The chairs that were placed on the other side of the teacher's table were turned to each other. Harry sat on one, Lupin on the other.
The mug with Veritaserum in it was kept far away from Lupin, Harry's own cup was untouched as well. Harry had his wand out while Lupin didn't even bother with his.
Harry knew the stigma against werewolves, they were hated by the magical community, treated like third class citizens. Lupin's state of dress was explained quite easily now. The man probably never had a steady line of work.
Harry also suspected the man might be wondering what Harry planned to do with this secret, whether he planned on exposing Lupin or something worse. But the truth was Lupin wasn't on Harry's mind, Sirius Black was.
The man was an animagus, meaning he could transform into an animal, a black dog to be more specific. Sir Eats-a-lot, the stray Harry feedback at home, could have been a normal dog, a stray, one of millions out there. But what made the animal stand out to him was the fact that he saw the dog again just last night when he was being attacked by dementors.
Was Sir Eats-a-lot Sirius black? It sounded like a wild coincidence, a one in a million, but after two years of people coming to kill him and many seemingly innocent coincidences turned out to be plots to have his head.
Riddle's diary, the Philosopher's Stone, the basilisk's voice, all started as a coincidence but turned deadly.
'Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Fool me three times and I deserved to be killed,' Harry told himself.
There was a chance Sir. Eats-a-lot was Sirius Black, a small chance but a chance. And if that was the case then...why didn't he kill him sooner?
There were plenty of times during the summer when Sirius Black could have killed him, without even transforming into a human and using the killing curse. He had claws and fangs, he could have just ripped Harry's throat out. Not to mention the fact that Harry had let his gaurd down so many times with the dog that it would have been the perfect opportunity to strike.
Something doesn't add up. Sirius Black didn't kill him when he had the chance, he was...waiting? Stalling? For what? For Harry to get into a more secure place so that Black could have a challenge?
This wasn't making sense, Harry rubbed his eyes, this was a mess.
"Harry," Lupin's voice cut through his questions. Harry looked up, the man looked tired, very tired, "I understand."
"What?" Harry asked, confused.
"If you wish for me to resign, I will," Lupin sighed, "this job was a long shot anyway, I didn't expect me to last as long as I did truth be told. And now, you know my...furry little problem, and it makes you uncomfortable, I understand. Trust me Harry, I understand."
"Don't be daft Lupin, you're the Defence best teacher I had since joining this terrible school," Harry snorted, "if you left they might replace you with someone incompetant again. I might actually kill them this time if it happens again."
"Again?"
Harry waved off the question, "long story...look Lupin, the fact you're a werewolf is startling, I'll admit, but I don't want you to quit...in fact, I want you to do the opposite.'
"What?"
It was time to push his advantage and gain his first alley, "I want you to train me."
"I'm sorry."
"You're a defence teacher, yes? I want you to train me to fight," Harry stated, "I know a few spells, but I never had a formal education in combat. I want you to train me, everyday, for an hour or so."
"Harry, you're thirteen."
"And? I stopped being a kid when I ran away from home Lupin," Harry snorted.
"You what?"
"Don't start taking an interest in my life now Lupin," Harry cut him off with a glare, "and this isn't up for debate. I want lessons, everyday till you retire from Hogwarts or I graduate."
"And if I say no?"
"Then I will tell everyone your secret," Lupin's eyes widened at the threat.
"That's blackmail."
"Did your heightened wolf senses tell you that?" the sarcasm dripped.
"Harry...what happened to you? How are you able to treat such a serious offence so casually?"
"...A lot," Harry replied, getting up, "I'm going, classes will be starting soon and I have never been late in my life and I don't plan too now. I'll give you until tonight to make up your mind, train me or I'll tell everyone the truth."
With the ultimatum dropped, Harry turned around and walked out of the room, his mind reeling with questions about Sirius Black and Sir Eats-a-lot.
Before making it to the Great Hall he cast several cleaning charms on his person to remove the smell of not bathing, it was an odd feeling, like slime rolling over your skin, but it passed quickly.
He sat down at the Slytherin table, earning many glaces towards him. It was unusual after all, he almost never ate with others. He quietly sat down and ate a modest meal of toast eggs and beans, and as he did he thought back to all the food he fed Sir-Eats-a-lot.
The dog was a hungry creature, which, if he was Sirius Black, would be because he was in jail. He must be starving, if he was hiding as a dog that means he was probably forced to eat like an animal.
He could use food as bait. Black doesn't know Harry suspects him, maybe he could get his gaurd down and...kill him? No… capture him? Probably… he wanted to ask him why he didn't try and kill him before...why he betrayed his parents.
And then kill him.
No… give him to the dementors. That would be a fate worse than death and appropriate.
While in the middle of his morbid thoughts Harry noticed the three girls he helped last night enter his room. He spotted Tracy first, the poor thing had her robe hood up, head hanging, nursing what Harry suspected was a cup filled with a homemade hangover potion.
Next came Delphi and Daphne, both had their masks of superiority on, tall, proud and frigid to everyone else. They walked over to the Slytherin table without glancing at anyone else, Tracy dragging herself along while her blonde friends served as bodyguards.
"Harry, morning," Tracy spoke up first, her sulky tone perking up a bit as she sat down beside him, much to Harry's surprise.
Her friends looked at each other, Daphne shook her head but Delphi ignored her, sitting on the other side of Harry, shooting Daphne a look to sit as well. The Ice Queen sighed and sat next to Tracy, ignoring her friend who seemed to have not noticed.
"Thank you for what you did for me," Tracy said in a whisper as she smiled, "I'm sorry if I ruined your room. If I need to pay for anything I would be more than happy to do so."
"It's fine Davis, just take care of yourself better," Harry nodded, noticing how hollow Tracy's smile seemed to be. How had he never seen it before? Tracy put on a brave face, but she was just as fragile as glass.
It reminded Harry of the smile hookers used to give their clients in Benji's whore house. Broken and put together by someone who didn't remember exactly what a smile looked like without being in pieces.
"I will, after all, I have some amazing friends to help me," she chuckled, wincing at the action. She quickly sipped her drink, sighing in relief, "thank Merlin for hangover cures...oh and Harry, please, call me Tracy. After spending a night in your room I think we know each other pretty well."
"Tracy!" Delphi hissed, a tinge of red on her cheeks.
"So Mr. Potter, what was it like having three beautiful women sleeping over in your room?" Tracy asked, her fake smile once again in place.
"I don't know, never had women in my room. I'll tell you when I do," Harry replied back.
"Ho, that's some snark there Potter," the smile looked a little more real now, like she genuinely found his comment amusing, "just you wait, one day when we're knocking guys off with sticks and making veelas jealous you'll brag about last night."
"Oh I'm sure. I'll make sure to avoid describing the smell of vomit," Harry smiled, only to see Tracy wince at the comment.
"Ouch, right, forgot about that," the guilt was real and obvious. Harry felt bad, he shouldn't have said that.
"What's our first period?" Daphne asked, quickly changing the topic.
Harry was thankful, he cleared his throat, "we have Charms."
"Oh God, I don't think I can take Charms," Tracy groaned, "Professor Flitwick was always so chipper and loud. He's going to sound like a gong today."
"You'll be fine," Delphi assured her friend, "just make sure you finish the potion."
"Right," Daphne nodded, "and be quick about it, people are staring."
"Right, bottom's up," Tracy chugged the drink, bleaching when it was over, "Merlin that's disgusting."
"Agreed," Daphne sighed, vanishing the remaining contents of the cup to avoid anyone recognizing it my smell or sight, "we have to finish up quickly and get out books… Potter, are you coming?"
"No I-" Harry stopped himself. He had his trunk shrunken down in his pocket so he didn't need to go back to his room. But this might be his chance to… make friends as it were. "I'm coming," he said simply.
They ate their food in silence. Harry got the impression they would usually talk, but with Tracy still recovering and Daphne giving Delphi the silent treatment there wasn't much of that going on.
After eating they went back to the Slytherin common rooms for the girls to grab their books. Harry pretended to do the same, instead he just took out his books and shrunk back his trunk and put it in his pocket again.
He warded his room once more and left. Classes were...odd that day. Usually he would be isolated and alone, this time he wasn't.
It wasn't like before when Harry was hanging around them during the basilisk's outing, no, this time he was actually a part of their group. It was odd having people you could ask to borrow a quill from, not that he ever had too, Harry always made sure he was self-reliant.
