Chapter 4
Excited whispers flowed through the hall. Harry walked toward the stool, each step pounding in his ears as he resumed his kind smile. He needed to give off a good impression after all.
All eyes were fixed on him, and if Harry were anyone other than himself, he may have paused at the pressure. However, being Harry, he simply held his head up high, looking genially at the students. He had to get into Gryffindor, like Reggie and Heinrich.
Harry placed a hand on the smooth wood of the stool, using it as leverage to pull himself to a comfortable position. Harry made eye contact with both Sirius and Remus, nodding his head slightly in their direction. Professor McGonagall wasted no time in dropping the hat over his head. He couldn’t berate her for wishing for this to be over. He was ready for this to be over as well.
Hoh! This is perhaps the easiest time I’ve ever had looking in a mind since my creation.
Harry tilts his head thoughtfully, his chin coming to rest on his fingertips. What did it mean?
I mean your mind is so thoroughly organized I have no problem reading it at all.
Harry paused. He didn’t know how he felt about that.
The hat made a sound in his mind that sounded a lot like a scoff. We both know how you felt about that.
Harry froze, eyes narrowing as his previous bright expression turned darker before realizing that he was still the center of attention in a room full of hundreds. He resumed his benevolent smile, though it was slightly subdued compared to before. Luckily, he was certain the hat could not divulge his secrets.
Ah yes, you’re right about that, I am unable to speak about what I find in any mind to a being other than them.
Harry hummed, this experience was nothing like he expected it to be. The hat shifted slightly on his head, though it felt more like a tremble, in hindsight.
You don’t want almost anything, do you? You mentally imagine feelings you don’t have for yourself. Almost every feeling you get is from Reggie and now Heinrich, which is one of the reasons you are so dependent on them.
Harry continued smiling outwardly, but he wanted to take the hat off now.
No, you don’t. You would rather have me in your head because I have such a potential for more knowledge. Not to mention that I am an object of the mind which is the exact art you wish to study to free yourself from the entity within your mind. That entity is… dark. I can feel that if I try to bother it I might not make it back out.
Harry tilted his head. Hm… he wanted to know more.
Ah, that is better. For the moment, you can allow yourself to be transparent if not on the outside then at least inside. It must be tiring to pretend every moment of every day.
Harry thought that it was fine. The hat sighed on his head. Well, I don’t know why I even try.
Harry didn’t either, but he wasn’t lamenting.
Well, no matter how much I like being on your head, I should sort you.
Harry’s mind lingered on the first part of the sentence. Why did the hat like being on Harry’s head?
Ah, well, you know — well you don’t, which is why I’m telling you— I don’t only “read” minds, or thoughts, I also feel them. It is highly disconcerting for something that is not sentient such as myself to feel foreign sensations. The main issue is that I am almost certain that I cannot feel the emotions of a person the same way. Not only is it dulled but it isn’t right. Doesn’t seem right to me. That’s why I appreciate someone like you.
That was highly interesting. Harry thought it would be beneficial to study more about the hat. Harry tilted his head, questions filtering through his head as he attempted to find the best ones to ask the hat.
I’ll just talk, and I’ll answer any questions you think up along the way.
Harry nodded, wanting to fill up more memory files.
Time passed without either entity caring, neither even thinking about the outside world as they continued their conversations deep within the recesses of Harry’s mind.
A tap on Harry’s shoulder shook Harry out of his dazed state and glazed-over eyes as he focused outside of his mind.
He looked up to find bright blue eyes watching him with an emotion Harry couldn’t identify.
Professor Dumbledore smiled at him as he asked, “I hate to disturb your sorting, but it had been an awfully long time and I wanted to ensure that you were alright, as you didn’t seem to be responsive.”
Harry raised his eyebrows just minuscule as he looked around at his surroundings. The children and teenagers in the room stared at him blankly, most not even making eye contact as they were slumped over the dinner tables, almost napping.
He smiled amiably, “My apologies, Professor Dumbledore, the hat and I were simply having an engaging discussion about the birth of this beautiful castle.”
That was truly what they were talking about, the hat has been a more accurate source of information than any history textbooks Harry had purchased at Flourish and Botts.
The hat spoke up, “I’m sorry, the kid was just so curious and earnest I had to agree!”
