Chapter 9 - Detention
At 8.20pm that evening a very agitated Draco Malfoy prowled Professor McGonagall's office as Professor Snape angrily drummed his fingers on the front of McGonagall's desk. Behind the desk rigid with displeasure sat Professor McGonagall.
"Severus, for the last time, what is it you want?" She asked clearly out of patience with her colleague.
"Potter's arrogance is unbelievable! And you do nothing to bring the boy into line!" Snape spat.
He had crossed the line finally. "How dare you talk to me about how MY students need to be brought into line!" McGonagall hissed at the man. "GET OUT of my office and take the veela with you!"
Snape reared to his feet, "I have the Headmaster's backing in this Minerva. You would do well to remember that. Draco, COME!" Snape marched out the door with Draco Malfoy at his heel whining "But I need to see Potter!"
The door closed and Professor McGonagall sat back down and turned back from the door only to see Harry Potter sitting in the chair Snape had just vacated.
"I thought they'd never leave!" he said calmly.
"Mr Potter, how long have you been…" McGonagall gasped.
"I slipped in at the same time they did, Professor. So I wasn't late." Harry replied.
Suddenly a house elf appeared with a full tea service and a plate of shortbread biscuits. "I thought to order some tea for us, Professor. Frankly you look like you could use it." Harry said kindly. "Thank you Winky!" Harry said to the little elf before she curtsied and disappeared.
"Thank you Mr Potter" McGonagall replied taking the tea Harry was offering, "I could indeed use a cup." She sipped for a moment calming herself and regarded the smiling young man in front of her when a question arose in her mind. "How did you know Snape and Malfoy would be here?"
"That's Professor Snape." Harry replied with amusement. McGonagall chuckled at his use of the usually correction that she and the Headmaster made to Harry every time Snape was mentioned.
"Really Professor, do you not think that the son of James Potter, the godson of Sirius Black and a full partner of Weasleys Wizard Wheezes wouldn't have a few tricks up his sleave?" Harry continued with a wink.
"Oh Merlin! Your father and godfather were perhaps two of the most brilliant students to ever attend Hogwarts. It is a pity their brilliance was not fully reflexed in their schoolwork. In that, you take after both of them. But I did not know you were a partner with the Weasley twins in their joke shop." McGonagall replied with an expression of interest.
"I am the twin's financial backer. They made me a full partner over the summer although we aren't making that public for now. I gave them my Triwizard winnings after fourth year to get started. After Cedric… well I didn't want it and I thought the world needed a laugh." Harry said in a reflective mood.
"Yes that was not a good year for you, despite your victory." McGonagall replied.
"None of them have been good years, Professor. Every September the first, I board the train saying a little prayer for a normal year here at Hogwarts but no one listens to my prayers, especially this year!" Harry replied with a deep sigh at the end.
"At least this is not a scheme of he-who-must-not-be-named." McGonagall said.
"Oh but it is, Professor. It has Tom written all over it. It is subtle, divisive and potentially fatal! What is more, it is distracting us all from preparing for the war that is upon us, for no gain." Harry replied as he watched his head of house carefully for her reaction.
"Harry, I don't think the Headmaster would be tricked by…" McGonagall replied.
Harry cut her off, "Why not? Quiril, the fake Moody, Wormtail's betrayal and his framing of Sirius! All of these Dumbledore fell for, hook, line and sinker! And now Draco Malfoy declares I am the love of his life! Please! Voldemort is behind this Professor, you mark my words." Harry affirmed.
"So what are you planning to do Harry?" McGonagall asked.
"Stall for time Professor. According to the history books, the longest a veela has gone being denied a mate was a year. I know Malfoy won't last anywhere near that long. So six months tops, is what I need." Harry stated.
"I won't be able to help you Harry," McGonagall replied softly and after a slight pause, "too much!" she added.
"Passive inactivity may be better from you and the other professors than active help Professor, given the position of the Headmaster in this. I am going to keep the lowest profile possible in the coming months. Outside of classes I won't be leaving the Gryffindor tower much. Now that I have dropped Potions, none of my classes are with the Slytherins this year luckily. So Malfoy will have very little opportunity to see me at all. These detentions will prevent any other teacher assigning a detention that would actually be a meeting with Malfoy. Please keep them going for now. If you could ensure these detentions are likewise Malfoy free then I will be almost home and free!" Harry said.
"What about meals in the Great Hall?" McGonagall asked.
"Some friendly elves are helping me out on that. I will eat in the tower." Harry replied.
"And Quidditch?" she asked.
"That is the hardest thing about all this. I will have to stay off the team for now. No matches or practices. Hopefully Malfoy will crack before the Quidditch matches are over and I might be able to rejoin the team then. Don't worry professor I wasn't on the team for most of last year and they still won the cup!" Harry said. "Oh that reminds me, do you know where my broom is? Umbridge had it locked in the dungeons last year."
