Chapter 10. Aftermath
Harry was sitting in his dorm room, shaking slightly. His eyes were unfocused, but his mind was racing. There was only one subject, or rather, person on his mind – Dumbledore. The man was a master manipulator, and was far more dangerous than Snape. Potions master fashioned himself the king of Slytherin house, while group leaders were supposed to be some sort of high council that was supposed to keep students under control for him. That was a good example of manipulation, but it was only a matter of time when Harry's plans completely destroy it. Three of four groups were already at war and Snape's control over the house was crumbling.
Dumbledore was far more dangerous. He projected an image of a kind grandfather that gets him on the good side of students from every house but Slytherin. And how naïve it was of Harry to think that his house would be excluded from the old man's manipulation! If Severus bloody Snape was reporting to the old man, what type of independence can there be? Dumbledore held the entire school in his hands. The most frightening was just how far Dumbledore's strings went. He had been headmaster of Hogwarts for decades, at least half a century, and when Harry tried to imagine exactly how many children passed through his meddling hands… All of them were adults now, with many thinking of him as a kind grandfather with no ulterior motives.
On another, more personal note, Harry would bet that Dumbledore was on good terms with the Potters. Maybe he was even their unofficial third grandfather. Lily and James probably felt indebted to the man because he agreed to train their son, and the man did have unhealthy interest in Eric, seeing how he was ready to endanger the whole school to test the boy-who-lived.
That was actually quite confusing. What the hell for was Dumbledore testing Eric for? What are the old man's plans for the boy-who-lived in the long run? Was Dumbledore planning something for Harry as well? Shiver run down Harry's spine.
"Get yourself together!" Harry mentally barked at himself. "Stop shaking like a frightened idiot."
A couple of calming breaths later, Harry stopped shaking and was able to take his emotions back under control. He stood from his bed and went to sit behind the desk, a piece of parchment and a quill already there. Harry took the quill and started writing down his problem.
"So, my greatest problem – Dumbledore." Harry wrote on top. "Why he is a problem – manipulation. He holds everything under his control." He wrote below.
"What do I want? Independence." Harry wrote below the problem description. "How do I begin? Relatives? Under my control." he continued writing:
School
Slytherin House – a good start. Must take control as soon as possible.
Problems with this:
Snape, other groups. Basilisks – Dawson is too good a leader, but according to Daphnie he is the only one in the whole group.
Solution: both problems are being neutralized by war. Next year all of the first-years will join the Crown. The war will continue until all the groups are ideologically exhausted. Next year there will be no Dawson, and no established leaders at all, which will leave all groups vulnerable. Must do something to ensure more chaos, so that all groups are too occupied to deal with first-years.
Tip: While groups are at war, many of younger students will tire very fast – possible recruits and spies.
Problem: What to do with Snape? He only left the Crown alone because there are just three members in our group. When we assimilate all of the first-years, he will take notice of us and try to enforce his rules upon the Crown. He has Dumbledore's backing, so attacking him head on is not an option.
Solution: if Slytherin students obey one first and Snape second, then he has no power. Might work, but his attention must be diverted. War is good, but it would be best if diversion will take his attention from Slytherins altogether.
What then?
Striving to better reputation of Slytherin house in the school. Dumbledore cannot do anything about it directly. Though his reaction is actually unpredictable.
Adapting Dumbledore's tactics – influencing students into believing me to be like Dumbledore: nice, though ruthless, always right and always striving to make people's lives better. That would make a good platform in Wizengamot and in the wizarding world in general.
"Well, that's that." Harry sighed. Somehow plotting calmed him down, erased the last traces of panic. He stood up and noticed that the sky was already blue and sun was already rising. 'Ah, might as well do some Occlumency until breakfast, seeing how I won't be able to fall asleep.' Harry put his list into one of the compartments inside his trunk, hiding it under clothes.
xxx
"You look horrible." Theo said bluntly after one look at Harry. And then he continued to eat his porridge.
"Thanks for cheering me up, Theo." Harry replied dryly. He sighed and put some fried eggs and a strip of bacon on his plate.
