First Day Back
The next morning Harry woke with the sun, still unable to fight off the training from the Dursleys when he had to wake up before then to prepare breakfast. He blinked slowly as he came into consciousness, then grinned. It was officially the first day a term, and he had two days to walk around and settle in before school on Wednesday.
He jumped out of bed and went through his morning routine of brushing his teeth and trying to tame his hair. Even with the changes it has gone through, it still fuzzed up everywhere. He decided to go with his hair up in a ponytail, showing off the undercut. Since school hadn't officially started, they were allowed to walk around without robes on as well. So he dressed in a loose fitting red sweater and jeans.
When he made it down to the main room, he saw that it was mostly empty, which made sense as most students were probably trying to get as much sleep as possible. Harry grabbed a book off of one of the shelves and settled into one of the chairs in front of a fire place.
At half past 8, more people began to trickle in. Hermione was one of the first, with Ginny, Seamus, and Dean right after her. He startled slightly at the sudden weight on the couch next to him, not having of noticed his best friend coming over to him. He relaxed once the familiar smell of books and vanilla tea hit his senses. Harry looked up at his friends with a grin, pausing in his reading.
"Morning Harry. Say, this morning I went to look for your name on the doors to drag you down here with us, but none of em had it. It was like you weren't there. Though I guess there is a chance I just missed it... " Seamus greeted him with a smile after the question. Harry froze up for a few minutes, before relaxing. 'Remember. Nobody will judge you here. Much less your friends.'
Harry returned his smile. "No, you didn't miss it. I didn't sleep in there. I have chosen to sleep in the new dormitories." Harry looked back down at his book, trying to avoid seeing his friends reactions. It was silent for a few moments before Ginny tentatively spoke up.
"So if you slept there, does that mean you don't identify as a he, Harry? I only ask so I don't mess up your pronouns." The question was asked with a gentle smile and genuine curiosity.
Harry shrugged, looking back up at his friends. "Maybe. I don't really know. Never really thought bout it till last night. But thinking back on it, there are times when I feel something other than a boy. I don't know what it is yet, but it's there. I'm still trying to figure it out. Sorry. " He said the last part with a frown.
Hermione made a noise of understanding. "You don't have to apologize for anything. Take your time and know we support you one hundred percent. I'll look into things if you want, to help you figure it out. Again only if you want. We have no problem waiting for you to figure it out yourself. Take your time, hon. Would you like us to keep referring to you as Harry and he for now, or something different." Harry's body relaxed as his friends all nodded the affirmative.
Harry thought about it for a minute. "No, well yes, but no. . Harry is fine for now, though I'll let you know if that changes. And he will do for today. Thank you. All of you. And yes Hermione,that would be extremely helpful if you would." His statement was met with nods, before the conversation turned to a different topic. Harry grinned. His friends truly were the best.
A little before 10, the Heads of the house called for their attention. "Ok. So, since this is the first day back, we had decided to let most of you sleep in. That being said, we do still need to get to breakfast, and show the first years around. As Headmistress said last night, the sixth and seventh years are to help with the first years. That being said, you don't have to if you don't want to, but we'd appreciate at least two students from each of those years to help. Now, raise your hand if you're willing to do so please."
Harry raised his hand with a grin. He loved the kids, and it wasn't like he had anything else to do. Looking around, he noticed that Hermione was the only other sixth year to volunteer, and three seventh years did. The Heads nodded.
"Ok, so, most of the first years are still sleeping, so in a moment please go and wake those in your dormitory. For now, everyone who did not volunteer is allowed to head to breakfast. Please have a look at the rule list on the board. Do try your best to follow them. While you're over there, take a look at the new extra credit classes as well and think over the ones you want. You are allowed up to three, and are expected to hand in your choices by next Monday. See you guys tonight!" With that, the common room slowly emptied, most students going to breakfast, but others having of already been and just sat around various fire places.
Soon, the only ones left in the middle of the room was himself, Hermione, and the three seventh year boys, as well as the Heads. They turned their attention back to the two, waiting for further instructions. They two nodded at eachother before Melissa spoke again.
"Alright, thank you for volunteering to show around the kids. For now, please go and grab the first years from your respective dormitories and meet back down here. We have a few things to go over with all of you. You will be in charge of those from your dormitory, though you are allowed to group up." Harry walked to the neither section, seeing Hermione head towards the girls and the three seventh years all going to the boys. Well, that worked out well.
