Chapter 10
Harry spent the next few days in funk. He didn't care that Lucius was dead. He wasn't ungrateful for what Sirius had done. But he was fed up with Dumbledore.
The following morning Dumbledore had approached him at the breakfast table.
"Mr. Potter, please report to my office after breakfast."
"Why?" Harry asked bluntly.
"I believe there are some things we should discuss." Albus said calmly.
"Can't. Busy." Harry said as he tore a large chunk out of his toast.
"I must insist." Albus frowned.
"Is it about my school work?" Harry asked as he shunted his food to his cheek but kept chewing.
"It is about what happened yesterday, as I believe you are smart enough to have determined." Albus said in frustration.
"Oh, are you going to apologise for nearly getting myself and Sirius killed or making Sirius a killer?" He asked calmly.
By this point the entire school was paying attention. If anyone had looked at the staff table they would have seen Filius desperately trying to hold Minerva back from throttling Dumbledore.
"That was a disaster entirely of your own making." Albus admonished.
"Really?" Harry asked sarcastically as he threw down what was left of his toast and stood up. "Because I was scheduled for a simple duel between myself and the Thief, Draco Malfoy. It wasn't until you brought in his father that death was introduced and my life was put at risk.
"Be warned Albus." Harry snarled. "Next time you interfere in my business I will challenge you… and remember, I already beat you once."
"It is sad that you feel the need to resort to such barbaric methods." Albus said with patronizing disappointment.
"Enough! Remove yourself from this hall immediately, Albus!" Minerva had taken the very rude method of picking Filius up and placing him back in his chair.
He was now glowering at her back as he followed her down.
"I will not have you making such disgusting insinuations against Harry like that."
"Minerva, my place is here with the children. You don't have authority over me."
"Meh… if Aunt Minnie wants you out of the hall… I recommend you hike up your robes and run." Harry grinned. The sound of stomping metal feet could be heard approaching.
Albus Dumbledore had a hard time getting into any room in the castle that day. The stone gargoyle refused to move and suits of armour wouldn't let him access any classrooms. He was forced to spend the day with Hagrid.
It was an annoyance but not necessarily a hardship considering his friendship with the giant.
On the Monday of the second week, Harry was approached in the Common Room by Terrence.
"Harry."
"Terry." Harry returned slightly mocking the solemn tones the boy used.
"Mind if we talk privately?" He asked quietly.
Harry just shrugged and conjured a chair opposite. He then cast the muffliato. "What's up?"
"AHHHHHHH!"
They turned to see a new first year bolt out of the room in terror. Fortunately Mrs. Farley was present and was quick on his heels.
The two boys returned their attention to each other and tried to forget the weird spectacle.
"So…?"
"Have you had your first lesson with Lockhart yet?" Terry asked.
"Yep. The git tried to make me act out his 'adventures'." Harry grinned. "He changed his mind about acting when I had a suit of armour stand in for me."
"He does the same thing in all his classes." Terry nodded. "And it is becoming a problem."
"I tend to just tune him out and read my books."
"Harry, I'm studying for my exams." Terry said with a slight pleading. "All of the fifth through seventh years are. Lockhart isn't teaching us a thing that will help us."
"You do realise that I don't have any say over the educational matters in the school? I just control the castle."
"We were hoping you could talk to the Heads of House."
"Why not go to Snape yourself?"
Terry grimaced. "Professor Snape has become… excessively grumpy."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked seriously as he sat forward. "Is he not teaching properly? I thought he had stopped being biased."
"That hasn't changed." He assured the young Lord. "But… he always has a scowl and looks… scary. I'm not sure he knows he's doing it."
"He's always like that."
"He's gotten worse."
"Alright Severus, what's got you so grumpy that you are taking out on the students?" Harry demanded.
They were sitting in his chambers with the other heads of house to discuss this and the DADA issue.
"Other than the fact that I am a slave?" Snape returned snidely.
"Yes." Harry said, ignoring the man's sarcasm and attitude. "And I order you to tell the truth."
Severus' eyes widened at that. But he answered anyway. "Last year's exam results were the highest in potions for decades."
"And…?" Harry waved his hand leadingly.
Snape struggled as he didn't want to answer… he also didn't want to have to deal with any pain the slave binding might cause. "I- I hate that it is because you ordered me to change how I teach." He bit out.
"Ahhh." Harry said with an understanding nod of his head. "Well… get over it." He said bluntly "And I order you not to take out your anger on the students or anyone else. Find an empty classroom, conjure some targets and blow them up if you want to vent."
Snape very nearly pouted… he managed to keep it to a scowl.
Harry turned back to the other heads who were trying not to laugh at the sight of twelve-year-old Harry berating thirty-something year old Severus.
"Now, Lockhart. What are we going to do about him? I've got students complaining that he isn't preparing them for their exams."
