"It's in the school rules, Lord Potter," she replied.
Harry gave a small snort and calmly said, "Professor, you seem to be operating under an error of fact. The school rules state that all students must wear Hogwarts uniform for, 'A', the school feasts - this not a feast - and, 'B', for all classes, unless leave is otherwise given by a member of staff with the authority to grant such leave - and this is not a class.
"As such, as per the school rules, I am quite within the rules of the school to be wearing civilian wear right now. My school day is done. Actually, since this is a Friday, my school week is done.
"Do you have any questions for me, Professor, concerning the information I have just clarified for you?"
As Harry spoke the Professor's face changed from confusion to shock. He knew she wasn't being malicious with her question to him about his lack of uniform, so he'd chosen to remain polite and gently lead her through to the truth.
"Errr... No, Lord Potter," she eventually replied. "Thank you. I shall endeavour to update my knowledge on the school rules with some measure of haste."
He gave a small abbreviated bow and said, "That sounds wise, Professor."
When he returned to the table, a worried Hermione immediately asked, "Are you in trouble?"
"No," he replied. "The Professor was operating under a misunderstanding of the rules of the school. I clarified it for her."
Surprised, she asked, "She didn't know the rules?"
He smiled back and said, "Do you?"
Confused, she asked, "Sorry?"
He smirked and asked, "Tell me, Miss Granger, what is the first rule of the school rules?"
As she tried to remember she suddenly realised she had no idea, and looked back at him in shock. She quietly replied, "I... don't know."
"The first rule of the school rules is that all students and staff must read, understand and obey the school rules," he replied. "Have you breached that rule, Miss Granger?"
Shocked even more Harry saw her try to figure that out before her expression suddenly closed and she looked at him with suspicion. "You have a copy of them, don't you?"
"Of course," he grinned. "And, before you ask, I'll give it to you once we're back in the apartment."
She scowled back for a moment before she switched to her own smirk.
She turned to the side and softly called, "Betsy."
When the elf quietly popped in she said, "Could you locate for me a Potter copy of the Hogwarts school rules and put it on the table, here?"
"Yes, Mistress," the elf curtseyed and popped away again.
She spun back to Harry and smirked at him. Harry quietly chuckled and gave her a little quiet clap.
About five seconds later the elf was back with a copy of the book that contained the school rules, the history of the changes to the rules and the charter of the school.
She immediately flicked it open and began to read the first few pages.
"Lunch, first, Hermione," he chided her. "The information in the book is not going anywhere."
She gave a small blush and said, "Just the introduction, Harry. I promise."
Knowing the introduction was only a couple of paragraphs he nodded.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Meanwhile, up on the head table as Babbling returned to her seat, Marchbanks asked, "What was that about, my dear?" Though, she actually had a fair idea.
Babbling continued to sit and then leaned forward to look around Sinistra to answer. "According to Lord Potter, the rules state he does not need to wear his Hogwarts uniform to meals other than the feasts."
Marchbanks frowned and said, "Of course not. Whatever gave you the idea he did?"
Blushing in embarrassment, she replied, "I believed they did because they always do."
Marchbanks made a little 'Tsk' sound of annoyance and said, "Have you not read the Hogwarts rules for yourself, dear?"
"I did not know they were written down anywhere," she replied.
That made Marchbanks frown even more. "Of course they are. How can you expect the students, or even yourself, to obey the rules if they and you do not know what they are?"
"I... had not thought of that," she shamefully admitted.
"Well!" huffed Marchbanks. "It appears we need to correct that knowledge with some level of alacrity!"
She then looked to Harry and watched as his young lady summoned an elf behind her. A few moments later, what she recognised as a copy of the rules even from this distance, appeared on the table before her.
'Clever,' she thought.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
As lunch broke up due to students needing to get to afternoon classes, including Hermione, Harry asked her to show him where the Arithmancy classroom was.
"Frowning in confusion, she asked, "Why?"
"Because I'm just curious?" he asked right back.
"You've never... oh," she replied. "That was the old Harry."
"Yup," he replied.
"Are you thinking of also adding Arithmancy to your schedule?" she asked.
"No," replied. "I won't have the time. I've no doubt I'll have enough work to do with the added load of being the Lord of One of the Seven."
"Well, alright then," she replied.
He was glad she didn't push it, as the reason he wanted to know where it was had to do with his promise to Wendell and his personal desire to protect her. He felt he'd have an easier time of it if he knew her approximate location during classes throughout the week.
Though Marchbanks had made it clear to all her views and the new punishments for attacks within the school, there would still be those who thought themselves above that sort of thing; or thought they'd get away with it, if they were caught. Harry had no intention of Hermione being the one attacked by those who thought they could.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After finding out the Arithmancy classroom was in the same area of the school as the Ancient Runes classroom, he saw her enter the room and walked off.
He hadn't even realised where he was headed until he realised he was walking up the corridor towards the Headmas- Headmistress's office gargoyle.
'Hunh!' he thought. 'Why not?'
Approaching the gargoyle he said to it, "Lord Potter to see the Headmistress, if she's available."
The gargoyle didn't move for a few long seconds before it suddenly, nimbly hopped aside, as the stairs beyond began to rotate upwards.
Stepping through and onto the stairs, he patiently rode them up to the top. Then knocked on the door.
"Enter," he heard from within.
Opening the door and walking in, he saw the woman sitting behind her desk at the other end and calmly walked forward. She appeared to be writing something down.
As he did, she glanced up for a moment and conjured a comfortable cushioned chair before her desk. "Good afternoon, Lord Potter," she said. "Take a seat."
As Harry sat down, Marchbanks finished up what she was looking through, set it aside and asked, "What can I do for you?"
"Something I had meant to mention to you much earlier that this, but had slipped my mind," he began, "Are you aware Dumbledore removed from the mandatory book lists for First Years the need for a copy of the school rules?"
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