Chapter Text
0•0
Harry stormed out of Professor McGonagall’s office in a rage, not caring one wit if he managed to scare the living daylights out of any of the students in his path. He pushed students aside and headed for the Room of Requirement. It was his seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and like all students in their seventh year, he was to speak to McGonagall about his Career options before school ended.
When in his fifth year, he had had this same interview with McGonagall, and at the time he had wanted to be an Auror. Now however, having just won the war against Dark Lord Voldemort and being hailed as “The-Boy-Who-Ended-It-For-Good” he had a different plan. In fact, he had no plans to speak of regarding Careers. He didn’t want to be an Auror anymore, that was for sure.
Entering the room of requirement, Harry threw his school bag beside one of the sofas the room had provided before dropping into the soft black leather sofa himself. The room was homey, the walls a soft terra cotta, a rug covering the stone floor was a mix of green and brown earthy colors. One of the walls held a hug roaring fireplace. The other walls had floor to ceiling bookshelves, full of books.
Harry’s mind wandered back to the conversation he’d just had with Professor McGonagall a few short minutes before. His hands clenched into fists and a dark look passed on his face. It hadn’t just been McGonagall in this meeting. No, because he was Harry Potter, he’d had this conversation with Professor Dumbledore as well.
0•0
“Potter, during your fifth year you expressed the wish to become an Auror after school ended, correct?” Professor McGonagall asked Harry, looking the Seventeen-year-old young man directly in the eye.
Harry nodded, “Well yes…”
“My dear boy,” Dumbledore started, cutting Harry off mid-sentence, “you’ve been accepted into the Auror program. They would like you to start a week after School ends.” The Professor’s blue eyes twinkled as he spoke jovially.
The emerald eyed teen blinked, “but I haven’t even written my NEWTs!” he exclaimed in shock.
“Well, no, of course you haven’t, but none the less, the moment you graduate you’ll be able to enter the program.” McGonagall said simply.
“But I thought we didn’t get our NEWT marks in until summer holiday…everyone else has to wait for their marks before you can apply to the program.” Harry sputtered.
“Well, you’re Harry Potter…” McGonagall stated, like that explained everything.
Harry’s once surprised emerald eyes turned frosty. “Of course, perfect Harry Potter, gets the best of anything doesn’t he. Even gets into the Auror program without having to apply.”
Professor Dumbledore merely chuckled, “My dear boy, think of the opportunities, your name-“
“Yes sure, my name,” Harry growled standing up suddenly, startling both Professors. “You know, ever since first year, it’s always been my name. Harry Potter,” the teen spat, “never just Harry. All everyone sees is this stupid scar. Everyone wants a piece of famous Potter; famous Potter gets everything. Heck, I can’t even scrape by in things by my own merits can I? Its always by the merits of “Famous Potter.”
“Sit DOWN Potter!” McGonagall exclaimed, “Ten points from Gryffindor for your behavior.”
“No thank you Professor,” sneered Harry, the teen glared at the Professors, “well I’ve got news for you, I’m not going to be an Auror.”
Both of the Professor’s jaws dropped, McGonagall recovered first, “Well of course you are Potter. Its expected of course.”
“And I’m sure you’ll be asking for Miss. Weasley’s hand soon also, correct?” Professor Dumbledore supplied helpfully.
Harry shook in fury, “No, I won’t be an Auror, and no I won’t be marrying Ginny. In fact, I’ve had enough of this bull shit.”
“Language Potter.” McGonagall snapped, “Ten points from Gryffindor.”
“Keep taking points Professor, I honestly don’t care anymore,” Harry growled before shaking his head, “You know, I’ve done everything everyone has ever asked me, but I’ve never done something just for myself. Well, this is me doing something just for myself. I am going to live my own life, by my own rules. I’m done here.”
And with that said, Harry spun around and walked out of McGonagall’s office, ignoring the calls of the Professors to come back. Duty indeed.
0•0
Harry sighed, calming himself down a bit more. A cup of tea appeared on the coffee table in front of the sofa he sat on. “Thanks Hogwarts.” He muttered before reaching for the cup and bringing it to his lips. The steam of the hot liquid rose, filling his nose with the comforting smell of apples and cinnamon. As he expected, the tea tasted heavenly. The heat of the tea warmed the cup and intern his hands. He pulled his knees up to his chest, drawing the warm cup closer as he stared ahead into the flames of the roaring fireplace, his mind wandering.
