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Albus was nervous, exceptionally so, as he waited for Harry Potter to arrive at the Weasley's den. The boy's actions spoke of a being far more enlightened and ruthless then anything he had expected. The Weasley's, unsuprisingly, seemed unaware of his deeper thoughts.

They smiled and waited, chattering about making sure Harry was comfortable and knew he wouldn't be judged for being a werewolf. Albus knew that Molly had brewed several paon potions to give the boy when he arrived. The Full Moon had just completely passed, rendering the boy weaker and probably in a great deal of pain. This would work to Albus' benefit, especially when he was drugged by the pain potion. The numbing effect would make him vulnerable to mental influence.

' Well, more then normal anyway.' The Headmaster shook his head. ' It is appalling just how open his mind is to influence. Not an ounce of emotional control, I would not be suprised to find Tom finding entrance into the boy's soul.' A warm tingle ran up Albus' spine. Knowing what it meant, he turned to the Weasley's, he pointed. " Mr. Potter approaches, under a very impressive set of presence reducing wards I might add." He frowned internally. ' Too well, it takes time to grow skilled in a field such as warding.'

The air rippled, revealing a peeved Harry Potter... or rather, Albus assumed it was Harry Potter.

Gone was the overly thin boy with messy hair, brilliant green eyes and his heart on his sleeve. Now the boy stood taller then before, lean muscle and a layer of healthy fat covered tanner skin. His hair was downey soft, shiny and thicker the normal, gelled into a fashionable rougish look. His glasses were gone, leaving his eyes much more visible.

However, the greatest change had to be the total lack of emotion in his stance. Despite his smile, the boy was unreadable... in more then one way given the passive shield born of confidence and sense of self that radiated from his concious.

' There is no James or Lily in him.' For the first time, he could no read the boy and that frightened him.

" Ow, Harry, that hurts!" Ronald's screech drew Albus from his thoughts where he saw Harry squeezing Ronald into a tight hug. " You've gotten strong, mate."

Harry merely shrugged before repeating the process with a blushing Ginny, the Twins, Percy and Molly whom cheek he kissed. As the boy pulled away, they shared a look that left Albus breathless.

' He is manipulating them, playing on thier affection to gain greater trust and protectivness.' Putting on his most genial and grandfatherly smile, He turned his full attention to the boy. " You gave us quite the scare Harry."

The boy shrugged uncaringly. " I grew up taking care of myself first and foremost. Hogwarts and the pressure of being seen as the Boy Who Lived made it hard to act like that. The attack brought it back. I focused on myself until I was able to focus on others."

A cold feeling drained into Albus' limbs. ' He will not sacrifice himself... I will need to change my plans.' Shifting his plans in his head, Albus said something his heart hated. "I wondered where the Slytherin in you went, the sorting hat was right. Clearly you represent the more positive aspects of that House."

The Weasley's all flinched, decade long bias clear in thier stance. Albus knew quite well, it would slowly chisel a divide between them, leaving Harry with nothing to live for.

And yet the boy seemed unperturbed. "Yes, I do. Like Percy, or Ron or Hermione or the Twins and Mr. Weasley." Said people glared at him, just as Albus wanted them to."I mean they are all extremely ambitious, a core value of Slytherin. Percy wants to be a high working ministry worker, a political position that needs cunning. " Percy actually flushed and gave Harry a curious stare. Albus felt his plans starting to shatter. " Ron wants to fly for the Cannons, and play for our qudotch team. Ambition and drive a plenty. Hermione is devoted and driven for skill, knowledge amd power for personal pleasure and to stave of the ney sayers about her blood status. The twins are cunning in a way that shames even Salazar Slytherin. And their skills in magic and pranking screams of personal ambition. " All spoken of Weasley's blushed thier characteristic blush. Their expressions equally pleased, impressed and mildly confused. " And Mr. Weasley more then all, he is driven to understand Muggle society despite prejudice, working in an underfunded office saving lives and helping others." Harry turned to Ginny, who most squeaked. " I don't know Ginny well enough yet, but I know she is smart and strong, qualities that are needed to deal with Ambition. Slytherin is needed for progress Headmaster, the Weasleys taught me the best parts of Slytherin, tempered with Hufflepuff loyalty abd hard work, Ravenclaw brains and Gryffindor bravery. So, honestly, I am proud to share something in common with my family."

