Wednesday, 22nd November

The corridors leading down to the Slytherin common room were dimly lit when Harry finally left the library that night.

He'd let his curiosity get the better of him these past few days, spending more and more time with the basilisk and less and less time doing his homework, and, inevitably, everything had started catching up with him. It hadn't helped that he'd been having weird dreams lately - about dark corridors and locked doors and an almost painful sense of longing.

At least this evening, he'd gotten the bulk of his work done - and his friends couldn't even claim that he was lying when he'd told them he was leaving dinner early to go to the library for a while. That had become his go-to excuse for whenever he snuck off to visit the Queen of Serpents, but he just couldn't help himself - she was absolutely fascinating! - and he couldn't tell them what he was actually doing without telling them a whole load of other things first that he wasn't quite ready to share. At least he could use his father's Invisibility Cloak to sneak back to the common room unseen.

Hopefully, another long night would have him caught up on work fully. It wasn't exactly fun, having to give up his limited free time like this, but Harry had to admit, the silence of the castle at night was a welcome relief from its busy bustling during the day.

The flickering torches cast long shadows along the stone walls as he made his way through the darkened corridors. He was almost to the entrance of the dungeons when he heard it.

A soft voice, barely a whisper, coming from a rarely used corridor to his left. At first, he thought it was just the wind or a trick of his tired mind, but then he heard the words said again, this time more clearly.

"Please, let me go!"

It was a young girl's voice, panicked and trembling, unmistakably terrified, and Harry saw red.

Without thinking, his feet moved of their own accord, drawn toward the voice. He crept down the hallway, his shoulders tense, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. As he approached a dark alcove, he paused and peered around the corner.

What he saw made his blood boil.

Kenneth fucking Towler was standing in front of a young girl, twelve or thirteen at most, with his wand raised, pointing menacingly at her. She was pressed back against the cold stone wall, her small frame shaking in fear. Towler's smirk was sickening, and his words just as cruel.

"Thought you'd be safe in your little Slytherin den, huh? Think again, brat! This is my castle - and I don't want any slimy snakes in it!"

His voice was low, mocking, and full of malice. Harry's heart pounded loudly in his ears. How many times had the older boys at St Brutus picked on little kids too small to defend themselves? How many times had he seen a seventeen-year-old pushing their weight around with a mere child? How many times had he himself been in this girl's position, desperate for someone, anyone, to save him?

Fury coursed through his veins like ice, and he channeled it, used it, as he stepped around the corner, raised his hand, and shouted, "Expulso!"

The force of the blast sent Towler crashing backwards, slamming into the opposite wall with a sickening thud. The air crackled with magic, the girl staggering away, her eyes wide with shock. Harry forced himself to settle, to relax, to appear less threatening. She was staring at him now, her face pale and tear-streaked, but there was something about her that was almost… familiar.

It was the eyes, he realised, and the shape of the nose too, but those blue, blue eyes he'd seen many times before - and they were just as crystal clear and as sharp as her sisters, despite being full of tears.

"Hello" he said, quiet and calm, "You're… Astoria Greengrass, right?"

She gave him a slow, cautious nod, and his smile widened.

"I'm Harry. I'm in the same year as your sister, Daphne… Are you alright?"

She blinked, her voice a soft whisper. "Y-Yes… I'm fine".

He'd said the same thing himself too many times to count - to Rowle, to Principal Hayward, to whoever had found him, bloody and bruised, after the older boys had had their fun.

He'd rarely been telling the truth.

It would seem that he needed to be more direct.

"Are you hurt?"

She hesitated, and then glanced down at her arms, where faint red marks marred her skin - scrapes and bruises and the faint impression of fingernails.

"I… I'll b-be fine, it's just- just a few cuts, that's all".

Harry's eyes narrowed as he assessed the damage from far. "I can heal those for you, if you like. It won't take long, and it won't hurt, I promise".

Astoria looked reluctant for a moment, but then nodded. "Okay. Y-Yes, please".

Harry stepped closer, keeping a careful eye on Towler's motionless body and keeping an even more careful watch over the girl herself in case she showed any sign of being scared of him. He knew full well what being a cornered animal felt like, and he had no wish to make her feel the same way.

