Chapter seven
Harry knew his next article, which was named and signed, would upset many, especially Albus Dumbledore. Harry didn't really care, but he was never going to put his safety and freedom into the hands of a prejudice and bigoted ministry.
Once again Harry and his friends entered the great hall together. One thing that the friends had noticed, Harry was looked upon for inspiration, but also looked upon with awe, and with admiration, and in some cases, fear. Even the friends were now treated differently. The DA had proven to be powerful and would use any spell if it meant they would win.
That was one thing Albus did not like, he wished the students would use less harmful spells. If they used the spells that they showed during the duelling contest then those that could be brought back to the right side would end up severely injured, or dead. If they survived it would intensify their anger which meant they would never return to the light.
Like every morning, the post owls arrived. Within seconds many people gasped, but the headmaster raced towards the Gryffindor's table.
'Why, harry?'
'I have a lot of reasons, one is everyone just expects me to kill him, why, when half the magical world has caused me nothing but problems. It is time for people like you, the aurors and any able person to do what is right without expecting it from me. I believe offering two million galleons for Voldemort's head just might bring an end to the war sooner than we all thought.'
'But you are the chosen one Harry, it must be you.'
'Do you really expect me to save people like those at the ministry, for you and people that caused me nothing but misery? I will never put my life, my safety or my freedom in the hands of the bigoted people that run this world. Very soon I will be leaving and moving to a place that like to progress and not live in the past. Muggles have the right idea in some cases, besides, they have more to offer.'
'What of your friends?'
'They, like everyone else in this hall have someone to fight for, they also know how to fight. What I don't get is why Hermione would fight for those types when they will make sure she can never use her smart brain to help this world. They don't want people like muggleborns involved in their decisions for this world. No, I won't help, not while the English magical world is run by those types of people. Get rid of them, make sure that our laws are made by and for everyone, that the Wizengamot is filled with people like muggleborns, with goblins, with werewolves, with house elves, only then will this world be worth fighting for. Send death eaters through the veil, send Umbitch through the veil, send Snape through the veil, then it will show that things are being done right,' harry got up and left the headmaster and left many in the great hall stunned.
Harry Potter was not going to fight Voldemort, not for them. A few believed he was scared, but anyone smart would realise that it was there own fault. Harry had been lied about, badly treated by many, including Snape, he had almost been expelled for something that was allowed. Some even said he was insane, yet many of those people expect Harry Potter to save them, again.
'Harry did the right thing, why should he fight for people that lied about him, that were cruel to him, that made him out to be the next dark lord. It's been proven that harry is powerful but why use that power for those that caused him nothing but pain and suffering. If Harry did fight and kill Voldemort who's to say that the ministry wouldn't throw him in Azkaban just like they did with Sirius Black, who was innocent,' Neville said then he got up and left the great hall. One by one all Harry's friends left the great hall.
Albus was not sure what to do, Harry is the one who would have to kill Voldemort. Right now Voldemort might be trying to fend off his death eaters. Most would sell their souls for two million galleons. Some would even sell their families for that about of money. That's why Harry did this, if those death eaters didn't die in the attempt, they would be cursed badly that they will be out of the way. But by some miracle one of them succeeded then the war could be over.
Albus always thought he could talk those that follow the dark arts back to the good side, now he knew there was no hope. Harry believed they did not deserve a second chance, so he was making sure some, like the death eaters end up dead or badly cursed in some way.
Minerva had seen the look on Albus's face, she had listened to his argument's on many subjects over the years they have known each other. But one belief that Albus had that she never believed was how he believed those that turn to the dark forces could be redeemed. She had seen enough to know that some people are just born evil, and some just enjoy hurting people.
After she had spoken to Harry that day in class, she decided to do a bit of investigating and what she found out disgusted her but also made her feel more ashamed than she already was. She learned that Harry Potter had been abused his entire life by his muggle relatives, and she found out that Albus knew of it, or at least he knew some of it. He never once tried to help, he never even considered moving Harry from those people and placing him with someone else, like the Weasley family. She knew Albus would live now, until the war heated up, if it heated up, but she also knew she was not going to just accept anything Albus told her anymore. She had made mistakes, not just in regards to Harry Potter, but to all her students. From now on she would want more answers before she would do what he asked.
