I do not own any of this!
Chapter 12
On the evening of September 1st, a day later, Harry sat impatiently in the Great Hall, waiting for his long-expected friends to arrive. Alone at the Gryffindor table, Harry was being looked down on by the somewhat curious members of the Staff table.
Just as he was considering getting away from the stares, and going to wait in the entrance Hall, the great doors swung open, and returning students swarmed into the Hall. As this horde separated into groups that drifted over to the House tables, Harry scanned the crowd for signs of Ron and Hermione.
In fact, he didn't see them until they appeared next to him, sliding onto the benches to sit down. Ron sat to his left, and Hermione directly across the table. The spaces on his right were soon filled by the rest of the Weasley clan.
After a quick greeting had been exchanged, silence fell, as all eyes turned to the line of first years walking nervously up between the tables, being led by a stern looking McGonagall.
Through the sorting hats song, and the nervous trying on of the hat by various timid eleven years olds, Harry was lost in his own thoughts, going over the new rules Snape had set down earlier that day. Though some of them were as Harry had expected, it didn't make him any happier about them.
In meals, he had to request permission to sit as usual, but this time he had to walk up to the staff table and bow in front of the entire school. To make it worse, if Snape was not present he had to report to Gray instead. Loath as he was to make judgments, the pain from his back brushed away any illusions Harry had of liking Gray, and of being liked. After Gray unjust punishment of him, Harry was in no mood to be respectful. Snape knew this, yet it hadn't stopped him from deciding the Harry had to attend all DADA classes with his year mates.
His thought were soon interrupted by the hush that greeted the beginning of Dumbledore's speech. As the Headmaster stood, Harry caught a ghost of a twinkle as Dumbledore looked his way.
'Welcome, welcome. Welcome to the beginning of another school year. To start with, I would like to draw your attention to a few new members of staff. First, Master Gray, who will be filling the Defense Against the Dark Arts post this year, and whom I advise you to treat with the respect a member of the Order of Mastery deserves. On that note, I remind you that in fact our potions professor is also a master, though very few of you are aware of it.'
Once again, Dumbledore's gaze flickered over to the Gryffindor table, where Ron and Hermione shifted uncomfortably. Harry probably would have done the same, were it not for the fact that he was avoiding movement of any kind.
'The other new face is Professor Fletcher, who will be starting a new course for all those in fourth form and above, called Dueling and Defense. Though compulsory only as a minor subject, this course is available as a major subject for any who wish to participate. Now, after all that, on with the feast!'
Harry ate lightly, though beside him Ron tucked in with a vengeance. Harry spent much of the meal fending off various comments about his uniform, though thankfully Harry realized that Ron and Hermione had filled in the rest of the Weasleys, so after a few minutes they began a deep conversation about the Quiddich Final, which Harry found out that Ron had seen.
It was soon time for bed. As the group walked out of the Great Hall and started up to Gryffindor tower, Harry said goodnight to Ron and Hermione, after a quick explanation that he was not being allowed to return to the house dorms. After promising to meet up early at breakfast the next day, they left, and Harry took up his position outside the door, waiting for his master to leave.
Unfortunately, it was Gray who appeared first, rather than Snape. Swallowing his anger, Harry came swiftly to attention. As Gray came over, he bowed.
'Master Gray.'
Gray did not reply immediately, his gaze taking in the stiffness of Harry shoulders, and the care he took when moving. His lip curled in satisfaction.
'I will see you in the morning, no doubt. Give my greeting to your master.'
Harry concealed his annoyance once again, and bowed in reply.
'Yes, my lord.'
Harry stayed upright until Gray was out of sight, and then heaved a sigh of relief. After waiting a few more minutes, Snape came out. Much to Harry's disgust, he was being followed by a train of older Slytherins. As he came over, Harry could see the amusement in his eyes. Grinding his teeth, Harry bowed once more.
'My lord.'
Hearing the snickering coming from behind Snape, Harry was careful to keep his face impassive. After a few seconds, a small smile crept across Snapes face, and he nodded.
'You may return to your chambers. I will put instructions for you morning's work in the classroom. Goodnight.'
'Thank you, my lord.'
Bowing for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, Harry turned and walked away, hearing the echoes as Snape led his house away.
The next morning Harry rose to find work set out for him, just as Snape had promised. Harry did a quick hours work on his Latin, translating several pages of the Illiad by Homer, then went swiftly up to the Great Hall to get some breakfast.
