Ch. 8 The Fall of Carter

The punk will get what's coming to him. Just to warn you though, I haven't thought about how to cause his fall. I will just have to think as I go along; well improvising is my strong suit.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter so buzz off lawyers

"So do you have my money Potter?" Carter said with his usual angst. "Carter I've already told you I never have any money ever", Harry quickly responded. "Well what about lunch money? You have to have some of that", he replied. "I bring my lunch, my aunt and uncle don't trust me with money". "Well Charles, Clyde, should we remind Harry here why he isn't trusted with money?"

Harry and Mark's lives had continued like that ever since Carter supposedly put Mark in his place. It had been one month since that day and Harry's bullies had been merciless since then. The result was a very mad Harry.

Mark had been explaining the ideology of a bully to help Harry stay cool under his collar with the new more frequent threats. He had explained that Carter was a charismatic control freak and therefore he could not claim to rule the school, but gather up the support to actually back it up. When Mark had tried to take him out of power he did what his kind does best, a giant loosely organized counterattack. Having believed that the opposition was quelled, Carter disbanded his large force (as he wouldn't be able to keep power over all of them for very long) and moved back to his loyal group of followers i.e. Clyde and Charles. Sadly for Harry though, Carter also showed signs of great paranoia, which is why the extra bullying was going on. The good news was that meant Carter feared Harry and Mark, which could be used for their advantage.

Along with new knowledge Harry had also been physically training with Mark for the past month as well. His workout involved long distance running, sprint workouts, hill runs, barefoot runs (apparently Mark thought they should be able to run off at a moments notice) strength conditioning, and chin-ups. In all Harry was in the best shape he thought you could get into in one month. Mark also was teaching him some minor techniques for inevitable fights that will follow. It took until mid-October, but Mark finally believed they were ready.

Mark walked into school early as usual, but for better reason today. He had to begin preparations for the plan to ruin Carter's bully career.

The plan was simple enough, start spreading rumors of an uprising against Carter and wait for his move; at that point Mark and Harry would begin taking down Carter's officers. Without his safety net Carter would try to call in his brothers for help, that's when they would hit him. In the panic to find help Carter would be defenseless. Now all Mark had to do was spread rumors to the first few people to come into the classroom.

"Hello Mark", Mark had gotten lucky, the biggest gossip in the class had just walked in.

"Why are you all laughing at me?" Carter yelled as soon as the teacher walked out of the classroom, "What did I do?" Carter was in shock; his friends appeared to be turning on him.

"Is it true you wet the bed", a girl asked. "I heard he picks his nose", another child said. Carter quickly responded, "I don't do any of that stuff, I think nose picking is gross!" Carter was losing control of the situation. "Well then how come we all heard the same stories?" a third person said, "Either you're lying now or everyone else is lying and I really doubt that." Carter was in complete disarray he had no idea what to do.

Needless to say Harry and Mark were in high spirits at these events. They couldn't rest yet though, Carter was sure to show some amount of force to regain reputation.

In response Mark quickly and effortlessly tossed a thumbtack head up on the teacher's chair. On queue the teacher walked in with her fresh coffee; it looked expensive, not the teachers lounge stuff, real coffee shop coffee.

And, "AUGH!" The educator sat down, coffee still in hand, only to jump up and drop her expensive drink all over her lap. "Who did this" she said in a whisper, then much more aggressively, "Who did this? Come now you're only making it harder on yourselves by waiting".

Instantly Harry piped up, "They did it, Clyde and Charles, I said not to, but they didn't listen, please go easy on them they didn't me to ruin your nice clothes and expensive coffee". Harry had hoped emphasizing would make this hit home, he was right.

"Alright boys you're coming with me, you've been given ample chances to redeem yourselves of past crimes, but you just keep disappointing me. The sad thing is you're only really disappointing yourselves. I'm afraid I will have to recommended a boring school for troubled children, but trust me it's for the best" She grabbed their collars at this point and began trying to pull them out of the room.

