It's My Life
The students finally returned to school, and of course, Harry was under a glamour charm to appear as he had before being adopted by Severus when the holiday began. So far, neither Albus nor Dolores hadn't noticed it and were always fuming at the fact Harry wasn't hiding his rings anymore. It had circulated the school that Harry had taken up his family lordship of Potter, but the bonus one of being Lord Slytherin for his many defeats over the Dark Lord.
By the end of the first week, Harry had been blood adopted by Sirius, but had no idea. Severus, as promised to Sirius, slipped it into Harry's drink right before the teenager had gone to sleep, so Harry just fell asleep thinking he was exhausted. Thankfully, nothing on Harry's appearance actually changed after the adoption other than the hair becoming just a little more wavy and on the darker brown side over full black. Harry didn't think anything of it when seeing himself in the mirror as he could see right through the glamour of knowing his own appearance.
Harry also felt better about Sirius and Remus knowing the truth, which was revealed during that dinner after the two learned Harry was blood adopted by Severus. Remus and Sirius now knew of Harry's ability to manipulate dark marks, or remove them and understood it depended on the level of sentience the snake tattoo had. The two also knew of Harry's rare ability to power up and use his magic as a weapon, which was still surprising and not much known as to why or how.
It was right before school returned to session that Harry had to sit down with Severus and have that dreaded sex talk. Harry was forthcoming, he admitted that he and Draco had already done it a few times since getting together on the 1st of March. Severus appreciated Harry being honest, and it wasn't anything too awkward to go over. Thankfully. Severus just made sure Harry knew all he needed to about sex with a male considering Harry was entirely gay and wouldn't be messing around with women.
Most of the talk was appropriateness of where the deed was done, and Severus requested that the two absolutely keep it to their dorm, and use silencing charms. Also, only when everyone was asleep. Harry agreed to the man's terms and things were settled. With school back in session now, the first week was over and it was now a week until the end of April.
Harry couldn't believe that he only had about a month and a half left of his fifth year, and he was ever grateful because Umbridge would be gone thanks to the curse on the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Surprisingly, Harry mentioned only to his closest friends that he was glad that the curse was in place because Umbridge would not be back next year. His friends agreed fully.
Harry still wasn't on good terms with Ron or Ginny, the two grudged hard, but Harry had been approached by Fred and George, who promised that no matter what their youngest siblings said; Harry still had a second family with the Weasley clan. And also that Molly and Arthur were flabbergasted and upset that Ron dared to utter such hurtful things at Harry. Ron and Harry hadn't spoken since their spat, and Ginny just always looked upset that Harry would never give her a chance, though she had tried to flirt a time or two.
Harry shut it down the first two and Draco handled it on the third. Hermione and the rest of Gryffindor were fine with Harry's sexual orientation, so were the other houses. No one cared and Harry loved the acceptance. Ron and Ginny still came to the army meetings, but little was ever said. The two obviously couldn't snitch or they'd suffer a curse Hermione created that wrote SNEAK across the person's face if anyone betrayed the club.
No one but Harry and Severus knew about that though. It came up in conversation when Severus asked Harry what the plan was if anyone found out about the army. Harry had to tell him the truth, and Severus actually approved while praising Hermione's ability to create her own curse.
Severus also greatly appreciated the coin he learned about. Hermione created fake galleons that would act as the messenger to let others know when meetings were. Harry had the master coin and Hermione admitted to Severus that she created them based on the dark mark. Needless to say, Severus was impressed. Currently, it was the 22nd of April and students had been released from their classes. Harry was walking with his Slytherin friends, and Draco, when Dumbledore walked up calmly.
"Harry, my boy, might I trouble you to join me in my office?" Albus asked.
"Yes, actually. I have work to do." Harry replied.
"It will only take a moment or two." Albus tried.
"It's a moment or two I lose on doing my work, Headmaster. The time it would take to walk to your office, then discuss whatever…I'd rather not. And certainly, you've got no reason to speak to me. I'm not missing any work, my grades are up, and I haven't gotten into trouble." Harry informed.
