Marie stomps out of the cottage and screams in frustration.
From behind her Morgana calls, "Are you ok Marie?"
Marie spins around and shouts, "Do I look like I'm ok!? My clothes don't fit anymore, everything aches, and I can't sleep."
Morgana puts the goblet she's been working on down, before walking over and enfolding Marie in a hug, "I'm sorry it's so hard. Have you taken a potion yet?"
Marie shakes her head, "I wanted to keep it till later. Sorry about shouting at you."
"Don't be. I did warn you about this half of the process."
"I know, it's just that the pain isn't actually that bad. It's just constant, like the worst days of puberty all the time. I swear I can feel my hips growing."
"You probably can. Come on, let's get you a potion and put you to bed."
"Can you hold me?", Morgana just nods, "Also, when do you sleep?"
Morgana laughs, "I've never been human remember. I only sleep when I want to."
"That's so unfair."
"It does have it's advantages, I do most of my writing while everyone else is asleep."
"Do you really want me helping you tomorrow?"
"Marie, as much as Dora is progressing in her familiarisation with the mundane world, she hasn't lived in it like you and I have. We're going to be taking the kids to BHS for their P.E. kit and then WHSmith for their school supplies. Do you honestly think she's going to be any good as more than a chaperone?"
As Morgana guides her down to the bed, Marianne yawns, "I guess not."
"Drink your potion and lie down."
"Mmm. Who's idea was it to demonstrate your magic on Friday?"
"Potion! To answer your question, the headmaster was adamant that all staff members need to be present at feasts. He sent me a rather curt letter by owl stating as much. When I pointed out that I wasn't employed by the school, he said that neither is Professor Binns, but he still attends the feasts. I wouldn't have minded, but I got a new Mills and Boon book and I was planning to celebrate the children being away by reading it while they were on the train. Now drink your potion."
Marie drinks the dreamless sleep potion and then lies down holding Morgana's arm to her chest. After a few minutes of the deep slow breaths of sleep without her arm being released, Morgana sighs and puts her head down too.
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"Who are you?"
Marianne jumps from the lock of Harry's trunk as a Prefect startles her. Spinning around her cloak comes out and starts to billow mist before she gets her heartrate under control.
"Oh, um, hi? I'm known as Mari, not Marie that's Mum2's new daughter. Um, I wanted a book and Harry brought them all with him to school. I have my own key, see?" She holds up the key in question.
The prefect looks unimpressed, "Really. Come on, I'm taking you to see Professor Sprout."
"But I'm telling the truth!"
"Even if you have permission from Danann to use his trunk, you didn't have permission to be in the Hufflepuff dorm room."
"Fine" she grumbles as she follows the prefect, her cloak dragging on the floor behind her.
Professor Sprout looks up from her desk as a prefect walks in with a young girl following him, "Andrews, what brings you here?"
Andrews points his thumb over her shoulder, "I found this one trying to get into a trunk in the 1st year dorms."
"Harry gave me permission to go in his trunk. He even made sure I have a key for it, see."
Sprout rubs her eyes, "You must be Marianne."
Marianne narrows her eyes, "How did you know that?"
"You hugged Dr Danann and then sat with my badgers when she told you to. I pay attention to that sort of thing. Now, what were you trying to get out of Harry's trunk?"
"I wanted a math book, as there was something on the news about population figures and income, so I wanted to understand what they were talking about. Morgana says that the key to self study and home schooling is to follow the things that seem interesting."
"That doesn't explain why you were going in Harry's trunk."
"He's got a library in there, and all of the books are in there. I did look at home first."
"Follow me, I think that they're in the library so it will be easy to find out."
It takes them 10 minutes of climbing stairs and walking down corridors to get to the library.
Harry looks up from a table where they're having an unofficial meeting of the mundane education class, "Professor?"
"Harry, Prefect Andrews found Marianne trying to get into your trunk. She claims that the math books are in there."
Harry grimaces, "In fairness, they probably are. Mum didn't see any reason to buy more than one copy of the books in August because Marianne was going to secondary school."
