Par for the Course

  The rest of the day passed without incident. Herbology was spent discussing the applications and looking at exotic specimens. Professor Sprout, the professor in charge, also discussed how herbology could be a lucrative business for those who had the skill for cultivation. She also discussed how important herbology was regarding other skills like potions and rune crafting. History of Magic class was incredibly dull. Harry felt a hint of luck when he realized the teacher did not care who he was. The professor also started at the beginning of recorded history, where “current events” were not usually reached until 6th or 7th year. The day concluded with history, leaving the trio unsure of what to do with the rest of their day. Hermione was adamant about trying to successfully condense a roll and get ahead of their other classes.

  Their rumbling stomachs interrupted any thought of studying. They hadn’t realized it, but their first day’s classes left no time for lunch. They quickened their steps to the great hall where other students sat under their house crests. They chose to sit far away from everyone and took a seat at the end of Ravenclaws' table. They said nothing as they ate, purely focused on quelling their hunger and thirst before anything else. Hermoine spoke as they were finishing their meal. “Harry, have you been studying ahead? You move so practiced and even. I’d been trying the condensing spell all morning.” Harry swallowed his drink before replying “No I haven’t done anything of the sort, I told you my body just has this familiarity when I’m doing magic. Daphne was quietly following along; her face held unasked questions she wasn’t sure how to approach. “You did look...comfortable in class Harry.” He turned to Daphne as the statement left her mouth. “I saw it in your body as you were casting Den Saro like you’d done it hundreds of times before.” Hermione also turned towards her “so you saw it too then?”

  A Simple Summons

  As they started to head back to their common rooms, Filch the castle keeper stepped in front of Harry. “The headmaster has asked for you in his office, get to it.” He handed him a scrap of parchment and headed off his own way. The two girls looked at him, confused as he felt. “Well, I guess it’s best not to keep him waiting right?” His heart and mind raced, wondering what the headmaster could want from him. He said goodbye to the girls and turned toward the central tower. On his way, he looked at the parchment. All that was written was “Tapioca pudding”.

  As Harry approached the eagle statue, he muttered the password and rode the step up once more. The ascent felt like hours, though he knew it’d only been half a minute. He didn’t even need to knock, the door opened as he stepped up. “Enter.” The headmaster’s kind voice drifted through the threshold as he obliged. “Ah Harry, thank you for coming so promptly. Please have a seat.” Harry’s feet felt stuck to the ground, lifting them seemed impossible. “Come Harry, you’re not in trouble, there are just matters that require attention.” He finally found the power to move himself, taking a seat in front of the headmaster’s desk. “Thank you, now-” As he began speaking the fiery bird behind him burst into flames suddenly. The chirp of a newborn chick could be heard once the flames finished burning. “Oh good, he was looking rather miserable for a while now. But back to the matter at hand, it has come to my attention your guardians have relinquished their legal obligation to you.” Harry nodded slowly, unsure what the man had in store for him.

  “Their willing relinquishment of you poses some... difficulties. I believe you have an idea of your significance in the wizarding world correct?” Harry bobbed his head side-to-side, only loaded with the lecture Hermione had given him on the train. “Well, to be frank, you are a significant wizard. Eleven years ago, the dark wizard Voldemort attempted to take your life but failed. Your mother sacrificed herself, which invoked an ancient magic that was dependent on familial proximity. Now that your uncle has formally his severed rights to guardianship, those protections have ended.” Harry followed along, his eyes hardening as he began looking past the headmaster. Harry’s mind returned to the final handshake with his uncle. He thought he had finally freed himself but had traded a box for a cage.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  A Crossroad of Sorts

  A dull headache began to form behind his eyes. “Sir, what does that mean for me.” The headmaster thought deeply, looking over the boy before him. They faced each other, the soft chirping cutting the silence occasionally. “There is no simple answer, Harry. I bring this matter up now, as it will need to be dealt with. You are currently in the jurisdiction of Hogwarts, my care, but come end of term you will need legal guardians in place.” Harry’s gaze drifted into the space between them, mouthing the word “guardians”. He felt the light touch of someone's hand on his shoulder. “Do not fret Harry, we will find an arrangement with your best interests in mind.” Dumbledore clasped him reassuringly before dismissing him.

