POTTER v AUTHOR – First Year
JKR is the acknowledged IPR owner of PotterUniVerse. Wherein we write our stories.
My scribbles are rated mature. I write for the sheer joy of creation and happy to share. Writing in another authors well defined universe is a relaxed form of writing. So, thank you to JKR for creating such well-defined and loved characters.
Be warned, I have a lengthy detailed style, not to everyone's preference, if it's fast action you prefer, you'll probably be better served elsewhere.
AN. Intermission - I 'have' moved homes; not in the literal sense, as I only publish on FanFiction, simply where I physically live. Apology - The short delay in future postings that I had planned … I moved to an area with little to no internet or mobile phone coverage. Bit of a shock and it took longer than expected to get a satisfactory solution.
This is a gentle chapter, no surprises or shocks, they will return, setting up house has taken more out of me than expected.
Chapter 6 HEADMISTRESS RULES
"Susan, would you like to sit with us for dinner ?" A smiling Hermione asked of the newest member of the Potter family.
"Is that allowed ? I mean don't we have to sit on our dedicated house tables for meals. We've done that since we arrived, though I saw Harry had sat on Ravenclaw table, but then I suppose as you are the heir; but then again, Padma sat on Gryffindor table with her twin sister for the next meal." Susan's analytical mind had worked through the elements and implications. A quick mind and a prompt resolve. "So yes, I'd like to sit with you for dinner. Who is 'us' though ?"
"It's the extended family that all got together in the summer and then went on holiday together, we got to know each other very well. As your aunt had got you tucked away secretly, we don't know you as well as we do each other. Harry and I have decided that we are going to be sitting together as a family from now on. Well between him and me, we do own half this castle, so who can tell us no ! Did you see the little smile Harry got from the headmistress when he sat at Ravenclaw, Professor Flitwick even raised his glass to show his approval. We spent the time on the train making friends, but of course you know we are so much more than that. It's time to show the rest of the school that we are a family group and that we will look out for each other.
There's me, and Harry, and Aine who is in a similar position to you, then we've Daphne and Tracey, Neville and Hannah, all first years. There are others in our family group, mostly adults, but there are some more children, just not yet at Hogwarts. Anyway, It's a big group and we all know each other fairly well, we need to make you feel a little more comfortable with the rest of us. Some of the adults will be a surprise to you as well."
Leaning in very close to Susan's ear, she whispered. "Your aunt, Amelia is part of our family." The look on Susan's face turned to a smile. Head close to Hermione, voice held low, "Yes, she did tell me when we met at the station, we had a very quick conversation. She also told me something that really surprised me. She must really trust your family; aunty told me that she had moved into your parents home when ours was attacked, that your dad and both mums had welcomed her into a safe house and that I'd be going there too for the school holidays. That I was to trust you implicitly, and she told me the same again when she visited me just after the sorting ceremony, well later that night; the headmistress gave her permission to visit Hufflepuff's common room. Megan, she's another 'Puff, we're in the same dormitory, and Leanne both said that had never happened before. Parents were never allowed to visit students common rooms, Leanne said that her friend Katie in Gryffindor said Dumblydore never allowed that. Once students started at Hogwarts, it was up to him and the professors to mould them for the future, only allowing them home at the holidays. I think that's a bit creepy, I think family is more important than school, don't you ?"
Susan finally ran out of breath; it was as if a cork had been pulled and all the words poured out at once.
"Wow Susan, slow down girl, we'll have plenty of time to chat and it looks like you and I are going to get along brilliantly as both our minds seem to be running on a fast setting. But, and I will warn you now, Harry will calm you down, he does that to me when I start to talk and think too fast. He says that way it'll give time for the rest to catch up, and my tongue to unwind." With a happy smile she put her arm around Susan's shoulders and together they walked past the house tables and sat at the smaller table at the back of the hall.
Professor Lovegood's presentation had fired up the whole school it seemed, snippets of conversation heard as they passed were about the last three hours, the excitement was evident from the voices heard.
