Chapter 10: Hogsmeade
Next day Harry did not go to breakfast. He was hungry, but sitting was painful, and he didn't want to answer questions when his housemates noticed he was squirming on the benches at Slytherin table. When Snape had spanked him, even with the ruler, it'd stung but he'd been fine next day although considering how much it had hurt, Harry had been a bit aggrieved there hadn't been any evidence, like his backside turned black and blue. But Dumbledore really had paddled his backside hard, and although Harry thought he'd be fine by lunchtime, he just couldn't face anyone right now. He wondered if he could skip morning classes and get away with it.
He was just making that decision when breakfast appeared on the table next to him with a note. The note read "Eat. Do not miss class. Professor Sprout will have you potting Mandrakes. You will be standing for the morning." The handwriting was Snape's. So Harry ate breakfast ravenously and made it through the morning to lunch, by which time he could sit down and disguise the lingering ache in his bum.
Theo had asked him at lunch if anything was wrong as Harry had gone to bed yesterday evening early, wasn't at breakfast this morning and hadn't said a word to anyone all day.
"I'm OK." said Harry without any conviction. Theo looked concerned but realised Harry wasn't going to talk about it.
After classes, Harry went up to the library to find Hermione, Neville, Fred and George waiting for him.
"Harry, what's wrong? Has something happened?" asked Hermione.
"Why should it have?" asked Harry "I didn't think you were expecting me to come back to the library yesterday evening."
"It's not that, little brother," said Fred, "It's that Theo asked us if you were OK. That's a Slytherin, voluntarily asking us, Gryffindors, if you are OK."
"So spill." said George.
"Else we're not going anywhere." added Neville.
Harry took a deep breath and felt like he might burst into tears. He really hoped it didn't show, but it must have as Hermione made a move to reach out and take his hand, but she stopped just shy of his hand.
"The short answer, is that I got accused of doing something I didn't do, and I got called to Dumbledore's office. He didn't believe me when I said I was innocent."
"The headmaster's office. That's serious. What did he think you'd done?" asked George.
"I don't really want to talk about the details." said Harry.
"Can you go to Professor McGonagall?" asked Hermione. "She'll believe you. Or even Snape?" she asked with a bit less confidence in her voice.
"They don't believe me either." said Harry, the tears really threatening to fall.
"Um, Harry, if they didn't believe you," Fred started carefully, "what punishment did you get?" finished George.
"Filch? Quidditch ban?" asked Neville.
"Neither," said Harry, and didn't say any more. He just looked down at the table top. Hermione and Neville looked confused. If he hadn't got detention with Filch and still had his broom, what could be that bad? But the twins had both gone rather pale.
"What?" said Hermione looking at the twins.
"Um." said Fred.
"There was a day last year when we put itching powder in the Slytherin quidditch team's gear." explained George. "It spread to the whole of Slytherin very quickly. For some unknown, and completely inexplicable reason, we got blamed, and were sent to Dumbledore. He said that he would decide our punishment based on who our prank affected. If it was just students, he would hand us over to Professor Snape. But if there was just one itch from a member of staff, we wouldn't be sitting comfortably at meal times the next day."
"He keeps a paddle in his desk drawer." supplied Fred. "That was the most nerve wracking day I've spent at Hogwarts. I've never been so happy to have got a detention with Snape."
Harry still hadn't taken his eyes off the desk. All his friends turned to look at him.
"Harry?" Hermione asked softly, her eyes wide, fearing to learn the answer.
Harry nodded, still looking at the desk. If he'd looked up he'd have seen sympathy and hurt in everyone's eyes. No-one said anything for over a minute. The silence wasn't awkward. They were all just thinking.
"Is there any way to prove it wasn't you?" asked Fred. "I mean it's a bit late, but it'd help." Harry shrugged.
"I don't even know where to begin."
"Well we know it wasn't you if you say it wasn't. So begin where you like." said Neville.
