Chap 8:

My dear brother,

Mia is making so much progress! I showed her the first-year books you copied, and she is getting better and better at controlling her magic (far from me do not worry). However, I am a little worried. The other children do not treat her badly, but her mother ... I do not know, sometimes she calls me in tears without telling me what is going on. I think I'll have to go and have a look myself in the next few weeks, at least to clarify the situation, even if I do not like to meddle in his life without his consent. You know as well as I how difficult it is to talk about these things.

It made me think of how we got in touch with her: a simple piece of paper with a number. I was wondering if we could do that on a larger scale? But it would take security, or something like that ...

Just an idea, you said yourself that there must be dozens of children like us.

I see that your business is progressing well. Be careful with the small voice, it is surely much more powerful and intelligent than it seems, and broken things tend to hurt when they have power again ... well I do not have to say that, you know better than anyone I think.

Maybe I should meet the girl on the train. She is a muggle born, and she will help much more easily in the "Save the Children"part of your plan. And then I think that will reassure her that you are not the only one in charge ... of course I speak in years, it would already be necessary to be able to trust her on it.

Ifnot everything goes well at the manor. I keep looking, but all this is progressing slowly, and I would keep you informed when I have something concrete.

You should ask Gladis to stop following me, it's becoming creepy. I may have to go to the judgeto get rid of her! I mean, she does cook the best food of the all damn world, But it's kind of strange to have enormous eyes following your every move. And by that, I mean every move. Please pity me brother.

About the incident with the Rude, I may have a tip: whatever you do, sign it. Find a nickname, a symbol, something you can not connect to. That, I think, is the only way to get the message across the school. I know you don't quite like him, but the Voice's methods in all the "terrorize-people-and-create-a-new-governement-in-secret" are quite the bests as far as I know.

Do not overdo yourself too much, and please avoid throwing yourself again through windows. I know you said you would be the first of us to die, but I had the idea that the battle would continue in our wheelchairs at the nursing home.

Keep an eye open,
D.

Harry raised his head from the letter. He sat on the top of the astronomy tower and the cold wind lifted his hair and made him shudder. He loved this feeling, to be alone at the top of the world. The fresh air filled his lungs and slightly raised his black cape. He was not particularly afraid of being seated on the edge of the abyss, and he thought it was the best place to think. The lake roamed with the wind, and the forest seemed to breathe the cold air of late autumn.

Damien, as usual, had the best ideas. The boy had a gift to put order in the chaos Harry could create around him.

A name and a symbol, huh? Very Voldemort-ish, but it would work, he was certain. People only needed some springs to get on with what he wanted them to do. To tell the truth, he already had an idea, and he already laughed at the face that Damien would make when he knew. Voldemort had proved that name alone could be feared, and Harry intended to give only one name to Hogswarts.

You can stop a person, but not a feeling. Harry laid his dead green eyes on the landscape around him. Oh, that he was eager to lay his hands on this world ...

Harry had a few free hours. He didn't wantedto meet anyone, especially not Quirellor Dumbledor(whichwas still popping god know how around the castle time to time), so he went out. As it was a cold winter day, no one was outside exceptfor him. It still didn't snowed, but the sky was white and cloudy. Harry had taken the chance to allow Anantato get out of the Secret Room, the snake was sliding at his feet, hidingunder his long cape. No one was here to witness her anyway.

He walked along the black lake, at the edge of the forbidden forest. Anantameandered everywhere, propelling to catch various rodents they were crossing. Harry let her have fun (she insulted every mouse she crossed by sneaking between the roots) and climbed onto one of the rocks that burned the lake. The cold air numbed its limbs. He wondered what could be at the bottom of this impenetrable lake. A lot of unpleasant things, probably, even according to Harry's criteria, which, he realized, were quite out of the ordinary. Anyway he could never bathe in this lake, he could not swim and could not put himself in a swimsuit. He smiled at the thought of his little comrades' reaction to his sight. Perhaps at last someone would realize what was outside this castle ... But he did not count on it.

