Chapter 10:
Conflict Over the D.A.
Over the next few days Hogwart's became a hub of activity as rumors of Harry's defeat of Professor Widget in Defense class spread around the school. It was no surprise to Harry that by lunch on Thursday, Dumbledore was requesting his presence in his office. Harry took a deep breath before he entered the headmaster's office, then he stepped inside to be confronted by a panel of Order members. Harry chuckled, "Well, it seems if you got most of your bird club together, old man?"
Dumbledore shrugged resignedly, "I felt that the presence of the Order would make you realize the seriousness of your actions."
Harry snorted, "What actions?"
Dumbledore replied, "Your disdain for all the professors and then your showing off and playacting in defense class make it very obvious that you hold me in contempt. It is dangerous for you to show off such contempt and such abilities. You need not give Voldemort anymore weapons against you."
Harry flopped into a seat in the headmaster's office, "I don't care about giving Voldemort weapons, old man. Quite frankly I have no immediate intentions of defying Voldemort. He can do as he pleases for all I care."
Dumbledore became agitated, "Harry, you cannot be serious about leaving the wizarding world to such a fate."
McGonagall interrupted before Harry could speak, "What do you mean by Harry leaving the wizarding world to its fate? I know the poor boy has been on the end of Voldemort schemes far more than any other, but that doesn't mean it's his responsibility to destroy Voldemort."
Harry began laughing, "You mean to tell me you haven't told the Order about the prophecy yet, old man?"
Moody immediately turned to Dumbledore with an incredulous look and a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "What prophecy, Albus?"
Albus sighed, "I felt no need for anyone else to know. However, it seems that all of you have a right to know now. Many of you have wondered why I hired Sybyll Trelawney as the Divination Professor here. When I went to interview her for the position, she gave a real prophecy involving Voldemort. I won't go into the exact details but basically the prophecy said that there would be a baby born with the power to destroy Voldemort. With the criteria that the prophecy gave for the baby, I concluded that Harry was the child of prophecy and took measures to protect him."
McGonagall gasped, "That's why you left him with a Dursley's." She turned to Harry and said apologetically, "Harry I'm so sorry. I told him not to leave you with those people."
Harry shrugged, "Not to worry, all of that's over now and I won't be going back to the Dursley."
Dumbledore cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention, "We still must return to the issue at hand. Harry, you cannot go around blatantly showing disdain for your professors. Also, it's dangerous to show any advanced abilities. Voldemort would pick up on such a thing and be more prepared for you."
Harry snorted, "Voldemort is already going to be prepared for me since you've got his spy right here in your midst."
Everyone gasped and Dumbledore asked, "Do you know who the spy is, Harry?"
"Of course I know who the spy is. I've told you a thousand times." Then Harry jerked his thumb over to point at Snape.
Dumbledore sighed yet again, "Harry, you must stop accusing Snape. I told you repeatedly that I trust him."
Harry replied, "And I've told you repeatedly that I don't trust you, old man. Now, I believe this conversation is done." Harry rose to leave but stopped as Dumbledore spoke again.
"Harry, you still don't understand the ramifications of your actions."
"Then expel me if that's not to your liking."
Harry then proceeded to walk out the door slamming it behind him and leaving no room for any other argument.
The next several days were clear of confrontation for Harry as he prepared for the first DA meeting of the year. It was with something approaching joy that he entered the Room of Requirement, and prepared for the first lesson. A few moments later the DA members began arriving. As they chattered, Harry took his place at the front of the room. He cleared his throat to gain their attention, "Welcome to the new year of the D.A. I'm happy to see everyone didn't leave Hogwart's back from last year and to the new faces, welcome. We're going to begin this evening with working on stunning and shielding spells. Shielding will most assuredly save your life in a battle with a Death Eater. Stunning spells are extremely useful for incapacitating your opponents, however you must beware of their limitations. Any ally can simply Enervate someone you stunned. So pair off, and let's begin."
The class was going well until Draco Malfoy and his henchmen walked through the door. Harry looked up to catch Draco's eye, "I don't think so, Malfoy. You're not remotely welcome here. We have a policy against Death Eater babies."
Malfoy protested, "You can't keep us from coming here."
Harry chuckled, "I most assuredly can."
At that moment Snape and Dumbledore stepped through the door directly behind Draco and the other Slytherins, "I'm afraid that you will have to let Draco and the others enter. You can't exclude people from the club based on their house affiliation."
Harry laughed and pointed, "As you can see there are Slytherins in the room. So my exclusionary principles have nothing to do with their house affiliation. I simply don't want them here because they're slimy snakes who lick Voldemort's boots."
Dumbledore sighed, "That was completely unnecessary, Mr. Potter. I'm afraid you have no choice in this matter."
Harry snorted, "I'm afraid you don't realize that I most assuredly do have a choice. So I suggest you find someone else to lead the DA because if he's involved I won't." Then, Harry simply walked from the room with the rest of the D.A. following him, each of them passing Dumbledore, Snape, and Draco with a look of scorn on their faces."
A.N: Well, ladies and gentlemen it appears that I'm back. I finally have my new computer, and hopefully I will be able to resume posting at a more regular rate. As always, happy reading, and reviews are always appreciated.