𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐃𝐎𝐌

Chapter 27

“Harry. Harry.” Albus shook his shoulder and rubbed his back. “It’s time to wake up, son. Breakfast is in an hour.” Harry’s eyes fluttered open to see Albus sitting on the bed already dressed.

“Good morning,” Harry said sleepily with a grin rubbing his eyes. “I slept so well. That’s the first good night’s rest I’ve had since we got here.”

“And who’s fault is that? Hmm? You took off toward the Slytherin dungeon to spend the night with Draco after all. You knew you wouldn’t get much sleep in his bed,” Albus berated softly like a loving parent and looked over his glasses.

Harry smiled in guilt. “I know. I won’t do it again. I promised.”

“I trust you. Now, take your shower and dress while I prepare some paperwork. I’ll be here at my desk,” Albus gave him a quick squeeze and went to the desk as Harry got up and bathed and prepared for the day. Harry was brushing his teeth with the extra toothbrush that just happened to be there. Not an accident, Harry thought. Harry remembered Sara was coming today and as he brushed he talked to Dumbledore in his mind.

//Sara’s coming today. Where will her quarters be? Will they be near Severus?//

“She has the option of staying on either the fourth floor teacher’s quarters or in the dungeons.”

//Gee, I wonder where she’ll pick to stay?// Harry laughed through his brushing and heard Albus chuckle along with him as he spat in the sink and rinsed.

Harry eyed himself to check for the usual sixteen year old man determining factors and was a bit irritated that no chest or facial hair was there yet. Damn. Harry continued to dress in the clothing that the houselves had left him.

“When will I ever get any chest hair? Or need to shave? I just don’t get it. Some of the other guys in my dorm already have both. It’s not fair,” Harry complained as he came back into the room to put on his shoes. Albus was working and grinning at his desk.

“The growth in your hair follicles does not signify your coming into manhood. Becoming a man is about your attitude and how you conduct your affairs.”

“But it makes me look like a little kid. I hate that,” Harry complained pulling on a sock. “And my hair…it’s always messy whatever I do to it. Looks like I always got off a broom after Quidditch.”

“I think it’s very endearing to your appearance. And I quite like it. It’s just you.”

“But you have to say that. Just once I wish my hair would do what I want. I don’t ask it for much, I really don’t,” Harry said tying the shoe. Albus laughed softly to himself.

“How was dinner with the Slytherins last night? I forgot to ask you about that.”

“It was great. Most of them were very nice. The only ones that really just outright hate me are Nott, Millicent, and Pansy. But that’s expected,” Harry said.

“I see. I’m glad you got along well with them.” Albus said as he worked. Harry had thoughts but had never mentioned them before.

“I don’t understand something. Why do the houses have to sit with each other at meals? I really don’t think that the houses know that they can sit somewhere else. Or…are we allowed to sit somewhere else?” Harry asked seriously.

“Yes, all students are allowed to sit wherever they wish during normal school days,” Albus paused for a moment. “Harry, do you think the students know that?”

“Well, I’ve been here for five years and I had to ask. What do you think?” Harry jested with a laugh.

“Hmm. Interesting.”