I'm a bit rushed for time right now since I should be preparing for a party. But I love my readers too much to prolong your wait for the next chapter. So here's chapter 13. Enjoy.

Anyway, answers to reviews will be on the next chapter. More reviews are welcome.

~~Rachel, the Sorceress of Stories~~

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any characters or abilities similar to other literary works.

Harry Potter: Shadow Sorcerer

Chapter 13: Sorcerer Apprentice

Harry found the presence of Hufflepuffs to be very comforting. It seems that the House of Badgers had an instinctive knowledge to make sure that anyone was welcome in their fold. It seems this was the reason why many called Hufflepuff the house of the dregs…everyone was accepted.

Heck, the Puffs would even likely accept a first year practicing Dark Arts into their dorm even if they would be a bit weary of him or her.

Harry saw that the Puffs weren't giving him stares of awe or disbelief, though some raised an eyebrow or two. Harry assumed that some of the older Puffs would be questioning as to WHY he was moving to their table since the others were more 'special' for the Boy-Who-Lived. Harry hoped that wasn't the case.

In fact, the closer he got to was of admiration though he was a bit confused as to what caused that reaction. He decided right there and then to spend a lot of time with some Hufflepuffs and make some friends among them, especially the older ones.

When Harry neared the Hufflepuff table, a handsome teen beckoned for him to sit beside him since it was the only place available. Of course, it was obvious to Harry that the teen was someone that many of the Badgers respected since those beside him scooted away to make room for the new addition when they saw the invite.

Harry assumed that the teen was the 'official' leader of the Puffs.

When Harry sat down, the teen introduced himself with a smile before offering his hand for Harry to shake.

"Welcome to the Hufflepuff Table, Mr. Potter. My name is Cedric Diggory."

Harry smiled and took the offered hand before giving it a shake. "I guess everyone already knows who I am so a pleasure, Mr. Diggory."

"Please, call me Cedric." said the teen with a smile. "I feel like my dad when someone calls me that."

"Then please call me Harry. It's only polite." replied the young Potter Lord as he turned to observe the rest of the sorting which was down to the last two. Harry saw that the redhead he met on the train, Ronald Weasley, got sorted into Gryffindor and one Blaise Zabini ended in Slytherin. The Sorting Feast followed with the Headmaster saying a few choice words.

Harry found it funny that an ancient and knowledgeable Headmaster would consider 'Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!' as an acceptable method to start up a grand feast.

Harry mentally shrugged since the Headmaster's quirks were his own.

The young sorcerer could only say that the Hogwarts Sorting Feast was a sight to behold.

Enormous tables were filled to the brim with known and unknown delicacies that would surely make one's mouth water just looking at it. Harry, who was already getting hungry despite the snacks on the train, eyed the different food in front of him with interest, particularly a plate of well-roasted chicken legs.

As he ate his fill, Harry couldn't help but observe the students and the professors currently enjoying the bounties in the Great Hall.

The Headmaster was as jolly as ever, holding a merry conversation with Professor McGonagall as they sampled the food in front of them. Harry didn't know the rest of the faculty so he asked Cedric to give him the run down since he was two years his senior.

The first faculty Cedric pointed out was Professor Pomona Sprout, Herbology Professor and the Hufflepuff Head of House. She was somewhat on the short side but one cannot deny the woman's motherly look though Harry could see the hidden steel behind it. Cedric told him that she was an excellent teacher and a mother to the Puffs but it was not a good idea to cross due to her temper, similar to that of a badger.

Harry found the last comment to be amusing, endearing, yet scary at the same time.

The next introduced was Professor Quirinus Quirrell. Cedric told Harry that Professor Quirrell changed after meeting a vampire during his trip in the Albanian Forest; whatever happened during the meeting left Professor Quirrell stuttering and afraid of his own shadow. Harry couldn't help but feel something odd about the man though he dismissed it for later.

The next name caught Harry's attention - Professor Severus Snape, Potions Professor and Slytherin Head of House. Harry couldn't help but ask Cedric why he was grimacing when he mentioned the man's name.

The Hufflepuff informed Harry that Professor Snape had a nasty reputation, which only correlated with what the young Potter knew of the man from his interviews with Tom the Barman in Diagon Alley. He was known as the Bat of the Dungeons due to his dark outfit and persona. The Puff told him that Snape was a world-renowned Potions Master but wasn't a very good teacher.

Also, Snape shows blatant favoritism to Slytherins, an uncanny hate towards Gryffindors, an indifference towards Hufflepuffs, and an annoyance with Ravenclaws.

Harry eyed the Potions Professor and couldn't help but conclude that this was a complicated man. His observation revealed the man to be guarded in both mind and heart, showing off a snarky exterior that pushed everyone away as if he was afraid of building a relationship, and a bubbling cauldron of hate towards something Harry didn't know.

Harry noted that approaching Professor Snape to give him the letter from his mom might prove to be a challenge if nothing else.

Cedric had fun describing the always-cheerful Professor Filius Flitwick, Master of Charms and Dueling, and Head of Ravenclaw House. Cedric informed Harry that Flitwick's Charms class had always been the favorite of the students followed closely by Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration.

The other teachers were Professor Aurora Sinistra for Astronomy, Professor Septima Vector for Arithmancy, Professor Bathsheda Babbling for Ancient Runes, Professor Silvanus Kettleburn for Care of Magical Creatures, Professor Charity Burbage as Muggle Studies teacher, and Madam Rolanda Hooch as the Flying Instructor. Two faculties who weren't present for the feast was the Ghost Professor Cuthbert Binns of History of Magic and Sybill Trelawney of Divination Class.

