Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its wonderful cast of characters and settings are the property of J. K. Rowlings, Scholastic Books and Warner Bros. Films, I just get the fun of taking them and putting them in different settings. It's all only for fun and the praise of my readers because I get nothing but the reviews my readers grace me with. (Puppy dog eyes) the money goes to other people. Also a quarter of the credit for this story goes to darkshadowedrose she helped me feed the cute little plot bunny until it became a monster that wouldn't let go until it was down on paper.

Harry Prongs Tatum Chapter 11

Harry debated going to Flitwick about Snape, but because the man taught a potentially dangerous subject he decided that maybe Snape had singled him out because he seemed the least likely to be impacted by his vitriol and the man wanted to scare his students so they would obey unthinkingly when a dangerous situation arose. It wasn't a teaching tactic used in the muggle world any longer but maybe such things lagged behind in the magical world the way everything else appeared to lag. Harry decided to take a wait and see attitude, if it continued he would file a protest. The way the points had been taken though made him annoyed mostly because some of the oldest Ravenclaw boys had came and told him if he lost them more points than he earned in a week again he wouldn't like the consequences. He hated History of Magic, Binns was worse than a joke. He hated that in the library he wasn't allowed to talk with Justin. Harry was where he liked to be schoolwork wise; he had studied about two weeks ahead in all his classes including his muggle ones and was current on assignments. He snagged Go from his trunk and went to the Great Hall hoping to catch Justin for a game. This school really needed a inner house common room maybe he could talk the elves into converting those two adjoining classrooms on the fourth floor. But first he wanted to get the armory done.

In Kensington, Jennifer and Jake opened Harry's letter.

Hi All,

Well I made it through the first week. I now don't get lost as I walk through the castle. It's a little freaky the way the layout changes at times there are shortcuts and doors that you have to stroke before opening. Some of why I can do this is that after the first day of classes, I got the Penelope and Randall to help me create a map. I met some older twins from Gryffindor who taught me a spell to replicate the map, so I made copies and sold them to the other first years. I almost made three sickles. My head of house is interesting I don't think he's fully human. He kind of reminds me of Grashak a little.

Classes are...well polar and when I say that I don't mean super cool. Transfiguration with McGonagall is interesting and she's a good teacher. She can turn into a cat which was really neat. I wonder what animal I would be... Charms with Flitwick is fun. He's another really good teacher. As head of house he's strict, we're the only house with a strict curfew and bedtimes not that I'm tempted to break them. Herbology with Sprout is fun, some of the plants in the greenhouses are really weird but apparently all of them are useful. Astronomy is boring. I'm happy to say my theory that solar power and hand cranked generators might work in the presence of magic is true. My flashlight actually held the charge the full five minutes instead of fading at four like usual. As for the rest of the classes grim doesn't cover it. History is taught by Binns, he's a ghost. He teaches straight from the book, and lectures in this absolute monotone most people fall asleep in five minutes. I stay awake in his class by working on other school work. I don't miss anything because like I said it's straight from the poorly written text book. How they can call that teaching history, I'll never know. He is the least offensive of the bad teachers. In Defense the teacher stutters and is scared of his own topic and something about him is well just off. He gives me major creeps. Worst is Potions I swear the professor there seems to hate me just for breathing. He took six points for being cheeky or so he claimed. All I did was tried to insist he call me Tatum. He took ten more because I stopped two of the girls in the class from making a mistake that would have resulted in them melting their cauldron. It might have been he's trying to make himself scary so in the future if he needs to we'll be used to obeying but all I can say is he's a crap teacher. He doesn't explain anything and he is just so hostile towards me. As far as I know I haven't done anything to him if he keeps it up I'll confront him and if he keeps it up past that I'll report his...behavior to the proper authorities.

I went to the check in with the school medi-witch. She says I'm improving but I have a long way to go and I won't get to do flying class with the rest of the first years. She introduced me to the house elves of Hogwarts,who showed me a bunch of nifty places in the castle.

Which brings me to my next request. I'm sending three dimensional floor plans of the armory, the salle and one other adjoining room (yes the measurements are accurate) that from what I've seen they are the best bets for making a gymnasium here at Hogwarts. Yes, that's right this place doesn't even have a gym. Justin thinks he's going to die. I think the teachers think we get enough exercise by walking the stairs but I don't even break a sweat walking between classes on opposite sides of the building maybe if I ran it, but walking, never. You would be pleased with me, I have done exercise every day since I got here. Anyway, the elves have told me they can transfigure stuff to fix the place up but when I described the type of flooring I wanted they didn't have a clue. So big request here mum I want you to work your designer magic, could you get me floor plans and material samples. I'll also need equipment pictures for a boxer's gym/ weight room, football nets and basketball hoops and mats or maybe a samples of different types of mats.

