The Stress of Being Harry Potter

Chapter 2

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk in Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry speaking to Remus and Alastor about the train station incident , when one of the silvery instruments on his desk began to wail an alarm.

Remus and Alastor both whipped out their wands and pointed them toward the object, when Albus raised his hand, "Don't panic. However, we must move quickly. That alarm indicates that Harry has used magic at Privet Drive. The Ministry will arrive quickly, and we must avert a disaster."

The three of them ran from the room, but as they were doing so, Remus and Alastor exchanged a significant glance, and Remus muttered, "I knew sending him back there again was a bad idea."

Alastor nodded as the two men followed Dumbledore from the castle, "Aye, laddie. I know you did."

Within moments of Harry using magic at Privet Drive, Order wizards began popping up all over the place. One of the first to arrive was Tonks, and Arthur Weasley. Harry looked up at the two and said, "Given how quickly you got here, I'm going to assume that you were outside."

Arthur nodded sheepishly as more wizards popped into existence and converged on the house. Albus arrived, and stepped into the house to ascertain what had happened. It didn't take a genius to note Vernon's crumpled body, and the looks of abject terror that were on Petunia and Dudley's face. Albus sighed.

As he was doing so, Remus rushed over to Harry, and asked, "Are you alright, Harry?"

Harry nodded, "I'm fine, Remus. I just wasn't going to let them put me in a cage."

Remus looked startled for a moment until he looked up and followed Harry's pointing finger to the barred entrance to the cupboard. Remus's eyes narrowed in anger, and a low growl escaped his throat.

Albus chose then to speak, "Harry, I realize that you have a difficult time here, but was it so drastic that you had to use magic on a defenseless Muggle?"

An anger that Harry barely knew he was capable of blazed up within him, "Defenseless? Ha! I doubt that. That fat fool was going to throw me in a cage and starve me for the summer. How else was I supposed to deal with the situation?"

Albus sighed once again, "Privet Drive has always kept you safe, Harry. Now, we have little choice but to move you elsewhere, and use up valuable resources guarding you that could be used in the fight against Voldemort. Don't you think you're being a little selfish right now? You could have endured some hardship to stay safe."

Harry snorted, "Why don't you go to hell? I have had enough with people expecting me to shut up and take whatever garbage the wizarding world dishes out. Don't expect me to continue to do so."

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed, "Harry, do not forget that I am your Headmaster, and I expect to be treated with respect. Now, you will come with the Order, and we will relocate you to Headquarters."

Albus turned to walk back to the door as if everything was settled, but Harry stopped him cold in his tracks, "I don't thinks so, old man."

Albus visibly took a deep breath and then turned back to face Harry, "Excuse me?"

Harry replied, "Don't pretend that you didn't hear me. I have no intention of going anywhere with you and your precious Order. As it is currently summer, and you are in no way, shape, or form my guardian, then you have no authority to tell me what to do. I've come to realize that, and I have no intention of answering to your every whim as I have before."

These word were accompanied by the arrival of Cornelius Fudge, Amelia Bones, and several Ministry Aurors. Cornelius clapped, "Well spoken, young Harry. Albus, I believe the young man is correct in his assumption that you have no right to tell him what to do." Cornelius turned to Harry, "Now, Harry, we received intelligence that you have yet again used magic here at Privet Drive. What have you to say for yourself?"

Harry pointed to the crumpled heap that was his Uncle Vernon, and said, "That thing intended to put me in a cage for the summer. I didn't allow it to occur. Given the fact that he is four times my size, magic was the only way to defend myself."

Cornelius looked from Vernon to the barred cupboard with his mouth hanging open in astonishment, while Amelia's gaze grew quite hard as she rounded on Albus, "Dumbledore, I find it difficult to believe that you would allow something of this nature to occur with a figure as polarizing as young Mr. Potter. I know for a fact that you keep him under surveillance constantly since some of my Aurors moonlight in your organization. So, Albus, I am waiting for an answer as to how this situation could have possible arose?"

As Dumbledore opened his mouth to articulate a response, Harry interrupted him, "Ma'am, if I may, I believe that I can tell you why. I highly doubt the Headmaster would tell you the whole truth. Merlin knows that he's never told it to me."

As Dumbledore turned red in the face at the insult, Cornelius chuckled appreciatively, "Well spoken again, Harry. Albus does have a tendency to layer the truth. He has some idea that only he knows what is best for everyone else. This wouldn't be the first time that it has gotten him into trouble."

Moody stepped forward, "Well, spit it out, then. I'm interested to see how close to the truth your assumption is." He turned and grinned mischievously at Remus and winked.