"So how did it go, Harry?" Blaise asked.
"Good." Harry replied absently. "But I am not about to tell anything here."
"By the way, Harry, you might be interested, we've won the house cup." Theo said nonchalantly.
"Do I look like I care?" Harry asked not even looking up from his breakfast.
"Told you." Blaise shot Theo a triumphant smirk. The other just rolled his eyes.
"Oh well, at least Snape is looking delighted." Theo replied, looking at the head table.
Harry also looked at the teachers, but he couldn't care less about Snape, the man was inconsequential for now. He looked at Dumbledore. The grand puppet master was looking as calm as ever, but if one was to look closely, they would notice that headmaster wasn't engaged in a cheerful conversation with one of the teachers like he usually was. The man was eating calmly and silently with a contemplative look on his face. Harry absently noticed that McGonagall was looking sour, but his interest in her was more or less inexistent.
"Dumbledore is worried." Harry whispered to Theo and Blaise. "Look at him. He isn't talking to anybody."
"And?" Blaise asked.
"Dumbledore is always talking to somebody." Theo said.
"He needs to uphold his kind-but-eccentric-grandfather facade." Harry nodded. "We will actually have to talk about something, but not here." Both boys nodded at that.
xxx
Later that day Harry, Theo and Blaise were standing in the seventh floor corridor, near some tapestry none of them bothered to even look at. Harry addressed his friends.
"Look out for trespassers." He said. His friends nodded.
Harry looked at the wall and concentrated. 'I need a place to speak securely.' He thought. He walked the corridor three times and finally a door appeared.
"Theo, Blaise, come." He called his friends. The three entered the new room.
Inside was a circular room with a couch, armchairs, a small coffee table and a fireplace. The whole interior, including the furniture, was in Slytherin colors: green, some silver, and lots of black. Against the walls stood bookcases filled with different books. Once all three were seated and the door disappeared, Harry started to speak.
"You know that I have recently befriended a couple of house elves." Harry said. Both Theo and Blaise nodded. "Well, they told me about this room when I said that I needed more space to practice than an empty classroom could provide. This is the Room of Requirement. Whatever you wish, will appear here, but you can't take anything from here, hence the reason why wishing for food is pointless. Though you can eat here, if the food is not produced by the room."
"Cool." Theo said. He was about to ask something, but Harry cut him off.
"No, we can't set up our headquarters here." Harry shook his head. Theo was looking disappointed, as did Blaise. "There are others who know about this room. We don't need them interrupting us during meetings. It has to be an unused classroom, warded against anything."
"And that is so easy to do…" Thao said sarcastically.
"Yes." Harry nodded. "That's why I want both of you look into wards." Theo and Blaise nodded. "Anyway, that's not the reason I brought you here." Harry sighed and retold them what happened in the room with the strange mirror.
"Well, I knew that Dumbledore was manipulative…" Theo said, "But to pull such a stunt on his golden boy. What the hell was he testing Eric for?"
"Not magical power or intellect." Blaise snorted. "Or that prat would never have passed."
"No…" Harry shook his head, thinking. "It is Dumbledore, he would just observe if he wants to test someone for this qualities. No, he orchestrated different situations and I can bet that he knew that Voldemort was in school…"
"Every chamber had something in common…" Theo mused. "The person trying to step into every chamber was supposed to be brave and foolish."
"Yes, from what little we know now about Dumbledore, he would test something the person only showed in stress situations. But what? Bravery? Sounds too primitive to me. The test was too elaborate for that."
"Maybe mentality?" Blaise suggested.
"Hmm." Harry mused. "Maybe, but one's mentality can be observed passively. Though as they say, you can't quite get to know a person until you understand how he acts when he is alone and when he is in danger. But I think that was just a part of the test."
"What if he wasn't testing just Eric himself?" Theo asked.
"What do you mean?" Blaise asked.