"Well, we can't have anyone not part of your dorm wandering around in there, as many students have quite valuable items in their possessions."
Hermione looks up, "Harry was saying that Marianne is going to be part of our mundane class. Would she be able to study with Harry or other members of the class?"
"I confess we hadn't considered that. I'll make sure that Professor McGonagall and I discuss it with Dr Danann in the morning. For the moment Marianne, I'll have to ask you to leave the school."
Tears form in Marianne's eyes and she reluctantly turns away and uses her cloak to pull the mist around her.
Not finding Morgana at home, she heads to Harry's domain and climbs into bed with both Marie and Morgana.
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Professor Sprout shuffles uncomfortably at the accusing stares of every single one of her Hufflepuff first years.
"I'm sorry, but your safety has to be my priority. I know that she's going to be with you in your lesson tomorrow, but…"
"What rule did she break?"
Sprout looks at Harry, "What?"
"What rule did she break?"
"She's not a student, so she's not allowed on the grounds without permission."
"Where's that rule, and what does it say about the children of teachers and staff?"
"This is not a public place, so she was trespassing."
"That doesn't answer the question about children of teachers and staff."
"I don't know the rules on that, I'd have to talk to the headmaster or deputy head."
Harry starts to pack up his stuff, "I'm sorry guys, but I feel the need to go and practice."
Daphne quickly packs her own stuff, "I'm coming with you."
Quickly enough, the entirety of the Hufflepuff first year have packed up and are leaving. With none of Harry's books around, the other students also pack up and leave.
Sprout's shoulders slump as she turns to leave the library and find McGonagall.
Once she's sat down with Minerva, she stares at the glass in her hand, "What could I have done differently?"
Minerva looks over at her, "Got Albus or myself. Preferably Albus, as he doesn't teach any classes. To do your job as head of house you need to both be firm and also trusted. You know this."
"I know, and I did the same thing I'd have done for any student from another house that was found in the dorms alone."
"That was probably the issue then. Another student, you'd have been able to leave them in the Library after checking that they had been given permission to do what they'd been caught doing."
"What about the rules? As technically Dr Danann is a member of staff."
Minerva grimaces, "Honestly, I don't know. I can only think of one way to get an answer without wading through the library. Tilly, would you be able to get the sorting hat please?"
The sorting hat appears on the table between them, "Well this is unusual. What brings on the change of scenery?"
Minerva explains the situation and the hat turns inward for a few minutes, "I only have one question."
Minerva nods, "Go on?"
"Is she magical?"
Sprout nods, "She is, though she can't use a wand."
"Then she is allowed in the school. She is also allowed quarters in Hufflepuff if she requests a place to sleep. The founders were very clear on that. This is a place of learning for all magical children, I remember sorting a few Druids back in the day. They couldn't always use wands either. You should already know the stuff about the houses, it's in the books and repeated often enough."
Sprout looks like she bitten into a particularly sour lemon, "Does that apply to adults?".
The hat somehow manages to give her a squint eye, "Didn't I already answer that already? If they're here as students, they belong here."
"But what about the upkeep of the school and wages?"
"Don't you people ever read? The books are in the Library. Every student promised to tithe to the school for 10 years after they completed their studies. Those that chose to teach here were not required to tithe, but they also didn't get paid more than room and board. Course I don't know much about the last 400 years, as I stopped being worn regularly."
The two women share a long glance over the top of the sorting hat.
Minerva ventures, "Why did you stop being worn?"
"I told one of the stupid headmasters that this school is an independent entity, and not to submit to the new ministry's control. I think he called me an interfering old busybody before putting me on the shelf that I now live on."
"What about the other headmasters?"
The hat laughs cynically, "You get bored of being ignored after the first 60 years or so."
Sprout swallows hard, "I owe a lot of children an apology in the morning. Do you have their updated timetables to hand, I may as well hand them out at the same time."
A twitch of Minerva's wand brings them to her hand, "Here you go."