Sitting at the table, back to the hall was an unknown adult and only when they got closer did Hermione recognise Nym, her plain brown hair and non-descript appearance a surprise. When on holiday with them in Slovenia, Nym had delighted in letting her metamorph ability come out to play, never being the same each time seen, mostly hair colour, but other body types appeared. Hermione realised that this was probably her natural and school look and yes it was unassuming and belied the personality hidden beneath.
"Hi Nym, declaring publicly for house Potter are you ?" Hermione sat alongside her and gave her a little shoulder nudge, she nudged back. Susan sat alongside and opposite Harry, though kept glancing over her shoulders.
"That's your aunts teaching is it, never sit with your back to an enemy, an open door or window I'm guessing ? It's a good working principle, It's why I'm facing house tables and to a lesser degree the professors. I've put all sorts of protection on this table and of course the castle itself, all the Hogwarts house elves and even the ghosts are constantly watching out for the founders heirs and anyone who is considered family. Don't worry too much, this is probably the safest table to sit at, especially as we're all but married." Followed by a wink and a broad smile. "The service here is a little better than the house tables too, if there is anything that you would particularly like, I've no doubt that a betrothed wife of an heir would simply need to ask for it. Do you have any favourites ?"
"Well, I'm not really a fan of the pumpkin juice that we get in the morning, It's a bit heavy. I've been drinking fruit Jugo's during the summer holiday. It's a mix of citrus fruits and iced water, kind of refreshing. Here at Hogwarts, I've stuck to water, as I'm not a fan of tea."
[Noted] Whispered a physical voice in Harry's ear. He smiled and Hermione raised an eyebrow, linked minds more often than not, she had heard that via mind speak and would ask Harry later.
Neville handed Hannah over the bench seat, seated her next to Susan. "Another fellow 'Puff, that's three houses represented, just need the fourth."
"That's our cue then." Daphne waited whilst Neville sat next to Harry and then sat herself next to Nev'. Aine carefully sitting next to her and opposite Tracey.
On the house tables, there were occasional glances from the house seniors who favoured the further end of tables away from the staff top-table, keeping first years generally under close supervision of the professors. Was unusual to have first years furthest away from the staff, Hermione grew suspicious and gave Nym a shrewd look, raised her eyebrows in classic James Bond fashion.
"Yeah, headmistress's idea, having an adult presence on the table gives the pretence that there is a calming presence from the authorities. That's for the gen-pop sake; in reality I'm happy to hex anyone that Harry tells me toosumfinkabout it boss, anyone annoyed you recently, want me to make Draco itch all over or sumfink worse eh bossman ?" There was a suggestive leer, that Harry merely shook his head at.
"I might have a nomination for you Nym, something light and irritating maybe." Hermione stage whispered. Susan looked shocked, Hermione, until now, had given a serious outlook, "It's always the quiet ones" A phrase barely heard from one of the girls, not sure which though. Susan had heard her aunt mutter this at times frequently.
There was a light laughter from all this tables diners now, the suggestion that Hermione was going to invoke a hex attack brought smiles to everyone's face. Four young first years loved the idea.
Cutlery on the house tables was normally in wooden trays and passed along at request. Here there was a light bell tone and large wooden platters appeared at each persons place. Bedecked with carefully rolled linen and silver napkin ring enclosed cutlery, all beautifully clean. A selection of crystal glasses also appeared. That caught Nym's attention, "Wow boss, you really know how to set a nice table, out to impress are you ?"
"A surprise to me as well Nym, I believe that Kasandra, the chief elf, the chatelaine, appears to be making a generous effort to impress. I hope that the wine is from my vineyards and that It's the non-alcoholic version. Perhaps it may be considered appropriate if a selection is made available to the staff table as well."
[As you request my lord, wine will be served to the staff]. A short pause, and then. [Headmistress thanks Lord Gryffindor for your hospitality] Spoken by an unseen house elf near to Harry's ear. Mere moments later, the Hogwarts elves were quick to please.
