Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
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Chapter 3: Suspicions
It was in the morning of the following Monday that Harry was asked about Quidditch. Katie Bell was the Captain and as everyone suspected Harry's ban from last year had indeed been lifted. That's why it was quite a shocker for everyone to hear Harry had no intention of actually playing.
"But why!" Ron yelled outraged.
"Ginny was doing just fine as the Seeker last year and I'm going to be busy studying and helping Nigel", Harry calmly explained. He had told his best friends about the offer to work as DADA assistant after he had returned from his meeting with Dumbledore.
"But it's Quidditch!" Ron insisted like that explained everything.
"Ron, Harry has more important things to worry about", Hermione sniffed. She was proud Harry was taking his studies more seriously.
It took a long while of repeated arguments before Ron let the matter go and even then Harry knew the argument would be visited again in the near future. Sure, Harry loved flying and playing Seeker was fun, but Quidditch would still be there when the war was over.
Harry stayed after the DADA class to talk with Sanguini.
"The Headmaster gave me permission", the vampire said.
"I know. He asked me about how we met and stuff and said he'd give you the ok", Harry nodded and sat before the desk.
"Shall we keep this simple and agree that you'll come and assist me when you have the time?" Sanguini asked. They both knew this whole assistant business was mostly just a cover but it would need to be convincing enough. Having Harry help him teach some of the lower year classes and plan the lessons would be expected and that they would do, but there was no need to agree on a stiff schedule to accomplish this.
"Yes. That way I can use you as an excuse whenever I need time away from my friends", Harry swiftly agreed.
"Are you not getting along well with them?"
"It's not that we fight or anything. It just that... They're children, you know? They expect me to be as well and I don't think I am anymore", Harry explained running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"No, no you're not", the vampire agreed and smiled sadly. It was a tragedy, the stolen childhood.
"I had a private lesson with the old coot", Harry said changing the subject, "It was about as useful as I had expected. That made me decide I want to share one of my biggest secrets with you. Dumbledore wouldn't be happy with me if he knew I'm telling you this, but frankly, I give very little about his opinion right now. Would you like to know what makes me the Chosen One?"
"Will you get in trouble telling me this?" Sanguini asked but it was obvious he was simply dying of curiosity.
"I might, but we're not telling anyone else that you know so let's hope not", Harry replied and then recited the prophecy word by word after which he added: "No one but you, me and Dumbledore know the prophecy in its entirety. Ron and Hermione I told I'm the one who has to either kill Voldemort or die trying. Voldemort knows the first part but not the rest of it."
"How utterly fascinating", Sanguini muttered, "I wonder what 'the Power the Dark Lord knows not' is..."
"I wouldn't know. If Dumbledore does, he sure hasn't told me", Harry grumbled.
"No matter. I'm sure we'll come across something before the time comes", Sanguini walked around the table to lay a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder, "You shouldn't worry about it too much. We will figure this out."
"I'm just so sick and tired of..." Harry buried his face into his hands.
"I know", Sanguini quietly said, "I know."
Harry took a deep breath and looked at Sanguini. "It's been a week." He offered his wrist to the suddenly very eager looking vampire. It was as pleasant as ever and Harry couldn't help but to sigh: "If people knew it felt this good they'd be much more willing to do some donating."
Sanguini chuckled and licked his lips clean. "I'm afraid not all vampires are as careful as me. You would be wise to keep in mind that letting a vampire feed on you can have very dire consequences. Not all vampires have as good self-control as I and with blood as delicious as yours it wouldn't be difficult at all to over-indulge and drain you dry."
"So keep my blood to just the two of us?" Harry smiled softly.
"I would appreciate it if you did not share with others, yes", Sanguini said and ran his fingertips along Harry's jawline gently.
"Mmm, possessive possessive", Harry teased.
"Perhaps so", the vampire agreed and then retreated back to his seat on the other side of his desk. They talked about the lesson plans of the week before Harry had to return to the tower feeling strangely content. It felt like the weight on his shoulders was just a little lighter now that he had shared his worries.
O O O
It was two weeks later when Harry decided to share his suspicions about Malfoy with Sanguini. Ron and Hermione certainly weren't as worried as he was. Something about the scene in Borgin and Burke's in the summer had haunted him since and nowadays it wasn't too rare to see Malfoy looking tired. Harry told of these observations of his one rainy afternoon.