Harry thanked Cedric for introducing the faculty before taking another chicken leg from the plate since it was as delicious as those prepared by Flippy.

One advantage to being a sorcerer was having a form of sixth sense. It can be considered Divination by some due to its inexact prediction but it was more of a gut feeling in his case and triggered when something bad was about to happen or someone was planning to do something…nefarious towards his person.

For Harry, it was a red flag signalling that he needed to be extra careful.

Harry's gut feeling kicked in when the Headmaster gave the start-of-term announcement, specifically when the aged wizard informed everyone in the Great Hall that the third floor corridor was out of bounds and those who found themselves there might suffer a 'painful death'.

Not something that should be said in a room full of curious students - students who had plenty of free time to get into trouble if nothing else.

Harry James Potter knew that something was up but he couldn't put a finger on it so he decided to observe the school and act when needed.

It was after the feast that he was approached by Professor McGonagall to take him to his designated room since he wouldn't be bunking with any of the houses. This suited Harry just fine since having his own private haven guaranteed that he got the peace and quiet he needed to study. From what Headmaster Dumbledore informed the whole school regarding Apprentices, Harry felt that he would be doing a lot of studying if he wanted to keep his current liberties in Hogwarts.

Professor McGonagall led Harry to one of the towers in the west wing of the castle, which was a five minute walk to the Transfiguration classroom - something that the young Lord Potter found convenient. They reached a large portrait of a middle-aged witch with the bearings of an aristocrat.

"Mr. Potter, this is the portrait of Morgana La Fey. She is guarding the only entrance to the Apprentice Dorms. It hasn't been used for 300 years but the elves made sure to clean it up when they got word that there was a new Apprentice in the school. All you need to do is to set a password so the portrait will only open for you." explained McGonagall.

But before Harry could say anything or ask a question, the portrait spoke.

"Finally! We have a new Apprentice learning magic here at Hogwarts. What is your name, child?" asked the portrait of Morgana La Fey.

"Lord Harry James Potter, Lord of Houses Potter, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Aldur." replied Harry since he decided to be formal with a well-known history figure even if it's just her portrait.

Morgana nodded in approval with a bit of pride though Harry didn't know why.

"I approve of you. Please speak the new password and I will ensure that your new home will never be disturbed."

"The new password is 'Ulgo', my lady." replied Harry. Deciding to use name of one of the key locations during Belgarath's time. It was a safe password to use since no one knows about it. However, Harry narrowed his eyes when Morgana gave a subtle twitch upon hearing the password he used.

"Done! To enter your new home, just speak the password. Be warned, the Apprentice Dorm holds certain items that should not be exposed to the rest of the students so make sure that you don't give the password to those who are unworthy." warned Morgana before swinging outward, revealing a passageway leading to the dorms.

"Mr. Potter, I suggest that you go to your dorm and explore, then try to settle down and get some sleep since there will be a meeting between you and the rest of the faculty tomorrow after breakfast. Classes will start on September 3, Wednesday. This will give the students time to adjust. Good night." said Professor McGonagall before leaving Harry alone to enter his new home.

Harry James Potter could safely say that he liked his new home.

The Apprentice Dorm was quite large, considering that an apprentice would surely need an appropriate setting in order to properly study or enact projects given to him by the professors.

Harry entered the passageway behind Morgana's portrait to reveal a large room. It was tastefully decorated with antique furniture and the earthen colors of the furnishings and fixtures conforming to the stone walls of Hogwarts made for a comfortable ambiance.

The room that Harry was in now could be considered a living room slash receiving room, like the foyer of Potter Manor. A large couch and two small ones adorned the middle of the room, surrounding an antique table made of a light-brown wood. Aside from the stairwell that Harry was curious about, there were three doors leading to who-knows-where.

Deciding to be adventurous, Harry opened the first door and found it to be his bedroom. It wasn't as big as his suite in Potter Manor but it was nothing to scoff at. A four-poster king-sized bed adorned the chamber with comfortable fluffy pillows and a thick comforter.

There was one other door in the room that lead to the bath. It was a standard bathroom but he was quite curious why the tub - who looked like a mini-swimming pool - had three taps instead of the usual one. He decided to ask Morgana or one of the house elves about it later.

He walked over to the only window and saw that it overlooked the Black Lake. The bad weather earlier had run its course and the cloudless sky revealed a beautiful moon mirrored on the surface of the water. It was a breathtaking scene and Harry couldn't wait to check the same view in the morning.

Harry had some difficulty turning away from the picturesque view and continued his tour of the bedroom. Harry noticed that it was devoid of any furniture except for the bed and a large wardrobe. The young Lord made a mental note to send Flippy to go to Potter Manor and pick up the couches and table from Belgarath's shop just in case he had the urge to eat breakfast in the room and not in the Great Hall with the rest of the students.

Harry left the bedroom to continue the exploration of the Apprentice Dorm. The next room he entered was the library. The size was as big as his study in Potter Manor but there were bookshelves here where his study did not though he could remedy that if he wanted to. Harry walked over to the shelves to peruse the books it contained. There were books on all core subjects, some books about magical theories, an encyclopedia of potion ingredients, and the likes. He also noticed some empty shelves in one corner that would be the perfect home for his personal book collection.

However, what caught his attention was a glass door that led to a sizable balcony with an amazing view of the Forbidden Forest. Since it was lacking in tables and chairs, he decided to include this in his list for Flippy later since he had plenty of unused furniture back in the Potter Family Vault. He might want to ask the elf to buy an umbrella since the balcony didn't have any form of shade to protect him from the weather.

