A week later, Madam Sprout came to the common room and walked up to Harry. "Headmaster Dumbledore requests your presence in his office. Today, I will accompany you for the entire time you are in that office, or if the headmaster takes you elsewhere, I swear it!" Magic swirled around her.
Harry just nodded and rose from his seat. With a slight bow, he extended his arm. Professor Sprout took it and they walked to see Dumbledore.
While walking, Harry asked, "Do you know what this may involve?"
Sprout glanced at him, "I have my suspicions, but nothing concrete."
Harry said nothing more and they soon arrived at the Headmaster's Gargoyle.
Sprout said, "Blood pops" to the Gargoyle, and it looked at her before moving aside. The two climbed the stairs and heard "Enter" just as they reached a door at the top. Inside was a large circular room with a huge desk centered across from the door. There were pictures on the wall, past headmasters, according to the rumor mill. In front of the desk there was one chair. Also, in the room were Snape and Mr. Weasley.
Frowning, Harry escorted Professor Sprout to the chair and assisted her in sitting, with a half-bow. He then stood at attention on her right, looking straight ahead and not at the headmaster.
Harry barked, "Heir Black reporting as requested, Headmaster!"
Albus' eyes were twinkling, but the damned brat wasn't even looking at him! "Ah yes…welcome to my office, Harry."
Harry with obvious confusion inquired, "Why are you being familiar with me, Professor? We are not family. We are not friends. Do I need to ask the wizengamot about a change in the rules of decorum?"
Albus, flushed with some anger, "My apologies, Heir Potter. You must forgive an old man his foolish mistakes."
Harry stares straight ahead saying nothing.
Albus asked, "Do you have any questions for me?"
Harry replied, "Two questions. Why did you disrupt Madam Sprout's and my day? Why is there a man here who has not, yet, been introduced?"
Snape shifted but made no comment. Mr. Weasley sharply exhaled and looked at Albus. Albus was getting tired of being called to task for every damned thing!
Albus stated, "Again, my apologies. Allow me to introduce Mr. Arthur Weasley, Head of House Weasley. I introduce to you Arthur, Heir Harry James Potter….Black, heir presumptive to Earl Black, heir apparent to Baronet Potter."
Harry looked thunderous. Arthur bows deeply, "My apologies Heir Black, Albus should have introduced you first with your rank. Albus is used to treating children, as children. However, no child could have earned THAT ring."
Harry turned to Arthur, and gave him a half-bow, "It's an honor to meet you Mr. Weasley. Is your presence the reason I was summoned?"
Arthur winces slightly at the Honor comment. "I have heard you have some claims against my House. I am here to resolve them."
Harry said nothing.
Arthur flustered, "The money has been returned."
Harry looked at him, "How?"
Mr. Weasley replied, "Your manager should have notified you."
Harry answered, "My manager notified me that money stolen from my vaults, while I was being tortured by muggles, has been returned. Are you saying you took it?"
Mr. Weasley replied, "I was unaware it was stolen."
Harry frowned, "Explain"
Dumbledore interjected, "Now Harry, the details don't really mater, your money has been returned. All your possessions have been returned. There is no reason to pursue this."
Completely ignoring Dumbledore, "I'm still waiting for an explanation, Mr. Weasley."
Dumbledore, realizing he was being ignored, "Heir Potter, show some respect!"
Harry spoke to the air, "To what? You obviously were not talking to me, and nobody else in this room shares that name, so I assumed you were talking to yourself. I've heard wizards with your advanced age, do this."
He turned back to Arthur, "Well?"
Both Sprout and Snape gave a small cough at that exchange, as Albus flushed with anger.
Arthur broke under the weight of Harry's glare, "Albus gave me the money and said it was a gift from you! I had no idea it was dirty money!"
Harry curtly asked, "Would you testify in the 'mot to the truth of this?"
Arthur looked almost desperate, "Yes! I need to regain my honor!"
Harry nodded, "Accepted. Now is there something else you wish to discuss?"
