Chapter eight

Harry didn't bother speaking to Filch, just followed him into the castle and straight to McGonagall's office, where she was waiting.

'Good morning Professor.'

'Good morning Mr Potter, here is your class schedules.'

Harry looked down, 'I won't be staying if you can't even allow me to pick my own classes. I did send you my selection, and you stuck me in classes I don't want or need. So if you will get Filch to open the gates I will return home and work on going overseas to study.'

'The headmaster picked your classes, he is your guardian.'

'No he is not, if he told you that then he lied,' Harry took a piece of legal paper from his pocket, 'My lawyer worked this out for me, so you see, since I am legal for myself, I get to say which classes I take and which ones I don't. I also have my permission form for Hogsmeade.'

'Why would you have yourself emancipated at the age of thirteen?'

'My lawyer is taking my aunt and uncle to court for child neglect. Since I am heir to one of the oldest houses, I was informed I could take control of my own life. I do have an adult down that I can speak to for guidance and support, but I don't need permission from this person. So are you going to call Filch or will you change my schedule to the classes I wished to take?'

Minerva had no idea what was going on, she didn't understand why Albus had picked divination and muggle studies for Harry Potter when those classes would do him no good. Now she finds out he lied to her. She quickly changed Harry's schedule, handing him the new one.

'Thank you Professor, I best get to Gryffindor tower and unpack before breakfast. Oh, I decided to get new brooms for the Gryffindor team. I bought myself the latest Firebolt, but the team all have the latest Nimbus, the Nimbus Streak, they will be delivered on the Friday.'

'That is very generous of you Mr Potter, let's hope the team puts them to good use.'

'I'm sure they will.'

Harry headed up to the tower, one of the elves had already taken his trunk up. He stepped into the dorm room to see the other boys only just getting out of bed.

'Hey, I'm back.'

'Keep it down,' Ron groaned.

'Hey Harry,' Neville smiled.

'Hi.'

Ron slowly pulled himself out of bed, 'So, do we get to know why you are two weeks late?'

'I hired a lawyer, he worked on my emancipation, which was granted instantly. He's also working on taking the Dursley's to court for child neglect and theft. They took the money to look after me and spent it on their fat son.'

'So you're classed as an adult now, cool,' Seamus said.

'Yeah, the trace was lifted. Oh Ron, I worked something out but your father was asked not to say anything until today, he told your mum, but no one else. You see, since I am only thirteen they want an adult that I can go to if I need it, not for legal things or permission, but like advice, I put your dad down. He was great to me when I stayed at your place, and I figured since he has six sons then he would be good to speak to if I need it.'

'Wow, emancipated and my dad will give you the talk.'

All the boys laughed, 'No, already had that with someone else. Anyway, get dressed, I'm hungry.'

Harry and Ron followed the other three boys down through the castle, 'I didn't see Hermione.'

'On the train she was going to notify the teachers you weren't there, I told her not to that it wasn't anyone's business and you wouldn't like her running to the teachers. Well, I stepped into the castle and Dumbledore instantly asked me where you were.'

'That's it, I'm done with her, she can't be trusted.'

'I already said that to her so she knows we're not happy with her,' Ron said just as they stepped into the great hall.

'Give me a minute, but dish me up some food, I need a word with two girls, be right back.'

Harry hurried over to the Slytherin table, 'Miss Greengrass, Miss Greengrass, could I speak with both of you for a moment?'

'Of course Mr Potter,' Daphne and Astoria followed Harry to the corner. The rest of the Slytherin's were glaring, so was Snape who wanted to put a stop to Potter talking to two members of his house.

'I wanted to thank you, your father told me about the statements. I knew you wouldn't like me to say anything in front of the other Slytherin's, so thanks.'

'You're welcome, dad couldn't tell us a lot, but he did explain a few things. Are you okay now?'

'Yeah, I'm good, your dad is brilliant, I really like him and knows what he's doing. I told him why I picked him to be my lawyer, how you two were two students who didn't think I'm dark or after attention. I figured since you actually spoke to me before then your dad must be okay.'

