October

Tuesday 1 October, 1991 Hufflepuff Dorms, after dinner

Harry was in a lousy mood. He had been ever since he had received a letter from Gringott's that morning stating that his account manager had finally discovered who it was that violated his parents' Will. It turned out that it was the Headmaster! Looking back on the events of the past month kind of made sense in a warped and twisted way. The man had seemed a little too interested in Harry's actions and whereabouts since he had stepped foot in Hogwarts. It also gave Harry pause to think that maybe Dumbledore himself instigated the scathing articles written by Rita Skeeter. Why the old man wanted to destroy his reputation was beyond imagination. What possible good would come from having Harry portrayed as an attention-seeking, downtrodden child?

To settle his mind, he pulled out his list of potions that he wanted to experiment with. 'Hair growth potion that targeted just the user's head?' Nah. 'Color changing potion that reacts with what a person has eaten? Possibility. 'A slow-release Pepper-up that won't give a person the jitters?' Yeah, I think I like that one.

Harry set-up his equipment and began prepping his ingredients. Using the Assistant, he made the necessary changes to the basic recipe and settled in to do the brewing. It took the better part of two hours but by the time that the potion was ready to be portioned out into vials, his mood had calmed.

He entered the Infirmary with a case of the modified potion and looked around for Madam Pomfrey. He knocked on her office door and was bid to enter.

"Madam Pomfrey? I have something here that you might like to have. I created a variant on the Pepper-up potion that has a slow release feature so that the drinker doesn't get the jitters."

Poppy looked interested, "A slow release version? Sounds interesting. Let's see what you got here." She looked over the recipe and instructions then sampled a bit before giving her approval, "Very impressive, Mr. Potter. I think this will be incredibly beneficial to our students studying for their OWLs and NEWTs, not to mention the teachers who have to deal with all of the students' homework and class work."

"Thank you, ma'am. I was also hoping that you'd run a series of tests with various students to make sure everything works properly? I would like to get this published and out on the market as soon as feasibly possible." Poppy agreed and dismissed him.

Harry returned to his dorm room and began to write a return letter to Sharpclaw. He instructed the Goblin to coordinate with the Director of Magical Law Enforcement to prosecute, if possible, the Headmaster for illegally placing Harry with his relatives and to see if there were anyone else he might be related to that would be willing to take him in. He also asked Sharpclaw to run an audit on his accounts to see if there was any other foul play going on. If it was found to been any chicanery, to retrieve any stolen items or money with extreme prejudice. Once he was done, he walked up to the Owlery and gave the letter to Hedwig to take to Gringott's. On his way back, he spotted Neville Longbottom hopping along the hallway, his legs apparently bound together.

"Neville? What happened?"

Neville turned around and nearly fell over at the sound of Harry's question, "Malfoy jinxed my legs together, said he found a spell and wanted to practice on someone," he said dejectedly.

Harry helped him to sit on a set of stairs and tried to comfort the boy who started quietly sniffling, "I'm sorry that Malfoy is such a twit, Neville. I recommend seeing Professor McGonagall about this. No one should suffer from being bullied. Why didn't you cancel the spell?"

Neville sadly replied, "I forgot the counter-spell and didn't want to make things worse. I just wish that I were a stronger wizard. Everyone already thinks of me as being just a step up from being a Squib."

"I don't think that," Harry stated firmly, "Is there a problem with your wand? I know that Ollivander has said that if there's a mismatch with a wand, you wouldn't be able to get the best results from it."

"I'm using my dad's wand. My Gran declared that if it was good enough for him, it will be fine for me." Neville replied with a sigh.

"Hmm… I don't think that's fair. I think you should tell McGonagall that as well. Maybe she can have a chat with your Gran."

Professor Flitwick made an appearance and unjinxed Neville when asked. He inquired as to what happened and when Neville seemed reluctant to explain, Harry replied that Draco Malfoy jinxed Neville's legs together. Professor Flitwick was understandably upset and docked Malfoy ten points and awarded Harry five for being a loyal friend and looking out for others. The two boys thanked the diminutive professor then made their way up to McGonagall's office and knocked on her door.

Minerva's eyebrow rose as she listened to Harry and Neville's story about what had transpired in the hallways with Malfoy. She promised herself that the blonde Slytherin would be spending at least a week's worth of hard physical labor in detention, heck she might even consider sending the Weasley Twins his way. However, it was the admission of Neville's mismatch with his wand that caused her to speak.

