Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Harry Potter or Jujutsu Kaisen. All properties therein are those of their creators. I am only a writer working on my skills with worlds and characters that I love.

Chapter Four - Teachers Meeting and a Message

Albus smiled as he called the first meeting of his staff together for the year. The first three and a half weeks of class were finished and he liked to touch base with his professors on a semi-regular basis, often monthly, to see how students were adjusting. Last year such meetings had been halted because of the focus he'd placed on the stone, but that was all behind him; not least because Nicholas had torn him a new one for placing his precious gem in potential harm's way. It was regrettable that that incredibly useful bridge had been so badly burned, but in the end it had all been done for the greater good.

He was deeply interested now in how things were progressing with the young ones. With one in particular no doubt needing his direct attention now that there was actually some time to spare. Severus and a few of the other professors had already provided him with some reports recently that were… troubling.

"Well, everyone, we are officially underway with the first month of classes under our collective belts. How are things progressing?" He asked grandly from his seat at the head of the table. "Minerva?"

"Are we discussing classes or house updates first?"

"Let's start with house updates." He offered.

"Then things are going as well as can be expected. The older crowd are falling back into their usual habits and the new students are fitting in well. The only real problems I have with my Gryffindors at the moment are the Weasleys."

That threw the headmaster through a loop. His current plans relied rather heavily on the Weasley's all doing well. Arthur was vital to his political plans and Molly was integral for keeping him in line. The mother, of course, was only influenceable through her children and their own advancement. "Surely the twins are not so bad? Personally I've grown to find their antics rather creative and charming."

"It's not the twins to whom I refer." Minerva stated simply. "Rather, it is young Ronald and Ginerva."

Albus had been afraid of that. He'd hoped that the summer would have cured the former's laziness but it seemed he had been wrong. "Can they really have been such a problem so soon?" To his dismay all of the teachers nodded.

Minerva continued, "Ronald has not yet turned in any of the five papers I've issued on time yet. And he has been chronically late to every lesson." One by one the other teachers confirmed they'd had similar problems with the young man. "I want to bring in the boy's parents to talk with him. If he continues his habits from last year then he'll be on the fast track for academic expulsion." That got a shudder out of all of them. No student had been lost that way in over a hundred years.

Yet Albus couldn't just let that happen yet. Not when so much was at stake with his Wizengamot Bills! "This indeed sounds grave, yet a few weeks is hardly indicative of a tone for a whole year. Perhaps our judgements are yet hasty? We'll shelve that option for now, and if it continues by our next meeting we can enact it." No one else liked the sound of that, but they weren't going to force it just yet. "Now what is the problem with the girl?"

"She has been very sullen and moody. Now normally I would just chop that up to being away from home for the first time, but she has also been incredibly hostile to certain students in Slytherin and completely antisocial with her own dorm mates. Simply put, she isn't fitting in and she doesn't seem like she wants to try."

"That is certainly troubling." Dumbledore mused, and for more than one reason. With more and more of his levers to control young Harry disappearing he was counting on the redheaded girl's ability to woo him in the future and thus bring him fully back into the light. Potter men were notorious for preferring redheads after all. If it turned out that Harry wouldn't sacrifice himself for Albus then surely he would for love. An antisocial love interest wouldn't do at all in this case. No siree. Even he could see that the boy had a preference for more strong-willed people in his sphere of influence. "Have Madame Pomfrey provide her a calming draft regimen." He suggested after a moment of thought. "I believe you hit the nail on the head with your first guess, and this is likely just an enhanced version of homesickness. If that doesn't do the trick then we can explore other potential avenues."

One by one the others reported on their new students and then it came time for Severus. "My new students are slowly finding their way, though we have markedly few this time around." The potions master noted. The main chunk of newbies had gone to Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw that year. "The standout is Ms. Lovegood, who has quickly become a part of Young Potter's group of friends. So far they have managed to reign in her… excess eccentricities."

Dumbledore swallowed thickly at that. Zenophilius's daughter? That certainly spelled trouble. The man's slanderous rag of a paper had never once written anything positive about him and he worried the girl might further poison young Harry against him if given the chance. "Whatever could they have in common?" Albus wanted to know.

Surprisingly it was Minerva who answered. "She has abilities similar to his own, outside the sphere of magic as we understand it. Best not to question it. Harry has been instructing her in the finer points of his art." At the others' curious stares she said, "Harry and I have tea on the weekends and the topic came up. And before you ask, Albus, no you cannot join us."