He was met by an excited Ron and Hermione in the Entrance Hall. As they went in, instead of going straight to the Gryffindor table, Harry peeled off, and with a quick shake of his head to his friends, made his way up to the platform on which the staff table stood. As he walked up the stairs, Harry banished thought of embarrassment from his head, and decided to just do it. Walking swiftly across the platform until he was in front of his master, Harry bowed.
'My lord.'
Harry ignored the whispers that sprung up behind him, and the startled gazes of the other Professors. After a few seconds Snape nodded, pleased that Harry had overcome one of the hardest barriers an apprentice has no in terms of public displays.
'Good morning, Aeter. Please continue.'
Bowing his thanks, Harry turned and walked off the platform, and over to the Gryffindor table. He was met by a very confused Ron and Hermione. Ron broke the silence, subtle as ever.
'Harry, what exactly was that about?'
Harry sighed, helping himself to some cereal.
'I have to ask for permission to sit, like I did at the Leaky Cauldron. You'd better get used to it, it's going to be happening at every meal.'
Ron's whistle was cut short as Professor McGonagall came round with their timetables. Looking at it, Harry groaned. DADA, first lesson.
As Ron and Hermione exchanged confused glances, Harry scanned the rest of the paper. Thankfully it got better. That afternoon, they had transfiguration and Dueling and Defense, with potions the next day, along with charms and divinitation.
Harry sighed, and drained his goblet.
Okay, I hope that wasn't too bad. Before you ask, yes there will be more of evil Gray in the next chapter. However, I've decided to try out an idea used by many authors.
Despite the fact that the next few chapters are written and ready, I will only be posting them if I have at least ten reviews for this chapter. If this happens, you'll get the next chapter. When I get ten for than, I'll post the next, and so on. Evil? I know, but I go back to boarding school on Sunday so if you want something to read between then and the end of January, I suggest to get writing.
ER - Okay, here's some answers for you. In practical terms a master does have to allow others to punish his apprentice, unless he has actually seen that the apprentice did nothing wrong. This chapter should have answered the rest of your questions so I won't bore you by repeating myself. Thanks for all the reviews!
White Owl - Yes, Harry will have to attend classes as well as his training, but not all of them.
I also received one review that suggested that the Harry 'abuse' in the first chapter was insignificant when compared too much that you find in other stories. Personally I believe that this is one of the faults of many storied on ff.net, where authors lose a sense of reality in their writing. Still, it was a fir comment, and thanks to whoever it was who wrote it.
Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter - Pose
Chapter 12
On the evening of September 1st, a day later, Harry sat impatiently in the Great Hall, waiting for his long-expected friends to arrive. Alone at the Gryffindor table, Harry was being looked down on by the somewhat curious members of the Staff table.
Just as he was considering getting away from the stares, and going to wait in the entrance Hall, the great doors swung open, and returning students swarmed into the Hall. As this horde separated into groups that drifted over to the House tables, Harry scanned the crowd for signs of Ron and Hermione.
In fact, he didn't see them until they appeared next to him, sliding onto the benches to sit down. Ron sat to his left, and Hermione directly across the table. The spaces on his right were soon filled by the rest of the Weasley clan.
After a quick greeting had been exchanged, silence fell, as all eyes turned to the line of first years walking nervously up between the tables, being led by a stern looking McGonagall.
Through the sorting hats song, and the nervous trying on of the hat by various timid eleven years olds, Harry was lost in his own thoughts, going over the new rules Snape had set down earlier that day. Though some of them were as Harry had expected, it didn't make him any happier about them.
In meals, he had to request permission to sit as usual, but this time he had to walk up to the staff table and bow in front of the entire school. To make it worse, if Snape was not present he had to report to Gray instead. Loath as he was to make judgments, the pain from his back brushed away any illusions Harry had of liking Gray, and of being liked. After Gray unjust punishment of him, Harry was in no mood to be respectful. Snape knew this, yet it hadn't stopped him from deciding the Harry had to attend all DADA classes with his year mates.
His thought were soon interrupted by the hush that greeted the beginning of Dumbledore's speech. As the Headmaster stood, Harry caught a ghost of a twinkle as Dumbledore looked his way.
'Welcome, welcome. Welcome to the beginning of another school year. To start with, I would like to draw your attention to a few new members of staff. First, Master Gray, who will be filling the Defense Against the Dark Arts post this year, and whom I advise you to treat with the respect a member of the Order of Mastery deserves. On that note, I remind you that in fact our potions professor is also a master, though very few of you are aware of it.'
Once again, Dumbledore's gaze flickered over to the Gryffindor table, where Ron and Hermione shifted uncomfortably. Harry probably would have done the same, were it not for the fact that he was avoiding movement of any kind.