The last door led to the laboratory, which Harry noticed, was a perfect place to brew potions. The counter was large enough to accommodate at least ten cauldrons brewing simultaneously and the sink was large enough to wash the equipment with ease. A cupboard with an expanded space was perfect to store potion ingredients but it lacked the necessary charms to ensure that the ingredients were fresh and ready for use. Harry noted again to do that later since he knew the spells already.

His next stop was to discover the upper levels via the stairwell. The second floor was a large open room with only a desk and a table. Harry noticed that this might be an open floor plan for an apprentice to customize for their own use. He decided to use this floor as a Casting Chamber or a Training Room for practicing spells or any forms of magical experiments. He made another note to send Flippy to Diagon Alley to purchase some training dummies, preferably those issued for Auror's.

Harry noted that he might need to send a letter to Madam Bones just in case he wasn't allowed to acquire one from the Alley. He was sure that the Director of the DMLE could accommodate his request if need be.

Finished with his exploration of the second floor, Harry went back down to the living room and flopped down on the couch. He called for Flippy and explained to him the different rooms in the Apprentice Dorm before telling the elf to unpack his trunk. He conjured a piece of paper and made a list of things that Flippy needed to do in Gringotts and Diagon Alley tomorrow. If he was going to use this place for 9 months then he better make sure that the place had everything to cater to his wants and needs.

After making the list, he placed it on the table and left for the bedroom to help Flippy sort through his things before calling it a night.

While Harry was busy preparing the Apprentice Dorm for his use, some of the faculty of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were having an impromptu meeting in the Headmaster's Office.

The reason for the meeting was one Harry James Potter, the Apprentice of Hogwarts.

"Before we start, I would like to thank everyone for answering my summons for a meeting despite the late hour." said Dumbledore, smiling at four in front of him. In attendance were the Heads of the four houses of Hogwarts to discuss the new addition to the school.

"No problem, Albus." squeaked Professor Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw House. "I take it that the purpose of this meeting is about the new Apprentice of Hogwarts?"

Albus nodded.

"You're correct, Filius. It had been quite a while since Hogwarts had its own Apprentice though I am quite surprised that our young Mr. Potter became one."

"Trust a Potter to always flaunt his superiority to everyone." growled Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin House.

Minerva, Head of Gryffindor House, gave her co-professor a glare.

"Only you would be saying that, Severus. After all, you spent the whole summer ranting and raving about how Mr. Potter is a pompous and arrogant brat that would break all of Hogwarts' rules and make your life a living hell."

Severus returned the glare.

"Don't turn your ire on me, Minerva. I know that your irate remark is due to the Golden Boy not being sorted into your house."

The Transfiguration Professor was about to lash out at the Head of Snakes when Professor Sprout decided to reign her colleagues in.

"Stop that you two. Severus, why don't you shut your mouth and stop ranting about Mr. Potter for a change. You haven't even met the boy and you're already assuming he would be like his father."

"Well, he IS the son of James Potter after all." retorted Snape with a disdainful sniff.

Pomona fired her next salvo towards the grumpy professor.

"A father who hadn't been present since the boy was 15 months old and a boy that grew up without parents." growled Sprout with acid in her voice that scared the snarky Potions Master. "If you don't stop badmouthing the boy then I'll make sure that you don't have a mouth afterwards."

"Why are you defending the brat Pomona. It's not like the boy is part of your House or maybe you're doing so because he dined at the Hufflepuff table." Snape said with a sneer.

Pomona returned the sneer with one of her own, and those who saw it was shocked since the motherly Hufflepuff never showed one before.

"Neither, Severus. He is a student of this school and as such it is up to us to protect him, even from his own teacher. If you even DARE to make his life hell here in Hogwarts then I'll make sure that I return the sentiments ten-fold, colleague be damned." whispered Sprout in a voice that sent shivers down everyone's spine.

Everyone in Hogwarts knew that Pomona Sprout was caring to all students, but only a few knew that she had an instinct to defend students with everything she had, much like a mother Badger protecting her young. Hufflepuff indeed.

"Alright everyone. Drop it." said Albus with a note of steel in his voice. He didn't like it when his colleagues fought against each other. They were supposed to be a united force in the education and defense of the students. They were professors for crying out loud. "We're here to discuss young Mr. Potter's apprenticeship not fight amongst ourselves."

Filius, however, had something else in mind to add to the discussion.

"Face it, Albus, Pomona was in the right this time and I think it would be best for you to open your eyes on the situation instead of disregarding it as you always do in the past especially when it concerns Severus." said Flitwick with a frown on his face as he eyed the furious Potions Professor.

"What do you mean, Filius?" asked Albus. He really didn't know what the half-goblin Charms Master was talking about.

"I think you do Albus. You of all people should know that Severus had a deep grudge against anyone with the name Potter. After all, Severus had been ranting about it for the past two years now and you're always there to hear what he planned to do with the boy when he comes to school. From the looks of it, Albus, you are trying to act like a blind man in this regard and leave one of your professors to go through with his…plans." Flitwick said ominously.

"I trust Severus to act professionally towards the students, Filius." chided Albus. He really didn't know where the animosity was coming from.

"Really, Albus? You are the Headmaster of an institution and as such, you are responsible for everyone inside Hogwarts. If one of the professors express a desire to manhandle one student in front of everyone to hear, then you should do something about it and not disregard it." explained Filius.

"Why are you bringing this out now, Filius? You usually just ignore Severus or let me take care of things in the past." questioned the aged Headmaster. He didn't know where this serious Flitwick came from nor does he like it.

"I am a Half-Goblin, Headmaster. Because of this fact, my race is attuned to magic as a whole. I was fortunate to have some of my race's abilities when it comes to sensing magic and what I sensed in Mr. Potter will undoubtedly cause a lot of trouble if provoked." said Filius.