"I suppose I could sit in on a lesson or two and see how he does." Minerva said thoughtfully.
"We could just send a report to the WEA." Pomona Sprout suggested.
"Wizarding… ?"
"The Wizarding Examinations Authority." Filius supplied for Harry.
"We would need more than the student's complaints." Minerva shook her head. "I will attend a few lessons first and then submit a report to Griselda Marchbanks."
"Is there a reason we aren't simply approaching Albus with this?" Pomona asked curiously. "I ask only because I believe the WEA will want to know as well."
"I suppose we should at least attempt to talk to the old goat." Filius sighed.
"Oh Albus… you really are a complete idiot, aren't you?" Filius said disappointedly as he sat opposite the Headmaster in Albus' office with the other Heads of House.
"I beg your pardon?" Albus said, taken aback with surprise and offence.
Filius sighed.
Having been confronted by his Heads of House over Lockhart's poor attempts at teaching, he had tried to claim the man was merely finding his feet after just a few weeks.
Minerva had pointed out that the OWL and NEWT students deserved better and threatened to call in the WEA.
As a result, he had informed them of the fact that he suspected Lockhart was a fraud as he knew for a fact that several of the events described in his books were actually performed by friends and acquaintances of Albus'. He had invited Lockhart to teach, with the incentive of getting close to The Boy-Who-Lived, so that he could find a way to prove it.
"Aside from the fact that Harry will be livid that you attempted to use him in such a manner, I do not believe Madam Marchbanks or the Board of Governors will feel any different.
"You are playing with the welfare and education of our charges."
"There is no reason for them to be involved. Especially young Harry." Albus said dismissively.
"You have already involved Harry, Albus." Minerva scowled. "We will be involving the WEA. We will not allow you to play with the futures of our students."
"Why must you be so confrontational these days, Minerva?" Albus sighed. "The students are perfectly safe as is young Harry."
"The man released a swarm of Cornish Pixies in a class and then abandoned them." Pomona scowled. "If I hadn't been walking down the corridor nearby then Mister Longbottom could have fallen and broken his neck due to that foppish fool's incompetence."
"An isolated incident, I'm sure." He said dismissively.
Severus scoffed. "Headmaster, I fail to see how you can sit there and expect us to believe that for a second. We four are senior teachers at one of Europe's most prestigious schools. We are much smarter than you appear to give us credit for.
"As gullible as the drooling masses are, even they will soon come to realise that you are slowly losing control. You allowed Quirrell to enter the school last year, you consistently butt your nose into Lord Potter's dealings and as a result you have nearly caused his death several times.
"The citizens of magical Britain will eventually take note… and then you will have to answer."
"As much as I agree with Severus, I have no intention of allowing it to go that far." Filius said sternly. "Either he goes or I will tell Lord Potter that I was wrong to stop him from having you ejected from the castle. I believe you will be gone by breakfast."
"It is sad that you-"
"Save it Albus." Pomona snapped as she stood up. "You heard Filius, either Lockhart goes or you go. I'm fairly certain that Lockhart will go either way."
Two days later and Albus was once again locked out of his office.
He became fairly annoyed when he discovered suits of armour removing his personal belongings from the room but wasn't allowed past them.
He realised that this was probably only the first step towards being booted from the castle so he knew he had to fix it.
He stormed into the DADA classroom to find Lockhart standing at the head of the class with his wand brandished in a most flamboyant attacking posture that would certainly get him killed in a real fight.
Opposite him was a clearly grumpy looking third year boy who had his arms weakly in the air as though he might be trying a half-hearted attempt to scare the man.
"Professor Dumbledore! What a pleasant surprise." Lockhart beamed.
"Professor, I'm afraid I need you to dismiss your class. There is a matter we need to discuss." He said gravely.
"Really?" He asked excitedly. "Perhaps this would be a good teaching example for my class. Is there a monster that needs dealing with?" He laughed. "A fair maiden that needs rescuing?" He said with a sly wink at two girls in the front row who tittered.
"Children, your class is dismissed. Please return to your common rooms until your next class." Albus interrupted. "Quickly now." He clapped his hands sharply as they seemed to hesitate.
Once the last student was gone he turned to Lockhart. "Gilderoy, I'm afraid that circumstances have arisen that are forcing me to terminate your position here."
Lockhart laughed… until he noticed Dumbledore wasn't laughing with him. "Why on Earth would you do that? These young minds need my expertise."
If he weren't in such a bad mood he would have laughed at the fop in front of him making such a ridiculous claim.
"Please pack your bags, Gilderoy. You will need to be out of the-"
*BANG*
The door to the classroom smashed open to reveal an enraged white male in wizarding robes with his wand out. He had dark hair, a goatee and silver eyes.
"Lockhart!" He spat with an Eastern European accent. "Did you really think you could get away with this?"