"I've begun to suspect the magical world subscribes to the bunghole theory of raising teenagers. With Hogwarts being the barrel. What's really scary is that whether they realize/admit it or not is that the magical society is an armed society. Even the most benign spells if used the wrong way could really hurt someone. What's worse is there is some blood purist crap that some of the students appear to believe, and unfortunately those students have the rest to cowed to stand up to them. They teach spells but they don't have a ethical code that is taught right along side of magic itself. I've been very careful to avoid overt offense, but it's hard because some of these kids are stuck up, others are just idiots. I know, I know, if you're open to it you can learn something from everyone, but so far from some of these kids, all I've learned is I want to avoid them in the future, and some of them actually believe that tripe I found about me in the bookstore. Which is just scary, and I flee in terror at the idea of there being fangirls here at school that could stalk me. especially given there are spells and potions that can steal my will. It wouldn't be so bad if McGonagall had kept her trap shut at the sorting, but then again there's Ernie MacMillan he can't keep his mouth shut period not to mention my rather distinctive scar. Justin says Ernie's not that bad, but the guy doesn't think.

He's not the only one that doesn't think either, I've got two roommates Kevin's cool but Anthony Goldstein is just a jerk. He acts like since he grew up in the magical world he knows everything. But the first night he said Hedwig wasn't smart enough to carry out the complex task of delivering a letter to Mandy then going to you then back to Mandy's to pickup the box with Justin's and my ties, but she did it just fine.

Well I've got notes to write for the rest of the council. Do you think I should inquire with Aunt Elda just what it is I'm supposed to be learning in defense this year, because I haven't a clue from Quirrell's class.

Love and Hugs,

Harry

Monday morning Harry took his parchment of questions down from the board, and cringed as he read them. Some of them weren't too bad, some made him think the person asking saw him as the second coming of King Arthur, or Merlin, and some were just to bloody personal; what business was it of anyone else's whether he wore boxers or briefs. Well he'd take his time going through and answering them.

Tuesday morning Harry had five letters and a package addressed to him and Justin arrive in addition to his papers. He smiled and opened the box. Some of it was sports equipment catalogs and materials samples, but there were letters and a couple of other things for both he and Justin. Harry quickly passed Justin his things from the box. Before pulling open his own letter.

Dear Harry,

The more we find out about that school the less we like it. Although the historians in us cringe at the thought of re-purposing a castle armory, Hogwarts is more than just a historic site it is an actively used building that clearly needs some re-purposing. As per your request we've sent samples of materials for the remake of an armory into a gym. So you mentioned transfiguring materials how exactly does that work? The plans will be along a little later in the week, and I'll be including a supply and quantity list.

I'm glad that you are in a house where you knew someone. We've sent off your first assignments and when they come back we'll forward them. Hedwig obviously gets plenty of exercise. Annalise asked about you when she saw Hedwig, she misses you. She's not the only one we miss your help with the ordering and your dad misses that extra hand with the antiques. But at least you seem to be be progressing. A spell that works like a copy machine, interesting.

Grashak and Kilrok have brought over and activated temporary wards, Kilrok was very excited as he spoke of the things he's learning as he develops the intention wards and the other specialized wards that are being created for us. Dad and I didn't understand a third of what he said but Grashak assured us it was all good. Not much news here.

Love, Mum

P.S. Sorry about the bad teachers, but you will behave won't you, love? We don't want to get owls coming because you're in trouble.

Hey Harry,

I just finished looking over the results Poppy sent me; the potion is doing it's work. The results on the balance stuff is actually better than I expected so keep up the good work! I and the others have filed all the paperwork so your five Wizengamot seats are out of Dumbledore's hands. Grashak was muttering something about you sponsoring someone.

I found it interesting that you have chosen to do so before you are even out of school. Many highborn magicals never do so their entire lives and here you are not even out of school and showing them up. I'm delighted that you have chosen to do so. I myself did it seventeen years ago. I sponsored a bright young muggleborn who had a genius for potions, she was no Severus Snape but she still had talent. She has a small apothecary on Benbridge Way now.

I hope school is going well. Next time write me more than a: made through first week, like transfiguration, charms, and herbology. History is bollocks.

