Chapter 4
The second task was fast approaching and the tension was building. Dumbledore was pushing for Harry to do the tasks despite knowing that Harry didn't enter. Dumbledore explained that there had to be a reason and Harry needed to do the tasks so they could work on researching how Voldemort was going to return. If it wasn't Dumbledore dragging him up to his office, it was the Annoying Trio repeating everything Dumbledore was saying.
Hermione Granger was living up to her repetition as a bossy know-it-all. Granger was in full lecture mode any time she had a spare minute. It didn't matter if Harry was in the common room or not. She was attempting to get the other Gryffindors to support Dumbledore's attempts at getting Harry to do the tasks required. Granger decided she knew more about magical law than the goblins or anyone else because Dumbledore, well according to Granger, informed her that a magical contract was binding and Harry needed to follow up on it because it would endanger his magic and possibly his life.
Granger was reading as many law books as she was permitted. However, the titles were only the ones Dumbledore gave her the titles wanted her to read. Granger created a list of laws she wanted to change because she decided they weren't how the muggle world worked. It created a lot of arguments in the common room.
Another area Granger was expressing her displeasure in was that no one wanted her to tutor them. Harry was giving DADA lessons, Neville was giving Herbology lessons, Dean and Seamus were giving Charms lessons, and several of the older years were teaching the young ones Runes, Arithmancy, Potions, History of Magic, and Transfigurations. The twins were able to help everyone with multiple subjects because of their pranks. Granger started to lecture Harry when he decided he wanted to learn Runes and Arithmancy and was being taught by a few of the older students who gave Harry their old assignments to use for reviewing as well as a list of books to buy.
Needless to say, Granger wasn't a welcome person in Gryffindor as the day of the task grew closer. The two youngest Weasleys were also an issue but it was just their mouths that were causing problems. Percy and the twins had a hard time wrangling the pair but were able to keep the point loss down while Percy gave them detentions which their mother wasn't happy about and expressed her opinion to Percy in a lot of letters. The twins had a party when Percy got his first howler from their mother.
Harry was attempting to tune out Granger's latest rant as he worked out the latest rune assignment he got from an older Ravenclaw. He was flipping through some books and Granger kept trying to take the assignment from him while lecturing him on listening to Dumbledore and in between her long lecture on Dumbledore would demand that Harry have her teach him Runes.
"Granger, will you shut up? Does your mouth ever get tired? I mean you haven't stopped talking long enough for someone else to get a single word out. You are not our mother. You are not a professor, and you are not in charge of Gryffindor House." Miles Humphries rolled his eyes.
"Very well put." Professor McGonagall was standing in the doorway to the common room. "Granger, come with me."
"I haven't done anything wrong, professor. He is the one who is being mean to me." Granger pointed to Humphries.
"Granger, it's not up for debate, follow me to my office." McGonagall stepped aside a bit to permit Granger to pass. Granger glared at Humphries as she gathered her things and started to head to the entrance. McGonagall watched her pass and looked at the two youngest Weasleys. "I expect the pair of you in my office in an hour." She didn't give them time to answer before turning and leaving.
"What do you think that is about?" Weasley looked around the room.
"Are you joking?" Seamus had a very confused look on his face.
"I don't think he is." Dean was shaking his head at how clueless Ron was. "You have been driving everyone up the wall."
"Understatement." A few students muttered.
"The three of them need to stop bothering us and mind their own business." Lavender Brown picked up her Divination book. "I am tired of listening to what is wrong with our world and how amazing the muggle world is while also getting lectured on what we need to study and with whom."
"Harry, are you going to allow them to speak to us like that?" Ginny looked at Harry.
"Don't drag me into this. This is a you problem not a me problem." Harry stood up. "I am going to head to my detention with Snape. Good luck when Granger returns." Harry didn't give anyone time to respond as he used some magic to pack his stuff and follow him as he walked out of the common room. Harry headed to the safety of the dungeons. He didn't even want to think of how bad that sounded in his head. He was safer in the dungeons than in his common room because of three people who couldn't respect other people's business or boundaries. He also didn't have a detention with Snape but the man would create one if Harry needed some time away from Gryffindors.
"Harry." Draco appeared around the corner. "I thought you would be heading down here soon."
"Oh?" Harry wasn't sure when Draco became a great friend. He was sure it was because of Snape and Lucius. It seems the blond was willing to aid Harry and within a few days, their friendship formed. It was a bit of a surprise to Harry and made him wish he had taken Draco's hand during the train ride.
Draco smirked. "Some of the younger Gryffindors were in McGonagall's classroom with a long list of complaints about the Annoying Trio."
"How did you discover this information?" Harry wasn't surprised by the news. Harry hated the fickle nature of those in Gryffindor but this was one area that was uniting the house. The house was sick of the Annoying Trio and wanted something to be done since Dumbledore was refusing to do anything but encourage the behavior of the Annoying Trio.
"I might have had a conversation with Theo about how students could go to their heads of houses with questions, concerns, and problems. How the head of houses could do actions that the headmaster of a school couldn't counter without showing favoritism." Draco's smirk turned smug. "It covered a few areas of Hogwarts: A History that we believed Granger might have been missing. Of course, we didn't name names."
"Sounds like a very interesting conversation to have. Of course, names should never be used unless necessary." Harry leaned against a wall. "Anything from your father as of yet?"
"He is working on it. Someone has been attempting to get control but he did mention you have more supporters than expected regarding remaining free from a certain influence. Someone has also been blocking any attempts at gaining access to your muggle relatives."
Harry arched a brow. "I will provide you with their address."
"Excellent. It will help speed matters up. Issues with your posts?"
Harry rolled his eyes. He was still getting letters from Sirius and Molly. The letters were about staying at Grimmauld Place for the Yule holiday and obeying Dumbledore sprinkled with what they thought the second task might be and how Granger could help him prepare for the task. "Same old stuff."
Draco had read a few of the letters as did Lucius and Severus. Lucius wanted copies of them to show that Sirius and Molly would not be good guardians of Harry if Dumbledore suggested them as replacements for his guardianship since Harry was still a minor even if he was declared an adult by the Goblet of Fire. "My father would be interested in more copies if you feel up to it." Draco nodded toward the common room. "Mother was looking at the family tree." Harry looked a bit surprised but followed Draco to the common room. "She sent me a copy of it. Did you know we are third cousins once removed, I believe? My mother was your grandmother's niece."
"I didn't."
No one in the common room was surprised to see Harry with Draco. They weren't fully aware of why the relationship was being mentioned but did have some idea. It was about power, politics, and magic. For the last ten years, Dumbledore was building Harry Potter as a light supporter, as an icon, as their Savior, and now, Harry was a free agent in the scheme of politics, power, and magic. Harry's status could change everything about their world if Harry didn't follow Dumbledore fully. The key word is fully. If Harry stayed with the light but didn't support Dumbledore, it would break Dumbledore's power and control over their world. It was a waiting game and the tension in the Wizenagamot and Ministry was creating a lot of interesting rumors, and many were making deals and hoping for an outcome in their favor. Many wanted Dumbledore gone and saw this as a possible way without getting their hands dirty.
"Yes, she sent me a copy of the family tree as well as some of her double chocolate brownies for us to have."
Harry grinned as they headed to the dorms. "That was mean."
"I know." Draco laughed. "But she did send them."
"Let's get some milk and break into the brownies."