"What did you sense from the brat?" asked an irate Snape. He really didn't like it when people gang up on him. It brought up painful memories from his past.

"It's quite simple, Severus. If you ever make the mistake of treating Mr. Potter as you have said for the past two years then it might be a good idea to let Albus here find a replacement for your position."

This shocked everyone, especially Severus and Dumbledore.

"I'm not saying that Mr. Potter is evil or dark, the opposite actually. But he is in control of his magic and something else entirely. I can see from his stance last night that he is quite independent and in total control of himself. If Severus here act out of place just once then we can be sure that our young Potter will retaliate in a way that would be memorable to all of us. Mark my words on that."

Everyone was silenced by Filiius' prediction. Someone in the room decided to speak out and enlighten everyone of the situation.

"The Charm's professor is correct, Headmaster." said the hat who was silently listening to the conversation from his perch on top of the cabinet. "The things I have seen inside the boy's head would make it wise for you to listen to his observation or suffer the consequence afterwards."

"What do you mean, hat?" asked Professor McGonagall. This was the first time the Sorting Hat voiced out its opinions during a meeting.

Heck, this was the first time it talked outside the Sorting Ceremony.

"Just that, professor. Harry James Potter is not someone to be trifled with. I had difficulties placing him in the right house since his personality is so diverse that the Founders would be leveling the school just to get the chance to teach him. This was one of the reasons why I placed him as an Apprentice. There are other reasons but I will not reveal them."

"Could you explain this further, hat?" asked Dumbledore, very curious now about the young Potter. His short stint with the young Lord had been quite painful for him since one of his many secrets came out into the light. The stories from the Daily Prophet unnerved him since an eleven year old boy should NOT be incapable of displaying such power, much more power than a student he remembered a few decades back which brought a tingle down his spine.

"I cannot, Headmaster." said the Sorting Hat. "The enchantments placed upon me will not allow me to divulge any sensitive information inside a student's head. It is a secret that is not mine to tell."

"Then can you tell us something from your observations without divulging these 'secrets'?" asked Filius who was quite intrigued with the new Apprentice in school. He immediately saw the loophole in the hat's enchantment. Being the Head of the House of the Intelligent was just not a fancy title after all.

The hat became quiet for a few seconds as if it was debating something before speaking once again.

"Harry James Potter can be considered an enigma to those who didn't have the fortune of delving into his mind. He is powerful, yes, very powerful especially for one so young. The lack of knowledge and lack of physical and magical growth are the only barrier to his strength and if he were ever to study properly and grow at his own pace with the proper tutelage then we will see a grand improvement in the Wizarding World as a whole."

"But I digress, considering the animosity of Professor Snape, it would be best if I tell you what I see in Potter's personality without revealing his secrets."

"To start, Harry James Potter is an independent young man. Due to his upbringing, or the lack thereof, he grew up with only himself to rely on. Authority figures are nothing to him but he gives respect where respect is due. He follows the law like a rule for he believes that these laws are there for a reason and must be followed at all times. He has qualities that the Founders prize and then some. He is brave, but not foolhardy. He is intelligent but knows the difference between knowledge and wisdom. He is cunning and ambitious, but not to the extent of putting others down or crossing the line. And most importantly, he is loyal to people he trusts, which I might add, is not to be taken for granted."

"That is all I'm going to tell. It is up to YOU professors to decide what you plan to do with the boy. But as a warning, heed the words of Professor Flitwick since he simplified the entirety that is Harry James Potter." finished the hat before quieting down to its dormant state.

Everyone in the room processed the revelation but it was only Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore who were troubled by it.

September 2, 1991 (Tuesday)

Harry was enjoying a quiet walk to the Great Hall for a bite of breakfast before his scheduled meeting with the Hogwarts faculty.

After his exploration of the Apprentice Dorms, he helped Flippy sort through his stuff. His personal books going into the library-slash-study, potion ingredients sorted in the laboratory, and his wardrobe properly folder and organized in his wardrobe. Hedwig arrived in a burst of flame in the middle of their chore since she was out hunting and exploring the famed Hogwarts' ground, though she did cuff Harry on the head when she discovered that her master left her favorite perch back at the Manor – which was quickly remedied by a quick pop from Flippy and a generous offering of sweet treats from the young Lord.

Since it was still too early in the morning, Harry's journey to the Great Hall was relatively undisturbed though a few early Lions and Ravens were giving him looks which he steadfastly ignored. Harry arrived at a sparsely populated Great Hall with his eyes immediately homing in on the Slytherin Table. He praised his luck since Tracy and Daphne was there eating breakfast while chatting with each other. Harry joined them immediately and was welcomed by the duo.

Of course, Harry's presence at the Slytherin table caused quite a few eyebrows to be raised, especially among the older Lions, though Harry was oblivious to them.

Severus Snape was in a pensive mood.

His emotions were in turmoil and it was mainly due to the arrival of Harry James Potter here in Hogwarts and the hat's revelation during last night's meeting.

At first, Severus was conditioning himself to hate the boy due to his connection with James Potter. He even went to the point of practicing a 'welcoming speech' to the first year classes that would surely target the boy aiming for humiliation. However, the hat's warning forced his thinking to change.

The sight of the boy during the Sorting Feast was a surprise for the Potion Master. He expected for Harry James Potter to look exactly like his father, well except for the emerald eyes which he got from his mother Lily Evans; when he saw the boy, he didn't see any of his assumptions on the lad's appearance.

For starters, the boy wasn't a carbon copy of James Potter. Sure, he had the facial structure and the hair color of a Potter but that was where the similarities ended.

