Harry's Good With Kids. Who Knew?
When he woke next, there was still about two hours until he had to go and wake the kids, so he took his time getting ready for the day. Once done, he started unpacking his trunk. His clothes went to the closet, books to the bookshelf, and toiletries went to 'his' section in the bathroom that currently only he was using. That could change though, as people were discovering themselves all the time, and they were allowed to switch dormitories as they wished.
Once day with his toiletries, he put his other school supplies around the room. His extra ink and parchment went in drawers next to his desk, his cauldron next to the bookshelf, and his broom in the closet until quidditch practice began. He magically stuck some photos of his friends on a blank wall next to his bed, wincing slightly at the grinning Ron in some of them, but hanging up the pictures none the less. After all, he had been a close friend until recently, and there was no reason not to hang up the pictures that had the rest of the friends either.
He still had about half an hour once done. He grabbed a school book of the shelf and laid in front of the fireplace in his room. Might as well try to catch up to the curriculum, especially with all the new classes being added. Speaking of which, he really needed to look at that chart in the common room.
The next thirty minutes crawled by as he refamiliarized himself with potions. Snape was still the teacher, unfortunately, and there was no reason to try and make Snape yell at him anymore than usual, thank you very much.
His alarm went off at exactly 8:30. He jumped up, all to happy to have a reason to stop reading about potions. Time to wake the kiddos. He grinned as he left his room, hearing it automatically lock behind him. Ah, the perks of living in a sentient castle.
He passed others as he walked up the stairs, all rubbing their eyes and trying to wake up. Once upstairs, he repeated the process of yesterday, waking them up and telling them to meet him downstairs in half an hour. With that, he turned and went down to the common room, where Hermione was already waiting. He grinned at her as he sat down.
"Good morning Harry. I've been meaning to ask, how is the Encyclopedia going? I found it very informative and interesting, don't you agree?" Harry paused for a minute, panicking. What if she had found out what he was and was testing him or something?! Calm down, he told himself. Hermione wouldn't do that, she'd just ask right away. She was merely asking if he enjoyed her gift.
Harry grinned at her. "Oh yeah! I liked it a lot! It was really cool learning about all the different humanoid magical creatures. Thank you for it! What was your favorite creature?" With that, they devolved into a conversation about the different creatures in the Encyclopedia, arguing about it until the first years showed up. Charlie, Blue, and Raegan had immediately jumped in with their own thoughts, by the way. They all loved mermaids.
Once they had all ten kids, they got up and headed to the door. Harry took a moment to check everyone's pronouns for the day. Charlie and River were both using she/they today, and Blue and Phoenix were sticking with they/he again. Harry nodded and led them out.
"Ok everyone! So, remember, we have about half an hour to make it down to the Great Hall, and your going to try and lead us. I don't expect all of you to know the entire way by yourself, so do help eachother please. Also, Hermione and I will be here to help as well!" With that, the bouncing first years barreled on, sticking close to Harry and Hermione, who were walking in the back, in order to make sure they didn't lead them wrong.
Fortunately, they made it down to the hall with only a few derails. Emily had tried to turn down the wrong corridor and River ducked under the wrong tapestry. But, they made it with a few minutes to spare, and sat down at their table. The hall was mostly full already, and more students were still trickling in.
Right on 9, Headmistress McGonagall stood up and got their attention. Slowly, the hall quieted down as more people realized what was happening. McGonagall nodded.
"Thank you all for being on time. Just a few words today. We will be passing out your schedules here soon. First year helpers, please do show your charges how to get to each of their classes today according to the schedules. Reminder that breakfast ends at 10, check the extra classes as well if possible today. First years are not required to, but second and third years must have at least one, fourth years need to have at least two, and everybody else needs three. Get those to one of us by next week please. Lunch will begin at 1. Other than that, today is your last free day before school. Spend it wisely please."
McGonagall stayed standing at the end of her speech, and instead grabbed something from next to her and strolled towards the Gryffindor table, as Snape, Flitwick, and Sprout did the same to their houses. Huh. Was McGonagall both Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor? Harry winced. Hopefully no one thought that Gryffindors were getting special treatment this year.
McGonagall started at the end of the table closest to her, waving her hand over the schedules as one came flying out, which she then gave to the student in front of her. Harry's eyes nearly popped out. That's how she got them all their schedules when there was no order that they sat in. With wandless magic? Harry knew she was powerful, but he was just realizing how much so she was.
He turned to his friends. "Did you guys know that Headmistress McGonagall could use wandless magic?" He hissed. Immediately their heads snapped up to look at her. Hermione gasped softly.
"No. Well, I had suspected, but nothing had ever confirmed it... Do you guys know how rare that is? I mean, most humanoid magical creatures can do it, as their magical cores are a lot stronger and more connected to Lady Magic herself, but for a regular Wizens to be able to... They'd have to be immensely strong. Like, it a 1 in a 10,000 chance kinda rare." The group looked on in shock as Hermione continued to mutter under her breath. Woah.
