As the three entered the Great Hall for dinner, Harry had the note folded and tucked into an inside robe breast pocket. He expected to be using it before the meal ended. The three, again, sat opposite Luna. However, there were now others within her year; and years either side, who were paying her at least some attention. Harry's bollicking of them seemed to have gotten through to at least a few, at last.
Hermione was telling Luna all about what happened during the enquiry while they were eating dessert when Professor McGonagall dropped by attempting to hand Harry a note.
Instead of taking it, Harry asked, "Let me guess; the Headmaster would like to see me in his office immediately after dinner?"
With a frown of displeasure, the Professor replied, "It is not for you or me to ask, Mister Potter." "I see," said Harry. He reached into his pocket, drew forth his prepared note and handed that back to the Professor. "It is for me to ask, Professor. And it is explained in that note right back to the Headmaster. I will not be attending his office, this evening... or, any other evening... for the foreseeable future; until such time as the legal difficulties between us are resolved. I have been so advised by legal counsel."
With her lips firmly pursed in anger, or simple displeasure, the Professor took the note and left again. Harry and the others continued their meal in peace.
The three had just returned to their apartment after the meal when there was a knock on the door by the stone Professor. Hermione rose from where she was sitting and said, "I'll get it." Before walking over and opening the door.
From where the other two were sitting, they heard Hermione ask, "Headmaster?"
"Miss Granger, I must speak with Mister Potter, immediately," they heard the old man say, just before he practically forced his way inside.
Both Harry and Daphne rose from the couches as the old man walked in.
"Mister Potter," said Dumbledore, clearly angry. "I am not in the habit of having my summonses refused by students."
"Headmaster, as my note back to you clearly stated, I have been advised by legal counsel not to meet with you in private," Harry firmly replied. "Now, please leave!"
"I am the Headmaster of this school, Mister Potter," glared Dumbledore. "You will not refuse my summons when I want to speak with you."
Harry glared back. "Certainly, Headmaster. I completely understand. I shall go speak with Professor Flitwick immediately after you leave about transferring to another school. After all, I have been advised by legal counsel not to speak with you in private, as you have been advised. Since my being a student at this school obviously causes a conflict, I shall organise to transfer to another school." Turning to Daphne, he said, "Daphne, please take note of the date and time of this... conflict. We will need to advise Mister Ackerman of exactly what is going on here, right now. I believe he will want to let Madam Bones know." Turning back to the Headmaster, he said, "Please hold your comments until Miss Greengrass is ready to write down exactly what you say."
Quickly gathering to herself parchment, ink and a quill, Daphne said, "Ready, love."
"Now, Headmaster, what is it you wish to speak with me about?" asked Harry. "And please speak clearly so Miss Greengrass is sure to properly write down what you say."
Dumbledore continued to try to look angry. However, Harry could see the man was also afraid. He knew that fear resolved around Harry leaving Hogwarts; or, worse, magical Britain.
"Harry," Dumbledore tried, "I need you to reconsider."
"Reconsider
what,
Headmaster Dumbledore?" Harry asked right back.
With an almost force of will, Dumbledore replied, "I need you to reconsider pursuing this... vendetta... against me. I consider you the grandson I was never fortunate enough to have. I consider you my successor, as the 'Leader of the Light'. I was hoping to offer you my guidance to take over my role when I eventually step down."
Harry stared back for a few moments before he finally began to reply. "First, Headmaster, none of that has one iota of relevance to do with you forcing your way in here as Headmaster. None of that has any relevance to this school. As such, you are abusing your authority. Secondly, I am not pursuing a vendetta against you, as you state. I am clearing the air of the many and varied misconceptions about me. If that causes you personal harm to your reputation, so be it. I spoke only the truth, without obfuscation or vacillation. It could only cause you harm if your reputation is based on other than the truth.
"Through your deliberate and pre conceived actions you placed me in a home... no, not a home... you placed me in an abusive environment, and did not bother to even consider it important enough to check up on my welfare; not even once. You did this to someone who you... through your own words, just then... consider the grandson you were never fortunate to have. Thanks, but no thanks!
"You are the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW, you are the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, you are the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and you were supposed to be my magical guardian after you deliberately and with forethought claimed it from my rightful guardians. Clearly... clearly... you have spread yourself way too thin. Through my own research I have discovered those first three roles are all supposed to be fulltime positions. Either you are breaking the fundamental laws of time, you are not putting in the proper and responsible hours to each of the positions you currently hold, or you are delegating the work to others while claiming the full pay and privileges of each. If it's the last, Mister Dumbledore, it's nothing less than fraud.
"As for the last role, by rights, I should sue your arse! Through our legal system I should seek financial recompense from you for your neglect. Where would your precious reputation be if I was to do that? However, I'm willing to forgo doing that if... and only if... you cease any and all attempts to control me... either directly or indirectly... through deed, word or agency.
"And, I'm only willing to do that, because it means I would have to spend even more time interacting with you if I was to pursue the matter through our courts. I don't like you, I don't trust you, and... frankly, Sir... I feel you have a most unhealthy obsession with me. It scares me how much you seem to be focussing on me.
"Now, Headmaster, Supreme Mugwump, Chief Warlock or Mister Dumbledore... whatever title it is you're currently using or abusing while you stand here... have I made my views on this matter completely clear to you?"
The Headmaster stood there for a few moments with his head slightly bowed but anger still in his eyes. "Yes, Mister Potter; you have. However, there is much you don't know that only I can tell you. That is why it is important you must remain at Hogwarts under my tutelage."
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