[a/n]Did have another one written, but was definitely NOT festive. We'll take that up after Christmas. Instead we'll visit Harry's pre-Hogwarts days. Co-produced with Whoopi Goldberg.

Harry Does Different DVII

Beatles

"A quick oral quiz." Brother Joseph was conducting the Sunday School class at Mater Jesu Anglican Church, the greying teacher chuckled "Come on kids, this is old stuff. Samuel, name the first Pope …ahh!... not so fast. After St. Peter."

A blond boy with a helmet hairdo looked cheerful, then frowned in thought, finally remembering "St. Linus. He was also fourth since he held office twice." The nine-year-old looked very proud.

"Good job." The teacher praised, offering a wink. Then, objectively, his worst student something they'd just discussed and read about for homework "Dudley, what was the Treaty of Tordesillas?"

The boy had not a clue, so gave a snarky "Getting all the turds out of church?"

"Not knowing is acceptable, Mr. Dursley" Brother Joseph overrode the giggles "I would have thought …particularly your parents… would teach you respect for the Church. The corner for you, boy." He just raised an eyebrow in the direction of a pixie-like black girl, "Ariana?"

She grinned, cutely "The agreement that split all non-Catholic lands between Spain and Portugal."

"For some bonus points, write me a paragraph with more of the facts about it. Ariana. Due next Sunday." It was difficult to not like her, even the pupils recognized that. Dudley looked around and did a sneering sucky-face. Repressing a sigh, the teacher scolded "Enough! And Mr. Dursley, misbehaving while already in the corner will land you in a detention. You'll stay after to clean the boards."

Dudley growled "Wait'll Daddy hears of this!"

"A certain higher authority is my concern, young man." Brother Joseph pointed skyward, dismissive of the implied threat. Then noticed a particularly amused small green-eyed boy and called on him "How about, you Harry? Name me the Apostles."

The 9-year-old who looked barely 7, gave a nervous twitch. After a ragged inhale he spit out "Matthew Mark Luke John Paul George Ringo Peter Mickey Michael and Dave."

"About half of those are correct, young Potter." A quick icy glare silenced the beginning of giggles "The rest show a pugnacious attitude toward blasphemy. Join your brother in the corner. I might also note you only gave eleven names."

Dudley protested at that "He's not my brother! He's just a freak."

"Namecalling, Mr. Dursley, is not tolerated in my presence." Was it the kids' imagination? Or did the temperature actually drop? "I would appreciate you actually touching your forehead to the corner." No one thought that a request, even Dudley.

A brief ripple of giggles went through the class, which was permitted.

"Next Sunday, I plan to connect more of the Bible." The Brother announced "I certainly don't expect anyone to have books memorized, but you should be familiar with Genesis and …in general… the ACTUAL Twelve Apostles. Dismissed. You, Mr. Dursley, may be briefly excused for a lavatory visit. I'll be having a word with Mr. Potter."

Students laughed at their errant classmates' misfortune.

Dudley had no grasp of his parents' motivation, but Petunia and Vernon were only 'show Churchgoers' They didn't believe, but went through the motions. It was good for their reputation. He did know they really wouldn't care. But would exaggerate Harry's misconduct, though unaware it was precisely the same as his.

"Would you care to answer my question, Harry" Brother Joseph addressed the remaining student as soon as the door clicked shut "as if I had asked you BEFORE asking Dudley?"

The undersized boy sighed and answered "A pair of Simons, one renamed Peter, Andrew, two James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, and two Judas, one labeled a traitor."

"Accurate, concise, probably hiding a level of detail that's even more thorough." The teacher smiled "We'll not bother. The Beatles and the Monkees? I'd laugh in an improv club. Comedy is a matter of timing and in class, it sucked. Explain. And don't stop the honesty. Hold. Mr. Dursley! I've changed my mind. Your cousin will be handling the whiteboards. You'll mop this corridor. Use the bucket and mop at the end of the hall. I caution you, my nose is quite sensitive. I do not need to see to know you're working."

Harry tried to repress a laugh, he really did, but couldn't. "What now sir?"

"Seems to me we can all benefit from this situation." Brother Joseph's tone was a cross between stern and conspiratorial "Likely the Dursleys would complain not at all if you were out of the house more. They can be assured you are not getting into mischief under my watch. I feel gratified at educating a young mind in the Church, assuming you've the desire."

Harry decided to be honest "Brother, I don't know about that. All I hear at Christmas is how many presents Dudley got LAST year, and this year better be more."

"Then at the very least, the school's Whiteboards will never have been cleaner." He quipped, then "No, my knowledge does extend beyond the Biblical. And I do think your education is not up to your potential. We'll just have to make sure you accumulate an unfortunate number of detentions. Agreed?"

Harry did not exactly know the teacher's method for detecting Dudley, but his was slightly more sensitive "I'll get that rear board, sir."

"Very well. Keep at it while I check on Mr. Dursley." There was perhaps ten minutes while the teacher was gone. Upon his return, declared, unimpressed "Dudley's work was adequate to the task. Potter, I'll be contacting your Whining Elementary principal to ensure your availability after dismissal. You'll report here as she directs. Off with both of you." He ended with a wink he knew the larger boy did not see.

Harry gave a curt nod "Yessir."