Chapter 26 - Meeting of Minds
Harry appeared from beneath the invisibility cloak in his first lesson for the day, Defence against the Dark Arts, using the moment of distraction when the Professor called the students to order and the rather useful large body size of his friend Ron. Harry took his seat as usual next to Hermione and Ron.
The DADA Professor began to discuss the charm they would be studying today and as usual drifted off the subject into some tale that made no sense to any of the students.
Ron grumbled, "Aren't we ever going to have a decent DADA Professor."
"At least he hasn't tried to kill me." Harry replied frowning as he thought over all his previous DADA professors.
"Give him time, mate, give him time. The year has just started." Ron pointed out smiling.
"Sssh" Hermione shushed them both but instead of paying attention to the Professor, Hermione slipped a copy of the Daily Prophet into Harry's lap.
Harry gave Hermione a questioning look. Hermione, with a nod towards the paper, answered him.
Harry looked at the paper closer and saw the headline. "Oh!" he said quietly. It seemed the paper had taken exception to Harry's change of requirements for candidates in the courtship rituals. The entire front page screamed outrage at the very idea of a wizard or witch requiring their future spouse to be comfortable in the muggle world. Numerous points of view were reported from candidates feeling they were jilted out of their rightful place as the-boy-who-lived's intended. Allegations of mental instability from being raised by muggles were resurrected from the previous year. It seems that Harry had gone from the most eligible bachelor in the wizarding world to disturbed menace overnight yet again.
Harry shrugged his shoulders and passed the paper back to Hermione. Class continued for what it was worth until it was finally dismissed at the bell.
"Harry, what are you going to do?" Hermione asked anxiously the instant the students started to move from their desks.
"Do about what, Hermione?" Harry replied.
"The things they are saying about you in the Daily Prophet, of course." Hermione said in a frustrated tone of voice.
"Nothing." Harry answered.
"Nothing?" Hermione asked.
"Its not like they haven't said those things before Hermione." Harry said.
"But this time its different Harry. Last year it was Fudge and the Ministry getting the paper to say those things, this time it seems like there are a lot of people out there that are really offended by what you have done." Hermione said.
"They're offended." Harry snapped, "What the hell have they got to be offended about. It's me who's getting married, not them; It's me who everyone is trying to force into Malfoy's arms, not them. It's me who has to kill… Forget it. Just forget it. I have had enough. They can all go jump for all I care." Harry shouted and then kicked himself mentally as he almost gave away the prophecy.
Hermione's eyes had narrowed and Harry expected the damn perceptive witch to hone in on that last little slip but luckily they were interrupted by one of the incoming third years.
"Mister Potter, Professor McGonagall told me to tell you that Mrs. Longbottom is waiting for you in the headmasters office." The young awestruck boy said nervously.
"Thanks, Peter isn't it?" Harry said, "And its not Mister Potter alright, its just Harry."
"Neville!" Harry called out catching his friend before he left the DADA classroom. "I need you to get your Gran from Dumbledore's office to the Room of Requirement. Alone!"
"How do I get into the Headmaster's office, Harry?" Neville asked.
"Well, as usual Dumbledore didn't send the password." Harry said in an annoyed tone. But then a devious gleam appeared in his eyes and Harry smiled, "I tell you what you should do Neville."
The Headmaster's office was crowded. Mrs. Longbottom sat in front of the Headmaster's desk rubbing her hands together nervously. The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge paced back and forwards muttering. Percy Weasley hovered close to the Minister ready to undertake any task Fudge wanted. Professor McGonagall stood next to the seated Headmaster. Draco Malfoy lingered in the background away from the others but with a decided presence due to his veela nature and the imminent arrival of his mate. Snape glowered from a nearby chair.
"It should not be too much longer…" Dumbledore said pleasantly but was cut off by a booming sound from the spiral stairs. Several little whirling instruments on the Headmaster's desk started to emit excited little whistles and beeps. "Professor McGonagall would you mind seeing why Neville Longbottom is attempting to destroy my gargoyle?"
Professor McGonagall hurried down the stairs and returned shortly thereafter with a very abashed Neville Longbottom.
"It seems," Professor McGonagall said in an annoyed tone on her return, "Mister Potter told Mister Longbottom that casting a reductor curse at the gargoyle was a better method of gaining entry to your office that standing there guessing sweet names all day."