Albus wanted to grown despite his growing excitement. ' Check and mate... you won Mr. Potter. I will definitly have another person to play this long game with... perhaps less repetitive then my game with Tom...'

Harry could barely hide his smugness and shock. His speech wasn't planned, as a matter of fact he didn't really see the Weasleys as Family. Not even Ron. Too many issues to really feel familal connections if he was being honest. Still, the instant he saw Albus starting to divide him and the Weasleys, a tactic the Dursley's used to keep people from noticing the Abuse and neglect levied against him, he just snapped and squashed it as quickly as he could.

' Still, I wasn't wrong... they all have major snake traits.' Smiling a winning smile, Harry remembered Lockhart and focused his actions accordingly. 'Huh, maybe he was good for something.'

Quickly, Harry pulled Ginny into a hug. " I do want to get to know you Ginny. I'm sorry we didn't become freinds sooner." He turned his head to Percy. "You too, Percy. I kind of got judgmental for a while."

The older boy nodded, a little less cocky and obnoxious the normal. "It's alright Harry. I'd be happy to be your freind."

Ginny, who finally got over her shock pulled away. "Me too, and to be honest I wasn't in the right mindset after my first year. I'd be happy to start making up for lost time."

'Check... now to finish it off.' Smiling brighter, he threw his arm around Ron and Ginny. "Well, as nice as it is outside, I'd probably best put my stuff inside. Then I'll answer everything you want to know."

Twenty minutes later, Harry found himself at the table, waiting for questions.

Narurally Albus spoke first. "So, Mr. Potter, can you explain your attack and the events surronding it?"

" Well, to be honest the attack is a blur. I hit my head early in, but what I remember was walking around through a back alley to get to ho..." Albus flinched, knowing now the boy fully was firmly aware of the consequences of calling someplace home. " the Dursley's house. I qaa attacked and ended up in the Hospital with my glasses broken and wand snapped. Turns out, their method of dealing with Werewolf bites is better then ours. The antibiotics were silver based, but it was thier irrigation and use of stitches. I woke up fine, sore but fine. When I went to The Dursley's house I..."

Every word made Albus flinch inside, knowing details were being limited, or outright lied about. Still some helped him.

" You made your own nutrition potion?"Ginny looked at Harry, poking his side with a frown. " I know a full Sixth year girls who used to starve themselves. The potions made them fat, why aren't you fat?"

" Ginerva!" Molly reached over, to pull her daughter away, when Harry intervened.

With a look of surrender, He smiled disarmingly at Molly. " It's fine, Mrs. Weasley. A little rude but still a good question. The potion does makes us fat, yes. It has too since fat is how our body stores many nutrients and our energy. Wizards go through a tremendous amount of energy just to use magic, it's why we all are so hungry but not all fat. I exercise throughout the day, so I can deal with the weight."

There was a silence, born of suprise at Harry's well spoken explanation.

It took a minute but, much to everyone including Albus' suprise, Percy recovered first.

He raised his hand, answering only when Harry nodded at him. " How did you use magic? Not potions, those don't set off the charms, but the ones you used on yourself when you came here."

'Are those eye Twinkles, is he stealing from me?' Oddly a feeling of jealousy and protectivness hit Albus hard.

"My wand has no trace till I go back to Hogwarts. I thought it was on oversight, but really it us so you can bond and adapt to your new wand."

