CH 30

Taking a breath, he said, "Now, as Sirius Black is currently Lord Apparent, and I'm his designated Heir, that makes me Heir Presumptive for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. So, I can also be formally addressed as Heir Black. And Dumbledore also appears to know that and has placed a proxy on that House seat, as well - the bastard.

"And, the reason that information is to be kept secret is because Draco Malfoy, the poncy git of whom you've just met, thinks he's Heir Black. He's wrong. But, I don't want to put the idea in his father's head, through him, to get me bumped off. Thus ensuring Malfoy gets control of the Black fortune. I think the only reason Sirius Black isn't currently dead is because Malfoy Senior expects the conditions of Azkaban to kill off Black any day now; thereby saving him the effort and Galleons to affect it."

After a few more questions and answers were discussed, Harry suggested he and Neville lift down the girls' trunks so they could get changed into their school robes. After the girls agreed, he and Neville lifted down the trunks for Tracey and Susan, plus Harry's as Daphne followed his earlier suggestion and put her 'travelling' school robes in the top of his trunk.

Hannah headed back to the compartment where she had left her own trunk with the promise she'd be right back with her robes to change into. And Hermione was already wearing hers.

Harry and Neville then stepped out of the compartment and stood guard while the girls changed. Hannah came back carrying a bundle of clothes a short while later and ducked right in.

A few minutes later, the compartment door was slid open and the boys re-entered changing places with the girls. They quickly restowed Tracey and Susan's trunks before getting down Neville's. The boys quickly changed, then opened the door for the girls to re-enter. Harry scooped up the book 'Noble Etiquette' before also scooping up the book 'An Introduction to the Wizarding World' for Hermione.

Relocking the trunk, he and Neville quickly restowed both trunks in the overhead, before letting the girls back in and resuming their seats. Harry then offered both books to Hermione and said, "Keep them for as long as you need them or until I ask for them, and don't on-loan them to anyone else."

Hermione nodded and said, "Thank you, Harry." Before she opened the first book to have a quick scan through it.

When he sat down, Daphne cuddled into the side of him and whispered, "My big strong man, you."

Harry just snorted in response.

That morning, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore rose from his bed in his private quarters almost gleefully. Today was the day Harry Potter was arriving for his first day at Hogwarts. After almost twelve years of planning, stage two of his Greater Good Plan was about to commence. Stage one, of course, was the boy being raised in safety by his mother's sister's family.

It was almost six weeks ago his deputy, Deputy Headmistress Professor Minerva McGonagall, entered his office with a smile. Grasped in her off-hand was a piece of muggle paper. She approached his desk and offered it to him.

"He's coming, Albus," she said with a smile.

Dumbledore accepted the slip of paper and turned it right way up. Written upon it with a muggle pen was the simple statement:

I accept Harry Potter

Offering the slip back to the tall witch before him, he said, "Quite concise, but effective in its communication. Thank you for showing it to me, Minerva."

Taking back the slip of paper McGonagall said, "I find myself quite looking forward to young Mister Potter coming to Hogwarts. I wonder if he'll be anything like his father, or his mother, before him."

"I suspect we won't know the answer to that until well after he's settled into life here," replied Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I find myself mired in many hours of parchmentwork through which to wade ere I can say I'm done for the day."

Hesitating just a moment, McGonagall said, "Of course, Albus. I just find myself wanting to share this news with everyone." Then she turned about and walked back out the office. The little red-headed First Year Hufflepuff, Susan Bones, was as stunned as everyone else what Harry Potter said when he was standing next to the stool with the Sorting Hat upon it. She was still stunned when he stormed off the platform and stormed back up between the tables. And was just as stunned when he began to disrobe as he suddenly mounted the Hufflepuff table about two thirds of the way down it's length.

However, when she saw the scars, the marks, and the faded, yellowing bruises on the boy's chest, back and arms, she was horrified. She knew what she had to do. She needed to get her aunt - fast.

She climbed back up from the table and ran out of the room as fast as she could. As she ran she pulled the charm on her necklace chain out from under he robes. She grabbed hold of the charm and yanked on it.

Her aunt had told her it was an emergency contact charm. If Susan was in trouble, she was to activate it. Her aunt would come running.

Susan knew Aunt Amelia could not apparate onto the grounds of Hogwarts, so she ran as fast as she could towards where her aunt would appear. That spot was directly outside the main gates to the grounds. She did not notice the flash of magic behind her, or see the windows of the Great Hall blow outwards in shattered glass.

Susan ran as fast as she could. But, being a crying young girl, wasn't as fast as her aunt and a couple of aurors could arrive outside the main gate and come running towards the castle. Susan ran into the arms of her aunt while the two aurors stopped either side and scanned the surrounds looking for threats.

Still sobbing, Susan bawled, "It's Harry, Aunt Ami! He's been horribly beaten!"

Trying to calm her niece Madam Bones paused in shock before her training kicked in. 'The Boy-Who-Lived? Beaten?' she thought. 'Sweet Merlin!'

"Where is he, Susan?" she implored.

Backing away from her aunt, Susan sobbingly replied, "He's in the Great Hall!"

Looking at both her aurors Madam Bones snapped at them, "Go!"

They got. Together, they ran the rest of the way to the castle; ran in through the main doors and into the Great Hall with wands drawn. They were met with what could only be described as chaos.

The Hall was poorly lit. Most of the floating candles had been knocked down. Most of the ones still lit were hovering over and behind the head table.

They found a bare-chested young boy was lying sprawled out on his back on the Hufflepuff table. Blood covered his face. There were crying children everywhere and shouting was going on up at the head table. Golden crockery and cutlery was strewn across the floor mixed in with extinguished candles and table decorations. Little remained on most of the tables.

Children were milling around - some sitting at benches, others standing. They were crying, sobbing or just looking around in a daze. Both aurors barked out, "Aurors!"

The school healer, Poppy Pomfrey, was attempting to attend the boy on the table while clearing the area of other, clearly distressed, children. She ignored the aurors. However, so did everyone else.

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