After the sorting ceremony.
It was one of the longer sorting ceremonies; Ravenclaw ended up getting an additional eleven members to call their own. However, before he could head to the common room and get settled back in, his Head of House came over, causing him to immediately guess the reason why.
"Harry, the Headmaster wishes to talk to you."
"Okay sir, could you join me? I'd prefer to have at least one adult present as a witness," he responded.
"Let me just see to the first years and I'll accompany you."
About half an hour later, they arrived at the Headmaster's office. The office itself seemed very friendly and open, with different texts clearly displayed which just screamed of their contained knowledge.
"You wished to see me, Headmaster?" Harry questioned, already guessing one of the reasons behind the meeting.
"Yes, Harry, my boy. Is it okay if I call you Harry?"
"Yes, it's fine. I just don't like 'my boy'—it implies you know me," he said, seeing no point in being openly hostile.
"Lemon drop?"
"No, thank you, sir."
"Now, I am sure you're wondering why I asked you for this meeting," the Headmaster stated, his eyes twinkling.
"Not really, I can make a guess at some of your reasons," Harry answered, surprising both the Headmaster and his Head of House.
"Enlighten me?" Dumbledore responded.
"First, you want to get the events of last year sorted out so we can move on and bury the hatchet, so to speak. For several reasons, but primarily due to Sirius being released—I can now cause you a lot of trouble because of my status, as well as my guardian's political position.
Sirius doesn't trust you, and you are hoping that if you can get on more positive terms with me, you will have a better chance of improving your working relationship with Sirius. You are hoping you can work together in the Wizengamot for mutually beneficial goals, and that won't happen if he can't trust you. Finally, you believe the Snape issue still isn't completely sorted," he stated, once again catching both professors off guard with his foresight.
"So, the purpose of this meeting is to help set the groundwork, so in future you can work with Sirius or me in politics. That is important to you, since we could easily cause you problems if we choose to resist bills and other motions."
"Well, it seems you have seen to the heart of the issue—burying the hatchet," the Headmaster said, ignoring Harry's comments about politics.
"Indeed, sir."
"Now, will you be capable of living in the same environment as Professor Snape?"
"Yes, as long as he holds up his end of our agreement, I won't provoke the man. I have no interest in conflict, but I have no issue with it if it's necessary. If he keeps to the terms of our agreement, then we should have no problem," Harry stated.
"Well you see, that is part of the problem. You will be the odd one out and students will question why you don't have to attend classes."
"Not my problem, sir. He should have never used mind arts on me in the first place, nor been so childish to me. You know I could easily have him in jail for the next decade," he stated with certainty, seeing the Headmaster frown at him not caving in.
"Harry, you must understand there are bigger issues at stake here," the Headmaster argued.
"What you fail to understand, sir, is that I paid for my education here and don't get a grant like first-gen magicals. I am well within my rights to have a capable teacher or at least a civil one who doesn't act like a childish bully. Would you like me to contact the Aurors? I have no problem with pressing charges for assault on the heir of an ancient household, and that will bring up questions."
"And on my point of having capable teachers, why do we have Professor Binns or Professor Lockhart here?" Harry challenged, only to receive a blank look from both professors.
"What do you mean, Harry?" the Headmaster asked.
"Have you even read the Defence books that Professor Lockhart assigned?" he asked as respectfully as possible.
"I'm afraid not. I've been very busy, but my friends have assured me he is very capable," Dumbledore said in a grandfatherly tone.
"Then your friends are either idiots or fools. If you read the books, you will find several mistakes, not to mention they seem more like fiction stories than learning material. The spells are made up for the most part—Sirius tried them and none of them work," deciding not to mention he had as well during the summer, before adding another piece to his argument.
"And finally, the timeline of the stories doesn't make any sense. In one book he's battling vampires, while at the same time he's singing with sirens in another book. The man is a fraud, which a half-wit could tell you just by reading the first chapter of any of the man's books," he commented, seeing the Headmaster frown again, either at Harry's insults to his friends or stating that a teacher was a fraud.