It didn’t seem like that was received negatively by the Professor so Harry went along with it, nodding with a smile.
The hat quieted down, speaking the next words so that only himself and Professor Dumbledore could hear. The other professors strained to listen but thankfully they did not cast any spells, as that would be quite disrespectful.
“Let me be frank, Harry can go anywhere he wants. He could make himself fit in any of the four houses and has traits of them all almost equally.” The hat paused. “Though I would say he most closely does belong to Hufflepuff.”
Harry supposed it was most likely due to his loyalty. The hat didn’t say that specifically, however. It was probably because the hat could not divulge specificities about Harry’s mind to others. He had no delusions that it couldn’t find another way if it truly wanted to, however.
Harry made eye contact with the professor in front of him as he spoke with his typical genial smile. “In that case, may you sort me into Gryffindor?”
“Gryffindor!”
There was delayed clapping as Harry could see several students being startled out of naps or woken by their friends.
As Professor Dumbledore took the hat off his head, the hat spoke aloud. "Harry, remember you can come to me if ever need be. Don’t be rash. Go to me.”
Harry squinted his eyes at the same time as Professor Dumbledore. If Harry didn’t know better, he would have said that the hat was trying to breach its confidentiality. The professor’s blue eyes pierced with emotions Harry couldn’t identify. Harry couldn’t read the man at all, in fact. Even his slight brush against the professor’s mind was fruitless.
Harry pushed off the stool, pondering as he outwardly smiled at his new housemates. The hat was trying to bring Professor Dumbledore into Harry’s matters. Harry was willing to indulge in the Hat’s thoughts simply because it was not sentient and therefore more neutral. The only will that it followed was Hogwarts, and Harry was not planning on harming the castle or its students.
Besides, Harry was often bored and their conversation may be a great exercise of mental stimulation. He was never at his optimal when he was bored.
Harry was also interested in why his brush against Professor Dumbledore’s mind failed. He even had the inkling that the man detected it. That was highly beneficial to Harry, as it seemed he may be able to get answers to some of his lifelong questions. He may not be alone in his abilities.
Reggie was right, it seemed, as always. Hogwarts may be the answer.
He felt shoulder bumps as he went to sit down next to Reggie and Heinrich and flashed a genuine smile toward the two when he did.
Reggie immediately hugged the two of them as Harry and Heinrich looked at each other with a smile. Harry stood up and waved to Sirius and Remus, who were already looking in his direction with wide grins. Though the other houses looked slightly disappointed–even Slytherin– they did not look surprised.
The two ginger twins with flaming red hair looked at him with joy.
“Harry! Welcome to–”
“The best house!”
Harry continued smiling as the two looked at each other before looking back at him with curiosity.
“Just what was that?” They chorused.
“What was what?” Harry tilted his head.
“You were up there for so long!”
“Like an hour–”
“Or two!”
He chuckled as people around him quieted down with similar curious facial expressions, looking at him eagerly.
“Ah, I was just indulging in an intriguing history lesson. The sorting hat seems to know much more than we give it credit for and it was telling me all about the history of Hogwarts and its founders.”
The twins looked at him with exasperation.
“We bloody knew it was going to be something like that! You never change…”
The Weasleys were on pretty good terms with the Potters and main Black family but they did not meet often. It seemed that in the few times they did, Harry made quite an impression on the twins. Well, they made quite an impression on him as well. Harry would never forget the chaos when the Marauders and the Weasley twins teamed up. That incident was why they were banned from seeing each other again.
Harry saw the bushy-haired girl from earlier look at him in awe before speaking. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of doing that! Can you tell me what it said? Please?” She had buck teeth that would easily be fixable through wizard means, so Harry assumed she truly must be a muggle-born. She ended up in Gryffindor, surprisingly. Harry was sure she was Ravenclaw material.
“I would love to share the information with you, but some other time if that’s alright.”
Her face dropped slightly but she still had a glint in her eyes and a smile as she gave him a small nod.
Harry turned his attention back to the sorting, paying attention to what names were called and where they were placed.
He smiled and welcomed every new Gryffindor addition and waved from afar whenever a student looked in his direction too long for comfort.
