Notes: More for the "Junior Headmaster" idea.

Pairings; Harry/Hermione, Ron/Susan Bones

Part One:

Hannah Abbott was running horribly late. She had overslept and everything snowballed from there. Her dark hair was in a messy bun, she was wearing her footie pajamas under her robes, and she had almost forgotten her files as she flew to the Floo and shouted her destination. Dobby the House-Elf was waiting for her as the fireplace spat her out and took her to the conference room as quickly as possible.

She slipped in quietly, hoping not to draw attention to herself but her Boss had situational awareness that was unbelievable.

The room fell silent as Harry Potter, her highest superior, asked with concern, "Are you alright Hannah?"

Her face flamed red as she took her usual seat at the round table, setting down her files and opening the top one as she replied shyly, "Everything's fine, I just overslept this morning. I apologize and vow that it shan't happen again."

"Hannah, you're a volunteer," Hermione Granger, second highest superior, reminded her, "it's okay if you're a bit late."

"No, it's not. I'm being paid for this," Hannah replied as she fished out her reading glasses and Dobby appeared with her usual requested tea and even a couple of pastries. She flashed the being a smile of gratitude before asking the group at large, "Okay, so what've I missed?"

Hermione looked at the minutes she had been taking, "Well, first we went over the OWLS and NEWTS that we've passed during the summer. Did you pass any of yours?"

Hannah nodded and retrieved a piece of parchment, passing it over as she spoke with a bit of pride, "Passed both Herbology exams with an Outstanding on the OWLS and an Exceeds Expectations on the NEWTS, got Outstandings on both Defense exams, OWLS on History of Magic was an EE, NEWTS was an Acceptable. I only took the Potions OWLS and barely made an EE and that was only because of my Herbology talent, my Mum's going to hire a decent tutor to undo what that idiot Snape caused and she's invited you all to join in."

Hermione nodded, marking the results down and then handing back the parchment as she asked, "And you've refreshed and passed the Saint Mungo's first aid course?"

Hannah nodded, handing over two pieces of parchment and a page of Muggle paper, "Yes, those are copies of my certificates from St. Mungo's course, a course in Field aid Auntie Amelia ran me and Susan through, and I took a muggle first aid course."

Hermione filed those away, asking, "And you're all caught up on your inoculations…"

"Yes." Hannah nodded, frowning, "I really don't want a repeat of the Anderson incident."

Everyone flinched, looking saddened by that memory. Abigail Anderson was a young Hogwarts student who had become quite ill after contracting the one thing Hannah was not up to date on…Snake Pox, a less deadly though still quite dangerous cousin to the infamous Dragon Pox. The girl had survived but her once youthful face was now marred by the Pox scars, and she still tired much more easily than before.

Hermione was the first to move again, looking at her list once more, "So, then we talked about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, a Mister John Johnson. We've decided to ramp up the tutoring programs…And now we're onto the budget, Daphne?"

Daphne Greengrass, Fifth Year Slytherin, grinned and said, "We could probably open three more Hogwarts and still have a decent surplus. Harry's royalties takes care of that." She smirked, looking down at her sheaf of parchment, "The House Teams have requested new, or at least newer, brooms for the school. Terry's asked for more typewriters for the tutoring programs and Granger's already tracked down a company that gives bulk discounts for schools. Aside from that, we've still have Mister Lupin and Lord Black on contract…Not to mention Mad-Eye as a security advisor…Only two students on scholarship, both Muggleborn, both orphans, the Weasleys are fostering them…Ron? How are they?"

Ron Weasley, to the right of Hannah and the left of Harry, cleared his throat, "Milly Palmer, the older one, is still pretty skittish. She's going through legal proceedings against her aunt for abuse, neglect, and damages…Susan has more details on that. Amanda Skinner is in much better shape, her muggle foster home was actually overseen by a squib who made sure she was kept safe enough, unfortunately this meant she had to be labeled as 'Special Needs' and thus couldn't be adopted out. Officially, in the muggle world, she has 'behavioral issues'." Ron shuffled the parchments he had in front of him, squinting at something before finally breaking down and donning his reading glasses, "The Diggorys are looking into actually adopting both so they do have that going for them but we don't want to split them up and Palmer's on hold 'til we know what's going on with the legal case…"

Susan Bones, sitting to the left of Hermione, cleared her throat. Her voice a calm, forced dead monotone, "It's bad."

