake his hand, trying to touch him. They were loud, impossibly so, as they offered platitudes and salutations, and Mcgonagall didn't even want to think about how the shouting horde of fans must be up close.
No one else reading this want to experience it either. Poor Harry.
Pity soon gave away to alarm. Being the only person in the room who was not only not mobbing the boy, but also on the other side of the room, Mcgonagall saw the tableware begin to shake, candles started to flicker, and the air began to grow heavy. Magic. She could almost feel the magic in the air, and it was all emanating from the boy.
"It was the most powerful accidental magic I'd ever seen," Mcgonagall said, remembering the time. "Also the first time Harry surprise me." Everyone look at her, wanting to know how many times Harry surprise her since the magic-users know it's hard to surprise Mcgonagall or see her show it anyway. But she just went back to the story.
She looked back at the boy, his face looked panicked, and Mcgonagall knew she had to act.
Casting away her surprise at seeing such a harsh display of accidental magic from one who should be too old to have cases of accidental magic anymore, Mcgonagall stood up and marched headlong into the horde of excited witches and wizards. She pushed and shoved and glared her away into the center, where she found Harry Potter, his breathing labored and his body shaking. Her anger increased. She grabbed the boy by the arm, helping him keep his balance, began making her way out of the mob.
Everyone cheered at that, even Blaise, Daphne, and Wei smile. Harry is gonna be safe.
Those who tried touching the boy again became subject of the most stern glare she could muster, which under the circumstances was about ten times worse than what she usually gave when people around her were misbehaving.
The students of hogwarts and Lisa C eyes widen and pale when they saw the picture. They also shivered as well, even Daphne felt a chill up her spine. They feel a little bad for those people. A little.
It was a look that everyone in the pub had seen before, albeit, it's terror inducing abilities magnified by a factor of ten, and no one wanted to be on the receiving end of.
"Agreed," All of the Hogwart students said. They all saw the glare Mcgonagall send students, the ones misbehaving, and they agree that they don't want to be on the receiving end of it.
They began to back off, and Mcgonagall managed to get outside to the back of the pub. There she let go of Harry, who dropped to his hands and knees, his body still shaking.
"Are you alright Mr. Potter?" she asked, her voice concerned as she looked him over. While he did not appear to have suffered any physical damage, his body was shaking and his brow was glossed over with a sheen of sweat. He looked to be on a verge of a heart attack. It was quite worrying.
That what the other saw and most wince in sympathy, except for Daphne and Wei. The two know that Harry doesn't like sympathy, which is the reason why he never told anyone about his relative.
"I…" Harry sucked in a deep breath, his teeth grited. "I'm fine." He pushed himself backwards, landing on his butt, and Mcgonagall watched as the young man forced himself into a cross-legged position. His eyes closed, his breathing began to slow, and ever so slowly, his shaking began ceased.
"Wow," The children and Anastasia said, impressed at Harry's adjusting skills. It would've taken a while for a child, muggle or magical, to calm down. But Harry isn't a normal child nor a normal wizard.
Mcgonagall found herself both worried and impressed. She had no clue what he was doing, but it seemed to be some kind of calming exercise. Perhaps a strange form of clearing your mind like used by Occlumens.
Anastasia, Lisa C, Hermione and Wei turn turn to the pure-bloods and half-bloods. The four faces are incredulous.
"You never heard of meditation?" Anastasia ask for the four muggle, plus muggleborn. The magic-users shook their head and then look at the dictionary to find out what that means.
Emerald green eyes snapped open once more, and fixed Mcgonagall with their piercing stare.
Everyone shiver when they saw the sharp eyes. Harry's eyes can be a weapon itself sometimes, especially if he's angry.
The Hogwarts Professor was surprised by how sharp his eyes were now compared to a few moments ago. Just how a boy so young could regain control of himself so quickly when only those who were talented in the mind arts should be capable of such feats was beyond her.
"A lot of meditation and self control," Wei said. Though his face is indifferent, he is proud that Harry can compose himself that quickly.
