The Stress of Being Harry Potter

Chapter 7

The next morning Harry received an owl from the goblins requesting his presence before the Goblin High Council at three in the afternoon. He immediately set off to find Madam Bones, and showed her the missive.

She smiled, "I presume that you wish to go."

Harry nodded emphatically, "Of course. I could use all the help I could get against Voldemort. I'm certainly not going to turn down a chance of allying with the goblins."

"You know that the Minister nor Dumbledore are going to exactly be excited about this."

Harry chuckled, "Of course they aren't. But when have I ever let what those two thought dictate my actions? I'll go as planned."

Madam Bones nodded, "I'll arrange for security."

Harry shook his head, "I think it better that I go alone. After what happened yesterday, Voldemort won't be stupid enough to send a Death Eater into Diagon Alley for awhile. He'll know that the Aurors will be on high alert. I'll disguise myself until I get to Gringotts."

"Very well, Harry. I'll trust you to take care of yourself. Susan would never forgive me if I let something happen to you."

Harry grinned, "I have little doubt of that. She wouldn't forgive me either."

Later that afternoon, Harry was being showed into an extremely large chamber. He paused for a moment to look around and whistled in surprise. The top of the room disappeared into obscurity it was so tall. The walls of the room appeared to glow with a soft luminescence that provided the light for the room, while the most dominating feature was the raised semicircle table that appeared to seat seven.

After standing there for a few minutes, another door opened to Harry's left and a group of seven armed goblins marched into the room, followed by seven goblins in ceremonial robes. The robed goblins each took a seat at the table, while the armed goblins each took their place to the right of each chair.

Harry bowed to the High Council, and waited to be spoken to.

After a couple of moments, Tagnold addressed Harry, "You may rise and be seated, Mr. Potter."

Harry did so, and took the seat that appeared next to him.

The goblin in the center of the table spoke next, "My name is Lacknar, and I am head of the Goblin High Council, Mr. Potter. It has come to my attention that we goblins owe you a debt of gratitude. I have called you here to see how we might repay that debt. What would you ask of us?"

Harry replied, "I would ask nothing of the goblins. I only did what I felt that I must, and the goblins owe me no debt. It was my honor to aid your kinsmen."

There was much murmuring in Gobbldygook at this pronouncement. Tagnold smiled at Harry, "Well said, Harry. However, we seek to pay the debt that we see, and have brought you here to offer an alliance between the Goblin nation and the Ministry of Magic. We would like you to be the liaison between our two governments."

Harry stood and bowed, "As honored as I am by your request, I am afraid that I must refuse such a position. I would fail to do the job as it should be done, and that must not come to pass. However, if it pleases the Council I do have a suggestion for a wizard that would do the job as it should be done."

Lacknar nodded sagely, "Whom do you suggest, young wizard?"

"Arthur Weasley. He is a man of integrity, and does not harbor the resentments and prejudices against your kind that are so prevalent in the wizarding world."

"An excellent suggestion, Mr. Potter, and one we will certainly take under advisement."

Harry bowed once again, "Is there anything else that the Council requires of me?"

Tagnold shook his head, "No, Harry, we will begin to deliberate on your suggestion, and send for him if we decide to follow your advice."

"Then, I shall not take up anymore of the Council's valuable time. I wish all of you a profitable day." Then, Harry turned and walked from the room.

Lacknar turned to Tagnold and said, "That wizard bears watching. I was most impressed. He has obviously studied goblin traditions and protocols."

"He is a most intelligent young man, and I look forward to the day that he fully develops his powers. The impudent Lord Voldemort will soon find his match, of that I am certain."

The next morning, Harry arrived at the train platform early with Susan, and quickly stowed his trunk and hers in a compartment, and then the two of them walked hand in hand back out to wait for their friends to show up. The first to arrive was Ernie MacMillan and Hannah Abbott. The obligatory greetings were exchanged amidst much eyebrow raising at the two of them holding hands. Harry directed the two of them to the compartment that he and Susan had claimed, and then continued to wait on the rest of Harry's friends.

While they were waiting, Malfoy swaggered up to them, "Well, Potty, I see that you've managed to find another duffer to lick your coattails."