Albus started talking, and Harry cut him off turning slightly to Albus, but not looking at him, "You brought me here to resolve my problems with House Weasley. Pray, do let us finish that before you move on to other things."
He turned back to Arthur, "Now you were about to address another issue, I believe."
Arthur then stated, "I hear you have a disagreement and some enmity with my youngest son Ronald. I wish to diffuse that situation."
Harry snorted, and started talking very precisely, "Ronald is a lazy, self-entitled, cruel, and ignorant bully. This shouldn't be such a big issue, as there are many such in this school. Unfortunately, he has decided to bully my best friend…who is also the protectee of Heir Longbottom. Let me provide three examples:
1) For daring to help him in class when he was performing the levitation charm completely wrong. He provided false testimony which resulted in her receiving 10 pants!
2) Due to Ron's bulling, among other things, Heir Longbottom decided to make her a Protectee, as a favor to me. Ron decided to ignore that, and her Lord was forced to meet him on the dueling platform…where Ron dishonored himself twice before losing.
3) When Hermione was appropriately punished for a mistake, she received 15 pants. She then spent the entire night rewriting two essays, in order to avoid earning 10 bare the next morning. At breakfast she was obviously tired and with a sore bottom, but was determined to get through the day. Mr. Weasley, noticing this, in obvious joy, commented on how he would enjoy watching this happen many times in the future because the professors were tired of her. At that point I explained to all four Weasleys present, that I was rapidly developing antipathy for House Weasley and was considering its extinction."
Harry then in a normal voice, "I have less than one year, possessing the knowledge that magic exists, and still learning my obligations in this world. How can you explain Ron's lack of decorum when he has been here his whole life?"
Harry just looked at him. Arthur, looked devastated, "I…can't. My wife has coddled and spoiled my two youngest. How can House Weasley make restitution Heir Black?"
Harry honestly replied, "I'm not really sure you can. You have nothing I need, or want. "
Harry pauses while Mr. Weasley got a certain look in his eye, "I am assuming by that look, as I have seen it on too many fathers, that you have a daughter. By your previous admission, she is spoiled. I am courting the young lady previously mentioned. She is brilliant, beautiful, loyal, trusting, strong, funny, hardworking, and Professor Snape has said worth his time. I have never been informed of any other first-year being worth his time, he certainly hasn't said so to me."
Snape snorted at that, and Harry flashed a quick grin at him before turning back to Mr. Weasley with a frown. "The Lady Hermione Granger, if I can convince her to join it, will be a boon to my magical house. She is not spoiled. I will be pursuing a Betrothal and will hear no other betrothal options at this time."
Harry looked directly in Arthur's eyes, "I see only one way going forward which allows House Weasley to survive. Remove your son from my presence and I will forget he exists."
Arthur looked lost, "Can we compromise? I can remove him now; He will be homeschooled until he learns proper decorum and respect for his betters."
Harry shrugged, "He is your son. Do with him as you wish. If he insults my lady again, I will end him."
Arthur bowed deeply and Harry nodded his head. Arthur said with some anger to Albus, "Notify Professor McGonagall that Ron is leaving the school indefinitely! Good day!" Arthur walked out.
Harry then returned his attention forward. "Professor Dumbledore, is our business concluded?"
Dumbledore replied, "Ah, there is one more issue. I regret to inform you that someone attacked your family. None survived."
No response.
Dumbledore asked again, "Did you hear me, Harry."
No response.
Dumbledore yelled, "Heir Potter!"
Harry calmly asked, "Yes?"
Dumbledore asked with irritation, "Did you understand what I said?"
Harry calmly answered again, "I fail to see why we are discussing the death of a pack of rabid dogs. Such should always be put down when found."
Dumbledore argued, "They were your family!"
Harry with a disgusted sneer growled out, "If that represented family, I would prefer an Orphanage. Fortunately, the Longbottom and Black Houses have declared me family. Its nice to finally have family who cares about me. I certainly had no one before the Malfoys introduced me to the Black."
