Soldier

A/N: We know it was later on in the school year that Harry discovers the bullying done to Luna. We just upped the time line. There are no terms that need definitions in this chapter. According to JKR every September 1 fell on a Monday. Magic can do so much but come on. . .

Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames are not.

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Chapter: 13: Justify, part 1

Harry came down early for breakfast. He knew he would be spending the first few days of the term dodging everyone who wanted to know where he had been for the month of August. Well he wasn't about to tell them.

Thankfully Dobby was able to help Harry by introducing him to the 'Come and Go room', or what he personally liked to call it, 'The Room of Requirement.' It was perfect. Of course, it did make him late for curfew the first night of the new term.

With the room's help Harry now had a place to work out with Muramasa, along with his skills in Kido and wandless magic.

He knew he had a lot to do this first week of term and would be missing most, if not all, of his classes today. It couldn't be helped. The Ministry had been closed for the weekend or he would've taken care of matters Saturday.

Neville was the only one up when Harry stepped out of the shower and both walked down together quietly to the Great Hall. They were met in the hall by a disheveled and limping Luna Lovegood. She was walking the cold, stone corridor barefoot. Harry frowned. "Miss Lovegood?"

"The Nargles were very active last night. They took all of my shoes from me," she sighed softly.

"I see," Harry replied, still frowning. "Do you mind if I help you look for them?"

"Oh no, not at all," she chirped cheerfully. "Even though I am sure they will eventually turn up on their own."

Harry wasn't listening as he called for Dobby. He leaned down and spoke in the diminutive elf's ear. "Miss Lovegood seems to be the victim of a shoe thief. Could you go and retrieve them for her?" Just before the eager creature popped away Harry added, "And any other of her items that have been. . .displaced. . .by others. . ."

"Yes, Master Harry Potter, sir," the excited elf nodded, bouncing so hard his long ears flopped wildly.

"Miss Loony be a good friend! She come see's us in the kitchens. It be sad her things' missing all'a time. Miss Loony not be asking us elves for help, says her things be coming back when they's ready. If Master Harry sir wishes, Dobby will help her. . ."

"I do wish it, Dobby and I wish that it didn't happen again so could you place a ward on her things? Let me know if those pesky whatevers steal them again?"

"Dobby will, Harry Potter, sir," the elf squeaked happily, popping out.

Neville chuckled. "That's one crazy house elf."

Harry shrugged as he waved his hand casually. Luna's disheveled appearance was corrected – minus the shoes. When they reached the Great Hall Harry took two napkins off a table and transfigured them into slippers with another wave of his hand. "I regret that this is the best I can do for you Miss Lovegood, until your shoes are found."

"Harry! Did you just perform wandless magic?!" came Hermione Granger's sharp voice from behind them as he dropped to one knee to help place the slippers on the young Ravenclaw's bare feet.

Harry turned and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as he offered his arm to escort Luna to her table. Several Ravenclaws had been watching and exchanging whispers as the duo walked over.

"Miss Lovegood, please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you," he said with a slight bow, easing her into a vacant seat. "I hate bullies, as well as thieves," Harry snarled as he swept the silent Ravenclaws with a telling glare.

"They are nothing more than weak cowards who prey on others they see as different, or through jealousy." He gave the Ravenclaw Prefect a knowing glare, causing her to blush in embarrassment.

Several of the Ravenclaws huffed at the insult and a couple started to protest, but Harry gave them a cold look and flared his aura slightly. He knew about the Prophet and its slander, so why not use it?

"Of course you're right, Harry. I hope everything goes as you wish it for today," she said, turning to the table, "Oh, I hope there's pudding! I so like a good pudding for breakfast."

Harry gave her a gentle smile as he gave a slight nod and walked away. The Ravenclaw table started to whisper, ignoring the strange, blonde girl.

Once seated Harry found that the elves had taken his menu request to heart. Waiting for him at the table was miso soup and steamed rice, with a rolled egg omelet as well as aromatic Jasmine tea. Beside the bowl of soup was his spiral notebook. He was glad to have it back and tucked it carefully into his bag.

"Harry what are you eating?" Hermione asked, curiously. She just knew they had gotten off on the wrong foot, but still. . .

"Breakfast, Miss Granger," came the answer. Harry sighed and looked up at his former friend. "Miss Granger, I will only say this once. To have friends, one must be a friend. You seriously damaged our friendship when you failed to keep your promise to write over the summer.