"This concerns the Dark Lord." Albus stated.
"He's been quiet," Harry remarked. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Professor Dumbledore…" He went to leave.
"Harry, I'm not asking any-," The old man started.
"Damn right you're bloody not asking anything of me, Headmaster. I don't trust you, so I'm not going anywhere with you. Don't push the matter…I'll make a scene right here and reveal that you pulled your wand on me to make me obey you. I'll reveal that you and Umbridge cornered me in your office. Now, I don't know about everyone else…But to me, that sounds a lot like you were about to use compulsion or imperious to make me listen to you…Last I checked, that's forbidden…Even for you." Harry said in a cool tone. "You have nothing over me, Headmaster…I am no longer under your control." Harry then walked away with his friends and boyfriend.
"You better tell Sev about this," Draco told his boyfriend.
"I will," Harry assured
. . .
Harry did catch Severus in his office and tell him about the verbal exchange between Albus and himself, and Severus told Harry that he did the right thing in saying what he had to in order to get away, but to watch himself too. Harry went on to do his homework and join his friends for dinner. The rest of the night was calm and since then, a month had gone by. It was May 22nd and Harry couldn't be more happy that there was basically a month left of school. Things with Draco were going great as they'd been together two months as of May 1st.
Harry had started to make up with Ron; the man apologized profusely for what he'd said. However, Harry would not forgive Ginny as she just wouldn't let things go that Harry was gay and she'd never get a chance with him. Harry personally felt that she wasn't trying to get him for an undying love, but that Harry was famous and being his wife would boost her status by becoming Lady Potter. It sounded cruel that Harry believed that, but Draco told Harry it was possible that she was in it for status and money. Regardless, Harry just ignored all advances and didn't even speak to her anymore.
It was a pretty peaceful Wednesday, Harry had finished his work and left the library and headed to the great hall. Harry couldn't wait to sit with his friends and enjoy the meal. As he approached, Dolores caught him, unfortunately, Albus was there too. Harry didn't want to deal with this.
"Harry, we need to talk." Albus informed.
"We do not." Harry remarked.
"Yes, we do. I'm more than aware you weren't at the Dursley's last summer. I took a trip and learned about the golem…Now, you will tell me where you were." Albus ordered.
"Not with them," Harry stated.
"Obviously!" Dolores said quickly.
"Dolores…Hush," Albus scolded. "Mind where we are." He referred to being close to the great hall where literally everyone was. "Harry, might we move this to-,"
"No." Harry refused. "I told you, I don't trust you or her…I'm not going anywhere with you two and you have nothing over me to make it so I do what you want." Harry walked away, reached the hall and stepped inside when Dolores grabbed his arm hard. "Manhandling students now? That's fireable." Harry said.
"Now, see here, Mr. Potter…Headmaster Dumbledore is your legal guardian and you will obey him." Dolores stated.
"I will not." Harry denied. "He's nothing more than the headmaster of the school to me."
"With your parents gone and Sirius Black a felon, your guardianship belongs to me, my boy. I have all the paperwork right here." Albus held up a file. "Come along," He tried to touch Harry's shoulder and found a barrier erected to keep him from getting through.
"Yeah, no." Harry folded his arms when Dolores was forced to let him go. "That's my rings telling me you're dangerous and keeping me safe. I'm not going anywhere with you two."
"I demand you take them off!" Albus tried again. "I have all say over you, Mr. Potter."
"You do not." Harry told him as he powered the shield down. Dolores immediately grabbed his hand to try and take the rings off, but just like before, she got shocked and was forced to let go. "Only the current lord can remove their own rings. Unless, of course, Headmaster…You wanna try and take me before the Wizengamot to have them force me?"
"I've had enough of this defiance, Harry." Albus said firmly.
"What is going on here?" Minerva came in with the other professors, including Severus.
"Harry, are you alright?" Severus questioned.
"Just fine, sir," Harry promised. "Just proving a point. Go ahead…Pursue it, Headmaster. All eyes are on you…I'll make a scene and show everyone who you and her really are."
