Disclaimer: There always exists a necessary evil. To be a stepping block for the Hero to rise or to be the depths of hell they should fall into.
I do not own Harry Potter.
After the eventful Transfiguration class, Harry, Lisa and Terry parted ways with their Hufflepuff friends as Ravenclaw students had charms with Slytherin while Hufflepuff had Herbology with Gryffindors. Lisa and Terry walked while Harry skipped happily beside them, ignoring the curious stares he was attracting from the Hogwarts population.
After the brief stint in Transfiguration classroom, Lisa decided that they should reach the class exactly on time to prevent Harry from harming any more hapless animals and Harry acquiesced with her demands, although Lisa could swear that she saw his fingers cross as he spoke.
They arrived at the classroom with barely a few seconds to spare and as such most of the seats were filled. Lisa and Terry found an empty pair of seats in the middle row, while Harry was left with no choice as there was only a single seat available beside the girl he saw during the sorting ceremony.
Shrugging, he ambled over to the empty seat before plopping down gracelessly and while some of the students glanced his way at his lack of manners, the girl didn't even twitch. That in itself was suspicious but he had no time to ponder upon his observations as Professor Flitwick entered the classroom and swiftly propped himself onto the desk.
As the professor reached his name, Flitwick peered over his spectacles to stare at Harry and then, the professor noticed the girl sitting beside Harry. "Already promoting inter-house relations! Five points to Ravenclaw and Slytherin."
Harry was not stupid enough to point out that it was the only seat available, so, he simply smiled at the grinning professor.
The girl gave no reaction.
Skepticism bubbled within him, threatening to boil over and Harry had to quell it under the pretense of obtaining more info before drawing conclusions.
The professor was teaching the Levitation charm and though Harry was more than proficient at the spell, he didn't want to disrespect the cheerful professor by lazing off during class. So, for now, his suspicions were pushed to the side. The class was informational as even though Harry could execute the spell perfectly, it didn't mean that he was aware of the mechanics behind it.
After the class, similar to their transfiguration class, they were provided with time to practice the spell and as such, Harry was once again left with more free time than he desired. So, he did the only thing one could do when they were confined to a classroom along with their classmates. Observation.
Naturally, he began with the girl beside him.
The blond hair that cascaded down to her shoulders seemed as smooth as the surface of his silver wand and as straight as the towers of the Hogwarts castle. The blond hair gently stroked her pale skin with each gust of the wind before obediently settling down behind her ear, as though they wouldn't dare to sacrilege such utter perfection. The ghostly paleness of her skin contrasted with the pink fullness of her thin lips, accentuating the mesmerizing effect they had on his senses and every time she uttered the incantation, the lips parted barely to allow a whisper before they reverted to the closeness of their previous position.
But her most striking feature was her sky blue eyes, appearing as though they were twin mirrors that reflected the bright, cloudless afternoon sky and every time the light reflected off her irises, they twinkled like sapphires on an ornament.
Her movements were filled with unrivaled grace, as though she was afraid to even waste an ounce of her precious energy over wasteful movements and even as she failed repeatedly, there was not a sign of annoyance of her marble-like visage.
If not for her lifelike movements, Harry would have sworn that she was carved magnificently out of white marble with sapphires for eyes and pink roses for lips.
Entranced by something...or someone who was so opposite...so clashing with who he was, Harry slowly raised his hands to determine whether this girl was even human.
She could be a vampire for all he knew. Or a girl raised from the dead – Could they do that? Or a vampire girl who was raised from the dead. So many possibilities.
Just as his intrusive finger was about to poke her pale, blemish free cheek, she twisted her head to stare at him and losing all semblance of balance at the sudden scrutiny of such intimidating stare, Harry slipped out of his chair to land painfully on the floor.
He ducked behind the chair to escape the terrifying blue-eyed gaze and slowly poked his head out to see whether the girl was still staring at him but, to his relief, she was back to practicing her spell. Swiftly rising to his feet, he paid no heed to the snickers from other students and took his seat.
Harry stayed silent for nearly a minute, during which the girl managed to levitate her feather into the air and she was the second person in the class to accomplish this feat, with the first being Harry.
"Ten points to Slytherin, Miss Greengrass", Flitwick shouted from his position where he was overlooking the progress of a dazed Slytherin student.