The boy stood up, dusting himself off, before straightening to his full height. He gave her a slight bow of his head in gratitude. "Thank you for that," he began. "I had not been expecting something like that to happen to me today and was caught by surprise. I appreciate your help in getting me out of there."
Mcgonagall frowned, not only due to his words, but also due to how he had reacted to all those people. Granted, getting mobbed by several dozen people was bound to make anyone freak out a little bit, but the way Harry had nearly lost control of his magic had been startling.
"So if Harry freaks out, his magic turn chaotic," Tracey summarized. She made a mental note not to try any pranks on him.
Then there were his words, there was just something about the way he spoke that seemed...off. The Hogwarts professor could not put her finger on it, but his tone of voice and the words he used made it seem like he had come into the Leaky Cauldron expecting one thing, and instead gotten another. It was most confusing.
"It is alright, Mr. Potter."
Mcgonagall shook her head of her thoughts. They wouldn't do her any good right now. Instead, she fixed the young man with a look, not a stern look, but one that somehow seemed chastising.
Everyone saw the look on the screen. The magical children agreed that it wasn't as scary as her full on glare. That was way scarier.
"Now, perhaps you can tell me just what you are doing here without the witch or wizard who was sent to escort you through Diagon Alley?"
"It was Dumbledore being an idiot," Mcgonagall muttered. The headmaster should've consider Harry muggle raise. What was going in the headmaster head that day?
That was she was most curious about. It was not just tradition that caused each Head of House to meet with and speak to the families of muggle-born's that would be going to Hogwarts each year. It was necessity. The magical world was a hidden one, kept from the prying eyes of those who did not have through the use of enchantments and spells. Those children who were born with non magical parents would know nothing of the world that could be theirs,
'It would be better if they don't know,' Daphne thought, 'Most muggle borns have horrible adult lives in the magical world because of the bigoted pureblood extremist. It would've been better if they were ignorant of it.'
and it was their duty of the teachers of Hogwarts to go to them and inform the potential witch or wizard and their parents of the world the child in question was a part of.
Blaise and Daphne mentally sighed at that. With how the purebloods acting in the wizard world, most muggle borns would be no more than servants.
It was the same for Harry Potter, though the circumstances were different. Harry was what one would call Muggle raised. Born to a wizard family, yet due to complications was forced to be raised in a non magical household. And while Mcgonagall knew that his aunt had passing knowledge of the wizarding world, the woman did not know nearly enough to help Harry start his first year had Hogwarts. It was a wonder he had even managed to find the Leaky Cauldron!
"I'm sorry," Harry started, his lips forming a frown. "But just how is it that you and everyone else seem to know my name?"
Mcgonagall blinked. Frowned. Then blinked again. Finally, her mind registered the words that passed through her ears, and she was almost tempted to rub her temples in order to stifle the coming headache.
This was not good. Not good at all.
"Good thing you were there," Lisa T said, "Harry would've walk into the magical world really confuse and even more cautious." Mcgonagall gave her version of a smile and then went back to the book.
Minerva Mcgonagall was a stern looking woman. Her face was lined with age, and her lips seemed to be in an almost constant line that denoted neither sadness nor anger, neither hate nor love, neither joy nor depression. It was almost like she was in teacher mode all the time, Harry mused.
Mcgonagall grimace. She had to keep that look, whether she was talking to an adult or a child.
Harry Potter listened with rapt attention as Professor Mcgonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of the House of Gryffindor explained why he was so famous to him. It was a most unusual experience, he had to admit. Being told by someone else that he was famed for defeating the darkest wizard of the century.
Anastasia and Lisa C mouths drop while Wei raise an eyebrow. That was he famous for? People thought he killed Voldemort?
Mcgonagall, seeing their expressions, confirm their question. "Yes, he is known as the boy-who-lived to most people. Though it is something he doesn't like from what I saw." The young magical users nodded their head in confirmation at the last statement. Harry hated for being famous for something he didn't do, that why he did quidditch.
It was also disconcerting to find out that everyone in the entire wizarding world knew of what happened that night. It seemed that in almost ten full years that he had been left on the Dursley's doorstep, those living in the world of magic had been celebrating his victory over the man known as Voldemort.
