Newspaper

Eyes are the windows to the soul

Chapter one

-Oliver Wood-

"Why was he not brought here straight away?" Madam Pomphrey demanded as she waved her wand over Harry Potter.

"A rogue Bludger hit his arm just before he managed to catch the snitch. We were about to bring him to you but Lockheart ran forward and insisted on doing it. Before we could say anything he waved his wand, there was a flash of light, and this happened." Oliver Wood told her, worried for his seeker.

"Well, what a fine job he made of it! I'll have to get some Skele-Grow." Madame Pomphrey said as she went into her store cupboard, "Instead of repairing the break, Lockhart removed the bones from his right arm." she muttered just loud enough for him to hear. After a moment he heard her yell "WHAT ON EARTH!", he ran towards the cupboard and saw her staring at the smashed bottles of Skele-grow.

She walked back over to Harry, "I'm sorry Mr. Potter, but regrowing the bones in your arm will have to wait until I can either get some Skele-grow from St. Mungo's or Professor Snape. Now, can you open your eyelids for me please?".

"I can't." Harry said in a weak voice.

"Allow me then." Madam Pomphrey soothingly said and she lifted his eyelids before she gasped and jumped back.

-Gryffindor Common Room-

-Hermione-

In the Gryffindor common room an hour later, a party was in full swing to celebrate their victory over Slytherin. Somehow, some seventh years managed to get a supply of butterbeer and lots of sweets which they were randomly throwing into the crowd when she came down from her dorm

"I can't believe you lot!" she shouted making everyone stop what they were doing, "Harry has lost his eyes and an arm and here you are celebrating!".

"Lighten up Granger." Someone shouted.

Hermione went to leave the common room. Ron blocked the way, "Where are you going?" he demanded angrily.

"Going to see my best friend not that you care." Hermione growled back just as angrily but when she made to leave Ron grabbed her arm and held her back.

"Harry won't notice if you're there or not." He said condescendingly.

"He needs his friends." she snarled and pushed Ron aside.

"Petrificus Totalus." he snapped once she was turned around making her fall to the ground in a full

"It's for your own good." Ron said, "No-one will want anything to do with him now so it's best you cut all ties with him."

Everyone looked shocked at what Ron did and said but decided to wait for a Prefect to come before they said anything.

-Hospital Wing-

-Dumbledore-

"Can you say that again Poppy?" Dumbledore asked hoping he had misheard her.

"Professor Lockhart not only deboned Mr. Potter's right arm, he also vanished his eyes. There is nothing that can be done about them and not only that, I've just discovered that my supply of Skele-grow has been sabotaged. I've checked with St. Mungo's and Severus, and the latest supplies of the potion can be made is Christmas."

"Thank you Poppy." Dumbledore said sighed as he turned to the majority of his staff, Lockheart was locked in a room, "What are we going to do with Harry?".

"One thing's for sure, he cannot return to the Dursleys." Minerva said, "They won't accept him as he is let alone crippled.".

"He must return there for his own safety." Dumbledore said firmly, "Minerva, I ask that you go there and inform them that Mr. Potter will be returned there next week.".

Poppy stepped forward, "Albus, the boy is showing signs of severe abuse. If you send him back there, I will have to file a report with the Ministry. I will go with Minerva and inform them though because the law says we have to.".

"Very well." Dumbledore said knowing that winning an argument with just one of those women was difficult but both together was impossible, "I will allow either your or Minerva to become his guardian.".

"No Albus," Minerva said, "I'm too old and Poppy is too busy to be a mother. We have plenty of time to arrange something, maybe Molly Weasley will take him in.".

-Great Hall-

Dumbledore stood up in the Great Hall once Minerva and Poppy left to inform the Dursleys that Harry would not be returning. "I am going to address some of the rumors circulating the school. Gilderoy Lockhart did remove Harry Potter's eyes and the bones in one of his arms. I have terminated his employment effective forthwith." he said.

"Who will teach Defense now?" an Ravenclaw seventh year asked in a panic.

"I will be teaching Defense against the Dark Arts until a replacement teacher is found." he said and when some students laughed he continued, "I assure you, I am not completely past it.".

"What about those books Lockhart had us buy? They don't teach us a thing!" another student asked.

"I have arranged for Flourish and Blotts to refund the money for these books and a new set book will be issued."

"What about Potter?" a third student asked.

"I ask that people not pester him on what has happened. If he wants to talk about it, then he will. I will not tolerate anyone bullying him over his problems." Dumbledore said before continuing, "If I find out about anyone harassing him because of this, I will deduct house points and give out detention." he paid particular attention to Draco Malfoy as he said this.

-Number four Privet Drive-

-Professor McGonagall-

"GET AWAY FROM HERE YOU FREAKS!" Vernon Dursley shouted after McGonagall and Madam Pomphrey knocked on the door, they were at Privet Drive while Dumbledore was addressing the school.

"Calm yourself Mr. Dursley. We need to speak to you about Harry." McGonagall said.

"What's the brat done now?" he asked.

"Nothing, but can we come in please? We are required by law to inform you of this." Poppy told him brusquely.

"Fine come in, but no funny business." he grumbled.

She and Poppy were led into the kitchen, "Earlier today, there was an accident during a Quidditch game and Harry ended up breaking his arm." Poppy said began before being cut off.

"So what?" Vernon demanded, "Just leave it and don't waste any time in sorting it out.".

"One of our staff tried to deal with it himself but due to his incompetence, he removed all the bones in Harry's right arm and somehow, removed his eyes." Poppy continued and there were stunned looks from both the Dursleys.

"Professor Dumbledore wants to send him back here as soon as possible." she began before she too was cut off.

