Minerva McGongall opened the letter from one Harry Danann, as she does she rubs the parchment between two fingers. Vellum, surprising as most people use cheaper parchment. Reading the letter, her eyebrows rise, and then rise further. Morgana and Harry would like a competent staff member to show them how to get their supplies, as well as how to find the train, as they live in the muggle world. Well that wrinkle excludes Filius from being the escort. With a sigh she pulls her diary over and looks for a clear point where she isn't swamped with pre-term paperwork or meetings. Severus isn't due to return to the school till the week before term starts, so he's out. Pomona, she's a possibility and her normal attire wouldn't stand out too much if she ditches the robes. She pages through the diary, no that won't work as she's not back till after the payment deadline for new students.

"Tilly."

There's a slight pop as Tilly appears, "Yes Miss Kitty?"

"Would you be able to get me Albus' calendar please?"

"Certainly Miss Kitty." The house elf disappears with a pop, and then a moment later his calendar appears. Flicking through it, it's clear that his calendar is almost as busy as her own. Though only a fraction of that time is being spent on school related activities. Ah, there we go, he's scheduled for a Wizengamot meeting on the 5th August, which is due to start at 2pm.

Opening her draw, she pulls out a snuff box that contains floo powder. Walking over to her fireplace, she throws a pinch in the fire and calls out "DMLE, Amelia Bones Office."

It doesn't take long for the fire to turn green, at which point she kneels down a puts her head in the flames, "Amelia, thank you for taking my call."

The head of the DMLE nods at her, "What can I do for you?"

"I have an unscheduled muggleborn visit to make, our records had them down as a magical household. I've got a meeting with you later in the week, would you mind if I rescheduled it to the 5th at 10am to be attended by Mr Dumbledore instead of myself?"

Amelia pulls out her own diary and looks at it, "It's not ideal, as it's the Wizengamot meeting that day. But I am free that morning."

"Great, I'll send you a letter to confirm. I just need to call Tofty now and see if he can move the meeting about grades to 11am on the same day."

"Oh, really. Do you also have a meeting with Healer Nightingale?"

Minerva pulls her head out of the fireplace and quickly checks her diary, "I do as a matter of fact, it's on the 8th August."

"I think I know what he wants to meet you about, so if I'm right you may get a letter cancelling that meeting."

"Oh thank the goddess, I'll send you a letter confirming the change in time and attendees."

Amelia nods, "I'll speak to you soon."

"Goodbye."

Standing up, Minerva has a quick stretch before she makes her next call, which goes far more smoothly. Then she has to write 4 letters, one to Harry Danann, and 3 to the participants of the meeting, to inform them of the change in time and attendees.

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Harry ducks back as the rattan sword passes over the top of his shield. Quickly he brings his shield up to push the sword out of position while ducking inside his opponents shield and stabbing his own rattan sword into the face guard.

"Match Harry. Well done, we'll need to move you out of your age category if you keep going like this."

Harry steps back and raises his sword in a salute to his opponent. Once she raised her own sword he lowered his shield and sheathed his sword.

"Well done Marianne, you've been improving."

"Not as fast as you though."

Harry laughs, "Well, you're welcome to stay over at ours for the weekend. Then you can have my mum wake you at 6 for drills."

Marianne looks over at the adults arena, where Morgana is soundly thrashing all comers, "Yeah, I think I'll pass on that one. I prefer to spend my weekend mornings watching cartoons."

"Yeah, I'd like to do that too sometimes. But at least I get to see the late morning programs."

The referee interrupts, "You've both had a breather, Harry as it was your win you can pick the weapons for next round."

Harry looks over at the next opponent and frowns, Dan's a bruiser that out masses him by a lot, "I'm going to say freestyle."

"Very well, grab your weapons. Dan you're up, freestyle."

Dan places his faceguard on and grabs a leather wrapped wooden mace as well as a shield. Harry, on the other hand, grabs a double shield with blunted spines on either end. It's by far his favourite weapon, as it's clearly made for defence, but has a surprising amount of offence in it. He smirks when Dan looks down on his weapon choice, it might be a peasants weapon, but that doesn't change how effective it is. The only other weapon he really likes is the spear, but Dan likes to use shields, so it's less effective.

Dan steps in confidently, but it only takes a few exchanges for that confidence to disappear. The double shield is interesting, as the way it's used has a lot in common with a quarterstaff or spear, with the advantage that it can hide almost the whole of his body if he chooses. After a swift jab to the foot and knee, Dan's guard opens up to allow Harry to guide the mace down and then bring the blunted point of his shield up into Dan's sternum hard.

"Match Harry. Harry, I'm going to give you a handicap now. You can't use shields until you're knocked out."

Harry just shakes his head and then shakes Dan's hand, "You did well, I suggest you get some training in the basics with a spear and quarterstaff, as your awareness was a little off. Which club do you normally go to?"

Removing his faceguard, Dan smiles ruefully, "I'm actually on holiday with my folks, I normally go to the Hastings meet, and that is the most one-sided fight I've been in for a year or so."

"My mum's into living archaeology, specifically Celtic history circa 500-800 Current Era. I've been learning to use weapons since I was 5."

Dan laughs, "That makes me feel a little better."

"I'm going to be using a sword and spear from now, what you'll see is that I keep the sword sheathed as my backup weapon. Remember that the spear has been used by every culture in the world, both as a hunting weapon, and for war."

The next three fights are much harder for Harry, as his only defence is to keep his opponents at a distance. It's hard enough, that the sight of a barn owl landing on a nearby post during the day distracts him enough to lose. Grumbling good naturedly, he bows out of the rest of the matches with the excuse he's monopolised the arena enough already.

