Chapter 9: Uncomfortable Revelations
After his talk with Professor Flitwick, it was as if all of the teachers had received notice to let him do his own thing. Ernie MacMillan in his Transfiguration class had the gall to even tell on him, and McGonagall completely ignored his hand, raised indignantly. Professor Snape, the exception, continued to be absolutely horrible. Susan Bones stayed his partner, but with Snape hanging over them, there was not much talking they could do. Weeks passed with the odd truce Harry had established.
The second week involved a flying lesson, Harry did enough to pass and left the Quidditch pitch the moment he was permitted to. Again, not a word was said. Gryffindor and Slytherin houses accepted Harry as a weird fixture in their groups when he appeared. It enabled Harry to relax, so he didn't question it. His roommates never warmed up to him, groups had all but solidified. Neville and Tracey had their own cliques to go back to. When they were busy, Harry was completely and totally alone.
September turned into October as such, feeling like the calm before a storm. Dumbledore never reached out to him in all this time, and Harry began to worry about the old man's plans for him as he sat for breakfast in the Great Hall. Tomorrow would be the first weekend in October, and Harry's Fridays consisted of nothing but double charms right before lunch. With Slytherins and Gryffindors having double Potions right after breakfast, Harry sat alone at the Ravenclaw table thinking about what plans he should make.
Hedwig dropped his Daily Prophet subscription, weekend edition, into his lap. As Harry laughed and fed Hedwig bacon, he looked down at the front page on his lap and his heart sunk.
"Boy-Who-Lived-Alone?"
He put the newspaper on the table next to his eggs and fed Hedwig a bit before sending her off. All around him the newspapers were being delivered, the owls arrived en masse. Before reading the paper, Harry looked around the room to gauge the reaction of the head table. Professor Snape appeared satisfied, not a good sign. Dumbledore kept a poker face. It made Harry wonder if alone referred to his stint at the Leaky Cauldron, or his social status at Hogwarts. If the later, this could be a ploy by Dumbledore to force Harry to accept a compromise on his living situation. Then again, this could be Dumbledore's enemies trying to highlight his mismanagement of the boy who lived.
Harry took a swig of cranberry juice like it was a shot of alcohol and opened the newspaper to read.
Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived, needs hardly any introduction to our readers. The baby who vanquished you-know-who, beloved and tragic son of Gryffindors Lily and James Potter, the wonder child with the lightning scar. It may be curious to our readers, why did we not immediately report his return to public life and his journey to Hogwarts? While it should have been a moment for wizard-kind to celebrate, the press at large was denied access to Mr. Potter by Hogwarts staff. The moment was lost, becoming a small announcement, we received no shortage of fiery letters about the brevity of our small mention.
But fear not, dear readers, for we would not deny you a moment that belongs to all the magical world! We took it upon ourselves to collect interviews and information to put the story together as if you were there! (see pg 6, The Sorting) Yet, in doing due justice to the story and momentous occasion, our reporters came across the unexpected. Harry Potter is not our hero clad in scarlet and gold! No! He has taken up the blue and bronze, Harry Potter is a Ravenclaw! Ravenclaw is a respectable house no doubt, his parents would be proud. (see pg 4, Potter Gryffindor Legacy) It does make one wonder how the boy-who-lived developed, and how he is adjusting to his life at Hogwarts.
For this, dear readers, I would suggest you let the children leave the room. 'Harry the Hero' fans will be especially incensed. Our child of the wizarding world, Harry Potter, was raised by his muggle Aunt and Uncle. This should raise eyebrows, but surprise nobody given who it was that placed him there. (see pg 5, The Mugglepolitics of Albus Dumbledore) What will surprise everyone is where he lived. In a cupboard under the stairs. A child, the most famous child in wizarding Britain, lived in a cupboard until a few months ago.
You read that correctly, a small cupboard under some stairs, in a house with an unused room. His treatment beyond that can only be guessed at.
"It's unconscionable. Dumbledore's muggle fixation has gone too far. Can he be trusted to take charge of our children at Hogwarts when he has failed his greatest charge so massively?" -Lucius Malfoy, member of the Hogwarts Board of Trustees.
Our reporters were unable to gain access to Harry's relatives, they remain under Dumbledore's protection. We at the Prophet urge Dumbledore to at least allow for investigation, even if he wishes to avoid the violence of a decade ago.