If there was one thing he understood, it was how stubborn the witches were. But enough of that for now. He had come here in spite of the cold to change his ideas, not to plunge even deeper into the meanders of his life.

Harry frowned, which he did every time he was worried. Everything was going so fast ... and he had the feeling that they were only going to get faster.

"Speaker, speaker!"

Harry turned to look the source of the joyful whistle. He stood up, dusted his clothes and joined the snake.

"What is it, beautiful?"

"Anantafound eggs!"

Harry frowned and followed the snake a few meters to where the forest was touching the lake. Eggs were hidden under one of the roots, half drowned in the frozen water. In view of their disposition, they had to be higher and had fallen. Harry recognized snake eggs but he could put a name on the specimenfrom the shells. He leaned over the enormous root and gently pulled the eggs out of the water, placing them on the ground where Anantaimmediately surrounded them. There were a dozen.

"Speaker they are too cold..."

Harry did not know what to do with it. Without knowing the species, he could not know what they needed, and he did not know if his magic could heal eggs. He was afraid to send magic to inspect the inside and kill one of them by accident. Saving life wasn't his talent, after all.

There was only one person of his knowledge who would be able to tell him how to look after animals that had nothing to do there. Somewhere with a fireplace. Gently putting his eyes in his sweater, which he held with both hands to make a nest, he went to Hagrid's hut, hissing Anantato follow him.

It took time for Hagridto open when Harry knocked at the door.

The first thing Harry saw was a shaggy beard in the doorway, followed by two small, slightly panicked black eyes. "Can I come in?"Hagridtried to close the door, grumbling that he did not have time for it, but Harry concentrated his magic to repel it. He knew Hagrid's abrupt manner and did not worry about it, just as Hagriddid not care that Harry went into his house without his permission. The boy was wondering if Hagridcould even be concerned about anything. Except if someone insulted Dumbledore ...

Harry put the eggs on the table in the middle of the cottage. The place was dishonored, with old furniture and armchairs covered with ruffled blankets. Harry wondered how Hagridcould be so grateful to the old man as he let him live in such miserable conditions. Whatever Hagridseemed attached to this place. At least he was at Hogswarts. Agridlooked at the eggs with curiosity.

"I found them in the Forest."Harry explained to his silent question. The man didn't seemedto have noticed the big snake that entered along with Harry. Anantawas hiding behind the old couch. She was really getting good at this.

Harry had put the eggs as close to the fireplace as he could. Since he had found them near the lake, he humidified them to avoid a sudden change of temperature. Hagridwatched him do, curiosity made his little black eyes shine. He looked like a child.

"I do not think this kind of creature, whatever it is, is allowed here Harry ..."

"There is a cerberusin the school."Retorted Harry.

"Fluffy ... but he would not hurt a fly, you just have to know how to ..."

Harry stopped a second, then continued to look after the eggs like nothing had occurred.

"You know the cerberus? You gave him a name?"He said incredulously.

"Forget that, I should not have said that, no ... I should not have said that ..."

But Harry's curiosity had been stung.

"What is hidden under the hatch?"He asked innocently.

Any other person with a bit of a judge would have asked him how he knew there was a hammer and a hatch, but Hagridwas too naive and panicked to make such a reasoning. All his thoughts revolved around how Dumbledorwould be furious if he revealed the secret, if he told Harry about the stone ...

"I cannot tell you anything, Harry. It's a deal between Dumbledore and Nichola Flammel."

Harry nodded. He had enough information to do his own research, and there was no point in urging a man like Hagrid. He would be more cooperative if he was less on his guard.

Hereturned to take care of the eggs, reflecting on what Hagridhad just said. Hehad a vague idea of who was NicholasFlammel, but nothing more. Again, he regretted not having had more time to learn all that might be useful to him in this world.

A small crunch brought him back to reality.

A piece of shellfell, and a little red head came out. Soon the other eggs fell, and twelve little serpents with hard, sharp scales, all brown or green, excepted the elder, came out and wrapped themselves around Harry's hands.

Anantacould not help but raise her head from behind the sofa to watch the little ones.

