Chapter 8: Questions
Hogwarts Castle, Northern Scotland
Harry was in a foul mood all morning. Rita Skeeter! Damn that woman! If Harry didn't already know better, he would have sworn that Rita was a death eater. But the world wasn't black and white, full of good people and death eaters.
Rita Skeeter was the type of woman that loved to twist reality in her stories, in order to make everyone but herself, and the Daily Prophet look bad, unless of course she was being paid well to shed them in a good light. Rita thrived on the drama and misery that she created. She loved getting the credit for discrediting powerful figures, even when she had written nothing true about them.
Truth be told, Harry wanted to rip her head off, but that would just be proving her right, and counter productive to his own aims. Oh well, let her write whatever she wants, as long as it didn't effect what he planned to do. Fortunately, the public's opinion was one of the things that Harry needed least.
Harry looked around as he entered the Transfiguration classroom. Most of the Gryffindors, save for Ron and Dean, had already arrived and were in their seats. Harry and Gabby chose two seats in the middle of the back row, with most of the rest of their house, save for those who were above first year, which was Fred, George, Angelina, Alicia, Tonks, and Katie. Besides those six, the entire Emrys house now sat crowded around Harry and Gabby, chatting between themselves quietly.
Harry leaned back, and spotted Professor McGonagall on her desk. Obviously, no one else knew it was her. The tabby cat that Harry knew to be Professor McGonagall sat stiffly on her desk, glancing around sternly at the students, waiting for the bell to ring. Harry doubted that many of the students even noticed her since her classroom was only dimly lit by a few candles.
The bell rang. Still, Professor McGonagall made no movements, and Harry frowned, while most of the first years around him looked around anxiously, as if they were expecting Professor McGonagall bursting into the room.
Ten minutes after the bell, the door burst open, admitting Ron and Dean Thomas into the room. Looking around quickly, they both appeared to be very relieved that Professor McGonagall were nowhere to be seen, and attempted to find open seats with the Gryffindors before their lateness became apparent. Harry grinned. Obviously, they had failed dismally.
Professor McGonagall had transformed back into herself the second Ron turned back to face her desk at the front, causing him to stumble back slightly, eyes bulging, much to the rest of the class' amusement. Harry noticed that several students were quick to hide their astonishment at Professor McGonagall's sudden appearance, and applauded loudly.
"Thank you all," Professor McGonagall said, glancing around. She looked pleased. As far as Harry could remember, her transformation had never failed, even once, to get applause from a class.
"S- Sorry, Professor," Ron stuttered out, as Dean Thomas hadn't managed to find his voice yet. "We got lost, and Peeves..." there was a pause, and Ron gulped. "Peeves tricked us into going to the third floor corridor."
You could have heard a pin drop. The class, including Harry and Gabby, was silent. How could anyone be that stupid? Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared. Harry had only seen her this angry a few times, and it was no wonder why Dean and Ron were looking at her, then back over their shoulders towards the exit.
"What gave you the foolish," Professor McGonagall began, her lips pursed together very tightly. "the abysmally foolish idea, to listen to Peeves," her voice rising, which was a red alert sign for Harry, since McGonagall rarely got this upset. "When you were warned, for your own safety to stay away from there? Did you not notice where you were being led?"
Dean and Ron cowered under her furious stare, but said nothing in reply.
"Do I need to transfigure your robes into a map, next time?" Professor McGonagall raged. They both shook their heads urgently, not daring to take their eyes off her. "Then can I trust that you are able to at least find your seats, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Weasley?"
Without a word, Dean and Ron hastened to obey and Professor McGonagall had her final word to them. "Mr. Thomas and Mr. Weasley, for such foolish actions, disregard for your own personal safety, as well as each other's, I will take thirty points, each. You will both also receive a weeks worth of detentions, and I will be writing to your parents. I have rarely been so ashamed of my Gryffindors."
Harry sniggered, but only Ron seemed to have caught it, and gave Harry an angry glare.
Professor McGonagall turned to face the rest of the class, who were all paying full attention to her. "Transfiguration is among the most complex, and dangerous magic we teach here at Hogwarts, and I will tolerate no foolishness. Any messing around in my class and you will leave, and not come back."
The entire class had a collective breath, looking at each other, while Professor McGonagall set them to study the theory on inanimatus demutatio spells for the rest of the class period.
History of Magic was as boring as ever. Hermione alone seemed able to resist the dull, soporific power of Professor Binns' voice as he droned on and on about the first Goblin Peace Treaty. Harry and the rest of the girls spent most of the period chatting quietly between themselves, while Hermione took notes. Harry himself wasn't worried. He had been through it all already anyways. But Harry did get the chance to spend the period chatting with Susan and Hannah, who seemed to have hit it off quite nicely.
