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Harry stared at them, helpless and suspicious in the face of such declarations. Eventually he shrugged and turned his attention to Hogwarts which was whole and magical and unbelievably tall. Harry scowled. Was he really this short as a kid?
Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy were trading significant looks as they walked but they stopped when they got to the portrait of the fat lady.
"Well this is it" Harry said awkwardly. "Good bye. Again."
"Try to stay out of trouble dear" Narcissa said fondly.
"Or at least make a larger effort not to get caught" Lucius added.
With another wave from Narcissa, they were gone. Feeling awkward and unbelievably short, Harry banged on the fat lady's portrait until someone swung the portrait open. It was Fred Weasley.
"Er… Looks like I'm a Gryffindor. Let me in?"
Fred laughed and pulled Harry into the common room.
"Look at this!" He shouted to the room filled with people. "We got Harry Potter!"
Harry grinned.
At breakfast the first day Draco looked well rested but seemed to teeter between manic energy and terrified stillness. Harry made sure to catch his eye and wave. Draco sniffed and tossed his head but looked less likely to run screaming from the room. Harry did not get lost the first day of classes and he used a spare moment to charm Mrs. Norris bright purple with wiggling pink polka dots. It was just a bit of silliness but he was just so happy to be back at Hogwarts with everyone – even that evil old cat. Filch's screams actually echoed throughout Hogwarts. Harry had thought no one knew it was him but Lee Jordan and the twins grabbed Harry around the neck and ruffled his hair and congratulated him on his first prank at Hogwarts.
"Who said that was my first?" Harry asked.
"Right!" George exclaimed. "How could we –"
" – forget about Dumbledore's wand?"
"Who said that was my first prank?" Harry asked again, grinning. From a certain perspective, this whole serious business was one giant prank on Dumbledore and Voldemort. Merlin knows, Harry's Sirius would have laughed himself sick if he knew.
"What'd you do?" Fred demanded.
Harry shook his head. "If I tell you where's the fun in that?"
Classes were deadly dull. Harry meant to take notes and pay attention but it was honestly so boring that he could barely remain awake. He ended up doodling snitches and brooms as he wondered if Professor Flitwick would notice if he took a nap.
"Mr. Potter" Professor Flitwick said kindly during the practical portion of the class. "I understand that you are still adjusting to this environment but please try to pay attention during your professors' lectures."
"Can you teach me how to do that charm wordlessly?" Harry asked on an impulse. "Or wandlessly?"
Professor Flitwick blinked. "I don't think –"
"I can already do it with my wand. See?"
Harry quickly performed the charm perfectly. The tiny professor bounced with delight.
"Oh excellent Mr. Potter! Five points to Gryffindor!" The professor smiled kindly. "If you're serious about your request please see me during my office hours. We can go over the theory together at least."
Harry nodded. "Thank you professor."
Harry found himself asking Professor McGonagall the same question during Transfiguration when she came around to observe them practice the matchsticks into needles transfigurations.
"See me after class, Mr. Potter."
It turned out that wordless magic was easier to learn than wandless magic in both disciplines. And both professors were more than happy to allow Harry to practice the first day's charm and transfiguration lessons with them. He did not manage to perform either piece of magic wordlessly but neither professor seemed to expect him to be able to. They both recommended further practice and some outside reading on wordless and wandless magic. On the bright side the same theory and skills seemed to apply to performing all wanded magic wordlessly, wandlessly, or both.
Of course Dumbledore could not leave well enough alone. After classes he called Harry into his office. Harry went, his left hand clenched around the Elder Wand in his pocket. He was going to have to find some place secure to hide it.
Dumbledore looked far less friendly than he ever had at any point in the previous timeline. Harry wondered if he should have asked Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy to join him in the headmaster's office.
"Mr. Potter, a very serious issue concerning the wards around your aunt's home has come to my attention" Professor Dumbledore said gravely.
Harry blinked. That was… unexpected. Harry had thought Dumbledore was going to harp on about the Elder Wand again.
"The wards around your aunt's house were created by your mother using a very rare form of magic" Dumbledore continued. "They are there entirely for your own protection. Harry, I must ask what has happened this summer to deactivate your mother's wards."
The time twist. Apparently, there were more side effects than Harry had originally thought. Was he still technically an adult then? Would the trace recognize him as an adult?
Harry shrugged. "I don't know."
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes at Harry. "Does it have anything to do with the Malfoys?"
Harry startled. Professor Dumbledore thought that the wards going down was somehow the Malfoys' fault? The flash of triumph in Dumbledore's eyes made Harry's stomach sink. It was exactly the same expression as after Harry had told Dumbledore about what happened in the graveyard. Whatever Professor Dumbledore was thinking was not anything good for Harry.
"Harry, while the Malfoys may seem kind and generous, they do not have your best interests at heart. You must trust me in this. They were no friends to your parents. They were on the opposite side of the last war. I am one of your family's oldest friends. I have only your best interests at heart."
It required a valiant effort on Harry's part not to roll his eyes. Plotting to kill someone could rarely be considered acting with an interest in that person's best interests.
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Want to know what happens next?100+ advanced chapters await you on Patreon! Be the first to read what others will have to wait for. Join the community and read ahead today!
(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
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