When asked for comment, Dumbledore responded thusly, "Harry belonged with his legal relatives, and it was not my place or intention to involve myself in what appeared a perfectly happy home after the tragedy at Godric's Hollow. I don't need to remind you of what happened to the Longbottom's some days after. My responsibility has always been with the children of schooling age. The second Harry came into my responsibility, I took the appropriate measures. Harry must be protected at all costs. In this spirit, I think it appropriate for the Ministry to grant me the powers to do what is right by him. Instead of leaving the child in the lurch out of spite towards me, and another guardian's failure. As for Harry's relatives, I will make a fact-finding visit myself during the winter holidays."
Readers might have been inclined to say, well of course Harry is a Ravenclaw. One would naturally assume children in cupboards do not develop into brave and bold adults. Harry's behavior at school tells a slightly different story.
"He hangs out at the Slytherin table and the Gryffindor table more than his own table. He's got his friends Tracey and Neville, but mostly keeps to himself. Neither house was nice to him at first either. But Harry has this defiant indifference to him. Nobody knows how to handle him, not even the teachers." -Sally-Anne Perkins of Hufflepuff
"I suppose he qualifies for Ravenclaw; he reads enough. I've never seen him study. Not once. He doesn't hang around the library. He doesn't raise his hand in class. He flips through a book, puts it down, and picks up another one. He's the best in our class, and he doesn't even care." -Terry Boot of Ravenclaw
"I like him alright. Bit of a stick in the mud sometimes. He hates it when we talk about Quidditch or ask him about being Harry Potter. Oh! I remember he rolls his eyes when we praise Dumbledore. Who doesn't like Dumbledore?" -Seamus Finnegan of Gryffindor
"It's obvious he doesn't share the pureblood view. If he doesn't like what we're talking about he usually just talks to Tracey. Harry and Tracey are so close, it's cute I'll admit. (See page 4, Famous Hogwarts Romances) We thought he'd be brainwashed by Dumbledore for sure. He told us openly he hates blood status, but most half-bloods would. I'll give him credit for not jumping down our throats like a Gryffindor would. He has even criticized muggles in front of us. I was shocked." -Pansy Parkinson of Slytherin
The remarks from a Professor at the school are by far the most revealing though, and lends credence towards Dumbledore's comments.
"Harry Potter is completely out of order. He desperately needs a firm hand to guide him. As it stands, there is no respect for authority. He is skating by on his mother's talents, but he will eventually find himself in more trouble than he can handle. His passive resistance may be cute at a young age, but in a few years, it becomes delinquency. He is right now experimenting with magic which is surely out of his league. If Dumbledore is not given more authority over the boy, it could turn to disaster." -Potion Master Severus Snape
Harry Potter's Ravenclaw placement may not be the quiet intelligence of a beaten down child, but a simmering rebellion in a child who rejects his parents, his guardians, and now even his own housemates.
Harry put down the paper. This was… not good. Where had they gotten the- Harry whipped his head towards Professor Snape. The man was smiling wickedly and raised his goblet at Harry.
Harry quickly stamped down his emotions. There were several possibilities, he didn't tell Snape about the extra room. Tracey knew, Neville knew, and Dumbledore might have known. But it was clear the old man hadn't visited Privet Drive, and wouldn't have brought this detail to the papers. Tracey and Neville approached him with worried looks on their faces. He put down the newspaper, and turned around in his seat to face their guilty expressions.
"Did either of you let slip any details about my home life? I never asked any of you to hide it, so don't feel bad if you did." He looked down his glasses that he let slip down his nose slightly.
"My grandmother."
"My parents."
They both answered at once and looked at the other one. Neville stepped forward.
"Harry, we've been talking. I know you're worried about being sent back to your Aunt and Uncle. Tracey and I wrote letters to try to convince— well I wanted to convince Gran to let you stay the summer. She said Dumbledore would take care of it, so I had to correct her on a few details."
Harry nodded and glanced at Tracey who was on the verge of tears.
"It was the same with my parents," she said.
"And did either of you put the detail about there being another room?" Harry asked.
Neville stared at the floor, but denied mentioning anything of the sort. Tracey shook her head.
Harry began to laugh; the whole of the Great Hall was staring at him now. "I have something to tell you two, come closer." They all leaned in. Harry whispered so only the three of them could hear, "Flitwick has found me a place, through the goblins. He has lost total faith in Dumbledore. I need you to keep up the inquiries with your families to keep it secret. Don't even tell each other, just in case you are overheard." They pulled back with smiles on their faces. "Now go to Potions!" Harry laughed exaggeratedly again. Dumbledore just made a huge mistake.
