"Harry," the Headmaster said in that tone of infinite patience generally used on willful three-year-olds, "You must not leave Hogwarts. You need to control your magic - you wouldn't want to hurt someone, would you?"

Yes, sir, I devoutly want to hurt you, at this precise moment, Harry snarled in his mind, keeping his spine straight, aiming for inches he didn't truly own. Defiance was in the bones, in the spine.

McGonagall chimed in, in annoyed tones that brooked no defiance, "Mister Potter, you must attend your education."

"I have yet to see a Yank at this school," Harry Potter said, crossing his arms, "That indicates that there's at least one school of Magical Education that is not Hogwarts. If I have to go to the Other Hemisphere to be safe..."

"Mister Potter! You hardly have to go to America to be safe!" McGonagall snapped, her voice finally betraying the helplessness that Harry was causing.

Harry's jaw had jutted out, and he was about to say something truculent, when Snape's smooth voice slid over the room like a garotte closing around someone's neck. "Well, well, well, Minerva, you finally encounter the arrogance this brat shows to me on a daily basis."

"There certainly wouldn't be no lickspittles in Godric's House," Minerva McGongall snapped, wheeling towards Snape, her hand on her hip - which was lucky, as Harry was starting to breath faster, his body preparing for the fight he could smell coming. He wanted his wand in his hand, refraining only because it might spark this gunpowder into exploding.

"What House would they be in," Harry asked instead, channeling the need to do something, "Hufflepuff?"

"Children!" The Headmaster exploded, his "kindly grandfather" guise completely falling to the floor, leaving behind a very annoyed, very powerful wizard. "Harry, Hogwarts has unparalleled protections for you from your enemies."

Harry was concentrating on very firmly "not looking" at Snape, who was studying him as if he was a bug or something. Does he know about his house? Stupid, stupid question. Of course he knows. He knows they've been trying to beat me at every turn. And keeps on assigning detentions anyway. Harry grit his teeth, wanting to punch something.

Around the room, the clickety clocks stopped, one by one. Harry's eyes were still locked with the Headmaster's.

Snape's voice slid out, calm as still water, "Silence. How unexpected."

Harry ignored Snape (he could always question him later), and asked, "Is it not one of my enemies that tried to kill me? Headmaster, how do you know?" Harry heard a soft impelled exhalation through the nose - as if Snape was laughing at what he'd asked.

"Regretfully," the Headmaster said, "I do not know for certain. I do know that none of Voldemort's followers could breech the wards."

"What other enemies have I made?" Harry spat, incredulous at the idea that he'd somehow hurt someone enough that they'd ask for his death.

"None of my House wishes you dead." Snape said stiffly. No, they just want me bloodied and kneeling before them. Conquered.

"My sources agree." Harry Potter said, and caught McGonagal looking at him sharply.

Snape raised an eyebrow, "I was not aware that you were on speaking terms with anyone who might provide a reliable report."

"You assumed I asked, sir." Harry said, his grin showing just the smallest shred of bloodlust.

"Harry Potter!" The Headmaster said, "As your defacto guardian in the Wizarding Realm, I deem this place safe and wish you to continue your education here. Is that clear?"

"Perfectly, sir." Harry Potter said, his mind already on how to fix the broken situation. Preferably without murdering the Headmaster.

"Headmaster Albus," Snape said, "What you have seen today from Mister Potter is termed "testing boundaries." I think you've amply demonstrated Mister Potter's limits. While normally in teenagers this would be a sign of youthful rebellion, in an arrogant child, it is merely to be expected. If you will release him into my capable hands, I can ensure that the arrogance leaves his body."

"Before or afta ya keell him?" McGonagall put in.

"Ideally before." Snape said.

"Severus," the headmaster said disapprovingly, "You know as well as I do that it is Professor's McGonagall's job to punish Harry as she sees fit."

Minerva McGonagall cut in, "And if you want to take some work off my plate, Assistant Headmaster may soon be yours!"

McGonagall strode off, Snape on her heels, and Harry, awkwardly, said, "Later," before he left the room. He had the disquieting sensation that the Headmaster had completely stopped paying attention to him.

[Albus was listening in to Snape and Minerva.

Snape devoutly didn't want Harry to mention getting beat in the dungeons.

Leave review!

Rowling does everyone a deep disservice by not doing anything for Harry at this point.

Yes you can say that Harry doesn't have a sense of self-preservation.

But you still need to explain how Ron and the resident brainiac didn't report Snape. And they are Gryffindors, so cowardice is a copout.]