Quoth the Raven

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

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Chapter 32: Is There Balm In Gilead?

The Malfoy heir finally got his chance to speak with Potter. He was sitting alone, tucked away in a far corner of the library when Draco strolled in. Fortunately the mud-blood who'd been hanging around him all day was nowhere to be seen.

"Lord Potter," Draco interrupted politely. "I am Draco Malfoy, scion of the ancient and noble house of Malfoy." He ended his introduction with a slight bow.

'Mr. Malfoy," Harry said as he stood. "How may I help you?"

"My father, Lord Lucius Malfoy, advised me to make your acquaintance," Draco smiled, offering his hand.

"I see," Harry said, taking the blond's extended hand. "If there isn't anything else. . . ?"

"Since you have not been active in the Wizarding World, I only wished to give a warning. You will soon find some families are better than others. I can help you by introducing you. . ." Draco trailed off when Harry held up a hand to stop him.

"I thank you, Mr. Malfoy, for your offer," Harry said politely. "As I see it is meant in good faith. However, I can not accept it. I can not place myself in alliance with someone that supports the person responsible for the deaths of my parents."

Draco stamped down his burgeoning anger. Potter had, after all, remained polite and respectful. "You seem very sure of yourself." He stated through clenched teeth.

Harry gave a slight smile as he gathered up his books. "Magic, Mr. Malfoy, isn't about light or dark or even who deserves it. Magic is a gift from the Lady. It is Hers to give, or recall, as She chooses. As such it should be cherished and respected, no matter the blood status of its wielder. Your father and his lord have lost sight of that fact. Good day to you, Scion Malfoy. If you wish to know more, I am available."

Draco was a little taken aback. Potter knew the forms of address? Who taught him? It had been rumored that the last Potter was being raised in the muggle world. He should not have known the old forms of wizarding etiquette.

Ronald Weasley listened to the conversation between Malfoy and Potter from the shadows. He watched as they shook hands and anger welled up within him. How dare Potter buddy up with that ferret! This had to be stopped, now! "Potter!"

Harry stopped and turned to face the red head. "Do I know you?"

"Don't play games, Potter! You were supposed to come with Dumbledore this summer and meet my family before school started and you refused! What's the matter, weren't we good enough for 'Lord Potter'?" He snarled, spittle flying.

Harry raised an eyebrow as he stepped back. "I. . .see. . . I do apologise if I ruined any plans involving me. If you would excuse me? I am late to meet Professor Flitwick."

"Your parents would be ashamed of you. ." The angry Red head sneered.

"Mr. Weasley!" McGonagall's voice broke into the discussion. "Five points from Gryffindor for such a crude and discourteous display!"

"But professor. . . He was . . . Malfoy!" Weasley sputtered.

Harry stood there, clenching and unclenching his fists in fury,green eyes cold and menacing. "I never knew my parents Weasley, and I'm sure you never did either. Don't presume to know how they would feel! Now if you excuse me, I am late." Harry turned and walked away.

Wolf, witness to the whole incident, spoke to the Deputy Headmistress. "Professor, you better keep a tight leash on your lions if they're all like that idiot. Lord Potter will not allow a slight against him or his parents to go unchallenged for long. And I garantee, if he does challenge them, they will not win."

Minerva pursed her lips in anger. "Thank you for the warning, Sgt Major. Mr. Weasley, do you have a class to get to?"

Ronald Weasley stalked off in a huff muttering under his breath about arrogant gits and slimy ferrets.

0o0o0o0o0

Harry strolled into the DADA Classroom. The rumor mill here at Hogwarts was worse than it was among the ghosts and spirits at the Tower! Everyone was either talking about how bad the latest DADA instructor was, or about his confrontation with the hot-head Weasley boy outside of the library.

Harry shook his head as he sat down beside Hermione. She too, was taking some heat for associating with him. Neither of them really cared; they had been friends for too long to let it matter.

"Good afternoon class," came the cloyingly sweet voice of Dolores Umbridge. The students, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, looked at each other a bit confused. After all, they were in their fifth year and not unschooled firsties, were they not?

"I said, Good afternoon class," she repeated far less sweetly.

"Good afternoon, Madam Umbridge," said a few of the students.

"Oh I know you can do better than that," she simpered.

"Good Afternoon, Madam Umbridge," everyone said.

Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance. This didn't bode well.

After their response satisfied her, Madam Umbridge gave a few opening remarks and started to pass out the books they were to read during class. Several students asked about the practical side of defense.

