Disclaimer: I do not own.
Today marks not only Harry Potter's birthday, but also the one year anniversary since I started posting this story (again). Yay for lasting a year!
I feel I should warn all of you that I received a guest review threatening to report this story. If it suddenly disappears you know why.
On another note, I'm still looking for a beta so if you're interested let me know.
Chapter 13
McGonagall cleared her throat and began, "Chapter 7."
The door swung … not someone to cross.
"And yet every year there are students who feel the need to," the witch said giving the two across from her a pointed glare.
"The firs' years, … school must already be here —
That was exactly why first years were sent up in the boats. Barring any major incidents, the carriages always made it to the castle before the boats did. This gave the staff time to get the older students in the Great Hall so as not to lose any first years among the crowd.
but Professor McGonagall … House common room.
Harry sighed wistfully. He really missed free time. Reading these books was seriously eating into it. He was going to have even less once Wood started Quidditch practice again. Honestly, he'd be lucky if he ever saw free time again.
"The four Houses are … credit to whichever House becomes yours.
The witch couldn't help but wonder why she always ended up with the troublemakers. Filius certainly never had as much trouble as she has. She'd thought she'd seen the worst of them with the Marauders. Then she met the Weasley twins who somehow managed to cause just as much trouble as those four. Then came Potter, Weasley and Granger. They were generally well behaved (which was surely Granger's influence), but they had their moments. Unfortunately for her their moments tended to be death defying and have given her more than a few grey hairs. She really wished that for once it wouldn't be those three.
"The Sorting Ceremony … flatten his hair.
Remus snorted as Harry repeated the gesture. "I don't know why you bother, Potter hair isn't known for behaving."
"I know," Harry said dejectedly. It wouldn't stop him from trying though.
"I shall return … I think he was joking."
"How do none of the new students know? Hermione had read Hogwarts: A History before coming and even she didn't know." Not even the pure-bloods had known, and some of them (like Ron) had older siblings in Hogwarts.
"I think it's become one of those unspoken rules. My father didn't tell me before I started. Although to be honest I'm not sure I would have believed him if he told me all I had to do was put on a hat. It sounds too simple."
Harry's heart gave a horrible jolt. … teacher's wig blue.
The professors frowned. "Why on earth would they think you turned her wig blue?"
"I, er, had a disagreement with her earlier in the day. So that somehow made it my fault." It had all been very unfair. He had gotten blamed for something Dudley had done, and when he tried to defend himself she called him a liar and then her hair was blue. It didn't help that she was friendly with Aunt Petunia and had always believed everything his Aunt had told her about him.
"That's still a pretty large leap. You would have had to do it while she was wearing it, which she would have noticed and been able to stop it from happening. Unless she's implying she took it off and left it unattended, in which case that was incredibly stupid and she should have known better."
"Remus!" McGonagall scolded.
"What? I'm just saying any that taking off your wig in a school full of children is an incredibly stupid idea. Anything could have happened to it and she's lucky it didn't go missing." Merlin knows what he and the other Marauders' would have done. It very possibly would have involved a permanent sticking charm and Severus.
"Er – her hair actually changed color while on her head, but I was the only one in the room with her so that made it my fault."
"It may have been accidental magic, but as a Muggle it was a pretty big jump to say you did it.
He kept his eyes fixed on the door. Any second now, Professor McGonagall would come back and lead him to his doom.
"Overdramatic much?"
"I was eleven. I think it was allowed."
Then something happened … the back wall.
"They always like making an entrance. This is a little tame for them though. Usually they stick with swooping into the Great Hall from the rafters or popping up through the table when you're about to grab something. It's more theatrical that way." The ghost loved startling the first years. Some of them spent the entire year planning their next entrance.
Pearly-white … give him a second chance —"
"What had Peeves done that time?"
McGonagall sighed, "He was his usually disruptive self. He tore through three classrooms and an office, knocked down several suits of armor, hid the new Defense professors lesson plans – "
"I wish he'd have done that last year, but I'm not sure if it would have helped" Harry interrupted.
" – and upset the house-elves," McGonagall continued as if Harry hadn't said anything. "And I doubt hiding last year's lesson plans would have done you any good Mr. Potter." Lockhart would have just made the lessons even more centered on himself had that been the case.
"House-elves?"
"House-elves are magical creatures that – "
"I've met a house-elf before; I just didn't know there were any here."