But as the classes went on, he found the feeling of companionship...comforting. It was nice to have someone to talk to.
In Charms they learnt about a spell to tie your shoe laces, the beginning steps towards animation spells. Harry had a theory on how to use the spell to button up shirts instead and found himself discussing it with Delphi and Daphne. It was...nice.
DADA was awkward for Lupin. Harry didn't act out of the ordinary, he just stayed as silent and attentive as he always was. Lupin on the other hand kept giving glaces and stared whenever he thought Harry wasn't looking. It was unnerving but understandable given Harry's threat.
By the end of classes Harry and the girls split up. Tracy demanded to be brought back to her bed, Daphne insisted Delphi help her do just that. Harry didn't mind, he wished them well and went to the library, eager to begin his research.
He first went to the transfiguration section and looked through the advanced textbooks and found mentions of the animagus transformation here and there. From what he read it was an interesting enough concept, though tedious to perform.
He was curious, would he be a stag like his father? Or maybe his patronus...whatever that thing was.
He searched through them all, it was maddening honestly. The subject of transfiguration was common and the number of books published under it were immense. Not an easy task to take on alone…maybe he should have asked for help.
Was that how friendship worked? Was it like a trade? He helped Delphi and the girls last night, would they help him now? No, even he knew that wasn't how one made friends.
Just as it seemed like this was going to take his whole week to figure out, Harry happened upon a head of bushy hair walk behind a shelf. Hermoine, Harry would recognize that hair anywhere.
Was she…a friend? Yes…he supposed she would be. Maybe..taking a chance Harry moved, walking over to the girl who seemed to be looking over a few fifth year texts, very deeply focused on it.
"Ah-hem," Harry cleared his throat, getting her attention.
Hermoine's head shot up and blinked, surprised, "oh, Harry! Surprised to see you here! Homework?"
"No I…I was just researching something," he moved away from the comfort of the half cover that the shelf provided, "a few advance transfiguration skills…and you?" Good, he asked about her, he cared. Nice.
"Oh, homework," Hermoine blinked, looking at the books in Harry's hands, "what's the filed? Animal to inanimate objects?"
"No…animagus," Harry said cautiously.
Hermoine looked surprised, "animagus? Why?"
"I…I was just curious is all," he couldn't admit it, not yet.
"Oh, well, would you like some help?" she offered, shutting her book.
"What about your homework?" Harry asked, nervous, this was working out.
"Oh, I finished it already, I was just double checking my notes," Hermoine smiled as she got up, moving to a shelf a few rows down. "Alright, let's see…you're going to need this, this, this and…this…"
She started putting books down on a nearby table, Harry's eyes widened as the pile grew higher and higher.
"A-are you sure?" Harry asked, looking at the paper piled up before him.
"Yes and-" Hermoine's eyes widened as she looked at her watch, "oh no! I'm going to be late! Harry, give me five minutes!"
Before Harry could even say anything Hermoine rushed past him, heading back to her desk she grabbed her bag and ran out the door. Stumped Harry turned back to the pile of books in front of him, wondering if this would be enough.
Just then, before he could even sit down to begin, another pile of books seemed to hit the table. Hermoine looked back at him, tired and haggard, her uniform a mess, "sorry about that Harry, long day."
"W-what? What do you mean? Didn't you have class?" Harry blinked.
"What?" Hermoine looked confused before realization hit her, "oh, yes. No, I didn't, forgot my schedule, that's what I meant when I said long day…ha-ha," she sighed, putting her bag down and sat down, slumping, which she never did.
"Gran-" Harry stopped himself, "-Hermoine," he paused,she looked up to him, baggy eyes that were not there before, "are you alright? I know you said you can manage your schedule but…you don't seem to be. When was the last time you got some sleep?"
"Ah…a few hours ago?"
"How many?" Harry narrowed his eyes.
"...18?"
"Go to your room and sleep. Call it an early night if you want too. But you need to sleep Hermoine."
"But you need-"
"-You have helped me enough, now it's your turn to help yourself," Harry's tone left no room for argument.
"I..alright." she sighed, getting back up, "I suppose a power nap wouldn't hurt."
Harry nodded, "it wouldn't…now go, and thank you…for the help." Hermoine smiled and walked away. Harry felt happy, she was listening and going to be better. Huh…maybe he wasn't all that alone.
Now finally free he sat down and turned to the task at hand. He scanned through the books, none of them gave a detailed explanation of the process.
Hours passed and he was just about to give up when he noticed something in the check out tab in the twentieth book he looked through.
Only ten people had taken this book in the last twenty yeras, it was a large heavy tome and read like a dictonary had sex with a thesorus. Not very interesting. But what was interesting was the name of the boy who checked it out nearly twenty years ago: James Potter.
Harry put the book aside and looked through the other books on the table. He scanned the names and found a total of seven books which mentioned the animagus transformation; the names 'James Potter', 'Sirius Black', 'Remus Lupin' and 'Peter Petregrew' came up. He took out all seven books.
Each book had parts of the process explained, so maybe he needed to put them together, like pieces in a puzzle, and then he would find out how to do what his father once did.
He brought the books to the counter to be checked out and the vulture on the other side, , glared at Harry.
"Will you be damaging these books as well Mr. Potter?" she still remembered how Harry's books were ruined in his first year.
"They will be unclutched Madam Pince I assure you," Harry smiled. The librarian looked unconvinced.
She took the book and read the cover, "these are some advanced texts for you Mr. Potter. May I ask what for?"
"I excel at the art, I merely wish for a challenge."
"While it might be a bit of light reading for you Mr. Potter, some NEWT years students will want these and with you checking them out it might hinder their education."
"I'll require it only for a week Madam Pince, I will bring it back on time," Harry assured her.
"Do that Mr. Potter," Pince warned, the threat hanging in the air left unsaid.
As she began checking out the books for Harry, a question came up that Harry couldn't find himself shaking off. He cleared his throat, "Madam Pince...by any chance are there any books on...how to make friends?"
Her quill stopped. She looked up and started. A moment later she went back to her work, muttering quickly, "check under mental health."
"Thank you," Harry replied. After having the books checked out under his name he went back inside to the mental health section, which he visited last year after losing his temper on Lockhart because of Riddle's influence.
Searching through the familiar books Harry picked up a few that would help him continue his occlumency training. He got it to a decent level last year, maybe he could continue improving it.
He found several books on how to make friends, all of them however were outdated as all hell. Once was written in the 80's. The 1680's. Harry doubted going to watch a joust at the local muggle kingdom was very relatable.
Just as he was about to throw in the towel, a familiar golden book caught his eye. 'The Prince' by Niccoli Macheavile.
Harry picked up the book and began to read it. What he found was...perfect.
Harry turned to Pince, she wouldn't approve. She knew he wanted a book on friends, checking out this book in its place would be… eye raising at the very least. So Harry did what he used to do before Hogwarts, he nicked it.
He checked books for any spells marking it, lucky it seemed since it was so old an unused no one here seemed to have borrowed it ever as it have no names on the check out tab. Harry it seemed was the first person to show interest in the text.
So he took out his trunk, stuffed the book between a spare set of robes and shrunk the trunk back down. He then grabbed some third rate trash on making friends and walked out.
Pince didn't even blink, checking out the book for him. He walked through the threshold of the library and waited. No sound, nothing. He smiled and continued walking.
10 PM the same day:
Remus Lupin heard a knock on his door and hesitated to open it. He already knew who it was, he knew he had no choice. He walked up to the door and opened it, seeing no one there.
He sniffed the air and sighed, "I can smell you under the cloak Mr. Potter, you might as well come out."
A ripple appeared in the seemingly empty space before him as Remus came face to face once again with the boy he couldn't believe was his best friend's son.
He remembered Harry as a baby. He looked just like James, except his eyes, he had his mother's eyes. He smiled all the time, even when he fell, he would always smile through tears once the pain left.
But now, Remus didn't think Harry knew the concept, except for the one time he almost cast his patronus, that was the closest to a smile Lupin ever saw from the boy. It was… a stark awakening for Lupin, made him realise Harry wasn't the same as the baby he remembered, no, he didn't even have the right hair.
