Chapter 11 The first farewell
Legal disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me but the story does!
The next morning Harry wasted no time in writing his own reply to Durmstrang in addition to the no objection letter from Dumbledore. He decided that he would set things in motion after breakfast and sought out Hedwig after a quick breakfast. Quickly he affixed the letters to her leg and watched the majestic bird go with a conflicted mind.
In the aftermath of the disastrous occlumency lesson, it had seemed a good idea to seek out a different school. But after the last few days in relative peace there were moments where he wondered if his reaction had been extreme. Perhaps he could take up the offer of a private tutor…perhaps he should stay after all…perhaps…he shook his head and stopped his train of thought in anger. There were too many 'perhaps' and for all he knew Snape would revert back to his earlier self as soon as he decided to stay. His luck was 'amazing' that way he thought sarcastically, as he made his way to his classes.
He shared his morning classes with his friends in a morose mood. He once again went to the chamber of secrets in a bid to distract himself and remained distracted when an owl accosted him at lunch in the Great Hall. By this time however, he had gained a lot of curious stares from the Gryffindor table and he tried to be 'casual' as he removed the parchment from the bird. He spied the familiar handwriting of the headmaster and he saw that it was once again a request to meet him soon after lunch.
"Hey Harry…what's with all the owls? What's happening?" Seamus and Dean asked him aloud as the rest of the table looked at him curiously. Harry just shrugged and gave a tentative smile as he cast about for an idea as to how to answer the question and he was thankful when Ron nudged him and saved the situation. "Come on Harry. You got to go" he urged. Harry took the opportunity to smile apologetically at his table mates and quickly made his way out of the hall.
"Why does the headmaster want to meet you?" Hermione asked as soon as they were in the corridor. Harry shrugged "no idea" and added "Will let you know once I know. See you soon" he waved and made his way to the headmaster's office.
"Come in Harry…sit down" Dumbledore beckoned. Harry did so and waited for Dumbledore to speak. "I am sure you must be wondering as to the reason you are here". Harry nodded and Dumbledore continued "Since you have already garnered a lot of curiosity I was wondering if it would be a better idea to let your friends know. Assuming that you have not changed your mind, and have sent the necessary correspondence to Durmstrang perhaps you would want to announce your decision at dinner?" he inquired sadly, his eyes devoid of the twinkle that defined him.
Harry sat up straight startled. He had not thought of this at all! He did not think that he would be needed to formally tell everyone and say his goodbyes. Somehow it always seemed that he would just slink away without any fuss. But it was not going to be so. The prospect made him nervous but at the same time these were people he had lived with for five years. Yes there were times they had turned on him but at the ministry and other times they had stood by him as well.
He owed them an explanation especially the DA. 'Yes it is necessary' he acknowledged in his mind. Slowly he looked up at the headmaster "You are right Sir..I should tell them but isn't this too early? Should I not wait for the official acceptance from Durmstrang?" he asked.
"The doyen has already indicated that they would welcome you my boy. Once the official arrives you might find yourself rushed for time. You have to be ready for the official from Durmstrang when he comes and you might want to settle everything before then" Dumbledore advised. Harry nodded at the wisdom of the words. Dumbledore was right. "Alright then Sir, I will tell the school tonight" he said feeling suddenly like a nervous eleven year old.
"Good that's settled then. If there's anything that you need further do not hesitate to ask my boy" Dumbledore said as Harry took his leave and exited the office. Harry made his way and met his friends who were on their way from one class to another. He joined them and quickly gave a rundown of the conversation he had with Dumbledore.
"Harry, am I the only one feeling that the countdown has started?" Hermione asked her voice low and subdued. Harry felt equally subdued as he nodded dumbly. "It has Mione" he confirmed and was rewarded by the trademark Hermione hug as she held him tightly. "You know what, I am going to miss the Hermione hug" he said in a teasing tone as Hermione disengaged herself and playfully shoved him with a smile.
The tenseness of the situation was however reduced as they got to the rest of their classes. Harry could not deny that they were indeed getting a lot of curious looks and it was becoming harder to keep the questions at bay. It was made obvious when Neville approached Harry and said "Harry can I talk to you?"
Contrary to popular belief, Harry knew that Neville was in fact a very strong person and extremely loyal to his friends. Neville had always stood behind Harry even at those times when Ron had deserted him and Harry knew that he deserved to know the truth. He broke away from his friends and walked with Neville.
"Harry, what's going on? You three are so secretive and we see so many owls come and go. If there's something going down I want to help" Neville said simply. Harry was touched at the words and he felt a rush of affection for the boy standing in front of him.
"It's not like that Neville; it's not anything to do with Voldemort. I am changing school that's all" Harry said unable to cushion the words in any way. "What?Why? What happened? You can't go just like that mate!" Neville burst out, his words going an octave higher.
Harry shrugged "It's too late Neville…I have already made arrangements" he said calmly. Neville shook his head agitated "No Harry no…we are here for you. If there's any problem we will help you…we can solve it mate, we can deal with it" he cried out.
"I am sorry Neville" Harry said feeling rather sad himself as Neville took the time to digest the news. Slowly he looked at Harry and asked the inevitable question "so where are you moving to?" he asked his voice low and barely heard.
"Durmstrang" Harry replied and waited for the outburst. But it never came. Harry was prepared for the outrage and the denial but in the absence of it he stood surprised. "You don't disapprove?" he asked in a hesitant tone. Neville shook his head and nodded almost to himself.
"I may not seem like it most times but I am a pureblood, Harry. Almost all pureblood families have some exposure to the Dark arts. I think it is important to know that too, especially you Harry because you are the one who is going to be facing it the most. Here, you don't get to know what it is…only how to defend against it. So it might be good for you mate" he smiled "so yeah…I don't disapprove" he said.