"Garabed!" Lockhart said with clear fear.
Albus had his wand out but was not sure how his old friend, Garabed, had gotten onto the school grounds. Or how he even knew to confront Lockhart. The last he had heard Lockhart had obliviated the man of ever meeting him.
"I challenge you to an honour duel, Gilderoy Lockhart." Garabed snarled with his wand raised. "In Diagon Alley."
"Surely you jest!" Gilderoy laughed nervously.
"You stole my reputation, my money, my honour and my memories." Garabed growled. "Why would I jest about such a thing?"
"I assure you I have no idea what you are talking about!" Gilderoy tried to claim.
"Then you can swear an oath about it before we duel." Garabed sneered. "We go now. Lord Slytherin has offered the services of his castle, I owe him a huge debt, but the boy is too noble and only claimed that I repay him by revealing the truth about you and getting you out of his castle."
Garabed stepped aside and four suits of armour clanked in. Gilderoy clumsily drew his wand only for it to clatter to the ground before he was seized by the armour and marched out, all the while protesting that they were wrinkling his clothes.
As the armour marched their prisoner off, Albus turned to Garabed. "I don't understand, I thought your memories had been removed."
Garabed shook his head in disappointment. "Hearing you say that Albus… you have fallen so far that you knew this to be true and did not come to my aid."
"And do what, my friend?" Albus said chiding like a grandfather. "Tell you that you had been wronged and couldn't remember it? What good would that do? You are a good man but you would have immediately sought out Lockhart and challenged him, just as you have today."
"It is not your place to control my actions, Albus." Garabed frowned. "It is your duty as my friend to come to me and warn me I have been wronged. It is my place to decide what action to take.
"Lockhart was evil in his actions to rob me of my memories and deeds, but you were party to it. All these years that I have been suffering and it took the actions of a boy and a hat to save me and help me regain my memories and honour."
"To what end though?" Albus argued. "Now that you have those memories you are going to kill a man!"
Garabed looked at him with slight disbelief. "Is that all you care about?" He asked. "The life of the man who ruined mine? The fool left me a near drooling mess in the gutters. Where were you in my time of need, Albus? Especially as you claim you knew what he had done.
"The boy and the hat were right, your ego has overtaken you. You not only attempt to do everything yourself and 'unwittingly' claim the credit, but you also believe yourself to be the ultimate judge.
"I wonder how many of those 'Imperioused' victims that bribed their way out of Azkaban could have been stopped if the Chief Warlock stepped up?" He said pointedly.
Albus looked like he had been slapped.
He never realised that Garabed had left.
Once Albus had realised he was standing alone in the classroom he had managed to remember that Garabed kept talking about a 'boy and his hat', he realised just who was responsible for all of this.
Albus stormed through the halls of the castle until he reached the Charms classroom. He burst in angrily and… suddenly remembered that he and Filius were not exactly on good terms.
The half-goblin was glaring at him.
"Can we help you, Headmaster?" He asked tightly.
Albus quickly looked contrite. "I apologise for interrupting, I require Mister Potter for a while."
"For what reason, Albus? We are in the middle of a lesson."
"It shan't take long, I assure you."
"If it shan't take long, then it can surely wait until lessons have finished for the day."
"Regrettably, there is an element of urgency involved, Filius. I will have to insist that Mister Potter accompany me."
"This had better not be about Garabed and that fraud Lockhart." Harry glared at the old man.
"It is a matter that should be discussed away from young ears." Albus said sternly.
Albus was suddenly confronted by two burly young boys.
"Lord Harry is a young ear." Vincent Crabbe stated with a scowl.
Gregory Goyle's eyes widened slightly before he quickly whispered in his friend's ear.
"I mean he has young ears. If you can talk to him you can talk to us all." Vincent said firmly.
Filius and Harry exchanged a surprised look. They never would have expected this from the two boys. They had taken to following Harry around like they had Draco, but Harry and Filius just assumed it was because they didn't know what to do with themselves.
"You are quite right, Mister Crabbe, but this is still a private matter between myself and Mister Potter."
The two boys were pushed apart as a scowling ebony haired second year girl stomped forward. "If you wish to speak with Lord Slytherin please make an appointment for a more appropriate time. Please also supply the purpose for the meeting. Interrupting Lord Slytherin's education is highly inappropriate."
Albus was shocked.
It was amazing that Crabbe and Goyle had actually managed to string together such a coherent sentence between the two of them… but for Miss Pansy Parkinson to actually stand up to him…
It was only last year than every first year student entered and left Hogwarts completely in awe of him. Now they seemed to regard him with… Sweet Merlin! Disgust!
"I shall return for Mr. Potter later." Albus said quickly before turning and heading out. He had to investigate why the student's opinions of him had so radically changed. He couldn't risk the dark families not fearing him, there was no telling what they might attempt against the innocent if they didn't care about risking his ire.
