"Potter!"
Harry jumped up from his spot in the recliner, startled by Snape's brisk tone calling from the fireplace.
"Sir?" he called back cautiously, inching towards the fireplace. "Is- is everything alright?"
Snape had just left, why would he be calling already? Unless... unless he really didn't want Harry to live here but was too cowardly to have said it in person.
"There has been another attack," Snape said quickly, his head finally appearing in the flames. "I wanted you to know immediately because I need to know- do you wish to return to Hogwarts?"
Harry froze.
"What?" he said lamely.
"Focus, we don't have time to stall," Snape said briskly, though not unkindly. "I need to know if you want to return to Hogwarts before I go start fighting Albus for your reinstatement."
At the sound of the Headmasters name Harry's lip curled, "Dumbledore can go fu-"
"We miss you Harry!"
Susan.
Snape gave Harry an intense gaze before nodding curtly. "I'll go fight with the Headmaster then, shall I?"
Harry just stared at the green flames as Snape's head disappeared.
Don't get your hopes up... When has anything ever worked out right for you..? You don't need Hogwarts... You can be special by yourself... You don't need anyone or anything.
"HARRY!"
Harry was jerked from his internal mantra by the appearance of Susan's head now resting in the place Snape's was before.
"Susan?" he breathed, moving closer to the flames. "Is that you?"
They'd passed a few letters back and forth in the week he'd been at Snape's house, but he hadn't actually seen her since the day he was expelled, almost a month ago.
"Harry!! It's me!" she squealed. "And everyone else is here too! Hey guys-" Harry's view of her face was cut off as she turned to look behind her. "Say hi to Harry!"
"Hi Harry!"
Harry heard a chorus of his friends in Snape's office calling out to him and he felt a tightness in his stomach, one that he hadn't even been aware of before now, loosen.
"Harry you'll get to be here soon," Susan said with a beaming grin. "There was another attack, some sixth year Ravenclaw girl, they just found the body right after dinner."
"Is she dead?" Harry asked curiously.
"No. Petrified like the others," Susan said, her excitement not dulling in the slightest. "But don't you see? Now that's proof that you didn't do it! So Dumbledore will have to bring you back!"
Harry frowned again at the mention of Dumbledore's name. Maybe he didn't want to go to Hogwarts while he was still there. Italy was brilliant and the Contessa said that he'd get to study magic that Hogwarts would never approve of.
Susan must have read some of his thoughts on his face (since his bloody barriers were gone) because the excited sparkle in her eyes dimmed.
"You do... you do want to come back... don't you?" she asked quietly.
"I dunno," Harry admitted quietly. "I don't want to be there with Dumbledore."
Susan's normally cheerful face morphed in to something hateful. "We won't even deal with him. We'll just refuse. He might be the Headmaster BUT he's also an idiot and I'm not putting up with his prejudice and bigotry any more."
Harry grinned at her rant, "Snape says you've been putting rude notes on his office door."
"I have," she grinned, unrepentant. "And Hermione even cursed his name."
"Hey!" came the indignant cry of Hermione. "Don't tell him that!"
"Tell her I said that's brilliant," Harry grinned. "Why'd she wait until I was expelled to start cursing?"
Susan rolled her eyes, "It's because you were expelled, stupid. We've just been trying to make Dumbledore as miserable as we all were."
"You were miserable?" Harry asked softly, hoping his other friends couldn't hear him sounding so pathetic.
"Of course we were," Susan said back, just as quietly. "You're our friend and we miss you."
Harry smiled at her. He'd secretly hoped that he would still have friends at Hogwarts but he wasn't really sure.
"I gotta go," he said, thinking quickly. "I have to call someone before Snape gets back."
"Okay, I'll see you soon?" Susan asked hopefully.
"If all goes well," he said with a smirk. "Tell everyone... tell them I said hi, okay?"
"Alright, talk to you soon!"
Harry pulled away from the fireplace and waited for Susan's head to disappear before he threw a pinch of the powder in and called, "Malfoy Manor!"
"Hello Dobby," Harry greeted the Malfoy's elf kindly. "Would you please get Mister Malfoy for me?"
"Dobby would be honored to help Mister Harry Potter!" the weird elf squealed excitedly. "Dobby will be getting Master right away!"
Harry tried very hard not to roll his eyes at Dobby's exuberant tone. Dobby was obsessed with him. At least Mavis, as cunning as he was, didn't harp on about Harry's fame.
He waited (im)patiently until Mister Malfoy finally arrived in the parlor.
"Mister Potter," he said cordially. "How can I help you this evening?"
"How would you like a job?" Harry asked quickly. "I need a barrister and you always say you're the best, don't you?"
Malfoy was too posh to show any surprise, but he did raise a single, perfect, blonde brow.
"What do you need a barrister for?" he asked.
Harry smirked at him, "I need legal defense against Albus Dumbledore. What will it cost me to hire you?"
"If you would kindly allow me a few minutes to gather myself I can floo to your location where we can discuss this further," Malfoy said with a wry grin of his own.
"Brill. The password is still Sevvie. See you soon."
Harry paced around the sitting room, thinking hard about how to handle Dumbledore if Professor Snape was even able to get him reinstated. He had told the Headmaster that he was going to kill him... the old man probably wasn't happy about that.