"Someone did something while looking like me, and holding my wand." said Harry. "So if any of you can solve that puzzle..."
"When?" asked Hermione.
"During dinner yesterday."
"Any suspects?" asked George, "Bar Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and of course your cousin." Harry shook his head.
"Then we'll put our heads together." said Fred and with that the twins left the library.
"I'm sorry, Harry." said Hermione. Neville nodded in agreement with her.
"Thanks." They did some homework for a bit, but Harry's heart clearly wasn't in it and they stopped early.
That weekend was Hallowe'en. It was also the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year when the third year and above could go to the village. Fred and George had promised to bring Harry back some sweets from Honeydukes.
Hallowe'en was also the day his parents had died. He hadn't known until he'd come to Hogwarts, and last year he'd kind of half forgotten and half hadn't really noticed, but this year he thought about it a lot more. If he'd had parents then he wouldn't have gone to the Dursleys. And Dudley wouldn't be a wizard. And his life wouldn't be such a complete mess.
He got up early on Saturday, Hallowe'en, and went flying for a bit before breakfast. Up in the air he could forget for a while. After breakfast he headed back to Slytherin where the conversations around him were all about Hogsmeade, how much fun it was, how nice it was to be in a wizarding village, and how nice it was to get away from Hogwarts for a day.
Harry spent the remainder of the morning listening to the chatter and considering doing something reckless and stupid. His invisibility cloak was in his trunk. He hadn't used it all year. It was the weekend, so no-one would know where he was, or likely miss him. So why not go to Hogsmeade under the cloak? Just walk out of the main entrance, past Filch and his permission slips, and just go to Hogsmeade. He needn't go in any shops if they were crowded, he didn't plan on speaking to anyone, or doing anything to draw attention to himself. Just be invisible. The more he thought about it, the more he liked it. He didn't think it a very risky plan either.
So he went to fetch his cloak, made sure he wasn't seen leaving the common room with it, and went to hide by the entrance hall to leave with a group of students in case he made any noise that would draw Filch's attention, or in case Mrs. Norris could sense him. It would be nice, just walking round for the early afternoon - he'd only be gone a couple of hours - he could imagine what it was like for his parents going to Hogsmeade, and for a couple of hours, he could forget anything Hogwarts-related.
And with that thought, he walked out of the main entrance and went to the village behind a group of fifth years, no-one any the wiser.
Snape had spent some time that morning brooding. For the last three days, Potter hadn't spoken to him, or even looked at him. In Potions, he had taken down notes, brewed potions and paid attention. but he'd managed all that without ever looking at him. Snape was concerned. He'd put Harry over his knee before, but the boy hadn't held it against him. In fact, Snape thought that it'd made them respect each other a bit more. But since Wednesday, when Harry had been hauled in front of Dumbledore, the boy hadn't spoken. He hadn't spoken in class, and not just his class, any class, he hadn't spoken unless spoken to, and at mealtimes, and at the quidditch practice he'd attended yesterday he was, according to Flint, 'disengaged'. Flint had asked Snape if there was something wrong. Given Flint was the captain of the quidditch team and a prefect, Snape had gone so far as to say that Harry had done something, had been punished and that was the end of the matter. Flint was not to mention it. Flint had nodded and left it at that.
But Snape was dissatisfied. The boy was too withdrawn. Sure, being bent over the headmaster's desk wasn't pleasant, Snape himself he been in that position as a student, but there was more to it than that with Potter. Snape couldn't quite dislodge the fact that the boy hadn't admitted his wrongdoing, even when he'd gone up to his dorm afterwards, all Potter had said was, 'I didn't do it.'
Snape decided he would try to make peace with the boy - although why he was trying so hard with this one student, and Potter at that - was beyond him, except that he knew exactly why, and today of all days. Lily.
So Snape went through his personal things and found some pictures he'd kept of Lily. He made sure that neither himself not James were in any of the pictures - he didn't want to answer any awkward questions, but he was willing, especially today, to share some memories. Armed with the past, he went to find Potter.