Gone was the messy hair to be replaced by long, silky black strands brushed back to reveal the lightning bolt scar on his forehead for everyone to see. The lack of glasses made sure to accentuate the emerald eyes that made his heart ache because of its similarities to his best friend Lily.

Despite the aristocratic bearings the boy displayed in his walk, there was nothing there that screamed arrogance. In fact, the soft smile on his face was the total opposite. The boy had a welcoming aura that ensured that people gravitate to him, unlike his own that repelled.

This was not the boy he expected and all his carefully laid plans crumbled.

What's worse? The boy was a bloody Apprentice.

Not only would the boy be attending regular classes, he would be getting one-on-one lessons from the professors – including him. He could already feel the headache coming and he definitely felt that the faculty's meeting with the boy later will both be an eye-opening experience, as well as a migraine-inducing conversation.

Snape sighed as he sipped his morning tea, oblivious to the world around him as he tried to relax himself to prepare for the things he needed to do later on. The suddenly lack of sound in the Great Hall caught his attention, so he looked up and saw that Harry James Potter just enter the Great Hall that caused everyone to stop whatever they were doing – even eating.

What shocked him, however, when he saw the boy smile at his two new Slytherins.

He almost fainted when the boy sat on the Slytherin Table and started taking his breakfast.

"So how have you girls been? Doing alright in Slytherin?" asked Harry as he forked some bacon to his plate.

"No problems so far." Daphne said with a shrug.

"If you don't call Pansy Parkinson a problem, then yes, no problems so far." grumbled Tracy.

"Pansy?" asked Harry, tilting his head to the side in confusion. "I don't think I've ever heard of her."

"Pansy Parkinson, current heir of the Parkinson Family though that should change soon if the baby her mother's carrying turns out to be a boy, which would automatically make him the heir to the family name." said Daphne as she sipped her tea.

"Alright, what's your problem with her?" Harry asked Tracy.

Tracy sighed

"She isn't really a problem but she kept blabbing about how she is betrothed to the Malfoy heir and she is lording it over us as if Draco is the king of the Wizarding World. It's irritating." Tracy explained with a growl.

Harry just nodded and gave Tracy a comforting smile.

"Just ignore her. So what if she's betrothed to Malfoy? The Malfoy name may be a Noble House but it isn't as prominent as he wants to believe." said Daphne with a disdainful sniff.

"Easy for you to say. I'm only a half-blood from a minor house and you're the heir to the Greengrass family, which I might add, is a Most Ancient and Noble house." grumbled Tracy.

Daphne patted her friend on the shoulder.

"There there. I'll talk to her later and make sure she doesn't bother you anymore. Too bad you can't change rooms since Bulstrode will easily swap with you since she is Pansy's best friend."

Tracy didn't say anything but continued to murmur sarcastic comments about Pansy under her breath.

"You know, Tracy, Daphne's right. Did you know that you're giving Pansy power over you right now?" said Harry calmly as he chewed on a bacon. Daphne agreed with a nod.

"What? She's not controlling me." exclaimed Tracy loudly causing some Slytherins to be interested in their conversation.

"Yes she is." Harry raised his hand to stop her from saying anything. "If you are letting her affect you then she is controlling you emotionally. So what if she's saying that she will become Lady Malfoy someday? That shouldn't affect you. Just ignore her. The more you react to her statements then you are just giving in."

"He's right you know." one of the boys who was listening to the conversation interjected.

Harry turned to the boy and gave him a smile.

"Glad someone agrees with me." said Harry. He offered his hand to the boy. "Hi, my names Harry James Potter. Nice to meet you."

The boy looked at Harry's offered his hand in shock before shaking his head to get his bearings back. He took the offered hand and gave it a shake.

"Theodore Nott."

"A pleasure to meet you. Mr. Nott." said Harry, smile not leaving his face, before turning to Tracy. "See? Mr. Nott here agrees with me."

"Obviously Theo agrees with you." grouched Tracy but couldn't deny the fact that Harry was right.

"Theo?" asked Harry in confusion.

"Theo…Theodore. That's what Daphne and I call him. Theodore is a mouthful." said Tracy with a sniff.

"Hey!" exclaimed Theo.

"True though." agreed Daphne with a nod.

"Who's side are you on?" Theo bristled at the Greengrass heir.

Daphne lifted her chin.

"Mine, of course. Now shush." chided Daphne causing Theo to grumble about 'stupid heiress being too smart for her own good'.

Harry stifled a chuckle and looked at Daphne.

"I guess the Ice Queen is out today." whispered Harry loud enough for only Daphne to hear.

Daphne didn't say anything but nodded telling the Boy-Who-Lived that the explanation was not supposed to be shared in public. Harry returned the nod before going back to his food.

Theo gave Harry a curious look before voicing out his thoughts.

"You know, Potter, you're not what I expected you to be."

"And what do you expect me to be, Mr. Nott?" Harry asked, amused at how everyone's expectations of him were slowly being washed away by his actions. He did that easily with his two new friends, Daphne and Tracy. Before the year was over, he planned to let the entire Hogwarts know the real Harry James Potter.

"For one thing, I didn't expect you to be sitting here in Slytherin and holding a conversation without degenerating into spells." admitted Theo with an absolutely straight face.

"Really? Well, the answer there is simple, Mr. Nott. I don't judge a book by its cover, or in this case, I don't judge a house by the views of others but the students under it. For me, it is not the house that defines you but your individual actions." explained Harry.

"A good philosophy, Mr. Potter, but not something that everyone here in Hogwarts seems to have." said Nott in a condescending tone.

Harry just shook his head. What Theo said was true, it seems that the magical population lack the necessary common sense to see right from wrong.

