Standing Against the Tides

Last time I looked at my driver’s license, it did not say J. K. Rowling. Yep, it’s just me, an unpaid and unknown aspiring writer. The characters of the Potterverse do not belong to me and I am making no money from this endeavor.

A/N: Spoilers through OotP. As I am still in denial, I refuse to acknowledge the events of HBP or DH at this point.

A/N2: Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter out, but we were on vacation and I was unable to post yesterday as were traveling all day yesterday.

Unbeta’d as BabyGurl is busy with her own life.


Chapter 10 Adjusting

Harry quietly entered the austere and intimidating Potions master’s office and closed the door as directed. What had he managed to do during breakfast to earn this man’s ire, he wondered?

Severus Snape gestured for his student to sit in the hard, rickety chair in front of his desk. “Professor McGonagall shall be joining us momentarily,” the irate man bit out.

Finding no reason to disobey, Harry sat and tried to ignore the odd and disquieting objects floating about in their jars on the numerous shelves around the room. Sometimes Harry thought that Snape had these things on display simply to frighten and intimidate his students. Smirking, the young man thought that that would be just what the fearsome Potions master would do.

Fortunately, they had not long to wait for the Deputy-Headmistress to arrive. The witch briskly entered the room and greeted both before sitting next to Harry. “Severus, may I enquire as to why you have found it necessary to call both Mr. Potter and myself here?”

“Perhaps you noticed the small problem with the food this morning, Minerva?” Severus pointedly asked. Seeing a nod from his colleague, he continued, “There would also seem to be yet another consequence to the castle siding with Mr. Potter.”

Smirking, he watched the two confused Gryffindors try to make sense of his words. Severus had not been pleased when he saw the exchange between Potter and Draco earlier. His displeasure turned to outright anger when he realized what the outcome of that little confrontation had been. Now, they just had to figure out how to rectify the situation before it got out of hand.

Minerva frowned at her friend’s theatrics. Truly the man enjoyed confounding those around him. Only her innate patience and even temper had kept her from throttling the Potions master over the years. “You might as well spill it, Severus, since you obviously have noted something we have not,” she tersely bit out. Sometimes even her legendary patience wore thin.

“Very well,” Severus acquiesced. “A short while ago I witnessed an exchange between Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy. The result of that little chat was that Slytherin House lost ten points. I also noted that Gryffindor House has mysteriously gained ten points over the weekend. As I saw the teacher’s report at breakfast this morning, I know that besides the fifty points you awarded Mr. Potter, no professor or prefect gave points to Gryffindor. So that raises the question of how and why those points appeared.”

Harry could feel the weight of those dark eyes on him as the man spoke. Thinking back over the past couple of days Harry gasped. Sinking down into his seat, the young man groaned. Could it be? In truth he hadn’t meant anything by it, but apparently the castle didn’t know that.

“Um, sir?” Harry began tentatively, “I think I know how those points for Gryffindor got there and also why Slytherin lost points. But really, I was just joking. I didn’t think the castle would actually do it. I’m sorry.”

Seeing that her student truly looked remorseful, Minerva smiled and patted Harry on the arm. “There, there, Potter. It would seem that we have a few minor details to work out with the transfer of power over to you. For instance, you will need to speak with the house elves so that they understand that they are to take orders from you from now on. That way, even if you were to miss a meal, we would not starve. It truly is fortunate that the castle seems to have waited until this morning to formally recognize you as the Headmaster.” The witch paused and shot her colleague a piercing look. “And as for the matter of points, well that should simply be a matter of reversing those points that Mr. Potter inadvertently awarded and deducted.”

“But I still don’t understand why the castle thinks I’m the Headmaster,” Harry whined. He was still a student. How could he be the Headmaster? Despondent once again, Harry put his head in his hands. Why couldn’t Dumbledore still be the Headmaster? Why did the old man have to go all loony on them? Was this all some sort of cosmic joke? And most importantly, could he survive this experience without Snape killing him?

