Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket.

A twist at the end of Harry's first trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid.

Chapter 20: The Sorting of 1991 continues! Part 3.

I don't own the Harry Potter verse. Just playing.

Summary: A twist at the end of Harry's first trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. As they approach the Leaky Cauldron to leave Diagon Alley, Hagrid decides to present Harry with his gold ticket to the Hogwarts Express, while Harry was really expecting to go directly to Hogwarts with Hagrid now. Harry asks a different question.

And that changes everything. HHr NLLL T for Characters deaths.

23/12/21 Beta by alix33, thank you.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Previously.

"Ha! Ha! Okay, ha, ha okay. Stop that! Ha! Better Ha! Be Ha! RAVENCLAW! Ha! Ha!"

While the Sorting Hat from its advantage point in Professor McGonagall's hand, surveyed the pandemonium in the Great Hall and the absolute carnage caused by Harry Potter to the silly old foolhardy former headmaster and what was left of the ashes of Quirrellmort.

The Sorting Hat chuckled as it said.

"Greatest Sorting Ever! WOO-HOO!"

- Layout of the Great Hall. -

- B o G, Guests and Professors -

Remus, Narcissa, Dan, Emma, Alice, Frank, Gran, Croaker, Sirius, Sev, Quirrellmort, Hooch, Sprout, Flitwick, empty seat, Dumbledore, Minister Bones, Chief Witch Marchbanks, other Professors, Hagrid

- Head Table -

- Sorting Hat -

- Professor McGonagall -

- Remaining Unsorted First Year Students -

- Slytherin Table ––– Hufflepuff Table ––– Ravenclaw Table ––– Gryffindor Table -

- Great Hall Entrance Door -

And the sorting tried to continue after this brief pause to clear the carnage and celebrate the return of Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Loves!

While Draco noticed the longing looks on the faces of the Slytherin witches as they followed the Snowy Owl, that was the Boy-Who-Loved, fly to the Ravenclaw table. The former Draco Malfoy would had expected such attention just for himself, just because of who his father was, but now, Draco Black was happy for Harry to deal with all that attention.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

The mood in the Great Hall was jubilant.

And best yet, Rita Skeeter's new favourite photographer, Krusty, had just caught the whole sorting of the Boy-Who-Loved scene on a high definition magical moving photograph with surround sound. Including the valiant action of Minister Bones and her gold serving tray.

Tomorrow's headline would read;

THE BOY-WHO-LOVED HAS RETURNED!

SAW HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED!

AND KICKED HIS BUM AGAIN!

AND HE IS A RAVENCLAW!

Followed by the subheadlines;

LOVE CONQUERS ALL!

UNITES ALL!

DEFEATS THE DARK AND GREATER GOOD!

MINISTER BONES SWINGS INTO ACTION!

AND SAVES EVERYONE!

HEADMASTER ALBUS DUMBLEDORE TERMINATED!

Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!

Insane headmaster sacked!

Gardening Tips to Love!

Rita Beetle Skeeter was cackling with glee as she thought of the articles she was about to write and started to make notes. All of it was completely true. Even she couldn't make this stuff up.

Later, Rita Skeeter wanted to use her beetle form to bug the Ravenclaw table near Harry but those two owls were watching her like hawks. She decided to visit the Slytherin table later as they always had the most luscious gossip.

- Head Table -

- Sorting Hat -

- Slytherin – Hufflepuff – Ravenclaw – Gryffindor. -

- Great Hall Entrance Door -

Slowly everyone in the Great Hall realised what had just happened as pandemonium rose. While in the rafters, a phoenix, a large Toco Toucan, two snowy owls and three elves were cheering and fist-pumping a Yes!

Professor McGonagall gave a slight bemused smiled at the Sorting Hat's comment. This has been the greatest sorting she had ever seen as she looked over to where Quirrellmort had been sitting, only to be shocked to see Severus Snape high-five Sirius Black. She then knew for sure that Hell had frozen over and the Magical World had changed forever. Lily's son had returned and he had already outclassed the Marauders and exceeded anything they had ever done. And absolutely exceeded anything the redhead twins Neo Marauders could possibly hope to do. James Potter would be so proud. And Harry did it with such fearless style and exquisite class that would make Lily so proud.

Professor McGonagall turned to sneer at the old fool Dumbledore for trapping Harry with the worst Muggles she had ever seen, and for inviting that evil monster, He-Who-Must-Be-Named, to the castle to teach the dark arts to the Boy-Who-Loves. Only for her to see a hive of activity around the fallen golden throne. She walked closer to return the Sorting Hat to the four-legged stool and turned to see Poppy attending to the crumpled headmaster on the floor. Then she noticed that one of the heavy solid gold serving trays had been deformed into a very good impression of the headmaster's face. As if someone had hit him with it. Really hard! Then she notice Pomona and Griselda excitedly talking to Amelia as they joyfully acted out someone swinging the tray. If she had had a gold serving tray ten years ago to knock some sense into the old fool, Harry would have never been left on that doorstep alone and cold.

All that remained was to decide if Harry was to be presented with an Award for Special Services to Hogwarts for defeating the evil monster, He-Who-Got-His-Bum-Kicked and protecting the school, or for Amelia to receive one for knocking some sense into the foolish former headmaster's thick cranium.

Maybe Harry and Amelia should get Awards for Special Services to Hogwarts plus an Order of Merlin. First class of course.

Then Minerva noticed Filius dancing a little jig as Harry Potter had been sorted into Ravenclaw, and she felt a little sad to miss out on the last Potter, and that the Boy-Who-Loved wasn't in Gryffindor.

While Harry Potter had made a great impression on Filius, and he was actually dancing a little jig as he was tickled pink that the famous Boy-Who-Loved had called the big black scary wraith of the darkest dark lord a chicken to his face, and not retreated. And the only thing that saved that monster was an Unspeakable trapping the black wraith in a gold teaspoon. He was really looking forward to presenting his report to Lord Ragnok later that night, and sharing the memory of the Mr Potter's takedown of the dark lords. And seeing the foolish headmaster's crooked nose flattened by a gold serving tray in the hands of a very angry witch was just the cherry on top. For years he had wanted to wipe that smug grin off the face of the Manipulative Old Fool.

Then Filius thought again. This memory was just too juicy to wait. He took out his wand and extracted a copy of his most favourite memory. He even included the glorious sorting of Miss Lovegood with the ignoble failure of the headmaster to deny it. He floated the silver wisps into a phial and called his elf and sent him on his way to Lord Ragnok with a note that said only one word.

Enjoy!

Later that evening, Filius found Gringotts in an unusual particular good mood when he reported to Lord Ragnok.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Elsewhere in the Great Hall.

