Knowledge is Power
Disclaimer/Plot/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my many good friends and loyal fans: my recommended reads are Saviour of Magic by Colt01, For Love of Magic by Noodlehammer, Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Less Wrong, Partially Kissed Hero by Perfect Lionheart, Harry Potter and the Daft Morons and Angry Harry and the Seven by Sinyk, Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin by The Sinister Man, Harry Potter and the Rune Stone Path by Temporal Knight, A Study in Magic and A Study in Magic: The Application by Books of Change, Dark and Light by Pleasedial123 and Harry Potter: My Life Is My Own by Sashian
Key Pairing: Eventual Harmony;
Other Pairings: To be confirmed
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Campmaget: A HUGE thank you for being my 300th reviewer; just continues to prove I must be doing something right with this story;
Fast Frank: I guess so…I just hope I don't get someone asking about the other definition of that word;
C Menard: Well I did say like Sherlock, Stark and other geniuses/arrogant-but-lovable smart guys for how I was portraying him;
Bob19h: The floor: he was basically being petulant saying hey, if he can do it, why can't everyone else?
TheBigBruteOmega: Yes;
Deathmvp: Hogwarts Logic: nothing makes sense;
JasminSky: No, but he can influence certain others if he so chooses: imagine the chaos;
"Oh, and one last thing I forgot to mention."
Sticking the food in his mouth, Harrison mulched it up in his jaws before he spat just like the redhead idiot as he explained, "My name is Harrison Potter, not Harry; next time, Professor, get your facts straight."
Not only did he spray his food all over the Great Hall floor when he said the words, but, by the time the evening was over, Gryffindor was already in the negatives with the number of points McGonagall took from Harrison.
But did he care? Ha…does he ever?
Chapter 9: Where To, Harrison?
At long last, the feast came to a thankfully anticlimactic end and, following a song that Harrison was content to just hum along to, the students of the four Hogwarts Houses made their way out of the Great Hall.
All but Harrison.
He chose to remain seated in his place at the Gryffindor Table, much to the surprise of both Neville and Hermione.
While the rest of Gryffindor House made their way behind a smug-looking Percy Weasley – as Harrison later learned he was called – the two lions chose to stay with their friend, though he didn't seem to notice.
Instead, he seemed content just sitting there, toying with his wand, which caused a rather-impressive, if not enchanting series of red, green, blue and yellow sparks to fly from the end of it.
Finally, when the last students left the hall, Harrison finally looked to the High Table where, to his disbelief, the only staff members remaining were the Headmaster and, to the relief of the young wizard, Professor Flitwick.
As had already been made clear several times by now, Harrison held a great deal of respect for the goblin professor and, apparently, the feeling was mutual, unless it had more to do with Harrison's unique sorting.
"Miss Granger, Mr Longbottom, go with your Housemates," said Professor Flitwick, earning confused looks from the other two before, as though anticipating the next question before it was even spoken, the Head of Ravenclaw added in a reassuring tone of voice, "Don't worry about Mr Potter; we have been discussing his case and come up with a solution that might just benefit his unusual circumstances."
Before Neville, Hermione or anyone else could say anything, however, Harrison let out a scoff that seemed to suggest he knew what was coming next, before he spoke up, filling the now-almost-empty Great Hall with his voice.
"As far as I can tell, you've only got some very limited options, Professor, and a logical one. Now, the logical option would be to entrust me with the passwords and means of access for all four Houses' Common Rooms, which would prove fruitless because I'd be able to share my good fortune with any friends I made or anyone I wanted, even for ill reasons. Alternatively, which I'm sure you're going to do, you could ask me which dormitory I'd prefer to be in and send me there or, more-likely, you could offer me a dormitory of my own, which is usually reserved for special circumstances, such as married couples or some other upper-year purpose."
While Filius looked somewhere between amused and impressed that the boy had managed to put the pieces together so neatly, Dumbledore was dumbfounded as he got his first real look at the keen, observational mind of the emerald-eyed scion.
Harrison, meanwhile, looked back to the Ravenclaw Head as he asked him, "So, which is it, Professor Flitwick? A, B or C?"