By the time the sorting finished all the students were exhausted and starved. Throughout the night their vitality gradually went from excited to tired after hours of waiting to eat. A loud high-pitched clink finally rang through the dining hall as Professor Dumbledore stood up, hitting a small spoon against his intricately designed metal goblet. His clothes were equally as designed with detailed gold thread that contrasted beautifully with his red robes.
The hall went silent almost instantly as Professor Dumbledore waved his wand and silently cast a spell. It ended up being an amplifying spell as the Professor’s wise voice boomed.
“Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”
The returning students around Harry clapped their hands with short laughs as the first-years looked around with uncertainty. Except Harry and Reggie, of course, who clapped as vigorously as even Fred and George.
“Thank you.” The elderly man sat once again, a twinkle in his blue orbs. Harry couldn’t help but tsk at the sight. And he thought he had perfected the kind, but wise, look. It seemed that the original would always be better.
He didn’t want to fall behind so he squared his shoulders and focused 50% of his energy on facial and body expressions.
The feast began, and Reggie gasped with delight beside him. “Finally!” Harry was excited as well though he forgoed the meat pies and potatoes and instead
made eye-contact with the first-year he learned went by Seamus Finngan from the hat until the boy looked back.
“Escuse me Seamus, may you pass me the treacle tarts?” He spoke with a pleasant smile.
Reggie groaned, shaking his head. “C’mon Ominis, you have to eat actual food too.”
Harry pouted slightly. “I will.”
Seamus passed down the entire plate of tarts, which Harry made space for next to the meat pies. He started conversation with the people around him, aiming for those he never met before. He wanted to not only make a good impression but also get information about them for future endeavors.
He made eye contact with who he knew to be Severus Snape. Harry sat near the end of the table because that was the space made for them when they where sorting. That also meant that first-years usually sat the closest to the professors.
He had met Professor Snape on a few occasions but all those meetings were extremely brief and could Harry not get any insight on the man other than that he seemed to despise Harry. It intrigued Harry, but with subtle probes and listening he heard from Sirius that they used to be old schoolmates. That practically explained everything, but what really explained more was his father and Sirius bragging about how they used to prank the boy.
He didn’t care much, but Professor Snape definitely did as seen by his hard glance at him and Reggie as well as his disdain towards Sirius who sat a few seats away from him. Harry wondered what would happen if he stirred something up between the two.
Harry wanted to have a pleasant relationship with Professor Snape, however. Mostly because it would be challenging to do so, which would provide entertainment whenever he got bored, but also because the man could help Harry greatly with potions. Harry knew most recipes and techniques, but potions was a largely imprecise art that required a lot of experience and intuition, which could only be gained with time if not by talent.
Dinner passed quickly and when there was a lull in eating with most students either finishing up desserts or in conversations, there was a clanking ring that pulled them out of what they were doing. Professor Dumbledore was standing up once again, smiling a genial smile that looked almost identical to Harry’s own.
“Ahem – just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.” Professor Dumbledore’s twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.
“I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.”
“And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!” cried Professor Dumbledore. Harry’s smile widened in amusement at seeing most of the teacher’s faces straining.
Professor Dumbledore flicked his wand, a long golden ribbon flying out of it and rising above the tables and twisting itself into words.
“Everyone pick their favorite tune,” said Professor Dumbledore, “and off we go!”
And the school bellowed:
“Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they’re bare and full of air,
Dead flied and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we’ve forgot,
Just do your best, we’ll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.”
Everybody finished the song at different times with the Weasley twins finishing up with slowly. Professor Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest along with Harry and Reggie while Heinrich had his hands to his sides with raised eyebrows on his cold face.
Harry and Reggie sighed with mocked touched looks. “That was beautiful,” Harry said.
Fred and George laughed merrily and bowed dramatically in their direction before following the other students back to their dorms.
Percy stood up, his slightly worn robes fluttering behind him as he walked to the end of the table–where the first-years sat– with an arrow straight back and his nose in the air.
“Come along now, let’s not dally.”
The large group of first years got up with eagerness, excited to see more of the castle as well as their new rooms. Harry was also looking forward to it, already planning to go out in a small exploration. They were interrupted by the headmaster himself, who instantly garnered the attention of the students.
Harry debated trying to feel the man’s mind again, but was too curious to refrain. This time, he actually succeeded, though he only felt light emotions that did not belong to either man. He felt more of what Professor Dumbledore was exuding. If harmlessness and power was mixed and put into a feeling, that was what Harry felt from him.