While pandemonium rose up around them, Neville placed a gold galleon on the oak table and slid it towards Hermione with his finger. She cheerfully picked it up with a victory "YES!" fist-pump as Harry looked for an explanation.

Hermione cheerfully smiled as she spoke. "Neville foolishly bet me one galleon that his Luna's entrance to Hogwarts would be more spectacular than the Boy-Who-Loved. I thought Luna's entrance was absolutely brilliant and that I had lost until you deviated from the hat to shake the hands of the professors, and exposed Wraithmort. Showed him the Love Lights and Explained Love. Offered him Forgiveness, Stardusted his bum and called him a chicken when he tried to float away. Then you sassed Sev, Sirius and Gran, and transformed into your cute snowy owl, and tickled the Sorting Hat until it sorted you into Ravenclaw."

Harry chuckled. "Yes, well, I thought Luna's entrance was spectacularly brilliant too, and I never intended to do anything like that but you play the hand that you are dealt. Neville would learn that it is not wise to bet against me with my luck. I just went to get sorted and the Professors wanted to say hello. It would have been rude not to shake their hands and the rest is history. But what happened to the headmaster?"

"Oh, he was suffering from a dangerous infestation of Envious-eyed Meemees, and Minister Bones tried to get his attention after he went for his wand." Luna explained.

"The headmaster went for his wand after Wraithmort was revealed?" Harry wondered.

"No, it was obvious that he knew who had possessed Quirrell." Neville continued. "He went for his wand as soon as he had found you, Harry!"

Hermione added. "He was so focused on you that Minister Bones had to use a heavy solid gold serving tray to get his attention."

"Oh, that would have hurt." Harry wondered.

Neville smirked. "Oh, I so hope it did! He tried to block my Luna with him being all afraid and fearful. Stupid sanctimonious jerk!"

"It is good to have friends watching your back!" Harry chuckled. "And I think it really made Gran's day to help you get one over the headmaster."

"Oh! Hell yeah! I think it made her year! She hasn't stopped smiling." Neville smirked. "And my parents gave me a double thumbs up victory gesture."

"They are all so proud of you two." Harry chuckled as he turned to Hermione. "Look on the end of the Head Table, Hermione, there are your parents!"

Hermione turned around to look and saw her mother wave to her. "Oh my god! How did they get here?"

"Magic?" Harry suggested.

Hermione snorted. "Well of course, Harry, magic would be the only way, but I should have asked why."

"We can talk to them after the feast." Harry added. "Yeah, I didn't expect to see Sirius here too."

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

On the Head table, Alice turned to Emma and said. "I am so sorry you had to see that monster threaten Harry. The Magical world can be very dangerous."

Emma nodded sadly. "The Muggle World can also be a very dangerous place with monsters too. But that Voldemort monster was lucky Croaker stuck him in a gold teaspoon otherwise Harry would have gone all Trex on him for threatening Hermione."

"Trex?"

"Tyrannosaurus Rex." Emma explained. "Did Harry or Sev mention how Hermione and Harry met?"

"No? Didn't they meet in the bookstore in Diagon Alley?"

Emma chuckled. "Oh no. They met before that in the Natural History Museum in London,…."

And Emma shared the exciting tale of How Hermione met Harry, and the adventures she and Hermione shared in the Quest for the Cute Wizard with the Emerald Green Eyes who likes to dress up as a Tyrannosaurus Rex and hang around museums.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

It took a while for the hall to calm down while the injured headmaster was tended to, and Unspeakable Croaker gathered the robes and ashes of Quirrellmort for proper vanquishing.

Minister Bones had not wanted to bother her favourite Senior Master Auror during his honeymoon but she needed him now. She sent a Communiqué Patronus to Mad-Eye Moody, and ordered him to come to her immediately, with a code Black!

Cassiopeia and Alastor Moody arrived soon after.

Minister Bones greeted them and gave them a brief summary of what had happen with the old fool headmaster inviting Voldemort to teach Harry Potter the Dark Arts and the Boy-Who-Loved dealing with that mess, and then gave her orders. "Alastor, I need you to escort Dumbledore and Lockhart to the Secure Ward at St Mungo's."

But Poppy mechanically answered in a monotone voice. "The headmaster must be treated here at Hogwarts. He is never to go to St Mungo's!"

Amelia looked at the glassy eyes of the healer. "Dumbledore is no longer the headmaster! He will go to…"

But Amelia was cut off by the glassy-eyed healer going for her wand.

"Stupefy!" Roared Mad-Eye and the glassy-eyed healer fell to the floor. "Constant Vigilance!"

Amelia nodded to her favourite Auror. "Take her as well and have her checked for mind whammies."

Cassiopeia and Alastor Moody then cheerfully escorted Dumbledore, Poppy and Lockhart directly to the Secure ward of St Mungo's. Cassiopeia being a Slytherin, understood the games Dumbledore had been playing to maintain his control on power of the Magical World, and was glad to finally see the old fool evicted from the castle. While Alastor being a Gryffindor, was concerned that all the secret keeping had finally been too much for his old friend and it had sent him over the edge. He was glad his old friend would get the mental help he needed.

While Professor McGonagall wrote a note to Head Healer, Andromeda Tonks, and advised her of the situation with Poppy Pomfrey and request her immediate attendance at Hogwarts. She requested Fawkes take the note and wait for a reply. Fawkes flamed away and returned two minutes later with Andromeda and Ted Tonks. They were well aware of the situations at Hogwarts as they had been on a Mirror 'M-Phone' call with their daughter.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Finally the Great Hall had calmed down enough for the sorting to continue.

There no more surprises until.

"Weasley, Ronald Bilius!"

The rude redhead boy smirked as he had worked out a cunningly devised strategic plan while he walked over to the four-legged stool to pick up the Sorting Hat with every intention of sorting himself into Ravenclaw, so the Boy-Who-Lived will have His approved official proper Pure-blood new best mate, none other than the one and only Ronald Bilius Weasley.

Ronald Bilius dramatically picked up the old Sorting Hat and carefully gripped the rim of the hat with his hand to stop it from speaking. He slowly lower it onto his head, and yelled out in his best strangulated hissing impression of the Sorting Hat's raspy voice.

"RAVENCLAW!"

And then smirked as he dramatically chucked the old hat away and turned to walk to the Ravenclaw table as he loudly whispered.

"Harry Potter! The Boy-Who-Lived! Say hello to your new best and only friend!"

But the now very angry Sorting Hat was free to speak its mind, and didn't fall to the floor, but rose up to a foot higher than the rude boy so it could stare down the imbecile as it yelled.

"NOT SO FAST, BILIUS!

THIS NOT IS A SELF SORTING SERVICE!

SUCH A CUNNINGLY AMBITIOUS WIZARD WOULD DESERVED TO BE IN SLYTHERIN!

HOWEVER, SOMEONE AS GREEDY AND LAZY AS YOU WOULD BE LUCKY!

