This is a plot bunny, a stray thought. What if the letter redirect on Harry had redirected his Hogwarts Invitation Letter. The Harry Potter Universe belongs to JK Rowling and to whom she has granted Rights, which does not include me. This story mentions the attack before Harry turned 7, his near-death experience and his reaction to it. The story begins with Harry's 11th birthday and will have a fairly lengthy prologue.
Hedwig had taken nearly two weeks to deliver three letters and return with replies. Hedwig devoured an entire plate full of bacon, which had earned Harry a punishment of three days without food or water in his cupboard under the stairs at 4 Privet Drive.
Pettigrew had confirmed he was in hiding lest Death Eaters find him and kill him. Harry thought something was off there, but did not know what. Lupin was living a pretty good life in Australia and Sirius was in Azkaban without having a trial as was his right. He'd written the letter in his own blood. Harry found that kind of sick.
It turned out that Dudley was being driven to Smeltings for a two-week induction, before term began. Vernon and Petunia would be out for the day. That enabled Harry to pay a trip to the Ministry. As a Member of the Wizengamot, Harry did not have to use the general entrance. He could use the one reserved for the Wizengamot members, so that is exactly what he did.
Amelia Bones was surprised to see Harry. She was more surprised, when Harry showed her the three letters for James' friends. More evidence that Pettigrew was in fact alive. Sirius Orion Black saying he was innocent and had been just thrown into Azkaban.
"Harry, I am sorry, but your motion to have Sirius tried was thrown out by both the Minister and Dumbledore." Amelia Bones was truly sorry.
"I have three votes on the Wizengamot. I submitted a validly nominated and seconded motion. The Minister has no power over the Wizengamot agenda and Dumbledore has no power to prevent my motion from being heard. I am going to put you on the spot. Sirius Orion Black must be immediately released. Since he never had a trial by the Wizengamot, he must be innocent. It is clear he committed no crime. He was falsely imprisoned. There is no reason he is in Azkaban."
Amelia considered what Lord Potter had said. "I was ordered not to investigate the Black case. I was not ordered not to just release him. The case file records Cornelius Fudge as bringing Sirius Orion Black to the Ministry, there is no record of any arrest being made. I will order his release and trust you can get him home, without incident."
Harry nodded, vigorously. "Is there a way I can disrupt Dumbledore's hold over the Wizengamot?"
"You could request a 'seat holder only' attendance for the next Wizengamot meeting. That has to be granted."
"I request a seat holder only attendance at September 1991's Wizengamot meeting."
"Done. Now, go wait by the exit for Wizengamot members and I'll bring Sirius Orion Black to you."
"Right. Do you know where Severus Tobias Snape is?"
"He's your Potions Master at Hogwarts."
Harry went off to await Sirius. A half-hour later, Amelia brought Sirius to Harry.
Harry left the Ministry, called Kreacher and the house-elf apparated all three of them to Grimmauld Place. Harry brewed a pick-me-up (Pepper-Up) Potion and Sirius came round. (Portrait) Walburga was not exactly happy to see her son, but she was not happy to see him in the state he was in. Sirius claimed the Lord ring of House Black. He was accepted. He was packed off to bed to rest. His diet consisted of mainly liquids to purge the effect of a decade of Azkaban and to provide nutrients in a fashion the body could handle.
In the morning, Sirius expressed his thanks.
"What did Dumbledore do to get me out?" Sirius asked.
"Nothing. Amelia Bones released you, because I showed her you had never been charged and were not guilty of anything."
"I don't understand," Sirius said.
"Dumbledore had the Wills sealed by the Wizengamot and dumped me on Aunt Petunia's doorstep," Harry said.
"He did what? Dumbledore knew you were never to go there."
"I wrote James' three friends. Remus Lupin is in Australia. He went there on a promise of a job from Dumbledore, which turned out to be non-existent. He's built a new life for himself. I never received a single letter or visit from any of my parents' friends. Peter Pettigrew says he's in hiding from Death Eaters."
"Pettigrew is the traitor. He betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort. He was the secret keeper."
"Everyone seems to think he's dead.," Harry said. "Just like everyone thinks you are guilty, just because Dumbledore says so!"
