( Saturday Afternoon )
"Mr. Potter, please sit down," the headmaster asked politely, with his grandfatherly smile firmly in place. As he entered the headmaster's office, he wondered why he was suddenly being summoned here, as he sat down in one of the available chairs, crossing one leg over the other, his hands folded on his lap as he waited for the headmaster to start this unexpected meeting. "Lemon drop?" the aged wizard offered.
"No, thank you," he declined easily. Who knew what they contained. "What is it you wished to see me about, Headmaster?"
"Just to talk to you about the little fact that you can speak Parseltongue," the headmaster replied smoothly, causing his heart rate to increase exponentially. "It was interesting to watch you solve that spellwork on the tap, as well as how you deduced what was affecting your cousin," the headmaster said proudly.
"But it was to be expected; you do take after your mother, after all. No doubt if she was still alive, she would have been attempting to solve the puzzle of the Chamber of Secrets as well."
He realized that the Headmaster wasn't bluffing, as the man knew too many fine details about his time in that bathroom. That meant that the old man had either been in the bathroom itself, hiding under concealment magic, or was monitoring it through some magical means he didn't know about. This, of course, didn't mean that he was going to confirm the headmaster's statement. "That's an interesting tale, Headmaster," Harry replied easily, as the headmaster leaned back in his chair.
"Indeed," the headmaster replied. "Are you aware of what this is?" holding out a white glass orb for his inspection, about the size of a baseball.
"No, I'm not aware," he answered, wondering what the orb was.
"It's called a 'watcher orb.' It records everything in its range of view, a bit like a Muggle security camera, actually, especially when it's coupled with a proximity ward for activation," the headmaster boasted with amusement. "This one just happened to catch you and your cousin, and all that occurred there, in the girls' bathroom the other day."
"Quite fascinating," he admitted with his own dry amusement, making a mental note to look up and learn any spells created for privacy and security, and any spells meant to defeat magical surveillance. Otherwise, he continued to play it cool, rather than panic at being discovered.
"Indeed, Alastor was the one who invented it after seeing security cameras in the Muggle world, as well as looking for a means to replicate the usefulness of a 'watch skull' without the need for dark magic," the aged wizard explained. "As of yet, it is not in common use, nor widely known. This one here is actually a prototype I borrowed from my friend this past Christmas."
"I'd like to remind you that being able to speak Parseltongue is no crime at all," Harry voiced. "Otherwise, Heir Longbottom would be in jail right now, now wouldn't he?"
"True," the aged wizard agreed. "But there is always a stigma against those with the gift, whispers of darkness, of evil intentions."
"But whispers can be useful tools; fear can even discourage others from attacking you," Harry countered with ease, getting into this game of verbal sparring. "Plus, many darker, older families would look quite favourably on a person with such a precious gift. Besides, I can't be branded as dark without Neville also being branded."
"So true," the headmaster agreed, before drinking from his tea. "I wonder what type of effects this would have if it was common knowledge? How would trusted friends and allies react? What would become of one's delicate business ventures?"
"Nothing," Harry replied evenly, all the while considering the chances of successfully destroying the orb right here and now. However, even if he miraculously could get the drop on Dumbledore, how much of this might be a deception to learn from his reaction? Best to do nothing yet.
"You are not concerned about this?" the headmaster asked with surprise, patting the orb gently on the table.
"Not at all," Harry stated. "If such a recording existed, it could, in truth, be anyone. Magic provides so many easy ways to conceal and disguise oneself. That's just one of the many reasons why Aurors have such a difficult time catching dangerous magical criminals. Then there is the fact that this supposed recording was made with experimental magic at best, untested and unproven, and therefore easily dismissible and lacking any credibility," he explained with his own smile at the obvious weaknesses in this accusation.
"Indeed," the aged wizard allowed, before once again examining him closely with his sharp eyes, the two of them just waiting patiently for the other to speak first. "What I want to know is what information you talked about with your cousin."
"A physical description of the speaker," Harry voiced, as the headmaster's eyebrows shot up.
"Such information would be incredibly useful," the aged wizard voiced, as he looked at Harry again.
"Indeed. I heard that you were almost forced to resign over this business," Harry stated, recalling Rita's report from the previous evening that had prevented the headmaster from being at his normal meeting with the other heads of house, as well as hinting at the level of information he had in his possession. "Especially considering that Lord Malfoy is the true mastermind behind this plot."
"That's an interesting and dangerous accusation," the headmaster observed, leaning forward in his chair.
"Nothing that you haven't already concluded on your own," Harry countered. "He's the only one with both the means and the motive."
"It seems, once again, that I've underestimated you, Mr. Potter," the aged wizard admitted. "I'm sure you realize that it would be in your best interest as a student of Hogwarts to help assist in stopping such a murderous plot, rather than allow it to be completed. It's endangering other students' lives," he lamented, playing the guilt-trip card.
"True, but I can simply transfer to another school," he voiced with amusement, watching the headmaster's forming frown at Harry's unwillingness to play ball and the failed attempts to blackmail him. "However, you are correct. I dislike Lord Malfoy, so I'll give you the description I have of the heir, in exchange for your silence and public recognition for me and my associates who helped discover the location of the Chamber of Secrets."
"That is doable, but I have terms of my own," the headmaster countered, as he waited for the headmaster to state his demands. "You must return to Potions with Professor Snape."
"No," he said firmly, having no desire to share a room with the potions master for the next five years, especially after everything he'd done to escape the man.
"That is my condition," the Headmaster stressed, pressing the point.
"Then I'll have to respectfully decline," Harry expressed soberly, deciding to hold out for better terms. "Now, if you're done trying to intimidate me, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my weekend." He rose from his seat to leave the office and thus signal the end of negotiations.
"I'm not done yet, Mr. Potter. What would your price be for you to agree to return to Potions?" the headmaster enquired, changing tactics.
"First, if I did return, it would be at the start of the next school year, as it would be impolite to end my scholarship with my current Potions instructor so abruptly. And I would return only on the condition that Professor Snape would treat me fairly and without bias. No insults, no negative remarks about my father, no incorrect grading, no sabotaging of my potions—nothing but pure professionalism would be accepted or tolerated. He could just ignore me if he wants," he stated.
"However, if a single unprofessional word is spoken in my presence, I'll consider my part of any agreement we reach void, and I will leave his class and again study potions with a tutor of my choice."
"That is reasonable," the Headmaster agreed.
"Hmm," he muttered as he considered what else he wanted. "I'd also like access to the restricted section of the library for the rest of my time at Hogwarts. This access is non-revocable, even should you not fulfil your end of our agreement and it becomes void.
"It can only be revoked if I do something which can be classified as a major offence according to the Hogwarts Charter, and only then forfeiting the privilege," he put up his hand to forestall the headmaster's expected response.
"We can negotiate how much actual access I have, and yes, you can monitor the books I borrow. I don't intend to look at anything dark; I just want to gain as much knowledge as I can from Hogwarts' impressive collection," he offered, to which the headmaster nodded.
"Second, I'd like a personal letter of recommendation from you for my cousin Tonks," catching the headmaster's interest at his second request.
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