Chapter Five

That night, after classes and dinner was over and Harry was pointedly not doing any of his homework, after all how was he going to flunk out of school if he did his homework, he decided it was time to activate part two of his master plan. So Harry, who had taken a shower and changed back into his everyday robes, was now walking up to the owlrey to send off some letters he had. He smiled devilishly as he knew his latest plot would be very enjoyable when the deliveries were made.

After the five owls were given their burdens and sailed off into the night sky, Harry couldn't help but think about Hedwig. He missed her very much and wished she were still alive and that she would be if it weren't for Ron wringing her neck.

Scowling at the memory, Harry left the owlrey and head back towards Gryffindor Tower.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Potty off by himself and totally defenseless?"

Turning Harry saw, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle standing in the hallway. Malfoy had his wand drawn and the other two goons were flexing themselves menacingly.

Smirking, Harry said, "Well, if it isn't the ferret and his two man bitches."

Malfoy scowled at the inference and the other two looked dumbfounded. Harry doubted they knew what a man bitch was. However, Malfoy lifted his wand up and pointed it at Harry.

"You talk big for someone who can't defend himself."

Calmly Harry unbuttoned his shirt and walked up to Malfoy so that the wand was touching his skinny and pale bare chest. Harry had gotten to malnourished in Azkaban that his ribs were clearly seen through his skin.

"Go ahead Malfoy," spat Harry. "DO IT! KILL ME!"

Malfoy frowned and pulled back his wand, but Harry grabbed and it and pulled it back to his chest.

"COME ON MALFOY," Harry yelled. "YOU'VE WANTED TO KILL ME FOR YEARS! DO IT!"

Dropping his wand, Malfoy just stares at Harry and says, "You're crazy Potter. Azkaban has driven you mad." Then he picks his wand back up and says, "Come on," to his two goons and stalks away.

"COWARD!" screams Harry as he buttons his shirt back up.

Once the three Slytherins were gone Harry turns and says to himself with a grin, "Well, that was fun."

x-x-x-x-x

A short time later, climbing back into the portrait hole into the Gryffindor common room, Harry notices that once again the room has fallen silent with his arrival. Looking around, he smirks and goes up the boy's dormitory stairwell. Climbing the stairs all the way to the top of the tower to the seventh years boy's dormitory, Harry opens the door to find Dean, Seamus, Neville and Ron waiting for him.

"Harry, we need to talk."

"Only my friends are allowed to call me by my Christian name and since I have no friends, that wouldn't include you, Weasley!" Harry said in a monotone.

All four looked sheepish, but held firm. Dean spoke first, "Har … mate … We wanted to talk to you, because we are concerned for you."

Seamus continued. "That stunt you pulled in transfiguration was uncalled for."

"What I do to annoy the teachers is my own concern and not yours," snarled Harry. Then he pushed past them towards his own bed and hopefully a little peace. But really he knew that wasn't going to happen, but he did it anyway.

"Harry, please," begged Neville, "Please stop this. If you want to hate us then that's fine, but what you're doing is hurting you."

"Did Granger write this out for you to say? This sounds like something she would do," Harry said off handed. "I mean who else would have the crust to try and tell me how to live my life?"

Standing, Ron looked Harry in the eye and said, "Listen mate, I know you're angry at us, me in particular, but you've got to get over this. You're just hurting yourself with this."

"Hedwig."

Ron flinched. He had been so angry at Harry for killing Hagrid, even more than the murder of his brother Percy. He wanted Harry to suffer so badly for that, the only thing he could think off was to kill something he loved.

"I'm sorry about that Harry," Ron said. "If I could make it up to you I would."

"My firebolt, my dad's cloak, my parent's photo album, my dad's map, my trust, my love, my brotherhood, my heart, my hope, my life," Harry said coldly at them, but mostly to Ron. "How do I get those things back? How do I pick apart the ashes and put them back together again?" Looking at all of them he continued, "Am I part of any of your lives? No, I'm just the guy who has to do the dirty work that no one else will. I'm the one who suffers so that you can have happy fulfilled lives. So as I see it you have nothing to say about anything I do."

All four looked horrified, they were loosing Harry and they knew it.

"As for you Weasley," Harry snarled at his former best friend. "You and that damned fool of a bushy-headed girlfriend of yours have been served your legal parchments and you both owe me a considerable amount of gold. When can I expect that?"

Ron started to say something, but Harry cut him off.

"When I'm thirty? Forty? Fifty? When?"

Looking down and highly embarrassed Ron said, "I don't have any gold to give you."

