Chapter 182: Ch. 184
"I am doing this because: A) I'm a kid. B) The headmaster has been setting me up to be a proxy hero or a martyr, I'm not sure which, for the magical world. C) I have a psycho after me with his own army of deviants many of whom have influence of their own. Not to mention their desire for revenge that I messed up his original plans. D)Information is a sort of power. If I get D, despite being A, maybe I'll survive B and C."
"What makes you think that you need to do this?"
"My whole childhood. First year. Second year. Take your pick."
Sirius thought about the words Persues Davies had said during the game. It seemed Harry did indeed have his eyes on a prize. Unlike most Slytherins who would want information so they could blackmail and backstab their way to the top, Harry said he was doing this because he wanted to survive.
"Harry, what do you want out of life?"
"I want to be happy, have work to do, people to love, and things to keep my body and mind stimulated. I want the world around me to be a mostly happy, safe and prosperous place."
Sirius and Remus both blinked, that was not the answer either of them expected given the house Harry was in.
"How on earth did you get into Slytherin?" Sirius asked.
"Given who's trying to map out my life for me, how could I not? Besides I told the Hat where to put me and wouldn't accept any other answer, because any other answer gave the Headmaster room to maneuver. I categorically refuse to be his puppet."
He looked at Remus with an earnest look on his face. "So, will you be my investigator?"
Sirius was snickering as they headed to the gates of Hogwarts. Perseus Davies had more of a read on Harry than the man realized. Harry was at least half Hufflepuff, but he also was also at least half every other house because his attitudes and actions combined the best qualities of all the houses even if that meant he was sneaky and conniving. Sirius reflected that he had been way off base calling Harry a coward because the level of sheer guts it took to follow his own plans in the face of everyone else's plans was enormous.
One area that Davies was wrong on though, was on Harry's level of trust. Sirius had grown up in a house where he was tolerated not loved, and he hadn't trusted anyone not even the other marauders not until the end of fifth year. He'd truly started completely trusting James when James had saved Snivellius. He'd trusted him because James had shown he'd do the right thing even if it cost him a lot. James hated Snape more than anyone, but saving him was the right thing to do. James revealing they were animagi could have cost them their wands, but he'd gone straight to Dumbledore and spun it and they'd gotten away with it. Looking back he could see what Harry meant about Gryffindors getting away with way more than they should, but Sirius could also see that Harry was like he had been.
Harry didn't really trust others, or maybe to be more precise Harry didn't trust adults for certain. Sirius wondered what it would take for him to win Harry's trust. He hoped there were people Harry trusted among his peers. He hated to think that Harry had no one at all he trusted.
Sirius was startled out of his musings at the Hogwarts gates by a flash of startling color.
"Ah, Sirius and Remus, how was your visit with Harry?" Albus Dumbledore stood waiting for them wearing dark peach robes adorned with blue, purple, and silver planets and stars.
Neither of them knew what to say and they stood there a moment dumbfounded.
Albus Dumbledore regretted what he intended to do, but he met Sirius' eyes and scanned. He would have tried to scan Remus but the dual mind of a werewolf was a danger to any legilimens. With Remus there it would only be a cursory scan, there would not be time for more.
"It was fine, Headmaster. It went better than we expected." Remus answered.
Sirius didn't say anything.
Albus' scan showed him that Harry not only didn't trust him, but he was up to something and that he already knew far too much about Albus' maneuvering in his life for Albus' comfort. Now the question was what would he do about it. "That's good, it's important that a boy has adults in his life he can look up to that can put him in touch with his roots." He said. What was he going to do now?
On Monday after classes Harry was surprised to have his compact activate. "Yes, Cassandra, what's up?"
"Jack's here in my office and wants to talk with you."
"Put him on." There was a moments pause before Jack's face appeared. "Hi, Jack, what did you need? Was there a problem with my wardrobe sketches?"
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