The right path

Six

Harry Potter was engulfed by green flames and started spinning. He started to get dizzy, he really didn't like floo travel. Suddenly he came to a stop and before his eyes he could see an office he knew rather well. Dumbledore's office...wait no...not yet, this was Armando Dippet's office. It was mostly the same as what he remembered, just...tidier. There were no small trinkets buzzing in the desk, and there were less bookshelves lining the walls. He was tempted to go and investigate what else was different in this time, but he refrained, telling himself that he had plenty of time for that when he started classes tomorrow. Suddenly, he noticed a very old man sitting in the headmaster's chair, watching him with a hint of amusement in his eyes. Well, that must be Dippet.

"Er... Hello. My name is Harry, Harry Potter. Mr. Smith told me to come and wait here for him while he attended some business at the Leaky Cauldron. There was a fight, you see, between some drunk wizards, so he sent me beforehand. I hope that is not an inconvenience sir..."

Harry was very nervous, he hoped that auror Smith arrived soon, he was not sure what he had to arrange, or what he had to act like in front of Dippet. After all he never met the man, in the future he was already dead. Judging by the headmaster's expression, though, he seemed very nice.

"Well, hello Mr. Potter. It is, of course, not an inconvenience. On the contrary, it is always a pleasure to meet young wizards. They are so full of dreams and vitality that I wish no more than to talk to them and discover their unique point of view. Come, take a seat."

With that he conjured a chair out of thin air, wordlessly. Harry obediently sat down on the provided chair, still a little bit nervous, but feeling better. Dippet looked like a good man, he decided. But once again, so did Dumbledore, and still, he wasn't a good man, fooling everyone with his grandfatherly facade.

"So, auror Smith wrote a letter informing me of your situation. I will of course support you however I can, as it is my duty being that I'm your headmaster. Yes, I've already informed the staff and arrange everything for you to start the term normally. Now, will you need me to put your name in the funding system?"

Harry was utterly surprised. This man had already accepted him even before he knew him. And Harry was not famous in this timeline, nor an important part of a big 'saving the world' plan. Had he met a headmaster that really cared about his students? Harry then realized what he was doing, not answering the question and getting himself look like a fool. He closed his mouth and regained his composure, he was determined to start his new opportunity as better as he could.

"No sir, I don't think I will need the funds. I inherited my grandfather's old vault. I will need someone to accompany me to retrieve my gold, though. And sir... thank you very much. For accepting me in the school. I will make everything I can to prove I am worthy."

The old headmaster only chuckled to that. He was very curious about what this boy had to offer. He seemed much more composed than other thirteen year olds. Maybe with the exception of Tom Riddle. That boy hadn't even reacted to the first sight of the great hall, when all of his peers were taking everything in open-mouthed. At least Harry had explored the room with curiosity, and displayed emotions easily. He just was...taking everything very easily.

"That will be no problem, I already know you are worthy. Every magical kid is. But I have a feeling you will indeed do great things. Now, more pressing matters. We need to know which optative classes you are going to take. As a homeschooled student you probably don't know what this is about, but in Hogwarts, third year students take classes they think will help them on their career. Here is the list of classes we have to offer. And you can also choose an elective, from this other list. This is for any students thirteen and up who want to get an early start in their chosen career. For those we only offer 'Healing and muggle techniques', 'Politics', and 'Magical journalism'. You can enter now, or later if you so wish, or simply not, it is just a way to prepare our students for some of the careers that require more preparation than the basic one you get in a normal curriculum."

Dippet handed him a piece of parchment with the classes' names and descriptions. There were more or less the same as in the future. Divination, care of magical creatures, muggle studies, aritmancy, ancient runes, and some that he didn't recognize: wizarding studies, magical development, and the art of rituals. Those three seemed interesting, he wondered why they disappeared.

Just then, Harry felt James' arrival to his mind. 'Those classes disappeared during Dumbledore's time as headmaster. He thought they weren't necessary, so, when the magical development teacher died, he didn't seek for a replacement, and soon started changing the curriculum.'

That was a depressing thought. Harry always thought that Dumbledore supported knowledge, even if he wasn't the biggest person ever, the man always displayed a knowledge loving aura. Was it just as fake as his grandfatherly facade? Did Harry even know the man, just a little? He had put all of his faith in the man before, and now he just felt used. He felt James leave, he guessed he needed to attend to his present situation, so he left that vein of thought.

Wizarding studies was the equivalent to muggle studies, so the muggleborn students could learn about the wizarding culture. Magical development was  aimed at the creation of new spells, potions, rites, etc. However you needed to take Aritmancy and Ancient runes to take that one. Harry wondered if it would be too much for him to take those three. Everyone said they were extremely complicated in the future, so he didn't choose those when they asked back then. Well...he didn't really focus on his future or anything when he chose, he just picked the ones Ron took so he would have help if he was too bad at them. Now he wouldn't have that, he didn't have friends, at least not yet. So...magical development seemed quite interesting, in fact it was the first thing that caught his eye, he was always curious as to how magic worked. This was his opportunity to understand all of it better. So yes, he would take those three classes, to hell if they are difficult, he could manage, if he could face a dark lord and survive he could do anything.
The other class, the art of rituals, was the theory behind rituals and the historical background of those practices. He wasn't tempted to take that one, but maybe it was because he knew he would have his time full with other classes that caught his attention more.

In the end, Harry decided he wanted to take Aritmancy, Ancient runes, Magical development and care of magical creatures. He dropped the idea of having divination the minute he heard his life was destroyed by a bloody prophecy. He didn't need that class, thank you very much. Even if was an easy grade or whatever. And he wouldn't take any electives as of now, he didn't really knew what he wanted to do after Hogwarts, so he would take his time to see what he wanted, and then maybe try an elective. He marked the ones he would take and handed the parchment back to the headmaster.

"Oh, I see. I took those classes myself, too. You won't be disappointed young man, they are quite interesting and challenging. Very well, when auror Smith arrives we will head down for lunch and sort everything out afterwards. But you can go shopping for your robes and books during that time. I'll arrange for professor Dumbledore, my deputy headmaster, to accompany you and bring you back in time for your sorting and the welcoming feast. Is that okay?"

"Yes sir, quite."

And in that moment, green flames revealed auror Smith. Just in time, too. Well, at least Harry could finally eat.