'Not all Slytherin's are like the gits Malfoy, Flint and Zabini,' Astoria said.

'No, I saw that myself. Well, I should let you get back to your breakfast, thank you again, oh and it's Harry.'

'Then you can call me Daphne.'

'And I'm tori.'

'It's nice to meet both off you officially, Daphne,' Harry smiled, 'Tori,' he shook the girls hands then smiled again before heading back to Gryffindor table.

'You were talking to Slytherin's,' Ron gapped.

'Their father is my lawyer, he's not dark, he never joined Voldemort and doesn't like people like Malfoy. He's a good bloke and the Greengrass girls were actually nice to me last year when half the school thought I was dark. They are also helping with another problem that their dad is working on for me, well, for a lot of people, but I started it. I can't go into it right now, but you'll hear soon enough.'

'I know I normally believe all Slytherin's are dark, but I have noticed that the blond in our potions class never says anything to us, just does her work.'

'Daphne, but yeah, she actually glared at Snape once when he kept putting down my dad. I don't think she likes him very much.'

'Dumbledore doesn't look happy Harry, he keeps staring at you,' Neville said.

'I bet is he, but he can't tell me I have to return to the Dursley's anymore, anyway, he lied about those wards.'

'What?!, Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean blurted out.

'It's true, when I told Mr Greengrass about them and how they were based on love from my mother and it joins with her blood, he said since they didn't love me they wouldn't work. He went and checked and had an unspeakable check to make sure, there were no wards at all around that house.'

'You mean all this time you weren't protected from all the death eaters that got away?' Neville asked.

'Yep, we have no idea why he put me there or why he lied, but I never have to return, thank merlin for that. Oh and when I went to see McGonagall, Dumbledore had told her he was my guardian and picked my classes. I sent her what classes I wanted, he changed them. I threatened to leave then showed her I was emancipated, she changed my schedule. She realised I was responsible for myself, she also knows about the muggles.'

'Harry, where were you?'

Harry turned giving Hermione a cold look, 'Never speak to me again Granger or I might just hex your teeth bigger,' Harry glared then turned back to the boy's, 'So it's all good now, except I will have to go to court, to give evidence.'

'That will be a bit scary,' Dean said.

'Yeah, but my lawyer and one of his associates will be there with me and since it's done in our courts they get to show memories of the mistreatment. I'm hoping they end up in jail, my lawyer believes they will do some time and Dudley will end up in a juvenile centre for criminal boys.'

Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus laughed making Harry laugh, 'So he's finally going to get his, good one mate.'

Harry grinned then finished his breakfast. He walked with the boys to his first class which was transfiguration. They were going to be learning how to turn an animal like a rabbit into a side table. Harry had no idea why they had to learn this, it was not like it would help, not really. But he figured it might lead to how to transfigure other items that might be useful.

The week went on like normal except Hermione tried to talk to Harry when he was in the library. He had to complain to Madam Pince that he couldn't do his work because Hermione refused to be quiet. It was the first time ever, but she was told to leave the library and if she disturbed another student she would end up banned from the library. Harry hoped she was, it was a quiet place to study.

He got owls every few days from Gellert and got some from Sirius as well. He had told Sirius in his first letter since his return to Hogwarts about Remus Lupin. So Sirius and Harry both believed that Dumbledore only hired Remus because Sirius escaped and wanted to make sure Sirius never got in contact with Harry. If he did then Dumbledore would try to get Harry to tell Remus.

On Friday morning Harry made sure that Ron left Scabbers on his bed so when he was alone he stunned the rat. Harry placed him in the cage that Gellert got him, which was charmed to stop him transforming back, then hid him in his trunk. He sent Hedwig to Gellert to let him know it would be tonight and he would see him there.

After breakfast he joined his friends ready for their first class which was defence against the dark arts. Harry spoke with Daphne who was the first Slytherin to arrive. But Ron, Dean and Seamus had all said hello to her as well. They finally got to see that not all Slytherin's were evil or dark.