"I know. That's why I asked for the stretch in Azkaban as punishment. That way you can finally fulfill that deluded fantasy you have of having everything I ever did," Harry spat coldly. The other four boys were shocked to their cores.

x-x-x-x-x

The next morning, the other four boys had gotten up, dressed and had thankfully hauled their betraying arses out of the dormitory room before Harry had. Harry smiled to himself as he dressed in his everyday robes; he was still refusing to wear the school uniform, because it was against the school code to not wear it. He had successfully messed with the minds of the male seventh years, now on to the females.

As he descended down the spiral stairs of the boy's dormitory, Harry thought to himself, 'Wonder just how far I can push Granger today to make her cry?' When Harry came down to the common room, it was mostly deserted. 'Everyone must be down to breakfast already.'

Leaving the common room and making his way down to the Great Hall, Harry suspiciously encountered no one in the hallways. Usually a stray student here and there would always be around, not to mention a ghost or someone's pet kneazle (a magical cat).

Stopping at the door to the Great Hall, Harry paused and listened at the door. He heard the Headmaster speaking to the school.

"Now I want everyone to be on your best behavior," Professor Dumbledore said. "Harry has been through a terrible ordeal and is less than friendly towards anyone at the moment. So please be patient with him, Azkaban can have a terrible effect on fragile people."

"Fragile?" Harry hissed. "I am not fucking fragile!" However, he continued to listen at the door.

"I know it will be trying in the beginning until he adjusts to life back here at the school, but I am confident that we can force him into a calmer state of mind and eventually force him to forgive us for our betrayals," the Headmaster's voice rang out, confident that Harry wasn't around to hear him.

"Controlling old bastard," snarled Harry. "Did it ever occur to you to ask for my forgiveness instead of demanding it like a five year old child?"

If anyone in the school had actually heard him say that, it would have been a big help to them in gaining the forgiveness they craved, but alas, Harry was alone and those words went unheard.

Harry continued to listen and realized that the Headmaster's speach was over as the students had begun to freely talk amongst themselves now. Deciding this would be the perfect time to make his morning appearance, Harry entered the Great Hall.

"Good morning everyone," Harry said in mock imitation of Gilderoy Lockhart, his smile beaming from ear to ear. Harry went on from there, turning to each table in turn, "Good morning Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs and Slytherins. Good morning Gryffindors, my favorite house at school." Then looking to the front table, Harry went on, "Good morning esteemed teachers and of course, our beloved Headmaster, whom I will always lovingly refer to as Uncle Fucker."

The students, even the Slytherins, were all shocked once again by Harry's antics. No one had insulted the Headmaster like that before. It was disrespectful to insult the leader of the school like Harry had just done. What was going to happen?

Harry ignored the students as his eyes swept the front table for reactions to his insult. He expected McGonagall to begin yelling at him, but she didn't. He expected Snape to begin berating him, but he was actually enjoying the show and leaving Harry alone for once.

"Greasy git," Harry muttered. "The one time I wanted him to be an arsehole, he would find the humor in it."

Then Harry's eyes fell on the one person, he hadn't expected to find at the teacher's table that morning. The one person, he thought had the common sense to stay well clear of him. Harry hated it when he was wrong, but it didn't change any of his plans in the slightest. There sitting at the teacher's table was Professor Remus J. Lupin.

"Harry," Professor Lupin said as he stood from the table. "It's good to see you again."

Harry's eyes narrowed, "Did you not get my message?"

"Message?" the werewolf asked, "What message?"

"For you to stay well clear of me again as long as you lived," replied Harry hatefully.

"I didn't think you meant that."

"Oh, I meant it very well," Harry spat in front of the entire school. "As I remember the last time I saw you, you told me that I was the biggest disappointment you had ever laid eyes on. Which is a lot having the mass murderer, Sirius Black and the Death Eater, Peter Pettigrew as your best mates in school."

"Harry…"

"Actually, that was a lie, the last thing you told me was that the night my parents were making the love that made me, you said you had wished my dad had pulled out to save the world from the abomination that he fathered that night," Harry yelled and inadvertently causing one of the wall sconces holding a flaming torch to explode, showering the room with sparks.

"Well, Remus," the Headmaster chuckled, "you've certainly gotten him riled up this morning."

"I sat in that dark cold cell for one year, three months, two weeks, four days, seven hours, thirteen minutes and twenty six seconds surrounded by Dementors and constantly being forced to remember those words for the entire time I was there."

"I'm sorry Harry," Remus Lupin said lamely as he stood from the table and went around it to be nearer to Harry.

"I suffered and you're sorry?" asked Harry. "Big deal, I don't care about how sorry you are."

