When Harry entered the Great Hall the next morning he purposely cast his gaze towards the high table, where he spotted a certain professor enjoying her breakfast in her signature emerald-green robes.
"Good morning professor." Harry said as he approached the table, prompting Minerva to look up at him.
"Good morning to you too mister Potter. How may I be of assistance?" She asked while perfectly maintaining her role as a professor.
"I was just wondering if you noticed what all of the Gryffindor students were wearing?" Harry asked, prompting the deputy headmistress to glance towards the students that were currently enjoying their own breakfast. And sure enough, she could see the gleam of gold and red courtesy of the rings, braclets, necklaces and earrings they were all wearing.
"I spent the last week making them for my housemates in my spare time." Harry went on to explain. "Something that could promote House unity for Gryffindor. But I saved the best for last, and just finished it last night."
As he said that, Harry pulled a beautiful circlet from within his robes, crafted of pure gold like the rest of the accessories he had gifted to the House, and with numerous large rubies arrayed within it.
"Potter..." Minerva breathed out in awe of the beautiful circlet, while even the heads of the other Houses present, professors Flitwick and Sprout, were staring at it with envy. But Harry wasn't done just yet.
"This isn't all professor. While I was in Skyrim, I studied the art of Enchanting, imbuning an object with magical properties. After forging this circlet myself, I then Enchanted it with the ability to significantly boost the wearer's magical power, as well as their ability in the school of magic that we called Alteration. I suspect that due to the similarities between Alteration and Transfiguration, the enchantments on this circlet shall bolster your own Transfiguration magic further."
"Potter...!" Minerva uttered as she looked upon the circlet in disbelief. "Do you have any idea what something like this is worth?!"
"In Skyrim, I would be able to sell it for a few thousand Septims." Harry replied, playing innocent.
"I should think so! Something like this, so powerful and valuable, it is completely inappropriate for me to accept from a student!"
"But I insist professor. After all the time and resources I spent making this, it would be a shame if it were rejected. Please, think of it as showing solidarity with the rest of your House." Harry told her, making it seem as if it was a big deal that he made the circlet. In actuality, the hardest part had been parting with one of his Grand Soul Gems to make it.
"Very well then Potter." Minerva finally said as she accepted the circlet with reluctance. "I shall accept, but in the name of fairness, please also make one for the other heads of Houses."
"Well..." Harry sounded hesitant.
"I CAN, but the time and resources to make an enchanted item like this mean I might take a while to get them done. Plus I don't know what Enchantments the other professors would like. In your case, I figured Alteration Enchantments might resonate with Transfiguration. There are no Enchantments for things like Charms, Herbology, and potion making." Harry said pitifully.
"We can discuss the details later Potter, as well as the compensation for the crafting and resources being used on your end. That being said, this is truly an awe-inspiring gift." Minerva said with a rare smile, even as she slipped the circlet onto her head.
"Thank you professor. I am very proud of my crafting abilities." Harry replied, before going to the Gryffindor table to eat.
"What was all of that, Harry?" Hermione asked as soon as he sat down beside her.
"Forward planning." Harry replied quietly not even looking up when Snape entered the Great Hall.
"It would seem like too much of a coincidence if Gryffindor House collectively became the best potion makers in the school right after I gave them out the items I made yesterday. Plus they were all bound to attract attention from the teachers and other students anyways. So I gave professor McGonagall a circlet of her own, while also explaining what I 'can' and 'can't' do with my Enchanting.
"I also made sure to tell everyone not to share the true effects of the items so that Snape won't have a single clue what was going on. I don't know about you, but I can definitely see him banning any accessories in his classroom if he finds out."
Hermione just gaped at Harry in disbelief as he casually buttered his toast.
"Then, what about the circlets for the other heads of Houses?" She asked slowly.
"Hmmm... I don't know about professor Sprout, but professor Flitwick might be able to get through with an Alteration buff as well, since Alteration was basically the school that most miscellaneous spells were placed. Magelight and Lumos are basically the same thing after all. Snape however, I'll make him a circlet, but I won't Enchant it." Harry said plainly, already going through the resources and materials that he'd use for each item.
Silver and sapphires would be best for Ravenclaw, while Silver would also work for Slytherin with emeralds instead. The main problem was the Hufflepuff colors. Maybe he should go with copper and onyx? The materials weren't as valuable, but they fit the Hufflepuff color scheme better.
"You would really do something like that?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Of course. I have no reason to do him any favors." Harry said, still angry at the way that Snape behaved as an instructor.
Back at the College of Winterhold, Harry would have NEVER tolerated such a person as one of his teachers, namely because the consequences of not properly teaching students were too severe. He could even still recall the Dremora incident, where one of the students accidentally summoned an entire horde of unbound Dremora that rampaged inside the College.
The duo continued their breakfast as Hermione planned out her entire day, even though they had the day off. She wanted to spend the day with Harry, but before she could ask him anything Hedwig suddenly swooped down at them with an envelope in her beak.