Uncle Reg

Harry dear,

What are you thinking sponsoring someone before you're even out of school? That is an activity for older wizards not boys. Boys should be concerned with mastering the social graces and getting good grades in school, not developing talents in witches and wizards to build businesses and their family fortunes. Thank you for the note I have passed your criticisms of the teachers on to a friend of mine that is on the board of governors not that much is likely to occur. Albus Dumbledore runs Hogwarts like it's his own personal kingdom. And there are to many people with personal agendas on the board of governors for it to be effective at stopping the Headmaster. I think he likes it that way.

Affectionately, Aunt Desi

Harry,

There are copies of the last three hundred years of OWL and NEWT tests in the Hogwarts Library. Just as there are a points logs which record points lost and gained by all students each year and why, and detention logs the later two are actually in seven places the headmaster's office, the deputy's office, the library, and in each house common room. Although I believe the common rooms only have the last five years, the headmaster and the deputy have the last ten, and the library has the last fifty. I'm very curious as to why you want all this information. As it is, study hard and I'll see you at Christmas.

Aunt Elda

Harry,

What were you thinking? You can 't possibly be thinking of sponsoring me not just for school but for a business as well. Are you nuts?

Mandy

Harry,

The publishers are very unhappy. I paid them all a brief visit to see if any of them would be reasonable before pursuing matters as a court case. What I was told by most is that the authors stipulate the classification and the terms of the contracts. Proof of this seems to exist in the form of a small royalty account set up by the author of Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century in your name. As reluctant as I am to suggest this, I think an interview with a respectable press reporter on this would work in our favor.

As to the matter of your biological parents will, the reading set for the day after you return from Hogwarts for Christmas. There were several unhappy people when I showed the court order overriding the Headmaster's seal, but it will be done as we planned.

Grashak is in a temper over your sponsorship of a Mandy Thompson he thinks it is poorly considered. Although he admits with the financial amounts involved you're well within your rights to sponsor her.

I look forward to a letter with more than just instructions on what to work on for you legally speaking that is. I do take my position on your council as an advisor seriously and as such am concerned for both your well being and your happiness. Write soon,

Howard Rowe

Harry went to potions that afternoon and found himself once again subject to attack by the vitriolic potions master. This time the Potions master wasn't content until he'd removed twenty points. After class, Harry reminded himself of habit 4, and decided to act on it. " Professor?"

"What Potter?"

"What did I ever do to you, that you feel the need to attack me? I don't think I've done anything to you, to deserve the way you've been treating me."

"You exist." the potions master sneered. "Now get out of my sight, Potter before I take even more points."

Harry left. He was sure the older Ravenclaw boys would already have a grudge because of the twenty points. Sure enough that evening a half an hour before curfew, his resolve not to be alone having been stymied by the fact his year mates had left him in the library while he looked for a reference for his homework. Harry found himself cornered by six of the older boys as he was returning from the library. He was in the middle of the group as they took turns shoving him around and hitting him with various jinxes and low level hexes. He'd acquired an interesting set of bruises before he decided he'd had enough, and since he didn't know how to defend himself magically he would resort to other means. He managed to break one of his attackers noses, and put two more on the floor retching before they managed to hit him with a petrificus totalis spell and hang him upside down.

Kevin was concerned when Harry wasn't in the house at nine and went searching for him. Only to find him and decide he needed to get the Professor.

Professor Flitwick was dismayed. He swiftly levitated Harry upright before canceling the spell that held him immobile."Mr. Tatum what happened?"

"Some older boys in were pissed about the points Snape took today, and decided to show me the error of my ways."

"Professor Snape, ."

"Yeah right, that man's a Professor." Harry's words dripped with sarcasm. "I give respect where it's deserved and that man hasn't earned one iota of my respect."

Filius Flitwick was dismayed not only was a student in his house was being bullied by other students in his house but from the sound of things he might also be being bullied by a colleague. He had a strong dislike of bullying. He himself had been mercilessly bullied due to his mixed heritage; it had been one reason he honed his dueling skills. He noticed that Kevin didn't seem to disagree with Harry. He would speak to all the students in the morning and try to nip this in the bud. And as for the animosity Harry was displaying for Severus well he'd investigate that too. He still remembered the rivalry between Severus and James Potter maybe Severus wasn't leaving such things in the past as he should. In the meantime..."Let's get you to the infirmary."

"Nah, I'm fine, or I will be when this headache goes away. A couple of aspirin a bit of sleep, I'll be good."

"Do you know who it was?"

"Not really but they didn't get off scot free."

"What do you mean?"

Harry smiled crookedly, "I broke one of their noses and two more lost their suppers and maybe their lunches too. My head was spinning a bit by that point though. Not bad for six on one if I say so myself."

