Chapter 8 - Head on
"Mr Potter!" Professor McGonagall said once she had gotten Harry seated in her office, "What in the nine levels of hell do you think you are doing?"
"Professor McGonagall," Harry replied carefully keeping his emotions tightly under control, "I am sorry about being in the girls dormitories but it was extremely important I convince Ginny Weasley to enter the courtship rituals."
"I can understand your feelings on that matter but I that does not excuse you from breaking the rules!
"I know it's no excuse but it is all about my Malfoy problem, Professor! He's a veela, well part veela but enough of one to be gripped by his powers! He wants me to be his life mate. I said no but he can still force me under the veela laws to marry him. The courtship rituals are the only thing preventing him from claiming me instantly but I will have to marry the selected candidate. I just hope its someone like Ginny who can love me for who I am, not for being the-boy-who-lived!"
Professor McGonagall's mouth opened and closed several times before she managed to pull herself together enough to make a reply.
"Mr Potter… Harry! Surely this isn't true? There must be some mistake. I am sure the Headmaster would be able to help you…" she said but was again cut off.
Harry laughed bitterly. "Dumbledore is behind this! Don't you see he thinks this is the prefect way to maintain his control of me. But I am not going to let him get away with it! I'm surprised you don't know, Professor. I thought the whole order would have be having a good laugh about it by now at my expense."
"Harry!" McGonagall replied again shocked at the bitterness in his voice. Before she could respond further, the door to her office opened and Albus Dumbledore entered smiling.
"Ah! Minerva I was wondering if I could have a word with Harry?" he said calmly.
"Albus, is what Harry said about young Mr Malfoy true?" McGonagall asked.
"It will all be explained to you in good time Minerva. Now if you would like to come with me to my office Harry." Albus said as he gestured towards the door.
"You can say what you have to say to me here, Headmaster." Harry said coldly as he made no move to rise from his chair. "In fact, I insist my Head of House be included in all future discussions between us. That is my right!"
Silence dominated the room for a few moments. Harry saw the blush of anger on the old Headmasters face although Dumbledore did nothing to outwardly express it. Professor McGonagall stared from one to the other and back again.
"As you wish Harry!" Dumbledore finally replied and conjured a comfy chair before sitting down. Harry did not fail to see that the chair was large enough and positioned right where it blocked his exit to the door. "I had hoped you would see the futile nature of your actions by now Harry, and come to accept your place in the scheme of things." Dumbledore said in a calm manner.
"Scheme of thing! That's a nice turn of phrase for me spending the rest of my life being buggered by Malfoy, Headmaster." Harry replied still in an ice-cold tone.
"Mr Potter!" McGonagall snapped.
"My language may not be as elegant as the Headmaster's, Professor but it is far more truthful." Harry replied to his head of house as he raised an eyebrow at her. "But I apologise if you were offended by the visually graphic language."
"Harry," Dumbledore said with a kindly tone in his voice, "do you not see the potential that an alliance between you and Draco Malfoy would offer us? The possibilities are endless. We may be able to gain new spies in Voldemort's ranks or even split the death eaters apart. I know it is not what you desire but for the common good…"
"The common good! Don't make me laugh!" Harry said firmly. "That's your excuse for all the misery you have put me through my entire life. Well it is one time too many. I am drawing the line here Dumbledore. My answer is NO!"
"I am afraid you have no choice in the matter, Harry!" Dumbledore replied bluntly, "You must cease this ridiculous charade with the courtship rituals and accept Mr Malfoy into your life. He has declare you his mate and as you know under the veela laws, a veela has the right to…" Dumbledore said in a much more insistent tone.
"I don't care what the stupid law says, I am not marrying Malfoy!" Harry replied interrupting the Headmaster.
"You will have no choice, Harry. Accept it now…" the Headmaster said.
"Is that a school matter Headmaster? I think not!" Harry replied coolly. " I don't wish to discuss my personal life with you further."
Dumbledore's face flushed angrily again but he controlled himself and sat back.
McGonagall had silently watched these two men parried words. She had never seen the Headmaster outmanoeuvred before and by the look on the Headmasters face, he was not at all pleased by Harry Potter's actions.