"How bad?" Harry demanded, his eyes sparking as green as a Killing Curse and his power flowing off him.

"Everything short of sexual abuse," Susan used the same dead tone as she spoke, "you think it, she's dealt with it. Apparently she would've been better cared for by You-Know-Who himself."

"You must be exaggerating!" Terry Boot, between Susan and Daphne, exclaimed, "Surely no one, not even the worst sort of muggle, would be that bad!"

"I don't doubt it," Harry spoke up icily, though it was not that he was angered by Boot's disbelief; Harry's eyes were stormy, "Ron, I'll need you to add her case to your schedule, I know you're busy but…"

The redhead nodded, smiling sadly, "Already started with her; half the battle will be getting her to trust me…Susan, were the Healers able to deal with the physical damage?"

"Most of it," Susan winced, "Some of it, not so much, she'll always be weak on her left side. Apparently she was left-handed and that, coupled with her magic, made her nutty aunt think that she was an actual literal devil-child. So her aunt crippled her left side."

"Merlin," Daphne swore, "But muggles aren't all like that right?"

"Darn right," Hermione retorted, "those are the fringe lunatics, like the crazy only pureblood should use magic people. They're opposite extremes on the same spectrum."

"It gets worse," Susan spoke sadly, "she's only gone to reception, nothing beyond that…"

"You don't mean…!" Hermione and Terry both gasped in horror.

"Only knows up to ten and her alphabet and barely how to spell her own name." Susan pinched the bridge of her nose, "We're going to need to set up some extra lessons for her. Terry?"

The Ravenclaw leant forward and put his fingers together as if in prayer, frowning, "I've an aunt, she's retired but she was a primary teacher. Still sharp as a tack and as patient as ever…"

"Why'd she retire then?" Harry asked curiously.

"Health problems, she has a bone disease that makes it painful to move…" Terry replied, "She's on a lot of medications but if we can get her cleared for being allowed to come into the magical world then there's some potions she can use…I already lace her drinks and food with them during the holidays…" Terry smiled apologetically at Susan, "I know what I risk but she's in so much pain that I…"

Susan waved him off, grinning, "Anything I hear here is in confidence and I'm sure Auntie Amelia wouldn't get you in trouble anyway…"

"I'll get her cleared with the Ministry," Harry decided, "I've the best chance out of all of us and she can live in Grimmauld Place. Get a Healer to look after her and then we can just Floo Miss Palmer back and forth on the weekends…Do you think your aunt would object to teaching some magical kids during the week?"

"Not at all, she misses teaching," Terry grinned before looking at his notes, "Okay, all our tutors have signed up again for this year and a bunch more besides; we need more typewriters and probably a bigger study hall…"

"There's the western ballroom," Harry spoke up mildly, "we'll get the elves to set it up; how are the textbooks?"

"Still in pretty good shape, thanks to the charms Granger and Greengrass layered over them." Terry bowed his head to each girl, before frowning, "What about our channels?"

Hannah cleared her throat, "Well, Neville's still the Gryffindor channel, Dean's his deputy. Padma for Ravenclaw, with Luna Lovegood as her deputy. For Slytherin, since our previous channel's gone, Tracy Davis' our woman, with Millicent Bulstrode as her back-up. And with Hufflepuff is Justin Finch-Fletchley, no deputy."

"And the Buddy Program?" Harry asked, with interest evident.

"Sixty-five percent of our returning students have signed up and already filled out the questionnaire that Ron and me designed."

"And who's on Platform duty?" was the next question.