Drat, the old man had indeed been about to ask that. "And how is Mr. Potter himself performing?" If nothing else happened that meeting he had to know at least that.

"Remarkably well." Severus noted. "He has a very good grasp of the material and has started tutoring the other students in the common room if they come to him with questions. Though, this does pose a singular problem, and one that I have raised in these meetings more than once if you all recall. The boy is simply not being challenged by the current material of the second year curriculum. It's so easy he has all of his coursework done in minutes! It was the same last year. Once more I find myself suggesting here and now that he should be moved up a year or perhaps even two if he can test into it. All we are doing at the moment is forcing him to limit himself so he can stay behind and watch others struggle."

"I concur." Minerva agreed. "He's performing his transfigurations silently now, a third year skill."

Flitwick nodded his agreement as did Sprout and the others, each offering their own input and tales of the boy's superb performance. Albus crushed all of that real quick. If Harry moved up two grades that was two years less he had to attempt to influence him. "I do not believe it would be good to place Harry in such an advanced environment, nor to separate him from his current group of friends. We have already touched on how damaging isolation can be with young Ginerva." Even if he hated using that argument. Altogether Harry's current group of friends was entirely unsuitable, but the elder wizard couldn't see any way to get rid of them when most were heirs to prominent pureblood families that would riot if he so much as looked at them funny.

"Gilderoy, we have not heard from you yet?" He sought to bring the conversation back on track.

For his part, the gilded peacock that was the current defense against the dark arts teacher ruffled his shoulders dramatically and bemoaned, "I find I have to contradict all of your stellar notes. In my experience Harry Potter is a rude, pompous, brat who needs a firm hand, such as my own, to bring him back to heel. Why, in my very first class he refused to help perform any of my demonstrations, insulted my lesson plan, and left with all of his friends without completing any of the assigned work. I have not seen hide nor hare of him since, and with over a month of class missed he'll need to work like hell to catch back up. I shudder to think how the boy who lived has been lacking in quality lectures without my direct attention to guide him."

More than one teacher growled at the implied slight to their teaching ability, but Severus was smirking like a devil. "I find that rather funny considering Harry and his little friends have been handing detailed and complete worksheets from their defense tutors to me on a weekly basis along with very thorough essays. They are in fact receiving excellent instruction, just not from you. I believe they contracted a personal tutor from the Hit-Wizard Corps via Gringotts."

"W-What? But that makes no sense!" Lockhart thundered. "They must be in my class!"

Uncaring of the volume of the voice directed at him, Snape said, "No they 'must' not. Have you forgotten the lawsuit Potter has against you? I signed their release form for private instruction myself."

Now Albus was aghast. "How could you do such a thing, Severus?"

"Because they had the right to ask for it by merit of the school rules."

"And why didn't you inform me of this development?"

Snape and Minerva shared a knowing look at that question. They'd talked about it beforehand and decided on their answer. Neither was much of a fan of how Dumbledore seemed so focused on Potter. "It was a house matter, Albus. Why would I tell you? As the Deputy Headmistress Minerva was informed since she has a direct responsibility for the students, but your purview is the administration of the school, not the running of it."

"But surely Harry would be better served in a group environment?"

"He is still in one." The head of Slytherin House stated simply. "All of his friends, including the Ravenclaw Padma Patil are receiving the same instruction from a private tutor and doing quite well. There is no reason to complain about this setup."

Unable to stay silent Gilderoy demanded, "Potter must be remanded back to my class. Only I can teach him how to best utilize his Fame! Ah, I mean, how to best defend himself. Albus, you promised me access to the boy if I taught here!"

"What?!" Minerva glared daggers at her boss who merely smiled genteely at Lockhart with a gaze that shut the foppish man up at once.

"I promised he would be in your class, Gilderoy, and he was. It is not my fault if you pushed him away."

"I don't have to stand for this." Lockhart declared before… standing, flipping his half cape over his shoulder, and marching out of the room with as much dramatic flare as he could muster.

Slowly, Minerva released the breath that encapsulated the tirade of curses she'd intended to start spewing, and instead demanded, "Why, in the gods' names, is that fop on the staff again? Albus, he is clearly a fraud!"

"I have my reasons, Minerva."

"That doesn't excuse the lack of education our students are receiving as a direct result of his 'teaching'!"