"Albus!" She demanded, "Would you care to explain to me what exactly all this is about?" It was not really a question but a demand. She thought she had the Headmasters confidence in all things both at the school and in the Order but as she had just found out it was not true. Not true at all.
The Headmaster ignored McGonagall for now. "Very well Harry. As this is not a school matter I will not continue for now. But I will say this, Draco Malfoy will not be denied!"
"Oh I don't think it is only Draco Malfoy who doesn't want to be denied in this, Headmaster!" Harry said coldly staring straight ahead while concentrating on his occlumency shields.
"Very well" Dumbledore replied with his anger barely concealed in his voice this time, "but there are school matters I must talk to you about. You failed to turn up to your first occlumency lesson. Professor Snape was…"
"I didn't take occlumency as a elective Headmaster." Harry replied, "Professor McGonagall was told of my choices and they are the only one's I will attend. Besides Snape is suspended. He shouldn't even be in the castle."
"I am afraid Mr Potter that it is required for you to take both potions and occlumency and Professor Snape's disposition is my concern, not yours! You will turn up to the lessons I deem important. I may have some other sessions to arrange to better prepare you for your life with a veela…" the Headmaster said ignoring Harry rolling his eyes.
"Professor McGonagall," Harry said interrupting the Headmaster, "Perhaps you can remind the Headmaster who is and WHO IS NOT entitled to choose my electives."
"Harry is right, Albus. He has the right to choose, you do not." She said briskly. She was still a bit put out by the Headmaster's earlier brush off when she had demanded an explanation.
Dumbledore glared at his deputy headmistress angrily. She met his stare with an equally angry one. Knowing he wasn't going to win this battle he turned back to Harry Potter catching the amused look on the boy's face before it was hidden again beneath the mask of disinterest the boy had developed.
"It may be your right to choose your electives Harry but it is my right to assign detentions. You will be serving yours with Professor Snape every night until…" the Headmaster started but was interrupted by his deputy.
"I am afraid Headmaster that Mr Potter has already been assigned detection with me every night and at weekends as well. He has committed a very serious breach of school rules today." McGonagall said.
The Headmaster was surprised at being obstructed by someone as close to him as Minerva McGonagall. "Oh and what was the rule he has broken, Minerva!"
"He was found in the girls dormitories today Headmaster with a girl in a very compromising position. A very serious breach of the rules as you well know." McGonagall said
"But… But… But that is impossible!" the Headmaster gasped, "How did he get up there?"
"He claims to have just walked up the stairs Albus. The stairs certainly allowed him to walk down without vanishing." McGonagall replied looking equally as mystified as the Headmaster.
"They vanished at first but I just asked the castle to put them back and it did. Shook the place a bit too." Harry said looking thoughtful.
"That was your doing?" the Headmaster looked very surprised.
"Seems the castle likes me!" Harry replied shrugging his shoulders. "So, a detention every day till when?"
"Until I decide otherwise Harry!" McGonagall replied. "Is that all Albus? Classes are starting soon."
"Will you also be cancelling his Hogsmead privileges as well?" the Headmaster asked.
Before McGonagall could answer Harry volunteered, "I could tell Mrs Longbottom to delay the courtship rituals first gathering until Christmas break if I no longer have Hogsmead weekends available."
Harry was pleased with the way Dumbledore's face darkened as he considered the extra delay of his plans if this happened. "No I don't believe loss of Hogsmead privileges is warranted in this instance." He said struggling with his less than happy tone of voice.
"Well I will allow you both to get to your classes." The Headmaster said getting up and without another word he banished his chair and swept from the room.
"Harry, I hope you realise what a dangerous game opposing the Headmaster is. I have never seen anyone outmanoeuvre him as you have just done but you should know that this is far from the end of it. He will eventually gain the upper hand. He always does!" She looked at him sadly as she told him this.
"I know but what choice do I have." Harry said, "What time for detention Professor?"
"8PM tonight Mr Potter." McGonagall replied as she gathered herself together. "Bring your school books, you will be doing your homework and we will talk some more."
Harry smiled knowing his homework was what he would have been doing anyway. McGonagall was going to go easy on him with these detentions. Until McGonagall stopped them Harry could not be assigned detention by anyone else.