There hadn't been much Minerva could do about Severus, Albus always said he was needed, so if he got a bit hard on the students, then just let him be. Not anymore, she had already organised the notes to be sent to all teachers including the heads of house. She also sent the same note to all common rooms. As deputy head, she took charge of how the teachers handled punishment, so things were going to change. As from today all detentions were to be taken by the students head of house, it will stop Severus from causing more trouble, especially for Harry. She knew he would take more points from Gryffindor, she planned to award extra points, but not just the odd ten points here or there, but fifty or even a hundred points. It was time Severus realised she was not going to sit back and allow him to cheat the point system, which had become a joke since he began teaching. It was time things changed, whether Albus liked it or not, but she was going to make sure those changes were implemented.
Hermione sat beside Harry, 'I think what Neville said is right, all those that support him are the same people that make our laws. If you did kill Voldemort or any of his supporters they would want to punish you. Most people know how the dementors affected you, we know Malfoy would have told his parent's. Throwing you in Azkaban for killing him and saving the world would be the best way for them to retaliate.'
'I did a lot of thinking about this Hermione, they can't be trusted. I almost ended up expelled because Umbitch sent dementors after me, and Fudge wanted me expelled as well. He may not be minister anymore but there are so many inside the ministry who support Voldemort. But look what happened before my second year, Dobby used magic, not me, yet no one ever asked me why I did it or if I did it. The people at the ministry can't be trusted, so I'm not going to give them a chance to take away my freedom or my life. Did you do what I asked?'
Hermione sighed, 'Yes, there has never been a muggleborn as minister or head of department. Most can't get further than a secretary and those only work in the least important departments.'
'So what do you intend to do?'
'I'm going to take a year or two after Hogwarts to catch up on my non magical education. And even though I really shouldn't do this, I'm going to fake some papers to see if I can get into university. I did consider leaving now, it would give me more time to make sure my education is up to scratch. Since we did our OWL'.s we can leave. I'm just not sure if I will or if I will wait.'
Harry looked around then moved closer to Hermione, 'I'm leaving, at the end of this year. When I heard the old man was going to give me private lessons, I decided to return, yet they turned out to be memories of Tom. He is still going on about love, that's what he believes is the power he knows not, but he's wrong, again.'
'How can you be so sure that it won't be love?'
'Because I don't love anyone, nor have I ever felt loved. I care about you, about all my friends, I care about Remus, but I don't love anyone Hermione. The Firebolt in third year made me wary of you. Apart from Hedwig, it was the first gift I ever got that came from family, it meant a great deal to me. So even though I will always care for you and do anything to keep you safe, I basically stopped myself feeling more towards you than most would. I was wary of trusting people before I came here, but I decided to give people a chance, and I got burned. It's the same with Ron, after fourth year, I couldn't fully trust him anymore. I do trust you Hermione, more than anyone, but I remained wary of everyone. When I first found out Remus was close to my parent's yet he never saw me, I did the same with him. Sirius did explain what Dumbledore told Remus, the old man played on his fears. I'm fine with Remus now but I can't allow myself to trust him in case he decides to go against me again. I only got to spend a short amount of time with Sirius, not really enough time to get to know him, so I cared a lot for Sirius, but I didn't love him.'
'I noticed that you always seemed to hold back when it came to your feelings, and I don't blame you for that, we did make mistakes. But answer this if you can, what if it really has to be you that kills him? If you don't then it won't be just the magical world that will suffer, it will also be the muggles.'
'I've worked on a few plans, plus a guarantee. I do plan to leave here Hermione, I plan to live and work in the muggle world, so I needed to make sure I was not considered a criminal in the muggle world, if I do have to be the one. But Hermione, it's not love and the only thing that separates me and Voldemort is our belief in muggles and the muggle world. So I plan to use a muggle method, if it comes to that. I know you will keep this to yourself, just know even when I leave, we will still be friends, same with Ron, Neville and the few others I talk to. Nothing will change that just because I am giving up on the magical world.'
'We both are, but we will still see our friends. I think you're right though, he would never believe a muggle method could kill him. Well, I'm going to start my homework, I might even send an owl to my parent's, to ask if they can get me the books I need.'
'Then ask Hedwig, she could do with a good fly.'
'Thank you,' Hermione hugged Harry then went up to the girls dorm room.
Harry saw that Hermione finally realised the truth about the magical world. If she wanted to do good, which she could, then this world was not for her, just like it was not for him. Harry and Hermione were magicals, but until the world changed they would not remain in the magical world.
He did have hope that one of Voldemort's death eaters would take care of him. Two million galleons was a lot of money. When Sirius died and made Harry his heir, he disowned Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy, the money paid as a dowry to their husbands was returned. Harry knew the Lestrange and Malfoy vaults were near empty, so he wondered if one of those two men might be the one to bring in Voldemort's head. But he couldn't think of a better way to use that money than to help bring down Voldemort.
