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

Pairings: Eventual Harmony; Others TBD

Normal Speech

'Thoughts'

/Parseltongue/

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"I told you before, Professor, I only care for me, myself and I, not for the traditions or demands of anyone else, least of all Gringotts and their desire to know everything about every client that comes through their doors. So whatever they want, you can tell them I decline their correspondence and will continue to do so until they learn the same lesson everyone else should."

"And what lesson is that, Mr Potter?" asked Filius, earning a final scoff from Harrison as he looked to said teacher before he answered him;

"My life…my choice!"

Chapter 13: A Challenge Issued

Suffice to say, when the majority of the teller goblins of Gringotts heard loud, raucous outbursts of laughter coming from the Director's office, real, genuine laughter that would have made the blood of much braver men and creatures turn cold with dread and fear, the first thing they thought was that their leader had finally lost his marbles.

However, when one of their ranks, the same goblin who'd serviced the financial needs of the Future Lord Potter to be precise – a shrewd, war-born spirit of finance and ferocity named Morloc – was asked to report to the Director's chambers, the reason for the laughter was revealed, along with a surprise from Director Ragnok.

Apparently, he'd been informed of the air of respect Future Lord Potter had held towards Morloc even when he'd turned down the aid of the goblins in favour of choosing his own path.

As a result, word of the boy's dragon-burnished-iron-forged will and isolated spirit had spread through Gringotts like wildfire until Ragnok, as well as Barchoke – the overseer and financial aid to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter – had come up with a way to see just how far the young lord's will took him.

The test involved sending a decree from Ragnok himself and then awaiting word from Future Lord Potter about what he wanted to do.

However, when Morloc asked his chieftain what was so funny about the fact that, apparently, Mr Potter had not responded – but, instead, according to a letter of formal apology from Barchoke's half-brother, Filius Flitwick, which included no small number of personal hopes and prayers for no vengeful moves on Gringotts' part, he'd torn up said summons – especially given the lack of respect towards the Director, it was Ragnok's answer that filled in the blank.

Knowledge is Power

"The decree was blank!" exclaimed the Director, earning a gasp of surprise from Morloc while Barchoke sniggered as his chief went on. "I wanted to see what Future Lord Potter would do if given the chance to encounter me personally, as so many wizards before him believe they immediately earn the right because of one thing or another. And I am proud to admit that his decision to apparently neglect said invitation has not disappointed me. Rather, I am proud by his decision and even more-amused by the way our brother wishes to keep the peace between our nation and the young lord-to-be."

"What do you mean, sir?" asked Morloc, earning a stern, but still mildly-amused look from his leader as he answered him.

"I do not wish any form of ill will against Future Lord Potter," explained Ragnok, looking now to Barchoke as he explained, "In fact, I await the day when he comes to us of his own free will. On that day, the horns of war and destiny shall ring true and, if this letter from Filius is true, they shall ring in the favour of Master Harrison Potter."

"But Director," Morloc argued, still confused by the key point as he asked, "Why does such a thought and expectations of time amuse you?"

"Because," replied Ragnok, still chuckling with mirth at the thought he made vocal as he answered his subordinate, "When that day comes, it shall also be the first day of a time where we goblins will have found the first spirit worthy of our allegiance since Godric himself!"

And, given the fact the goblins had vowed to never interfere with the affairs of Man after the goblin wars and the way they'd become little more than bank tellers and resources for wizard-kind, the fact that one boy of eleven years of age could earn such respect from the Director himself was funny.

Namely because of how Morloc and his brethren dared anyone to cross swords with the young lord; if and when any Man was stupid enough to try, they'd find themselves in for one hell of a fight. And it was no secret that goblins loved having a fight on their hands, so choosing to stand on a side of a respectful, but enigmatic spirit was a good move, financially-speaking.

But it was also a good move because, just like the goblins themselves, Harrison Potter would become someone with a real warrior's spirit.

The only question Morloc had to ask himself was when would Future Lord Potter willingly choose to take hold of that opportunity and become the great spirit Director Ragnok clearly believed he was worthy of becoming?

Now, it was a matter of waiting and, fortunately, if there was one thing goblins did well, it was wait for things to happen.

But that didn't mean they didn't wait with salivating tongues and eager expressions burned into their hearts…

Knowledge is Power

By the time September ended and October started to come around, bringing with it the expectations for Halloween and plans for Yule, it was pretty clear to almost-everyone in Hogwarts that Harrison Potter had become a lone warrior against the rest of the world.

In lessons, for reasons nobody else seemed to understand, he only worked with others when it was expected of him and, when it wasn't, he stayed solely focused on the tasks at hand, both earning and losing points – namely in Potions – when he was usually one of the first to complete the tasks in question. In the feasts, Harrison sat at the Gryffindor Table, but he seemed to prefer to keep his own company and hardly engaged with anyone, choosing instead to have his nose buried in a book or just blanking everyone and everything out.