Harry let out the breath that he had not realized that he had been holding and smiled widely. "Thanks Neville…I did not expect that" he said. It was true he thought…he had underestimated Neville and he felt a flash of anger as he realized that most people did especially Snape. This was a Neville that he would never guess at. Neville had understood intuitively and probably even had an idea about why he was leaving Harry thought ruefully.
"I am not saying that I will not miss you Harry…I will…hell all of us will and I am not saying that I approve either mind you, but I trust your instincts. What I don't understand is why now? What happened to bring it on now?" he asked in a puzzled tone.
"Sorry Neville, I don't want to say anything on that …can we let it go please?" Harry said in response. "Is it anything to do with Snape?" Neville asked and Harry looked up startled "why would you think that?" he asked alarmed.
"Because in case you haven't noticed …you have stopped going to potions class" Neville teased with a smile. Harry went red and smiled defeated "It could be but I am not saying what" he said.
"God knows everyone would understand if you have had enough…truly we have many times wondered how you managed in that man's class. But I want you to know that I am in your corner and I will help in any way I can" Neville reiterated and Harry felt the warm rush of affection run through him again.
"So are you going to let everyone know?" he asked. Harry became serious "Yes Dumbledore suggested that I let everyone know at dinner". "I won't keep you then…just remember whatever happens we are there" Neville said moving in for an uncharacteristic hug.
"Now you have made everyone even more curiouser" Harry remarked. Neville laughed "there is no word as curiouser you prat" he said as they made their way back to Ron and Hermione.
"Who has made who curiouser?" Ron enquired .. as Harry and Neville looked at each other and started laughing. Hermione joined in as she said "there is no such word like that Ron. Anyways we better get to our class. We don't want to land in detention do we" she urged.
Dinner came too soon and Harry found himself becoming nervous at the prospect of talking to the hall at large. He knew that even the Professors were not privy to the information and he wondered how they would react. He had not planned anything in his mind and hoped that he would not lose his nerves when the time came. He seated himself with butterflies in his stomach and he was rather sure that he did not know what he was consuming.
His heart skipped a beat as he saw Dumbledore rise to his feet. This was it. "Good evening. On this fine day I have a rather sad announcement to make. One of our students has decided to leave our institution and would like to say his farewell to you." He paused as he waited for the curious whispers of "what? Who?" to subside as he looked at the Gryffindor table and spread out his hand "come " he beckoned.
The hall burst out in utter chaos as cries of "what?" Harry Potter?Harry?and then there were whispers of "I bet it's because of Snape","it must be something to do with you –know –who" and then more virulent whispers of "but he is the chosen one…how can he leave us and go"?
However as Harry went up to the staff table the hall became very silent. Even the Slytherin table fell silent. Harry looked at everyone "Hello everyone. You have all heard Professor Dumbledore and yes, I will be going to a different school due to personal reasons. I have lived here as one of you the last few years and I thank you for accepting me among you. I have made some very beautiful friendships that have withstood a lot of pressure and danger in these years and I look upon it now. I thank my friends for standing by me in those dangerous times sometimes even in the face of death. If not for such friends in my life, I doubt that I would even be standing before you now and I am grateful for that. I thank the staff and each one of you for the love and affection that you showed me in spite of Rita Skeeter's best efforts"…mild laughter sounded in the hall and became silent again as he held up a hand. "And I hope that the same affection will be given to me when I come back. Yes I do see myself coming back, even if I don't want to and all of you know what that means" he said as everyone again laughed.
"So where are you going Harry?" a voice sounded and Harry saw that it was Dean Thomas from the Gryffindor table. "I am going to Durmstrang" he replied and suddenly a hush descended on the Great Hall.
"But it's a dark school…how can you go there?" Dean questioned and then there was pandemonium as the question became repeated by various classmates including Seamus and Ernie McMillan and others until finally someone from the Slytherin table got up and said "He's going there because it's dark…you dolts". This led to further pandemonium and exchange of insults until Dumbledore held up his wand and called out "Alright that's enough. Please resume your seats. Harry do you have anything to add?" he asked turning to Harry.
Harry nodded and continued "Yes sir I would just like to add one thing. I don't believe that any school can be classified as light or dark. It is how we use the knowledge and I assure you that I have enough confidence in myself not to become the next Dark Lord" he said with a smile and turned to the Professors who were looking equally gobsmacked.
"Potter this is indeed a shock. Are you sure about this?" Minerva McGonagall asked as she pulled aside Harry. He nodded and he was immediately surrounded by the other professors who wanted to know why he had taken such a radical decision and if they could help him somehow.
Harry kindly thanked them for the offer and refrained from giving any reason for his decision. He however noticed the nasty look that McGonagall gave Snape and rapidly made an exit before it became uncomfortable.
The whispers continued as Harry went back to his seat where he was besieged by the sixth years who were still struggling with the news.
Everyone wanted to know why he was going and many of them openly asked him to reconsider. It was quite some time before he managed to extricate himself from the group and made his way to the tower where he knew the questions would continue. "Well that went well" Hermione commented drily and all that Harry could think of to say was "did it?".
Author note: I thank all of you for the immense support you have given this story. One of the readers wanted to know if this would be a severitus…the idea crossed my mind too but no I don't see it happening in this story. One of the other readers who had suggested an improvement to Snape's letter…yes it's a good suggestion and I will try to edit it in. As ever I persist in my request for reviews…see the above examples are how useful they are to a writer! So please do read and review.
Yeah! One more small thing is that sometimes the names are getting edited out in the fanfiction version….but it's all there in my document on the site! Looks like technology can beat the writer after all. Still I will work on correcting the errors and in the meantime please pardon my mistakes like these.