"I answer to no one anymore. Not you, and most certainly not Headmaster Dumbledore. Demanding answers will get you nowhere. Now please allow me to eat in peace."

Hermione sputtered but didn't say any more as she propped a book up to read.

Ron and the rest of the fifth years came down just before breakfast was over. Ron complaining loudly that Harry didn't wake him up.

"It isn't my place," was all Harry said, as he sipped his tea. "You are no longer a child who needs a keeper."

Harry knew it was for the best that he broke all ties with the Weasleys. The twins were alright, and he didn't really know the older two sons, but he was through kowtowing to the red headed, jealous bigot that claimed to be his friend. "I am not your mother, or blood kin. You need to grow up and take responsibility for yourself."

Professor McGonagall came around with their class schedules, halting any protests that the irate red-head might make.

"Mister Potter, the headmaster was very put out that you did'na meet with him last night. He really needs tae speak with you," she said placing his class list before him.

"As I informed you last night Professor, unless it is about my school work, I respectfully refuse. And Professor, it is Lord Potter. . . "

Harry heard laughter in the back of his mind. He was suddenly reminded of Ichigo and his constant refusals to give respect to certain individuals. 'Quiet you.'

He continued on, "According to the charter, as head of an Ancient and Noble House and therefore an emancipated minor, I must inform my Head of House and the Deputy Headmistress that I will be out of the castle for the day. I have business I must attend to at the Ministry that I cannot put off any longer. I therefore must regretfully inform you that I shall be missing the first day of classes. I would have done it over the weekend, but the Minister unfortunately was not available."

The stern Scotswoman pressed her lips together in disapproval. "Vera well, Lord Potter. I shall inform your professors."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said as he stood. "I only received my lordship two days ago. So I am sorry to say, I have much to do that is well above and beyond my normal school work."

"Very well. Do try to make it back for dinner," she said, before turning away.

Hermione looked like she wanted to say something, but Neville caught her eye and shook his head before she could speak. "He has the right, according to the ancient laws."

Harry carefully wiped off his fingers and folded his napkin. Standing gracefully, he turned and walked away. He ignored the stares and whispers of those in the hall as he went.

Hermione gave her friend a worried look. Ron didn't even look up as he shoveled food into his mouth.

"Well, isn't it Scar-head and he's giving off airs," came a snide voice.

Harry paused for a moment, gave the Malfoy heir a bored glare before turning and walking out.

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Harry made his way to Grimmauld Place and the pair waiting there for him. After dusting himself off from his trip through the floo, he smiled at Sirius. "Everything ready?"

"Yes, Prongslet. I sent out the anonymous tips to all the news media, as well as received an answer from Lord Greengrass that he'll be there. He was a bit surprised that you contacted him for this, but he was willing nonetheless. I wish you would tell me what you are planning."

Harry gave a slight smile. "Just listen in on the wireless, Padfoot. I'll be fine. I have several plans up my sleeve. I know Kido and wandless magic. Don't worry, I am, after all, the son of Prongs, am I not?"

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Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge was having a good morning. Hogwarts was back in session and his own appointee was safely installed as the professor of a core class. His rating in the paper was at an all time high and soon the last thorn in his side, Harry Potter, would be neutralized.

His daily press conference was about to start. The plump man peered out at the milling reporters and did a head count. There seemed to be more of them than usual. 'Must be a slow news day,' he mused. 'Oh well, it doesn't matter. I so love the attention.'

After he gave a brief prepared speech deriding Potter and Dumbledore, and praising his own appointee at Hogwarts, he opened the conference to questions.

However,before the first question could be asked, a loud voice boomed out across the atrium.

"I, Lord Harry James Potter, Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter, Last of the Potters, do hereby challenge Cornelius Oswald Fudge to an honor duel for defaming my family's name. I refuse to stand by any longer and allow you to drag all I hold dear through the mud! You, sir, are a coward and a weakling of the lowest order!"

A young man, wearing tight hit wizard robes with a silvery green scarf wrapped around his neck, marched up to the raised platform where a speechless Minster of Magic was standing, and threw down a leather glove at the man's feet.

"Aurors! Arrest him!" shouted the pudgy man. Several of the guards around the minister started to move forward.

