Chapter 9
Harrison was finally able to tell Ron, Hermione, and the twins about his dream, the wills, and his vaults. (He didn't tell them about his lord- and heirships, though; he wasn't sure how they would react.)
Hermione immediately started listing several books that were apparently about his curse scar and suggested he talk to Dumbledore. The twins looked grim.
Ron was a mixture of worried and jealous, but luckily, he was more worried about Harrison's dream. "The last time your scar hurt, he was at Hogwarts. He wasn't there, was he?"
"No," Harrison reassured him. "I've never seen that house before, so he wouldn't've been anywhere near Privet Drive. Mia, I know you have a habit of believing everything you read, but nobody's ever had a curse scar like mine, and no one's come to experiment with it, so I doubt anyone can tell me what's going on." He hesitated. "And I don't trust Dumbledore."
Ron and Hermione gaped at him.
"What d'you mean, Harrigay?" Fred questioned.
Harrison sighed. "You're going to keep calling me that, aren't you?"
The twins grinned, but their smiles didn't reach their eyes. They were worried about him.
"It's not just because Dumbledore put up a mail ward on the day that my parents were killed, and that he's been stealing my money," Harrison explained. "I've been thinking, and some things just don't add up.
"The obstacles protecting the Sorcerer's Stone were really easy to bypass," Harrison began. When Ron frowned, he said, "They weren't easy for first years, but if they had done their job, we wouldn't have been able to get past them, and neither would Quirrell. And I think it was too much of a coincidence that that newspaper was there on the day we went to visit Hagrid."
Hermione's expression became worried, and she bit her lip, her expression distant.
"There's another thing," Harrison added. "Goblins never do anything without incentive. So, who paid Griphook to hide my parents' wills? Obviously, they were trying to keep Sirius in jail. But why would they want Sirius in jail?
"I wasn't supposed to be put with the Dursleys, either. My mum listed several people that should've raised me. If that will had been executed, I would either be living with Sirius and Remus, Andromeda Tonks, or Neville's gran. Dumbledore put me with the Dursleys for a reason."
"So, we don't trust Dumbledore," George summarized. Harrison nodded.
"But you should tell someone who can help you, Harrison," Hermione insisted.
"I did. I told Remus and Sirius."
"Oh!" Hermione relaxed. "Good idea! I didn't think of that."
Ron mock gasped. "Harrison! You had a good idea and Hermione didn't think of it!"
The twins snickered as Hermione swatted Ron, then dodged her as she made to hit them as well.
Harrison smiled a little. He had amazing friends.
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Harrison's entry exam into Ancient Runes was on the same day as Sirius' trial, so he unfortunately would miss it. Luckily, Harrison already knew the outcome for the trial, so he was more worried about the exam.
Mr. Weasley Flood him into Honeydukes after breakfast, where a slightly sour-looking Professor McGonagall was waiting.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter," she said sharply. "I am very busy, so I will refrain from scolding you for sending your letter to Professor Babbling instead of myself. Come." She swept out of the chocolate shop.
Harrison rolled his eyes; the woman never listened. This time hadn't resulted in loss of points or a detention, so he kept quiet and followed her up to the castle.
They met nobody until they arrived at the library, where a plump, rosy-cheeked woman in her early forties was waiting.
"Well met, Mr. Potter," she said kindly. "Thank you for escorting him, Minerva. I'm sure you're very busy, so I've asked Severus to supervise instead."
Harrison groaned, and the two witches gave him a startled look. "Can't you ask a teacher that doesn't hate me for no reason?"
"Mr. Potter, I'm sure Professor Snape doesn't hate you," McGonagall said sharply.
"He's got a funny way of showing it, Professor," Harrison said politely.
"I'm afraid Pomona and Filius are too busy as well," Babbling apologized. "I'll be supervising as well, so you won't have to worry about Severus. Please, take a seat."
Harrison sighed but did as told. McGonagall left the library. "Well met, Professor Babbling. And it's Heir Black, not Mr. Potter."
Babbling nodded and put a stack of papers and a pencil in front of him. Harrison blinked; he hadn't been expecting a Muggle test.
"This is your written exam," Babbling explained. "I see you recognize the Muggle format."
"I went to Muggle primary school," Harrison said absently. "Why does Hogwarts still use quills and scrolls of parchment instead of pencils and paper?"
"They're stuck in the Dark Ages," Babbling sighed dramatically. Harrison laughed.
Snape swooped into the library like a giant bat, scowling darkly. "Mr. Potter," he said coldly.
