Minerva said, "What do you mean bullies inGryffindor?"
"No offense ma'am. But I get called a squib andtraitor a lot. Hermione Granger gets called know-it-all and traitor too. Bothof us are mostly shunned, and I know Fred and George Weasley have been prankingHarry almost non-stop since the start of term. They brag about it in the commonroom. If that's not bullying, I don't know what is. Harry brushes it off, saysif he ignores it it'll stop, plus he's learning a lot, learning the counters.But I'm not sure I believe it. Also the MacLaggens have threatened bodily harmon both Harry and Aaron Yaxley. I only know about Aaron cause Harry stepped inand helped him against them a fortnight ago, and in return he's tutoring me andHarry in Potions two afternoons a week."
"I see." Minerva McGonagall was surprised. Shehad never looked at the behavior of her lions in that light and it wasdisquieting to do so.
Meanwhile down in the dungeons, Professor Snape wascalling Harry to his office. "Mr. Potter. Comfortable are we?"
Harry's instincts were pushing him into fight or flightmode.
Something in the Professor's expression put him on edge.But he ruthlessly overrode the impulses coursing in his veins. "Sir?"
"I assume you are comfortable, as you feel yourselffree to bully your housemates as your father did."
Harry thought, 'Malfoy, that git'. But he held histongue, knowing from his years with Uncle Vernon silence was almost always thebest answer in the face of an angry adult.
"You say nothing? Your father was a spoiled,bullying, braggart, and it's clear to see the apple didn't fall far from thetree." Snape sneered. "Well I won't have such behavior from a memberof my house! Detention Potter! For the next three weeks your weekends are mine,rest assured I have tasks that will take you down a peg or two."
Harry sighed. Professor Snape clearly still had issueswith Harry's father. It was so pathetic really. A supposedly grown man havingissues with a man who had been dead and gone almost a decade taking it out on achild, who although he physically resembled James Potter had no memories withwhich to judge if he was like him or not. Oh well, Harry was used to his lifebeing less than fair, it had always been so since Dunbledore came into hislife. He just hoped Snape's punishment didn't undermine what he'd done toposition himself in Slytherin. It really wouldn't do to have to make good onhis threats, but if it meant his life he would do it. He just hoped he was ableto get some advanced defense texts and a books about Occlumency from Flourishand Blott's soon.
The following morning he was disappointed. Hedwig hadarrived with a return message.
Dear Mr. Potter,
I'm afraid most the books you requested are restricted bythe ministry, for aurors and for adults in certain careers; medi-wizardy, andlaw wizards. My apologies.
Mr. Ebenezer S. Blott's
Harry wrote another request this time using his fame.
Dear Mr. Blott's,
I understand. But this refusal puts me in a horriblebind. You see, after I got rid of Voldemort, I was placed with mugglerelatives, and on my return to the magical world. I find many of his oldfollowers hold grudges. I was hoping to buy those books so I could study and Iwould stand a chance against them. I had hoped that you would understand. I wasmerely trying to fulfill my dead mother's wishes and see to it that my parentssacrifice was not in vain.
Sincerely, Harry Potter
The following morning at eight he reported to Snape forthe first of his detentions.
"So Potter you know how to be prompt. That'ssomething at least. Today you will scrub down cauldrons as no magic is to beused I will be confiscating your wand until you are done to mysatisfaction." He extended his hand.
Harry reluctantly handed his wand over. He walked over tothe sink and the cauldrons and started scrubbing.
Snape looked at the custom wand in his hand. "So acustom wand, too good for a standard wand? Albus and your family certainlyspoil you."
Harry ignored his Professor and merely scrubbed thecauldrons.
"I despise you, Potter. I don't know how you fooledthe hat into placing you in my house but you'll find that if you act like yourfather I will certainly make sure you regret it. I heard about you flying tothe rescue of your little lion friend. Just like your father thinking you cando anything on a broom. I've seen you walk the halls alone. You should havebeen in Gryffindor, a Slytherin would have better sense. Hanging about withthose two lions, they'll turn on you, you know. What use could either of thembe? He's practically a squib and she's nothing but a bloody muggleborn. You aretoo stupid for words, Slytherins don't have friends. They have connections tothose that are of use."
Harry ignored the Professor as he continued his diatribe.Focusing on scraping the burnt on sludge from the cauldrons in front of him.Four hours later, Harry sat back the pile of thirty cauldrons were nowcompletely clean his hands were slightly raw from the long exposure to cleaningpotion and the pumice stick he'd used to get some of the gunk out of thecauldrons with but they were clean. Harry drained the sink then approached theProfessor's desk. "Professor I'm done."
The professor gave him a disbelieving look and got up toinspect the cauldrons. They looked almost new there was only the small dentsand scratches that came from use to show they weren't. Snape frowned it shouldhave taken Potter the whole day to get them looking this way. "Very well,you are dismissed to lunch, be back this afternoon. There's a barrel of pickledtoads for you to eviscerate."
"Yes, sir. May I have my wand back? Please."
Snape reluctantly handed it back. He didn't want to handthis particular child a weapon, but knew if he didn't Albus would have hishead. He shouldn't have confiscated it in the first place. If he admitted it tohimself, he had been curious to see what sort of wand had called to the boy. Hewanted to break this boy, as the boy's father had broken him. James stole fromhim that which he treasured most, Lily. But there was that not so small matterof the promise Albus had extracted from him to protect the wretched boy. It wasenough to give one a migraine.
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