A/N: To the person who asked, yes there will be no Harry Potter character. You will have to read to find out why. I did not like this chapter and had a lot of trouble writing it, so characters may seem OOC.
Chapter 7- Old Friends and Uncovered Secrets
I drifted back into consciousness to the sound of people speaking quietly.
"-cannot have it known that a student was injured on a school broom, especially the first time he touched one." That was Dumbledore, he sounded like he was nearing the end of his patience.
"Yes, but Albus. If we don't tell anyone, we won't get new brooms and if Merlin tells anyone and it gets out to the Board of Governors, they would go crazy. I don't want to have to deal with the Board, you know all of them are in Lucius' pocket." McGonagall was speaking softly to him.
"I have made up my mind, Minerva. I will keep Mr. Emrys from talking about it and the wards on the school will monitor any letters going out about it." He said with finality.
"Ok, Albus. You just better hope that this works out."
By this time I had woken up fully and I was listening with a deep burning fury building over what they were saying. I stayed still as they finished up their whispered conversation and I heard them walk off. I sat up and frowned as I thought about what I had just heard. Was this the reason I was sent here? I wondered silently.
I looked around the infirmary and noticed I was the only student in the brightly lit room. I whipped my head around when I heard a door open in the back of the infirmary. It was Madam Pomfrey and when she saw me sitting up she hurried over.
"Ah, Mr. Emrys. I see you are awake. You took a nasty shard of wood to your stomach but you will be fine in a couple of hours. You have only been unconscious for a little over half an hour. I removed the broom handle and mended your stomach but it will be sore for a day or two." She said as she bustled around checking various things around me.
I didn't say anything because I knew my magic would heal me of the wound and any lasting effects within the hour. I looked at her as she came to a stop at the foot of my bed. "Am I allowed to leave?" I asked politely.
She grumbled, "I suppose so, since there is no real reason for you to stay. Just take it easy and remember if you feel any pain to come straight here." She gave me a sharp look with that last statement.
"I will." I neglected to tell her that there would be no lasting pain for me to deal with.
"Well then you can go back to your common room. And remember to take it easy." She said as she handed me my clothes and pulled the curtain around my bed.
I quickly got dressed and headed down to the Slytherin Common room. Upon entering, what appeared to be the whole house turned to look at me.
"Er, hi?" I said with a small upturn of my lips.
At that it seemed like the House exploded. Everyone gathered around to hear what had happened and how I was doing. I noticed Draco and the other first years pushing through a crowd of fifth years trying to reach me.
"Merlin! Are you okay? I was freaked out when you dropped with that broom handle sticking out of you like that." Draco said once he had made his way to my side.
"I'm fine," I said to him and then to the rest of the House, "Madam Pomfrey patched me up and sent me back here to rest."
At my words, the whole House breathed a sigh of relief and started talking among themselves. Slowly the upper years started walking off to talk with their own groups and the remaining first years crowded closer.
"So, you will really be fine?" Pansy asked sceptically.
"Pansy, leave him alone. He's been through enough without you hounding on him on top of it." Daphne said acidly.
Pansy turned back to me, "it seems you have a fan, Merlin," she said snottily. Turning back to Daphne she whispered, "I hope you remember who you are, Daphne. Your parents probably already have a match for you. You wouldn't want to upset them."
"Unlike you, Pansy. My parents aren't trying to push their way higher in society. I have no need to worry about a match right now." Daphne shot back.
During this, I had started heading towards the stairs to get some rest. Making my way up to the first year dorm I had to pause every couple of steps. Madam Pomfrey may have worked her magic to heal my stomach, but as a creature of the Old Religion the newer magic didn't work quite as well. I would need to be alone to use my magic to heal my side completely.
I walked into the dorm and made my way over to my bed to sit on the edge. I was about ready to speak the spell when Draco walked into the room.
"So you really will be fine?" He asked again.
"Yes, Draco. I'll be fine after I can get some sleep." I answered tiredly.
"Oh. Then I'll let you get some sleep," he made his way to the door before pausing and turning back, "and I'll keep everyone from disturbing you." He said finally.
"Thanks, Draco." I said as he left the room. I turned back to look at my side and spoke the healing spell. "gwella'r clwyf saeth." I felt my eyes turn gold and my side start stitching together. It had been a long time since my healing spells had failed to work.
When I felt the magic finish, I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes. Soon enough I was asleep.
~ME~
The rest of week and part of the next were the same routine as before the flying lesson, though everyone still seemed a little skittish around me, as if they thought I would drop to the floor again. I shuddered at the memory of talking to Professor Snape after the accident. Suffice it to say, I was no longer required to take a flying class. And the Board of Governors was looking into why the broom had failed. I didn't expect them to find anything.
I shuddered again remembering the meeting I had with the ghosts of the castle.
