Harry set the book down when Severus knocked on his door. Knowing very few people would actually disturb him while he was in his rooms Harry answered the door and let the Professor enter the chamber. He said nothing as Severus waved his wand deadening the room to any surveillance Albus might have put into place in order to monitor the occupant. Both of them knew it was likely the wily old man had devices Harry hadn't yet uncovered.
He then took his seat in the easy chair Dobby had found for him when it became obvious the Potions Master would be a frequent guest. "I just stopped by to give you a heads up. The Headmaster met with your servants this evening and has discovered what transpired during his absence. Ms. Granger has been expelled since she admitted in front of Professor McGonagal and I that she has been cheating in order to achieve her grades and class ranking."
"It seems she's been dumbing down your work on his orders by substituting her own work for yours. Then she turns in the work you did as her own work to receive a higher grade for herself. Work, she admitted she's been stealing from you ever since your first year here. All so the Headmaster can control what grades you're given and keep people believing you are only suited to becoming an auror when you finish your schooling."
"Expect him to call you to his office to discuss the matter. I'd like for you to come get me before you meet with him however as I don't trust him in this instance."
Harry nodded. He'd been expecting the discovery and to be called to account for his actions in the matter. "What do you think he'll try?" he asked simply.
"I believe he'll try to make you feel guilty. Especially for what befell Ms. Granger. She, in front of witnesses, implied he told her to dumb down your assignments and that it was ok to use your work as her own. The girl doesn't learn from her mistakes obviously as that is exactly what got her the mark on her face. She seemed to believe he would keep her out of trouble for it. Though I do doubt those were actually the orders he gave her, it is what she said and it could get him in trouble if she repeats it to anyone else. I fully expect him to try and coerce you into admitting you wanted her to dumb down your work or agreed to allow her to submit your work as her own. Somehow, I can see him believing that will get her out of trouble while not getting you into any he can't use his influence to get you out of. Which of course would grant him leverage over you in the future as you'd be grateful for his help in remaining a student of Hogwarts. He could hold your future placement here over your head for the rest of your schooling if he got you to agree to bailing her, and him, out of the trouble her mouth got them into. In fact, even after you finish your schooling he could hold it over your head, if you agree to help her like that. Because it would call into question the validity of your qualifications and your honor no matter what you're actually involved in at that time. So yeah, I see him trying to get you to agree to lie for her." Harry grimaced in disgust.
Severus delicately lifted a shoulder. "No one ever said I thought he was above using blackmail, Mr. Potter. I know better. How do you think he keeps me here when it's so very clear I don't like teaching? He seems to honestly believe you didn't want to do well in your classes and needed her to make certain you didn't. He most likely feels she only confessed to her cheating because she's upset about the branding. That if she'd been more in her normal frame of mind, she would've known to never admit to falsifying either her work or your own in front of either Minerva or myself."
"I know he's upset over Minerva and I both insisting that mark wasn't formed by Dark Magic as she believes it was. So you can expect a lecture on being careful what magic spells you use and how the more esoteric spells we find can often be misconstrued for something they aren't. Or can be something we don't actually think they are until after we've used them. He will also try very hard to get you to verbally say it was Dark Magic you used against them though Ms. Weasely admitted she knows it isn't."
"And then of course, he'll more than likely trot out that old tired line about you needing to forgive people when they make mistakes. For that he'll drag Ms. Weasely into things because she admitted she knows full well what she did was wrong and that her mark wouldn't be there if she didn't. But she also said she has no idea how to atone for it. So he'll try to convince you it's up to you to forgive her and remove the mark from her face. He still doesn't comprehend only the bearer of the mark can remove it."
"I'm not forgiving that slag just to make him happy. She made her choice and that choice was not me. She wanted my fame, money and future social position but she didn't at any point in time want me. She willingly and knowingly helped her brother and Hermione to trash my reputation and honor any time she was upset about something. So it'll be a cold day in hell before I forgive her. Especially when she has yet to ask for it."
Severus nodded. "I know and I don't expect you to. Especially since if you do, he'll expect you to let her back into your social circle and be seen walking around with her on your arm again. Which would undo everything marking her did for you. He'll definitely imply, if not straight out accuse you of having used dark magic to curse them with the marks they bear. Especially the Betrayer's mark on Mr. Weasely since it's permanent. I'm not sure if he'll try to claim you did it knowingly or claim it was the Dark Lord's influence over you. It depends on his agenda. But he'll definitely claim you used dark magic. Whatever you do, do Not agree with him in any manner as that'll give him something to hold over your head for the rest of your life."
Harry's lips twisted with a bitterness he usually kept well hidden. "Which, with his track record, won't be very long."
Severus said nothing as there really wasn't anything he could say to that. Both of them knew the Headmaster had been trying very hard to get the boy killed. So far the boy had survived on sheer guts, determination and a whole lot of luck. What Severus couldn't understand was why.
Harry quietly answered the Professor's unasked question when he said, "He wants my inheritance and fame because he can't afford the lifestyle he enjoys on what he rightfully earns and contrary to what he lets people believe, he didn't inherit from his father's estate. His brother did. When I come of age I'll be the Lord of Five because I stand to inherit from five very well known Estates and each has at least one seat on the Wizengamot. He doesn't know that completely, I don't think. He knows I'll get the Potter estate. And he might know I'll be inheriting the Black Estate as well. But I'm unsure whether or not he knows of the others. I'm almost certain he doesn't. But you never know with him."