The girl acknowledged the points with a nod, not aware that her simple nod appeased the doubts of a certain green-eyed boy.
"So, um, I'm Harry. Harry Potter", Harry extended his hand, with his face split in half by a mile-wide grin. At least his enthusiasm might seep into the girl and provide some much-needed emotion.
"Daphne Greengrass", she shook his hand with her face blank and Harry nearly flinched when he perceived how cold her hand was. It was as though she just took it out of a freezer and then coated it with icicles.
He withdrew his hand and discreetly rubbed his palms together to retain the warmth. "Did you know about magic before you came to Hogwarts, Miss Greengrass?"
Daphne gave a nod in reply. Harry blinked owlishly when there was no further response and settled back in his seat. Till now, he had foolishly thought that he was socially inept. He was a playboy when compared to this blond haired girl.
Too soon, the class came to an abrupt end and as the girl walked out of the door, he rushed after her. "Miss Greengrass!"
Daphne turned around at his call and with an ungraceful stumble, he halted beside her. "Can you do me a favor?"
Daphne raised one delicate eyebrow and that display of human expression encouraged Harry even further. "Nothing significant. Just pick a card out of this deck."
It was fortunate that what happened in the Transfiguration class still did not reach everyone through the Hogwarts rumor mill. Otherwise, Harry would have been thrown into the dungeons for even suggesting it. It was simply his barely existent luck that Lisa and Terry, being Ravenclaws at heart, were busy asking their questions. Judging by the enthusiasm of the diminutive professor as he explained, it would a few minutes before they might even glance his way.
Reluctantly, she picked the topmost card. A Queen of Hearts. Harry took the card from her hands and then turned it over before handing it to her again.
She flipped the card with not a flicker of emotion on her face and astonishingly, it altered to Ace of Diamonds.
While anyone would have shouted out in surprise or at least widened their eyes, she merely bestowed him with a slight nod, as though he was a fan asking for her autograph, before twisting on her heels and strolling away, leaving a gobsmacked Boy-who-lived in her wake.
"Peeves", Harry called out in a daze and the poltergeist, who was floating in the air above Harry while holding a water balloon, glided down to the ground with a pout on his clown face for being caught in the act.
"Scarred Potty calling Peeves?"
"Pick a card", Harry ordered and it was a testament to Harry's bewildered expression that Peeves complied without protest.
A Joker. Why didn't he guess? Harry took the card into his hands and then flipped it over before handing it to Peeves again. This time, it turned to Five of Spades.
Peeved gasped loudly before hollering as he rushed through the corridor. "DARK MAGIC! DARK MAGIC IN THE HALLS!"
Huh. This at least reassured him that the problem didn't lie with his tricks. They were as awesome as usual. God, it was a sin to even doubt the awesomeness of his tricks.
Harry stared as Daphne Greengrass ambled down the corridor, with her blond hair swinging behind her back, completely disregarding her surroundings. It was like they were polar opposites. A boy who wore his heart on his sleeve and a girl who was as emotionless as ice.
On that fateful fay, Harry Potter resolved that by the time this year was completed, he would procure a genuine reaction from Daphne Greengrass.
After all, it wouldn't do for someone to be immune to his tricks.
The rest of the table was listening with rapt attention as Terry recounted the tale that occurred in the Transfiguration classroom, during the time which Harry found out that Terry was an extremely good raconteur and as Terry spoke, wide disbelief spread over the ranks of students. Judging by the state of Hufflepuff table, Susan wasted no time on emulating Terry and repeating the incident to her own housemates with wild and highly inaccurate gestures. No way in hell did he cackle evilly when the cat teleported outside the window.
The senior students glanced at one another, their faces flushed as they strove to rein their laughter and when Terry told how the cat shrieked as it fell, the table roared with laughter while a few students fell down the bench, rolling on the stone floor as they convulsed with laughter.
The Hufflepuff students found themselves in the same predicament and they were less enthusiastic at hiding their guffaws than their Ravenclaw counterparts.
"Merlin's soggy underpants! He threw Professor McGonagall out of the window!" one of the students managed to say and as such, all of the first years stilled.
With dread rising in his chest, Harry asked in an uncertain tone. "That's just a cat, right?"