"What if he was testing Granger and Weasel as well?" Theo suggested. "He is always going on about the value of friendship and so on…"
"Maybe." Harry said. Then he perked up. "Of course, he was testing their group. He wanted to see how Eric would act when faced with challenges he could not face. The chess set was for Weasley, and Snape's riddle was for Granger to figure out, since Eric would be hopeless in both cases. The plants were for Granger as well."
"It was actually Devil's Snare." Blaise supplied. He earned two raised eyebrows from Harry and Theo. "What, I like Herbology… somewhat." He shrugged. Theo and Harry just nodded.
"And Fluffy?" Theo asked. "What was Dumbledore testing there?"
"The Dunderheads' persistence and determination to find the truth." Harry replied. "And the keys… well, I think the keys were for both Granger and Weasel, to feel like Eric had also contributed something… Really, I am at a loss. Perhaps… perhaps it was to include all heads of houses. Dumbledore had to explain his choice of traps somehow. Anyway, the final chamber is something confusing." Harry mumbled the last part. "I don't know what was so special about the mirror, but I am positive that the stone was hidden there. Voldemort-possessed Quirrell couldn't get it from the mirror without Eric. Eric just looked inside, and the next moment it was in his pocket."
"Dumbledore wanted Eric to confront Voldemort?" Theo asked incredulously.
"My thoughts exactly." Harry nodded.
"Wait." Baise said. "Care to explain?"
"Quirrell couldn't steal the stone no matter what he did. However, Eric comes and receives the stone after a couple of seconds. Considering that Dumbledore most likely knew that Eric and his dunderhead friends would come after Voldemort, and that Voldemort would never be able to get the stone alone, so he would wait for Eric regardless… I'd say it was a foolproof plan. Voldemort would never be able to get his hands on the stone unless Eric had it. That would lead to an inevitable confrontation." Harry sighed. "And Dumbldore wanted to see how Eric would behave around Voldemort. Apparently the way Eric did – I mean fighting the Dark Lord – was to the old man's satisfaction."
"Wow." Blaise breathed. "He really has a talent for manipulation. Maybe more so than you, Harry."
"He has more experience, that's for sure." Harry nodded. "And that is critical in this subtle art. The point is – we must be careful. Extremely careful, we cannot allow Dumbledore to take interest in us until it is too late."
"Don't you think he could have already taken interest in us?" Blaise asked.
"He could," Harry mused, "but most decided that our actions are inconsequential for his plans. Anyway, even if he did notice our group, we are a complete unknown to him, he would most likely bide his time and observe our actions."
Harry stood up. "Alright, we must be seen, otherwise someone might notice our absence. We don't need that." Both of his friends nodded at that.
xxx
Harry, Theo and Blaise were in the library. Harry was reading another book on charms that Flitwick recommended him to read over the summer; Theo was studying a book on alchemy, sometimes looking into a dictionary or potions encyclopedia; Blaise was looking through a book on dark spells he got from home. It was under glamour, of course, and looked like a book on Herbology. Suddenly there were footsteps near the trio's table. Harry and Blaise instantly snapped their books shut and looked up. It was professor McGonagall, who raised an eyebrow at the reaction.
"Sorry, Professor." Harry smiled sheepishly.
"Not offence taken, Potter." She replied, schooling her face into its usual stern expression. Now, however, it had traces of softness in it. "The Headmaster would like to see you. I will walk you to his office, since I too would like to speak with you." Harry just nodded, packed his things, and followed the professor.
"I will see you guys later," he told Theo and Blaise.
xxx
"Lemon drop." McGonagall said as she and Harry reached a gargoyle on the seventh floor. The gargoyle jumped to the side, revealing the staircase that moved upwards. Harry raised an eyebrow at McGonagall. "Don't ask me, Potter, the Headmaster is the one who set up this password." Harry just nodded.
When the pair reached the top of the stairs, they were faced with a door. Harry felt a pulse of magic wash over him. 'Must be the wards.' He thought. Before McGonagall could even knock, they heard Dumbledore's voice.
"Come in, Minerva, Mr. Potter." The voice said. This seemed to be usual for McGonagall, as she didn't even bat an eyelash and instead opened the door, letting herself in and waiting for Harry who, after clearing his thoughts, also entered. The door closed behind them. "Lemon drop?" Dumbledore asked. McGonagall politely declined.
