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:

So, no actual responses to this latest chapter's reviews: instead, a HUGE thank you to everyone who guessed about my query and now, for the list of dedications:

Guest, furface294, Akasha Drake and Zorro, all for correctly identifying the reference was not because of the TV show – though if you saw it as such, give yourself a pat on the back because it is something I love too – but because of the fable of the Scorpion and the Frog;

What does that have to do with it, I hear you ask?

Well, I think I'll let Zorro answer that for you:

Meaning the moral of the story of the scorpion and the frog is that people will be who they are, some people might feign friendship or love to get what they want, but in the end they will follow their true nature even if it is to their own demise. Trust takes time, and there is no substitute for time in the matter of trust, only with time can you see the true colors of another.

So a special shout-out and dedication to Zorro for not only guessing right – and being the first to do so at the same time – but getting the point I was trying to put across.

And now, for the next chapter…

"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 10: This is Me

When the Gryffindors discovered Harrison was going to be sharing their timetable and the lessons of Gryffindor House, there were several mixed reactions and interested parties, though, from the looks of things, Harrison assumed the other Houses felt snubbed in some way.

Thanks to Professor Flitwick, however, he had a way to deal with that.

'Who knows, maybe it could even be fun trying to work with all four times and timetables while I'm at Hogwarts?' thought Harrison, not that he'd admit having fun with anything, of course, but an experiment was an experiment.

Knowledge is Power

As for the Gryffindors, the only ones Harrison really seemed to be willing to give a chance to be with him were Neville and Hermione, both of whom were more or less always seen at meals and in lessons, seated either close to or on either side of Harrison as they worked together.

For the most part, this Golden Trio as they were soon known, became a good thing for Gryffindor and, in the eyes of their teachers, the union of the trio was seen as a bit of a godsend, especially since it resulted in Gryffindor House earning more than its fair share of points in the first week.

Not that Harrison cared about the House Cup, but he did relish the idea of being around like-minded individuals, especially when he discovered the pros and cons of his lessons. Contrary to his first impression of the witch, Harrison soon discovered Professor McGonagall was a reasonable, if not-interesting teacher to learn from.

She had a strong and very keen sense of order that she put into effect in her lessons, even going as far as watching over her students in her Animagus form when she wasn't offering advice or titbits on their tasks.

In the Gryffindors' very first lesson, she even marginally redeemed herself when she acknowledged Harrison's skill with magic after he managed to be one of the first to complete the task – transfiguring a matchstick into a needle – on the first try, the other one being Hermione. As for Neville, he seemed to be a bit uneasy with his wand work, which made Harrison curious and a little uneasy about his companion's sense of confidence, but that didn't stop him and Hermione offering help.

Then, on the seventh try, which Harrison found ironic because seven was meant to have magical significance, Neville managed a semi-complete transfiguration, giving his matchstick a shiny, pointed tip, but the head still looked like the head of a match.

Still, Neville looked more-delighted at managing even that much that Harrison didn't put his Housemate down.

Instead, he offered to give Neville as much support as he needed, much to the surprise of the aforementioned boy as he wondered the same thing a few others did, though not as crudely.

Why was Harrison bothering giving up his time to help a dead-last like Neville Longbottom?

Knowledge is Power

Easily Harrison's favourite lesson was Charms, because he had it with his Head of House and because, unlike other lessons, Professor Flitwick didn't just acknowledge the boy's skill, but he also let Harrison read ahead and move onto other charms if he managed to complete the task from time to time.

The only downside was that the lesson was with the Ravenclaws and, on more than a few occasions, Harrison caught them glaring at him with spite, hatred and envy, as though he wasn't meant to be like he was, either because he was a Gryffindor or because he was Harry Potter.

Still, Harrison did what he could and excelled in lessons to the point where, after the first lesson, Professor Flitwick told him he wouldn't be surprised to learn Harrison inherited his Mother's skills.

Suffice to say, Harrison felt an urgent need to leave the room.

Though not before thanking his teacher for the words…

Knowledge is Power

As one of a few lessons that didn't use magic at all, if not very often, Harrison was still surprised to discover how much he found himself able to enjoy the study of Herbology.