"I think, I'll take Dumbledore down a peg or two," Sirius belched. He was eating too fast. The last thing Sirius said as he was going up to sleep in his own bed in nearly a decade was, "Somebody overheard something up in the Hog's Head. Don't know who it was."
Harry found out that the Hog's Head was in Hogsmeade from A History of Magic. Hogsmeade was in magical Scotland and not Britain. The Scots had been non-plussed when British forces had attacked Hogsmeade, which the Goblins had made their HA during one of their many revolts.
The following morning, Harry used the floo to go to Hogsmeade. Kreacher attached the property to the floo network. Harry went through. Kreacher disconnected. He'd restore the connection for 1 minute in two hours.
Harry entered the Hog's Head Inn.
"Hello, young Master. I'm Aberforth Dumbledore owner of this fine establishment. What can I do for you?"
Harry kept his voice low. "I understand that you had an eavesdropper to a conversation here, who was a betrayer of my parents. I'm Harry Potter."
"Ah yes, back in 1979. Albus, my illustrious brother." The face did not match the words. "He was conducting interviews here rather than in Hogwarts. Severus Tobias Snape was the individual." Aberforth watched the smile that appeared on Harry's lips. It was not a pleasant smile.
"Any other information that you'd like."
"Know of anywhere in Hogsmeade I can buy?"
"You can't own land in Hogsmeade."
"Can I lease it?"
"Yes. It so happens that a property has come available in Hogsmeade. Old man who owned it was a miser. I believe it's decorated in 80s fashion."
"I can live with that," Harry said.
"The 1880s." Aberforth laughed. "The heirs want to sell, but I think I can persuade them to lease it to you."
A short time later, Harry was being shown around the property. Harry had been expecting a small run-down cottage. The property had quite extensive gardens – a couple of acres. There were 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, attic and cellar. It was not what Harry thought he'd be leasing for 100 galleons a year for 99 years. Not surprisingly, he signed the lease."
As Harry left, he said," This is brilliant. It's such a nice house." He dismissed the thought he heard or thought he heard, "Oh, this one's a keeper."
Sirius' face paled when he saw Harry with a lease and paled further when he saw the address.
"Harry, that property has been vacant for twenty years. The ghost of the previous owner won't let anyone live there."
"It's a brilliant house and I got it at a very good deal." Harry wasn't going to let his very first deal get ripped to shreds like that.
"Your house, your money," Sirius said. Harry nodded. It was in Magical Scotland, somewhere the Holy Writ of Dumbledore did not extend.
Albus Dumbledore was informed about Harry's transaction. He had informants in the Ministry. Any transaction in Magical Scotland had to be lodged with the Ministry's Land Registry Office, when it concerned a Lord. Dumbledore knew he had to put a stop to this. Fortunately, he had not connected Hermione's best friend Harry with Harry Potter. Dumbledore really did not like children.
Dumbledore's efforts to get this deal annulled reached the ears of Ted Tonks. He let Sirius know. Tonks also told Harry and told Harry what to do.
Dumbledore had assigned Doge, Diggle, Vance and Mundungus or Dung to keep tabs on Harry. He noted that Harry's disappearances were whilst Dung was supposed to be on watch. Dumbledore now regretted turning over all the Potter stuff he had. That time-turner would have come in very handy, right about now.
Tonks sent Harry the forms for the Protection ritual that he'd have to file with Births, Marriages, Deaths and Wills department within the DMLE and the 500 galleons he'd need to pay as the fee. Walburga couldn't understand why a Muggleborn should have their Protection. She was a lot more understanding when Harry told her it was to remove Hermione from Dumbledore's grip. Harry spent most of 31 August 1991 at Grimmauld Place signing the form and paying a visit to Gringotts to get the money out. Dung duly noted 'Potter visited Gringotts' down in his notebook.
Consequently, Harry was late back at his ever-so loving Aunt and Uncle's. He was berated for not being there to do all the chores. When Vernon saw the bag Harry had, he tried to grab it.
"Don't touch my bag, Vernon Dursley."
"You ungrateful little wretch. We took you in and never received a penny for you," Vernon said.
"We never wanted you here," Petunia said.
"I never wanted to be here. I may own the house, but this is not my home and you're not my family. I can't believe you're biologically related to my mother, Petunia," Harry declared. "And I do own the house."
