Chapter nine

After Kingsley left, Harry left the folder on the desk then stood, stretched and realised he would have to get used to sitting behind "his" desk for long periods. He still found it so incredible that this was now his office and he was headmaster. Everything in this office was for him to use, anyway he wanted. He knew he still had a lot to learn but he still couldn't stop feeling excited.

'You will become accustom to all that is involved in being the headmaster Harry.'

'I know, like with everything, it takes time.'

'Now one more thing. Your rooms, all your belongings are already in there. The house elves saw to that the moment you signed those forms. You do know that you will need robes, day robes, formal robes, robes to wear for meetings with the governors and the minister.'

Harry groaned, 'Yeah, I know. I'm not that keen on robes but I have gotten used to wearing them. That is one thing I don't want changed about our world even with my dislike for robes. We aren't muggles, we are magical and we dress differently and it shows. Naturally going into muggle towns means wearing muggle clothes and even if some get it completely wrong, they do try. Maybe we can work on some type of class to teach students who don't have anything to do with the muggle world, how to dress like a muggle. In case it's needed.'

'Another good idea. But about the robes. I was not sure how you would feel about some of our oldest traditions; I admit I was concerned that you would want to change a lot of those.'

'No, our world is different, but incorporating certain muggle ideas will benefit us. I don't want to take anything away from our traditions and way of life. Everything I heard, everything I saw, I just loved it all, this is our world so our traditions need to stay. For safety, we do need to make sure we blend in while in the muggle world, but only in the muggle world. I understand that we do need to bring our world in line with the muggles in some ways because of how many half-bloods and muggle-borns there are now. That is going to be impossible to stop saying, at least for a long time.'

'Yes, it will, especially for all of us who have been brought up hearing the three distinctions of blood status.'

'There is one more thing I wanted to ask you about, it would not be possible this year but maybe from next.'

'Then explain.'

'Eleven year olds, it's nerve wracking to come into the great hall with hundreds of other kids and teachers all staring. But it's more than just that, like me, I was locked up, I wasn't allowed out, I never went anywhere, she would leave me with Mrs. Figg. When I arrived, I tried not to let it all overwhelm me, but that night I did have a small panic attack wondering how I was going to handle having so many around me, but also how would I find my way. Then I find out about trick steps and fake doors. There is an idea in the muggle world, oriantation days, but I want something a little different.'

'Yes, those young children are usually so frightened that many have fainted or like you, have panic attacks. Poppy keeps calming draughts on her for those children. Tell me your idea.'

'Okay, what if we bring the eleven year olds here a few days before. They get sorted like normal but not in front of the entire school. Over the next couple of days all the staff can show the students around, show them short cuts to the different towers or to the library and hospital. If we allowed them to settle in without the hundreds of other students, I believe they would feel more relaxed when classes begin. They would also familiarise themselves with which teacher taught which classes. They can get to know who their head of house is and what parts of the castle and grounds are out of bounds.'

'Harry, that is a wonderful idea, it truly is. Yes, those young children would be comfortable and settled in before being surrounded by the rest of the students. I am proud of you Harry, I really am.'

'So am I, Harry is showing how right he is for the post of headmaster of Hogwarts.'

Harry blushed slightly at the praise from Minerva and from Albus Dumbledore. But he was pleased they liked the idea because he knew it would help settle the first years before the rest of the students arrived.

'Now let me show you to your rooms,' Minerva smiled and showed Harry into the magnificent private rooms of the headmaster, 'I did not want to throw anything away, but all of Albus' belongings are here. Then I went over his will again which states that Aberforth was to receive his home, a few personal items but everything else was to come to you when you became of age. Those instruments in the office, they belonged to Albus, like the pensieve, so they belong to you as well. I will leave you to decide what to do with his robes.'

'I always liked Dumbledore's robes and when I first started to think about this job I knew I would get robes similar, especially the colours, they were just so cool. They made me feel good seeing them, every time Dumbledore walked passed or into a room I just had to watch him. I might have been upset with him, often, but if I saw him and those robes, it was like I knew everything was going to be okay/'

'The headmaster of Hogwarts saying cool, that will be a first, but it's also what is needed. You are old enough in mind and soul to run this school but young enough to relate to the students.'

