"And let's not forget the most important trick in your arsenal. Make sure there is always some poor gullible fool to take the blame when people find out what you've done. Just like you did then."
He altered his voice to a fake girly voice and said, "Make a distraction for me Harry. Do something to focus the attention of the class on you so I can slip into the Master's Storeroom without getting caught."
He let his voice slip back into his normal tones hiding a wince as he did so.
"You disgust me. And for the record, that doesn't make you respectable either. That makes you a sneak thief and a liar." From behind him the Throat Soothing Charm hit him again. He almost sighed in relief.
"Nor did you even actually do the job you just claimed I was paying you to do. Maybe in first year you did but in second year, I got booted out of the tower and into Protective Custody by the suspicions and rumors of the gullible fools here. You weren't coming by my chambers to help me study during that time. Hell, I even asked you multiple times to come get me books for my assignments so I could do them decently. Because the Professors, who were my escorts everywhere, claimed they didn't have the time to chaperone me in the Library. But you never did, did you?"
"What was it you claimed when I'd ask you about them? Oh yes I remember. You said you were using them but I could borrow them when you finished with them, didn't you? Or they weren't available. But who was paying who, Hermione? I could swear the whole reason you're here in my face right now is because you want my money. Not the other way around. Hells bells girl, you were a petrified statue in the infirmary for a good portion of the year. So just how the hell are you claiming to have gotten me the information I needed then?"
"Third year I again had private chambers which I don't recall you ever visiting for the purposes of homework collaboration. Lectures on obeying the teachers and being mindful of the need to remain safe. That I remember. But homework help? Giving me information I was in need of? No, that I don't remember you ever doing that year. Though you were in possession of information I should've been given weren't you, Girl. Information that turned out to be hazardous to not only my health but yours and Ron's as well as Professor Snape's. Moon controlled Creature on the grounds ringing any bells with you?"
"No, everyone in this school can attest to the fact that you spent the entire year working on a legal case to save Buckbeak for Hagrid. Because Draco whined to his Daddy for not listening to Hagrid in class and Daddy was going to appease his little boy by killing the nasty beastie that scratched him." At the Slytherin table, Draco winced and looked slightly ashamed of himself. Hearing it put like that it really wasn't his proudest moment. Nor could he claim Potter had it wrong. That's exactly what happened.
"And when you weren't working on your law case, you were too busy arguing with Ronald over your chosen pets rights to bother with little ole me, weren't you? Not once during that year did it occur to you I was supposed to be your friend. That you just Admitted you were getting paid to be. Those two things took precedence with you over doing the job you were being paid gold out of my vaults for. But tell me, Hermione when did I offer to pay you to get into arguments and fights with Ronald here? When did I offer to pay you to try and free Buckbeak? Never. That's when. So again you were stealing my gold for your own benefit."
"Fourth year, again the entire school turned it's back on me including you. Not one piece of information did you provide me with for either my classes or the Tournament. You were so distanced from me you weren't even my hostage in the second task when they couldn't find anyone else to play the role. So once again you failed to do your job. Just why do you think you deserve to be paid for a job you aren't even doing?"
He let his words sink in before he finished speaking with her. She was trying not to squirm now as she realized they should have listened to Professor Dumbledore. He'd told them not to confront Harry. To let him handle it. But she'd thought they had him so cowed he'd never make a scene like this.
Harry gave her a flat look as he said, "But since you admit I own you and you claim I owe you something for the time you have so graciously spared for me and my endeavors; endeavors you went out of your way to make sure I got involved in even when I did not wish to; let me settle the score now."
He held up a hand and his magic shot from his palm to impact on her left facial cheek. No one heard the softly muttered words he intoned as his magic leapt out from the palm of his hand towards her. To her credit, Hermione did try to dodge initially when she saw his hand rising but relaxed as soon as she didn't see his wand knowing he wasn't close enough to strike her physically. Unfortunately for her, she forgot Harry didn't need his wand to perform some magic. Some magic no witch or wizard needed a wand to perform. On her cheek the faint outline of a rune began to appear. It grew steadily darker as it formed.
As the rune was forming Harry continued to speak. "You claim you earned your fee by performing duties to me that enabled me to be where I needed to be when I needed to be there and by assisting me in the completion of my homework. Unfortunately for you, I don't recall ever once agreeing to pay you for that kind of aide. Nor do I recall ever once asking for your aide with my homework assignments."
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