He looked up from his pacing when the floo chimed and Mister Malfoy elegantly stepped through. Harry smirked when he realized that 'gathering himself' apparently meant changing in to a posher robe than he had on before.
"Alright Mister Potter, let's talk."
Harry and Malfoy were still seated in the recliners, discussing their plan, when Snape came through the floo.
"Lucius," he said with a quizzical expression. "I was not aware that you had a meeting with Potter tonight."
"Mister Potter has retained my services," Malfoy said with his pretentious drawl.
"Oh?" Snape looked at Harry. "And what services did you require Lucius for?"
Harry's smirk wavered slightly. Would Snape be mad about their plan? Dumbledore was his boss after all.
"Well, it just depends on what Dumbledore said to you tonight," he stalled.
Snape crossed his arms and leant casually against the now empty fireplace.
"You are being immediately summoned to the Headmasters office for a discussion on your continued enrollment at Hogwarts," he said simply.
Harry jumped to his feet with a broad grin.
"Brill! Let's go!"
"Hold on," Malfoy stopped him. "You will not respond 'immediately' to a summons from Albus Dumbledore. You do not present yourself a child desperate for his approval or blessing," he sneered. "Severus, kindly inform the Headmaster that, as it is currently seven o'clock on a Friday evening, Mister Potter is amenable to meeting with him to discuss multiple matters of importance on Monday morning."
"That's genius," Harry breathed.
Malfoy gave him a smug look, "That is what I'm here for."
Snape sighed and sat down on one of the new sofas. "Albus won't be pleased to be dismissed like this," he warned.
"If he's going to be mad about that, he'll really hate that I'm suing him," Harry said with a small grin towards Snape.
"What-"
Whatever Snape had been about to say was interrupted by the chime of the floo.
"For the love of Merlin," Snape muttered, bending down to accept the call.
"Severus! Is Harry there? I just got a message from Dumbledore."
Madame Bones' face was floating in the fire, looking frantic.
"He is here," Snape said. "What message did you receive?"
"Albus seems to think Harry is with me," Madame Bones explained. "I just received a patronus requesting I bring Harry to Hogwarts immediately to discuss the recent attack."
"The recent attack?" Malfoy sneered. "Not Potter's reinstatement?"
Madame Bones grimaced, "Right. But if there has been another attack-"
"There has," Snape said.
"Then we use this as grounds to have the expulsion reversed if Harry still wants to attend Hogwarts."
All three adults looked beseechingly at Harry.
"Yeah," he said firmly. "My friends are there, aren't they? And I shouldn't have been expelled in the first place."
"Then we fight for it," Snape said with a look of approval. "Albus was reluctant to extend the offer of a meeting. Minerva and myself had to convince him."
"There was another attack and he was still reluctant to reach out to Mister Potter?" Malfoy asked, making a quick note on his parchment. "Did he say why?"
Snape gave Harry a long suffering look and sighed, "Potter threatened to kill him when he was expelled. Albus believes that Potter is the second rising of the Dark Lord. Apparently he believes the students would be in danger with Potter in attendance."
Madame Bones scoffed, Malfoy gave Harry an appraising look, and Harry? He preened just a bit. He was flattered that Dumbledore had clearly been shaken by his threat.
He hoped Dumbledore remembered all the wrongs he'd done to him when he did eventually kill him.
"A twelve year old child said something mean when he was being evicted from his home unfairly?" Madame Bones said drily. "Yes, that seems to line right up with the Muggleborn slaughters that Voldemort endorsed."
"Nobody ever accused Dumbledore of clear thought when it comes to either Potter or the Dark Lord," Snape agreed.
"Well Severus, are you joining us in Dumbledore's office tonight?" Madame Bones asked, returning the conversation back to the original topic.
"Excuse me Madame Bones," Malfoy cut in smoothly. "But Mister Potter will not be responding to Albus' call tonight. Would you be amendable to sending a message informing him that Potter will be in his office Monday morning at eight o'clock? We do have quite a bit of work to complete between now and then." He gave Harry a sly look, "Witnesses to gather, paperwork to complete, lawsuits to file."
Harry thought that Madame Bones might not like that, she was a cop after all. But she gave Malfoy a curt nod.
"Of course. I'll meet you all here at a quarter til on Monday morning then, shall I?"
"Why?" Harry blurted. He ducked his head and flushed slightly as the adults all looked at him again. "I mean- I just meant, why are you coming to the meeting ma'am?"
"Because you are a ward of the Ministry until your guardianship is completed," Madame Bones explained kindly. "And I will be there to represent you in loco parentis."
"Oh, okay."
"Until then gentlemen, I will be available at home this weekend."
After Madame Bones disconnected from the floo Harry relaxed back in to his seat.
"Well Mister Potter, shall we get on with it?" Malfoy asked with a raised brow.
"Let's do it," Harry agreed.
They continued discussing their plan of attack for Monday morning, easily ignoring Snape who was muttering things about 'insane children' and 'political warfare' as he sipped a drink.
By the time Snape and Malfoy left Friday night, Harry felt optimistic about his chances of returning to Hogwarts on Monday. Really, if Mister Malfoy had represented him legally from the get-go, he probably never would have been expelled.