Remus raised an eyebrow and wondered how Harry knew about house-elves. It would make sense if he meant one of the Hogwarts elves but he obviously didn't. Instead of questioning him on that (he could always do so later) he asked, "Who did you think cooked and cleaned up after the students?"
"I never really thought about it."
"Not many do. Hogwarts has one of the largest populations of house-elves. They stay mostly in the kitchens throughout the day. When the students are out or asleep they venture into the Common Rooms and dorms to straighten up."
"I guess that's why I've never seen one here before."
Remus nodded, "It is. If you ever wanted to meet them you could always head to the kitchens, they're quite friendly." Of course, Remus had never known a house-elf to be unfriendly, but Black had told him stories about the family elf. If James hadn't confirmed that some elves were like that he would have never believed it.
"Where are the kitchens?" Harry asked eagerly. It would be kind of awesome to be able to sneak food from the kitchens. Fred and George were always nicking food from there and he and Ron always wondered how.
As Remus opened his mouth to answer McGonagall cut him off, "That is something you do not need to know. Students shouldn't be disrupting them. Now if the two of you don't mind I'd like to continue reading."
"Sorry," they both mumbled. Remus shot Harry a wink. He'd let him know before the night was through. Some of his favorite times in Hogwarts involved sneaking into the kitchens with the Marauders.
Dumbledore chuckled at them. He had a feeling that by this weekend Harry, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger would be spending some time in the kitchens.
"My dear Friar, … "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
Minerva resisted the urge to roll her eyes. They had been waiting for the ghost to arrive so that could begin the Sorting. She was miffed to find them chatting with the First years. They may have had all the time in the world to dawdle but the living did not.
Professor McGonagall had returned. …
…
… simply open on to the heavens.
Remus nodded in agreement. Out of all the magic he'd seen that would probably always be the most beautiful. As a student he would sometimes sneak down at night to watch the stars for a while. He greatly enjoyed watching the lightning strike across the ceiling. It was nice to watch a storm and not have to worry about getting wet.
Harry quickly looked down … let it in the house.
"I believe you would be a little frayed around the edges if you were a thousand years old too. The Sorting Hat has said that it originally belonged to Godric Gryffindor. Each of the founders enchanted it, similar to how one enchants a portrait to retain their likeness, to help sort the students long after they were gone."
Maybe they had to … began to sing:
...
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Albus sighed disappointedly. He had the foolish hope that Minerva would sing the song, but he should have known better.
Remus on the other hand was smiling. "I've always enjoyed the Sorting Hat's songs. It must spend the entire year coming up with a new song as each song is different."
"Really? I didn't know that, but then again I haven't been to a Sorting since I was Sorted."
"What happened last year that you missed the Sorting?" Remus was concerned by this. He understood why he missed it this year (Damn Dementors!), but what happened last year?
"Er, it's a long story," he quickly glanced at McGonagall before looking down. She hadn't been very pleased with him or Ron after that.
"Yes, one that I would very much like to forget about. You two can discuss it later if you wish but I really don't need to hear the details again." One of these days those two were going to give her a heart attack.
Remus looked back and forth between the two trying to figure out what could have happened, but he dropped it in favor of listening to the book.
The whole hall … wrestling a troll."
Harry snorted. They may not have needed to do that to be sorted but they did it anyway. Thinking about the incident caused him to pale. His Head of House was going to kill him. Not only had they disobeyed orders but they lied when confronted about it.
Harry smiled weakly. … the one for him.
"I think everybody does," Remus whispered to Harry. Remus knew he had.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
…
"Bulstrode, Millicent" … an unpleasant lot.
Dumbledore sighed sadly. He really wished people would stop perpetrating that myth. He knew quite a few Slytherins who were wonderful people and even more who were decent people. You could find unpleasantness in any of the Houses if you looked hard enough for it.
He was starting … they liked him.
Remus gritted his teeth. Stupid Dursleys.
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
…
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat. Ron groaned.
Eyebrows were raised. The three of them were nearly inseparable now that it was hard to imagine a time when they weren't.
A horrible thought … decide with Neville.
"It happens from time to time. I believe Mr. Longbottom was a near Hatstall, as was Ms. Granger. A true Hatstall is very rare. We get one every fifty years or so. Professor McGonagall was one." The Headmaster informed them lightly. The last true Hatstall had been Peter Pettigrew, but he didn't think this the appropriate time to bring Mr. Pettigrew up. Remus was relatively happy at the moment and he didn't want to bring the man's mood down.
When it finally shouted, …
…
"Potter, Harry!"
