Harry ignored his detention with the headmaster and over the course of the next week; he was given replacement detentions that he also chose to ignore. In his anger, Albus was taking Harry's lack of respect out on the staff and they in return were becoming shorter tempered than normal. They saw Harry's rebelliousness as the reason behind their misfortune.
As his head of house, Minerva received a more potent dose than the rest. In her frustration, Minerva took the only opportunity she had with Harry and tore into him in the beginning of a transfiguration class with his classmates all present for the show. In the past, this would have mortified Harry but now, it just increased his anger. "Mr. Potter, you will knock off this foolishness and sit your detention with the headmaster this evening or further action may be taken in this matter."
Harry calmly replied "Professor, I still stand by that I said earlier and will not sit a detention for something that isn't covered in the student guidelines as a punishable offense."
She pinched her nose. "Fifty points from Gryffindor for your disrespect Mr. Potter and you will start doing as you're instructed."
The rest of the Gryffindors glared at him as he smiled. "Professor, would doing as instructed include being forced to participate in a tournament that I have no desire to be in. Why would I risk my life for some bloody trophy and a thousand galleons?"
Draco muttered "Maybe you could buy some decent clothes for once."
Harry was seeing red but before he could say anything, Ron said "Why do you continue to lie?"
Harry turned his glare on Ron and said "I have never lied to you Ron. Can you say the same? Professor McGonagall, you can take as many points from me as you want and it still won't make me sit in an underserved detention."
Neville spoke up "But what about the house cup Harry?"
Harry smirked "Mr. Longbottom, I prefer Potter or Mr. Potter. Only my friends may call me Harry and I don't see any of them in this room. After the way my 'house' has treated me this year, I couldn't give a damn whether you have any points or ever win either Cup again. In fact, Professor, while we are on the subject of houses, you can take this as my resignation from the Quidditch team. I will no longer support a house that doesn't support me. You people made damn sure that Gryffindor isn't my house anymore and is just where I sleep at night. I have no desire to ever help you in any way from now on."
Minerva cut in. "We will discuss that during your detention Mr. Potter."
Harry snapped back. "You mean you will discuss it, I won't be there."
"THAT will be enough Mr. Potter. I won't have you disrespecting me in my class."
Harry got up and walked to the door. As he did Minerva asked "And just where do you think you're going?"
"I've had enough of your badgering me so I think I'll use my time to actually learn something. If you can't live with that then you can expel me. At this point, nothing would make me happier."
Hermione said "But the tournament, you'd lose your magic."
He glared at her and said "My life was a whole lot better when I didn't know about magic. At this point, the loss of my magic is looking better each and every day."
The whole class was stunned at his comment and only came out of their shock when the door slammed as he left. As soon as he stepped out of the door, he immediately called for Dobby to take him to his hiding place. They had no sooner disappeared when the door jerked open and Minerva charged into the hallway. When she saw there was no trace of Harry, she sighed in disappointment and then reentered the class.
She walked to her desk and heavily sat down thinking about all that was happening with the son of two of her favorite students. Her thoughts were trying to understand how things could be so bad that someone as gifted as Harry would consider losing his magic a good thing. She eventually glanced at the students who were looking at her expectantly and said "You can go. I don't think I could teach right now if my life depended on it."
As the class started filing out, Hermione approached Minerva and asked "Professor, is there anything I can do to help?"
She looked up at the sincere look she was getting. "No Miss Granger, I think we've done quite enough already and we're going to pay the high price for our stupidity."
Hermione nodded her head. Harry's comment had stopped her cold and she couldn't stop herself from saying. "What about the price Harry paid?" As soon as she said this, she turned and walked out of the room.