Clearing his thoughts proved to be a very wise decision, as the next thing Harry saw could have easily taken him aback. There was not only Dumbledore, but the rest of the Potters and, surprisingly, Snape. Harry, however, managed to keep a straight face, not looking Dumbledore in the eyes. Even the distraction with lemon drops, that was supposed to confuse everybody and momentarily make their Occlumency barriers falter, while the guest was wondering about Headmaster's sanity and staring right into his eyes, couldn't do anything to Harry. Though he did idly notic that Dumbledore liked sweets and made them the passwords to his office.
"Headmaster, you wanted to see me." Harry said calmly. In reality, he wasn't nearly as calm as he looked, he was afraid of Dumbledore and what the man might have cooked up together with the Potters.
"Yes, Harry." Dumbledore smiled. He couldn't read the boy's thoughts, even surface thoughts, without eye contact, and this student was as persistent in avoiding it as Severus had described earlier. At least he could read the boy's surface emotions. He felt the boy's fear and was actually taken aback. What could cause such fear? Dumbledore knew well enough, that Harry Potter wasn't really afraid of many people. Severus and the Potters definitely did not belong to this group. Was he, Dumbledore, the cause of such fear? The child turned out to be more clever than he first thought. Dumbledore smiled internally. Even Tom took at least three years to figure out who was the real big fish at Hogwarts. "You see, it has come to my attention that you still live with Lily's muggle sister and her family." Dumbledore felt resentment in the boy spike at that. "Lily and James here would like to take you away from them. However, they still want to protect Petunia's family." There he felt fury slowly rising within the boy. Dumbledore decided to ponder on this later. "Do you know anything about blood wards, my boy?"
Dumbledore felt fear returning as primary emotion, but Harry's demeanor was that of a very calm person. He could almost applaud the boy's acting skills. Then he noticed the look of contemplation that crossed the boy's face.
"They work only for the blood kin," Harry replied finally, "and provide those within them some protection from outside threats. If powered with good emptions and magic in the blood regularly they could become one of the most potent forms of protection." He paused for a minute. "That, and as a piece of blood magic, they are looked down upon as very dark arts." Harry took satisfaction in seeing the Potters flinch. Dumbledore, though, appeared not moved at the least.
Inside, Dumbledore felt rather pleased. Harry Potter's knowledge was extensive. He was a talented young wizard. But the resentment he felt when the boy spoke about the blood kin and protection was rather surprising. Though remembering Severus's words about the boy's home life… He had to think about it sometime later. The satisfaction when Harry talked about blood magic being dark arts and seeing Potters flinch spoke volumes about how the boy felt about family… if he even called them that. 'Maybe I should have argued more about not letting him live with muggles…' Dumbledore thought.
"Yes, Harry, that is a very accurate description." Dumbledore nodded. "You see, your parents asked me to set up blood wards around Petunia's house. These wards have been protecting you and them for eleven years. If you were to never appear there again, the wards would fall. Lily and James do not want that. That's why you will have to live there at least one month a year. That is enough to charge the wards to work another year. After this month your parents will pick you up."
'Peculiar.' Dumbledore thought. 'I don't feel anything but indifference from him.'
"Yes, Headmaster." Harry responded. "Is there something else?"
Lily and James looked like they wanted to say something, but thought better of it. Lily was watching her son with watering eyes. She wrote so many letters to Harry, and he did not reply to even one of them. James was watching his elder son stand there in front of Dumbledore, not even batting an eyelash their way. Harry just stood there, interacting with the headmaster, like there was no one around. It was actually the first time that James noticed that green looked good on Harry and that he certainly wasn't trying anything, more like Harry had resigned himself to his fate. Yes, James could already predict that the upcoming August would not be pleasant in the Potter manor, but he had to make it up to Harry, to at least come to some sort of understanding.
"No, Harry. There isn't, you are free to go." Dumbledore said.
