Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
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It had been Hermione's idea to take things slowly as to not draw any suspicion from any of the higher ups. Straight away Harry understood what she was saying, right now a lot of the castle's eyes were on him; teachers, Prefects and even the Headmaster. Neville had been a touch confused by what was going on and thus Hermione and Harry explained how Dumbledore had forbidden Flitwick from offering any assistance for extra curricular activities.
Having been a part of the wizarding world for far longer than both Harry and Hermione combined, Neville gave them some insight into just who Dumbledore was, or at least who he was according to his grandmother. Madame Longbottom, they learned, had sat on the Wizengamot for quite a number of years and as such watched powers shift and slide from source to source with Dumbledore at the head, manipulating proceedings to his liking. Every now and again a policy would slip through but that was mostly due to the backlash that he would receive were he to argue against whatever was being pushed forward. If it turned into a magnificent flop however then he would be the first to try and reinstate everything to the way it had been before.
Harry and Hermione quickly began to know how much Neville knew of the political world. Since he hadn't shown any magic until a late age he had spent much of his youth learning the ins and outs. To Hermione it was fascinating listening to how houses, in Neville's simple terms, were labeled under the categories of light, neutral or dark. Harry however was quick to disagree, stating that nothing was ever that black or white, or in this case light or dark.
Now it was Neville's turn to adjust as Harry gave an insight to the Muggle playground. While he didn't go into explicit details, Harry stated that bullies couldn't all be labeled under dark as a whole. While the idea of comparing Muggle children to Pureblood houses seemed bizarre, Neville was enraptured as Harry explained how the leader of the bullies would be listed as the sole 'dark' child. Once more, Neville found it obscure how Harry related this sole bully to Voldemort in how they would both have followers who would listen to everything they said.
Then for Neville it got difficult to swallow as Harry started listing possibilities as to why people would join up with these 'dark' leaders. Some would do so because they were dark themselves. Others because they had once been the ones subjected to the torments plagued upon them and either sought to bring the same suffering on others or did so to avoid it being done to them.
It was Hermione who said that it was likely identical for those balancing in the light category and agreeing with Harry that nothing was ever as clear as it seemed. She summarized that at the end of the day the people they were looking out for most of all were none other than themselves at that people would do anything to survive atop the pecking order.
Feeling he needed to clear something up, Neville used the example of how Ron Weasley had whispered to him during the Sorting Ceremony that there wasn't a single witch or wizard in Slytherin that was good. While he hadn't told the red-haired boy at the time he was more than glad to tell his friends that this was an outright lie. He used Daphne Greengrass as an example and how her family were neutral for the better part, having no clear alliances to either extreme during the previous war and simply choosing to stay out of the firing line. Likewise the Zabini family had been selling rare potions during the battle, profiting from the chaos around them without actually aligning themselves to either the light or the dark.
Nearing the end of the weekend the three of them had almost constructed an entire table of their peers and who would likely approach them and what their purposes would be. At the end of their seven year tenure the relationships they had constructed would be crucial and Neville had quickly explained how both the heirs to the Longbottom and Potter line would be a boon to any alliance. He also said that it was highly likely they would be summoned to negotiations from both sides at some point.
Their family names just carried that much weight.
It would be after one of these discussions that Harry found himself being summoned to the Headmaster's office. The sharp looks from Neville had instantly informed him that Harry needed to keep his game face on. Being escorted up to the office meanwhile had Harry pondering which face was more appropriate for confronting the elderly man with. Since his pride had been trampled on most his life he had no qualms with what he was about to do.
"Ah Harry, thank you for joining me," said Dumbledore as Harry took the seat in front of him. "May I interest you in a lemon drop?"
"No thank you," said Harry meekly as he looked at his shoes, refusing to look the Headmaster in the eyes.
Straight away this got Albus curious but after the first time they had met where Harry had painted the walls with his insides he believed that this was the true Harry Potter sitting before him. When confronted with authority he would retreat into himself. Good. This was something he could use to his advantage in the years to come.
"What have you been doing with your weekend?" he asked.
"I've…I've been studying," said Harry.