To many of the Gryffindors, including the usually-tactless Ronald Weasley, this was a bit of a surprise since it looked like a rift had formed between the three friends who'd spent most of their first week together.

To the students in the other three Houses, however, this was a mystery, a surprise and, in the case of one particular House, it was an opportunity to get a bit of an inside-story on Harrison Potter, namely by seeing if he was really just one big bookworm or if he was a real wizard who, apparently, belonged in their House as the Sorting Hat had claimed.

Unfortunately for them, the one who decided to test Harrison was also one who didn't realise just who and what force he was dealing with.

But it was safe to say he was about to find out…

Knowledge is Power

The challenge came to Harrison after the Gryffindors had their first Flying lesson with the Slytherins.

In that lesson, Harrison had been one of a few who'd watched with his usual blank, apathetic stare as Neville's broom decided to come alive of its own accord and send him on a breakneck ride through the skies before leaving the boy in a crumpled – but thankfully still-alive – heap at the base of one of the walls of the school.

Afterwards, once Madam Hooch was stern about them staying where they belonged unless they wanted trouble, the Slytherins had started laughing at Neville's misfortune, which resulted in Harrison stating, rather bluntly, that the only funny thing was that it was a Gryffindor student who'd received a jinxed broom while, suspiciously, the Slytherins seemed to stay firmly on the ground and had brooms that obeyed them first-time.

The insinuation was clear and yet Harrison made it sound like he was commenting on nothing more than the weather.

In retaliation, Draco Malfoy challenged Harrison directly, calling him out for a wizard's duel as though it was meant to mean something.

At the time of the challenge, Harrison had been all for turning it down, since he didn't have anything to prove to anyone with such a juvenile act.

Not only that, he didn't even know why Malfoy was being so stupid as to make such a firm challenge because he, Harrison, continued to prove he was anything but a Slytherin supporter, let alone a toady of Malfoy's.

However, his thoughts were dashed when Ronald Weasley decided to open his mouth and claim he was Harrison's second, not that the young Potter heir needed someone so tactless to be his second for anything, but still, the move meant that the challenge had been made official. And yet, while Ronald saw fit to answer the challenge, Harrison stayed exactly where he was usually found outside of lessons; namely alone in his dormitory, calmly reading up on the rules and histories of wizard's duels.

It hadn't been until the evening meal before he'd realised Malfoy was trying to set him up to take a fall, but Harrison wasn't stupid.

Alone, maybe, but not stupid, especially since Malfoy also challenged Harrison and his second to a match at midnight.

Well, Harrison vowed he would have the last laugh.

As he proved the following morning at breakfast…

Knowledge is Power

Suffice to say, as soon as Harrison walked into the Great Hall for breakfast, abject horror was the only way he could have described the look on Draco Malfoy's face as he saw the student of the four Houses walk in as bold as brass and with the same air of confidence he always showed.

At the same time, Harrison's eyes narrowed suspiciously when he noticed Hermione seemed to be more than a little sluggish this morning while, as his eyes trailed over towards the four House Point counters, his ever-deductive, observant mind noted how Gryffindor had somehow been deducted exactly one hundred points overnight.

Ignoring the sense of ire that rose in him, especially since he was partially-responsible for a lot of the points that used to sit in the ruby-filled base of the Gryffindor hourglass, Harrison drew himself to his full height before, to the astonishment of the Gryffindors, he walked to the Slytherin Table.

All the while, Harrison could feel the eyes of both the Slytherin Head of House and his own specially-assigned Head of House following him as he walked to the Slytherin Table, breaking his tradition of staying with the Gryffindors for the first time all term before, reaching the snake pit, Harrison cleared his throat as he asked, "Heir Malfoy, is there something you wish to say to me?"

Almost-immediately, a hush settled over the Great Hall, most-notably on the Slytherin Table as those who knew of the old ways recognised the way Harrison was using formality to address a clear and present disagreement with another old family.

However, unfortunately for Harrison, the heir he was addressing was anything but proud, let alone aware of what was going on as he sneered in his usual self-deluded arrogant manner before he said, "I bet you were surprised to find yourself alone in the Trophy Room, Potter; I see Gryffindor's lost some points. Somebody must have tipped the Squib off or someone else."

"So, I suppose this means you admit you had no intention of turning up for a challenge of honour, magic and in the name of settling terms between the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter and the Noble House of Malfoy?" asked Harrison, earning a few alarmed, if not disbelieving looks from many of the more-neutral members of Slytherin, including another blonde who looked like she was going to be sick.