Ron saw the twins hunched over a piece of parchment in the corner of the Gryffindor common room, and out of curiosity went to find out what they were doing.
"Hey guys, what's up? Not at Hogsmeade already?" he asked.
"Mind your own business, brother mine, this is not for sharing." said George, " Especially as you might share it with the wrong person." added Fred coldly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Ron.
"It means find a better friend." said Fred still with a chilly tone. The twins had discussed Harry at length since Thursday and could only come up with Dudley as a culprit who would do something to specifically get Harry into trouble. They discarded Malfoy, much to their chagrin, as being in Slytherin, Snape would find out and go absolutely spare.
"Who I'm friends with is none of your concern." said Ron. "So, what are you up to?" he asked with slightly more wheedling in his voice.
"To make you go away, a different means of getting to Hogsmeade. Now, get lost, and don't tell anyone." said George.
Ron stalked off, and went to sit with Dudley. He told Dudley that the twins were being stupid, but that they'd got a new way into Hogsmeade which would be great for next year, when they could go. Dudley nodded, his eyes on the twins, and then absently murmured something and went up to their dorm room.
In his trunk he still had a couple of doses of Polyjuice in the vial he'd been sent, and he'd taken more than one strand of Harry's hair while Harry had been sleeping in the library on Wednesday. Dudley pocketed the Polyjuice, and carefully placed one of Harry's hairs in a handkerchief and left the common room, without Ron seeing, just as the twins slipped out of the portrait ahead of him.
The twins led him to a statue of a one-eyed witch. He'd had to be very quiet while following the twins. He thought at least once they'd seen or sensed him, as he could have sworn they took a longer route, but maybe they were just concerned someone like Filch was following them. Dudley heard them say 'Dissendium' to the witch, and then the hump on the witch's back opened to reveal a short slide into a tunnel.
Cool, thought Dudley. The twins descended and then the passage closed up behind them. Dudley gave the twins a ten minute head start and then followed them into the tunnel. Once the passage had closed behind him, he added the hair to the Polyjuice, drank it and followed the twins down the tunnel. He hurried in the hope of catching up with them, but carefully enough as to not be heard. After half an hour he heard voices ahead and made sure to be quiet. The twins. He followed them until they stopped. The passageway had ended at a door. One of the twins opened the door a crack.
"Fred," hissed George, "Jackpot! Honeyduke's cellar."
Dudley waited until the twins had taken their chance to slip out quietly into the cellar and then followed. He couldn't get seen by the twins. As Harry, they would bundle him back down the passage and drag him back to school for his own good.
Once in Honeydukes, Dudley bought some sweets and left the shop to go investigate the village. He wasn't aiming to get into trouble as Harry this time, just that if he got caught it wouldn't be him in trouble.
He went to Zonko's joke shop to buy more dungbombs, and then headed to the Three Broomsticks. It wasn't perhaps the cleverest place to go, what with it being a pub and third years being only 14, but again, if caught, he was Harry.
Professor Flitwick was on escort duty to Hogsmeade this visit. He enjoyed the opportunity to leave the castle and be around the students in a less professor-like way. It was the weekend, they were all having a bit of a holiday, and so long as no-one did anything really stupid, it was a fun day out for all. Flitwick had called in to see Rosmerta in the Three Broomsticks for a catch-up. He'd ordered a pumpkin juice and was having a chat at the bar. Unfortunately he turned around from the bar and was looking at the door just as he saw Harry Potter walk in. Harry stopped and stared at him. Flitwick stared at Harry, both too surprised to do or say anything. Harry recovered first and bolted out of the door.
By the time Flitwick was outside, Harry was nowhere in sight. Flitwick looked around the street and round a few corners, but with no success. He questioned a number of students who shook their heads and he headed back towards the Hogwarts end of the village.