TO STAY AT HOGWARTS AS HAGRID'S ASSISTANT!"

The rude redhead boy stopped and turned as he went red and yelled back.

"NO! NOT SLYTHERIN, YOU STUPID MENTAL HAT!"

"IT IS SLYTHERIN OR THE BURROW?

TAKE YOUR PICK!"

"ARE YOU MENTAL?"

"SLYTHERIN OR THE BURROW?

TAKE YOUR PICK!"

"BLOODY MENTAL HELL!"

"SLYTHERIN OR THE BURROW?

TAKE YOUR PICK!"

Bilius refused to move until he saw that the headmaster was missing. Then he yelled.

"JUST WAIT UNTIL MY! MOTHER! HEARS ABOUT THIS!"

The floating hat grinned.

"THE BURROW IT IS!

SO BE IT!"

The Slytherin table erupted in cheers and laughter at the foolish stupidity of the redhead's childish tantrum. But the words reverberated in Draco's mind as he remembered how only recently he would throw a tantrum if he didn't get his own way, and would threaten what would happen when his father hears about whatever upset him. He looked around and realised that the former Draco Malfoy would have looked and sounded like a complete and utter friendless moron. He smiled as he thought how thankful he was that Harry was his friend and he gotten to grow up.

While Professor Snape didn't want such a disagreeable cretin in Slytherin, nor did he want to deal with the boy's loud atrocious mother. So he cheerfully asked Princess to summons the rude boy's redhead father to the castle.

While Hagrid came over and picked the rude defiant redhead boy up by the scruff of his neck and stood him facing the corner of the Great Hall for a time-out. The rude boy wouldn't stand still nor would be quiet, and, as no one could see the boy past the bulk of Hagrid, he used his pink umbrella to stick the boy to the wall and then shoved a giant loaf of bread that the elves bake especially for him, into the redhead's mouth to silence him.

But it only took the redhead five minutes to annihilate the giant loaf of bread and ask for more. He was a growing boy after all, and his Prewett rage had consumed all of his energy, and given him an enormous appetite that made him always so irritable and hungry. Hagrid couldn't believe how much that boy could eat with worse table manners than Fang or Fluffy. He threw him the other giant loaf of bread that soon disappeared.

Thankfully, the redhead's very embarrassed red-faced redhead father came directly from his Ministry office, and arrived soon after being summonsed. Professor Snape met him at the entrance and explained the situation, and why Ronald Bilius had been expelled. The poor father noticed his three other sons had their heads down, as he followed Professor Snape pass the Gryffindor table. Then at the end of the Ravenclaw table he noticed a happy smiling Luna Lovegood sitting next to a boy with unmistakable emerald green eyes that could only be Harry Potter. Luna looked up and smiled at him as he nodded back. He was happy for her to have friends. Then he saw his youngest son defiantly standing in the far corner of the Great Hall. He had to use silencing charms, and full binding hexes to get the rude redhead boy out of the Great Hall and take him straight home to the Burrow to face the music.

Unfortunately, for the redhead father and son, they were met at the door on their way out of the Great Hall by two Aurors who were there to arrest Ronald Bilius for his unprovoked vicious attack on three witches at King's Cross Station that morning, and fleeing the scene to avoid lawful arrest. As the attack happened outside the portal to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, it was outside the jurisdiction of Hogwarts and the headmaster. As the boy had attacked and injured three Pure-blood witches, there were three separate offences with three increasing fines. If the Weasleys were unable to pay then Ronald Bilius may just start the school year under the watchful care of the Dementors in Azkaban.

On the way to the Office of the DMLE, the Aurors told Arthur what had happened during the sorting and the return of the Boy-Who-Loved.

Poor Arthur couldn't imagine his day could get any worse until he discovered that his wife and daughter, were also guests of the DMLE. Then he discovered that his wife had used her one owl call to contact the headmaster and not her husband when they were in the same building.

Molly had been there all day and was so angry that she immediately gave the game away. "Why did you take so long? Didn't Albus tell you we were waiting here?"

"No, Dumbledore is in another coma and hadn't told me anything. Have you been here all day?"

"Yes, I was detained outside the portal to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. They have made some silly mistake and Albus was supposed come and to sort it out before now." Molly replied.

"Did you owl call Dumbledore first and not me, your husband?" Arthur asked wondering what on earth was going on.

"Er?" Molly fell silent for the first time in her life.

"Well, I was still working in my office only two floors below here, when I was called to Hogwarts because Ronald had tried to self-sort himself into Ravenclaw to be best friend with the Boy-Who-Loved."

"Ravenclaw? Albus said that they will be both in Gryffindor! Wait? The Boy-Who-Lived is at Hogwarts?"

Ronald chipped in. "Yes. But he doesn't look like he is supposed to, and was he sorted into the wrong house. Who would want to be in Ravenclaw?"

"Oh? How do we know it is really the Boy-Who-Lived?" Molly demanded.

"Oh, it is him, alright! I recognise him straight away. Happy and healthy." Arthur confirmed without mentioning that he had also seen Luna Lovegood.

"Happy and healthy? Albus said his Muggle family hates and starves him!" Molly said before she realised.

Arthur wondered how deep the connection went with the headmaster and his wife, and youngest son. Then he continued. "Well, the Sorting Hat announced his full title, Dumbledore and all of the Professors recognised Harry Potter mother's emerald green eyes, as did He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!"

"What? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is dead!"

"No, he is not! He had possessed Professor Quirrell and attacked Harry Potter during the sorting. Dumbledore is in so much trouble for giving that monster a second chance and a job at Hogwarts when the Boy-Who-Loved is there!" Arthur explained.

"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was at Hogwarts?"

Ronald chipped in again. "Yeah, but my best mate, the Boy-Who-Lived, chased him away!"

"Oh?" Molly felt a little better. "So, why is Ron here?"

"As I said, Ronald tried to sort himself into Ravenclaw to be best friend with the Boy-Who-Loved, and the Sorting Hat wanted to sort him into Slytherin for being ambitious and cunning." Arthur explained.

"What? No Weasleys will ever be in Slytherin!" Molly ranted.

Arthur thought but dare not mentioned that Molly's Great-Aunt Muriel Prewett have been a Slytherin Blue-blood, like most of the Prewetts.

"Albus will fix it."

Arthur face palmed himself. "No he won't. Dumbledore has been sacked and is in so much trouble that he can't save himself. Ronald refused to go into Slytherin and was kicked out of Hogwarts, and I was summoned to the castle to take him home!"

"Oh? He was expelled? How did Albus let that happen?"

Arthur groaned.

Molly ignored the reaction and continued to ask questions. "Why is Ron here?"

Arthur ignored the question and defiantly asked his own. "What happened at King's Cross? Why did you use the Muggle-born Portal to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters?"

