A/N: This Chapter will change literally everything. Everything. But it has merit, and will challenge me as a writer so I look forward to where it will take us. My latest review was a Chapter 1 review where someone lost interest because I turned Harry's hair red, and they said "This is no longer Harry Potter" despite favoriting a story whose entire premise was a Dark Lord Hermione so it's pretty obvious I'll never please all of you which is fine I honestly never thought I would but at least I can avoid offending you all. I'm excited for my new idea and hope you all are too.
Apologies for this update taking… so incredibly long. I moved 7 States away and that came with a whole truckload of challenges. Literally. Syracuse is fun though, and so damn snowy. But I've settled in a bit and thought I'd get this chapter out at least to let you all know I'm alive.
And Away We Go!
Chapter 22: Duels, Dumbledore, Daphne, and Dobby
Harry deflected the next spell with the Sword of Gryffindor that had appeared in his hand from nowhere. Dumbledore didn't react with surprise, but continued to fire First Year spells from a wand that Harry was sure was not the Elder Wand. The old man was at least smart enough not to risk a stray Expelliarmus from Harry winning the Hallow's loyalty and Harry grinned knowingly.
"A test, is it? Well two can play at that game" Harry chuckled as he started returning fire with solely Second Year spells to up the ante. He had always thought that a duel with Dumbledore would be both thrilling and informative, having never had the chance before in any life and wanted to see just how far he could push the one man that Voldemort had feared.
Dumbledore smiled through the onslaught, every spell Harry threw was met with a calm and stoic defense and Harry spared just a moment to Identify the Wand the man was using. Spruce with Dragon Heartstring, 13 Inches and rigid. Harry thought the matchup suited the aged Headmaster but was struck from his musings as he missed a Reducto that had not been aimed at him but behind him, Dumbledore's plan of edging him to the wall suddenly revealing itself. The shock pushed Harry forward but instead of fighting it as Dumbledore had apparently predicted Harry rolled with the force and started using his agility to his advantage, changing the height and pace of his spells as they both transitioned to Third Year spells.
"An interesting tactic" Dumbledore stated calmly, and with no warning Harry felt the floor beneath him shift. The Transfiguration Master was upping the ante once more! Harry jumped and narrowly dodged the stone hands that had come up from beneath him. Dumbledore hit Harry's foot with a well aimed Carpe Retractum and yanked, forcing Harry parallel with the floor. The red-haired prodigy smirked at the ceiling, spun quickly and regained his footing with an overpowered Ventus. He kicked the bound foot backwards and Dumbledore was forced to release the spell against the surprising strength of the kick or lose his wand.
They both paused and regarded one another carefully. Harry took a moment to spell his lengthening hair back tighter and Vanish his outer robe while rolling up his sleeves. Harry settled into his preferred stance and locked eyes with Dumbledore.
"Tired already, old man?" Harry chuckled along with Dumbledore who knew Harry didn't really think of Dumbledore as old. Dumbledore eyed the boy and settled into a stance of his own, left arm behind his back and wand pointed down and forward. Dumbledore bowed to Harry who returned the motion.
The duel began once more in earnest, their reliance on a single year's spells being cast aside and both men started to really show their stuff. Dumbledore's hidden hand served a purpose Harry noticed almost immediately, as Dumbledore repeatedly blasted the wall with powerful and Wandless Bombardas. The booms echoed through the room and Harry was suddenly assaulted by a flock of birds that had been Transfigured from the rocks that Dumbledore had created. Harry hit them with a wide Incendio and used the sudden brightness to begin casting. Harry conjured a boulder and Transfigured it into a lion that roared from where he had been standing. The beast ran forward and pounced at the Headmaster who regarded the impressive Transfiguration with an astute eye before ruthlessly Banishing it into the wall with a force that instantly dispelled the magic.
"You'll need to do much better than that, Harry" Dumbledore summoned the conjured boulder, split it with the fastest overpowered Diffindos Harry had ever seen and 4 equally large lions charged back at the young man. Harry grinned. Let the older man use his magic up if he so chose Harry thought to himself. The Sword of Gryffindor was thrown into the first lion while in his other hand Harry's wand danced through the motions to cast Flipendo, Defodio, Defodio, Banish, Bombarda. The spells impacted their targets stopping the 2nd lion easily with the Flipendo and the dual Defodios taking care of the other two. The one still flipping through the air was caught with the Banish and sent rocketing back to Dumbledore who raised a stone wall for it to impact. He couldn't see the silent Bombarda that blasted the wall apart and peppered the Headmaster with sharp stone fragments.
Harry Transfigured the airborne fragments into a swarm of bees that bought him time to summon his Sword back to his left hand. Dumbledore smiled and waved his wand as though conducting a crescendo in a musical masterpiece, the shattered wall in front of him rippled with the magic and rose up along with a large portion of the floor and came at Harry like a wave. Knowing there was likely more to the magic than that Harry ran forward at the wave, conjured a small stool to catch his foot and launched himself above the wave while simultaneously closing the distance between the two. Harry's eyes almost bugged when the wave seemed to grind through the stool and continued forward before impacting the wall with a resounding boom that shook the room just as he hit the ground. The shake caused him to lose his footing as Harry landed and from the lower position Harry saw the Headmaster dispel the stone shoes that had held the man steady to the floor.
Unable to appreciate the level of planning that move had taken, Harry was instead forced to roll away from a lash of the same fire whip that Dumbledore had used against Voldemort in another time. The whip hadn't really been aimed at him he realized too late as the floor seemed to bounce under his back mid-roll and launch him airborne. Harry flipped through the air and his Sword danced impressively through the air to swat away the spells the man fired at him. Harry completed the somersault and landed on his feet for a moment before another stone wave forced him to jump once more. Harry flared his magic in perfect time with another Ventus to keep himself airborne just long enough to avoid another booming shake of the room.
"Ah, you do learn. Good. Perhaps I was not wrong with taking this route" Dumbledore's calm and confident words made Harry grin wider. Sure, he didn't have the upper hand that he was used to in his duels but he was definitely having fun. With a discerning eye Harry watched the man's wand motions intensely, desperate to glean the knowledge that the wizened Headmaster was utilizing in his impressive spellwork.
