Discussions and Demands
A/N: He's alive! HE'S ALIVE! Important stuff at the bottom, so make sure to stick around for an unofficial poll. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: If Her Majesty, Mrs. Rowling offered to trade me the rights of Harry Potter for my motorcycle and never eating Gummi Bears/Worms again for my entire life... Well hell, I just may consider it!
XxXxXxX
- Hogwarts : Headmaster's Office -
"Ah, good evening, Harry, it's good to see you here after so long. Lemon drop?"
Harry closed the door behind him and stood at attention before the man he had come to consider a grandfather. When his father was killed at the hands of Death Eaters, two people had been there for him. One, of course, had been Sirius. While life hadn't been particularly easy living and learning at the foot of a man some would still consider a child himself, it had never been boring. The second was Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore, the man of a thousand titles and the barmiest old codger to ever be given the covetous position of Headmaster of Hogwarts. The wise old man had brought a much needed balance and sense of normalcy to his life that Sirius Black had just never been interested in.
Over the summers of years past, Dumbledore had personally taught him much of what he knew, though no doubt a mere fraction of what he knew. In exchange, it had been expected of him to one day use his powers for the good of the Order of the Phoenix, led by Dumbledore himself. None but Harry could have expected that day to come as soon as it had, and while it had taken some convincing to prove what an asset he was, Harry had been allowed to begin fighting at the age of seven. From that day onward, the half-breed had been allowed to do what he did best, and he had been damned good at it. But now he was being pulled back, and he was about to find out why.
"No, thank you. You wanted to see me, sir?"
The wizened old man's eyes rolled in a friendly manner, and he practically beamed with happiness. It was actually rather disconcerting to be honest. Normally, while certainly jovial in his own reserved way, Dumbledore was far more in control of himself. Now he looked like a ten year old who had just been promised a trip to the zoo for the first time.
"Yes, of course. Please, take a seat. Can I get you anything? A cup of tea?"
Harry's eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he took the seat Dumbledore was indicating to, just across the desk. Now that they were at eye level, Harry noticed just how many silver instruments and odd objects were scattered across the desk. Some were spinning in place, others were puffing colorful smoke at seemingly random intervals. One was even whistling jauntily to itself. It was all rather distracting.
"I'll pass. Now what exactly was it you needed of me, Headmaster?" Impossible as it seemed, Dumbledore's smile actually grew wider at the address. Ah... now it all made sense. "Sir, were you really hoping for me to agree to attend Hogwarts this badly?"
"My boy, you have no idea." The old man dug a small yellow sweet from the bowl on the desk and, after feeding the wrapper to one of his devices, popped it in his mouth. After a moment he seemed to regain his composure and his beaming grin reduced itself to a kind, grandfatherly smile.
"I have been hoping for this day to come for the last four years, so forgive an old man's exuberance. Sometimes I wonder to myself if I made the right decision to allow you to join our war as early as you had." Harry made to interrupt, to remind his commanding officer of just how useful he had been in the field, but was cut off by a raised hand. "Yes, yes. I realize how efficient you have been. How many lives have been saved, both of innocent civilians and our own people, but it should never have come to this. For all the things about you that make you more than human, Harry, you are still a boy. While more intelligent than most, even myself I like to think, you are still only fifteen years old. While you have been overseas fighting the things that go bump in the night, children your age have been learning to play pranks. While they have been taught how to control their magic for the first time and to study, you have been in life and death situations. I am proud of you Harry, more so than I can ever convey. You have met every challenge I, and the world, have thrown at you and exceeded our every expectation. You have learned everything I have offered to teach you and thrived under the pressure we have been forced to place upon you without a single complaint."
Harry nodded at the compliments offered to him, but continued to hold his tongue.
"On the battlefield and in practical lessons you learn faster than anyone I have ever met in my considerable life. Now I have a new lesson for you to learn. One neither I, nor Sirius, nor even the field of combat can teach you. It will not be easy for you, I imagine, and yet I know you will succeed. I have taught you how to learn, my boy. Now you must learn how to teach." Dumbledore sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. His eyes grew slightly darker in his seriousness and Harry subconsciously sat a little straighter. Now his briefing had begun. "You are well aware of the rise in our enemies' activity over the last few years both overseas, on the continent, and in our very homeland. The generation before you has been fighting to establish their hold for decades, and are starting to see that they may not win in their lifetimes. It has come to our attention that our foes are beginning to place pressure on their children, your peers, to continue the fight in their stead. This will be a long war, Harry, and preparations must be made to ensure that their will be people to continue to fight when myself and the others are too old to struggle against the constantly encroaching darkness."