"Oh? Well, Ginny wanted to see the Boy-Who-Lived." Molly went red and clumsily lied. Arthur could tell and raised a questioning eyebrow.

Molly started again. "Well, actually, Albus had asked me to find Harry Potter on King's Cross Station and guide him through the secret entrance to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and be sure to introduce him to Ronald and Ginny. And Dumbledore had asked Ronald to be Harry's best friend and to guide him into Gryffindor for the Greater Good of Albus Dumbledore, and away from all things Slytherin and dark."

Poor Arthur, for the first time in his life he cursed blue murder when he discovered that Albus Dumbledore was at the bottom of everything, and for once Molly Wobbles Weasley was too afraid to argue.

Poor Ginny had never heard her father get angry before and burst into tears.

Arthur stopped and hugged his daughter, giving time for Molly to recover her voice.

Delicately she asked. "Why is Ronald here?"

Arthur explained. "Ronald got angry and attacked some witches outside the portal to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and seriously injured three students. Then fled the scene on the Hogwarts Express."

Ronald chipped in. "They were trying to steal my best friend and Ginny's future husband."

Arthur took note of what his son had revealed and continued. "The Aurors were waiting at Hogwarts for Ronald to show up, and as he was expelled, they arrested him and here we are!"

"Why would Ronald be arrested for injuring Muggle-borns? He is a Pure-blood?"

Arthur cringed at the Pure-blood attitude. "It is bad enough that Ronald injured anyone! But the witches Ronald injured were Pure-blood witches. Three of whom had to go to the hospital ward at Hogwarts. One of whom was Pansy Parkinson!"

Molly went white as a ghost. "Perseus Parkinson's granddaughter? Sweet Merlin. He utterly despises and hates Prewetts after Great-Aunt Muriel Prewett left him standing at the altar!"

Molly was finally understanding the depth of the hole Dumbledore had dropped her in. While Ronald saw his mother go white and realised that he might be in a little bit of trouble.

"Exactly!" Arthur added.

Ronald knew he had to stir the pot and blame someone else to deflect the situation and trouble from himself, and then he remembered Loony. He turned to Ginny. "Hey Ginny, your friend Luna Lovegood started Hogwarts a year early! And she is best friends with The-Boy-Who-Lived!"

"WHAT!"

Molly Wobbles Weasley found her voice and a new target, while Arthur facepalmed himself, and Ronald Bilius knew he would live to eat another day. But he didn't notice the dark look his father gave him.

Arthur was shocked as he realised that the Sorting Hat had been one hundred and ten percent correct as he had just watched his youngest son pull a very Slytherin move to avoid trouble and misdirect his mother's Prewett rage and anger at someone else. He couldn't believe a Weasley could do such an evil and dastardly thing to anyone, let alone someone as sweet and beautiful as Luna Lovegood. He decided to keep a close eye on Ronald Bilius Weasley. He hoped that there was still time to purge his Prewett rage heritage and make a Weasley out of him.

While a quiet Ginny eyed her insufferable idiot brother. He had been unbearable since that visit by the headmaster who had given him the task of being the best friend of The-Boy-Who-Lived. Now she would be stuck with him for another year. She needed a more effective curse than her Bat Bogey Hex!

There was one bright spot. With everything that happened that day with the Boy-Who-Loved, Wraithmort and Dumbledore. The troubles of the Weasley family didn't even rate a mention in the Daily Prophet.

But what will happen to Ronald Bilius Weasley?

Will he start his magical education under the gentle watchful care of the Dementors of Azkaban or worse, under the belligerent glare of Molly's Great-Aunt Muriel Prewett? Or even use a certain little blue car to escape to Hogwarts. Leave a review of your own favourite scenario.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Meanwhile, in the Great Hall.

The sorting continued without any more surprises the last first year, Zabini, Blaise, was sorted into Slytherin. Fawkes flamed in to rescue the Sorting Hat and escape.

Minister Bones immediately started the feast as food glorious food appeared on the tables.

The dishes in front of Harry, Hermione, Neville and Luna were now piled with food. Shere Khan had never seen so many things he liked to eat on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, real live peppermint humbugs. They must be for Moonlight's mistress.

While Harry prepared plates of food for his elves and owls who popped or flew down to join them. They even brought a friend, Fawkes the Phoenix who brought the Sorting Hat and a large Toco Toucan.

Luna saw the large Toco Toucan and jumped up with a cry of, "Daddy!" And hugged the stuffing out of the poor bird. "You came!"

The large Toco Toucan gave a deep, coarse croaking, and a bill-clack.

"I love you too, Daddy. I am in Ravenclaw just like mummy, and this is my boyfriend, Neville, and this is Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, my best friends."

The large Toco Toucan gave a bow and a bill-clack.

"Everyone, this is my father, Xenophilius Lovegood." Luna announced and continued to talk to the Toucan. They heard her say. "Gran sent you an owl to tell you I would be starting Hogwarts? And we were so secret too!"

The Toucan raised his wing and Luna saw some parchment poking out of a bottomless pocket. She pulled it out and unfolded it to reveal the first copy of the The Quibbler to be published since her mother's passing. She read the headlines. "Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum in London. You're writing again Daddy."

Luna showed the picture of the Tyrannosaurus Rex with emerald green eyes holding a tiny Indiana Jones, to Harry and Hermione. The next article was about a Blue Whale being saved by a Killer Whale, a courageous pod of dolphins and two Snowy Owls. The third article was about two seagulls breaking the flight speed record.

Hermione asked. "Why doesn't your father change back into himself, so we can see him?"

Luna giggled. "Oh? You remembered the tale about Tarzan wearing only a smile?"

The Toucan smiled as Hermione blushed. "Oh?"

Luna and Neville continued to talk to the smiling Toucan, while the Sorting Hat cheerfully told Harry and Hermione of the sorting of his parents and many other entertaining tales. Including the time when a large Parliament of Magical Mail Owls returned a ream of Hogwarts Acceptance Letters to the Office of the Headmaster. He was wondering if Harry knew anything about that as the ream of letters had been addressed to him. The Hat went on to explain all the damage the explosion of Acceptance Letters did to the office and how many knickknacks and paraphernalia of the headmaster were destroyed as well as the runes and hexes used on Fawkes. Harry was pleased someone benefited from the curse of the abusive Acceptance Letters.

Hermione asked the Sorting Hat where he got his magic from. The Sorting Hat replied that his magic came from the positive vibes of happy children and he got a super charged booster tonight.

Hermione asked another question of the Sorting Hat. "So, who was the Heir of the Founders of Hogwarts who arrived tonight?"

The Sorting Hat gave a chuckle and then spoke in a raspy voice. "Oh? That was the Heiress of Hufflepuff. And typical for a Hufflepuff, she doesn't want to make a fuss."

