Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter and everything recognisable belongs to J K Rowling.
Hiya!! Thanks to all who reviewed. Hope you enjoy the chappie, it's a long one. Enjoy!
WARNING : This chapter contains offensive language and one scene that may be disturbing for some.
Chapter Ten
Lily closed the door as soon as the last student left her classroom. Finally the classes were over for the day. She had not had a chance to speak to James all day. He was no where to be found at Lunch. Lily wondered what he was up to. Lily was desperate to talk to James. She wanted to tell him about Harry. She had to get all her feelings out. Her talk with Poppy had bothered her all day.
She entered the Great Hall and quickly let her eyes scan the staff table. With a frustrated groan she turned and left the hall seeing that James was yet again missing.
xxx
Harry stifled another yawn as he trudged up the steps leading to the common room. He was blocking out most of the talk happening around him as he usually did when Damien and Ron talked about Quidditch. It wasn't that he had no interest in the subject. It was just that he wasn't that fanatical about the sport. The only thing that held his interest to that level was probably duelling. Or all the training he did when he was 'Alex'. That was the only thing he could imagine being this excited and caught up in.
As soon as they came towards the portrait of the Fat Lady, Harry caught sight of Tonks waiting for them.
"Oh good you're here. I forgot to get the password and I've been out here for ages!" Tonks complained.
"Good to see you too, Tonks!" Damien said sarcastically.
The four Gryffindors and Auror climbed into the common room. The group headed straight for their usual spot next to the fire.
"So why were you waiting outside the common room?" Hermione asked when everyone was seated.
"I was waiting to see you guys!" Tonks told her with a smile.
"I didn't get a chance to speak to any of you since I arrived, so I figured I would spend some time with all of you this evening." She explained.
"So, what have you planned for the Duelling club?" Ron asked, getting straight to the point.
Harry met Tonks eyes and saw the excitement in her at once.
"Lots" she replied cryptically.
"You're not going to tell us are you?" Ginny asked.
"Nope!" she replied, enjoying the exasperated looks Ron and Damien threw at her.
"You'll have to come and see for yourselves."
With a hesitant look at Harry she asked,
"All of you will be coming, won't you?"
Harry didn't respond as the other three nodded their heads. Damien looked over at Harry. He knew that Harry wasn't going to go.
"Harry, I take it you won't be coming along?" Tonks asked out right.
Harry smirked at her before answering,
"I think the novelty of seeing Aurors in action has worn out on me. I've seen them in action plenty of times."
Tonks went a little red but recovered well. Ron quickly jumped back to drilling Tonks about what she would be teaching.
"At least tell us how long you're going to be teaching here?" he asked, when Tonks refused to let out any information about the lessons.
"One month. All the Aurors are taking it in one month turns. There is a team of four Aurors sent out at one time."
"So, who's in your team?" Ginny asked.
"Thomas, Green and Ferguson." Tonks replied.
"So, no one we know huh?" Damien said.
Tonks shook her head.
"Guess not, but don't worry, Sirius and Remus are due to come and teach as well."
She took another glance at Harry before adding,
"And, um, Moody and Frank as well."
Harry's head snapped up at the mention of Frank Longbottom.
"When are they coming?" Harry asked, trying not to sound that interested.
"I don't know, it depends on the Ministry's schedule" Tonks replied.
Harry felt his heart flutter uncomfortably at the thought of Frank being at Hogwarts. It wasn't so much that he would be uncomfortable with Frank. He didn't have any problems with him. It was more because of Neville. Harry hadn't even spoken to Neville yet. Things were still horribly awkward between them. He didn't know how things would go with Frank, Neville and himself all together at Hogwarts. Awkward didn't seem a strong enough word.
"Anyway, I better go. I want to see James before I turn in for the night." Tonks said.
"Oh, good luck" Ron said quietly, but Tonks heard him.
At Tonks questioning look, he clarified.
"He's in a rotten mood today. I don't think I've seen him that angry."
Damien looked like he was going to comment but changed his mind.
"Oh, really? I guess that's my fault." She said in an ashamed voice.
"Your fault?" it was Harry who asked the question.