"Thank you girl." Harry said as he stroked her feathers affectionately, and offered her a few strips of bacon with his free hand.
"Hoo!" Hedwig hooted with pride, before accepting the bacon as she flew off to the Owlery.
Harry quickly opened the letter to find a familiar loopy writing.
~~~
Please come to my office around lunchtime, and wear your winter cloak.
Ps, I've been fond of Lemon Drops recently.
...
After spending the morning drilling Hermione in Magelight until the staff ran out of power, Harry grabbed his winter cloak and bag as he headed for the Headmaster's Office. Though he had not been inside directly yet, Harry still knew where the office was due to nightime explorations over the last week, as his run-in with Albus on the first night was not going to stop him.
Harry continued through the corridors of the school unmolested until he actually got to the office itself, where the statue of a griffon was standing guard outside. And before Harry could even say the password, it leapt aside to make space for someone exiting.
"Potter." Snape sneered down at him with fury in his eyes. Obviously, he was still sore about the previous day.
"Man-child." Harry responded with just as much attitude.
"Five points from Gryffindor for your cheek, Potter." Snape sneered before stalking down the hallway to whatever his destination was.
Rolling his eyes, Harry made his way up the stairs to the office above, where an old wooden door was already open as if waiting for him.
"Good afternoon Harry. How has been your first week at Hogwarts?" Albus asked from behind his desk with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Its been alright, aside from Potions that is." Harry responded while sitting in the chair opposite the old man.
"So I've heard." Albus replied with a bit of humor.
"Should I even ask why you keep someone like Snape around?" Harry asked him curiously.
"You can ask, but I am afraid I cannot give you a proper answer."
"Cannot, or will not?"
"Cannot. That story is not my own to tell, and I am sworn to secrecy regarding it. Let's just say that it is not without reason that I have tolerated Severus's inclinations since hiring him."
"I'll take your word for it. Just don't expect me to tolerate his classes and attitude while I'm here." Harry replied as if he were bored with the conversation. He didn't plan to go out of his way to pursue a rivalry with Snape while he was at Hogwarts, but if the man persisted...
"And what of your Potions classes?" Albus asked curiously.
"I'm already a master Alchemist as well. Let's just say I'm doing self study, and I can just take the finals at the end of the year." Harry offered the old man. After all, he still had all of his textbooks, he could very well spend his time learning how to brew potions the Hogwarts way in his free time, and as such know the coursework for the year.
"I'll consider it. Right now though, we have an appointment to keep." Albus said with a solemn voice, which Harry understood considering what appointment that was.
"Is Azkaban really as bad as the books make it out to be?" Harry asked curiously.
"I would say worse, as there is no true way to put the experience into words." Albus answered with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
"You make it sound as if you've gone there yourself."
"I have, a few times. Never to stay, thankfully, but to visit certain individuals who were about to reach the end of their lives. I can truthfuly tell you that the Dementors that guard and run the prison are amongst the creatures I despise the most."
"I wonder how it compares to the Planes of Oblivion?" Harry wondered out loud.
"Oblivion?"
"Basically Nirn's version of Hell, with each Plane being the personal territory of a Daedric Prince. I've been to a few of them myself, and the experience was NOT one I'd like to revisit." Harry said with a dark expression.
"I am afraid that that very thing may happen today." Albus told him, even as he stood and moved from behind his desk and approached the fire place. "To make our appointment though, I suggest we be off. Have you ever used Floo Powder?"
"Can't say I have." Harry answered as he followed Albus, who retrieved a small jar filled with silvery powder.
"Then this will be quite the experience. All you need is to throw down a small pinch while standing directly in the fireplace, and to call out the name of the place you're going to."
"Sounds simple enough." Harry replied while taking a small pinch from the jar Albus was offering, and then standing in the fireplace as it magically expanded to accomidate him.
"The place we are going to is called Dead End." Albus informed him, and Harry nodded as he threw the powder downto his feet.
"DEAD END!"
*WHOOSH!*
Green flames erupted to completely engulf Harry's body before he was rapidly spinning down what seemed like a long narrow passageway.
Harry continued spinning for what seemed like several minutes until he could sense that the end was near, and he was spat out onto a dark wooden floor. It was only years of training and honing his instincts and reflexes in combat that ensured Harry did not end up falling flat on his face.
"Harry! Welcome!" A portly middle-aged man wearing a suit and lime-green bowler hat immediately greeted Harry as soon as he appeared, amongst numerous flashes of lights.
"Greetings Cornelius." Albus said as he stepped out of the flames behind Harry, right as the man that Harry recognized from the Daily Prophet, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, was shaking his hand and posing for the numerous cameras that were taking their pictures.
"Hello Albus!" Fudge greeted him as well as soon as the first round of photos were over with, giving Harry a chance to examine his surroundings.
They were in a dark, yet well-maintained, wooden cottage by the sea according to the sound of waves crashing outside. And gathered in the cottage were numerous people that looked to be split into two groups, one with cameras, parchment and quills, and the other made up of grizzled men and women that looked as if they dressed for combat.