"Oh? Anyone we know?" Hermione persisted.

"Yes!"

"Does she have red hair?"

"No!"

"Hannah?"

"You didn't hear it from me. My brim is sealed." The Sorting Hat chuckled. There were no secrets in Hogwarts.

"What does it mean to be an Heir of the Founders of Hogwarts?" Hermione asked.

"Good question. An heir outranks the headmaster, and if they so choose, can take control of the Castle or just enjoy being a student." The Sorting Hat explained.

Hermione wondered. "What does it mean for Harry being an Heir to two of the Founders of Hogwarts?"

The Sorting Hat smirked. "Nothing good for a certain Manipulative Old Fool!"

While at the Hufflepuff table, Hannah was playing it cool, as she. Tonks, and Susan were telling all their new friends the exciting adventures they had with Harry Potter and Hermione, Neville and Luna.

And that ginger pocket tiger.

- Head Table -

- Sorting Hat -

- Slytherin – Hufflepuff – Ravenclaw – Gryffindor. -

- Great Hall Entrance Door -

Rita Water Beetle landed on the Slytherin Table for some juicy hot gossip.

While they were eating Draco glanced across to the Ravenclaw Table and saw Harry look at him and give him the thumbs up gesture of good luck and congratulations. Draco smiled as he returned the gesture to Harry.

Daphne Greengrass saw that and asked. "Draco, do you know Harry Potter? You didn't seem to be as surprised as we were when he was revealed."

Draco chuckled. "Well actually my new Head of House, Lord Sirius Black, is Harry's godfather, and I kind of got an invite to Harry's Surprise Birthday Party last Thursday. We had to keep Harry's new appearance and location a secret from the headmaster."

"New appearance?" Daphne asked.

"Yeah, that is Harry's natural appearance. It was the headmaster who had charmed him to look like he does in the books with the scar and glasses. So everyone would recognise him as the Boy-Who-Lived." Draco explained.

An angry Nott jumped in. "But Potter somehow killed your father and mine."

"No he didn't. The Dark Lord foolishly attacked Harry on his actual birthday at the end of July and got his bum kicked again. To keep his wraith form alive, the Dark Lord drew on the life force of our fathers through that Dark Mark brand. That drain on their life force sent them half mad and they all went off to murder Barty Crouch and ended up dead as well." Draco repeated what his godfather Sev had explained to him.

"But the Dark Lord.." Nott protested.

"Awake up, Nott. The Dark Lord is finished. You saw him try to run away from Harry." Draco pointed out. "There was a reason why the Dark Lord tried to kill Harry when he was a baby. Harry was already powerful enough to kick his bum then, and he will grow up to be more powerful than the Dark Lord, Dumbledore and Merlin combined. You don't want to make him your enemy."

"But he is a stupid Gryffindor!" Nott didn't think but repeated what his late father had taught him.

"No, he is not! He got the Hat to sort himself and his friends into Ravenclaw so he could avoid the headmaster's manipulations."

"Oh?" Daphne wondered. "Potter is not happy with Dumbledore?"

"No. That's why Harry wanted to be in Ravenclaw and avoid the toxic Gryffindor – Slytherin rivalry and be friends with everyone if you forget about the Pure-blood dogma bull."

"That is such a Slytherin move." Daphne gushed.

"Exactly." Draco agreed. "Look, he even eats with his elves and familiars owls and cats, and has already won the respect of Fawkes the Phoenix and the Sorting Hat."

"It looks like they are having a lot of fun." Daphne was a little envious.

"Exactly." Draco agreed. "We had so much fun at his birthday party."

"But?" Nott protested.

"Wake up, Nott! The Dark Lord, Dumbledore and Harry are all very powerful Half-bloods! But Harry is special. He can do things neither the others can do. My godfather is Professor Snape and my new Head of House is Lord Sirius Black. Those two have hated each other since they were sorted into Slytherin and Gryffindor, and that hatred has seriously screwed up their lives. But Harry told them to forgive each other from the heart, and they did. Twenty years of bitter hatred was very difficult to forgive, but look at them sitting together. And what Harry did, has opened the door for my mother and I to come back into the House of Black. Harry has broken through the Slytherin Gryffindor rivalry that was the basis of the headmaster's power, and we will be the happier for it. Harry's offer of forgiveness to the dark lord is available to everyone. You have to stop hating and start loving. I am proud to be a friend of Harry Potter. You have one chance to be his friend. Don't waste it. He has the power to Stardust Dark Lords!" Draco finished and gave Nott and the other Pure-blood bigots listening a lot to think about.

Well, a lot more to think about as Nott, Crabbe, Goyle and others whose Head of House had been a Death Eater who died in the firestorm, now belonged to Harry. After all the dust had settled on the execution of their wills, fees and taxes. Later tonight, they have a meeting with their new Head of House, Regent Augusta Longbottom, and after her great victory over the manipulative headmaster, everyone was feeling more positive towards meeting the scary old Battleaxe.

Rita Beetle had another big story to write.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

After dessert was served, Sirius made his way to the Ravenclaw table to thank Harry for making the DADA position vacant, and to congratulate him, Hermione, Neville and Luna for getting in to Ravenclaw. It was essential for their plan to avoid the headmaster's manipulations and try to bring the first years together to break the toxic rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Dan and Emma followed Sirius to see Hermione and to point out that they had gotten to Hogwarts before her. Gran, Frank and Alice followed them to congratulate and hug Neville and Luna for their successful prank as Gran loved helping them to get one over the old fool. While Sev went with Narcissa to congratulate Draco before coming over to congratulate Harry.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Unspeakable Croaker had a brief meeting with Minister Bones and his team of Unspeakable and Goblin Curse breakers. The main concern was Voldemort's missing final cursed dark artefact. He sent the teams back out to search the castle again and then made his way to congratulate Neville. He spotted Severus there and asked if he knew how to get into the headmaster's office without the password. With the old fool indisposed it would be a good time to search the office. Severus nodded and led a team of Unspeakables through the secret backdoor entrance he used to access the headmaster's office and left them to do their job after he warned them that they must not try to open the door to the headmaster's private quarters or suffer a very painful death.

The Unspeakables did their due diligence and discovered that whatever was behind that ancient oak door to the headmaster's private quarters exceeded their magical ability to diffuse safely. As Dumbledore himself couldn't open the door, they resolved to assemble a larger team and come back later.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Harry turned and saw Unspeakable Croaker. "How has the search gone."

"We are still looking Harry. We know it is here but there are so many places to hide something in a castle that is one thousand years old. We have found many cursed dark artefacts. Some ancient and a lot not that old. But not the one we seek." Croaker replied as he held up the gold teaspoon that trapped Wraithmort. "Once we find that cursed dark artefact we can go to the next step."

