Trickshot chapter 7 -
"Now, that is the second years done." Dumbledore said at the staff meeting with all four head of houses, designed to discuss the student's progress.
"Marvelous" Flitwick said "I guess it's time to discuss the first years then."
"Indeed" McGonagall nodded "who is going to start?"
"I shall" Sprout said "my first years are all rather bright and attentive. A few don't seem to have the proper appreciation of the subject but apart from that they are mostly well behaved. The most noticeable ones in my own house for me at the moment, would be Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot, both are such lovely and sweet girls. As for Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom shows the most promise and is currently the best in his year at herbology. I just think the boy needs more confidence.
As for Slytherin, the most noticeable student would be Draco Malfoy but not exactly for good reasons. I've yet to have a lesson where the boy doesn't whine about something. As for Ravenclaw...hmm, I would have to say Harry Potter and Lisa Swan, both do their work and have no problem interacting with others. What about you Minerva?"
"Well," McGonagall took on a thoughtful look. "for my own lions, I would say Miss Granger is currently the best in my class. For the Hufflepuff's, I would place Susan Bones at the top, slightly above Megan Jones, at least for the moment. For the Slytherin's, I would place Tracy Davis and Daphne Greengrass at the best as of the moment followed by Mr Nott. For the Ravenclaws, I must admit that Harry Potter is the best. He appears to have inherited his father's natural talent for the subject and I am under the impression that he does like the lesson. He does the work, nearly always helps Miss Swan and then waits for more. He doesn't mind talking to others if the opportunity presents itself but he is generally well behaved.. What about you Filius?"
"Well, in my charms class I would say that the Hufflepuff's are rather neck and neck at the moment, they all appear to be equally matched, I would guess it's from practising together. Hermione Granger for the Gryffindor's, though Mr Finnegan could catch up with sufficient motivation. As for the Slytherin's I would have to say that Daphne Greengrass is the best, although Draco Malfoy does attract attention with his constant messing around and need to distract other students. As for Ravenclaw, yes I would say that Harry Potter is my best raven when it comes to my class.
The boy is very interested in lessons, he is nearly always the first to do the spell and I dare say that he could possibly rival his mother in charms."
"Really?" Dumbledore asked with clear surprise that was mirrored by the others, it was well known that Lily Potter was a charms genius.
"Oh yes, in fact the boy is also having extra lessons with me in exchange for quidditch training."
"What do you mean?" Professor Sprout asked.
"When I asked the boy if he would join the quidditch team he said he would do it but not at the cost of his education so I agreed to give him extra lesson. I start by going over his weekly work and then I teach him a new spell or two, nothing beyond first year at the moment but Merlin the boy lights up when he learns."
"Well learning should be encouraged," Dumbledore smiled as he filed that information away for later. "What about you Severus?" Dumbledore asked the brooding potions master while the others took on a look that told people they were preparing their eyerolls in advanced.
"Just another batch of dunderheads," Snape sneered, either not noticing or ignoring the eyerolls from the others. "of course my Slytherin's are brilliant as always."
"Of course." The other three head of houses said in unison, past experience told them to just shut up and agree with him to avoid what would be a long argument with Snape refusing to back down no matter what and Dumbledore allowing him to have his victory.
"Are there any students from other houses that have caught your interest?" Dumbledore asked. Snape was about to respond when he saw the look in Dumbledore's eyes and realised that he wanted to talk about none other than Snape's most hated student.
"There's Potter," Snape scowled. "the boy is cheating in class."
"And what makes you think that?" McGonagall asked raising her eyebrow.
"The boy doesn't seem like a cheat to me." Professor Sprout frowned.
"I am not blinded by his fame like the rest of you." Snape retorted.
"And we are not blinded by our hatred of the boy's father." Flitwick countered, causing Snape to glare at him.
"Now, now, there is no need to argue." Dumbledore said. "Severus, what makes you think that young Harry is cheating in your class?"
"The boy produces perfect potions every class," Snape scowled. "he must be cheating, he's a Potter."
"You think he's cheating because he's a Potter who happens to be good at potions?" Sprout repeated with disbelief.
"He's a Potter, son of his father, there is no way he can be good at potions." Snape sad in a way that made it seem like everyone else had just missed something very obvious.
"Speaking of cheating," Professor Flitwick said, bringing the attention of the room to him. "I regret to inform you that I have also become aware of a student who feels the need to cheat."
"And who might this be?" Dumbledore asked.
"Draco Malfoy." Flitwick answered.
"Draco Malfoy is not a cheater!" Snape said.
"What proof do you have?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Proof? Isn't it obvious? The boy is a Malfoy." Flitwick shrugged.
"Filius." Dumbledore said in a disapproving tone.
"What? I was under the impression that it was acceptable to judge students based on their families." Flitwick said in an innocent voice.