The senior shook his head fervently, as he rubbed the tears leaking out of his eyes. "No. That's Professor McGonagall's animagus form."
Harry's head whipped towards the staff table, where Professor McGonagall was hiding her mortification as Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra ribbed her about the scene. Remus was hiding his face behind his plate as McGonagall glared at him, which led Harry to believe that Prof McGonagall might be aware of his living arrangements...or probably not, as Remus's shoulders were shaking as he silently snickered. Snape looked as though a melon got stuck in his throat or that might be his usual expression; Harry still had to decide.
Steadying his spectacles and wiping off any expression from his face, Harry tried to look as innocent as possible, while thinking about how much trouble he was in for assaulting a professor albeit unwittingly. That too and he was biting his cheek to suppress the chuckles that were threatening to escape him.
It was a fairly embarrassed Harry that reached the defense classroom, as the whole school was snickering behind his back as he passed by and it did not help that two red haired twins, who he had never met in his life, came to his table as he was eating and bowed deeply before proclaiming that they were his disciples from that moment. By the time they finished, Harry ducked so low in embarrassment that only his hair was visible above the table.
They were making it seem as though he had actually performed a prank when he was actually worried about how he should apologize to the cat animagus.
They had the defense class with Slytherins once again and though he tried his best to concentrate on what Remus was explaining about differences between curses and jinxes, his stare frequently shifted towards the blond haired girl. The fact that she caught him in the act a few times while the brown haired girl beside her giggled every time he was found out was less humiliating than the fact that his eyes still seemed to shift in her direction even after that.
By the end of the day, he might be marked as a pervert as well as a prankster when, in fact, he was not any of those.
He was just an immensely curious eleven-year old who just didn't know what's good for him. Or when to quit.
There were no demonstrations in the first class for Harry to once again shine into focus – Thank, Merlin – and the lesson continued peacefully.
While rest of the students slowly trickled out of the classroom, Harry stayed back to help Remus with rearranging the chairs and the unusual objects Remus brought for display. "I think they loved it. You were very good there, Remus."
"Thank you", Remus rubbed the dust off his hands as he smiled. "Although I noticed that a certain green eyed boy was more interested in something other than my teaching."
"That doesn't imply anything", Harry warned as he narrowed his eyes at Remus. "I was simply curious."
"Don't worry, Harry. James himself was quite smitten with Lily in his first year itself", Remus ruffled Harry's hair while Harry tried his best to swat the annoying hand aside. "I think it was love at first sight. Ah, young love."
"Need I remind you that I still did not test human teleportation with another person?" Harry cocked his eyebrow challengingly. "Especially within Hogwarts wards."
It was no wonder that the simple threat managed to silence Remus. "What is it that I hear about your experiment with Prof McGonagall? I've never seen her so mortified in my whole life."
"I didn't know that she was the cat!" Harry grumbled as he threw his hands up in the air. "At least she could have informed me before simply touching the card. I thought the Hogwarts professors are more cautious than that."
Remus stifled a chuckle at Harry's rant. "You can't blame her for not expecting that, Harry."
Harry's only answer was a petulant pout.
"So, I think you have the potions class next, right?" Harry nodded in reply. "I suggest for you to hurry as fast as you can. Severus is not known for his kind and loving nature."
Harry waved rapidly before dashing to the door.
"And, Harry!" Harry skidded for a second before halting as Remus called out. "Be careful. I don't want you getting in trouble with Professor Snape."
"I'll try my best", Harry replied cheekily before rushing out of the door.
"I think it should be Snape I must be worried about", Remus shook his head exasperatedly.
Harry reached the class just in time and thankfully, they had potions with Gryffindor. He did not believe that he could survive another encounter with that girl, especially in the potions class.
Harry took the seat saved by his friend Terry and just as he sat, the professor glided out of the office, with his cloak billowing behind him.
Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the roll call, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name.
"Ah, Yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity."
The moment their eyes met, emerald green with coal black, Harry knew that their relationship wouldn't be a pleasant one. That was the same look he had seen in the eyes of his aunt sometimes. Hatred for something that Harry couldn't control. When it was not in his hands to change, there was no use in trying, was it?
Harry silently apologized to Remus but Harry did try. It's just that the professor reminded Harry of his deplorable aunt and that was definitely not a good first impression in Harry's mind. Why would anyone even try to hate someone when it made no fucking sense to actually do so?