This Harry Potter resorted to blackmail. This Harry Potter was willing to threaten his life. And for the life of him Lupin couldn't bring himself to blame the boy.
Harry stepped in, wand already drawn, "I solemnly swear-"
"-Mischief Managed," Lupin cut him off, closing the door behind him and casting a privacy charm in quick succession. Certain times, Harry reminded Lupin of Mad Eye Moody, those two would get along like oil and a house on fire.
"Have you come to a discussion?" Harry asked, blunt, cold.
"Yes… I quit," Remus relented. He saw a flash of surprise in Harry's eyes.
"May I ask why?"
"I will not be black mailed," Lupin stated, crossing his arms as he did his best not to see Lily when he looked directly at those eyes, "if you wish to tell others of my disease, you may. I however, will not be bullied."
"..." Harry said nothing, Remus expected that. He wasn't the kind of boy to take this lying down, he'll yell or fight or do something that- "-I understand, I'll say nothing. Goodbye."
Remus was thrown in for a loop, "w-what?"
Harry stopped at the door, taking out Jame's invisibility cloak once more, "I said I understand. You will not be bullied, I understand. Goodbye Professor Lupin."
"...Are you going to tell anyone?" Lupin couldn't help but ask.
"No, like I said before, I would be daft to out you, you're our only shot at having a half-way decent protection. I only wanted you to focus on me because… I felt like you owed me. It seems I was mistaken. I apologize for seeming to push this on you, I just… with Black on the prowl and Lestrange also out to get me… I needed to feel...safe."
Lupin felt like sticking his feet into his mouth. Was he seriously thinking a thirteen year old was as cruel as he believed? Cruel enough to threaten him with blackmail?
"Harry wait," Lupin began, only for Harry to vanish behind his father's cloak, "Harry, I need a moment to-" the door opened and slammed shut behind him. Remus ran and threw the door open, sniffed the air and while his senses were advanced, they weren't to the level of when he was fully transformed.
He couldn't track him, he also knew the cloak, for some odd reason, was impervious to any spell placed on it. It was an oddity to be sure, one Lupin and his friends discovered early on in their school years.
He sighed, walking back in he closed shut the door behind him and sank into his seat. A few moments ago he was ready to pack it all up and quite...now… now he knew that was the wrong choice.
Harry needed him, he said so himself, he didn't feel safe. Sirius was his Godfather, but he's the one who was coming after him. Harry needed him...and this time he wouldn't fail.
The next day:
"Mr. Potter, if you would please stay back a moment, I need to discuss your last assignment," Lupin called out.
Harry was startled but didn't react much. He just nodded silently. Delphi shot him a look in question, to which Harry simply shrugged.
"See you in Potions," Hermoine smiled, Harry smiled back, she was looking much better. Much more refreshed.
As class ended for the day, everyone began to pack up and leave. It was a Friday and everyone was eager for the break. Harry was also eager, but for a very different reason.
'Did he take the bait?' Harry kept asking himself as he walked up to Lupin just as the final student left the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Mr. Potter...Harry," Remus got up, crossing his arms, "I would first like to say I… I appreciate your discretion when it came to my furry little problem. This job is important to me and I appreciate your secrecy. But… what you did, threatening me, I will not stand for it. Understand?"
Harry nodded, "I understand."
"Good...tomorrow, 4 PM, my office. We'll begin your lesson."
'Gotcha!' Harry wanted to smile, but he didn't. He put on a facade, looking up in surprise, "what?"
Lupin looked satisfied as he grinned, "tomorrow, at 4, we begin your training. I assume that won't be an issue?"
"N-no, not at all, thank you!" Harry broke his 'mask' with excitement. He cleared his throat, "I mean, I appreciate what you're doing, I promise not to let you down sir."
"I'm sure you won't," Lupin smiled, "we can begin with your Patronus, it will take some time but-"
"-I can already cast it," Harry cut him off.
"...I'm sorry?"
"The patronus, after our talk I managed to figure it out."
"...Really?"
Harry nodded, "yes. It's easy once you have a memory in mind."
"A corporeal patronus?" Lupin asked, Harry nodded, "may I see?"
Harry drew his wand and, using the memory of the stars once more, this time with a memory of his parents' voice, he cast the spell, "Expecto Patronum!"
The tip of his wand burst out alive as his animal patronus came charging out. It looked around for a threat, stalking the area around them like a protective mother before turning to Harry, awaiting orders.
"I-I can't...I can't believe it," Lupin whispered, his jaw on the floor, "only two days ago you couldn't even summon a mist I...well, looks like you might have a bit of your mother's gifts for charms."
"Thank you," the gratitude in his voice was genuine. Harry dismissed the creature and turned to Lupin, "tomorrow, 4 PM?"
Lupin nodded, "4 PM. Don't worry about the lesson, I'm sure I'll come up with something by then."
Harry nodded, "I'm sure. And again, thank you," he then walked out, only once he stepped past the classes threshold did a smile as wicked as the founder of his house come upon his face.
Step 1: Acquire allies- 1 alley gained.
Last night, Harry came across an epiphany. He was a Slytherin.
It wasn't a pleasant thought to be sure, but it was a realization that he never had before. He was a Slytherin, an ambitious, cunning and sly person. It was true, it's been three years now and last night, resting in his heavily guarded room with Godric in hand, he finally gave up on the dream of being in Gryffindor like his parents.
He was a Slytherin, nothing could change that. So it was about time he accepted it. Which meant it was time he started using that ambition of his.
He was always clever and sly, tricking Lupin, driving McGonahugh and his friends insane, Scamander even Riddle to a small degree he managed to trick. He got it all from his life on the streets, it was time to bring some London street love to these kids.
And Niccolio Machiavelli was the man who would help him do it.
Not literally, the guy was dead for hundreds of years and was a muggle, probably. But his manuscript, 'The Prince', was his secret weapon.
As soon as Harry went to his room that night, he locked the doors and awarded it to high hell. Once he was sure he would be safe, he unshrunk his trunk and took out the book which he had kept hidden.
Inside he had made notes, notes upon notes scrawled across every corner of every page. It seemed Machiavelli never had a bad idea. Maybe Harry himself couldn't use it, but it was always something insightful.
The book talked about how a 'Prince', that is a ruler of a principality, can be successful. It talked about conquering foriegn lands, holding power and setting themselves a legacy to be remembered.
It was a cut throat practise. Literally. Machiavelli once suggested murdering people to keep up appearances. Harry had never seen anyone like this. If this man was in Hogwarts, he would be in Slytherin on September 1st and the master by the end of the year.
Which is why Harry himself sought to use the methods of war Machiavelli described as best he could. While killing and murder was off the table, especially for children, other forms of punishment could be used.
Harry had two steps to do:
Step 1: Acquire allies
Step 2: Create a persona for the public and for people
'Even the Dark Lord didn't fight alone,' those words stuck with Harry. So the first thing he would need is people that would support him.
In The Prince, Machiavelli talked about how to invade a foreign land and gain control. The best was to that, other than war, it to rise up nobel men who were not in power, push them to revolt, and then take over. They would owe their new found position to you and their loyalty would be secured.
To translate it into Harry's situation: he would need to find the outcasts and shunned members of the Hogwarts student body and make something of them. The people who have no power, who would be loyal to him out of gratefulness.
He would not restrict himself to only Slytherin's, no, that would be foolish. He would look at everyone in his year first, form a trusted circle, turn them into something useful and then move to the younger years.
He would then need a persona, Harry knew the image of Voldermort was not real, an act Tom Riddle played. He knew that because of how the diary talked to him. It was smart, funny and clever. There were hints of a mask here and there for sure, a flatter here, a compliment to boost the ego there.
Harry's mask would have to be different. He would have to show a different face to different people. To Lupin, to gain his alliance, he had to act weak. For Hermoine, he would have to be the young boy who hates everyone else, but her. For Delphi...he would have to be the same, except more guarded.
Speaking of Malfoy, this brought about Harry's second problem. Delphi Malfoy was the leader of their year, the position Harry himself was gunning for. She was his enemy by default, but maybe they didn't have to be.
He was pushed off confronting anyone until he had more allies, especially Delphi, but she was on the list. Harry didn't want to treat her as an enemy, not when they were slowly becoming friends. But he would not let anyone stand in his way. Either she gets onboard or she stays away.