"That does sound strange", Sanguini agreed, "Perhaps I'll do some sniffing. Once I have his scent I should be able to tell exactly where in the castle he spends his free time and follow him disillusioned even into the Slytherin territory."
"Really?" Harry was surprised by the serious response he received. He should have known better, but a part of him had still expected Sanguini to dismiss his worries like the adults usually did.
"Really", Sanguini confirmed.
A few days later they were following Malfoy after dinner to the Room of Requirement as they had planned. Sanguini had found the scent of Malfoy especially thick in the corridor outside the RoR and so it hadn't been too big a stretch to assume Malfoy spent most of his evenings there. Thanks to a handy charm that muffled their foot-steps and other sounds caused by movement, a disillusionment charm and Harry's Invisibility Cloak, they succeeded in slipping into the room right after Malfoy before the door had the chance to close. It wasn't enough to know where the ferret was up to something, they needed to know exactly what he was doing.
They watched as Malfoy consulted several scrolls of parchment, cast spells on a cabinet and then went back to studying the scrolls. It wasn't too long before the boy began cursing in frustration. He kicked the cabinet and growled: "How damn hard can it be! For Merlin's sake you're a Vanishing Cabinet so Vanish people!" He rubbed his face with both hands and muttered: "How can the Dark Lord expect me to get his people into Hogwarts if he himself can't?"
Harry decided they had heard enough and so he removed his Cloak. Sanguini wouldn't be showing himself unless absolutely necessary. "So that's what you've been up to."
Malfoy whirled around to stare at his most hated classmate, "Potter", he growled and a look of panic flashed in his eyes.
"Calm down", Harry said as Malfoy moved to grab the wand he had laid on a shelf. Malfoy's fingers stopped just a few inches from his wand and his eyes took in the sight of Harry standing there calm and without his wand drawn.
"What do you want, Potter?" Malfoy snapped.
"You obviously don't want to be doing this", Harry gestured towards the Cabinet next to Malfoy, "So why are you?"
"Why do you think!" the blond sneered.
"Because you have to. What I want to know is why you feel you have to. I would think you're relatively safe here at Hogwarts. So what does Voldemort hold over you?" Harry asked ignoring the flinch the feared name caused. When he received no response but a nasty glare, he added: "I can't help you unless you tell me."
"What could you possibly do to help?" Malfoy laughed in a rather hysterical manner.
"I don't know. Unless you tell me what exactly you need help with", Harry reasoned. Malfoy was obviously a little unhinged so he had to be carefully calm to avoid setting the Slytherin off.
"He's got my mother!" Malfoy finally admitted and let out a sound that was awfully similar to a sob.
"Ah yes. I imagine Lucius is untouchable in Azkaban and without him Narcissa is defenseless", Harry muttered and then said: "So we need to fetch Narcissa and help her hide in a safe house. That shouldn't be too impossible."
"We can have Kreacher pop her into one of the Black properties", Sanguini whispered to him.
"Does your mother need convincing or would she leave given the chance?" Harry asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"If I send someone to fetch her and take her to perfectly safe place until the war is over, will she agree to go with them without a fuss?" Harry reworded.
"You would help us?" Malfoy asked disbelief clear in his tone, "Why? We're enemies!"
"Since believing in the goodness of my heart is obviously too much for you, how about we call it responsibility. I would prefer it if you told this to no one, but I am the current Lord Black and the last I checked you and your mother were part of the Black family, despite the name."
"You're Lord Black?" Surprised didn't even begin to cover it.
"A title Sirius Black, my godfather, willed to me. Now, this is what we'll do. You will write a letter to your mother explaining she'll be taken to one of the empty Black properties where she will be living until it safe for her to leave. I'll send my house-elf with the letter to pick her up and then we're going to have a talk about what exactly good old Voldie asked you to do for him."
Malfoy nodded meekly and did as he was told while Harry called and instructed Kreacher on what he needed to do. The instructions included strict orders on what the elf could do for Narcissa and what he should do in certain situations. Harry didn't want to leave any unnecessary maneuvering room for the sneaky house-elf, he had learned that much with the whole mess that lead to Sirius' demise.
After the elf was gone with the letter Harry ordered: "Talk."
"The Dark Lord ordered me to find a way to sneak Death Eaters through the Hogwarts' wards", Draco reluctantly said, took a deep breath and added: "and to kill Dumbledore."