Flitwick didn't know whether he should be amazed, appalled, or both at Harry's attitude. He recalled taking a similar attitude himself back when he was a boy."Let's get you to bed."

"Sounds good sir. I'm not in trouble am I?"

"Not with me. I'm sorry this happened."

With Kevin's help, Harry made it back to the dorm and into bed.

Flitwick hung back upon reaching the common room. He was pleased to see Miles Ogden and signaled him.

"Sorry Professor I didn't realize those two weren't in the dorm. It isn't nine thirty yet so I haven't done bed checks yet."

"Not a problem Miles but it appears Mr. Tatum has one. I want a house meeting in the morning. And Miles would you be interested in learning a particular charm that would be very useful in the career field your looking at?"

"Of course sir."

"Come see me in my office tomorrow night and I'll teach you the disillusionment charm."

The next morning Harry exercised and got ready as normal then sat down to write a note to his parents.

Dear Mum and Dad,

The stories of Hogwarts being the safest place are just that, stories. I got jumped by six older students they were mad at me because I've lost a bunch of points thanks to that slimy greasy git of a potions Professor. He hates me for some reason that I can't fathom. I suspect it has to do with my birth family cause the git is always calling me Potter and he spits the name as if it were an epithet. And he doesn't seem content until he's successfully removed any and all points I've earned in my other classes. I swear I haven't done anything that should warrant him taking points away.

Anyway I came to a few conclusions regarding defending oneself against wizards and I figure as muggles and my family you guys need this information. One, if a wizard ever attacks you there are lights that come out of their wands don't let the lights touch you. Two, from what I can tell wizards don't have a clue of what to do in physical combat because little horribly uncoordinated me took three of the six down. Mind you that was without magic. Three, although I can do wandless magic, ninety percent or more wizards don't and the general consensus is only powerful wizards and witches can do it, therefore if a wizard attacks go for their wand and snap it and you've effectively taken their weapon away. I probably won't be snapping wands unless someone's attempting to kill me something about I'm a wizard too. And according to wizarding custom it's like a wand is a sacred object and snapping a wand is something they do to criminals. And this may not be true of all wizards so retreating is a viable option.

As far as me and the attack goes they didn't hurt me particularly, most of the spells I got hit with were stinging hexes. That's a spell mums use to correct naughty children with. Professor Flitwick didn't seem to take it lightly though, and has called for a house meeting this morning. So it's not like they'll get away with what they did.

Love, Harry

Harry had just finished his letter when Flitwick started the meeting. "It has come to my attention that certain students have taken to bullying younger students trying to guarantee a certain standard of point advancement in pursuit of the house cup. That is completely unacceptable to me. Bullying is for idiots; I don't know specifically which of you are the idiots in question but congratulations as of this moment this house gets to start over. I only wish there were more points to be removed. I will never place points ahead of the well being of any student. Further more if you're smart, those of you who are guilty will come and see me on your own to arrange for your detention. I know how many of you there are and approximately what years. If you make me find you, it will be ten detentions and a suspension of Hogsmeade privileges. Clear?"

A dismayed chorus of "yes Professor" was heard.

"Dismissed to breakfast." he ended the meeting.

Before astronomy that evening Harry wrote Mandy a letter.

Mandy,

I realize you didn't ask or expect this. But I want you to consider something. What are the top two areas of life where youth usually rebel against their parents? Friends and clothing right? Well Hogwarts covers the friends aspect, but clothing? Gladrags attempts to cover that one, but their clothes are too lacking in chic and lets not even talk about line and color anyone would look disastrous in them. Justin and I have been accosted by students from all the houses. Yes even Slytherins! Who like the clean, crisp lines of our clothes and the more balanced blend of neutrals, cool and warm colors.

I offer funding and a small amount of business acumen to you. Go to the library look up companies that supply school uniforms tell them you represent a small school of 100 students that is looking to start having students wear uniforms mention that a few students are from affluent families and would be interested in a high end version of the uniform the rest are from low to midrange and would need a inexpensive versions of it tell them the range of sizes you'll need going from a size or two under the one I bought on up to the size of most seventeen to eighteen year olds for both boys and girls. Take the prices they give you double it (Remember you'll be buying wholesale or nearly) Then add on the spell price make sure your spell prices edge ever so slightly under Madam Malkin's that's what you charge for your clothes. Have a standard set of charms: extra durability, dirt and wrinkle resistance, comfort and three times growth. Have all your clothing have those charms and don't offer additional charms. With the spells set to last two to three years. Muggleborn's parents will consider it a good value and it will be for both magicals and muggles. As far as sports kits, buy those too, same deal because as of next weekend Hogwarts will have a gym.

