Albus wanted to hex Petunia Dursley for the way she had raised the boy. She was supposed to keep him ignorant and pliable. He hadn't really been too concerned for the boy; it would have suited him just fine if the boy had been slightly more downtrodden. That way Harry would have not valued himself over the good of the wizarding world, and would be more easily led by the illusion of a caring grandfatherly figure. Merlin knew he was a good enough actor to portray a kindly grandfather figure, after all it was his stock-in-trade. Also, Merlin knew James for all his arrogance was easy to lead, never bothering to question anything Albus had told him. Petunia supposedly hated the magical world enough that he'd planned that Harry would gravitate to Albus and those that followed him without question like Hagrid and the Weasleys simply because he was magical. Harry was supposed to admire him and follow his guidance without question. Harry was to fall in line with his plans and be the perfect weapon and assuming he survived, his successor as leader of the light.
Instead the brat's eyes gleamed with 'knowing' and he did as he wanted almost without breaking the rules. When he did break the rules, he did it for reasons that couldn't be argued with, and to make matters worse he often ignored Albus altogether. Harry's every look towards him screamed the cautious skepticism that had so characterized that last year with Lily. Even Severus was a bit at a loss when it came to dealing with the brat.
Albus was left scrambling trying to convince those others in power that he deserved his many positions and that he wasn't senile, and wondering where his plans had gone so wrong and what he could do to bring them back onto track. Thankfully the wizarding world, for the most part, was used to following his lead and not thinking for itself.
Remus sat and listened as the students presented in wonder. He found it very interesting to watch the dynamics. Harry was the youngest student of the group, but there had been a subtle acknowledgement by the others that he was the leader of the group despite his being in Slytherin. It was in the way they looked to him for approval although Harry wasn't the presenter for most of the time, and in the way they positioned themselves around him. When the Gryffindor presenter, Neville Longbottom, finished, he had looked to Harry as he finished as if needing his reassurance. Harry had given him only the slightest of nods and a half smile after which Neville relaxed. If Remus hadn't been watching he wouldn't have even caught it. While Slytherin was the house of the ambitious, the five snakes all seemed willing even anxious to allow their fellow students the limelight, almost as if they were reacting to the suspicions and skepticisms that usually plagued those of that house. When the call for action was seemingly not being regarded, Harry was the one to get confrontational. He found himself agreeing with Albus that Harry didn't trust him, and found himself wondering why. As for what the students had determined, he was impressed it was well-thought out and well researched. He spoke "In the course of your research did you come across a way to kill the creature?"
The students looked at Harry for a split second. Harry gave one of them an encouraging look then the second year Ravenclaw boy answered, "The safest for who ever goes, is a cock's crow. But Hagrid has had trouble. All autumn term something has been killing the roosters. We think whoever is behind the attacks is behind the deaths of the chickens as well."
"Good. I think that all of you will be getting extra credit in Defense for this." Remus smiled as the students all got pleased looks. He was surprised that the solemn face that Harry had been wearing dropped for a split second and he caught a brief glimpse of the happy baby boy from his memories. He hadn't realized until that second that Harry wore a mask over his emotions. He resolved to do whatever it took to get to know the person behind the mask.
He noticed Minerva's expression and was troubled. He was very fond of his old Head of House and he was slightly surprised that she wasn't beaming proudly at the students especially at the two lions in the group. It was very rare that students cooperated with students in other houses. A group like this, with people from each House, ought to be encouraged in the spirit of cooperation. So why were the Headmaster and his deputy not doing anything to reward this? Weren't they they ones always saying that everyone needed to work together? Puzzled he stood and followed the students and his fellow teachers back to the Great Hall.
Later down in the Slytherin dorm, Harry mentally girded himself to deal with Draco Malfoy, git extraordinaire. He came into the room he had shared agreeably with Blaise, and couldn't believe his eyes.
Draco had been in the room twenty minutes at most and it was trashed. Draco's belongings were strewn all over the room.
"Okay, Malfoy I think it is time for some ground rules." Harry snarled. "First rule this… mess is completely unacceptable. Second, Hedwig, my familiar, is frequently in this room she dislikes mess as much as I do. You are not the only person in this room, acting as if you are will get your arse kicked. Keep your crap on your side of the room or so help me I'll burn it. Third rule blood purity comments will get your arse kicked. My mum was muggleborn and head girl in her year, it was doubtlessly due to
her that I survived Voldemort's attack. So verbally or otherwise attacking her, or anyone like her i.e. muggleborn will have me reminding you of this rule, forcefully. Fourth rule I will be polite as long as you do the same. Is any of this in any way unclear?"
Draco Malfoy gaped at Harry. Part of him wanted to kick and yell and scream "But I'm Draco Malfoy, do you know who my father is?" but he owed this other boy for saving him. He knew he was a slob at school, but he was used to having house elves and didn't have a clue about how to clean anything. Last term it hadn't mattered because Theo was, if anything, a bigger slob than him albeit Theo had less stuff. But it was obvious from Harry's stance and how tidy the room had been when he came in that he meant every word. "No, I understand. I'll pick it up." And he proceeded to do so. "Do I get to set any rules?"
Harry looked at him searchingly a moment. Then gave him a curt nod.
Harry looked at him searchingly a moment. Then gave him a curt nod.
"Rule one. You can't tell anyone about what happened with Lockhart. Rule two, you can't go pawing through my stuff. Rule three if I can't say anything bad about mud-muggleborns you can't say anything bad about my family either. Rule four as long as I abide by your rules you don't, how did you phrase it, 'kick my arse'." Draco really hoped Harry agreed to the last one his father had taught him a lot of iffy spells to defend yourself with but those spells hadn't done him a lick of good against Lockhart. But the other boy had taken Lockhart down like it was nothing, which left Draco feeling both safe around his new roommate and scared because it was clear Harry didn't make idle threats.
"Your rule one, I wouldn't dream of it. It's is up to you to who and if you talk about it. Rule two, your stuff doesn't interest me, and as long as that's mutual, fine, no problem. Rule three, I can respect that. Even if I don't agree with your family's politics, I can live and let live. So rule four won't be a problem. Truce?"
"Truce." Draco continued to pick up his belongings from where they were scattered.
Harry watched but noticed Draco seemed at a bit of a loss at what to do with his belongings. "Don't you know how to clean up after yourself Malfoy?"
The other boy went scarlet. "At home I have an elf."
"It might be best to start by hanging your clothes in the wardrobe. After that as you look at each item think about where you'll use it the most and where it can be placed near there. If you assign each item a place and put it there every time it's not in use then you'll always be able to find it." Harry watched quietly out of the the corner of his eye and read his primer on the mind arts while Draco put his words into practice.
As Draco put the last of his clothes away and got out his Puddlemere United posters to put up, he felt a small sense of accomplishment. He looked around his side of the room and reflected it looked much better already. He thought maybe having Harry Potter as a roommate wouldn't be too bad.