"We will be studying theory only, in this class. There will be no wand waving, no dangerous spell casting."

"But. . ." sputtered one student in shock.

"Excuse me, Madam Umbridge," Harry said, raising his hand, politely.

"Mr. Potter? Do you have a question?"

"Yes, Ma'am. I do," Harry said standing. "What are your qualifications for teaching this course? Do you have an O in your Newts for Defense, or practical experience in Law Enforcement?"

"That, Mr. Potter is none of your affair," she said, growing irritated that anyone dared question her qualifications.

"I see," he said, gathering up his things, but leaving the book she had given him unopened on the desk. "According to the Hogwarts' charter, you must have at least an "O" in a course to teach that course at Hogwarts. It is obvious that you do not, else you wouldn't have evaded my question. If you'll excuse me . . ."

He bowed slightly and started to leave. Hermione stood as well. Many of the Ravenclaw also gathered up their things. If Potter didn't see fit to attend why should they?

"Detention, Mr. Potter!" she screamed as Harry left. "And everyone who leaves!" Several returned to their seats. Most just kept walking, straight back to their dorms and their head of house.

Hermione caught up with him as he made his way to the headmaster's office. Wolf trailed after them, a slim file under his arm and a slight smirk curving his lips.

"Wolf, did you get the intell on Umbridge?" Harry asked when they reached the gargoyle that lead up to Dumbledore's office.

"Sure did. You were right, Lord Harry."

"How did you know Harrry?" Hermione asked, hurrying along with them.

Harry smiled. "Classified."

Wolf made a rude noise as Harry turned, laughing, to the stone statue. "You," he pointed to the gargoyle. "Open up. I don't have time for any of the headmaster's foolishness."

The gargoyle quickly did as commanded. Hermione, eyes wide, started to follow only to be stopped. "Look Hermione, you can't be involved in this. Go to Professor McGonagall and tell her what's going on. She'll be needed for the meeting."

"Don't worry Mr. Potter, I am right here," came the Deputy Headmistress' amused voice. "I saw you heading this way."

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Albus Dumbledore was having a good day. The house elves had made his favorite lunch and his latest shipment of sherbet lemons had finally arrived. He was humming to himself as he went casually over the stack of paperwork awaiting his attention.

At the sound of his gargoyle moving, he looked up at the door to his office. The names "Harry Potter, Paul Wolfram and Minerva" flashed above it. He frowned, now what?

"Harry.. . I mean Lord Potter do come in. Sgt. Major, Minerva. What has happened? Shouldn't you be in class?"

Harry had been going over the file that Wolf had handed to him on the stairs. Stepping into the office, still looking at the file, he asked, "Did you know that you, and this school, are in violation of the charter by employing someone not qualified to teach a core class?"

Albus leaned back into his chair. "No, my boy, I did not."

There was a sudden commotion on the stairs. . ."I won't stand for it!" shrieked Dolores' voice as she stormed in behind them. "I can't teach if no one is willing to listen! That rude, arrogant, insolent boy!"

"Come in Dolores," Albus invited with a long-suffering sigh. His 'good day' just went down the pan.

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Cornelius Fudge was having a good day. He'd finally managed to improve his rating in the polls by getting the Potter boy to Hogwarts. Dolores was there now, overseeing things, and he knew she was well able to bring the school back under his Ministry guidelines. He really can not have foolish students running around saying You-Know-Who was back!

His aide, what's his name, oh right, Wetherby, walked in. "Albus Dumbledore is on the floo. It seems there is a problem. Dolores is saying it's some sort of mistake. . ."

Wetherby took a deep breath and continued. "You are needed to sort it out."

"Oh blast and damnation!" Fudge huffed as he stood. "Very well, Weatherby. I do hope it won't take long. I'm having tea with the Malfoy's later."

"Yes Sir."

Cornelius and his aide flooed to the Headmaster's Office.

Lord Potter was over by the window, talking softly to Dumbledore's phoenix. A familiar, tall imposing man in a muggle military uniform stood near the door. Albus and Minerva were conferring privately at his desk, and Dolores? She was pacing and wringing her hands.

"Oh Cornelius! You just have to do something about that horrible boy!" she wailed.

"What is going on?" Cornelius asked, confused.

"If I may," Harry said. "I think I can clear it up very well, sir. You see, there is a slight problem. Madam Umbridge is still working for you, correct?"

"Yes, she is my Undersecretary," Cornelius said, sharply. "But what. . . ?"