Hannah Abbot was the only daughter of a once prominent, but dying pureblood family. Although Hannah herself had been raised with strong pureblood ideals, she seemed to have more of Sirius' attitude towards those views. A little shorter than Harry, with hazel eyes, Hannah normally preferred to keep her smooth, blonde hair up in pigtails. She looked about average for a girl her age, unlike Susan, who was turning out to be an early bloomer. She was very friendly and open, and seemed to have a happy-go-lucky, bubbly personality and valued friendship, loyalty, and hard work above all else. The model Hufflepuff, and if Harry remembered correctly, that's what she was before he came back. Harry regretted not ever getting to know her well.
Susan Bones, on the other hand, was bright, friendly, loyal, but also skeptical. Harry guessed that it came with the territory. Susan was about Harry's height, with sleek brunette hair that she normally kept at shoulder length, and was already showing signs to have a very busty figure, as well as natural womanly curves in her hips and legs. Her family had been murdered during Voldemort's first reign, and the only person she had left was her aunt Amelia Bones, who was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Amelia had taken care of Susan since she was young, and had obviously brought her work home with her on more than one occasion, which taught Susan to be careful, cautious, and skeptical of people that she did not know. If there was one thing about Susan though, once you gained her trust, and she considered you a friend, she would do anything to help you. Harry could see that it would be useful having Amelia Bones on his side. He had met her only once before, but she came across him as a fair woman, a dying breed within the Ministry. If there was one person that he would trust to carefully move into the position of Minister of Magic, other than Arthur Weasley, it was Madame Bones.
Harry was immensely surprised at how well Hannah and Susan both accepted what they had been thrust into, along with him. Hannah was pretty happy that she would one day have to marry Harry, which surprised him.
As Hannah put it, she liked the way Harry was open and honest with the girls, and took the time to try to get to know each of them separately. She had watched him with Gabby, and saw him as very loyal, loving and protective, which was all she wanted. Well, maybe her career and a family in the future, but that came later.
Susan, although about as happy as Hannah, for many of the same reasons, also pointed out that her aunt would very likely want to meet him, especially since Susan treated her aunt as a best friend and equal.
Su Li wasn't that much of a surprise the night before. She seemed very shy, but also submissive, and Harry wanted to give her some time to think things over clearly. He wasn't used to a girl taking being controlled so easily.
Tracey, Harry didn't know about. Like Daphne, who seemed almost entirely against the situation, with every reason to be, Tracey backed her friend up to a point, but Tracey also seemed like the boy crazy, gossipy type, so it wasn't easy for her to deny her immediate attraction and excitement to being contracted to marry Harry Potter himself.
Harry honestly had no clue where to start with Daphne, but he figured it was a good idea to allow her some time to cool off and make the first move herself. Looking over at her, at the end of the row, Daphne was wide awake, and taking notes, which was unusual for everyone except Hermione. 'Best to leave her be for the moment,' he thought to himself.
"Hey, Harry!"
Hermione's voice came from behind Harry, as he and Gabby were making their way out of the History of Magic classroom to lunch. "Hey Hermione, what do you think so far? Enjoying your first day?"
"Oh, it's brilliant!" Hermione replied. "There's so much to learn, much more complicated than just waving your wand and saying a few words. Anyways, I noticed that you weren't paying any attention at all to Professor Binns. How do you expect to pass your exams? You should at least take some notes."
Harry grinned. Same old Hermione. "There's no need to listen to the rubbish, Hermione. I know it all already. Would you like to test me on it?"
"Harry, don't get her started," Gabby interrupted. "I heard that she has terrifying study habits."
Harry laughed, opening the door to the great hall for them, but Hermione gave Gabby a reproving glare.
"My study habits are quite normal, thank you very much," Hermione replied curtly. "Besides, it couldn't hurt you to look in a book every once in a while."
"Oh yeah, Granger," Malfoy said sarcastically, as he made his way by their table. "Watch out, Potter. I heard that if you stick your nose in a book long enough, it'll really rub off on you. Who knows, though? It might do you a bit you a bit of good, just look at Granger. It hides her teeth, and the ink on her nose does make her look a little better, don't you think?"
Tears sprang up in Hermione's eyes, and Malfoy looked pleased with himself, probably under the impression that Crabbe and Goyle would be able to protect him.
"Shove off, Malfoy," Harry said coolly.
"Or what, Potter," Malfoy sneered back as his goons cracked their knuckles menacingly. "Hey you, veela. Gabrielle wasn't it? Your dear Potter has himself another girlfriend, what are you going to do? My father may be able to find some use for you, since Potter doesn't want you anymore."
