A/N: and here is another chapter. Thanks to HowInMadeHowie for his great work and the bouncing around with ideas.
Dumbledore was looking out of his window lost in thought as he processed the latest update from Yen on Harry Potter. Truth be told Dumbledore had hoped Harry would take up the Witcher ritual when he was a bit older but even Dumbledore had to admit that Harry facing Voldemort in June forced the young boy's hand. A knock on his office door brought him back to the present. "Ah do come in Minerva." Dumbledore turned to greet his deputy.
McGonagall was curious why Dumbledore had summoned her to his office so urgently. "You asked to see me, Albus?" McGonagall looked at him questionly.
Dumbledore returned to his desk and picked up the letter that Yen had arrived that morning. "Indeed, I received this from Yen this morning regarding Harry. I imagine you would like to read it yourself." Dumbledore retook his seat behind his desk patiently watching his old friend read the letter. "Although I should have suggested you sit down first as this is a rather delicate subject." Dumbledore smiled as he watched McGonagall slowly sit down and lower the letter onto his desk.
McGonagall sighed and shook her head. "I did not expect Harry would consider doing the ritual this summer, especially with little time to prepare himself when he returns to Hogwarts. You realize the ramifications of having a Witcher as a student in Hogwarts. A 12 year old student, no less?"
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers as he considered McGonagall's words. "We both know Harry is much more mature for his age and won't abuse those abilities. On the other hand, this does offer us a subtle layer of extra security here at Hogwarts. For as long as Harry is a student here at least." Dumbledore conceded that last point.
McGonagall frowned as she thought about that point. "Are you suggesting we give Harry some unofficial role in Hogwarts?"
Dumbledore hummed thoughtfully as he was thinking just that. "Harry does tend to report to John when he comes across something suspicious. Added that, through use of their AI's they can do it discretely. This will be strictly between us of course. While Hagrid knows enough about Witcher's I do not think we need to let Hagrid know about Harry's change in status."
McGonagall nodded slowly and stood up to return to her office but paused at the door and turned back to Dumbledore. "Then we just have to worry about the Ministry finding out. While they know about Geralt I don't want to know how they will respond if they find out Harry Potter is now a Witcher."
Dumbledore grimaced knowing she was correct. Fudge's pureblood prejudice while not extreme but is enough to worry the aged headmaster.
The last two weeks of his summer break flew by for Harry, who luckily learned, just in time, how to control his senses enough that he could hide it from the others. If he would act so much differently because of them, that would only raise suspicions to what happened. He just hoped that his friends would not be so perceptive to notice the minimal signs still left. John could still tell him when he twitched because he heard something that would surprise Harry. Even if the others could not all the Spartans could do that. Harry guessed that it was due to their training that would allow them to see even the smallest movements. John did not want to explain how they did it, as this was unique to them, and he still did not want to talk about his training he endured before the war.
Harry was sitting in one compartment on the Hogwarts express and reading a book before the train would depart the station, he still tried to concentrate on his senses to become better to control them. Right now he tried to listen out for his friends arriving so he could make sure that he could reserve this compartment. At least he had so much control that he could distinguish his friends from all the other students and excited first years. He knew he succeeded when he heard the Weasleys arrived on the platform with their usual loud voices. Harry shook his head bemused listening to Mrs. Weasley once again berating Fred and George for trying to prank the other students not even 5 minutes after arriving. Harry also heard Ron moaning that he was hungry again and could not wait for the trolley coming through the train.
Soon after their arrival Harry heard the Grangers coming through together with the Greengrass family; something he was glad about as Hermione sounded happy having another friend in Daphne. It sounded like Mr. Greengrass and Mr. Granger have some common interest, when their talking about golf was anything to go by.
Suddenly, Harry heard something much closer to himself and looked up the book, lowering his hearing to normal levels once more. In the door to his compartment stood a girl, probably the same age as Ginny; so she had to be a first year. Her dirty blond hair that was long enough to reach her middle of her back and her silver-grey eyes were looking at him with great interest.
"Hello there, my name is Luna Lovegood. Is it alright with you if I could sit with you? It is my first time on this train." The girl, Luna, introduced herself. Harry saw no problem with her sitting with him for now, as he was sure that Ginny would sit with them and could befriend this girl as they could be housemates for all he knows. Just as he was about to introduce himself after helping put her put her trunk on the rack the girl surprised him by telling him that she knew that he was Harry Potter while she took out a magazine from her bag. Before she opened it, she noticed that Harry was still looking at her with a curiosity.
"Please Harry, everyone in our world knows you, at least the magical part. Did you hear anything interesting when you tried to listen to the people outside with your enhanced hearing? Don't worry, I will keep it a secret."