"Yeah, I saw him this morning when we arrived. I told him about Blake and he got all upset. I shouldn't have said anything." Tonks said regretfully.
"Blake?" Harry asked a scowl already on his face upon hearing his name.
The rest looked confusedly between Harry and Tonks.
"Yeah, Charles Blake. You…you remember him, right?" Tonks asked Harry cautiously.
"I think I vaguely recall him." Harry answered in a clipped tone. He wasn't about to forget him in a hurry. He was someone that Harry had yet to even the score with.
Again, Tonks blushed but continued quickly.
"Yeah, well, I told your dad what happened to him and I don't think he was ready for it." Tonks told him.
"What happened to Blake?" Harry asked, wondering why his dad would care either way.
"I told him about Blake's demotion." Tonks answered with a sigh.
Harry looked confusedly at her.
"Why should that bother dad?" he asked before he could help it.
It was Tonks turn to look confused.
"You know…because, because your dad was trying to get him fired." Tonks answered.
Tonks saw the shocked expressions both Harry and Damien wore.
"You…you didn't know?" she asked hesitantly, cursing herself under her breath.
Both boys shook their heads. Tonks felt her face heat up. Great, she was really messing up today.
"Why was dad trying to get him fired?" Damien asked. He knew that his dad didn't get on with Blake, but he didn't think it was very ethical of his dad to try and get him fired because of it.
Tonks' face blanched at the question. She looked at Harry before getting back up.
"I don't know. I should really get going. It's getting late." She knew she was going to get it from James now. If Harry and Damien didn't know then that meant that James was keeping it from them.
"Tonks sit down, it's only eight o'clock. Tell me why dad's after Blake?" Harry instructed.
"Really, Harry, I've done enough damage as it is. You should just ask James." Tonks pleaded.
"Tonks, tell me." Harry said again, a little more forcefully.
Tonks sat down and resigned to tell them. The damage was already done. It wasn't going to do any more harm.
"Why is dad trying to get him fired?" Harry repeated the question. Harry knew that the slime ball had to have done something really bad to piss his dad off. The question was what.
"What did Blake do?" Harry asked.
At this Tonks looked up quite surprised.
"I think that should be obvious" she was speaking directly to Harry.
"What?" Harry inquired.
"He hurt you!"
xxx
Lily found James sitting alone in his living quarters. She hurried inside the room, glad to have finally found him.
"James! Where have you been? I've looked all over for you…" she stopped as she saw her husband properly. James was sitting with his head bowed, shoulders hunched. Both his hands were clasped together and he looked deep in thought.
"James! What's wrong?" she asked with concern. She hurried over to him and sat across from him.
James looked up at his wife but didn't say anything. His jaw was clenched tightly and his hazel eyes were swimming with suppressed rage. Lily had only seen him this distressed a few times in her life.
"James what happened?" Lily asked again. All thought of talking about Harry had left her at the sight of her distressed husband.
James quietly told her what Tonks had told him. Lily was completely shocked that the Ministry had decided to keep Blake as an Auror. With Harry being named the Wizarding world's hero, she would have thought that Blake would be adequately punished for hurting him. He had cast an Unforgivable on Harry when he was captured. He failed to give Harry the medical attention he needed. Lily knew it was part of the Aurors protocol that anyone captured, whether they are a Death Eater or not, should be given medical attention if they need it. Of course this wasn't always followed, as the case with Blake clearly showed.
"Can't you appeal against the decision?" Lily asked.
James shook his head. Lily tried to comfort her husband.
"James, just forget about him. We can't do anything about the Ministry's decision. Just don't think about it." Lily said, not knowing what else to say.
James looked up at Lily, a fierce look in his eyes.
"I can't forget about it, Lily!" James hissed through clenched teeth.
"I can't forget what he did! I can't forget how he hurt Harry! He tortured my son and the very people I work for aren't doing a single thing about it!" James stood up and started pacing.
"I've worked for the Ministry for 20 years! Two decades of my life was spent in the ministry's service and this is what they do to me! They let a person who intentionally hurt my son, walk away with no reprimands." James shouted.