There was only one snag: Harry didn't really know the people in his year. He knew of them, but not personally. He didn't know their likes, dislikes, speciality or even their hobbies. He would need data to start his campaign, and he knew just who to ask.
Saturday morning:
"You want to make more friends?" Hermoine blinked, the very idea seemed too alien to her.
"Yes…like we are."
Hermoine's jaw dropped, "you consider us friends?"
Harry sighed, "this was a bad idea, forget it."
"-No! Harry, please, sit down!" Heroine quickly replied, grabbing his hand, giggling, "I'm sorry, I'm just teasing!"
Harry sighed, sitting back down, pleased on the inside on how well his plan was going, "so, will you help me?"
"Of course Harry!" Hermoine replied quickly, squeezing his hand, "just tell me what you want to know."
"Is there anyone like me?"
"Like you?"
"Alone. A shadow… just there but not really."
"Do you mind if they are in other houses?"
"Not at all," Harry shook his head.
"I suppose...in Gryffindor there's Neville Longbottom," Harry raised an eyebrow, "he's a good boy, just shy. And he's very nervous around people."
"I remember," flashes of the chubby boy throwing quills into a potion causing it to explode came to mind. Harry sighed, "he seems nice...who else?"
"Well… I suppose in our year there a few who don't really get along. There's...well, me," Hermoine sighed, "then Fay Dunbar, Sally-Anne Perks from Gryffindor. From Ravenclaw there's Oliver Rivers and Sue Li, though I don't know for sure. They just seem like quiet people. I have no idea about Hufflepuff and Slytherin though. Sorry I can't be of much help."
"Don't worry about it," Harry waved off the apology. "Tell me Hermione, what exactly does Neville like to do?"
After a three hour long conversation with Hermoine, which did include strenuous note taking, Harry finally broke free and set his way to Lupin's office. He was really regretting the whole social interaction part of his plan, but it was necessary.
He knocked on the door and waited. "Enter," the call came quickly. Harry walked in, surprised to find the whole room cleared out, all tables and benches pushed to the side as Lupin stood in the middle, wand in hand waiting for Harry.
"You're five minutes ealry, good," Lupin flicked his wand, shutting the door behind him, "we will begin with the protego spell. Are you familiar with it?"
Harry nodded, "yes, I've used it before."
"Good, flipindo!" the spell was out of Lupin's wand in seconds. Harry's eyes widened as he drew his wand, casting the spell as best as he could. However he was not a syllable through before he was hit, tossed through the air and landed on the hard floor.
He groaned, pulling himself up. Lupin stood over him, offering a hand, "lesson one, be quick."
"Bloody brilliant professor, anything else to add?" Harry groaned, taking the offered hand, getting back to his feet.
"Yes, again," Remus walked away, wand at the ready, "begin!"
"Protego!"
"Flippindo!"
The spell shattered Harry's charm and hit him, sending him flying away.
"Again!" Lupin demanded, a bit of steel to his voice. Harry growled, getting back to his feet. The werewolf roared once more, "flippindo!"
"Protego!" the shimmer of transparent blue silver light came before Harry and this time the shield held, absorbing the hit.
Harry panted as Lupin smiled, "good. Now let's make things a bit harder, yes?"
Training with Lupin went on for two hours. Two hours of getting hit with schoolyard spells that had no right to be strong as they were. Harry's protego spell did improve though, slowly. By the end of the session he was able to block a bombarda spell at Lupin's fastest casting.
Now Harry was in his secured room, Godric was sleeping on his bed and he had an ice pack on his shoulder. His entire body was in pain, Harry had a sneaking suspicion Lupin took joy in tossing him around the room.
Pushing the pain aside, Harry turned to the animagus books he was looking through. A glace through them told Harry a basic set up around what to do to become an animagus. It wasn't that hard to figure it out, kind of like a jigsaw puzzle.
The first step was to prepare a potion, the process for which he managed to decipher from another book. It was vague and labeled as 'The Required Potion', which logically meant the animagus potion.
The process was complex, from what the books told him. It involved holding a mandrake leaf in one's mouth for a month, which was disgusting as it would make one's mouth taste slightly acidic, and then drinking the animagus potion during a thunderstorm.
That would unlock the ability and after constant practise the wizard or witch would be able to transform into one chosen animal, with or without the use of a wand.
The potion however was complex and needlessly tiring. The leaf that was soaked for a month in one's mouth had to be placed in a crystal phial, where it should be struck by the light from the moon on a stormy night. If that didn't happen you need to redo the whole process again.
Then you needed to add the ingredients. Dew from a place that had been untouched by sunlight and humans for seven days. Then you need a strand of your own hair and one Death's-head Hawk Moth chrysalis.
Then you need to put the mixture in a dark place undisturbed until the next lightning storm. When the first lightning strike of the next storm hits, the potion should turn blood red signifying its success.
If any of these steps fail, one would have to restart.
Which was some bullshit as far as Harry was concerned.
This process was so complex and confusing, he couldn't believe his father had managed to pull it off. But...after all, he was his dad, this might have been a challenge but it wouldn't have stumped him.
The process was a challenge, but as far as Harry was concerned it was an obstacle. His father became an animagus, fine, so would he.
He would need to go to Hogsmead to get the ingredients he would need. Professor Snape would not appreciate him taking such expensive ingredients for his own personal use.
So Harry spent that night and every night after working on either his studies, his private session with Lupin, creating a plan to gain more allies or the animagus potion. It would be a long journey, he knew that, but it was going to be worth it.
November 13th:
Hogsmead was not what Harry was expecting. It looked like it was preserved from the Victorian era, true, but he didn't expect it to be an actual town.
Maybe it was just in his mind, but he didn't expect wizards to have a place as nice and open as this. It was pleasant even to see them out and open with their magic, people cleaning walkways with spells, casting simple charms to attract people into their stores.
It was a wonderful trip. Or would be, if not for one little thing.
"Oye, Potter, you going to stare at the pretty lights all day like some bipedal moth?" Draco Malfoy sneered, pulling Harry out of his good mood, "we came here to have fun, not stare at lights."
Harry sighed, turned to Draco and smiled, "I apologize, please Draco, if you will. I have never been to a wizarding village before, I'll defer to you to guide us through this place and entertain us."
Draco snarled, "follow me," he turned and walked ahead. He led the group, Delphi, Daphne, Tracy, Vincent and Goyle.
"Well done," Daphne whispered as walked beside Harry, "I was expecting something more along the lines off:' the only thing light around here is you Malfoy. You poof'."
"Trying something new," Harry replied. It was a part of his newly developing persona. He based it off Riddle' own image. The charming, kind and courteous gentleman. Nevermind behind the mask was a psychopath.
He had been slowly integrating it into his social interactions, making it seem more natural than rather a stark difference that happened overnight.
First he stopped insulting people or being overly demanding. This wasn't a problem as he rarely talked to anyone. The ones who did notice the difference, mainly Delphi and Daphne, said nothing as they recognized Harry's attempts as a social circle building exercise.
It was hard mind you, one of the hardest things Harry had to do. But he had always been a good actor, being a metamorphmagus that spent a few years on the street switching between personas to trick people gained him a lot of hands on experience in that regard.
The mask was easy to slip on, scary so. It was like riding a bike so to say. He was able to keep up the image well enough now, slowly stepping into the light of social interactions, though still silent and reserved.
Malfoy took them around the town, taking the lead with pride. Harry wagered the boy was ecstatic the only real threat to him finally started treating him with respect. Harry knew early on the best way to gain Draco Malfoy's attention was to play into his ego, which was easy to do if you knew how.
The town of Hogsmead was easy enough to navigate. There weren't many buildings of note, most obviously was the tavern 'The Three Broomsticks', there were also joke shops, a school supply store and even a few tea rooms which Harry wagered was probably the most romantic place in this town.
After the tour they decided to split up. Delphi and her girlfriends had to get new robes made, they insisted on going alone. Draco then left with Goyle and Crabb, wishing him luck for whatever he was planning to do, effectively abandoning the boy.
Harry didn't mind, he did after all had work to do.
First he went to the general goods store and placed an order for the ingredient he would need to make the animagus potion. He also included a few other random ingredients so that his order wouldn't stand out and seem obvious, since after all the potion had a very unique formula.
