Disclaimer: Putting your finger in a light socket is dangerous, and not something that you should do. Watching other people do it is hilarious.

The Last Straw

It was a normal day at Hogwarts and Harry was watching a scene that had been repeated many times in the years Harry had attended the school. Draco loomed over a couple first year students and though Harry could not hear the words coming out of the other boy's mouth, he could very well guess their meaning.

It hadn't been an easy year for Harry, come to think of it it hadn't been an easy life. Since the death of his parents, one tragedy had followed another indignity and Harry was fast approaching his limit. His rage felt like a torrent of water was being held behind his scar and as he watched, the pressure grew and grew until the dam burst and something within Harry snapped.

"THAT IS IT," Harry stormed over to where Draco was tormenting the first years and grabbed the other boy by the shoulder. "Malfoy, if I see you doing that again then I'm going to break something of yours. I think I'll start with your feet and work my way up until you learn some bloody manners."

"Mister Potter," McGonagall had arrived. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Explaining the facts of life to Draco here," Harry tightened his grip on the other boy's shoulder. "I told him that I would hurt him severely if I found him tormenting another first year, or anyone else for that matter."

"There will be no fighting in this school Mr. Potter," McGonagall looked stern. "If Mr. Malfoy was misbehaving. Next time tell a teacher and they will handle it."

"Are you willing to swear a wizard's oath, or in your case a witch's oath on that?" Harry said with an annoyed grin.

'What?" McGonagall squawked, the old woman looked ready to explode. "Why would you ask for such a thing."

"It's just . . . well, no teacher has ever bothered to punish him or make any attempts to curb his behavior before." Harry shrugged, "permit me to be a bit sceptical that you would start now."

"WHAT?" Minerva was stunned, "why would you say something like that."

"I am sick and tired of the fact that you can get away with anything in this school if your name is Malfoy," Harry's face was red with rage. "From now on the teachers can go to hell if they think they can tell me what to do, you wanna expel me? Fine, I'm sure that there are a dozen other magical schools that would be thrilled to have 'the famous Harry Potter' as one of their students."

"If you think you can . . ."

"Do your job?" Harry interrupted, "I don't know. You aren't doing it, Snape sure as hell ain't doing it. So why not me?"

"Go to the Headmaster's office immediately," McGonagall commanded. Her face was purpling with rage. "Maybe he can talk some sense into you."

"Maybe he could do his job too," Harry retorted. "Instead of covering for Snape or making my life a living hell."

"If you think you can talk to me that . . ."

"This conversation is over," Harry interrupted. "I doubt that you have anything intelligent to add, and with my new duties I don't have the time to waste on idle chit chat."

"Harry why . . ."

"Remember what I said Malfoy," Harry ignored his head of house. "Unless you want to get to know the hospital wing as well as I do . . . remember what I said."

With that last comment, Harry turned and stalked down the hallway.

"I'll just be going then," Draco smiled weakly and began walking in the opposite direction.

"Not so fast Mr. Malfoy," Minerva's sharp voice forze the boy. "I have some things I want to discuss with you."

"Yes Professor?" The blond tried to smile innocently.

"What were you doing with those first years?"

"I was just showing them to their class rooms," Draco smiled. "I didn't want them to get lost."

"Is that true?" McGonagall Turned to the two first years.

"No Professor," the first years shook their heads. "He was saying that the dark lord would kill our families

"What?" Draco's face turned red, "just you wait. I'm gonna . . ."

"Have Harry beat you up if you try anything," one of the first years interrupted. "You can't do anything to us anymore."

"What did you mean anymore," McGonagall didn't like the implications.

"It doesn't matter if Snape covers for him anymore," the first year smiled. "Harry will get him anyway."

"I see," McGonagall was not happy with the way the conversation was going. "Thank you, you may go. Have your Professor see me if you're late for class."

"Thank you Professor," the two first years rushed off.

"As for you," McGonagall glared at Malfoy. "You're coming with me."

"Shouldn't you get my Head of House?" Malfoy asked nervously.

"That's another week of detention for questioning a Professor," McGonagall replied calmly. "Assuming I don't get you expelled."

"You can't do this," Draco was shocked at the course of events. "My father's on the board of governors."

"I am the Deputy Headmistress," McGonagall frowned. "And as such I have the ability to give punishments to students, three more months detention."

"We'll see about this," Draco sulked.

"Keep it up Mr. Malfoy," Minerva smiled. "And I'll run out of time this year and have to start on the next."

Draco finally started showing the cunning attributed to his House and chose not to reply to the Professor's comments.

"Good day Mr. Malfoy," Minerva turned and began to walk away. "I'll expect to see you in detention tonight, I'm sure the grounds keeper has several unpleasant tasks for you to perform."

