The Boy With The Dragon Tattoo

by Federer Rex

The greatest journey begins with a single step. The greatest change starts with a firm decision. Harry Potter has made a decision and it wasn't a firm one, little more than a whim but something inside was content and the damn itching just under his skin had stopped. As a form of compulsion it wasn't pleasant but it was effective. The only problem was, where the hell did it from?

5. Chapter Five

Chapter Five

I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the related characters. The Harry Potter series is created by JK Rowling and owned by Warner Bros. This fanfiction is intended for entertainment only. I am not making any profit from this story. All rights of the original Harry Potter story belong to Warner Bros.

Beta'd by Dorothea Greengrass, any and all errors in grammar, spelling and plot are mine

Harry woke with a jolt, scared out of his wits and shaking like a leaf. It took him a few seconds to recognise four things. He was bloody cold. A possible reason for him being cold was that he was naked. Several voices were shouting and the banging wasn't a brewing headache but loud hammering on the door.

MOVE HARRY! You've been unconscious for two days and the search party has finally found you. Get your wand, clean up this mess then get dressed.

Harry scrambled for the alcove he had left his clothes and snatched up his wand. A quick flick and he switched the air around his body with the clothes on the chair and spun to regard the room.

"Evanesco! Evanesco! Accio!"

The chalk lines that had faded since he had drawn them the week before vanished completely and his book bag floated towards him, the strap went across his chest and he pulled the invisibility cloak out and spun it over his head in one motion. As the cloak settled he aimed at his feet and whispered two more spells as he moved to stand behind the door and crouched down.

"Silencio, silencio."

His timing could not have been more perfect, as the cloak settled around his feet the door slammed open with a flash and a fizzle and three robed figures charged into the empty room and looked frantically around.

"Nothing here, why was the door so hard to open?"

"This floor…"

Snape had advanced to the back wall and was performing a thorough inspection of the alcove. Professor McGonagall stared down at the stone beneath her shoes with a frown and Professor Dumbledore waved his wand in intricate circles. Harry took this as a bad sign and stepped sideways and backward through the door without taking his eyes off the three Professors. His nerves were jangling and every inch of skin prickled with cold sweat.

Harry had one thought, get out and get as far away from there as quickly as he could. He cast one cautious look around the corridor, back inside the room then began to walk. Harry made it five paces before he spotted something just above the flagstones. A faint trace in the air, it had a slight shimmer and stretched in a long thin like across the width of the corridor.

'What's that?'

You are not entirely human anymore, your eyesight has improved to see things just beyond the human norm.

'I can see magic?'

Some magic although there are limits.

Harry glanced around himself carefully, stepped over the shimmer and held the cloak just enough to clear it and exposed his feet as short a time as possible. He glanced around again then broke into a run. Each staircase he took three at a time and after the fifth one he rounded a corner to see a familiar group of Slytherin sixth years, he stopped running and allowed his momentum to slide him into the opposite wall.

'Brilliant.'

He managed to judge his speed enough so there was minimal noise even with all his manic movement and kept his breathing to a wheezing hiss. He wished he had had the foresight to silence his head too. His panting was going to give him away. So he held his breath and kept his gaze fixed to the floor and hoped they were all as oblivious as usual. Harry's luck held until the last set of shoes was level with him and they paused mid step. He saw a slim hand reach towards him stop then slide into a robe pocket.

Harry lifted his gaze to see an amused pair of blue eyes regard him as she rounded the corner and passed from view. It was at that point when the most intoxicating scent battered his senses so much that he almost forgot himself and ripped his cloak off.

'Okay.'

I would say she knows what you are.

Harry huffed out a breath then continued on his way, he had a prepared plan to follow and it had no chance of working if he didn't hustle. Harry reached the main hall and his luck was good. Several first years were chatting around the open door and Harry made for the gap between them and the door, he heard a gasp as he brushed past one.

"What was that?"

"Jumping at ghosts again, Carla?"

Once outside he broke into a sprint and made for the closest part of the Forbidden Forest, he skidded to a halt behind a tree and whipped the cloak over his head.

"Dobby!"

Harry had his wand in hand and removed the silencing spells as a pop caused him to look around. Dobby stood a few metres away and looked around curiously. His numerous socks looked ridiculous and a tea towel hung off his thin frame like a clotheshorse.

"Why is Harry Potter in the forest?"

"Hiding, nevermind, did you decide what you wanted from me?"

Dobby pulled a pained face and shook his head mournfully so his ears wafted the air.

"No, Harry Potter."

Harry dropped to one knee and tried to be as sincere as he could.

"I'm not sure if this is what you want or not, you saved my life Dobby, I don't know how to thank you but I do know that an elf needs a family. Dobby, do you want to be my elf?"

Dobby's eyes widened to a comical size and his mouth opened so wide Harry could see every single one of Dobby's teeth. Dobby started to vibrate as he bounced on his toes and Harry could just make out a high pitched keening.

"Sorry Dobby, is that a yes? I don't have much time. What do we need to do?"

Dobby gasped a branch and visibly calmed.

"Yes Harry Potter, I would like that very much."

A flash zipped between elf and human and Dobby nodded.

"Done."

"That was it? I was expecting something...I dunno... more?"

"We can use an altar at midnight and we can sacrifice a goat if you want but this is enough for me."

Dobby stood taller, his ears perked up and he had a gleam in his eye. Then he looked down at himself and frowned.

"I am a Potter elf, this will not do."

"Goat?"

Harry watched bemused as Dobby clicked his fingers three times and altered his outfit each time, first the socks disappeared, his tea towel became spotless, became more figure hugging then grew piping in strategic places and gave him more of a distinguished air. Harry's eyebrows were in his hairline once the little elf had finished.

"How may I help master Harry."

Harry cleared his throat and leant against the tree he hid behind.

"First of all I don't want anyone to know about, err, this."

He gestured between the two of them and Dobby helped him find the words.

"Elf Bond."

"Yeah, Elf Bond, you'll have to explain more about it to me soon, but not yet."

Dobby had opened his mouth to expound but remained silent.

"Can you put my invisibility cloak in my trunk so no-one notices you? I want people to think that I didn't have it with me."

"Of course master Harry."

Harry's eyes widened and he ran a hand through his hair.

"Oh no, I've just gotten a new one, only I can open it."

"Not a problem, I can access anything you can. Our magic is linked."

Dobby paused and looked at Harry like it was the first time. He scrutinised Harry for a few seconds until Harry started to fidget.

"I, er, did something that might have been stupid."

"No master, not doing that ritual would be stupid, your magic feels right for the first time. I've always wondered why you felt wrong."

"Really?"

Harry stared wide eyed at the nodding elf and swallowed thickly.

"The elves kept the professors away and let you sleep. Magic rejoiced at what you did. The same happened a few months ago, during the summer. Do you know who?"

"Daphne."

Harry whispered and absentmindedly brushed his lips and Dobby smiled.

"Magic smiles on the union master Harry."

Harry let his hand drop as his eyes widened and he blushed.

"Master Harry?"

"Erm, my cloak?"

Harry managed a croak while he looked at the branches overhead.

"At once. No one will see me."

"Great, you do that now and I'll call you later to tell you something else I just thought of."

Dobby took the offered cloak and vanished. Harry sighed and smiled slightly.

"Hermione is going to kill me. Maybe I won't tell her, like ever."

He felt for two lumps in his jacket pocket and nodded slightly. He was ready.

_Scene Break _

Harry casually sauntered through the great doors just as Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape emerged from the dungeons.

"There he is!"

Harry was fairly sure both Professors Snape and McGonagall had exclaimed it simultaneously but it was the headmaster's reaction that was the most curious and concerning. Before McGonagall and Snape could say much more Professor Dumbledore had crossed the room and invaded Harry's personal space with a wild look in his eye. Harry leant backwards as much as he could without giving ground and grit his teeth.

This man is unwell, he is not operating on all levels.

"Where the hell have you been you selfish boy! I cannot believe you left the school without permission or telling me where you were!?"

"I'm in sixth year, I can leave the castle whenever I want as long as I attend classes."

Snape had come abreast with Dumbledore with his customary sneer in place.

"There is not a shred of truth in that statement at all, no student is allowed to leave without permission -."

He was cut off as Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

"It is written in the Hogwarts charter and in the school bylaws that if a student has passed their OWLs and is of the age of majority they may leave the castle at their own cognizance provided it does not impact their grades. It is not however widely advertised. Mr Potter's grades have been on a steep upward trajectory in recent weeks, even you can admit that Severus. The question is why did you leave without even telling your friends where you were going. I cannot imagine an emergency that requires you to leave so abruptly?"