Harry settled back against the wall, and took a deep breath. He turned and exchanged a glance with Remus Lupin, who gave him a nod of encouragement before turning a baleful gaze back at Dumbledore. Harry closed his eyes as he composed his thoughts, "For this to make sense, we have to go back to the moment after my parents were killed. The Headmaster took it upon himself to place me here with my mother's sister. He has claimed to have done so for my protection, but what kind of protection. He knew that they would hate me for what I was, and that I would grow up starved for love and affection. Is that protection?"

Amelia shook here head, "No, Harry, it isn't."

Harry persisted, "Were there not other ways to protect me than sending me here?"

Amelia nodded, "Of course."

"Then, why were none of the other methods employed?"

Cornelius replied, "Dumbledore said that you were safe, and at the time nobody thought to question his decision on the matter. The fact that he and Millicent Bagnold were political allies most likely played a part. I was still in the Department of Magical Catastrophes at the time."

Harry nodded, "I understand that perfectly. Now, however, you see how horrible a childhood I truly had. A childhood that Dumbledore foresaw. So, ask yourselves, why on Earth would he intentionally subject me to this?"

Amelia glanced at Dumbledore. He didn't bristle under her glance, but stood rigid with fury. Then, she shrugged, "I have no idea, Harry."

Harry smiled, "I've had many long years to wonder myself, ma'am, but something he told me a few days ago made everything crystal clear to me. There was a prophecy before my birth that said I would be the one to kill Voldemort. The headmaster, at that time, didn't believe that I had truly finished Voldemort as a baby, so he needed his weapon preserved, but he also needed that weapon to rely on him so he could control it. What better way to control a child, than to control how they are brought up? He knew the conditions here would make me cling to anyone who showed the slightest affection for me. The headmaster always took a special interest in me, and it made me look to him for direction. This was how he wanted it, but now he made a critical mistake. He allowed my godfather to be killed in front of me, because he kept information from me." At this point Harry turned on Dumbledore, "And now, old man, you are nothing to me. I will never look to you for guidance again. So I suggest you go to hell."

Moody cackled, "Excellent, boy. You got far closer than I expected, and a lot closer than Albus is comfortable with."

Amelia turned to Dumbledore with a look of dawning horror and comprehension on her face, "Is this true, Albus?"

Dumbledore stonily shrugged, "Not precisely, but Mr. Potter has the gist of my motivations. The underlying reasons for them escape him, but on that subject, I will say no more."

Cornelius Fudge stepped forward, "Its obvious that Mr. Potter can no longer remain in this household. As such, I am declaring him a ward of the government, and we will choose his placement with a wizarding family that will care for him until he reaches his majority."

Madam Bones cleared her throat, "I would like to petition for that role, Minister Fudge."

Cornelius nodded, "Is that acceptable to you, Mr. Potter?"

Harry nodded, "I would be honored to stay at Madam Bones' home." He bowed deeply to her, "I am in your debt, ma'am."

Amelia shook her head, "No, young man, the wizarding world is in yours. This is but the first step to repayment."

Dumbledore nodded to Amelia and Fudge before turning and striding from the room. The Order followed him with three exceptions. Moody paused long enough to pat Harry on the shoulder, "Good show, lad, good show."

The next to pause was Arthur Weasley, "Harry, I don't know what to say."

Harry shook his head, "There's nothing you can say, Mr. Weasley. You didn't have the power to prevent any of this. Its not your fault."

Arthur nodded, "I just want you to know that the Burrow is always open for you to visit, Harry."

Harry smiled, "I know, Mr. Weasley. If its alright with my new guardian, I will visit as soon as I'm settled."

Amelia smiled, "I'm certain we can work something out. I've always thought highly of Arthur and his family."

The famous Weasley blush crept up on Arthur's face, "Thank you, Amelia. I will see you at the Ministry later. I have to go explain to Molly what happened first."

Harry shuddered, "I don't envy you there. Mrs. Weasley is probably frantic by now."

Arthur chuckled, "You have no idea, son. No idea at all."

Arthur left the house and Apparated home, and Remus took Harry by the shoulders, "I want you to know that if I had known just how bad this was, I would have taken you, Dumbledore be damned."

Harry smiled, "I know, Remus. We don't have to worry about that anymore. That part of my life is over, and another chapter is about to begin. Hopefully, we will be able to keep the quill for this one out of Dumbledore's hand."

Remus clapped him on the back one last time, and departed.

Then Harry turned to Madam Bones, "Well, ma'am, I'm ready to leave here if you are."

Amelia nodded, "Yes, Harry, let's take you home."