"Hungrrrrry!"Hissed the little red, and the enormous snake immediately went through a hole in the wall to bring back a dead mouse barely a minute later. Harry noticed that she had not bitten him, to avoid poisoning the babies with his venom.

Harry let them finish eating, then ordered them to hide in the pockets of his cloak-they were small enough for that, and after a wink at Hagridto make sure the man would not say anything, He went back to the castle, ran to the seventh floor, greeting all the pictures as if nothing had happened, and placed the little serpents in the Chamber.

Immediately, Anantatook matters into his own hands, according to the expression.

It was too late to get out without getting caught by the curfew, so Harry decided to stay there, Draco would cover for him if needed.

He sat in the sofa and watched Anantaexplain the life with a little arrogance to the little serpents, who wriggled everywhere and clung to the slightest whistling.

"... and you have to listen to the speaker. You know, I am still his favorite, but he will protect you too! But of course you will listen to me. One day, iwill show you the forest..."

"What is a forreesstt?"

"Something you will like! Ananta like to go there too!"

"Ooooooh!" whistled the little snakes in chorus

Harry finally fell asleep on the sofa.

He was in his manor, watching children play in the library. They ran about everywhere, uttering amused cries when Damien caught and tickled them. He recognized Mia, who had hidden behind the table and was ready to leap to the rescue of her little comrades, knitting her nose.

There was a baby next to him, who chirped as he tried to catch a lock of his hair. Harry gently pushed him away, a smile on his lips.

Then he heard a crack. A broken window, a scream.

The manor was on fire. He wanted to rush in, but someone was holding him back. He did not understand. Children! The children are inside!

Someone was holding Damien beside him. Black veins pulsed on his face, and his face was contorted with pain. He could hear the cries.

Wizards! Sorcerers!

Harry wanted to stop them. He did not have the right, but he wanted it. Let his magic reduce them to pieces.

He was kneeling on the muddy floor. He felt the emptiness inside him. Something digging. And then he saw him, suspended, his head in front making an unbearable angle with the rest of his body.
Somewhere behind him, Dudley was maknghis awful dance, and Vernon was laughing. A hand gripped her hair and pulled her head back. A blow broke his ribs. Somewhere behind the trees, red eyes watched.

Something sharp crossed his ribs. Cold.

Damien ...

Harry woke up, covered in sweat, shivering. He stood up. It was early, about two in the morning. The fire was still crackling in the fireplace, but Harry was cold. He needed to move.

He put water on his face to wake up. Heshould not have fallen asleep, he could have taken a potion, something ... At least this time it was a dream, not a memory. But it did not help him feel better.

Harry took new bandages in the bathroom he had moved in next to his room. He undertook to change his own and felt better at the touch of the clean and well-woven cloth. That too was something he could not do in the dorms. Without her bandages, the lanyard of her bag pressed against her twisted bones and torn muscles. The slightest hustle and bustle in the corridors became a hell, even though people naturally avoided contact.

He tried to surround himself with a magic shield, but it was exhausting, he was not trained enough, and the teachers could feel it. Then he had returned to the good old methods.

Harry left the Chamber as discreetly as possible. He looked around him, passing from one corridor to another, slipping into the shadows, trying to thwart the few pictures that were still awake.
Suddenly, through an arch that separated two corridors, he saw Quirell. The man looked at him with a calm air, a little smile that did not belong to him at the corner of his lips. He was motionless. His eyes shone in the shade, two small marbles fixed on him. Each of them waited for the reaction of the other.

Harry understood. They were going to play.

A red lightning flashes from the shadows without Harry having had time to see Quirellpull out his wand. No, it wasn't Quirell.

Harry avoided the spell by reflex, but not the next. He stole and hit the wall behind him. His head spun for a moment and aarch pain down his spine, but he got back on his feet. Quirellhad not moved, and continued to stare at him with a smile.

Harry ran.

He tried to remain silent, avoiding the spells that happened to him one after the other. He passed through the secret passages, crossed the walls to places he didn't even know was there, Quirelldoing the same, always somewhere around him, casting spells, on the sides, in front, behind ...

Above.