Gabby went stiff, and Harry knew the warning signs all too well as her eyes changed to a hawk's gold and Harry could see the fire stirring behind them. Placing his hand on Gabby's arm to calm her down, Harry snapped viciously at Malfoy, "One more word, Malfoy. Just give me one reason. I swear I would love it."
Malfoy didn't reply. Instead he took a step forward and grabbed a bit of Gabby's hair, which was a mistake.
The second Malfoy grabbed Gabby's hair, twin balls of passionfire appeared in her open palms, which she thrust into Malfoy's chest, burning straight through his robes, and charring the flesh underneath. The acrid smell of burnt human flesh was strong, as Malfoy laid there unconscious. Looking over at Harry, Gabby realized what she had allowed herself to do, once her anger got the best of her, but Harry didn't seem alarmed or even upset with her, but he had already taken care of Crabbe and Goyle. Every eye in the great hall was on them.
The second Malfoy grabbed Gabby, Harry was furious. Neglecting to even reach for his wand, Harry leapt to his feet, not worrying that the two goons already had their wands out. It wasn't like they knew how to use them, but even if they did, they were far outclassed. Harry didn't so much as flinch as a couple weak hexes flew by him, but raised his hand. Feeling the magic in the air around him respond to his will, Harry mentally designed an array of stunners, that his magic immediately materialized, as dozens of bolts of red stunners flew from his raised hand, hitting Crabbe and Goyle in several spots, blasting them high up into the air, and over the Ravenclaw table, where they skidded along the floor for another twenty feet, before finally stopping on the ground, both out cold.
"What has happened here? Somebody explain this to me, now."
'Oh, great. That's ruddy, fucking brilliant. Of all the teachers to show up, it just had to be Snape,' Harry thought bitterly as he watched Snape revive the three Slytherins.
"Draco, tell me what happened," Snape's silky voice was cool and soft, barely held above a whisper.
Malfoy was sitting up by now, obviously in severe pain, and he pointed a shaking finger at Gabby. "Sh- She attacked me, Sir. That veela whore attacked me!" Harry had to hold Gabby back from tearing Malfoy to pieces.
"It was his fault, Professor," Harry hissed. "He provoked her." Harry was very carefully attempting to reign in the white fury that threatened to overwhelm him at Malfoy's insult towards his Gabrielle.
"No excuses Potter," Snape said offhandedly. "She should have ignored the comments. It is foolish to attack someone because of their words. Miss Delacour, you are aware of the penalties for the assault of a wizard, pureblood wizard in this case, by a part human creature of near human intelligence, are you not?"
"Part human creature? You're one to talk! Now see here, Professor," Harry retorted angrily. "If Malfoy hadn't grabbed her hair, then -"
"Mr. Potter, if I were you, I would be careful of the tone you speak to me with," Snape replied curtly. "If Mr. Malfoy did in fact, assault Miss Delacour first, why did she not seek a teacher, rather than take it into her own hands?"
With a cruel smile, Snape turned to Malfoy. "Mr. Malfoy, do you intend to press charges against this veela?"
Malfoy nodded quickly, still clutching at his chest, but looking like Christmas had come early.
Snape turned back towards Harry and Gabby, and reached for Gabby's hand to take her with him. "Come with me, Miss Delacour. We must inform the Headmaster, and the proper authorities. If you are lucky, the Committee for the Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures will have you killed quickly, although I highly doubt it. Lucius Malfoy will want vengeance for a part human, such as yourself, attacking his son and heir."
Gabby remained where she was, looking defiant, and Harry grabbed hold of Snape's hand, just as it was about to land on Gabby's arm. Snape gave Harry a deep look of utmost loathing. "Mr. Potter, release my hand, immediately," Snape said coldly.
Snape was insane! Did he honestly think that Harry would allow him to treat Gabby that way? This was getting ridiculous, and it was high time to show Snape and everyone else what would happen if they refused to treat Gabby like the wonderful person she was.
"Then leave her be, Professor," Harry replied with a hiss, returning Snape's glare with one filled with even more hate, if that were possible. "If you attempt to take Gabrielle, then I will defend her, Severus, and you are no match for me. Also, if Draco Malfoy even thinks to press charges on her, in a futile attempt to reduce a beautiful girl to a sub-human creature, then I will declare a blood feud between myself and the Malfoys, on the basis that Draco is a pathetic little creature, of near heifer intelligence, and I will destroy him the second he tries it."
"You are just like your father, arrogant and foolishly stupid, Potter," Snape spit out. "It is the law; you can do nothing about it. Keep up the rate you are going, and people will start thinking that you are going dark. Let her go."
