Strong Language Warning!
Chapter 13 - The Ultimate Ultimatum
When the group entered Hogwarts, they met the smiling Headmaster. At least Dumbledore was smiling until he noticed that Harry was not with the group. His expression changed quickly to one of annoyance. Ron and Hermione exchanged knowing glances. Ginny was also finding it hard to keep a smirk off of her face.
"And where pray tell is Mr Potter?" Dumbledore asked Madam Hooch.
Madam Hooch quickly looked around and realising she was indeed missing one student muttered apologetically, "He was with us a moment ago, Headmaster."
Ron decided to take pity on his flying instructor. "Harry went to check out the Quidditch Pitch and change rooms, Madam Hooch, to see if we needed anything else."
"Oh! Headmaster, the boy is a wonder. He has donated all new equipment for flying lessons and Quidditch to the school. Bless him!" Madam Hooch squealed in delight.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Draco Malfoy, looking far more frayed then anyone could remember seeing him, screamed, "Where is he?"
"He doesn't want to see you Malfoy." Ron said bluntly. "He's going to avoid you till you knock this crap off."
"He's MINE!" Draco yelled back.
"Bullshit!" Ron replied forcefully.
"Mr Weasley, language." Madam Hooch rebuked.
"Sorry, Madam Hooch but the ferret here gets on my tits." Ron replied jabbing a thumb in Draco's direction.
Draco screamed and attacked Ron, not with his wand but with his hands, trying to throttle him. Two quick stunners hit Draco Malfoy from either side thanks to Ginny and Hermoine, at the same time as Ron hit Draco with a solid uppercut to the jaw. Draco Malfoy's body flew backwards and landed at the feet of the Headmaster. "Stop this, this instant." Dumbledore yelled.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE." Harry Potter yelled as he appeared in the entrance behind Ron. He had been just outside the door, hidden around the corner suppressing his magical signiture so the Headmaster wouldn't detect him.
"Mr Potter!" the Headmaster said angrily.
"Malfoy attacked me." Ron said at the same time.
Harry had a quick glance at Ron's bruised neck seeing red hand shaped marks and a few bleeding scratches. Harry turned back to glare at the Headmaster but quickly looked away remembering to avoid eye contact.
"Mr Potter!" Dumbledore said angrily, "This is enough."
"Yes Headmaster, it is enough. You should have Malfoy removed from the school. He is a danger to his fellow students…" Harry snapped angrily at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore had had more than enough out of his recalcitrant student. "You will accompany Mr Malfoy to the hospital wing until…" he interrupted Harry's tirade.
But Harry interrupted him back, "I will not!".
"You will do as I say." Dumbledore snapped back.
"Only about school matters." Harry replied forcefully, "Not about this."
The loud argument had attracted a lot of students and staff. Professor McGonagall finally hurried up to the now silent standoff between the Headmaster and Hogwart's most famous student. Neither looked like they would give ground.
"Albus, what is going on here?" she said loudly.
"Minerva please escort Mr Potter to the hospital wing while I see to Mr Malfoy." Dumbledore replied without taking his eyes off Harry Potter.
"I am uninjuried, Professor McGonagall." Harry replied also without turning, "It's Ron who was hurt by Malfoy's attack. I am going to clean up the dorm."
"You ARE going to the hospital wing." Dumbledore yelled.
"Don't you get it? I am NOT going to be in any room with Malfoy unless he is unconscious like he is now no matter what you say." Harry replied quickly not giving the headmaster time to interrupt, "He's too emotional unstable to risk it. In fact, he's a danger to all the students as Ron here can testify."
"YOU WILL DO AS YOU ARE TOLD!" Dumbledore yelled back.
"I WILL NOT!" Harry bellowed back even louder.
"ALBUS!" Professor McGonagall interrupted forcefully, "You both need to stop this NOW! Let us take this matter to your office. Madam Hooch, can see Mr Malfoy to the hospital wing. We do not need another scene in public."
As Madam Hooch levitated Draco Malfoy from the floor and made for the hospital wing while the others headed for the Headmaster's office with Dumbledore leading the way. When they got inside Dumbledore seemed very surprised when he turned around to find, not only Professor McGonagall and Harry Potter but the entire Gryffindor sixth year boys and two of the girls.
For most of them this was the first time they had ever been inside the Headmaster's office. They were looking around in wonder at the cluttered shelves. If Harry had not been in such a temper, he would have laughed at the expression on Hermione Granger's face. Harry just knew she was itching to check out every book, ordament and magical item in the office.
Fawkes twilled a long song on his perch and everyone stopped to listen to the beautiful music. When the phoenix finished his uplifting tune, he flew to Harry's shoulder and rubbed his head against the boy.
"Hi Fawkes. That was very calming. Thank you." Harry told the magnificent bird as he patted him back. Harry seeing the stunned looks of amazement on his dorm mates faces explained, "This is Fawkes, he's the Headmaster's familiar. He is the most magnificent phoenix anywhere."
Fawkes puffed his chest up at the praise and spread his wings wide displaying his full plumage. Then with a firery burst of scarlet flame, he disappeared from Harry's shoulder and reappeared on his perch.
The headmaster laughed at the sheer amazement of the students at the phoenix's antics. "Ah! My old friend, you are a show off." He said to Fawkes. Fawkes huffed indignantly.
"Now perhaps those not directly concerned with this matter could leave my office." The Headmaster said.