Harry had hardly time to deviate his course to avoid the spell, very quickly followed by Quirellwho fell softly on the ground. He heard a chain noise a little farther down the corridor, and a light began to approach on their right. Harry's heart was racing and he stood breathless for a second.

Harry rushed, kicked, jumping in the direction of the professor, and as the man dodged it, he took advantage of it to pass him, continuing to run in the opposite direction. He hid in a trapdoor behind one of the tapestries and heard a sound of fabric being pulled.

Filch passed, looking suspiciously around, and Harry held his breath. The man passed by, followed by his cat, and the corridor returned into darkness.

Harry went out, crouching down and looking around him as cautiously as possible.
Suddenly, Quirellappeared out of nowhere, in the middle of the corridor.

"Next week."He said simply, before turning and going away.

Harry would have thought he saw a red luster in his eyes.

On tiptoe, the child returned to his bed. His arms hurt, he was tired. He probably never ran so much in his life. He fell asleep even before his head touched the pillow.

It took a few days before Dapnhefinally found the fault at Nott. She handed it to him by a small paper that Harry burned immediately, before going to fetch the evidence she had deposited in the Chamber.

She really did a good job.

Blaisehad succeeded in putting the two prefects of Slytherinon their side: one of them had abdicated when his girlfriend started mysteriously to have doubts on his loyalty, and the other had been followed by a certain serpent for several days before asking for mercy and swear loyalty to a person whose name he did not know, but whom he would soon.

In the corridors, students clashed with others and papers changed hands.

Two hours before the dinner, Flinch was held on the third floor by a flood, Dumbledorwas out of the school for a meeting with the minister of magic, and the professors were held in their meeting room by a letter from the ministry, demanding changes in the school curriculum, sealed with an authentic seal, the writing was a little childish ... It took them nearly ten minutes to understand that the letter was a trap. Harry thought he should thanksLucius's inattentiveness for that.

When the professors arrived with a minute's delay in front of the hall for dinner, they were held back by a crowd of pupils who had accumulated in front of the door, some gossiping, others murmuring, many horrified, all eyes fixed on the door.

A photo had been enlarged and glued on the two doors, just high enough to be out of reach. One could see Nott, a little sloppy, grabbed a low wall and look through a crack that led ... to the girls' restroom. He smiled foolishly. The picture had been taken from the top, visibly without even the young boy realizing it.

Above the photo, a red eye had been painted, unique, fixing the whole assembly.

"I watch"was inscribed below in the same painting.

"Move."Coldly threw a voice a little further into the crowd. The students departed in front of

Professor Snape, followed by Quirell, Macgonagalland all the others like the Red Sea before Moses.

The professors stopped at the door. Harry could not see their expression, but Draco, who was on the other side, gave him a wink. Harry nodded discreetly. Blaisewas leaning against one of the pillars, a little behind, his arms folded on his torch and staring at him with a satisfied air.
Daphne stood next to Harry, her chin lifted and his lips turned up in a haughty smile, the head-bearing of a queen.

And of course, Nottwas nowhere to be seen.

Flicharrived as snapewas vehemently whispering at Macgonagall. He tried to rip of the photo, but it just didn't want to go away.

"Good spell!"whispered Harry to Daphne, which had to hold her breath not to laugh.

"This bloody thing just don't want to fall!"squeaked Flinch.

Harry could almost hear Snape's sigh as he raised his hand and the photo fell on the floor. But the painting was still here, and the eye staring at each student like it could see their soul. MacGonagall turned, cleared her throat and claimed:

"Every student will now enter in the hall and eat. Professor Snape, I think you should find Mr Nottand keep him in your office until Dumbledore come back. Whomeverdid this stupid trick will of course be punished."

She open the door with a movement of her wand, without even turning towards it.

As the students entered in the hall to eat, the whispers didn't stop. Nottwas a bully, hated by most, and Harry could see an ecstatic smile on most of the faces. But some were grave, especially among the professors.

