Harry Potter gets smart and takes control - The Goblet

Chapter 64: Now What?!

Tuesday morning dawned bright and brisk. And Harry woke feeling no more worse for wear after squeezing an extra day into the night before.

Despite his exhaustion, under the Time-Turner they had worked out a new study plan around his detentions, caught up on homework, and managed to get started on their new WEA subjects, interspersed with several meals and sleep.

He trudged down to Hagrid's cabin bright and early, sipping another one of Winky's delicious smoothies. When there was no answer from the cabin, Harry went through Hagrid's Tuesday morning rounds in the forest before meeting Hermione for their morning run. They discussed their stint with the time-turner in great detail while running around the lake. It was decided that they had a good balance of extra time for sleep, eating, and a bit of relaxation, as well as their vigorous study schedule. It would be challenging but should be sustainable.

They knocked on Hagrid's door again before they went up to the kitchens for breakfast but got no response.

*

They planned to ask Professor McGonagall about the resorting before class that same morning. They'd even left History a little early to have time for it. But McGonagall wasn't there, which was odd, for the normal punctual woman. So the three of them sat down in Harry's normal place at the back, and Harry pulled out his mum's transfiguration notes. They were funny and much more entertaining than McGonagall's lectures. And easer to follow.

He was startled out of his reading on cross-species transfiguration when he sensed someone standing over his desk.

He glanced up, his hand on his wand... only to see the Professor, who was late. And staring at him.

She had a puzzled expression on her face.

"Professor?" He asked tentatively, hoping she wasn't about to lecture him again.

"I didn't know you liked to read Potter? I thought you hated it," she said bluntly, causing some of the other nearby Gryffindors to snicker.

Harry forced back a scowl, "What gave you that idea?" He said not able to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"I hated the migraine it gave me, not reading itself." He continued, "now I can actually see, and it's not so excruciating to do so, I love it. I've always liked books Professor, just not Migraines. It's a wonder what getting glasses that actually fit my prescription can do." He said so scathingly that she gaped at him like a fish.

He took perverse pleasure in her dumbfounded look of discomfort.

*

Hermione, Harry and Neville lingered after class, Harry hovering at the back, hoping that if the others asked, she wouldn't automatically say no. He really didn't want to have another argument about his detentions.

Before any of them could even open their mouths, she said, "Unless it's about the class or an apology for your appalling behaviour Potter, I haven't time. I expect you to turn up to every one of your detentions from now on, and you will present yourself to Mr Filches office, after dinner. No arguments unless you want to be in detention for the rest of the term. Is that understood?"

"Professor, Harry didn't break any rules-" Hermione started.

Professor McGonagall rounded on her with the same pinched disapproving look she'd been directing at Harry. Hermione quailed, as the Professor said, "Miss Granger, I am disappointed in you."

"But Professor-"

"I see Mr Potter has been a bad influence on you. Such a pity I did have such high hopes for you," she shook her head disappointedly as if all her hopes had been crushed.