After that, Harry left the town and went to the edge of the Forbidden forest. Looking around Harry tried to spot Sir-Eats-a-lot, who he still suspected was Sirius Black. Unfortunately he was literally trying to find a dog in a forest so obviously he got no knowhere.
But, he did have a plan.
He took out a shrunken picnic bag from his pocket and placed it on the edge of the forest. It was just a couple of things Harry had the House Elves make for him. He then proceeded to level the strongest charms and wards he knew onto said basket.
The spells should keep small animals away, like street dogs, cats, even wolves. It should also keep out certain magical creatures and wizards, with the exception of animagus. It was a special ward which took a long time to learn. A very long time.
He found it in one of the many NEWT level books he took from the library regarding animagi, and while it was a pain to learn, it was worth it.
Originally it was a way to separate out animagus from other animals of their kind, only now Harry was using it to make sure that if any animal ate from this basket, it would 100% be an animagus.
With the warding done Harry placed a note on the basket: 'I'm sorry Sir-Eats-a-lot.' If Sirius Black was smart, he would think Harry was sorry if he was a genius he would know this was a trap.
The food wasn't laced with anything, no, a dog animagus would be able to tell. For now Harry needed to lure the animagus into a false sense of comfort so that the next time they met, he could get the drop on him.
With his long term trap in place Harry left back to the town, just in time to see most of the children leaving back to the school. He looked around for his fellow year Slytherins when he noticed someone else that caught his eye.
Neville Longbottom. The boy held a pot in his arms and was hunched over, hurrying over to the nearest cab. He was alone, seeing his chance, Harry quickly followed behind, opening the cabin, startling the boy.
"H-hello," Neville gulped.
"Hello Longbottom," Harry nodded, sitting down opposite to the Gryffindor. He sat there in silence, Neville fidgeting, obviously nervous.
"Did you buy that?" Harry asked. Neville was startled, confused. Harry pointed to the pot in his hands, "did you buy that? In the village?"
"O-oh, yeah," Neville nodded.
Harry looked at the label on the pot, Neville quickly noticed and tried to cover it with his hand but Harry was quicker, "Ginora root?"
"Y-yes, it's a Ginora root, I-I ordered it a while ago and needed to pick it up," Neville looked guilty just admitting that. Which only earned Harry's further attention.
The name rung a bell in Harry's head, "Ginora? Isn't that expensive?"
Neville shook his head, "not really. The plant seed is cheap to buy, the fully grown roots people use are expensive."
"Why is that?" Harry asked, already knowing the answer.
"Oh, it's because you need to take really good care of the soil when growing it. For this root you need to have some really strong acid and manure mixed into the dirt. You also can't expose it to too much sunlight or it will wither away and day."
"I see...what would you do to make sure someone won't disturb it?"
"A few safety charms would make sure of that," Neville shrugged before realising how long he had spoken, and to whom. Immediately the nervousness and stammering came back, "o-of course it's just for fun..."
Harry's eyes narrowed. Ginora roots was poisonous, very poisonous. The kind you could use to stop a dragon for a minute or kill a full grown horse in seconds. It was so expensive and deadly that the market artificially inflated the cost of buying it. Growing it was a good work around, true, but still, it was dangerous.
"Neville, do you know-"
The door to the cabin opened, Harry stopped talking and Neville flinched as three older Gryffindors came in.
"There's no way we're going to convince the girls to," they stopped talking, realising the cabin wasn't empty. They looked at Neville first, dismissing him quickly. They then looked to Harry, which caused them to exchange looks.
After a moment they decided to get in, sitting down as an awkward silence fell over the group. Harry didn't recognize them, he had no information to go on so he decided now wouldn't be the best time to befriend the three Gryffindors.
Neville on the other hand looked scared, downright frightened even. He hugged his pot tighter and soon the cabin took flight.
"What's that you have there Neville?" one of the older students asked.
"N-nothing," Neville replied quickly, "just wanted to get a new plant."
"Oh, what kind?"
"Cardigans," Neville lied. He shot Harry a look, but the Slytherin boy didn't comment.
"What the hell is that? Is it a muggle plant?"
"Y-yes, it's supposed to be very nice to look at." Did Neville know cardigans were a type of clothing and not a plant?
"What are you going to do with it? Give it to a bird?" one of them asked, causing the others to burst out laughing.
"Imagine that, our cowardly lion asking a bird out!" another laughed.
"I-I just thought they would look good," Neville whispered.
"Oh, so what you planning on doing with it? Give it to your mum?"
"You daft? She's a squibbling mess, remember?" another commented.
"Shut up!" Neville cried out, starting everyone in the cabin with his volume, "don't talk about my mum! Don't ever talk about her!"
"A-Alright, keep it in your pants Longbottom," one of the Gryffindors said, quietening down.
The carriage ride was awkward since that moment, the three older kids knew better than to push the younger one's buttons. Harry on the other hand had nothing to say to the boy, though he did find amusement in just observing how nervous the previously confident boy looked now.
There was a fire in him, hidden, blocked, but it was there.
The carriage landed down a little while after that. The three older kids got down and practically ran back inside. Neville looked tired, taking his pot with him to the second greenhouse, most often used by Harry's year for Herbology.
Harry watched him go and quickly decided to follow. He snuck inside, just in time to see Neville shift the soil in the pot he was carrying into a bigger pot, pouring yellow acidic looking liquid in as nourishment.
He leaned against the greenhouse door and cleared his throat, startling Neville who looked up with a jerk, gasping in surprise.
"O-oh, its you Potter," Neville sighed.
"Harry," the Slytherin replied, "call me Harry."
"Oh...ah, Harry, can I help you?"
"You lied," Neville flinched at the accusation, "about the plant. Can I ask...who exactly are you planning to poison?"
"P-poison?! I'm not-"
"-You don't buy one of the quickest acting poisons in the world for fun or pleasure, no matter how much you love the act of gardening. You buy it to use it," Harry cut him off, "I promise I won't tell Sprout...provided you be truthful. Who is it for?"
"...Lestrange."
Harry's eyebrow was raised, "may I ask why?"
"She's a Death Eater."
"Maybe, but in my experience you only go after someone only if you have a personal stake in seeing them buried," Harry narrowed his eyes, "the truth Longbottom."
"...she hurt my parents," his voice was low, barely a whisper.
"...they said your mother was sick..."
"She isn't sick, she's a vegetable!" Nevile cried out, that anger once again surfacing. He threw the trowel in his hand, tears in his eyes, "she tortured them into insanity! She laughed while she did it! And now she's out there somewhere and I...I..."
"Can finally have my revenge," Harry finished for him. Neville didn't even look up and for a moment Harry wondered if the art of Destiny was something you could ever fully understand.
He was looking for an alley, and here he found one that was a reflection of himself. A Gryffindor, a coward that had a bite to him, someone who also wished for revenge.
Someone who wanted to hurt Bellatrix Lestrange, like he wishes for Sirius Black.
A brother. A mirror. An alley.
"Sirius Black killed my parents," Harry freely admitted, Neville looked up, confused, "yes, Voldermort held the wand, but Black pointed it at them. He's also out there...I heard they are cousins, maybe they are working together...so should we."
Neville stared at him, a blank expression on his face. It was then Harry realised he needed to work on his recruitment speech because that right there was as convincing as a rat in a dress.
"Y-you want to help me?" Neville asked, clearly in disbelief.
Harry nodded, walking inside, "yes, I do. I want to help you find Lestrange and Black and kill them. Poison or...by other means. I can find them, give me some time and I will do so. I will find them and hurt them, but the only question is, do you want in?"
Neville looked at Harry with confusion, Harry was happy it wasn't disgust. And then, a moment passed between the two, a moment where Harry could practically see Neville's thoughts as they moved from doubt, to pure cold will.
"You can get her?" Neville asked.
Harry nodded, "I have a lead on Black. If we get him, we can get her."
"What is your lead?"
"I won't tell that to someone I barely know," Harry snapped back, "because unless you're with me, then you're against me."
"...I'm in," Neville stood up, holding out his hand, "get me Lestrange and I'm in."
"We won't stop at Lestrange," Harry said, wondering why he had such a strange compulsion to be a bit more truthful with Neville. Maybe it was because of their shared trauma, or maybe he just didn't feel up to weaving a lie, but either way the following words came out of his mouth before he could shut it, "I'm going after Voldermort as well. If you're in, then I suggest you prepare yourself to one day face that red eyed bastard as well."
