Chapter 15 Different Meal Conversations

November 1, 1994, Hogsmeade

It was a crisp autumn afternoon the sun was bright and there were still a few birds singing. You could tell winter was coming by the bite in the air. Gilly had conjured a temporary table with three comfortable chairs and a large umbrella to keep the sun off. She placed a big cauldron near it and started a fire within, to ward off the chill. She wanted to have the conversation with Madam Longbottom outside; so that she could make sure the people of Hogsmeade saw her and hopefully would view her as harmless. If she were seen talking to an upstanding lady, like Neville's grandmother, that would go a long way in portraying her as a good person.

Kippy had made sure there were plenty of sandwich makings, cakes, cookies and hot drinks. Sirius informed her that it would be afternoon tea time by the time the older lady was to join them. It was with his help she set up the service. Kippy would only clean for them, since she was on the houseboat. Unless they found they couldn't go it alone, which Gilly doubted. She lived without a house elf all her life, so not having one was easy for her. Sirius would just have to learn.

At exactly 4 p.m. there was a 'crack' in the air and they knew that Madam Longbottom had arrived. So Gilly went outside to greet her guest. Madam Longbottom was dress in an old fashion dress that went to the floor, there was a vulture on her hat and she carried a rather large cloth purse. Gilly was dress more modern in black slack and a puffy blouse.

"You must be Neville's grandmother," Gilly said, holding out her hand in greeting. "I'm Gillian Owens, and I've always wanted to meet you. Kippy has told us so much about you."

Augusta took the hand and offered her own greeting. "Yes, I am Augusta Longbottom, you may call me Gussy. It is I that should be thanking you for all the reports you have sent to me over the years. They made this old woman's life have meaning again. I cannot thank you enough for raising a fine young man that is my Neville."

She made sure to never contact Neville directly, either by mail or via the mirror, because Albus could always read her mind. Even though she had been taught at a young age, she was not good at Occlumency. The nosy man knew she was getting reports, but the Owens family was very good at hiding their tracks.

"Come on, let's sit," Gilly said, taking the older woman's arm and leading her to the table. "I don't stand on formality, so you'll have to forgive me if my manners are not… well, mannerly."

Augusta just nodded her head in understanding and took the chair offered to her. She was a little surprised that they would be taking tea outside, but upon thinking about it found it rather nice. And with the fire close by and the birds chirping, it was rather relaxing.

Sirius came out with the tea tray and after he set it down, he took Augusta's hand and placed a kiss on it. "Madam Longbottom, it is wonderful to see you again." He was dressed in expensive jeans and a black polo shirt.

"Well met, Mr. Black. I told you before, you have leave to call me Gussy," the elderly lady said with a slight blush. This young man always charmed her.

"Well then, manners aside for everyone. Gussy, old gal, how have you been?" Sirius said as he indicated that Gilly should pour the tea.

Gilly took up the pot and started to pour and said, "You can call me Gilly, everyone does."

Tea and cakes served, the three started talking about the years the boys had grown. Laughter filled the air and Augusta had the most relaxed tea she had had since she was a little girl. Gilly brought the photo album out and they shared the story behind each picture.

"This was a time when they were three. We had just taught them to change their toys from round to square. Neville had decided he was going to try and do the spell while floating the ball in the air. It exploded on him and he turned blue for the rest of the day. Still not sure how that happened," Gilly giggled at the memory.

"You have been teaching them Transfiguration since they were three?" the flabbergasted woman asked.

"Well yeah, they were pretty good at it to," the red-blonde replied and then turned to the next picture. It had been taken on Neville's fourth birthday and he was covered from head to toe in green cake. She laughed and showed the picture to Gussy. "In this one, he tried to change the shape of the cake and we all wound up wearing it. Kippy was so angry. I never did thank you for sending her. She is a godsend. She taught the boys so much. We freed her you know, and she has her own job now. There are a lot of free elves in the USA now and I set up an agency to hire them out. It has worked well. Maybe you can set one up here." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. She was still making quite a bit of money off that agency and if they could get one set up here, then there would be more to leave the boys when she passed.

