Harry climbed into his trunk, hoping that he wouldn't be in there for too long. It really had been a long day, and the coming days weren't promising to be any easier. He found Alex already waiting for him, and joined him by the fireplace.
Dobby served tea while Harry told Alex about the meeting in the Headmaster's office, and he was still laughing when Snape stepped through the flames.
"What happened after I left?" Harry asked, when the Professor joined them in the armchair beside Alex, taking a cup of tea from the solicitor with quiet gratitude.
"He's planning to try your friends next, so you'll need to get them all up to scratch on Occlumency, pronto. Mr Longbottom already uses it, quite well in fact, so you may include him in your lessons with me if he's willing to put the effort in and learn."
Harry nodded, making a mental note to ask Neville and also try and convince him that Snape, while still a bastard, was actually trying to help. At least with this.
"If you have no objections, I'd prefer to set the lessons on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. They're the only times in my schedule that I have nothing pressing at the moment, and it wouldn't do well for the Headmaster to hear rumours of me slacking on certain things."
"That's fine," Harry agreed. He didn't know his own schedule, but he'd make time for the lessons, important as they were. "I probably won't be able to start tomorrow—the aptitude tests, you know?—so maybe we should start on Thursday."
Snape nodded his agreement, and then asked to see the training rooms, so he knew what space he had to work with. Harry waved his hand carelessly at the door that led to the room, and it opened just a crack.
"Help yourself," he said, gesturing to the door.
"I'll speak with Augusta about lessons with her, and get back to you when I have a time set for you," Alex offered. "I think that's going to be an additional two lessons a week, given she's teaching both Politics and History. Your schedule this year is going to be horrendous, do you think you'll be able to manage?"
Harry sighed, and then shrugged. "I have little choice. Short of getting my hands on a time turner, I'm just going to have to deal with it and hope that sleep happens here and there."
Alex snorted, just as Snape returned to his seat.
"For a trunk, this one is quite astounding," he said. "We have ample room for Defence, and that lab is as equipped as any of the classrooms."
Harry nodded. He loved his trunk, and if he didn't have to show his face to classes, he'd be quite happy just living through the school year there.
"So, I believe I was promised a display of elemental magic?" Snape asked, then, arching his eyebrow at Harry.
"Oh." Harry nodded. He had promised to show him what he could do so far.
Concentrating a little, though he could now split his attention and carry on a conversation while manipulating water, he made a ball of water appear just above his hand. It floated and spun slowly and he separated it into two, letting the balls twist into ropes and coil around his arms and then back down to his hand, where it joined together once more into one ball.
He glanced at Snape to see him watching curiously, and Harry had no doubt that he was already thinking of ways it could be used to Harry's advantage in battle.
Harry froze the water until it was a perfect ball of ice and then turned it back into water before he had it dissipate into nothing.
"Can you control any of the other elements to any degree?"
Wind and fire," Harry replied. "Though working with fire is slow going, since I don't want to accidentally burn anything down. It's a lot more temperamental than water as well, and I have to give it my full focus." He wrinkled his nose. "I can also make thunderstorms happen, but that only happens when I'm in a really bad mood, and I haven't gotten that far into my ancestors journals to find out how, or even if, I can control it."
"If you can get a decent control of fire, that would be lethal during any battle situation," Snape said, nodding. "We'll see how we're doing in a few weeks and start trying to incorporate elemental magic into battle training and see how you do."
Harry nodded and then snorted to himself. "Can you imagine the headlines if after everything, I down Riddle with lightning, or a falling tree in a bad mood induced thunderstorm?"
Alex laughed, shaking his head, while Snape chuckled low in his throat. Harry felt oddly proud that he'd made the man honestly laugh.
"I'm going to go and get some sleep," Alex said, stretching slightly in his seat. "I have a feeling we all need to be sleeping when we can for the foreseeable future. I'll see you tomorrow at some point, Harry."
Harry nodded, and Snape exchanged goodbyes with Alex, before the solicitor approached the fire.
"Sirius will be by on Monday evening to start working on Transfiguration with you, Harry," Alex added, before he stepped through the flames for his own trunk, and more importantly, his bed.
Harry looked over at Snape, suddenly awkward now that they didn't have a buffer. He wasn't used to dealing with a Snape that didn't glare at him fiercely as soon as they were alone.