"And as Severus just said, it is my purview to administer this school and thus I will hire whatever damned staff I require!" He thundered, more than fed up with constantly being questioned for his actions. Last year had been bad enough with all the bellyaching from his teachers about the third floor fiasco and he was not having it now. When was it exactly that people had stopped taking his word as gospel? It was so troublesome. "My hiring practices are not up for dispute here so let's get back to the subject of this meeting. How are the other students faring?"

Time Passes

Classes carried on, the group flourished, and strangely enough, all of the girls joined Harry for his morning workouts instead of just Hermione. It was a strange change, but one that he very much enjoyed. Draco even joined up a bit after the rest. He didn't do the calisthenics, but he did tag along for the run portion. When Harry had asked if his new exuberance with looking good was for the benefit of a certain girl named Pansy, that his father had betrothed him to over the summer, the blonde boy had turned scarlet and run off ahead of the group, saying he wanted to get a head start on the others. It was honestly rather hilarious how far his friend was going to avoid admitting his growing feelings.

Classes were a piece of cake and Harry found that many of his fellows had gotten over their fear of him enough to at least try and study with him. He'd maintained a requirement of academic excellence in his house and the others were eager to meet it. Of course there had been a few holdouts and newbies that had conspired to test his authority, but Damien had done his work well in spying on them all and letting him know about their growing conversations and discontent before their little coupe attempts could be completed. Needless to say, his response had not been pleasant for any of them.

He was working on his latest essay when the cushion next to him descended with an audible whoosh of air. He turned to see who it was that had disturbed him and found himself pleasantly surprised at the answer. "Tracy Davis, as I live and breathe. Where on earth have you been? We missed you on the train." Indeed, Daphne had seemed more than a bit bereft to have an empty space on her side of the train car.

Daphne Greengrass's best friend blushed at the callout and answered, "Sorry about that. I've been a little busy since the summer and that carried over to the start of term. Daphne has been great in giving me some time to figure it all out on my own."

"Busy with what if I might be bold enough to ask?"

The blonde sighed and gently rubbed her elbows in front of her as she replied, "At the end of last year my father finalized a betrothal arrangement to Neville Longbottom and I've spent the summer getting to know him. He's a very nice boy but severely lacking in confidence."

"I've noticed."

"Well I was hoping you could help him with that."

"Tracy-"

"He wants to be better than he is, Harry, but he doesn't know how." Tracy begged, "Please, his uncle and grandmother have destroyed his confidence but I've seen the potential hidden within him. He can be a great man if only he is shown the way. You should hear the stories he tells about all the adventures his father had with yours in the auror corps, back before all the bad things happened. He's inspired, but he doesn't have the direction to do anything with it yet."

Harry, putting aside that bit about his father and the auror corps for later, leaned back on the couch and took in the earnest expression on his friend's face. "You really like him don't you?"

"I-I do. He's my type, as you would say. Big, but not too round, like a cuddly teddy bear, funny, caring, and he's actually a really good conversationalist once he trusts you enough to get going. God, I could listen to him talk about plants for hours."

It was the fondly wistful expression on his friend's face more than anything else that finally settled the matter for Harry. He liked seeing those close to him happy. "Then I'll offer him a chance, for you. But I'll only do it once. It's up to him to accept it and dedicate himself. I've got no time for people that don't have any drive… or taste."

"He will. I'm sure of it." A wry twitch of her brow followed before her next query. "And are you really questioning his 'taste'? I'll have you know he seems quite besotted with me."

"Then his taste is clearly beyond reproach." Harry assuaged her. "I'll arrange an introduction." He offered the girl a warm smile and asked, "Aside from your boy troubles, how have things been for you?"

"Well Lockhart is a bona fide menace." Last week he released an entire hoard of cornish pixies, then ran off before putting them back. I had to spend over an hour sewing the rips in my robes closed again."

"Wanna study with my group?"

"Hell yes!"

The Next Day

Neville Longbottom was enjoying one of his favorite pastimes; that being, searching the shore of the Black Lake for new forms of algae and seaweed that might have washed up. It was a nice, solitary activity, and one that he had repeated back at the Longbottom estate for as long as he could remember. It was often the only excuse he had to get some alone time away from his uncle and grandmother.

He loved his family, he really did. Even if his uncle was a bit of a layabout who mooched off of his Gran. If it wasn't for the man forcing signs of magical growth out of him Neville knew that he might have been forever shamed as a squib. That said, it was a relief to know that Algie couldn't touch his parent's fortune, as that was completely separate from the family vault, and accessible by only him once he turned sixteen.