Harry smiled at her and silently praised the twins for passing their copy of the school bylaws on to him. It had taken too many nights of reading than he cared to admit but he had learned them well. Professor Dumbledore moved even closer and stared deep into Harry's eyes. Harry strove not to blink or show any discomfort but he felt a grunt inside his head.

Piss off you old codger.

"What have you done Harry? You've changed. That was a ritual room, specifically prepared and recently magically cleaned."

Professor Dumbledore's crooked nose was bare millimetres from Harry's and he was having to strive mightily to stop his eyes from crossing.

"What room Professor?"

"Albus, there is no proof that that room was used for any kind of ritual or that Mr Potter was the one who performed it. The room was empty and unoccupied and we had just seen Mr Potter for the first time in two days. Do you concur, Severus?"

Professor McGonagall looked past the headmaster to regard her colleague with a stern eye, the man nodded with little emotion showing on his face but never took his eyes from Harry's face.

"I would agree with that assessment, where have you been Mr Potter, knowledge of your whereabouts would assuage the Headmasters worries."

Are you sure you want to go down this route? You might be punished for it.

'Yes, but less than if they knew for sure I had done a ritual. Plus it's got the benefit of being true except I did it last weekend and it only took me about two hours.'

Harry shrugged slightly and reached into his pocket and pulled out a shrunken wooden box, a muffled tweet could be heard and when Harry tapped his wand onto the box it increased in size to that of three stacked matchboxes. With a flick of his thumb the latch slid across and the lid sprung open. A louder tweet followed and a curious head popped out, slicked back yellow feathers and a shiny golden beak peered up at the four massive heads high above. It looked at Harry again, chirped and rose from the box on blurring wings.

"You caught a golden snitch? You have no broom!"

Snape sneered, a strange look on his face somewhere between contempt and awe. Not many wizards had seen a Golden Snitch in so close before or for so long.

"I wasn't able to chase one for over a year and now it's pretty clear that due to that Hag I won't this year either."

"You have been in the Forbidden Forest for two days?"

Professor Dumbledore had a similar look on his face to the potions professor, pride and annoyance.

"And you told no one you were going or what you were doing?"

Harry scoffed out a breath and held up a finger for the bird to land on. With the other hand he pulled a miniaturised wizards tent from his jacket pocket and held it up. The snitch took the opportunity to hop on top and investigate.

"I wanted to regain some control over my life, I cannot play quidditch, you won't train me Professor. This term has been rather stressful so I decided that I needed a break. Punish me if you will but I will not apologise."

"Harry I-"

Professor Dumbledore was interrupted by Professor McGonagall who he glanced at furiously, her Scottish brogue was thick and harsh. Professor Snape had been beaten by both of his colleagues and closed his mouth with a pinched expression.

"I will remind you both that I am Mr. Potter's head of house and will decide on the appropriate level of punishment if any is required. I will keep you both informed. Come Mr. Potter."

She turned on her heel and walked towards the staircase which led to her office, fully expecting Harry to obey. Once they had reached her office door, she turned to face him and regarded him for a full ten seconds.

"I do not know the full story, and I do not need to know. Just bear in mind not everyone is against you and that you cannot do it all on your own. You were well within the rules in your behaviour as I'm sure you well know. The Weasley twins knew exactly which rule to break and were in full control of their behaviour during their time here. I'm assuming they passed their knowledge to you?"

Harry smiled but didn't say a word.

"You may go, but be careful. I feel like you're playing a dangerous game and I hope you know what you're doing."

"Good night Professor."

"Good night Mr Potter."

_Scene Break _

The potions corridor was bustling as per most of the periods between classes. Harry found himself in the unusual situation of not having to force his way through the press of bodies. Everyone who he could have come into spatial conflict with flowed around him like water. They twisted and turned, groups split around him to such a degree that his friends soon noticed. Seamus bounced off a seventh year's shoulder into Dean and they both glanced curiously over at the unperturbed Harry. Seamus's hand on his shoulder was the only thing that jostled him.

"Have you been sipping at Sluggy's special whiskey Potter?"

"Huh?"

"Felis Felitis?"

Harry glanced down at his friend and absently wondered when he had grown, Dobby had popped into his dorm room that morning made his trousers lengthen then popped away without a word. He was not understanding Seamus' drift so decided to prod back.

"Is that a leprechaun's love language?"

Seamus gave Harry's shoulder a shove.

"Hey now Harry, me Pa was half leprechaun! That's racist!"

Neville chortled with Dean who grinned and chipped in.

"So how would that work? Did your mum lie on a really small toadstool?"

"No! It's a magical compensation thing, the smaller the man the larger the,"

"Ron! I do not need to hear about Seamus' dads thingy!"

"Hermione! How do you know what my dads thingy looks like?"

All the students within earshot burst into laughter and Hermione flushed red, her indignant retort was drowned out by fresh guffaws.

"Seamus Finnegan! I will curse your thingy!"

Harry grabbed Hermione's wand hand and managed to interlace their fingers while she was still surprised. He steered her through another pack of seventh years and guided her towards the queue in front of him and she glared daggers at a grinning Seamus over his shoulder. She glanced up at him with an indignant look and demanded.

"Let go of my hand Harry, when did you get so tall? I'm sure you weren't last week."

Harry smirked at her as he released her hand and looked around.

"Dunno 'Mione I guess I was due a growth spurt, hey look! What's Malfoy doing?"

Hermione turned towards the press of students surrounding the potions door where a confrontation was simmering. Parvati and Lavender had gotten further ahead of their house mates, and were surrounded by Slytherin boys. The pair stood their ground, Parvati glanced over her shoulder and cast a fleeting look towards Harry's group before she faced forwards again and Lavender began the latest war of words with the Slytherins.

"Move flobber worm breath, some of us actually want to get to class."

The corridor quietened as more students noticed the tension and Harry's group drew closer, he could see the protagonists now. Malfoy, Crabb, Goyle, Nott and Zabini were leering down at the girls. Just behind stood Parkinson and Bulstrode both of who looked keenly interested and Daphne who met his eyes before she rolled hers. She leant back against the wall one foot propped up and paid more attention to filing her manicure than the childish posturing before her. The five boys smiled wickedly and leered at the two pretty girls.

"There's no point in denying your attraction to me Brown, not that I would lower myself. Patil maybe, she's got sufficient descendents but you've too close to the stench."

Malfoy shuddered as he spoke then cast around at his friends.

"Maybe Goyle would give you a pity fuck?"

Both Lavender and Parvati burst into raucous laughter. It lasted for two seconds then they stopped abruptly, it was like they had practised it. Parvati flipped her hair in a dismissive gesture and sniffed.

"Oh, you weren't joking Malfoy? I honestly couldn't tell. You should carry cards around telling people how to react."

Titters bounced around the crowd and a tinge of pink dusted Malfoys cheeks and Nott and Zabini shifted a little. Harry smirked.

"The Browns are as pure-blooded as your lot, you blast ended dingbat. Not that I would be interested in a pale skinny ponce. I mean really? I like chasers, Montegue maybe?"

"Really?"

Everyone stared at Lavender and Parvati voiced the collective thought.

"Well, if he didn't have the teeth and personality of a troll."

By this time the bulk of the Gryffindors had joined the crowd surrounding Lavender, Parvati and the Slytherin boys, Harry glanced around and took note of several things.

"Snapes missing. Everytime you stick your ferret nose out, Snape isn't around. Do you have a tracking spell on him?"

"Funny Potter, I could say the same with you and the cat lady."

Harry looked over one shoulder then the other and raised an eyebrow at Malfoy who had paled slightly.

"You're a brave man, she usually appears when someone disses her, she must be on her kitty litter break. I'd much rather piss off Snape than Professor McGonagall."

Malfoy cleared his throat and puffed his chest out slightly. Several Slytherin's shuffled their feet and looked uncomfortable for a few seconds.

"Hem, yes well. She has nothing to do with Brown admitting to Zoophilia, and."

He was cut off at a collective gasp and a laugh from Lavender. Nott and Zabini both rolled their eyes and even Crabbe looked confused. Seamus commented before anyone else managed to form a coherent sentence.

"Ah ha! So, Montegue isn't human? I mean we can agree on that but I'm surprised you're willing to admit it. Is he a troll? I'd say more vampiric myself, he is very pale. Quite like you and your dad. Is vampirism genetic? Hermione?"

Harry turned to his friend and she gave him an arch look and let out a long suffering sigh.

"Leave me out of the mudslinging Seamus, I've got much more important things to be doing than thinking of insults that Malfoy might understand. Boys!"

"Hermione!"

