The Stress of Being Harry Potter

Chapter 8

The Headmaster stepped into the room, "Harry, I'm somewhat disappointed in you. It is our duty to protect those that can't protect themselves."

Harry snorted, "You may see that as your duty, Headmaster, but I have no such desire anymore. I think that instead of attempting to treat the symptoms, we should just cut out the root."

Dumbledore's eyebrows went into his hairline, "And how would you go about that?"

"Kill the bastards before they become powerful enough to cause havoc. You have the entire next generation of dark wizards underfoot here in the castle, and you let them run completely amok with your resident Death Eater covering for them in every way."

"Professor Snape's role is not open for discussion, Mr. Potter."

"Of course it isn't, because that would entail someone questioning the great and wise Albus Dumbledore knowing what was best for everyone. Not that it matters, it won't be much of a role. The first time I see him in battle, you'll be looking for a new Potions Master. I intend to show no quarter."

"Professor Snape is a vital part of the Order of the Phoenix, Harry, you can not intentionally antagonize him."

"I am not part of your precious Order, Headmaster, nor will I be while you are in charge of it. I have no faith in your leadership, and I have no trust or confidence in you personally."

"You will remember to whom you are speaking, young man. I am the Headmaster of this school, and you will show the proper respect."

"A school that I will no longer be a student of if we ever have another conversation such as this one, Headmaster. I will leave Hogwarts and Britain to Voldemort if it suits my fancy. Once he's killed you, and the others in this society I find distasteful, I can always come back and finish him off."

Dumbledore recoiled in horror from the young man in front of him, "What could have possibly turned you this much against your own countrymen, Harry?"

Harry sneered, "That honor lies solely with you, Headmaster. Good evening."

As Harry was stepping toward the exit, Dumbledore called out after him, "Wait, Harry, there is one more thing that we need to discuss."

Harry turned back toward the Headmaster with a glower. "Yes?"

As he did so the door behind him opened, and Snape stepped into the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore sighed, "I'm afraid that you must re-begin your Occlumency training with Severus."

"No."

Dumbledore seemed taken aback, "Harry, I know that even though you are at odds with me right now, you must see the significance of your Occlumency training. It is imperative that you learn to protect your mind from Voldemort."

Harry snorted, "On that we agree, since it is painfully obvious, but I refuse to take Occlumency lessons from him." Harry jerked a thumb over his shoulder at Snape to emphasize his point.

"Harry, I realize that you and Professor Snape don't get along, but in the interests of the greater good you should learn to work together…"

Dumbledore trailed off as Harry burst out laughing, "I believe we've been over what I think of the greater good speech, Headmaster, and I can assure you that the enmity between Snivellus and I goes much deeper than that. He hates me because I represent everything that he will never have, and I hate him because he's a greasy Death Eater that licks Voldemort's boots."

Dumbledore stood in anger at Harry, as Snape whipped out his wand and threw a curse at Harry. A curse that hit Dumbledore as Harry easily sidestepped it, and counter with a quick Body Bind that left Severus lying on the ground. Then, he turned to look in amusement as the Headmaster writhed on the ground before managing to counter the Explosive Boil Hex that Snape had put him under. Dumbledore rose from the ground with a righteous fury that even had McGonagall shivering, but Harry merely stared back at him implacably, and calmly buffed his nails against his shirt, as Dumbledore struggled to master his anger before speaking, "Mr. Potter, I can not allow you to antagonize the staff in such a way…"

He yet again trailed off as Harry interrupted him, "I don't antagonize the faculty. My mere presence antagonizes your pet Death Eater, and I won't apologize for that. I have an excellent relationship with the rest of the faculty, as I know they are all on the right side."

"I trust Professor Snape, and that…"

Harry interrupted him yet again, "But I don't, and since I don't trust you either, then I doubt even you could expect me to take your word at face value. To continue our earlier conversation, and the reason your vaunted Potions Master is here, I refuse to take Occlumency lessons from him or anyone else that you procure, as their motives would be suspect. My Occlumency is adequate for the time being, and if I deem it is necessary for me to become more proficient, then I will petition my guardian to hire a tutor for me that is outside your influence, Headmaster. Now, good night." Then, Harry stalked from the room.

After he was down the stairs, Dumbledore released Snape from the Body-Bind, and then said, "Severus, you must control yourself around Harry. He will not hesitate to fight back if provoked and based on the speed with which he dodged and countered, Amelia found him a most able tutor this summer."