"Excellent work Mister Crabbe and Mister Goyle, and of course, Miss Parkinson!" Filius beamed as the door slammed shut. "Five points apiece to Slytherin."
That evening Albus tried to get Harry again, but he was most upset to hear he was not in the castle.
"Mister Potter is a student here and he has a responsibility to follow the rules as a student!" Albus angrily told Filius as they stood in Filius' classroom.
"He also has a responsibility to his various houses." Filius responded calmly. "A responsibility that supersedes those as a student."
"He should have informed me if he was leaving so he could be escorted."
"He informed his Head of House and is adequately escorted. There was no need to inform you."
"If Mister Potter fails to respect the rules of the school he may well find his time at Hogwarts coming to an abrupt end." Albus threatened.
Filius allowed himself a small smirk. "At that time, the school of Hogwarts may find its time here in the castle coming to an abrupt end."
"Regardless of whatever fantasies you and Minerva are indulging with the boy, he doesn't have that sort of authority." Albus shook his head. "Now, where has he gone?"
"None of your business." Filius said bluntly. "Oh, and I believe your escort has arrived."
Albus paled as he turned to see two suits of armour standing in the doorway. How had he not heard them?
Whilst Albus was being dragged off (again) by the castle's armour, Harry and Sirius were on a mission of their own.
"I'm a Malfoy! You can't put me in here!"
Harry and Sirius shared a look of amusement at young Draco's protests of horror.
"It won't kill you, Draco. But you only have limited options." Harry pointed out.
"But… it's unsanitary!"
"No. Wizards are unsanitary. Not only do they have no concept of sanitation beyond indoor plumbing, they also engage in acts that pollute their blood."
Draco looked insulted. "My family would never marry muggles."
"Exactly. There isn't a pureblood witch in Hogwarts that you aren't related to." Harry said in disgust. "Hell! Pansy is your second cousin."
"Actually Draco, your Aunt Andromeda married a muggleborn. James Potter was also one of our cousins and he married a muggleborn." Sirius smirked.
"Blood Traitors and stricken from the family records." He said snootily.
"Alright… so you don't want to stay with muggles." Harry shrugged as he turned away from the very upscale Victorian Era, three storey home in London's West End that happened to belong to the parents of a muggleborn. "We'll just have to look at your other options."
"I belong in Hogwarts." Draco said heatedly. "It's my birth right!"
"Which you and your father forsook when you were defeated in duels." Sirius said warningly… not that Draco heeded it.
"Yep, I have your wand and you will not be getting it or another until you have completed your education as per the laws laid down by the Ministry of Magic."
Draco didn't get a chance to respond before Sirius' hand clamped down on his shoulder and he was forced into a side-along apparition.
When they emerged Draco didn't recognise where he was… but he knew he didn't like it.
A dark forbidding tower that rose high into the sky, sat upon an island less than a mile off the shore. The winds were wild and the seas were rough.
"Welcome to Azkaban, Draco." Harry said as he stepped forward and gestured to the feared fortress prison that held only the worst of criminals. "By all rights I could have you sent here because you are a thief. I could also have you sent here simply because I am a Lord and you insulted me. There's an old law that is still on the books." Harry added conversationally.
"You wouldn't… Dumbledore wouldn't let you!" Draco had paled considerably… which was impressive considering his natural paleness.
"Do you see Dumbledore here, boy?" Sirius growled as he grabbed Draco by the shoulders and stared him in the face. "I spent ten years in that hell hole. Dumbledore didn't raise a finger to help me. Why would he help you?
"Take the damned deal you fool." Sirius said angrily. "Your house is gone. Your money is gone. Your father is dead. All of these things have happened because you are a bigoted fool.
"Now you could lose what is left of your freedom… your life, because you are too stubborn and foolish to accept what is being offered."
"But they're muggles!" Draco whined.
Harry and Sirius shared a look of exasperation.
"I'll call for the ferry." Harry said.
The following morning Albus once again approached Harry at the breakfast table.
"Make an appointment, Albus." Harry said firmly without looking up.
"I would, but there is urgent business regarding a missing student." Albus responded tightly. "Draco Malfoy has not appeared for breakfast and I cannot find him anywhere."
"Huh… so there is another student you share an unhealthy interest in other than me." Harry smirked. "Have you spoken to his Head of House or any of the other teachers?"
"As the Head of his family I thought I should approach you first."
"There are procedures to follow, Albus." Harry lectured sternly.
Up at the staff table Minerva thought her little lion in snake's skin was adorable.
"First you should check with his Head of House. Should he or she not be able to help you then together you come and inform me of the situation so that the appropriate authorities can be alerted."