Professor Flitwick spoke up, "Surely you exaggerate, Harry?"
"Not at all, just read them carefully; you'll find they are full of errors. I already have a letter written up to the staff and the Board of Governors about the issue, along with the necessary evidence. The letter also contains a request for a full refund of my tuition and for a replacement teacher to be provided," he lied, feeling like bluffing.
"Really?" his Head of House asked in shock, whilst the Headmaster just stayed quiet.
"Yes, please just read the texts over the weekend. A mind such as yours should notice the mistakes easily enough, plus a Charms Master like you should have no problem with checking the spells," he said in a tone that left no doubt he was correct.
The Headmaster removed his glasses and cleaned them before finally answering, "I will look into it, Harry."
"Good, I was going to wait at least a week anyway before making a complaint. I wanted to see if his lessons were reasonable, so I could overlook the shortcomings of the texts. Is there anything else, sir?"
"Harry, is there anything I can do to persuade you to keep your views on Professor Snape and Professor Lockhart quiet?"
"I can't keep the reasons why I'm not attending Professor Snape's classes quiet, because I already told my friends," Harry said, knowing the Headmaster was mentally groaning at the news. "I stated that it was due to bad blood between my father, godfather, and Snape, which is the reason I was excused from his classes. I didn't say anything about the illegal use of mind arts on me." This statement caused Dumbledore's eyes to light up at the news, since it was a workable and believable story.
"On the note of Professor Lockhart, the only people who know my views are Sirius, Miss Tonks, and the Patil twins, since I shared the train ride with them. If you wish to stop me from complaining and help undo the negativity I am feeling towards you, there are a few requests you could help me with.
First, I'd like to have permission to train with a bow on school grounds, since it isn't allowed under school rules because it is classified as a weapon. I find this really very funny, considering how much harm can be done with a wand—just look at the average dark wizard. Also, I need a training range and permission to be out of the common room prior to six in the morning so I can practice before classes. Finally, I need a private and secure potions lab, so I can study on my own without interruptions," he stated.
"Interesting. May I ask the reasoning behind the bow?" the Headmaster probed, his eyes lighting up with interest.
"Self-defence mainly, since a wand is not always the best tool for defending yourself against magic-resistant foes, such as werewolves, vampires, and trolls. Also, not only do I find it relaxing, but a number of journals I have read suggest physical fitness contributes to magical prowess, good health, and longevity.
It was the reason why ancient Greek wizards trained in physical sports as well as magic. Another reason is I've gotten in the habit of going running in the morning and can't do that with the curfew in place." Looking at both staff members, Harry finished, "If I am going to have to put up with a rather poor DADA teacher, I should at least be allowed to practice my archery."
"That's reasonable," Professor Flitwick stated.
"I think I can work something out," the Headmaster agreed.
"Good, if those things can be arranged, you won't have any trouble from me and probably won't hear from me for the rest of the year."
"Harry, is there nothing I can do to get you to go to Potions like the rest of the second years?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"No, not until the man grows up and sees I'm not my father. All last year I had to put up with verbal abuse and bullying, due to Snape's childish nature. Why should I put up with it now when I don't have to?"
"Professor Snape, Harry. You must really learn to forgive and forget. Life is too short to carry such anger."
He couldn't help himself but to burst out laughing at that statement. "Has Snape grown up and forgiven my father? No, he hasn't. Instead, he took it out on me—an orphan who never knew his father! So get your teacher in order, and frankly he's not my teacher, and professor is a title of respect. He doesn't have mine and never will until he grows up, so until that time he will be just Snape to me," he said in a daring manner. "Now, are we done?"
"You can go," the Headmaster stated soberly.
As soon as Harry left, the Headmaster turned to Professor Flitwick and said, "Keep an eye on him please, and make sure he doesn't abuse the freedom he has been given."
"You know he is right, Albus. Harry is nothing like his father beyond their looks. Severus' actions were uncalled for, and Harry is being most generous, considering he could send the man to jail," Flitwick responded before following his charge out of the door.
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