Lavender really did sound like she was offended but her smirk gave her away, she was just as amused as everyone else. Hermione sighed and threw her hands into the air as the crowd erupted into laughter again as much aimed at her as Malfoy. She glanced amusedly at Harry and Ron who were chuckling and stomped into the potions classroom and left the rabble behind.

Malfoy's pale complexion pinked at the cheeks and on the tips of his ears and he opened his mouth to deliver a cutting remark but a powerful voice overroad the hubbub.

"What is going on here?! In the classroom the lot of you, I would expect behaviour like this from first years and flobberworms not NEWT level students!"

Snape's robes billowed behind him as he strode along the corridor next to a grinning Professor Slughorn, his gaze sweeping the corridor for miscreants and neer'do wells.

"Potter I might have known! Not a doubt in my mind that you would be in the middle of whatever this is."

Harry could see Malfoy regain his usual arrogant smirk and raised an eyebrow at the dour professor.

"Not sure what you're saying Professor, we were quietly waiting for Professor Slughorn and Malfoy began to insult Lavender and Parvati."

Malfoy opened his mouth in outrage, his pink tinge reddening but he was silenced by a glare from their Professor.

"I don't care, everyone in, and be silent. My patience for childish behaviour is so much thinner than usual I would highly recommend that no one breathe."

Professor Slughorn cleared his throat and managed to stare up at the taller professor over his glasses in such a way to indicate disapproval, Professor McGonagall would have been proud.

"As much as I appreciate your brand of discipline, Severus I assure you that I can handle my class from here, your requested potion is on my desk. If you would be so kind…"

Professor Snape snorted derisively while he stared directly at Harry and swept his gaze over the remainder of the Gryffindor students he glared at the trio of Slytherins who had foolishly stopped to gawk and blocked the doorway. Snape swept into the room and Harry shuddered at the memories of too many similar instances over the years stamped into his nightmares.

As the students filed into the classroom the usual house demarcation was drawn up and the room is separated by animosity, the class material cooled Harry's ardour as the reading and brewing practice distracted him from the salient points of the argument that had been about to erupt, but with several glances at his Slytherin peers he managed to keep it in mind. Professor Slughorn had to remonstrate and dock Slytherin points for lack of attention during various critical phases and general lack of focus plus the fact that Harry was on the receiving end of some dark glares from Malfoy and his friends.

The end of the lesson couldn't have come soon enough for everyone present, Harry even noticed Professor Slughorn heave a sigh of relief as the Slytherin boys stormed from the room. The girls and the rest of the Gryffindors watched them leave and exchanged uncertain glances. Neville squeezed Harry's shoulder.

"Now, those young men are looking for trouble."

Harry slowed his packing to reply to his friend.

"No Nev, those young men are trouble and they're looking for me, again. Can we swap names? Just for the day."

"Ah, no. I like being The Longbottom, the girls love it. Fame and glory was Ron's thing. Ron?"

The two boys looked up at the redhead who visibly winced. Hermione paused on her way to the door as Seamus and Dean slowed their packing to listen in.

"Huh, did I ever say sorry Harry? If I didn't then I am, really. I want nothing to do with your brand of fame. I've seen the pain and trouble and I'll follow you anywhere but the limelight is all yours."

"Gee, thanks."

Hermione walked back to her friend and peered at Ron like he was a three hundred year old dusty tome and she couldn't make out the language. Dean and Seamus laughed and Harry and Neville both smiled.

"Yes Hermione, your lectures have finally sunk in and I grew up a little bit. I have no interest in fame that isn't earned on a quidditch pitch."

"Who are you and what have you done with Ronald Weasley?"

The laughter was louder this time before everyone sobered and she turned to Harry.

"Are you going to find them?"

"I don't think I'll need to. They'll probably find me."

The group of friends exchanged glances and Hermione sighed.

"As per usual. You could avoid them, you know."

The group moved into the corridor which was empty, this had been the last class and they had an hour or so before the great hall was ready for dinner.

"I could but we both know if they don't get what they want or they end up being dissuaded they'll go for an easy target like a Gryff firstie. We can't tell Sluggy, you know that Hermione. It only gets worse when the teachers get involved."

Ron, Dean and Seamus exchanged uneasy looks and Ron shrugged.

"I guess it would be a good idea to stick together for a couple of days, eh Harry?"

Harry shook his head and grinned.

"Nah, I'll be okay. You lot have quidditch practice and we all know where 'Mione will be, I've got to see Flitwick after dinner but apart from that I'm in the tower all weekend. I'll be fine. What's the worst that can happen?"

This was potentially an outlet for the frustration and anger he had been bottling up for weeks. His friends were great and his genuine affection for them made the friendly banter and cheer feel like a mask sometimes. Harry would prefer to be facing a less friendly bunch when his mask slipped.

_Scene Break _

Harry signed, the walk back from Flitwick's office had begun peaceful enough. He had heard the distant cackles of Peeves annoying someone but Harry's route was clear. The only sound was his footsteps and the creak of a suit of armour which nodded at him. Harry sighed again as the nearest flame sconce flickered and died. The corridor guttered into gloom and Harry flexed his hand in preparation.

"You're really predictable Dra, erm, Malfoy. Not only did you give away the surprise and a free shot but this is a pretty crap ambush place."

Harry smirked as he heard footsteps and an annoyed sigh echoed along the corridor and shadowy figures emerged. Malfoy then Nott, Zabini and Crabbe they all were smirking or seemed confident. Behind them appeared Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode, both looked more uncertain and neither had their wand in hand.

"Potter! Your filthy blood is making me sick! We've spoken to the power in this school and it's been agreed that it's time that you pissed off back to your lot, the muggle world."

"Nobody wants you here, we're here to make sure you make the right decision and leave the castle."

Theodore Nott held his wand high, the limited light made his narrow face seem more like a weasel than usual. His pinched face contorted as he spat inflectives at Harry and edged forward and backward as if he was trying to take over leadership from Malfoy. Harry caught the look that Malfoy shot the shorter boy and let the wand he had slipped up his sleeve drop into his palm. This would not end peacefully, Harry glanced at all the faces present and noted a couple of significant ones were missing. He turned a flat look towards the blonde Slytherin.

"How about no? That's racist and you're a dick, so I don't think I will."

All the Slytherins scowled at him and Malfoy flicked his head towards Crabbe.

"Crabbe, Goyle go teach him a lesson the muggle way. He doesn't deserve magic. You can even snap his wand."

Harry watched the pair approach him and readied his wand. They were showing at least some intelligence and looked wary. Malfoys arrogance didn't extend to his henchmen it seemed. He flicked his wand twice and let them slip to the back of his mind.

"Bogius, Bogius."

Both Crabbe and Goyle stopped in their tracks and clapped their hands over their faces. The strangled screams of terror and pain sounded loud in the confines of the corridor and everyone else took a step back. Harry's grin became a snarl and his rage stoked into a bonfire.

'Well that was a mistake.'

You can't legislate for stupid.

"Greg?"

"Greg, Vinny?"

"What are you doing?! Get him!"

Nott and Zabini were more sympathetic to their classmates than Malfoy was but all were ineffectual. The large boys began to scrabble at their faces as green blobs emerged from their noses and took familiar forms. The boys took off running and by pure luck Goyle zipped past Harry and ran the full length of the corridor and disappeared into the gloom. Crabbe was less fortunate and blindly ran into the wall. The crack was horribly loud and he lay unmoving in a crumpled heap. Everyone stopped and watched the two boys take themselves out of the action, a brief moment of time where confusion reigned and Harry exchanged a glance with Malfoy and Zabini. Zabini shrugged and Malfoy brought his wand back up to aim at Harry.

The Gryffindor swivelled on the balls of his feet to present his profile to his aggressors and crouched slightly, his wand tip glowed a light blue as he pushed his magic to form a pin point shield. The three boys that remained called out each of their spells, several would have hit Harry but these were blocked or redirected by his shield and a flick of his wrist. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. He could hear the desperation in each of their voices and Malfoy twisted to bellow over his shoulder.

"What are you two doing! Hurry up and curse him!"

Harry could see in the inconsistent light both Bulstrode and Parkinson had flattened themselves to the wall behind a couple of suits of armour. He could just make out Parkinson's shriek as he wondered why Professor Flitwick hadn't come out of his office to see what the noise was.

"Piss off Draco! We wanted nothing to do with this!"

This was the last straw for Malfoy and he turned a furious glare on Harry.

"Coagulo!"

Move!