"Footwork is key, young Harry. Never be eager to give it up for flashy gymnastics" Dumbledore shared a nugget of wisdom then surprised Harry by stepping toward Harry with a measured pace. The man's Spruce wand danced and waved through the air and Harry found himself having to step back constantly as the floor rippled in warning for just a moment before viciously sharp stone spikes shot up from the floor. Harry was surprised at the odd attack but realized that Dumbledore was guiding his feet carefully. Not once did Harry feel he needed to move more than the bare minimum to dodge the attacks and Harry realized that Dumbledore was using this moment to teach him. Harry guffawed at the audacity of expending magic to hold a lesson during a duel and danced to the tune of Dumbledore's wand for a moment longer.
"Very good. But that's not to say that dodging isn't important, it is equally so. But always know where and why you are dodging. The timing. The location. Should you cast a spell first to secure your landing or prepare for a counter attack? Is the dodge forced or folly? Never let your mind stop working, planning, changing with the flow of the battle. Many talented casters have a habit. A tell. A trusted spell combination that they utilize often. This could be intentional or simply something they themselves are unaware of. You must discern which it is with but a moment of consideration." Harry drank the words up like they were cold water in a desert. Dumbledore smiled at the sparkling intelligence in Harry's eyes as the young man stepped with increasing confidence. His Spruce wand stopped its motion for a split second and the timing of the steps changed but Harry adjusted easily. Dumbledore nodded in approval when Harry kept his eyes locked on Dumbledore instead of the floor like many young duelists were wanting to do in moments like these.
The spells shifted suddenly and Harry had to transition to intermittent dashes and dodges to avoid the unrelenting assault, the speed and ferocity of the spells increasing slowly as they drove Harry to new heights of agility and forcing him to use his wand and sword for defense instead of offense like he wanted to.
Dueling Skill has increased! It is now 76!
Dancing Skill has increased! It is now 55!
"Are you done underestimating me?" Harry smirked and Dumbledore was suddenly thrown into defense of his own as Harry spun and dipped and dove in an almost dancelike manner while his sword sang with a metallic ring as it swatted a spell back at the man and started an onslaught of fast and powerful spells from Harry's Holly wand. Harry's spins were utilized to throw wide Diffindos that were timed to provide impressive arcs through the air and forcing Dumbledore to duck and dispel with equally confident motions. Harry kept up the assault while edging closer to the man, the shrinking distance reducing the time the older man had to defend himself against Harry's spells.
Get close and personal, that was Harry's preferred distance. Dumbledore seemed surprisingly ready for this though, and ducked under a punch as Harry jumped forward. Harry was shocked that a man who seemed the epitome of everything Magical was so ready for a purely Muggle offense. Harry kicked and punched in between casts after a brief recovery from the shock that never fully dissipated as Dumbledore didn't necessarily respond in kind but still defended himself as though the attacks weren't furious and powerful. Harry's kicks were deflected or dodged with an easily raised leg or impressive twists of Dumbledore's wand hand and well timed Protegos or light Banishes. Harry's punches were easily stopped as though they were all a part of Dumbledore's plans as the Headmaster simply used his wand hand, midcast, and twisted the punches away from his body while still returning fire without pause. The pair danced around each other, Dumbledore ducking and weaving easily through Harry's attacks.
Fisticuffs Skill has increased! It is now 4!
Fisticuffs Skill has increased! It is now 5!
Fisticuffs Skill has increased! It is now 6!
Fisticuffs Skill has increased! It is now 7!
Fisticuffs Skill has increased! It is now 8!
Fisticuffs Skill has increased! It is now 9!
Fisticuffs Skill has increased! It is now 10!
Harry was forced to take a step back and that was what prompted his loss. Dumbledore grinned as Harry stepped away and his previously hidden hand, that had remained behind the man's back the entire time Harry suddenly realised, shot forward and grabbed Harry's robes before the man pulled with surprising strength and Dumbledore's wand rested against his stomach as the hand held the boy close. Both men breathed heavily from the duel that had lasted quite a bit longer than Dumbledore had planned.
"Most impressive, Harry." Dumbledore held the boy a moment longer before releasing him and they separated. The man sheathed his wand, signifying the true end of the unprompted duel, and bowed sincerely to Harry.
Harry was still recovering from the realization that Dumbledore had just bested him in physical combat as well as magical, with only one hand until the very end. He shook the surprise from his mind when he registered the man's bow and returned it with a deep one of his own.
"That certainly means a lot coming from you, Professor" Harry replied truthfully. A 15 minute duel with the Headmaster and Harry had logged 9 Skill increases, 2 of them to his already high Dueling and Dancing Skills. That told Harry he still had a good way to go to match the man in combat.
***Break***
"You have immense talent. That is what you just showed me, and was the reason for all of this. Let's sit a moment" Dumbledore settled behind his desk and Harry joined him with a conjured seat of his own. They had made their way to his office shortly after the conclusion of their duel.
"What do you think of Hogwarts, Harry?" Dumbledore asked out of the blue as tea was brought to them from a sudden visit from a Hogwarts Elf that disappeared quickly.
Harry started at the sudden and strange question and Dumbledore grinned knowingly as he sipped his tea, a stick of cinnamon poking out of the top as the House Elves were well acquainted with his oddities.
Considering the question thoroughly, Harry sipped his own tea as he thought of the best words to explain his feelings towards the ancient castle. "The weathered stones, spacious grounds, and memories waiting to be made around every corner. There's… well to ignore the cliche there is a magic in the air here unlike any other place. The castle seems to have a life and mind of its own and loves each and every student with a heart larger than I can even fathom. I've… never felt more at home than within these walls"
Dumbledore smiled at the simple yet deep explanation of what the school meant to the young man. Many of Harry's thoughts were mirrored in Dumbledore's own thoughts. The old man could have ended up anywhere, done anything, in his life. His old friend Nicholas owned more than one island and had offered one to Albus in his youth after their partnership exploring the uses of Dragon's blood had ended. A place of solitude to discover, invent, and explore at his leisure. He had turned it down however in favor of other things at the time. Then when offered again he had once more declined in favor of taking on a position as Professor and later Headmaster of the school.
