He listened carefully knowing that if he made it through this year, then he'd need to have a way to show he could take care of himself for the people who oversaw the emancipation of minors allowing capable minors to be seen as adults in all societies. He wouldn't be able to apply for it until he was free of the Castle, which was Dumbledore's domain, but it was in the back of his mind already. Had been ever since his Aunt had asked the goblin about the process for wizards and if Harry could use it to get out from under the control of the Old Man.
The goblin had told her he'd need to be able to show he was capable of supporting himself and he couldn't apply until he was at least fifteen. Though he was fifteen now and his vaults would show he had adequate means of self-support, it'd only emancipate him in the magical world. Since he lived in the muggle world, and the age there was sixteen, if he wanted to continue living at Privet Drive, he'd have to wait until the end of the upcoming July. Legal age of adulthood was seventeen in the magical world but eighteen in the muggle world. So while he could claim emancipation in the magical world at fifteen he had to wait until he was sixteen to claim it in the muggle world. Something the goblins would help him with as he needed a verifiable proof of solvency there just as he did in the magical world. With all his holdings and wealth being magical in nature he couldn't prove anything in the muggle world without their help and he knew it.
The goblin had also recommended Harry have another source of an income to back up his inheritance from his parents and godfather though those vaults could be used to prove financial independence if necessary. Lord of Five or not, an independent source of income was recommended when asking for early adult status. Something he was bringing in on his own merit and not as a result of his ancestors largess, would be seen as better proof of his ability to care for himself in the future and be a beneficial adult to the community. This was the only thing he had that could qualify. Of course, the goblin had also said it was better if he could show good marks on his standard Owls, which was another reason Harry had decided to wait until after his sixteenth birthday to try for emancipation.
True to his suspicions, Harry was supposed to be back in the Gryffindor dormitory with the other boys his age. It seemed Professor McGonagal had been successful in her attempt to get him moved back into the tower this summer. Probably because he'd won the Tournament and Dumbledore didn't have a good enough argument against the move to counter her own. It never entered his mind that the old man wouldn't want him in the tower. He knew he wouldn't.
He carefully hid a sneer knowing none of them would understand why he wasn't eagerly looking forward to rooming with them again. But he'd given up on making amends with them or overtures to them after his second year when they'd been part of the group of students bad-mouthing him all over the Castle. He knew without having to be told they all expected him to be dancing for joy at being welcomed back to the tower again now that they'd forgiven him for getting into the contest last year. And none of them would understand why he wasn't. After all, wasn't he proud to be an honorable lion in good standing again? Their face of the generation to the masses?
As he told the twins, he had no intention of sleeping in the dorm though. No matter what anyone said about it. He didn't trust those students and he damn sure didn't trust the ones who'd be sleeping in the same room with him. The twins didn't take offense because they knew Harry wasn't referring to them. But also because they knew he was right. Gryffindor had betrayed Harry too many times already and for the most pathetic reasons. Far too many times. Forgiveness wasn't theirs to give. It was Harry's. And this year he wasn't giving it. Because none of them had asked for forgiveness at all. They hadn't even realized they should. Or needed to.
As he made his way to the private room he'd been using for the past three years he made a mental note to make certain to keep his belongings in his trunk and to keep the trunk locked as much as possible should he be forced back to the tower. He didn't trust them. Any of them as he knew the first hint of wrong doing, and they'd gladly turn on him again. Even if said wrongdoing wasn't by him. It wasn't like they'd ever waited for proof before to stab him in the back. And no matter how many times they'd been proven wrong in the past for their accusations against him, it'd never stopped them from accusing him again the next time rumors began flying. With Ron and Hermione in the Tower, whatever happened to upset the children this year would most certainly be blamed on him. Somehow. Nor would he receive any apologies for their behavior. He never had before.
A hand on the only unoccupied wall and a silent request for additional rooms had the Castle accommodating his wishes and adding a small study, a private lab where he could do his own brewing and a bathing chamber to the room he'd used for the past three years. This year he wouldn't be having to leave his chambers just to get a shower. As the heir of Gryffindor and wearing the ring of Gryffindor, Harry had the right to make the request if he chose.
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