Harry held Gabby even closer to comfort her, and to try to calm her down, for all the good it did. Gabby looked as if she would turn Snape and Malfoy both to ashes by staring at them if she could. "Law or not, Professor, I will not allow you or Malfoy to do it. I protect my own, and she had every reason to defend herself against Malfoy. Do you honestly think I am going dark? I don't deny that I will torture, destroy, and kill to protect the one's I care for, but who wouldn't? The law is prejudiced, and if I must be seen as dark, because I refuse to allow Gabrielle, or anyone for that matter, to be treated that way just because of their parentage, then so be it. That law will change eventually." Harry bent his wrist and his wand shot into place.
There were gasps all around them and many students backed away carefully, not taking their eyes off of Harry's or Snape's wand, which Snape had just flashed out from deep within his robes. "This is your last chance, Mr. Potter. Release Miss Delacour to me, or I will be forced to subdue you."
"Try it, Severus, and I promise that you will regret it," Harry hissed back dangerously.
Snape raised his wand, almost too fast to see. Harry doubted that he would have seen it if he didn't have such powerfully enhanced senses. "Stupefy!" The jet of red light flashed across, directly at Harry, who let it connect. But it did nothing as it rippled across the battle robes that Harry now wore, which were normally transfigured to appear as school robes.
"My turn," Harry said darkly as he began to take in the magic around him, feeling it tingle in response. Quickly unlocking all of his magic, and releasing it for use, Harry held his wand steady toward Snape, as he focused his magic, and it began to swell around him. The tips of the front of his hair, which were normally angled back, were pointed a bit higher than normal, and the rest of his hair was flying, spread out behind him, the tips of his hair, front and back glowing a blinding white, as the Harry slowly levitated a few inches off the ground, which was fast becoming a small crater beneath him. The magic around him seemed to cocoon him in a powerful wind that made his robes blow wildly, glowing with magic. The air around him was heavy, cackling with raw power, and blue-white lightning flashed all across his skin and robes. Daring to look Harry in the eyes, Snape recoiled in horror at the glowing, emerald green spheres that seemed to be alive with an inner fire, delving easily through all of his occlumency barriers, and directly into his soul. Harry could see every thought and memory as if it were his own, and Snape could see, and feel, the intense, undiluted fury that Harry had for him.
Snape was spellbound. He couldn't believe the power that the Potter boy had; enough to manifest a physical aura at will, and control it! Snape could sense that the magic was raw, wild, and unchanneled, but the Potter boy was able to control it. It was called wild magic for a reason. The ambient magic that was all around them was wild, untamable, and unpredictable and could have a wide range of effects on people, creatures, and places. Wild magic is the reason that many places of extreme ambient magic, such as Hogwarts, were sometimes thought to be alive, to have a will of their own. How could the Potter boy manage to control such a force?
"Enough!"
Snape and Harry both turned to look at Dumbledore and Sirius, who were pushing themselves past several students who were gaping in awe at Harry. Sirius looked extremely proud of Harry, but gave a look of utter hatred in Snape's direction.
"Severus, explain yourself. Why do you have your wand out on a student?" Returning Sirius' glare of hatred with one of his own, Snape quickly told Dumbledore everything that he had been told, and what had happened accordingly.
During Snape's brief explanation of what had happened, Sirius nodded his head silently at different intervals, and Dumbledore appeared to be increasingly worried, especially when Snape informed him that Harry was able to draw on the power at will, to have the physical manifestation of his aura, as Dumbledore and Sirius had seen it when they arrived on the scene.
When Snape finished the explanation, Sirius looked murderous. "Do you mean to tell me, Snivellus, that you were going to turn this poor girl in for defending herself?" he roared at Snape. "Here I thought that you could sink no lower. You are a coward, Snivellus."
Snape winced each time Sirius called him Snivellus, but his face grew, if it was possible, even paler when Sirius called him a coward. "It was out of my hands, Black. I would think that you of all people know the dangers of not going to the authorities when the situation calls for it."
What little color there was in Sirius' face was now gone, and he reached for his wand.
"That is enough, the both of you!" Dumbledore said calmly, but his tone made it clear that it would do no good to argue. "Get a hold of yourselves; these first years are behaving more maturely than you." Snape and Sirius both made to put their wands away, still glaring hatefully at each other.
"Now, Professor Snape," Dumbledore said quietly, "I do believe that Mr. Malfoy is in your House, so I shall let the punishment for assaulting Miss Delacour fall to you."
Malfoy had a vicious grin showing, sure that he would get off, but Snape wiped it away almost immediately when he spoke softly before turning on his heel and stalking off. "Draco, you shall receive one night's worth detention, and I will write to your father. Maybe he can impress upon you that it is not wise to pick fights out in the open. I suggest you go straight to Madame Pomfrey so that she can have a look at you."
Harry sniggered, but Malfoy gave him a withering glare and headed out the door from the great hall.