"Like I said," replied Filius, earning a curious look from Harrison before he scoffed lightly when said man went on, "We have discussed your case in great depth, especially after your impressive tirade at the start of the feast concerning your thoughts on a Gryffindor student. And we have decided to offer you the Gryffindor Chambers which, as you said, are usually reserved for a married couple or the Head Boy and Girl. However, as the Head Boy is currently a Ravenclaw and the Head Girl is a Slytherin, we see no reason not to choose that dormitory and all assets inside for you."
"And let me guess," drawled Harrison, looking now to Dumbledore as he asked, "Back in their day, my Mum and Dad, Lily and James Potter, may they rest in peace, used that same room, so you're hoping the nostalgia might alleviate my less-obedient tendencies so I turn into a respectful, meek little boy again, right, Headmaster?"
Judging by the blanched expression on Dumbledore's face, this was exactly what he was expecting.
Knowledge is Power
What Harrison didn't notice, however, was the other reason Dumbledore looked so shocked.
When Harrison met the old man's eyes, Dumbledore tried a passive Legilimency probe, if only to discover where the boy's unyielding sense of isolation came from. However, when he brushed against Harrison's mind, Dumbledore found his probe assaulted by some unknown force that actually seemed to pull him into the sea of consciousness within Harrison's mind.
How the boy was capable of such a feat, he didn't know, but there was one thing Dumbledore did know;
Such defences were meant to be beyond the level of an eleven-year-old, especially one untrained in Occlumency as Harrison was.
In fact, the level of said defences was so strong and, dare he think it, sentient that calling it a simple Occlumency barrier would be insulting.
Albus couldn't even remember the last time he'd come across a defence so complex.
Hence the blanched look on his face.
Knowledge is Power
As Harrison cleared his throat, drawing his attention away from Dumbledore as he did so, he looked to Professor Flitwick as he asked, "No offence meant, Professor, but what if the next Head Boy or Girl are from Gryffindor? Or what if, in two years' time, the Weasley boy who let his own Mother shriek down half of King's Cross Station becomes Head Boy? What? Do I just surrender my private dormitory because he wants to be there?"
Again, Dumbledore tried to fight the urge to show disbelief as well as rage: he'd told Molly to get Harry's attention, not expose their world with her loud voice just to be sure of it.
Harrison, meanwhile, kept his eyes on Filius as the goblin teacher explained, "As I said before, Mr Potter, we have discussed the case in great detail and, after much deliberation, we have agreed that, if the Head Boy or Girl come from Gryffindor, we shall simply inform them circumstances have changed the norm and they will have no alternative but to relocate to one of the other chambers whether they like it or not."
"Even if they're both from Gryffindor like my parents were?"
"Yes," said Filius, though he seemed to grow a little sterner than normal as he added, "Now, since the Head of Gryffindor House isn't available…"
"Shocker," drawled Harrison, rolling his eyes.
"Mr Potter, kindly show respect to your elders," said Filius, earning a scoff from Harrison.
"Sir, right now, the only staff member I can bring myself to show any amount of deserved respect towards is you," explained the young wizard, earning a surprised look from Dumbledore as the emerald-eyed scion continued, "As for Professor McGonagall, she has clearly had the same idea in her head as a lot of people. That I'm either someone who spent his youth going on insane adventures and being capable of exceptional magical feats that might as well make me the next Merlin, or I'm a newbie with hardly any knowledge, which would prompt the need for some genius like Minerva McGonagall to come and save me. And yes, she's named for the Roman Goddess of Wisdom, but that doesn't mean I should instantly respect her, especially not after how she can't even handle the reality of what I'm like, ergo, my respect for her is the same as practically everyone else in Hogwarts, student and staff alike."
Here, Filius was a little surprised, if not proud to see Harrison look to Neville and Hermione before he added, "Earned, not given and, although I won't give any details just yet, let's just say that the only students to have done that are standing in the hall with me right now."
"But you hardly know them, Harry," argued Dumbledore.
"Harrison," chorused Harrison, Hermione, Neville and Filius, though it was the lesser of the foursome that continued as he added, "And, actually, it's Mr Potter to you too, Headmaster. We're not friends."
Dumbledore's last shred of hope in trying to gain any sort of control or insight to Harrison Potter fell faster than the Berlin Wall.
As for Harrison, he looked to Professor Flitwick as he asked, "So, getting back to it, I suppose you're the one who will be showing me where the new dormitory of mine is located, Professor?"