That seemed to satisfy everyone, so much so that Molly stood up and clapped her hands. " That's enough, I believe we interrogated him enough. " She gave a warm smile to Harry,one he returned. " I am glad you are alright, Harry, and am so proud of you for learning those wards. Protecting those muggles from your shifts and making your own Wolfsbane." Her eyes turned stern." That being said, you should have sent me letter. I can make Wolfsbane and am much more experienced. Why you could have poisoned yourself!"

Standing up, Harry strode to her, grabbing her hands. " I know, but I didn't know your views on wolves. Or that you could make potions. Besides, I needed to do it on my own, to regain my freedom. Falling into self pity like Lupin wasn't where I wanted to go..." He leaned over, pecking her cheek lightly, his face scrunching lightly as he pulled back. " Actually,Mrs. Weasley... if your so good at potions, why not become a brewer for Saint Mungos? "

Albus froze. ' I cannot allow this, her dependence on me to pay her children's way into Hogwarts is what earned her loyalty. ' Standing, with subtle charms wafting from him, Albus place a hand on Harry's shoulder. " Potions are time consuming and often require the maker to buy the potion ingredients, Harry..." Albus felt a little guilty at Molly's blush.

Harry apparently knew this was a bluff. " Actually Head master I looked into this when I realized there was no brewers to help me. The Daily prophet is filled with potion wanted ads due to our shortage. They will pay for the ingredients ontop of the potions. Molly could start there and earn a name for herself. When she proves her skills, she'll get home assignments from Saint Mungo's. She could do everything from home and make a hundred galleons a month due to bulk ordering. In fact, Accio Daily prophet." Like a tiny airplane, the paper soared into Harry's hand. " Here, on page five. See what I mean... right here, Potion makers needed, portfolio of six potions of five classes much be present. Pays by potion. I did the math, in a year you could make enough to double or even triple Arthur's income."

Every Weasley had round eyes. Ron practically choked." Triple! Mum you have to do this!"

Molly, red faced and sputtering, managed to spit out. " I'll talk to your father about it."

Harry snickered, drawing more attention. " I Have a weird thought. Fred, George, you both are really good at potions right? Why not do this too? You could get a lot of money to put aside, hell maybe help your mom til School starts. Ron you could get a job too, The nimbus store in Diagon alley is hiring, not a dream job but it would put you in the right place to get money and buy your own broom, for tryouts. Hell, you might get free tickets to quiditch games if rumors are to be believed. Maybe work during Hogwarts every other day, if you study with Hermione you'll still get the material but also have money and a great reference for when you graduate."

Healthy greed filled each Weasley's eyes, only Molly's was hesitant. " I... that is lovely Harry, but Arthur, we might hurt his pride."

That made Harry finally lose his smile. " Then let it. If he has an issue with you all chipping in, then that's on him. I already talked to Saint Mungo's I am going to be working for them. I sent in my Wolfsbane potion before I came here. They hired me on the spot."

Albus knew Harry totally beat him. He would have to withdrawl to recover.

'Check and mate arsehole. I got the Weasley's in my debt and now they will be too busy and self suffiect to kiss your arse.' Smirking as Molly spoke to her children, actually swayed by his argument and it's benefits, he smirked at the paper. ' Who knew impulsively was so helpful... now I am a potion maker legally through Saint Mungo's and illegally through ads.'

It had been funny, really, but when he saw himself in the mirror with his new clothes that he realized people would realize something was up about his spending. Molly most likely as she had his key before. A quick stop at Saint Mungo's to answer thier ad had proved useful, especially after his last deal earlier that day went a little south in negotiations. Who knew Ministry officials were so used to blackmail they could step on thier own toes to get cheaper potions from illegal dealers.

Still, all was going well. The Weasley's liked him more, Albus was gone and no questioned the holes he had forgotten to fill in his story...

He hoped his luck stayed so great...

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

Yes Harry is more manipulating but desperate times does that. I think it fits, we've seem his impulses show incredible output and he can be manipulative on canon.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika, SPN