The black eyes were cold and empty but Harry could feel the dislike radiating in waves from the Professor. But just for the sake of not antagonizing Remus, Harry remained silent.
After the roll call, Snape gave a commendable speech about the subtle art of potions and not behaving like dunderheads. Harry noticed Hermione inching forward in her seat, gripping the desk tightly; probably to prove that she wasn't a dunderhead.
"Potter!" Snape yelled in a whisper that managed to reach Harry's seat. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry inwardly thanked Remus for all the times that the man nagged Harry to study more than what's required. Or normal. "Asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. It makes the drinker seem as though they are in a coma."
The hate filled gaze persisted. "Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
"Stomach of a goat", Harry replied just as unenthusiastically. Hermione dropped her hand once again, looking at him as though he snatched her favorite chocolate from her hands.
"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"They are the same plant", Harry answered without shifting his stare from those dispassionate eyes. "It also goes by the name of aconite".
The rest of the class were altering their glances between the professor and Harry, as though they were witnessing a tennis match, waiting for someone to break first.
"Adequate, Potter", Snape twisted on his heels but paused his steps when he reached the front of the classroom. "And of what famous potion is aconite an ingredient of? And what does that potion do?"
This time, Hermione didn't raise her hand, appearing utterly disappointed at not knowing something that the professor deemed important.
"Wolfsbane potion", Harry narrowed his eyes as a triumphant look entered Snape's eyes. "It helps werewolves to retain their mental faculties after transformation."
"Of course, you would know. Wouldn't you?"
The moment Snape uttered those words, Harry's mental inhibitions shattered under the anger that was raging within him. He would have disregarded any slight towards him but at Remus? And that too in front of a class full of students which might lead to Remus losing the only job he ever loved? That's unforgivable in Harry's eyes.
Harry loosened his posture, uncaring of any manners or classroom discipline. "Indeed, Professor Snape. First rule of magic. Always be the smartest guy in the room."
There were few gasps and muted whispers at his statement and Snape gritted his teeth, conflicted between putting Harry in his place by losing his composure or considering that it was not an insult directed at him. Snape took one more look at the students and it seemed that he chose to maintain his composure.
Things didn't improve as the class progressed. Snape set them to prepare a simple potion to cure boils and quelling his annoyance, Harry began to work on his potion. Snape wasted no effort on subtlety and began criticizing the students for every simple mistake and it was obvious that Harry took the brunt of all that displeasure. It was as though Snape was berating other students just to justify the fact that he was tormenting Harry.
"Tut, tut – seems like you let your mouth do all the talking, Potter", Snape scoffed as he reached their desk once again. Harry bit his cheek hard to not let out any more snide comments. "Just like your father. Even he used to strut around, bragging about his skills. But it didn't do him any good in the end, did it?"
Harry crushed the snake fangs he was holding in his hands and looking at the fury on his friend's face, Terry sighed in resignation. "Dead for a purpose is much better than alive without reason".
This time, it was clear to anyone listening that indeed, it was implied as an insult.
"You impudent brat", Snape lunged forward and unfortunately for the professor, Harry's instincts kicked in the moment he sensed danger.
In an instant, Harry slid to the side and banged his fist on the desk beside him and just as Snape's concentration shifted to the desk at the sudden sound, Harry placed the fuming cauldron in his place. It was one of the fundamental tricks of misdirection. Shift the focus of the audience by displaying something unusual and when they lose their concentration, perform the trick and Voila!
Everything happened in an instant. Snape, unable to abruptly halt his motion, jerked forward and instead of his hands wrapping themselves around a scrawny body, they plunged into the fuming potion. One moment of frightening silence and then, Snape screamed as skin peeled off his pink shaded hand due to the heat of the boiling potion and then staring at the horrid state of the professor's hands, the rest of the students shrieked in fright.
"I'm so sorry!" Harry yelled as he stepped forward when Professor Snape backed away from the cauldron in pain and it was just his luck that he accidentally stepped on Snape's abnormally long cloak.
Losing his balance at the sudden tug from his cloak, Snape stumbled backward before he hit the desk behind him and slid down to the floor.