Harry thought for a moment and called. "Princess?"

Pop!

Princess, Dobby and Winky appeared.

Princess spoke. "Good young master Harry calls for Princess. We were helping in the kitchen and telling the Hogwarts' elves about the greatest sorting ever!"

"Oh, thank you, Princess." A smiling Harry replied. "We are looking for a cursed very dark artefact that has been hidden in the castle. Would you know of any secret hiding places?"

Dobby's ears pricked up. "Dobby felt something dark in the Come and Go room where we stored your trunks. It felt like bad master's little black book."

Dobby popped away before they asked and returned a few minutes later holding a chipped bust of an ugly old warlock wearing a dusty old wig and a tarnished tiara. Harry felt the darkness coming from the tiara while Hermione and Luna moved towards it.

"That's my mother's lost Diadem." The Gray Lady said as she came closer. "Tom must have found it, but It has been cursed with some really dark magic."

Croaker looked at it carefully as he waved his wand over it.

"That's it, Harry. You have found it." Croaker said as he placed a dragon hide bag over it to block the evil influence it had on Hermione and Luna.

"Actually Dobby found it. Good work Dobby." Harry replied.

"Oh? I would have never thought of that." Croaker said. "Thank you, Dobby. You have done well."

He turned to the Gray Lady. "Tom?"

"The cute Slytherin head boy, Tom Marvolo Riddle. He asked where the lost Diadem of Ravenclaw was, and offered to return it to the castle. He was so charming and persuasive that I told him. He must have found it and brought it back and hidden it in the Come and Go room. Please don't destroy it." The Gray Lady plead.

"Have no fear my lady, we will remove the dark magic and restore it."

"So, what do we do now?" Harry asked

"I need to recall our teams. They have gone to give the castle one last search this evening. Then we need to check and confirm that there no more missing cursed dark artefacts from Voldemort. After that we can destroy or clean the artefacts, and then you can throw the gold teaspoon through the Veil in the Death Chamber in the Department of Mysteries. That will ensure Voldemort never returns." Croaker explained. "That should take about a week and we can end Voldemort next Sunday."

"Sound like a plan." Harry replied. "That finishes Voldemort and leaves only Dumbledore."

Croaker chuckled. "The Ministry has already started to deal with him."

The teams of Unspeakables and Goblin Curse Breakers returned to the Great Hall and carried two bags. The larger was marked; Dumbledore's cursed dark artefacts, while the far smaller bag was marked; Everyone else.

Interestingly one cursed dark artefact in the smaller bag was a cursed Award for Special Services to Hogwarts presented to a T. M. Riddle fifty years ago.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

After the rest of the students were well fed and watered, and after all that excitement Professor McGonagall forgot about all the start-of-term notices, and sent the students off to their Houses' dormitories.

But the students were too excited to go to sleep and quickly rushed off to write home. All the Slytherin students had their family owls to fly their letters home while the First Generation students had to rely on the school owls. Soon Hogwarts Owlery was completely emptied and Hedwig and Louis had summoned every available Magical Mail Owl as so many students were waiting for more owls to arrive from Hogsmeade.

There had only been a very few occasions when the Hogwarts Owlery had been completely emptied. The last time occurred ten years ago and it also involved Harry Potter and He-Who-Got-His-Bum-Kicked-Again. It took three days to clear the backlog of mail to and from, and the strange actions of the owls was reported on the Muggle news.

Meanwhile in an undisclosed foreign country, a certain happy thinner branch director of a firm called Grunnings, which made drills, noticed the strangely dressed people that were out and about celebrating something that involved someone called Harry Potter. He took the good news home to his growing family, and they had a quiet celebration of their own to remember a beloved sister and cousin.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

The Ravenclaw fifth year prefect Penelope "Penny" Clearwater came to gather the Ravenclaw first years and lead them to the Ravenclaw Tower. Seeing the adults talking to Harry, Hermione, Neville and Luna, she offered to return later to escort them the tower. They accepted her offer and she escorted the other first year Ravenclaws away.

Professor Flitwick came over to congratulate his new Ravens and then excused himself to go to the house meeting in the Ravenclaw Tower. While the Ravenclaw ghost, the Gray Lady, stayed to offer her congratulations as that was the most amazing sorting that she had ever witnessed and she had seen them all. She stayed around to enjoy the positive vibe of the group.

Harry heard and felt the presence of the half-giant behind him and turned to face Hagrid. "Hello, Hagrid."

"Hello, Harry." Hagrid said sadly. "You have changed a lot since I have seen you last. But I can see your mother in you."

"Yeah, I accidentally removed the headmaster's charms." Harry replied.

"Oh! You look the better for it." Hagrid said as he scratched the scar Hedwig gave him when she hit him with Harry's trunk. "Er, look, I am really sorry about Diagon Alley and about taking you back to those horrible relatives of yours. I am really really sorry about taking you there after your parents..." Hagrid choked.

Harry slowly nodded as he saw how sad and sorry Hagrid was about everything. "I forgive you, Hagrid. You were the first adult to ever stand up to Uncle Vernon for me."

The sad half-giant had a faint smile as Hedwig landed on the table and barked.

"Hedwig says she is sorry for hitting you so hard." Harry continued.

"It's all right. She was just looking after her young one and she knocked some sense into me." Hagrid chuckled. "She laid me out cold. No one has ever done that before. Never mess with a Magical Mail Owl, Harry. Seriously misunderstood they are!"

Hagrid put his hand out to pat the snowy owl and Hedwig snaps at him. He pulls his hand back and chuckles. "She smells Fluffy on my hand."

"Fluffy?"

"Yeah, Fluffy, my pet Cerberus." Hagrid said.

"You have a Cerberus?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, but I have lost her somewhere. Probably wandered off into the Forbidden Forest." Hagrid was worried. "She is only a puppy."

"We can go look for her." Harry offered.

Hagrid shook his head. "Not in the Forbidden Forest you will. That's forbidden for a reason."

"Okay." Harry smiled as he moved to hug the half-giant and Hagrid shed a tear and patted his back.

"I have had quite the adventure since Diagon Alley, Hagrid. My relatives have left the country and the headmaster somehow blew up their old house. It is just a hole in the ground now. So I have found a new family. This is my girlfriend, Hermione and her parents, Dan and Emma, and you know Sirius, the Longbottoms, Neville and Luna, and Sev, er Professor Snape." Harry continued as he introduced his new family to the half-giant.

Hagrid greeted the Grangers and Longbottoms, and renewed the friendships. Hagrid even apologised to Sirius for taking baby Harry from him. But he was puzzled by the friendliness between Sirius, Harry, and Professor Snape. To even consider those three as family seemed impossible a month ago, as he knew the obtuse Slytherin Professor hated Harry's father, James Potter, and was not happy that his son was coming to Hogwarts this year as the headmaster cheerfully kept reminding them. But there it was, Sirius, Harry and Severus smiling, even Severus' eyes were smiling. That was the secret of understanding a magical creature by their eyes, were their eyes fearful, or angry and ready to attack, or relaxed or happy and smiling.