Harry's formal dinner practice training in Slovenia came in useful. This was a much more modest affair, though had extra's. Napkins and silver cutlery, wine glasses rather than the more robust glass tumblers seen on the house tables, wooden platers with heavy ceramic plates, together with carved ornate salt & pepper shakers were little luxury items that were appreciated.
Neville and Harry chatted away about continuing their fitness improvements, Harry with his primary and junior school days experience was surprised, in the world of Wiz, to note that it wasn't normal practice for any form of physical exercise or training to be included in the Hogwarts curriculum . Wiz culture generally used magic to make things happen and in consequence, physical stamina was low in general. As witnessed by the climb up the staircases to the 7th floor where Gryffindor common room was. Hermione initially picked up on their conversation and remarked to Nym and asked how she kept fit ? To be met with the enigmatic comment that her body type didn't seem to have any trouble, accompanied by a sly wink. Hermione suddenly remembering that Nym's body skill meant that she had total control, over how she 'looked' and presumably her fitness level reflected whatever she chose.
Hermione quickly switched topic of conversation and started asking about the 'puff common room and showed interest to find out that the common room was in the base of a tower, with small dormitories above. So, heat from common room fires would warm the dormitories in the morning. Ruing the fact that Ravenclaw was the opposite, and consequently cold dorm rooms in the morning. Nym smiled gently as she realised that Hermione wasn't going to accept a cold dorm in the mornings, and they started to discuss ways to improve that.
Susan and Hannah now had a chance to talk about life with the Potter and Longbottom families that they could not discuss in any detail in their dorm, as the other two dorm mates, Megan and Leanne were as yet unknown alliance families. Susan explained how she had learnt to ski in the mountains in South America, how it was cold all the time and the air thin. Matched against the summer holiday that Hannah had enjoyed in the villas sunny pool and vineyards. Hannah didn't think she would want to learn to ski, and the cold didn't appeal, whereas the sun, the pool and the villa living and especially the shopping had Susan almost drooling with longing.
Three Slytherin girls found that they need not guard their tongues other than not to talk about their summer retreat and marriage contracts. It was the wildly different upbrings that were their conversational topics: Daphne as a pure-blood, almost a Wiz princess who wanted for nothing but had the most onerous restrictions on her behaviour. Tracey with a half-blood family that had given her a mixed perspective, raised by a wizard father and a muggle mother. Both families ran their own businesses and were moderately well off. In direct contrast was Aine, raised by a wizard father after her witch mother died giving birth to her. On a remote island off the coast of Ireland, with a fishing-based economy that was unusually accepting of and knowledgeable of the wiz/muggle mix. Aine raised and early schooled by a house elf before her junior schooling in a wiz based martial arts environment. Already a wand carrying witch at age seven, so far away from British MoM that it was questionable if anyone in the MoM even knew of the existence of the mixed island community.
Dinner was rather a pleasant affair overall, the friends across all four houses quite at ease with each other, though at the furthest ends of the four house tables, there were occasional suspicious glares from some of the first years. On Gryffindor, it was Ron Weasley who seemed to spend the majority of the meal glaring at Harry and Neville, whilst also maintaining a steady stream of shovelled food from plate to mouth. Only glancing down when his plate emptied, and his fork could no longer find anything more. Ravenclaw had a pair of girls, second year students probably who whispered fiercely and jabbed utensils at the small table and It's students. Puffs were odd, but then maybe that's why they were Puff's. If ever nose-raising and turn-away-glance became a sport ! Well, this house appeared to be training for it. Slytherin seemed to be plot and scheme central, heads together, jerking actions and harsh snappish words, one though was fixated upon the distant, small table.
Draco Malfoy was torn between being the reporting and taunting tool that his father had trained him to be, and the advice received from his mother, who surprisingly showed him gentle support and even love. Rare indeed in the society element that the dark side families exhibited amongst themselves, it was her advice that was central to his mind at the moment. There was a gentle happy look amongst all those sat there, well those who faced the hall in general and the backs of others gave good indications of contentment. He had been trained to be an acute people watcher, looking for any openings that could be exploited, attitudes that might be modified. The two males, Longbottom and Potter sat like lords surrounded by family, a large happy family. Potter returned his gaze, it was unblinking and entirely speculative, and then he slowly winked, directly at Draco, before returning his gaze to his own table. Draco remembered the brief conversation on the Hogwarts express, and the subtle advice that Potter had given him.