"The Headmaster is going to continue to cause problems for you," Snape said with a sigh. "Using your friends against you will only be a step in whatever plan he has."
"I know," Harry agreed. "Until I can deal with Riddle, I really don't want to get into it with Dumbledore if I can help it. If he keeps pushing, he isn't going to leave me much choice. I'm doing my utmost to hold my temper steady where he's concerned at the moment, but given the ammo he's given me, I don't know how long I'm going to last. You know better than most that I'm fairly ruled by emotion rather than logic a lot of the time."
Snape nodded. "At least you admit that. There are many that do not."
Harry shrugged. "You've got to know your own limitations and faults, right? Otherwise, how else do you correct them, or work with them?"
"Indeed. I should retire for the evening, but I'll see you tomorrow for your Potions aptitude test."
"Any tips?" Harry asked, lips tilting up slightly when Snape gave him a look.
"Read the instructions in full before you begin," Snape said, before he stepped through the flames.
Harry watched him go and then sat back in his chair, closing his eyes. He knew he had to leave the trunk and get in his bed in the dormitory, but the thought of moving was tiring enough without actually doing it.
Eventually, catching himself drifting, he forced himself out of his seat and made his way to the steps that would lead him out of the trunk. He was exhausted and prayed for a peaceful night's sleep.
He was going to need to be as rested as possible if he was to pass his aptitude tests in the morning.
…
He'd passed the Ancient Runes and Arithmancy aptitude tests with room to spare, thanks to the studying he'd done over the summer, and he'd earned himself both a proud smile and a raised eyebrow from Professor McGonagall when she gave him the results.
Harry grinned at her and then jogged off for a quick lunch before his Potions test. That was the one he was most nervous for, though perhaps less so than he'd expected he would be.
The classroom was eerily quiet when Snape opened the door to let him in, and he was pointed to a table that had a cauldron, a bunch of ingredients, and a scroll of parchment.
"You have an hour and a half," Snape said, as he sat down at his desk. "Begin."
Harry took the advice Snape had given to him and read through the steps twice so he knew he hadn't missed anything, before he started prepping the ingredients.
He let himself sink into the process of preparing the potion, and then in the stirring. When the half an hour was up, he had a potion that looked and smelled like he thought it should.
Snape walked over to check it, and then glanced up at Harry's face. "There may be a modicum of potions talent in you after all, Potter."
Harry snorted. "High praise from you."
"Hmm," Snape used the ladle to scoop some of the potion and then let it drip back into the cauldron. "I suppose you've earned a place in my classes, Potter. Do bring back this focus with you, or you won't be in them for long."
Harry grinned at him. "Thanks."
Snape nodded, and then waved his wand. Six vials floated towards them. "Decant your potion, Potter. It's good enough to be of use to the Hospital Wing and it will save me a job."
Harry did as he was told, a flush of pleasure that he'd actually managed to do it well enough that it could be used running through him. After that, he cleaned up his work station and grabbed his bag.
"I, uh. I'm planning to go down to the Chamber of Secrets next weekend," he admitted quietly. "I don't believe that Slytherin built an almighty chamber like that one just to house a Basilisk, no matter how beautiful she was. I didn't have the motivation to check it out last time I was there, but I think there may be more than meets the eye, so to speak. Would you like to come with me?"
Snape blinked at him slowly. "You'll take me down to the secret chamber of Salazar Slytherin?"
Harry nodded. "Of course. I'm going anyway, and Alex recommended I don't go alone. I… well, I suppose I thought you would appreciate it more than most."
"I. I would be honoured."
"Cool," Harry said with a small smile. "I'm kinda hoping you'll help me harvest some of the hide from the Basilisk as well, while we're there. I want battle outfits."
"It was big enough for that?"
It was Harry's turn to be confused. "Dumbledore didn't tell you?" He frowned. "The shedded skin alone had to have been twenty foot, never mind the snake itself."
Snape shook his head. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well, regardless, that's what I'll be doing, so, you're welcome to come with me. I think it's more likely to be on Saturday afternoon, since it's one of the few days I actually have any spare time."
"Thank you. For asking."