"Hermione and Terry will be on the muggle side, helping the confused Muggleborn," Ron explained, "They'll have their hair dyed a nice purple color; Hannah, Daphne, Susan, and me will be manning the tables; Susan and Hannah with yellow dyed hair and handling First Years with last names that start with A to P and me and Daphne with neon green handling surnames P to Zed." He grinned, "Dobby and Winky will be helping load up the luggage. Owls will be sent ahead. Cats will be given collars with the name of their owners before they are loaded."

"And the lunches?" Harry asked.

"Will be prepared before we go, Kreacher will be overseeing the distribution." Hannah grinned, "Relax Harry, we've done this before; all you need to worry about is clearing this with Dumbledore and DMLE."

"Already done," Harry nodded, "Aurors Tonks and Kingsley will be funneling the students towards the right platform alongside extra security."

He looked at his friends, "Alright, is there anything else to discuss?"

Everyone looked around before shrugging and replying in the negative.

Harry nodded, standing up, and saying, "Fantastic, everyone knows the routine. Arrive by four next week, we leave at half eight via Floo. Ron, will Ginny be coming with us?"

Everyone began packing while Ron shook his head, "Nah, she's going with our folks and the girls."

"Alright then."

Part Two:

James T. Kirk, Muggleborn, and his parents searched for the 'witch and wizard with purple dye jobs' and quickly found them. James Kirk Senior was pushing along the luggage trolley, holding the trunk with his son's initials, his folding bicycle, and a calico in a cage, and led the way.

The girl at the platform smiled in a friendly, welcoming manner and asked carefully, "Hogwarts?"

"Yes," Joanna Kirk replied.

"Right through here then," the boy said, patting the brick barrier and letting his hand fall through, "Straight on through, best to take it at a bit of a run if you're nervous, then go and sign in and your luggage will be loaded." He grinned, "Welcome to the magical world."

The Kirks did as instructed and were stunned to see an old fashioned scarlet steam locomotive puffing out thick smoke as hundreds of people milled around the platform and a multitude of conversations and sounds became audible.

"First Years! First Years sign in over here please!" a deep male voice called and they looked to see two tables, manned by two teenagers each.

The Kirks moved closer and saw how the First Years were being dealt with and so stepped up to the table with the two girls with yellow hair.

"Hello, First Year?" one asked and James T. nodded.

"Name, First, middle, and surname?" she asked as she riffled through her lists.

"James Tiberius Kirk." Joanna Kirk replied.

"Blood status?" the girl asked, "Are you Muggleborn…?"

"Yes." James T. nodded.

"Ah, found you!" she smiled as she crossed his name off, before handing him a paperback book, "Welcome to Hogwarts, and the magical world. I'm Susan Bones, Hufflepuff Fifth Year. Here's a student handbook…I see you have a cat…?"

"Yeah, Spot. She has a collar already."

"Brilliant, she's fixed right?"

"Yep, and up to date on her shots and everything."

Susan smiled, "Fantastic, do you need or want a lunch? For the ride up, it's all day…"

"Yes please," James T. nodded eagerly. He was handed a purple ticket and given the instructions, "There's a man at a table nearer to the train, blue hair and green eyes; you really can't miss him. Give that to him and he will add you to the lunch list. Lunch will be brought to you in the back half of one. Put your luggage to the side," Susan pointed to the right of her, "our elves will load it up, though you do have the option of taking Spot with you now."

The Kirks, looking slightly dazed by the infodump, nodded and put the luggage to the side, though James T. took Spot and her carrier with them. They meandered through the students, noticing quite a few of the older ones were aiding younger ones, until they came to the blue haired boy.

"Hey," he greeted with a welcoming, friendly smile, "I'm Harry, Fifth Year Gryffindor, you signing up for a lunch?"

James T., feeling braver than he actually was, spoke up, holding out his ticket, "Yeah; I'm James T. Kirk, incoming First Year."

Harry nodded, taking the ticket and writing down the information on it, asking, "Well met, James. Now, I have to ask, do you have any food allergies that you know of?"