"What are my orders?" Dumbledore stood up at this point, and began pacing around the room with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Your orders are numerous. First, and most importantly, you are to ensure the continued safety of the other students and teach them to defend themselves. Those in the Ministry, in their all seeing wisdom," This was said with some distaste, which was unusual from the old man. "Have decided that it would be best if they were to elect their own representative at Hogwarts to make sure the students are being taught to their standards."
"The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Dumbledore nodded.
"This is correct. The person elected to the position of High Inquisitor of Hogwarts is no less than the Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge." Harry's upper lip twitched in a barely repressed sneer that cause Dumbledore no small amount of amusement. "Ah, I see you are familiar with the name?"
"Yes. Dolores Umbridge is one of Minster Fudge's most loyal supporters. She has personally spearheaded countless actions against who she deems 'Sub-humans', including centaurs, giants, werewolves, vampires, and various other races. She is a despicable human being and the definition of a sycophant." The old man chuckled softly at the Dhampir's venomous description.
"Quite accurate, as always. As High Inquisitor she will be tasked with assessing the capabilities of the other teachers and, I have no doubt, will be given no small amount of power above and beyond that of the others. Her true purpose, as I'm sure you already understand, is to serve as a pair of eyes for Minister Fudge. The Minister, in a fit of unwarranted paranoia, feels that I may be attempting to spread dissent amongst the student body as a means of staging a coup and taking the Ministry for myself."
Harry snorted at this. Everyone knew that Dumbledore had been the favored person for Minister for decades now. The only reason Fudge had even been elected in the first place was because Dumbledore refused the position multiple times. If he wanted to be Minister, he wouldn't have to fight for it. He would simply have to not refuse.
"We both know that nothing warranted will come of this, but I suspect the Ministry will use this opportunity to restrict what is being taught in the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. The students will be taught nothing of worth, instead only to rely upon the Ministry to protect them at all times. This will not only not help in the least, but will in fact be detrimental to the safety of everyone under my roof. This will not be allowed to stand. Your task is to serve as the founder and leader of a practical defense club offered to any student of any age who wishes to learn. You are to teach them what they need to know if worst comes to worst. Do you understand what I am telling you?"
"I do, but I have a few requests if I am to do this properly." Dumbledore cocked an eyebrow in curiosity and nodded, giving him permission to continue. "This 'club' will be mandatory for all students for one month. This will give me enough time to pound a few simple tricks into their heads and also narrow down who will be there to learn and who is there only due to obligation. I don't want to have to babysit anyone who will not take this seriously. If I am going to teach, I am going to teach to my personal standards."
"Of course, of course."
"Second, I will do it my way. I expect no teacher interference and want the freedom to reward and discipline my students however I see fit." Here Dumbledore frowned a bit, no doubt envisioning the brutal punishments that his most prized student had in mind. The boy was a harsh taskmaster and demanded close to perfection from both himself, and everyone else around him.
"You understand my hesitation in allowing this, I'm sure. We can't have students complaining to the teachers or their parents of the abuse going on behind closed doors." Harry sighed in thought, and his eyebrows narrowed harshly as he reconsidered his demand. It was a quirk that the old man had quickly noticed, and it meant that the young Potter was about to make a compromise he found distasteful but necessary.
"Okay, how about this... I still get the right to handle matters as I see fit, but I will agree to having a member of the staff oversee my lessons in a controlled environment on a rotating schedule. They will not interfere while the club is in session so as not to undermine the students' opinions of me, but I will be open to discussion at the end of every lesson to adjust as is seen necessary?"
"I can certainly see that working. It would certainly put mine and Professor Sprout at ease, at least. She can be quite protective of her Hufflepuffs. Were there any other 'demands' you had of me before you agree to this?"