"Don't expect us to drive you to the station, tomorrow." Well that put a monkey wrench in Harry's plans.
Harry was up very early the next day. He phoned Hermione and explained what had happened. By 8am Harry was outside the Guildford police station.
"Remember Harry," Hermione said. The two relevant sections of the Childeren Act 1989 are 17 and 47. "Your back is proof enough." Her parents looked askance.
Serjeant Groves was pleased to have an early Sunday morning shift. It was by no means as traumatic as the early Saturday and Sunday shifts as pub goers tried ever more ingenious ways to injure themselves and each other. He saw four people enter. Two adults and two children. One looked about 12 and the other nine. The nine year old approached his desk.
"I wish to make a complaint based on Sections 47 and 17 of the Children Act 1989. He then took off his shirt until he stood exposing his bare back to the officer and his colleagues. Several officers threw up. Hermione's parents were outraged. A quick visit to the hospital for xrays and they reached the station with a quarter of an hour to spare. The Grangers would be Harry's point of contact. When Groves heard Platform '9 and', he knew why they had to be there. Harry cast a notice-me-not on his school stuff and pretended to be Hermione's younger brother there to see her off. Looking younger had been a plus.
They sat in a carriage which had a pudgy boy trying his hardest to keep a toad in the carriage.
"No, Trevor, you can't go explore. My name's Neville Longbottom." Neville grabbed Trevor as he made a last attempt to flee. They sat down.
"I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione said.
"Nice to meet you, Hermione," Neville said. There was no shaking of hands.
"I am Gerbil Hamil," Harry said.
"Nice to meet you, Gerbil," Neville said. Again, no shaking of hands. Walburga had drilled into Harry that wizards only shook hands to seal a deal.
They made small talk for about half an hour. Then Neville said he was only good enough for Hufflepuff.
"Who is head of Hufflepuff," Harry asked.
"Professor Pomona Sprout. She's the Herbology professor. That's only subject I am good at. I've six greenhouses back home."
"Sounds ideal. Will you have any friends there?" Harry asked.
"I've only had one real friend, Gerbil. He was Harry Potter. When we were one, we terrorized the House-Elves at Longbottom Manor on our toy brooms."
"You remember stuff from when you were one?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. We flew together, with both our families in hiding. Harry's mum was my godmother and mine was Harrys. That all ended 24 October 1981, when both families performed a Fidelius Charm. Dumbledore cast the one for the Potters. Don't know why, Harry's mum was more than capable. A week later Harry lost his parents, but killed you-know-who. Dumbledore told us it was safe to come out of hiding. On 6 November 1981 4 Death Eaters attacked us and used the cruciatus curse on them so much that they've been in St Mungo's ever since. Both my parents were in Gryffindor and I feel I'm letting them down."
"But you're searching for a cure amongst the plants wizards use. That's honouring them," Hermione said.
Neville sat straighter. "What House do you want?"
"I love knowledge," Hermione said. "That makes it Ravenclaw.
"You Gerbil?" Neville asked.
"I'm a conundrum," Harry said. "I am not brave, have no friends, aren't that intelligent and don't possess an ounce of cunning or ambition."
"None of the above. Sorting should take a while. I know you just sit there with a talking Hat on your head. I'm not supposed to let on, so please keep it quiet." Neville was speaking in a conspiratorial tone. Both Harry and Hermione nodded.
About noon, the door opened and the candy selling lady entered. Harry bought the entire cart. As she left to go refill, Trevor escaped. Neville called out, "Trevor, no," jumped up and threw himself after his toad. Harry used colloportus on the door. They needed privacy.
Hermione did all the things she needed to do to gain Harry's Protection or rather the Protection of House Potter, including the form signing. Harry then stood up.
"I should use the corridor to complete the portkey. I'll be back after 5. You probably should go after Neville. He probably won't remember which carriage he's in. Plus, you can spy everyone on this train and we'll make some of those lists you are so fond of, next week."
"Goodluck, Harry."
Harry used alohomora to open the door and stood in the corridor. He completed the portkey for origin and return destination. He then activated it and was soon in Grimmauld Place. Sirius checked that the Protection documentation was correctly filled in, whilst Harry ate and changed into his Wizengamot finery.
