Chapter 55: Welcome To…
Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 55: Welcome To...
"My future?" Harry forced himself to move, to sit in the chair opposite them. He kept his face blank, his voice steady. "What is this about, Professor?"
"Yes, and we'll get to that in a moment. But first..." Dumbledore offered him a thin smile, a practised one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "We wanted to check on how you are doing in your personal life, Mister Potter. How was your summer? How is your aunt doing?. I haven't seen her in so long."
Harry's brow furrowed. "Check on me?... I mean, Aunt Bella is fine. She's... she's the same as always."
Dumbledore nodded, his eyes never leaving Harry's face. "And your shopping trip? Did Mr Black take care of everything?"
"Yes, sir. He was... very efficient."
"Excellent. I'm glad to hear it." Dumbledore folded his hands on the desk. "We have some news for you, Mister Potter. Important news."
McGonagall spoke up, her voice crisp and businesslike. "After careful consideration, the staff has decided to make a change to your living arrangements for this year. You will not be returning to the Slytherin common room."
Harry blinked. "What? Why?"
McGonagall's expression did not change. "We have determined that certain... influences... have been detrimental to your academic and personal development. We believe a change of environment will be beneficial."
Harry's mind raced. "Influences? detrimental?. What are you talking about?... I dont understand."
Dumbledore leaned forward; his voice sounded gentle and reassuring. "We are afraid that your friendship with Mister Malfoy and Mister Crabbe has been a cause for concern. They are, how shall I put this... a disruptive influence. We believe it is in your best interest to distance yourself from them."
Harry felt a surge of anger. "They're my friends. They've been nothing but loyal to me."
"We understand your loyalty, Mister Potter, and it is very admirable," Dumbledore said, his voice remaining gentle. "But sometimes, loyalty can blind us to the truth. Your parents would have wanted you to make the right choices."
"My parents?..." Harry froze. He had been wanting to know more about his biological parents for his entire life, but his aunt Bella never wanted to talk about it. "Did...you know them?"
"Of course," Dumbledore responded. "More than know them. We were actually good friends. It is unfortunate what happened to them, but...I believe I have something you may appreciate."
The Headmaster reached into his robes and pulled out a small, framed photograph. It was old and faded, the edges worn with age. Harry looked at the figure depicted on it. It was a young man with messy black hair and a young woman with bright red hair, both smiling and waving at the camera.
James and Lily Potter, 1979. Were the names written at the bottom.
The images in the picture were moving. The couple appeared to be dancing and spinning around before stopping to smile at the camera.
"Are they...my parents?" Harry could feel his eyes getting moist as he looked at them. They looked so happy.
"Indeed." Dumbledore nodded, a sad smile on his face. "I knew them well, Harry. James was one of my most trusted students. Lily was brilliant and kind. They would be so proud of the young man you are becoming."
Harry stared at the photograph, his heart aching. He had never seen his parents' faces so clearly before.
"I want you to have this," Dumbledore said, sliding the photograph across the desk. "As a sign of good faith. A reminder that I am on your side."
Harry took the photograph, his fingers trembling. "Thank you, Professor," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "You are welcome, my boy. Now, let us discuss the details of your new arrangements."
Harry tucked the photograph into his robes, and could feel his trust for the Headmaster increasing.
However, beneath all of that gratitude...there was still a layer of fear that refused to go away.
'Why am I so afraid of him?' he wondered again. 'Why does something feel so wrong?'
He pushed the thought aside and listened to Dumbledore's plans.
"Initially," Dumbledore began, "I had wanted to place you in Gryffindor...the same house that your parents were part of. It would have been a fitting tribute to their memory."
Harry felt a flicker of hope. He would love to be part of the same house as his parents and couldn't understand how he ended up in Slytherin in the first place.
However, Dumbledore's expression grew complicated. "Unfortunately, last year, you had some… conflicts… with several students of that house. I am afraid you would not be welcome there, since the animosity runs too deep."
Harry frowned. "Conflicts?. I dont remember that."
'Is he talking about Ron Weasley?' He did recall having a few disagreements but didn't think it was that serious.
'Now that I think about...he seemed very angry with me when I met him on the train.' Harry thought that he was missing some important part here.
Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged a glance. There was silent communication between them that Harry could not interpret.
"Perhaps that is for the best," Dumbledore said carefully. "Some memories are better left undisturbed."
Harry's frustration grew. "I don't understand. What happened last year? Why can't I remember the details?"
Dumbledore sighed, a weary sound that seemed to carry a heavy weight. "You took part in some very dangerous endeavours last year, Mister Potter. One that ended up destroying part of the school. There was a fire...a terrible fire on the third floor. You were caught in it."
Harry stared at him, his mind reeling. "A fire? I was in a fire?"
"Yes. You were one of the students who started it. Fortunately, no one suffered serious injuries, except for you... "
"I was injured?"
"You spent several days in the infirmary recovering." Dumbledore paused, his eyes fixed on Harry's face. "The memory loss could be a side effect of that trauma. It is not uncommon for the mind to block out painful experiences as a way of protecting itself."
Harry's head was spinning. He tried to remember a fire, tried to picture flames and smoke and heat.
'A fire?...wait...I do remember a fire...' His blood went cold.
During the summer, he had several visions and dreams about being present during a fire. Now he could finally understand why.
"Is that why my mind has been like this?... why I keep having all those weird flashes..." He muttered.