It seemed the rest of the hall was catching on to it as well, if the whispers and turned heads meant anything. McGonagall obviously knew about the attention as well, if the small smirk playing on her lips meant anything. Harry grinned.
He looked back towards his plate as he waited for her to get closer, buttering a piece of toast. His friends turned back as well, immediately launching back into which glasses they hoped to have together.
"Well-" Dean said as he shoveled eggs into his mouth, Hermione wrinkled her noise. "Since there's so many new classes this year, it's not likely that all of us will have the same classes like we did in the past. I mean, in order to fit our extra classes that we chose in our schedules, obviously our normal classes would have to be switched around as well."
Ginny nodded. "Yeah, and I wouldn't have the main classes with y'all anyway, as I'm a year younger. Maybe some of the extra ones though, depending on how big the classes are."
McGonagall spoke up from behind him, causing Harry to jump in surprise. He turned towards the teacher, a smile on his face. "Hello McGonagall!"
McGonagall looked down her nose at him, the perfect picture of a stern teacher, except for the miniscule twitching of her lips that Harry could see. "Potter. What have I told you about my name? I believe it was a long the lines of 'Saying the last name of an elder, especially a professor's, is disrespectful', yes?" Harry just grinned at her. She sighed.
"Here is your schedule for the next week, Potter. I expect your three extra class choices to be turned in by Monday. Have a good week, all of you." She turned and continued handing out schedules as his friends went over theirs.
Harry gave his schedule a look over as he pushed his, still mostly full, plate away. No matter how hard he tried , it always took him a while to get back to eating large meals after returning from the Dursley's. Hmmm. His classes this year were more scattered and less organized than usual. He had Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Herbology, History, and DADA twice each this week, and math, literature, science, Magical Creature Rules, and Laws, and muggle mundane history everyday. He sighed. Well, nobody could say he wouldn't be busy.
The eyes were back again, once again he was ignoring them. It was seriously creepy though. Harry turned towards where the first years were sitting, all excitedly bouncing and babbling to eachother. He smiled. It was about 9:30, they still had half an hour until breakfast ended.
Hermione poked him just then, he turned to her with an eyebrow raised. "Do you think we should let them eat a little more or get on with things? I'd like to have a least half of their schedules covered by lunch..."
Harry thought it over, looking back towards the group. "I think give it a few more minutes. Raegan, Emily, and River look like their still eating a bit." Hermione nodded, and they both turned back to their group. Harry was honestly surprised Ron hadn't shown up yet, but all the better for him, despite the pang of hurt that the thought hit him with.
At 9:40, he and Hermione gathered up their group and led them to the doors. "Alright Blue! Whatcha got first?"
By lunch they had gotten done with six of the schedules, and the first years were still bouncing around with stars in their eyes. Harry looked on in wonder about how they could have so much energy after walking around the castle for multiple hours.
Nothing much happened at lunch, they took an hour break to eat and talk, then it was back to tours.
Once dinner had rolled around, they had been done for an hour or so, just lounging around in the Common Room.
Dinner was a quiet affair, students taking the chance to catch up with their friends and enjoy the peace before school the next day. There were eyes on him again, but that was becoming the norm very quickly, unfortunately, and he elected to just ignore them at all costs for now. If they wanted to stare instead of eat, that was their problem, not his. He, on the other hand, was hungry, and would not let anything distract him from food. He did note, idly, that if they took a picture, it would last longer though.
At the end of the dinner, McGonagall once again stood up to address them. "Alright, I'm sure you all are sufficiently stuffed and ready for a full nights sleep before tomorrow. Just a quick message then you all can go. First thing, starting tomorrow you are allowed to sit at any table you chose except for on formal occasions, such as the All Hollow's Feast and the Yuletide Feast. Second, I expect you all to show up to your classes on time beginning tomorrow as well. You will have three late passes for each class before your grade is effected. Third, there is still a lot of you who haven't signed up for an extra class. Please do so shortly. With that said, have a good night and see you all tomorrow."
They all began to trickle out of the Great Hall, yawning and looking forward to their warm beds. Harry was once again surrounded by first years, and carrying Phoenix, who had literally almost fallen asleep standing up. He could feel them relax against him as sleep over took them. He couldn't help but grin.
Once in the common room, they all filtered to their dorms, and Harry followed Blue, Charlie, and River up to their floor with the asleep first year in his arms. Once he had safely deposited the child in his bed, he walked back to his own room, yawning.
He did his bedtime routine, smiling as he snuggled under the covers of his bed, with a fire blazing in the fire place. Tomorrow was going to be interesting, that he was certain of. Wether a good or bad one remains to be seen, but interesting all the same.