บท 295: Chapter 295: "Unseen Maneuvers"
Unaware of Voldemort's schemes and the shifting tides in the wizarding world, Harry immersed himself in his rigorous training in the Dark Arts under the tutelage of Arcturus Black at Black Castle.
The ritual chamber in Black Castle thrummed with dark energy as Harry worked through another intricate curse under Arcturus's sharp gaze. Days had passed since the fateful Order meeting, and Harry had thrown himself into his training with relentless focus.
Dark wisps of magic coiled around his wand as he executed the final movement of the spell. The practice dummy before him quaked violently before crumpling into a heap, its core completely shattered.
"Better," Arcturus nodded approvingly. "You're maintaining control even as the power increases. The cleansing rituals are working well."
He stepped closer, his tone shifting to one of caution. "But you're pushing yourself too hard, Harry. Power is only useful when balanced. If you lose control, the darkness will consume you."
Harry glanced up, offering a faint smile. "I know. That's why I take breaks. Speaking of which, I've been thinking about visiting Fleur in France again soon."
Arcturus nodded approvingly. "A wise decision. Time away will clear your mind and keep you centered. Even the strongest wizards need respite to stay sharp."
Harry lowered his wand, taking slow breaths to center himself. Despite his focus on training, whispers of the Order's movements occasionally reached him. He knew they continued their misguided mission to guard the prophecy, clinging to their crumbling ideals. Grimmauld Place remained their headquarters, but Harry felt no urge to interfere. Their choices and consequences were no longer his concern.
The deterioration of his relationship with Dumbledore didn't concern him much either. They'd never been close, to begin with. However, Dumbledore's retaliation, when it came, was both petty and unexpected.
One evening, as Harry was finishing his daily cleansing ritual in the quiet of the Black Castle, a sharp knock echoed through the hall. Moments later, Professor Flitwick arrived, practically trembling with indignation.
"Harry!" Flitwick began without preamble, his voice unusually sharp, "why would you decline the Head Boy position? Do you have any idea what you're giving up? The private quarters, the status, the responsibilities that could shape your future career—"
Harry blinked in confusion. "Professor, I haven't declined anything. In fact, I was hoping to get the position."
Flitwick froze, his brow furrowing as he processed Harry's response. "But... during this morning's staff meeting, when we discussed the appointments, Dumbledore explicitly stated that you declined—just as you did with the prefect position."
"I never—" Harry's eyes narrowed as understanding dawned. "This is Dumbledore's revenge for what happened at the Order meeting, isn't it?"
Flitwick's sharp gaze met Harry's. "Explain," he demanded, his usually cheerful demeanor replaced with stern determination.
Harry recounted the confrontation at Grimmauld Place in detail—his argument with Dumbledore, his rejection of the man's authority, and the subsequent division it caused in the Order. As Harry spoke, Flitwick's expression grew darker and darker.
"That is utterly unprofessional!" Flitwick erupted, his small frame practically vibrating with outrage. "To weaponize a school position against a student because of personal grievances? It's disgraceful! I'll see this corrected immediately, Harry. The position is rightfully yours, and I'll make sure the rest of the staff knows the truth."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said sincerely, though he could see Flitwick was far from calm. Hoping to ease his mentor's frustration, he suggested they move on to more pleasant matters.
For the next hour, the pair discussed advanced charm theory, their shared passion gradually replacing the tension in the room. When Flitwick proposed a practical demonstration, Harry eagerly agreed.
Under the starlit sky, master and apprentice dueled, their spells lighting up the night. Flitwick nodded approvingly at Harry's progress before departing with a final promise. "Expect your Head Boy badge with your letter, Harry. I'll see this matter settled properly."
---
The next morning, Sirius enacted his own form of revenge. The Order members arriving at Grimmauld Place found themselves caught in an elaborate paint bomb trap that left no one, not even Dumbledore, untouched.
Bright, multicolored paint erupted through the rooms, splattering every surface and covering everyone in vivid hues.
Chaos broke out instantly. "What in Merlin's name?" Molly Weasley shrieked, furiously trying to wipe blue paint off her face.
Dumbledore stood at the center of the commotion, his once-stately robes dripping with a kaleidoscope of colors. His expression was calm, almost bemused, but there was a subtle tension in his gaze that betrayed a flicker of irritation beneath the surface as he surveyed the mess.
While the others spluttered and scrambled for their wands, attempting cleaning spells that mysteriously failed, Sirius appeared at the top of the staircase, grinning like a madman. "Good morning, everyone!" he called cheerfully. "Lovely day for a splash of color, don't you think?"
"Sirius Black!" Molly Weasley shrieked, her hair and robes splattered with neon colors. "This is outrageous!"
"Is it?" Sirius replied with a sharp grin. "Sort of like using one's position as Headmaster to spite a student?" He leaned casually against the banister as he explained Dumbledore's actions concerning Harry and the Head Boy position.
A heavy silence fell over the room as all eyes turned to Dumbledore. Even beneath the splatters of paint, the discomfort in his expression was clear. The great Albus Dumbledore, caught in an act of petty revenge against a student - it wasn't a good look.
Molly huffed, crossing her arms. "Regardless of the reasons, Sirius, covering us all in paint isn't the solution."
Sirius shrugged, his grin undeterred. "Maybe not, but it was worth it."
---
Back at the Black Castle, Harry couldn't stop laughing when Sirius showed him a magical photograph of the aftermath. The image captured the room frozen mid-chaos, with a particularly furious Snape glaring daggers at Sirius from under a coat of bright purple paint.
"You really outdid yourself," Harry chuckled, shaking his head.
Sirius leaned back in his chair, his laughter uncontrollable. "Look at Dung's face! And Snape—I didn't even know it was possible for him to look more miserable."
---
Life continued its pattern. Harry divided his time between training with Arcturus and visits to France, where he helped Fleur with her curse-breaking studies while she helped him maintain his balance against dark magic's influence.
The Head Boy situation remained unresolved, though Harry took the lack of news as a positive sign. He trusted that Professor Flitwick would handle the situation.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Harry, Dumbledore had bigger problems to take care of. Rumors began swirling in the Daily Prophet about his mismanagement at Hogwarts, with scathing articles dredging up past incidents—from the Philosopher's Stone fiasco to the Chamber of Secrets, and most recently, the Triwizard Tournament debacle. To the public, it was proof that Dumbledore was losing his touch.
At the Ministry, whispers grew louder. Minister Fudge seized the opportunity to undermine Dumbledore, pushing for his removal from the position of Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. The vote to remove Dumbledore as Chief Warlock succeeded with unprecedented support from both dark-aligned and neutral families.
Watching from the family seats, Harry and Sirius exchanged worried glances. The dark faction shouldn't have had this much influence - not after the deaths of so many prominent Death Eaters.
"Voldemort's been busy," Harry murmured, his voice low. His mind raced, piecing together possibilities. "He's found new allies."
"Strong ones," Sirius agreed grimly. "The neutrals never vote as a bloc unless someone's pulling strings behind the scenes."
Harry's grip tightened on his wand. He'd need to investigate this new development thoroughly. He couldn't afford to be caught off guard by Voldemort's machinations again.
As they left the Wizengamot chamber, Harry could feel the political landscape shifting beneath their feet. The game was changing, and he needed to identify the new players fast—before Voldemort's next move caught him unaware.
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