For some reason he couldn’t shake the feeling that the man could tell what he was doing. As soon as he breached a thin layer of the man’s mind the headmaster turned towards him instantly with his usual expression, but it felt somewhat off. The headmaster’s words interrupted any further speculation.
“May I borrow Harry from you, Percy? I’ll help him get back as well, so no worries about that.”
Percy immediately nodded, looking slightly flushed as well as proud. “Of course Headmaster.”
Professor Dumbledore looked towards Harry with a smile before tilting his head as if to indicate Harry follow him. The man started walking away and Harry trailed along after nodding in Reggie’s direction, pondering if it was better if he were to walk besides him or behind. He decided to walk besides him, as he wanted to bridge the gap between them and look more like equals.
He spoke up first, not liking that the headmaster didn’t make the first remark despite being the one to call him over. Not even to explain, which was extremely rude. He figured it was most likely regarding the issue of his wand, however.
“Enjoying the night so far, Professor?”
The man wore an identical smile. “Of course, though I daresay that was most likely the latest we’ve had the feast since perhaps the creation of this great school.”
Harry gave an innocent smile. “Truly?”
Professor Dumbledore glanced back with a knowing glint in his eyes. “Truly. Hatstalls are extremely rare and yours took over 14 times the average time for one.”
Harry had read in Hogwarts: A History, that a hatstall was those who took longer than five minutes to sort. Harry had taken 1:12:47 seconds.
He tilted his head in the impression of a shrug, finding the actually motion of moving his shoulders to be a little too inelegant to do. “The Sorting Hat is a magnificent creation.”
Professor Dumbledore nodded with obvious agreement as he led Harry to what he took to be his office. The man called out, “Ice Mice,” and the door opened, allowing the two to ascend the flight of stairs into the expansive office.
Harry paused, his eyes unconsciously shining as he took in the beautiful sight. He felt his breath stutter as he drank in the room that was filled top to brim with intricate devices, ancient books, and every single section of the room looked not only expensive but also old.
Professor Dumbledore's clear chuckle knocked him out of his stupor. “That was perhaps the best reaction I have gotten to this room.”
Harry cleared his throat and smiled, not knowing what to respond to that with.
The man didn’t seem to mind not receiving one, and walked up a couple steps where his desk sat centered in the office. Professor Dumbledore sat down, using a hand to bring a chair over both wandlessly and wordlessly–and Harry wasn’t sure if it was a conscious display of power. He gestured with his hand for Harry to sit down–which Harry did– before opening his mouth.
“At first, this meeting was going to be solely on the issue I heard regarding your wand, but I have a few additional questions as well, now.” He smiled with an air of tranquility and benevolence, making Harry want to unconsciously lower his guard as the man made it seem like what the topics they were going to be touching would be insignificant.
The professor watched him with kindness. At least, Harry assumed he was. He didn’t like not being able to read him, but there wasn’t much he could do about it.
“However, let us first breach the topic on wands. I have asked around and I must say your situation is quite unique. Multiple wands not only rejecting but also harming someone is not typical. In fact, it’s unheard of.”
Harry always welcomed new information. It was only things he already knew that he did not usually have patience for. Wand-making was something that was not found in books, instead being passed down from family to family. The Potter family was not one of those families, so even family books did not contain much help. This resulted in Harry having not much knowledge on the topic, which was something Harry did not like the feeling of in front of the man Reggie idolized.
He decided that the best way to gain more knowledge on the topic was to be slightly truthful. The issue was that Harry did not like to divulge information without receiving equal value back. Professor Dumbledore was not a man Harry wanted to get on the bad side of, but he was also not someone Harry felt comfortable with trusting blindly. Harry felt the same about the Dark Lord. The difference was that Reggie wanted to follow Professor Dumbledore, which meant Harry would do whatever he could to get both himself and Reggie to have a good relationship with the man.
Harry smiled and spoke lightly. “Most living creatures, outside of human beings, do not seem to tolerate me very well.”
The man’s eyes sharpened and Harry felt the hair on the back of his raise as he looked around the room as subtlety as possible. He saw a sharp spear hanging from the side of the wall of the desk and was prepared to use it if needed. He knew it was unlikely the man would do him harm, but it never hurt to be prepared. Besides, if the headmaster really wanted to do him harm, there was no stopping it.