Hagrid was so used to the situation the headmaster presided over, where the two divided groups kept their claws down but their eyes showed the hatred and contempt for each other. Around Harry there were no division, no hatred and no contempt, just smiling eyes. He never thought Severus could ever change, and he never could imagine Severus and Sirius could ever be civil, let alone friendly.

Hagrid had never seen such great magic as this.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Minister Bones, Chief Witch Marchbanks and Professor McGonagall returned into the Great Hall with a dozen bottles of fifty year old of single malt black label Ogden's Old Firewhisky from the stash of gifts given to the headmaster, to celebrate the successful search of the castle with the teams. They were not surprised that the headmaster had cursed dark artefacts to influence and manipulate the students and staff hidden around the castle, but they were amazed that there were so many.

The other Professors returned to the Great Hall after their House Meetings.

The Hogwarts' elves sent up a stack of glasses that appeared on the tables for the drinks as Croaker waved his wand over the bottles of Firewhisky to make sure that they were not cursed or poisoned, and then poured a generous serving for everyone plus Fawkes and Shere Khan, except for Hagrid, the children, elves and owls. They got Butterbeer. Emma was surprised to watch flames come out of Shere Khan's ears.

It had been a very successful day.

Chief Witch Marchbanks overheard Harry telling Hermione about the cute curly pig tail that Hagrid had given his cousin Dudley, and she remembered how the half-giant had been expelled fifty years ago. She knew something wasn't right about that, and didn't trust the smooth talking Riddle as the victim wasn't bitten by a spider. The fact was that for the last fifty years, Dumbledore wasn't interested in righting that injustice and had blocked her access to the half-giant, and that had weakened her trust of the headmaster and his games. So while the headmaster was in a coma, she took the opportunity to ask Hagrid, his side of the story. While she didn't approve of the pets Hagrid kept, that wasn't a valid reason to justify what had happened to him.

Hagrid was surprised that being the Chief Witch of the Wizengamot, Madam Marchbanks had the authority and power to rescind his expulsion. She then changed hats and asked him to demonstrate his transfiguration skills.

"I am sorry, Madam Marchbanks, but they broke my wand and it is only good for starting fires." Hagrid explained.

Harry smiled, there was a new spell he had learnt with Hermione. "Can you show me your wand, Hagrid?"

Hagrid looked at Harry smiling face and slowly took his pink umbrella out of an inside pocket of his coat. He opened the umbrella to show that his old broken wand was tied to the shaft and used that as a splint to hold the two halves together.

Encouraged by Harry's smile, Hagrid held out the pink umbrella. "That umbrella belonged to your mother, Harry. She tied my broken wand to the shaft as a splint to protect it and so I could still use it a little. See, the Hungarian Horntail dragon heartstring magical core still joined the two halves."

"Oh? Wow!" Harry said as he nodded to Hermione.

She carefully undid the splint and placed the broken wand on the table. Then used her own wand to clean and tried to return the pink umbrella to Hagrid. But he shook his head and pointed to Harry.

Harry focused on the old broken oak wand. Then hit the finger trigger and the ancient wand flicked into his left hand. He pointed it at the broken wand and whispered. "Reparo!"

There was a brief flash and hiss as the old oak wand snapped back together as good as new as it glowed and floated above the table.

Slowly, Hagrid reached down and carefully picked up the wand. There was a swirl of magic around the half-giant as his adult magic reconnected to his wand and a literal fireball of sparks erupted out of the wand and up towards the ceiling.

Hagrid's grin lit up his face as he pointed his freshly repaired Hungarian Horntail dragon heartstring and oak wand at an empty Firewhisky bottle, and silently transfigured it into a glass Niffler that came alive and tried to steal the gold cutlery. It accidentally ran off the table and smashed on the stone floor. He waved his new improved oak wand at the smashed glass Niffler and it was restored back to a glass bottle.

The Chief Witch of the Wizengamot, Madam Griselda Marchbanks, proudly righted the wrong that had happened fifty years ago. "By the powers invested in me, I hereby rescind the expulsion of Rubeus Hagrid from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

On a roll, Madam Professor Griselda Marchbanks, Governor of the Wizarding Examinations Authority, cheerfully took out an official parchment from her pocket and awarded Hagrid his first and only O.W.L. for Transfiguration. Then she added a second O.W.L. for Care of Magical Creatures for good measure.

Professor Sprout spoke up. "I recommend Hagrid receive an outstanding O.W.L. for Herbology as no one knows the Forbidden Forest and all the plants to be found there better than Hagrid."

So Herbology was added. Then Defence Against the Dark Arts was added as the half-giant was immune to most of the Dark Arts.

Surprising everyone, but it may have been the Firewhisky talking (it was the really good stuff), Professor Snape spoke up. "I recommend Hagrid receive an outstanding O.W.L. for Potions as Hagrid knows how to correctly gather all sorts of exotic ingredients in the Forbidden Forest and he hadn't killed anyone with his cooking of his fighting rock cakes."

So Potions was added.

Madam Professor Marchbanks was on a roll, as she looked at Professor Aurora Sinistra and she gave a positive nod.

"Hagrid had introduced me to the Centaurs to discuss their knowledge of the stars."

Astronomy was added.

Madam Professor Marchbanks looked at Professor Flitwick and he gave a positive nod and said. "I recommend Charms be added. I have seen Hagrid's handiwork in the Forbidden Forest even with a broken wand."

Madam Professor Marchbanks looked at Professor Sybill Trelawney and she gave a positive nod and said, "Hagrid argues with the centaurs."

Divination was added.

Madam Professor Marchbanks looked at the ghost Professor Cuthbert Binns and he gave a positive nod and History of Magic was added.

Madam Professor Marchbanks gave the official parchment to Professor McGonagall who stood in front of Hagrid and proudly read out the results as she presented the O.W.L.s Certificate parchment to him.

"The Ministry of Magic, Wizarding Examinations Authority, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ordinary Wizarding Level Results. Pass Grades:…."

"Get to the good stuff, Minnie!" Sirius suggested.

"Okay, okay, Hagrid has waited fifty years for this." Professor McGonagall replied and then cleared her throat.

"Rubeus Hagrid has achieved the following OWLs:

Astronomy: Outstanding.

Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding.

Charms: Outstanding.

Defence Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding.

Divination: Outstanding.

Herbology: Outstanding.

History of Magic: Outstanding.

Potions: Outstanding.

Transfiguration: Outstanding."

Everyone clapped and cheered as Professor McGonagall presented the official OWLs award parchment to Hagrid as Harry said.