Neville flinched at the name, which wasn't good. If he did join, Harry would have to beat it out of him.
"C-can I have a moment to think about it?" Neville asked.
"You have until I walk out the door," Harry replied, hoping the time restriction would make him take a snap decision, "and then the offer expires. You want Lestrange, fine, but what about the man who ordered her to do what she did? Does he get to go free?"
"Y-you're talking about You-Know-Who! How can I even hope to fight him!?"
"Because he's one of the reasons your mum will never tell you 'I love you'."
The statement made the entire greenhouse feel cold so fast Harry was genuinely worried the heating charm inside had broken. Neville's eyes hardened, looking cold, like Harry's.
Without another word, Harry turned and walked to the door. He slowed his steps down, made sure to give Neville plenty of time to think. And then, just as his hand touched the handle to the door, he got an answer.
"I'm in," Neville replied, "if you're going about h-him, then I'm in."
"You might die."
"Yeah..."
Harry smiled to himself before turning to Neville, "if we do this, you need to make changes. I refuse to accept anything less than the best. What if your weakest subject?"
"P-potions."
"Of course," Harry sighed, "fine, then from now on I'm tutoring you in potions and anything else you don't score at least an EE in. By the end of the year I expect to see you skilled enough to handle Lestrange on your own if the need arises, do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
"Good, tomorrow morning, 5, meet me on the seventh floor by the painting of those dancing trolls."
"5 PM?"
"AM," Harry corrected, seeing Neville's look of horror, he continued, "don't even think about being late. Or else."
Neville gulped, "or else?"
"I'll throw you off the seventh floor."
November 20th:
A week with Harry Potter was not what Neville Longbottom imagined it would be like. He imagined a dungeon with sticks and curses fired at his head at every single mistake he made during lessons.
What he didn't expect was compassion.
Harry Potter was an oddball. Neville, like most wizards and witches of his generation, grew up with an idealized version of the Boy-who-lived. An ideal that didn't hold the moment he saw the guy.
Everyone imagined him looking like James Potter, no one expected a mane of red hair with black stripes in it. Like a human tiger. They also expected him to be a Gryffindor, which he was not.
Neville didn't know a lot about Harry, the first year he was a ghost. The second year he did cause some stir up, crying out that Slytherin's monster was a basilisk, which later they found out it was. But overall, the boy was a mystery to him. So he ended up filling in the gaps with bits and pieces from other Slytherins he met during his time.
But Harry wasn't cruel or a bully. He was practical, logical and strict, but never to a point that Neville felt like he was going to panic like he did in Professor Snape's class.
He started Neville off with the basics, how to maintain your tools and techniques for brewing, something Neville had forgotten he knew.
He then gave exercises and tasks that made the lesson stick to mind. It seemed absurd, but Harry knew just how to teach him, it almost seemed like magic until one day, when Harry wasn't looking, Neville snuck a peak into a notepad Harry always had with him when teaching and inside he found mountains of notes on how to teach.
It was something Neville thought could be submitted for a thesis on how to teach even a failing student like him. The amount of research it would have taken, Neville didn't even want to think about the hours spent on this.
But the results spoke for themselves. In one week, Neville went from being always yelled at without debate in every potion's class, to managing a single class on Friday where Snape couldn't seem to find a fault in his brewing.
It was a subtle change to most, but akin to a nuclear bomb to Neville. He went to a class, a whole class, without getting yelled at. He was so excited that he wrote to his Nan about it and she was overjoyed to hear him finally make some progress to prove he was his father's son.
The week was also filled with physical training that made Neville want to quit. He never realised it, due to the bulky robes, but Harry was fit as a tree trunk. He had the body of a runner and a fighter and the first time he had Neville spar with him the Gryffindor almost fainted from fear.
But, again, he was not cruel or a bully. He was a teacher. Every hit Neville took that bruised up Harry healed with a wand or paste. Every hit was a lesson. Every sweat drop would result in something more meaningful down the road.
A week and Neville could already see the difference. He was a few centimeters thinner and he knew, just knew, if he stuck with the odd Slytherin, the change would start increasing more and more.
Over the week Neville took to following Harry around. It was an odd sight to see and many people did comment on it. Draco Malfoy even made fun of Harry the first day when he saw them. Neville remembered the day clearly as it fed into his insecurities.
"So Potter, what's with the pet cat? Decided to play for the other team?" Draco smirked, "I knew all those accusations you threw at me were indicating something more about you."
Harry looked at Draco, raised an eyebrow and simply replied, "your shoelace is untied."
And from then on that was the go to reply to any of Malfoy's comments. It got so annoying that Malfoy had eventually transfigured all his shoes into loafers, so the comment wouldn't apply. Only for Harry to then start mentioning things about his loose tie.
It was not an enjoyable week for Draco, who eventually gave up the insults, though Neville had a sneaking suspicion it had something to do with his sister Delphi who frequently looked on in disapproval at his comments.
By Tuesday the rumours began to spread that the mysterious Slytherin had taken on a friend. People talked about it fervorously behind Harry's back, but the moment he stepped into a room they all shut up.
You did not want to mess with a boy that sent three fifth years to St. Mungo's. Or at least according to rumor.
Neville was also introduced to another friend of Harry's: Hermoine Granger. He knew of Hermoine, but shared only a passing hello here and there. Now however the girl seemed to gush in joy every time she saw Harry and Neville together. She was just glad Harry made a friend.
She volutered her services of course, help Neville get better grades, make a timesheet and all that. However Harry politely refused, stating that she clearly had a lot on her plate this year and he didn't want to add more on.
Whatever that meant, though Neville did notice she seemed a bit more...wired than she usually was.
Harry had then advised her to take a break and relax once in a while, to which Hermoine challenged him to do the same. It was a battle of the wills, and that time Harry Potter had met his match.
Which was why the three of them were currently standing in the Gryffindor side of the bleachers watching the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff match.
"Isn't this relaxing?" Hermoine asked with a smile as she and Neville waved around their house flags, cheering on their team.
"This is not," Harry replied coldly as he held up a small measly Gryffindor flag, refusing to do much more than just wave it back and forth every time a point was taken.
"Oh Harry you need to learn how to lighten up," Heromine said with a roll of her eyes.
"What I should be doing is training," Harry grumbled, "this takes away from that."
"Oh don't be silly Harry, you have been working poor Neville here up the wall with your work. I'm sure he would appreciate a break now and then."
Harry turned to Neville, one eyebrow raised. Neville gulped, he knew that, "I-I don't mind. If you want we can leave."
"No," Harry said quickly, "Hermoine's right, you need a rest. I have been pushing you hard."
"Oh," Neville said startled, "t-thanks."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just...you called her Hermoine, not Granger."
"And?"
"Well, you still call me Longbottom. I don't think you ever call anyone by their first name, expect when we first met."
"That's not true, I..." he stopped himself, "maybe you're right...either way, if you want me to be that familiar with you, then you best earn it."
"Oh, and what exactly did I do to earn it?" Heromine asked with a coy smile.
Harry turned to her and without missing a beat replied, "you annoyed me into giving up."
"Well that isn't very-"
"-MERLIN'S BEARD! DEMENTORS!"
The entire crowd went wild as everyone got to their feet, to either begin running away or to get a look to satisfy their morbid curiosity. Nevile did it for the latter. He looked up into the sky and there, flying above them, was the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff seeker, blasting away from what looked like two dementors chasing after them, reek-like hands thrown out to grab the tail end of their brooms.
It happened so fast, Neville didn't even realise Harry was casting a spell until it was already out. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
It was like someone shot a cannonball made out of light right next to Neville's face. Everyone was blinded as the ball of light exploded out of Harry's wand before taking on the form of what looked like a massived cat with horns on its head.
It roared and charged, going past the flyers in the stadium, towards the two seekers flying above. It collided into one dementor and swung it's massive paw at the other. Even all the way down here one could see the quickness in which the dementors reacted. The fear.
They ran and the patronus gave chase, refusing to let go. It wasn't until they were so far away that you couldn't even see their silhouette anymore did the patronus stop, vanishing into nothing, allowing the crowd that was holding its breath to sigh in relief.
They turned, as one they all turned to see the one who protected them. They turned to Harry Potter, the boy did nothing, except put his wand back under his robes, sit down and ask, "is the game still going?"
