If the Headmaster believed that relations between the professors and his star student, Brian, were destined to change, he was not entirely mistaken, but he certainly hadn't envisioned how. He had presumed that the teachers themselves would go out of their way to grant Brian special treatment, yet this did not come to pass.
The various professors rightly concluded that if they afforded Brian differentiated treatment, he would merely become complacent and fail to mature as he ought. It was abundantly clear to them that the indulgence he had received from both his parents and the Headmaster had already fostered such a belief, as evidenced throughout the previous term, when he consistently demonstrated his conviction that he was superior to everyone present, particularly his brother, whom he had even called a Squib despite Harry's excellent displays of magic.
So, after a general consensus, it was decided that instead of granting Brian favoured treatment, he would be singled out by demanding more than the average, not less, and simultaneously being harsher with his failures. In essence, they would treat him in a manner similar to how they treated Harry. If, after such demanding treatment, Brian showed a definite improvement in his grades, they would continue this approach until he was finally moved up a year. If not, they would persist in trying to make him show a marked improvement.
At the same time, when the issue of the other brother, Harry, was discussed, it was agreed that they would continue to treat him the same and demand the same from him. The boy had talent, and what better way to help him than to demand as much as possible from him.
It was therefore very easy to observe all the teachers treating the younger of the two brothers far more harshly than before. Now they demanded twice as much from him as when they had been unaware of his supposed role in the future of the war. It was no longer sufficient for him to merely scrape by; now it was imperative that he perform perfectly.
Concurrently, Harry also found himself with a tremendous amount of work. The news of his early examinations caused the teenager to plunge into a slight study frenzy. He had so much to review and learn that it was almost impossible for him to carry out the rest of his responsibilities. The production of Wolfsbane Potion had all but ground to a halt. Had it not been for Ginna's sudden assistance, that would surely have been the case.
The Seer had been observing her young student struggle with all his responsibilities, barely managing to keep up, and finally had no choice but to lend him a hand – at least, with some of his responsibilities, such as his potions.
Over the months she had known the boy, she had grown to admire him. Since childhood, everything had seemingly gone against him; his parents barely acknowledged his existence, and when they did, it was typically to ridicule him. In spite of everything, and despite his very low self-confidence (though it was gradually growing), the boy had turned out to be an exceptional young man. That was something his teachers had also noticed and encouraged as much as possible. In fact, Ginna knew the truth: more than one teacher believed that if they had to put their faith in either of the two brothers, they would be right to choose the elder. It was a pity that those who truly needed to realise this wouldn't see it until it was too late.
A light tap on the window of her room broke the teacher's reflections on her student. There, on the other side of the glass, was an owl with a letter, trying in every possible way to gain their attention so it could be let inside.
"Whose could that be?" the young wizard wondered aloud, looking at it. "All owls usually wait until breakfast to deliver the mail."
"Obviously from someone who prefers not to wait and has given precise instructions to the bird," his mentor replied, smiling slightly. "Go open the window for him. I don't think he'll leave until you not only read the letter but also give him an answer."
The boy opened the window, and the bird of prey flew to the nearest perch where it settled and offered the envelope tied to its leg. She was a very beautiful owl, but it seemed she was quite tired and rather old. The moment the letter was withdrawn, she prepared to sleep and rest.
"It's from Remus… Why would Remus write me such an urgent letter, one that can't wait until breakfast?"
"If you don't open it, you won't know," Ginna chuckled, amused.
"That's true enough."
The boy opened the letter quickly, filled with impatience to hear from his favourite uncle, but at the same time, full of apprehension in case something bad had happened to him. Then, when he read it, he felt just as nervous as before. Remus didn't clarify anything for him; on the contrary, it made him even more anxious than before.
"Harry,
We need to talk. I have discovered something important that we must discuss.
Let's meet at the Three Broomsticks on the Saturday you visit Hogsmeade… the one before Halloween.
Please tell me if you can; it's very important.
Moony"
"What does he want?" the woman asked, startling the boy.
"To meet in Hogsmeade, on the next outing there."
"But you have examinations on Halloween… I thought you were going to study all day and stay here."
"That was my intention."
"And what is it that makes you doubt?"
"That he says he has something important to explain to me… And if he says it's important, it truly is important. That's why I'm hesitating. What should I do, Ginna?"
The woman looked thoughtful for a few moments, and then looked at the letter with something akin to indecision. Then, after a couple of minutes, she fixed her gaze on Harry and smiled.
"Go and see him," she replied decisively. "You are more than prepared for your examinations. In fact, I'd say you're over-prepared. You haven't seen him for two months, and you yourself have said that he wouldn't call you so close to your examinations if it weren't important. I also wish to meet him."