"An agency that hires out free elves? How on earth did you manage that? Where would you even find free elves?" Gussy asked, glad she was sitting down. This woman in front of her kept throwing her for a loop with every other sentence she uttered.

"They're everywhere," the younger woman said airily, causing more confusion. "When someone dies and doesn't will them to someone else, they just wander around until they find another family. Kippy finds them and tells them about the agency and we employ them." She waved her hand in the air like it was no big thing.

"And this agency works for you? People will pay the free elves?" the still dumbfounded older woman asked.

"Yeah, mostly shop owners, but some caterers hire them for cooking and serving parties," Gilly answered finally realizing that she was confusing the other woman. "Kippy told us the history around house elves. She told us they don't need a bond, however, they do need to work. So when we weren't giving her enough work, we talked a shop into hiring her for stocking merchandise. It snowballed from there," she explained, trying to get Gussy to understand, but from the look on her face she was just confusing her more.

"Why would you not give her enough work? There are five people in your household," Gussy questioned, trying to figure out how her grandson was raised and who these… extravagant women were. They taught things never even heard of here on the Isles.

"Yeah, but we do our own chores. So she never had enough work," the red-blonde said, trying to figure out a way to explain it better.

"Gussy," Sirius said, bringing the attention to him. "It works; believe me I understand what you're thinking right now. It took me months to accept what they did. But, the one thing you have to understand about the Owens women is they do for themselves. Kippy only does the plant gathering, the cooking and the laundry, sometime she takes letters to people or post the ones they sent here. However, since her magic interferes with electricity, she doesn't do the other chores. I freed my own house elves and they're doing well. Unlike the women, Remus and I don't know a thing about housework. When we moved in with the witches, those two took on other jobs. Right now they are helping the aunts and working on the side." He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze to help her stay focused, since it looked like she was going to faint any minute.

Gussy shook herself and nodded to the man, removing her hand from his and sitting up straighter.

"Actually, most of the US that is that way; we like to do for ourselves. Only the very rich and snotty have house elves, which is why it is so hard for the freed ones to find another family. No one wants them, they pity them, but they don't want them," Gilly added, hoping that would explain it better.

Augusta nodded her head, finally getting the idea. And they went back to the telling of Neville's childhood. It was around six in the evening, when the cold got too much, that Gilly invited Gussy inside to wait for Neville.

"Neville and Harry should be joining us soon," Gilly said from the kitchen, where she was preparing a light meal of fish and rice. Sirius was sitting with Gussy at the table that was in the adjoined dining area. "They should be Jumping in any minute now."

"What is Jumping?" Gussy asked.

"It's a form of Apparation," Sirius explained, setting his cup on the table, "but it's unlike anything I've ever done. There is no noise; it's more like walking from one spot and appearing in the next. Gilly-bean invented it and taught it to everyone. It's so smooth and you never have to fear that you will lose a body part. The only downfall is you might walk into someone. But at least you don't have to worry about landing on them." He beamed a proud smile at his girlfriend.

"That sounds wonderful; do you think you can teach me? Apparation is becoming hard for me in my old age," the older woman asked with something akin to anticipation in her voice. To learn something new at her age would be marvelous.

Gilly shrugged her shoulder as she took the rice off the stove and spooned it into a dish. Bringing the steaming bowl to the table she said, "Don't see why not, I taught the Aunts and they're just a little younger than you. Those two will never grow up though, and we prefer them that way. It makes life interesting." Her lips took on a fond smile, she missed her aunts already.

The door opened without out preamble and Neville and Harry walked in calling greetings. "We're here, and damn if it isn't cold out there," Neville shouted as he walked into the dining area, and then he spotted the older woman at the table. She rose and there were tears in her eyes and he knew this was his grandmother. "Forgive the abrupt entry, I didn't know you would be here," he said and he took her withered hands in his young ones and placed a gently kiss on her wrinkled cheek. "It is wonderful to meet you finally, Gran. I was not expecting you to be here until later."

"Your Aunt Gilly invited me to dine. Oh, Neville you have grown to be just as powerful as your father. He would be so proud. I know I am," she said and placed her own kiss on his cheek and then let him guide her back to her chair.