“How curious, would you care to expand, Harry?”
Harry couldn’t even tell if the man was receiving the information positively or negatively. He straightened himself even more and decided to bite the snitch.
“Living creatures such as animals and plants–both magical and non-magical–seem to dislike me instinctively. They react differently but the main reactions are either chaos, likely attempting to harm me as well in that panic, or fear, where they try to run as soon as possible. I do not know why or how, is it possible you have any knowledge on this?”
Harry couldn’t get a sense of what the headmaster was thinking and his attempts on getting a feel of it were futile. This time he could feel nothing at all, not even the small layer he was able to get a hold of in the great hall a minute ago.
Professor Dumbledore's voice echoed through the delicate chamber as he spoke quietly, but no less clearly. “I do not think you realize what it is you are attempting to do.”
Harry paused, “Pardon?” He never did anything to the creatures to make them despite him so much. . . did he?
Wisened eyes crinkled in soft amusement. “No, Harry, I was regarding your attempts at reading my mind.”
Harry’s chest burst in adrenaline at the words and he sucked in a heavy breath, bringing acute pain to his chest at the suddenness. His eyes widened and he leaned closer to Professor Dumbledore. “You can tell?” The man really knew? Does this mean he could finally get some explanation of something about him?
The professor nodded with humor. “I can. I wasn’t certain at first if you were just severely underestimating me or if it was just a natural inclination of your abilities.”
Okay? “What is this ability you are talking about?”
Professor Dumbledore didn’t answer as quickly as he wanted to, but the short pause made Harry clear his throat and adjust his robe as he plastered on a more natural looking smile. This turn of events threw him out of the loop but that was no excuse for being unorderly.
The man interlocked his fingers, resting his elbows on the table and looking every bit as powerful as he was. “The art of the mind can be learned as well as taught, but there are those who are also born already having the potential.”
Harry nodded, soaking in the words. “I see. Is it similar to the innate talent of metamorphmagus?”
He was rewarded with a quirk of lips and a nod. “Precisely, for the second category, at least. It differs in that it can also be learned. However, the mind is not something that can be easily tampered with and there are many arts to it. The two most common are known as legilimency and occlumency.”
“What is the difference?”
”Legilimency is what you tried to do to me. You were attempting to look into my mind. On the other hand, what I did was Occlumency. I used shields to protect my mind from your attacks.”
Harry’s smile dimmed slightly hearing the words “protect” and “attacks.” It seemed Legilimency was not viewed entirely positively in the headmaster’s eyes.
”I’m assuming that Legilimency is not permitted?”
The professor smiled with reassurance, and the knowing glint in the man’s eyes made Harry unsure whether the man was using legilimency or not. “There are severe laws against it and it is unethical as well. A person is reserved to their privacy.”
Harry nodded in understanding, but he was not about to stop using a useful tool like this. Reggie never seemed to think that it was unethical, and the boy knew everything Harry did. Reggie’s opinion was the only one that mattered in the end.
“Where can I get more information about this? It does not seem to be common information and I have not came across any mention of it in any books.”
“It is not something that is passed down through writing. It’s passed through people. There are some books on it but they are regulated and generally useless. It is extremely difficult to learn the art through any way but experience, even for a natural. There is a difference between having talent for something and being born with the ability, however. Which makes me curious which category you fall into.”
Harry couldn’t wait to create a new file in his mind for this. “I was just able to do it one day. I was never taught any of this.”
Harry was hoping the man would see this as invitation for future teachings. To have the great Albus Dumbledore as his teacher would be priceless.
However, the man just nodded his head without speaking. He chuckled all of a sudden. “We got off track, why don’t we return to our first topic?”
There was a pause before the man continued. “I’m not entirely certain what we should do to get you to have a wand of your own, but from what I heard, you don’t need one.”
Harry wore a humble smile, one he knew the professor would like because Harry saw the same one being worn by him during a meeting years ago. He pulled at his magic, straining slightly to raise the spear behind the man towards them, letting it drop gently on the desk with a clink. He made sure to never break eye contact with him and did not bring his hands up either. He wanted to look more impressive, despite knowing that learning how to move something without looking took him literal months.