Harry was now even more surprised but tried to play dumb. Something that didn't work, as the Luna's smiled at him knowingly. That took Harry aback once more, telling Callie to contact Cortana and Kalmiya to ask John and Halsey what he should do now. As he had his glasses on for the access of the HUD, he noticed that Luna was looking at the spot where Callie would be displayed. Taking his glasses off and distracting Luna by cleaning it, he investigated if there was a defect with the filter and if Callie could be seen from the other side. Harry was not worried that Luna would see his new eyes since Doctor Halsey provided a special type of contact lens that were basically a holographic filter to alter the appearance and color of one's eyes.
When he didn't find any visible defects, Callie told him that the glasses are still functioning as intended and she could not explain why Luna knew where she was positioned, so he placed them back on. Just as he was about to ask Luna how she thought that he was listening to the people outside. Ron and Ginny coming into the compartment put that idea on hold. Luna greeted them as they entered, with Ginny sitting beside her with a smile. Harry helped Ron stow their trunks onto the overhead rack, but he noticed as the two Weasley entered the compartment, that his medallion was vibrating even more when it was close to Scabbers than before. Harry was still not sure what that was about, as the rat still did not show any kind of magical ability which would cause the silver medallion to react. But this was different, stronger and he suspected it was something Ginny was carrying. Did Ginny get a pet since he left the Burrow?
Ginny explained to Harry that she and Luna knew each other very well since the two families lived near each other. Ron was just sitting there grumbling that he was hungry. The compartment door opened again, and Harry smiled and greeted Hermione and Daphne as the two girls levitated their trunks inside and onto the luggage rack overhead. Ron was still a bit biased toward the Slytherin girl and looked at her with anger, but not as bad as it was in first year when he studied with her for the first time. Daphne, either didn't notice or she simply ignored it, greeted them all and sat down on the right seat next to Harry. Hermione sat down to his left, as the Weasley's and Luna sat on the other side of the compartment.
Luna was watching them with almost overbearing interest, but what she saw, she did not tell. After all, those two girls did agree with each other to not fight about their crush, and it was not her place to interrupt the peace that was between them. How she did know that she did not know. But maybe she could ask Harry if she could visit him in his home over the winter solstice. Because she felt there was something she needed to do there.
As the compartment seemed full many students walked past them, but as soon as Lavender and Parvati locked inside it, they saw that somehow there were still two places free. So, they just walked in and sat down, thanking Harry and Ron when they lifted their trunks into the luggage rack overhead. Hermione took out her copy of Hogwarts, a history and confirmed that the train would adapt the compartments to fit the number of students inside them. Ron was once again looking at her with wonder why she wanted to know such a useless information.
"I mean, as soon we're finished with school, we would never ride this train again, so why should we read about that? And be honest with me Hermione, did it help you in any way with your spell work?" Ron leaned far out of the window, so to speak. It was one of his biggest flaws that he would talk without thinking, what the reactions would be and when he was confronted about it. His explosive temper would get him in trouble one day.
But as Hermione knew that and didn't want to travel all these hours with a sulking boy in the same compartment, she kept her mouth shut and glared at Ron.
Meanwhile Ron thought that he finally had won a point against Hermione, who was in his eyes getting a bit on his nerves with her studious behavior and cutting his own time with Harry short, as he would go with her to the library whenever they were given an essay. He would much rather just play chess and fly his broom, as he wanted to try out for the Quidditch team this year.
Harry was thinking how Hermione was silent, as well that her heartbeat was elevated as soon she entered the compartment, just like Daphne's. He then tried to lessen the sensitivity of his hearing while talking with Lavender about her summer. She was the most talkative after all, but to his satisfaction not once did she mention her AI Sandy, as he was sure that she was almost bursting to great them inside her matrix.
"And you won't believe how nice it was on those beaches this summer. We did so many things, like hiking in the countryside and walking on the beach. Nothing against Hogwarts, but they really could put a pool somewhere in the castle." Lavender went on and on, while Parvati was talking to the two younger girls on how beautiful they looked. In case of Luna, it may not be so honest as some people would find it strange when a girl would wear a necklace out of butterbeer corks and earing's that looked like radishes. When Luna noticed Harry looking at them, she told them that they would keep the wrackspurts away. Hermione was looking puzzled, while Ron just rolled his eyes and Ginny giggled.
"In case you haven't figured it out, Luna is really special. Even when you think that you have figured her out, she can always pull something like that out of her pocket and surprise you. But when you get used to it, you begin to see that it keeps you on your toes and sometimes it even is funny that even she had to laugh afterwards." Ginny tried to hold her laughter back but was failing the longer she tried.
It was not long after they felt the train beginning to move after they heard the whistle was blown from the train signaling to everyone onboard and on the platform it was leaving. Ginny was now becoming nervous once more, as now she was on her way to Hogwarts and hopefully, to her spending time with Harry and his friends. She just hoped that she would also be sorted into Gryffindor like the rest of her family.
