It's becoming more and more apparent that you choose the perfect title <3
* Edited for addition*
Ooh so Daphne is calling in the big guns and wisely sticking primarily to light side affiliated families with some clout who people will be more willing to listen to than a family with a shady past and who can counter Albus better than most. The quiet unassuming one of the group making some pretty big waves. Hopefully all these people trying to run interference on the custody issue dont end up inadvertently pushing a desperate Harry towards Dumbldore.
Aaaand this is where things go tits up. Sirius should have known better than to goad the kid. Harry is so desperate for Sirius's approval and after all the fun they have been having couldn't maintain his refusal, and it cost him. Wonder what would have happened had he just admitted he was scared and if Sirius would have backed off. For all his innate power, he is still just a child and ran against something he wasn't ready for. Although i wonder how long Snape was there before he decided to step in. Was he trying to see if Sirius would make the right call and immediately take Harry to the hospital wing or if Harry would put his foot down and not take such a risk?
Half expected someone to throw a punch. Good on Snape for at least openly admitting he was a total shit to Harry but is at least trying, perhaps poorly mind you, trying to make up for it. Now Sirius has taken first place in shooting oneself in the foot. This gets out then his chances of getting custody of Harry, regardless of what either of them want will be near impossible.
I am still holding out hope that this event and the oncoming shit storm opens up Siriu's eyes to the fact that he is simply not well enough to look after Harry, at least not until he gets his head right, grows up and takes responsibility beyond having a fun time. Both him and Harry are rushing into this for different reasons and while there is an obvious amount of genuine love there, they are not seeing the bigger picture beyond the warm feelings there time together brings them. Sirius needs an epiphany and hopefully this triggers his. No'one is saying(aside from the obvious few) that Harry can't EVER live with Sirius at some point in the future, but the cold hard fact is that until Sirus gets a legit clean bill of health, which will understandably take quiet a bit of time, he shouldn't be trying to take care of a child who will take risks for his approval.
Now while Severus's rage towards black, both for present and past offenses is justifiable, quite a bit of this wouldn't have come to pass, thus necessitating the need to find a proper guardian for Harry or Sirius running off half cocked after Peter, had Severus not spilled the beans on what he heard.
Well shit, first it was just business i guess but now after Harry has actually gotten hurt it is personal for Daphne lol. Never mess with the investment/leader/friend. Although i am still little worried about what Harry's reaction might be. She says she will accept the blame but that could very well mean the end of his association with her. He probably wont see that while she did have some ulterior motives she was ultimately trying to keep him safe.
I suppose it would be hard for Harry to guess whether Snape is in fact giving him better marks due to him now being a Slytherin as he seems to believe or if he has simply improved to meet Snape's standards. Having seen first hand Severus play favorites with his house it would be understandable for Harry to assume that he is now getting the special treatment. Although it wouldn't hurt the kid to have little more faith in his own learning skills.
Eh not the smartest play by Snape. Harry wants to be with someone who will not only put him first, but also love him and quite frankly a list of strangers with dubious intentions or people who due to their stations wouldn't be able to take him in anyway couldn't be expected to sway him away from Sirius. Even if Harry might be jumping the gun on his judgment of Snapes intentions, i enjoy that he is brave enough to be willing to call out Snape on his possible ulterior motives. Severus's limited emotional bandwidth and his way of stating what he believes to be truths really tend to bite him in the ass. While he wants whats best for Harry, his way of making his case against Harry staying with Sirius makes him instead come off as petty. Since going to Remus didn't work, if Snape is worried about Albus's influence on Sirius affecting Harry then perhaps he can try to convince Harry to get Sirius to see sense and not place so much faith/loyalty in the Headmaster.
Harry very unintentionally just seems to fall into the leadership role without even realizing he's doing it. Teaching others, casual displays of advanced magic and that magnetic or at times scary smile of his. Wonder what scheme Daphne is cooking up and how it will confglict with the various other plots in the works regarding Harry's future.
I'm starting to think that Severus takes classes on how to shoot oneself in the foot. Once again it kills me too see Harry's fantasies about the life he could have with Sirius and finally getting all that he as denied growing up because with all the plots surrounding him and the custody, it looks less and less likely to happen. Snape would be having a much easier time with this if he had only treated Harry like this from the beginning.