Albus found himself getting increasingly frustrated these days. Usually because of Harry. He had currently been relegated to a small room off the entrance hall to the castle. He was locked out of his office and Minerva had again refused to swap with him.
Fawkes didn't seem to mind, even though there was very little room and no window. But Albus found it very annoying whenever Fawkes decided to flame out of the room… which he did frequently.
Despite these issues he had been unable to discover the fate of Draco Malfoy. Sirius Black had accepted responsibility for the boy on Harry's behalf. He had accepted Narcissa back into the family so that she could keep her son but they would not be together until Draco changed.
Andromeda Tonks was also accepted back into the Black Family. Sirius assured her it wasn't going to be easy as he had ordered her to use her position as the elder of the Black Sisters to keep Narcissa in line.
After the public accusations against Harry by Dumbledore, Harry felt he needed to blow off some steam. That evening he and Filius had met Nicholas on a lonely country road outside a small town called Little Hangleton. They stood in front of a small abandoned shack that reeked of dark magic.
"Did you bring it?" Harry demanded.
Nicholas looked down at the large, long box he was holding and tried not to shudder. "There has to be a better way, Harry." He pleaded.
"This isn't about better! It's about fun!" Harry grinned.
Nicholas carefully placed the box on the ground, backed up two steps and moved around. "Filius, I don't know what Harry has told you but… it might be best if we moved further from the area."
"You mean just down the road?" Filius asked curiously.
"I was thinking Hogwarts… but that will have to do." Nicholas sighed. "Harry… will I at least get my stone back if you die?" He pleaded.
"You are such a worry wart." Harry scoffed.
"That wasn't an answer." Nicholas said urgently as Harry knelt down and pried open the lid of the wooden box. "Harry?"
Harry ignored him as he gently lifted a long, curved horn with ridges out of the box.
"What is that?" Filius asked.
"An Erumpent Horn." Nicholas said as he began backing away.
Harry walked towards the door of the shack and gingerly placed the horn on the doorstep.
"Erumpent horn? But those are rare… and highly volatile." Filius frowned.
Harry had backed away and drawn his wand.
"Nicholas?" Filius, receiving no response, looked around only to see Nicholas Flamel legging it down the road. "Oh dear." He said weakly.
"BOMBARDA MAXIMA!"
Filius just sighed as he conjured his strongest shield and watched the horn explode, taking the entire shack with it.
Harry just stood there with a huge smile as he let the rush of wind and debris blow around him.
As the explosion subsided, Filius approached his dust and mud caked nephew… who was still grinning wildly despite numerous cuts to his face, clothes and torso.
"Satisfied?" Filius asked dryly as he conjured a small awning that would protect them from the debris that was still falling.
Filius received no response. "Harry?" Again, no response, so he prodded him.
"HUH? WHAT WAS THAT UNCLE FIL?"
Filius closed his eyes and tried not to blow a gasket.
Ten minutes later (having retrieved the worry wart of an alchemist) Harry was fully healed with his hearing back at a hundred percent thanks to little Ember flaming in.
Unfortunately, Nicholas had admitted there was nothing to be done about the boy's sanity.
"Well congratulations, Harry. You have successfully demolished the Gaunt shack." Nicholas said sarcastically. "What will you ever do for an encore?"
"You know, you say things like that and it just makes me sad that I signed a non-aggression contract with the goblins." Harry grumbled.
"Was there a purpose to all this destruction?" Filius demanded irritably.
"Accio Resurrection Stone." Harry incanted as he held out his wand. There was a slight grinding sound before something shot out of the debris and into Harry's hand.
Harry dropped the object quickly and stepped back, pulling Filius and Nicholas with him.
"That is one of Riddle's horcruxes." Harry informed them as they stood there staring at the ring with the stone in it. "Albie didn't tell me too much about how he got it, but he did say it was well protected and layered with enchantments. It cost him his arm and essentially his life."
"The fool boy went after that thing alone, didn't he." Nicholas sighed. "At the very least, Perenelle and I have each other to back the other up."
"Well, there are three of us here now. One of you two can check it out and the rest of us will try and pull you away if we need to." Harry explained.
Filius straightened his shoulders and drew his wand. "I believe I am the most expendable of the three of us. I will-"
"Expendable my arse!" Nicholas snapped. "The gods alone know what Harry will do if something happens to you Flitwick. Besides, I have the most experience and knowledge. I also have the best chance of defending myself."
Nicholas didn't wait for a response as he moved forward and began casting diagnostic spells at the ring.
Then he began to cast more obscure spells.
Finally he cast a severing charm that caused the stone to separate from the ring.
"Avada Kedavra." With a sigh of relief he picked up the stone and ring and walked back to Harry and Filius.
"One destroyed horcrux and one Resurrection Stone." Nicholas said with a tone of satisfaction as he dropped them in Harry's hand.