He entered the dormitory and climbed to the top. There weren't many first years in this section, though bothe rooms were being used. Just a total of four kids, but that was ok. Maybe he and Hermione could join up together.
He knocked on Charlie's room first. It looked like they shared it with another first year, the other two sharing the room across. When no answer came, he slowly opened the door, before sighing and opening it all the way. All the windows were shut and curtains pulled around the beds.
He opened the windows with a flick of his wand, glad he was allowed to use magic again. Once there was light streaming into the room, he frowned. Now, how to wake those two. He didn't want to go over to the beds, that would be going a little to far at the moment. If they didn't wake up in a few minutes, then he would.
As if summoned by his thoughts, Charlie pulled open her curtains, blinking sleepily. They startled when they saw him, blinking at him confused before rubbing her eyes. Harry grinned.
"Hey Charlie. Can you wake up your roommate? It's about 10:15, and we'll be leaving for breakfast then a tour here shortly. I'll be your guide today and tomorrow. Please try not to take longer than 20 minutes. And don't forget your name tag." He said, pointing to his own. Charlie nodded with a smile, to which he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
He crossed over to the room across from Charlie's and repeated the process of waking them up and telling them what was happening. They both yawned as they answered him, but got up none the less. Harry smiled at them before walking back out to the landing between the two rooms to wait
17 minutes later, he had all four first years with him and was headed back down to the commons. Hermione was already there with 6 first years. They waited for the boys to come down, talking and joking with the little ones. They didn't wait long as the seventh years came down 5 minutes later with a crowd of 8 boys around them. Once everyone was here, Melissa once again began speaking.
"Alright, now that everyone is here, I'll explain a little more about today for you guys! So, first off, hi, nice to meet ya firsties. Second, you guys are to stick with the people or person who got you for most of today and tomorrow. They will show you around, talk to you about how to act, give you times for things, generally, anything you need to know about Hogwarts. Don't be scared to speak up with a question. I know for sure that none of the people here will laugh at you for asking anything, and there is no such thing as a stupid question. After these next two days, don't hesitate to reach out to these people if you need anything." Melissa smiled, and Harry did the same. "Now then. Right now is currently breakfast, but it is probably getting closer to lunch. The first thing you are going to do is go eat. After that-" Here she smiled, and held up a few maps. "These are maps of Hogwarts. They should help you after the first few days. For now, your only job is to listen to your person, and follow them. Over on the board is a list of rules and extra classes. The person will be telling you the rules as you walk, but that is there as a reminder. You first years are only allowed one extra class, so choose wisely. Also, over there by the entrance, is a table with pronoun pins. I highly recommend everyone take one, even if you are cisgender."
Harry looked over, and sure enough, there was a table with several baskets of pins. With that being said, Melissa and Ricky turned and left, no doubt going to eat something themselves. The three seventh years ushered the boys over to the table, letting them grab one before heading to breakfast. Harri looked at Hermione.
"Soooo... Wanna group?" Harry grinned cheekily as Hermione rolled her eyes, but nodded none the less. Harry turned back to the group of firsties in front of them. "Ok, I'm sure you all are very hungry, and I'm sorry to hold you back even longer, but I'd like to have an introduction before we get going. Say your name and pronouns please! So, hi! I'm Harry Potter, Harri is spelled. I am currently using he/him pronouns."
" I am Hermione Granger, and use she/her. Nice to meet you all." They went around in a circle introducing themselves. His four were Charli (they/her), Blue (he/they), Phoenix (they/him), and River (genderfluid, currently she/her). Hermione's six introduced themselves as Maisie, Reagan, Emily, Violet, Jasmine, and Thalia, all using she/her.
Harry nodded and led them over to the table to grab pins. He took a he/him one for himself at the moment, before helping River get her's on. Once done, they headed down to breakfast, making sure to keep an eye on all of the kids, not wanting to accidentally lose one.
They all nade it to breakfast in one piece, and without losing anyone. Harry very much so considered that a win. They walked into the Great Hall, two well known war survivors with a gaggle of ten kids. They probably looked quite the sight as they tried to wrangle the excited children towards the Gryffindor table for a late breakfast/early lunch.