"Now, Professor Black," Dumbledore said quietly, jolting Sirius out of his thoughts. "Do you not have something to say in this matter?"
"Huh? Oh, right you are, Dumbledore," Sirius replied quickly, attempting to hide how pleased he was with Harry.
"Well, Harry. It seems like Snivellus, eh-," he broke off at a stern look from Dumbledore. "I mean, Professor Snivelly, happy Dumbledore? It's all the respect he deserves. Anyways, Harry, young Draco Malfoy got off far too easily, I think. So I believe that I will also give you one night of detention, to be served with Hagrid. I hear that he has been having some troubles lately in the forbidden forest. Gabrielle, since you assaulted Mr. Malfoy also, I fear that I must also give you a detention, also to be served with Hagrid. Now both of you, head back to your common room, and wait for me there. I have a few other things that I wish to speak to you about."
"Sirius, Professor Black, we still have potions after lunch," Gabby said, picking up her bag.
Sirius chuckled, "Call me Sirius, both of you. Professor Black seems so... formal. I think being called Professor every day would make my hair go grey faster than it already is, and I don't need that, thanks. Don't worry about your potions class. I am quite sure that Harry can teach you whatever you both happen to miss. If Professor Snivelly asks, tell him to bring his inquiry to me, and I will handle it." Sirius' grin got a bit broader as he looked at them, sighing deeply, as if he couldn't wait for Snape to go complaining to him about two of his students skipping class.
Harry and Gabby quickly made their way out of the great hall, but before Harry turned the corner, he could see Sirius arguing quietly with Dumbledore as they headed up to the staff table.
"I bet you loved that didn't you?"
Harry and Gabby looked over, where Ron was getting up from where he had been sitting on the stairs, flanked by Dean, Seamus, and Sally-Ann Perks.
"What do you mean, Ron?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"Don't act like you don't know, Potter. We all read the Daily Prophet this morning. It makes sense, first me, then Malfoy on the train, and now this? You're going dark, Potter! And you better stay away from my sister!" Ron shouted at them both.
"You're pathetic, Weasley," Gabby replied angrily. "When are you going to get it? Letting your jealousy get the best of you like that isn't going to do anything except hurt the ones around you, and then you."
"Just make sure that Potter stays away from my sister, and we won't have any problems, got it?" Ron answered, pulling his wand.
Gabby growled, and reached for her wand. "Are you threatening me, Weasley?"
"Both of you put your wands away this instant!" Professor McGonagall was storming down the stairs, looking mad as hell.
"Professor, I-"
"Do not attempt," Professor McGonagall began, cutting Ron off and rounding on him. "to make excuses for your actions, Mr. Weasley. I saw the entire argument, and you were out of line, purposefully provoking Miss Delacour and Mr. Potter in order to bait them into attacking you. You have lost another fifteen points for Gryffindor and another night of detention. Now move along, all of you."
"B-But Professor-,"
"Go, Mr. Weasley, and be grateful that I intervened. Do you remember the wand check that you were each given as you walked into the great hall this morning?"
Ron nodded. "My older brothers, Fred and George, told me that it was customary to make sure our wands are in proper working order. They said Hogwarts does it our first morning here."
"Very good, Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall replied. "What few know, however, is that we also test the level of development of your magical core. The average is anywhere from 350 to 400, Mr. Weasley, and you scored a 415."
"That's good isn't it?" Ron asked.
"Indeed it is, Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall answered anxiously. "We have had very few people in the last couple of centuries score above 400. One was Dumbledore himself, and another was a student by the name of Tom Riddle. If I recall correctly, Dumbledore scored 725, while Riddle scored 740." She looked over at Harry and Gabby, who both having an idea of where this was going, nodded silently.
Ron was looking extremely pleased with himself, but Professor McGonagall cut his grin short with her next words.
"This year, however, was different. Every first year that was sorted into the Emrys house was well above average. Their scores ranged from 435 to 460, with Mr. Longbottom having the lowest score of 435. Mr. Potter and Miss Delacour, however, scored even higher. Miss Delacour scored 965, being the highest score we have ever had, until Mr. Potter's results came in. Mr. Potter's score was 1370, which is over triple the average amount of power one would normally have, and there were obvious signs of his magic being... well not bound, since no bindings were found, but his magic was suppressed a great deal."
"Professor," Harry began in a firm whisper that only Gabby and Professor McGonagall could hear. "I don't think your test is accurate. I mean, it's not possible. I can sense the power in Dumbledore, and I normally have only a seventh of my magic released to use during classes. I keep the rest suppressed using occlumency barriers, and I know that he wields more power than I do, except when I release about half of my own magic."