"I know what you're doing." Snape growled.
"I'd consider you an idiot if you didn't," Flitwick replied in a calm voice. "now let me make something clear to you Severus, for the past few years I've had to constantly put up with you bullying each and every student that wasn't one of your Slytherin's but I've reached my breaking point."
"What did you say?" Snape narrowed his eyes.
"Boy I have been dealing with bullies with my wit and wand since before your first time strutting around these halls like you were better than everyone, do not think you can intimidate me." Flitwick replied in an almost bored tone. "You look at Harry Potter and see the famous boy-who-lived and son of James Potter, I look at the boy and while I see a bit of his father I also see a brilliant student and the son of Lily Potter. In the past it was bad enough what you have been allowed to do but now you're so confident about your position that you are openly targeting students and I will not allow that to happen."
"Filius," Dumbledore spoke. "I understand but..."
"No Albus," Flitwick cut him off. "this cannot be allowed to continue, if not for Harry Potter's sake then at least for the sake of others."
"What do you mean?" Sprout asked.
"Not only is Harry the top student in classes, he is also the schools youngest chaser in a century plus he is the boy-who-lived. You all can surely realise how much negative attention Hogwarts would get if we allow Severus to openly target him, plus there is Harry Potter's friend."
"I do not entirely see what Miss Swan has to do with this." Dumbledore replied.
"Oh come off it Albus," Flitwick scoffed. "I know you know who the girl is. She's the heiress to the richest family in the world, she has access to the best lawyers in the world as well. What if Severus in one of his...'episodes'...does or says something to the girl that her family does not like? What if she tires of the way her friend is being treated and informs her family? You all surely realise what would happen if the two combined with a single competent lawyer decided that Hogwarts needed to pay for Snape's actions." Flitwick paused and noted that all have paled except Snape. "As for you Snape..."
"What about me?" Snape sneered at him.
"I know you are confident because Albus over here is in your corner yet I think you are greatly overestimating his capabilities. After all if enough pressure is applied by the public then the school board will have no choice but to demand your removal, then even Albus won't be able to stop you from being removed." Flitwick got off his seat and walked away, he paused at the door and turned to Albus. "I am not asking for much. I am merely asking that you make this man, who is in his thirties and works for what many consider the best magical school in Europe, be professional." With that Flitwick walked out.
"Merry Christmas Harry!" Lisa said when Harry walked down into the common room on Christmas morning, there were not many people here as most had chosen to go home for the holidays.
"Huh?" Harry yawned along with Loki who was on his shoulder. "Sorry Liz I haven't properly woken up yet," He paused to stretch. "oh yeah, merry Christmas."
"Thanks," She said as she stood up. "have you ever celebrated Christmas before?" She asked.
"Not really." Harry admitted with a small shake of his head. "To be fair I never remembered when it was Christmas, had better things to do since I knew I wasn't getting any presents. How come you're here by the way?"
"Do you not want me here?" She raised an eyebrow.
"No, I mean I do want you here but how come you're not at home with your family like the other kids?"
"My family don't mind," Lisa shrugged. "besides you're my friend and I wanted to be here for you. You too Loki." She added with a smile to Loki who smiled back.
"You're one of kind Liz." Harry grinned. "Did you get any presents?"
"I was waiting for you so we could open them together." Lisa admitted as she grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him towards two piles of presents. "Sit down." She said before she pulled him so he sat on the floor while Loki jumped off of his shoulder and down onto the floor.
"Someone's excited," Harry said as he looked at the pile. "you've got a lot of presents."
"Some of them are yours as well you know." Lisa replied.
"Are you sure?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I had sorted them so that pile is your." She said as she pointed to one pile. "You going to open them?"
"You go first." Harry shrugged.
"Okay." Lisa said before she opened one box. "Oh this is from mum and it's...some jewellery." She said as she held up a pretty necklace.
"It looks expensive," Harry commented. "if I saw that in the streets then I'd probably try and steal it. I'd probably succeed as well but that is not the point."
"You have a lot of experience with stealing?" She asked, not judging, just interested.
"Hey survival is survival." Harry shrugged. "What else you got?"
"Well," She said before she opened another box. "I've got a card from dad and a pretty ring, so this and the necklace are just going to go with the thousands of others I have at home. I...whoa...wow that probably sounded a bit spoilt to you."
"Just a bit." Harry nodded with an amused smile. "But it's fine, I don't hate each and every person richer than me. If I did then I'd have a lot of enemies."
"That's smart." She smiled at him.
"Well don't look so surprised." Harry joked as she opened her next present. "What is it? Is that cake?"
"Yep," Lisa grinned as she pulled out a chocolate cake on the floor. "don't worry spells would have kept it safe during travel."
"Your parents sent you a cake?"