"We're just trying to protect you from the Dark Lord." Albus said.
"I'm not worried about Voldemort." Harry informed calmly.
"What have I said about using his-Detention!" Dolores ordered.
"Make me." Harry challenged.
"Harry, don't make me have to suspend or expel you for defiance…" Albus sighed.
"Go for it. I'll just go to another school, Hogwarts is not the only one out there and being the boy who lived…Feel like my options are endless." Harry shrugged. "But you won't, Headmaster…And do you know why? Because you need me. To defeat Voldemort?" Harry remarked.
"We do not because he is gone." Dolores huffed.
"You keep believing that lie, but I made my stance quite clear." Harry informed. "No one is talking to you, so kindly, sit back down where I left you that day in class when you proved to everyone you're nothing but a liar who has no power. I outed you once, I'll do it again…In front of everyone. You're nothing in this. Put a cork in it and let the adults talk." The woman's face lit up so red with anger that it almost matched her outfit.
The other teachers tried so hard not to laugh.
"You are not even an adult yet!" Dolores glared.
"Don't need to be, your temper tantrum level behavior is that of a child's when they don't get their own way. That alone makes me more mature than you," Harry commented. "Now, Headmaster…What is your decision? You gonna get rid of me? Please do, it would save me a headache." He looked at the man.
"I'm not going to expel or suspend you, Harry." Albus sighed.
"Because you need me to defeat the Dark Lord…Right? Because I'm marked as his equal? Because you already know that the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord was born to those who thrice defied him as the seventh month died…?" Albus's eyes widened some. "I know, Headmaster. I've known since Christmas what it's all about. I know I'm the only one. You're raising me up to be molded into your weapon against the Dark Lord." Harry said.
"You tried so hard, but maybe next time if you don't want someone figuring out your motives, don't try so hard. You gave yourself away with all your attempts to protect that nightmare," He motioned to Umbridge, "And controlling me. It ends now. I told you…I won't fall in line. I've got my own agenda, and not you or the ministry is gonna stop me. I told you…This is my life."
"I am your guardian, Harry Potter, you will do as you're told." Albus ordered. "You are going back to your relatives this summer, and you're returning to Gryffindor. End of story."
"End of story indeed," Harry chuckled.
"It's all right here, my boy. Black and white. Albus Dumbledore has full magical guardianship over Harry James Potter with the status of his parents' deaths and his godfather's felon status." Albus gave Harry the folder. "I know all about the investigation you started on me, it was shut down as proven your memories were altered to hide the truth. There was no neglect, abuse, or endangerment."
"Whoever had temporary custody of you, which was revealed as Sirius Black, has been rescinded. He's a felon and cannot have guardianship of you. Now, enough of your nonsense. Take off those rings. I don't give you permission to have them and you're coming to my office." Albus grabbed Harry's arm tightly.
"Albus, get your hands off him," Minerva said quickly.
"You put your hands on me first, that makes this self-defense…" Harry's eyes glowed green as a white aura expelled from his body and forced Albus to let go of Harry as he inspected his burnt hand, then the man went so far to pull his wand out, but a whip of the aura smacked into Albus and sent him back into the great hall's doorway. The old man looked up at Harry. Albus drew his wand as Harry drew his. "Expelliarmus!" Harry cast first as Dumbledore's wand flew from the man's hand into Harry's. "I don't think so," Harry remarked.
"Well cast, son," Severus approved.
"I did learn from the best," Harry told Severus. "Second year, dueling club. I learned from you against Lockhart." Harry informed when his father eyed him with confusion. "Have they been called?" Harry looked at Severus.
"Coming in now," Severus nodded.
"Wonderful." Harry smiled. "Headmaster, I'm sure you're familiar with Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. And also Lucius Malfoy, one of the school board governors? Ah, and the Aurors. Now, we can have a grand time outing you as a manipulative-,"
"Harry Potter, don't you finish that sentence!" Severus warned his son.