Harry mostly played with his food, listening around, just like the others. It was so satisfying. Across the room, he met the eye on one of the Weasleytwins. He smiled, and they did it back, impressed. They had a reputation all across the school for their tricks and amount of detention, but that one was art, and they couldn't wait to know who did it. Of course, they had the idea that Potter wasn't quite innocent in all this, but they couldn't bring themselves to think that it was him; he was only in first year after all. Maybe an older Slytherinwith great tastes in revenge? Anyway, they wanted to know who was this little genius.

"You should have seen the look on MacGonagall's face!"grinned Draco. "She was positively outraged. It looked like someone had spit in her teacup."

"Oh dear, wait to see Nott's punishment. Being a criminal is something, but to break the rules of politeness and behave towards young ladies under Macgonagall's watch, it's a felony."rejoiced Daphne.

"His punishment isn't the most important."Harry showed the hall with a theatrical movement of his hand. "There will be gossips. Laugh. Just wait until someone writes a song about it."

They looked at him with sparkles in the eyes.

"The greatest weapon in Hogwarts isn't the Professors, nor the headmaster, nor the monster or the wards... itsthe students. And they looked like they are excited for a brand new job."

They chuckled.

"So, Daphne, tell me, how did you find out?"

"Well, the man couldn't stop to brag to the others boys in the common room. Look at how they have their nose in their plate because of the shame..."she sent them a wolfish smile.

"You can be proud of yourself."Harry confirmed.

"For Hogwarts's girls!"She laughs.

Someone at the Huffleppuff's table over heard the last sentence. It was a pretty boy, a few years older than Harry, with brown hair and sweet gray eyes. He rose from his sit, and rose his glass over his head.

"For Hogwart's girls!"He said cheerfully, and soon the sentences was repeated all across the room, mostly by the girls.

"My my,"whispered Draco, "if even the Hufflepuffare on it!"

"It's only justice."Explained Daphne with a pointed look.

But Harry's joy was beyond that. The school was with the eye. It was the best entry he could have imagined.

The pupils were accompanied by the prefects in their common room. They had to stay there until Snapewalked into the room by stealing the door (really Harry was wondering if he should pay for repairs by opening them all up). He folded his arms, frowned (even more), and watched every student as if he could find the culprit by looking him in the eye.
He could.

Harry caught the look of his companions before Snape's eyes fell on them and moved their lips without emitting any sound.

Do not look.

Immediately they all seemed absorbed in the contemplation of the walls, the ceiling, or their feet.
Harry confronted the professor's eyes. The onyx meets the emerald, but neither of them won the battle. Harry had never seen anyone with such solid defenses, and it was getting more and more frustrating. He raised a questioning eyebrow, his hands behind his back, like a good student waiting for permission to speak.

Snapelooked away and continued to stare at the other students.

"Obviously, the person responsible will be punished, whatever it may be, and although his intentions have been ... commendable. I should like to say that Mr. Nott's attitude was a disgrace to our house, and that if we were to find him... accomplices, they would be punished with the most severe severity. Two hundred points were withdrawn at Slytherinfor this misdeed. So I'm counting on you to keep you, although the thing is complicated for ... some."He looked at Harry with a smirk. "To bed. Now."he spat finally before turning away with a twirl of his black cape.

"He does he do that?"asked Harry, truly impressed by the man's capacity of never walking on his own extraordinarily long cape.

"Practice, I believe."Answered Daphne with an amused expression. She saluted him and went to the girls dorms.

Harry got into the boys' dormitory, which was in an untenable mess. Nott's two accomplices, who usually followed him everywhere, attacked the other boys, accusing everyone and anyone of having betrayed their friend. One of them had his finger pointed at the chest of a quite impassive Draco, who was looking at him, probably wondering how an insect could make so much noise.

"It's you, I'm sure!"Cried the adolescent, his face flushed with effort.

"Shut up, Flint!"shouted someone from across the dorm. "Because of you and your dear friend, we lost two hundred points!"

"Yeah! The shame is on us all because of you!"

"And I can't believe that you dare put your filthy finger on my chest. What is it, Flint, you want to wipe your dirt on my clothes?"spat Draco.