Zabini and Nott gasped and Harry took a big step to one side, he wanted nothing to do with the roiling black mass which zipped by and splattered onto the stone wall behind him, Harry glanced over his shoulder to see that he had backed up much further than he had wanted. Barely five metres behind him the stone blackened and cracked as all the moisture in the stone and the cement holding them in place solidified and expanded. Harry swallowed and glowered at Malfoy. Zabini and Nott sidestepped away from the suddenly pale boy. Harry snapped spells towards Zabini while he kept his eyes on Malfoy.

"Apsi Morsi! Apsi Morsi! Apsi Morsi!"

Harry could hear a faint buzzing as the three dark yellow spells left his wand and flew unerringly towards Zabini's head, the boy desperately shielded one but the other two impacted so hard he took three steps backwards, to his credit he managed to keep his feet but his left cheek and forehead just above his nose reddened and began to swell. He moaned and dropped to one knee and clutched his head as Harry's next group of spells sped towards Nott. He whispered the last spell as much as possible but the power required for the spell always made keeping his volume low a challenge, it was why most witches and wizards struggled with silent casting during a duel.

"Avifors! Avifors! Stupefy!"

The birds flitted through the line of sight of both Malfoy and Nott and neither saw the stunner that ripped Notts conscious from him and dumped him onto his back. Malfoy took a couple of steps back and looked as jittery as a newly calved foal.

"This whole thing was a massive mistake, what was your aim here? To make me want to leave the castle? Do you think your behaviour wouldn't be questioned?"

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry whipped his wand up and was about to cast when his wand flew out of his hand, the spell had come from a direction he had not expected. Zabini had cast from one knee, he was glaring at Harry through his only working eye and a severely distorted mouth.

His wand flew into the darkness and Harry leapt to one side, he landed on one foot and sprang forward so fast that he surprised himself and everyone else. He maintained an erratic path and several spells fizzed past him as he dodged and weaved. Malfoy had restarted his frantic casting although his spells had become noticeably weaker.

Harry came within arms reach about the same time as Zabini regained his feet, although he looked very unsteady and his breathing came out in rasps and Malfoy had given up on curses and was trying for a shield charm. Harry idly commented as he brought his fists up in a traditional boxers stance and jabbed at Malfoy's nose.

"Shields don't work on physical attacks."

The three steps backwards the Slytherin boy took and were completely involuntary, his wand clattered to the ground. Malfoy looked glassy-eyed and struggled to focus on Harry's glare, then he stepped on his own wand and it rolled. He flung his arms out wide to regain his balance but all that happened was a whuff as the air was driven from his lungs as he landed flat on his back. Harry turned away from him towards Zabini but he dropped his guard as the italian boy had fallen to his back and did nothing but wheeze.

Harry turned to find his wand and walked straight into the oncoming fist of Gregory Goyle, Harry wheeled backwards as he saw stars and tried to regain his footing. Behind the stars he could see two fists the size of dinner plates and a horrific bloody face and two beady eyes.

Just as the stars faded another fist shot forward towards Harry's eye and he experienced the helplessness of a passenger in a car crash. The second impact caused the complete loss of his legs; he staggered backwards, tripped over Malfoy's outstretched leg and landed directly on his stomach. Malfoy wheezed harder as he had not regained his wind from the first impact and pulled his arms to protect his torso, in doing so he wrapped Harry in a bearhug. Harry's punch-drunk brain reacted with panic and crashed his head back then as the arms fell limp he rolled and rolled to get away from anyone who might cause him harm.

The lights flickered, a horse bellow echoed off the walls and Harry's head swum. Under his hand he felt a wand. His fingers closed and he cast the first spell that came to mind.

"Lumos!"

The sudden flash of light illuminated Vincent Crabbe who loomed over him like a blood soaked ghoul, Harry's saving grace was the light was just as bright for Crabbe as it was for everyone else and he flinched backwards. Harry scrambled backwards down the corridor and regained his feet just as Crabbe started after him, Harry licked his teeth and winced as he found a gum which had sustained a laceration. Then Goyle joined his friend in menacing Harry, Crabbe was closer and managed to connect with a jab which glanced off Harry's cheek and turned his head. A snarl pulled his face into a rictus and he slashed with his wand.

"Flipendo!"

Crabbe flinched to the side and the spell buffeted him slightly but passed him by and caught Goyle directly under the chin, the spell flipped him head over heels and twisted him around so hard that he impacted the wall behind him with a sickening crunch.

Crabbe stared at the wand in Harry's hand and nervously flicked his gaze up to Harry's eyes and back again. Harry's smile showed bloody teeth.

"Bogius!"

Crabbe screamed and back peddled even as the hex slammed into his chest and his desperate scrabble at his face started anew. Harry winced at the noise and flicked his wand again.

"Stupefy!"

The screaming ceased as the bat bogie began to tear its way out of the boy's nose as he landed in a crumpled heap, Harry grimaced at the sight and nodded reluctantly.

"Finite."

Harry rolled the wand between his fingers and looked down at it, not a bad connection but definitely not his holly and phoenix feather, he looked around for a few seconds then gave up.

"Accio wand."

His wand flew out of the darkness and he snatched it from the air and slipped the other wand into his wand pocket. He turned around to see horrified stares as Parkinson and Bulstrode hadn't moved from their positions against the wall, petrified in place. Harry raised an eyebrow at the former and winced at the tightness in his forehead.

"We wanted nothing to do with this Potter."

"You might want to help your friends."

Parkinson and Bulstrode both put their wands away and hands held high, they backed away and Harry turned his back on them.

Harry stopped stunned as he saw Malfoy picking himself up and positioned himself in the middle of the corridor, he had an arm wrapped tightly around his middle and all his weight was on his left leg, but his wand was steady and held a vicious gleam in unsteady eyes.

"Oh piss off! Do you really want this Draco?"

"Stop calling me that! Bombarda!"

The spell zipped towards Harry, he flung himself to the side and felt the heat of the blast and stone fragments pepper his back and left arm. He rolled and was back on his feet about the same time as Malfoy was sitting up from his slide down the corridor.

"Jesus fucking christ Malfoy, are you insane? What the hell were you thinking?"

He could see Malfoy open his mouth to reply but realised that his ears were ringing so loud that he could hear nothing else. Harry leant backwards and made contact with the wall, he slid down to the floor and felt his head start to reboot.

'That must have been heard in Hogsmeade.'

No doubt, careful he's moving again.

Harry idly flicked his wand and fired off a spell as Malfoy aimed at him.

"Stupefy."

Malfoy slumped back and Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He looked around and accounted for each of his assailants and rested his head back on the warm wall. He could see figures moving in the smoke and gloom of the corridor.

'How did they keep this corridor so dark?'

He could see the aghast features of Professor Flitwick and Professor Vector move into his vision and he watched them mouth something at him, he gestured to his ears, shrugged and raised a thumb.

He let the world fade and darkness enveloped him.

_Scene Break _

The first of his senses that returned to Harry was his sense of smell, the clean antiseptic smell. He winced as a bright light assaulted him and he had to scrunched his eyes for a few seconds, he blinked several times to clear his vision. As Harry blinked the shouting reached his ears, it was muffled and barely audible but he did recognise the words.

"IN ALL MY YEARS-"

"EXPELLED!"

"I WILL NOT BE QUIET! I DON'T CARE IF THIS IS A HOSPITAL, MY SON ALMOST DIED! WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABO-!"

The yelling was coming from behind the closed door of Madam Pomfrey's office, it was quite shrill and Harry couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman. It cut off abruptly and a throat clearing attracted his attention. Professor Flitwick was perched on top of three cushions balanced on a chair. He had a strange expression on his face and unfolded his arms to scratch his cheek with his wand. It sparked slightly and he smiled slightly at Harry. A grunt drew both their attention and Harry looked back at the Professor in time to see an annoyed expression before it smoothed out.

"Are you well, Mr Potter?"

"Yes I think so Professor, I am stiff though. How long?"

Harry nodded but similarly kept his voice low in deference to the sleeping students in the beds opposite. Professor Flitwick huffed and flicked his wand, a paper aeroplane emerged and drifted lazily towards Madam Pomfrey's office door.

"Oh, only a few hours. By the time I had reached the corridor everyone else was unconscious, Professor Vector and I secured the area of dangerous magic then performed battlefield first aid on each of you. You were quite thorough Mr Potter."

"I won't apologise, they ambushed me."

"So I could tell, I must say you have a talent for combat. A genuine talent. You kept your head and taught them a lesson using school-level non lethal spells. Although I must ask, Bombarda?"

"Malfoy. My ears are still ringing. There was another one I didn't recognise, a black mass, it cracked the wall."

"Yes, Coagulo, blood boiling curse, very nasty."

"Is that legal?"