"Very well, sir." Harry nodded. "Have a good day." He turned to McGonagall. "You wanted to talk to me, Professor?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter, come along." McGonagall motioned for him to follow as she left the office.
xxx
"Mr. Potter, sit down." McGonagall said as she sat behind her desk in her office. Harry did and looked at the professor expectantly.
"Mr. Potter, do you remember what Professor Flitwick and I proposed to you during Christmas?" She asked.
"Yes, Professor." Harry nodded.
"Well, I have been waiting for the exams to make any sort of real proposition to you." She said. Harry just looked at her impassively. "I looked through your theoretical exams and well, we have both been present for the practical part. First of all, you have an O in Transfiguration. But that was to be expected. Mr. Potter, I would like to know if you would like me to give you private lessons."
"I would be very grateful, Professor." Harry replied. McGonagall smiled.
"Very well. If you could tell me what the most complicated spell you know is?" she asked.
"The vanishing spell, Professor." Harry replied. McGonagall's eyes widened ever so slightly.
"Could you demonstrate it?" she asked. "Understand, Mr. Potter, that it is very hard to believe. This is OWL material after all."
"Yes, Professor." Harry took out his wand. McGonagall waved her wand over the table and a simple matchstick appeared on the table. "Thank you, professor." Harry smiled slightly. "Evanesco." He said, pointing his wand at the matchstick. It immediately vanished.
"Well done, Mr. Potter." McGonagall smiled. "What is the most complicated structure you have ever vanished?"
"A letter, Professor." Harry replied. McGonagall nodded, having spoken enough times to Lily to guess whose letters were vanished.
"Very well, Mr. Potter." McGonagall nodded. "I would like you to read the following books during the summer. We will start our lessons next September." She gave Harry a list of books. It was extensive. Harry just nodded. "Well, off you go, , you don't want to miss the feast, do you?"
"Thank you, Professor." Harry smiled as he left McGonagall's office.
xxx
"So, what was it?" Theo asked when Harry joined the Slytherin table in the great hall just before the leaving feast started.
"Living bloody arrangements." Harry grumbled. "Potters want me to live with them for an entire month." He hissed.
"I take it you're not thrilled by the idea." Blaise asked.
"Of course not." Harry said, calming down. "I have absolute freedom where I am living now. I won't have it with the Potters." He sighed. "No matter, it just makes my schedule for July tighter." That was when Harry noticed green banners everywhere. "Hm, the hall looks nice in green." He idly remarked.
"Yes, Snape definitely agrees with you." Theo said with a laugh. Harry looked at the staff table, where Snape was smirking smugly.
At the end of the feast, Dumbledore stood up. Everyone quieted down and looked at him. The Slytherins, most of them anyway, were looking smug, while the rest of the school looked resigned.
"It is time to count points and declare winners!" Dumbledore said jovially. "In the fourth place is Gryffindor, with 312 points." Gryffindor table cheered weakly. "In third place comes Hufflepuff with, 396 points." Students in yellow and black cheered much more lively that Gryffindors. "In second place is Ravenclaw, with 402 points." Ravenclaws clapped. "And finally, with 462 points comes the winner – Slytherin!" The table in green cheered madly. Harry was actually surprised. For people who claimed to be elite, these people actually behaved like a babbling bumbling bunch of baboons.
"Yes, well done, Slytherin!" Dumbledore said. Harry sensed a "but", and he sensed right. "However," Slytherin tensed, but other students looked hopeful, "some last minute points are in order due of recent events concerning Philosopher's Stone."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Here goes." He muttered.
"To Ms. Hermione Granger, for knowledge and level-headedness in face of danger, I award fifty points!" The Gryffindors cheered enthusiastically. "To Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best game of chess ever played in Hogwarts, I award Gryffindor fifty points." Another round of cheers. Harry already knew where this was going and, frankly, he didn't care, the house cup had never been one of his priorities, though awarding Weasley points for something intellectual – that was pretty repulsive. "To Mr. Eric Potter, for outstanding bravery in face of danger, I award sixty points." The Gryffindors cheered like mad.