Minerva smiled and went to the closet at the side of the room and pulled out of its depths Harry's prized firebolt. "Does this answer your question Mr Potter?"
Harry grinned as he accepted the broom back into his hands. "Hello old friend" he said to the broom, "I am never going to let anyone take you away from me again!"
"Thanks Professor. It means a lot to me even if I can't fly it for now. Siri… Sirius gave it to me to make up for all the birthdays he missed while he was in Azkaban. I am even considering getting another broom to use in Quidditch matches so this one won't be accidentally destroyed like my Nimbus was!" Harry said in a very emotional voice as he cradled the broom in his hands.
McGonagall smiled at Harry and if Harry had looked closely at the dour old Scot he would have seen her eyes water. "You may return to the tower now Mr Potter. Your detention is over for tonight. I will see you at the same time tomorrow. Hopefully we will both get some real work done then!"
"Yes Professor," Harry said as he went to the door, "you're the best!"
McGonagall smiled at the parting comment but the smile did not last long when she began to think of the implications of the Headmaster and Harry being at such odds.
Soon Harry, in his usual seat in front of the common room fire, sat thinking about girls. Not an unusual pastime for a young man but Harry was trying to make a list of girls he knew that might be willing to enter the courtship rituals. He hadn't gotten far. His list only contained one name. Luna Lovegood. Harry really couldn't see himself married to Luna as much as he liked her as a friend. Harry had added her name because he just knew Luna would unsettle all the other candidates wits except Ginny who was use to Luna's antics. Yes, He'd have to ask Luna for sure. He was currently considering adding Susan Bones name to the list but he couldn't afford to alienate her aunt, Madam Bones. He may need Madam Bones's goodwill in the not to distant future if Dumbledore was to try any legal trickery. Harry finally decided to add Susan's name with a question mark after it.
Hermione Granger and Ron plonked themselves down in their usual chairs next to Harry.
"What are you doing Harry?" Ron asked.
"Ummm. I trying to think of girls I know who might be willing to enter the rituals." Harry replied.
"Who have you got so far?" Hermione said as she grabbed his list out of his hand. Hermione gagged when she saw the name at the top. "You have got to be kidding!" She said.
"What?" Ron asked learning over to read the list in Hermione's hands. "You're barking!" Ron commented.
"No I'm not!" Harry replied indignantly. "You guys underestimate Luna. She's the most preceptive person I know when it comes to what people are really thinking. And I reckon she could unbalance any candidates that I don't want in the rituals."
"But imagine if she somehow won!" Ron said.
"Yeah! Well, there is that. But it could be worse!" Harry said.
"Well Susan Bones is a good choice." Hermione said.
"There may be other considerations in asking her to enter." Harry said.
"Well who else?" Hermione asked.
"Umm Hermione, I don't suppose you'd consider…" Harry asked.
"Absolutely NOT!" Hermione shrieked, "You know what I think of the whole thing. I don't even know why I'm helping you."
"Because you don't want to end up married to Malfoy, perhaps?" Harry replied, "I'm not asking you to stay in all the way to the end and I am certainly not interested in marrying you! I mean I love you but like a sister. So you can take that look of your face too, Ron. I just need the smartest witch I know to enter long enough for Malfoy to fold. Then you can withdraw before the final decision."
Hermione huffed a bit but finally said, "I'll think about it Harry. But I still think this is the craziest thing you have ever done."
"Thanks Hermione! I know it's crazy but I haven't a lot of choices." Harry said.
"What about Blaise Zabini?" Hermione asked.
"But… But… She's a Slytherin!" Ron said horrified.
"Oh Ron! Not all Slytherins are like Malfoy! Blaise is sort of standoffish but I think she'd be a good candidate." Hermione answered, "What do you think Harry?"
"She has got a good figure!" Harry replied, "but would she be interested."
"Slytherins! You are actually considering Slytherin? Barking the pair of you!" Ron huffed as he got up to move away. When he was across the room and out of hearing range, Harry smiled and asked Hermione, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"I don't know what you are talking about!" she replied but her smile gave her away.
The rest of that first school week proceeded as normally as possible, given the circumstances. Harry did his best to keep a lower profile. He kept to the Gryffindor tower as much as possible and only ventured out for his few classes during the day without serious incident. Even then it was only through use of his cloak and the marauders map that allowed Harry to avoid Draco Malfoy. The veela seemed to be constantly stalking his quarry with the aid of his fellow Slytherins. Luckily for Harry his allies not only in Gryffindor but Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff as well came to his aid in blocking the Slytherins' efforts.
Harry's teachers seemed to be turning a blind eye to the fact that Harry never seemed to walk into a classroom via the door. It would only be when the door was shut for the start of the lesson that Harry Potter would suddenly simply be occupying a previously empty seat next to his friends. His homework was always handed in on time and was actually of a much higher standard to his previous years. His practical work was likewise improving leaps and bounds. He had began to challenge Hermoine Grangers previously unassailable lead as best student, a fact that rankled quite a few of the Ravenclaws.