Sprout nods and leaf's through them, "Given what the hat has just told us, would you be able to draw up a timetable for Marianne please? You should also schedule potions, Herbology, and flying as well, as they don't require a wand."
"Five points to Hufflepuff Professor." The two witches look at the sorting hat in surprise, "What? Did you think I wouldn't say anything when you were doing the right thing?"
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The next morning Pomona Sprout watches the breakfast tables carefully. Once she's sure everyone is here she stands at the top table and fires a cannon blast from her wand.
"Good morning everyone. Would the mundane studies students please follow me. Those of you who have received permission to join the class over the weekend will be informed which of you has the last space this evening."
Once she's sure they're all following her, she leads them through a side door to an unused classroom. For a brief moment she looks at the room with it's scratch blackboard and auditorium style seating. Taking a deep breath she turns around.
"I have here your timetables, but first there's something I need to say to all of you. Mr Danann." Starting the last sentence again more gently she continues, "Harry, would you be able to see if Marianne is able to be here for this?"
Harry looks at her searchingly before he closes his eyes briefly, when he opens them he looks up at her, "She'll be here in a few minutes."
Sure enough, a few minutes later a sweaty and out of breath Marianne steps out of the mist into the room. The slowly spreading dampness on her summer dress indicating that she put it on just before she left. As she catches sight of Pomona her face hardens and she tenses.
Pomona sighs deeply, "I deserve that. The first thing I need to do is apologise to all of you. You especially Marianne. I had a long talk with the Deputy Headmistress about what happened last night. Harry, she didn't know the answer to your question either, so we asked the only thing in the school that could tell us without wading through hundreds of books. The sorting hat has informed us that the school is open to all magical children who wish to learn here. Additionally, the Hufflepuff house is for all students who have not been accepted into one of the other three. Not, as we have long believed, a place you are sorted into. So, Marianne, you have my sincere apologies for what happened last night."
Around the room there is dead silence, though all the students do seem to relax. Eventually, after opening and closing her mouth a few times, Marianne says, "To be honest, I have no idea what to say. I wasn't expecting that, and you're the first teacher that has ever apologised in my hearing."
Pomona smiles sadly, "It is a hard thing for us to do. Everyone makes mistakes, and most of the time those mistakes are minor and can be corrected with a quick note, or points adjustment. The mistake that I made last night affected you personally, so the remedy needed to be done personally. I have here your timetable, if you find you cannot do any of the classes let me know and we will remove it from your schedule."
Marianne takes the sheet of parchment and stares at it, tears pricking at her eyes, "There must be a mistake. You've got me down for potions, herbology, and flying, as well as the mundane studies."
Pomona shakes her head, "No mistake. You are a student here because you're in the mundane studies class. These are the magical subjects that require little or no magic. If you wish to stay here, a bed will also be made available in the Hufflepuff dorm."
Marianne is silent for a long moment, then she starts laughing, shouting, and dancing around like a loon. Everyone in the room gets a hug, especially Harry and Pomona. While she's doing that, Pomona hands out the rest of the timetables.
Once Marianne has calmed down, Pomona comments on the timetables, "Everyone that isn't in Hufflepuff, you'll all see that your timetable now matches that of the Hufflepuffs. This was done to simplify scheduling, as there wasn't a single clear period every day where all 4 houses had that period free. I would also like to take the opportunity to remind you all that visitors are allowed in the common room for each house. However, the only people allowed in the Dorms are the residents, prefects, and staff. This is true for each house in the school, and it is for your safety as well as privacy."
Sally-Anne and Dean both put their hands up, "Professor, nobody's told us that before, and it's quite common for the girls to visit the boys dorm, or upper years to visit lower years."
"I see, that's something that you'll need to address with Professor McGonagall. You may find it more productive to write her a note rather than try to speak to her, as she is the Deputy Headmistress as well as your head of house and the transfiguration professor."
As they now seem to be more absorbed in the new timetable, Pomona starts to make her way to the door. Just as she gets there she turns around, "One more thing while I remember… You will be going off site this afternoon, something about a P.E. kit and supplies. Don't be late."