Struggling to regain his composure and equilibrium, Severus pinched his nose in frustration. Clearly the castle as well as Albus had lost its mind. And he was fairly sure that he would be the next to go insane if he had to put up with Potter’s whinging much longer. Come to think of it, Minerva was also quite trying. For that matter, the Potions master found most of humanity to be bothersome. And centaurs; they were definitely annoying. Shaking his head at his mental ramblings, Severus thought that that was probably one of the first signs of insanity. Perhaps he could room with Albus in St. Mungo’s mental ward.

Fortunately, Severus was brought out of his musings by the crisp voice of his colleague. “Mr. Potter, we cannot presume to understand Hogwarts’ reasoning in this matter, however, the fact remains that you have been chosen. It is now up to us to make this work.” Shrewd eyes surveyed the two stunned men in front of her. Minerva could only thank the deities that Harry had been chosen over Severus. The witch could just imagine some of the changes her friend would want to make to the school. Severus was nothing if not inflexible. At least Harry was young enough still be trainable. And she knew that Hogwarts would let the young man know what it expected of him. Well, at least the castle was showing some common sense, Minerva thought with a small amount of satisfaction.

Ultimately the trio managed to restore the points to pre-Harry-interference and each was left with rather unsettling thoughts and confused emotions. Harry had been sent off to start his day of classes while his Head of House chuckled at the unfortunate Potions master and his frantic search for a headache potion. With a final admonishment that everything would work out for the best, Minerva left as Severus downed his own personal concoction, which was designed for just such occasions.


Harry barely heard a word his professors spoke that day and he steadfastly refused answer any questions from his friends. The one thing he, McGonagall and Snape had agreed upon was that no one else should know just what was happening yet. Instead of heading directly to the Great Hall at lunchtime, Harry managed to slip away from Ron and Hermione before going down to the kitchens. The young Gryffindor was greeted by Dobby and the other house elves when he stepped through the portrait opening. Fortunately, the small creatures already understood that a new master had been chosen by the castle, and Harry found that it was a simple matter to ensure that meals would arrive up in the Great Hall at the correct times. Quietly sliding into his normal seat by his friends, Harry felt the relief that came from resolving a difficult issue. Now, if only the rest of their problems could be solved so easily. Particularly one troublesome and apparently insane old wizard.


That morning the two professors and co-conspirators arranged to have their classes sent to the library for study periods while they made plans to further investigate their employer’s questionable activities. Dobby obediently dosed the former Headmaster with the mild sleeping draught Severus provided and the Potions master and the Transfigurations professor quietly slipped into the tower office and quarters of Albus Dumbledore.

Each took an area and searched for anything that might help them understand the odd situation. Minerva was the first to find something, and she called Severus over. She had found an old scroll tucked behind some books in a locked cabinet behind the massive desk. Minerva frowned as she read the cryptic words. ‘Power of the broken child melds with that of the broken man: twice powerful. Evil twice-defeated, finally vanquished with the power of the two.’

“What does this mean to you, Severus? I know that Albus believes in these ridiculous prophecies, but really, I find them to be just a lot of nonsense,” the witch said, shaking her head in disbelief.

Severus in turn thrust a journal into his colleague’s hands. Fawkes had led the Potions master to the secret niche where his master had hidden it. Severus was still shaken from the revelations a cursory look through the small book had revealed. Albus had clearly outlined his plan to cause friction and discord between him and Pot – Harry. Much more research would be needed, but Severus was beginning to realize that Albus always meant for him to hate and resent the younger wizard.

Minerva’s eyes opened wide as she read just a few lines in the damning book. Minerva turned concerned eyes to her long-time friend. “How long, Severus? How long have we been following a mad man?”

“I don’t know, Minerva,” he answered quietly. “I’d like to believe it hasn’t always been this way,” he trailed off.

The two powerful professors were at a loss to explain or excuse their long-time friend and mentor. Fawkes softly trilled his support and reassurance to the confused and downhearted pair.