"Blake has been punished…" Lily tried to say.
"Demotion! He's been demoted down by one rank. One rank! He'll make that up in no time." James spat.
"Lily stood up as well and walked over to him. His pacing was making her irate.
"You have to calm down! Shouting about it isn't going to help." Lily told him. She hated it when James acted like this.
James stopped his pacing and threw Lily a glare. After a moment though, he sat back down. He ran a hand through his messy hair and let out a frustrated sigh.
"I just can't believe Blake walked away from his suspension like this." he said a little calmly.
"I really thought that he would get what he deserved. I wanted his Auror badge to be taken away from him after what he did." James' voice faltered. He closed his eyes and willed the image of Harry's bruised and battered body to go away. He couldn't forget how hurt Harry was, how injured he had been when he came back after his trail. The vivid bruises on Harry's neck had made James lose whatever patience he had. He would never forget that image.
"James, I'm angry at the Ministry as well, I wanted Blake to be punished as well, but if that didn't happen there's nothing we can do about it. Don't fret over something you have no control over." Lily said trying to calm him down.
James could only nod his head. He knew that she was right, but he couldn't get rid of all the anger he was feeling. He was feeling betrayed by the Ministry. At the present time James wasn't even sure that he wanted to be a part of the Ministry anymore. The thing that was killing him was that Blake had gotten away with hurting Harry.
James told Lily that he was going out for a while. He needed to think and sort out his thoughts.
xxx
"What?"
Harry wanted to be sure he understood what Tonks was saying.
"He actually hit him?" Damien asked in awe.
Tonks nodded her head in response.
"James was in such a fury, I don't think anyone could have stood in his way. It took three Aurors to pull him away from Blake." Tonks said.
"Didn't he get in trouble for hitting Blake?" Ron asked.
"I suppose he would have but allowances were made because of what Blake had done. I heard that Blake was recently trying to press charges against James for assault but that didn't go anywhere." Tonks told them.
"Why?" Damien asked before he could stop himself.
Tonks looked pointedly at Harry. She didn't need to say it out loud.
"Oh!" Damien said, understanding what had happened. Harry had killed Voldemort, unintentionally making himself the Wizarding world's hero. The Ministry wasn't going to do anything against the Potters. It would be a very stupid step indeed.
"Blake was suspended from duty. He would have had his Badge taken away as well but by the time his investigation was completed…well, the Ministry decided that taking away his job was unfair. They gave him back his job but demoted him to the lower rank." Tonks finished.
At last, Tonks managed to get away from the common room. She left quickly after answering as many questions as she could. Most of them were from Damien and Ron. Harry had stayed pretty much quiet.
As Harry lay in his bed that night he found his head filled with all sorts of thoughts. He felt strangely annoyed that his dad had gone after Blake. He knew why he did and understood it perfectly but a small part of him was screaming inside 'damn it dad, you should have left him to me!'
He knew that his dad was only trying to protect him, but that annoyed him more than comforted him.
xxx
As the group of five made their way to breakfast the next morning, Harry silently resolved to talk to his dad. He had to remind him that he wasn't a child that needed protecting. He could fight his own battles.
Harry snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a familiar name being spoken. Harry's head jerked up as he heard the name 'Bellatrix'. He looked up and saw a few steps ahead of him; Nott was walking to the Great Hall with his usual group of Slytherins. The skinny Slytherin was talking loudly about something and had mentioned Bella's name.
Harry had many problems with Nott senior and had only run into his son when he was stuck at Hogwarts last year. He discovered that he didn't have a lot of patience for Nott junior either.
Harry narrowed his eyes at Nott but tried to keep from listening to his conversation. He didn't think he had anything nice to say about Bella. After all Nott senior and Bella were always at each others throats. It was natural that Nott's son would say something offensive about her. The Slytherin was talking rather loudly though and Harry couldn't block out his words.
"…just heard yesterday she died. Don't know where she was but it's obvious her family were hiding her. Waste of time if you ask me. She was dead in any sense, had her soul sucked out long ago. Her family should have just given her over to the Ministry." Nott was saying with a sneer.