"Mr. Longbottom, what reason did your grandmother give for not taking you to see Mr. Ollivander?"

Neville glanced down at his feet shyly before looking her in the eye, "She said I was going to use it to honor my father and that since it worked fine for him it would well for me."

Minerva took a deep breath and refrained from letting out a sigh of exasperation. Sometimes Augusta Longbottom could be a right pain in the arse. Nodding to herself, she told Neville that this weekend, she would be escorting him to Diagon Alley to pick out a new wand. Neville gave a nervous smile at the news, Harry was grinning broadly.

"Mr. Potter, I award you five points for loyalty to a friend and for bringing this to my attention. Regarding Mr. Malfoy, do not concern yourselves with the situation. I will be handling that personally."

The two boys left her office and headed back towards the Central Stairwell. Harry bid Neville a good night and a promise that when Neville got his new wand for him to find Harry and they'd do a bit of practicing.

Friday 4 October, 1991 Severus Snape's Office, Dungeon Level

"Professor? Do you have some time to help me with a problem?"

Severus looked up and saw Harry standing nervously in the just outside his open door. He motioned for Harry to come in and take a seat.

"What's the problem, Mr. Potter? It's rather unusual for a non-Slytherin to seek me out."

Harry hesitated for a moment then gave his answer in one big blur, "Well, I have a conundrum. It seems that the Headmaster has taken an unusual interest in my activities and whereabouts ever since I first stepped into this school. That scathing article in the Daily Prophet appeared just a couple of days after I demonstrated both Assistants to the teaching staff and according to my Goblin Account Manager, the Headmaster was the one who witnessed the signing of my parents' Will and also is the one who placed me in my relatives' care despite it being against my parents' wishes."

Snape's eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline as Harry told his story then dropped down into an angry sneer when Harry mentioned the close timing of the article and the teacher's meeting.

"I wrote to my Account Manager and instructed him to coordinate with the Director of the DMLE on the financial side of this but should I bring forth my evidence of what I've noticed around here to the magical law enforcement? Would they even consider me since I'm underage? I…I just…don't know." Harry finished quietly.

Severus looked at Harry for a moment contemplating the conversation. The apparent facts given did paint a rather dark picture about the Headmaster. He did have one question.

"Why come to me instead of your Head of House?"

"Because… I trust you. We both have a love and incredible talent for potions and its uses. We've both published articles before and know what it's like to have to defend our work. Professor Sprout is a good Head of House but when it comes to something like this? I asked her what I should do and she thought it would be a good idea to have all parties involved to have a sit down and discuss the issue. I don't want to compromise on something like this. I want it ended and you're my first choice to…well, you know…"

Severus sighed briefly, "You remind me so much of your mother sometimes. Ok, Mr. Potter, I'll help. I would recommend contacting the DMLE. First though, you know a Miss Susan Bones? I believe that she's in your house?" Harry nodded, "Speak with her about the generalities of your problem and ask her if she has any insights you could use to open a dialogue with her aunt. Her aunt is the Director of the DMLE and would be the best choice to send your letter and complaints to. She's a dedicated and fair-minded kind of person."

Severus reached into his desk and pulled out an empty vial. He then took his wand and placed the tip of it against his forehead and paused for a moment before slowly pulling the wand away. Attached to the tip was a wispy tendril of blue-white gossamer fiber. He put this fiber into the vial and corked it. This in turn, he handed it to Harry.

"What you have in your hand is a memory of that staff meeting where you demonstrated the Assistants. Madam Bones will most likely have an artifact that will allow her to view the memory. Include in your letter the article written by Skeeter regarding the allegations of plagiarism and fraud. Explain your beliefs and reasoning just as you presented to me a moment ago."

Harry took the vial and glanced at the swirling memory within. He nodded his understanding of Severus' instructions.

"One other thing I recommend you include in your letter is a copy of the hand-written drafts for the most recent articles you wrote under the pseudonym of 'Harold Talbot' and of your last homework essay assignment. That will allow her to compare the writing, I doubt she or her investigative team will have a problem."

"Finally, include in your letter just what you hope to accomplish with this inquiry of investigation. Are you trying to punish the Headmaster for instigating a smear campaign? Financial reasons? That sort of thing. You might also want to include the results from your conversation with your Account Manager regarding your parents' Will.