"I see," Harry interrupted. "Minister Fudge, you do know you are breaking a long standing law that states a person can not be employed in the Ministry at the same time as they hold another job?"

"What do you mean, my boy?" Albus asked, frustrated when Harry totally ignored him.

Harry faced the minister, holding out the file he carried. "Dolores Umbridge holds a position as an Instructor in a core class here at Hogwarts, as well as still holding her position of Undersecrtary. That in itself is illegal, but beyond that it still doesn't help that she is also in violation of the Hogwarts charter by not having the right qualifications. As the founder's heir in residence, I have the right to close this school down and reclaim the castle and all its contains as the charter is in abeyance."

The silence in the room was deafening.

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Dolores Umbridge was gone, sacked. She had to pack and leave by the end of the day, or the castle itself would do it for her. She still wanted Mr. Potter in detention for being disrespectful, but there were too many witnesses to the incident. The boy's actions were above reproach. He had been very polite, with a very commanding and confident manner.

Albus stroked his beard as he pondered on what to do about him. Someone had done a very good job in training him, that was obvious, but who? Also, to have Paul Wolfram, a muggle-born aide-de-camp, assigned to him. . . it suggested a high profile in the muggle world as well as the Wizarding one.

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Harry calmly made his way down to the dungeon, Hermione at his side once more. Several of the female students noticed that the young lord was carrying the muggle-born's bookbag. Whispers followed them down the hall. Wolf trailed after them silently, as always.

She could not believe how masterfully Harry had rid the school of that woman! As much as Hermione loved her books, even she knew that there had to be a practical application to the defense course. It grated on her that, that woman had no qualifications whatsoever to teach and yet the headmaster had allowed her to do so.

Harry and Hermione sat in the middle of the potions classroom. It was a Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff class, for which Hermione was thankful. She had, over the years, heard horror stories of the Slytherin/Gryffindor classes. The rumors told how strict Professor Snape was and how unfair to the Gryffindors. However, in her opinion, anyone with half a brain could see that he was only trying to keep everyone alive to graduate!

Even Neville Longbottom, once Hermione took him under her wing and tutored him, improved slightly. Unfortunately, as a Gryffindor he still came under Snape's verbal abuse. Thankfully though, the person in their year that held the potions master's deepest contempt was Ronald Weasley. The ginger wonder had a temper to match that red hair, and no control over his mouth.

Harry had learned, from sources outside of Hogwarts, that the potions master's time as a student here had not been pleasant because of his father and the three he'd called friends. Harry had thought the past might cause him untold misery in this class until the night they met in the clearing. Finding the man that first night in the forest had been mind blowing for Harry. He had to wonder who else might worship the Lady here at Hogwarts besides Severus Snape and Luna Lovegood.

O0o0o0o0

The Potions Master was not sure what to think of this Potter spawn. The boy, from all reports, was polite and respectful to all of his professors—except for Defense, where he ousted the instructor in his first class!

When Potter showed up with his muggle-born friend and body guard, Severus wasn't sure what to make of it. The boy acted unaware of the chaos he was causing and yet, he seemed very aware of everything going on around him.

Severus got a very satisfied feeling when he slammed the classroom door closed as he masterfully strode down the aisle, his robes billowing. His sharp ears did pick up a whisper from the Potter spawn. 'Damn, how did he do that? That is so awesome!'

"Shh! Harry, he'll hear you!"

He didn't know if he should smirk or yell. He knew the affect he had on his students, he had, after all spent years perfecting it. He did give Potter a glare for good measure when he got to the front of the class.

According to Potter's academic records, the teen was almost up to NEWT level work with an O. He was impressed that the Potter progeny had inherited his mother's intelligence, if the work he was doing was any indication. This was another reason why he was thankful that Potter was with the Ravenclaws. He didn't have to be—shudder—kind, or harsh, as his academic record spoke for itself. Time will do the work for him.

He strolled through the aisles, correcting or adjusting various student's potion work. He paused in front of Potter and Granger. He had never really cared for the girl. She had come across as a bit of a know it all, but in the end, she reminded him more of Lily in her determination to learn everything.

"Mr. Potter," he drawled.

"Yes Professor?" Harry paused in his cutting to look up.

"Who were your instructors?"

"Sir, I've had various ones over the years. Mostly muggle-borns who found life within the Wizarding World too restrictive. They were more than happy to help out."