"It warms my heart to hear that. This school has been my life for most of the decades I've been alive and there is not a second that I regret within these walls unless that regret was not spending as much time within them as I wanted. But people like me, like you even, are often pulled away for one task or another. These experiences are lifelong though and serve a large part in making us who we are meant to be. You have talent far greater than I think even you appreciate, Harry, and though I wish it weren't so I don't know that Hogwarts will give you the best experiences and could even serve to hinder your growth if you were to follow a traditional curriculum" Dumbledore said the last part with a gravity that dissuaded Harry from interrupting even though it was very clear that he wanted to.
"What do you mean, sir?" Harry said carefully "What exactly are you alluding to?"
"It has become clear over this summer that you excel at self-study. Your impressive growth even during our short duel also shows that you can benefit immensely from one-on-one teaching from a Master. The structured environment of a school is too claustrophobic for one with such a unique mind as yours, Harry. Tell me, what do you know of Apprenticeships?" Albus set his cup down and settled more comfortably into his seat as the first class bell rang through the school. Harry looked up at the noise but it was clear that Dumbledore didn't care that Harry was technically missing his first class of the day.
"Very little. I debated the idea of a tutor over the summer and came across the term a few times but never felt the need to look into it" Harry admitted, "I ended up as you said doing a lot of self study on the subjects I could and learning the basics of others from the skilled teachers I could find"
"I remember hearing about your visit with Balduff in Northern Scotland. Blacksmithing is an underappreciated art when used in tandem with many magics. Iron shaped by your own hands tends to be more receptive of Enchantments and Permanent Charms cast by the forger. It is what makes Goblin works so highly prized as they have never abandoned the hard yet rewarding crafting method" Albus smiled at Harry's almost whimsical look as the younger of the two remembered the iron sword that hung proudly over his mantle.
"It is precisely instances such as that that prompt me to bring this up now. Hogwarts used to have an extensive Apprenticeship program, this is how I met Nicholas Flamel in my youth. The practice has dropped into relative obscurity as many of the … we'll use the term indignant, Purebloods who were unable to acquire the more influential Apprenticeships instead worked to pass legislation that prevented many capable students from being able to get the Apprenticeships they rightly deserved. I have done what I can to remedy this over the years by changing curriculum to suit the needs of certain students. However in your case if I were to change the curriculum to suit you I fear that many students would not be able to keep up" Albus sipped his tea once more after stirring with the cinnamon stick that was starting to dissolve and spread the lovely flavor through the liquid more thoroughly.
Harry considered the revelation, and pondered what it would mean for him. But he also abhorred preferential treatment of any sort and asked his next question with a bit of steel in his voice that Dumbledore readily ignored "What about students like Hermione? She's always seemed ahead of her yearmates."
"Yes, Ms. Granger is especially brilliant in her own right. Talented some would say. But she also uniquely thrives in the structured environment that normal schooling provides, seeking to thoroughly understand each topic as it comes along. Her talents are unquestioned, but are more from vigorous pre reading and discipline than from a natural inclination to the magics she seeks to cast. There have been many moments when you could cast something that she could not, if the reports from your Professors are anything to go by. If I were to show you both the motions of an obscure spell that required immense power or control to successfully cast on a first attempt I have no doubts that you would cast it first. No, I think that Ms. Granger is in the best environment for her growth" The casual rebuttal took the wind out of Harry's sails as he realized the truth of the words.
"So how do Apprenticeships play into your point, Professor?" Harry asked guardedly.
Dumbledore raised a placating hand and got to the crux of the matter, "I bring these up because although Hogwarts no longer has the connections it once had, this is not the case for many other magical institutions. I made some Floo calls last night and already received overwhelming support from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, Ilvermorny, and Mahoutokoro in Japan. Many of them are very much in support of having you attend their Apprenticeship programs as sort of an outreac-"
"Are you kicking me out of Hogwarts just because I have some talent?" Harry surged to his feet as he got over the shock of the sudden turn the conversation had taken. Dumbledore sighed and faster than Harry could react he was forced back into his seat and spelled silent.
"There are many factors that I have considered along this vein, after Amelia Bones brought the idea up to me last night. I am not kicking you out of anything, Harry. You are uniquely positioned as you are emancipated, wealthy enough to afford the travel though as Headmaster I will do what I can to help with that, influential enough to catch the interest of other schools especially after your actions this summer let alone the events that made you famous in the first place. I know that you hate treatment that seems to be in your favor for any reason but I urge you to calmly consider what I am offering. Hogwarts has had a longstanding position as one of the premier magical institutions of the world however I would be hiding my head in the sand to say that it is still as great as it once was. The poisoned political environment and isolationism practiced by many English has lost us much of the grace and favor we once had. Apprenticeships the world over have already sent me stacks of offers for you to attend their programs." Dumbledore held up a large bound stack of unopened letters to accentuate his point and Harry could see that the top one was addressed to Albus Dumbledore and Lord Harry James Potter. The Headmaster's voice took on a firm and urgent tone as he continued.
"You faced me in a duel less than an hour ago, and put up an able effort well beyond your years. You display knowledge, both obscure and not, as though it took you no effort to obtain these facts. You have already done things for this school that no other student would have been capable of. Take a moment and consider how beneficial it would be both for Hogwarts and yourself if you took these talents and gifts to travel the world and learn the magics of other cultures while simultaneously fostering relationships with other governments that have suffered under poor representation on our end. I may be the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW but that is about the only positive interaction we have with other countries. Hogwarts will always have a place for you, and you would still be considered a student here. What I am offering is an outreach program that will allow you to spend week days in other schools while coming back on weekends. Kick you out of Hogwarts for having talent? I must be a sad excuse of a Headmaster if kicking out the single most promising student I've ever seen is your first thought" Albus ended his tirade, as well as the spell holding Harry silent.
Harry was silent for a long while as he reviewed the facts that Albus had presented and gave them honest consideration as Albus had urged. Single most promising student? Those were bold words from a man who didn't understand just how unique Harry was. Yet, despite the causes being different than expected, Harry could not deny that with the privileges provided by his Gamer abilities he could have a truly unique life. Yesterday had been, even with the novelty of Runes, slightly boring and Harry had silently bemoaned the idea of going back through the same school years he already had memories of. And an opportunity to do some good for the school he so loved while also seeing the wide wide world much sooner than he had ever dreamed in pursuit of knowledge, connections, and experiences was extremely tempting.
So tempting, that Harry finally spoke, "What would this entail?"