Harry had written down all of Snape's suggestions and when the Potions' Master was done, thanked him for taking the time to help him and exited the room. He headed back to the Puff Common Room where he found Susan Bones chatting with her best friend, Hannah Abbot.

"Susan? May I speak with you privately for a moment?" he quietly asked.

Susan looked over at Hannah who nodded. Turning back to Harry she said, "Sure, what's wrong?"

Taking her aside, Harry explained in general terms of what his problem was, including the redirected mail, the illegal placement of himself while a toddler and the recent problems with that article in the Daily Prophet. He asked her if she had any insights as to what kind of letter he ought to write to her aunt so she would begin an investigation. She was horrified at his story and assured him that her aunt was a no-nonsense kind of person and that any letter of this sort should be written out with just the plain facts and to leave out any flowery phrases.

He thanked her and went straight for his dorm; he had a letter to write.

4 October, 1991

Dear Madam Bones;

My name is Harry Potter and I am a First year Hufflepuff. I'm writing to you because I feel that Headmaster Dumbledore has taken an unhealthy interest in my activities and whereabouts ever since I first started here at Hogwarts. In addition, several events have taken place that leads me to believe that he's not at all what he seems. For example, I have created an interactive potions journal called the Potioneer's Assistant and a floating orb called the Teacher's Assistant that is used to project what you're working on or using onto a wall or other viewing surface. I'm enclosing the memory of the staff meeting, provided by Professor Severus Snape, in which I demonstrated the operations of both devices to the Headmaster and the staff. Within a couple of days, a rather scathing article from Rita Skeeter was published in the Daily Prophet claiming that I had stolen the work from another wizard and was a lying, attention-seeking child. As you can imagine, the timing between the two events is too close to be coincidental.

I'm also enclosing a copy of my hand-written drafts for my articles I've written for the trade journal Potioneer's Monthly and a copy of my latest potions essay for your investigative team to compare. I wrote the articles under the pseudonym of 'Harold Talbot' because I felt that my work would not have been given the same due consideration from the editors if I had used my real name.

The other issue I have with the Headmaster concerns my parents' Will. The Headmaster was the Witness to the signing and was aware of its contents and stipulations. I had read the Will that was filed in Gringott's during this past summer and it stated that under NO circumstances was I to be placed with my muggle relatives as they despise everything that has to do with magic and yet, I have recently come to find out, the Headmaster ignored the wishes of my parents' and placed me with them! During the ten years that I spent with my relatives, I was neglected and occasionally beaten for various imagined infractions. I was worked like a house-elf and punished severely if I didn't meet expectations. I have also never received any mail from the magical world except for my Hogwarts' Acceptance Letter.

I have requested that my Account Manager perform an audit on my family's vault to see if there was any other foul play that's occurred since that date. When I went in originally to Gringott's upon my re-introduction to the magical world, I had to donate a drop of blood to the teller because I never had my key. This now seems to be very unusual and probably illegal as heck.

I read in the Will that my guardians should've been Sirius Black or Remus Lupin. I have no idea as to who either of these two men are. My muggleborn Primary Three teacher told me that Sirius Black had done something awful and was sentenced to prison. Remus Lupin, on the other hand, just simply disappeared without a trace. If it's possible, I would like you to question both of them and find out their story and reasoning behind their abandonment of me. I read in the Will that Sirius Black had undergone something called "The Godfather Ritual." I don't know if it means anything to you but regardless, I'd like an investigation started.

If it does pan out that the Headmaster has some sort of nefarious reasons behind his treatment of me and my work, I'd like him to prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and a public apology to be published in the Daily Prophet as well as the reasoning for the lawsuit. I'm not interested in a financial punishment so much as just a desire to be left alone while in school and respected by the members of the potions trade in general. If his involvement in my life outside of Hogwarts was because of neglect or something worse then I feel that he should lose whatever control he has over me, be it magical guardianship or something else.

If you need to contact me, please floo Professor Pomona Sprout here at Hogwarts.

Thank you,

Harry Potter

Hufflepuff House, Hogwarts

Monday 7 October, 1991 Transfiguration Classroom 4B

Professor McGonagall had just finished taking the roll call and wondered where Harry Potter was. Just as she was about to send a message to the Infirmary to enquire if her wayward student was there, a glass orb came floating quietly into the room. Warily watching it, as it could be a prank conceived of by the Weasley Twins, she refrained from comment as it floated over to where Mr. Potter normally sat. Upon closer inspection, she spotted a note taped to the orb.