'Yeah, I do get that, sometimes I feel as old as Dumbledore, but other times I just want to jump on a broom and go crazy. What do you think it would look like if I wore Dumbledore's robes?'

'I believe you are showing respect for the man that mentored you. Once you put them on just cast a basic shrinking charm until they are the right size.'

'Yeah, Hermione taught me that because of the clothes I had wear five times too big for me. Dudley is extremely fat and taller, but that's all they gave me,' Harry looked around his room, still finding it hard to believe everything that had happened, 'The truth Minerva, what do you think Severus will do?'

'He is a very hard man to understand sometimes, so it's impossible to say. Are you worried he might not listen to you?'

'No, I'm sure he would realise what I could do if he refused to listen, which I don't want to do. What I am worried about is if he leaves, I will need to find another defence teacher, but one that knows what they are talking about. Quirrell, Lockhart, Umbridge, they were useless; Remus was great and even Crouch as Moody was good. I admit Severus is a good teacher when he teaches defence and would be better if he just let go of his favouritism of Slytherin. I know he has reasons why he hates Gryffindor's, but surely an intelligent man like him can see that not all students are like the Marauders. I'm not even like them, yet he treated me terribly just because I look like my father.'

'I believe you will need to sit down and have a private conversation with Severus, it might be the only way he will understand. Naturally he does not have to act his role anymore; there are no more secrets that he needs to keep. Severus was very different as a student, he was not as hard as a boy like he is now. He was quiet, he spent a lot of his time studying, like Hermione in a way, always with his nose in a book. It was Lucius Malfoy and the rest that talked him into joining the death eaters. I do know he does regret that decision, he was young and vulnerable and they took advantage of that.'

'I hear you say something like that and I instantly think well I had a shit life but I never turned to the dark arts. But then I realise I had heard about Voldemort and my parents, so I instantly wanted to stop him, not join him. During Severus' time and my parents time, he was still building up his supporters and at the time it wasn't known exactly what he was doing. Maybe it is time Severus and I talked and I mean really talked. I do not like to bring up my life at the Dursley's, but if I do then maybe he will finally see that in some ways, we actually a lot alike.'

'Okay, I don't see any similarities between you and Severus apart from being from a one child family, so please explain.'

Harry sat down and indicated for Minerva to sit, 'When he was trying to teach me occlumency, I was able to stop him and I ended up in his mind. My father and Sirius bullied him, a lot, I was bullied by my cousin and his friends, but also by my aunt and uncle. I hate bullies and why I hated Draco Malfoy; he was a bully and used his influence and money to get what he wanted. I know for a fact that if I saw my father and Sirius acting like that I would have stepped in to stop them, even over someone I do not like.

'When I saw his memory I saw my mother's concern, she asked about how everything was at home and even though he never said much I could tell by his look that his home life was anything but good. I know his mother was a witch and his father was a muggle, Hermione found that out when I had his potions book. Seamus explained how hard it is on his father knowing his wife and son can do all these amazing things with magic, but he can't share it. Hermione told me something similar and that she finds it hard to have anything in common with her parents anymore because they aren't magical. She wants to stay close to them, she's just not sure how.

'I've seen the fear from muggles, sometimes that fear can turn to violence, so it's not hard to imagine that Tobias Snape might not have liked magic. When I ended up in his mind I got a very quick view of Severus as a boy cowering in the corner with a man shouting, so I know he had a terrible upbringing. When Aberforth explained about Ariana and how she was attacked by muggles, it made me realise that even though we can do so much with our magic, people that can't do it, will always fear us. That is why we need to keep our worlds separate, we need the secrecy act.'

'Yes, we do and I know about Albus' sister and his father. Maybe you are right about Severus, so yes, explaining some of your life with the Dursley's might make Severus realise that other children have suffered as well and he might think about that when he interacts with the students. Everything you have said today, everything you have asked, it has shown me how much you are meant for this job. I'm proud of you Harry.'

'Thanks Minerva, hearing something like that from you means more to me than you realise.'

'Organise your rooms, I will see you down in the great hall for dinner,' Minerva smiled then left the headmaster but her smile never left her face, 'You are right Lady Hogwarts, he is perfect for this job and will make everyone proud.'