# # #
Harry waited outside Flitwick's previous Charms class to catch him before his double charms class started. The older children stared at him oddly as he pushed through them. As the previous class shuffled out, the short Professor shuffled some papers on his desk. He dropped the heavy stack on the desk with a thump when he saw Harry appear in front of him.
"Harry! What's wrong? Is it the paper? You've never shown up this early," he inquired carefully.
"I must apologize Professor. I have involved you in something without your consent."
"That's quite alright Harry! I told you I want to help," The professor squeaked, "What is it I am involved in?"
"I suspect Professor Snape is performing legilimency on my friends and leaking details of my personal life to the press at Dumbledore's behest. I would like to talk to the press myself, could you give me permission to leave the castle and make contact with them?"
"Harry, that is a very serious accusation. Do you have proof?" Flitwick became stern.
"Yes Professor. But it's circumstantial, as it would have to be. I only want to respond to the insinuations made in the paper today. I told you I don't trust Dumbledore Professor, and he's clearly making decisions without me. He prevented the press from talking to me, but not Professor Snape or him." Harry asserted angrily.
Professor Flitwick held up his hands in surrender. "I will accompany you this weekend to the Daily Prophet. If… you pay attention and participate in class today."
# # #
Harry's behavior in Charms was more distracting than it had been previously. The class had gotten so used to Harry tuning everything out, when he raised his hand the whole class stared wide-eyed.
Harry started to lecture, "The preceding wand movement is meant to mimic the effect produced. It's communication between the wand, the magic, and the wizard. The limitations of magic have more to do with the limitations of the wizard in question. But magical effects are quantified, strength is a function of effect. Technically there isn't a limit on magic power one person could wield, because magic isn't in amount, but an on or off switch. And yet we see some wizards and witches are more powerful, or able to wield greater effects. Some attribute it to a talent, some to the creativity, some to the will. There are different schools of thought, with some interchange between them."
Professor Flitwick massaged his temples. "Mr. Potter, I've changed my mind. Just participate in the practical and our agreement still stands."
The whole class was slack-jawed. Harry sheepishly put down his hand. He tried to be Hermione Granger; he really did. Harry grumbled while he cracked open one of his books, "I tried."
# # #
Tracey, Neville, and Harry met up at lunchtime in the Great Hall, where Neville was completely disheartened. They all sat at Ravenclaw table, Neville nursed his head, while Tracey tried to comfort him.
"Poor Neville getting a stress headache. Professor Snape went extra hard on him today."
Harry grimaced but said nothing.
"I tried! He was just standing over me the whole time! I got nervous and messed up the potion, you know how I get," Neville sobbed.
"It's my fault, Neville. He hates me, and he's taking it out on you," Harry patted Neville's back.
"He can only do it because I'm absolute rubbish at Potions," Neville groaned.
"You're a Herbology prodigy Neville. A lot of people would trade being rubbish at Potions to be good at something like you are with plants," Tracey patted Neville's arm.
Harry took Neville by the shoulders and looked into his eyes while shaking him. "I will personally get you through your OWLS on every subject Neville. You focus on learning and at least passing everything."
# # #
After a time of cheering up Neville, the trio took their conversation to the grounds and exploring around the Black Lake which was just barely contained within Hogwarts grounds. Tracey taught Harry how to skip stones, and Neville found a few bits of plant life which were of interest to him along the shore.
"Want to visit Hagrid?" Harry asked while completely flubbing a throw.
"I have History of Magic just before dinner. I think I'm going to head back, tell Hagrid I said hello," Neville said as he departed.
"Hagrid?" Harry suggested to Tracey, "he might even have food for us." Harry neglected to mention Hagrid's rock cakes.
# # #
Hagrid's consisted of a hut located on the grounds just outside the Forbidden Forest. There was smoke coming from the chimney, but it was otherwise ramshackle in the way only magicals could accomplish. The hut wasn't exactly large considering Hagrid's size. Before Harry could even knock, the low and intense bark of a large dog alerted Hagrid to their presence.
Hagrid opened the door before Harry's knuckle reached the door.
"Who's this? Harry! What ye doin here? You're a welcome sight, friend with you?" Hagrid beamed. He berated his massive dog which looked ready to pounce on the both of them, "Sit down ye lug!" The dog whined and nestled itself back to what must have been his usual spot. "Come sit down!" Hagrid insisted as he moved from in front of the door.