All of the wizards and witches flinch when they heard that name. That got the muggles confuse.
"Um, why are you flinching?" Lisa C said, "Is it because of that ridiculous name, Voldemort?" The wizards and witches flinch again and glare at Lisa C, making her shrink back a little.
"Don't say the name!" All of them shouted at once. Then Mcgonagall spoke, "Voldemort was one of the most deadliest wizards, people are scared of saying the name. Even the older wizards." Wei frown at that.
"It's only a name," Wei said, earning the attention of the others, "Fear of the name, only increase fear of that man. If you keep continuing to fear the name, he would use that to defeat you." Mcgonagall furrow her eyebrows, pondering those words. Most wizards/witches would stay stubborn about it, but Mcgonagall isn't an idiot.
This man had apparently started a war within magical Britain, one that had nearly destroyed the wizarding world and had even ended up leaking over into the non magical one. With his Death Eaters by his side, Voldemort had carved a bloody path through the world of magic. Many witches and wizards had been killed. No. Not killed. Killed isn't a strong enough world. Neither is murdered. Most of the victims to Death Eater attacks had suffered horrendously before being allowed the sweet embrace of death.
"That's why we fear them," Mcgonagall said. The magical childs shiver at the reminder of the story and Lisa C started shivering as well, turning pale as a sheet. Anastasia shiver a little as well, even Daphne have a major chill up her spine. Only Master Wei isn't shivering or showing fear. He been in war, so fear been lock away from his emotion.
Most of those who had been killed were muggle-born's, those who families were not magical.
Anastasia frown, not liking the title wizards gave them. It sound racist.
According to the Professor, this Lord Voldemort was an advocate of 'Pureblood rights'. He believed that those who were born into a family with magic were of a higher stock than those without it, and that those without it should either be killed, or enslaved.
Anastasia, Lisa C, and Wei frown. That sounds a lot like Adolf Hitler, with his hatred of Jews.
It reminded Harry of what he had learned about Adolph Hitler, whose hatred of those of Jewish religion was well known, as what he had done to the Jewish people at the concentration camps.
The muggles and Hermione quickly explain to the wizards about the Holocaust, making some gasp in horror while others turn a little green. Even Daphne and Blaise grimace. They all briefly wonder if the two of them are related. The two has the same hatred, the same arrogance, and the same thirst for blood.
Another thought occurred to Harry, one that caused him to almost frown. That night nearly ten years ago when his parents had been slain, he remembered it so well, and yet until this moment he knew next to nothing about it. All he had known was that a man calling himself Voldemort
Again, the wizards and witches flinch. Wei sighed. Look like they'll be seeing those magic users flinching at a ridiculous name.
had come to his house, killed his parents, and tried to kill him. Nothing else. He had no content for that night, no clue as to why it happened. All he had known was that it did. Until now, at least.
It was one of the disconcerting aspects of having eidetic memory. His mind could only recall what it remembered, and while it remembered everything that did not mean it knew everything. He could have the memories of something he had seen happen, anything, recall it down to the smallest detail, but sometimes, without the context of what happened before the incident everything he saw, and everything he remembered, could be rendered useless. This was an experience he was becoming intimately familiar with at this very moment, and he had to admit, he did not like it. Not one bit.
"It must be really hard to adjust to a place you don't know about," Lisa T said, "To stumble in the dark while you use to know everything in the past. That must've been really hard to adjust to," Then she smile, "But he did, becoming popular in Hogwarts and not just because of his name." The students of Hogwarts nodded at that.
Harry made a not to correct this oversight as soon as possible when he got into Diagon Alley.
Professor Mcgonagall stopped speaking. It had been nearly two hours since she had started, there had been a lot to tell. Throughout it all Harry had sat there at the table, back straight, hands clasped on the table, a look of interest on his face. When the stern looking woman finally stopped speaking, Harry leaned forward slightly, his eyes boring into hers as he digested her words.
"It was kinda unsettling," Mcgonagall murmured, remembering the intense stare. It was kinda like staring at a killing curse that is aim at you.