Dumbledore smiled widely and spoke with passion and a small measure of envy. Oh to be young again. "Well, the talks are still in their preliminary stages. I have a conference later tonight to speak with the heads of the major institutes of the world about how this would work in your particular case. We have had many times in the past done an exchange program that is similar but involved longer stints in each country. We have not had the pleasure of hosting many students in recent years but it would bring me great joy if your actions prompted more interest in the program as it would promote healthier relations between the different schools as well as provide some more revenue for Hogwarts itself but I'm getting ahead of myself. In your case I would think that a month in each of the schools that interested you, exploring a few different career paths as well as finding the true depths of your potential would be best. You'd be able to come back on weekends if you so wished but that is hardly a requirement if you're enjoying the resources another school is offering. You would of course still need to sit your end of year exams here but something tells me you will not have much issue with that. It will be hard work no matter how it turns out. Do you feel up to the task?"
The question was earnest, but Harry could tell that Dumbledore hardly expected anything less than success for Harry. The thought brought a smile out of him and Harry nodded. "I do. I'll have to do a few things around here first, I have to consider a lot of variables. My responsibilities to Daphne and Astoria. Wormtail. The Sirius Black manhunt. My position as a Lord of the Wizengamot. But… seeing the world has been my dream for a long time and it's a great honor that you're going through this trouble for me, Sir."
"It is my immense pleasure to do so, Harry. You'll also need to add getting a passport to your list of variables." Dumbledore smiled warmly as Harry nodded, "I'm giving you until next Tuesday off to tie up your loose ends. We can meet later tonight or tomorrow depending on how the talks with the other Headmasters goes. I will also request that Map of yours to see if I can expand its capabilities to help us with locating Peter"
***Break***
Harry's excitement at the prospect of travelling turned into a small measure of anxiousness at the unknown of it all as he walked through the silent halls of the school he would see a lot less of if Dumbledore's idea panned out. The anxiety was quickly dashed and then reinforced and then dashed once more as Harry mulled over the variables. There were a lot of them. Hermione would feel left out, but Harry had to agree with Dumbledore that she was likely best off at Hogwarts. Maybe next year she could try out the exchange program if Harry could reignite it. Sponsoring it would also be one hell of a birthday gift. He already playfully dreaded the 20,000 questions Hermione would ask about each school he visited. Daphne and Astoria gave him pause. He would miss them and they would likely miss him but he would still be able to see them on weekends if he so chose. His talk with Astoria about how he could be a little overbearing sometimes also reinforced that it would do them a small measure of good to have his presence be a little less frequent in their day to day. Ron crossed his mind for a moment. Their already strained relationship would probably benefit from Harry not being as present, and Harry wondered if Ron would be jealous of him accepting additional schoolwork or not.
Sirius was a whole other can of worms. Harry had not seen the dog animagus either in person or on the Map though he checked frequently and he wondered where his Dogfather was. Harry hoped that Sirius was keeping a low profile and that Madam Bones would turn up with some good info about Wormtail as the Map was wholly unhelpful in that regard as well. Hopefully Dumbledore would have some success with tampering with the Map and they could put that issue to bed. Perhaps being out of the school, the knowledge likely to become public quickly, will prompt Wormtail to make a play against him.
There was also the suddenness of it all. He had gone from wanting a Time Turner to being a year ahead in Runes to being offered a chance to tour the world for his education in the span of 2 days. Harry wasn't sure if that was him still being flighty and indecisive or if that was just how his new life was playing out. Worrying too much about it would simply give him more pause in making a concrete decision so he put it out of mind. He needed advice, or at least support in making a decision. His first thought was Hermione but he knew that she would push him to go for it for the simple sake of education without weighing his duties as Lord and Head of House. No, he needed someone of a different upbringing. It was this train of thought that had guided his feet to the Greenhouse where the Slytherin and Ravenclaw Third Years were in class.
Harry knocked gently on the greenhouse door and waited. He knew Pomona to be a reasonable sort and he was technically within his rights to do this. The motherly Head of Hufflepuff opened the door slightly and peeked out before opening it wide with a smile at seeing a student.
"Mr. Potter, I don't believe I have the pleasure of the Gryffindors until tomorrow" She said warmly, and Harry smiled as he often did when confronted by Professor Sprout. The Head of the House of Badgers simply exuded a warmth that put a smile even on Snape's face. Sometimes. If your definition of smile was skewed slightly.
"Yes, unfortunately I'm here not as a student. I need to speak with Heir Greengrass about family matters as Head of House Potter." Harry stood a head taller than the shorter Head of House but she was not intimidated in the slightest. She furrowed her brow just a fraction at the idea of a student being alone with someone who just this morning had blown the hinges off of the Great Hall doors but nodded and turned to Daphne who had watched the brief exchange with her reserved detachment she used in class. Tracey seemed particularly interested in the conversation and looked at Daphne with an inquisitive stare that seemed to be ignored, though Daphne used some secret signs to let her friend know she would tell her about it later if she was able.
Putting away her gloves and grabbing her bag, Daphne walked gracefully out of the greenhouse and nodded to Pomona who took a moment to let her know what the classwork would be to be turned in at the next class. Daphne looked at Harry carefully as the door closed behind her.
"Hey Daph. Can we talk for a moment?" Harry asked carefully. She regarded him coolly before nodding.
"Of course. Seems strange to ask my permission after pulling me out of class Milord" She hid her amusement at his wince and followed him to the school where he made use of the side room of the Entrance Hall that was used to introduce First Years. The door was locked securely and Harry took an extra precaution to use Homenum Revelio which revealed no eavesdroppers. Daphne raised one dainty eyebrow at his extra precautions but decided not to comment, instead taking a seat after Harry conjured one for them both.
"Okay" Harry started, then paused. How to even begin. He took a deep breath and decided to start at the beginning. "Obviously you know about the events of yesterday, unless you were not present at breakfast."
"I think it is fair to say I would have heard about it by now regardless" Daphne said demurely. And it was true. Not a soul within Hogwarts wasn't aware that Harry had almost single handedly saved Hogwarts from an attack by Fenrir. Or that afterwards he had blasted the Great Hall doors. Every person talked about that before the Herbology class.