Harry felt Damien's hand hold onto his as he reached for his wand. Damien whispered to him.
"Just ignore him, Harry. Don't listen to him."
Harry moved his hand away from the pocket of his robes and continued on walking. All he had to do was get to the Great Hall. If he got there, he would be able to refrain himself from killing the Slytherin.
"If she had been taken to Azkaban and given the Dementors Kiss there, it would have been a more dignified death. But I heard she was sentenced the Kiss by the Dark Lord himself" Nott had not finished yet.
Harry kept on walking; his mind was focused on getting to the Great Hall. He tried really hard to control the rage that was engulfing him on the inside. There were quite a few students making their way to breakfast. They heard Nott as well and were listening whole heartedly.
"I guess it will be in the papers soon. News of her death I mean. I found out from family back home." Nott said. He was clearly enjoying the focus he was getting from the surrounding students.
"Why did the Dark Lord punish her so severely? She must have done something really stupid." Another Slytherin asked.
Nott sniggered and then continued quite oblivious to the fact that Harry was walking behind him.
"She did do something very stupid! You remember the papers reported that the Dark Lord had created Horcruxes? Well, she had been given one to protect and the stupid bitch went and lost it! Can you imagine that? The dumb whore managed to lose one of the Horcruxes. No wonder her soul was sucked out…" Nott never managed to finish.
The sound of rushing wind was all he heard before a force knocked him to the ground. Nott looked up from the floor and saw Harry coming straight at him. Harry's eyes had darkened a few shades and were fixed squarely on him. His mouth was twisted in anger and the look in his eyes was murderous.
The Slytherins that were walking along with Nott pulled out their wands before they even registered who it was that had attacked Nott. They stood dumbly looking at Harry. Harry waved his hand and they were blasted out of the way. Chaos broke out among the surrounding students as the blast caused the three Slytherins to hit the wall and slide down into a heap on the floor, clearly unconscious. They all backed away from Harry, not wanting to come between him and Nott.
Damien, Ron, Hermione and Ginny watched as Harry strode towards Nott and picked him up with one hand. They watched in fear as Harry slammed Nott against the wall.
"I'm going to get help." Hermione said at once and rushed towards the Great Hall.
Nott whimpered as Harry slammed him repeatedly against the wall. He was too scared to even try and fight back. Harry threw Nott away from himself, Nott skidded across the floor.
"Try repeating that!" Harry hissed in anger.
Nott didn't answer, he tried to get up but Harry beat him to it. Raising his hand, Harry levitated Nott into the air. The look on Harry's face was scary. The air around him seemed to crackle with magic. That was when Damien noticed that Harry was not using his wand. He had done everything wandlessly.
At first it seemed that Harry was only lifting Nott into the air but soon everyone realised with a gasp of horror that Harry was choking him. Nott thrashed, suspended in mid air and tried to get away from the invisible force that was holding him around the neck. His fingers scratched and clutched around his own neck, trying to free himself.
Damien heard Ron swear next to him. Nott was going blue in the face but Harry was not letting go of him. Harry's hand was still raised and he didn't look like he was going to free him any time soon. Damien felt his heart plummet into his stomach; Harry was going to kill him! He rushed forward and tried to make Harry stop. He grabbed at Harry's hand, trying to break the contact but he couldn't pull it away.
"Harry, stop it! You're going to kill him! Stop it!" Damien shouted.
Harry didn't even look in his direction. As much as Damien tried he couldn't break the curse that was holding Nott in the air like that.
"Harry, please stop! You're killing him! Stop it!" Damien shouted again, he was panicking now.
Suddenly, Damien felt himself being pushed away. James had arrived and had pushed him out of the way. He saw his dad wrap an arm around Harry's waist while his other hand grabbed at Harry's raised hand.
"Harry, stop!" James shouted.
A few other Professors had come out of the Great Hall; Hermione was standing behind them, looking very pale. They all rushed forward to pull Harry away from Nott.
Finally they managed to pull Harry away. The connection broke and Nott fell to the ground, gasping horribly for breath. Harry struggled to get out of the grips that were on him. His eyes blazed in Nott's direction and he shouted,
"If you ever as much as mention Bella again, I swear to God! I Will Kill You!"
