Chapter 079

After the three teens packed up - Neville had also been writing a letter to his grandmother, with information he wasn't able to speak to her directly about - they headed back out the portrait hole and made their way down to Professor Flitwick's office.

As soon as Harry knocked on the door they heard a barked, "Come in!" from within. And Harry opened the door to lead the other two, plus Harry's two auror shadows, inside.

Flitwick looked up from his desk, frowned and asked, "Mister Potter, should you be here?"

"Your trial is done and dusted, Professor," he replied, walking forward. "As such, the need for you to remain apart from me has ended."

The Professor immediately glanced to the two aurors behind the three, who must've indicated Harry was right because he simply nodded his head before turning back to Harry.

"In that case, what can I do for you three?" he asked.

Harry took the step forward to the edge of the professor's desk and, across it, handed him the sheet of parchment.

As soon as it was apparent he'd read it through he dropped it onto the desk before him, sat back, raised his off hand and massaged the bridge of his nose with his fingertips and with his eyes closed as if in pain.

A few moments later he removed his hand, opened his eyes and sat forward again.

"Mister Potter," he began. "Why were you never sorted into Ravenclaw?"

"I take it you weren't at the First Task?" Harry asked right back.

"No," he replied. "I was teaching a class, at the time."

"Well, during the Task I explained that the Hat was almost adamant I be sorted into Slytherin. However, I successfully argued that a true Slytherin would never allow themselves to be sorted into that House. After all, where's the guile?

"Further, I successfully argued for it to sort me into Gryffindor because that was the House everyone expected me to be sorted into and, therefore, no one would question it. A move worthy of a true Slytherin, yes? But, what I didn't explain was that the Hat saw me as having the qualities of all four Houses and would have been a credit to whichever House I was sorted into; including Ravenclaw.

"I did not choose Ravenclaw because I did not want Dumbledore via Severus Snape trying to rifle through my mind trying to discover why I didn't end up in Gryffindor. Because I went into Gryffindor he did not question it; and, therefore, did not have Snape try to rifle through my mind trying to figure out why."

With a direct frown at Harry he asked, "Even on the night of your sorting you knew you could not trust the Headmaster?"

"Correct," he nodded. "The memories I showed during the Task of Dumbledore coming to where I lived at the Dursleys and Obliviating everyone made me very wary of the old man years before I even set foot in the castle for the first time. That was something else I said and showed during the First Task."

"I see," he replied. "I was not informed of that."

"You had other things to worry about," said Harry.

"Indeed," replied the Professor a long moment later. Then, gesturing down to the parchment Harry wrote his 'list' upon, he said, "I'll see that this gets to the School Board with all haste, Mister Potter."

"Thank you, Professor," he replied. "At this time, though, I would like permission for Hermione to be able to leave Hogwarts tomorrow evening for her home at the conclusion of Dumbledore's trial. I am also informing you I will be going with her as her parents have been nice enough to invite me to stay with them for the duration of the break."

"You need your guardian's approval to leave the school, Mister Potter," said Flitwick.

"No, Professor, I do not," he disagreed. "As I have been forced to participate in the Tri-Wizard Tournament I have been declared an of-age wizard. That means I am an adult under wizarding Britain's laws; not even an emancipated minor.

"My Godfather's law-wizard agrees, as do the goblins of Gringotts." Holding up his right hand and baring the back of his fingers he said, "They would not have given me my Head of House ring, if they did not."

With a look of surprise, Flitwick said, "That means... you're now Lord Potter."

"Yes, Sir."

"Then, my apologies for not addressing you as such," he stated.

"No need, Sir; but, accepted," replied Harry.

"Nevertheless, Miss Granger is going to need the approval of her guardians to leave," he said.

"I already have it, Professor," she replied.

"Very well," he said. "Then, I take it you'll be leaving directly from the Wizengamot chambers?"

"Yes, Professor," replied Hermione.

"Then I shall see you when school recommences, Lord Potter, Miss Granger," he said with a little nod. "What about you, Mister Longbottom?"

"I haven't discussed it with my Gran yet, Sir," replied Neville. "However, I know she's been busy with the trials, so haven't bothered her about it."

"Then let me know, one way or the other, once you do discuss it with her, Mister Longbottom."

"I will, Sir," he replied with a small nod.

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