The Professor glanced at him and opened his mouth to answer but the door burst open and several people emerged. They made so much noise, arguing and stomping along that by the time they arrived at the foot of Harry's bed everyone else was awake. At the head of the phalanx of adults was a statuesque blonde woman, her aquiline nose and superior bearing told Harry who she was, the Headmaster, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey followed in her wake like ducklings.

"Ah! I see that the criminal is awake!"

"Arrogant bearing, stringy yellow hair, you must be Draco's mum."

Narcissa Malfoy raised her chin in disdain and half turned to regard Professor Snape over her shoulder. The three teachers gave him varying levels of disapproving looks even if Professor McGonagall wore a slight smirk.

"And no respect for your betters, I see you weren't exaggerating Severus."

"Respect is earned and I don't react well to being attacked, just ask your son."

Harry gestured behind her to her son who had the beginnings of a smirk on his face, as the adults turned it vanished along with the remaining colour in his cheeks.

"Why did you attack me, Draco?"

Malfoy's cheeks pinked and the muscles in his jaw bunched several times, he was clearly in two minds how to respond and ended up looking gormless.

"Mr Potter, I wish to speak to you about your aggression and spell choice. I cannot condone this attitude or your confrontational nature."

Harry squinted in confusion and glanced at Professor Flitwick, who was staring at Professor McGonagall in open mouthed shock.

"Headmaster?"

Professor Dumbledore ignored her and stared intently at Harry, Narcissa Malfoy's eyes widened and she glanced around and exchanged a significant look with Professor Snape. Harry swallowed and frowned at the smirks he could see in the beds behind the adults.

"Well, Mr Potter?"

"What about my spell choice?"

Professor Dumbledore's beard bristled like he had pulled a face and he stepped forward so he loomed over Harry's reclined position.

"Your aggression and use of dark spells is borderline illegal Harry, surely you can see that?"

"What? No they're not. I cast Apsi Morsi, Avifors, Flipendo, Bogius, Accio and Stupefy. What is illegal about any of those?"

Harry glanced at Professor Flitwick, who was stroking his chin, then he looked at McGonagall who was horrified.

"There was a Bombarda and Coagulo, both would merit a call to the Aurors if I wasn't sure we are best placed to educate here at the school."

"I didn't cast either of those…"

Professor Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

"Madam Pomfrey, can you ensure that Mr Potter is well enough to leave the hospital wing, this is a conversation that best be held elsewhere."

Madam Pomfrey looked almost as shocked as her colleagues then whipped out her wand and conjured a curtain between Harry and the rest of the room.

"Of course Minerva. If you'll excuse me, Headmaster?"

As the medi witch bustled around the screen the spell broke on the rest of the room, Professor Dumbledore stepped back with a frown and a glance at Professor Snape. He whirled around to level a stern glare at the Slytherin boys who had been smirking and stalked towards them, his path took him directly through where Mrs Malfoy was standing and her graceful composure escaped her for a few brief seconds as she scrambled out of his path.

"Well?"

The elderly headmaster stood tall and met the gaze of each student until they looked away, shame in their posture, their chins held low and with sour counternances on their faces. Not a word was spoken for half a minute apart from Madam Pomfrey who was muttering diagnosis spells and the occasional curse word. She stopped at the Headmasters pronouncement.

"It will be a loss of fifty points for each student involved and a month's detention, be content with this lenient punishment. I will not have this school's reputation and the very walls marred by such acts of barbarity."

He turned a glare on Mrs Malfoy and the power radiated from him for a fraction of a second before it vanished, and all that remained was a stern teacher who's patience was wearing thin. She took a step backwards and slowly raised a hand to her chest.

"You will never make demands in this school ever again Madam, It is not your place nor your responsibility. You may withdraw your child or make a request preferably in writing to Professor McGonagall, that is all."

He turned and addressed his deputy as he smoothed his beard down his chest.

"I will await Mr Potter in my office, I will require you to be present as his head of house."

Professor Dumbledore turned and stalked from the room the doors opened and closed on their own accord on silent hinges. The adults in the room exchanged looks and Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

"Poppy?"

"Hmmm, Minerva? oh yes. Mr Potter will be able to leave presently. I think a salve for the fat lip Mr Potter, the bruises will all be gone in half an hour and your magic levels are not so depleted that you need much more than a good night's sleep."

"Thank you Poppy."

_Scene Break _

"Surely not Albus. The punishment for similar rule breaking has always been equal and commensurate, it's clear that those boys started the altercation and that Mr Potter defended himself!"

Harry stood in the Headmaster's office and idly regarded the oriental rug. He had several thoughts percolate as he listened to the argument rage about him. He did not feel any shame at all, they had started it, but he had certainly finished it. The thing that made him uncomfortable was that he had enjoyed it, the conflict, the adrenalin high. It was like flying.

"Minerva! I will not turn a blind eye to this young man's propensity for violence. If he cannot control himself then he will be given time to contemplate his actions and learn. He will be suspended until after the Christmas holidays, he will not be allowed back to the school until January."

Harry finally was driven out of his funk and looked up in horror. Professor McGonagall glanced at his face, tightened her jaw and opened her mouth to retort but she was beaten to the punch by Professor Snape.

"Rulebreaking! Suspension! This is a crime! I demand that he is expelled and reported to the Ministry!"

"Be serious Severus, this was a fight between school boys that got out of hand, not a reportable crime."

Professor Snape's eye twitched then he turned an accusing finger on Harry.

"It was war in the corridors! They are all in the hospital wing! He viciously attacked them! Like a muggle!"

"They ambushed him! How else was he expected to defend himself! I am pleased that he did!"

"With magic like a civilised person Minerva! I will not have that boy in my class, disrupting my lesson."

The two teachers were nose to nose, hands gesticulating wildly and not at all comporting themselves like professional educators. Harry managed to speak during the silence while the two were taking a breath.

"Hang on, I was attacked and I defended myself, Zabini hit me with an Expelliarmus and the only one I punched was Malfoy when he wouldn't listen to reason. What else should I have done? Let him kill me? I want it understood that I wasn't the one to cast Bombarda, that was Malfoy."

Professor Snape looked like he was going to argue with him so Harry opened his mouth to continue.

"Be that as it may Harry, Severus, I cannot condone such actions and will be following through on my chosen path. You will leave the castle tonight and not return before January the first."

Professor McGonagall snorted derisively and demanded.

"And what of the Slytherin miscreants?"

"As I have already pronounced they will serve a month's worth of detentions with Professor's Snape and Slughorn. Mr Potter you may go."

"They attacked me! Bring the aurors, I want to press charges."

"You may go."

The old man's body language took on a stubborn tilt and his beard quivered. Harry heaved a sigh through his nose and wished he was still bleeding, not that anyone would have noticed on that travesty of a rug. He turned and headed for the door, Professor McGonagall gave both her colleagues her most withering glare.

"Wait outside Mr Potter. This is outrageous Albus! It takes two to tango and in this case this was four on one, this is unfair and deeply biassed. I will be informing the board of governors immediately and demand this travesty is rectified."

"You will not!"

"I may not be able to overturn the Headmasters' punishments but it is well within my right as Mr Potter's head of house to see that he is treated fairly, good day!"

"Minerva, I will not be undermined in this way! Harry will learn his lesson!"

As he spoke she made a dramatic turn, her cloak and skirts flared and she stalked from the room, the magic fairly radiating off her in waves. She swept past Harry and did not break stride as the door opened on its own accord and he followed at a faster clip than he had climbed the stairs and entered the room. She turned to him as he passed the gargoyle and he squinted as he strove to understand her thick highland brogue.

"I'm sorry Mr Potter, I really don't understand what has gotten into that man, the punishment he has meted out is far beyond the crime committed I can barely speak. Even Severus was shocked."

"He didn't sound like it."

"He had to keep up a certain front as you well know but he was as shocked as we were, let me assure you. There is something going on here. I will escort you home, I have no choice. Please go pack your trunk and meet me in my office in an hour. I need to have a conversation with Madam Pomfrey."

"Of course, Professor. I will be there."

_Scene Break _

"A full month! What are you going to do? What are we doing to do? What should we do?"

"Hermione."

"Write to the Minister! That's what I'll do, a strongly worded letter!"

"Hermione."

"The Prophet too! They'll regret putting a target on their backs!"

"Hermione!"

Harry had only spoken one sentence since he had been joined his friends on the couches by the sixth year's fireplace in the Gryffindor's common room, the place was deserted apart from Ron, Hermione, Dean, Seamus and Neville. He had informed them that he was leaving the castle until the new year and hurricane Hermione had wound herself up and spent the next five minutes ranting. He looked at the faces of his friends, it warmed him how angry they were on his behalf, they showed it in different ways but were still offended for him.