The hall was mostly empty, a few groups at each table, most students having of come and ate already. A lot of those that were left was the first year groups and their leaders. Harry and Hermione walked towards their friends once they managed to get the first years past the doors and in the general direction of the Gryffindor table. They both noticed all ten kids following them, but choose to ignore it as they glared at their smirking friends.
Once seated, Harry began to speak about different topics with his friends, not even noticing it as he bagon to help the first years get the food they couldn't reach. He had just finished correcting Raegan on her hold of a knife so that she didn't injure herself, when he felt a pair of eyes on him again. His head snapped up to were it was coming from. Draco and Blaise. Again. Honestly, this was starting to get a bit creepy, especially with how fast his heart started beating. He narrowed his eyes at them, staring back.
They both immediately dropped their heads. Harry huffed in satisfaction and turned back to the table, were Phoenix was asking for his help with cutting their apple. They had braces, and couldn't bite into it directly. He happily obliged, tuning back into the conversation that his friends were having. They were now on the topic of classes. Harry winced as he realized he hadn't even looked at the extra classes offered this year.
"I honestly can't wait for math and literature. I was so confused when I came here and realized they didn't have basic math or reading/writing skills classes. I'm glad Headmistress McGonagall added them back into the curriculum." This, of course, was coming from Hermione.
Ginny nodded. "Yeah. And this 'science' sounds very interesting from what I've heard of it."
Harry spoke up. "I can't wait for Magical Creature Rules and Laws. It will be nice to learn more about the magical communities we share Britain with." The table nodded in agreement.
"Honestly though. What was Dumbles thinking taking that class away? We all know he was never exactly right in the head, but at this point it's like he wanted to have Wizens killed." Hermione stated, shaking her head.
Dean spoke up from his spot next to Seamus. "I know I'm looking forward to Job Opportunities and Help. I have never even really heard of jobs that Wizens can have after school, and it's nice to know that there is help here, both for choosing a career, and finding out the grades needed next year for it."
All of the sixth years nodded in agreement, also looking forward to that class, one that was mandatory for all sixth years so they knew what classes to take come seventh year.
That spent a little more time talking with eachother and the first years next to them. Harry checked the time, before nudging Hermione. "Hey 'Mione. It's noon. Think we should get going on that tour so we can show most of the castle before tomorrow, when we all get our schedules and will have to show them all the quickest way to their classes? If we start now, we should get done about an hour before dinner." Hermione checked the time as well, before she nodded and stood up.
Together, Hermione and him gathered up the first years again, and walked towards the door. Right before the exited the hall, Ginny and Luna ran up to them.
"Hey guys! Mind if we join you? We don't have anything else to do and figured we could help out if possible." Ginny said, bouncing on her toes, with Luna standing just behind her, a dreamy smile on her face, but eyes bright. Harry shrugged.
"Sure, I don't see why not. Just don't cause any trouble and you should be fine." He winked at them after stating the last part, grinning at the eye rolls he got on return, from Ginny and Hermione, and the laughter he got from Luna.
With that, the headed out of the hall, Hermione taking charge of the group in the front, with Harry standing in the middle of the gaggle of children. He wasn't entirely sure how he got here, but as two of them, Emily and Charlie he noticed, grabbed his hands, he found he didn't care to much. Ginny and Luna stayed at the back of the group to make sure they all stayed together.
"So, as you all know. This school is called Hogwarts. It was built in the 10th century by the founders Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff. Their portraits currently are sitting behind the head table in the Great Hall." Harry listened to Hermione talking, and grinned at the wide eyed looks of wonder on the first year's faces. He sighed and closed his eyes, letting the two children and Hermione's voice lead him. It really was nice to be home.
They had finished right before 6, like Harry had predicted. The day was spent walking through the castle, the first years trying to follow along on their maps, with Hermione spouting facts on whatever section they were in. Harry and Ginny frequently chimed in with funny stories about said hall, and Luna commented on places that were popular with Nargles and Wrackspurts. Overall, it was a very good day, and the first years were dragging their feet after walking all over the castle. Everybody was looking forward to dinner.
