Mind Over Magic

Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

Review Answers:

WhiteElfElder: Let's just say it involves the other coward in the ferret's corner, a spell that will leave an impact and everyone seeing the real Harrison in a way that's similar, but different to the original version of this story;

Jostanos: And, come the end of this chapter, you'll probably finish that quote: alright you baa-aad boy…but no more freebies;

"I don't know why he is…the way he is or what happened before us, Neville, but right now, we have to be exactly what you said."

Here, she indicated a stunned, but curious-looking Neville, "You must be his sword: he trusts you and is able to be more…more-normal around you, so you have to be the sword. You have to do what you can to help rid him of his enemies and his own weaknesses…and I must be his shield."

"So, what? Your job is to protect him?" asked Neville curiously, earning a shrug from Hermione as she looked back to him.

"Only if he's willing to raise his hand and use me to do so, because, if he doesn't, and if he can't be helped against the evils out there, it might just destroy him…in ways none of us can begin to predict."

Chapter 9: Harrison's Last Word: Filius' Last Warning!

For the better part of the next month, all anyone could talk about was the impending challenge between Harrison Potter and Draco Malfoy.

Even the excitement of the first Quidditch game of the season didn't come close to the anticipation, curiosities and questions that arose as a result of the challenge from the uniquely-sorted student to one whom many began to wonder if Harrison saw him as his rival.

Little did they know he didn't think of the blond in such a way.

As far as Harrison was concerned, Draco Malfoy was little more than a nuisance at most and an annoyance, like a fly buzzing in his ear, at least.

However, this didn't seem to stop Harrison from doing everything he could to prepare for the bout while, at the same time, those who'd noticed his loner status before, now noticed he seemed to return to the way he'd been in that first week. Namely achieving success in his tasks that resulted in him scoring more points than the average student for Gryffindor House while, every so often, losing points for one reason or another.

To those who didn't know of the reason for the rift that had formed in the first week, Neville and Hermione also seemed to have been given the right to return to Harrison's side, working with him in lessons and, generally, socialising as best as they could outside of those lessons. In this way, the so-called Golden Trio returned to Hogwarts as far as many of them were concerned, though with the upcoming duel between Harrison and Draco, there were very few students who seemed willing to take on the enigma that was Harrison Potter.

All they had to do was remember his most-dangerous weapon and then decide if their pride was worth taking on said weapon.

And it wasn't even a weapon he needed a wand for, either…

MoM

Unbeknownst to those who were curious about Harrison's motives and how he was preparing for the duel, the Golden Trio were growing closer as semi-friends, in the sense that Neville and Hermione saw Harrison as such, but, for whatever reasons, he was still reluctant to return the favour.

However, now they knew they, at least, had a foot in the door, neither Gryffindor said anything about Harrison's reluctance.

Instead, together with the occasional help from Professor Flitwick, who seemed relieved to note how his young protégé was returning to whatever passed for normal with him, they did what they could to help Harrison prepare for his duel with the arrogant Slytherin. When they had free sessions, the trio confined themselves to the duelling room in the Chamber of Pride where, for perhaps the first time in weeks, Neville and Hermione saw a side of Harrison that was unpredictable, but dangerous, but also awe-inspiring.

Thanks to the fact he had more-advanced resources than the average first-year, Harrison seemed to become a different kid altogether on the field.

As soon as any session began, be it against Neville or Hermione or taking on a practice dummy that Professor Flitwick provided for him, the calm, apathetic Harrison vanished and, in his place, was a young man who could have put his own Father, James Potter, to shame.

At least, that's what Filius told Harrison after one such session, but the young boy showed his usual apathy rather than giving an open response.

MoM

It was also during these sessions that Harrison chose to honour his agreement with Hermione from their travels on the train.

While he practiced the latest additions to his slowly-growing arsenal of spells or worked on whatever he did when he wasn't practicing, he finally chose to let Hermione explore the wonders of the Encyclopaedia Mystica.

Understandably, the Muggle-born girl was in awe of the wellspring of knowledge contained within one book, though she didn't let her desires to know as much as she could about everything make her forget who had given her access to this treasury of knowledge. Not for the first time did Hermione also get a feeling that said she understood Harrison a little bit better, but she didn't want to find herself on his bad side later in life.

After all, if knowledge was power, then, with the information he'd gain in the next seven years, Harrison had the means to become something akin to a God with who he was and what he could do.

