章 18: Chapter 18
Harry Potter was bored. Bored and irritated.
He could've been in their cottage right now, doing a thousand different things, all more important than what he was currently stuck doing. May it be practicing new applications of magic, or preparing for the next ritual, or even something as mundane as planning at his next actions... anything would've been better than being here.
"A very happy Birthday, Mr. Potter." Random witch no.12 greeted him with a smile, biting her lips softly in a way that would've no doubt looked seductive to his younger self.
The fluttering of her eyelashes was the one that did him in, and he let loose a blatant scowl.
"Yeah, thanks." He grunted out, already turning.
To be honest, his current predicament was his own fault really. He'd somehow let himself be convinced to stand with the Potters for the grand welcoming reveal.
Though Lily was equally to blame. Her soft pleading eyes were just too bloody convincing to deny.
So there he'd stood, posing for the flashing cameras that just did not know when to stop. And now here he was, having to accept the birthday wishes from dozens of strangers.
Well, atleast he didn't have bodyguards like Jacob. That, was an offer he didn't mind rejecting. Not that he'd been let completely off guard either, but atleast he had sliver of privacy this way.
His attention shifted as the woman in front of him suddenly leaned forward, giving a very generous look down her dress that showed off her tightly packed cleavage.
"Oh, did that offend you? I'm so very sorry." The witch, who was easily his mother's age, sang out coyly. "I meant a very happy birthday...Harry."
The difference was, she had none of Lily's astonishing beauty and grace.
Suppressing a shiver, Harry opened his mouth to let her know exactly what he thought of her offer when another figure sauntered his way between them with a smirk.
"Harry." Blaise Zabini nodded. "I hope I'm not intruding in anything... important."
His eyes gave looked the witch up and down with a slight grimace to show how 'Important' he thought she was.
"Of course not, Blaise." Harry responded with a smile that he's normally never give to a Slytherin, turning to the annoying woman with furrowed brows. "Mrs...Watson, was it?"
It wasn't, but Harry ran over it.
"I apologize but I really must leave. Lot of friends to greet, you see?"
He didn't wait for her answer, dragging the Slytherin boy away with firm grip.
They navigated their way away from most of the crowd, slowing down only when Harry felt a little more free and open.
"I was waiting for you to finish up, but the line of your admirers was just too long." Zabini said, giving a good-natured chuckle. "Thought I'll rescue you from the obvious pain you were suffering under."
Harry didn't reply, simply observing the boy from the corner of his eye.
Blaise Zabini was another complicated subject that Harry hadn't had a lot of time to think on.
Most of Sly!Harry's 'friends' were filthy snakes who only hung around the boy due to the Potter name. Slytherin truly was a pit of vipers, where everyone usually acted for their own benefits.
The house had a hierarchy of it's own, where they dubbed who they felt to be the most powerful member as their 'Prince'.
His younger self dreamt of occupying the Position but his general lack of self confidence, less than stellar Dueling record, and the half-blood status, made for him to not even be considered.
While the boy was slightly more popular amongst his peers, his supposed friendship with Malfoy and his ilk was just an illusion. The ferret faced boy was simply using his past self for his errands, mostly to complete his homework and do the more tedious tasks for him.
They also had some ridiculous 'Pureblood Membership Fee' which Sly!Harry had been paying through the years to gain the rights for mingling with the true Pure Bloods.
Bloody Ridiculous, all things considered, and something that Harry intended to change as soon as possible.
Where does this leave Zabini? For some reason the boy had stood up for Sly!Harry in their first year, and two seemed to have formed a genuine friendship over the years, with Zabini providing valuable advice, though sadly most of them were ignored by his younger self due to them not feeling very...'Slytherin-like'.
Zabini was the only friend Harry would actually count as genuine, and that left him with confusing feelings.
Blaise Zabini had been one of the most arrogant wizards he'd ever met in his previous life, someone who was equally condescending of muggleborns, Half-bloods and Purebloods. To see the boy being an actually alright bloke, and more importantly his friend, put Harry through a blinder.