When they got to the Gryffindor table, their group split up. The first years went to sit with the boys, most likely to trade stories about today, with Harry, Hermione, and Ginny going to sit with Dean, Seamus, and Neville. Luna went over to the Ravenclaw table. Dinner past fairly quickly with stories of today. Apparently, Neville had been allowed into the greenhouses by Professor Sprout, and spent the entire day in their, while Dean and Seamus wondered down to the Great Lake to relax and play with the squid. Once again, Harry felt eyes on him, but ignored them, hoping they would leave. Honestly, it was starting to worry him, with how much they were staring. He was beginning to wonder if they knew he had a creature inheritance. He shook the thought off. He hadn't given any sign that he had, why would they know?
He was snapped out of his thoughts when Headmistress McGonagall stood up, the hall quilt quietening. She smiled. "Good evening everyone. I hoped you had a good first day, and that you first years got a good taste of the school. Tomorrow will be slightly different, as we have a few things being done before school officially begins. First, breakfast will be starting at 6 and ending at 10 tomorrow morning, I except everyone to be down here at 9, as we will be handing out your schedules. Lunch will be from 12 to 2, and dinner begins at 6. First years, you will be taken around the school again, but this time shown the way to your classes only. For those of you who are still choosing classes, be sure to have those in by next Monday so that your schedules can be changed accordingly. With that said, goodnight everyone, and rest well." She sat down as the prefects gathered their houses and began to trickle out.
There was a way that they did it, starting with Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, because they were sat directly in front of the doors and there was no need for the other two houses to try and shove through them. Gryffindor followed them, with Slytherins following. Some say that's because some time ago a prefect threw a hissy fit about being after the 'slimy snakes' and the Slytherins just rolled there eyes and let them, not seeing a reason to fight over it.
Once inside the common room, Harry and Hermione called their first years as people drifted up to bed. Once they were all gathered, yawning, though Harry understood that as it was now getting close to 10. It was cute anyway, how they were leaning on eachother and rubbing their eyes. Harry blinked a bit, just now realizing how odd that thought was. He never much liked children before now, not because of anything they did, he just didn't care much other than to make sure they were safe. But yesterday he had carried one to bed instead of waking him, and today he was one of the people to volunteer to spend more time with them. And in doing so, had allowed them all at different points to clamber and grab him, pulling him this way and that today. Just now he had thought they were cute. What?
Hmm. Well, he was a magical creature now, a submissive half dragon at that. Submissives, from what he read, were very good with children, even those that aren't their own, and Charlie had told him once that dragons are very family oriented. Maybe that was why he was suddenly drawn to children.
He was drawn back to the conversation happening around him by a sharp nudge in the ribs, courtesy of Hermione. Right. Talking with the first years about tomorrow. He let his mind catch up to what Hermione had already said.
"Right, you all did very good today with following along on your maps. Tomorrow, after we all get our schedules, we will show you all the best paths to take to get to your classes, and the quickest way to get from one to another. We will go over everyone's schedule, one at a time, starting alphabetically. Meaning, we will start with Blue and end with Violet, alright?" At their nods he smiled. "Ok! We'll be waking you up about 8:15 tomorrow, so that you have time to wake up and get ready before we head down. Also, we'll be letting you lead the way to the Great Hall. Of course, we will be there to help if you try to take the wrong turn, and you all are allowed to help eachother, but try your best to figure it out on your own as well! Ok, I'm sure your very tired, so let's all head to bed, yeah?"
With that, he turned, making sure his four were following him. They were, albeit tiredly. He chuckled as he opened the door to the dormitories. Once to his room, he stopped as he opened his door and turned to the first years that were still following him with a smile. "Do you guys need help getting to your floor? Cause I'm pretty sure you don't sleep down here."
They startled and quickly looked around, before muttering sorrys and running up the stairs as he yelled to stop running and be careful after them. They waved him off. Once they were out of sight he entered his own room.
Quickly going through his routine, he was in bed shortly. It was only after he was under the covers and on the verge of sleeping that he realized something. He didn't go to McGonagall about his inheritance, and likely wouldn't be able to tomorrow with showing the kids around. He'd have to wait until this weekend then, as school started Wednesday, and while it would mostly be going over the curriculum for each class, there were going to be several new professors, and it would be vital to learn their rules. Saturday then.
Something in him revolted at the thought of telling someone about him, but he shoved it down. He needed help, and if anyone could, it would be Headmistress McGonagall. He hoped she could anyway. With that, he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.