And what mortal would be stupid enough to go up against such a being?

Certainly not her.

MoM

One week before his duel, Harrison was marginally-surprised to discover a roadblock coming his way when, during breakfast, he received a note saying the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, wished to speak with him.

The summons also indicated a phrase that Harrison could only guess was the password to the old man's chambers, though he still kept his wits about him with regards to the how and why behind his summons.

Something told him it wasn't to do with his still-unarrived Potions mentor – though he let Filius know about the arranged meet and suggested he say something, since he was Harrison's and, unofficially-speaking, Neville and Hermione's Head of House.

Don't get him wrong.

Given what he'd read about Albus Dumbledore and what he'd heard from reliable sources, he was honoured to know that such a being was willing to give up some of his free and, as he was the Headmaster, Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump, Harrison didn't hesitate to add busy time to speak with a mere first-year like Harrison.

But, at the same time, the young student kept himself fully-alert and aware of everything around him, slipping into a part of himself he'd kept in plain sight when he'd first met the magical people…and that was because of one reason:

Harrison might respect and even admire the achievements and abilities of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

But that did not mean he would be so blind as to openly trust him as though they were meant to be old friends.

MoM

At his student's request, Filius accompanied Harrison to his meeting with Professor Dumbledore, though there was a part of him that wondered why Albus had requested such a meeting without consulting Filius first.

When Harrison gave the password – Fruit Drops – Filius noticed how his student seemed remarkably-calm, but he also had an air about him that reminded the goblin of how the boy had been when he'd first met him back in the orphanage.

As though he was bored about attending the meeting and he'd decided almost-immediately that he was going to give as good as he got.

In fact, Filius wouldn't be surprised to hear one or two witty, if sarcastic barbs leave the boy's lips by the time they were done.

Even so, the goblin-blooded teacher kept his wits about him, especially given the impromptu nature of the meeting.

And the fact that he strongly-suspected Harrison's impending duel with Mr Malfoy would also feature in the content of their discussions somewhere.

MoM

When Harrison got his first look at Dumbledore's office, he didn't admit it aloud, but he had to wonder if he was meant to be impressed, amused or just plain confused by the way the Headmaster had his office set up.

There were shelves and an array of display units filled with a wide range of unknown knickknacks and devices that didn't interest him while, off to one side, Harrison saw a faint glow shining from behind what looked like a concealed area.

Were he any kind of genuinely-curious person, he might have been inclined to investigate; instead, he walked into an adjacent room that seemed to house the main area of the Headmaster's room. More shelves filled this room, as well as a winding staircase that led towards an upper floor while, directly in front of Harrison, there was a large table with the Headmaster's trademark golden throne behind it.

Off to one side, Harrison also caught sight of a stand that was occupied by the Sorting Hat while, to his slight awe, there was a perch on the other side that held a beautiful, glowing red-feathered bird, the eyes of which seemed to follow Harrison as he walked towards the desk.

Behind the desk, Albus Dumbledore looked at his student with interest as he said, "Harry, thank you for coming."

"Harrison," corrected Harrison and Filius, though the goblin seemed to do so automatically while Harrison drawled it out before, sniffing once, the young boy added, "And actually, I'd prefer it if you called me Mr Potter, Headmaster: like I once told Master Flitwick and Professor McGonagall, I think it shows a very bad sense of intimacy when those meant to be teachers are so casual with their students. People might wind up getting the wrong idea, wouldn't you agree, Professor?"

"I…I would," replied Albus, a note of surprise in his voice as he saw Harrison keep his attention on the stand that occupied the beautiful bird.

After a moment, Harrison let out a hum before he looked back to Dumbledore, "Also, you should be honoured, Headmaster: having a phoenix as your pet, or perhaps your familiar, is a mighty responsibility and a great honour in the name of Magic. Judging by the lustre in his plumage, I also assume he's halfway between his rebirth and Burning Day, which means he'll probably ignite sometime around November the 5th: the irony's not lost on you, I assume?"

"Uh…" said Dumbledore, earning a sigh from Harrison.

"Sorry, sir, Muggle tradition," replied Harrison, sniffing once before he looked to his Head of House, who also looked curious about the irony of the date, "Among the non-magical, the 5th of November is known as Guy Fawkes' Night, a night where pyres are lit, toffee apples are a speciality of the evening and, though I don't tend to take part in such frivolities, fireworks are set off in fun, because some idiot failed to blow up Parliament."