"Harry, the first month has yet to pass and your first lot of assignments will not be due until the end of next week, you should have spent the weekend outdoors with your friends," said Dumbledore.
For a moment Harry had to give credit to Dumbledore, the mere fact that he knew exactly when the first lot of assignments were due showed that he had a good knowledge of what was going on in the castle. At least from a learning perspective. "I don't have any friends," said Harry, seemingly crawling deeper into himself.
Albus paused before speaking and had to wonder what he had been seeing then at the dining table during lunch and dinner when Harry sat alongside Miss Granger and Mister Longbottom. "What about those you sit with during meals?" he asked.
"Hermione and Neville, they put up with me cause they know that I'm good at studying. That's all I'll ever be good for!" said Harry as he wiped away imaginary tears.
"Now now, I know for a fact that it's your first broom riding lesson tomorrow and if you're father was anything to go by I imagine that you'll be a natural," said Albus.
"You think so?" said Harry, hope in his voice as he finally lifted his head.
"I know so," said Albus. "Now off with you, spend the rest of the day with your peers and make some friends."
Harry said nothing more as he hopped off the seat and made his way towards the exit. Lacing his fingers, Dumbledore pondered how best to play with the situation that was in front of him. It seemed as if Harry's accomplices were merely using him to further their own gain, rather Slytherin of the two Gryffindor students but arguably for the best. Were Harry truly became friends with Madam Longbottom's grandson then the power would likely shift in the Wizengamot. Goodness knew what she would do when that woman wished to give her grandson the edge. Likely him and Harry becoming friends and perhaps allies was on the list of things she wished to accomplish. With that kind of backing behind her things could swing in any direction she wished.
That could not be allowed to happen. For the greater good, everything needed to be perfect.
…
"What did Dumbledore want?" asked Hermione as she and Neville welcomed Harry to the small table they had secured in the common room.
"He just wanted to know what I was doing over the weekend," said Harry. "I told him I was studying which he seemed kinda upset about."
"He was upset about you studying?" clarified Hermione. "That's just ridiculous."
"Actually it makes a lot more sense than you think," said Neville before leaning towards the centre of the table, Hermione and Harry mimicking his motion before he spoke in nothing more than a whisper. "Like how other houses may try to align themselves with us, Dumbledore wants to ensure that Harry allies himself with the 'right' families. Basically all the families that listen to what Dumbledore says."
"So how does my studying make him upset?" asked Harry.
"Because he doesn't want you to think for yourself," answered Hermione having figured out Neville's train of thought. "To most of the students here, Professor Dumbledore is the elderly grandfather figure whom everyone is welcome to see and discuss matters with. A big thing such as an alliance would undoubtedly be something that he expects you to go to him with before you make a decision."
"He's trying to fix the board before the game even begins," said Neville. "You didn't even get a chance to be sorted Harry but you told us that Dumbledore said you were a Gryffindor. Where do most of the houses that align themselves with Dumbledore reside?"
"Gryffindor," said Harry as he tossed a glance to the side. "What are the odds that some of the students here are reporting directly to Dumbledore my activities?"
"For the moment, probably no one," said Neville. "If he wants to know something however all he needs to do is ask and the answer will basically be given to him by anyone here without question. Everyone trusts him."
"Except us," said Harry before letting out a sigh realizing what a troublesome situation the three of them were in. "So what's our next move?"
"You told Dumbledore you were studying, so we study," said Hermione. "Other than our classes we need to work out where best our specific fields will take us. As the only one with a proper wizard background, Neville, we're going to need you to be in charge of what parties we should do deals with in the future and what effects they may have. At this stage we can't even trust the other students here so we may have to look further abroad into the other houses."
"I can do that. I take it then we won't be going either light or dark."
"Neutral is best for the moment," confirmed Hermione. "If we stay under the radar as much as you say then that is the best option for now. I can work our way through the current curriculum, if we can manage to have a majority of our assignments all done by the Christmas then we've got extra time to kill at the start of next year on other topics."
"That's not a bad idea," said Neville. "How are you going to get the information though?"
"I imagine a couple of sickles here and there can get me the information I need," said Hermione. "Provided either of you have got some money."
