Albus looked to the senior staff, waiting for an answer.

Pomona began, "There were no real issues with my Puffs. Some needed vaccinations, but for the most part all was well."

Minerva continued. "Mr. Potter had some issues, but as these were already addressed this wasn't something that needed further attention. Mr. Weasley was found to be harboring a magical parasite, causing him to need to eat much more than he otherwise would. Poppy has him reporting to the hospital wing after dinner each night for treatment, which will last another four days. I have noticed his eating has decreased a bit. His brothers and sister were also checked, but none of the others were infested. Molly was both appalled and relieved."

The staff nodded. All could imagine the reaction Molly Weasley would have to something being found wrong with one of her children.

"Nothing untoward was found beyond those two."

Severus Snape was hesitant, but the Headmaster had nixed the idea of privacy in this matter. "There were a number of issues as regards my Snakes. As some may know, one factor which might create … ambition and drive is poor treatment in the past. A number of issues were found to have already have been confronted by myself. The DMLE has agreed to withhold further action – so long as there are no further indications. Several families were notified of the interest of the DMLE. There was one exception. Mr. Crabbe was found to have suffered in the past, and his father has been … asked to help the DMLE investigate."

Minerva was curious. "What was the issue?"

Severus was reluctant, so Albus answered. "His father used an unforgivable curse as punishment. The evidence during the health check led to the home being inspected. There were more family members who had suffered. Mr. Crabbe's father was taken into custody during the investigation." He looked toward his staff sternly. "I hope I do not have to iterate that only here will we discuss issues found with students. The students have a right to privacy, even as they have a right to our protection."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Severus was a bit relieved. He didn't need problems with students' families to become common knowledge.

Albus considered the issue. Although such behaviour was rare, it wasn't unheard of. Magical children were usually treated well as there were far too few of them. But those families that were traditional felt they had a right to do as they pleased in the home. He then nodded his acknowledgement of their understanding. "Is that all, Severus?"

Snape nodded curtly.

Albus turned to the last Head of House. "Filius?"

Filius Flitwick sighed. "There were no issues found in students who have been here. However, a first year was found to have been … violated by a family member. Ms. Perks is undergoing treatment and some counseling. The Aurors are liaising with Scotland Yard to affect the arrest of an uncle. It was apparent from the interviews that her parents were unaware. She has received permission to visit with her parents at the Headquarters of the Muggle police in London when the uncle is captured. After, she will be allowed to visit with her parents at home for one month. The DMLE has graciously provided means for her to be transported each Saturday for several hours. A mind healer shall visit Hogwarts thrice a week until she is deemed stable."

Albus nodded. "Very well. Those that were found to have issues shall be regularly checked for up to a year. Are there any other issues to cover?"

Minerva replied, "Two students have received penalties for malicious use of magic." Albus looked enquiringly at her. "Mr. Cormac MacLaggan jinxed a Slytherin second year. Upon interviewing, it was found to be in retaliation for a jinx he received from Mr. Graham Montague. I performed a Prior Incantatum with Severus present. Both had points taken and were assigned detentions."

"What jinxes and how many detentions and with whom?"

Professor McGonagall described the jinxes and the detentions given. Albus nodded distractedly. He thought about it. He then asked Severus and Minerva to bring the three involved students directly to the meeting. Once the two left, he asked the other two senior staff to bring two others.

The three students were brought in to stand in front of the senior staff. They also noticed that Hagrid and Filch were also there.

The two Heads of House that led the students in sat down.

Albus looked at the three. "I was highly tempted to force this issue in front of the student body as a whole. I, however, decided that this was too cruel for a first offense. However, should these steps need to be repeated, it will occur during an evening meal when all are present." He turned to the Gryffindor. "Mr. MacLaggan. You will apologize to Mr. Vaisey for the tripping jinx you cast at him after Transfiguration."

Cormac looked around at the staff present, looking for someone to protest this. Even McGonagall was waiting expectantly. Finally he turned and apologized to the Snake.

Albus nodded. "Mr. Montague, you shall apologize for the leglocker you cast at Mr. MacLaggan after dinner on Wednesday."