There was a clearing of a throat, and Neville blushed a little. "Forgive my manners, Gran this is Harry Potter. Harry this is my grandmother, Madam Augusta Longbottom." He nodded to each person as he introduced them.

"It is nice to meet you, Madam Longbottom," Harry said as he kissed the back of her hand.

"Well met, Mr. Potter, you have my leave to call me Gran. You are practically family after all. My, you have grown to be a handsome young man. Though, I don't know about that hair," she said with mild disapproval.

"Oh, my hair is colored this way for a reason; fear not my manners are impeccable. Luis, our tutor, taught us very well," Harry said as he removed his fedora and hung it off the side of his chair, since there was no hat rack. His jacket joined the hat on the other side. Neville hung his off the back of his chair. Both were still dressed in the jeans and t-shirts they wore that morning.

"Did you three have a good afternoon?" Neville inquired as he took his seat.

Gilly was just bringing in the fish and vegetable stir-fry and placing it on the table. "Yup, I showed her all your pictures and embarrassed the heck out of you, without you having to be here. Isn't that great?" she teased as she took her seat. "Well, dig in."

The next few minutes were spent serving up dinner. Augusta was a little curious about this dish, not used to just a light fare. Nothing was fried and there were no sauces; just fish, vegetables and rice. There was a bottle that had the label of 'soy sauce', but she had no idea what that was. She watched everyone else, and it seemed that you added this 'soy sauce' to your rice, sometimes with butter other times not. She tried it on a small portion and decided she liked the salty taste.

"So, Gran, Sirius has tried to keep us up to date on the political arena, but can you tell us more? We don't want to go in blind," Neville asked between bites, though it is usually considered bad manners to talk about such at the dinner table, he was used to casualness at the Owens' house.

Madam Longbottom was taken aback by the question at first then brushed the feeling away, deciding she liked the casual atmosphere. "As you know, I have been sitting in proxy on the Wizengamot for you." She waited for his nod. "News is already out that you are here. There was an emergency meeting this afternoon, just before I got here. They do not much care about you, Neville, but they want to try and get Harry to stay in England, and they are doing their best to find ways to pass laws to do just that," she warned.

Harry snorted. "They can try all they want. If they pull something the American Government will come down on them so hard they will feel it for years to come." He shrugged off the warning and took a bite of his fish. "This is wonderful, Aunt Gilly," he complimented, she just smiled in reply.

"I do not believe you understand just how powerful these people are," Augusta said firmly, tapping her finger on the table. She was worried they might underestimate the Wizengamot and be trapped.

The rest of the table laughed so hard at that warning that it took several minutes to regain control.

"Powerful? Them?" Harry scoffed, his eyes flashed with disbelief. "Believe me when I say, I know how powerful they think they are. Don't worry, Gran, we did our homework, and we know just where the Wizengamot stands compared to the rest of the world. And it is not where they think they do," he said trying to waylay her fears.

"According to the MUN, Britain is third from the bottom in terms of power. The only reason they are even that high is because of Dumbledore's position on the ICW and the Wizengamot. But to the rest of the Wizarding World, Magical Britain is a joke," Neville added his two Knuts worth and then continued to eat his dinner —completely unfazed.

"They're right; I didn't believe it either, until I read the research. The American Government was all ready to jump in during the last war, but then Harry happened and they decided to back off," Sirius said, taking a sip of his tea. "I'll warn the Wizengamot that if they try and take the boys, there will be a fight that will make the last war seem like a school yard scuffle. Only it will be fought with lawyers and such, and Britain will be hurt financially and politically," he concluded with a bit of fire in his voice. He was upset they called a meeting and didn't tell him. He had a seat on the Wizengamot, and they would know just how upset he was in the next meeting. "If they call another meeting, I need you to let me know, Gussy."

Once again Augusta was knocked for a loop. "Harry means that much to them?" she asked, once more floored.

"No, it's not me; it's the principle of it. They offered me protection, and they take that very seriously," Harry explained, not wanting her to think that he was special to the eyes of the US Government.

