Harry Potter-Lovegood

Harry slept well that night, as he always has, but woke uneasy. There is Death in the castle and his sister is far away. He got dressed and went to the common rooms at sunrise, he still had another hour before their curfew ended and he could go to breakfast. Hermione was already at a desk at a window, reading and making notes in a composition notebook with a mechanical pencil.

Harry smiled, Luna said she could be a good friend to him. “Good morning, Granger,” Harry said pulling out the seat across from her.

“Oh!” she yelped, jumping in her seat. “Good morning, you’re Harry Potter. I’ve read about you in several books.” Harry nodded, having expected it, even without Luna’s heads-up.

“Yes, I am, but I go by Potter-Lovegood on account of my adoptive family.”

“Of course,” she said seriously. “I didn’t read anything about that though. Then you have an adoptive sister in Ravenclaw, Luna. Are siblings usually sorted into different houses? I heard most families go to the same house, especially siblings. That’s what I’ve concluded from my reading.” She waited with big eyes and Harry recognized the Gryffindor drive instantly.

“Yes, that was my sister, I’ll be sitting with her at breakfast and comparing schedules.”

“Oh!” She pulled out her parchment schedule and a separate notebook with questions. “I’ve already read all the required books, of course, but I’m very excited to read them again. Do first years have all their classes with their house? And each class is shared with another house, how do the professors determine what houses to put together for what class? What if I want to switch classes or add more? Do I need to speak with Professor McGonagall, our head of house, or the teacher of the class I am going to join? Where is the course catalog? I can’t seem to find it anywhere and none of the older students I have talked to have it.” She blinked at him and pursed her lips.

Harry frowned and pulled the notebook towards himself, he started writing notes in as he began talking. “For first years, the classes are all with your house and one other one. The house match-ups for classes are half-random for first year when we interact with the other houses. Later on, the professors will match houses in core classes by what traits work together. Gryffindors and Slytherins almost always have defense classes together because of our bravery and their cunning. On the other hand, Hufflepuffs almost never have potions with Ravenclaws because the Ravenclaws want to experiment with potion recipes, and the Hufflepuffs fight that they should do that on their own time instead of blowing up the classroom.”

“Wait what?!” Hermione interrupted as he had expected.

“Just give it a couple of days and you’ll see what I mean, the 7th-year Gryffindors have potions with Ravenclaws.” he doodles a potions cauldron and ingredients as he spoke. “Focus on joining clubs and study groups this year, the teachers won’t let you switch out for this year and you don’t have enough of a magical foundation to be allowed to add classes.” She glared, but Harry just smiled. “It has much more to do with age and magical reserves rather than muggle background. Luna can explain it in more detail.”

“Alright,” she said primly. “I’ll make sure to speak with her. Just out of curiosity, how does one build a magical foundation?”

“It’s really not that different from physical stamina. The more you do magic, the more your body and mind will get used to it and build up magical stamina. But if you overdo it at once, you’ll exhaust your self and it’ll be harder to make a strong controlled spell. That’s also why we have so many gaps in our schedules, trying to learn by staying focused for hours on end isn’t viable in magic, it’s barely viable in muggle schools.” Harry sat back with a huff, he understood they can’t have students at a public school all day, but god it was tiring.

“Did you go to a public school? Most of the other students I’ve talked to haven’t.”

“Yeah,” Harry said, thinking of how best to explain it. “I went to a muggle school when I lived with my aunt and uncle who are muggles. Then when the Lovegoods adopted me, I went with Luna to a different muggle school that had a lot of magical teachers. Our parents wanted us to be well rounded and still taught us some magical lessons and history at home.”

“That sounds lovely. I wish I’d known about the wizarding world growing up.”

“No you don’t,” Harry titled his head, “You had just as much fun learning muggle history, science, maths, muggle literature and so much more. If both of your parents were magical, you would have solely grown up on magic and never learned the muggle world.” Hermione blinked at him. “Well, I must be going, I’m going to speak with the Keeper of Keys, Grounds, and Games before breakfast. I’ll see you later.” With that Harry briskly walked out of the common room, careful to let the Pink Lady sleep.

Harry walked through the corridors of the great castle, making small talk with the few paintings that were awake, and easily went out the front door. He knew Hagrid was up before the sun to care for his plants and creatures. Specifically, stoking the fires for a baby ashwinder Harry had found in a burnt-out house, apparently magical arson counted as enough magical fire for one to be born. The fire had been put out too early for the ashwinder to make its own fire so it was lucky Harry had found it and taken it to Hagrid. It was the least he could do since Harry was responsible for the fire anyway. Luna had been very excited about becoming an aunt.

“Good morning, Hagrid,” Harry called as he rounded the hut to a stone pizza stove behind it. Hagrid was fanning the flames and cooing as the small serpent played in a pile of red embers.

“Harry!” Hagrid turned and waved him over. “Little fella just woke up and burned through 3 logs already. I put them barely an hour ago and he’s got 'em down to nothin'. He’ll be ready to start on coals in another week or so.”
Harry peered into the fire as heat wafted towards him. “Good morning, Admani. I have a present for you.” The little snake perked up and wiggled back and forth, careful to stay in the comfy heat. Harry pulled a thick log of desert ironwood out from an extended pouch and fed it to the flames and snake who hissed softly before climbing on the new food.

“Blimey, that’s good timber, where’d ya find it?”

“A muggle estate furniture shop had extra pieces they couldn’t do anything with.” They both watched the little snake winding around its new log, similar to how a python would strangle its prey.

“Smart thinking, bring any more by if you have it. I’ll need be needing more wood and a larger nest for this fella soon.” Hagrid let a thick leather flap over the opening of the oven and guided Harry towards the hut. “Wait out here, I’ve got yer birthday present for you. She hatched a little later than expected, but she’s a tough one.” Hagrid went inside, allowing Fang out as he opened the door. Harry scratched behind the big dog’s ears as she waited.

Hagrid came back out with a small cage covered in a blue quilt. Harry pushed the big dog off his feet and moved towards Hagrid excitedly, he knew what it was. It’s hard for Hagrid to keep a secret on normal terms and his sister is a seer. He gently lifted the blanket to see a small, specked, white owl. A snowy owl. “She’s beautiful Hagrid,” he whispered, staring back into its soft yellow eyes. “Thank you Hagid, she’s perfect.” He gave him a hug back gently taking the cage. “Where do I get food for her? She doesn’t look big enough to hunt herself yet.”

Hagrid laughed smiling. “That’s half the beauty of her, she’s already huntin’ small mice. Was a shock, that’s how I knew she’d be good for yeh, she’s a fighter. Just bring her down every week and she’ll be ready for owlry by Halloween. Get on to breakfast now, yeh don’t wanna be late on your first day.”

“Thank you, Hagrid, really. I’ll take good care of her.” Harry turned and went back to the castle. Luna had the perfect name for her picked, but she said had to wait for his present.

Once in the hall, he spotted his sister at the Ravenclaw table and sat across from her, switching her plate for the cage. Luna smiled at her brother’s antics and stuck a piece of sausage into the cage.

“Good morning, Hedwig.”