It received the outcome he was hoping for as Professor Dumbledore’s eyebrows raised with surprise and he hummed. “It was one thing to hear from your parents, but to see it done is astonishing to say the least.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I see that you are able to complete spells without a wand, but these likely took a long time of practice to be done. Therefore, it is completely alright to not learn as fast as the other students once lessons start. I will also be offering you extra lessons with our professors. The schedule will be flexible, something that you can arrange to your liking. I recommend twice a week, but any less or any more is completely fine as long as you get approval from the professor you will be studying under.”
“I see. Who exactly am I studying under?”
The headmaster had a light twinkle. “Why, anyone you wish to! As long as both parties agree, you can study under whoever you want, whenever you want, and it doesn’t have to be permanent either. Most teachers offer extra lessons to students anyways, this just ensures yours are one on one and tailored to your needs. I gave the professors a warning already and most are quite open to it.”
Harry had a feeling that Professor Snape was not included in that “most”. Which made Harry want to try for him. In the end, however, he would go for the professors he was struggling the most under. He would also like to see if he could go for professors that were teaching subjects that he did not have yet so that he could be ahead when he did decide to take it.
”In addition to lessons, once a week, if you agree at least, we plan to test more wands. Lessons are a temporary solution and not to mention Garrick is very disappointed that someone left his shop without a wand. He would like to visit once a week with new ones to try.”
Harry had no problems with the arrangements, and he knew his parents be fine with it as long as Dumbledore had some protective measures in place in case he got hurt again.
“I would of course be willing to both ideas, thank you sir.”
Dumbledore nodded with a soft glow in his eyes. “If you would like, I would also love to offer you the chance to study under me as well. One lesson per week, though the times will be inconsistent depending on my schedule.”
Harry smiled with slightly crinkled eyes, having finally gotten control over his expressions. “Of course sir, it would be an honor.”
The man sighed with humour. “It’s best to be off now before your peers are besides themselves with curiosity. I will send more information to you later on.”
Harry nodded, understanding the dismissal for what it was and bowing his body slightly as a sign of respect, relishing the look of mild surprise on the Headmaster’s face.
Hewalked out of the room with elegance, ensuring his exit was as graceful and proper as possible. He walked back to the Great Hall, using his memory to trace back the steps. He didn’t know where the dorms were for the houses but would never allow himself to look clueless.
He quietly sighed. Oh how he wished he could be more like the great Albus Dumbledore Reggie had idolized since he was a child. He tried his best, but when they were next to each other, their differences seem to stand out more than Harry had thought. He supposed that meant he should try harder.
Once arriving back in the Great Hall he took in the empty room without flinching, striding down the hallway he saw the other Gryffindor’s head towards earlier. He pursed his lips before walking up to one of the portraits in the hall. “Excuse me, good sir, did you happen to see where the Gryffindor first-years head?”
The portrait looked taken aback for a second at being addressed but merrily pointed down to the left side of the hall. “It was there, young one!”
There was a tsk from across them as another portrait with an old woman sighed with annoyance. “No! It was there!” She pointed down towards the middle of the hallway where the entrance to another room with many stairs began.
From next to that portrait of a young man there was another shaking of head. “No, it wasn’t. You both have lost your memories with age! They clearly went that way!” The boy pointed to the right.
Harry continued smiling but he was tired of these nonsensical beings. “Thank you for your help,” he nodded at all three portraits, interrupting their arguing. He walked back into the Great Hall and pondered what to do. He was not going to go back to Professor Dumbledore, that was for sure.
He decided to take this chance to stroll the castle and mark some of the halls into his memory files so that he would never have to bear the humiliation of being lost ever again.
For the next hour, he walked around rooms and halls, talking and building relationships with the portraits and ghosts along the way. It was not like he truly slept anyways, so he didn’t mind the lateness. What he truly wanted to find was the library but he was enjoying the journey of searching for it, so he didn’t ask a ghost along the way. They probably wouldn’t have been much assistance either way.
As he rounded a corner of one of Hogwart’s ancient halls he bumped into someone. Harry immediately drawed back. He took in the other figure to be who was introduced to be Argus Filch, the caretaker during the feast.