"Tell me what you guys did in school today," Sirius said, changing the subject. He figured they had given enough to Gussy to think about.

"Well, this is a non-magical week, so we had math and science, and then English and Social Studies. Today in history we studied some non-magical British History," Neville said also glad they were dropping politics.

"Tomorrow, we're eating breakfast with the rest of the students, from all three schools. What do you think we can expect?" Harry asked a little worried; after all he was like a rock star here.

"Well, you can expect a lot of whispering and some of the more forward students will ask about your life," Sirius said, rubbing his goatee. "I know if I was still a student, I wouldn't hesitate to try and find out as much about you as I could. Since we didn't get those books banned here, you might want to make sure you food isn't spiked with love potions," he warned, not wanting his godson to fall for something like that.

"You know how to check for that," Gilly said and waited for his nod. "Then just be yourself, sweetie, unless you're in a formal setting then you just be your adorable self. Don't worry about what other people think. Haven't we always taught you that?" his aunt said in encouragement.

"Yeah, dude, just be confident that nothing they say or think has any effect on who you are. All of us at SMI have got your back," Neville said, clapping his brother on the shoulder. He would stand by his side, no matter what, and if anyone tried to ensnare him, well he too was a powerful wizard so…

"Yeah, but, this is the first time I'll be Harry Potter and not Harry Owens, so I'm a little concerned is all," Harry said as he gathered up his empty plate and that of Madam Longbottom's and took them into the kitchen. He started up the sink for the dishes and waited for the others to bring their plates. Augusta watched curiously, since only the house elves did the housework in her manor.

The rest of the family gathered up the dishes and Neville joined him at the sink.

"I know, well, I don't know, but I think I understand. Don't worry, bro, I'll be right there with you the whole way. And so will Jordan. We won't let you fall or get a big head," he said and nudged his younger brother with his shoulder. "Besides, only an idiot would still think you're some kinda savior."

"Yeah, you're probably right. I'm worrying over nothing," Harry said, nudging him back and giving him a big smile in thanks. They did the dishes and then started water for tea.

Gilly, Sirius and Gussy were in the living room looking at the album again. When the boys finished, they joined them bringing tea and cakes. The rest of the night was spent in laughter and reminiscing. Soon the boys had to go back to the houseboat. They said their good-byes and left.

"I had a wonderful time," Gussy said as she got ready to depart. "I do not think I have laughed so much since I was very young. Thank you for giving me back my grandchild. You have done a wonderful job at raising him. He is a very polite and brilliant young man. Again, I cannot thank you enough," she gushed, very out of character for her.

"I was more than happy to help," Gilly said, giving the elder woman a kiss on the cheek and walking her out to the Apparation point. "We'll see you soon." And with that Augusta Longbottom went home happy. The red-blonde walked back to the little house and fell into Sirius' arms. It had been a long day, a happy one, but long. She was glad to be going to bed soon, maybe not to sleep, but relaxing nonetheless.

"Thanks for being here for me," she said and then planted a big kiss on the man in her arms.

"Anything for you Gilly-bean," he replied and then kissed her back.

The two retired for the night, knowing that this happy day may be the last one they have for a while.

November 2, 1994, Hogwarts

The next morning the SMI team gathered together to join the other three schools for breakfast in the Great Hall. They had decided that they would split up and join each House table, unlike Beauxbatons and Durmstrang who were seated at Ravenclaw and Slytherin respectively. This was supposed to be a contest to form international relationships; one could not do that if they sectioned themselves to only a part of a whole. Harry, Neville and Jordan decided to sit with the Gryffindors. It would be expected of them and they figured they could get a better feeling of the house that was… well, more open than the rest. Boy, were they wrong.

They were still dressed casually in fresh jeans, or slacks, and clean t-shirt with the SMI logo on them. Harry left his hat behind, since they would be indoors and everyone here knew who he was. They would not be donning robes just because the Britain's did. The boards whipped across the lake, whoops and hollers were heard in the early morning air. Each student had a backpack with them so they could share some of what they learned with the students of the other schools. It was easier to show then to just tell. Gilly and Sirius joined them on the shore.