Flint backed away, continuing to blush with anger. Harry was pleased. The bully being bullied, now that was what he called justice. And Draco was very, very good at that. But the boy's face... it was blurring in front of his eyes. His face was looking like an other... one Harry had met in what looked like another life. A face that should have had disappeared. He was calm, very calm. He knew it wasn't the same. It wasn't that boy that had the misfortune to die, that day at Pivet Drive. It was just the face of blind and violent stupidity.

And Harry could be violent, be he hated stupidity.

"You are traitors to your blood, that's what you are!"

No one knew who gave the first shot. Harry had perhaps cast a discreet spell to bring the teenager

down to the ground. Still, in a few minutes, he finds himself hit by his little comrades.
Harry watched the scene for a minute or two, back. Crabbe and Goylewere clearly doing the most damage, since Draco and Blaise had abstained. Then he descended calmly, and went to knock at the door of Snape's office.

After several long seconds, the professor finally opened the door. In the gap, Harry could see Nottsitting on one of the chairs in front of the desk in tears. He would almost have pity the boy if his fall had not allowed him so much, and if he had not been so rude.

Snapestood in front of the door, cutting the boy off.

"What is it, Potter?"He asked, with his eternal mocking smile. "Are you feeling alone, your groupies are not paying enough attention?"

"A student is being beaten in the boys' dorms."Harry replied.

Snaperushed pass the green-eye's boy, leaving Nottalone in the office. Harry smiled slowly at the boy, and followed Snapeto the dorms.

By the time the bat arrived in the dormitories, Flint was rolled into a ball on the ground, in blood, superbly ignored by his little comrades who had all gone to bed. Snapehelped him get up by grabbing him by the arm and went out to the Hospital wing.

"This will be settled later."He said menacingly before going out.

Harry slipped into his bed and pulled one of his books out of his bag.

"Lumos."

And he plunged again into his medical book.

The next morning, all the professors were tense, and everybody knew that Dumbledore would give them one of his famous speeches. His first class was transfiguration, and MacGonagall was looking upon all of her students like they would turn themselves in at any moment.

The lesson was about turning a match into a needle. Everybody seemed to struggle, and Harry just watched them for a time. They were trying hard, too hard. Harry remembered what he had read in one of the manor's book: the important was the intention, and the will. He closed his eyes, concentrating, it was his first try. Harry knew that he was far beyond in wandlessmagic and aggressive spells, but this was a delicate work that required a total control of his forces. He really didn't wantedto turn everyone around him into giant needles, and transfiguration wasn't his strong point for the moment.

Then, he cast the spell.

"Congratulation, Mr Potter!"
Harry was indeed holding a bright needle in his palm, and Macgonagalltook it to show it to the class.

"This is a perfect work of transfiguration. Ten point to Slytherin."She said, giving him a bright smile.

Harry could almost feel the contentment of the other Slytherins, and Granger was giving a disappointed look at her own match, which only had turned to something gray for as far as Harry could see.

She was good, but she though too much. She couldn't let her magic go, and put enough energy in her spell. Well, she would figure it out, eventually.

At the end of the class, he crossed the twins.

"Oh Harry!"Called one of them.

"Throw yourself like that from the top of the tower ..."

"It was very cool..."

"Are you sure you're not a Gryffindor?"They finished together.

Harry narrowly avoided the arm they wanted to pass over his shoulders.

"Come on, do not insult my honor!"He said, laughing. "And do not let the snake's nest hear

you ..."he added with an air of accomplice.

They both threw a wink at him.

"Tell me, I've heard about your... tricks. It's not you who have trapped poor Nott?"

"We?"

"If only..."

"I'm afraid we don't have enough experience yet..."They looked utterly disappointed.

Harry nodded.

"Well, do you know that I might have something to show you tomorrow night, and if you were to pass on the seventh floor, in the east corridor, say, at an undesirable hour? I may know someone that would give you informations..."

They looked at each other, nodded sharply, before running around, slipping a stinking bomb into the coat of a third-year-old Ravenclaw.

Harry went down to the kitchens of the castle- well, not quite.