“She sounds like the best option, if Sirius didn’t exist.”
Now a new player in the bid for Harry's home life has possibly entered the field.
"And he’ll do the same thing for Themis Yaxley, and Tarquinius Nott, and anyone else who thinks they have a right to interfere in his life."
Oh then he is gonna be pissed when he finds out all the scheming going on around him from both adults and new friends. Some people are gonna be in hot water. Much as it sucks to think, at this point Ron and Hermione are almost the only two people close to him who don't have some side motive or plot in the works with regards to Harry. Once everything gets revealed when all the plans reach their inevitable collision course its only gonna give everyone who told Harry not to trust Slytherins more ammunition and a wealth of "I told ya so's". Plus its gonna hurt like hell for Harry since he has opened up to these people. At least Snape is being up front for the most part about trying to find who he thinks would be a suitable guardian for Harry without any of the cloak and dagger stuff.
I really feel for Harry here lol. He's the kid holding the proverbial leash and keeping this little group from imploding by having to be the mature one. Harry continues to stun people with just how nonchalant he is about his own rather impressive magical prowess. 3rd year and already pulling off advanced 7th year skills and making it look easy. If his kindess and inherent leadership skills doesnt earn him peoples loyalty, its gonna be his magic potential that will unintentionally reel people in.
I admit i laughed a little at Ron immediatlly saying "No" to accepting Draco's apology and the reaction it got and Daphne getting shut down by stern Harry. Its still a very believable reaction though from Ron. An apology isnt really an apology unless the other person actually means it, isnt being strong armed into it and not just giving lip service to appease someone else and not the actual recipient of the apology. Props to Draco for giving it the old college try though. The Draco of old wouldnt have even considered giving an apology for his behaviour, even if he mostly did it for Harry's sake he still at least tried and is slowly learning.
“Then leave.”
Ooh that was cold but at least Ron didnt have a fit and storm off.
Well gotta give Snape points for trying to appeal to Lupin before considering less savory choices. They both made some good points though.The adults are acrting more like children than the actual children. The kids have been able to bury any hatchets and work togethor but ego, bias and old grudges keep the halfway decent adults from working towards a solution that benefits Harry. Lupin does need to grow more of a spine though and actually take his friend to task about his reckless behaviour and get a proper mind healer that will tell Sirius what he needs to hear, not what he wants to hear. Although going by the memory and Lily's comments, Snape shares Lupins habit of turning a blind eye to his friends darker antics towards others, so a bit of 'pot/kettle' there. If Severus is pissed and desperate now, he is gonna be seething when Tarq hatches his plan.
Much as I live for these moments of Harry and Sirius bonding and Harry being unquestionably happy to be around someone who loves him, it really highlights how Sirius pushes Harry's more reckless antics and is more focused on the fun rather than the safety. Harry is a damn good flier but accidents happen. Then theres Harry so focused on the warm feelings and the rush of the fun that he just goes along with it without really considering gthe possible consequences.
The ever subtle and elusive enigma that is Daphne enters the stage. I am curious on what her gift might be and what she will be able to do to prevent Harry from living with Sirius. She's the one you wont see coming due to ho un assuming and quite she is that you never know whats on her mind. All these players in the game trying to manuver Harry regardless of what he ultimately wants. He would be pretty pissed if he knew just how many people were trying to run interference on his dream of living with his god-father. A few are doing it because they think they know whats better for him while others are doing it for their own self interests. Given his repeated statements on how he hates people trying to get him to do what they want i am curious on what his reaction will be if/when he discovers all the parties involved that are trying to decide his future.