Nott was on the verge of unconsciousness, he had two Professors trying to help him up. Harry shook himself free and turned to face James and the other Professors. The look of fury on his face made everyone take a step back. All but James. He was staring at Harry with anger to match his own. Harry turned around and fled, before any one could say anything.
Harry could hear James shouting behind him to come back but he didn't listen. Damien hurried after him, running at full speed to catch up with him.
"Harry! Wait! Where are you going?"
Harry didn't stop. Damien kept on running behind him, trying to get him to stop.
Before Damien could catch up with him he saw Harry simply turn around and disappear. Damien halted to a stop, completely stunned by what he saw. He knew what Harry had done, but it was impossible to do it whilst inside Hogwarts. He had apparated.
Damien shook his head and ran to the spot Harry had been standing in mere seconds ago. He searched around the spot frantically thinking 'It can't be. It's not possible'. Hermione had told him numerous times that no one could apparate or dissapparate whilst inside Hogwarts. The wards wouldn't let them.
He heard the sound of hurried footsteps and saw his dad rushing towards him.
"Where is he?" James shouted.
Damien stood in shock. He didn't know what to say. Would his dad believe him if he told him that Harry had apparated? Something told Damien not to say anything about it. It just didn't seem right.
"Damien! Where is he?" James shouted. He really looked angry.
"I…I don't know, dad." Damien stammered. His heart was still racing from seeing Nott like that and he still couldn't believe that Harry had apparated.
James wasn't having any of it though. He strode over to Damien and grabbed him rather harshly.
"Damien! Don't even think about covering for him. Tell me where he went!"
When Damien refused to answer, James dragged him to his room. He had to find out where Harry was. He was in so much trouble.
xxx
"For the last time, dad! I don't know where he went!" Damien shouted in annoyance.
It had been over two hours now since Harry had left Hogwarts and Damien had spent that time in his parents living quarters trying to convince them that he didn't know where Harry had gone. Lily and James were not giving up though. Damien wasn't exactly truthful when it came to Harry. Both parents knew he would outright lie if he thought he was helping his brother.
Nott had been taken to the infirmary. Madame Pomfrey had confirmed that he was fine. There was no lasting damage done to him. He looked a lot worse that what he had actually suffered. There wasn't any bruising or anything to worry about. He was going to be kept in for that day, just to make sure and then let out the next day.
However that didn't mean that Harry was not going to suffer. Professor McGonagall was livid and even Headmaster Dumbledore had looked uncharacteristically angry. Harry was going to be in so much trouble when he came back.
Damien was panicking though. Harry had not come back to Hogwarts yet. A quick look at the Marauders map confirmed he was not in the castle or on Hogwarts grounds. Where was he? And how had he managed to apparate? Damien didn't know why he was keeping that a secret from his parents. He just didn't feel he could tell them. Harry could explain it to them when he came back. 'If he comes back' a small voice said in his mind. Damien pushed that thought away. Harry wouldn't leave them again. He just wouldn't.
"Damy, are you listening?"
Lily's irate voice snapped Damien back to the present.
"Yes, mum" Damien automatically answered.
"You must have seen which direction he left in." she said in an exasperated voice.
"I told you he just, sort of, disappeared." Damien said quietly.
"I didn't see where he went."
"You're lying" James accused.
"I'm not! I don't know where he is!" Damien replied angrily.
"Tell me the truth!" James thundered.
"He is telling the truth."
The three Potters whipped around to see Harry standing by the door. Damien let out a quiet sigh of relief. He was so glad to see Harry again. He hadn't run away! Almost instantly he felt sorry for Harry. He was in so much trouble now that he was back. Damien couldn't even bear to think about it.
Harry however, didn't look scared at all. He calmly walked inside and closed the door. Damien nervously watched as Harry came further into the room. His eyes were locked with James' and Damien shuddered at the glare James threw Harry's way. Harry however didn't react to the glare. For someone who had grown up with Voldemort, James' glare was nothing to be afraid of.