"You're a wizard, Hagrid!"

"Eh, yeah, thank you, thank you everyone." Hagrid said as a tear ran down his cheek, he couldn't believe what had just happened.

Then turned to his best little mate. "Thanks to you Harry, I am finally a wizard!" The half-giant chuckled with a tear twinkling in his eye. "But you, Harry, you're already a great Great Wizard! I have never seen such positive loving magic like this. Those Love Lights were amazing. Mine were the size of a basket ball." He waved his hands around at all the happy smiling eyes. "Not even Professor Dumbledore could do such great magic. Your parents, James and Lily, would be so proud."

"You have a lot of love to give, Hagrid." Harry said as he moved closer with Hermione, Neville and Luna. "And what happened to us, was all Dumbledore's fault. We need to love and work together so the Dumbledores of this world who want all the power and control, can't screw us over and completely ruin everything again!"

Hagrid nodded in agreement and then the moment overwhelmed the half-giant as the disappointment and lost of the last fifty years caught up, and he teared up as Harry, Hermione, Neville and Luna hugged him.

Comforted, Hagrid smiled with tears in his eyes as he nodded a thank you to the Professors, and held up his O.W.L. results for all to see.

The Ministry of Magic

Wizarding Examinations Authority

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Ordinary Wizarding Level Results

Pass Grades:

Outstanding (O)

Exceeds Expectations (E)

Acceptable (A)

Fail Grades:

Poor (P)

Dreadful (D)

Troll (T)

Rubeus Hagrid has achieved:

Astronomy: O

Care of Magical Creatures: O

Charms: O

Defence Against the Dark Arts: O

Divination: O

Herbology: O

History of Magic: O

Potions: O

Transfiguration: O"

Hagrid looked at the piece of official looking parchment in his hand and felt the joy and love of his friends. He had only came over to apologise to Harry and to say how sorry he was for what he had done on the headmaster's orders, and somehow it has turned into this. He had gone from a disgraced expelled student to a proper officially approved wizard with nine outstanding O.W.L.s.

Madam Professor Marchbanks came up to congratulate Hagrid. "Well done, Hagrid. An excellent result."

"Thank you, it was most kind of you to do this for me." Hagrid replied.

"You're welcome, Hagrid. What happened to you was not right and Dumbledore wasn't interested in fixing it." Madam Professor Marchbanks continued. "Now you just have to get your license to Apparate. When shall I schedule your lessons?"

"As soon as possible, Madam. If young Harry can apparate at his age, it can't be too hard." Hagrid replied.

"Harry Potter apparated?"

"Yeah. He apparated out of Diagon Alley." Hagrid explained.

"But you are not supposed to be able to do that. The wards over and protecting Diagon Alley would have prevented apparation."

"Well nobody told him he couldn't do that." Hagrid replied as Madam Professor Marchbanks looked at Harry and wondered at his potential.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

The tears started again as the children said farewell to parents and guardians when Penny returned to guide the first years to the Ravenclaw Tower. Professor Flitwick, Dan and Emma tagged along to see where their little princess would be staying.

Along the way, Professor Flitwick shared some very important information. "Dan and Emma, I am not sure if you knew this but as members of the Board of Governors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, you can request accommodation at Hogwarts at any time."

"Really?" Emma said hopefully, as Dan considered the possibilities.

"If you like, given the lateness of the hour, I can request the elves prepare the Ravenclaw Tower guest quarters for you."

"We would love that, thank you." Dan said as they continued to chat along the way.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Meanwhile Severus led Gran, Frank, Alice, Sirius, Remus, and Narcissa to the Slytherin common room to have a meeting with the twenty students of late Death Eaters and now of the extended House Potter. It was just a short meeting to introduce each other and to learn what was expected of them, and find out what they needed. Fifteen students were found to be using old family wands. Arrangements were made to take the students to Ollivanders early the next morning. Sirius cheerfully volunteered Narcissa Black to assist as all the students knew her and Severus would be very busy on the first day of classes. Gran wrote out permission parchments for the students to leave the castle and be escorted to purchase their own wand, the cost of which would be covered by House Potter, and gave it to Professor Snape.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

So, earlier, after the rest of the students were well fed and watered, Professor McGonagall sent the students off to their Houses dormitories. Unfortunately, after all that excitement she forgot about all the start-of-term notices.

So there was no announcement about the Forbidden Forest, nor the reminder about no magic in the corridors, and in particularly there was no ominous warning about the painful death that awaited anyone who foolishly wandered into the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side.

But you, my astute reader may question why this Corridor of Painful Death was not discovered when the castle was carefully searched by the best Curse Breakers the Unspeakables and Goblins had to offer. Well, that was one of the former headmaster's more brilliant ideas, and between you and me, that's saying something as Dumbledore excelled at hiding his secrets. For that very morning before the emergency meeting of the Board of Governors, the then headmaster had cast the Fidelius Charm over the Corridor of Painful Death with himself as the Secret-Keeper. So that the Professors and particularly Hagrid would forget all about his little extracurricular activity he had planned for the Boy-Who-Lived while the Board of Governors of Hogwarts were in the castle. The same little extracurricular activity he had planned to bring Harry and Tom together again at the end of the school year, and see who will kill who. And if Harry was successful in surviving Plan A, the headmaster had an idea for a Plan B prepared for next year utilising the ancient lost cursed Ravenclaw Diadem to be found in the Come and Go room by some poor Muggle-born student. Fortunately, he was totally unaware of the plans and the tragic fate that befell Lucius Malfoy, while he had been unconscious under the care of the Madam of Pain.

So the headmaster's Plan A, was to share the secret of the Fidelius Charm with everyone at the end of the Welcome Feast, so everyone would know where to find the Corridor of Painful Death, and all of the Professors and Hagrid would remember their part again.

Sadly, as the headmaster was unconscious and under the care of St Mungo's along with the Madam of Pain, the secret of the Fidelius Charm was not shared, and the Professors and Hagrid were unable to remember anything about the Corridor of Painful Death.

Something that will come back to bite them soon as with the demise of Professor Quirrellmort, for the Castle Elves had refused to feed the two trolls that he had supplied. That meant the two trolls would get very hungry very quickly. These were the two trolls Professor Quirrellmort had supplied to guard his section of the Quest for the Philosopher's Stone. The extra curricular activity that the headmaster had thoughtfully arranged for the benefit of the Boy-Who-Lived and his arch-nemesis, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Yes, there were two trolls, so they could keep each other amused and not get bored. (In cannon one of these unfortunate trolls came to a sticky end in a bathroom on Halloween.)

So? What could possibly go wrong?

Fiendish laughter!

"Let us hope that Mr Potter is always around to save the day!" …. Lucius Malfoy PS movie.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Thank you for reading.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -