Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all Non-OC characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The plot and all OC's came from my own head and all similarities to other works and characters are completely coincidental and unintentional (unless specifically noted otherwise).

WARNING: This Chapter is all dialogue, with no action. For all of those hoping to see someone getting their butt whooped, this is not your kind of chapter. However, a lot of things get beaten out of the way as if they were between Ron and his food. While I would've rather not covered all of this in just one chapter, they needed to be done with before Harry returns to Hogwarts. It seems a bit rushed to me, but I believe that it was necessary.

Harry Potter and the Grim Decision
Chapter 11: Negotiations
By: Nanio-713

You would rather read a book then go for a moonlight stroll?

Moonlight strolls are so cliché. If a guy ever asked me for a nighttime stroll on a first date, I would laugh in his face.

Yet a trip shopping in Diagon Alley makes perfect sense? I can see that; It's more fun, more people, and less awkward.

Plus, there's the whole intimacy issue. A walk at night is good for lovers, or people who have been together long enough to realize that they really like each other. Its too personal for a couple that is just starting. It's like feeling a girl up before ever giving her a kiss.

Then you're saying that most of Hogwarts students are choosing horrible first dates? Cho, the nighttime stroll is the first – or second – thing everyone in school does on a date. Are you saying that if I had asked you out like that, you would have laughed at me?

You would've never asked me out like that. You invited me to Hogsmeade on our first date, and I think that you would've met me at the library for our second.

I never thought of that. Actually, I never thought about a real second date at all before Umbridge ruined the DA. Anyway, when we get back to Hogwarts I think we should do something like ride our brooms together.

Harry, that's sweet but we should find out what our schedules are before setting up another date.

I'm not saying that we should set anything in stone, but we should recognize that we want to do something together, as a couple, soon after we get back to Hogwarts. I mean, we've talked a lot but I've only seen you twice this summer. I want to see you again.

I do too. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. We'll have plenty of time to spend together.

I just want to make sure things go right between us this time. Last year we hardly saw each other. It was like we weren't really dating.

We hardly knew each other back then. It's not surprising that happened. It's a common theme in Hogwarts. Most couples wait until the summer before they get to know each other better, since they don't have schedules to get in the way. We just didn't make it to that point.

If we didn't, then what are we doing now?

Harry paused for a moment, knowing that Cho was probably giggling at his little flirt. He was about to write more when he heard a knock on the door and Tonks walked in. "Harry, do you have a moment?"

Harry nodded and wrote a quick good-bye to Cho. After closing his book, he sat upright on his bed and replied. "Sure Tonks, what's up?"

Tonks sat down on Harry's bed and smoothed her hands over her tight jeans. "Are you sure you want to do these meetings today? I mean, you've hardly had any chance to rest since you got back and you leave for Hogwarts in two days."

Harry nodded. "Yeah Tonks, you know that. All I've been doing this week has been studying the law, buying stuff for school, and training with my scythe. I think that I'm well enough to go to Gringott's and meet with Mr. Chang."

"Yeah, but what about meeting with Dumbledore? You two didn't part on friendly terms, Harry. He'll come in looking to either rebuild your relationship or burn it and start a new one. And trust me, the new friendship won't allow you to do half of what you want."

Harry sighed. "Tonks, Dumbledore isn't going to do anything that drastic. I asked him to meet to apologize for what I did at the Burrow. While what I said was true, he didn't deserve that kind of treatment the moment I got back. I'm just going to apologize and let him know that, while I wish to be independent from him in my life, he is still my headmaster and I will still need his advice and help in lots of things. Plus, I want to show him that this deal I have with the Dementors isn't going to turn me dark."

"Just don't go in there thinking it's going to be a walk in the park. Dumbledore has been in the political game longer than you've been alive, so expect to give some compromises in return for his help, especially since he doesn't know what your 'deal' entails." Tonks advised. "The same thing applies with Rui Chang. He's a political genius, and he's usually 3 moves ahead of his competition. He's going to want a few things from you."

Harry continued discussing his plans for each meeting with Tonks as he changed into clothes more suitable for his meetings, such as his custom tailored grey robes. Tonks blushed slightly as Harry changed right in front of her, but made no move to leave. She and Harry didn't feel weird being so close to each other after their legilimency lessons.

After Harry changed and grabbed a bag with some legal documents, e offered Tonks his arm. "Come on, Tonks. You and I need to grab Remus and prove that I'm able to handle myself in the real world."

Harry, Remus, and Tonks sat in a small office inside Gringott's bank, sipping their tea softly while waiting for Mr. Chang to arrive. They didn't wait long before the clock rang once and the door opened to admit Rui Chang and his wife. The two sat directly across from Harry and reached over to shake his hands.

Rui pulled out some documents and separated them into two piles. "Before we begin, Harry, I would like to state that your… relationship… with our daughter will not affect any of your negotiations with me. Also, I was hoping you could stay a little longer than expected to talk a bit more, of certain personal matters."

"Sure," Harry replied, trying to look professional. "That's all understandable and possible." After a quick nod on all parts Harry served the Chang's tea and shifted through his papers. "Mr. Chang, as you know I fired my representative for the Potter seat in the Wizengamot, and you hold the Black seat in my name. I was hoping to understand a bit more of your political beliefs to see if you are the right person to keep representing me. If so, then I'd also like to talk about offering you the Potter seat representational position."

Rui nodded and waved his hand in a 'bring it on' gesture. "Alright, then. What would you like to know?"

"Alright, first off: what are your views on the control of magical creatures, particularly in regards to humanoids such as goblins, house elves, werewolves, and Veela?"

The meeting continued for four hours with Harry and Rui discussing their views on magical creatures, international affairs, and several legislations currently being discussed and voted on in the Wizengamot. Neither showed any exhaustion from their debates, and did not actively attempt to convince the other that the other was wrong. There were several points, such as their discussions on programs to remove stigma from beliefs regarding half-breeds, where they absolutely refused to see eye to eye.

After several hours Rui finally put together a series of documents and clipped them together. "All right, so we are in agreement. I will owl you whenever a new piece of legislation is in discussion, and you will respond with your advice about what to vote for as your representative. If you do not respond within two weeks, then I will vote based on my own opinions. In return I will receive a higher wage for being your representative for two seats now instead of one."

Harry nodded as he signed the bottom of the parchment with his quill. "It will be interesting to work with you, Mr. Chang. I hope our business will be pleasant and free from outside entanglements."

Rui agreed as he signed the papers as well. Both men finally sat back and visibly relaxed before Harry turned to Tonks and spoke. "Hey, can you two let Dumbledore know that I'll be able to speak with him in about an hour while I talk to Mr. and Mrs. Chang privately?"

Remus glanced at Rui and Ann Change and hesitated, before being nudged by Tonks. He sighed and nodded to Harry before walking out of the room. Silence reigned for a few moments before Harry took a sip of tea and leaned back in his chair. "So, Rui Chang… interesting name. Isn't that a Japanese name?"

Rui smiled. "My Grandfather was half Japanese, and I was named after him."

Harry smiled and the room became silent once more. After a few minutes, Harry couldn't stand the silence hanging in the room. "I'm just curious. So… what were you hoping to talk to me about?"

"Well," Rui responded. "I was asking my daughter about what happened the night you returned to your friends, since she returned home late. And she told us that you were planning to remain a major figure in the war against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

Ann leaned forward and laid her hands upon the table. "We were wondering how much danger this could put upon our daughter. Will she be a target for any dangerous plots, and if so, will she be protected?"

"I won't lie to you, Mr. and Mrs. Chang. By being in a relationship with me, harming Cho will be high on Voldemort's priorities. First, it is in order to weaken my morale. Secondly, he will want to take away another person that I love. And finally, he will do it as an example of what will happen to those who associate with me. However, I will not allow Voldemort to take her without a fight.

Harry stood up and began to pace along his side of the table. "As you may well know, last year I created a group known as the Defense Association, A.K.A. Dumbledore's Army. This should show that I am more than capable of protecting her and myself, and that I will be teaching your daughter how to protect herself when she is alone. Also, Dumbledore is planning on bringing in a few Auror's from the Ministry to increase Hogwarts' defenses. I know a few of these Aurors, and they will also help me with the DA this year. So while she will be in some danger, I am doing the best I can to protect her."