Snape snarled, "I want that little shit in detention for this." McGonagall interrupted, "That will be quite impossible, since you fired first, Severus. If you pursue the matter with disciplinary action, Harry will be within his rights to file charges, and take it to the Board of Governors and the Ministry. Let us not forget that Lucius Malfoy is no longer on the Board, and you would not survive an investigation and at the very least will be terminated from Hogwarts."

Dumbledore sighed, "As much as I hate to say it, Severus, Minerva is correct. You must stay away from Harry."

"What about in class? Am I not allowed to punish him there?"

Minerva replied, "Given that Harry elected not to pursue Potions despite receiving an O, that will not be an issue."

The three of them sat, and Dumbledore said gravely, "I sense far too much animosity in Harry. We must do something to stop him from this rebellious behavior. However, I must admit that I am at a loss as to what to do next. I fear any action I take will only antagonize him further."

Snape sneered, but McGonagall cut him off before he could make a remark, "You can begin by treating Harry as what he is, a young adult. He will brook no interference from you, so the only thing you can do is offer him information."

Dumbledore looked at her incredulously, "You actually expect me to reduce myself to an intelligence source? I, who have led the fight against the dark for over fifty years."

McGonagall commented as she rose and headed for the door, "It is obvious that Harry believes that you are past your prime, and that it is time for someone else to lead the fight against You-Know-Who. Perhaps he's right. You might want to consider that. Especially given that he just threatened to walk away and leave us at You-Know-Who's mercy if you continue with your current activities." Then, Minerva walked from the office.

Dumbledore turned to Snape, "Severus, is she right?"

"Of course not, Headmaster. You should just wait the little brat out. As young as he is, he will eventually need you for something, and then he will come running back."

Dumbledore paused and thought, "Maybe. I shall have to think long and hard about this. Thank you, Severus."

Several hours later, Snape had Apparated to the meeting point with Wormtail and awaited his would-be cohort. Pettigrew arrived and performed the necessary scan for tracking charms and then the two of them took the proffered Portkey back to their master. Snape kneeled before Voldemort and nodded to Lucius as he rose. Voldemort smiled and asked, "So what do you have to report, young Severus?

Snape began his report, "Master, the split between Dumbledore and Potter is very real, the two of them were practically at each other's throats."

"How do you know that this isn't some diversionary tactic?" asked Pettigrew

Snape shrugged, "I don't for absolute certain, but the Headmaster trusts me as he does few others and he has expressed increasing concern about the rift between the two of them. He believes that the only way Potter can fulfill the Prophecy is with his guidance. The fool's vanity is only surpassed by his age. Also, in my Occlumency tutoring of Potter, I delved into his mind quite frequently and I found that he is a horrible liar and his open disdain for the headmaster is very apparent. He doesn't even attempt to hide it and he has numerous reasons to dislike the headmaster as he has discovered many things about his past and his heritage that the headmaster has kept hidden from him."

Voldemort cackled, "Excellent! This plays into my plans perfectly. How about Potter? Would he be amenable to joining us now?"

Snape shook his head, "I think not, my Lord. The five people Potter hates most on this Earth are Bellatrix myself, Pettigrew, Dumbledore, and you. I do think that he would be acceptable to a deal, however."

Lucius finally entered the conversation, "What do you mean by a deal?"

"I believe if we were to agree to leave his friends alone that he would step aside and let us do with the rest of the wizarding world as we choose. He could care less about them at this point. He has intimated that he holds most of the wizarding world in contempt. Since we know Potter is the only one capable of defeating you, Master, I think it would behoove us to make such a deal.

Voldemort nodded thoughtfully, "Not yet, Severus. I want to watch this play out for a while longer, and then we will see where things lie. You will do all you can to foment Potter's distrust of the doddering old fool."

Peter smirked, "That should be easy for him to do. All he has to do is continue to maintain the old man's confidence and that will be enough to keep Potter against him."

"Indeed, Wormtail, Indeed."

Snape continued, "I had anticipated that as a probable course of action, My Lord. Minerva gave the headmaster some advice to mend the rift between him and Potter. I did everything I could to convince him that she was wrong. Given that her advice would have him in a much less controlling role, he was loathe to accept her advice to begin with, and I encouraged his delusions of grandeur."

"Excellent, Severus, we have much to plan for to continue to keep the Mininstry off balance. Lucius has several ideas for targets." The three of them settled down to planning their strategy for Voldemort's ultimate conquest of the wizarding world.