MERLIN'S ACADEMY.

(Set beginning of Harry's fifth year) Harry is angry after being kept in the dark by Ron and Hermione, and furious with the Ministry slandering his name. So when he receives an acceptance letter to 'Merlin's Academy of Magic', he is quick to accept.

I have added the 'School Rules' into the STORY INFO.

CHAPTER ONE.

He landed in the middle of the massive white and gold courtyard. Pushing himself to his feet, Harry's eyes were wide, as he gaped in shock.

It was like he'd stepped into a fairytale.

The gleaming golden-yellow marble, castle loomed in front of him; it huge towers, stretching up into the clouds.

Turning away from the castle, Harry felt his mouth drop open.

He could see the entire island stretching out before him. White, sandy beaches, vibrant, green grassy fields, vast, crystal blue lakes, gargantuan, cascading waterfalls, and although the mountain where the castle was built, was the tallest; it was one of many, and most of the other mountains peaks disappeared into the clouds as well.

It was stunning. He'd thought Hogwarts was impressive, but compared to this, Hogwarts' beauty paled in comparison.

"I had a feeling I would be meeting you today, Mr Potter."

Harry spun around, and found himself facing a tall woman with piercing, golden brown eyes and black hair that was slowly turning grey.

She smiled at him, stepping forward as she held out a hand, "Professor Samara Campbell."

Shaking her hand, Harry couldn't help grinning at the Headmistress, "Your school is incredible."

"I take it that means you're thinking about coming here this year?" Professor Campbell asked, raising her eyebrows questioningly.

"More than thinking about it," if he'd had any doubts about whether he was going to change schools, they'd disappeared the moment he had seen Merlin's Academy.

"Well then," Professor Campbell's smile widened as she guided Harry towards the Castle "why don't we go to my office and get everything sorted out?"

Harry's eyes widened as they walked through the doors, the Entrance Hall was huge; the walls were all gold marble, with white marble pillars, and crystal chandeliers hung from from the ceiling.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

When he looked at Professor Campbell, she was grinning. harry couldn't help grinning in return, "it's incredible."

"I'm glad you thinks so," Professor Campbell led him toward a large, black door. "Here we are,"

Harry looked at her, confused. "Your office is on the first floor?"

"I find it makes students more likely to come to me, if they have a problem." The headmistress told him, ushering him inside her office. As he walked inside, harry found himself surprised again, by the laid-back simplicity of the office's decor; there was a suede leather couch with matching armchairs in the middle of the room, a few paintings of nature landscapes hung on the walls, and a large antique white oak desk was centered along the back wall.

"Right then," Professor Campbell smiled at Harry as she sat at her desk. "Take a seat, anywhere you like, and we'll get started."

Harry sat at the desk, on one of the cushioned chairs opposite Professor Campbell. "What do I need to do?"

The Headmistress smiled warmly as she opened a drawer, pulling out several pages of parchment. "First off, you need to sign this." She said, pushing the top page across the dress. "It's just to say you agree to follow the school's rules."

Lifting the paper, Harry frowned as he read the short list of rules. "That can't be all the rules," there was only five listed!

Professor Campbell smiled, chuckling as she shook her head. "There are other rules, of course, But those are the most important ones pertaining to students."

"Alright," taking the quill Professor Campbell held out to him, Harry signed the form, handing it back to the Headmistress. "What's next?"

"The next form is for you Guardians to sign..." Professor Campbell smiled gently when Harry grimaced, "I'll come back with you, to help explain everything." She put the form aside, and looked at Harry. "So, now we need to sort out your classes." She held out the next page for him, "This is a list of all the classes we have."

Taking the proffered page, Harry looked at the classes; there were compulsory and optional classes, and each had Magical and Non-magical classes. The Compulsory 'Non-magical' classes surprised him, looking up, Harry found himself frowning again "Maths and English?"

"Those two classes always get a few raised eyebrows," Professor Campbell said with a sigh. "They were one of my first changes to merlin's Academy, after I became Headmistress."
"Why?" Harry asked, still frowning.

"Because I noticed that quite a few of the students who came here, had below average spelling and mathematical skills." Professor Campbell shook her head, "Every year, I have to explain why 'Maths and English' are compulsory classes, just because they don't have anything to do with magic." She looked at Harry, and shrugged. "Tell me though, just because you're a wizard, should that mean you shouldn't know how to spell, or use proper grammar, or know basic addition or subtraction?"

"That does make sense," Harry agreed, and he liked the idea of having a class for muggle and wizard customs; having been raised by muggles, he knew how strange the wizarding world seemed.

"Why don't you take a look at the optional classes, and see what you'd like to do?"

Harry took a look at the classes, cocking his head thoughtfully. "Healing and Teleportation would be interesting," He looked at Professor Campbell, "is Prophecies and Predictions the same as 'Divination'?"

"Yes, it is." Professor Campbell told him, "But unlike Professor Trelawney, our Professor Dorson is a truly gifted seer." She smiled at Harry, when he still looked unconvinced. "You could sit in on the first couple of classes and see what you think."

Harry frowned, if 'Professor Dorson' was an actual seer, and could really teach the subject properly, then learning about Prophecies and Predictions could be useful. "I guess I could do that," he looked back at the list of classes, "I like Astronomy..." Harry shook his head, as he read the last optional class. "Medieval Weaponry?"

"Merlin's Academy was founded in Medieval times," Professor Campbell explained. "Teaching Medieval Weaponry, is a way for us to honour our schools history."

Harry frowned, then shrugged. "I guess it could be interesting."

"That's the classes out of the way." Professor Campbell said, writing his class choices down. "The only thing left to sort out here, is your dorm room." She looked at Harry. "Do you want to share, or would you like a room to yourself?"

Harry stared at the Headmistress in surprise, "I can have a room to myself?"

"Of course," Professor Campbell smiled as she stood. "If memory serves, we only have a half dozen single dorm rooms left." The Headmistress placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, guiding him from her office. "Let's see if we can find one you like."

xx

Harry smiled, as he stared around the room; the floor was thick, soft, black-red carpet, against the left wall, was a 4 poster bed, in one corner, there was a dark wood dresser, and a large desk made from the same dark wood as the dresser, was pushed up against the wall in front of the window, overlooking one of the giant waterfalls. "Can I have this one."

"You're sure?" Professor Campbell asked, "because there are others you can look at," she reminded harry, gesturing out into the hall.

"I'm sure," Harry grinned at her, "It's perfect."

"Alright then," taking a deep breath, Professor Campbell smiled at harry. "The only thing we need to do now, is have your Aunt and Uncle sign the permission form."

Harry grimaced, "they aren't going to be happy to see you." He'd already explained how Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon felt about magic.

"Oh I think they will be rather happy with what I have to tell them," her eyes gleamed as Harry frowned. Chuckling, Professor Campbell shrugged. "Students of Merlin's Academy, are allowed to remain at the school during all holidays."