Harry was at the Ministry at 1:30 pm to drop off the Protection document and pay his fee. He got the receipt and Ministry stamp of approval and the special seal used for House Protection. He just made it into the Chamber Ten for 2 pm.
Dumbledore intoned, "I call the September 1991 session of the Wizengamot to order. Seal the Chamber. Let all who have business before the Wizengamot, present themselves."
"I have business before the Wizengamot. I am Lord Harry James Potter and am here to take up my seats in the Wizengamot. Diggle, Vance and you must be Doge, you're in my seats. Get out of them."
None of them moved. Harry claimed the seats and they were thrown out of them.
"Harry, you are too young to take up your seats." Dumbledore was trying to regain control of the situation.
"Madam Bones, what were these three doing in my seats? Can I charge them with something?"
"Yes, Lord Potter. Did you ever approve their representing you?"
"No, I never have." Harry was absolutely certain about that.
"I appointed them, Harry," Dumbledore interjected.
"It's Lord Potter to you. Why would you appoint them?" Harry looked questioningly at Madam Bones.
"The Wizengamot appointed me your magical Guardian?"
"The Wizengamot has no power to appoint anyone as my magical guardian. Sirius Orion Black is my magical guardian."
"Sirius Orion Black is in Azkaban. As a convicted criminal Sirius Orion Black cannot be a magical guardian. He was automatically removed as soon as he went to Azkaban." Dumbledore was twinkling his eyes.
"Sirius Orion Black was not convicted of any crime. Why was he sent to Azkaban?" Harry asked.
"Dumbledore said he believed Sirius Orion Black was the Secret Keeper for the Potters," Barty Crouch responded.
"Can anyone tell me where Sirius Orion Black was on 24th October 1981?" Harry asked.
"He was at the best party we ever threw as Aurors," Minister Fudge said. "He was there all night. Why do you ask?"
"Because that evening was the night Albus Dumbledore cast the Fidelius Charm for the Potters. He'd have known for a fact that Sirius Black was not the Secret Keeper, because he was not there."
"Dumbledore said that the Potters wanted the nation to have their house," Fudge came back at Harry.
"How did Dumbledore know that?" Harry asked, reasonably. "Since it became my property on my parents' deaths, I would have needed to give my permission. I have never given that."
"You were a fifteen-month-old baby." Dolores Jane Umbridge said, making her first contribution to the discussion.
"I could talk. Who are you, anyway? Some prince kiss a toad, by mistake?"
The chamber laughed, Wizengamot members and public guests alike.
"I am Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic." Umbridge looked quite cross.
"Harry, Sirius was convicted of killing Peter Pettigrew and 12 muggles," Dumbledore said.
"With one spell?" Harry asked.
"We believe so," Albus Dumbledore said.
"Pettigrew is not dead. I had an owl back from him telling me he was in hiding from Death Eaters. He's not dead, so Sirius was not the one who cast the spell killing the muggles," Harry concluded.
"Sirius Orion Black was guilty that's why he was sent to Azkaban," Dumbledore said, loudly. "So you, Harry were the one who sought a retrial for Sirius Orion Black?"
"That is Lord Potter to you, Albus. You knew he was entitled to a trial before the Wizengamot as the Heir to House Black. I notice the bumblebee design on your robes and Gilderoy Lockhart's presence in the audience. I think I know who to sue as the decidedly non-fact Young Harry Potter Adventures publisher and author respectively," Harry was beginning to get warmed up. He'd spent three years on a debating team with Hermione. He had learnt some good habits.
"Sirius Orion Black was an innocent that you sent to Azkaban so he could have no part in raising me. You sent Remus Lupin to Australia for a job you knew did not exist. I've no doubt you told Pettigrew where to hide. You took me from my own house. That's Line Theft, Chief Warlock. That carries an automatic death sentence for you and anyone who helped you."
"Lord Potter's list of charges, Chief Warlock, will be investigated. I was instructed not to bring Sirius Orion Black before the Wizengamot for the trial he should have had nearly a decade ago. On further investigation, I found that Sirius Orion Black was not read his rights, was not arrested, his wand was broken without the last spell fired from it being recorded and I, therefore, directed that Sirius Orion Black be released from Azkaban into his own recognisance. Anything else you'd like added to the list of charges," Amelia Bones asked.