He went into the common room of the Hufflepuff, which was fortunately next door. According to the schedules he had stolen everywhere, the young man who had risen at the time of the great scandal, as the pupils now called him, ought to be there.

Since everyone had access to their common room, Harry did not notice too much. It was rare to see a Slytherinin the neighborhood, given their tendency to confinement, but it was not shocking. The room resembled a large tavern, where the students spoke loudly, laughed, ate, played. The atmosphere was completely opposite to that of the Slytherins, full of music and people actually acting like people.

Harry told himself that the place was perfect for getting messages without teachers telling himself. It was much easier to hide things in a cafarnaümthan in a clean and tidy place. And much less suspect, too.

As he had foreseen, the boy was there, sitting at one of the tables with a first year, a small, black-eyed blond Harry had seen at the distribution ceremony.

"May I sit?"

The two boys looked at him curiously for a moment, then the older man motioned for him to sit next to him with a big smile.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, I do not interrupt something important I hope."

"No, do not worry." Replied the young man. Harry noticed that he had a straight nose and gray eyes. As he had guessed from a distance, it was a boy who had to please. But more importantly, Harry did not discern any bad thoughts in him. The boy held out his hand. "Cedric Diggory and the young man here present is named Ernie Macmillan."

Harry shook his hand.

"Harry Potter."

Ernie looked at him with big eyes, but Cedric only enlarged his smile.

"Enchanted, I heard you were doing prowess."

"Oh, it's nothing, really. I work harder than most, since I have a lot to catch up with."

"Much to catch up? But you're Harry Potter!" Ernie exclaimed.

The boy had an acute voice, and kept twisting his hands. He had heard the rumors.

"Oh, I know my reputation, but we should not rely on it. I was raised by muggles, you know."

They both looked at him with astonishment once more. Cedric had no a prioris, but his young comrade was immediately reassured. Harry thought that the Muggles would definitely be a good cover if the dear little voice became too authoritarian. He had not heard her for quite a while, for

that matter.

"Anyway, I came to talk to you, Cedric. Can I call you Cedric?"

The boy agrees immediately. Harry thought he loved the Hufflepuff. Anyway, that one.

"I wanted, on behalf of the other Slytherins, to thank you for your intervention during the great scandal ... There were ... lots of tensions, especially between a bunch of boys and girls. Feelings supported by the whole school, and then it was quite courageous. " Harry said, leaning his head to one side.

Cedric nodded softly.

"I only did what I thought was right. And then it's your friend who started, Greengrass I think?"

"Yes, she felt touched in her honor, not only because of what Nott did, but because of the reputation

that it will bring to the Slytherin ... you must know Slythrins are very picky with reputation. "

"Oh, I understand."

Harry could not help laughing at Cedric's air. Ernie looked at the conversation as if it were all

surreal.

"In any case, the eye has had it. I'm glad someone intervened, even we do not know who it is."

"Considering the reaction of the professors, I understand that he or she preferred to remain anonymous."

"Yes, we were talking about it with Ernie."

Harry let the two boy explain the situation to him. Everyone wondered who was the eye, so much so that the question had almost made the bullying against Nott. Especially since there was no clue, not even a house, nothing. The rumors were going well, and some even suspected a teacher a little player. Cedric was rather of a Weasley misdeed. Harry could not help but agree.

He sat for a long time, trying to find out who was the eye. Very quickly, other students joined them, especially in the first year, like Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot or Justin Finch. Harry gradually faded from the conversation and let them talk. They had brought another table, which had covered itself with hot chocolate and had been surrounded by chairs. Other students joined the debate, and Harry learned a lot. Many suspected a Slytherin girl, with no particular name in mind. In any case, it was probably a pupil old enough to have set up such a ploy, and succeeded in keeping the teachers away at the right time, not even mentioning the magic used.

And every one agreed that the eye had done something right. Out of the rules, yes, but right. Nott was a rich pureblood, he wouldn't have been punished otherwise.

Harry had to go back in classes, he waved goodbye and left.

When he returned to the Slytherin common room, he decided that next time he would take others with him.