Emeralds, Icebergs and Fulgurite
Disclaimer/Plot/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Recommended Reads: Apex and Silver King by JustBored21, Harry Potter, Dark Legacy by The Fallen One 2012, Who Dares Wins by OlegGunnarsson, Broken Shackles by Black Infinity 1289, The Rise of the Last Potter by HPfanfictioner66, Harry Potter and the Potter Grimoire by IamZerokun, Breaking Point by Carrots123, An Old and New World by Lens of Sanity, Slytherin advice by Tomas9777, Phoenix Insurgent by BolshevikMuppet99, Reclaiming the House of Black by Fairywm, Harry Potter and the Daft Morons by Sinyk and Dragon Chronicles 1: Muggle-Raised Champion and Dragon Chronicles 2: Harry Potter, Dragon Whisperer by Stargon1
Key Pairing: Harry/TBD; Neville/Ginny;
Other Pairings: To be determined
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Chronolocked: What if I said you guessed right? I won't say which one, though;
Sunny JS: The best way to describe his looks would be canon OOTP, but I do plan on improving his looks soon enough;
Akasha Drake: Not yet, he hasn't…but he will!
JustBored21: What else needs to be said? Although the chapter coming up might confuse you and a couple of others;
"So…to be honest, after all these years, I've got to ask it: do you make a habit of interrupting where you're neither needed nor wanted, Headmaster, or is it just my sheer dumb luck?"
As Dumbledore blanched at Harry's confident tone, the emerald-eyed scion then smiled like the Cheshire Cat once again as he looked to Snape.
"On the other hand, I never thought I'd say this, but, for once, I am so happy to see you, Snivellus: we need to have a nice little chat about your future…and the repayments of debts owed, namely your life…to me!"
Chapter 2: You Get One Warning (That Was It!)
Harry and Dumbledore stared each other down for what seemed to be the longest time.
In fact, the tension between the two staring sorcerers was so thick, all that was really missing was a tumbleweed and somebody playing the theme to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly on a harmonica. At the same time, Sirius seemed content to keep one eye on his godson and the other on the snarling-faced greasy stain who was also glaring daggers at Harry, though with nowhere near as much effectiveness as Dumbledore.
As for Dumbledore, he looked from Harry to the Order, especially the surprisingly-silenced Molly and Hermione before, looking back to Harry, the Headmaster sighed softly, lifting his hands in the universal sign of surrender.
"All right, Harry; it seems you have the authority here. So, tell me: what do you want to talk about?"
"Oh no," argued Harry, shaking his head as he laughed wryly, "I'm not telling you anything, Headmaster, not without a few small guarantees, chief among them being that, for the duration of this meeting or, preferably, the rest of time, this…"
He pointed a straight, unwavering finger at Snape, who seemed to be torn between opening his big mouth and saying something incredibly stupid, or keeping his silence, if only because of the warning glares that Sirius and Remus were sending him. Then, on top of that, there was the fact that this Potter not only had a real set of diamond-hard stones on him; he also knew about the life-debt, and, judging by the strong, no-nonsense tone in his voice, he was very willing – eager, even – to use it, should Snape force his hand.
Harry, meanwhile, kept his eyes on Dumbledore as he continued, "…does not interrupt me, or anyone else. If we want tips on how to avoid washing our hair, looking and sounding like we've got a rabid nest of squirrels down our trousers, gnawing at the limp spaghetti there, or acting like an overgrown, overcompensating baby who makes Dudley-fucking-Dursley look clever by comparison, I'm sure someone will ask him. So, deal?"
Apparently, this was too much for a certain Potions Master, judging by how Severus opened his mouth to retort, though not before he caught Sirius smiling like a wolf cornering its prey – an irony, considering Remus was also there, standing close by Harry, his own green eyes and predatory demeanour showing through as he too watched Severus warily – even as the former Prisoner of Azkaban chuckled at Severus' attempt to respond.