Ever since he had entered the Wizarding world at the age of eleven, everyone wanted a piece out of the “Boy-Who-Lived”. Everyone expected things from him, from saving them from the Dark Lord to marrying their daughters…in this case Ginny Weasley. Harry sighed, taking another swallow of the warm tea.
Honestly, why couldn’t he do something for himself for once? Must everything have to be a duty. I mean really, what had the Wizarding world really done for him? Nothing. That's what.
The teen couldn’t believe the audacity that McGonagall and Dumbledore had had earlier. “Join the Aurors, Potter; marry Ginny, Potter. Its expected.” Harry snorted. “Yeah right, in their dreams.” He ran a hand through his inky black hair before shaking his head.
Harry didn’t have anything against Ginny really, the thing was, he thought of her as a little Sister. Any romantic intentions would be weird and gross. Ginny understood this as well, considering she saw Harry as another one of her brothers.
As the teen’s mind wandered more, he came to a thought that made him sit up. “I really enjoy teaching…”
During Harry’s summer holidays after fourth year, Uncle Vernon had demanded that Harry get a job. He didn’t want to see Harry during the day. So, Harry had looked for a job, surprisingly he had ended up working at a grade school near Private Drive, helping with the summer school programs. His “boss” had noticed that Harry was paying attention to one of his lessons during the first week that the teen was working at the school and had asked Harry if he’d like to sit in on the lessons. Harry had agreed, soaking up the things taught like a sponge. Because he grasped the concepts being taught, so quickly, the teen had begun helping the other kids if they didn’t understand something. Soon he was teaching the younger kids things like basic Arithmetic and English. The thing that had surprised him the most, was how much he had enjoyed teaching. How good it felt to be a part of something like education…that he was leaving an impression on the younger generation…that he was shaping how they saw things and understood things.
Harry grinned at the memory of teaching that summer. It had been no wonder that he had jumped at the chance to teach the DA in his fifth year, or that he had done such a good job. Everyone that had been in the DA had achieved a Double O (OO) on their OWLs. Harry had been so proud…proud of his students but also at his ability to teach. The summer after fifth and sixth year had also been spent working at the school near Private Drive. His Boss had sat in on one of the lessons that Harry was teaching and after that lesson, he had approached the teen.
“Potter, you are a really good student, but an even better teacher. You should think about becoming a teacher after you’re done school.” The man had said with a smile.
The more the teen thought about it, the more he liked the idea, “Well that’s one problem solved…however, who should I teach? Muggles or Wizarding folk?”
Harry frowned when he thought about his own education at Hogwarts. Incompetent teachers, danger at every turn… heck, even the subject material. When he really thought about it, we were disappointed with his education.
Hogwarts was supposed to be the best school in Europe according to Dumbledore and the other professors, but the truth was, it wasn’t the best school. Harry had discovered this when he happened upon “Best Magic Schools in the World” by James Goldenstong at one of the bookstores in Diagonally when he was picking up his school supplies for his seventh year.
The fact of the matter was, Hogwarts was ranked 56th. First and second place being given to Salem Institute of Magic in the USA and Hiroko Gakkoo Tejina O Suru (Hiroko school of Performing Magic) in Tokyo Japan. Salem was the only school that even taught basic Mundane subjects, there weren’t even any Wizarding Universities or Colleges for crying out loud!
The more he thought about it, the more Harry wanted to change things. Then he stopped in shock, why hadn’t he thought of this before? “Why don’t I start my own school instead?” he whispered to himself. “It can offer courses in both Wizarding and Mundane subjects…from beginner to advanced university levels…both Mundane and Magical people can attend…even creatures!” Harry scrambled for his bag and retrieved a piece of parchment and a quill with ink. The teen began scribbling furiously, his quill flying too and from the pot of ink.
“Students can stay for as many years as they want, it’ll be affordable…” He muttered to himself, jotting down more ideas. A half an hour later he sat back and reread his list of ideas. “This could really work…but I’ll need to finish my NEWTs first…than I need a better Mundane education.”
Harry paused a moment, “I should apply to University College London.” Thinking about the advertisements he’d seen when he went to buy his Hogwarts supplies over the summer months.