Nym paid it no attention to the hall behind her, after all she knew that two of the most able students in the hall were watching every tabled student and the staff table too, Harry and Hermione would react fast, that's if Hogwarts itself, or It's agents don't wade in first. For once in her life, content to have her back to danger. Though she had a clear view of the entry hall and anyone who entered the hall from the castle grounds. Win / win as far as she was concerned. Wouldn't hurt to have a prospective future employer observe her reactions and duty of care, if Harry and Hermione's hinted comments about a Hogwarts based Auror setup was going to form.
~~~~~~~~~~
Sharp 'ding, ding, ding', noise heard as the headmistress tapped a small wooden mallet against the bronze mounted bell on the table. Minerva McGonagall stood, and the room went quiet. At the rear of the hall, on the small table, students spun around on their bench seats and faced forward, a disadvantage in not being sideways on to the great hall.
"I hope you enjoyed your evening meal. Now make yourselves comfortable for a while as It's time for me to give you an understanding of how Hogwarts will be changing."
There was a feeling of anticipation now in the great hall, background noise reduced quickly as the walls grew brighter. The ghosts of Hogwarts had also joined them ! All along both side walls, ghosts silently appeared and waited to hear what the new headmistress was going to say.
Older students had never seen this before; previously the headmaster would say something in greeting, give a few inane remarks and then finish with some peculiar comment. This had the look of something important, to all students of whatever age, house or background.
"Students and staff of Hogwarts, your patience at this difficult time is greatly appreciated during this transition, this time of change. Hogwarts has reawakened and is actively seeking, once more, to become the premier school of magic in Europe. There has been little change in the school curriculum, Its own lesson plan for the future. The subjects taught over the last one hundred years have not changed, and yet the world is changing all around us, racing ahead of us. There are two worlds we live in, both that of magic and the greater physical world of those who use other means than magic. We magic users believe we are better than those who do not use magic; yet muggles, as we disparagingly call them, can do more and mighty things. We need to learn of their deeds and incorporate what they have achieved in our own daily, magical lives.
Rest assured, we will not lose our use of magic; but we can also use the lessons learnt by muggles, add our magical skills to theirs and achieve even more. Our own magic skills and teachings have not changed, but importantly we are not advancing further with what we know and are not striving to learn more."
There was a nervous undertone in the hall, soft murmuring from the students who were beginning to suspect that their very lives here at Hogwarts were going to be changing. Increasingly, there were larger numbers of muggle-born and half-blood born wizards and witches entering Hogwarts; these students understood the need to change. After all, they were not unaware and isolated from the bigger, larger world of muggles. As they were increasingly in the majority in three out of the four houses. The undertow of feeling was improving and there was an approval of Hogwarts students willingness to improve. Keen eyed and engaging looks were directed back at the headmistress. But looking at Slytherin, it was if a cloud of suspicion had settled. Darker in some places, but there were some speculative looks and even a few nodding heads.
At the back of the hall, the smaller table and It's occupants emanated a thirst for knowledge, there was a keen appreciation of looking forward to the future, rather than the stagnation of past learnings. Encouraged by this and knowing that she had the full support of the newly emerged 'owners', Minerva stood straighter, knowing that the staff and most importantly the heads of the four houses were all supportative of the new policies, she explained further.
"Some of the older branches of magic will see a broader approach to what and how they are taught. Others will remain as is, and a few will become less important. To appreciate the bigger world around us, additional subjects will be taught. Critically though, our world of magic will no longer only favour magic, we will also consider and teach about the physical world which is racing ahead in Its quest to achieve more and greater things.
Even now, magic is changing all around us, students at this school are from both worlds; ancient magical families send students here to train and learn more about magic and It's interpretation and It's use. But, in the past Hogwarts has failed to update our muggle studies course, It's woefully behind the times. An example for the pureblood students here. In 1969, muggles sent people to the moon and brought them back again safely. That's approximately 240,000 miles away. Think how much more muggles can achieve now ?