Gently taking hold of her arm, he held his other hand above it and started to murmur "Vulnera Sanentur" under his breath, hopefully too low for her to hear. He'd only mastered it wandlessly a week or so ago, never wanting to be caught by Snape like that again. And besides, clearly all of his patience and effort had been worth it for moments like these.

Her right arm now blemish-free, he moved onto her left arm instead, carefully healing each and every scratch one by one. He had almost finished when Astoria's voice cut through the stillness with a sharp cry.

"Look out!"

In an instant, Harry whipped around just in time to see Towler, his wand drawn and a curse on his lips, attempting to strike him from behind. The anger inside Harry flared up again, faster than he could stop it. Before he could even think about what he was doing, he had cast three spells in quick succession.

"Furnunculus Corpus!"

Towler screamed as painful boils erupted all over his body, his skin turning bright red and blistering with each passing second.

"Calvorio!"

His hair, thick and dark, fell away in clumps, leaving him with a completely bald head. Towler gaped, his hands desperately trying to cover his exposed scalp, but-

"Rugamauris!"

Towler's ears began to shrivel, folding in on themselves grotesquely, the skin tight and darkening as the spell took hold. He cried out in shock and agony, rolling around on the cold stone floor, but Harry didn't care. As far as he was concerned, this was retribution - justice for how the bastard had attacked him unprovoked and outnumbered, over nothing more than a rumour. For how he attacked thirteen-year-old Astoria Greengrass while she was alone and terrified, just for being sorted into Slytherin. For how Towler had undoubtedly attacked dozens of other innocent children, for no reason whatsoever - or, perhaps, for the thrill that sick bastards like him got by attacking those too powerless to stop him.

Harry felt Slytherin's locket burn against his chest, radiating a curling, almost satisfied heat as if pleased by his choice in spells. Any lingering doubts he may or may not have had about it being a Dark artefact were well and truly gone.

Towler continued to howl, overplaying his injuries no doubt. The curses Harry had used might have been considered among the most Dark, but they were ultimately harmless, after an initial brief burst of pain. His ears would take a few potions to fix, and the boils a few weeks of salves, and his hair would grow back eventually too - but until such a time that happened, Towler would be reminded of his transgressions every single time he looked in a mirror.

It was the least the bastard deserved.

Growing tired of his moaning, Harry cast a quick Stunner to knock him out - yet another kindness he didn't have to do - and then turned back to Astoria, who, although a little wide-eyed, seemed entirely unfazed by his actions.

"You're safe now" Harry told her quietly, his anger still bubbling beneath the surface, but starting to simmer rather than boil.

Astoria's eyes softened, and she nodded in thanks. "You didn't have to do that. He- He deserved it, but still…"

Harry offered a small, grim smile, the locket around his neck positively singing in his mind in delight.

"I couldn't just stand there and do nothing. You're far too important to be some sort of punching bag for people like him - and the sooner he learns that lesson, the better". He held out his hand to her. "Come on. Let's get you back to the common room. Towler can stay here and think about his poor life choices for a while".

Astoria giggled and glanced back one last time at the unconscious figure of the Gryffindor before taking Harry's hand. She didn't say anything, but there was a quiet gratitude in her eyes as they walked down the hallway together.

Harry's heart was still pounding, the adrenaline from the fight slowly ebbing away, but the sense of justice, the rush of finally righting a wrong, was a far more heady feeling.

They had barely taken two steps into the common room before a flurry of fair hair and blue eyes assaulted them.

"Astoria! Where have you been? Have you any idea what time it is? Your curfew was over an hour ago! I have been worried sick, I was just about to go out and try and find you myself and- is that blood?!"

Oh. Harry had forgotten to clean the sleeves of the girl's robes.

"Is that your blood?" Daphne clarified, and then, when her sister nodded, she turned a truly lethal gaze on Harry, "You have precisely three fucking seconds to explain yourself, Potter-"

"No! No, Daph, it wasn't him! He helped me!" Astoria rushed, tugging on the older girl's robes, "Harry helped me!"