The Teacher couldn't help but think of how lucky she was to have this opportunity to get these children out of her hair. She usually only recommended a correctional school after a few successive incidents and only in the middle of the year, but these kids had gone vastly beyond her usual limit and it was only mid October. Clearly intervention was necessary.

"But Mrs. Elm! We didn't do it" Clyde blurted out, interrupting the teacher's thoughts, "Honest we didn't", Charles added.

"Children I'm sorry, but it's your word against Harry's and frankly he has proven himself far more trustworthy than you to ever have", on that not she began dragging them out of the room.

"Guy", Carter said, "Why. Why would you risk this, when you knew you were one step away from being kicked out of school, it wasn't worth it"

"We really didn't do it Carter, you have to believe us" Clyde said. Charles couldn't talk he was tearing up.

"Guys you know I can't believe you. I know you guys to well." Carter said, barely audible.

"Then maybe we're better off without you" Charles finally said.

They went on after that point without a fight.

"All right Harry steps one and two are complete, but it is crucial that we act fast before we can start step three", Mark said. It was just after lunch and both Harry and Mark were making there way to the yard outside were Carter usually met his brothers in times of need. Luckily for them Carter was sneaking around to avoid his classmates were they could go the direct route. The only thing left to do now was to turn Carter's own brothers against him, better said than done.

"What do you mean our brother's using us", the oldest sibling said.

"Exactly what I said, friend", Mark replied, "your brother is a tyrant and I just couldn't watching him treat guys, especially behind your backs. It's just sad, you guys should stand up for your selves, I mean you are way bigger than him".

"Wait your saying he insults us behind our back. He wouldn't do that, he's our little bro", the second oldest said, beginning to show anger. The third brother leaned back, absorbing the situation.

"It's true I'm really sorry guys", Harry added, "I wish it wasn't true, but I know Carter and I just hope you guys can work out your differences". Harry tried to sound as innocent as possible, I skill he had picked up do to his small size and large intellect.

"Well I don't know what we can do" The oldest says.

"Well I should think that it is obvious, you should discipline your brother. He is showing huge signs of insubordination", Mark said, keeping the tone one would use to his superiors.

"No he means should believe you or beat you to submission for what might well be empty gossip", the second brother remarked bluntly. Mark and Harry gulped.

"Wait guys, let's not right them off just yet", the third brother finally said, "Potter said he knows Carter, well he's our brother, so we should know him to and from what I know he just might be right. Ever since Carter turned ten it seemed he always had an agenda and we went from being brothers to being a means to an end. For God's glorious sake, a prime example is Mark right there; Carter used us as hired muscle to intimidate him and did we even get a word of thanks, I think not. So I think we should be questioning what to do with our own brother before we sink to beating another ten year old who is just trying to help us".

Harry and Mark knew when to stay quite and when to slink out of the room and these were one of those times. They left, but stayed within earshot.

"Well that is a lot to think about", the oldest says, "Should we consider what we heard. Or right it off" Clearly he didn't get the message.

"I told you we have to discipline Carter", the youngest replied, "Let's just leave it at that".

"Fair enough", the middle brother says, "Speak of the devil, here Carter is now".

"Hello boys, nice to see everybody is here were I need them", Carter said in a very business like tone. Mark couldn't help but think he was playing into their hands perfectly. It filled him with peace of mind for his manipulation to work so well, he couldn't help but wonder if it was hereditary.

"Carter we need to talk" ,the youngest of the three said.

"What is this about guys?"

How did this happen. That's what Carter was thinking as he walked back to his house. He had it all, friends, power, and respect, anything a ten-year-old boy could ever want. Then in one day his life went down the drain. What else could he do? More importantly whom could he blame?

As he pondered to his distinct surprise he saw Potter, and Mark (No one really knew his last name. Why didn't the teacher ever call him by it?).

"What do you two want", Carter asked bluntly. He didn't feel like trying to hard to be mean, not after the day he just had.

" Oh, nothing much, we just wanted see how our handy work was setting in with you", Mark said with a glint of sadistic joy in his voice.