Remus sat straighter. He had tuned out parts of the Sorting because he knew where the students had ended up, so it didn't seem necessary to listen to it. Especially since he had no connection to any of them. Harry of course was a different story.
Harry on the other hand started to shrink in on himself. This was it. Professor Lupin was going to find out he was very nearly a Slytherin. What if the professor told him his parents would have been disappointed in him for nearly ending up in the enemy's House? What if Lupin was? Harry wasn't sure he could bear that happening. The man had quickly become someone he trusted and looked up to. He really didn't want that to change.
As Harry stepped forward, …
…
…Not Slytherin, not Slytherin.
Harry fidgeted in his seat. Here it comes, he thought. He was so intent on not looking at any of his professors that he completely missed the concerned look Lupin was giving him.
"Not Slytherin, eh?" … better be GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus chuckled, no wonder Harry was fidgeting. The rivalry between the two Houses had reached the point where even the most tenuous connection to the opposing House caused distress among the students and even some adults.
He smiled at Harry. "That was an interesting Sorting. I remember mine. I was worried I'd be placed in Slytherin because I am a Dark creature, but the thought never seemed to cross the Hat's mind. Not that there's anything wrong with Slytherin mind you. I just wanted to be Sorted for who I was. Not what. The Hat spent the time weighing the options between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor for me." Remus had been very well read before entering Hogwarts. He had read most of the first year course books (along with a number of others) long before Dumbledore invited him to come to Hogwarts.
"As it did for me," the witch added.
"I was a very near Slytherin myself. I had thought for sure I would have been placed in Ravenclaw, but the Hat was rather insistent that it wouldn't be the best fit for me. In the end Gryffindor came out on top." The Headmaster paused for a moment before continuing "Of course if one were to ask they'd find that a good majority of the students could have gone to another House. I've always believed that we Sorted too early." He had seen quite a few students who were Sorted into one House and then, later in life, displayed characteristics more commonly found in another.
Harry couldn't help his sigh of relief. Lupin didn't seem to be bothered by his Sorting at all. If anything he was amused by it.
Harry heard the hat … of ice-cold water.
"I hate when they do that," Harry mumbled.
"It's even worse when they walk through a door you're trying to open." Everyone nodded in agreement to that.
He could see the High Table … Dumbledore's silver hair was the only thing in the whole hall that shone as brightly as the ghosts. (Dumbledore smiled at that. He took great pride in his beard.) …
… the hat had shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry smiled brightly. He was so glad that he and Ron ended up in the same House. He was worried that if they were in different Houses they wouldn't have stayed such good friends.
Harry clapped loudly …
…
"Thank you!"
"I have found that students listen far better on full stomachs as opposed to empty ones. As such I save all important announcements for after the feast."
He sat back down. …
…
… made him sick.
The stern witch read this coldly. Harry gave his relatives far too much credit. They may have fed him enough to keep others from noticing anything wrong but he was still malnourished. And that boy! If something wasn't done soon no good would come of his life. He was already a bully, but at the rate his parents let him eat he was heading to an early grave.
Harry piled his plate …
…
… the way he wanted.
Remus rolled his eyes. "That's exactly where he wanted that conversation to go. I swear he waits every year for someone to ask him that. And someone always does. He likes the reactions. Some students have fainted. And I've heard stories of others losing their dinner."
"Likethis," … six years in a row!
"Six years! I've never heard of the House Cup going that long to a single House," Remus shook his head. Turning to Harry he said, "During my years each House had won the cup at least once."
McGonagall looked miffed. "Yes, well, there was nothing that could have been done about it. Things have changed since then." Like the fact that her Quidditch team was finally up to snuff. This was one of the best rosters her House has had in many years.
Many staff members had been happy when Gryffindor had broken Slytherin's streak. McGonagall and Snape were becoming unbearable with their constant sniping at one another.
The Bloody Baron's … the seating arrangements.
"No one would be," Remus said. The Baron could be intimidating without ever saying a word.
"How did he get covered in blood?" …
…
… the talk turned to their families.
That sounded good right now. It was a shame the elves cycled through the food when it wasn't for a feast. Any other day they only got three or four selections. He grabbed a biscuit off the tray in front of him and vowed to find a way to the kitchens in order to get some treacle tart for their next reading.
"I'm half-and-half," …
The others laughed.
Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "It sounds funny hearing about it like that, but as you've experienced it's not in actuality. It's very concerning to me that his mother waited until after they were married. It's something that should have been mentioned before the marriage took place."