The elder Greengrass's Ice Queen mask had well and truly shattered at the sight of her teary-eyed baby sister.

"He helped you?" she demanded, still gripping the girl's arms, "What do you mean he helped you? What happened?!"

"It was- It was some older Gryffindor boy. He cornered me on the way back here and- and he wouldn't let me go, but then Harry arrived and- and he saved me! He somehow shoved him away from me, and then he cast a whole bunch of spells I've never heard before, but it had the Gryffindor shouting like crazy, and his entire appearance changed, and I think the spells sounded like-"

"Uh, maybe don't repeat what curses I used out loud" Harry quickly interrupted, "I think your sister would kill me if she knew you overheard them".

"No, she wouldn't!" the girl immediately countered, "We use Dark Magic at home all the time, and you're in Slytherin too, so-"

"Astoria!" Daphne cut her off with a look. "Why don't you go to your room to clean up, and I'll follow you in a few minutes, okay?"

She folded her arms across her chest and scowled at her petulantly. "Fine! But you're not allowed to kill him! Promise?!"

"I promise" she replied dutifully, "Now go!"

Astoria cast Harry one last glance, her expression a mix of lingering gratitude and curiosity, before scurrying off toward the girls' dormitory staircase. As soon as she disappeared from sight, Daphne's gaze snapped back to Harry, her sharp blue eyes cold and unrelenting.

"Explain!" she snapped, her tone icy enough to rival the November winds outside the castle.

Harry raised his hands, palms out, in a gesture of peace. "I found her being cornered by Kenneth Towler in one of the hallways. He had his wand against her throat, and she was clearly scared out of her mind. I stepped in, got her away from him, and… discouraged him from trying it again".

Her brow furrowed, the sharpness of her expression softening just slightly. "Discouraged?"

"I might have overdone it with a few curses" he admitted, running a hand through his shorter hair, "Nothing permanent! Just… long-lasting enough to make sure he won't try anything like that again".

"Nothing permanent" Greengrass echoed flatly, her voice dripping with skepticism, "Astoria mentioned you used Dark Magic".

"I did". Harry met her gaze without flinching. "Towler had it coming. This isn't the first time he's attacked an innocent kid, according to the Wealsey twins, and I believe them. It's about time someone did something about it".

"And the blood? That was Astoria's?"

"... Most of it" he admitted, "But I healed her injuries. It was only small stuff, really - scrapes and bruises, things like that. She's completely fine now, but if you want to bring her to Madam Pomfrey anyway just to double check…"

She considered him for a moment, seeming to wrestle with her emotions, before letting out a long sigh. "No, it's alright. You know, you're lucky Astoria was there to vouch for you, Potter. I'd have hexed first and asked questions never".

"Understandable" Harry replied, his lips twitching, "I'd probably do the same if someone hurt somebody I cared about".

Daphne's eyes softened just a fraction. "Why did you even bother? Astoria's a third year, so it's not like you know her".

He shrugged, his voice forcibly light. "I've been where she was before - scared and alone, with no one to stand up for me. I wasn't going to let her go through that. I don't want anyone to have to ever go through that".

She seemed briefly taken aback by his honesty, her cool demeanor cracking even further.

"... Thanks" she eventually said, "For protecting her".

"You're welcome".

Greengrass studied him for a long moment, her blue eyes thoughtful. "... What curses did you use on Towler?"

Harry grimaced. "Ones that are going to get me into some serious trouble once Dumbledore finds out".

She slowly nodded, and then, "... Did he suffer?"

"Yes" he replied simply, "And he won't be winning any beauty contests anytime soon either".

"Good". She turned toward the staircase her sister had disappeared up through. "Let me know if you need an alibi, Potter".

Harry's due, as it were, came not two hours later.

The younger years had gone to bed a while ago, and the common room was mostly filled with quiet conversations and the occasional scratching of a quill against paper as the older years soaked in the warm fire and soothing atmosphere - one that was abruptly broken by the creak of the dungeon door opening.

The common room fell into an abrupt hush, a chill sweeping through the air as every head turned, and the low murmur of conversations about Potions essays and Quidditch matches ceased in an instant.