I know i have jumped back and forth on my opinion in regards to Sirius's fitness to be the one to raise Harry but when you compare his right to practically everyone else who is vying for a chance to get Harry, he honestly IS the best choice, were he more stable. His competition as it were seems to be comprised of either (cough)"former" Death Eaters, people with dubious intentions willing to make deals with Death Eaters or his abusive cousin and aunt. That's something his Slytherin friends seem to miss, due to their upbringing mostly, which is that the elders in their side of the camp making a play for Harry are NOT in anyway good people and want too control Harry rather than give him the love he deserves. Say what you will of Sirius, but while he might not like Harry's house he wouldn't try and maneuver him for his own ends. It doesn't help that their opinion of Sirius, much like his opinion of them and everyone who wears there colors is riddled with personal bias. Severus could try and step up to try and take in Harry but on top of his work as a spy he could run into the problem of Albus running interference or Sirius revealing things he has yet to tell Harry.
"Perhaps he isn’t welcoming his friends’ help for that reason, because he thinks that they’ll just make his decisions for him."
Now to be fair they have been trying to set him on a path THEY think would be beneficial to him and guide him towards a more Slytherin way of thinking despite his desire to simply be normal or as close to it as possible.
That's a rather impressive, albeit scary gift Blaise has there. Seems almost similar to imperius in a way. Kind of a dick move to take the girls quill though lol, but at least his little test didn't hurt anyone and she doesn't seem to be any worse for wear. It occurs to me that were Albus to find out about these gifts he could use the info to make a case to Harry that his Slytherin friends have been subtly manipulating him with their abilities to be their friend. With all these different abilities being shown i am curious if whether or not Hermione,Ron or maybe Luna have gifts as well?
Clever of Harry to try and bend the uncomfortable conversation about abusive relatives and becoming a leader to Draco's eventual apology. God its been so long since i read the early books but aside from Ron's little chuckle at Draco's name, which Draco fired back with much more offense, practically everything else that happened to him happened after HE started some shit with one or more of the Trio. There was also the times when he was cracking jokes about which muggleborn would be the next one attacked. He still has a bit of growing up to do if he thinks them firing back at him for his bullying is anywhere near as bad as the things he said or did to them.
Blaise, Theo and Draco starting to defy their parents and transferring that loyalty to Harry even if they don't fully understand it themselves. Harry doesn't want it, but that magnetism of his is making him a leader. Then theirs Daphne the ever present enigma off to the side being more subtle and honestly having an easier time of it molding herself into the group.
Aww Snape letting a bit of that heart of his show a little. He wants to take care of Harry. True there is also a bit of jealousy in regards to Sirius and how much Harry cares about him.
“But they all just want to use me!”
“But at least Sirius doesn’t, and he’s someone who could love me for me when he gets sane, and that’s what I want! Someone who’s just for me and not thinking about politics and other kids all the time!”
You are really trying to go above and beyond to make this hurt, aren't you? Almost every other adult candidate in Harry's life wants to use him for something and the one person he WANTS to live with, someone who could love him and can tell him stories about his parents might not regain the full use of his sanity. If only Severus had gone for a hug instead of the hand too shoulder comfort.
“Black does not love you. He only sees your father when he looks at you. He will encourage the Gryffindor in you and nothing else.” Wow 0-100. Not gonna end well.
There's that personal bias with a bit of moral myopia/hypocrisy again. While it's true that Sirius sees too much of James in Harry, the same could honestly have been said for Snape before Harry was placed into his house. All he saw was James and treated Harry horribly for it. These two men are more alike than either would ever admit. They are still tied to the past and while its true that Sirius will very well encourage the Gryffindor aspect of Harry's personality, Snape tries to do the same in regards to his Slytherin side. They are also both immature just in different ways and towards different people. Had less than stellar childhoods, were both bullies and in many ways Snape still hasn't shaken that aspect although his interactions with Harry are helping. Who's to say that having Harry around wont also help Sirius improve as a person? They believe the other will never change.
Honestly, Harry needs a nice quite year and a hug. Kid goes through too much and has to deal with far to many people trying to dictate what he should or should not do. Even if they care it's still stressful. Severus could have handled that with a Little more grace but at least he was able to get Harry to at least consider that Snape might actually want to take care of him even if he decided to put that particular though on the back burner and tries to paint it as something else.
-Didn't want to include this part in the review since its more of a question-
I know many things have shifted around in this verse as opposed to book 3rd year, but i am curious if the buckbeak incident will still occur and how that will effect Draco's place in the group due to Harry's fondness and loyalty to Hagrid?