"I hope whoever that incompetent Auror was got fired, Harry said. He did not understand why there were howls of laughter. "I remember flying on a motorcycle with a giant of a man. I was left overnight on the doorstep of my magic hating muggle aunt to be found on 2nd November 1981. Neville's parents were not attacked until 6 November 1981. How did Dumbledore know that Neville's mother, my godmother, would not be able to raise me? Wasn't there anyone else who could have raised me after they died?"
"The incompetent auror is now the Minister for Magic," Amelia said. Harry looked shocked, disbelieving. My niece, Susan, is starting Hogwarts this year, like you. Why aren't you on the train to Hogwarts, Lord Potter?"
"I haven't ever received any letters, so I imagine the Hogwarts Invitation letter and my train ticket are wherever all the other letters have gone. To anyone who has sent me a letter or more than one letter, thank you for caring. But I am really sorry that I never received them and couldn't write back to thank you."
"I am Regent Augusta Longbottom," a rather fierce looking old lady with a vulture hat began, "my son and his wife, your godmother, were not killed. I am certainly interested in learning why I was denied the opportunity to raise you. My grandson Neville will be sorted into Gryffindor to honour his parents."
"Is he good at anything?" Harry asked.
"Herbology. That's study of plants and their properties."
"Is that a subject at Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Lord Potter, it is taught by Pomona Sprout head of Hufflepuff House."
"Then I hope Neville has the courage of his convictions and gets sorted into Hufflepuff and together with Professor Sprout continue his quest to find a cure for his parents. I think you should be proud of your grandson, Regent Longbottom. I think his search for a cure, honours both his parents."
"I am Lord Fawley. Your grandmother was my Aunt."
"I am delighted to discover I have magical relatives. I'd love to get to know you and your, our, family. I am conscious that we have rather a thick agenda to get through."
"We do indeed, Lord Potter," Dumbledore was back to twinkling. People began to watch how Harry voted and often followed suit.
Lord Selwyn asked Harry, "Lord Potter I am curious to know how somebody who has been marooned without instruction in wizarding kind could form an opinion to vote on cauldron thickness."
"It strikes me, Lord Selwyn that a cauldron that is not a uniform thickness risks there being imperfections in its potions. When that happens, the best you can hope for on imbibing the potion is that nothing happens. The worst is that the potion explodes within you, I mean one. That might be regarded as very bad. I guess that the majority of wizards and witches make potions and that the Wizengamot has passed many resolutions on the matter of cauldrons. I think it would be helpful for this body to know which regulations are working really well and which are not."
"A thoughtful response, Lord Potter. Would it matter who the wizard with an inferior cauldron was, be he pureblood, half blood or muggleborn?
"I believe, Lord Selwyn that the muggleborn would know less than other wizards and may not know the charms, if such there are for cauldron thickness."
The Wizengamot proceeded efficiently through the Agenda. The Light won some votes, the Dark others. Harry was not impressed. The Agenda was completed. All that remained was Any Other Business. Dumbledore then brought up Harry's business in Hogsmeade.
"It is really none of your business what I do in Magical Scotland. You have no jurisdiction there as either Chief Warlock or as Supreme Mugwump. Magical Scotland is not part of the International Confederation of Wizards."
"I am responsible for you," Dumbledore said.
"No, you really are not!" Harry was about to explode. Dumbledore was really getting on his case.
Dumbledore argued that the Wizengamot had a duty to regulate what its members did outside of magical Britain. Harry won his case by arguing that the other members of the Wizengamot would be at risk of being regulated, if the Wizengamot allowed Dumbledore get away with this.
Harry was sure that Dumbledore would not stop with this. He had the experience and the local knowledge. Harry was the Boy-Who-Lived. That gave him some pull, but he was only 11. Harry met with Tonks. He recommended his wife, Andromeda Tonks nee Black, but kicked out of the family, as the Black House Steward.
"Mr Tonks, I would be delighted to have your wife as the Black family Steward. I'm aware that she got kicked out of the family. Whilst I could understand her taking well-deserved revenge on the House, right now House Black can't cope with someone doing that."
Tonks chuckled. He'd expected Harry to turn her down. He had not expected the way Harry had done it. Later, at home, he told his wife what Harry had said. Andromeda laughed. She didn't deny that Harry was wrong.