"That's ridiculous, Mr. Potter. But, as a wizard matures, his powers and magical core also mature with him, which could very well explain what you are asking. Keep in mind that we only test each person once, on their first day, not when they leave. Each witch or wizard becomes steadily more powerful as they grow older, but their powers peak when they fully mature on a witch or wizard's seventeenth birthday. Furthermore, I am very doubtful that such a young child as yourself would have the skill in Occlumency to erect such barriers. Far be it from me to understand how you even know of such a subject. Mind magics are a very obscure and often unknown branch of magic," Professor McGonagall said quietly to him and Gabby without taking a breath.
"Now, we have been using this test for almost four hundred years, and even if you did manage to have that much of your magic locked away, it would make you a squib, incapable of doing your practical spellwork for classes," she finished quietly before raising her voice again.
"Mr. Weasley, my point is that if either Miss Delacour or Mr. Potter had attacked you, and seriously attempted to hurt you, whether or not they know the spells, they have sufficient power to pull it off if they really lose their tempers and control of their powers. I expect you all to remember this, and do try to get along. The Slytherins cause enough trouble and conflicts as it is."
Dean and Seamus were gawking at Harry and Gabby, while Sally-Ann looked between them and Ron, evidently horrorstruck. "Of c-course, Professor," Ron managed to stutter out as he quickly disappeared down into the dungeons.
"Shouldn't you two be heading to class?" Professor McGonagall had refocused her attention on Harry and Gabby, who were still standing there, awestruck about what Professor McGonagall had just revealed to them.
"Actually, Professor, Sirius told us to go back to our common room until he finishes talking with Professor Dumbledore," Harry answered swiftly.
"Move along then," Professor McGonagall replied. "And do try to keep out of trouble. Your father had a knack for it, and I would hate to think that his son inherited his talent for mischief."
Harry grinned, while Gabby giggled.
"Oh no, quite the contrary, Minerva," Sirius interrupted as he strode up to them. "James would have been quite disappointed if Harry didn't have at least some of his pranking skill."
"And you would be disappointed too, no doubt," Professor McGonagall told Sirius, looking at him very disapprovingly.
"Of course I would," Sirius replied, chuckling. "Life is too short as it is, to not live it to the fullest. I would expect Harry to enjoy his time here at Hogwarts, and prank a few teachers and students while he's at it, but I do hope that he knows where to draw the line, just short of causing any real mayhem."
"With an attitude like that, Sirius," Professor McGonagall replied sternly. "We should be glad that you do not have any children of your own, although it might have made you a little bit more responsible. You are as rash as you ever were."
"Ahh, rash," Sirius answered with a hint of a smile. "Minerva, I have at least enjoyed my life, save for the ten years I spent in Azkaban. There are, of course, times when one must be serious, but your school years are there for you to enjoy, study, and learn about yourself. Causing trouble is second nature to some of us, so why deny what comes natural?"
"And what would Lily have said about you teaching her son to be a prankster, hmm Sirius?" Professor McGonagall asked with a knowing smile.
Sirius' grin faltered momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure before answering. "Lily would have probably killed James and me both for it. We both know how she hated James when he still had that big head of his. Pretty conceited we both were, when we were young, but we grew out of it."
"Then try at least, to honor her memory, and teach her son to grow up to be a man that she would be proud of, not some conceited prankster," Professor McGonagall replied harshly.
Harry's face darkened. "Professor," Harry began coolly, "my mother would be proud of me no matter what."
"Of course she would, dear," Professor McGonagall said soothingly. "But she would not want you pranking students and teachers, causing trouble, when you should be studying."
"She would want me to be myself, no matter what that meant, Professor," Harry snapped. "Whether or not she agreed with my choices, my mother would stand behind me and support me, as long as I was doing what I thought was right."
Professor McGonagall was speechless, and Sirius laughed. "Well said, Harry! I never heard even James defend his trouble making that well."
Professor McGonagall didn't find it at all amusing, as she stared between them both with disapproving looks of disdain.
"Very well, do at least try to keep it to a minimum. We do not need anyone trying to outdo Peeves or the Weasley twins. Imagine the mayhem that would cause."
Professor McGonagall walked away, with a very gruesome look on her face, probably from envisioning the chaos which would ensue from an all out pranking war.
"Alright you two?" Sirius asked Harry and Gabby.
"We're good, Sirius," Gabby answered for them both.
"Say, what were you arguing with Dumbledore about, anyways?" Harry asked.
"That? Nothing much," Sirius replied quickly, looking uncomfortable. "All in good time, but first, I want to talk to you, Harry."
"About what?" Harry asked curiously. He couldn't think of very many things that would be important enough for Dumbledore to allow Sirius to keep them from their class, but Dumbledore had done nothing to stop Sirius when he told them to go back to their common room.