"Sit down Harry" the quiet command came from Lily.
Harry didn't fight it and sat down on one the chairs. He gave both his parents a tired look, as if to say, 'get it over with'.
"Explain, what the hell you think you were doing!" James asked angrily.
"I thought that was obvious. I was trying to choke the life out of that bastard and I would have if you hadn't stopped me!" Harry said with an icy glare directed at James.
Damien shut his eyes and braced himself for the eruption that James was surely going to have. James stared hard at Harry.
"Of all the things!…I can't believe…I just don't know what to do with you!" James shouted. He was lost for words, which only meant that he was even angrier than before.
"You don't have to do anything." Harry spat.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that, Harry!" James retaliated.
"Dad, please just calm down. It wasn't all Harry's fault. I told you what Nott said about Bella…" Damien tried to say but James snapped at him.
"I don't care what that kid said! There is absolutely no excuse to react that way!" James shouted facing Damien.
"Why are you shouting at him? Talk to me, I'm the one you're mad at!" Harry said standing up angrily.
"Of course I'm mad at you. What did you think I was going to be, pleased? You attacked a fellow student! I don't care what he was saying! There is no justification for acting like you did!" James was so angry he couldn't stop himself even if he tried.
"James, please…" Lily tried to stop him.
"I think I can decide for myself how to act. You can't make that decision for me!" Harry spat back.
"So what? Every time someone makes a comment you don't like you'll hurt them or try to kill them? Is that how you want to act? Like a…" James caught himself just before he said the words.
It was too late though. Everyone in the room knew what James was about to say. Damien felt tears prick the corners of his eyes. Harry moved a step closer, a dangerous look in his eyes.
"Go on, say it! Like a Death Eater!" Harry hissed dangerously.
James looked into Harry's eyes, unable to say anything. Lily had enough. She ushered Damien out of the room, instructing him to go to his common room and stay there. Damien left looking at Harry one more time before leaving. He didn't look any calmer.
"Both of you, sit!" she commanded.
Harry and James remained standing, making Lily yell her orders again. Still glaring at each other, both father and son sat down.
"We are going to talk about this in a civil manner." Lily continued taking a seat herself.
James and Harry still remained silent. Lily met James' eyes and gave him a fierce look. James finally let out a sigh in an effort to calm himself.
"Harry, I…"
"You should know I'm not a Death Eater. I wasn't a Death Eater when I was with him, so I doubt I'll become one now!" Harry was still seething with anger. His words were spat out, especially the words 'Death Eater'.
James hung his head. He knew that. He had seen enough of Harry's childhood memories to know that Harry, strange as it was, didn't like being called a Death Eater. That was partly why the name 'Dark Prince' came about. The way Harry saw it he wasn't a mere follower of Voldemort. He was his son. His equal, in a way. The term Death Eater was an insult to him.
"I know, Harry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that…I'm just…" James dropped his head into his hand. He had really messed up today.
"I didn't know how to react to what happened today. Students have always fought each other, hell I did it too. When I was at Hogwarts we were always fighting with one another. But never, have I seen or heard about such at attack. It was completely uncalled for." James stopped as Harry threw him a glare. Lily took over quickly.
"You have to understand that what you did was not something that will be tolerated. You could have been expelled."
"Like I care." Harry muttered not very quietly.
James continued, ignoring Harry's remark.
"Look, Harry. I know that you had your reasons for what you did, but you can't behave like that. I understand that he provoked you by saying those things about, about Bellatrix…" James stopped as Harry threw him another glare. He stopped himself from getting upset. Harry's glares were too reminiscent of last year and how Harry had hated him.
"…but you can't let what people say affect you like that. You can't lose your temper and control like that." he finished.
Harry looked incredulously at him.
"You've got a nerve saying that!" he said.
"What?" James asked perplexed.
"How can you tell me not to lose my temper and control, after what you did to Blake?" Harry replied, keeping his emerald eyes fixed on his father.
James looked shocked by what Harry said. Harry could see a slight blush forming.
"Well, firstly, I didn't know you knew about that." James replied uncomfortably.