"Nuts," Joanna jumped in, "All types of nuts and anything derived from them."

"Okay, that's easy enough," Harry replied, "Now, are you of any religion that forbids anything? Like pork or beef?"

"Nope."

"Vegetarian? Vegan?"

"Nope, nope."

"Wonderful, now do you want milk, water, or juice with your food?"

"Apple juice please."

Harry nodded again, pasting a brown sticker and an orange sticker with the raised letters of 'AJ' to the parchment besides the First Year's name and then handing him another ticket, this time blue. The ticket had a number on it with at least four digits and was also sporting both the brown sticker and the orange 'AJ' one, explaining, "That number's your order number so keep ahold of it, you won't eat if you don't have that; it's a safety precaution," Harry elaborated at their stunned looks, "That way nobody gets poisoned or eats something against their belief system." Harry smiled again, saying "Alright, now you need to check in with the Weasley twins, redhead boys, can't miss them, you'll need the one in gold and then you can board the train."

"Why all the checkpoints?" James Senior asked.

"Another safety precaution," Harry admitted, "A few years ago a few students didn't get on the platform or train because someone blocked the entrance barrier. This's a way to make sure all First, Second, and Third Years get where they need to be."

"Makes sense."

James T. hugged his parents, said goodbye, and took Spot with him as he looked for the redheaded twin boys. He found them on the steps of the train car. He signed in with the one in gold, George Weasley, Seventh Year Gryffindor, and entered the train, easily finding an empty compartment.

He let Spot out of her cage and then put it into the overhead luggage rack; Spot, thoroughly put out by her time in the carrier, refused contact with him and instead jumped up onto the opposite luggage rack and set to grooming herself.

James sat down and cracked open his handbook; he was in no way a bookworm but he knew he, like other so called 'Muggleborns' were at a bit of a disadvantage. Making friends could wait; besides, he was a bit sad that he had to leave his best friend behind in muggle school. They had grown up together and had made a pact that they would always, always attend the same school.

Unfortunately, that wasn't possible now and besides, she had withdrawn from him as the end of summer approached and he couldn't exactly explain where he was going could he?

The door to his compartment open and a familiar voice began, "Hi, I'm Janice, can I si—James?!"

His head whipped up as he couldn't believe his ears. There was his best friend, Janice Little, gaping at him just as he was at her.

She almost dropped the cage holding her pet toad, Hopper, to rush to hug her friend. He had stood up and hugged her tightly, saying, "Oh my god! You're a witch!"

She laughed and hugged back, setting Hopper on the seat, retorting, "You're a wizard! Did you know?!"

"No! Did you?!" he replied.

"No!" she giggled. She flopped down on the seat as he let Hopper free, elevating her to Spot. The two animals were friends, so Spot gently took the small animal from her owner, carefully carrying Hopper in her jaws to a spot near the back of the luggage rack. She set the toad down, nuzzled her, carefully licked her to apply some moisture, before going back to grooming herself.

Meanwhile the humans were trading the stories of their first trips into the Magical World, how they found their wands, and so on so forth.

Nobody else disturbed the compartment, even after the train began leaving the station, until in came a gangly boy with neon green hair; he gave a friendly smile, "Hey guys, just checking in on you First Years; I'm Ron Weasley, Fifth Year Gryffindor. Everything okay?"

"Yep." Both James and Janice nodded enthusiastically.

"Great, you need anything just find someone older and they'll help. Welcome to Hogwarts." And he gave a wave and left.

At half past one two odd looking creatures appeared with their lunches, collecting their tickets as they did so.

At half past eight, an older student came in to inform them that they were near the school so they might as well get into uniform and put the pets into their carriers.

Near nine they pulled into the Station and were herded from the train and on the platform where the First Years were given over to the care of a giant man with a giant smile called Hagrid. He in turn herded the children into a small fleet of boats as the older students loaded into horse-less carriages that moved on their own.

It was four to a boat, except for Hagrid who took a boat for himself, and so two unknown kids climbed in with the two friends.