Professor Snape's imposing figure stood in the doorway, his robes billowing around him as if carried by an invisible wind. His face was as unreadable as ever, but his eyes gleamed like dark, burning coals, scanning the room with a freezing intensity. Harry didn't flinch under the scrutiny, though his heart thudded in his chest. He was well-acquainted with that expression - or lack thereof - and it was far more unnerving than any shouted accusations or fiery rants could ever be.

"There has been… an incident" Snape began quietly, his words deliberate and precise, "A seventh-year Gryffindor, Kenneth Towler, was found unconscious in a nearby corridor. Upon examination, it was discovered that multiple Dark curses had been cast upon him, potentially scaring him for life".

A sharp intake of breath came from somewhere in the crowd, but no one dared to interrupt. Snape's eyes flashed as he continued, his voice soft and dangerously calm, but the room was so silent that they all heard him regardless.

"The Headmaster" he continued, his lip curling ever so slightly, "has asked me to inquire among my students to identify the perpetrator".

There was a muffled protest from the back of the room. "Why is he blaming us?! It could've been a Ravenclaw! They're always lurking around-"

"Silence!" Severus snapped, with a glare so cold it could've frozen the lake outside their window, "Far be it for me to defend any House prejudice, but you all know full well that it is a reasonable assumption to make, given the circumstances! A Gryffindor was attacked, the incident occurred near the Slytherin common room, and it involved some of the Darkest of spells this castle has ever seen!"

Harry winced. That was the second time since he'd gotten here that he'd let his emotions get the better of him. Sirius had truly been a rather awful influence on him over the summer.

"I shall give the perpetrator precisely one minute to step forward" Snape finished, glowering at them all, "or else".

Harry really liked that about their Head of House. Him saying "or else" was far more terrifying than any actual curse or threat that anyone else could make. The man didn't need to raise his voice or wave his wand around to inspire fear; his mere presence alone was enough.

The silence stretched on. Students exchanged nervous glances, but no one moved. Snape began to slowly scan the room, his dark eyes raking over every face. When they reached Harry, they lingered for a fraction of a second longer than anyone else. A flicker of something - recognition, suspicion, or perhaps challenge - passed between them. Harry sighed and slowly, reluctantly, pushed himself to his feet.

The whispering started immediately, rising like a wave as he stepped away from the couch he'd been sharing with Blaise and Theo. He didn't bother to look at them or at Greengrass - he didn't want to see their faces right now. Instead, he kept his gaze fixed on Snape, who was now watching him with an inscrutable expression.

"I did it" he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the room, "I was the one who cursed Towler".

The room erupted into chaos. Gasps, murmurs, and incredulous whispers filled the air. Someone hissed, "What the hell is he doing?" while another muttered, "Figures. Potter thinks he's above the rules", and Blaise tugged at his sleeve, whispering, "Don't confess to it, you idiot!"

Snape raised one hand, and the noise died instantly.

"Follow me, Mr Potter" he said, his voice low and devoid of any discernible emotion.

Harry nodded, ignoring the stares that followed him as he walked toward the dungeon door. His Housemates' whispers trailed behind him, buzzing like angry bees, but he refused to let them see any hesitation. If nothing else, this would finally shatter whatever illusions they had left about him being Dumbledore's picture-perfect Golden Boy.

Snape didn't look back as he led Harry out of the common room and into the dimly lit corridor. The heavy door swung shut behind them with a finality that made Harry's stomach twist, though he kept his expression neutral.

They walked in silence for a few moments, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows across the stone walls. Finally, Snape stopped and turned to face him, his expression as sharp and inscrutable as ever.

"Explain" he said curtly, folding his arms across his chest.

Harry was amused to find that they'd paused in one of the very few corridors in the castle that did not have a portrait listening in on it.

"Towler had a young girl - Astoria Greengrass - cornered in the hallway. He had his wand on her, and she was terrified. I stepped in and… handled it".

"Handled it" Severus repeated flatly, "With curses so Dark that Madam Pomfrey required my assistance in identifying them?"

