Learning Incentive 8
By Loralee
Disclaimer: Not mine
Harry Potter was having the best summer of his life.
In his disguise as Blake Grim he had gone shopping in Diagon Ally and had flirted with a variety of girls. Harry felt he could at least talk reasonably with the female of the species now. He had spent money on books, clothes, household furnishings and presents for his friends.
Blake Grim had gotten his apparition license and had attended a variety of entertainment in both the muggle and Wizarding world. The goblin glamour disguised his magical signature as well as his physical appearance so neither Dumbledore nor Voldemort could track him.
Harry Potter had disappeared from Privet Drive under the very nose of the Order and neither they nor the Ministry were happy. Shortly after his disappearance Dumbledore was served with a restraining order preventing him from interfering with Harry Potter, he was also made aware of Harry's emancipation and informed in no uncertain terms that his manipulations of Harry would no longer be tolerated. He was given copies of the evidence of the spells placed on Harry, the disruption of Harry's mail, the abuse from the Dursley's and analysis of the wards there and told that if he bothered Harry or approached him as anything other than Headmaster of Hogwarts charges would be filed and evidence sent to the newspapers.
The ministry was in a shambles after the investigation of the theft of Harry's estate. It turned out that Fudge was behind the thefts from Harry and other orphans of the first war. With the information Harry had provided about Umbridge to a team of solicitors they had tracked down other student who had suffered abuse at her hands and filed charges. That had been the straw that broke Fudges back and with in days he'd been thrown out of office.
Harry's first official appearance as himself had been the Wizengamot meeting that called for a vote of no confidence. When he claimed the Potter seat Dumbledore twinkled sadly at him but made no attempt to approach.
Harry had stayed in contact with his friends since he had a secure mail drop that only Dobby could access and Dobby could easily defuse and dispose of any harmful or tracking mail. They were saddened by his break with Dumbledore but did seem to understand why it was necessary once he explained. Hermione was the only one he had no contact with since she was still out of the country.
Harry's lessons had gone extremely well, he was a talented student when he actually put his mind to it.
His OWL scores had been acceptable and close to what he had expected. O's in Defense, Charms and CoMC, E's in Transfiguration and Potions and Herbology, an A in Astronomy and he'd failed Divinations and History.
His letter had told him that Snape was going to be letting E level students into NEWT potions but Harry had discovered that he could take the Potions NEWT test without taking the class and had arranged a tutor for the summer and independent study. He dropped History, Divinations, Astronomy, and CoMC and opted to take NEWT level Defense, Charms, Transfiguration, and several elective classes available to 6th and 7th year students, Independent Runes which had a teacher available but students could work at their own pace, Ritual magic, Conjuring and Enchantments.
After sending his course list to McGonagall he'd received a note back.
Dear Mr. PotterI was dismayed to see that you were no longer interested in taking the NEWT level potions class. Is this due to a change in career goals? Or an indication of your on going troubled with Professor Snape.
The Headmaster has instructed me to enroll you into that class against your stated wishes and has also marked time for personal instruction for you from both himself and Professor Snape.
I must confess that his requests have me at an impasse. If I might be able to visit you and your guardians I'm sure that this can be sorted out.
Minerva McGonagall
Harry had written back to tell McGonagall they he could meet her in a conference room at Gringotts.
The day of the meeting with McGonagall Harry arrived early and asked to use a warded conference room for a meeting. Gringotts had such room available for a modest fee.
As he waited in the lobby he hoped that his faith in McGonagall wasn't misplaced. He'd arranged for her to be escorted to the meeting room and for tea to be available. He was waiting out in the lobby in his guise of Blake Grim to make sure she was alone and not followed.
About ten minutes before the scheduled meeting time, Professor McGonagall entered Gringotts and approached a teller.
"Minerva McGonagall I'm here for a meeting."
The teller motioned for a runner to lead the professor to meeting room c-4.
After watching for several minutes Harry ambled back toward the meeting rooms and in hall became Harry Potter once more.
"Good morning Professor," said Harry Potter.
"Mr. Potter you're looking well. Are your guardians with you?"
"No Professor, I've left the Dursley's and claimed my birthright as Head of the Potter House. I'm effectively emancipated. Here are the records you will need. I am surprised that the headmaster didn't tell you as I know he was sent copies." Harry smirked.
McGonagall looked surprised. "I've been very busy with the school, Mr. Potter, if you are staying at Headquarters I could have met you there. It would have been much safer for,"
Harry interrupted, "Professor I am not staying at Headquarters. Headmaster Dumbledore has no authority over me as you can see by those documents in front of you. I have a restraining order against him and his interference in my life. I will not be taking extra classes from him or Snape. It is your choice if you take his side as his lackey or mine as my head of house."
McGonagall sat there shocked as she sorted through the papers Harry had given her.
"Mr. Potter is do not understand how things came to be this bad. The headmaster has always had your best interests at heart."
"Has he? Then why did he place me at the Dursleys? Why did he not tell me of my heritage? Do you know the prophecy why I was targeted the night my parents were killed? I ask that at the end of my first year. He told me the same night Sirius was killed."
McGonagall's mouth dropped open, "I, Mr. Potter, Harry, I'm so sorry I don't know what to say."
"There isn't anything you can say Professor. It's just, I won't let him control my life or me any more. He needs me much more than I need him, and Voldemort is going to keep coming after me until I can finish him no matter what Dumbledore says or does. I'd like a chance to learn to defend myself before I end up dead. Keeping me in the dark and not allowing me the tools to learn what I need was a bad idea."
"I see, well about your classes. You requested Independent Runes yet you haven't taken Runes before and Runes is the prerequisite for Ritual Magic."
Harry grinned, "I'm being tutored in Runes this summer and will be willing to test for placement when school starts. I'm also being tutored in potions and have made arrangements for next summer also so I can still take the NEWT's for it."
McGonagall smiled back, "I understand. September 1 is on Friday this year. Would you be willing to test on Saturday morning? Excellent, I will put you down for those classes then. Your quidditch ban has been lifted also Mr. Potter. I'd like you to be captain."
"Thank you Professor. I hope I don't cause trouble for you over this." Said Harry.
"Nonsense Mr. Potter. The Headmaster should have told me about your emancipation as soon as he was made aware. I dare say I'll have a word or two for him."
She began packing up her things and the extra papers Harry had provided for him. When she stopped and merely looked at him for a minute.
"Harry if you need anything you will come to me won't you?"
"Yes Professor." Said Harry. He took a couple steps around the table and gave the startled teacher a hug and then as he opened the door to the conference room and stepped outside he triggered the glamour and a waved, then disappeared down the hall.
McGonagall shook her head with a laugh. The things that boy got up to. She just had to trust that he was safe and would trust her when needed. She vowed she would not betray his trust.
A/N Sorry for the delay in this story I participated in NaNoWriMo during the month of Nov. That story There is Only Power is being posted a chapter a day now check out my profile if you're interested. :)
I will be continuing this story, I'm hoping for chapters of 1000 to 2000 words and they will probably meander around for awhile. Thanks for reading.