Turning Tables
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All recognisable characters, content, or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: In the aftermath of the Chamber of Secrets, Harry comes to the sobering realisation that Voldemort won't stop attempting to kill him. No longer content to skate by on luck and the promise of a well-timed rescue, the Boy Who Lived opts to do something about it. His decision changes his future, and that of those who surround him. OOC. Post Chamber of Secrets AU.
Rating: T for mild language, violence, and character death.
Author: tlyxor1.
Chapter One
When Madam Pomfrey discharges him from her care, Harry doesn't head to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione's still petrified, and Ron's gone home with his family, and Harry has no particular interest in being bombarded by his housemates for information he doesn't want to give. He's also got some things to work on, and the common room - or even the dormitory - aren't places particularly conducive towards peace and quiet.
With that in mind, Harry makes his way outside, and to the secluded little hollow he'd found within a cluster of boulders by the Great Lake. It's sort of far from the castle, closer to the Forbidden Forest than most students care to tread, and it's peaceful. The waters of the loch lap at the boulders firmly rooted in the sand, and Harry, propped up against another boulder, trousers rolled up to his knees, watches the ebb and flow absently, his mind elsewhere.
Namely, on his most recent confrontation with Voldemort, and on the terrifying reality that Harry is hilariously, hopelessly outmatched against him. It's blatantly obvious that at the age of 16, Voldemort - or Tom Riddle, rather - had had it in him to kill a person, to kill children, and however many years later, that has not change.
No, what has changed since then is that Voldemort has acquired decades more knowledge and experience, has somehow defied the laws of death, and if the school year prior is anything to go by, he holds an unquestionable grudge against Harry for the events of Halloween, 1981.
He's not going to rest until Harry is dead.
It's a sobering realisation, all things considered. Harry is 12 years old. He has two years of magic under his belt, and he's made no efforts to learn anything beyond the standard Hogwarts curriculum. Even that is somewhat lacking, however, because Harry's made no particular effort to excel in his education, content in his mediocrity, more interested in having fun with Ron, in playing quidditch, in having friends.
But the thing is, quidditch, and chess, and pranks aren't going to help him survive. Harry knows that now. He'd nearly died down there, in the Chamber of Secrets, and if not for Hermione, for Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, for a great deal of luck and Tom Riddle's arrogance, Harry wouldn't have lived to see another day. It's unpleasant to think about, more so to consider what he would have to do to change, to survive whatever else Voldemort throws at him in the years to come, but Harry's not just going to roll over and let Voldemort kill him. His parents had died to protect him, and he's not going to squander their sacrifice like that. Not anymore.
Instead, he's made up a plan to improve himself, to be better prepared for his next encounter with Voldemort, to live up to the memory of - and to avenge - the parents whom he'd lost before he could ever know them.
Voldemort, after all, isn't the only one who holds a grudge for the events of that fateful night, and come hell or high water, Harry's going to make sure his parents' murderer knows it..
With that in mind, Harry produces his copy of 'Magical Theory' by Adalbert Waffling, and starts to read. He'd hardly paid attention to the content Professors Flitwick and McGonagall had covered the year prior, had barely grasped the concepts and had subsequently half-arsed his way through first and second year Charms and Transfiguration, but he can't afford to be so flippant with his education, going forward. As such, he takes notes on the laws and theories he reads, makes a list of the sources referenced throughout Waffling's writing (in order to study later), and he learns. It's not much - Harry has a long, long way to go before he will ever be able to hold his own against Tom Riddle - but it's a start, and for the moment, it's all Harry can manage.
When Harry enters Professor McGonagall's office for the second time that week, it's empty of anyone else but the Head of Gryffindor House. She looks about as relaxed as Harry's ever seen her; relieved from her role of Acting Headmistress, relieved that the danger from the Chamber of Secrets and the monster therein has been taken care of, relieved for the summer rapidly approaching.
Harry almost feels bad about disturbing her.
'Almost' being the operative word.
"Mr Potter," she greets him, "May I help you?"
"I've chosen my electives, Professor," Harry explains, "I thought I might get them to you before I change my mind."
With an arched eyebrow, McGonagall accepts Harry's sign-up sheet, studies it wordlessly, and nods her acknowledgement.
"You do understand you only require two electives?"
"Yes," Harry confirms, "But they're all useful. I couldn't decide which one I shouldn't take."
Harry isn't about to discount the value of Ancient Runes and Arithmency for his future. They're more work, undoubtedly, but the subjects are stepping stones to Ward Construction, Curse Breaking, Enchanting, Spell-Crafting, Ritual Magic, and then some, and Harry is going to need every advantage against Voldemort he can get.
As far as the subject of Care of Magical Creatures is concerned, however, Harry's reasoning for that is fairly straightforward. He has, in his two years at Hogwarts, encountered a giant squid, trolls, a baby dragon, a unicorn, a cerberus, centaurs, a house elf, a phoenix, a colony of acromantula, a basilisk, and pixies, and quite frankly, Harry just wants to know what else he might encounter, and in particular, how to make it out of those encounters alive and in one piece.
Admittedly, Professor Kettleburn doesn't inspire much faith for the latter, but forewarned is forearmed, and Harry's quite done with not looking before he leaps.
"And you understand it will be quite a difficult workload?"