Harry snorted, "I see that you've managed to buy your way out of trouble once again, Malfoy. I assure you it will be the last time."

Malfoy scoffed, "The Malfoy name is well respected, Potter. You would do well to remember that."

"They can't respect the Malfoys if they're all dead, now can they?"

Malfoy's eyes narrowed, "Is that a threat, Potter?"

Harry smiled viciously, "You can take it however you like. I simply wouldn't suggest crossing me. Now, if you don't mind, I have better things to do than talk to you, and besides the smell you're giving off is beginning to make me ill. So, shoo." Harry accompanied this statement with a dismissive gesture of his hand and then turned to continue watching for his friends as if Malfoy were no longer there.

It was an extreme effort on Susan's part not to burst out laughing at Malfoy, but she did allow a small smile to creep onto her face, which just appeared to anger Malfoy even more before he stomped off in a huff.

Neville appeared just afterwards and smiled at the two of them, "Hey, Harry, its good to be going back isn't it?"

Harry returned the grin, "Yes, Neville, it is. I should say that this year will be more fun than the last."

"Yep, no more Umbridge. I wonder who they got to teach defense this year."

Harry shrugged, "I'm sure the old man will tell us at dinner."

Moments before the train was to depart, the Weasleys came rushing in out of breath. Ron ran up and slapped Harry on the back, "Hey, mate. Save us a place on the train, Hermione and I have to go to the bloody prefects meeting."

Ron's mother and Hermione simultaneously scolded, "Language, Ronald."

Harry chuckled and grabbed Ron and Hermione's trunks and hoisted them onto the train, as Ginny followed the pair towards the compartment with her eyes flashing darkly.

About an hour later, Ron and Hermione came into the compartment from the prefects meeting to find a compartment full of Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. Harry, Ginny, Neville, Susan, Hannah, and Ernie had a roaring game of Exploding Snap going. Hermione sniffed disdainfully, while Ron laughed and said, "Hey deal me into the next hand guys."

Harry reached over and slapped Ron on the back as his cards exploded in his hand. "I guess the next hand is starting now," he commented dryly.

Everyone laughed, but Hermione who took the interruption in the game to begin her normal behavior, "Harry, I think we need to talk."

Harry raised an eyebrow at her as he proceeded to deal the cards for the next hand, "So, talk. No one is going to stop you."

Hermione looked meaningfully around at the others in the room and repeated, "No, Harry, we need to talk."

Harry shrugged, "Everyone here are DA members, and I have no intention of keeping them in the dark about things, so if you have something to say about the old man and his bird club, then come out and say it in front of everyone."

Ernie and Hannah looked at Harry quizzically and asked, "Bird Club?"

Ron laughed, "That's Harry's nickname for the Order of the Phoenix. It's a group that Dumbledore leads to help him spy on You-Know-Who."

"Ronald, you know what the Headmaster said about keeping that information quiet. You shouldn't have said that to them. I have to go let Professor Dumbledore know that they will all need to be Memory Charmed," snapped Hermione.

Neville, Susan, Hannah, and Ernie looked at each other apprehensively before Harry raised a hand to halt the conversation, "No one is going to be Memory Charmed. If the old man even thinks about it, I will have him before the Ministry on charges so fast his head will spin. If he thinks that he can Memory Charm the knowledge that they were Memory Charmed from me, well, I would just like to see him try."

"What does that mean?" asked Ron.

"You can't Memory Charm an Occlumens, Ron. We can protect our memories from the charm, so that it doesn't work."

Hermione scoffed, "Harry, I hardly think that taking lessons from Professor Snape counts you as a true Occlumens. You said yourself that you didn't learn much from him."

"No, I didn't learn much from old Snape, but I did learn plenty from the Auror that I took Occlumency lessons from all summer long."

As this vein dried up, Hermione again pounced on Ron, "Ron, you still shouldn't have said anything about the Order in front of them. You know what the Headmaster said."

Ron chuckled, "Yeah, Hermione, I reckon I do know what the Headmaster said. That doesn't mean that I think he's right, and if you will remember the conversation, you will also remember that I never agreed to anything. You just said, 'Of course, professor' and assumed that I would mindlessly follow along. I hate to break it to you, Hermione, but I am perfectly capable of thinking for myself, and I agree with Harry on this one. The more people that know the better."