"A few," Harry admitted. "On the plane over from Stateside, Sirius mentioned that Hogwarts had always been an equal enrollment school, open to any humanoid race interested in learning, as long as fair effort was made in assuring the protection of the other students. I will require a list of student names, ages, species, and what, if any, efforts are taken to provide protection to the other students." This demand caught Dumbledore off guard and he openly bore an expression of concern.
"I don't know what Sirius told you exactly, but I was quite insistent that he was not to mention such a thing! Hogwarts is a place where any young person who has the desire to learn will be taught, regardless of what society may think of them. Were such a list to escape from discreet hands, the British Magical Community would be in an uproar!"
"Yes, an uproar over the safety of their sons and daughters. If the situation is truly in had, then you have nothing to fear from me, Headmaster. I merely wish to know so that I may take whatever precautions are necessary to take care of any situations that may arise in my duties. However, Sirius said you had concerns about a group in this school whom may be preying on those not only unable to protect themselves from such danger, but unaware of its existence entirely! Either you were lying in an attempt to bring me here under false pretenses, or there is a cause for such concern, and I need to know about it so that I may do my job."
Dumbledore sighed in exasperation at Harry's insistent demands. He had obviously been preparing this speech since Sirius had leaked the knowledge to the boy. Though really, upon reflection, perhaps telling the man anything at all was a mistake on his part. The man's loyalties were set in stone, but had a clear list of priorities. Everything the man cared about came second to Harry, and Harry alone. It was obvious that the man would tell Harry as soon as it was made certain that the boy would be attending Hogwarts.
"IF I were to allow you such a list," One of Harry's lips quirked up ever so slightly on one side, and his eyes grew a slight bit lighter. The boy was well aware that he had already been awarded his point. Damn his practically extra-sensory perception. "Not only would I require a vow from you that you will not disclose the information to anyone, but that any concerns you may have or any conclusions you may, and probably shall, come to will be shared with me before any action is taken on your part. I can not stress this enough, my boy. There is a reason Hogwarts, and even myself to a lesser extent, is held in such high regard. This is non-negotiable."
"Barring any extenuating circumstances, I can certainly agree to your terms. However, if one of the creature-students were to, say, attack another student without due cause, I reserve the right to pacify the situation however I see fit."
"Without undue force, I assume?" Harry nodded in agreement, and Dumbledore collapsed heavily in his chair. "Very well, assuming you agree to the post, a list will be made available to you shortly before your classes are to begin. What are your other concerns? I hope you don't ask for my position, at the rate you are going." The tired old man said with a chuckle, and Harry smiled at the joke.
"Not yet, Headmaster. I wish to have advanced classes from the teachers whose skills will benefit me in the future war. I would prefer them to be in private so as not to draw any more attention to myself than will already be occurring thanks to this damned babysitting job you are having me agree to." One of the various portraits across the room squawked in indignation of his language, but was ignored.
"Ah yes, of course, of course. I had assumed such was already known to you. I doubt the classes you will be in will be able to teach you anything more than you already know, so you will be learning directly from Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Hagrid, and Madam Pomfrey of the Hospital Wing. The last of whom, I might add, is practically bouncing in anticipation at the idea of having an apprentice. It has been quite a few years since someone has shown interest in learning from her after all. We will have to invent some excuse for you to have time to slip away and learn from them, but I would imagine that shouldn't be too hard."
"Excellent, it is good to know that the time I spend here won't be for exclusively altruistic purposes." Dumbledore laughed quietly at the very idea. Harry was a very compassionate person, but he prided himself on efficiency. And unfortunately, the two were quite often separate sides of the same equation. "Finally, but possibly most important of all..." His features took on a hard look, and Dumbledore prepared himself for the worst. "I want to be excused from wearing a school uniform."
XxXxXxX
Professor Minerva McGonagall, a stern librarian-esque woman with a hard demeanor and straight back, quickened her pace up the circular staircase leading up to the Headmaster's office. She had been coming to alert the Headmaster that the students had been seen to their dorms and that the Great Hall was clean and clear when she heard the hacking and wheezing sounds coming from the closed doors. Her first thought was that he had been too enthusiastic with his lemon drops and swallowed one prematurely, causing him to choke on it. Again...