"Well… after that outburst this morning Dumbledore approached me for a chat. He and I headed into a classroom for what I initially thought would be a reprimanding for destroying school property but… We ended up dueling" Harry explained and Daphne's cool facade cracked for a moment and her eyes widened in surprise. That would have been a sight to see she thought to herself.
"So you go from saving the school to dueling the Headmaster. I'm with you so far." Daphne adjusted her skirt and pulled her knees up as it was clear to her that though Harry had called on her in a Head of House capacity it was for something less formal than that. She even kicked off her flats to get more comfortable for what was likely an interesting story.
Harry grinned at her relaxed demeanor, something she would never do if not for their growing bond. "Yes. Obviously I lost, though I did give it a solid effort. It was clear near the start that he was testing me for something"
"Were you able to land a hit?" Daphne asked curiously. She had seen Harry duel and wondered how Dumbledore stacked up against that.
"Not a one." Harry's grin showed he wasn't bothered by that fact. Indeed, he had not scored anything resembling a hit but had still learned a lot.
"Pity." She quipped softly.
"He even held back. I'll have to show you the memory sometime, it was a fun duel. But after the duel concluded we headed to his office where he offered me something that could affect you and Astoria" Harry teased at the crux of the matter and Daphne bit the bait by leaning forward slightly at the mention of her sister.
"He stated that Hogwarts might not be the best environment for me to grow," Harry held up a hand to hold off her words when she opened her mouth, "He didn't expel me or anything of the sort. He wants to arrange an exchange program for me to visit other schools throughout the year and learn the Magics those schools offer as I explore where I want to take my life. I would be spending a month or so at different Magical Institutions and participate in accelerated programs for their classes. Some would overlap of course, and it would be a wholly unique curriculum, but the idea has some appeal. I… I wanted to get your thoughts on this. You and Astoria are my Wards but I also think we've at least progressed to some degree of friendship. You also know what my responsibilities entail both as Head of House and Lord of the Wizengamot."
Harry's hand dropped and he watched the girl carefully. She adopted a contemplative air as she ran through the variables she was uniquely qualified to see. Finally she looked up and found Harry's eyes. "I think that you'd be crazy not to take the opportunity. Obviously you have considered some of the factors, and Dumbledore would have considered a few of his own. He likely brought up how this could reflect well on Britain and Hogwarts?"
Harry nodded and she continued, "It would also reflect well on House Potter. You would be able to meet students the world over that will likely have some measure of influence in their futures. Your home showed someone with a large amount of curiosity for hobbies and unique fields of study. A month in each school would allow you to find the fields that truly interest you and I'm quite certain that many of those fields are not offered in Britain outside of Apprenticeships that are hard to come by. These connections will only benefit you, and Astoria and I through you, in the future. As for the Wizengamot you can always put your seat in stasis until you feel that you can ably serve as a member of the governing body. It wouldn't be hard with the goodwill you've fostered saving the school. Or hire a solicitor who can sit the sessions for you but abstain from voting unless you have a contract with them that will guide their votes in the manner you would like. This way you can at least stay apprised of happenings here. Who else have you talked to about this?"
"No one, actually. You are the first" Harry said nonchalantly and Daphne blushed slightly at the admittance that she was his first choice to share this opportunity with.
"I appreciate the trust you give me," Daphne said in a formal tone, fighting back the blush. Her conversations with Tracey had given her a whole bucket of emotions she didn't feel ready to unpack yet.
Harry's soft smile made her stomach dance uncomfortably, and she had her upbringing to thank that none of that showed up on her face. "I appreciate your support as well. I had thought to go to Hermione with this but… she might have a slight bias for anything educational."
His last sentence took on a more joking manner and broke the tension Daphne had started to feel as she processed that this meant that Harry would not be there for her to observe in class. How would this shape their relationship in the future she wondered. Likely it would allow her more time to process just how much that relationship had changed in recent weeks, a reprieve she would appreciate she was sure.
"Astoria will likely enjoy having free reign of the Gryffindors with you gone too. No annoying Golden Boy to fight for leadership of the brave and brash." Daphne shot the jibe with venom that held no heat and Harry laughed in that carefree manner that Daphne had grown to enjoy.
"Oh Merlin, I hadn't even considered that. I'll have to warn my fellow Lions that there might be a new queen of the jungle." Harry chuckled for a moment longer before finally standing. Daphne slipped her shoes back on and stood as well. They almost made it to the door before Daphne's hand caught Harry's arm and pulled him into the same hug that they had shared after she had reviewed the memories of the night he had saved her from her father. Harry smiled without saying anything and simply let her have her moment, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as she wrapped hers around his waist.
"I'll miss having your idiocy around though." Daphne said with a small smile hidden in his chest.
"I'll be allowed to come back on weekends if I choose to." Harry told her, having left that fact out before and she gasped and pushed him slightly before swatting his arm. She swatted his arm again when he started chuckling.
"You stupid prat. I thought I wasn't going to be seeing you at all this year." She huffed and stomped out of the room, shattering his wards by opening the door. A small beetle in the Entrance Hall observed the Greengrass Heir storming out of the room while Harry grinned in the doorframe. The bug clicked its mandibles silently, a sign of Rita Skeeter's giggle as her devious propaganda fueled mind thought of the best way to spin this. A well hidden camera had caught the young girl storming out with slightly ruffled clothing from the relaxed position she had adopted in the room.
"A scandal, how devious" The beetle said to itself but it only came out as more clicking.
***Break***
Dobby responded readily when Harry called him, as a good House Elf would. Harry smiled down at the small yet proud figure Dobby presented in his uniform. There also seemed to be no signs of the pain he had worried the Elf would be experiencing after the events last night.
"Master Harry called for Dobby?" Dobby looked around the room, the same that Harry had used with Daphne, in interest. The practiced eye regarded the gleaming floors and dust free bannisters with an approving eye. Harry reapplied the wards to the door while the House Elf appraised the room.
"Yes. I will be travelling soon. Dumbledore has offered me an opportunity to learn abroad and I am inclined to take it. I wanted to talk with you as Head Elf first though." Harry appreciated that Dobby didn't feel the need to question his decision. A good Elf merely supported his Master in his decisions.
"First of all, how is Dolly?" Harry asked carefully and Dobby regarded Harry with a stern look before answering.