At the same time, thanks to the silence that filled the Great Hall, everyone else in the room heard Harrison's declaration as clear as a bell, which meant Professor Flitwick could also be heard responding to the statement made by Harrison as he asked the blonde Slytherin, "Mr Malfoy, is what Mr Potter says true?"

"Of course it's not!" snapped Snape, earning a roll of the eyes from Harrison as he exclaimed, "Potter's just wasting everyone's time fuelling his own ego: in fact, I think this disruption deserves…"

"This is none of your business, Severus Snape!" finished Harrison, his voice laced with a much harsher note than anyone else had expected to hear from him as he kept his eyes on Draco while he explained in a proud tone of voice, "This is personal, familial business between House Potter and House Malfoy: however, if you require further verbatim of Heir Malfoy's challenge, we can always ask Ronald Weasley or Hermione Granger, since they seem to be somewhat distracted this morning. Or perhaps Mr Filch will vouch for last night's apparently, suddenly-urgent need for one hundred points to be deducted from Gryffindor House?"

"Or I can vouch for your claim, Heir Potter," insisted a tall, weedy-looking first-year named Theodore Theo Nott if Harrison's memory served him correctly, rising from his seat – much to Draco's alarm – as he faced Professors Flitwick and Snape before he continued filling in the blanks for the sake of everyone listening in. "Yesterday, for no reason other than to smooth his own ego after Heir Potter made a passing remark about the state of the school brooms, Heir Malfoy issued a challenge to be contested between him and Heir Potter, officially naming and declaring it a wizard's duel and naming seconds: Ronald Weasley for Heir Potter and Vincent Crabbe for Heir Malfoy. The latter then named a time and place when Weasley decided to stick his wand in and make said challenge official; the Trophy Room at midnight, which, thanks to my own bouts of insomnia, I can say with absolute certainty was a challenge that went unanswered by Heir Malfoy. However, as Heir Potter says, judging by the evidence seen in the sudden decline of rubies in the Gryffindor hourglass, I think we can all agree Weasley turned up…and probably Granger too."

"But not him!" insisted Ron, pointing an accusing finger at Harrison, who just nodded once in Nott's direction, as the redhead asked, "Where the bloody hell were you, Harry? We nearly got caught by Filch and then we…we…"

"We were caught outside the third-floor corridor after trying to escape Mr Filch and Mrs Norris," explained Hermione, earning a sigh from Harrison while he nodded slowly, the final piece of the puzzle now falling into place.

If anything could be a reason for such a high amount of points being deducted, it was that.

"However," continued Nott, looking now to a red-faced Draco as he added, "You were not there, Malfoy and don't bother trying to claim you got past me. I was up in the Common Room until 2am before I finally managed to get myself off to sleep and, if you want an alibi for my claim, you can ask the Bloody Baron, since we were both talking most of the night about my insomnia and the Baron was benevolent enough to offer some advice on a potion or two that might help treat this condition."

As the first-year Slytherin finished his description of events, whispers and questions followed Nott's declaration.

At the same time, Harrison took a breath, as though preparing to say something more on the matter.

However, once again, Snape got there first as he snapped, "Enough: Mr Nott, it sickens me any of my snakes would betray one of their own…"

"I'm sorry, Snape, but is that one of their own or is that Lucius Malfoy's son?" asked Harrison, again sounding colder than he must have intended as he glared daggers at Snape, giving new meaning to the phrase if looks could kill, before he added, "Either way, you have no voice here, Professor: according to the Ancient Rights of Combat and Conquest, if a wizard's duel is made official by the use of seconds, both parties must attend and either come to terms to settle their dispute or perform said duel to a yield or, if necessary, deathly conclusion. And, although I admit that I was not in attendance, my second was, which still made me a magically-recognised and legally-entered combatant by the same laws and rules of contest."

"Shut up, Potter!" snapped Malfoy, as though he knew where this was going.

However, Harrison actually smiled, a real, genuine smile that made everyone else shiver when they noticed how shark-like it was before the young boy shook his head as he explained, "No, Malfoy: you made your bed. Now you will lie in it."

"Harry, think about what you're going to do," advised Dumbledore, apparently choosing this moment to get involved before things got out of hand.

However, Harrison ignored him again as he faced Professor Flitwick before he asked, "Master Flitwick, as a renowned Duelling Champion, you are familiar with the Rite of Victory by default, are you not, sir?"

"I am."

"And…" asked Harrison, glaring at a white-faced Malfoy while his smile grew even more-predatory and actually-scary to behold as he asked his Head of House, "Can you tell us, sir: what is the penalty for failing to attend a duel arranged and made an official contest between two heirs of magical bloodlines like mine and Heir Malfoy's, whose Mother is also a daughter of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black?"