"They are even with us." Theo said with a bit of resentment.
"Just you wait, he is not over." Harry said, looking at Dumbledore.
"It is brave to stand up against your enemy, but one must be even braver to stand up against their friends. To Mr. Neville Longbottom, for this very reason, I award ten points." Dumbledore smiled as faces of most Slytherins' fell. "If my calculations are correct, it is time to change banners!" The Headmaster clapped his hands and all green banners with silver serpents were replaced by red with golden lion. Gryffindor table was basically jumping up and down in joy. Harry looked at them with disdain. The rest of the evening he had to tolerate grumbling Slytherins, who were whining like a bunch of small children who lost their favorite toy.
xxx
The train ride next day was uneventful. Harry, Theo, and Blaise made plans for the summer and shared them. Theo and his parents planned to go on vacation to France, while Blaise was going straight to Italy from Platform 9¾. Very soon the train reached its destination and the three friends bid farewell to each other,
When Harry left the train he was surprised to find the elder Potters and Eric waiting for him. They looked like they wanted something from him, so he rolled his eyes and approached the group.
"Hello, Harry." Lily said softly. Harry just nodded in return. "We are actually here to tell you, that we will pick you up a day before your birthday from your aunt's home."
"Very well." Harry nodded, his face impassive. "Good day."
With these final words Harry left the platform and entered King's Cross where the Dursleys were already waiting for him. He regarded them with cool gaze.
"Well, come on, boy, we don't have all day." Vernon hissed angrily.
"Shut your mouth, pig." Harry said as he and the Dursleys started walking. "Or I will slice you into pieces."
As Vernon paled dramatically, Harry smirked. "Don't worry, I will leave you on July 30th. Now go, I have better things to do than spend time in your rotten company."
xxx
In his office Albus Dumbledore was sitting alone. Even his familiar was away on a mission. This year was certainly eventful. He encountered not one, but two very interesting boys. Eric and Harry Potter.
Eric Potter was pretty much like his father. He was talented in some areas, moderately powerful, maybe later he would grow up to be above average in terms of raw power. Dumbledore knew this kind of boys. He knew that Eric would grow out of his arrogance, after all, James did. The boy-who-lived was progressing nicely, tests were passed, now Dumbledore was more or less sure that Eric had a suitable personality to be a hero. Just what Dumbledore and the entire wizaring world needs.
Harry Potter. Dumbledore sighed. The boy was talented, very talented if Minerva's reports and her decision to give him private lessons were any indication. Harry Potter was also powerful. Very powerful. Eric could be above average, but he had no hope of ever joining Dumbledore's and Voldemort's league – grand warlocks' (1) league. Harry, however, could do so and even go further. Power, however, was not the most important trait of the boy, he did not flaunt his power – no, Harry Potter was very cunning. Dumbledore sighed again and opened one of the drawers of his table. He withdrew a small leather-bound diary with and elegant sliver symbol on the cover from the drawer. It was a triangle with a circle inside and a line, dividing the triangle in two. Harry Potter didn't remind Dumbledore of young Tom Riddle, no, this boy reminded Dumbledore of another young boy, who was very talented, powerful, ambitious and angry with his family.
"Do I help him?" Dumbledore thought. "Or do I watch him?"
AN: I would like to thank VocalAurora for beta-reading this chapter.
And that's it. The first year is over. I will not be rplying to every review individually here, I hope you will understand. I recieved a lot of criticism over chapter 9 and the entire fanfic in general. These reviews were in many ways right. There were many points in this story where the fic could be improved and I will endeavor to do just that. THat doesn't mean, however, that I will post a rewrite. Firstly, I hate when writers go rewrite on their readers'... asses. Secondly, I will not change the plot as a whole, only some details, some of them major some minor. Thank you all for your reviews - they are all appreciated.
P.S. After some thnking I decided to reply to one review.
Aetemus: If you think the reasons for abandoning Harry were crappy at best, then you are correct. I will not write anything else, becuase otherwise this short reply will turn into a long spoiler.