"Aurors hold, stand down!" came a woman's voice as she marched into the silent crowd.

The reporters, who had been promised a story if they attended that day's conference, had at first been disappointed. However, now things were getting interesting.

"Amelia! What. . .?" Fudge started to ask as a woman wearing a monocle and dark robes with the crest of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement on them strode to the fore.

"Cornelius," Amelia Bones, Head of the DMLE said loud enough for the eager reporters to hear. "This young lord came to me this morning and presented his claims and I have verified them. They are valid and in order. By the Old Laws, you have to either accept his duel, or forfeit whatever he may demand of you, up to and including your life. The office of the Minister has no bearing on this challenge, so you may not hide behind it.

"Your personal attacks all summer were very well documented in the press. If you forfeit, you will lose everything. Your office, all your assets, and quite possibly, your life. Do you accept or reject His lordship's challenge?"

"But. . . he can't be a lord yet! He's under age!" Cornelius replied, sweating profusely. "He's only 15."

"Sir, three headmasters plus a member of your own ministry declared me an adult when I was forced to participate in a tourney restricted to adults. Thus, in the eyes of the law, I am a legal adult," Harry said, holding up his hand to show those near him that he was in fact wearing the Potter lordship ring, declaring him a Lord and an adult. "I await your answer!"

The reporters were also waiting, with bated breath. Here was the story of the decade! They had been listening to the Minster defaming the teen all summer, and now it would seem Potter'd had enough.

"I am the Minister of Magic! I say arrest him!"

"You do that and every pure blood in the country will be out for your head," Bones said. She gave a sweeping wave of her arm to the mass media reporting the event.

"Indeed, and I will be leading the charge," came another voice, through the crowd to stand beside the young lord.

"Lord Greengrass!" Fudge shouted. "But. . . but. . ."

"Cornelius Fudge, you can not hide behind your position. You must either accept the challenge, or lose everything outright. Lord Potter did not challenge you in your position as Minister, but rather as a wizard. And you've been defaming him in the press all summer. Quit stalling!"

Harry had yet to say a word as he stood in front of the sweating, pudgy man. His glove still lay at Fudge's feet. He was glad now that he'd sent the letter to Lord Greengrass on Sirius' recommendation. As a pure-blood and a neutral, Lord Greengrass was a logical choice for his second.

Harry knew as well as anyone that even a rat backed into a corner will come out fighting, especially if they have nothing left to live for. That was the reason why he challenged Fudge in front of so many witnesses. No one would save him.

Fudge looked down at the glove and with shaking hands picked it up.

"Since I am the aggrieved party my terms are thus, sir," Harry said coldly. "Duel of magic or sword, either will work. All spells are acceptable, except for the Unforgivables. The duel ends when one or the other can no longer stand, or is dead. This duel will not end at first blood."

The crowd of reporters and gathering ministry officials started to murmur.

Lord Potter scowled at the quivering minister. "My honor will accept nothing less. You have been spreading lies and hatred about me, even as a child who was unable to defend himself. No adult would gainsay you, nor stand in my stead. Now that I am considered an adult, I will have satisfaction!"

Fudge trembled as he looked down at the glove in his hand.

"DO YOU ACCEPT!?" Harry demanded sharply. One of the aurors beside the minister gave the man a sharp nudge and cleared her throat. Fudge jumped and opened his mouth only to close it again.

"Lord Potter, the minister appears to be in shock, please repeat your terms," Amelia said.

Harry did.

Fudge paled and said. "I. . . I have. . . no choice in . . this?" He looked out at the faces of the eagerly waiting reporters and confused ministry workers.

"None," Madam Bones said.

"Wait," came a reporter. "Mr. . .er. . . Lord Potter only has a fourth year education. How can he compete against a trained adult?"

"We shall have to see, won't we?" Harry answered, never taking his eyes off his opponent. "Well? Your answer sir?"

Fudge nodded, as he realized the same thing. "I.. . .accept. . . uh where do we uh when. . . ?"

"Here and now," came Harry's replied. "Name your second, sir."

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A/N: Sorry for the cliffie but rest assured. This chapter got too long and this was a good place to end it. The next chapter is finished and in the hands of Frau as we speak. The wait won't be that long. We promise.

For the reviewer that complained we used too many exclamation marks – what can we say, Frau likes using them in the proper places.

Until next time. – GF and The Frau