Harry looked at his classmate incredulously, "He wants you to kill Dumbledore?"
"Yes", Draco snapped.
"He's either completely off his rocker or he expects you to fail", Harry muttered, "Either way you're obviously going to stop trying to accomplish either."
"He'll know I've turned traitor", Malfoy said sounding horrified and he was, for good reason too.
"You're stuck at the school and he knows it. We'll have to come up with an excuse why you can't go home for the holidays. If Voldemort is still alive and kicking when summer arrives we'll think of something but I'm hoping it won't come to that. In any case, you won't have to face him so he can't go through your memories to see if you're lying or not. So lie. Whatever way it is you use to communicate, tell him you're trying to fix this cursed Cabinet and planning Dumbledore's demise even in your dreams."
"This won't work", Malfoy said looking doubtful.
"It will. If you have news or questions, come to me. If you want to send a letter to Narcissa do it via Kreacher. I'll ask him to play the role of a post owl. Okay?"
Malfoy nodded and without further conversation Harry left the Room of Requirement knowing Sanguini was following not far behind.
O O O
It was on a Monday halfway through October that Harry had his second "lesson" with Dumbledore during which Harry was once again told about the locket and how it had been sold. The Headmaster also showed him a memory of his, of him visiting the muggle orphanage little Tom lived in. Harry didn't know how to feel about the memory and so he made his way to Sanguini's office as soon as he was out of Dumbledore's.
Sanguini had wards on the office door so that while anyone could get in, he was always notified no matter where he was. He wasn't in his office when Harry entered but it took him no longer than a minute to make his way from his personal quarters next door.
"How did your lesson go?" The vampire asked taking his seat across from Harry.
Harry told him all about the memories he had been shown and with as much detail as he was able. He also expressed his worry about how Dumbledore had underlined the fact that Tom had been a collector of sorts. "I'd be willing to bet this tendency to collect stuff will prove important."
"I'm sure you're right", Sanguini sighed and leaned back in his seat, "Perhaps the ring was something Voldemort collected and cursed."
"But why would Dumbledore have it? I would think Voldemort would keep all his collected items near to himself. You don't think the old coot fought Voldemort during the summer?"
"There's little point in theorizing with this few facts", Sanguini shook his head, "We will have to wait until we know more."
"Merlin, why can't the old coot just spill whatever it is I need to know and get on with it!" Harry ranted. "You have no idea how frustrating it is to sit there in his office craving information and all he gives me are bread crumbs!"
"Patience, Harry." Sanguini decided it was best to change subject. "How are things with your friends?"
Harry sighed and rubbed his forehead, he had a headache coming, "Ron's still nagging me about Quidditch and that always starts a verbal battle between him and Hermione. Even though they fight about me and how I'm supposed to be spending my time, they somehow succeed in completely forgetting I'm present. They should just shag and get it over with."
"There does seem to be an awful lot of sexual tensions between the two of them", Sanguini agreed amused.
"And they are totally blind to it", Harry sniggered.
"At least they aren't paying too much attention to the two of us."
"Hermione's like a bloodhound when it comes to mysteries. If she were to get even a sniff of something off about you, she'd be hunting for information until she found it."
"Which is why both you and I will be extremely careful about keeping my blood-sucking tendencies a secret", Sanguini smiled.
"Is that your way of telling me you're hungry?" Harry teased. He knew it wasn't, as Sanguini never asked to be fed, not even indirectly. But that didn't keep Harry from teasing the poor vampire. Harry offered his wrist and it was attacked without hesitation. The feeding left Harry speechless until after he had had a moment or few to come down from the high and he had downed a blood replenishing potion. Sanguini was still kneeling next to his chair and Harry couldn't help but pet the silky black hair gently. "Happy?" He asked. There was always something very pleased-looking in the vampire's eyes after feeding. It made Harry's heart beat just a little quicker.
"Yes, very much so", Sanguini purred and got up to his feet when Harry's hand stopped petting him, "You should be getting back to the tower, my sweet. It's already past the curfew." He turned to the desk and wrote Harry a note to excuse him breaking the curfew just in case someone caught him on his way to the tower. He handed it wordlessly to the boy, it wasn't the first time.
"Yeah, good night, Sanguini", Harry smiled and left. He felt warm, warmer than usual and he had a strange feeling that it was because of those two words no one had called him before... My sweet...