"No this is from Toby, he's a house elf." Lisa smiled fondly.
"Sounds nice," Harry replied. "Looks nice too." Harry said as he looked at the cake and licked his lips.
"Presents first, then cake. Okay I have one more present left and it's from you apparently." She said as she opened a box to find her presents. "Whoa." She said as she found a bag full of wizarding sweets, a small drawing of multiple small handprints that looked like Loki's plus a smaller box. She opened it to find a necklace.
"Yeah I didn't really know what to get you so I got a bag of sweets, the handprint drawing was all Loki by the way and I know you already got a necklace that's probably worth ten of the one I got you but..."
"It's perfect." She said as she looked at the necklace and she couldn't help but compare it to the one her parents sent. The one her parents sent was big, flashy, covered in diamonds and designed to attract attention. The one Harry gave was thinner, it was a silver necklace with a small pendent in the shape of a star with an emerald stud in the middle.
"You sure? I mean I know it's not as expensive as yours but..."
"It's fine Harry, really." She smiled. And it was, yes it was not as expensive but it definitely felt more personal than the one her parents gave. "Can you put it on me?" She asked as she handed him it.
"Uh...sure," Harry opened the necklace as she moved her hair out of the way. He put it around her neck and closed it. "There you go."
"Thanks, I love it." She smiled.
"Brill, well since you're done I'm going to open mine. Okay first is from.. huh Professor Flitwick...hmm. It's a book on charms, nice."
"You have an obsession with learning, do you know that?" Lisa said, her tone and smile made it clear that no offence was intended.
"Always try and be the smartest guy in the room." Harry shrugged.
"Oh yeah, are you saying I'm dumber than you?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I said smartest 'guy', not girl." Harry replied.
"Hmm," She said with a soft snort of amusement. "nice save."
"Thank you, ah okay and I've got what...looks like a cloak." Harry said as he picked up the cloak from his box and held it up. "Well...somebody is cheap." Harry said as he stood up and looked at the cloak.
"Hold on, there's a note." Lisa said as she read it. "It says 'your father left this in my possession, use it well'. Do you know who it's from?" She said as she showed Harry the note.
"Not a clue." Harry said before he looked at the cloak. "What the hell does 'use it well' mean?" He wondered as he put it on and covered his body.
"Whoa!" Lisa gasped as Harry's body disappeared.
"Holy fuck!" Harry exclaimed in shock before he removed the cloak and his body returned. "Oh thank god! My beautiful body!" Harry said with relief.
"That's an invisibility cloak!" Lisa said.
"Let me guess...it turns you invisible?" Harry said as he put the cloak back on and his body went invisible. "Okay that is pretty impressive," Harry admitted as he removed the cloak. "I think I should probably show this to Professor Flitwick and have him check it over."
"Probably best, you don't exactly know who it's from and it could have curses on it." She said as Harry folded the cloak and put it back in the box.
"Alright let's see what else I got? I see two more presents."
"Oh they are both from me!" Lisa smiled widely. "One's for you and one's for Loki."
"Oh?" Harry asked as he opened the box for Loki first, "wow I can't believe you did this." Harry said a he held up a small black T-shirt. Loki clapped and squealed with delight before he extended his arms out, waiting for Harry to put it on him. "Alright, alright." Harry laughed as he put the shirt on Loki. Loki jumped with happiness as he looked, he curled arms and did an impression of a strong man. The black T-shirt had the Ravenclaw logo on the chest with 'Loki' written on the black in bold, Ravenclaw blue letters.
"Loki you look brilliant." Lisa smiled, she laughed when Loki jumped into her arms and hugged her.
"Yeah he'll be a real ladies killer." Harry laughed as he opened the last present. "Let's see what you've got me...whoa...didn't expect this." Harry said as he held up a plain silver ring.
"Yeah...I didn't know what else to get you besides books." She said apologetically.
"No, I like it, really." Harry said as he put it on his right middle finger. "Really, I love it." He said sincerely.
"Good," She smiled brightly. "it's special. It's supposed to heat up when there's danger, I brought one for myself too." She added as she showed him an identical ring on her middle finger.
"So it's like 'Spidey Sense'?" Harry asked.
"Yes, exactly," She nodded. "not what I would've used but good enough."
"Shall we?" Harry asked Loki who looked thoughtful before nodding quickly.
"What are you on about?" Lisa asked before she was surprised by Harry and Loki grabbing her and pulling her into a big hug. "Harry!" She laughed.
"You will not escape us!" Harry said dramatically. "Death by hugging!"
"Harry! Stop!" She laughed more.
"Accept your fate!"
A.N: Hi guys, hope you liked the chapter and for those wondering how Harry was able to afford the presents I'd like to remind you that he did go to Gringotts earlier in the story and learn how rich he was from the goblins. Thanks for reading, feel free to leave a review.