"Guy Fawkes, you say?" asked Dumbledore, a note of interest in his words, "How interesting, because that also happens to be my friend's name, but you say it's the name of a Muggle criminal, Ha…Mr Potter?"

"Yup," replied Harrison, looking back to the now-named Fawkes, "But your friend does the name justice, Headmaster…now, pardon my candour, sir, but what do you want with me?"

As Dumbledore cleared his throat, he also watched as Harrison took a seat that had been conjured by Filius, both of them sitting across from the aged Headmaster, who looked from Harrison to Filius and, finally, to Fawkes, before he answered, "Well first, allow me to award you ten points to Gryffindor for correctly identifying my phoenix and possessing such incredible knowledge of their life cycles."

"Elementary," drawled Harrison, picking a stray speck of dust from his robe while he looked up at the Headmaster.

Albus swallowed, "And…second, I wished to talk to you about your up-and-coming duel with Mr Malfoy next week on Halloween Night."

"And you decided to wait until seven days before that date to discuss this with me, sir?" asked Harrison coolly, earning a blanched look from the Headmaster, "Did you think the time difference would make me take back the challenge, even though I've declared it in the name of Magic and on the honour of both our respective Houses? Or is it more the fact that I requested the presence of Lord Lucius Malfoy as part of the bout?"

Judging by the way Dumbledore's face fell, Harrison could figure it was the latter, though he didn't show it.

Instead, he sighed, "I don't know why you feel a need to get personally involved, Headmaster, but I'll remind you of one fact: this happened because of Mr Malfoy's ego and the fact that a certain Gryffindor decided to stick his nose where it didn't belong. So, if you should be reprimanding anyone for their decisions, it should be Mr Weasley…unless there's a reason you're not doing so, sir? Friend of the family, perhaps?"

"Albus?" asked Filius, a note of suspicion in his words, "You have had Minerva discuss these matters with Mr Weasley, haven't you?"

"I…I thought it wasn't necessary, and decided to leave it to the more-suited parties," replied Dumbledore, earning a nod from Harrison.

"Meaning his brother, the Prefect," drawled Harrison, again plucking a stray speck of dust from his robe while he cleared his throat, "In that case, it seems all due punishments have been given and now, all that remains is to consider the matter closed and the only way to do that is to either let Magic declare Malfoy and his family as my servants until I say otherwise or to allow the duel to continue."

Here, Harrison shrugged ruefully, "Personally, I favour the latter: despite what others choose to believe about me, Headmaster, I have no interests in being anyone's master, let alone by force."

Not for the first time did Filius look at Harrison with awe and wonder as the boy gave his opinion.

Even with everything he'd done to help the boy get ready for the duel, he never would have guessed he was capable of such mercies as this.

He also wondered why Harrison seemed so calm about the idea of not being a master while, at the same time, sounding just as calm about the possibility of having anyone as his servants.

Dumbledore, meanwhile, swallowed hard before he looked to the awed face of Filius as he asked, "You…you are his Head of House, Filius; can't you explain to Mr Potter the…"

"There are no consequences that have not already been dealt with, very honourably, I might add," explained Filius, his voice edged by a stern tone that showed he didn't just believe his own words; he also encouraged and wholeheartedly supported Harrison's decision. "Mr Potter was within his rights to name any forfeits he wished in payment of the duel not fought; not only does the blame lie with Mr Weasley. It also lies with Mr Malfoy for being so stupid as to declare and agree to a full wizard's duel between him and Mr Potter."

"If anything," said Harrison, though as he did so, only Filius saw him clench his hands into fists, "I'm more surprised that Professor Snape didn't do anything to intercede on Draco's behalf, if not anyone else's, before the aforementioned blond dug a hole too deep to climb out of. After all, much like Professor Flitwick is mine, he is the Head of Slytherin House, is he not?"

Again, Dumbledore was left speechless by Harrison's argument, though as he looked to the young boy, the Headmaster cleared his throat before he asked, "In…in that case, would you at least allow me to officiate the duel on your behalf?"

"Another point of our bout that has already been taken care of, sir," said Harrison, indicating his Head of House, "As a world-renowned Duelling Champion and my Head of House, though he is not standing in as the latter, Professor Flitwick will be refereeing our duel while Professor Snape will act as his second voice of authority and to ensure Mr Malfoy keeps to the rules and terms set."

