I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
A Taste of Magic
116th Course – Back to Another Home
"Goodness me, now that is a smile," McGonagall said with an equally happy smile.
Dumbledore looked up and he was very much smiling. "I just feel happier lately," Dumbledore said with wonder. "It is very nice."
"Well go on then, share the reason why and spread the joy," Pomfrey said eagerly.
Dumbledore handed over the parchment he was reading from. "The list of incoming first years."
"So many!" Pomfrey gasped with delight.
"Parents were very interested in what Hogwarts did at the Showcase and were enthused about their children attending," Dumbledore said proudly. "A definite increase over last year and one of our largest incoming classes in some time."
"Excellent," McGonagall said with extreme satisfaction.
"If things keep up like this, we may need to hire on additional teachers or teaching assistants at the least," Dumbledore said, nearly rubbing his hands together with glee. "Oh and luckily, many of the tutors from last year will still come back and tutor here and there for us."
"That'll be good," Flitwick nodded. "And I agree on hiring on more. I have been thinking about accepting a mastery apprentice and having them help with teaching and the like."
"A fine idea if any can manage it," Dumbledore said agreeably. "I am sure we can work on the funding from the Ministry for it. They are rather eager to meet our requests and I intend on taking full advantage of it."
He patted a large stack of messages and letters on his desk. "And these are from the other major schools. Already there is talk of regular correspondence and we can perhaps have visitors and the like here and there."
"That would be wonderful," Sprout smiled.
"Indeed. It is an incredibly exciting time," Dumbledore grinned. His good humor faded and the others were struck by the sudden change. Dumbledore sighed as he gestured to another pile of letters. Though they were much smaller than the other piles, they seemed quite heavy. "I also wished to speak with you all regarding this. These letters are from students that left for Sanguis."
"Surely they are not asking to return?" McGonagall said, frowning.
"They are," Dumbledore confirmed.
"Have they no shame?" Sprout said angrily. "Abandoning Hogwarts, trying to shore up Sanguis' reputation from our teachings over the years, and now come crawling back after their school lost some luster?"
"My sentiments exactly," Dumbledore said slowly, "but there are some who were forced to go by their parents and families. It may not be completely right to punish the students that were caught in the web of others."
"Has something like this happened before?" Remus asked.
"Yes and no," Dumbledore said. "I checked the records. Some who families moved away for sometime then returned were allowed to come back but those were different circumstances. The majority of students that withdrew from the school in the past never tried to return."
"So the question is, who deserves a second chance?" Sprout asked after they stood in contemplation for a moment. They all looked at each other and Snape was the only one who had not made any obvious feelings known, remaining quiet.
"I have a solution of a sort," Dumbledore said at last. "There have been times where I let Hogwarts make the decision. I always believed the school having an opinion on certain matters and in times past, I have left it up to the school to have a say."
"How do you do that?" Remus asked with interest.
Dumbledore took the letters to a central pillar in his office. "I have discovered that this pillar runs through the middle of the school and it is completely unbroken from top to bottom. I believe it to be the heart of the school." He put the letters on a small shelf on the pillar. "I usually put something here and see what happens."
"Might as well try," Pomfrey said.
They watched and waited for a few minutes and then all of a sudden, the letters fell. There was no breeze to blow them, no shifting of stone to make them move. Dumbledore had put them there securely but the letters slowly shifted and eventually fell, fluttering to the ground. They seemed to fall haphazardly but ended up in two rough piles with one closer to the hearth and the other closer to the door.
Flitwick picked up the pile closer to the hearth. "Hmm, well what do you know?"
"It is rather funny how they got arranged this way," Sprout remarked, reading the names of the ones closer to the door.
"That would be how I would have arranged them too," Dumbledore said after looking through both piles.
They looked at each other once more.
"Hogwarts has never turned away any that wished to learn," Dumbledore said quietly. "Students have been expelled before of course, but all had a chance to start with."
"I believe we should listen to the school," Snape said quietly.
"I concur," McGonagall said, giving Snape an approving look.
"It is unanimous then," Dumbledore said when the others nodded. "Very well, that is what we will do."
"I will take responsibility for these," Snape said, taking the pile of letters that fell to the door.
"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore said kindly. He looked at them all and his good humor returned. "I hope the rest of you are as excited as I am for a new year. Now that we have a yearly Showcase to look forward to, it adds a nice sense of anticipation. I was thinking every year we can have someone heading the group to go and we can see who wants to during the year and what upcoming classes and demonstrations will be held in that year's Showcase to decide on the final group, not counting when we are invited to demonstrate of course."