I know this is kinda out of the blue for you, but think of the opportunity.

Harry Tatum

On his way to astronomy he gave both letters he'd written that day to Hedwig.

When Hedwig returned Friday morning she carried an architect's tube. Friday after the last class Harry went to the armory taking the box of samples and the tube. Upon arriving he called "Muffy?'

A second later the elf appeared. "Oh! Lord has whats he wants to shows us!" A second later about twenty more elves showed up. Harry looked at his unorthodox work crew and shrugged before rolling out the plans his mum had drawn. After explaining the materials, and showing the plans and explaining to the elves how to read them he stepped back and watched them work. He made himself available to answer questions but by the time he needed to leave for the Great Hall for dinner things were well on the way to being complete.

He made a point of asking Justin to meet him at the Great Hall in the morning for exercise before breakfast. After dinner he went back to the armory and found that most of the work was done and they were starting to transfigure equipment. Which caused a few problems that Harry solved using the come and go room.

When curfew came, Harry climbed into bed content. The armory would now function as a gym, the salle had been restored to better than original condition, and the square storage room was now made over into a weight room/ boxer/ martial arts room with a heavy bag, a swing bag and boxing ring that could double for martial arts. His mum had added two locker rooms and a storage area in the plans which the elves had adapted by asking the castle to add three small rooms, two complete with showers and lavatories. The boys locker room was off the weight room and the girls locker room was off the salle. Harry supposed the adaptation of the rooms should have been run past some adult at the school but given that the rooms had been going to waste he didn't feel to badly for taking them over.

Justin thought he was humoring his cousin when Harry led him to a different part of the castle and told him "Close your eyes."

"What's this about Harry I thought we were going to exercise."

"We will in a minute, just close your eyes."

"Fine they're closed." He heard a door open then felt Harry pull him through a door.

"Okay, you can open them."

"Oh my gosh you found a gymnasium!"

"Not exactly, but the school now has one. Come on I'll show you around."

The rest of the weekend was uneventful. Harry was relieved that his older housemates left him alone and let him study with his year mates undisturbed.

Harry's third week at Hogwarts was every bit as miserable as the first two had been. Tuesday's double Potions stirred his fury but he bottled it as the Professor once again called him Potter and assigned Potter a detention in addition to taking points for daring to interrupt his lecture/harangue with a question. At the end of class Harry bottled his potion and took it to the front of the classroom and set it on the edge of the desk only to have the Professor bump the desk and knock several of the vials there off. Harry would have dismissed it as an accident if the Professor hadn't managed to save everyone else's vial, and look him in the eyes with a triumphant "Oops, I guess that's a zero for you today Potter."

Harry resolved in that moment if Snape wanted war he'd get war.

At seven when Harry was supposed to be in the dungeon for his detention, Kevin and Terry looked at Harry. "Aren't you supposed to be in detention?"

"Detention?" Harry shook his head, "I don't have detention."

"But Snape..."

"Snape assigned detention to Potter. I don't see a Potter do you?"

Stephen Cornfoot looked at Harry. "The hat considered Gryffindor for you didn't it?"

"It considered all the houses." He said as he finished the assigned essay on parchment for Potions. He calmly pulled out some paper. "Refero Membrana." he tapped the paper and made sure the essay was complete on the paper.

"You're either brave or crazy or both."

"He started it, I'll just finish it. Now if you'll excuse me I have a letter to write."

At 7:25 p.m. Professor Snape stormed into Professor Flitwick's quarters. "Filius I want you to come with me. I assigned detention to that brat, and he didn't show up. He'll rue the day he crossed me."

"What are you raving about Severus?" The much taller man was dragging him towards Ravenclaw Tower.

"Potter!"

'What?' Filius had to think for a moment to figure out who Severus meant. This couldn't be good. Severus was clearly incensed, but at the same time Filius understood that Harry wasn't one to put up with being called by his birth name indefinitely. He grimaced, this wasn't going to be pretty. He wasn't sure why Harry was so attached to his adoptive name, after all the Potter family was an ancient, noble, and honorable one, but he was sure that by refusing to call him Tatum, as Severus had doubtlessly done, Severus created immense friction between the two of them. "Calm yourself, Severus, we'll go to my office and call him to join us. May I ask what he did to merit a detention?"

"He interrupted my lecture!"

"I'll get him so we can get to the bottom of this."