The man was a shark. He knew more about law and politics than anyone else Harry had ever met. And that includes the Minister of Magic. He wondered if Malfoy knew the laws for the same reasons Harry began learning them; you needed to know what laws you were and weren't breaking when you made plans.
Saturday morning he began reluctantly gathering his belongings that had somehow became strewn across Snape's house. He figured that he would either be back at Hogwarts or in Italy come Monday afternoon and it would be best to be prepared for either outcome. Harry found a single trainer underneath one of the kitchen chairs and a jumper on a bookshelf. He shook his head at himself, he never should have made himself this comfortable here. It was stupid to get attached to a place that could be taken away from him in a blink.
Just look at Hogwarts.
That afternoon Harry was eating lunch and arguing with Mavis about the difference between forced slavery and choosing to work as a house elf when the floo went off. He kept eating, assuming it was Snape, and listened to Mavis' squeaky admonishment.
"Elves is not having strong powers when they is not having Master's," Mavis explained while stirring batter in a bowl.
"What if you had a wand?" Harry asked. "Then you would be able to channel your own power, not your 'masters', wouldn't you?"
"Potter you cannot give your house-elf a wand."
Harry looked up and grinned at Snape, who was leaning against the kitchen doorframe.
"Why not? I'm not using m-"
"HARRY!"
Harry gaped as his red-headed best friend ran past Snape and stopped just short of where Harry was seated.
"Susan?" he asked, inching backwards subtly. "What are you doing here?"
Susan huffed and sat in the chair opposite from Harry, Snape's usual seat, and smiled at him.
"We said I'd come over today, right? My Auntie said I could. So, tada!" She shook her hands in a waving motion and Harry laughed at her theatrics.
"You've been around Draco too much," he accused fondly.
"You have no idea Mister Potter," Snape drawled from the doorway. "I will return at five o'clock to return Miss Bones to Hogwarts." He gave them both a severe look, "I would appreciate it if our home was not destroyed when I return."
Susan gave the man a small smirk as they both agreed before Snape swept off back to the sitting room.
"'Our home'?" Susan asked, easily plucking a few crisps off Harry's plate. "Did I miss something?"
Harry grimaced and shrugged. Susan was his best friend, and usually he felt like he could tell her anything, but what if that changed while he was gone?
"What's everyone doing today?" he asked instead.
Susan rolled her eyes at his obvious subject change but indulged him anyway.
"Hermione and Theo are wasting their whole day revising, Draco and Ron are flying even though it's freezing out and they'll probably get sick, Luna is hunting for wrackspurts with Neville, and I have no idea where Blaise is," she said, ticking each kid off as she listed them.
"Theo and Hermione are studying together?" Harry asked, scrunching his nose. "That sounds like the worlds most boring day, ever."
Susan giggled and leaned forward slightly, even though Mavis was the only other person in the room.
"I think Theo has a crush on Hermione," she said. "He's always offering to study together and he even made Blaise trade him seats at meals so he could sit beside her."
"Oh." Harry thought about how Theo and Hermione were the only two in their group who really got crazy about studying and loved to read. "I guess they have a lot in common?"
Susan laughed and adopted a faux-posh tone, "Well they're only twelve so it's likely just a phase that'll pass."
Harry shrugged, he didn't know anything about relationships and didn't really care to learn either.
"Is everyone being decent to Luna?" he asked. He'd worried that they'd stop hanging out with Luna without Harry there and she'd be lonely and an open target for bullies again.
"Of course," Susan said indignantly. "Do you think I'd let anyone be mean to her?"
"Sorry," Harry mumbled sheepishly. "I was just checking."
"It's fine," Susan waved her hand, easily brushing off his implications. "Hey, did Snape tell you about me and Peeves?"
"He said you got detention for throwing stink pellets at Dumbledore's office door with him."
Susan gave him a mischievous grin, "That's just the only time we got caught."
Harry grinned back, he could just imagine the sort of chaos that an angry Susan and Peeves would create.
"What'd you guys do?"
"Tell me why Snape said 'our home' and I'll tell you," she offered with a smirk.
"Sneaky!" Harry accused while Mavis cackled in the background. "That's not fair!"
"Miss Susan is using Master Potter's tricks against him," Mavis snorted. "Master Potter probably taught Miss Susan to be a trickster."
"He's right," Susan said. "This is really your fault."
Harry stared at her for a long time and she just watched him silently.
"Is everything different?" he asked quietly.
"Never," Susan said, understanding his question immediately.
"We're still best friends? You'll still keep my secrets?"
Susan nodded, her usually sparkling eyes were uncharacteristically solemn.
"We'll always be best friends. I swear."
Harry had always relied on his gut instincts, they hadn't steered him wrong in 12 years. And his gut instincts said that Susan was still just as trustworthy as she's been since the day they met.
"Your Aunt is helping Snape get guardianship of me."
"Really? That's wicked!" Susan said with a broad smile. "Is that what you want?"
"Suppose so," Harry shrugged. "She showed me a bunch of people who applied after they read the news but they just liked me because I'm famous. Snape... Snape's different, isn't he?"