Harry sat back down, calmer now that he explained his plans for keeping Cho safe, when Rui spoke. "Would any of this be necessary if she wasn't in a relationship with you?"

Harry grinned. "Your daughter began talking with me earlier this summer with the intention of only being my friend. After we decided to be more than that, she admitted to me that she would've stayed in the DA regardless of what happened between us. So, while her skills wouldn't be as necessary as they are now, she made her choice before we became a couple. Your daughter would still be in danger for being a part of a group that wishes to oppose Voldemort." The Chang's shuddered when Harry said the Dark Lord's name. "The possibility of her safety being compromised has only increased a little more now that she's dating me."

Ann Chang, clearly not enjoying the idea of her daughter being in danger, cleared her throat and drank some tea. "Alright, Harry, we understand what you are saying. However, that doesn't mean we like it. Is there any way to keep our daughter out of this fight?"

Harry shook his head. "You know your daughter wouldn't stand for that. She's too independent to let someone make that kind of choice for her."

Ann nodded before blurting, "And what are your intentions in regards to our daughter?"

Harry's eyebrow rose. "I like your daughter. She is kind, intelligent, athletic, and forceful. She and I just want to date for now, and then decide later whether or not we want to continue seeing each other."

"So you have no ulterior motives?"

"No, Mrs. Chang. I've never been in a relationship before, and Cho is the first girl to admit that she likes me. I like her as well, so just acting on what we feel. I do not plan on doing anything inappropriate with your daughter."

Rui smiled. "That's what they always say, but then something happens and everyone yells that 'it was an accident,' or some such nonsense."

Harry nodded. "True, but you can't hold it against me that I don't know if something inappropriate is going to happen, because trying to guess whether I can remember not do something when I won't be thinking straight is really hard, especially since there's no guarantee that I'll even be in that kind of position."

Ann laughed. "Harry, we're not asking you to perform divination for us. We're asking you whether we can trust you with our daughter."

"Well, you can trust me as much as any other honorable man can be trusted with an intelligent girl."

"Then not at all, then." Ann's eyes sparkled. "Alright, Harry, since you haven't given us a reason not to trust you, we will take your word that you will watch over our daughter."

Harry crossed his hands on the table. "I will do all that I can not to abuse your trust, Mrs. Chang."

"Welcome, Harry." Professor Dumbledore smiled as Harry walked into his office. "Please have a seat."

Harry walked into the office and looked around. The portraits were all awake and watching in curiosity as Harry looked at the odd gadgets that were placed in various spots in the Headmaster's office. Harry glanced at Fawkes' perch, idly noticing that it was empty before finally taking a seat in front of the Headmaster.

"Hello, Professor Dumbledore." Harry bowed slightly. "Remus and Tonks are waiting for me by the Gargoyle, and I know you have a meeting with the new minister soon, so I'll be brief."

Dumbledore smoothed his hand over his beard. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that, Harry. I Floo called the minister this morning and rescheduled it for tomorrow."

"With all due respect, Headmaster, I already knew that." Harry smirked. "I stopped by the Ministry to deliver some documents stating that Mr. Chang will be my Wizengamot representative, and ran into the Minister's Senior Advisor. He told me about the change in scheduling – rather rudely – and I told him that I would only take a few minutes and that the two of you can still have your meeting. The Minister of Magic will be here soon, but by then our business will be done."

Dumbledore's jaw nearly dropped. "Harry-"

Harry held up his hand. "Please, Headmaster, if I don't tell you this soon the Minister will arrive before I'm done talking. I just wanted to apologize for my timing earlier this week. I should not have yelled at you, nor listed our past arguments, immediately after coming back from the Dementor's. It was rude to do so."

"Harry, you were recovering from your time with the Dementor's. There is no need to worry about what you said to me that night. I understand what its like to see so many people after such a trying experience. I don't hold any of what you said against you."