O O O
Harry's performance in all of his classes had been steadily improving. Harry himself was a bit surprised by how easily most things came to him now that he was taking studying more seriously. It also helped that when he didn't understand something, he could ask his ancient vampiric friend. Hermione's instructions were very thorough and all, but the main points tended to get buried by the heaps of less significant details.
One of the major advantages about becoming the DADA teacher's assistant was that it made it very easy and almost expected for Sanguini to teach him everything he would be teaching the classes and more. This meant that before October was out, Harry had learned most of what the seventh years would be learning.
Occlumency was one thing that he had no one to help him with. Sanguini was as a vampire unable to perform Legilimency or Occlumency. Vampires had such mental barriers that no one could mess with their minds. The barrier unfortunately also blocked them from reading the memories of the others. All Harry could do was to practice Occlumency according to the few books he had found in the school library and hope he had succeeded in creating good enough barriers to keep curious old coots and dark lords out of his head.
It was nearing the end of November when the two of them began talking about the excuse Malfoy would be giving to the Dark Lord about why he was staying at Hogwarts for the Christmas Holidays. They came up with an extra credit project that the best students of the sixth year would be expected to take on. It was very convenient that the top students were Harry and Draco, and it was logical that Harry as the DADA assistant could do the project wherever he was and without assistance. Harry sent a message to Malfoy telling him of the project and that Professor Sandman would be asking the two of them to stay after class the next day to discuss it.
A week later Malfoy snatched Harry in the corridor and pushed him into an empty classroom. After locking charms and silencing wards were cast the blond turned to Harry and said: "Snape is pushing me about my mission."
Harry's eyebrow rose in surprise, "Oh really..?"
"He's trying to make me tell him what I was tasked to do and to let him help me", Malfoy explained further, "I've been denying him all information but he isn't letting it go. What do I do?" There was distress in his tone and it was no wonder. Snape was observant and damn persistent.
"Calm down", Harry said, "I'll handle it. Not quite sure how, yet, but I'll figure it out."
"Not very reassuring, Potter!" Malfoy snarled. He wasn't too pleased by the fact that his life was essentially in Harry's hands.
"Keep doing what you've been doing, avoid Snape when possible and relax. I'll handle it", Harry assured and walked to the door.
"Have you told Dumbledore about..?" the blond hesitantly asked.
"I'm not telling Dumbledore anything nowadays", Harry smirked.
"That's a bit hard to believe, his Golden Boy as you are", Malfoy sneered.
"His Golden Boy? Yes, It's better that everyone thinks that", Harry muttered waving his wand to dispel the locking and silencing before walking out.
O O O
Harry waited until right before curfew to sneak into the dungeons. Thanks to the Marauders' Map it was easy enough to locate the Potion Master's quarters and the entrance leading to them. The entrance was guarded by a portrait of an old man in a potions' laboratory and Harry said to him: "I need to talk with Snape."
"Children have no manners these days..." The man muttered and left the frame to alert the Professor. A couple of minutes later the door opened and Harry wrestled his face into a fake smile as he saw the deadly glare of the nastiest professor of Hogwarts.
"What do you want, Potter?" Snape snarled. It wasn't unusual for students to come see him in his quarters but it was strange for the student to be someone non-Slytherin. As far as Snape knew, only the students of his house knew where exactly his quarters were located. He was already planning detention for the fool who told the location to Potter if he ever caught the one to blame.
"We need to have a little chat", Harry answered and pushed past the imposing man into the cozy living room.
"You dare to – ", Snape growled shutting the door with a bang but got no further as his tirade was cut off.
"Calm down and listen", Harry snapped and flopped down on a very comfortable dark brown leather couch. He ignored the man looming above him and continued: "I'm taking a huge leap of faith by coming here, you know. I'm trusting the old coot's trust in you and your light leanings. I'm also trusting that you're clever enough to think on your own and defy the old coot a little when the situation calls for it." He paused to take in the man's reaction but received nothing but a scowl. "You've done a lot keep me alive and I appreciate that. On the old coot's orders, no doubt, but I appreciate it nonetheless. Has the old coot told you why Voldemort wants me dead so bad?" He pointedly ignored the twitch the feared name caused. "I bet you've gotten no explanation at all. We both know how our beloved Headmaster enjoys keeping all the cards to himself. He told me the prophecy after the Department of Mysteries. Do you want to hear it?"