While the train moved along through the countryside, Harry played a cart game with Ron and Ginny, while Hermione and Daphne were reading some books that were not on the list, with Daphne brought them from their family library when she noticed like Hermione that the books from Lockhart where not really usable to learn from. Harry heard someone coming to their compartment, with Callie telling him that according to her sensors it was Malfoy with his two bodyguards. Harry groaned and getting quizzical looks from Ron and Ginny, the door opened, and the blond boy stood there once more like he owned the place.
"Ah, Potter. Still with the looser squad apparently. I did wonder how you all passed the end of the year exams, to be honest-" Malfoy wanted to say more, but Harry suddenly stood up and walked right up to him, just stopping right in front of him.
It was this moment where everyone noticed that Harry had grown a bit, as Malfoy had to look up to meet his eyes.
"Oh, did you, Malfoy? Tell me, how many classes did we score a higher than you or your friends here? I am sure that Hermione, Daphne and I did even beat you in every subject, not to mention Crabbe and Goyle. Now, if you want to insult me or my friends, I suggest that you would think about your insults a bit more. Now, please leave us alone." With the end of his small speech, Harry pushed Malfoy out of the compartment and closed the door, locking it for good measure. Harry retook his seat picking up his cards back up to his hand and asked Ron where they were. That caused everyone inside the compartment to laugh at once, as the face from Malfoy could still be seen through the window of the door as he was getting angry redfaced and walked off with a silent huff.
"Really Harry, you must show us how you always are one step ahead of that blond git. It is almost sad that he can't counter you in any way until you are finished with him." Ron was almost rolling on the floor while the others hugged themselves laughing. Even Luna was giggling behind her magazine while Harry looked around with a strange look in his face. That did it and now even Luna was rolling over the floor laughing. And with that, everyone began to laugh in the compartment and the rest of their journey towards Hogwarts was now filled with laughter and smiles as the old witch with the trolley came through, asking them with a smile of her own if they wanted something. After Harry once again bought from some of everything to share, even when Daphne was glared at Harry telling him that she would pay him back at least, they did eat all the pumpkin pasties and chocolate frogs they could before almost exploding from being full. One frog almost jumped out the open window before Ron caught it. The door opened once more, and Neville looked inside together with Hannah and Susan wondering what happened. Since they were looking for the bathroom they didn't stay with them, but told them that they would meet up in Hogwarts later.
"Why do you think those three were together? I mean, the girls are Hufflepuffs so they must have spent time during the summer enough to become so close friends." Ron was looking after those three, but Harry noticed that Hannah was standing rather close to Neville, while Susan was looking at him with a blush.
Harry just shrugged, deciding to speak more with Neville this year, since it seemed that Neville's confidence got a boost thanks to his friends, so talking with him would not be this awkward like talking to a silent listener.
The rest of their time flew by without any more incidents from other students until the P.A told them that they soon would arrive in Hogsmeade, and they should leave the train in their uniform, which caused Harry and Ron to leave the compartment so the girls could change in peace while the boys carried their uniform to the bathroom and changed there. Not long after the announcement, the train slowed down to and stopped; students were once more reminded that they should leave their luggage behind.
When they stepped outside they heard the familiar voice of the gentle giant Hagrid. "First years over 'ere! I will lead you down the path to Hogwarts."
Ginny was getting nervous, in contrast Luna just walked over to Hagrid and looked at him in wonder. Harry tried to calm the little redhead before she would go onto her small journey, when he heard his friends calling him as the older students had to go via carriages to the castle. Saying his goodbye and wishing her good luck, he joined the rest of the second years, where he just could see Malfoy waited for his friend clearing another carriage for themselves.
But when Harry saw the *horses* that pulled the carriages, he had to do a doubletake. What he saw almost scared him, as the creature was a horse-like animal in black with batlike wings. Asking Callie if she could tell him what they were, she had to tell him that her optical sensors did not pick up anything strange.
"But the thermal sensors register something in front of the carriages. Could you describe them? Maybe I can find something in the books I scanned before."
Just as Harry was about describe them to her, he got a notification from Cortana with the necessary information about those creatures. Since Cortana watched over all the AI in school to ensure safety for the UNSC, she noticed that Callie searched something that Cortana had already had on hand, and she just had sent it. Callie was a bit put out, as her older sister seemed not to trust her to find the information about thestrales just as fast as Cortana did after Harry described them to her. Nevertheless, Harry thanked them both and began to read what was on his glasses, while he held open a book in front of his face for a distraction.
