A Taste of Magic

Chapter 47: 47th Course - Banking Lessons

"Ah Harry, splendid to see you!" Flitwick smiled at Harry warmly. "You look very good; I see working at the Hog's Head agrees with you."

Harry smiled back. "Good to see you too, Sir! I think so. I've learned a lot and I think I've gotten faster which is nice. Mr. Abe and Auntie Ari are a lot of fun too and they know a lot."

"They certainly do," Flitwick said. He and Harry started walking down the hall, away from Gryffindor tower. "Ariana is very talented with potions and she is very cheery. I once asked her why she doesn't teach the class here and she said her brothers wouldn't let her. Something about pushing someone's head into a cauldron not being an acceptable response."

He and Harry chuckled and Harry knew she would do something like that. She had pushed a flagon over someone's head at the Hog's Head once, after magically enlarging it of course.

"Aberforth is a good judge of character and has a wealth of experiences worth listening to, if you can make it past his gruff exterior," Flitwick continued. "They are fine folk." He hummed for a moment. "How have you gotten with working with…let's just say, less polite people?"

"As in some of the patrons at the Hog's Head? I've gotten better," Harry said truthfully. "I still don't like rude people much but I think I've gotten better with dealing with it."

"Good good." They entered Flitwick's office and Flitwick looked up at Harry, his easy-going expression becoming more serious. "Harry, I will not lie to you. You will experience a bit of difficulty where we are going. There are some with very strong feelings about magical humans, very strong feelings that may not be terribly positive. Try not to take it personally."

He patted Harry's hand when Harry gulped. "That said, you are no stranger to adversity and I have personally seen your composure and grit. I have no doubts that you will learn and benefit from the position and you will enjoy yourself. Eventually."

"I think I can handle it, or try to," Harry said with a small weak smile.

Flitwick looked at him proudly and a little sadly. He had heard what the Dursleys had said to him when he left their home the week prior, told by a still seething Dumbledore, and he too had been incredibly peeved. "I believe you will," Flitwick said sincerely.

He conjured a roaring flame in his hearth and dipped a hand into a pot of golden powder. He flung a handful in and the fire turned silver-gold. "This is Floo travel. We travel from magical fireplace to magical fireplace using Floo powder. What I used is a variant that is only used by goblins, normal Floo is green."

"Does it hurt?" Harry asked, looking at the fire with trepidation.

"Not at all," Flitwick soothed. "It is rather disorienting however. Normally you state the destination before stepping in but this one is only connected to one other so go on, take a step in."

Harry took a deep breath, and after an encouraging nod and smile from Flitwick, took a hesitant step into the Floo fire. He yelped when he felt himself be whisked away by magic. Everything swirled around him and he could hear a riot of noises as he did. The fire and flames were not hot but the air rushed past him and soon he was practically launched out. He tumbled out the opposite hearth and landed in a heap, winded.

Rough laughter and snorts could be heard and when he looked up, head spinning slightly, he saw goblins around. Most were walking past or doing other things but a few stood and stopped and stared at him. Some looked at him curiously, more suspiciously. Before any approached, however, Flitwick came stepping out neatly from the hearth.