One Tin Soldier

Chapter 21: Up the Hill

For the detention in his next Charms class, Harry knew exactly what he would do. He had been thinking of what would work that wouldn't seem like 'acting' in Charms, one of his favorite classes; it had come to him during breakfast just before said class. The problem was he hated to insult one of his favorite professors at Hogwarts.

Since he had been bored from day one in all of his classes, Harry decided the best thing he could do was to fall asleep, or at least pretend to. He had almost done it in several of his other classes already.

As he listened to Professor Flitwick's lecture he gave a quick yawn and let his eyes drift closed. Hermione, who was sitting beside him, gave him a hard nudge, but he ignored her.

He scowled at her and moved away from her prodding elbow, wishing she'd mind her own business. He closed his eyes again and went back to 'sleep'.

"Mr. Potter!" came Professor Flitwick's brusque voice in his ear, interrupting a nice daydream involving a naked Yoruichi and some catnip.

He had witnessed that lady's nudity on several occasions and Harry knew she would probably smirk at the thought of being featured in a teenage boy's daydream.

He opened one eye and sighed. "Yes Professor?"

"Am I boring you?" Professor Flitwick asked tartly as he came to stand in front of the teen.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Harry said, stretching lazily. "And it's Lord Potter, Professor."

"I see, well then, detention Lord Potter," the professor informed him tartly. "Maybe that'll wake you up."

"Very well sir. Can I go back to sleep, now?"

"Harry!" Hermione hissed in shock.

"I can handle this, thank you Miss Granger," the usually jovial Charms' professor snapped. "Now then..."

Harry wasn't sure why Professor Flitwick had asked him to get this detention, but he would give the man the benefit of the doubt.

~~

The rest of the day went as all previous ones had lately. Harry ignored everyone's attempts, once again, to get under his skin. He also ignored Umbridge's glares of hatred when they passed in the hall.

As long as DADA did not have an accredited professor, there was no way he was going to subject himself to her abuse of power and her mockery of a class.

When he knocked on Professor Flitwick's office door after dinner, Harry was ready to kill someone. He was getting sick and tired of everyone trying to tell him who he should be. At this rate, he wondered if he was even going to last the year.

"Come in Lord Potter, have a seat. Tea?"

Harry sat in the offered chair and gave a nod. "Yes, thank you professor."

"I can't remember the last time someone went to sleep in my class, Lord Potter. I found it quite disturbing," the diminutive professor chuckled.

Harry smiled and gave a slight nod. "I'm sorry sir, but I couldn't think of anything better. As I've been wanting to sleep in several of my classes lately anyway, it seemed rather appropriate."

The professor passed over a cup of tea and came to the point o the clandestine meeting. "Which is the reason why I asked you to come. I get the impression that you are very frustrated here at Hogwarts, as if we are not challenging you enough?"

After making his own tea, Flitwick continued, leaning back in his chair with cup in hand. "Over the years, I have been disheartened at how you were wasting your time here. Until this year, when I finally realized that it was Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger that were holding you back. Am I correct?"