"Not here, Harry," Sirius said offhandedly. Harry thought Sirius looked a little disturbed. "Come on you two, let's go back to the common room and we can discuss it there, away from prying eyes and ears."
Harry and Gabby gave each other a look, but said nothing as they followed Sirius back to the Emrys common room, where they sat beside each other on the couch, while Sirius sat, sighing, in the chair he had been seated in the night before.
Sirius leaned forward in the chair, and gave Harry a weird, longing look. "Harry, first off, I want to thank you for what you did for me, catching Peter. I meant to thank you last night, but I really didn't have the chance to."
Harry grinned, remembering the night before. "Yeah, I wanted to talk to you, too, Sirius. Sorry, though, I was a bit preoccupied."
Sirius chuckled softly and brushed his hair out of his eyes before he leaned back once more. "Not at all. James would have been very proud of you. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. But can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Harry answered quickly.
Sirius' face grew serious, and he gave Harry a grim look. Suddenly, Harry wasn't so sure that he wanted to answer whatever question he was about to be asked, especially if it bothered Sirius so much. "What gave you the idea to use the Avada Kedavra on Peter? And in front of a crowd of witnesses? I know Fudge let you off, but there are still those that would use that to paint you as going dark, just look at the Daily Prophet this morning. It called you a Dark Lord in training."
"What was I supposed to do? Let him get away?" Harry asked angrily. "Or how about let him be shipped to Azkaban, where it would have taken him a good day or so to escape? I did what I had to do, Sirius. I'm not going to defend myself and what I did. He deserved it."
"We know that, Harry. But the general public doesn't," Sirius said slowly. "People are going to think that you are dark, Harry, and using an unforgivable in full view of the public, and the Minister of Magic himself is all the weapon anyone needs to prove it."
"Let them think what they want, Sirius. I don't care," Harry replied curtly. "They are either blind followers, or they are hypocrites. People just can't think for themselves anymore. It honestly doesn't matter to me what the public thinks of me. Gabby and I know the truth, as does anyone who matters to me."
"Don't you see, Harry?" Sirius cried exasperatedly. "The general public is going to read the Daily Prophet, and parents are going to be owling the Ministry and Dumbledore, trying to figure out why you haven't been expelled and hauled off to Azkaban, to prevent another Dark Lord. Besides, Harry, you don't understand the harm dark magic can do to you, just by using it. It's called dark magic for a reason. Look at my family. The Blacks were a notoriously dark family for centuries. I, myself, was heavily groomed in it. I also have a library full of books on dark magic at my parents, well my, home."
"It is called dark magic for several reasons, actually, Sirius," Harry said calmly. "Again, what the public thinks of me doesn't matter to me. I don't give a shit what they do, because if anyone tries to actually do anything to me, I will stop them dead in their tracks. And I know a lot more about dark magic than you think, Sirius. Dark magic consists of some truly gruesome magic, but it also contains several useful, very powerful spells, that were deemed dangerous because of their power and the power required to use them effectively and safely to begin with. They are labeled dark because of the fear people have of those capable of using them. Still, others, such as a wide range of combat spells, are viewed as dark because their sole purpose is cause destruction, pain, and suffering. The intent of a spell, and its effects, do not make it dark magic. What most people misunderstand is that dark magic was first, and foremost classified, by the psychological effects that using it has on a witch or wizard, inherently damaging their mind and powers. Although there are several dark rituals that could enhance a wizard's powers, while undergoing dangerous transformations in the process, their powers and bodies would be strengthened, but their souls and minds would be damaged irreversibly. That is the true nature of dark magic, as it was once banned."
"Harry, you used the Killing Curse," Sirius said quietly. "That curse works by employing some of the darkest magic there is. All the unforgivables do."
"You're right on that," Harry replied calmly. "To use an Unforgivable, you have to want it, to mean it, just as you would to work any other dark magic. That is where the dark magic has a psychological effect on those who use it, because of the intent one must have when using it, but there is a fine line between using and abusing dark magic. The caster must intend to, want to cause pain, death, or anguish, for the dark magic to work to its full extent. If however, the intent, such as to kill is there, but backed by a righteous anger and hatred, then the magic will work, but the psychological side effects of using such a curse will be inactive, because the intent behind using the curse was not evil. Otherwise, even every auror that used the AK or other unforgivables with authorization would end up going mad from using the dark magic. If however, the intent behind using such a curse was evil, such as using the Cruciatus to enjoy torturing someone for the hell of it, you would begin to go mad, because of the damaging effects of using such dark magic. My sole intent at the platform was to execute the man responsible for my parents' deaths."
"I understand where you are coming from, Harry. Believe me, I do. Still, do you honestly think it was wise for you to do what you did?"