Ron became apoplectic, joined Hermione in noise for a few seconds his voice failed into incoherent rambling then he just sat, his skin a mottled white-red the only movement an occasional eye twitch.

Dean and Seamus were similar, Dean patted Harry on the shoulder as he sat between them and Seamus punched him on the arm twice before slumping back.

"That's just not right. Not right at all."

Neville stood by the fire, tightlipped and stiff.

"I knew you shouldn't have been alone tonight. I'm going to write to Gran, she'll give him hell at the next governors meeting I'm sure."

"Thanks guys, I mean it. I really appreciate this."

Harry looked around his group and offered the least cheerful grin he could manage. He stood and hugged Neville, then Dean and Seamus before he pulled a distraught Hermione to her feet and held her as she leaked angry tears. He looked at Ron who held a hand out and Harry nodded and disengaged from Hermione long enough to shake it.

The climb up the spiral staircase was the loneliest he had ever made, his friends had tried to come up but he had bade them stay. He might have broken down himself if he had to watch them go through their usual bedtime routines as he packed to leave. Packing his trunk wasn't all that much of a task, he kept most of his clothes folded neatly in the top compartment, it was the work of a minute to pull Jeans, a T-shirt and his only jacket from the trunk and loosely fold the uniform he had worn that day and, his robes and shirts from the wardrobe inside and gently close the lid. This felt like the end of an era. He was numb or desolate. Or neither or both.

This was alway going to be the end of an era, you're transitioning, not quite human anymore. You will adapt and learn from this, it is cruel and disproportionate but I think exactly what you need.

Harry spoke to the empty air, a hitch in his voice as his emotions refused to remain under his cast iron control.

"How in the hell is this what I need? To be away from everyone? My friends? Daphne?"

You've been pretending nothing has changed for weeks, very few have not noticed a step change in your abilities, your demeanour, your height. You'll have the time and space to explore and grow without the pressures around you.

"Oh god, my aunt and uncle! What are they going to say?!"

It doesn't matter, you're so far beyond them.

His friends watched in silence as he levitated his trunk through the common room and he heard a choked sob as the portrait swung closed behind him.

Harry paused in the corridor and clasped his quivering chin for a second before he shook his head like a shaking dog and marched off in the direction of the transfiguration office. Professor McGonagall stood outside her domain in her travel cloak and a determined expression on her face.

"Mr- Harry, I am truly sorry. I do not understand the headmaster's mind. It's happened more and more recently and I'm at a loss."

Harry stood straight and gave her a wan smile.

"I've noticed something too Professor. He's different from a few years ago."

"It's been longer than that. I think I'll speak to Poppy. But that's not your concern. Let us away. We'll stay at the three Broomsticks tonight, it's too late to expect a civil reception from your relatives and I have no interest in staying here."

Harry looked over her shoulder expectantly.

"Floo?"

"I feel like getting some fresh mountain air."

Harry deflated and turned towards the stairs.

"Of course Professor."

"Oh honestly Mr Potter. It's not that far. Half an hour at most."

"I've just had a shock, Professor. Two! And I'm not dressed for a hike."

"I believe Hagrid said it best. Yer a wizard 'Arry."

She gave him a most uncharacteristic smirk.

"I really wish he hadn't said that. Too many people have used it against me. How did you hear about that anyway?!"

_Scene Break _

The fire crackled and guttered as the inn door swung open and the Scotland winter blew in. Harry walked in and flicked his wand to warm himself up. He blew on his hands and stomped up to the bar. Madam Rosemerta raised an eyebrow and glanced at Professor McGonagall who had entered behind him and raised an eyebrow in return.

"Yes I got your owl Minnie. It's a good thing the broomstick convention had finished or I would have had to floo you on to the Prancing Pony and you know how much I hate to give that bastard any custom, I have two rooms all ready to go."

"That will do, thank you Rosie. Mr Potter has been suspended and I'll be taking him home tomorrow."

"No! Harry?"

Harry shrugged and slumped on a barstool.

"Defending myself. Can I have a butterbeer?"

Professor McGonagall raised another eyebrow as the cap was flipped off and the ice cold bottle slid across the bar into his waiting hand.

"Okay, that's cold."

Madam Rosmerta smirked and gave Professor McGonagall a look.

"I'll have a gin Rosie. It's been a shit night."

Harry choked on his butterbeer and spluttered as the two women laughed at him.

"Him?"

"Among other things. The usual Albus complaints, not to be repeated."

"Girl guides honour, Minnie."

"You were never in the girl guide's Rosie. I know that for a fact."

Madam Rosmerta smirked and turned her attention to Harry.

"So what is it then Harry? Girl trouble?"

Harry scoffed into his butterbeer and looked at her under a raised eyebrow.

"I wish. I might have at least enjoyed it. No Slytherin trouble, they started a fight which I finished and I've been punished for it."

"Snape again?"

Madam Rosemerta glanced at Professor McGonagall who gave a feline shrug.

"Not this time. Albus holds Mr Potter here to a higher standard. It can be infuriating at times."

"Wow. You're welcome to stay here for the duration, I'll even give you a bad boy discount."

Harry perked up and opened his mouth to reply but Professor McGonagall beat him to it.

"As much as he might appreciate that, I'm afraid I've got to take him home and deliver him into the care of his relatives."

Harry made a sour face and took a longer pull of his bottle.

"Yay."

"I seem to remember your mother telling me about her sister and her other half. You've got my sympathies, young man."

Harry half smiled at her and then cocked his head.

"Did you know my mum well?"

Madam Rosemerta paused then glanced at the Professor who nodded minutely.

"I'm sorry I've never mentioned it before. It was suggested to everyone who knew your parents that we should keep our distance and let you come to us if you wanted to know anything about them. I always thought it strange myself but abided by it."

Harry glanced at Professor McGonagall and resignedly propped his chin on the heel of his hand.

"Let me guess, a well meaning man with a twinkle in his eye? I really would have loved to hear anything about them growing up. I've only really heard from Hagrid and Sirius, I'm not exactly sure if I can believe all those stories."

Professor McGonagall huffed and offered him a kind smile.

"Were they outlandish tales of daring pranks, dates with lovely girls and the occasional run in with evil dark Slytherins?"

"Sirius used the word nemesis several times."

Harry smiled wryly as both women snorted.

"That man couldn't even spell nemesis. Maybe that's unfair, he was very talented and powerful, just immature with it. Did I ever tell you that he tried it on with me, Minnie?"

Professor McGonagall nodded with a snigger and took a sip then tilted her head towards Harry. Harry for his part sat motionless and wide eyed, his bottle poised in midair as he waited for the busty pub owner to elaborate.

"It was well after curfew, some windy night in October of seventy eight I think, they were four fire whiskeys deep and young Remus had just levitated Pettigrew out the door. Your dad was trying to lose your inheritance in a one armed bandit and chatting up the statue of Magdalena the wise at the same time. But Sirius was still going strong, he was sat in that very stool Harry, he had been telling stories to a few of my locals up until I had kicked them out then turned his attention to me."

She chuckled and poured herself a gin and took a sip before she continued.

"He said 'my Rosie, you're looking fine tonight. What's your secret?' I chuckled and made him wait for a few seconds then said 'magic lights and a concealer two inches thick.' 'Well it looks good on you, you're what? Twenty five?'"

Harry's jaw dropped and he darkened a few shades in a faint blush. The two women chuckled and exchanged a glance.

"What? Did you think I could never be that young?"

Harry cleared his throat and sat up straighter.

"I thought you were twenty five, maybe even a bit younger."

The two women burst into laughter, Madam Rosmerta reached across the bar to pat his hand then indicated the lanterns mounted on the ceiling in the general shape of the bar.

"Oh young man, I wish. These really are magic lights you know. Pixie powered."

"Hogwash Rosie, that's a mile thick concealer and a very polite young man who knows on which side his bread is buttered."

"Minerva! Such a thing to say! It's only a few inches."

Madam Rosmerta pretended to be outraged for a second before an easy smile split her face.

"Anyway I gave him my patent Rosie smirk and leant over the bar, I got so close I could hear him gulp. I told him that I was flattered but to come back when he could grow whiskers, I prefer a beard on my men."

She chuckled, adjusted her cleavage and wiped away a tear.

"Oh Sirius, he was so handsome. For the rest of their last year he started to wander around Hogsmeade with a full bushy beard but would never tell anyone why."

Professor McGonagall laughed again and pointed at her friend.

"I remember that, he wandered the school corridors with it on his face too, you could tell when he finally explained it to his friends. First James had a beard then Remus and finally Peter. They all looked so ridiculous, Your mother made James lose it, I don't think she was a fan."