Dumbledore then started explaining, "I have been making arrangements for you to liv-"
Harry was absolutely furious. He yelled, "STOP! You will not make arrangements for my home life! You proved with the Dursleys to be criminally incompetent, if not outright malignant! I am told arrangements are already being made. I will be taken in by the honorable Mr. Tonks, and his Master Healer wife Andromeda, member of MY HOUSE. DO NOT INTERFERE!" Harry roared, looking directly at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore, on finally having Harry look in his eyes, immediately attempted to read his mind. Suddenly Harry's ring turned black, and Harry led out a groan, shaking his head. He immediately yelled, "You DARE!"
Harry's eyes turned black and he yelled again, "Get OUT!" Dumbledore broke eye contact and looked like he had been struck, shaking his head and groaning. Harry turned to Professor Sprout with his eyes returning to green and his ring to red.
Harry, barely controlling his rage, said to Sprout, "Professor Sprout, the rancid smell in here is making me nauseous. A lady such as yourself should not have to endure it. May I escort you to your next appointment?"
Sprout seeing Harry needed to leave immediately, replied "You may. Good evening, Headmaster."
Harry handed her up from the chair and escorted her out.
After the door closed, The portrait of Phineas Black spoke up, "Albus, if you value anything at all, leave that boy alone! I know a true Lord Black when I see one, and this one is exceptional. To think, he gained the ring before his 2nd maturation. Do not test him!"
Snape shook his head, "I agree with Headmaster Black, this future Earl Black is rapidly showing himself to be decisive, dangerous, and ruthless. And, do not forget he is 'brother' with the future Earl Longbottom! This will end badly for you Albus."
Albus looked angry, but said nothing as he waved Snape away.
When Harry returned to the common room, Hermione looked up concerned and motioned for him to sit next to her. Harry went over and sat down with a sigh.
Hermione still concerned, "Are you all right? What did the headmaster want?"
Harry holding her hand and scooting next to her replied, "The headmaster is playing games again. He had Mr. Weasley there, in the hopes I don't start a blood feud."
Hermione cried out, "Harry, you can't!"
Harry roared back, "Actually miss, I bloody well can! Ron has caused you pain, and I will not tolerate it happening again!" Harry's voice had risen significantly and students were looking at them. He paused and continued, in a more normal voice, "Even if I didn't want to destroy them, I may be required to do so."
Hermione looked at him with an eyebrow raised, telling him he better keep explaining.
Motioning Neville to join them, "You see Mine, I am obligated to protect you. It may have started as a little joke, but Neville, your Lord, did say we were courting in public. If I allow someone to harm you without any defense of my lady," He then pointed to Neville, "Your lord would have to conclude my suit was not sincere. He would then be required to break the courtship, and destroy the Weasleys himself!"
Hermione looked at Neville, who with a serious expression nodded.
Hermione turning back to Harry asked, "Are we really courting?"
Harry turned to look in her eyes and holding her hand said, "I would like to court you. I just told Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Snape and Professor Sprout, not to mention Mr. Weasley that having you join me would be a BOON to my magical house."
Neville, and 3 other students quietly listening gasped. Hermione looked around at everyone before looking back at Harry. She asked, "What? What did that mean?"
Neville, glancing at Harry, answered, "Hermione, Heir Black said having you cleave to him would be a gift from magic. There is no higher compliment."
Hermione turned back to Harry, and said "Oh Harry!" giving him a very tight hug with tears in her eyes.
Harry smirked, "I don't know Neville. I also said Professor Snape had determined Miss Granger was not a waste of his time. Have you heard of another first-year receiving that praise?"
Hermione let go and whined, "Harrry" looking embarrassed and slapping him on his chest. Harry just smiled, and kissed her on her cheek. She blushed with a smile.
Harry said, "Getting back to the courtship. I will be gaining new guardians this summer, though being Heir Black means Earl Black is my magical guardian. Once you gain a magical guardian we can trust." glancing at Neville, "namely Gran. And with permission of your Lord, I will Betroth you if you want me to." Neville just snorted again.
Harry looked at Hermione. "Do you want me to? I honestly, have no interest in another for my Lady."
Hermione smiled and said, "I'll think about it."