“Oi, what are you doing up! On the first night, no less… you think you’ll get out of punishment just cause it’s your first day? Oh you’ll see…”
Harry furrowed his eyebrows and frowned with regret. “I’m so sorry, sir. I came back from Professor Dumbledore’s office just now and I was never given directions to where my dorm was located.” Luckily Professor Dumbledore truly could confirm everything if it ever got back to him, but it was slightly humiliating if the man heard that he had been “lost” for two hours.
The scrawny man didn’t seem to know how to respond to both the honorifics and apology for a second, so Harry took the chance to continue before he could respond.
“I truly didn’t mean to bother you, I would be willing receive a punishment or help you out with anything?”
The caretaker grumbled before gruffly speaking. “I suppose I could forgive you this one time.”
Harry crinkled his eyes and tilted his head, trying to bring out his inner Dumbledore. Harry needed a good relationship with the man, especially if he was going to get in trouble as much as he knew he would. He knew that forming a positive relationship with him was more important than sleep anyway.
“What were you doing, before, well, I so rudely interrupted.” He put on a regretful face again.
The caretaker didn’t seem to hate his presence, even indulging in more conversation. “Patrolling these halls. Mrs. Norris and I do this every night.”
Harry tilted his head with admiration. “Really? Is it possible I could join you?”
He saw the no forming from the mans lips and pressed. “Please, sir?”
The caretaker snarled but he didn’t seem too against the idea and with Harry’s puppy eyes he eventually nodded. “Just for a little bit, and don’t be noisy, or the students will hear us long before we can catch them.”
Harry nodded eagerly. “Of course sir! Thank you!”
He heard him muttering quietly with annoyance. “What kind of student wants to patrol for fun?”
Harry paid him no mind and trailed behind him for a few minutes before whispering. “Who’s Mrs. Norris?”
Harry watched as something that resembled a smile twisted onto the mans face. “She’s my cat and helps me catch bad students.”
Harry smiled outwardly with awe but inwardly cringed. A cat? He hoped they didn’t cross paths or all the progress he made with the caretaker would be ruined when the pet he values so greatly decided to claw Harry open.
A couple more hours passed by quietly and quickly with small conversation with the caretaker. Harry knew it was only a matter of time before the man would send Harry off to bed but he also seemed to never have anyone to talk to. Harry’s delve into his man allowed him to say everything that would give the caretaker a good impression of him. He even managed to get them to first name basis. When it was approximately 2 to 3 AM–at least Harry was guessing it was– Argus reluctantly offered to walk him back to his dorm. Harry nodded and thanked him profusely.
When they reached a large painting at the end of a hall with a large woman on it, they stopped. Harry and Argus stared at each other awkwardly before the caretaker pursed his lips. “I don’t have the password…”
Harry chuckled lightly, breaking the silence so suddenly that Argus cracked a smile for one of the first times that night. “It’s fine–” He paused when he felt a poke into his side, yet when he subtlety turned there was nothing there. He was originally going to say they could patrol more, but he changed his words. “It’s fine, I can try to figure it out! You should rest, Argus, it’s getting late, you shouldn’t tire yourself out too much.”
Argus nodded skeptially but turned the corner and walked away nonetheless. Harry knew someone was under the invisibility cloak, but he knew it wasn’t Reggie because it didn’t feel like him. It was a familiar aura though and with some pondering he spoke. “Fred?”
A light gasp rang through the room and there was a shuffling before the cloak dropped off the redhead’s body. “How did you know!?” The boy shook his head in disbelief before chuckling lightly. “You need to teach me your tricks oh Almightly!”
Harry laughed gently. “Maybe.” He walked past the boy. “So where is this entrance?”
Fred rubbed his hands together with a smirk before whispering. “Oi. Oi! Bandersnatch.”
The lady on the large portrait grumbled from being woken from her slumber with, squinting her eyes and waving her hand lazily. “Always ruining my beauty sleep these troublemakers…”
Fred grinned as the portrait suddenly swung open, revealing an entrance. Fred and Harry stepped through and Harry was revealed to what must have been the Gryffindor Common Room.
The room looked extremely cozy and homey even in the darker environment. It had soft cushions on red sofas and a fireplace creating warmth that seeped into Harry’s bones, relaxing him as the chill of the night dissipated.