Harry got back to Grimmauld Place. He made Kreacher know that Narcissa, Draco and Bellatrix were png and temporarily banned from House Black. He then sent Sirius off to the South of France to the Black Health Spa and had Kreacher seal his mind for a year. Sirius went without complaint. Harry knew the old Marauder would have fought tooth and nail before going to a Health Farm. Walburga was even complimentary.
Sirius had mumbled something about a Marauders Map, but Harry had not understood. Sirius was not making much sense. He was talking about a mermaid he'd seduced, when he left. Harry thought Sirius was happy. He'd better be making sense, though, on his return a year hence.
Kreacher prepared 6 meals for Harry's journey to Hogwarts. Harry put them into his bag. The House Protection stamped receipt, he placed in the Study. He left everything downstairs and went up to change. He did so and went back downstairs, checked he had everything and then activated the return command on the portkey. Moments later, Harry was back outside his carriage. He went inside.
"Hello, Gerbil," Neville said. "You were gone a long time." He then turned to the people who had joined them in the time Harry had been away. "Let me introduce you to, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones and Daphne Greengrass."
Harry mumbled 'Hello' to each girl. Greengrass? This was the daughter of the leader of the Grey faction in the Wizengamot. The man had not shown himself to be a friend to Harry in the Wizengamot session. Harry remembered his manners and offered one of the prepared meal snacks to each of the other pupils in his carriage. Daphne had been told by her father to make friends with Harry Potter. All she had to go on was the Potters and Longbottom were longstanding allies. She had chosen this carriage, because Longbottom was in it. She was even sitting away from Tracey Davis. All she had as the final guest in the carriage was a student named Gerbil. They all sat there eating their snack.
"Gerbil," Hermione said, with a disapproving tone clear in the air.
"Neville, I have no memory of flying with you," Harry said.
"Why would you, Gerbil?" Neville said, confused.
"Because Neville Longbottom, Heir of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom, I am Lord Harry James Potter of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter and I greet you Heiress Hannah of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Abbott and you Heiress Daphne of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Greengrass and Lady Susan of the Noble House of Bones and a fellow orphan courtesy of You-Know-Who. I greet you Miss Hermione Granger, under the Protection of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter."
"Lord Potter, House Greengrass requests a formal Alliance between our Houses."
"I've spent the last, nearly, ten years in the house of a magic-hating muggle relatives. I have no idea how to respond to your formal request of Alliance. I have some research to do," Harry said.
"My father told me to make the offer, but not what to do. We both have research to do."
"I'll owl my father," Hannah said.
"I'll owl my Aunt. She's the head of the DMLE," Susan said.
"Thank you both," Harry said.
Harry, Neville and Hermione were in one of the boats that was to take the first years to Hogwarts. A late entrant, who nearly caused the boat to capsize was a tall red-haired freckle faced firstie by the name of Ronald Bilious Weasley. Harry reckoned he would have gone without mentioning the middle name.
"Blimey, I walked up and down that train, but I couldn't find Harry Potter. Reckon we're going to be best mates." Harry reckoned the opposite.
"Blimey, Neville Longbottom. Thought you were a squib." Harry was fortunate that he was holding one of Neville's hands. Hermione had the other.
"Isn't that spectacular, Neville?" Harry said as Hogwarts, all lit up, came into view. Neville nodded and the boy who had been about to panic, calmed down and relaxed.
Motormouth Ron was still talking and finished just as they reached Hogwarts front doors, "told we have to wrestle a troll." Harry was ready to arrange for a troll to do just that for Ron.
McGonagall spouted her piece about Houses being your family. Hermione checked her watch. It was now 19:45. The Sorting began at 8:00 pm. The Sorting Hat finished its song. Harry had long since tuned out. Pupils were sorted in alphabetic order. Hermione's sorting took 5 minutes. She finally had to invoke Harry's Protection and Status as a Legacy student to force her sorting into Ravenclaw. It announced Ravenclaw. Then it added, menacingly, "Dumbledore is not going to like this." Hermione did not like the implication.
Harry was finally called to be sorted.
"Ah, Harry Potter, Legacy student. Your Protectee has already demanded Ravenclaw off me. I told her Dumbledore was not going to like it." Outside, to the Hall, the Sorting Hat announced, "Better be Ravenclaw."