The ride up the hill was quiet and comfortable, two things that Daphne didn't suspect seeing how old these carriages looked. Her father always told her how they never changed, but he did not tell her that it was still soft inside, even when magic could repair almost everything, after some time even the best cushion would have collapsed and become uncomfortable. What did spook her a little was the reaction of Harry to those carriages, as he stared oot the front of them for a while and was now nose deep in a history book. Maybe he was looking for the reason what spell did make them move? But something was telling her that he just did that to distract the rest from what he really was doing.
As they arrived at the entrance to Hogwarts, Harry took notice of the gate and the two stone statues that were placed on the gateposts, thinking about if they should scare of any kind of attacker. If so, he was sure that John did a much better job in doing that just by standing close by and having his rifle in a rest position in his hands. Just as he was thinking that he got a ping on his radar with a green square on it, showing him that John was indeed close by and watching over the carriages. Now he knew how Cortana had that information to those creatures already, as John would have seen enough death that was needed to see the Thestrals. Harry tried to imagine how John looked at them, already asking Cortana to tell him what he was looking at. Somehow, he had to suppress a laugh, as if John would have a shocked impression on his face, including wide eyes. That was just so not possible for that strong man who had already fought in a war that would never reach this place.
When the carriages stopped, they climbed out of it and saw the doors that would lead to the Great Hall just across the entrance, with the stairs on each side of it. Harry saw Ron already running to the Great Hall, where they would have the Welcoming feast once more. Hermione and Daphne were both walking in a normal pace, saying their goodbye when they entered, as the Greengrass heiress had to go to the Slytherin table, while the rest had to walk to the other side.
As glad he was back in Hogwarts, with his senses being as sensitive as they were now, he had to concentrate hard to suppress them, so he would not be overwhelmed by all those sounds and smells in this hall. He was getting better at it as it becomes almost normal for him to do that, something that Callie told him as his nervous system was not going off like a firework as it was shortly after his mutation.
Harry soon found his place between Hermione and Ron, waiting for the new students to be sorted. He wondered where Ginny would be sorted and to his surprise, he even thought about Luna, hoping that her special character did not rub her housemates the wrong way. Just this moment the door opened, and the new students walked in the great hall with McGonagall in front of them. She walked with a purpose towards the staff table, where a stool was set with the sorting hat on it. Harry remembered his sorting involving the old artifact from the wizards and witches that founded this school almost a thousand years ago as it talked with him on which house he wanted to go.
When the first years arrived by the hat, it opened its mouth and begun his song, that was different as last year but carried similar theme. After it finished its song, Professor McGonagall held out a list with the names of the new students. When the list arrived by Creevey, Colin, Harry noticed that the boy who was called was so nervous that the stool almost shook too. When Professor McGonagall placed the hat on the head of the small boy, it slipped so far down that you could only see everything below his nose. It took some time until the sorting hat spoke once more, announcing his decision that Collin should be put into Gryffindor.
Soon after the boy sat at the Gryffindor table, being in awe as he was sorted into the same house as Harry Potter was, the name Lovegood Luna was called and Harry looked back to the stool with the hat. The blond girl walked up with a smile on her face and sat down on the stool and waited for the head being placed on her head. After McGonagall lowered the hat on her head, some time did pass with Luna humming and letting her legs dangle back and forth.
After what felt like forever, Harry had to take a double take as he thought that the hat turned to him and scowled. He did put that thought down to his imagination, as the hat soon announced that Luna's house was Ravenclaw. Luna looked a bit disappointed but walked to her house table to a small applause, just like Ravenclaw was.
Soon, it was Ginny's turn to sit on the stool, as she was getting nervous and just wanted to have it over with. When the hat was placed on her red hair, she felt all the eyes in the hall on her.
"Ah, another Weasley. Hmm, you seem almost as straight forward like your brothers, but I also see loyalty and a good brain in your head, not like your youngest brother. But I stay by my word and announce you GRYFFINDOR!" With the last word shouted out to the hall, the hat was lifted from her head, and she almost ran to the Gryffindor table after standing up from the stool, seeing that her brothers were smiling and making some space for her. When she saw Harry, it felt like a dream came true for her.
Soon afterwards, all the first years were sorted, and McGonagall carried the stool with the hat on it out of the Great Hall, giving Dumbledore enough time to greet the students before the feast would begin and the students could begin to eat dinner before she would return to the Great Hall. She would have to watch her lion cups, as she saw the students of her house, because she saw the mischief in the eyes of the twins once again. She just hoped that they would not go overboard.
Dumbledore stood up and held out his arms in welcome. "To our first years, Welcome to the start of your journey! To our returning students, welcome back! Now the usual announcements: Mr Filch, our caretaker, would like me once more to remind you that there is no magic in the halls. The Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden. And lastly, let me also introduce your new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart. I'm sure everyone knows him. and right beside him is his assistent, Triss Merigold, who would help him in the classes to come. Now, let the feast begin!" Dumbledore clapped his hands and food appeared on the table.