"Oh, please, Snivellus; make a remark. Challenge his authority when you've already seen how little your ass-backwards excuse for a life means to Harry; trust me, if anyone actually turns up to your funeral, I'll eat my Azkaban robes after my winged friend shits all over them for a month!"
Snape's jaws snapped shut so quickly, they all heard his teeth clack together, while Albus drew in a slow breath as he explained, "Very well, Harry; you have my word. Whatever you have to say, Severus shall say nothing! And, if you or Sirius would be so kind as to lift the spells on Miss Granger and Molly, I'm sure they will follow suit."
"Not for all the Galleons in Gringotts," drawled Harry, leaning back against the chair at the head of the table, before he nodded once. "Still, thank you, sir: it's nice to know you actually can listen to me when you choose to. Also, I think I know what you were screaming the house down about, so, let's get that out in the open too: yes, I'm emancipated, yes, I know all about it, no, I'm not giving back the power or rights to anyone and, yes, I do intend on making sure people know and remember it, even at Hogwarts. With Fudge the Fucked-Up Freak of Nature, and his Pink Hate-Crime now being investigated, maybe, for once, I can actually have a quiet year."
"I very much doubt that, my boy."
"Don't call me that," said Harry immediately, earning a surprised look from Dumbledore, before Harry went on. "Aside from being really creepy, in light of the age difference, you, of all people here, have no right to think we are, ever were or, most-likely, ever will be friends. You've screwed me over, disgraced my family's sacrifices and shot yourself in the foot and up the ass so many times, I'm surprised you don't whistle when you fart!"
Judging by the loud, muffled screeches coming from the far end of the table, Harry guessed either Molly or Hermione didn't much care for his language, but that was okay.
He didn't much care for their thoughts or opinions, so they were even.
Keeping his eyes on Dumbledore, Harry quickly continued, "Also, even though you've been kicked out of that cushty ivory tower you've enjoyed lazing about in since Riddle's first death, I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that the only real reason you've been hint-dropping my name into it every two seconds is because, quite frankly, as things stand, you are less-likeable and less-influential than me right now: how near am I?"
Judging by the heavy, asthmatic-bull-like breathing that was coming from just behind Dumbledore, Harry had a sneaking suspicion that his least favourite teacher – if not, quite possibly, his least favourite human being and, yes, that did include the likes of the Pink Thing, Voldemort, the Dursleys and Marge on that list, yet the noble, definitely-not-professional Professor Snivellus Snape still outranked them all – was trying not to break his silence, but Harry was pushing it.
'Hey,' thought Harry, keeping his attention on Dumbledore as he wondered, 'What does he expect? All these years, I've been letting others lead me around on a leash and collar. Well, now, if they want a rebel and someone to make infamous, that's what they're going to get. Maybe it's time I have a nice little chat with Gred and Forge about making Prongs, Padfoot and Moony proud of their only heir.'
As he had his moment of private contemplation, Harry saw Albus sigh before he nodded, "As much as I suspect it will only knock me further down the ladder of trust with you, Harry, you are correct. Apart from your testimony, and the overwhelming evidence of Mr Diggory's death and Barty Crouch Junior's brief, but shocking, return from the dead…"
"Thanks for fucking that up too, Mr Then-Chief-Warlock!" drawled Harry, earning more muffled squeals of protest from the other end of the table, while Harry scoffed. "You know, I have to ask whether or not that title even means anything, Headmaster. I mean, you were that when Sirius was sent to Azkaban without a trial, and yet you did…oh…nothing! You were that when Fudge decided to offer the Dementors an all-they-could-eat buffet at Hogwarts and you did…yep…bugger-all then too! And now, when a criminal who is meant to be dead comes back to life, you let Fudge take him and you do…our survey says…bing-bing-bing-bing…seven shades of fuck-all with a side order of bollocks!"
"Harry, duck!"
Ron's warning, surprising though it was, came just in time for Harry to duck, just as Mrs Weasley's hand missed his head; as he rose up again, Harry spun around on the spot before, drawing his wand, he cast the first spell that came to mind.
"Expelliarmus!"
Molly might not have had a wand in her hand, but, as Snape himself had proven nearly two years before, the spell could still do some damage.