What she did not expect however, was for a boy of striking resemblance to two of her favorite students standing in front of the desk with a frown on his face and arms crossed, watching the Headmaster rock in place clapping while trying to breath in and expel unhealthy amounts of laughter at the same time. The result was a gasping wheeze that she was quite worried might kill the man.
"Professor Dumbledore! Please, control yourself this instant!" In a flash, she pulled out her wand and flicked it towards her superior, casting a wordless and simple sobering charm that opposed the effects of the cheering charm. The result was Dumbledore taking a deep breath, straightening his tie, and sitting back in his chair with his fingers steepled in front of his mouth, though his eyes still twinkled away in amusement.
"Ah, forgive me, Minerva, forgive me. I seemed to have come down with a case of the giggles for a moment there."
"A moment?" The unnamed boy commented dryly. "You were laughing for three minutes. I was worried you might die. Then how was I going to get paid?"
"Details," Dumbledore waved off, merrily. "Now, Minerva, I would like you to introduce Mr. Harry Potter, our new transfer student from the United States and the security contractor I had mentioned we would be taking on during this whole 'Ministry business'. Harry, this is Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher and my own personal voice of reason."
Despite the unusual circumstances, McGonagall shook the boy's hand politely, still taking in his features acutely.
"As I am sure you have noticed, this is the son of the late James and Lily Potter that I have told you so much about." The young man had a firm grip, and was appraising her silently, just as she was doing to him. "He has been living with Sirius Black since his father passed away, and he will be joining us for this year and, I hope, the two beyond that."
"Let's worry about this year before we starting thinking about the future, Headmaster. It is a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. My father told me much about one of the three women who were ever able to keep him in line. I look forward to learning everything you have to teach me." Minerva felt her eyebrows rise at the boy's polite and friendly greeting. Given that he had been raised by Sirius Black, she had automatically expected the worst. Perhaps she would be proven wrong?
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Potter. I take it the second woman was Lily, but who was the third?" Harry smiled slightly, in what could be considered a roguish smirk. Now she could believe he was Sirius' adopted son.
"From what I understand, my grandmother." The older woman smiled slightly in amusement, stricken by fond memories of her old friend. Dumbledore clapped his hands once more in amusement, before leaning forward to continue with their business.
"Now, as for your final request, Mr. Potter, while normally it is mandatory for students to wear their school uniform robes any time class is in attendance, I'm sure an exception can be made provided you are willing to accept the consequences of it. Such as... Oh say, five detentions a week with a couple different staff members? I will let the exact times and scheduling be determined by you and the teachers. I'm sure you will be able to come to an understanding. Though I will make sure that your weekends will remain clear for whatever activities you have in mind, of course. I will expect though, that the other students know this is not an exception that will be made a second time."
"Of course, Headmaster."
"One final thing, Harry, before you leave Professor McGonagall and I to our impending discussion. I would be delighted if you would join me for afternoon tea periodically through the year. I would find it quite entertaining to speak with you about how your studies are progressing. Shall we assume the last Sunday of this month? Here at about noon-thirty?"
"I would be happy to. Thank you for working with me on this matter, Professor Dumbledore. I will begin planning for the Defense Association as soon as possible." He shook hands with both Dumbledore and McGonagall and headed to the door. On the way out though, he hesitated in the doorway. "Ah, I almost forgot. As for the sorting of my House, can we just assume the Hat said Gryffindor?"
Dumbledore and McGonagall both shared a quick glance of contemplation. Normally it was highly irregular for a student to be placed in a House without being Sorted properly. However not only were these extenuating circumstances, both of Harry's parents had been sorted into Gryffindor as well as his father's line for generations. Plus Dumbledore had been the Head of House before he had been given the position of Headmaster. No one in the room was about to argue. Besides, the Sorting Hat got a bit cranky if he was woken up more than once a year.
"I'm sure that can be arranged, Mr. Potter. The password is Excalibur. I take it you know where the portrait can be located from your Godfather?" Harry nodded once, and McGonagall said. "I look forward to having you in my classes."
Harry thanked them both once more and wished them a good night before showing himself out and closing the door behind him. When the footsteps retreated out of earshot, it was McGonagall to break the silence.