Dumbledore frowned, "And where is Mister Potter?" he asked directing his query to Neville.
"He asked me to take Gran to meet him, Headmaster." Neville replied and after a moments hesitation added, "Alone."
"What all this?" Fudge spluttered angrily. "Get the boy here now."
"He won't come," Neville answered, "Not with them in the room." He continued glancing towards Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape.
"Who does he think he is?" Fudge raged.
"Harry Potter." Neville answered quickly surprising many in the room, "And he wants to talk to just you, Gran."
"Right!" Mrs. Longbottom stated confidently. If her Neville could stand up to all these people, she would too. "Take me too him, Neville." Mrs. Longbottom announced, as she stood ready to walk to the door with her grandson.
The others in the office simultaneously exploded into howls of outrage.
"You all heard Neville!" Mrs. Longbottom's formidable voice boomed over the other's protests, "He wants to see me alone."
"My dear lady," Fudge blustered in a supercilious tone, "I'm the Minister of Magic…"
"Cornelius!" Mrs. Longbottom interrupted, "I helped your dear departed mother during her long excruciating labour when you were born. You mucked everyone around interminably then, and you haven't changed a bit. My Neville is right. Harry and I will be meeting in private to discuss the matter of his requirements for a bride. If you wish, I will take a message for you to Mister Potter but I can't promise he will meet with any of you. That is for him to decide, not me. Now what is it you wish me to say to Harry?"
Fudge spluttered in outrage having had his sizable ego lanced so effectively. But he eventually calmed down enough to utter a few words to a waiting Mrs. Longbottom. "These… These new requirements… Ridiculous! The boy must withdraw them immediately. Outrageous! Muggle world nonsense. I demand he withdraws them and makes a public apology."
"Why should he?" Neville interjected. "Its his choice. And it makes sense if they are going to live in the muggle world."
"Muggle world! Who says he is going to be living in the muggle world?" Fudge boomed.
"He does." Neville replied simply, "Says he can live his life without all the-boy-who-lived crap. So it makes sense his wife would have to know how to…"
"Nonsense," Fudge roared, "Potter isn't going to be living in the muggle world now or in the future. I won't permit it!"
Neville Longbottom's eyes narrowed, his face flushed red and the air around him crackled with magic. Very, very few people had ever witnessed Neville Longbottom lose his temper. Until now!
"YOU WON'T PERMIT IT!" Neville bellowed shocking everyone in the Headmaster's office including his own grandmother, "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? SOME JUMPED UP POMPOUS WINDBAG THAT HARDLY ANYONE LISTENS TOO ANYMORE. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO STOP HIM? SEND THAT BITCH UMBRIDGE BACK TO TORTURE HARRY WITH THE BLOODQUILL AGAIN? PERHAPS SHE CAN ACTUALLY CAST THE CRUCIATUS CURSE THIS TIME OR BRING HER PET DEMENTORS WITH HER. BUT IT DIDN'T STOP HARRY LAST TIME. IT WON'T STOP HIM THIS TIME."
"Mister Longbottom!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed before any of the others could react to Neville's bellowing at the Minister of Magic. "What was that about Umbridge and a blood quill?" She demanded forcefully.
Neville, still casting a furious glare at Fudge, replied through his gritted teeth, "That's what she used in her detentions on students, making them write lines in their own blood until they begged her to stop. But Harry never gave in, even though he had more detentions with her than anyone else, practically every night for the whole year. You can still see the words in the scar on his hand. 'I must not tell lies.' That's what it says."
There was a collective intake of breath through the whole room. Professor McGonagall had paled considerably but setting a stoic look upon her face she continued. "What about the Dementors?"
"Umbridge admitted to sending the two Dementors that attacked Harry and his cousin during the summer." Neville said. "The attack that this boob put Harry on trial for." Neville indicated Fudge as he said this.
"Poppy cock, utter balderdash!" Fudge finally protested having recovered from his shock at being berated by Neville Longbottom. "I'll have the Aurors take this boy into custody. I'm the Minister of Magic, I can't be…"
"QUIET!" snapped Professor McGonagall, "And the cruciatus curse, Mister Longbottom?"
"Umbridge was going to use it on Harry to make him talk after she and her inquisitorial squad caught everyone in her office but Hermione tricked Umbridge into the forbidden forest instead."
"The cruciatus on a student…" Professor McGonagall.