It was terrifyingly unfortunate that the desk was Neville's, who was not famous for his prodigious potion skills. Neville's cauldron, which was hissing and bubbling with acid green smoke shook as the desk jerked when Snape collided with it and in an incident that would scar their young minds for eternity, the cauldron fell from the desk and onto the vulnerable form of Professor Snape.
Harry watched with abject horror as the scary cauldron hit Snape on the head and orange colored sludge dripped from the cauldron to land of Snape's greasy hair. Angry red boils sprang up all over Snape's face and his midnight black hair turned a blinding orange as it soaked in the potion.
"Someone alert the Hospital wing!" Harry yelled as he slung his bag and rushed out of the classroom to notify Remus about this accident. Harry only hoped that he wouldn't be expelled by the end of the day. God, how much could even occur in a single day?
A terrifying lot, apparently.
In the girl's bathroom on the second floor, a slick blond haired boy stood in front of a sink. Taking advantage of the chaos among the students after what happened in potions classroom, he slipped from the group of students speculating about the fate of Harry Potter and dashed to the bathroom.
In his hands was a black leather bound diary but while Draco Malfoy was pale by complexion, he appeared even paler at the moment. But what could have given anyone a clue that this was not Draco Malfoy was not the deathly pale complexion or the extremely rigid posture.
It was the crimson eyes that flashed in place of the usual gray.
With a hiss, the sink slid into the floor to reveal a pipe large enough to fit an average adult and at the sight of the pipe, a smirk appeared on the boy's face.
"And thus, the world is lost in despair."
With the ominous statement, the boy slid down the pipe and as the boy disappeared, the sink rose to once again meet the mirror stuck to the wall. It was as though nothing had ever happened here. How deceiving.
Level 1, Ministry for magic and Support staff
Cornelius Fudge was delightfully sipping at his coffee, enjoying the peace of his office while his undersecretary sat in front of his desk, holding a stack of parchments as she waited for him to sign them. Tough luck.
A moment later, the doors burst open, startling Fudge so much that he spilled his coffee onto his expensive robes and an apprehensive Madame Bones entered while rubbing at her forehead.
The fact that the usually composed Amelia Bones was apprehensive meant that shit hit the fan but the two people in the office were too stupid to grasp that.
"Minister, I have grave news", Amelia eyed the fat lump of human meat with disdain but there was only so much she could do to the Minister of Magic.
"What's so urgent, Amelia?" Fudge grumbled as he sipped his coffee again, still feeling grumpy for the spoiling his robes.
"Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban".
Fudge spit the coffee he was drinking onto the toad-like face of her undersecretary in shock. "I am sorry, Dolores", Fudge was not really feeling sorry but a little apology could go a long way. Or so they say.
"It's fine, Minister", Dolores simpered as she swabbed the coffee with her napkin. Amelia felt inclined to point out that they could use something known as magic to vanish the liquid but then she doubted whether the woman could even hold her wand correctly.
"What do you think we should do, Minister?" Amelia asked, enjoying the way the fool trembled like a cat backed into a corner, with sweat coating his forehead.
"Well...well, er", Fudge stuttered but was rescued by his despicable undersecretary.
"When posed with such immense danger, we should not consider it lightly, Minister", Dolores spoke in her sickly sweet tone that made Amelia want to strangle her. "I say we should release the Dementors."
"Yes, Dementors!" Fudge parroted triumphantly.
"But Minister, it reached my ears that Sirius Black was heading towards Hogwarts. Surely, we should not put children in such danger of dementors", Amelia narrowed her eyes slightly to accentuate her grave tone and Fudge shuddered in his seat.
"Then it's even more crucial that we send the Dementors, Minister", Dolores fake gasped as she hid her mouth behind her plump fingers. "Sirius Black will be more of a danger than dementors could ever be. And they are ministry controlled dementors. We have no fear of them going rogue", she continued as though everything made perfect sense.
"Are you saying that dementors will care enough whether it's Sirius Black or a doomed first year?" Amelia felt her brain cells dying painfully the longer she stayed here.
"This will show Dumbledore who is in control", Dolores whispered conspiratorially and that was all it took for Fudge to shake his head like a bull lost in a flea market.
"Yes. This is my final decision, Amelia. Place Dementors at Hogwarts until Sirius Black is found."