Susan's eyes darkened, "Speaking of the news, do you want to talk about that?"
Harry rolled his eyes at her, "Not a chance. Tell me about Peeves."
Susan huffed but immediately launched in to her story. Harry listened eagerly, snacking on the biscuits Mavis gave them.
"And then Peeves said 'Dumblydore is scared of little snakey Potter' and I thought, 'let's fill his office with snakes then!'"
Harry laughed so hard at some of her stories that his stomach began to hurt.
"I can't believe you didn't even get detention," he said, wiping actual tears of laughter off his face.
"Well I did have one yesterday," Susan admitted. "But then someone got petrified so I didn't even have to stay the full time."
"Good timing then," Harry said.
"Especially if it means you get to come back," she agreed.
"Oh! Wait! Did I tell you about Myrtle?" she suddenly cried.
"Hold on wait-" Harry interrupted her. "You'll never believe what Dumbledore told me!"
"No, wait listen-"
"Myrtle died when the chamber opened-"
"Myrtle was killed by the monster-"
Harry and Susan stared at each other in shock for a moment before they began laughing.
"How did you find out?" Harry asked.
"Luna," Susan said simply.
"Fuckin' nargles," Harry grumbled, still upset that he couldn't see them or hear them.
Susan giggled but shook her head.
"It wasn't the nargles, she just talked to Myrtle and got to know her."
"Brill," Harry said, impressed. "Luna's amazing."
"She really is," Susan agreed. "And now we have a lead on who the actual Heir is!"
Harry snorted, "I don't give a damn about who it is. As long as the other houses know it isn't me."
"You don't want to catch them?" Susan asked with her nose scrunched up. "I thought you'd want revenge or something."
Harry had thought a lot about it since he'd been expelled. The Heir of Slytherin hadn't done anything to him, personally. They hadn't attacked his friends, they weren't the one who shoved him in the halls or broke his nose, and they weren't the one who expelled him and tried to send him to Surrey.
"They aren't bothering us though, not really, right? So I say, if they aren't bothering us then we don't bother them."
It was a good piece of advice that Harry had learned fast on the streets. A lot of the other street kids and homeless folk wouldn't bother you as long as you kept your head down and your nose in your own business.
"So we can't go find the Chamber of Secrets?" Susan asked with a pouting lip. "Theo is going to be disappointed. He thinks there'll be a bunch of books and journals about 'Slytherin culture and history' in there."
"That would be something Theo is worried about," Harry said drily. "Him and Hermione both are so bloody weird about books."
"Maybe Theo only likes Hermione for her books," Susan said with mock solemnity.
Harry laughed and smiled at Susan. It was good having her here, it was almost just like being at Hogwarts.
They finished off the plate of biscuits and then Susan asked for a tour of the house before Snape got back.
"Alright, c'mon, I'll show you the stuff I changed," Harry offered.
He showed her the sitting room, with the brilliant new sofas. And the library with the new bookshelves. He cracked open Snape's bedroom door to point out the fresh paint and furniture that Mrs Malfoy had picked out after assuring him she knew Snape's taste well. They passed the potion lab but Harry explained how he didn't change anything in there because he was afraid Snape would kill him if he did.
"And this is the room I've been staying in," Harry said, opening his door and waving Susan inside.
"Why isn't it all green and posh like the rest of the house?" Susan asked curiously.
Harry shrugged, "I figured Snape didn't need a guest room to match 'his style', as Draco's mum calls it, so I just left it alone."
Susan sat down on his bed and crossed her legs underneath her. "But it's not his guest room anymore, is it? It's your room. So you should decorate it how you want."
Harry hesitated when she said that. If Snape got guardianship of him, like Minister Fudge said he would, then this would be his room. It's not like there was anywhere else for Harry to sleep... Snape didn't even have a cupboard under his staircase.
But... but if he decorated it then got it taken away it would be miserable. He didn't want to get too attached to a bedroom, or a house in general. Everything could be taken away from him easily.
"I'll think about it," he lied.
"Well here," Susan dug in her robe pocket for a few seconds before she pulled out a photo. "You should hang this on the wall anyway."
Harry took the photo from her and smiled at the picture of their whole gang they had Daphne Greengrass take on the train on the way to school in September. They were all seated in their compartment and had just gotten done eating when they saw Daphne walk by and Susan stopped her to ask her to take their photo.
'It's our first official group photo,' she'd declared, throwing one arm around Harry and one around Ron. 'Everyone say cheese!'
"We should take a new one soon," she said, politely ignoring how hard Harry was staring at the photo. "We'll need it updated to include Luna."
"Yeah," Harry said softly. "We can do that."
He walked over to the side of his bed and held the photo against the wall.
Keep the photo on the wall, he thought, giving his core a light tug and smiling happily once the photo had been magically stuck to the wall.
Harry and Susan didn't know it then, but a small silver instrument in Albus Dumbledore's office began emitting a high pitched beep.
"What's that racket?!" one of the portraits on the wall asked the Headmaster who was inspecting the instrument.
Headmaster Dumbledore sighed deeply before he answered, "The wards around Harry Potter's home have fallen."