"And she tried to slip Harry Veritaserum in his tea, a whole vile of it." Neville added.
"Veritaserum! A whole vial!" Professor McGonagall shrieked, "but that would be fatal."
"Good thing Harry was clever enough not to drink anything Umbridge gave him. " Neville replied. "Come on Gran, Harry's waiting."
With that Nevillle managed to take his grandmothers arm and steer her quickly from the office and out the door. The others in the office were still to busy thinking about Neville's revelations to really react in time to stop them leaving.
"Albus, did you know about this?" McGonagall asked suddenly.
Albus just signed in frustration. The revelations that Neville Longbottom had just made in front of so many people would have far reaching consequences. It would enviably lead to a number of investigations into the events of last year. Many things Dumbledore wanted to keep quiet would now be splashed across the front page of the Daily Prophet. The ministry would be badly destabilised, Fudge would almost certainly be scrambling doing all sorts of ridiculous things trying to avoid being forced to resign and having a new minister appointed. A new minister that at best Dumbledore would be forced to spend a lot of time manipulating into being directed to doing as Dumbledore wanted. At the worst the new Minister could be a Death eater. Dumbledore's plans would all be thrown into disarray.
"You did know, didn't you?" Professor McGonagall replied shocked after having recognised the expressions crossing the Headmasters face.
"Minerva, you must understand. Everything I do is for the greater good." Dumbledore replied.
Meanwhile many different conversations were going on amongst the others in the office.
"Weatherby," Fudge said addressing Percy, "get onto my contacts at the Daily Prophet. Announce a formal investigation into alligations of abuse of students by staff at Hogwarts will be lead by me personally. We need to put the right spin on this. Then get the Aurors to arrest that boy."
"On what charge?" Percy replied shocked at the idea of having Neville arrested.
"Ummm Suspicions of being a death eater." Fudge announced pompously looking pleased with himself.
"Minister, the Longbottom name is very well known as being opposed to the Dark Lord. I don't think that will be believed about one of them. And it's also well known he's a close friend of Harry Potter. Potter's bound to announce the charge false to the whole wizarding world." Percy told Fudge bluntly.
Fudge blustered at his aid, "Well you think of something. Must I do everything? Just get the boy in the cells at the ministry."
"I really don't think that's going to be possible Minister. Madam Bones wouldn't allow…" Percy tried to reason with the man.
"Why can't I see him? You promised me I could see him…" Draco whined to Severus Snape.
Snape was ignoring Draco now realising that the headmaster would probably not be able to get Potter to withdraw his compliant from going before the Board of Governors. Snape faced the real possibility of being forced out of the only place he had ever considered home. And it was all Potter's fault.
Meanwhile in the Room of Requirement, Harry Potter served Mrs. Longbottom a cup of tea after Neville had hurriedly left to get back to his morning classes.
"Who would have thought my Neville could be so forceful." Mrs. Longbottom said after recounting the events in the Headmaster's office to Harry.
"I think you underestimate your grandson like everyone else, Mrs. Longbottom." Harry replied.
"It's kind of you to say so Harry." She replied.
"It was merely the truth. Neville may be a quiet type of person normally but still waters run deep as the muggle saying goes. It means there are hidden depths to your grandson. I know that's true after seeing him in action against those death eaters in the Department of Mysteries last year. You should have seen him stab that death eater in the eye with his wand after he was unable to cast a spell because of his broken nose." Harry said remembering the battle at the Department of Mysteries.
"Death eaters! My Neville was with you at the Department of Mysteries?" Mrs. Longbottom shrieked. "Don't tell me that's how he broke his father's wand?"
"Oh yes he was there and thank Merlin he was. The two of us were the last still able to fight. Neville's own wand was actually broken earlier in the battle when another death eater broke his nose. He was using Hermione Granger's wand after she was injured. It was just after we were both finally caught and Bellatrix Lestrange cast the Cruciatus curse on him, then help arrived letting us both get free to fight again. I was being choked by this huge death eater and Neville comes at him with a look on his face that would make Voldemort step aside." Harry said. "Stabbed him right through his mask and got me free. No, when Neville has his dander up, he is a force to be reckoned with, Mrs. Longbottom. Mark my words."
"My Neville did all that?" Mrs.. Longbottom asked in an awed tone.
"Damn straight!" Harry replied. "All that and more. Much more."