"Yes," said Filius, finally moving from where he'd been seated behind the High Table before, as he reached Harrison, he looked again to Neville and Hermione as he told them, "And if you will follow me afterwards, Miss Granger and Mr Longbottom, I will direct you to Gryffindor Tower and help you both re-join your Housemates."
"Though you're both welcome to come and visit whenever you like," added Harrison, earning a surprised look from Neville while Hermione smiled thankfully as Harrison shrugged in his rueful, I-don't-care manner.
"Something tells me you'll welcome the peace and quiet compared to Gryffindor Tower!"
Knowledge is Power
The Gryffindor Chambers – which Harrison later learned was ironically known as the Chamber of Pride, as in a pride of lions – was located behind a portrait on the seventh floor, down a corridor off the Grand Staircase, unlike Gryffindor Tower itself, which was located behind a different portrait on the staircase itself.
The portrait that protected the Chamber of Pride showed a pride of lions on the savannah, though, from time to time, the weather on the portrait changed from a bright, African sunny day to a fierce rainstorm during monsoon season.
The proverbial king of the pride also made his way forwards towards the students and the Head of Ravenclaw House, though only momentarily as Professor Flitwick placed his wand against the picture frame before he announced, "As Head of Ravenclaw House, and with the permissions and agreement of the Head of Gryffindor House and the Headmaster, I hereby claim this dormitory for one Harrison James Potter and any he deems welcome in the Chamber of Pride."
A loud roar, much like the song of the entire pride of lions, followed his declaration before, lowering his wand, Filius looked to Harrison as he told him, "There; now you will be able to access all that lies within. Be aware, Mr Potter, beyond this portrait is more than just a bedroom; there is also a Common Room and private study, all the contents of which are left here at the trust of the staff and our librarian, Madam Pince. If any of the articles are found damaged or otherwise not in your possession, you will lose your rights to the dorm; similarly, if you're found abusing the privilege by any means, you will be put in a House Dormitory with your peers and, I'm sorry to say it, but there's every chance it will be Gryffindor, understand?"
"Yes Professor," said Harrison.
"In that case," added Filius, indicating the portrait before he told Harrison, "Place your wand against the brow of the king and speak the password you have chosen. If you ever need to change it, just repeat the process, but only you have this right. Not even the school's staff can do it, nor can the Headmaster."
"Good," said Harrison before he could stop himself.
While the others looked at him in curiosity, however, Harrison sniffed before, placing his wand against the forehead of the King of the Pride, he took a deep breath as he explained, "The password is…"
Suddenly, Harrison removed his wand from the portrait before, turning to Filius, he cleared his throat as he asked, "No offence, Professor, but would you mind covering your ears for me? It's not that you're not welcome, sir, but I'd rather have my privacy limited to me and mine just for now."
"As you wish," replied Filius, covering his ears, which surprised Harrison as he'd expected even a little resistance.
As Neville and Hermione went to follow suit, however, Harrison stopped them as he added, "No, like I said, you two can stay whenever you need somewhere quiet for study or just to be alone with your thoughts, so you can know the password, but if anyone else finds out, I will revoke that."
"We…we understand," said Neville.
"Thank you for trusting us with this, Harrison," agreed Hermione, earning a very faint smile from Harrison as he turned back.
"In that case, my chosen password is Scorpion," replied Harrison, placing his wand against the lion's forehead before he gave the password.
In response, the king of the pride let out a roar of acknowledgement before he moved off to one side; as he did so, Harrison stepped back as the portrait swung open, revealing the room beyond, the sight of which actually made Harrison gasp, though not as much as Neville and Hermione as they followed him inside.
When Professor Flitwick made to follow, however, Harrison turned as a low, threatening growl filled his ears; seeing the Professor hesitate, Harrison sighed before he said, "I see…all right, then: Professor Flitwick has my permission to enter…he just can't learn the password for now."
The growling soon stopped, though Harrison couldn't help but smile as he added, "Interesting defence mechanism…now, let's have a look around."
Slowly, but with a sense of awe and liking for his surroundings, Harrison began exploring his new dormitory and private space.
