One Tin Soldier

Chapter 20: Buried Treasure

Harry was once more in the Room of Requirement. He was once again training, alternating between combat and studying. The frustrated teen was so bored with Hogwarts classes, students and its staff.

Since the blocks on his magic had been lifted, and the fact that he was no longer hampered by the expectations of his so-called friends, he could now show his true intelligence.

He and Urahara had a chat about that one night, just before he had to leave for England. For those that didn't know Kisuke Urahara well – the blonde shop keeper came across as lazy and shifty, but behind that persona, the former Shinigami captain had a very sharp mind and knew how to use it.

He had questioned Harry about his studies and discovered the reasons as why Harry had been hiding his intellect for years.

"Very good. It is never wise to show how smart you truly are Harry-kun," Urahara said with approval. "Ichigo-kun does it well. Behind that delinquent behaviour of his is a sharp mind. Ichigo-kun once ranked in the top twenty-five students city wide. That's very impressive in a city the size of Tokyo. His score ranking as he grew older dropped because of all the soul reaping duties he took on, but those scores do not reflect his true intelligence.

"People see only what they want to see," Ichigo had added, joining the conversation as he plopped down beside Harry. "It's pointless to try to change their minds, but there also comes a time when you must stop hiding and show your true self. I surprise Rukia and the others all the time."

Harry'd had to agree with that. He was very used to that sentiment at Hogwarts; they only saw the scar and not the young wizard behind it. Draco Malfoy even referred to him as 'scar-head' and while annoying, it was, unfortunately, true. The Wizarding World never looked beyond that scar. They wanted a hero and in their minds it branded him as theirs.

He wanted out of this stagnated society! As soon as possible! To that end, with the help of the goblins, he had requested the home-schooled students' requirements for OWLs and NEWTs, covering the last decade, from the Magical Department of Education.

With the ruse of being a home-schooled student unable to afford Hogwarts, he wrote to the MDE and requested their requirements or DADA, Charms, Transfiguration and Potions. Those were the core classes needed to get any job in the Wizarding World.

Of course, if the professors at Hogwarts, most notably Albus "Bloody-Stick-His-Nose-Into-Everything-That-Belongs-To-Harry-Potter" Dumbledore, ever found out he'd requested them, he would've been in trouble.

The past exams were only for those that were home-schooled, but Harry didn't care. The simple fact was he'd basically taught himself, even here at Hogwarts. In his mind he was self-taught. No adult had ever stepped forward to help him in his studies except for Remus Lupin, but even he hadn't lasted long enough to make a difference.

No more! Harry wanted out of Hogwarts, and most especially the whole British Wizarding World.

Harry just wanted to see what he needed to study for his OWLs. He could care less about getting a job. He was a noble, the Head on an Ancient and Noble House. And, according to Sirius and the goblins, he was Heir Apparent to a second. Once he takes his OWLs he can leave and not look back. If he wanted to take his NEWTs, he could continue to home study in Japan. He could, after all, afford any tutors he might need.

Harry knew he had been hiding his intelligence from everyone, but once he had figured out that the Dursleys could care less about his grades at Hogwarts it was too late. Everyone had this image of a mediocre student and he couldn't change it now without being accused of cheating.

With the help of the goblins, Harry had come to realize his class standings really didn't matter in the long run. According to the purebloods, it was all about family standing, blood and passing his OWLs.