"It was an amazing experience and I'm glad we can go on the regular now," Flitwick agreed.
"I am probably going to need more help too," Pomfrey said, looking up from the list of incoming students. "I have been thinking we could use more healer aid for some time now."
"I will obtain you some," Dumbledore promised.
"Perhaps you should check his drinks," Sprout said teasingly. "The Headmaster is quite chipper, one would say."
Dumbledore led the laughter. "I think we are entering a brand-new era for Hogwarts and I am honored to see it here, and look forward to a bright future."
-0-
"Look at the train!" Sirius exclaimed.
It was time to go back to Hogwarts and he, Andromeda, Dora, and Ted had taken Harry to the platform to see him off. They had exclaimed with delight seeing the Hogwarts Express not only back to its former glory, but there were even a few extra cars attached to it.
"Remus did say that the incoming class is larger," Andromeda said. "As did you, love."
Ted nodded. "All the Governors were really happy with the new numbers." He looked at the mostly empty platform and lowered his voice. "There's even some of the ones that left Hogwarts before coming back."
"Really, they allowed that?" Dora asked, surprised.
"Apparently the school decided who got a second chance," Ted said. "Don't know how they determined that."
"If the school says it's okay, it should be," Harry said with confidence.
"Sounds right to me. Let's get you settled. Probably need one of the big compartments, right?" Sirius and Ted moved Harry's trunk onto the train and in one of the big compartments, one that was nearly the length of the entire car itself.
"Probably," Harry nodded. "Especially with Lavender's little sisters, Millie's little brothers, and Parvati and Padma's cousin."
"Look at you, building an army of minions," Dora said, mussing his hair.
"I don't have minions," Harry laughed, poking her back.
"All but in a different name," Dora sniffed. They hugged Harry warmly.
"Safe trip back and remember to keep in touch," Ted smiled. "We'll still see you here and there for tutor things but always nice to see letters from you."
"Thanks for everything," Harry said warmly.
"Of course, love," Andromeda said, kissing his cheeks and forehead.
"Oh I almost forgot, here." Sirius handed Harry a folded piece of parchment.
"What's this?" he asked, looking at it.
"The best spots in the castle for, ahem, whatever you want to do in said spots," Sirius coughed.
"I feel really weird about this," Harry said queasily.
"What?! I'm helping!" Sirius yelped when Dora kicked him in the rear.
"It's not a terrible list actually," Ted said, having taken the list from Harry who held it between thumb and pointer finger with visible unease. "Half of these aren't on the old patrol paths. The other half is very easy to be stumbled upon though."
"Okay, that is enough." Andromeda took the list and set it on fire without an incantation and not holding her wand. "We have scarred Harry mentally enough for now."
"Wait, what do you mean by 'for now'?" Harry asked worriedly. After more laughter and another flurry of hugs, he boarded the train and waved as his family left. He still had a small pang of what he knew now was homesickness, but he was also excited to see his friends more regularly once more and to start a new year at school.
He blinked when the cage door was kicked cleanly off the hinges, flying off into the compartment and Hedwig climbed out, looking very pleased with herself. "Wow, you've gotten a lot stronger. Then again, all that fencing probably helped you there."
She giggled as she retrieved the door, dropping it in his hands and she continued to giggle as Harry mended it with a spell. She sat on his head and fluffed up, playfully tugging on his hair.
"Hey Harry!" The Patils, and Ivaan came up to the train followed by Durga, Aashi, Krish, and Divya.
"Ooh nice, you got the best compartment," Parvati said, passing her bag to him through the open window.
"We need it with all of us," Padma smiled as she handed him her bag. They and Krish and Harry got the three trunks on board the train and Harry hugged Durga warmly.
"You listen to pota now," Durga said to Ivaan. "He will take care of you."
"What and we won't?" Parvati and Padma gasped together.
"He will take better care of you," Durga amended. She reached into a robe pocket and offered a piece of meat to Hedwig who gobbled it up, rubbing her head against Durga's hand gratefully.
"Thank you, Harry," Aashi said with a smile.
"Of course, we're family," Harry smiled. They waved goodbye and the others left.
"We briefly talked about getting a family owl since more of us will be here," Padma said as they settled down on benches. "But Grandmum loves Hedwig and I think Hedwig will miss visiting."
"Miss bothering me more like," Parvati grumbled. She sighed but smiled wryly when Hedwig crossed over to her and wiggled comfortably on her head.
"It's really funny when she does that," Ivaan said to Harry.
"It really is," Harry agreed, grinning when Parvati kicked him and hearing her yelp when Hedwig pecked her in retaliation.