'The other new face is Professor Fletcher, who will be starting a new course for all those in fourth form and above, called Dueling and Defense. Though compulsory only as a minor subject, this course is available as a major subject for any who wish to participate. Now, after all that, on with the feast!'
Harry ate lightly, though beside him Ron tucked in with a vengeance. Harry spent much of the meal fending off various comments about his uniform, though thankfully Harry realized that Ron and Hermione had filled in the rest of the Weasleys, so after a few minutes they began a deep conversation about the Quiddich Final, which Harry found out that Ron had seen.
It was soon time for bed. As the group walked out of the Great Hall and started up to Gryffindor tower, Harry said goodnight to Ron and Hermione, after a quick explanation that he was not being allowed to return to the house dorms. After promising to meet up early at breakfast the next day, they left, and Harry took up his position outside the door, waiting for his master to leave.
Unfortunately, it was Gray who appeared first, rather than Snape. Swallowing his anger, Harry came swiftly to attention. As Gray came over, he bowed.
'Master Gray.'
Gray did not reply immediately, his gaze taking in the stiffness of Harry shoulders, and the care he took when moving. His lip curled in satisfaction.
'I will see you in the morning, no doubt. Give my greeting to your master.'
Harry concealed his annoyance once again, and bowed in reply.
'Yes, my lord.'
Harry stayed upright until Gray was out of sight, and then heaved a sigh of relief. After waiting a few more minutes, Snape came out. Much to Harry's disgust, he was being followed by a train of older Slytherins. As he came over, Harry could see the amusement in his eyes. Grinding his teeth, Harry bowed once more.
'My lord.'
Hearing the snickering coming from behind Snape, Harry was careful to keep his face impassive. After a few seconds, a small smile crept across Snapes face, and he nodded.
'You may return to your chambers. I will put instructions for you morning's work in the classroom. Goodnight.'
'Thank you, my lord.'
Bowing for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, Harry turned and walked away, hearing the echoes as Snape led his house away.
The next morning Harry rose to find work set out for him, just as Snape had promised. Harry did a quick hours work on his Latin, translating several pages of the Illiad by Homer, then went swiftly up to the Great Hall to get some breakfast.
He was met by an excited Ron and Hermione in the Entrance Hall. As they went in, instead of going straight to the Gryffindor table, Harry peeled off, and with a quick shake of his head to his friends, made his way up to the platform on which the staff table stood. As he walked up the stairs, Harry banished thought of embarrassment from his head, and decided to just do it. Walking swiftly across the platform until he was in front of his master, Harry bowed.
'My lord.'
Harry ignored the whispers that sprung up behind him, and the startled gazes of the other Professors. After a few seconds Snape nodded, pleased that Harry had overcome one of the hardest barriers an apprentice has no in terms of public displays.
'Good morning, Aeter. Please continue.'
Bowing his thanks, Harry turned and walked off the platform, and over to the Gryffindor table. He was met by a very confused Ron and Hermione. Ron broke the silence, subtle as ever.
'Harry, what exactly was that about?'
Harry sighed, helping himself to some cereal.
'I have to ask for permission to sit, like I did at the Leaky Cauldron. You'd better get used to it, it's going to be happening at every meal.'
Ron's whistle was cut short as Professor McGonagall came round with their timetables. Looking at it, Harry groaned. DADA, first lesson.
As Ron and Hermione exchanged confused glances, Harry scanned the rest of the paper. Thankfully it got better. That afternoon, they had transfiguration and Dueling and Defense, with potions the next day, along with charms and divinitation.
Harry sighed, and drained his goblet.
Okay, I hope that wasn't too bad. Before you ask, yes there will be more of evil Gray in the next chapter. However, I've decided to try out an idea used by many authors.
Despite the fact that the next few chapters are written and ready, I will only be posting them if I have at least ten reviews for this chapter. If this happens, you'll get the next chapter. When I get ten for than, I'll post the next, and so on. Evil? I know, but I go back to boarding school on Sunday so if you want something to read between then and the end of January, I suggest to get writing.
ER - Okay, here's some answers for you. In practical terms a master does have to allow others to punish his apprentice, unless he has actually seen that the apprentice did nothing wrong. This chapter should have answered the rest of your questions so I won't bore you by repeating myself. Thanks for all the reviews!
White Owl - Yes, Harry will have to attend classes as well as his training, but not all of them.
I also received one review that suggested that the Harry 'abuse' in the first chapter was insignificant when compared too much that you find in other stories. Personally I believe that this is one of the faults of many storied on ff.net, where authors lose a sense of reality in their writing. Still, it was a fir comment, and thanks to whoever it was who wrote it.
Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter - Pose