"Harry," Remus pleaded as he took hold of the boy's arm, "You've got to let go of this heartbreak and anger, it's the only way to move on with your life."

"Just how do I do that?" Harry asked as he reached over and grabbed for something on the nearby table.

"You've got to forgive us," Remus pleaded again with both of Harry's shoulders now firmly in his grasp.

"Let go of me," snarled Harry.

"No, Harry, I won't until you open your heart back up again and forgive us," Remus said forcefully. Now anyone who has read this story so far knows by now that this is not going to work.

Harry, however, was not in the mood to be pushed around by this pathetic man any longer. He wrenched one of his hands free and struck the teacher's hand with the object that he grabbed from the table. This, of course, being breakfast, was a sterling silver spoon which caused the werewolf to howl in pain.

"Don't you ever dare touch me again Lupin," Harry said as the werewolf dropped to the floor cradling his now injured hand to his chest.

"Harry," the Headmaster said sternly, "I think we should continue this in my office."

"What if I say 'no'? What are you going to do stun a defenseless student and drag him up there against my will?" asked Harry scornfully.

Sighing, the Headmaster said, "If I need to."

"How very Quillian of you."

Professor Dumbledore looked confused by the reference but Harry spoke again first.

"I don't think there is a need for that. I think you can simply expel me right now."

"No Harry, I don't think expulsion is what you need. However, I would like to continue this in my office."

x-x-x-x-x

A short time later up in Professor Dumbledore's office, the Headmaster was seated behind his desk, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape were hovering nearby and Harry Potter was standing in front of the desk looking defiant. Remus Lupin had been taken to the hospital wing by Madam Pomfrey to have his hand looked at.

"Harry, I you must realize that you cannot continue acting this way."

"Why?"

"Because it is unacceptable for students to behave in this manner," the Headmaster replied evenly, trying to make the boy in front of him see reason. Now a quick poll of our readers, do you really think that's going to happen? If you answered 'yes' I have to ask, did you read the first five chapters carefully?

Smiling Harry said, "I think you're right Uncle Fucker, you should expel me."

"Harry I have already told you I am not going to expel, no matter what you do, you are remaining a student here until the time expires. I'm afraid there is nothing you can do to get out of it."

"No matter what I do?" asked Harry with great delight. "I need to sit down; my head is spinning from all the possibilities."

"Good thinking, Albus," Snape said silkily, "you've just given the brat the biggest cookie jar in the world to play in."

Both Dumbledore and McGonagall frowned, in that was now the case and knowing Harry he would put that limit to the test as soon as he was able to do so.

"You know Sevie," Harry said airily, "I've been meaning to ask you something for some time now. How is it that you are the acclaimed to be the foremost potion's master in the known world and yet you cannot understand the basic principles of shampoo? I mean even I can brew a batch of it for goodness sake, why can't you?"

Snape gave Harry a piercing glare as Harry smiled in return. "Brat."

"Git."

"Gentlemen this is getting us nowhere," the Headmaster stated plainly. "Whether you like it or not, Harry, you are going to have to obey the rules of the school and study hard and become a fully trained wizard."

"Albus, I have a question about that," McGonagall said. "How is Potter supposed to do magic without a wand?"

Dumbledore's eyes grew wide, "You don't have a wand Harry?"

"It wasn't on the list," Harry replied, "So I thought you still had my original one. When I came in for our meeting yesterday, you didn't give it to me, so I had nothing to use in classes. Also since you have banned me from leaving the castle, thanks to that stupid faux law of yours, I can't go back to Diagon Alley and buy another."

"Do you have his original one Albus?" asked McGonagall.

"Yes, I do, I thought it might come in handy when Harry would have to fight Voldemort."

"Before you sent me back to Azkaban, you mean, for a crime you knew I was innocent of," Harry commented snidely.

The Headmaster remained silent as he dug out the box with Harry's wand in it. However, he was the only one who was being silent.

"Yes, Potter, once again you have summed up the situation perfectly," Snape said snarkily.

"So why wasn't I returned after the battle that day?" asked Harry. He was curious now.

"Too many witnesses."

Harry stared at the Potions Master not quite believing what he just said. However, he was soon brought back to reality when Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat and handed Harry back his wand. At first Harry didn't want to take it. Taking it back meant he was accepting his magic back again and that would mean he would be a citizen of the wizarding world. But then again, he wanted it back. He loved that wand; it was like a part of his soul in a strange kind of way.

"Now Harry, about Professor Lupin …"

"You have no legal grounds to say anything about him," replied Harry as he stroked his wand.