Harry simply dropped the stone on the floor and pointed his wand at it. "Reducto."
The stone exploded into dust, which Harry then vanished.
"Why are you so insistent on destroying the Hallows?" Filius asked with a frown.
"Do you really want to find out what would happen if someone mastered them?" Harry asked pointedly. "Technically I owned all three just before I arrived back in this time."
"You did?" Nicholas asked. He didn't know that bit.
"In a purely technical sense. I owned the cloak. I had found and used the Resurrection Stone that was given to me by Albus and I was the master of the Elder Wand… even if Riddle was the one holding it."
Nicholas gave a frustrated sigh. "You really are an impulsive little twit. Did you not think for one second that this might be the reason you were able to come back in time?" He asked waspishly.
"Erm…"
"In Harry's defence, there hasn't been any previously documented owners of all three Hallows." Filius spoke up with an amused smile.
"And everyone who owns the Elder Wand or Resurrection Stone winds up murdered or committing suicide." Harry added defensively. "I'm just performing a public service."
"Are you going to destroy your cloak then?" Nicholas asked with a hint of an annoyed sneer.
"I'm considering it." Harry said. His expression became very downcast as he turned and walked off.
Filius slapped Nicholas on the arm. "Well done." He hissed. "The boy has spent most of his life trying to do the right thing. He has lost nearly every one he ever loved and everyone who should have loved him. What do you do? Ask him if he is going to destroy one of the last links he has to his father."
"Bother." Nicholas swore lightly. "I'd forgotten about that."
"Mister Potter!"
"Oh god." Harry groaned as he slumped onto the bench at the Slytherin table. "Can't he just leave me alone?"
"Of all the inhumane things a person can do, you sent Mister Malfoy to Azkaban?" Albus accused loudly.
There were gasps of shock from around the room.
"Albus Dumbledore." The calm stoniness in the Deputy Headmistress' voice caused everyone to turn to her where she was stood behind the staff table. "You have gone too far. As permitted by the bylaws of the school and the castle, we the teachers declare that you are no longer fit to serve the school in any manner.
"Leave now, of your own free will, or we will evict you forcibly."
"Minerva!"
"NOW!" She roared.
"I'm sorry Minerva. This is a matter that has consequences that reach far beyond the school." Albus said as he drew his wand. "Mister Potter has sentenced an innocent young man to the horrors of Azkaban without even a trial and I cannot let that stand. It is my duty as Chief Warlock to take him into custody."
"Aunt Minnie, it's ok." Harry said tiredly as he stood up. "He can stay."
"Harry! The fool is trying to turn you over to the Ministry for nothing that concerns him!" Minerva argued.
"I know." Harry said simply. "But that doesn't matter. We aren't going to throw him out… he'll have to quit. Every time he is seen by a student they are going to look at him pityingly as they see a fool."
Harry stepped onto the bench and sat on the Slytherin table, staring at the Headmaster. "You have no right to interfere in family matters, Albus. You certainly don't have the right to advertise the private matters of a family to the entire school.
"Now… I refuse to accompany you. Your move." Harry offered as he crossed his arms with a small smile.
Albus gave a sad and disappointed sigh as he aimed his wand at Harry. "I take no pleasure in this my boy. You could have been a truly great person in our world. Inc-urk!" Albus dropped his wand as though it burned him and he clutched his chest.
Harry nodded slowly. He then stood up and mounted the table. "My fellow students, what you are witnessing here are the effects of someone trying to go against a binding magical contract.
"Albus Dumbledore and I both signed a contract that stated we would not attempt to harm one another or work against each other.
"By attempting to take me prisoner he is doing just that.
"Albus Dumbledore is an Oath Breaker. A liar. An untrustworthy old fool."
As the children gasped in shock, Albus was cursing himself for forgetting about the contract. He had honestly only been interested in following the law and rescuing Draco, he had not been intending to control or harm Harry.
The pain receded slightly and he was able to stand. As he looked up he saw Harry holding his wand out to him for him to take.
"Of course, the Board of Governors will need to be informed, as well as the Ministry." Harry shrugged as Dumbledore took back his wand. "They might kick you out anyway."
Albus wasn't too worried about that. With Lucius gone the Board would listen to him, as would Cornelius.
"This… does not… change the fact- ugh- that you have condemned Mr. Malfoy to Azkaban." Albus gasped through pain-laboured breaths as he tried to stand.
"Draco Malfoy is a thief. He challenged the Houses of Potter, Slytherin and Black." Sirius said as he stood from the staff table. "He was offered many alternate forms of punishment but he refused each one. There were many decent families that were willing to take him in and house him.
"When none of those were deemed acceptable by him we decided to give him a temporary taste of Azkaban. Hopefully a few days in hell will convince him to change his disgusting ways."
"If you will excuse me, I need to contact the DMLE and the Board of Governors about this incident."