Harry looked incredulous. "Wise? Of course not, Sirius," Harry remarked snidely. "But Wormtail deserved it, and you know it. He was a special case. I know full well what the repercussions of my actions could be, but he betrayed my parents, so I made my choice."
"And what will you do in the future, Harry," Sirius asked, leaning back casually in the chair, twirling his wand in his fingers. "What will you do if, say, you see a death eater in public, but not wearing his mask and robes? Will you kill him?"
"Depending on the situation, I will do what has to be done," Harry answered coolly.
"What's that supposed to mean, Harry?" Sirius cried, leaping to his feet. "I'm trying to help you here!"
"I know that," Harry said. "But I will do what has to be done. I will occasionally have to bend, or break rules, and possibly more than a few laws, stepping on some influential toes here and there, but everything I do will be to protect myself and those I care about."
"It would be smarter to work behind the scenes, Harry," Sirius said calmly, sitting back down. "Don't show everyone, especially the public, what you are doing. Wait for the wheel to roll, so to speak."
"That attitude is exactly why we are in this mess to begin with," Harry replied. "The political wheel rolls too slowly, which is why nothing ever gets done. They care more about public opinion, than doing things the right way, and not dragging their feet. Did it ever occur to you that I want the public to notice what I do? I don't want the fame, but I can and will use it to my advantage. I want people to notice what I do and why. I want them to notice the changes I make, or try to make. Not everyone will agree, of course. But those who can think for themselves, and realize what I am trying to do; they are the one's I want to notice. Those people that will not stand idly by, and allow our corrupted government and its officials pass certain laws, and throw away others, that would certainly benefit the wizarding community as a whole."
"But what does that have anything to do with you using the killing curse on Peter?"
"It will show them that I will do whatever it takes to get things done," Harry replied exasperatedly. "I do plan on acting out most of my plans in secret, and behind the scenes, but a small part of one of them will require the public, or at least some of it, to see what I am doing. Moreover, it will show people that I will not mess around, and that I will not sit quietly on the side, while there are monsters out there torturing and killing people. People can barely trust the Ministry anymore, to do the right thing, regardless of public opinion, or the opinion of who is currently lining their pockets with galleons. I want people to know that I will not tolerate it, and that I will root it out, no matter what the cost. People like Wormtail deserve what they get. I'm not going to put it off, downplay it, or sugarcoat it. I personally don't believe in prison for murderers and people who torture others. For me, they either get the Kiss, or they can accept the tip of my wand being the last thing they ever see."
"It's not that I don't agree with you, Harry," Sirius breathed out. "But, your last statement alone would be enough for most people to think you are going dark."
"Then they are naive fools, who understand nothing, but accept what they are told as the truth, no matter what the source," Harry said. "How many of them have had to fight for their lives? Or the lives of their families? Not many, I'd bet. They are content to sit in their homes, letting others do the fighting, or pretending that nothing is happening in the outside world at all, as long as it doesn't affect them. What they don't realize is that sooner or later, for better or worse, it's going to affect them, whether they like it or not. Death eaters and people like them aren't going to be using incapacitating spells like stunners to slow me or those with me down. They are going to be aiming to torture and kill. They will be playing for keeps, and so will I. I won't be able to afford to play nice, and merely stun them or bind them. After all, I could go around all day doing that, but I would have to keep rehexing them because their buddies would keep reviving them or freeing them, until one of them finally gets me. No, it is better that I put them down once, for good, and make damn sure they don't get up again. Else, it could end up being my neck, or the neck of someone who happens to be with me. I won't accept that. I have to fight fire with fire."
"That's what Dumbledore is worried about, Harry," Sirius muttered under his breath so low that Harry could barely hear him. "Dumbledore thinks that you should worry more about your schoolwork, and enjoying your childhood, instead of concentrating on all those problems. You'll have plenty of time for that."
"Dumbledore still thinks that, after our discussion?" Harry asked incredulously. Harry hadn't thought that it would be so easy to convince Dumbledore in the first place to treat him as an equal, and unfortunately, his instincts were right.
"We all do, Harry," Sirius replied softly. "But that doesn't mean that we won't stand behind you and support your decisions."
"Right," Harry said disbelievingly. "I know that you and Remus would, but Dumbledore? How may people does he have spying on me right now, you think?"
"Just me," Sirius mumbled, getting up and looking out, down from the window, watching a few third year students down at the lake, playing with the giant squid. "Or so he thought. Dumbledore wants me to report to him weekly on your progress here at Hogwarts, and on your plans. I don't think that he trusts you completely."
"And do you trust him, Sirius?" Harry shot at him. "The reason that Dumbledore doesn't trust me is because he couldn't break into my mind and find anything that he was looking for there. He couldn't find any evidence in my mind to prove to him either way of my intentions."