Snape looked at Harry clearly suspicious and asked: "Why would you tell me that?"
"I'm going to tell you many things tonight and then you'll decide if you want to help me with something or not", Harry calmly replied.
"Why?" Snape demanded.
"You forced my hand", Harry admitted, keeping secret the fact that Draco was involved for now. Whether that was to speed things along or to simply enjoy the control he had, was unclear even to him. Without giving Snape the chance to push the matter, Harry took a deep breath and recited the prophecy.
Snape sat on armchair three feet away and thought about the prophecy in silence. Eventually Harry said: "The old coot has always kept things from me, is still keeping things from me. I'm the one who has to end the snake bastard. How am I supposed to accomplish this when the old coot refuses to give me all the necessary information and training? I don't like it and that's why I and certain associates of mine have decided we'll play the old coots game, yes, but we'll also work in the shadows to end this cursed war."
"And what could you possibly do that Dumbledore isn't already doing?" Snape sneered. "Arrogant, even more so than your father."
"I hear you've been trying to push Malfoy into revealing what tasks were assigned to him", Harry changed the subject. He didn't want to get stuck in a battle of insults with the professor. He didn't have all night and there were still things to discuss. "Your Lord told Draco Malfoy to kill Albus Dumbledore and find a way to sneak the Death Eaters into Hogwarts."
"You had another vision?" Snape asked sounding rather curious.
"No. I asked." Harry chuckled and explained: "I caught Malfoy working on a plan and having a breakdown so I took advantage of his weak mental state and pushed him until he cracked. He admitted to these tasks and has since then been on my side. He was only working for your Lord because he had to, to keep his mother safe. I helped get his mother into a safe house where she'll be staying until the war is over and now he's reporting progress but making none on the killing and sneaking in -front."
"And I'm to believe all this?" Snape snorted shaking his head a little.
"Do feel free to confirm this with Malfoy", Harry said, "Though I would appreciate it if you didn't go to the old coot with this. I want to keep him in the dark. He tends to meddle and snoop and that could complicate things. Besides, he keeps things from me, I keep things from him. It's only fair, right?"
"You want me to choose you and your imaginary allies over Dumbledore?" Snape sneered.
"I didn't have to come here tonight", Harry pointed out, "I didn't have to share all this information with you. But I did. Can Dumbledore say the same?" Harry stood and walked to the door, "I ask you not to stand in my way if helping is too much to ask."
"I shall think on it", Snape reluctantly muttered and then Harry was gone.
O O O
In the early evening of the day before the beginning of the Christmas holidays Harry visited Sanguini as they both knew he would even without voicing it in any way. Sanguini would need to feed now so that he could go through the holidays without.
"What are your plans for the holidays?" Harry asked as he took his usual seat.
Sanguini smiled at the lack of greeting. It was a silly thing to smile about, but the way it showed him how comfortable Harry was with him made him feel all warm and fuzzy. "I'll be staying here at Hogwarts most of the time, as you well know, have a few sessions with young Malfoy to enforce the image that he's working on the project, attend the social gatherings of the staff."
"Ah, teacher-y stuff, I get it", Harry chuckled.
"I'm sure you will have a much better time at your friend's place."
Harry sighed deeply, "I don't know. You know I haven't been too close to Ron this year. The holidays might turn out to be the epitome of uncomfortable."
"You like the Weasley twins", Sanguini pointed out, "The two of them should be taking part in the Christmas celebrations with their family."
"Not sure meeting them is worth being trapped with Ron and Ginny that long."
"You are being very negative about this", Sanguini teased, "Where's your Christmas cheer?"
"Oh stuff it", Harry lightly laughed and then gestured for the vampire to come to him. It had become a routine for them. Harry would invite the vampire to him and Sanguini would kneel or crouch next to him. Harry would then offer his wrist and the drinking would take place. Often, as he did now, Harry would fondly pet the vampire's silky hair afterwards.
At this point Sanguini usually fetched the Blood Replenishing Potion but this time they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Sanguini glanced at Harry, judged him well enough, even without the potion, and then retreated back to his seat behind the desk in a flash. He magicked the door open.
Snape walked in to the room with his usual slight scowl in place, "Good evening. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important." There was a sneer at the end, directed towards Harry.
"No no, we were simply exchanging a few last words concerning the project both Harry and Mr Malfoy are taking part in", Sanguini replied with a pleasant smile.