"Do you really think he is what this school needs, Albus? I saw the look in his eye when you mentioned the job he is to do, and he had a gleam there I recognized. I worry for the children." Dumbledore sighed softly and unwrapped yet another lemon drop.
"I know, Minerva. I would be lying if I said I didn't as well. But when it comes down to it, there is only so much we can do. If you, I, or any of the other teachers were to attempt a sudden change in curriculum or habits in the school, the Ministry would assume it to be an admission of guilt and use it to force their way farther into the school. I trust young Harry with my life, and I know he will do the right thing. Say what you will about Sirius, but he is a good man. He raised him right. Now all we can do is help him as much as we can. Tomorrow, when he joins you in your classroom for the first time, he will be out of uniform. I want you to lightly scold him for not following the dress code and give him the detention for that afternoon. One hour for now. In that time I want you to assess his knowledge on Transfiguration as well as whatever else you can in that time frame. We need to know what we are dealing with. He is our best hope for ending this war as quickly as possible with as few casualties as we can, and I want him to as prepared as he can be."
The older woman pursed her lips tightly and her eyebrows furrowed in contemplation. If Dumbledore was willing to place his faith in the boy, she would follow his example. But that didn't mean she wouldn't be keeping an eye on him. There was something about that boy that just didn't seem right, and she was going to find out what it was. One way or another.
XxXxXxX
- Gryffindor Common Room -
Harry stood outside the portrait of the Fat Lady, doing what he could to prepare himself for the confrontation that he expected to occur. Apparently Dumbledore had seen fit to announce his presence in the castle as a transfer student before their conversation in his office. Now that his presence was no longer a secret, he had a sneaking suspicion that on the other side of the hidden doorway would be a hoard of curious students about to interrogate him for information. It was unusual for Hogwarts to receive a new student halfway through the allotted years, after all, so their curiosity was justified, but still...
"Well come on then. Do you have the password, or are you just going to stand there until tomorrow morning? I don't have all night you know." Apparently his hesitation was beginning to annoy the guardian of Gryffindor, and she huffed impatiently.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know I was holding up your schedule. Excalibur." The woman in the frilly dress and tacky jewelry harrumphed in irritation, and swung open invitingly.
"Took you bloody long enough."
The young half-breed was struck by a rush of warm air, and almost recoiled at the boisterous activity going on just inside the portrait's hidden passage. The volume was just below deafening, with old friends catching up and new friends chatting happily about the adventures to come. He stepped just inside enough for the portrait to swing shut behind him, and the muffled thump was enough to garner attention of one of the older students who happened to be walking by at that exact moment.
"Hey, check it out! It's that new kid!" The announcement was made by a muscular red-headed male whose face was almost entirely covered in freckles. His words was loud enough to be heard over the din of the room, and judging by the instantaneous silence that fell, they had all been waiting for this very moment. Every pair of eyes turned to stare at him, and it was enough to make his eye twitch a little in annoyance. Ah well, no reason not to introduce himself, he supposed.
"Hey, how's it going. I'm Harry Potter, fifth year, and a transfer student from Salem Military Academy. I'm here due to circumstances outside of my control, and I look forward to learning with you all." He delivered his preemptive information in a deadpan tone of voice, and immediately made his way to the split spiral staircase leading up to the male and female dorms. Before he had even made it halfway across the room, he was intercepted by a legion of students, mostly those younger than him, who started throwing out more questions than he could answer.
"What is it like in America?"
"Why'd you move here?"
"Why are you in Fifth year if you look like a Seventh year?"
"What is a Military Academy like?"
More and more questions, before he could even begin to refuse the first fired his way. It was all pretty stifling, and he felt a burning irritation rise up at being surrounded by those his instincts deemed cattle. To control the feelings rising up, he closed his eyes as he continued walking and took a deep breath to center himself. The clamour around him was broken by a single confident calling out over the others.
"Alright you guys, break it up. Let the new guy breathe. Harry, over here! We saved you a seat just in case you got Sorted in Gryffindor like you promised."