A fact it proved yet again when the redhead went flying ass-over-tea-kettle over the kitchen table, landing awkwardly as she was left splayed out on the table-top, while Harry drew himself to his full height as he remarked, "That was your last warning, Molly Weasley: next time, I take my pound of flesh…and its name is Ginevra!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
To Harry's amusement, the warning of doing what he, honestly, didn't want to do and take Ginny, using the life-debt to punish the Weasleys by punishing her, seemed to spur Arthur into action.
Even with Molly dazed and confused from Harry's souped-up spell, Arthur still cast the Full Body Bind, leaving his wife looking like an ugly, red-faced statuette, while Arthur looked up to Harry with a mixture of pain, hope and dread.
"Please…Lord Potter…please don't…I know things are…"
"Mr Weasley," said Harry, though his voice was ripe with disappointment and condolence as he explained, "No offence, but even if you offered me your life in exchange, much like a certain someone did for me thirteen years ago, I still wouldn't take the offer. I mean, seriously, when are any of you people going to learn that actions have consequences and not everyone is so willing to drink the spiked Kool-Aid you're offering?"
"What does that mean?" asked Ron.
"It means Harry's done being anyone's scapegoat," replied Remus, earning a firm nod from Harry.
"To name but one fact of the future, Remus," agreed Harry, returning his attention to Dumbledore as he continued, "As for the other, the only reason I don't wash my hands of you lot and the shit-storm you've let be formed because you've kept an idiot in power for far too long is because, at the end of the day, Hogwarts and Magical Britain are my home. And, if the past four years has proven anything…or should have proven anything, it's that I will do whatever I can…sorry, I guess that should be whatever I must do to protect it."
"Are you asking to join the Order, then, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, earning a slow shake of the head from Harry.
"No," said Harry, jerking his head in Sirius' direction as he explained, "While I've been here, Sirius has been very kind and welcoming with things I want to know, which is more than I can say for any book-obsessed brunettes, old goats or overbearing matriarchs. One of the things he's told me is that this Order once called my parents members and, to be frank, I don't think I can ever trust the gang that allowed Wormtail himself to be part of their…ahem…group therapy sessions. Not to mention there are some of your current members…"
He indicated both Snape and Molly as he continued, "Who I imagine I'd either end up crossing spells or trading insults, threats and promises forcing my hand with, just because one would rather get off thinking about how my Dad must be turning over in his grave and the other would rather try and replace my Mother, which is impossible!"
Even Arthur flinched at the icy, harsh tone that Harry used with that last word, before the young teenager went on, "No, old man, while I will defend my home, I will not do it as one of your puppets in this little Punch and Judy Pissing Contest going on between you and Tom. So, instead, I intend on doing something I haven't been allowed to do for fourteen years now: live my life, and I will do that…and, as the man said, I'll do it my way!"
"I…I see…"
"No, you don't," said Harry, moving backwards, but keeping his eyes on Snape and Dumbledore before, finding Sirius' arm sliding protectively around him, Harry actually smiled as he nodded once. "Because, you see, right now, I can probably count the number of people in this room that I will trust and fight for on one hand…two if I count the twins as individuals. As for everyone else, especially those at Hogwarts, I've got a funny feeling it'll be second year and last year all over again…and, once again, you'll do bugger all, not that you haven't already done the damage dropping me in it, so, you ask what I want, old man? Quite honestly, there's only one thing you can offer me that will even give me half a reason of extending an olive branch again somewhere down the line."
"And what is that, my…uh…Lord Potter?" asked Dumbledore, earning a calculating smile from Harry, the sight of which made Remus and Sirius laugh while, behind Sirius, Harry also heard Ron chuckling, as though he'd been the one to figure it out.
Given the guy's knack for chess, Harry guessed he had done just that, because it was Ron who said what Harry was thinking as he sniggered at the very thought of it.
"Harry wants you to name him the new Prefect for Gryffindor, Professor."
Judging by the thud that filled the room, Harry guessed a certain brunette wouldn't be voicing her objections anytime soon.