Increasingly, Hogwarts is seeing greater numbers of wizard and witches born into what we in Britain, call muggle families. In America they are called 'NoMage' a derivative of No Magic. I do not ever want to hear the derogatory term that starts with 'Mud--' That will earn instant penalties which I can assure you will cause the individual concerned, severe problems. All staff and all prefects will report that to me personally at every instance. Slytherin house, a word of warning to you especially, all the ghosts and portraits will also report back to me as well. There are many forward-looking families who welcome those in the way of new blood; that combination of both new and old magic has seen some of our most powerful members of society learn and grow.
We are not seeing the purity of magic lessening, but by variation, magic users are becoming stronger, more capable and more able to achieve greater things. There will be suspicions from those who only believe that change is unnecessary and that by using magic, they can achieve what they want, but the world around us is changing and It's a bigger world that we live in now.
We at Hogwarts are basically here to teach others, what we know, what we can achieve and what is all around us. We need to be able to see and understand both sides, magic and muggle. Not simply to hide away from the bigger world and pretend that it doesn't matter, hiding away and keeping the statute of secrecy. We need to become aware and knowledgeable of both worlds, so that we as individuals can become the best that we can, to achieve great things, both for ourselves and our society.
To those students who find themselves suddenly in a different world, that of magic; I say welcome. We here at Hogwarts will make every and indeed extra effort in teaching you all about the world of magic. You find yourselves, like fish out of water, struggling to understand what is going on. Historically, Hogwarts has paid little attention to that need, that will now change. We will teach you all about the world of magic, the intricacies and the complexities of our society. As you finally leave Hogwarts at the end of your schooling, it is our hope that you will be able to fully survive and thrive in either society. Knowing of the secret world of magic and the powerful, physical, and larger world.
To those students who come from families who have already welcomed both worlds, that of the physical and magical, share your experiences with others. Tell others of the good that exists in both worlds, for as we teach you more of the world of magic, then too, you can tell others about the physical world.
Then we have those who have grown up in the world of magic, perhaps with little exposure to the larger physical world. This group also contains those who believe that only magic is needed, that the physical world can be ignored. Pureblood is used sometimes to describe those with such views. I would direct those to study our history, question why is the statute of secrecy necessary ? Why do magic users hide away from the larger, physical world ? Ignoring something won't make it go away. It is a dangerous thing to only look inwards believing we are invulnerable. The first wizarding war with Grindlewart escalated into the larger physical world and World War two resulted. In that armed conflict, millions of people were involved, and millions died. The important lesson that the world of magic learned… That the physical world is powerful and that it outnumbers the magical world, by many, indeed very many times.
The statue of secrecy is important, it allows us to continue to live our magical lives in the physical world, moving between one and the other at need. BUT ! we have to have knowledge of that physical world, we have to learn about it and we have to become comfortable with it. We can no longer be like an ostrich and stick our heads in the sand.
If you do not understand that last phrase ? That in itself is a good example, we have a very good library here at Hogwarts. Research for yourselves and determine what is an ostrich ?
Which leads me on, very nicely to Hogwarts expanded curriculum.
Muggleborn; I use the term in Its broadest sense, not as a term of derision or belittlement, simply as a description of where you are from. Please stand-up Professor Pincelso Scottish; so, you may consider yourselves described as muggleborn. It is simply a word that describes your background and goes in large part towards describing your knowledge of the larger, physical world. Hogwarts will teach you of our magical world, by a professor who is deeply immersed in the world of magic herself and has Hogwarts ultimate resource available to her. Please stand-up Professor Pince so that others may recognise you.
Professor Pince will be leading the newly refocused Magical Studies in a recently reopened classroom alongside the school library. There you will learn the rules and ways of our magical society, for like those in the pureblood category, you will need to understand how another society functions. It has ancient traditions and those run strongly in our culture, a culture to which you have now joined. There are implications that will affect you strongly and being ignorant of those rules and traditional ways can be awkward at best and dangerous at worst. There will be a supporting group of assistants, all former students of Hogwarts, all muggleborn who have learnt to live in both worlds. That of the magical and of course from their very earliest years, that of the physical world. Some of those assistants now live in the purely physical world and will be able to tell you how they have adapted and hidden their magical abilities.