Never in her life did Amelia ever feel the urge to purposefully break the rules and regulations to kill two imbeciles. It's sad that she couldn't boast about it anymore.
Harry walked beside Professor McGonagall to the Headmaster's office, silently praying to all gods that it was not for reasons he feared. "Before I lose the chance, I am sorry for what happened in the classroom, Professor McGonagall. If I had any idea that the cat was you, I wouldn't even have tried anything."
"So, you have no problems with harming other animals?" McGonagall cocked an eyebrow. "Or Professors, as it seems to be the case."
"You have no idea how much I regret my actions. It was not my intention to harm any person", Harry lamented with a sigh. "Or even cats", he added for good measure.
"I only wish that you won't repeat these actions, Mr. Potter."
"Promise that you'll forgive me if I do not harm any more animals?" Harry halted to turn towards Professor McGonagall, with those huge green eyes, appearing every bit like a child who secretly ate chocolate and was caught.
McGonagall once again lost herself in those green eyes, but this time, she was reminded of a red-haired girl who displayed such similar innocence and warmth in her emerald green eyes that everything seemed okay as long as those eyes were bright. "I promise, Li...Mr. Potter."
"Yay!" Harry cheered, unmindful of the slip and skipped ahead.
They ended their stroll as they reached an ugly and extremely large stone Gargoyle. "Lemon Drop!"
If Harry ever had the unbearable urge to steal something wicked, he would make sure to visit Dumbledore's office. It was a large and circular room, with a number of curious silver instruments standing on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames.
But what caught Harry's interest in this paradise of thieves was a shabby, tattered wizard hat. "Hello, Harry Potter. What a pleasant surprise! I was hoping..."
The hat was rudely interrupted as Harry forced a card into the tear that acted as a mouth. The hat gagged, as though something got stuck in its throat but knowing that it was inanimate, Harry did not feel any pity.
"What was that, Harry!" the hat shouted once it regained its voice. Harry believed without a doubt that the hat was faking. Hat's didn't have a gag reflex, did they?
"Your one-way ticket to wonderland", Harry replied with a shrug. If he could teleport Prof McGonagall, then he could obviously teleport a hat.
"Then you could have informed me before assaulting me", the hat grumbled.
Harry's reply was cut off by a strange gagging noise behind him and he turned around to see a decrepit looking bird that resembled a chicken suffering with extreme hair fall. Even as he watched, couple more feathers fell out of its tail and fascinated by this strange creature, Harry ignored the grumpy hat in favor of scrutinizing the bird.
Its eyes were lifeless and feeling sad at seeing such a magnificent bird suffer, Harry decided to make its last moments joyful. He took out a card from his pocket and the bird watched curiously as he waved the card in front of its eyes. With a click of his fingers, the card vanished and the bird tilted its head in confusion.
Harry placed his hand on its tail and from the tail, appeared his card. The bird teetered as it released a chuckle that sounded rather like a choke. Oh, well. Should he try his hand at something more dangerous?
He placed the card on his palm and what he was hoping for was that the card would get engulfed in flames in a bright display but remain unharmed. But the magic he pushed into the card had adverse effects and it launched from his hand like a missile and tore a hole through the portrait of a sleeping headmaster and embedded itself into the portrait.
"Oh, God!" Harry held his palm to his forehead as the remaining headmasters and headmistresses shrieked in terror, yelling about some person named, 'Phineas Nigellus Black' but before someone could point their fingers at him, Harry quickly summoned his card and placed it in his pocket.
The bird fell from its perch as it cackled uproariously and staring at the excitable bird, Harry smiled; Until, the bird burst into flames. It gave one loud shriek of pain or laughter and then the only remaining proof that a bird had ever existed here was ash.
This day would go down in history as the most chaotic and harmful day in Harry Potter's life. It was as though his presence was enough to blow up cities.
The office door opened and Dumbledore strolled in, looking sober.
"I didn't do it!" Harry yelled, pointing his finger at the ash near his feet. His luck must have been dying a painful death, engulfed in flames and potions.
"About time". To Harry's astonishment, Dumbledore smiled. "He's been looking dreadful for days; I've been telling him to move on."
"You don't sound too sad about it", Harry pointed out with a frown.
"Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes. Watch him..."
