The Problem

"What is your problem?"

Harry sighed and turned. "I was just curious," he said wanly. "I didn't think about how I could get poisoned."

Seamus Finnegan glared at Harry. "Well you should've! Now we're the laughing stock of the school because we got someone who was eating things in Potions!"

"I wasn't eating them," Harry said, growing defensive. "They're described as similar to regular chive and ginger and like I said, I wanted to see how they tasted. I didn't think it was a big deal." He looked around. Seamus had stopped him a few hallways down from the Potions' classroom and the other boys from his House were around him. The girls from the House had walked past but had stopped a little farther down to watch.

"At least he made up a reason," Dean Thomas said in what he thought was a soothing way. It had the opposite effect unfortunately.

"I didn't make up a reason," Harry said shortly. "I do like to cook."

"You're eleven, you don't know how," Seamus said snidely.

It was Harry's turn to glare. "Don't tell me what I do or don't know."

Seamus bristled. "Whatever. Just don't do it again. Even Longbottom knows not to just eat things in class like that." He ignored Neville Longbottom's look and flush. "Don't you know how to act?"

"No, I don't. I literally found out about magic a week ago. Not all of us are lucky to grow up with family, or ones that know about magic," Harry retorted.

"Then why does Dean and Granger know how?" Seamus spat back. "They're Muggleborn and they know what to do."

Hermione Granger down the hall narrowed her eyes at the scene while Dean looked a little uncomfortable but said nothing.

"It's no use," Ronald Weasley said, giving Harry an unkind look. "I sat with him on the train and he's rude. Commented on how different our candy is and had a go at my mum."

"I didn't!" Harry threw up his hands. "I asked if you knew how your mum made the sandwiches! They tasted different to me than corn beef I've had before and I was curious. They tasted good! And I've never had magical candy before, of course I thought they would be different."

"You're so food obsessed," Seamus said with disgust. "You act like a starving dog, would do anything for a scrap." He and the other boys stared at Harry's face. A flicker of anger had flashed before the boy's face became utterly still and cold. "Wh-where're you going?"

Harry continued to walk away. "Somewhere else. I know how to act when people don't want me around."

Parvati Patil tugged on Lavender Brown's arm. "Come on, let's go," Parvati said softly.

Lavender continued to look down the hall, watching Harry turn the corner and at the other boys arguing among themselves. "Okay," she replied softly.

....

Albus Dumbledore finished writing his latest thought. The Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry was the picture of what one might imagine when they think of the word wizard. He was aged, his hair completely grey but still full of life. His beard was long and straight, perfect for looking thoughtful and wise when pulled. Blue eyes peered intelligently from behind plain rectangle glasses.

He looked up at the professors of the core classes that the school offered: Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms, Potions, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. "Well then, if there is anything else someone would like to bring up?" At the headshakes, he nodded companionably. "Excellent. Meeting adjourned then." After a few moments, he realized how one of the professors had hung back slightly. "Yes, Severus?"

Snape hesitated. "I had a strange…incident of sorts to bring to your attention, actually."

"By all means," Dumbledore said.

"I caught Potter eating potion ingredients."

Minerva McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration professor frowned. "He was eating the ingredients?"

"Tasting, or eating," Snape said.

"Whatever for?" she asked.

"He claimed that he wanted to see if they tasted any different than their Muggle analogues."

"Hmm, well that is a reasonable question I suppose," Dumbledore said. "And a fairly reasonable way to find out. Do we know why he was curious about it?"

"He claims he likes to cook," Snape said.

"He is only eleven, what does he know about cooking?" McGonagall huffed.

"That was my reasoning as well," Snape said. "He also said he purchased additional books in preparation and was…looking forward to my class."

"And that upsets you it seems," Dumbledore chuckled, chuckling harder at Snape's sour look. "Hagrid did mention that Mister Potter did buy more books when he took him to Diagon for his school shopping. Hagrid made sure they were not inappropriate books as far as spellwork went, but did not make a note of what exactly he bought."

"I did pay more attention to him after the incident and his ability to use a knife is different compared to his peers. Better, if I am forced to admit it," Snape said quietly. "Completely unexpected."

"Of course you would be upset if a student from a different House is performing well," McGonagall said with the barest trace of snideness in her tone.

"You were the one that recommended I pay more attention to those outside my House for more altruistic reasons," Snape retorted. "I would be amenable to go back to ignoring them."

Dumbledore cleared his throat lightly, interrupting the burgeoning argument. "I assume you told him not to do that in the future?" he asked. At Snape's nod, he continued, "Then the lesson was taught and we will hope Mister Potter learns. As far as the other professors are concerned, he seems to be doing well for the first week of school. What do you two say?"

"He is fine," McGonagall said.

Snape nodded blandly.

"Good. We will try to keep an eye on him during mealtimes to see if any other concerning behavior is shown." After McGonagall and Snape left his office, the headmaster leaned back in his chair and looked thoughtfully out the window.