The matriarch fanned herself striving to keep from fainting. "Well, I am going to have to have a long talk to my grandson. He could have told me. " She complained. "But be that as it may, we still have to discuss the matter of the controversy about your changes to the requirements for your future bride."
"Do we have to?" Harry complained but received a withering look from Mrs. Longbottom. "Alright, what about it?"
"Perhaps you should drop them…" Mrs. Longbottom began.
"No!" Harry said firmly.
"But Harry, many families see the requirement of being familiar with the muggle world as being insulting." Mrs. Longbottom tried to reason.
"Why?" Harry replied, "I mean I know the pureblood fanatics that hate all muggles might have some problems with it but I'm a muggle-raised half blood in their eyes. I personally don't see what all the fuss is about. I have made no secret of wanting to live in a muggle household after I graduate. It's just better for me I think. Its not as though I'm the only wizard who will do that."
"But you are not just another wizard Harry. You are the-boy-who-lived. They have even started calling you the chosen one after the events of last year where you once again stopped the Dark Lord from getting what he wanted in the Department of Mysteries. You must understand your place in the wizarding world. Many will see your decision to return to the muggle world as a rejection of the wizarding world. Even muggle borns who have left their world behind long ago will feel slighted by your decision. Everyone expects you to become a great wizard. And everyone will expect you to be a pivotal figure in the wizarding world after you graduate. Fudge will insist you stay in the wizarding world and he will be able to gather support from all of our society who think you should stay in our world too."
Harry fumed in silence for a few moments. The waves of anger coming off of him were almost tangible. "I am not changing my plans just because everyone else thinks they know what is best for me." Harry ground out between gritted teeth. "I have had a gutful of that from Dumbledore. I will live where I damn well please and nobody is forcing me to do different."
"Please calm down Harry. I am merely telling you what you can expect to occur unless you take action to prevent it." Mrs. Longbottom replied tersely.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Longbottom." Harry apologised, "I don't mean to take my anger out on you. Its just it's so frustrating."
"I understand Harry." Mrs. Longbottom replied in a softer tone, "Now why don't we put our heads together and see if we can't come up with a plan on how we deal with this."
Harry quickly agreed and the two spent the next hour in deep discussion.
"Thanks for all your help in this Mrs. Longbottom. I don't know what I would do without you." Harry complimented the old witch.
"It is my pleasure Harry. I haven't caused this much turmoil since I was a student here myself." The old witch laughing replied with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Mrs. Longbottom, don't tell me you use to go around playing pranks on other students. What will Neville say when he finds out." Harry replied teasingly.
"You will be telling my grandson no such thing Harry Potter. Speaking of Neville I must go find him for that long discussion I mentioned earlier." Mrs. Longbottom said looking quiet eager to confront her grandson about his adventures of last year and his hidden depths.
"He'll be in the Great Hall at lunch shortly Mrs. Longbottom." Harry replied.
"I will await him there then." Mrs. Longbottom replied as she walked out the door.
Harry Potter sat in the room of requirement for a few more minutes mulling over what he had discussed with Mrs. Longbottom. Finally he rose and headed for the library under his cloak for another rendezvous with Blaise.
"I'm here now Blaise." Harry said as he appeared from under the invisibility cloak.
"Malfoy's latest letter. He looked strangely pleased when he gave it to me. " Blaise replied handing the familiar envelope with the Malfoy family crest on it to Harry.
Harry frowned, "He's not taking the hint is he?" Harry said in a depressed tone.
"I told you he would not do so." Blaise replied raising an eyebrow at the Gryffindors foolish desire to be rid of the attention of the Veela. "Well open it. I must admit I am curious about the contents."
Harry gave a snort as he ripped open the envelope and then began to read.
The staff table in the Great Hall was crowded today as the visitors from the Headmaster's office joined the Headmaster and his professors for lunch. Mrs. Longbottom, luckily not seated in Snape's usual place this time but in a place next to Professor McGonagall, berated her grandson's head of house for allowing him to go into such a dangerous situation. The Headmaster was also not lucky as he had Fudge posturing next to him, telling the headmaster how the school should be run and how to bring Harry Potter into line.