Harry looked down in time to see a tiny, wrinkled newborn bird poke its head out of the ashes. It looked as frail and ugly as the old one. "It sounds poetic", Harry agreed neutrally.
"Indeed. It's a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day," said Dumbledore, seating himself behind his desk. "He's really very handsome most of the time, wonderful red and gold plumage. Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets."
Dumbledore sat on the throne-like chair behind the desk, reminding Harry that it was time for business. To be honest, Harry was immensely relieved that Dumbledore did not notice the lacerated portrait. Or maybe Dumbledore thought that he had enough crimes in his list to attempt to add another.
"So, Harry. It has reached my notice that your first day had been rather eventful", Dumbledore stared at him with those piercing blue eyes. "Anything you want to comment upon that?"
"Entirely unintentional series of events", Harry ran a hand through his hair, trying his best to not squirm under the heavy gaze.
"Professor Snape seemed very inclined to disagree", Dumbledore stroked his beard while his blue eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles. Harry had to blink to make sure that he was not imagining it. "He was rather fervent in his claims that you must be severely punished for your actions."
"I am amazed that he was able to even speak after what happened", Harry furrowed his brows in thought as he pondered over how Snape managed it.
"His gestures were considerably wild to assume that he was not happy with the situation", Dumbledore stifled a chuckle with a cough as he remembered how Severus looked. Needless to say that the Potions master was not happy to find out that Dumbledore could laugh without breathing for a minute.
"Oh", Harry nodded as realization dawned upon him. "But I stand by my claims. Those were not preplanned actions."
"Yes, I gathered that much from what Minerva told me", Dumbledore popped what looked like some type of candy into his mouth. He then offered the bowl to Harry, who happily took a few into his hand but paused to look at Dumbledore, who was beaming that finally, someone accepted his treats. Although Harry suspected that the smile might be strained considering how many of those Harry took into his hands. "But even you must agree that everything couldn't have happened without any action on your part, Harry. But do not fret, my boy. I don't blame you."
"I am really sor...what?" Harry blinked owlishly as the words reached him. "You don't blame me?"
"No, I don't", Dumbledore smiled that twinkly-eyed smile once again. "But you must promise that such a thing won't happen again. Can you do that, Harry?"
"Yes..." Harry began excitedly but paused when he realized how much of a lie that would be. "I am not sure, Professor."
"I don't understand the reason for your reluctance, my boy", Dumbledore peered over his glasses to stare sternly at Harry.
"It's just that this school...no, this wizarding world is not what I expected it to be", Harry sighed as he leaned forward. "When people have such a wonderful thing called magic, I don't understand why they still choose to live such normal lives. It's as though they don't realize what power they have or they don't cherish it. I mean, some people can't even wonder at such miracle, Professor.
"The first time I realized I have this power was a moment I will never forget in my life. But seeing the people mindlessly waving their wands or lifelessly moving in the corridors makes me so angry that they are just disregarding the greatest thing they have. It makes me want to show them what they are simply ignoring. So, I don't think I can ever be normal, Professor Dumbledore."
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair while Harry regained his breath after speaking for so long. For the first time, the old wizard watched the boy in a new light and contemplated what his further actions should be.
Meanwhile, Harry was berating himself for ranting all of his thoughts to the Headmaster but it felt good to finally get it out of his system. If Harry had his way then everything would be different. More chaotic but definitely more beautiful. He would see to it that this place would change and if they wouldn't, then he would rattle the very foundations to watch it happen.
After all, as wise people proclaimed, 'Be the change you want to see in the world.'
He desired the world to be chaotic and so he would be. So chaotic that no one could even trace his steps or anticipate his actions.
"I've come to a conclusion, Harry", Dumbledore cleared his throat as though he was passing a death sentence. "You will serve detention on every Saturday night for the whole month."
"That's all?" Harry couldn't help but blurt out. He was expecting an expulsion or detention every day for a whole year.
Dumbledore nodded with a throaty chuckle. "Yes, that's all."
Harry was about to get out of his chair when another question struck his mind. "Then with whom should I serve my detention?"
'Please don't let it be Snape', Harry iterated, again and again, hoping that if he said it enough times then it would happen.
"Why, with me, of course."
Harry choked on his lemon drop.
Author's Note: And thus it happened. Review?