"They are all concerned in this matter, Headmaster." Harry challenged as he took a seat at the desk. "All my dorm mate's personal property was destroyed when you allowed Draco Malfoy into Gryffindor Tower. We have just been to Hogsmead to replace their things. I paid for them for now as I do not believe it was fair for them to be out of pocket but I will be giving the bill for everything to you to forward to Narcissa Malfoy for payment."
"And if she refuses payment, Harry?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
If she refuses, I will seek to take legal action to recover the cost. But I do not think you would want this matter becoming public. The fact that you stood by and allowed Draco Malfoy to destroy the dorm would not look good to the governors next week. I will expect FULL restitution by then." Harry said as he handed over a number of receipts that he had totalled before leaving Hogsmead.
The Headmaster's eye's shot up when he saw the amount. It was not an amount that the Malfoys would part with willingly but he would cross that bridge when he came to it.
"I will see what I can do, Harry. Now if we may have a word in private." The Headmaster stated in a tone that meant business.
"We'll wait for you outside." Ron said as he turned to go.
"Mr Potter will be accompanying me to the hospital wing after this meeting Mr Weasley. You need not wait for him." The Headmaster said firmly.
Harry got up from the chair complaining, "What's the use? I'm sorry Professor McGonagall, I thought I could discuss this with the Headmaster in a rational manner but that seems to be impossible…"
"Harry, sit down." Professor McGonagall said in a very dangerous tone, "Albus be quiet. Mr Weasley, you and the others may return to the Tower. I will escort Mr Potter back there shortly."
Harry sat back down somewhat amused by the expression on the Headmaster's face at being told to shut up by his deputy.
"Now neither of you are going anywhere until this matter is settled. You will not yell or scream. You will act like adults and not squabbling children. Now talk."
Dumbledore looked highly affronted at being talked down too like a mere student by Minerva McGonagall, so Harry decided to jump in first.
Calming himself, Harry said, "All I am asking for is that my private affairs be left in my own hands. This is not a school matter, so you have no right to keep interfering in it."
Dumbledore gathered himself and replied, "I am sorry Harry but any matter that affects the outcome of the war is my business."
"Who I marry is not a war matter either." Harry retorted simply.
"I am afraid it has become one. You must marry Mr Malfoy, Harry. I have my reasons." Dumbledore replied as if that settled it.
"If you have YOUR reasons, Headmaster, I suggest YOU marry Malfoy. I have MY reasons not to." Harry retorted.
"You have no choice, Harry. The Veela laws mandate marriage." Dumbledore replied.
"Not till after the courtship rituals are completed, Headmaster, and that is going to be a very long time from now. Who knows what will happen by then." Harry replied regaining his calm exterior.
"Ah! So you are attempting to stall in the hopes of Mr Malfoy changing to another. I will not let that happen Harry. Stop these useless delaying tactics and make the best of your fate." Dumbledore said angrily.
"We know what my FATE is, do we not Headmaster. Would you really jeopardise that for the Malfoys?" Harry asked. "Because that's what's at stake here."
"Is that a threat Harry?" Dumbledore asked in a cold tone.
"No, Headmaster." Harry replied, "It's a promise."
The silence following that statement was tense as the two stared at each other for a moment until Harry felt the first touch of another mind and quickly broke eye contact.
"Harry, what do yo mean by that?" Professor McGonagall asked.
Harry smiled and replied, "There is a prophecy that the Headmaster informed me of last year Professor. It basically says that it will come down to Voldemort or me."
"Harry I do not believe that should be discussed." The Headmaster said earnestly.
"I'm not going to give details, Headmaster." Harry told Dumbledore and turned back to McGonagall to continue, "So as I figure the chances of a sixteen year old beating a experienced and brilliant wizard like Voldemort are slim at best, especially as no one tells me what I need to know, I refuse to sacrifice any more of my remaining life. So between now and my inevitable final meeting with Voldemort, I am going to pursue my life as my own, come what may." Harry turned back to the Headmaster and gave him a chilling look. "And if you attempt to force me into anything ever again Headmaster, I will break with you and your Order forever. This is not a bluff. I will not be tossed to Malfoy like some plaything for his sick pleasure on your whim. Stop now before you bring disaster down on your own head."
Professor McGonagall didn't even dare breath the tension in the room was so thick. Both of the men before her did not make ideal threats. If what Harry Potter said was correct and she didn't doubt for a second that it was, then what the Headmaster said next would determine the fate of this world.
Albus Dumbledore was thoughtful. The boy had defied him now openly and had the gall to threaten to withdraw from the war. But to openly confront Harry Potter now would be counter productive. Albus knew he would have to let the heat of their argument cool until he could regain control of the situation. Harry Potter had too many allies including his own Deputy Minerva McGonagall. Albus would have to see about that problem before he attempted to bring the boy back under control.
"I will consider carefully what you have said and leave it at that for now Harry." Dumbledore replied calmly.
Harry was watching the old man intently. "He's playing for time to outmanoeuvre me." Harry thought to himself. "As you wish Headmaster." Harry replied coolly. There wasn't anything else he could say. He rose from his chair and without another word, he and Professor McGonagall left the Headmaster's office.
"Well, that was somewhat hopeful Mr Potter. The Headmaster is at least considering your request." Professor McGonagall.
"We both know Professor," Harry replied, "that the Headmaster is merely awaiting his next chance to manipulate the situation to get me back under his control. And when he does the first thing he'll do is throw me to the Malfoys."
"We don't know that for certain, Mr Potter." the Professor stated. "Perhaps he'll decide not to interfer in this matter." Harry just gave her a questioning look.
"I will be ready for either eventuality." Harry said grimly.