Interrible-gation

"Where have you been all these years, Harry?"

Harry crooks a brow in mock confusion, "Why are you asking? We don't know each other at all, and I'd rather not discuss my home life with you,-In fact, stop calling me Harry. Having a stranger call me so familiarly is putting me on edge." he states with dark inflexion, bordering on true actual hostility.

Dumbledore wets his lips at this, a single finger rhythmically tapping the desk, "As you wish, Mr Potter..." he offers, the words sounding awkward even to Harry's ears. "I'm not sure if you were aware, but a horrific accident occurred around the time you left your family's home... A fire broke out and claimed them I'm sorry to say." he shakes his head mournfully, "I'm also sorry that you didn't get the opportunity to attend their funeral. I'm sure it would have provided you closure."

"Show nothing, Master." Kali voices in his mind, prompting him to freeze his neutral expression. It helped too, as he was on the urge of grinning manically at the thought of the Dursleys burning alive. The memory of their horrified faces as he sacrificed them filled him with a morbid joy.

After a longer than usual pause, Harry nods, "I shouldn't have missed it, but I was elsewhere during that time."

"Elsewhere?" the old man probes.

...

"Why are you asking, Headmaster? I'm not sure this falls under your purview"

Dumbledore smiles slightly, "Actually, you would find that it is. Knowing where you have been allows the school to know what magical diseases you may have been exposed to, not to mention if you've received vaccinations for the common ones in Britain..."

Harry squints in irritation, "I assure you, Headmaster, I've received all of my vaccinations. I'm not a threat to your students."

"Hm? You have received them? With whom? Your magical guardian must have been present?"

Harry nods, "He was."

Dumbeldore pauses in thought, not betraying any expression but to Harry it was clear, he was panicking over the fact that he had a magical guardian. The old man had no real power over him, aside from that of a Headmaster.

"Is that all, Headmaster?"

"N-no. Not yet. Could I get the contact information of your magical guardian? It behoves me to establish a relationship with your carer. It's also necessary for the school to have an address to send important academic missives to you."

...

"I don't remember my address, but my magical guardian is called Pat Hashbury. Will that suffice?"

Dumbledore pauses in thought, seemingly irritated at the lack of actual information, before nodding, "For now... Ah, one last thing. Hogwarts only allows students to bring one pet. Snakes and bats aren't included in the list of acceptable familiars either, but I suppose I can make an exception. You will have to send one home however, it would set a bad precedent to give you favourable treatment."

...

Harry glances between Nanthisk and Kali before reluctantly nodding his head, "Yes, Headmaster... I'll have one sent home by tomorrow." he says and stands, stepping to leave the room.

"Oh, and Mr Potter." Dumbledore's voice starts as he reaches the door, Harry looks over his shoulder at the man expectantly.

"Be sure to behave, your father might have been a boisterous prankster, but he expressed himself with restraint. Remember that." he warns, the meaning in his words more than outright said. Harry wasn't sure what he was really saying, but Kali caught it.

"Hmph, that old schemer is already wary of you, Master. He suspects your 'friends' in Slytherin might end up like your cousins." he mentally explains.

"He's not wrong." Harry mentally remarks, sending a nod at the old man before finally leaving.

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Dumbledore squeezes the bridge of his nose when Harry finally leaves, far more wary of the boy than before. The boy gave no indication at all that he felt anything for his familial links. Not James and Lily, and certainly not the Dursleys. His lack of shock, sadness, or surprise at the news of his cousin's death made him a prime suspect.

He could feel the boy's power despite his age, meaning he could very well have been responsible for that vile magical fire that killed the Dursleys. There was also his familiars to keep in mind, while a Light wizard could possess a snake or bat familiar, for one to attract two, both powerful creatures from what he felt, it lent to Harry being influenced by dark magic, that or he himself embodied it.

"Pat Hashbury..." he sighs and shakes his head, quickly writing a letter to the Minister of Magic, then another for Remus to investigate whoever Harry's new guardian is.

Albus just hoped that Harry's time in Slytherin wouldn't inflame the situation. He already knew one boy who was corrupted by the same house, letting it happen to a child of prophecy would be disastrous, if it wasn't already too late...

Hopefully Severus would stop the worst of it.

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Harry and Gemma make their way back through the school towards the dungeons, she shows him a blank stone wall and says "Adroanzi" aloud, causing the wall to lift and reveal a passageway.

"Remember the password, and don't speak it to anyone, not even your fellow Slytherins." she orders and marching forward, leading him into a luxurious common room with green furniture, marble fireplaces, and clear windows that revealed the murky green depths of the black lake.

The place was mostly empty currently, the First Years all getting situated in their dorms while everyone else was tired after the long Hogwarts Express ride.

"This will be your room." Gemma states, knocking on the door which has a young boy with brown hair open it. "Nick, this will be your roommate, Harry Potter." she sends a hard look at them both, "Keep your dorm clean and don't expect the House Elves to do everything for you." she pauses, "Also, I would keep your door locked whenever you enter or leave if I were you." she warns.

"Why?" the boy, Nick asks.

"Because some of your Housemates are less than happy with your dormmate." she simply says, nodding her head at Harry. "Alright, set up and get to bed, you need to be up for breakfast at seven-thirty to receive your schedules." she says before exiting, leaving Harry alone with his tense-looking roommate.

"Er-"

"Don't talk to me. Treat me as if I don't exist and we'll get on fine... Or else." Harry warns and starts unpacking his things from his bottomless pouch.