Dudley ran. He didn't want to get caught. Seen as Harry was one thing, caught as Harry was something else. His Polyjuice might where off at the wrong time, like in front of witnesses, then he'd be stuffed. He had to get back to Honeydukes. So he ran. He made it, and he followed a group of fifth years into the shop and then detached from the group to slip into the cellar. Once there he followed the passageway back to Hogwarts. When he reached the Hogwarts end he stayed in the passage until the Polyjuice wore off, which took another ten minutes. He listened all the time for the twins coming behind him. He'd emerge as Harry if he had to and take his chances, rather than be caught by the twins, but he'd rather not take that risk. But everything worked out, and he emerged as Dudley into an empty corridor. He sauntered back to Gryffindor tower.
Harry, under his invisibility cloak, enjoyed his walk to Hogsmeade. He enjoyed the freedom to wander around, unquestioned, unseen. He enjoyed watching students having fun, eating sweets, and enjoying themselves. He saw the twins once, at a distance, and smiled, as they walked around laden down with Zonko's products.
Harry happened to be standing not far from the Three Broomsticks, when his blood ran cold. He saw himself. Not quite himself, he thought as he looked more carefully. Quidditch practice had taken its toll yesterday evening. He hadn't been paying attention and he flew into Lucian. Today he was sporting a bruise on his chin. The Harry he saw had no bruise.
He watched, too stunned to do anything, as his doppelganger walked into the Three Broomsticks, only to emerge thirty seconds later at a dead run. After that, he saw Professor Flitwick exit the building, look up and down the street, and question some students, who all shook their heads at him. After that, he watched as Flitwick headed in the direction of Hogwarts.
I'm dead, thought Harry. OK, keep calm, you're under a cloak, no-one can see you. Just get back to the castle, unseen, and pretend like you were there all the time, Harry thought. So he ran. He had to slow and be quiet around a few groups of students. He saw Flitwick looking impatient at the edge of the village, like he wanted to go back quickly but couldn't. Harry sneaked past him and took off again, running as fast as he could. Once back at Hogwarts, he slid easily past Filch on the door and ran back to the Slytherin common room. He checked, just before entering, that the corridor was deserted, shook off his cloak and then stepped inside.
Once in his dorm room, which was fortunately empty, he started to pace worriedly. He stashed his cloak back in his trunk, at the bottom, and thought about what to do. He'd been seen in Hogsmeade. The problem was, he'd been there. He had actually sneaked out of school, without permission, against the rules, and gone there. But then what? He saw himself? Someone was there, looking like him, running round with his face, getting him into trouble. He knew damn well who that person was, he just had to prove it.
He sought out Hermione in the library. He explained about going to Hogsmeade ("Oh, Harry, how could you?!") and the fact that he saw someone looking like him while he was there.
"Exactly like you?" she queried.
"Yes, well no, I've got his bruise on my face today, other me didn't." said Harry.
"I've read about a potion that you can use to disguise yourself as someone else - Polyjuice." Hermione said, then she gasped, "Harry, last week, that's it! You were here, and Polyjuice you was doing whatever he/she was doing." Harry still hadn't shared what he had supposed to have done that evening. In fact, he hadn't said anything else about it since their conversation on Thursday. "But how did they get your wand?" Harry didn't know that bit yet.
Harry thought Polyjuice sounded familiar to him. It took him a while to work out where he'd heard it - in the potions textbook he 'borrowed' from Snape's office. He'd have to make sure that book was well hidden for a while.
"But Harry, why would anyone go to Hogsmeade as you? You're a second year. Anyone with any sense would go as a third year or above."
"To get me into trouble perhaps?" said Harry with a bit of bite. Dense Hermione was back momentarily.
Just then, Madame Pince came over to their table, "Mr. Potter, Professor Snape requires you report to his office immediately." Harry's heart leapt into his mouth. Time to face the music, he thought, but least this time he knew what he was supposed to have done.