Absence noted

Harry was walking to the Great Hall when he saw professor McGonagall, an idea striking him. He walked in stride with her as they approached the door. 

"Professor? Could I talk to you?"

She slowed down looked at him. "Certainly Mr. Potter, what can I help you with?"

He darted a look at the door, fearing a certain pink apparition would walk through any second. Then looked to McGonagall hopefully. She was the deputy – though sometimes forgotten for her role as head of house and transfiguration professor. 

"It's about the detentions, madam um-"

He was suddenly cut off though. 

"Mr Potter. I will not take off detentions for you. You would not need it if you'd just keep your head down. Now, let's head to dinner." She said, briskly walking to the Hall. 

He stood there speechless, for a second, just one, her statement sounded like it insinuated that he deserved what those detentions brought. well. Even if it didnt it wasnt much more than a brush off regardless. He started to get mad at that thought, snapping back into time it felt like. Not noticing it seemed to stop when she said that. 

He felt so betrayed. 

No one, No one, listened to him. 

No one made him feel safe, especially in the 'safest place in Britain'.

No one was there for him, not even his friends.

Well. Absence noted. 

Time to make them aware aswell. 

With that thought he stormed into the Great Hall right after her. Behind her by feet.  

"Professor McGonagall, I've given you so many chances to listen to me." He said loud enough to catch her —and most of the Halls — attention. "Now I'm letting you know that this is the last chance I'm giving you — giving everyone—" He scanned the hall, making sure to make eye contact with Hermione, Ron, and the general student body. Only to be further cut off, not by Umbridge, no, by McGonagall. 

"Why, I never! Mr. Potter, 20 points from Gryffindor! You can not talk to staff in that way. I have already said there is nothing I can do for your detentions, leave it be and sit." She finished. She attempted to turn again but Harry was approaching her. 

"Mr. Potter-"

"THIS-" He said, pulling his sleeve up and shoving his arm her face. " IS WHAT THAT SO CALLED DETENTION IS."

McGonagall snuck a look around, barely looking at his arm, before saying in a low voice. "I'm aware. There is nothing I can do. This would not happen of you keep. Your. Head. Down. Though." She huffed, scurrying to the head table, avoiding everyone's eye. 

.

.

.

He blinked. 

"WHAT?!?" 

He tried to calm his breathing a bit, nowhere near done with the absolute lunacy she'd just spouted. 

"Hermione!" He yelled like a Sargeant, loud and steady for everyone to hear. "Would you tell our dear professor what my last 3 detentions were for? She thinks I just need to keep my head down to avoid a ministry official and professor from forcing me to carve my own arm up with a blood quill." He never broke eye contact with the McGonagall for a second. 

Hermione herself glared at her while speaking. 

"The last 3 were from breathing to loud while reading, being inside on a nice day, and helping a classmate, respectively- but I should think that'd be fine ma'am. As Snape gives us detentions for these reasons frequently." Her glare turned icy as she spoke, showing just what she thought of this. 

"Oh! I know just the thing! — and don't say I hadn't warned you." He turned to Hermione. 

"Wanna transfer to Beauxbatons together?" 

"But mate, that's a girly school, why would we go there?" Ron butt in. 

"Ron. I didn't ask you. Have you no social awareness? You keep calling yourself 'Harry Potter's best mate' but I've been pulling away forever now, since the beginning of the triwizard tournament." He shook his head. "We haven't even had a proper conversation in a month." He raised an eyebrow at Hermione, urging her to answer. 

"Well... I'd have to ask my parents. Even if I can't, I'll just withdraw and self study. I could take my Owls right now if I wanted."

"Harry, dear boy, this has gone on long enough." Dumbledore said in admonishment. "You've made your point and your scene but this has quite reached its finish."

"Why would you say that?" He looked to Dumbledore innocently. "Is it because you don't want me to find out you emancipated me when you put me in the tournament as my guardian?" He finished by blinking up at him in school boy innocence, using his sweetest voice. 

He could hear goblets drop and almost the whole school gasp or spit their drink. 

"Mr. Potter... it is.. unseemly... to spread such lies." Snape said. He was looking at Harry like he would love to dice him up rather than listen to a word.

"And the schools very own vampire mascot speaks! Well, it is true. Did you know that, say, when you have a contract made about you, the goblins get that? Did you also know, when emancipated, parental mail wards stop working. I didn't, well, until I got a piece of mail this summer that changed my life. Couldn't do anything much about it at the time, seeing as Dumbledore collected me before I could. But I did request said contract. Which included who put my name in, turns out, Barty failed. If dumbledoof hadn't done it, I never would've competed." He looked sad as he remembered Cedric, though, the thought of Dumbledore brought his fury back to new levels. "There's nothing but Hermione keeping me here anyway, I'll just bring sniffles too– he'd follow me anywhere. Remus can go back to wherever he hides, he's good at that." He finished snidely

"So I think we shall take our leave, leave you all to voldemort, see if I care. As McGonagall said, I can't do anything for you." As they reached the door he turned back and scanned the crowd, taking in their terrified faces. 

He smirked and said before turning to leave;

"Keep your head down."