***
Harry hadn't slept well on Sunday night, even with the Dreamless Sleep Snape had made just for him. He laid in bed until the early hours of the morning thinking of all the ways the upcoming meeting could go wrong.
He eventually gave sleep up as a bad job and made his way to the kitchen. He sat at the marble topped table and sipped a cappuccino. He felt a bit like a tosser when he bought it on Mrs Malfoy's recommendation but he had to admit that cappuccinos were a lot tastier than regular coffee.
Maybe he'd see if he could get Mavis to bring him some to school sometimes.
Unless he was in Italy, Lady Messa swore her school served cappuccinos all the time.
Harry watched out the window as the sun started to rise. He was going to be a little disappointed to leave, despite his best efforts not to be. It was peaceful here.
Harry was feeling so content he'd started dozing lightly in his seat, glasses still on and one hand wrapped around his mug.
"Lucius will be here soon."
Harry jumped about a foot off his chair and yelped in surprise. He turned around and saw Snape was smirking in the doorway, holding a white box.
"What're you doing here?" Harry asked, sopping up his now spilt drink.
Snape walked over to the table and slid the box towards Harry.
"I wanted to give you this before your meeting today."
Harry looked down at the box, then back up at Snape, and at the box again.
"What is it?" he asked warily.
Snape sighed, moving to the counter to make himself a hot cappuccino. "You could open it and find out," he said lightly. "Unless you believe you can develop the power to see through solid objects."
Harry made a mental note to try and see if he could do just that eventually, it would be bloody useful.
He glanced over at Snape and saw that he was still facing away from him, so he slowly opened the box and peeked inside.
"I believe you have a certain image to cultivate today," Snape said casually as Harry pulled the item out of the box.
It was a set of robes. Really posh robes, not unlike the ones Mister Malfoy wears. Except, instead of the solid black he favors, these were a deep emerald green.
"They're dress robes," Snape explained, paying no mind to Harry who was running his hands over the thick rich material.
"They're perfect," Harry said quietly, picturing himself wearing something so nice. "Thank you. I'll pay you back."
"I will be deeply insulted if you even attempt to pay me for them," Snape said. "Most wizard your age already own a pair of dress robes. You had not required any before now so I mistakenly did not advise you to purchase any. I fixed my own mistake, that is all."
Harry looked up at Snape, who was watching him with a neutral look.
"I don't like owing people things," he said shortly. "I'd like to pay you back."
"And I will require no repayment other than you wearing those this morning and giving Albus Dumbledore as much of a terrible migraine as you consistently give me."
Harry, who had been trying very hard not to bother Snape in any way in case he changed his mind about the guardianship, glared at the man.
"That's not a fair trade. I bet these were expensive."
Snape sent a pointed look around the kitchen. "And refurbishing our home was certainly a frugal decision I'm sure," he said drily. "If you can waste your money on nonsense for my benefit then I certainly can spend a meager amount of my savings on a set of dress robes for my future ward." He smirked at Harry and raised his brows, "You do reflect back on me now, I'd hate to have my good name tarnished because of a wardrobe oversight."
Harry scoffed but gave Snape an appreciative nod. "I'll try and not sully your good name," he said sarcastically. He then added on a much more genuine, "Thank you sir."
"It was no bother," Snape said, waving one hand airily. "Though you should hasten to change and prepare for Lucius and Amelia." He checked his watch and put his now empty mug in the sink. "I must return to Hogwarts. I will see you shortly as Albus has invited me to attend as your previous Head of House."
Harry nodded, feeling his nerves returning with the mention of the upcoming meeting. Snape walked a little closer to him and lightly placed one hand on his shoulder.
"Are you certain of the tactic you have chosen?" he asked seriously. "I believe 'poor orphan Harry' may be more well received than Heir Potter-Black will be."
Harry studied the floor as he thought about his answer.
"I don't want to be 'poor orphan Harry'," he said after a moment. "I hate Dumbledore and I don't want to seem weak in front of him. He doesn't like me anyway, why bother pretending?"
He looked up at Snape and saw that he had a look of approval on his face.
"No point at all, I suppose," he agreed easily. "I believe Albus has now identified you as a possible threat to him and would see through any pretense otherwise."
Harry agreed, that's what Mister Malfoy had talked about on Friday night too.
Snape made to leave the kitchen when Harry called out one his biggest worries to him;
"Do you think he'll try and hurt me?" he blurted.
Snape turned and gave Harry a weird look. His eyes were warm but his scowl was fierce. It was an odd juxtaposition.
"I do not believe Albus would be foolhardy enough to physically attack you, no. And if he attempts to legilimize you or otherwise intimidate you then you only have to give me a signal and I will ensure he never does again," Snape swore. "I shall see you there."
Harry watched him leave and stood in the kitchen, holding his new robes tightly, as he considered what he said.
Snape was a bastard sometimes, but he was a decent bloke overall.
At exactly eight o'clock Harry, Mister Malfoy, and Madame Bones stepped through the floo directly in to Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore stood to greet them. "Amelia, Lucius, I was not aware you would be joining us," he said warmly. "I'll have to conjure a few chairs."
"No need," Malfoy drawled. "Harry, if you would."
Harry waved one of his hands, focusing very strongly on four posh chairs to appear, and smirked at Dumbledore as he sat himself down in between Madame Bones and Mister Malfoy.
