Really? Harry had never thought to talk to that portrait...but he'd been learning so much from his family portraits. The topic sounded a bit weak for Harry's interests, but he planned to attend. The Fat Lady might have more to say than just matters of tradition, which Harry had once been interested by but had now spent a portion of the summer learning about from family portraits. He didn't feel so lost.
"We have an enchanter coming, someone who has created both brooms and those beautiful ever-living roses in glass balls. Since we had a talk on dueling, I thought we should have one on Quidditch as a career so we have three professional players coming for that meeting."
Ron cheered as did several others, though not Harry.
"I do have more to finalize. I will post the details of the next class on the board, but feel free to ask me about future ones. The dates move around a little, especially Madam Warbeck's, but I think we'll have a good year."
Hermione couldn't have been happier having people appreciate her hard work. Harry felt so proud of her. She really had spent her summer organizing this.
...
The next day, Harry woke early. He got dressed and Ron and Neville were still asleep. He didn't see Hermione in the common room. Harry walked to the Great Hall and they weren't serving yet. Harry settled on a walk.
He also needed to buy a watch that worked. He took off the one he wore and tucked it into his pocket. There had to be a store that sold watches via owl order. Or... Wait, he got to go to Hogsmeade this year. He had already figured the place out in the summer after his first year so it wasn't a great mystery. But they did sell watches there.
And boys took girls there, too. Something to think about for later.
Harry discovered he wasn't alone on the grounds. It wasn't Hagrid or anyone he recognized. "Hello," Harry said.
"Morning, Potter."
Harry stopped immediately. How did this man know who he was?
"Don't mind me."
"Are you looking for Lestrange and Rookwood?" Harry asked.
"I'm counting windows in Hogwarts..."
Of all the possible answers... "Counting windows?"
"There is something in there. Something we cannot find in any ordinary room. So we're assessing where hidden rooms might be."
"You're starting from the outside, counting windows. Then you'll make sure the count matches when you're inside," Harry said.
"Right."
"What if that doesn't work..."
"I don't know that it will. But if it fails, we can get a bit more tricky..."
"Can I help for a while?" Harry asked.
"I'm told you already did. Found a diary, didn't you?"
Harry stepped back. "How did you know?"
"I'm looking for the others, of course."
"More diaries?"
"Could be anything really."
"So how will you know?"
"One piece can lead us to the others. We built a detector of sorts. One item is here somewhere. With the wards and all the students, it's a trick to figure out exactly where. Magic like this isn't a simple spell."
Why was this man telling Harry? Sure, Harry had found the diary, but he didn't need to know the rest of it.
"Question you want to ask, Mr. Potter?"
"I think the less I know, the less danger I'm in, really."
"I doubt that."
"From you. From whoever you're working with."
"We'd be of a mind to recruit you in the future. Complete a mastery of some type and we'd be more interested."
What in the world... "So this was an interview?"
"You've been interviewed several times by people who are known to us. Some of the reports are positive. Others not. That's how it should be. Anyone who gets unanimous support is buying votes and that triggers a whole different set of protocols."
"What if I don't want to be interviewed?" Harry asked.
"If we want you, we'll ask. You can say no. Many do the first time. I didn't join up until the third invitation when I was in my late twenties. It's interesting work. Though finding a small thing in a castle this size is giving me fits, Mr. Potter. This isn't a typical project, not at all."
Right. Harry didn't have any idea what this man was on about. He would report it to someone, though. A crazy man on the grounds.
"I have to go now," Harry said.
"Yeah, I said something similar at the end of my first talk like this. It'll all make sense later."
No, it wouldn't. Harry loved magic, but some of the people must have their brains go soggy from being around too much of it.
Harry would pen a letter to Sirius later. He saw McGonagall as she made her way into the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry told her what had happened. Her response: 'I shall inform the Headmaster.'
She was little help, which was service as usual. Glorified secretary...
Harry should have just waited for Headmaster Flamel.
Harry sat at breakfast and looked at the tables. No Slytherins. A few Ravenclaws. All the Hufflepuffs were done. It was stupidly early in the morning and on a Sunday. Why were they all up? Some secret Hufflepuff society or something. Harry just didn't know.
.....
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