"Ah yes, I did hear Mr Malfoy complaining about being forced to stay here", Snape said to his fellow professor, though his eyes were fixed on the sole student present. He looks pale. Brewing required a good eye for differences in color and his eyes were rarely wrong no matter the lighting. And now his eyes were telling him Harry was looking ill. Or anemic. He didn't say anything, though, it wouldn't do for him to show concern for the boy.
"I'm sure", Harry snorted.
"What can I help you with, Severus?" Sanguini asked before Snape had the chance to reply to Harry's remark. They didn't need a verbal battle right now and this was his way of preventing one.
"The Headmaster asked me to come advice you on tomorrow's safety precautions and guard duties."
"Yes, I imagine there's a great deal of danger involved in most of the student body moving from here to the Hogsmeade station and there are only so many of us to guard them", Sanguini then turned to Harry, "Harry, perhaps you should return to the Gryffindor tower."
"Right, I'll be going then", Harry said and as he walked past the Potions Master he smirked at him just to make sure all the man's attention was on him. Before he reached the door he felt a heavy vial settle into his pocket magicked there by Sanguini while Snape's attention was away from him. "Good night, Nigel, Snape", and Harry was out the door.
"Impudent little..." He heard Snape growling through the closed door and went on his merry way.
O O O
It took even less time for his friends to corner him than he had thought. As soon as they were on the Hogwarts Express Ron, Ginny and Hermione practically pushed Harry into an empty compartment and Hermione began: "Harry, we are worried about you."
Harry would have much preferred to have this confrontation at the Burrow. Hermione wasn't spending the holidays there and 2 on 1 sounded a lot better than 3 on 1. "There's no reason for you to be."
"You've been distancing yourself from us!" Hermione whined.
"We hardly ever see you anymore. You spend all your time with Professor Sandman", Ginny added.
"And you're no fun anymore. No jokes, no Quidditch. That can't be healthy!" Ron looked like he was seconds away from stomping his foot.
"It's great that you're taking your studies seriously, Harry, but couldn't you maybe try studying with us..?" Hermione tentatively asked.
"You're a – ", distraction, Harry begun to say but stopped. There is such a thing as too honest. "Look, I know I've been busy this year, but can you really blame me? There's a murdering psychopath after me and I'd prefer not to get any more people caught in the crossfire."
"Oh Harry..." Hermione sadly shook her head, "This war isn't solely for you to fight."
"Maybe not, but I'll be the one to end it and if I have to dedicate my life to it until then, then so be it", Harry walked out of the compartment without looking back.
O O O
Harry spend the next few days making it abundantly clear that he had no intention of continuing discussing the matter and eventually Ron and Ginny gave up. He put a lot of effort into making sure all the adults present, especially Remus, Molly and Arthur, thought there was nothing wrong or unusual. It was like playing a role constantly, it was tiring, but Harry knew not doing it would have complicated the matters.
The Christmas celebrations were interrupted by a very surprising visitor. The Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour turned up with Percy. Harry let himself be pulled to the side with the man and as soon as the Minister told him he had wanted to meet for a long time and that Harry was the symbol of hope no matter what the truth behind his status as the Chosen One was, Harry knew why the Minister was there.
"You want to use me as the poster boy to improve the image of the Ministry?" Harry chuckled and promptly threw away all facade of politeness and meekness. He had something the Minister wanted. He was something the Minister wanted and that meant he had all the leverage.
"I wouldn't put it quite like that..." The Minister tried to explain.
"But that is the gist of it. I see..." Harry adopted a thoughtful expression and after a moment said: "It's not that I'm completely against the idea. It is however impossible for me to show open support for the system that dooms innocent people to Azkaban with no trial and is full of easily bribed people."
"What would a sixteen-year-old child like yourself understand about – ", Scrimgeour growled.
"Now now, Minister. We were doing so well and then you start getting all hostile on me", Harry chuckled. "You want me to show the public I think Ministry is doing a great job? Then do a great job! I'm not asking for a miracle, little improvements will do."
"As I thought, you're Dumbledore's little puppet who – "
"I'm Dumbledore's nothing", Harry snapped and then plastered a smile back on his face and added: "Let's keep the old coot out of this, okay? No matter what you or he might wish to think, I'm my own man and can make my own decisions. Happy Christmas, Minister." He returned to the living room where all the others were gathered. The Minister didn't follow him.
Posted 07-18-2012