The team put away their boards in a conjured, locked shed, which Mr. Scott put there for that reason. They all went up the stairs to the castle. When they got to the Hall, the noise stopped and everyone was looking at them with various degrees of curiosity or contempt.

"Ah, welcome to our guests from Salem Magical Institute. Please, feel free to sit where ever you might feel comfortable," Dumbledore said as he stood from the Head Table. Mr. Scott shooed his group off and joined the other Headmasters/mistress with the adults of the group. Sirius sat as far away from Snape as he could.

The oldest of the students went to the Slytherin table. Harry, Neville and Jordan went to Gryffindor and sat with people who looked to be their own age. The others dispersed to the other tables.

They had just sat down when the questions started.

"Are you really Harry Potter?"

"How did you put your name in the goblet?"

"Where have you been?"

"Do you have the scar?"

"Why is your hair like that?"

And other such questions were thrown their way. Harry stood without saying a word and went to leave. He paused when he was asked, "Where are you going? We just want to know about you," by a bushy haired young lady.

"I think we will go and join another table. One that isn't quite as rude as to not introduce themselves, before bombarding us with questions, which are frankly none of your business," Harry said, still standing and giving off the air of someone extremely affronted. Jordan and Neville stood at his side.

"I apologize for my fellow students. Can you really blame us, though? We thought you were dead when you didn't come in your first year," the same girl said. "I am Hermione Granger, this is Ron Weasley, his sister Ginny and those two twins are his brothers Fred and George," she said, introducing the people immediately around her. Others started to do the same.

The boys sat and gave them another shot at being polite. They told the table who they were and then started to put some of the lighter food on their plates and nodded at the people kind enough to hold off their questions.

After eating for a few minutes the girl, Hermione, decided she had waited long enough. "Can you tell us where you've been?" she asked, making sure she kept her voice gentle and not pushy.

"Well, as you can tell from our shirts, I grew up in Massachusetts, near the Salem area," Harry answered, gesturing to the logo on his t-shirt. It was a safe answer and one they should know already. It wasn't like they were hiding it; the shirts plainly stated the name and the state of the school.

"Oh," was the reply.

"Yeah, but, how did you enter your name if you were across the pond?" a red headed boy asked. Ron, Harry thought his name was.

"I didn't," was the short reply. You could hear the confusion and the start of anger in that clipped voice.

"Come on then, how would your name have been entered if you didn't do it?" Ron pushed, obviously not hearing the undercurrent of Harry's reply.

"Are all Brits this stupid? No offence, Jordan, but damn," Neville stated, a bit of a bite to his words.

"None taken," his friend said. He knew that he grew up a lot since moving to the states. He remembered asking his best friends questions like that when they first met. Now that he had been at SMI, he learned to think before he spoke.

"There's no way Harry could've entered himself," Neville spat at the redhead. "He didn't even know about your stupid contest. So obviously someone else entered him to get him here." He shook his head and went back to his breakfast, keeping an eye on the faces around the table.

Most were nodding their heads in agreement, but there were quite a few that were frowning as if Neville's word didn't register to them. They didn't want to let go of the fairytale that Harry was an all-powerful wizard who was there to rescue them from whatever came up.

"Really, Ronald, it is the only logical answer. The questions are; who and why," Hermione said, defending the blue and silver streaked headed boy, hoping to get in his good graces.

"Well, if he is all powerful, like the books say, it's possible for him to do it," Ron defended himself as he rubbed the side of his nose.

"Don't tell me you believe that trash," Harry said his green eyes wide with shock. "I mean, really? I don't even look like the kid on the cover. See no glasses, no wild black hair, and no oversized clothes. We've already sued the pants off the author and made him classified the books as fiction. You do know what fiction is, don't you?" he questioned the boy warily. He really hoped not all the kids in this school were this dumb.

"Of course I know what fiction is, but my mum says there's always some truth in fiction," Ron snapped and his siblings nodded their heads in agreement.

"Yeah, my name and sometimes spelling and grammar," Harry said defiantly, and then he waved his hand closing the subject. He turned to Hermione and said, "Tell me about Hogwarts, I'm curious, what's happened here in the last three years? I want to know what the school is like." He knew bits and pieces, from what Sirius learned from Gussy, but most of what happened was kept from the public.