Harry smiled and ran for a quill and parchment to give his favourite uncle an affirmative answer, already wondering what Remus could possibly have to explain, at the same time that he eagerly anticipated the two weeks before he saw him again.
The rest of the days until the Hogsmeade Saturday arrived, Harry spent with the same study frenzy he had maintained during the two months of the term. The examinations were dangerously close, from his point of view, and he wanted to perform his absolute best. He was so engrossed that on the Saturday before Halloween, he woke up not knowing what day it was. Although, of course, his roommates took it upon themselves to remind him, with the general impatience and enthusiasm that reigned in the atmosphere.
Now more awake and animated, he dressed as quickly as possible, while gently shooing Night away from his clothes. Then, allowing himself to be infected by the prevailing enthusiasm, he went down to breakfast with the rest, listening to them talk about what they planned to see in the village and adding his two cents.
After breakfast, he approached his mentor, who looked at him with an amused expression and made a slight gesture for him to follow her.
"What time did you arrange to meet Remus?"
"At lunchtime. He told me he'd hire a private area for us to talk," the boy answered. "You know what he wants to talk to me about, don't you?"
"Of course."
"Oh, come on, tell me!"
"No chance. Our power is to help, not to satiate curiosity. You'll find out in a few hours. And besides, if you've been able to wait two weeks, you can wait a few more hours."
The boy's expression was hilarious, at least for the Seer, who laughed heartily. Harry was very mature – he had to be, after the treatment he had received from his parents – but there were times like this when he acted like a child. It was good enough to see him act, even if it was just occasionally, more in accordance with his age. Shaking her head, she began to make her way to the village, hoping that for the first time, he would behave like a thirteen-year-old teenager.
Perhaps that's precisely why his mentor insisted on taking him through practically all the places boys his age idolised. From an obligatory visit to Honeydukes to stock up on a lot of sweets – and they really did buy a lot – to the Quality Quidditch Supplies shop, where Ginna was determined to buy him some protectors for when he played, and ending up at Zonko's Joke Shop, where he allowed himself to be overwhelmed by the atmosphere (and why not, by his friends' enthusiasm and his own blood), he bought a few jokes, although he didn't know who he could play them on.
By lunchtime, the boy had enjoyed this visit to Hogsmeade as he had never enjoyed one before. With a huge smile, they both made their way to the Three Broomsticks, where Remus was surely waiting for them. Ignoring the large number of students and teachers, the two turned to Madam Rosmerta to ask for the werewolf and then proceeded to where she had indicated.
Harry barely had time to step through the door when he was enveloped in a strong embrace and pulled into the room. If it hadn't been for the fact that he already knew in advance that Remus would be waiting for him, he would surely have been scared to death.
"Hello, Uncle Moony, I'm glad to see you," he muttered, trapped against the werewolf's chest.
"I'm glad to see you too," Remus chuckled. "Let me look at you… You've grown a good few inches since I last saw you. I like the carelessness, anything that shows a bit of spirit."
"Don't exaggerate!" Harry exclaimed, giving him an affectionate push. "Moony, let me introduce you to Ginna, my mentor," he added, gesturing towards the Seer. "Ginna, this is Remus."
"Nice to meet you," they both said at the same time.
"Good. What did you want to talk to me about, Remus? It seemed important."
"It is. Sit."
The three of them sat down and drank from the Butterbeers that the werewolf had ordered prior to their arrival. When they were all seated and more or less relaxed, Remus leaned forward slightly and focused his gaze on the boy.
"I don't know if you're aware, but I've been researching your powers and abilities for a long time… I suppose you know that it's not very normal for so many capacities of this type to manifest in a single person, right?" In response to Harry's questioning look, he added, "Neither did I… That's why I've been researching for the past two years."
"And what have you discovered?"
"Well… For centuries, there have been people who have possessed some of your abilities. What is left out of the records, except in some very rare and ancient manuscripts, is that you are not the first wizard in whom so many and such strange abilities are developed."
"I'm not?"
"No," the man reiterated. "There have been very few, it's true, and they can almost be counted on the fingers of one hand, but they existed. The most important thing is that whenever someone like this has appeared, there has been a very radical change in society. What these wizards are usually called, they are Mages."
"A Mage? I had never heard that name."
"It is not commonly used," Remus explained. "Normally, they are known for a certain period, and then when another appears, they tend to be forgotten. The last Mage that existed was Merlin himself…"
"You must be mistaken!"
"Of course not. Do you think I would have told you something if I hadn't thoroughly corroborated it?"
"No, but…"
"But nothing. Harry, you are a Mage. I don't know what you will do in the future that will change society as we know it, but whatever it is, it will come. No one is telling you to do it now or tomorrow… I am only telling you what I have discovered. What you do with that information is yours, and yours alone."