0•0
Harry packed his parchment into his bag along with the ink and quill he had used and stood up heading for the door.
‘I’ll miss Hogwarts after NEWTs, it was my first home and all, but I need to do this. For myself and for others. People need a good education and what is offered right now is not enough. It’s no wonder that Voldemort wanted to take over. He wanted change things. Admittedly he went about it in completely the wrong way, but he wanted change.’
Harry left the Room of Requirement and headed for the Gryffindor Dorms, but he continued thinking along the way, no longer angry or in a dark mood, only relaxed and somewhat cheerful. He even went as far as to whistle a cheerful tune as he walked. The students he passed in the hallway must have thought him mental, angry and looking ready to kill one minute and cheerful and whistling merrily only an hour later.
‘I honestly don’t care what anyone thinks.’ Harry grinned, a spring in his step.
Things came to a halt very quickly, “Potter! Where do you think you are going?” A stern voice growled. Harry turned around and saw the Gryffindor head of house. A look of surprise found its way onto his face.
“I was going to the Common Room Ma’am.” He replied honestly, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder.
Students had stopped to watch the pair. Even Professor Snape was listening, having stopped to listen instead of making his way back to his office as he had intended in the first place. He had been a bit surprised at the tone of McGonagall’s voice when she growled at Potter and wondered what was going on.
Harry tilted his head to the side curiously, his long inky black bangs falling to the side of his face.
“Oh no you are not. “The irate woman growled, “You have detention with me, and twenty points from Gryffindor for your behavior.” Her lips were pressed into a thin line.
“Really?” Harry asked, “and what did I do to earn this detention prey tell?”
“You-“ McGonagall began, but Harry cut her off.
“I told you and Professor Dumbledore ‘No’ to becoming an Auror and marrying Ginny?” Harry guessed, shifting his bag to his other shoulder, “didn’t fulfill your expectations or demands? Really Professor, you can’t hand out a detention for that.”
Everyone was surprised at this; Harry had told the Professor that he wasn’t going to be an Auror or marry Ginny Weasley? And he was getting a detention for that? Really?
Severus’s jaw nearly dropped in shock at McGonagall’s reason for giving Potter a detention, but thanks to his years of being a spy for the light, he refrained from doing so.
Harry on the other hand, wasn’t finished with Professor McGonagall yet though. Staring blankly ahead, the emerald eyed teen began to speak, “When I arrived at Hogwarts at the age of eleven, I was a skinny abused runt who was used to taking orders and acting like a house elf for my uncle, Aunt and Cousin. I was desperate for friends and approval. After the fiasco with the Sorcerer’s Stone and Lord Voldemort in first year, I discovered I had a purpose. A purpose to kill off the darkest dark lord in fifty years mind you. And so, having a purpose I saved the school year after year — going against a Basilisk, a murderer, through a deadly tournament where Cedric Diggory died, saving a prophecy at the Ministry…doing things that the adults around me didn’t have the guts to do. Putting myself and my friends in danger time after time. When I killed Voldemort in the end, I was tired, and I’m still tired. I have done everything everyone wanted me to do…and for the first time in my life I wanted to do something for myself…” Harry trailed off. He turned his head and looked McGonagall directly in the eye, “and then today, you and Professor Dumbledore tell me that I’m going into Auror training a week after I graduate — without having to write an entrance exam for the program, and that I’m going to marry Ginny Weasley? A girl who I think of as my little sister…” Harry trailed off again, letting the information he’d given sink into the people around him.
“And I tell you ‘No’…and you get angry because I’m not doing my ‘duty’…what’s ‘expected of me’…” a bitter smile made its way onto Harry’s face, “Professor, I’ve done my duty…what’s expected of me. I’m done bowing down to the wills of others. I’m going to live my life my way and in my own time. Doing the things that I want to do, not because someone else tells me that I must do them.
And if you are going to give me a detention or take points for that…well I don’t really care anymore. Do what you like, but I’m done.”
With those words left hanging, Harry turned and made his way calmly through the students around him, disappearing down the hall.
McGonagall was left sputtering, the students left in shock and Severus Snape…Severus made his way quietly to his office, the words, “Well done Potter.” Hanging on the air…not that anyone heard them, since they had been whispered ever so softly as Harry left for his dorm.