The familiar voice came from over by the roaring fireplace, and it drew his attention over the crowd that barely came up to his shoulder. Sure enough, sitting on the long couch with her two friends on either side was Romilda Vane, the girl from the train ride earlier that afternoon. The crowd must have read his intent to move that way, because the younger children cleared a path for him, though they fell into step behind him and followed him to the couch. Anna, the brunette on Romilda's left, moved over a seat to make room for Harry, who dropped appreciatively onto the sofa with a happy sigh. The crowd filed into a circle around him, still quizzing him for information, though by this point he had began to tune them out. He really didn't want to have to deal with the inquisitive crowd at the moment, much rather wishing to have a quiet conversation in front of the fire with his new friends, but Romilda shot him an amused look that said 'We'll talk later'.
"Alright," Harry said with a roll of his eyes, and he shifted to get more comfortable. "If it'll get you munchkins off my back, I'll answer some of your questions. But not too many! I'm tired and I don't intend to be up too late with you guys. Got it?" His statement was made with a light glare, and every head around him bobbed enthusiastically. "Good. Now who's first?"
A sea of hands rushed up, waving around, and Harry pointed to one of the ones in the front at random.
"You. Name and year, followed by your question." Everyone else around him got quiet, except for the girls around him giggling softly.
"Ginny Weasley, fourth year. What is it like in the United States?" Basic question, easy to answer.
"Larger, with more open spaces between buildings for the most part, unless you go into the larger cities. Then it is louder and smokier than it is here. Next?" Again, he pointed at random and a younger boy bounced forward carrying a camera.
"Colin Creevy, fourth year. How different is Hogwarts to Salem? Can I take a photo?" The boy indicated to the camera in his hand, and Harry shook his head.
"I haven't been here long enough to really make a comparison. Ask me again a week from now. And no, no flash photography."
The kids around him laughed before hands went up again. The impromptu Q&A session went on for about half an hour before their questions for the most part had been answered, and they wandered off to their own devices, once more chatting happily about whatever. For the first time since he had arrived in the Common Room, Harry was able to slump back with a sigh of relief and close his eyes.
"You handled that pretty well," Romilda said as she leaned back next to him. One hand reached up the back of the sofa and trailed lazily against the back of his head, scraping around the light fuzz that was his military-style hair cut. The sensation was one that Harry was unfamiliar with, but quickly coming to enjoy highly. He thought about mentioning how close she was to him, considering they had only met a couple of hours ago, but decided against it. If it was only due to the strength of his Charm, it would have worn off by now. Thus either she was particularly weak willed and it would still wear off soon, or it was lingering because she had a normal and non-magical attraction to him, which he wasn't about to complain about in the first place. She was pretty attractive after all, in that girl-next-door kind of way.
"It was going to happen eventually anyway, and they wouldn't have given up until I answered some of their questions or they came up with their own answers. At least this way they have the truth instead of just starting rumors. I've learned that lesson the hard way. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet."
The blond on Romilda's right laughed at that, and glanced at him from around her friend.
"So, Harry, you never did tell us what your wand core was on the train. We're still waiting for an answer, you know."
Harry grunted in amused exasperation and made himself comfortable in preparation for another long conversation. He had a feeling though that this one would be a lot more pleasant than the least. Especially if Romilda kept doing that with her hand.
'Maybe this year won't be so bad after all...'
A/N: Alright you guys, there's another chapter for you. It has taken me a while to get back into the habit of writing, and I don't want to jinx myself yet again about my inspiration levels, but I will say that I am cautiously optimistic. I have moved from my last place of residence to Houston, Texas about five hundred miles away from my last home. Maybe a new place with new faces will help me get over this block? Only time will tell...
Now, the next unofficial poll I have for you guys is about the length of chapters. For those of you magnificent readers who have read my other stories in addition to this one, I'm sure you've noticed that I have been experimenting with the length of my chapters. Now personally, when I read I prefer substance to chapters with longer generally being better than shorter. I know that there are many people out there who disagree with me on that though, and prefer shorter chapters. Now is the chance for you to speak up and make a difference on my overall chapter length. What do you think? Short, sweet, and to the point? Long, detailed, with lots of juicy going-ons in between the important bits? Let me know your point of view, and you may very well change the face of my writing forever! Never let it be said that I don't listen to the people.
As always, don't be a stranger! I love you all, you know that.
- NikolaiCarpathia