'He does not intimidate you,' Mister Malfoy had coached him. 'You will intimidate him while appearing perfectly compliant.'
One point to Team Harry, he thought smugly.
Dumbledore glanced at Snape, who Harry now saw was standing by the office door.
"Wonderful," he said, his eyes looking like it was anything but. "Though I believe we can leave the Board out of a mere meeting with a student?" he said with a polite look at Mister Malfoy.
"I am not here as a board member Dumbledore," Malfoy sneered. "I am here in my official capacity representing the legal interests of Heir Potter-Black."
Harry was impressed by the lack of surprise Dumbledore showed. He checked the wall on the clock and curled the edges of his lips up a bit. If Dumbledore wasn't surprised yet, he would be in about ten minutes.
"Heir Black?" Dumbledore said with a puzzled frown. "I believe Harry is not yet old enough to claim his Heirships."
"You are on the Wizengamot," Madame Bones said in an exasperated tone. "You know the laws. Harry is the only Heir for both lines which means he is eligible to claim them at any point."
Harry thought that Dumbledore might have been notified by Gringotts once Malfoy had him removed from the Black line but judging from the quick flash of anger in the man's eyes, clearly not.
Two points me, zero to Dumbledore.
"Pardon me Amelia, I must have forgotten Harry was the only Heir to the Black line. I had assumed that Narcissa would try and have young Draco take it over eventually."
Malfoy curled his upper lip up in distaste but sat back in his chair and crossed one leg over the other- appearing entirely unconcerned with Dumbledore.
Harry was envious for a moment. He wished he had sat like that originally, he'd look like a prat if he did it now. Malfoy looked so aloof and disinterested in the proceedings that he would almost believe that the man was bored.
"Shall we discuss the matter at hand?" Dumbledore asked with another smile towards Madame Bones.
"Not just yet," Malfoy drawled. "We have a number of things to discuss today and are waiting on our final guest."
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and folded his hands politely on his desk.
"Very well," he said evenly. "We will begin once they arrive then."
Begrudgingly, Harry could admit that Dumbledore was excellent at appearing unflappable.
One point Dumbledore, he thought irritably.
They all sat in silence as the clock ticked down. Harry desperately wanted to turn around and see what facial expression Snape was wearing but held himself back.
'Do not look at Severus too often,' Madame Bones warned him before they arrived. 'Albus is not aware of his impending guardianship and we don't want to give him any clues beforehand.'
So Harry sat with his back straight and silently studied his hands in his lap until a quarter after when their final arrival came through the floo.
"Harry!" Minister Fudge cried, coming over to shake Harry's hand. "How are you lad?"
'In Wixen society it is proper to greet the guest with the most political power and standing first,' the Contessa had instructed him Sunday afternoon during their one of their now regular luncheons. 'The only exception to this is direct family members; spouses, children, or parents.'
Three points Harry, one Dumbledore, he grinned as he shook the Ministers hand.
"It's great to see you again," he said, lacing his tone with warmth. "Thank you for clearing space out of your busy schedule to come. It means a lot to me."
As expected, Fudge puffed his chest out proudly.
"Nothing of it lad, of course I came. Reinstating the future Lord Potter-Black to his rightful British education is no menial task," he winked at Harry.
"Cornelius, how are you?" Dumbledore stood and offered his hand to Fudge. "I wasn't aware that Harry would require the Head of the DMLE, a barrister, and the Minister of Magic for a conversation with his Headmaster."
Harry opened his mouth to respond when Mister Malfoy shook his head subtly.
'I will do the majority of the speaking. You have hired me to represent you and will need to allow me to do my job,' he told Harry very seriously on Friday night. 'What if Dumbledore wants me to say something?' Harry asked.
'Then you look to me for your official response.' Malfoy appeared
thoughtful when he explained, 'Imagine yourself as too good to speak to Dumbledore. Put yourself in the state of mind that he is nothing more than a slug beneath your boots and speaking to him only gives more weight to his words.'
Malfoy looked entirely bored as he spoke, "Heir Potter-Black requires legal representation, which I am here for. Madame Bones is here to represent Heir Potter-Black in loco parentis, as he is a ward of the ministry pending his change in guardianship. And the Minister is here because we are unable to give you this," Malfoy paused to pull an official looking rolled scroll from his inner robe pocket and placed it on Dumbledore's desk, "without his presence."
Dumbledore gave Mister Malfoy a polite smile and unrolled the scroll to read.
"Lawsuit for Defamation of Character, and a Civil Suit for a refund of tuition?"
Even though Malfoy had given Dumbledore the scroll, the old man still turned his steely gaze to Harry.
"Harry I believe there may have been some misunderstanding here," he said in what was probably meant to sound like a friendly tone of voice but instead just sounded saccharine. "I wanted to speak with you today about rejoining your classmates at Hogwarts."
"Oh we will," Malfoy cut in smoothly. "Now that there has been a third child injured on your watch and Mister Potter was not even permitted on the grounds, there is no purpose to his expulsion. As thin as the original evidence was to begin with, we believe that there should be no hesitation in granting Heir Potter-Black his rightful education."