  Harry trekked his way back to his common room. The halls were empty now. As he walked in, Hermione came to greet him near the entrance. “Is everything alright? I didn’t think you’d done anything for the headmaster to be notified of.” Harry put his hand up to stop her and relayed what he’d been told earlier. “Well that’s awful. I hope they’re able to work something out for you sooner rather than later.” He agreed, saying goodnight as the day had drained him. As Harry lay in his bed, he pondered what would happen. Try as he might, all he could do was rattle the bars in his mind. He gave in to sleep quickly, unable to stave it off any longer.

  Shifting Courses

  Harry awoke suddenly to Hermione shaking him. “Come on, we’ve got to go. The headmaster has called for all first-year students to the great hall.” He groaned as he swung his legs over the edge of his bed, still feeling overly tired from yesterday. Hermoine paced as he got ready. Finally, once he had his sneakers on, she herded him to the hall. They took seats near the end of the front table, overhearing the others speculate on what could be happening today. Daphne left her table with Neville in tow and sat across from them. “What do you think this is all about? Not even our prefect knew what was happening.” Both him and Hermoine shrugged at her. “Also, you guys remember Neville right? Forgot he was in my house and we re-met this morning.” Neville waved weakly “is it alright if I join you then?” Almost in unison they said “of course.” motioning for him to sit and eat with them.

  They finished their meal with little said between them. After about an hour, Dumbledore rose from the head table and held his hand up, the hall fell silent. His soft voice carried through the hall easily “I am sure you are all curious why I have asked you to join me this morning.” Noises of confirmation rippled among the tables, but the headmaster again held his hand and the noises ceased. “I did not wish to alarm you, this matter is not emergent in nature, but it is a deviation from the traditions of the school’s history, therefore worth our attention. As of next week, first years will be required to pick one of the electives usually offered only to 3rd year students.” His face did not change but students hesitated to react “In an effort to preserve several fascinating but less popular courses, the Ministry has approved an early offering of electives. As such, the available electives will be offered to you “Runes, Divination, Abnormal Magika, and Non-Wizard Magical Species”. His words hung in the air before he clasped his hands and dismissed them, wishing them a fruitful day of class. They all left the tables and headed to their classes for the day, noise of excited anxiousness rising from the others.

  Decisions, Decisions

  “So what do you think you’re going to take?” Hermione's voice filled the silence between them. “I think I’m going to take Abnormal Magika. Runes sound positively amazing, but I’ve read books on abnormal psychology, so that seems right up my alley.” Harry furrowed his brow thinking about what to take, magika seemed interesting, but runes called to him like charmed jewelry. “Runes...” Daphne looked at him, “I was thinking the same thing, it seems like it’ll be pretty interesting and useful in other classes.” They all turned to Neville apprehensively. He shied away but stammered out “D.. Divination. I think, that’s what I’ll do.”

  The rest of the walk to their Charms class was filled with speculation on what they would be doing in their respective electives. They sat off to the left of the professor, who introduced himself as Professor Flitwick. He began his lecture by describing what they were attempting to achieve and how it fundamentally differed from transfiguration. “Transfiguration, as its name implies, is the magic of changing an object's property. Charms are about applying a temporary effect to an object, like so”. The professor performed a swish & flick wand movement and cast “Wingardium Leviosa” to his desk which rose inches from the ground before he returned it. Professor Flitwick continued his lecture describing that he did not change anything about the table but applied a levitating effect to it. He assigned them homework to attempt the same charm in their spare time, focusing on wand movement and timing.