"So you're telling me that everyone in all of Britain knew what happened that night Voldemort had killed my parents and tried to do the same to me?"
The magic users flinch again. The third time it happen.
Mcgonagall grimace at his use of the man's name, but Harry had more important things to think about than the fear it invoked.
"Seriously, why are you afraid of a stupid name?" Lisa C said, incredulous, "The man himself I understand, but the name sound stupid." Some of the magic users look at her, as if she said the pigs can actually fly.
"Why is it that I was never knew of this?" he asked, looking at the woman with a frown.
"That is because you were raised in the muggle world," McGonagall explained. She had already gone into a basic description of what a muggle is, a human with non magical abilities. The term sounded somewhat derogatory to Harry,
Anastasia nodded at that, agreeing with Harry.
but he didn't really care about that at the moment.
"And why, pray tell, was I raised in the muggle world?" he asked, both genuine curiosity and slight anger could just barely be discerned in his voice. Now that he was hearing about how famous he was, he had to wonder. Why was it that he was sent to the Dursley's? If he was so famous, then why was he not brought up in the wizarding world? If he had, he would have not been so humiliated like he had when he was mobbed. Never in his life had he shown such weakness, never had he felt as ashamed as he did now.
Some of the more immature readers snicker at that. Harry's pride, wounded.
"It was Professor Dumbledore's idea," McGonagall said, and Harry watched as her nostrils flared slightly. It was clear to him that she did not approve of that action, which pleased him slightly, though he masked it well.
McGonagall nostril flare again. She still doesn't approve it and even more if her theory is correct.
Now it was onto the next question.
"And just why did...Professor Dumbledore think it a good idea to leave me in the care of a muggle family?" Granted, those people were his relatives,
"They certainly don't act like it," Lisa C muttered bitterly. Everyone who saw the first and second chapter nodded, agreeing with the young girl. That got Mcgonagall even more.
but they knew nothing of magic. Hell, they hated magic! To them magic was unnatural, something that shouldn't exist, something that defied to laws of science. To them, anything so unusual, so freakish, was to be hated, not embraced.
The magic users growl at that and McGonagall nostrils flared once again. They are as racist as the Malfoys.
"He felt that it would not be a good idea for you to grow up knowing of your fame," McGonagall explained. "He did not want you to become egotistical, which is what would have happened if you grew up in the spotlight."
Anastasia furrow her eyebrows at that. That made sense, considering some movie grew up like that, arrogant and selfish. But Dumbledore should've check up on him, at least. Harry didn't deserve the fate of being with those muggles.
Ah, now that made sense, Harry thought. Yes, he could see why Dumbledore would want him to be raised away from his fame. People who grew up in the spotlight became ugly, pig headed, they let their own innate sense of superiority go to their heads and became nothing more than arrogant fools who believed they were better than everyone else simply because they were famous.
"Kinda like Draco thinks he better than everyone simply because of his family," Hannah said. The Hogwart students nodded in agreement, they all saw how the weasel acts.
In that regard at least, Dumbledore had done right.
McGonagall raise an eyebrow in worry. What did Harry mean, in that regard?
What he had not done right in was leaving him with those people. Those magical hating fools who abused when he was younger. Those idiots who had hated him so much that for his first five years their, Harry had been subject to their abuse.
When McGonagall read that part, she froze. Those three words shock her to the core. They abuse Harry? She knew they were bad people, but she never thought they would abuse a child. Slowly, she turn to the others and said in a weak old voice, "How bad?"
Everyone turn to one another, not knowing what to say. Even Wei is hesitant to say something when he heard McGonagall say it with such sadness. Finally, Daphne spoke for all of them.
"He was force to do every chore in the household," Daphne said. "Whenever he resist or does something that isn't right to them, his uncle whips him with a leather belt. He was probably verbally abuse as well, being called Freak or Boy. They even lock him in a cupboard for those five years"
The more McGonagall heard, the more tears swelled up in the teacher's eyes. Finally, she shed those tears, silently. She should've told Dumbledore not to do it. She should've hold her ground instead of relenting to Dumbledore. She told that man isn't wasn't the right place for Harry, but now Harry is suffering because of her and Dumbledore choice. Once she regain her voice, she started reading.