"Sorry, sir," Harry bowed his head. "Regardless without the terms I have in mind…Your reign ends today, Professor Dumbledore." He stated. "This information doesn't exist as it was created on falsifying and tampering with an investigation. Your documents here say you don't know who my temporary guardian is when, in fact, Gringotts has the original documents and memories. I'm just a fifth year, I don't have the ability to manipulate memories."
"Mine were extracted by a professional, Professor Snape, in fact…At the bank with witnesses being Lucius Malfoy, and Potter account manager, Griphook." Harry informed calmly. "Your documents are fake because they're not imbued with my magical signature, and that's not my handwriting." He shrugged. "This document was created just back in February, when in fact, the investigation was started in August of 1995." He remarked.
"I'm sure we have the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, to thank for such intervention. Don't worry, I'm going after him next…You, however, I've about had it. Indeed as you say, Headmaster, enough nonsense." Harry let the folder levitate over to Amelia Bones. "For your records, Miss. Bones. For you, Mr. Dumbledore, I've waited all year for you to screw up and you so brilliantly have done so in front of the entire student body and staff…Now I can tell you why I know your information is false…" Harry powered down, but kept his arms folded over one another.
"You wanna know where I was this summer? Why was I out of the wards? I was saved by Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, who happened to be at my muggle relatives house as Mr. Malfoy took over the company my uncle worked for. It was Narcissa's kind motherly attention to detail that led her to me locked up in my room, passed out, and would have died because I'd have choked on my own vomit. They took me to their house and called on an old friend, Professor Snape, to come and heal me. I was with them for a couple weeks before living with Professor Snape."
Albus's eyes widened. "My guardian was never Sirius, though he had every legal right to take me as he's an innocent man that didn't receive fair trial. It was Professor Snape who took me in, became my guardian while he and Lucius helped me at the bank in starting the investigation on you. The man who took me away after my parents died, left me with magic-hating muggles that abused and starved me for eight years." Harry scoffed.
"And when I finally learned of the magical world and being a wizard, I begged you to take me out of the house because of the abuse which you claimed never happened. I've got memories that say otherwise. You told me it was for my own protection from the Dark Lord…The man who has literally never beaten me in all our encounters. I'd like to think I was pretty safe considering he didn't actually come back until fourth year. The only place I've ever been unsafe from him was here because you so casually allowed me to get into dangerous situations." Harry informed.
"The investigation was rescinded, I'm in charge of you…" Albus argued.
"Yeah, see…That's where you're wrong. All the information to the investigation is tucked away safe at the bank. Your copy was just what Fudge drew up as a fake. You have nothing on me, old man." Harry smiled. "Not only that…You'll find that Professor Snape is more than my legal guardian as you've clearly been proven unfit to watch over me."
Severus walked up behind Harry. "May I reveal it now, my boy?"
"Proudly," Harry nodded. The glamour dropped as the sounds of shock were heard all around. There Harry stood looking like a carbon copy of Severus Snape, except for the few bits that still showed James and Lily. "In case it hasn't registered, Mr. Dumbledore…You have no say over me because Professor Snape being my father trumps your guardianship of me not having a parent or my godfather to take me in as a minor." Harry stated.
"He is not your father!" Albus argued.
"Oh, but I am, Albus…" Severus put his hands on Harry's shoulders. "I adopted Harry, and not just any either…I used the same means of protection you did by forcing him to stay with his abusers to protect him from you…" Severus paused as Albus's eyes widened, shaking his head.
"No…No, you didn't!" Albus yelled.
"I did, Albus. It's always been my job, according to you, to protect Harry Potter and I have loyally all these years. I never agreed because you said I must…I vowed to Lily, and on the life debt I owed James the night they died that I would always protect their son. It wasn't a vow made to protect him just from the Dark Lord, but all manner of harm." Severus remarked.
"I knew you'd stop at nothing to get Harry under your control…I did the one thing I could to keep him safe, the one thing needed you and the ministry couldn't fight…I blood adopted him. So stands before you is Harry James Potter-Snape-Prince. And he's my son." The man said firmly.