Honey There is No Right Way
Sitting in a meeting room in The Leaky Cauldron, Harry was of the opinion that maybe, just maybe, the formation of a society of magicians had led them to go a touch insane. His reasoning was down to the man in front of him, and the outfit he had come in. Holding three positions of power and importance, one might expect Albus Dumbledore to dress with prestige and class. But no, he had decided to wear robes that were luridly purple and bedecked with golden stars and moons.
“I must say Mr. Potter, this has all been quite a surprise, especially given the age you should be.”
“The relative fluidity of time within Annwn is… rather difficult to properly account for, Good Magician.” Harry commented.
“Ah yes, that would explain the irregularities of your age. Now, Minerva tells me you have some issues you would like to discuss with me?”
“More specifically, I have three issues. The first, the uniform. I will not wear any clothing that does not fit the role of a bard.”
“Bard, you say? I was unaware of any currently existing bardic orders.”
“Yes, well, that would be because I do not belong to a bardic order, I am simply a bard. As I understand, after having perused a collection of laws and treaties that were retroactively grandfathered into the Hogwarts Charter, a bard, whether solitary or a member of an order, is allowed to dictate the clothing that they wear as a uniform for the duration of their enrollment, superseding the standard uniform.”
“You would, indeed, be correct, though for clerical purposes, I would require a demonstration of the magic commonly used by bards in the historical record. If you would be amenable, I would ask for a demonstration at the end of the meeting.”
“Certainly. The second issue, the allowed companion list. I find it to be… rather limiting. The oldest of my companions, a gwyllgi by the name of Artorius, is… rather attached. I would also rather avoid leaving Lenore behind.”
“The list functions more so as a guideline, so that the students bring more common, and more importantly, safer, animals, for the safety of the faculty and student body. I see no issues with allowing a raven and a… a gwyllgi, did you say?”
“Yes.”
“There may be a few issues with the student body, as they will likely assume it to be a grim, however there shouldn’t be any issues with this Artorius accompanying you.”
“The third issue would allow the requested demonstration. Before I raise it, however, would you have any issues you wish to raise with me?”
“Minerva informed me you ‘left’ the Dursley’s home? She cited some rather concerning statements as you reasoning, however I would ask you to explain the rationale, along with inquiring as to your safety currently.”
“Ah. Yes, I did leave the Dursley’s household. Broadly, they were abusive, but a more specific issue would be that they housed me in a cupboard, when there was a guestroom, along with a secondary room for my cousins broken belongings. Other issues include being made to cook all meals since I was tall enough to use the stove, as well as a great deal of other chores ill-suited to a child, along with allowing their son to physically assault me. I’m rather safer now, what with using magic, along with Artorius being a sufficient deterrent for any threats.”
“Whilst it heartens me to hear of your current safety, I feel I must apologize for your prior situation. I had placed you with your relatives, in an attempt to keep you safe from rather unsavory elements within our society that would have wished you harm. I had hoped they would care for you, but I see they did not.”
“What has been done, is done. I am no longer within their reach. Now, the final issue. I will not use a wand. In fact, the Good Carver said that he would not be able to sell me a wand.” Harry said, pulling his lyre to a playing position. “Which I suppose brings us to the demonstration. Is there any specific act you would wish as evidence?”
“A simple first year spell, transfiguring a match into a needle.” Dumbledore replied, conjuring a match and placing it on the table.
Listening to the tune of the match, the difference between the head and the wood, a quick whistle, and lyre strum smoothed the mass of the head into a slope onto the stick and made a hole in the center. Then came the more difficult part. Now, Harry tended to use physical instruments to describe the noises he heard from the world, though it was, perhaps, a touch more metaphorical than he tended to indicate. So, with great concentration, Harry took hold of his staff, and, with an accompanying humming, he struck a rhythm, laying it onto the faux needle's rhythm, turning it into a granite needle, and then transitioning it into silver.
With the more challenging part accomplished, Harry sharpened the end of the point, such that it could be used as an actual needle.
“Wonderful!” Dumbledore exclaimed. “Though I must say, rather above what first years are capable of. Iron tends to be what their needles are made of.”
“Well, silver is more harmonically coherent, and I refuse to use a material that might harm Artorius.”
“As sound a set of reasons as any, Mr. Potter.” Dumbledore said, standing up and smoothing his robes down. “Now, I must depart to file the paperwork necessary for your accommodations, but it was quite a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Potter.”
“It was a pleasure as well, Good Magician, given the schedule you likely have.” Harry replied.
Watching Dumbledore leave the room, Harry turned as he heard McGonagall approach him, who was holding something in her hand.
“This is your ticket for The Hogwarts Express, the means by which you will arrive at Hogwarts. To board the train, you will have to walk through the frontmost pillar separating Platform’s nine and ten. The train departs at eleven ’o’clock on the first of September.”
“And this is where we part ways, Good Professor.” Harry stated, accepting the ticket from McGonagall. “Our barter has reached its end.”
“I don’t suppose I’d be able to convince you to remain in London until September?”
“No, you wouldn’t. Goodbye, Good Professor.” Harry answered, closing his hand and vanishing from view.