Their chuckles faded to a comfortable silence and watched Harry's sad smile grow to a happier facsimile and he lifted his gaze from the stained wood of the bar top and beamed at them.

"Thank you, I like that. Plus it cheered me up after tonight. I think I'll go to bed."

"Up the stairs, second corridor, last room on the left. Number 35. Night."

"Good night Mr Potter, please meet me down here at seven for breakfast. I have a busy day tomorrow."

"Will do, Professor. Night."

As Harry reached the top of the stairs he heard Madam Rosemerta continue their conversation.

"He's done well with the hand he's been dealt. Very well."

"That boy has so much potential it makes me want to weep. He just needs life to give him a break to be allowed to blossom."

He heard her sniffle and slowed his pace a little.

"I knew gin would make me melancholy. It always does. I don't care, it's on days like this that I miss Malcolm all the more."

"Another one then?"

"Please I- what's that?"

"Four sickles. More than enough for the two rooms and our drinks."

"Well shall we drink four sickles worth of gin then?"

Harry smiled as his door clicked closed.

_Scene Break _

Harry's wand buzzed from under his pillow and as habit and conditioning he sat bolt upright in bed then paused to hear aunt Petunia shriek up the stairs. The only sound was gentle vibrations from his pillow and the rapid beating of his heart. He took a deep breath and held it as he reached back to retrieve his wand, the barest contact with his skin silenced the alarm but would buzz again if it was still for a minute.

He really didn't get how the magic knew that he had gone back to sleep but if it happened five times in a row a loud god awful shriek would emit from the wand for a second and scare the hell out of him. This had been the cause for every boy in the dorm to grow expert at the ice cold shower spell, everyone that is, except Ron.

Harry checked the time and seeing that it was just after six he decided to enjoy the magical pleasure of a Hollywood shower and repeatedly thought of how royally pissed off uncle Vernon would be at the complete waste of water. He then spent several minutes contemplating if he needed a haircut as he pretended to shave in the mirror using his wand. Honestly the fluff on his cheeks and top lip grew far too quickly for his liking. Although the thought of going back to school with a full beard did make him chuckle.

Harry reached for his school uniform but a grin followed by a frown caused him to change direction and slip on yesterday's jeans. Two t-shirts, a hoodie and a jacket was the best he could manage in his attempt to stave off the Scottish winter.

You're handling this well, I can feel your nerves but you are managing to distract yourself from your fate at the hands of your uncle.

"I was doing fine until you brought it up, I'm trying to be stoic like Ollie always spoke about. Keep calm in chaotic situations, keep calm and keep your head in the heat of battle is the most important thing you can do in stressful situations. It's not very easy and the closer I get the harder it is becoming."

Well, to make matters worse you're now talking to yourself in an empty room. Isn't that a sign of madness?

"Piss off."

Harry huffed a laugh and pulled open the door and wandered down the corridor, he saw that the three broomsticks taproom was just as crowded as it had been when he had ascended the stairs the night before. Madam Rosemerta was behind the bar and Professor McGonagall sat at a two person breakfast table in the centre of the room. A steaming cup before her alongside a bowl of cereal and a half eaten melon. Professor McGonagall nodded to him as she finished a mouthful and gestured to the chair opposite her. As he sat a cutlery, a bowl, plate, an empty glass and a cup and saucer appeared. Hovering inches above the plate was a gently spinning menu with the words 'speak and we shall hear' in bold lettering across the top.

"Good Sleep, Mr Potter?"

"It was Professor thank you, full English minus the mushroom, white toast, orange juice and tea with milk please."

A faint bell tinkled in the distance and his cup filled from an invisible teapot then swirled white as the milk clouded in. A side plate appeared with browned toast and a butter dish, Harry immediately picked up the little knife and slathered butter all over both slices. He smirked in memory of his first time at a magical table, he had moved the side plate in front of him at which point the large plate appeared and squashed his toast flat much to Ron's amusement.

"I must say Rosie and I appreciated your gesture last night, I don't get to chat with her nearly as often as I would like."

Harry smiled and shrugged slightly.

"I like to pay my way Professor, plus we could have stayed in the castle or gone straight to Privet Drive last night instead."

"Once the Headmaster has pronounced a punishment it has to be carried out within a few hours, the school magic enforces it. That is how the points system works, a Professor announces a points change inside the grounds and the change is made automatically. It was why I said I would protest your suspension with the board, only they can overturn it or expunge it from your record."

Harry nodded then chuckled fondly.

"Yeah, Hermione told me how the points system works, she read it in Hogwarts: A History."

"I'm not surprised in the least, we must be going soon. Let me know when you are ready."

Professor McGonagall rose from the table and crossed over to the bar as Harry dug into his breakfast. Soon Harry was tumbling through the floo network at a dizzying rate of knots fervently hoped that he had pronounced Mrs. Figg's address correctly; he really didn't want a repeat of his first visit to Borgin and Burkes. He automatically stepped forward when a glimpse of two figures silhouetted in green flames appeared in a green tinted living room, Harry's confirmation that this was the correct place was several cats that were winding their way around Professor McGonagall's legs. Harry stepped forward twice, glanced around then coughed out a lung full of smoke and ash.

"Not my favourite way to travel, I think I'd rather walk. Hey I didn't fall over, how did I do that?"

"You took a step, it is something that most people do naturally so isn't widely spoken about."

Harry grumped out a response then brightened as he felt a cat wrap itself around his leg.

"Well it should be, it should be carved in stone above each fireplace. Hi Mrs. Figg, how are you?"

Mrs. Figg offered him a maternal smile and picked up a kitten that was pawing at her tights with a pathetic meow.

"I am well young man, it is good to see you even in such circumstances. Tea?"

"Thank you but we have just had breakfast and I am on a schedule. I will come back next week if that suits you Arabella?"

"Of course send me an owl. You're welcome too Harry."

"Thanks."

They paused for a few seconds as Professor McGonagall transfigured her robes into a smart, age appropriate muggle clothing and left for Privet drive. The walk was pleasant in the chilly morning air, there was not a breath of wind as they walked along Wisteria Road and turned onto Magnolia Crescent.

The pair enjoyed a companionable silence until they reached an open grassy area opposite Privet drive and Harry tensed up and huffed out a breath. He glanced around and sat at a wooden picnic table, one of several that were situated around a children's play park. Harry had quite a few fond memories of this place and several more that weren't so nice. He spared a long look down Privet Drive then up at Professor McGonagall who stood nearby with a concerned look on her face.

"Nervous?"

Harry nodded slightly and shivered. Professor McGonagall clicked her fingers and he instantly felt a warmth permeate his core and radiate out to his extremities.

"Yeah a little, I'm not looking forward to this. I haven't been since the Headmasters office last night. They're not going to like seeing or accept any sort of reasoning or justification. This will only confirm that I'm a bad apple that has fallen from a bad tree."

Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together so hard they disappeared, she gave Harry a long hard look and heaved a heavy sigh of her own.

"I was here the night you were left on their doorstep, I argued with Albus long and hard about the necessity of you remaining in their care but he overrode me. I had no choice."

Harry stopped breathing for a few seconds and Professor McGonagall sighed deeply before she clicked her fingers a second time then sat opposite him.

"Doorstep? I thought they were joking, or just being mean. You really left me in a basket outside in November?"

"The Headmaster decided, quite reluctantly I will admit, that your relatives house was the best place for you to grow up. Your aunt and cousin are your last living relatives on your mothers side, your father's, well. The Blacks and the Malfoys had the best claim. The Wizarding world really was dangerous plus with your instant fame, it was not an ideal environment to raise someone correctly."

"And this was better?"

Harry had raised his voice just enough to cause the Professor to glance around and hold a placating hand towards him.

"Please Harry, we can discuss it and air your grievances but I will not be screamed at or lectured. I have my own feelings on the matter that are fully in line with what I imagine are your own."

Harry turned his attention to the park that had been his sanctuary for too many summers. The swing set and slide had seen better days, the bright yellow paint had flaked off showing bare metal and it looked lonely in the frozen landscape, lonely and scared.

No, that was him, scared, lost and going to a place that was pretty much a prison.

Not alone, never again. I'm sure your mate will have some say in this also.

Harry smiled slightly.

'I haven't even spoken to her yet.'

But you kissed.

Harry's smile grew and his mood lifted at the happier thought and Professor McGonagall arched an eyebrow.

'I didn't have much choice in that.'

But now you're thinking more pleasant thoughts now instead of the other.

Harry sighed and rubbed his face, his hands slipped under the edge of his glasses and they slipped up to his forehead. He readjusted them then looked at his teacher. His breath frosted in front of him in a plume.