Harry looked inside. It had a bed, a few stools, a large plush chair, and a massive fireplace where a dark iron kettle was set. There were various hangings of fur and meat from the ceiling, and very little in the way of windows.
"I'm sorry I'm visiting on such short notice. Wanted to see you Hagrid, I've got a large amount of time to kill with my friend Tracey Davis. Neville sends his regards," Harry apologized.
"How're ye now Tracey? Proly member me from the boats, I know I'm hard teh forget." Hagrid and Tracey chuckled.
"Good. Pleased to make your acquaintance Hagrid."
Hagrid let them in and insisted they stay for dinner, which Harry declined. He desired neither whatever dinner Hagrid might provide, or to stay the multiple hours required for them to miss dinner in the Great Hall. Hagrid did make them both a nice cup of tea with his kettle, Harry warned Tracey with his eyes about the cakes. She took the hint and only pretended to nibble on it with her tea as they sat on the stools.
"Tough business about the paper n all that Harry," Hagrid remarked, "I trust Dumbledore has yer best interest in mind."
Tracey scowled, while Harry put out an arm so she didn't say something she might regret to the credulous man.
"Hagrid, Dumbledore and I are on the outs," said Harry, sipping his tea.
"Yer not! I knew there was bad blood tween you, but I thought ye solved it… He is a good man Harry. I don't know what's set ye off, but there's bigger fish tah fry. That Lucius Malfoy is one to look out fer."
"It's not his motivations Hagrid. He's hiding pertinent things from me and ignoring those larger problems. He gave Lucius Malfoy a win so he could have a pretext to 'do what's right by me' Hagrid." Harry paused. "Do you perchance know what the object hidden on the 3rd-floor corridor is?"
"I don know what he's hiding from ye, but the thing on that floor is none of yer business Harry. Don't go chasing it now, got me dog Fluffy there guarding," Hagrid warned.
"How do you know if it's Harry's business Hagrid?" Tracey complained.
"Maybe I don't know everythin, but it's between Dumbledore and Flamel."
Harry searched his memory banks, and smiled. It could only be one thing. The chocolate frog cards Neville got on the train, one of them mentioned Flamel. But why that object? Not exactly useful for a terrorist faction to use against Dumbledore.
"Tracey, don't worry about it. I expect Dumbledore to hide things, but Hagrid would tell me if I was involved and how."
Hagrid shuffled with a guilty expression. "Well see Harry, it don't involve you directly. But… Ye see, when You-Know-Who vanished that night, Dumbledore weren't sure he was truly gone. May be he's still out there. I never told ya, cuz we were keeping it happy an you knew the story. But it's possible he's out there, weak but plottin, bidin his time. An he might have an interest in the thing in the corridor. It's mighty protected though. No safer place than Hogwarts and under Dumbledore's nose."
Harry felt icy shards in his stomach. Voldemort wasn't dead, it put all of the pieces together. Dumbledore was preparing for another war, and he wanted Harry to have some involvement. Whatever had happened the first time—was he truly special in some way? A Philosopher's Stone would restore whatever Harry had done to Voldemort as a baby.
Then again, there was always a dark ritual to restore the Dark Lord if need be. Magic was infinite, and Voldemort appeared to have all the time in the world. Meanwhile, Dumbledore was getting older…
It had to be a trap! Dumbledore wanted to draw Voldemort out from the shadows! A Headmaster would never use his own school otherwise. The longer Voldemort waited; the weaker Dumbledore got. Voldemort, from Harry's readings, would not wait Dumbledore out. He was prideful and arrogant, often going out of his way to personally kill aurors who challenged him or embarrassed his forces. Putting a series of traps for a weakened Voldemort was brilliant. How could Voldemort resist? Especially with Harry Potter at Hogwarts… Two targets at once.
Tracey must have noticed the panicked gleam in his eyes. "He's not Harry. It's been a decade. Some people are just really scared. We can't even say his name- Harry? Harry!"
Harry stood up and opened the door to the hut. "Hagrid, I want to get to dinner. Neville might worry about us." Harry did his best to silently communicate to Tracey, but the weight of his new information was still hitting him. He was almost through the entryway when he realized Hagrid could take this the wrong way. "Hagrid, I will visit another time before winter break." He motioned for Tracey to come with him and brooked no argument. "We've got to go Tracey, NOW."