"And secondly, that was completely different." He finished.
Harry looked outraged.
"How was that different?" he asked.
"You are my son. He physically hurt you! I wasn't going to sit back and let him get away with that." James replied.
Harry could see clearly that James' anger had dissipated. He felt his anger ebb away in return, leaving him feeling exhausted.
He let out a sigh and slumped back in his chair.
"You may not agree but both situations are the same. Sometimes words can hurt more than hexes." Harry said a hint of sadness hidden in his voice.
James felt pity surge through him. Now that he had calmed down, he understood why Harry had acted like he did. It still didn't mean it was acceptable though.
"Well how about this; do as I say and not as I do or you will be grounded for so long that you'll never see daylight again." James said, with a smirk.
Harry couldn't help the smile that came at that threat. He looked back up to see James smirking at him.
"Like you could stop me from leaving." he challenged.
"Don't try me." James joked.
Lily let out a silent sigh of relief. She had hated the way both had acted moments ago. Thank Merlin they were back to their normal ways.
There was a knock on the door and before anyone had gotten up, the door opened and Professor McGonagall stepped into the room. Her stern gaze fell on Harry and her mouth thinned even more.
"Mr Potter, glad you decided to join us again." she said sarcastically.
"Please make your way to the Headmaster's office. He would like to have a word."
All three Potters made their way to see Dumbledore.
Although Harry had said it in a moment of anger, he really wished he wasn't going to be expelled. He had just started to enjoy the school. He didn't want to leave it.
xxx
The conversation in Professor Dumbledore's office went just like Harry expected. Dumbledore had said pretty much the same thing that his parents had said. Not to lose your temper and to control your emotions. What Harry was not expecting was Dumbledore's decision to keep Harry at Hogwarts. Since most of the students had reported that Nott had said offensive and derogatory things about someone Harry cared for, and had in essence provoked the attack, Harry was saved from being expelled.
Harry wasn't fooled though. He knew that the Headmaster didn't want to kick out Harry from Hogwarts. Dumbledore had worked hard to make Harry look like a hero to the Wizarding world. It would not do well to show the world that Harry was capable of killing someone if he got angry enough.
Harry really couldn't be bothered with all of this. He desperately wanted his bed and his sleep.
"Just tell me what my punishment is." Harry asked in a bored voice.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in their usual annoying way.
"I'm afraid that is not my decision. That is in the hands of your Head of House." he gestured towards McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall had been talking quietly with James and Lily in one corner of the room. She turned to look at Harry strictly.
Harry turned to face her, bored with the stern look she was giving him.
"So what will it be, Detention? House points? Cleaning out the toilets or something stupid like that?" Harry smirked as she changed glances with James and Lily.
All three suddenly broke out in smirks, making Harry feel very uncomfortable.
"Oh no, Mr Potter. You proved last year that you're not affected by these types of punishments. No, your reprimand is something very unique." McGonagall didn't look good smirking at all.
"Throw anything my way, I can handle it." Harry retorted.
"Indeed." She replied.
"Your parents have been kind enough to suggest what they think will be the best punishment for you and I must say, I agree." She continued.
Harry threw a disgruntled look their way.
"You will serve one week worth of detention."
Harry looked at her in surprise.
"That's it!" he asked, smiling at the terrible punishment.
"That's not all." McGonagall continued.
"You will serve your detention with Professor June and the Aurors…" She smiled as the grin slipped of Harry's face.
"…in the Duelling Club!" she finished.
"What!" Harry asked, horrified.
"Well, since you can't refrain yourself from duelling, we thought it would be a productive way for you to let out all your duelling energy, by being an assistant to the Aurors." McGonagall explained happily.
Harry stared at her in complete shock.
"No! No way!" he exclaimed.
"That is your punishment and you will serve it. You really don't want me to extend your detention to two weeks, do you?" she asked.
"You wouldn't!" Harry said horrified at the thought.
"Don't tempt me."
With that Professor McGonagall took her leave, followed by the grinning James and Lily.
Harry turned around to face an amused looking Dumbledore.
"And you call me evil" Harry muttered before heading out of the office.
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