"He deserved it" Harry said firmly, meeting the man's gaze without flinching, "He was attacking a thirteen-year-old kid who couldn't even defend herself! Someone had to stop him".

For a moment, Snape said nothing. His expression didn't shift, but his eyes - always so piercing and unreadable - seemed to be studying Harry with something deeper, something that might have been... understanding.

"And you believed it was your responsibility to do so" he said finally, a statement rather than a question.

Harry didn't waver. "Yes, sir".

Snape's lips pressed into a thin line. "Kenneth Towler was found after a portrait notified the Headmaster of a student out past curfew. The portrait in question apparently did not see the attack, and Towler has yet to wake, so we only have your side of the story to go on… Well, yours and Ms Greengrass, of course. You'll come with me to speak to Professor Dumbledore about this, where you'll undoubtedly face retribution for your actions… but let me be clear: while I may find your… methods excessive, I do not condone Towler's actions either. And I will ensure that all relevant facts are presented".

His jaw was clenched tightly, and Harry knew that Severus would be on his side for the upcoming battle.

"Thank you, sir" he replied, as they started walking once more, "And, uh, speaking of Dumbledore… What exactly should I tell him?"

"If you have any sense at all, then it won't be the truth" Snape replied dryly, "The fact you're admitting to be the one who attacked Towler is damning enough".

"It was in defence of a child!"

"In which case, Potter, the bylaws of Hogwarts clearly state that you should have run to find a professor immediately or, at most, disarmed the attacker. Not cast an entire series of incredibly Dark and highly illegal curses at the boy!"

Snape abruptly stopped walking, and Harry quickly turned to face him.

"Where is your wand?"

"In my holster" he replied, holding up his arm.

"Have you cast anything with it since?"

"You're expecting Dumbledore to cast Prior Incantato?"

"In cases such as these, Potter, you should be prepared to expect anything!" he snapped, "If the Headmaster, or anyone else for that matter, can prove that you cast even just one of those curses, then getting expelled will be the least of your worries!"

"Then it's a good thing they can't prove it, isn't it?" he shot back, "Considering I didn't use my wand when I cast them".

"You didn't-" Severus stopped, blinked, frowned, and then blinked again, looking at Harry as though he were a particularly puzzling potions recipe. "You mean to tell me that you successfully cast multiple incredibly difficult, powerful, and illegal Dark curses wandlessly?!"

"I mean... allegedly".

The corner of his mouth twitched. "Well then. Perhaps you should… forget to mention that part when questioned".

Harry felt a wide grin threaten to spread across his face. "Are you telling me to lie to the Headmaster, sir?"

"Not at all, Potter". He turned sharply on his heel and continued down the corridor. "I am simply telling you to put that idiotic brain of yours to good use for once!"

As they climbed the spiral staircase to Dumbledore's office, Snape lowered his voice and spoke once more.

"A word of advice, Potter - you may find that the Headmaster values the intent behind your actions almost more so than the actions themselves… Use this information wisely".

Before Harry could reply, they'd reached the entrance to the room, and after a brisk knock on the door, Snape opened it and stepped in.

Inside, Dumbledore was seated behind an enormous, claw-footed desk, and it was only then that Harry realised he hadn't spoken to the man personally since he'd arrived at Hogwarts - and nor had he been inside his office. It was a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames.

"Ah, Severus" Dumbledore greeted, "Any luck?"

"You could say that".

Snape stepped aside, allowing Harry to enter. For a moment, Dumbledore's serene expression faltered, and he blinked in shock, his blue eyes darting between Harry and Snape.

"Harry" he said, his voice soft, faint, "I must admit, this is… unexpected".

Harry's jaw tightened at the carefully measured tone. Of course, this wasn't what he expected - the Boy Who Lived could never be guilty of such a terrible crime, after all. Dumbledore had likely been expecting someone like Warrington or Malfoy instead because, despite everything that Harry had told and shown the old man since meeting him, Dumbledore still didn't believe him to be capable of Dark Magic. Why would he? Dark was synonymous with evil, after all, and his precious Golden Boy could never be either.