"Well, it has been an adventure that's for sure," she replied tentatively, not quite sure she should tell him all about what has happened since she entered this Wizarding World. It was not a pretty picture, she had almost lost her life her first year.

The Gryffindor boys it seems had no such qualms and regaled the SMI boys with all that happened in the last three years. The stories were straight out of a fantasy novel. Three headed dogs, trolls, ancient artifacts, dead unicorns and dead teacher in the first year. Large snakes, petrified students, a possessed student, a bewitched book and a dead teacher in the second year. Both years the Headmaster stopped the crimes, though not soon enough in the three boys' opinion. Not much happened in the third year just a prophecy and a missing rat.

Harry, Neville and Jordan listened in states of shock. Harry was especially glad he hadn't been around for all these… well, not really adventures, but horrifying acts. They had never heard of these happenings and questioned how it could all have been kept from the press.

"So something, or someone, is… haunting this school and you guys think it might be this Voldemort dude?" Harry asked, ignoring the flinches. "What's being done about it?" Harry asked, looking at he faces of the Gryffindors around him.

"What do you mean, being done?" Hermione asked with a tilt of her head. "The Headmaster says it's all under control." She was confused at the question. Everyone knew the Dumbledore would take care of everything.

"All under control?" Harry all but shouted. "People are dying! How can that be under control? What is your government doing? Are they building an army? Are you guys getting good defense classes? Are the non-magical parents getting protection? There are lots of things that could be done," he fired off the most obvious questions. Sirius had told them the government was doing nothing, but really, that had been years ago and with what happened in this school, surly they changed their minds.

"Well, no, but we trust the Headmaster to keep us safe," she explained with a great deal of hesitation, seeing her words were making him more angry

"Yeah and now that your back, well, it is up to you to protect us. That is why everyone is excited your here," Ron stated as if it were fact. "That's what you do in all the books, go around protecting people. So that's why you must be here."

"Let me get this straight," Harry said with a clinched jaw as he looked over the crowd of Gryffindors staring at him. "You expect me, someone who doesn't know you from squat, to protect you?"

"You are the Boy-Who-Lived, isn't it your responsibility?" Ron asked, not understanding what the issue was. Nods were seen around the table, it is what they were told after all.

"NO! It damn well is not! You fucking people are delusional if you think that," he exploded, standing from the bench and his hair lifted in the wind he was creating. "I am a fourteen year old boy. I don't have special fucking powers. I am just Harry Potter, no more superior than any of you," he bit out, shaking off Neville's hand. He couldn't believe they still thought this. Were they so sure that he would save them that they put off any tactics to save their selves? How could an entire government not care that there may be a war?

Gilly, upon seeing her nephew's state of agitation, ran to his side. The wind had already started kicking up, tossing napkins and some food around. Everyone was staring at him at that outburst. She wrapped her arms around him and said, "Harry, sweetie, you need to calm down before someone gets hurt." She glared at the teens surrounding them and they all cringed at the icy look in her eyes.

"Calm down? Did you hear what they fucking said? How the hell am I supposed to calm down?" the angry teen yelled, trying and failing to shake off her grip.

"Come on, Harry, let's go blow something up," Neville suggested, nudging the upset boy and his aunt towards the doors.

"You people better get a clue," Jordan said, pissed that they would do this to his friend, "'cause, dudes, if you keep this up, you're going to wind up dead." He followed the Owens family out of the Hall, and the rest of the SMI team stood and joined them.

"I cannot believe you let your students think such things, Headmaster," they heard Mr. Scott say. "You should be ashamed of yourself, all of you, for setting up a child in such a manner." He too got up, throwing his napkin on his plate. "I do not believe we will be joining you for meals, after all. Not until you dissuade your students of such — notions."

The staff of the other three schools looked on with different emotions fluttering across their faces.

The Beauxbatons' Headmistress, Madam Maxime, was shocked. She had no idea that this country still believed that Harry Potter depicted in those tales was real. How could they? No child could do what those stories said he had done. No, if there was a rise of another Dark Lord then France would defend itself. She made sure that her teachers taught the students just that.