"Of course not," Fudge said. "Harry was proven innocent. We'll have him back in his dorm tonight." He winked again at Harry who played his part right and gave him a friendly smile.
"Thank you sir," Harry said politely.
"But as that is a moot point at this time, the other issues at hand will need resolved," Malfoy continued. "We would first demand the return of Heir Potter-Black's tuition as he was exiled from the place of learning."
Dumbledore shook his head and sighed lightly, "I'm afraid I can't do that. Tuition is not eligible to be refunded in cases of expulsion."
"Unless the expulsion is later overturned or otherwise found to be unlawful," Madame Bones corrected him. "Which in this case, it was unlawful and will be overturned by the end of this meeting. Since Harry's overall education was severely impacted by an unlawful and overturned expulsion, he is eligible for a full refund of tuition for this year."
Harry gave a smug smile at Dumbledore as the man clearly struggled to find a reason to withhold the money his parents had prepaid for his schooling.
"Very well," he finally acquiesced. "I can send a note to Gringotts and have it done soon."
Malfoy pulled another parchment from his robe and slid it across the desk. "Or you can sign this now and it can be completed immediately," he said coolly.
Four to one, he tracked as Dumbledore signed the parchment which immediately disappeared.
"As for the Defamation of Character suit; Heir Potter-Black is requesting a sum total of 10,000 galleons to be paid directly by Albus Dumbledore for creating a false statement about the persons of Heir Potter-Black which publicly injured his name, his familial lines, and his personal reputation," Malfoy said.
"I do not believe I created a false statement regarding Mister Potter," Dumbledore said, his tone just a few shades cooler than it had been before.
"You expelled him on the basis that he petrified multiple other students. We have now proven that he did not do this. You made the statement with no proof and it injured Heir Potter-Blacks reputation. That is the case we have against you now," Malfoy said in an impressive tone that was both bored and disdainful.
"Have we proven that Mister Potter was not responsible for the third attack?" Dumbledore asked quietly. "Because I believe we have yet to catch the culprit and Mister Potter still remains the most viable suspect."
Harry was incredibly amused to hear the Minister of Magic snort incredulously.
"Come now Dumbledore- three attacks and the lad wasn't even here for the third one. How could he have done it?"
Dumbledore inclined his head minutely in the Minister's direction, though he kept his eyes locked on to Harry's.
"Where has Mister Potter been?" He glanced at Madame Bones before returning his gaze to Harry. "Perhaps if the person he was residing with wished to alibi him, then we could absolutely strike him as a suspect."
Harry heard Snape scoff lightly from behind him and he gave a faint grin. Dumbledore was a moron if he thought that anyone in the room was going to fall for that. He'd find out who Harry stayed with when the rest of the Wixen world did- after it was legally cemented.
"Surely you aren't still blaming him!" Fudge cried. "We all know whose pet monsters killed a poor girl before. Not a coincidence they're still here and it's opened again, eh Dumbledore?"
"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence," said Dumbledore, frowning at Fudge.
Hagrid? The Groundskeeper? There's no way he's the Heir of Slytherin.
It was a ridiculous idea to even consider.
"Yes well, we'll go visit him once we finish up here," Fudge said sharply.
Harry would have felt bad for the Groundskeeper until he remembered how the large man had dropped him off in Surrey with a cheerful farewell at Dumbledore's orders.
Him choosing the wrong side is no concern of mine, he told himself firmly.
"Returning to the issue at hand," Malfoy said smoothly with a polite nod to the Minister and a curled lip at Dumbledore. "The facts remain that you issued an official statement which has been proven to be false, which injured Heir Potter-Black's representation, and which has caused him emotional distress. We can resolve the matter today or in open court at a later date, at which time of course we will be adding Passive Neglect of a Dependent and Kidnapping of a Minor to the charges, both of which carry additional fines of 15,000 galleons and 22,000 galleons respectively."
And that, finally, broke Dumbledore's composure.
"And what grounds do you threaten me with those charges?" he demanded.
"You carried no legal right to Heir Potter-Black's placement on the night of his parents death, and yet, you took it upon yourself to remove the infant from his parents home and placed him with supposed relatives all while bypassing the legal system in place for cases as his," Malfoy said. "Furthermore, you then neglected to check on the welfare of Heir Potter-Black despite placing him in the home of Muggles who had not passed any checks or inquiries that the homes of orphaned children are subjected to. This led to assault, physical abuse, emotional abuse, gross neglect, and mental trauma to Heir Potter-Black."
Harry stared very hard at his new robes he wore, fighting down the urge to blush. It was embarrassing having the Minister of Magic hearing these things about him.
"Mister Potter's godfather was imprisoned!" Dumbledore said. "Voldemort's followers were still afoot, as I'm sure you are aware Lucius. His relatives home was the safest place for him. And I have seen no proof of any alleged abuse done to the boy by his relatives who are, by all accounts, a loving family."
"No abuse?" Harry asked sharply, looking up at the Headmaster and forgetting his one and only job to remain quiet. "Did they give me this as a bloody birthday gift?" he demanded, gesturing towards the large scar on his right cheek. "I was seven," he hissed. "And my aunt struck me with a pan so hard it cracked and the second swing cut my face wide open." Harry ignored Snape's hiss of anger and focused on Dumbledore's face, "Look me in the eyes and tell me they're a 'loving family'."