"I'm afraid you misunderstand me, Headmaster. I meant everything I said that night. It just wasn't the proper place to talk about it. And although you can give me all of your justifications and clarifications and all sorts of other –ations, I don't think they will do much good. At this point I think that, as you are still my headmaster and the head of the order of the Phoenix, I will treat you with respect. I just came here for two reasons: To see if we can work together in this war, and to ask for a show of faith in this matter."

Dumbledore's eyes widened as Harry spoke, and he was practically speechless when the Boy-Who-Lived finished. After taking in what Harry said, he quickly replied. "I do believe that we can work together, my boy, but what do you mean by a show of faith. I don't see any reason for such a necessary precaution."

Harry crossed his legs and placed his right hand on his knee. "To state only one of many, many reasons, is that you rebuilt Godric's Hollow as Order Headquarters. The deed to that house is still under my name, so you illegally built a house on my land. That can be considered trespassing, vandalism, and theft of land. I just want temporary proof that you can be trusted. In return, I am about to give you some important information that cannot leave this room. If you wish for this discussion to continue then swear on your magic that you won't allow any of this conversation to be revealed, I will tell you what you need to know, then you will decide whether you will work with me or not."

Dumbledore never felt this confused before. This meeting was going by too fast. "Harry, please give me some time to think about this."

Harry tapped his knee with one finger before checking his watch. "I'm afraid I can't do that. The minister will arrive in five minutes, maybe less, so you will have to decide now."

Dumbledore grabbed a Lemon Drop and popped it into his mouth. "Fine, I swear by my magic never to tell another soul about the remainder of this meeting."

Dumbledore glowed slightly as the oath came into effect. Harry nodded and twirled his hand when Dumbledore felt a privacy ward fall into place immediately around the small group.

Harry crossed his hands in his lap. "While your oath says you can't tell others, it says nothing about your portraits. They'll just have to remain clueless.

"Now, while you know about me spending time with the Dementor's and their master, you do not know what happened. Well, their master has agreed to give me some training in fighting and magical theory. Unfortunately, he uses his Dementor's, in a way, to travel, so we need someplace private to train in order to avoid any mishaps among the students.

"As a show of Faith, I want you to give me complete control of the Room of requirement, including the power to control who can and cannot uncover the door, until I graduate. Be aware that if you do not agree, I will simply have to meet him somewhere else, like the Forbidden forest or the Shrieking shack – where there is little to no protection from attack – in order to train. In return, I will give you all the information about Voldemort's actions and whereabouts I receive from my sources. And trust me, Headmaster, my sources are very reliable."

"But Harry," Dumbledore blustered. "There is no way for me to promise something like that, even with my position as Headmaster."

Harry silently thanked Hermione's love of research. "I will have to disagree. It states in Hogwarts, a History that 'any Headmaster can magically ban any and/or all persons from a specific area of the castle, or relinquish full control of said area in the castle to another person, for as long as they are in office.' This was necessary in order to allow married couples to have completely private dorm rooms, but it applies just as much for my purposes. Now, will you work with me and give me a show of faith, or will we have to part ways here like you did with the ministry? You have," Harry checked his watch. "One minute."

Dumbledore weighed the positive and negative outcomes of this deal. Is the Dementor's master trustworthy? Can he be allowed so close to the students? Can I allow him near Harry? Dumbledore vaguely heard Harry say "30 seconds," before he made up his mind. "May I meet the Master of the Dementor's, in order to gauge whether it will be safe to have him so close to the students?"

Harry shrugged. "I will have to ask him, but I'm sure he will be willing to meet you."

Dumbledore slumped into his seat. "Then yes, I hereby give Harry Potter all control over access and use of the Room of Requirement until either his graduation, or my retirement as the Headmaster."

A soft wind passed through the air before it became deadly still. Harry smiled. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore." Harry removed the privacy wards and immediately heard a knocking on the door. "Now, that will be the Minister of Magic. I will leave you to your business now."

Dumbledore nodded wearily as Harry stood and walked calmly out of the Headmaster's office, past an imposing man with a large red beard, and towards his best friend and the last connection he had to his parents.

A/N: Any and all complaints can be discussed in my forums, or through a review.

P.S: This is un-Beta'd.