"It's hard though," Remus said. "The laws aren't exactly clear on when it's safe to tell a Muggle you have magic. After marriage is the only way to know for sure you won't be brought up on charges for breaking the Statute."
"And by then it can do irreparable damage to a relationship," McGonagall added sadly. She was quite lucky her father still loved her mother after he found out. It could have very easily gone the other way, which is why she feared telling her first love about magic.
Albus looked at his dear friend sadly. He was one of the few people who knew about Minerva's past. If he could he would have changed it to save her the heartache. As it was all he could do now was help future generations of witches and wizards from suffering that same thing.
He would need to change some laws to do, which could prove tricky as the ones involving telling Muggles have been around since the Statute came in effect. He would also need some help. Arthur Weasley had managed to pass a Muggle Protection Act this summer, so he would be in the perfect position to help. He'd need to recruit a member of the DMLE and the Wizengamot as well. It would take work and time, but should turn out to be doable.
"What about you, Neville?" … he bought me my toad."
Dumbledore couldn't believe it. The Longbottoms are an old pureblood family. They should know better than to attempt forcing magic out. Maybe he should speak to Mr. Weasley and Ms. Clearwater about talking with the students again. Obviously the purebloods have become complacent with things and have forgotten how magic actually works. Perhaps he should speak with the board and start up a mandatory class on magic for all first years. That would save everyone time.
On Harry's other side, … sort of thing — ").
Someone was eager, Remus thought.
Harry, who was … and sallow skin.
The Defense professor quickly turned his laugh into a cough. That was a very apt description of the Potions Master.
It happened very suddenly. … scar on Harry's forehead.
And just as suddenly Remus lost his amusement. "What was that about?" Of course no one answered him. Harry didn't want to have to explain and Dumbledore figured the book would explain it for them. McGonagall on the other hand also had no idea what was going on.
"Ouch!" … didn't like Harry at all.
Remus felt guilty for that. He knew it was true and it was partly his fault. His actions – or rather his inactions – during their school years won him no love from Severus. If anything they increased his hatred towards them as a group. If he could change it he would, or at least he hoped he would. He was always a coward when it came to standing up to his friends.
"Who's that teacher … Dark Arts, Snape."
Dumbledore knew Snape would have loved to have that Defense job, but he couldn't risk it. He was far more valuable where he was. He didn't wish to lose him to the curse on the position.
Harry watched Snape … of the Weasley twins.
"And yet the reminder always goes unheeded."
"I have also … in the corridors.
"Another reminder that seems to be wasted as no one abides by it."
"Quidditch trials … Madam Hooch.
Madam Hooch was a Quidditch fan to rival McGonagall. They often got into heated debates regarding the teams they followed. The fact that she only taught Flying gave her the time the other professors lacked to watch over the try-outs and practices.
"And finally, … a very painful death."
"That's not one of your usual warnings."
"I was watching over something for a friend of mine. I had protective measurements placed in the corridor. They kept the vast majority of students away, but as always some students didn't listen." And it wasn't just Harry and his friends. A few others had braved the corridor and were summarily scared away by Fluffy.
Harry laughed, … prefects, at least."
Remus snorted. Prefects weren't that important.
"And now, … become rather fixed.
Dumbledore looked sadly at McGonagall who pointedly ignored him and continued reading.
Dumbledore gave …
And the school bellowed:
…
… funeral march.
Remus leaned towards Harry and whispered "Your father and us used to compete on who could come up with the most original tune. Unfortunately we could never decide on a winner, we all thought the song we chose was the best."
Dumbledore conducted…
…
A loud, rude sound, like the air being let out of a balloon, answered.
"It's nice to know he hasn't changed in all these years."
"Do you want … "Ickle Firsties! What fun!"
"He loves meeting the First years when the professors aren't around. He can get away with so much more that way."
He swooped … Here we are."
"Not exactly true. He also listens to Professor Dumbledore."
At the very end …
…
… dream at all.
"Huh, that dream was odd and took a quick turn to disturbing."
Harry hummed. "Even after hearing about it I really don't remember it."
Dumbledore looked over at Harry. He wondered what that was about. He had assumed that in his current state Voldemort needed to be physically near Harry to have any effect on him. He'd need to talk to the Fat Lady and see if any professors had come to her looking for entrance. It was disturbing to think about that happening.
"I believe it's my turn to read now right?"
McGonagall nodded and handed the book to Remus.