The Professor made her way to the Headmaster's office and framed him with a worried stare.

"What is it Minerva?" Dumbledore smiled.

"We have a problem."

"What is it?" Dumbledore tossed another lemon drop in his mouth.

"Harry no longer respects us," Minerva explained. The woman's face twisted into a frown. "I caught him threatening Mr. Malfoy in the hall."

"I'll speak with him," Dumbledore promised. "I'm sure that we can have everything wrapped up by dinner."

"You don't understand, I told him to see you and he refused." McGonagall looked worried, "He said that if we're unwilling to do our jobs then he's going to do them for us."

"I can't believe that it's gotten that bad," Dumbledore smiled. "I'm sure that he'll cool off if we give him enough time."

"You're living in a fantasy wold if you believe that Albus," Minerva shook her head sadly. "I talked to a couple of first years and they said that they weren't afraid to speak out now that Harry is going to protect them, they said that Harry won't care about the protection that Severus gives to his house."

"They said that?" Dumbledore asked in horrified shock.

"They don't have any confidence that we'll protect them," Minerva agreed. "They seem to think that you can do anything you want in this school so long as you name is Malfoy, an attitude that Mr. Malfoy seemed to share."

"How did things get so bad?" Dumbledore asked with a wince.

"At a guess?" McGonagall replied, "it started when you allowed Severus free reign over his students."

"I did what I thought was necessary at the time," Dumbledore protested. "Can you forgive an old man his mistakes?"

"I can," McGonagall agreed with a sigh. "But I don't think Harry will. I fear that things have progressed too far for that."

"I see," Dumbledore said. The old man slumped back in his chair and looked lost. "What do you think I should do Minerva?"

"To start with, I think you should have a talk with Severus." Minerva replied, "perhaps if you were to begin transforming the school back into a more congenial environment then Harry will no longer see the need to enforce discipline."

"Perhaps," Dumbledore agreed. "Thank you for bringing this to me Minerva, I don't know how I let things get so bad but rest assured that I am going to fix them."

"I'm afraid it might be too late Albus," Minerva said with a wince.

"That may be," Dumbledore agreed. "But I still have hope that things will get better."

IIIIIIIIII

Harry walked through the halls, dispensing justice like an angry god. Many of the older students cowered at his approach while many of the younger students seemed to bask in his presence, they were finally safe.

"Potter," Snape yelled. The man had been searching for the last Potter since Draco had come to him and told him what happened. "I've been looking for you."

"There you are you greasy son of a bitch," Harry growled at Snape's approach.

"A years detention and I'm going to see if I can't have you expelled for what you did to young Draco," Snape screamed. "You've finally given me what I need to put you in your place you arrogant twit."

"You know, I've always heard that bullies were cowards." Harry said to the delight of the listening students. "Let's find out shall we? Severus Snape, I challenge you to a duel."

"To death or surrender," Snape agreed with a grin of triumph. "I'll have you begging me to make it stop, I'll break you before . . ."

"Shut up," Harry said with a yawn. "And be ready by the end of evening meals in the Great Hall."

"Show some respect Potter," Snape growled.

"To you?" Harry laughed, "not in a thousand years."

The students watched in shock as Harry shoved his way past the Potions Professor and continued his rounds.

As the hours passed, stories of what had happened spread like wildfire. Many waited in anticipation the majority hoping to see Snape carried out of the hall and unable to work for months and a minority hoping to see the Potter boy put in his place.

Ignoring the whispers, Harry entered the great hall and took his customary seat between his two oldest friends.

"Hey guys," Harry said quietly. "Haven't seen you all day."

"About that Harry," Hermione began. "There are some rumors that you're going to fight a duel with Snape."

"Yup," Harry agreed. "Spent the last few hours in the library preparing for it."

"Bloody brilliant mate," Ron cheered. "Bust him up good for me 'eh."

"Be quiet Ron," Hermione snapped. "You can't do this Harry, he's a teacher."

"He's not a teacher," Harry disagreed. "He never taught me anything . . . cept maybe that people in positions of authority can't be trusted."

"He's got years of experience," Hermione tried a different approach. "You can't win against him."

"He's a Potions Master," Harry said with a smile. "Not a duelist, I'll be fine."

"Well why don't you postpone the duel for a few weeks," Hermione suggested desperately. "I'll help you study so that you can be sure that you'll win, you'll know so many spells that it'll take days to cast them all."

"Can't be put off," Harry replied. "But I will take you up on the offer to help me study if it's still open, could help with future duels."

"You don't have to do this," Hermione's voice was beginning to sound panicked. "You've proven your point."

"I do have to do this," Harry disagreed. "And I realise that you just don't want me to get hurt, why don't the two of us have a nice long talk after this."