"Yes, Professor," Harry answers solemnly, swallows his pride, and continues, "I understand my behaviour these last two years probably doesn't inspire much faith in my ability to manage it, but I know what I'm capable of, and I know I can handle it. Beyond that, though, I realise now that I need to do and be better, because he's not going to stop targeting me, and eventually, my luck will run out."
Professor McGonagall sighs, sets down the sign-up sheet on her desk, and rubs wearily at her forehead. She looks exhausted, suddenly - exhausted and sad - an Harry fidgets, unsure of what to say to the usually taciturn Head of Gryffindor. Harry is out of his depth, and this is not what he'd anticipated when he had walked into McGonagall's office earlier.
"Professor?"
"Mr Potter, it is not every day I hear one of my students tell me he needs to improve himself because there is a bloodthirsty megalomaniac intent on his murder."
"I wish I was lying, Professor."
"As do I," McGonagall replies, "More than I can ever express, I believe. If wishes were sickles, however, I'd certainly not be teaching the likes of Fred and George Weasley, and so for now, I will approve your chosen electives. Bear in mind, though, I will be watching your progress next term, and if I'm not satisfied with your marks, then I will intervene. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Professor," Harry nods, "I won't disappoint."
"Be sure that you don't," McGonagall acknowledges. She banishes the elective sheet into a filing cabinet in the corner, and queries, "Was there anything else you needed, Mr Potter?"
"No, Professor. Thank you for your time."
Harry leaves her office, unsure of how he ought to feel regarding the meeting. He's not sure what he'd expected from his Head of House, but it's not the relatively calm - even resigned - reaction he'd received from her. It's disappointing, in a way, because why should it be acceptable that a 12 year old is preparing for yet another encounter with the monster who'd killed his parents?
But then, everyone seems to have different expectations of the 'Boy Who Lived'. Maybe that's all it is, or maybe Professor McGonagall is just realistic enough to see the truth behind his words, or maybe she knows something Harry doesn't.
Either way, Harry's not going to ask her about it. Professor McGonagall is not nearly approachable enough for that, and also, in spite of his grades, her attitude has just guaranteed his placement into the classes he wants.
Harry, therefore, isn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. He returns to Gryffindor Tower instead, makes himself comfortable in his dormitory, and continues with his study of Adalbert Waffling's 'Magical Theory'.
It's going to be a long afternoon.
The Mandrake Draught is administered that evening, and Hermione is released from her petrification in time to join Harry - and the rest of the students - for dinner. It's a festive affair, the petrified students welcomed back with open arms, with a truly delicious array of food, and with the announcement that all exams have been cancelled for students not about to sit there OWL's, or presently entrenched in their NEWT studies.
A little further along the table, looking oddly out of place among the first years, Colin Creevey looks even more relieved than Hermione. It's no wonder why, though. He was petrified in November, it's now June, and there's no possible way the boy can catch up on six months of material in a matter of days.
Hermione follows his gaze, and informs him, "Professor McGonagall's arranging tutors for us to catch up over the summer. It will be free of charge, because we were petrified while under the school's care. He'll be all right."
"That's good," Harry acknowledges, "I'd wondered if he would have to redo first year."
Colin Creevey is an odd duck, with an uncomfortable amount of hero worship for Harry himself, but it would suck to have to repeat the year all over again.
Hermione shakes her head. "He'll probably have a tutor next year; to help him catch up on what he isn't able to during the break. I feel bad for him, though. He lost six months of his life."
Harry grunts his acknowledgement, and doesn't point out that Colin should count his blessings. He's still alive, after all, in one piece and with his whole life ahead of him. He could have very nearly died that night, and compared to that, six months is a small price to pay.
"Anyway, Professor McGonagall said the situation was resolved, but she didn't explain how. Do you know?"
"Yes," Harry confirms, "I'll tell you later."
Hermione seems about to protest, but she takes in the sight of the students around them, some unabashed in their eavesdropping, others less so, and nods her reluctant acquiescence. "Later, then."
In the meantime, Harry starts up a conversation with Neville, Dean, and Seamus, about their plans for the summer, about the welcome break from their exams, about how quiet their dormitory is without Ron's sleep talking to fill the silence.
Sophie and Fay patiently indulge Hermione's questions concerning the classes she's missed, but they're both relieved when Harry finishes his dinner, and more so when he excuses himself from the table. Hermione follows suit, and tries unsuccessfully to hurry him out of the Great Hall, but Harry is unfazed by her impatience.
"Well?" Hermione prods, "What happened?"
Harry sighs. He's not thrilled to relive it, but Hermione's like a dog with a bone when it comes to information she doesn't know. It's better to just get the inquisition over with, rather than prolong the agony over a course of hours - or days - until they eventually part for the holidays. "It was Voldemort. Again. He was possessing Ron's little sister…"
Author's Note: I want to say this isn't a rewrite of 'Resolution', but it sort of is. It has a lot of the same themes, anyway. It also has elements of another story I wrote though, years ago, never finished, and deleted partway through, called 'The Lord and His Lady'. The intention is to write something better, with more (authentic) character development, world building, and a more detailed plot (and sub-plots, of course), but I'll see how I go. Hope you enjoy. Leave a review? -t.
PS. I hate the story title I've come up with. If you have any suggestions as the story progresses, I'd love to hear them.