Hagrid tapped the back of his boat with his pink umbrella and the whole group set off across the waters of the lake. A few minutes later the First Years had their first look at Hogwarts herself.

A great medieval castle with thousands of glowing windows standing on a cliff against the inky black night, a welcoming beacon to her students and staff.

They went into a grotto hidden by a curtain of ivy, where the boats docked and they clambered out onto a roughly hewn stone floor. Hagrid did a quick headcount before leading them up a similarly built set of stairs to a roughly hewn great wooden door with a large iron knocker.

Hagrid used the knocker to bang on the door, the sound thunderous and deep, before a severe looking grey hair witch in a Scottish green robe answered the door.

"Your First Years, Professor." Hagrid rumbled, gesturing to the anxious, awed tiny children.

"Thank you, Professor Hagrid," she replied, a Scottish accent characterizing her words. Hagrid nodded and took his leave, taken the boats with him, as the witch looked over her newest charges, "I am Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration Mistress and Deputy Headmistress of this school. Follow me."

Silently the children did as told, too scared to do much else than look around. They past a set of large doors from behind which came the chatter of hundreds of students.

They were instead led to a much smaller room where they crowded in, with the Professor saying, "This is Hogwarts, the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world. In a short time you will be sorted into one of four houses. Each House, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin, has a long and noble history that it will be your duty to uphold to the best of your abilities. While you are at Hogwarts your House is your family. Points are given for good behavior and deducted for misbehavior. Wait here, silently, as we finish our preparations for your sortings, I shall return to collect you shortly."

And she left, the plain door echoing behind her. Almost immediately a spattering of chatter started up. However she quickly returned and led them into the Great Hall, which was already full with the other students.

Each student was sorted and then the Headmaster gave a small speech before the meal appeared and they feasted. Thankfully, both James and Janice were in the same House, Hufflepuff.

Once dessert was finished and the plates sparkling the students retired to their dormitories where they found their things and pets waiting. Almost everyone fell into bed instantly.

Part Three:

Neville Longbottom, Fifth Year Gryffindor and channel into that House, looked over his charges. The First Years were awoken early and told to get dressed as they had a busy day ahead. They had physicals with Madam Pomfrey, the school matron, scheduled for the morning and then after lunch an assembly in the Eastern Ballroom.

And it was Neville's job, aided by his deputy Dean and their Housemates Seamus and Ginny, to escort the Gryffindor First Years to each area and supervise them as they did so. Dean was also the Fifth Year Gryffindor male Prefect.

The First Years were half-asleep and so yawning and rubbing their eyes. Dean and Ginny did separate head counts, making sure everyone was there.

"Morning," Neville greeted cheerily, "I'm Neville Longbottom, these are my friends Dean, Seamus, and Ginny," he pointed them out and each waved, "We've been set to look after you today. Today, after breakfast, you will be given physicals by our school healer, Madam Pomfrey, after that is lunch and then there's an assembly to attend. Both are mandatory. Now, who here has never seen a healer?"

"Is that like a doctor?" one of the Muggleborns asked shyly.

Neville smiled, "Exactly, just magical." He agreed kindly, nodding.

About nine of the twenty-five First Years raised their hands and they were given red rubber wrist bands to wear. That way Madam Pomfrey would know she needed to do a complete work-up, inoculate and begin new files for those students. The rest of the students were given gold rubber wrist bands, indicating they had magical medical files already and had thus been inoculated against magical and muggle illnesses already.

"Okay, two lines," Neville instructed calmly, waiting as the students moved as told. In two straight lines they walked, exiting the Tower with Neville and Ginny in the lead and Dean and Seamus bringing up the rear.

Two by two they descended the stairs, being warned about the trick steps as they went, two by two they wound through the corridors, two by two they entered the Great Hall, and two by two they took their seats.

After everyone had eaten their fill they headed up to the Hospital Wing where Madam Pomfrey was waiting.

"Gold first," she said, beginning the process, "since they already have files. They'll be quick."

It took just a little over an hour