"She is getting better. She did House Potter very proud but has suffered from her actions. She should be well by next Sunday." Dobby said this with a hint of steel. Not aimed at Harry, the Lord realized, but at the circumstances that had caused such a need to be thrust on the female Elf.
Harry's shoulders relaxed a bit at the information. Next Sunday was still a lengthy recovery but if Dobby was already saying she was getting better then that was still good news. "I'm so happy to hear that. Please send her my well wishes."
Dobby nodded at the order but did not leave as Harry still had more to discuss "I am not sure what parts of the world I will be visiting first, but I wanted to see if the distance would affect your duties or bonds as Head Elf. Dolly's too."
The House Elf hesitated for a moment before responding in an almost defeated tone, "Our bonds are to the place that you consider home. It… prevents us from travelling too far without causing harm."
Harry smiled and placed a reassuring hand on Dobby's small shoulder. "That's alright Dobby, I was actually expecting something like that. I was actually asking because I have a very important task I wanted to give you while I am gone."
Dobby perked up at the prospect of an important task, "First I need you to take me home. And then we have to cook some really good food."
***Break***
Sirius painted a haggard picture, huddled in the small copse of trees in the Forbidden Forest. He had built a small lean-to but with the encroaching fall and colder weather each night was getting harder. Still, he knew that Harry was at Hogwarts and though he couldn't do much he was near enough to be able to see the peak of the Castle through a small break in the branches above. He had made a point to stay in this location as it was just outside the range of the Marauder's Map and he was not sure if that relic of a long lost childhood was in hands that wouldn't jump at the chance of capturing him.
Approaching the school was tough. For some reason the Acromantulas were very active around this part of the woods, seen gathering around an oddly placed sewer grate. He had attempted and been chased away a few times now. Luckily his dog form was much faster though he spent what little precious energy he had on these attempts and was out of commission when the howls had sounded last night. He had been reminded of many a night with Remus in their youth where he had heard those same howls. Though not nearly as many all at once. It almost reminded him of the war with Voldemort. This had fueled another attempt to approach the school and was the current reason Sirius was furiously chomping down on a small rabbit he had caught in his dog form. He had cooked it of course, he wasn't completely an animal. The energy it provided would hopefully let him get onto the grounds where he could find Harry. A mad dash. That was his plan. Sprint as long and as fast as he could taking a wide berth around the area the Acromantulas had captured. He was just polishing off the last bone when a loud pop sounded from a few feet away. The sound was so out of the norm that the already skittish man leapt to his feet and was already halfway up the tree he had been resting against when a small form entered the clearing. It was a House Elf, dressed up finely in a uniform.
"Sirius Black." The Elf called out, and Sirius nearly lost his grip on the branch he was hugging when he heard his name for the first time in so long. "Sirius Black I know you are here. I have a message from Master Harry."
'Master Harry? Surely not Harry Potter. What would Harry be doing with a House Elf?' Sirius thought to himself.
Dobby walked right up to the tree that Sirius was in and looked up, meeting Sirius's eyes even through the thick needles. "Master Harry Potter has tasked me with finding you. This would be much easier if you were down here, Mister Black. I've brought some food."
With that announcement Dobby snapped his fingers and a lush blanket appeared over the forest floor along with a basket that was radiating a wondrous smell that reignited Sirius's appetite despite the rabbit he had just devoured.
"I can either eat this food alone, or you can come down." Dobby said easily and tasked himself with getting out some finery to eat with, buttering some bread and bringing out containers of vegetables, fruits, and an assortment of meats. Tupperware. Such a fine invention by Muggles, Dobby thought.
The smell whittled down what little resistance Sirius had to the idea of a second meal. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten twice in the same day. With trepidation, he descended from the tree and awkwardly sat across from the strange Elf. Dobby wordlessly handed a plate along with a fork and spoon over, already piled with a little of everything.
Sirius hesitated for just a moment before, like a Muggle movie, a small amount of butter that Dobby had placed over the still piping hot steak melted enough to slide down the edge of the meat. It sparked a hunger in him that should have been assuaged by the rabbit. In a flash his hands were full of food, and soon so was his mouth.
It was delicious.
Not even the normal type of delicious. It was almost nauseatingly delicious. For someone who hadn't had real food in well over a decade it was almost too much. Sirius's eyes watered at the idea that soon this meal would be gone. Dobby handed over a cup of hot tea that Sirius gulped down. Through it all there was no talking, Dobby didn't even eat any of the food. When the last bit of food had been eaten Dobby stood up and appraised the lean to. A snap of his fingers had it flattened and scattered as though no one had been there.
Sirius jumped up in an outrage then wobbled. Something wasn't right. Like a puppet whose strings had been cut he collapsed in a heap. He was aware, but he couldn't move. The food had been poisoned! What an idiotic thing to do! Accepting food from a strange Elf!
Dobby turned and looked at the man before grinning. "Stage 1, complete."
With a snap the blanket rose and snapped like a whip twice to shake off the leaves before disappearing. The basket jumped around like an animal, gobbling up the remains of the one sided meal. It disappeared as well. Lastly Dobby placed a hand on Sirius's unresponsive arm and snapped.
***Break***
Sirius appeared in an unfamiliar room. Bare except for a bed, dresser, desk, and 3 doors. Slowly he could feel the feeling returning to his body. Dobby opened one of the 2 doors and out floated a change of clothes that seemed as though they would fit Sirius. These folded themselves on the bed. Dobby then walked over to the other door and opened it, to show Sirius that it was a bathroom.
"If you would, Mister Black. The paralysis should be ending soon. The door to the hall" Dobby indicated the third door "is to remain locked until you have cleaned yourself. There is a shaving kit and some scissors behind the mirror if you wish to receive a trim. If you find yourself unable, please call for me. I am Dobby, Head Elf of House Potter. Once you have appointed yourself accordingly I will meet you in the hall to bring you to the study. Lord Potter is there waiting for you. He made sure for me to stress that you may take as long as you need." Dobby explained all of this to Sirius who had finally brought himself off of the floor and sitting in a daze on the chair by the desk.
House Potter? Lord Potter? But James was dead. Wasn't he? Before Sirius could ask anything Dobby disappeared with the same abrupt pop that had shaken his whole day. Sirius sloppily dashed to the window in the room, his legs still not quite as responsive as they would normally be. The scenery before him was as unfamiliar as the room, or situation frankly, that he found himself in. He could just make out the edge of a Quidditch Pitch and a lake where a dog was sitting on the end of a dock near a small boat.