"What the heck do you mean?" Carter asked. Then he began to put some pieces together, "Wait, you guys are wimps couldn't be the reason".

"Oh couldn't we", Mark continued. Harry should there trying to act tough, it didn't really suit him.

"No, that is impossible. Clyde and Charles, they pulled that prank and Hannah started the rumors and my brothers, they were just, I don't know I guess what got into their minds, but it couldn't be you. Honestly you guys are the bottom of the bottom how could you?"

"Please Carter", Mark said as he signaled Harry for them to take one step closer dramatically (Part of the plan involved using the darkening streets and creepy scenery to their advantage), "I flicked that tack onto Mrs. Elm's chair, it was easy, almost as easy as convincing Hannah you wet the bed and pick your nose. The only hitch in an otherwise flawless plan was getting your brothers to abandon you. In the end, however, they realized just how much you used them and how you needed them far more than they needed you."

"No, no it can't be true, why, WHY!" Carter yelled

He tried to rush Harry in a last ditch attempt at revenge, it was a big mistake. Harry side stepped Carters attack and quickly smashed an elbow down on his back. "Carter leave me alone, leave everyone you've ever picked on alone. Stop your attempts at schoolyard domination and live peacefully or else we will never leave you alone. Are we clear?" Harry finished his tirade and began to walk away. Mark turned away and followed.

At that moment Carter Drake, schoolyard tyrant made a silent realization, he decided they were right. If he ever wanted real friends then he would have to clean up his act. "There is still time" he thought optimistically to himself. Maybe he can turn it all around, he's only ten people will forget about the rumors, his brothers might forgive him.

As he got up Carter couldn't help realize how insane he had been acting over the past couple of months. It was almost like someone else was influencing his actions, like a puppet on a string. He soon shrugged off these feelings and started planning his change of heart.

"Mark" Harry said.

"Yes Harry, what is it?" Mark replied

"You sounded pretty scary back there talking to Carter" Harry answered.

"Scary how?" Mark asked.

"Well you just had this intimidating attitude, almost like you were a drill sergeant (Mark gulps) yelling at a lazy recruit. Is that a good analogy?" Harry said.

"Oh yah, that works. I thought it was professional though." Mark replied, and then to change the subject he said, "Do you think Carter will change his ways?"

"Definitely, but (yawn) lets go home I'm really tired." Harry finished.

"Ok goodbye"

"Bye"

"What a pity that is", Dumbeldore commented as he gazed into his crystal ball, "That hit on the back by Potter seemed to have broken my mental link with that Carter child and I was so enjoying using him for my plans".

"Yes it is a pity headmaster" Snape replied with his usual droll, "You could always shift some memories around to get him back." Snape truly hoped the headmaster would. Carter was an insufferable brat that caused hell for Potter and Mark, but he was at least far less life threatening than the other pawns his master had prepared.

"No Severus, I believe he has been used to his fullest potential and anyways the plan did call for a change in foe around Halloween and that is just around the corner. I do hope the boys enjoy there few days of peace before the next threat emerges form the shadows. Now my only decision is who to choose, I do have several people laced with dormant spells to be used for my command when I see fit, but which to choose." Dumbeldore pondered.

"Perhaps young Mister Crow, Potter and Mark alike have only seen him rarely and he has the added benefit of being in their class"

Snape braced his mental shields, making sure Dumbledore wouldn't gaze into his inner mind to see his motives for the boys. While Dumbeldore was intent on breaking down the two children, therefore making a grandfather figure more welcoming and more influential in their lives, Snape intended to send the weakest threats in first to train Mark and Harry for the greater ones therefore preparing them to resist the headmaster's ploys to make them his greatest political pawns.

"That is a splendid idea Severus. It will make for some interesting development. Yes, Philip Crow will be the next threat to the boys and I will awaken his inner potential on All Hallows Eve night."

Well it took me a long time and many rewrites to make this, but I came out with something that satisfied me. I think I have the paragraphs down now, so this will be my format from now on. I will have the next chapter up I no time.