That seemed to stir everyone awake as they turned to the seekers. It seemed the house of loyalty was in luck as in the confusion of the dementors attacking, Cedric Diggory, the seeker for Hufflepuff, managed to grab the snitch.
And so ended the most exciting quidditch match Neville had ever been a part of.
That night:
It was dinner and Harry could still feel everyone's eyes on him. The whispers, the stares. All of it. But it wasn't a problem, no, it was a blessing.
With so many eyes on him, it was the perfect time to form an image of himself in their minds and reinvent himself.
Machiavelli wrote a lot on public opinion, but what he always stressed was how important it was to maintain a desirable one that you could control.
With the recent incident, Harry had the eyes of everyone on him and it was time to strike. He had spent every moment from when he cast the patronus to now to decide how he would handle the situation.
And he was ready.
He stood up, almost half the school stopped talking at once. Harry raised a glass, cast the sonarus spell on it and tapped it with a knife. The clang brought the attention of the rest of the school to him.
"I would like to say something," Harry began, putting the glass aside, canceling the charm. He looked at everyone, pausing, keeping their attention and driving their curiosity up the wall, "first, to Cedric Diggory and Tom Whistle, two brave seekers that flew in death's wind today. You survived being attacked by dementors, I dare say that that not only makes Diggory an honorary Gryffindor but also makes Whistle worthy of Gryffindor's blade."
Harry clapped and immediately everyone joined in. It grew into a thunderous applause where people began to cheer and whistle for the boys. Diggory and Whistle grinned at the attention, clearly enjoying it.
"Now," Harry clapped three times, getting everyone's silence. He turned to Dumbledore slowly, "I believe we are owed an explanation by the Headmaster. What were those things doing so close to our school?"
Dumbledore clearly did not like being put on the spot. He stared down Harry, urging him to say something to make him seem weak, but Harry remained silent and said silence was deafening as now everyone began to wonder why the old man was being quiet.
"Mr. Potter, I do not have control over the Dementors, if I did I would have dismissed them at the beginning of the school."
"They were on Hogwarts grounds, sir, you have every right to dismiss them now. Write to Minister Fudge and tell him what happened here. Tell him how his 'wardens' almost killed two of our students and how a third year had to step in to stop them. And then do your damn job and protect us!"
Harry slammed his fist into the ground startling everyone around. He raised his voice, allowing a little of his anger to 'leak' through, "you told me when we first met that Hogwarts is supposed to be the safest school in the world! And yet every year I have attended one threat after another arrives! First there was a damn three headed dog that was kept behind a door a first year could get through and then a basilisk! A damn basilisk! That I had to kill!"
The admission sent ripples through the crowd. Harry even noticed Delphi's eyes going wide.
"Now I admit the basilisk wasn't your fault, you couldn't have known Voldermort was still alive and planning on killing our muggle born students," the name sent shivers down people's spine while his cursing made most of the professors flinch in irritation, "but the dementors, now that you can do something about! So I ask you, no, damn that, I demand that you do something!"
"The dementors are here to help us, Mr. Potter, to keep two criminals on the loose from entering the castle," Dumbledore calmly explained, though Harry could tell his anger was there by the tension in his tone.
"And they failed. Once in Azkaban and once more on Halloween when one of the prisoners' disguised themselves as a student and walked right through the gate! Oh, and who stopped them that time? Me! Again! Honestly Dumbledore if I keep cleaning up your mess I might have to demand you call me Headmaster as I seem to be better at doing your job than you!"
The school was churning all the information Harry was throwing to them like a school of sharks through bait. This would keep the rumour mill churning for a while in his favour.
"Mr. Potter! You will speak with respect when talking to your elders!" McGonagall raged, standing up in anger, her fists closed and shaking.
"I will when one of you takes your duties as our guardians seriously and protects us! For Merlin's sake, when I told you about the basilisk you called me mad! Remember when Nearly-Headless Nick and Justin Finch-Fletchley almost died?!"
McGonagall couldn't say a thing to that. Harry pressed his advantage, he turned to the students, "I don't care for social interactions, you all know this about me. So when I stand here and speak you know I don't do it because I just love the attention. I do it because I'm sick of almost dying and living in fear every year! What's next? A dragon? An invasion of giants?! For Merlin's sake, how many more children have to be put in mortal danger before you lazy asses get up and do something?!"
"I'm with Potter!" Diggory stood up, anger replacing his cheer from before, "I demand the removal of the dementors by next week! They don't keep us safe and I nearly lost my soul during a game!"
"Damn next week! I demand they remove it tomorrow!" Harry cried out, nodding to Diggory who nodded back. He turned to Dumbledore, "my parents faced Voldermort and killed the bastard. I owe them my life, I will not let it be taken from me because of damn bureaucracy! I demand you do something by tomorrow's dawn or dammit all to hell I'm going home! Bugger having an education if it means my head on a pike! I'm safer with people who actually care for me, rather than those who just say they do."
Harry stepped away from the Slytherin table, wand out. The teacher's all got to their feet, but then Harry turned his back to them. He cast a simple paint charm and wrote on big red letters on the Grand Hall walls:
'Hogwarts is a death trap!'
"Detention Mr. Potter! A month! And fifty points from Slytherin!" McGonagall cried out.
"Make it a hundred! Who cares about house points when we could have almost died!" Harry spat back.
"Yeah! Harry did nothing wrong! He just said we all were thinking!" a Ravenclaw cried out.
"You have no right endangering us! And it's not right to give him detention for voicing his concerns, no matter how blunt he was!" Susan Bones yelled, "that's literally silencing our speech! If we can't complain to you then who can we complain to?"
"We should just write to our parents!" Draco Malfoy stood up with a smile, "tell them how poor a job Dumbledore is doing and kick him out!"
"Yeah!"
"Yeah!"
This couldn't happen, Harry needed Dumbledore here. If Malfoy's father got a say in the next Headmaster Harry knew he would be screwed. It was better to be with the devil you knew.
"No!" Harry cried out, shocking everyone. He stood up on the Slytherin table and cried, "we are not running to our parents like children that just had a nightmare and wet our beds! We are not cowards! You don't need to be a Gryffindor to be brave! If we run to them now then what does that make us? Cowards? Or quitters?!"
The hall was silent, once more turning to Harry to listen. He recognized the look, respect, the kind you give to a leader. So he took a moment, a long one, making them wait on his next word with baited breath, before speaking.
"We will deal with this on our own! We will not run and beg and cry, we will stand here and fight! And we will win! Those bastard creatures out there will be taken away and we will make our home safe! I will not run from this fight, either they go, or we do what's right for us! Who's with me?!"
"YAH!" the whole school seemed to cheer.
"Potter! Potter! Potter!"
Harry cast a sonarus and spoke above the chanting, "you have one day Proffessor. Make this right or we will!"
He cut the sound spell and got down, walking through the halls as people cheered him on. He walked out and turned, walking to the Slytherin common room, not bothering to look back as he already knew every single pair of eyes in the school was looking at him.
Harry expected Snape to come to the common room later on and yell at him. But to his surprise, the potions master did not show. This worried Harry because he was expecting some form of backlash, either yelling or homework. But silence? Now that worried him.
Before going to bed Harry called all the Slytherins to the common room and told them to be awake by 5 tomorrow morning. He spoke quickly, told them what they were going to do and how.
To his surprise, no one argued. Not one person. He had gained their respect that night, in one fell swoop he turned his image from the quiet boy who always studied to a sleeping dragon that you didn't want to tickle.
He then sent out three patroni, one to every other house prefect, with the same instructions. All the houses would be in damage control mode, he was sure when the patronus passed the message, the others would hear it as well.
He also did this to show off his power, as the patronus is meant to be a complex and difficult charm. Showing his ability to perform it made them only realise his talent.
The next day Harry was up by four thirty. He transfigured a comfortable black chair and placed it in front of the fireplace. He sat down and waited. When people came to him, they would see Harry sit in waiting, like a king awaiting his late court.
He waited till five ten, after which he got up, placed a note on the chair instructing the late comers to go to the grand hall as soon as they could and that the rest had gone ahead.
Almost half of Slytherin came with him. All his fellow year mates and everyone in the younger years as well. He didn't speak, didn't reply to any questions asked. He lead them to the grand hall, and it his relief, the other houses were right on time.