"Where… What…" Sirius whispered to himself in a small whisper. He dashed to the door to the hall and tried it. Locked. Just as Dobby said. Sirius let out a curse. He had to get out! Harry was in danger! Sirius had to get back to Hogwarts! He glanced around the room and chose the chair. Sirius hefted the chair and took a practice swing. This could work. With a roar he slammed it at the door.
The door was nonplussed at his escape attempt. The chair was well seemed to be of excellent craftsmanship and looked none the worse for wear. Sirius cursed again then glanced at the window. He tried the lock first, but it wouldn't budge. The chair once more failed to produce results and it occurred to Sirius that the items in the room seemed to be spelled to be Unbreakable. Deciding to try again anyways he hefted the chair once more. The wall then.
"Sirius!" Came a different voice from the door. Sirius ignored it and slammed the chair against the wall. "Padfoot!"
The nickname broke through the haze of Sirius's mind enough to give him pause in picking up the chair once more. The handle of the hall door shook for a second before a curse emitted from the hall. "Dammit. Alohomora."
The door swung open and that was all the chance Sirius needed. Transforming midjump he bowled over the figure on the other side and dashed. His nose told him that the exit was to the right, down the stairs. He didn't make it. His feet scrabbled helplessly as Sirius was lifted from the floor before he could make the turn down the stairs.
"Padfoot. Change back." Came the strange voice once more. Sirius glanced at the figure he had bowled over, and felt the air escape his lungs. Harry painted a strange picture, laying on the floor with his hand outstretched. The young man's hair was red, like his mother's. The green eyes too matched his mother's. But the face. The slightly amused yet concerned look. That was James. This was… This was Harry. His Godson. Sirius shifted back and felt the spell holding him up drop him softly onto the floor. Harry easily jumped up and brushed himself off.
"Harry?" Sirius said softly enough that Harry almost didn't hear him.
"Hey, Sirius." Harry said sheepishly and ran his hand through his hair nervously. The move was so James that Sirius almost mistook him for a moment.
"Harr-!" Sirius had dashed with his outcry, but was met by a wall of magical resistance.
"Mister Black. I believe I told you that once you were well appointed you could see the Master. You are not well appointed. Frankly, you reek and are covered in dirt." Dobby's voice came from the end of the hall where he had been checking on Dolly. He snapped twice, dusting Harry off and Vanishing the dirty paw marks off of the carpet.
Sirius looked down at himself and realized that the Elf was right. His time on the run and camping in the woods had done nothing for his hygiene.
"Dobby, though blunt, is right. You're safe, Sirius. We can talk once you've washed up." Harry smiled warmly at the man and gestured to the door that Sirius had just dashed through. "Take as long as you need. The warm water doesn't run out. I'll go get some snacks together for you for when you're done. And Dobby here is an excellent stylist. He can tame hair better than most. Not as well as Dolly, that's right Dobby I said it, but well enough to get you feeling like your old self again. I'll be in the sitting room."
Sirius watched Harry pass by him in a daze once more. Shock prevented him as readily as Dobby's magic from reaching out to him.
"Come, Mister Black. Time to wash up." Dobby's small hands pushed Sirius back into the room and door closed behind them.
***Break***
Sirius left the bathroom a rejuvenated man. His hair was trimmed and brushed back, his beard had been trimmed to a goatee, and he had sat beneath the water scrubbing so much that he was sure that none of his old skin remained. It was a world away from how he had felt in Azkaban. The clothes that Dobby had selected fit well and were extremely comfortable. Now he was following the small Elf down the stairs and looking around in wonder. This was not the Potter Manor that he had grown up in that much he was sure of. But it exuded the same warmth and love that that home had.
"Well, you certainly look much better. I've got some sandwiches and watered down Butterbeers on the table. Help yourself." Harry smiled over at Sirius as he popped into his Study quickly. Sirius was struck once more with how much like James Harry seemed. But there was still a lot of Lily there. He sipped at the drink he grabbed and almost moaned in pleasure. He had not had a Butter Beer in so long and even watered down it tasted very sweet.
Sirius settled into the couch and watched as Harry came back into the room with an easy confidence. Harry elected to take his usual spot in the armchair near the fireplace. Dobby took a look around and smiled, always happy to see his Master happy. He popped upstairs to tend to Dolly to give them some privacy.
"So… I'm sorry for the suddenness of this all. I wanted to send Dobby with a simple message but I didn't think it would be received well or without suspicion. I needed to get you here so that we could talk." Harry sipped at his own Butterbeer and appraised his Godfather for a second before continuing, "A lot has happened recently. But… Okay let's start at the beginning"
Sirius nodded and took a moment to look around. Balto sat on the breakfast nook floor cooling down from running his energy out outside. The dog was keeping a careful watch over the proceedings, but could feel a strange connection with the man seated on the couch.
"This place is amazing. Is this all yours?" Sirius asked carefully having selected small talk to get this all started.
"Everything that you can see. It'd been a unique Summer." Harry chuckled at how little his Godfather knew. They talked about everything that Harry was allowed to talk about. From his childhood, which prompted appropriate outrage from Sirius, to the now. The event of the Summer prompted the appropriate ooo's and aaah's from Sirius as well. When Harry finally finished talking the sandwiches had all been devoured, mostly by Sirius, and the sun had just finished disappearing behind the horizon.
"And that's pretty much it. I live with Daphne and Astoria, I'm emancipated, and… I know it's strange but I also know that you didn't betray my parents. So I had to come get you." Harry finished the last of his Butterbeer and sat enjoying the cathartic feeling of having talked about it all. Sirius mulled over everything that had happened while he had been incarcerated, how much he had missed. It was… heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. All this time he had been worried about Harry and it turned out Harry was worried about him as well.
"I... It's a lot to take in. Quite a lot, in fact. But… oh man, if James could see you now. Lily too. They'd be amazed. I mean, blacksmithing? Dueling? Swordsmanship? Those are odd hobbies. But I know… I know they'd be proud as hell. And apprenticeships? Lily would be over the moon! James would be a little disappointed that his son was a nerd but…" Sirius chuckled when Harry threw a pillow over. In the hours that they had talked Sirius could feel years of stress leaving him. Harry had such a calming effect, and a powerful presence. Like a young Dumbledore. There had been a measure of awkwardness at the start but that had disappeared quickly.