Graham looked to his Head. Snape sat there with a disapproving look, but did not protest. Finally he turned and apologized.

Albus nodded again. "The next time either of you is found to have committed a similar offense, you will apologize in front of the Great Hall. A third time will come with your victim's family and your family being summoned – and you shall be suspended a week. After that … well, best not ponder such unpleasantness." He turned to the innocent student.

"Mr. Vaisey. You are excused. Please feel free to tell anyone you wish what occurred here. As of Monday, however, the matter will be disposed of and I am requiring you to cease mentioning it at that point, unless specifically asked." He looked at Cormac and Graham. "I require you two to answer any who ask exactly what your punishment was and why you received it. You will be polite to any who enquire. There shall be no retaliation, regardless of House. Do you understand?" The two boys nodded, both a bit surly.

"Mr. Vaisey, you may go." Once the actually innocent boy left, Albus once more addressed the two. "I said, at the opening feast, that I am the last authority as regards occurrences at Hogwarts. I have some pleasant news for you both – and some not so pleasant news. The detentions assigned to Professor Snape and Mr. Filch have been cancelled." Both boys looked hopeful. Snape and McGonagall looked annoyed.

"However, you shall both be attending an alternate detention." The boys' faces fell. The Heads of House looked curious. "Mr. Hagrid here is in charge of the stables. On Saturday morning, you shall both arrive to his residence immediately after breakfast at 9:00 AM. For two hours each, you shall work together to clean the thestral stables under his supervision. For the first hour, you shall use no magic.

"For the second, you may use the charms as appropriate. If you cannot perform the charms that Mr. Hagrid finds acceptable for use, well, then of course you shall be completing the task by hand. I recommend taking the time to look Mr. Hagrid up before Saturday with charms you might wish to use and getting approval. Just because you are being punished, it doesn't mean you shouldn't take the opportunity to learn." Albus' face took on a smirk. "Of course, if you don't arrive on time or slack off, the detention will be repeated. Repeat detentions will require ALL actions to be done without magic."

Both boys were now a bit morose. Cleaning under Filch or preparing potion ingredients under Snape were unpleasant – but didn't usually involve equine manure. The two were dismissed.

He turned toward Minerva. "I do apologize if I overstepped my usual role. I, however, need to overcome the crass behaviour that I have allowed too long. A thoroughly unpleasant task will hopefully drive home the point. And it will be educational." He turned to the gamekeeper. "Please consult with Filius as to useful charms so that you can perform them yourself Saturday, or at least properly supervise."

Hagrid nodded. He and Filch made their way out.

Dumbledore sat up. "Now, I should mention that I will be taking a greater interest in the education of students at Hogwarts. At times I shall be obvious, at other times – not so much. Should you become aware of me as I observe your classes, ignore my presence."

Severus Snape felt a real sense of fear at that, while the rest just nodded in agreement.

"Now, is there anything else we need to cover?"

Harry was having a good week to start off his Hogwarts education. The tour of the classrooms by the sixth years had helped enormously. Without that, he – and most of the other first years – would have been completely lost.

It had taken a day or two for the stares to stop and the comments to disappear. He was just thankful that they had, because it made him uncomfortable.

He had been a bit stressed at the homework, but only because he needed to get in the habit. The material was fairly easy as he had spent the time studying before the school year started.

Neville was also a bit stressed. Although the changes the Headmaster had made in his life had improved his lot immensely, he still was getting used to formal schooling.

Ron had tried to slack off, but pressure by Harry, Neville, and Hermione had meant that he finished his work early too. It was a good thing too, as the Professors seemed to have no love for students who slacked.

The boys had played several games with their dorm mates. It was harder getting Hermione to relax, but it occasionally happened.

Finally, Friday rolled around. Most of the first year Gryffindors were already th. "Potions this morning, right?" The others who were present all verified they had the same.

Ron groaned, "Double Potions, with Slytherin." Harry looked curiously at Ron. "My family don't get along with Slytherins."

Before Harry could reply, a voice interrupted. "I find that quite curious."

The two boys turned. "Professor Dumbledore!"

"Yes. Good morning. Mr. Weasley, you say that your family doesn't get along with Slytherins, correct?"