"Please call me Harry. Mr. Potter is my father. Anyway, you're right. Not everyone shares my views. But I am not going to be swayed into a stupid house rivalry that holds no meaning. We are students for Merlin's sakes. We are here to study not hex each other to oblivion."

Nott nodded, he definitely liked Potter.

"Please call me Theo, Harry. I sense that this is just one of the many conversation we will have in the future if you're willing."

"Anytime. If you want to talk, study, or just goof around. Look me up." said Harry with a grin, happy that his circle of friends were growing. He saw from the corner of his eye that the Professors leaving the Great Hall. "I guess I should hurry up and finish my breakfast. I still have to meet with the Headmaster and the rest of the faculty. If I tarry then they might start without me." said Harry before he started eating his breakfast, though a bit faster this time.

Harry barely finished his breakfast when a Gryffindor Prefect by the name of Percy Weasley dropped by the Slytherin Table and informed him that he would be the one to accompany him to the Headmaster's Office. Harry immediately accepted the offer since he didn't know the way.

The fifteen-minute walk to the Headmaster's Office was filled with talks between the two. Harry found out that Percy was the brother of the redhead he met on the train which go by the name of Ron instead of his full name Ronald. Considering that Percy had seniority over Harry, the young Potter Lord questioned the Prefect regarding Hogwarts in general.

The conversation was somewhat lackluster since everything Percy told him could be found in Hogwarts: A History. Harry wondered if the Gryffindor Prefect had the silly thing memorized.

Harry also noticed that Percy's personality left something else to be desired – a bit pompous and demands respect since he was in authority. Good thing Harry was polite or it would have been a tense journey. Harry had no trouble respective authority as long as that person deserves to be respected. Nothing more, nothing less. So far he found nothing in Percy to respect but he would respect his authority...for now.

They arrived outside the Headmaster's Office which was protected by a stone gargoyle. For Harry, the statue was an impressive guardian the highest position in the school, but the password 'Acid Pop' caused Harry to groan. It seems that Headmaster Dumbledore's eccentricity extends to everything. If there was an intruder aiming to raid the Headmaster's office then all they need to do was list down all the Wizarding candies and they're good to go.

Harry was alone as he ascended the stairs towards the Headmaster's office since Percy left after giving the password. He was about to knock on the door when a soft "Enter" made him pause. Rolling his eyes, he simply opened the door and went inside.

When the Headmaster told him last night that he would be having a meeting with the faculty, it clearly meant every single one of the professors in Hogwarts since the office was quite full. Fortunately, Harry recognized all of them by name thanks to Cedric, though a few faces needs to be introduced properly since they weren't at the Feast last night.

"Good morning, Headmaster, Professors." greeted Harry with a polite bow.

"Greetings, Mr. Potter." replied the Headmaster with a nod before beckoning to the seat in front of him and the rest of the professors. "Please take a seat, Mr. Potter, so we can start with the interview to determine the extent of your apprenticeship here in Hogwarts."

Harry strode over to the chair where the Headmaster beckoned him to sit. He noticed the area where he would be sitting was surrounded by a semi-circular table where all the professors were sitting, clearly observing him as he sat.

"Now, Mr. Potter, before we begin, I again would like to welcome you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and hope that you enjoy your time here." said Dumbledore, starting the inquiry with a formal greeting.

Harry responded with a nod.

"Thank you, Headmaster. The castle is really something. Reading about it is one thing, seeing it in real life takes one's breath away." replied Harry with a true smile on his face.

"Indeed." nodded the Headmaster, returning the smile, eyes twinkling merrily behind his glasses. "Now that's out of the way, let's start with the interview. But before that, do you have any questions regarding what I said last night concerning your position here in school?"

"Aside from the classes I'll be attending and what's expected of me? None so far, Headmaster. I have a feeling that all my questions will be answered before this interview ends." stated Harry respectfully.

"Correct, Mr. Potter. Now, before we can decide on anything specific regarding your classes, might you impress us with the extent of your knowledge in the core subjects. Please leave nothing out since this will determine the syllabus you will be subjected to for this term." asked Albus before waving his wand causing parchments, quills, and ink bottles to appear on the table, one for each professor.

Harry nodded.

"Before I start, I would like to greet the professors a good morning." This got him a nod from most of the professor, except for Snape who was just staring at him with an unreadable expression on his face. "Also, before I begin, do you want me to include the Electives as well, Headmaster?"

Every professor in the room looked at him in disbelief. However, this didn't seem to faze the Headmaster since he knew that the young Lord in front of him was a studious person.

"Indeed, Mr. Potter. Please start with core subjects before moving to the Electives." advised the Headmaster before relaxing on his seat, intending to take a backseat position for the event.

Harry nodded then began his revelation on what he knew.

"Let's start off with Transfiguration. I have read the first and second year books though I'm not sure if there are changes in the items of study since the ones I read were from the 1960 curriculum." stated Harry in a formal voice. Before he could continue, one of the professors interrupted him.

"Where did you get the books, Mr. Potter?" asked the Charms Professor, Filiius Flitwick.

"From my parents, sir. Sorry I can't give out any information other than that. If you want to know then maybe we can discuss that later in private but such information is irrelevant at the moment." answered Harry. He didn't want the letters from his parents to be revealed to the public. Considering the information written inside them, it was better to keep it to himself and his account manager, Griphook.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. Please continue and I apologize for the interruption." apologized Professor Flitwick earning him a smile from the Potter Lord.

"No problem, sir. Now where was I…oh yes, Transfiguration. I have read and practiced the spells in both books, as well as some theories that I've read in other tomes present in the library back in my home. If you want specifics, I can do object-to-object transfiguration with ease. I didn't try any transfiguration on live subjects since I am somewhat lacking in the theory."