"WE DON'T WANT HIM BACK HERE!" Vernon barked, "WE'VE PUT UP WITH HIM FOR ELEVEN YEARS! WE TRIED TO BEAT THE FREAKISHNESS OUT OF HIM BUT IT DIDN'T WORK! IF HE CANNOT EARN HIS KEEP, HE WILL NOT COME BACK HERE! EXECUTE HIM OR SOMETHING!".

Both of the women were startled by the outburst but not in the least surprised.

"Do you really despise him that much?" she demanded them, "I know Dumbledore left him with you, I protested the decision and from what I've just heard I was completely right in doing so. We've just checked and it seems you never filed for guardianship, how come? You do realize you've broken the law by doing so.".

"Why should we file papers for him?" Vernon sneered, "As I just told you, we NEVER wanted the freak!".

"He will never have to suffer you and your family again." she snarled back, "By the way, wizarding law requires a young witch or wizard to attend magic school, so your attempts to stop Harry from attending last year were illegal and you could have been fined a large sum of money.".

The Dursleys were gob-smacked as the two witches left.

-Unused Classroom-

-Lockheart-

Lockhart was pacing around the empty classroom. Since the Quidditch game, he had been locked in it while it was determined what he had done to Harry. He turned to face the door as it opened to see Amelia Bones walk in with two Aurors.

"Gilderoy Lockhart, you are under arrest for practicing healing without a license and grievous assault upon a minor." Madam Bones said. The two Aurors grabbed him and dragged him out, he knew he was in trouble for harming the boy-who-lived but wouldn't realize just how much trouble until they examined his wand later.

-General P.O.V.-

That day's copy of the Evening Prophet was delivered to its subscribers not long after Lockhart's arrest.

HOGWARTS DEFENCE PROFESSOR BLINDS BOY-WHO-LIVED!

It has come to the attention of the Daily Prophet that incompetence at the hands of Gilderoy Lockhart, current Defense against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has led to serious consequences.

During today's Gryffindor vs. Slytherin game, a rogue Bludger smashed into Boy-Who-Lived Harry Potter's arm, breaking it. Nothing unusual about that, stuff like that happens a lot in Quidditch and wounds like that are easily healed.

Mr. Potter held out until he managed to catch the Golden Snitch and win the game. Against the protests of friends and team-mates who tried to get him to the Hospital Wing, Professor Lockhart decided to take matters into his own hands. The results were that he deboned Mr. Potter's right arm and the most serious of all, he somehow vanished Mr. Potter's eyes, blinding the poor boy. Along with his injuries someone sabotaged the Hogwarts' Hospital Wing supplies of Skele-Grow and none will be able to be acquired as it is until Christmas.

Professor Lockhart was arrested for practicing healing without a license and causing serious harm upon a minor. As you readers know, Healing is only permitted to be done by licensed Healers although parents and other adults are permitted to heal minor wounds like scratches or broken noses.

We at the Prophet have also been hearing reports that Professor Lockhart turns each lesson into lessons about himself and several people have reported discrepancies in his books. We call for the Ministry to open an investigation into how such incompetence could have been permitted, considering most of the Hogwarts teaching staff were present at the game.

Undersecretary to the Minister, Delores Umbridge has called for Mr. Potter's immediate expulsion from Hogwarts, on the grounds that his blindness makes him a heavy risk to the school's Pureblood population. She is also calling for the contents of the Potter vaults at Gringotts to be confiscated but she has given no reason to do so. There has been no word from Headmaster Dumbledore on the matter, although we are trying to get hold of him for a comment on this. The Gringotts goblins have told the Prophet that there are no grounds for the Potter vaults to be seized and being blind are not grounds for this to happen.

-Staff Room-

-Professor McGonagall-

"Who leaked this story to the Prophet?" she shouted, throwing the newspaper down on the staff room table.

"It could be anyone Minerva," Pomona Sprout said, "There was bound to be some student who overheard the conversations in the Hospital Wing or maybe one of the Aurors who took Gilderoy away told them.".

"If any student reported this to the Prophet, then they will lose two-hundred and fifty points and earn a month's worth of detention." she continued, "I would like you to all to check with your Houses to find out if anyone did leak this to the Prophet.".

-Hospital Wing-

-Harry-

It had taken him a while, but Harry had eventually got to sleep, he wondered why Ron or Hermione hadn't been to see him though. He woke up a few hours later to hear three voices, which he recognized as Dumbledore, McGonagall and Madam Pomphrey.

"What was she doing out in the corridor anyway?" the matron asked the other two.

"We think she was going to see Potter. According to several witnesses," Professor McGonagall said, "Ronald Weasley refused to see him and when she went to leave the Gryffindor common room he put her under a full body bind, then when Percy Weasley went to see what was going on Ronald claimed that Ms. Granger was firing hexes at him and then was going to find someone else to hex so he put her under a body bind to stop her before anyone else got hurt. Percival was about to give Ms. Granger a detention for doing so when the rest of the house told the real story but he still tried insisting otherwise so the other prefects brought the situation to me. Percival is no longer a prefect and I shudder to think about the Howler that those two will receive as well as Fred and George, the two were found drunk crying their eyes out with the rest of the quiditch team and Lee Jordan about what happened to Harry, they all see him as a little brother.".

Harry tried to look in their direction, "What's happened to Hermione?" he asked, his voice still weak.

"I'm afraid she's been petrified like Mrs. Norris." Dumbledore said to him as he felt his heart stop while the headmaster turned to what must have been Madame Pomphrey and Professor McGonagall, "We must all exercise caution, it seems the Chamber of Secrets is indeed open again.".

On the bed, not that Harry could see, was the stiff petrified body of Hermione Granger.

The next story on my updating cycle is going to be "Fate's Hero: Dawn of Power". Please review.