"Yeah. They call us blood traitors."

"Quite. Do you know why?"

Ron was confused, as were those around him. Finally he shrugged. "Probably because we don't believe in blood purity."

Professor Dumbledore had sat down and had taken some toast and tea.

"While that may be a contributing factor, the real issue has to do with your great-grandmother." Ron looked interested. "I remember your Great-Grandfather Septimus. He was a Gryffindor during some of my early years as a teacher. He fell in love with another student and she greatly returned his affections. That, of course, was your Great-Grandmother Cedrella. They had a whirlwind romance and, during the Christmas break in 1934, ran off and married before they returned to finish their 7th year. When the news broke, it was quite the scandal as Cedrella had been promised to another family. The dowry that had been held for her was reclaimed by her family and given as recompense. It made your great-grandparents quite destitute but being young and in love, they persevered."

Harry was interested. "What does that have to do with Ron's family and Slytherin?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he chewed the last bit he had taken. Once he was done with this and had taken a sip of tea, he looked at Ron and said, "Because Cedrella was a Slytherin herself. Which is why it is so curious to me that your family doesn't get along with them, being descended from one yourselves."

Dumbledore sipped his tea. "Of course, the Weasleys and the Malfoys haven't gotten along since. Sometimes, I think we magicals hold on to things far too long. In a way, most got much that they desired from that situation: The Malfoys achieved great wealth from the recompense and the Weasleys overcame a very low birth rate due to Cedrella's fecundity."

Ron sat there with his mouth wide open.

Dumbledore had a distracted look as he sipped his tea again. "And then of course your mother's Aunt Lucretia Prewitt was also a Slytherin. It is unfortunate that I believe you haven't met her. She isolated herself after her husband died and her son was found to be non-magical. Regardless, I found her a delightful girl as a student."

Dumbledore finished his tea and firmly placed it further in. "Anyway, while I was a Gryffindor as a youth, later life has taught me that there are good and decent people from all houses, just as there are those who are not so good and decent or who have lost their way. Mr. Potter's father had a friend who decided to follow a dark path and he was a Gryffindor. Do not mistake the politics of families with the politics of houses."

Dumbledore stood up and, with a cheerful smile, made his way to the head table.

Just then, the mail arrived. Harry had gotten used to this by now, but it had given him a bit of a shock on the first morning, when about a hundred owls had suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during breakfast, circling the tables until they saw their owners, and dropping letters and packages onto their laps.

Hedwig had been to Sirius and back just as Ron's owl, Pig, had been to the Burrow and back.

This morning, Hedwig came in unexpectedly with a letter. He took it and gave Hedwig a bit of bacon as a treat and caressed her even as he read the letter.

Dear Harry,

I know you get Friday afternoons off, so would you like to come and have a cup of tea with me around three?

As a friend of your Mum and Da, I want to hear all about your first week. Bring any friends you like. Send an answer back with your owl.

Hagrid

Harry took a quill out and scribbled, Yes, please, see you later on the back of the note, and sent Hedwig off again.

He then, with a few of the other Gryffindors, made his way to class.

Potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main castle, and would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals floating in glass jars all around the walls.

Snape started the class by taking the roll call and, somewhat like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name. He appeared to want to make a comment, but then moved on.

Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potionmaking," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word – like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even put a stopper on death – if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

More silence followed this little speech. Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't a dunderhead.

"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Harry thought about that for a moment. "A sleeping potion, Professor?"

Snape's lips curled into a sneer. "A sleeping potion so powerful it is called the Draught of the Living Death." He paused and then continued. "Let us try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"Umm. Stomach of .. a goat?"

Snape's sneer was firmly in place. "And its use?"

Harry thought furiously, even as Hermione attempted to raise her hand. Snape ignored her. "I don't remember, sir."

"Tut, Tut. Clearly fame isn't everything. It is an antidote to most poisons."

Snape appeared to be preparing to ask another question, but a sudden warm feeling in the room seemed to distract him and his eyes darted around. Harry tried to remember where he had felt that before….