Harry made his point by pulling out a parchment from his robes and holding it out for everyone to see on the palm of his left hand. He waved his right hand over the parchment and promptly turned it into a quill, another wave changed it to a button, and another back to a parchment. He threw the parchment on the floor and waved his hand over it to transfigure it to a comfortable sofa, complete with Hogwarts logo.

Everyone in the room, except for the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall, were shocked at the level the boy utilized wandless magic as if he was using a wand. Here in front of them was a first year student that should have no knowledge on any subjects taught at Hogwarts but already rivaling a fourth year in skill – all without a wand.

Harry saw the looks on the professors faces so he decided to stop right there. He reversed his transfiguration on the sofa which promptly turned back into a parchment, summoned it to his waiting hand with a thought before pocketing it.

This caused the professors to snap out of their shock but still looked at him as if he was sporting an extra head…with horns.

"It seems that you are well ahead of your peers in terms of Transfiguration, Mr. Potter. I think your demonstration proved that you are capable in this particular subject. From your admission, it would be safe to say that you need more introduction of theories that only a Transfiguration Master or Mistress such as myself can give." said Professor McGonagall with a nod though Harry could hear a hint of pride in her voice for the demonstration.

Harry gave her a smile.

"Thank you, professor. I will strive to meet your expectation whatever they may be. May I continue with Charms?" he asked the group.

"Before that, Mr. Potter, may I inquire as to why you are not using a wand?" asked Professor Snape without any hint of emotion in his voice.

"You may, professor." said Harry with a nod. "In regards to my use of a wand, my current Magical Rank does not allow me to use a wand unless I wanted to limit my abilities."

"What is your Magical Rank, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked, though there was a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"I am a Sorcerer in rank, sir, according to the Abilities Test I got from Griphook." answered Harry with a smile.

With that revelation, another round of shock hit the professors, more so with Snape who's face looked as if he just swallowed a lemon.

"Anything else you'd like to know before I continue, professor?" Harry asked politely.

"None, Mr. Potter. Thank you for satisfying my curiosity. You may proceed." Snape answered in monotone.

"Thank you, professor. Now for Charms, I studied my parents book till second year curriculum, though I took the liberty of exploring the library in my home to further expand my knowledge in the area."

"What books have you read, Mr. Potter, that was under Charms?" asked a very curious Professor Flitwick.

"For starters, I studied household charms for one thing since I'm living by myself so it is a necessity for me. I also took advantage of learning long-term effect charms, like a Stasis Charm, Preservation Charm, Cooling Charm, Warming Charm, and some defensive spells from an Auror book that my father left me." said Harry, listing what he know of the subject.

"That is quite a list you have there, Mr. Potter. So this means that your impressive display of a Shield Charm during the debacle in Knockturn Alley was the result of learning it from your father's Auror Handbook?" asked Flitwick who was giving Harry a look of respect.

"Yes, sir. I wanted to branch out to offensive spells but I don't want to delve into it since those kinds of spells tend to backfire if cast incorrectly or if the caster is in the wrong mindset." explained Harry. This was one of the reasons why he mainly used first year spells back in Knockturn Alley since stunners and other offensive spells was not included in his repertoire.

"Indeed, Mr. Potter." agreed Flitwick, clearly impressed by the control Harry was showing considering that many novice magic users tend to try any spell without any thought of personal safety. "Any other revelations you have for us in terms of Charms?"

Harry adopted a thoughtful look before answering.

"Let me see…does creating Wards count? I'm not sure if that involved charms but it should be under that category." asked Harry towards the half-goblin professor.

"Wards, Mr. Potter? That is a very advanced subject especially when you lack the theories behind it." asked Flitwick with a frown. There were reasons why Warding was classified under Specialization and not introduced in the curriculum since it required a Master to be taught.

Harry smiled wryly at the professor's comment.

"It became a matter of necessity, professor. There was a mishap back at Potter Manor concerning wards that prompted me to learn some of the defensive wards, one in particular. It usually leaves me drained after casting one." explained the young Potter Lord.

"Really? What Ward did you do?" asked the Charms Master, curious. The other professors were leaning forwards with interest.

"A Fidelius Charm, professor." Harry immediately answered without hesitation.

"WHAT! You already know how to cast a Fidelius?" the Ancient Runes professor shouted in surprised.

"Yes, professor. As I said, it is a matter of necessity that I learned such a ward since the result of powering the Ward Stone at Potter Manor caused me to create such a ward by accident. When I discovered that it was a Fidelius Ward, I immediately ransacked the library for any information about it. It was pretty complicated too. It took me two months just to cast it perfectly without errors." admitted Harry with a rueful smile, eyes lost in thought as if remembering a particularly embarrassing memory – which it was since Godric reminded him every day about the accident.

"I see, please continue, Mr. Potter. I daresay, the rest of your revelation will be shocking to say the least." said the Headmaster with an amused smile twitching on his lips.

"Thank you, Headmaster." said Harry, returning the smile. "Next would be Potions. Despite the availability of supplies and venue for brewing, I understood the complexity of the subject and potential accidents that comes with it if not practiced properly so I refrained from brewing but drowned myself in theory and safety measures."

"What safety measures did you practice, Mr. Potter?" asked Snape looking at Harry with interest.

"The book, Instruction on Safe Brewing, started in knowing the ingredients commonly used in many potions today – their composition, how they react with other ingredients, as well as proper brewing involved for these ingredients. I spent a majority of a year studying all the ingredients I bought in Diagon Alley, using a compendium of potion books to find out their composition and use. I also practiced ingredient preparations like dicing, slivering, and so on. That is the extent of my knowledge in Potions, Professor Snape." said Harry looking at Snape who gave him an approving nod.