"Daphne said to tell you she regrets not being here today." Zabini quipped from the side. "By the way, mother wants to meet you. She's of the thinking that maybe you want som–"
A rough, demanding voice suddenly interrupted them from behind. "Mr. Potter."
The voice was deep, almost like grumbling of dark clouds overhead, terribly startling Blaise beside him though the boy managed to control himself to a slight start instead of the mini-jump that a few bystanders gave.
Stifling an urge to sigh, Harry turned slowly, already knowing the person behind him.
Indeed, he was greeted by the face of Rufus Scrimgeour, looking like an old lion marred with streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair. The man who singlehandedly buried the final dagger of death into the chest of an already suffering magical Britain.
He may have been more proactive against Tommy, but his priority for the Ministry's reputation and image over the safety of wizarding world was what truly sank the weakened Britain.
Honestly, Harry wasn't sure who harmed the country more, Scrimgeour or Fudge.
"A pleasant nameday." The man wished simply, extending his hand powerfully.
He let his occlumency overtake his mind completely this time, suppressing his emotions from a river to a mere trickle of water.
'Emotional range of a teaspoon, indeed.' But even the slight amusement he felt was quickly hid behind the wall of calmness.
It was a good thing he did so, otherwise he probably wouldn't have been able to stop himself from taking a dig or two at the annoying man in front of him. Which could've proved quite foolish, considering his current position.
That did not mean he would've to be overly polite either.
"Mr…Scrimgeour." Harry returned his greeting, shaking his hand. "What can I do for you?"
The man looked amused as he responded slyly. "For now? Nothing. It is more the matter of what I can do for you."
He turned around with a grace you wouldn't except from an elderly, extending an inviting hand. "Please, shall we?"
Unwilling, he turned to Zabini who was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "By all means Harry, take your time. I'll see you later."
Frowning as his first and last excuse walked away with an amused wave, he turned back to the awaiting man.
'Just get this over with without causing Bella any problems.' His mind supplied, and he joined Scrimgeour with a nod.
"Well Mr. Scrimgeour," Harry started the moment they walked forward. "What can you do for me, then?"
Scrimgeour looked surprised for some reason, his eyebrows climbing up an inch.
"Quite blunt, aren't you?" The man stated as if it were an insult.
"Bluntness is my preferred method of talking." Harry nodded calmly, unconcerned with whatever games the man wanted to play. "I'll appreciate it if you could keep up with that."
"I see." The man hummed, furrowing his brows slightly. "Though I would've thought a fellow Slytherin might prefer a more….subtle exchange."
Without occlumency to hide his emotions, the way Scrimgeour stressed Slytherin would've normally made a part of Harry want to Bully the man ridiculously.
Still, just because he didn't particularly feel any urge to laugh didn't mean he could let such ridiculousness go unheeded.
"And I would've thought the head of Aurors valued his time enough to not waste it on unnecessary words." Harry replied, letting just the slightest hint of contempt colour his tone.
Scrimgeour came to a complete stop this time, not even trying to contain his surprise.
He turned to Harry then, yellow clashing against green for just a breath before he shook his head with a snort, restarting their walk forward.
Though his eyes would still glance at him deeply from time to time, those yellowish orbs hidden behind glasses judging and evaluating, as if seeing him for the first time. "I'm surprised. Normally being surprised would've been bad for the head of Aurors, but I'm simply too pleased to care. If what you present yourself as is the real you, then this might be the start of a beautiful partnership."
Their feet soon took them to a different side of the ground. On their way, Harry noticed his brother and sisters grouped up with the Weasleys. Jacob was in the center, while the others stood around him in a protective circle, making most of the well-wishers to hesitate from approaching.
He also saw his unofficial 'guard', Remus, raising an eyebrow at him questionably from the distance. Harry gave a subtle shake of head, continuing to follow after Scrimgeour as he lead them to a more quieter section of the courtyard, where the man waved his wand quickly, erecting a privacy ward as they came to a stop. Though unlike previously, Harry could actually see him clutching his wand this time.
'Good. If he still thought I'd be impressed by such silly tricks, then he would've had another thing coming.'