Hermione huffed, and then turned to Harry, "Well, you should at least apologize to the Headmaster for the way you spoke to him. He told us what happened this summer."

"If the esteemed Headmaster has a problem with the way I spoke to him, then you can take him another little message. You can tell the old man I said to kiss my ass."

Hermione huffed at this, and then returned to reading a book and didn't speak to any of the other occupants of the compartment for the rest of the trip. For their part, the rest of the occupants had no desire to listen to her anyway.

The Hogwart's Express settled to a stop at Hogsmeade station, and the group of Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors got out with a sullen Hermione following behind. They talked and joked all the way up to the castle as they anticipated the Welcoming Feast. The students all settled down into their seats as Professor McGonagall brought in the first Years. The Sorting Hat commenced with its song, and then the Sorting began. After the first years had all been seated, Dumbledore stood up, "I'm sure the announcements can wait until we've all thoroughly enjoyed the meal, so without further ado, tuck in."

The students fell to their meal with gusto, and soon not a crumb was spared as they devoured the meal. When all were done, Dumbledore stood again., "Now, to the start of term announcements. For the new students, welcome to Hogwarts, for the returning students, welcome back. As always the Forbidden Forest is strictly that, forbidden. Mr. Filch would again like me to remind you that using magic in the corridors between classes is against the rules, and the banned object list has increased in size greatly due to the recent opening of Weasley Wizard Wheezes. Also, with the threat of a returned Voldemort, security has been increased over the castle. We have Aurors stationed as guards at the entrances, and they will be periodically roaming the castle. Any infraction considered to be dangerous to other students will be punished with expulsion. Hogsmeade visits will not be announced until the morning that you are going to avoid an attempt by Voldemort to attack the students while they are exposed, and certain other precautions will most likely come into effect, and you will be notified of those accordingly. And now, to introduce to you your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I present Professor Widget." The students clapped politely to the new professor, who merely smiled at the assembly. Dumbledore continued, "So, sleep well. Prefects if you would take the first years to their dormitories."

As Harry stood up to leave, Professor McGonagall's hand landed on his shoulder, "Mr. Potter, the Headmaster would like to have a word with you."

Harry snorted, "I'm sure he does."

Harry followed her up to the gargoyle, where she gave the password, "Payday," and then proceeded to walk up the stairs. The two of them arrived in the Headmaster's office to find it empty. McGonagall pointed to a seat, "The Headmaster will be with you shortly." Then, she turned to leave.

Harry stopped her, "I take it you aren't staying for our meeting."

McGonagall shook her head, "The Headmaster intimated that he would like to speak with you alone."

Harry snorted, "In other words, he doesn't want any witnesses, so that he can deny whatever load of bull he tries to pawn off on me. I understand."

McGonagall huffed indignantly, "Mr. Potter, the Headmaster has never attempted to pawn off bull as you so coarsely put it."

Harry smirked, "If you believe that, Professor, then you don't know the Headmaster half as well as you think you do. For that is what he has done with me from day one, and that is the way it will remain, I'm certain, as the Headmaster has no desire for me to become knowledgeable of my place and power in wizarding society."

McGonagall's eyes narrowed, "How dare you accuse him of such?"

"How dare I? Well, would it interest you to know, that I had no idea that the Potters had another vault besides the one I've been given access to until this summer? Did you know that the Headmaster kept from me the fact that I hold a hereditary seat on the Wizengamot? Did you know that the Headmaster has stopped the goblins from admissing Sirius Black's will until I am seventeen so that he can block my access to my inheritance even further? That is how I dare. I have accused the Headmaster of nothing but being complicit in the plots within plots that circle around inside that devious little brain of his. Of course, the Headmaster will argue that everything he has done was done for the greater good, but you'll excuse me if I scoff at the fact that the Headmaster has the right to decide what the greater good is. In addition to that I find the idea of doing something just for the greater good to be seriously lacking, because the rest of the world needs to take care of themselves. If they can't, then let the Death Eaters have them."