"Indeed, you are correct in taking the necessary precautions in regards to Potions. Mishaps are quite common for those who fail to understand the delicate art of Brewing. I commend you on your discretion in the subject and being concerned in thoroughly grounding yourself in the basics." said Snape with a hint of approval in his voice which caused some of the professors to look at him wondering if it was the end of the world since Snape just gave a glowing approval...to a Potter no less.

The other Head of House just hid a smile since they knew WHY Snape was being respectful to a Potter. Sprout barely hid a smug look from the rest of her colleagues.

Harry nodded in thanks, accepting the compliment hidden in the speech.

"Do you have any questions concerning Potions, professor, before I proceed?"

"None, Mr. Potter. You may continue with your...revelations." was all Snape's reply.

Harry nodded towards the Potion Master before continuing.

"Next would be Defense Against the Dark Arts. Similar with Potions, due to the lack of tutelage in this subjects, I simply indulged myself in reading defense books and some creatures mentioned in the syllabus of my parents." said Harry, looking at Professor Quirrell since he knew that he was the one who is in charge of this subject. Quirrell simply nodded, giving Harry a calculating look which the young Potter didn't miss, and gestured for him to continue.

"In regards to Astronomy, I have a muggle telescope I used in Potter Manor to check out different constellations mentioned in the books. So far, I studied the basic Star Chart and the introduction of Astronomy in magical practices. Mostly books that tell when is the perfect time to cast a defensive spell or a ritual for improvement, and so on."

The Astronomy Professor simply nodded at the information and jotting down something on her parchment.

"Herbology...I have read the books and had some experience with the many plants listed down on the tomes though I don't want to approach or touch some plants back at the greenhouses in Potter Manor." said Harry with a frown before shivering when he remembered two particular plants that scared him.

Professor Sprout, the Herbology Professor, leveled Harry an amused look.

"What plants would those be, Mr. Potter?"

Harry shivered a bit before answering.

"Devil Snare and a particularly rabid Venomous Tentacular, professor."

Sprout was surprised at the revelation and let out a small laugh.

"Indeed, Mr. Potter. You have a good head to avoid those two. There are other plants more dangerous but these particular two can be deadly if you don't know how to keep them under control."

Harry nodded and gave the motherly professor a small smile.

"I leave myself in your capable hands, professor."

Professor Sprout nodded and took down some notes while waving for Harry to continue.

"History of Magic…well, I just read the book. Really, there's not much you can do when it comes to history but if you want to be specific, I already know key events in Wizarding History, like the founding of Wizarding Britain, history of Merlin, the Founding of Hogwarts, Grindewald, notable inventions in the Wizarding World, and a little bit of Goblin Rebellion."

"If Professor Binns was here right now, he would be impressed with what you know, Mr. Potter." said Professor McGonagall with a small twitch on her lips as if she found something funny with what Harry revealed regarding Wizarding History.

Harry nodded before looking around the room.

"If I may be so bold to ask, professor, where is Professor Binns." he asked, not seeing the Ghost Professor of Hogwarts in the room.

Dumbledore gave Harry an amused smile before answering.

"Professor Binns cannot leave the confines of his classroom, Mr. Potter. It has something to do with the manner of his death which I will not be telling you right now though you can ask your peers if you're curious to find out." revealed the Headmaster.

Harry nodded before continuing.

"In terms of the Electives, Care of Magical Creatures I mostly delved into books though there are some creatures I am familiar with since they are present in Potter Manor." said Harry.

"What creatures, Mr. Potter?" asked Professor Kettleburn in curiosity.

"Well, there's a herd of unicorn in the forest behind Potter Manor, a pack of hippogryffs, two dragons but I'm not familiar with their exact species though I observed their lifestyle since they lived in a hill they love to use to bask in the sun visible from Potter Manor grounds. Ummm….let me see…there's merfolks in the lake at Potter Manor, some bowtruckles in the forest, a few magical wolves….oh, a particular large runespoor who loved to turn one of the greenhouses as a hidey-hole when winter sets in." Harry finished his monologue.

Again, every professor in the room were shocked at the dangerous creatures Harry surrounded himself with. They all realized that Harry was quite knowledgeable with some of the creatures since he was still alive in front of them speaking as if nothing happened.

"Regarding Muggle Studies, the extent of my education is until 7th Grade in the standard muggle educational system and my time in the muggle world. I also studied muggle history if you're interested."

"By far, among the entire electives, Ancient Runes is my favorite. There something about the magical symbols that attracted me to them. I can say that I'm familiar with Egyptian Hieroglyphs, as well as Celtic and Norse Runes."

"I'm not really good at Arithmancy though I have studied whatever I could understand of the subject but I realized that books aren't enough and requires instructions from an expert to explain the theories to me. That's everything, professors." said Harry and made himself comfortable in the chair waiting for the questioning to start.

Albus nodded and looked at the other professors who simply gave him a nod telling him that they had everything they need to work with regarding Harry's apprenticeship.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. It seems that the professors have everything they need in order to determine the syllabus you will be subjected to for your apprenticeship. You will be given individual sessions to determine what you will be learning from them for your first year. Do you have any questions?" Harry shook his head in negative. "Good. I thank you for your time. I will send a house-elf later to deliver your schedule. Classes start tomorrow. Have a good day, Mr. Potter."

Recognizing a dismissal, Harry pushed himself off his chair and gave everyone in the room a bow before exiting the office to spend the rest of the day exploring the castle.

Edited by Corruptmonk

May 27, 2012