"Ok," Hermione agreed weakly.

"Anywhere you want me to hit him for you Ron?" Harry asked his other friend.

"Anywheres fine," Ron replied. The boy had been strangely silent as he watched Hermione get more and more worried as she realized that she couldn't stop Harry. "If he gets you I'll get him mate."

"Thanks Ron," Harry said. "But no thanks, I can do whatever I want to him cause of the dueling code. You aren't protected by it and you'd have to face your mother afterwards."

"Then I'll challenge him myself," Ron replied. "But only if it comes to that, I'd really rather see you beat the stuffing out of him Harry."

"And this way you don't have to face your mum," Hermione added with a weak smile. "Don't get hurt Harry."

"Yeah mate," Ron agreed. "And bust Snape up really good."

"I will," Harry promised. Taking one last bit of food, Harry stood up and walked to the center of the Great Hall. "Ready Snape?"

"I can't wait to have you in front of my wand Potter," Snape said with his trademarked sneer.

"Might I have a moment of your time Harry?" Dumbledore asked quickly.

"I'm a bit busy at the moment," Harry replied. Even as he spoke, Harry's eyes refused to leave Snape's face. "Perhaps later."

"This won't take long," Dumbledore pleaded. "You'll have plenty of time for . . . the other thing."

"What do you need?" Harry's eyes flicked over to regard the Headmaster.

"If you'll just come with me to this corner over here for a bit of privacy . . . " Dumbledore said nervously.

"Fine," Harry agreed.

The two of them walked over to the indicated corner and Harry watched in fascination as the Headmaster cast several charms to insure that their conversation would not be overheard.

"Harry," Dumbledore began kindly. "You can't duel Professor Snape."

"Really?" Harry raised an eyebrow, "and why pray tell is that?"

"He's a teacher," Dumbledore replied quickly. "And it wouldn't do to have students challenging their Professors."

"As I told Hermione, Snape never taught me a thing." Harry said with a predatory grin. "And I think you'll find that according to the school regulations, a student can challenge a Professor but Professors can not challenge students."

"Be that as it may," Dumbledore said. His mind franticly sought a new avenue of conversation, Minerva was right . . . this wouldn't be as easy as he had originally hoped. "I wanted to talk with you to dissuade you from your new self imposed duty, it really isn't necessary for you to keep the school safe."

"I could care less about the school," Harry said with a shrug. "It's the students I'm concerned with. On the one hand you have Snape and his band of idiots and on the other you have well . . . you."

"Me?" Dumbledore asked in surprise.

"I'm sure you don't mean to endanger the students," Harry said with a knowing grin. "And I'm also sure that you don't bother to consider them when you're planning your schemes."

"My schemes?" Dumbledore echoed.

"You're not as bad as Snape's bunch but you have your moments," Harry explained. "Only you would consider hiding the thing Voldemort wants most in a school full of children and only you would protect it with lethal traps that endangered those same children. Did any of the other Professors think that was a bad idea?"

"Minerva might have said something," Dumbledore said weakly.

"Then there's the fact that you don't bother investigating things, the troll, the snake, etc." Harry went on, "you hire incompetents and death eaters . . . well, you get the idea."

"Yes well," Dumbledore said with a wince.

"And if you'll excuse me," Harry said mildly. "I have a duel to get to."

"I can't persuade you not to do this?" Dumbledore asked sadly.

"Snape needs to be taught a lesson," Harry agreed. "And it comes to me to be the teacher."

"I've talked with him Harry," Dumbledore begged. "You don't have to do this, call off the duel."

"No," Harry replied. "I don't think I'm going to be doing that."

"There's no need for you to do this," Dumbledore continued. "You've proven your point."

"I will agree to call off the duel if Snape goes to the center of the room and begs my forgiveness for what he's done to me," Harry replied. "Then he must beg forgiveness from every other student at Hogwarts and swear on his magic that he will never do such a thing again. He must then resign from the post of Potions Professor and promise never to take students again."

"I don't think . . ." Dumbledore began.

"I realise that but I am not finished," Harry said sharply. "Then he must get on his knees and beg me for mercy and ask me to call things off. I will consider calling off the duel at that point."

"Severus will never agree to that," Dumbledore protested. "Be reasonable."

"I'm being much more reasonable then he would be if he were in my place," Harry replied evenly. "So unless you have something useful to add then I suggest that you leave."

"The school is going to get better," Dumbledore replied. "There is no need for you to act this way, you've won Harry."

"Empty platitudes from a man that lies so much that he doesn't know what the truth is," Harry said dismissively. "Why should I trust you when you've done nothing but lie and mislead me? Why should I trust you when you seem to think that withholding the truth should be done as early and as often as possible?"