"I said enough!" roared Snape, but Harrison still didn't listen.

Neither, it seemed, did Filius as he answered Harrison, "By the ancient laws of combat, the defeated party becomes a vassal and, if necessary, indebted, if not bound in servitude to the victor. This would mean, in this situation, Heir Malfoy has forfeited his family's freedom to you, Heir Potter."

Gasps filled the Great Hall as the truth hit home; at the same time, Malfoy seemed to shrink in his seat while those whom were either allies or close friends of Lucius Malfoy's glared at Draco as though they couldn't believe he could do something so stupid that even Lucius' influences in the Ministry couldn't get him out of this.

"And," asked Harrison, folding his arms while he delivered what he knew to be the killing blow to the blonde's arrogance, as well as the biased prat who was apparently lucky enough to be called a teacher of students as he went on.

"Tell me, Professor: can anyone overrule this penalty as dictated by Mother Magic and the Ancient Laws of Conquest?"

"No," said Filius, looking from Harrison to Severus as he added, "No-one: by declaring an official wizard's duel between you and him, Heir Malfoy has invoked the magically-binding honour of his family, without the counsel of his Family Head, Lord Lucius Malfoy, I might add. As such, the magic now holds itself indebted to you, Heir Potter. Right now, the fate and futures of the Malfoys…all Malfoy Household members…are in your hands."

The Great Hall was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

Even Dumbledore seemed beaten by the facts and truths given by Filius – and, from the way he was talking, truths that were known by Harrison as well – while Snape was turning every shade of red and white possible.

As for Harrison, he took a single breath before, in a soft voice that was still heard by every other member of the school population, he said, "Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titilandus…aka never tickle a sleeping dragon, Heir Malfoy…you'll only get burned."

Here, he turned away from the Slytherin Table before he walked over to the Gryffindors.

As he did so, however, Harrison hid a smirk when he heard Professor Flitwick ask, "What are you going to do, Heir Potter?"

"What any real wizard would do, Professor, namely the honourable thing," said Harrison, looking back to Draco before he drove the point home as he'd planned to since reading up on his lore when, according to Draco's dim-witted plan, he should have been getting caught by Filch.

"By the Ancient Rights of Combat, I, Harrison James Potter, proclaim before all witnesses present that I will gladly and willingly nullify the debt owed to my family…if one Draco Alexander Malfoy, Heir of the Noble House of Malfoy, will meet me, as agreed, on the field of battle, one month from now, on Samhain, with Lord Malfoy present to witness this for himself…what say you?"

What could Draco say that wouldn't result in things being made worse for him, even moreso because he knew his Father would hear about the mistake he'd made and the terms set by Harrison Potter?

Short answer…nothing.

Nothing except what he did say as he met those apathetic green eyes before he answered the smug and victoriously-minded wizard.

"I accept."

Chapter 13 and, oh boy, it looks like Draco's making his bed…in a grave he's already digging for himself, but now he has a chance to put right his own stupidity, what will happen when two rivals meet?

Also, with Lucius in attendance and a very personal night chosen as the date and time, what is Harrison's endgame, especially since he seems to be walking the path of the lone warrior now more than ever?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: Harrison seems prepared for the next step in his future, but before he can begin getting ready, he finds a road block in the form of a long overdue conversation between friends, including a surprise confession that the canon version of a certain someone would never admit;

Please Read and Review

AN: Harrison's Challenge

So, I bet a lot of you are confused by what's going on here; well, let me just say I wanted to do something different than the usual book/movie canon altered – Harry saving Hermione – especially since things are currently tense between our heroes.

So, instead, I chose to make a fun idea out of something that, between you guys and me, should have been explored further given who Harry and Draco really are – heirs of their families and Harry being much-smarter and likes to be better-prepared in this story – so I came up with this confrontation about the Midnight Duel.

At the same time, I got a chance to show Harrison's Ravenclaw mind, Slytherin cunning and Gryffindor bravery all at once: after all, not just anyone would make such a song-and-dance about the consequences, only to turn it around on the instigator in the first place.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this twist to the norm and keep reading to find out what my plan is;

AN2: Gringotts

Also, how did you like the surprise concerning Harrison's letter? I admit, it sounds random, but I thought about the impression Harrison made when he first met the goblins and then I wondered what the director's reaction would be.

Simple answer: he wanted to see the truth of Harrison's decision to stand alone and forge his own future for himself, even at the cost of possibly shunning and offending the goblins. If Harrison had responded, he would have proven his respect and impact on the goblins was nothing more than a child playing a game.

But he didn't respond and, instead, the results were told by another, which amused Ragnok because of how even Filius missed the test and instead thought Harrison had offended the goblins further.

When, in point of fact, it seems he's made a friend for life, albeit one he probably never intended to make;