Headmaster Karkaroff had informed his students in much the same manner. Durmstrang never relied on anyone but themselves in time of war. He knew, via his Dark Mark, that the Dark Lord wasn't gone, plus the mark was getting darker. He feared for his life and that of his students, so defense was studied every day due to this.

The Hogwarts staff was different, Dumbledore's word was always taken as law, and if he said that everything was under control they believed it. No uppity child, with a foul mouth, would sway them from their beliefs, boy hero or not. Some of them were shocked that the gossip that was still going on about the Boy-Who-Lived and that he was held in such high regards. As far as they knew everyone thought him dead, fiction books notwithstanding.

The Great Hall was in an uproar, many were devastated by the fact that their childhood hero would not be standing up for them. Others were angry at the manner in which he vilified them. Who did that half-blood think he was, insulting them?

The SMI crew finally made it outside. They looked around to see if they could find any place where Harry could let off some steam. Near the Forbidden Forest was a glade that had some large rocks, it didn't seem to be used for anything so they herded him towards it.

"Can you believe this shit?" Harry said as he sent a blasting curse to one of the rocks, blowing it up spectacularly. "How can they think this?"

"Not everyone does," said Scott Wilder, who had been sitting with the Slytherins, causing Harry to stop and look at him in a questioning manner. "The Slytherins think you're just some dumb kid who likes to play hero."

"Yeah," confirmed Steven Diaz, who had been sitting with the Ravenclaws. "The Ravenclaws don't believe the rumors about you either. They don't trust the Headmaster quite so blindly. They're thinkers and can see the signs. They have a defense group going in case of war."

"The Hufflepuffs, on the other hand, believe every word that comes out of the Headmaster's mouth," said Nicole Lisle with a sad shake of her head.

"I think, for the time being we should limit our interaction with Hogwarts' students. Harry, you will be serving detention with me for your foul language," Mr. Scott said and held up his hand to ward off the tirade he could see coming. "You know better. I understand why you vented, however, you were taught not to do such things, especially to children."

"Yes, sir," he said contritely, completely calm now.

"I am sorry to say, you will be staying on the boat for detention every night for the week. You will have one hour before curfew to visit you aunt and Sirius," Mr. Scott added. "Luis will be sitting with us to go over some meditation to further control your anger." Luis was nodding and giving his student a disappointed look.

Harry hung his head and nodded. They were right he did lose his temper on a bunch of kids who didn't know better. "Yes, sir," he said again. It was more than fair, and he could use the time to clear his head.

Gilly and Sirius went to protest, but stopped at the look they got from the etiquette teacher.

"He broke the rules. You know what happens when he does that. You agreed that while he was here, he was under school rules. He is not above getting punishment for such transgressions," Luis said firmly. He knew well that these two needed to have a firm hand when it came to disciplining the Owens boys.

"It is time for class. PE will be held at the Quidditch pitch later this afternoon. So make sure you have your uniforms ready. Kippy says she will make sure they are clean, if you put them in the hampers before class," Mr. Scott said, changing the subject.

Now that tempers were cooler they all went back to the houseboat, very disappointed that their first interaction with Hogwarts was so volatile.

Gilly and Sirius went back to the cottage and called the aunts on the mirror and told them what had happened. Sirius was upset about how the diary had been taken care of, via the Headmaster. He felt a bit guilty, if he had not left it here, that poor girl wouldn't have been possessed. Guilt aside, it was good that the diary was now gone. Now all he had to worry about was the snake.

Agent Mumford left to find an area where she could call her superiors and let them know what happened. The rest of the SMI group spent the day like they did any other. Though they were a little disconcerted when a large group of students from the other three schools watched their PE class. Not knowing that those schools didn't have any sort of physical education.

Harry spent the night in meditation. He really needed to have a clearer head if he was going to deal with the Brits and the goblins. He couldn't afford to lose his cool like that again. Though the goblins were mostly on his side, thanks to Jim, they still were a grouchy bunch. Well, he would be dealing with them tomorrow after classes.