Dumbledore frowned. "Surely you wouldn't want to take this further, Harry? You would be potentially running a young girl's life - and over what? A prank and school girl crush?"
Lucius stepped back in then. "If it was just a crush we wouldn't be here, nor would Severus. As it stands the potion used is not only illegal but exceptionally potent, as I'm sure Mr. Weasley the youngest can attest to." He sneered the last bit and Harry watched in fascination as both Ginny and Ron turned white while Molly turned red.
"Surely they have suffered enough?" Dumbledore continued, sending Harry hopeful looks.
Harry tilted his head. "Suffered enough? What about what I would have suffered? Do you know that line theft usually has a lifetime sentence to Azkaban?"
Dumbledore choked for a moment, Molly let out another shrill sound, while Ginny whimpered and Ron just looked confused.
"Now see here, nobody is talking about line theft. It's just a schoolgirl crush," Albus quickly defended.
Harry sent him a dark look. "It's a schoolgirl crush now, but then what? Would she have just stopped one day, hoping I would have fallen in love with her?"
Ginny picked that moment to speak up, "I would have! You will love me one day!"
Harry sat back, satisfied with the events, while Lucius shared a silent conversation with Severus. He saw that his friend was also surprised at how well Harry had played the room. Sirius turned and gave the Weasleys the darkest look he could; the look the girl was sending Harry gave him the creeps. "I very much doubt that," he said.
Ron, thinking they were being insulted, forgot his fear and puffed up his chest. "Yeah? And why's that? You too good for us? Too rich and fancy?"
Harry snorted. "No, you fool. I'm gay."
Ron recoiled as though struck while Ginny shrieked, impressively sounding very much like her mother.
The Slytherins were shocked but hid it well. Lucius thought for a moment about the implications of this, but he, unlike some traditionalists, didn't mind same-sex relationships. The use of potions made it so heirs were possible, therefore he was all for the celebration of love in all forms. Severus too didn't mind, he was just shocked at the delivery of the news - it reminded him of Lily and how she would have announced something.
Albus, however, was gaping—this wouldn't do. He needed his Light warrior to be perfect, to be the ideal that people aspired to be. How was Harry gay? Surely his muggle relatives had beaten any freakishness out of him? Yes, Dumbledore could understand the weakness of flesh, him more than anybody, but Harry should be above it. He should aim to be normal, not happily spouting that he's gay!
"You're a freak," Ron said after a few seconds.
Harry responded by raising an eyebrow. "Yes, because being gay is so outrageous."
"You can't be gay! We're going to get married!" Ginny protested.
Harry sent the adults on his side a look as if to say, 'See what I have to deal with?' He turned back and sighed. "I will only marry for love and who I love will be a man."
Filius shook his head. "Not that this isn't important, but we have gone off topic," he said, speaking up for the first time. "I agree," Severus said, reminding the room of his presence.
"Indeed. Now, headmaster, I demand that you contact the DMLE as both Harry's father and a member of the Board. And do not think I will be keeping this from them," Sirius said, using the title father for the first time and making Harry smile.
Albus floundered; how had he lost control? He was sure that Harry would be swayed once he realised the trouble Ginny would get in.
"That was not a request," Lucius said, managing to sound threatening without actually doing so.
Molly sent Dumbledore a panicked look. "Now see here, surely overreacting! Ginny is a good girl."
you're
"A good girl who attempted to use highly illegal potions to poison another student," Severus said, happy to add to the woman's panic. He had never liked her and, out of her seven children, she only had four children he could tolerate. Well, perhaps just the oldest two. The twins, although gifted potioneers, were menaces.
"Poison? It was a love potion, for Merlin's sake!"
"A potion which alters the senses and free will of the victim. It is a poison, Mrs. Weasley," Severus said. Sirius nodded and sent Snape a grateful look. It was the first time he had seen his schoolhood enemy and he was grateful to the man; not only for the help he had provided Harry, but for his support now.
Severus saw the look and nodded his head once, remembering Harry's letter about Black being a new man.
Albus stood and glared at the men in betrayal before sending Harry a disappointed look. "If this is what you really want, Harry," he said one final time.
"It is."
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