"… he has sustained a serious injury because of your actions this morning."

"So I spooned him, big deal."

"I beg to differ," replied the Headmaster.

"I'm sure you do, however, when I was in Diagon Alley, I bought a large library of wizarding law books and did some light reading on Sunday night. Did you know that werewolves have almost no rights at all in the wizarding world? Though I doubt I could get him sent to Azkaban for it, but I probably could get him sacked just for touching me like he did. With a room full of witnesses to boot."

"It would be nice if you forgave him, Harry."

"Not gonna happen."

"He has great affection for you," the Headmaster continued.

"Like most people, it's only when it suits him to do so."

"He needs you to forgive him."

"I need him to stay away from me, is that going to happen?" asked Harry pointedly.

"He is going to be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Harry snorted, "I'll take that as a 'no' then. So I guess no one is getting what they want today." However, Harry paused and turned to the Potions Master and asked, "How about you Sevie? Are you getting what you want?"

"You're still here, Lupin is still here and mostly like you're going to rein terror on anyone who crosses your path," Snape summed up the situation brilliantly. "I've had worse moments. Stop calling me Sevie."

"Yes, Sevie-Pooh."

x-x-x-x-x

After the meeting was over, McGonagall had instructed Harry to go directly to her office, even if it meant being late to his morning class.

"Now Potter," she said delicately, "I understand that you have purchased a new broom."

"How would you know that? Have you been going through my possessions? Spying on me are you?" accused Harry suspiciously.

"One of the younger members of Gryffindor House has an uncle who works at Quality Quidditch Supply and told me yesterday that you had bought a new Firebolt," she replied with sound of being offended.

"As it turns out, yes, I do have a broom, but I've not even been on it yet."

Professor McGonagall was thankful that no more snide remarks were coming. "Well, get it out and start practicing. I am putting you back on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. We've not had a decent seeker since you left us."

"No."

"I beg pardon."

"I do not want to be on the Quidditch team again," Harry stated plainly.

"Potter, be reasonable," she started.

"No. I do not want to be on the team and if you try and force me on it, I will loose on purpose," Harry stated plainly and turned on his heels and stalked out of her office.

Minerva McGonagall gasped as she watched him walk away. She never thought she'd ever hear those words come out of his mouth.

x-x-x-x-x

As it turned out being late for Charms wasn't that bad as Harry realized that Flitwick was under the same instructions as McGonagall. Give Harry private lessons while he sat with the seventh year students. However, after the morning escapades in the Great Hall, everyone gave Harry a wide berth, including Ron and Hermione, though she looked like she wanted to say something to him.

After Charms was over Harry had elected to take N.E.W.T. level Muggle Studies. Since he was going to be living as a Muggle when he finally got out of Hogwarts, he might as well learn something about it.

As Harry entered the room for the class, it was empty. 'Must be early,' he thought and found a seat near the back of the room.

However as the bell rang to signal the beginning of class, he was still the only one in the classroom.

"Must be in the wrong room," he said as he gathered his things and started to get up.

"No, Mr. Potter, you are in the correct room."

Harry looked up and saw a young woman walk into the room and sat back down.

"Why don't you move up to the front, it's only going to be you and me in this class."

Getting up and moving towards this strange woman, Harry asks, "Why?"

"Because I hate yelling to just one person," she responded.

Smiling in spite of himself, Harry said, "No, I meant why is it just the two of us. I thought there would be more in the class."

"Hardly anyone takes this course past O.W.L. In fact you've managed to ruin my day off from teaching because you took it."

Harry felt guilty, after all, this woman had never done a thing to him and he hadn't even met her before now. "I'm sorry about that."

Smiling warmly, she said, "Don't worry about it. I was just yanking your chain."

"Yanking my what?" asked Harry as he covered his groin with one of his books.

"It's an American expression. That's where I'm from, the United States. I'm Professor Langtree."

"Pleased to me you."

Laughing, she said, "Thank goodness, after seeing what you can do to someone at breakfast, I was a little frightened of what you'd do to me."

Smiling, Harry said, "After one year, three months, two weeks, four days, seven hours, thirteen minutes and twenty six seconds of existing in a tiny dirty little cell in the bowels of Azkaban, I know exactly you does and you does not deserve anything I do to the people on my list. Since I've never met you before, you can assume to not be on that list."

To Be Continued … Please Read and Review

Quillian is an author who formerly had several stories here on F F dot Net. The one I was referring to is Harry Potter, Prisoner of Hogwarts. I didn't ask Quillian, but since I've been talking to him, I wanted it to be a surprise.