Harry Potter and the Potter Grimoire

Chapter 24: Master and Apprentice

Harry frowned as he followed the Immortal Nicolas Flamel after dinner that night. The man was silent, unlike the hall they had just left before the beginnings of evening pudding. They roamed the corridors, as the ambience of the castle, a magic of itself, settled over their shoulders. The only sounds were their footsteps on the flagstones, the whisperings of the portraits as they spread the news that the Last Potter was the Apprentice of Flamel.

The duo walked into the Defensive Wing, as the Marauder's Map labeled it. It apparently housed every Defense oriented class, club or event in the castle's history, baring large whole school events the required the space of the Great Hall. It was three doors past the Magical Combat classroom that the duo slipped into a room that was sparsely decorated; the only furniture in the room was a partner's desk and two chairs on either side. A cot was tucked into a corner, obviously transfigured half walls forming the "bedroom".

Harry asked the obvious question of "What is this Professor."

Flamel smiled, his eyes gleaming in the torchlight of the room. "This is your room my Apprentice."

Harry was speechless. He quickly looked towards the immortal and met his eye. "Excuse me?"

"Ah, I assumed you knew... pity." With a flick of his wand, the door shut locking the two in the room. Another flick, a couch appeared. With a sigh, the centuries old Alchemist sat on the ugliest couch Harry had ever laid eyes on.

"I trust you can make your own seating." Nicolas said after he called for a house elf to bring them tea.

Harry nodded and flicked a blue fluffy chair into being. He sat just as tea appeared on the arm of the chair.

"Now that we have all we need for a discussion; it is time to begin. What do you know of apprenticeships?" Nicolas asked the teen as he sipped his tea.

Harry racked his brain and then began to speak, "you teach me everything, you basically become my guardian. Right?" Harry continued on,"You'll teach me things like Alchemy as I study here and gain my OWLs and NEWTs."

Nicolas nodded slightly as he listened to the boy. He then held up a hand instantly stemming the rambling.

"You're wrong." Harry opened his mouth to counter when Nicolas glared slightly. Instantly, Harry shut his mouth. "The reality is that I will not become your guardian. That is still Sirius Black. However, as my apprentice, I do gain a significant aspect of control over your life. For example, you are no longer a student of Hogwarts."

Harry gasped as his robes flashed and the red trim and tie disappeared, leaving velvety black. He felt the magics of the castle itself press against him for a moment, as the school registered his transfer. As the magic lifted from his shoulders, he gasped.

"I- I'm not a Gryffindor anymore?"

"No child, you are not a Gryffindor anymore. You will find that the castle will reject your entry to the dorms baring invitation." Nicolas frowned slightly as he saw Harry's eyes.

"Why? Why the hell did you do that?!" Harry sputtered as his shock turned to anger. "My friends are in Gryffindor! And you just took away the protections of this castle! WE ARE AT WAR!"

"Shut up Potter." Nicolas' voice broke through Harry's and silenced him in an instant.

"Let me be clear. Your status as a student here has changed. The staff, baring myself, has no means of meaningfully punishing or rewarding you as you are my apprentice. Pointsdon't matter, as they wouldn't go to Gryffindor. The castle already would have barred your entry into the tower, and that ignores the social implications of your apprenticeship. In essence, according to the castle, you are an employee of the school, under my direct supervision."