"Is this him?" came a furious voice from the side, snapping his attention away from Dumbledore. A well-dressed couple were seated in the two chairs in front of the fireplace, their faces etched with fury and disbelief. The man, tall and broad-shouldered, was red with anger, while the woman beside him clutched a lace handkerchief, her expression one of barely restrained outrage.

"Is this the boy who attacked our Kenneth?" Mr Towler spat, his voice trembling with indignation.

Harry forced himself to stand upright and calm, though his fists clenched at his sides. He glanced at Snape, who gave the smallest inclination of his head.

"Yes, sir" he said, his voice steady, "I was the one who cursed him".

Mrs Towler gasped audibly, and the portraits along the walls stirred, some muttering among themselves. Mr Towler's eyes bulged.

"You… You admit it?!" he thundered, "You attacked my son, cast Dark Magic on him, and you have the gall to march in here and-"

"It was an accident".

There was a beat of silence. Dumbledore tilted his head, his expression unreadable, though his gaze sharpened. Even Snape looked somewhat curious to see where this would go.

"What do you mean, it was an accident?" Mr Towler demanded.

Harry took a deep breath and schooled his expression into one of appropriate remorse.

"Kenneth Towler had a thirteen-year-old girl cornered by herself in a dark corridor. He had his wand pointed at her, and she was terrified. I intervened, but I was… too angry to think clearly. I don't even remember casting anything! It just… happened. Accidental magic".

"Accidental magic?" Mr Towler barked, his face twisting with disbelief, "At your age?! You expect us to believe that my son, my Kenneth, was left unconscious in a corridor, cursed with Dark Magic, because of some… some temper tantrum?!"

"Yes. He was bullying a young girl. What was I supposed to do? Stand there and let it happen?!"

Mrs Towler's voice trembled as she spoke. "Dark Magic, Mr Potter, is never the solution! Never! You should have fetched a professor, reported him - anything but this! And that's assuming, of course, that my poor Kenneth was even doing what you accuse him of! In all likelihood, he was simply helping the girl, and you misread the entire situation! Headmaster, this boy must be expelled! Dark Magic and- and the spreading of lies and blasphemy like this cannot be allowed to fester in Hogwarts!"

"And the Aurors should be called!" Mr Towler added furiously, "The boy is clearly dangerous, going around casting curses at innocent students! Accidental magic, my-"

"It's the truth!" Harry snapped, lying through his teeth, "I know I shouldn't have outbursts of accidental magic anymore, but given the circumstances… I only returned to the wizarding world two or three months ago, sir. This is my first year at Hogwarts - I never got the chance to learn how to control or channel my magic properly before I came here. I never even saw a wand, much less used one, until a few weeks back!"

He was laying it on a little thick, perhaps, but what most Slytherins considered obvious, many Gryffindors still considered subtle. Either way, it had the desired effect - Mrs Towler faltered, her lace handkerchief fluttering to her lap, while Mr Towler's red face paled somewhat, his scowl turning into a frown. And then, as if to cement the lie, Snape spoke up, his voice as smooth as a blade.

"Pray tell, sir, how would Mr Potter, a boy who has spent the vast majority of his life utterly ignorant of our world, have learned such advanced Dark curses?" He raised a single brow, his tone dripping with skepticism. "Do you truly believe that in a mere few weeks, he not only acquired knowledge of spells so powerful that I was called to assist Madam Pomfrey in identifying them, but also mastered the ability to cast them successfully on a seventh-year pure-blood?!"

Dumbledore's gaze snapped to Snape, sharp and appraising, but he said nothing. The Towlers exchanged nervous glances, their initial fury dampened by this unexpected angle.

"I… Well… He…" Mr Towler began, clearly floundering, "I mean… He's still dangerous! That's the point! If what you're saying is true, then perhaps the danger isn't just his spells but his lack of control - even though I, for one, most certainly do not believe it's true! He cast that- that wicked Dark Magic knowingly, and we must call the Aurors to prove it!"

Harry stood firm, forcing himself not to smirk at the clear crack in their argument. Mrs Towler's expression had softened somewhat, though she still appeared deeply troubled.