"I've got more than enough," said Harry.
"You're going to bribe people?" asked Neville.
"No, I'm going to purchase information, there's a difference," said Hermione.
"If you say so," said Neville.
"What am I going to do?" asked Harry.
"You're going to be our soldier," said Hermione causing both boys to look at her with curious eyes. "Think of us as bounty hunters for a minute. At the moment Neville is the one brokering contracts and negotiations, choosing who to hunt down and when. When that time comes, who's going to be our champion hunter?"
"That was a really bad comparison," said Harry causing Neville to chuckle while Hermione puffed out her cheeks in frustration. "I get what you're saying though but I can't go back to Professor Flitwick for help."
"Then you're going to be needing our help, but before you try anything you'll need to study the spells back to front, the wand movements, the incantations. We're not talking about stinging hexes either here. If you're fighting on our behalf then you're going to be fighting for keeps."
"So if Neville's negotiating and I'm fighting, what role does that make you?" asked Harry.
"The public face, the Queen if you will," said Hermione.
"Do bounty hunters have a queen?"
"Who knows?"
The boys' laughter drowned out Hermione's groans of frustration.
…
This sadly just seemed to be the way that the world worked for Harry as he found himself marching behind his Head of House through stone corridors. Had he decided to stay on the ground instead of being goaded into Draco's play he wouldn't have been in this situation. The vicious words weren't what had gotten him into the air however, it was the Rememberall that belonged to Neville.
Arguably, Harry wasn't sure why he had gone airborne but he just felt that he needed to protect Neville's present. Was this what friends did for one another? Would Neville had done something similar for him if he required his assistance?
Harry would just have to wait to find out.
Now though he had more pressing matters to deal with, namely the fact that McGonagall had spotted him flying whilst being instructed to remain grounded. The stern woman knocked politely on the door to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom before pushing the door open.
"C..Can I h..help you?" stuttered Professor Quirrell.
Harry ignored the rest of the conversation as he focused on Quirrell. He wasn't sure what it was about the jittery man but everything always seemed a touch off, and he always sensed a light bit of pain across the scars that were wizard made. He had theorized that the nervous teacher had charms planted on himself that warded off dark magic. Considering he was quite literally covered in dark magic it only made sense that those scars would hurt when around him.
"Potter, this is Oliver Wood," said Professor McGonagall, snapping Harry back into reality. The boy looked to be in about his fourth or fifth year of Hogwarts and Harry recognized him from the common room. Surprisingly, Oliver didn't seem that displeased with what was standing in front of him, a plus in Harry's book.
"How'd you do?" said Harry meekly wondering just what was going on.
"Wood, I have found you a Seeker," said Minerva, a broad smile lit on her face.
"A Seeker?" said Wood in joyous disbelief.
"What am I?" asked Harry.
"I'm putting you on the house Quidditch team," said Professor McGonagall, her excitement barely contained. Clearly this was something she wanted to happen dearly.
Harry, meanwhile, had heard of Quidditch, with Ron as a roommate it was pretty difficult not to. He had rarely been selected for a team before, even in physical education class he was always either the last selected or overlooked entirely. The mere idea that he had been handpicked for something was unbelievable. Wood hadn't even seen his level of skill but he still wanted to use Harry on the team.
It was that word right there that caused Harry to swallow a lump in his throat.
They wanted to use him.
They didn't care about him as a person; they cared about him because he was supposedly good at a sport he'd never played.
"I refuse."
"I beg your pardon," said Professor McGonagall fearing her hearing had failed and that she had heard something ridiculous.
"I don't want to play," said Harry defiantly.
Minerva was opening and closing her mouth resembling that of a goldfish as she struggled to comprehend what was just happening. "If the boy doesn't want to play we shouldn't force him," said Wood, Harry suddenly finding that he liked this guy. A new experience if there ever was one.
It would not change his decision however.
"Now if you'll excuse me I've got to return to class," said Harry dismissing himself as he turned on his heel and started walking away, not even taking a moment to look back on what he had just given up.
…
Hope you enjoyed. Not sure when the next update will be having just moved states and all that. Hopefully it won't be too far off. Until next time.