"I don't know… I don't know how long it will take for me to get back to my old self. But to know that you're on my side that's such a relief." Sirius said this without choking up despite the tears forming in his eyes.
"Of course, Sirius. And you can stay here too of course. Dobby can get you some clothes and you can settle in. A bit of peace and quiet while you get used to it all again. We will catch Wormtail, and when we do you can be a free man once more." Harry smiled warmly and Sirius responded in kind. They both stood up and embraced as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Crap! I gotta go! Dinner starts soon at school! I'll come by again soon! Bye!" Harry said as he checked the clock. Sirius chuckled at Harry who dashed upstairs to change into school clothes. Dobby could be heard faintly as the Elf fussed over his Master's appearance. Sirius glanced over at Balto who had quickly occupied the recently vacated seat on the couch.
"Guess it's just you and me for a while buddy." Sirius carefully reached down and pet Balto who leaned into the touch after a moment, his tail whipping the couch.
***Break***
Harry appeared at the Hogsmeade entrance thanks to his Portkey, electing to decline Dobby's offer of transport. Dobby hid it well, but Harry knew that Dobby had suffered a bit during the attack as well. The gates opened easily before Harry who made his way up to the Castle with little trouble.
When he opened the Great Hall doors, normally this time, the Hall fell silent as dinner had already been started for about 15 minutes. Harry glanced around before striding over to Hermione who was shooting daggers with her eyes. He had barely gotten a foot over the bench before she unleashed her wrath.
"Where have you been? You missed all of your classes! And I know because I asked Neville, Daphne, and even Ron if they had seen you today because I know I hadn't!" She hissed quietly, not wanting to draw more attention than they already had. Most of the eyes had yet to leave Harry with many of the students wondering if they were going to get another show with their meals.
Harry cast a look around, he saw Neville down the table with Seamus and Dean. Ron was with his brothers and sister. With a subtle wand movement he cast a bubble of silence around them both. A few upper years, that recognized the spell, huffed in annoyance and stopped eavesdropping.
"Much better. Hello Hermione, I'm fine. How was your day?" Harry said nonchalantly as he gathered up a small plate of food. Though Sirius had eaten most of the sandwiches, and he wasn't hungry in your typical sense, he knew if he didn't grab something it would just make Hermione more angry at his sudden disappearance.
"You know very well that I am upset. Where were you Harry?" Hermione's tone had lifted a bit once she realized that no one around them could hear their discussion.
"Okay. Settle down. I had an interesting day. After the… incident this morning I had a great discussion with Dumbledore that started with us dueling." Harry said this part calmly, hiding his smile. Hermione looked ready to jump to the next question before what he said registered with her.
"WHAT?! You dueled the Headmaster? Why?! And why aren't you expelled?" She seethed. Typical Harry, barely answers one question but sparks a hundred others.
"Because it was a friendly duel. Then we went to his office and had a discussion about my future here at Hogwarts." Harry scooped a few bites of his food while she processed this. Teasing Hermione was becoming a very fun part of his day to day.
Hermione stared at him blankly, watching him eat for a moment. When her patience ran out she prompted him further, "And?"
"Okay. First you have to promise not to be mad." Harry regarded her with a serious look.
"Okay" Hermione nodded. She was a reasonable person. As if Harry read her mind he simply looked at her with the same blank look she had just given him, unimpressed with her promise.
"Fine! I promise not to get mad. Now tell me." She tried again, a bit more sincerely.
Harry sighed and set down his cutlery. "Dumbledore has offered me an outreach program to other schools due to my unique growth this Summer as well as my particularly unique scenario of being emancipated. I will be spending weekdays and possibly weekends as well at other schools in a sort of advanced curriculum learning about the different forms of magic and knowledge unique to other schools."
Silence. Not even magically assisted silence. Harry looked at Hermione who looked torn between outrage and pride that her friend was chosen for such an opportunity over her. Deciding not to be the first to break the silence Harry continued eating as though nothing was bothering her. To the outside observer it was anyone's guess as to what was happening inside their little world.
Finally she spoke, "Well… it sounds like you've already accepted. It seems like a great opportunity."
Harry sighed as he felt her shift next to him, gathering her things. "Hermione…"
"No. No, it's fine. If it's for furthering your education I can't hold it against you. Such an amazing opportunity. You'd be crazy for not taking it. The great Harry Potter, explorer of the world and master of all things Magic. Rich as they come too. Soooo different from last year when even being paralyzed for months in the school I was top of the class. You said you wanted to use the Time Turners with me this semester, but didn't do that. You were going to take all of the electives with me, but didn't do that either. But save the school? You're 3 for 3 on that. And what a reward. Now you won't even be in the same school as me. Well be sure to study hard and learn all that you can. I'm headed to the library. Do NOT follow me. Have a good night." Hermione ended her small tirade with a step through their silence bubble and walked calmly out of the Great Hall without looking back.
"Damn." Harry sighed and poked as his food, no longer even able to pretend he was hungry.
Near him on the table, a small beetle did the closest thing a bug could to smirk.
***Break***
Harry grumbled his way through the dungeons. Hermione's reaction had been out of nowhere. But at the same time he couldn't fault her for it. They had been excited to take the classes together and she was right, he had bailed on that. Now he was effectively leaving Hogwarts to learn all sorts of fascinating subjects not offered at their school. And she wasn't. Harry wasn't her only friend, but he was her best friend. And recently one of the few friendly faces that could match her subject for subject on theory and practice. It was a big change and it just kept changing.
So Harry found himself needing to blow off steam. He needed a quiet place to think as well. He glanced up once he was in the hall guarded by an Ashwinder. It was time to dive back into the Instance, murder some skeletons, and get away for a minute to think.
*Fin*
A/N: Okay. So Chapter 22 is finally done. Next chapter will include a bit of fighting, some introspection, and the start of Harry's 3rd Year adventures.
Now, I would love to respond to all of the reviews but frankly… We have passed 550. That is sooooo many because i took forever to upload this Chapter. Apologies. Hopefully an update will placate you all.
'Till next time!