In the Common Room, there was a gorgeous 3-piece leather suite decorated in cloths and cushions bearing the crest of Gryffindor, a large open fireplace and ornate Venetian table set in front of the 3-piece suite. A single stairwell led up towards the main dormitory where Harrison was a little surprised to find a king-size bed with the same Gryffindor design on the bedding and even the curtains covering the windows.
There was also a large, redwood-forged armoire and a private bathroom that led off the bedroom as well as a walk-in wardrobe and a balcony that opened out onto a stunning view of the Great Lake and the Forbidden Forest. Back downstairs, Harrison's interest peaked when Hermione told him she'd found two other doors; one that led into a library filled with more than a few books not on the syllabus, much to Harrison's amusement.
The second door off the Common Room led into a round, open chamber that could be used as a practice field for training and honing the power of his spells, as well as an adjoining set of French Doors that led out onto a lower balcony and across into the library. The Common Room also had a noticeboard, which Professor Flitwick told him was enchanted to recognise anyone who might be waiting outside the entrance without the password as well as receive messages from the Head of Gryffindor and other staff members that wished to communicate with Harrison.
All in all, it was perfect.
And, for Harrison, at least for the foreseeable future, it was home.
Looking to the Head of Ravenclaw, Harrison inclined his head before he told him, "Thank you for this, Professor…really, thank you."
"You are most-welcome, Mr Potter," replied Professor Flitwick, before he cleared his throat as he explained, "Also, since it will be an issue raised tomorrow at breakfast, I will tell you now. Your studies might be divided between the four Houses, but if there is any specific timetable you'd like to follow, let me know and I will inform Professor McGonagall. Also, you are permitted to sit with any of your classmates at any House Table during mealtimes, yes, even the Slytherins and, in lessons, it is up to whichever Professor is teaching you with regards as to which House earns or loses the points you gain and lose."
"So, in Potions, do us a favour and please be good," gasped Neville, earning a snigger from Filius before Harrison turned to his newest friend, who blushed as he explained, "Professor Snape despises Gryffindor House and is known to favour the Slytherins. Given where you sat tonight, I'd say he's already made his mind up about you, so please Harrison…please try and keep us in the black in Potions."
"Don't worry, Neville," Harrison assured him, his eyes shining as he told Neville, "I'll find a way to handle Professor Snape, which reminds me…"
Here, he turned back to Filius before he asked, "Who will my Head of House be?"
"Ah," replied Filius, actually smacking himself on the forehead as he added, "I knew I was forgetting something…"
"Well, not to be too forward, but I'd like it to be you, Professor, if I have the same choice as my lessons and table placements," said Harrison before Filius could finish, earning a shocked look from Professor Flitwick before he added, "As I said earlier, right now, you're the only teacher I can trust and, from the sounds of it, I might as well include remaining neutral with that trust, so, again, you're the only ideal candidate."
Here, a faint smile crossed Harrison's face as he explained, "However, for the sake of my peers, including Neville and Hermione here, I will gladly take my classes with the Gryffindors for the foreseeable future. Who knows? I might try out one House per year and see which one I like best."
"I'd love to see the results of that experiment, Mr Potter," laughed Filius, proud and grateful for the boy's candour about how he felt towards the Ravenclaw Head and the way he decided his future.
However, it was Harrison's next words that amused Filius even more when the boy gave a mock groan before he addressed the goblin mentor;
"Please don't use the E-word around me, Professor, because it's as tempting as a red rag to a bull!"
Chapter 9 and, wow, talk about a surprising bunch of choices, but will Harrison go ahead with the suggested experiment and, if so, what rewards will his findings reap?
Also, how will certain others handle the fact that Harrison is willing to join Gryffindor, have the Ravenclaw Head as his Head of House and has a plan for the Slytherin one? Boy, if you ask me, Hufflepuff seems to be getting off lightly…hopefully, right?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Harrison's first week more or less goes off without a hitch…until he finds himself going up against the Pride's biggest hater and, even worse, he's in the lesson with two pains in his ass, one of whom clearly thinks he's going to make Harrison look bad...
Please Read and Review
AN: The Chamber of Pride
So, admittedly, I've used the Chamber of Pride in a story from a LONG time ago, but the way it was set up and the way I used the entrance and the contents to my advantage seemed like too good a thing to pass up, so if you remember said story – which is on my profile and complete before anyone has a go – then I hope you like it this time around too;