Dumbledore got up, said 4 words, sat down again and then the feast began. Harry had a nice bowl of tomato soup with a couple of bread rolls. He had a main course of roast beef slices, roast lamb slices and roast chicken slices with mashed potato, carrots, peas, cabbage and turnips. He had a generous helping of gravy and a nice big dollop of ketchup. He finished that meal off with a nice slice of treacle tart and cream. Harry had several glasses of pumpkin juice, which magically refilled each time he got to the bottom. Harry settled back in his chair to listen to Dumbledore whilst drinking a really good cup of tea and eating a couple of his favourite squares of dark Belgian chocolate. And no, the Dursleys did not know who was eating their chocolate. They believed it was each other.
Harry wasn't really paying attention until Dumbledore said, "The third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death." What was this? Had Harry inadvertently landed in an episode of the Twilight Zone? He looked at Hermione and their eyes said the same thing: You cannot be serious!
The fifth year prefect, Penny Clearwater gathered the 10 Ravenclaw first years and took them up to their dorms. Harry was not impressed that anyone who could answer a riddle could get into the Common Room. He used a wandless colloportus to keep the curious from entering his dorm. Ravenclaw students had individual dorms, unlike the other houses.
Harry opened up his trunk. He set aside two piles on the chairs provided, one for clothes to wash and the other for returned clothes. The following morning, after Harry got showered and dressed, he wrote a letter to Amelia Bones asking for guidance on formal alliances. He said she'd helped him before and he hoped she would again. He also mentioned the 'painfull' death promised students who ventured into the right-hand side of the third floor corridor. He sent Hedwig off with the letter. He joined Hermione for breakfast.
A couple of students turned up and gave both Harry and Hermione a note to see the headmaster at different times that evening. Harry had not been invited to Hermione's meeting, which as her Protector, he should have been.
Professor Flitwick arrived and handed out their timetables. He told the first years that he would be speaking with them that evening. Harry and Hermione looked at each other. The time Flitwick was going to be speaking to them collectively was the time Dumbledore wanted to see each of them, separately. They waited until Flitwick had finished handing out timetables and approached him. They showed him the notes. Flitwick frowned. Dumbledore knew his routine. He had also read the Daily Prophet and the Wizengamot meeting had been well covered.
A/N
These are the Houses and pupils in Harry's year, for this story. For ALL Double lessons the pairings are Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw and Gryffindor/Slytherin. A heads up: there will be at least one resorting, quite soon after term starts. Astronomy is taught to the whole year group.ui
Abbott, Hannah - Hufflepuff
Bones, Susan – Hufflepuff
Entwhistle, Kevin -Hufflepuff
Finch-Fletchley, Justin - Hufflepuff
Hopkins, Wayne - Hufflepuff
Jones, Megan - Hufflepuff
Longbottom, Neville - Hufflepuff
Macmillan, Ernest – Hufflepuff
Moon, Lily - Hufflepuff
Smith, Sally - Hufflepuff
Brown, Lavender -Gryffindor
Finnigan, Seamus - Gryffindor
Patel, Pavrati - Gryffindor
Patel, Padma – Gryffindor
Perks, Sally-Anne - Gryffindor
Rivers, Oliver - Gryffindor
Roper, Sophie - Gryffindor
Smith, Zacharias - Gryffindor
Thomas, Dean - Gryffindor
Weasley, Ronald - Gryffindor
Boot, Trevor - Ravenclaw
Brocklehurst, Mandy - Ravenclaw
Corner, Michael - Ravenclaw
Cornfoot, Stephen - Ravenclaw
Goldstein, Anthony - Ravenclaw
Granger, Hermione - Ravenclaw
Li, Sue - Ravenclaw
MacDougal, Morag - Ravenclaw
Potter, Harry – Ravenclaw
Turpin, Lisa - Ravenclaw
Bulstrode, Millicent -Slytherin
Crabbe, Vincent -Slytherin
Davis, Tracey - Slytherin
Goyle, Gregory - Slytherin
Greengrass, Daphne - Slytherin
Malfoy, Draco - Slytherin
Nott, Theodore - Slytherin
Parkinson, Pansy – Slytherin
Runcorn, Enid – Slytherin
Zabini, Blaise – Slytherin