“So, Harry, are you going to explain what happened?” Fred looked at him and Harry didn’t even need to touch his mind to know that eagerness was radiating off of him. He threw a question of his own out. “Why did Reggie give you the cloak?”
Fred was easily distracted, immediately looking at the cloak with unconcealed brightness. “I can’t believe he let me use it either! This could be so useful for so many things… you guys got to let Forge and I borrow it sometimes, we’ll be willing to do favors for it as well.”
Harry’s eyes shone genuinely from the statement. “Oh really? What could you possibly have to offer, Fred?”
Fred’s eyes flashed with a mixture of confusion and disappointment.
“How do you do that?”
Harry played oblivious. “Do what, Fred?” He smiled, tilting his head.
“That! How did you know? There are no differences between George and I… are there?”
Harry knew they likely got rid of everything that was possibly something that could indicate them being different and if it wasn’t for the fact Harry could feel their minds–which was incredibly similar to each other–, he wouldn’t be able to tell. In fact, if Fred introduced himself as George when they first met he would have called Fred, George.
“Are there?” Harry repeated.
Fred looked at him with squinted eyes and scrunched brows. “You want something, don’t you mate?”
Harry laughed. “I simply don’t prefer divulging valuable secrets for no benefit. However, I would never cheat you, any exchange we do would be of equal value judged by subjective values to the person completing the favor rather than any objective values of either parties.”
Fred’s eyes shined as he smirked. “Sounds like you intend for this to be a permanent partnership?”
Harry smiled, non verbally agreeing with his statement.
Fred whistled. “So… can you tell me? You can collect the favour anytime you need, I just wanna know.”
Harry nodded at the promise, his smile widening. “When you two stand together, you typically stand on the right side of George.”
Fred cursed under his breath. “Bloody hell, I never thought about that.” He paused. “Wait, so how could you tell when it was just me?”
“You leaned onto your left leg, showing how you usually lean closer to George and it has become a habit. He does the same thing.”
Fred nodded enthusiastically. “Wow, thanks Harry! You won’t be able to tell between us next time!”
Harry smiled, not giving that a response. He changed the subject. “Why were you waiting for me?”
Fred’s eyes widened as he recalled, “Oh yeah! Reg and Heinrich were taking turns rotating on watch duty before they decided to go searching for you in the castle themselves. Gred and I volunteered to stay here in case you returned and Reg gave us this bloody cloak! He went out with some sort of paper map?”
Harry chuckled and nodded, thanking him for his help. “I appreciate you helping. I’m going to go back out into the castle, you can go back to bed.” He held his hand out. “If you would like to borrow the cloak again we may be able to work things out as well.”
Fred nodded merrily, practically skipping up a set of spiral stairs that led to what Harry assumed was the boy’s dorm.
He waited until Fred was out of sight before slipping into the Invisibility Cloak and pushing the portrait entrance out once again, but as gently as possible in an attempt to avoid waking the lady on it up.
He walked back into the hallways, knowing that he wasn’t likely to find them. Instead, he decided to explore the castle more. He got a small mental map of the castle down from his patrol with Argus. He was able to walk from his common room to the great hall as well as many rooms. He didn’t exactly have a roadmap of the classrooms however.
He spent the rest of his night till daylight strolling through halls, only stopping when it was around 5:30. At that time he made his way to the outdoors of the castle, sliding his Invisibility Cloak off and hiding it behind a statue.
He then slid off his Hogwarts robe to leave only a muggle styled T-shirt and shorts. The shirt was a sort of moss green while his pants were a dirt brown. He liked the color combination, both the names and the actual colors.
He stretched for about ten minutes before jogging around a section of the castle. The whole thing would take hours and the area he went around already took him an hour. He used wandless and wordless magic to rid his body of the sticky sweat before drenching himself in water, drying himself up after he felt clean enough. He would do a deep clean later, but that was good enough for the current time.
Reggie was probably at another section of the castle doing the same thing as him. It was already 6:30 so Harry sat behind the statue that he put the cloak behind and closed his eyes, allowing himself to go into stasis. He used the next thirty minutes to sort his mind a bit on all the information he received. It was barely enough time but Harry could do the rest at a later time.
He heard students walking by and opened his eyes. The didn’t notice there was a body behind the statue and Harry kept quiet. He went to the great hall so that he could find Reggie and they could put the cloak in their dorms before classes started.