He also saw Snape's eyes widen with rage and alarm, while Harry nodded once as he mused, "I couldn't have said it any better myself…and don't bother trying to claim I'm not worthy of it, Snivellus: after all, I don't need to be able to read minds to know your new candidate is someone with blond hair, a very big ego, a very small dick and a fondness for scurrying down his friends pants thanks to disguised professors turning him into something he is, namely a cowardly, runty and, no offence guys when I say this, weaselly little ferret!"
Judging by the very sour-lemon-sucking expression on his face, even Ron, Fred and George knew Harry had hit the nail on the head.
Meanwhile, Harry looked back to Dumbledore as he added, "Also, since it's been more than a year since his last posting, I also want you to invite Remus back, with him making damn sure he gets his potions at the right times…and if you miss even one, Snivellus, you'll be licking my boots clean with your tongue for the rest of your life, understand?"
"Very well, Harry," said Albus, before he drew in a breath and, drawing his wand, he flicked it once; to the surprise of the others, a shiny badge that the Weasleys, and Harry, had last seen worn by the rogue Weasley – Percy – appeared on the table next to Harry, along with a second badge, the sight of which made Harry laugh as he picked it up.
"Ha! You know, I only wanted to be the Prefect, Professor; you don't have to make me Quidditch Captain too."
"You came very highly recommended when I consulted your predecessor, in light of cancelling Quidditch last year," replied Dumbledore, earning laughs from the Twins and Harry, who tossed his new Captain's badge from one hand to the other, while Sirius made the effort to fix Harry's shiny new Prefect badge to his chest.
"I bet Oliver loved hearing you'd actually cancelled Quidditch last year, sir."
As Dumbledore smiled thinly, even he managed a laugh when the Twins let out moans of dread, annoyance and pain, all of which made Harry turn to them with a raised eyebrow.
"What's up with you two?"
"We just realised…" said Fred, indicating Harry as he gulped, "First, you're the new Quidditch Captain…"
"Yes," said Harry, drawing out the word.
"And now, you're the new Prefect…" added George, earning a wolfish smile from Harry.
"Yes…"
"We're screwed, aren't we?" asked the Twins, earning a knowing chuckle from Harry before he walked past Sirius and placed his hands on both Twins' shoulders, his green eyes, curiously, shining just like Dumbledore's might do as he smiled at his favourite pair of troublemakers.
"Actually, boys, I was thinking of deputising you two, just to make sure certain ferrets, greasy gits and, especially, junior grave munchers don't try and make things too difficult for everyone else this year…what do you think? Care to help the Son of Prongs make history at Hogwarts this year?"
It was only when he heard a very loud slam that Harry spun back around, just in time to see Snape had vanished, much to Sirius and Remus' mutual amusement.
"Looks like you finally found Snivellus' Achilles Heel, pup," laughed Sirius, earning a shrug from Harry.
"What can I say, Sirius? Being a Marauder has its privileges…but being me is just too much bloody fun."
Chapter 2 and I think the appropriate phrase here is: be afraid, Snape, Malfoy and Snakes…be VERY afraid, wouldn't you agree?
Even so, is it just me or did Albus give in just a little bit too easily? What's he hoping to achieve in giving Harry a taste of real power and the freedom to be…well…himself?
Surely he doesn't think, if he gives Harry enough rope, he'll hang himself with it, does he?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: The new and improved Golden Prince of Gryffindor returns to Hogwarts, where he makes absolutely certain that one or two familiar faces learn that their actions have consequences; also, with the toad croaking, a new teacher is needed…but will it be Remus? Or will Fate decide to be a bitch for Harry again? Only time will tell…
Please Read and Review
AN: Pairing
So, a few people have asked me about a pairing for this story and, tbh, I've narrowed it down to two options, both of which are popular enough – one more than the other – but…what do you think?
Should Harry end up paired with…
SUSAN BONES
OR
DAPHNE GREENGRASS?
Answers via review, please, and the winner will be revealed next chapter.