"Why aren't you all copying that down?" he asked the students in general. Once all the students had frantically made a few notes as he continued his lecture, Snape put them into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like.

He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when suddenly a spell was heard. Snape looked up suddenly, as most students did, and saw the Headmaster holding his wand over Neville's cauldron. There was a bubble around the cauldron and within it was a thick green vapor.

Snape's face drained of color.

"A slight mishap, Mr. Longbottom." His faced turned toward the Potion's Master, and Harry had the distinct impression that he wasn't feeling as cheerful as he looked. "Professor Snape, would you clarify Mr. Longbottom's error."

Snape took a breath. "Yes, well, such an occurrence can take place when the cauldron is not removed from the heat before the porcupine quills are added." He paused, "Is that not correct, Mr. Longbottom?"

Neville nervously looked at the instructions on the board and gulped. "That's right, Professor Snape. I missed that step."

Before Professor Snape could comment the Headmaster said to the class in general, "Potion-making is an exacting art especially at your level, students. This was a good reminder to you that exact instructions should be followed until you are sufficiently educated in possible variations. As someone trained in alchemy – a related field to Potions – I can testify to the importance of this."

Albus performed another casting and suddenly the fog inside the bubble disappeared and then the bubble followed. "Clean the cauldron thoroughly, Mr. Longbottom. You and Mr. Finnegen should then have just enough time to complete the potion correctly. Perhaps Ms. Granger could help you two as her technique was excellent, as was Ms. Greengrass' and Ms. Davis'. Perhaps Mr. Malfoy can aid Mr. Goyle and Mr. Crabbe, as Professor Snape has so lauded his skill." The Headmaster cast another spell and the mess in the cauldron in front of the two Slytherins disappeared. He then tapped himself on the head and then faded from view.

All of the students were gaping until Snape barked out, "Begin!"

There was suddenly a flurry of movement as Neville, Seamus, Crabbe and Goyle all moved to clean their cauldrons and the remaining students moved to complete work at their own stations.

For the rest of the period, Snape was much more reserved and more helpful to the rest of the students. When each had finished, Snape took a vial from each pair and then dismissed the students. When the last six students had left, Snape returned to his desk to find a note.

Professor Snape,

My office. 7:00 PM.

Dumbledore

Snape paled again.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville all made their way to Hagrid's hut. The talk of the first years was what had happened in potions. Word made its way out from them to all of the houses. It was interesting that Professor Snape was not at lunch.

Hagrid, according to the Weasley twins, lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door as the four approached.

When Harry knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "Back, Fang – back."

Hagrid's big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open.

"Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang."

He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound.

There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.

"Make yerselves at home," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked.

"Hello, Mr. Hagrid. This is Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Hermione Granger," Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes onto a plate.

"Jus' call me Hagrid, everyone does," said Hagrid. "Another Weasley ey? It seems I spent half me time chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest."

The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins that almost broke their teeth, but the four pretended to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid all about their first lessons. Fang rested his head on Harry's knee and drooled all over his robes.

Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call Fitch "that old git" after describing a run in they had with him. Hermione was scandalized, but kept her mouth shut.

"An' as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I'd like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. D'yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can't get rid of her – Fitch puts her up to it."

Harry told Hagrid about Snape's lesson and Dumbledore's intercession.

"Great man, Dumbledore. Got me m' wand back an' everything." He pulled out a very long wand. "Eighteen inches, oak, Unicorn hair." He waved it and several sparks shot out.

"Why did he have to get you your wand back?" Harry asked curiously.

Hagrid, while drinking tea with them and (only Hagrid) eating rock cakes, told the four about how he had lost his wand and been expelled. He also told them how Professor Dumbledore had gotten him cleared so that he could own a wand and learn magic again.

This led to some stories about magic as well as some magical creatures that Hagrid dealt with regularly.

At 4:30, Hermione suddenly exclaimed, "It's 4:30!" When everyone looked at her, she shrank back a bit. "We have a potions essay to finish."

Hagrid nodded and stood up. "Well, ye better get back an' do tha'. Come back, nex' week, Harry. I'll tell ye some stories 'bout yer Mum and Da'. The res' of ye are welcome, too."