"Here comes the pack of Slytherins," Parvati laughed, pointing out the window. It really was a large group of them. Their friends as well as the three little siblings were walking with Primrose, Alan, Valentina, Tiffany, Linda, and Hugo. "Or is it a slither?"
"We don't know if three of them will be Slytherins or not," Padma smiled.
"Yeah that's fair" Parvati nodded.
There was a flurry of activity where the bags and small things were passed through the window and Harry and the other helped haul up the trunks onto the train and secure them in the racks. The friends greeted each other happily and the families hugged each other goodbye
"I hope you do not mind watching over more people now," Primrose said with a warm smile.
"Not at all," Harry said stoutly. "But I believe Pansy and Millicent will be good big sisters."
"Do you really?" Hugo asked with a broad smile.
"Maybe with a flexible definition of the word good," Harry conceded.
That made them all laugh. "You have clearly taught him well," Alan said to Pansy.
Pansy smiled. "We're getting there."
"As always, thank you Harry," Primrose said, giving him a one-armed hug around the shoulders.
"Of course, Auntie Rose," Harry said, awkwardly but happily hugging her back.
"How come you get to be Auntie Rose?" Valentina asked as they walked away.
"Because Harry likes me," Primrose said with prim satisfaction and a warm smile on her lips. "And I him. He is a good soul, clearly. Especially if you consider how he not only tolerates our young, but even likes them."
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Pansy squawked.
"Sitting next to Harry," Aster said, giving her older sister a look. "What does it look like?"
"Wow, already being a pain in the arse," Parvati said admiringly.
"She has since she was born," Pansy hissed. "She used to pull on my hair and laugh her head off."
"I still do that," Aster smiled brightly. "And it's still funny!"
Pansy fumed as everyone roared laughing but stopped short of exploding when Hedwig fluttered to sit on her head. "Oh hello Hedwig," she said warmly. "You're especially warm today."
"Wow look at that, soothed by Hedwig sitting on your head," Millicent laughed as she released Sunny.
"She can have that effect on people," Harry nodded as Sunny climbed into his lap. "Bleeds off the tension when she isn't increasing it on purpose of course." More of their friends arrived and joined them and the compartment was filled with happy chatter and noise. Hermione arrived, then Luna and the Weasleys came, followed by Sue and Susan. The compartment was fullish but did not feel crowded.
"Harry!" Clover and Marigold came running to the open window.
"Hey girls!" Harry smiled, turning to lean out of it. At their gestures, he held his hands out, slightly confused. Clover grabbed his hands with her and Marigold boosted her up and she clambered through the window with Harry acting as anchor and puller. Then he and Clover pulled Marigold up and through the window together.
"Hey!" Lavender peered into the window, scowling at her sisters while Leena and Daniel looked terribly amused from behind her. "Get back out here and help bring in your things! I'm not cleaning up after you at school!"
"Come on," Harry chuckled, stopping the argument before it started. "She's right."
"You're just saying that because you're dating!" the twins cried.
"Not this time," Harry smiled and he went out with the twins and they brought everything into the compartment.
"Thanks, Harry," Daniel said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You're going to have your hands full handling all three of them. But I won't lie, I feel better over it."
"I'll take care of them, don't worry," Harry said earnestly.
"We know," Leena said warmly, hugging him. She gave him a few coins and laughed. "It's tradition at this point."
"I'm already done with them," Lavender growled after she and her sisters hugged and kissed their parents goodbye. The twins joined Aster, Nathan, Owen, Astoria, and Ivaan on one side of the compartment, chatting away. "Now I have to deal with them all the time!"
"Hey you have Harry. They listen to him," Parvati remarked.
"For some reason," Harry laughed.
"Seriously. Ivaan is normally a pain in the arse and he listens to you easily," Padma said.
"Well Grandmum did tell him to," Harry said
"Fair," the Patil twins laughed.
The train left the station and the prefects left to meet at the prefect car and then went off on their patrols. The others settled in for the long train ride, enjoying the company. After time passed, the snack trolley came around and the prefects returned at the same time.
"Took the first shift?" Millicent asked.
Pansy nodded, sitting down. "We volunteered collectively for it. It's the longest but we get to sit with you all for the rest of the trip."
"Oh that's smart," Sue said.
"Ooh I was hoping the food wasn't all gone," Padma said happily. She saw a basket that lay on a table with the top open and everyone enjoying the lunch Harry had made for them, supplementing the treats they got off the trolley.
"This second basket was saved for you all," Harry smiled, passing over a basket he regrew into normal size.
"You're the best, thank you!" Hermione smiled.
"So? What's the verdict?" Ginny asked cheekily.