Severus nodded. He had heard that was the plight of many of the muggle-born and muggle-raised. Although he didn't have anything against them, he had to toe the pure-blood party line or be killed by the Dark Lord.

"Mr. Potter, stay a moment after class, if you would."

"Yes, sir." Harry nodded and turned back to his potion.

Many of his fellow classmates gave Harry a very sympathic glance as they left. A few even went on to say, "Better you than me, mate."

"Snape really has it out for you."

"Good luck, mate."

Once they were alone, Severus took out a small box. "I was well prepared to despise you, Mr. Potter. You are the spawn of my most hated school rival, who went out of his way to make my life miserable. But you are also the son of my very best friend." He paused, a fleeting pain shone briefly in his black eyes. " However, as you have pointed out already, you never knew your parents. There is something more you should be aware of."

"Yes sir?" Harry stood at parade rest with a calm demeanor.

Severus was pleased that there was a cautious air about him. The teen's body language warned him, 'I am listening but you attack me, I will fight back.'

"The headmaster isn't your friend. He has an obsessive need to control you and he does not like to lose what he considers his. The fact that you were missing for so long has everyone guessing, even him. I am sure that you want to keep it that way?"

Harry smiled and pulled out his pendant that the Lady had placed around his neck so long ago. "Yes sir. I've been under Her protection since I was five. She has helped me through the years and even sent Wolf, who is one of my mentors and trainers. He scheduled most of my education."

Severus hmmed softly as he handed over the box. "Two things Mr. Potter, then you may go. Beware of the headmaster, he does not follow the old ways. In fact, he scoffs at them. He will not approve that someone higher than him has authority over you. And second, this box once belonged to your mother. I thought it would be fitting to return it to you."

Harry took the box almost reverently. He had practically nothing of his parents. The family heirlooms in his vaults wouldn't come to him for another two years. He had managed with the help of the goblins to get a few photos but everything had been kept hushed, for security reasons. "Thank you sir."

Severus nodded and waved the boy off. "You're dismissed Potter. Get out of here."

Clutching the box lovingly to his chest, Harry did just that.

0o0o0o0

Filius was excited as he led Harry and his bodyguard to his private dueling chamber. He had created this room years ago to keep up his skills. Very seldom, other than Severus, did he have anyone here to duel against. Not even Albus had been invited. Of course, the headmaster did know about it but did little to discourage him from its use.

The reason he was leading Mr. Potter and his batman to his little sanctuary was to test Mr. Potter's abilities. He had been hearing reports that Harry did little to no magic in class, but anyone with half a mind could see the power radiating from him. As his tentative Head of House, he had to know how he could best help him with his education.

Two hours later found Filius Flitwick sweating heavily and very excited. What new tricks could he learn? And what could he teach this fine young wizard? Any fool who dueled him could see that the lad had been hit wizard trained! Should he report to Albus about this little duel? Albus would surely know that he had brought the teen to his dueling chamber.

'I guess it depends on how well it goes,' he thought gleefully. 'After all, its for the greater good if your opponent misjudges you in a duel.'

0o0o0o0

Cornelius threw his half full glass of fire whiskey against the wall of his office. All the plans to bring Hogwarts under Ministry control were gone! One firm statement from Lord Potter and it was all over with. And to top it off, he had the muggle PM on his back about this Dark Lord business. There is no Dark Lord business for Merlin's sake! It was all lies!

"Sir, Lord Malfoy is here, as you requested," Percy Weasley said from the doorway.

"Well don't just stand there, Show him in, then leave us! We have work to do and make sure that Umbridge has cleared out her office. I want her gone!"

"Yes sir!"

A very meticulously dressed Lucius Malfoy stepped in, "Cornelius?" He inquired with a raised brow.

"Lucius! It all went down the drain! Dolores failed me! She has been sacked from Hogwarts and I'm required to send an auror on disability to take her spot if I want to keep any amount of respectability."

Fudge didn't notice Lucius roll his eyes as he was too busy pouring glasses of firewhiskey for them.

Down the hall, a banshee wail could be heard as Dolores was bemoaning her failure for her dear, dear Cornelius. That awful boy! A half-blood no less, yet he dared to treat her poor Cornelius so badly!

Forcing dear Cornelius to sack her as well, for the greater good. Wait that's what that horrible Dumbledore was always spouting! All she wanted was to help her Cornelius. Was that so wrong?

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Another long chapter! What are you people doing to us!

Before some of you get upset about Snape, we want to point out that we are going for a more neutral Snape towards Harry.

Until next time. -GF and the Frau