"I only had your best interests at heart," Dumbledore protested.

"My best interests?" Harry asked incredulously, "if you did all these things with my 'best interests' at heart then I would be horrified to see what you'd to someone you wanted dead. What did you really do to that Dark Lord you killed? How long did it take before you finally allowed him to die? I guess we can now see why Voldemort is so afraid of you, he doesn't want to be tortured to death."

"Harry I . . ." Dumbledore felt ill, "is that how you truly see me?"

"What I see is a pathetic old man that believes that cloaking himself in the excuse of the 'greater good' will allow him to commit any crime he wishes." Harry spat, "you condemned me to years of torture when you put me with the Dursleys. You created a school where one can commit any crime so long as one's name is Malfoy and where you can be subjected any indignity if your name is Potter. You created a school where Professors neglect their duties in favor of perusing personal vendettas against the students. You are not someone I want anything to do with."

"Harry . . . I'm sorry," Dumbledore's voice choked up. "Can you ever forgive me?"

"Why should I?" Harry asked sarcastically.

"I . . ."

"Now if you'll excuse me," Harry ignored the Headmaster's attempts to speak. "I have no desire to listen to any more of your attempts to justify your actions and I do not wish to be late to my duel."

Harry ignored the Headmaster's calls and strode into the middle of the room, "ready Sevvie?"

"Make your peace Potter," Snape said with a grin.

"Would you be our witness Professor Flitwick?" Harry asked the small Professor, "you're the closest thing I can find to neutral and you do know about dueling."

"I can't persuade either of you to put aside this nonsense?" Professor Flitwick asked sadly. Both Harry and Snape shook their heads. "Very well." The small Professor waved his wand and to create a large powerful shield to block off the students, "you may begin."

Snape began the duel by throwing a large mass of black light. Harry dodged and replied with a powerful cutting curse to the smarmy man's wand arm, another cutting curse rendered the man's other arm useless. Ten seconds had passed since the first spell had been flung and the students watched in fascination as Harry approached his fallen opponent.

"Looks like I win," Harry said happily. "Give up?"

"Go to hell Potter," Snape groaned.

"I was hoping you'd say that," Harry said with a grin. Everyone in the Great Hall watched in shock as Harry raised his wand and hit Snape with a series of dark and painful hexes.

"Damn you Potter," Snape hissed through clenched teeth. By reply, Harry began casting higher level curses and Snape soon began screaming.

"Do you like it?" Harry asked over Snape's screams. "I spent all day in the library researching pain curses, I wanted to give you a little taste of how good a student I could be if given the proper motivation."

The students watched in horrified fascination as their most hated professor suffered unspeakable agony.

"Not as skillful as you would do it," Harry said conversationally. "I'm willing to admit that, but I'm sure that you'll agree that I did a good job with what I had."

"Damn you Potter," Snape groaned.

"Harry stop this," Dumbledore called out. "He's beaten."

"To death or surrender," Harry replied with a grin. "He said that he would have me begging to make it stop and I feel no regret in returning the favor."

"You must stop this," Dumbledore begged.

"So you want me to kill him then?" Harry shrugged, "if you wish." Harry raised his wand so that it was pointing to the space right between the Potions Master's eyes, "reduc . . ."

"Stop," Snape screamed. "I surrender, I give up, just don't kill me."

"Pity," Harry said as he stepped over the sobbing Potions Professor. The students watched in shock as Harry walked away from the broken man and out of the great hall. In in instant, the old paradigm had been shattered, only time would show what form the new would take.

AN: I can think of a couple reasons why Harry is acting the way that he is. One of them is influence from Voldemort, either accidental or by design. Another is that after years of being treated like garbage, Harry snapped and is being controlled by his rage. The third is a mix of the first and second, for some reason Harry's negative emotions were muted. Possibly by Dumbledore trying to insure that Harry would not be influenced by the scar, the charms were not designed to last forever and they were not designed to hold back so much rage so the burst. Not really sure, just writing this to get it out of my head.

Omake: Potion

"Why is this happening to me?" Harry moaned. "Why can't I control my rage?"

"Dobby knows Harry Potter sir," the small elf said quietly to announce his presence.

"Tell me Dobby," Harry begged.

"Harry Potter sir's food was dosed with calming potions since he came to Hoggywarts," Dobby replied quietly. "Dobby found out about it and changed the potions out with sugar water . . . Dobby is sorry Harry Potter sir."

"Thank you Dobby," Harry's reply surprised the small elf. "You freed me, you're a good and loyal friend."

"Thank you Harry Potter sir." Dobby perked up a bit.

AN: I might use this, or I might write a bunch other omakes about possible causes or I might do nothing with this story, don't really have anymore plans.