"Professor," Harrison deadpanned. There was a flicker of what looked like surprise and humor in the man's eyes before it disappeared.
"Hello, Severus," Babbling said, drawing the man's attention. "Thank you for helping me supervise."
Snape just curled his lip in answer. "Yes, I because I enjoy spending more time with brats during what is supposed to be a child-free vacation."
Harrison snickered. Snape blinked at him, expression unreadable, and said, "Well, get on with it, Potter, I have work to do."
"Yes, sir." Harrison picked up the pencil and pulled the test closer.
Twenty minutes later, he'd finished. Babbling took the test back and flipped through it. She beamed. "You've passed with flying colors! You might be joining the fourth years instead of the third years."
Snape frowned. "He must have cheated."
"No, I was just finally able to read my schoolbooks this summer," Harrison retorted. Babbling frowned worriedly.
"Why would you not read the books in the previous summers, Potter? You were too busy being fed sweets and playing with your friends?" Snape sneered.
Harrison snorted. "It's none of your business, but I'm sure that stupid Skeeter woman will be printing it tomorrow." He was expecting a letter back from DCP that day. Hopefully it wouldn't come during the exam.
Babbling pursed her lips. "That woman."
"Yeah."
"I'm sure you would like to head back to the Weasleys soon," Babbling continued, putting a blank piece of paper in front of him, "so, why don't you start your practical now? I want you to create a minor Protection Ward."
Harrison immediately began drawing several runes. He had had a fun idea for a Protection Ward when the Weasley twins told him about their idea for Canary Creams. If the person managed to remove the Protection Ward, they would be transformed into a huge, warty pig.
A few minutes later, Harrison handed the paper back to Babbling. She glanced over it and laughed. "Not quite a minor Protection Ward, but close enough. What gave you the idea?"
Harrison smirked. "Ask me no questions, and I shall tell you no lies."
"Well, this is enough to put you in the fourth-year class," Babbling told him. "I would have put you with the fifth years, but you would have needed a Time Turner."
Harrison made a face, remembering Hermione's exhaustion from using that. "Yeah, that sounds gross."
"How do you know what a Time Turner is, Potter?" Snape interjected.
"Mia -- Hermione used one last year," Harrison explained. "She was really tired all the time, and one time she fell asleep and forgot to use it."
"What!" Babbling exclaimed. "Who gave a third year a Time Turner?! Only fifth years are allowed to use them, and even then, they would have to return the Time Turner each night to their head of House!"
Harrison blinked. "But Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore gave her permission to use it. She said she had to sign a whole lot of papers in order to get it."
Snape frowned even further, and Babbling looked outraged.
Another reason I shouldn't trust Dumbledore, Harrison thought. "Is there anything else I need to do, or may I go back to the Weasleys?" he asked. He wanted to buy a dress; this year's uniform called for dress robes, but Harrison wanted to try something else.
"Of course," Babbling agreed, shaking herself. "Severus, perhaps you could escort him back to Honeydukes? I need to submit this to the Board. And tell them about the headmaster's idiocy in giving a third year a Time Turner."
"Very well," Snape said sourly. "Potter, come."
Harrison muttered, "Yes, master," in a very sarcastic tone under his breath. To his surprise, Severus choked and glared at him.
"How the-"
"Language."
"-fork did you hear me?"
"Ask me no questions," Snape retorted. Harrison bit his lip to stop a laugh from escaping and followed the man out of the library.
They reached the front doors, and Harrison frowned. Something was bothering him. "Where's the headmaster, Professor?"
"He was called away by the Ministry for the mutt's trial," Snape said boredly.
Harrison didn't respond to that. He had a hunch that Dumbledore was the one who had kept the wills from being read, since he was the one who gave Harrison to the Dursleys. Both of his parents were adamant that he wasn't to be raised by the Dursleys under any circumstances.
Snape opened the doors, and an owl swooped in, landing on Harrison's shoulder.
"Which fan is sending this?" Snape drawled.
"The DCP," Harrison returned with the same drawling tone. He opened the letter, ignoring Snape's frown.
Well Met, Heir Potter,
The Dursleys have been investigated, and they have been deemed unsafe to raise you. Mr. Vernon Dursley, Mrs. Petunia Dursley, and Ms. Marge Dursley have been arrested for abuse, and Mr. Dudley Dursley has been sent to a correctional facility. Your new caretakers, Lord Sirius Black and Mr. Remus Lupin, will be present to pick you up where you are currently staying at five p.m. tomorrow.
Yours in Service,
Lord Moran Greengrass
Secretary for the Department of Child Protection