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."
Chapter 127
"Ah, yes," said Harry, with a slight growl. "Information control. It's just another form of control you're trying to place upon me. I'm supposed to need information you have; yet, you're not willing to give it to me. And, when I ask, you brush me off with some... frankly... inane comment about how my childhood is too important to enjoy with such weighty information. Well Mister Supreme Mugwump Headmaster Chief Warlock Leader of the Light Dumbledore, I'm not interested. I'm not buying it. If the information is important for me to have, then give it to me. However, if you're not willing to give it to me, shove it! I will no longer allow you to use it to have power over me. I will find some other way to get it if I actually need it.
"To the second part of your... reasoning... your tutelage, I put to you it is quite difficult to remain under your tutelage when I've not been under it at all! In case you've not figured it out, Headmaster, you've taught me nothing here except for the following facts: One, you refuse to answer very important questions relating to me when I ask them of you; and two, when I complain about your teaching staff... Snape, in particular... you utter some nonsense or other inanity about how he has your complete faith and trust; which, in turn, demonstrates your complete ignorance of the teaching qualities of your staff, or that you really don't give a shit. There are, of course, other matters, but those are the big two. Anything else?"
With a returned angry glare, Dumbledore tried, "I assure you, Harry; when the time is right, I will give you both the information and tutelage you need. However, the time is not yet right."
"Then, Headmaster, when it is, seek me out," returned Harry. "I have no idea where in the world I'll be, at that time; but, I've been giving a heap of consideration to transferring the three of us to either Salem in the US, or Dundee in Australia. I had originally thought to transfer to Beauxbatons in France, until I remembered I speak very little French other than a few words. At least both the US and Australia speak English, even if it's with an accent. It's a decision my rightful guardian, Sirius Black, the Grangers and Greengrasses will make. Anything else?"
the
"No matter how unworthy of the title of hero of magical Britain you feel you are," tried Dumbledore, "you are considered a hero. If you leave Britain, it could cause such a furore it may likely bring down the government and lay ruin to our way of life. Do you think so little of your friends and their families that you'd do such a thing to them?"
"Ah, control method number two; guilt tripping," replied Harry. "That won't work, either. First, I am not responsible for me being placed on that hero pedestal. If anything, you are when you refused to act in my best interests and put a stop to it as soon as it started. Second, I'm now doing my best to correct that misconception about me. That's what those articles you don't want me causing to be printed are all about. And, three, the only friends I have are in this room. And, the only other people I care about, should be caring more about me than magical Britain; and should, therefore, support my desire to leave. The other students of this school, with the notable exceptions of a very few, amply demonstrated to me in my second year how little they really care for me. Does the term 'Heir of Slytherin' ring any bells for you, Headmaster? That's yet another thing you and your staff should have put a stop to as soon as it began. Next?"
"What about the wishes of your parents, Harry?" asked the old man, scrambling for ideas. "They'd have wanted you to attend Hogwarts, as they did."
"Sadly, we'll never know what my parents wanted, Headmaster; as I've never seen the Will they should have left behind," reasoned Harry. "As such, we have no way of knowing what my parents wanted of, or for, me. I suspect I'll probably learn more once I'm able to sit down and discuss the matter more fully with my godfather."
Harry knew a Will should exist, considering the size of the Potter fortune, but had no idea where it could be found. That the goblin Sharpclaw did not tell him of its existence implied a copy was not within their possession. He had the distinct feeling Dumbledore either had it, or had destroyed it.
"Will that be all, Headmaster?" asked Harry, allowing a hint of frustration to colour his voice.
With an exaggerated sigh, Dumbledore replied, "I see you are in no mood to listen to reason, Harry. We shall speak of this at another time."
As Dumbledore turned to leave, Harry shot back, "And, when we do, Headmaster, it will be in the company of my solicitors. My return missive to you stands! I will NOT meet with you, in private, nor for any reason not directly related to my schooling, without the attendance of my legal counsel. I expect my solicitors will soon visit you to remind you of that."
Dumbledore left acknowledgement.
without
further
The articles concerning Harry's appearance before the Wizengamot hearing, specifically what he caused to be made known, created both a morning and evening edition of the Daily Prophet to be distributed the next day. It appeared there was so much information to cover that the senior staff of the newspaper decided to spread it across two editions, with most of what appeared in the evening being led by teasers in the morning.
Harry and his bondmates decided to simply stick together for the entire day and weathered the clamour that occurred in the school from the articles. Of course, it was the blood bigots in Slytherin, and a couple from Ravenclaw, that were the most upset. None of them liked to learn that Voldemort... Riddle... was actually only a half-blood.
What annoyed Harry and his bondmates the most wasn't what was being said by other students. It was the remarks of the Minister that appeared in the papers along with the articles. The Minister was being adamant that Voldemort was truly dead and gone, and refused to entertain the idea he wasn't. Umbridge even used the opportunity to call him a 'delusional attention seeking liar'. Only this time it occurred about nine months earlier than the previous timeline. He did not need to even bother contacting his solicitors as Miss Pentridge had immediately written him to let him know she was already seeking legal redress for the remarks.
"Idiot man!" snarled Harry, after reading the Minister's remarks. "He was an idiot then, just as he's an idiot now."
"Uh-hmm," murmured Hermione, still reading. "This time, though; we'll have to take him down, earlier. He is as much responsible for all the deaths that occurred as Riddle, himself. He gave Riddle that entire year, last time, to rebuild his forces."