"Not to mention to ensure the bout stays between the two of them and no-one else," added Filius, earning a thin smirk from Harrison.

That had been Harrison's idea because of how he'd seen enough to suspect there was more going on than just the relationship of a Head of House and his student going on between Draco and Snape.

And, since it was Harrison he was challenging, not to mention how little Snape had done to stop or intervene before things had gotten out of hand, the young Potter wouldn't put it past the Potions Master to try and set up another trap, but he wouldn't be fooled again.

As Dumbledore opened his mouth to make another argument, Harrison held up a hand, "With all due respect, Headmaster, you can argue the long list of possibilities of intervention until the cows come home. However, like Professor Snape, you have done very little, if nothing to intervene before events forced my hand to take these measures, so whatever you try, I guarantee I've already considered every option and figured out how useless it is for you to try. The best thing you can do is allow this duel to proceed and then take the rest from there."

With that, Harrison rose from his seat, but as he did so, his emerald-green eyes hardened when Dumbledore insisted, "We're not finished!"

"I think we are, Professor," argued Harrison coolly, his eyes filled with a hint of warning, "Unless you'd like to talk about why I was left alone for ten years and, for the first few, left with Muggles who willingly left me at an orphanage where my life took an even darker turn than it should have?"

When Dumbledore didn't reply, Harrison scoffed as he muttered, "Like I said, every option has been considered and, as this is family business, sir, the only real reason you should have to interfere in any way was if you were family…and that's real family, not magical guardian."

Suddenly, Dumbledore looked alarmed as he looked at Harrison before he asked, "How do you know that term?"

"I do a lot of reading," replied Harrison coolly, earning a smirk from Filius, while tipping an invisible hat to Dumbledore before he added, "Until our next meeting, Headmaster."

With that, he turned and left, leaving a stunned Dumbledore and a curious Filius, the latter of whom waited until Harrison was gone before, looking back to Dumbledore, he asked, "What were you expecting, Albus? He'd forgive and forget? Take it from me: based around the observations I have made about him: Harrison does not forgive easily…nor will he ever forget, as Minerva and I discovered."

"Filius," Albus argued, a note of worry in his voice as he looked to the door before he asked, "What…what have I done?"

"You?" asked Filius, nodding towards the door as he explained, "As he said, Albus, very little, if not nothing at all; I confess myself surprised by the admission that it was you that left him with Petunia and her…family, but the exact circumstances behind what happened between then and now are a mystery. One that Harrison seems unwilling to divulge, though he's indicated something truly life-changing took place, hence his coldness towards certain others, not to mention his prodigy-level intelligence."

Here, Filius rose from his own seat before he sighed deeply as he added, "And if you want a real observation of what that boy will be capable of one day, I strongly recommend a talk with Garrick."

"What do you mean?" asked Dumbledore, but rather than answer, Filius left the office, leaving Dumbledore in a world of whirlwind emotions, all of which seemed to come back to the same question he'd asked moments ago;

'What have I done?'

MoM

Moments later, however, Filius poked his head through the door as he added, "Oh, and one last thing, Headmaster?"

The sarcastic lilt wasn't lost on Dumbledore, prompting him to look to his diminutive colleague with curiosity, "Yes?"

"You have until the day after Messers Potter and Malfoy's duel to introduce him, Mr Longbottom and Miss Granger to whatever mentor has been arranged to take charge of their Potions education…"

"But surely Harry…" Dumbledore began, but as soon as he said it, he regretted it, knowing what was coming.

"Harrison!" corrected Filius, moving back to the desk with surprising speed and agility, both of which only saw fit to remind Dumbledore of who he was dealing with as he explained, "And Harrison, as well as Mr Longbottom and Miss Granger have entrusted me, as Harrison's mentor and, in light of Minerva's curiously-blind acts towards the trio, with making sure they get the best we can offer. Furthermore, Harrison has filed all papers with the Board and the Department of Magical Education authorising him to have a private mentor…"

"I was not made aware…"

"Because you are not his magical guardian, Albus," argued Filius, leaping up onto Dumbledore's desk as he explained, "In case Harrison's last barb was not clear enough, he knows, as do I, of all the claims you made, but, as his Master…"

Dumbledore tried not to look too downhearted at that reminder, while Filius continued, "And as an Apprentice recognised by the proper protocols, as he has been ever since the first day here, Apprentice Potter has charged me with all correspondences and responsibilities usually reserved for a magical guardian. In fact, the only reason I was allowed to referee this duel, aside from my Duel Champion status, is because Severus and Lucius made it clear that the only one the latter trusts to watch out for his son in this bout is Severus…aka Mr Malfoy's godfather!"