Dear Professor;

I am currently in the Infirmary with a rather severe headache. Madam Pomfrey is attending to me and has "suggested" that I stay for a while. I, however, do not wish to miss your class. I've sent this orb to record your instruction for the day. The orb will record sight and sound as if I were actually sitting in my seat so there is no need to alter your speech or lesson.

Thank you,

Harry Potter, Hufflepuff

Minerva was impressed at Harry's ingenuity and forethought. This could potentially be a great boon for the students unable to attend classes or events for whatever reason; not to mention teachers who are unable to attend meetings. She made a mental note to speak with Mr. Potter as soon as possible.

At the end of class, the orb floated out the door and headed towards the Herbology indoor classroom and waited outside the door for the rest of the class to arrive. On the other end, Harry was lying in bed nursing a strong Headache Potion; he was also busy working in his Assistant trying to come up with an alternative to improve the taste and effectiveness. He would occasionally glance at the receiving mirror, watching to see when the door would open.

Madam Pomfrey quietly stopped by to check his condition noting that he was lost in deep thought. She glanced at the Assistant and could just make out a copy of the Headache Potion she'd given him. She gave a small smile and nodded, as she understood that he was apparently redesigning the potion.

Later, after dinner, Minerva approached Harry and asked to speak with him regarding the orb that visited her class earlier that afternoon.

"Mr. Potter. First, let me say that I hope you are feeling better. Second, I'm greatly impressed that you came up with this solution to missing your classes. What do you call it? It is ingenuous and I was hoping that you could make more of them? They'd be very useful to the students and staff that wouldn't be able to attend classes or other events."

Harry nodded, "I call it the 'Student's Helper' and sure, I can make more of them. How many would you like?"

Minerva replied, "I was thinking an even dozen? How much would they cost and how quickly can you make them?"

Harry thought for a moment, "It would probably take about two weeks to make all twelve once I receive the modified Remembralls and mirrors from the manufacturer and cost the school twenty Galleons."

Minerva agreed to the amount and the time given, "Then I shall send you a purchase order for the orbs. To where and whom should I send it?"

"My Gringott's Senior Account Manager, Sharpclaw, ma'am." Minerva accepted that.

"You will include the operator's manual?"

"Yes, ma'am. Each orb will come with a receiver's mirror that allows the student to send the orb to the appropriate destination as part of the agreed upon cost. Each mirror has a map of the castle superimposed on it when in travel then it will switch to a view of the destination once arrival has been reached. Once all have been made, I will give a demonstration and instructional seminar to all the staff."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. That's all for me. I wish you a good night."

"Goodnight, Professor."

Tuesday morning saw Harry receiving a package from Flourish and Blott's as well as a package from the Owl Post Office. The books he had ordered from the bookstore, Introduction to Latin and The Basics of Quill Writing and You had arrived and he was eager to begin reading them. The package from the post office was a set of muggle notebooks and disposable ink pens and a nicely made fountain pen complete with a small ink jar. Hermione came over when she saw that he had received books.

"You're like Winnie the Pooh to the scent of honey whenever someone gets a new book, Hermione," Harry chuckled while she just scrunched her nose and stuck out her tongue at him.

"How in the world did you get stuff bought from the non-magical world without using a parent or guardian?" She asked.

"I wrote to the Owl Post Office in Diagon Alley and asked if there was a way to convert purchases from one side to the other. They said yes and that there was a fee. All I had to do was to specify what it was I wanted to buy and from where; then send in the money. They have a couple of muggleborn employees that would then go to these stores and get what I needed. It would all be packaged up and shipped out," he explained.

Hermione was impressed, "Wow, I think I'll need to remember that for when the holidays roll around. I'm thinking of getting muggle gifts for my pureblood friends. I'll bet that they've never seen half of what's available for gifts." Harry shook his head and chuckled again.

The rest of the week passed by without any other major hitches. Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley continued their rather blustery and frankly annoying daily attempts to befriend him or at least sway his attention away from those Draco or Ron perceived as unworthy of attention. He made his disgust known to both of them as well as their Heads of Houses but neither boy seemed willing to acknowledge or understand that Harry just wanted to be left alone. On Saturday, he made his stand…