Harry felt anger, white hot anger raging through him. Anger at Dumbledore, for leaving him on the doorstep of those disgusting people. Anger at the Dursley's for not being able to see past their own flickness and arrogance.
'Anger felt deserve,' Most people thought and a few colorful thoughts from Tracey. Meanwhile, Wei shook his head, and hope Harry didn't forget his teachings.
But most importantly, he felt anger at himself, because he knew he was better than this. That he was above such petty emotions and hatreds. What was done was done, the past could not be changed, and getting angry over it would not help him move towards a better future.
'Sound like something Dumbledore would say,' McGonagall thought with a smile. Look like Harry have a few things in common with Dumbledore.
Harry close his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he blew it out, he allowed his anger to go with it. When he opened his eyes again it was to see Professor McGonagall giving him an inquisitive and worried look, He smiled at her, "Thank you, Professor, for enlightening me about that which I was ignorant of. I have heard the saying ignorance is a bliss." His smiled turned amused. "After what happened today, I don't think I agree."
There were some snorts, laughter, and amuse smiles coming around the readers. Understatement of the chapter.
The stern looking Professor's lips twitched. It looked like she was trying to smile, but had at some point forgotten how.
"I did," McGonagall muttered. It was a long time since she smiled frequently.
"Considering what has happened to you, Mr. Potter, I am not sure I can blame you for that." Her somewhat smile once again became a thin line. "And now that we have that out of the way, perhaps you can tell me why you are here without a teacher?"
At this Harry shrugged. "No teacher came to my house."
"No teacher came to your house?" McGonagall parroted the question, though her tone was surprised not deadpanned like Harry's had been. "Mr. Potter, what do you mean no teacher came to your house? Though you are not muggle-born, you are muggle raised. A teacher should have come to your house with your acceptance letter so that they could explain what you are to you and help you get your school supplies at Diagon Alley."
"And yet, no teacher came to him," Daphne said dryly. That much was clear.
"I don't know what to tell you, Professor," Harry raised his hands in a helpless gesture. "I didn't get a teacher coming to me, I only got a letter that came in through the mail. Nothing more, nothing less."
McGonagall's lips seemed, impossibly enough, thin even more than they usually were. Her hand twitched up in jerky movements, coming to rest on her forehead, which she began to rub fingers against, as if trying to stem the tide of a coming migraine. "Albus...you foolish man," she muttered under her breath. It was soft, obviously Harry was not meant to hear it, but he had nonetheless.
McGonagall jaws drop in shock. His hearing is really good, better than any other wizard or witch.
There was a story there, he could tell, but decided to push on to more important things.
"Professor," he began again. McGonagall snapped out of her stress filled musing to look at him. "Do you think it would be possible to allow me to enter Diagon Alley now." When he saw her frown at him he quickly continued. "I still need to get my school supplies after all."
"Mr. Potter, I am not sure that is a good idea." Her lips pursed as she looked at him, debating the merits of whatever thoughts were on her mind. "I have already told you the reason we have a teacher go into Diagon Alley with those who are raised in a muggle household. Perhaps it would be best if...I were to accompany you."
Harry tilted his head, considering her offer. It would prove to be most beneficial to have someone along who could show him where to get his supplies and answer his questions. He had many of those, after all. Question that is.
"I sense a but coming," Tracey sung, making some of her friends roll their eyes. That was obvious for all of them, but most didn't spoke it. When I mean most, I mean Daphne spoke it.
"I think we all notice," Daphne said dryly, "You didn't need to announce it." Tracey pouted. Meany.
At the same time, Harry was a very independent person. He did not like relying on others. If there was a question he had, he would find the answer himself. If there was something to be done, he would rather do it himself. He prefer it that way, less room for error.
