"I have office hours, if you need my help or my advice use them. In this dorm there are six older students whose job it is to act as my eyes and ears and to enforce the rules. Marcus Flint, and Aurelia Damascus are the seventh year perfects and the student leaders of Slytherin. Elena Danforth and Sean MacKinnon are the sixth year prefects,. Lyle Howith and Calliope Mulciber are the fifth year's look to them for your example. Also if you need help with your classes they will help you find an appropriate tutor. First through fifth years, the prefects have your class schedules. Collect them then head to bed, rest is a requirement for learning, as is eating, do both or suffer my wrath. Sixth and seventh years see me. Good night."
The two fifth years called the first and second years to them to collect their schedules. Harry quickly collected his and entered the hallway to his room. He was surprised to see Blaise Zabini was his assigned roommate. He opened the door, and grinned to see that one of his elves had unpacked Hedwig's perch and she was on it asleep. A few minutes later Blaise joined him, looking very nervous.
"It's okay Zabini, contrary to popular rumor, I don't bite."
"You're not mad that you don't have a room to yourself? I mean last year…"
"No, last year was Nott's choice. I had nothing to do with it. How was it with him and Goyle last year?"
"Annoying."
"I can imagine. Do you have a problem if my owl stays here? She dislikes the owlery and prefers to stay with me."
" No. How does she… you know, get here?"
"No clue. I think maybe the house elves help her." Harry pulled his toiletries from his trunk and headed to the boys' bathroom. He could hear the boys in other rooms. Crabbe and Goyle were apparently roommates and had left their door open. He could see them arm wrestling for who got first choice of bed. On his way back, he overheard Nott telling Malfoy that it didn't matter who his daddy was, Draco was an idiot and had better do as he was told or Nott would hex him.
The next morning Harry packed his bag for Charms which would be a double class, followed by DADA, followed by History of Magic. Harry reflected he was glad he had gotten an new ever full dicta-quill, it was the only thing that made history bearable. He laughed when he realized he had one class with each of the other houses today so he'd get the chance to greet all of his year mate friends. At breakfast he ignored the glares from the head table and talked with Will and Dan figuring out the best time for his defense tutoring, mentally Harry called it his defense class given who was actually teaching defense. He shook his head about the chaos over at the Gryffindor table, why the old tabby waited until this morning to hand out schedules he'd never know. The bat's method was far more efficient. Harry privately grinned. His personal designations for the staff were far from complimentary: Headbastard, old tabby, dungeon bat, mole, butterfly, should have been exorcised, pervert, goshawk,and head in the clouds. He supposed Sinistra and Hooch weren't really that bad. Sinistra was stupid to not to realize the advances that muggles had made in Astronomy and incorporate them into her class. And he really didn't understand why there wasn't a planetarium in the school for an astronomy class. Rolanda Hooch was just was such a goshawk sort of person totally focused on just her area of expertise. He gathered up, 'well off to class' he thought.
The next day Harry's day ended with Transfiguration. Thanks to Flint's warning Harry was ready to face the old tabby's accusation. "Mr. Potter, stay after class a moment if you please."
"Yes, Professor, may I help you?"
"Your prank of last year requires… restitution?
"Prank? Do you mean my prank on the Weasley twins? But Professor, I was already punished for that."
"No I mean your prank at the end of term feast."
"I.." he pretended shocked dismay, "Why you are accusing me of that I don't know, but may I say: I don't find it at all funny."
"So you are telling me that you were not responsible for the nasty prank at the end of year feast.
"Professor, I find the very accusation reprehensible. May I ask what this is based on? As you may recall, I was confined to my dormitory from the time I left Headmaster Dumbledore's Office following Quirrell's escape with the stone until the students left for the Express. If there is some proof for this accusation I would like to see it, otherwise I have to assume that I am being treated as a scapegoat merely because I pulled a successful prank on the Weasley twins and I am Slytherin. In which case I believe I want to talk to Lady Longbottom and possibly the board of governors."
Inwardly Harry smirked at how fast she back-pedaled as he left the classroom.
All the students in the school found that the tone of classes had changed. Harry found the tighter rules governing the teachers made for better classes. School wide, the House rivalries had intensified at first, but after some fights based on house rivalry between more volatile members of houses when all participants got month long detentions with Filch, regardless of house, things calmed down. The Slytherins still had to be cautious but things were in general better.
At the end of the second week of school when Harry received his weekly delivery from Cassandra. In it was the research he'd asked for and a note.
Harry,
I don't know why you asked for this research but it explains something that is very important for my family. Something that we had always just assumed was a family curse, but that apparently is something quite different. I only understand a little about genetics but I'm spending my non-working hours studying biology, genetics and anatomy and physiology in hopes of getting a better understanding… Part of me wants to curse you (for my theater and movie hours being curtailed) but most of me wants to thank you. This could wind up being very important for my family.
Thanks for sending back just the paint chips, carpet samples and fabrics you liked instead of all the samples I sent. The Manse should be mostly done next week. The goblins will be doing the wards after that. You'll still need to sort the furnishings from Potter Place and the beach house and we'll need to shop for the rest but the elves are very excited.
As for your fan mail, I've gotten through the first three years backlog. In terms of current mail there hasn't been much except for a letter from Nicholas Flamel. You didn't tell me you knew him! Anyway the letter is there. I might suggest for the future if there is anyone whom you correspond with whose letters you don't want me to read, you give me their names. That will allow you and them privacy. And that way I won't be left with questions like: what the hell was he talking about a trap for a dark lord at Hogwarts last year?
Last I've made a list of people on whom to create dossiers. I want you to look it over. If there is anyone else whom you feel needs to be added, send me their names. Take care and study hard.
Sandra
Harry quickly thumbed through the enclosed papers until he came to Flamel's letter.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Thank you for your letter informing me of the outcome of Albus' trap for a dark lord. I suspect age has done him no favors. Setting such a thing up in a school full of children. Perenelle calls it reprehensible. I call it idiocy. Your observations about wizards are remarkably astute. There are reasons Perenelle and I no longer carry on much with wizarding society. You show promise just as your four greats grandfather did. Alexander Potter was a good friend, so, if you wish to correspond, I might be open to it. Your dry and witty observations make for an enjoyable if impertinent read. N.F.
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