With one last smile, Harry swung his bag onto his back and left the classroom. He actually had no plans for the evening, and it would be nice to spend some time with his friends while he could.
…
Monday morning found Harry, Ron, Neville and Ginny at the Gryffindor table, waiting on their timetables. Harry, having woken up early, had already eaten but he'd stayed at the table with his friends while they ate their fill.
He'd spoken with Ron and Ginny just the night before about Occlumency, only to find out that they'd started studying it over the summer with Bill, knowing they would need it. Harry had passed along a few books for them both, but after being given permission, he'd tested their barriers lightly and was impressed that they could keep him out.
Even when he'd tried to sneak, they'd felt his presence even if they couldn't quite push him out, and had been able to guide him away from anything he tried to look at.
It was certainly enough to protect Harry's secrets from the Headmaster, and he was both proud of them and incredibly grateful that he had friends that would go to such lengths to support him.
A hand landed on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Professor McGonagall had reached them with their schedules. He accepted his with a smile, and glanced over it. Potions, Defence and Transfiguration made for a hard Monday schedule, particularly with them all being double periods, but there were two free periods in between which made it slightly more bearable.
Checking his watch, he sighed and grabbed his bag from where he'd dropped it at his feet. He had to go and get his books before Potions, and it was something of a trek. He bid his friends goodbye until Defence, where Neville and Ron would rejoin him, and set off towards the tower.
They really needed to start handing out the schedules the night before classes began.
…
Harry was one of the last to the Potions corridor, but he wasn't late, so he decided to take it as a win. Hermione was already there, and he briefly wondered how before he remembered that she often took all of her books with her on the first day of classes to save her having to walk back up to the tower.
They were the only two Gryffindor's present, and he saw the hopeful look she had on her face when they walked into the classroom. The rest of the class was made up mostly of Ravenclaws and Slytherins, though there was one lone Hufflepuff.
As people chose seats, Harry took the one beside Draco, rather than settling at the front of the classroom with Hermione.
She shot him a dirty look over her shoulder, but Harry found that he just didn't care. He'd been as clear as he possibly could with her without being nasty, and he wasn't about to go back on everything he'd said and give her false hope.
That was crueller than choosing to keep his distance in his opinion.
They listened to Snape talking about the potion they'd be beginning during their next lesson, and then took notes from their books for the second hour. It was an easy enough lesson, and Draco was even helpful when Harry couldn't find an ingredient he was trying to find in the index and pointed him to the right page.
Harry hoped that, given the recent changes to their 'relationship' that they'd be able to work well together when the brewing began. He had no reason to believe they wouldn't, with the ridiculous rivalry between them squashed.
He was still glad to join his friends in the line outside the Defence classroom. He wondered what Hestia Jones would be like as a teacher; he knew she was part of the Order, and assumed that meant she had to have at least some fighting experience as a result of that, but that didn't mean it would translate well.
She started the lesson by telling them she would be teaching to the N.E.W.T exam, going over all of the spells and coursework that would be required, but that they would also be working on a personal project over the course of the year that would be demonstrated at the end of the school year.
She wanted them all to design a spell that could be used defensively that didn't already exist; and that even if they couldn't actually make the spell work on their own, she wanted to see their research into whether it would be possible and why and how.
It sounded interesting enough to Harry, and he knew if he didn't have the pressure of both Voldemort and the Headmaster hanging over him, he'd probably be excited by it.
Spell creation was interesting on it's own, but paired with his favourite subject, he would have truly enjoyed the project. As it was, it was just yet another task to add to his ever growing list.
Hermione, typical to form, asked if she could submit multiple projects for extra credit and was swiftly told no.
All in all, the lesson wasn't bad, and Harry was pleased that she didn't seem overly biassed for or against him. While he'd be learning more pertinent things in his training with Snape, it was good to know that Defence wouldn't be an utter waste of his time like it had been in previous years.
…
The Headmaster wishes to speak to you again.
Harry glanced up at the teacher's table and then at Neville and Ron, who were sitting facing him. It was lunchtime, which seemed a little odd for Dumblefore to try and collar him, but Harry supposed 'unexpected' was Dumbledore's new tactic.
"The Headmaster may be joining us shortly," he murmured, giving them both a significant look.