Susan, Anastasia, and Hannah frown at that. "That isn't good," Anastasia spoke for the three of them. "You would have to rely on other sometimes. You can handle things yourself everytime, you might mess up and when you can't do it yourself, there would be no one to help." Hannah and Susan nodded at that. As Hufflepuff, they would know.
"I do thank you for the offer," Harry's response was congenial, if a bit halting. "However, I think I would prefer heading on alone." Professor McGonagall opened her mouth to respond, perhaps to refute his words and demand to go with him.
Harry wouldn't give her the opportunity.
"And besides, you said it yourself that the reason you are here to explain to muggle-born students that they can use magic." He gestured to the list on the table. "That list, it contains the names of those you are supposed to meet with today, yes?"
McGonagall looked reluctant, but nodded. She looked like she was about to say something again, but Harry beat her to it. Smiling the whole while.
"I wouldn't want to ruin your schedule just because of a mix up with my letter. And I assure you, unlike most children my age I am quite capable of handling myself." He tilted his head, his lips twitching as he fought to keep his smile from turning into a grimace. "That… shameful display you saw earlier was a one time thing brought about by surprise." The way he said display was almost like he was swallowing a poison. "It won't happen again."
There was silence in the room. No one said anything, amaze at Harry handle it. Even Wei is impress with Harry's negotiating abilities. Finally, Blaise spoke.
"If he convince McGonagall to not go with him, I'll say that he is suited for politics." He grinned when he said it and the hogwart students nodded in agreement. McGonagall look away, knowing what will happen.
McGonagall pursed her lips, and Harry could almost see what the woman was thinking. Here he was, a student, muggle raised and without a teacher, and he was teaching into Diagon Alley to pick up his school supplies. As a teacher, one who was quite obviously stern but fair, she probably prided herself on following the rules, and while Harry was not sure that helping a muggle raised student find their way through Diagon Alley was against any rules, it probably spat in the face of tradition. Which was likely just as bad.
At the same time, it was also clear that she was in a hurry. She had just spent an two hours explaining his apparent fame in the wizarding world to him, two hours which she should have used to meet her first student and begin explaining magic to them and their parents. As things stood she was already off schedule, and likely rankled her a bit.
Everyone turn to the Headmistress, wanting to know if Harry was accurate. Her shock look answer their question automatically.
"He is, accurate," McGonagall said, still in shock, "That exactly what I thought, not in those exacts words. But it still amazing to see Harry can read body language." Harry Potter is a man full of surprises.
Time for a bit positive reinforcement.
"I assure professor, that I am quite capable," Harry gave her a confident smile, one that he had used to gain the respect of his teachers when in class. "While I admit that I was raised by muggles, my Aunt did know of my heritage, so I was not completely ignorant of what to expect. I simply had not known that I was so famous. That's all."
"Harry got one silver tongue," Lisa C said, amaze at Harry's persuasion abilities. She could use that to get out of trouble from her mum and the teachers.
McGonagall did not look convinced, but there really was nothing she could do. She grimaced, then said, "very well, Mr. Potter." There was a resignation in her voice, an acceptance that this really was the only to do things if she was to meet with all the students on her list be the end of the day. "In that case I shall open the way to Diagon Alley."
Everyone eyes turn wide and mouths dropped, except McGonagall. Harry just persuaded the second most stubborn professor to let him go alone. The first is Snape. I mean, he did made a good reason to let him be by himself, but still, shocking.
"That. Is. Amazing," Tracey said in awe. "Now, if he could convince Snape to stop acting bias then he'll be the next Dumbledore." Daphne slap Tracey upside the head for that, getting an 'Oww!' and some grumbling from the girl. The reason Daphne did that is because she knows that Harry doesn't want to be the next Dumbledore.
Harry offered the woman another grateful nod and a smile. "Thank you."
Glad that his newest crisis was averted and he now had some context to put that night ten years ago with what he knew, Harry stood up and followed Professor McGonagall out to the back, where she would open the way to Diagon Alley for him.
"Okay, I am done," McGonagall said, putting the book down on her lap. "Who will read next?"
And that's the end. Next up is Chapter 4: The Founding Five. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Review, Favorite, and Follow and I will see you later.