"Maybe you should go to St. Mungo's." Harry said with a hint of a smirk. "You seem to be in a fair amount of pain."
"I'm sure Poppy can aid me." Albus said as he tried to straighten up. The pain was too much though.
"I'm eating." Came the fairly uncaring response from the staff table. "If you want me to help you then you will have to wait. Although, I fail to see what I can do. You have attempted to break a magical contract, you are lucky that the writers of the contract were kind enough to put a warning clause in. If anyone else had written it you would already be dead."
"Penny and Filius wanted Albus to suffer for his crimes." Minerva explained. "They had some hope that he might learn the error of his ways and be capable of…redemption."
The look of utter smugness on Minerva's face was enough to break Albus' heart. They had been close friends and colleagues for decades… but now… he could feel the hate she had for him.
Albus silently turned and left.
"Everyone back to your meals." Severus ordered as the doors to the Great Hall closed.
Harry was skipping his classes for the day. It was a combination of DADA, transfiguration, potions and charms. None of the teachers would bat an eye at him being absent. Remus was temporarily filling in as the DADA professor.
Harry was in a lesson though.
"Binns, take a hike. Go and research recent history." Harry barked as he walked in holding a large rectangular tray covered in a fine cloth.
"I beg your pardon?" The deceased professor asked in slow confusion.
"The syllabus has been changed. You are teaching the students the wrong topics." Harry said loudly and slowly, as though Binns was old and senile.
Binns actually huffed. "Well it is about time." He said as he floated up. "I've been teaching about goblin wars for centuries now. I've been dying to research that little scuffle with the Germans back at the start of the century."
Harry just stared in disbelief at the ghost as it floated out indignantly.
Harry turned back to his class of first years who were just watching the whole thing curiously.
"Erm… I actually thought that would take longer." Harry muttered. "Oh well." He shrugged.
He placed his package on the desk and conjured a stand for it. He then removed the cloth to reveal a very old wizarding portrait.
"Students, this is Headmaster Leonus Alvard. He is the first Headmaster of Hogwarts and served under the Founders themselves. He will be serving as your History of Magic Professor for the next few sessions. He is to be treated with the utmost respect. If you fail to do so then you will face the wrath of each Head of House.
"Am I clear?"
"Yes Sir." Came the unified response.
Harry tried not to roll his eyes. The amused look on Leonus' face did not help.
"I believe the students and I will do just fine, Lord Harry." He managed not to chuckle.
With his first task of the day done, Harry met up with Sirius and they headed for a tiny office on the ground floor. Sirius knocked.
"Come in!" Came a rather haggard response.
The door swung open to reveal Albus Dumbledore in a room that barely classified as a broom closet. He was sitting at a student's desk on a tiny stool… there wasn't any room for a teacher's desks.
Perched on the old man's hat was Fawkes.
"Chirp!" The phoenix greeted them happily.
"Alright there Fawkes?" Harry smiled.
"Mr. Potter, you are supposed to be in class."
"Now, now Albus. Lord Slytherin and I are here with an offer." Sirius interjected before Harry could do something… Harry-Like.
Albus highly doubted that they were going to offer anything he would want to accept.
"As you should be fully aware, the Board of Governors has summoned you to a hearing this evening." Sirius continued. "I have spoken with some of them and they have agreed that should you accept our offer they will issue you a warning and probation, if you will, and let the matter lie."
"And the offer?" Albus asked, not that he had any intention of accepting.
"Draco Malfoy is due to spend four days in Azkaban. In the event he has not changed his mind at the end of those four days he will have his wand snapped and his magic bound. He will then be tossed onto the streets of muggle London and left to the mercy of the non-magical world."
"And you have the gall to wonder why I consider your actions despicable." Albus spat.
"Actually, we are just following your example, Albus." Harry shrugged.
"I would never-
"You repeatedly sent Tom Riddle back to the muggle orphanage where he was frequently abused. You sent me to live with my Aunt and Uncle who also abused me. Neither of us was allowed to use magic." Harry said calmly. "The difference between Tom and myself compared to Draco is that at the time neither Tom or I had committed any crimes."
"That was completely different!" Albus objected.
"That is what Lord Slytherin just said." Sirius rolled his eyes. "You knowingly subjected innocent boys to hell. We are assigning suitable punishment, as prescribed by the laws of the land, to a criminal."
"Draco Malfoy has committed no crimes." Albus said as he stood up quickly.
"SQUAWK!"
Albus quickly sat down again. He had forgotten Fawkes was on his hat… the room had a low ceiling.
"He is a thief, a bully and he challenged Lord Slytherin. He insulted a Lord and as such he should be spending a lot more than four days in Azkaban."