He was currently walking barefoot through the shallows with his pant legs rolled up when a glint of reflected light caught his eye. Stumbling over to it he saw what looked like gillyweed! The perfect item to add to his collection. Neville began reaching down for it when a new voice spoke up from the shore behind him:

"Well it seems like you've got good eyes. Nice to see that you're not completely hopeless."

The Gryffindor whirled around and beheld a sight that boggled his mind for several seconds. Harry Potter (for it was impossible to mistake the boy's hair and the spider-silk robe crumpled beneath him)) was doing pullups off a branch of a nearby tree, and staring pointedly at him throughout each rep. "You looked downright competent gathering those herbs."

Nevilled gulped, hurriedly shoved the weed into his pocket, and stumbled over to dry land once more. Speaking as he began shoving on his socks, the boy stated, "Technically gillyweed is a form of seaweed, not-"

"We can discuss the finer points of herbology later." Harry finally dropped from the branch and 'levitated' over the ground to 'hover' in front of Tracy's beau. "Honestly I'd appreciate the exercise a great deal since that's one of my worst subjects." Harry noted the slight shivering of the other boy's shoulders and asked, "What's wrong? Are you still afraid to be seen with a parseltongue?"

"N-No." Neville stuttered weakly. "Hermione's lecture fixed that. I'm just cold, ya know?"

The sorcerer looked down and saw that the other boy still wasn't wearing shoes. He quickly cast a localized heating charm, and smiled as Neville visibly calmed. "Glad to see that isn't the case."

Neville, seeing no way out of the conversation, and not sure if he really wanted to leave anyway, simply sat down on the grass, watching as Harry lowered himself to the earth to sit beside him, both started looking off onto the still surface of the lake.

Finally, Harry broke the silence with, "Tracy… asked me to talk to you."

"R-Really?"

"Yeah." Harry, smile still set on his face, bumped shoulders easily with the other wizard. "She said there was more to you than meets the eye, and it would be a mistake if I didn't get to know you better." The smile fell away slowly to be replaced with a nervous laugh, "She also said you had some stories you could tell me about our dads. Something about the auror corps?"

All at once Neville's nerves fell away, mostly at how chummy the Potter Heir was being, and the turn of the conversation to a topic he knew very well. "I'd be happy to share. You see, apparently they met at the academy and got paired together for drills when-"

As the boys began a conversation that would no doubt take them several hours into the early evening, another conversation was happening between two others. Spying on the interaction below from one of the castle towers, Daphne nodded serenely toward her smirking best friend. "Dropping the hint about their parents was inspired."

Tracy, absentmindedly doodling a heart on the glass of the window, noted, "You seem to forget that I'm a Slytherin as well, Daphne. I can be clever and manipulating when I want to be. I think it's safe to say that Neville Dearest shall soon become a part of our group, which means I'll get to see him everyday!"

Daphne laughed eagerly at the besotted look on her fellow Snake's face and noted, "You've got it bad, girl."

"You're one to talk." Tracy sniffed. "Don't think I haven't seen the way you've been mooning over Harry in the common room. Or how about the way you've been writing 'Daphne Potter' in your diary every night?"

"I… have no idea what you're talking about." The other blonde defended stubbornly.

"Yes, you do. And for that matter, I've seen the same look from Hermione and Padma."

Seeing that the goose was cooked, Daphne stopped denying it. "He is perhaps the single greatest match I could hope for, and I knew going into my Hogwarts tenure that I would be trying to find someone like him. As for the others, it only makes sense that they too would recognize quality when they saw it."

"And are you going to explain to me why I caught the three of you flexing together in front of the bathroom mirrors last night? Nice biceps by the way."

Daphne blushed, and self-consciously massaged the hardening muscle of her arms through the sleeves of her robes. She'd been worried about potentially getting too bulky when she started working out, but instead… admittedly with help from Hermione on planning her regimen and diet… she'd merely grown lean and started to harden out. It helped that she and the other girls had already been working out with Harry a bit before the last year had let out. "It's a surprise for Harry. Due to events beyond our control involving a certain house elf we all missed out on sending him birthday gifts this year. As such, we've put together a bit of a surprise for him."

"What kind of surprise?"

"Never you mind. Just trust me when I say he'll love it. And if he hasn't discovered girls yet he certainly will have by the end."