Flashback
I was walking by myself to dinner after a defense lesson when I met the Grey Lady in the corridor. We stared at each other until she broke the silence and said, "Merlin Emrys. I am surprised to see you here again. I thought you wouldn't return for another century at least."
"Normally I would, Helena." I said dropping the mask of a first year. "But this visit was unplanned by me. The Old Religion decided I needed to be here."
"Well it certainly surprised us when we saw you standing among the first years." She said with a small laugh.
I laughed as well, "I noticed. I was afraid you would give me away with you all gaping like fish at me."
"Well, that's rude. We were surprised to see you and this is how you respond?" She retorted playfully.
I shook my head. "No, please forgive me, Lady. That was in poor taste. How may I make it up to you?" I asked with a small smile.
She locked eyes with me. Searching for something only she could see. "You may make it up to me by being the one to explain it to the others about why you are here." She said with a devious grin.
"Ah, no, Lady Helena. Please, not that! They will yell at me for sure." I begged her.
"Merlin, quit your moaning. It is a suitable recompense for comparing us to fish." She laughed quietly. "I will call a meeting among the ghosts so you can explain it to them. Meet me in front of the room of requirement an hour after midnight tonight." She stared at me, then turned and floated through the wall. I let out a groan and cursed when I realized that I was now late for supper. Draco was probably going to give me a lecture on showing up on time.
At ten minutes to 1:00, I slid out of my bed, I had laid awake while the other boys all settled down and fell into a deep slumber aided by a covert sleeping spell. There would be no chance of waking them right now as I made my way out of the dormitory and into the Common Room. My lips quirked into a small smile as I apparated silently to the corridor in front of the Room of Requirement, or as I originally named it: The Come and Go Room.
I only had to wait a few moments before Helena appeared through the door and beckoned me inside. I entered with hesitation but quickly walked through the door at Helena's glare. She probably could have made Morgana back down and think twice about crossing her.
Inside the room the resident ghosts of the castle floated around a comfy seat next to a lit fireplace. I quickly took a seat and soon had all of their attention on me.
I glanced around at them then uttered quietly, "um, hi?" I hid a wince at the glares that got. "So, obviously I am back at Hogwarts. This past Summer the Old Religion knocked me out and put me back in my 11 year old self." I frowned and continued, "I don't know why but I think it has something to do with the current Headmaster's ideas on using everyone around him like expendable pawns in some big game of chess."
The ghost's all nodded with understanding looks, "Yes." The Fat Friar said, "We have noticed him starting to lose that caring nature and turn more manipulative and cunning." The ghost's sighed and Peeve's spoke up, "Even my warning pranks are starting to have to pick up intensity. The student's all joke about it, but no one remembers that you and the Founder's placed me here for a specific reason. And with that squib Filch running around trying to have me exorcised all the time, no one bothers to research why it is impossible to do so and what it means when I do." He looked dejected and the other ghosts all hastened to comfort him.
Contrary to what the school believed, Peeve's was bound to the castle for the sole purpose of finding traitors. Whenever he started mistreating someone it was usually to uncover whatever they were trying to hide. Back when the school was founded, the muggles would do anything to wipe out a single witch or wizard. Including forcing a member of the school to betray their peers or colleagues.
Sir Nick spoke up next, "It doesn't help that he lets his pet savior run amok around the castle with nary a word of censure. He has rescinded any point-loss or punishment that he has gotten along with that red-headed sidekick of his." The ghost's all looked outraged and Helena spoke, "His blatant misuse of the Headmaster's ability to rescind punishments can be dealt with at a later time, what we need to focus on is his lack of care for the students."
I blinked in confusion and asked, "wait, what about a savior?"
It was the Bloody Baron that answered me after a short staring match that the ghosts had, "Neville Longbottom is said to be the savior of the Wizarding World for his defeat of Lord Voldemort as a baby."
I stared at the ghost's in shock. "That's ludicrous. How would a baby be able to do that? I am the one who banished Lord Voldemort after his attack on the Potter's. The Old Religion won't allow someone to attack a defenseless child over something as trivial as a vague prophecy. I cast a spell the day after it happened to banish his spirit from this world. I didn't think anything else of it."
It was the ghost's turn to stare in shock at me, "You mean, Neville isn't the one who defeated him?" The Fat Friar said faintly. "Dumbledore has been spouting a lie all these years?!"
"If he's been telling everyone that Neville defeated the Dark Lord, then yes it is a lie." I said solemnly.
It had shocked and astounded the ghosts to find out that the Headmaster had lied for so long, but the rest of our meeting passed without anymore shocking secrets coming to light and the ghost's all agreed to help me keep an eye on the Headmaster and the rest of the school. It was nearing dawn when I finally apparated back to the common room to head up to bed for an hour or two.
Again, I am sorry this took so long. Hopefully the next will be up sooner.