"I don't actually know, is there a Department of Orphans? Were my family vetted or interviewed?"

"You were left on your aunt's doorstep in the middle of the night with a blanket, a warming charm and, in my opinion, a poorly worded note. What do you think?"

Harry waited. Professor McGonagall shifted slightly and crossed her legs.

"The duty of care to orphans comes under the responsibility of the Department of Education, it's actually the Office of Child Protection and Orphan Relocation. I actually cannot speak to if they were interviewed or not. I think we both know the answer to that."

She paused for a second and chewed her lower lip.

"I do recall a panicked floo call from an Education Undersecretary, I cannot remember when maybe a few months after, asking for your location and if a manhunt should be started. I distinctly remember thinking that manhunt was an odd term to use and Albus nodding to himself. He visited the ministry that day and I didn't hear anyone else ask for your whereabouts until the Book gave me your address and I sent the owl."

Harry looked up sharply from his inspection of the grains of wood on the table top, his lips were pressed tightly together into a thin line.

"My letter had my exact location on it. The cupboard under the stairs. Didn't that seem strange?"

Professor McGonagall offered him a steady look, his voice had risen slightly and he closed his eyes for a second to compose himself. When they opened she continued.

"I actually didn't know that. I write the letters with quick note quills, review them then the magic puts it in an envelope and adds the address from the Magical Child Register. I don't see the envelope. Muggleborn students get their letter through the post with a visit from a faculty member on the same day."

"Oh, no-one came to see me until Hagrid kicked in the shack door, that was probably a week's worth of owls delivering acceptance letters. Each addressed to the room I was sleeping in."

It was Professor McGonagall's turn to pale and look grim.

"Shack? Nevermind. I'm sure the answer will annoy me and there's nothing to do about it now. The short answer to all your questions is Albus."

Harry shrugged.

"I guess I need to ask him then. It's just, he's always seemed like a grandfather to me. This last year maybe two, he's been different. Colder?"

Professor McGonagall glanced to the side and twisted her mouth into an uncharacteristic grimace. She offered him a look filled with pity.

"I think this conversation has been illuminating for both of us. Please keep this to yourself Mr Potter, I only tell you this because of the impact it has had on your education and immediate future. I have had suspicion that the Headmaster is seriously unwell for a year or so, some kind of wizarding psychosis, I think Poppy has similar suspicions also. There are several conditions that it could be but none you'd know so I will not bother you with them. I'm not sure what we can do about them as Albus will not hear any questions on his health and he's too powerful and skilled to be forced."

Harry sat still, wide eyed and didn't speak so she continued.

"I have no expectation that you do anything with this information apart from that you keep it strictly confidential. Not even to Miss Granger."

Harry nodded and glanced towards Privet Drive again.

"Right then Mr Potter. Let us be about it."

She rose stiffly as Harry stood and they recommenced their stroll.

"My old bones don't like the cold a much as they used to. Even with warming charms."

Harry huffed a laugh and the companionable silence returned. The walk regained its pleasant feel until they reached the front door of number four Privet Drive and Harry pressed his finger to the little black button which caused a 'ding dong' to sound inside. Harry looked down and muttered quietly.

"God, I hate this house."

Professor McGonagall whipped her head around sharply and opened her mouth but the door opened with a faint squeak of the hinges and Harry smiled.

"Hi Aunt Petunia, how are you?"

Petunia Dursley had initially answered the door with her head turned to one side. Clearly listening to someone speaking to her from the sitting room. She froze before she had even looked out the door. She finally looked down at Harry from her slightly elevated position and her expression of horrified surprise would have been amusing in other circumstances. She glanced back inside and offered a simpering smile.

"Vernon dear if you could come here? Mrs Champion, Councillor, I apologise for the interruption, I must beg your indulgence."

Vernon lumbered into view and stopped in the threshold of the sitting room door. Petunia closed the door as gently as she could with clearly restrained fury as she glared at Harry. The door bumped Vernon on the back of the head which caused him to move into the middle of the hall and he turned to loom over his wife.

Harry sniffed.

'I've seen more intimidating flobberworms.'

You can't tell because I'm not even words in your head but I'm rolling on the floor in hysterics right now.

"What the bloody hell is the meaning of this!?"

Vernons whisper could have been a roar; it contained so much rage. Harry could tell that he was just warming up.

"Not a note, phone call, bloody owl, not a by your leave!? I don't-."

His rant was cut short by a raised eyebrow and a click of Professor McGonagall's fingers. Harry was looking at his aunt. Aunt Petunia had gone white and reached a trembling hand to the sideboard just out of Harry's view and retrieved a scroll of parchment, seal intact. She held it up in front of Vernon's reddening face who stopped his rant and turned a betrayed look on his wife.

"It came last night when I was hoovering. I completely forgot about it. Come in. Let's take this into the kitchen. I will just speak to our guests."

Aunt Petunia waited until all three were in the kitchen with the door shut before she opened the sitting room door. Harry could hear his aunt's muffled voice through the thin walls. Vernon slumped in a kitchen chair, he had given up on trying to speak. Professor McGonagall was watching Harry closely with a look of concern on her face.

"I do apologise, my nephew has returned from school, I will be a few minutes more. If you wish to turn the television on? A magazine of course."

The kitchen door opened and closed again behind her. She had the scroll open in her hands and a look of thunder on her face.

"Suspended for fighting! Well I never!"

Harry opened his mouth to retort but Professor McGonagall beat him to the punch.

"Mrs Dursley, if you recall I am Professor Minerva McGonagall and I am Mr Potter's head of house. It has been recorded as fighting as the school has a policy of punishing every participant equally for such behaviour but Mr Potter was defending himself. He has been suspended from the school until the start of term on the 9th of January. I do not agree with this level of punishment but it is not my decision. The Headmaster decreed his punishment and I am duty bound to see that it is carried out."

Silence followed her statement and both his uncle and aunt seemed to actually be listening, then as one they looked at Harry and it was as if a switch was flipped. Their faces changed to anger and loathing and Vernons meaty plate-sized hands balled into tight fists then his fingers flexed like they were itching for his neck. His aunt was more vocal but kept her voice to a hiss, she was at least still conscious that they had guests in the living room.

"Just as I expected, really, I am completely disgusted. Self defence? You're no angel, I am sure you're the initial instigator. I'm not sure how you managed to convince your teacher but you'll not pull the wool over my eyes. You're such a burden."

Professor McGonagall had a look of horrified fascination as she and Harry watched Vernon become redder in the face and develop a gleam in his eye and a tick which caused his left eye to twitch, and Aunt Petunia was just winding up. Her wand appeared and flicked towards the wall, all noise ceased from that part of the house. Aunt Petunia squeaked then clamped her mouth shut as she sat erect and silent and she watched the wand like it was a snake. Professor McGonagall propped an elbow on the table and massaged the bridge of her nose, she sighed, then muttered darkly to herself before she addressed the room.

"Mr Potter, I have to get back to the castle. While you are of age and are able to use your wand freely, you must obey the reasonable restriction of magic. Primarily not in front of muggles who have no awareness of our world. Mrs Dursley, this is Mr Potter's home you are his last living relative of legal age and have a responsibility for his physical and mental wellbeing. In addition it is well known that Mr Potter resides here and if any harm was to befall him, well, I think you can imagine the consequences?"

Professor McGonagall wandlessly opened a cupboard across the kitchen, levitated a glass tumbler over to the sink and filled the glass half full from the cold tap. All eyes watched the glass make its stately way back across the kitchen up to her lips and she drank the entire content before it settled gently onto the table in front of her. The silent Aunt Petunia and Vernon looked like they were not breathing until the cupboard door slammed closed with a sudden crack. The only one who didn't jump out of their skin was the Professor. She rose and smoothed her hands down over her lap and nodded to Harry.

"Harry, I expect an owl detailing your wellbeing every second day. That is not optional. You may owl your friends, I'm assuming that is also not optional. Mr and Mrs Dursley mark my words and heed my warning. Good day."

She flicked her wand at the wall and Vernon and didn't even bother to leave the house, she twisted, wand in hand and vanished. Harry kept his head down so his aunt and Vernon couldn't see his smirk.

Wow, she's badass.

'It's why I don't joke about her feline side.'

Harry struggled to hold in a hysterical giggle which broke the 'spell' and Aunt Petunia surged to her feet.

"Vernon, back in the sitting room. Boy, upstairs. We will discuss this when our guests have left."

Within seconds Harry sat alone in the Dursleys kitchen and gave in to the urge to laugh or scream. He buried his face in his arms and laughed himself hoarse and the tears fell.

TBC