"Why am I not dead?"
Albus Dumbledore stood frozen. The boy in front of him was not the Harry potter he knew. The power radiating off of him was almost enough to make him faint. Then there was the question. Well Harry potter had certainly hit the nail on the head. Albus Dumbledore considered his options once more. He could tell the boy that he didn't know, and risk an explosion. Or he could come up with an adequate response, that would leave Harry attach to him once more. Needless to say, he decided to try and control the boy once more.
"Your father's side of the family had a creature gene passed down through it. You are a cross between a vampire and a magical zombie. I do not know all of the aspects of your heritage, but your father left a package in my care. Perhaps if you come with me back to Hogwarts, we can take a look at it together?"
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Severus Snape watched Albus lie through his teeth once more, and instantly knew it was a bad decision. The boy's magic faired once again, forcing the two men to the ground. He called them liars, and demanded to know the truth. Severus Snape prayed that the boy would get his magic back under control, for if he didn't it was likely that neither he nor Albus Dumbledore would remain conscious for the end of the conversation. Severus Snape's survival instincts kicked in, and he spoke.
"Control yourself Mr. Potter. Albus may not have any idea, but I have a library filled with books on creatures. I am sure we can identify your change and heritage."
- (0) -
Harry potter calmed instantly upon hearing the truth spoken. Severus Snape's offer seemed reasonable at first, but then he realized that it would put him at Hogwarts once again, and into Dumbledore's hands, and knew that he would have to refuse, or at least set some ground rules. He drew his magic back inside himself as he calmed down, "There will be rules."
Both men were visibly relieved that his magic was back under control. Snape obviously didn't trust Albus to speak, "I'm sure they will all be acceptable."
"First, nothing happens without my express permission. I am to know exactly what is happening, and the results as soon as they come back. I will need proof that they will take exactly however much time you say they will," Harry knew that he would have to be firm, or Dumbledore would just manipulate him again. The effort it was taking not to just let go and kill him was incredible, and Harry was sure that should Dumbledore break his word, that there would be no place safe enough for him.
The though of loosing control clearly disgusted Albus Dumbledore, and it shone through in his eyes to anyone who looked, "my boy, I'm not sure I can allow that," he began.
Harry's eyes lit up once more in anger. There was known way in hell Dumbledore was going to control him again. His magic flared around him once more lighting up the room, and Dumbledore gulped knowing that he was loosing all his control, "Listen up, and listen well Dumbledore," Harry's magic bore down on the old wizard, forcing him in to a humiliating bowing position, "you are going to do as I say, or I am going to disappear, and leave you to fight in your stupid little war. I have come to terms with my parent's death, and have no reason to take revenge. In fact, the only form of revenge I want to take right now is to shit on a pigeon."
--
Severus Snape, despite being scared out of his mind couldn't help but laugh at the completely random nature of the statement. To have such a humorous statement at such a serious time had two meanings for him however, and he suspected it did for Dumbledore as well. The first was that Harry thought they were so meaningless as not to be worth being serious over, and the second implied that Dumbledore was the pigeon. Either way, it didn't look good for them.
If Albus didn't accept that he was loosing control of Harry, there would be no chance for the order, and it didn't look like that was going to happen any time soon. Severus just hoped that the old man before him didn't try to trick the boy, and betray him again. Such a move would create irreparable damage.
--
Albus Dumbledore felt control slipping through his fingers like water. If it went on in the direction it was heading, there was a chance that they would loose Harry completely. He was simply glad that Harry was immature enough to joke in a situation like theirs. To Dumbledore, that said that he was still to childish to fully appreciate the dire nature of what was occurring. He nearly grinned openly at the thought that it was easier to trick children than adults. It was with that thought that he began to formulate a plan.
"Alright, Harry. I will do as you ask. Is there anything else you require?"
--
Harry Potter was not as dense as most people believed, and he realized that the ease with which Albus relinquished control was suspicious. He decided to remain on guard, but go ahead with making his demands, "I will need a separate room in the location of my choosing, and with a portrait of a snake for a guardian," Dumbledore nodded. Apparently, that was something he could deal with, so Harry continued, "I will also need to be able to come and go as I please. There is a month left of summer, and I want my last month before school starts to be some what enjoyable."
That ticked Dumbledore off to a great extent, and Harry could see a vein start to twitch in the normally calm man's temple. Harry smirked at how easy it was to ruffle. All you had to do was give him an order, and he was gone. He was however slightly worried that he would push Dumbledore to far, but at least he would be able to claim self defense should the old man choose to attack him.
--
Severus knew that something was wrong when Albus began to loose his composure. Harry was actually asking reasonable things, and yet it seemed like Albus saw it as giving the boy too much freedom. As much as he had disliked Harry, the boy really did have a miserable life. Snape couldn't help but wonder if he had ever had a choice in anything he did.
--
Albus was getting aggravated. He could deal with a separate room. That was fine, but when Harry started to add in the complete sharing of knowledge, and the freedom to go and come as he pleased, Dumbledore knew he wouldn't be able to deal with it. Harry potter was meant to be a pawn – some one who would do as he was told, not some one with a mind who wanted freedom.
There was a quote by Aleskandor I. Solzhenitsyn that said "you can have power over people as long as you don't take everything from them. But when you've robbed them of everything, he is no longer in your power."
Dumbledore had never put much stock in that quote, but it seemed to have its place, and unfortunately for the power hungry man, this was one of those places. Indeed, Harry had had everything taken from him. He had told Ron and Hermione not to bother to write to Harry for the duration of the summer, and had also ensured that Harry would be unable to visit either of them. His birthday presents were to be opened in Dumbledore's office the first night of term, so he wasn't even going to get them. Dumbledore had planned to make Harry completely miserable over the summer so that when he returned, he would latch on to anyone who offered him happiness. Albus had planned to be that person.
It might have been better if Sirius hadn't gone off and gotten himself stuck in the veil. Harry would have had something to look forward too, but Harry had nothing, and now he was out of control. There was only one thing to do. Dumbledore discreetly tapped his ring that would send a signal to the aurors. They would be waiting outside of Hogwarts when the trio port keyed there with orders to stun on sight.
"I will do my best Harry," he informed the boy. Harry new something was up, but nodded anyway, "Let's be on our way then! Time is of the essence!"
--
Severus knew that Albus was going to ruin everything the moment he began to appear happy once more. Knowing him, he was going to try and force the boy into something the moment that they got to the castle.
Harry's magic receded, and the older men managed to stand up. Harry's belongings were already packed, as he had never bothered to unload them fully, so within seconds they were off, and Harry was headed to some new form of torture.
--
The portkey was in Harry's hand before he could do anything else, and seconds later, he came tumbling to the ground in front of Hogwarts. He saw a bright red flash after that, and knew no more
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