Neville for his part sat at his usual place at the Gryffindor table looking somewhat abashed after being forced to explain to his grandmother what had really happened to him last year. When he got to the part where Bellatrix Lestrange had cursed him with the cruciatus curse, his grandmother had grabbed him into a hug as she sobbed but then pulled herself together to give Neville a good dressing down for not telling her before, then Neville was hugged again. Frankly it all left Neville a bit confused. He couldn't work out if his grandmother was angry with him or proud. "Both." Hermione had told him when he asked her opinion. That only confused him more. But Neville's thoughts were interrupted before he had reached any conclusions.
The doors to the Great Hall slammed opened, violently.
The Headmaster had his wand in his hand in a mere instant. His staff was almost as quick as most of the students were still jumping in surprise at the sound. But not all. The members of the DA were armed and standing away from their tables already in fighting crouches, wands out ready to meet the threat.
The threat this time happened to be the one who had taught them their fighting skills. Harry Potter with the magic sparkling in the air around him strode angrily into the Great Hall. The enchanted ceiling clouded over and lighting flashed amongst the ever-darkening clouds. The look on Harry's face was the same one as the Headmaster had seen during his destruction of the Headmaster's office at the end of last year. Harry Potter was furious. The headmaster blanched at the prospect of facing Harry's anger again. But it was not the Headmaster that Harry Potter's furious gaze sought out. Harry's eyes, glowing with green fire swept the Slytherin table until they found Draco Malfoy. Then they really burned.
Draco Malfoy looked like a deer caught in the headlights. This was his mate that was coming at him looking like fury incarnate. Draco froze uncertain whether to run to or away from Harry Potter.
"MALFOY!" Harry yelled, "What the hell is this fucking crap." Harry continued waving Draco's last letter crumpled in his fist,
Draco's mouth moved up and down but no words came out. But something else happened before any of the ones rushing towards the two could act. Draco attempted to sooth his mates anguish the only way a veela knew how. Unfortunately in his desire to calm his mate's anger as quickly as possible and his inexperience with his veela powers, Draco did not direct his power solely towards Harry Potter. Draco washed the entire Great Hall with desire.
All the students and some of the staff arose from their seats as one and pressed forward to get to Draco Malfoy. The whole hall descended into pure chaos.
"ENOUGH!" Harry Potter's voice boomed over the cacophony of shouts and yells of the others trying to gain Draco's attention. A white bolt leaped from Harry's wand and boomed above the heads of everyone in the hall momentarily shocking the others into silence.
"Cut it out Malfoy." Harry yelled as he pushed through the crowd before the Slytherin table.
Draco pushed towards Harry, his desire raging but now withdrawn from everyone except his mate. But on Harry Potter all of Draco Malfoy's Veela's allure was for nought.
"What in Merlin's name were you thinking writing me this crap. I thought even you understood me better than that. It sounds like the shit Snape sprouts…" Harry Potter bellowed.
The other students were pushing back now that the desire that Draco Malfoy had enflamed them with had disappeared and they found themselves near a clearly angry Harry Potter. A clear space formed around both Harry and Draco as students backed quickly away from the conflict, allowing the two to approach each other.
"… Oh No! You didn't. You couldn't be so stupid as to get Snape to write this for you!" Harry yelled into the face of Draco. Draco cringed and his actions told Harry the truth of his guess. "Snape! You got Snape to write me a love letter. Sweet Merlin above. The man is trapped in an adolescent feud with a man that has been dead for fifteen years. He is so blinded by his hatred for my father; he sees nothing else but his own twisted bitter memories rather than me. This entire letter is a testimony to his mean spirited petty bloody mindedness. And this is the man you had write a love letter to me. If I ever once had a shred of respect for you, it is gone now."
Draco Malfoy winced at the tone of Harry's voice. It held a contempt Draco had never heard from Harry Potter before in their many years of arguments and mutual derision. Draco reacted instinctively sending his Veela desire towards Harry again but as usual Harry did not react.
"You can't get through my shield with that…" Harry spat but stopped in mid sentence as Draco placed both his hands gently on Harry's face and with the direct contact Harry's shields crumpled instantly and his mind went blank.
Harry Potter was enraptured.
Draco Malfoy smiled. He had won his mate.
Authors Note: Sorry about the long time since the last update. Had some RL issues to del with. Will try to get a weekly update done in future although I may not quite succeed.
Sorry about the cliffee. I couldn't resist.l Besides all my favorite authors are doing it to me.
Don't forget to leave a review and tell me what you think of the chapter and story so far.