"Potter." Growled the most grizzled of them all, a man who's face was covered in scars, to the point that a chunk of his nose was missing and he had an obviously fake eye, and he walked what seemed to be fake leg that would hit the ground with a notable 'thunk' with each step.
"Name's Alastor Moody, one of the Aurors in the service of the Ministry." The grizzled man said as he introduced himself.
"Harry Potter. I guess you're all part of our guard." Harry said as he introduced himself as well, not that he necessarily needed to.
"Humph! Lot of good we'll be, considering that we have to leave our wands here before going to the island." Moody snarled irritably, while Harry cocked a brow.
"We're not allowed to bring our wands?"
"No. One of the restrictions the Dementors put in place when they made the agreement to become the guards. That way there is absolutely no chance of the prisoners getting their hands on a wand." Moody growled as he shuffled irritably.
"Moody please!" One of the other Aurors exclaimed as she stepped forward. "You're going to scare the poor kid before we even get there!"
"And? The kid wants to go, he should know what he's getting himself into." Moody retorted irritably.
As the two Aurors began to bicker, one of the journalists present approached Harry eagerly, a witch with blond curls and wearing magenta colored robes as she clutched an acid-green quill and parchment in her thick, masculine hands.
"Harry Potter! Rita Skeeter with the Daily Prophet! A word please?!" Rita exclaimed as she stopped directly in front of him. "Please tell me, how does it feel being a vulnerable boy of ten that is being brought to Azkaban by your headmaster to confront one of the most notorious mass-murderers in recent memory? Scared? Or are you trying to put up a brave front?"
"..."
Harry blinked as he stared at the woman before him, her lips curled into a disgusting smile as she awaited his answer.
"I think you have your facts twisted a little Rita." Albus suddenly said as he approached the group, apparently finished greeting Fudge. "Harry is the one who insisted upon meeting Sirius. I am merely complying with his wishes."
"Albus!" Rita said, actually backing off a little as the headmaster stepped forward with his usual good-natured smile.
"If there are no more distractions, we can head out." Albus continued, earning himself a variety of reactions from those present.
"Yes. Let's get this over with." Fudge stated in agreement, prompting a scattering of the reporters as they quickly disappeared. All except for Rita that is.
"I'll take your wands then." A man said who was dressed in robes with an M stitched on the front, bringing a wooden box to each of them for their wands. There was a notable reluctance in each person as they did so, including even Harry. He may have only had his wand for a short while, but he was stll a little reluctant to part with it.
Once all of their wands were surrendered and accounted for, the group quickly went outside and boarded a small ship that was moored at the pier.
"I'm surprised even YOU relented your wand, Albus." Harry said as they went further and further out to sea, where the weather seemed to turn increasingly turbulent.
"Of course. Even I must follow the rules. Besides, with YOU here, I doubt we have anything to worry about, Harry." The old man answered with a casual smile.
"So carefree..." Harry remarked in a deadpan. But anything else Harry might have said was cut off as he spotted something on the horizon.
"Aye, there it is." Moody growled as they all noticed the island, and the weather grew even worse as the sky darkened and sea grew rough. And when they were almost to the pier, a chill came over them that made most of the group shudder, aside from few of them like Albus, Moody, and of course Harry. Something Moody immediately noticed.
"So those are Dementors..." Harry muttered as they were able to see the shoreline, where he noticed dozens of black wraith-like figures waiting for them. He even spied some a little ways away, digging a hole on the shore with a pair of shovels before throwing a body into it without a care.
"Indeed." Albus said as he stood beside Harry to watch the steadily approaching shoreline.
"They are neither living nor dead, creatures of darkness and fear itself. They feed on a person's happiness, draining every single positive memory from them until they are left only with their worst experiences. And then, their most feared ability is the Dementor's Kiss, in which they will suck out the soul of the recipient to leave them an empty husk of their former self."
"They kinda remind me of Vaermina." Harry remarked while leaning against the side of the boat.
"Vaermina?"
"The Daedric Prince of Decay, Dreams and Nightmares. She's one of the nastier Daedric Princes out there, and when I encountered her cult they had the entire town of Dawnstar trapped in her influence, inducing nightmares upon them to feed her artifact, the Skull of Corruption." Harry explained.
"Sounds like quite the tale."
"I'll tell you later. I even kept the Skull to keep it from following into anyone else's hands afterwards." Harry told him, before something caught his attention.
"What are they doing?" Fudge asked as the Dementors began to swarm, gathering in mass as they flitted about excitedly.
"Do Dementors usualy act like this?" Rita asked worriedly.
"Not from what I've seen." Moody growled as he and the other Aurors fanned out defensively, not that they could do much without their wands.
"Hey Albus..." Harry suddenly called out to the old man.
"Yes Harry?"
"You said they could suck out a person's soul, right?"
"Indeed I did."
"So how would they react when a person possesses dozens of dragon souls? As well as a draconic soul themself?" Harry asked, which made Albus blink in consideration.