"Please don't be offended, but I still don't love corned beef," Ron said sheepishly while the other snickered.
"I'm not at all, I'm honored you wanted to try it," Harry laughed.
"It's fine! It tastes like Mum's actually but yeah, still not a fan. I'm actually glad that I just don't like corned beef and it's not because it's hers," Ron said with evident relief. "I don't think I could explain that to her."
"It's a good recipe," Harry said comfortably.
"Mmm, I'm really liking this Japanese rice ball thing," Blaise said, munching away. "Is this salmon inside?"
"Yup, salted salmon that's cooked and flaked with soy and sesame," Harry said. "These have tuna mayo inside."
"Any of the sour plums?" Susan asked.
"There's a jar," Harry said, fishing it out.
"They're weirdly addicting," Millicent laughed.
"So get this, some of the people that left us for Sanguis are back," Neville said, munching on his onigiri.
"Whoa, really?" Parvati exclaimed. "That's wild."
"Not all. Nott and the majority of the Slytherins aren't," Pansy said. "I heard Smith and McClaggen got denied as well."
"Michael's back," Padma said. "I saw him."
"A few of the older Hufflepuff and Gryffindors are too," Susan said. "And I heard a few of the second years were first years that went to Sanguis last year and decided to transfer."
"That must be weird for them," Lavender said.
"It's going to be interesting, that's for sure," Tracey said.
"I mean, if my school got showed up that bad, I'd want to leave too," Blaise shrugged. There were general murmurs of agreement at that.
"I miss hearing the special car," Luna said after a while. "I liked the noise it made making and unmaking the tracks."
"Yeah that was nice, a really satisfying click-clack noise," Parvati agreed.
"I was hoping they kept the sleeper cars. The bed was comfy," Ron joked, making the others laugh with agreement.
"That was so much fun," Daphne said. "I will want to try and visit the Showcase regularly if able."
"Oh did you figure out if you can learn the music magic thing?" Millicent asked.
"Father is enquiring for me," Daphne nodded, eyes bright. "I would love to learn how to do that,"
"Next time I write to Tsumugi and Sota, I'll ask," Harry said.
"You're writing to Tsumugi?" Parvati gasped, looking at Lavender with wide eyes.
"Nothing wrong with having a quillpal," Harry said, pushing her lightly. "Don't get me in trouble!"
"I don't mind, I trust you," Lavender laughed, kissing him.
"I was just having some fun," Parvati laughed, avoiding Harry's pokes.
"Look at this though," Harry said. He opened his trunk and fished around a bit and pulled a piece of very nice paper out.
"Aww, did Azuki sign it?" Hermione asked, looking at the little pawprint on the paper. "She's so cute."
"Imagine the mayhem a trickster fox could do at Hogwarts," Padma smiled.
"Ugh, no thanks, we already have petlings that cause plenty of chaos," Millicent snorted.
"Especially when they are fueled by espresso," Daphne smiled.
"No more espresso for them!" Pansy, Parvati, and Hermione cried while the others laughed and laughed.
-0-
"GRFFYNDOR!"
Lavender squealed happily and clapped her hands while the others cheered and shouted too, clapping energetically. Marigold came running down the table and jumped on Clover and Lavender, the three sisters shrieking with happiness and glee. Clover had gone up first and the Sorting Hat proclaimed her a Gryffindor and she and Lavender had waited on pins and needles for Marigold to be sorted. Now they were smiling and laughing with relief.
Lavender's smile disappeared when Marigold pushed her aside to sit between her and Harry while Clover was already sitting on Harry's other side. "Hey! Don't push me out of the way like that! I was here first!"
She sighed at identical tongues being stuck out at her with identical faces being made. "Is it too late to resort them?"
"They already sat down," Harry grinned. "They'd have to get back up and move things back and it'd be a whole ordeal."
"I guess," Lavender sighed, shaking her head.
They cheered when Nathan and Owen became Slytherins, enjoying Millicent's look of exasperated pride. Pansy looked the same way when Aster joined them at the Slytherin table and they cheered again when Ivaan joined Padma at the Ravenclaw table.
"Figured he'd be one of them," Parvati said. "He's a little bookworm too."
"You say that like it's an insult," Hermione sniffed.
There was a little awkwardness when incoming students that were a little older than the first years waited to be Sorted too. They also looked at the Hogwarts students with a little apprehension and were a little reserved when they joined their Houses. There was also a bit of awkwardness around the students that had left Hogwarts and returned to rejoin them, especially from people in their year.
