Disclaimer: this story uses characters and settings from J.K. Rowlings wonderful creation Harry Potter. I get neither fame nor money for the stories I create off her work. All I get is the reviews my readers grace me with. This yet another collaboration with darkshadowedrose. This one is a bit of an even split the way The Day Albus Dumbledore Never Remembers is.
Yet Another Universe
Chapter 10
Albus was very nervous as he waited for Severus to come to his office. Harry's sorting into Slytherin was disturbing to say the least . Albus was getting more and more nervous his perfect plan for a hero seemed to be going badly. First the boy wouldn't speak to him then he had told the five order members not to tell him what they were doing. Unfortunately all five knew occlumency and any peeking on his part would be noticed. Well when they came to Hogwarts the day after tomorrow he would insist on a full update. He had gotten notification that Sirius Black had presented himself to the Wizengamot and had paid his fines , he had also registered as an animagus taking away that last small piece of leverage that Albus had held. Albus suspected that if he weren't more powerful than Sirius he would have been hexed to a fare thee well.
As he stroked his now only seven inch beard he frowned. There was just something so undignified about a short beard. It just wouldn't hang down in a proper fashion instead it wanted to curl up around his chin. He had requested Severus brew him a special hair growth potion because the standard ones wouldn't work for some reason.
Twenty minutes later when Severus came into the office,he was shaking. "What is it my boy?"
Albus inquired.
"I tried to legilimence Potter." Severus took a sip of tea. "His mind is.. it's like it both is and isn't there and but trying to read it. Well the only thing I can liken it to is when I stuck a paper clip in an electric outlet as a small child. I don't think I can influence him Albus."
"Maybe not overtly but try anyway Severus, speak to him of Lily. If nothing else keep an eye on him, I need to know what he is doing."
A knock sounded on the door, Minerva and Filius entered.
"This is a fine kettle of fish Albus that boy, that Potter, in Slytherin! There hasn't been a Potter in Slytherin in three centuries!" Minerva switched her ire to the Sorting Hat. "What possessed you?"
The Hat thought of Harry's threat but it also knew the temper of the Deputy Headmistress, she had shattered three quarters of the Headmaster's trinkets when Harry Potter's body had been found. It decided to very carefully say something to placate her without saying anything to incite Harry Potter's ire. "The boy will do fine in Slytherin. He plans to destroy the Dark Lord within the year, if that's not ambition I don't know what is."
"Filius you have been part of the group with him. What can you tell us of his plans?"
"He said that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named survived because he made Horcruxes. He's retrieved one with our help he says another has been destroyed, he says that there are five more and he thinks he knows where all but one are. He asked we keep the information close but required no oaths. He also said that He-who, his, real name is Tom Riddle, Tom Marvolo Riddle and that he's a half blood with Daddy Issues. Is he correct in his statements Albus?"
"Yes, although I wonder how he came by that information."
Severus was in shock, the Dark Lord, a half-blood?
Albus frowned. He was afraid of information like this becoming widely known. "Is there anything else he has said Filius?"
"Just that he intends to hold you to that contract he had you sign."
Albus' expression turned thunderous. That contract basically amounted to blackmail and extortion. According to the contract Harry would undertake tasks to rid Wizarding Great Britain of Voldemort in return for expenses not to exceed twenty four thousand galleons not including his four thousand Hogwarts tuition which was also to be paid. At school he was exempt from any and all detentions, and he would be permitted to leave the grounds at any time without explanation. He had unrestricted access to the library and if he wanted, he had private quarters equal to the Headmaster's own. When the Headmaster had complained about that clause, Harry pointed out that he wasn't demanding right off that the personal quarters clause be enacted. But that just because he wasn't claiming it at this time, didn't mean that if his situation at any point became untenable in the dorms he wouldn't expect personal quarters. Harry also was claiming any and all findings of value that he discovered during his hunt of the horcruxes as his. Also that given that Harry was fighting Voldemort and his minions and that meant dangerous spells. Harry would not be held accountable for deaths of marked Death Eaters and would not be eligible for a murder charge when he killed Voldemort even if he used an Avada Kedavara unless Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic were held accountable right alongside him. When he had completed the task of killing Voldemort he was to get 150,000 (the bounty on Voldemort's head at the end of the first war) galleons and a muggle identity that was unknown to the ministry of magic arranged by the muggle government. The contract stipulated that if at any point the Headmaster or the ministry failed in their obligations in any way Harry could ask that the contract be enforced by the magic itself at a one hundred percent penalty. The contract had been signed by Dumbledore, Scrimgeour, and Harry witnessed by Amelia Bones and Kingsley Shacklebolt. Albus didn't know who Harry had gone to for the contract but whoever it was was good, because aside from being bound to try and get rid of Voldemort all the other stipulations were on Albus and the Ministry rather than Harry.
Albus seriously was beginning to hate Harry Potter, and he would never forgive him for snapping the Elder Wand. That wand was the only reason he survived his last two encounters with Voldemort. He looked at his staff, "Watch him, watch him like a hawk."