Harry is getting better at reading people and maneuvering the conversations he has to his favor, even if Draco caught on pretty quickly. Surprised Harry went with the comparison of how the Malfoy's treat house-elves and how similar it was to how he was treated by his relatives. Going for the throat with that one. Of course the Malfoy's would invent a spell specifically for summoning shit to break when they are mad. That's one way to vent i suppose. Draco really isnt looking forward to having to apologize to Ron and Hermione, something made harder due to his father almost getting Ginny and several other students killed and Draco himself going above and beyond to be horrid to both of them. It's sad at how desensitized Harry is to his own abuse and while everyone he tells, even hardened death eaters, reacts with horror, he just doesnt want to talk about it and or broach the subject in any capacity.
All these adults deciding that Harry has some grand destiny and profitable political future and are taking it upon themselves to be the ones to guide it without his consent thinking they know best or just don't care about his feelings while all he wants is something as simple as living with Sirius and finally having a home-life with someone who actually loves him. Wonder how Severus will react if or when he catches wind of the arrangement Tarquinius has made with these Speakers and whether Harry will even consent to being placed with them if things go the way Mr Nott is planning.
Honestly forget magical prowess, faked or real that smile of his is quite the effective weapon for Harry. From Albus too his Slytherin friends it can disarm and get them to back off of a subject, even if momentarily and give him some time to plan. While its good that Theo and Blaise are concerned for Harry's wellbeing and dont like being kept in the dark, sometimes people need time or simply dont want to reveal something and sometimes its best to let it go till the person is ready to spill.
It's sad that Harry feels like wanting someone all to himself is a selfish and stupid thing to feel. So starved for love and affection but feels like he doesnt deserve it.
Jeez Theo can be one scary kid when you hit his beserk button. Flint just doesnt learn not too mess with people. I mean hot damn carrying a blade with you in your own common room? Dorm inspections would be a ride.
Wonder how Draco is gonna take it when Harry reveals the extent to which the Dursley's treated him and whether Harry omits certain things.
*slight editing.....again*
Omg at Harry not wanting to wear the gift because it seems 'girly' lol. I swear Harry is getting absolutely loaded with all these magical protections he is eventually going to be near indestructible. One wonders though why more people dont invest in all these high level magical protection artifacts. Maybe if the Order had be armed with trinkets like these they wouldnt have lost so many during the war, or for that matter if Voldemorts Death Eaters had been outfitted with these things then the war might have gone a different way. Although they must be quite costly and thus the reason there isnt any mass production.
Yeah, eventually getting to the point where he will have to get Draco to honestly apologize for how he has treated Hermione and Ron could either go very well or catastrophic. Blaise, Theo and even Daphne are one thing, Draco on the other hand has done all he can to antagonize the Golden Trio and while Harry is warming up to him, Hermione and Ron, more-so Ron, might be a bit of an uphill battle. It's not even just about a simple apology, he will have to consistently be on decent behavior and keep his attitude in check lest things fall back to basics. Also gotta be willing to think outside the box of what he has been taught by his parents in regards to blood status.
Blaise is so smug in wanting to one-up Daphne lol. All these Slytherins getting close to Harry thinking that if they stay in his orbit they can benefit from it someday but instead genuinely coming to care for Harry and the bonds they are forming with him despite what they claim otherwise. Making extravagant displays, giving him priceless gifts and trying to coach him on Slytherin politics when all they really got to do is not be cruel and see him just for who he is and just be a friend. They are changing bit by bit.
It hurts just how much Harry wants to go live with Sirius, to live with someone who showers him near unconditional love and affection and praise and how either Albus intereference or Tarqs plan might shatter those dreams. Being stuck in prison for all those years really did a number on Sirius. Left only to his thoughts of revenge and hatred for all things he perceives as bad, something of which he considers Slytherins. He wasn't able to grow from the young man who fought a war and now that he is out he is still stuck in that mindset. Not surprising considering many of his enemies on the other side were Slytherins he knew but it is heartbreaking that he cant fully look past where Harry is now sorted and despite loving the boy, unintentionally hurts him with his words.