"Well, if blunt is what you prefer then it'll be quite stupid of me to waste both of our times." The man started, his free hand entering his coat.
Harry wasn't concerned for any attack, completely prepared and waiting. He'd already palmed his wand the moment he felt the man's magic.
A good thing that Scrimgeour had more brain than attacking him in public. All his hand removed was a bundle of pages.
"The ministry wants to tie you down with us, and they won't stop at a polite 'No'." The man started without preamble, staying true to his words with being blunt as a bludgeon. "Depending on Black for protection is not an option for you either, not when the minister herself is forced to take actions. So, you have three options realistically. First, Join the ministry and be their loyal little dog. Or second, Resist and be forced to always look over your shoulder. While Bones is too honorable to ever stoop to that, the same isn't the case for the Wizengamot."
Scrimgeour leaned forward, his yellow eyes sharp and piercing. "This is not a joke Mr. Potter. Should the knowledge of your occlumency skills be added with your already incredible dueling abilities, your case will most likely be taken over to the Wizengamot. No one wants another Voldemort or Grindelwald running amok in this country. And a boy of 14 powerful enough to shatter the former European champion's Shield has all the potential to reach that level. You are lucky to have the Minister herself shielding you from becoming a target, but that won't last long, and no matter how much your mother and Black threatens the ministry, they cannot stop the tide."
Harry kept quiet, his mind easily processing the information to come upon a single conclusion.
The man was doing his absolute best to paint the grimmest future for Harry, no doubt looking for some hidden opportunity. It meant only one thing.
With a purposeful snort, Harry rebutted the man. "And I'm sure your third option is the solution to all this, is it not Head Auror?"
Instead of taking offense, he extended the bundle of papers in his hands. "These are the official Apprenticeship papers. Sign this and no one will ever question you again. You will also gain a Level 4 Authority in the ministry, given only to Auror trainees and the like. Your magical studies will skyrocket to a level you've never imagined. Master level knowledge in the most obscure level will be available to you, with instructions directly from me. The only thing I ask from is loyalty and obedience."
Harry stared at the shameless man with a tilted head. "You wish me to work for you."
"I wish you to work with me." Scrimgeour stressed, leaning back. "In four years' time, where your peers will be looking for entry level jobs in the ministry, you will already be close to a senior Auror promotion. And should you work hard, with my help you might even become a Level 6 Dueler by then. You won't get the same option from anyone else. Plus, your mother and Godmother will not be able to provide the same security, neither can they shield you from the Wizengamot. Their obvious affection for you will always be held against them."
He then took a step towards Harry, extending the papers further. "Join me Harry Potter, and you will rise to the very peak."
The man stared at him intensely, urging him to choose.
Harry breathed out, closing his eyes for a second as he let a twinge of regret slip through the barrier. 'What a chore. I could've been researching about the Dementor's Cloak or Obscurial's ashes…'
Instead here he was, stuck in the politics of people he couldn't give a flying fuck about.
'What a chore, indeed.'
Hopefully the rest of the night might could provide him with enough fun to counter the unpleasantness.
Or else Harry Potter might just have to create some fun of his own.
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AN: Chappy's done! Hope you lot enjoyed it.
So, how do you guys feel about Rufus and his offer? Think I nailed his character? Personally I feel confident about him. I kept him in character with what was shown in the books while adding my own little tweaks.
Tell me if his pov felt interesting or just meh, so I'll know if I should introduce other important characters with their own Povs the next time (Though obviously a little shorter).
For those feeling the story's moving too slow, Don't worry. Next chapter will bridge our timeline all the way to Quidditch final.
On other news, I've now started posting on AO3 under the same name as well. Also edited it a little over there, like the silly 'feets' and 'Hermoine' mistakes.
For anyone interested in advanced chapters, visit www. Pat reon/ Robs511. Check out my latest Tier where you can read the next three (6 for WN) chapters of this story, as well as my other two stories, for $20. Would really appreciate your support.
Also, discord link: discord .gg/9wpfysDGsz
Anyway that's it for this chapter, cheers and good day/night!
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