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed down. "Well, Mister Potter. Trauma affects everyone differently," The Headmaster said. "Your mind may be shielding you from the worst of it. It is not unusual."
Harry wanted to believe them. He wanted to believe that the fog in his head was just a natural response to a traumatic event. But something about their explanation felt wrong. It was too neat, too convenient.
"We can discuss more about this during our weekly sessions," Dumbledore said, his tone lightening. "One of the conditions for you not being expelled was a weekly visit to my office. We can work through your memories together, slowly and carefully."
Harry's stomach tightened. 'Weekly sessions?. With Dumbledore?...and I agreed to this?.'
The thought made him uneasy, though he couldn't explain why.
"Wait, if I can't go back to the Slytherin dorm...where will I be placed?" Harry asked, forcing himself to focus.
Dumbledore's smile returned. "We have decided to move you to Ravenclaw after some discussion. It is the house of the studious, the thoughtful, and the curious. In that house, we hope you can focus fully on your studies and make your parents proud."
"Ravenclaw..." Harry blinked. He hadn't expected to go there. "And you want me to stay away from my old friends?"
"We would advise you to focus on your new house and your studies," McGonagall said carefully. "Your old companions were not good influences. They led you down a path of recklessness and danger. It is in your best interest to distance yourself from them."
Harry wanted to argue, wanted to defend Draco and Crabbe, but the words died in his throat. He was tired, confused, and the photograph of his parents was still warm against his chest.
"I understand," he said quietly.
Dumbledore nodded approvingly. "Excellent. Now, we have assigned someone to help you with the transition. She is a bright, dedicated student who will guide you through your new life in Ravenclaw."
Harry looked up. "Who?"
Just then, there was a knock at the door. McGonagall called out, "Enter."
The door opened, and a girl stepped inside. She was about Harry's age, with bushy brown hair and a sharp, intelligent face. She wore Ravenclaw robes, and her expression was cold and devoid of any emotion.
Harry recognized her immediately. This was Hermione Granger. She was in his year, though they had never been close. In fact, they had not talked again after their conversation on the day of the sorting.
She was always studying, always following the rules, always reporting any infractions to the professors. She was the perfect student, and her robotic attitude made him uncomfortable.
"Ah, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, his voice warm. "Thank you for coming. This is Harry Potter. He will be joining your house this year. I trust you will help him adjust?"
Hermione nodded, her eyes fixed on Harry with an intensity that made him uncomfortable. "Of course, Headmaster. I will ensure he follows all the rules and regulations."
Harry felt a chill run down his spine. There was something about her that made him deeply uneasy...a coldness behind her eyes, a lack of warmth or empathy.
She was not offering to help him out of kindness. She was doing it because she had been ordered to.
"Excellent," Dumbledore said. "Harry, Miss Granger will escort you to the Ravenclaw common room. Your belongings have already been sent ahead."
Harry stood up with unsteady legs and tucked the photograph of his parents into his robes. "Thank you, Professor. For… for everything."
Dumbledore smiled. "You are welcome, my boy. I will see you next week for our first session."
Harry nodded and followed Hermione out of the office while the door closed behind them with a soft click.
The walk to the Ravenclaw common room was done in silence.
Hermione led the way, moving as if she did not have a second to waste. The girl did not look back at Harry, did not offer any words of encouragement. She simply walked with her back straight and her hands clasped behind her.
Harry followed her while his mind worked on everything that he had learned.
What Dumbledore and McGonagall had told him helped explain some of the strange things he had experienced during the summer and all the missing memories he had.
But he still felt like some of the pieces didn't fit.
Did he actually start a fire?. That didn't seem like something he would ever do.
And if he did...why would they want to keep him in the school?.
And why did they have to separate him from his friends?. Were they also involved even though they didn't seem to receive any punishment?.
Finally, there was the matter of the missing friend. How did Pansy fit in all of this? And how could he have forgotten about a close friend entirely?.
That was not just some random lost memory but something that felt deliberate and very specific.
There were still many things he didn't understand. Why Dumbledore seemed so interested in his personal life, or why he made him feel so afraid.
"We are here," Hermione announced.
"Oh..." Harry had been paying little attention, and they were now standing in front of a statue.
The Ravenclaw common room was located in a tall tower, accessible only by solving a riddle.
Hermione recited the answer without hesitation, and the door swung open.
"Whoa!" Harry looked around with wide eyes.
The common room was beautiful, spacious, and bright. It was filled with blue and bronze furnishings, with bookshelves lining the walls, and a statue of Rowena Ravenclaw stood in the centre, with a serene marble face.
Harry had forgotten his troubles for a moment while looking at this place.
"This will be your new home," Hermione said with a flat tone. "Your room is on the second floor. I will show you where the access corridor is, but I cannot go inside, because I am a girl."
Harry nodded, following her up the stairs.
"It's over there, the door number sixteen. You have been assigned an individual room." Hermione paused at the entrance.
"Thank you fo-"
"I will be watching you, Potter. If you break any rules, I will report you. Do you understand?" She interrupted him.
Harry met her gaze. This was what he expected from her. "I understand."
She nodded sharply and left.
Harry went into his room and stood there...alone.
This was not a great way to start his second year of Hogwarts.
A.N: - Remember to comment, vote, and/or leave a review if you have the time. Those things help me a lot and I would really appreciate it.
You can support me on P@treon if you like and get 10 advanced chapters. You can also find character images to view for free in Collections/Harry Potter: Mirror Images
-.com/Kriogenix
For donations and commissions, go to .com/kriogenix