"Welcome, all you new students," Dumbledore said when the last person had been Sorted. "Hogwarts is happy to have you here, you and the ones that have come back to us." He let the silence build a little after saying that. "Hogwarts will always welcome those that wish to learn."
He smiled and opened his arms wide, as if dispelling the feelings of awkwardness. "I am so happy to see all of you. I wanted to inform you all myself that the ICW was very impressed with Hogwarts during the Showcase and we are firmly back on the international stage and this time, we will not leave it." People clapped and cheered, especially the ones that went to the Showcase. "There is even talk of visitors and the like on the regular. Nothing so grand as the TriWizard, but still, something to think about and look forward to.
"Now I know the last few years we have had rather important things to disclose during the Welcoming Feast but this year, I am happy to say that there is nothing pressing at the moment. So enjoy the Feast to your heart's content and allow me to be the first once more to welcome you back, each and every one of you." He clapped and the food appeared on the tables and he sat with a large smile and people immediately began to eat.
"Huh, a year without something crazy happening, I wonder what that's like," Parvati mused.
"Grandfather and Grandmother will be here regularly, it won't be boring," Harry smiled.
"Thank goodness," she sighed with mock relief.
"Were you planning on taking Alchemy?" Hermione asked.
"I don't think so," Parvati said. "I don't really have the high marks in the necessary core classes."
"They wouldn't care about that. It's not going to be a traditional class with marks and things," Harry said. "There isn't even a N.E.W.T. test for it. I think a lot of the instructors will be sitting in on it too."
"That's nice," Parvati said thoughtfully. "I don't know. I know it sounds weird but I'm not that interested in Alchemy. I mean, it's so cool that they make amazing things and all that, but it's not like, something I want to do if that makes sense."
"No that's fair," Neville said. "Like me and Transfiguration. It's cool and useful but not my favorite thing either."
"I'm glad we did really well on Charms to take the Enchanting class though," Lavender said brightly. "That's going to be a lot of fun and really useful too."
"Oh thank you, by the way, for telling me about the hybrid class," Hermione said to Harry. "That'll be really nice too since I am still taking Arithmancy."
"You're welcome," Harry smiled. "Padma and Daphne are doing it too. This way we won't be overworked. Especially since you three are prefects too."
"Yeah, what's your excuse?" Ginny asked with a teasing smile. "Since you aren't one?"
"I wouldn't be able to cook and make food as much," Harry said with a doleful sigh. "But you're not wrong, education is important-"
"Ginny, shut up," Ron said severely.
"I was kidding!" she squawked, glaring back at the others glaring at her.
Harry laughed. "I know. Plus I'm Morale Raiser or something like that and I want to do stuff with that too."
"Oooh, that'll be fun," Parvati said eagerly.
-0-
"You just can't keep your hands off him," Parvati said in a tone of faux disgust.
They were in their tower after the feast and after changing and putting their things away, reconvened in the common room. Lavender had pushed Harry into one of the larger but still single person comfy chairs and snuggled into it with him.
"Is this too much?" Harry asked worriedly. "I don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable-"
"We're fine," Lavender interrupted. She glared at Parvati. "Parvati can suffer in silence, emphasis on the silence part. We're not nearly as bad as many others."
"I don't want to look at my brother and my best friend being gross," Parvati complained.
"I can blind you if you like. Fairly sure there's a charm for that," Lavender retorted.
"Hermione!"
"Yes yes, I heard her," Hermione said. "I'm sitting right beside you."
"And I don't want to hear a word out of you two," Lavender continued, pointing at her little sisters. "Not a peep. And don't you dare tell Mum and Daddy!"
"Probably not what you were envisioning when you thought about you and Lavender being in the tower together," Hermione smiled at Harry while the Brown sisters and Parvati started squabbling.
"No, but it's still nice," Harry smiled, enjoying the energy and the company.
-0-0-0-
AhsokaTheGreat - Thank you, glad you are still enjoying things.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - I wonder if personal shoppers or shopping consultants are a thing in the Wizarding World. Thanks for reading.
odonnellzoo99 - Alliterative names that fit their profession is a lot of fun I will admit. Poor Flynt. He deserves it but still, good thing it's funny. I used to be like that with vinegar. I couldn't stand the smell of it for so long and I'm still sensitive to it. Though I like a little here and there now.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - The goblins are a lot of fun to write and explore. They feel very different yet still fit the setting.
DarkRavie - Thank you.
alix33 - That's what I've done some for the goblins too, or have similar names run through the families and the professions as a form of their tradition.
- thank you very much.
poka - He really does. He's been through a lot but I had hoped his kindness and genuine demeanor still fits despite all he's gone through.
TheSphyynx - And here we are, just in time.