There is a law that we all must live by; it has the name of 'Statute of Secrecy'. The magical world must remain secret from the physical world. The physical world will otherwise grow afraid of the witch and wizard. It has done so in the past, and it rejected us and almost wiped us out. We live in our own secret and magical world; we have abilities that the greater population of the world do not. That is our good fortune that we must guard and keep secret if we wish to live our lives in peace.
Do not worry about this overmuch, our magical society, we have hundreds if not thousands of years of practice in making this work for our benefit. What we will be doing here at Hogwarts is making you aware of how the two societies live alongside one another. You have already a good knowledge of the practical world, the larger more physical world. Now you will learn of the smaller, magic using society that can do things that until now you thought of as pure fantasy, fiction that you read about in books, saw on television and perhaps also in films.
Be assured, you are welcome to join us in our magical world, but you need to learn the rules and abide by the roles that have been formed around us.
It's not difficult to learn, just different. In the same way that our pureblood young wizard and witches also need to learn of the physical world; knowledge of both worlds keeps us all safe.
The group name of half-bloods, again descriptive and simply refers to your background. It is not a derogatory or divisive term; it simply describes those who have grown up in both worlds already to varying degrees. What Hogwarts and our changing curriculum will be doing, is to ensure that you are fully aware of both worlds. That we train you in the use of magic, explain how magical society runs and prepare you for the future that you choose for yourself. When you leave Hogwarts, you will have the knowledge that you will need for your future lives. But remember one thing above all else.
'Magic; keeping it secret, keeps us safe.'
That was a long speech that I have long wanted to give on the first few days of Hogwarts academic new year. Regrettably our former headmaster overruled my views, but things have changed, you have seen that play out in this very place.
There will be one more relaxed day before lessons start; on Friday; we will hand out schedules tomorrow, Thursday evening. As a way of bringing our new students into the world of magic where we do things differently, we are going to have a small interhouse tournament. We have a sport called Quidditch, and tomorrow our four house teams will demonstrate their prowess upon broomsticks on the Quidditch pitch. First match is at 9:30, Thursday morning. So be prepared, a hearty breakfast and wrap up warm, tomorrow is going to be cold, we are in Scotland after all.
I wish you all a good night's rest, sleep well; for change is upon us and it starts on Friday.
Now away back to your house common rooms, talk amongst yourselves, identify where your background strengths lie and learn from others who may have a different background."
The headmistress, head proudly high after delivering a more direct and empowering opening speech, swept from the great hall. Four professor heads of house also stood, calling to their house members to follow them, also made their way from the great hall. Students, like an ants nest poked with a stick, suddenly erupted from the own tables and streamed from the hall.
~~~~~~~~~~
At the back of the hall, the smallest table, the occupants sat, until Harry announced.
"That's more like it should be, well done Minerva, a proper headmistress at last."
Looking towards the head table, where the majority of the professors and staff still sat, a nodding Professor Lovegood gazed towards the back of the hall.
"Mione, what say you ?" Harry asked out loud. "Yes Harry, she has my vote."
{We both agree too, me and Gryph; It's lit a fire in Minerva that will shake Britain to Its magical core. So Yes, when you have the opportunity, confirm Minerva McGonagall as the new headmistress.}
AUTHOR NOTE.
Sorry to put the story on hold for a few months, well regular postings anyway. I'm changing Kingdoms, though staying within the United Kingdom. Moving home; and as most everyone knows, that's a time of unrest and uncertainty. I'll keep bashing away on the keyboard, though editing and proof reading will probably take a back seat.
Thanks for sticking with me till now, I'll be back before the New Year.
PS, just a reminder, I don't post elsewhere. I write this just for fun, if you enjoy my musings. Leave a comment.
Regards.
Wiltsrider