RECAP: Harry finishes off his letters, finds out what the REAL prophecy is about, and picks up the Daily Prophet that has a very interesting headline.
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"This" is living people talking and
'This' is Harry's new guest's talking and Harry and other people thinking
"This," is Parseltongue.
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Death, Fate, Destiny, and Prophecy - Chapter 11
Harry, having finished his letters, picked up the Daily Prophet. And what an interesting headline the newspaper had.
Molly Weasley Gets Howler From Boy-Who-Lived!
Article by: Rita Skeeter
Yesterday afternoon I received a package from Messrs. Fred and George Weasley. In it was a tape recorder with the following message on it:
"Hello, Ms. Skeeter, we hope we're not bothering you. We thought you might want to listen to this message, as our dear loving mother gets a howler from our dear friend and adopted little brother, Harry. We're sure you know which Harry we're talking about. For the sake of his privacy, some of Harry's words have been magically removed. When you get to those words, you'll hear a 'beep'. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Our mother went temporarily deaf after the first few words they were so loud."
A few moments later the howler started. I truly did enjoy it, and now you, the readers, will be able to as well. Harry's message to Molly Weasley:
"HOW DARE YOU INSULT (BEEP) LIKE THAT! HE WAS MORE OF A PARENT TO ME THAN YOU EVER WILL BE! HE WAS THE LAST LINK TO MY PARENTS AND I LOST HIM BECAUSE OF A STUPID MISTAKE! AND YOU DARE TO INSULT HIM AFTER HIS DEATH! SHAME ON YOU MOLLY WEASLEY! AND HOW WOULD YOU KNOW HOW I WAS RAISED? YOU DIDN'T RAISE ME! YOU SURE AS HELL DIDN'T KNOW THAT MY BEDROOM BEFORE HOGWARTS WAS THE (BEEP) (BEEP) THE (BEEP), DID YOU! NO! THEY DEFINITELY WEREN'T PROTECTIVE OF ME IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER! AND AS FOR WHY I SPENT TIME WITH (BEEP), HE WAS MY (BEEP, BEEP). HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD ME AT THE TIME! HOW IN THE HELL IS THAT BEING A TERRIBLE INFLUENCE YOU PSYCHO WOMAN! AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WISH IT, I AM NOT YOUR SON! I AM THE SON OF JAMES POTTER AND LILY EVANS! NEITHER YOU OR DUMBLEDORE HAS ANY SAY IN MY LIFE SO BUGGER OFF!"
This howler brings up some concerns about why Dumbledore and Weasley are trying to control our Savior's life and whether or not his life before Hogwarts was as happy and safe as Dumbledore said it was.
Harry smiled as he put down the paper. Fred and George were good. He would have to thank them later.
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Harry opened the door to see an older woman.
"Hello Mr. Potter," she said, "My name is Griselda Marchbanks. I'm here about your Mastery."
"Oh, please come in," Harry said, stepping out of her way, "I admit, I did forget about our meeting today."
"That's quite alright Mr. Potter. Is Mr. Lupin in by any chance, or do you need to call him?"
"No he's here. And just Harry please. Mr. Potter makes me feel old."
"Of course Harry. If it's alright with you, I'd like to get this over with quite quickly."
"Alright," Harry replied, "If you'd wait in the sitting room, I'll go get Remus." Griselda nodded and went into said room as Harry went up the stairs.
It can't be said that Griselda wasn't an observant woman. She knew the moment that she stepped into the mansion that it had once belonged to Godric Gryffindor. She had been a Ravenclaw herself, but had done research on the living styles of the four founders. The fact that Harry was staying here meant he was the heir to Gryffindor.
"Always full of surprises," Griselda said to herself, a moment before Harry entered the room with Remus.
"Mrs. Marchbanks," Remus said in greeting.
"Mr. Lupin."
"Just Remus."
"Alright. Now, lets get these legalities over with. Harry, besides taking the Mastery, what other classes were you planning on taking?"
"Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, and Potions."
"Alright then," Griselda said, checking some things down on a paper, "Now, you know of Remus' condition, correct?"
"Yes."
"And obviously you don't care. Don't mind that question. I have to ask it by law."
"I don't care."
"Alright then, we need to find a safe place for you Remus, during the nights of your transformation."
"He's more than welcome to stay here on those nights," Harry said.
"Thank you Harry," Remus smiled.
"Your welcome."
"Alright, now that that's done. We need to decide the terms of the contract."
"Pardon me, but contract?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Griselda explained, "The contract will be the written form of the agreement between the two of you for your apprenticeship Harry. The basics are obvious. No harm will come to either of you by the other. The both of you must sign and agree to the contract. And you must abide by the contract, unless both of you agree it is for the best."
"Alright, that sounds good," Harry said, "What about-" Harry was interrupted by a tapping at the window. Harry went to open the window for the owl. He scowled, the letter was from Dumbledore.
"Here, Harry," Remus said, "Let me check it." Harry handed Remus the letter and he waved his wand to check the letter.
"No tracking spells on it this time, but just to be sure," Remus said, before using his wand to open the letter. Harry and he read it together.
Dear Harry,
I have taken the liberty of picking out your classes for you. I would like to congratulate you about your earning of an apprenticeship in Defense, but I am afraid I can not allow it unless you apprentice under myself. I would like to see you at the beginning of the school year to discuss this.
Your Headmaster,
Albus Dumbledore
"Can he really do that?" Harry asked, enraged.
"May I?" Griselda said, holding out her hand. Remus handed her the letter and she read it over.
"Don't worry Harry," she said, when she finished, "He can't do this. At least not legally. And even if he tries, we just add a little clause about Remus deciding where you should be schooled at to the contract."
"Alright, let's do that, but what else?"
"Hmm," Remus said, "How about I get to pick Harry's teachers. Meaning if I don't approve at the ones at Hogwarts, I can choose a different person to teach him."
"Alright," Griselda said, adding that to the contract.
"In that case, can I start learning Ancient Runes and Arithmancy now?" Harry asked.
"Of course," Griselda said, adding those to his class list, "Anything else."
"A clause that states that if we agree on something than a legal representative can add it to the contract?" Harry suggested.
"Good idea, cub," Remus said, as Griselda added it to the contract as well.
"Is that it for now?" Both Harry and Remus nodded. "Then sign here please," she said, gesturing to the bottom of the page.
"That was fun. Mrs. Marchbanks, would you like to stay for dinner?
"I'd love to Harry, and please, call me Griselda."