Pulling a little mist to himself, Harry fades from the awareness of the people around. This also draws the attention of his mother, but she just nods imperceptibly and continues to teach the various visiting combatants that women can be warriors.

"Hello there, have you got a letter for me?"

The owl bobs its head, so Harry takes the letter and strokes it's breast with the back of a finger, "There's a mouse over there if you want a snack."

As he pulls his hand away, Harry pushes an ad hoc spell at the bird to allow it to see the mouse he was talking about. He then wanders back to the ring and sits on a stump to watch. As he does, he puts the letter inside his jerkin for safe keeping. It doesn't take Marianne long to notice him sitting there, and query him for tips, which then turns into an impromptu class on shield usage, both held and strapped.

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Later, in the roundhouse, Mórrígan looks over at her son, "Yvor, what was the letter you received?"

Harry startles at the use of his true name, "Mum! Don't do that! And I haven't read it yet, as I didn't think it was appropriate to read around other people."

Mórrígan just arches an eyebrow, so Harry pulls out the letter and reads it before handing it over.

"It's a good thing that I'm independently wealthy in the human world, as it seems like I need to be available on Tuesday. At least it's not going to spoil your birthday on Wednesday."

Harry smiles, "Are we still going to the spring court for the party?"

Mórrígan smiles at Harry, "Yes we are."

Ephis dances in the air as Harry gets up to dance with joy, much to her amusement.

The next 4 days pass quickly, with the monthly tenpin bowling visit at the weekend, along with the normal practice and lessons that Harry gets from his mother and Ephis. Soon enough, Tuesday the 30th July rolls around.

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A black and grey cat, with a bandit patch across its eyes, leaps on to the roof of the mansion from a shed before making her way over to the inner courtyard. There she stops by a gargoyle to watch a young boy going through drills with a spear. Off to one side is a double handed shield, as well as a more normal shield and sword, all leaning against a wall. As she's half an hour early, the cat settles down to watch the boy, only glancing up once when a flutter of feathers heralds the arrival of a crow, which perches on the gargoyle.

When the boy finishes, she takes a moment to look at the archway in the centre of the courtyard that seems to be made from the bones of some long forgotten animal. As she does, a flicker of movement draws her eye to the top of the arch where her eyes pick out a fairy watching the boy, the glow from its wings hard to see in the morning light. Her attention is pulled back to the boy as he starts to go through drills with the shield. She's not sure how long she's watching as he then switches to the sword and shield, then just the sword, and finally an unarmed drill. Breathing heavily, he comes to the end of the last drill. As he does the crow swoops down from the gargoyle and turns into a woman with blood red hair. The cat is so startled, that it almost slips off the roof.

As she regathers her wits, and is about to return to the front door, the woman turns to look up at her, "You might as well come down professor."

This proves to be one shock too far for her footing, and she gracelessly slides off the roof, only to float down to the floor gently. As she lands, she gracelessly transforms back into a person.

As she does, Harry turns to her, "Sorry I didn't greet you when you arrived, I was in the middle of my spear drill. I have to do them every morning or Mum gets grouchy."

As her knees go weak, the lady ruffles his hair, "You did well, I wasn't even sure you'd noticed our guest."

"It's not like she's stealthy, come on, she doesn't even move like a natural cat."

"How would you know that young man?"

The woman interrupts Harry, "Family magic. Now I believe introductions are in order. I am known as Morgana Danann, and this is my son."

Minerva curtsies, "Pleased to meet you Madam Danann, I am Professor McGonagall and I teach transfiguration at Hogwarts in addition to my duties as the Deputy Headmistress."

Harry smiles, his green eyes sparkling as he sketches a bow, "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm known as Harry."

As he rises up again, Minerva catches sight of the jagged scar in his forehead, and her knees finally give way as she collapses to the floor, her hand clutched to her mouth.

"Harry Potter, but you were reported to be dead."

Harry shakes his head, "Potter no longer, I now have my mothers blood running through my veins."

"But how?"

Morgana smiles, it's a smile that would send her guards running in terror but Minerva doesn't know that, "The fairy up there brought him to me after he stepped through a fairy gate into her forest. When I held him, the protections placed upon him transferred to myself and so I knew he couldn't return to his previous family. At that point, adoption was really the only option."

"I see, I will have to tell the headmaster of this."

The sounds and smells of battle seem to reach Minerva senses as Morgana stares down at her, "No you won't, this is a family matter not a matter for the administrator of a school. No matter how many title and positions he has to his name. If he finds out before Harry arrives at school, then you will answer to me. I am his parent and guardian, not even my husband can gainsay me that."

Minerva swallows hard, "Why allow him to come to school then?"

Morgana gestures to Minerva's wand, "Roman magic. My family practices Celtic magic, Harry's heritage is roman magic, so he should be given the opportunity to learn."

"I wasn't aware that there was still anyone that knew how to perform that magic."

"There's a lot about the world that you are likely unaware of. Now I understand that we have shopping and administrative tasks to perform today."

"Right, yes. We will be taking the knight bus to Diagon Alley in London. From there we will need to go to Gringotts to deal with the paperwork for Harry's tuition. That should leave us with the afternoon to buy his supplies and wand."

"We will be commissioning a wand rather than buying one."

"Why? Ollivander's wands have been suitable for thousands of years."

"The why is immaterial, the fact that we will be is all that matters."

"A commissioned wand is far more expensive, especially for something that Harry may grow out of."

"I have no doubt that Harry will grow into her wand."

Harry looks sharply at his mother, does she know? What does this mean for him in the future, he's a boy, isn't he?