Half the school was there, half had gotten his message and had listened. Half followed his lead as he walked up to the empty teacher's table in the hall and waited in silence.
People began to whisper, they began to talk. But no one, not even his acquaintances, like Delphi and Tracy, approached Harry. He stood in the head of the group, like a statue.
After an hour, Flitwick came in, jumping in shock at seeing half the school standing there, looking at him. They parted, allowing him passage to the back of the hall. All expect Harry, who did not budge.
Flitwick walked around and sat down. Breakfast appeared on his plate but the short wizard didn't touch it. No, he was far too nervous with so many eyes looking at him, so instead he crossed his arms and waited for his colleagues.
One by one they came. Each shocked at the children waiting for them, each losing their appetite once they sat. Everyone of them looked at Harry, but Harry didn't say a word, choosing only to stare at the Headmaster's chair in the middle.
And then, finally, Dumbledore arrived. Professor Snape, right behind him. McGonagall was also there, though she walked a few steps behind the two men.
His footsteps made Harry nervous, he was a powerful man, no matter his age. He kept his ground, he locked eyes with the man and stared.
Suddenly, Harry felt something touch his mental barriers. Harry's eyes widened and so did Dumbledore's. The old man had tried to read his mind!
Harry remained calm, remained stoic. He cleared his throat, removing any chance of his voice coming out as anything but authoritative. "Susan," was the first word he spoke that day.
"Y-yes Harry?" Susan Bones asked.
"Your aunt is the head of the DMLE, yes?"
"Yes, you know this."
"Right, so do you know what exactly is the crime for trying to read the mind of a minor without permission?" Dumbledore's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Legilimency, the art of attacking an enemy's mind, have you heard of it?"
"I...I think so."
"I see, do me a favour, ask your aunt what exactly is the punishment for-"
"-That's enough," Dumbledore cut him off, "I am glad to see-"
"-Susan, don't forget, legilimency. L-E-G-I-L-L-"
"Mr. Potter I am talking."
"I was talking first," Harry snapped back, his eyes narrowing, "I would think all those years spent on this Earth would teach one manners."
"Mr. Potter he is your headmaster, you will treat him with respect," Professor Snape added with a glare.
"Respect is earned, not given. And it can be lost as well. Headmaster Dumbledore has lost the respect of this school and it's children," Harry growled, "and he never really had mine to begin with."
"Enough," Dumbledore stated, stopping his professors from jumping to his defence, "Mr. Potter, I apologise for interrupting you. I promise it will not happen again. Please, finish your conversation with Ms. Bones."
It was a bait, if Harry took it then it meant Dumbledore was reasonable and Harry was the one overreacting. Harry however smiled, "thank you. Susan, note that Dumbledore tried to use legilimency right now. Please tell her to add this onto the case file I had her open when I was injured during my first year."
"A-alright Harry," Susan nodded meekly, blushing at the whole school looking at her.
Harry then turned back to the adults in the room, "I'm done. You were just about to inform us about the status of the dementors stationed around our school?"
Dumbledore smiled, "yes. Last night after your youthful demonstration I did speak to our minister...unfortunately he refused to budge on removing the dementors."
"What?!" someone cried out as people began crying out in protest.
"But!" Dumbledore held out his hand, the room slowly went quiet, "he did recognize the seriousness of this issue and has assigned ten aurors to school. They will be inside the school, monitoring the halls and we will also be pushing the dementors back further away from the school gates. They will not even be visible from the school grounds."
The solution was reasonable to most people. The dementors were being pushed away and they were getting actual aurors to walk through the halls.
Dumbledore smiled good naturedly and Harry could tell people were beginning to lose the fire in them. This was the last part of his plan and it had to go perfectly. He had to be remembered as the defacto student leader everyone came to with their problems.
So Harry turned to the crowd and finally addressed them, "the dementors are still out there, our teachers have taken steps to ensure our safety and for that," Harry turned to them, "I thank you. I was harsh yesterday but I do not regret what I said."
"Apology accepted Mr. Potter," Dumbledore nodded.
"That wasn't an apology, it was a statement," Harry replied, "a statement of fact. And so is this:" he turned to the students once more and they waited, eager to hear every word he said, "those things are still out there and I for one do not like that. So I'm going to offer classes on the patronus charm. Everyday at seven in the evening after classes. I'll be out in the courtyard and anyone who wishes to learn the patronus, whatever house or year they might be, can come and do so. I'm not a genius as some of you may think, I just work hard. If you wish to protect yourselves, then classes start today. I hope to see all of you soon."
With that Harry finally moved from his spot at the front of the group to the Slytherin table. He sat down and began to pull food into his plate Almost as if it was an order, the rest did the same, breaking away and finally eating.
Harry ate silently as Slytherin house gathered around him. For the first time, the same feeling of reverence and authority that Delphi gave off started to emit from Harry, who used it effectively.
"Potter, what's with you giving free lessons?" a seventh year asked.
"People have the right to protect themselves," was his simple reply.
"Yes, but not charging anything? Seems like a waste," the boy snorted. Harry, however, said nothing.
"Potter," Draco Malfoy called out, grinning like a loon, "what exactly was that?"
"What was what Malfoy?"
"That?!" he pointed to the professors who were debating amongst each other at the table, whispering in quiet tones, "you schooled them! Humiliated them!"
"I did what I did because I wanted to protect the school and all the students in it," Harry replied quickly, "whatever embarrassment they felt they brought on themselves."
"Whatever you say Potter, I just hope now you realise how much of a snake you are."
Harry stopped his knife mid way from cutting his bacon and placed it aside. The whole table looked at Harry and he turned to Draco. Malfoy swallowed, clearly nervous as Harry just looked at him for a moment before uttering one line, "I was always a snake Malfoy, I just never had a reason to bare my fangs."
That day when Harry went to Lupin for his defence lessons the man was silent. He began his lesson on the blasting jinx and continued for two hours. It was only after the lesson was over did he talk about what Harry had done.
"I would offer to help, but Dumbledore made it clear that he didn't want us getting involved with you and your...actions," Lupin grumbled out the world, like it tasted bad.
"Thank you, it's fine, I can handle it," Harry assured the man. He wouldn't accept it even if the man offered as it had to be seen as he was single handedly helping the school. Having someone else, especially a teacher for that matter, help him out would break away from that.
"I understand," Lupin nodded as he put an arm on his shoulder and squeezed, "your parents would have been proud. Your dad especially."
Harry thanked the man and left. He then locked himself in an empty broom closet and snacks down to his knees. Those words, those simple words managed to do what not even Tonks did. Make Harry cry tears of joy.
It didn't last long, he pulled himself together quickly and then cleaned himself up. When he walked out he just pretended the last five minutes didn't happen.
At six fifty Harry was in the courtyard and already a large crowd of people were gathered around the fountain.
Harry ignored them, instead casting charms that would summon orbs of light all around the courtyard lightning the whole place up. He then sent a blasting charm to clean all the dirt and leaves from the courtyard before turning to the gathered crowd and finally addressing them.
"To cast the patronus, you need only one thing. A memory. If you have read a book on this charm in order to prepare for this lesson," que a grin from Hermoine standing in the first row, "then you would know they advise you of a happy memory. This is wrong."
Hermoine frowned, but said nothing.
"The memory doesn't have to be real, it also doesn't have to be something that you recall often to cheer yourself up, like a date or a lover," cue many blushes from the crowd, Harry just continued, "all you need is a memory that you love. That is simple, like a night you and your family sat around a fire talking to each other. Or a memory of the first time you ever went to the beach. It doesn't have to be a significant memory, only one that's important to you."
"What's your memory?" someone asked. It was a first year Slytherin, one of the children Harry saw in the train.
They all looked to Harry, awaiting an answer. Harry gave them one, "a memory of my parents. Alive. With me, having dinner ...that's it. That's all it is...and that's all you have to do. It just has to be real, for you. Understand?"
They nodded, all looking eager.
"Do not expect it to happen right away. Do not expect it to happen this month. But, if you give up, then that is when you will fail. Do you understand?"
Cries of 'yes' came from the crowd.
"Good. Then let's begin. Wand out, tight grip with some slack on your wrist, follow my hand movements and say the spell clearly: Expecto Patronum."
Sorry for the delay. I had something important that took priority. Please read this and review it. I look forward to getting feedback.