A New Dawn

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling nervous as I walked to school the day after Halloween. The Thursday morning was crisp and cool, and I grew more anxious the closer I got to Woolingsby.

'What will Harry think?' I couldn't help but wonder. 'And Sam? How is this going to change our dynamic? Our friendship?'

I did not regret telling them about magic. It was a risk, yes, but it was something that'd needed to be done.

My thoughts then drifted to the real reason I was so nervous.

'I just hope Harry is alright,' I thought to myself. 'Dudley better not have gotten Harry into any trouble, or I swear to god I will call Child Protective Services on the Dursleys and damn the consequences!'

Walking past the tree Harry had struck with his lightning yesterday, I was relieved to see that the flames hadn't spread far, and that other than being split down the middle, no damage to the surroundings had occurred. I couldn't help but wonder if any Obliviators had come by, or if the magical outburst had even been noticed. I had only a vague idea of how the trace worked thanks to my mother and some books I'd read, but so far it seemed that Harry wasn't under its influence yet since no one had come snooping around.

I reached the school building with my mind awhirl over a dozen different topics, and went inside, making a beeline to the library. Within the familiar book-stuffed walls, I felt some of the tension leave me when I spotted Harry waiting at our usual table in the back. So, he didn't want to ditch me just yet.

"Morning," I greeted him, trying to seem casual.

"Morning," he replied back.

"Are you okay? Did Dudley or anyone else give you a hard time for coming home late?" I asked him, and to my relief he shook his head.

"No, Dudley and his gang were out trick-or-treating when Mr. Parson dropped me off," Harry said with a shake of his head. "And I was able to sneak in through the back without Aunt Petunia noticing. And when Dudley did get back, he was too hopped up on sugar to do anything expect crash."

I grimaced at the fact he'd had to sneak around like that, and decided to distract myself with handing over the breakfast and lunch Inky had made for him.

"How are you holding up with, uh, what I told you yesterday?" I inquired, and Harry bit his lip in thought before answering.

"It's hard to believe," he admitted. "But everything just… makes sense now that I have a context for it."

"Good," I nodded.

"And you said I'd be going to a new school soon?" he asked hopefully. "Hogwash?"

"Hogwarts," I corrected. "And yes. You'll get a letter, possibly by owl – we use owls to deliver mail, if you recall from last night's lecture – or some other odd, magical way, around the time you turn 11."

"I turn eleven next July," he said, a note of hope and excitement within his voice. "I really won't have to spend the year with them?"

"Yup. It's a boarding school. You can leave during winter and spring breaks, and you have to come back for the summer, but that's manageable, hopefully."

"Yeah. Maybe if they don't see me for more than six months out of the year, it'll make things better the short while I do have to stay around them," Harry said, looking excited at the prospect.

Damn it, now I wanted to hug the poor boy! What kind of life does he live where he thinks that sort of deal is the best sort he can hope for?!

"Well, until you're going there, you have some school work to do here," I said, motioning for him to hand over the homework I needed to go over. He grimaced but complied, giving it to me.

"Can't I just flunk them?" Harry pleaded. "They won't matter in the long run!"

"No can do," I replied with a chuckle. "I made a promise to get your grades up, and I'm going to do just that! Besides, I think keeping up with your muggle studies while also getting a magical education wouldn't hurt you."

"That seems like hard work," Harry grumbled.

"Probably. But hey, look at it this way! You'll impress the ladies in both worlds if you can show off your high grades."

Harry scrunched up his nose at the thought of 'girls' and shook his head with a grimace, which only made me chuckle harder.

"One day," I promised him. "One day."

"Tell me more about that sport wizards play," Harry pleaded, trying to change the subject.

Seeing the sparkle in his eye as I explained Quidditch and flying brooms to him, I knew that he was going to be a real broom-head, just like his counterpart in the books.

....

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