"Anyway!" Harry broke in quickly. "Here is the offer: Draco Malfoy will serve the remainder of his time in Azkaban. When he is released on Friday he will be given the choices again. If he refuses then his wand will be snapped and his magic bound. I suppose we could be kind enough to hand him over to the police.
"If you wish, you may join him in his cell. You will not be allowed to take your wand, but you will be allowed to comfort him and perhaps try to convince him to change his ways."
Albus frowned. He felt he had a duty to try and redeem these poor souls. He still held out hope for Gellert.
"Would Fawkes be permitted to accompany me?"
"That's up to him." Harry gave a nod to the bird.
"And I have your word that this is not some ploy to trick me into trapping myself in Azkaban?"
"No." Harry scowled. "Because you were the only one to think of doing that."
"It is quite offensive that you would accuse us of such underhandedness." Sirius sneered.
Both were trying not laugh… they had no intention of doing it… but they had joked about it. Fantasised would be a more apt description.
Albus wasn't easily fooled and just looked at them through narrowed eyes.
"So…" Harry moved them on. "If you believe you can do a better job of dealing with Draco than we can, then you are free to go and stay with him and try to help him mend his ways."
"Not that your record gives us much hope." Sirius scoffed.
"Very well." Albus said as he awkwardly crab walked out of his 'office' so as not to smash Fawkes on the ceiling again. "I will head to Azkaban immediately." He said as he stood up straight.
"Wand." Harry said as he held out his hand. "I promise not to destroy this one."
"I will need it to get to Azkaban." Albus frowned.
"Fawkes can drop you off."
Albus sighed as he drew his wand and handed it over.
"Ember!" Harry called out.
The little phoenix flamed in six feet above the group before plummeting into Harry's waiting hand.
"You really need to work on your destinations." Harry sighed as he stroked the hatchling's beak. "Here, take this to our room… just try and aim for the bed." He added.
"See you later Albus." Sirius waved as Fawkes flamed him off.
As they stood there, staring at the barren and cramped office of the Great Albus Dumbledore, Harry spoke up. "I had another idea of what we could offer Draco."
"Oh?"
"Well, we would actually be offering it to Albus. We could offer him guardianship of Draco."
"I'm fairly certain that Draco would kill Albus. But not on purpose. Just through stress."
"Nah… that's my job." Harry grinned.
"Take heart, Mister Malfoy. I have come to help you." Dumbledore announced as he opened the door to the cell.
Inside, Draco Malfoy was hunched in a corner. His clothes were disgusting. His hair was caked in dirt. His eyes were haunted.
He'd only been there for sixteen hours.
"It's about time someone realised who I was." Draco snarled weakly as he tried to stand. "There had better be a bath and my wand waiting for me."
"Ah, I believe you have misunderstood my reason for being here." Albus said as he closed the door, locking them both in. "I have come to keep you company whilst you serve your time. It was the only concession I could negotiate from your guardians."
That was a bit of a lie, but Albus felt the boy needed to feel someone was fighting for him.
"But I'm a Malfoy!" The boy half-whined and half-declared.
"A house that is all but dead." Albus said sadly. He reached for his wand to conjure a chair.
Then he remembered he didn't have it.
He gave a little huff of frustration before he slowly eased himself down to sit on the floor. He was certain he could hear his old bones creak.
"The House of Malfoy has been declared extinct." Albus explained. "It was conquered by the House of Potter. The only reason you have been allowed to keep the last name 'Malfoy' is because Lord Sirius Black didn't want you having the name of Black; despite the fact that you are essentially a ward of his house.
"Your mother has sworn oaths and has been allowed back into the House of Black though. I believe, if you are able to change your ways, that you will be given the same opportunity to swear the same oaths."
"I could be the Heir of the House of Black?" Draco asked, a gleam appearing in those formerly defeated eyes.
"No." Albus said firmly. "Harry Potter is the designated Black Heir. And that is only if Sirius sires no child of his own."
"They can't do that! Potter is just a filthy half-blood!"
"Mister Malfoy!" Albus snapped. "It is that attitude that has landed you here in Azkaban. Sirius Black has informed me that if you do not change your ways you will have your wand snapped, your magic bound and you will be tossed into the muggle world to fend for yourself."
"Th-The Minister would never let that happen!" Fear began to override arrogance.
"This is a private family matter. The Minister has no say."
The air suddenly began to grow cold. Draco began to shiver and the fear in his eyes turned to panic.
"No! Not now! Not again!"
"Easy Mister Malfoy." Albus soothed as moved to place a comforting arm around the boy. "Fawkes, would you please sing for us?"
Fawkes seemed to find that amusing… but he began to trill and sing.
"MERLIN MAKE IT STOP!" Draco screamed. "IT'S HURTING ME!"
Albus was feeling rather good. He couldn't understand why Fawkes' singing wasn't helping his innocent young charge.
Fawkes tried not to giggle as he sang.