"If it's a matter of verifying what was cast" Dumbledore interjected, "then there is no need to summon the Aurors. I can perform the necessary checks myself. Mr Potter, may I see your wand?"

"Of course, sir". Harry nodded immediately and drew his wand from its holster, stepping forward to place it gently on Dumbledore's desk. The man reached for it and-

Froze.

It was only for a split second, not even that long, his blue gaze snapped up to pierce through Harry's very soul before-

He picked up the wand and schooled his expression into his usual benevolent grandfatherly mask. "... When was the last time you used this, Harry?"

"In my Transfiguration class, sir" he replied, still wondering just what the hell- "We were practicing Evanesco".

Dumbledore inclined his head and raised his own wand - and Harry was curious to realise that it was just as pale in colour as his was. Were they made from the same type of wood? And if they were, then what did that mean?

"Prior Incantato!"

A faint, silvery mist rose from Harry's wand, and then promptly disappeared - just like the Vanishing spell. The Headmaster stared at the wand for another moment before carefully placing it back on the desk in front of him, and Harry quickly reholstered it.

"There is no indication that Mr Potter's wand was used to cast any of the curses in question" he said quietly, and Mr Towler immediately started to sputter, "But that- that doesn't mean-"

"It does mean" Snape interrupted sharply, "that the wand was not used in the attack. If we are to proceed with accusations, they must be grounded in fact, not assumptions driven by emotion! Such as the fact that your precious son assaulted a member of my House!"

"Severus" Dumbledore said firmly, before turning back to the couple, "Mr Potter's claim of accidental magic holds true. It is not without precedent, given his late introduction to our world. I think we can agree that he is telling the truth, and the spells he used truly were unintentional and that there is no need to get the Auror department involved".

Mr Towler surged to his feet, his face mottled with anger. "Headmaster, Dark Magic was used on my son! It doesn't matter if it was intentional or not - this boy is a danger to everyone around him! He should be expelled immediately!"

Dumbledore's expression remained composed, though the sharpness in his eyes spoke volumes.

"Mr Towler" he began in a measured tone, "Hogwarts exists to educate and guide young witches and wizards, particularly those who struggle to control their magic. Expelling Mr Potter for an accidental outburst - while regrettable - would serve no purpose other than to leave him without the tools to manage such incidents in the future".

"That's not good enough!" he snapped, "He cursed my son! Dark Magic, Headmaster! There must be consequences!"

"And there will be" Dumbledore said firmly. "Mr Potter will serve detention every night from now until the end of term with Professor Snape, during which time he will be closely monitored and given instruction on controlling his temper and magic. This is not a decision I make lightly, but it is a measured and just response".

Mrs Towler gasped in indignation. "A few weeks of detention? That's it?!"

"I assure you, Madam" Snape interjected smoothly, his voice laced with sardonic menace, "Detention with me is not a light punishment".

It was still better than detention with Umbridge, Harry thought. But Mr Towler was not appeased. He turned to him, his eyes blazing.

"You think this is over, boy? My family will see to it that you face proper justice for what you've done. We will be pressing legal charges, young man - you won't get away with this!"

Harry blinked at him, his face the perfect mask of innocent curiosity.

"Oh, alright, cool" he said casually, "I'll tell my dad".

There was a beat of silence. The Towlers looked just as confused as Dumbledore, although Snape, ever the quintessential Slytherin, appeared to have an inkling of where this was going.

"Your…" Mr Towler's brow furrowed. "... dad?"

"Yeah!" Harry replied brightly, before suddenly frowning, "Oh, I'm sorry, didn't you know? Sirius Black is adopting me. The Duke of London is my dad now - I'll let him know to get the Black family lawyers ready".

Mr Towler's mouth opened and closed, his fury faltering into something that looked suspiciously like panic. Mrs Towler clutched at her husband's arm, whispering urgently, but her words were lost in the quiet hum of the office.

Dumbledore gave Harry a very pointed look, one eyebrow raised in clear disapproval, but there was an unmistakable twinkle of amusement in his gaze. Meanwhile, Snape - shockingly - looked almost… proud. His lips twitched, as if suppressing a smirk, and his dark eyes gleamed with something that could only be described as begrudging approval.