Dumbledore flinched, while Filius continued, "Now, I know where Harrison's godfather is, and I hope he does not, but regardless, as Draco seems to think he can rely on a close, personal friend, the same was allowed for Harrison and, rest assured, I will be watching Severus very closely!"

"Filius, surely the past…"

"According to your spy, it can't," argued Filius, as though he knew what card Albus was going to try playing. "After all, it was Severus' lack of consideration for someone other than himself and his delusions that led to Harrison vowing he would never allow Severus to teach him Potions. And, if you're waiting for him to forgive Severus for his stupidly-disgusting display of emotional assault on the memories of an honourable soul who, we both know, would never give him the time of day ever again after what he said and did…so, back to it, Albus: you have until the first of November to allow and introduce Harrison, Neville and Hermione's new Potions Professor or, I promise you, the only thing you'll hear from this goblin will involve the words lawsuit, internal investigation and, if necessary, suspension or I quit…because I will and, as Harrison's Master, I will make certain that my apprentice comes with me! Understood?"

Albus had no more cards left to play.

MoM

He'd hoped time might heal the wounds, even though Severus had done very little to show any sense of remorse for what he'd said, not to mention the clash between him and Harrison that had only been made worse by what Albus knew was a trap that Severus had helped set up, hoping to catch Harrison out and have him reduced to a normal student once again.

But Harrison had caught the move, countered it and checked the black-robed King of the Dungeons.

Any hopes of reconciliation died with Mr Malfoy's foolish gambit.

Since then, Albus had called in favour after favour to stop Harrison's mentor coming to Hogwarts, since even a blind person would be able to see every student that wasn't Severus' favourites – read: Mr Malfoy and his very small group of 'associates' whose parents owed Lucius favours from their days as Death Eaters – would soon leave Severus' lessons, raising questions that Albus couldn't and didn't want to answer.

And not just about Severus' teaching abilities, either.

He knew Harrison wanted answers about why he'd been left in such a life full of trials, but Albus knew it wasn't yet time.

But, if Severus was out, then the prophecy and Severus' spy status was the only thing Albus could use to try and convince people, especially Harrison James Potter, that the man was needed at Hogwarts.

Unfortunately, while Harry would be able to forgive and forget, Harrison was more likely to have Severus thrown to the Gringotts dragons.

And, with Filius watching his back, it was even more likely to happen.

MoM

"Well, Albus?"

Snapping out of his reverie, Albus saw Filius waiting, his arms folded and an eyebrow raised in curiosity, "What will it be?"

Swallowing hard, and hoping that Harrison wouldn't regret this later, Albus answered his colleague;

"You may inform Har…Harrison that he will meet his new mentor on the morning after his duel with Mr Malfoy; however, Filius, I would advise you to remember that it is only those three students that have been given this privilege; nobody will follow them, no matter the excuses."

"Meaning your spy is safe," drawled Filius, earning a horrified look from Albus, while Filius shook his head slowly.

"Kindly remember which one of the two of us, out of me and that man you're protecting like a mother dragon guarding her eggs, kindly remember, you foolhardy old man, which one of the two of us really knew, loved and, similarly, was equally loved by the late Lady Potter and asked nothing in return for the honorary familial state we shared with her."

Chapter 9 and it looks like Albus is learning the hard way not to underestimate what real honour looks like or how much it's worth, but with the last word said by all, what will this mean for the Trio, especially their cavalier Commander-in-Chief?

Also, on the tenth anniversary of the darkest night of his life, can Harrison best the dragon and put all doubts to rest once and for all?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: It's the moment you've all been waiting for: Harry Potter vs Draco Malfoy with a cowardly hypocrite in one corner and a man who will never back down in the other, not to mention the Boy-Who-Will-Never-Yield; oh boy, let's hope one of them doesn't make a stupid mistake and end up titilanding the Draco Dormiens;

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