The shortest professor gave a short summary, with no one being mentioned in particular before the attention was centered on the Hufflepuff head of house, who reported much the same.
"How about your lions Minerva?"
"I do have one thus far, Miss Hermione Granger seems to be exceptionally intelligent and absolutely loves to learn."
The man's eyes twinkled happily. He loved that quality in a student above all else.
"I see, has anyone else noticed this as well?"
The others, even Snape reluctantly, nodded in agreement. "Ah, well then we will have to keep a close eye on Miss Granger to ensure that her love of learning is properly nurtured. What about you and yours Severus?"
"Draco Malfoy has reported high grades in all of his classes, especially potions."
"Ah to be expected of Mr. Malfoy, perhaps he will take after his father and end up being a Head Boy as well in the future." The eldest man complimented, "what about Mr. Potter?"
The potions master bit back a retort, of course it would come back to Potter. Unfortunately he had nothing ill to say about the boy… yet.
"He is… above what I would have expected."
McGonagall's eye roll was practically audible, "Oh please Severus, if he is half as talented in potions as he was in my own class then I doubt even you could find anything to critique the boy on."
"He is gifted Minerva?"
An excited nod greeted him, "Takes after his father I imagine, James Potter always was quite the prodigy in transfiguration, and you Filius? Does he take after his mother in charms as well?"
The shorter man hesitated, before shaking his head. "No… if I had to guess has quite thoroughly surpassed her level of growth in that field."
Now quite a few staff members were staring. Lily Evans had been a natural in that class from the day she stepped into it. For her son to surpass her…
"Hagrid, what did you see in the boy during your first meeting with him?"
The half-giant gulped, before breaking out in a slight sweat, "Well tha thing is Headmasta…"
"I asked Hagrid to pick up some supplies for me, they were quite cumbersome and I knew he would be able to accomplish this far better than I. In return I agreed to greet the boy so that Hagrid would not be pressed for time."
The Headmaster's eyes twinkled merrily, while the larger man gave a slight nod in thanks.
"Ah very good, I am glad to see my staff works so well together. Well then Aurora, what was your first impression of young Harry?"
"He was…" The professor hated lying to the older man but… well she couldn't exactly confess that she had been turned on by an eleven year old child and still keep her job. Plus it would be years before she would ever have a class with him… right? "Mature, and very intelligent. I am actually very surprised he did not end up in Ravenclaw with how interested he was in learning."
"Yes very odd… Severus, have you noticed any manipulations or shows of cunning by the boy?"
Nearby the Sorting Hat perked up, this was it. The choice made was being noticed. Now all they had to do was look further into it. All Slytherin had the capability of subtleties, now if someone could just see it…
"I'm afraid not Headmaster."
"Perhaps he is just ambitious, how much have you actually spoken to him?" McGonagall inquired, earning a scowl from the potions master.
"I do not have time to learn the hopes and dreams of every student, keep a house in line, and prepare for the classes themselves."
Dumbledore intervened before the conversation escalated any further, and judging by the returned glare from his Deputy Headmistress it was about to be. "Of course Severus, of course we were not expecting you to show young Harry any more attention than any other student. I was simply curious is all."
Inwardly, the Hat let out a sigh, maybe it would take longer than it hoped. As long as the outcome was the same though it wouldn't matter… as long as the boy was stopped before he could grow anymore powerful.
...
"Neville"
The blonde boy jerked up, before his eyes widened at Harry's presence. Red eyed with dark circles, obviously he was not sleeping much, perhaps he had been too upset for that?
"H-hello M-M-Mr. Potter"
"Now now Neville none of that, I would like to think we can be closer than a last name basis."
"O-of c-course"
The raven-haired boy nodded, before reaching into his cloak and pulling out a small orb. "Before I forget, I believe you dropped this during our flying class. I was hoping to return it sooner but it is harder than I thought to speak with a Gryffindor alone."
The boy's face had lit up, as he quickly took the offered object, "thank you so m-much! It was my f-fathers…"
"Ah, an important heirloom then?"
"No… just something he wanted me to have…" the whisper was barely audible, yet Harry was well aware of the meaning.
"I see… so tell me Neville, how have your classes been thus far?"
If possible the Gryffindor shrunk further into his cloak, "I… am not doing well…"
"I understand Professor Snape can be a bit rough but surely your other classes aren't that bad."
The shaking of his head brought a frown upon the emerald-eyed boy's face, yet internally his grin grew ever wider.
"I… can't do anything right… they… it doesn't matter…"
"Of course it does if it is upsetting you. Tell me all about it Neville, no judgments, no ridicule, just two friends talking."
"I… I am so sick of them! It has barely been a month and all I hear about is how much of a failure I am! 'Neville can't do anything right'. 'Neville is just a stupid Squib'. 'Neville is a failure'. 'Maybe Neville can just fall into a coma like his parents'. Can you believe that!? Those stupid… stupid… gits!"
"Slytherins?"