Cute of Harry to think that Snape and Sirius will ever come to an accord or at least get along. there is alot of bad blood, stemming all the way back from their school years.
Bit of a dick thing to say about how James and Lily would feel about Harry's new house. James even after growing up might have had a bit of an issue but probably wouldnt have made Harry uncomfortable about it and Lily was friends with a Slytherin and ended the friendship NOT because he was a Slytherin, but because he called her a slur and was falling in with a bad crowd and changing for the worse. He also needs to stop encouraging dangerous moves like that. Snape would have had a fit if he had seen the move Sirius goaded Harry into trying.
Much as in the past i have advocated Sirius managing to get custody of Harry, its moments like these that show he has a way's to go before he should be given charge of a child. He is still in the old reckless mindset of his younger years and sees too much of James in Harry and is a friend when he should act like a parent. Harry is also so desperate for affection, like a cat he will go the the most gentle hand for a pet, and right now Sirius is that hand in that he is giving Harry all of what he was deprived of by the Dursleys, and giving it easily. He is the guardian Harry wants but probaby not the one he needs.(still cant get "free spirited reckless dad Sirius and mother hen strict Snape out of my head"
Oh Albus is going to unintentionally screw things up isnt he? As has been pointed out before, he is not an evil man, but will do dubious and manipulative things and justify it with it being for "the greater good". What he wants trumps what others want and only hears what he wants to hear.
"Severus and Sirius are also going to be so unhappy with each other next chapter." Oooh. fight fight fight.
I might need to go back and re-read to see if i missed it or just plain forgot, but has Harry been told about the stunt Sirius pulled that almost got Snape bitten or nearly killed by Remus? Or Snape's part in the prophecy revealing? If one reveals the others dark secrets then the other might try to one up them. Or maybe albus reveals both to try and snatch Harry back over to his side.
So glad Dobby is free... but you didn't share Draco's questions!!! Meanie.
At least Theo was able to get Draco to realize how a bit insensitive his gift to Harry seemed. It wans t meant as an insult but Draco still has a ways to go before he gets when he is, even unintentially, being a jerk. Good thing Harry has patient people willing to guide him through the confusing landmine field that is pureblood/Slytherin etiquette and politics.
Lol, the fact that Harry asked for freedom for Dobby threw both boys for a loop. He is good at that, doing and requesting the unexpected and tripping people up. Yeah the similarities to how some people like the Malfoys treat their elf is scarily similar to how Harry was made to practically serve the Dursley's. This whole dinner just feels tense even if Harry wasnt planning what he is planning. All eyes are on him.
"A debate about the Ministry’s likely next move to outlaw werewolf employment started during the last half of dinner,"
Ooh, that doesnt bode will for Remus, especially if something happens and Snape outs him like he did in the books.
Smart of Harry to go this route rather than risk a direct confrontation with Lucius and possibably get a curse for his troubles. Aw Draco got a hug out of his good deed and actually seemed bothered by the fact that Dobby didnt think he was a good person before. Too be fair Dobby would be right, Draco was a little shit but is progressivly getting better by having Harry around and getting his world views challenged. He's even gonna miss Dobby a bit. This might even help get him in better standing with Hermione. Although god help him if she misunderstands and tries to bring him into one of her S.P.E,W rants lol.
"None of them smile like Harry, like suddenly you’re the center of his whole world and he’s happy you are."
Okay this was precious.
Nervous Snape is adorable and going from thinking that Harry hates the gift to realizing that he simply doesnt know what it is. Wow Harry is just getting loaded with all sorts of protection gifts. Kid is a walking armory at this point.
That was a sweet secondary gift. A bit more of his mother, from happier times, to keep with him. Snape even got a hug for it. Snape is certainly going that extra mile to redeem himself to Harry and the promise he made in honor of Lily to protect the boy.
*in regards to the review response*
Yeah no surprise that Sirius would definitely have a biiiig issue with Harry being in such close proximity and maybe even in some cases forming bonds with people(plus their children) he views as enemies and once went to war with. Understandable since he saw these peope at their worst and in many cases, truest state.