Harry, for his part, kept his expression carefully pleasant, though his mind was buzzing with satisfaction. He knew he shouldn't have played the "Duke of London" card so cavalierly - using his powers for evil, as it were - but in his defense, Kenneth Towler had been attacking a defenceless girl and it hadn't been the first time he'd done so either. Harry didn't exactly regret putting him in his place. If he'd been the one in the wrong and had attacked Towler unprovoked, then he wouldn't have stooped to such tactics. But he wasn't. So he did. Simple as that.

Mr Towler cleared his throat, his face now pale as he studiously avoided Harry's gaze.

"Well, uh… perhaps… perhaps the Headmaster was correct and… and this was, uh, this was a case of- of accidental magic… I'm sure your punishment, Professor Snape, will be… will be more than appropriate".

"Very well" Dumbledore said mildly, "And with Mr Potter put to rights, I would now like to discuss your son's inexcusable actions towards that young girl. Severus, please escort Mr Potter back to his common room".

Snape straightened, his robes billowing as he turned to the door. As they left the office, the last thing Harry heard was Mrs Towler's voice, trembling with barely contained indignation.

"Inexcusable actions?! What is the meaning of this, Headmaster? My Kenneth is the victim here!"

Snape led Harry down the spiral staircase in silence, but as soon as they were out of earshot, he glanced over at the boy with an appraising, almost satisfied look.

"The Black family lawyers" he murmured, his tone tinged with dry amusement, "Well played, Potter. Well played indeed".

Snape left him at the common room doors, waiting until they opened before he swept away, his robes billowing out behind him - yet another spell Harry would have to ask him about sometime.

Stepping into the common room, silence descended, like a particularly bad case of deja vu, only this time, all eyes were on him. Most of the sixth and seventh years had gone to bed in the time that Harry had been with Dumbledore, but the entirety of his own year remained, and something deep in his chest warmed at the sight.

"That was quick" Blaise finally commented, breaking the tense atmosphere, "Are you here to pack your bags?"

"Not today" Harry replied lightly, "I got a month's worth of detention with Snape, instead".

"After what you did?" he exclaimed, "How in Salazar's name did you get away with that?!"

"Well, I… might have… stretched the truth a little" he admitted, "But hey, you know me and accidental magic. It truly is a travesty that I never learned how to control it".

A wide grin was starting to spread across Blaise's face. "Your wand?"

"Clean". He shrugged, unable to hide his own smirk. "The benefit of not using it, I guess. Like I said - accidental magic".

"And Towler?" Greengrass asked from where she stood in front of the fireplace, her arms crossed.

"Still unconscious, but I don't think he'll get off so easily".

"Not when I tell my father, he won't" she added darkly, "A physical attack on the youngest daughter of the Viscount Rutland? Towler's going to regret the day he ever even looked at her!"

"Which reminds me…" Harry said with a wince, "I've got to go tell my godfather to brace himself for a Howler. Dear Kenneth's parents are not impressed with me right now".

Climbing into his bed and closing the curtains - and then taking a few moments to simply breathe and relax and remind himself of just how bloody close he had come to losing all of this - Harry pulled out the two-way mirror and called his godfather's name.

It took a minute, but Sirius and Remus both appeared on the mirror's surface before too long, looking worried and a little bit frazzled.

"Pup?" Sirius asked, brushing back his hair from his face, "Are you alright? We aren't scheduled to talk until Friday; has something happened?"

"You… could say that" Harry replied slowly, wondering just how on earth he was supposed to phrase this. It wasn't every day that one had to request legal protection from their sort-of-future-father after all - and he internally cursed himself for causing trouble for the man, despite his initial plans to do the exact opposite.

"Harry?" Remus was looking really worried now. "What is it? What happened? Are you okay?"

He took a deep breath and did his best to look sheepish. It wasn't an expression that came naturally to him.

"So…" Harry dragged out the word, delaying the inevitable, "Remember when you told me that the Black family had a good lawyer?"

There was a second of silence as Remus paled and his eyes widened, and then, naturally, Sirius fell over laughing his head off.