Not only that, but he also discovered this was one of the few lessons Neville really felt at home in; in their Herbology classes, the underdog of Gryffindor seemed to be replaced by a true lion who made up for all his poor work in other lessons by earning as many points and making as much of an effort as Harrison and Hermione.

He seemed to be at home in a greenhouse, tending to plants and caring for their growth or even repotting them for new growth or new plant life, in such a way that Harrison had to admire his friend's talents.

If he even noticed how he'd started thinking of Neville as a friend, he didn't say anything.

Knowledge is Power

Unlike his previously-mentioned lessons, however, there were those that didn't make Harrison feel like he'd ever accomplish anything.

For one, Defence Against the Dark Arts was as big a joke to magic as it was humanly-possible for it to be; not only was the class an annoyance because of the almost-persistent stink of garlic that filled the room, but the teacher was a blithering, stuttering fool who had no idea what he was talking about. In the end, Harrison chose to teach himself all he needed to know about Defence, using both the Chamber of Pride and his acquired books as study aides while, at the same time, offering what he called remedial lessons to Neville and Hermione, the latter of whom tried her best to focus in the real lessons, but, in the end, she gave up and accepted Harrison's help.

Anything was better than failing to advance because one man couldn't string two words together without tripping over his own tongue.

Knowledge is Power

That being said, there was something about their pathetic excuse for a teacher that Harrison didn't like.

He didn't know what it was, but whenever he was around Quirrell, the hairs on the back of Harrison's neck rose, almost like the hackles of a cat, while the young boy got a very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He didn't know why he felt what he did, but Harrison decided to keep one eye on his lessons.

And the other on Quirrell…

Knowledge is Power

Another lesson that turned out to be as big a joke, if not bigger – if such a thing were possible – was History of Magic.

At first, Harrison had been, dare he think it, excited to learn that he would be learning about the past from a genuine ghost.

However, by the end of his first lesson, he soon changed his mind: Professor Binns had the sort of dull, boring, monotonous tone of voice that would have even put someone like Ben Stein to sleep while he always seemed to be fixated on the history of the goblin wars and never went any further than the less-than-awe-inspiring climax of each battle.

It would have been interesting to hear, if it wasn't for the man's droning voice that seemed to lull everyone into a stupor.

Even Harrison found it hard to keep his eyes open.

That was how boring it was.

If he didn't find another way to learn about the successes and failures of the past, Harrison feared he might go mad.

Knowledge is Power

The one lesson Harrison wasn't looking forwards to, however, was the one that he had at the end of his first week:

Potions.

Even with everything he'd read, learned and researched about the art, the one thing he was least looking forwards to was the idea he got from the teacher, Professor Snape, the Head of Slytherin House, whenever he met the gaze of the dark-eyed, greasy-haired professor.

Like he didn't like Harrison, if not outright loathe and detest the boy's very existence, even though they'd never met.

Why he had such thoughts towards a student he'd never met, Harrison didn't know and, although he had plenty of chances to inquire about the reason, the young wizard decided he'd be better off finding out himself straight from the horse's mouth.

So, while he wasn't looking forwards to the lesson because of the dislike Professor Snape seemed to have for him, Harrison was looking forwards to one thing about the lesson at the end of his first week.

Getting answers.

And if they turned out to be the wrong answers?

Well, then he'd consider Plan B…

And that was an option he really didn't want to take, but if he had no other choice, he'd do it.

Better to be well-educated than have someone trying to sabotage his progress just because of a pitiful, impotent hate he wouldn't bother explaining.

A short, interval Chapter 10 and we see Harrison's thoughts on his lessons, but now, the main event nears, but will our hero get his answers? And, if not, what will he be forced to do?

What is Plan B and why would he not want it, even if forced to go that far?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: Potions and Harrison shows a side of himself that nobody has seen, but not without consequences that appear to cost Gryffindor a lot, but Harrison? What will they cost him? What is Plan B? Will he have to enact it? All will be revealed…

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