"It's okay Harry," Madame Bones murmured. "You don't have to prove anything. The records will speak for themselves in open court."
"Surely this doesn't need to go to court," Fudge said nervously. "Albus can see the be way to prevent that, right Albus?"
'The Minister will want this to go to court just as minimally as you do,' Malfoy had explained. 'He will put the pressure on Dumbledore to accept our initial offer so that citizens do not blame the Ministry for your placement with your relatives.'
Dumbledore shot a cold look towards Snape, who Harry turned his head slightly to see was actively glaring harshly at the Headmaster.
"I will agree on the contingency that the matter of Harry Potter's placement prior to today will never again be held against me," he eventually said.
Malfoy looked at Harry, who gave Dumbledore a cockeyed look of amusement.
"Never again be held against you legally," he offered with a cold smile.
Dumbledore's eyes flashed with something that looked remarkably like fear.
"As you wish Mister Potter."
He sighed the newly offered parchment from Malfoy and then sat back heavily in his chair.
"Is there anything else?" he asked.
"I believe the matter of Mister Potter's expulsion will still be officially nullified," Snape said from his place in the back of the room.
"Of course," Dumbledore said with a small smile towards the potions master. "Mister Potter I am pleased to officially reinstate you as a second year student to Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Harry could see how strained the headmasters smile was, and how cold his eyes were.
He'd leave me on the streets forever if he could.
"Thank you sir," Harry said politely, solely for Minister Fudges benefit. "I'm sure the rest of this year will be much better once you find the actual culprit of these attacks."
It is your fault these students are being attacked, he thought as hard as he could in Dumbledore's direction. If someone dies- it is your fault.
Dumbledore must have at least read some of his thoughts off Harry's face because his fake smile disappeared in to a tight lipped frown. The Headmaster stood up and walked behind him to a shelf and grabbed the Sorting Hat and lightly tossed it across the desk to Harry.
"Because you were officially removed from Hogwarts roster you will have to be resorted," he said- his voice kind but his eyes hard. "Please place the hat on your head."
Harry glanced at Madame Bones and Malfoy, both of whom nodded at him, before he pulled the hat on his head.
The first time he had worn the hat they had talked, argued, debated, and discussed the pros and cons of Harry entering each house. It had resulted in the longest sorting in Hogwarts history.
This time, the hat barely touched the hair on Harry's head before it opened its wide brim and shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
Harry couldn't help it; after he gave Dumbledore back the hat he glanced behind him at Snape again. Snape's face was mostly neutral but Harry was sure he could see the corners of his mouth trying to pull up in to a small smile.
"And his wand?" Snape drawled from behind him.
Dumbledore easily opened his desk drawer and pulled out Harry's wand.
"Here you go- your wand."
Harry didn't know why but he could see that out of all the things that Dumbledore had to do that morning, giving Harry his wand back angered him the most.
Harry grabbed it quickly and felt exhilarated at the rush of warmth the wand had once it touched his palm. He gave Dumbledore a scornful look as he carefully placed his wand back in the holster it belongs in.
Five to One- I win.
"Wonderful lad!" Minister Fudge cheered, leaping to his feet. "I believe that is all the business you had on your agenda with Harry, right Lucius?"
Mister Malfoy nodded, standing and straightening his robes. "It is. Although I should warn you Headmaster, if I hear of any improprieties or illegalities regarding the way you treat my client, I will be back."
Dumbledore didn't reply but gave Malfoy a small nod of acknowledgment.
"I would like to speak with Mister Potter alone, regarding his missed coursework," Dumbledore said evenly as the rest of the room rose to their feet.
"I will take care of that," Snape immediately offered.
"Yes," Fudge agreed. "Let your Professors do the job you hired them for, eh? I believe the rest of us," he gestured towards Madame Bones, Mister Malfoy, Dumbledore, and himself, "have an errand to run on the grounds."
"Arresting Hagrid will not stop the attacks," Dumbledore said in a cool tone. "It would be a colossal mistake and waste of time and resources."
"Much like expelling Harry?" Madame Bones suggested. "I believe the man who was arrested for killing a classmate before is a more useful lead to consider."
"It is a necessary precaution," Minister Fudge said, twirling his bowler in his hand. "We cannot be seen to be doing nothing."
"Why don't you run along to your common room," Snape murmured quietly in Harry's ear, having stepped up behind him silently in the noise of the argument between the three other Wixen. "I believe you will find eight children skipping class in preparation to either celebrate your return or incinerate the castle."
Harry turned and gave Snape a beaming smile.
"Yes sir!"
He interrupted the harsh argument between Dumbledore, Madame Bones, Mister Malfoy, and Minister Fudge to wish three of the four a good day before taking off out the door.
Harry knew three things as absolute facts as he rushed down to the dungeons in search of his friends:
1. His gang was going to lose their minds when he tells them how Dumbledore had to pay him 10,000 galleons and refund his full tuition from this year.
2. Dumbledore never apologized for a single thing he had done to Harry.
3. Harry would remind him of that fact when he causes him to choke on his own blood one day.