They cottoned on to what he meant within seconds and Ron smiled at him with a determined nod. Neville always kept his Occlumency shields in place the same as Harry did, but he smiled his thanks for the warning anyway.
Not even a full minute later, Harry felt Dumbledore standing behind him and turned to look at him.
"Harry, may I have a quick word?"
Harry nodded. "Of course." He made no move to get up from the table, and instead simply twisted on the bench so he was looking more directly at the Headmaster.
"Will you join me in my office?"
"I have Transfiguration in twenty minutes and I haven't finished my lunch, Sir," Harry pointed out, gesturing to his still half-full plate. "I also shared my views on meetings with you on Saturday night, Headmaster."
They were each well aware of all the eyes in the hall turning their way, but since the Headmaster certainly had more to lose than Harry did, Harry wasn't particularly worried about it.
"I have no problem dealing with this situation with you here, Harry, but I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"Consider me warned," Harry replied flatly. "Why don't you just go right ahead and say what you need to say."
Dumbledore sighed, but nodded. "As you wish. I've been made aware of some bullying happening in Gryffindor house. It seems like you and your friends are behind it. I want it to cease immediately, or I'll have to start handing out punishments."
Harry arched an eyebrow. "That's slander, Headmaster, so I hope you have some solid proof to back up such allegations. I'd hate to have to bring another lawsuit against you."
"The 'proof' is right in front of me, Harry. Miss Granger is being ostracised from her housemates. You were her friend, and now you are not. It stands to reason that—"
"It stands to reason," Harry interrupted, standing up and turning to face the Headmaster fully, "that myself and Miss Granger are no longer friends because she was spying on me on your orders. What our housemates decide is up to them, but I've been nothing but civil to Miss Granger since we arrived at the platform to catch the train to school.
"What makes me wonder, Headmaster, is that this 'concern' for bullying of yours has come at such an opportune moment. Where was this intervention when the whole school, save a select few, turned against me in my second year? Or my fourth? Or even last year? Where is this concern when looking at the Slytherins, who are often ostracised by the other three houses for little more than merely existing and wearing a green tie?"
Harry shook his head. "This is yet another attempt at manipulation, but this time, I'm not falling for it. Unless you want a slander lawsuit to land on your desk in the next twenty four hours, I suggest you rescind your accusation, because this? This is utterly ridiculous."
"Harry, she was looking out for you. Surely you can see that we were only ensuring you didn't turn to the Dark Arts? You need to stay firmly on the side of the light to have any chance of completing your destiny!"
Harry leant down to scoop up his bag. He'd lost his appetite, and any wish he may have had to be in the Great Hall at all.
"I'm not light," he said, as he straightened back up. Looking Dumbledore in the eye, he said, "I'm also not dark. I am neutral. I am… grey. Do you understand? I don't think I can make myself any clearer when I tell you that I will not be your puppet any longer, Headmaster."
Looking around the hall, Harry caught the eyes of a few of the students and added, "I will fight Voldemort, but I'll do it on my own terms, not the terms of the Headmaster, who in front of everyone here, has made an unfair claim of bullying because I no longer wish to associate with someone I considered my friend. Have any of you faced that from our beloved Headmaster? I truly doubt it."
He walked away from the table and out of the double doors without even looking back at Dumbledore again. He knew he had to contact Alex immediately, and pressed his fingers to his necklace as he thought about his Solicitor.
There certainly needed to be some damage control before someone decided to take 'I'm not light' and twist it into Harry being the newest Dark Lord on the block.
He felt a quick warming of his necklace and knew Alex would be waiting for him in his trunk. As he reached the tower, a voice sounded in his head.
Well, you certainly put him in his place.
I'm tired of him, Harry admitted. You'd think that he'd take the loss and begin planning for the war that is already brewing. He's wasting time having petty arguments with me, and I'm bored of it.
Quite. I think I much prefer this Potter to the one that looked up to the old goat like he could do no wrong. Make sure he plans to stick around.
I intend to.
Harry stepped into his trunk and, as he'd thought, found Alex waiting for him.
"I'll leave the memory of lunch with you," he said, flicking his wand out from the holster he kept on his arm. "I have Transfiguration."
Alex nodded, and simply asked, "Dumbledore?"
Harry nodded back. "Dumbledore."